“Naijhel!” she screamed. “What did you do that for?”
“To hide those damn tears you were trying to cover up. I know that you don’t want anyone to see them, including me. But you never have to hide from me, baby. I accept you just as you are.”
“Even my cellulite and stretch marks?” she asked teasingly.
“Every last bit. I want all of you, Del, no fabricated parts, missing parts, or adjusted pieces. You’re already perfect to me as you are.”
“Please don’t hurt me, Naijhel.”
“My only intention is to keep that beautiful smile on your lips, in your eyes, and in your heart. When I finish loving you, Del, you won’t remember anybody before me.”
I cupped her face and kissed her. It was slow and intentional as the sun beamed down on us from above, and the ocean’s waves lapped all around us. When a particularly strong wave came our way, I held on tight to her and steadied her. When it subsided, I lifted her in my arms, because I knew the next one would be stronger.
Delaney wrapped her arms around my neck. “You are too damn good to be true, Mr. King.”
“I’m not too good to be true. I’m simply gonna be Mr. Too Damn Good to you. I know a blessing when I see one. You’re a blessing that I’m not about to let pass me by. I’m not a damn fool, baby girl.”
We played in the water for a while before I carried her out and back to our villa.
We relaxed and enjoyed each other over a big lunch spread consisting of fresh slices of roast beef, Hawaiian ham, brown sugar glazed turkey, and Cajun chicken along with vegetables and tropical fruits.
14
DELANEY
NINE DAYS LATER
“Naijhel, do you want breakfast, baby?”
I pulled the carton of eggs out of the refrigerator, along with a pack of bacon and biscuits. I was starving after all the love we made last night. That man had me climbing the walls, going out of my mind. Every time we made love, I felt closer to him than before.
When he took my family and me to the island for a mini-vacation, I could have stayed cocooned there with him forever. I hadn’t wanted our trip to end, but he proved to me that just because the vacation was over didn’t mean the feelings we created were.
“Naijhel?” I called out after I had placed the bacon in the oven.
When he still didn’t respond, I left the kitchen and went looking for him. I heard him in the bathroom when I stepped into the bedroom.
“No. Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be there. Yeah. No, it’s not a problem, beautiful. No, you’re not interruptinganything. You always will be a priority in my life. I’ll be there soon. Love you.”
He ended the call and gripped the edge of the sink with his eyes closed. I stood behind him for several seconds before he splashed his face with water, then dried it off.
When he turned around, he jumped at the sight of me. “Oh, hey, baby.”
“Hey, is everything okay? I was coming to see if you wanted breakfast, but you seemed to have an urgent call.”
I backed out of the bathroom, but Naijhel grabbed me just after I crossed the threshold and wrapped his arms around me.
He kissed me and replied, “I’ll have to pass on breakfast, but I’ll call you later, okay? I’ve got some business I need to handle.”
“What kind of business?”
He shook his head. “Nothing major. Just some stuff. I’ll call later.” He kissed me on the forehead, grabbed his keys and phone off the dresser, and disappeared without a backward glance.
After breakfast, I busied myself with cleaning the house and checking on a request for some artifacts that we wanted to display at the museum. Later, I read a book and took a nap. By the time that I woke up, I still hadn’t heard from Naijhel.
I called him to make sure everything was okay, and the phone just rang without an answer. He texted a few minutes later saying that he was caught up, but he would be back this evening. My heart was starting to feel heavy. Whether I liked it or not, his behavior was reminiscent of what I had gone through with Clayton.
I didn’t want to be that girl, but the phone call this morning and his subsequent actions were leaving me feeling a little insecure about my relationship.
