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SIX

Like the queen of the palace who had spent the day serving the commoners and was ready for her rest, Roulette lie in the bed. Her hands were tucked underneath her cheek as if she was praying. The cover was pulled all the way up under her chin. Not because she preferred it that way or had done so herself, but because I didn’t quite agree with the room’s temperature and wanted her to stay warm.

The adrenaline rush had subsided and our body temperatures were regulated. There was a chill to the hotel, but one that would give you the best sleep of your life. Paired with her orgasm-induced sedation and she was set for the night of rest she deserved.

I pushed her hair away from her face and lowered my lips to her forehead. She was completely oblivious to all that was happening around her. Her body had given up somewhere between the piano and the shower. Though I knew she’d reached her limit, the complexity of our situation forced me to push her further, prolonging our connection.

Goodnight Madam .

I exited with the elevator in my line of vision. The Carmichael was easily one of my favorite spots prior to purchasing a condominium for my extracurricular activities. The architect, Phil Gains, who’d designed the masterpiece, was incredibly gifted. And, he’d done a wonderful job with the builders of the establishment.

“Ready to head out?” Raquim’s presence was no surprise.

Because I was still processing the last few hours of my night, I remained quiet. Unlike others, he didn’t take my silence personal. He knew that it had everything to do with me and hardly anything to do with him or the question he asked. When I was ready to speak, I would.

He pressed the button that would lead us to the lobby. Without a doubt, I knew Raquim had decided against waiting on the first floor as I’d insisted after the first hour. His paranoia was the reason he was on my payroll. He received a monthly lump sum to sweat so I wouldn’t dirty the neck of my tailored tops with my perspiration.

We stepped onto the elevator one after the other. When I finally settled in the cart, my back was against the railing and my hands were crossed in front of me. Visions of Roulette spread eagle on the bed as I ate her insides as if they were my last meal rushed me at once.

Her legs went on for days, so did the juice her pussy produced. I squeezed my eyelids together, trying to rid myself of her. It felt like the first impossible task of my life. I opened my eyes, ditching the attempt altogether. It was pointless. My orbs traced the elevator. It was a matchbox.

There isn’t–

Her claim revisited me. So did our time in the elevator. Involuntarily, my eyes closed again.

There isn’t enough room .

Her observation was accurate. So was everything else about her. I hadn’t known perfection existed until she spread her legs and invited me down for dinner.

Fuck .

I hardened in my pants at the very thought of her plump, meaty mound and tasty flesh. Breakfast. Snack. Lunch. Snack. Dinner. Snack . I could have her for every meal of the day and would rest a satisfied man with a belly full of her cum.

“El!” Raquim called out.

Bewildered, I opened my eyes and found him outside of the elevator, urging me to join him with a wave of his left hand. I shook my head, determined to conquer the impossible task once more. Again, it was useless. I joined Raquim on the other side of the elevator, nonetheless.

I rounded the corner, nearly oblivious to my surroundings. My lapse in judgment and awareness was the reason Raquiml was employed. Though there weren’t many instances when I felt like a walking zombie, his presence was appreciated when they did arise.

“El–”

This time Raquim when beckoned for my attention, it wasn’t because I was lost in my own head and unaware of what was happening around me. It was because I’d diverted from our path.

“Just a minute,” I spoke, holding up my index finger.

I crossed the lobby headed toward The Carmen , the lobby’s bar that was famous for its housemade whiskey and wine. Just a few feet away was a familiar face. One that I had to thank for the woman I’d just experienced.

“Chino.”

With a stale face, he sipped from the drink in his hand.

“Israel.”

His inflated chest and inability to look me in the eyes made my stomach turn.

Have I taught you nothing? There were better words to be spoken, so I chose them wisely. My capacity wouldn’t allow for much more than what was on the surface. What was truly on my heart. What was eating away at me like maggots on rotting food.

I rubbed my hand down my beard and then placed it on Chino’s chest, deflating it as if I’d put a pin to that motherfucker.

“That’s dangerous territory up there.”

With a tilt of my head, I disrupted his line of vision. I needed him to hear me. I needed him to see me. I needed him to understand me.

“May the best man win,” I challenged, and headed inside the bar.

Having a drink wasn’t my intention. Roulette was intoxicating enough, but with her so many floors away, the potency left me feenin. I needed a pick-me-up. Something strong. Something comparable to her.

Nothing is comparable to her . I reasoned.

I didn’t disagree. In fact, I simply nodded my head and sat at the very end of the bar with my eyes trained on the lobby that Chino had yet to leave. His feet were planted. His drink was still at his waist side. And every mistake he’d ever made with the woman who gave him the freedom almost every man dreamt of while getting her money and keeping her pussy to herself hit him like a fucking MACK truck.

Only there wasn’t a MACK. There were only my words. And, me. I was the truck. A eighteen wheeler full of unlimited funds, vacations, monogamy, joy, happiness, smiles, sweet nothings, deeds, titles, and dick that I wanted to drive all up in her garage.

“Welcome. What can I get for you tonight, Sir?”

The bartender visited the moment I got comfortable in my seat. He placed a napkin and coaster in front of me.

“Whiskey. Neat .”

“Coming right up.”

I peered out of the glass to find that Chino had disappeared. Raquim had replaced him, standing near the entry of The Carmen , awaiting my exit. He was never too close but never too far away either. Bullets traveled a hell of a distance before their potential decreased. He was right where he needed to be.

I tossed back the first glass of whiskey without as much of a grunt as the fire flowed through my body. The bartender hadn’t taken a step in the other direction before I was nodding, letting him know that I was due for another round.

“Alright, coming right up.”

The wait wasn’t long. Another cup was in front of me in an instant. This time, I silently promised to savor every sip. This time, he’d poured a double shot. I would be a while. And, I wasn’t complaining. I wanted to dissect the events of my night, starting with the most beautiful view of Roulette as she conquered the lobby on her way to the penthouse.

A fucking force . I whistled with a shake of my head.

Sip by sip. Play by play. Roulette’s reel looped in my head. She was a dream I didn’t know existed in my world. Though I admired her, she was forbidden territory. She was Chino’s woman. I understood my influence in his life.

Fucking his woman, although they were not in an exclusive relationship, just wasn’t on my list of things to do. Ever . Until it was. Until she requested me. And, until he invited me into their bed.

Damn you, Chino . I chastised, rubbing my beard with my index finger and thumb.

As the words left my mouth, Roulette’s long legs stepped out of my head and into my line of vision. My face crinkled with worry. She was in no condition to drive. From the way she was gliding across the floor on unstable legs, I knew she wasn’t in no condition to walk either.

Raquim’s locs swung in the opposite direction as he peered through the glass, telepathically calling out to me. I nodded toward the subject, letting him know we were on the same page and his assistance was an expectation and not simply a request.

He wasted little time getting active. Instead of approaching Roulette, he kept a safe distance and a listening ear trained on her. Upon realizing her plans to leave the hotel for the evening, he tilted his head toward the door.

She’s leaving for the night. Headed home . American sign language was a required lesson of employees as close to me as the one I was reading hand signs from.

Go get the truck. Have them pull my car up. Give her space. I’ll be right out . I responded, taking another sip of my drink. Don’t let her leave the lot .

“Fix your face, Princess,” I whispered, watching her shift her weight from one foot to the other. Yes, she was a boss in her own right, but as I watched her from the glass she was nothing more than a girl.

Just a girl. Just a pretty, pretty Princess. Just a girl who deserved to have the best days every day. One who deserved the best of the world. And, I wanted to give that to her.

To Roulette.

To Malaya.

To my mother.

To my grandmother before her passing .

They were tough soldiers to the world, but to me, they were part of a kingdom where their fragility was praised. Supported. Favored.

“You’re too pretty to frown.”

Fow .

Raquim learned a valuable lesson after the first bullet collided with the window. Underestimating a Childers was a mistake not many made. It could cost them their life. It would cost Raquim his if he tried exiting the vehicle again.

Fow.

Fow.

Fow.

Amused by her determination, I watched from afar, waiting for her to run out of bullets. She was working with an extended clip, so it would be a while.

Fow.

The sound repeated itself as she grew angrier with the lack of success she was experiencing. Her determination was sexy. So was her stance and the fact that I knew she wasn’t wearing a fucking thing under that trench.

“It’s bulletproof.”

She halted at the sound of my voice. Her squared shoulders rounded. The shield she’d quickly enabled began to dissolve. Her position pumped my chest with pride. She felt safe. Secure.

“Israel–”

Her voice was sharp. Slightly agitated. Possibly angry. But, there was no need to be. Her well-being was my only concern. My only desire was to take care of her tonight, not only in the bedroom. She wasn’t in a position to take care of herself. And, even if she was, I still wanted the task.

“You’re in no condition to drive home, Roulette. Lower your weapon and get inside of my car.”

I rounded the car. Her gun was still trained.

Stubborn . I noted. Extremely.

But, I like it . There wasn’t a single thing I’d discovered about Roulette that I didn’t like, yet .

“Voluntarily–” I explained, “But, I’m not above force.”

She turned to face me, finally lowering her weapon. This wasn’t the bedroom. And, the reversal of roles wasn’t an option. My submission was situational. This was not the situation. There would hardly be any others. The bedroom was almost the only exception.

“One night, Israel. And, our night ended in P12.”

I approached her. Her words were going into one ear and coming out of the other. She wasn’t talking about shit for real. And, I couldn’t allow her to believe she was.

When I finally stopped, I was an inch short of her frame.

“Frankly, our night ends when I say it ends, Madam.”

I swooped her up in my arms, and tossed her over my shoulder. She was far too fragile to be standing in the dark of the night unsure of whether she was coming or going. The sirens in the distance prompted me to put a move on it. There was no time to waste going back and forth with Roulette. She was coming with me and that was final.

“You’re not even in a position to walk.”

She rested against me. Her body softened. Comfort found her. Calmness found me.

“Good girl,” I whispered.

I lowered her onto the passenger seat. With curious, tired eyes, she peered up at me as I pulled the seatbelt over her body.

Safety first, Princess .

Once I had her buckled in, I pressed the button that reclined her seat. I didn’t stop until she was able to rest her upper body comfortably against the cushion. The sirens grew louder and so did the urge to exit the parking lot. Raquim had already put her SUV in the nearest parking spot. He was inside of his whip waiting for my departure.

Good thing that delivery is coming next week. Until then, he’d need one of the two large SUVs in my garage. Roulette had turned his shit into swiss cheese and turned me on while doing so.

“Words aren’t a thing of the past, Israel,” the distressed beauty in the passenger seat yawned.

“I don’t like riddles.”

“Asking of what you want is the only way to obtain it from me. This isn’t it.”

Yet, you’re here .

“My exhaustion is to blame for my lapse o–”

“It’s worked for me all this time, Roulette. This situation isn’t much different.”

“I’m not in the business of convincing.”

“Then don’t.”

“I won’t, Israel.”

Silence penetrated the tension. Yet I didn’t have the desire to hear sounds outside of those that came from her. In the event she did decide to speak again, I didn’t want her fighting with the base of my custom sound system.

The most precious sigh escaped her. She was in the middle of an internal battle, struggling with her current condition and past situation. Because, now that I’d sampled her honey, I was prepared to put on the beekeeper’s gear to keep her hive safe from the harmful, hurtful male presence.

Settle down . I encouraged.

Aimlessly, I turned corner after corner, driving around in circles as I tried making sense of the choice I’d made after discovering Roulette from the bar’s window. I was waiting for that gut feeling that warned me against everything I was considering. I was waiting for the heaviness in my chest to increase at an alarming rate. I was waiting for the bitter taste in my mouth.

But, there was nothing. Nothing but her, those long brown legs, light snores, and a shrunken frame. She belonged in a bed, my bed , and not the passenger seat of my coupe.

Tossing caution to the subtle Clarke winds, I entered the freeway, increasing my speed to match the limit. Within seconds I’d gone over the city-appointed number with no intention of slowing down. I was afraid I’d come to my senses and exit prematurely to get Roulette home safely in her cozy, quiet mansion that was on the cusp of her community.

She was hidden deep in the hills, but my extensive research had revealed her location. It was no easy task and there wasn’t a device in my home that helped me in my search. She had. Raquim was given his most important assignment since signing on with me the night that I left Roulette at a dinner table with a questionable Colombian.

“Make sure she gets home. Safely. Should she decide to leave with that nigga, hit my line. I don’t give a fuck if they don’t leave this motherfucker until daybreak.”

“Bet,” he said, slapping the side of my car. “I’m on it, El.”

The darkness.

The silence.

The city’s beauty.

The blurred lights.

The ecstasy provided by the night’s events.

I was finding it quite difficult to place my joy. Guilt attempted to suppress the feeling, but every time I peered in my passenger seat, I was reminded that it had no grounds. With all that was happening in my world as it related to my daughter and the woman I’d created her with, I deserved an ounce of happiness. Even if it was only for the night .

“Narju laha 'an tartah jydaan. narju 'an tahda makhawifaha. 'atamanaa 'an yakun dukhuluha 'iilaa ealami slsan waghayr mulim weatfyan. Amin.”

May she rest well. May her worries be put to rest. May her entry into my world be seamless, painless, and passionate. Amen .

I waited for the garage to open before pulling in. The bright lights made me regretful of their installation. I changed the gear as I watched Roulette’s face crease with irritation. The brightness caused her to stir in her sleep.

I exited the car swifter than usual. When I arrived at the passenger door, Princess was no longer laying down. Her snooze had been interrupted and it pained me deeply. I opened the door and leaned inside.

Her natural fragrance welcomed me. The enhancement she’d sprayed to start her evening had been scrubbed away in the shower. Though the scent was lovely, it couldn’t compare or compete with her body’s aroma.

“I can walk,” she confessed as a yawn separated her lips.

Disregarding the unsolicited declaration, I slid my hands underneath her body and scooped her up in my arms. I used my knee to seal the door behind us and made my way toward the door that led to my home.

“Garage door open.”

Our entry was announced by the security system. I carried Roulette through the mud room. The laundry room followed. And, then, we entered the kitchen. Her discomfort grew with each step I took.

While it was obvious she wanted to lean into her natural urge to lead, it was also obvious that she wasn’t completely opposed to being led. The internal battle continued. The power struggle was clear.

“Relax.”

“I’m capable o–”

“Lay down and shut the fuck up, Princess ,” I advised in the gentlest tone I could muster.

Though it had softened by the time it left my mouth, it was still a demand, nonetheless. My point was still made. My stance was still apparent. And my request was still met. Her cheek rested against my shoulder, right where it belonged.

My journey through the kitchen paused as we passed the medication cabinet. I removed one of the slim packets from the recovery box and slid it into my pocket. The adventure continued as I relieved myself of my loafers before stepping into the hallway.

We made it into my bedroom without incident. I lowered Roulette onto the bed. She sat upright, peering down at me as I kneeled in front of her. I took her right foot into my hand and began to peel off the boot that stopped at her thighs. The first one put up a fight but the second one came off with ease.

“Thank you,” she yawned for the fifth time since I’d gotten her in my whip.

“You’re welcome.”

I stood and pulled her up with me. The belt of her trench fell from her waist after being untied. The black fabric parted slightly, exposing her perfectly round breasts. I pushed the coat from her shoulders and down her arms.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I kept my urges at bay. Instead of taking her into my arms and sitting her on my dick, I made my way across the room to lay her coat on the back of the chair near the television that hadn’t been powered on since it was purchased and mounted.

In an attempt to suppress my desires, I took a detour instead of returning to her side. I removed three bottles of water from the built-in beverage fridge that was concealed in the television console. I was in no hurry to get back to Roulette.

She was too fucking tempting. Too tasteful. Too tantalizing. Too thrilling. And, too tired. She deserved rest.

However, I was too invested. Too intrigued. Too infatuated. Too enthralled. Too engrossed. Too entranced. And, too engaged to stay away for too long. I returned to her with my eyes to find her in the same position, watching me with those pretty brown eyes.

Her body lacked flaws. From the top of her head to the sole of her feet, she was perfect. Her deep brown skin emphasized her features, magnifying every detail. She was the sultriest, sexiest being I’d ever encountered. Without opening her mouth, moving a single limb, or batting a lash, sex secreted from her pores.

Fuck me.

Touch me.

Love me.

Spoil me .

She screamed behind those eyes.

Patience, Princess. I plan to .

“Here. Drink this.”

I handed her one of the bottles of water after uncapping it. I did the same and turned up the second bottle. When it was half gone, I straightened my neck and brought the bottle down to my chest. Roulette had finished a little more than a quarter of the one I’d given her.

“More–” I commanded.

She didn’t protest. She nodded, instantly turning the bottle up again. Dehydration had her body craving what was in front of her, making my job much easier. I pulled out the drawer next to my bed and removed the multi-vitamin from the bottle. So that there were no doubts about what she was about to digest, I left the bottle on top of the nightstand instead of putting it back where it belonged.

“Take this.”

She accepted the pill and tossed it back. It was the start to her recovery. It would aid the water in her quest for normalcy. She’d been stripped of her energy. It was time to replenish it with rest and supplements for the deficiencies I’d caused during our time at The Carmichael .

I poured the LiquidIV inside a second bottle of water. The powder dispersed in the water as I shook it. Roulette’s eyes never left me. She was watching every move I made. She had nothing to worry about. Poisoning her wasn’t in my intentions.

Her pussy was too good.

Her resources were too thorough.

Her reach was too long.

Her presence was too strong.

Her family was too fucking deep.

And, the world was not big enough for me to elude her brother if she died by my hands. While his presence didn’t instill an ounce of fear in me, he was an enemy you didn’t want to have. It could be the end of you. Financially, morally, and physically.

While the same could be said for me, I hadn’t gotten this far in the game by making enemies of those who matched my energy. They were meant to be allies or at least that’s how I thought. Having them at your table was far more beneficial than on your neck.

“Now, drink this.”

She nodded, taking the mixed drink from my hand and giving me the rest of the water in the bottle she’d been working on. As she tried getting down as much as she could, I exited the bedroom and entered my closet.

I removed my clothing and replaced them with a pair of pants. I snatched a shirt for Roulette from the drawer and headed back out to make sure she’d consumed a decent amount of the second bottle. She had.

“Good job, Princess,” I whispered as I removed the bottle from her hand and placed it on the nightstand.

“Princess?” She asked, genuinely intrigued with the name I’d given her.

“Here.” Ignoring her question, I lifted the shirt over her head.

She stepped back and lowered her body onto the bed. I observed closely as she marked my sheets with the secretion of her pussy. With a tilted head, I watched her pull the covers back and then climb under them.

“Roulet–”

“Does it look like I wear big t-shirts to bed?” She wondered out loud.

No. I answered inwardly.

“You’re going to make this night far more complicated than it has to be,” I warned, forcing her to follow my line of vision.

She nodded, peering at my increasingly noticeable bulge in the pants I’d chosen as a barrier between us.

“A much harder night, huh?”

I gnawed on my bottom lip, bracing for a night of uncertainty. Princess was unpredictable.

Noted .

I tossed the shirt on the chair with her coat.

She can have it for the morning .

I added a pair of briefs to the stack before climbing in on my side of the bed. As I planted my head on the pillow, trying to adjust to the additional presence, Roulette slid backward and pushed her left leg up toward my chest. My comfort wasn’t of concern to her. Separation wasn’t a concern of mine.

It had been twelve years since I’d shared my bed with a woman. Her closeness was required by default. I slid my hand underneath her extended leg, cupped between her ass cheeks, and pulled her as close to me as our bodies would allow. Naturally, her left leg wrapped around my back.

I curled my right arm underneath her body. She fit perfectly. As if she belonged here. As if this was her spot all along. As if this was her body all along. As if my home was hers all along.

Her breath against my chest made the hairs on the nape of my neck stand at attention. Beneath all those layers she piled on over the years, she was the sweetest. Though I hadn’t met that side of her yet, I sensed it.

Underneath it all, she wanted all the things girls wanted at heart. She just didn’t know it yet and hadn’t bumped into a nigga that was ready to help her uncover it all to get to the core of her being.

“Ninety days, Princess. Ninety days to rid your system of that nigga and any other nigga whose first name isn’t Israel and last name isn’t Kingston.”

Her silence was agonizing. She remained quiet, but sleep hadn’t visited her yet. She was awake. The movement of her index finger as she traced her name on my back was evidence of her consciousness.

“Roule–”

Her lips crashing into mine quieted me. The same hand that was pressed against my back was now pressed against my hard dick, pulling it from my pants. Her tongue roamed my mouth. She tasted like forevers and flowers and joint accounts and beaches and happiness and assets. Like mine .

She gyrated her hips, rubbing her pussy against my tool. I could feel her throbbing against me. I could smell her begging for me. Her arousal was loud and it was active, demanding things that I wanted to give her– solely .

“Israel,” she whispered against my lips.

Yes?

So far gone, I answered in my head instead of with my mouth.

“Israel,” she repeated, desperation distorting her tone.

My dick was slippery wet. She was marinating my shaft with her personal seasoning.

Fuck .

“Israel.”

“Yes, Princess?”

“You feel good inside of me,” she expressed.

You feel good around me .

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

Labored, shaky breathing sent me spiraling. Roulette was such a mind-fuck. She knew it. I knew it. She was as much of a gift as she was a curse.

“Do you like being inside of me?”

With each word she spoke, her lips brushed against mine. The pressure mounting forced my intrusive thoughts out. I bit down on her fluffiness.

“Ughhh–” she moaned.

Fuck .

I was ready to blow a gasket. My nut was rising from my sack and I hadn’t breached her well yet.

She’s fucking insane .

“Do you like being inside of me?”

Her words rushed out the second I freed her mouth. Absent-mindedly, I nodded.

“Say it,” she demanded.

I swallowed the lump of air in my throat. The room grew warmer by the second.

“Israe–”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to be inside of me?”

I nodded.”

“Israel.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes,” I breathed out, sweat forming on my forehead, “I want to be inside of you.”

“Princess–” she added.

“Yes, I want to be inside of you, Princess .”

Roulette angled her pussy toward my chest and placed her right leg on my shoulder. She slid down my dick, not stopping until our thighs collided. Her fingertips cupped my chin, guiding me back into her mouth.

Deeply , passionately, we kissed.

Slowly , passionately, I stroked her.

Lowly , passionately, she moaned against my tongue.

The sunlight scattered across my bedroom, promising a new chance at life. Thankful, I closed my eyes and expressed my gratitude for the Most High. I opened my eyes completely to digest the gift I’d been given.

A new day .

The hallowing of my chest shared secrets of my bedmate that I wasn’t privy to hours or even minutes prior. Disappointment swelled in my belly. My stomach knotted with hunger. My throat thickened with thirst. But, I wasn’t in the mood for food or water.

Princess .

There was only one thing I desired. One person I desired. And, she was no longer here. I ran my hand down my face and released a sigh. Content wouldn’t find me today, but I was hoping that it would at least come looking.

8:22a

Saturday morning . Without a doubt, my mother had Malaya in her kitchen helping with breakfast. They would be seated and eating by 8:30a. It wasn’t a routine for my parents. It was a ritual. At any given time of the day, one looks at the clock and I would know exactly where they were and what they were doing.

They were predictable and I preferred it that way. Ramadan was in full effect, but their granddaughter’s visit would delay the breaking of their fast. For her, they’d bend the rules. It wasn’t often she was in her bedroom at their beautiful home. When she ventured back to Clarke, they would dine before the sun rose and after it fell at night, avoiding consuming food or liquids during daylight.

Malaya was visiting for the weekend and would return Sunday night. In the meantime, I was instructed to enjoy my childless weekend. But with Roulette’s disappearance, I doubted that was possible. The only person in the world that could bring me as much joy as she did was miles away. If I wanted to enjoy my weekend, she was required.

Shit. Guess I’m headed to Berkeley .

I tossed my feet over the bed and stood on the ground. My limbs stretched effortlessly. My hard dick was pointless. Roulette’s warm pussy wasn’t around to soften it. I walked across the room, curious if she’d left details of her exit. There were hardly any except those I’d provided.

Her trench was gone, but the shirt and briefs I’d left for her were still on the chair. Neatly folded and ready to be stored in the closet. I quickly came to the conclusion that she was in no rush to leave. She took her precious time, watching me sleep as she prolonged her escape. Naked and unfazed.

This fucking woman .