“Not at all. I respect women for leaving me or not giving me the time of day because marriage hasn’t been on the table.”
“And now marriage is?”
I chuckled. “Hell, fatherhood wasn’t on the table, and I’m full in. Love that little girl like she’s always been in my world. Like I could love you.” I closed my eyes and cursed.
“Wasn’t supposed to show your hand this soon?” she surmised.
Without opening my eyes, I slid her closer to me and wrapped my arm around her. “You smell good. Should’ve waited for me to take a shower.”
“Stop deflecting.”
“I can’t say that your skin is soft, or that you’re more beautiful without makeup, and that I like the sprinkling of freckles across your nose?”
“Your eyes are still closed.”
“I see your face in my dreams.”
“Ugh, I can’t stand your charming ass.” She groaned as her body relaxed into me. “What do you want from me?”
“Hell, if I know. These days, I don’t know if I’m coming or going.”
She tucked her head under my chin. “That’s life. We don’t always know what will happen or what to expect.”
“I do, or I did. Like clockwork, I wake up at six in the morning. Hit the gym for an hour. Drink coffee and head to the office. Happy hour on occasion. Monthly hangout with my frat, dinner with my mama when she’s in town, and a date or two.Simple.” I started toying with the smooth fabric of her nightie again. “I haven’t worked out in the last month or met up with my frat. Definitely haven’t spent time with any woman outside the mother of my child. Between picking Jussica up from school, spending time with her on the weekends, and readjusting my schedule to finish the work that I didn’t get to during the day because I’m going to work late and leaving early to get Jussica, it’s been crazy. My place is a mess. Dishes in the sink and the carpet needs to be vacuumed. I’m overwhelmed, but I’m trying to go with the flow and not put up resistance like I’m prone to do when I don’t like a situation.”
“You mean control it?”
“You keep throwing that out there like it’s a problem?” I accused.
She shrugged. “It can be. Don’t know you enough to know if it’s a problem for you.”
My hand on her gown stilled. “I’ve been happy with my life, so whatever you think about my need to control, I had no complaints.”
“Until now.” Soraya picked up my hand. “Sounds like you need me to be a friend more than your woman.”
In the slope of her shoulders, she’d resigned herself that we wouldn’t be more. This woman liked me…could possibly fall for me, as I already fell for her. I lifted her chin and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. The sudden clarity breaking through the fog of confusion, a clarity invoked from my desire to be her knight. “I need you to be both. I’m going to San Antonio with you. Give me your flight arrangements, and I’ll change mine to yours. I’ll get us a nice suite so we can work and play. Over the next three days, I want to be with you…No, I need to be with you.”
She studied my face. “What about Jussica?”
“I’ll call my mother, who’s been dying to have one-on-one time with her. Should be able to convince her to come home tohelp me since she’s only working in Austin. Once we get back, we’ll take it day by day.” I kissed her again and squeezed her thigh. “Make me a plate to go.”
Soraya pursed her lips, though she rose to do my bidding. Before she could walk away, I gripped her hips and lifted the back of her gown slowly to reveal her luscious ass. “I knew you slept without panties. Mmm.”
She swatted at my hand. “No sex, remember?”
“When did I say that?” I grabbed a handful of her plumpness and kissed her soft skin. “On second thought, I would rather have some of you.”
Before she could protest further, I pressed the small of her back until she was bent over to insert two fingers inside her slickness before dragging my tongue from the front of her slit to the back. She moaned and writhed to my relentless fingers and tongue before she pulled me to her bedroom for a quickie.
SIX
soraya
“Ugh.Already that man is messing up my life,” I exclaimed, running around my place, searching for my keys. A creature of habit, I needed my eight hours. Being up late sexing Jashaun and then tossing and turning the rest of the night with thoughts of us, I slept through my alarm. Of course, everything else went wrong. The dress I wanted to wear today had a spot that the cleaners missed. My hair wouldn’t cooperate because I’d forgotten to put my bonnet back on after Jashaun left, when I should’ve left it on, since eventually, he will see me in it. I forgot to buy almond milk for my protein shake and would have to make a stop in the lobby for a smoothie if I wanted a chance to be human.
I stood in the center of my living room and scanned the open space. Silver glinted in the split in my sofa. Bingo.
Grabbing my keys, I pulled my workbag on my shoulder, swung open the door, and screamed.
