“Dis you? You own dis?” she asked, as they entered the house. On second thought, she wished she could take that back. She didn’t want to seem too nosy. She remembered that old saying, “If you gotta ask, then you can’t afford it.”

“Naw, I rented it. But fa da chunka change I paid for it, it should be mine,” he admitted. “My label wuz in da process of puttin’ da finishin’ touches on some projects. So I thought it would be a good idea ta get my artists outta Philly. Dat way they could concentrate. Insteada hangin’ out, runnin’ da streets and losin’ focus. Who you down here with?” he asked, looking at Tender.

“A couple of girlfriends.”

“Where are they?”

“They doin’ them and I’m doin’ me.”

Q stood for a minute, just staring at her. “Where ya man at? You too fine not to be on lockdown.”

“Why you wanna know?” she asked as she toured the living room, checking out the place. “Probably with ya wifey.”

He figured she was too streetwise to give him too much information. So he didn’t press. He went into his kitchen. Outside, it began to rain, hard and fast. Tender looked out the sliding glass patio door from the living room to a scenic view of Biscayne Bay. She watched as the rain hit the waters. In the distance she thought she saw what appeared to be dolphins. It was magical. She felt like she was in a movie.

Something about this girl is different, Q thought. Or maybe not. Q was a sucker for a fine-ass woman. Aggressively. Anyway, he slid up behind her, cupping both her breasts with each hand, while gently kissing her on the neck. Goose pimples magically appeared on Tender’s skin. He had found her spot. Her eyes began to close as she enjoyed this tongue bath. She began breathing heavily while she licked her lips. Seeing that he aroused her, Q continued to do what he was doing while undressing her. Assisting him, she turned around to face him, then she began passionately tongue kissing him as he tore at her clothes. Unable to contain herself, she clawed at his too.

Finally, they were naked, locked in each other’s embrace. Clothes littered the floor around them. Never in her wildest dreams did Tender imagine that she’d yearn so lustfully for a man. It was as if she’d known him all her life. She had not even thought of mentioning money.

Tender and Q melted into the carpet, exploring each other’s bodies with their hands. The rain shower had turned into a torrential downpour. The pounding of the raindrops against the patio floor intensified the mood.

“Q, let’s do it out on da patio,” she suggested. Tender always wanted to have sex in the rain. That was her yet-to-be-fulfilled fantasy.

“C’mon,” he agreed, taking her by the hand.