Chapter 10 #2
He led me up the stairs while holding my hand.
That gesture alone had me smiling. He was a gentleman and I wasn’t used to little things like this.
His touch was soft, warm, and almost gentle.
It felt like the best shea butter body oil against my skin.
I almost got distracted by the shield of protection I suddenly felt.
My feet hit the entrance to what seemed like it was out of a movie. The sleek black leather seats, the long couch, the big ass TV that sat in the middle of the jet, and whatever was behind it. Was that a bar?
My girls looked on with big eyes just like me. I’d never been around something so lavish and all of us stuck in place showed Armond that too.
“Ladies, come and get settled.” He waved us on.
He was standing by the bar, fixing himself a shot of something dark.
Nothing was labeled or in their original bottles.
It was quite intriguing. Honestly, everything on this jet was appealing.
I was starstruck by the soft lighting, the hum of the soft music playing in the background. The… Wait… who is that?
Tucked in the corner at one of the desks was a woman fixated on her computer to the point where she hadn’t acknowledged anyone since we’d gotten on. Armond noticed my eyes on her and he smiled as he walked back to me.
“Ah, yes. Sorry about that. Come here right quick, Brandy,” he said. I made my way over to him and he guided me with his hand on my elbow to this random woman.
It wasn’t until I walked up on her that I realized who she could be.
She looked just like Armond. She had long dark hair in a messy bun, tanned skin that looked like she’d been to a beach, and pretty green eyes behind those glasses sitting on the brim of her nose.
It was also when I noticed her headphones and heard the buzz of the bass vibrating against her ears.
The second she noticed me, she jumped out of her skin.
“Oh shit,” she said as she grabbed her chest.
“Amelia, this is Brandy. Brandy, this is my younger sister, Amelia. Unfortunately, she will be joining us on the flight since she was too bougie to fly first class,” he said snidely.
“I had plans first. You can’t just ruin my plans to accommodate yours. That’s what we have a schedule for,” she bickered. “Anyway, hi, Brandy. It’s nice to meet you.” She extended her hand and I shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Would you like something to drink?” Armond asked.
“Sure, uhhh... you have any wine?”
“A little birdie told me the other day that your favorite wine was XXL Cali Extreme, would that be correct?”
I looked at my girls sitting comfortably on the sofa, grinning at me like the big goofies that they were. I shook my head then looked back at Armond.
“Yes, that’s correct. You really ain’t have to go out of your way,” I replied, as he pulled out the unopened bottle.
He handed it to me then proceeded to pull out five wine glasses and a little tray with circular ice pieces. I looked at the flight attendant who tried to step in and he just stared at her like he was about to split her tongue just for offering to help.
“Seraphina, you’ve done enough. Might as well get back to whatever you were doing,” Amelia said.
Seraphina nodded then took off like she had a fire under her ass.
My eyes went back to Armond’s and it seemed like all the anger he just had was easily replaced as he continued his task.
Once he was done, his eyes met mine, and for half a second, I would’ve sworn I saw a glint in his eyes.
He handed me a glass then passed one to his sister.
I waved my girls over and they quickly shot up to join us.
“To a safe and relaxed flight back,” he said. We all clinked glasses and I took a sip. I did a little happy dance and Armond cracked a smile. He only seemed to do that with me. Or maybe I just hadn’t been around enough to see him smile at anyone else.
“I’d like to show you the rest of the cabin,” Armond said in my ear.
“Okay,” I replied, then looked at the girls. They took that cue to go back to their seats. Amelia was already back in hers and on her computer again.
Once we rounded the huge ass television we were met with two doors. One he showed me was the bathroom and the other a bedroom. It had a pullout bed already made up with cream sheets, a comforter, and fluffy ass pillows, and two chairs with a mini desk. Another TV was mounted alongside the table.
“This is really nice, Armond.”
“Thanks. I recently got the interior remodeled.”
“You did a good job.”
“Appreciate it.”
“So when you said you were leaving, did you actually leave?”
He chuckled then closed the space between us.
“Of course I did. I would never lie to you, Brandy. I got back this morning. I wanted to see you again and figured this would be the best way to do it while keeping your schedule.”
“Oh, so you missed me?” I had to ask before I got myself too worked up. Though he just said he wanted to see me again I wanted to see if he missed me as much as I missed him.
He stroked my cheek as his eyes roamed my face. I noticed it was something he liked to do. Like he was truly reading me. It seemed like my words and even my breath got caught in my throat. I was getting all tingly and I couldn’t figure out this grasp he had on me.
He didn't say a word, just rubbed his nose against mine then planted his lips on me.
They were soft yet assuring. He didn't have huge lips, but they were the right amount to get a good full press. I could tell he was trying to mask his eagerness and I thought it was cute. He was trying to refrain from showing his full self and I honestly couldn’t blame him because I was too.
I wanted to jump his bones the very second his tongue slid into my mouth, lock the door and push him right onto that bed. I was ready to dive right in just for a taste even if I never saw him again after this flight.
I couldn’t help the groan that escaped me.
I never noticed his tongue ring until now.
I could only imagine how that would feel against my throbbing bud.
Before I could get too deep into the thought, he pulled away gently.
He stroked my cheek as he stared wildly at me.
He was completely mute, but those eyes said much. I was lost in him.
“There's no getting rid of me now, Armond… you're mine,” I said boldly.
I couldn’t believe that just came out of my mouth. I didn't care if he had a whole family, I wanted this man. It was desperate and unhinged thinking but the way he erupted my soul was unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life.
“That's a bold statement, Ms. Brandy Noel.” He smiled. My breath hitched and I instantly blushed because why was I being such a dork?
“You may as well call me Mrs. Davis, Armond, cuz what did I say?”
I became serious and his brows perked. He was clearly amused. He licked his lips then reached into his pocket. He fiddled with something in his hand then put it in my view, a little black velvet box. My heart damn near stopped.
“Well, I see we had the same objective in mind so how about I slide this ring on your finger now and say fuck all the rest?”
“You're serious?”
“Do I seem like a man who plays with anything other than your pussy?”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“Alright then. Risk it all.”
I stretched my left hand out and waited for him to open the box. My heart thumped in my throat. I knew this was crazy but if he was saying forget it and standing on business then who was I to stop his sexy ass?
When he opened it, my mouth dropped. I felt the jerk of the plane as we finally entered the sky. Reality was setting in quickly but every part of me rejected all common sense.
The pear-shaped diamond and platinum band were to die for.
It was so simple yet so intricate. I wondered if he’d gotten it custom made.
When it fit my finger perfectly, I couldn't help but become infatuated with him tenfold.
Because when did he size my finger? Or did my friends tell him this too?
My eyes instantly watered. How did he know?
“My life is full of craziness, Brandy. I'm always on the move.
But the one thing I can promise is that I'll always be home at night and when I'm out of the country we'll always say goodnight no matter the time difference.
You stick with me and I promise you I won't falter.
I'm diving into this just as blindly as you, but I'd never been so sure about anything or anyone in my life. You gon’ fuck with me the long way, honeybee?”
I smiled widely before responding, “Yes!”
I couldn't explain why this was so easy for me as well, but like he said, it felt right.
Like we knew we were each other's person.
We would build our friendship and blossom into something powerful that nobody could break.
I was hopeful. His tendency to eradicate wrongdoers was everything to me.
I knew he would protect me and I didn't have to think twice about it.
He exuded everything Jeffery failed hard at and that was the biggest thing for me.
If I wasn’t completely comfortable with a man then there was no need to keep going.
That man wouldn't be down for me when it mattered and Jeffrey had been the epitome of let downs.
He never defended me, always cowered, though there was nothing cowardly about him until it was time to put hands on me. Tuh. Never again.
“So, this is for real, Armond? You aren’t playing with me? Cuz like, I really can’t handle you not coming through on your word. If we’re going to test these waters, then I need to know this ring isn’t just for a claim on me but because you truly want this.”
“Honeybee, I don’t give a fuck about testing shit. If you’re wearing that ring, then it means I’m your man and I’m going to treat you as such. Give us a chance and let me show you that you’re safe with me. Mind, body, heart, and soul.”
I sighed. The look in his eyes told me I should believe him, but I’d fallen for that game before with Jeffrey. Shit, just thinking about Jeffrey dimmed my excitement. I was being a fool.
I slowly pulled the ring off my finger and sighed as I placed it back into the box in his hand. He looked down at it then looked at me as if I had broken his heart. That lasted for only a second because he grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest.
“You feel that? No woman on the planet has ever made my heart race like this. I’m not asking you to marry me, honeybee.
I just want a chance to show you I’m not Jeffrey and you can be loved the right way.
You can be happy in life without looking over your shoulder.
That’s my promise to you and that’s what this ring signifies.
Can you fuck with me the long way, honeybee? ”
What’s with this nickname and why do I like it? And why are his words hitting home?
I exhaled a shaky breath and stretched my hand toward him. He read the nervousness all over me. He grabbed my hand gently then brought it to his lips and kissed it while he stared at me. My breath hitched and chills rolled across my skin.
“Okay,” I exhaled.