by J. M. Walker
“I’m going to fucking kill you!”
The glass of wine fell from my fingers, shattering to the ground at my feet.
Rushing to the phone, I disconnected the call and tossed it on the counter. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty.
Suddenly, the front door banged open.
A scream ripped free from my throat, reminding me that I should always lock the damn door like Vince told me to.
***
(Vince)
“I really have much better things to be doing on a Friday night than sitting here and watching you guys work.” Tenise was playing on her phone but she never looked up as she spoke.
Rory and Mason passed a glance before they charged for her. Rory was on her first, poking his fingers into her ribs.
She gasped, a scream breaking free. “Stop. That tickles!”
Mason helped and pulled her away from Rory. His hand reached beneath her shirt, digging into her ribs harder.
I tilted my head, watching the exchange before me.
They laughed, finally giving Tenise a moment of reprieve.
I wasn’t sure what was going on there, but something told me that it was more than they were letting on.
My phone rang at that moment. When I saw Gigi’s beautiful face flashing across the screen, I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for the interruption from the odd moment happening with my friends.
“Hey, Queenie,” I said, answering the phone.
“Vince,” she whispered.
My back stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you still busy?” she asked, her voice soft and shaking.
Every nerve in my body tingled over the fact that something wasn’t right. “I’m on my way.” I disconnected the call before she had a chance to respond.
“Vince.”
I turned, finding all three of my friends staring back at me. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on here but Mason, you need to be careful.”
Rory frowned. “What about me?”
“She’s your girlfriend,” I reminded him.
Tenise only giggled, kissing Rory’s cheek.
He turned, smiling at her.
Mason pushed away from them and walked toward me. “That was weird.”
“Is this a regular thing for you?” Not that it was any of my business, but he was my friend first. I liked Tenise for Rory but what they had was not something that Mason should get himself caught up in.
“What?” Mason’s eyes widened before he scowled, shaking his head. “No, that...we haven’t done anything. I flirt a bit and Tenise has hinted but it’s not my thing. Not with them anyway.”
“Does Rory know?” I asked low enough for only Mason to hear.
Mason clapped my shoulder, pushing me down the hall toward the door. “He does but he’s not always around when she offers. It’s weird. I know it is. But she’s not my type. And Rory loves her. I wouldn’t do that.” He looked back at them; a longing was in his gaze. For Rory? Or for what they had? I didn’t know.
“Well, whatever you need I’m here, but just be careful.” I cupped his shoulder. “You and Rory come first. Before any woman. Remember that.”
Mason looked back at me, giving me a small smile. “I know.”
“Rory will lose his shit though if he finds out...”
“I’ll deal with it.” Mason nodded toward the door. “You need to go. Something’s wrong.”
“How do you know that?”
“Just a feeling.” He released me and went back to join Rory and Tenise.
Whatever was going on with my friends, I would deal with later. I needed to help Gigi.
Leaving Rory’s house, I quickly made my way to the car and drove across town to Gigi’s place. When I pulled into her driveway, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The street was quiet. Too quiet if you asked me.
Slipping from my car, I jogged up the sidewalk to the front door and pushed it open. My stomach twisted over it being unlocked. I would have to teach Gigi to lock the door at all times.
“Queenie?” I called out, stepping into the house. “Babe?” I closed the door behind me and clicked the lock into place when my gaze landed on a couple dark red spots on the tiled floor. I followed the drops to the kitchen.
Gigi was sitting on the countertop with her ankle crossed over her opposite knee. Her brow was furrowed in the middle. Her head snapped up. “Oh thank god.”
“What happened?” There was broken glass mixed with red liquid on the kitchen floor.
“We accidentally scared her.” Ashton walked past me with a broom and dustpan in hand. He went to the sink and grabbed a cloth, leaning the broom against the counter. He crouched and started picking up the bigger pieces of glass.
“No.” Gigi chewed her bottom lip. “I was already scared. That wasn’t your fault.”
“What do you mean?” The hackles on the back of my neck tingled. “Who the fuck scared you?”
She waved a hand in front of her. “It was a stupid phone call. They kept calling over and over but wouldn’t say anything. Then, when they did, they started screaming and told me they were going to kill me.” Her chin wobbled.
I rushed to her, careful not to step in the glass as Ashton cleaned it up. “You’re okay.” I cupped her nape, placing a soft peck on her forehead.
“I’m okay,” she repeated.
“What happened here?” I asked, nodding toward the mess Ashton was currently cleaning up.
He stopped, resting his hands on top of the broom handle. “Aiden and I went to the bar and he got drunk. Fast. We showed up here because he was being a dick.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I was having trouble helping Aiden into the house and the door banged open, scaring Gigi.”
“I dropped the glass and then I stepped in it.” Gigi glanced down at the bottom of her foot. “I think I got all the pieces.”
“I’ll double-check.” I grabbed the first aid kit and started rummaging through it. “Where’s Aiden now?”
“He’s sleeping. He got in a fight with dad and it all went to shit after that.” Ashton sighed and went back to sweeping. “I know I’ve caused problems and have done shit that I’m not proud of, but disrespecting our parents is not one of them. I don’t know what my brother’s deal is.”
“I don’t think anyone does,” Gigi murmured. “I hope he figures out whatever it is that he’s going through and gets some help.”
“It would help if he talked about it, but he won’t talk to anyone. Not even a professional. All I know is he was discharged from the navy and that it’s. Nothing more.” Ashton sighed. “Sorry again for scaring you.”
Gigi shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m good.”
“Well I’ll leave you two alone and go see how my brother is.” Without another word, he left the kitchen.
“That’s odd.” I stared after him.
“What?”
“He didn’t comment on us or make a joke or anything.” I looked back at Gigi. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I know. I feel bad for Aiden and Ashton too. His brother’s problem is hurting him.” She pulled the first aid kit closer. “At least I don’t need stitches.”
I never commented on what she said about the twins because what could I say? Aiden was a borderline alcoholic and was causing shit for those he loved. He needed help before it became worse.
I helped Gigi clean up her feet. Luckily not much damage was done. She had a few scrapes from the broken shards of glass but after years of dancing, her feet were tough which worked in her favor.
“Thank you,” she said when we were done.
I stepped between her knees, pushing them open even more. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you got the phone calls.” I brushed my thumb along the length of her jaw. “I should have been.”
“You can’t be here every time something happens.”
It was the on the tip of my tongue to ask her to move in with me so I could be there every time, but I didn’t. I
knew that we weren’t at that point yet, no matter how much I wanted us to be. As much as I didn’t want to think it, a part of me wondered if we ever would be.
Gigi
Attaching my phone to the speaker, I pressed play on Spotify and let the music sink beneath my skin and slide over every inch of me.
The song had been my warm-up song for as long as I could remember. Even when I was doing ballet and not a broken mess because of a stupid mistake. One wrong move and my career was over.
But was it really? That annoying little voice in my head constantly threw it in my face that I had a good life. I had my own business. I taught, which had been what I wanted to do ever since I slipped my feet into a pair of ballet slippers for the very first time. But how come it wasn’t enough? It had never been enough.
Moving out to the middle of the dance floor, I was vaguely aware of the door to the studio opening. The tiny hairs on my body tingled, knowing it was Vince who had joined me unexpectedly. He stood off to the side, watching and waiting like he always did. We had done this routine so many times now over the past few weeks, I had it memorized. I danced. He massaged out the kinks and aches after. I hadn’t been feeling well the past couple of days, but I needed this. He knew as well that I needed these moments, so he never told me to take it easy.
The bachelorette party I had been planning, had been a hit. The bride loved the surprise and I couldn’t have been more honored that they had chosen me to help them celebrate. I suggested doing the same for Luna and she loved the idea. I started keeping notes and writing down ideas for whenever she was ready to start planning. With Jaron still being in jail, I knew it would be awhile before any wedding was taking place but no matter when it happened, I would be ready and would help where I could.
I continued teaching the girls from Rouge their routine for Candace. But with the way I had been feeling lately, I couldn’t get into it as much as I liked.
“What’s wrong with you?” Emma asked. I had learned quickly that she had always been straight to the point. While she came off curt most times, she meant well.
“Leave her alone,” Shawnee scolded her friend.
“Listen.” Amber Bishop pulled her long red hair up into a ponytail. “Just tell us what to do. You’re amazing at what you do, girl. You instruct. We’ll listen.”
And they had. I thought I would have to dance alongside them for them to get it, but I underestimated them.
It had been almost a month since I got those creepy phone calls. Every time my phone rang, it still set me on edge. Vince made me promise not to answer my phone if the number wasn’t in my contacts list. I listened and that fear slowly dwindled away.
Vince and I spent as much time together as possible and when we weren’t together, we were constantly texting or talking on the phone. Sometimes I would send him a sexy picture only to get a video in response or it would be the other way around. We liked teasing each other. It was fun and flirty and everything I could ever hope for when it came to being with him.
Stretching my arms up and over my head, I bent my body in ways most could only ever dream of. Lowering to the ground into wide splits, I bent my upper half forward, reveling in the way my muscles stretched and twitched between the added strain.
Once the song ended, I slowly rose to my feet and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
We got this, girl. We always got this.
When the song switched to something faster and more upbeat, I let my body move to the rhythm. Hip hop had been my calling after my accident. I watched video after video and eventually found myself doing my own routines. The movie Honey with Jessica Alba had been a favorite. I studied like I never studied before, but I found the only way to actually learn how to dance was by letting the music take me away.
I was vaguely aware of Vince holding out his phone like he had done quite often. I wasn’t sure if he was taking pictures or a video. I never asked. I knew he would tell me when he was ready.
When the song switched to something sexy, I turned to Vince and crooked my finger, indicating for him to come toward me.
He grinned, that single move sending a flutter through my lower belly.
He shoved his phone in his back pocket and stalked toward me. Once he joined me on the dance floor, I grabbed his hands, spun around and ground my ass into him.
By the time the song ended, every inch of me tingled.
Before he had a chance to comment, I cupped his face and brought his mouth down hard on mine.
He slapped his hands against my ass, lifted me in his arms, and slammed me up against the wall.
The next thing I knew, he was inside me, taking my very breath away.
Vince broke the kiss, lowering his mouth to my neck. “Mine.”
Every time he muttered that single word, a sense of relief washed over me.
My eyes were met with our reflection in the walled mirror across the room. His back muscles bunched, his ass flexing with each powerful thrust of his hips.
That single view shoved me over the edge and seconds later, he was jumping right along with me.
***
“What is it?” Vince asked, fingering the pendant hanging from the gold chain around my neck.
I watched as his strong fingers moved over the pink slippers. “Why do you keep touching the pendant?”
“Because.” His eyes shot to mine. “It reminds me that you belong to me.”
My stomach flipped. “You don’t need a reminder, Vince. I’ve always been yours.”
He smirked. “Stop trying to distract me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
After he fucked me against the mirror, he brought me back to my office so I could get some more work done.
“Baby.” Vince kissed my temple. “Talk to me.”
My body ached. My center throbbed with the need to have him back inside me. We had been going at it non-stop for weeks but no matter how many times we had sex, I constantly wanted him.
“We have three years to make up for, Queenie.”
It was true. And while I was sore, I needed more of him.
“Your body has a story to tell and I’m going to be the only one reading it.”
I smiled at the memory of his sweet words, but it still didn’t mean that I wasn’t scared.
“Hey.” He cupped my cheek, forcing me to look up at him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m scared,” I finally said, not liking how weak I sounded. I looked down at my hands on his lap. We were now sitting on the couch in my office, holding, kissing, touching. Doing everything a couple did.
“Gigi.” His fingers brushed down my jaw before pinching my chin. He tilted my head back, staring at me with those beautiful black eyes of his.
My heart picked up speed the longer nothing was said.
Vince continued running his thumb and forefinger over the pendant.
I wasn’t sure why but that small touch alone, sent shivers racing down my spine.
“Tell me what’s on your mind, beautiful.” He kissed my temple. “I want to know your thoughts.”
A breath left me. Every damn time. Vince was wise beyond his years. I had no idea how he did it but when he started talking, I was lost to him. Was this love? Was this how it should be?
“I feel consumed,” I confessed.
“What do you mean?” he asked, his mouth brushing down the side of my face.
My eyes fluttered closed. “When you touch the pendant. When you hold the necklace while you’re inside me.” I shivered again. “I can’t help but feel...”
“What?” he asked, his voice low.
“Owned.”
A soft growl left him. “You are. You’re owned by me, baby.”
I looked up at him then. “I am?”
He hooked his fingers in the gold chain and pulled me closer until our mouths touched. The kiss was soft but passionate. It demanded my attention and I gave it to him. All of it.
“You’re mine, Queenie,” he murmured against my lips.
; I broke the kiss, running my hands through his jet-black hair and stared intently into his dark eyes. “Are you mine?”
He nipped my chin. “Do you want me to be?”
“More than I can ever explain.”
His lips twitched into that sexy smirk I had always adored. “Good.”
I laughed lightly. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. But I have a confession.”
“What’s that?” I asked, brushing my fingers over the smooth lines of his handsome face. He still had a boyish charm to him but at the same time, was becoming the very man I needed.
“I’ve always been yours.”
My fingers paused in their path. “Really? This whole time?”
He nodded slowly. “When I gave you this necklace, it was a silent promise to you. I wish I would have told you sooner how I felt but I didn’t. I guess I was scared too.”
“How come?” My thumb brushed over a faint scar beneath his bottom lip. I remembered when he got it. He had fallen off his bike and landed face first onto the ground. His teeth had punctured his lip. He thought it was cool. His mom, not so much.
“I was scared that my feelings for you would push you away.”
“What?” I met his gaze. “That could never happen.”
He shrugged. “They’re intense, baby. I’ve only ever been with you. It’s like because of that, it makes these feelings so much worse.”
I shook my head. “Wait...what? You’ve only ever been with me? What does that mean?”
“What do you think it means?” He pulled me into his arms, keeping a hold of the necklace around my throat.
“I think it means that you’ve only ever slept with one person. Is that right?” I leaned back. “Have you only ever slept with me?”
Vince kissed my forehead and then my nose. “Yes.”
***
(Vince)
Gigi gasped, her eyes widening. “Are you serious?”
“Of course.” I stared at her. “I wouldn’t lie about this shit.”
“Vince.” She shook her head. “But you went to school. You would have gone to parties, drank, met tons of girls.”
