Page 6 of Tempted to Love You
Kodak removes the gun and takes a few steps backward, allowing me an opportunity to flee.
The heat and spittle coming from Kodak’s mouth have me envisioning myself bleeding out in this grass if I’m unlucky enough to run into him again. My legs are wobbling like V.I.C. is blasting over a sound system, and my knees are knocking, preventing me from retreating like I need to.
“I got her, Kodak. She needs a minute after your ass hemmed her up at gunpoint,” AC interjects, coming to my rescue for the second time.
“Remind her nosy ass that my words aren’t baseless. I won’t spare her again.” With that, Kodak walks away, allowing me to breathe for the first time since encountering him.
Tears fall rapidly from my eyes, and my chest tightens and releases from the gravity of what could have happened. I’m the one who normally writes about stories such as this one, butknowing that I was seconds from becoming the headline has me out of sorts.
“Come on so I can get you out of here, mama.”
For the first time since hearing AC’s voice, I’m able to visually acknowledge my rescuer, and my breaths stall in my chest. AC is over six feet tall with a muscular physique that can’t be hidden beneath the vest adorning his body. The white shirt behind the vest has several buttons undone where a gold chain rests. The dress shirt sleeves are rolled up to AC’s elbows like he had been preparing for battle if need be. The lack of lighting in this area makes it impossible for me to see AC’s face, which is the motivation I need to head to my car.
Standing upright, I slowly head to where AC’s rapt attention is on me. As if I’m not already on the edge, I damn near jump out of my skin when AC’s hand lands on my lower back, sending a jolt of electricity surging through me.
“You can breathe now, mama. I got you, but promise me that you won’t return here. This scene isn’t for you. Besides, I can’t guarantee I’ll be in the vicinity to protect you from these reckless mothafuckas if you do.” AC’s husky vernacular flows over my body like butter, causing shivers to run down my spine.
“I-I promise.”
At this point, I’d agree to anything AC asks for just to ensure he doesn’t have a reason to be disappointed with me.
Rakai
It’s crazy to find yourself attracted to a woman you can’t fully see due to the cloak of darkness. Yet, the minute my hand hit this woman’s back, something possessive surged through me. This is one of the few times I’ve been happy about dropping Ronzell off at home. Spending time in prison and exiting with plans to change my life had me avoiding Ritown Projects and any of my previous turf. Yet, doing a favor for Ronzell had me in the right place at the perfect time tonight.
Under the dim streetlights in the parking lot, I’m able to get a partial view of this mystery woman. Her almond-shaped brown eyes, slender cheeks, and thick, kissable lips nearly hypnotize me. The urge to snatch the royal blue bonnet from her head so I can see all of her hits me hard. What’s worse is the continuous visual of this woman lying in my bed wearing this same bonnet. Since walking out the gates of Ribax Correctional, my thoughts have been on rebuilding and rebranding myself without any romantic interests. However, I’m now staring at this woman, wondering if she prefers satin or Egyptian cotton sheets.
“So, what had you on the wrong side of the tracks? I could smell your fear and knew instantly you didn’t belong in Ritown Projects.”
“I didn’t think anybody was watching me.”
Something about this woman’s naivety irks me because there’s no way she thought she could fly under the radar in a seedy neighborhood like Ritown Projects.
“Where’s your man, mama? Clearly, he’s slipping if he got you out here with blinders on while roaming in dangerous territories.” The aggression in my tone can’t be prevented due to the lava surging through my bloodstream from the gravity of this situation.
A grimace forms on Latia’s lips, and the area around her eyes tightens as fire fills her expression. Leaning against the vehicle, Latia crosses her arms before attempting to give me the what for.
“I don’t have a man because my last one treated me like his child with his condescending attitude and high-handed n?—”
“Hold up. High what? I know he didn’t put his dick beaters on you, mama.” Like a volcano, fire surges through my body, and my hands immediately ball into fists.
Giggles escape Latia’s mouth, instantly bringing a glow to her warm peanut butter skin while deflating my aggression like a tire.
“No. I just meant that he would talk down to me all the time. The straw that broke the camel’s back was his intolerance to my sensitive nature. He called me a wimp who isn’t capable of handling the pressure of life.”
“What’s his name?”
An inferno begins simmering in the pit of my stomach, and wrinkles stretch across my forehead as I wait.
“Irrelevantis his name. On another note, I have to be up early for work, and a girl needs her beauty sleep.”
“You could get thirty-six hours of sleep and wouldn’t be any less beautiful than you already are.”
Latia’s cheeks turn red, and her eyelids flutter, causing my chest to expand from the action.
“Thank you for stopping him from hurting me. I appreciate you, AC?—”
“Actually, my name is Rakai,” I interject before she can call me the same dumb ass moniker as Kodak.
