Chapter 7
ESSENCE
Istood in Valentino’s en-suite and took a hoe bath, feeling like a damn fool.
How he’d managed to entice me into sex while I was actively on a date, after leaving me high and dry was beyond me.
No doubt Maxwell was probably looking for me by now, and I cringed just thinking about how I was going to explain disappearing for so long.
Sure, he’d tricked me into even coming here after dinner and had been ignoring the fuck out of me since we’d arrived, but that wasn’t an excuse to have dipped off so Valentino could fuck me silly.
My tender pussy clenched at the thought of what he’d done to me on that desk, and I shook my head. Obviously, my body was going to betray me every time with this nigga, so I would have to make sure I steered clear of his ass.
“I told you to get in the shower with me.” His deep voice broke into my thoughts as he appeared at my side, shirtless.
Navy dress pants hung off his hips, revealing a pair of black Tom Ford boxer briefs.
I quickly averted my eyes with a snort. The nigga was a walking sex symbol, and he wasn’t even trying.
“And I told you I’d rather not. You were probably just trying to have me bent over in there too.” I said the last part lowly, but he clearly heard that shit.
“Nah, you seem drained enough, and I already proved my point.” His smart ass grinned devilishly, and I rolled my eyes, finally finished cleaning what I could of his sex off me.
It wasn’t the best, but it would have to do until I got home.
I just hoped none of Valentino’s kids tried to make an appearance before I got there since my panties were too ruined to put back on.
“I hope you don’t think that meant anything. People say a lot of shit in the throes of passion that they don’t mean.” I lied through my teeth. I’d meant everything I’d said, but now with a clearer mind, I wasn’t going to admit to it.
Valentino was dangerous. The way he had my emotions all over the place after just two interactions had me nervous, especially when despite all his talk, he didn’t seem serious.
He had the type of dick that already had me spiraling, and I knew the deeper I got with him, the worse it would be.
I wasn’t trying to be running behind him and getting out of character, which was where this was headed.
As if he could read my thoughts, he grinned and produced another pair of briefs, holding them out to me as he leaned against the small sink. “I find that hard to believe, sweetheart―”
“Stop calling me that!” I cut him off and snatched the briefs, quickly pulling them on so I could focus on something else besides the way my stomach fluttered when he used that term of endearment.
It was one of those things niggas did to make you think shit was deeper than it was, and I was sure I wasn’t the only woman he’d used it on.
Flustered, I finished putting on the briefs that fit almost perfectly and pulled my dress back down, hoping it wasn’t obvious that I was wearing a nigga’s draws underneath.
“I need to get back out there before Maxwell comes looking for me and….” My words trailed off, seeing the look on his face.
“You think you bouta go finish that fake ass date with my nut dripping out you?” He frowned, standing to his full height to tower over me.
“You got me fucked up. I don’t know what you thought, but I was serious as fuck in there, sweetheart.
That shit with Maxwell is dead. If you’re worried about telling him, though, I can do it. Just let me finish getting dressed.”
My mouth opened and closed, unsure of what to say, but it didn’t matter because he’d already left the bathroom.
When I finally snapped out of it, I rushed after him as my heart pounded rapidly.
I wasn’t trying to be the reason Maxwell got his ass beat, but at the same time, I didn’t want Valentino thinking he controlled shit I had going on.
We didn’t even know each other outside of what was supposed to be casual sex, so he had no right.
He was already buttoning a crisp light blue shirt when I rounded the corner. His eyes landed on me passively. “You ready?” he asked, casually finishing the buttons and tucking it in while I stood by, flabbergasted.
“What? No, I’m not ready, and you’re not about to go tell Maxwell anything, crazy ass nigga!
We don’t even know each other, and if I hadn’t walked in this muthafucka, we likely wouldn’t have ever seen each other again, which was the whole purpose of you creeping out my room that night, wasn’t it?
” I hated how obvious it was that the shit bothered me.
Despite the act I’d been putting on, it was more than just about sex.
There was definitely a chemistry between us that I’d noticed even in Dubai, but Valentino leaving the way he had meant he hadn’t felt the same.
At least that’s what I took it as, anyway.
Realization covered his face as I stood there feeling exposed. I was supposed to be living my best life and not in a rush for the whole whirlwind romance my girls had gotten swept up in, but, clearly, being around this nigga had my defenses down.
Instead of speaking, he snatched his phone up from the desk and tapped the screen a few times before holding it out for me.
“I was always gon’ get up with you once we got back to the states.
I memorized this shit off your MyChart before we even made it upstairs, sweetheart,” he said, and I realized he was showing me my contact information.
“Okay, if that was the case, why haven’t you used it yet? I’m a firm believer in if a nigga wanted to, he would, and it’s already been two weeks.” I folded my arms, instantly chastising myself for even sounding so pressed even still.
Shrugging, Valentino pulled his phone back and slipped into his pocket.
“My cousin got shot,” he explained, and my eyes bucked.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t―”
He shook his head, cutting me off. “That nigga gon’ be cool now, but it’s been kinda hectic. Once shit settled down, though, I fully intended to come for you. Fortunately, fate brought your sexy ass to me first, even if it was with Maxwell’s bitch ass.”
“Sooo….” I dragged, unsure of what to say. So much shit had happened in the last forty-five minutes that I could hardly process it all, and it didn’t help that the night plus the amazing orgasm I’d just gotten were beginning to take a toll.
“Sooo, we already established what it is. Did I miss something?” He frowned, looking genuinely confused, and a bitter chuckle erupted in my throat.
“When was this?”
“Didn’t you just say that’s my pussy? What the fuck else we need to go over?”
My brows dipped, trying to figure out if he was serious or not.
Judging from the way he was looking at me, I quickly realized he was.
It seemed like everything out of his mouth was meant to be comical, even though he wasn’t trying to be.
Valentino really thought putting a claim on my pussy was the start of some type of relationship.
If that was even what he was trying to have with me.
As smooth as he was, his ass was also childish, and I couldn’t help wondering if I’d somehow let a little nigga turn me out.
Either he was barely in his twenties or his ass had a severe case of arrested development, and I wasn’t interested in bothering with either of those issues.
“Okay, so what does ‘your’ pussy mean?” I spoke sarcastically, using air quotes. “Obviously, you think it means I can’t date, so are you actively pursuing me or just scaring away any niggas who actually want to?” I asked, and his features turned icy.
“That’s exactly what it means. I’ll let Maxwell slide since this is still new, but after tonight, keep that nigga and any other ones out your face.”
I waited for him to address what I’d said about dates but there was nothing.
He’d actually put his focus into attaching his cuff links as if the only issue we had was me possibly entertaining other men.
Just as fast as I’d gotten my hopes up, they’d been brought all the way back down, but instead of continuing to go in circles with his crazy ass, I’d let my actions speak for themselves.
Valentino could think he was running shit, and if it meant I’d still get consistently good dick, then I’d let him until something better came along.
“Okay, well since I can’t return to my―to Maxwell,” I corrected when his head cocked. “How am I supposed to get home, Valentino?” I sighed, and his expression lightened boyishly.
“I’ll take you. Just let me make sure my brother is on his shit.”
Nodding, I went to get my clutch from the corner where I’d tossed it upon entering.
I immediately pulled out my phone to get in touch with my own sibling to inform her that I was about to be alone with a crazy nigga just in case.
While he mumbled into his cell, I shot her a quick text along with a picture of my handsome abductor.
I braced myself and waited for her to call with a million questions, but there was radio silence from her end.
Her ass didn’t even read the message, and I sucked my teeth, annoyed when I realized this was another one of those times she was MIA.
Over the last few months, there’d been multiple occasions when no one could get in touch with Bliss’s ass.
I figured it was behind some nigga she was entertaining just because she was so hush hush about it, and whenever I pressed her, she’d deflect.
I’d dropped it almost a month before, but I was going to circle back to that shit as soon as I saw her.
“Alright. Let’s go, sweetheart.” Valentino appeared beside me, hand out like he expected me to take it, but I just switched ahead to the door.