Chapter 13
Joi glanced at the house where she and East sat in the driveway.
It was nice, not excessive but new and had a cozy type feel.
She assumed it was his since he brought her there.
They hadn’t said much to each other during the drive.
She spent most of it on her phone, texting Nyelle and Ria.
Joi half explained her situation with East to Ria because she couldn’t escape the interrogation after abruptly leaving with him but Ria received minimal details.
Ria had just recently come back into Joi’s life and she wasn’t sure she trusted her with intimate details yet.
The rest of the drive Joi discussed how Vega acted with Nyelle, the things he said to her about his pursuit of her friend and how he behaved while she was around. That left little room for Joi to give East her attention, which was the goal.
He didn’t mind or interrupt her attempt at ignoring him.
East had his own thoughts to work out in his head, like what he was going to say to Joi about his recent behavior.
He had rehearsed a few things that seemed childish now that she was in his presence.
Grown men handled their business and he hadn’t done that properly with Joi.
East’s hesitation about what he was feeling was the reason behind his absence but that was on him.
“You coming inside or would you prefer to stay out here all night talking shit to your girls about me?”
Joi’s eyes rolled over to him quickly to find East with an unreadable expression that was still sexy but had Joi at a loss for how to react.
He hadn’t smiled since they left the pool hall and she could sense East was annoyed, however she didn’t care.
She was too, but she was the only one who had the right to be.
“If I am talking shit, you gave me plenty of reasons to, so…” She shrugged and East chuckled.
“Come on Grinch before I mess around and fuck that attitude right up out of you in this car.” He got out so quickly Joi didn’t have time to respond, however her body damn sure reacted.
Joi was positive that her panties were currently soaked and her nipples were so hard that her shirt brushing against them put her dangerously at risk of a mini orgasm.
When East found his way to her door and pulled it open, she sucked in a deep breath and gave a pep talk herself under her breath. “Don’t fall for it, Joi. Talk. That’s all you’re here to do.”
“What’s that?” East’s smug grin couldn’t be missed.
Shit, he heard that.
Joi got out and stepped away so East could close the door and he nodded for her to walk ahead of him.
Her body pulsed when he gently tapped her side after they stepped on his porch.
East used the keys in his hand to unlock the door then waited while she entered first. Once inside, Joi did a quick visual sweep and inhaled deeply, taking in the clean citrus scent that damn near smacked her in the face.
She hadn’t expected the home to look and smell so clean but it was a welcomed surprise.
“You live here alone?”
“Yeah, why?” East tossed his keys on the table next to the door before locking up and setting the alarm. Something he did out of habit. Joi’s eyes quickly went to his then the alarm, feeling as if he were locking them in instead of keeping them safe.
“Chill, with those crazy-ass thoughts. I’m not trying to hold you hostage. Whenever you want to leave, you can leave…”
Joi offered a second look that immediately planted a smug grin on East’s face like he read her mind.
“…after you hear me out. But after that, just say the word and I got you. Come on.”
In true East fashion he walked away expecting Joi to follow his lead, which she did.
They moved through his home with Joi admiring the surroundings.
Although the style was simple, and very manly, the house was fully furnished.
That put Joi at ease and her body relaxed.
This was his home, he wouldn’t dare do anything crazy to her where he lay his head.
Wait, why would I have that thought. Am I physically afraid of this man?
East did have a coldness to him that had Joi wondering about his dark side, she knew he had one, but she trusted him.
Why, she had no idea, but she did. Well with her well being.
Not necessarily with her emotions because he proved he would certainly mishandle those.
Once they reached the back of his home, he opened a door that led them downstairs to a basement.
It appeared to be a separate living area, just as nice but had a little more detail.
The entire place was decorated in black and browns with a massive leather sectional she knew would feel like heaven.
There was a fully stocked bar next to a kitchen that looked just as nice as the one they passed on the main floor, a pool table in the corner, and a sectional forming a U faced a wall that housed a massive screen similar to those in movie theatres, only not as big, however it did take up the entire wall.
“Man cave?”
East chuckled and nodded. “Something like that. I spend the majority of my time down here so I invested a little more in this space. Can I get you something?” He glanced at the bar. “I don’t have any C?roc. I only drink brown but I’m sure you can handle it.”
Joi rolled her eyes and shook her head. “No, I’m good. I’m just here to talk.”
East chuckled again and made his way to the sofa, taking a seat first. Joi followed after kicking off her shoes and pulling her feet up, crossing them at the ankles. She wasn’t right up under him, choosing to take up the corner while he was somewhere in the middle.
“Damn, it’s like that?”
“It is until I hear what you have to say,” she stated firmly.
East raked his hand over his head, pushing his fingers through a few of his curls before he let his head rest back and closed his eyes.
“Is it nap time or are you going to explain why you kidnapped me?”
East smirked at her verbiage, but kept his eyes closed. Technically he had kidnapped her, just not by excessive force.
“Your mouth is slick, Grinch. Chill with the rude shit. I need a minute.”
“Grinch? No, shawty. Oh it must be worse than I thought.”
This time East opened his eyes but didn’t lift his head from the back of the sofa. He only turned her way and stared at her pretty face. One that had been in his head twenty-four seven since the day they met.
“You mad at me?”
“Yes,” rolled off her tongue quickly. “But I shouldn’t be.”
East raised his brows and looked at her. “You shouldn’t be?”
“Nope, you pretty much told me who you were. I just pretended like I wasn’t different so you would be different with me.” Joi shrugged and East didn’t like the way that had him feeling. You’re definitely different, shawty.
“C’mere”
Joi laughed and shook her head, remembering the last time he made that request of her. “No thanks. I’m good where I’m at.”
East smirked, allowing his eyes to sweep her body. “You’re that mad that you don’t want to be close to me?”
“No, I’m that smart so I’m not going to be close to you.”
Not being one to give up so easily, East leaned her way and wrapped one of his hands around Joi’s ankle, tugging until she landed on her back. Before she could adjust, East pinned her body down with his, wedging between her legs and securing Joi’s arms above her head with both of his hands.
“You are different.”
Seconds later, East had his face buried in her neck. He took a minute to familiarize himself with her scent. One he missed more than he expected. Once he had his fill, East grazed her neck with his teeth, biting gently, kissing the spot, then lifting his head so he could see her face.
“I’m not used to this. That’s all it was about. Me not speaking to you or coming around didn’t have shit to do with you.”
“East, don’t.” Joi knew the game. Men like him played it well. They sold a dream about how you changed them, sent you home, and revised the story for the next woman.
“Don’t what?” East’s heated gaze met with Joi’s. Both sets of eyes were dark but his were intense, sensing she was pushing him away.
“You don’t have to try to convince me that it wasn’t just sex. I’m straight with how it turned out. I just didn’t expect you to go ghost on me. If that’s all it was, then I can deal with it and we can still be cool. I just know what it is moving forward.”
East chuckled and shook his head, closing his eyes briefly before he lowered his face into the side of her neck again.
His dick was at its full potential and he knew she could feel it but that wasn’t what this was about.
East hadn’t planned on bringing Joi to his house for sex.
He wanted her in his home because it would be harder for her to push him away.
At her place she could make him leave. If they were out in public, she could walk away, but in his home, he had control.
Something East was really struggling with.
“I want to fuck you so badly right now that it’s not even funny but if you shut me down, I promise I’m aight with that.
I just want you here. I don’t know what this is, shawty.
I can’t begin to make it make sense but I want…
no I need it. I didn’t stay away because I had sex with you and was done.
I stayed away because I don’t know what to do now that I’ve been inside you.
Shit, all I think about is being around you.
” East lifted his head and stared at Joi, contemplating before a muffled laugh escaped.
“I’m on some bitch shit when it comes to you.
I don’t like it but it’s out of my control. I gotta have it.”
Joi stared at him blankly, not expecting any of what he had just said. She wasn’t sure what to do next. Should she believe him and set herself up to get played? Or maybe he really meant it. No, he can’t. Why would he? He barely knew her.