Chapter 112

Kadeem

Susan’s hands found Kadeem’s crotch and her eyelashes fluttered in shock to find him unaroused.

She was undeterred, snaking her hand down his waistband before he could even react, trying her damnedest to excite him into even a semi-flaccid state, but it was all in vain. All he had to do was picture her and his uncle.

Kadeem grabbed her arm. "I'm not interested tonight," he said.

Then he caught sight of her hand, finding bruising on her wrist. His fingers gently brushed over marks that looked like marks from a hand that had gripped hers too tight.

His eyes found hers. "Did Bob do this?"

She yanked her arm away, her eyes cold and hostile as she stumbled to readjust her robe. "Why would I have anything to do with your uncle?"

Kadeem's jaw tightened as his anger bubbled up, and he finally let it show. "I don't know," he spat, "So you can fuck him, apparently."

Susan's eyes widened with surprise and her voice went up an octave. "That's -" she began, before pausing to collect herself. "That's insane," she said. "I would never be interested -"

Kadeem didn't let her finish, cutting her off with a wave of his hand. "To feign shock and play that as insane?" He laughed. "And why not," he asked with a shrug. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, his voice more and more biting, insinuating, to cut into her ridiculous charade. "He's not that much older than me-"

"Try twenty years," Susan breathed, her gaze shifting away from him.

He narrowed his eyes. "We both know you're into powerful men." Kadeem's voice deepened. He reached out to smooth her hair. "We both know it turns you on."

Susan flushed and Kadeem forced back a laugh, picturing their kinky BDSM sexcapades.

She bit down on her tongue, lowering her eyes to the floor. "I don't know where you're getting this information."

"Oh, please spare me more lies," Kadeem said before taking another step closer. He lifted her chin to look into her eyes as he spoke again, the menace dripping from his words like a venomous syrup. "Why don't you just tell me what you're doing here, and what you want from me? We both know it's not romance you're after."

Susan pulled her robe tight around her, shrinking visibly - their bodies a mere inch or less apart.

"Did my dear uncle kick you out," he asked. "Did you run away?" Kadeem leaned closer to whisper into her ear. "Or did he ask you to come? Maybe you even planned it together."

A snarl came over Susan's face and she bared her teeth. "Please. He's as dumb as a box of rocks. If you think he's smart enough to plan anything like this, you're just as oblivious."

"Now we're getting somewhere," Kadeem said dryly. He stepped back and crossed his arms. "What do you want, then, Susie Q?"

Her lips spread into a sly smile. "Nothing but you in between my thighs, baby -"

"Save it," Kadeem growled. "You're good at the seductress act, I'll give you that... but Susan, your mask is slipping." He shook his head, feeling appalled by her antics. "And I'm beyond caring now - in case you didn't notice."

Pain struck her face. "Fine," she said. "I'll just be on my way."

He took a threatening step forward, trapping her against the wall. "Not until you tell me why you came here."

She stared blankly. "I -"

"Don't even think of uttering a lie," he hissed. "You'll live to regret it if you do."

Susan's expression was desperate. He could see her brain whirring to find a believable fib, or a way out of his grasp. Both efforts would be futile.

"Information," she whispered finally.

Kadeem raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Her lips twitched. "Nothing specific -"

"Bullshit."

Susan swallowed nervously. "Honestly," she said.

"A word usually spoken by liars," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Kadeem, I mean it," she said. "Bob just wants to keep tabs on you."

Kadeem let his hand drop from the wall, but kept close to her, studying her face and eyes for signs of deception.

Susan pursed her lips. "I don't want to say any more."

Kadeem stared at her, then let out a long breath. "That's enough," he said, nodding curtly. "For now."

"You won't tell him, I said anything, will you?"

"No," Kadeem said. She looked frightened and pathetic. He would get zero satisfaction out of worsening her situation. "Now get your stuff, and go."

He stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching her as she gathered up her things. He felt relieved already, by her impending exit - and at having found another small piece to the puzzle.

"Bye sweetie," Mateo sneered as she stomped down the stairs.

She flipped him off and he roared with laughter.

"At last," Mateo said, as Kadeem clicked the door closed.

Kadeem squinted eyes and shook his head. "I know how you've been suffering."

He turned back toward the stairs, ready to hit the sack, but then stopped short.

Mateo had cranked up the news and was sprawled on the couch.

"Turn that shit off," Kadeem said, striding over.

Mateo swiped at the table for the remote, clicked it off, and looked up at Kadeem inquisitively.

"I want to ask you a question," Kadeem said.

Mateo sat up. "Sure, what is it?"

He removed his glasses and polished them with the hem of his shirt, waiting patiently for Kadeem to find the words.

"Are you feeling... lonely?"

Mateo scrunched his forehead and opened his mouth to answer, but Kadeem jumped in to give it context.

"You were upset when our meetings with Riley ended," he explained, "Now, you're about to move out, and you seemed sort of down when I told you about me and Ardal."

"Yeah," Mateo said. "I guess that's it. I do feel alone."

But his expression was flat and he averted his eyes over to the side of the room.

Kadeem's glare hardened. "What are you not telling me?"

Mateo put his glasses back on, adjusting them slowly on the bridge of his nose. "Nothing," he said. "I'm just a broken man." His tone was almost wistful.

Kadeem chuckled at Mateo's self-deprecation and Mateo shot him a faint smile in return, but it fell short of reaching his eyes. The emptiness of it bothered Kadeem.

Kadeem frowned. "You know," he said. "I've already ferreted out one liar tonight. You might as well be number two."

Mateo tensed up, sitting up straighter on the sofa. "Or perhaps you're projecting," he said, gesticulating like a wizened elder. Kadeem saw the motion as a grasping of straws, as he attempted to evade the truth.

"Seeing dishonesty that might not even exist," Mateo continued, glaring at him, "Just because it makes you feel better. After all, you weren't exactly an open book when it came to your ex, were you?"

Kadeem crossed his arms. "That's been rectified," he said. "But I am tired of secrets. There's been enough of that. Care to join me outside of the closet? The water's warm." He stared at Mateo, looking him up and down - his eyes narrowed studiously, and a smirk on his lips. "It feels pretty great."

As Kadeem spoke, Mateo seemed to become antsier by the second, fidgeting nervously until he eventually burst out of his seat and stood facing him. He looked like he wanted to bolt from the room, anxiety flashing over his face.

"Damn it," he muttered, before standing tall and leveling Kadeem with a determined glare. "I'm gay," he declared defiantly. "And I'm in love with you."