by Keyes, Janae
“Are you ready to see New York?” He played with my freshly done braids.
“Of course,” I cooed as his hand rubbed my thigh. I slapped a hand over my mouth as I yawned. “Maybe, a nap first though.”
“Auntie did send me with a mission,” Ayo piped up from the seat behind us.
“And that was?” I was afraid of what mission my mother gave my cousin for our trip to the Big Apple.
“To find you a husband,” he laughed.
“Is that so?” Marc asked as he turned in the direction of Ayo who continued with his fit of laughter over the matter. “I guess you have a wingman.” Marc nudged my shoulder with his own with a snicker before putting his arm around me.
I instantly folded my arms.
“It’s not funny,” I shot at them. I didn’t want to talk about my inability to be fully open and honest about my relationship with Marc because it put this dark cloud over us. I wouldn’t bring that into our trip.
“I’m sorry, mon amour,” Marc whispered into my ear before kissing my cheek. I turned my head to face his and kissed his lips. “I’ve missed this all week. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
* * *
The music pumped through our bodies as we danced. After a little resting, a fighter friend of Marc invited our group out to a local popular nightclub. Marc was quick after a couple drinks to pull me onto the dance floor. We were living our best and carefree lives while in New York.
Marc’s hands were all over my body, worshipping every bit he could with my clothes on. I leaned into him, my ass bouncing against his dick that was straining at his jeans. I couldn’t wait for us to be back in the hotel room, alone.
I glanced over to see my cousin flirting with a guy he’d met as soon as we got to the club, and Fabumi sitting pretty in VIP with Emmy on his lap. Emmy was eager for a night out after being sequestered at home with their newborn. Her aunt didn’t live too far from the city and came out to babysit for the evening to give the new parents a well-deserved break.
“Let’s get some air,” Marc said into my ear over the loud music.
I responded with a nod as he laced our fingers together and we weaved through the grinding bodies of the dance floor and out onto a balcony.
Marc leaned onto the railing and pulled me into his arms, I rested my chin on his chest as I peered up at him. Before, I was never one to be in the middle of a dance floor at any night club unless Ayo had physically dragged me there with him.
I had this confidence in myself I’d only ever felt when dancing. It poured through me like an open dam. I stood taller in a way I’d never done. I was inching toward more control. The only thing I lacked was the ability to stand up to my parents in who I wanted to be with.
“I’m having the best time,” I expressed wholeheartedly and a little breathlessly as I came down from all the dancing.
“Good.” Marc kissed my forehead before I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed his warm lips. “Are you excited for the ballet tomorrow?”
“I’m beyond excited,” I gushed at the buzz of seeing my idol, Misty Copeland, live on stage and embodying what it was not to just be a ballerina, but one of color. Just getting my hands on tickets was thrilling in itself.
Marc twirled my braids with his hand as he tended to do. I leaned into him and pressed my head to his chest, listening to his heart thump under my ear.
“Seeing you excited and happy is everything I could ask for,” Marc continued to toy with my hair. “It’s all I want.”
“What?”
“Your happiness.”
“Lookie here, there goes baldy again,” a voice in English cut through the moment.
I ignored it as we were in a busy nightclub and it could be directed at anyone.
“This fucker,” Marc grumbled under his breath and I turned to see a guy approaching us.
He was about as tall as Marc and incredibly muscular, almost inhuman like in the way they bulged from his shirt. The guy’s dark hair was flopped over to one side. He approached us with an entourage of guys and a sneer on his ugly face.
Marc secured his arm around my waist and held me tight. I felt his heart-rate accelerate, and his stance stiffen as he stood taller.
“Having a little fun before I kick your ass on Saturday, huh, Little Belgian?” The guy asked with a condescending snarl to his voice.
I scrunched my face and furrowed my brow. I wanted to fight him myself.
“And you’ve got a little bitch to keep you company.”
“Fuck yourself, Bartowski,” Marc hissed angrily, his Belgian accent strong as he spoke in English. “Leave my girlfriend out of this.”
“Girlfriend?” Bartowski questioned with a smirk as he stepped closer and reached out a hand that just barely grazed my face when Marc slapped it away. “Nice little monkey you’ve got.” Bartowski snickered and his guys joined in laughing.
I was shaking and Marc pushed me behind him as he stepped in Bartowski’s face on the ready attack. It was almost possible to see the steam coming from his ears.
“Apologize,” Marc growled.
“For what?” The men were face to face and people all around had caught wind of what was going on. Phones were out and recording the confrontation while I stood by helpless.
“Piece of shit. I’m going to tear you the fuck apart on Saturday,” Marc affirmed as security arrived and tried their hardest to break the men apart, but neither would budge. They were screaming insults at one another and trying to get in hits.
I rushed to Marc and touched his shoulder.
He peered back at me and his eyes immediately met mine.
“Please, Marc. Let’s go,” I pleaded in French.
Marc nodded in response and turned away as the bigger person. He laced his fingers with mine and we began to walk back into the club to get the rest of our group when Bartowski shouted a few insults that made Marc pause for a moment. His breathing was heavy, ragged, but I gripped tightly to his hand to keep his anger from overflowing.
“That’s right, walk away like the little bitch you are. You and your little nigger whore!” Bartowski shouted over the crowd and music.
Marc dropped my hand and in seconds he was barreling toward Bartowski.
I stood unable to do anything. With my small frame I could never hold back my beast of a boyfriend who was pissed beyond all reason. Marc was a bear defending his territory with a feoricity I’d never seen another person display before. I stood horrified as the men went at it. My heart thumped in my throat and it felt as if it would burst out of my body. I had no way of stopping the disaster that unfolded in front of my eyes.
“Marc, arrête s'il-te-plaît!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as if he could hear me over it all.
Justin, Marc’s friend who’d invited us out, and a few other fighters all rushed from the club and worked to pull the men apart. My entire body was shaking intensely as I watched him yank Marc from on top of Bartowski. Justin and Marc stumbled back together, tripping over a table and chairs but caught themselves before falling.
Marc attempted to jump back into the fray but was held back by Justin and two other guys.
“Nina, can you calm him down?” Justin asked me anxiously as he struggled to keep Marc under any control.
I stood still in my spot in a haze of shock.
“Please, Nina, we need your help.”
“Go to him, I’ll get Emmy and Fabumi,” Ayo’s voice came into my ear and I turned to see my wide-eyed cousin with the guy he’d been flirting with next to him.
“Okay,” I sprinted to Marc and placed a hand on his arm.
Getting my first look at his face, he had blood gushing from his nose and a busted lip. I swallowed away my aversion to blood.
“Marc let’s go. Come on, please,” I begged him as he continued to fight the guys and raged on. “Marc!” I screeched at the top of my lungs and his eyes snapped into mine. “Let’s go calm down.”
Marc didn’t say a sin
gle word to me or anyone else as he stepped in my direction. Someone handed me a towel which I quickly gave to Marc who put his arm around my waist and walked with me.
As we stepped through the club, patrons parted and made a pathway for us. Fabumi, Emmy, and Ayo were all at the door.
“Holy fuck,” Fabumi commented at the sight of him, who’s only response was grunted.
“Let’s go!” Marc barked at us.
I swallowed hard as a tear fell down my cheek.
Ayo rushed to my side and wrapped an arm around me as Marc led the way out of the club.
My heart thumped at Marc becoming another person when provoked. It was so much like the character of my ex-husband who’d transform from a very chill guy to a monster easily. I didn’t want to be afraid of Marc but right then and there, I was.
Chapter Eleven
Marc
It was a pure miracle I wasn’t disqualified after the fight in the club. There was no way to explain it besides I saw red and went for Bartowski hard. I could deal with him insulting me and trying to rile me up, but when it came to Nina, I wouldn’t let him—or anyone—talk shit.
Yet, when it came to Nina, it backfired on me. I saw the fear deep in her eyes whenever she looked at me the rest of the night. She wouldn’t even sleep with me and moved into Ayo’s room for the night. I’d failed her and that was the biggest defeat I could ever face.
“How was the ballet?” I asked as she stepped into the front doors of the hotel with Ayo by her side.
“Good,” she answered in one word and kept walking toward the hotel elevators with her cousin. Fuck.
“Good news, the fight will still happen tomorrow night,” I informed her as I sprinted to keep up with her quick pace.
“Hmm.” That wasn’t even a full word.
Fuck. Fuck! I’d never fucked up so bad before and my heart pumped with what the outcome could be. I refused to lose her. Nina was everything my life required in it. I jogged to keep up with her as she kept moving.
“Mon chéri.” I placed a hand on her shoulder to slow her pace. She froze and her eyes scanned me over and there it was again, that fear. I swallowed hard and how surprisingly emotional I got when I looked into her warm, yet afraid eyes. “Can we talk?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” her voice was quiet, and it burned hearing her sound so small.
“I know I don’t deserve it but give me a chance, baby. I made a mistake last night. I let my anger get the best of me and I acted like an animal. You know I’m better than that, don’t you?” I asked just hoping it would give me a lifeline with her. Even if she only gave me a moment, I’d make that moment last forever because I needed her forever.
“Marc,” she started. I prayed silently that it wouldn’t be the end. It could be the end between us. “I’d rather talk upstairs if that’s okay.”
“Oui, Mon chéri. Anything for you to be comfortable,” I groveled. I wasn’t the groveling and begging type, but if I was going to possibly lose the woman I loved, I’d be on my hands and knees begging for her to stay with me and I’d have no shame doing it.
The three of us stepped into the elevator. Ayo pressed the button for the floor we were all staying on and the doors closed, leaving us in an eerie silence. No one said a word as the elevator climbed floors and with a ding the doors opened to our floor.
I allowed both Nina and Ayo out in front of me.
“I’ll see you soon,” Nina said to her cousin who gave her a reassuring nod before she turned to face me and motioned for me to lead the way to the room which was supposed to be ours but instead I was left to sleep alone.
She followed behind me.
My heartbeat grew louder in my ears with every step toward the room at the end of the hall. I pulled the keycard from my pocket and opened the door. With a wave of my hand, I motioned for Nina to step inside. She entered the room and I followed, the door closing behind me with a click.
“You said the ballet was good?” I questioned innocently, making small talk before we got right into the matter.
Nina sat on the edge of the bed and crossed her legs. She didn’t say a word and clearly wasn’t entertained by my small talk.
I ran my hand over my bald head as I sat down next to her.
“Last night,” she began as she looked down at her hands in her lap. “I didn’t know who you were anymore. You weren’t Marc, my protector, the man I loved. You turned into this monster. It’s like I discovered why they call you the Belgian Beast. You were a beast last night who was out for the kill. The rage and fury I saw sent me right back to when I was married and my husband would turn from one man into another, a raging monster let out of his cage. Those were the times he hurt me the most.”
“But I’d never hurt you, Nina. You know that, right?” I asked as I lifted her chin and she looked at me, really looked at me for the first time.
“I want to say yes. I really do but je ne sais pas.” She was physically shaking as she sat next to me.
My heart shattered knowing I gave her this reaction. I wasn’t that man. I wasn’t like her ex-husband, nor my father. I’d never hit a woman especially the woman I loved.
“Nina,” I whispered not really having the words anymore. Even knowing I wasn’t, I felt like I was a monster.
Small sobs began to erupt from her as she quaked next to me.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her close without words.
She needed to let all the fear she’d held in, come out.
I wouldn’t stop her from her moment but be there with her as she went through it. To me, that was my number one job. I had to support her through it all, even when it was harder than I could imagine.
“I was so scared,” she cried onto my chest.
“Merde,” I cursed under my breath. “Je suis désolé. You should never be afraid because of me. Never,” I proclaimed as I continued to hold her in my arms. I had so much to work on as a man but even more so as the one who was the protector of Nina’s heart. I was a better man than that and I was committed to showing that.
After a few minutes, Nina pulled away slightly and looked up at me. Her make-up was smudged, and black streaks fell down her cheeks. Never again would I allow her to feel that way. Never again would I contribute to her tears, and never again would she have to face the fear of any man.
“Are we going to be okay?” I was desperate to know if I’d ever get that chance with her again. I’d walked alone for so long and to have her by my side was another universe and I didn’t want to go back to how things were. Life without her spark wasn’t life at all.
“Nina,” I hummed as I placed a finger under her chin and brought her closer. “I love you.”
“I love you too. That was the hardest part of it. Seeing the man I love become…” her voice trailed off.
“A monster, I know. I guess there’s a reason they call me the Belgian Beast, but I promise I’ll never be that man around you. I fucking promise it with everything,” I swore.
“Can you make me another promise?” Her lips hovered barely a centimeter from my own which were aching to kiss her.
“Anything, ma petite danseuse.”
“Tomorrow night, kick that piece of shit’s ass.”
I laughed loudly before I crushed my mouth to hers ignoring the wincing pain in my busted lip. I lost myself in the kiss. Greedily claiming her as I laid us on the bed. Her leg wrapped around me, pulling me in close as her hands gripped at my shirt.
“You’re. So. Fucking. Amazing,” I said between kisses as I pulled her over me, letting her hips straddle mine.
My hand traveled under the hem of her dress and gripped onto her panty covered ass. I needed her out of her panties as soon as possible. Every part of my body burned to have her flesh connected with mine, to hear her screams of pleasure, and to hold her as if today was the beginning of forever.
Sliding under the elastic of her underwear, my fingers found her clit and began to stroke it between her folds that grew wett
er with each stroke of my digits.
“Marc,” Nina gasped into my mouth as her hips bucked into my hand. She was just as desperate for me as I was for her.
“Tell me, Nina,” I grumbled to her. “Why is your pussy so wet?”
“You,” she gasped as I pinched her clit between my thumb and forefinger.
Gripping her panties, we maneuvered together, and it wasn’t long before I had them sliding down her legs and she was kicking them off. My hands gripped her hips knowing exactly where I wanted her. I lifted her as I slid down the bed and her soaked pussy was just above my mouth.
Unable to wait any longer, I pulled her down and began licking her warm center. My tongue darting in and out as she rode my face. Her knees tightening around my head muffled my hearing, but I could still hear Nina’s cries into the room as she filled my mouth with her sweet explosion.
The beast in my pants throbbed with eager excitement to be buried inside her, feeling her, and loving her for every bit she was.
I laid Nina on the bed, she glanced up at me, her eyes glazed over in ecstasy. Bending to her, I began to undo the buttons of her flowing dress. With each small button I did away with, a small bit of her deeply toasted flesh was exposed to me. Soon she laid under me, her body exposed as she hadn’t worn a bra with her backless dress.
Standing straight up, I tore off my shirt and ripped my usual sweatpants down my legs to be just as bare as her.
Bending to her stomach, I planted a kiss on her belly button and left a trail of small kisses up the center of her chest to her perky breasts that awaited me. I took one nipple into my mouth while I pinched the other between my fingers. I needed all of her, and I’d take her one moment at a time.
“Shit,” I grumbled as I reluctantly pulled myself away from her body. I stumbled to my suitcase and dug through until I found exactly what I was looking for. Grabbing the condom, I made quick work of getting it open and sliding it onto my rock-hard dick.
Unable to wait any longer I pounced onto the bed and spread her legs and sunk into her in one swift motion. Filling her, I pulled out and slammed back into her. Our eyes locked and I refused to lose her heated gaze while I made love to her.