Chapter 35
Ajori
Iswear the sun was shining extra bright that morning, almost as if it had a personal vendetta against me. My thighs were still sore, my neck was stiff, and my voice was barely there… all because Domino decided to show me how much of a talker he really was in bed.
I laid there for a good hour staring at the ceiling, lost in a whirlwind of memories, replaying every stroke, every breath, and every word Domino growled in my ear.
“You’re mine,” he had said, his voice low and commanding, and I knew what he meant. I understood all too well, maybe too well for my own good.
The abrupt buzz of my phone on the nightstand jolted me back to reality. I reached for it gingerly, wincing at the pain that shot through my body.
Lainey: Rise and shine, boo! Let’s go sightseeing! I’m not about to waste these days lazing around!
I let out a soft huff, fingers tapping against the screen as I composed my reply.
Me: Good morning, boo! But raincheck on the sightseeing today. I’m exhausted. If you decide to go, take Kyrin with you. I’m sure he’ll be down. Just swing by and grab the card my daddy gave me in case you want to do some shopping.
Three dots popped up instantly, then disappeared. Then my phone rang.
“Of course she’s calling,” I mumbled.
I stared at the screen, knowing I couldn’t avoid that conversation.
I answered, bringing it to my ear. “Lainey—”
“Um, ma’am!” she interrupted with her usual enthusiasm. “Please give me one good reason, aside from ‘I’m tired,’ for why you don't want to get up today, step outside, soak in some fresh air, and act like you’re not living under a rock! Because right now, you don’t even sound like yourself.”
I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh. “I’m not,” I said honestly. “I’m somebody’s victim right now.”
“Somebody’s victim?” she repeated, her tone shifting quick. “Somebody put their hands on you?”
Frowning, I retorted, “Lainey… I'm not talking to you from the county jail’s phone, am I?”
”No,” she replied in a knowing tone.
“Exactly.”
“Well, is it your period that has you soooooo exhausted? Hold on! No, it can’t be! We’re in sync, and mine’s not due! So unless your body decided to stray from the schedule, that’s not the reason.”
I chuckled.
“So, what is it then?” she pressed, and I could sense the gears in her mind turning. “Oh my God!” she gasped suddenly. “You’ve had some soul-snatching, back-cracking, knees-weak, can’t-walk-straight, call-out-of-work type of—”
“Lainey!” I whisper-yelled, sitting up slightly and instantly regretting it. “Ow—”
“Oh… and it hurts?” she taunted, voice dropping into pure messiness. “So, who’s the lucky home-wrecker of your spine? Spill the tea and shame your ancestors!”
I covered my face. “You are ridiculous.”
“Come on! Don’t be shy about it now!” she urged, laughter dancing in her voice.
With a resigned sigh, I finally admitted, “It was Domino.”
Lainey gasped like she'd just heard a shocking plot twist in her favorite drama. “Not my friend don’ got tore up, by Mr. ‘I Don’t Smile Unless It’s a Threat’!
I knew that man wasn’t just sitting around looking mean for no reason!
That wasn’t no attitude; that was pent-up pressure!
I know that kitty ain’t stand a chance!” she carried on, a bit too loudly, and I cringed at the volume.
“She didn’t, okay? But must you be so loud?!” I hissed, half-amused, half-embarrassed.
“Must you be so sneaky?” she countered, her playful tone unyielding. “So when did this freaky escapade take place, anyway?”
“This morning,” I confessed, my cheeks warming at the memory.
“This morniiiiiiiing?” she shrieked.
“Yes… while you were off minding your own business!"
“Wow. So I’m here being a model citizen, and you’re in there getting your kitty completely rearranged?”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at her dramatics.
“I’m appalled!” Lainey added dramatically. “And you know what? I’m telling Kyrin!”
“You better not!” I warned, though I couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across my face.
“Girl, calm down! I’m just messing with you,” she laughed. “But I am judging you… just a little.”
I rolled my neck in audacity. “Says the girl who was over there entertaining Marcos like you was about to forward your mail and put his address on your driver’s license.”
Lainey’s laughter turned into a brief silence.
“See… that was different,” she finally said.
“How?” I challenged.
“Because I had control, boo! You sound like you’ve lost all motor skills and sanity!”
I giggled. “Whatever.”
“Still, as your friend, I deserved a warning!” she continued with her playful rant.
“How could I warn you about something that shocked me as well?” I shot back, still laughing.
“Well, I wish I would’ve known. I would’ve prayed for you, friend. That man looks like he doesn’t do anything halfway!”
I bit my lip, the memories hitting all over again. “Yeah… he doesn’t.”
“Oh, it was like that, huh?” Lainey probed, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper.
I closed my eyes, reliving every sensation. “It was just like that.”
Lainey let out a long whistle, impressed. “Whew! So that’s why you canceled sightseeing.”
“Girl, I can barely walk,” I confessed sheepishly.
“You need to ice! Stretch! Drink some electrolytes! Google a recovery plan! Do something!”
“I’m about to hang up on you.”
“Not a chance! You need me in this vulnerable state of yours!” she countered, her tone full of mock seriousness.
I shook my head, still smiling at her relentless nature. “You are not being helpful.”
“I’m very helpful!” she argued. “I’m providing emotional support!”
“You’re providing commentary.”
“And it’s accurate!”
I sighed, letting my head fall back against the pillow in defeat. “Are you done?”
“Yeah, I’m done bothering you… for now."
“Please be.”
“After I shower, I’ll come grab the card. Kyrin and I are about to go spend your daddy’s money,” she announced cheerfully.
“Go ahead.”
“And when I come back, I need more details… even if I gotta read it off your face.”
I shook my head. “You’re crazy.”
“And you’re happy,” she quipped.
I didn’t respond to that because, as funny as Lainey was… she wasn’t wrong.
“Alright, I'll see you soon,” she said, ready to sign off.
“Okay."
The line went dead.
I set my phone down on the nightstand and turned onto my side. The familiar soreness enveloped me again.
“Yeah… I’m not moving for a while.”
And just like that, sleep pulled me under.
I don’t know how long I was out, but it felt like mere moments before the door flew open with a suddenness that jolted me from my slumber.
“Ajori!” Lainey yelled, storming in. “Where the card at?!”
I groaned, pulling the pillow over my head. “Girl, please—”
“No, don’t ‘please’ me!” she fired back, snatching the pillow from my grasp. “You had energy earlier, find it again!”
With squinted eyes, I peered at her, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. “Why are you yelling?”
“Because we gotta go! Kyrin already downstairs looking like his credit score higher than mine, and I’m not about to miss my chance to spend somebody else’s money in peace.”
I leaned over, grabbing my purse, moving slowly, my body protesting every inch. Once in reach, I tossed it to her.
“It’s in there,” I grumbled.
“Ooooh,” she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she pulled out the card with a gleam in her eye. “This got weight to it.”
“Please don’t go crazy,” I cautioned, knowing her tendency to go overboard when she didn’t have to come out of the pocket for anything.
“No promises,” she replied with a mischievous grin, clutching the card as if it were a winning lottery ticket.
I shook my head, letting myself sink back into the comforting embrace of my bed. “Have fun.”
“Oh, we will,” Lainey said, striding toward the door with a bounce in her step.
Then she paused, turning back to give me a teasing grin.
“And rest up… don’t rush that healing process.
Let Ms. Kitty relax, reflect, and come back stronger, because right now, it sounds like she just got drafted into the wrong league. ”
I narrowed my eyes at her, fighting back a smile. “You’re annoying.”
“And you’re sore,” she shot back, her laughter light as she exited the room.
With the door gently clicking shut, I was left in the solitude of my room. When I finally woke up again, the room was quieter.
I reached for my phone, blinking at the screen as it came to life, and that’s when I realized I had slept five whole hours away.
“Dang,” I muttered under my breath.
A few notifications sat waiting for me. My heart warmed as I opened my messages to see Lainey had sent pictures of her posing in mirrors with playful expressions, and a snapshot of Kyrin cheesing hard while clutching shopping bags, both of them clearly having the time of their lives.
I smiled.
They looked happy, and that alone made something in me settle.
As I shifted in bed, trying to find a comfortable position again, I suddenly became aware of a presence behind me.
My body stilled, the peaceful ambiance interrupted by the realization that I wasn’t alone.
Tentatively, I glanced over my shoulder and was greeted by the sight of Domino, his features relaxed and sleep-drenched.
When did he get into bed with me?
“Domino,” I whispered, gently tapping him on the arm to wake him.
At first, he didn’t stir, but then his brows knitted together, and a low groan escaped him as he shifted onto his back, dragging his arm over his face with a yawn that was slow and unhurried, as if he had just woken up in his own bed.
“What’s up, baby?” His voice was low and scratchy, still heavy with sleep.
Baby?
I blinked at him, momentarily taken aback. “When did you get in here?”
Domino dropped his arm from his face, turning his head toward me, eyes barely open.
“A little after Lainey and Kyrin left.”
I stared at him, processing the ease with which he had embedded himself beside me. “You just… got in the bed?”
He shrugged slightly, dismissing the significance of it. “You were knocked out… and snoring."
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “I was not!”
He smirked, the corner of his mouth curving up. “You was.”
I grabbed the pillow and swung it at him before I could even think about it.
Domino caught it easily, still half-lying there, that smirk growing just enough to get on my nerves.
“Relax. It wasn’t that bad,” he teased, clearly enjoying my indignation.
I rolled my eyes and turned away from him, but despite my best efforts to maintain my irritation, a small smile betrayed me, creeping onto my lips.
“You tired?” he asked softly, shifting closer and snuggling against me, his warmth comforting.
I adjusted my position, lying back with a sigh. “After the morning I had, you know I am.”
“I gotta have you again,” he said, hovering over me and lifting my legs. “I been thinking about you and this pussy all morning. ”
“I’m still sore, Domino,” I whined.
He flashed a sly smirk, his expression teasing. “I’ll be gentle.”
“Promise?”
“No.”
I giggled. “You don’t play fair.”
“Neither do you,” he murmured back.
Domino kissed my inner thigh, lined himself up, and slid in me slowly, deeply, and bare, like I was his and he had every right.
I gripped his shoulders. “Faster!” I commanded.
“Nah.”
“Domino,” I sheepishly pleaded.
“You gon’ take this dick my way,” he said, pushing it all the way in.
My hands slid over his shoulders and down his back. “Mmm... I hate you.”
“You love this dick though.”
“I do,” I grinned.
“I know,” he boasted.
Domino moved in a steady rhythm, watching the way my lips parted, and the way my eyes fluttered when he went deeper.
“Why you feel so damn good, girl? You got me thinking ‘bout you even when I’m trying to forget,” he admitted, grinding into me slowly with thick strokes, each one heavy and intentional.
I didn’t answer… I couldn’t.
My eyes rolled, and my legs shook. When Domino kissed me, it wasn’t just dick I felt; it was everything I was trying not to say and everything I’d never said to anybody else. I was close, and so was he.
Seconds later, he nutted deep inside me, growling against my neck, as we reached the edge together. Domino buried himself deep, staying there, holding me in a way that suggested he wasn’t ready to let go. His breathing was heavy against my skin while my body trembled in his arms.
In that moment, I knew that wasn’t just a mistake; it was something I wasn’t going to be able to walk away from… even if I wanted to.