He thumbed her wet cheeks. “I know you did.”
“Thank you for not judging me.”
Najee cupped her face in his hands, and Orielle wanted to cry all over again from his tenderness. Instead, she rapidly blinked her lids, trying to remain focused on his face.
“You don’t have to thank me. That’s what I’m here for. I damn sure don’t have any room to judge and never will, a’ight?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Najee gave her a kiss, and Orielle climbed off his lap. Clearing her throat and sniffling, she said, “I think I’ma go home for a few days.”
Najee adjusted his shorts and tried to play it cool, telling himself to just say okay, but failed miserably. “Why?”
“I feel like I overstayed my welcome, and I have a long week. Need to get focused.”
“What you running for?”
Orielle stopped gathering her things from the coffee table and stared at him. “What?”
“You’re running because you’re vulnerable right now. I get that, but I didn’t say I wanted you to leave. You think I don’t want you here because you don’ cried on my chest?”
She shrugged. “Yes... I mean, no. I don’t know. I don’t want to be clingy. It’s giving damsel in distress.”
Najee grabbed her hand, pulling her in between his legs. “It can give whatever the fuck it wants as long as you’re here, a’ight? I want you in my space, slobbering on my pillows, using up all the hot water, and devouring the meals I cook for you. What the hell I’ma do if you go home?”
Orielle smirked, and goodness, did it feel good. Her tender heart bloomed like a flower revealing itself in the spring.
“Call me on FaceTime and tell me how much you miss me.”
“Exactly. Why do that when I can just have you here?”
Orielle ran her thumb over his bushy eyebrows and shivered as his hands ran up the back of her thighs.
“Fine. I’ll stay,” she said, smirking like it took any effort to convince her.
“Good. Let’s throw some clothes on so we can go get some Cold Stone. I know that’ll make you feel better.”
Orielle shook her. “Actually, something else would.”
“Something like what?”
Najee was eager to know and give it to her.
“You know what.” She grinned, and he caught the hint.
“Nah. Tell me. You’re a big girl.”
“Najee,” she whined, toying with her fingers. “Why do I have to say it?”
“Because you need to be confident in saying what you want, baby. Let me hear it.”
Orielle huffed and fidgeted before him. This was mental foreplay.
“Some dick would make me feel better.”
“That’s it?” Najee asked, cuffing her ass cheeks.
She shook her head. “No. Your head between my legs would make me feel one hundred times better.”
