State didn’t make her wait long before he opened the door. Face to face, she stared into his eyes with fear in her own. This was the hardest part, facing her choice.
With her hand in his, State locked the door behind them. Before Dylan could change her mind, her jacket and tank top were off and State was massaging the curves of her waist with his fingertips. Moans of gratification slipped through Dylan’s lips as he unveiled her breasts and flicked his tongue across her blackberry nipples.
Fully naked, she lay on her stomach, State lying on top of her. As she removed his wedding ring and their hands intertwined, he eased himself into her wet slit slowly. Each mind-numbing, gut-wrenching grind of his hips caused images of Angel’s face to appear in her mind. For a second, she toyed with the notion of telling State to stop, but the surges of toecurling currents rising in her pussy wouldn’t allow the word to escape.
State had found her spot, the one that caused her eyes to roll in the back of her head and made her speak in tongues. Swiftly, he turned her over onto her back. Her hands rubbed his head while their tongues did the merengue.
Hungry for more, State gripped her thighs and placed her pussy into the perfect alignment of his dick, which was covered in sticky white cream. With her left leg draped across his shoulder, Dylan closed her eyes. Every time she gazed into State’s eyes, she saw visions of Angel’s staring back at her.
The next morning, Dylan woke up at the foot of the bed with State’s big-ass size twelve feet in her face.
This can’t be happening.
She looked around the room, scratching her forehead. In Dylan’s mind, she’d made it all up to be a dream.
Easing out of the bed slowly so she wouldn’t wake him, she grabbed her things. State lay on his side, snoring loudly. It was one of the things she didn’t miss about him.
Once she was dressed, Dylan slipped out the door. The morning sun hit her face, bringing light to her betrayal. She was almost sure that mascara was smeared all over her face, but that was the least of her problems. Not ready to deal with the cruel facts which faced her, she got into a cab and headed home so she could sleep her mistake away. Unbeknownst to Dylan, things were only about to get worse.
As she unlocked the door to her place and turned the knob, she heard the distinct sound of the television playing.
Oh my God! I’m being robbed,
she thought. Afraid for her life, Dylan dug inside her purse for her cell phone so she could call the police. Then she remembered the Tiffany bracelet Angel had given her.
“Fuck that,” Dylan mumbled, pulling a nail file out of her purse.
Somebody was about to get fucked up. Dylan pushed the door open with the nail file clutched tightly in her hand, ready to strike. She wondered where Fuck ’em Gurl was. She didn’t even hear her barking or growling.
Maybe they’ve killed her
; she pondered, even more upset as she tiptoed inside. Her heart raced a million beats per second as she glanced around the living room frantically. Abruptly, Dylan stopped dead in her tracks and inhaled deeply.
To her surprise, instead of finding an intruder, she found Angel lying on the couch on his back, fully dressed, with Fuck ’em Gurl snuggled close next to him. His suitcases sat at Dylan’s feet as her heart crumbled into pieces, fading into dust. Angel wasn’t cheating or banging some other chick’s back out like she’d conjured up in her head. No, he was making his way to her. He’d missed her as much as she did him.
What the hell have I done?
She stood frozen stiff. Angel’s eyes fluttered open.
“Hey,” she said softly, hoping he wouldn’t notice the sound of her voice cracking.
“Good morning. What time is it?” He stretched his arms wide.
“Uh.” She looked at her watch. “Almost eight.”
“Where you been?” Angel gazed into her eyes, searching for answers.
“I went out wit’ Tee-Tee and ended up spending the night at his place.” The lie caused a sharp pang to sting her chest. Dylan sat down next to him.
Please, Lord, don’t let him see that I’m lying.
“As you can see, I was tryin’ to surprise you.” Angel pulled her on top of him. “You was mad at me, wasn’t you?” He brushed her hair back, thrilled to see her face again.
“Yeah, I was.”
Oh, God. What if I smell like State?
“For a minute there I thought you were seein’ someone else.” She ran her finger across his chest.
“Why, ’cause I ain’t seen you in a minute?”
“Yeah.”
“Never that.” He kissed the palm of her hand. “Only thing that’s been on my mind besides this fight is you. And my bad for being kinda rude on the phone. I just had to make sure you ain’t know what was going on.”
“Trust me; you had me fooled.” Dylan lay quietly for a second. “So, how long will you be in town?”
“For a week. I’ma train here just so I can spend some time wit’ you.”
Why the fuck he gotta be so perfect?
“Angel,” she said barely above a whisper as tears stung her eyes.
“Huh?” He answered, halfway asleep.
Dylan pondered telling him the truth about where she’d really been. The words were heavy on her tongue. If she was ever going to tell him, now would be the perfect time. Perhaps he’d identify with what was going through her mind and forgive her; but something in her told her to wait. She wouldn’t be able bear the look on his face when she gave him the news. She already felt lower then zero. Exposing her dirty secret would only make things worse.
“Wassup?”
“Nothing.” She closed her eyes and allowed the tears in her eyes to fall. “I just . . . love you so much.” She held him tight.
“I love you too.” He rubbed her back. “Now, enough talkin’. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Can’t read my, can’t read my, no he can’t read my poker face.”
Chapter 18
Four days had passed and Dylan and Angel had spent every waking moment together. She even went with him to watch him train. In place of going out clubbing or to parties, they spent quiet nights at home.
One particular evening, he cooked dinner and she baked his favorite dessert, apple pie. They’d curled up on the couch, drank Moscato wine, and watched her favorite film of all time,
How to Marry a Millionaire
. After the movie they began to kiss passionately. His fingers roamed through her hair, while hers tugged gently on the tip of his hard dick.
Words couldn’t describe just how badly Dylan wanted the dick, but like a kid on punishment, she was denied all access. Angel wouldn’t give her the thick twelve inches of bliss she longed for; instead, he tortured and teased her. By the refrigerator, they sat on the floor face to face. Angel fed her strawberries covered in whipped cream.
Dylan was in absolute hell. Angel wouldn’t fuck her within an inch of her life, and she honestly couldn’t blame him. She was a filthy, rotten whore who didn’t even deserve him. She could barely look him in the eye without flashbacks of her and State’s tryst filling her mind. At night, she lay awake, unable to sleep because of the guilt. Whenever Angel held her close, unworthiness swept over her.
That day, they gathered for breakfast at Billie’s. Billie had the table decorated beautifully. It looked like a botanical wonderland. Sferra white linens covered the table. Centerpieces of orange princess tulips, duchess peonies, sandersonia, white sweet pea, and white hyacinths lined the middle.
Everything was so bright and sunny, and the food was mmm-mmm good. For the beginning course, they drank mimosas and ate a quail egg tart with bacon. The rest consisted of traditional breakfast foods.
Dylan sat back silently while everyone else chit-chatted and laughed. She was afraid that if she spoke, her secret would spill out. And although the last couple of days they’d spent together had been great, Dylan couldn’t deny that anything Angel said or did got underneath her skin. She’d been snapping on him left and right. In her mind, no human being could be so perfect and polite all the time, but somehow Angel managed to pull it off well. This made Dylan hate herself even more, because a part of her wanted him to fuck up just so she’d have an excuse for what she did.
While everyone’s drinks were being refreshed, Dylan’s cell phone started to vibrate. She’d gotten a text message from State that read:
When Can I See U?
“Uh, Earth to Dylan.” Tee-Tee snapped his fingers to get her attention.
“Huh?” She jumped, wondering if she had been caught.
“What the hell? Is you over there in la-la land?”
“No, I’m just a li’l tired, that’s all.” Dylan faked a yawn.
“Well, stop fuckin’ and suckin’ until the wee hours of the morning and you wouldn’t be so damn tired. Oops.” He placed his hand up to his mouth. “I forgot you ain’t gettin’ none.”
“Angel got you over there feenin’ for the dick!” Billie cracked up laughing.
“You two are so funny I forgot to laugh,” Dylan shot with an attitude, not amused.
“That’s a’ight. They just hatin’, baby.” Angel draped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.
“Sure,” she responded dryly.
“What’s wrong wit’ you?” he asked in a low tone while Billie and Tee-Tee continued to talk. “You been quiet all morning, and plus, you haven’t eaten none of your food.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Just eat a li’l bit.” He scooped up a mouthful of shrimp and grits.
“I’m good.” She turned her face.
“C’mon, grits are your favorite,” he pushed.
“I said no,” she snapped. “Damn, give me room to breathe.”
“A’ight.” Angel took his arm from around her. “I won’t say shit else to you.”
Dylan closed her eyes and inhaled then exhaled. She was trippin’ hard, and if she didn’t catch herself quick, Angel was sure to drop her ass like a bad habit.
“I’m sorry. I’m not tryin’ to be a bitch,” she whispered so Billie and Tee-Tee wouldn’t hear.
“You sure been actin’ like one,” Angel shot back.
“Normally I would’ve gave it to you raw and uncut for that—”
“You wouldn’t give me shit.” He cut her off. “I don’t know what the fuck yo’ problem is, but you need to pull it together.”
“I can’t even argue wit’ you, ’cause you’re right. I guess I’m just premenstrual or something.” She tried to downplay things.
“Well, you need to hurry up and tell yo’ period to come on before I have to fuck you up. Straight up, man, I want the ol’ Dylan back and fast.”
“I do too, and I promise I’ll work on it. For the rest of the day, I will be on my best behavior.” She rubbed his back.
Angel just looked at her. Lifting his glass, he took a sip and tried to calm himself down. There was only so much more of Dylan’s pissy attitude he was willing to take. Shorty had been wildin’ for no reason. Angel chalked her sudden change in demeanor up to hormones. It was a known fact that women were the most emotional creatures on the planet.
Dylan tried to fight it, but being caught between what was right and what was wrong was a muthafucka. To her left sat the love of her life. She would never find anyone better, but for the man texting her, she’d risk it all. She sent him a reply:
Soon.
“We don’t have much time,” Dylan said, stepping inside the hotel room. “Angel thinks I’m at the grocery store gettin’ organic whipping cream and unsweetened chocolate.”
“Cool, ’cause I got a meeting to go to after this, so I don’t have much time either.” State closed the door then grabbed her by the back of her neck and kissed her roughly.
Two hours later, Dylan searched the room on her hands and knees for her bra and cell phone.
“Fuck,” she huffed, frustrated.
“Calm down,” State said, pulling up his boxer briefs.
“Ain’t no damn calm down! Tony’s been downstairs waiting on me for the past ten minutes! And what the fuck am I going to tell Angel when I get home, that the grocery store didn’t have cream? This is some bullshit. Where the fuck is my bra?” She stood up straight, perturbed.
“Dylan.” State placed his hands on her shoulders. “Chill out. Panicking is only going to make things worse.”
Dylan breathed through her nose and tried calming herself down.
“You cannot start trippin’. Just pull yourself together. Your phone is on the nightstand and your bra is over there underneath the chair.” He pointed.
“Why the hell didn’t you say that ten minutes ago?” She jerked away, upset.
“’Cause you looked so damn cute. Like a li’l bunny rabbit.”
“Whateva.” She quickly put on her bra and grabbed her cell phone and purse. “I gotta go.”
Dylan rushed out the door, not even caring that her shirt was open or that when she walked through the lobby, the guy at the front desk whistled at her. The entire ride back to her crib she ran over and over in her mind what her excuse would be. Angel had called her over twenty times. She just prayed that whatever she came up with, he’d believe her.
Deciding that she needed an alibi, Dylan called Tee-Tee.
“Hey, doll. What it do, boo?” he answered cheerfully.
“I need your help,” she said quickly.
“What?” he said, nervous.
“And please when I tell you this, either help me or don’t, ’cause I do not have time for a bunch of slick talk.”
“Bitch, get to the point,” Tee-Tee snapped.
“If asked, I need you to tell Angel that I just left your house.”
“Why?”
“’Cause.”
“’Cause what, Dylan?”
She finally fessed up. “I was with State the last couple of hours.”
“You’s a dumb bitch!” he shot angrily into the phone. “That niggah treated you like shit and you steady going back for more. Ain’t you full by now?”
Dylan tried to explain. “It’s not what you think. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated my ass. You ain’t got no business messing with that man. He’s married! Or have you tricked yourself into believing otherwise?”
“I’m fully aware that he’s married. That’s why I’m gonna end it.” She tried to convince herself.
“No, you’re not, but you know what, Dylan? That’s all on you. When the shit hit the fan, don’t come runnin’ to me. I told you not to fuck wit’ him, but like always, you gon’ do what you want to do, despite everybody else’s feelings. You finally got somebody that treat you halfway decent, and you don’t even know how to act.
“I’ma cover for you this time, but don’t involve me in this mess no more, ’cause Billie is my friend too, and I don’t want to have no parts in this when she finds out.”
The next thing Dylan knew, Tee-Tee had hung up on her. Minutes later, she was home. Her whole body shook as she opened the door.
“Man, why the hell haven’t you been answering yo’ phone?” Angel barked, coming down the steps with the cordless phone in his hand.
“’Cause my phone was off. Duh.” She tried to lighten the uncomfortable situation.
“Duh, my ass. How was your phone off and it rang every time I called? If your phone was off, it would’ve went straight to voice mail,” he disputed, knowing better.
“I don’t know, Angel. I’m a professional shopper, not a cell phone technician.” She took off her jacket, avoiding eye contact.
“What the fuck took you so long then? I’m up here thinkin’ something happened to you.”
“Huhhhhhh.” Dylan groaned. “I went to Whole Foods ’cause I like to use a specific brand of cream and unsweetened chocolate when I bake, but they were out, so I had Tony drive me all the way out to the one in Chesterfield. Once I got there, I got the stuff that I needed, and then Tee-Tee called me and asked me to come through.”
“Hold up.” Angel screwed up his face. “I thought you said your phone was off; and Tee-Tee just called here lookin’ for you about a half an hour ago.”
“Damn.” Dylan laughed. “What are you, the police?” She went into the kitchen and grabbed a Mystic drink. “My phone
waaaas
off, then I turned it on and saw that you and Tee-Tee called. Tee-Tee called last, so I called him back first. Do you mind?”
“Yeah, a’ight, Dylan.” He nodded his head. “You must take me for a sucka or something.”
“What are you talkin’ about?” She narrowed her eyes. “You act like somebody lyin’ to you.”
“Where the shit at you got from the store then?” He eyed her, pissed. “’Cause I don’t see a muthafuckin’ bag nowhere, unless you got it hid up yo’ ass.”
Okay, Dylan, think.
“Ahhhhh, fuck!” She waved her hand for an added effect. “When I went over Tee-Tee’s house, I had the bag in my hand. I must’ve left it over there on the counter.”
“You know what?” Angel gave her a menacing stare. “I’ma take two steps to the right and modulate. Hopefully by the time I get back, you done thought of a better lie than that.”
“Modulate?” She screwed up her face, confused. “Angel, just ’cause you call yo”self being upset don’t mean you gotta go around using big words.”
He gave her a severe look of disgust and said, “Big word? Eight lousy letters. Dylan, are you serious?”
“What?” She shrugged.
“
Modulate
is not a big word, Dylan. Would you like for me to explain the meaning?”
“And spoil the pleasure of me lookin’ it up in the dictionary? I think not.” she shot back sarcastically, knowing he was trying to play her.
“Yo’, I’m out,” Angel said, fed up.
“You’re seriously gettin’ ready to leave?” Dylan was stunned.
“What I’ma stay here and continue to let you lie to me for?” His nostrils flared.
“I’m not lyin’ to you!”
“Just be straight up wit’ me. You seein’ somebody else?”
Dylan swallowed hard. Tears filled every crevice of her face. All Angel wanted was her time and her love, and she was too selfish to give it to him. She hated letting him down, but the damage had already been done.
Angel stood waiting patiently for her answer. There had to be a reason she was acting this way. Nothing had changed about him. He still treated her like a queen, but every time he turned around, she had a frown on her face. When she wasn’t home, she didn’t answer his calls. It was either off, or his calls went ignored. They never talked, and when they did, she appeared distant. Angel couldn’t take it anymore. He was at his breaking point.