Chapter Twenty-Nine
Rhythm
Today had been the longest day.
For some reason, I had back-to-back clients.
I missed my lunch break, and I barely had time to pee.
By the time we closed down for the day, I was exhausted and mentally drained. All I wanted to do was eat, shower, and lay up under my man so he could baby me.
I smiled to myself as I thought about him.
That man had lit up my life since the moment I met him. It had only been a couple of months, yet I knew we had something special. He was everything I could ever want and then some.
The sound of my phone ringing broke me from my thoughts.
I looked down to see Channing calling.
I smiled at his contact picture.
It was a picture of us from the time we spent in Malibu. We looked so happy. Well, I looked happy. He looked like he wanted to devour me.
I swiped the button to answer.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, love. You off?”
“Yes, finally. I’m gathering my things now. I’m so damn tired, and I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Come on over. I’m cooking. How about I run you a bubble bath? Maybe light some candles… put on some music.”
I giggled. “That sounds wonderful.”
“Well bring your fine ass on over here so I can cater to you.”
“I’m on my way. I…”
I paused, hesitating in what I really wanted to say.
“You what?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Drive safe.”
“I will.”
We disconnected the call, and I sat back in my chair.
“I love you…” I mumbled.
I hadn’t been able to bring myself to say those words to him yet. It didn’t feel real, but it was what I felt. I’d spent so much time with this man over the last couple of months. I’d gotten to know him and the people closest to him. I got to see him beyond what people saw of him in the studio, and I loved every part of him.
So many times, I found myself ready to utter those three words, but I hadn’t. I didn’t know if he was there yet. Sure, he cared for me. He showed it in every way. But did he love me? Could he love me?
I sighed as I stood from the chair and grabbed my bag. As I left my office, I fell in line with the rest of the staff preparing to leave the building. We said our goodbyes, and I locked the door before heading to my car. As I rounded the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of a man standing next to my car.
Raheem.
After the night he followed me home, I hadn’t spoken to him at all, so I was a little weary of him being here now. Reaching into my purse, I grabbed my pepper spray and made my way toward him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
He raised his hands in surrender. “I just wanted to talk.”
“About?”
He pushed off from the car and stepped closer to me. “I need to apologize to you.”
“Oh, really?” I crossed my arms. “I’m listening.”
“I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I was in a fucked-up frame of mind, and I was wrong. I did and said shit to you that you never deserved, especially not from a nigga telling you he loved you. I’m ashamed that I wanted you for as long as I did and mistreated you when I got you. You have always been one of the sweetest people I know. Even when I didn’t have shit, you never treated me any different. I fucked up royally with Imani. I disrespected you too many times on so many levels. You were a great girlfriend, Rhythm. You should have left me a long time ago, and I should have let you go.”
“You’re right about that. I would have respected you more if you’d just told me you didn’t want to be with me.”
“I did want to be with you. My actions say otherwise, but it’s true. I loved you. Hell, I still love you. No woman has ever wanted just me. You were a rare find, and I fumbled that ball. You deserve all the happiness in the world. I’ll forever hate myself for not being that for you.”
“No need for that. Because of you, I’m right where I need to be.”
He chuckled. “Watson being good to you?”
“He is.”
“Good. You gotta admit, you being with him was messy.”
I shrugged. “Maybe it was. It wasn’t intentional, but I don’t regret meeting him. He sees me… He hears me.”
He nodded. “I’m happy for you.”
I raised an eyebrow, causing him to laugh.
“I’m serious. He’s a good dude. He’s not out here in these streets. Other than the shit with me, every time I heard his name, nothing but good things were said about him. You deserve someone who loves you the way he seems to.”
“I do.” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Is that all?”
He nodded. “Yeah… yeah, I guess so.”
“Good. I’ll see you around.”
Again, he nodded. He shoved his hand into his pocket and walked away with his head down. Just as I was climbing into my car, he called my name.
“Rhythm?”
“What?”
“Happiness looks good on you. I wish you two the best.”
I hesitated for a moment, contemplating if I wanted to respond. After a moment, I declined a response and climbed into my car. It wasn’t that I wished bad upon him. I just had nothing left to say. Our relationship had run its course, and I was done. If I never spoke to him again, I’d be perfectly fine with that.
Without another word, I cranked up and headed for my man. I pulled into Channing’s driveway about thirty minutes later. Traffic had been hell and put me behind my normal arrival time. I’d let Channing know when I was about ten minutes away. Grabbing my things, I got out of the car and headed up the front steps then inside.
The heavenly smell of whatever Channing was cooking caused my mouth to water. I placed my things down as Koda came running around the corner to me. I smiled as I stooped to greet her.
“Hi, baby!”
She put her paws on my shoulders and rested her head against mine.
“My sweet girl. Did you miss me?”
Koda had become like my child. She was always so happy to see me or Channing. Every time I came over, she greeted me with so much love, and my heart couldn’t take it.
“Let’s go see daddy. Come on.”
I stood and followed her into the kitchen where I found my man putting a pan in the oven. Closing the door, he stood upright and looked at me. A smile spread across his face.
“Hey, baby,” he said, sauntering over to me.
“Hey, babe.”
He pulled me into his arms and lifted me onto the countertop. Finding his way between my legs, he cupped my face and kissed me softly.
“I missed you, mama.”
“I missed you, too. You won’t believe who showed up at my job today.”
“Who?”
“Raheem.”
He frowned. “The fuck he want?”
I sighed before running him the story of Raheem’s surprise visit.
“He said he wanted to apologize for everything. That he was wrong, and I deserved to be happy. He actually wished us the best.”
“You believe him?”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. That chapter is closed, and I don’t need to reread it ever again.” I cupped his face and pecked his lips. “All the man I need is right here.”
“You damn right.”
I giggled, and a smile finally spread across his lips.
“Your bath is ready. Why don’t you get undressed and soak?”
“Thank you, baby.”
We shared another kiss before he lifted me from the counter and placed me back on my feet.
I headed upstairs to his bedroom.
As soon as I entered, soft R&B music began playing from the speaker in the bathroom.
I stripped down and walked into the en suite.
Candles were lit all around the room.
The tub was filled with bubbles, with rose petals scattered about.
Next to the tub was an ice bucket with a bottle of my favorite wine and a big glass because he knew how I felt about my wine.
I dipped a toe in to test the water, before sliding my whole body in and releasing a relaxed sigh.
After pouring a nice serving of wine, I rested my back against the tub.
Closing my eyes, I let the smooth sounds of Patti Labelle’s “If Only You Knew” lull me into a Zen state.
I was so relaxed that I didn’t even hear Channing come in until he placed a kiss on my forehead.
I looked up to see him standing over me with a plate of food.
He placed it on the counter and left the bathroom, returning shortly with a stool.
Placing it next to the tub, he grabbed the plate and took a seat.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Much better. I needed this.”
I peered at the plate of macaroni, mashed potatoes, and pot roast in his hands.
“Is that for me?”
“Of course it is.”
He forked a helping of macaroni and blew on it before placing it to my lips.
“Open.”
I didn’t hesitate to open my mouth and accept the offer. The flavors danced on my pallet, causing me to moan at the goodness. I loved when he cooked for me. It was like someone’s grandmother entered his spirit, and he cooked with the guidance of his ancestors.
“Good?” he asked.
“Amazing. You could have been a chef in another life.”
He chuckled. “I like to cook, but there are very few people I’d cook for. I’d hate to have to tell a muthafucka about themselves if they get disrespectful about my shit.”
I giggled. “You are always ready to tell somebody off.”
“If you don’t let people know that they got you fucked up, who else will?”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess. How was your day?”
“It was decent. I had a meeting.”
“Oh? What for?”
He grinned, and I gathered that it must have been big news.
“I’ve decided to open my own record label.”
My eyes widened. “Baby! That’s great news! I’m so proud of you!”
“Thank you.”
“What’s it called?”
“Capo Music.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I really didn’t tell anybody. I’ve been going back and forth with it for a while now. Sure, I was happy with artists and their labels seeking me out for my services, but I feel like I have much more to offer. I know a lot of people, and I’ve learned a lot in this industry. It’s time to move on to bigger and better things.”
I smiled. “I love that for you. I know you are gonna be great. We have to celebrate.”
He smirked. “The sooner you get out of this tub, the sooner we can.”
I gave him a sly smile. “I hear you.”
He continued to feed me and tell me all about his vision for his label. Hearing the excitement in his voice told me that he had put a lot of thought into this. I had no doubt that he was going to be one of the biggest things to come out of L.A.
After I finished eating, he left me to take my shower, while he went to eat and take Koda for a walk.
By the time I was out of the shower and moisturizing my skin, he came back into the room.
Taking the shea butter cream from my hands, he picked up where I left off, continuing my routine.
I lay across the bed on my stomach with my head resting against my arms, and he massaged the cream into my skin. A smirk found its way to my face as he caressed my ass cheeks.
“What are you doing, sir?”
I felt the bed dip under his weight. His arm slid under me, and he pulled me up into an arch. I felt the tip of his dick sliding up and down my slit.
“Baby… oooo, shit!”
In one swift movement, he entered me and filled me to the hilt. His strokes were long and hard. My ass clapped loudly against his thighs as he held me in place and fucked me like it would be the last time.
“Oooo, shit… oooo, fuck! Don’t stop!”
He slapped my ass hard then smoothed the sting over with his hand.
“Goddamn, that’s a beautiful sight!” he declared, slapping it again. “Your pussy is so pretty with my dick in you, love.”
“It’s your pussy, baby.”
“All mine?”
“All yours!”
His hand crept around my neck, and he pulled me upright and against his chest.
“Say it again,” he demanded.
“It’s all yours, daddy… all yours!”
His other hand came around to strum my clit as he thrusted his hips upward. My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I basked in the feeling of him filling me repeatedly. Him kissing and sucking on my neck only heightened my arousal. He pushed me forward and gripped my hips as he pounded me from behind.
“Throw that shit back,” he commanded.
My hips had a mind of their own as I rode him with perfect synchronicity. My pussy was juicing up so bad that I could feel my essence dripping down my thighs. No other man had ever gotten me as wet as he could. None of them had ever handled me the way he did. My body responded to him in ways beyond my control, and I loved it. When he took ownership of her, she always fully submitted.
“I’m gonna cum…. fuck! I’m cumming!”
“Bust that shit.”
My orgasm hit full force. As I was cumming, he pulled out, and the next thing I felt was his mouth on my pussy as he flicked and sucked my clit.
“Ch-Channing!”
“I know you got one more in you, love. Make my pussy spit for me.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice.
My body erupted, and I collapsed against the bed.
As I lay there panting, he flipped me over onto my back and climbed between my legs.
With one hand resting beside my head, the other snaked to the back of my neck.
He pulled me upright and planted the sexiest kiss on my lips.
My hands clipped his face as I opened my mouth to receive his tongue.
I didn’t fight him for dominance.
I completely gave him control. For what seemed like forever, our lips remained intertwined. When we finally came up for air, I looked deep into his eyes.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He smiled. “I love you, too. Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier?”
“I… yes. I just didn’t know how to say it. I love you, and I’m in love with you.”
His smile widened. “I’ma have to let my mama know she was right. Now I owe her a pamper day.”
I scoffed and slapped his chest. “You made a bet with your mother!”
“Technically, she made a bet with me. I didn’t ask for anything, babe.”
I rolled my eyes. “Me and your mother need to have a talk. I can’t believe she’s out here making bets at my expense.”
He chuckled. “Cut my girl some slack. She helped me come to terms with my own love for you.”
He cupped my chin and stared deep into my eyes.
“I love you, Rhythm. Meeting you was by chance, but loving you is by far the best thing I’ve experienced. You’re it for me, baby.”
Tears filled my eyes.
Loving him was the best decision that had ever been made for me too. It was unexpected, but my mama always told me great things happened when you least expected it.