“Damn. I like hearing that shit. I’ll show you just how much when you touch down. Have a safe flight.”
“See you soon,” she says while still gushing from his words.
When she ends the call, she closes all open apps so her cell can charge faster and drinks her latte. She’s saving her ice for the plane. While she doesn’t have a fear of lying, she gets anxiety on planes. Eating ice is a distraction that helps calm her anxiousness.
Ten minutes after her call, boarding starts. Because she is flying business class, she boards with group A, gets comfortable in her window seat, then buckles up. She shoots Akeem a quick text to let him know she’s about to take off, says a silent prayer for safe travels, then relaxes into her spot for the next two and a half hours. When the door closes after all passengers are onboard and she sees her row is empty, she relaxes even more.
Thanks to her ice and empty row, the first hour of the flight is smooth as hell. So smooth that she drifts off to sleep for the final hour and a half of her journey. She doesn’t open her eyes until she feels the plane drop altitude for the descent. They actually land ten minutes ahead of schedule, and by nine twenty-five she’s walking out of the terminal with her luggage. It dawns on her that she doesn’t know what vehicle Akeem drives. Right when she takes out her cell to call him, an all-black Land Rover pulls up in front of her with the passenger window down. It’s him.
After shifting into park, Akeem exits and walks over. Before he can pull her into him, she rushes into his arms and throws hers around his neck. Passionately, they kiss and embrace like they are long-term lovers who have been apart for years.
“You really missed me,” he utters when their lips finally break.
“More than you know,” she admits before kissing him again.
“Let’s go,” he says before opening the passenger door.
He extends his hand and she holds it as she gets into the Rover. As she settles in her seat, he grabs her bags and places them into his trunk.
“That’s a lot of bags for someone who wasn’t supposed to bring clothes,” he says once he’s inside.
“Just options. That’s all. Naked is for sure my preferred outfit though.” As he eases into the lane to exit, she takes in his ride. Not only does it smell heavenly like him, it fits him. The Rover’ssleek Santorini black, metallic exterior and ebony interior are Akeem personified—Black and sexy as hell. “I like this,” she compliments.
“Thanks. How was your flight?”
“It was fine actually. I slept the last half after I ate my ice. Ice, damn! I didn’t want to have to stop but I’m going to need a cup of ice.”
“Nah. You good. I have an ice machine in my bar. It makes the ice you like,” he reveals.
“Really?” she asks, surprised.
“Yeah. You should be straight, but if it’s not the kind you like, I’ll get you some ice,” he says and she smiles.
“Thank you. This trip is perfect already.”
After glancing at her and seeing her beautiful smile, he says, “So fucking perfect.” She’s here, in his hometown, and no job needs to be done. It’s just them, and to him, that is perfection in itself.
Chapter
Seventeen
After stretchingout in the large California king bed, Sunjiya rolls over only to find Akeem gone. Although he likes to get up early, yesterday he slept in with her. Between her late flight and the way they exhausted most of the night reacquainting their bodies, the extra hours in bed were earned. Besides, he didn’t want to leave her soft, warm body. They lay in bed until around eleven, toured the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility, explored downtown, and ended the night at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. No real plans for today but Sunjiya is perfectly fine with spending the day here with him.
Akeem’s condo is beautiful, masculine, and welcoming. Browns, black, and beige dominate the décor of the spacious, two-bedroom, two bath condo. There’s also a den but it was converted to a gun room to house Akeem’s prized possessions. The building is new and he purchased his unit two months after construction about three years ago.
After ambling out of bed, Sunjiya presses the button for the automated roller shades to allow the Texas sun in. While she loves everything about the condo, the soaring ten foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, this owner’s suite, and theensuite bath are her favorites. The views of the city are exquisite from this height.
Once the sun has infiltrated the bedroom, she journeys to the bathroom, her second favorite in the condo. The light hardwood floors, his and her vanities and sinks, corner glass shower, and oversized, freestanding, soaking tub, make it a tiny piece of heaven on earth. Opting to save a long, relaxing bath for tonight, she takes a quick shower, handles her dental hygiene, then treks to his massive walk-in closet. After finding a black tee in the top drawer of the armoire, she moisturizes her body, slips on a pair of panties, throws on the tee, and heads to the bar.
The condo appears empty because Akeem is nowhere in sight. Assuming he might be out for a morning run, she continues to the bar, passing the second bedroom and den then walking through the living room and huge kitchen. When she reaches the ice machine, a big ass smile trespasses her face.
It was very clear the ice machine had been recently purchased, just for her. The instruction card poking from underneath and Akeem’s limited knowledge of how to change the cube sizes were obvious giveaways. The machine is definitely new but she wouldn’t dare call him out.How could she?His thoughtfulness knows no bounds and this gesture means the world to her.
After filling a glass, she wanders to the kitchen. She’s hungry, and if he is in fact running, he’ll be hungry as well. Like the remainder of the condo, the kitchen is impressive. It’s outfitted with a full suite of black Bosch appliances, abundant custom cabinetry,and a large walk-in pantry.
She starts with the pantry first then the fridge. Both are barely filled but she finds what she needs to make a simple breakfast: rice, eggs, butter, and a pack of frozen beef bacon. She places the bacon in the sink, fills it with cold water, then leavesthe bacon to thaw. Right when she returns to the pantry for seasonings, she hears his baritone.
Akeem is here.
