“Good, actually. I’ll have to add chicken noodle soup to the list of things I can eat. So far, it’s the only thing on the list.”
“How long does this usually last?” I asked.
“It differs with every woman. It could be a few weeks, a few months, or the whole pregnancy. Some women are lucky enoughto never get sick. Clearly, I’m not one of those women, and I pray it ends soon.”
“One day at a time, baby. You might be growing two of our seeds in there.”
“Yeah. Just thinking about it is crazy, so let’s not discuss it until we know for sure, and please don’t tell anyone.”
“First, you want to keep me a secret, and now you’re trying to hide my babies. I know shit is moving fast, but you got me fucked up, Nyomi.”
I rolled my eyes because he took what I said way too personally.
“I’m not trying to hide you or the possible twins we’re having, but I’d like to get confirmation before I tell anyone. I don’t even want to get used to the idea of having more than one child, only to find out it’s only one after all.”
“Damn, baby. My bad. I didn’t think about it like that.”
“I know you didn’t, just like you didn’t think about telling my whole family I was pregnant before I’d even had time to process the news.”
“That’s old news, and we already squashed it, but you’re right. I know we’re doing everything ass backwards, and we still have a lot to learn about each other. You’ve probably figured out I have a Type A personality. If I decide to do something, I’m all in, and I don’t do shit half-assed. I’ve decided you’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life spoiling, taking care of, loving, and so much more. I’m committed to discovering the many ways I can love you. If that’s not what you want, let me know.”
A tear fell from one of her eyes, and she quickly wiped it away, but it was pointless because they began to fall freely. I could tell she was searching for the words to respond, and I waited patiently.
“After what I experienced with Ambrose, I was very guarded with men for many years. I finally let my guard down andopened my heart to someone, only for him to show his true colors after wasting a year of my time. I was back at square one, hopeful but prepared to be single for the rest of my life . . . until I saw you. I let my guard down to spend one night with you, and the memories of the time we spent together played on repeat until we had the chance to make new ones. I tried to fight it, but I don’t want to guard my heart anymore. I want to experience the many ways you can love me.”
Kilo took the empty bowl from my hands and put it on the bedside table. He used his thumbs to wipe the unsolicited tears from my cheeks, then cupped my face.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do, baby. Tell me why expressing yourself summoned your tears.”
I put my hands on top of his, removed them from my face, and intertwined our fingers.
“Because being a Black woman is hard sometimes. Always keeping it together, being on high alert, never letting my guard down, raising my Black son in this fucked up world, and being in protective mode twenty-four seven is exhausting. Besidesmy father, no man has ever taken care of me, spoiled me, or loved me. You saying you wanted to do those things made me emotional.”
Kilo’s gaze pierced my soul, and I was completely captivated. He looked at me the same way when our eyes connected for the first time inSoulful Diner. I couldn’t look away then, and I wouldn’t dare look away now.
“I don’t know how long it takes to fall in love, but just know, I’ve wanted to love you since our first meeting,” he confessed.
He pressed his lips against mine, and we fell onto the bed, with him on top of me. Naturally, my legs opened because they knew he belonged between them. I felt his dick, already hard, as he ground against my center.
We kissed, and ground, and kissed and ground some more, until my panties were soaked. He reached between us, moved the crotch of them to the side, and swiped his thumb over my slippery lips.
“Damn, baby. You wet as fuck,” he mumbled against my lips.
Finally pulling his mouth from mine, his lips traveled to the side of my face, and he tickled my earlobe with the tip of his tongue. He moved down to my neck, sucking, biting, and licking before kissing the same spot where I was sure he’d left marks.
My bra fastened in the front, so he slipped his finger through the clasp, freeing my breasts. He palmed each of them with one hand and alternated rubbing his tongue over my nipples.
“Mmm, shit,” I moaned, keeping my voice low because Nyeem was down the hall.
When his face finally made it between my thighs, he could’ve easily helped me shimmy out of my panties, but instead, he tore them away from my body. I couldn’t react because he wasted no time burying his face between my thighs.
“Oh God!” I said louder than I wanted.
“Sshh, baby,” he murmured against my lower set of lips.
