CHAPTER 29
I drive back to her place because she can’t know where I live. It’ll blow my cover if she knew I was living in a penthouse apartment with full amenities. Yeah, I’m not ready to disclose all of that yet.
I get out and hold her hand as I walk with her to the apartment. When I step inside, I see the place is in disarray – so not like her.
“I’m sorry. It’s a mess in here. I wasn’t in the right headspace to do any kind of organization.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll straighten all of this up for you.”
“No, you won’t. I’ll do it.”
I close my arms around her and say, “Here’s what you’re going to do. You are going to take a shower and get into bed. And while you rest and watch TV or sleep…whatever you do at nine o’clock on a Saturday night at home, I’m going to tidy up the place. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” She smiles. “I got it.”
“Good.”
While she goes and does that, I fold the clothes scattered across the sofa and place them in the laundry basket on the living room table. Then I place the dishes in the dishwasher and vacuum the living room floor. The whole time I’m working, I think about how I never lift a finger to do these tasks, yet I’m doing them for her.
When I’m done, I walk to the bedroom and knock.
“Come in,” she says.
I step inside and see her sitting in the center of the bed with the remote in her hand. She’s wearing a pink pajama set patterned with red lips and hearts.
I thought about joining her to talk about a few things, but just as easily as the thought came, it left.
It’s not a good idea.
“Are you going to sleep soon?”
“It depends on whether or not I’ll be in your arms,” she replies.
I say, “Come with me to the living room.”
“Okay.”
She follows me there and says, “Wow. You cleaned up fast. Thank you, Ax. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
I sit on the sofa and she sits beside me. I take her hand and say, “No more ghosting me. I care about you, and I need to know that you’re okay at all times when you’re with me.”
“Okay.”
“I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. I will never do anything to hurt you, Zimyra.”
“I know.”
“And I know you’re going through some things and I want you to know I’m here for you, sweetheart. From this day forward, I’m giving you full access to use me however you see fit.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I am.”
“Why do I feel like you’ve never said that to anyone before?”
“Because I haven’t. I’m experiencing a lot of firsts with you, Zimyra—things that surprise me. With that being said, I feel I owe it to you to be transparent about a few things.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve never done this before, and by this , I mean attempt to be in a relationship. I didn’t even date. I just saw a woman I wanted for a night and went after her. That’s all I knew, but with you, I have a desire to know everything because I love you, and I want to be with you beyond just a hookup.”
“What makes you so sure about that? About me?” she asks, staring at me with those beautiful eyes of hers.
“I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life. That’s why I’m sure.”
She smiles. “Okay. I say let’s see where this takes us,” she says.
“I agree wholeheartedly, but I also think it’s important that you know, I’m not looking to bed you and steal your innocence. I’m looking to acquire your heart and claim your soul.”
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she says, hiding her face behind her hands.
Her sudden shyness is refreshing. “If you can’t handle that, sweetheart, you’re in a world of trouble.”
“Yeah, he’s definitely in trouble, but I think she knows that already.