Even after she'd gone I still couldn't seem to wrap my head around what just happened. I could still hear the pounding of her heartbeat, still smell the sweet pea she'd been soaking in, still taste her soft, yet strong zest for love, still feel the spark of her plump, pink lips. It did hurt my pride a little though that she kissed me.
Now I'm stuck with this boner...and nothing to do with it...great.
Tossing the Hennessy bottle aside I was about to head upstairs for a cold shower when Shantel emerged from her bedroom. My jaw nearly dropped at the sight of her; her red hair was pinned back, blue eyes back and sparkling, she wore a black hi-low dress leaving her tanned ladders to heaven out on display, neckline cut short and lace cutouts on the sides down to her hip showing off her curves, along with the elegant rose painting her hip, a brown crop leather jacket, black platform booties spikes along the back and a gold chain caught in the tight crevice between her rather large cleavage practically begging for attention. Luckily we were going somewhere where there wouldn't be a lot of people...cause if so I definitely wouldn't approve of that outfit.
Can't have a bunch of horny ass niggas staring at my girl...except me.
"Care to tell me where we're going?" She asked raising a brow and perching her hands on her wide hips. I smirked.
"You wanna ask questions or you wanna get going?," I countered strolling past her and out the door. Out of the corner of my eye I could see her eyes do their signature roll as she stuck her tongue out at me, "Real mature." Heading out to the car the perfect idea popped into my head. I had to take her somewhere...beautiful; somewhere that would show her just what there is she has to live for since apparently she'd forgotten that in the last few hours.
"I don't like not knowing where I'm going." She whined sitting beside me in the passenger seat. The bear that I got for her resting in her lap made me smile. At first I thought she wouldn't like it since we're not some silly teenagers in puppy love, but seeing her already so attached to caused my heart to flutter.
"Oh, hush and make sure your car seat is strapped in," I teased not expecting the soft plush to impact my face as I started the car, "you are so lucky I don't hit women." I grumbled pulling out of the smoothly paved driveway.
Ha...that's a load of shit.
"Oh please. You know you don't stand a chance against me...I'd just kick your ass again." She declaimed with a devilish grin on her face. I snorted at that. That was never a fair fight, to be honest, anyway. But I will get my revenge...one way or another.
"About that...I want a re-match." I piped up shooting a quick glance over at her just in time to catch her send me a look that said, 'Are you serious?' She really didn't think I could win against her in a fight...she was that cocky.
Looks like I'm gonna have to knock her down a few feet.
"How about we make this a little interesting?" Stopping at the light I turned to face her leaning on the arm rest. Staring into her oceanic blues that twinkled with amusement as she inched forward and placed her hands under her chin.
"So, what's the proposal exactly?" She asked lowering her voice as she looked up at me through her thick lashes; eyes smoldering with lust and an almost animalistic thirst as if she'd been starved for years . We would definitely be finishing what we started earlier.
"If I win...you have to do anything and everything I say for the next month and if you win-"
"I want the bedroom." She intejected grabbing me by my collar and pulling me even closer to her. Her intoxicating scent filling my nose and having her in such close proximity caused my breath to hitch in my throat as her lips gently glided across mine. The only thing stopping me from taking her right there being traffic.
"You-you already have a bedroom..." I sputtered trying to get a hold on my unruly breathing. Sensing my difficulty she smiled, a cheeky smile, and leaned even closer whispering in my ear,
"You didn't hear me correctly...I want your bedroom," She purred grazing her lips across my ear, softly nibbling at the skin causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up as my body temperature rose to feverish heights, "that is if you're up for it..." She added pulling back to meet my eyes once more, brow raised, challenging me. And I was never one to refuse a challenge. Quickly regaining my composure I sat back in my seat and shrugged.
"Fine." Honking started to echo throughout the streets as more cars piled up behind us. Releasing my foot off the brakes I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I took deep breaths to get my body back under my control. As we started back on the road she gave me a quick peck on the cheek followed by a giggle. Dealing with her I could already tell I was going to have to work on my game...and my resistance or else she was going to end up being the one wearing the pants of this relationship. And no man wants that...except maybe Huey, but he has no choice it's in his nature.
"You know that wasn't fair, right?" I scolded biting my cheek. This woman was turning out to be more than I could handle by the minute.
"Payback's a bitch." She responded with what I recognized as my trademark smirk on her face.
I've created a monster.
Shaking my head I kept my eyes on the road as I still tried to figure out just where exactly I was going to take her. Probably something that should've been done earlier, but there's not many "beautiful" places to go in Maryland after 11. If I had a private jet I'd gladly take her halfway around the world, but turns out they aren't handing those out to many black people. I had half a mind to just turn around. I was just about to head for the nearest exit off the highway when something out the corner of my eye brought the perfect idea to my attention.
"Would you please tell me where the hell we're going?" She groaned throwing her head back against the headrest. I really hoped she wasn't going to be like this for the whole ride, and we had quite a ways to go, cause if so she would definitely drive me to the point of insanity.
"How about you just sit back and enjoy the ride...listen to some music." I suggested turning on the radio. She rolled her eyes and slumped her shoulders back in submission. Thank God.
"Ugh fine." She fiddled through the stations looking for something to listen to. Wasn't much to listen to really...all there was were old hits from the 70-90's. Finally she stopped on this one station, but it was the last thing I expected her to be listening to.
Butterflies is what I feel inside
And every time is like my first time (oo wee)
And I can't never find the words to say
You're the perfect girl
You were made for me
It's so easy to love you baby
We're compatible, incredible and natural we are
And girl I've never felt this way before
From the bottom of my heart
Baby girl I just wanna tell you that you are
The reason I love the reason I trust
God sent me an angel
You are the best in the world
A wonderful girl
Knowing you by my side brings tears to my eyes
"Seriously?" I asked raising a brow. I mean I like to listen to my fair share of throwbacks I grew up with too, but...I wasn't really in the mood for Charlie Wilson. Her lack of response started to worry me a bit. No smartass remark, no sarcastic retort, not even a snort.
"You o-" My question was cut short when I caught sight of the tear rolling down her cheek. Crying is something she'd been doing a lot lately...and I didn't like it. Music apparently wasn't the right decision I was about to turn the radio off when her hand grasped mine mid-reach.
"No, it's fine," She reassured wiping her face as she laced our fingers together. The contact was simple, but even that small gesture was enough to set my nerves on edge, "My father loved this song...he sang it to me every night." She sniffed with a small smile. As soon as all this was over I made up my mind to take her to her old house...and her father's grave. She needed closure or else she'd be miserable for the rest of her life and hold it all till the pain and regret made her bitter and I definitely wasn't having that.
"Where did you say you lived, again?" I asked already setting my plan into place. It was bad enough she was gonna miss her mother's funeral...if she even wanted to go.
"I didn't...but I was born in Georgia and then we moved to Detroit before my first birthday and I grew up there." She explained fiddling with the ears on her teddy bear, radio soon forgotten. Georgia? That I was not expecting.
"You don't strike me as a Georgia gal." I teased. She really didn't though, at least not facial wise, but that explained her perfect hourglass figure. Everybody knows the thickest girls come from down South.
"Then you obviously haven't had my peach cobbler." She chuckled laying her head back, eyes closed, breathing even.
"You'll have to make some for me sometime then," Good thing where we were headed was right off the next exit, I wasn't one to sit in one place for too long unless it's home on the couch...or in bed...or eating in the kitchen. She nodded in response with a grin as she peered out the window at the vast trees and the glistening moon staring back at her causing her bright blue eyes to glow, "Alright, we're here. Out." I order pushing her out the door. She rolled her eyes, but put up no argument.
"You know this ordering thing is gonna have to stop." She grumbled wrapping her arm around my waist as I set mine around her shoulder's.
"Ok, ok...you know you're on lockdown, right?" I added raising a brow as she narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me?!" She snapped digging her manicured nails into my side, which I admit hurt, but I didn't let it phase me.
"You heard me. From now on, until I can trust you, you're on suicide watch." I chided ignoring her nails gnawing at my ribs and the incredibly pissed look she had aimed at me.
"You have got to be joking..." She growled. If only I was...now that she was mine I wasn't about to lose her because she wanted to be childish. Maybe someday I'd be able to leave her alone with sharp object in close proximity, but definitely not anytime soon.
"Do I look like I'm joking? I don't want you anywhere near a razor, plastic bag, butter knife, fork, safety scissors, whatever. Hell, you're gonna be eating with plastic spoons and sleeping in bubble wrap until further notice." I firmly stated leaving no room for further argument which she, thankfully, didn't bother to put up. Sighing she shielded her eyes under her heavy lashes as she started to walk ahead.
"Shantel...," I started grabbing her by the waist and pulling her back to me. By the way she refused to look at me and guarded herself I could tell she was having another one of those self-pity moments where she hated herself and just wanted to curl up in a corner, but I couldn't let her draw back from me-again-she needed to know I was there...always there, "I'm not doing this to punish you-" I paused lifting her chin up and forcing her to meet my eyes, "I'm doing this because I can't lose you-not again." Her eyes brightened shortly as she gave me a small, gentle smile before lifting herself up on her tippy-toes to kiss me on my cheek.
"I know." She replied taking the lead again. Leaving me dumbfounded and unsatisfied behind her.
"Really? That's all I get?" I groaned crossing my arms as she peeked at me over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.
"I kissed you on the cheek, didn't I? Anyway, care to tell me where we are?" She asked raising a brow as she crossed her arms as well. If this is how she was now I couldn't imagine how things are gonna be when we're married and have children...hard enough dealing with her I couldn't imagine dealing with a mini more spoiled, blunt version of her...and yet at the same time there's nothing I wanted more.
"Alright, fine," I gently led her down the dimly lit path to the center of well-everything, "Keep your eyes closed," I added, quickly running over to grab a little something for her, "Ok...open them."
I opened my eyes to see my 'knight in shining armor' standing in front of me with...a rose in his hand as blue as my eyes in his hands. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life, but it was nothing compared to the marvels around me. Sitting right behind Riley was, what appeared to be vintage, a granite fountain twice his size with an enormous swan perched at the back of it, water pouring from his mouth, with two small pools and one big one at the bottom, which was home to a few koi fish, frogs, small turtles and lotus flowers, and the every inch of it was rimmed in gold. Though even that couldn't compare to all the flourishing floral trees guarding the huge garden and home to so many different birds that fluttered to life as the lights flicked on. There was every color of the rainbow, and everything in between, you could think of dancing around in those trees. A few even flew down to greet us chirping sweet welcome's into our ears as they soon flew back to their bed's and nestled back into their deep slumber's. But to top it all of, the real icing on the cake was the thousands of exotic flowers growing around us fully bloomed. There were roses in all colors, shapes and sizes, tulips, azaleas, lilacs, hyacinths, hydrangeas, amaryllis, lillys and so many more. I couldn't even imagine how they managed to grow so many different kinds with all their different needs in one place.
"Oh my god, Riley, it's...it's beautiful." I whispered, tears of amazement and joy pouring from my eyes as I inattentively brought both my hands up covering the big grin on my face. And to think that I would've missed something as magnificent as this if I would've actually...
"I hope those are tears of joy..." Riley interrupted my thoughts, rose still in hand, followed by a nervous laugh and a half-smile which was really cute. Without warning I jumped into his arms and, if it was possible, my smile got bigger as he lifted me off the ground and spun me around.
"Of course...thank you," I murmured nearly choking on all the happiness and love that was blocking off my esophagus and clouding my vision. This was by far the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. In a flash everything I had once let drag me down had vanished and all that was left was me and him. He was the only thing I had now...the only one I really cared about and the only one I truly couldn't live without. The man standing in front of me now was all I needed to be happy and to be able to live my life without fear, without hate and now because I have him I'll never have to live without love ever again, "I love you so much." In the middle of a garden at 12 midnight, alone, was the last place I visioned saying those three words...but now was a more perfect time than any other. As soon as he set me down I regretted it. The look on his face was completely blank. I searched his eyes about a hundred times and found nothing. I nearly winced as a tight pinching gnawed at my heart as it broke.
"I'm sorry I-I-thought-" His lips joining with mine cut me off as he ran his hands down to my ass and hoisted me up, my legs automatically locking themselves around his waist. Unlike back on the couch this kiss was more sensual and slow, but still held all the passion, if not more, as our little make-out session in his living room. My entire body was filling up with warmth and light that seemed to flare from the spark of his lips on mine and I couldn't get enough of it. Since he had no problem holding me up I allowed my hands to become a little more useful traveling up under his shirt and across his chest. From the light breeze that had been swirling around us all night they had became chilled causing a stirring in him from the shocking contact. He gripped me tighter as a low growl escaped his lips causing me to smile and that same urge that had been eating at me for the past days to erupt as the warmth that was building in me exploded in an all out inferno. He smirked sensing my sudden impulse and broke the kiss, setting me back down on the ground. My bottom lip jutted out as I crossed my arms over my chest, as best to my ability, and lowered my lashes giving him the wounded puppy look. He only chuckled wrapping his arms around my waist and leaned down to place one last kiss on my forehead.
"I lo-"
Love hunt me down
I can't stand to be so dead behind the eyes
And feed me spark me up
A creature in my blood stream chews me up
So I can feel something
I mentally groaned at the fact that my perfect moment was just ruined. I didn't want to answer it, but looking up into his eyes I saw that he was also a little disappointed, but he understood and wanted me to answer it.
"Sorry." I apologized pulling my phone out from the leather jacket pocket and jabbing at the green 'Answer' button, not even bothering to look at the Caller ID.
"What?!" I snapped now clearly irritated.
Whatever this is it better be good.
For a few seconds there was nothing coming from the other end, but silent breathing and then I heard the very thing that had been haunting my dreams since Riley pretty much kidnapped me,
"Now, now...is that anyway to talk to your caretaker and boyfriend?" His rough emotionless voice sent a chill down my spine as my heart immediately stopped.
Oh, no...no, no, no. God, please NO...
"How-how d-did you f-find me?" I croaked frozen in place. Riley immediately went on alert looking around before leaning down to my eye level mouthing 'Who is it?' even though we both clearly already knew the answer, however neither of us was ready for this moment.
"Oh, Jewel...you should know better. Anyway, I just called to see how you were doing, which was actually unnecessary since I can already see how you're doing. Nice to know that little bastard is taking care of you...though I have to say it was a waste of time and money since you'll both soon be dealt with...well enjoy your little freedom, babe, cause it will not last long." Before he even hung up my phone was on the ground next to my feet and I had Riley's wrist in mine heading straight for the car. Nearly falling to my knees as I struggled to control my breathing and my heart which was beating at ridiculously high, fatal, speeds. My vision becoming blurry as a dizziness started setting in.
"We need to go, NOW!"
I gotta say I got a little lazy with this one (hope it's not that noticeable). It's starting to get a little harder writing in Riley's POV than Shantel's (since she's my character duhh), but I'm trying to still make it as detailed, well written-out, understandable, in character (well at least close) and real as Shantel's is soo I could really use some feedback on that. And I know I said I'd try to try to make it to 25 chapters but ehh now I'm not so sure...I'll definitely try to make it to 20 but I'm so sure how long I can drag it out cause I don't wanna drag it out too far to the point it just gets boring and a bunch or worthless words. But good news if I do cut it short then the sequel (which I am thinking really strongly about doing) will most certainly be longer. Soo I hope it's still maintaining the same uhh whatever it is you guys' have liked about it since I first started writing (drew a little mind blank there lol). And no questions this chapter since it's 2 am and I'm really tired, but until next time
~xXBrokenThoughtsXx