“Hm. Do I need to scale your building like that dude in a red cape so no one sees me bringing you home?”
Jariyah laughs heartily, causing food to fly from her mouth, and it’s anything but unattractive. Even that thought has me feeling out of sorts, because how can I find that action cute? How the hell am I gone off this woman so soon? Damn, Deacon’s ass might have rubbed off on me.
It takes no time for us to finish our food before we’re outside Jariyah’s front door.
“Let me taste those lips again,” I tell her as my eyes shift from her eyes to her lips.
I don’t give her time to agree as I back her up to the door before I lean in and connect our lips. My heart leaps, my pulse races, and fireworks ignite as our mouths dance. It’s a blend of dominance and determination as I deepen the kiss.
“Mm.” Jariyah moans through the slight opening of our lips as she grips my vest tight.
The urge to breathe breaks our connection as I lean my forehead on Jariyah’s. I’m sure we’re a sight to any voyeurs in the vicinity due to our height difference. My chest thumps wildly as I fight to regain my composure. Air passes from our mouths, and it’s the energy I need to breathe.
“I gotta go. But I’ll be in touch soon,” I say in a heavy voice as I fight not to beg her to stay.
“Where the fuck have you been, and why haven’t you acknowledged my messages?” Gunz barks when I enter the clubhouse an undetermined time later.
My forehead wrinkles, and I bite the inside of my cheek as I remind myself that Gunz is my superior.
“Man, you might want to watch how you’re coming at me, bro.”
“Whoa. Chill, Righteous. You’ve been MIA, and some shit just went down, so we need all hands on deck,” Shadow says, seemingly coming from out of nowhere.
The glare in Gunz’s eyes and the defense in his stance doesn’t dissipate which puts me on alert.
“So maybe your sensitive ass should have led with that.” I walk away from him and further into the club to see what’s going on.
My senses become hyper-alert when I see all my brothers in the middle of the main floor, each with varying degrees of frustration. Deacon paces back and forth with menace in his eyes. Diesel’s face is a hard mask with murder in his eyes as he watches me with rapt attention.
“I hear your ass has been out shooting the shit with someone who could become trouble for us. We’ll deal with that shit later, privately, because we have bigger fish to fry. We’ve been hit,” Diesel rants.
“Yeah, little miss uppity should be the least of your worries and interests right now. We had church not long ago telling you mothafuckas to be careful of your surroundings and shit. Now, here your love jones ass goes riding off into the sunset with the mayor’s daughter. We don’t need the unwanted police attention, especially when it’s time to prove to fuck niggas how we give it up,” Gunz adds in a harsh tone.
“One of our spots was hit tonight. Since you need a reminder of your loyalty and focus, it’s been decided that you’re gonna lead tonight’s retaliation mission,” Shadow grumbles.
“Man, y’all are tripping. But you got that. Give me a minute to think about a plan,” I say.
It takes me a minute to shift my thoughts from Jariyah to club business, which must piss Diesel off, as he stares me down before asking a question.
“Is she worth you being off your game, bro?”
I’m trying to find out, nigga.
My mind echoes the statement, and I frown while I try to form a response that won’t sound defensive or hostile.
“It’s too early to know for sure. But I want her.” My response is confident and sure because I know I’m not ready to give Jariyah up.
“Then my advice is to either end it or make sure that she’s solid,” Deacon says as he joins the conversation for the first time since my arrival.
Damn. I could handle everyone’s rebuttal and words with heavy pushback. But Deacon’s words have me stuck in place. I know the history between him and his wife, so if he’s taking this stance, it gives me something to chew on.
I haven’t heard from Righteous in days, and my mind has been filled with thoughts about why. I thought things between us post-kiss were good, but the silence and lack of response to my calls and messages have me ready to spit nails. The bulge and hardness of Righteous’s dick during our kiss let me know that he wasn’t turned off. So I have no idea what’s running through his mind now. I guess Righteous didn’t mean the call would come any time soon, because today is the first time I've heard from him. What’s worse is that it wasn’t a call but a text request for me to meet him at Sizzling and Grubbing at nine o’clock.
My antennas rise when I pull onto the street where the diner is and see two motorcycles parked on the sidewalk rather than on the street. With my mind on Righteous, I pull into the lotand park in the first space I come to. I quickly exit my SUV and hurry toward the front entrance. My hand reaches for the door when two men in vests similar to the one Righteous wears exit. My eyes rake over the two men whose frowns appear to be larger than life as they glower at me.
“Hm. If it ain’t the elitist woman whose mother would consider her slumming it on this side of town. You’re outside of your playground, Ms. Owens,” one of the men says.
The air along with my body chills instantly from the hardness within his delivery as he and the other man walk around me. My mouth tightens as I push my purse strap further onto my shoulder before I enter the diner.
