Page 10

CHAPTER 9

Stephon

I slid the weights on the bar, then another to even it out. I was at three hundred sixty pounds. Lying back on the bench in my home gym, I briefly considered my safety because I was lifting alone. My gym was small, housing a treadmill, barbell rack, and the multifunction power rack I used primarily. Usually, I’d be at Hardrock shooting the shit with Justin and pushing each other to the limit. Justin played football with me at CU. He was a safety. He wasn’t a part of my other lifestyle, and I would never tell him about it.

Today, I was pushing myself because I couldn’t get thoughts of her out of my head. Six days. That’s how long it had been since I saw her. Since I’d felt her lips on mine and had her body wrapped around me. It was all I could think about. I didn’t even know Jourdan, but somehow, I found myself all over her; I was out of control.

Fuck It !

I picked up the weights, gauging if I was lifting too much. I probably was, but that’s just how she had me. It was either lifting these heavy ass weights or sitting around with a semi-hard on. I chose the damn weights because, apparently, I was willing to risk it all, even my own life. Jourdan Washington was like that, and her work spoke for itself. With the bar over my head, I lowered it down until it hit my chest.

One.

Repeating the process with a grunt, I pushed the weights up and down, increasing my pace. I couldn’t believe I’d touched her with such familiarity. I was big on consent. My body acted on its own accord. The closer I leaned in, the more her... everything invaded my senses. She hadn't tried to stop me while I was lost in her spell.

It was when I felt her legs grip my hand along with her heat and that sexy ass gasp that let me know that my touch had caused her to orgasm. I couldn't get it out of my head. However, that was when my good sense finally returned. That, along with the fact that we were in a very professional setting, and I once again felt my dick getting hard from her response. She just had to bring her sexy ass outside when I was barely hanging on to what little restraint I had. Then I fucking kissed her, and that damn moan let out.

“ Shit!” I belted out as the bar I was lifting fell to my chest. I felt my muscles give as I tried to push it to the rack. It was a no-go. Letting the bar fall to the side seemed the safest option, so I let it fall to the floor. The sound of the weights clanging filled the room. I’d lost track of how many reps I’d done. My arms felt like fucking Jello. I quickly sat up and reached for my towel to wipe the sweat pouring into my eyes. I needed another way to release some of this tension... sexual tension, frustrated tension, this longing that I had out of nowhere.

I blame Brice’s ass. Why did he have to bring his ass over here? I couldn’t believe I let him fill my head with all his talk about how he felt his sister had a thing for me and wanted me to care for her. Now, that was all I could think about: taking care of her, protecting her, and being everything she needed. I knew that marriage shit wouldn’t fly, at least not yet. I wasn’t opposed to it; like my mother said, I wasn’t getting any younger. I for sure wanted to leave a legacy and children behind.

I’d gathered that the night at Porter’s Steakhouse, Jourdan was trying to get to Burks. I knew it wasn’t the mayor because Brody was always with him, which was by design. And Miller didn’t even live here at least full-time. According to the information I’d previously pulled, he’d been floating back and forth from NY for the past two years. Miller had asked Burks if he knew any information on One, Two, and Three. I knew Burks was lying when he said he had contacts. If he knew anything, he would have said so because money talks. I had Pierre do what he needed to become his contact. I would feed him information. I’d also instructed him to get word back to Miller about the new One wanting to meet. Of course, I wasn’t about to show my face. Wearing a mask was a must, but I needed to be able to dig deeper.

Pierre texted me, telling me he was meeting Burks soon and to give me the location. I didn’t know about the connection between Burks and her father’s death, but I was going to help her find out whether she knew so or not. I wanted to be at the location before they arrived. After giving myself a moment, I headed to the shower.

I stood at the sink while I waited for the shower to warm up. I was still wound up; hopefully, the shower would help. Stepping in, I let the water wash over my head, neck, and shoulders. Lathering up my washcloth, I closed my eyes and gave my body a once-over. On my second pass, my hand lingered on my dick before it hardened in my grasp. I squeezed, trying to wane off the erection, but it had the opposite effect. It throbbed under the pressure. Once again, thoughts of Jourdan popped into my mind. I stood with the weight of it in my hands before I slowly began to stroke my length back and forth.

“Mmh,” I groaned. That, along with the spray of the water and the thoughts of Jourdan’s mouth and body on mine, filtered through. I wanted her bad and let my mind take me to the possibility of having her.

My head was thrown back while she bounced up and down on my dick. I felt myself go deeper each time she descended my shaft. She slowed down and began to rock forward to the tip, then rocked back down slowly.

“You like that?”

“ Yeah, just like that,” I whispered. My hand was moving up and down my shaft, my grip tightening as I fisted closer to my release .

Then, she transitioned back to her quick pace. The feeling of her wrapped around me, and watching her breast bounce along with her ride, was taking me over the edge.

“I’m gonna cum, you’re gonna make me cum, Baby,” I whispered out.

“Cum then.”

I heard her melodic voice and moans in my mind as my eyes popped open.

“Shit,” I moaned out as I pumped my sensitive dick, releasing down the drain until I could no longer touch myself. I caught my breath and braced both hands on the wall under the spray. The water began to run cold as it cascaded down my head and neck. In shock that she had that effect on me, I quickly washed, rinsed, and dressed to head to the location P had sent.

“Shorty about to fuck my world up,” I said out loud into the room.

Jourdan

The sun had set an hour ago, quickly darkening the sky. I appreciated the time change in the winter because I worked better at night .

I sat across the street from Scooby’s Hot Dogs, watching one of Stephon’s employees meet with Burks. I’d studied his security firm website enough to know he worked there. He was the cybersecurity analyst. I continued following Burks a few days ago. However, today, he’d changed it up. The one time I needed to hear the conversation the most, he wasn’t wearing the damn jacket I’d put the bug on. Because of that, I’d been closely following him all day when I usually hung back. I hoped to have gotten information by now, but it looked like I would still have to find my way inside the Mayor’s Ball.

I’m sure my father would have chastised me for what I was about to do. I unsnapped my seatbelt, preparing to head to where they were sitting. I could hear him inside my head.

“Where are you going? Not like that, you aren’t. They’d recognize you as soon as you walk through the door.”

I was becoming more and more reckless. With those thoughts, I reached inside the car and retrieved my baseball cap. I pulled my ponytail through and secured it low over my eyes. Burks had seen me before the night I tried to ambush him at Porter’s.

You better hope he doesn’t notice you, JoJo.

As I waited for the cars to pass before I crossed, I glanced around to make sure that the task of getting close to him wouldn’t cause more harm than good. I walked up and sat a few tables behind them. I started playing with my phone just as everyone around me was while they waited for their hot dog orders. The people in Cypress loved hot dogs, but in Southern California, it was Tacos .

It didn’t take me long to realize that this wouldn’t work. They were talking low. With the busy hum of downtown, I couldn’t hear them. I could read lips, but only Pierre’s because he was sitting towards me.

“One wants to meet with Miller. Can you set that up?” I assumed that Burks had told him yes because he nodded his head up and down.

“Get back to me with the location, time, and place when you do.” Burks nodded again before Pierre stood to leave. He then headed to the window to place an order, and because I was still following him, I remained seated until he left. As I decided to leave, movement caught my attention. In the shadows of the building and out, only enough for me to see him, was Stephon.

How long has he been there?

The fact that he’d been here the entire time is why he was so deadly. His targets never even know he’s there. I’d looked around and cataloged everyone in the vicinity, but hadn’t seen him looming. Stephon was slowly showing me Rock. He nodded to the side, instructing me to come to him.

Jourdan, please do not get up. Stay seated. Fight it, JoJo.

I stood, heading his way. Just like last week, when he commanded my action, I complied.

Girl. What. In. The. Hell.

When I reached him, he took my hand and began walking.

“Walk with me?” He asked. It came out as a question, but it wasn’t because we were already moving .

“Tell me why you keep exposing your prowess, Lioness?” He asked. I started to talk but immediately stopped because I didn’t know if I could trust him, even though he was showing his trust in me. My brother seemed to think that I could and that I should. And so far, he hadn’t given me a reason not to, but that all could change. So, I hesitantly answered.

“I know Brice told you,” I said. He nodded in agreement.

“I’m not asking Brice. I’m asking you, Beautiful.” I savored the warmth of his hand wrapped around mine and his term of endearment. I took a deep breath and embraced the comfort he gave me.

“My father was murdered by someone close to him. I believe it was a hit. I won’t stop until everyone involved feels my wrath.”

“Fair enough, but I don’t like how you’re moving.”

“Why will my big, bad husband swoop in and save the day?” He laughed. I smiled in return.

“Brice told you that shit.”

“Yeah, we don’t keep secrets from each other; we’re all we got,” I solemnly said.

“I know it doesn’t mean much right now, but you have me,” he said, bringing the back of my hand to his lips to place a gentle kiss.

“I’m surprised that you aren’t currently kicking our asses about how crazy the shit sounds,” he followed.

“Why? You think marrying me is crazy?” I asked in all seriousness .

“What? No... I mean, I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love for,” He stuttered out.

“Stephon, I’m joking,” I laughed at his distress. He looked over at me and smiled.

Oh my, damn. Jourdan! Get it together!

“I would marry you if that’s explicitly what you wanted. I would never force anything on you, ever. With whatever you decide, I want to get to know you, all of you, Beautiful,” he said as he tipped my head back, swiping his thumb down my chin as he looked into my eyes. I hadn’t even realized that we’d stop walking or that we were standing beside my car, which I’d parked across the street. He’d watched me the entire time. It was surprising. Then again, this was Rock’s thing. It was something else that he was showing me that he could do. It was trust. After briefly getting lost in each other, he held his hand out to me.

“Keys,” he demanded. I sighed and placed them in his hand. He unlocked the door, got inside, inspected the rear seats, and started my car.

“You know I could have done that myself, right?” I said, smiling.

“I know,” he said, putting me in the driver’s seat and buckling me in. After he was satisfied with my safety, he closed the door. I rolled down my window to get his attention.

“Don’t you at least want my number so I can text you to tell you I'm home safe?” he leaned through the window, pushed my ballcap back, and gently kissed my lips .

“I don’t need your number because I know you’ll get home safe, Baby. Besides, I know where to find you anytime I want. Now go ahead and go,” he said, kissing me again. I nodded, rolled my window back up, checked traffic, and then pulled onto the road. I glanced into my rearview to see if he was still standing there, but he wasn’t. He’d slipped back into the shadows.

This man made me feel like I needed to sit my ass down somewhere. My defiance: I’m the best at what I do, and no man alive can sit me overruled.

Yeah, because you just drove away. Your ass was a lawn chair a minute ago. Folded like a damn dollar bill. Jourdan, you are in danger, girl!

It was as if he were my kryptonite, and the further I drove away, the more resolved I became. My mind told me it was a weakness, but my heart and body felt strengthened by him. He was quickly breaking down my walls.

Yep, Danger!