Gideon cut his eyes at him. “Why you in such a good mood?”
Haze’s grin spread. “Because, nigga. You handled Trick’s ass like a dog that needed to be put down, and ain’t no threat no more. My daddy’s killers are dead. Glimmer is safe. Shit is good.”
Gideon grunted and continued fixing his and Glimmer’s plates. When he finished, he finally said, “I guess you right.”
“You just lookin’ like a sad puppy because Glimmer iced you out last night. You really fuck wit’ her, huh?”
“It’s more than that. Never felt nothin’ like this wit’ anyone before.”
Haze nodded slowly. “You good, big dawg. For real. Glimmer just needed a moment. Her mama always been a soft spot forher, and what happened last night was foul. Not only that, Juke shielded her from the shit we do. If anyone can bring her up out of this, it’s you. Never thought I would see the day.”
“What day?”
“The day my big ass little brother would find love.”
Gideon snorted. “Aye, man. You’re only one month older than me.” Haze chuckled. They’d been having the same argument since they were kids. Gideon was bigger, but Haze was older. “The hell you know ’bout love, anyway?”
Haze leaned back in the chair. “Not shit and don’t plan on it.”
“Yeah, aight. That love bug is gonna get ya ass eventually.” Gideon grabbed the plates and nodded back toward the counter. “Tell them niggas they can have what’s left.”
Haze glanced at the spread. “Hell nah. I’m takin’ this shit for myself.”
Gideon didn’t respond as he shook his head and moved out of the kitchen. His love for living at the compound had dwindled over the past couple of months. Niggas were constantly everywhere. As he walked up the steps, the noise from the Vicious King members who were already there talking business or just kickin’ it receded. Gideon thought about quiet mornings with Glimmer and being able to freely walk around naked. His dick hardened, but he shifted his thoughts because that wasn’t his mission at the moment.
He pushed the door open and smiled as he watched Glimmer put lotion all over her body. The room smelled like heaven. She always smelled so damn good. The way she would go on and on about layering her scents always had him fascinated. He loved seeing her passionate and excited about something.
He stood back and watched her for a moment. Drool formed at the corner of his lip before Glimmer said, “Are you going to come in or stand there?”
She spoke with her back to him. He didn’t even know she knew he was there.
Gideon stepped into the room and placed the plates on the small table in front of the couch that sat in the corner. He straightened and glanced at Glimmer again, who stared back at him. She wore a lacy purple panty and bra set and nothing else. Her ebony skin glistened. He had to refrain from drooling again.
“Hey, baby.” Gideon finally spoke as he took a large step toward her. He pulled her by the waist into his body and held her closely. While he breathed her in, he rubbed her back.
“Hey,” she murmured into his chest. “You bought breakfast?”
He pulled away slightly and looked down at her. “I cooked breakfast.”
Her brows hiked. “You cooked?”
“I can do a lil somethin’.” She gave him a weak smile. That was a win in his book. He wondered if she would ever smile at him again after what she witnessed the day before. “I think we should talk first, though, okay?”
“Sure.” They sat on the bed, but Gideon refused to let her go, so it took them a moment to get comfortable.
Glimmer’s head landed on his chest as she sat between his legs. He kissed her forehead and breathed her in one more time before he spoke. “I want to apologize about last night.”
She looked up at him. “Apologize?”
He nodded. “I had a feeling about your mom. It’s why I didn’t want you to go see her alone. When you were adamant that you wanted to go see her, I decided to let you see her for who she was. I could have protected you from all that, but I didn’t. For that, I apologize. And I’m sorry you had to see me get like that. That nigga wanted you. The thought of that made me crazy . . .”
Her small hand on his chest calmed him from getting upset all over again. He grabbed it and kissed it.
“It’s okay. I had to see all that with my own eyes.”
He frowned and looked down at her. “Nah.”
She cracked another small smile, which made his frown deepen. Here she was being so lighthearted about the situation, and he was panicking that she hated him.
