I throw my right hand up, push it into the air, then retrieve my phone and record the number. Then I send a text so she can lock my number in.
Me: Yo’ beautiful, this is your man. Lock me in.
My eyes rake up to Deshona as her eyes focus on the phone, and her fingers quickly move over the keys. A second later, my phone chimes with a return message.
My Dee: Oddly enough, you’ve been locked in the place that counts.
“You better talk your shit then, Dee. I like that in you.”
“Not more than I like what you put in me.”
My dick jerks and wakes up instantly with those words as our eyes meet again.
“Hold the memory because my first rule of engagement is no dick for the first?—”
“You tried it. Don’t fuck around and find yourself with your dick out questioning how it got so creamy.”
“A complaint that will never leave my lips. I’m gonna go cook us dinner, and then we can discuss the rest of your conditions and shit.”
I lean in and place a light kiss on her lips before I stand and leave the room with an extra bounce in my step. Planned or not, a nigga is in a new relationship. I can only pray that this time around, I won’t regret the decision. But just like I told Deshona not to judge me based on her past, I damn sure ain’t about to condemn her for mine.
Chapter 17
Deshona
AWeek Later . . .
Me: He took me off the market.
Korrena: Wait, what? What the hell is going on in Kaigood?
Me: Alijah and I are in a relationship. It happened last week.
My phone rings a second after I send the message, and I hit the button to ignore the call and send it to voicemail. But I don’t have much time because I’m sure Alijah will be back any minute.
Korrena: Sending me to voicemail after dropping that kind of bomb is absolutely diabolical. You better tell me something or I’m hopping on the freeway.
Me: You better sit your pregnant ass down. Everything is fine. I can’t talk right now. But as soon as I get from under this man, you’ll be my first call. Give me until tomorrow.
Korrena: What was the purpose of the text if you weren’t in a position to tell everything?
Me: Girl, I just had to say it out loud. I’m waiting on my man to bring me breakfast so time isn’t on my side right now.
Korrena: Whatever. Don’t leave me hanging.
Me: I won’t. Promise.
As I lie in Alijah’s bed, naked as the day I was born, my feet rubbing together, I’m in awe of my new relationship status. I didn’t know that the day I poured out my feelings with Korrena would be the day that Alijah decided to shift the trajectory of our relationship. From roommates to fuck buddies, to a couple trying to figure out how to exist in that lane, blows my mind and secretly excites me. Every night since we decided to explore being together, I have woken up with Alijah. It’s new, but it’s amazing how comfortable I have become in a short time.
“You better be thinking about me,” Alijah says with a smirk as he walks through the door carrying a plate and a glass of apple juice.
Alijah is shirtless, and his hair swings slightly with his movements, and my eyes take him in from head to toe. My gaze lingers on his lower half as his boxers sit low, which allows me to see the preview of the hair on his pelvis that leads to my new best friend. I should have led my conversation with Korrena with the statement of her being replaced by dick.
Damn, this man is fine.
“You horny ass hasn’t once acknowledged this food. Look up, mama.” The humor in Alijah’s voice causes me to smile and disconnect my gaze from his dormant dick.
“Sorry. Thank you.” Alijah hands me the glass of juice and then places the plate in my lap as my smile widens when I see the contents: scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, potatoes with peppers and onions, and toast with two mini cups of what appears to be grape and strawberry jam. Forget food being the way to a man’s heart. A man who can cook is a flex that many don’t get to experience. If I ever get the chance to meet Alijah’s mom, I’m going to kiss her for her foresight to teach this man how to throw down in the kitchen.
