CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sierra
Sierra leaned into EZ’s strength, promising herself that she was going to relax and enjoy every moment of this night.
The full moon moved toward its zenith, the cool breeze still held a trace of the day’s heat, the low drone of conversation and neo soul music reached out to welcome them before it morphed into something pulsating and alive the closer they got to the door of Just Grounds.
Anxiety began to melt away as they approached the handful of people milling around the entrance. Sierra felt the tug of excitement that always seemed to appear when she embarked on something unfamiliar. It was the adventurous part of her nature that kept her chasing life.
Ezekiel’s hand moved from the small of her back to her hip as he pulled her tighter against him and growled. He was grimacing when she looked up at him.
“Everything okay, Odin...I mean EZ?” she teased.
Ezekiel looked down at her and sighed, tension eased from his face but his forearm muscles felt like corded bands of steal beneath her hand.
“My ex’s two brothers and cousin,” he said, nodding his head toward three men standing on the wall smoking cigarettes. “Stick close tonight.”
“That was my plan anyway. You think I’m gonna give Maribelle-the-Voluptuous or any woman a chance to steal you away from me after I’ve just found you? I have never been what anyone would define as a seductress, but?—”
He stopped. “You’re wrong.” He adjusted the drum on his back and wrapped her fully in his arms. “You’ve been seducing me since you opened your front door this morning.”
“Before or after you pulled a gun on me?”
“I pulled a gun on the kit, you were just in the way.”
“Um hmm. Kiss me.”
His lips pressed against hers, his tongue stoking flames in places it didn’t even touch.
“Seductress,” he growled as if it was a designation that only belonged to her.
“Only for you. And we’re just getting started.”
“I mean, I don’t give a fuck about being around any of these people. We can turn around and go home now.”
She stepped back and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward Destiny’s café.
“The night is young Ezekiel Evers, and I still have a few things to show you.”
“Zeek, hermano, como esta?” One of the men standing against the wall called out. He lowered his cigarette and extended his hand to Zeek who seemed to grasp it begrudgingly, repeating the action with the other two men. It was as if he was only doing it for her sake.
“Haven’t seen the drum out in a long time. You playing tonight?” The second man asked. He looked similar to the first and was bulkier than Zeek with a buzz cut. They must have been the brothers.
“It wants to sing for my woman,” Zeek said, placing a hand at her back and pressing her toward the door.
“Mari’s not going to be happy,” the first man called out.
“Like I give a fuck,” EZ replied, as they stepped into the café.
“You really don’t hold back with people,” she said low.
“He saw you. I don’t give a shit about him or his sister, but he brought her up as if I should care about her more than you.”
“You’re right.” She nodded in affirmation. “You should absolutely not give a shit about her. For both your safety.”
He threw his head back and laughed, the action causing every head around them to turn.
It was as if they’d walked into some Invasion of the Body Snatchers scene.
People stared long after Ezekiel’s laughter had subsided.
She understood, his laughter was like a solar flare, a clap of thunder, pure abandon, and...
“New rule,” she whispered in his ear. “You can no longer laugh in public.” He continued to smile. “I feel like I may have to fight every single woman in here, and maybe a few men if you do.”
“For someone who’s not a fighter, you sure do talk about fighting a lot.”
“Weird right?!”
He lowered his head and kissed her, and she knew exactly what she was fighting for. This man was a treasure.