Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Layloni
Ithought King was on some straight bullshit when he said he was coming over to bring me dinner and chill with me for the night.
Hours had passed, and still no King. I sat curled up on the couch, scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from the disappointment creeping into my chest. I hated how this man had the power to get under my skin like this.
I told myself I wasn’t about to be sitting around waiting on no man, yet here I sat doing exactly that…
Waiting on more disappointment that I shouldn’t have been surprised about to begin with.
I grabbed my phone and decided to call Monty, to keep my mind off King’s ass. The phone rang once, then went straight to voicemail. I frowned down at the screen. That was strange. Monty always answered my calls. Always. Even if he was busy, he’d at least text me back right away.
I shrugged it off and tossed my phone beside me on the couch. Before I could even think too much about it, my phone rang.
My heart jumped into my throat as I snatched it up, thinking it was either King calling to explain himself or Monty calling me back.
The moment I heard Shadonna’s voice, my excitement died instantly. I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt.
“I didn’t mean to bother you, girl,” she started talking fast. “I was just calling to thank you for the opportunity of working at your shop. Another opportunity came up and I’m gonna be taking it, so I can’t work at the shop anymore. But I’m always here if you need extra—”
Click.
I hung up right in her face. I wasn’t about to sit there and listen to her bullshit.
Knowing Shadonna, that “opportunity” was either a new nigga she thought was about to save her life or some trick she planned on turning for fast money. Either way, I didn’t have the energy for it tonight. I had tried to help her.
God knew I did.
I gave her a job, watched her kids, helped her get counseling, even tried to help her get back on her feet. I went above and beyond for her despite all of the bullshit attached to her. All for her to call me the day before work to quit with a half-ass thank you.
She couldn’t even give me a two-week notice. Something was always off with Shadonna. It was like no matter how much someone tried to help her; she always found a way to sabotage it.
I was tired. Tired of trying to save people who didn’t want to save themselves. All I could do now was pray for her and those babies and hope she figured her life out one day.
I stood up and stretched. Since King clearly wasn’t coming, I figured I’d go fix myself something small to eat. The moment I stepped toward my kitchen…
Knock. Knock.
My heart skipped a beat so hard it almost scared me. I froze for a second. Sometimes I hated the effect this man had on me. I didn’t even have to open the door to know it was him. I always felt King before I saw him.
I took in a slow breath then walked over and opened the door.
And there he was.
We just stared at each other for a few seconds. Neither one of us speaking.
God… this man was fine. Like criminally fine.
His dark skin looked smooth under light, and that cocky confidence he carried made it even worse. He had a green NY snapback turned backwards on his head, an all-white Polo V-neck hugging his chest, khaki cargos hanging low on his hips, and some fresh white Air Force Ones on his feet.
The only jewelry he wore tonight was his Rolex and a single diamond stud in his ear. King bit his bottom lip slowly while looking at me like I was dinner. Before I could even say anything, he grabbed my waist and pulled me into his chest.
I melted into him instantly.
His arms wrapped tight around me, strong and warm, and when his hands slid down and gave my ass a firm squeeze, I didn’t even bother complaining. His cologne wrapped around me, rich and masculine, and I inhaled it deep like it was oxygen.
Lord… I didn’t want to let him go. But I had to stay strong.
I wasn’t about to give him pussy just because he showed up looking good and smelling like money. I had real feelings and I was tired of them being tampered with. King was the second man in my life to ever be between my thighs.
“King…” I finally whispered, letting out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.
“Layloni…”
He lowered his head into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply before pressing a soft kiss there. Then another. His arms tightened around me like he never wanted to let me go.
It was something about the way he held me made my chest ache in the best way. My hands slowly wrapped around the back of his neck, pulling him even closer. For a moment we just stood there like that. Breathing each other in. All the tension we had been carrying around for days slowly melted away.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he mumbled against my neck.
My whole body stilled. Shock shot through me, but I stayed quiet. I didn’t want to break the moment.
“I’m sorry I didn’t show you sooner that I was raised better than the man I’ve been acting like,” he continued quietly. “I been carrying a lot of anger… a lot of pain. Losing my dad fucked me up more than I let people see.”
He finally released me and walked into my house, dropping onto the couch like the weight of the world was sitting on his shoulders. His head bowed as he rubbed his hand over his waves.
“I miss him every day,” he said. “Sometimes it feels like I’m losing my damn mind without him. When he died… It felt like I lost my connection to the world.”
His voice cracked slightly before he continued.
“But lately something been changing.” His eyes lifted to mine.
“That’s because of you.”
My stomach flipped. He looked at me in a way that made my heart pound harder.
“When I first saw you, you were so deep in your own world you ain’t even notice me standing there,” he said. “But when you finally looked at me… I saw the pain in your eyes. Life had been beating on you.” His voice softened.
“But even through that pain… you were still beautiful.”
I felt tears sting my eyes.
“I wanted your number that day,” he continued. “But I let it go. Figured it wasn’t my place.” He laughed lightly.
“Then I saw you walking in that damn rain… fast as hell too.” His head shook.
“I remember thinking, what kind of man lets his woman walk in the rain like that?”
My chest tightened.
“And when you told me you had a boyfriend… I ain’t even gonna lie. That made me want you more.” He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
“But then I realized … I didn’t even know how to be the man you deserved.” His eyes met mine again.
“I never loved a woman before you…except my momma.”
That confession made my breath catch.
“I kept women in rotation,” he said honestly. “They never asked for more. Just took the gifts, the dick, and kept it moving.” He paused, looking up at me with glistened eyes.
“But you…” He stood up slowly and walked toward me again.
“You changed something in me.” He confessed.
Still speechless, I moved my mouth, but nothing came out. My chest felt tight as tears slipped down my face.
“Layloni, you didn’t just save me that night.” His hand gently rested on my stomach.
“You saved me from self-destruction.” His eyes softened. “And you gave me the greatest gift a man could ask for.” He rubbed circles onto my stomach.
“Our baby.”
I could barely breathe.
“Give me another chance,” he said quietly. “Let me show you what having a real man in your life feels like.”
“King… I love you.” My voice trembled.
He lifted my chin gently.
“I love you too, Loni baby,” he whispered.
Then his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was deep… emotional… almost desperate.
Our tongues tangled as weeks of tension poured into that moment. By the time we finally broke apart, I had to step back just to breathe.
“I’m not giving you no pussy tonight,” I warned, trying to sound serious.
King laughed under his breath.
“That pussy already mine,” he teased. “But that ain’t why I came.”
“I just wanna spend the night with you. Eat. Bathe you. Rub your feet. Hold you while we sleep.”
I swallowed hard. One question still sat heavy in my chest.
“So if I stop talking to Monty… even though he just my friend… you’ll cut all of them other women off?”
King smirked slightly.
“That already been handled.”
My eyes widened.
“If you want it in writing, we can do that too,” he added. “I ain’t fucking with nobody else but you.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “And I ain’t calling you my girlfriend either.”
My nose wrinkled followed by my eyebrows creasing. King was about to be on some bullshit still.
“That sound like some high school shit,” he said.
“You gonna be my wife.” He clarified.
My heart flipped completely over in my chest. I pulled him to me in relief and just closed my eyes to bask in the moment.
I’m giving him some pussy tonight… I thought with a small smile on my face.