Love - Ill be Bad for You

T his is a 16,000-word short story. If you prefer books with more content, please check my catalog for another novel .

It was with immense pleasure that I was able to write this novel. Can you believe I wrote 13,000 words of it the night before it was scheduled to be released? (If there are errors, charge it to my 3am editing mind and not my creative heart .)

If you do choose to read, I hope you enjoy .

H ow it began - Denver

H e wasnt even gentlemanly enough to walk Denver to her front door. Or to open the car door for her. Or to at least wait and make sure she made it inside of her home with no problems. As soon as Denver closed the passenger door, Langstons tires were screeching as he sped off .

Figures, Denver grumbled, looking from her front door to the house on the right of hers .

Now that hed gotten what hed wanted out of her, there was no reason for Langston to stick around. After pushing the bottom of her dress down, Denver slowly walked toward the house on the right instead of her own. Symphony had been staying there for years. And for years, hed been there for Denver and her family. She was confident tonight would be no different, so she slowly made her way to his porch with a pout molding her lips .

Even with there being over ten men scattered in the front yard and five standing and sitting on the porch, Denver made her way through them effortlessly with the strap of her clutch wrapped around her wrist as it dangled from one hand and her phone gripped tightly in the other. What little confidence she had may have been drained by her evening with Langston, but she wouldnt dare show that around them .

Wiping the pout from her face, she straightened her shoulders as much as she could. When it was just her and Symphony, shed crumble, but for now, she had to at least appear strong. Devin, her twin brother, and her parents wouldnt have it any other way .

Finally standing in front of Symphony, Denver felt her resolve begin to fade away piece by piece as he intently searched her eyes. Licking her lips, Denver looked away as they filled with water .

Go, Symphony ordered, and every man that was seated and standing around left with no questions. He waited until it was just the two of them to lift Denvers face by her chin. Peering into her eyes until she closed them, Symphony asked, Who did it ?

Denver smiled as two tears slid down both cheeks. That was usually how it went between them. Symphony wasnt much of a talker, so he could never really lend her a listening ear or sound advice. No. Thats what her best friend Valentina was for. Symphony, though, had a strong shoulder for her to lean on silently. And even stronger fists. Fists that had been bloodied and bruised on multiple occasions defending Denvers honor .

Even when her brother and father were available, Symphony for some reason still took it upon himself to be her protector. And now that they were no longer available, his protection of her was no different. Whatever she needed, Symphony provided. Just no deep pillow talks or life altering conversations. Those types of things were off limits .

Me, Denver reasoned softly as he wiped her face. I need a drink. She opened her eyes, surprised by what she saw in Symphonys. Normally when she was in her feelings, which was a lot, the only expression he allowed himself to make was one of anger. But as his brows burrowed and lips parted, Denver couldnt overlook the concern that covered his face until he shook his head and turned away from her .

He held the door open for her, and as soon as Denver stepped into his home she felt the peace shed needed ever since she and Langston left the hotel room. The hotel room. He didnt even value her enough to take her to his home to take her virginity. Symphony led her into his kitchen, prepared to grab a bottle of the wine he kept over for her. But when she said she needed something stronger, his grip on the bottle tightened as anger covered his face .

She gave him a soft smile, and that was enough to have his grip loosening as he turned his back to her. Symphony replaced the wine with whiskey. After pouring her a shot and sitting it in front of her, Symphony asked again, Who did it? but this time, there was no softness in his voice. There was no hint of patience. Or the impression that Denver had the option of giving him the name of anyone other than the person that had wrecked her and not in a good way .

Really, Sym. It was m His fist pounded into the table causing Denver to jump. But she wasnt scared of him. Never had been. Never would be. If anything, Denver was scared for Symphony. And how he allowed his anger to consume him. Especially when it came down to her. After taking as big of a gulp of the whiskey as her throat would allow, Denver stood. I should go. As she walked she added, Im always burdening you with my problems .

Denver tried to walk past Symphony, but he grabbed her wrist and stopped her .

Symphony.

Did his mother know his voice would be as rough as that of DMX around others but as smooth as Al Greens when he talked to her? Did she know that his tone was the sweetest and most melodious symphony shed need to listen to, to put her to sleep? She couldnt have known, but on the off chance that she did know, Denver wished she could have thanked her, but Felicia died shortly after giving birth to Symphony .

Because of that, he was raised by Felicias parents. His grandparents. Symphonys father came around as much as his heart and guilt would allow. But he looked too much like his mother. And after begging her to give him a son, just for that son to be the reason she died sure Eric knew in his mind that Symphony wasnt the cause of his mothers death. He knew if it wasnt her time shed be here .

But his heart

That aint stopped you before. Sit your ass down, Denver. And speak .

Even with the roughness of his command, Denvers lips lifted into a smile. Instead of taking the seat across from him again, Denver sat next to him. His hand covered hers, and the gentle caress of his thumb against her hand gave her the courage to whisper, I just Her head shook as she nibbled on her bottom lip. I cant believe I waited twenty-one years to give my virginity away for that bull for that BS .

Normally Symphony would smile at her inability to curse or say anything mean or dirty for that matter, but this time he frowned. His hand left hers as he poured himself a shot of whiskey .

You fucked that nigga, D? There was something about his tone that led her to believe saying yes would be a disappointment to him, so Denver nodded instead. So what happened? He didnt know what he was doing ?

Denver shrugged, taking his drink and finishing it off as she normally did. Their connection she wouldnt quite say they were friends. Not like her and Valentina. But somehow, Denver felt closer to Symphony than she did Valentina or anyone else. Could have been the way he kept her safe and close. Whatever the case, Denver couldnt see her life without him in it whether they were friends or not .

I dont know. It just didnt feel like thats what everyone raves about. Her head tilted as she looked his body over, but the thought left her mind just as quickly as it entered. Maybe it was because it was my first time, but I didnt like it at all. If thats what sex is all about, I can go another twenty or forty years without doing it again .