Unlucky You

Chapter 10

TEN

Saniya.

This place was an oxymoron. Men and women dressed in expensive clothes, holding crystal tumblers and champagne flutes of high-end liquor surrounding a boxing ring coated in blood where men brutally beat on each other. I didn’t want to be here, but no matter how many times I attempted to talk myself out of showing up, here I was.

The experience was a complete contrast to the last time. Maybe it was because my focus was on capturing the experience through my lens whereas this time my attention was solely focused on one man.

Grand was unlike any man I had ever experienced and even though they always turned out to be a complete waste of my time outside of the dick they delivered, I had experienced some incredibly fine men.

Watching him throwing punches with an arrogance and ease while his cut tattooed muscles glistened and rippled was dangerously close to orgasmic. Blood hammered in my ears, my nipples were erect and sensitive, pushing against my T-shirt, and pulses of heat raced through my body, spreading warmth through every inch of me.

Why the fuck was I turned on and reacting to a man brutally beating another?

The universe had a sense of humor. Because as soon as the thought raced through my mind, Grand’s intense gaze locked on me for all of two seconds before he pulled his lip between his teeth and his fist made contact with his opponent's temple, ending the third and final fight of the evening. The guy went down and lay motionless on the bloody platform.

The first fight ended in a first round knockout, the second lasted until middle of the third, and this one, midway through the second. Unlike the last time I watched him fight, Grand pretended to be engaged. It was almost comical to watch. They hit him because he allowed them to. He hit them to put on a show. Tali was right, Grand could have easily ended all three matches with a knockout. Nothing about the guy made sense.

Before the ref could announce him as the victor, he stalked across the ring, leaned over the ropes, and pointed to Tali. “Leave, now . I’ll meet you outside.”

“Nah, fuck that, I’m?—”

Grand cut him off with a shake of his head and pointed to the backpack Tali was holding. “Go…”

His eyes narrowed and slowly rolled over to me before he added, “And take her with you.”

Neither of us was granted another argument because he turned his broad back and glistening tattoos toward us, crossed the ring, and dipped through the ropes on the other side. I watched him approach the guy who handed over the black envelope the last time he fought and whoever he was looked pissed.

“You drive?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go,” Tali barked, yanking me so hard that I stumbled into his side, barely finding my footing before he was dragging me through the warehouse.

“Where are we going?” I jerked away and he glared at me over his shoulder. The crowd was thick. It felt like the bodies multiplied but I accredited that to the people who were sitting moments ago now standing and moving around the ring.

“You came for my cousin, right?”

I frowned but a scowl filled his face. “Don’t waste my time with that lie you’re about to tell. You’re here to see him but that isn’t happening in here. Bring your ass or either go the fuck home. But if you’re not with me when he gets to his car, you won’t get another chance.”

“What makes you think I want a chance…”

He smirked and shook his head, stepping so close his body brushed mine when he dropped his chin. Amusement flickered in his eyes when he spoke. “He told you not to come but you’re here. You want a chance, Saniya. In fact, you want more than a chance. Now come the fuck on so you can have it.”

When he turned to walk away, I almost did the same and headed in the opposite direction, but he had already called me on my shit so there was no point in being prideful. I began weaving through bodies and followed the same path he traveled, picking up the pace until I was right beside him. We pushed through a metal door in the corner, entered into a hallway, and exited through another door that led us outside. The night air was cool, so I grabbed my jacket and tugged it closer to my chest, dipping my head while we walked through the parking lot. We were in the back of the building and there were only a handful of cars. He moved to a Jeep, hit the locks, and pointed to the passenger side. “Get in.”

Once inside, I kept watching the door we had just come out of, expecting to see Grand. After about ten minutes, I felt uneasy.

“Why did he want you to leave? Don’t you usually wait on him?”

“Yeah I do,” was all he said but he didn’t bother looking at me. He was watching that same door.

“Tali, why did you rush me out of there?”

He swung his eyes in my direction. “Because he asked me to.”

I frowned. “Is something going on? Maybe we should…”

“Grand can take care of himself.”

“I just watched him beat the shit out of three guys, so clearly he can but…”

“Saniya, chill the fuck out. He’s coming and he’s fine,” Tali murmured, tone laced with annoyance before he was watching the door again.

“The guy who paid him looked pissed. Was Grand supposed to throw the fight or something?”

Tali barked a laugh and turned to me. “I thought you were a photographer and not a reporter. Didn’t I tell you about asking too many questions?”

I shrugged and grinned. “I’m not a reporter but I am observant. I have to pay attention to people and details to be good at what I do, now answer the question.”

He grunted and turned to stare at the door again. “No, he wasn’t supposed to lose. Grand winning made the owner a lot of money.”

“Winning money should make the owner happy. He damn sure didn’t look happy.”

Tali smiled. “Because Grand winning also made him a lot of money the owner had to pay up.” He motioned to the backpack he dropped on the floorboard.

A few minutes later I sat up when I noticed a streak of light near the building then the shadow of a massive body I recognized. There were no lights back here but I could see headlights flickering from the front of the building where the parking lot was.

“Stay here?”

I nodded and he lifted the backpack, cutting me a warning glare. “I mean it, Saniya. Stay the fuck here. I already know you don’t follow instructions.”

I grinned and shrugged, watching him get out. He crossed the parking lot and met Grand. It was dark but they were close enough for me to see them better. Tali handed over the backpack and I watched Grand unzip the bag, remove clothing, and get dressed. They had a short discussion before they were stalking my way. Grand came to the passenger side and yanked the door open while Tali got back in the driver’s seat.

“You two have fun.” He grinned just as Grand dropped his face into view.

“Let’s go,” he mumbled, stepping back and leaving me enough room to exit Tali’s Jeep.

My instincts pushed me to argue but my curiosity of learning more about Grand won and I got out. He swiveled his head before his eyes landed on me again.

“Where’s your car?”

“In the front near the street.”

“Come on. I’ll drive you and you can follow me.” He started walking like his word was final. What the hell was with these two making demands?

“Follow you where?”

I yelped when he reached out and his fingers fisted my shirt. He pulled me into his body and turned me against the side of the black Charger parked next to Tali enough for my back to meet the cool metal. Then I had the hardness and warmth of his body covering mine.

The heat of his rough palm was at the side of my face and he slowly moved it lower until his fingers touched my neck and he gripped me firmly.

“I told you not to come. I warned you that this, whatever the fuck you’re doing, is a bad idea but you still showed up.”

“You didn’t warn me that this was a bad idea. You warned me that you couldn’t protect me.”

His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, and his lips flattened into a hard line. “Because I can’t.”

“I don’t need you to protect me.”

Our eyes locked in a heated battle, then his closed. When they opened again, his mouth crashed against mine. As soon as I felt his tongue push past my lips. A low groan left his mouth, which I sucked in. There was nothing gentle about the way he kissed me and my body blazed with anticipation of receiving more. He rocked his hips against me and I felt the bulge of him— thick, hard, and long when it ground into my stomach. My nipples were hard again.

I could barely breathe but fuck oxygen if it meant losing access to this man’s lips. My mind was racing and my pussy was pulsing with the need to feel those skillful swipes of Grand’s tongue. She was jealous. So very jealous. Then he broke the kiss and glared at me with angry eyes.

“Come with me.”

“Where?” I breathed out and his expression hardened. He was conflicted about something.

“To get your car so you can follow me to my place.”

His eyes locked on mine, waiting. I almost thought he wanted me to say no. When I nodded and said okay, his scowl deepened but he stepped away, pushed a hand into the pocket of his sweats, and the lights on his car flickered.

“Get in.”

He drove me to my car, didn’t speak another word, but waited until I was safely inside and pulled out of the parking lot with me behind him. We drove back into the city to the south side of town. The complex was older. I knew it well thanks to one of those men I wasted time on. The units were nice, remodeled but affordable. Nothing spectacular. When Grand parked in front of a building, I pulled in beside him and stared at the brick structure, gripping the steering wheel.

Was I really doing this? He wasn’t inviting me here to chat about my day or his. He was inviting me here to continue that kiss. If I didn’t leave now, I was going to fuck this man. That was exactly what he wanted. That was the way he kissed me and exactly what I wanted.

I jumped when he tapped on the window. I exhaled a slow breath, shut off my car, and nudged Grand with the door so he would step back to allow me room to get out.

“You don’t have to stay.”

I pushed down my nerves and forced a smile, arching a brow. “You changed your mind?”

His expression tensed but he slowly shook his head, moving back even more, granting me space to shut and lock my door. I followed him onto the sidewalk and to his apartment, waiting while he unlocked the door and let us in. He crossed the room and flipped on the lights in the living room, tossed the backpack on the floor, then he was on me. His mouth connected to mine again, and oh fuck, he was skilled with his tongue. After a few minutes, he pulled away and frowned.

“I’m going to take a shower. If you’re still here when I’m done, I’m going to fuck you. If that’s not what you want, then I suggest you leave now.”

His eyes were on me with confirmation of how serious he was before he walked away and yanked the hoodie over his head. He disappeared into a room and the door closed behind him.

I dug my phone out of my back pocket and sent Sameena a text after dropping my location.

She immediately texted back.

You working or getting dick?

Fingers crossed for getting dick.

I rolled my eyes and smiled.

What difference does it make? I’m dropping my location so you know where I am.

If you’re working and I wake up in the morning and you’re still there, then I’m calling the cops and pulling up. If you’re getting dick and I wake up in the morning and you’re still there, I’m sending an Apple Pay for breakfast.

Why the fuck would you send money for breakfast?

If you’re still there in the morning, the dick was top tier. Your ass can’t cook and if the dick is top tier, you’ll both need to refuel.

I burst out laughing.

I can cook.

Rolling eye emoji. Work or dick?

Dick.

Got it. I’ll check your location as soon as I wake up. Ride it strong and long. Make me proud, sis.

Salute.

I locked my phone and took in my surroundings. The space was clean, sparsely decorated, which meant either he was single or had a woman that didn’t give a shit about anything but his dick. There was no womanly touch visible in this place.

Everything was neat and orderly but there wasn’t anything personal about the space. I frowned briefly, considering this might be a fuck pad, somewhere he brought women after fights to use as he wished and sent them on their way. Shit, what if he fucked me here and went home to a wife and kids?

Fucked me?

I rolled my eyes at the mental slip. I planned on giving up the goods. My mind was made up when I followed him out the parking lot after the fights. I needed confirmation that I wasn’t tripping so I surveyed the living room once more, searching for signs that this wasn’t a temporary space. When nothing stood out as confirmation, I crossed the room into the tiny kitchen and began opening drawers and cabinets. Each was sparingly stocked so I inspected the trashcan which was loaded with takeout containers. Lastly, I yanked open the refrigerator and groaned at the emptiness that awaited me.

“I’ve only been here a couple months.” The low gruff of Grand’s voice startled me. I spun on my heels and my knees almost gave out from the tantalizing visual of him, standing at the entrance of the living room, arms locked over his chest, while a dark gray towel circled his waist. His expression was stoic but his eyes were narrowed in irritation.

“Possibly, but this could also be your fuck pad.”

His expression shifted into amusement. “Fuck pad?”

I crossed the room, shrugging as I passed him and traveled the short hallway to the only bedroom. When I entered the space, the woodsy, citrusy scent slapped me in the face. The room was dimly-lit from a lamp next to the bed and steam still lingered from the cracked bathroom door. The covers were rumpled on one side which meant he slept alone, recently. A good sign but still…

I began moving around, opening drawers, then the closet, satisfied that he was potentially being honest about having just moved in.

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-three.”

“And this is your first place?”

“I didn’t say it was my first.”

“But you just moved in?”

His expression shifted into something mirroring agitation. “Do you want to leave?”

“No, I just?—”

“I didn’t bring you here to talk, Saniya. We could have done that anywhere.”

“Then why are we here?”

I knew the answer and he was well aware that I did. Based on the way his eyes slowly crawled over my body, his intentions were clear. But just in case there was any confusion, his next move confirmed why I was here. Grand moved across the small room and entered the bathroom. When he returned moments later, he tossed a new box of condoms on the bed and angled his head to the side.

When I lifted my eyes from the bed, he was moving my way and before I could object, my back met the wall and one of his palms landed next to my head.

“Take your clothes off.”

“I haven’t decided if I’m staying?”

He smiled so devilishly sexy that my pussy applauded by thumping erratically. “You decided how tonight would go when you showed up at the fights, Saniya.”

I felt his hand at my waist then on the button of my jeans. He skillfully worked it loose then his mouth was on mine again while he yanked my zipper down. I groaned into the kiss and sucked on his tongue when I felt his fingers dip into my panties, brush over my swollen pussy lips, and push between them. I adjusted my stance and pushed my hips forward which caused his fingers to sink deeper.

Fuck this felt good. He felt good. His tongue fucked my mouth while his fingers stroked me with a greedy skill and sensualness that contrasted the way I watched him use his hands in the ring. However, both were deadly.

When I felt my core tighten and my pussy clench, announcing my release, I yanked my mouth away from his, slammed my eyes shut, and slapped my palms against the wall beside me. My muscles locked tightly and I ground my hips against his hand, riding the feeling while I jerked and trembled through my orgasm. He continued thrusting into me even as my body stilled but his motion slowed to soft lingering glides in and out of me. When I peeled my eyes open, his were waiting—hard, dark and thunderous.

“You still undecided?”

I shook my head gently and reached for the hem of my shirt, dragging it up my body and over my head as I tossed it toward the dresser. He didn’t move, keeping his palm planted next to my head, but dropping his eyes to take in the skin I exposed. After a few minutes, he leaned in and kissed my neck, dragging his tongue over my shoulder and back up to my earlobe which he grazed with his teeth before he pulled back and jerked my hips into him. I was turned so my back was to the bed. His tongue dipped into my mouth, exploring while he walked me back until my legs met the mattress.

I placed my hand against his chest. The goal was to control this but I didn’t. I couldn’t. His lips and tongue were very demanding. Our kiss felt familiar and safe, like we’d kissed a million times before and damn if I wasn’t at war trying to prove that we hadn’t. Because it felt right.

Familiar.

“Sit.”

My boots came off, then my jeans and panties, before Grand had his face buried between my thighs. I was breathless and warm all over. My pussy was thumping with a need I had no doubt this man would satisfy.

But…

My voice was weak. My breathing was labored and his restraint was nonexistent. “Hang on, wait,” I rushed out.

“If you want me to stop; I’ll respect your wishes and stop, but I damn sure don’t want to. Let me give you what we both want.”

Multiple orgasms.

When I didn’t respond, his tongue glided across my pussy again when he spoke.

“Do you want me to stop?”

No.

Hell no.

Fuck no.

I shook my head.

“Say it. Tell me what you want.”

“Don’t stop, I want this .”

That was all it took. His mouth was on me again. Moving across my skin. His tongue grazed my clit and pressed hard.

“Oh fuck.

“Not yet but we’ll get there,” he growled, low and deep.

Need like I’d never experienced before whirled and pulsed in my belly. It remained there, building like a wild storm before traveling lower, while my heart hammered in my chest.

“You’re taking too long,” I warned, knowing I wouldn’t last long. I possibly had minutes before I came and he’d barely touched me.

“Patience, Saniya,” he said smoothly.

“Fuck patience,” I shot back.

Grand pulled back, looking at me with wild, dangerous eyes. Shit, he was so fucking beautiful.

I swallowed thickly. “It’s been a minute. I need this.”

He pressed his palms into my thighs and leaned closer but his tongue didn’t end up where I wanted it. Slowly it grazed my skin and I groaned from the overwhelming sensations of needing to be touched somewhere else. His tongue traveled up my belly, but he jumped to my thighs, nipping the inside of each one, so close. Too damn close. I lifted my hips but he only smiled.

“You want me here.” A chaste kiss landed against my very sensitive skin humming with anticipation.

“Yes, now, right now.”

Please hurry!

His head lowered again and the warmth of his tongue, just the tip, grazed my skin followed by his voice. “You’re soaked, Saniya. So fucking wet,” he growled then I felt his tongue again. This time with more pressure, flat and wide before he opened me with his thumbs, allowing them to dip in and out, dragging the moisture across my skin from my ass to my clit.

“So close,” he taunted before his tongue went deep, circling my entrance. My thighs flexed but he took care of that, lifting one leg over his shoulder, the other he pressed into with his palm, spreading me wider. Then there was his tongue again and shit, I couldn’t hold on.

My hips bucked. I threw my head back and flooded his mouth. My muscles were locked so tightly that by the time I relaxed, every inch of me throbbed with pleasure and pain.

And he didn’t stop.

I felt his tongue moving torturously slow from my clit to my ass then his fingers joined in. Oh so good. They pushed into me and my entire body locked tightly and burned from the inside out while he fucked me with his tongue and those deft fingers. Perfection .

He was so deep and right where he needed to be. The torture continued when my other leg went up over his shoulder. My ass was in the air. My pussy fully exposed as his tongue and fingers worked in tandem.

“You’re killing me.”

Tongue, fingers, teeth, lips.

I shattered over and over again. Each time I fell, that beautiful mouth of his pulled me back until I was too exhausted to do anything but allow him to please me.

Thoroughly and completely.

Eventually, his mouth was on mine again. His tongue tangled with mine, sharing what he’d just experienced.

“That was for you. This is for me. You ready for me to collect.”

I exposed a lazy, satisfied smile. “I thought you just did.”

He laughed arrogantly and I felt my legs spread wider. “Not even close.”

“Then no , I’m not ready.”

I sighed in contentment, too exhausted to protest when the warmth of his body left me. It didn’t last long. The presence of him resting against my pussy had my smile growing more, and when he pushed forward, I hissed from the pressure of him slowly easing into me.

“Oh, fuck.”

“Yeah, baby. I’m going to fuck you. I want you hoarse from screaming my name and sore from my dick bottoming out in this pussy.”

“Condom.”

“Handled.”

Handled?

My eyes absorbed him.

“I missed that.”

“Yeah, you did.”

I felt him, so full. The presence of how long and thick he was jolted through my mind with each inch he progressed and I still needed more. I wrapped my legs around his waist and rocked my hips until he was deep inside of me.

“I thought you weren’t ready.”

“I lied.” My eyes met his and he pulled back and pushed in again, this time deeper, groaning through his own satisfaction. I was full, so full, stretched wide and could tell he wasn’t completely seated.

I groaned when he retracted and sighed in satisfaction when he landed deep once more. He was so far inside me that I felt connected, exposed, and more importantly, like I was his. With each thrust, he stretched and branded me, making me lose a little more control. When his pace changed, moving out slowly and coming back harder, I stopped trying.

There was no point. He began to fuck me, demanding I give him back the orgasms he just gave me. He fucked me like I belonged to him.

Tonight I would let him believe that it was true. Tomorrow would be a different story because there was no way we belonged in this space. It felt too good and things that felt good never lasted.

After our last round, Grand eased out of me and silently walked to the bathroom. I came so many times my body felt exhausted but I wasn’t going to make the mistake of believing this was anything more than amazing sex. He already told me I wasn’t here to talk, so while he was in the bathroom, I climbed off the bed, hissing from the delicious ache he left behind. I smiled when I reached for my jeans and panties, carefully slipping them on.

The dick definitely didn’t disappoint.

I lifted my bra and worked it on, then swung my head in search of my shirt, remembering I’d tossed it toward the dresser. When I rounded the bed to grab it, I also lifted a stack of papers from the floor I must have knocked off from the near miss of my shirt landing. Unconsciously organizing them, my eyes lowered to the first one and ballooned when I read.

Diamond Falls Correctional Facility. Five years. Manslaughter. Fifty thousand dollar fine. Five years’ probation.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

I swung my head in the direction of his voice and my glare matched his. “You just moved in because you were in prison?”