A Private Affair

by Donna Hill

  He took his hand from his pocket, reached out and stroked her cheek. “We’ll try it your way.” The corner of his mouth turned upward. “Just be careful what you wish for.”

  Chapter 13

  ’Round Midnight

  They’d had a light dinner at a little Chinese restaurant on Sixth Avenue. Then Quinn announced that he had to go uptown. This time, he broke all of his own rules. He took her with him.

  Quinn turned onto St. Nicholas Avenue. “I gotta stop and pick up my man, T.C.”

  Nikita looked around at the towering tenements, the gutted and boarded buildings, and pockets of people who congregated on every available corner. Children, countless children, everywhere, racing up and down the garbage-strewn streets as if they were let loose in an amusement park. Who did they all belong to? Where were their mothers, fathers?

  Quinn pulled to a stop in front of Shug’s Fish Shack, where a line ran from the counter out into the street.

  Was the fish free, or was it that good? she wondered.

  The smell of fish grease, fried onion rings and something else she couldn’t decipher seeped into the cool, filtered interior of the BMW.

  “Be right back.”

  She wanted to scream: Don’t leave me here!

  Quinn eased out of the car and rounded the front. The alarm engaged with a soft beep in time with the door locks clicking into place. She suddenly had an eerie picture of a prisoner being led down a cell block with the clang of the metal door shutting behind him. A shudder skittered through her.

  Nikita stole a glance at Quinn as he moved easily among the knots of boys-to-men, passing a word here, a high five there. Everyone knew him, and they went out of their way to catch his eye, gain his favor—a blessing, with a wave or a nod of acknowledgment from him—like the pope.

  A tiny, electric shock of realization hit her. He knew all of these people.

  This is where he grew up, lived and breathed, where he’d learned most of everything he knew, an earthy, street-savvy intelligence that he shed like snakeskin when he stepped across the threshold of his home.

  Seeing him through new eyes made her wonder how, if ever, she could find a place in his life. Where did she fit? Here, or back in the Village?

  A tingling sensation akin to fear floated around in her stomach. Yes, she was afraid. Afraid to get out of the car and walk through this neighborhood. Afraid of the men who stayed in a perpetual state of anger, rage and hopelessness. Afraid of the women in their body-hugging clothes, hip-grabbing skirts and five-pound-weight earrings, who cut her dirty looks as they strolled by the car, snickering as if they had a secret she’d never know.

  She tried to appear cool, assuming the same stare-you-down look as the women who passed.

  Her heart thudded.

  Did that make her afraid of Quinn, too?

  She jumped when the alarm popped again and the front and back doors opened and closed in unison.

  “That’s T.C.,” Quinn said with a toss of his head to the back of the car. “This is Nikita. My lady,” he added, his smile asking her if she had a problem with that. She returned it, her pulse fluttering. “So treat her nice and watch your mouth.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Hey, what’s happenin’, Nikita?”

  She didn’t know what to say, so she just said, “Hi.”

  Quinn turned his head toward her. “We got a few stops to make, then we’ll head back. Cool?”

  “Sure.” She nodded. What other choice did she have? Be careful what you wish for.

  He patted her clasped hands and pulled out.

  Nikita sat alone in the car, the blunt beat of hip-hop her only company, while Quinn—with the long, rangy T.C. trailing behind him—went in and out of five “spots,” doing who knows what. The duffle bags that they carried in always seemed much bulkier when they came out. Finally they made their last stop, but this time they came out empty-handed.

  Where are we headed now? she wanted to ask, but didn’t.

  Before long, they were back where they’d started, in front of Shug’s, and at one o’clock in the morning there was still a line. Made her want to try some—just to see.

  “Hungry?” Quinn asked, as if reading her mind.

  “Kind of.” She smiled.

  “Shug’s has the best fried whiting in the city. You wanna check it out?”

  “Sure.”

  “Cool.”

  “Later, Nikita,” T.C. said from the back and hopped out.

  “Later,” she mumbled.

  Quinn looked at her for a minute, then grinned. “Be right back.”

  She had to admit this fish was the best she’d ever tasted. Crispy, with just the right amount of batter, and seasoned to perfection.

  “Good, huh?” Quinn grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners, from across his dining room table.

  Nikita raised her eyes and pulled her finger out of her mouth. She smiled sheepishly.

  “How can you tell?”

  “’Cause I can’t figure what you wanted to suck on more, the fish or your fingers.”

  “Very funny.” She wiped her hands and mouth on the little napkin that Shug’s had provided.

  “Here, let me get that for ya.” Quinn reached across the table and took her hand. One by one he took each finger and dipped it in his mouth, flicking his tongue, momentarily, across the sensitive pads, his eyes glued to her face.

  A pulse way down between her legs started to beat like those drums in the music she’d been listening to, the heat of it building, rising and spreading through her body. Her temples began to pound and she could have sworn she heard her own heartbeat above the sound of R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly.” A shudder rippled up her back, and she shivered.

  His voice reached down and stroked that throb. “Cold?” He placed her hands between his.

  All she could do was shake her head in denial.

  “Hot?”

  She swallowed.

  “Let’s see what we can do about that.”

  He came around the table and gently pulled her to her feet. He kissed her forehead, a kiss so featherlight that she wasn’t sure it had happened.

  Taking her hand, he led her upstairs.

  He opened his bedroom door and she followed, her heart racing in first place, her thoughts a strong second.

  How would it be? How would she be? Why was she here? Oh, God.

  He opened the second door which led to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, while Nikita stood in the doorway, not sure what “wuzup.”

  The room filled with steam while Quinn removed fluffy oversize towels from the tall linen closet, which she hadn’t noticed before.

  He walked over to her, a gentle warning in his eyes. Slowly he leaned down until his lips touched, captured and explored hers.

  Her arms had a will of their own as they glided up his back, her fingers threading through his hair.

  Steam enveloped them. She felt the dampness suck her dress to her skin, dewdrops dotting her arms, her face.

  Quinn’s warm, wet hands moved down her sides, finding the bottom edge of her dress, easing it up and above her hips.

  Nikita shivered in the heat, whispering a moan of pure pleasure to Quinn’s ears.

  He pulled her dress over her head to reveal the satin and lace.

  Quinn’s eyes roved over her petite body, marking his territory.

  “You’re beautiful, Nikita.” He slipped one strap from her shoulder and then the other, then pushed her bra down, forcing her breasts to reach out to him, which he took—one by one—until Nikita began to whimper, her legs growing weak.

  How or when she didn’t know, but Quinn had removed his shirt, because she realized that she was feeling his bare chest against her.

  “Come on,” he urged. He took her hand and led her into the shower.

  “But—”

  “Just step in—just as you are.”

  She blinked away her confusion and stepped into the shower stall, where she watched Quinn remove his pants, leaving
on his briefs, and join her, shutting the door behind him.

  “We’re gonna stay just like this, ’til we know it’s right.” His eyes glided over her face. “Awright?”

  What else could she say? That she wanted to strip down right this second, wanted him to do to her what she’d been dreaming about, and the hell with waiting?

  “All right,” she whispered.

  To her ultimate delight she’d never experienced a more erotic interlude. The fact that they still kept their underwear on, even as they touched, massaged and intimately explored each other’s bodies, was more of a turn-on than being fully nude. It raised the whole experience to a level of anticipation that was indescribable.

  They laughed, sighed, moaned and whispered until the water began to grow cool.

  Quinn turned off the shower, stepped out and grabbed a towel, wrapping Nikita in the downy-soft cocoon. He followed suit.

  Then, without a word of warning he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. She closed her eyes and snuggled closer, listening to the rapid beat of his heart.

  He laid her down. She felt a cushiony quilt wrap around her. Her eyes fluttered open and rested on his face. And then it registered where she was.

  Her eyes widened in surprise. This was the guest bedroom! Why—

  “Get some rest,” he whispered, leaning down for one last deep-down kiss. “See you in the mornin’.” He turned and closed the door behind him.

  She stared at the closed door. Stared at the ceiling. Her entire body was a mass of tightly strung nerves. She was on fire. Everything throbbed.

  What had happened? She knew without question that he was just as aroused as she was. There was no debating that. Then why had he stopped?

  She flipped onto her side and stared at the wall, questions but no answers tumbling through her head. Still, she found herself drifting to sleep. She unwrapped the towel and slipped out of her damp undies. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about washing them out.

  She slid down between the sheets, her nude, tingling body slowly beginning to calm. The heat, the hot water and the total body massage began to take their toll.

  Quinn dimmed the lights next to his bed, then got in.

  He could have had sex with Nikita. There was no question about that. It probably would have been great, too. Had it been anyone else that he’d been dealing with, he would have just taken what was offered and called it a day.

  He didn’t know what it was about Nikita. She was different—special—and he just wanted to make sure that he didn’t make any mistakes with her. He wanted what they did in bed to really mean something. For once.

  She wasn’t like those other women. He knew her heart was going to be in it, and he had to be sure his was, too. Women he’d been with had only one thing in mind, having a good time and just “seein’ what he was like.” It wouldn’t be that way with her. She’d want more. She already did. Could he handle it?

  Sleep didn’t come easily.

  When Nikita opened her eyes again it was eight o’clock in the morning. She blinked and sat up, when reality struck.

  The house was tomb quiet. Quinn was obviously still asleep.

  She stretched. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so well. She actually felt invigorated.

  She got up, wrapped herself in the discarded towel and tiptoed across the room to the bathroom, carrying her emergency toothbrush. Quietly she pressed her ear to Quinn’s side of the door. Not a sound. She turned on the water in the sink.

  Tiptoeing back to her room, she started to get dressed when she heard knocking on the bathroom door.

  “All clear,” she shouted, pulling her dress down over her head.

  Quinn poked his head in. “Mornin’.” His dimples winked at her.

  “Hi.”

  “Sleep okay?”

  “Fine, and you?”

  “Coulda been better,” he said, stepping fully into the room, beautiful and bare chested. “Maybe we can do somethin’ about that at a later time.”

  She swallowed. “May-be.”

  “What time you gotta be to work?”

  “Well, Ms. Ingram won’t be back until Monday. So I need to open the office and get things going.”

  “Hmm.” He took a breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

  “You’re up early. Have plans?” The last time she’d stayed over he’d slept right through her departure, and she hadn’t had the heart to wake him.

  “This and that.” He grinned. “Found a note under my door from Ms. Finch. She wants me to take her everywhere but to heaven today.” He chuckled. “Besides, I didn’t want to miss seein’ you before you left.”

  Heat infused her face. “Oh.”

  “You comin’ tonight, right?”

  “Of course. I can’t wait. I know you’re going to be fabulous.”

  “We’ll see.” He came closer. “You’re stayin’ with me tonight.”

  It wasn’t a question.

  Her breathing picked up a notch when he ran his hand along the side of her face.

  “In my room.” His eyes bored into hers. “So bring some clothes and stuff. We’ll make it a long weekend.”

  Leaning down, he brushed his mouth across her ear and along her jaw until he reached her mouth and clung there for the briefest moment.

  “You better get rollin’, or you’re gonna be late,” he said, the depth of his voice reaching the center of her heat and stoking it.

  “You’re right.” Even she heard the breathlessness of her voice. This was going to be a heck of a long day.

  Chapter 14

  And the Band Played On

  After running Mrs. Finch all over town he finally made it to the club, and he was still early for rehearsal. Maybe there was somethin’ to this gettin’ up early stuff.

  He’d already squared it with Remy about getting somebody to take over his run for the night. Personal business, he’d said. He trusted T.C., but he was still too young and too green to take on that responsibility by himself or even to play the lead, as much as T.C. had protested otherwise. Remy agreed with Quinn. End of story.

  “Sounding real good, man,” Nick said, patting Quinn on the back during the break.

  They’d been rehearsing one of the compositions Nick had written for the band.

  “It’s a phat number, man. Easy to follow.” Quinn stood and stretched, flexing the tight muscles in his back.

  “You could probably put something together yourself,” Nick hedged, watching for Quinn’s reaction.

  He shrugged. “Nothin’ full scale.”

  “Maybe you might want to take one of those classes up at ASCAP. Teach you everything you need to know.”

  Quinn eyed him. “Yeah?”

  “That’s how I got it together. Like I told you, man, I was just like you. Had a natural ear. Now, man, they have computers to do all the work. You just lay down the sounds you want.”

  He tossed the idea around. Sounded interesting. Maybe it was something he could do. It’s not as if he didn’t have the time or the loot.

  He stuck his hands in his pockets. “How long somethin’ like that take to learn?”

  “As short or as long as you want it. You work out a schedule that suits you and fits with what they have to offer.”

  Quinn slowly nodded his head, taking it in.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good enough. Take your time. You don’t want to jump into something before you’re ready. If there’s anything I can do, or any questions you have, just let me know.” He turned back to the band. “Come on, fellas, one more run-through.”

  Quinn took his seat behind the piano.

  School. Classes. Damn, he hadn’t been inside a classroom in more than ten years. Study. How? But the idea of learning to write his own stuff…Maybe he really could.

  He stole a glance at Nick, who was absorbed in blowing his sax notes.

  Yeah. He could do it. Changes. They were coming. No doubt.

  Maxine hung up th
e phone and jumped up from her seat. Cloud Nine was her next stop. Her small business loan had been approved. She was a sho nuff bizness woman! And there was no better time than right now to start celebrating, beginning with an early lunch. She picked up the phone and dialed Val’s extension.

  “Girl, I told you you were going to get that loan,” Val enthused, taking a bite of her salad. “Now you don’t even have to bother about getting hands-on training. Hire your own staff.”

  “Ain’t that the truth! But you know what, Val, it’s kind of scary. Ya know, being on my own.”

  “Listen, this is something you’ve been working toward for more than a year. You deserve this. Don’t even stress yourself.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I’m ready.”

  “So what are you going to do first?”

  “Start looking for a good computer system and set up shop at home, just like I’d planned, until I find a space I can afford. I’ve been lookin’ but the rents are so high in the city. My plan is to set up my agency on the Internet. Everyone can book their travel arrangements right online, through me. When the business takes off, then I can quit this dump.”

  “It’s going to take off, girl, you just wait and see.” She sipped from her water glass. “Have you told Dre yet?”

  “No. I wanted to surprise him. I’ll tell him tonight at the club. Then we can really celebrate—later,” she said with a lifting of her eyebrow.

  “It’s about time you finally checked that out,” Val said.

  “Who you tellin’? Been so long I may not know how to act.”

  “Oh, you’ll know, my sister. Just like ridin’—a bike, that is. Once you learn it, you never forget it.”

  They gave high fives and bubbled with raucous laughter, drawing the attention of an elderly couple at the next table.

  But as much as she enjoyed sharing her moment of triumph with Val, she wished she could run over to Harlem Hospital, grab Lacy from behind her desk and share her news. Knowing Lacy, she’d tell her how the Lord always makes a way, even for backsliders like her. She’d laugh and cry with her and tell her she needed to go to church on Sunday and give thanks, but seeing that she knew Max probably wouldn’t make it, she’d say something on her behalf. Yeah, that was Lacy.