Chapter 6 #2
“Nope. Nothing at all.”
Having fun was the plan, and Kwinn hoped to keep it that way. They talked until she reached her destination.
“I think I’m pulling up to the building, though. So, I’ma text you,” Kwinn said.
“Okay, love you. Call me on your drive home.”
Kwinn told her she loved her too and let her know she would.
Her nervous jitters hadn’t been present until now.
Over the last week, she’d grown accustomed to seeing Melo’s number light up her phone.
She hadn’t saved it yet, for many reasons, mostly a superstition she had about saving men’s numbers, but only time would tell.
Their conversations had been something she looked forward to, and she couldn’t deny that she liked the attention he gave her.
Talking to Melo felt easy, and she didn’t have to perform or lead the conversations.
He asked questions and actually listened, and when he complimented her, it never felt like he was just saying some shit because she was a woman he wanted.
Still, walking into his world felt different.
Kwinn checked herself out in the mirror before climbing out.
It was that time of year when it was still warm even though the sun had gone down hours earlier.
For that reason, Kwinn wore black high-waisted spandex with a contour bra top and a matching crop-zipped jacket from MAG Co.
To keep up the sporty look, she slid on her black pair of 72 spring sneakers from Marc Jacobs and wore her hair in a sleek ponytail.
Grabbing her mirror silver Speedy 20, Kwinn climbed out of her car. Security was posted near the entrance and greeted her with a tight smile.
“Kwinn?” one of them asked.
“Yes.”
He nodded. “A’ight. I just need to check your purse real quick.”
“Oh, no need. Yes, my gun is in here, and I’m not coming in unless it can.”
Both men looked at one another and laughed. “I was just fucking with you. You’re good,” he said, pulling the door open for her.
Kwinn smirked and stepped inside. She didn’t get a chance to walk far; Melo was coming off the elevator to meet her.
Talking to him on FaceTime and seeing him in person were two totally different experiences, and Kwinn had to catch her breath.
Melo was too fucking fine with his fresh cut and glossy eyes.
She admired the slightly sagging black shorts with heavy pockets, a crisp white Stafford tee, and a pair of coke white Air Force 1s.
He had on minimal jewelry, but his chain and watch still glistened like the diamonds on his bottom row of teeth.
“What’s up, my baby. I thought I told you to text me?” Melo said as he stepped in front of her.
Kwinn lost her ability to speak for a few seconds as she stared at his handsome face. She wanted him to use those juicy lips to spit a nasty verse between her legs.
Shaking her head, Kwinn smiled innocently. “Sorry, I forgot.”
“We gon’ work on that. Come give me some love, Pretty.”
Without warning, Melo pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Kwinn froze for a moment, then relaxed as she inhaled him.
The citrus-woody scent, the smell of weed, and his minty breath made Kwinn’s insides quiver.
Comfortably, her arms wrapped around his neck as if she’d been hugging him all her life.
“You smell so damn good,” he rasped, and pulled back to meet her gaze. He hit her with his charming smile while his hand stayed at her waist.
Kwinn didn’t mind being held in his embrace. “Thank you. You smell nice, too.”
Melo smirked. “Thank you. I’m glad you pulled up. Was it a long drive?”
“Not really. I was talking to my best friend on the ride over, so it went by quickly,” she said, falling into step beside him as they walked toward the elevator.
Melo pressed the button, and the doors opened. With a hand on her back, he guided Kwinn in first, then climbed in and pressed the button for floor two.
“Good. I like this lil’ fit you got on,” he complimented, eyeing her frame. “You trying to match me, huh?”
“Boy, please.” Kwinn giggled.
“It’s okay if you are. I like that kinda shit. Come on,” he said as the doors slid open.
Kwinn followed him into the main studio and had to clear her throat as they entered. Roddy had just sparked another blunt minutes before they walked in.
“Aw shit. Look who it is,” Roddy joked, grinning.
Kwinn chuckled. “Don’t start.”
“Y’all know each other?” Melo asked.
“Nah, but we kinda met at the concert. Her and her best friend were trying to put hands on me for calling them old.” Roddy chuckled.
Melo shook his head. “Aw, well shit. Watch yo’ mouth then.”
Kwinn smirked. “Right.”
“I was gon’ introduce you anyway. This my brother, Roddy, my cousin Devin, their ladies, and that’s my engineer, Chuck,” Melo said.
Kwinn waved, greeting everyone warmly, then put two and two together. “Wait, you and DMacc are brothers, too?”
Melo smirked and nodded. “Yeah. We’re a year apart.”
Perplexed, Kwinn wondered what their family tree looked like and why Melo hadn’t mentioned they were real brothers.
Kwinn wasn’t privy to everyone’s connections and couldn’t recall whether Saiko had ever mentioned it.
Seeing the expression on her face, Roddy offered some clarification.
He was under the influence and rarely bragged about having two rap stars as brothers, but he could if he wanted to.
“Me and DMacc got the same mama and daddy, and him and East got the same mama, but different daddies,” Roddy explained.
“So, you, Malone and DMacc have the same daddy?” Kwinn asked for clarification.
Roddy nodded. “Yeah, I’m the youngest on my daddy’s side.”
“A’ight. Enough family talk, nigga. She ain’t come here for all that,” Melo said, interrupting their ancestry conversation.
Kwinn faced him. “So, show me what I came here for then.”
Licking his lips, Melo’s low eyes said so much without him uttering a word.
He liked that bold shit and fed right into it.
Grabbing her hand, Melo led her to the soundboard.
Chuck moved out of the way and let him take over.
After pressing a few buttons, the song he’d been tweaking for the last three hours resounded throughout the room.
Immediately feeling the heavy bass in her chest, Kwinn’s head bobbed as her body swayed.
The track had a Southern knock, an old-school menacing bassline, and a melodic loop that gave it a bounce, making Kwinn and the other women naturally move their hips.
It was gritty yet hypnotic, with Laurent serenading over it.
It wasn’t your typical trap song, and she liked that.
Kwinn unintentionally tugged the corner of her lip into her mouth when Melo’s verse came on.
He was talking cash-cold shit about watching a pretty boss bitch ride his dick with all his ice on.
How he’d gladly fill her purse and her pussy up, spoil her rotten, and make the last nigga regret ever losing her.
Of course, he repped his set, making Kwinn smirk.
“I’m a cocky Eastside Terror nigga, known to get bread with the best hittas,” Melo rapped. “If she mine, ain’t no lettin’ up. Baby, let me get nasty when I’m in it, straight eat it up.”
Unable to hold his gaze, Kwinn broke eye contact and rubbed the back of her neck. Melo’s next verse followed the chorus, and a few lines made Kwinn wonder if he knew about her ex.
It’s a wrap for that lame nigga
He shoulda let you go before he played wit’ ya’
I taught her how to bring her freak out
How she so pretty but got a nasty mouth
We can walk the game down if you act right
Boss yo’ whole life up in one night, on one flight, with straight pipe
Kwinn nodded along until the song ended, and she smiled in approval.
They’d produced a track so smooth and player-like it would sound crazy good coming through heavily tinted car speakers with the bass rattling, or while cruising through the park on a Sunday with the top down.
As for Kwinn, she could see herself riding to it at any time. Literally and figuratively.
Melo pressed a button and turned toward her. “What you think?”
She smiled. “I really like it.”
He frowned playfully. “That’s all you got?”
Kwinn laughed and thought for a few seconds. “It’s fire. The beat and lyrics are catchy but not corny. Straight hood but in a lovey-dovey type of way.”
Melo nodded, taking her words in. “But it’s missing something, right?”
“I mean, not necessarily. The intro with no lyrics does give you some room to add something else.”
“Like what? A woman’s voice?”
Kwinn nodded. “Yes, I could see that. You know how guys be adding women who leave them voicemails and stuff to their songs? Something along those lines.”
A slow grin spread across Melo’s face. “Yeah… I can definitely see that at the beginning. You hear her, Chuck?”
Chuck nodded. “Yeah. Give it a classic, old-school feeling.”
Knowing exactly what direction he was going in, Melo got an idea and hoped Kwinn fucked with it. Walking toward her, he reached for her hand.
Kwinn looked down at it, then up at him, smiling. “What are you giving me your hand for?”
“I want you to try something.”
Her smile dropped. “Malone… no. I don’t sing.”
He laughed. “I didn’t ask you to sing. Just come here and let me see something right quick.”
Nervously, Kwinn let him lead her to the booth.
“I’ve never recorded anything before.”
“That’s coo’. I’ma teach you. You just need to feel the beat, a’ight?”
“But what do you want me to say?” Kwinn asked so softly, it made Melo’s dick hard.
Licking his lips, he gave Chuck the cue to play the song.
The beat rode for a good twelve seconds before Laurent’s voice came through.
Melo stepped in, closed the space between them, and settled his hand on her waist. Her heart raced wildly, and goosebumps covered her arms as he pressed his face into the crook of her neck.
She smelled sweet and tropical, like the Juicy Fruit gum his granny loved chewing.
Melo had embedded the scent in his mind and had forgotten all about it until now.