7. Can You Handle It?
Can you handle it?
We were so high up in the mountains, that my ears popped the majority of the drive.
When Vayce mentioned the cabin to me, I was expecting a small cozy place with one bedroom, a bunch of wood, and no service.
As I looked around, I was sure I’d pinned images of spaces like this on my mood board.
His cabin was breathtaking. The interior and furniture was mainly black with hints of gold.
There were large glass windows toward the back that showed you a clear view of the mountains on one side and woods on the other.
The glass windowpanes in the ceiling also gave a clear view of the sky.
I was a sucker for a good view and here, I had options.
I didn’t even feel like I was in the same state.
Out back, there was a covered patio that had a hot tub with a mounted TV.
The backyard was open and seemed to go on for miles.
The only thing I could think about was big ass grizzly bears and coyotes, so I quickly shut the door and decided my black ass would not be out there.
Vayce told me we had everything we needed here, and he didn’t lie.
The fridge and freezer were stocked from meats, drinks, to condiments.
In the cabinets, he had every seasoning you could think of.
My trip to the market this morning was damn near pointless, but I added what I purchased in and rearranged everything else to my liking.
Vayce hadn’t tasted my wine yet, so I made sure to bring a few gallons of the red and white.
After placing the dry grocery bags inside one of them, I turned around to see him leaning against the counter watching me.
“Your bags are in the master bedroom. I put some fresh sheets on the bed for you too.”
“Thank you,” I grabbed a water from the fridge and handed it to him. “Here. You've been moving around and make sure you drink it all.”
“With your bossy ass.” He chuckled and took down over half of it. “Preciate you, J.”
“Of course. This place is so nice, but I gotta ask you. Are you some type of millionaire or some shit? We drove up here in a different car. You had on them fancy ass diamonds at the club, and you own this cabin? Sweet Pea Academy paying like that? Damn! I could’ve worked in the cafeteria or sum!
” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “You part of the cartel ain’t it? ”
Vayce damn near choked on his water. “That’s the shit that goes through your head, huh?
” I nodded, watching him drink more water.
“Nah. I’an fucking with no cartel. Let’s go to the living room,” he extended his hand.
I accepted and followed him to the front.
We sat on the eight-seat sectional, but it may as well have been a loveseat.
Vayce lifted my leg by the ankle, removed my house shoes and began massaging from my calves down to my feet.
Having his large hands on me again made my stomach muscles clench and I knew it wouldn’t be long before the throb moved between my legs.
“The Valley is a dark ass place. People say get it out the mud, but it’s either get it out or drown in that bitch.
Before I moved here, I was selling. I’ll never be ashamed to say that because it’s part of my story.
You see so much fucking money going in and out, but nobody tells you how to invest it.
I was always good at saving, so I took that money and invested in my community.
We built houses all over Indigo Falls starting in the hood, then did the same in the upper-class neighborhoods and doubled the fucking price for the wealthy.
It took years to see a profit, but the shit paid off.
The real estate company Valen manages, I own.
Everybody has a struggle story, but I look at it more like redemption.
To answer you, this ain’t no cartel shit,” he chuckled.
While he talked, his eyes followed his hands as if he was studying every muscle and tissue in my body.
“This is all a product of my investments.”
“That is such a blessing. How many people can you say turned a bad situation into something that will last. I love seeing niggas make it. That shit just soothes the Sojourner Truth in me,” I said in all seriousness, but he was laughing his ass off.
“I’m serious! Because nobody teaches us that shit and nine times out of ten, it damn sure ain’t passed down.
This world revolves around making black people suffer.
You weren’t born into it, so you created your own and Black wealth will last for generations to come. That’s dope as hell.”
Vayce nodded. “That is my goal. ‘Preciate that, J. It’s cool to live in it now, but that’s the reason I go as hard as I do. This shit ain’t for fame. It’s for notoriety. Nigga really tryna leave a legacy.”
“Well,” I sighed into his massage. If I was honest, I was damn near falling asleep at the feeling. “You’re doing what most never will.”
His hands moved to the bottom of my feet, and he added more pressure.
“Mm,” I moaned. “That feels really good.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” His tone changed and I watched his eyes slowly move up my body until he reached my eyes. “After you get settled, I want to taste your wine.”
I was hoping he said you instead. “Which do you prefer?”
“Both,” he licked his lips. “I can handle it.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “We’ll see.”
I cooked, showered, and had a quick Facetime call with Zion and my mama.
They did a sunset cruise, and the sun and activities wore them out, so they were preparing for bed, but them niggas never wanted to talk long.
They knew I was in the mountains, but only Jade and Mama knew with whom.
They’d interviewed me and Vayce ten times on a group Facetime.
I hadn’t told Zion about us yet, but if things continued, that would be a conversation we would have soon.
I wasn’t sure how he was going to take it and that scared me because without his approval, Vayce and I will never work.
In the house, I preferred loose clothing, so I wore an oversized graphic tee that stopped mid-thigh. When I pulled on the black lace thong, I told myself it was for just in case .
Retrieving the glasses Vayce gifted me, I washed and dried them before pouring two glasses of wine.
Most people didn’t like mixing red and white wine, but when blended properly, it created the perfect rosé.
I twirled the stem of the glasses between my fingers and inhaled deeply.
The sip I took was small, but it never failed to surprise me.
Grandma told me this was the true way to a nigga’s heart, and she wasn’t lying.
With both glasses in hand, I trekked toward the back of the cabin.
The light shuffling I heard made me enter the room on the left.
It was set up like a media room and if I had to guess, this was Vayce’s favorite.
Plastered on the walls were vinyl records from every generation from Thriller to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill , up to Heaux Tales .
They seemed to be in order of release and in a pattern, the record at the top and cover at the bottom and vice versa.
There wasn’t a bed but a love seat under the vinyl wall and a dresser with plants on it.
In the far corner was a full-length mirror.
My eyes focused on Vayce. He had on nothing but shorts that sat low on his hips, giving me a clear view of his defined v-cut.
I didn’t stop my eyes from going lower to his thick length that rested ever so gracefully against his left thigh.
My mouth produced an overwhelming amount of saliva, and I could feel my nipples harden through my shirt.
My mind went back to the video, replaying the thickness of it, the veins that ran just under the head, and that pretty ass mushroom tip.
It was true, I came twice watching the three minute and four second video.
All I could visualize was his dick tapping the back of my throat and my insides.
Would he think I was coming off too strong if I asked him to pull his shorts lower or would he think I knew what I wanted?
“Why the fuck is w—finally,” he mumbled as the music on the record player started.
Standing up straight, he turned to face me.
Each time his eyes were on any part of my body, I found myself getting nervous.
I’d been looked at probably millions of times, but I never had someone to study every part of my body and its language.
I shifted my weight to the other foot. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t. I felt you,” he looked down at the wine glasses and smirked. “I thought I requested both.”
I stepped into the room and handed over his glass. “And I gave you what you requested, sir.” I gave him proper instructions on how to smell the wine and fan it before tasting it. I raised my glass to his. “What we toasting to?”
Vayce stepped closer, gripping my hip with his free hand, his eyes never straying from mine. “To the type of connection you don’t plan but would be a fucking fool to ignore.”
“Hmm,” I tilted my head. “And to finding someone who feels like home even in the middle of nowhere,” I added. We smiled as our glasses touched. I barely sipped from mine as he took his first drink.
His eyes grew big. “Got damn J,” he groaned, looking from the glass to me. “This all you for real?”
“That’s all me. You like it?”
“I love it. I can taste everything. The shit perfect. You gotta put this out to the world. We gotta make it possible. However I can help, let me know.”
“I appreciate that Vayce,” my cheeks burned knowing he would help my dream. “Don’t move too fast. Half a glass is more than enough for a rookie.”
“I got your fucking rookie. I can handle mine,” he took another sip while I sat on the couch. “Have you ever thought about opening your own distillery or selling it in stores?”