Her last text goes unanswered and she prays it stays that way until December.Six months. That was always the plan. No contact for six months, then they met. Why the change?
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she mumbles through gritted teeth. “What’s wrong now?”
“What did you say?” Akeem calls out from the door, startling her.
Fuck!
“Huh… Oh…nothing,” she stutters, stalling, trying to gather her thoughts and words. The last thing she wants today, hell, any day, is those texts. She’s nowhere near ready to deal with the person on the other line and their shit. Although she knows their conversation is inevitable, she isn’t ready for it now. It’s too damn early.
“You sure. You sounded pretty angry.”
Thinking quickly, she says, “Well, I hope it’s nothing. A water issue back at my place. My landlord just sent a notice to let us know.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing, but if there’s a problem, we can go check on your place.”
Oh God, not we. When I go, I have to be alone.
After stepping over to him, she places her hand on his chest and musters a wry smile. “It’s probably just a cautionary message. Like you said, it’s more than likely nothing. You rolled up?” she asks, desperately trying to change the subject and push those damn texts from her mind.
“I did. Wanted to see if you wanted to fire up before we started cooking,” he says before wrapping his arms around her. As long as she’s in his presence, he has to touch her in some way.
“Not we. I’m cooking. Bacon, rice, and eggs doesn’t require two people. I can handle it.”
“What do you know about rice for breakfast?”
“I know that’s all you have in your pantry.” She smirks before pecking his lips. “Now release me so I can cook.”
After grabbing her ass, Akeem kisses the side of her neck then releases his hold. Together, they leave his room and walk into the kitchen. His stash box is on the island and a rolled blunt and lighter are next to it.
While he sits at the island, she journeys to the sink, washes her hands, then finds the pots, pans, and utensils she needs to cook. As she easily maneuvers through the kitchen, Akeemtakes her in, loving every moment of seeing her in his space. It’s perfection.She’sperfection, the missing piece in his life.
As the bacon cooks in the oven and the rice simmers, she takes the lit blunt from his hand. After taking two long pulls, she slowly blows the smoke out then passionately kisses his lips.
“Damn, that shit was sexy,” he utters.
“Me smoking?” she questions as she walks back to the stove.
“You doing everything. Having you here in my shirt, in my kitchen, cooking for me, smoking with me, all of it,” he admits honestly.
“I can get used to this,” she says. At her words, he eases off the high back stool and steps behind her. Like always, his arms cocoon her and she instinctively relaxes into him. She can stay like this, wrapped in him, all day, forever actually. No texts or plans can stop her. Not much in life is worth a fight, but this feeling, this serenity, and this man is. She’s genuinely happy and the overwhelming joy from being in this reality is priceless. This man cares for her, cherishes her and treats her delicately. With him, she’s just a woman treated right by a loving man. “How do you like your eggs?” she asks.
“However you cook them?”
“Then scrambled because that’s the only way I know how,” she says with laughter infiltrating her words.
“Then why you ask?”
“Because I wanted to sound like a real cook,” she admits, still laughing and he joins in.
“I can get a hotel,” Sunjiya insists and Akeem’s entire face tightens.
“You’re not getting a damn hotel, so quit saying that shit,” he scoffs while stepping toward Sunjiya.
They stand in the upstairs primary suite of the luxury beach home Akeem rented for them and his family. She stares down at the turquoise water in the infinity pool and he watches her pensively. It’s homecoming weekend and everyone arrives in Fort Lauderdale to support Quise today. The dance is tonight and his game is tomorrow night. Akeem’s parents and brother are on their way.
Sunjiya and Akeem flew in late last night. Because she is falling fast for Akeem, she’s nervous about meeting his brother and parents. This past week with him in Austin had been absolutely amazing. Going to bed with and waking up to him, cooking for him with her limited skills, exploring Austin together, and having every inch of her body so divinely worshipped daily has been a dream. Things with them are sublime and she doesn’t want to risk ruining it by interrupting his family time. Being an unexpected guest is not a good look.
“Did you even tell them I’m going to be here?” she questions for the umpteenth time.
