I didn’t go back to my grandma’s house. I couldn’t. I couldn’t let her see me like that. I couldn’t let her ask questions I wasn’t ready to answer.
So I took a Uber straight to the hotel and dragged my bags inside. The lobby was cold and smelled like expensive candles, and the chairs in there was nicer than any furniture I ever had in my life. I should’ve checked in right away, but I was too anxious to even walk to the counter. My mind wouldn’t stop racin’. My stomach hurt. My chest felt tight. I hadn’t eaten a single thing since the day before, and all I could think about was Kay’Lo.
I sat in the lobby with my luggage next to me, starin’ at the glass doors like he was gon’ walk through them at any second. Every time my phone buzzed, I jumped.
He texted me every few minutes.
“I’m gassin’ the car now.”
“Baby, stay right there. I’m comin’.”
“You good? Talk to me.”
“I’m halfway to the airport.”
Every single message made me squeeze my legs together ‘cause I felt wanted in a way I never felt wanted in my life. I felt claimed. I felt chosen. I felt like somebody finally chose me for real, not ‘cause they needed me, but ‘cause they wanted me.
Hours went by and it felt like days. People walked through the lobby, talkin’, laughin’ and draggin’ suitcases while I sat there in a hoodie, rockin’ back and forth, readin’ Kay’Lo’s texts like they was holdin’ me together.
When he finally texted “I’m here,” my whole body froze.
I looked up, and there he was... Tall as hell, broad shoulders, thick arms and tattoos showin’ everywhere. His chains was glistenin’ under the bright lobby lights. His hair cut was crispy, his eyes was dark and he looked so fuckin’ sexy I forgot how to breathe.
He stood there lookin’ around like he was ready to tear the whole hotel apart until he found me, and when our eyes met, somethin’ in him softened even though he still looked dangerous.
“Toni,” he said under his breath, like he been waitin’ to say my name all day.
I jumped up so fast my suitcase flipped over, and I ran straight to him. I ain’t walk. I ain’t think. I just flew into his arms like that was where I belonged.
Kay’Lo caught me without missin’ a beat and picked me up, and my legs wrapped around his waist so natural it surprised me. I buried my face in his neck, and he held me tight, one hand pressed into my back, the other holdin’ under my thighs so I wouldn’t slip.
He kissed me right there in the middle of the lobby. It wasn’t no light kiss either. He swallowed my whole mouth. His lips moved slow and deep against mine like he was lettin’ the whole world know who I belonged to, and I felt myself melt into him right there in front of everybody.
He ain’t care who watched, and I didn’t either.
People walked past us with shocked faces, but Kay’Lo didn’t let me down. He didn’t loosen his grip. He held me like he paid for me and he was takin’ me home. I kissed his cheeks, his jawline and his lips again ‘cause I couldn’t stop. My fingers clawed into his hair, and he groaned under his breath like he felt everything I was feelin’.
“Baby, I got you,” he whispered against my lips. “Ain’t nobody takin’ you from me. Not after this.”
I felt my heart drop right into my stomach.
I felt safe.
Me… Toni… Safe.
I ain’t know that feelin’ until that moment.
He walked to the front desk with me still wrapped around him like I weighed nothin’. He talked to the clerk while my face was buried in his neck, and the clerk looked away like he was scared to interrupt us. Kay’Lo signed whatever he needed to sign with one hand, grabbed the keycard, and nodded for the clerk to hand him our luggage.
He pushed both suitcases toward the elevator with his free hand while I held on tighter, kissin’ him on the side of his face. The hotel staff pretended like they ain’t see us, but the energy in the room changed.
We got into the elevator and the second the doors closed, he let out a breath and kissed me again, slow and hungry, like he waited years for it. His hands gripped my thighs, slid up my waist, pulled me closer, and I felt my whole body reacting to him in ways that scared me ‘cause it was too real. It was too deep, and too much.
When the doors opened, Kay’Lo stepped out with me still in his arms, my legs tight around his waist and dragged our luggage down the hall. He kicked the door shut once we got inside and dropped the bags, and we ain’t even talk.
Our clothes came off like they was in the way. His mouth went everywhere. My hands went everywhere. Every touch felt like a promise, like we was bindin ourselves to each other without sayin it out loud. The passion between us lit up the room like fire, and for the first time, somebody loved my body like it deserved to be loved.
Kay’Lo grabbed me by my waist and my legs wrapped tighter around him before I could think. He pinned me against the wall like he needed my body pressed to his. His lips was allover my neck, suckin and kissin in slow circles that made my body melt right into him. He kissed the side of my throat, then my collarbone, then slid his tongue all over my chest, takin one of my nipples in his mouth while his hands gripped my ass.
