Chapter 17 #3
“Ugh! Just go. All I need is for you parents to think I’m easy,” she says, sounding irrational, but he hides his amusement as he steps over and kisses her lips softly.
“They’re not going to think shit. I promise. Besides, that might be Axton,” he says before walking out of the bedroom.
The last thing she wants to do is waltz down those stairs looking flushed and sexually charged. Without haste, she jumps off the bed and dashes into the bathroom, tying her hair up in a high pony, turning on the shower, and taking the world’s fastest shower.
As she gets herself together, Akeem opens the door and greets his parents. Anxious to see her sons and grandson, his mother Debrah changed their flight late last night and urged her husband Ahmad to rent a car as soon as they landed three hours ahead of their original flight.
“You’re early,” Akeem says, truly surprised when he opens the door.
“Does that matter? Just give your mother a hug,” his mom says, beaming.
When he pulls her into him, she sighs in utter joy.
She hasn’t seen Akeem or hugged him in almost three months.
He’s her baby and the one she worries about most. He’s been unsettled and on the move constantly since his divorce, which has her praying nightly that he’ll still and find comfort in the quiet of settling down.
Although he ends the embrace, she grabs his hand, holding on a little longer. He leans in and plants a kiss on her forehead.
“Let me go check on Dad. I know you packed too many bags,” he teases.
“I packed enough, plus I brought my beans and sausage.”
“For what?” he asks, although he already knows the answer.
“For my grandson. He asked me to make red beans and fried fish tomorrow. I figure you can get the fish from the market.”
“I’ll find the fish.”
When he turns to walk out of the door, she calls out in a hushed tone, “Where is she? She’s staying here with us this weekend, right?”
“Her name is Sunjiya, and yeah, she’s upstairs. She’ll be down in a minute,” he assures his mother and she smiles.
When Akeem exits, in true Debrah fashion, she takes herself on a tour of their home for the weekend. She was drawn in the minute Ahmad pulled into the circular driveway. This home makes a statement and the open-concept inside invites connection and comfort.
From the foyer, she ventures into the living room, which features plush seating and a large, mounted television. She smiles, knowing her husband will spend a lot of time in front of the TV. Back home, they only have two, neither is as large as this.
Just beyond the living room, a gorgeous dining area centering around a stunning glass table, was perfect for the meal she’d prepare for Quise tomorrow.
The area is beautifully decorated like the living room.
In fact, every space feels artfully composed, blending clean contemporary lines with bold design elements and stunning artwork throughout, even the sleek, fully equipped kitchen.
It’s enormous and stocked with all the essentials and appliances.
Outside the kitchen is a small bar and smaller dining room.
Further down are two bedrooms, another primary suite, and the guest bedroom.
She mentally claims the primary for her and her husband and assigns the guestroom to Axton.
Right when she walks toward the glass door leading to the expansive patio and sparkling pool, she hears Akeem and Ahmad and abandons her mission. She joins them in the living room.
“We’re going to take the big bedroom down the hall and your brother can have the other. I don’t want him having to learn the stairs,” she says, sounding too concerned for Axton.
“He is fine with stairs,” Akeem counters and his dad nods in agreement.
“Right. He’s got stairs at his home. He can take the bedroom down here, and if Quise wants to stay, he can get the one upstairs. You said there’s four, right?” she asks Akeem.
“Yeah, it’s four. But let Axton decide when he gets here,” Akeem suggests before taking her two large suitcases and his dad’s duffle to the room.
When he walks out, his dad is comfortable in the leather recliner in the living room and his mom is fully checking out the kitchen. The fridge and pantry have a few items because Sunjiya placed a delivery order as soon as they got up this morning.
“Is she asleep?” his mom asks impatiently. She’s dying to meet the lady who has her son all wrapped up. While he’s dated a few women since the divorce, she hasn’t met any of them. She has high hopes for Sunjiya.
“Let me go check,” he responds.
“Please,” she says while grinning from ear to ear.
“Why you smiling so damn hard?” he teases.
“Because I’m happy. I’m with my favorite son. My grandbaby is going to homecoming tonight and I’m about to meet the new lady in your life. Let me be happy.”
“I’ll let you have that but we both know Axton is the favorite,” he says before walking out.
“Whoever’s in front of me is my favorite,” she utters before reopening the fridge to put away her packs of sausage and frozen trinity mix.
She places the rice and beans in the pantry next.
After grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge, she joins her husband in the living room. “You hungry yet, honey?” she asks.
“I’m getting there.”
“There’s a few items in there. I can fix you a sandwich to hold you until Axton comes. I’m thinking we can take Quise to lunch or something before the dance.”
“What kind of sandwich?”
“Turkey or ham. There’s both. She must have went shopping because you know your son didn’t,” she says with a grin.
“You just behave when they come down here,” he warns playfully.
While rubbing his leg, she smiles and says, “I always behave, honey.”
Upstairs, Sunjiya is fully dressed and refreshed, trying to keep Akeem’s hands and lips off her. “Stop kissing me. You’re going to mess up my lipstick,” she says giddily.
“You got more,” he says before kissing her again.
When she feels herself sinking into him, she reluctantly pulls back and places her hand on his chest. “Akeem, come on. You’re not playing fair. I need to go down there looking presentable,” she says sternly.
“You look beautiful. I’m just trying to kiss you, that’s all. But if you want me to stop, I can. I’ll just kiss you down there.”
“I swear to God you will not. You’re not touching me in front of them or while they are in this house,” she asserts and he squints incredulously.
“Oh, that’s a lie,” he assures her before grabbing her hand.
He steps forward, eliminating the small distance between him.
One hand migrates to her ass and the other lands behind her neck.
He lightly tugs her hair and she lifts her head to meet his gaze.
“I’m touching, sucking, licking, and fucking you all weekend.
No way I can be near you and not. Plus, my mom has sons; she knows what’s up,” he tells her and her beautiful eyes get big as hell.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means just what I said,” he says smugly before licking the side of her neck.
“I’m sleeping in the spare room,” she announces with faux conviction because she knows she cannot resist him. At all.
“A’ight,” he says and offers a nod. “We’ll see later, but let’s go down. My mom is waiting on you.”
“Do I look okay? This dress isn’t too tight, is it?” she asks as a surge of anxious energy penetrates her entire being, causing her words to spurt out and her hands to brush down her sides. God, I really like him. Let his family approve.
“I told you, bae. You look gorgeous. Your lipstick is still on and perfect and the dress looks amazing. They are going to love you, and even if they don’t, that won’t change how I feel about you. It’s me and you; so focus on that,” he tells her and she nods slowly, taking his words in.
“Me and you,” she repeats, then smiles. Me and him. After leaning up on the balls of her toes, she kisses him slowly and tenderly then says, “I’m ready.”
She heads to the bedroom door and he follows. Together, they walk down the hall then descend the floating stairs. Debrah spots them as they come down and her welcoming and excited smile spreads.
“Mom, Dad, this is Sunjiya.” Akeem says as soon as they are in the living room. “Bae, this is my mom, De—”
“Debrah,” his mom interrupts, then stands. “I’m Debrah and that’s my husband Ahmad. I’m from Texas; we hug,” she says, then steps toward Sunjiya and pulls her in for a warm embrace. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
“Me too. I have so many questions about Akeem,” Sunjiya says, feeling instantly comfortable with Debrah.
“And I have all the answers. Come with me in this kitchen so we can talk.”
“Dad, get yo’ wife,” Akeem half jokes when Sunjiya walks hand in hand with his mom to the kitchen.
“Nah, I want a sandwich. I’m not causing no trouble that might stop my sandwich from getting made.”