12. Banks
“Oh, Banks!” Leilani moaned as her palm was stretched against the headboard.
It was the first time I’d spent the night with her, and I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. She didn’t want me to, either. All night, she slept with her ass poked against me and her legs in between mine. I hadn’t slept that good in a while. Being skin to skin with her was better than melatonin.
I gripped Leilani’s ass and carefully pushed up to get a better view of the way her honey coated the condom. My hips rolled into her. The sound of our skin slapping with each stroke was almost as loud as her moans.
Her locs swayed to her side, giving me the perfect view of her defined back. I leaned down and trailed kisses up her spine. My member pushed deeper inside her. By the time my lips grazed her shoulder, Leilani’s body began to quake.
“Let it go for me, Leilani.”
My fingers found her swollen bud, which poked through her slit. Round and round they circled over it while I delivered myself to her slowly. Her palms slapped the headboard as her breathy moans became rigged. Leilani’s eyes closed, and she released, giving me the cue to release too.
I sat on the side of the bed and took the condom off while catching my breath.
Leilani and I went back and forth about who should turn on the shower.
Just as I was about to get up, she hopped up and ran.
I laughed to myself with a shake of my head.
She wasn’t like most women who desired to be catered to always.
Leilani knew how to give and receive, which was one thing I truly enjoyed about her.
Her phone vibrating against the nightstand caught my attention. I closed my eyes and told myself it wasn’t any of my business who was hitting her line. Lately, I’d noticed she’d been on her phone more than usual whenever we were around one another. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did.
The only reason it bothered me was because of who she was texting.
I’d seen her ex’s name pop up more than a few times before. It wasn’t my place to ask what they were talking about or why they were talking. All I could focus on was ensuring we kept our image up for the next few months. After that, Leilani was free to do as she pleased.
Once again, her phone vibrated. I got up and went to the bathroom where she was standing in front of the mirror, examining herself. I made my way over to her and stood behind her, pressing my middle against her ass.
“Why are you staring at yourself?” I asked, peppering kisses on her shoulder.
“I’ve always thought about drawing myself, but I never know where to start.”
“You saying I did a bad job?”
Leilani turned around and playfully slapped my arm. “No, I love yours. I have it hanging on my wall. I don’t think anyone will ever be able to paint me like you did.”
“What makes you want to draw yourself?”
“It’s another way to express myself. A way to express myself where I can’t with words.”
I nodded in understanding. “I get it. Why haven’t you tried?”
“I thought about it, but now, I’m still figuring myself out.”
“What you mean?”
Our eyes met in the mirror. The steam from the shower fogged it some, but I could still see the way Leilani’s eyes were piercing through my soul.
I leaned down and kissed her shoulder again, never taking my eyes off her.
She laid her head on my chest with her hand on the back of my neck.
Despite the warmth from the shower, goosebumps pebbled her skin.
Her eyes closed as I hugged her, long and tight.
Whatever was happening between us, we could both feel it. There was no doubt in my mind.
Our moment was interrupted by her doorbell ringing. She frowned before putting on her fluffy pink robe and going to see who it was. I figured it was one of her family members, so I got in the shower to wash her off me and go home.
By the time I had dried off and got dressed, Leilani was still talking to who I assumed was Willow from the sound of her voice. I gathered my things and headed out her room. As I rounded the corner, I heard Leilani mention her ex.
“Brandon wants us to meet up soon,” she revealed, and I felt my blood pressure rise. I had to take long, deep breaths to control the rapid beat of my heart.
“For what?”
“I’m not sure, Willow. I haven’t seen him since we last met up, and we both know how that ended. I’m not trying to go there with him again, but I am curious as to why he wants to meet.”
“Well, are you going to go? And if so, are you going to be able to keep your legs closed?”
The two of them laughed, further irritating me, so I made my presence known. I wasn’t trying to hear any more, or I probably would’ve said something.
“Oh, hey, Banks. How are you?” Willow greeted with a wave.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Good, just checking up on my cousin since you’ve been occupying all her time. I’m beginning to wonder if there is even a contract.”
I thumbed my nose and side-eyed Leilani. “It is. We gotta make everything appear real, right?”
The middle of Leilani’s face came together in a scowl. She pursed her lips together and slowly bobbed her head. “Yeah, we do.”
“Well, I’m about to head out. I should be back by Thursday, so I’ll get up with you then.”
Without waiting for Leilani to speak, I walked toward the door. She jogged up behind me and grabbed me by the wrist. “Are you okay, Banks?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Why you ask?”
“You just seem… distant suddenly. You were going to leave without giving me a hug or kiss?”
“My bad.”
We shared a kiss and hug. Leilani promised to call me when Willow left.
I wasn’t sure that I would answer. Distance was probably the best thing for us, so it was good I was leaving tomorrow.
I’d been playing things with Leilani too close when I didn’t need to.
We could fulfill our contract, but the personal terms, we unintentionally needed to change before things got too deep.