Chapter Text
Rock isn’t really her thing, but Okoye so desperately asked Shuri to be here tonight for her boyfriend’s debut with his new band - which apparently is a major one even though Shuri has never heard of them.
Flight of the Snake.
“What does Attuma play again?” Shuri asks her friend as Bucky puts his arm around her. They exchange a quick kiss and she looks at Okoye again.
“The drums. Ooh! Ooh!” Okoye swats at her shoulder excitedly as fog covers the stage and the curtains pull back. “The show is starting!”
The sound of a guitar solo fills her ears, blocking out the screaming crowd. Shuri can’t see the musician for a long time, but people around her in the pit are already fainting. She makes a face at the dramatics and waits unimpressed for this stranger to make a full appearance.
And then he emerges through the fog.
Namor Almehen.
Shuri’s jaw falls open as she takes him in. His black pants are tight, not shy about his thick bulge. His dark green coat is wide open with nothing underneath, showing off his large chest and toned abdomen.
He tosses his guitar to someone on stage and one large hand covers the shaft of the microphone. He opens his mouth and Shuri forgets how to breathe. He belts the lyrics with a voice that she can only describe as sex.
He’s looking right at her, brown eyes underlined with black.
I wanna fuck you like an animal, I wanna feel you from the inside, I wanna fuck you like an animal, my whole existence is flawed, you get me closer to God.
Her hand covers her mouth to keep her scream from coming out while Bucky glares at her.
She lowers her hand to smile at him and he puts his arm protectively around her waist, seemingly forgetting about her near-outburst as his body relaxes. Her boyfriend isn’t typically the jealous type, but all the men who brought their ladies to this show appear to be acting in a similar way.
There’s just something so…magnetic about Namor.
He continues to make eye contact with her as he belts suggestive lyrics and she’s in a trance. She shouldn’t be finding this sexy in the slightest. He’s an entertainer, for Bast’s sake. This is part of the shtick; make an audience member swoon so they’ll buy his merchandise and continue supporting the band.
His gaze shifts to another woman as the song switches. She notices that Namor doesn’t take breaks in between to introduce the next song or speak to the fans. He’s all business.
Her eyes become glued to the way he strums his guitar strings when it’s time for a solo. To her horror, she’s pulsating in between her thighs.
Big hands.
Talented hands.
The sweat rolls down his body as he continues giving his all for this concert. He looks like a glistening god and Shuri’s knees weaken as though he’s convincing her to worship him with every word he says.
His lyrics are so filthy, so raw, so… convincing.
Her belly tightens thinking about him singing from experience.
There comes a moment of intermission where everyone leaves the stage except for Attuma, whose drum solo sends Okoye into a frenzy. Shuri and Bucky laugh together seeing her acting this way, screaming her lungs out for her man. She’s typically reserved and calm. Attuma glances up occasionally to glance at her and she blows him a kiss.
When Namor comes back out, the lights have dimmed and he sits on a chair holding an acoustic guitar. Bucky’s arm tightens arounds her and people hold up lights from their phones as Namor croons a beautiful song.
I went without light, I went without sun,
I went without a feeling, I went dying.
I went flying over the sea on broken wings.
Oh love, you appeared in my life and you cured my wounds.
Oh love, you are my moon, you are my sun, you are my daily bread.
Bucky moves behind Shuri and holds her waist as they sway to the love song. She closes her eyes and allows herself to become one with this moment, trapped in her lover’s arms with Namor’s beautiful voice in her ears.
The rest of this concert continues this way and she realizes that Flight of the Snake creates rather romantic and passionate music. She always thought rock was a bit more aggressive and intense. She might have to start streaming them…
Namor and the band members take extravagant bows and the curtains abruptly close. Shuri turns to Okoye as people start to leave the packed stadium.
“He doesn’t even thank us for coming out?”
“Nah,” Bucky laughs. “That’s his whole thing, trying to play a mysterious cool guy. By the way… I’m pretty sure he was trying to snatch my girl.”
Shuri burns up while Okoye pushes him playfully. “Oh, stop. It’s all harmless fun. I need you to lose any hostility you have since we’re about to go backstage.”
Bucky grabs Okoye by the shoulders tightly, looking like a kid on Christmas. “Are you serious!? We get to meet them!?”
“Hey, dating the drummer has to have some benefits aside from the obvious.” Okoye winks at Bucky squeezes Shuri’s damp hand as she guides them to where a security guard is blocking a door. She shows him something on her phone and he lets them in.
Shuri’s heart is buzzing like a hummingbird’s wings as they walk down a dark corridor. Bucky is grinning from ear to ear, thrilled to meet his current favorite band. Shuri knows she’s going to freeze up having Namor that close to her.
Okoye knocks twice on a door and Attuma is the one who answers. The big man immediately picks her up and spins her around. Once she’s on her feet and he’s kissing her all over, she giggles while trying to introduce Shuri and Bucky.
“Sthandwa, this is my best friend Shuri and her boyfriend Bucky. He’s a big fan of the band. Any chance he can get some autographs and pictures?”
“Anything for you, my Koko.” Attuma gives her one more kiss before extending his hand to Shuri. She shakes it quickly, trying to keep her cool, and to her surprise, Bucky goes in for a hug that makes Attuma laugh.
“Man, I’ve been listening to you guys nonstop for a year. Nobody’s doing it like Flight of the Snake. You killed it up there.”
“Ah, thanks. It was my first time performing with them and the reception has been welcoming. I appreciate you.” Attuma motions with his head to the inside of the room he was in. “Come on. I know who you really want to meet.”
Shuri swallows audibly as Attuma takes her boyfriend away. She takes a step back, but Okoye is right behind her, pushing her forward.
“Don’t be shy. He’s a lot different in person than he is on stage.”
Taking a deep inhale, Shuri enters the serpent lair. The first person she sees once the smoke clears up is Bucky freaking out as he’s handed autographed drumsticks that Namor has finished signing.
“This can’t be real! Holy shit…”
Namor’s laughter sends a cold wash down Shuri’s back.
“There’s your proof that it is. I better not see that on sale on EBay, either.”
“Nah, never! Never!”
Namor’s head turns and Shuri’s legs wobble slightly. Okoye is right. He’s different than he is on stage.
He’s a lot hotter in person.
He strides toward them, his eyes never leaving her. She has never thought of a man being beautiful until now. He’s only a few inches taller than her, but what makes him larger than life is his width. Broad, broad shoulders. A body thick with muscle.
The eyeliner he wore on stage has been wiped clean and his skin is clear, healthy, and the most lovely shade of bronze. He has a septum piercing and jade earrings. He has two piercings near the tip of his tongue that resemble snake bites and he smells like the earth after it rains.
His lips curl back to show off perfect teeth when he shakes the hand of Okoye first. When it’s Shuri’s turn, her chest is heaving as he holds on longer than she expects him to.
“And who are you?”
“I’m…I’m Shuri.”
His thumb glides across her knuckles and he brings her hand to his mouth. He kisses the thin skin above her veins tenderly and she swears she’s going to die on the spot when he flickers his eyes up at her while doing so.
“A name that belongs in a song. It is a pleasure to meet you, Shuri.”
The next thing that comes out of mouth is incoherent babbling, unable to form a proper response. She feels his breath on her skin when he laughs and releases her. Bucky is next to her seconds after, clinging to her tight as the two men talk about music for a few minutes.
Namor never stops stealing glances at her.
His face is seared into her mind like the sensation of his lips on her skin long after the meet and greet is over.
The next morning, Shuri finds herself walking down the street to the local bookstore.
Not for any particular reason, no…
It’s a Sunday, a day of rest, and she could use a decent book to enjoy.
She says hello to the woman behind the counter and wanders off to the autobiography section, looking under ‘N’ until she finds what she’s looking for. She pulls the book out by its spine and she smiles seeing a handsome black and white photo of Namor on the cover.
She hugs it to her chest and looks around to make sure nobody is watching her fan girl over this. She finds a private area and sits down to start reading about her new interest.
She likes to know about the artist she’s starting to listen to.
That’s all this is.
She gets comfortable in the plush chair and she starts off with his childhood. His real name is Ch’ah Toh Almehen, but his uncle who raised him after his parents died unexpectedly gave him the nickname Namor since he became so close with his cousin Namora. Namor wrote that she’s more like a sister to him.
He grew up in a poor, small town in Yucatán and his love of music started the day he heard a man playing a guitar in the middle of the street. Namor built his first guitar from scraps and started playing for money in front of restaurants until he was noticed by an agent one lucky evening.
Shuri is about to turn the page when her phone starts ringing. She squints seeing that it’s a private number. The last person who called her on one was a prankster. She ignores it until that same person tries reaching her again.
“…Hello?”
“Is this Shuri?”
Her fingers on her hand immediately start playing with her necklace when she recognizes the deep voice.
But…
It can’t possibly be him…
“Yes. This is her. May I ask who’s calling?”
“It’s the singer who couldn’t keep his eyes off you last night. I hope you don’t mind… I asked Attuma’s girlfriend for your information.”
One of her slender legs crosses over the other.
What could he possibly want with her?
Also…she made it clear she was taken. Didn’t she?
She stares down at his handsome face on the book cover as she responds.
“Did my boyfriend leave something of his behind? Are you trying to reach him?”
“No. I’m talking to who exactly I want. You fascinate me, Shuri.”
A gasp slips from her lips and she hopes neither him or any of the customers heard her or know what’s going on inside of her right now.
All they’re doing is talking and she feels so dirty.
“There’s nothing fascinating about me. I’m sure you have a lot of pretty girls at your shows that catch your attention. They’re single and better for you. You don’t even know me.”
“What do you think the purpose of this phone call is, Princess? And you’re correct. A pretty girl shouldn’t be this thrilling when I’m surrounded by them. You’re different. That’s why I’m sending you a VIP ticket for the second night of my show. No boyfriend this time. Only you.”
She’s pulsating as soon as he growls Princess. He can’t be inviting her for the reason she thinks he is… She can’t…accept something like that. She can’t hurt Bucky like that. They’ve been together since high school. He’s been her sweetheart for eight years and the only man she’s ever been with. She loves him.
“I assume you know that I’m a writer if you spoke to Okoye. Is that why you want to meet privately? You want a biography instead of an autobiography?”
“Hm? How do you know I wrote a book about myself? Researching me?”
Shuri slides the book underneath the table as though he’s somehow watching her.
“N-No! Bucky has a copy!”
“Ah…Your boyfriend is a huge fan. That’s cute. All I’m asking for is a conversation, Shuri. It’s not often I’m drawn to someone. I’ll text you the code you’ll need to get in. If you don’t show up, I’ll never bother you again. If you do, I guarantee you’ll have a satisfying night. Goodbye, beautiful.”
Shuri stares at her black screen long after Namor hangs up. Her phone vibrates in her hand and a message from an unknown number comes in. It’s the lone VIP ticket.
She then gets a message from Bucky.
James💕: hey gorgeous, dinner at my parents’ tonight?
“Fuck…”
“Fuck!” A small child repeats with a giggle and Shuri offers an apologetic smile to the upset mother. After they walk away, she stares at Bucky’s message for a long time.
Dinner with her hopefully soon-to-be in-laws…
Or a conversation with a rockstar…
Her fingers tap against the wooden table top. The band leaves her city soon and they’ll be moving on to the next stop of their tour.
She’ll never see Namor again after this.
And if she’s ever going to write an interesting book, she needs to have some kind of exciting experience in this rather dull life of hers.
Besides, all they’ll do is talk. That’s it. No harm done to anyone. Namor gets the satisfaction of talking to her and Bucky is still her one and only,
She starts typing.
Shuri: can’t ☹️ hanging out with Okoye before she leaves for the week. I’ll make it up soon, k? ❤️
She doesn’t head inside the stadium until she sees guests flooding into the parking lot following the end of the show.
She adjusts her black mini skirt once she’s standing up and glances down at her leopard-print crop top. She wonders if she dressed too sexy and too provocative for a simple conversation. She doesn’t want Namor to get the wrong idea.
Ignoring the glances she’s receiving from a variety of people, Shuri slowly makes her way to the same place she was in last night. She doesn’t make it to that room, though. A random door opens and she’s pulled in as she passes by.
Her arm is still in Namor’s clutch as they stand in a small , private dressing room. Her eyes widen as she takes him in. He looks even better tonight than he did yesterday. His jeans are still tight and hugging that large bulge of his, but his shirt today is a black one that is squeezing his chest. There’s a gold chain around his neck with the same K’uk’ulkan symbol in his book as a pendant instead of a cross. He gently releases her arm and takes a step back.
“Princess. You came.” Namor looks her up and down. His tongue swipes his lips before he meets her gaze once more. “And you look amazing. May I offer you a drink?”
“Something tells me not to accept a drink from a rockstar.”
His eyes remain dark despite the smile he gives her. “You are right to be cautious about famous men, Shuri, but you can trust me. I want a woman to be fully conscious of what I’m doing to her.” He turns his back to her and opens a mini fridge full of small, unopened water bottles. He tosses her one and she catches it despite her nerves making her shake slightly. “Have a seat on the couch and tell me about yourself.”
Shuri doesn’t take the cap off and drink until she sees Namor doing the same thing. She refreshes herself with the water as she gets comfortable on the black sofa. As Namor is moving pillows out of the way, her eyes wander to the vanity where she sees thin white lines. Her stomach turns.
“You’re not going to snort that, are you?”
Namor follows her line of vision as he sits on the opposite end of the couch. “I was if you didn’t show up.”
“Oh…”
Shuri fiddles her thumbs together. She has never been near anyone who does drugs. Bucky is the cleanest person in the world, avoiding everything including harmless marijuana. This shouldn’t surprise her about Namor, though. She has always assumed famous people do coke or some form of it.
“I’m not an addict. I enjoy how much more pleasurable sex is while high. Just like psychedelics. It’s the mind of sex that takes you to a different planet.”
“Were you…were you planning on having sex with someone tonight?”
He smiles small and his arms stretch out across the back of the couch. He’s close to touching her. “We’ll see how this conversation goes. Who are you, Shuri?”
She shifts a bit on the cushion as his eyes turn into ones of lust and sin to match his voice.
“Um…I’m Shuri Udaku. I work at a retail store but I write in my spare time. I’m hoping to write an amazing book that sells well one day and it becomes a permanent job. Uh…” She clutches the ends of her skirt when she can feel it inching upward. Namor notices it. She’s starting to panic and too much of her background spills out. “I’m an orphan like you. I was, I mean. I’m an adult now. My parents died when I was in high school and my brother took care of me. He died of cancer a few years ago and… Sorry. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that.”
His hand covers her nape and he gently squeezes it. His eyes soften. His voice lowers.
“I wish to know everything about you, Shuri Udaku. Your pain doesn’t bother me. It makes you more admirable. I knew I was drawn to you for a reason. You miss them every day, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispers and her voice cracks. What’s wrong with her? Are her emotions that repressed that she’s about to cry in front of Namor fucking Almehen!? She blinks away her tears and forces herself to keep them at bay. “Yes. I miss them. I never stopped. I try so hard to distract myself but there’s nothing in this life that’s possibly enough.”
Namor leans in and caresses her cheek. Her heart feels like it’s going to burst straight through her chest.
“Are you bored?”
“…Huh?”
“Are you with that man because he’s safe? Do you stay with him because you fear the unknown?”
Shuri’s lips part but it takes her a long time to say anything. What is he doing to her? It’s like it’s impossible for her to keep quiet about anything, like all her darkest secrets are coming out to this very famous stranger.
“He’s a good man.”
“But you’re bored.”
“…Yes.”
“You need excitement in your life to drown out the grief.”
Her eyes flutter shut. She’s ashamed of herself for being here, for telling Namor all of this.
“Yes.”
“Let me give you one night of it, then. Your boyfriend will never know.”
Her eyelids slowly open to find his face a lot closer than she expected him to be. His masculine, earthy, delicious scent is overtaking her. So damn handsome. So, so close. So sexual. So rich. So mysterious.
But it’s more than the unknown that she’s afraid of.
“I won’t have sex with you unless you take a STD test and show me the results. I’m… I’m not an idiot.”
Namor settles his lip against her ear while his hand tightens around her neck. “That’s your only condition? Fuck your morals, huh?”
“I…I wouldn’t have come here if I cared about my virtue.”
He laughs and she tenses as he kisses her temple. “I like you a lot, Princess. You have a deal. I’ll extend my hotel stay one more night in this city and get tested tomorrow. Once you see that I’m clean, I’ll alter your entire mind when I’m through with you.”
Her panties have dampened and her body is screaming to be pleased, to be touched, to be anything.
“Okay,” she breathes out as he nips at her jaw. Please, please fucking touch me. “Okay. Just tell me where to meet you. I’ll let you know when I’m off work because I haven’t checked my schedule and…ah, thank you but I should go now.”
“Oh, no. You’re not leaving here without something, Princess.”
He angles her face just right and he kisses her like he’s starving for it. Shuri moans into his mouth as his body becomes pressed against hers and her fingers become buried in his black hair. He hikes up her mini skirt as their tongues slide wet together and he grips her panties.
The next thing she knows, she’s sitting upright with her back against his rock solid body, trapped in between his legs. One hand remains inside her panties. Another covers her mouth and he makes a shushing sound in her ear.
“Stay quiet, my beautiful Shuri. We can’t let anyone know what we’re up to.”
His fingers thread into her and she bucks her hips, her head dizzying from the heat and arousal. She rocks into his palm as he pierces her aching folds and she moans into his gentle gag on her. She can feel his own moaning through vibrations of his chest and his breath tickles her neck while he plays with her, making her dance and grind and writhe into his hand. She’s growing weaker, weighing her body completely onto him, shutting her eyes as his touch undoes her.
His fingers stroke her, teasing in and out of her entrance, crooking inside to catch some secret spot even she didn’t know existed. Something prods against her ass, something full and hard. His erection strains in his ache for her, wanting her. He gives a little thrust of his body against hers and his hand picks up it’s pace fucking her with his thick fingers. His breath whistles in her ear, rough and rasping in his throat.
The catch of his thumb right over her clit sends her into a crashing wave of bliss. His fingers thrust deeper yet into her channel, making her ride her climax on them until she’s left as nothing more than a mewling limp body, resting against him.
“Good girl,” he purrs, withdrawing both hands and shifting her around until she’s sitting on his lap. He’s gazing at her as though she’s already everything to him and her exhausted mind and body doesn’t know how to handle it. He sticks his fingers into his mouth, cleaning her slick off them and groaning after doing so. She remains speechless as she holds on tight to his neck.
“Go home and get your rest. You’re going to need it.”
Still in a daze, Shuri stands up and notices the wet spot she left behind on the cushion. She inches toward the door and pauses when she can feel him hugging her.
“You bought my book, didn’t you?”
“No… But I read it.” She glances over her shoulder to see him grinning. She’s fighting back one of her own, struggling with her guilt of cheating on her boyfriend and the joy she feels from being touched in such a professional, passionate manner. “How much of it is true?”
“All of it. You know everything about me.”
Not everything. There’s parts of him he keeps hidden. There are parts of her that she keeps hidden.
To bring it out to the rockstar Namor is illogical.
“There’s a center near my place of work that does testing in ten minutes or less. They advertise it all the time.”
His grin turns into a smirk. “Ten minutes or less? Someone’s in a hurry.”
She narrows her eyes. “On second thought, you’re quite the scoundrel. I’m going with you in case you have one of your bandmates or buddies take the test for you.”
He releases her and crosses his arms. “You know way more about me than I know about you, Miss Udaku. Maybe I should have you get tested.”
“That’s…not necessary. I’ve only been with one person.”
The admittance of that causes the shame in Shuri’s heart to grow and she looks down at her heels. Namor’s voice is kind when he finally responds.
“I handle rejection as a man should. You can turn me down. You can say no.”
Her head rises slowly. She murmurs her last words to him for the night.
“I don’t want to.”