Gettin' Hooked (11 page)

Maurice's
hand was on my hip, his long fingers half on the jersey of my sweats, half on my skin under my shirt. And his soft lips were kissing me, on my cheeks, at the corners of my mouth, on the sensitive skin by my ear.

I didn't wanna open my eyes, didn't want to wake up and find out that I was dreaming and I was actually in my bed on the same short night I'd cried myself to sleep.

Just to peep out if he was real, I turned slightly onto my side toward him. Not daring to lift my lids, I lifted my hand and settled it on his chest.

His naked chest.

His muscles quivered under my fingertips and he made a little throaty noise that made me warm and gushy inside.

“Morning, shortie,” he whispered, between raining kisses across my face.

I smiled. Okaaay, this was fo' sho' no dream. “Hi.” My voice cracked a little, but he just chuckled and took advantage of my smile by planting his mouth full on mine and sweeping his tongue across my lips, then inside.

I let him kiss me, let him angle his head so his tongue stroked softly against mine, let him lead me until that warm gushy feelin' was hella on fire and all I could think 'bout was if he quit now I might cry. Or die. Or worse, beg him to start up with this mess again.

Oh, my lawdy, I straight up didn't even care about my morning breath, and he sure as hell didn't, either. He kissed me deep, pressing me back onto the firm mattress of the telly room, his large body half covering me.

Slowly his mouth moved from mine, smoothing tongue and lips down my jaw, then to my neck. His hand was hella set loose, roaming all free and crazy across my body, creepin' up beneath my shirt across my bare skin.

My thoughts skittered to my lack of bra, which lay on the floor, haphazardly discarded in the middle of the night.

His palm settled over my flesh, and I straight up couldn't help the nervous giggle. I turned more fully into him, breakin' off the kiss, and put my forehead to his chest. “We're in a room.”

He made a sound at the back of his throat, but I felt it rumble up from his chest. “Yup, you chill with that?”

Hexa chill. I think. I'd kissed other guys. I'd made out with other fellas. This wasn't the first time I'd had a hand up my shirt, but it was the first time evah I was all up in a room, alone with a half-dressed hottie who was totally diggin' the kisses and feelin'.

I could tell.

And his whispered words did a ring-a-ding in my skull:
carry caps
. And I knew now, like I knew then, he'd meant condoms, and I hella wondered if he had some with him now. In the half craziness of sleep, I wanted this boy, wanted to go all the way, and I'd let him do it, too.

I nodded. And with the slight movement his hands went back to caressing me, back to roaming all free across my body, making my skin hella tingle.

“I'll quit if ya tell me,” he mumbled, and his non-pressure made me feel way better about lettin' him continue.

I believed him. I believed that if I told him to stop he would, unlike some dudes I'd known 'bout, some situations my girls had gotten into.

Relaxin' into his touch, into his mouth and kisses, I ran my hand up his chest, over muscular shoulders, up the back of his neck and across the stubble of his clean fade. “I know.”

“You done this before?”

“No.” I didn't hesitate in my reply.

But he paused, his kisses stopping, his body going still half above me. And I heard his breathing change up, too. I wasn't ready for this to be over, wasn't ready for the warmth and softness to be cooled out if he was having second thoughts 'bout being with a virgin.

Putting my hand on the back of his head, I pulled his head down toward mine, and kissed him instead. And so he lost the stillness and went back to doin' what he had been that was makin' me feel light-headed, yet alive.

With each kiss the passing thoughts of him not even being my man faded out. Thoughts of prom dates and wannabe hook-ups. Of GettinHooked.com and all the trouble it'd caused. Not even the remainin' shaded bruise on my cheek mattered. Only feelin' fully what Maurice was doing to me.

And then his hand dipped straight up into my pants and I knew I didn't wanna stop him. Except…thoughts of Kayla crept into my head, and fear resurfaced. Hard.

Here I was, cup caking and playing cuddle-up with the guy I wanted so bad. I was safe and secure in his arms, doin' junk I'd never even wanted to do wit' no one else. Junk I wanted to keep on doin'. Because he was gentle and tender and makin' this all right. Makin' it right.

But Kayla, Kayla was out there with a stranger. For all I knew—she knew—James was a forty-year-old man with a thang for teen girls.

I was into Maurice. Pickin' up what he was layin' down. But Kayla could be being raped, or even murdered.

Even with Maurice's sweet kisses and tender caresses, tears welled behind my eyes. My throat tightened as I attempted to keep them at bay. But I failed and fat drops slipped off my lashes.

After a sec, Maurice must have tasted their saltiness mingled with our makin' out. His body still again, he lifted his head, his brows pulled together, his dark eyes intent on me when I lifted my lids and looked at him.

“You scared?” He touched my cheek, swipin' away some of the liquid stainin' my skin. “I said I'd stop. You shoulda told me.”

I shook my head, my throat too tight to talk, my mouth too dry to form words. His warm palm cupped my cheek, his thumb gently stroked across my lips, and I could tell he was fightin' hella hard to get himself in check.

“You okay, Imani? I didn't wanna do shit you don't like.”

“I like it,” I croaked out, somehow forcing out the words, a sob startin' to bubble up.

He flashed this boyish grin that showed off his cutiepie dimples. “What then, shortie?”

“Kayla.” And then tears streamed out hexa fast and the sob I'd been holdin' back escaped. Feelin' hella dumb, I turned my face away and once again put my forehead to his chest so he couldn't see me cryin'.

He didn't nothing at first, just held me while I cried. Stroked his big hands down my back, pushed back unruly wild-ass curls from my face, now dampened by my fussin'.

“You're worried 'bout her.”

I nodded.

His voice lowered, and I could feel the warmth of his breath brush against my ear. “Me, too.”

I nodded again, but between sobs there wasn't much I could say. Wrappin' my arms around his back, I curled into him, absorbing his heat, totally comfortable sharin' this moment with him. In fact, it felt good to be there with him because usually I cried alone.

My daddy was gone when I needed him. I hated to burden Gram when I was upset, and I'd never had a momma to share this with. But Maurice was here, and oh, my lawdy, I needed him. Needed this from him as much as I needed and wanted the kisses and affection.

He held me, like I'd longed for someone to do. He let me cry, without offerin' up advice or judgment. With my cheek tight against his firm chest, I could feel his heart beat, the slow and steady rhythm hella soothin' when I was feelin whacked and out of it.

A bit of time must ticked off the clock because the weepin' let up and I was able to make words again. Takin' a hecka big gulping breath, I lifted my head and leaned back so I could look at him.

“Maybe I'm trippin', but I'm worried 'bout her.” I touched his chest where I'd left some nasty snot from all my boo-hooing. “I liked it, though. I'm not upset about the kissin' 'n stuff.” My face heated.

“But I just got ta thinkin'. Here I am, all cuddled up with you, and feelin' hella good—” I watched him smile “—and it was safe and right, but K is out there with some guy she doesn't know. Some guy who may not be sweet like you are.”

An eyebrow lifted, but a dimple danced. “I'm sweet?” And he kissed me hard with some added tongue to maybe prove he wasn't.

I was kinda breathless when he was through. “Yeah. Sweet. But you smellin' me about Kayla?”

He nodded. “So let's step then. The sooner we bounce, the sooner we'll get there.”

“Fa shizzle.”

“You wanna shower?”

Heat pumped up all crazy onto my cheeks again, thinkin' I'd be gettin' for real naked in the next room, even though I was about to get down in the bed with him a few secs ago. “Yup.”

He rolled outta the bed, leavin' me feelin' all hella cold and lonely and wishing right quick that we could forget about the rest of the world and go back to makin' out.

For a moment I just lay there watching him, his brown skin lookin' rich and smooth in the dimness of our room. The fly on his jeans gaped open and the denim clung all low on his hips.

His body moved powerfully across the room to where I'd dumped my pack, then with a wink he swooped it up and carried it to the bathroom. A sec later I heard the shower turn on, the water smackin' down on the tub.

“All ready. You go first,” he said, walkin' out of the bathroom.

Rightin' my shirt and sweats under the covers, I got out of the bed, my heart thumpin' hella hard. For a quick minute there, I thought he'd meant to shower with me.

“Thanks.” I reached up and kissed his cheek as I went by, steppin' into the bathroom, then my head hexa debatin' on whether or not to lock the door. I ended up not. Let what happens happen, I was feelin' all ready for the next step with Maurice.

But he didn't come in. I showered pretty quickly, knowing the water and telly soap would help out the puffiness of my cried-out eyes, and make me fresh and ready to face the rest of the day.

I dressed in the bathroom, too, then swapped with Maurice. He showered while I combed my hair and put on my socks and sneakers.

Less than an hour after full-on makin' out then breakin' into tears, we gathered all our stuff and pixxed out.

Time to find Kayla.

The
highway sped by. After we left the L.A. area, the highway turned into mile after mile of nothin' much, spreadin' into even hecka less. The scope of the low hills and desert was hella different than the city streets of the Bay Area, or even the smooth lanes and courts of the suburbs just outside The Bay, where I lived.

Maurice and I didn't talk much as we moved down the long stretch of road, the bright sun seepin' in through his tinted windows. Mac Dre was on his CD player right now, like most of the ride we just listened to the music and let the hours tick by.

But it was a comfortable silence, one filled with hand-holdin' and soft, tender smiles that made me feel like I was the most special girl in the world. And there were times that I'd glance his way and his warm eyes were fixed on me rather than the road. Somethin' in his gaze made me want a replay of the telly. Want another chance to play cuddle-up, to be in his arms again.

And I'd grin back at him, gigglingly point to the road, so that his dimples would get all deep before he pulled his gaze from me to be checkin' on drivin' again.

There was somethin' straight intimate about being alone on the road with him, on our own, like a team; Maurice and me against the world. Or at least the crazos of the Internet.

We'd only stopped once, to fill his tight ride with gas and to find some food. We found a small rest stop, complete with a few gas stations and our choice of a run for the border or Denny's. We opted for burritos and ate them in the car, talkin' and laughin' before we hit the road again.

When we crossed out of Cali, I couldn't help the hella nervous coil of fear that wound all crazy tight in my gut. The tension caused my hands to tremor, but Maurice tightened his fingers around me and offered up reassurance. “We're gonna find her,” he said, and if he hadn't been behind the wheel, I'd have kissed him for sayin' so.

After heading south on 17 for a few hours, I could feel the tension start to build for a second time. Now the ride was drawing to an end as the hella empty sand and dirt turned green as we neared towns and populated areas.

When we passed Cave Creek Recreation Area, we decided it was time to find a place to pull off the highway and try to figure out where we were goin' next. When we stepped from the car the air was hella warmer than The Bay, and dry, too.

I stretched my legs for a sec, then reached into the backseat and found my pack. Searchin' inside, I swooped the info I'd printed off about James and dialed his number on my cell.

With Akon in the background as his ring tone, James told me to leave a message. At least he sounded young, and not forty-somethin', I thought as I smashed my thumb to disconnect the call. Then redialed, just hexa hoping the fella would pick up.

And he did. “Wassup?”

“James?”

“Yeah, who wants to know?”

My heart was hella thump-a-thumpin', my hand shakin' as I held the phone. For a right quick sec, my eyes blurred over in relief, and through the fuzz of liquid, I saw Maurice step in my direction with his hand outstretched, like he was tryin' to help me.

I cleared my throat. “Um…this is Imani. I'm Kayla's cousin. You know Kayla?”

He didn't say a thang, but I could hear him shuffle around on the other end of the line, could hear muffled voices murmurin' somethin'.

“Yeah, I know Kayla. Why do you want to know?”

My knees were shakin' now, and I slid back into the Altima onto the plush seat inside. Maurice squatted before me, his hand settled on my hip, his look questioning.

“Can I talk to her for a sec?” My voice cracked, and I wondered why I was hella stupid enough to have been trippin' so bad that I hadn't tried to dial them both over and over again since we'd left home.

“Not right now.”

“Why!” I knew I yelled, but I hexa couldn't help it. I was freakin'. I wanted to act like I was two again, and have a full-out temper tantrum with foot stompin' and screamin'. I wanted to know why they hadn't bothered respondin' to any of my desperate messages.

He laughed. “She's in the bathroom.” He cleared his throat, then added, “Shower.”

“Oh.”

“Whatcha think, I killed her or something?”

Or raped her. Or had her tied up. Or somethin' else nasty and awful. Fo' sho', that's what I thought—the guy hadn't done a thang to make me think otherwise.

Now that I knew she was safe—mostly—anyway, the fear was hella getting swapped with being pissed. Hella frickin' PO'd.

My cheeks flamed, with anger and maybe just a tad with being caught up in all the drama hype the media creates when teens get lured away by the 'net. Hell, I was in 'Zona because of my Web site.

“Yup, I guess.”

“Nah, she's fine. Want me to have her ring ya?”

“Hey, James?”

“Huh?”

“Um, actually…I'm in Arizona. Near Phoenix. Can you tell me where y'all are at and we'll come there?”

“
We'll?
Ya didn't bring her folks did ya?”

“No, I'm with—” I broke off and glanced at Maurice,
my boyfriend
nearly drippin' like rain from my tongue. But I wasn't his girl, and despite him bein' here, and all the rubbin' up we'd done in the room, he hadn't said shit about us bein' a couple. I cleared my throat. “My friend drove me.”

“Aiight. You got something to write with?”

I dug into my pack and got prepped for him to lay down the info we needed to find my girl and make sure she was safe.

After he gave us directions to the campus of Arizona State that he went to and lived on, I said, “Later.” Then clicked my phone shut, feelin' this weird release.

“What up?” Maurice asked, still crouched in the gap of the open car door in the V of my legs in front of me. “He's a peanut?”

“He sounds cool, actually.” I realized maybe I was wrong to have freaked the way I had over him, but still in my heart I knew I was right about needin' to shut down GettinHooked.com. As off the chain as the idea had been, without some sorta security system, the entire concept was way outta pockets now. And dangerous.

“But he wouldn't let you talk to Kayla?”

I shook my head. “She's in the shower.”

He grinned, then lifted a brow. I wasn't stupid. I knew what they'd been doing—or at least I had a pretty good idea. And Maurice knew, too, I could tell by the way he peeped me out, with his eyes all glossy and a soft curve to his full, yummy lips.

I knew he was thinking 'bout our close encounter the night before.

“Um, I think we're still a bit away. His school is in Tempe.” I waved the paper I'd scribbled on. “He gave directions. Let's bounce.”

Maurice nodded but didn't move right away. He kept lookin' at me, like there was somethang else he wanted to say. I touched his face, my touch light at first, then I traced his lips with my fingertips and wondered what it was that was thick on his brain.

Then some tension eased from his body and his breath released warm across my skin. He rose, leaned forward and kissed me full on the lips, just with the slightest hint of tongue sliding all sexi-like across me.

“You did good, shortie,” he said, with a devilish wink. Another quick peck to my mouth and he backed away and rounded the car, sliding behind the wheel.

There was nothin' I could say, 'cause I wasn't really sure what I'd done good at. Instead I felt like I hella lost it. I was in 'Zona for spring break, chasing after Kayla, who'd lost her head and chased after some boy.

Maurice took the directions I'd jotted down and peeped them over right quick, before putting his car into gear and getting back on the road.

As we eased closer into Phoenix, the neighborhoods started lookin' familiar, almost, like suburbs that could be dropped into any place in the States with very little differences. The houses looked to be 'bout the same age as mine, 'bout the same size and style, too, as the one that littered all the places popppin' up around The Bay.

There were differences, too, and surprises. The air was much stiller here, and lacked the damp scent of salt and sea life that sprayed up from the Pacific. Livin' near the ocean fo' sho' gave off its own scent. Nothin' like the dry smell of the middle of the desert.

But there were a hella lot of palm trees and that threw me. I didn't expect them out here, but rather in L.A. or a tropical isle.

I think it was the palm trees that struck me most as we neared the Tempe campus of Arizona State, following the directions James had given.

Just as he'd done for much of the ride, Maurice's warm fingers were wrapped around mine, and he gave me a little squeeze, then stroked his thumb across my palm. “We're here.”

“I'm scared.” It's not what I meant to say, but it came out anyhow.

“We found her, Imani. You said James didn't sound bad.”

“I know.” And I did, but still I couldn't shake the tingle of apprehension tap-dancing down my spine. “But what if she doesn't wanna come back with us? What if she's so wound up that…that…”

“Hey, nah, baby-girl.” He winked and a dimple appeared in his cheek. “She'll know it's time to go.”

I tried to force a smile, but it was faulty. “I'm still scared.”

He brought our joined hands to his mouth, his gaze driftin' from drivin' to my eyes all tender as he kissed my fingers right quick. “Don't be. I'm here, Imani. I got your back, you feelin' me, right?”

“Yup.” And I guess I did, too. He hadn't said shit about it before, but then he was here. He was here for me when so few had ever been. And just havin' him here did help lighten up the fear that squeezed hexa tight around my lungs, makin' it hard to breathe.

My eyes teared. I think a few escapee droplets of salty liquid may have escaped my lower lashes, but I turned away from Maurice, slid the window down and let the air rush into the car, across my face, drying up the trails before a thang could be made 'bout 'em.

It wasn't long before the Sun Devil signs were poppin' up all around us and Phoenix gave way to the college campus. We skirted the campus, followin' the directions James had given to find the dorms.

We pulled into a parkin' lot that was more empty than full, spots sprinkled everywhere, I guess since it was spring break and hella folks probably went home or on vacation during the recess from classes.

Maurice finally pulled in between an empty set of white lines, then put his tight ride into park, turnin' off the ignition.

I reluctantly released Maurice's hand, his touch offerin' up so much reassurance, then opened the door and stepped from the car. My gaze drifted across the 'scape around me, taking in the lines of palms, the buildings that reminded me of old Spanish movies, sets created as backdrops for adventures, and the more modern cement walks that led away from the lot, wondering which direction to find James's dorm.

Takin' a deep breath of warm, dry air, I closed the door and moved away from the car, turnin' toward Maurice. That's when I saw her. It was the long blond hair that gave her away. The golden strands danced on the breeze behind her as she ran my direction.

“Kayla!”