Page 23 of Hood Legacy

“You ain’t gotta do all that,” Aceyn said, wiping his hands over his face. “I got it handled.”

“I got it,” Givens said. He kissed Mercy on the forehead before turning to me. “Get some sleep.”

I watched as he carried my friend upstairs, and then I turned to see Aceyn watching me.

“Easy way or hard way, Point Guard,” he said, leaning back on the couch. “The choice is yours.”

Instead of responding to him, I turned my attention back to the TV and felt his eyes on me. Sighing, I turned my attention back to him and lifted my brow.

“What is it, Aceyn?”

“I want to kiss you,” he said with a shrug. “Come here.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head.

“Oh, you want a nigga to come to you?” he lifted his brow and then leaned forward. “You think my ego won’t allow me to beg for that shit?” he laughed humorlessly and shook his head. “What kind of nigga have you been messing with?” he grabbed my ankle, pulled me to him, then grabbed my waist and made me straddle his lap. He manhandled me but was mindful of his strength, so he wasn’t overly aggressive. “I ain’t a nigga that’s ashamed of doing shit when it comes to a woman that he wants.” He rested his forehead against mine.

“I’m not the woman you want to fall for,” I said softly.

“You said that shit like it was optional,” he replied with a humorless laugh. He leaned back and then wrapped his hand around my throat. “Now, shut the fuck up and kiss me.”

He pulled me to him, and the second our lips touched, I moaned in pleasure. His lips were soft and warm. When he pushed his tongue into my mouth, I sighed and let him lead. Everything about this kiss felt right. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him closely.

“My daddy said the only people that can have sex in his house are the two people whose names are on the mortgage,” Faylin said.

We pulled apart, and I looked over my shoulder to see her sitting on the stairs with her phone in her hand and smiling.

“Why are you still up?” Aceyn laughed and asked her. “Ain’t it past your bedtime?”

“Uncle Hood, be serious,” she said, shaking her head. She gave us a genuine smile and then stood. “But just so y’all know, y’all are cute together.”

“Gee, thanks, Faylin,” Aceyn grunted and shook his head. “Now, take your ass to bed before I yell to get your people’s attention.”

“My mama and daddy are nasty and have a soundproof room, so you’ll be wasting your energy,” she said, shrugging.

I adjusted myself so that my legs were around Aceyn’s back, and then I bent backward to reach my phone from the table. Aceyn grabbed my waist to steady me, and then I lifted and swiped my screen and dialed Mercy’s number.

“What’s wrong?” she quickly answered. “I’m up.”

“Tell your daughter to go to bed,” I said, watching Faylin. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, and Aceyn laughed.

Mercy came to the top of the stairs and kissed her teeth. “Faylin, go to bed,” she said, shaking her head.

“Mama, they were down here kissing on your couch,” Faylin protested.

“They are grown,” Mercy said, shaking her head. Faylin kissed her teeth, and it took everything in me not to laugh at her. “Now, go on before I tell your daddy.”

“Mommy–”

“Faylin Robbins, go on,” Mercy interrupted her. “Your daddy is in the shower, and I don’t want to hear his mouth when he gets out about you being up this late on a school night.” She pulled Faylin to her, kissed her forehead, then whispered something in her ear. Faylin looked back at us, then to her mama, and nodded. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” Faylin said, laughing. “Night, Uncle Hood and Auntie Legacy, love y'all.”

“Love you, too,” we said in unison.

“Don’t fuck on my couch,” Mercy said once Faylin was back in her room with the door closed. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked.

“Good night, Mercy,” Aceyn laughed.

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