Chapter 6
I got off my shift feeling like I had just survived psychological warfare.
I had to de-escalate a fistfight over oatmeal pies, break up a full-on twerk contest between two inmates who claimed to be TikTok famous, and listen to a grown man cry about his baby mama blocking him because he didn’t know his son was allergic to strawberries.
I was done. My spirit felt sticky, and my nerves were fried, much like my favorite catfish plate from Mama J Nolia’s Kitchen in South Self.
When I got home, I didn’t turn on the TV or check my notifications.
Instead, I headed straight to the bathroom.
I turned on my favorite playlist, letting Snoh Aalegra’s soothing voice fill the air as I began my routine.
Wash day wasn’t just about my hair; it was a time for rebirth.
I parted my locs with oil-slicked fingers, scrubbing my scalp as if I was trying to massage away the stress of the week.
Then, I deep conditioned my hair, using my special mixture of shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, and honey.
After rinsing everything out, I braided my locs into sections and lit my fancy candle, Joy is My Birthright, which had notes of lemon zest, magnolia, and jasmine from the Black-owned candle shop, Wicks instead, I noticed his jaw tighten, and his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The air around us thickened with unspoken words, and I could feel the tension mounting in the heavy silence.
“Did that bitch ass nigga ever put his hands on you, baby?”
I shook my head. “Nah, not physically. But the way he made me question myself definitely left bruises you couldn’t see. He was always accusing me of shit and turning stuff around on me when I questioned him about things.”
Elias stepped closer. “You’re not too much, baby. You’re just too real for somebody who was never ready to be honest.”
My throat tightened, and I immediately reached for my wine, nearly knocking it over in the process.
“I stayed because I wanted to prove my loyalty. But loyalty without reciprocity is just punishment.”
He nodded. “You done punishing yourself, Deputy Gorgeous?”
“I’m trying.”
He reached out, slid his hand across my lower back, and smiled softly. “Good. Because I’d hate to catch a charge behind someone who isn’t even a threat.”
I laughed breathlessly. “You gon’ crash out behind me?”
“Baby girl, I’ll crash respectfully.”
The tension in the room shifted, but not in a way that made one uncomfortable. It was the kind that made your toes curl before even being touched by him.
Elias leaned against the counter, his gaze locked on mine as if he were watching the sunrise. I pretended to wipe down the already clean stove, my hands moving, but my mind stuck on his words. You’re not too much.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re two seconds away from kissing me and ruining the peace we just built.”
He stepped in closer, the rich aroma of oud and pine enveloping me like a warm embrace. That damn beard glimmered in the light, radiating as if it possessed a halo of its own. His tongue slid slowly across his bottom lip before he spoke again.
“I’m not tryna ruin nothing. But I am tryna taste what peace looks like on you.”
I stared up at him, heartbeat thumping like a drumline in my chest. “You always talk like a spoken word poet?”
“Nah. Just when I’m looking at a fine ass masterpiece,” he said while licking his sexy lips, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he swept over my frame.
I let out a laugh, my eyes rolling playfully as I fought back the heat creeping to my cheeks. “Boy, if you don’t—”
Before I could finish my teasing retort, he silenced me with a kiss, warm and unexpected, sending a thrill racing through me.
Not reckless or hasty, but slow and reverent.
It was as if he were trying to memorize my mouth before my mind caught up, needing permission even though he already knew he had it.
My knees nearly gave out, but I held onto his shirt and kissed him back as if I had something to prove. My hand slipped up the back of his neck with my fingers tangling in his waves, while his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.
He pulled back slightly and whispered, “You still scared, gorgeous?”
“Terrified,” I said breathlessly.
“You want me to stop?”
I looked him dead in the eye and said, “Don’t even think about it.”
That was all the invitation he needed.
He lifted me effortlessly onto the cool, marble counter as if I weighed nothing, his lips never leaving mine, sealing our connection with a passionate kiss.
His hands, firm yet gentle, supported me in a way that felt both secure and tender.
I wrapped my legs around his waist, the chill of the counter sending a shiver down my spine, but it was a delightful contrast to the warmth radiating between us.
In that moment, everything outside faded away, and the cold didn’t matter at all. He was the warmth I was chasing.
“You taste like resilience,” he whispered softly against my neck.
“You taste like trouble,” I replied, gasping when he sucked on that spot just below my jaw.
His laugh was low and menacing. “Good. I’m tryna give ya sexy ass both.”