Chapter Twelve
Channing A week had passed since my impromptu one-night stand with the beautiful Ms. Rhythm.
When I woke up the morning after and found her thong and a simple thank you note, I couldn’t help but laugh. She definitely played my ass with that nigga move.
That night lived rent free in my head. She gave me some of the best pussy I’d ever sampled, and I hadn’t seen her since.
Thinking about the way she rode my dick that night had my shit bricking up. It was the way her thick ass had rippled as she rode me reverse cowgirl.
It was the way her swollen clit had peeked at me as she rode me on her tiptoes. Her pussy had creamed and coated me thoroughly. Baby had a fucking super soaker.
I was almost disappointed that she ghosted me. We hadn’t exchanged numbers. Sure, I knew where she worked, but I wouldn’t be a creep and just show up unannounced or without Grams.
What I did know was if I ever crossed paths with her again, I was down to run it back.
The sound of the studio door opening broke my thoughts. I looked up to see Raheem coming through the door.
I was waiting to see if Lady Lingo would be with him since she’d been to every other session we had. Much to my surprise, he was solo.
“What up, man?” he asked, slapping my hand as he sat down.
“What’s good witchu?”
“Ain’t shit. Ready for this listening party. I low-key wanna drop this album a little early.”
“You’re just excited. You worked hard on this one. Honestly, it might be your best work yet.”
“I appreciate that, big dawg. Shit been rough lately. Me and my lady ain’t been seeing eye to eye. The label is trying to push me and Imani together. Just a lot of shit been on my head.”
“Shit, the way you two were moving, I thought she was your lady.”
He chuckled. “Nah. It ain’t like that. I mean… it was something like that, but it wasn’t serious, you know what I mean?”
“Hmmm.”
Just from his vague statement, I gathered that he’d either fucked her or they shared some sort of intimacy. It definitely wasn’t innocent, but that wasn’t my business. I wouldn’t involve myself in his relationship drama. If his girl was willing to stick around while he dipped and dabbled in another woman, that was her business.
“Anyway,” he said, slapping his hands together, “whatchu got for me today?”
“We’re working on the last of the masters. The tracks have been equalized, and the frequencies are balanced. The levels and dynamics have been adjusted. Right now, I’m going through each one to see if I need to reduce the noise. I just need you to decide what order you want the songs in for the album so I can format it.”
“I got you. Will we have time for a full playback?”
“This is my only project for the day, so I don’t see why not.”
“Bet. I’ma get a few of my people in here for a lil turn up session to celebrate. I appreciate you for real, Channing. Imani spoke highly of you. I know you’re the big dawg of producers around these parts, a fucking legend. It’s an honor to work with you.”
He extended his hand, and I shook it.
“We’re helping each other. Black man to black man, I got you on this music shit. You just need to be focused. That shit you’ve got going on with Imani needs to take a back seat for more than one reason. I’ve listened to your music. I’ve heard your story. You came out here hungry and ready to put in work so you could take care of your people. I respect the hustle. I come from humble beginnings. This shit was my way out too.”
He nodded. “It was hard watching my moms working two and three jobs to make ends meet. The niggas that called themselves our fathers ain’t even been shit but a figment of our imagination. It was always on me to get us out.”
“I know it was hard, but you did it. Ten years in the game and you are a household name. Are you bringing your mother out for the album release?”
He grinned. “Yeah, man. She hasn’t missed one yet. I gotta fix shit with my lady by then. I don’t need my mama in my ear telling me to be a better man. Rhy is a good girl. She ain’t out here in these streets or putting on shows for niggas. She’s all about her business and her people.”
He looked down at his feet for a moment, shaking his head.
“Fuck! I gotta get right.”
“I can see the stress on you. Let me tell you something about this business, Raheem. Everybody is for themselves. Whatever is going to make them the most money or gain the most attention, that’s what they are gonna do. You have to have your own mind and some integrity. Imani is beautiful and talented, but there’s a shit ton of beautiful, talented women out there. They might look good on your arm. The pussy might be fire, but does she feed your soul? I would think you aren’t with this girl just for the sake of being with somebody.”
“Nah. I love her. One of these days, that’s gonna be my wife and the mother of my kids.”
“If you want that girl, get your shit together. Time doesn’t wait on anybody. Don’t be surprised if somebody else steps in and takes what’s yours while you’re out here being reckless. That ain’t my business, though. I’m not here to get in yours.”
I didn’t say shit else after that. I jumped into working on his tracks. He sat there for a moment, seemingly in deep thought, before he pulled out his notebook and started writing. It was Saturday, my free day.
I made it a habit of turning off my work phone and not answering emails on Saturdays. Dealing with muthafuckas all day long, five days a week, was tiring. I believed that everybody should follow their dreams, but they also needed to know their limits. Some of the artists these labels were putting out were trash. There wasn’t enough tweaking or auto tune in the world to fix that shit. I’d wrecked my brain on many occasions trying to figure out what the fuck they had me listening to.
Since it was my free day, I decided to take Koda to the groomers for a pamper day. She loved her baths and getting treated like the queen she thought she was.
“She always does so good!” the groomer said, stroking Koda’s coat.
Her name was Tanya. She was a white girl with a fat ass that flirted with me every time I came in here.
“You take such good care of her,” she complimented.
“Thank you.”
“I always see you in here alone. I take it there’s not a Mrs. Watson or that Koda has a mom?”
My brows furrowed. “You in my business.”
She giggled. “I’m just curious. You’re a very handsome man, and I’m a very single woman who would love to show you a good time.” She gently touched my arm, tracing my tattoos. “I have a few of these I’d love to show you.”
“Is that right? Like what?”
I was gonna shoot her down regardless, but I decided to let her amuse me.
“A butterfly that I can make flap her wings. Of course… you’d have to be in the right position to get the full effect.”
She winked at me. I chuckled.
“As flattered as I am, Ms. Tanya, thanks but no thanks. You’re a beautiful woman, but I prefer my women more on the melanated side.”
“Oh…” She looked slightly disappointed before she smiled. “Chocolate can be white too.”
“Unhand my damn dog, woman.”
I snatched the leash from her and headed back toward the front door. I was gonna have to start bringing Koda on the days she didn’t work. If she decided to fuck with my dog because I turned her down, I was gon’ raise all types of hell in this bitch.
As usual, after her beauty appointment, I took her to the pet store to grab treats and a new toy. I allowed her to lead the way while I trailed behind her and her habit of sniffing everything. As we wandered aimlessly, I heard a familiar voice that caused me to stop.
“Well, Nique, you don’t come back for another week, and I’m lonely. Why can’t I get a puppy? Look how cute this one is!”
I rounded the corner, and there she stood. Today she was dressed in a white tube top, jean shorts that stopped mid-thigh, and a pair of all-white Forces. Her hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her face was free of makeup. Gold jewelry and a brown crossbody completed her outfit.
She looked too damn good.
“Girl, I don’t know about no damn dog,” said the girl on her FaceTime call.
“How can you say no to this face? I’m gonna ask to hold him.” She turned to get an associate’s attention, and her eyes landed on me. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?” her friend asked.
“Nique, I’m gonna call you back.”
“Girl—”
She disconnected the call as I made my way over to her.
“Ms. Rhythm,” I said with a smile.
“Channing. Fancy seeing you here.” She looked down at Koda and smiled. “Hi, pretty girl.”
Koda’s tail wagged, but she remained seated. The sweeter you talked to her, the happier she was. She loved people but wouldn’t go to them unless I gave the command.
“Is she friendly?” she asked.
“She is. Hold out your hand.” She held out her hand without hesitating. “Koda, give her paw.”
Koda lifted her paw and placed it in hers. Rhythm smiled as she stooped and shook it.
“You are just beautiful,” she said, scratching behind Koda’s ears. “How old is she?”
“Two.”
“She looks really well taken care of.”
“Of course she does. That’s daddy’s baby.”
She looked up at me and smirked as she stood. “All right, daddy. See you around, Channing.”
She tried to walk past me, but I gently took her arm.
“Don’t try to slide past me the same way you slid out of our room that morning,” I said, peering down at her. “You left your panties behind, but I would have rather had a taste of you before you left.”
She blushed. “We both knew what that night was, Channing.”
“I’m aware. But who said I was done with you when you dipped?”
Her top teeth sank into her bottom lip as she gazed up at me.
“You think about it?” I asked, cupping her chin. I ran my thumb across her bottom lip. “I’ve thought about that sweet little pussy all week long.”
Leaning in, I pressed my lips to hers. My hand dropped from her chin to her neck where I gave a gentle squeeze. A moan escaped her throat as she placed her hand to my chest and pushed me back.
“You can’t be doing that in public,” she said, her chest heaving.
I chuckled. “You did say kissing gets you wet, didn’t you?”
I grabbed the phone in her hand and went to her contacts to put my number in.
“Call me if you ever need me to take care of that.”
I tugged Koda’s leash for her to follow me. Just as I turned my back, Rhythm spoke up.
“You don’t want my number?”
I looked back at her. “I’m not the one that’s semi-attached to my ex. You know what you want, and you also know the type of dick I’m swinging. If you want me, you know how to contact me. Just drop me a location.”
She looked as though she were thinking hard about it. I’d let her have that. Again, I tugged Koda’s leash for her to follow, and we left her standing there while we headed to checkout.