Page 19

Keyani

I t was finally over! The wedding had gone off without a hitch, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the building.

Athena had done a beautiful job and had the patio looking like something out of a magazine.

Everything from the canopy-like tent made of silky white linens, string pearls, and lights to the gold-tinted peonies that surrounded us was perfect.

She’d earned every penny Maasai had paid and then some for making my bestie's day so amazing. Avery was the perfect bride too, for all the crying she’d done over her dress.

No one could take their eyes off her, and Maasai tearing up was another testament to just how gorgeous she looked.

She was on her Beyoncé shit and had a whole separate dress for her reception, which was just as extravagant as the wedding.

The gold, silk dress flowed all the way to her feet with a dangerous split in the front that had Maasai being more than a little handsy on the dance floor.

I sat off to the side, resting my feet with my heels on the floor beside me and a flute of champagne in my hand.

I’d lost count of just how many I’d had, but since the kids had gone off to bed with Maagic, who claimed to be bored, I was letting loose.

I vibed to the Jodeci playing as I glanced around the room, eyes somehow finding Cruz despite the many people in attendance.

He’d shed his suit jacket, untucked his crisp button down, and had his bow tie undone, hanging loosely around his neck with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the tattoos on his forearms. The wedding had been my first time seeing him in a suit, and he looked good enough to eat, but somehow he’d turned it up a couple notches just from coming undone.

Frowning, I tore my eyes away and drained my glass just as the DJ called for all the single ladies to come to the floor.

A sea of women raced past me, and I instantly ducked lower in my seat once I saw Avery climbing on stage with her bouquet in hand.

I groaned lowly, already knowing what was coming, and prayed nobody noticed me sitting this one out.

Did I want to get married one day? I used to think I did, but the way niggas were set up now, I likely wouldn’t ever get a ring.

That’s why I was so happy for Avery. My girl had found a true needle in a haystack, and even though I didn’t think I’d ever get so lucky, I was excited as hell for her new journey and would settle to live vicariously through her.

Seeing a waiter with a tray full of champagne, I forgot all about hiding. He’d only made it a couple of steps from my table, so I caught up easily and plucked one of the glasses off his tray with a breathless thank you.

“Key! Get over here!” I immediately frowned when Gabby materialized out of nowhere and looped her arm through mine.

“I’m good. I was just getting a?—”

“It’s bad luck if everybody doesn’t participate, girl, so come on.

” She cut off my objection as she pulled me toward the other women, who were all waiting in anticipation.

Honestly, I didn’t know shit about what was good or bad luck at weddings since I’d never been to one, but something told me her messy ass was lying.

Still, I didn’t want to be the one jinxing my friend’s matrimony, so I allowed her to drag me over, only removing her vice-like grip once we stopped.

Avery’s back was already turned, preparing to make the toss, and I polished off my champagne as they all joined her in a countdown.

“1…2…3!”

“Keyani, watch out!”

Instinctively, I looked up just in time to see the flowers coming my way and caught them before they could smack me in the face as three women dove toward me, Gabby being one of them.

Taking a step back, their bodies missed me by inches as everyone else started clapping.

Shit! I hadn’t planned on catching that shit and having all eyes on me, but I forced a smile and bow before inching back to my seat, vowing to fuck Gabriella up.

I scanned the room for another waiter with some alcohol as Maasai took over the microphone, spinning Avery’s garter around his finger.

There were even fewer single men there than women, so when I saw Aw’sum and Cruz among the six heading to the floor, I closed my eyes and prayed.

I didn’t know any of the others, but I damn sure didn’t want Cruz to be the one to catch that shit!

Maasai didn’t waste half the time that Avery did, and literal seconds passed before the room erupted, and I opened my eyes to see them all patting an irritated-looking Cruz on the back.

Shit again! I wasn’t even going to put this off on God because it was nothing but the devil forcing me into close proximity with that man.

Saying fuck waiting around, I headed to the bar for something stronger than the champagne I'd been chugging, but the entire bridal party, minus Gabby’s mad ass, cut me off and ushered me to an awaiting chair in the center of the room.

Somebody cut the lights so only one was shining down on me as everyone circled around with their phones out and the sound of 3 Piece’s “Ooh Aah” started playing.

With tight lips, I watched Cruz emerge from the circle looking just as annoyed as I felt.

He took his time swaggering over to me, making sure to hold eye contact as he lowered down to one knee.

Smirking, he lifted my leg, slipping the garter on and pushing it up my calf slowly while I tried not to squirm from his fingertips on me.

Once he got it up to my knee, he let my leg slide down his chest to rest on his lap as he inched closer, hands still moving at a snail’s pace up to my thighs.

I’d been trying to discreetly press them together, but he nudged them apart, fingers just barely grazing the lace of my panties when I finally obliged.

It was literally all I could do to bite back the moan that was rising in my throat once he was close enough to actually apply pressure to my extroverted clit.

I snapped my legs closed around his hand, hoping I crushed that muthafucka, while salacious cheers erupted around us, and he licked his lips with a smile.

I resisted the urge to kick him in his throat and stood, rolling my eyes at him as I exited the circle.

As mad as I was, there was no denying that he had the seat of my panties soaking wet, and I knew I was going to have to discard them immediately, which is exactly what I did.

A couple hours later, I laid in bed, unable to sleep.

Every time I closed my eyes, I thought of Cruz’s hands on me or how it felt sitting on his massive dick while his tongue explored my mouth, and it had my clit aching to the point that I was ready to hump my damn pillow.

I kept trying to talk myself out of fucking that man with everything I knew about him, but I swear my body was saying fuck all that!

Go get some dick! Frustrated, I kicked the cool sheet from my body like it was at fault for me being all hot and bothered, when I knew the real issue was that I was standing in my own way.

Sighing, I sat up on the side of the bed and stepped into my slippers, gassing myself up as I pulled on the matching robe to my gown.

“I might as well go. We were already damn near fucking the other night. It’s not like he’s gone turn you down with his easy ass.

” I snickered at my own joke as I pulled off my bonnet with a shrug.

“Honestly, I deserve a good orgasm as much as I been through these last few months. I really should’ve been in it sooner.

” I continued my pep talk all the way to Cruz’s door, but once I was standing there, fear stopped me from knocking.

Shit, what if he already got somebody in there?

I hadn’t thought of that the whole way down, but suddenly the prospect had me nervous as hell.

Biting my lip, I paced the little area in front of his door and weighed my options.

I’d already come so close, but I’d be liable to die of embarrassment if he had a woman with him.

“Stop being a pussy, Key,” I asserted, tapping the door before I could stop myself, but I instantly regretted that shit and pivoted on my feet so I could take off.

“Keyani, what the hell you doin’ out here?”

I cringed at the sound of Cruz’s groggy voice behind me.

He had to have been standing right by the door to have answered that quick.

With nowhere to run, I slowly turned around, smiling awkwardly, and damn if this man didn’t look just as good half asleep with droopy eyes and shirtless.

“Heeeey!” My tone was high pitched as I looked everywhere but into his confused face.

“I umm…I was just…” Unable to think of a good lie, my words trailed off while his frown deepened and then slowly spread into a wide grin.

He crossed his arms, making every muscle in his upper body bulge as he leaned against the door frame.

“Yeah?” he goaded, looking more amused by the second.

Obviously, he knew exactly what I was doing there but simply enjoyed watching me squirm; either that or he just wanted me to say it out loud, but suddenly my bravado was gone.

His smug ass attitude didn’t help; in fact, it irritated me beyond words.

Instead of shying away, though, I held my head up high, shaking off my nerves.

“I want you to fuck me…good.” Planting my hands on my hips, I tilted my head at him, even more emboldened by his surprise at my words.

“You think you can handle that?” Now it was my turn to tease his ass.

I looked him up and down with the challenge, coochie already clenching as he licked his thick lips slowly and sexily.