Chapter 21 #2
Imanio’s eyes locked onto mine for a brief moment, then dropped toward the floor again.
They lingered there for a second that stretched uncomfortably long.
Every contour of his muscles was visible, a subtle reminder of the work he put in at the gym.
His veins snaked their way across his forearms. Tattoos etched into his skin curled up one bicep and faded under the collar, whispering secrets that probably only a handful of people had ever been close enough to uncover.
The air around him pulsed with a mix of confidence and mystery, drawing me in as I tried to decipher the layers beneath his exterior.
His gray sweatpants sat low on his hips, the waistband casually twisted—as if he had thrown them on in a rush—but the way they hung left little to the imagination. The outline of his dick made heat flicker in my core before I could suppress it.
He wore jewelry: a thick gold chain around his neck and a single diamond stud that caught my eye every time he moved.
Imanio rarely wore accessories like that around me.
It made him look sharper, more dangerous—like the version of him I always tried not to picture when I closed my eyes at night.
But that night, he was standing right in front of me, and I was wide awake.
Imanio's brows furrowed as if confused by his own reaction, and he tilted his head slightly.
“Damn,” he muttered under his breath, barely audible. But I caught it.
My hands instinctively smoothed the front of my tank, even though there was nothing to fix.
“You look… comfortable,” he said finally, his voice thick like it had traveled through gravel.
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, suddenly very aware of the strand that had fallen on purpose.
“It’s just l-loungewear,” I mumbled, trying to act unfazed. “Not like I’m going anywhere.”
“You look like trouble,” he murmured, then cleared his throat and looked away like he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. My body was buzzing a little.
Maybe it was the lotion. Maybe it was him. Probably both.
Imanio ran a hand across his jaw, his eyes doing one last sweep.
“Aight. Let’s go, before I change the whole agenda.”
That made my heart do a weird thing.
“Change it h-how?” I asked, almost like I couldn’t help myself.
“Come on, Naji.”
Imanio didn’t repeat himself, so I just followed him through the hallway, still a little unsure but oddly excited. When we reached the room, he opened the door, and my mouth dropped open in surprise.
I didn’t know what I was expecting—but it wasn’t that .
The theater room was dimly lit, with a soft golden glow emanating from strategically placed lights beneath the plush recliners. The recliners, upholstered in rich burgundy fabric, were arranged in a slight arc to face the enormous, curved screen, which dominated the front wall of the room.
On a side table, a lavish tray of snacks was laid out, showcasing an enticing array of treats—fluffy popcorn in glass bowls, chips in vibrant packaging, tangy sour gummies, M he just welcomed me.
As the opening credits rolled for the first movie, something familiar and creepy, I settled in—and for the first time in a while, I forgot how complicated my life was.
Halfway through the second movie, a jump scare hit hard. I shrieked, flailed—then somehow launched myself straight onto Imanio’s lap.
My hand pressed against his chest, his palm on my thigh.
We locked eyes. We were close… way too close.
Then I did something even I didn’t expect—I kissed him.
It was a quick, gentle moment, but there was a hunger in it that surprised us both. His lips were soft, warm against mine, sending a rush of electricity through me.
I pulled back suddenly, gasping as if I had just woken from a dream, my heart racing.
"I—sorry! I don’t… that just—get off my lips, demon!”
The words spilled from my mouth like a sharp slap, unexpected and raw. My fingers flexed nervously, fluttering against my chest as though they were trying to brush away a swarm of angry bees. My shoulder jerked once and then again—tight little stutters I couldn’t stop.
Imanio shook his head slowly, a thoughtful gesture rather than one of frustration.
“That wasn’t meant for you,” I rushed to explain, my voice still trembling with breathlessness. “It just happens sometimes, especially when my emotions become overwhelming—when everything gets... real.”
“Naji, it’s cool… I get it,” he assured.
The room fell quiet again, our attention wavering back to the movie flickering on the screen, though neither of us was really watching it anymore. The weight of the moment lingered in the air between us, charged and almost tangible.
As the credits rolled and the screen faded to black, I rose from my seat, stretching my arms overhead to relieve the tension that had built up during the film.
Imanio cleared his throat, drawing my attention.
“Question,” he began, hesitating for a moment, as if the words were heavy on his tongue. “How would you feel about… moving into my room?”
I paused mid-stretch, my heart skipping a beat. The unexpectedness of his proposal caught me off guard.
My head jerked and hands twitched as the words flew out of me.
“Somebody hide the remote before I hump it!”
“Like… you mean us s-sleeping together? In the same bed?”
I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but the possibility sent a flutter of excitement through me.
“I mean, yeah, but only if you want. You’d still have your own space and all that. I’m just… trying to get you options.”
I didn’t answer right away.
“I’ll… I’ll think about it,” I replied, stepping toward the door. “Goodnight, Imanio.”
“Night, Naji.”
As I walked back to my room, I didn’t know if it was the warmth from the blanket, the snacks, or the man behind it all—but I felt… happy. Like maybe, just maybe, Imanio was finally starting to come around. And that alone was enough to make me smile.