It Was Always You

Introduction

Hey y’all!

So, I was going through my files and found this amazing novel that I penned in 2016. My original plan in that moment was to put the two-part series out under a different pen name – Sunflower – mostly because of the… well… you’ll see when you read the book :)

Anyway! I decided to go ahead and complete the series and put it out under B. Love. Back in the day, I loved writing about love at first sight and fast paced love stories. This urban romance is no different. If instant love isn’t your thing, skip over this read and find another B. Love book to indulge in.

As always, thanks for the continued support!

Until next time… which will be really REALLY soon… love, B. Love

P.S. As you read, remember, this story was written two years ago, and in that course of time my writing has changed. Resist the urge to compare this to my other novels. Enjoy the story for what it is and how it’s written.

1

Blood, Sex, and Tears

The dark club was filled with smoke, sweat, and sex filling the air. What started out as pole dancing classes to tone her naturally slim body had turned into a career as a stripper. Her body wasn’t sculpted with a small waist and large ass. She kept the slim shape she was born with, hence her nickname at the club – Slim. Weighing one hundred and five pounds, Slim made her money because of her sensuality and flexibility. Not to mention her natural sex appeal.

With skin the color of melted toffee, bra strap length jet black natural hair, high cheek bones, copper colored slanted eyes, full pink lips, and a dimple in her chin, Slim could stand in front of a man, stare into his eyes and have him peeling bills from his stack in seconds.

Still waitressing days and stripping nights, Slim was comfortably paying her bills and saving to return to college. Her ultimate goal was to make a career out of screenwriting. Settling for becoming a Creative Writing teacher, Slim had dropped out of school and lost her financial aid. Now, with a balance at the last school she attended, she had to pay for her first year of school out of pocket and pull her GPA up before she could even apply for financial aid again.

With no siblings, parents who died in a car accident when she was fifteen, and an elderly grandmother who didn’t approve of her lifestyle, Slim was all alone to provide for herself, but she promised her grandmother that if her career didn’t pop off by twenty-five she would stop stripping and get a real job. At twenty-four, she had to make something happen soon. The nine to five life was not for her. She would go crazy sitting in an office for hours on end.

Sighing as ‘Make Sum Shake’ came to an end and her theme song for personal requests ‘Dance for You’ began to play, Slim looked herself over in the mirror once more before slowly walking out of the dressing room. This was the fourth time this week that the same creepy man had requested her personally. The money was good so she didn’t complain, but there was something about the way he looked at her that didn’t sit right with her.

Wearing a pair of black pumps and a black lace bra and panty set, Slim walked over to the man who was seated in the corner. His legs spread widely and he smiled as she walked over to him. Sitting his blunt down, he held his arms out for an embrace but she stopped inches away from his fingertips.

You know the rules… no touching, Slim mumbled. Put them hands back, she commanded. Grinning, he nodded fervently before doing as he was told. Not wanting to face him, Slim turned her back to him and spread her legs. With her back arched and her legs straight, she touched her toes.

Slowly and methodically, she jiggled each of her butt cheeks one by one before clapping them together and dropping before him into a split. Leaning back into his legs, Slim lifted her legs up and into his lap – flipping herself over. Resting her hands on the floor like a handstand, she ground her waist against his. When his hands wrapped around her waist she lifted the top of her body from the floor and tried to remove herself from his grip but he tightened it.

Don’t you fucking move, he ordered into her ear, causing her shoulders to relax. His hands lifted her effortlessly and turned her so that she was facing him.

I thought we agreed? No touching, Slim reminded him, trying to lighten the mood as she looked into his deranged eyes.

I want to feel you. I want to feel all of you, he confessed before pushing her panties to the side and sticking two fingers inside of her. Slim shrieked in discomfort and surprise.

Shut the fuck up before I kill your ass! You don’t feel this gun in my pocket? His fingers slid deeper inside of her. Slim’s eyebrows wrinkled as she closed her eyes in fear. In embarrassment. In anger. Pull my dick out, he instructed. Her eyes immediately opened, and before she could stop herself, Slim’s eyes made it clear just as crazy she thought he was.

Please… don’t… She begged quietly, praying someone would notice what was happening. Even in a room full of people, Slim felt powerless and alone. Her entire body shook against him, but all he did was hold her tighter. Pull her closer. Slim’s heart began to palpitate in her rib cage – almost like a guerilla demanding to be freed.

Do it before the song goes off, Slim. I ain’t playing with your ass, he warned, to which Slim’s eyes briefly sealed shut. Three months into her gig, she never would’ve expected a man to violate her in the most disrespectful way, but why didn’t she? No man had shown her much respect because of how she made her money. Why did she expect that to change now?

As her tears finally escaped her eyes, her trembling hands made their way to his pants. Closing her eyes, Slim wrapped her fingers around his zipper as she inhaled deeply. She opened them, looking into his eyes, hoping he would have some compassion, but that’s when she saw him out of the corner of her eye.

What was he doing here?

The musician at her church, Nehemiah, pulled a .45 from his waist and aimed it at his head. With no warning, he pulled the trigger. Slim fell back in fear and disgust as brain matter and blood sprayed her. Vomit escaped her mouth as screams erupted in the club. People were running in every direction as Nehemiah grabbed her and calmly headed for the exit.

As he carried her to his car she said nothing. Just stared at him. Like he was an angel. Like he was a ghost. Like he was her savior. Once they made it to his car he opened the door, placed her inside, and fastened her seatbelt before returning to the club. After he came back, she noticed DVD’s of what she figured were filled with security footage under his armpit. He looked at her intensely before asking, The hell are you doing here, Monroe?

Slim said nothing as more tears fell from her eyes and she thought, ‘I should be asking you the same damn thing.’

They had been sitting outside of the hospital for an hour. As patient and compassionate as he was, Nehemiah was beginning to lose it. She just sat there. Making no movement. No sounds. Just sat there. Staring into the night sky with tears falling from her eyes. He didn’t want to rush her, but he needed to get her checked out, into a shower, and some new clothes.

Monroe…

How do you know my name? Slim interrupted, looking over at him for less than a second before returning her attention to the sky.

You’ve been going to my church for years, well until you randomly stopped coming. Why wouldn’t I know your name?

Slim looked over at him briefly again before returning her attention to the sky.

You’ve never said anything to me. Her voice was so soft it had the ability to calm his rattled nerves. Nehemiah felt bad. He was the one that was supposed to be calming her and bringing her peace, yet she was having that type of effect on him.

You need to go into the hospital and get a rape kit done. I know he didn’t… penetrate you… but you can, at least, get tested for free and make sure the nigga didn’t have anything since his blood is on you. Besides, you need to record this incident so that when they investigate his murder you won’t be considered a suspect.

Looking at him again, Slim ran her fingers through her curly hair.

What were you doing there, Nehemiah?

Nehemiah shrugged before opening his door and walking to the passenger side of his car. After unbuckling her seatbelt, he gently pulled her legs out of the car and placed her feet on the concrete. He took off his top shirt and covered her body with it.

When I get you inside I’m going to call my guy and have him meet me here. I’ll get your personal belongings and your car from the club. I’ll come back and take you home. Shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes.

I don’t want to go home. I want to stay with you, Slim whined as tears filled her eyes, and her instant attachment to him surprised him. Trying to convince himself that it was because of her vulnerability and need to feel safe, Nehemiah agreed with…

Okay. Get out so we can get home, okay?

Finally, Slim stood and allowed him to escort her into the hospital.

Look, man, you know I appreciate your business and the fact that you fronted me the money to open my spot, but I don't need any unnecessary attention. You know this is where I push some weight. Couldn't you just bomb on the nigga? You had to kill him? The owner of the strip club, Raheem, asked. Nehemiah made no apologies as he packed up Slim’s toiletries and makeup.

Fuck else was I supposed to do, Raheem? He violated her so he had to be dealt with. Ain’t nobody gone come down on you because of that bum ass trick. Chill out, Nehemiah spoke before walking out and bumping into Raheem in the process.

How is she doing? Raheem asked. Will she be able to come back to work tomorrow night? She’s one of my top girls. I can’t afford to not have her.

Nehemiah shot Raheem a look over his shoulder that let him know he didn’t appreciate his last comment.

Long as I have something to do with it, Monroe will never step foot in your spot again, bruh.

Don’t you think that that’s a decision she should be allowed to make on her own?

Before Raheem could defend himself, Nehemiah had him hemmed against the wall.

I trusted you with her. I told you when she first came in here looking for work not to let anyone touch her, not to let anything happen to her, and not even three months later you let a nigga stick his fingers inside of her? What if I wasn’t here? You were supposed to have eyes on her at all times!

Nehemiah’s best friend, Quentin tapped Nehemiah on his shoulder lightly. That’s enough, Miah. You already got one body tonight. Let him go.

Nehemiah unwillingly let Raheem go and left the club, muttering something inaudible the whole way out.

2

Everybody Ain’t Who They ‘Post’ to Be

After Nehemiah and Quentin exchanged goodbyes and Quentin left in Nehemiah’s car, Nehemiah went to get Slim out of the hospital. Fifteen minutes and a silent