by Blue Saffire
Raul came to sit next to me and handed me a knot of cash, pecking me on the lips. “That’s something extra today since I didn’t bring you anything,” he said as he pushed the money in my hand.
“Ra,” I started.
“Mellie, just take it, Baby. Stop arguing with me every time I give you something, Ma,” he frowned.
“Thank you,” I chirped and pecked him on the cheek.
He reached for my face kissing me deeper than I expected. It was as if he was hungry for my attention and kiss. He reached for my waist and pulled me over to straddle his lap.
I placed my hands against his bare damp chest. Raul shoved his hands in my back pockets and started to pull me tightly against his lap. He moaned loudly, trying to kiss me deeper.
I tried to catch my breath as he squeezed his hands tighter. He moved his lips to my neck, giving me a chance to breathe as I panted.
“Ra,” I moaned. He has never been this aggressive before and it was confusing me.
“Relax, Mellie,” he moaned back, “you still not ready for me, Mama?”
“No,” I whimpered, “Raul, not yet.”
“Aight, Mellie, you know I’ma take care of you, right?”
“Yes,” I whispered coyly.
He released me and reached to run his hands down my shoulders as he looked me over. I gently moved to sit back next to him, but he grabbed my waist to hold me on his lap, and pulled my legs to rest on the couch.
I leaned against his chest, wrapping my arms around his neck. We both went back to watching TV. He rubbed my back, lightly kissing my forehead and face.
“Ra, can I ask you something?” I said softly.
“You know it,” he laughed and rested a hand on my hip.
“Where were you when I called?”
“Handling some business, you know,” he replied.
“Oh, is that what you plan to do forever? Have you thought about anything else?”
“Not really, never had a reason to.”
“Are you afraid of what may happen to you?”
“I mean, I’ve been thinking about that a little lately since I’ve been with you. I don’t want to hurt you like your moms and pops,” he shrugged.
“Yeah, but isn’t it more dangerous for you? I mean you’re like the head of the family or at least second,” my voice trailed off as I thought of Aunt Tali’s warnings and stories of Victor.
“I see, Mama. You think I’ma end up like Vic. Victor was smart. Really smart, from what Sisqo says, but he left a hole that he should have had plugged. I don’t make those types of moves.”
“But Ra, what if I want to be with you, how do I know you’ll be safe? You can’t do this forever.”
“Mellie, I want to be with you. If giving this up is what it takes, I can make that happen. And trust me, the day you tell me you having my baby, I’m finished. You don’t have to worry about history repeating itself.”
“Having your baby,” I snorted, “I’m not having a baby.”
Raul frowned at me as I sat with my face twisted. “Why you say it like that?” He studied my every move as I fidgeted in his lap.
“Like what?” I asked peeking up at him as I played with my hands.
“Like having my baby is some death sentence or something,” he grumbled.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I just don’t want to have a baby, not right now,” I shrugged.
“You trippin’, Mellie. You know you want to have my babies,” Raul teased, “I’ll give you them pretty babies.” He playfully reached to touch my stomach and kissed me on the neck.
“Okay, you just went from a baby to babies. You can keep all that to yourself,” I grumbled.
“You the one up in here spoiling me, ma. Cooking for me, making me come home. I’m just saying we don’t have to have a baby now, but I ain’t gonna lie, I have thought about you giving me a few kids.”
“You do know this is not helping me get anywhere near ready for you,” I giggled.
“I’m not worried about that. You’ll be ready soon,” he said confidently.
“Oh really?” I snorted.
“Yeah, really. You love me, Mama. You just fighting it.”
“You’re a trip, Ra. So, does that mean you love me?” I laughed.
“You want me to?” he smiled.
I looked at him and shrugged. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from Raul. I knew he wanted a lot more from me then I was ready for.
I was just wondering when his patience was going to run out. I questioned all the time I was spending with him. I could hear Aunt Tali in the back of my head. I was trying to listen to her, but something about him keeps drawing me in.
“I love you, Mellie, if you want me to, then you got that,” he said as he placed his face right in front of mine.
I didn’t have a response. I wasn’t sure I felt that way. I just let him slip his hand in my hair and pull my face to his as he went to kiss me. I figured as long as we were kissing I didn’t have to say anything.
I allowed him to kiss me and when he went to pull away I pulled him back. I didn’t want to talk, it was just going to lead to things I didn’t want to say or think about. We sat and kissed until it became too much for Raul.
I could tell by the way he looked at me. It was also evident in the sudden discomfort I felt sitting in his lap, that we needed to stop. This time when I went to move from his lap he let me.
I cuddled under his arm and drifted off to sleep after a little while. I was in a whole other world when I heard my cell phone ringing. I looked around the room in a daze and got up to answer the phone.
“Hello,” I grumbled.
“Meliyah, where are you?” Aunt Tali growled through the phone. “Do you know what time it is?”
“No, Aunt Tali, I fell asleep. I’m sorry I’m on my way home now,” I said anxiously.
“It’s after three in the morning, Meliyah. I’ve just been waiting to see how far you were going to push this. You think I haven’t been paying attention.
“Like someone once told me, ‘I have eyes in the back of my head, Mama,’ you have thirty minutes to get your butt home. If it takes you longer than that I know you have your butt somewhere you have no business.
“You better not speed, run a light or a stop sign to get here either,” she roared into the phone. I felt so bad she had never yelled at me. I grabbed my things as she yelled.
“I’m so sorry,” I whined.
“Save it Meliyah, thirty minutes,” she snapped and hung up.
Raul rubbed his face and looked at me curiously as he woke. “I have to go,” I said and rushed for the door.
“Mama, I’m not letting you leave this time of night alone,” he said and grabbed my arm.
“Ra, I have thirty minutes to get home, it’s a forty-five-minute ride,” I whined and pulled away.
“I’m not letting you go by yourself,” he growled and ran toward his room.
I flew out of the apartment for the elevator. I bounced up and down nervously as I waited for it to come. Raul came running out of his apartment as the door to the elevator opened.
He locked the door and made it to the elevator as the doors were closing. He stuck his foot in the doorway for the doors to reopen and ran in. He looked at me like he wanted to argue, but I think the scared look on my face changed his mind. He leaned and kissed my forehead.
“Go, I’ll catch up to you,” he said as the doors opened to the lobby.
He still had to go down one more level for his car. I ran out of the elevator straight to my car. Five minutes were already gone.
As soon as my car came to life I sped off the block, praying I didn’t get stopped by the police. Aunt Tali would kill me. I looked in my rearview as I crossed into New Jersey and saw Raul’s Maserati was right behind me. He was going just as fast as I was.
I looked at the clock as I got a few miles from my house and saw I had less than five minutes. I floored it. I was too close to not make it now. As soon as I took off Raul was rig
ht on my tail making sure not to lose me.
That is when it happened, right behind Raul’s car the police were flashing their lights. I heard the sirens.
I was so close to home. I looked in the mirror and Raul slightly nodded for me to go forward as he pulled over. I felt terrible, but I did as he said and the police pulled over behind him.
I raced into my community and made it to the house seconds before I needed to be in the door. I jumped out of the car and ran into the house. Uncle Alex stood in the foyer with his arms folded across his chest.
My mind was all over the place. I wanted to go back and see if Raul was okay. I wondered how much trouble I was in. Aunt Tali sounded so mad.
“Key,” Uncle Alex grumbled as he held his hand out. I handed over the key to my car as I groaned. “Phone,” he hissed next. I reached in my bag and pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him. “The other one too, Meliyah,” Uncle Alex sighed and pressed his lips.
“Aw, Uncle Alex,” I whined.
“Save it, Mama, give me the phone,” he grumbled at me.
I could have sworn in that very moment, Victor did look like he could be his son. I went into my bag to get my special phone. The phone I was going to use to see if Raul was okay. I handed it over feeling the pain of not knowing what happened to Raul.
“I’m sorry. I just fell asleep, Uncle Alex,” I sighed.
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time for sleep now. You’re grounded for the next week. Go to your room. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
I went to my room and got ready for bed. I was exhausted now that the adrenaline had worn off. It hurt that Aunt Tali was so mad at me, she didn’t come downstairs.
She didn’t want to see me. I climbed in the bed and passed out, but not before gnawing my jaw for a while. My mind raced with thoughts of Raul getting pulled over and him saying he loved me. Things had just gotten way out of control.
chapter twenty-one
These Kids
Taliyah
“Is she here?” I said sleepily.
“Yes,” Alex heaved a sigh.
“She sped her little butt all the way here. You and I both know where she’s been,” I hissed.
“Yes, we both know, but I told you. We are only going to push her further down that road if we lose it on her,” Alex blew out a breath and looked up at the ceiling.
“So what then,” I said starting to get annoyed.
I still couldn’t believe Meliyah stayed out past three in the morning. Not to mention she wasn’t where all of our children promised they’d be all night. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have given her a time to be here, but I was so on to her little butt. I was livid. We’d been giving her an inch, but Meliyah was starting to take a mile.
I hadn’t been feeling well lately. If I had I would have been all in her behind about this. I’ve called my mother for advice a few times. I wish she would move back here to Jersey. I miss having her here.
These kids are trying to drive me crazy. Victor made it in the house by the skin of his teeth. His attitude had me ready to break his neck.
I feel like I’m going to lose my mind with these teenagers. Meliyah has tested the last of my patience. I wish I could have pulled myself together to make it downstairs. I wanted to give her little tail a piece of my mind.
“I took her phones and car key. Hopefully, after a week she will have time to think about things and see this is not one of her best choices,” Alex said with that knowing look in his eyes.
I looked at Alex, really looked at him. I know my husband. He has seen something I haven’t. “What are you not telling me?”
Alex shook his head. “Nothing,” he waved it off. “I just have a feeling this is all going to work itself out.”
“Yeah, well, I hope you’re right,” I mumbled.
“I am, now let me show you what I wanted to show you hours ago,” Alex purred.
Alex crawled up the bed and pecked my lips. He reached for the ties to my robe and pulled them free. I noticed the hungry look in his eyes and smiled. Alex eyes flickered down over my naked body.
My nipples peddled as if Alex had touched me and he hadn’t placed a finger on me yet. I licked my own lips in anticipation. Alex dipped his head and placed his next kiss to my collarbone.
The tip of his tongue flicked out over my skin, causing my back to bow up off the bed. My fingers clung to the sheets, hoping for some purchase that would ground me. Alex continued with his sweet torture as he worked his way down my body slowly.
I swear he had a mini feast on my breasts. My folds were soaked before he ever touched them to test. I was super sensitive and so ready for more of his touch. The horrible way I had been feeling receded to the background.
I’d let go of the stress over our children as well. There was nothing more we could do that night. We could talk about it in the morning. Just then, all I could focus on was the masterful touch of my husband.
When Alex settled his big muscled body between my legs I let go of everything else and gave myself over to his skilled mouth. Alex devoured my pussy lips, coaxing my honey into his waiting mouth. This was just what I needed.
Alex placed one hand on my belly and the other he used to grasp my waist. His tongue started to do that thing he does that made me forget my name and I locked my legs around his neck to ride his face. I could feel him chuckling into my wet core.
I called his name on an open mouthed silent scream. The man had snatched my will to speak with that mouth of his. It only took a few more strokes of his tongue before he rocked me to sleep with just his tongue and lips.
Yup, I’d just have to deal with our crazy kids in the morning.
chapter twenty-two
Punishment
I slept until noon. When I did get up, I sat in my bed with my head in my pillow thinking about the crazy day I had the day before. I wanted to call Raul so bad.
I started to miss him the more I thought about him. It would be a week before I could talk to him and that was driving me crazy. I wanted to know what happened.
A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. I had been waiting for Uncle Alex to come yell at me. I sat up in the bed to look at the clock. It was just after one. I groaned and rolled my eyes.
“Who is it?” I called.
“Victor,” I heard, the last voice I’d been expecting, say through the door.
“Just a minute,” I called back. I rolled out of bed and went to brush my teeth.
When I opened the door, Victor stood there with his arms folded across his chest, with that frown painted on his face. He looked me over then laughed to himself. I still had on my tank top and shorts I slept in. My hair was a mess. There was a time I would never have let him see me like this. Today I could care less.
“Get dressed, I’m taking you to my mom’s office,” he said dryly.
“Give me a minute,” I replied.
“You have five,” he said and rolled his eyes.
I sighed as he turned and left. I closed the door and ran to get ready. I had to brush my hair back into a bun because my curls were a mess.
I grabbed a pair of slacks and a blouse. I had no idea how long I would be with Aunt Tali. I didn’t want to look bad.
I was so annoyed. It was Friday, the first day of summer vacation. Yet, there I was grounded and on my way to a law office with my evil ex-boyfriend. The day was turning out to be just wonderful.
When I got to the kitchen Victor sat at the table looking at his phone sending a text to someone. I wasn’t in the mood for his attitude today, so I wasn’t bothering to talk to him. I went to butter a bagel quickly so we could leave.
“You’re not eating that in my car,” Victor grumbled not looking up from his phone. He never used to have a problem with me eating in his car.
“What is your problem?” I growled.
“Whatever, Meliyah, you’re not eating that in my car and we’re leaving now.”
“I don’t get you. You ac
t like I’m the one that broke up with you,” I hissed.
“At least I didn’t have a girlfriend on the side,” he roared back.
“Oh, you really sound stupid Victor. You know that’s not true. I wouldn’t even be with him if you weren’t being such a jerk,” I hissed.
“Well, you won’t be with him now either, will you? No phone to call him and no car to sneak off,” he yelled back.
“I bet that makes you happy, doesn’t it? You never wanted me to have that car in the first place.”
“Now who sounds stupid? You were all – .”
“What are you two yelling about?” Uncle Alex interrupted scowling as his eyes flickered between the two of us.
“Nothing,” we said in unison. Victor turned and started for the door.
I started after him shoving my bagel in my mouth to finish as much as I could before I got in the car. I slid into the car, Victor was blasting his music in. I was so mad. I couldn’t believe I had to sit through this.
When we got to Aunt Tali’s office, Victor led me inside to the reception desk. Aunt Tali came out to greet us after the pinched face receptionist let her know we were there. I was looking around for Alexis.
Alexis is going to be doing an internship this summer with her mom. The younger kids were leaving for camp on Monday and Aliyah was going to an art program in California. Victor and Alex were hanging around the house for the summer, since the basketball camp, they were going to was cancelled.
Aunt Tali hugged Victor and then walked over to me to give me a stern look before reaching to hug me and kissing me on the cheek. She wrapped her arms around both Victor’s and my waist before leading us to a conference room.
“Okay missy,” Aunt Tali said as we entered the boardroom.
She took the seat at the head of the table. She then gestured for me to sit next to her in front of a yellow legal pad. Victor took the seat next to me in front of a laptop, headset and another legal pad.
“Your uncle thought it would be a good idea for you to be busy. So, you are going to learn part of the family business. Victor is going to train you on calls and document verifications. I don’t really have anyone else to spare right now and we can use the help.”
