“I’m gettin’ my stuff!” She tried moving him out of the way, to no avail.
“You ain’t gettin’ shit!” Angel took her roughly by her elbow and led her to the door. “Now get the fuck out!” He pushed her across the threshold and slammed the door in her face.
“I don’t believe this shit,” Angel huffed with his back up against the door.
He knew Milania had some inconsistencies in her attitude, but he never imagined that she was a manipulating bitch.
Dylan lay on her side sound asleep. It had been forever since she’d had a night alone to herself. Mason was at Billie’s house for the night. Dreaming of being dressed in a wedding gown and walking down the aisle to an unknown man, Dylan was awakened by the alarming sound of her phone ringing. Opening her eyes, she looked at the clock and saw that it was a quarter till two.
“Hello?” She picked up the phone not even bothering to see who it was.
“You asleep?” Angel said, his voice booming with bass.
“I was, what’s up?” Dylan sat up.
“My bad, I ain’t mean to wake you up. I just wanted to holla at you for a second but go back to sleep.”
“You good.” She rubbed her eyes.
“Can you meet me outside in like five minutes?”
“Yeah.”
“A’ight, I’ll see you in a second.” He hung up.
With the lights turned off, Dylan stood at her window. Dressed in only a metallic lace bra with a satin bow and bikini panties, she peered down at the street below. She wondered what Angel would say when he arrived. Would he blame her for her and Milania’s latest showdown? She sure hoped not because another scolding from him was something she just couldn’t take nor tolerate.
A flash of lightning struck the sky, igniting the nervous feeling that permeated in the pit of her stomach. Dylan loved the sound of rain and the booming crash of thunder in the air. It reminded her each time of the first time she and Angel made love. All of a sudden, the hum of a roaring engine resonated in the atmosphere, putting her on notice that he was coming.
Dylan watched closely as he swiftly parked his black 2011 Lamborghini Murcielago in front of her building. Rain carpeted the windows of his car, but she could still see him staring back at her. Dylan didn’t care that it was past midnight or that a thunderstorm was raging outside her door. She had to go to him, so without hesitation or regret, she put on her black double breasted Alice + Olivia trench coat, black combat boots, and headed out the door.
A red Marimekko Kivet Stick Umbrella covered her head as she stepped outside and into the cold rain. Darkness filled the sky as the suicide doors on his car winged upward and Angel got out. His overwhelming beauty engulfed her. Despite the sadness in his eyes, he still looked deliciously good in a black Yankees cap, Armani wayfarer-style shades, 10 Deep black sweatshirt, Cheap Monday jeans, and Christian Lacroix high top sneakers.
The rain pelted Dylan’s umbrella as they inched closer to one another. It was as if they were starring in their very own black-and-white film where he was Humphrey Bogart and she was Lauren Bacall. The entire scene couldn’t have been crafted better if they had written it themselves. With his pants sagged low, a quiet urgency resounded in his stride as Angel approached her.
Dylan wasn’t quite sure what he might do when they finally came to face-to-face. Then the moment arrived. She held her breath in anticipation of his next move. Angel took one look in Dylan’s spellbinding eyes and decided he didn’t want to talk anymore. They’d done enough of that to last them a lifetime. He wanted to feel whole again, and Dylan was the only person who could give that to him.
Soaking wet from the rain, he turned his hat to the left and placed his lips upon hers. Dylan felt as if she were floating on a cloud made of cotton candy. His lips tasted like midnight, while his tongue tasted like wine. There was no doubt in her mind that she could taste them forever. Angel wrapped her up in his arms. His heartbeat pounded against her chest. Unable to control her emotions, Dylan dropped the umbrella and rested her hands on both sides of his face.
Drops of rain continued to fall rapidly from the sky as Angel pressed her body against the brick wall of her building. He didn’t give a damn if her neighbors or random passersby saw them. He had to have her right then and there. She felt too good in his arms for them to waste time and head inside. With precision and ease, he began to unbuttoned her coat, but Dylan stopped him.
“Uh-uh.” She held his hands, still self-conscious of the weight she’d gained.
“Dylan, you’re my baby. Stop trippin’ off that shit. You’re beautiful to me no matter what.” He kissed her lips, rotating between her top and bottom one.
Feeling a little bit better, Dylan dropped her hands down to her sides and allowed him to proceed. Angel was surprisingly thrilled to find that she had little to no clothes on. To him, Dylan was perfect. Yeah, she gained a few pounds, but he liked her with a little more meat on her bones. Angel’s sodden hands glided up her thick thighs and tore the sides of her panties, leaving her in just her coat and bra. But even her bra wouldn’t stay in one piece for long. Since the clasp that held her breasts in place was in the front, Angel unhinged it and allowed her luscious breasts to spring forth. Taking both of her full breasts in his hands, Angel let his tongue go to work.
Dylan couldn’t even think straight. His tongue was creating a world filled with pleasure, agony, and lust. With each lick, her nipples sprouted like rosebuds on the first day of spring. Through manipulating her breasts with tantalizing kisses, Angel made a trail of wet kisses up her neck and to her wanting mouth.
Just as she became one with his lips again, Angel surprised her and placed her in front of him. The next thing Dylan knew, his teeth gently bit into the side of her neck while his wet fingertips slid down her stomach and landed on the face of her pussy.
“Angel,” she whimpered as he began to work his magic.
Each stroke of his fingertips caused her pussy to melt. Knowing where her spot was, Angel rotated his fingers like clockwork until the cream from her pussy mixed with the drizzling rain.
Reeling from her first orgasm in over a year, Dylan panted heavily, trying to regain her composure, but Angel wasn’t having that. He wanted to hear her scream. Dying for him to enter her, Dylan undid his pants quickly. Angel’s ten inches of steel caused her mouth to water on sight. Dylan had to get a taste. Easing her way down to the ground while she stared up into his hungry eyes, she wrapped her lips around the head of his dick and took him in inch by inch.
By now, Angel’s eyes rolled to the back of his head. It took every ounce of his strength for his knees not to buckle. Dylan was sucking his dick
so
good. Not ready to cum yet, he ran his hand through her drenched hair and jerked her head back. As if she were as light as a feather, Angel put his hands underneath her arms and lifted her up. Dylan happily wrapped her legs around his back and held on for the ride.
Hard as a rock, Angel inserted himself deep within her honey pot. With each hard, pounding stroke, thunder clashed in the sky. While grinding in and out of her, Angel hungrily tried to lick off every last raindrop that fell onto her chest and neck. The sensation of his tongue swirling all over her body and the nonstop thrusting of his thick dick caused Dylan to scream out to the high heavens.
“Oh my God! Shit! Angel, what you doing to me? I can’t take it,” she moaned.
“Yes, you can,” he whispered, holding her thighs. “You gon’ take this dick and love it.”
“I’ma take it, Daddy! I’ma take it!” She matched his thrust with her own. “Oooooooooh, I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Angel groaned, feeling himself about to cum.
What he was experiencing was far better than any fantasy he could’ve dreamt up or created in his mind over the past year. Dylan was made for him, and every time their bodies intertwined, that became evident. She was his other half, whether he wanted to admit or not. He was tired of watching her from afar and not being able to be her man, but after they both came down from their orgasmic high, reality was sure to set in.
Angel would remember that he’d just broken off his engagement to Milania and was in no way, shape, or form ready to commit to another woman so soon, especially Dylan. But the soft whimpers of ecstasy that fell from her lips and landed on his heart had him trapped, and in that moment, he wanted to stay in between her thighs until the end of time.
“I’ve never been good at sayin’ goodbye.”
Common, “I Want You”
15
The sun hadn’t yet risen, but Angel was up and wide awake. There he was, sitting on the side of Dylan’s bed, gazing down at his hands. After making love throughout the night, she’d finally fallen asleep. For months, he’d dreamed about sleeping with her. He’d yearned for it. He wanted it so much he could taste it and feel it in his veins, but now that he’d finally satisfied his craving, he wondered if he’d made the right decision.
He’d just ended things with Milania. He had no business hopping into bed with Dylan so fast. He hadn’t even digested what had happened between him and Milania, and with the feelings he knew Dylan harbored for him, he was sure she’d want a commitment out of him sooner or later. But Angel wasn’t sure if he’d be able to give it to her once she asked.
“What you doing up?” she asked him from behind.
“I thought you was asleep.” He turned and looked at her.
“I was. Why you just sittin’ there? Are you okay?” She sat up on her elbow.
“I’m good.” He slid back in bed and tenderly kissed her forehead. “You?” He smoothed her bangs from out of her face so he could see her tranquil eyes.
“I’m more than good. I’m great.” She leaned over and placed her lips on his.
Angel kissed her back fervently. Lost in the wonder of his tongue, Dylan closed her eyes and savored the feeling. She wished they could stay cooped up in her nest eternally. To her, lying by his side never felt so right.
“I wanted to apologize to you for the fucked-up shit Milania said and did to you,” he said sincerely, feeling horrible.
“It’s not your fault.”
“I know. I just felt it was necessary. Yo’, for a minute there, I thought you was about to hit her,” Angel laughed.
“I wanted to hit her, but she’s too skinny. It’d be like punching Sarah Jessica Parker,” Dylan joked.
Angel died laughing. “You crazy.”
“I really did miss you,” she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
“How much?” He pulled her on top of him.
Mixed emotions flooded him, but he was too mentally fucked up in the head to offer her anything else besides what they shared in her bed.
“This much.” She traveled down low and licked his dick as if it were a lollipop.
Angel took a much-needed breath as Dylan’s warm, wet mouth traveled up and down the length of his dick. He knew that the momentary pleasure he was feeling wasn’t the answer, but Angel couldn’t resist, it felt so good.
Weeks later, the savory aroma of spaghetti and meatballs traveled through the air as Angel used Dylan’s spare key to enter her house. Feeling like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, he slowly traveled up the stairs and met up with Dylan, who was in the kitchen cooking.
“Hi.” She wiped her hands on the pink apron she was wearing and kissed him on the cheek.
“What’s up?” He kissed her back, then turned and went into the living room.
Dylan could tell by the faraway look in his eyes that he had a lot on his mind. “I hope you’re hungry,” she beamed, trying to brighten his mood.
Angel walked over to Mason, who was asleep in his swing, and kissed him on the forehead before responding. “I guess I could eat a li’l something.” He kicked off his sneakers and sat down on the couch.
“Well, the food will be done in a minute so . . .” she responded, not really knowing what else to say.
Caught up in his thoughts, Angel picked up the remote control and turned on the baseball game. The Cardinals was playing the Red Sox that night. Dylan watched him from the kitchen and wondered what could be going through his mind. For weeks it’d been the same routine. He’d come in, take off his shoes, plop down on the couch, and become lost in the television.
Other times, he’d just lie there with his eyes closed. Ever since they made love, he seemed so blue. They barely even talked anymore. When they did, it was because she initiated the conversation. The only time they connected was when their bodies become one at night. It was like she was being shut out of his life, and she didn’t even know why she was being shunned. All she wanted was for him to open up and talk to her.
She’d listen intently to every word he had to say. She’d even set the mood just so he’d feel comfortable. Dylan had it all planned out in her mind. She’d turn the lights down low, play his favorite song, and pour him his favorite glass of wine, but first, he had to be willing to divulge what panged his heart. She didn’t want to become the psycho chick that made up shit in her mind, but every second that went by and he pushed her further and further away, her mind started to drum up conspiracy theories.
Like, what if he didn’t love her anymore and was just too afraid to say it, or what if he really was turned off by her weight gain and found her body disgusting, or worse, what if it all were a game and he was only back with her so he could get payback and break her heart? Dylan couldn’t take it. She didn’t know how much longer she could continue to be the easygoing, drama-free chick in order to be Angel’s girl again. The secret he was holding within was driving her insane, and she needed answers quick before she snapped.
Dylan hadn’t been so excited since the birth of Mason. It was the day of her book release party, although finding a suitable outfit had been a nightmare on Elm Street. Dylan still hadn’t gotten used to her new body. She went from being a svelte size four to, in her mind, a towering size thirteen. When she looked in the mirror, all she saw was a fat-bellied pig. During her pregnancy, she assumed she’d be able to lose the baby weight with a snap of a finger, but Dylan learned quickly that losing weight wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.
In between taking care of Mason, doing radio and magazine interviews, running the bakery, and spending whatever spare time she had left with Angel, Billie, and Tee-Tee, going on a diet wasn’t something that even fit into her schedule. Thankfully, she had the love and support of her cousin and style guru, Tee-Tee, to help her. Because of him, she’d found the perfect Camilla and Marc, one-shoulder lace dress with an asymmetrical neck and eyelash edge at the hem.
A long, eighteen-inch ponytail braided into a fishbone and Gasoline Glamour pumps completed her look. Dylan couldn’t believe her eyes when she entered the Art Dimension studio gallery where her party was being held. The entire atmosphere was so downtown New York chic. Slightly dimmed lights showcased local artists’ works of art. DJ Okay spun Aloe Blacc’s “I Need a Dollar” setting the mood.
All of the guests were served champagne and bruschetta. In the lounge area, guests sat and chatted while overlooking the streets below. The party was everything Dylan had dreamed it would be, and more. What made it even more special was that Angel was her date for the evening. But as usual, Angel was being his normal, quiet, and withdrawn self. He’d barely said a word all night.
“Excuse me, everyone!” Brenda tapped her glass with a fork.
“I have an important announcement to make. Months ago, I was approached by Dylan with her idea of a cookbook that combined food and fashion and I instantly loved it. I knew that her idea was special, so when she asked me to become her agent, there was no way I could say no. Well, Dylan, your hard work has paid off. Not only do you have the most buzzed about cookbook since Julia Child, but The Food Network has offered you your very own show!”
“Are you kidding me? Oh my God!” Dylan jumped up and down with glee.
“I knew we was gon’ be famous one day!” Tee-Tee exclaimed, doing the dougie.
“Dylan, I am so proud of you!” Billie hugged her tightly.
“Thanks, luv.”
“So, will you all please raise your glass to Dylan,” Brenda continued.
“To Dylan!” the crowed cheered.
Glowing, Dylan took a sip of her champagne. Angel planted a loving kiss on her cheek and whispered into her ear, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Honey, you can do whatever you please with me,” Dylan flirted, licking her lips.
Over in the lounge area Angel and Dylan stood in front of a huge bay window.
“So what’s up?” she rubbed his back. “You’ve been kind of quiet all night.”
“I know this is some fucked-up timing, but I got something that I need to tell you.”
“What is it? OMG!” She clasped her hand over her mouth. “Please don’t tell me you’re back with that crazy bitch?”
“Nah, never that,” he chuckled. “It’s just that I’ve been offered an exhibition fight overseas, and I decided to take it.”
“Where overseas?” she blinked.
“Scotland.”
“Wow.” Dylan swallowed hard, put off by his announcement.
She knew that they weren’t officially a couple again, but she kind of figured that after all the time they’d spent apart, he’d wanna spend every waking moment with her.
“You mad at me?” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“I mean, it’s just kinda strange, that’s all. What about Mason?”
“I already figured that part out. We can Skype every day, and I’ll call you. It’ll be like I’m not even gone.”
“But you will be.” Dylan gazed down at her feet, becoming emotional.
“You know better than that.” He lifted her head up.
“But why now?” She tried her best not to cry.
“I haven’t been in the ring in almost a year, and I think it would be good conditioning for me,” he lied.
Angel really accepted the fight because he needed to get away, clear his mind, and breathe. Things in his life were going in every direction except straight, and he had to get things back on track. There was no way he could be the man Dylan needed when he wasn’t totally sure he was prepared to be. He needed to resolve his emotions regarding Milania and process that relationship before jumping into something with Dylan.
And yes, he should’ve thought of all of that before filling Dylan’s head with the hope that maybe they could be together, but he was a man, and sometimes men make mistakes.
“Come here, man.” He took her into his strong arms.
“I’ll only be gone a couple of months. Before you can say, ‘ah,’ I’ll be back.”
“Ahhhh,” Dylan mocked him.
“Seriously, we gon’ be straight. Plus, you got your book stuff and your new TV show to work on. I’ll only be in the way. But I want you to know I’ma get you set up with an account before I leave.”
“No.” Dylan shook her head. “I don’t want nor need your money.”
“Sorry, but you don’t get a say-so in this, plus, it’s already been done.”
“You know Billie and the kids are gonna miss you so much.” She changed the subject.
“You know who’s gonna miss me third as much?” He nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck and kissed her passionately.
“Who? Tee-Tee?” Dylan joked.
“No, you, pretty girl.”
“Puleese, I don’t miss people. I dismiss them. When my first stepdad jetted, I was like, bye, nigga! Second stepdad, deuces!” She threw up the peace sign. “Third stepdad, don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split ya’!”
“You stupid,” Angel laughed.
“So when do you leave?” Dylan said seriously.
“Tomorrow.”
“Wow. I feel like I’ve just got a scuff mark on a pair of brand-new Louboutins.”
“Stop it. Everything’s gon’ be straight. I promise.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Dylan replied, knowing deep down that what they shared was doomed.
Despite Angel’s sudden departure, for Dylan, the show, meaning life, still had to go on. Outside of missing Angel like she missed carbohydrates, she still had Mason and a
New York Times
bestselling book to keep her happy. Dylan was over the moon when her first week sales came in. She’d sold 300,000 copies in the first two days.
Celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and June Ambrose swore by it and had already agreed to appear on her show. Dylan stood on the set getting last-minute touch-ups from the styling team before taping her first take. It was the first day of filming for her cooking show named Edible Couture. Dylan was on top of the world.
She had it all. A beautiful, chubby, baby boy, whom she loved more than her entire Chanel collection. Her career was on the rise, and the bakery was booming with business again. Money problems were a thing of the past. Not only did she have her book advance money from her deal and money coming in from her show, but Candy had put her bank account on swole by depositing a staggering half mill. She and Mason were set for life, and sure, money couldn’t replace the loneliness of not having Angel around, but the accomplishment of knowing that she’d made her wildest dreams come true satisfied any feeling of separation she felt.
Sanctuaria Wild Tapas located in the trendy Tower Grove section of St. Louis was a warm, yet sexy restaurant with an alluring appeal. It was a place where you went to escape and eat amazing food in a hip environment. Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century pieces of artwork found in churches around the world were displayed on the walls for everyone to admire. Prayers over 450 years old were painted on metal in the main dining room were Dylan and her crew sat catching up.