Page 26 of Intentional Foul (The Complexity of Love #2)

Chapter Eleven

A New Beat

Malcolm

J hae laid in my arms, outlining my face with her index finger.

“I want to sign her,” she said, and I nodded in agreement.

Raven was a dope-ass artist even without the knowledge she ushered life back into my Music Note. She took her back to her roots, and the hunger returned.

“I think it’s a good idea. Tyrus sent the paperwork over to our lawyer. After the LLC and legal stuff are sorted out, things will be ready to go. My lawyer said Tyrus’s paperwork is legit.”

Jhae shook her head in disbelief, but I didn’t care. I trusted no one with Jhae’s career. She would not be attached to any scandals or be swindled out of her money.

“Tyrus has been straightforward with me. He also knows that the music industry comes with games. He tried to keep me as safe as possible. Which is why I want him to be the president of the company,” Jhae said.

I secured her hand and kissed it. “As long as you maintain a controlling interest and yearly audits are conducted, I’m okay with it.

I want you to fully take control of your music path and turn this label into what you dreamed.

Remember us talking about how you planned to give the underdog a chance?

Show the world how to win by playing fair. ”

“My protector,” she whispered as she pulled me down for another kiss.

Our lips met halfway for a quick peck. She gave a peaceful exhale with closed eyes after we separated. Jhae’s flawless skin and pouty lips provided me with a sense of harmony.

“Before we return to L.A., can I have two weeks of your time?” I asked, and her eyes slowly opened.

“What are you up to?” she asked, and I gave a halfhearted shrug.

I covered her face with kisses and glided my fingers across her rib cage. Jhae’s short legs kicked as she squirmed.

“Okayyyyy,” she managed to squeeze out.

We were midair, and I was above the clouds with Jhae cradled in my arms as the music played in her ears. She skipped the beats she didn’t connect with, within the first few seconds.

“Love birds. Where we going?” Marquise said as he bounced in the seat across from me.

“Camping.”

My brother’s lips parted as he twisted his head. “Drop me off at the hotel,” he said.

“It’s not that kind of camping. It’s a retreat with glass domes,” I said.

Marquise covered his heart in a playful manner. “For a minute there, I thought you'd lost your mind putting me in the woods. This skin getting bit up wasn’t going to work,” he said, and I shook my head from left to right.

“Where else?” he inquired.

“Texas and then we’re going to St. Thomas.”

Marquise extended his hand for a salute. He smacked my hand as lust coated his eyes.

“That’s what I’m talking about. My dick will be in something international,” he followed, and I sighed.

“What? No, sir. It’s too many women in the world to be in love with just one,” Marquise scoffed.

“I can’t wait until she comes,” I said.

“Who?” Marquise inquired.

Jhae snickered as she eavesdropped on our conversation. She turned her head toward my brother, sucking in her lips.

“The one. She gon’ have your ass wrapped around her finger and you gon’ crash out,” I said.

Marquise slid forward in his seat. “Jhae, have me committed,” he said, and she tossed her head back with laughter.

We arrived at the campground right before sunset.

Marquise's search for a woman ended at the company check-in desk.

The plus-size beauty laughed as she committed to finding him after her shift.

We parted on the stone pathway as he went into his glass dome.

Jhae opened the door to the panoramic views, the large white linens, the queen-sized bed, chandelier, and she squealed.

“This is beautiful. How did you find this place?” she asked as she walked back toward me.

I smirked because the sun hadn’t settled for her to see the real view, including the stars. Grabbing her hand, I lifted it in the air to spin her around. I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her exposed shoulder.

“It’s on my list of things I want to show you. This is stop one of the two hundred places I want to experience with you,” I whispered.

“You are amazing,” she said.

“Do you see those chairs?” I asked, pointing to the chairs with the fire pit. “We will be watching the stars from there tonight.”

She turned to me, squealing, grabbing my face and kissing me repeatedly. A knock came at the door, and she released me. I moved toward the door, opening it for the staff bringing our luggage. As they sat our things down, I observed Jhae silencing her phone. Soon after, a text hit my phone.

Mom

Malcolm, where are you? Have you talked to Jhae?

Me

Texas. Everything is cool?

Mom

Yes. Outside of your brother worrying about his little sister. Jhae?

Me

She is with us.

Mom

I've been calling her for two days without any answer.

Me

I’ll let her know, but she's good. Send me a pic of Khaira.

Mom

You and your brother.

A picture of my baby sister sitting in her highchair appeared on my phone.

After the staff left, I pulled Jhae to me. “Why are you not answering for Mom?” I questioned.

She retreated her eyes from me, but I found them again.

“Jhae,” I called.

She untangled her hands from underneath her arms. Jhae pressed her fingers inside the corners of her eyes.

“I’m trying to let her go,” she admitted as she put space between us. “I can’t answer the phone and laugh in her face knowing we’re doing what we’re doing,” she said.

Jhae slumped onto the bed, and I kneeled. I cupped her chin, bringing her eyes to me.

“Don’t give up on your friendship with Mom. She will be mad, but I believe the woman I know will come around.”

Jhae ran her thumb across my thick brows, something she did often.

“Malcolm, you have to come to terms with the fact that I’m not going to be able to have both.

You will be fine because she is your mother, but the moment I picked you, I accepted the sacrifice.

If you want this to work between us, make peace with it,” she said.

I kissed her hands. “I believe we can have it all for the both of us. Please answer when she calls for me,” I asked.

“Okay,” she said in a weak tone.

The fire crackled and blazed as Jhae sat with crossed legs and her signed guitar.

“It’s still early, but I want you to hear it,” I said.

Jhae’s fingers danced over the strings, creating a soft melody. I abandoned the seat across from her and moved closer. I loved her voice. Back at the condo, she would randomly sing as she moved around. Those were the moments that stole my heart.

“Sing it for me,” I requested.

Jhae hummed the lyrics to me again, adding a few additional words. She belted the chorus, moving into the second verse. It made me emotional as she sang. A few times she mentioned my heart was golden or my actions were pure. I’m okay with being her muse or reason behind a love song.

“Are you talking about me?” I teased.

Jhae shrugged one shoulder with a shy expression afterward. “Yes.”

I jerked my head backward. Capturing her hand, I nudged her toward me. She stood, resting her guitar on the seat. Sitting on my lap, I cradled her in my arms.

“You think my heart is golden?” I asked.

“Yes, I do. Even Vegas came from a place of love,” she said.

I pulled back a piece of hair from her face. The light from the fire highlighted the brown hues of her brown eyes. Caressing her face, I leaned in and secured a kiss. The wetness from her mouth traveled through my body.

“Can we go inside? I want to show you the stars,” she said.

“You mean lie in the bed and look at the stars,” I corrected.

Jhae lifted from my hold, pulling me upward.

I stood at her insistence. She entered the dome, closing the curtains, leaving me to put out the fire.

I entered the room to find my wife naked, and my heart slammed against my chest. The view of her petite frame, small but defined curves, and music note tats on her hip, hardened my dick.

She walked toward the bathroom, summoning me to her with her index finger.

The bounce of her small but round ass put my feet in motion.

I lost an article of clothing with each step.

Entering the bathroom, I was fully naked, and she waved me inside the shower.

Jhae moved soap around my body as if she were a painter caressing a canvas.

I joined her by touching her tattoo and various parts of her body.

My dick stood at attention, but she climbed out of the shower, leaving me hard.

“Don’t you touch it,” she said before leaving me alone in the bathroom.

I discovered my wife had climbed into bed.

She leaned back on her elbows, glaring into the sky at the stars.

I moved closer to her, mirroring her position, leaning my head back, staring into the sky.

Jhae licked the tip of my dick, and my body jumped.

I swallowed the lump that developed in my throat.

“I’m going to show you the stars,” she said before dropping to her knees.

The more her mouth covered my dick, the more my breath hitched.

The warmth of her tongue pulled at my soul as she surrounded my shaft.

This can’t be happening plagued my thoughts as she pulled on my dick.

Recalling what she said in Chicago, I gripped her short cut and guided her at the pace I wanted.

My eyelids fluttered as I commanded her mouth and motion.

The closer I inched toward an orgasm, I paused her head with her hair.

“I’m getting ready to cum,” I said in a hard stutter, and she shrugged her shoulders. “Jhae, baby.”

She pulled back, allowing the tip of her tongue to flicker across my dick. “I belong to you, Malcolm. You are the boss. You cum in my mouth or on my face. It’s your choice, and let’s not have this discussion again,” she said and covered my dick.

I moaned as she encouraged me to guide her head. My fucking toes curled as I came inside her mouth.

Jhae

“I love shopping. It’s the best place to pick up women,” Marquise said.