Page 82 of Dope Boys: Most Wanted
“Tell me these niggas aren’t going to be in this meeting?”
Markus rumbled in laughter. “Who the fuck you think I am? Get off my line.”
“Aight,” Svyn said, sharing before hanging up.
Markus shook his head and slipped the phone into his pocket, and took Reign in. Shoulders pinned to her ears, movements sharp, brows creased. “I can see your wheels spinnin’ from here. Come talk to me.”
She grabbed her bag and offered him a faint smile. “You’re going to be late.”
“I’m not. Not flying out until eleven. I need to make sure my lady eats. She got this thing where she’ll work all day and forget to eat.”
Reign rolled her eyes and watched him sit on the arm of the couch and gestured her over. She waded, nibbling at the plumpness of her lip with the need to tell him, but kept it close to her chest. He needed Javier’s pipeline; she wouldn’t sabotage that. Reign’s feet ambled to him, stopping once she stood between his legs, and his hands found themselves under her skirt, caressing her skin through the opaque tights she wore.
“I don’t know this lady you got. Sounds like she doesn’t listen,” Reign spoke, placing her hands on his shoulder. “Packed the Motrin for your shoulder.”
“I did, but the pain is a reminder. I’m good. You good?”
Reign gave him a faint smile. “You made sure I was good well into the morning.”
Markus rumbled in laughter against the fabric of her dress. “Only bright side about me leaving is you’ll get through the night untouched.”
Reign groaned, her hands moving from his shoulders to his tattooed neck. “We went over this. I just want you to be safe. That’s all.”
“You sure?” he posed.
“I’m sure,” she replied with half the truth. Markus pulled away and looked up at her. His eyes pierced through her – seeing her again. His wisdom chose to let her have this, for right now. When he got back, he’d address that moth of fear floating around that flame of the unspoken trauma.
Markus pulled her face down to meet his. A gentle kiss. Assuring, poured to the brim with fullness. “I got to get back to you. Always safe.”
“Okay,” she hummed, allowing herself to melt in his hold. “Let’s go before I find a reason for you to stay.”
A soft tap to her ass and another kiss to her face, he stood and escorted her out of the house to his awaiting car. They enjoyed breakfast tucked away from public view, and when he walked her into the salon, she felt that weight come back.
“Nia will be over here-”
“Around seven. She said something about dinner and clubs and fuck these niggas,” Reign completed his sentence, releasing a giggle.
Markus grabbed her by the waist and grumbled in her ear. “You playin’ like you don’t have the top killer in the city wrappedaround your finger. Don’t get nobody put down ‘cause you playing.”
Reign allowed herself to rest in his crazy and his warmth – a magical mix. “I was just joking.”
“I hear you giggling. Don’t let Nia get her ass in trouble,” Markus shared, kissing her cheek and letting her go once the first stylist strolled through the back door. “Call you.”
“I’ll answer,” she assured, combating the chill of the separation. “Safe.”
“Safe,” he promised, heading toward the back door.
Once Markus was out of the salon, Reign started moving around, opening it up for business. The two moved around each other in silence before Kay-Dee broke it.
“How’d you bag him?” she asked more nosey than truly curious. Reign looked over her shoulder and caught the envy in her eyes. She accepted that that wayward, misdirected envy was something that came with the territory.
She creased her brows slightly before laughing off the question. “What do you mean?”
Kay-Dee pushed her bundles out of her face and placed her hands on her hips. “I mean, that’s the top dawg in the city now. He never gave no bitch as much attention as he’s giving you. I heard you got you in a huge brown stone in the ‘burbs. What kind of pussy you throwing at him?”
Reign took in a deep breath, schooled her features, and responded.
“It’s not always about pussy. Some men just want something real.” Reign looked over the BBL, the weave, the bright, big veneers, and hummed. “Something that keeps their feet on the ground, I guess.”
