Hip Hop Heat (6 page)

"How much time you got?" Logan asked.

Lalana felt funny sitting next to him in the front seat. They weren't in one of his company cars - Logan was instead driving a BMW 7- series.

Lalana wore an ankle-length, red halter dress that showcased her ample chest. She had on a pair of gold three-inch heels, brushed-gold dangling earrings, a long gold necklace, and gold and jade bangles on her wrists. She carried a bright green clutch purse that matched her bangles.

"How much time do I have?"

"Yeah, I was thinking we could go to the Blue Water Grill for seafood out in Redondo Beach."

"That sounds good," Lalana said. She was in a good mood - not because she was with Logan, but because MC ROC had finally reached out to her. He called and said he'd been thinking about her.

Logan sported a pair of dark denim jeans with a button-down Polo shirt and sports jacket. He looked like he walked off the cover of GQ.

"You look good tonight," he complimented, stealing glances at Lalana as he drove.

"Thanks, you look nice yourself," she said.

Lalana kept wondering how long it was going to take Logan to bring up something about their high school years. She was pleasantly surprised when they drove down Pacific Coast Highway and he didn't mention the past. A Jill Scott CD Logan loaded into the car stereo filled the ensuing silence.

The Blue Water Grill in Redondo Beach overlooked the harbor. Blinking lights sparkled on docked boats and yachts and created a maze of glistening light on the dark water.

"You wanna have a drink while we wait for appetizers?" Logan asked.

The restaurant wasn't crowded. Its dim lighting and water views created a perfectly romantic setting. Most customers at the restaurant were couples.

"These are good," Lalana said of the raspberry mojitos Logan ordered for them.

As he talked about a bachelor party gone way wrong, Lalana couldn't help thinking how nice he was while hoping he wasn't getting any romantic ideas. After appetizers of coconut-fried shrimp and mango-papaya salsa, Logan ordered wild king salmon in artichoke saffron broth over chive mashed potatoes. Lalana ordered Pan Sauteed Panko Calamari Steak.

"You want another drink?" Logan asked suddenly.

"I probably shouldn't." The first drink had been quite potent, and Lalana feared another one might have her blatantly asking questions about MC ROC. As much as she wanted to, she figured doing so would ruin the evening for Logan. Everything in his face said he wasn't interested in anything other than bragging about how well he had done since high school. Lalana didn't have the heart to disappoint Logan by asking about anyone else.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, I think I'm good."

"I'd like to try a watermelon mojito this time," Logan told the waiter.

The minute Logan's drink arrived, Lalana eyed it with desire.

"See, I knew you'd want one," Logan teased. He laughed, and for the first time Lalana noticed his dimples.

"Okay, order one quick before I change my mind," she laughed.

By the time dessert rolled around, Lalana's head was spinning. Logan asked the waiter if the two could enjoy their cake outside; and the couple was moved to a cozy little table out on the deck. The night was just right - not too warm, and not too chilly.

* * * *

"I'm glad you decided to have dinner with me," Logan said as he and Lalana strolled the boardwalk after dinner. "Thanks For saying yes."

"No, thank you," Lalana responded.

Getting into Logan's car an hour later, Lalana found her nerve and asked why he wasn't driving for MC ROC that evening.

"Oh, he's out of town," Logan answered. "I think he had to go to New York on some business."

"Oh, New York, huh?"

"Yeah, he's been there for a week now."

This was music to Lalana's ears. That's why she hadn't heard from him! ROC wasn't ignoring her. He had been out of town! She couldn't wait to get home and call her girls.

It was midnight when Logan pulled up to Lalana's house. He walked around the car to open the door for her. "When can I see you again?" he asked.

Lalana hesitated. There was no way she could tell him she didn't want to see him again. The truth was, a part of her did - and not just because he might give up the goods on MC ROC.

"You know what, let me check my schedule and get back to you."

Logan's expression made her feel immediately guilty. "Oh, okay, that's cool," he muttered.

"I had a really good time," she said, hoping to ease his hurt.

"Oh, me too," he said. "That's why I hope you let me take you out again."

Lalana was ready to go. She wanted to get inside in case ROC called back.

"Um, I'm sure we'll hook up again," she said. "I mean, I had fun tonight."

"Okay, well, I'll wait for you to call me," he said, and walked Lalana to the door.

"I'll call you," she promised, then slipped inside and locked the door. Yes, she had a good time with Logan; and yes, he was a really nice guy. But she wanted - she
needed
- MC ROC.

Later that night Lalana she slept, thoughts of her sex-filled weekend with ROC danced around in her dreams.

The hot-pink Juicy Couture jumpsuit, or the burnt orange mini dress from BeBe? Lalana struggled to figure out what to wear to MC ROC's CD signing.

Lalana's radio blasted in her room. A Power 106 DJ was discussing an upcoming fashion show. Lalana half-listened as she held up different outfits to herself in her mirror.

"And yes," the DJ said, "LA's own MC ROC will be ripping the runway in this special feature, taped live to air on BET!"

Lalana dropped the couture jumpsuit as her phone rang.

"Lalana, can you see if MC ROC can get us into this fashion show tonight?" Lisa asked without a greeting.

Lalana panicked. How could she admit she had no way to reach MC ROC to ask for tickets since she didn't even know how to get in touch with him? "Yeah, lemme give him and call and see what he can do," she said without thinking.

"Cool, I'll call Tina and tell her to get ready. You want me to drive?"

"Nah, I probably need to take my own car in case-"

"No need to finish," Lisa interrupted. "It's cool, just see if he can get us in."

Lalana had barely hung up the phone when a text from Tina came in. She clearly knew Lisa had already gotten in touch with her.

OMG!! GTFO!! So we R rollin' with Hip Hop's finest! 2nite! I tnk Im gon die!!!

Great. Lalana had to find a way to come up with three tickets to that fashion show or she wouldn't be able to face her friends. The DJ, still speaking on the radio, mentioned a few free tickets being given away.
What the hell
, Lalana thought, and picked up the phone.

"Power 196 FM, how may I help you?"

"Hi, I'm calling about tickets to tonight's filming of the BET fashion show."

"Ma'aam this is not the hotline," the receptionist answered. "You've reached the business line. We don't give tickets away at this number."

"I'm sorry," Lalana said. "I should have introduced myself properly. My name is Darlarece Harris, and I book for the local talk show 'Great Day LA.' I have a top designer interested in speaking with MC ROC about a new clothing line in the works. Now, please don't share this with anyone, because it's still in the works. But I messed up, because I was supposed to reserve three tickets for this designer's assistants; they're really more like headhunters, but anyway, I need to figure out a way to get them in."

"Um," the woman said.

Lalana knew she had her.

"Well," the receptionist said, "I could get you a couple of tickets, but you'd have to act like you won the contest if anyone asked."

"Oh, that would be fine, I mean, I'll even pay for them if I have to," Lalana offered.

"No, I'm not allowed to sell them. They're actually comp tickets, but if I can help make this deal happen, I don't see anything wrong with that. We love MC ROC around here. The only problem is, I don't know how I'd get the tickets to you."

"I can have someone pick them up," Lalana offered.

"If you can do that, then we can make this work. Have someone come by the station and get them before six. Would that work for you?"

"Absolutely!" Lalana's heart raced. She couldn't believe she had pulled off the near-impossible.

"Okay, just have your messenger press the after-hours button. Someone will run the tickets down."

"Oh, my God! How can I thank you for this? What's your name?"

"Tamara Jones," the woman said. "And really, don't even worry about it. I just hope the deal goes through. You know what, maybe on second thought, you could send me a pair of the jeans when it does. Will they have jeans in this line?"

"Oh, yes! Absolutely. And I'll do better - I'll send an entire outfit. Just give me your size."

Lalana went with the skintight cat suit and brown Coach boots. She could get her outfit together for the CD-signing another time. She added one of the new Coach riding caps and knew she'd command some attention - even in a room full of models.

She got to the venue early, and waited for Lisa and Tina to show up. When they finally did, there were only two minutes to spare before the show started.

Barely able to speak to them because she was so mad, Lalana just grabbed her ticket from Lisa's hand and rushed to the short line at the door.

"You guys better be glad there's no line," Lalana said. "I don't like this at all. If I miss him because of you, ugh," she bitched.

Tina and Lisa exchanged knowing looks.

"Let's give her a pass 'cause we know she's on one tonight, real happy about seeing her man," Lisa joked.

Once inside, all the seats closest to the makeshift stage were already occupied. The women found some empty spots at the opposite end of the venue. Lalana was seething.

No sooner had they sat down than she sprang up from her chair, turned to Lisa and Tina and said, "I'll be back."

"Where you going?" Lisa wanted to know.

Lalana held up her phone, acting like she had just gotten a text message. "He asked me to come to the back," she lied.

Tina nodded and twisted her body to the side so Lalana could squeeze thought the aisle.

* * * *

Lalana slipped backstage with relative ease. Only a few seconds went by before she heard ROC's voice loud and clear from the dressing rooms.

"I ain't doin' that shit, and that's final!" She knew his voice when she heard it. "I ain't goin' nowhere in no damn pink shirt. It just ain't happening."

Lalana walked up to the scene. A short, frantic woman stood struggling to reason with MC ROC while a tall and visibly feminine man with a thick accent stood pulling at his own hair.

Lalana acted as though she was casually strolling by, then doubled back. "ROC?" she asked. "Is that you? I didn't know you were gonna be here."

ROC looked up at Lalana. "Look, I'ma catch up wit' ya'all after ya'all work that shit out," he said to the people standing around him. "Scottie, handle this shit." ROC crossed the room to Lalana.

"You look hot, man! You sure you not scheduled to rip the runway tonight?"

Lalana smiled. "So, you modeling tonight?" she asked.

MC ROC shook his head. "Nah, they can't get their shit together so I'm pulling out."

"That's unfortunate," she flirted.

"You know what, why don't you come wit' me so I can holla at you for a sec?" He whispered. "I meant to call you back the other night so we could hook up again. You real cool." He smiled.

Lalana's insides were on fire as she followed him inside a room down the hall.

"Is this the men's restroom?" she asked, looking around.

"One of 'em. But don't worry, ain't no body coming back here. They gon' use the ones on the other side,"

"Oh," Lalana saw ROC staring at her.

"You look so damn good in that outfit, yo."

When ROC reached for her, Lalana thought he was going to hug her. Instead, he reached for the small zipper holding her one-piece outfit together. Zipper down, ROC smothered Lalana's neck, bare shoulders and chest with wet and wanting kisses.

Not wanting to be outdone, Lalana met ROC's kisses with some petting. She reached for his crotch, grabbed and squeezed him the way she knew he liked.

ROC shoved her into a wall. Lalana reached for her boots to slide them off. "Leave them on," ROC demanded. He ripped her bra off without unhooking it and took one of her breasts in his mouth.

"Mmmmmm," Lalana moaned. ROC's hand's ripped open a condom wrapper, pulled Lalana's panties to the side, spun her around, and bent her over at the waist.

The small bathroom they were in was hardly big enough. Lalana placed her hands against the wall behind the toilet to steady herself. It was a good thing she did - within moments ROC was ramming into her so hard Lalana went up on her tip-toes to keep from tumbling forward.

"Shiiiiit," he moaned.

ROC bent his knees slightly, grabbed Lalana's hips from behind, and moved his own in a circular motion. Impulse caused Lalana to reach back and grab ROC's sack as he slammed into her.

"So. Good." ROC's words came out strained as he gasped for air.

"It feels so good, ROC, it feels so good!"

"Yeah baby! Yeah!"

"Feels so good," Lalana repeated, nearly in a trance.

ROC guided her hips in the direction he wanted. Soon she was tingling in places she couldn't control.

"Oh GOD, ROC! Oh GOD!"

She felt him slow his pace a bit and turned to look at him over her shoulder.

"What's the matter, baby?"

"Just needed to slow it up a bit," ROC panted, biting down on his bottom lip.

"No, don't slow down. Keep it coming, keep giving it to me."

He did. But only a few seconds later, Lalana felt him jerk.

"Oh shit!"

Lalana wiggled her hips faster.

"Girl, you gotta-"

She moved some more.

Without warning, ROC pulled out. He ripped his condom off and exploded all over her clothes.

"Aaaaaaah," he sighed, stroking his still-swollen shaft. "Damn, that was tight."

Lalana didn't quite get hers. She turned to ROC and touched the back of her cat suit.

"Did you get that on me?"

"Yeah, Shorty, I'm sure I left my mark," he snickered.

She knew she couldn't get mad.

"Look, I'ma hustle up outta' here so you can clean yourself up," he said, already adjusting his own clothes.

"But where are you gonna be, when I'm done?" Lalana tried to turn on the little rusty faucet, but it didn't work.

"Oh, I'ma have to catch up with you later, um, I wasn't planning on staying, but dig it, it's all good," he smiled. Then he was gone.