4. Koi Adora Morgan
The next morning . . .
After promising Han’some I wouldn’t leave, I was finally able to get him into bed.
I’d drifted off to sleep myself for a little while, but when the sun rose, so did I.
It required some serious flexibility to work my way out of his arms. He took cuddling with me a little too seriously, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about how much I loved being wrapped in his embrace.
After relieving my bladder and finding his extra toothbrushes, I handled my hygiene. Making my way to the kitchen, I went through his fridge to see what he had. When I found some ginger thumbs, I decided to juice them for him to take as a shot when he woke up.
I spaced out many times while I worked because my mind kept record of everything from his body heat to the way he anchored me to his chest like I belonged there.
After I finished making the ginger shots, I pulled out eggs, bacon, and bread to make him a breakfast sandwich.
He would need something greasy on his stomach after drinking that cognac as if it was water.
I was finishing up everything when I heard groaning behind me. One glance at the doorway confirmed he’d officially woken up. He was leaning against the doorframe, looking like even breathing was hard to do. Going into the fridge, I grabbed one of the ginger shots I’d prepared.
“Here.” I pushed it into his hands, but his hand around mine kept me from walking away.
“Do it for me. I’m too weak.”
I thought he was joking at first. I guess after last night, I should’ve known he was serious.
Untwisting the cap, I placed it to his lips then tilted it upward so he had to drink every drop.
He groaned from the spiciness. A drop of liquid slipped from the corner of his mouth, and I quickly used my thumb to catch it.
I turned to walk away, but he put my finger in his mouth to drink that little drop of juice off as if he forgot all about the spiciness.
Chills raced down my spine, nearly immobilizing me. His eyes were hyper focused on studying my reactions to his flirtatious behavior. “Only you can make ginger sweet.”
I swallowed the cotton in my throat while taking an unsteady step backward. If it weren’t for the sound of sizzling behind me, I would’ve been trapped in front of him like a deer in headlights. I was thankful for the opportunity to put some much-needed distance between us.
I busied myself with finishing his breakfast while he went into the fridge for a bottle of water. Without a word, I placed a packet of liquid IV in front of him to put in his water. “Damn, you really know how to take care of a nigga needs, Adora.”
I rolled my eyes as I returned to the stove. Removing the bacon to drain, I cracked two eggs to fry. “Don’t get used to it,” I warned.
“Shit, you already let me get a taste of this life now. I am absolutely planning to get used to it. Why you always got to fight against me, Koi?”
“Because you don’t be serious, and you have more than enough on your plate as is.” I found the aluminum foil and ripped off a piece. I began to assemble his sandwich, wrapped it tightly, then cut the foil in half.
He waved me off, not even trying to hear a word I said.
“Only plate I want is the one with you on it,” he replied smoothly.
I blew out a shaky breath, wanting to not be impacted by his words.
The goosebumps on my arms were proof of my failure.
The sound of him gagging behind me zapped me out of my thoughts.
“Don’t nobody want this salty shit,” he complained about the liquid IV drink.
He placed the cap back on with a frown. “It’s only salty because your ass is still intoxicated. Don’t ever drink that much again, Han’some. I mean it.”
He lifted an eyebrow and pressed his chest deeper into his floating island. “Or what?”
“Or you’re going to give yourself alcohol poisoning, fool.”
He shrugged nonchalantly while folding his arms over his chest. “Don’t nobody really give a fuck if I keel over and die, Koi.”
The weight of his words slammed in my chest like a Mack truck.
Every word felt like an icy shard as it pierced through my heart.
“Don’t ever say that again. You have a daughter that’s depending on you, and she would be devastated if anything happened to you.
” After a pause, I decided to be honest by saying, “And I would be too.”
I handed him the bottle of hot sauce I found in the cabinet. Han’some stared at the bottle for half a second before slowly dragging his eyes up to my face. “You mean that, or you just trying to make me feel better about my fucked-up life?”
With a sigh, I leaned onto the counter with my elbows resting on it. “I mean it. I took a risk sneaking out of the house to come here last night. If that doesn’t prove that I care about you, then I don’t know what else would.”
When he didn’t respond, I thought the conversation was over. Then he said something that made all the blood in my body run cold. “Marrying me. That would prove it.”
I closed and opened my mouth twice before I was even able to locate my voice. “What?” I croaked.
He picked up the hot sauce and poured some on his sandwich before taking a big bite. “I said marrying me would prove you care about me.”
I reached for my neck because it began to itch as if I was developing a rash from his words. “Han’some . . .”
“I already know what you’re going to say. One of these days, you will see that I am very serious about you.”
I leaned against the counter with my arms folded over my chest, hoping it had the power to shield me from entertaining silly ideas like believing him.
“Considering I stayed out all night for you, I surely hope so. My parents are going to kill me.” Noticing that he was only eating and not drinking, I pointed to the bottle on the counter. “Drink some more of that.”
He shook his head like a defiant child. I gave him a glare that sent him straight into action.
The cap was off within seconds. “Okay, okay, I’m drinking more.
Don’t whup me.” After his mouth was free of food and drink, he continued the conversation.
“When they ask where you were, just tell them you were with your future husband. I know you’re tired of being cooped up in the house all the time. ”
I ignored his words as I went over to the sink and started on the dishes. “I know you think my parents’ rule is just a game; however, I am the kind of woman who will take my vows very seriously. I wouldn’t do it just so I can stay out all night.”
I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, so after drying my hands, I checked it out.
Han’some was sitting quietly eating his food now, and I was happy to have finally put the conversation of marriage on ice.
He was so persistent about bringing it up that I lowkey was beginning to believe him and even considered the possibility.
But I knew Han’some. He was only interested in me because I didn’t give him the time of day to play in my face.
Once I did, he would get bored and move on to the next intriguing woman he could find.
The notification on my phone was from my email, and the subject line alone caught my attention.
Collaboration Inquiry: Galaxy x Koi Morgan Co.
I completely forgot about Han’some as I quickly opened the email to read the contents. “Oh my God,” I mumbled, seeing my dream opportunity sitting right in my inbox. “Oh my God!” I screamed once I read through the details.
“What? What is it?” Han’some asked after I yelled out like a maniac.
I couldn’t contain my smile or excitement. “Galaxy wants to work with me.”
A genuine smile spread across his face as he wiped his mouth with a paper towel to get rid of the crumbs left over from the sandwich.
“That’s dope as fuck, Adora. Congratulations, baby.
You fucking deserve that. Ain’t no bitch flyer than you, and I mean that.
” After another gulp of the liquid IV, he asked, “Are you going to take the job? You know that means you’ll have to be out all night, right? ”
My eyes skimmed over more of the details, and that was when reality set in.
My smile fell from my face because one thing was certain.
If I remained living at home with my parents, I would never be able to commit to working for Galaxy.
Her schedule would mimic Han’some’s, and while he was understanding of the hours I could and couldn’t work, I knew it wouldn’t be an option with Galaxy.
I massaged my neck as my head fell backward.
I had been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life.
Could I really pass it up because I wasn’t allowed to be out later than sunset?
Or was it time to spread my wings and take a risk?
I allowed my eyes to float over to Han’some and thought about what he’d said.
At this point, he might be the only way for me to even have a chance at accepting this job.