Chapter 22
Two Weeks Later
Truce was leaving in the morning.
This time, there was no anticipated date of his return.
I was happy but conflicted—happy because I was back home with my family and because Scottlyn was doing well with her grandmother and aunt.
I was conflicted because, although Truce made everything feel so easy and worry-free, it wasn’t.
The lingering darkness of my past relationship still hung over me like a dark cloud.
And then there were other conflicting feelings: I was developing deep feelings for my child’s father's brother.
None of this was okay, but with Truce, it felt so right, even though it was wrong.
Over the past six weeks, this man had done so much for me.
He’d made me feel as if I had nothing to worry about.
I hated how needy I was feeling, and he hadn’t even left yet.
The way he had been fucking me and catering to me had my head reeling.
I didn’t want to fall for Truce, but he wasn’t making it easy not to.
I was trying to find something wrong with him. He was just too perfect not to have a secret flaw or two. I found myself listening in on his phone conversations just to see if he had secret bitches or secret men calling his phone.
Nothing. I heard and found absolutely nothing besides a bunch of work-related phone calls and calls from his family.
As I lay awake in his bed while he was in his office preparing for his departure in the morning, I knew this was something that needed to happen. I couldn’t fall for Truce even though every part of me wanted to succumb to the desires of my heart.
Who’s to say he even saw me as a love interest? It was easy to feel like that when having intense sex, but what about what happens after?
Who the fuck was I kidding? Truce wanted me just as much as I wanted him.
I tossed the blankets to the side and slipped my feet into my slippers.
I left the bedroom and walked down to Scottlyn’s room to peek in on her.
Truce had the room completely transformed into a toddler’s haven.
Her gifts from her birthday were littered around the room.
Truce had also bought her a heap of shit since we’ve been here.
When I saw her lying peacefully asleep in her bed, I pulled the door back closed, and headed down the hall to Truce’s office. It was only ten o’clock, and I couldn’t sleep because my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about my situation between two brothers.
I tapped on the door and waited.
“Come in.”
I pushed the door open and poked my head inside. He was sitting on a stool with a big drawing pad on an easel. His hair was pulled back, and he wore glasses, looking like a sexy-ass nerd as he looked up at me and smiled.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Can’t sleep…”
“Come here.”
I closed the door and moved over to him.
He pulled me in by my waist and kissed my forehead. “Stop doing all that worrying, Empress. You’re going to see me again. I low-key been in my feelings about leaving y’all too. And here you come making it worse.”
We both laughed which was perfect because I felt like I wanted to cry.
“I can’t help it, Truce. I just—I don’t know.”
“Talk to me, baby.”
“What if you run into Damien? You said he threatened to hurt you, Truce. What if—”
“Aye, look at me.” He waited until my eyes met his. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You don’t know that. Damien is crazy.”
“He’s not that crazy, J. I ain’t worried about him. It’s you that he’s really trying to harm, but I’m going to be sure he never does. That’s what those six big niggas I hired are for. I don’t want you to worry about shit. Okay?” I nodded. “What else is on your mind?”
“Us. Or rather what’s happening between us. I feel myself falling for you. I don’t know if it’s because I’m having hero syndrome or if my feelings for you are real.”
“You don’t think they’re real?”
“I feel like they are… I’m just conflicted because liking you is wrong, but it feels right.”
“It’s not wrong, Jela. I want you to start erasing thoughts of my brother from your system. If you want this with me, be as bold as you are when you’re fucking me. I’m telling you right now… there is nothing that’s going to make me stop fucking with you. The moment I saw your face, I was hooked.
“The kiss at the arcade sealed it. I wanted you for myself because I knew my brother was doing you dirty just by looking into your eyes. Whatever is happening between us, I want it. I just hope that you want the same.”
“I do.”
“Then be my lady. Let me lead you to that place where love is the only goal for us.” I wrapped my arms around him and brought his lips to mine.
Our tongues explored each other's mouths as he lifted me and placed me on his desk.
He slipped my silk nightie over my head while I pushed at his joggers.
His dick sprang out, and I grabbed it, stroking it until it was rock hard.
Climbing from the desk, I turned around and bent over, soon feeling Truce guide himself inside of me.
My eyes closed, feeling a sweet vibration course through me.
“Shit,” he groaned, grabbing my hips and thrusting forward.
“Mmmmm,” I moaned.
“That’s right, mama. Throw that pussy back at me.”
“Like this?” I asked, throwing it back at him.
“Just like that, baby. Mmhmm, that arch is perfection.”
“Shit, Truce… Damn,” I moaned, almost on my tiptoes. I couldn’t stop the tears resting in my eyelids; I was overstimulated in the best way. His dick was so good, I wanted him to live inside of me.
“Uh un, don’t run, mama. Give me all that. You’re doing so good, baby. You gon’ miss me, Jela?”
“Yessss.”
“I’ma miss you too, baby. Come here.”
He lifted the top half of my body and turned my head, driving his tongue into my mouth. He pinched my right nipple, then the left one, before running his fingers down my abdomen to my pussy and rubbing my clit. His touch caused my body to overreact, and I entered a state of euphoria.
“Truce…”
“Yeah, baby.”
“I’m about to cum.”
“Me too. Shit, Jela.” He pumped a few more times before he pulled out of me, smearing his cum on my ass while my essence ran down my thighs as my body vibrated fiercely.
There was no turning back.
I was officially in love with this man.
Truce kissed up my back as his hands rubbed me down while I lay sprawled across his desk.
He lifted me from the hardwood mahogany desk, and I wrapped my legs around him once he turned me around and picked me up.
Lying my head on his broad shoulder while kissing his neck, I thought of nothing else except how this man made me feel.
He walked us to the bedroom, led us into the en suite bathroom, and started the shower.
Once we were all cleaned up, he dried us off, then carried me to the bedroom and got in bed, spooning me.
My eyes instantly became heavy from being in his warm embrace.
I didn’t know what was next for Truce and me.
All I knew was that I was all in now and prayerfully… forever.
It was nine-thirty in the morning when Scottlyn decided that she was done resting and began screaming for me to get her.
I rolled over in bed, hearing the shower going, and knew that Truce was preparing to leave us.
I hurriedly got out of bed, put on my robe, and went to get out of her room.
When I entered, she was hanging off the side of her crib, screaming because she had somehow gotten herself stuck to the bedpost.
“Oh my God, Scottie Pie! What in the world are you doing?” I rushed over to her, detached her sleeper, and hoisted her on my hip while laughing. “Your little butt was doing too much. You’re not old enough to reach the floor yet.” I kissed her chunky cheeks.
“Ma-Ma, ish per no.”
Whatever you just said, baby.
“Okay, baby. You ready to eat?”
“Eat.”
“Let’s go get you some food, mamas.”
Not me picking up his damn lingo.
I chuckled to myself as we left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
I placed her in her high chair and gave her some watermelon until her oatmeal was done.
I turned on some music to try to settle my thoughts about Truce leaving and began cooking us breakfast. Twenty minutes later, I was packing up Truce’s breakfast to-go and filling his thermos with fresh coffee.
A few minutes later, Truce walked into the kitchen, dressed in a simple white T-shirt, blue jeans, Timberland construction boots, and a hoodie with his company’s logo on it.
“Good morning, my beautiful ladies.” He walked over, kissed Scottlyn on her cheek, then came over to me. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he kissed up and down my neck.
“Good morning,” I replied.
He placed his hand on my neck and leaned my head back, planting a kiss on my lips. “I want you to have a good day, Jela. Clear your mind and know that I’m coming back for you soon.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” He kissed me again, and I handed him the Tupperware with his breakfast sandwich inside and his thermos.
“Let us walk you out.” I tried to take Scottlyn from her high chair and almost got a black eye.
“Uh!” She then reached for Truce.
I rolled my eyes as he laughed. “Chunks, we gon’ have to talk about your behavior toward your mama. You’re suppose to love me most.”
He lifted her from her chair, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Talk,” she repeated.
He chuckled again. “Yeah, talk.”
“Scottie Pie, you do know he’s leaving, so you’re stuck with me, little girl.”
She ignored me while we left the kitchen and walked him to the door.
“I left a credit card on the nightstand and a little cash. If you need anything, you know how to reach me.” He handed Scottlyn over to me after kissing her cheek. He lifted his bag from the floor, then leaned down and kissed my lips. “I’ll see you soon, mama.”
“See you.”