Chapter 12 #2
“I know I said you can’t because I wouldn’t let you, but truthfully .
. .” He paused as if needing a minute to regroup.
“I love you enough to let you go if that’s truly what you wanted or needed to be happy.
I just . . .” He shook his head and moved one of his hands to my stomach.
“It’ll fucking ruin me if that’s what you decide.
My heart tells me to hold on tight and never let go, but my rational side understands I’m asking a lot by keeping you here.
I’m afraid of what that means for me. I’m afraid of the person I have the potential to become without you here to remind me I need balance.
You’re my balance, baby. Today, what you saw—”
I lifted a hand, allowing it to rest on the side of his face while I leaned closer, my fingers brushing the smooth texture of his beard. “I’m not going anywhere.” I laughed before my lips curled into a smile. “How can I? Who the hell can come behind you?”
He snorted and pulled me closer, covering my mouth with his. That skillful tongue I had grown addicted to began to explore, eliciting a soft moan from me.
“Not a damn soul. I’d kill anybody who tried.”
I playfully rolled my eyes, even knowing there was nothing playful behind his words. He meant exactly what he expressed.
He would take the lives of anyone who thought they could have me.
“How the hell is that fair? You can’t tell me that you’ll let me go if it was what I needed to be happy in one breath then say you would kill any other man who wanted to be with me.”
His smile was slow to form and also deadly, but still sexy, nonetheless.
“I said that I would let you go, but not once did I say I would allow another man to have you. Sorry, sweetheart, that’s not a possibility.
You can be without me, but you will never be with anyone else. That’s the best I can offer.”
“Wow.” I laughed under my breath and his smile expanded.
“You know who you married, Nari. Don’t you dare act surprised.”
“Correction, I now know who I married. Before I agreed to this, I only had an idea of the type of man you were. You knew exactly what you were doing.” My eyes narrowed on him, but I paired it with a smile.
I might not have known I was marrying a man who would receive severed hands in a box, but I damn sure knew he wasn’t a saint.
“I did, but it’s too late for either of us. You’re in me and I’m in you.” His hand rested on my stomach again before his other gripped the back of my neck, pulling my mouth to his.
“I’m carrying your baby, but what are you carrying of me?” I lifted my brow and he stated with not one ounce of uncertainty . . .
“Your heart. It’s mine and solely belongs to me.
I keep it safe and right here.” He winked when his finger pressed into his chest just before our mouths collided again.
The kiss was intense and sealed the promise, both spoken and unspoken.
He was mine and I was his. There were no outs for either of us and I was okay with the declaration.
I cuddled up to his side moments after and enjoyed the feel of his arms around me.
Everything about us felt right, even the things that were dangerously wrong.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was indisputably us.
Two days later, we all received a much-needed break from the stress of what was lingering around us.
Kincaid was still dealing with whatever the hell landed that box in our home, which meant men in and out, calls and meetings in his office.
So when we received a surprise visit from an unexpected guest, it shifted the energy in our home.
Abisai stood in our living room with Kincaid while I was by his side and my mother sat quietly on the sofa, a barely-there smile teasing at the corners of her lips. The entire scene was odd but adorably cute at the same time.
“My apologies for the unannounced visit, but I felt it necessary.” Abisai’s accent was strong, but I could tell he’d been raised in the States based on how perfect his English was.
My mother had informed me that Abisai was Jamaican but had been in the US since he was a teen. He was now in his early fifties.
“It’s not a problem, but I’m curious why you wanted to speak to me. I would assume you were here to see Endia.” Kincaid glanced over his shoulder, smiling, clearly amused by how uncomfortable she appeared.
Abisai also glanced at my mother and smiled, but he reflected a sentiment different from Kincaid’s. He was smitten.
“I am, but considering she’s family and in your home, I humbly request your permission to spend time with Ms. Endia.”
“Ahh, I see. She’s grown, Abisai. She doesn’t need my permission to spend time with you. You possibly should be having this conversation with Nari instead.” He cut his eyes at me before they landed on Abisai again.
“I agree, and I pray Mrs. Akel extends her blessing as well so I can spend time with her mother. However, you are the man of this house and Ms. Endia’s extended family. Her only active family, as she has informed me, so I wanted to be sure you understood my intentions.”
“Which are?” I cut in, shifting his attention to me.
“To get to know her better, allowing her the opportunity to do the same with me. Then hopefully, she will entertain the idea of allowing me to be a more permanent fixture in her life.” He glanced at my mother and smiled charmingly. She did the same, which, again, was adorably cute.
Oh, he’s laying it on thick.
“Permanent fixture?” I arched my brow. “Like marriage?”
“If she so pleases,” Abisai answered quickly.
“That is none of our business at the moment, but you have my blessing to spend time with Endia, not that you needed it. I trust you in my home, and I assume I can trust her in your care when she’s out with you?” Kincaid questioned, waiting. Abisai nodded and followed with his response.
“I will offer my life in exchange for hers.”
Well, damn.
He spoke with a certainty that mirrored Kincaid’s sentiment when he made the same promise to me. Abisai then looked at my mother. Their eyes fastened for a long moment, which ended with another nod.
“You have my blessing too,” I offered with a smile, which prompted Abisai to chuckle lightly.
“Shall we?”
He extended his hand to my mother and she wasted no time accepting the offer, moving to his side after he pulled her in and kissed her fingers. Then Kincaid’s phone rang and he stepped away to answer.
“You’re leaving?”
My mother shook her head softly. “No. We’re going to hang around here tonight if that’s okay. I thought maybe Abisai wouldn’t mind joining us for dinner.”
“I’d be honored.”
“Works for me.” They left the living room just as Kincaid ended the call and joined me.
“They’re gone?”
“Nope. Hanging out here. Abisai’s staying for dinner.”
“You okay with that?” His eyes lowered to me, waiting.
“Yeah, I’m happy for her. She deserves to be happy and you said he’s a good guy.”
“He is.” Kincaid pulled me into him and kissed my forehead. “Conner and Floyd will be here in a minute. I’m about to call them. They’ll be outside. I have to run out to take care of something, but I shouldn’t be long.”
I wanted to object because I could feel this had something to do with the night of our reception, but I didn’t need Kincaid leaving here worried about me. There was no doubt in my mind he was going, regardless of how I felt.
“Okay.” I attempted to step away, but he pulled me back again.
“Hey, we okay?”
“We’re fine. This is a part of being with you. I get it. Go.” I lifted enough to reach his lips, delivering a soft peck that he held longer.
“Now I can go.”