Kisses and Lies

“Why did you tell my mother you’re my boyfriend?” I ask as he touches me.

“I wanted to see how it sounded on my lips.” He kisses my lips again.

“And how did it sound?” I ask between touches and soft kisses that make me lose my train of thought.

“I’ll let you know.”

Chapter Nineteen

Rochelle

Marcus doesn’t stop at my house to get my things before heading to his place. When we arrive, I see a light out front.

“Fuck,” Marcus curses, then comes to a stop. It’s then that I see it’s Blaze leaning against his bike with his light on. When we get closer, he turns it off, kicks off his bike, and walks toward us.

Marcus turns to me. “Just wait in the car.”

Words fail me as Marcus gets out. The light comes on in the truck and Blaze looks at me, his eyes narrowing as he walks over to Marcus.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” he asks.

Marcus’ window is down slightly, so I can hear what they’re saying.

“You don’t get to tell me who the fuck I can bring to my house. Now, what the fuck do you want?”

Blaze’s angry eyes turn to me. “Your friend is back on the drugs. Did you even know that?”

What the fuck!

I open the door and walk around to him. “I saw her yesterday. She’s fine,” I say defensively.

He scoffs. “No, she isn’t. But it’s sweet of you to think so.” His lips turn up into a sinister smile.

“She’s been good,” I say back to him, clearly confused. I know she has. I’ve made a point of going to see her as often as possible. Tanika even said she was coming around tomorrow.

“She avoided me until she no longer could. The boys said she came over last night to get high.” My hand covers my mouth. “Of course, they said no and kicked her out.”

“Well, she isn’t high, then.”

“There are other places to get drugs, good girl.”

Ignoring his words, I call her. Tanika answers straight away. Her voice sounds happy as she answers. I look back to Blaze, wondering if I should believe him or not.

But why would he lie about this?

“Tan.”

“Yeah, babe.”

“I have to ask you something.”

“Umm…” She laughs. “Okay.”

“Are you using again?”

Silence greets me, and my heart drops so hard in my chest I wonder if it will ever come back up to beat again.

“I tried. I was going to. But I didn’t. I promise.” Tanika starts crying into the phone, and I feel bad, but I’m so happy she’s told me the truth, and even happier that she refrained.

“I’m going to her,” Blaze says, walking away and getting on his bike.

“I can come to you. Or Blaze is.” She doesn’t speak. “Tan?”

“Blaze. Sorry, Rochelle, but I can’t take your stare right now. I know you don’t judge, but I still feel as if I judge myself when you are around. Blaze doesn’t judge…” she pauses before she speaks again in a smaller voice. “I tried to be good, I swear.”

“You’re doing great. Blaze just left.” His bike is loud as he pulls away. “Stay put until he gets to you, okay? Do you want to stay on the phone with me until Blaze gets there?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, so how was your day?”

Her breathing becomes more even, and I can still hear the faint cry as she speaks, “No, tell me about yours, and why you are anywhere near Blaze.” I turn to Marcus, who’s on his cell. My eyes scan him from head to toe in appreciation, my heart beats fast as I admire him. He looks up, spots me, and winks before he goes back to his call.

My heart takes on a life of its own.

“I’m going to fuck Marcus tonight,” I blurt it out.

Hazel eyes look back to me, mischief playing in them as he slides his cell back in his pocket and walks toward me.

“Oh my God, is he there?”

“Yep, right in front of me,” I say as he leans forward and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes as his lips leave my skin and he walks around behind me.

“Okay, that’s hot. I thought you hadn’t spoken or seen him in ages?”

“I hadn’t,” I say, as I feel the ribbon belt of my dress come undone. Then he unzips the zipper over my ass and touches my bare ass when he sees I’m not wearing any panties.

“Blaze seemed happy that you weren’t seeing him. I don’t think he likes you all that much,” Tan speaks. Her voice is sounding calmer. I look out to the night sky. No other lights are around us, and the only light we have is from the moon and my cell, which is glued to my ear, as he lives out in the middle of nowhere.

“I don’t care what he thinks.”

Tanika chuckles at my breathless words. “I know that as well.”