Chapter Six #2
I nodded sadly. “As I got older and discovered some things about myself, I couldn’t help but remember Mr. Cade’s story. I vowed to never tell anyone in the neighborhood. I couldn’t handle the thought of my mother sitting next to my bedside in the hospital.”
“Did your mom know about you?”
“She did. I could never hide anything from her even if I wanted to; she could read me like a book. She understood why I wanted to keep my orientation a secret. She even agreed, having seen firsthand what could happen to me if I didn’t, but she hated the fact that I couldn’t be myself, or openly pursue a relationship.
She was so excited for the day I would graduate, move out of the area, and be free to build my life. ”
“I’m sorry she never got that chance.”
“Me too.” My mother was aware of some flings or secret trysts I’d had, but she never got to see me in a healthy relationship. I wished she could have met Geo. She would have loved him.
Irritation crept over his face again. “So what about Sharice? I’m not exactly a fan of hers, but you can’t keep her in the dark if she’s expecting more from you.”
He probably didn’t want to see it, but I couldn’t stop my smile at his words.
He really was a treasure. “She isn’t expecting anything.
Like I said, we’ve been friends nearly our whole lives.
Sharice knows who I am. She’s the only person from my neighborhood whom I trust, and she’d never do anything to hurt me.
That’s why she acts as sort of a cover for me. ”
I explained, “If the guys from the neighborhood think Sharice and I are together, they have no reason to suspect otherwise. It also keeps the guys from hitting on her as much.” I didn’t want to betray Sharice’s trust, but I knew she would understand, and I thought it would help soothe my lover when I told him, “She doesn’t want male attention. ”
It took a moment for understanding to cross his face. “Oh.”
“We’re not sure if Sharice’s needs would be dangerous for her to broadcast, but we figured it’s better safe than sorry. So the cover is good for both of us.”
“That’s why you sent me away,” Geo gathered. “To keep yourselves safe.”
“And you.” I kept myself fit, and knew how to fight if I needed to, in a last resort situation.
But if a whole group of men attacked Geo, Sharice, or me, I worried I couldn’t keep everyone safe.
“Geo, it absolutely tore me apart when I told you to leave. I wanted to explain everything right then and there, but I would never put you in danger. I just wanted to keep you safe.”
Geo finally reached over and placed his hand on mine, and I realized just how much I’d missed his touch. It was as if I could breathe again, and everything settled inside my heart.
“I guess I shouldn’t have come over without asking,” he mused quietly. “I just wanted to surprise you. I wanted to show you that I didn’t care about where you came from, and to thank you for taking care of me earlier.”
“I know you wanted to surprise me, and I appreciate it. I should have been honest with you about the situation before now. I honestly hate talking about it, and I was hoping to move away from the area before it came up.”
Geo squeezed my hand. “I don’t like the idea of you living there. Not only because you have to hide your true self, but because of what could happen if you don’t. I want you to be safe and happy.”
“It has always been my plan to move once I found a good job. Now that I’ve been with the company for a couple of months and have some money saved up, I’m going to start seriously looking for a new place.”
“Good.” Geo’s eyes brightened as he sat up straighter. “You should stay with me until you find a place. My parents will be gone for a while still, and there’s more than enough room.”
As much as the idea of living with Geo intrigued and excited me, there was a glaring red flag I couldn’t ignore. “Sweetheart, judging by the events of this evening, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
The cops were called simply because I was sitting on the stoop of a home, where people decided I didn’t belong. I supposed I should be grateful; I’d heard of people having much worse run-ins with the police. Hell, I’d seen it with my own eyes. But I didn’t feel grateful.
Because it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
I understood being vigilant, and believed that everyone had the right to protect their home and wellbeing.
If I or anyone else was causing problems or damage, then it would be understandable for the authorities to step in.
But calling the cops because a black man was sitting down was inexcusable.
Though the circumstances were different, Geo had faced some discrimination as well when he rolled into my neighborhood.
The guys saw his nice car and light skin, and decided he was in the wrong place as well.
A visible gift in his hands and their assumptions could have gotten him seriously hurt, or worse.
All my life, I’d had people assume that I was a thug just because of where I grew up.
People also expected Geo to be uptight and intolerant because of his upbringing.
But both were far from the truth. We were just regular people trying to find our way in the world, and who had thankfully found our way to each other.
All too often, the world saw people on a skin deep level, therefore missing beautiful souls, pure hearts, and perfect love.
And there was a very beautiful soul seated next to me, holding my hand and tapping his lip as he thought of a way to make my situation better. He accepted what I told him, and held no ill will towards me. He only wanted to move forward. So did I, and I needed him to know.
“Staying here isn’t right for us, but I’m sure we can find a place that is.”
Geo swiveled his head around to look at me with saucer-sized eyes. “Us? We?”
I hoped it was excitement I heard, not fear. “Yes, sweetheart. Neither of us are happy where we live now.” I had to hide so much of myself, and Geo lived under the thumb of his judgemental parents. “And I’m positive that wherever I go, I want you with me.”
There were things we’d have to figure out; the most pressing being work. Dating coworkers was prohibited, so living together would be an even bigger problem. We could hide it for a while, but eventually we would have to update our employee files.
But I had faith we would figure everything out. I wasn’t going to allow a company’s rules dictate my life. I worked hard. I knew what I was worth. And I deserved a chance at happiness. Of course, there was still one major question.
I clasped Geo’s hand in both of mine and asked hopefully, “What do you say?”
His lips slowly spread into a blinding smile before he whispered, “I say yes.”
My heart pounded, pumping joy and excitement throughout my body. Was this fast? Undeniably. Was it crazy? Possibly. But was I sure? Absolutely. I leaned in to kiss my man, but Geo backed away at the last second.
“What about Sharice? If you leave, won’t it make things more difficult for her?” Comments like that proved that I couldn’t find a sweeter, more thoughtful man to build a life with.
“I originally went home before coming here because Sharice had something she needed to talk about. I knew she’d been seeing someone; a doctor with a practice uptown, but today she told me that the doc asked Sharice to move in with her.
She wanted to make sure I would be okay.
So the timing really couldn’t be better. ”
A look of relief crossed Geo’s handsome face. “So everything is going to be okay.”
I corrected with a smile, “Everything is going to be perfect.”
*****
Geo
I pounced on Jamal, straddling his lap and slamming my lips to his. Emotions ran wild within me; relief from Jamal’s explanation of the afternoon’s events, excitement about our future together, and about a million other things I couldn’t put a name to. The entire day had been a rollercoaster.
My body had run the gamut of every feeling it was possible of; despair over losing Richard, glee from hearing Jamal confess his love for me, gratitude for his gift of a new fish friend, and then the extreme ups and downs of everything that played out in his neighborhood.
It was hard to believe that so much had happened in such a short period of time.
I wasn’t sure how to process everything. All of my emotions swelled and tangled together until they consumed me. I didn’t have the words to explain them, or the way they made my thoughts and heart race. So I did the only thing I knew to do; I kissed Jamal harder.
I poured everything into him, hoping he could taste my need for understanding and support.
He responded perfectly without having to say a word.
He kissed me back just as fiercely, and wrapped his arms around my hips, holding me tightly.
He offered silent support, taking on any part of my burden that he could.
I needed to reconnect with Jamal and feel his love. I wanted to share my body while putting my anxieties to rest. I needed him to fill me up with everything I was missing.
I tugged at the hem of his shirt, and Jamal released my hips long enough for me to work the cotton over his head.
Before I could touch his chest, he pushed my arms out to peel my robe off of my torso.
I was bare beneath it, and he wasted no time devouring my form.
My cock immediately reacted, thickening and rising from his gaze.
I never felt more beautiful than when Jamal looked at me.
He grappled at the waistband of his jeans, so I propped up on my knees to allow him to undo the fabric and push it down his legs.
When I sat down again, the hot, hard flesh of his cock pressed against mine.
I attacked his mouth again, kissing him for all I was worth.
Our lips nibbled, our teeth clacked, and our tongues tangled as we swallowed each other’s moans.
Jamal gripped both of my ass cheeks in his hands and massaged the mounds of flesh. Every time he squeezed, my hole was exposed to the cool air, making me shiver. One of his palms disappeared briefly, and he broke our kiss long enough to spit on his hand before getting back to work.
His slick finger traced along my entrance slowly - too slowly.
I pushed back against him, and he smiled against my lips, but he obliged.
The tip of his finger breached me, and I pushed back again to swallow his digit whole.
Apparently sensing my urgency, Jamal fingered me so hard and fast that his palm slapped against my cheek with each thrust. I moaned into his mouth, letting him know it was exactly what I needed.
A second finger wiggled in beside the first, and I hummed at the gentle burn. I rocked forward, grinding our cocks together, and then pushed back to impale myself on his digits. Every time we rubbed together, our dicks bubbled and drooled, covering our skin in slick, clear liquid.
It felt incredible, but I needed more. I pulled my lips from his, but I didn’t need to say a word. Jamal leaned forward to retrieve a condom from his jeans’ pocket. He expertly opened the wrapper and rolled it on with one hand, not removing his fingers from me until he was gloved and ready.
Then he gripped my cheeks again and spread me open wide. He positioned the tip of his cock against my hole and pushed inside in one slick movement. Colors burst behind my eyes and my jaw dropped. I don’t know if I made noise; the only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears.
I pried my eyes open to find Jamal staring back at me, appearing needy but waiting for my approval.
When I gave a nod, he unleashed, grasping my hips and bouncing me on his cock.
After a few thrusts, I glided easily up and down his length.
He filled me fully and perfectly without pain, only pleasure.
Jamal lifted me effortlessly, and each time he slammed me down onto him, his tip pegged my prostate, drawing moans and filthy words from my lips.
My dick was sandwiched between our stomachs, and his firm muscles provided perfect friction.
I was already teetering on the edge, but I lost all control when Jamal leaned in and licked a line from my collarbone to my ear.
That simple, raw act sent me hurtling over the edge. I cried out as a powerful orgasm tore through me, rocking my entire body as I erupted, painting both of our stomachs in thick white gobs. My body lost all strength and I collapsed onto Jamal, squishing the warm liquid between us.
He wrapped his arms tightly around my stomach to support me, and for leverage.
He held me still while thrusting up into me wildly.
Our skin slapped together and his breaths were heavy in my ear.
His fingernails sank into my skin as his thighs hardened beneath me.
His hips stuttered to a stop as he exhaled through clenched teeth when he released, his cock pulsing against my stretched hole.
Jamal’s grip loosened, and he stroked his hands up and down my back, and whispered into my sweaty hair, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For trusting and believing in me.”
Misunderstandings, arguments, hurt feelings; they were all part of life, but having the right partner to help you navigate through them all, and help shoulder the load made all the difference.
Jamal took the time to explain everything to me, while looking out for both me and his friend.
He was the type of man I’d always dreamed of having by my side, and I would never let him go.
“Thank you for loving me,” I whispered back.
A quiet chuckle rumbled through his chest and vibrated mine. “Sweetheart, I promise you, that will never change.”