Dirty (21 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Who are these people?” Paul asked.

“My mother and brother,” she whispered.

“Do you want me to handle it?”

Simone shook her head. “No. I need to do this myself. I need to see what she wants.”

“Would you like me to stay out here and wait for you?”

She shook her head. “No. Go inside and wait. Better yet, would you mind getting things started for me? There are some vegetables in the crisper. You’d be doing me a huge favor if you can chop them up for a salad.”

“You got it, love.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Give me a holler if you need anything.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Thanks.”

He winked at Simone. As Paul walked away he didn’t bother to hide the disgust on his face as he looked at her mother and brother.

When Paul was inside the house, her mother strolled over to where Simone stood. Other than a few extra pounds and gray strands in her well-coiffed hair, Frieda pretty much looked the same. But for the first time in her life, Simone didn’t
feel
anxiety when she looked at her mother. The anger was there as well as the old pain that had yet to heal but mostly she was mad. It gave her the courage to hold her mother’s gaze
whereas
in the past
Simone would have backed down.

“What are you doing here? And how did you find out where I live?”

Frieda’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe this was Simone talking to her. “Is that how you greet your mama after all this time? And who was that white man you were getting all close to. Did you move up here and get too good for us colored folk?”

“Who I spend my time with is none of your business. Now I’ll repeat, what are you doing here and how did you find me?”

Frieda pursed her lips. The fact that she didn’t have a ready retort meant that she wanted something. “I’ve known where you lived for a long time. It’s a small world. There are people you can pay to find out these things.”

“And just what made you desperate enough to hire
someone
to find me? Are you still looking for money for Damon?”

Her mother glared. “Through the grace of God
,
I was able to raise the money. I think it’s downright shameful that you wouldn’t help your own brother. If you can’t count on family
,
who can you count on?”

Simone was in no mood to deal with her mother’s foolishness. “And when have I ever been able to count on you for anything.”

“I did the best I could by you. I fed and kept a roof over your head. Some kids don’t even get that. You always were ungrateful.”

“Ungrateful? You’re telling me that because you gave me food and shelter, the basic necessities in life that I should be grateful? You are my mother. That’s what you were supposed to do. You don’t get a pass for that. All I ever wanted from you was love, but you wouldn’t even afford me that.”

Frieda shrugged. “You made it very difficult to love you, always telling lies and making things hard for me.”

“What did I ever lie to you about?”

“Let’s not get into that. Are you going to let us inside? We traveled nine hours to get here. The least you can do is offer us something to drink.”

“I only offer drinks to people who were invited and you weren’t. You wasted a trip.” She noticed her brother shuffling in the background
looking
slightly uncomfortable. “Aren’t you supposed to be in jail?”

“Uh, I got out a few months ago
,
actually
,
on good behavior.” Seeing him this way, she almost felt sorry for him. Gone was the swagger and machismo
with which
he used to walk around. Before her stood a man who seemed as if he’d wasted a lot of chances in his life.

“Since our mother can’t give me a straight answer to why you two are here, how about you tell me
?”

Frieda turned to him and glared. “Boy, don’t you say anything.”

“Mama, you gotta tell her or she won’t let us stay with her.”

Simone nearly burst out laughing at the audacity. She had no plans to let them inside her house let alone allow them to stay. Frieda looked as if she was mulling over what Derek had said. Finally
,
she raised her chin in defiance. “Well if you have to be nosey about it, Sylvester’s kids came to town talking about me taking advantage of their father. They accused me of elder abuse and
of
stealing money from him. So what if I had to put a second mortgage on the house to prevent Damon from going to jail.”

“So, what does that have to do with me?”

Her mother’s lips tightened briefly as if it was painful to give Simone even
the
smallest of details. “The house is in Sylvester’s name. It was an oversight on his part to not put my name on the mortgage. His children got lawyers involved. They had me kicked out of my own home and are investigating me for elder abuse. Damon is shacked up with one of his sluts so me and Derek have nowhere to go.”

“Why don’t you go to one of your church friends?”

Frieda rolled her eyes. “And have one of those bitches spreading my business all over the place. Why are we standing here? You got me back. Now let us in. My feet are starting to hurt from standing.”

Simone blinked. Was this real life? Got her back? “What do you mean got you back?”

Her mother snorted. “Oh come on, you’re still mad about that little incident when you were what? Fourteen? Fifteen?”

“Little incident? I was eleven, Mother. And you let that monster hurt me. You were supposed to protect me!”
She
screamed. All the old hurt and anger came out in that statement.

“Who do you think you are raising your voice to
,
girl? Don’t get mad at me about that
!
If you weren’t so fast
,
maybe he wouldn’t have touched you. You were always such a drama queen making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Get off of my property.”

Frieda actually seemed stunned by Simone’s response. “What?”

“I said leave. Never come back because I’m fucking through with you. You’re no longer my mother. You’re dead to me. Now leave!” Simone screamed.

Frieda
narrowed her gaze and raised her hand as if she would slap Simone.

“If you fucking touch me, I will rip that your hair out
of your head
and shove it down your throat.”

The older woman hesitated before lowering her hand. For the first time
,
she seemed to realize the gravity of her situation. “Wait a minute, if you don’t let us stay
,
we won’t have anywhere to go.”

“That’s not my problem. Why don’t you pray about it?”

“Are you making fun of God? I knew you were full of the devil, girl.” Her mother shook her head as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“And what does that make you? What kind of Christian allowed her child to get repeatedly raped by some pervert and then lie about it in a holy place? You’re no more Christian than Lucifer. You are a hate filled old witch. If I ever see you again it will be too soon, but in case you do decide to show your face to me again, I’m going to give you the ass whooping you deserve and don’t even think of contacting Noelle because I will show up to her place with a baseball bat. Got it?”

Frieda’s lip trembled as if she was going to cry. “I don’t know where I went wrong with you.” It was clear the woman would continue to play the victim until the day she died.

Ignoring Frieda’s whimpers. Simone dug through her purse and pulled out her checkbook. She quickly wrote a check for five thousand dollars,
walking
over to
her
brother and
handing
it to him. “I hope you get your life together, Damon. Use that well because it will be the last dime you’ll ever see from me.”

“Simone,” Damon started hesitantly. “I’m sorry.” She wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for but at this point it no longer mattered.

“I am too.” She headed to her front door without looking back.

“What about my check? Where am I suppose
d
to
go?” Frieda cried out.

“To hell!” Simone shouted of her shoulder and walked inside her house, slamming the door behind her.

Paul was waiting for her at the door. She went into his embrace glad that he was here. He kissed the top of her head. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes. I actually never thought I’d see her again.”

“And now that you have?”

“Honestly? I’m okay.” And she was.

“I’m really sorry about those vegetables but I was looking out the window the entire time making sure you’d be all right.”

Simone stood on her tip toes and gave Paul a peck on the lips. “Thank you for that. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“I’d do anything for you.”

She raised a brow. “Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Then make love to me.”

“We agreed that we’d wait.”

“I know, Paul. But
,
I need you. Not because I need to feel a void or because I feel empty inside but because I love you and I want us to make love.”

He caught her chin between his fingers and tilted her head so that they could look into each other’s eyes. “Are you sure you want this?”

“I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.”

Paul grinned, before scooping her into his arms bridal style. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

He carried her to the bedroom and gently placed her on her feet at the foot of the bed. As Paul unbuttoned her blouse, he
placed
light kisses over her skin. She tingled all over as he ran his tongue along her collar bone. Her nipples pebbled within the confines of her bra. Every single part of her was instantly sensitized from Paul’s tongue. He had magic fingers which he knew how to work with expertise.

She shrugged out of her bra once he unclipped the fastening. He cupped her breasts in his palms. “You’re so beautiful Simone. This is how I should have loved you the first time.” He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples making her moan.

“You have to stop blaming yourself for that. We both made mistakes and we have to move on from that.”

“I’m going to spend the rest of my days making it up to you.”

Simone laughed. “Well, I just might let you.” She groaned when he bent down to take one hardened tip into his mouth. He sucked long and deep as Simone held his head to her chest. She loved this man so much she could barely think straight. Being with Paul this way, the way they were intended to be made glad she’d listened to her heart. She’d never been this happy.

A whimpered gasp escaped her lips when he released her nipple with a wet pop before giving the other one the same attention. She was in heaven. Paul ran his lips to the valley of her breast
s
and continued to make a trail down her stomach. He dropped to his knees and circled her belly button with his tongue.

He took his time undoing her pants, pausing to place kisses on her hips and thighs. By the time Simone stepped out of her pants and kicked them aside, Paul had explored nearly every inch of her skin. He lowered himself to kiss and lick her toes like a loyal subject worshiping at the throne of his queen.

Paul touched her everywhere except where she craved it most. “Please Paul. I need…I need….

He raised his head staring into her eyes with his passion-glazed stare. “What do you need, love. Tell me what you want?”

“I want you to taste me?”

“Where?”

“My pussy.”

“Oh, I will, love. I was just saving the best for last. Your body is the appetizer, but your pussy is the main course and I’m starving.” He yanked her panties down. She assisted him in getting them off. “Hold on to me, because I’m going to feast on you now.”

Simone gripped his shoulders as he placed her leg over his shoulder. Before Simone could utter a moan, Paul dove in face first. He attacked her pussy like a ravenous beast. Though he’d started out nice and slow
,
there was nothing gentle about this and she loved every second of it.

He shoved his tongue into her channel flicking it back and forth until she screamed his name. “Paul! Oh yes! God yes!”

Unable to keep still, she grinded her pussy against his mouth. This seemed to make Paul go even more berserk. As he ran his tongue all over her pussy he eased his middle finger into her, adding a delicious friction that made her weak at the knees. Paul at
e
her as if she were his past meal.

Her climax was swift and powerful, like a tidal wave that came crashing over her nerve endings. Paul continued to lick and slurp her juices and finally sucking her clit into his mouth.

“Paul, what are you doing to me?”
She
moaned.

He raised his head with a grin. “Making you feel good, I hope.”

“You know you are. You have a magic tongue. Now let’s get you out of
these
pesky clothes.” She slid her leg off his shoulder and helped him up. “My turn.”

Then
Paul held his arms up so Simone could tug his shirt over his head. His body was just as hard and perfectly sculpted but he was covered with scars that she wasn’t sure
were
from the fighting or the abuse. “You poor baby,” she murmured, tracing her hand over the curve of his torso. She placed her palm on his chest
which
had an ornate cross tattoo.

“I didn’t know you had this.”

He smiled. “I got it as a good luck charm when I was fighting. It seemed to work. I was only knocked out cold twice.”

“Only twice?”
She
asked
,
incredulous that he could talk about it so casually.

“That’s my
past
, love. I promised no more fighting remember? Besides, I don’t need to. I have you.”

Her
heart
swelled with love for him. Paul always knew the right thing to say to make her feel better. Simone took her time running her hands along his chest and abs. With each new scar she discovered
,
she placed a kiss on it.

She undid his pants and pushed them and his underwear down. When she would have dropped
to
her knees
to return the favor from earlier, he pulled her against him and covered h
er
mouth with
his
in a kiss that took her breath away.

Simone pushed her tongue forward to meet his. He still tasted of her and it sent a secret thrill shooting up her spine. Paul pushed her onto the bed and fell on top of her never breaking their kiss. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and h
e
slid into her on one smooth thrust. Simone was so wet and ready for him that she almost wept in relief once he was inside of her.

Being locked so tightly together like this felt right. She loved this man more than she thought it was possible to love anyone. Slowly they moved together holding onto each other as if neither one of them wanted to let go, Simone certainly didn’t. With each passing minute
,
they increased the pace of their love making until they were both moving to a frenzied finish.

It didn’t take long for her orgasm to hit. This time around it was like an explosion that felt like it could rock the entire universe. Paul cried out in pleasure as he released into her, spraying his seed deep into her channel.

Paul rested his head in the crook of her neck. “Simone?” he panted.

“Mmm?” She could barely talk herself.

“Love you,” Paul whispered.

“I love you
,
too.”