"You could be fresh with a man who rides a bike too, but you playin'." I pointed it out with a nod over my shoulder in Rico's direction.
Rico glanced our way just as we were all looking, causing us to look away quickly. Jessa turned her back to him and widened her eyes.
"Y'all get on my nerves. I'm going home, and I don't want to hear nothing about that man. My car is parked right over there — text me when y'all get home," Jessa instructed, then quickly crossed the street to her car.
Rico jogged past us and stood beside Jessa's door. She had the nerve to be giggling after fronting on that man over here.Aubree and I couldn't pull our eyes away if we wanted to. Jessa reached into her purse, then started typing, so I knew she had to be getting that man's number.
A few minutes later, Rico was jogging back across the street with a smirk. He made a beeline for his bike, then nodded at everyone before pulling off behind Jessa. I turned to look at Aubree and we burst into laughter. We knew Jessa well, and she was getting ready to give that man the night of his life.
"Yo' friend loves to pretend like she isn't feeling someone."
"And do," Aubree agreed with a giggle.
Juelz walked over and hitched up his pants a little. "You ready?" he asked Aubree.
She nodded with a smile, then turned to me, kissed her fingers, and waved. I returned the gesture and made my way toward my man. Duke was leaned against the brick wall by his loft entrance. As I got closer, he stood upright and opened the door so I could walk ahead of him.
The entire way up the steps, the heat from his eyes practically burned a hole in my back and ass. My heart raced like I hadn't been alone with him before. I don't know why my hands always got moist or why the need to bounce from one foot to the other came over me in his presence.
"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" he asked, pulling his keys out to unlock the door.
"I didn't have a choice but to have a good time with Jessa around," I joked.
"I'm sure. I hope I didn't cut your night short too soon. I could tell you put a lot of thought into your outfit tonight. You look damn good."
He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and walked me through the front door, then placed kisses along the length of my neck.
"You didn't. The majority of the energy we had for tonight was used trying to put our outfits together. We got to dance, drink, and look cute. What more can a girl ask for?" I asked.
"I could name a few things I'm willing to grant," he said, then leaned down and bit my shoulder, causing me to yelp.
"I'm sure you will. Now go get your stuff — you're trying to distract me." I shooed him.
He smiled and jogged up the steps to his bedroom. When I first saw his loft, this was exactly what I had imagined Duke lived in. It was all moody colors, steel, and dark wood. I had been concerned when he gave me that money earlier, but seeing that he had two places let me know money wasn't a problem.
I still didn't want him giving me money because I had plenty of it. I just chose to leave it all behind. I could fix any financial problem with a single decision to step out of the shield I had allowed Rose Haven to give me — and was now allowing Duke to give me.
Normally I felt his presence, but this time I was too deep in my thoughts. He stood directly in front of me and lifted my chin to bring my eyes to meet his.
"What's up, Sweets? You were good when I went upstairs."
I tried to smile. "I'm fine. I just spaced out a little."
He never looked away. His eyes always made me feel like I was drowning when he stared down at me. I couldn't move unless he looked away, and he wasn't letting this go. I could feel it.
"Nah, what's up."
I huffed and released a sigh.
"I was just thinking about the money you gave me earlier. I don't want you giving me money for something I could fix in an instant. All I have to do is stop hiding."
I finally found the strength to look away, but he brought my attention back to him.
"I know this is new, but I'm gone make some shit clear. If I have it, so do you. Take what you need from me, baby — security, money, comfort. You got that shit if I have it to give."
I nodded, then wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest. I wasn't trying to end our night on this note. I didn't want to be a burden to him.
Duke wrapped his arms around me and we stood that way for the next ten minutes. I pulled back and he grabbed his bag. On the ride back to my shop, I directed him to the garage in the back so he could put his bike inside with my car. Once everything was secure, we took the back way up to my place above the bakery.
