Page 12
Story: Hood Legacy
“It’s weird not being at the arena right now,” I said to Aceyn as I watched him make us breakfast. Well, I wouldn’t call it breakfast. It was more of him putting butter on bread and then putting it in the toaster, which to me, was all wrong and the reason why his kitchen was so damn smokey.
“Why?” he bit into his toast and then handed it to me, but I declined. Even though he’d attempted to toast it, it was still soft, which was confusing as shit.
“Because I’m used to being there by this time and already working out,” I answered with a shrug. “It’s all I’ve been doing since I moved here.”
“You never go out?” he asked with a laugh. “I know you aren’t a party girl, but you’re friends with Mercy and The Twelve. I know they drag you out of the house.”
“The Twelve?” I lifted my brow in confusion. “Who is that?”
“Xoey,” he answered with a laugh, and I playfully rolled my eyes.
“I’m going to tell her you call her that,” I said, and he shrugged.
“She knows,” he replied. “Her goofy ass thinks it’s cute.”
“She would,” I laughed and relaxed into my seat. “But yeah, they try; I normally tell them no.”
“Why?” He pulled another piece of soggy toast from the toaster and dropped it onto his plate. “I mean, I wouldn’t go every time, but every once in a while probably wouldn’t be too bad.”
“I do, sometimes, but I also didn’t want to be somewhere and flowers randomly show up,” I answered, and he nodded.
“You were trying to hide it,” he replied, and I shrugged. “I can’t say I understand because I don’t, but at the same time, I do, if that makes sense.”
“Explain,” I replied, even though I was pretty sure I knew what he meant. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.
“You didn’t want them to worry, even though you were uncomfortable. You went to your old coaches and even the police, and they played you off. I know for a fact that Mercy and Xoey wouldn’t have because they don’t play about shit like that, but you didn’t know what you were dealing with, so you hid in the most unobvious way.”
“True.” I nodded in agreement. “I also know that Mercy and Xoey would’ve shown the hell out, and no matter how long I’ve been friends with them, I’m still not used to dealing with the things they are.”
“You gotta get used to it,” he said with a laugh. “You ain't in the suburbs anymore. We do nigga shit from time to time.”
“And I call the police,” I replied, and he kissed his teeth. “I know you’re not used to a woman who will go through with the threat, but I will.”
“Why?” he questioned. “I mean, yeah, I know what the fuck they are paid to do, but them muthafuckas are the biggest gang in the US.”
“And y’all aren’t? The things y’all do are not normal.” I replied and shook my head. “Don’t get me wrong, I know they aren’t perfect. I don’t live in the fairy tale world you all think I do, but I would rather they go after the bad guys than the people around me.”
“Again, I’m going to ask why?” he stepped back from the island and leaned against the counter behind him. “We get shit done with no questions asked.”
“And you also endanger your lives in the process.”
“Protecting what I consider mine will always come before me worrying about my own life,” he said, shaking his head. “Your protection means more to me than my own safety.”
“Aceyn–”
“Nah, listen to me before you start objecting. I completely get that this lifestyle isn’t one you’re used to, and that’s cool, but that’s not something you should worry about. I’d never do anything that would come back on you or have you looking over your shoulder because you don’t feel safe. But I will always protect you, Point Guard, no questions asked, no second thoughts.”
“And I thank you for that, but I don’t want you to jeopardize your future for me,” I said, shaking my head. “Let the police handle it. That’s what they are paid to do.”
“Next time,” he said, shrugging, and I lifted my brow. “That stalker thing was taken care of.”
“Taken care of?” I questioned. “Taken care of how?”
“Point Guard, don’t ask questions you ain’t ready for the answers to. Just know the only other time you’ll be getting flowers is because I sent them.”
I sat in my seat, trying to process his words. Without outright telling me, he was saying that he’d killed whoever was responsible for making my life a living hell for the last few years. Was I surprised? Yes, but I was also grateful and appreciative that he’d done something for me that no one else had without me having to ask him.
“Jermaine ain’t gonna be a problem anymore.”
“Jermaine?” My face twisted in confusion, and he nodded. “He was the one sending me flowers and texting me?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “When Yeti and I checked his house the night I knocked him out at your spot, we saw firsthand how obsessed he was with you. He had pictures and shit of you all through his house. Some of them innocent, but not all of them.” He pushed off the counter, rounded the island, and stepped between my legs to be in my space. “And I’m telling you right now that I don’t feel bad for killing that nigga, either.” He wiped the tears that fell from my eyes. “You can mourn the thought of what you thought y’all friendship was, but that’s it. That nigga was getting off on the fact that he was next to you, and you had no clue. He got off on knowing you were afraid but looking for him to protect you. That shit was sick and twisted.” He gently kissed me, and I moaned in appreciation. “The only nigga you’ll ever look to protect you is me.”
* * *
“Fuck nah, nope,” Aceyn said as I stepped out of the closet with my shoes in my hand. “You can’t wear that and think this shit is going to be cool.”
“What’s wrong with my outfit?” I looked down at my dress and then up at him, confused. “You don’t like it?”
“Point guard,” he stopped talking, pinched the bridge of his nose, and blew a deep breath. The only person I’d ever seen do that was Ex when he was dealing with something with Paxton, and he couldn’t get his wording together. “Baby, listen to me when I say this.” He let go of his nose and looked at me seriously. “You know what, nah, just look at my shit and ask that question again.”
“Look at what?” I asked as I sat on the edge of my bed and put on my shoes. I took my time fastening the strap around my ankle because I was too focused on watching Aceyn walk over to me. When I looked up, he was standing in front of me, and his dick was pushing against the zipper of his pants. “Oh.”
“Oh?” he laughed. “You think it’s something wrong with your dress?” he shook his head. “It’s nothing wrong with your shit, which is the problem. You look too fucking good to be going to some work shit.”
“Aceyn.” I stood and cupped his face to make him stop shaking his head. “Look at me.”
“Change your outfit,” he declared as he stared down at me. “Like, legit change cuz if you don’t, I’ma walk around with a hard ass dick all night.”
“No, you won’t,” I responded, and he kissed his teeth. I pulled him to me and kissed him. My attention was to calm him down, but he pushed his tongue into my mouth, and our kiss went from innocent to nasty. My pussy started pulsating, and I knew we weren’t going to make it to the dinner if we kept this up. I pulled back, but he wrapped his arms around my waist to keep me from moving from his space. “We don’t have time for this.”
“We can make it quick,” he said, then buried his face in my neck and kissed it. “I just need you to cum three times, and then we can go.” His hands went to the split of my dress and moved up my thigh. “My girl is crying, Point Guard. Let me stop her tears.”
“Aceyn,” I moaned when he pushed two fingers into me. “We don’t have time.”
“We don’t have to be on time,” he chuckled, then gently nibbled on my neck. “Let me handle this for you.”
“Baby,” I moaned as I tapped his shoulder. “We don’t have time.” He pressed his thumb into my clit, and I dropped my head onto his shoulder. “Please.”
“I got you, Point Guard,” he taunted as he worked me over. “I swear, I do.” He worked me over to the point that I felt my knees start to get weak, and I had to wrap my arms around his shoulder to keep balance. My head began spinning, and I knew I wouldn’t last much longer. “Let that shit out so we can go.”
“Aceyn!” I moaned as he moved his hand faster.
“Nope, not what I want to hear,” he whispered, then kissed my ear.
“Baby!” I moaned as I orgasmed.
“Pretty ass,” he said, then kissed my forehead as I got myself together. “Let me know when you’re ready so we can get this shit over with and come back and finish this the right way.” I nodded my head against his chest and took a deep breath.
“You said you had a problem, not me,” I laughed as I stepped back and looked down to see his dick was still hard. “How did that change to you handling that for me?”
“Shit, call me selfish, but I like seeing you cum,” he answered with a shrug. “Hearing you moan my name is going to get me through this boring ass dinner, and then when we get back here, I’ma want a repeat show.” He sat on the edge of the bed and watched me. “Now, finish getting ready so we can go and then make that shit a reality.”
I went to the bathroom, checked my makeup, fixed my hair, and quickly washed myself. After I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom to see him on his phone, looking good as hell in his suit, and my pussy started throbbing again. I kissed my teeth in slight annoyance, making Aceyn look up at me with a confused expression.
“Don’t ask,” I said, shaking my head. “It's only going to make your ego bigger, and we don’t have time.” I grabbed my purse and phone from the dresser and faced him. “You ready?”
“Your pussy wet again, ain’t it?” he asked as he stood. He looked me up and down, licked his lips, then sexily smiled at me. “Yeah, she wet; I can tell from the way you are standing.” He stepped into my space and wrapped his hand around my throat. “Easy or hard way, Point Guard.”
His doorbell rang, and I smiled at the annoyed look on his face.
“We have to go, Aceyn,” I said as I stepped back. His hand trailed from my throat to the deep cut of my dress before he took my hand, interlaced our fingers, and led me out of the room.
* * *
“Have you ever been to one of these?” Aceyn asked, and I nodded. “Legit?” We were at the W’s yearly dinner hosted by the development team. Players, coaches, managers, and owners were here to network and build relationships. Since the league was still small, with less than twenty-five teams, it felt more like a big party than a business dinner.
“When I first signed to The Mares, I came,” I answered as I looked around the ballroom. “I hated it.”
“Why?” he questioned, and I smirked at him because I knew he knew the answer. “Was it before or after you started getting the flowers?”
“Before,” I answered. “But to answer your question, I hated it because I was bored. I sat at my table with the owner and a few people behind the scenes and listened to them talk shop the entire time. The W is a business; I know that and understand it, but for years, people haven’t given players the time of day, and that’s because of marketing. No one, and I mean no one, is selling the appeal of who and what we are.”
“Which is?” he asked, and I could tell he was asking to learn and not being a smart ass.
“A movement,” I answered, and he smiled.
“I’m glad you fucking know,” he replied. “Because that’s what you are. The Queens are a movement, and so are you. Before you even put on a jersey, you are Legacy Glover. People have watched you dominate for years, and you never got the proper recognition, but that’s cool because I know Pyrite’s intentions regarding what he’s building and the people around him.”
“Hype up your friend,” I said, laughing softly.
“Not only that, but I’m going to hype up my woman, too.” He leaned over to hiss me. When he pulled back, I smiled and wiped my lipstick from his bottom lip. “You fine as fuck.”
“You’ve told me already today,” I replied with a nod. “But, thank you again.”
“My pleasure.” He licked his lips, sat back in his seat, and looked at me.
“Y’all are cute,” Mercy said, coming to our table. I turned my attention from Aceyn to watch Givens help her into her seat before taking his own. “Y’all even dressed alike.”
“We are in black,” I laughed, and Mercy playfully shrugged. “What took you so long to get here?”
“They were fucking, baby,” Aceyn answered with a laugh when Mercy and Givens exchanged a look but didn’t say anything. I turned to look at him, and he smiled. Then, he picked up his water and drank it. “I’m not lying.”
“You don’t know that,” I said, shaking my head. I turned back to Mercy, who had a guilty expression and knew Aceyn wasn’t wrong. “You were late–”
“He counted down from ten, Legacy,” Mercy interjected, and I shut the fuck up because I knew how much my friend loved to dominate in the bedroom. It wasn’t until Givens had flipped the script and only allowed her to orgasm once his countdown was complete that she fully experienced sex the way it was supposed to be had, which was mind-blowing and equally pleasurable. She often mentioned that Givens usually started with five and took his time pleasing her; if he started at ten, she was satisfied and more than likely wanted more.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Aceyn asked, looking between the two of us. “Huh?”
“Leave it alone, Aceyn,” I said, shaking my head. I wouldn’t share my friend’s sexual relationship details with him. If Mercy or Givens wanted him to know, it was their business. He opened his mouth, and I shook my head. “Baby, leave it alone.”
He gave me a singular nod, licked his lips, and watched me before turning his attention to someone calling his name.
“I need to go to the bathroom; you want to come with me?” Mercy asked, and I nodded.
I put my hand on Aceyn’s to get his attention, then leaned over and whispered into his ear, “I’m going with Mercy; I’ll be back.” He got up from his seat, helped me, kissed my forehead, and we walked away.
“I like y’all together,” Mercy said as we walked into the bathroom. “You look happy.”
“Because I am,” I said, and she nodded. Mercy went into a stall while I stood at the sink. After she was done, she came out and washed her hands. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m happy.”
“Why are you nervous?” she asked as we stepped aside and allowed a few players that we knew to go to the sink. “Hood is a good guy.” I shrugged, not trusting that my words wouldn’t sound sappy. “I think I know what it is.”
“Which is?” I prompted. We exited the bathroom and sat in the chairs outside the door in the hallway. We were hidden from the crowd and could talk freely. “Because I don’t know how to explain it.”
“He makes you feel safe,” she said and gave me a sweet smile. “I know you were having problems with The Mares and weren’t happy, which pissed me off because you wouldn’t tell me what was going on. When Pyrite approached me with his offer, I knew I was bringing you with me, no matter what. You came willingly, which meant that whatever bothered you was worse than I thought, but I was happy you trusted me enough to come. You might have thought you were doing a good job hiding it, but I could tell you were hiding something.”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” I said, and she playfully rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to worry because you are my sister. I could walk away from basketball today, and I wouldn’t worry about our friendship. We are locked in for life.” She held up her pinky to show me her half of our matching tattoo. “But I knew that whatever you needed, I couldn’t give it to you. Did I think it would be Hood? No, but then again, you said the same thing when it came to me and Givens. Whatever problem you had is taken care of, and now you get to be happy with Hood’s ass, which is all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“I know,” I said, nodding with watery eyes. “I know.”
“Good,” Mercy said, smiling. She reached over and gently wiped the tears that had fallen from my eyes, being mindful of my makeup. “And just so you know, the next time you have a stalker and don’t tell me, I’m going to tell Madea and Granddaddy.” She stood and put her hand out for me to take. “You might not be a DeCorte by blood, but you are one of us.”
“Promise?” I said, taking her hand and standing. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m an orphan now because of how Aceyn acted when he met my parents a few weeks ago.”
“Yes, and he did you a favor,” she laughed and hugged me. “Because I’ve been wanting to kill them for years.”
“Stop saying shit like that,” I groaned as we pulled apart and headed back to our table.
“It’s the truth,” she said with a shrug, then laughed. When we returned to the table, Givens and Aceyn helped us into our seats. “Now, what are your plans for the rest of the week since Pyrite banned us from the arena.” We’d received an email earlier today informing the players that the arena would be closed for a week and that no one was allowed entry.
“We are going out of town,” Aceyn answered, and I turned to look at him surprised. This was the first time I heard this. “We leave after this.”
“Where y’all going,” Mercy asked excitedly.
“Cirtine’s resort,” he answered. I sat back in my seat, and Aceyn rested his hand on my thigh. “We are about to enjoy ourselves and not worry about shit.”
“I love that,” Mercy said, and I nodded. She leaned in next to me and whispered. “Don’t get pregnant; we have at least two championships to win first.”
I laughed and held up my hand so she could see my half of our matching tattoo. She tapped her finger against mine, making the lock complete, then sat back and snuggled up next to Givens.
“Let’s go dance,” Aceyn whispered, and I nodded. He helped me from my seat and led me to the dance floor. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he pulled me close. “You cool with going out of town?”
I looked at him and smirked, “Would it matter if I weren’t?”
“Not really,” he replied with a laugh. “If you don’t want to go, we can just stay here and kick it.”
“I want to go,” I reassured him, and he nodded. His attention went to something over my shoulder, and his jaw clenched. “What’s wrong?” When he didn’t answer me, I moved my hands from around his neck to cup his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said, then licked his lips. “Just one of the development niggas that I can’t stand.” I tried to turn around, but he shook his head. “Don’t give that fuck nigga the time of day.” He turned his attention back to me and smiled at me. “I’m a selfish nigga and want all your attention on me.”
“Who else would have my attention, Aceyn?” I laughed, and he shrugged. I pulled his face down to mine and kissed him. “It's just you, sir, nobody else but you.”
“Keep it that way, too,” he said, kissing me again.