by B. Love
Leigh shrugged as she hopped onto the counter. “If I tell you, you probably won’t want to be around me.”
Ransom laughed. “What is it? A stomach bug or the flu or something? You know it takes a lot for me to get sick.”
“Yea, I think it was just a stomach bug. I’m feeling better now, though. The reason I’ve been staying in the house so much and keeping my distance is because I’ve had a lot on my mind. Do I still get your homemade chicken noodle soup?”
Ransom temporarily stopped pulling things out of the bags as he considered her request. “I guess. You wanna talk about it?”
Her head shook and legs swung. “Not yet. You being here honestly is making me feel better already. I’ve been… trapped in my thoughts, trying to figure things out. Maybe I needed this break from myself.”
Ransom nodded as he continued to empty the bags. Along with the ingredients he needed for the soup, he also had orange juice, ginger ale, and a few of her favorite fruits. Ransom handed her a smaller black bag, getting a smile out of her when she saw her favorite Rap Snacks and Minute Maid.
“Don’t eat them chips until after you eat some soup.”
Her eyes rolled as she set the bag on the counter next to her. “What you even give me the bag for then?”
“Because I expected you to have some discipline, but I should have known you wouldn’t be able to do that.”
Her eyes rolled again as she flipped him off. “That was low.”
“That was the truth, but I’m sorry if it hurt you.”
Leigh let the silence linger between them for a few seconds before saying, “For the record, I have self-control and discipline.” Her voice lowered when she added, “I just… chose a horrible time not to exercise both.”
He chuckled as his head shook. “I just don’t understand why people cheat and risk losing the person they want forever for someone they don’t want to keep at all.”
Leigh smiled softly. “I don’t know, but God knows I wish I could take it back.”
Ransom looked into her eyes as his softened. He nodded but didn’t reply verbally.
It didn’t take him long to make the soup. While he did, Leigh waited in the living room to give him space. She didn’t want him to leave sooner than he planned to.
When the soup was done, he fixed her a bowl and gave her some oyster crackers and juice to go along with it. Leigh didn’t watch much TV; she usually watched videos on YouTube instead. So as they ate, Ransom watched Chicago P.D. She didn’t think she would be interested in it at first, but it eventually caught her attention.
Before she knew it, they were six episodes in, and Ransom had gotten her caught up on all the main characters.
By three in the morning, Leigh was falling asleep on his shoulder. She didn’t want this night, this moment, to end. Ransom picked her up and carried her bridal style to her room. He placed her on the edge of the bed and looked deeply into her sleepy eyes.
“I was gonna bathe you and rub you down with oil, but you look so sleepy, I’m gonna leave.”
“No…” she whined, rubbing her eyes. “I want everything you had planned for me.”
With a chuckle, Ransom lifted her to her feet as he mumbled, “Spoiled ass,” under his breath.
She couldn’t help but smile as she placed her hands on his shoulders and lifted her feet so he could take her socks off. He took her panties off next, then her shirt. Leigh sat back down as he headed for the bathroom. It wouldn’t have been wise for her to lie back while she waited for him to finish. If she went to sleep and missed this, she’d hate herself for it later in the morning.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled a deep breath and considered going to make herself a cup of coffee.
When she heard the water cut off, Leigh stood and dragged herself to her bathroom. She dipped her finger into the water, smiling at its perfect temperature.
“Are you getting in with me?”
Ransom chuckled and shook his head as she stepped into the garden tub. “You tryna start some shit.”
“Are you going to finish it?”
Ransom tilted her head back and lowered himself to her, but he didn’t kiss her lips right away. He let a few seconds pass as he stared into her eyes before he connected his lips with hers. Closing her eyes, Leigh’s shoulders caved, and her body relaxed. She relished in the sensation of a pleasure she never thought she would experience again.
He pulled away, licking the taste of her from his lips. Standing straight up, Ransom held her captive as he undressed. She scooted up and allowed him to sit behind her. The moment her back rested against his chest, Leigh released a sigh of relief. Relief from the weight that had been placed on her heart the day their souls broke away from one another.
“I know this probably won’t ever happen again,” she accepted quietly. “But thank you for this. I really needed it. What I did was wrong, and I know it was silly of me to think you’d stay, but not having you in my life really knocked me off my square. So if this is our closure, I really appreciate you giving it to me.”
Ransom’s hand went to her cheek, and he used it to turn her face in his direction. Replying with a kiss, he reminded her yet again why she was so senseless when it came to him. Everything about Ransom was good — even his flaws. Fuck it. Even his errors were correct. Not because he was perfect, but because he was real. And the truth. And he had absolutely no problem expressing how he felt.
He was a simple man who didn’t ask for much in return. Just her. And a child from her womb.
Pulling away, Leigh hung her head briefly before her emotions could get the best of her.
“Why you always fighting it?” His thumb slid across her lips. “Hmm?”
“I’ve been scared,” she confessed, nibbling on her bottom lip. Leigh tried to lower her head, but he wouldn’t let her. “Just a habit now. I’m open, but I have to remind myself of it.” She smiled softly, finally looking into his eyes.
“Do you really think I was capable of ever fucking you over, Leigh?”
The longer she stared into his eyes, the more she realized that had never been an option. It had all been in her head. And she’d overthought, overanalyzed, and overworked the pain in her head so many times, she created it on her own. Her. Not him.
Shaking her head softly, she leaned forward and pecked his lips. “No. I know that now, but I was too scared to see it then.”
That must have been all Ransom needed to hear because he picked her towel up from the edge of the tub and began to wash her with it. Normally, she would have taken a shower after soaking in the tub, but in this moment, she was anxious to feel his hands applying oil to her body. When they were done washing and drying each other off, they went back into her bedroom.
He told her to first lay on her stomach. She did. And the moment she felt his hands massaging her feet, she had to start biting back moans. Ransom worked his way up her entire body. Taking his time, making sure no part of her was left behind.
Leigh turned over onto her back, allowing him to do the same. Out of instinct, her hands wrapped around his wrists the moment he touched her stomach. Releasing them quickly, Leigh closed her eyes.
“You in pain?”
Her head shook. “No. Just, I was. But I’m good now.”
Ransom continued to oil her down, paying special attention to her breasts. Her legs opened without her permission as she closed her eyes and bit down on her bottom lip.
“All done.”
Leigh heard his amusement before she opened her eyes and saw the smile on his face. “What you say?”
“All done.”
Her head shook as she spread her legs wider. “You missed a spot.”
Ransom’s eyes lowered between her legs — to the puddle that had already begun to form at the opening of her pussy. His thumbs ran across the pads of his fingers before he pressed them against her thighs. Putting himself directly between her legs, Ransom put her legs in butterfly position. He allowed his middle finger to become coated with the
wetness at her opening before using it to caress her clit.
His touch was slow and soft. Barely there as he focused solely on her clit. Caressing it with just the right amount of pressure to have her chuckling and cumming in no time.
Laying next to her, Ransom entered her with one finger as he tongue kissed her deeply. Between the slow circles of his tongue around hers and his finger sliding in and out of her, Leigh fought back her second orgasm. She fought it for as long as she could, but Ransom knew her body too well. He knew just where to stroke her spot to have it swelling and leaking under his command.
He waited until she was done jerking on the side of him to keep her legs spread by placing his on top of hers. Ransom lowered his lips to her neck and her breasts, sucking, biting and licking as he massaged her opening. Leigh gazed into his eyes, mouth partially open and toes curling as he slid his finger up and down in that way that drove her crazy.
This was stupid as hell.
How did she think this would make letting him go easier?
Her eyes closed as she sunk deeply into her thoughts, but Ransom didn’t let her get too far. He pulled her head back in his direction with his free hand and kissed her, making sure she stayed in this moment with him.
After her third orgasm, he finally removed his fingers and covered her body with his. Instantly, Leigh wrapped her legs around him, wanting him as close as he could possibly get. As he slid inside, she pulled him down to her lips.
“Shit,” he moaned into them before kissing her. His strokes were long and slow as he stared into her eyes. Leigh squeezed the walls of her pussy together, losing herself in the sound of them sucking him in. “I don’t remember your pussy feeling this damn good.”
She smiled as her eyes fluttered and went from watching him enter and exit her to locking with his.
“That’s what you get for making me wait.”
“Keep talkin’ shit,” he warned, pressing himself into her harder. Deeper. He lifted himself slightly and wrapped his hand around her neck, turning her a few inches to the side.
“Aaahhh fuck,” she whimpered, feeling her body start to tingle. She reached for his balls, hoping providing an extra shot of pleasure would fuck up his strokes. But it didn’t. He only moaned and continued his assault on her pussy.
Digging her nails into his side, Leigh moaned his name as he continued to stroke her, brushing her clit with his pelvis each time. Her back arched and eyes began to roll into her head as her toes curled. She chuckled at the feel of her walls tightening. Soon after, they were pulsing as she came.
Ransom pulled out quickly, latching onto her clit with his mouth before she even had time to prepare for it. She cried out and tried to push him away, but there was no use.
“You’re punishing me,” she realized, clawing at his wrists as his hands kept her legs spread wide.
“Mmhm,” he moaned, continuing to swirl his tongue around her clit as he sucked at the same time.
“Whyyyyy?”
Ransom slurped up her wetness, and the sight of the long, white, thick string dangling from his tongue to her pussy only turned her on more. She began to massage her nipples as he licked again, coating his beard with her cum.
“Because you broke us.”
Her expression softened, but before she could reply, he was sucking her clit back into his mouth, not letting up until her body was jerking underneath him as she came and begged him for mercy. He continued to slurp her clit as the last of the tremors shot through her body, stopping only when her moans turned into quiet whimpers.
This time, when Ransom slid back into her, she was so sensitive, she pushed him away as her legs shook and back arched. Taking her hands into his, Ransom lifted them over her head and slowly began to stroke her, being sure to pull every inch of himself out before diving back in deeply.
“Fuck, Ransom,” kept falling from her lips each time he did it as her walls clenched around him, tighter and tighter. Her breathing grew ragged as he kissed her — because she was no longer able to kiss him back. All she could do was inhale shaky breaths as her body shook and reacted to every fucking stroke he gave. “Oh my God,” she moaned as her eyes squeezed shut. Digging her nails into his back, she whispered his name as Ransom reclaimed her soul all over again.
“Where that chuckle at?” he asked into her ear before licking it. “Where my cocky Leigh at? Hmm? Where’s the one that put so much stock in this pussy?”
As tears slid down her cheeks, Leigh moaned, “Gone,” as she came.
Ransom didn’t let up, gripping her neck and demanding she open her eyes and look at him. “I saw your worth beyond this, Leigh. Beyond this.”
He flipped her over, giving her the chance to finally take control. Her legs were weak. Her entire body was spent. But she wouldn’t stop until he was the one begging for mercy.
They went at it until six in the morning, so it didn’t surprise Leigh when they didn’t wake up until three in the afternoon. When they finally did, they showered, and she fixed a quick lunch of chicken, bacon, and ranch pasta with garlic toast. After they were done eating, Ransom decided to go on and head out. She felt stingy as shit, wishing he’d stay a little while longer, but she didn’t dare ask.
“You getting out today?” he checked, opening the front door.
“I definitely need to. Got a lot of things I need to handle since I put my life on hold.”
Their eyes remained locked for a few seconds until she smiled and looked away.
“Are you gonna be okay having me around the crew as just your friend? Or do I need to continue to keep my distance when I know you’re going to be around?”
Leigh sighed as she massaged her temple. “I’m cool with it, I just don’t understand why we have to be just friends. I love you, and you love me. You want a committed relationship, and I’m ready for that now, too. What’s stopping us?”
“The fact that I’ve been waiting for you to get to this point for four of the five years we’ve known each other, Leigh. And I would have still been waiting for you until my birthday had you not done that stupid shit. But you basically spit in my face and had sex with another nigga for no reason at all. That shit hurt, and you expect me to just let that go and act like it never happened?”
“No,” she yelled, shrugging her shoulders and flailing her arms. “I’m willing to take however long it takes to prove to you that I will never do anything to intentionally hurt you again. If that means we have to be friends for another five years, I’m cool with that. Whatever it takes.”
“I’m not in the business of giving anyone the chance to fuck me over twice. You know that. Yesterday, I came over to help you and to give us both closure, but that’s as far as this goes.”
Twisting her mouth to the side, Leigh nodded in agreement. “Okay. I’m cool with that. Just friends it is.”
“Cool. I’ll be seeing you.”
Leigh nodded as he left her home. There was no way in hell they could ever be just friends, but she would let him think that. Even if they never got back together, shit would be awkward when they got together as a crew — especially when they started seeing other people. Eventually, they would stop talking and acknowledging each other’s presence, and the person who was her favorite person would be nothing more than a lesson learned and a drifting memory.
Heading to her office, Leigh hoped there would be a hit worth taking on the Head Hunters site. She needed a way to release her frustration. If nothing came up, she would have to head to the gym.
As she went through the newer prices, her eyes damn near bulged out of her head when she saw a picture of Ransom. Clenching the edge of her desk, she read over the details, refusing to believe Money had put a price on Ransom’s head. But it was right there in black and white. Not wanting anyone else to get the hit, Leigh offered a low bid of one hundred thousand dollars, even though Money was willing to pay at least five hundred thousand to have it done.
Minutes ticked on like hours as she waited for him to approve, hoping
no one else would come on and bid even lower. As soon as Money accepted her bid and it was closed out, she leaped from her seat and dialed his number, needing to speak to him about this in person.
The first time she called, Money didn’t answer. Leigh waited until she was in her car to call again; this time, he did.
“Money.”
“This is Leigh. I wanna talk to you about Ransom. Where are you?”
“If you’re trying to talk me out of it, I will block you from bidding and open a new one.”
“Me and Ransom don’t even deal with each other like that anymore. Where are you?”
Money remained silent for a while before saying, “The warehouse in North Memphis. Don’t be on no bullshit, Leigh.”
He disconnected the call, and Leigh headed in his direction.
The entire time she drove, she thought over all the moves Money could have up his sleeve. It didn’t surprise her that he put a price on Ransom’s head because he was big competition, but it did surprise her that he would do it on the site where it would be visible to Leigh. She could have easily warned Ransom so he could prepare his retaliation. It didn’t make sense.
Money was up to something.
When she pulled up to his warehouse in North Memphis, at least twenty men were standing outside. She got out of her car, regretting she’d driven the Rover. In her right mind, she would have driven a less attention-grabbing car instead. Though she was a sharpshooter, if anyone tried her, it would be too many men to try and take out at once.
Leigh cut her car off and headed down the broken path, looking every man in the eye to show no fear. Most of them were too busy looking at her ass to even look at her face, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. At the front door, she had to be patted down before gaining entry. Leigh didn’t want to, but she allowed the guard at the door to hold her lavender pistol until she was done.
After being led to the back where Money was, she asked if they could have some privacy. Money agreed, sitting back in his seat as he offered one. She started to decline, but Leigh didn’t want to start this meeting off making him feel disrespected. Sitting across from him, she sighed and shook her head no when he offered her the blunt. Respect or not, she still didn’t know what she was going to do with the baby, and she refused to put it at risk. Honestly, she wanted to ask him not to smoke until she left, but Leigh didn’t want to raise any alarms in his head since she didn’t know how this meeting would go.
