“Who? The one you slapped for talking shit about Quincy?”
“Yeah,”I confirmed, then ran down everything that happened since our conversation the night I slapped Yaseer in front of his entire company.
“I really don’t even know what to say. The sane me says stay the fuck away from me, but then the best friend me says you have always loved them crazy. I don’t even know how you dealt with my brother’s crazy ass. Then you went from Kadeem to Quinten. Although he sounds a little nutty, I can hear you smiling through the phone, Marissa.”
“I am,”I admitted.
“So why did you leave the man stranded?”
“He wasn’t stranded. He was at his parents’ house. I’m sure he can get back to his ho…”
My words died on my lips because a candy apple red Benz swerved in front of me, blocking me from driving just before I could get on the bridge. “What the fuck?” I muttered, pulling my gun from my middle console out of reflex.
“What’s wrong Marissa?”Karina pried.
“My God! It’s him,” I sighed in relief when the door flew open after a few moments and Yaseer stepped out of the car with the box from San Sebastián clasped tightly in his hand. He swaggered to the car like he hadn’t just run me down and cut me off like a lunatic. It started to drizzle as he got closer and he was still calm and collected. Smirking like he had all the time in the world and wasn’t holding up a car that was coming in the opposite direction.
“Who ishim?”
“Yaseer! This man just cut me off and he has the cake in his hand. Yaseer is…”My voice trailed off because I wanted to fill in the blank with a list full of names, but none of them really seemed to fit. He was unhinged, panty-dropping fine, so fucking confident, and above all else, persistent.
Yaseer gently tapped on my window, and I took a deep breath before rolling it down.
“You forgot the cheesecake before you took off on a nigga,” he commented, passing me the box.
“You really chased me down to give me the cheesecake?”
“Nah. I chased you down because you looked like the cheesecake healed something in you with every bite. Why are you scared to be in close proximity with me for too long? You were wearing your feelings all over your face after you finished eating the cake.”
“Are you sure those feelings were for you and not the cake?” I quizzed, happily accepting the cake.
“I’m positive they were for me,” he replied, leaning through my window. “You scared, I get it…”
“She ain’t scared! My bestie needs a man like you in her life. I love the energy! Keep stepping, Yaseer!”Karina screamed through the car speakers and I quickly tapped the button on the steering wheel to end the call.
“You told your best friend about me?” He teased with a cocky grin. “Rhetorical question, Marissa. I’ll let you go. You don’t have to speed the rest of your way back to your hotel room. I won’t chase you. It’s wet out here.”
Yaseer stood and turned towards the Benz. The sun was setting, the drizzling made the mood dreary, and something took over me because I caved. Watching him walk away suddenly left me feeling incomplete.
“Wait!” I shouted just before he reached his door.
Yaseer paused and glanced over at me. The smug smile that spread across his face almost made me want to reconsider just because I hated to give him the satisfaction. Exhaling deeply, I clutched the cheesecake like it was grounding me. I didn’t even have a real destination in mind. Going back to my marital home was out of the question, and thanks to Yaseer, staying alonein a hotel room no longer felt comfortable. He had ruined that sense of solitude when he effortlessly gained access to my room without my knowledge. At least if I stayed in his hotel room, I knew his nutty ass would protect me.
“Enough chasing. If you want anything more from me, you’re going to have to show me you can handle yourself. We can have a nightcap in your room. I’m too tired to go anywhere else. I’ve had a long and draining two days.”
Yaseer’s grin grew wider.
“We can talk. That’s it,” I stated firmly.
“I got you. I know how to be a gentleman,” he nodded and slid into his car. He sped around me, dodging the car that was waiting to get by us, and I followed behind him to the hotel.
Yaseer grabbed my suitcase from the trunk before the valet took our cars. I grabbed the cheesecake, and together we headed upstairs with my hand clasped firmly in his. The extra boost of confidence that came with being on the arm of a dangerously powerful man was something I hadn’t realized I was missing until this moment. The tingling sensation that appeared between my legs as we entered his hotel room had me giving myself a pep talk. I told him that all we were going to do was talk, and I planned to stand firm on that. Deep down, I was terrified of the next phase of my life because my husband was the only man I had ever had sex with.
“You want something to drink?” Yaseer offered, clicking around on his phone.
“I’d like a water and lemon drop,” I requested, taking a seat on the couch next to him. Our legs touched, my exposed thigh brushing against the soft fabric of his shorts.
Yaseer tried to pull me closer, and just his touch alone was enough to make my breath hitch and send heat swirling through me. I quickly scooted away, putting space between usand breaking the connection, but even as I moved, a part of me already missed the warmth of his body next to mine.
