3. Treasure
TREASURE
I didn’t know what I was thinking, telling Kingsley to come spend the night with me. His words had me willing to risk it all. I wished I would have stayed on the phone with him. The minute I hung up, I started questioning my decisions. When I got out of the shower, I knocked on my parents’ door.
“Come in,” my dad said.
I opened the door to see them in bed, watching TV. “Kingsley’s coming back over. I just . . . I need him close for some reason. I promise, your house won’t be disrespected. I’m not ready for anything like that. I just—”
“We get it, baby. This is a step in the right direction though, right?” my mama asked.
I nodded. “He said he loved me in the note on my flowers. I’ve felt it for a long time.
Something prompted me to ask him over the phone if he really .
. . truly loved me. He responded in the affirmative immediately.
There was no hesitancy or even a slight pause.
It was like he was waiting for a reason to be able to say aloud that he did. ”
“Did you say it back?” Mama asked.
I shook my head. “I couldn’t. My cries overwhelmed the moment. The next time he says it, I probably will.”
“I’m so happy for you, baby girl. Kingsley is a good dude,” my daddy said.
I smiled slightly. When the doorbell rang, I flinched slightly. I stared at my mama for a moment, then took deep breaths and nodded. Closing their door, I quickly made my way to the front door and checked the peephole. When I saw him standing there, I smiled.
Opening the door, I smiled slightly. Kingsley smiled, and God, it was so beautiful, his small gap and all.
That gap actually enhanced his smile. I hadn’t seen him smile this wide in a long time.
I stepped aside, letting him walk into the house.
Nervously, I closed the door. When I turned around, I noticed he’d walked away from me a bit so he wouldn’t startle me.
Kingsley was perfect. He was intelligent, mentally and emotionally.
He understood the things I needed. To say he was only twenty-five, almost twenty-six, he was extremely mature.
I walked toward him and smiled. When he extended his arms, I went to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. He placed his hand on the back of my head and kissed the top it as I laid my head on his chest for a moment.
Pulling away, I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch.
There was no way I could lay in bed with him and risk feeling his dick by accident.
That would truly send me into panic mode.
Once I sat, he sat next to me. “I’m truly happy to be here with you, Treasure.”
“I’m happy to have you here. I’m still a little nervous, but I knew I needed you here.”
He kissed my forehead, then said, “I’ll be wherever you need me to be. You have all of me. I love you.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath again. I just told my mama that I would say it back. Taking a chance, I stared up at him, and said, “I love . . . you too.”
His medium brown skin reddened, and he smiled.
“For the past two and a half years, I’ve been wanting to hear those words from your lips.
I hoped all the care I showed you . . . the tenderness and compassion .
. . all the things I naturally gave, would make you love me.
It may be childish thinking. While I always want to be here for you, I also hoped that it would show you just how much you mean to me and hoped it would make you love me. ”
He lowered his head, then shook it slowly. “I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t want you to think I have an ulterior motive. I’m sorry.”
I brought my hand to his face. “Look at me, Kingsley.” When his eyes met mine, I said, “It did make me love you. I couldn’t help but take notice of all the things you were doing for me and with me in mind.
The countless conversations and tender words.
” I shook my head. “For two and a half years, you have been here, showing me that I deserve love after everything I went through. For the record, your parents got your name right too. You exhibit kingly behavior at all times. You deserve my love and everything I have to offer.”
He pulled me in his arms, and I felt him tremble. “You okay?” I asked.
“Better than okay. You make me a better me, Treasure. You are definitely a king’s treasure, baby.”
I got comfortable in his arms as he lay back against the couch cushions in the corner of the sectional. Lifting my feet to tuck under me, I glanced up at him to see his eyes were closed. I felt safe in his arms. If I could stay here forever, I would.
“Good night, Kingsley.”
He opened his eyes and slowly lifted his hand to my cheek. “Good night, baby.”
He lowered his head slightly, and I met him halfway, then kissed his awaiting lips. This time, I allowed my lips to really mesh with his. When I pulled away, he said, “Damn, I love you.”
“I love you too, Kingsley.”
I smelled bacon. That was what woke me up. When I felt a body beneath mine, my eyes popped open, and I nearly fell trying to get away from Kingsley. After seeing his face, I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
He smiled slightly. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten that relaxed. I was practically on top of him. Sometime during the night, he’d scooted down on the couch to where he wasn’t so upright. My upper body was on top of him.
“How did you sleep?” he asked.
“I slept good. What about you? Were you comfortable?”
“Yeah. I didn’t wake up until you did. Normally, I wake up before the sun.”
I smiled. He was right about that. “Yeah, but I had you up past your bedtime. Your body was tired.”
He twisted his lips to the side, then said, “You right. I was up for almost twenty-four hours. This time yesterday, I had done caught six or seven fish and was back home cleaning and filleting them.”
I gave him a soft smile. Kingsley was the countriest man I’d ever come in contact with.
My dad and my brothers liked horses and rodeoed with the best of them, but I never saw any of them hunting.
They did things to take care of the horses, like bale hay, but that was about it.
I only remember my dad and Uncle Red going fishing a couple of times. Their careers took up all their time.
Kingsley was not only a hunter, but he was a straight daredevil.
There was no way I would even consider jumping in a canal or creek, let alone to wrestle with a damn alligator.
Ain’t no fucking way. It was nothing for him to sleep outside either.
He said he’d spent nights in the woods in a deer stand.
I could only shake my head at his admission.
I stood from the couch as he stared at me, then said, “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
He nodded and smiled. I glanced at my mama in the kitchen as I hit the stairs, and she had the biggest smile on her face.
I knew that had a lot to do with her seeing my happiness.
When I got to my bedroom, I went to the en suite bathroom.
As I began brushing my teeth, I stared at myself in the mirror.
The bags under my eyes, that had become a part of my appearance now, were smaller.
I had to admit that I hadn’t slept well since my attack.
Last night, although I only slept about six hours, it was the first time I’d slept that long without waking up.
Every night, my sleep was broken at least twice, usually at two and five.
I was completely awake by seven every day.
I didn’t know if it was Kingsley’s spirit that calmed mine or if it was the steadiness of his heartbeat that lulled me into a deep sleep.
Whatever it was, it definitely had to do with him being near me.
I slept so well I’d forgotten he was here.
That was why I was startled awake. Kingsley was good for my overall peace.
Maybe he and my mama were right. I was pushing him away so he wouldn’t have to deal with my struggles, but he could very well be the one God sent to me to help me through them.
Once I finished, I headed back downstairs to find Kingsley in the kitchen with my parents. My dad had joined them while I was upstairs. They were talking and laughing like they were best friends. I stood at the top of the stairs, listening to them with my hand on my chest.
“I love her so much. I’m glad she finally sees it . . . sees me. I want to be with her for the rest of my life. She’s made me more expressive, softer, and emotionally intelligent. I just want to be whoever she needs me to be.”
“That’s beautiful, Kingsley, but please don’t lose yourself in the process.
I believe Treasure loves you for who you are and not just because of the things you do to make things easier for her.
I know that played a part with her seeing you, but it isn’t the totality of it.
You can’t truly change your personality.
You have an innate ability to calm whomever is around you. That’s just who you are.”
“I suppose so, but I was quiet before being in her life. I’m expressive because I feel like it helps build her.
A lot of things I’ve said to her I would have normally kept to myself.
I surely wouldn’t have been the first to express my love.
While trying to be there for her and help her through things, she’s helping me too.
I read constantly, trying to figure out ways to get her to open up and be comfortable with me and also to help me be a better man for her. ”
“Sounds like you need to be her counselor,” my dad said.
Kingsley chuckled. “If I thought I was qualified . . . maybe, but I don’t believe Treasure would be comfortable with that. Is she needing a new counselor?”
“I believe so,” my mama said.
“Karima got her license not too long ago. My family also uses Serita Gardener. She’s our attorney’s sister. Missus Sidney Taylor’s sister, not Mister Berotte, although he does have a brother that’s a counselor. I already know he wouldn’t work for her simply because he’s a man.”
I’d heard enough, so I began making my way down the stairs.
When I got in view, Kingsley’s eyes met mine, and he stood from his seat.
I glanced at my mama to see she had the same smile on her face.
Once I got close to the bottom of the stairs, Kingsley came and extended his hand for me to grab.
I smiled at him and grabbed it for him to assist me down the remaining stairs.
“Okay! Well, I guess we can eat now,” Mama said.
Kingsley escorted me to a seat at the table with my daddy.
Seeing my parents so happy made me smile.
I knew they were worried about me. What I’d gone through was hard for not just me but for everyone.
Obviously, no one had it as rough as me, but it definitely affected my family knowing some of the things those people had done to me.
They would never know just how terrified I still was.
Doing things while being afraid was hard as hell.
I turned to Kingsley and stared into his expressive eyes, thinking about everything I heard him say.
It proved just how devoted he was to me .
. . long before I even gave him a second look.
I wanted to be better for myself, but now I wanted to be better for him just as badly.
He deserved that. I would do my best to be more open during my counseling sessions.
I would lay all my cards on the table and pray that whatever I had to say never pushed him away.