“Feel better now?” He asked, readjusting his rigidness.
I swallowed back my tears. “Yes.”
Without another word, he grabbed me by the hand.
Click.
The door unlocked. So did my heart. We stepped out into the restaurant. Ishmael took my purse, understanding of my inability to carry anything but the heaviness of my heart at the moment. He slid his hand up my arm, neck, and check, pulling me closer. He planted a kiss on my forehead.
“I’ll have you home soon, my baby.”
Ishmael sat inches away. The private plane featured a small main cabin, fit for a family of six or less. It was intimate. It was dark. It represented so many parts of our night.
“You are beautiful, Royce.”
I inhaled, but quickly forgot to exhale. It wasn’t until his phone camera was in my face that I noticed I was turning blue. I released the oxygen.
“Thank you.”
My cheeks flushed with gratitude.
I unlocked my phone and found the pinned texts from the people in my world who meant the most to me.
“Don’t be too harsh on me in that recap. I mean well, Royce.”
I looked up from my phone, a smile tearing through my face.
I didn’t bother responding. Ishmael caring how I presented him to others sat with me.
I know. I responded internally.I know.
I skipped the messages I’d missed for the evening. Instead, I started a message of my own.
When I said this is just business, I, wholeheartedly, meant his business. My businesses. Our business.
I know that’s the fuck right. Fine as he is, he better have a big dick or this is just a waste of all of our excitement.Roulette was the first to respond.
She pushed a chuckle from my lips. It was low. Hardly notable.
I saw it. I saw it on the screen. Some things we aren’t able to pretend. Range noted.
I can feel it through the images, babes.Egypt claimed.
Maybe I’m in love. A heart emoji followed.
I didn’t care to see their responses tonight. I’d revisit them when the sun rose. For now, I wanted to let my thoughts run wild. I wanted my attention undivided. I wanted Ishmael in my line of vision. And, Ishmael only.
I lost track of time in his eyes. In his smile. In his presence. Ishmael was consuming. In the best ways. In the richest ways. In the most pleasant ways.
Shortly after we’d boarded miles and miles away, I slid into the Aston Martin. He closed the door behind me. My eyes were planted on the private plane. Grayson was sprawled across the tail. It was a small detail I hadn’t noticed as we approached it on the tarmac in Clarke. So much was clearer now that we’d landed.
Ishmael settled into the driver seat. The pressure he applied to the gas pedal glued my body to the seat. His hand snaked across the center console, landing on my knee. He rubbed upward, finally finding comfort mid-thigh. Naturally, my fingers wrapped around his hand.
I rested my head and my heart, unsure of where we were headed. However, it wasn’t my concern, not as long as Ishmael was leading. I found comfort in his touch, his guidance, and the twinkling lights of the Berkeley night sky.
I couldn’t recall a moment that felt better than this one. Not even the first time seeing Teddy after he’d treaded those waters with his bare hands, back, and legs. Not even the birth of Jru. That had all been a part of their stories. This was mine. And, this would be a memory that forever stuck with me.
NINE
