“What’s up?” is all he manages to say.
Holding up the bag, she replies with a smirk, “Your drink. I took the whole bottle.”
Although he bought two cups from the liquor store, because his plan was to return to Lazy’s, he had no intention of drinking. The bottle and chasers are all her, but she’s here, dressed in a robe, looking too sexy to turn away. So he widens the door, grabs the bag, steps back, and invites her in.
Sunjiya saunters to the sofa in the living room area. His suite is an exact replica of hers. They both have a small dining area and this sitting area with 46-inch HDTV. The door to his private bedroom with the king-size pillowtop bed covered with Egyptian cotton linen and a down duvet and the private bathroom with a deep soaking bathtub and separate shower is closed.
Although it’s after one o’clock in the morning, the city skies are illuminated from the streetlights and building lights. Thanks to the blackout drapes and curtains in the suite, they are shielded from any outside light. The only brightness in his room comes from the muted but powered on television. After placing the bag on the ottoman-style table in front of the sofa, Akeem steps to the wall to turn on the light but Sunjiya stops him.
“We don’t need that,” she says softly while taking him in. He’s fully dressed, in something different, looking good.But why?“Are you going somewhere?” she asks, puzzled and feeling some kind of way.Is he going to see somebody?
“Not anymore,” he offers before abandoning the light switch and stepping over to her.
“Good,” she says but her curiosity about his obvious and previous plans haunts her. “But where were you going? You know somebody here?” she asks. Although amused at her question, he hides it as he sits next to her.
“Nah. I was just going back to the club to see if I could find out more info on Tanjaya,” he admits.
“Seems like she and Honey were really close. I think we’ll get a lot from her tomorrow. You saw how she kept hugging me. At one point she was about to cry. I could feel their bond;tomorrow’s going to be a lot but helpful,” she says confidently. Her emotions have been all over the place since her interaction with Honey. “It was a lot, a hell of a lot, and I need to drink.” Sunjiya pulls out the Patrón and a cup with partially melted ice. “We need another cup though,” she adds.
Akeem goes to the small coffee bar and grabs a disposable cup, unwrapping the plastic.
“Do we need more ice?” he asks.
After checking the ice in the cup on the table, she shakes her head. “There’s enough,” she replies. “We good.” When he rejoins her on the sofa, she prepares both drinks, mixing tequila and a splash of pineapple juice. She hands him his cup then taps hers against his. “To getting closer to Tanjaya,” she says before downing half of her drink.Operation get fucked up and fuck him in full effect.
While taking a sip from his cup, he watches her, studying her facial expressions and eyes. Tonight has been a lot and it’s clearly affecting herbut how so?She’s basically been mute since they left the club. He barely knows her and what he thought he knew is wrong. She’s not Tanjaya. She’s Sunjiya and here smelling delicious as shit, drinking and dressed in a robe that has started to fall off her shoulder, exposing her beautiful brown skin. She isn’t his target. She’s his partner and sexy as hell. The man in him can’t deny that shit.
“You up for this tomorrow?” he finally asks.
“Yeah. I am because I need to find her and just make sure she’s good. I’m worried that she ain’t though, really worried. Those medical records were horrible and hearing Honey just added to it,” she says, then sighs. “Growing up in the system like we did was bad enough. Going through shit like that after making it out of the group home is unfair. I swear some people are just born into bad luck. The good life ain’t for everybody,” she says before killing the rest of her drink.
“You seem to be good now,” he says, not really knowing what to say. He grew up in a loving, two-parent home. While he’s heard of the horrors in the foster care system, he can’t relate but is sympathetic. “Strong, smart, and beautiful,” he says and she smiles.
He’s feeling me,she thinks as she smiles. This night has to end on a good note, and for her, that’s under him. His handsome face, sexy body, and compliment solidifies that her plan is doable.
“Thanks,” she says with a smile. Her next words surprise her though. Because of the liquor, they slip from a place of vulnerability. “But honestly, I wish I didn’t have to be so damn strong. I’m a womanist and can take care of myself, but damn, sometimes I just want a man to handle shit, let me be soft, and allow me to rely on his strength. I just want to be treated soft,” she admits.
“Yo’ man don’t treat you right in Atlanta?” he asks.
“If I had one, don’t you think he would be looking for me? My phone hasn’t rang once since you’ve given it back to me. Besides, I always pick the wrong ones. Always a wolf and fuck boy in sheep’s clothing.” She turns to face him, tucking one leg under her butt. The robe parts, exposing her thighs. His eyes are shamelessly glued to her brown thighs and she feels the heat of his stare. It tickles her skin in the best way. “Which one are you?” she asks coyly.
“Neither. I’m just a man,” he answers with assured arrogance.
“So, there’s a lucky lady back home who gets to enjoy all this man?” she asks with a smirk he doesn’t miss.
“Nah. There isn’t right now.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“You believe what you want but I only speak the truth,” he says matter of factly. Akeem doesn’t have a woman back inTexas. He’s single and has been for the past sixteen months. His last two jobs were back-to-back ,and Kierra, his last relationship, had zero understanding.
After pursing her lips, she leans forward and grabs her liquor-free cups. She pops a cube of ice into her mouth then chews before responding.
“A nigga will say anything when a woman’s in a hotel suite with him this damn late, and half naked.”
“Maybe but I already said I’m a man, not yo’ average nigga,” he states sternly.
Shit!The seriousness and bass in his tone sends a chill down her spine and travels straight to her clit. His energy is like nothing she’s ever experienced before, causing her desire to be under him to ignite. After untying the sash to the terrycloth robe, she pulls it open.
