Chapter 5
FIVE
All day long, she’d avoided common areas and ducked off in one of the rooms on the far right wing of my home.
When I’d gone to check up on her before lunch, the room where I’d left her things was completely empty.
I figured she preferred another. Instead of disturbing her by knocking on each door until I found the one she was behind, I headed for the gym.
It wasn’t until the smell of dinner crept underneath the door and polluted the air did I realize she’d come from under whatever rock she’d been underneath.
With my final set and a shower at the top of my dome, I counted down the mere seconds until I’d be standing near her, again, preparing to murder every crumb she put on my plate.
It wasn’t a secret that Kit could throw down.
And the sooner I was done with the set that I was halfway through, the sooner I would discover what was on the menu for the night.
By email, I’d shared with her the personalized diet my nutritionist had curated for me this season.
It was heavy on the protein, a good balance of vitamins, low calories, and practically no sodium if I could help it.
Coupled with my complete gym regime, I’d still be in tip-top shape when this was all over.
Not that I’m in a rush or nothing.
A slight chuckle followed the grunt of my pullup.
I couldn’t help but chastise myself for the brief lapse in common sense.
Of course I wanted this all to be over as soon as possible, but the creamed, coffee-skinned beauty in my kitchen making dinner fit for a king had me reconsidering how quickly I wanted this all to be over.
“Urgh.” I pulled up for the fiftieth and final time. My muscles ached while my body bathed in its own sweat.
She’s gorgeous, I reasoned.
Even in her discomfort, there was something so magnetic about her that I found it extremely difficult to part ways. The previous night at her place, leaving on such unpleasant notice, had weighed heavily on me until she knocked at my door hours later.
After breakfast, it took some coaxing and restraint not to ask her to stay down a while longer and talk to me.
About anything. About nothing. Just something other than going into hiding for the duration of the day when there was so much to be done around the house…
so many crevices I hadn’t experienced and wouldn’t mind doing so with her.
Not being much of a vocalist myself, it left me with a vicious appetite for her words.
And, her voice. With its sultry rasp that matched her sun-kissed complexion and the seriousness of her personality, I was starving for a taste of her reality.
But, getting to know the real Kit had already proven to be difficult from the brick wall she’d built between us before we’d ever even had the pleasure of meeting.
“Fuck,” I spat, lowering my upper body until my elbows were at my knees.
Sweat poured from my forehead, and I stretched a bit further to retrieve the jug of water that was nearly gone.
If nothing else, it was one of the most important pieces of my diet.
Staying hydrated by drinking a gallon or more of water each day.
It kept me pissing, but it made me feel one hundred times better than I would if it wasn’t there.
I killed the remainder of the jug and made a mental note to refill it. Rick Ross continued to massage the folds of my mind with his simplistic, boss-influenced rhymes. Listening to this nigga always left me confused.
I wasn’t sure if I was ready to go knock some balls out of the park or push some weight through the ports. Nevertheless, I was highly motivated, which is why I preferred listening to his tracks over other cats in the gym.
Conscious of my houseguest, I picked up the white shirt I’d worn into the gym along with the paper remnants of the protein bar that I’d had before my workout started. The last thing I wanted was Kit feeling as if she needed to pick up after me every few minutes.
I was accustomed to keeping a tidy house. My mother hadn’t raised a fool. It was laundry, cooking, and keeping myself company that I had issues with, which is why I’d laced Kit’s account to assist me in those areas.
I gathered my belongings and pushed my tired legs toward the exit. I couldn’t help but to gaze at them as they led me out of the door of the gym, wondering if they’d turned to noodles after the intensity of the workout I’d just completed. To my surprise, they weren’t.
Fuck.
Before I had a chance to react to the impending collision, it was already happening. Kit’s curls bounced uncontrollably as she fought to save the fresh towels that were stacked in her hands. Her battle became mine as we wrestled with the air to keep them fresh and off the floor.
We twiddled with the silence after the threat had been neutralized. I waited for something to fall from her lips. Anything would suffice. She searched for them. Searched for her words. I could see the internal struggle through her pretty brown eyes.
“Sorry.” Finally, she settled with the white towels still stacked neatly on her palms.
“I’m sorry,” I admitted. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s fine. I guess I could’ve announced my presence. Just wanted to make sure there was clean linen in the gym, being that it’s where you’ll be spending the majority of your time.”
“Appreciate that.”
“Dinner will be served in twenty minutes.” She ruffled the ringlets of her hair.
“I’ll be down in fifteen,” I assured the damsel in unnecessary distress.
“Well - uh. I’ll see you in a few.”
Kit bolted into the gym. She’d sped off so fast that I assumed she would drop the towels that I’d just saved. I watched as she successfully made it inside and to the towel bar where she laid them down gently.
When she turned around, I noticed my eyes hadn’t left her and I was technically staring. But as she stared back with the softness only she could pull off with such grace, I didn’t feel the need to break contact.
But, I did. Unwillingly, I did because the sound of my cell ringing through my earbuds forced me to.
As if the airpods would somehow fall suddenly, I secured the right one in my ear with my index and middle fingers before answering.
“What’s up, Ferg?”
I could feel her eyes still on me as I started down the hall for the stairs. And, for the life of me, I couldn’t leave without acknowledging her lingering gaze. I wanted–needed, her to know that I was aware of her piqued curiosity and that she wasn’t alone.
So, slowly, I peered over my shoulder in her direction. She hadn’t expected it. I could see the thick lump in her throat as it descended. Her eyes followed suit, dropping as they were met with mine again. When I felt as if she’d gotten my point, I released her from my grasp.
“What were you saying, nigga?”
I hadn’t heard anything my brother had said. My attention had faltered even before I had greeted him when I’d answered. Now that he was out of breath from talking as fast as he did, I wanted him to repeat himself. I’d missed everything.
“I’m not saying all of that shit over, dog. But in short, I said, nigga they want us to stay in the house and shit. I’m about to come over there,” Ferg was certain of his decision as he revealed it.
“Bullshit,” I replied, calmly as I continued through the house to the stairs.
“What? We both know you need some fucking company. It might as well be me. It ain’t like you got no bitches.”
“You’re right about everything you just said, but it’s not you that I need as my company. In fact, I’ve already taken care of that. I’m in very good company, Ferg.
“Is there anything else that you need right now? Because if not, I’m about to hop in the shower. I just had a very intense workout and need to wipe the sweat off my balls before dinner is served.”
“Dinner? You can’t even cook.”
“Right, again. That’s why I have company. She’s responsible for all the domestic shit. My job is to stay in the gym, eat, and get good rest.”
“Ahhhhh. I see. Your assistant at your crib? You finally going to fuck or pass her to your dog?”
“Ferg, I’m not interested in having sex with my assistant, and I don’t really care if you do. Not that you need my permission, anyway.
“She’s a grown woman, and you can’t keep your dick to yourself. But, that’s not who’s here. It’s not your business who is. Just stay inside, and stay safe.”
“You’re bogus for holding out on me, but it’s cool. I’ll find out from Pops. You can’t keep shit from that nigga.”
“Never have, never will. Talking to pops is what keeps me on the straight and narrow. Maybe you should try it.”
There was silence on the line. I looked at my cell and chuckled. Of course Ferg had ended the call. He didn’t want to hear another lecture, but I was very close to giving him one.
By the time the call ended with my brother, I’d made it to the stairs. Although I loved how spacious my home was, it was hell getting from one place to another. The walk from the gym to my bedroom seemed as if it took forever.
Once finally in the comfort of my own space, I stripped down to my briefs. The threads that I wore were drenched in sweat. Sweat that let me know I was doing something besides sitting my ass around the house. It wasn’t an option.
Half naked, I stepped into the bathroom. The tiles on the floor chilled my body, cooling me upon contact. The wall length mirror put me to shame.
Though I’d felt the knotted bulge in my briefs, I had avoided it with my eyes. Kit. She made my dick rise to the occasion and try breaking free of my threads. But, I wouldn’t let it.
Besides, she wasn’t ready to admit that she, too, fancied the idea of removing boundaries and seeing where that got us. My job wasn’t to force her to admit that shit either. A patient nigga, I was willing to wait her out.
We had nothing but time, and from the way that she couldn’t keep her eyes to herself downstairs, I knew that it wouldn’t be very long.
When I made it to the shower, I tapped the number one on the dialpad to initiate the first setting. A lukewarm shower. After every workout, it’s what I always preferred. It was the closest to an ice bath that I’d get, and it worked wonders for my muscles.
My briefs were the last thing to fall to the floor.
I checked the towel rack for fresh towels before stepping into the shower.
Kit had also replenished the stack. I grabbed a fluffy white towel and a face towel to match.
I hung the larger towel on the hook beside the shower and brought the smaller one along with me.
“We meet again.” I smiled as I made my way to the dinner table to join Kit who was already sitting down and waiting.
Again, she’d prepared a meal fit for a king.
However, I hardly paid her hard work in the kitchen any attention because I was too focused on her.
I hadn’t considered the fact that it got any better than what I’d seen of her since visiting her home, but as I watched her watch me with her brown eyes, I chastised myself for not doing so.
She was stunning, the orange hues of her skin hidden underneath her makeup, but still visible enough. Her hair was in large ringlets that framed her face so perfectly. On her lips was a burgundy color that made her eyes pop just a bit more.
Her cheeks were rosy, but not from her true feelings this time. It was an enhancement. The makeup she wore so effortlessly was to blame.
On her body was the prettiest camel-colored skirt and top to match.
Because she was seated, I couldn’t detail her skirt, but the top she wore was looped and zig zagged and squeezing her upper half perfectly.
My dick hardened at the thought of enjoying the fruit that lined the table from between her breasts as we enjoyed a day by the pool.
“Have a seat,” she demanded, extending her arm to show me the seat she was referring to as if I didn’t know.
It’s my home. I wanted to tell her that, but I had a feeling she wouldn’t listen. She’d been here more often than I had. I was sure she knew more about it than I did.
As I had a seat at the far end of the table, I watched her raise the wide-mouth wine glass to her lips, wishing it was me.
Chill. I couldn’t help myself. Kit had my head, both of them, in overdrive. She did nothing at all, yet so much to me.
I finally noticed the already prepared plate before me once I’d finally sat.
She placed the wine glass on the table and cleared her throat.
When I realized her head was bowing, I followed suit and bowed mine, too.
With one eye open, I watched as she began to pray, silently.
Feeling like a fool, I closed both eyes and began a short one of my own.
Lord, bless this food and bless me with the woman that prepared it. Please. Amen.
I rushed out. We opened our eyes simultaneously and began to consume the meal that she’d prepared.
“All you eat is fruit?” I couldn’t help but ask, noticing her plate was stacked with them, again.
“And veggies,” she added, forking the zucchini.
“Right,” I agreed with a nod.
“I’m not into meat or anything remotely close that was derived from the cruelty or killing of animals. Not everything is off limits, but 95% of it is,” she clarified. “How’s the chicken?”
I’d never felt the immense amount of guilt that I did after looking down at my plate and noticing the baked chicken on it. I ate much of it for protein and to keep me feeling full long after I’d consumed my meal. And, for other reasons my nutritionist could reveal, but it stopped there for me.
“I haven’t tried it yet, but your guilt trip won’t stop me from enjoying it. Nice try.” I chuckled slightly. “I’m sure it’s amazing. I know the chef personally.”
“Professionally,” she added, reducing my claim to nearly nothing.
Slowly, I nodded. “Understood.”
Her eyes softened after noticing the defeat in mine. I tucked away the rest of my words and picked up the knife in front of me. Silently, I cut into the chicken and began to prepare myself mentally for the quiet dinner ahead of us.