The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy (14 page)

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Authors: JaQuavis Coleman

Tags: #Fiction, #African American, #General, #Urban

BOOK: The Dopeman's Wife: Part I of the Dopeman Trilogy
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Tical frowned up and looked at her like she was insane. “Fall back, ma. It ain’t that type of party.”
Millie grew self-conscious about her looks. She got teased in school about her dark skin tone and had internalized the notion, the lighter, the prettier. “What’s wrong? You don’t think I’m pretty?”
“Actually, I think you’re beautiful, but I ain’t trying to take it there with you. You’re way too young for me,” Tical said, sensing her insecurity.
“You really think I’m pretty?” Millie ran her fingers through her damaged hair. She wasn’t used to anybody telling her how beautiful she unless they wanted to have sex with her.
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
Tical wanted to change the subject, so he began to ask her common questions, and they talked all the way until they reached the truck stop.
The hour ride only seemed like minutes to Millie, who had fallen in love with Tical’s swagger in the thirty miles they traveled on the highway. When he pulled up to the stop, she saw her stepfather waiting outside of the diner with a small bottle of Five O’clock gin in his hand. Millie’s heart began to pump, because whenever he drank, he would beat and sexual abuse her.
Tical put his truck in park and hit the unlock button. “Okay, here’s your stop.” He looked over at Millie and noticed her discomfort. He followed her eyes and saw her staring at the man sanding in front of the diner. “That’s your stepfather, huh?”
Millie nodded her head and became teary eyed as she thought about the night ahead of her.
Tical looked at Millie then back at her stepfather. He couldn’t release her to the wolves after what she’d done for him. “I’ll be right back.” He grabbed his gun, put it in his waist, and jumped out the car, headed toward the man.
Millie’s stepfather leaned against the building, smoking a cigarette. He’d been looking for Millie for the past thirty minutes and didn’t notice Tical walk up on him.
Tical grabbed him by his collar and slammed him up against the wall. “Yo’, man, what’s yo’ damn problem.” He looked deep into the man’s eyes, as he kept a tight grip on him. Though full of rage, Tical kept his voice calm and clear. “Yo’, is that your daughter in that car right there?” He threw his head in the direction of Millie, who sat in his passenger side.
Confused, the man squinted as he looked inside the car. “Oh, I see what you getting to,” he said, growing relaxed. “She’s a hot commodity around here. Tell you what, give me fifty and you can have her all night. Believe me, she’s good. I’ve tested the goods myself.” He puffed his cigarette.
Thoughts of Tical’s own mother being killed by an abusive boyfriend when he was only sixteen came back to him. Millie resembled his mother so much, he instantly felt connected to her. Tical wrapped his strong hand around the man’s neck and squeezed as tight as he could.
The man struggled for air and dug his nails into Tical’s hand, trying to get him to release him.
“You are a bitch-ass nigga. You feeding that li’l girl poison and killing her slowly. She’s not even old enough to understand what she’s doing to her body. I should put a hole through yo’ mu’fuckin’ dome. Niggas like you make me sick. You can’t get out here and hustle for yours, so you leech off of the weak. But you the weak one!”
Tical grabbed his pistol from his waist and put the barrel in the man’s mouth. When the man looked like he was about to lose consciousness, he released his hold and watched the man fall to his knees, gasping for air. Breathing heavily now, Tical turned around and walked toward his truck.
Millie was confused, not knowing what Tical was going to do to her. She didn’t hear any of the exchange, she just saw Tical grab her stepfather by the neck.
The car was silent, except for Tical’s heaving breathing.
After Tical gathered himself, he said to Millie, “You’re coming with me, okay?” He stared at her with his piercing hazel eyes.
Something came over Millie, and in a situation where another girl would’ve been scared, she became comfortable. She slowly nodded her head in agreement. Tears formed in her eyes. Not tears of pain, but of joy. She knew that, from that day on, she would be okay.
Tical took Millie under his wing and taught her everything he knew, as he would a younger sister. He helped her kick her heroin habit cold turkey and told her that he would kill her before letting her go down that road again. He also made her return to school.
Tical had always told Millie that her living with him would just be temporary, but weeks turned into months, and months into years. They had become family. After three years of grooming, and on her eighteenth birthday, he introduced Millie to the hustle game, and she took to it like a duck to water. Most people said she was the female version of Tical, and rightfully so. Tical had promised her that, no matter what, they would always be family. That’s why he made Friday their day to bond and talk. Even after she moved out, he wanted to keep the ritual going. He never told her, but he wanted to make sure that she never messed with drugs again, and that was his slick way of keeping her close to check on her.
A WOMAN’S INTUITION
Chapter Sixteen
Present Day
 
Nautica drove down the highway heading toward her hotel. She glanced at the bag full of money next to her and smiled. She’d just met a man that she thought could be something, and in a new city, where she had no past demons to haunt her.
New city, new person
. She took a deep breath and got off on her exit.
She felt her phone vibrating and noticed that she had a couple of voice mails. She dialed her pin and began to check her messages. One message after the other one was from the girls at the strip club where she used to work, telling her that her boyfriend had been robbed. She had at least eight messages. They weren’t telling her anything she didn’t know about.
She began to go through more of her messages. She learned that Zion had died in the hospital from the gunshot wounds. She flipped down her phone and began to smile.
No more worries about Zion coming to find her. He’d killed Khia, and was right where he belonged. In a grave.
Just as Nautica was about to put her phone away, it vibrated. She looked at the caller ID. She took a deep breath and answered it, “Hello.”
“Hey, Nautica,” Benny said, as if he didn’t pull that stunt the previous night.
“Hi,” Nautica said with a heavy attitude.
“Look, I want to apologize for what happened last night. You know, I just got a little beside myself, and maybe you can forgive me somehow.”
“Benny, I just want to forget about last night. We cool.” She decided to play nice, remembering she wanted the part in the show.
“Cool. So I’ll see you on the set Friday, right?” Benny said almost in a pleading tone.
“Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll see you then. And another thing, Tical wasn’t too mad after I left, was he?”
Nautica picked up on the fear in Benny’s voice. “Everything’s good. He didn’t say too much about it.” Nautica began to like Tical a little more. It was something about a feared man that turned her on. She was glad that Tical had intervened when he did, because she didn’t know how it would’ve turned out.
“Cool,” Benny said just before he hung up, relief in his voice.
Nautica had to study her lines for Friday, but first she had to think about what she would wear to the game later that night. Her mind drifted to the night she’d shared with Tical, and she felt warm inside at the very thought of him. She got out the car and popped her trunk, grabbing her bag full of money. She wasn’t going to let it out of her sight again. She went up to her hotel room to get ready for her date with Tical.
 
 
Nautica didn’t know exactly what to wear to a football game, so she decided to go casual. Tight-fitting jeans that displayed her curves, a small black tank top, her hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail, and no makeup.
She felt special, never having been in a limo before. She sat in back of the limo that Tical had sent for her and looked at the lines of people piling up in front of the well-lit stadium to catch the Monday night game. The limo bypassed the massive line and headed through the VIP entrance.
“Here’s your stop.” The driver stepped out the vehicle and walked around to let Nautica out.
Tical was standing at the entrance waiting for her, both hands in his pockets, looking handsome as ever. Crisp from head to toe, he wore a snug-fitting black sweater, loose-fitting black jeans, and a black knitted skullcap pulled down over his eyes. He didn’t wear a chain, but his pinky ring was blinging. Nautica sashayed over and greeted him with a huge Kool-Aid smile.
Tical grinned and rubbed his hands together. “What up, ma?”
“Hello, Tical.” She tip-toed and pecked him on the cheek.
Tical put his hands on Nautica’s hips and looked her up and down. “You look beautiful.” He nodded. He then grabbed her hand and guided her into the stadium’s private entrance and through the long corridor that led to the elevator to his luxury box.
Nautica put on her lip gloss.
Damn, this nigga is fine
.
As they reached their floor, Tical glanced over at Nautica and winked at her, noticing how nervous she was.
Nautica smiled as the doors opened to the spacious box, where a waiter walked around with bottles and finger food. The box was equipped with plush carpet that matched the team colors, and the glass front that sat at the 50-yard line gave a perfect view of the field. People were scattered around talking and sipping on champagne.
It was a mixed crowd, half hood niggas, half business associates. Everyone stopped what they were doing to greet Tical when he entered with Nautica, who felt like a superstar on the red carpet. All eyes on them, it gave her a rush like no other.
Tical guided her through the crowd and over to the seats that sat right in front of the glass. He retrieved a bottle of champagne and two glasses from the waiter. He poured himself a glass. “You drinking with me?”
“Sure.” She grabbed the other glass from Tical. “This is nice,” she said, looking around.
“Yeah, I love coming here. I’m a big fan.” Tical took a sip of his drink.
Nautica noticed that Tical was grilling her. She smiled. “What? I got lipstick on my teeth?” she said jokingly.
“Nah, it’s just . . . never mind.” Tical looked away.
“No. What? Tell me.” Nautica nudged him.
“You’re just so beautiful.”
The sound of a woman’s voice interrupted their moment.
“So are you going to introduce me to you new friend?” Millie walked around to their seats and stood in front of them.
“Oh, yeah. Millie, this is Nautica. Nautica, Millie.” Tical waved an open hand toward Millie.
Millie extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Nautica shook her hand. “Same here. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She examined the slim, chocolate-skinned girl and remembered her from the picture in Tical’s home.
“Hope it was all good.” Millie punched Tical in the arm. She stared at Nautica for a minute, but looked away before Nautica thought she was being rude. “Well, you guys, enjoy the game. I’ma go catch the game with Gunplay.”
Nautica smiled and watched as Millie walked away. She felt like Millie was sizing her up, but brushed it off, not wanting to stir up anything. “So that’s her, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s my baby sis right there,” he answered, his eyes focused on the field as the game kicked off.
Nautica automatically knew that they shared a bond from the way he talked about Millie, but it was something about the way Millie looked at Tical that gave off more than a sister/ brother relationship.
“So what’s the scoop on her?” Millie said to Gunplay as she sipped on Grey Goose and cranberry on the rocks.
“She just a chick that he met the other night. She’s an actress for the show or something.” Gunplay glanced over at Tical and Nautica.
“Is that right?” Millie eyed Nautica down while taking a sip of her drink.
Tical was protective of Millie, but she was equally protective of him. She hated when sack chasers went after him. Tical usually didn’t deal with gold diggers, but sometimes he let a few slip through the crack, and that’s where she came in.
“She just probably another chick he’s going to ‘one-night.’” Millie smirked.
“Naw, shorty ain’t like that. Seem like she got her shit together. She drive that new six series . . . like yours.” Gunplay said in a instigating way, fucking with Millie. He knew how she felt about Tical and thought he’d have a little fun with her.
“Yeah, whatever, nigga.” Millie smiled at Gunplay, knowing what he was doing.
I’ma keep my eye on her ass.
Millie felt a bad vibe from her. Tical was smiling and laughing, something he rarely did. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was jealous. She knew that Nautica wasn’t all she was cracked up to be. Call it a woman’s intuition.
The game had just ended, and Nautica waited for Tical by the bar, sipping on a mixed drink. Tical stood by the door shaking each one of his business associate’s hand as they walked out of the door. He embraced each of his henchmen on his squad as they walked out also as the room got more empty by the second. Gunplay and Millie were the last to leave.
Gunplay stopped counting the money he’d just won betting on the game with another hustler. “Yo’, you want me to wait for you?”
“No, I’m good, fam. I will call you in morning.” Tical slapped hands with his best friend as he exited.
Millie followed close behind and hugged Tical as she left out the door. “See ya.”
Tical closed the door behind her and focused his attention on Nautica. He walked over and sat next to her. He poured himself a glass Hennessy on the rocks and patiently swirled the cup around, making the ice cubes clink. “Did you enjoy yourself?” He took a sip of his drink.
“Yeah, I really enjoyed myself, Tical.” Nautica placed her hand on his chest. She was in awe of him. She witnessed him hold conversations with professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and bankers; but he also had conversations with grimy-looking goons and hustlers all night. He gave her the right amount of attention that night to impress her. He wasn’t all over her, but he kept her entertained and involved in conversation. He was a well-rounded man, and Nautica not only sat back and observed, but she learned. Tical was the type of man she dreamed about, and she wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip through her hands.
Tical slid his hands into his pockets and gave her his boyish smile. “I was thinking . . . we should spend more time with each other. I’m a man that knows exactly what I want.
And I absolutely waste no time when going after something I desire.”
Nautica blushed. She stuck her finger in her drink and stirred it. “Do you see something you want?” she asked, her eyes connecting with his.
Tical gently bit his bottom lip and nodded his head slowly. He walked even closer to her, till his chest was nearly touching her forehead.
The smell of his Unforgiven cologne tantalized Nautica’s senses. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his midsection, his charm and magnetism overpowering her. She was tangled in his web. Nautica leaned in and let her lips touch his. The feeling of Tical’s soft, warm lips sent a chill down her body that seemed to stop right at her clitoris, causing it to pulsate.
Tical put down his drink and placed his hand on the back of Nautica’s neck. He slipped his tongue into her mouth. Nautica’s body took over her mind, and before she knew it, her tight jeans were unbuttoned and she’d straddled him.
Tical, kissing her passionately, began to massage her breasts, making her nipples hard as nails. He stood up and removed his shirt, displaying his body, which was marked up like a subway station in Harlem. He didn’t have a single space on his upper half that wasn’t tattooed. Tical had over thirty-two tattoos, and that only turned Nautica on even more. She also took off her shirt and bra, displaying her perky, dark-circled breasts.
The two of them looked into each other’s eyes while they undressed. Nautica had never experienced anything like it before. Of course, she’d had sex before, but this was intimacy.
Tical gently picked up Nautica and sat her on top of the bar, kissing her, moving his tongue in circles around hers. He dropped his jeans, exposing his curved rock-hard penis.
Nautica looked down, and her clitoris began to thump. She grabbed Tical’s hot rod and began to stroke it. She had never experienced a man with a curve and was waiting in heavy anticipation.
Tical slid her jeans off and then her panties, while continuing to kiss her. She was so wet, a small puddle of her juices formed on the bar where she was sitting. She began to rub his tattooed body and spread her legs open, exposing her pinkness. When Tical plunged deep into her wound, a slurping noise filled the air, and they grunted in unison.
Nautica tensed up and dug her nails into Tical’s ripped back. “Oooh,” she whispered, flicking her tongue at his earlobe. Tical began to move his hips like a seasoned Latin dancer while inside Nautica, going at a steady pace. His curve hit the right spot every time, and his balls tickled Nautica’s other hole every time he submerged. Nautica, in complete bliss, held on for dear life as he took her on the ride of her life with long, deep strokes.

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