“Little spot I found,” I said, nodding toward the sign. “Books are your thing, so I figured you would want to check this place out.”
“You brought me to books?” she asked, mouth open.
“Yeah.” I shrugged as we made our way in the bookstore. “Seemed like a no brainer.” That got a smile out of her, and she shook her head before dragging me toward the door. The bell over the door dinged when we stepped inside. The place was small and packed tight. There were shelves hitting the ceiling. The aisles were wide enough for one and a half people to fit through.
“Karibu,” the man behind the counter said, looking up from a worn notebook. “Welcome, welcome.”
“How you doing?” I nodded back at him. By the time I looked over, Harlowe was already drifting toward a table that looked like it was all romance—bright covers, soft covers, some with folks kissing on the front, some with just flowers.
“Go crazy,” I told her, leaning on a shelf. “Whatever you want, I got it.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “You say that now until my check bag fee is a thousand dollars.”
“I mean it,” I said. “You want the whole left side of this store? Point at it.”
I’d been giving Harlowe what she wanted since our friendship began. Now that we were deepening our friendship, she had to know she had me wrapped around her finger.
“Okay.” She nodded and started picking up books, flipping through the first pages, stacking the ones she liked in my arms like I was her personal cart. I didn’t care. I just let her. I glanced down at her selection. Some of them were in English, some had titles I couldn’t even sound out. Didn’t matter. If she hugged it to her chest for more than two seconds, I knew it was coming my way.
“Ah,” the owner said when he walked past us, eyes crinkling at the stack in my hands. “Honeymoon?” I snorted while Harlowe choked.
“Something like that,” I said, and he smiled wider.
“She likes books more than jewelry. Very smart woman. You are lucky, my friend.” He moved past us to another side of the store. He didn’t get out of our sight good before Harlowe elbowed me in the ribs.
“You just lying to strangers now?” she whispered.
“Where’s the lie?” I shrugged, and she glared at me as we drifted toward the back of the store. The shelves were higher and closer together. The light back there was dimmer, and I’d be lying if I said the ambience and the way Harlowe’s titties and ass were bouncing in that sundress weren’t turning a nigga on.
“Hasheem, can you get that?” Harlowe reached for the book on a high shelf, and I grabbed it first, just to be a menace.
“Hasheem.” Her voice dropped. “Give me that.”
“Say please.”
“Boy, if you don’t?—”
She reached again, and I lifted it higher, grinning.
“You really want it?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said through gritted teeth, stepping closer. “Stop playing.” She rose on her toes, fingers brushing my wrist. She smelled like coconut and whatever fancy lotion she’d packed. Her chest bumped mine just a little, and that was all it took. I dipped my head and kissed her lips, and she melted into me easily.
I dropped the book back onto the shelf and cupped her waist, turning us so her back was against the shelf.
“Hasheem,” she called breathlessly against my mouth as my hand slipped under her dress. I wasted no time letting my hand roam between her thighs. My fingers eased their way inside her panties until they met her wetness.
“Mmm,” I moaned against her lips. “Knew you were gon’ be ready for me.” I rubbed my thumb in slow circles. She shivered, hips rolling forward like she couldn’t help it.
“We’re supposed to be buying books,” she whispered.
“We are buying books,” I said. “We multitaskin’ and enjoying our vacation.” I slid my fingers into her and immediately hooked her G-spot. I knew we didn’t have much time, and I needed her coming undone for me before we were interrupted.
“Ooh—” She gasped a little too loud for how small the shop was. I silenced it with my mouth, kissing her deeply while my fingers got to work. I curled them just right, my thumb rubbing her clit. My middle and index finger stroked her insides as her juices spilled into my hands.
“Yes!” Her hand slid down my stomach, slipping under my waistband like she couldn’t help herself. Her fingers wrapped around my dick, giving a tight squeeze. She must have been trying to get fucked inside this damn bookstore.
“Shit!” I grunted as her hands moved around. I pushed my fingers a little deeper, picking up the pace just enough to have her knees wobbling and her forehead dropping to my shoulder.
