This slow crawl to the main event was driving me crazy.
“Alexa, play Outta Control by Destin Conrad.”
The smooth vocals filled the bathroom as I turned on the shower. I opened my cabinet and stared at the Canvas Pink Velvet and Halo Moon collections that had shown up yesterday with no note or explanation. I didn’t need one.
I grabbed the body jam and stepped into the shower. If he’d gone through all this trouble, the least I could do was wear it tonight. Let him catch it every time he got close.
The warm water hit my skin, and I lathered up, the familiar scent filling the steam.
I told myself not to fall too fast. But I had a feeling I was already in motion.
Shit.
???
When I came out forty-five minutes later, hair washed and wrapped in a towel, skin moisturized and smelling like dessert, my living room had transformed. The dining table was covered with makeup. A ring light waited in the corner. My couch had been pushed back to make room for a chair that definitely hadn’t been there before.
DaVinci was still on my couch, scrolling his phone, ankle resting on his knee. Brixxi, fake ass, was right up under him like they were best friends now. When he looked up, his eyes did that slow sweep, and I was only in a fluffy robe.
“Go ahead and get started,” he told Tangie and Unique, standing. “I gotta handle some things. I’ll be back at five-thirty.”
“You’re leaving?”
“You want me to stay?” There it was again, the little challenge.
“No,” I lied.
“Liar.”
He passed me on the way to the door, his scent made me want to lean in, breathe deeper. He was in something different this time, and it might have been my favorite on him so far. He paused at the threshold.
“Five-thirty, Angel baby. Be ready.”
“Okay, but come here,” I said, fumbling with my fingers.
He walked back over, brows lifted. “What’s good, Lo?”
“Uhm, you smell good. I like that one. A lot,” I admitted, my eyes fluttering, lip caught between my teeth.
“Word?”
“Yeah. I just wanted you to know. I’ll see you later.”
I was glad he was close enough to cover how flustered I felt, because his eyes got intense fast. He gripped the side of my neck, bringing my face to his. His lips covered mine, his tongue swirling leisurely, pulling mine in for a second before he eased back to press one more soft peck on my mouth.
“Thank you, baby. It’s Versace.”
“I like it, wear it for me.” I winked.
And then he was gone.
I stood there for a beat, stuck, until Tangie cleared her throat.
“Sorry,” I said, smiling.
I sat, and they got to work.
“So,” Unique said, priming my face. “You and DaVinci.”
