Chapter 8 #2
“I feel that. Let me go grab the food, and I’ll be right back.” I left the dining area just as my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, seeing Emani calling me.
“What it do, Mani?”
“I need some advice.”
“I’m sorta in the middle of something right now.”
“You know, you’ve been blowing me off for weeks now. And I don’t know if I like it.”
I chuckled. “E, stop being dramatic.”
“I’m not. I really need your advice.”
“I got about three minutes for you, sis. What’s the dilemma?” I leaned against the counter and waited for her to tell me a bunch of nothing.
“Okay, so I met this chick the other day. I mean a real hot chick; I’m talking Megan Thee Sta?—”
“E, I get it. Get to the point, my baby. What’s the problem?”
“She has three kids! We’re supposed to go out tonight, but now I feel like I shouldn’t.”
“But you love kids. What’s the problem?”
“You’re right, I do love kids, but what if we get serious? I don’t want to be nobody’s stepmom. I ain’t ready for kids yet.”
“Listen, only you know how you want to handle that. Aside from her good looks, what else does she have going for her?”
“Oh, she’s a physical therapist. Fucks with a lot of celebs and shit.”
“Okay. And aside from her having three kids, what other issues does she have that you don’t like?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t gotten that far yet.”
I chuckled. “Well, my only advice for you is to get ready to take them kids to Sea World, step mama. I gotta go.” I hung up and powered my phone off. She was going to be pissed at me, but I didn’t care. I had a beautiful woman in my dining room to entertain. I didn’t have time for E’s dramatics.
I grabbed the pan of chicken Parmesan from the stove and placed it on the big wooden tray, along with the asparagus, honey-glazed carrots, and garlic mashed potatoes.
Taking the tray, I walked back into the dining room and saw her in the living room, turning up the volume slightly to Shai’s “If I Ever Fall In Love,” then coming back into the dining room to reclaim her seat.
“Oh my. This looks good,” she complimented. “You sure you cooked this?”
“I did. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Wow. The introverted king has talent in the kitchen, and the bedroom . . . I’m impressed.” She giggled. I looked at her and smiled.
“Cooking isn’t the only thing I’m skilled at.”
“That, I know to be true.” She blushed. I refilled our wine glasses and began loading our plates with food.
“So, what made you get into the perfume business?”
“My grandmother used to have loads of fragrances on her dresser, along with my late grandfather. I spent a lot of time at their home when my parents used to travel for work . . . They own a trucking company. Anyway, I used to steal my grandfather’s cologne a lot.
It got so bad that he gave me the idea to start experimenting.
I was only like ten, but he helped me figure out how to become a connoisseur. ”
“You and Ms. Kentfield?”
“Affirmative.”
“Are you guys close?”
“She’s my best friend. Been knowing her since the third grade. Her moms and mine are best friends.”
“Hmm. Have you two ever . . .”
“If you hadn’t noticed, Emani is more into you than she is into me. She’s a lesbian.”
“Oh! I kind of figured but didn’t want to judge anyone.”
“You have no worries with us or anyone else. You’re the first woman I dated who worked for me.”
“I feel special.” She beamed.
“That you are, my love.”
She smiled and began eating her food. I noticed that she wasn’t wearing her glasses today.
I assumed she was wearing contacts; otherwise, her clumsy self would have fallen in those heels she wore.
I could barely get through the dinner without staring at her, and each time she caught me, she blushed.
I didn’t want every time we linked up, we fucked, but I couldn’t help it.
I liked sex, especially sex with her. Her soft body was my guilty pleasure.
After dinner, I gave her a tour of the house, then we settled in the theater to watch Coming 2 America . I grabbed the wooden box that sat on the ottoman in front of us and pulled a pre-roll and lighter from it.
“You smoke?” she asked, shocked.
“Occasionally. Does that bother you?”
She shook her head. “No. I just didn’t take you as a smoker.”
“I have to sometimes, to settle my mental. Looking at numbers, taking meetings, and making sure my company thrives, takes a toll on me. So, I smoke to calm my nerves and settle my anxiety.”
“I understand.” She placed kisses on my neck and ear, then cuddled closer to me, wrapping her arm around my waist. I lit my joint then leaned back, getting comfortable.
“You want to try?”
“I’ve never smoked before. I don’t know how.”
“Come here,” I said, pulling her onto my lap. My hand instantly went to her ass as I rubbed and squeezed it gently. I licked my lips, looking up at her blushing like crazy. “Damn, you’re fine, Ms. Grant.”
“Thank you, Mr. West. I think you’re pretty hot too.”
“You showing your valley girl side I see.”
She laughed. “Leave me alone.”
“Never. I love that shit . . . When I blow the smoke in your mouth, just inhale slowly then let it out slowly.” I pulled from the joint, and she lowered her head to my mouth.
When I saw her do as I instructed, I watched her beautiful, red painted lips blow the smoke into the air and then look at me.
Damn, she was sexy as fuck.
I repeated the process three times before I captured her lips—kissing her deeply.
“Mmmm,” she moaned, palming my face. My hand went under her dress, pushing her thong to the side, and finding one of my favorite places on her body.
“Avery.”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I want you.”
“What do you want me to do, mama?”
“Make love to me.” I put the joint out in the ashtray, scooped her up, and laid her on the couch.
“You got it, baby,” I said, pulling her dress over her head and proceeding to give her what she asked of me.