Akeem nods then they get out after he grabs her cup of ice and leftovers. She enters first and they’re both surprised to hear awake, vibrant voices when they enter. Everyone is up, including Akeem’s parents, in the living room with Axton and Quise.
“I thought you would be sleep,” Akeem says when he walks into the living room.
“Your dad is enjoying this big TV and I’m just not ready to go yet,” Debrah says.
“Well, we’re about to head up,” he says and Sunjiya turns to him.
In a low voice, she says, “You can stay down here with your family. I’ll be fine.”
“Nah. I promised to wash your back.”
“Stay. I’ll shower and just be waiting on you in bed,” she says before kissing him. Then, she turns to his family. “I’m heading up. Good night,” she says and they all respond in concert in kind.
Sunjiya ambles up the stairs and plops onto the bed the moment she’s in the bedroom. She pulls her cell from her jean pocket and stares at the texts again. Things were so different when the plan was hatched and the agreement was made to meet in six months, so much. The biggest and best being him. Feelings she thought had been beaten out of her have emerged and she’s fallen. What’s even more incredible is that he’s fallen too. Unlike most people in her past, he wants her and treats her how she’s only dreamed.
“What am I going to do?” she murmurs before standing.
After locking her phone and placing it into the drawer on her side of the bed, she journeys into the closet, undresses, and treks into the bathroom. Once the shower is to her preferred temperature, she pulls her hair into a high bun and steps in. For a moment, she just lets the hot water and the high-pressure, power-pulsing, massage showerhead work their magic. Then she washes her body with her coconut cocoa butter shower gel.
About thirty minutes later, she emerges from the bathroom clean, refreshed, moisturized, and resolute.
I’m not going to meet.
Fuck the plan.
I’m choosing myself for once and I’m choosing him.
By the time Akeem makes it into the room an hour later, she’s comfortable and asleep. Trying not to wake her, he closes the door, locks it, then creeps into the closet. After taking off his clothes, he lightly walks into the bathroom and showers. Once out, he tries to ease into bed but she feels and smells him as soon as he’s under the spread.
“What time is it?” she utters before turning onto her side.
“After two, bae. Go back to sleep,” he utters regrettably.
“I will,” she says. She inches closer, nestles herself on his chest, and inhales his scent. “You used my body wash,” she says, amused. “I like how it smells on you.”
“It was an accident,” he admits. “Mine was on the sink but I was already in the shower so I said fuck it.”
“I really like it on you though.” She inhales him again then exhales before stretching her hand to his head. As she mindlessly massages his neck, his hands caress her back and ass. “Has everybody gone to bed now?” she asks.
“Yeah. They went about an hour ago. It was just me and Axton up. I have another job,” he admits and she props her head on her arm to give him her full attention.
“Where? When? You’re leaving?”And I have to go back to that apartment alone?
“Instead of going back to Austin Wednesday, I’m going to fly to D.C.”
A lump forms in her throat, growing with each of his words, preventing her from expressing her thoughts. Only one word falls off her lips.
“Oh,” she mumbles, then drops her head.
“My jobs typically don’t last longer than a week, so I won’t be gone long. But either way, I want you at my place while I’m gone and when I get back,” he says and his words dissolve the lump in her throat.
“Seriously? You do?” she questions.
“Yeah, I do. I really do, bae. Shit with us happened fast but it is what it is. I love you and I want you with me all the fucking time, every day and every night. Please say you’ll stay. When I come back from the job, we can go to Atlanta and get your stuff.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” she questions.
“Yeah. Real fucking sure. This right here,” he says while holding her a little tighter. “This is the only way I want to fall asleep. Stay with me.”
