“Okay. Get in position and let me see if you can do this without instruction.”
Jariyah nods before she gets into the proper stance without guidance from me. When she ups the gun and fires a second later, I know that she’s ready for whatever.
“Yeah. That’s the money shot. Damn, that just made my dick hard.” I smirk when my eyes stare at the hole in the middle of the makeshift head on the fake target.
“Ooh. That’s what I’m talking about.” The stars in Jariyah’s eyes when she looks at me let me know that my woman is far from a damsel in distress. It also confirms that she’s just right for a man like me.
“You’re lucky beds don’t belong in this setting, or I would help both of us release some pressure.”
“In that case, lesson over. I’m ready to go. Is there more we need to do tonight?”
A loud burst of laughter falls from my mouth and echoes around the hidden and woodsy private property owned by Baxtown Iron. Thankfully, only Satan and whatever wild animals in the vicinity can hear my laughter or our conversation.
“Damn. Let me find out I’m turning your little ass into a nympho, Navae.”
Jariyah shrugs, and I walk over to take the gun from her hands. Then I lean down and connect our lips in a kiss that could start a fire as sparks invade my chest.
We’re back in the vehicle and on our way back toward the city.
“Can I ask you a question?” Jariyah’s inquisitive voice snaps me out of my thoughts as my eyes momentarily return to her.
“You can ask me anything you want.”
“Do you think your club brothers will ever accept me as your woman? I want to be with you without so much pushback from them. It makes me uncomfortable to feel like I have to walk on eggshells whenever I’m in their presence.” Jariyah’s voice is lower than it was seconds ago, and it makes me white-knuckle the steering wheel.
“What if they don’t? Will it cause you to run from me?”
My eyes shift to Jariyah to see that she’s already watching me, and a frown forms as her body angles to face me.
“Why would that make me leave you?”
“That’s my point. No matter what happens with my brothers, they will never be important enough to shake what’s between us. Do you need me to beat those niggas’ asses to prove my loyalty or something?”
A cute giggle falls from her lips, and her eyes sparkle like new grass after a fresh cut. My heart skips several beats, and peace surges throughout my body.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“You haven’t been up to this point?” Only the requirement to return to the road forces me to look away from Jariyah after that question.
“Always.”
I nod as I wait for whatever will come now that we have that out of the way. Thankfully, Jariyah doesn’t leave me waiting long. The words that leave her mouth increase my heart rate when I register them in their full extent.
“I love you, and I know it hasn’t been that long, but I can’t help it.”
A cheesy grin slides into place because while Jariyah has mentioned loving me, this is the first time she’s admitted to falling in love with me. I feel like a man who just picked the winning lottery numbers.
“Being with you, despite the opposition we’ve faced, feels like my world has gotten bigger. Before you, I’ve been dealing with small-minded men who?—”
“Who doesn’t matter. Since we’re laying ourselves bare, you should know that I’m in love with you. What’s wild is that you haven’t figured that out yet. It’s been in my eye contact while stroking your pussy because I don’t need years to know that I’m not coming off you. Ready or not, you’re stuck with me,” I say after cutting Jariyah’s attempt at going down an unnecessary memory lane.
“Aw, Righteous.”
“Aw, my ass. You better start jogging to catch up. This thing between us doesn’t allow for moments of regret.”
Before either of us can reply or add further information to the discussion, my phone vibrates in the cupholder. I frown when Deacon’s name flashes on the screen, and I hit ignore before I set the phone back down. But it vibrates again, and I shake my head because it’s obvious my cousin is about to be persistent until I answer. With that thought in mind, I connect the call.
“Didn’t I let it be known that I would be with my woman for the remainder of the day? You’re a rude motha?—”
