Chapter Twenty
Ayesha winced as shesat on King’s lap. He raised a brow. “Something wrong, love?”
He called her many things but hearing him call her ‘Love’ was startling and new. Oh, she saw the way he looked at her, the way he held her and touched her. All those things felt deeper than liking, but he hadn’t come out and professed his undying love, nor had she. One day, they both would feel more comfortable saying it out loud. Until then, she’d take what he gave, those little bits of himself that he only shared with her, and she’d give him her everything—She could do no less.
She lifted her drink up, taking a healthy sip. She wouldn’t admit to King she liked the reminder of his punishment. Oh, he’d been more than a little upset once the bodies had been cleared. Her sister was brought up, and pizza was made. She had no clue how they were starving, but they’d all demanded food. So they’d gone to the clubhouse as the sun peeked over the horizon and made pizza. A bond was forged between them while the new day began.
Curly asked if Tiana could babysit their son and, with her knowing eyes, inquired if Ayesha needed to talk. She never thought to make friends who truly cared about her, like the women she’d met in the last month. When she’d hugged Curly, she knew the woman was someone she could count on.
“Deep thoughts?” Mack asked, sitting down across from them.
Ayesha picked up her beer. “I’d like to make a toast.” She looked around the long table where she’d first seen King holding court. He’d seemed so big and imposing, threatening two prospects. Now, here she sat on his thigh, her ass red with his handprints on each cheek, a butt plug shoved up her ass, surrounded by men and women who were family by choice, yet they’d lay their lives down for one another. “I wanted to give a toast to the best family a person could ask for. You might be a mix of crazy, but you’re my crazy.” She clanked her bottle with Mack, who grinned from ear to ear.
“My mama always said not to feed the crazy, but I decided I liked crazy and fed it as often as I could. That’s why you often see me in the kitchen,” Mack said.
Duke finished his beer and leaned over to kiss Ayesha’s cheek. “Glad you decided not to stab him in his sleep. I’m out.”
“Where you going?” King asked.
“Places,” Duke answered.
One of the strip clubs they owned was called Places. The old timers ionically named it that because they didn’t want to lie to their ole ladies when they asked where they were going. They’d say Places, and it would settle them, they said. Little did they know Places was a strip club.
“I’m worried about him,” Ayesha murmured in King’s ear.
King turned his head, capturing her lips. “He’s a big boy.”
The End!