“Whatever you had to do.” When East peeled his eyes open, he found Joi’s affixed to him, already waiting. A slow teasing smile creased his lips.
“I’m not about to tell you where I was, so chill with the indirect questions trying to figure it out.”
Joi’s smile surfaced quickly and her brows hiked slowly. “I didn’t ask where you were. I asked you how did it go.”
East chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead, causing Joi’s body to shiver. The simplest things made her react to him. “Shit was straight for me, but I can’t say the same for your ex.”
“What?” Joi lifted her head quickly, not expecting that to be his response.
“You heard me.” East knew Reg wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell Joi about his misfortune but he was sure she would eventually find out. So he figured she might as well hear it from him.
“You were with Reg? Why? What happened? Is he…” Joi paused, considering the thought.
“Alive, yes, but it’s gonna take him a minute to be functional again. Why? You feeling bad for him?” East kept his tone even. He had never been the jealous type but now…
Joi sat up, turning her body to face East. The two had a brief stare down before she shook her head, speaking at the same time. “There’s no reason for me to feel bad. What he did to me,” she paused and inhaled, shutting her eyes for a moment as her hand moved to her neck. “I don’t really care what happens tohim, but I’ve caused enough trouble for you and I don’t want him to be an issue.”
East let go of a cocky laugh at the thought of Reg being an issue. “He won’t.”
“Are you sure because?—"
“Joi, let that shit go. I said he won’t be an issue.” The authority in his voice was enough to shut down the topic, and when East moved Joi from beside him to laying on his chest, the topic was already forgotten by them both. East’s hands began to explore while Joi adjusted to find a comfortable position against his toned body.
Just as East eased his hand under his T-shirt which covered her body and into her panties to grip her ass, Joi hit him with another topic he had no interest in discussing.
“I talked to my aunt today.”
East groaned, closing his eyes again and pushing his face into the side of her neck. He was hoping to get her sidetracked from a discussion about family, but Joi kept talking.
“I didn’t know you went to Miami and saw her.”
“Yeah,” was all he gave before his lips brushed across her skin and his teeth grazed the same spot right after.
“Mmmm, you didn’t tell me.” Joi hiked one of her legs up East’s waist and was now grinding against him.
“I didn’t need to. I didn’t go there to see her. I had a meeting with Cabo,” he stated with finality.
“I know and she—" Joi’s words were cut off when East gripped the back of her neck and angled her head enough to give him access. His mouth covered hers and his tongue slipped between her lips with ease. When Joi pulled away, she smirked before finishing her sentence. “She likes you, even for me, and I didn’t think she would.”
East chuckled at the thought. “I don’t give a fuck if she does or doesn’t. I respect that’s your family but how she feels aboutme doesn’t matter to me one way or another.” As harsh as it sounded, East spoke the truth. He didn’t care if Ava approved of him. It wouldn’t stop East from pursuing something with Joi unless she herself had an issue.
“I know but she’s my aunt and I love her. She’s all I have and I’m glad that she’s happy for me.”
This time East smirked before their lips met again. “Me too.” While he spoke against her mouth, he eased a finger inside of Joi’s slippery core from behind, causing Joi to swallow another soft moan. “Now stop talking and let me handle this for you.” East maneuvered his hand so he penetrated a little deeper and Joi helped by bending her knee, moving it higher up his waist to allow better access.
Unfortunately, their time was cut short due to East’s phone going off from the nightstand next to him. It was his personal line, which was the only reason he paused what he was doing to answer.
Once he had it in hand, his mother’s name across the screen caused his chest to tighten. It had been a little over a week since he had checked in. Time had slipped away with everything he had going on and the late hour made East concerned.
“Hey Ma, what’s good. Everything okay?” East answered, praying everyone was good and she was just checking in because of his absence. However, the feeling in his gut told him different.
“I’m leaving and you need to come deal with the crazy bitch.”
East shot up quickly and the motion tossed Joi off him. Before she could react or adjust, East was tossing the covers back and jumping out the bed. He didn’t have time to focus on her because the caller had surely lost his damn mind.
“What the fuck did you just say?”
“You heard me. She’s out her mind again. Sitting in the damn dark talking about don’t touch her and stay away. I’m sick of this shit. I’m packing my stuff and I’m done. You better come seeabout her because I’m leaving.” The call ended and East felt a rage like no other flood him. He knew his mother had issues but Melton disrespecting her the way he had just done was about to cost him a few broken bones. Even if he was gone by the time East got there, Melton would definitely see him.
