Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
Navy
My group chat with Serenity, Taj, and Venus had been active all day.
Apparently, Zander went to their men for advice yesterday on romancing me, and that was the cutest thing he could have done.
On top of that, I know he also met with our fathers, because mine loved to gossip, and he couldn’t wait to come home and tell Mama about the conversation.
He just didn’t know I was in their room stealing her best smelling body butter.
He didn’t share all the details with me—just that, in his words, Zander was committed and trying.
I still had no idea what Zander had planned for today.
I’d been laying around in my silk gown waiting for him to let me know what time to be ready and how to dress.
When Twyla knocked on my doorframe wearing a bright smile, I squealed and hopped from the bed to hug her.
I missed her just as much as I missed my parents.
She was truly like a sister to me. Her parents had welcomed me into their family like another daughter, and I felt blessed to have the tribe I had.
Add to that the amazing women I could now call friends because of Zander’s friends, and I felt rich in a way a lot of people would never get to experience.
Being an only child was lonely. I had sleepovers with cousins and friends in school, but I didn’t really start to have solid connections until I met Twyla and Zander.
I believe that was another reason why I was unwilling to kick Zander out of my life for a relationship.
Regardless of what me and Twyla said, I knew issues between me and her brother could potentially cause issues between us as well.
No man was worth losing them both, especially if he wasn’t my husband.
“Hey, pookie! What’re you doing here?” I asked when I finally released her.
“Your man sent me on a mission. I’m here with Melanie, the personal stylist. I had her to get set up in your closet room. Let’s go see the options!”
I was in shock as she used my hand to pull me to the room down the hall that I used for my closet.
When Zander agreed to let me know how to dress for our date, I wasn’t expecting that to come with a personal stylist. The second I entered the room and saw the clothing racks, I squealed.
Excitement surged through me, and I clapped and shimmied. Melanie and Twyla laughed.
“Your man said get whatever,” Melanie said after formally introducing herself. “We aren’t supposed to tell you what the day holds, but he said to select an outfit from each category.”
My eyes watered as I noticed the clothes were separated in four categories.
“So this is an all-day date,” I realized, running my fingers over the lounge wear.
“Yep,” Twyla confirmed. “My brother has the entire day planned. You’ve got about thirty minutes to pick your clothes, because after that, I have to take you to the spa.
You’re getting a massage and facial. He’s also hired Venus and a few of her people to do your hair, nails, and makeup.
After that, you’ll come back home and get dressed, then he’s going to pick you up. ”
Mama came in, and after an emotional release of excitement with my favorite girls, I picked four outfits.
The first was a casual two piece set. Since it was mid-August, it was still hot outside.
The thin material of the leggings would be cool enough to keep me from getting too hot during whatever activity we were going to do.
The second outfit was a silk dress, which was my favorite staple item in my wardrobe.
I loved how the fabric felt against my skin, and I also loved how the silk flattered my petite frame.
The third outfit was comfortable yet classy, and it gave me a slight idea of where we’d be going, but I wasn’t completely sure.
I selected a lace bodysuit with black shorts and heels, but I picked a pair of sandals as well to be safe.
The final outfit would probably not be an outfit to some, but to me, it was a reminder of just how much Zander paid attention to me.
I loved creating wrap dresses from long, wide pieces of fabric.
There were several different textures and colors of fabric for me to choose from.
I opted for a dusty rose fabric and red since that was his favorite color.
After that, my morning and early afternoon were spent getting ready for the date with Twyla.
The spa visit was phenomenal, then I came home and Venus did my hair while my nails were done.
After that, I showered, and then my makeup was done.
By the time everyone cleared out, I had about thirty minutes to get myself together before I put on the leggings two piece set and got ready for my date with my man.
My man.
Zander was my man.
Ah!
Today had been absolutely perfect. We started our day doing what I absolutely love .
. . creating. I loved baking and cooking or anything that appealed to my senses.
After our cooking class, we hopped into Cre8 (Create) and made custom candles.
Then, we went on a romantic gondola ride across the river before we had lunch.
After that, we took a nap before getting ready for an early dinner.
But this wasn’t just any dinner. It was a six course small plate dinner.
Really twelve because we each got different things and shared.
I was stuffed afterward but quickly burned off the food when we went to my favorite bar for their line dancing night.
For hours, Zander let me dance until I couldn’t dance anymore.
Every once in a while, he’d join me for the ones he knew, but he let me be in my happy space dancing and singing the night away.
Our final stop was to Cash’s casino, and ironically, we ran into Carson and Venus.
We hung with them for a little while before drifting off to do our own thing.
We were having so much fun hopping from tables to games that I didn’t realize it was nearing three in the morning until I got hungry again.
We stopped by Waffle Palace, which was like Rose Valley Hills version of Waffle House.
As we sat next to each other in the booth, I rested my head on his shoulder.
I couldn’t stop smiling no matter how hard I tried.
As Zander squeezed my thigh he asked, “How’d I do?
This will be your last first date with a man, so I wanted it to be special and memorable. ”
“You did great, bookie. I loved every minute of it. You incorporated all my favorite things into one day with my favorite person.” I lifted my head to look in his eyes. “I will remember this forever.”
Our lips met for a slow, nasty, sensual kiss. He moaned as I sighed. Yeah. I was going to fuck the shit out of him when we got to his place.
“I know I’m not the most romantic man, but doing this for you today was easy.
Maybe because I already know you, or maybe because you’re the first woman that feels worth it.
Either way, I’m glad you’re pleased.” He kissed my shoulder, then my neck, and I shivered and moaned.
“You ground me and keep me steady. You fill me with peace. You make it easy to live. To breathe. To love. I love you, Nae. Thank you for trusting me enough to love you out loud. I promise you won’t regret it. ”
“Aww, Zander.” Wrapping my arms around his neck, I brushed my nose against his before kissing him.
“I think you’re more romantic than you realize.
Even if you aren’t, I’m honored to be the woman to bring this side of you out.
I love you so much. I’ve never felt more seen and safe with another man.
It was easy for me to say yes to being yours. ”
“Thank you for not judging me. For trusting me. You’ll get a side of me no other woman will ever be able to say they’ve had.”
Kissing him felt like the best thing to do since his words left me emotional and all in my feelings.
Zander was always alert and aware, so he felt a hovering presence long before I did.
He ended our kiss, and I bashfully wiped my mouth as the waitress quietly set our plates on the table with a smile.
I ordered what I always got from here—hashbrowns with cheese and jalapenos and sausage.
Zander had a complete meal with cheesy scrambled eggs, toast, sausage, and cheese grits.
I hated eggs but he swore these were the best eggs in the world, so I tried them, and they were surprisingly good.
So good I ended up eating his. He didn’t complain or get annoyed. He simply ordered more.
By the time we left the diner, I was finally feeling sleepy. It wasn’t until we made it back to his place that his actions sent a bolt of energy through my body. I didn’t know what to expect when he told me to wait in the living room until he was done.
For someone who swore they weren’t romantic, Zander’s actions today were so intentional.
His bedroom floor was covered in silk fabric and rose petals.
Large candles were lit, and soft music played in the background.
I was already on the verge of tears, but when he kneeled in front of me and took my heels off then carried me to his bathroom, my tears fell.
A bath awaited me, and the tub was filled with roses and oil that would undoubtedly smooth my skin.
As he took my clothes off, Zander kissed my body and affirmed me.
My legs, my thighs, my stomach, my arms, my breasts, my neck.
His lips were so soft, kisses so tender, by the time he made it to my lips I was shivering and about to cum.
I was so hungry for him I devoured him with a kiss that led to him picking me up and setting me on the counter.
“I’m tryna be romantic but if you keep kissing me like that I’ma fuck the shit outta you, bae,” he warned, like that would make me stop.
“We have the rest of our lives to make love. Fuck the shit outta me—right now.”
The cocky chuckle he released was a warning that I was way too horny to heed.
He set me on my feet and turned me toward the mirror.
After putting my hands on the counter, he licked and bit down my spine to my ass before eating my pussy until I came.
His pointer finger slid against my opening, and once it was coated with my cum, he entered me.
Swift, hard strokes had my eyes squeezing shut almost instantly.
Zander’s right hand wrapped around my neck and applied pressure while his left middle finger slipped into my asshole.
“Ooh shit, bae,” I moaned, pressing my palms into the mirror.
I matched his strokes until it felt too good for me to do anything but take them.
He deepened my arch and stroked until I came twice.
I’d never fix my mouth to complain about him being a minute man or running from my pussy, that was for sure.
A whine escaped me as he placed me on the edge of the counter.
Our eyes remained locked as he fucked me while my legs dangled in the air.
That cocky chuckle returned when my quivering legs wrapped around him.
Zander smacked my ass and angled me so that it was hanging off the counter.
My eyes rolled and head flung back as I came again.
He roared as he came too. I wrapped my arms around him and tightened my legs as his ragged breathing filled my ear.
Zander kissed it then my cheek and forehead, saving my lips for last.
“Thank you,” I purred, making him laugh harder.
“Any-fucking-time, sweet girl. Any-fucking-time.”
After Zander did exactly what I asked him to do and fucked the shit out of me, he put more hot water in the tub before I sank down in it.
He waited until I was comfortable, then he joined me.
I was so relaxed in the water with his solid chest behind me that I fell asleep.
Had it not been for the vibration of his body as he laughed, I would’ve stayed asleep.
We soaked until the water ran cold, then we showered.
We dried each other off and oiled each other’s bodies down.
When his bare feet hit the silk, he hummed curiously and said he finally understood why I liked walking on it and feeling it against my skin.
Al Green played in the background, and our bodies were like magnets.
We swayed to one song after the next. Being in his arms, against his chest, felt like my own slice of heaven on earth.
Kisses and touching made the slow dancing more intimate, and in this moment, every failed relationship, every ultimatum that led to me choosing Zander, every trial and tribulation that acted as a steppingstone to get to this point was worth it.