Once Bitten, Twice Shy

By Poketa L. Moore

Outspoken and sassy, Ka’Leeta Bryant always wanted the best things in life, by any means necessary. With her young daughter, Nia, in tow she lives a champagne life on a beer budget in sunny, Miami Beach. When she runs across a handsome, millionaire named Jimmy, she thinks that she’s finally met her golden ticket to life. That’s until she discovers Jimmy’s grotesque, secret ways, and abusive temper. After making a deal with the devil, she reluctantly leaves her Florida lifestyle in full survival mode.

Ka’Leeta returns to her hometown in South Carolina, harboring more than a few secrets. Although life took a turn for the better, drama still met with Ka”Leeta . When her past comes back to haunt her, karma goes into full effect with Nia in mind. Ka’Leeta is then forced to go on a mission to save Nia from an underworld of lies and dysfunction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669854128

Poketa L. Moore

Poketa L. Moore is originally from Hardeeville, South Carolina. She is a strong advocate for anti-bullying and child abuse. She resides in Jacksonville, Florida. This is her first novel. The author would love to hear your opinion of her novel. Please address your comments to: [e-mail]

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Once Bitten,

Twice Shy

Poketa L. Moore

Copyright © 2022 by Poketa L. Moore.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/03/2022

Xlibris

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Contents

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1

Why the hell I always gotta wake up broke!

That’s the thought that rolled around in my head like a marble as I dragged myself out of my bedroom into my little, dingy kitchenette. I opened the cabinet door next to the refrigerator and snatched a half-empty bag of Quaker grits off the shelf. I sat it down on the stove and opened the refrigerator, exposing nothing but a box of baking soda, a half a gallon of milk and a half a pack of generic brand bologna. I was saving the bologna for my work lunch the following week.

I grabbed a skillet and pot out of the oven and slammed them onto the stove. I felt myself starting to tear up at the lack of food, so I turned on the clock radio that I kept in the windowsill to lift my spirits. Heatwave’s Star of the Story jumped on.

I was broker than a convict fresh out of jail. Even though I got my paycheck the day before I only had was two dollars and twenty-six cents to my name. Hell, it wasn’t my fault that I had a gang of bills coming at me full speed ahead. I had to pay my rent, car payment on my brand-new Chevy Monte Carlo SS and car insurance all at once because I was still playing catch up from buying Nia and I’s spring clothes earlier that month from Nordstroms. I made sure that we always looked sharply dressed. That was a must.

I glanced over at Nia, who’d flopped down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. She started playing with her half-bald Malibu Barbie doll, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world. I could clearly see the crusted-up sleep in her eyes from where she didn’t wash her face good, so I knew she didn’t brush her teeth either. Regardless, I was glad that she was so oblivious to certain problems in life. She couldn’t tell that I was failing her. I wanted her to stay a child forever. Little dirty ass face and all.

I stared out the window, noticing the strange sixty-five-degree weather, an unseasonably cold, balmy day in May for Miami Beach. Pale, saggy skin, white women was still lurking on the beach in their bikini’s catching what sun that they could. I loved living close to the beach. It was a well-kept area with mainly older white residents who had flocked from the hustle and bustle of the north. But the beach life was a hard on my pockets at times. The rent increases every year didn’t help either.

I’d been living in the Sunny Oaks, an aging, palm tree lined art deco style apartment complex for almost six years. I started out with a one bedroom and moved into a two so that Nia could have her own room. I was approved for Section 8 housing when Nia was two years old, but I turned it down. I didn’t want to raise my daughter in no nasty ghetto. I accepted the food stamps and welfare, which was eventually cut off due to my increase in pay at work.

Mama, I’m hungry, Nia whined from the table, breaking up my thoughts. She was hugging her Barbie so tightly to her chest it looked like she was choking it.

Leave me alone and go watch TV! I snapped, wiping the tears from my eyes that had escaped and fell on the collar of my pink chenille housecoat. I was mad at the world and took it out on her, which wasn’t fair. She was just hungry, that’s all.

I’m sorry, baby. I apologized as I ran over to the table and gave Nia a kiss on the forehead, then a tight hug.

Mama just a little tired, that all. I’ll be done in a few minutes.

Yes, ma’am, she mumbled, tears forming in her eyes. She slow dragged herself over to the TV and turned it on. The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show was in the opening sequence. She then dropped down on the floor Indian style, chin in palm.

As I wrestled up the limited breakfast, my mind wandered to who I could as for a loan until that following Friday when I got paid. I refused to ask Nia’s father Geno for any money. He was only working part-time as a janitor and living with his mama over in Hialeah. Although he was a borderline deadbeat, he was a good daddy to Nia. That’s why I didn’t slap him on child support. He came to see her at least four of five times a week. He also gave me my quick fuck every now and then. Sex and a relationship were the last thing on my mind. All I cared about was Nia’s well-being. We had the perfect arrangement: No strings attached.

The grits started scorching, so I added a little salt, milk, stirred it up and turned the pot on low. A few minutes later, I placed the almost burnt bologna on a plate along with the lumpy grits and slung it on the table. Geno came strutting through the back door a few minutes later, carrying an overstuffed white and yellow Waffle House bag. He looked handsome in his blue tank top, Levi jeans and freshly cut, naturally wavy hair. He sat the bag and his keys on the counter, exhaled and sat down at the table.

Daddy! Nia screeched, running towards him like a track star from the living room.

Hey, my Princess, he cooed, scooping her up into his muscular arms and planting a kiss on her cheek. He sat her down on his lap, giving her a big, bear hug. I stood there and observed how much they looked alike.

She only had my light brown, hazel, cat eyes. That’s all. Geno was half Puerto-Rican and black. He was as tall as a Georgia pine tree. I always found him to be a beautiful, no-frills man. Nia had his olive complexion, sharp facial features, and wavy hair. Her long thick pigtails came past her shoulders.

What y’all in here doing? Geno asked sneering down at the now cold, lumpy grits on the plate. I knew he was about to get real sarcastic. So, I got into defense mode.

I was cooking breakfast, I said, flinging my hand on my hip, bugging my eyes out.

Princess, get up for a minute, he said told Nia tapping her on her leg gently. She hopped out of his lap playfully and moved to one of the other empty chairs at the table. He pounced over to the cupboards, snatching them open, taking a quick glance. Next, he opened refrigerator and slammed the door, causing the raggedy little thing to shake.

Leeta, where’s the food! Didn’t you get paid yesterday! his deep voice rumbled, scaring me a little.

I’m glad I brung something for y’all to eat! What is that slop that you were gonna feed my daughter!

He looked down at my slippers and snared his nose up.

Round here wearing Gucci house shoes and shit and can’t even buy decent food.

Man, I had bills! I yelled in a rage tired of his judging.

We’ll be alright until next Friday. Don’t come up in here with that bullshit!

Geno stared at me for a few seconds in disbelief. He then grabbed his worn-out, braided wallet out of his back pocket and flipped it open. He snatched out four crumpled up twenty-dollar bills and slapped them down on the kitchen counter.

Girl, take your stubborn ass to the grocery store and buy some edible food, he suggested as he bent down and hugged Nia who had begun to cry from all the screaming that we were doing. He wiped her tear-soaked face with his t-shirt and smoothed out the pants part of her pink Oshkosh B’Gosh overalls.

Pride ain’t gonna fill y’all belly, Leeta, he reminded, sitting back down at the table hard.

I said we’ll be alright, I said, scrunching up my face at the money on the counter.

Keep your little bit of change. Your mama may need it. I taunted then smiled wide, trying to piss him off. He hated when I teased him about living with his mama. I could tell that he didn’t like my comments because his nose flared up like a bull. That only happened when he was mad. He started rubbing his chin rapidly.

If you just let me move in here and help out things would be different, he said ignoring my childishness.

Princess can have a two-parent home like me and you did. But you be on that stupid shit. You really need to dig yourself, girl.

No, got dammit! I yelled, now frustrated with the conversation. "We tried those six years back in seventy-seven. You didn’t want my fat ass or my baby, remember?"

Damn, Leeta, you don’t let shit go. It’s 1983 for God’s sake. I already apologized for that too many times. I was a young jit. I was stupid. I love you and Princess. I just want to be a good father, that’s all.

Whatever, I responded then rolled my eyes at him, bored with the conversation. The room grew real silent. I sat down at the kitchen table and stared down at the dirty, white linoleum floor noticing it needed to be mopped. The radio was playing a Burger King commercial that was describing a juicy Whopper hamburger. That made my stomach growl like a monster, making me feel slightly embarrassed.

Here, I got you a patty melt, he said, standing up and taking the greasy, plastic containers out of the bag. He plopped the smallest one down in front of me.

I know you be watching your weight and shit, but please eat.

Geno opened Nia’s pancake and bacon kids’ meal container and sat it in front of her with a plastic fork. He poured a whole packet of syrup on the pancakes. She started eating like she hadn’t ate in days. That pissed me off big time. He slathered his pecan waffle and eggs with butter and syrup with the rest of the syrup packets and butter condiments in the bag. He scarfed the syrupy mess down in a matter of a minute. Starting to get dizzy from hunger, I ate one half of my patty melt and tossed the other in the refrigerator.

"What do you wanna do now, Princess? Geno asked Nia as he wiped her now sticky face with a napkin.

I wanna play Tea Party! Nia cheered back, throwing her arms up in the air. Let me go get the hats. She squealed then bolted to her room. Seconds later, she came back holding two small, pink sunflower hats and her little pink suitcase that held the tea party supplies.

Yeah, OK. Come on Princess, let’s go in the living room and have noon tea, Geno joked then rolled his eyes as he got up from the table. He hated playing tea party because he didn’t like putting on the little sun hat. I busted out laughing.

About an hour later, after getting out of the shower, I walked into the living room naked letting the air conditioning dry my wet, naked body. For some reason, I liked the feeling. Geno was laying Nia down on the couch gently, then gave her a kiss on her cheek.

I see she wore you out good. She got more energy than the Energizer Bunny, I joked then laughed at how exhausted he looked.

You the one that gave her ass all that syrup earlier. I reminded, then laughed.

She should be having fun. She’s a little girl, Geno retorted, looking my naked, freshly showered body up and down like I was a T-bone steak and a side of buttery mashed potatoes. He followed me back into the bedroom like a little puppy, closing the door behind him.

Well, I deal with it every day, you don’t, I said, rubbing baby oil on my arms and upper body. I looked down at Geno’s dick print forming in his pants and decided to tease him a little. I bent over and started rubbing my legs, poking my ass out a little. He came over, scooped me up and threw me on the bed playfully. He flopped down next to me.

I love you so much, Leeta, but you refuse to love me back, he said as he stroked my damp, curly hair. I know I did some jive shit in the past, but you can clearly see that I’m sorry. He dropped his head and closed his eyes, looking sullen. I started rubbing his cheek gently. Although I played hard to get, I really did love him too.

I love you too, I eased out, feeling myself getting extremely wet from all the emotions circling the room. He read my mind because he started playing with my rock-hard clit and fingering me slowly. I jerked my head back, enjoying the much-needed attention. We hadn’t had a romp in almost two weeks. I crawled onto the bed further and spread my legs as far back as they could go.

By now, he was naked, exposing all eight inches of his hard dick. He pulled me to the edge of the bed and buried his face into my pussy. I thought he was gonna suffocate for minute. Within seconds, I came so hard I caught a cramp in the bottom of my stomach. He then flipped me over into the doggy style position and gave me long, deliberate strokes. We both came at the same time.

As I headed to the bathroom to wash up, Geno slid under the covers and started snoring like a grizzly bear. When I came out of the bathroom, a few minutes later, he was still snoring, even louder.

You can at least get up and wash your ass. I joked as I gave his shoulder two big tugs. He just turned over and let out a long fart. Feeling a little tired myself, I stretched out next to him and dozed off. Two hours later, we were awakened by Nia looking at us from the bedroom door.

Ooooh mama and daddy nakey, She giggled out before pouncing into bed with us.

Close your damn eyes, I scolded, snatching the covers up over me all the way. The scrunched-up face that Nia made when she closed her eyes way too tightly made me laugh out loud. Geno got up and ran towards the bathroom, grabbing his clothes off the floor along the way.

You got your suitcase ready? I asked, refocusing her attention so she wouldn’t ask too many questions about what she saw. I started smoothing down one of her unruly ponytails with my hand, readjusting the barrettes.

Yes ma’am. I’m gonna miss you mama, she answered as she opened her eyes up and cupped my face with her small, sticky, watermelon Jolly Rancher smelling hands. She then gave me a big, wet kiss on the cheek. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever. Her little white girl accent was so adorable to me. I hugged her back tight not wanting to let her go.

I really didn’t want Nia going to Geno’s Mama’s house. I couldn’t stand that bitch with a passion. She hated black women. I didn’t want my daughter around that mess. I couldn’t really interfere like I wanted to