Sasha had settled back into the documents, still a little disturbed by the fact that Luke left without telling her. Not that he owed her anything, but still…he could have said ‘nice lay, or you rocked my world for a few hours’…something. She sighed under her breath. Was that what she wanted? Did she want Luke to feel something about what happened between them? And since when did she start thinking about a man after sex? That wasn’t her thing. Hell, she was the queen of get mine then adios amigo. Why in the hell was she thinking about Luke?
Her cellphone chimed. Looking at the number, she did not recognize it. “Hello.”
“Sasha, hey this is Kaylan. Monique asked me to look at a few condos for you in the NOVA area. Does this mean you are planning to stay here?”
“I thought it might be a good idea last night. Now I’m not sure.”
“Well, I think it would be great to have you around,” Kaylan replied. “We always heard about you but now we have a chance to get to know you.”
“We who?” Sasha sat back curious.
“Monique, Bianca and I,” Kaylan replied. “Uncle Al would show us pictures of you. So naturally we were all curious.”
“Monique wasn’t. I think she tried to kill me.”
Kaylan laughed. “Monique has tried to kill all of us at some point in our lives. That’s just her make up. I’ll tell you this, having a cousin like Monique, I never wonder if my back is covered.”
“I bet,” Sasha smiled as she realized she felt that way too with Monique around.
“So, do you have time to look at a few places? Monique said you like having your own space. I think she wants to get you a place here before you change your mind.”
“You think she wants me around?”
“I know she does, but you’ll never hear that from her.”
“What about you and the rest of the family?”
“Yes, I’d like a chance to get to know you better and I know Aunt Tracy is ecstatic about you being a part of the family now. As for Grandma Lena, well just so you know, she does not like your mother.”
Sasha laughed. “Hell, I’m not sure I like her myself, but she is my mother, so I do love her.”
“As we all should,” Kaylan replied. “Since it’s the week after Christmas, it’s our slow time at work. I’m free to help find you a place. Are you free today?”
“Sure. Give me an address and I’ll find a way to get to you.”
“Nonsense, I’ll come to pick you up. Where are you?”
“I have no idea.”
Kaylan laughed. “You don’t know where you are right now? Are you lost?”
“No, I’m at someone’s house, but I have no idea where. Monique dropped me off and left.”
“Oh, then you’re safe wherever you are. Get the address then text it to me. We’ll look at a few places and if you are okay with it, have some dinner.”
“Okay, give me an hour and I’ll call you back.”
“Sounds good. See you then.”
Sasha disconnected the call then stood. She picked up the overnight bag and walked into the center. “Slay, can you give me the address to this place? My…” she hesitated, “cousin is coming by to pick me up.”
“Did you clear that with Luke?” Slay asked.
Sasha raised an eyebrow. “I don’t have to clear anything with Luke. I come and go as I please.”
“Does Luke know that?” Leo asked.
Sasha chuckled, “I have no idea.”
“I’ll let him know you are ready to leave.” Slay picked up her phone.
Sasha frowned as she looked from Leo to Slay. “You may be a little confused on my role here. I’m assisting with the documents, but I do not work for Luke.”
“I understand, however, you are his guest, and it would be polite to let him know you are leaving.”
“Polite,” Sasha huffed, “I don’t recall him letting me know he was leaving. I’m going upstairs to get dressed. You do what you think is best in that timeframe. But I will be leaving as soon as my ride gets here.” She walked into the corridor, then turned back. “Which one of these doors is the elevator?”
“The one on the left,” Slay replied. “Do you know your way once you get upstairs?”
“I’m a smart woman, I’m sure I can find my way.”
“Okay.”
Sasha heard the response as she got on the elevator. She pushed the button thinking, how hard could it be to find the bedroom? Ten minutes later she was still wandering, trying to find the bedroom she’d been in the night before. She had been to six so far and they were all nice, but none were the one she’d been in with Luke.
She walked back out to the hallway then stopped at the staircase in the kitchen. She walked towards the front of the house. She looked right then left. That’s when she saw the library. “Okay, we were there, then we walked into the kitchen.” She took the staircase. “Okay, this is where we were this morning. She looked to her left and saw the double doors. “Finally,” Sasha exclaimed as she walked towards the doors. “Maybe I should have asked for directions,” she was saying to herself when she walked through the doors. She walked through the sitting area then paused.
“I thought you had left.”
Luke looked over his shoulder as he replied. “I just came back from practice, jumped in the shower then I was coming to find you.”
“You were looking for me?” She asked as he put lotion on his body. The one she was currently staring at with her mouth-watering.
“Of course. I wanted to see how you were making out with the documents.”
“Oh,” Sasha felt a little disappointed. She placed the bag on the floor. “I’ll help with that.”
Luke smiled. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” she replied as he handed her the lotion.
“Monique brought some clothes over for you?” He asked.
“What?” Sasha was distracted looking at the tattoo on his back.
He pointed to the bag. “Clothes, Monique brought you some clothes.”
“Oh, um, yes. I was coming up here to change. My cousin is coming by to pick me up.” She said as she poured the lotion into her hand then set the bottle on the nightstand. She placed her hands on his shoulders and the heat from his body immediately radiated through her.
“I was planning on taking you to get your clothes so you could stay here while you worked.”
Her mind was captivated by the enormous width of his shoulders and the design that encompassed his back. “This is the design from the window in more detail.”
“My tat? Yes. It’s my family.”
“The intricacy of the limbs flowing into the names of your siblings is really remarkable.” Her hands roamed sensuously over his back.
“It’s because each of them is an intricate part of me.”
Her hands felt no fat, no bulges, only smooth, chocolate skin with the tree representing his family. “This says a lot about the strength of your parents, the way the thickness of the bark supports the branches above.” Her fingers trailed down to the roots of the tree that stopped at the top of his butt. “You love them a lot. It is the reason you take their protection so seriously.” Her finger trailed up his spine, following the bark of the tree. She wondered what it would be like to be a part of that love.
Sensing the change in her touch, Luke turned to face her. The eyes that had held so much fire earlier were dim, almost sad. “Want to feel how your touch entices me?” He smirked as he pulled her close. “Wrap your hands around me.”
Sasha looked into his eyes as she wrapped her hand around his penis. Involuntarily her eyes closed as she groaned.
“You feel like a smooth steel pipe,” her breath began to hiss as his hands tugged at the end of his shirt she was wearing.
She smiled. He was pleased to see the spiciness return to her eyes. Luke lowered his head then captured her lips. They were soft, smooth, tasty. He growled when her hands tightened around him. “Guide me into your warmth Sasha.”
He pulled the shirt to her waist then lifted her up. He leaned her body against the wall. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist then eased down on him.
“Damn,” Luke exhaled as his head dropped to hers. “You feel like home.”
His words got lost in the feel of him robbing her of her senses as he drilled his steel rod into her. She could bask in the feel of him forever. Her heart skipped a beat, her breathing rapid, her body trembling as he continued to fill her with his powerful thrusts. Her fingers clung to his shoulders. She could feel her nails digging into his skin, but there was nothing she could do but hold on while this beast of a man pumped life into her. Her breath caught in her throat smothering a scream as he growled in satisfaction.
They stayed in that position until their bodies slowed down, their breathing began to ease and one of them was able to speak.
“That’s what you call a fifteen-minute power break.”
Sasha began to chuckle softly. “I like a man who can hang.”
“I like a woman who can swing with me,” Luke smiled as he eased her down. “You said you had to change clothes. Do you want me to help you with that?”
Sasha laughed. “If I had not made plans, I would take you up on that. But I have to go.”
“Go where?” Luke asked
“To find a place to live.”
“You decided to move to Virginia?”
Sasha hesitated as she reached for her bag. “I may, if I find a place and a job.”
“You are welcome to stay here,” Luke shrugged. “I mean I have eleven bedrooms in this house. There is plenty of room.”
“Why in the hell do you have so many bedrooms?”
“I have eleven brothers and sisters and they have children.”
“Okay, but are they all moving in?”
Luke laughed as he took her bag and walked towards the bathroom. “No, but if they needed to, they could.”
“That’s a lot of people to have around. I’m used to having my own space. If I wanted to walk around butt naked, which I do most of the time, I can.”
“You can do that here,” Luke smirked as he turned on the shower.”
“I see you don’t have a problem with o’naturale.” She said while stepping into the shower.
“That’s the way I like it.”
An hour later, Kaylan was standing in the foyer looking around when Sasha came downstairs with Luke.
“You found it,” Sasha greeted Kaylan.
“Yes. It’s a nice place,” she smiled.
“Thank you,” Luke replied as they both looked at Sasha.
“What?” She looked at herself. “Did I leave something off?”
Luke extended his hand. “Luke Lassiter.”
Kaylan shook it. “Sasha’s cousin, Kaylan Chavis. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I was supposed to do the intros there. Sorry.” Sasha exhaled. “We ready to go?”
“Waiting on you,” Kaylan replied as she walked back to the door.
“Let’s ride.”
And with that she was gone. Luke stared at the door wondering when or if she would come back.
“So, that’s your friend.” Kaylan said as she pulled through the privacy gate.
“He is a friend of Monique’s that I am helping.”
“Helping his sexual drive?” Kaylan asked with a curious look.
“Excuse you.”
“Girl please. You two had satisfaction written all over your faces.” She laughed.
“My business,” Sasha replied with a roll of her eyes. “But damn he’s good.”
Kaylan laughed out loud. “You are just like Monique. No inhibitions at all.”
“It is what it is,” Sasha laughed with her.
After looking at a few condos, Kaylan took Sasha to the building Monique lived in. “Monique said you will be staying here until you find your own place.”
“Yeah,” Sasha let herself into the condo. “Do you think there are any vacancies in the building?”
“I doubt it. However, your father is Al Day. He can make things happen you would not believe. Ask him.”
Sasha shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“I can take care of myself.” Sasha said as she took her bag into the guest room.
“Not saying you can’t.” Kaylan yelled out. “It never hurts to have family that can give a little help along the way.”
“I’ve lived thirty plus years without family help, I’m pretty sure I can survive thirty more.”
“Do you want to?”
“Want to what?” Sasha asked when she came back into the room in a different outfit.
“Survive without a real family?” Kaylan asked as she faced her. “It’s clear you don’t value family the same way I do. And that’s okay. You are working from your life experience. From what I know about your background, it wasn’t great. We are not perfect, and lord knows we have all made mistakes. With that being said, we love you and want you to be a part of us. Give us a chance to be a part of your life.”
Sasha stared at Kaylan. The sincerity of her words was all over her face. Kaylan was a person who wore her heart on her sleeve. “You’re a sweet person Kaylan.”
“You are too, Sasha.”
Sasha hesitated. “You realize I don’t know how to deal with family. I’m a loner.”
Kaylan smiled then exhaled. “Well, I’m an expert on dealing with family, the crazy and the sane. Hang with me while Monique is on assignment. When I get on your nerves do what Monique does.”
“What?”
“She disappears.” Kaylan smiled. “Step number one. We have a new baby in the family. Grab your purse. We’re going shopping for a gift. Then we’re going to see Ryan Tucker and his mother, who happens to be your stepmother.”
“Okay, okay, okay, let’s not push the stepmother thing too far.” Sasha said as she picked up her purse and coat. “Let’s go do the family thing.”
Kaylan laughed as she opened the door. “It’s not a family thing. We are going to visit.”
A few hours later Sasha and Kaylan were in the kitchen laughing at Al’s Ryan/Morgan story. Ryan wasn’t finding it funny.
“Tonight he’s sucking on your titty until five in the morning.” She huffed at Al.
“There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you. However, I don’t have the necessary tools to nurse our son.”
“Keep laughing and you will.”
“You two are hilarious,” Kaylan smiled as she looked down at the baby in her arms. “There is no way that something this precious can cause so much trouble.”
“That’s why I’m never having any.” Sasha stated.
“Never having any what?” Al asked.
“Children. Hell, I’m thirty-two years old. No permanent man in sight and I damn sure am not going to live my mother’s life as a single mom.”
Ryan glanced at Al with a knowing look. “Have you heard from your mother yet?” She asked.
“She called,” Sasha replied.
“Did you two have a chance to talk?” Al asked.
“Nope, but then we never do.”
“Why is that?” Ryan asked. “Why is it that you never have time to talk to your mother? Some of us would give anything to be able to talk to our mother again. I know I would. Right now is a good example. I know my mother would be here to help me with Ryan. I know she would give me words of wisdom to help me through the new role of motherhood. But she’s not here. I don’t have the luxury of choosing not to talk to her.”
“Nor do I,” Sasha replied. “It takes two people to hold a conversation. I cannot tell you how many times I called her before Monique came to get me. You see she was supposed to spend Christmas in New York with me.” Sasha shrugged. “It was never in her plans to spend time with me. So, I did what I always do, made a backup plan to travel to DC to spend time with a man I really did not know. Just to have someone around who wanted to be with me. As it turned out, that was a scam too. You want to know how many times I’ve called since discovering I was a part of this family?” Sasha huffed. “At least twenty times before I simply gave up. Her life is her life. When she has a free moment, she’ll call. So please don’t give me a lecture on not making time to talk to my mother.”
Sasha stood and walked out of the kitchen.
Kaylan looked at Al, then at Ryan. “Don’t worry, Uncle Al. She can’t leave. I’m driving. It doesn’t mean she will not go back to New York once we leave here. I don’t want that and I don’t think you do either.”
Al nodded.
Ryan glared at him. “Now would be a good time to talk to your daughter.”
Al exhaled as he stood then walked out of the room.
Sasha was in the room where she stayed when she first arrived.
“Let me get this straight,” Al stood in the doorway. “Stephanie never worked a day of her life. I know because I provided her with a decent life. All she had to do was take care of you. Under those circumstances, the two of you should have established a close mother-daughter relationship. Apparently that did not happen. I’m not going to ask if you want to talk about it, because there are no options here. It’s time for us to have that talk.”
“Why?” Sasha turned to face him. “I’m a grown woman who has lived on my own since I graduated from college. Hell, before then if you count the holidays, and school breaks on campus since leaving home at sixteen. The talk is no longer needed.”
Al stepped inside the room, then closed the door. “You may not need it, but I do.”
“You need it? So now I’m supposed to care what you need? Where were you when I needed someone to talk to? You have an answer for that?”
“I was right there, Sasha. All you had to do was reach out.”
“Reach out to who? I grew up with a father who was a drug dealer and a mother who was in denial that she had a child, and a grandmother who blamed me for ruining her little girl’s life. Wow, what a choice. And now, Monique and Kaylan think I am supposed to be the big person and just open my arms to a family I know nothing about. I’m supposed to just trust that you will be there for me. Don’t get me wrong. Other than stepmother in there trying to tell me how to handle my relationship with my mother, y’all seem cool and I’m willing to do what Kaylan asked and give it a chance. But it is going to be on my terms. I say when and who I want to spend time with. I already have one dysfunctional relationship, I don’t want any more.”
While she was talking, Al took a seat at the foot of the bed. Every time she put some clothing in the bag, Al took it out and placed it back into the drawer then sat back down.
“What in the hell are you doing?”
Al looked up at her. “Unpacking your clothes.”
Sasha stared at him. “Why?”
“This is your home. I am your father. Morgan is your stepmother. And if you think I’m going through another twenty-four hours of her complaining about your mother not calling you back, you have lost your mind.”
“Look, what’s happening between you and your wife is on you.”
“Your stepmother…” Al stood. “Now you look. I am sorry for how your mother and grandmother treated you. I am the poster child of the same shitty treatment you received as a child. I lived the life and did not want that for my children. I had to do things to protect my family and survive. I don’t regret it. It was a part of my path in life. The thing is you now get to decide where your life goes from here. Yes, I was a drug dealer. I’m now an intricate part of the current administration. My sister is the First Lady of the country. My daughters are fierce. One protects her country and the other assists members of the United Nations.” Al smiled. “Not bad for an ex-drug dealer. I’ve had a remarkable life. And I’m still being blessed. I found a woman who loves me for who I was, for who I am now and for who I will be in the future. If I can maneuver my way through the bullshit, you can too. All you have to do is accept the love this part of your family wants to give.”
Al stood then walked over to the door. “Oh, I need you to rethink that thing about never having babies. Lord knows, I don’t see Monique having any and well, Ryan is a little young, so all I have is you to provide me with grandchildren.”
“I ain’t having no babies,” Sasha huffed.
“That’s exactly what Morgan said before she met me.” Al smiled as he closed the door behind him.
Sasha sat on the bed, then fell backwards. Looking up at the ceiling, she sighed. She wanted what Al was offering. Hell she had wanted a better family all her life. Now she had the opportunity to have that. Hell it was being thrown in her face. Why in the hell was she hesitating?
Her cellphone rang. Sitting up she picked up her phone and looked at it. She clicked the button to answer. “Hello Mother.”
“What in the hell are you doing in Virginia?”
Sasha sighed not ready to get into it with Stephanie. “I’m working on a special case.”