Page 17 of Intentional Foul (The Complexity of Love #2)

I pushed the license toward her, but she pushed it away. “According to my birthday, I’m twenty-three. Anissa is here to guide me, not make decisions for me. As the man of our household, I have a responsibility to make decisions concerning us.”

Jhae’s mouth opened but closed as she processed my statement.

“There are more artists in L.A. We can hire an engineer to help with the album. Moe agreed to fly back and forth as needed. I have a photo shoot for Noise Level Shoes tomorrow. We have to go home today.”

She shrugged her shoulders before asking, “and what does that have to do with me?”

I licked my lips, wishing I was tasting hers instead.

“Jhae, you have an hour to get packed before the car pulls up,” I said.

“And if. . .”

“And if you don’t. I will carry you over my shoulder, putting us on every entertainment blog across the country,” I said.

She balled her fist and screamed, “uggghhhhhh,” before stomping off to the bedroom. The sounds of clunking echoed in the living space. I sighed as I stood from the couch and found her tossing her things into her bag. Stepping into her path, I paused her angry packing session.

“Woman, you drive me crazy. I love your spoiled, bratty ass,” I said as I caressed her forearms. “This transition to my wife is going to be hard on us both. I recognize you’re upset, but don’t throw your things.”

I moved in to kiss her, but she pulled her face away. “Okay,” I said and stepped out of her path.

Jhae politely laid the next few items in the luggage as she glared at me. I chuckled at her attempt to mock me. Because she called herself being upset, it took her an additional twenty minutes before she was completely packed. By the time we made it to the jet, we were an hour late.

Jhae sat in the very last seat in the back of the jet with sunglasses.

The guitar I bought her sat propped against the seat next to her.

Marquise leaned over the seat next to him in tears as he laughed.

He knew Jhae ignoring me and remaining silent triggered me.

Somehow, I needed to get through to my wife.

When we kissed, the wall tumbled down but outside of our lips touching, she rejected me.

Jhae tried to beat me to the elevator of our condo, but her short legs didn’t get her far. I made it to the golden panel doors right as they opened. Marquise and I stepped in behind her and blocked access to the floor numbers.

“Excuse me, I need to press floor three,” she requested.

I nodded to my brother from behind her and he pressed the number fifteen. The top floor belonged to us. We had a split-level penthouse condo.

“I want to go home,” Jhae said as she stood in front of me.

Even in five-inch heels, she was still short, but no one wore them the way she did. Jhae’s feminine energy attracted me the most. It’s the way she glided, her sultriness and glossy lips that drove me mad with lust.

“Wifey, I have a gift for you. I can’t bring it to you,” I said, and she rolled her eyes.

“I don’t want your gift,” she said.

Jhae tried to maneuver to the panel as if I wasn’t blocking her pathway.

“She really thinks she is six feet tall,” Marquise said.

Jhae kept her eyes on me but flipped my brother off with a backward middle finger.

“Damn, Sis-in-law, I thought we were better than that,” Marquise teased as he chuckled.

The doors opened, but Jhae didn’t move. Marquise stood in the doorway to prevent the doors from closing. I rubbed my hands up and down her forearms.

“I honestly have a gift for you. If I could, I would bring it to you,” I said.

When her tight shoulders slumped, I knew I had won her over.

“After the gift, I’m going home, Malcolm,” she said.

I gestured for her to leave the elevator with my hand. She sucked her teeth as she passed Marquise. He led the way, unlocking the front door.

“Anissa always had good taste,” Jhae said, throwing a dig at me.

“Ha! Jhae, you know, this is all Malcolm. Man, you are shady,” Marquise said as he turned in my direction.

I captured her fingertips, pulling her toward me.

She put up a slight resistance as she climbed the stairs to the top level.

I had a vision for our split-level condo.

It had to be open to maximize the view of the city.

The windows were tall and large; I made sure the light fixtures complimented them.

Standing in front of a brown door, my heart swelled with happiness. It took me a few months to get this surprise ready, but it was worth it. I turned the knob and flicked on the lights.

“Malcolm nooooo,” Jhae sang with disbelief in her voice.

She tried running, but I captured her hand, bringing her back to me.

It took me a while to get this space how I envisioned it.

I selected brown soundproof panels for the walls.

Inside the vocal booth, I purchased top of the line mics, headphones, and condensers.

I needed her voice to sound smooth and sultry as cake batter.

The lighting was dimmed in the booth to put her in a romantic mood.

My favorite thing was the velvet brown couch that matched the chair beside the keyboard and MDI board controllers.

I couldn’t wait to rest and fall asleep to her singing.

The neon Music Note sign I had created made it official.

“Why would you build me a studio in your house, Malcolm?” she asked.

I guided Jhae into the soundproof studio. Sitting in the chair, I pulled her to me. She stood in between my legs with folded arms as I rubbed her thighs.

“You have no excuse not to work on your album. Once Moe sends you the music, you can walk down the hall from our bedroom and sing,” I said.

Jhae’s head jerked back. “Walk down the hall. I live several floors down,” she said.

I chuckled at her response. “Your bedroom is two doors down,” I reminded.

“I’m not staying here. When Anissa walks in and catches me in your bed, then what?”

I tried to pull Jhae into my lap, but she resisted.

“Mom doesn’t come over to our condo. During the off season, we usually move back to the house next door.

I know you ain’t going for that with your scary ass.

After Mom walked in on Marquise and two girls kissing in leather bunny suits, she swore to never come over again,” I said.

I’m still unsure why Marquise thought having a threesome living next door to Mom was a good idea.

Mom and I walked in on them, and she quickly turned her face into me as she searched for the door.

Marquise covered himself with a pillow and the girls shuffled to the back of the house.

Pops came over not twenty minutes later to have a talk.

To avoid another mishap, Marquise stopped bringing women to the house next door.

During the season, he took women to his spare condo and Mom vowed to never come over again without calling first.

“Malcolm, this was sweet and beyond thoughtful, but no,” she said.

Jhae’s entire body read worry as she fidgeted, allowing her nerves to get the best of her. I dropped serious money on this studio to make sure she had the best. The equipment alone cost me over six figures, including mics and headphones. As my woman serenaded the world, her voice would be clear.

“Jhae, I don’t see any other option,” I said. “The sooner you accept things, the sooner we can move toward strengthening our marriage. Eventually, we will have to tell Mom because I have no intention of hiding this or us.”

The blank expression on her face almost caused me to laugh.

She’s still adjusting to the new Malcolm, the one with a plan.

I showed her the timid version of me to gain her trust, but he was gone.

If I wanted her to see me as head of the household, I needed to act the part.

A man provides, protects, plans and holds a vision for his family.

With my help, Jhae would evolve into the best version of herself, independent and confident.

“Malcolm, I think you need to speak with someone,” she said.

I rocked my head a few times before admitting I spoke with my therapist.

“Dr. June and I have discussed you on many occasions.”

“And she is okay with you wrecking my life,” Jhae questioned as she ran her hands through her short hair.

I smirked because I rushed her out of the hotel, not allowing her to put on a wig.

“No. She warned me against it, but I opted for Pops’s advice instead,” I said.

The mention of Pops’ name caused her hands to tremble. “Does Khalil know you tricked me into the marriage?” she stammered over her words.

I gave her a one-sided smirk as she tilted her head back.

“No, he doesn’t know your Music Note,” I said, and she held her hand over her chest.

Until we unite, Jhae would be in a constant state of panic, and it unnerved me. The delusional side of me hoped she would be somewhat happy about our union. How will she be able to record an album if she’s jittery and jumping all the time?

“Malcolm, I’m going home. I need to rest and figure out my life.”

Jhae moved her body, but I captured her hand.

“Our bedroom is down the hall,” I said, and she sighed.

From the moment we bought this place, I crafted my space to accommodate our merger.

I made sure the closet was big enough to hold her clothes.

She preferred lighter tones, but I focused on functionality we could paint later.

The bathroom was designed with a free-standing tub, jetted shower and larger vanities for storage.

I’ve always thought about us and not me.