Page 55 of Bear

“Oh, ask me?” I grunted with a smirk.

“Okay, Bear, are you and Cecily together or are you just fucking? Inquiring minds want to know.”

“She’s the first woman I’ve ever loved with all my heart,” I said, staring into her cognac pools. Kareema slapped a hand over her chest and gasped like she was having a heart attack.

“Oh. My. God.” She bolted from her seat and hopped up and down like a fucking maniac. “This is so fucking cute, I can’t stand it. You two! You’ve always been in love and now it’s real and…” Kareema held her hand up to her mouth and I looked at her like she’d grown two heads.

“Girl…stop.” Cecily blushed and it made my chest heat up at the sight of those damn dimples. I tried to fight the urge to sink my fingertip into one of them but I was helpless when it came to her. We were the moon and the tides. Always pushing and pulling.

I pushed my finger into her dimple then leaned over to kiss her temple. Kareema made a noise like she was getting ready to pop. I glared at her and she quieted down.

“Okay, so you’re still only sweet to Cecily. Noted.”

“I’m gonna handle some business. Go check on your mother today, baby doll. Get out of this house.” I picked up my phone and opened Cashapp then sent Cecily five hundred dollars. “Go have lunch.”

“Shit, Bear. What kind of lunch am I supposed to have? Should it be gold plated?”

“Whatever works.”

“Ooh, girl. Did he give you a bear paw necklace? I need a man to stamp me like that and…” Kareema’s eyes fell on the bruises dotting Cecily’s skin. I fully expected something obnoxious to come out of Kareema’s mouth because that’s what I’d come to expect from her after all these years. Instead, she looked at me and shook her head.

“Are you done?” I asked her.

“Yes, Bear. I’m done. The rest of this conversation needs to happen between me and her.”

“Cool. I’ll be in the study, Cecily.” I nodded at the ladies then walked down the hall. The second my foot crossed the threshold, I pulled the black thongs from my pocket and smelled them. God, Cecily’s pussy was like a bouquet. I could feast on her all day and night and never get full.

I sat behind my desk with my nose still buried in her cotton underwear and called my father. I was in an excellent mood so I could stand to hear his voice.

Like he’d been waiting for my call, he answered on the first ring.

“Bear, what’s up?” He sounded like he was in a good mood. Hopefully, that meant the conversation would be quick and painless. I swung Cecily’s thongs around my pointer finger and leaned back in my chair.

“Everything got delivered on time. I’m extremely pleased. I like this Amazon seller a lot.”

“Nothing was missing? Everything was accounted for?”

“Yeah. Everything.”

“Even after you were stupid and switched the address?”

“Everything went well. Even after the change of address.” I nodded against the phone and pulled out my gold cigar case.

“Well, good. You trust the sellers?”

“So far they haven’t given me a reason not to.”

“Wonderful,” Dad chuckled. “You can add them to my list of contacts. I’ll use them when I get out in a few weeks.”

The black thongs dropped from my finger in mid-spin. I sat up, rigid.

“I’m sorry, what?” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk.

“You heard me, son. I’m getting out in a few weeks. I’ve been pulling strings behind the scenes to get a hearing and it was granted yesterday. I’m getting out on parole for good behavior.”

“That’s amazing, Dad. I know the city will be glad to have you back.” My words didn’t mirror my expression or the feeling of frustration churning in the pit of me.

“The fuckingstatebetter celebrate. Tell Luanne to start making shopping lists now. I want to have a huge party. Let me speak to her. She hasn’t checked in with me in a couple of days. Everything okay?” His question was deceptive. I knew he didn’t really give a fuck if everything was okay with Luanne.