I shook my head hard, shoving the vision away, but the damage was done. My body was hot, my pulse tripping like I’d already sinned.
Cadence waited for Ro’s laughter to die before she spoke, and her voice was soft but steady, cutting right through the noise. “Teyonah. Don’t let a hard cock trick you into forgetting your priorities.”
That sobered me up fast.
“You have two kids who need stability,” Cadence went on. “You have a law career you’ve worked too hard for. You have a divorce case where Scott is just waiting to paint you as reckless. If he found out about any of this. . .he would use it all against you and take away J and Oliver just to make you cry. You cannot—absolutely cannot—give him ammunition by sleeping with your tenant. Especially one who looks like sex walking and probably has neighbors gossiping already.”
Silence stretched.
My stomach twisted. “Y’all are going to kill me. One second I’m ready to storm down to that basement and jump on his cock like a trampoline, the next second I’m scared Scott’s lawyer will subpoena the damn couch cushions he’s probably cum all over.”
They both laughed.
“I hate to admit it, but. . .what Cadence is saying is. . .true,” Ro said. “I say just be careful then. Look. I don’t want you in no mess. I just want you happy. And right now, that boy’s cock can make you happy. Don’t lie. We all agree. Right?”
“Of course it would make her happy,” Cadence admitted although it sounded like she wasn’t happy to do so.
I swallowed, cheeks hot. “It probably would be fun to play with him for a little bit. Teach him some things.”
Cadence’s sigh was heavy. “See? That’s the danger. Desire makes you reckless.”
“Desire makes you alive,” Ro countered.
And then, they went back and forth like a tennis match.
Cadence started first, “This is about long-term stability. Not a quick one-night stand.”
“No.” Ro came in strong. “This is about short-term sanity and his big cock is the answer.”
“Your kids are watching you and learning what type of adults they should be.”
“Those kids will be asleep when the shit goes down! And she deserves to feel wanted again.”
“Think about those future divorce papers, Tey!”
“Think about your pussy!”
“What if J or Oliver had opened that back door instead of me?”
“Ouch.” Ro sighed. “Well. . .okay. Boundaries clearly need to be set about the backyard jacking off. On that we agree.”
I laughed so hard I had to lay back on my bed and bury my face in the pillow.
Oh my God. I’m so glad I called them.
They went on a few minutes more.
By then, I got up from bed and put all my discarded work clothes in the laundry basket on the other side of my room.
“Okay.” I shut the bin’s top. “I hear both of you. And maybe I don’t know which way I’m leaning yet. But y’all are right about one thing—I can’t ignore this. And I feel like. . .I should talk to him. . .tonight. . .If I do nothing, breakfast will be awkward as hell.”
Cadence hummed approval. “Exactly. Better to go down there now, say thank you for the Mother’s Day surprise, quickly address the masturbation, and then set boundaries.”
“No. No. No.” Ro clapped through the phone. “Yes! March your ass down there and say: ‘Rule number one, no jacking off in the backyard when my babies are upstairs. Then, you say, ‘Rule number two, you only stroke that cock when Mommy is watching and then pull out a titty and ask if he’s thirsty for milk.”
“Rochelle!” Cadence gasped.
I fell over laughing again, almost dropping the phone.
