Page 44 of Cause When You Love Someone
A mischievous smirk put the diamonds in his mouth on display. “My nigga. I taught you well.”
I turned to speak to Clarke, but Isabella was already pulling her in the direction of Shiloh’s daughters. Hypnotized by how her ass jiggled in her sundress, I could only grin when she peered over her shoulder and blew me a kiss.
Since Clarke was occupied, I wandered into a large party tent posted in a corner of the yard. A cloud met me at the entrance, and a smile spread across my face at the sight of women I considered sisters.
“What the hell are y’all doing back here?”
“Getting blazed,” Blaze answered for the group. “You want to hit this?”
Essen pushed her hand away. “You know Ishmael only smokes every blue moon.”
Though she was right, I reached for the rolled tobacco leaf and brought it up to my lips. From where I stood, I could see Clarke through the tent’s opening. She looked at peace amongst the impressionable bunch. Her smile seemed sincere, never wavering as she twisted one girl’s hair and another braided hers.
“Aww. Look at my brother,” Stevie cooed, interrupting my daydream. “You look like you’re ready to put a baby in her.”
“Not yet, but I do think she would be a good mother. She’s kind-hearted, ambitious?—”
Essen freed a low laugh. “And she can fight! If you hadn’t snatched her off that girl at the club, she would’ve stumped a hole in that ho. You know the internet is having a blast with the story.”
“She’s not lying.” Stony blew out a cloud of smoke. “Some of my old contacts posted aboutthe reality star and her bodyguard. Honestly, the shit will pass. By next week, the streets will be talking about someone else.”
“I’m not worried about it. People may be used to being in her mix, but I don’t play that shit. Our situation isn’t a secret, but for now, we’re keeping things private.”
After the blunts burned to ashes, everyone gathered to eat. Clarke’screwtried to sit beside her when they reached the table, but I parked myself in the spot before they could.
“Damn. You came with me and found new friends?”
“Wow. Are you jealous, Ishmael?”
I simpered when our eyes locked. “Would I be wrong if I said yes?”
“Yeah, but I would still want to make you feel better.”
When I sensed her fingers creep up my thigh, my teeth sank into my lower lip.
“Did I hurt your feelings, baby?” she asked in a whispery breath.
With slits for eyes, I searched the table to see if anyone was watching us, and of course, someone was. Durk grimaced and shook his head as he mouthed the words,y’all are nasty.
Like Clarke hadn’t started the explicit exchange, the siren attached to my hip buried her face into my shoulder.
“Don’t act shy now. You started the freaky shit.”
“I didn’t,” she crooned. “I just like touching you.”
“Touchingmeor my dick?”
“All of you. If I could touch your heart without making a scene, I would rip your clothes off.”
I placed a kiss on the tip of her nose and swallowed the premature promises sprouting on my tongue.
“Hey, man!” Durk yelled. “Knock that shit off. My wife don’t want to see that.”
Clover playfully slapped his shoulder. “I think they’re cute! Carry on!”
Despite Durk’s pestering, brunch was blessed with laughs and the exchange of stories I had heard before. Every time one of my brothers mentioned an instance when I had to remind someone I wasn’t to be tested, Clarke stared at me in amusement. Shame wasn’t the word I would use to describe how I felt about my past. Still, being in the limelight wasn’t my sweet spot.
By the time we finished eating and creating our own drinks, the sun sat on the horizon. Blaze sent the kids to the theatre room, and everyone else settled in different areas of the yard, relaxing with their mates or taking a minute for themselves.
