Chapter 2: Complete 180

Riven dragged Nabu to a wide multistory building and pointed. Nabu couldn't help but smile at his friend's delight. He looked like a cheeky kid with a plan. Nabu had to give it to his friend. He'd been pursuing this relentlessly. Riven was ambitious and determined. If he wanted something, he'd get it. On his own he came up with the business plan, searched for a building, apparently purchased it, and was in the works of getting the proper permits.

"You see it right? You see what I see?"

Nabu nodded even without his best friend telling him his vision, he could imagine it. "Flashing lights, long lines…"

"Top shelf liquor, hookah, and of course chicks!"

Nabu chuckled and looked at his wedding ring. He thought about Aisha's face sleeping soundly. He loved waking up to her. He was the luckiest man in the world to have her. "The last one I'm good on, happily married, you know."

Riven grimaced, "Could never be me."

"Not right now, no. I can't contest that."

"Not everyone can fall in love with their mail-order bride."

"Riven."

"Nah, that's not the word, what is it when you get a match for your arranged marriage?" Nabu put him in a headlock. "Okay, I'll stop. I'm happy you're happy even though I'll have to put up with Aisha for the rest of my life." Riven looked up at Nabu cheekily through the hold. "I can't wait to be the cool uncle. I hope you have boys, but I refuse to help when they need to be changed or cry."

Nabu smiled and tossed Riven out of his hold. "Aisha wouldn't want you corrupting our infant in any matter, so your laziness is a little redundant. Your crazy adventures with your hypothetical nephew will have to start when our child could keep your shenanigans confidential, respectfully speaking. Now back to this marvelous building. Do you want an investor? I know this is going to be lucrative under your direction. But please don't be a tyrant. Pay your staff well and don't mix business with pleasure."

Riven punched Nabu's arm, "Money over hoes, Nabu. Money over hoes." Riven looked at his building and folded his arms in satisfaction. With his best friend by his side, his vision surpassed what he thought even thirty minutes ago. "Yep, it is going to be big, so I'll pay you back with interest! Think of it as my gift to my future nephew."

Riven backed Aisha toward his office, guiding her by the waist. Aisha embraced him by the neck, pulling him closer to her chest. Their breathing became more desperate, battling between their desire to stay attached, but physically needing to breathe. When he did, he got a whiff of island fruits from her lotion. When he kissed her, she tasted like juice, he wondered how many mock-tails she had. This was the sweetest kiss he'd had in a while. It was the opposite for Aisha as Riven tasted like vodka; perhaps they were like a screwdriver, two opposing flavors that worked well together. She moaned. His lips left her mouth and traveled down to her neck. Pleasure shot through her. It'd been years since she'd touched a man; she didn't have the desire. How could she, nobody understood her. She was a little confused at why desire struck her here and with this man, but she was going to chase that feeling. Strong hands cupped her breasts, she let out a gasp so loud it echoed in the building. She was so sensitive, Riven felt strained against his pants. He kept fondling, taken with their weight and softness; he was delighted she wasn't wearing a bra. He knew where his mouth would go next.

When they made it to his office he sat her on his desk, placing his hands on either side of her. He wanted to feel those smooth legs around him and make her top those sexy moans from before. He leaned into her face, ignoring the impulse to touch her full lips slightly swollen from his kisses. He gripped the desk to keep his hand to himself while looking her straight in the eyes. "I need to know you want this."

Aisha swallowed. She immediately wanted to say yes, but that wasn't their way. They quarreled. Despite the fact her body was on fire and pulsating with need, something she knew he could see, or would see when her dress came off, she didn't give a straight answer. With a smirk, showing Riven she wasn't serious she said, "Why? Are you going to say, 'if I start I can't stop'?"

Riven matched her arrogant smirk, "No. Once we start you won't want to stop."

Aisha's lips grazed his. "I want to feel good. I want to be sore so I can think about this later when I'm alone." Riven closed his eyes and groaned. He wasn't sure if he ever was with a woman this direct. "I want to cum, Riven. A lot. More than once. I have to. Can you do that?" She kissed his lips twice. "I'll make you feel great too."

Riven gave in and started tracing her lips. He wondered if he put a finger in her mouth would she be a good girl and suck it. "Aren't you going to ask me if I want to?"

Aisha laughed and tilted her head to the side in mock thought. "Oh how misandrist of me. Do you want-?"

Riven paused this dialogue grabbing the back of her head with one hand and unzipping his pants with the other; Aisha quickly unzipped her dress while Riven yanked off her panties. She pushed him off and let the dress pool to her feet. He stared. It wasn't as if he'd never seen Aisha scantily dressed. She'd been in many a bikini throughout their long acquaintanceship. However, he'd never seen her nude and even better this sight was for him. Riven wasn't necessarily into feet, but he appreciated the simple cotton candy nail polish before his eyes roved her legs. They looked long, shapely and smooth; he stopped when he noticed she was ready for him. He licked his lips. He'd have to taste her. He rarely did that, but he wanted to see how many times he could make her climax before either of them needed to stop.

"I should've fucked you the first time you danced around in my club."

"Oh? And why didn't you?"

"Because you're," Big mistake! "off limits."

It was like Riven had been splashed with a bucket of cold water. Nabu's face on his deathbed flashed before his eyes. He felt like a scumbag. How could he go from missing his friend so much he wanted to sell the business Nabu invested in to almost banging said friend's wife on the desk inside of said business? She was the only woman Nabu had loved. He couldn't pretend that he didn't witness Aisha loving Nabu too.

Aisha instantly recognized what happened. Guilt pooled in her stomach too. Honestly she did want to forget Nabu at this instant. She was tired of grieving; she was over monotony and numbness. However, she was thinking selfishly. The same reason she wanted Riven was the same reason she shouldn't have crossed this line. She would never encourage him to do anything he didn't want to do.

Riven didn't say anything. Aisha closed her eyes with a sigh. She lightly pushed past him and started to put on her clothes. They both got dressed in silence before she said, "There is nothing wrong with what we were about to do."

"Bullshit, you don't even believe that."

"It didn't have to mean anything."

Riven shook his head, "No, it means everything. I broke a moral code. I'm supposed to take care of you, not be inside you."

"This was sexual. You could've gained a conscience after I finished."

"...Wait, what about me?"

"What about you?" Aisha thought about his line of him taking care of her. She was grown and she could defend herself. "I never asked you to protect me! And I am my own person outside of Nabu."

"You're his wife."

She turned at him, face twisted in anger and confusion. "He's dead, Riven! We should just move on!" Aisha looked up at the ceiling trying not to cry. "I was his wife. I'm nothing now." Riven was quiet; maybe if he'd been Sky or Helia he would have told her that that wasn't true and have the right words to say. He wasn't, so he let her vent. "Aren't you tired too?! Fuck! I just wanted a moment where I could feel something, anything! I thought you were the only one who'd get it. You loved him like I did. You're stuck like me aren't you? That's why you want to sell this club; you want to move on too. Why'd you stop? I just needed…"

Aisha wanted to vomit; maybe she really was alone. She felt cold and embarrassed; she'd never been turned down for sex before. It was humbling and she felt defensive. Aisha wanted to leave, to grab her keys and take off as fast as she could, but to her surprise, Riven stopped her.

He didn't say anything, still in thought himself. In that instant, Riven made a decision. He was definitely selling the club. That way he wouldn't have to be reminded of the times he shared with Nabu, and the treacherous memory he just created with Aisha. Worse, he still wanted her. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, those blue eyes blazing with hate and lust, even the unshed tears in her eyes were sexy to him. He loathed himself.

"I'm leaving."

Later...

When Aisha left, Riven opened his desk. He found some piff, a grinder, and rolling papers. He hated the taste of marijuana, but he didn't like drinking as much as he did in his twenties. Plus he wanted to clear his mind. Riven sealed the paper and lit it. His shoulders relaxed a little. It was quiet. Despite it being a club, he didn't play any music. He thought about the club. The happy memories and how they slowly turned pitiful. He thought about the sole woman dancing last night and what he almost did. He wondered if he wanted her because she was the only one who loved this club the way he did.

"Fuck it. I'm selling this shit."

(A/N) There will be a lot of marijuana references because "piff" is slang for marijuana.