by Love Belvin
“Do you need to lie down?” I asked, prepared to walk her upstairs. I doubted my father would move a muscle.
She released her head and forged a smile, avoiding our eyes. “No, sweetheart. I’m fine. Now, where were we?” She pulled the cake platter away just as my father was preparing to scoop a slice. “Oh, yeah! Alexis is vying for that extra pie in there. I don’t know, Ezra; this may be your connector,” she jeered.
That statement was more apropos than she knew. And more than Alexis realized, we would have several factors that would connect us. I just had to be patient and endure this preliminary period of ‘dating’ to make it to the Promised Land. Alexis.
My eyes landed on Alexis as she pulled the fork from her mouth and moaned her appreciation.
Christ! That was hot—
“So, son, where are we with your installation timetable?” My father would be the one to break the agreeable atmosphere to address his agenda.
“Oh! I can taste the orange Tang. This is really good,” Alexis murmured to my mother directly, appraising her baking, her shoulders are now relaxed, face softened, and eyes beaming.
Praise God. This was working out. My parents’ condition being displayed during this short visit and having Alexis here, all endorsed my confidence that my life was taking shape.
I found myself gaping at the object of my obsession next to me. Alexis’ neck was now fully exposed, dark skin layered with sheen. I bet it felt as silky as it appeared. Her unruly mane, pushed back into a ponytail, the ends touching her shoulders. No earrings today, just her raw sienna beauty and valiant nature.
“Well on time, Bishop,” I answered, unable to hide my amusement. “Well on time.”
five
Lex
“Damn, girl, you look hot!” Anushka beamed from the sink next to me as I put the finishing touches on my lipstick. “How do you do that and still look natural? You’re just…sultry now,” she growled.
I used the tip of my right ring finger to define the line of my bottom lip and stood straight. “Good.” I checked my eye shadow for a final time. “That’s the point, right? To look natural with the makeup?” I winked at her.
“What would Ezra say if he saw your hot ass right now?” she snorted, but I knew there was a bit of sincerity in her question.
I took a moment to consider that. I didn’t know. It honestly hadn’t even been a passing thought. I’d never been in a relationship to know to consider the other party’s feelings. I still couldn’t believe I had a damn boyfriend. The thought was comical. How did I get into this shit? What was a damn boyfriend?
I shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. I’m only his girlfriend, not his wife.”
“Yeah, but in that thin top and with the amount ass showing in that mini, I bet you’d have preacher man on his knees, praying to the gods for wisdom on how to handle that ass!” She sputtered a laugh.
That made me think, too. I’d agreed to be his girlfriend and the only act of intimacy we’d experienced was a kiss—albeit a kiss that had me rubbing off an engorged clit twice that night and still to this very day, each time I thought about it. But I would think a legitimate couple would have at least tested their sexual chemistry before moving on to the phase that included titles. What had I gotten myself into? The thought of him made me hot. My pulse raced just at his mere presence. He’d turned me from a master masturbator to a damn serial one; yet I had no proof he was sexually attracted to me.
I moved to the door. “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind. Plus, you know how I feel about public bathrooms.
The club was smoky and dark. That was my first impression. There were people in every square inch: some dancing, most standing, and a few sitting. The moment I was in a few feet, I decided to calm myself and just enjoy the night with my crazy friend. How often did I just ‘let my hair down’? Like…never.
“What are we drinking?” Anushka yelled over the music.
“I don’t know.” I lifted my palm. “Wine?”
She pushed out a hard laugh from her belly. “Damn, bitch, you really don’t get out, do you?” I shrugged. “I got this. Just stay right here.” She walked off to the bar and I stood against a carpeted pole and let my eyes peruse the room. I soaked up the highly charged atmosphere, watching people of various shapes and sizes sway to the electrifying bass of a house track. The drum was so strong, I felt it in my chest.
Just relax, Lex! I urged myself. It’d been too long since I acted my age.
Just then, my phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down and saw Ezra’s name.
Ezra: Me trying to be “regular”: How are you?
I let out a hard and abrupt snort, sounding like a pig. I cupped my mouth in a slapping motion, embarrassed by my reaction.
Me: I see you’re trying out humor too.
Ezra: If it gets you to giggle the way you just did, I’ll try it more often. You never answered me.
At that, I could feel his controlling nature even through the damn text. And how did he know I just laughed?
“Here!” Anushka appeared at my side, yelling over the blaring music. “Try this. It’s called The Pussy Popper…guaranteed to have your shit purring, they say.” She even had to laugh at that.
I took a big gulp, subconsciously rushing to get back to the text with my ‘boyfriend.’
“Hey!” she yelped. “That shit is pretty strong. The last time I had it, I couldn’t even make it home before I was bent over with my head slamming against a wall in the bathroom stall. I don’t even remember the guy’s name.” Her tight expression was priceless.
“I thought they said it was strong. Sounds like you had firsthand experience.” I side-eyed her before taking another gulp.
Ezra: Don’t make me ask again. I know you’ve left Saks.
Damn it, Ezra!
Me: Slow your roll buddy! I was talking to Anushka about my pussy popping drink. I was getting back to you. She wants to celebrate me being your girlfriend.
A mix of Beyoncé’s “Get Me Bodied” started to play. I was surprised to hear the old track in a club in 2015, but loved the song so I couldn’t help my hips gyrating on their own accord to the familiar beat.
“Yesssssssssssssss, bitch!” Anushka screamed like a drag queen. “It’s working already. Let’s loosen that ass up on the dance floor!” She took me by the hand.
“Hold up!” I yelled, still not quite able to hear myself, but she did. I pushed my glass in the air, motioning I wanted to finish the concoction she gave me.
When I did, my phone vibrated again.
Ezra: Where are you, Alexis?
When I glanced up, I saw Anushka tossing hers back as well, and then she took our glasses to the bar to get rid of them. I took that moment to quickly respond to Ezra before the track was up. I was still sober, but decided in that moment to really have fun.
Me: Chill out pastor. I’m fine. I’m safe and not far from my place. I’ll check in with you in the am.
I giggled at the formality of his writing.
Dude! Who properly structures sentences when texting? It reminded me of my term papers.
Before I knew it, Anushka was at my side, yanking me by the arm. I had to attempt the send icon twice before the text successfully went through. As I trailed behind her, I tossed my phone in my bag on the way to the dance floor. I followed the path she forged, threading through a sea of people. When she finally stopped, I threw my arms in the air and began swaying my hips to the beat. I hadn’t danced publically in years. The last time I’d been on a dance floor was at a Saks assistant manager’s wedding, two summers ago. And let me tell you, those damn Italians know how to throw a party.
I felt a warm coaxing over my body and knew The Pussy Popper was kicking in, and I welcomed it. I peered over to Anushka and saw her eyes were closed as she attempted a pace. My girl may have admired black culture, but she hadn’t mastered the art of rhythm. I couldn’t give a damn. We were out having a blast! And I deserved it. I was close to graduating wi
th two damn degrees! My mom would be proud. I was sure I was the first in my family to do it. Times may’ve been hard, but no one could take this accomplishment away from me.
Harlem Pride!
After a few songs I ventured off for our second drink. When the bartender with a purple and pink ombré Mohawk signaled me for my order, I thought quickly and got two more Pussy Poppers. As I waited for her to make it, I giggled to myself like a crazed woman. Who the fuck names a drink Pussy Popper, much less speaks the name to order it?
When she handed me the two plastic cups, I made my way back onto the dance floor. After a bit of a search, I found her with… Yup! A black man, tossing her ass in his pelvis. I don’t think she had a particular cadence, but he seemed game. I handed her the cup and went back to air thrusting to Busta Rhyme and Nicki Minaj’s “TwerkIt.”
I don’t know how many songs had mixed in after when suddenly, I felt hot hands rounding my hips. I jumped in place and spun in the air.
“Don’t touch me!” I screamed, scaring the shit out of myself.
The short muscular guy in a damn black sheer shirt and dress pants held his hands in the air defensively as he danced away from my person. My breathing had accelerated and I was on high alert. I didn’t like being touched uninvited… Well, maybe at all by people I didn’t know. I still had strict barriers when it came to intimate touching by strangers.
“You okay?” I turned to find Anushka in front of me with pinched brows.
I was still shaking, trying to catch my damn lungs as I eyed her wildly.
“Girlfriend, tell me your pussy isn’t popping right now,” she demanding with wide and reddened eyes.
That’s when it hit me. I howled out a laughter I didn’t recognize.
“I think…it is!” I agreed in jest, sputtering.
“Yo! Mine is, too!” she yelled in my ear. “But I’m okay it’s happening with this guy!” She referred to the dude behind her.
Our palms clapped then clasped in the air there on the dance floor. Both our heads were tossed back as we laughed hysterically. I don’t know how long this went on, but it felt damn good.
“He’s going to get us another Pussy Popper, okay?”
I nodded my head with gusto, fully understanding her proposal, but not properly processing it. It didn’t matter; I was fucking nice and that was an accomplishment. Another familiar tune dropped and we danced together, giggling blissfully until our drinks arrived. Then it was back to dancing alone, contently. I had no idea how long I was at it, but I do know I’d had more Pussy Poppers; how many, I didn’t quite know. Hell, I vaguely recalled two trips to the bathroom to empty my bladder and returning to the dance floor. I fully recollect pushing a couple of men away when they tried to dance with me. I did feel the throbbing ache in my feet that I ignored, thanks to my buzz.
At some point my spine shivered. That slowed my pace. My eyes flew open and moved rapidly until I was able to spot Anushka. She’d worked up a sweat with the same dance partner and her already-short-skirt was indecently way up her thighs with his hand disappeared underneath. That lewd vision calmed me. I wasn’t alone. The sense of relief allowed me to close my eyes as I waved my hands above my head.
“You can either walk out of here on your own volition with dignity or you will be carried out,” thundered directly into my left ear. “You have 4.5 seconds before the decision will be made for you.” My eyes shot open and simultaneously, I felt a soothing fragrance coax me. My eyes fluttered involuntarily and my body swayed off beat.
I caught myself and twirled around, finding a set of hard eyes on an impassive face staring at me. His posture was acutely opposite of most in the room who were moving to the up tempo. That’s when I caught three other figures in my peripheral, standing with square shoulders, glaring down on me, too.
“You’ve got to be shittin’—”
My words were arrested when Ezra swiftly bent and I was scooped in the air, over his thick shoulder. The room moved too damn fast as he turned to head in the opposite direction. I may have been slightly drunk, but I could easily see the aghast expressions on the faces of other patrons. I was in the damn air, gripping the back of Ezra’s shirt to steady myself.
“Wa-wait!” I tried. “Hold the fuck up!” Between the purposeful speed he trekked and the loud music, even I couldn’t hear my demands.
Before I realized it, we were in the spring air, still breezing past droves of club-goers trying to get inside. Among the confused and shocked faces, I noticed amused ones and those…those boiled my blood.
“Ezra! What are you doing?” I tried again. My questions fell on deaf ears as we approached a waiting black sedan.
I noticed Thaddeus opening the door and then I was let down on my feet. Before I had an opportunity to decide my next move, I was all but nudged inside the car. When my back hit the leather seats, I shot Ezra a hard glare. He didn’t entertain my harsh regard at all. He simply sat with his elbow placed on the bar of the door and his chin resting on his fingers. His face was set into a scowl, but what struck me most was his clothing. He wore a black dress shirt, slacks and oxfords. There was no suit jacket or tie, making his look more casual than I was accustomed to. I could see globular structure in his shoulders and the balls in his biceps. Whoa! He was a thick one. But Ezra refused to return my gaze. Oddly, that reduced me. I folded my arms on my chest and slammed my back into the seat.
The front passenger door opened and another gentleman I’d never seen got in. When the door closed he uttered with his face angled; half to the front of the car, half to the back, “Done. Wilson is in the other car.”
I understood his words were for Ezra. Without moving an inch, Ezra ordered, “Edgecombe and West 141st, Carlos.”
“Yes, Pastor Carmichael,” the driver replied before pulling off.
Seconds later, I heard in a calm, still voice, “Where’s your phone, Alexis?”
My eyes shot over to him, but he continued to face ahead. Then I considered his question. It took me a while in my tipsiness to realize it was in my purse.
“Why?” I returned defensively.
Without glancing my way he informed, “Please call your friend, Anushka, and let her know you are safe and with me. That she needn’t worry.”
“Pssssssssssh!” I blurted. “Why should she believe I’m safe? I was just dragged out of a club against my will.”
Then his eyes hit me. My lungs contracted at the swift speed in which they hit me. “You’re right, beloved. You may not be safe with me after your reckless infraction, but she needs to know you’re with me, your very responsible and vigilantly sober boyfriend, and she needn’t worry,” he grated, clearly painfully applying patience.
We eye-warred for some time before I broke and pulled out my phone.
Anushka answered on the second ring. “Bitch! It’s about damn time. Fugly told me you’d call in two minutes,” she shouted over the music.
‘Fugly’ in the front seat snapped his neck quickly, almost facing me before catching himself. I couldn’t help my sputter and just let it rip into full on laughter.
Nice, Anushka.
I could tell she was still at the club. I needed to get her off the phone before she said something more offensive. I couldn’t help but think the plan was for me to call within that timeframe, but I’d done the eye game with Ezra, prolonging making the call.
“Hey, I’m good. Are you staying?”
“Hell yeah! I told you I was deep-throating Mr. Bunz tonight.”
That too was heard throughout the quieted car. I cringed and Ezra cleared his throat and pushed his fist roughly into his mouth as he sat even straighter in his seat.
Shit. A silly grin broke out on my face. I bet the pastor wasn’t used to salacious declarations like that. The most he’d probably known was a dry hump dance in the back of the school locker room.
I couldn’t help the amusement in my tone when I replied, “Okay.” I had to really hurry this conversation along before she said something that wo
uld cause dude a damn stroke. “Call me in the morning and take care of you.”
“Ha!” she screamed. “I would tell you to do the same, but your party is harmless.”
At that, I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I giggled hard and loudly in the car. In my delirium, I hung up on her tactless ass.
When we arrived in front of my apartment building, Ezra hopped out with rapid speed. ‘Fugly’ followed him from the passenger seat. I could hear mumblings from their exchange as Ezra moved toward my door behind the driver’s seat. The glaring headlights from the car behind fucked with my buzz and I tried to cover my eyes.
The door opened and I could hear Ezra order, “Montgomery, park the car and text me the location. I’ll drive myself home when I’m done.”
“You sure, sir?” ‘Fugly’, whose real name I’d just learned was Montgomery, asked unsure.
“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t ask you to leave me.” Ezra’s tone was succinct.
He was angry. That simple fact tossed me back into a giggling fit. When Ezra pulled me onto my feet from the car, I collided into his hard chest unsteadily in full on laughter.
“Pastor Carmichael,” I recognized from behind Thaddeus’ anxious cry. Where’d he come from? “I can call Miranda and have her sit with Ms. Grier until she’s calmed down.”
Ezra’s thick neck swerved to face Thaddeus. I could feel his chest harden even more and his grip on me tightened to the point of pain. “Miranda will never be privy to the inner workings of my private life. In fact, you have no insight into my relationship with Ms. Grier. Is that understood?”
I couldn’t see to capture Thaddeus’ response, but I was able to surmise he’d gotten checked by his highness and that humored me. I couldn’t help my amusement.
“Hold up, captain. You’re giving your subordinates the impression there’s going to be some action tonight,” I slurred. “Aye, guys, no need to worry about your boy here losing his virginity up there. We don’t even kiss.” I cackled at that one. “I mean, we did once and damn was he good, but rest assured it was because I was super-duper starved of any sexual action and that helped him out. He’s just about as straight-laced as they come. And we all know pastor ain’t giving out no kisses, let alone some wood. I mean, really! What man this hot has a girlfriend and is not trying to fuck? Who, you ask? Ya’ boy!” I couldn’t help my mirth if I tried to.