Nadia looked like she was ready to lick it off with her penetrating glances. She took a couple of steps toward him, lust burning from deep within.
“So… tell me, Rose… what are you going to choose this time? Because I have shown you I can build with you. What more could you want from a woman?” She snuggled him, inhaling his manly scent mixed with the perspiration coming off him.
Her nipples poked through her sports bra. Taking him in intensely, everything else faded into the background for her. Rose was a man, so his dick reacted when she pressed her soft frame against his. Nadia tossed one hand behind his neck, trying to draw him in. Rose was so close he could feel her lips and she hadn’t even pressed them against his.
“Is this why you keep pushing me away?” Minx’s voice jarred them from their intimate moment, and Rose turned toward the door.
Dressed down in a Nike jogger outfit and matching shoes, hair pulled into a high ponytail that swung behind her she stood with her hands in the jacket pockets. Disappointment crowded her face when she shook her head. A frown instantly plagued Rose’s face, and his heart skipped. She was fine, even on her chill days. Her style was simple, but it made her stand out. Even now, she drew the attention of some of the men still in the gym.
“What you doing here?” he asked, his chest rising when he spoke.
Thunder rumbled, and a flicker of light shot across the sky outside the gym. A storm brewed outside and the high winds howled.
“Obviously making yet another bad choice,” Minx countered, brows knitting above her pretty ass eyes.
She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry, even if that’s what she wanted to do more than anything.
“I’m sure it won’t be the last,” Nadia instigated, a comical smirk spreading over her face. “We were in the middle of something so?—”
“Shut the fuck up.” Rose aimed a deadly set of eyes at her.
“Shut up?” Nadia repeated, brows going up, surprised. “You know what, Rose? You ain’t shit. You just like the rest of these niggas. In fact, there are a few out here better than you.”
“Then why don’t you go chase after them!” he barked back. “I gave you a job when you ain’t have shit!”
“And I’m holding this shit down for you. I’m the only person in your life that ain’t trying to take shit from you, Rose! But you so blinded by some nostalgic, childhood shit that you can’t even see that. So fuck you! You want this shit to be strictly business… no fucking problem!” she spat, grilling him hatefully and backing up.
He was damaged goods anyway. She knew that years ago, which was why they broke up. Rose was just the kind of nigga you kept on deck. He was fly, he was gangsta, and he got money. His dick game was also A1, so bitches were always willing to come and fuck with him again, no matter how disrespectful the nigga was. Nadia stomped off toward the office so she could get ready to leave. Minx was already turning and heading for the door. Her emotions were high, and she hated not having control over them. Shit hurt, and she didn’t want to feel it. The thought of being around Rose and never having him ate her up regularly as it was. She wasn’t sure she would be able to survive if he stuck around. The truth was, it was better when he was gone, because she didn’t have to think about it as much or run into him at every fucking turn.
“Where you going, Minx?” he called out, his voice firm, stopping her in her tracks.
“Home. I didn’t come here for this,” she replied, keeping her back to him.
“And what is this, hmm?” He used his towel to pat away any remaining sweat that he had from his workout and approached her from behind.
“It’s… abnormal. Definitely ain’t us. Things are changing, and I don’t like it,” she admitted.
Defeated, Rose remained silent. He didn’t know what to say. Usually, he had a comeback for everything, but tonight, he was mute.
“I’m gonna get out of here before the storm picks up.” She took a couple of steps forward, but Rose seized her wrist before she got too far out of reach.
She was so soft. The slightest touch between them electrified him, shocking his heart.
“I can’t lose you, shorty. That’s some shit I refuse to accept. Tell me what you need from me, Minx,” he pleaded.
“You said it yourself, Rose. You can’t give it to me. I want what my parents have… eventually. I know it takes time to get there, but… that’s the goal for me. I want kids… one day. I want to name my daughter after my sister and have a son that looks just like you. I’ve had those thoughts, even when I didn’t want to, for as long as I can remember. I want you… Rose. I have always chosen you, and you have always pushed me in the opposite direction. So I guess now it’s about accepting what is.” She paused, standing tall attempting to block the hurt from knowing they would never be. “I have to learn how not to want you. How to plan a life that doesn’t include you.”
“What you mean… don’t include me?” He furrowed both brows, heart lurching in panic in his chest.
It was sure to cave in if she planned on standing on that shit. “Minx… you can’t get rid of a nigga?—”
“The way you can discard me so easily? I think I can try,” she replied, nodding.
“Minx—”
“I’m done, Rose. I’m done being the one making all the advances. I’m done pouring my heart out to you only to have youreject me. I am done.” She emphasized her last words slowly. “I can’t do this anymore.” Minx shrugged as tears stung her eyes.
Speechless, feet rooted to the floor, when Minx turned to go there was nothing he could do. His head screamed at him to run after her, but he honestly didn’t know what he would say or do. He wanted her, that was true, but he wanted her protected more than anything. If anything happened to her because of him, there would be hell to pay. Being the daughter of Max was one thing, but Rose was a menace out here. He broke laws regularly, and the shit was routine to him. There was no way he could have her waiting around if he got jammed up. Granted, he did his best to stay off the radar, and with Perez in their pocket it wasn’t hard, but anything could happen at any time. Minx got into her car and sped off the lot as sprinkles of rain hit the ground. She needed a drink… or several. Plus, she felt like she and Gannon also needed to talk after everything. She wasn’t sure where they stood or where they were going.
