Chapter 22 Delaney
DELANEY
Iwas full of delight at the prospect of going antiquing with Naijhel.
We had driven almost two and a half hours, and we were just outside of Atlanta.
I often traveled to purchase antiques, but I usually went on these trips alone.
Whenever Damaris didn’t have a lot going on, she would accompany me, but that was few and far between.
No matter how much I had bugged Clayton in the past, he never accompanied me.
He couldn’t be bothered by “boring undertakings.” I shook my head because I had vowed not to allow my mind to focus on Clayton anymore.
He was my past, and it was time to let that go and focus on my future, and it was looking bright.
Besides, I hadn’t heard from him in a while, and that was just how I wanted it.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours?”
I turned to look at Naijhel in the seat beside me.
It still amazed me how sexy I found the little things about him, like the way that he drove.
His seat was pushed back really far, and his arm was extended as he steered the wheel.
The sun glinted off the gold watch that he wore, and the veins in his arm and wrist protruded. Why was that so sexy?
I didn’t know. My eyes lifted to meet his beautiful chestnut-brown ones, and they radiated with humor. I licked my lips as I took in the salt and pepper of his beard.
“That can be arranged, you know?”
“What?”
“The way you’re licking those lips tells me that you want something.”
I threw my head back and laughed hard. “You read my mind.”
“You’re a nasty girl.”
“You like it.”
“I do. But seriously, what was on your mind? I saw you shaking your head.” He reached over and ran his hand over my head before he dragged the backs of his fingers along the curve of my cheek.
I inhaled and replied, “Forcing thoughts of my past away. That was a negative time in my life, and I no longer want to dwell on it. Not when I’m so happy.”
He reached over and grabbed my hand. Giving it a little squeeze, he replied, “Don’t. You’ll never have to worry about Clayton bothering us again.”
The firm set of his jaw and his flinty, narrowed gaze that he turned back to the road spoke volumes.
For some odd reason, I suspected something had happened to Clayton.
It wasn’t just the things that Naijhel had been saying; it was also a feeling in my spirit.
My mama always taught me not to ignore those feelings.
When I had shared that feeling with Aria, she told me that she wouldn’t be surprised if Naijhel had unalived him.
At the time, I was strongly in denial and offended, but looking back now, it was possible.
When I asked her about why she felt that way, she explained that she knew he came from two powerful families.
Although she didn’t believe he might have done it himself, she said that he had the money and connections to make it happen.
She even admitted that she hoped he had for my sake, so that Clayton wouldn’t disturb my peace and happiness.
I glanced at my man again. I wondered if that was possible, but when he smiled and winked at me the way he did, I pushed Clayton out of my mind. I didn’t want to know. Hell, I was totally fine with whatever Naijhel had done.
“Where do you want to stop to eat lunch?”
“I’ve got a perfect spot that we can set up at. Just a few miles up the road,” he expressed.
I nodded and leaned over to rest my head on his shoulder. Our fingers were still linked, and I stared at them for a long time, imagining a wedding ring on both of our fingers.
He pulled our fingers up to his lips, and he kissed mine. “There will be a ring on this finger sooner than you know, beautiful.”
“Huh?”
“I was looking at your finger, and it looks a little empty to me. You need something to cover this space.” He tapped my left ring finger with his thumb, and I smiled up at him.
Naijhel pulled over to the side of the road while my heart was still fluttering. I knew that he had every intention of marrying me because he confirmed that point a while ago.
We climbed out of Naijhel’s truck, and I looked around at the beautiful dogwood trees and slowly inhaled and exhaled their scent. I had packed a picnic basket for our lunch rather than going to a restaurant. I thought that a picnic would be more romantic and private.
This little park that he found was sparsely populated, and there were no kids here. It overlooked a lake, the grass was lush and green, and beautiful dogwood and cherry blossom trees were all around, along with pink azaleas and peonies, and yellow and purple tulips.
“This is the perfect day,” I announced as he spread the blanket out for us.
“Any day with you is a perfect day,” he asserted, taking my hand and helping me to sit down on the blanket.
“I feel the same way, babe. But I also feel like you’re buttering me up for something.” I teased him.
“Oh, I don’t have to butter you up. Not when you’re already so slippery wet.”
“Naiiijjjhel,” I whined, and he chuckled as we unpacked the basket.
We had roast beef, brioche rolls, potato salad, grapes, strawberries, cheese, and crackers. I also packed a bottle of wine, glasses, and water bottles. We ate in silence, enjoying the beautiful day as we looked all around us.
“Were you spoiled as a kid?” I asked after a while.
“Not really.”
“Were you bad?”
“Nah. I was rambunctious and got into my share of things, but I knew my parents didn’t play.
I did what they told me to do and chilled when it was time to.
Every now and then I would push too far and suffer the consequences, but I never got too out of hand.
As far as spoiled, my parents made sure that we earned things.
We did our chores and kept up good grades, and we were either rewarded with something we really wanted or surprised with something we didn’t expect. What about you?”
“I wasn’t spoiled either, but I did have a sassy mouth that kept me in trouble in school and at home.
As the oldest, I was supposed to set an example for Aria; now that’s the one who was spoiled.
I can’t blame my parents solely though. I was as much at fault for that as they were.
I let her have her way whenever those eyes got all big and pouty. Aria was my baby.”
“You think our kids will be spoiled?”
We looked at each other and replied “Rotten” at the same time and burst out laughing.
It wasn’t long before we finished our lunch, and I lay back on his lap.
“We need to hit the road in a little while so that you can get some good shopping in. It’s almost noon.”
I rolled over on my belly and looked up at him.
“What?”
“I have an idea that might get us moving again.”
“I’m listening.”
I sat up and removed my sweater. Tugging one end of the blanket over his leg, I covered my head with the sweater and pulled his dick out of his sweats.
“Girl, you’re about to rob me of all my energy and put my ass to sleep,” he muttered with a chuckle.
“Well, I thought while it was quiet on this end of the park and no one was around, I would reward you, sir.”
“Reward me for what?”
“Being a good man to your woman.”
“Reward me, baby.” His voice dipped low as I took the head of his dick in my mouth and sealed it close. My tongue rolled over his Prince Albert piercing, working back and forth.
“Ohhh, Del. That’s it, baby.” He rested his hand on top of my head, and I slowly worked him deeper to the back of my throat, lapping at the rungs of his Jacob’s ladder as I went.
It was amazing how terrified I was of his penile piercings when we first had sex.
I just knew they would hurt me somehow, and I thought it made him a little bit crazy doing something like that to his body.
I was turned on every time I saw them now and eager to get on his dick and ride it but giving him head would have to do for now.
Naijhel pumped his hips up as he planted his hands firmly on the ground. I bobbed my head up and down, taking him in and releasing him. My hands cupped his balls through his sweats and worked him over.
He was warm and tasted a little like cashmere and leather. The men’s grooming product that he used actually tasted good and made me wonder if they were designed for women to do things like this.
When he nutted in my mouth, it was with a barely concealed groan. I reached inside my purse and pulled out a pack of wipes that I used to clean him up.
“You were prepared, I see.”
“Always,” I replied cheekily, standing up.
“Don’t tell me that. You’ll be sucking dick from now until eternity, girl.”
I giggled and reached back down for him to help him stand. He grabbed his cane and pushed up to his feet.
“Catch you some quick shut-eye, and I’ll clean this mess up.”
“Girl, that’s no sleep.”
“Go ahead.”
“A’ight.”
He headed back to the car, and I cleaned up our little area. When I peered into the truck, I noticed that his eyes were closed. I leaned against the hood of the truck for several minutes and took in our surroundings.
It was several minutes later before he blew the horn. I jumped and turned around and mugged him. Climbing into the car, I asked, “Really?”
“Baby, we have to hit the road.”
“You could have rolled your window down and called my name.”
“That was more fun.”
I shoved him in the shoulder as I strapped in. Giggling, I asked, “What am I gonna do with you?”
“Love me.”
“I already do.”
We kissed before he declared, “Let’s hit it.”