9. Chapter 8
The ride through the city was quiet after the flashback that June had.
Marcus had the music on and he was vibin' to it while June stared out the window.
Her knuckles still hurt from the fight and her body still carried leftover adrenaline, but being around Marcus had started calming her down some.
Marcus barely said much while he drove. After a while, he pulled up in front of an old brick building downtown.
June looked around. “What's this?”
Marcus smiled wryly as he got out. “Step out and see.”
June climbed out and eyed him suspiciously. “If this one of your little setups, just know I got hands for round two.”
Marcus looked back at her and chuckled. “Just trust me.”
They walked up a narrow staircase that smelled like rain and weed.
At the top was a heavy metal door. Marcus pushed it open and June stopped dead in her tracks.
The rooftop looked nothing like she expected.
String lights glowed overhead while candles flickered inside glass jars near a pile of blankets spread across the ground.
Soft R&B played from a speaker near the ledge while the city stretched out all around them glowing under the night sky.
A small cooler sat nearby with drinks and food inside.
June blinked a couple times before looking at Marcus. “You did all this?”
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
“Why?” June asked.
He replied. “Cause I figured you probably needed a minute away from all the bullshit.”
June walked farther onto the rooftop. She looked from one side of the rooftop to the other. The city looked beautiful from up there. She couldn't remember the last time she had a moment this peaceful.
“Damn,” she muttered. “You can see everything.”
Marcus positioned himself against the ledge beside her. “This my spot I go to when I need to clear my head.”
June looked over at him. “You got a soft side after all huh?”
Marcus snaffled a grin. “Relax.”
She sat down on one of the blankets and kicked her sneakers off. Marcus sat beside her.
“You always plan a romantic date after one of your dancers get into a fight?” she asked teasingly.
Marcus sat down beside her and gave her a knowing look. “Most of my dancers don’t beat bitches into another dimension.”
June rolled her eyes. “In my defense, she was acting like she wanted to find out."
They sat there listening to the music for a while. Then Marcus looked over at her.
“You know what I noticed about you?” He asked.
June frowned. “What?”
“You always ready to fight somebody.” Marcus replied.
She gave him a naughty smile. “Maybe, but everybody knows not to poke the bear.”
Marcus shook his head smiling a little before his face got more serious.
“Nah, I’m serious though,” he said lowering his voice. “You don’t always gotta be in survival mode.”
June looked at him differently after that. Because most people saw her temper, but Marcus saw the reason for it. Marcus stared out at the skyline before speaking again.
“Truth is… I ain’t bring you up here just to cool off.”
June raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Then why am I here?”
Marcus let out a breath and rubbed his hands together.
“I like you, June. A lot.”
Marcus looked over at her. “And I know that probably sound crazy cause we barely know each other, but I’m keeping it real.”
June stayed quiet.
“I been around a lot of women,” Marcus continued. “Too many. Most of them wanted money, attention, and whatever came with my name.” He shook his head. “You different though.”
June focused on the skyline trying not to let that get to her. Marcus rested his arm along the back of the blanket.
“Most people spend their whole lives trying to get noticed,” he said. “You don't even gotta try. That ain’t no regular shit.”
The way he looked at her made her feel mushy inside.
Marcus reached for her hand and folded it between both of his.
The playful grin he'd been wearing all night faded, replaced by something much more sincere. “And I ain’t really relationship nigga of the year either,” he admitted with a small laugh.
“But I know I'm tired of acting like you just another dancer to me.
I want something that's mine at the end of the day. I want you in my life for real."
June blushed. “You serious?”
Marcus nodded. “Dead serious.”
June let out a small breath and looked back out at the city lights. “You sure you know what you getting yourself into?”
Marcus rubbed his beard wondering if he was biting off more than he could chew but he didn't give a fuck. “Probably not.”
That made her smile. Then June looked at him carefully. “So let me get this straight,” she said. “You brought me all the way up here just to ask me to be your girl?”
Marcus grinned. “Pretty much.”
June cracked a smile as she stood up. “You sure you ready for all that? Cause I come with attitude, mood swings, and a bad habit of getting my way.”
Marcus stood up too and then laughed. “I can handle that.”
“Oh, you think so?” June asked flirtatiously.
She stepped closer until her chest brushed against his.
Marcus's attention dropped to her mouth before meeting her eyes again. “You talk a lot,” he muttered.
June retorted. “And you stare too much.”
Marcus looked away grinning. Then June grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him passionately.
The kiss took him by surprise and he found himself grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to him.
Everything about it felt reckless and intense.
When June finally pulled back, she bit her bottom lip while looking at him.
“I guess you got your answer now don't you?” she teased.
She stayed close enough for him to still feel her breath against his mouth looking entirely too pleased with herself.
“Careful, Marcus,” she whispered. “You might fuck around and get addicted.”
The way he was looking at her made it clear he wasn't worried about that.
Truth be told, it was already too late.
Marcus was sprung like a mothafucka.
After enjoying each other's company on the rooftop, Marcus and June walked hand in hand back towards the Escalade.
He decided to make one last pit stop. After getting the answer that he wanted from June, he decided to take things a step further.
As always, he opened the door for June and closed it once he saw that she strapped her seatbelt in.
He then strolled to the other side to get in and start the car.
After finding a song by Beyonce, he pulled off and grabbed June's left hand and held it in his as he drove with his free hand.
He looked over at June and saw her singing along to the song 1+1.
He lifted her left arm up and kissed her hand then continued driving off into the night.
After damn near an hour, Marcus pulled up outside a large house tucked away in one of those quiet neighborhoods where every property looked like somebody had money and wanted you to know it.
The driveway stretched behind a gate, the landscaping looked professionally maintained, and the house itself looked straight out of a luxury real estate listing.
June was impressed by what she saw. “Damn, this where you live?”
Marcus simpered as he got out the car. “What? You thought I was living in a one-bedroom apartment somewhere?”
June climbed out as she observed the scene before her. “I ain’t know what to expect from you honestly.”
Marcus walked around the car and opened the gate. “Come on.”
The second June stepped inside, she stopped to take it all in.
Marcus had money money. The entryway alone was bigger than some apartments she'd seen.
Everything looked expensive, but not in a super flashy way.
Once they got inside, she smiled looking around his living room.
The furniture matched and looked expensive without trying too hard.
The walls weren't crowded with a bunch of random shit either.
He had fancy abstract art all over the walls.
Even the air smelled like money somehow.
June looked around and saw a huge 85 inch TV hung over the fireplace.
“This all yours?” June asked as she continued to look around.
Marcus closed the door behind them and stated proudly. “Yeah.”
June let out a low whistle. “Okayyyy then.”
Marcus watched her reaction with a look of amusement.
She walked farther inside passing the kitchen with marble countertops and a huge island in the middle.
It looked like it belonged in one of those home renovation shows.
There wasn't a dish in sight. Not a single thing was out of place. Everything looked spotless.
“You rich rich,” she muttered.
Marcus smiled triumphantly. “I ain't doing too bad out here.”
June stepped out onto the back deck and looked toward the fire pit near the patio furniture.
Beyond it sat a heated in-ground pool lined with stone pavers and soft lighting beneath the water.
A cabana stood off to one side complete with a mounted television, a built-in bar, and enough seating to host a small party.
Between the pool, the outdoor kitchen, and the perfectly manicured lawn, Marcus' backyard looked more like a private resort than somebody's home.
“Nahhh,” she said laughing. “You got the rich nigga starter pack back here.”
Marcus shook his head smiling while walking toward her.
“You hungry?”
June looked back at him. “A lil’ bit.”
“We can order something later.”
The way he said it made her pussy tingle.
Marcus led her upstairs after that. June looked around and immediately understood why Marcus never seemed impressed by anything.
He came home to this every night. When he opened the bedroom door, June’s eyes widened.
A massive king-sized bed sat against a charcoal accent wall with an oversized upholstered headboard that stretched nearly to the ceiling.
Floor-to-ceiling windows lined the far side of the room, giving a clear view of the city lights sparkling in the distance.