Page 129 of Chemistry: The Chemist

“Sometimes I don’t understand you. There’s no reason for Adonis to be down there.”

“I never asked you to understand me, Eden. I’ve made it clear that it’s an impossible task.”

“Explain this to me.” I groaned.

“Eye for an eye.”

“Is that your explanation?”

“He should’ve chosen wiser.” He shrugged, picking up another strawberry, nearly making me lose my train of thought.

I wanted him to handle me that way. Gently. Carefully. Lovingly. Right off the table and into his mouth. That’s what I needed to forget everything happening downstairs.

He continued to make himself clear. Over and over. He’d wage war if it meant my happiness. He’d shed blood if it meant his. Still, as a woman of the law, I found it hard to wrap my head around it. Around him.

“Had he and we wouldn’t be together. It would be me who he’d married.”

“Had he and his life would’ve tragically ended if that meant having you to myself. Have you not gotten it through your skull, Eden? We’re inevitable. We were going to happen regardless. Now, fix your face before I think you’re in your feelings about that nigga and I end up breaking my promise. Let that man make it back home to his children, at least, because his wife is as good as gone.”

His hands were around my waist before I could protest. His lips pecked my forehead and then my cheek before I could push him away. I didn’t have the strength for either. He weakened me. Handicapped me. Stripped me of all my powers.

“You’re insufferable.” I sighed into his mouth.

“Suckable?” he mumbled. “I couldn’t hear you. Is that what you said?”

“I–”

His pants hit the floor instantly. The sound of his belt crashing into the concrete sent me spiraling.

“Then suck this motherfucker, Choc.”

I was on my knees in a split second. He’d never have to ask me to consume him twice.

I devoured him. He gripped my ponytail to gain leverage and slow me down. I fought against him but lost in the end. But, so did he. He pulled me up by the hair and kissed me with a vengeance as our food was delivered to our table.

We started with appetizers. Chem ended that course with me. We ate our entrees. Chem washed his down with more of me. Instead of dessert, I took Chem into my mouth, again. And by the time our plates were cleared off the table, my body had landed. On the cream linen, he fucked me as if the world was coming to an end.

By the time I pulled myself together and made it down the stairs. There wasn’t a sign of Adonis. Aden stood next to the truck waiting for our arrival. We climbed in and found comfort fast. He stroked my arm with two fingers, putting me at ease. Within minutes, I was asleep.

FOURTEEN

Backward.

Forward.

Backward.

Forward.

I lapped the pool with the intention of releasing the stress that built each time I saw my father’s face. He was dying. I could smell death in his home. I saw it on his face. I heard it in his voice. He’d done what he’d promised he wouldn’t.

He’s given up.

It angered me. Knowing he was the glue holding my sanity together and that I was losing him made me sick to my stomach. Losing him was never in the plan. At least not so soon. He was supposed to grow old and die of natural causes. Having cancer end his time on earth made me feel robbed.

Wasn’t my mother e-fucking-nough? I questioned God as I fought the water, pounding my fist into its depths as I came up for air.

It had been two days since I’d last seen him and I hadn’t slept a wink. Getting through Roaman’s dinner celebration would be impossible without questions arising. Those women were a lot of things, but ignorant wasn’t one of them.

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