“Okay,” she said, feeling uneasy.
“Now give me hug.”
Joy stood up and wrapped her arms around him. She inhaled his scent; it drove her crazy. He removed the towel and rubbed her breast, then sucked on her nipple. Joy moaned. Shawn pushed her back on the bed and kissed her stomach. As soon as his mouth touched her clit, Joy felt like she came. Only after she was completely drained did he stop. He got up and started to leave. Joy jumped up. “Where you going? You not going to hit this?”
“When I come back. I have to go, ma,” he said and left.
Joy heard the front door slam. She laid back on the bed for a while then got dressed. She sat down on the bed again, not believing what was happening. She went into the living room and turned on the TV. Nothing was on. She got up and went into the kitchen, making herself a turkey sandwich. She grabbed a soda and went to sit down and finish watching Tyra do makeovers.
One hour passed, then another, no Shawn. The whole day passed, and Joy was left sitting on the couch watching TV all day. At some point in the afternoon the bell rang. Joy got up slowly, wondering who it could be.
She pressed the intercom. “Yeah?”
“Joy, let me in.”
“Rob?”
“Yeah, Shawn told me to meet him here.”
Joy was unsure about letting him in. She wished she could call Shawn and ask him, but she didn’t even have his cell phone number. Everything was happening so fast. Rob pressed the bell again. Joy pushed the buzzer and let him in the outer door. Hoping Shawn hurried back, she cracked the door and sat back down on the couch.
Rob came through the door smiling. “So, you his new bitch now?”
Joy ignored him as she got up and went into the kitchen for another soda. Rob followed right behind her.
“Tanya thought she had a nigga on lock cuz she knew how to suck a dick. I wish I could have seen that bitch beg.”
Joy sucked her teeth. “If you think you’re better than her, well, you’re not. You just as wrong. Ain’t Shawn supposed to be your friend? How can you fuck his girl?”
“Ho, you can’t say shit. I could say the same ’bout you. Why you still here? Plus, Shawn don’t give a fuck ’bout no ho. We passed around plenty bitches before.”
Joy grabbed a soda and left the kitchen, sitting back down on the sofa. Two seconds later, Rob sat next to her. He put his hand on her leg. Joy pushed it off and moved over. Rob grabbed her arms, pulled her to the floor and mounted her. He pinned her hands over her head.
“I know you want this.” He kissed her neck then ran his tongue all the way to her ear. He moved his tongue in and out.
Chills ran through her body and she felt herself weaken. “Stop. Please don’t do this.” She was scared Shawn would come in and get the wrong idea. He lifted her shirt, stuck his fingers under her bra and grabbed one of her breasts. He ran his thumb over her nipple. Joy was so turned on; she could feel the wetness between her legs. She fought harder, moving her legs from side to side, trying to get from under him.
“Rob, get the fuck off of me.”
“Yeah, you won’t be saying that in a minute when I put this thick meat in you, bitch. You’ll be begging for it, just like Tanya.”
Rob unzipped her pants, when Joy felt his weight lifted. She looked up and saw Shawn standing there. He helped her up and held her to him. “You all right, baby girl?”
Before she could respond, he sat her on the couch and went over to Rob, who smiled and held his dick. From the outline, Joy could tell he wasn’t lying about it being thick. Shawn went off on him. He punched him in the mouth and then the stomach. Rob doubled over and slid to the floor.
“Pick this nigga up and put him in the car,” Shawn said to Dre and some dude who was with him. He then let out a breath and went back over to Joy. He helped her fix her clothes, smoothed down her hair and held her hand. “Look, I’m sorry about that. I should have known that grimy nigga would try something. Deep down I should have known Tanya was a ho. I can feel that you’re different. I want you to be my girl. I told Rob not to fuck wit’ you like that. Ever since I known this nigga he has to have everything I have. Let me go deal with him and I’ll be back.”
Joy began to cry. She didn’t know what to say.
“I’ll stay here with you and let them handle it,” said Shawn, taking Joy’s tears as her still being upset about Rob. He took out his cell and called Dre, telling him to fuck Rob up and leave him somewhere, specifying not to kill him because he didn’t want his nephew to be without a dad.
He took Joy’s hand and led her into his room. Joy looked around. Tanya’s stuff was gone. Hangers were everywhere on the floor. He sat Joy on the bed, lifted one leg and took off her sneaker, then did the same with the other leg. Shawn removed his sneakers and motioned for her to lie back. They both laid side by side and were quiet for a long time. He played with her hair, wrapping some around his finger.
Joy waited until he went to sleep before she slipped out of bed. Everything between them was moving so fast, but she still couldn’t get Kevin out of her mind. She looked for her cell phone and dialed Kevin’s number. She listened and then looked at the phone in disbelief. Disconnected. He had changed his number. Joy became mad. “Why do I care? I have this nigga who’s trying to be with me,” she said out loud. Closing her phone, she decided to try to forget about Kevin.
“What you doing?” Shawn asked, opening the door.
“Shit. You scared me.”
“Why you jumping? What you doing?” he repeated.
“Nothing. I can’t sleep.” She was glad she had put her phone back in her bag.
“That shit still fucking with you?”
“Yeah.”
“I have just the thing for you. I’ll be right back.”
When he came back, he handed her a roll of hundreds.
“What’s this?”
“Money,” he laughed.
She tapped him on the shoulder. “I know that. But why you giving it to me?” she asked, trying not to show her happiness.
“That’s three stacks. Dream about what you want to buy and let me know where you want me to take you tomorrow. I have to make a run, so I see you later.”
“Okay,” Joy said, disappointed. She stuck out her lip and made a sad face.
“You’re so cute.”
“What if I need you?” she whined.
Shawn wrote down his cell number. “All right?”
He kissed her lips. Before she knew it, the front door slammed. Joy felt kind of relieved. He was feeling her too much, and that worried her.
Chapter Twenty-six
Shawn was gone all night and most of the next day. When he came home, Joy was sitting on the couch watching TV, which was all she seemed to do. She got up and greeted him with a hug and a kiss. He was surprised that she didn’t complain or question him.
He took a shower and changed into some fresh clothes. “Let’s go,” he said to Joy as he entered the room.
Joy got up and followed him out the door to a blue car.
“This is a nice car. What kind is it?”
“Thank you. It’s a 2008 G35 Infiniti Sport.”
Joy didn’t know where they were going. When she asked Shawn, he said it was a surprise. She laid back in the seat and closed her eyes. Two hours later, Shawn shook her awake. She looked out the window and saw a ‘Welcome to Atlantic City’ sign. She felt as excited as a kid at Christmas.
Joy looked around at all the casinos. She had never been here and was disappointed when Shawn told her they weren’t going in the casinos. He parked in Caesar’s garage. They then got on the elevator and went through the casino, out onto the boardwalk. Shawn led her into what looked like a candy store. Joy looked around and saw that it was, but they didn’t stop, they walked straight through into a mall.
He seemed to know his way around as they continued to the escalators to the second floor. She saw so many expensive stores. After three hours they had been into just about every store. Joy had bags from Burberry, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, more than she imaged. She laughed at the faces of the white people who shopped or worked in the stores, turning their noses up. Their mouths dropped open when Shawn laid stacks of cash on the counter.
After all the shopping, Shawn took her to a restaurant called Buddakan. As they were seated a waitress came right over. He ordered them a bottle of Moet. Joy looked over her menu. When the waitress came back they were both ready to order. For the appetizer, they ordered boneless Char Sui Spare Ribs with Chinese mustard. Joy ordered hot and sour scallops with sweet corn, tofu, and black mushrooms. Shawn ordered Asian barbequed pork, with Chinese broccoli and giant panko onion rings. It was so much food that Joy could not eat more than half her plate. They didn’t talk much, spending the entire time shoving food in their faces and looking into each other’s eyes. Joy smiled so much her face began to hurt. Shawn was like a vacuum. He ate his food, the rest of the appetizer, and what she didn’t finish of her food. They finished the bottle of Moet. He was going to order dessert but decided against it when Joy didn’t want anything. He paid and they left.
Back in the car, Shawn let Joy drive. Joy was nervous because she had never driven a long distance or at night. But Shawn was patient, and so Joy soon relaxed. In no time, they were home. They went to the bedroom Shawn used to share with Tanya. When he opened the door, he turned on the light. He stood there shocked, mouth hanging open.
“Damn, Joy, what did you do?”
“Uhhh.” Joy didn’t know what to say. She thought he was angry, but then he grabbed her and kissed her lips.
Joy had changed everything in the room. She had found a JC Penney’s catalog and ordered a hardwood canopy bed with a rich black finish and brushed nickel-finished hardware, with dovetailed joints. Also, a matching dresser, lamp, night stand and TV stand. She had bought curtains to match, and had them rush it for an extra five hundred dollars.
Shawn pulled her to the bed, yanked off her clothes then his. He laid her down and climbed on top of her. He opened her legs and eased into her. Joy let out a soft moan. He looked into her eyes and stroked. “You’re so beautiful. You’re mine now; I’m making you my wife.”
Tears ran down Joy’s face. So many emotions ran through her. She stared back at Shawn, taking in the sincerity in his face. He sped up just a little and Joy felt herself tremble as she came. She could feel that Shawn was about to come. He kissed her as he came inside of her. He didn’t move off of her. They laid like that a while, Shawn twirled Joy’s hair as she rubbed his back, until they feel asleep.
Chapter Twenty-seven
As the weeks went by, Joy and Shawn grew closer. They talked, watched movies and enjoyed each other. Shawn neglected his business, and his workers began blowing up his phone.
They were both in bed one evening when Shawn sprang up to get dressed.
“Where you going?” Joy asked.
“I have to handle something right quick.”
“Okay, baby, be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
Shawn finished dressing, kissed Joy and left. Joy rolled onto her stomach to go back to sleep, when she heard the front door open. She got out of bed, thinking Shawn had returned. Before she could open the bedroom door, it flew back, hitting her and knocking her to the floor. She laid on the floor for a moment, then someone dragged her into the living room. A little disorientated, she didn’t struggle at first.
There was a throbbing pain in her head. Cracking her eyes, she took a quick look around. Three guys in masks stood around, Shawn laid on the floor with his hands and legs tied together behind his back. His left eye was swollen shut and his slanted nose bled. His right eye was open and he stared right at her. Naked, she tried to cover herself some with her arms.
One of the guys motioned with his hands, like he didn’t want to talk. The other two looked at him, motionless. Finally, he spoke. “Take that nigga in the bathroom.”