Gunz and Roses (14 page)

“I can't lie. It does bother me. I mean, you say that you don't want to do this forever, but is that really the truth? Can you see yourself leaving the game?”

“Hopefully, but who knows?”

“Well, I'ma put it to you like this: I can't see myself spending the rest of my life with someone who does what you do, so eventually something gon' need to change. Either I'ma keep on fuckin' wit' you or leave you alone. But right now in this moment, I don't care about what's dangerous or illegal. All I care about is being with you.”

“You love me, don't you?”

“What?” She was caught off guard.

“You heard me. Say it.” He kissed her lips, rotating between the top and the bottom. “Say you love me.”

“I love you,” she moaned, enveloped by his touch.

Before Gray noticed, Gunz had unzipped her jeans.

“Baby, what you doing?” She rubbed his head as he made a trail of kisses down her stomach.

“What you think I'm doing?”

“But, baby, I want some dick.”

“Let me just taste you. We can fuck later.”

After that, Gray wasn't able to release another sound. It didn't even matter that he hadn't said “I love you” back. The passionate road of pleasure they were about to embark on was far more appealing to her. Gunz's tongue roamed her body in a fierce manic fervor.

All day he'd been itching to hear her scream for it, fiend for it, be in need of it. Unclothed, Gray lay fully naked. Gunz watched intently as she bit into her bottom lip. He could read her every thought. Gray swallowed hard. She could almost feel the kisses he was about to place onto her wanting skin.

Suddenly, without warning, his lips plunged into hers, claiming her as his own. While Gunz assaulted her lips with sinful kisses, his fingertips toyed with her chestnut nipples. Gray tried to still her raging heart, but the freaky things they were about to do and thoughts of the erotic sounds she was about to make were driving her insane. With precision, her thighs adjusted to his jaw.

Her legs poured over his shoulders as her hands roamed the top of his head. An immeasurable amount of pleasure swept through her lower stomach. Gunz placed a continuing kiss onto the lips of her pussy. Seconds later, an orgasm began to flow onto the tip of his tongue. Slowly he made his way up and aligned his dick with the slit of her wet pussy.

Gray's breasts were heavy with anticipation. This was it, the moment she'd been waiting for. Gunz's deep strokes sent shockwaves through her veins, paralyzing her lungs. And though she felt dissatisfied by his refusal of admitting love, Gray was intoxicated in the moment and the promise that maybe one day he would love her too.

 

The next morning, Gray was awakened by Gunz lovingly placing kisses on her nose, cheeks, and lips. Opening her eyes, she saw that he was fully dressed. Gray looked over at the clock. It wasn't even seven o'clock yet. After making love, she'd stayed up half the night talking to him because he couldn't sleep.

“Where you going?”

“I gotta burn out right quick. I'll be back later, though,” he assured, running his fingers through her hair.

“Promise.”

“I promise. As a matter of fact, be dressed. My family having a barbecue this afternoon.” Gunz reached under the covers and put his hand between her legs.

“Okay, but I thought you said you were leaving.” Gray squealed as he played with her clit.

“I am.” He took her hand and placed it on the face of her pussy.

While they both massaged the lips of her pussy, Gunz took one of her breasts and lightly flicked his tongue across her nipple.

“Baby,” she whined.

“That's all you get.” He released his hand and stood up straight.

“Why you do that? Now I wanna fuck.”

“Chill out. Later. Now give me a kiss.”

Gray obliged his request and planted a deep, sensual kiss on his lips.

“I'm out.” He turned and left the room.

“Bye! Lock the door on your way out!”

“A'ight!”

Gray sat up and placed her knees up to her chest with a smile on her face. Flashbacks of the love they'd made the night before crossed her mind. The tricks Gunz pulled out of his sleeve had her climbing up the wall. Gray didn't know a happiness existed like the one she felt. She wondered if the whole world could hear her heartbeat. Every day with Gunz felt like spring.

He made her feel safe and wanted. With him she could be herself without having to fake or front. She loved how at night, when they slept, he wrapped her up in his arms tight and wouldn't let go until it was time to get up. She was especially happy that he had begun to open up to her about his life and family. Everything from his smile, hands, and feet excited her.

Beaming, she got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. On the way, she heard the doorbell ring. Curious as to whom it could be, she made her way downstairs and over to the door. To Gray's surprise, some woman she'd never met before was standing there.

“May I help you?”

“Hi, are you . . .”—the woman looked down at her clipboard—“Gray Rose?”

“Who wants to know?” Gray asked, prepared to go off.

She just knew the woman on her doorstop had something to do with Gunz.

“Hi.” The lady stuck out her hand for a shake. “I'm Jada. Mr. Marciano hired me as your personal shopper. So if you don't mind, some deliverymen are going to start bringing some things in. It's a lot, so don't be overwhelmed. Oh, and before I forget, this is for you as well.” She handed Gray an envelope.

Overwhelmed, Gray opened the envelope and found two stacks of money totaling up to twenty grand. Gray didn't know what to say or do. One minute she was about to brush her teeth, and the next, racks of clothes and money were being brought into her house. She was astonished by the amount of items Gunz had purchased for her. What made the moment even more extraordinary was that half of the stuff was things she'd said she liked in Chicago but refused to let him buy.

“Oh my God,” she screamed when she noticed one of the boxes of shoes.

She didn't even have to open the box to know what pair it was. Inside was a pair of $500 Givenchy open-toe booties she'd been dying for. Gray never felt more special in her life. And yes, some of the things he bought were things she could have purchased on her own. Gray could pay her own rent, get her hair fried, dyed, and laid to the side, but it still felt good to know that someone cared enough for her to do something so sweet. Gunz was most definitely a winner.

 

Gunz could see smoke from the barbecue pit rise and evaporate into thin air as he made his way through Forest Park. It was almost near impossible for him to find a parking space with so many cars lined on the street. Gray sat beside him, anxious. She hadn't gone through the whole “meet the family” experience in years. She hoped they would accept her.

Once they were parked, Gunz helped her out of the car. The Gap Band's “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” serenaded them as they walked hand in hand to where his family congregated.

The scenery was inviting and cheerful. Over to the side of them was a pond with ducks. Hundreds of trees and shrubbery filled the park. The park also provided an art museum, boathouse, zoo, and science center. Over where Gunz's family was, there were five long picnic tables with red-and-white checkerboard tablecloths placed all around for people to sit. There were also lawn chairs and blankets. To eat, they had potato salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, spaghetti, chips, and more. To quench their thirst, there were a variety of coolers filled to the brim with soda and beer.

“Yabba dabba doo, nephew,” Gunz's Uncle Clyde yelled, raising his hands and drink in the air.

Gunz stood frozen stiff. It took everything in him not to burst out laughing. Uncle Clyde was a hot country mess. He didn't know whether he wanted to be a thug or a gentleman. He wore a Dallas Cowboy's baseball cap with a black wave cap underneath, football jersey, white leather pants, and blue Stacy Adams shoes. Around his neck was the biggest cross Gunz had ever seen. Uncle Clyde's ghetto fabulousness didn't stop there. He wore not one but two Cartier watches. You couldn't tell him he wasn't the shit.

“What's up, Unc?” Gunz smiled, greeting him with a hug.

“Not a muthafuckin' thang but a chicken wang. Look at ya.” He stepped back and looked Gunz up and down. “Lookin' like a muthafuckin' star. I see you twinklin', nephew.”

“You wild.”

“Now I know you gon' introduce me to Miss P.Y.T.” He leaned to the side and sucked his teeth. “How you doing, precious? You sweet, sexy thannnng, you.” He stuck out his hand for a shake.

“I'm okay. How are you?” Gray giggled.

“Oh, you know my pimp hand way strong. Ain't that right, Francine?”

“Ya got that right.” His wife snapped her fingers and shimmied.

“Okaaaaay.” Gray looked at Gunz. “What was your name again?”

“Baby girl, just call me milk, 'cause I'll do your body good!”

“All right, that's enough, Unc.” Gunz pushed him back. “Gray, this is my Uncle Clyde. Unc, this is Gray.”

“Gray?” He scrunched up his face. “What in the hell kind of name is that? I see you got a little bit of that In-donasia in ya. What, ya mama didn't know Ingles? Or better yet, was she on that narcotic? You know them Chinks good for that. They the ones bought that uh, that uh, opium and uh, hair-ron over here. I seen a whole special on it the other night on the Discovery Channel.”

Normally, Gray would've been offended, but deep down she knew Uncle Clyde didn't mean any harm. He was famous for using the wrong words when he spoke and half the time he didn't even know what he was saying.

“No, she just loved the word,” she explained.

“I ain't tryin' to be rude, Unc, but we gon' go say hi to everybody,” Gunz jumped in.

“G'on do ya thang, nephew. Don't let me slow down ya progress, ya dig. I'ma be right here by my muthafuckin' barbecue pit. 'Cause not n'all one of these niggas bet not touch it. Family or no family, I will let it loose.” Uncle Clyde lifted up his shirt and revealed a nineteenth-century Beretta.

“And on that note, I'ma be over there by Granny.” Gunz pointed as he escorted Gray away. “My bad. My uncle be trippin' sometimes.”

“It's cool. He was kinda funny to me,” she replied.

Gunz's grandmother, Emilia, sat in the shade with her legs crossed under an enormous willow tree. Sitting next to her was Gunz's mother. Even though they were no longer family by law, Emilia still treated Vivian as if she were her daughter. Gray was instantly taken in by both of the women's beauty, but Emilia's distinguished demeanor drew her in. Confidence exuded from her skin. It was easy to see she was of mixed descent. Emilia's Italian heritage showed through her piercing blue eyes. Her hair was a perfect mixture of grey and black, giving it a salt-and-pepper effect, while the complexion of her skin was a fiery shade of russet. A pair of delicate gold earrings hung from her ears. She was dressed casually in a red short-sleeve shirt, tan capris, and sandals.

“How you doing, Granny?” Gunz hugged her.

“Fine now that my no-good grandson has come to see me. It takes for me to cook for you to come by?”

“It's not like that. I just be busy.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Save it, Gavin.” She waved him off.

“That's the same thing he tells me,” Vivian added.

Gunz was still a little upset with his mother, but out of respect, he spoke anyway. Gray could feel the tension.

“Hi, Mama.”

“How are you, Gavin?” she responded, unfazed by his attitude.

“I'm straight, but ah, I want to introduce y'all to somebody. Gray, this is my grandmother, Emilia, and my mother, Vivian.”

“Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She leaned forward and shook his grandmother's hand.

“It's nice meeting you, too, sweetheart,” Emilia replied with a warm smile.

“Uh-uh, I don't want no handshake. Give me a hug.” Vivian stood up.

Gunz watched as Gray happily obliged his mother's request.

“Let me tell you, Gray, you must be very special to my son because he has never introduced us to any of his female friends.”

“That's good to know.” Gray looked at Gunz and smiled.

“Have you said hi to your father, Gavin? He's over there by your Uncle Ronnie,” Emilia asked.

“Nah, I didn't know he was here.”

“It would be nice if you went to go speak to him. Gray will be fine here with us.”

“I'll be right back,” Gunz said reluctantly as he kissed Gray on the cheek. “If you need anything, let me know.”

Under any other circumstances, he would have pretended as if his father didn't exist. He would've rather ate dirt than to speak to him, but for his grandmother's sake, he swallowed his pride.

“What's up, Uncle Ronnie?” Gunz gave him a pound and a hug.

“Look what the wind done blown through. What it do, nephew?” He happily hugged him back.

“Ain't nothing up, Unc.”

“You lookin' good, boy. Not better than me, but good.”

“Yeah, a'ight.” Gunz grinned. Halfheartedly, he turned and looked at his father and said, “Hey.”

“How you doing, Gavin?”

Before Gunz could reply, his Uncle Clyde yelled, “Y'all muthafuckas ready?”

“Ready for what, Clyde?” Uncle Ronnie asked, visibly annoyed.

“This a reunion, ain't it? Well, we about to reunite! Clydeascope and the Ill Street Band is back together again! I done already booked us some studio time. Our first song gon' be called ‘Smokin' Weed Wit' the Windows Up.' I wrote it last week. After that we gon' hit 'em wit' ‘Yup, Light Dat Bitch on Fire.' You can't tell me that shit ain't hot! Fuck Jodeci and BoyzIIMen. We 'bout to take this shit over! Worldwide denomination my niggas! World denomination!”