Page 7 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Seven

Rashad:

“Fuck, Rashad.”

Shiloh’s muffled moans were unintelligible.

She’d messaged me in the middle of the night, complaining of not being able to sleep.

I took her words as her wanting me to put her to sleep, so I invited her over.

She was on all fours, ass tooted in the air, and her pretty face buried into the pillow while she tried to match my strokes.

Lifting my hand, I smacked her ass lightly before I grasped her ponytail. “Why you fighting this shit, huh? Go ahead and relax, beautiful, and cum on this dick,” I encouraged before swiftly flipping her over, barely sliding out of her.

Shiloh’s legs wrapped around my back, her hands gripped my arms, and her tunnel tightened on my dick. She was close to her peak. Gripping her neck, I gave her center long, powerful strokes. I needed her to feel every inch of me.

“Uh… Shit… Oh my gosh…” She couldn’t form a sentence.

“That’s right. Take all this dick.”

Her muscles seemed to relax before the grip was back on my manhood, and her nails dug into my arm. Shiloh’s eyes rolled in the back of her head, while her mouth fell agape and no sounds escaped. She was at a point of no return.

My motions never slowed. I fucked Shiloh just like she desired.

As if I summoned her, Shiloh opened her eyes and stared into mine, riding her orgasmic wave with ease.

Her low moans and sexy expression caused my own to build up.

I wanted to hold out, to give Shiloh a few more strokes, but when her legs tightened on my back, I released hard.

“Fuck!” The word came out as a groan while my face nestled between her neck and shoulder.

Shiloh and I lay there as I still filled her up, our breathing labored with no words spoken between us. She felt like heaven, and I never wanted to forget the feeling. Once our breathing finally regulated, my flaccid dick slid from her slippery center.

“Stay right there,” I instructed, noticing her move when I did.

Shiloh giggled nervously.

“Kinda need to clean myself up.”

I smirked, already backing to the bathroom.

“I got you.”

Shiloh looked at me strangely, and though her body relaxed a bit, she still glared my way with her elbows resting on the bed.

I had to chuckle to myself as I stood in the bathroom with the washcloth under the warm water.

Shiloh already had me on another level, and I couldn’t explain why I wanted to do this for her.

She wasn’t helpless, but all I wanted to do was help.

I felt she needed me. With the warm cloth in my hand, I ambled from the bathroom and headed to Shiloh.

Her expression was a mix of approval and confusion.

She extended her hand my way. “Thank you.”

With a slight smile, I pressed my knee on the bed, already pressing her legs apart. “I got it.”

“I can d—”

“I know you can, but I got it.”

I placed the cloth on her center, not giving her a chance to object.

Shiloh shivered a bit before relaxing. I could tell this wasn’t something she’d had done.

I wanted to clean her. I helped make the mess, so it felt like my job.

I also wanted her to have more of a sense of security with me. This was a moment for me as well.

Once I’d cleaned Shiloh, I tossed the cloth in the bathroom before sauntering back to the bed and climbed inside.

“You good?” I questioned softly, already pulling her frame back to mine.

Shiloh’s body relaxed instantly in my arms. “I am.”

There was a long, pregnant pause, but from her breathing, I could tell she wanted to say something. I patiently waited, and finally, she spoke.

“I’ve never had that.” Her voice seemed to tremble and was extremely low.

“What’s that?” Her statement was vague. She could have been referring to anything that had happened tonight.

She let out a low sigh.

“Caring enough to clean me after sex.” Shiloh sounded embarrassed to admit that.

I’d lost my virginity earlier than I cared to admit, had countless one-night stands I forced myself to forget, even had a few pregnancy scares from women I’d dealt with.

All of those things happened before I was mature and realized sex was actually a soul tie.

It now had meaning for me, even in a one-night stand turned fling.

I still had the fun, I just ensured I wrapped it up, and who I had sex with was special, even if only briefly.

“It’s a part of sex if you ask me.” I spoke nonchalantly.

Shiloh sat up looking at me, the sheet shielding her naked frame as if we hadn’t just been intimate.

“So, you just out here bodying coochie and washing it after?” she asked with seriousness.

Her question and slight roll of the neck paired with her tone caused me to chuckle loudly. It may not have been funny per se, but I still saw the amusement.

“My bad, my bad.” My laughter grew loud, watching the scowl take over her features.

“First thing, I’m not just out here bodying anybody.

” I winked and Shiloh rolled her eyes. “Second, for me, it’s a part of sex because not only should I make you feel good while doing it.

I feel like the after matters too. I like for my woman to enjoy all aspects of what I offer. ”

Shiloh fought a smile, and though she had done a good job, I saw the corner of her lips twitching.

“I like that,” she admitted.

I matched her smile. “I knew you would.” I winked. “You good?” I asked after we only stared at each other.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, Shiloh noted, “I am.”

Leaning her way, I kissed her lips softly before pulling her down to me. Shiloh turned her backside to me, and I snuggled her closer.

“Goodnight,” she spoke softly after a bout of silence.

I couldn’t see her, but the tone of her voice sounded as if she was smiling. Getting more relaxed myself, I pressed my lips softly against her bare shoulder.

“Goodnight, beautiful.” My voice was raspy.

In a matter of seconds, Shiloh’s breathing became even.

“Goodnight.” Her tone was low. She was already so relaxed that she was falling asleep instantly.

Closing my own eyes, I smiled. She was something special, and I appreciated having her in my arms even if on borrowed time.

“Damn, bro, you going to sit on your phone this whole cruise?” Kameron shouted over the music at the pool deck.

Before looking his way to give an answer, I shot Shiloh a message. We had only parted ways a few hours ago, but it had already felt much longer than that.

Me: Be ready by eight. Dress nice.

I wasn’t asking her. Her birthday was near, and since she’d already said her friend had plans for on her birthday, I wanted to do something early and special. I chuckled, looking away from my phone after seeing Shiloh was texting back.

“Nah, just making something shake for the night.”

“Ahh, shit. You tapping something on this ship. That’s why your ass hasn’t been chilling with me and the boys?”

Kameron and I were close. He was my first friend before I had friends. However, even with that, I never kissed and told. We were grown, so I talked to him, but who I was and wasn’t bodying wasn’t his business and vice versa.

“Hell y’all getting into tonight?” I posed a question of my own to avoid what he’d asked.

“Nothing tonight. Might head to the casino. Feeling a bit lucky.” Kameron lit up.

One thing about Kameron, no matter on land or water, he would find somewhere to gamble. At one point in life, it had gotten so bad his fiancée almost gave up on him. He’d gotten better about how he handled his gambling, but the addiction still existed.

“Heard that.” I dropped my eyes back to my phone after it vibrated in my hand. Shiloh had texted back.

Shiloh: What if I told you I had plans?

I chuckled before my reply. Shiloh seemed to always give pushback, maybe to seem in charge before she agreed to whatever I was suggesting or doing. I was preparing another text when another of hers came through.

Shiloh: I’ll be ready. Can you tell me where we’re going, though?

Me: I’ll meet you on the landing deck at eight.

I had a dope night planned for Shiloh; I wanted it all to be a surprise, so I wasn’t telling her anything.

Shiloh: Fine

She wasn’t in my presence, but I imagined that when she sent the text, she was fake pouting while also rolling her eyes. She could pout for now, but I was going to make sure she ended the night with a smile.

“A’ight, bro. What we drinking?” I dropped my phone on the table, giving Kameron my attention.

Kameron chuckled. “You mean what you drinking. This number three for me. You gotta catch up.” He raised his cup in the air.

With a chuckle, I raised my hand for one of the mixologists to come get my drink order. I would have a few drinks, but with the way Kameron tossed them back, he would for sure need a babysitter. I was my brother’s keeper.

“On it,” I responded as the mixologist approached us. “Let me get a White Russian and a round of tequila.”

“Whew! Hell yeah!” Kameron shouted. He was getting married, and since I had only spent a little time with him, I was going to ensure he enjoyed himself.

“I gotta make sure I send my brother off to the missus correctly.”

“I’m really doing this shit, bro.” Kameron seemed to come down from his high instantly.

Before Kameron had proposed, he came to me, asking if he should marry Selena.

I was the youngest, but we relied on each other for many things.

Selena was a dope woman and had stuck by Kameron in some of the toughest times.

Naturally, when he asked was it the right time, I said hell yeah and would support him the whole way through.

Women like Selena were like finding a needle in a haystack, so missing the mark would be the dumbest thing Kameron could do.

I was proud to see he’d made the step to make her his wife.

“The day will be here before you know it. Ready?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Kameron smiled with his eyes before it eventually took over his lips.

“Ready or not, it’s happening.”

I knew he loved Selena, but his response and tone put me on alert.

“Cold feet?” I half joked.

With a heavy sigh, Kameron raked his hands across his waves. “I mean, I love Selena and shit. We both know that…”

“But?” I interjected before he could finish because it was no way he was going to say what I was thinking.

“I mean.” He shrugged. “You and I both know I messed up more times than I care to admit. I’m over that shit now, of course, but the damage has been done. Selena stuck around, and I’m grateful for that, but being truthful, I don’t deserve her.”

Kameron was right. He’d done some things that we would never speak about again, and Selena being the woman she was forgave and forgot. Kameron and I were similar. We also differed. One thing I didn’t do was play games. I didn’t want anyone to play with me, so I returned the favor.

“What if all I did comes rushing back one day, and Selena dogs the hell out me?” His words slurred.

I chuckled. If Selena ever got her lick back, I couldn’t deny the fact she would be within her rights.

“Man, ain’t shit funny. I’m serious.”

It wasn’t funny, but it was at the same time.

“Bro, cool out. Selena stuck with you years after the dumb things you did. She even agreed to marry yo’ simple ass after waiting on you to propose for forever.

The past is just that. Y’all left it there, so keep it that way.

Selena ain’t going nowhere. Marry ya queen, continue to make her happy, give her some babies, and grow old together. ”

Kameron may not have always been the best guy in the relationship, but it was no denying the love they shared was real. One day, I hoped to have what they shared, minus the mishaps.

Without a word, Kameron lifted his drink, finishing it. “I just want to make her happy, ya know? She’s an amazing woman and deserves the world.”

“Selena could pick anybody, but she chose you. Don’t question it or wonder about the what ifs. She’s yours. Stand on business with her.”

He nodded.

“Almost time. I got your back the whole way through. You know that,” I added.

“‘Preciate you, brother.” He held his hand out my way, and we dapped each other up before he pulled me into a brotherly hug. “Love you, man,” he added.

“Love you too. Now, let’s get these drinks going.” I released him.

I was and would always be my brother’s keeper.