Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  I let out the loudest moan when I felt Percy’s---Chris’s hands aggressively bend my thighs back as he searched everywhere like he was pretending to find my center. Mouth kissing, and sucking every inch of me, his tongue scooped and parted me open for a kiss of his own.

  “Percy…” I breathed, voice trembling as I gripped his shoulders, keeping him planted down between me with my head thrashing from side to side. The way he folded his own lips, and tongue, plucking, and rubbing, pulling and sucking on every inch of the sensitive skin sent me over the edge.

  Chris Brown. Chris Brown. This is Chris Brown pulling his tattooed body on top of mine, and pressing his hardness against me. This was Chris Brown. I’m a Breezy stan. I deserved this! I play all his…

  “Ahhhhh! Percy please!” I cried out, feeling him slowly push into me as I searched for his face, cupping his jaw to see if his blind fold was still on, and it was when he brought his face closer to mine, lips just above mine when I reached up, and sloppily kissed him. He moaned so deep into my mouth as his hips moved lower, pressing further into me from another angle. Our kisses were gentle, hesitant even until I slipped my tongue in his, and gently said his name. Pleading with him to be rough with me, and he did as asked.

  This change was instant. He was moving so quick, but I was able to keep up with his pace, his breath, his movements, and naturally began to respond with my own. Not one to lay there and take it. I wasn’t sure if he was feeling the pleasure I felt until he came up to my ear like he wanted to say something, but struggled to speak. Instead, his lips just pressed against my ear as he pushed further into me. His words came in broken sentences…

  “P-pla-play with yo-yourself fo-for me again,” he gasped in a moan. “Do it now.”

  I took my hand, sliding in between us as I searched in the dark for my center. Percy kissed the side of my face hard before pulling himself out.

  “You play with yourself,” I shot back, trying to sound like a demanding dominatrix when I couldn’t have been louder than a newborn kitten. Percy took my hand, and led it to his length, wrapping my fingers around his own as we both began to stroke him. I met his mouth by turning my face, wanting to kiss him again as our lips combined in loud smacks, and wet lip locks. I pressed my hips against our jerking movements when he lowered himself again, and pushed deep inside of me with another groan in my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his head, keeping him close as I concentrated on the growing feeling of him thrusting back and forth so fast, the bed began to shake, and knock repeatedly against the wall with a loud bang. Faster, and faster, I was inching up against the headboard trying to pull back, but he kept me down as I screamed. Percy pushed, and held it so far into me, my legs started to shake on either side of him, both of us trembling in each other’s hold when he moaned so loud, calling my name in a cry until we fell.

  “Hugo,” I quivered against the side of his face, body calming down as he kissed me. “Hugo… uhhh… please…”

  He pressed his forehead against mine somehow silencing me as we calmed down to a comfortable silence. Neither of us spoke to one another, nor did we let go of each other at first. Then like we suddenly remembered who we were, he slowly pulled back. Peeling from my body, and pulling out like we were in reverse or rewinding back the time. I laid there with my blind fold on, refusing to look. As far as I was concerned, it wasn’t Percy that I saw on top of me or kissed…

  “I’ll...be home later on tonight,” was all he said before clearing his throat. “I just came here to grab more files, and make dinner to take to the office.”

  “You told me… already. Big case coming up?” I asked without looking at him.

  “Yeah.”

  There was silence. I stared at the black space before my eyes, seeing the trace of the room light underneath the tie.

  “I’m going to South Carolina this weekend,” I said. “With Tallulah.”

  “She told me,” he said, voice cut short like he didn’t want to talk to me anymore, but then he caught me off guard when he asked, “she asked if I wanted to go. Something about the Moon Run. Think she just wants to use my car to get there.”

  “If you’re not busy… You can come.”

  “I have a lot to do this weekend,” he said before quickly adding. “I would, but not this time…”

  This was awkward. I didn’t hear him move, and I was still laying comatose in the bed with a tie around my eyes.

  “Don’t...don’t wake me if I’m sleep when you come in,” I muttered, feeling shame set in as I slowly sat up, and took the tie down. He just closed himself in the bathroom, and started the shower. Suddenly, I saw a light appear on the edge of the bed from his phone. Screen grew bright for a few lingering seconds before growing dark again as I reached down to grab it. I wasn’t able to unlock his phone this time around since he changed his password, but I saw the preview of the message from a girl named Anita. His assistant.

  Don’t forget to bring two glasses for our wine, and my blanket please and thanx.

  I could feel my stomach turn, thinking about all the times I went up to the front desk. Asking to see him, and the entire time she’s pretending to feel for me while clearly messing with him at the same time.

  “If I were you? I would sit pretty, collect his coins, stack em with yours, and do your thang. Find you a side piece, be safe about it, and enjoy yourself. She’s not the only one he deals with, and she won’t be the last...”

  I grabbed my phone, and looked at the series of text messages. Will conveniently was still on his way, and he hoped that I didn’t fall asleep on him when he gets here. The girls were now talking about Pia, and Violet acting strange, but what about me? I just had sex with a man I despise. I began texting on my phone, feeling like I was out of my mind, or slowly losing it.

  Hey Will, something came up with my mother.

  Rain check. Tomorrow perhaps?

  I sent the message off just as an incoming call came through from Pia.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Is Percy there? Is he home with you?” She pleaded, hearing a screaming Violet. “Piru already said no, and my parents still aren’t talking to me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I just need him to watch Violet for the night or you---.”

  “He’s about to go into work again. Late night at the office so he won’t be able to do it. What’s going on with her?” I asked, thankful to have a drastic change of subject to take my mind off of what just happened.

  Moving forward from this point on with no chance of looking back.

  Fuck him.

  Fixed Mouf

  Nevaeh Skye

  “Ma’am? Ma’am? Can you---.”

  I looked behind me at the long line waiting to check out at the grocery store as Violet continued to scream to the roof. Eyes were bloodshot red, tears covering her entire face, she was having one of the worst tantrums I’ve ever seen a child do, and Pia attempting to calm her down made it worse.

  “Violet? Violet, what’s the matter?” I cooed, trying to grab her hand, but she pulled back. Eyes blinking through tears as she screamed louder.

  “DADDDDDDDY! DAAAAAADDDDDY!”

  The hard sniffles, and the constant looking around like she had no idea where she was, or who she was with was bad enough, but Pia having a mental breakdown in front of everyone made it worse.

  “Has Homer not been able to see her? What’s going on with her calling for him?” I asked as Pia tried to get the rest of the things out of the cart. “And your boyfriend? Dre? Is he---.”

  “Homer hasn’t picked up his phone, and Dre is out of town this week. He won’t be back until Sunday. I don’t know where this is coming from. She just… woke up!” Flipping her hands in the air. “One morning and started treating me like a stranger in my own home! I’ve been calling him, texting him. He won’t----.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “He won’t respond to my calls or texts---.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “WHAT?!” Pia snapped at the cashier. Hai
r sweated out with strands sticking to her face as her chest heaved in rage. “I’m moving as fast as I can!”

  “Aye, these niggas behind us look like they finna snap,” my husband Junie Boy said behind me underneath his breath. Holding our daughter on his hip as she gripped his long sandy brown locs. One look at a crying Violet, and I could see she was affected by her cousin’s stress. Chewing on her lower lip with her fingers coming to her mouth, attempting to show Junie who wasn’t paying any attention. “If they start a riot in here, I’ma be the first to dip. Telling you now.” I gripped my shopping cart, and glared back at him.

  “Daddy?” Mai let out, gripping his mouth before looking back at a crying Violet. Curiously, I watched her jaw move like she was chewing on her cheek when she cut her hazel eyes at me.

  Something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it just yet. Never seen her react that way before.

  “Well they’re just gonna have to because she’s been having a rough week---.”

  “Ma’am? Can you just tell me how many you have in the cart? You don’t have to---.” The cashier was getting frustrated having to talk over Violet’s screams. “Ma’am?!”

  “DAAAAADY?!” Violet hollered, looking around the store in panic. “No! NO! NO!” Shaking her head, trying to get out of the front seat of the cart. “NO! NOOO!”

  “Violet, you have Mommy right here,” I tried, but the look in her eyes when she stared at Pia was terrifying. “Violet, Mommy is right----.”

  “NOO! NOO! NO! DAAAAAAAAAAADY!?” She screamed.

  “Ma’am?”

  “I freaking hear you!” Pia flipped, dropping her phone. “Just stop screaming at me!”

  Pia bent down to get her phone before gripping the cart as she cried. Kneeling in between the aisle, unable to bring herself back up. Her entire body was shaking as she attempted to get it together. I looked back at the line of irritated customers in the grocery store before looking at Junie who was holding our daughter on his hip. Brows raised high with a pointed look at me, I sighed.

  “Just help her out, I’ll grab Violet,” I said, shuffling to the side of the carts before picking up a screaming toddler. Conveyer belt was full of groceries with a tired cashier, and a drained Pia who was flushed in the face. Hair was wired, and all over the place. She stood upright, and nearly jammed her toe on the cart as she gripped the end. Wincing in pain, and clearly at her breaking point.

  “Pia just get your money ready, and pay. I got Violet,” grabbing her crying child.

  “Ma’am? Ma’am?”

  “WHAT?!” Pia shouted back at the cashier who was stuck with on stupid when she pointed to her own chest.

  “Your shirt is---.”

  I swung around to look at Pia’s top at the same time she looked down, seeing the two liquid stains forming at her breasts. She was leaking, and badly. Pia’s face fell as her eyes watered.

  “This just hasn’t been my week. My child has been stressed, and sick. Freaking nose bleeds, nobody in my family wants to help me,” she whispered in a teary voice, digging through her wallet. She stomped her foot while I cupped the back of Violet’s head to keep her against my shoulder. “I don’t even have my card. Barely have enough cash to…” Slamming her purse down in the cart, she let out a scream. “DAMN IT!” Looking down at her shirt where the two dark circles were, she snapped again. “WHY AM I STILL LEAKING MILK?!”

  “It’s fine Pia, it's fine,” moving her out of the line. “Just bag this stuff. Junie, and I will take care of---.”

  “We what?” Junie let out as I cut my eyes at him. “Nigga all that shit she got. I barely got money to cover our own.”

  “We can manage,” I gritted through my teeth, bouncing a crying child before signaling for the cashier to ring our items up too.

  “What’s the hold up? Miss? Are they going to open up any other lanes? This is ridiculous----.”

  “I don’t have time for this,” another said, putting her stuff down before walking off. “Unacceptable!”

  “She must be writing a check,” another muttered from a lane over as the cashier began to ring our things up.

  “I have money!” Pia yelled out to whoever she felt was attacking her. “No checks, or EBT needed! I could buy this entire store up if I wanted!”

  “Pia? Pia, just go----.”

  “No! I want to know who said that!”

  “Is this all one transcation?” The cashier asked Junie who looked at me with that promise of cussing me out when we got home.

  “Yeah,” he answered, keeping his hard gaze on me before digging through his brown wallet with one hand while holding our daughter with the other.

  “Pia grab Mai, and just step to the side,” I demanded, trying to get some order and space around our area. Keeping to the side of Junie to help separate the items, my daughter reached out to touch a sobbing, and sniffling Violet, attempting to grab her mouth when Junie chastised her about it. Mai looked at me before her eyes went back to Violet’s mouth once more as I looked back at Pia’s daughter. Just seeing a dark red and soaked face full of tears.

  “Your daughter is so precious,” Pia whispered, bouncing Mai in her arms, but I studied her gaze. Never leaving Violet.

  “What is it Mai?” I asked gently, knowing my daughter had a far better sight for things like this...Like my sisters, than I did. “You don’t like seeing your cousin cry do you?”

  She shook her head, seeing the tiny gulp she made travel down her neck.

  “You think something is wrong with her mouth?” Pia asked as Mai turned to look at her before attempting to touch Pia’s mouth like she wanted to open it.

  “Aht aht!” Junie snapped, slipping his wallet back into his back pocket. “Mai? What I tell you about touching everybody? We don’t do that.”

  “I think she’s trying to say something,” I told Junie.

  “So use yo words. She knows how to talk. She don’t need to be touching everybody just anywhere. That’s how germs get spread, that’s how shit gets started so nah.”

  “It’s fine,” Pia mouthed to me, adjusting Mai on her hip. “Just grateful Violet has stopped crying. If even for a moment.”

  A bagger finally made his way over, and almost got caught up staring at Pia’s leaking breasts, piercing through her shirt as she grabbed my thankfully, quiet child. We ended up using two carts to take through the damp parking lot. My mom ended up sending me a text message asking could Junie, and I come tonight to help prepare the food for the weekend get together. I was in no mood to drive, but I already knew she was going to ask. If not her, one of my aunts would have called him to help cook.

  “Aye?” He called out as we popped open my trunk. He kept his eyes on Pia who held our daughter. “Lemme load my stuff up, and then I’ma get yours situated while you get that cash app right.”

  I wanted to smack him for being so blunt about getting his money back, but Pia just nodded while I continued to bounce a whining Violet against my chest. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to leave Pia here by herself with Violet. She was going to need help after all.

  “Your brothers haven’t been any help?”

  “No. Percy is busy being Percy, and Piru has his own family he’s more concerned about. You would honestly never know we were siblings the way we act towards one another. Our mother is the one that has to force us to be together, but since she no longer speaks to me…”

  “Right. Are you going to South Carolina tomorrow? It’s this big family thing happening, everyone is usually there. Be a great way to introduce Violet to the rest of the family,” I said. Looking back at Violet as I wiped her face free of tears. Gently picking her brow with a gentle scratch, she was quiet enough, for now. Felt like she was safe in my arms, and thankfully not crying because her voice was starting to get hoarse.

  “I’m not going anywhere but to a damn therapist or doctor,” Pia sniffed. “I don’t know what happened. If I even touch her she freaks out on me. She’s never! I mean never done anything like this before. Never act
ed this way----.”

  “Is she sick?”

  “I took her to her pediatrician yesterday. She’s in a stressful situation, showing signs of extreme levels of anxiety around me. That’s what he said. Now I look like some crazy woman putting my child in a harmful environment, and he suggested a social worker come by and see…oh, and of course! When she’s at her little school, she’s fine. It’s only when I come to pick her up does she start back up again. Up all night, always going to the front door trying to open it like she wants to leave. I don’t…” Pia whimpered, covering her mouth with her hand like she was trying not to cry again. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Have you tried calling Delilah?”

  “I’ve tried everyone, especially Delilah. I don’t even care at this point who. I tried your sisters on Facebook and Instagram. Nobody is responding to me all of the sudden. Like I’ve been tossed aside like the black sheep. I get that I haven’t been cooperative with Violet and that side of the family. It’s not even about Dre, and Homer anymore, and had I known Dre was going to post that picture with him holding Violet, I would have told him not to do it.

  “Yeah, that made things… Worse I think,” I sighed, thinking about the nonstop group chats and phone conversations that took place focusing on Pia, and her boyfriend.

  “I told Dre he cannot post anymore pictures of Violet on his page. No more. Out of respect for Homer. If we’re going to work, he can’t do that.”

  “And you guys are back together?”

  “We’re working towards getting back to that point I think, but it won’t matter if I have to deal with another man at my doorstep. Homer probably thinks I like him, and can’t seem to think without getting my feelings involved. That’s not the case! Far from it! If I could be friends with Homer or get to know him on a familiar level, I would. I honestly would. It’s just new to me. He’s new to me, and my life. I’m having a hard time sharing because I feel like I will be giving her up as my own… Violet is the best thing to happen to me, and the only good thing I’m proud of in my life… and I have to share… I have to share the best part of myself to other people, and I’m struggling. I’m struggling, but I’m trying. Now it's like she’s been cut off. We both have been cut off from everyone, and I’m left with a two year old who cries at the sight of me now. Everyone goes ghost as if this was planned.”