Page 29 of Intentional Foul
“Things will be uncomfortable for a little while between you and Mom, but they will pan out,” Malcolm interjected.
I pinched my fist together, piercing my skin with my nails. The sound of his voice pissed me off to new levels.
“Damn Jhae, are you okay?” Marquise asked.
A stinging sensation went through my nose as my eyes watered. One anger-filled tear left my eye and moved down my face.
“Bro, she’s crying,” Marquise announced as another tear escaped my eyes and my mouth tightened.
“Jhae,” Malcolm called for me, but I ignored him.
He moved in my direction, but I stood from the table. Malcolm reached for me, but I snatched away, placing a chair between us.
“Marquise,” he said.
“I’m out. I’ll leave you love birds to it. The housekeeper gets off in twenty minutes,” he said.
Malcolm and I were in a standoff, glaring at each other. Once the door shut, he reached for me again, but I moved. He removed the chair before attempting again, this time beingsuccessful. He secured my waist and pulled me into him. I turned my face, facing the wall but he cuffed my chin. We found each other’s eyes.
“Music Note, I’m not trying to hurt you, baby. I swear I’m not, but I love you. You’re counting me out without giving me an opportunity,” he said.
Hurt flashed in his eyes as if he could stand on that leg. “No one will love you with intention and intensity the way I can. You’re allowing the fear you have of my mother to stop us from trying,” he said.
I danced my face out of his grip before failing to push him away.
“Malcolm, she is all I have. My mom is dead and you’re asking me to hurt the person who is responsible for my career,” I said.
A pause stood between us as I struggled to get free. Once space entered between us, I tried side-stepping him, but he lifted me from the floor.
I wrapped my hands around his neck. “Put me down, Malcolm,” I demanded.
Malcolm placed me on an empty spot on the table. “Last I checked, Anissa couldn’t sing, write, or produce a song,” he said. “Did she connect you with the right people? Yes. Stop giving people credit for your hard work. Mom is going to be upset, but she will get the fuck over it. You’re my wife. I adore you and I want you to give our marriage an opportunity to flourish.”
I tried pushing him away, pressing my palm into his chest, but he didn’t move.
“Don’t push me away,” he whispered. “Jhae, you mean everything to me.”
The second verse to “Forbidden” played through my thoughts.
Our connection won’t allow us to ever be. Your heart is in the right place, but it’s covered in the wrong skin.
Malcolm jolted me forward by the neck with a gentle tug, placing his lips on mine. My mouth parted for him as we engaged in a hard, passionate kiss. The warm taste of his mouth aroused my body as our tongues danced. I leaned backward, giving him more access to me.
“You sensed the spark between us,” he said after breaking our kiss.
Coming back to myself, I managed to push him away, jump down from the table and run to the bedroom, shutting the door.
I sat in shock with my feet propped on the pillow with my California rolls. Malcolm sat my food by the door and texted me to grab them. I opened the door, snatched the food, and slammed it shut. Anissa was going to kill me. With the power and influence she had, my career was done. My phone vibrated with a message from Malcolm. I leaned my head backward.
Malcolm
Let me draw you a bath and massage your body.
Me
No. But you could draw me an annulment.
Malcolm
