9. Merci
MERCI
“If you don’t tell him to come up here, I’m going to call Cujo and tell them where we are,” Ariel threatened, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
She and I were out having drinks with Heir, and I was so annoyed by David blowing my phone up, begging for another chance.
It wasn’t until I told him I was going to have my brothers beat him up if he didn’t stop calling me that he finally stopped, but I was so aggravated by his calls that it had temporarily ruined my mood.
I couldn’t stand him feeling entitled to forgiveness and a second chance like he hadn’t been cheating on his baby mama with me.
It was the audacity that was pissing me off more than anything.
“I don’t know why you think he needs to come up here,” was what I said, but that didn’t stop me from sending Hammer my location.
I couldn’t lie and act like I wasn’t intrigued by him, and I did appreciate the effort he was putting behind getting me.
One could only hope he applied that same pressure to keep me.
And it was cute that he didn’t even let a day go by before he came to see why I’d blocked him.
I also gave him bonus points for not showing up empty-handed.
Ariel told me that he called her and Cujo while they were having breakfast and got some information on me, and if what she said was true, I’d have to be careful with Hammer.
I would say my love languages were quality time and acts of service.
He was always catering to me in a way that had me feeling tender toward him, and if he wasn’t sincere, I’d definitely need to slow down.
“Because every time we say his name, you smile,” was Heir’s response.
“Plus, he’s been working hard these last few days to get a chance. He was really concerned when you blocked him. I think he’s a genuine guy, sis,” Ariel added.
“Don’t use me as an excuse to call Cujo,” I said, needing to not only downplay what was happening between Hammer and me but also get the attention off me. “If you want to see the man, just say that.”
“Uh,” Ariel groaned with a smile. “I won’t deny that I’m insanely attracted to Cujo, but it’s nothing more than that.
He’s the distraction y’all been wanting me to have, but that’s it.
And it’s not sexual. We’re strictly friends.
Hell, I can’t even say we’re friends. Maybe just companions.
Strangers enjoying each other’s presence.
We really don’t even talk like that. He just…
keeps me from getting too lost in the reality of my divorce. ”
“I mean, that’s better than you isolating and being locked in the house,” I reasoned.
“I agree,” Heir cosigned. “And him being fine doesn’t hurt either. Y’all might not talk a lot, but at least you got something good to look at.”
We all laughed and toasted to that before ordering another round of cocktails and small bites to share.
By the time the food arrived, I smelled Hammer’s cologne before I saw him.
It was spicy, woodsy, and fresh all in one.
Inhaling a deep whiff, I licked my lips as my eyes fluttered.
When I felt his lips on my neck, I shivered as my nipples hardened.
My mind unraveled when Hammer gently pulled me out of my seat and into his arms. His wide body was solid and warm, making it easy to melt against him. A low sigh escaped me as he held me close, and though I wouldn’t admit it, having him here had already made me feel so much better.
“Tell ya people good night,” he commanded softly but with an authority that made it clear he knew I’d do as he said.
“G-good night,” I stuttered with a grin, waving as he led me away by my hand.
The sound of their oohing and cackling would have embarrassed me under different circumstances, but I was so happy to see Hammer I didn’t even care.
“You drive?” he checked, looking down at me with a barely-there smile.
“Uh, no.”
For a while, all I could do was stare into his dark eyes.
They were underturned and lazy, and I loved looking into them.
Quite frankly, I loved looking at Hammer, period.
He was fine as fuck. Milk-chocolate-brown skin—my favorite shade of black man.
His blunt-brown lips were juicy, and they looked soft as hell.
His mustache-goatee connected to a short, scruffy beard.
The tattoos only added to his sex appeal, and the gold grills and jewelry complemented his brown skin perfectly.
“We gon’ chill for a lil while on the river, and then I’ma take you home. That cool?” he confirmed, opening the door and leading me out.
“Yeah, that works. I have an early morning in preparation for a brunch event tomorrow, so I didn’t plan to be out too long anyway.”
“You’re an event planner and party host, right?” Hammer confirmed, casually leading me to a pretty-ass black-on-black 718 Spyder RS Porsche. It was one of the cars I considered before getting my 718 Cayman.
“Right,” I confirmed.
“I’m sure that’s a fun job.”
“It is. I absolutely love what I do. I love partying as it is, so getting paid to do it when I host events is a bonus.”
I slipped into the comfortable seat, then Hammer made his way to the other side. We listened to music and made small talk as he drove to the liquor store, where he grabbed a bottle of tequila for us both to share.
“You’re not a Hennessy or whiskey man?” I teased as he handed me the bottle to open.
“I used to be, but the older I get, the more I lean toward tequila. I can drink that, get in my mode, and never have to worry about feeling hungover the next day. I still drink whiskey from time to time, though.”
“I agree. That’s why tequila is my preference as well. That, and because it’s the best tasting liquor. I’m really a champagne girly, though, and if you give me a glass of champagne with a shot of tequila, you’re really speaking my language.”
His head bobbed as he chuckled and pulled back into traffic. “What kind? Reposado?”
“Yep.”
“Same. We’re going to get along just fine.”
That was further proven when he put on a down-south playlist that we sang along to.
As soon as he pulled up to the river, our singing turned into dancing by the car.
He rolled up two blunts that we rotated, and even though I wasn’t tipsy, smoking on top of drinking quickly put me on my level.
I felt my happiness increase while I relaxed more, and that was the only reason I could use to justify why I felt comfortable enough to pull Hammer close and wrap my arms around his neck.
He wasted no time lowering his hand to my ass and squeezing as we swayed to the music.
After hitting the blunt, Hammer lowered himself so we could shotgun.
After I inhaled his exhale, our lips connected for a kiss that made me question if I’d ever been kissed before.
It was a first-time intimacy that had me moaning and sighing and yearning for more.
“How am I supposed to take you home after that?” he asked, and the huskiness of his tone had me biting back a moan.
“This is one time I don’t mind being speechless.”
The cocky grin on his face was warranted. That was truly the best kiss of my life, and it took everything in me not to ask what else his mouth and tongue could do. The Lord knew my pussy was aching for him to lick her dry just to wet her all over again, but it was definitely too soon for all that.
“You’re trouble,” he muttered, opening the passenger door for me.
“And yet… here you are.”
“Mhm,” he mumbled, biting down on his bottom lip. “And I ain’t going nowhere.”
I smiled as I got in the car and released a shaky breath when he closed the door behind me. As he pulled out of the grassy parking spot, Hammer said, “I wanted us to get to know each other during our first date, but I’m starting to think we need a pre-date for that.”
“Why’s that?” I asked with a chuckle, unsure what the hell his ass was about to say. The more time we spent together, the more he slightly reminded me of the crazy-ass men in my family.
“We going ring shopping and to the clinic for our first date. After that kiss, a nigga might get ya name tatted too.”
I burst into laughter, and it only increased when he stared at me like he was serious.
“Mr. Freeman!”
“Nah, I’m for real. You’on kiss a man like that and think he gon’ let another nigga feel them lips. I done seen our whole future flash in my mind just off your lips. I’m liable to get pregnant myself when I feel that pussy.”
Between the declaration he made and serious expression on his face, I could only laugh harder. Tears filled my eyes as he squeezed my thigh then took my hand into his.
“You are something else,” I said once I could finally speak.
“Maybe, but I’m yours. I’on ever want you to question that.”
A part of me wanted to doubt him, especially after what happened with David, but truthfully, that had never been my style.
More than anything, I went into relationships with blind trust and all the faith in the world in a man.
As time progressed, every red flag or thing he did wrong decreased my desire for him.
By the time we were done with each other, I was so over him I could move on like he never existed.
And since I was fully aware of the fact that I was a lover girl, being able to detach easily and never settle for less than I deserved was my greatest form of self-preservation.
Crazy thing was, the closer we got to my home, the less I wanted to be away from him. It seemed Hammer felt the same way because when he pulled into the driveway, he made no effort to get out and open my door. When I looked over at him, seeing that he was already looking at me made me blush.
“Let me out,” I ordered quietly. Softly.
“In a minute. Why you in a rush?”
With a huff, I looked out of the window. “I don’t like long goodbyes. Makes it harder to get the inevitable over with.”
“Goodbye for now, but it’ll be good night soon. No front door kisses. It’ll be me putting you to bed. Our bed.”
“You’re so confident, huh?”
“In this? Us? Absolutely.”
The surety in his tone demanded I look over at him.
It felt like magnets drawing us to one another, connecting our lips again.
When a quiet moan escaped me, I was glad Hammer had the discipline to pull away because I didn’t.
Even with all the discipline in the world, he released a shaky breath as he got out of the car and walked over to my side.
We walked to my front door hand-in-hand, and it was crazy to me that I didn’t want him to go.
Still, we said our goodbyes before we shared one last kiss.
For a second, I leaned against the door after locking it behind me and basked in how good it felt to be in Hammer’s presence. I wasn’t sure how long things were going to last between us, but I planned to fully enjoy the time we had.