Heart of the Hustle

by A'zayler

Angel had just scooted farther down into the cushions when his phone began to vibrate. When he saw that it was Genesis calling him, he stood and answered it. “Yo.”

  “Hey, bae. I’m ready.”

  “Okay, I’m on the way.” He grabbed his trash from the table. “Let me call you when I get in the car.”

  “Why? Where you at?”

  “My house.”

  Genesis sucked her teeth before hanging up in his face. Angel hated when she did that. It was so disrespectful, and he was going to make sure she knew it once he got into his car, but right then he let it slide. The last thing he needed to do was draw attention to her defiance in front of his father. Vinny may have been sitting there watching TV, but Angel was more than positive that he was listening to and watching Angel as well.

  “I’m out, Pops. I’ll slide back through a little later or in the morning.”

  “Be safe, son, and don’t forget what I said. The cop thing,” Vinny used his pointer finger to motion between him and Angel, “is between me and you.”

  “Got you.” Angel nodded, and left the house.

  He hadn’t wanted to leave without telling his mother he’d see her later, but he was more than positive she was still mad, so he’d just call her later. When he got into his car, he picked his phone up to call Genesis back and tell her about herself, but instead of doing that, he flipped his music on and bobbed his head to the beat.

  Music was a calming mechanism for him, and exactly what he needed right then. Empress and Genesis were going to have to get it together soon, Genesis more than Empress. Genesis called herself no longer liking Empress either after finding out she didn’t like her. Angel thought that was the most immature thing ever, but it was what it was.

  Empress was his queen, but Genesis gave him pussy, so more times than not, he let Genesis off the hook quicker than he probably should have, and he hated it. Angel sometimes found himself falling too weak for Genesis, and it was so annoying. He’d been soft with his women for as long as he could remember, but with Genesis it was worse.

  It didn’t matter how hype he was with her, the moment she smiled or kissed him, his attitude would dissipate against his will. Much like right then. He’d been angry with her pretty much the entire ride to their school, but now that he’d laid eyes on her, he was good.

  Gone was the anger he’d been harboring on his drive over. It didn’t even bother him that she was talking to her little friend, Emmanuel. He was a dude in one of their classes that they studied with from time to time. Definitely not a nigga Angel would see as a threat.

  After Angel pulled his car to a stop along the curb and hopped out, all eyes were on the shiny luxury vehicle as he rounded the hood and headed toward where Genesis stood. A few people waved and called out to him. He responded coolly but kept his focus on the love of his life.

  “Hey there, pretty girl.” Angel’s smooth voice brought a smile to her face. “What’s good, Emmanuel?” He nodded.

  Emmanuel dapped him up with a smile and told them he’d see them later, while Genesis had to be her usually dramatic self.

  “Don’t be trying to run game on me.” Genesis turned toward Angel and crossed her arms over her chest.

  Angel could tell she was trying to keep her little attitude, but he wasn’t having that. He walked right up to her and grabbed both sides of her waist, pulling her to him. Being that he was a little over six feet tall and Genesis was barely five feet two, he towered over her easily.

  He looked down at her before pecking the top of her head. “Let that li’l shit go.” He pecked her head again. “You ain’t even got no reason to be tripping.” Angel rubbed his hand through her hair.

  “Why I don’t?” she asked while looking toward the voice that had just called his name.

  Angel followed her eyes and observed the group of women that had just walked past. They were staring at him, while one of them waved.

  Angel gave a light smile and nodded. “What’s going on, ladies?”

  They offered an array of greetings, but he was no longer focused on them. Genesis had his full attention, even if she didn’t think so.

  “What you doing?” Angel frowned when she pulled away from him.

  “Go talk to them. Clearly they’re important enough for you to ignore the fact that I’m standing here.”

  “You can’t be serious right now.” Angel looked at her as if she’d just grown two heads. “All I did was say hello. I know you ain’t tripping about that when you were just standing here talking to another nigga.”

  “Why you even had to do all that? You didn’t even have to look over there. They were only speaking because they saw you standing here with me,” she sassed. “And Emmanuel ain’t nobody and you know it, so don’t even try it.”

  Angel chuckled because she was right. Emmanuel wasn’t shit, just a smokescreen for him right then.

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you know I’m right. Trying to throw that nigga up to cover up your mess.”

  “Man, stop that, Genesis. The girl that called my name is in my study group.”

  Genesis rolled her eyes and waved him off. “Sure, she is. Just like Emmanuel is in mine, right? You wouldn’t like it if I did you like that.”

  “Don’t even play with me like that.”

  Genesis shook her head from side to side and rolled her eyes. “You make me so sick sometimes.”

  Angel stood stuck for a minute, because he couldn’t believe the full-blown attitude she’d just developed all because he’d spoken to another woman. Had he known it was going to cause all of that, he would have just nodded and kept everything else to himself.

  “You ready?” she asked him with her eyebrows raised.

  Angel looked at her for a little while longer before stepping close to her again. “I ain’t leaving until you tell me you’re not mad at me anymore.”

  With his arms now circling her waist, Genesis rested comfortably in his embrace. She was looking everywhere but at him, trying her best to hold on to her little attitude. When she didn’t answer him, he began placing kisses all over her face. It didn’t take long before she was falling into his chest, laughing and smiling.

  “I don’t know when you’re going to realize you’re my baby and stop cutting up.”

  “When you realize I’m the only girl in your life that matters.” Genesis locked eyes with him and stared.

  In the back of his mind, Angel could tell that was also a shot at Empress, but he would disregard it for now. He knew no one came before Empress, and that was all that mattered. If he had to lie and pretend for Genesis to believe she was number one, then so be it. Whatever made her happy. That was a stupid argument that he was tired of having with her.

  “I know that already. It’s you that obviously keeps forgetting.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward his car. “Another woman should never make you feel inferior when it comes to me.”

  Genesis smacked her lips. “Other bitches don’t make me feel inferior, threatened, or none of that other shit. That be you.”

  Angel was glad his back was to her when he closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Just get in the car, Genesis.”

  “I’m getting in the car. I’m just reminding you.”

  “You don’t have to remind me about anything I already know.”

  Angel hit the locks before opening the door for her and standing to the side so that she could get in. She looked at him the entire time she got into the car. She wanted a fight, he could tell, but she was going to have to let that go. He wasn’t in the mood to entertain her foolishness right then.

  “I love you.” He winked and closed the door.

  He peeked through the windshield as he rounded the car. When he saw her smiling, his chest eased a little. Maybe she would calm her rowdy ass down long enough for them to enjoy their night. He’d just rid himself of a boatload of stress by taking his final. He wouldn’t allow her to pile it right back on.

  Chapter Four

  He’s just not the oner />
  “Oh damn,” Angel groaned out. “Your pussy is hot as fuck.” His eyes fluttered. “And greedy. You must wanted some dick bad this morning.”

  His eyes were closed as he allowed his head to fall back. In the small bathroom of Genesis’s apartment, with her on the counter in front of him, Angel held her legs in the crooks of his arms as he slid in and out of her body slowly. The grip that her pussy had on him was damn near handicapping, and Genesis knew he loved it.

  As bad as he wanted to move his legs and change positions, he couldn’t. She’d watched him try and fail too many times already. The feeling that she was giving him right then wouldn’t allow him to do anything more than he was already doing. His knees were buckling and his abs were getting tight as he tried to brace himself for the orgasm that would be coming soon.

  “Genny,” Angel moaned out to her as he opened his eyes. “Squeeze me like that again.”

  Genesis was lying back, looking straight at him. His slim yet muscular body was bare, giving way to all his manly glory. The veins in his arms pulsed with every stroke he delivered, and it made her shiver every time.

  Angel was so fucking sexy it was unreal. The sandy-brown skin he’d inherited from his father held a darker brown tint as well from his mother. She was a lot darker than he and his father, and Angel’s skin showed it.

  His jet-black hair was thick with continuous waves, and if his face didn’t make you fall in love, that hair surely would. He was a unique mix of pure sexiness, and Genesis couldn’t get enough of him. He had the perfect bad-boy look, but a heart of gold. The way he loved her was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before.

  A young, black girl from the suburbs, she’d had her share of men, but none of them had ever made her feel like Angel had in the few short years they’d been dating. Relationships hadn’t always been her strong point because of her insecurities, but he handled them well enough for the both of them, and she appreciated him for it.

  “I love you so much.” The smooth bass in Angel’s voice took over his words.

  Genesis looked at his handsome face and smiled. “I love you too.”

  “Marry me, then.”

  Genesis’s heart began to speed up as she lay there looking at him. She did her best to maintain eye contact, but when she couldn’t anymore, she turned her head. Why did he have to do that? Their night had been exceptional, and their morning had been even better. Why couldn’t he leave things how they were?

  “Angel.” Her tone was desperate and filled with sorrow. “Don’t do this.”

  He frowned. “Don’t do what, Genesis? Don’t ask you to be my wife? To spend the rest of your life with me? Let me love on you forever? Which one? Don’t do what?” he bellowed.

  Genesis closed her eyes, because she already knew when he asked that his question was about to ruin their moment. It always did. She could understand his frustration, but that didn’t deter her feelings. She didn’t want to marry him, that was it.

  “Calm down, Angel.” She tried to soothe him, but he said nothing.

  Instead, he pulled her from the countertop and turned her around. When she was bent over the sink, he plunged back inside her. Genesis yelped upon contact but got back with the flow easily. Her body was familiar with Angel’s dick. It had been a part of her for years now, so it didn’t take long for her to find their rhythm again.

  He was pounding her body roughly when she looked up at him through the mirror. He frowned as he looked down to where he was connecting them. Genesis watched his facial expression change over and over before he looked up at her. When they finally made eye contact, she could tell that he was angry, but she couldn’t help that right then.

  For the rest of the time they made love, Angel said nothing to her. When he reached his peak, he snatched out and released himself in his hand before turning to flip the shower on. With no words uttered to her, he stepped in and washed himself clean. Genesis remained in her spot near the counter for a little while longer before opening the shower door and stepping in with him.

  He was facing her with his hands up rubbing shampoo into his hair. He opened only one eye when he felt the cool breeze from the door. He didn’t look at her long before turning his back and rinsing the soap from his hair.

  “Baby, don’t be like that,” Genesis whispered solemnly.

  He was silent as he continued to wash away the soap from his head and body. Genesis felt bad as she took another step toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pecked his back.

  “I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

  “I’m not.” His nonchalant attitude was easily detected.

  “Yes, you are.”

  “If I said I’m not, then I’m not.”

  Genesis heard what he was saying, but he was lying.

  “Well, stay mad, then.” She sucked her teeth and snatched her washcloth and body wash from the holder in the corner.

  Angel stepped out of her way so that she couldn’t touch him. Genesis wanted to slap him, but she knew better than to put her hands on him. It was so irritating how mad he got about the same thing every time. He’d asked her to marry him two other times in the past, and every time she’d said no. He should have been used to it by now. If she wasn’t ready, he couldn’t make her.

  A few more minutes passed before he opened the shower door and stepped out. When he didn’t bother to close the door, Genesis rolled her eyes.

  “Why are you being like that, Angel? Damn! It’s not that serious.” Genesis walked under the showerhead so that the water was cascading down on her.

  “Oh, it ain’t that serious?” His returned presence startled her. She’d just watched him walk out of the bathroom. “I guess that’s why you keep saying no, huh?” He leaned down so that his face was only inches from hers.

  Genesis wasn’t exactly sure what to say, because that wasn’t what she had meant. She hadn’t intended to dumb down his proposal so blatantly.

  When she didn’t say anything, he looked her up and down and stepped away from her. “Glad to know how you feel.”

  She watched him walk away again before closing the shower door. Genesis closed her eyes and did her best to gather her thoughts as she showered. A little over an hour later, she was seated on the sofa in her living room when she heard him coming down the hallway.

  When he walked in, he was fully dressed and looking too sexy for her to still be clad in her pajamas. Genesis watched him walk toward the door like he was about to leave without her.

  “Damn, no invite?” she asked.

  He stopped and looked over at her. “You put that shit on like you was in the house for the day, so I ain’t know you was trying to make moves,” he told her nonchalantly while eyeing her pajamas.

  Genesis hated that he was looking so sexy. If he had looked a mess, her copping an attitude right back would have been much easier. The flannel pajama pants and two-sizes-too-big shirt she was sporting made her look like somebody’s old auntie, so she would hold her attitude down for a minute. At least long enough for her to comb her hair.

  “You didn’t bother to ask me if I was,” she said.

  Angel looked at her with a look of impatience. “Genesis, you’re a grown-ass woman. I shouldn’t have to hold your hand through everything. If you’re riding, go put on some clothes. If you’re not, that’s cool too, but I’m about to slide.”

  Genesis rolled her eyes and tossed the remote onto the sofa next to her. She stomped past him and walked toward her room. Being that he was already ready and waiting on her, she didn’t take as long as she normally would have to get dressed.

  With the attitude he had right then, he would probably leave her if she took too long anyway, so she moved as quickly as she could. When she was completely dressed, she stopped in front of the mirror. Her honey-colored skin was blemish free, while her short hair rested stylishly on her head.

  Her hazel irises meshed well with the yellow dress hugging her body and with the camel-colored wedge sandals. Genesis turned
her small nose up a little before rubbing a little more blush on her high cheekbones. When she felt she was ready, she sprayed on her perfume and grabbed her purse.

  She padded down the hallway and into the living room. Without stopping, she walked right over to where Angel was leaned against the wall texting on his phone. When he looked up at her, he paused for a second, obviously taken aback by her beauty, as always, before going back to his phone.

  “You ready?” His tone still held an underlying hostility that she didn’t appreciate.

  “Don’t it look like it?”

  Angel looked at her with furrowed brows. “You can leave that smart-ass mouth here.” He looked her up and down again before letting himself out her front door.

  Genesis watched the way his body moved as he dapped down the sidewalk toward his car. Even with him being one of the sexiest and coolest niggas she’d ever met, she still wasn’t ready to commit her life to him. His money, and the stability he provided for her, was a bonus that she had no intention of letting go, but she was still young. Being tied down to one man wasn’t on her agenda for another few years.

  When Angel got into the car without opening the door for her, Genesis wasn’t surprised. “You ain’t have to open my door for me,” she sassed as she got into the car and snapped her seat belt on.

  Angel’s new car silently came alive. “I know. You don’t like nice shit, so why even bother? Right?” He looked at her quickly before backing out of the driveway and out of her complex, headed for the interstate.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Genesis rolled her neck with much attitude.

  “It means you don’t like nice shit. Exactly what I said.” He drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting behind the headrest of her seat.

  “Why would you even say something like that? I love nice things.”

  Angel chuckled. “Yeah, as long as it doesn’t involve commitment, huh? You can love the way I pay your bills, buy you all those expensive clothes and shoes, keep your hair and nails done, and ball out in the fucking clubs with you.” The angrier Angel got, the faster his car went. “You love that kind of shit, huh? As long as I do it all while being your boyfriend.” He huffed. “I’m out here buying you new cars, house shopping, and all this other shit that husbands do for their wives, and you’re in love with it as long as you don’t have to be my wife to get it.” Angel cut his eyes at her and surged down the highway.