Chapter 6 Soraya
SIX
soraya
“Ugh. Already that man is messing up my life,” I exclaimed, running around my place, searching for my keys.
A creature of habit, I needed my eight hours.
Being up late sexing Jashaun and then tossing and turning the rest of the night with thoughts of us, I slept through my alarm.
Of course, everything else went wrong. The dress I wanted to wear today had a spot that the cleaners missed.
My hair wouldn’t cooperate because I’d forgotten to put my bonnet back on after Jashaun left, when I should’ve left it on, since eventually, he will see me in it.
I forgot to buy almond milk for my protein shake and would have to make a stop in the lobby for a smoothie if I wanted a chance to be human.
I stood in the center of my living room and scanned the open space. Silver glinted in the split in my sofa. Bingo.
Grabbing my keys, I pulled my workbag on my shoulder, swung open the door, and screamed.
Jashaun and the most adorable girl stared back at me with the same amused grin. “Ah…good morning, neighbor. We didn’t mean to scare you.”
Jussica covered her mouth to hide her giggles.
Faced with the reality that Jashaun was truly a father stole my next breath. This wasn’t a game or pretend. I had to be ready to be a stepmother if I wanted to be with him.
His forehead furrowed. “Um…sorry to bother you. Need your help.”
“Can you comb my hair? Because he can’t do it at all.” Jussica pointed at her hair, which did appear to be roughly combed into two puffs.
I checked my watch and looked back up at two faces pleading with me. “Come on.”
Jashaun leaned against the wall with folded arms, watching us in my bathroom. “Can you do it so it looks good for the week?”
“She needs to tie her head at night. Still, her hairstyle will last two or three days, tops.” I opened my drawer and found a pink satin scarf, and gave it to her. “Do you know how to put it on your head?”
Jussica barely nodded, too busy staring at the mirror with narrowed eyes, making sure she liked her hairstyle. Also, like her father, she apparently cared about her appearance. “Can you add a bow or something?”
“I don’t have bows.” I put my hands on my hips. “This is as good as I can do. I know a braider who can do her hair, so you don’t have to worry for a couple of weeks.”
“Ooh, I want blonde braids like Blue Ivy that go down my back.”
He and I answered at the same time. “No.”
Our eyes met in the mirror, and suddenly, being a stepmother didn’t seem so scary after all.
To placate her fallen expression, I scrambled around in my drawer and found a glitter headband. “Want to wear this today?”
“Thank you.” Jussica smiled widely as I placed it on her head. Missing teeth in children always melted me. I impulsively hugged her, and she returned it warmly. She looked up at me. “Are you my daddy’s girlfriend?”
“No, Ms. Soraya is just daddy’s friend and neighbor.” He promptly answered without looking at me.
Jussica hugged me again and left the bathroom.
His hand touched my lower back, and he kissed my nape. “I don’t think it’s time to tell her who you are to me. Yet.”
Although his quick denial shot a searing heat to my gut, I also couldn’t argue with his logic. Jussica had just learned about her father, and her mother had abruptly left her with him last night.
He followed me out of the bathroom and whispered, “You can punish me all night in San Antonio if you’re mad with me.”
“Daddy, come on.” She stomped her foot, holding the knob of my front door that she’d opened. “I’m hungry.”
“I am too.” He lowered his voice and held the door for me to pass him as I hid my blush.
“You’re horrible,” I whispered.
“Always. Tell, Ms. Soraya, ‘bye’.” Jashaun prompted.
She waved and took off for the elevator.
“Hey, what did I tell you about running in the building?” He barked, and she stopped, waiting for him.
As soon as he made it to her, he started running, and she chased after him, giggling.
“Y’all go ahead. I think I’ll take the stairs.” I smiled, shaking my head. He would be a fun dad and husband.
Lord, Raya. Can we keep it at the boyfriend level, first?
As the presenter droned on about the literature and job descriptions changes to follow the removal of anything DEI related, I couldn’t focus with the heavenly-smelling man beside me.
I snuck a side glance, and he seemed focused on what was being said, and given that he had a higher rank as an executive who had to ensure his staff followed federal, state, and city regulations, he didn’t have much choice.
Only the slight curve of his lips indicated that he caught my stare.
I sighed internally. The last three days here had been the best time I’d ever had at a conference or with a man.
The hotel overlooked the boardwalk, and as promised, Jashaun paid for an executive suite with a balcony for us.
We spent the day reviewing strategies and learning new technology, such as how to use AI effectively in our work.
Even when we were separated into teams, he checked for me like he couldn’t bear to be apart from me.
We had each other for lunch, with Jashaun determined to prove he could make me come at least twice during our break.
Today, I orgasmed three times in an hour from his dick.
Dinners were expensive, candlelit, or dimly lit restaurants with live jazz soothing us in the background, where we laughed, chatted about our day, and I blushed while his hand found my thigh or my button while we ate.
Tonight was our last night together before we caught an early morning flight to return to our regular lives.
A life that included a daughter who may or may not like me.
A life that I would always have to share with him, when for months I would’ve had his undivided attention if I’d given him a chance when he first flirted with me on the day I moved in.
He nudged my knee. “We’re about to wrap up early.”
I leaned back in my chair. “Good. I stopped paying attention after lunch.”
Jashaun winked at me. “Lunch energized me. I took excellent notes.”
“Ugh. Were you the teacher’s pet in school?”
Jashaun arched a brow. “There was the English teacher who let me feel her up during my senior year during detention.”
“Gross. I didn’t need to know that information.
” I shook my head with a smile. He did have a way with women, making them feel special.
No matter where we were, if a woman was around, he would rush to open a door or assist her with a coat or jacket.
He would always find something to compliment me about since we first met. “What do you want to do tonight?”
“Mm…there’s this place not far where we can play pool and have drinks and appetizers. I can’t wait to show you how to play.”
“Why do you assume I don’t know how to shoot pool?”
He chuckled. “Most women don’t.”
“Bet.” I grinned as I picked up my leather bag from underneath the table. “Let’s see how much a woman knows how to play.” I couldn’t wait to show him my billiards skills, which my father taught me.
Jashaun only seemed amused as he lowered his voice for my ears only. “When I win, you’ll have to let me fuck you in a public place.”
The three other people at our table had already gathered their belongings and were walking away before I squeezed his thigh under the table. “I might just lose on purpose.”
He grinned. “In that case, fuck playing pool and jump straight to sex. I’m sure we can find a spot.” His phone beeped, and his smile widened. “Let me take it. It’s Juss. Probably wants to tell me about her day. I’ll be right back.”
As Jashaun strode away, he propped the phone on his shoulder. “Hey, little one.”
I watched him head to a corner of the quickly emptying ballroom.
Guess I wasn’t the only one exhausted after a three-day conference.
Being away had been good for us. I was the only one from the procurement department, and though there were a couple of city employees that Jashaun or I knew, for the most part, we were free to be together as soon as the day ended.
“Soraya?”
I looked up and hoped a grimace didn’t appear on my face as Sam approached me.
I spoke briefly to him on Tuesday when I arrived at the hotel, and had been occupied by the workshops and Jashaun since then.
He probably waited for the right moment to say anything to me since Jashaun seemed hell-bent on taking any of my free time.
The tight smile matched his accusatory tone, “You cancelled on me. Still thought we would at least have coffee, lunch, or something.”
“Hey…sorry didn’t really get a chance to speak to you. It’s been crazy.” He stood above me expectantly, and I rose from my seat to hug him. “A lot of information in a short period of time. No real breaks except for lunch.”
He nodded and looked in the direction of Jashaun. “You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.”
Not that I owed Sam anything except a familiar greeting, anyone paying attention could tell Jashaun, and I were together. I crossed my arms and shifted from one foot to another. “Yeah…recent development. I’ve known him for months, and we just decided to date.”
“You and Ocean? I thought you wanted something serious?” He scoffed.
“Excuse me?” I closed my laptop harder than I intended. “Do you know Jashaun?”
“Yes. We used to go to Prairie View together and worked on a couple of projects over the years.” He stepped closer and warned, “He frat, through and through. Still loves a good time and women.”
“I didn’t realize you were an Alpha.” I resisted balling my hands in fists at the disdain and pity that laced his words.
“I’m not.”
“Naw, he’s one of them pretty boys.” Tension bounced off Jashaun with every step toward us. He held his hand out for Sam to grip, and they pulled in for a customary hug that lacked warmth. “Surprised Connie paid for you to be here.”