Page 15

CHAPTER 15

MCCOY

I’d been back to work for almost a week, and the first day back, I had to be in court. When I got back to my office, I had a message from Jamel saying we were going out at the end of the week. At first, I wanted to say no, but then I remembered what Earth told me over breakfast the morning I went back to work. Jamel acted as if he hadn’t beaten me, and everything was cool, so I played along. His telling me he would be at the condo later this week to take me out was a surprise.

I’d missed his party celebrating his supposedly killing Earth. Why he was going out again was beyond me. I wasn’t going to ask any questions because I didn’t care.

“You look decent, I guess,” Jamel said. I looked up from the mirror in the bathroom to see him standing near the doorway. He wore black jeans with rips in the knees, a white shirt that fit his body, showing his little muscle, and a pair of black and white Jordans. In my opinion, Jamel didn’t dress like a grown-ass man should; he dressed like a young nigga with little to no fashion sense but knew labels caught people's attention. And there was no doubt everything he had on from his underwear to his socks and T-shirt were all name brands.

“Thank you,” I said, knowing his words weren’t meant as a compliment.

“How much longer do you need?” He looked at his watch and then up at me as if he had an attitude. “I got shit to do.”

“I’m ready,” I replied, standing. He looked at me up and down before nodding. I paired black leather pants with a fitted, long-sleeved matte green shirt. I’d picked it because it covered all of my scars but also gave off a sexy vibe. My hair was pulled into a top knot just in case Jamel got handsy later and wanted to grab on it.

“Hurry the fuck up,” he said, then walked out of the bathroom. I followed him, grabbed my small clutch, phone, and keys, and put on my Mahogany fashion stilettos that matched my outfit perfectly. “Follow me in your car.”

I didn’t argue with him about not riding together. Instead, I nodded, and we left the condo. The ride to the garage was quiet. He was on his phone and would look up at me occasionally, but he never said anything.

Once in my car, I pulled out my phone and brought the cameras up. Earth sat on the bed, watching My 600-Lb. Life , looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world. His seeming so peaceful and comfortable in my house made me smile. As if he knew I was watching him, he pulled out his phone and called me.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Where are you going with that nigga tonight?” he asked. When I got off work, I went home and sat in his bed. Earth calmed me with just his presence. We talked while I straightened my hair.

“He wants to go to The Basement,” I answered, knowing it was a prime DBB spot.

“That nigga got a death wish, for real.” Earth laughed. “He’s gonna endanger your life by taking you somewhere that ain't safe?”

“He doesn’t care about my safety, Earth,” I sighed.

“Another reason for that nigga to die,” he replied. “Look, be careful out there, alright? And don’t take the gun inside, either. The only people security will let carry is DBB. If shit starts to move weird, find Constine. He usually works at the bar. Tell him I sent you. He won’t question shit, and he will get you to Fire.”

“Your brother doesn’t know about me,” I replied as I turned.

“Fire knows how I am,” Earth vaguely said. “Just do what I said to do.”

“Earth, you don’t?—”

“Do what I’m asking you, Coy,” he interrupted me. “I don’t ask for shit else while you got me locked up in here, do I?”

“No,” I answered. A piece of me felt guilty for having him locked in my house, especially since we’d been talking and getting to know each other. But I was desperate for my plan to work, and I knew my guilt would eventually fade away.

“Then do what I’m asking now. If some shit happens, find Fire.”

“Okay,” I agreed, knowing I wouldn’t. The last thing I needed was to be linked to any of the DBB.

“Alright, cool,” he said, sounding relieved. “Look, I’m about to go to sleep. Call me when you leave the club.”

For the rest of the drive, I followed Jamel as he sped to the club. At one point, I think he was going over a hundred miles per hour, but I wasn’t going to rush. I arrived probably ten minutes after him and took my time walking into the club. I knew this was DBB territory, but I walked in with my head high and shoulders back.

On the way up, I stopped by the bar and ordered a drink I had no intention of drinking to know what Constine looked like. I found Jamel in the VIP section with a woman sitting on his lap and another standing behind him, rubbing his shoulders.

“What the fuck took you so long?” he asked as I sat down across from him. The fact he wasn’t even hiding this other woman should’ve pissed me off, but it didn’t.

“Traffic,” I answered, and he stared me down as if I wasn’t shit.

“Do you think this is a game?” he sneered as he sat forward. He slapped me across the face before I could even think to react. The vein in his forehead pulsated wildly. “Play with me if you want to, and I’ll kill you!” He jerked me close to him. “Unless you want a replay of what happened last time we saw each other, you might want to calm the fuck down.” Jamel let me go and pushed me away. “Get the fuck outta here before I forget I’m in a good mood, bitch.”

I wiped the corner of my mouth, not surprised to see blood on my fingertip. Jamel stared at me, his eyes wild, and I could tell he got off on shit like this.

“One last thing,” he said to my back. I stopped walking but didn’t turn around. The sound of a woman giggling, then Jamel’s footsteps as he came toward me, rang in my ear. “This is your engagement ring.” He grabbed my hand, twisted it behind my back, and pushed a ring onto my finger. “You’ll wear it from here on out. It’s a family heirloom.” He let my hand go and then kissed my shoulder. “Now take your ass home. I’m tired of looking at your fuckin’ face.”

“That was quick,” Earth said as soon as I entered the house. The living room was dark, but I knew the layout of my house, so I didn’t see the point of turning on any light. “What happened?”

“He got in a mood as soon as I walked into the VIP suite and showed his ass,” I answered as I sat on the couch. My eyes had adjusted to the dark so I could see his outline, but nothing else. “I was probably there for five minutes before he put me out.”

The light came on, and I had to shield my eyes to allow them to adjust. I heard Earth walk toward me; his large hand moved my hand from over my eyes. “The fuck happened to your face?” he asked, and I dropped my eyes. “Nah, look at me.” When my eyes settled on him again, he bit his bottom lip and sighed. “This is why he sent you home so fast, huh?” Earth let go of my wrist and gently grabbed my chin to move my face from side to side. “Alright.” He nodded, then let me go. “Go take a shower.”

“Earth—”

“McCoy, please do what I asked you to do,” he said. I could tell he was struggling to keep his temper together, and instead of arguing, I nodded and did what he asked.

After I got out of the shower, I went looking for Earth. I found him sitting on the couch, head back, eyes closed, and gun in his hand. “Come here, Coy,” he said without opening his eyes. As I approached him, Earth reached over and turned the light off next to him. I tried to move past him to sit on the couch, but he grabbed me with his free hand and pulled me into his lap. He buried his face in my neck, and we sat in the dark, listening to each other breathe. Tears I didn’t know I was holding back fell from my eyes, and I let them with no shame. I was so tired mentally, physically, and emotionally. Jamel was killing something in me that I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to get back.

“I’m tired, Earth,” I said softly.

“I know,” he replied with a slight nod. “But I swear this shit ain’t permanent.” He let out a breath that tickled my skin and wrapped his arms around my waist. That small gesture made me feel safe, and for the first time in my life, I realized I’d never felt that with anyone but Earth.

“I want to go lay down,” I said, believing him.

Earth stood, easily picked me up, and walked to my room. He placed me on my feet, and we got into bed. Earth sat up, leaning against the headboard. I got into his lap, rested my head on his chest, and he covered us up.

“That nigga brought you there to embarrass you,” he said after a while. “It’s a weak nigga move.”

“I figured that,” I responded. I lifted my head and looked at Earth. “I meant what I said earlier.”

“I know,” he replied with a nod.

“I just don’t know how to get out of this.”

“Yeah, you do. That’s why you got me involved. I don’t know how you decided to come for me, but I’m glad you did.”

I wanted to tell him about the night Prince died. His best friend knew he wouldn’t leave that warehouse alive but decided I was worth saving. I wasn’t sure if it was because of his hatred for Jamel or because he saw something in me I didn’t see in myself, but I’d forever be indebted to Prince.

“Tell me about yourself,” I said, resting my head on his chest. Over the last few weeks of us getting to know each other, I usually did the majority of the talking. Earth always asked questions, never giving me a chance to do anything but answer before he asked something else.

“My favorite color is white, but I think you already know that.” He chuckled. “I’on like fish, but Fire does. I got a shit load of cousins; my family is big as fuck. My mama has six siblings, and they all have at least three kids. My pop got five siblings, and they all got at least four.”

“What’s it like growing up with family?”

“Loud,” he answered, making me laugh. “Even as adults, we are around each other all the time, and the shit be loud as fuck. None of us have kids yet.”

“None of you?”

“Well, Shaka is pregnant, but ain’t nobody running behind a kid yet,” he replied, and I could feel him shake his head. “I know our parents will give us the side eye once she has her baby.”

“Who’s your favorite cousin?” I asked.

“Shaka,” he grunted. “I’d never tell her big head ass that, but she’s legit my favorite. She’s a chef, funny as fuck, you’d like her. I’ma introduce y’all when all of this is over.”

“Why? She needs a lawyer?”

“Fuck nah.” He laughed, then stopped and sucked his teeth. “Shit, knowing Shaka, she might. But it would help if you had strong women around you after all this is over. Shaka has been in your shoes before. Her ex had a hands problem, but her new nigga took care of that before we found out.”

“She’s lucky,” I mumbled.

“Why do you think that?”

“’Cause she has people in her corner. Even when she felt alone, she wasn’t. And she had a man step up and protect her,” I replied. “Not everyone has that.”

I expected Earth to respond, but he didn’t. I looked up to see him staring at the ceiling with his bottom lip in his mouth. He shook his head and then sighed. “Tell me about you.”

“I don’t like fish, either,” I said after thinking about what he told me. “My favorite color is matte green.”

“I figured that shit out,” he said, pointing around my room. “Tell me something nobody knows.”

“I’m scared I won’t survive this,” I answered honestly. “I’m scared I bit off more than I can chew, and this is going to blow up in my face and get us both killed. Your family will mourn you, and I’ll be laid to rest by my best friend, but eventually, I’ll be forgotten. I’m afraid?—”

My words were cut off by Earth lifting my chin to look at him. He crashed his mouth into mine, cutting off the air going to my lungs, and I gladly let him. I wrapped my arms around his neck at the same time he pushed his tongue into my mouth, and I felt myself moan in pleasure. He kissed like he’d been doing it for years. He led, and I followed without hesitation.

“I got you, Coy,” he said when we finally separated. “Them fears ain’t gonna become reality.” Earth rested his forehead against mine and exhaled. “All I need you to do is let me lead. I swear on everything I love, I’ll protect you.”

“Okay,” I finally agreed. “Okay.”

Earth kissed me again, his hands sliding up my shirt, and I moaned in pleasure. For the last few years, all I’d experienced was pain, and even though his hands were rough, his touch was gentle. I lifted, shifting my body so I could straddle his lap. Our kiss never broke; it was like I wanted to breathe in all of him, and the only way I could was to keep our lips connected.

Earth wrapped his hand around my neck and slightly pulled back. “If I fuck you, ain’t no going back,” he said lowly. I nodded, and he chuckled. “You don’t know what the fuck you just signed up for, Coy. But don’t worry, I’ll show your ass better than I can tell you.”

Earth let go of my neck, grabbed my waist, and lifted me off his lap. I wanted to protest, but before I could open my mouth, he ripped my shorts off and threw them on the floor. I stood before him, my pussy directly in his face. He ran his hands up and down my legs and kissed my thighs.

“Earth—”

“Stop talkin’, baby,” he interrupted. He moved the pillows from behind him and then laid back. “Sit on my face.”

“What?”

“This your throne from here on out.” He licked his lips and then turned his head to kiss my left ankle. “Whenever you feel any way except like the queen you are, this is where you’ll sit. If I gotta remind you every fuckin’ day of who you are, then so be it.” He turned his head and kissed my other ankle. “Now bring your pretty ass pussy down here so I can worship you like I’m supposed to.” I hesitated briefly, and that was all it took for Earth to let out a small laugh. “Oh, you think I’m joking?” He looked up at me and smirked. “Cool, hold on to that headboard ’cause I’ma make your fuckin’ knees buckle.”

He lifted and latched onto my pussy. I grabbed onto the headboard and dropped my head. Earth buried his face in my pussy, spread my lips with his tongue, and pushed onto my clit with the tip of his tongue. “Shit, Earth!” I moaned as he pulled my clit into his mouth. My knees started to buckle, but he slapped my ass and shook his head.

“Stand the fuck up,” he growled, then went back to sucking my clit.

“I-I-I-I can't,” I whined as I rode his face. Every time my legs started to give out on me, Earth would smack my ass to get me to stand up. Even though I had a problem with men putting their hands on me, there was something about the way Earth spanked me that caused pleasure to ripple through my body.

“You can do whatever the fuck you think you can, plus more,” Earth replied. He fell back on the bed, then pressed his thumb into my clit. My body shook with pleasure, and my legs started to shake. “Coy, look at me.” I looked down at him and bit into my bottom lip. “You a fuckin’ queen, baby. You’re unstoppable. Now come the fuck down here and sit on your damn throne so I can worship you.”

I lowered my body until I was resting on my knees. Earth wrapped his arms around my thighs, and his mouth latched onto my pussy again. He licked, sucked, and nibbled on my pussy as if he were on death row, and I was his last meal.

“Earth!” I moaned as I ran one hand along his waves and the other held tight to the headboard. “Fuck, baby!”

“Let that shit out,” Earth prompted as he softly kissed my pussy. His goatee brushed against my clit as he kissed around my pussy. “I already told you, baby, this is your throne. You run this shit.” He flattened his tongue and licked up my pussy, making my body shake. “Pretty ass pussy, just glistening and crying for me.” He brushed against my clit with his index finger. “Cry for me.” He had me so wet I could feel my pussy dripping. “There you go, come on. Cry for me.”

“Earth!” I moaned as I felt my orgasm starting to take over. “Shit!”

“Let her cry, Coy. That’s all I’m asking, baby,” he said, then pulled my pussy back into his mouth. His tongue moved against my clit in fast circles. My hips moved in the same direction and rhythm. When my orgasm hit, I threw my head back and cried out.

“Shit!” I screamed as I continued to rock against his mouth. Earth didn’t stop just because I came; he started to suck on my clit harder as if one orgasm wasn’t enough. I pushed his head away from me and tried to stand. “Earth!”

“Move your fuckin’ hand, Coy,” he growled as I pushed against his head. “Real talk, you fuckin’ with my meal, and I’on like that.”

“I can’t.” I panted and shook my head. Even though I was saying no, my body was saying yes and was still rocking.

“Yes, the fuck you can, baby,” he said and kissed my pussy lips. “You can do whatever you set your mind to.” He spread my pussy lips and stuck two fingers inside me. “Now you got two options: dick or some more tongue. You can pick.”

“Dick!” I moaned.

“Good fuckin’ choice,” he answered with a chuckle, then pulled his fingers from me. He kissed my pussy three more times before smacking my ass, then lifted me by the waist. My body lowered to the bed, my back resting against the bottom half. “Take this shit off and let me see you.” Earth pulled my shirt over my head and threw it on the floor. He stared down at me for a few seconds before shaking his head. “That nigga tried to destroy you because you’re a work of art.” His hands gently caressed my body, only stopping to pinch my nipples. His words, soft touch, and look in his eyes made tears fill my eyes. I’d never been worshiped this way.

No one had ever catered to me.

Earth pushed my legs open with his and rested his body on top of mine. His dick pressed against my pussy, and in one smooth motion, he pushed inside of me. “Earth!” I moaned and arched off the bed.

“You’re beautiful, smart, amazing.” He buried his face in my neck and groaned. “You deserve everything your heart desires, plus shit you can’t even imagine.”

“Earth!” I cried out as another orgasm started to build. “Shit!”

“It’s alright,” he coached me. “I got you. Just let that shit out.” Earth started to move faster, pushing his dick into spots I didn’t even know I had. My body started to shake, and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. “Earth!” I clawed at his back and bit into his shoulder.

“I got you. Let it go, baby.”