Chapter 23
Emani Rose in the morning. The sight of her fresh-faced, tucked at his side and peacefully sleeping after a night of mildly-drunk sex and reconnection had to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever experienced in his life.
Then and now. He could feel his heart literally skip a beat as he took her in.
To say he missed her was an understatement.
Every bone, nerve ending, organ, muscle, nail and hair follicle longed for this woman.
She was made for him. She supported, pushed, and created space for the parts of him that were tender to be protected.
Being from Los Oceania, surrounded by Azul Hearts, showing softness or tenderness was off limits.
That shit would get you killed. Even on the court, opponents would take the people you held dear and use that to get in your head.
Emani was safety and strength and he’d foolishly let that go.
The longer he stared at her, the more his body melted underneath her leg thrown over him and her hand on his chest. He kissed her face.
Slowly, placing his admiration against the top of her head, forehead, and the tip of her nose once she lifted her face up for exposure.
Jahlil turned his body to press against hers and held her face while he continued to kiss her.
Emani moaned, one arm folded between them the other wrapped around him. “I love your kisses.”
He nestled his nose against hers. “I know. You be bringing this shit out of me.”
“What’s that? The best?” Emani asked between kisses and touches.
He hooked his arm between her thighs so she could wrap herself around him. She reached between them, placing his hardness at her opening and pushing her hips against him as he thrusted into her. Their mouths open and pressed against one another.
Jahlil shuddered. “Fuck, E.”
“Tell me what I bring out of you,” she winced against his lips. “Tell me.”
“The fucking best,” he groaned, palming her ass. “I’m not coming off of you, baby.”
“Please don’t,” she moaned, arms wrapped around his shoulder, hands pressed against the back of his head. Sloppy kisses, her body making a mess around him, sweat lessening the friction between their bodies.
“Put me through the mattress, Savage,” Emani moaned and Jahlil did exactly what was requested of him.
When he woke up again, he could hear laughter flooding the house.
The crew was here and Emani was more than likely downstairs in the mix.
He groaned with a smirk on his face at the fact that Emani had fucked him to sleep for the second time in a row.
At this point, she was two for two and he was going to have to reclaim his title.
The sting of the scratches on his back were a sweet reminder that his world was coming back to its rightful order.
Showered and dressed for the tailgating at the game and a quick check in with this aunt and kids he headed downstairs. Carson was fixing Emani a plate of food, Ashton was mixing drinks and Emani and Donnée were in the living room with Derrick giggling about something.
“Look at this nigga, walking like a peacock at eleven thirty in the morning. Who did the bending last night?” Ashton asked.
“Not the nigga running around all night in the pink cut-off shirt asking me if I got bent up?” Jahlil asked, popping him across the back of the head. “How many ways your ass get fold up last night?”
Ashton grinned. “As many ways as Emani had you, nigga.”
“Ay, Jah, since you back where you supposed to be, take this plate to our lady would you,” Carson directed and Kyrie laughed.
“Yeah ‘cause she’s only your sister when she’s in a relationship,” he snickered. “Jah, you better never fuck up again ‘cause Carson will make you the best man at his wedding to Emani.”
“I’ll beat that nigga’s ass,” Jahlil stated, taking the plate. “Put more sausage on that. Long night.”
Carson snickered. “My dawg.”
“Bow wow,” Jahlil replied as Carson dropped two more links on the plate for Emani and strolled into the living room where Derrick was shaking his hands through Emani’s braid out. “That for me?”
Emani bit a grin and shrugged. “Maybe. You like it.”
“You know I do,” Jahlil spoke, placing the food on the table and kissing her cheek.
Derrick observed Jahlil’s tenderness with Emani and smirked. “Mmhmm. I knew it. He’s really like that. Bye bye, Malik.”
Jahlil shook his head at Derrick’s comment and asked. “You need anything else?”
Emani flashed him a carnal look before smiling softly. “I’m good.”
From the house to their joint organization tents. The groups ate, drank, posed for pictures, and enjoyed the vibes before the kick off. Jahlil had his arm draped over Emani’s shoulders as they watched Ashton stroll alongside Carson.
“I love how they fight, kiss, and make up,” Jahlil joked.
Emani laughed, taking a sip out of his cup. “Carson loves his little ass, so what he fucked his mom.”
“In Ashton’s defense, Carson’s momma…” Jahlil grunted.
“Mmhmm,” Emani buzzed, as she caught Daniel approaching. “Here we go.”
“He ain’t gone do shit. Not unless he wants to lose another tooth,” Jahlil stated.
Daniel stopped a safe distance away and swayed. “Savage.”
“Speak your piece, nigga, and move your ass around before I forget my lady is here.”
Daniel bowed his head and looked around before landing his eyes on Emani.
“Nigga, talk or get the fuck on,” Jahlil grumbled.
“I’m sorry, Emani, about that shit earlier. I was out of pocket for that,” Daniel stated.
Emani nodded. “You were. That hurt didn’t it. To apologize for being in your natural form. Do me a favor, go apologize to your wife for the years of embarrassment. I know you did this because Jah told you to, I would’ve been satisfied beating your ass myself, but I’m a lady.”
Daniel’s face fell flat and Emani nodded in the direction of his wife.
“You heard her. Beat it,” Jahlil grumbled, feeling his phone buzz in his pocket. Daniel moved around, leaving Emani to turn around and look up at Jahlil. “Aunt Violet. Let me see what these kids are doing to her.”
Jahlil waved Carson over before tapping Emani’s ass and walking off. “What’s up, Aunt Vi?”
“It’s Andrew. He asked me if he could go down to the courts for a pick-up game. I said yes. I check my phone and he’s been texting his friends off of it and they’re at Shaking Shack. I get here and he’s in the back of a cop car.”
“What the fuck do you mean he’s in the back of a cop car?” Jahlil gritted, feeling his chest tighten.
“He used your card to buy food and the cashier called it in for theft. I’ve tried talking to the cops, they won’t let me talk to him and they’re taking him. You need to get home. Now!”
Jahlil jogged back to the tent. “Carson, make sure she gets home.”
“What’s going on?” Emani asked, jumping up. She didn’t care what it was, the panic in his being alerted her. “I’ll go with you.”
Jahlil kissed her face. “Let me handle this. Stay, have fun. I’ll call you tonight. Okay?”
“Okay,” Emani agreed, as she watched him jog off.
“I’m getting my shit, and a car, go down there and call the lawyer. I’ll meet you there.”