“You don’t have to beg Trae. For real. I’m scared. Real scared. I’ve vowed to myself to never put my heart in the position for another nigga to stomp on it.”
“Give me a chance and trust me a’ight? Tasha I swear to you, I got you.” He told her that before turning her loose and taking the bags upstairs.
“Where do you want me to set these?”
“Give me the dress. You can set everything else next to the sofa.” She grabbed the garment bag that held the dress. “Thank you. This dress is so me.”
“You make that dress look real good.” He pulled out a knot and peeled off five hundred dollars, placing the bills on the coffee table. “This is for your hair and whatever else you need to do to drive a nigga crazy. I’ll pick you up at 6:30.”
“I have money to do all of those things.”
“Keep the money Tash. Just be ready.” His phone rang. He flipped it open.
“I’m on my way, man,” he said, then flipped it shut.
“I’ll be ready. You just be on time,” she instructed.
“When do you sleep?”
“When I can. Oh and you don’t have to worry about me being on time,” he said, leaning up against the door. “I can’t wait to see you in that dress. I hope you don’t plan on wearing any make-up. You don’t need it. You’re fine as hell without it.”
“Are you leaving now?”
“Why are you rushing me out? I’m not gonna do anything to you.”
“Right. That’s what you said this morning when you had me sitting on your lap.”
“You were in my house, in my shower, and I didn’t bother you.”
“Yeah, I’ll give you that.”
“Can I have one kiss and one hug?”
“Goodbye Trae. It is 4:30 in the morning.”
“Come here, girl,” he said’ grabbing her and putting her back up against the door. He slid her arms around his neck and grabbed her skirt. Then he eased it up over her waist and held her close.
“Trae you said one kiss and one hug.”
“I’m just making it one good kiss and one good hug.”
She could feel him harden, so she kissed him on the lips. “There, you got your kiss and your hug.”
“That don’t count. You kissed me. I didn’t kiss you.” He was caressing her ass cheeks, pulling her even closer on his hard dick. “You drivin’ me crazy Tash. You know that, right?”
“I wish I could say the same about you. You scaring the shit outta me. Look at me. I’m standing here with my skirt above my waist, hugged up with my ex’s boy, who I’ve been kickin’ it with all night long. What’s wrong with this picture?”
“Business partna. And there is nothing wrong with this picture. Do you still have feelings for him?”
“No.”
“Well then, let that shit go,” he said, kissing her neck. “Time to move on ... with me.”
“How do you know it’s time to move on?”
“Because just like you said I got you standing here with your skirt above your waist, your nipples are hard, and your pussy is wet.” He lifted one of her legs and put it around his waist. “Damn, you feel good,” he moaned, moving her up and down on his dick. “I can’t wait to make you cum again.”
“That won’t be any time soon,” she told him.
“How much money you want to put on that?”
“You talk a lot of shit.”
“I can back it up. How much money you want to put on it?”
“What’s the time frame?” she asked.
“The next twenty-four hours.”
“Shit. You ain’t hittin’ this in the next twenty-four hours. How much we talking?”
“Oh, now you talkin’ shit! I said the bet is I’ll make you cum within the next twenty-four hours.”
“A’ight. We on! How much?”
“If I win, you give me a chance with you. Take a chance with me,” he said. “If you win, I’ll buy you a car.”
“It’s on! Now let me go.” She slid her leg down from around his waist, but he pulled it back up.
“Don’t get scared. I ain’t got my hands on your pussy. I still want my kiss.” He kissed her for about five minutes. “When you came, your legs was shakin’ like crazy. I can’t wait to feel that shit again. That shit sent electric currents all through my body.”
“Well, partna, you might as well order my Benz because you won’t be feeling that electricity no time soon.” He let her leg down, pulling her skirt back over her butt.
“I’ll catch you later. Lock the door.” He turned around, “Benz, huh?”
“You heard me. Benz. B-E-N-Z.”
“A’ight, we’ll see!” Then he pulled the door shut behind him.
Roz’?s phone rang at 9 A.M. “Roz, I’m on my way over. You p” Jaz sounded alert and chipper. “No, I’m not up. Don’t you have your keys?”
“Uh huh.”
“Then wake me up when you come in.”
“Girl, it’s nine o’clock!”
“I didn’t get in until 4:30.”
“Oh, I gots to hear this. See you soon.”
Jaz let herself in. She sat her purse on the sofa and headed for the refrigerator. She sliced off a piece of cantaloupe, poured a glass of apple juice before going into Roz’s bedroom.
“Wake up, Tasha,” she teased. “It’s 9:30.” Roz rolled over to the other side of the bed and Jaz sat down.
“I’m awake,” Roz said, stretching. “I’m so tired.”
“Faheem mentioned that you was out with Trae at three in the morning. What’s up with that?”
“Jaz, it’s too early.”
“Come on. Tell me how that happened,” Jaz said, slapping her leg.
Roz sucked her teeth and finally opened her eyes. “He came over about 8:30 yesterday morning for me to braid his hair. We ended up kickin’ it all day and night. He took me shopping up top. We ate. I went to his house. We went clubbin’, and we’re going out tonight. That’s it. That’s all.”
“Damn. You let him hit it already?” Jaz asked, disappointment evident in her tone.
“Nope!”
“Then why are all those hickeys on your neck?”
“You don’t miss nothing, do you? FYI, he put them there. But, no, he didn’t hit it.”
“Faheem said he told Trae that he better treat his baby sis’ good or else leave you the fuck alone.”
“My big brotha said that?” She started laughing.
“Yup! He likes Trae. He said he’s wild, but he’s good peeps. FYI, Trae really blew up when Nikayah got locked up, taking shit to a whole other level. The nigga is paid and really is intending to retire. Faheem said he can’t believe he took over Nikayah’s business and his woman. How much did he spend on you?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do.”
“About eight or nine G’s. Then he left me five hundred to get my hair and shit done.”
“Dayum! He ain’t cheap, is he?”
“Not at all.”
“He must want to hit it real bad. So what you gonna do?”Roz sat up in the bed.
“Girl, his timing is so off. And I’m so fucking scared I don’t know what to do. He knows it, too. Nikayah really fucked it up for the next nigga. He probably did that shit on purpose. Gosh, I hate him! I refuse to visit another nigga in jail, and I’m not burying a dead body. I swear my gut in-stinct is screaming ‘no drug dealers!’ Yes, and Trae is wild. I overheard him talking on the phone. He ain’t nothing nice. If he keeps doing what he doing, I believe he’ll get merked before he gets locked up. I just wish like hell that I wasn’t feelin’ him. What should I do?” Roz pleaded.
“Damn, Roz. That is some scary shit. Remember when I wouldn’t even fuck with Faheem until he cleaned up his shit? I was like, fuck that life. I can do without all the drama. Even though I fucked up. So who am I to judge?”
“I’m feelin’ you. Oh, but Jaz we had so much fun just kickin’ it. He is all of that. So, I’m really caught between a rock and a hard place!” Roz rubbed her face with both hands.
“Gosh, I am so tired,” she yawned. “Get the tickets off my dresser. Does Faheem like Jill Scott or Musiq?”
“He likes ’em both, especially Jill Scott. Tell Trae we said thanks.”
“Listen to you talking about we, sounding all married and shit.”
“Don’t be a hater,” Jaz grinned.
“What time are you going to get your hair done? I gotta call and get myself an appointment. You want me to make you one, too?”
“Please? Call me and let me know what time. I’m on my way to the cleaners and the grocery store. I’ll catch you later,” Jaz said, taking the tickets off the dresser as she left.
By the time Roz got back from getting a manicure, pedicure and her hair done, it was almost 4:30. She opened the CD player and noticed that Trae still had two of her CDs. “Dang!” she said out loud.
She was always chillin’ to those two CDs. She flipped through her stack and pulled out Carl Thomas, Jagged Edge, Case, Sade and Maxwell. She popped them into the five-disc CD player and pumped it up. She made her a tub full of Calgon, lit a joint, wrapped her hair and eased into the hot tub water. She soaked a while before scrubbing down. She shaved and rinsed off before stepping out of the water to air dry. After flossing and brushing, she moisturized her skin and looked at the clock. It was 6:02. She flower-scented her entire body and took her time getting dressed. The dress did fit her perfectly. She needed no bra or stockings. She slipped her manicured feet into the Gucci high-heeled sandals and brushed her hair, letting it hang down her back. When she heard a knock, she popped a peppermint into her mouth and reached for her Gucci bag and keys. She opened the door and was at a loss for words. Trae was fine, but this was really ridiculous. His tailored, dark brown suit fit him to a T. His silk shirt, open halfway down his chest, matched the dark beige in her dress. With the big-ass rock in his left ear and his braids, he looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ.
“Oh, you can’t speak now?” he said, smiling.
“You belong on the cover of GQ, my brotha.”
“I’m checking you out. Stand back. Let me see what you working with,” he said, walking around her slowly. “Fuckin’ fine! Perfectly fuckin’ fine!” He even marveled at her beautifully designed toes.
She remained standing still while he circled her again, this time stopping behind her. She could feel his breath on her neck. He pulled her close, smelling her hair and neck.
“You smell so good ... so fresh and so clean. Do I make you nervous?” he teased.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I know I do,” he whispered, lips touching her ear.
“Are you done giving me the twice over?” she asked.
“Not really,” he said, still holding her close and now kissing her neck. She closed her eyes.
“I’m kind of surprised that you’re on time,” she finally spoke. “Why would I be late, knowing what I had waiting on me?” he asked, running his hand up her thigh.
“Are we ready to go Trae?”
“Aren’t you going to turn the stereo off?”
“As soon as you turn me loose.”
“It feels so good holding you. I don’t really want to let you go. Your thighs are so soft and smooth.” He was still rubbing her thigh up and down.
“Trae!” she snapped out of her reverie. “My pussy is starting to juice up.”
He slowly turned her loose, and she went and turned off the stereo. Just then she saw him grab his dick and squeeze it. “Are you okay?” she asked, knowing otherwise.
“Hell, fuckin’ no! I can’t even think straight. I believe all my blood rushed from my brain down to my dick.”
She smiled. “Let’s go Trae. I’m ready to glide in the Nav!” When they got outside to the car, he handed her the keys and took off his jacket.
“Oh, I got it like this?” she asked.
“You can drive, can’t you?”
“Most definitely!” She grinned.
He walked her around to the driver’s side and helped her up into the seat. He got in on the other side, hung his jacket up in the back, and watched her adjust the controls.
“You want me to take the Turnpike?” she asked, pulling out.
“If you want to.”
“I do.”
“Then let’s roll!” Trae lit a blunt. “Do you want to eat before or after the show?”
“Afterwards. You straight?”
“I’m straight,” he said, admiring her.
“Are you gonna stare at me the whole trip?”
“Pretty much.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Don’t let me forget my CDs this time. I went to listen to them, and they were gone. Why aren’t you playing some music?”
“Why are you so nervous? I’ma ask you to relax.”
“You’re making me nervous staring at me.”
“You shouldn’t be. You’re so fine. I’m glad you didn’t wear makeup. You definitely don’t need it.”
“Thanks for the compliment. You know you are pretty fine yourself. But I’m sure you have a lot of women telling you that all the time. What, are you trying to get me in where you can fit me in?”
“Now why you gotta go there? I’m trying to give you the opportunity to run this right now. Once you do ain’t no room for nobody else. It’s all about you, Tash. You ain’t know?”
“Of course I know. It’s always about me. I’m just checking to see if you know what’s up.” She smiled at him. “I’m just messing with you Trae. I really shouldn’t have gone there. This Nav don’t drive, it flies,” she said, trying to change the subject as she slowed down to enter the Turnpike.
“You don’t have on a bra, do you?”
“No. You don’t have to wear one with this dress,” she answered with a puzzled look.
He leaned over and put his hand on her thigh. “Keep your eyes on the road and lift up.”
“Lift up?”
“Did I stutter Tash? Keep your eye on the road.” He lifted her butt and went to sliding her silk thong off.
“Trae!” she yelled as she tried to wiggle away from him.
“You gonna get us killed if you don’t watch the road. Lift your foot off the gas,” he warned.
She lifted her foot off the gas quickly, and he snatched her skimpy piece of cloth clean off.
“Trae are you fuckin’ crazy? I don’t believe you just did that!” she pouted.
He put them in the glove compartment.
“I had a feeling you were crazy. Now you just confirmed my suspicions,” she mumbled, looking at him as if he was definitely insane.
“Keep your eye on the road and calm down. It’s the dress. I couldn’t help it. Damn, I got good taste! I was imagining how you looked under that dress. You don’t have on a bra, but you had on panties. That was messing up my little fantasy, so the thong had to go. What’s crazy about that?”
“So now I have to walk around naked because of your little fantasy?”
“You’re not naked,” he said, placing The Life Soundtrack into the CD and advancing to Fortunate before cranking it up.
When they pulled up in front of the club they had to wait be-hind the other cars for valet parking. Roz picked up her Gucci bag and pulled out her strawberry Victoria’s Secret lip gloss and a compact mirror.
“Why are you putting on lipstick?”
“This isn’t lipstick; it’s lip gloss,” she said, holding it up for him to see. “It’s just a sweet, high-priced, shiny, designer Chapstick. Is that okay with you?” She waited for his approval before sensually applying it.
“It’s flavored?” he asked.
“Taste like strawberry.”
“Can I taste it?”
She looked at him then leaned over and pressed her lips against his. He licked her lips saying, “It does taste like strawberry.”
“Told ya!” she said, applying a little more.
“Let me taste it again.”
This time he ran his tongue over and around her lips then slipped it inside her mouth. “Mmm, you taste even better.” Just then the valet opened her door. “Let me come over there and help you out,” Trae said. He stepped out of the Nav, went around to the other side, and lifted her out, inhaling her perfume. “Um, you smell so good. Do I have to let you go?” he asked, squeezing her.
“Unfortunately you do, because you’re holding up traffic,” she reminded him. “Other people want to see the show as well.”
As he kissed her lightly on the lips, he became aroused. “You feel that?” he asked.
“Um hmm,” she moaned. Horns started honking “You break-ing me down Trae.”
“I’m tryin’, but you damn sure ain’t making it easy. C’mon,” he said, taking her by the hand and grabbing the ticket from the attendant. “Don’t go joyridin’ in my shit, dawg,” he told him, handing him a bill.
“I got chu, man!” the attendant said, pocketing the cash and giving him a pound.
Trae and Tash walked past the long line of people trying to get inside and went to another door. He knocked on it. When it opened, a gold-mouthed, bald-headed brother peeped out.
“Yo! What up, Trae?” he said, opening the door.
“You got it, Donny!” Trae handed him a hundred-dollar bill.
“Let me show you to your booth. And enjoy the show.”
As they walked through the lobby a brotha with a camera hollered, “Yo! My man, you want a picture with the beautiful lady?” Trae stopped and looked Tasha up and down.
“Yeah, man. Why not?” He led Tasha over to the backdrop of the New York skyline. He moved next to Donny and left Tasha standing there.
“I know you’re going to take one with me,” she warned, her hand on her hip.
He smiled. “Can I please have one of you by yourself? You look good, ma.”
“You ready?” asked the photographer. Then he looked at Trae. “How you want this, dawg?”
“Give me a full body and a close up.” The photographer nodded and took both pictures.
“C’mon Trae.” She held out her hand, motioning for him to come over. He bent all the way down, resting against her leg in the first picture. For the second one he sat in a chair while she sat in his lap.
“I know you want one standing up,” the photographer predicted, trying to sell some more shots.
“Yeah, give me two more,” Trae said, moving the chair aside. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “One like this up close and one full body.” He then wrapped both arms around her waist.
“Yo, chief, give me a minute. I need to load up a new pack of film.”
“Let me taste the strawberry lip gloss again.” As she pressed her lips against his she felt his dick stiffen. He again ran his tongue over her lips and then inside her mouth. While their tongues danced inside each other’s mouths, he was getting harder and she was getting wetter.
“I’m ready,” the photographer interjected.
Their lips remained locked for another minute. Finally Tasha came up for air. “We’re ready,” she said, smiling for the pictures. After wiping lip gloss from Trae’s lips.
After the photo session, Donny led them up front to their booth in the corner, leaving out the same way he came in. A bucket of ice and two bottles of Dom were on their candlelit table, which was covered with a crisp, white linen tablecloth. Trae let Roz slide in the booth, taking off his jacket and sitting next to her.
“You a’ight?” He smiled at Tash who was bouncing to Sunshine Anderson singing “Heard It All Before.”