“Oh, now you’re just being mean.” I teased back, enjoying the banter between us. More importantly, I was enjoying the smoothness of the exchanges between us, as if there was nothing in the way of things taking their natural course. Not her pending record deal, not my international fame as a photographer.
It was… nice.
“So, are you ready for the questions in my mind?” Cori asked me, this cute little inquisitive look in her eyes that made me want to tell her anything.
“What do you want to know? I’m 26, born and raised in the A, anything else you will have to ask me.” I replied. “And I do mean anything.”
I observed her as the wheels began turning in her head after I made the clarification. The minute that she realized that I was serious a devilish smile began to spread.
For a minute there, I was actually worried about how far she would carry the questions or how deeply she would try to trek.
“The answer to your question is yes, it is true.” I smirked, thinking I had her off guard.
“How did you know if I would ask that? I could have been thinking about anything.” Cori answered, but she was definitely blushing as she replied.
Yeah, I had her off guard.
“No, I didn’t know anything, I’m just guessing here, Cori,” I admitted to her, trying to calm her a little. “So, what’s really on your mind, Cori?”
I took her hand and stared into her eyes for effect, and I could feel her hands trembling the minute our eyes locked. I knew the effect my eyes had on the women I was interested in, and they didn’t fail me this time. Cori exhaled slowly, as if trying to regain some sort of balance and control, and she subconsciously licked her lips before I snapped her back from whatever world she was traveling to.
“Cori?”
“Mmmhhmmmm?”
“The question you were gonna ask me?”
Cori shook out of her trance, refocused on my face, and then asked, “I would have figured that you have a girlfriend or someone special in your life. You’ve got things together, not like the other brothas I’ve dealt with.”
Damn.
She went for the jugular.
Talk about your brick walls. That question hit me hard because I hadn’t thought about her in at least two months or so.
Alright, so she wants to talk about it, I guess I can talk about it.
“I had someone—“ I uttered as my voice trailed off. I really wasn’t sure that I was ready to talk about it yet, but there was no turning back once I started the sentence.
“D, it’s okay, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Cori squeezed my hand to get my eyes in her direction again. The look of concern on her face, her eyes told me that I might be okay if I get that ghost off my shadow.
“Her name was Stacy. I spent my last year doing everything in my power to try to please her. Then out of the blue, she starts talking about marriage and kids, and I wasn’t ready for all that. In the end, I found out that I wasn’t her ideal anymore, at least not like the next man that she’s probably getting to know and want to marry.”
The confession coming off my lips felt like I’d swallowed pure acid. I wasn’t willing to admit that I was wrong or that I might have had some hand in the demise of my previous relationship until I looked someone else in the eyes to tell them what happened.
“Before I met her, yeah, you were right; I was a player on levels that most couldn’t even touch. Young, dumb and full of come and didn’t give a fuck who I hurt or how badly I did. I guess this was karma letting me know that all of that shit was gonna come back to haunt me.” I continued swallowing dagger after dagger in front of a woman that I wasn’t sure would even want to bother with me by the time I got done bearing my soul.
Instead, she squeezed my hand tighter.
“Derrick, from what I know of you now, and what Toni told me about this morning when we talked, you’re not as horrible as you’re making yourself out to be.” Cori stated flatly to get my attention. “You could have taken advantage of me last night when I drank too much wine and probably offered myself to you on a silver platter.”
“Yeah, but I did think about it.” I replied just as flatly. At that point, I didn’t want to be made out to be a saint or some dude that would have never taken an easy out. “You made me weak, and I could have and acted like I didn’t.”
“D, you didn’t, and that counts in my book.” Cori was insistent, regardless of anything that I
said to protest. “Sooner or later, you’re gonna have to stop beating yourself up over it, too.”
Just then, I felt hands moving across the back of my shoulders and a pair of lips brush across the side of my neck.
“Hi, daddy, miss me? Don’t tell me you forgot to call me after the party last night?”
Hearing the voice of Tina Parker was the last thing I wanted or needed right now. The tension in my shoulders began to ratchet up a few notches, and I hoped that my knee jerk reaction to her invasion of my personal space would have tipped Cori off that this was not wanted.
After pouring my heart out, the timing couldn’t be worse.
I could tell that she was trying to show off in front of her clique, which I nicknamed the “Brat Pack” because they were all spoiled little girls and daughters of powerful families here in Atlanta. Even though they were all over 18, you would have thought they were still in high school or something.
Cori picked up on the tension and decided to finally say something to figure out what was going on. “Excuse me, I’m sorry but we haven’t met. I’m Corina Harris, a friend of Derrick’s.”
“That’s nice. Then I’m sure that my daddy has told you that I am his baby girl. Haven’t you, daddy?” she looked down at me, ignoring the disgusted look on my face. She was laying it on thick because of the crowd that she was pleasing, knowing full well that if they had a shot at me, they’d try to “take” me from Tina in a New York minute.
Cori had this look on her face that let me know that she was not about to be punked by some spoiled little rich girl.
“Well, honey, I am sure that your daddy has told you that he and I were together all night last night… ALL night.” She even gave up this evil smile for effect, like I’d fucked her every way imaginable. “Maybe that’s why he didn’t get a chance to call you last night.”
To say I was shocked would be a gross understatement.
Tina’s eyes widened, showing a storm on the horizon.
Tina popped on the water works, looking as if she wanted to rip Cori apart. “Derrick is mine!! I’ll beat your ass first!!”
The other girls pulled her away as Tina kept yelling obscenities at her, and all Cori did was grin as if she were the cat that swallowed the canary.
I just sat there, completely at a loss for words. “Why did you… you could have busted me big time, Cori.”
“Please, I read your body language the moment she caught you by surprise. It was obvious you were uncomfortable with her being draped all over you, and not in a ‘oh shit, my girlfriend showed up’ kinda way.”
“But we never slept together last night.” I protested. I wanted her to know that, now that I was finally in my right mind. “Believe me, I wanted to—I really wanted to—but I didn’t want to have to refresh your memory.”
Cori playfully slapped my hand and asked another question that I wasn’t prepared for. “Why are you so sure of yourself when you’re at work, like you were at the showcase, but then you’re so insecure around me?”
“Cori,“ I started, trying to find the right words to say. “I’m not sure of myself around you. I’m completely vulnerable and it’s driving me insane. Hell, I think Brian had something to do with that last night at the party.”
“What do you mean by that?” she inquired, trying to sate her curiosity.
“That fool damn near lost his mind the minute that you and the girls showed up, acting like a fucking teenager.” I explained, still shaking my head at my inability to control my emotions. �
��Next thing I know, I’m doing everything that I can not to look like I was happy and relieved to
see that you showed up. I haven’t felt like that since—“
“Stacy.” Cori answered my thought.
“I refuse to get you wrapped up in my bullshit, Cori, no matter how bad I want you.” I told her, breaking yet another one of my rules.
Never let them know how you feel until you know how they feel.
Yeah, real smooth Morrow.
Her eyes narrowed, and it confirmed that I played my hand too damned soon. “Do you really want me, D?”
“Yes.”
“I want you, too.” Cori replied just as quickly, which put me in a complete shock. “I wanted you last night, even before I got so tipsy. I wasn’t sure whether to let you take me or not.”
If looks could kill, we’d both have been dead.
The look on my face told her we needed to go now.
The look on her face told me to find the shortest route to get there.
As if I needed to ask? There was nothing else that I needed to say. Cori mouthed the words “let’s go” before I could say anything further.
The only thing left was to get the check.
~Cori~
I was pinned against the wall before the door shut completely.
God, I wanted him so badly my pussy was instantly wet before I knew what was happening.
I wrapped my leg around his waist, my tongue finding his with a furor as I felt his long fingers spreading and cupping my ass.
He whipped me around, picking me up and setting me on top of the island in the kitchen, spreading my legs and sliding his fingers inside my pussy, confirming what I already knew. I didn’t want to stop him, didn’t try to. He slipped his fingers in and out of my pussy, pulling them out of me and licking his fingers one by one. Then he pulled me in for a kiss before I could protest.
That shit was so nasty and so damn sexy at the same time.
I didn’t want him to wait; he could fuck me right there for all I cared.
I needed to be taken.
I grabbed at him, clawing at his shirt as he tried to take it off.
Derrick grunted and growled, almost as if he were being controlled solely by his urges. I felt the heat oozing from our bodies, the sweat beads rolling down my chest.
“Oh… God, D… fuck me.” I breathlessly whispered, trying hard not to disturb the zone that we were both in, threatening to consume us both for at least the next few hours.
That is, until I heard Beyonce’s voice cutting through the air, telling “him” say her name.
Damn it.
That meant one of the girls was calling me.
I squeezed my eyes tighter, losing myself in his touch again, raking my nails down his back.
Beyonce just wouldn’t stop singing. Fuck.
“Maybe… you should… get that, Cori.” Derrick tried to kiss and talk at the same time, and I could feel the head of his shaft opening my lips.
So close… so damn close.
“They… can… wait, damn it.” I protested, my body getting even hotter at the thought of him slipping deep inside me.
Oh my God quit teasing me, I screamed in my head.
But Destiny’s Child was relentless in their anthem.
Say my name, say my name
If no one is around you, say, “Baby, I love you.”
If you ain’t runnin’ game
They wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone.
Derrick realized it, too, because he broke from me abruptly, giving me room to hop down and grab my phone.
“Oh my God, this better be life or death.” I huffed through the phone.
“Not quite, but it’s close, baby.” Kyra’s voice piped through the earpiece. “Cheryl wants us to do a fresh demo for the meeting with RP on Wednesday.”
“Wednesday??” I asked, stunned at what she just said. “I thought we had at least another week?”
“Yeah, babe, it threw us off, too, but Mr. Parker loved the demo that was sent to him, so he ended his trip early to meet with us,” Kyra told me, trying to sound all business-like. “I know from the sound of your voice that I caught you in the midst of getting sum, but—“
“I’ll be there,” I shot back, cutting her off. “As long as we’re not in there all night.”
I clicked my phone off, feeling like I wanted to cry.
Just when I thought my drought would be over.
I turned around to face Derrick, but he already had his shirt on, reading my body language almost to perfection.
“Mr. Parker got back early. Cheryl wants us to cut another demo for a meeting on Wednesday.” I slowly explained, my heart sinking with each word.
Derrick surprisingly was calm about it all. “Don’t worry about it, Cori, I work for the man. I should have known he would drop everything to get back.”
Derrick moved closer to me, sending more chills down my spine. What he does to me should be declared illegal, I swear. His eyes were all over me, making me feel naked, so deliciously naked in front of him.
He kissed me softly, and my body melted instantly.
“Go take care of business, sexy, there will be another time.” he smoothly spoke, caressing my ass just to let me know that as far as he was concerned, it will be well worth the wait.
“It better be soon, baby. Very soon.”
“Alright, girl, what’s the info on the meeting Wednesday?”
We had finally cut the other demo that we needed, and Cheryl was talking to the engineers in the booth, so it was the four of us chatting in the lounge area before we headed home for the night.
After four hours of taping, plus the fact that it was creeping up on midnight, the last thing I was in the mood for was a damn fishing expedition.
“Come on, Cori, Kyra told us you were with Derrick,” Candace tried the roundabout approach, but that shit wasn’t getting anywhere with me. “Did he tell you anything before you left him?”
“D never told me anything,” I lied, leaving out the part he told me about Mr. Parker. “Can’t y’all wait another couple of days? Damn.”
“Maybe if we had waited another thirty minutes or so and let her fuck him like she was in the midst of doing, we wouldn’t have to grill her so damn hard.” Tracie explained. “Or maybe if you hadn’t taken your sweet time and fucked him the way I fucked his boy last weekend, then maybe you wouldn’t be in such a sour mood.”
“Bitch, I believe the word is loose,” I snapped back, causing the temperature in the room to drop a few degrees from the tension. “I am not out to fuck every high profile name that I run into. So, you fucked DJ Majesty? Some other bitch will lay claim to that this weekend while we’re handling business.”
Tracie huffed, unfazed by my onslaught. “Are you jealous because I got sum and you didn’t, Cori? What’s the matter, your little photographer friend got a little camera shy on you?”
“Okay, you two, enough with the catfight bullshit,” Kyra finally chimed in. “If Cori says she doesn’t know anything, then she doesn’t know anything. We’ll find out on Wednesday, alright?”
Leave it to Kyra to always try to be the arbiter.
Cheryl walked into the room, and she could tell that something was off between me and Tracie, but instead of saying something directly to either of us, she frankly stated, “Whatever business that needs to be handled before Wednesday… make sure it’s handled.”
Tracie backed off, but not before she whispered in my ear as we walked out of the studio,
“Yeah, this is a business, and you use who you need to use and what you need to use to get to the top. Remember that.
~Derrick~
“Why did you let that trick call me out like that?”
I looked at my cell phone like it was wired and ready to blow. What really possessed this child to call me at damn near midnight?
“Tina, did you really think there was anything going on between us?” I asked in earnest. “What do you want from me? I have to
ld you that you are too young for me.”
“But you need a girl who only wants to please you, daddy.” Tina insisted. “I can do all of the things you want, and then some.”
“Stop calling me daddy, I never told you that it was okay to do that,” I responded, trying to figure out the first possible out of this conversation. “There’s nothing you can do for me, Tina.”
“Yes, I can, D. I can convince my daddy to invest the capital you need for your new studio, and you know I have girlfriends and their friends that can supply you with all the clientele you’ll ever need.” Tina sweetly cooed in my ear. “I bet that woman you were with earlier today can’t do that for you.”
I blew air over the mouthpiece, wishing that this conversation was over before it even got started. “God, I’m sorry I ever told you that.”
“Well, you did, sexy, and the choice is up to you now. I get what I want, and you get what you’ve always dreamed.” she proposed, and I could feel the smile wash over her face through the phone. “Be my first lover, and I’ll get you the money and the space you need to make me and every woman I send to you look like the sexiest bitch on the planet.”
She hung up the phone before I could protest any further.
I felt the migraine coming on fiercely. I needed to do something about that whenever I got stressed beyond all recognition.
Tina Parker was fifteen when we met. I was just getting started at RP and Mr. Parker hired me to take pics at her sweet sixteen birthday party. I convinced him that I could make her daughter look mature but not overly sexual, which seemed to be the rage for girls nowadays.
Her friends took one look at her finished head shots and photo spread and beat a path to my make shift studio in the spare room of my apartment at the time. Next thing I knew, I had more business than I could shake a stick at. In fact, her old high school is still one of my biggest clients away from RP.
Unfortunately, my flirtatious nature combined with her friends at school making comments about what they would let me do to them if they had a chance, and it became the recipe for a crush that hasn’t waned three years later.
All I Want... Is You Page 7
