Interracial Desires: BWWM Multicultural Romance Box Set

by Tamara Black

  I smiled.

  “Fuck,” he said, frowning and obviously concerned. “I can't believe I let you come with me.”

  “Let me come, huh? I thought we were in this together.”

  I was trying my best to remain calm despite having just been shot. He wasn't helping.

  “You know what I mean. I'm freaking out.”

  “I know. That's why I'm trying to hold it together. We make a good team.”

  An ambulance arrived a short while later. Or maybe I passed out. I don't remember a lot of the details after hearing the gun fire.

  “Brittney can watch Terry a little longer,” Matt said.

  “Yeah, we need to have a little talk about her...”

  I lost consciousness before I could finish my thought.

  TWENTY

  Matt

  Brittney brought Terry to the hospital, so I didn't have to leave Leah. The bullet had gone straight through her leg, but she had lost quite a bit of blood. They had her sedated. She slept as I waited next to her bed. I kept hearing the gunshot over and over in my head. As I watched her breathe, her chest rising and falling slowly, I realized that I had a responsibility.

  I got up and headed to the waiting room to wait for Brittney. I wasn't sure if I wanted Terry to see his mom before she woke up. The little guy had been through a lot, and I didn't want to cause him any additional grief. When she arrived, I rushed over and took him in my arms. He looked a little sleepy, but he was taking everything better than I would have thought.

  “He's been a sweetheart,” Brittney said.

  “Thanks so much for bringing him.”

  “No problem. What the hell happened?”

  “One of her ex-boyfriend's thug friends rolled up and shot her.”

  Her eyes widened as her hand covered her mouth. “That's horrible.”

  “Right? Even worse, the kid who shot her was only fourteen.”

  “Shot mommy?” Terry asked.

  “It's okay, little man,” I said, smiling at him.

  “Do you need anything else?”

  “For you to stop me next time I come up with a stupid idea. I feel responsible for her getting shot.”

  “What? You're crazy.”

  “I'm the one who organized the march.”

  “Right. Because the neighborhood needs awareness.”

  “This is going to make people aware.”

  “Just another shooting in Chiraq, unfortunately. None of my media friends wanted to touch it.”

  “I messed up her scholarship too.”

  “That single mother one?”

  “Yeah, she was a perfect fit.”

  “There's always next year.”

  “I guess.”

  “Look, Matt, you're taking on a lot of responsibility. Your life has changed dramtically over the last few weeks. You need to step back and think about what's really important to you.”

  I nodded. She was right.

  “Thanks again. I think I'm going to hang out here with him so she can see him when she wakes up.”

  “Good idea. Call me if you need anything.”

  “Will do. See you later.”

  She waved then left the waiting room. I sat down with Terry on my life, trying to make sure he didn't crawl away. After having been with him for just a little while, I couldn't see how Leah had handled him all on her own. He was incredible, but he loved to get around. I sat with him while we waited for his mother, and I made a vow to be a real father to him no matter what happened.

  TWENTY ONE

  Leah

  When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital room. Matt and Terry were both in the room. I smiled the moment I opened my eyes and saw them. My leg didn't hurt at all, which I thought was odd considering I'd just been shot. Then I figured they had me on some good drugs. Being married to Matt, I had pretty good health insurance for once in my life.

  “Hey guys,” I managed to say.

  How long have I been out? I wondered.

  “You're up,” Matt said, excited.

  He got up and carried Terry over to see me. I almost didn't want my boy to see me in a hospital bed all shot up, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew nothing could be better than seeing him. As Matt held him close enough to kiss me on lips, I started crying.

  “Don't cry, mommy,” Terry said.

  Matt pulled him back, holding him close to his chest. I smiled as I watched Terry wriggling, trying to get away the same way he'd done to me so many times before. The drugs were probably having an effect on me, but I was overwhelmed with emotions. One moment I wanted to cry while the next I was smiling and laughing.

  I soon learned that they had caught the teen who shot me but that he wasn't saying anything about who had put him up to it. Matt wanted to confront Trey, but I managed to talk him out of it rather easily. I could tell he was tired too. We had more than enough on our plate as it was already. I wanted our relationship to actually have a chance of working.

  * * *

  Four days after being shot, I was released from the hospital. Terry had helped Matt make a big banner that said Welcome Home Mommy. I had to fight back the tears as I used a crutch to get in the house. The fact that I had a nice house and a man who loved me wasn't lost on me.

  We put Terry to bed early the evening I returned home. After he was down and out, I joined Matt on our couch. I loved putting the word our in front of just about any item we owned. I'm not sure if it was the pain pills I was on, but I felt the need to ask Matt about Brittney.

  “I love you,” Matt said as he looked at me. “I'd ask you to marry me, but we're already married.”

  I smiled. “I love you too, silly.”

  We kissed. Then I dove into the topic I'd been wanting to talk to him about for a while.

  “So, you sure you and Brittney got nothing going on? Did you used to date her or something?”

  “What? No. I met her at work.” He smiled at me. “Why? Are you jealous?”

  “Maybe a little. I just don't want to lose you.”

  “You're not going to lose me.”

  “No?”

  I reached down and felt him through his khaki pants. He looked into my eyes.

  “What are you doing? You just got out of the hospital,” he said.

  “Shh. I can't bend down, but I can do this. Just sit back and enjoy.”

  As I undid his pants and pulled out his cock, he moaned and sat back on the couch. I saw the stress leave his body as I manipulated his manhood with my hand. I loved the way it felt, the way it responded to my touch.

  I knew he'd love me tasting it, but that would have to wait. I wanted to show the love I had for him in a physical way. And from the look on his face, I did a very good job. After cleaning up, we cuddled for an hour or so before I went to bed to get some sleep.

  TWENTY TWO

  Matt

  When she did get a little better, I made sure to pleasure her, to show her the love I had for her. Part of my sudden desire to make love to her was me trying to put aside the idea that I was weak and unable to make my own decisions. Being called sweet was nice, but I wanted to be the hot bad boy that got her blood boiling.

  One night, after I hired a babysitter on the sly, we had the house to ourselves. Leah had been saying all morning how she was bored, so I came up with an idea. I knew she had a thing for cowboys. Even better, I don't think she realized I knew. While she sat on the couch in the living room in her yoga pants and a t-shirt, I sneaked into the bedroom.

  The cowboy costume had taken me an entire week to gather. And keeping it hidden from her had been incredibly difficult, but I'd succeeded. She had no idea what was about to happen. I hoped to once and for all shed the image of me as a laid back submissive who let things happen to me. I wanted to show her that I was a real man.

  With tight blue jeans, brown leather boots, a white dress shirt with Western tassels and a black hat, I took a last look in the full size mirror in our bedroom. I thought I looked pretty ridiculous, but I was al
most positive she had a thing for cowboys, that they turned her on. I'd seen her twirl her hair and get that dreamy look whenever they came on the television.

  I walked out of the bedroom and sauntered into the living room. She glanced over at me, and a look of surprise swept over her face. Without a word, I walked over and stuck out my hand. She grabbed it, and I helped her to her feet. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. Her breasts pressed against my chest as she breathed.

  “I'm here to save you, ma'am,” I said in my best cowboy voice.

  Before she had a chance to giggle or laugh, I bent down and kissed her on the lips. I felt her hands on my back as our lips pressed together. Then I picked her up. She screamed a little then laughed as I carried her into the bedroom. After I set her on the edge of the bed, I proceeded to take off her clothes while continuing to kiss her.

  Her smooth, chocolate skin tasted slightly soapy as I ran my tongue down her neck then over her breasts. I took a nipple into my mouth and sucked on it gently while my fingers played with the other. Then I moved lower, continuing to kiss her until I reached my destination. She sighed and spread her legs as I kissed the insides of her thighs.

  Slowly but surely, I made my way closer to her tender lips. She was shaved neatly but still had a little landing strip of hair, which I loved. My tongue began to bathe her as I pleased her with my mouth and hands. I heard her breathing faster as I slipped a finger insider her as I continued to kiss and gently tease her clitoris.

  “Fuck me, please,” she moaned.

  I stood up and quickly stripped off my clothes, except for the cowboy hat. I then got on my back on the bed next to her. She was all over me a moment later. I felt her naked skin press against mine as she kissed me. Then, slowly, she straddled me. Even slower, she lowered herself down on me. A moan escaped my mouth as she moved inch by inch.

  When I was completely inside her, I opened my eyes. She was staring at me, her beautiful black hair streaming down. I reached up and grabbed her beasts as she rode me. Her pussy was so tight. And wet. She put her hands on my chest and started rocking forward and backward slightly. I didn't know how long I was going to last, but I wanted to make sure she came first.

  Memories of baseball and grandma's apple pie filtered through my mind, but nothing was working. Then something miraculous happened. Just as I felt myself about to come, she cried out. Her muscles clenched me tightly as I continued to thrust in and out of her. Both of us came at exactly the same time. She collapsed on my chest, breathing heavily.

  “That was incredible,” she whispered.

  “I've never had that happen before.”

  “What got into you tonight?”

  “Just trying to be a bit more assertive. You like?”

  “I like.”

  “I'd still like to cuddle a little after.”

  “I don't mind. At all. Come here you.”

  She kissed me again. I could never get enough of her soft lips. Our bodies remained intertwined on the bed as we watched television, laughed, and looked forward to our new life together.

  TWENTY THREE

  Leah

  Gradually, I healed, both mentally and physically. Matt had a lot to do with it, but I worked my ass off as well. I managed to find a receptionist job downtown that paid a little over minimum wage. Brittney babysat for us for free in exchange for our help with her activism.

  Between what Matt was making and my paychecks, we were doing pretty good for ourselves. We didn't have a lot of extra money, but that didn't matter. The love we had for each other was worth more than all the money in the world.

  The longer we were together, the more I loved him. What was odd was that we were already married. We had nothing to look forward to other than spending the rest of our lives together. Somehow, that was enough for both of us.

  I didn't think that life could get any better. Then it did. One night at dinner, as I was telling him some of the stories about my life in Englewood, Chiraq, he said that I should write some of my thoughts down sometime, that it might help me.

  At first I thought he was just trying to avoid having me talk to him, but when I started writing about my experiences and feelings, the floodgates opened. Page after page filled with words. When I let him or others read them, I found they liked them a lot.

  More than one person told me that I had a way with words. I wasn't sure that I believed them, but I knew I couldn't stop writing. After a few months, I had a lot of thoughts written down. Matt edited them some then emailed a copy to a friend of his from college.

  Long story short, the publisher friend loved what I'd written. He said there was a market for authentic urban fiction. I didn't believe him at first, but then I had my first book in my hands. It was paperback, but I didn't care. The love of my life had introduced me to another love.

  Somehow, Oprah ended up reading my first novel. And she loved every page. Or at least that's what she said. As soon as she invited me into her book club, my royalty checks blew up. I quit the receptionist job and started writing full time.

  Matt stayed on as a social worker even though we could afford to live off of just my salary. I felt more comfortable and secure than I had at any other point in my twenty and some change lifetime. After my second book was published, and blew up, I decided to start helping Matt more.

  I wanted to end the menace of the Chiraq Lullaby. With education and a little help from Matt and others, we would be able to help more people escape poverty. That was the true meaning of life. Amid all the giving, our love for each other grew stronger day by day. We eventually had two of our own children, both girls, but that's another story.

  Billionaire Baby Benefits

  ONE

  Lela

  I clutched the letter from the financial aid department at Cleveland State as I rushed to work. Part of me wanted to stop and rip it open to see what it contained, but I had to show up on time or I would lose my work-study position. It had taken me two semesters to finally find something that wasn’t too terrible. I worked as a waitress for catered events for the rich and powerful people on campus.

  Once I got to the Student Center, I stared down at the envelope in my hand as I rode the elevator to the third floor. Giant red letters spelled out the word URGENT. The doors slip open, and I rushed to the kitchen area to punch my timecard. As soon as I walked in, I was swallowed by chaos. I stuffed the letter in the back pocket of the black slacks I had on and clocked in.

  “About time you showed up,” my supervisor Henry said.

  “I’m on time. Where do you need me?”

  “Out there on the floor as usual. See Steve for what he wants to send out next.”

  “What’s the event tonight?” I asked.

  “Don’t worry about that,” he snapped.

  I maneuvered my way through the crowded kitchen to find Steve. He was on the frontline calmly calling out orders and commands like a general during a war.

  “Where do you need me?” I asked.

  “Lela. Nice to see you finally.”

  “I’m on time,” I protested again.

  “Whatever. Take the crackers and cheese, but not the fish ones yet.”

  “Sure,” I said, not caring whether I got the right ones or not.

  With the huge and heavy silver platter hefted up with one arm, I headed toward the double-doors that led into an elegant room full of the upper crust of academia. Classical music played faintly in the background as I danced in between a whole bunch of white people in tuxedos and dresses that looked like they cost more than a year’s worth of tuition.

  “Girl, over here,” a pudgy woman well past her prime said then snorted with laughter.

  I thought briefly about just letting it go, but I was a grown woman, not some servant girl.

  “You don’t have to disrespect me,” I said, looking her directly in the eyes.

  She looked at me with an expression of horror. I took a few steps, trying to lose myself in the crowd, but she rushed forward and grabbe
d my arm. I was so surprised, I lost my balance. The silver platter went flying into the air. It hit a bearded guy in the back of the head, causing him to shout. As I walked away, the woman who had grabbed me screamed, “She’s getting away.”

  I’m not a criminal, I thought to myself as I slipped through the doors to the kitchen area. Steve hadn’t been in the room, but as soon as I walked over to him, he squinted his eyes and stared at me as if he knew something had happened. When he realized I wasn’t holding my tray, he yelled for me to come over to him. His face was full of rage.

  TWO

  Aaron

  As soon as I saw the attractive young woman flee into the back, I vowed to myself that I would help her. When you had as much money as I did, you tended to try to find actual ways to be helpful in the world. I made my way through the crowd to the kitchen and walked in as if I owned the place. I’d given the university so much money, I should have owned a percentage.

  I scanned the kitchen, quickly taking in as much information as I could. The lady who had dropped the tray was being yelled at to my left. A litany of curses flew out of a crazed man’s mouth while she stood there with her hands crossed over her chest and her head pointing toward the floor. Her beautiful black skin was a pleasure to look at.

  “Can I help you?” the guy yelled, turning his anger to me.

  “Do you really need to be yelling at this young lady?” I said, staring him in the eyes.

  He backed down. “I’m sorry. Can you hear me outside?”

  “No. I saw what happened, and I wanted to check on the young lady.”

  She made eye contact with me. Her face was full of confusion as she sized me up.

  “What happened?” her boss asked.

  “A lady grabbed her arm after being rude to her and cause her to drop the platter,” I said, turning my attention to the man.