Chapter 10
“ H ow many boxes did you bring?” Dax asks as we trek to my ride.
“Ten.”
“I hope you got more of the lemon ones. We can’t keep them shits; they are good as hell.”
“I didn’t even look. I just grabbed them. I just left the distillery. Pops took his boxes and you have what’s left. Next time, I’ll check flavors.”
“Mere, come grab a box,” Dax calls out to our lil cousin, Nymere. He’s standing on the side of the auto shop talking on his cell. Because he grew up in the house with us, he’s like a lil brother, a wild ass lil brother, but we love him, which is why Dax hired him here as one of his mechanics.
“Bet. One sec.” At the end of his call, he joins us at the back of my Denali. “This all you got?” he asks as we grab the boxes from my truck.
“Yeah, when you sell out, I’ll bring more.”
“Man, these niggas gonna buy all these up. You should’ve gotten more boxes for the front counter. The customers go hard over these things. My girl Vikki wants some too, for her nail shop. She said she can sell some up there.”
“I asked y’all before I placed my first order and you didn’t say shit about your girl’s shop.”
“That’s on you. You already know we’re gonna show up for little cuz. She gotta get that badge and shit so just order fifty more boxes. We got you,” he says then nods before walking back inside the shop with five of the boxes.
When he leaves, Dax leans back on my ride. “You checked on your girl?” he asks.
“I texted her yesterday and talked to her briefly last night, but bruh, she was out of it. I didn’t keep her on the phone too long. You saw how crowded it was at Redmond’s for the repast.”
“That shit was crazy. The whole damn city was out there. I heard the parking lot and restaurant stayed full up until about eleven o’clock last night. Chantal and I didn’t even try to get no food. We grabbed a pizza from Leonardo’s after we bounced.”
“We didn’t eat either. I just had to lay my eyes on her. She was so out of it though. I hugged her and I don’t even think she knew who I was.”
“Nah. She knew who you was. I feel for them. Man, I don’t even want to think about losing Moms or Pops.”
“Real shit,” I utter.
Truce looked lost yesterday. Her swollen red eyes looked vacant and she couldn’t stop crying. The restaurant was packed: filled tables and booths and no standing room. She was at a table with her friend and sister when I made it there. She stood and hugged me but didn’t say a word. I just held on as she cried into my chest. When I called her later that night, she was practically asleep so I ended the call. She’s been on my mind since then.
After taking Aryel to school this morning, I stopped by the store for a few hours, then went by the house to grab these cookies. I went to my pops first at Black Ops Bourbon then I came here. Truce is on replay in my mind so she’s my next stop.
“Go handle your business. Now that you finally stepped right behind her, I can’t have you fucking that shit up. Hit me later, we gotta talk about their anniversary. Your momma serious about us grilling.”
“We can get that shit catered.”
“She don’t want that. And you heard from Lyra? She still ain’t hit me with the cruise prices. I told her Chantel coulda booked it.”
“Nah. She ain’t said nothing to me either. If sis wants to handle it, let her. We need to have it all booked before their anniversary.”
Every year, my parents have a big family gathering for their anniversary. In two weeks, it’s their thirty-seventh and she wants Dax and me to grill steaks and seafood. With our family, it’s going to be at least fifteen people and I’m not trying to grill for that many people. Smokey’s Barbecue can handle everything.
“I’ll have Chantel look some shit up in case Lyra flakes. I’m sure Momma told her where they want to go. I ain’t never seen a woman who doesn’t like surprises,” he says.
“Arlene Goode doesn’t so she definitely told Chantel.” I grab the stack of three boxes in front of me and he stands and grabs the other two.
“Stack ’em. I got it,” he says and I add my three on top of his.
He walks back inside the shop and I close my trunk then get inside. Truce’s condo is about twenty minutes from Dax’s shop so I use the commute to check in on my store. Melia assures me everything is straight and so does my warehouse manager. I end the call with him right as I’m pulling into the visitor lot of Truce’s tower.
After signing in at the security desk, I take the elevator up to her floor. When I knock on the door, she doesn’t answer at first so I knock again. Still no answer so I shoot her a text:
Me: It’s me.
About a minute later, I hear movement on the other side of the door followed by a few beeps; she’s disarming her alarm. The door opens and she walks into the living room, giving me her back instead of her pretty face. Quickly, I close the door and take strides to catch her. I hook my arm around her waist, stopping her.
“I look a mess and need to wash my face,” she sighs.
“That’s a damn lie cause you can never look a mess,” I say then step in front of her. She drops her head but I grip her chin gently and lift her face. Her eyes aren’t bloodshot like yesterday but they are puffy and her cheeks look flushed. Her hair is wild and grief is written all over her face but it isn’t diminishing her beauty. “Still pretty; just sad, but that’s understandable. You’ve got a right to be.”
“It hurts and I can’t…I don’t know how to stop it.”
“You need time, but hopefully, I can help,” I offer.
“Just being here helps already.” She raises on the balls of her feet then pecks my lips. “I need to freshen up for real. I feel like a mess. Get comfortable; I won’t take long.”
She pats my chest lightly then starts for the hall. When she enters her room, I walk back to the sectional. Before I sit, I pull my cell out of my pocket to turn it down but not silence it. Because of Aryel, my phone will never be on silent; she or anyone she’s with will always have contact with me. When I look at the screen, I see I have a missed call from Aria. I unlock my phone and see she texted me too.
Aria: When is Aryel’s spring break?
Me: Why? I text back, confused. She never inquires about Aryel’s schedule.
Aria: I want her to come spend the week with me.
Her response causes me to sit all the fuck up. She hasn’t seen my baby girl in-person in over two and a half years. Plus, I don’t know shit about Aria’s life and Aryel ain’t going nowhere with anyone who’s a mystery to me.
Me: That’s not happening.
Instead of texting back, she calls. I answer once I stand and walk out of the condo. “Yeah,” I grit.
“What do you mean that’s…not…happening?”
“I mean what I said. She’s not going anywhere. You can come here and visit.”
“She’s my daughter too and I want her to come see where I live,” she snaps and I
laugh. “What’s funny?”
“This whole damn conversation is funny. First of all, she doesn’t fucking know you.”
“She knows that I’m her mother!” she yells.
“She definitely don’t know that shit. And I don’t even know where the hell you are or how you are living. I won’t send Aryel anywhere I don’t know and I damn sho ain’t gon’ have her uncomfortable with a woman who’s barely in her life.”
“I’m back in Atlanta and I’m getting married,” she says, all giddy and shit like I give a damn.
“Another reason why it’s a hell no. I don’t trust no nigga around my daughter.”
“So I can never see my daughter?”
“I’m not saying that. Aria, you haven’t seen her since she was four and you barely call. That’s not fair to her and I will never put Aryel in any situation that isn’t good or fair to her. That’s what a real parent does. If you truly want to be in her life and be fucking consistent, you can come here for spring break. It’s the second week in March. We can meet then you can come to the house to see her.”
“And what about Brown?”
“Who the fuck is Brown?”
“My fiancé.”
“I can meet him but he’s definitely not meeting Aryel. You have to earn your place back in her life before I even consider some nigga you fucking with,” I admit because this is her third damn fiancé. I’m not subjecting Aryel to him or any other nigga. Aria is already on thin ice.
“He’s nice,” she says and I ignore that shit. It’s irrelevant.
“Let me know when you’re coming.”
“Rex,” she begins, then stops suddenly. She takes a few audible breaths then finally finishes her thought. “I was hoping you might help with my tickets.”
“I should have known.” Although she can’t see me, I’m shaking my damn head at her audacity. I sponsored her three prior visits here but not this time. “Your fiancé got that.”
“Rex! Don’t do that. We’re saving for the wedding,” she says and I’m over this damn conversation.
“Bye, Aria,” I tell her, then end the call.
I’m not letting her bullshit fuck up my time with Truce. I put my phone on do not disturb; I’m not dealing with Aria right now. All the important people are on my list of contacts who can still get through.
After pushing Aria out of my mind, I head back into the condo. Truce is on the chaise end of her sectional, snuggled under a throw with the television on. Her hair is pulled back and her pretty face practically glows. She looks beautiful as hell as she stares up at me. Her arm raises, lifting the cover and revealing a little brown dress. Her top is covered but her beautiful chocolate thighs and legs are on full display. Truce is perfection; everything I want and desire is wrapped in her beautiful package.
“Take your shoes off and join me,” she says and I don’t hesitate to comply. When I’m beside her and my legs are stretched out on the chaise, I grab her legs, lift and place them across my lap. Her back is against the arm of the sectional so I drape my arm around her. After resting her head on my arm, she tilts her head up and trains her big, gorgeous eyes on me. “Don’t I look better now?”
“You were beautiful before.”
“Just say yes,” she pleads with seriousness in her tone. “I need a win. I can’t seem to do anything right.” The sadness permeates her eyes and her body sinks into the sectional a little.
I caress the side of her face. “What are you talking about?”
“Daija and my dad. They need me and I can’t be there for them. Hell, I can’t even leave my damn house,” she sighs.
“Ay. Don’t do that. You lost her too.”
“But I’m supposed to take care of them,” she says as tears fall.
After brushing my hand across her cheeks to wipe her tears, I place my hand under her chin. “You need taking care of,” I tell her. My hand caresses her face. Then I gently push her face to the side and plant kisses up the side of her neck. “Let me take care of you.”
A small smile creeps onto her pretty ass face so I lean in and peck her lips. Her body shifts and she raises a little. I pull her bottom lip into my mouth and suck it gently. Her arms inch up and rest on my shoulder. My mouth consumes hers and I try to kiss all of her sadness away. When she moans into my mouth, I smile to myself, feeling accomplished.
While still kissing her soft ass lips, I slide her off my lap and ease over her. She adjusts, straightening her toned legs. My hands move to her thick thighs and I inch them up to her panties. When I tug at them, she lifts her butt, making it easier for me to slide them off.
I remove my hoodie and tee then ease down onto the floor. After pulling her legs to the edge of the cushions, I plant kisses up her legs to her thighs. A low moan escapes her mouth when my face reaches her pussy. She wants me as badly as I want her. Her intoxicating scent floods my nose, making my damn mouth water.
“Can I make you feel better?” I ask as I deeply inhale the scent I fell in love with after my first taste.
“Mmhm,” she purrs. I move close then feast on her pussy lips before making my way to her swollen clit. When I flick my tongue over it, her body squirms and she moans lowly, “Damn, Rex.”
“I like how you say my name,” I groan before burying my face into her.
I start with a kiss; then, using my tongue, I part her pussy lips. I take my time, slowly sucking on both sides. I savor her clit next, pulling it into my mouth. I take my time by sucking it before massaging it with my tongue.
“Oh shit,” she moans as her hands gravitate to the back of my head. While holding my head, she thrusts her pussy into my face, feeding me her sweetness. I gladly accept and devour her.
“Fuck, baby. Feed me,” I coax.
She continues to push her pussy into my face as I eat her up. Her grip on my head tightens then her legs stiffen. Her soft, soulful moans increase in volume. When I start to lick up and down her slit at an intentionally slower pace, she bucks and trembles.
“Rex,” she cries. “Shit… Damn,” she moans as her juices wet my face.
Her hands drop from my head and move to the back of her sectional. She grabs one of the small pillows, places it over her face, then screams into it. “Fuuucckkk!” When she drops the pillow, I see the look of pure satisfaction on her face. Slowly, she sits up. Her hands caress the sides of my face as she leans in and kisses the evidence of her orgasm from my lips. “You are just what I need.”
“It ain’t over yet,” I admit because my dick is craving to be deep inside her.
“It’s not,” she says with a smirk.
After pecking her lips, I stand from the floor. Her eyes follow my every move and when I remove my sweats and boxers, they follow my things as they fall to the floor. The lust in her pretty eyes makes my shit hard as fuck.
“Ease back,” I demand in a low voice.
She removes her little dress, tosses it on the floor, then scoots back on the sectional. While stroking my dick, I step forward and place one knee on the sectional. My hands cup her full breasts then I lean in and kiss each one.
My lips move to her mouth and as we kiss nastily, I play in her wet pussy, rubbing my fingers on her slit and clit. She moans into my mouth when I slip a finger into her warm opening. I finger fuck her through a quick orgasm.
I’m taking my time, learning her pleasure spots and every inch of her curvy body. Now that she has finally blessed me with it, I’m staking my claim. She is it for me and I don’t want anyone else.
I slide my hand under her ass, angle it then raise her leg and anchor my chest behind it, positioning her pussy perfectly for my homecoming. While holding her leg, I ease into her and her back arches. I almost bust on contact because she feels too fucking good but I chew the hell out of the inside of my cheek and hold strong.
It takes all of my willpower as her wet, warm pussy takes hold of me until I’m comfortably seated inside. Her walls are hugging me and I can feel her pulsating around me. This has to be what heaven feels like.
“You feel good as fuck,” I groan as I sit, enjoying this indescribable sensation.
“You too. Shit.” Her hands reach up to my chest. I grab one then kiss it. “Fuck me, please,” she mumbles but I don’t rush to move. I’m soaking in this moment, in this feeling with her. When I finally thrust deep into her then move all the way out, we both moan at the feeling.
“Damn,” we utter. I reenter and her walls grip me immediately. The fuck.
We are reconnected and I’m unable to just sit still this time. Slowly, at first, I move in and out, coating my dick with her juices. As I discover our rhythm, my movements pick up and I pound her soaking wet pussy. Her moans increase as I get deeper and I’m about to lose it. To delay my release and extend her satisfaction, I slow my pace. With precise and deliberate thrusts, I usher her to another orgasm.
She squints, her beautiful face contorting as her nails dig into my chest. “Shiiiitttt,” she moans. “Rex, oh my shit!”
A warm sensation blankets my dick and her juices wet my stomach, causing me to bust too. “Damn!” I utter as I explode, cumming hard as hell. We both collapse on her sofa, completely satiated. My deep ass breaths match her labored breathing. Her arm reaches across my chest and I caress her back. She’s shivering so I wrap both arms around her. “You good?”
“Really good.” She snuggles into me then plants a kiss on my chest. “I’m cold though,” she admits. I stretch my arm out and grab one of her throws then drape it over her. “Just hold me.” After making sure she’s completely covered, I pull her closer into me. I’ll hold her for as long as she wants. “Am I taking you away from your daughter?” she asks.
“No. She’s at school. I don’t pick her up until three forty-five.”
“Then I have you for a little longer,” she says, sounding relieved.
“Even though I have to leave and pick her up, you will still have me. All those years ago, I was a boy with a crush. I’m a man now. No crush, just real feelings and intentions, and I want you, Truce.”
“I come with baggage,” she sighs.
“It’s a good thing I’m strong then because I can carry whatever baggage you have. I want you in my life, all the way. Whatever you come with, trust me, I can handle it. Just let me be your man so I can.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“I don’t know about easy but it’ll be worth it because you are worth it to me. I come with a little something too, my heartbeat, Aryel. Coming into my life also means coming into hers. She means everything to me and we are a package deal.”
“A cute deal; you are such a good dad. She’s lucky to have you.”
“Nah, I’m the lucky one. There are certain moments in your life that shape you, make you better. Having her was definitely one of those moments. Guess what another moment was.”
She grins a little then pats my chest playfully. “Me,” she says.
“Fo’ sho’ you. This with us was destined then. It just took us too long to get here.”
“Destined, huh? Then I guess I better give in to it,” she says and my entire body relaxes.
“Giving in to me. I like that and you are going to love it.”