I got out of my car, went inside my apartment, showered, and started preparing for a freakfest showdown with Alexis.
CHAPTER 47
Blake
I had all of my daughters, grandbabies, Phoenix, and Benjamin at my home.
Despite Alexis’s blatant disrespect, I was not going to let her ruin the surprise birthday party Mercedes had planned. She really got me by having it on a Monday. Mercedes had mentioned there were surprise guests coming. Since the children were here, I’d ruled out strippers, though that would’ve been entertaining. Maybe I’d go to a strip club with Echo to have fun this weekend.
Suppressing the hurt in my heart for betraying Spencer, I hugged Alexis. I whispered in her ear, “This is the one and only thing I ask of you regarding Spencer. Please don’t have sex with him.”
Letting go, she stared into my eyes, then said, “He’s more my type, and a little closer to my age, Mama.”
Where did this defiant child come from? I wanted to slap her. “I’m not asking.”
“Asking what?” Sandara said, hugging me from behind.
Alexis raised her brows to Sandara, eyed me, then walked away. “Benjamin, glad to see you don’t have any competing commitments tonight.” Alexis patted Benjamin on the back.
I scolded her, “Watch your mouth and your tone, Alexis.”
Benjamin replied, “It’s okay, Blake. We’re all adults.”
Alexis smiled at me then strutted into the kitchen. What had I done to her?
Sandara picked up Brandy. Twirled her around. Brandy laughed.
“Do me,” Brandon said, jumping high in the air.
“Stop it!” Mercedes told them. “Go sit down.”
“Let ’em enjoy themselves,” Benjamin said.
Mercedes’s lips became tight.
“Fine. Kids, do what your mother told you. Go outside and play,” he said.
Mercedes’s mouth drew closer together. She never spoke a word.
Benjamin exhaled. Remained silent. What the hell? Those two were having a standoff? If anyone had a right to be pissed, it was me at Alexis. I held Mercedes’s hand. Benjamin went outside.
“Come with me,” I told my daughter, leading her to my bedroom.
“Mama, everything is fine. I don’t have time to chat,” she said, standing in the doorway.
I pulled her into the room. “Now, Mercedes, you volunteered what I hadn’t asked, that means I’m right. Out with it,” I demanded.
Her dreamy eyes and full lips were expressionless. “Mama, really. I have too much to do. We can talk tomorrow.”
I closed the door. “What’s going on between you and Benjamin?”
She flopped on my bed. “Fine. Since you insist. Lately, things seem different.”
“What do you mean, ‘seem’?” I asked, holding her hand.
I could see my child was hurting. I was too. My job was to be here for her. Not fill my head with worries about Spencer that wouldn’t allow me to hear what she said.
Mercedes shook her head. “Can’t put my finger on it.”
“You think he’s cheating?”
“No. He’d never do that. It just seems like we’re growing apart and I don’t know how to get us back to where we were.”
Tears clouded her eyes. I just hoped her sorrow didn’t blind her judgment. Mercedes believed no other woman could ever come between Benjamin and her. I knew better. Her I’m-the-only-one-in-this-family-with-the-legal-right-to-change-my-last-name attitude might make her cover up her problems. She probably knew more than what she’d admitted.
Mercedes was not for being embarrassed or having others in her business. She stood. “Mom, I’ve to check on things.”
“The best advice I can give you, sweetheart, is never underestimate what your man will do.”
Firmly, she replied, “Husband. He’s my husband. I’m not Alexis. Benjamin is not Spencer. And you’ve never had a husband. No disrespect. But you’re not qualified to give me advice.”
The last part was unnecessary but she had a right to feel however she wanted. Alexis was a woman and Benjamin was a man and everyone was capable of cheating. I told Mercedes, “I’ll be out in a minute.”
Men didn’t need a reason to cheat. For some, sexing more than one woman was in their nature. I called Spencer a few times. Each time my call rang once then went to voice mail. No need to leave a message. Obviously, he wasn’t ready to speak with me. I put on the best smile I could, then went into the living room.
Sandara took my cell then said, “Mama, we have a surprise for you. I’m your social media and personal assistant tonight. I need you to go change your clothes.”
“Where are my grandbabies?” I asked, looking around in search of Alexis.
Devereaux answered, “They’re outside playing. Alexis is watching them.”
Hearing that Alexis was still here made me exhale. Strangers dressed in tuxedos entered my home carrying trays of food. Some guy rolled in cases of champagne. “Child, what are you doing?” I asked Mercedes, moving out of the way of a three-tier cake with red and white frosting.
“What you deserve and what I can afford,” Mercedes commented.
Was I the only one who noticed Benjamin rolled his eyes at Mercedes after she’d made that comment? I prayed they weren’t having financial problems. I did not want to go back to signing checks to help out my children.
“Why are you still standing here, Mama?” Sandara asked. “Go. Guests will be here in an hour.”
I smiled. “Guests, huh?” I’d never had a birthday party that I hadn’t given myself. Cake and ice cream depending on how much money my mama had at the time. There were too many of us for my mom to afford eight parties a year.
“Yes, guests,” Devereaux replied. “Now, go get dressed. Call me when you’re ready for me to do your hair and makeup.”
“Seems like someone should’ve bought me an outfit for whatever this occasion is,” I said, smiling.
“Oh, I did. I forgot it’s in my car. I’ll bring it in in a moment,” Mercedes commented.
Oh, my, goodness. If Mercedes had picked it out, I prayed it wasn’t anything up to my neck and down to my knees. Heading toward my bedroom, I thought, This is not the time to beat myself up over a mistake, then I heard Mercedes say, “Alexis, where are you going?”
“I’ll be back,” Alexis said.
Sandara replied, “You’re lying. I can tell the way that you said it.”
I stopped, turned to look at Alexis. She eyed me for three seconds, then walked out the door. I closed my bedroom door. I wanted to call Spencer then realized Sandara had my phone. That gave me a reason to go back into the living room. “Where’s my cell?” I asked her.
“Mother, will you please go get ready?” Mercedes protested.
Holding open my hand, I wiggled my fingers. “Anyone know where Alexis is going?”
“Who cares,” Mercedes said. She took my phone from Sandara, slapped it in my palm, escorted me to my bedroom, and closed the door. “Don’t come out again. I’ll bring you your clothes.”
I didn’t want to celebrate my birthday without Spencer. I texted him, Please come back. We can talk about it.
While I showered, my stomach felt like it was trying to eat itself. I turned off the water, rubbed the towel between my legs. There was no stimulation. The Jacuzzi hadn’t been used since the last time I’d shared it with Spencer.
“Knock. Knock.” That was Devereaux’s voice.
“Yes,” I answered, wrapping the towel around my body.
“Are you decent, Mama?”
I unlocked the bedroom door.
“Good, you’re done with your shower. Your guests are arriving. Sit here,” Devereaux said.
She pinned up my hair, then layered on foundation. “Is Spencer coming back?” she asked.
I snapped. “Is Alexis back?”
“Not yet. But of course she’s coming back. Call her,” Devereaux said.
Reluctantly, I dialed her number. It went dir
ectly to voice mail. I called Spencer. Again. One ring, then my call went to his voice mail.
“She’s not coming back.” I powered off my cell. “Spencer isn’t coming back either.”
“Mama, no. After all Spencer has done for you, Alexis wouldn’t. He wouldn’t. We all know that man loves you.” She did a few more strokes with a brush. “All done with your face.” Using a wide-tooth comb she swept my hair to the front, then to the left, last to the right. Devereaux fingered the roots, then teased the ends.
Sandara entered the room holding two hangers and the Saks bag. “Ready to see your outfits?”
Raising my brows, I told her, “I hope so. Let me see what’s in the Saks bag first.”
Sandara removed the tissues, unrolled a pink corset with an hour-glass shape. After opening the other tissue, she held up a pink skirt that had wide peach stripes.
“I love it. I don’t need to see the others. Give that to me.”
While I dressed in the clothes Spencer had bought, Devereaux paired my birthday attire with my peach stilettoes. This wasn’t the right time to tell any of my girls about the hundred grand Vanessa had given me. Just in case my event didn’t fit comfortably into Mercedes’s budget, I didn’t want her arguing with Benjamin over money. I was giving Mercedes a check for five grand.
Devereaux opened the door. Everyone yelled, “Surprise!”
Scanning the faces, I began to cry when I saw Ruby, Carol, Peter, Walter, Teresa, Kevin, and Kim. Their children were here. Friends I hadn’t seen in years. Echo was here holding the purse she’d borrowed earlier. When I saw Brandon, I almost screamed. I covered my mouth.
Mercedes said, “Happy fiftieth birthday, Mama. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Sandara said.
Lots of “I love you” and “I love you, too” flooded the room.
Mercedes’s friend, Dianna Crawford, the Realtor, approached me with a handsome man in tow. “Blake, this is your buyer. He’s offered what Mercedes said you’re asking. I can get the escrow started in the morning and I have a few properties to show you tomorrow.”
Knowing Mercedes she asked for more than market. I was ready to move forward with getting out of this house. Especially if I was going to be here by myself. Pointing at the DJ in the corner, I said, “Hit it!”
The photographer took lots of pictures of me with my siblings, my children, minus Alexis. This was almost the perfect birthday.
The only two important people missing my celebration were probably together. My front door opened, and my jaw dropped.
Billy Blackstone looked sexier than I ever remembered.
CHAPTER 48
Spencer
The sexy sound of a single fingernail pecked three times on my door.
A rat-a-tat-tat followed. I placed my right eye to the peephole. Did she ever have an off day? Licking my lips, I admired the halter clinging to her firm tits. Her cleavage sparkled with glitter. Some of the sparkles had gotten on my shirt earlier. I liked that, so much that I’d put the same clothes on after I just got out of the shower.
The last time I’d left her standing outside my door, I was tempted to let her in. Let her suck me off the way she’d done in her mother’s kitchen. I’d made the correct decision that time. Although I was pissed at Blake, it wasn’t right to fuck her daughter. I could do the morally correct thing and leave Alexis standing on the other side of my door.
“You done watching me, Domino? I can feel you staring,” she said, sliding her tongue out of her mouth.
Her tongue was a pretty shade of pink. Clean. Bet both sets of lips were soft and sweet. Her closed-lip smile mirrored mine. I loved Atlanta women. Most of them were tasty chocolate, darker than me. I wasn’t that red brotha. I was a shade or two tanner. My skin was that cocoa color.
I let her in. Soon as I shut the door, she put her purse on the bench, pushed me against the wall. Shoved her tongue into my mouth, suctioned my tongue into hers. Abruptly she stopped. Stared at me while unzipping my pants. She yanked my boxer briefs to my knees.
“Whoa, slow down. We’ve got all night to do this. Let’s chill,” I said. Cupping my hands under her armpits, I lifted her up, pulled up my underwear.
“Your place is fresh,” she said, looking around.
Damn, she smelled great. Fuck it. I removed my pants. “You can leave your . . . nah, scratch that. Give me your purse.”
Surprisingly, she picked it up, then handed it to me. Yep, it was weighted. I opened the closet, placed it inside. My dick was on swole. I gripped my shit. I sat on the built-in granite countertop where Charlotte and I occasionally ate. I didn’t have to ask Alexis to give me what I wanted. Alexis whipped my shit out, started bobbing and slobbering.
Abruptly, she stopped, went to the fridge, filled her hands with crushed ice. Eating a mouthful, she rubbed her hands together, then emptied what was left of the chips into the sink. Making her way back to my dick, she pulled up a barstool, sat in front of me, spread my legs, then she wrapped both hands around my shaft.
“Oh, shit!” That felt incredible. I almost blasted in her face.
I watched her gaze up at me. She opened her mouth so wide that I saw her tonsils. My shaft disappeared inside. This was some Animal Kingdom action. I could feel my head in her throat. Slowly, she eased my dick out, stopped at the frenulum, circled the tip of her cool tongue under my corona. She slid her hand down past my nuts, then made a fist. I swore my dick grew another three inches. She pumped three times really fast, then stopped. The visual of my cumming in her face, on those titties, in her ass, was climactic. My shit grew hard, thick, and long but that nigga was prepared not to cum quickly. I pressed two fingers at the base of my shaft.
Alexis snatched my hand off of my dick. When she started bobbing and slobbering again, this time only taking in my head, I . . . Fuck it. I yelled like a bitch. “I’m cumming! Awwww!”
Cum shot into her mouth. She kept going. My next, “Awwwww!” was louder than the last. When she swallowed my dick and my cum at the same time, my third shout was damn near soprano. “Awwwwwww!Fuck!”I pushed her ass away.
How the hell she’d done that without making a mess? Beast bitch. Best bitch. I’d definitely met my match.
“What you got to wash this down with?” she asked, licking her lips. “Make us something.”
I slid my ass off the countertop as though I didn’t have a spine. It wouldn’t be cool to let my boy, LB, eat in that spot again. There weren’t any seeds for me to clean up. I tucked my dick inside my underwear, put on my pants, and fastened my belt. Still had on my shirt. Damn.
“What you want, gurl?” She could get the whole bar and keys to my Range Rover right now.
Flipping through my cable channels, she selected Pandora’s love songs. “Surprise me.”
Was I supposed to go over and eat her pussy? Was I to make this drink first? Filling a glass with ice, I shook my head. I added orange Patron, pineapple Cîroc, and pineapple juice, covered the glass with a shaker. Mixed the contents well, then drained it into one glass. No more ice for that beast. I needed her to catch up to my consumption of alcohol or at least try.
“Here you go, boo.”
She laughed. “No ice. That’s cool. Where’s your drink?”
I had something for her. Later. Real sexy, I answered, “I want to taste yours,” smiling at her kitty. I slid open my patio door. “Let’s sit out here.” A brotha needed some fresh air.
I wasn’t intimidated but females like Alexis made a bruh man up on his sex game. I wondered if LB had learned anything new. I sure did. Ice wasn’t new to me. It was her chilling her hands that got me off. I’ma have to try that on . . . damn, I didn’t have anybody to try it on. Damn sure nuff wasn’t spittin’ Alexis’s game back at her. That was for lames. I had to come at her with some dumb shit.
The view of the swimming pool below was calming. Shooting fountains accented with red, green, and gold lights arched high above the platform recycling water back into the pool. The three-story
waterfall sounded like waves washing ashore.
Taking her drink, I took a few swallows, then placed it on the table.
Alexis and I sat quietly until she asked, “So why did you leave my mom’s? Did you know all of her brothers and sisters were coming to celebrate her birthday?”
Wow. “No. I knew Mercedes was giving her a party. I didn’t know who all was going to be there.” A part of me wanted to let go of the mistake Blake had made. But she’d proved that I couldn’t trust her. My not being there would’ve never happened if she’d kept my situation between us.
“Why did you leave the party?” I asked. “I know it wasn’t for me.”
Alexis twisted her lips sideways, then sighed. “If I share something with you, you promise not to tell my mom.”
I nodded. “Straight” was easy to say. She hadn’t asked me not to tell anyone at all. I positioned my chair in front of hers so I could look into those hazel-green eyes of hers.
Alexis took a deep breath. Her eyes shifted to the right, then back at me.
“Take your time. We’ve got all night,” I said, wondering if her culinary skills exceeded her fellatio talent. Hopefully she could make a brotha some pancakes in the morning. The way she worked her mouth, some of that couldn’t be taught.
The white of her eyes slowly changed to red. Tears coated those beautiful irises. Patiently, I waited to hear what was troubling her. I knew she had a soft interior underneath that tough shell. My weakness made me vulnerable, too, at times.
“Don’t let the circumstances dictate your emotions.” I gave her the advice I struggled to implement in my life.
Her lips quivered. “I feel like a dude sometimes.”
No shit? I wanted to cosign but I could tell she was serious. “What makes you feel that way?”
“My dad.”
I shook my head. My lips tightened. I had to chill. This wasn’t about my fucked-up past. “What about him?”
“That’s just it. I have no idea who he is. None of us communicate with our dads. I feel it’s my mom’s fault I don’t know my dad.”
“If he didn’t step up, that’s not your mom’s fault.” I had to defend Blake on this one.
Baby, You're the Best Page 20
