CHAPTER THREE
1527 Words
CHAPTER THREE
Abby, Shad Sidney’s young, blonde housekeeper, escorted Osana into the living room of the billionaire’s Victorian-style mansion that night. “Make yourself at home, Ms. Royal.”
“Abby, you don’t have to be so formal when I drop by.” Osana sat on the Italian couch which accented the white room. “I told you a long time ago to call me by my first name.”
A wide smile took up Abby’s face. “Mr. Sidney insists I treat you like a queen at all times.”
Osana laid her purse beside her. “That’s silly.”
“No, it’s not.” Shad sauntered inside and stood underneath the crystal chandelier. “Because you are a queen.” He bent over Osana. “You’re my queen.” He clamped her lips between his. “Mm. I needed that.”
She stroked his immaculate, midnight-black goatee. “So did I.”
“Bye, Abby.” He waved without looking at her.
She snickered as she scampered from the room.
Shad sat beside Osana, nestling his statuesque, semi-muscular frame against her.
Her n*****s peaked just from him being in the vicinity.
He cupped her hand in his. “How have you been?”
“Better now that I’m here with you.” She laid her head on his shoulder, basking in the trace of his Jasmin-scented cologne. “Work was a jungle. The press was everywhere because of Preston’s murder.”
“Yeah, that’s all everyone was talking about at Swipe Play too.” He rubbed his black hair, which he wore short with a tall pompadour at the top. “I can’t believe it. My family and his go way back.”
“That’s right.” She lifted her head. “You and Preston were kinda close back in the day.”
“Yeah, I used to think of him as an older brother.” He sighed, his pear-green eyes losing their shine. “This is devastating. Who would want to hurt Preston?”
Osana swallowed, but the lump remained in her throat.
“I called his sister, Gloria, to pay my respects.”
“Right.” She bit her lip. “You dated her, didn’t you?”
He fidgeted.
“You can admit it.” She touched his lap. “Silly, it was years ago. I won’t have an issue with it. We’ve both had relationships before.”
“It wasn’t that serious. Anyway, she’s torn up like you’d expect her to be.”
Even then, she became lost in how the light tan flattered his fair skin.
“Preston murdered?” He sighed. “Osana, this doesn’t make any sense.”
“Maybe there was something he was hiding.”
“A secret?” He raised a bushy eyebrow.
“Everyone has secrets.”
His forehead puckered. “Are you getting at something?”
“It’s just that everyone is going on and on about how great Preston is, but he might’ve had it coming.”
“Osana.” He grimaced. “The man was beat to death. Why would you say something so cold?”
“I don’t mean to sound cold but everyone needs to stop assuming they know everything about him.” She shrugged. “That’s all.”
“I’ve known Preston for years. He was the most gracious person.”
She rolled her eyes, sighing.
“He’s someone I would go to for advice and he’d always be there for me. We lost touch over the years, but he’ll always be a big influence.”
“I’m sorry if I sound insensitive.” She put her arms around him. “Look, I’ve been hearing about Preston all day and I wanna get away from it.” She kissed him, capturing his fleshy bottom lip between hers. “I came here to be with you.” She climbed on his lap, gyrating. “You feel that?”
“Yes.” He laid his head back.
“My n*****s are so hard.” She rubbed his shirt. “You know what I thought about on the way over here?”
“I think I can guess,” he said with less excitement than she expected.
“You inside me.” She closed her eyes, rocking faster. “I want you all the time, Shad.” She kissed him, panting. “I need you to take my mind off everything. So much stress.” She unbuttoned his shirt.
“Osana.”
“I need you, baby.” She planted kisses along the patch of hair on his chest. “Make me forget everything okay? Please.”
“Osana.” He grabbed her hand. “Wait.”
“What is it?” She rolled her middle against his crotch. “I can feel you want to.”
“I want to.” He licked her raspberry lipstick from his mouth. “I always want you. That’s not the problem here.”
“I didn’t realize there was a problem.” She got off him. “Is something wrong?”
He scooted up, buttoning his shirt. “I’m tired of this.”
“Of what?”
“Of you coming for s*x or a shoulder.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can’t do this anymore, Osana.” He put his arm on the back of the couch. “I’ve told you a million times what I want, and you still haven’t given it.”
“What haven’t I given you?”
“Your heart.” He placed the tip of his finger on her lips. “I’m tired of us making love and you acting like it’s part of some business deal.”
She turned away.
“During s*x you’re so open but the minute I mention commitment you fizzle. Why do you keep coming back?”
“The same reason you keep jumping my bones when I do.”
His mouth curled up in the corner. “I jump your bones because it’s the only way you allow me to get close to you.”
“You don’t have to worry because with the way you’re acting I might not be coming back anymore.”
“And here it comes.” He sneered. “The wall. What will it take to break down that wall? I’ve been begging for you to let me in.”
“What the hell do you want from me, Shad? I’m doing the best I can.”
He straightened, grabbing her. “I want you to be vulnerable with me even if you’re afraid of being hurt.”
She stood. “I’m sick of hearing this every time we’re together.”
He rose, holding on to her. “You’re gonna hear it as long as it takes for me to get through to you. I want that passion, Osana.” He pulled her close. “I want you to have the same passion to be vulnerable with me as when we make love.”
“I’m not wired that way.” She shoved him. “I told you that. You take what I give you or nothing at all.”
“When we first got together, you ended things. I let it go even though I’ve never wanted a woman like I do you. Then, you came back begging me to try it again because you felt empty without me.”
“Wait. I did not beg you for a damn thing.” She wiggled her neck. “I don’t beg.”
“Oh you begged, sweetheart.”
She fumbled with her purse. “You better go somewhere with that begging crap.”
“Why did we start things over if you continue to shut me out?”
“Shad—”
“I love you.” He rubbed his hands. “I’ve loved you for years. Let me in. Not just into your bed.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I need your heart.”
“There’s something you don’t understand.” She moved away from him. “Maybe I want a shoulder and great sex.”
“Well, I want more.” He caressed her hair. “You do too but too afraid to say so.”
“This is who I am, Shad.” She pushed his hand away. “If you can’t deal with it then we can go our separate ways.”
“Oh you’d like me to agree to that,” he snapped. “It’ll make it so much easier for you to keep running, wouldn’t it?”
She clacked out the room in her pumps.
“Osana!”
She kept walking.
****
“Hey.” Leslie raced through the foyer, wiping her hands with a dishtowel when Osana got home. “You got a call while you were out. Since Preston’s murder I’ve been antsy. Did anything funny happen at work?”
“I told you everything will be fine.” Osana went through the mail. “If you keep your mouth shut then you don’t need to worry.”
“Osana, you swear you didn’t—”
“I didn’t kill him for the last fuckin’ time.” She slammed down the mail. “God, Leslie you know me.”
“I do but can you blame me for being worried?”
Osana shook off the concern for Leslie and held her waist. “I have more important things to think about than your feelings right now. Who called me?”
“Some guy named Max Ace.”
“Who?” Osana dropped her hands. “I don’t know anyone named Max Ace.”
“He knows you.” Leslie watched her, squinting. “He says it’s important. Here’s his number.” She passed Osana a piece of paper and headed toward the elevator.
“And he didn’t say why he called?”
Leslie walked on without answering.
Osana pulled out her cellphone and dialed the number.
“Hello,” a husky voice answered.
“Uh, yes. Is this Max Ace?”
“Osana Royal.” He moaned. “I’m glad you called.”
“Excuse me for asking but who are you and how did you get my number?”
“One thing you’re gonna learn is I’m very resourceful, Ms. Royal. We need to talk.”
She batted her eyes. “What would we need to talk about when I don’t even know you?”
“But I know you,” he sang the last word.
“Okay, I’m not in the mood for games. What the hell do you want?”
“I said I want us to talk.”
She clenched her teeth. “We are talking.”
“What I have to discuss won’t work over the phone. You know where Myers Road is?”
“Yes, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in that part of town.”
“There’s a bar called Hollywood. Meet me there tomorrow evening as soon as you get off work. You get off about five, right?”
“Are you crazy? I’m not meeting you anywhere especially not in some dingy bar. You’re a stranger.”
“I won’t be for long.” He chuckled. “We have something in common. Does the name Preston Kinard ring a bell?”
Osana’s stomach did summersaults. “What do you want?”
“Come to Hollywood alone, and I’ll tell you.”
“Wait...”
He hung up.
- Writer
