CHAPTER SEVEN
"Ma!"
"I'm coming!"
Cody's voice echoed from my bedroom for what had to be the third time that morning. I snatched my phone off the nightstand to check the time, and the second I saw it, I shot straight up in bed.
"Shit."
I hurried into the bedroom where Cody was already dressed in his school uniform with his backpack on, looking at me like he'd been waiting forever.
"I know, baby. We late."
"I told you it was morning."
"You did."
We rushed toward the front door and stepped out onto the porch. My hair was thrown into a messy bun, I had a hoodie pulled over a pair of leggings, and the oversized sunglasses I grabbed off the table were doing their best to hide the hangover that had been kicking my ass since I opened my eyes.
I shouldn't have gone out drinking last night, but sitting in the house thinking about Jokah wasn't doing me any favors. At least, that's what I kept telling myself every time I walked into another club looking for a distraction.
The ride to Cody's school was quiet. I kept apologizing for oversleeping while he stared out the window like he wasn't interested in hearing my apology.
When we finally pulled into the drop-off line, I parked and waited on him to get out.
"I'm sorry we're late, baby."
"It's okay, Ma."
He adjusted the straps on his backpack before grabbing the door handle.
"I love you."
"I love you too," he replied.
I sat there until I watched him disappear through the front doors before pulling off and heading home.
By the time I walked through the front door, all I wanted was a bottle of water, something greasy to eat, and a nap.
I kicked my shoes off, tossed my purse onto the couch, and stretched out with my phone in my hand.
I opened Facebook without really thinking about it.
I just wanted something to take my mind off the headache pounding behind my eyes.
I scrolled past a few memes, a couple engagement pictures, and people arguing in the comments over something that had nothing to do with me.
My thumb stopped the second the picture filled my screen.
Kaior had her phone held out in front of them while they rode through the ranch.
Jokah was beside her on a black stallion, grinning from ear to ear, his golds shining in the sunlight.
I frowned. I hadn't seen that nigga smile like that in a long time.
Then she had the nerve to tag him in her post. I tapped the picture to make it bigger before swiping to the next one.
Every picture told the same story. He was holding hands and laughing with another bitch while I was sitting over here with a broken heart.
Looking like they didn't have a care in the world.
"You gotta be kidding me."
I zoomed in on the picture, studying every inch of it before swiping to the next one.
"So, this what the fuck y'all doing?"
I threw my phone onto the couch, but the anger bubbling inside me wouldn't let me leave it alone. I picked it right back up and looked through every single picture again.
By the time I reached the last one, my jaw was so tight it hurt.
A slow smile spread across my face.
"I got something for his ass."
I backed out of Facebook and opened my app.
Mr. Walker smiled as he took hold of Midnight's reins before reaching for Snowflake's.
"I'll take good care of these two from here."
I leaned down and rubbed Snowflake's neck one last time. "Thank you for not throwing me off."
She nudged my shoulder with her nose, and I laughed.
"I think she likes you," Mr. Walker said.
"I like her too."
Jokah folded his arms.
"So... we just ignoring me now?"
I smiled and walked over to him, slipping my hand into his. "Of course not, baby."
He looked down at our hands before smiling.
"Good. I was starting to think I got replaced."
I shook my head.
"You're irreplaceable."
His smile softened.
"That's all I needed to hear."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. Mr. Walker chuckled as he led Midnight and Snowflake toward the barn.
"Y'all enjoy the rest of your afternoon."
"You too," I said.
Jokah gave my hand a gentle squeeze as we watched them disappear.
"So... we’re heading home now?"
He looked over at me and smiled.
"Nah."
I laughed.
"You got something else planned?"
He nodded toward a small trail surrounded by tall oak trees.
"Come on."
"You still ain't tired of surprising me?"
"Not even a little bit."
I shook my head and followed him down the trail.
The farther we walked, the quieter everything became. The only sounds around us were birds singing overhead and the leaves swaying in the breeze. We rounded one last bend, and I stopped walking.
"Oh... my..."
Beneath the shade of a massive oak tree sat a beautiful clear bubble tent with elegant cream-colored curtains tied back on both sides. Sunlight poured through the transparent walls, giving us a perfect view of the ranch while keeping everything inside cool, clean, and private.
I slowly stepped closer.
Inside, a large cream-colored blanket covered the floor with oversized pillows arranged around it.
A woven picnic basket sat in the middle beside a charcuterie board filled with fresh fruit, cheeses, crackers, chocolate-covered strawberries, miniature pastries, and little desserts that looked too pretty to eat.
A bouquet of white roses rested inside a glass vase, and two bottles of sparkling champagne chilled inside an ice bucket nearby. Everything looked perfect.
I looked back at Jokah.
"You did all this?"
He shrugged like it wasn't anything special.
"I figured we'd be hungry."
I laughed, shaking my head.
"You're unbelievable."
"So, I've been told."
I walked inside the bubble tent, slowly looking around like I couldn't believe any of it was real. Every little detail had been thought out, from the flowers to the pillows to the handwritten place cards with our names sitting beside the plates.
My chest tightened. Nobody had ever done anything like this for me. I turned around to face him.
"I don't even know what to say."
"You ain't gotta say nothing."
I looked at him for a long moment before smiling.
"How do you keep coming up with all this?"
He walked over until he was standing right in front of me. "You spent too much time accepting the bare minimum."
He gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I'm just showing you what effort looks like."
I couldn't find the words.
Instead, I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him. He smiled against the top of my head before wrapping his arms around me.
"You crying?"
I laughed softly.
"No."
"You lying."
"I know."
He lifted my chin with his finger and kissed my tears. "You deserve this, Kaior."
I smiled and nodded before taking one last look around the bubble tent. "I still can't believe you did all this."
"Believe it."
He reached for my hand and led me over to the blanket. I slipped my sneakers off at the entrance before sitting down on one of the oversized pillows across from him.
"This is so nice."
"I was hoping you'd like it."
"I love it."
He smiled and reached into the ice bucket and pulling out one of the chilled bottles.
"You drinking?"
I laughed.
"Is that a real question?" I giggled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He popped the cork, and I jumped.
"Lord!"
He laughed so hard he almost spilled the champagne.
"You alright?"
"You could've warned me."
"I thought I did."
"No, you didn't."
"I was finna."
"You was too late."
He poured the champagne into two fluted glasses before handing one to me.
"To new experiences."
I smiled and gently tapped my glass against his.
"To new experiences."
I took a sip before setting my glass beside me.
"Mmm."
"Good?"
"It is."
He reached for a strawberry, dipped it into the chocolate, and held it out toward me.
"Open."
I laughed.
"You trying to spoil me?"
"I already started."
I leaned forward and took a bite.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"Everything tastes better when somebody else feeds you."
He shook his head.
"You are something else."
"I've been told."
He laughed.
"By who?"
"You."
"I got good judgment."
I smiled and reached across the board for a cube of cheese before holding it up to his mouth.
"Your turn."
He leaned forward and took the bite without breaking eye contact.
"Mmm."
"See?"
"You might be right."
"I know I am."
For the next few minutes, we picked at the charcuterie board, laughed, and talked about everything and nothing at the same time. We traded strawberries for crackers, stole food off each other's plates, and finished nearly half the bottle of champagne without either of us keeping count.
At one point, I caught myself just watching him.
"What?"
I smiled.
"Nothing."
"Nah." He pointed his cracker at me. "That's the second time you done looked at me like that."
I looked down at my plate, trying to hide my smile. "I was just thinking."
"'Bout what?"
I looked back up at him.
"I don't think I've ever been this happy before."
The smile on his face faded into something softer. "Good."
He reached across the blanket and took my hand. "'Cause I'm just getting started."
That was all I needed to hear. I stood up and removed my shorts without breaking eye contact with him.
“That’s how you feeling?”
Jokah licked his lips, laid back, pulled his pants down and started stroking his dick. Just the sight of it made my mouth water.
“Let me handle that for you, baby.”
Easing down, I positioned myself between his legs and took him into my mouth inch by inch.
I slurped and licked his dick until it was harder than life itself.
Then I straddled his lap, easing down until he filled me up.
I let out a low moan, my head falling back, my eyes closing.
He gripped my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh, as I started to roll my hips.
I rode him slowly at first, my body rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
I could feel every inch of him touching my walls.
Jokah let out a low groan and closed his eyes. I leaned forward, my hands finding his chest, my nails digging into his skin, riding him on my toes. I bounced up and down on that dick. Jokah started cursing and slapping me on my ass.
“Fuckin’ right. Get that nut out yo’ dick.”
I could feel his muscles flexing beneath my touch, his body moving in sync with mine as he thrust his hips upward. I was riding him hard, my body slamming down onto his.
“Jokah… baby… God this the best dick I ever had.”
And then he reached between us, his fingers finding my clit, and twirling it between his fingers. That shit drove me crazy… you hear me. I let out a loud ass moan.
Jokah flipped me over with his dick still buried deep inside of me and stroked my pussy at a steady pace. Jokah was hitting just the right spot. But this time, there was something different in his touch, something softer, more tender.
He leaned down, his mouth finding mine in a slow, sensual kiss.
His tongue explored my mouth, his hands cupping my face, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks.
A different feeling was radiating from him.
There was emotion behind his touch. He was making love to me, showing me with his body what words couldn't express.
“Ahhh… Ahhh…Ahhh… Jokah,” I moaned in his ear.
This man was making my body scream. He placed his hand on top of my head and went deeper, holding it there.
“Fuck, you about to make me cum in this pussy.”
“Cum inside your pussy baby.”
Then he sucked on my tongue and started back stroking me, his chain head butting me. Jokah kept that same slow pace until he started groaning and grunting.
“Here it comes baby. Fuck…here it comes.”
Jokah’s body grew tense as he came hard, his dick pulsing inside me. Then he collapsed onto my chest, our sweaty bodies pressed together, our breaths ragged and our hearts racing. We stayed like that for a moment, neither of us saying anything, just enjoying the afterglow.
Eventually, he rolled off me, lying down on the blanket. He turned onto his side, facing me, his hand finding mine. He laced our fingers together, his thumb brushing against my skin.
"You gone get pregnant, if you not already," he said, with a smile on his face.
I turned my head to look at him. “I better get on birth control then," I said, my voice soft.
"If that's what you want, baby."
Something about the way he said it made me stare at him a little longer. There was no argument and no pressure, but there damn sure wasn't any excitement behind the idea either. I smiled to myself and rested my head against his chest while he wrapped his arm around me.
We stayed there beneath the afternoon sun, tangled together inside our little bubble while the ranch stretched peacefully around us.