Chapter 17

MORGAN

As I walked away from Mrs Tejada, I could see Jabari and his father nearing where I was. He had a smile on his face but it dropped the moment he saw me. I could tell my eyes were as red as they could be because I was holding all kinds of emotions in. I felt pain in my heart. I’ve heard of some mothers being real bitches towards their sons’ women and never thought I'd experience that. It was more crazy to me because we were not even a couple. The disrespect was just too much. I had too many thoughts running through my head.

Jabari left his dad’s side to come talk to me. He looked and sounded worried when he came to me. He took my hands in his and asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”

“Please take me back home,” I replied.

“What happened? Talk to me. Did my mum say something to you?”

“Bari, take me home or let me get a ride. I don't want to be here anymore.” I said softly and he nodded. He started walking towards the dining area where his mum was but I held him back, “I don't want to go back there.”

“Alright. Let’s go.” I was not expecting him to agree to my request so easily but I was grateful when he did. His dad stood still the whole time we had our little conversation and was getting ready to leave.

“Dad, I've got to take Morgan back. I don't know what Mum said to her.” He shook his head while he spoke. ”I thought we could have a regular and fun time today but Mum has to always ruin things.”

“Hm!” Mr Tejada sighed and continued, “You guys should go on, I’ll talk to her. And Morgan, I’m very sorry on behalf of my wife. It was great meeting you today and I hope to see you soon.”

“Thank you, Michael. I hope to see you soon, too.” I replied.

Speak of the devil… just when we were about to leave, Jabari’s mother came to the opening where the three of us were gathered. She had a bright smile on her face which made me sick in the stomach.

“Why are you all standing here?” She asked. There was an uncomfortable silence and eye movements from son to father to mother until Jabari broke the silence.

“Morgan and I were just leaving,” his voice had no softness in it, his words came out a little harsh. She seemed surprised that her son had spoken to her that way but quickly got over it and smiled, taking his hand in hers.

“What’s the matter? Why are you leaving so soon? And weren’t you going to tell your mum?” She asked with all the innocence in her voice. She deserved to win an Oscar for certain. Jabari’s father cleared his throat to get his wife’s attention.

“They need to go attend to something and I also need to speak with you,” he said in a calm but firm voice.

“Oh, okay. You could have told me earlier, son. No problem then. When am I going to see you?” She questioned.

“I'll call you, mum. I have to leave.” Jabari bade goodbyes to his parents as he walked with me to his car.

The drive was quiet and somewhat short because the traffic had died down a little. I had my head to the window, eyes closed and when I felt Jabari’s hand on mine, I gently shook it off. My eyes burnt with unshed tears.

“We’re here,” I heard Jabari say as he nudged me a little to bring me back to earth. I looked around and realized we were at his house instead of mine.

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked him but all he did was unbuckle his seat belt and step out of the car, walk straight to my side and open the door for me to step out. I sat still for some seconds before stepping out of the car. He took my hand as he began walking out of the parking lot and I followed without putting up a fight. The moment we were indoors, I looked up at him and freed my hand from his.

“Are you satisfied now? Are you feeling good about yourself? Life was so peaceful when you weren’t in it and when I didn’t know. I lived a drama-free life and now, you have your mum talking crap to me.” I lashed out at him. I was hurt by how some people could be so harsh with words.

“What did my mum say to you?” He questioned. Looking at me with so much intent in his eyes.

“Why don't you talk to mummy dearest about it?” I asked rhetorically. “Bari, I’m not your girlfriend, I don't work Nadelle and neither have I seen her before. I'm a stripper and— wait a minute,” I looked at him furious again. “Are you embarrassed that I’m a stripper? Is that what this is about? This whole time you have been wanting me to quit working at Aphrodite was because you were em—

“Morgan, stop. I never said I was embarrassed to have you work at Aphrodite and I’m not embarrassed to have you by my side now. Whatever my mum said to get you this angry, I apologise on her behalf and I will make sure to clear things up.” He caressed my cheeks and continued to speak. “You’re mine, and when I want something I go after it.” He drew me close to his chest. “I came after you because I want you to be mine and I can't tell you the number of times I wanted to talk to you all those times I stood at the corner to watch you dance. I asked you to dance privately for me because I hate people getting to see so much of my woman,” his fingers moved to the back of my neck. “Every inch of my body craves you just as much as you crave me. Every time I see you, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time.” He whispered in my ears and I shuddered. “When you act so fierce like that, it just turns me on and I want to do so many bad things to you.” His hand reached down to my bosom and he fondled them gently. ”I want to kiss you every time I see you,” he nibbled my lips and moved his hand down to my underpants reaching for my ladybud. I held on to him tight because my legs had become wobbly. “Why are you so wet, Morgan? I thought you were mad at me.”

His fingers roamed my ladybud and yet he wouldn't give me the satisfaction I needed so inched a lot closer to him and began to kiss him. He didn't stop me, he kissed back fiercely, with so much hunger. “You're such a good girl,” he said amidst the kisses.

“Jabari, I want you. I want you now.” I spoke in between moans. Every part of me wanted to be touched and kissed by him. I watched him withdraw his hand from me and take his belt out of the loops of his fine slacks.

“How bad do you want me?” He asked but I could barely speak as I watched him buckle his belt around my wrists. “Don't make me ask again, Morgan.”

“I, I want you so b… badly,” I stuttered.

“And are you my princess?”

“Yes! I'm your princess in public and your little wh*re in private. I want you to fu*k me so damn hard that I start to forget everything, even my name, and the only thing I remember is that

"I'M YOURS TO CHERISH AND YOURS TO FU*CK.” He held me down to the bed and kissed me with the same burning desire and passion before filling me up with his full length. I moaned loudly but he said, “I don't want you to make any noise so be quiet and take me all in like the good girl you are...”

>>>

I woke up in fright and quickly opened my eyes. Damn it. It was another dream, it's been quite some time since I last dreamt of her. I hate it when I think of her. How many years has it been now? Ten? Yes, ten. I have wondered several times if I’d ever be like her when I get to that stage in life but I never get an answer. Maybe that’s because I am not certain if I want to get there.

“It was just a dream. Breathe, Morgan.” I heard someone whisper to me and I obeyed. I turned around to face the voice only when I had calmed down to see Jabari sitting up with worry spread all over his face. I sighed and shut my eyes again. “You’re fine and I’m here now, okay?” He comforted me and rained kisses on my face and neck. “You want to talk about it?” He asked but I shook my head slightly. “That's fine. Whenever you're ready. I’ll get you breakfast.”

“No, I’m not hungry. I just want to stay in bed.” I replied.

“Mm, if you say so. I have to be at the office in the next thirty minutes. I am meeting with some men over a project I started,” he explained. Immediately, I sat up, taking the blanket off of me. “— where are you going?” He asked and my head shot up to his face.

“Getting ready to leave.” His face broke out in a slow but alluring smile. At that point, he was buttoning his shirt but stopped.

“Silly, stay. Have all the rest you need, when I’m back, we’ll talk about you and Nadelle.” He stated.

“What do you mean?”

“I will explain more when I come back,” he replied shortly and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Make yourself at home. If you want to go anywhere at all, just reach out to me and I’ll let the driver take you, alright?”

“Um, okay.”

“Good. See you later.” He kissed me one last time and left.

There was not much to do at Jabari’s house, to be honest.

I tried to take my mind off the fact that I had dreamt about her earlier. The woman who caused my father and me so much pain. My mind raced to the day she decided to leave, and how miserable my father felt when she dragged her packed bags out the door. Her words reverberated in my ears, “Your father will take care of you now, Morgan. Always remember to be a good girl. I love you,” and that was it. She left. She threw away the opportunity of being a mother to me and a wife to my father and only left scars in my heart. Scars I had no idea if they'd ever heal.

I had spent most of the day at Jabari’s. I was bored out of my mind because I had nothing to do.

“Maybe one last dance won’t hurt,” I whispered to myself and decided to call Jabari but since I knew he wouldn't agree with me if I told him I was going to Aphrodite, I lied and said I wanted the driver to take me back to my apartment for a change of clothes, he easily agreed and I knew that was because he was immersed in the meeting he had earlier spoken about.

At last, I was back at mine and asked the driver to wait up for me as I filled my bag with a few necessary items. I knew I'd be in trouble but I still stubbornly allowed the driver to take me to Aphrodite.