I laughed.
“But you're staying with me tonight, right?”
“I didn’t say that. I thought you were taking me home.”
“I can, but you’d be disturbing your friend. I just got word that her husband is home now. I’m sure she doesn’t have time for your ass now anyway.”
“Oh, great. I didn’t know he was discharged tonight. Isn’t it too late in the night to be discharged?”
Proctor raised an eyebrow.
“Do you know who my son is? He could make a mountain in Vegas move to Texas if he wanted too.”
“Oh, I’m sure. My bestfriend brags on him all the time. Not in a bad way though. I’m happy that she has her Mr. make it happen.”
“You could too.” Proctor looked over to me before starting his engine.
“But with all that being said, you can stay with me. I’m not going to bite you. I’m not even going to suck on you if you don’t want me to.”
I shook my head, with a soft smile creeping across my lips. I didn’t want to say no, mostly because of how good it sounded. Proctor didn’t have to paint any pictures for me because I painted them for myself most of the time. On days where I didn’t want to think about our night together, I couldn’t help myself. Then I would cry myself to sleep that I was fantasizing about the man accused of killing my fiancé. But I guess now the word accused doesn’t hold much weight. It’s unfair that in the back of my mind Proctor is guilty for something he was acquitted for. Truth is, I needed to let it go because Josiah’s real killer could be out there and I’m here hating someone who didn’t do it. This battle I just wasn’t giving my time anymore. He was found not guilty in court so that’s just what it is.
“I guess I can stay with you. That’s if you know how to act and how to treat your guest.”
“You know I do, especially you.” Proctor looked at me with low squinted eyes.
“Sit back and put your seatbelt on. You my daughter mother and I need you safe at all times.”
I didn’t give him a real rebuttal this time and let him think whatever he wanted. If he wanted to play father right now, I wasn’t stopping him. He’d saved my whole existence at the club earlier by giving me that money.
Proctor stopped me by Hawk and Cyn’s penthouse where I slipped in with the door code and got some clothes without disturbing them and then slipped right out. When we got to Proctor’s penthouse, he took off his cufflinks at the door and laid them neatly on the stand with his jewelry. He walked deeper into the space and turned on the TV while I pulled the stacks of money from under my dress and put them on the counter for the time being. I’m sure it would be safe here.
“I don’t even know why I turn the TV on when I’m this fuckin tired. I won’t watch it. Tonight, the television will be watching me.”
“Yeah, me too. I really just want to take a shower and get ready for bed.”
“I hear that mama.”
“Can you show me where I can shower and where I will be sleeping?”
“Shit. I was hoping you’d be sleeping with me tonight butt ass naked”
“Proctor, sleeping with you is one thing but sleeping naked is a whole other. That will only lead to things you and I don’t need to be doing.”
“Ari, I know I can control myself. Can you?”
He said it confidently.
Proctor had to know how good he looked in that suit, shirt half undone underneath, sleeves hugging that broad build that he couldn’t hide. On top of that, his chocolate skin glowed likea light bulb meant only to cast a brown glow over the room. Proctor had the type of body that was poetic when you talked about it. In only a way a masterpiece could be.
“Ari, I haven’t slept close to a woman like you in forever. I don’t want to beg you, but I will.” He touched his chest, flashing his perfect ass smile.
“Proctor, you literally just had sex with someone.”
“I said sleep with a woman. Cuddle, hold someone all night. I haven’t done that shit since, hell, we had that night together when you drugged your homegirl.”
He laughed like it was funny, but I was actually starting to feel worse and worse every time I thought about that.
“Proctor, can you just show me where I can shower, and we’ll see how I feel about sleeping in your bed tonight. How does that sound?”
