Chapter 14
T he Next Morning
I vowed to emotionally barricade myself until after the wedding.
Emotions were already increased during these seasons of love, and I didn’t want my happiness for my sister to be transferred as feelings for Rasheed or anyone else for that matter.
I wasn’t here to make a love connection.
I was here to support my sister, avoid chaos, and look damn good in all the pictures.
My plan shattered slightly when I went into the kitchen and saw Rasheed making pancakes in the kitchen like this was a damn Hallmark movie.
We had a whole catering staff, yet here he was flipping pancakes because Paisley liked hers hot and crispy, and the chef was busy making waffles.
How could I not find a man who catered to my sister sexy?
He was already showing me he had a similar trait to Jason—one that made them servers and helpful to literally any and everyone.
Since that was often the role I had in my relationships, I always found it refreshing and attractive when I found it in someone else.
“Mornin’.” I greeted everyone who was standing around in the kitchen.
They all said good morning, but when Rasheed’s eyes locked on me, he smiled and said, “My sweet trouble.”
The name was cute, but it wouldn’t make me melt. Couldn’t make me melt. And why in the hell was he always so smiley? I couldn’t stop myself from asking him that, which made him laugh. He licked his lips as he returned his attention to the pancakes while saying, “You’d prefer I be mad?”
“I don’t know. It’s just… weird.”
“You’re not used to seeing a black man smile?”
“Not as much as you.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm what?”
His head shook as he plated the pancakes. “That tells me something very important about the men you used to date.”
“What’s that?” I asked skeptically.
“That you’re used to dealing with men who don’t like women, or men in survival mode. I’m happy and healed, sweetheart. No trauma. Just love and good vibes over here.”
He’d rendered me speechless. Didn’t seem to matter, because he grabbed the plate and syrup and walked away. He did, however, stop long enough to drop a kiss to my forehead that instantly pebbled my nipples and say, “Good morning, by the way.”
It wasn’t until he was out of the kitchen that I felt strong enough to remove myself from the trance he’d placed me in.
I went to the drink station and poured myself a cup of coffee before going to the sunroom.
There were pastries there, so I grabbed a blueberry muffin and small fruit cup before getting comfortable.
We didn’t have anything planned until tonight, so I wanted to finish reading while I had the chance.
I would have stayed in my room, but I didn’t want to appear antisocial.
Not too much time passed before I felt a presence over me.
“What are you reading?”
“It’s ‘Until the Last Breath’ by Shanora Williams,” I informed Rasheed as he sat on the couch next to me.
“I haven’t read that, but I read a couple of her books before.”
That piqued my interest. I looked over at him with a smile.
He was so handsome. Rasheed was my favorite shade of brown, and I loved how smooth his skin was.
The tattoos gave an edge to his appearance.
It was something about a black man with tattoos in a suit that made my pussy wet.
But even this morning with him dressed down, he looked appetizing.
“You read for pleasure?”
“I do.”
“What have you read by her, and what are your favorite genres to read?” I asked, turning slightly to face him.
“The first book I read by her was ‘The Wife Before.’ My favorite genres are thriller, mystery, and street lit. Don’t tell nobody, but I love a good romance too. It’s a palette cleanser and it resets my nervous system. What about you?”
My mouth opened and shut, but I couldn’t respond right away. I was trying not to judge Rasheed or compare him to other men I’d encountered, but he kept showing me ways he was so… different.
“Presly?” he called sweetly with a warm smile.
“Huh? Oh, yes! I read just about anything, but I love romance, urban fiction, and thriller too.”
We continued to talk about our hobbies and interests for a while.
He shared that he liked traveling and experiencing different cultures and trying new food along with concerts, partying, and napping.
I thought that was cute. I liked napping too.
We both had a love for reading and concerts, but I told him him that I also loved watching movies, especially if I could go to the theater, and cooking and baking.
Surprisingly, when I stopped trying to be annoyed by his existence, Rasheed was pretty cool.
Since I was only on the first chapter of the book, we sat closer to each other and read it together.
His arm was tossed around me, and he was close—intoxicatingly close. He smelled so good. His body was so hard and warm. God. I couldn’t take this. It was torturous. Yet I enjoyed every moment of it.
By noon, we both had grown tired and needed a nap. It was comical that we both wanted to take one at the same time. I was about to go to my room, but when he stretched out on the couch and pulled me down onto him, there was suddenly nowhere else I wanted to be.
The heat from the sun provided a comfortable warmth that relaxed me.
Rasheed’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tight.
Close. I barely knew anything about this man, but in his arms, I felt safe.
I felt whole. His hands slid up and down my back as he placed a kiss to my temple that made my eyes flutter and close.
Rasheed ran his fingers through my hair before allowing his hand to rest on the back of my neck.
There, on his chest, in his arms, I had the best sleep of my entire life.