Watercolors: Ellison Brothers

by Vera Roberts

  It was best to keep quiet and enjoy the ride. Once the news came out, Aaliyah would quietly end the relationship and go on with her life. She’d done it before and she’ll do it again.

  She just hoped the next heartbreak wouldn’t nearly destroy her as the last one. She wasn’t sure if her heart could take another one.

  Ocean wrapped his arms around Aaliyah and kissed her deeply. “You know what would top this night, rainbow?” He walked back and fell on the sofa, with Aaliyah straddling his waist. “Making love to my beautiful, soon-to-be wife.”

  Aaliyah clasped Ocean’s face within her hands. His eyes softened to a sky blue and happy inebriation etched onto his face. All she wanted was to please him, and not worry about the night behind them or whatever the future might hold.

  She got up and removed the gown. She let it fall down to the floor as she carefully removed her thong panties. Ocean joined her in removing his clothing and sat back down on the sofa, beckoning her to climb on top of him. Aaliyah sealed her mouth over Ocean’s and rocked against him as his thick cock bounced against her slick sex.

  She moved ever slightly and sunk down on him. He felt so thick, and so full inside her. Her pussy suckled against his length as Ocean grabbed her ass and eased her down more. She gasped, he moaned.

  “Liyah…” He breathed. She felt so hot and tight around him. “Damn it.”

  Aaliyah loved the way Ocean lost control. It drove her to wicked unknowns and emotions she’d never experienced before. His eyes darkened before her as she lowered herself until she completely sheathed him. He was so deep inside her love. Her pussy rippled around his cock, begging for more. “O…” She moaned.

  They stole kisses from each other, soft then with an aching frenzy. They became primitive and anxious, yet loving with gentleness only reserved for each other. Their hands explored each other’s bodies while their minds were free.

  Aaliyah rocked her hips against Ocean, riding his cock as her small breasts bounced against his chest. “O…” She cried. “You feel so good inside my pussy, baby.”

  “Fuck,” Ocean steadied her waist and began to thrust upward. Every thrust ripped a loud moan from his fiancée, and he didn’t slow down. Aaliyah locked eyes with him as they both neared their climaxes.

  She came with a loud cry as the orgasm exploded within her. Her body convulsed and the aftershocks made her tremble. He followed a short time later; his orgasm ripped through his body with a feral cry and stillness.

  He softly kissed the curve of her neck and breathed her in. Aaliyah closed her eyes and let the moment expound between them. Their bodies were still joined together and their hearts melded into one.

  Raw. Emotional. Ethereal.

  “O…”

  “Mmm?” He replied.

  “Are we going to do a prenup?” She asked. She didn’t want to move from her position and he felt so wonderful inside her.

  “Yes,” he replied, “but it’s just business, not personal.”

  “How soon are you going to have one drawn up?” She asked.

  “Soon.” He nuzzled his face into her neck. “Why?”

  “If you’re serious about making me your wife and putting a stop to all of this cat and mouse we’re playing, let’s get married soon.”

  Ocean nodded. “I’ll have one drawn up this weekend. We’ll get married the next.”

  Fourteen

  “Eli!” Aaliyah greeted him with a hug. “It’s been a long time, no see.”

  “You know, I had to stop by and see my favorite tattoo artist!” He smiled back. He looked around at the shop and pretended he didn’t see the cameras. Filming his own reality show, Eli was used to the cameras following him everywhere.

  As a close friend and executive producer of Aaliyah’s reality show, the visit was also part business. He had to make sure everything was running correctly and there were no issues. It was Eli’s first time producing a show not directly connected with his, so he wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

  “So, let me take a look at this tattoo here,” Eli peeled off his shirt, revealing a white tank top underneath. He stuck out his arm and showcased the Faith tattoo. It had begun to fade just a little.

  Eli went back and forth on whether he would cover it up when things were very acrimonious with his ex-wife, the name of said tattoo. Things were better between them and he decided it needed to be refreshed.

  “So what did you want to do with it?” Aaliyah traced the tattoo with her fingertips. “Did you want the same? Shadowing? Some leafs? Hearts?”

  “Hearts?” Eli replied with a low chuckle. “I think that might be a bit too feminine for me.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Aaliyah motioned to the chair and Eli promptly sat down in it. “We can do a whole lot with it.”

  “I want it to be meaningful. I mean, yeah, it’s my ex’s name, but she’s more than my ex, you know? She was my true love, the mother of my children, and I want to honor her in that way.” Eli took out a piece of paper and had his children handprints on it. “Something like this with these around it?”

  “Ah, I like that.” Aaliyah retrieved the sketch of the handprints. “Let me work on these real quick and I’ll get back to you real quick.” She waited for the cameramen to yell cut. She pulled out the sketch already produced prior to Eli’s arrival and he’d already approved of the sketch and loved it. It was a discussion they had prior to him getting touched up but the viewers at home wouldn’t know that.

  The magic of TV, Aaliyah shook her head. All she had to do was convince someone she drew a sketch that took a few hours in just a few minutes. No wonder everyone felt they could do anything a well-known personality could do. TV and the Internet really jacked up many people’s perceptions of what was real.

  “Are you ready, Liyah?” A camera man asked.

  “Yep, I’m ready.” She answered.

  “And five…four…three….two…one…go!” He pointed towards her.

  “So, I just finished this sketch of Eli’s children’s handprints and I’m going to see if he likes it.” She spoke to no one in particular. She walked over to Eli. “What do you think?”

  “That is so dope!” Eli acted for the cameras. “Alrighty!” He clapped his hands. “I’m ready! Let’s get to it.”

  “Let’s go!”

  The sketch took over four hours but in T.V. time, it only took a few minutes. While Aaliyah tattooed Eli, they caught up on everything from current hip-hop music to TV shows to the current White House administration.

  Naturally, the topic turned to her and Ocean. “So, what’s going on with you and that senator?” He asked. “A thing? A fling? Nothing?”

  “Ah, I like that.” She giggled as she pressed the ink against his forearm. “We’re close and that’s about it. I don’t want to reveal too much but I don’t want to jinx anything that could be. So, we’re just close.”

  After the fundraiser, Aaliyah flew back to Atlanta and continued filming and working in her shop. News of her appearance with Ocean made a few waves but most people were talking about how Ocean delivered Lyric.

  Aaliyah didn’t want to take the attention away from the family so she didn’t wear her ring and kept it hidden in a floor safe at her home. She felt weird wearing a ring when they hadn’t even publicly announced they were dating, if people still did such a thing.

  She also wanted to get advice from her father before she started any type of wedding planning again. She didn’t want to go through that disaster a second time. The last time was comparable to a Category Five storm and that was more than plenty for Aaliyah to bear.

  “Fair enough.” He replied as he looked at her. Her face seemed lighter and not as stressful. She seemed a lot more carefree. “You seem a lot happier, though. Probably the happiest I’ve seen you in a long while.”

  “Yeah, that’s what everyone keeps telling me.” She replied. Her voice was soothing like warm tea. “Like I’m so happy.”

  “But you’re not?” Eli asked. “I wor
k with a lot of women and I can tell when a woman is in love. You guys got that aura about you that can’t be mistaken for anything else.”

  “All it takes is the right man, I suppose,” she cooed, “all it takes is the right one.”

  “And is he?” Eli asked. “C’mon, you can keep it real with me. We’ve known each other for several years now.”

  “He’s the right one for me,” Aaliyah concentrated on the tattoo. “The question is if I’m the right one for him?”

  “How long have you two been seeing each other?” Eli asked. “Can I ask that on TV?”

  “Hmm…” Aaliyah thought for a moment. “Probably not.” She looked up at the main camera man. “Cut.” They obliged and Aaliyah continued her conversation. “We dated for about six months before. We’re seeing each other for about two months now.”

  “I say that’s more than enough time to know if you’re in love with someone,” Eli slipped his trademark smile. “And you’re still unsure because he’s a senator?”

  “I’m unsure because of the past,” she hinted, referring to both her private one and their previous relationship. “I have every reason to be cautious.”

  “If a man is proving his love to you, there aren’t too many more options or ‘Hmm…let me think about it.’ Us men don’t like being strung along. Either you want to be with us, or you don’t. If you don’t want us, awesome. We’ll find someone else to suck our dicks.” Eli chuckled and Aaliyah laughed. “Keep it one hundred with him and he won’t lead you astray.”

  “Can the same be said with you and Faye?” She asked.

  “Yeah,” Eli nodded, “we’ve been through a whole lot. I mean, a whole lot. At one point, I think I hated her and I never hate anyone.”

  “So what changed the tide?” She asked. “You went from loving her to hating her to loving her again?”

  “You know that saying there’s a thin line between love and hate? There’s some truth to that. If you hate your ex, you probably still love them. If you’re indifferent towards them, you’re officially over them.” Eli admitted. “That’s what a lot of people get confused with. The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. It’s when you truly don’t care anymore. I’ve always cared about Faye, and that’s when I knew I’ll be with her until my dying days.”

  Aaliyah thought about Ocean. She would love to say she never cared but she did. She cared more than she wanted to admit. It was also why it didn’t take very long for her to sleep with Ocean again once he made his reappearance back into her life.

  Maybe, just maybe, things would work out with them.

  After Aaliyah finished Eli’s tattoo, she brought him over to the full-length mirror. “What do you think?”

  “It’s perfect as usual.” Eli pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to her. “Keep the change and don’t argue.”

  “I won’t.” Aaliyah pocketed the money. She gave her longtime friend a big hug. “Thank you for coming by. It means a lot to me!”

  “You’re welcome, baby girl. Anytime!” He held her back. “All of my bros are big fans of you by the way. Kieran can’t stop speaking your praises.”

  “Really?” Aaliyah pulled back. Aaliyah remembered the last time she’d seen Kieran in person. He was in between relationships and long before he met Tiana. He was recommended the brothel by an Army buddy of his.

  She clearly remembered how he fucked her doggystyle against a headboard. He held her neck down with one hand while the other slapped her ass as he drove in and out of her. When she climaxed, Kieran flipped her over and put her ankles by her earlobes as he continued the relentless pounding.

  He was worth every single dollar. His wife was a lucky woman. “I didn’t think he watches reality shows.”

  “Neither did I but what do I know?” Eli chuckled. “Anyway, I need to head on out and get started with this wedding. I’ll holla at you later, kid.”

  “Later, Eli!” She waved. “Tell your family I said hi.”

  ~~~~~~

  “Senator Edwards, can you give us a word on the Supreme Court hearings?”

  “Senator Edwards, what do you think about the latest controversy about the Supreme Court nominee?”

  “Senator Edwards, can you clarify your recent controversial comments on the growing homelessness problem?”

  Jay Edwards turned to the reporter. “I said what I said.”

  “Some night think your comments are racially insensitive and cruel?” The reporter continued.

  “Listen,” Jay spoke to the reporter, “if you’re a white person in these great United States of America, you have no reason to be homeless. You had a four-hundred year head start.”

  “Senator Edwards, what are your thoughts about the current issue involving transgender rights?”

  His eyes narrowed while his forehead furrowed. “What current issue? Isn’t everything with them a current issue?”

  “The current lawsuit of a transgender woman against her employer for discrimination because he wouldn’t accommodate her for not hiring cisgendered women?”

  “I’m sorry?” Jay’s eyes grew wide. “What’s the question again?”

  “The employee is suing the employer because she asked him not to hire naturally-born women and he fired her, the transgendered employee.” The reporter repeated. “What are your thoughts?”

  “My thoughts?” Jay blinked. “Why do the damn liberals always have to write thesis papers on why they’re doing something?” Jay asked. “Like, you make a statement and then you have to tell me in a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation the why behind it? Case in point – you decide one day, you don’t feel like a man anymore. You’re a woman. Awesome. You’re now the newest superhero of X-Men. Instead of just quietly transitioning and going about your business, you have to wave your trans flag high. And then you take it a step further by creating all these damn provocative photo shoots, knowing you’re going to get someone from the other side to call you all sorts of names, only for you to say to everyone, ‘See? See what I mean?’

  I just hope you keep that same energy in your private life because I would hate to think you’re doing the most online and your credit score is lower than hell. That is all.”

  Jay’s assistant and girlfriend, Aileen, ushered him away. She was a tall, striking brunette with a curvy figure. “You are going to piss the LGBTQ community again, boss.”

  “They know not to vote for me and they still hound me like I’m a salty ex-girlfriend,” Jay hissed, “boo-fucking-hoo.”

  “Senator Edwards,” Ricardo walked up to him as the younger man walked down the hall. “I would like to have a word with you, if at all possible.”

  “Oh for fuck’s sake,” Jay muttered under his breath. He was well versed in who Ricardo was and his end game for Congress. If it were up to Ricardo, there would be no more white men in power to tell minorities how they should act.

  Jay loved the fact he was going to disrupt the older man’s plans. “Sure, we can meet in my office now.” He turned to Aileen. He was planning to fuck her during his lunch break but it would have be postponed. He was even more pissed at Ricardo for interrupting his pussy plans.

  He gave her a jump drive and whispered in her ear. “Find Ellison and give this to him. Make sure you’re not seen giving it to him. Go.” Aileen hurried off.

  Jay entered his office with Ricardo on his heels. “What can I do you for?”

  “I’ll keep this short and sweet since we both don’t like each other.” Ricardo smiled. Jay didn’t return one. “That Ellison fella from California? He’s ruining my plans.”

  “I care because?” Jay was cross.

  “I have a Republican Latino candidate I want the party to consider for the upcoming senate election in a few years.” Ricardo studied Jay’s face. It remained stoic. “I need votes and I feel that Ellison kid will make it more difficult than it needs to be.”

  “You still haven’t told me why I should give a damn?” Jay replied.

  “California needs two Republican
senators and I can guarantee that. I need Ellison out and I have some ammo that will ensure that.” Ricardo began. “His girlfriend, that tattoo artist? She has a storied past. She was involved in something I’m sure the voters would not appreciate hearing about from a first-time senator. If it gets out, Ellison and the rest of the family will be destroyed.”

  “Unless you have concrete evidence, you’re wasting my time.” Jay stated. “State what it is or leave.”

  “She was a whore,” Ricardo revealed, “she worked at a brothel. I have the video of her on a jump drive.”

  The prostitute Jay hired for Ricardo slipped a jump drive into Ricardo’s messenger bag. It was too easy how much the older man played into his hands. “Show me the video or it never happened,” Jay replied.

  “You’re not even remotely interested in this?” Ricardo asked. “This is huge news.”

  “I don’t give a damn what she did and neither will the voters. Unless you have a video of Ellison killing puppies or molesting little boys, we have nothing here.” Jay retorted. “I need more than just some girl sucking and fucking. Give me that and then we’ll talk. How did you get that video, anyway?”

  “I have my sources,” Ricardo nodded.

  Jay smiled. “I’m sure you do.”

  “This information you could use, senator.” Ricardo advised. “That Ellison kid has been very vocal in support of the #metoo movement; something my Ximena has a big hand in. He could use the feminist support. They wouldn’t like it that his current love interest was a whore.”

  “I think the feminist term is sex worker,” Jay corrected, “and no, I’m not interested in this story. Bring me something on Ellison himself and I might meet with you again.”

  Ricardo tapped his fingers on the armchair rest. “I hope you don’t have any skeletons in your closet, senator. It would be a shame for any of them to come out.” He rubbed his beard. “I noticed you and your secretary have a pretty close relationship. She travels with you more than Mrs. Edwards does.”

  Jay’s lips curved into a delicious smile. “Mmm…”

  “If rumors of an affair between you and…what’s her name? Aileen? If that gets out…” Ricardo blew out a small breath and shook his head. “Your political career is over, my friend.”