CHAPTER SIXTY- ONE
NAJEE
Six months later… three days before the fitting.
Najee killed the engine on Jackie’s Bronco and sat for a second.
Today he brought her lunch from her favorite spot-on South Street.
South Flavors. He’d grabbed her keys this morning on purpose.
The plan had been simple—bring her lunch, let her eat, then find a quiet corner to take his time with her.
But plans had a way of shifting around Jackie Brown.
He stepped out and immediately spotted her on the wrap-around porch, back mostly exposed in that sundress, deep brown skin glowing under the afternoon light.
She was going back and forth with one of the workers, hard hat perched over her high bun, gesturing with that focused energy she carried so well.
A couple other guys stood nearby, listening.
The second she noticed Najee walking up, relief washed over her face.
She excused herself from the conversation and met him halfway. Before she could say anything, his eyes traced the dress—how it clung to her body, the short hem, the way it left her back open.
He stepped in close, voice low enough that only she could hear.
“I thought I asked you to change out of this dress this morning.” Jackie looked straight up at him, never breaking eye contact.
“I know. I didn’t want to miss Solidcore with Syxe, so I rushed out.
I thought I had another change of clothes packed, but I didn’t.
It’s not that bad though… I wore bike shorts underneath. ”
Najee held her gaze a moment longer, then gave a small nod.
The bike shorts didn’t change much in his mind—the dress still hugged her too right, still moved too easy when she walked—but he let it slide for now.
No need to push it with the crew around.
She glanced toward the landscaping at the side of the property.
“Najee… did you tell them to plant all these cherry blossom trees? In the original mock-up—” He cut her off gently.
“I thought you told me cherry blossoms were your favorite.” It hit her then.
He watched the realization settle across her face, the way her eyes softened, and her lips parted slightly.
“Bae…” Najee didn’t confirm or deny it out loud.
He just picked up one of the lunch bags and tilted his head toward the house.
“Show me the study.” Inside, the great room was coming together under her direction, but he guided her straight down the hall to the study.
The space already carried her touch, deep earthy tones, open and warm. Jackie stepped in, turning slowly.
“What do you think of the vibe so far? I wanted it masculine but not cold. The light from those windows is going to be perfect on the desk in the mornings.” She moved to the heavy oak desk, sorting through papers. “Did you see the color swatches I left here? I was thinking—”
“Babe, you promised me you would pick a color,” she said, the words dying on her tongue as she noticed the hard outline of his dick pressing against his slacks.
Najee closed the door behind them with a quiet click.
“Najee, we can’t,” she whispered, nerves edging her voice as she glanced toward the door “The crew’s right down the hall.
They’ll hear us.” He stepped up behind her without a word, hands sliding slowly up her sides.
One by one, he eased the thin straps of the sundress down her shoulders, letting her full breasts spill free.
He cupped them gently from behind, thumbs brushing across her nipples as his mouth found the side of her neck, kissing a slow path along her skin.
“I asked you twice to put something else on,” he murmured, voice low and even.
“It’s 88 degrees today,” she whined, the sound breaking into a soft moan when he pinched and bit down lightly on her nipple.
“And we can’t—”
Her protest faded as he turned her slightly, so they faced the full-length mirror leaning against the far wall.
Their reflection stared back at them—her bun slightly tousled, glasses still on, breasts heavy in his hands, his taller frame pressed behind her.
He watched her reaction in the glass while one hand stayed on her chest and the other slid down, pushing the sundress up over her hips.
He hooked his fingers into the bike shorts and panties, tugging them down just enough.
Then he dropped to his knees, spread her gently, and leaned in.
His tongue dragged slow and deliberate through her pussy—long, thorough strokes that had her gripping the desk.
She knew what she was doing wearing that dress.
And she knew exactly how he’d react. That’s why her cries fell on deaf ears.
Jackie had been testing him all week with these little ass dresses while he juggled clients, panels, his manuscript, and travel.
She needed his attention. Now she had every bit of it.
He licked deeper, sucking softly on her clit while two fingers slid inside her, stroking with steady precision.
Jackie’s thighs shook around his head. “Najee… please…” She begged, as he hummed against her until she came hard, biting down on her arm to muffle the cry.
Najee kissed her inner thigh softly before rising behind her.
He freed his dick and rubbed the head along her slick entrance.
With one smooth push he sank deep inside her.
Jackie whimpered, eyes locked on his in the mirror.
“This what you wanted, right?” he asked, voice low and teasing.
“No,” she whimpered, adjusting herself around him.
“Yeah, it fucking is.” He said, pulling her hair tighter.
“You wanted me crashing out about a fucking sundress.” He kept stroking deep and steady, one hand on her hip and the other wrapped around her neck.
Her soft whimpers filled the study until she came again, trembling around him.
Najee followed right after, burying himself deep and filling her with a quiet groan.
They barely had time to catch their breath before he pulled her into the walk-in shower tucked off the study.
The water ran hot over them in the raw, unfinished space.
Afterward they settled on a heavy drop cloth, wrapped together in a clean sheet, skin still warm and damp.
The lunch bags sat open between them, the familiar smells of South Flavors filling the quiet study.
Jackie picked at her food with her fork, fake-mad energy still rolling off her.
“I can’t believe you came up here and did that, with the crew right outside.
How am I supposed to look Punchy and Carlos in the face tomorrow?
” Najee leaned back against the wall, legs stretched out, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“First of all, it’s Pedro and Miguel. And this isn’t just your worksite, Jackie. This is your house too.”
The words hung in the air. It was the first time he’d ever said them out loud.
But that’s exactly how he felt. It had been Six months since they made it official.
Now they were living and working together—and he had never been happier.
Jackie was the missing piece. He never realized how lonely he had been until she and Max filled his days.
He couldn’t imagine waking up without her, eating her cooking, dropping Max off at school, or taking him to museums in Center City.
The first few months had growing pains, especially sneaking around for Max’s sake.
But once Dr. Ish gave them the tools to introduce the relationship without causing harm, everything shifted.
Jackie shook her head, still not quite meeting his eyes.
“No… it’s yours. I’m only handling the interiors.
” He reached over slowly, turning her chin so she had to look at him.
“It may have started that way, but it isn’t anymore.
Your house on Bouvier is basically finished, Koi and his team only have the central air left.
You’ve already talked about letting Kormia stay there until her condo situation gets sorted out.
Every corner of this place carries your touch, your vision… and most importantly, your love.”
He saw the tears starting to well and tried to lighten it with a playful smirk.
“Girl, I’m trying to grow old with your ass.”
When that didn’t fully land, he motioned for her to sit between his legs.
Once her back rested against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her.
“Look at me,” he said softly. She slowly tilted her head up.
“Nobody will ever take anything else from you again. You hear me? Not my family. Not anyone else.” His voice sharpened with quiet intensity. “Do you hear me?” She nodded.
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “My lawyer has already drawn up the paperwork. This house, the assets—everything is protected for you and the boys if anything ever happens to me. You won’t have to fight or prove a thing.
” He held her tighter, voice dropping back to that calm, steady tone she knew so well.
“I’m not going anywhere. But I need you to understand—this isn’t just my house.
It’s ours. You’re not ‘just decorating,’ Jackie.
You’re building our life here.” They sat quietly eating for a while until Jackie broke the silence.
“I saw the Cash and Zambia wedding invitation in the mail the other day. It’s three weeks away and you still haven’t RSVP’d.
” Najee stayed quiet. He hadn’t seen his cousin since the winter gala, when they had to physically pull Najee’s hands from around his neck.
The fight had been ugly. Cash landed one hard hit, but Najee gave as good as he got.
That same night Uncle Amin and his father forced them to talk.
Most of Cash’s rage had been about Jackie—he still had feelings for her.
Six months of avoiding each other had followed.
Najee had heard Cash moved in with Zambia and they were trying to make it work.
Monty had texted him about tomorrow’s fitting, but Najee still wasn’t sure he wanted to go.
“I think you should go,” Jackie said, biting into a jerk egg roll.
“That’s your family. He needs your support.
Besides… y’all already beat the shit out of each other. ”
Najee remained silent and held her a little tighter.
“I’ll go to the fitting and the wedding,” he said after a long moment, “but you have to be my plus one and move here with me come the fall. You and Max.” She looked up at him, playfully rolling her eyes before settling back into his chest with a soft sigh.
“Deal,” she smiled. They stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, both dozing off.