Chapter 3
Frequency
A couple of nights later…
My house was crowded with people, and the only thing I could think about was how I couldn’t wait for all these mothafuckas to be gone.
Celine had gone all out, and the theme of my party was a casino vibe.
They were playing card games, there was dancing and food.
The alcohol circled the room, and everyone actually seemed to be having a good time.
My parents were both in town, and even Karmine had flown back in for the celebration.
Shit must have been slow overseas because none of them ever really bothered with my birthday.
A photographer went around snapping photos and recording video as well.
I was in a crowded room, surrounded by bad bitches with Ledge at my side.
Chevy was front and center on the dancefloor, throwing her ass back with Harbor showing out right beside her.
Both turned up and the life of the party, even though Harbor hadn’t been in the best mood all week.
She’d been avoiding me, having Deviance take her to work before I was even out of bed.
My parents and siblings were present, and I could tell from the look on my mother’s face that she wasn’t pleased with what she was seeing.
She’d living in the UK so long, and even before then she was a stick in the mud, so I could tell that the display was leaving her uncomfortable amongst her friends. She was so uptight and politically correct that the shit was stifling. Distance with me and my family was always the best thing.
Propped up in my chair, I sipped my drink and studied Harbor’s hips as they winded to the beat.
More than a few drinks were coursing through me, and me and Ledge had crept out to smoke a couple of blunts, so X-rated thoughts penetrated me as I watched her moving in that little ass dress.
Like a diamond in the midst of a bunch of regular ass stones, she shined.
There was a bunch of model types surrounding us, and somehow, I only had eyes for her ass.
Even after blowing Lyra’s back out multiple times the other night, shit didn’t get this girl out of my head.
Lyra went all out too, sucking a nigga’s soul from his body.
She just didn’t tap into the deeper parts of me.
We didn’t have any kind of realistic conversations about shit.
I didn’t even know much about the girl or where she fucking came from.
We enjoyed sex with one another, and that was the basis of our relationship.
When the song ended, Harbor took a breath and I watched her leave the room.
“I’ll be back.” I said in a rush, taking the last of my drink in my mouth.
Hopping up, I cut through the crowd to find her and caught her ducking into the kitchen. I wasn’t far behind her, sliding up on her at the counter. She smelled fucking good and felt even better. As I allowed my hands to roam her body, Harbor spun to face me and nudged me gently.
“How you in my party looking like that and can’t even address me?” I questioned her.
Clearing her throat, she flashed a lazy smile on me. Sexy ass.
“Happy birthday.” Her tone was warm.
I knew what was between her legs was warmer.
Crazy how this young ass girl had me under her thumb, and she didn’t even know it.
Harbor had the innocent persona, very green, but she had some bite to her underneath all that.
She carried herself maturely on the outside, and she didn’t allow anyone to judge her or talk to her crazy.
She was fierce; the kind of woman any man would be lucky to have in their corner. I needed her in mine.
Pinning her against the counter, I knelt so that we could be eye level. She tilted her head to one side. Cupping one cheek, I drew her so close our lips were almost touching.
“I’m the birthday boy, and all I want to do is end this night inside you.” Her breathing changed, and I stole the rest of it with a strong kiss.
She clung to me, arms around my back as we pressed into each other.
“Mmm… Free… wait.” Harbor pushed me away and searched my face.
That was the first time that she had even called me by my street name, any other time I was just Frequency.
“I got you something,” she murmured, suddenly shy.
I liked that shit about her. She wasn’t like anybody I knew.
“Word?” I was shocked, and it showed on my face.
I wasn’t expecting anything from her, so the fact that she had actually spent money on me left a nigga stuck.
Other than the chicks in my family, women didn’t break bread on me, and it wasn’t a requirement since I had my own paper.
She went to a nearby drawer and pulled out a box.
I wasn’t sure what was inside it, but she handed it to me with both hands out.
I pressed my back into the counter and studied the pine box that was engraved with a bunch of original markings.
“Celine told me that you are a fan of guns. I’m not even sure you will like it—”
Holding my arms up, I accepted the box. Hitting the latch on the side, I lifted it and a mothafucking chrome colt python sat tucked inside.
Shit was legit and a nigga’s dick got hard.
She even got my fucking initials engraved on the side.
I whistled in wonderment and brought my eyes up.
She waited anxiously for me to say something as I admired the weapon.
“Damn, this is a nice piece, ma.” It was the thought of it all that had me looking at her different.
She didn’t have to go out of her way and do this, but she did. It showed that she was thoughtful. Sometimes it really did amaze me when I thought about how far we had come.
“You like it?” she asked, nervously taking her lip between her teeth.
“Yeah, I love this mothafucka.” My hand swept over the cold steel before I was closing the case and setting it on the counter.
“You should let a nigga properly thank you for it.” My lips found hers and I kissed her slow and sensual.
She didn’t resist me. Her tongue found its way into my mouth and I fed her mine.
“Ahem.” A woman’s nearby voice startled us both, forcing us to look up at the doorway.
We were all in the other’s personal space as my parents paused nearby. I let out a heavy sigh and Harbor tightened up beside me. Kutlass wore his feelings on his face, so he wasn’t thrilled to see us together in the first place. Karrin on the other hand forced a smile onto her own lips.
“Well, I heard that there was a woman possibly in your life. Karmine mentioned it. Hello. I am Karrin Roth.” She stepped forward, extending her hand, which Harbor looked at.
“Harbor. Nice to meet you,” she finally spoke and shook her hand.
“Well, Harbor, you leave very little to the imagination in that dress.” Karrin voiced.
When she insulted you, it was in the nastiest, upbeat way, but shit was still rude as fuck.
“And you seem to feed off attention. What is that display you were putting on out there? A woman doesn’t move in such—”
“I’m sorry, let me stop you right there.
I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about me or what I do.
You don’t know shit about me, and I know even less about you.
” Harbor cut her sharp gaze toward my father.
“And what I do know about you, I don’t like.
Do us all a favor and keep your rocks in your hands.
You know what they say about throwing them at glass houses.
” Her tongue pierced them both, leaving them glaring speechlessly back at the both of us.
Listening to her give them a tongue lashing left me wanting her ass even more. Nobody had ever spoken to either of them like that before either. My mother’s expression was full of offense, and she tried to hold it together and not reveal emotion in that moment.
“Frequency, you should tell your… acquaintance that she needs to learn to speak with a little more respect.” Her mouth tightened with rage as Celine sailed into the room.
She read the energy almost immediately and stopped at the counter.
“Karrin, in here trying to bring misery to your party of one?” She kidded, reaching for an unopened bottle of champagne.
My mother rolled her eyes and Harbor chuckled with Celine.
“How about you stick to being the help around here,” Karrin chimed in curtly.
Celine paused, but didn’t speak. Her bright eyes bounced from Kutlass to Karrin, and shit felt off. The entire vibe in the kitchen changed and Celine set the bottle on the counter. This wicked smile spread across her lips and she laughed a little to herself.
“Always such a bitter Betty. Why did you even show your face this year?”
“This is my son, you remember that!” My mother grew instantly irate, and it sparked curiosity as Kutlass rested a hand on her shoulder.
“You might get to cater to his every whim, but don’t get it twisted, he is mine!
All these years all you ever wanted was to try to establish some kind of place in his life, like you can replace me!
” My mother ranted, and Celine shook her head in disbelief.
“Unbelievable. You ungrateful ass—”
“Celine!” Kutlass barked, and an ear-piercing silence filled the vast room.
I watched Celine’s mouth close in submission.
Very few times had I ever seen her do anything that anyone ordered her to do.
She ran the house the way she saw fit and didn’t care about anyone’s opinion about anything.
I recall many times she and mother butted heads over the years, but my father always came to Celine’s aid.
I never quite understood the dynamics of any of their relationships.
As an adult, my other senses were telling me that some shit was going on underneath the bickering.
“I’m going to go back to the party.” Celine grabbed the champagne and stomped out of the room.
Karrin shot an angry glare toward Kutlass and he sighed before lowering his head.
“I told you I didn’t want to come here. That woman makes my ass itch.” My mother muttered.