CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE #5
“So what’s this?” Najee kept his eyes on the road. “This,” he said, “is me enjoying your company. Feeding you. Listening to you talk too much. Sing off key and eat wings in my brand-new car while you disrespect my intentions” Jackie sucked her teeth, smirking. “Whatever, Nigel.”
“It’s Doctor Nigel,” he corrected, reaching over and stealing a shrimp.
“But you can keep the title when you straddle me again.”
Jackie’s mouth dropped open, fake offended.
“Boy—” The light turned green, and he didn’t even flinch.
Just turned the music up, slid his hand back between her thighs, and took the scenic way home.
He drove through Chinatown, then over to Fairmount, past the Art Museum and along Boathouse Row, before finally hitting Kelly Drive and cutting through North Philly.
They pulled up to her block a little after 3AM and since it was Friday night?
Jackie’s block was alive. The crackheads and dope boys were in rare form.
Jackie saw Najee clock it instantly, and she could see the concern written all over his face.
He cut the engine and looked over. Jackie was already unbuckling fast, trying to cover the embarrassment that never fully left her in moments like this.
“I would invite you up,” she said softly, “but it’s kind of cold in there tonight, so…”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Why is it cold? Your gas off or something?” She blinked.
“What? No. Nah.”
“Then why’s it cold?” he pressed, his eyes locking onto hers. His demeanor was calm, but his tone was serious. More serious than it had been all night. Jackie sighed hard, irritation spiking.
“It’s an old-ass house, Najee. The radiators be actin’ up. You gotta jiggle the valves sometimes, wait for the clanking’ to stop. It’s not that deep.” His expression didn’t shift, just sharpened a little. “Where’s Max?” Jackie’s spine straightened, voice sharper than she meant.
“Not in the fucking house by himself.” She turned to open the door, annoyed, but his hand caught her wrist gently, firm and impossible to shake. “I wasn’t pressing you,” he said quietly.
“I was just asking.” She exhaled, the tension slipping from her shoulders.
“He at my mom’s. He loves it over there, she spoils the hell outta him when she feel like being a grandma. I just needed… tonight.” Najee nodded once.
“Nah you deserved it.” Jackie stared at his hand, still on hers.
“Thanks for the food,” she said softly. “And the… everything.”
His hand slid away slow, deliberate. “You don’t gotta thank me for treating you how you should be treated.
” She smiled, small and shy, and opened the door.
The night air slapped her instantly. She was halfway up the steps when she heard Najee’s car door open.
She turned. “Najee, what are you doing?” He met her at the top like he belonged there, pulling his coat tighter against the wind.
“I’m walking you to your door.”
“That’s not necessary,” she tried, fumbling for her keys while her pride flared.
“I know what it looks like, and what you probably think, but I’m good. You can go.”
“Jackie,” he said quietly, stepping behind her, close enough for his voice to warm her neck.
“Be quiet and unlock your door.” She swallowed hard and did exactly that.
She finally got the lock to turn and pushed the door open, but she didn’t step inside. Something in the chill of the night mixed with the heat of the moment made her turn and face him. Najee stood right behind her on the small porch, hands in his pockets, breath warm in the night air.
Their eyes locked, and the energy between them tightened all at once.
She swallowed, her voice softer than she meant.
“Nigel…” He stepped closer, slow and intentional.
His body heat wrapped around her as his hand lifted, brushing a curl off her cheek.
The touch was barely anything, but her chest rose like he’d gripped her by the throat.
He leaned in, not quite kissing her, but close enough that his breath grazed her jaw.
Then he lowered his head to her neck. Jackie could feel his restraint as his nose skimmed her skin, and her knees went weak. “Najee?”
“Mmm?” he murmured against her throat, voice deep and vibrating through her.
She hesitated, then whispered the smallest, most unguarded thing she’d said all night.
“Can you… can you ask one of your people to make sure my silly-ass cousin get home?”
“Yeah,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her.
“I’ll call Newdy or Cal to bring her home.” She went on, flustered.
“Najee, I’m serious. She in a section full of old freaks and I wanna make sure she makes it home to me—” He caught her chin, fingers firm, lifting her face to his. “What did I just say?”
Her breath hitched before she swallowed, eyes glued to his.
“You gon’ call Newdy or Cal,” she whispered. His mouth curved, slow and approving.
“Atta girl.” Her stomach flipped. Then his voice dropped even lower, almost a warning.
“Now go in this house, lock the door, before we cross any more lines tonight.” Jackie stepped back across her threshold, pulse thundering. She locked the door behind her like he instructed, because she knew if she didn’t, restraint would not save either of them.