Chapter 13
JASMINE MILLER
Three hard knocks on my door pulled my attention from the TV. I turned it down, took a deep breath, and tried to ignore the way my heart sped up.
I almost told him not to come when he texted me. It was after midnight, and I had work in a few hours—but I couldn’t stop thinking about him after our date.
I opened the door with a mildly annoyed look.
“Stalker, huh?” Cash teased, leaning against the doorframe.
I shook my head and stepped aside. “Definitely—‘cause I never gave you my apartment number,” I said, shutting the door behind him. “And I’m not even gonna ask how you got it.”
He grinned, showing off his golds. “Can’t go giving up all my secrets.”
I watched as he took in my apartment. It was a simple one-bedroom that came fully furnished, but I’d done my best to make it home.
A vase filled with fresh flowers sat on the dining room table beside a scented candle, and there were a few framed photos of my friends and family on the walls.
He paused in front of the one with my arms around my parents.
“These your parents?” he asked.
“Yep.” I sank onto the sectional and tucked my legs under me.
He nodded approvingly, kicking off his shoes as he moved closer. “Your mama fine as shit.”
I scrunched my face, horrified. “Ew, please don’t say that about my mama.”
Cash laughed as he plopped down next to me, leaving a little space between us. “I’m saying though. I see where you get it from. The fineness is clearly genetic.”
I rolled my eyes, fighting a smile. ”Uh huh. So, what brings you to my neck of the woods?”
He leaned back, arms stretched across the back of the couch like he was making himself at home in my space. “I want to see you, just ‘cause?”
“Mmhmm.” I looked him up and. down, tapping my finger against my lips. “Just ‘cause, huh?”
“You don’t believe me?”
I stared at him, really trying to feel out his energy.
He looked away first.
“Work shit,” he said with a heavy sigh. “Got a lot on my mind and didn’t feel like going home.”
“You wanna talk about it?” I asked, voice softening.
He turned toward me with a smile, clearly surprised that I said something sweet. “Aww, let me find out you care for a nigga.”
I snatched a pillow and tossed it at his chest. “Boy, shut up! See? This why I can’t be nice to you now.”
I laughed as I started to get up, but he was quick. Cash pulled me into his lap, and I landed on him with a yelp, pressed up against the solid warmth of him.
“You play too much,” I huffed, half-heartedly trying to get up again.
“You keep saying that,” he murmured, his arms tightening around me. “But you love it here.”
Something about the way he held me made my heart slow down. I just stared up at him, getting lost in his dark brown eyes. I was really falling for a whole drug lord at my big age.
His thumb brushed my jaw. “Can I kiss you?”
I nodded, words caught in my throat. His lips touched mine, soft at first, but then he deepened the kiss like he wanted me to feel that shit in my chest.
His hand slid under my shirt and cupped my breast. I moaned into his mouth as he toyed with my nipple, my thighs clenching reflexively.
He pulled back, breath warm against my lips. His fingers were still playing with my nipple, while his other trailed lower until it was pressing against the heat between my legs.
“You not wearing any draws, Jas?”
“Find out for yourself,” I whispered, tugging his bottom lip with my teeth.
His fingers slipped past my waistband.
“Fuck,” he muttered, dragging through my slick folds. “You stay ready for me, huh?”
I sucked my teeth. “I don’t even be thinking about you like that.”
“You sure?” His thumb circled the sensitive bundle of nerves, making me jump. “Then why you leaking all over my hand?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, but it didn’t stop the moan that slipped out when he pulled his hand free and licked it, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Sit up for me, baby.”
I eased off his lap, heart thudding in my chest as I leaned back into the couch. He dropped to his knees, hooked his arms under my thighs, and tugged my shorts down as I lifted my hips.
“I’m tryna have a late-night snack,” he said, nipping the inside of my thigh. “Can I taste her, sweetheart?”
“Bon appetit.”
That made him grin. “Spread her open for me.”
A shiver ran through me as I reached between my legs and parted my lips with two fingers.
Cash growled low in his throat and dove in. My whole body jerked as his tongue flicked over my clit. I tried to hold it in, but his mouth was too much.
“Money…” I whimpered, running my hand over his head.
He moaned into me, my soul nearly left my body when he added two fingers and curled up so they pressed against my spot.
“This pretty ass pussy,” he muttered, eating me like I was his last meal.
“FUCK, Cash—”
He pressed on my stomach with his palm, and I almost blacked out. My thighs clamped around his head, and I cried out, not giving a fuck if my neighbors heard me as I came. He didn’t stop until I pushed him away, too sensitive to take any more.
He sat back on his heels, his beard and fingers glistening, looking proud of himself.
I laid there with a lopsided smile on my face, bonnet crooked, but I was too far gone to care.
I reached for his belt as he stood, peeping the heavy print straining against his pants.
“Aht,” he said, catching my hands and pulling me up to stand with him. “As much as I wanna bend you over and fuck the shit outta you… not tonight.”
I cocked my head. “You scared?”
He chuckled, running his tongue over his teeth as he eyed me hungrily. “Nah, sweetheart. I’m tryna pace myself. You taste too good—I fuck you now?” He shook his head. “I‘m already knowin’ I’m not coming off you.”
My stomach fluttered at the implication, even as my fingers kept fiddling with his belt like they had a mind of their own.
Cash grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me sloppily. I tasted myself on his tongue and wanted more.
“Jas,” he said, resting his forehead against mine. “Once I’m inside you? That’s it. You mine forreal. I already pistol-whipped a nigga for talking crazy to you. Now imagine how I’ma act when I’m in that thing. You ready for that?”
I rolled my eyes and bent to grab my shorts. “Whatever.”
He sat on the edge of the couch, tracking my movements with a quiet intensity that made my chest tighten.
“What you getting into tomorrow?”
“Work. I have to go in for the next four days.”
“Aight. Text me when you’re on your lunch break, and I’ll come scoop you.”
I nodded, but still felt a little sting. I wanted him to stay, even though I knew he shouldn’t.
“Stop that,” he said, wrapping me in a hug. “You’re overthinking again. This isn’t a sneaky link, Jasmine—I’m not moving like that with you.”
There was no deceit in his brown eyes.
“But,” he added with a smirk, “I also know you got a queen-sized bed. That’s too small for me anyway.”
I pushed him off me. “You haven’t even been in my room! How you know what size bed I have?”
“Educated guess. I’m wrong?”
“Not too much on my bed,” I shot back. “I’ve had—”
The look he gave me shut me up before I could finish. He smacked my ass playfully on his way to the door.
“Keep playing with me, woman,” he said, slipping on his sneakers.
“Yeah, yeah. Goodnight, Cash.”
He leaned down for one last kiss, softer this time. A smile lingered on his lips when he pulled back.
“Night, Jas.”
* * *
I was dragging through my shift, barely functioning after Cash kept me up way past my bedtime. Monica caught me mid-yawn as I tried to power through the stack of charts in front of me.
“Rough night, boo?” she nudged me. “You’ve been staring at that paperwork for the past five minutes.”
I rubbed my eyes. Two cups of coffee—one with an extra shot of espresso—and I was still struggling to keep them open. “Yeah,” I yawned again, covering my mouth. “Your man’s brother stopped by last night, and—”
Her eyes lit up. “Hold up! Money finally dropped off the dick?”
“You’re so damn loud,” I hissed, shaking my head. “But… sort of. It was after nearly midnight, and I was acting like I didn’t have a twelve-hour shift today,”
Monica screwed up her face. “Sort of? How that work? You either drop off all the dick or none.”
Before I could spill the rest of the tea, her eyes flicked past me, and she rolled them hard. I already knew who it was before Dr. Matthews cleared his throat and announced himself like he always did.
“Here this nigga go,” Monica muttered.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Matthews,” I said sweetly.
“Hey, Nurse Miller,” he replied, and quickly turned his full attention to Monica. “Uh, Nurse Pierce, I was wondering if you had a second to check on that patient in 204 with me.”
Monica didn’t even bother looking up. “I’m pretty sure their labs are already in the system, Dr. Matthews. You can check there.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh. This poor man wanted to talk to her so badly, but she refused to give him the time of day.
“Right,” he said, shifting awkwardly. “I figured I’d ask since you’re always on top of things.”
“Mhm,” she hummed, still typing away.
Seeing he was getting nowhere, Dr. Matthews sighed in defeat. “Alright, well… y’all have a good day.” He shuffled away, looking like a kicked puppy.
I burst out laughing as soon as he disappeared. “He likes you real bad.”
Monica sucked her teeth. “Please. He comes up here acting all innocent, but I got his tea from the phlebotomy girls—he’s a man whore.”
“Damn, for real?” I wasn’t shocked. Young, single doctors stayed sleeping with the nurses.
“Yeah. I don’t know why he’s all in my face. I don’t shit where I eat,” she said, giving me a knowing look.
“You don’t even work here full-time anymore. Be honest—it’s because of Jelani.”
“Tuh, no one’s worried about Lani.” She rolled her eyes.
I frowned. “Oh? I thought you were smitten?”
“Not important,” she said, brushing it off. “I wanna hear about your lil night cap.”
I snorted. “Chile, we need a girls’ night. I didn’t even tell you about the date.”