Chapter 8
When I walked out on my front porch, the last thing I expected to see was Ketai in my driveway. He had a bouquet of sunflowers and lilies in his hand while he paced back and forth, mumbling to himself. I eyed him suspiciously as I closed the distance between us.
“Stanley, what are you doing here?” I asked, tilting my head to the side. “You’re not having a nervous breakdown, are you?”
My voice made him spin around quickly. He chuckled nervously. “Oh, damn. You caught me losing my mind, huh?” I nodded slowly. “You scared?”
I tapped my chin, then shook my head. “No, I’m not scared. Maybe a little concerned though.” I raised an eyebrow at him suspiciously.
His shoulders melted when he sighed. “That’s fair. I just couldn’t think of what to say to you when you came to the door. I mean, Katana told me what to say, but I don’t think that was the route to go.”
I giggled. “What did she tell you to say?” I had a feeling it was going to be hilarious.
He handed me the flowers and shook his head before dropping his chin to his chest. “I’m sorry for being a clueless jerk.
Let me take you to get some food and eat you out in exchange for a fresh start.
” I slapped my hand over my mouth as I started cackling.
From the time I spent around Katana at his mother’s birthday party, that sounded very much like something she would tell him to say. “That was bad advice, right?”
“I mean, she was on to something with that.”
“Fuck, aight. Let’s go in the house then,” he said, reaching for my hand.
I began to laugh harder. “Wait, wait. What do you mean?”
“I’m about to eat your pussy for my second chance right now.”
I bopped him in the chest with the flowers, making him laugh. “You’re crazy,” I joked. I inhaled the flowers and smiled. “These are beautiful. Thank you.”
He nodded once and blessed me with his smile. “You’re welcome. Were you on your way out, or you saw me out here, geeking?”
I giggled. “Yeah, I was about to go watch the sunset at my favorite spot.”
He rocked back on his toes before looking up at the sky. “Okay, cool. Since I can’t eat your pussy, can I go with you?”
I hummed, loving the thought of feeling him slurping me up again. “If you come with me, you just might end up doing that anyway,” I warned him.
He nodded once. “Okay, bet. Let’s go, baby.”
Hearing that word on his lips made me pause, but only for a second. He started walking to his car parked on the curb. “Oh, no, sir. We are not taking the bat mobile. I’m driving.”
He eyed my car suspiciously. “Is it safe?”
I flipped him off before unlocking the doors. I went to reach for the handle, but he popped me. “Ouch!” I fussed, snatching my hand away. I stepped back to allow him to open my door for me.
“Well, don’t touch doors around me, and you won’t get popped.”
I smirked. “Hm, okay, and what else can I get popped for?”
He leaned down so we were face-to-face. “Insubordination.”
“Good to know. Come on and hop in. We’re on a time clock. The sun sets in like twenty minutes.”
He closed me in before rushing around to the passenger side.
Once he was safely inside, I started up and backed out of my driveway.
My phone automatically connected to the car, and my Golden Hour playlist began to play.
Ketai took the first minute to adjust the seat to his liking.
He was so tall that he had to push the seat as far back as it would go.
I happened to glance over at Tai, and he looked so fine lying back in the passenger seat. Thump! I accidentally clipped the curb, cutting it too close. “Oops,” I giggled when he glared at me.
“Talking about some oops. See. At least I don’t hit shit when I drive.”
I chuckled. “Whatever, boy. Tell me why you showed up at my house.”
He began pulling at the hairs on his goatee. “I wanted a second chance to assure you that I only have the best intentions in my pursuit of you. I don’t know what you’ve been through with other men, but I want to let it be known that I am dating for marriage, no play-play shit.”
Suddenly, I was in need of a snack because my nerves were super active. I gripped the steering wheel before turning to look at him. “Girl, don’t be looking at me. Keep your eyes on the damn road.”
I quickly snapped my attention back to the road and ended up running a red light. I made a face, hoping he didn’t notice, but when I saw him shaking his head out of my peripheral, I knew he had. He was totally over there judging me about it too.
“You’re the first man to ever be clear with me like this, and I appreciate it.”
“I can be the first man to do a lot more if you give me the opportunity.”
Thankfully, we made it to the lookout spot I found. It was my favorite place to watch the sunset because no one else would be around. It felt like it was just me and God’s artwork when I was up there. I backed into my usual spot, then shut the car off.
I was antsy while I waited for Ketai to open my door for me.
The fresh air was much needed when he opened the door and helped me out.
We walked around to my trunk. I got ready to jump up, but he beat me to the punch by lifting me up as if I weighed nothing and plopping me down in place.
My heart started to beat faster when he came to stand between my legs. I couldn’t draw my eyes away from him.
“Hey,” he whispered. His hands began massaging my thighs before he gripped them tighter. “Don’t think that I didn’t notice you ain’t give me any kind of response.”
I cleared my throat because my heart was basically in it. “A response about what?”
“My intentions. Are you trying to see if there’s something here, or would you rather entertain all them thirsty niggas in your comments?”
My head jerked back. “You been stalking my socials?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Just checking out the competition.”
“And?”
“And I ain’t find none, so what’s up, baby?”
I couldn’t fight the urge anymore. Lifting my hand, I stroked my fingers through his goatee.
It was soft just like I imagined it would be.
“Okay,” I mumbled with a soft smile. He was being so clear with me, and if I was honest, I’d never felt so safe with a man than I did with Ketai.
“But if, at any point, you feel like I’m not the woman for you, then please just let me know.
Don’t drag it out in an attempt to spare my feelings.
I will always choose honesty over that.”
He nodded once. “Can I kiss you now? You know, to prove I mean business?”
I giggled. “Yes, you can seal the deal.”
I barely had the words fully out before his lips crashed into mine. It sucked all the air from my lungs and replaced it with a golden warmth. We melted into one another, and somehow, the kiss that started off soft and gentle turned into something feverish and hungry for more.
Ketai slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I sucked on it like the little slut I was. The moan he released sent shivers down my spine and made me pull him deeper into me. Ketai stepped back, creating distance between us with a laugh.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he teased. I buried my face in my hands, but they were pulled down by him. “Don’t hide from me.”
He came closer, but this time, it was truly for an embrace that silenced the chatter in my mind. I inhaled his oud scent and melted deeper into the hug. When I opened my eyes, the sun setting in the distance was all I could see.
“I love sunset. It’s literally my favorite time of the day,” I shared with him. “I want to get engaged and married at sunset. Hell, I want to do everything at sunset.”
He released me, only to turn around and see what I could. “Oh yeah? What’s so special about sunsets to you?”
I leaned forward to rest my chin on his shoulder.
“I mean, for one, they are so beautiful, and no two sunsets are the same. Most people look forward to the sun rising, but I look forward to the sun setting because it means the day is ending. I like endings. In order for something to begin, something has to end.”
I could feel his cheeks lift when he smiled. “I like the way you think.”
I chuckled. “That’s a mutual feeling.”
“I’m looking forward to watching more sunsets with you,” Ketai said before we fell into a comfortable silence to watch the show.
I could feel something new beginning between us, and instead of allowing my fear to have dominion over my future, I stomped it out.
Only hope and faith could live here for the time being.
As Ketai intertwined our fingers, then wrapped them around him, I knew there was nowhere else I wanted to be right then.
Right there on the ledge with him was perfect. It was enough.