Chapter 5 #2
She knew a handful of people in attendance, and their happiness to see her had everyone wondering who she was. All eyes were on her as she and her cousin, Tayah, Saleem’s sister, hugged. Tayah stepped back, taking in her appearance.
The black one-piece clung to her body, showcasing her toned physique and curves.
The back was cut out, showing off her smooth, defined back, while a cropped mustard-colored leather jacket sat off her shoulders.
It was just enough color to offset the required dress attire.
Though the weather was a bit chilly, Orielle didn’t dress for it.
She dressed for the occasion and didn’t half-step.
She’d contemplated not coming, and still didn’t plan to stay long, but once her hair was straightened, she made up her mind. Thankfully, she had because Najee had a few choice words for her. Ones that shouldn’t have been uttered with Renae right beside him.
“Damn,” he mumbled under his breath.
“What’s wrong?” Renae asked.
Nothing was wrong except the distance between him and Orielle.
Whatever Cheyla said to her and Zoey had them laughing, and her smile had Najee locked in.
The way she swung her hair over her shoulder, glancing around the room as if she were looking for him, shifted his stoic expression. He couldn’t hide his smirk if he tried.
His fingers flexed before he removed his hand from the small of Renae’s back.
Heat crept up the back of his neck as he stared her down.
Najee didn’t even try to hide that he was watching her.
Waiting for her to feel his presence without acknowledging her.
And she did, thanks to her roaming eyes of curiosity and nervousness that hadn’t subsided.
Najee commanded her attention with a silent urgency only they could hear.
Telepathy created from everything left unsaid.
Orielle gave him a small wave, and Najee’s head lifted upward, acknowledging her with a nod.
The motion finally made Renae pivot, wondering who had him stuck.
She followed his gaze, and her nostrils flared.
“Who invited her?” The disgust in Renae’s voice wasn’t as bad as the answer she received.
“I did.”
Najee left no room for her to wonder. He’d extended the olive branch and wanted Orielle here.
She chuckled humorlessly. There wasn’t shit funny about the fire burning her chest. “Let me find out you were fucking on her and that’s the real reason you went to jail.”
“Fucking on her? You sound ridiculous,” Najee snarled, glancing her way.
“I mean, convince me otherwise. The same bitch you were supposedly taking up for ,” she said, flexing her middle and index fingers on both hands. “Who caused you to lose fourteen months of your life is here to do what? Celebrate you? Yeah... okay.”
“Did I go to jail for violating my probation or for beating a nigga’s ass?” Najee asked so calmly, it made the hair on Renae’s arms stand.
She sucked her teeth. “Don’t do that. You were?—”
“Nah. You don’t start whatever bullshit you trying to be on. We’re here to celebrate me, so that’s what we’re doing. I ain’t trying to hear nothing else you talkin’ about.”
That was the end of the discussion. Najee wasn’t trying to be disrespectful but accusing him of something he’d never done wasn’t going to fly. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him before trying to storm off. Najee gently grabbed her hand, making her face him.
“Fix your face and attitude before you go back down there.”
Renae snatched away from him while mumbling, “Whatever.”
His gaze stayed on her until she made it down the steps, and he released an audible exhale.
Najee wasn’t about to chase her. She was making up a narrative in her mind for no reason.
He wondered if that was why she’d been acting funny.
Instead of letting his thoughts consume him of a situation he thought they’d moved on from, Najee headed for the steps, tossing his empty cup in the trash can at the end of them.
Orielle had focused her attention elsewhere after he silently greeted her, but she felt his approach. She smelled it too. His Jean Paul Gautier cologne assaulted her nostrils in the most pleasurable way. He invaded her space the same way he’d invaded her thoughts since finding out he was home.
“Glad to see my invite was accepted,” Najee said, stepping to the trio.
Orielle greeted him with a gentle smile while trying to contain her rattled nerves.
Her eyes damn near crossed as she tried taking all of him in.
And there was a lot to indulge in. Jail had done his body undeniable good.
The extra weight and muscle he gained put him at a solid 232 pounds.
The black Psycho Bunny button-down stretched deliciously over broad shoulders and hard abs.
The top button was undone, giving Orielle a glimpse of the thick gold rope chain glistening against his beautiful, dark skin.
When Najee smiled, she could’ve fainted.
There was something so heaven-sent about a man with a gorgeous smile, as if God had just placed him before her.
Orielle’s heart fluttered and nipples tingled when she caught sight of his open-face gold grills.
The gleaming color against that rich complexion and white teeth was beautifully dizzying.
Najee’s thick pink tongue slid across his bottom lip, and Orielle’s mind drifted, wondering exactly how that same slick motion would feel tracing her skin.
Everything about this man was inexcusably profound, and it should’ve been a crime to be so damn fine.
She was standing in the middle of his welcome party from jail, so time clearly had been served for his offense.
“Glad to know I was on your mind to invite,” Orielle replied, catching herself off guard with her words.
Her quick, witty response made Najee smirk. “And you didn’t come empty-handed.”
His eyes stayed on her while she lowered her gaze to the black bag in her hand.
Saleem said she didn’t have to bring a gift, but it felt right to do so.
After all, it was a party. She extended it, ogling the bulging veins stretching up his hand and thick arm.
There was something so unintentionally sexy about the feature, and they only enhanced Najee’s masculinity.
“Thank you,” Najee said, taking the bag, leaning in for a hug.
Grateful that it was a respectful side hug, Orielle met him halfway. “No problem. Welcome home.”
“Yes, welcome home,” Cheyla said, and Zoey did the same.
“’Preciate that. Y’all were in the car that night, right?”
The duo nodded, and Orielle took that chance to introduce them. “This is Cheyla and Zoey. I hope you don’t mind that they came with me.”
“Nah. They’re good. Y’all ate yet? There’s plenty of food and drinks,” he let them know.
Orielle had taken a shot in the car while waiting for Zoey to pull up, and it helped relax her nerves. Now that she was inside and had spoken to the person she was there for, she didn’t need another.
“Okay. We might grab a plate,” Orielle said.
“A’ight. What’s up, though, RiRi?” Najee grinned, making her smile appear. “You promised a nigga something over the phone, or was that jail talk?”
Orielle laughed. “It most definitely wasn’t. No need to sweet talk you.”
“Shit. You could’ve. I wouldn’t have minded at all.”
Her girls chuckled lowly. They weren’t trying to ear hustle, but Najee wasn’t trying to keep his voice low either. Orielle cleared her throat.
“I bet. That’s what’s in the bag, though.”
Najee pushed aside the white tissue paper and glanced inside.
Since he jokingly harped on her not writing him back, she’d gotten a card and placed a handwritten letter inside it.
The bottle of cologne was something extra, as she just wanted to give him that, while the gift he was most worried about was inside a small, velvet drawstring bag.
“A card, a new scent to add to my collection, and this,” he said, pulling the bag out by its strings.
The gifts everyone else brought hadn’t been touched or scanned.
Orielle’s was different. Najee stood right there in the middle of his party and opened hers, letting it be known not only to her but to everyone in attendance that hers was special.
Najee squinted when he pulled out a black music note attached to a gold keychain with the words for your ears only engraved on it.
He flipped it over, spotting a QR code on the other side.
“If you scan that code, you can listen to my new, unreleased music,” Orielle explained.
She didn’t know what reaction she was expecting, but the one he gave her almost made her knees go out. Najee tucked his bottom lip into his mouth, giving her a pleasing grin. His approval was evident. Not just of the gift, but of her entire being, as his eyes trailed her frame.
“That’s how you coming?” Najee asked.
“You asked to keep my new shit reserved for you, so.” She shrugged, reminding him of his words.
Najee licked his lips and leaned into her frame. His warm breath made Orielle’s eyes flutter as he spoke against the shell of her ear. The liquor in his system and the impact of her thoughtfulness made him forget where he was... and who he belonged to.
“I need you to sing to me in person. Make me really feel that shit... but I’ll take this too.”
Orielle swallowed hard and her chest heaved as he backed away, giving her a smile that would’ve ruined her panties if she were wearing any.
Had the material of her jumpsuit been a lighter color and of cheap fabric, proof of how aroused he just made her would’ve shown.
This man is fucking dangerous, she thought.
And so damn fine. Please, get away from me.
“Thank you,” Najee said, sliding the keychain back inside the bag.
“You’re welcome. Just a small peace offering, I guess.”