Because of Love — Mecca

Mecca

I was leaned against my car when she came outside.  When our eyes met, hers widened, then she smiled as she held the door for the person behind her. When she turned and spoke to him, I concluded that they knew each other.  He looked at me with narrowed eyes and nodded as Nina continued to ramble like she always did when she was nervous.

“Shannon, this is my boyfriend Mecca,” she said as they approached me. 

His eyes narrowed like he might’ve recognized who I was. Then, he extended his hand for me to shake. “Nice to meet you, bro.”

“Likewise.” My tone flat and uninterested causing Nina to look at me pensively. Not that it was a big deal, but Nina never mentioned Shannon being a man. She’d spent countless hours with this Al B. Sure knock off and by the look in his eyes when they came out of the library, I knew he had a little crush on her.

“You have an intelligent woman on your hands. She keeps all of us on our toes.” He looked at her and smiled.

My jaw clenched as I fought the urge to scoff. “Yeah, I know.”

We stared at each other for a beat before he said, “I listened to your album it was cool. When is the next one coming out?”

“Soon. Finishing it up in the next few weeks.”  

Nina looked up at me and frowned before looking back to Shannon. She offered him a weak smile. The tension was thick and if it weren’t for Nina’s hand grabbing mine, I would’ve said more.

“I’ll see you next week, Shannon,” Nina spoke up while rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand. 

He looked at our hands then back at her. “Hope you enjoyed the donut.”

Nina looked down at the bag in her hand and nodded. While shaking my head, I pushed off my car and opened the passenger door for her before grabbing her bag off her shoulder. After I put her stuff in the back seat, I got in on the driver’s side. She looked out the window most of the ride never bothering to ask where we were headed. The longer she gazed at the window the more my frustration with her grew. When we stopped at the light, I looked at her once more. With her hair in those cornrows I loved, I could get a better look at the four-leaf clover tattoo behind her ear. It was a symbol of our inexplicable bond and the sight of it softened me for a minute. Then the harsh reality of why I made the drive to come to get her set in. I didn’t want to be upset with her, but she’d left me no choice.

“I’m leaving for Houston tonight,” I said before returning my attention back to the road.

“What? Why?” She looked at me her brows pinched together and lips slightly parted.

“A lot needs to be done before Thursday...and you’re not coming, so I don’t have to leave at the last minute.” I shot her a quick glance and saw the sadness in her eyes. After she told me she wasn’t coming, I made the split decision to leave tonight. There were a few loose ends that needed to be tied before the dinner, and I also wanted to help alleviate any stress my mother may be experiencing. 

Nina nodded slowly, then looked back out the window.  I thought going to pick her up would ease some of the tension between us, but seeing her with Al B. Sure only pissed me off more. 

We rode in silence for a few moments more before I asked, “So that's the classmate you’re always studying with?” 

When our eyes met, she sighed. “Yes. He knows about you...about us.”  Her tone was defensive.

“I’m sure. Y’all seem close. He even knows how much you like donuts,” I said dryly.

We stopped at another light and I looked at her. 

She rolled her eyes before saying, “Anyone who knows me knows how much I like donuts.”

“Okay, Nina.”

“Anyway, where are we going?” she raised her voice slightly making me take another look at her. She looked back out the window the scenery suddenly becoming familiar to her and she sighed.

“Taking you home.”

That wasn’t my plan originally, but once the bickering started between us, I figured it was for the best. Arguing wasn’t something I liked to do and damn sure didn’t want to do it with my baby. We needed space right now. I needed space. Too much was going on for me to be distracted or lose my focus. My album was close to being done and I knew after that I’d be back on the road touring. My mom was already planning a Christmas toy drive for the kids in my old neighborhood as well as finalizing a contract to pay for computers at our local library. I had more important things to put my energy into. This petty argument wasn’t one of them.

“Now Sel’s place is home?” she shot back while folding her arms over her chest. 

I eyed her for a minute before parking in front of Sel’s building after handing my keys to the valet, I took my ticket. As I grabbed Nina’s bag from the backseat, she glared at me her eyes filled with questions. But she decided against saying anything by pressing her lips tightly together. We strode through the lobby neither of us said a word. She used her key fob to access the floor Sel’s condo was on and fell back to the far left corner. I stood on the opposite side, my eyes glued to her as she fought to avoid making eye contact with me.

The elevator ride to Sel's was quiet. There was so much I wanted to say to Nina. Her not coming home with me was really fucking with me. But there was only so many times I was willing to repeat myself before I felt like I was nagging. When we reached the door, Nina turned to me while pressing her back against the door. 

“Call me when you land?” her tone was the opposite of how she spoke earlier. Now it was sweet and endearing making my heart beat double time. 

I nodded before grabbing her chin. She closed the space between us while tilting her head back pressing her lips against mine. While raking her nails against the nape if my neck, she pulled me closer deepening our kiss. Her sensual pecks were soft and purposeful making me weak. I wanted to be mad at her, but Nina Wilkerson was my kryptonite and she knew it. When her other hand tugged at the hem of my shirt, I knew my anger about her not coming with me would be an afterthought. 

Her warm tongue ran across my bottom lip before she sucked it slowly. My eyes flew open when her lips parted from mine. The concupiscent look in her eyes made my length harden against my jeans. My flesh was weakened every second I stayed with her.

“How much time do you have?” she asked while tilting her head to the side. 

“Not enough,” I drawled before biting my bottom lip.

“I want to finish what you started earlier.” 

My brain was telling me not to, but my body wanted her more than anything. And we would be apart for the next few days, I tried to reason with myself. She and I knew I craved her in the worst way. I could never get enough of her no matter what was happening between us.

Her lips curved into a smile the longer I peered down at her. She knew I was going to fold. The feeling of her dainty hands against my warm skin as they ran across my abs, confirmed my decision to stay. When I didn’t deny her, she opened the front door and pulled me inside.