Page 19 of Suleem and Yahzi (D-Ville Projects #1)

Yahzi

After I left Suleem, I walked up to the white tent next to Fire Peaux Boyz and got in Miss Emma’s line to get a drink. My stomach growled with a reminder that I needed to eat but I wanted to grab something on the way back to Suleem’s place so that would have to wait.

When I reached the front of the line, Miss Emma smiled and dropped her hands to her hips.

“He convinced you to stay yet?”

“Huh?”

She chuckled and lifted a red solo cup. “Baby, there isn’t much around here that I don’t know about and what I know is that man had enough of you playing with his feelings and made you come home.”

I really wanted to be mad but there was no point in denying how large and small our community was. I also couldn’t ignore Miss Emma’s position in the community. She was heavy handed with the liquor which meant that people were always spilling their secrets around her.

“Maybe he was the one playing with my feelings.”

“You’re too smart for that.” She grinned and lifted the cup. “What you drinking?”

I surveyed the options then shrugged. “Maybe something sweet but not too strong. I’m not grown enough for your big girl mixes.”

Miss Emma laughed and I grinned too. I turned my head to watch Rebel and her girl Teaira standing near the DJ booth.

“Here you go.”

I cursed under my breath because I missed her mixing my drink and didn’t get to police how much liquor she used. I was likely going to be on my ass after two sips.

“What is it?” I arched my brow and she narrowed her eyes.

“You don’t trust me?”

“Absolutely not.”

She laughed and shoved the cup my way. As soon as I had my fingers wrapped around it, I lifted it to my face and inhaled.

“Don’t be sniffing my damn drink.”

I grinned and took a sip. It was damn sure sweet but also strong. “Umm, did you put the whole bottle in there?”

“No, now move out the way, I have paying customers.” She waved me off and I smiled.

“I’m going to pay.”

“No, you’re not. Consider it a welcome home gift.” She winked and I smiled wider.

“Thank you.” I reached into my pocket, removed a ten, and shoved it in the tip jar before walking off. I took another sip and blinked a few times like that would lessen the burn.

“She got you, didn’t she?” Teaira said as soon as I was next to them.

I nodded but drank more of the strong blend. “She did but it’s good though. Like pineapple and something else.”

“Oh hell, you’re about to be fucked up. That’s the ‘Ram Me’ rum punch,” Rebel said as soon as I took another sip that I almost spit on them when I choked on a laugh.

“Ram Me rum punch,” I repeated then cut my eyes at the tent. “Oh she ain’t shit.”

Teaira nodded. “She set you up.”

“Or…” Rebel smiled smugly. “She set your man up, with an alley oop. Drink up, girl. You’ll thank me later.”

“Yeah I’m not drinking all of this or I’ll be down for the count,” I said but kept drinking because no matter how strong the drink was, it tasted good. I only made it through half before my eyes were low and my head was swimming a little.

“She’s right, you need to finish that because a time will be had,” Teaira added.

“And it looks like he’s on his way to slam dunk you, girl.” I turned to find Suleem heading my way. That sexy ass walk with those bowed legs had a smile on my face which I tried to hide by turning to Rebel.

“Looks like your time is up too.” I pointed to Kassir who glared in our direction with his focus locked on Rebel as he pushed off the side of his G Wagon heading our way.

“Ain’t nobody worried about him. I’m chilling.”

She said just as Suleem walked up behind me. “You ’bout ready to head out?”

“You don’t have to stay?”

“Nah, I did my time. We can head out.”

I lifted my cup and he took it from my hands before it could meet my lips. He lifted the cup to his mouth and frowned.

“This shit is strong as hell. How much did you drink?”

“Can I have my cup back?”

“Nah, you’re done or you’ll be out here telling secrets and hollering girl code again.”

I pushed my elbow back into his abs and he grinned and kissed my neck. “Let me feed you.” He nudged me forward and I said goodbye to Rebel and Teaira. Before we walked off, Suleem tossed my drink in the trash and turned to Rebel.

“You know he’s about to be on your ass right?”

“Who?” She tried to act like she wasn’t bothered but I caught the way she cut her eyes toward Kassir.

“Keep playing with his unstable ass and watch what happens,” Suleem told her right before he directed me to the food truck for Fire Peaux Boyz.

When we reached the line, he pulled me into his chest and slipped his hands into the front pockets of my shorts.

I relaxed against his solid frame with neither of us saying anything until we reached the window.

“Let me get two orders of fried shrimp po’boys, coleslaw, and Cajun fries and put extra fries in one of them. Add two sweet teas to that.”

“Those extra fries for you?” I turned my head and he shook his.

“You know them shits are for you. I’m trying to eat my food in peace without you stealing from my plate.”

I pushed back against him. “You don’t want to share with me?”

“Keep playing and I’m gonna be sharing this dick instead of sharing food.”

Before I could respond, they motioned to Suleem that our order was ready.

After he grabbed the plastic bag with our food containers, we were on our way to his car.

As soon as we were settled, I kicked off my sandals and pulled my legs up, crossing them at the ankles.

He handed me the bag and I set it between my legs while he pulled away from the block.

“This is my favorite car.”

He nodded but kept his eyes on the road. “You love that old school shit.”

As much as he loved this car, I knew part of the reason he purchased it was because I fell in love with it first. It looked a lot different today than it had when he purchased it four years ago from a classic car show he took me to, but it still had the same memories attached.

“You about to take me for a drive?”

Suleem turned his eyes on me briefly. “You gonna feed me?”

I grinned and nodded before I reached in the bag and opened one of the food containers. He turned left on Cambridge while I unwrapped one of the po’boys and extended it across the car so he could take a bite.

I enjoyed one right after then reached for my sweet tea, taking a sip before I grabbed some fries and shoved them in my mouth.

“So good.”

He frowned when he bent the corner of Highland. “You gon’ let me get some?

“You can have anything you want from me.”

“You’re playing with your freedom, Yah.” His eyes moved over me possessively.

My smile surfaced quickly. “How? Am I not free with you?”

“Free with me yeah, but the world will know you’re locked down. When you’re in my care, no one else has access but you will never be lacking a damn thing.”

“That sounds like you want control over my life,” I said, compressing the smile that threatened to surface.

Suleem was a force. I never played with the reality of or confused the type of man he was but I also knew despite the dirt and blood on his hands, at the core I could count on him being a man who loved those who were worthy hard, and I was the one he deemed worthy.

This man would submit to me, give me every piece of himself until he no longer had possession of what he valued, as long as I was happy, healthy, and his.

The only thing I would have to give in return was my love and loyalty.

He already had both…

“I’m here to handle all the shit that threatens that pretty ass smile of yours. I don’t need to control you, Yah. You’ll stay because you know it’s the only place you should be.”

For the next thirty minutes, Suleem drove us around the city.

We ate and vibed. There was something so perfect about just existing.

Suleem was sexy as hell, slouched down in the driver’s seat, one hand on the steering wheel, the other in his lap gripping his dick while he pointed out everything that shifted in the three years I was gone.

So much had changed but the core of our city was the same and held so many memories that had me in my feelings.

“I missed this.”

Suleem lifted his hand and traced the curve of my jaw with his thumb. “Enough to make me not miss you anymore?”

Are you staying…

He didn’t have to ask the question, I felt it.

“I don’t know, that depends on whether or not you’re giving me a reason to stay.”

He smiled sexily, then made a right on Prospect Ave which took us to the park. He found a spot near the courts. It was empty because everyone who typically balled here was at the block party. As soon as my eyes were on him in challenge he dropped his seat back a little more and pointed to his lap.

“Come see me for a minute.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Absolutely not.”

“You said you need a reason to stay. I’m trying to give you one. Hell, if you bring your ass over here, I can give you more than one.”

“It’s a public park...”

…and we’ve had sex here multiple times before.

I looked past him out the window then through the windshield before I unfastened my seatbelt, turned my back to the passenger door, and propped my feet on the center console.

“I think it’s safer for me to stay in a neutral zone.”

“We’re just chillin right now because apparently you need to know sex is not the only reason I’m offering for you to stay.”

“So you’re saying there’s a bonus to the sex? Because I think that’s my favorite thing.”

He laughed, wrapped his hand around my ankles one by one, and pulled my feet into his lap.

“I talked to Kassir about you cutting at Fadez.”

“What did he say?”

“The fuck you think he was gonna say?” He smiled arrogantly. Kassir was his boy. If I wanted a station at his shop, it was done on the strength of their bond.

“And you’re going to let me work for him in peace?”

He grunted. “You aren’t working for him. Your shit is independent.”