Chapter Twenty-Four
Twenty-Four
The tasting had finally come to an end, and the guests hadn’t stopped giving their praises since entering the venue.
The guests slipped out in pairs and small groups, while some lingered around holding conversations with more plans for the evening.
Nhuri was glad to call it a night as she and Natalia hugged goodbye.
“Listen, all that hard work you were doing really paid off,” Natalia praised, making Nhuri blush.
She was slightly tipsy but still coherent and could walk. “Thank you, sis. That means so much coming from you.”
“And I mean it. Are you good to drive, or are you staying here with Shyriq?”
Nhuri forced a smile. “Um, I actually booked a room.”
She was so grateful the venue was in the same place she was about to lay her head.
“A room for yourself?” Natalia’s brows dipped.
Nhuri nodded and before she could pry any further, Malik appeared, placing a hand at the small of her back. “You ready to head home?” he asked.
“Yes. Just seeing what Nhuri has planned.”
“A’ight. I’ma have valet pull the vehicle up. Meet me outside,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Sis,” he said teasingly, “we gotta talk.”
Nhuri shook her head and smiled. “Have a good night, Malik.”
His laughter echoed as he walked out the door. Natalia got right back to the subject at hand.
“Why did you get your own room? I thought things with y’all were progressing?”
“They were, and then he pissed me off. So . . .” Nhuri shrugged.
Natalia sighed dramatically. “Oh, goodness. Well, okay. That makes sense about why there was so much tension tonight. He was about to knock Rodney’s head off for talking to you.”
“Rodney?” Nhuri questioned, highly confused. “Who is that?”
“Girl, the man whose face he came and snatched you out of.”
Nhuri chuckled. “Oh. I guess I forgot his name.”
“Or didn’t care to remember it,” Natalia laughed. “You are something else.”
“But you love me.”
“I do, and I’m so happy we got to share tonight together. Whatever you do, please be safe.”
Her words had an underlying warning. Natalia wanted her to protect her heart.
“I will. Text me when you make it in, and I’ll do the same.”
Natalia told her okay, and they hugged once more before she went to wait for Malik.
Nhuri waited until she saw him tuck her safely into the car before she headed toward the elevators.
The cleaning crew had already begun breaking everything down, and since Shyriq hadn’t let it be known she was needed, Nhuri was making her exit.
The whiskey had settled into her bloodstream, warming her from the inside out, making her limbs loose but her thoughts sharp. She needed to get upstairs, take a long shower, and sleep off this ridiculous night.
But fate had other plans.
As she stepped further into the hotel lobby, she spotted Shyriq.
His suit jacket was unbuttoned, his tie loosened, and his posture was still commanding even in the dim glow of the chandeliers.
Nhuri’s body reacted before her mind could stop it.
Heat curled in her belly, and not just from the alcohol but from the memory of the way he had looked at her earlier, how he had followed her out of that ballroom with purpose. He felt it too . . . She knew he did.
Shyriq turned his head slightly and licked his lips as he eyed her frame. A slow, knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. His scent hit her first, and Nhuri rolled her eyes.
“I didn’t know you were staying here tonight,” he said with his voice lower than usual.
Nhuri nodded. “Mmm-hmm. Figured it was best.”
“Is that right?”
His question was asked teasingly, and Nhuri wasn’t about to fall for it. She couldn’t let him see how much he affected her when he’d already been the cause of her soaked thong without touching her.
The elevator doors slid open, and he allowed her to step on first. The moment the doors shut, the sudden stillness amplified the budding tension between them.
Nhuri stood stiffly across from Shyriq after pressing the button for her floor.
She crossed her arms to hide her erect nipples, but it did nothing to lessen her arousal.
Shyriq leaned against the opposite wall with his broad shoulders relaxed.
Nhuri felt the heat of his presence, even from a few feet away.
He smelled like whiskey, wood, and leather.
A dangerous and intoxicating aroma that clung to the air and muddled her thoughts.
She tried to ignore the way her pulse quickened with each breath and the way her body seemed to betray her, but how could she?
Shyriq was every bit the magnetic force she tried to stay away from.
“You still mad at me?” he asked. His voice was deep yet gentle.
Nhuri exhaled sharply. “That’s not an apology.”
A slow, deep chuckle rolled from his chest, sending shivers down her spine.
“You gonna keep saying that, or you want me to show you how sorry I am?”
Her breath caught. The space between them suddenly felt too small. Nhuri’s glossy eyes made contact with his as Shyriq approached her. Before he reached her, he swiped a card and pressed a button on the wall that made the elevator stop.
“Shyriq,” Nhuri whispered, with her heart racing.
He stepped closer, invading her space. His hands found her hips, trailing them softly before wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Shyriq, what?” he asked, kissing down her neck.
Nhuri’s eyes fluttered, and she moaned softly. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this,” she said.
He moved to the other side of her neck and kissed there. Nhuri’s body shuddered.
“Acting like what? Like I want you?”
His voice was calm, but she could hear the heat simmering just below it.
“I’m just trying to get you to understand how sorry I am.”
“You told me,” she breathed out as he kissed the top of her exposed breasts.
Seeing how far he could take it, Shyriq bit her nipple through the silk fabric and earned a moan so sweet he had to give the other breast the same attention.
Nhuri’s head swirled as he made her body heat up.
He kissed down her stomach, lifting the hem of her dress, and placed one leg over his shoulder.
“I said, I wanted to show you. Can I do that?” he asked.
Nhuri didn’t feel herself nod, but she felt his lips, which was clearly all that mattered.
Her breath caught in her throat as he moved the seat of her panties to the side and swiped his tongue along her pussy.
Nhuri knew she was wet, but hearing him slurp up her essence had her so turned on.
Shyriq held her leg up and suckled her clit into his mouth as if he were dehydrated.
“Oh,” Nhuri gasped, clutching the railing.
His tongue flickered harder, and she saw stars. He ate her pussy with earnest, leaving no doubt in her mind that he was, indeed, sorry. Shyriq was literally on his knees, begging, licking, slurping, and eating his way out of the doghouse. Nhuri scooted back when it began to feel too good.
“Stop running from this,” he growled, smacking her bare ass cheek.
Nhuri could’ve melted. Instead, she followed his instructions and let him have his way. Rolling her hips, she let him bring her to a climax that brought tears to her eyes.
“Oh my gosh,” she groaned, squeezing his shoulder. “Yeeees. Right there, right there.”
Shyriq didn’t move or stop licking her until her legs trembled, and then he placed the sweetest kiss on her puffy lips before standing to his feet. He held her tightly with his face inches away from hers. His breath was hot against her lips, and his eyes were dark with almost feral restraint.
“Do you feel how sorry I am?” he asked.
Lazily, Nhuri nodded.
“Good.”
Shyriq kissed her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth.
It was needy and fierce and would’ve caught Nhuri completely off guard, but she was prepared this time.
She wanted to taste herself on his lips.
The way he kissed and held her made Nhuri’s entire body respond in ways she couldn’t control.
His free hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer as though he needed to feel every inch of her pressed against him.
Nhuri’s breath caught, her mind scrambling for clarity for some kind of reason.
But there was no space for reason in the way he kissed her.
In the way his hands moved over her body, gripping her ass until she was flush against his erection.
Shyriq was blessed. The type of blessing that Nhuri would be praising the Lord for.
When she went to wrap her legs around his waist, she caught herself and softly pushed him back.
Raw, unfiltered lust danced in Shyriq’s eyes. “What’s the matter?”
She swallowed hard. “Nothing. I just . . . Maybe we should slow down.”
Confused but understanding, Shyriq nodded. He stepped back and licked his lips before running a hand over his beard that she soaked with her juices. Swiping the card against the panel again, the elevator came to life, and he pressed her floor number.
Nhuri adjusted her dress and removed her thong while the elevator ascended, all while keeping eye contact with him. She wanted him in the worst way and had officially forgiven him. When the elevator stopped and the doors slid open, Shyriq cleared his throat.
“Have a good night,” he said, 100 percent sure she would after climaxing the way she just did.
On shaky legs, Nhuri stepped forward but not off of the elevator.
Instead, she pressed a button for the doors to close, then pushed the button for the penthouse suite where Shyriq was staying and entered the code so they could access it.
After all, she was the one who booked the room, so she knew it.
“Nhuri,” Shyriq called her name in warning once they made it to the penthouse.
She stepped off and ignored him. Shaking his head, Shyriq followed her. He gave her a second to take in the breathtaking views of the suite while he washed his hands before calling her name again.
“Nhuri,” he said more forcefully this time.