I. Tamara

Chapter 19

I leaned into his chest and buried my face there. I heard him chuckle as he began to rub my back. I could feel his chest rise and fall as he took deep breathes. I instantly thought about Quan because every time we would cuddle, I would feel his chest rise and fall. I deeply sighed. I messed up bad this time.

"What's the matter," He asked while leaning his head back to look at me.

"The same thing from earlier," I removed myself from his chest then crawled toward my headboard and sat there while pulling my knees up to my chest.

"I understand. Just try not to think about it," He said while crawling toward me then grabbing my leg and pulling me to him. It caught me off guard so I fell onto my back as he hovered over me. I looked up at him while discretely biting onto my bottom lip. "Tamara, let's be real for a minute," He pinned my hands above my head then looked at me.

"What do you mean," I asked while looking off to the side. He put his finger under my chin and made me look at him.

"You know what I mean. We both know that we feel for each other. Ever since we were kids," He laced our fingers together.

I winced lowly. He's telling the truth and I hate my life right now.

"Rashad, yes. That's true, but you're Quan's cousin and I don't want to start anymore drama between you two,"

"What he don't know what hurt him," Rashad looked me directly into my eyes then licked his bottom lip. Gosh, he likes eye contact way too much.

"I don't know. He's been my best friend since forever and I would hate for it to be ruined, but if you keep your word, I'll keep mine," I said uneasily. I can't do this because it's Quan's cousin, but I don't want to hurt Rashad or Quan and it's just difficult for me right now. I want this, but do I need it?

He leaned down as I leaned up and our lips touched. I began to move my lips against his as he opened his mouth slightly and I slithered my tongue into his mouth. Our tongues began to battle each other for domination. I moaned as the kiss got intense and I felt him grinding in between my legs. He then moved from my lips toward my neck. He began to suck on it, roughly while rubbing his tongue against the side of my neck. I whimpered in pleasure as I moved my hips against him. He left a enormous hickie on my neck then he began to plant a trail of open kisses toward my ear. He kissed onto the tattoo behind my ear as his grinding got a little harder and rougher. I began to dig my nails into his palms as he tightened his grip on my wrist. I heard the front door shut and I was taken off my cloud of ecstasy. Rashad climbed off of me then slid under my bed.

"You don't have to hide, stupid," I giggled then walked toward my dufflebag to hear my grandma call me.

"Yes," I called back.

"Just checking to see if you was here,"

"Hey, Mrs.Harris," Rashad called out.

My grandma made a Scooby-Doo sound which caused me to facepalm.

"Hello, Rashad," She said then I heard her bedroom door close.

I'm surprised she even remember him, but he was the only person to call her that because everyone called her Tiny.

"Where do we stand," He asked me.

"Friends for right now, but can we cuddle," I asked while poking out my bottom lip and talking in a baby voice.

He chuckled then wrapped his arms around my shoulders and laid us back. I snuggled up closer to him then closed my eyes as we both embraced the silence.

"All my homies wanna know whats up with us. They can't believe that I'm kicking it with just one girl, but I'm cool with that. Them pretty eyes and that smile. Girl Im a fool for that. Yeah, Im a fool for that. Cause when I be out with other chicks I be thinking bout you and when you be out on dates you be texting me too. Telling me to come pick you up when he drop you off. I pray to God he ain't breaking you off," He sung lowly into my ear causing chills to go down my spine. He ran his fingers through the roots of my hair then he continued,"I don't want nobody but you kissin on my tattoos. I don't want nobody but me talkin to you until you fall asleep. We better stop playing before we mess around and someone gets hurt. I don't want nobody but you, nobody but you kissin on my tattoos," He kissed the tattoo behind my ear causing me to giggle and turn a bright red. I turned over so I could face him. I rubbed his cheeks with my thumb as my palm rested on his jawline.

"Rashad," I started out with a sigh,"how much do you like me," I asked while staring into his eyes.

"Ma, I've liked you ever since we were little when Quan introduced us. I wanted to make a move on you, but Quan had let it known that you were off limits. I just let it go after that, but my feelings never went away,"

I looked at him as his eyes started to soften. I gasped then realized that Quan told Rashad not to talk to me. I'm just glad they didn't fall out about it. I woulda been pissed if somebody made me sacrifice my happiness for their own selfishness. Sorry, but that was what that was.

"Ya know," I played into his curls, once again, "I think that was selfish of Quan to do that," My phone buzzed on the dresser and I groaned. This was so comfortable, but it might be my dad, so I slid out of his grasp then grabbed my phone. I pressed the top button and put in my password to only see a message from Quan. I opened it in a rush and he asked if we could meet up to talk because he didn't think he handled the situation maturely. I replied with a simple yes and then I asked where. He never replied back, so I curled back up beside Rashad. As soon as I did that, my phone buzzed. I groaned again. He can wait for a while. I draped my leg over Rashad's lower waist then rubbed his face. I'm really obsessed with his face and hair, but everyone knows I like hair. I closed my eyes and the sleep that I was fighting, finally won the battle.

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I was awaken from my slumber by a light shake. I fluttered my eyes open then looked at Rashad who was kneeling down in front of me.

"Alright, sleepy head, I have to go, but I'll call you when I get home," He kissed my forehead then rubbed the spot he kissed and started toward my bedroom door.

"Wait," I called after him then sat up.

"What's up," He turned around and leaned against the door frame.

"How are you getting home," I asked while climbing out of bed.

"Your grandma is taking me. You rest, aiight," He chuckled.

"Okay," I climbed back into bed. "See ya later, Shad,"

"Later, Mara," He walked out of the door and a few seconds later I heard the front door shut.

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Okay. How do you guys feel about Rashad and Tamara? And that vote was tough ;-; Rashad and Quan are neck and neck.