Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (21 page)

“
Yeah, I’m straight,” he returned calmly still looking into her face.

“
What’s wrong,” Kim tentatively asked, praying he didn’t know about Tyshon.

“
Are you going to leave me Kim,” he asked point blank.

She frowned deeply.

“
No, why would you ask me a crazy question like that,” she returned, reaching out and touching his face lovingly once more.

He shrugged slightly before answering her.

“
Hell, you haven’t let me touch you in almost a month,” Mook replied calmly, the rage he felt inside, anything but calm.

“
You’re secretive now, clandestine meetings and shit,” he baited.

Kim swallowed hard. That last statement had alarm bells ringing at full volume in her mind.

“
Mook, there’s so much going on,” she told him as he sighed deeply.

“
So you’re sticking to the moving and being exhausted story,” he asked tightly.

Kim knew from the tone he was getting angry.

“
Mook, I --,” she started before he cut her off.

“
Kim, stop playing with me,” he told her angrily. “You know I don’t do bullshit, so tell you what, you stop and think about what you are about to say to me,” Mook railed. “If it’s not the truth, then you save that bullshit, and please remember, I am not stupid,” he added as she again swallowed hard.

“
I haven’t let you touch me because I’ve been scared,” she answered softly.

Mook frowned deeply, the confusion of her answer showing on his face.

“
Scared of what Kim,” he returned, taking some of the venom from his voice.

“
I went to the doctor before we left Gary,” she continued, not looking at him as she spoke.

Mook got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach when she said the words, but he needed to hear all of it.

“
Okay, and,” he prompted, reaching out and taking one of her hands.

“
I went for my normal checkup, you know, exam, pap smear, stuff like that,” Kim told him, her voice wavering.

She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“
A week later my doctor’s office called, said my pap smear was abnormal,” Kim told him, finally looking up and finding his eyes.

Mook nodded mutely, his throat constricted in pain and fear.

“
I didn’t want to freak out about it, I mean it could have just been a bad slide,” she explained. “So I went back and had another one done,” Kim continued.

“
The next week they called again with the same results,” she went on, wiping the errant tear that slid down her cheek. “This time my doctor wanted to do a biopsy,” she told Mook, who again nodded and withheld comment.

“
Mook, I’ve been waiting for those results since we left Gary, terrified every day that I would get a call and hear the words, you have cervical cancer,” she told him finally breaking down.

Mook quickly pulled Kim into his arms, holding her tightly, kissing her cheek gently.

“
Baby, it’s okay,” he told her quietly as she nodded and pulled away.

“
You’re right,” she told him, looking lovingly into his eyes now. “I got the call late yesterday afternoon and I was going to tell you last night,” she began as Mook silently kicked himself.

“
But you never came home,” Kim finished softly as Mook lifted her chin and kissed her passionately.

“
Miss Kim you should have never kept this from me,” Mook chided gently. “I’m your husband, I love you and I’m here for you,” he added as Kim nodded and told him she didn’t want to worry him, especially if it turned out to be nothing.

“
I get that baby,” Mook told her. “But don’t ever, ever, keep a secret like that from me again, okay,” he asked as she assured him she wouldn’t.

Mook hugged her to him, holding her in his arms as he silently thanked God she was fine. He still wanted to know about the guy he saw her with, but as he thought about her mannerisms that day, Mook knew she wasn’t into the guy the way he was obviously into her.
Maybe he was someone she reached out too in fear,
he reasoned. He definitely felt better about the sexual aspect, knowing with all that was on her mind, sleeping with someone else definitely wasn’t.

“
I’m sorry, Mook,” Kim told him quietly.

Mook looked down into her eyes, kissing her again, pushing her gently back onto the bed picking up where they’d left off. Kim sighed softly as Mook’s tongue began working her over, silently thanking God she was cancer free, that Mook was here and safe, and that her secret was still undiscovered.

*****

Layla smiled looking at Shells number in her phone. She chuckled thinking how easy it had been to get it.
CiCi is entirely too trusting,
she continued to chuckle making herself a cup of tea. Normally she wasn’t up this early, but she’d gotten a call almost an hour ago warning of her impending visitor. Layla had great plans for Shells. She couldn’t wait to get him inside her. He was absolutely sexy, she thought as the short knock came to the door. Sighing slightly she walked over and opened it, inviting them inside.

“
You want coffee,” she asked as the arms enveloped her.

“
No,” he replied calmly. “You look ravishing,” he remarked, kissing her lips and releasing her.

“
Thank you,” she replied coming and sitting down on the couch beside him.

“
How are things going,” he asked, gently stroking her face.

“
So far, so good,” Layla replied as she sipped the tea.

His unwavering stare unnerved her, turning her on all at the same time. He was deadly and she knew it, but so far he’d done everything he’d promised.

“
You cannot get caught up Layla,” he told her evenly.

She knew what he said was true, but she also caught the slight hint of his threat.

“
I’m not,” she replied smoothly. “I’m doing what you contracted me to do,” she added as he grunted slightly.

“
Can we go to your bedroom now,” King Diesel asked calmly.

Rising she reached out for him as he took her hand and followed her inside. The room was beautifully decorated in vibrant teals and blues, very energizing to the sight. He pulled Layla to him, kissing her neck now as he removed the string like straps of her nightie and it slid off her voluptuous body to the floor. She returned the favor, undressing him and kissing his chest softly. Making her way down his toned body, she took his stiffening member in her mouth, pleasuring him as he guided her head, establishing a rhythm. His breathing became more and more erratic as Layla worked him over, her tongue bringing him closer and closer to orgasm. Finding the strength to make her stop, he pulled Layla to her feet. King Diesel lifted her from the floor, placing her on the teal sheeted king bed, kissing her deeply, sucking her breasts, as he parted her legs and slid inside her, thrusting deeply, taking every advantage of all he’d paid for when he hired her.

Layla’s mind raced behind the closed lids as King Diesel had his way with her. She still didn’t know how he’d found out about her friendship with Cyiarra, but after the money he’d offered her, she didn’t care. Cyiarra wasn’t a part of his plan and Layla had no love or loyalty to those that did. It was survival of the fittest in this game and Layla had plans to come out on top. “Mmm,” she moaned as the sensations began to overtake her and remove the pondering from her mind. King Diesel was definitely good at what he did her body reminded as the orgasm descended and she arched her back crying aloud how very exceptional he was. “You’re delicious love,” he murmured in her ear, continuing to consume her. Layla wondered what it would be like to be with him on a daily basis. If things didn’t work out with Shells, she needed someone to fall back on. She was tired of struggling and King Diesel definitely had the funds to keep her wet and ready on daily basis. “Aah Layla,” he moaned a final time, thrusting into her as she felt his semen enter her, hot and surging. King Diesel relaxed atop her, his lips brushing lightly against her neck. Gathering himself, he rose and began to dress. “I’ll contact you again in a few days,” he told her gently, leaning down and kissing her before turning and leaving her in the bedroom, closing the front door behind him.

18

Ashlyn was nervous as hell. Sa’Cari kept telling her to relax but she couldn’t.
What if his mother hates me,
she thought anxiously exiting the shower and returning to the hotel room. Sa’Cari was on the phone when she entered the room.

“
Yeah mama, we’ll be there around 6:30PM or so,” he spoke. “I want to show Ashlyn around some of the old haunts and stuff,” he threw out as he finally looked up seeing her and smiled.

“
No mama, she’s not picky, whatever you cook is good,” he told her still smiling at Ashlyn who smiled back. “OK see you later,” he finished disconnecting and giving her a kiss.

“
She can’t wait to meet you,” he assured her as Ashlyn sighed softly. “Baby, stop trippin’,” Sa’Cari told her, accurately reading her mind.

“
Does she know we’re staying here together,” Ashlyn asked, glancing around the hotel room.

Sa’Cari chuckled, hugging her tightly.

“
Baby, we are grownups,” he teased as she laughed slightly.

“
I know, but,” she got out before he kissed her again.

“
Relax Ashlyn,” he told her kissing her neck now.

“
Come here,” Sa’Cari spoke, pulling her toward the king bed.

“
No, you said we were going out,” she protested mildly until his lips found her nipple and his tongue drew lazy circles around it.

“
Not fair,” she told him as Sa’Cari chuckled and proceeded to continue arousing her, leading to ardent lovemaking.

Ashlyn sighed contentedly when he finally rose and told her he was taking a shower. “We’ll head out and see some stuff when I get out,” he told her as she nodded, closing her eyes hoping to get a quick nap while he showered.

Her cell buzzed, disturbing her pending sleep and Ashlyn sighed deeply reaching over and picking it up. ‘You straight,’ the message read. Tae’s signature was at the bottom. Ashlyn quickly returned the text apologizing for forgetting to text her earlier. Tae sent another reply telling her it was fine and to have a good time. Smiling, Ashlyn laid the phone down and decided to go ahead and get up. She walked into the bathroom as Sa’Cari was heading out.

“
Don’t be all day,” he teased as she shot him a look and he burst into laughter.

She took another quick shower, dressing afterward. As she stood in the bathroom putting on her makeup, Ashlyn thought about Sa’Cari and how quickly she’d fallen for him.
What if he doesn’t feel that same way,
her mind taunted. Maybe her sister Prissy was right and she was just a college fling for him. Ashlyn prayed that wasn’t the case. She felt very deeply for Sa’Cari, unable to really explain why.
You better start making him strap up too,
her mind once again warned. Ashlyn was pretty good about taking her pills, but sometimes she forgot or was late. She didn’t need to come up pregnant right now, her parents killing her, and Sa’Cari leaving her came quickly to mind. Ashlyn made a mental note to tell him get some condoms on the way back from his mother’s tonight.

“
Come on baby if we’re going to make any stops before heading to my mom’s,” Sa’Cari called out breaking her thought.

“
I’m coming,” she replied sweetly.

“
Yeah, I’ll make sure of that later when we get back,” he teased.

“
Nasty,” she told him walking into the room where he stood.

“
You like it,” Sa’Cari replied kissing her again. “Ready,” he asked as she took another breath and told him yes.

*****

Horse was helping Sapphire in the kitchen, enjoying every moment of their time spent together.

“
I hope this girl is all that Sa’Cari thinks she is,” she remarked, no malice in her comment.

Horse grumbled slightly telling her he hoped so as well. He of course kept his true reasons very private as she asked him to taste the spaghetti sauce she’d just made.

“
Delicious,” he replied smiling as she thanked him and continued bustling about in the kitchen.

Horse hadn’t seen her quite this happy and animated in a while. He again said a quick prayer for a donor kidney so she wouldn’t have to face the grueling hours of dialysis again.

“
I think he’s very serious about her,” Sapphire confided, turning to Horse once again, regarding him.

He nodded thoughtfully before speaking.

“
He’s like Socrates that way,” he replied still looking intently at her as Sapphire smiled slightly, replying he was right.

“
Even more reason I hope she’s real,” she spoke. “I don’t want my son’s heart broken over some girl playing games,” she added as Horse readily agreed with her.

“
I need to go shower,” she spoke aloud, checking the clock on the bar.

“
Go ahead, I’ll watch everything,” Horse volunteered.

Smiling she thanked him taking off the chefs apron and walking out of the kitchen. She stopped at the threshold turning to him once more.