“Why is Ms. Katrina looking for Daddy?” he questioned.
“I don’t know, sweetie. That’s their problem, not ours…okay?”
He nodded.
“I like Zyro better than Daddy. Is that okay?” he asked, causing my bottom lip to quiver.
Sniffing back tears, I mustered out, “It’s perfectly fine with me. Let’s get our things together so we can go with big dawg.
That put a smile on his face. Ermias dragged me to his room to start with his suitcase. I had the urge to go eavesdrop, but I wanted to stay in a great mood. After packing my son’s things, I took off to my room. I was throwing panties into my duffel bag when Zyro entered the room.
“She loves that nigga’s dirty drawls,” he tittered, coming behind me and hugging me. “You good?”
“Fine. What happened? What did you tell her?” I asked, getting straight to the point.
“I told her if she doesn’t get her ass on with that kid in the backseat, causing a disturbance at my woman’s house, I was gon show her some.” Zyro chortled, then nipped at my ear. I elbowed him.
“You gotta be stopped,” I scoffed with a smile.
“I told her we didn’t know where that nigga is, and it’ll be her best bet to stay from ‘round here.” Zyro slapped me on the ass. “Finish packing. Pack up this whole house if you want to and come live wit’ me.”
“Yessss!” Ermias shouted, and we both looked at him because we didn’t even hear him come in. “Let’s live with Zyro!” I cut my eye over to him, and he held up his hands.
“I ain’t even know he was in here,” he cackled.
I grinned. “Me neither. Go put your shoes on, Ermias. We’re not moving.”
He stomped away.
“Yet,” Zyro added. He sat on the edge of my made bed, watching me like a hawk. “I don’t see the problem.”
I shoved shirts in my bag. “The problem is that it’s moving way too fast. We just started this thing between us.”
“This thing?” he queried with raised brows. No smile on his face at all.
“You know what I mean, Zyro.” I hiccupped a laugh. “This relationship between us just started. Enjoy your space until that day does happen.”
He slapped his thighs and stood up. “I can’t wait until that day comes.”
That made my heart warm to feel wanted. Zyro trekked out of the room to see what Ermias was doing and to make sure the crazy lady wasn’t still bold enough to be still lurking around the house. I was going to check the camera app later to see how long she’d been here before we arrived, and if she had gotten out and walked around my yard being weird. I didn’t even know she had her oldest kid with her until Zyro mentioned it. Now that had me somewhat feeling bad for the kids, that whatever Zyro did to Delion, he was probably not coming back to them. On the other hand, it was fuck that shit. He got what he deserved for shooting around my house with Ermias here.
Fuck that nigga.
Zyro had my body sore from the many positions he had me in tonight. With Ermias tucked in in another room, Zyro hammered my pussy so good, I could still feel him inside of me, and it’s been a couple of hours now since we’d washed up, changed his bedding, and fallen asleep. Now, at three in the morning, I was on my back, looking up in the dark with Zyro’s arm across my body. He had to always be touching me while he slept, and I thought that was cute. His face was snuggled into the crook of my neck, his stubble rough against my skin, and I could feel the warmth of his breath against my collarbone.
The only light came from the slightly parted curtains. I shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position. When I did, turning my back to him, his hold tightened around me, pulling me closer. I smiled, feeling appreciated. Feeling needed. Feeling…loved?
My mind drifted back to the events of the evening, from Katrina’s pop-up to the way Zyro had handled the situation. Did I want to know what happened to Ermias’ dad…not at all. Whatever happened, he brought it on himself. You couldn’t treat people poorly, especially your children, and think karma wasn’t nearby.
With Zyro, I felt safe and protected. I trusted him with Ermias’ life. I could tell he would do anything to keep harm far away from us. That was a man. He wasn’t a little boy who just wanted to play mind games with me. Zyro was a man of action. He talked about it, and he was about it.
My eyes drifted closed again. A soft smile played on my lips as I remembered the way he had handled Katrina. There wasno doubt in my mind that he had handled Delion, and while I didn’t want to know the details, I trusted it was for the best. His attempt to take Ermias from me really shook me. If the police were called, they would tell me it wasn’t anything they could do about it because he was Ermias’ father and on his birth certificate. I was very grateful for Zyro.
As sleep began to claim me once more, I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me. For Zyro, for the future, and for the love that was coming. In his arms was now one of my favorite places to be.
The only sound in the room was his soft snores. I snuggled deeper into his embrace, letting the warmth of his body envelop me, and I slept. I slept well, knowing this was where I was meant to be, where I wanted to be, where Ineededto be….with a man who would protect and cherish me.
13
