Chapter 7
DELANEY
“Hold on, D. Someone’s at the door,” I stated, hopping up from my couch and making my way to the door.
I had come straight home after Naijhel’s impromptu little visit.
If he were any other man, I swear that I would have been wooed by his actions, but it did not make sense for him to pursue me.
Couldn’t he face some type of actions against his license for dating me?
What would Clayton think if he found out?
Not that I cared about what he thought, but it did make me wonder if he would report it to the bar or someone that could get Naijhel in trouble. My face twisted again. Or maybe Clayton was behind this whole ruse anyway. What else could he possibly want from me?
He had emptied my pockets and dragged my name in the mud on social media by concocting insane stories, tagging me and the museum, and sharing private texts we had shared. Katina had been able to get an injunction against him, but it was too late; the damage had been done.
I peered out the window and saw a black Maybach out front. Rolling my eyes and sighing, I prayed aloud. “Lord, please don’t let this be this man. What part does he not understand that I don’t want to date him?”
I blew out a loud breath and went to the door and opened it. “Excuse you? What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?”
“Is that what you think?” he asked in that deep, sexy baritone.
“Yes.”
“Then maybe I am, or maybe I’m just a persistent man who doesn’t buckle in the face of challenge. These are for you,” he stated, extending his hands to offer me the gifts.
“I don’t want them.”
The serene look on his face was in contradiction to the words he spoke as he looked at the box in his hand and the flowers in the other. “Delaney, I didn’t drive all the way over here not to deliver these to you.”
“I don’t care how far you drove, nobody asked you to. I said that I don’t want them.”
“That’s fine, but I’ll have to leave them here because I’m not taking them back. If I’m forced to leave them on the stairs, I’ll be back every day until you let your guard down and give me some conversation and dinner.”
“I said that I don’t want them, I don’t want conversation, and I don’t want your dinner.”
He chuckled facetiously. “Listen, beautiful. I never said that I was giving you dinner. I’m here so that I can share dinner with you. Now whether that’s you cooking, me cooking, or us eating what I bought, I don’t care. But we will be eating together.”
“Who made you this way?” I asked in exasperation, throwing my hands in the air.
Shrugging, he replied, “Some might say life, and some might say my parents. I personally say I am a product of my Father,” he declared, jerking his head upward as if indicating Heaven. “Now are you gonna let me in, or do I need to start serenading you too?”
I watched in disbelief as he boldly brushed by me with both the bouquet of roses and the box.
He stepped inside of my living room and took a look around.
Finally, he set the bouquet and the box on the living room table and made himself comfortable on my couch.
I stood there for several seconds in shock.
I groaned and picked up the flowers and the box. The beautiful purple tulips smelled great, but a part of me wanted to trash them. He couldn’t force himself on me if I didn’t want him.
My stomach groaned as the smell from the box reached my nose. I rolled my eyes as he stated, “Maybe you need to get your head and body in alignment because clearly your body’s not having problems with me, big baby.”
My mouth dropped open. “What did you just call me?”
“I only speak one language, English. Though I can navigate Spanish and German rather decently. I’m not fluent, but I understand it.”
I groaned.
“Who are you talking to, and who is that in the background?” Damaris asked.
“I’ll call you back.”
“Ooohh. Nice flowers. Who sent those? Oh my goodness. Is that a Dawson Castle’s Steakhouse box? Girl, please tell me those are from Mr. King!” Damaris squealed.
“Goodbye, D,” I retorted as Naijhel chuckled in the background.
“Girl, no. I need—”
I ended the call and powered it off so she couldn’t call back.
“That was rude.”
“I don’t feel like explaining you.”
“Sounds like I have fans.”
“And I’m not one of them.”
“Why didn’t you answer her question?”
“I don’t want everyone in my business.”
“So, you agree? We do have unfinished business.”
I rolled my eyes and headed to the kitchen with the flowers and the box.
“I have half a mind to toss these damn flowers.” I huffed, blowing my cheeks out as I stood at the trash can.
“Why?”
I jumped when I realized that he had followed me. Tingles went down my spine, and my thighs clenched tightly together.
“Because I told you that I’m not interested, and you’re being annoying.”
“So, you’re going to throw my flowers away, but I bet you’re going to eat that food, though, right?”
I sighed. “Hey, a girl’s got to eat. Besides, I was already starving and didn’t feel like cooking.”
“Sure. How about you put those flowers in a vase and let me plate our food,” he stated, stepping away from me. I turned to see him rolling up his sleeves and washing his hands in my sink.
The brother was bold, but something about that turned me on rather than annoyed me. He was a take charge, confident man, and that told me he wasn’t a coward. Cowards lied and cheated; ask Clayton Settles.
I went into the pantry to find a vase for the flowers before I returned to the sink to get water for them.
I was surprised when I found a purple linen envelope inside that was larger than just a note card.
After I put the flowers away, I washed my hands and grabbed glasses and two cans of soda.
He was already in the living room, waiting for me.
“Tell me what’s that look about,” he demanded the minute I stepped into the living room.
“You bought me tickets to Lonely Hearts.” I groaned.
“The theatrical presentation you’ve been wanting to see for a while, right?”
“How did you know?”
“I pay attention.”
“I don’t want to go with you.”
“Who else will you go with?”
“Damaris. My sister or cousin. Anyone but you.”
“Tell me something, Delaney. We had a wonderful date once you let your guard down. You laughed, you shared things about yourself, including the fact that you love theatricals and wanted to see that particular one, and we ended the night on a good note. So what’s the problem?”
I sighed. “I can’t date you, Naijhel. I hate you, and I can’t date someone I hate.”
“How can you hate someone you barely know? You haven’t gotten to know me well enough to hate me.”
“I know enough, Naijhel.”
“Do you really hate me, or do you hate the circumstances that we met under?”
“I hate what you represent. I hate what you did to me. I hate the fact that you represented Clayton in our divorce. You were the one who caused him to get that big settlement against me.”
“Delaney, I’m sorry. I wish that I could turn back the hands of time, but the truth is, I can’t any more than you can.
It may sound callous to you, but I was doing my job, and I was doing it well.
Anytime I’m facing an abuser, I’m going to come out with my gloves swinging.
If all the cards were on the table, we would never have met each other.
While I hate what we did to you, I’m glad that we met, Delaney, because you have brought sunshine back into my life. You could be my person.”
“I’m not even looking for a person. I just don’t know what your ulterior motive is. Why are you pursuing me? Why are you sending me these gifts? There has to be something more to it, and I wish that I knew what it was. Is Clayton behind this?”
He set his fork down and turned to stare directly at me.
“I have no ulterior motive. I’m pursuing you because I want to get to know you better.
These gifts are just my way of expressing that and showing you how worthy you are of a man’s attention, one who will pursue you with everything.
As far as Clayton is concerned, I don’t have a damn thing to do with him.
I’m no muthafuckin’ puppet, and no one pulls my strings.
But if you don’t believe me, I guess you could always pick up the phone and call Clayton and ask him yourself. ”
“I feel like you’re being all mysterious about things.”
“I’m moving in silence because I don’t always show my hand. People don’t need to know my business, as you stated before. Yes, I’m interested in you, but if this doesn’t work out, I could lose my license. I really don’t care about that shit right now, but I don’t want to jump the gun either.”
“Then stop.”
“I can’t, Delaney. You’ve been in my thoughts and under my skin since the day that we met. The only way to deal with this is to confront it head on. If we’re good for each other, perfect. If not, we move on. Just one more date. That’s all I’m asking for.”
He bobbed his head at the envelope, and I sighed.
“Fine. I’ll just go to this performance because I wanted to go anyway, and the tickets were all sold out, but then that’s it.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” he replied cheekily with a broad smile.
“You haven’t won anything, so don’t get your hopes up. I just happened to enjoy the food, and I want the tickets.”
“Okay, I’ll take that as a thank you. Glad to hear that you enjoyed breakfast and the morning bouquet as well.”
We made small talk for the remainder of the evening about the museum and how he came to know the Williams. When he finished, he got up and cleaned our dishes and then headed out with a simple, “Good night, Del. See you soon.”
After I locked my doors, my mind turned back to thoughts of how good he looked in his suit when he visited me earlier this morning and how sexy he looked in casual clothes this evening.
His cologne lingered in my office long after he arrived, and I prayed that it wouldn’t be there tomorrow.
I suspected the cologne he wore tonight would still be lingering in my kitchen and living room in the morning too.
The more I thought of him, the more I was turned on. I headed to my bathroom, pulled out my bullet, and ran myself a nice hot bath. Once I poured my oils in the bathtub, I undressed and slipped inside. I dragged the bullet over my breasts and down my belly before I teased my clitoris with it.
I imagined that it was Naijhel slipping inside of me as I thrust it into my pussy, my muscles clenching around it. My hips rolled slowly as I rubbed my breasts and imagined the sexy ass Naijhel King making love to me.
I bit my bottom lip, and my eyes slipped close. Thoughts of him rising and lowering as he dug deep inside of me filled my mind. I imagined dragging my nails down his hard, powerful back as I licked the tattoos on his neck and arms.
My imagination wondered what he looked like underneath his clothes and how far down his tattoos went. When a powerful orgasm burst forth, it was with the moan of his name on my lips. “Oooh, Naijhel.”