Chapter 7
A Couple Days Later
I was late. Like, extremely late. Imani was gon’ kill me.
I’d overslept this morning because, for whatever reason, my alarm decided that it wasn’t gon’ go off and wake me.
Since I overslept, I was late getting everything done, including my hair.
Today was Imani’s wedding. She was gon’ fucking kill me.
My phone rang on the nightstand as soon as I stepped out of my walk-in closet. Rushing over to it, I grabbed it and swiped the screen, already knowing who it was. “I’m so sorry. I promise I’m leaving out the door right now.”
I hopped on one foot as I slipped my shoe on.
“Just start without her,” I heard someone say in the background.
“No.” I could hear the irritation in Imani’s voice. “C’mon, Solei. I’m not starting without you.”
“On my way.” I disconnected the call and put my other shoe on, then grabbed my Birkin and raced toward the door.
I hated staying in this apartment, but after I killed Zayden, I didn’t want to stay in that house.
I ended up selling the house we shared and found this apartment downtown.
It was nice and overlooked the Montgomery skyline.
When I opened the door, I halted in my steps when I noticed a box sitting in front of it.
It was wrapped in a perfect pink bow. My head poked out the door, and I didn’t see anyone in the hallway from either direction.
This was the third time this month that something showed up on my doorstep.
I wrote it off when I found the gift and flowers back in Vegas, but now it was getting creepy.
The gifts were top-notch. They were all my taste, from the jewelry to the handbags and clothes.
It was like whoever was leaving it was inside my head.
I thought about talking to my family about what was going on, especially after I had them run the cameras back, and they were always cut whenever the gifts arrived.
I was trying to handle this on my own, but I think I was gon’ have to go to my brothers.
I didn’t mind having a lil secret admirer, but they were taking shit too far.
Taking the box, I shook it as if that was gon’ tell me what was inside.
I slipped the bow loose and removed the top from the box.
Inside were some custom Louis Vuitton heels.
There were diamonds on the straps. Bloody bottoms. The exact shade of powder pink like my dress.
What was even scarier was they were my direct size. The note inside the box read:
Wear these instead. –Your Husband
The box fell from my clutches. “What the fuck,” slipped from my lips.
I removed my phone from my purse and locked up behind me. As I trotted to the elevator, I made sure to pay extra attention to my surroundings. As I stepped on, I dialed Grim’s number. “Something’s happening. I’m not sure what it is, but I need your help,” I said as the doors shut on me.
* * *
Later that night
I stood there outside the building, waving my best friend off as she and this bitch-ass nigga ran hand in hand to the Maybach that was waiting for them. On my dime, of course.
“Sorry-ass nigga,” I mumbled underneath my breath.
“You said something?” I heard a familiar masculine voice come from behind me.
When I turned around, I saw Ben standing there.
This was a guy that I’d met through Marquis, Imani’s husband, back when they first started talking.
Ben had some good dick, but that was about all he could offer.
Nigga could never hold down a job, and I just couldn’t associate myself with that bum behavior.
“What you want?” I asked him, folding my arms over my chest.
“Is that a way to greet me?” Ben licked his full lips and took a step closer to me. This man was fine as hell. He stood about five-nine. His hair was cut low. Maybe if he had waves, it would amplify his sexiness. Chocolate, just the way I liked my men. It sucked that he wasn’t worth a damn.
“Don’t act like you’re brand new to the program.”
“I been staring at your sexy ass all night,” he said and licked his lips again. His hand reached out, and he caressed my chin. I whacked his hand away. Because don’t be touching me. The hell.
“You acting real brand new right now.”
“Nah. I’m sexually frustrated.”
Ben gripped his dick through his pants and said, “You know I can handle that for you.”
I should’ve been running in the opposite direction, but it’d been a while since I last had sex, and I needed someone to put me through the fucking mattress. Instead of dissing him like I knew I needed to, I said, “Fuck. Why not? C’mon.”
My car wasn’t parked far. Ben nodded and walked me over to it, and I hopped inside and pulled off.
He already knew where I lived, so I didn’t have to shoot him an address. I was gon’ go home, fuck him, and send him on about his way. No nigga stayed the night with me. I didn’t want the intimacy. Dick me down and get the fuck on.
Zayden fucked it up for every nigga that came behind him.
My trust was stretched thin. I didn’t want to trust or love anyone.
It was peaceful not being in no relationship.
I wasn’t even sure if I was ever gon’ get in another one.
I ain’t have to worry about nobody cheating on me or plotting against me.
By the time I pulled into the parking garage, I saw Ben’s car stop in front of the building. I drove up to my floor and parked in my designated space. Getting out, I entered the building and met Ben by the elevator. His hand touched my lower back as we waited for the elevator.
“You just don’t know how much I missed that pussy,” he whispered.
“How about you shut the fuck up and just show me,” I told him as I stepped onto the elevator.
We made it up to my apartment. The hallway was clear. No surprises sitting at my door. Thank God. I really had to figure out who was playing these games and put a stop to the shit.
Unlocking the door, I entered first and then Ben. I made sure to lock every single lock, once he was inside, and kicked my shoes off.
“I’m gonna freshen up a bit,” I made known. Since I’d been out all day, I wanted to have a clean pussy before he entered me.
“You know I don’t care about your shit having a lil tang.”
“Boy, bye.” I waved him off and entered my bedroom.
Unzipping my dress, I allowed it to drop to the floor, and then I tiptoed to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, I stepped into it and allowed the hot water to beat against my body.
Today whupped my ass. My body and mind were exhausted.
I was glad that the wedding was finally over, because I needed a break.
I loved what I did, but whenever it was someone close to me, it brought out a different side of me.
I wanted to make sure every detail was perfect.
Fucking up wasn’t an option. The pressure was awful, but I always got the shit done.
All Imani ever talked about was her wedding day. I wanted to make sure it was everything that she hoped for and more. To see the huge smile on her face and tears today let me know that I did my job.
Turning off the water, I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me. When I exited the bathroom, I found Ben lying across my bed in his boxers.
“I almost came in there for you,” he spoke, and I rolled my eyes.
This was probably a mistake.
It was too late to turn back now.
“C’mere.” He beckoned for me with his index finger.
What the hell.
I dropped my towel and headed straight over to him. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the lamp on the nightstand. I climbed onto the bed and lay back on the sheets. Ben hovered over me, his dark eyes filled with hunger.
He started slow. His hand slid up my thigh, his palm warm against my damp skin. His mouth leaned down toward mine, and I slipped my hand between us.
“No kissing,” I told him. He already knew that I didn’t kiss anyone. I felt like swapping salvia with another person was disgusting. Plus, in my eyes, I thought that was one of the quickest ways for someone to start falling for a person.
“You got them sexy ass lips and don’t ever want no one to feel ’em.” He shook his head. He leaned his frame into me. I felt every inch of his hard dick against my entrance. My pussy thumped, already knowing that we were in for one hell of a ride.
“How about you kiss them other set of lips and shut up.”
Ben smirked at me and then kissed a trail down my body. His lips connected with my lower set, and my back instantly arched.
“Fuck,” escaped my lips.
“Uh-huh,” he moaned and lapped me like cats drank water. My hands cupped the sheets.
“Yes!” My legs quaked. “Yes! Right there!”
My eyes rolled to the back of my head as my climax took over. Ben released my clit and lifted his head up. He reached over onto the nightstand and grabbed the condom sitting there. That was another thing about me: I wasn’t fucking anybody else raw. They wouldn’t soul tie me. No, ma’am.
I watched him wrap the condom around his dick as the latex snapped against his skin.
He moved back between my legs, his knees prying me wide open. He didn’t waste any time. He guided the head of his dick to my opening and lunged forward, burying himself inside me in one smooth, powerful motion.
“Fuck!” I gasped. My eyes fluttered shut as he filled me.
The sensation of the condom added a different kind of friction, a sleek, sliding heat that felt incredible as he moved.
He started with long, deep strokes, pulling almost all the way out before slamming back in, hitting my cervix with a thud that vibrated through my entire pelvis.
I gripped the headboard, my knuckles white, as I matched his rhythm, thrusting my hips up to meet every blow.
The pace quickened, the sound of our bodies slapping together filling the quiet room. I could feel the tension building in my core, a tight, electric coil that grew tighter with every thrust. He was relentless. His chest heaved, and his sweat dripped onto my breasts as he hammered into me.
“Shit, you feel so tight,” he groaned, his voice strained. “So fucking wet, babe.”
All I wanted was for him to shut the fuck up. Normally, I would’ve told him so, but I was too lost in the sensation of him stretching me open.
“I’m close!” My internal muscles spasmed around him. “Fuck! So close!”
The feeling of my pussy clamping down on his dick triggered him.
He let out a guttural sound as his movements became frantic and violent for a few final, punishing thrusts.
I shattered, a violent orgasm ripping through me, sending waves of pleasure crashing over my body.
At the same moment, I felt him shudder violently.
His entire frame locked up as he came hard inside the condom.
I pushed him off me and rolled out of bed, heading for the bathroom to clean myself up. “Bring me a towel!” he yelled behind me, and I rolled my eyes. Taking him a towel after sex was too related to a relationship, and we were nowhere near that level. He’d better get his ass up and get one himself.
“I’on see nothing wrong with yo’ legs,” I tossed back and turned on the faucet.
After I cleaned myself up, I went back into the bedroom just to see that Ben was no longer in there. “I just know this nigga ain’t running around here naked like he owns the place.”
I tread out of the bedroom in search of Ben but didn’t find him anywhere in the apartment. The door was locked, just as it was when I locked it. Shrugging, I went back into the bedroom and noticed that Ben’s keys were still on the nightstand.
“That nigga ain’t gon’ get far without these,” I said and grabbed my phone to call him.
“The subscriber you’ve reached is no longer in service.”
I blankly stared at my phone and said, “What the fuck?”