Kenyon
The door opened, and a frantic Sydney rushed outside, sighing in relief.
“I’ve been looking all over for you, Birthday Boy.” Her presence immediately shifted the energy. I wasn’t sure if she liked me, but I had learned one thing about Zara Nicole tonight. Women weren’t her thing.
“I need to get inside anyway,” Zara half smiled, “Happy Birthday, Keyes.”
“I appreciate that, Babygirl.”
Most women would’ve grabbed Zara by her bundles after my suggestive comment, but it only turned Sydney on. She couldn’t resist watching Zara head for the door.
The cat had Sydney’s tongue- specifically Zara’s. I had never seen her so smitten by a woman that she couldn’t get her thoughts together. Watching her try was cute, but Zara didn’t share the same sentiment, staring at Sydney in confusion.
“What are you doing after this?” I asked, hoping to give Sydney a lifeline.
“Going home. Alone ,” Zara replied, folding her arms to appear serious.
“Why would you do that when you can come with us?” Sydney asked.
“I appreciate the offer, but you’ve got the wrong girl.”
“Not after that performance you put on. You could never be the wrong girl,” Zara’s eyes floated to me like she was waiting for something. “Tell me what you want, and Keyes will make it happen.”
“I want to get back to work.”
“You wouldn’t need to do that if you came with us. Just name your price,” Sydney insisted.
She was no longer star-struck. Sydney’s confidence was front and center, raking through Zara’s hair and down her chest.
“My price? You or Keyes can’t afford me.”
She lapped her eyes, moving Sydney aside. I chuckled at her insult because, once again, she didn’t know any better. Keyes could most definitely afford Zara, but I loved her confidence.
“What the fuck just happened?” Sydney fussed after the door slammed shut.
“I guess she wasn’t feeling your charm.”
“Hmm, she seemed to be feeling yours.”
“You think you’re the only one in the world digging me?”
Sydney sucked her teeth, irritated that she wasn’t getting her way.
“Fix your face. No frowning allowed on my birthday.”
“I need some titties in my face.” She complained before storming back inside the same way Zara did.
Following the scent of perfume and sweat, I found a spot in the shadows, affording me the privacy I craved, or at least the illusion, until Phoenix sat on my lap.
She was a hustler, and this was her way into my pockets. Phoenix danced as if we were the only two people in the world, and for a moment, we were until I looked up and saw her . We were both with other people, but Zara’s eyes didn’t leave me, and mine didn’t leave her.
“Let me know if you want to continue this party later,” Phoenix volunteered.
“I know where to find you. Thanks for the love,” I replied, handing over a stack of cash.
“It's always love for you, Keyes,” Phoenix winked.
The rest of the evening blurred into a haze of lap dances and drinks until Sydney plopped beside me.
“Are you enjoying your birthday?”
“I think you’re enjoying it enough for the both of us.”
When Sydney didn’t fire back with a rebuttal, my head turned to see what had her attention.
“Damn,” Sydney mumbled.
“Relax, Babygirl got you way too excited tonight.”
Honestly, Zara had that effect on everybody tonight. I was just better at concealing mine.
“Are you jealous?” Sydney poked.
“Jealousy isn’t my game. I’m chillin’. What your thirsty ass needs to be doing.”
Sydney slapped my arm but couldn’t pull herself from the show Zara put on.
“I want her for us tonight,” Sydney declared, watching Zara’s body twist and arch.
“It’s my birthday, and you’re telling me what you want?”
“I know you want that, too.”
I did. A lot and that was the problem.
“If only your parents knew the shit that comes out of your mouth.”
“They’d die, and so would Michael,” Sydney grimaced, referring to her father’s campaign manager before focusing on her plan. “Are you down?”
“It isn’t me you need to convince.”
“Then convince her,” Sydney pleaded. “Make it happen.”
“I’ll try, but that ain’t happening tonight.”
“Fine, I guess it’s on to plan B. For now.”
Quiet as kept, I was partied out and biding time for the night to end. Then I found Kross, near VIP, in full boss mode, trying to defuse a drunk patron. My brother could handle his own, but sometime nigga’s liked to get stupid, so I stood by just in case.
Retiring to the bar, Kross poured himself a drink because he hated people. He wasn’t always that way, but he had a short fuse these days. Between Kross pouring drinks back, Sydney told me she was heading to the hotel to set up my surprise.
“What the fuck y’all got going on?” Kross asked after she pecked my lips and pranced toward the exit.
“Who knows.”
“Everything straight with y’all?”
Our arrangement had never been straight , so I wasn’t sure how to answer that question.
“Where did you find the new girl?”
“Nova?” Kross asked because, despite a few others, she was the only newbie in attendance. “She found us. She moved back and eager to find work.”
He looked at her, but I couldn’t read his expression.
“Why are you asking about Nova?”
“I felt like it. You have a problem with that?”
He smirked, “Yeah, I do. I don’t fuck the help, and you shouldn’t either.”
“I haven’t fucked that girl.”
“Maybe not, but she fucked your head up tonight. I thought your ass was going to have a seizure on stage,” Kross joked.
“Chill.”
“I’m just saying, can you function without a woman?”
Saying it out loud turned Kross’s subtle laughter into full-blown hysteria.
“Real funny from the nigga beating his dick every night. Learn how to talk to a woman, and she might take care of it for you.”
Kross didn’t feel the need to defend himself. Instead, he threw his hands up to stifle the remaining chuckles. “Whatever you do, just leave Nova out of it.”
“Do you want to fuck her?”
Part of me was hoping he did, as twisted as that sounded. That would make her off limits and stop what she was doing to me. Instead, Kross gave me that look. The one I knew too well.
“I care about all the girls. She ain’t no better or different. As the boss, you shouldn’t have your hands on the merchandise anyway.”
“You planned this party and let her put her hands on me,” I announced, sliding off the stool.
“Are you good to drive? If not, I can get Daris to drop you off.”
“I’m good.” But Kross wasn’t sold. Likely because I was usually obliterated on my birthday, but he had Zara to thank for fucking my head up. “I’ll call you when I get in. Worrisome ass nigga.”
“You should be happy somebody cares about your goofy ass.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Are you going home in the morning?”
“Mom already laid the hammer down. I’ll be there.”
Kross nodded, “Happy Birthday, Keyes.”
“Thanks. I’ll hit you later.” We slapped hands, moving through the signature handshake.
Leaving the chaos of the club, the cool night air brushed against my skin. Driving through the empty streets toward the hotel, my thoughts were consumed by the rendezvous awaiting me. Like anything else that becomes too accessible, threesomes didn’t yield the excitement it used to. I used to look forward to it, but lately, what I wanted didn’t feel like this.
I went to the nineteenth floor and swiped into the room. Sydney had her rules, and I had mine—no women allowed at my house, so our adventures were relegated to hotel suites like this one. The sight that greeted me was nothing short of cinematic.
“Fuckkkkk,” Phoenix moaned, massaging the back of Sydney’s head.
“Hmmm, you taste good. I missed this pussy.”
This wasn’t our first rodeo with Phoenix, which is likely why Sydney picked her. The familiarity made it easier to navigate, especially after Zara rejected her. Phoenix followed the rules, remained discreet, and, most importantly, didn’t get weird as fuck afterward.
“Damn, y’all couldn’t wait, huh?”
My voice made Phoenix lift her head and smile because, truthfully, she was here for me. She didn’t mind Sydney eating her out, but I was the real prize.
“I just couldn’t resist,” Sydney flirted, squeezing Phoenix’s titties in her hand. “Your nipples are so fuckin’ sexy.”
“We’re all warmed up for you,” Phoenix flirted, crawling on all fours toward me.
“That pussy just greets you when you bend over.” Sydney smacked her ass, mesmerized by the rippling of her skin.
“I’m enjoying the show. Keep going.”
Pulling my shirt over my head, I finished taking off the rest of my clothes and sparked a blunt. This shit was more for her than it was for me, so I let her have her moment. Phoenix was disappointed because despite enjoying Sydney spreading her lips to massage her clit it was me she was here for.
“Shit feels good, doesn’t it?” I asked.
“Fuck!” Phoenix was panting so hard she could barely respond. Sydney usually had that effect on women, making her extremely confident until Zara shut her down.
“Hmm baby, give me something to put in my mouth,” Phoenix begged.
“Only if you cum for me,” Sydney taunted.
Phoenix’s brows dipped, and I nodded, agreeing with Sydney. She had to give Syd what she wanted if she wanted me, so she didn’t hesitate. I closed the distance between us because I couldn’t think of a better way to end my birthday than with two sexy-ass women sucking my dick.
“Hmm, you taste so good,” she muttered between licks and sucks.
“That’s right. Deep throat that shit,” Sydney encouraged, and Phoenix took her words to heart, trying to make my dick disappear.
“Deeper,” she demanded, pinching Phoenix’s nipple. “Good girl,” Sydney continued, and Phoenix accepted every challenge, bringing tears to her eyes. “Hold it, baby. Suck that cum out!”
And she did, determined to satisfy Sydney and me because that was assurance that she’d get to come back again.
“Damn, you turned me on!” I smacked Phoenix’s ass while waterfalling my cum into Sydney’s mouth because sharing was caring.
“Let me give you this good pussy for your birthday.”
Grabbing a condom from my pocket made Phoenix roll her eyes, but she wasn’t mad enough to go without. I hated condoms, too, but I wasn’t stupid enough to slide in Phoenix raw. By the time I rolled it over my dick, she was laying spread eagle. Fitting my dick like a glove, I maneuvered in and out of Phoenix, causing her to wrap her legs around my waist. She wasn’t even trying to hide the pleasure anymore.
“Yes, Keyes! Fuck me!”
Pumping in and out of Phoenix while Sydney gripped her neck, talking her through an orgasm. She arched her back, and her mouth formed the letter ‘O’, letting out the sweetest moan I had ever heard.
“Damn, Keyes,” Phoenix panted, touching herself from the high my dick provided, “I see why you let this nigga have his way.”
“Have his way?” Sydney’s neck buckled.
I shook my head, urging Phoenix to abort the mission. “You’re about to talk yourself into trouble.”
“When are you going to lay off the rubber.” Phoenix smacked her lips while collecting her clothes from the floor. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s rules to this shit. You know that.”
“We’ve been fucking around for a minute. Doesn’t that deserve some trust?” She wrapped her hand around my shaft, hoping to stroke me into a change of heart, but that wasn’t happening.
“Not that kind of trust, but here you go.” I rummaged through my pockets and handed over the rest of the cash I had left.
“Thanks, I guess,” Phoenix rolled her eyes, but the smile tilting her lips told another story.
“Get dressed, I’ll walk you out.” Because Loriann raised me better than to let a woman walk the parking lot by herself.
“Thanks, Keyes.”
After a hot shower, I fell asleep with birthday memories swirling like a storm. The morning light filtered through the curtains, and I rose from the bed to head to Mom's. Sydney was still exhausted from the night, declining my offer so she could enjoy the bed before checkout. I dressed quickly and made my way to my parent's home alone, the empty seat beside me a silent reminder of the distance growing between us.
“Happy Birthday Baby.”
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Your birthday French Toast will be ready soon.”
“You know you don’t have to make me French Toast for my birthday anymore.”
“Nonsense. You get French Toast because my picky child doesn’t like cake. Kross gets red velvet, and Dad gets carrot cake.” She said out loud because that had been her routine for years. Only now, Dad wasn’t here anymore, and that realization had her teary-eyed.
“I’m fine,” she declared before I could get close enough to hug her.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I knew better than to argue with Loriann about anything. Dad always joked that she had superpowers because she was the only person I never questioned. Even Eric Keyes wasn’t exempt, no matter how feared he was in the street.
“Looks like you had a long night. Did Sydney plan something nice for your birthday?” Mom asked.
“Something like that.”
“What y’all get into?” Kross asked, greeting Mom with a hug.
“We spent most of the night with you at the club.”
“Most but not all night. What did you and your girl get into?”
“Sydney’s not my girl, stupid.”
“You’re still humping on her, I’m sure,” Mom added.
“I’m saving myself for my wife.” My comment damn near made Kross choke while Mom glared before going back to what she was doing.
“The day you get married, none of us will be alive to see it because the rapture will have arrived, too.”
“I don’t know, Mama. Your baby boy might be changing,” Kross chimed, and Mom gave me a skeptical look.
“, figure it out,” Was all Mom had to say to force me into submission. “The bread has to soak. Don’t either of you stick your fingers in my food,” she warned before leaving us alone in the kitchen.
It was nothing to figure out. Sydney and I were together sometimes—no expectations or rules outside of the loyalty of our friendship. I didn’t have the energy to devote to a relationship right now, and Sydney couldn’t be in the one she wanted, so it worked.