The next morning Marshall awoke with a smile on his face. He thought back to the night before when he and Regina had spent the entire night, making love. Not fucking, not screwing, not having sex, making love. That thought alone, that he could actually have someone to make love to, was incredible to him. He’d never felt like this with a woman before, and he liked it.

These thoughts all shattered once he opened his eyes and found the bed empty. She was gone. Shit! He hated that crap. Why didn’t they ever stay? He wanted to wake up beside her and hold her and know that she was still there with him. Going to bed with women and then waking up alone had always bothered him. It always made him feel like they were ashamed of him.

The bedroom door opened and Regina stepped inside. She closed the door behind her and looked over to the bed. When she saw Marshall was awake she smiled.

“Hey boy,” she said as she crawled into bed. She leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

“Where’d you go?” he asked. “Had to use the bathroom, that’s all. You okay?” she asked concerned.

“I just don’t like waking up alone. You always leave me,” he replied annoyed.

“I just had to use the bathroom, I came right back.” She replied giving him a small smile.

“What about all the other times?” he asked.

“It’s a habit, I’m not used to having a man that wants me around him after sex,” Regina replied truthfully. It had been that way with Mario, and with Benny, neither ever stayed the night with her.

“Well I do. Don’t leave me like that, it’s fucked up,” he replied, still a little annoyed.

“What is the real problem?” she asked.

“Are you bored already or something?” he asked.

“Bored? What, with you?” she asked confused.

“Yeah,” he grunted.

“Marshall, really, why would you think that?” she asked cocking her head as she looked at him.

“It’s stupid, forget I asked,” he mumbled. She chuckled softly.

“What’s so fucking funny?” he snapped.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been with a guy fishing for compliments.” She laughed.

“I’m not fishing for compliments,” he growled. She sensed how insecure he was. She’d realized that several times, he may have been a number one rapper but he had no self-esteem.

“Hey, calm down all right, I didn’t mean anything by it. But look, if you want to know why I haven’t kicked your stubborn ass out yet, I’ll tell you.” She said as she pushed him back on the bed and sat astride his hips.

“You are not just plain old Marshall to me, you are the baddest rapper in the whole business, not to mention your wicked sense of humor, your loyalty to your friends,” she started.

“I’m not talking about that shit. I mean Reggie, look at you, you’ve gone to college, you finished high school, you were friggen valedictorian for Christ sake. You write like a fucking critic, you debate and win, you are so fucking smart. Me I didn’t even make it through high school,” Marshall said, extremely agitated.

“Oh so you think that I’d be so high and mighty as to discriminate against people who haven’t finished high school or gone to college. If you think I give a fuck about that then you are pretty fucking stupid,” she spat at him as she got up off the bed.

“I’m serious though. How long do you think it’s going to be before you do get bored with me? I ain’t nothing to offer you.” He replied.

“Marshall, give me a break. Being smart has nothing to do whether or not you have gone to school. So I’ve read books, I’ve taken classes, that doesn’t mean I’m any better than you in any way. Marshall, look at some of the things you’ve written.”

“So I’ve gotten lucky a few times,” he replied. He was stubborn, as stubborn as she was so she knew that he would not back down. She climbed up on the bed again and forced him under her again.

“Okay. So you’re stupid, a mediocre rapper and an asshole. But Marshall, I still like you, okay? Like I said before. You’re funny, and in your own way, smart as hell. A fucking genius with lyrics. Not to mention you are definitely the hottest fucking thing this side of the country. And even if we do run out of things to talk about, I’ll just keep fucking you until we go through the floorboards. Sound good to you?” she asked. He felt that warm tingly feeling spreading through his limbs. She was good. He sat up and gripped her lips in a firm kiss, thanking her without saying a word.

Once they pulled apart she said,

“Okay, the party is in a couple hours, and I have got to take a shower.” She said patting his leg.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked, a familiar grin spreading on his lips.

“Oh I suppose, if you must,” she feigned annoyance and pulled him out of bed.

Ernelle came out of the kitchen and heard a man’s voice. She noticed the door to the bathroom was open. Ernelle stepped up to the bathroom quietly and found Marshall standing at the sink shaving. He was rapping some song she wasn’t familiar with, pausing here and there to rinse out the razor.

“Damn, I’m gonna miss views like this,” Ernelle said as she leaned on the doorframe.

“Huh? Oh hey Ernelle,” Marshall replied with a slight laugh.

“Don’t you ever put clothes on?” Ernelle asked motioning to the towel wrapped around his waist. “Not really,” Marshall replied going back to his shaving.

“Marshall, come on, I want to leave soon,” Regina said emerging from her room when she spotted Ernelle.

“Oh hey Ernie, when’d you get in?”

“I’d say about the same time Marshall got in,” Ernelle said with a raised eyebrow.

“Ha ha, you coming to the party?” Regina asked as she stepped into the bathroom and grabbed her earrings off the shelf.

“Hey good looking,” she said as she gave Marshall’s ass a squeeze on the way out. Ernelle gave her a look at this.

“Come to think of it, I don’t remember hearing the shower twice,” Ernelle said as she followed Regina out into the kitchen.

“No, you didn’t,” she replied, non-fazed.

“What happened?” Ernelle asked with large eyes.

“He told me I was his, that’s all,” Regina replied with a slight smile on her face as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“And?”

“And what? Can’t argue with that man, can you?” Regina replied as put sugar in her coffee and stirred.

“Regina Contini, are you telling me, that you and him, are exclusive?” Ernelle asked. Regina leaned back against the counter with a smile on her face as she held up her cup.

“I believe his exact words were, ‘You are going to be my girl, you ain’t gon be runnin’ round with anyone else, you’re mine.’”

“That’s pretty damn exclusive.” Ernelle grinned.

“Yeah, and to tell you the truth, I’m scared to death,” Regina replied, her smile falling from her lips as quickly as it came.

“Reggie, it’s gonna be okay, really. Just take it one day at a time. Besides, I can tell that he cares a lot about you,” Ernelle said sympathetically.

“I just don’t want to go through all the shit again.”

“Regina, he makes you happy, admit that, it’s okay.”

“He does. He really does,” Regina nodded.

Marshall froze in the living room as he heard his name mentioned. He’d heard everything Regina had said and couldn’t help feel a little elated at the fact the he made her happy. But she was scared. Scared to death that things would end up just like Mario, just like Benny. He was also scared, but he also knew that she was not Kim. That fact alone made all the difference.