Eve (11 page)

“Butter, all I got is five hundred left on me,” Dre said, emptying his pockets. “Allow me that, man.”

Butter knew how this was gonna play out. Dre was gonna give him a hard time about the money, plus he didn't have it all anyway. He was having a good night and didn't want to waste it by arguing with Dre. He was a short-change motherfucker and Butter should've known better than to bet such stakes with him.

“A'ight.” Butter nodded. “Keep ya lil five hundred. Make sure you got my paper tomorrow, Dre.”

“I got you, my nigga.” Dre made to pass Butter, but a firm hand held him up.

“Chill for a minute.” Butter backed him up. “I'm gonna need some collateral. Take ya shine off.”

“What?”

“Ya shine, Dre. I need something solid to hold on to, until I get my paper. I got you, my nigga.” Butter smiled.

Dre's partner went to step over, but Teddy stopped him short. “Shhh,” he warned, placing a gloved finger over his lips. “This is grown folks' business.” Dre's partner looked down and saw that Teddy was holding a shotgun, sawed down to nearly the size of a handgun. He quickly retraced his steps and went to lean against the sink. Teddy kept one eye on Dre's partner and the other on anyone else who might have felt some type of way about what was going on.

“Why you gotta be on ya bullshit?” Dre said, seeing the armed youngster.

“I ain't tripping,” Butter said. “Dre, you still my nigga, but I gotta make sure I get mine. This ain't personal.”

Dre shot daggers at Teddy and Butter as he began to take off his rings and chains. He could imagine the look on his girl's face when they got back to the party. He was supposed to be a tough guy, but he came back from the bathroom stripped? He could already feel it ringing off in his head. Butter was playing him, and it was something that he wouldn't forget anytime soon.

Butter took the jewelry into his jacket pocket and flashed Dre a smile. “Don't take it like that, yo. This is just business. Come see me later on and I'll buy you a drink.” Butter strolled out of the bathroom, with Teddy bringing up the rear.

 

A brand new Neptune's joint was blaring from the speakers, so everyone rushed the dance floor. Felon and Eve bumped their way through the crowded club, trying to reach the bar area. Every so often, Felon would brush up against Eve's butt. At first she thought it was an accident, but after the third time, she recognized it as flirting. When he got close enough to do it again, she backed into him and started swaying to the beat.

Felon was almost knocked off balance by the unexpected move. He wasn't much of a dancer, but he couldn't let his little homey show him up. Felon moved behind Eve and started lightly grinding against her. When she felt him becoming erect, she moved away. He tried to ease back behind her but she pushed him away, offering a naughty smile.

When they finally made it across the room, she stepped aside and let him take the lead. Eve stood a few paces from the bar while she waited for Felon to order their drinks. She busied herself looking around at some of the people in the club. As usual, some of the girls had next to nothing on, their asses and chests hanging out. Eve saw nothing wrong with showing a little skin every so often, but the way they did it was tasteless.

“Let me find out,” Felon whispered in her ear.

She almost shivered. “Let you find out what?” she asked.

“That you checking these niggaz out?” He winked.

“Please. Can't no nigga in here do shit for me. These cornball muthafuckas ain't even my style.”

“Yeah, right. I could see you digging one of these thirty-something-ass niggaz,” he teased. “Probably get yaself a sugar daddy and shit.”

“Felon, you got jokes.” Eve chuckled. “At least it wouldn't be a hood rat. I ain't know you had a thang for them fake video hoes.”

“You wish. You need to stop being so hard on men and let a nigga in.”

“For what? So they can play with my feelings, then fuck me over? No thanks, Felon.”

“Eve, every nigga ain't evil. There are some good brothers out there, ma.”

“Show me a guy that professes to be good, and I'll show you a nigga that's gonna bounce at the first sign of trouble. A nigga is always gonna be around when shit is good, but eventually they all go. It's in your nature.”

“Come on with that, Eve.”

“Felon, it's the truth. Every nigga I've ever known had an ulterior motive. They get what they want and abandon you. Present company included.” The last statement had slipped out in the heat of the moment. She saw the brief look of hurt flash across Felon's eyes and wished she hadn't gone there. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Me and men haven't really seen eye to eye since my father was killed. Felon, I didn't mean—”

“Stop it,” he said, fake mushing her. A change of topic was in order. “So what you got lined up, now that you're home?”

“You know the routine. ‘Gainful employment,' ‘stay out of trouble.'” She held her fingers up, mimicking quotation marks.

“Where you trying to work?” he asked.

“I don't really know.” She shrugged. “You know me, I jack for my bread, but being on paper complicates that a little.”

“Eve, don't you think you're getting too old for that? You're about to turn eighteen, ma. Don't you think it's time for you to start acting like a lady?”

Eve placed her hands on her hips. “Felon, I know you're not preaching to me. You sell drugs and you're lecturing me about growing up? What, you gonna be the one to grow old and retire?”

“It ain't like that wit me.”

“Then what's it like, Felon?”

“We're not gonna make this about me.” He flipped it. “I could've sworn we're talking about you. Look, Eve. I ain't gonna argue with you about it. All I'm saying is; you got a lotta potential, ma. Don't waste that shit on the streets. You can be or do anything you want in life.”

“Anything?” she asked very seriously.

“Anything,” he said, equally serious.

“Your drinks, sir,” the barmaid called, breaking the moment.

Eve took a step back and turned her eyes away. Felon paused, looking at Eve. He turned and retrieved the drinks from the smiling waitress. He handed her two and he took two. During the walk back to their table, neither said a word. No words needed be said. There was a sort of electricity between Eve and Felon. They both knew it, and they both knew it would have to be addressed sooner than later.

 

“What're you so cheesy about?” Cassidy asked, noticing the grin on Butter's face.

“Cause I'm so happy to see you,” he said, sliding into the booth next to her.

“I'll bet,” she said, not hiding the fact that she didn't believe him. “Where you been all night?”

“Mingling and shit,” he capped. “You know the hood loves me. Now come here and give me a kiss.” Butter pulled Cassidy to him in anticipation of throwing his tongue in her mouth. Cassidy smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “It's like that?” he asked, clearly disappointed.

“Butter, you know I ain't wit sucking all on no nigga's face in public. I got you though, boo.”

Butter sucked his teeth and sulked like a child, denied the privilege of going outside. He fancied himself as someone who knew all there was to know about women, but when it came to Cassidy, he was stumped. Even before he got his weight up, he had been courting the beauty. He showered her with affection and catered to her every want and need. Cassidy had it better than any chick he had ever dealt with, but she still fed him with a long-handled spoon. She knew he saw other women, just like she saw other guys, but she was his number one. Butter was trying to wife Cassidy, but she wasn't having it. He would continue to bide his time, though. Butter was a man who was used to getting what he wanted.

“What up, little sis?” Butter asked, turning his attention to Eve.

“Taking it light,” she said, sipping her Hennessey Sour.

“I know that's right. Yo, shorty,” Butter said, stopping a waitress, “bring us a bottle of Crys.” The waitress went off to get Butter's champagne. “So,” he continued, “how's life in the free world?”

“Can't complain. I'm just glad to be home, ya know?” she said, downing the last of her drink.

“Fortunately, I don't.” Butter smiled. “I ain't never been caught for none of my bullshit, and I'm trying to keep it that way. But seriously, how was it in there?”

“Man,” she shook her head, “it wasn't nothing nice. I mean, the spot they had me in wasn't the worst, but it wasn't fun. I didn't get into too much drama, but just being up in that piece was horrible. The food tasted like shit, and there were roaches everywhere. I'm gonna cherish my freedom.”

“And we're gonna make sure of it,” Cassidy added.

Everyone at the table nodded in agreement. Eve was still the baby of the crew. They all tried to look out for her like a little sister, even if she rebelled against them every chance she got. That was just her way.

The waitress eventually made it back to the table. In one hand she held the bucket, which had a bottle of Crystal tucked securely into a mountain of ice. In the other hand, she held several plastic champagne flutes. She sat the glasses down and filled them all halfway. She hesitated for a moment and cast a glance at Butter. Apparently she was waiting for a tip. Butter took the opportunity to stunt for the crowd.

“Here you go, ma,” he said, peeling off five hundred of Dre's money. “Keep the change.” The waitress gave him a seductive smile and melted back into the crowd.

“I hear that, big time,” Cassidy said.

“It's only money.” Butter winked. “I'd like to propose a toast.” He raised his glass. “To Eve. Baby, we're glad to have you back amongst us, and we're all gonna do our part to keep your crazy ass out of trouble.”

“To Eve.” Felon added to it.

“To Eve!” they all said in unison.

Eve crossed her legs, raised her glass, and toasted with her friends.

 

For the next few minutes, everyone drank and made small talk. Every so often Eve would notice Felon staring at her. Whenever she tried to meet his gaze, he turned away. Between the heat and the alcohol, Eve was feeling good. She decided to take the opportunity to fuck with Felon. Sliding one foot from her loafer, she began rubbing it up and down Felon's shin. She could see the look of surprise in his face and smiled at him. He sat there dumbfounded for a few seconds, then took it a step beyond, placing the foot on his lap.

Out of view of everyone else, he began to massage it. Felon's strong hands sent goose bumps up her leg. His hands worked her instep and heel, expertly tempting her to close her eyes. She looked over at Felon, who was now wearing a triumphant look on his face. Quite unexpectedly she began to feel moisture building between her legs. It had been quite some time since she had been touched by a guy, and it was never like that.

The goose bumps up Eve's thigh caused butterflies in her stomach. She eyed Felon hungrily and he returned the stare. Visions of him taking those same muscular hands and gripping her about the waist caused her to blush. At that moment Felon looked like an object of pleasure that had been placed on the earth solely for her. Carmen passed behind their booth and touched Felon's shoulder. He paused momentarily, turning to see who it was. By the time he returned his attention to Eve, her facial expression had changed.

Eve glared at the girl and removed her foot from Felon's lap. When he tried to reach for it again, she moved it farther out of his reach and slipped it back into the shoe. Felon looked defeated and she was just pissed that a wayward lay had broken such a magical spell.

Eve managed to put the situation with Carmen behind her and get back into the flow. The childhood friends drank and talked shit until the joint closed. Eve was having so much fun that she found herself getting teary-eyed several times over the course of the night. Felon had disappeared sometime during the night. Eve didn't miss the fact that Carmen had seemed to vanish also. Butter and Cassidy had plans to spend the evening together, so they dropped Eve and Rhonda off on the way.

 

During the elevator ride in Butter's apartment building, Cassidy fondled him. She stroked his penis through the thin slacks and whispered into his ear. He pressed the back of his head against the wall and moaned softly as she licked his exposed throat. By the time they made it into the apartment, Butter was hopping out of his clothes.

He lay back on the couch while Cassidy did a little dance for him. She slowly peeled out of her dress while Butter eyed her hungrily. When she was stripped down to just her white thong she moved to the couch and leaned over him, supporting her weight with her arms. Her chocolate nipples dangled above him while he touched each one with his tongue. The sensation sent chills down Cassidy's spine, but she had other plans for his mouth.

Standing on the couch with a leg on either side, she held her vagina near his face. The sweet scent of her mingled with the light tinge of sweat made Butter begin to salivate. Cassidy knew just how to bring the beast out of a man. She dipped her hips in his direction, but kept her love box out of his reach. When Butter felt as if he could take it no more, he grabbed her roughly by the hips and pulled her to him.

With his hands still fastened around her waist, Butter ripped her thong off with his teeth. He kissed her first on her belly button, then down near her vagina. Cassidy squealed and giggled as his tongue found the object of its desire. He thrust his tongue deep inside her, then alternated between tongue-fucking her and sucking her clit. Cassidy's body tensed and she began to climax. Waves of tremors overcame her as she came in sprays. Butter was careful not to let one drop of Cassidy's essence escape his parched throat.

Cassidy sighed, enjoying the oral pleasure he was giving her. After letting go one more burst, she decided to show him who was really the boss. She planned to hit Butter up for enough cheddar a new summer wardrobe. So she went to work