Chapter 9
The knock on her door startled Joi, even though she was expecting East. Mostly because her nerves were all over the place after the time they spent together earlier that day, the anticipation of being around him again, and…
Joi’s body pulsed at the man standing before her.
She held tightly to the door in an attempt to get a grip.
East was in all black, looking like he could easily rob, cheat, lie, and defy all legal parameters.
In black jeans and a black T-shirt with EastSide printed in charcoal gray letters, he looked damn good.
So much so that Joi was caught off guard when she heard his voice.
“You just gonna stare at me all night or can I come in?”
East was entertained by her reaction. He could see her eyes dancing as she checked him out and knew it wasn’t about his clothes, even if he wore them well. East represented his brand often. There was no promotion better than rocking your own shit and he made sure to do it whenever he could.
“I thought we were going out.” Joi was nervous.
She wasn’t sure that she could handle him in the confines of her small, cozy studio, looking like a living, breathing orgasm, waiting to be delivered.
And gaawwwd, he smelled good. Each time she had been around him, East smelled amazing, but assuming that he had showered and dressed just before showing up at her place his spicy, manly aroma danced around him in a strong medley.
“We are, but I want to see what you’re working with, if you don’t mind. Shit, you might be hiding ol’ boy up in this bitch.”
East grinned and eased past Joi. His eyes moved around the exposed brick walls, one which housed a fireplace, clean lines, modern touches, and brand-new, stainless-steel appliances.
The place was small but dope as fuck. He considered getting something like this so he didn’t have to make the hour drive out to where he lived when his nights ran long and turned into early mornings.
“I think you still owe me a little something. This place is nice and looks expensive.”
Joi grinned at his comment, thinking about their unbalanced debt. One she considered covered after their lunch from earlier that day, but apparently, East was second-guessing.
“This place is very expensive, but not for me. My aunt owns it. I just rent it for a very low rate. She has a new boyfriend who likes to travel, so she didn’t have a need for it anymore. It was empty, and she loves me, so here I am.”
East chuckled and moved his stare back to Joi, noticing the tiny black dress she wore.
It had extremely thin straps that looked as if the slightest tug would break them away from the sheer material they were connected to, a theory he considered testing.
The dress flowed around her small frame but stopped high on her thighs, exposing long, brown, toned legs.
Damn. I need to stay away from this woman.
Joi was dangerous in East’s opinion. Pretty as hell, sexy, and had him feeling like she was already his. A jealous pull rushed through him at the idea of anyone else claiming her. Nah, fuck going out. We can stay in.
“Nope. Deal is closed, no new negotiations, and I just told you I’m not paying what this place is worth. I’m getting a family discount.”
East chuckled and continued to explore the tiny space, but this time, he physically moved instead of just looking around.
He walked over to the area that housed a sleigh bed, which sat low to the floor.
It barely reached his knees and was decorated with a burgundy, cream, and pink floral comforter.
It was girly as fuck but fit her personality.
“I like this. I need to check into getting one. You know how much it runs?”
“Six hundred thousand. Or at least this one cost that much.”
East only nodded and looked around again, leaving Joi more curious. How much is this man worth?
“You sure the plan is to go out?” A smile danced across East’s face as he neared Joi again. Per his usual lack of respect for her personal space, he stopped inches away, causing the somersaults in her stomach to take flight.
“Yeah, why?”
“No shoes, shawty?”
Joi’s smile now matched his as her eyes rolled softly before her explanation was given. “I wasn’t sure where we were going, so I decided to wait before I chose shoes.”
Her eyes met his while she waited. East considered it for a moment but came up empty. He hadn’t made any plans past being near her. The time he spent with women mostly consisted of them being naked.
“Truthfully, I don’t have any plans. This isn’t really my vibe.” East chuckled when admitting something that likely wouldn’t register to Joi.
“Then why did you ask me out?”
“I didn’t ask you out. I just said I was gonna see you later.”
“Why?” Aggravation settled in.
Tugging her closer to him by her waist, East then held Joi in place against his body, feeling like she fit perfectly.
“I just wanted to kick it with you. I didn’t think about where or how.
Just wanted to see what you were about.” East curved his back to meet her height before moving so close to the side of her face that his soft, warm lips tickled her ear.
“Can I get that or you gonna keep giving me a hard time? That seems to be your thing, Grinch.”
“Are we back on that?” Joi’s face scrunched as she peered at East. She wasn’t exactly upset with him for revisiting his first nickname for her. Being annoyed with East assisted in calming the lustful thoughts flooding her mind and body at the moment.
With a smile that snatched her soul, East virtually pulled her in before physically sending Joi on her way.
“Get your shoes so I can feed you.” East stepped back, creating some space, which Joi used to her advantage to calm the hold he had on her, but it quickly returned when she heard his voice.
“Then maybe you’ll consider feeding me.”
Wait, what? She was positive she hadn’t heard him correctly, but the second Joi glanced over her shoulder and found his eyes waiting for hers to connect, she knew.
“Hurry up, shawty. I’m hungry as hell, and being around you is not helping the cause.”
Joi’s face warmed followed by her body as she hurried to grab shoes.
Not because he rushed her movement but simply because she needed to breathe.
Well, in a way that wasn’t rapid like the beat of her heart and the thump of her pulse against her temple.
East had taken over all her senses, and she wasn’t sure if she needed to leave with him but being alone in her apartment wasn’t a good idea either.
At least in public and sharing a meal, she could enjoy him without the risk of being labeled. Hoe!
Ha. I will definitely give it up if we stay here. Joi grinned, then shook her head at the revelation. It was her truth and there was no point in denying it. She wanted East.
An hour later, the two were seated at South City Kitchen in Buckhead and well into their meal.
It was a few miles from her building and one of Joi’s favorite spots.
She didn’t eat there much because the food was expensive and it wasn’t the type of place where you ate alone.
Reg never wanted to take her anywhere nice because he was inconsiderate about the things that she liked.
“I thought this was your favorite spot.”
East had taken notice of the fact that Joi had basically been playing with her food since it arrived. A few bites here and there, but most of her time was spent watching him while East damn near inhaled the hanger steak platter he ordered.
When they arrived, East was hesitant at first glance of the menu, knowing he was about to be hungry when the meal was done.
His palate was simple; burgers, fries, fried chicken and fish, so the items on the menu didn’t sit too well with him.
It took a minute for him to decide but figured he couldn’t go wrong with steak.
However, he did substitute the kale for a double side of collards.
It worked in his favor because the food was good as hell.
“It is.” Joi’s expression dropped slightly while she waited for East to state his case.
“Then why are you playing in your plate instead of eating?”
Joi’s eyes darted down to her plate then expeditiously over to his before they rolled up to East. The entire time she was running through a list of lies to tell about why her plate was damn near still full.
“I’m eating,” she tossed out with a half-smile, causing East to chuckle.
“Very slowly. You can order something else if you’re not feeling that.” He motioned to her plate, which held lump crab cakes, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
East wasn’t a fan of seafood, so he wasn’t feeling her selection either, but she seemed excited when she ordered it.
“No, I’m going to eat it. It doesn’t make sense to waste the money.”
“It’s not about the money. That shit looks nasty.”
Joi’s grin surfaced slowly because of the ill look East presented. He clearly wasn’t feeling her food selection, but his disapproval still looked sexy on him.
“Oh my god, you’re so extra.”
“Nah, that’s extra.”
East lifted the last of his steak and shoved it in his mouth before leaning back in his chair, eyes glued to Joi while she dipped her fork into her mashed potatoes and guided them to her lips.
He watched as she allowed them to part, slightly tugging at the fork as they gently closed against it until she removed it from her mouth.
Joi kept her eyes on him the entire time, and although his dick was challenging the expensive fabric of his jeans, he kept his expression even, aside from the slight smirk teasing at the corners of his lips.
Joi warmed, no matter how big or small his smile was.
Each version of it drew her in and had her craving the man.
“Tell me something, shawty.” East’s delivery was casual and smooth. She waited, assuming a question was coming, but quickly realized he had asked her one.
“Something like what?”