Chapter 9
“Stay, Pwitty,” Zakiyah whines.
Dinner is over, and Zakai didn’t let Zakiyah have any dessert because he said giving her brownies and ice cream would only keep her up half the night.
Although I’m not a parent, I understand the impact sugar has on a kid, so I didn’t interfere or attempt to sway Zakai’s decision.
But now I’m standing at the threshold of Zakiyah’s bedroom, watching Zakai’s sexy ass kneel at her bedside, attempting to get her to go to sleep.
Seeing this overly masculine man be sweet and affectionate with his daughter has my pussy thumping and purring like a newborn kitten.
“You can come over, Ziya,” Zakai says, looking at me, and I bite my lip before fully entering the room and moving in their direction.
I take a page out of Zakai’s book and kneel beside the little toddler bed that matches the Princess Tiana theme in the room.
My chest rises and falls rapidly as I stare at the cute face of the little girl who strongly resembles her father.
The little bonnet covering her head almost swallows her head as I fight not to laugh when it drops to her eyes when she shifts her position in the bed.
“Stay, Pwitty,” Zakiyah whines again, and my heart constricts.
“How about you and I say prayers, then you can get some sleep? Pretty girls like us need our beauty rest, cutie.”
“Otay. I pway wif you.” Zakiyah yawns.
The heat coming from my side reminds me of Zakai’s presence beside me as I turn to look at him for approval, direction, or even rejection of my suggestion. It didn’t occur to me until this moment that I should have probably asked him beforehand.
“I-is it okay if we pray?” I ask Zakai.
“Of course it is. Do your thing, Ziya.”
Releasing the breath that gathers in my lungs, I turn back to Zakiyah and provide her with further instructions so we can begin.
“Alright, cutie patootie. Here it goes. First, you have to close your eyes, and then I’ll start, okay?”
“Otay. I ready,” Zakiyah says, doing as I tell her, and a smile upturns my lips when her little eyes close, and she puts her hands over them.
“Repeat after me, Zakiyah: Father in Heaven. Watch over me while I sleep. Keep me safe. Keep me covered. Keep me protected. Remember Daddy and do the same for him. Amen.”
Zakiyah does her best to repeat my words with her limited comprehension, and I smile harder when she reaches the end before uncovering her eyes.
“I pway, Pwitty. Tank you,” Zakiyah says.
“You’re welcome,” I say, smiling.
“Good night, Kiki. Daddy loves you,” Zakai says before standing and helping me back to my feet.
“Luh you too, Daddy. Luh you, Pwitty,” Zakiyah replies, and my eyes balloon as my heart spins on its axis from the unexpected declaration.
Oh my—wow. Be still, my heart. This little girl is about to have me wrapped around her pinky.
“Night, Zakiyah.” The two-word response is all I’m capable of after such a staggering statement from her.
My mind reels as Zakai and I descend back down the stairs, and I pray that I haven’t done anything to step out of bounds.
This is uncharted waters for me, and I hope that it doesn’t cause Zakai to call me out on it in a negative way.
I didn’t mean any harm and simply did what felt right in the moment.
“It looks like my daughter is as smitten with you as I am, Ziya.” Zakai’s words pierce my ear canal, cutting off my thoughts as we reach the bottom level, and I stop near the front door.
“Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to overstep. My aunt would pray with me to get me to settle down enough to fall asleep when I had difficulty going to bed.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m good, and there will never be a time when prayer isn’t welcome. I need to implement more of it with Zakiyah if I’m being honest. Bedtime is perfect, and I might need you to text me the words you spoke so I can say them with her.”
A smirk slides into place, and I shake my head before responding to Zakai. “Oh no, mister. You’re gonna have to find your own words to recite in prayer. Those have been copyrighted for me only.”
“Wow. That’s cold, Ziya.” A low chuckle that vibrates against my back from Zakai’s close proximity has my humor evaporating as my core warms deliciously.
Lord, let me get out of this man’s house before I ask him for a clothes-free sleepover.
A flash of the first night Zakai and I met enters my mind, reminding me of the safety and comfort I felt while lying in his arms.
“I hate to cut our night short, but I need to get home,” I say, forcing a yawn that I don’t feel.
“Aw, man. I’m not ready for you to leave, but I understand.”
“How about we have lunch on Monday?” The question tumbles from my mouth before I can stop it.
The truth is, I’m not ready to leave Zakai either, but with the thumping happening in my core and juices flowing, it’s probably a good idea. Nevertheless, I don’t want too many days to pass before we see each other again, as I enjoy spending time with Zakai.
“Let’s do it.”
“Perfect. I’ll call you when I get home, and then we can finalize the details. I’m not sure what my day will look like and need to look at my work planner before setting an official time.”
“Sounds good. Can I kiss you before you leave?”
Ever the gentleman. Never has a man asked for permission to provide something so simple.
Wordlessly, I nod in response, and my heart rate increases when Zakai moves closer, his eyes peering into me, showcasing passion and determination.
A vaguely sensuous spark passes between us, and the prolonging anticipation is almost unbearable.
My breath hitches when Zakai’s large hand takes my face and holds it gently.
His touch is hypnotizing, and I momentarily forget to breathe or think when our eyes connect.
“Are you sure you’re good with this?” Zakai’s words are low, and all I can do is nod, because my words get lost in the verbal translation. “Then breathe, Ziya.”
I have been kissed many times, so I’m not sure why I’m reacting in this manner. But my eyes close when Zakai’s mouth moves closer to mine. The moment our lips touch, my calm is shattered by the hunger of his slow and thoughtful kiss.
“Mm.” The moan slips from the smallest space in my mouth, which gives Zakai clearance to add his tongue to the mix.
Gotdamn! The softness of Zakai’s lips and the perfect stroking of his tongue have me slightly dizzy.
Within minutes, Zakai’s tongue sends shivers of desire and longing racing through me.
I lean into the kiss, and my hands fight for somewhere to land as they grip Zakai’s shirt tightly.
My legs wobble, and my eyes flutter as I do my best to stay in the moment.
Zakai’s tongue wrestles with mine in a hypnotizing yet demanding way, like he’s trying to savor and catalog this moment.
The dizziness within me causes my mind to cloud because I have never been kissed with this much attention to detail and passion.
“Now you can leave,” Zakai says huskily after releasing me from the confines of his powerful and expert kiss.
Time stands still as I try my darndest to return to Earth while coaching my legs to become normal so I can walk out the door.
“Th-thank you.” My brain is too foggy to register anything else to say as I turn and shakily unlock the door before exiting the house without a backward glance.
It takes me several seconds to get my barriers once in my car to pull out of Zakai’s driveway. Once I’m in motion, I grab my phone and dial Jandra’s number, desperate to discuss tonight with someone who will allow me to gush without reservation.
“Hey, boo,” Jandra greets when the call connects after the third ring.
“Have you ever had a kiss so good you wanted to ascend to Heaven long enough to dap up every member of the heavenly choir and the angels in charge of overseeing your life?”
“Hold on a second,” Jandra says, before her phone shuffles and her low voice speaks to whoever I’m assuming is her husband, as her background noise changes, indicating that she’s on the move.
“Okay, we can talk freely now. What’s the tea, bitch?
A man who has you thinking about leaving your body even for a millisecond is someone I need to meet. ”
I take a minute to catch Jandra up on my budding situation with Zakai, including tonight’s events. I’m in a perpetual state of euphoria that has me singing Zakai’s praises like a parrot with an endless vocabulary.
“Well, damn. The last time I was kissed like that, I married the joker whose lips had me seeing stars. So, what’s next now that you know what his lips are capable of?”
“A lunch date. I want to spend more time with him. I didn’t expect to be smitten with another man so soon after getting out of a complicated relationship.”
“Don’t entertain that thought. Sometimes God has to move a zero so we can find our hero. Don’t overthink or analyze anything about what’s happening. Simply let whatever is going on take its natural course.”
Sighing, I release the air gathering in my lungs as my body settles for the first time since leaving Zakai’s presence. Jandra has a valid point, and I’m going to take her advice to heart.
“You’re right. I’m going to see where things go and enjoy the ride. I have a feeling Zakai is someone whose authenticity will speak for the caliber of man he is.”
“Mhm. But if not, you know Auntie Em is ready with either anointing oil or a round of bullets for his ass.” Jandra laughs, and I join in because that’s a fact my best friend and I know all too well.
“You already know. But this time might be different than the last. Nevertheless, I’m going in with an open mind and no expectations for what should or will happen.
I think that was the problem the last time.
I expected K—that man to be my forever without taking the time to go through the proper steps of courtship.
This time, if Zakai asks for more, I’m going to enjoy the thrills and frills of getting to know him without limitations. ”
“As you should. Relationships can be tricky, especially without assuming that every man will be your long-term partner. Hell, you’re already on the right track with this one simply by getting an invitation to come to his house.”
A warm smile forms at the reminder of Zakai not only inviting me to his house but cooking a delicious meal as well. With how well Zakai cooks, I wouldn’t mind breaking bread with him and Zakiyah several times a week. But I digress.
“Facts. That was a welcome surprise and one I wouldn’t mind happening again.
That man can cook his ass off. For a simple meal, it was hearty and fulfilling.
My ass can’t compete with his culinary skills, which is mainly why I invited him to lunch.
I need to leave the expertise of food to the people who are more capable than I am. ”
“Tuh. You better stop acting like you’re a slouch in the kitchen. You and I know that Auntie Em made sure you could throw down over a stove and oven.”
“She did, but Zakai has my ass intimidated.”
“Hm. Maybe your next date should be a cookoff then. Have him prepare his best dish, and you prepare yours. You could make it a double date so unbiased folks can judge and everything.”
A chuckle escapes my mouth at the suggestion because it’s almost genius, if I didn’t know my best friend so well.
“Let me guess, you want you and Landon to be the judges, huh?”
“Hell yeah. Then I can kill two birds with one stone.”
More laughter sounds as I shake my head, before I momentarily indulge Jandra and her motivation.
“How so?”
“I can meet your potential love interest and get a free meal for me and my boo. Duh. Don’t act like you don’t know me, girl.”
“Oh, I do. We’ll see. But I’m going to let you go, and we’ll catch up again soon. Love you, boo.”
“Love you too. Later, bitch.”
Once the call disconnects, I turn up the music and allow it to serve as background filler while my thoughts return to my night with Zakai.
Thinking of him has me remembering the softness of his lips and the swoon-worthy yet dizzying effects of his kiss.
I’m looking forward to seeing him again on Monday.
Hopefully, the public place will keep my thoughts PG long enough to get through our meal without stealing another kiss.