His smile rearranged my insides. It was darling. It was dark. And it was sexy.
“That is possibly the furthest from the truth, Royce.”
“Hm.” I didn’t care to elaborate unless he did so himself.
“Notallof them.”
“78123 K Street. 32982 Parnel Drive. 86120 Butcher Road. Those three sound familiar to you?”
“They shouldn’t.”
“I’m aware. You don’t frequent them and they’re not in your name. Neither are they in your mother’s name. Or your brot–”
They were his secrets to keep, but now they were mine, too.
“So, how did you find them?”
“I’m good at what I do.”
“Still curious. How?”
“A lot of wine and a little Wi-fi.”
He tittered. His curved smile straightened swiftly.
“You make it sound easy.”
“Because it is.For me.”
“Shrimp and broccoli? Side of soy noodles?”
“I’d like that.”
“I won’t be long in here. The bar is that big green slab you were just admiring, but I’m certain you knew that before stepping foot in this motherfucker. The glasses are waiting. Take one and pour yourself some wine. Take your pick from what’s in the cooler in the first cabinet.”
“Now that, I didn’t know.”
Sarcasm dripped from my lips. Ishmael’s abdomen jolted from the sharp air pushed from his nose. He didn’t share more words with me. I didn’t need him to.
Because, the wine would never get opened and it would never get poured. My mouth would never greet its greatness. And, my nerves wouldn’t take the hour-long break they needed. I’d be right here. Listening. Waiting. Anticipating every syllable he released.
Absentmindedly, I revisited the bar top. So many parts of me were left behind. Abandoned by my desperation to be freed from Ishmael’s grasp. He had me by the neck, demanding things from me that I didn’t have to give.Not to him.
“This one, Royce.”
He was alarmingly close. His voice. His warmth. His hands. His pounding heart. His chest. His mouth. His eyes.Him.
Our lips were mere inches from each other. Silence settled between us as I struggled to catch my breath. My world was casted into the darkness while I fought every urge in my frame.
I could taste his minty breath on my tongue. I could feel his long, thick arms around me. And, his dick, his veiny and sizable dick, I could feel it inside of me. Digging into me, extracting my creaminess.
My God.
“Maybe I should go hom– back to the place I’m stay– I should.” I couldn’t form a full thought. I couldn’t conjure a full sentence. My face flushed with shame, a feeling I wasn’t accustomed to. I turned on my heels, needing to put Ishmael in my rearview. Because, he was wrecking everything standing in front of me.
I didn’t recall when he’d left the kitchen. When he’d passed me by. Or when he’d removed the wine from the cooler. But, I knew exactly where he was now. And, it was too close for comfort. Yet, comforting. The conflict was clear. Defeat was upon me.
“Stay where the fuck you are, Royce.”
