Luke Cage (Netflix Original) Shades/OC

Gangsta

"Lyla," Luke sighed, closing the door, "Look, you need to know that Cottonmouth and the 5-0 were already here, looking for Chico."

"Really?" She acted surprised. "Well," She took a quick breath, "looks like we need to move fast. I do have experience in this kind of thing," She smiled, "You want help?"

"What makes you think I'll go look for him?" Luke asked, frowning a little.

"You're, 'I work two jobs and get paid under the table,' Luke Cage." Lyla scoffed, "I'd bet fifty dollars, you owe Pop one, just like the rest of us." She sighed, crossing her arms. "Of course you're gonna go look for him."

Luke scoffed. "Nothing gets by you, does it?" He grinned.

"Not when you're the princess of a MC." She winked. He laughed. "Tell you what, you get a lead, I'll have your back."

"I just might take you up on it." Luke answered.

Lyla put a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck." She opened the back door. "See you around." She gave him a mini salute before ducking out the doorway into the alleyway.

Chapter 5: Some Kind Of Drug

Shades waited for Lyla to return to her apartment. He'd gone back up the fire escape, and through the still open window, shutting it against the coming winter chill. He hung his coat and suit jacket on the back of a bar stool, leafing through her extensive music collection. He pulled out a vinyl record of jazz piano instrumentals. He placed it in her record player, leaving the volume on low. Mo rubbed against his ankles again, and he obliged her, picking her up and taking her over to the sofa. He settled down, Mo in his lap, feet kicked up on the tufted ottoman. He should be returning to HP to make sure Cornell was canvassing the streets in an efficient manner. Instead he was petting a black cat in a woman's apartment whom he'd spent the night with. Things couldn't be weirder.

Lyla reached her apartment door and unlocked the three locks, faintly hearing jazz piano music from underneath the door. She pushed the door open to find Shades settled on her sofa with her cat in his lap. His dark sunglasses rested on the ottoman, along with his tennis shoe clad feet. His head was tipped back, resting against the sofa, eyes closed. She closed the door and his head snapped up. "Late night?" Lyla teased unzipping her moto jacket. They each probably only got three or four hours of sleep. She toed off her boots and padded over to the kitchen, searching for an energy boost.

"You could say that." Shades drawled, turning his head to watch her flit about the kitchen.

"You hungry?" Lyla asked, grabbing a serving tray from a cabinet. He didn't answer, so she took that as a yes. She set two glasses of water, a few pieces of fruit and some of her homemade date energy squares on it and carried it to the living room. She set the tray down on the ottoman, and settled on the sofa beside him. She picked up an apple and took a bite. He picked up a glass of water, and polished it off in one go. He set the glass down, shooed Mo off his lap and wrapped his arms around Lyla's waist, pulling her into his lap so she straddled him. "I get the distinct feeling you should be back at HP, not chilling on my sofa." She quipped, staring into his eyes.

"What gives you that idea?" Shades asked, hands running up her hips to her shoulders, fingers playing with her curls.

"Well, for one, you keep glancing at the clock." She checked the time, 5:45. "And two, you look guilty as hell."

"Guilty?" Shades questioned, "Guilty of what?" He pressed a kiss to her collarbone.

"Oh I don't know…" Lyla trailed off, leaning down to press her lips to his. "Guilty of dragging me back into this life." She murmured against his lips.

"Kicking and screaming." Shades murmured back, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Lyla chuckled, "Screaming, for sure." She leaned back a little, to glance at the clock. "Seven?"

Shades nodded, "Supposed to be there to report your progress." He smirked. He knew she'd love that.

"My progress?" Lyla scoffed. "I leave the MC just to get sucked into Cottonmouth's organization." She sighed, feigning disappointment. Then she shrugged it off, "Eh, could be worse."

"How so?" He asked, playing along. His lips blazing a trail along her jaw.

"Well, for starters," She bit her lip, "I could be alone on this couch right now."

Shades pulled back to look at her flushed face, "You've got Mo." He offered. "She'd keep you company."

"Not like this, she won't." She growled, crushing her lips to his in a soul searing kiss.

Shades couldn't get enough of the way she pressed against him, as if she wanted to crawl inside his skin so they could be as close as possible. He heard a few men at Seagate talk about sex this way. He always thought they were blowing smoke. He turned and laid Lyla down on the sofa, looming above her, settling between her thighs. He leaned down to kiss her, grinding his hips against hers.

Lyla raked her nails over Shades' scalp, lifting her hips to meet his. "Fuck," She swore before she could help herself. She did always have a smart mouth. "Sorry," she breathed, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Don't be." Shades drawled back, "I like it." Lyla bit her lip, wrapping a leg around his hip, sliding her foot down his backside, while one hand slipped between them to stroke his arousal. It was his turn to curse, "Careful, sweetness." He gasped, "You keep touching me like that and I won't be able to control myself."

Lyla reached up and grabbed his chin, drawing his gaze to her own. "Don't." Shade's eyes blazed with desire. "Let go." She smirked, "I can take it." Her chin lifted when she put the 't' on it.

Things moved quickly then, he stripped off her clothes, shedding his own. It was good thing she had the thought to draw the living room curtains before settling down on the sofa with him. He turned her over, taking her mercilessly from behind. She told him not to hold back, so he didn't. He roared his completion, leaning forward and biting her shoulder where her tattoo started. She followed him over the cliff, softly whispering, "Hernan."

Shades came back to himself realizing he'd basically brutalized the woman on her own sofa. "Shit." He swore softly, pulling her into his chest. He grabbed the blanket draped over the back of the sofa and spread it over them.

Lyla's head was buzzing with immense pleasure. No man had ever quite taken from her like that. She loved it. Of course she enjoyed having the upper hand most of the time, but it was also nice to lay back and let him take what he wanted. She smiled remembering the noises he made when she'd turned over and presented herself for him. Being with him was marvelous, simple, give and take. Their exterior lives were slowly complicating themselves, strings twisting, pulling tighter together. Their moments together were a beautiful escape from that.

Shades stared down at the beautiful, crazy woman cuddled into his chest. "Hey," He breathed, watching her gaze up at him, a sleepy smile playing on her lips.

"Hey yourself." She laughed softly. She reached up a little to pull his head down for a soft kiss.

Shades sighed. "I need to use your shower again."

Lyla smiled, "You say it like it's a bad thing." She teased, stretching like a cat.

He glanced at the clock. "You joining me this time?" He asked, sliding out from under her, helping her stand up with him. The blanket fell away revealing her once more to his gaze.

"Seeing as how I need to report to General Stokes for duty," She winked, with a mock salute, "Hell yeah."

Shades just smirked and shook his head, scooping her up in arms. "You always this insubordinate soldier?" He asked, playing along.

"Absolutely." She grinned, "Rebel without a cause, baby." Shades shook his head and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder.

After cleaning up, Lyla dressed in an elegant, deep green sleeveless satin dress. The neckline was wide, showing off her collarbone and the bodice was snug, hugging her chest and hips. The hemline was conservative, coming to just below her knees. The sinful thigh high slit is what made Lyla buy the dress in the first place. It was nice to be sexy without having her boobs out for the world to see. She slipped on a classic pair of black pumps and returned to the living room.

Shades shrugged on his coat, stopping before buttoning it to drink in the vision before him. He swallowed hard as Lyla crossed the room. She covered his hands with her own, taking over the task of buttoning him up. "Cat got your tongue?" Lyla asked with a cheeky smile, biting her lip.

Shades' eyes smoldered, "Something like that."

Lyla chuckled, giving his chest a pat. "Wanna take mine?" She offered, pulling out her keys, letting them dangle from her forefinger.

Shades cocked an eyebrow, sliding on his dark glasses. "Tad chilly for a Harley, Lyla." He teased.

Lyla's breath caught. Not many people used her full name. She swallowed, "'72 Dodge Challenger." She answered with a smirk, "Hemi, deep purple, black leather. Fully restored by yours truly." She curtsied slightly.

Shades felt his mouth water a little. There was something extremely attractive about a woman who owned a beautiful car. He liked the mobility and autonomy of walking, but a nice car was welcome against chill that hung in the air. She rented a small garage on the other side of the alleyway. After dressing in their coats, Lyla led the way down to the street. She bent down and lifted the garage door, revealing her most prized possession. True, she was raised a biker chick, but she still loved muscle cars more.

Shades let loose a low whistle. "Hot damn." He smiled. "You weren't kidding." The paint alone was flawless, the entire car glimmered like a jewel in the fading evening light. "Keys." He held out his hand. There was no way he was letting her drive, and Lyla knew that. Shades might be second in command, but he wasn't in this relationship. Maybe that was the power she could give him, let him be in control of his personal life. Her mother did say a man who appeared to be just a follower, was usually more in control than the leader realized. Lyla handed him the keys and he backed the car out of the garage. Lyla pulled the door down and bit her lip when she found Shades holding open the passenger door for her as of to say, 'just because I insist upon having control, doesn't mean I have to be a total dick about it.'

The pair rode in comfortable silence, Lyla relaxed back against the bench seat, watching Shades enjoy piloting her car through the city. They arrived at Harlem's Paradise and he let the valet park her car. He removed his shades to stare into the young man's eyes. "Whatever happens to this car, happens to you." Shades murmured in a deadly voice. The Valet nodded his head and slid into the driver's seat.

"I'm going to see Saadiq." Lyla murmured in Shades' ear as they dropped off their coats. Shades pursed his lips and took a quick breath like he was going to protest. Instead he gave her a single nod. "I'll meet you up in VIP." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Then before he could say anything she melted into the crowd.

"I see your girl is here in one piece." Cottonmouth spoke once they were alone in his office. Shades just nodded once. "Oh, c'mon. I know you hit that." He scoffed, "You can't keep your eyes off her."

Shades cocked an eyebrow. Considering he his dark glasses were still in place, Cottonmouth was just trying to provoke him. "Touche." He smirked. "She's in with Pop." He chuckled, "Fed him some line about the MC stepping in to help keep the neighborhood safe."

Cottonmouth looked wary, "Did Pop buy it?" Miles Brandon had assured him that he was working with Diamondback in other areas of New York and the eastern seaboard. Harlem was Cornell's territory, with no interference from the MC.

"Hook, line and sinker." Shades murmured, watching Lyla make her way to the VIP stairs.

"Good." Cottonmouth smirked. "She as good as she looks?" He voice dipped dangerously low.

Shades chuckled, "Better." He adjusted his jacket and collar.

"Screamer?" Cottonmouth continued, smiling good naturedly.

Shades just sighed and ignored the question, continuing to watch Lyla at the bar.

"You willing to share?" Cottonmouth asked, stepping closer to the glass window to look down at the main floor.

Shades took a step back and removed his dark sunglasses. "I don't share." His tone deadly.

Cottonmouth raised his hands in a surrender gesture. "Understood." He smirked, turning his attention back to the main floor. The opening act was just taking the stage. "I hear Saadiq is collaborating with Lyla for her set tomorrow night." Shades didn't react. "So you already know, huh." Cottonmouth mused, "Interesting."

"Tell me," Shades asked, his irritation rising, "What's so interesting, Cornell?"

Cornell frowned a little, "Just the way you let her run around," He shrugged, "If I had a woman like that I'd never let her out of my sight."

Shades shrugged. "I don't." He replaced his shades, settling them on his nose with finesse.

Cottonmouth laughed. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

Shades just smirked. He and Cornell did grow up together. They had gone separate ways, but they still did have a few pieces of their old friendship between them. Besides, it was nice to have another man jealous of his woman. His woman. Is that what Lyla was?

"You invite her up?" Cottonmouth asked, turning away from the window to go to the lounge area.

Shades nodded. "We can trust her." He answered Cornell's real question.

"I hope so," Cottonmouth scoffed, "For your sake, of course." He left his office and went to settle in the VIP lounge. Shades followed, closing the office door behind him.

Lyla took a deep breath before striding across the main floor. She was a tad nervous to be up in VIP with Shades tonight. She knew he was vouching for her trustworthiness with Cottonmouth. She also had an ace up her sleeve, Luke Cage. She was 99.9% sure that tall, dark and handsome wouldn't hate the idea of having coffee with her, even though he didn't like coffee. Luke would tell her if he found Chico, he'd most likely call for backup. If she knew anything about kids like Chico, they were scared shitless, and cocky as hell. It was only a matter of time until she was able to prove she was worth more than her velvet voice and sweet pussy.

"Welcome, Ms. Brandon." Cottonmouth said, offering her his hand. She took it, and he brought her knuckles up to his lips. "I trust Shades has been treating you well." He murmured.

Lyla bit her lip, "Please, call me Lyla." She smiled.

"Shades tells me, you're quite the little spy, Lyla." He smirked, releasing her hand.

Lyla took a deep breath to settle herself. "I chose to embrace my life as a daughter of the MC and found I had a knack for bending the truth and breaking the rules." She smiled softly, accepting the glass of champagne offered to her.

Cornell chuckled. "Now you're running away from it?" He questioned. She could tell he just wanted to understand why she wasn't in Brooklyn anymore under the MC's protection.

Lyla took a sip of the bubbly, humming in approval. "As I told you before, Mr. Stokes. Life in the MC doesn't allow for creative expression. I'm here to follow my own path and make a name for myself. Now you can decide if that's going to be just on stage, or if you'd like me in your corner off of it as well." She winked, settling into her seat a little more. The opening act had begun.

Cornell studied her for a moment. "Well, well." He chuckled. "You are quite the woman, Lyla." He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "When you grow tired of your little rendezvous with Shades, I'll have you in any corner you please." He leaned away to lock eyes with her. She could see desire flickering in their depths.

Lyla smiled coyly, bit her lip and nodded. This was definitely a dangerous game she was playing. She glanced over at Shades. He looked carefully aloof, but she could tell by the tension in his shoulders he'd been listening. The game might be dangerous, but, oh, it was so much fun.

Dearest Readers,

Long time, no update! I'm quite embarrassed by how long it has taken me to update this fic. Thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews. You guys rock. I'm looking at updating this once a month. I've hit the busy season in my work and with the weather breaking, time to write is becoming scarce. Here's to all the multiple fic writers out there. I got no idea how you do it! LOL.

xoxo

Lumora The White