Page 80 of Lost In London

Quiet.

Only sounds were the echoes of the intercom outside of the room from normal day hospital activity.

London was waiting by the door with my bag on her shoulder grinning and biting her lip. “Next time you can ask me to marry you and I promise I’ll say yes.”

Trust me, I had plans in motion for the day I asked for her hand in marriage. I just hope she was ready for when I called her bluff because I wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Introduce me to your dad first and then we can pick our wedding colors.”

We were going to have three kids. Two boys and a girl. Both of our boys would be replicas of their father and our princess would be my mini-me. I really wanted twin boys but I wasn’t pressed because I knew they’d be Irish twins if anything else. Then when they were about four or five I’d have our last baby. Our little girl would have my personality and sense of fashion but the heart and mind of her father.

If Quincey wanted more kids I’d have them with no complaint.

Why?

Because this man did something that no one has ever done - he checked my ignorant family. He defended me without me having to ask. My daddy loved him and so did my mom. She had hearts dancing in her eyes since he and I walked in daddy’s room. Then on top of winning my parent’s hearts, Dre loved him and Landon did too. He was shocked to see that I was actually in a relationship with a man but he knew Quincey already from his connection with Andrea.

My dad was truly fascinated with Quincey’s mind especially when it came to his faith. I had no idea that Dre and him were acquainted and during his spare time Quincey volunteered as a counselor at Connie’s House. He wasn’t licensed but that didn’t stop them from inquiring about his services. It’s crazy how he and I had more than enough opportunities to run into each other but we didn’t until God said it was time.

Taking him to my apartment felt surreal. This would be the first time we’d be alone overnight. Yeah, I spent time at his house often but this was different. Benny was here but after he dropped us off at my house he went to a hotel down the block. I thought I’d be nervous to sleep next to him since the only man I’ve been sleeping next to for the last year has been Cassian.

Speaking of him, he called me wanting to know the full scope of my relationship with Quincey and I gave it while waiting for my new bed mate to get out of the shower. I told Cassian everything and I mean everything. Told him how I had fallen flat on my ass in love and didn’t want to get up. Told him how God had given me such a precious gift that everyday since I stopped running from this man I’ve been floating on a love cloud.

He was happy for me. Still threatened to do him bodily harm but overall happy for me. He knew something had transpired between him and I but he didn’t know it got serious.

Once Quincey got out of the shower and I bathed, we ate our food, he sprayed my pillows and sheets with a lavender sleeping mist, tied up my hair, and rubbed my scalp until I fell asleep watching Aladdin. This man held me all night. Even when I shifted or he shifted I still found my place back in his arms and I didn’t get hot and bothered during the night.

It was the most peaceful sleep I’ve ever had in my life.

I wasn’t self conscious about a thing. He made me feel beautiful even in my head scarf but you better believe I had on some nice pajamas. A silk copper spaghetti strapped tank top and matching shorts. I ain’t even put on a bra because for what? I was that comfortable. He slept in a pair of gray boxer briefs and my eyes had a very, very nice view.

From his thick, muscular thighs to that heavy muscle that was more than eager to greet me this morning. I enjoyed feeling warm manly arms wrapped around me all night. Feeling his breath on my shoulder and the comforting sounds of his snores as he slept. When I did turn out of his embrace I didn’t stay far too long. He’d bring me back to where I loved to be - in his arms resting against his chest.

Besides my daddy, Landon, and Cassian, I’ve never cooked breakfast for a man. Actually I never cooked a meal outside of those three for any of my past lovers. Oh, but you better believe I got up early to cook my man a king's breakfast with no hesitation. He didn’t even ask for it. I felt like it and I did it.

I called up Aziza and had her walk me through the steps of making pancakes, grits, and homemade hash browns from scratch. I found this mango and peach juice mixture on TikTok and made it. I already knew how to cook the sausage, eggs, and put together the fruit bowl.

“When are you bringing him over for dinner?” Laid out in her backyard with a bikini on that made me side-eye my workout routine, Aziza was flawless at her age. She made being in her fifties look damn good.

“Probably some time next week. We fly out the day after tomorrow. It really all depends on…” My eyes fluttered and the butterflies in my stomach awoke.

Placing the knife down before I cut myself, I basked in this moment. The moment when I became aware of his presence. The moment when my heart started to beat off kilter and my hands started to shake from the anticipation of being near him. Didn’t matter if he was in the same house as me. Nothing was like being next to him.

Breathing in his scent.

Beholding my king in all his glory.

“Mhm, I remember those days.” Her laughter sounded like a faraway echo as my body started to get lost in the overload of my senses heightening. “Bishop still gets me all flustered. We’ve been married for over thirty years and that man makes my knees weak with just a glance or a small greeting. Feels good to be in love and loved right doesn’t it?”

If only she knew.

Sometimes I cried with a smile on my face because there is something so soothing and powerful and rewarding about being truly loved right.

A breeze of warmth covered my back and my mouth gaped open feeling him mush my back to his chest. I had to take deep breaths so I wouldn’t pass out. My scalp even tingled. I never knew love was a feeling until Quincey. And what I mean by a feeling I mean by physically feeling it outside of my heartbeat beating off kilter and my cheeks warming.

My heart felt whole when he entered a room.

His love felt like a ghost or a spirit moving around and through me.

Yes, it was a warm tingling feeling but it was so much more than that. It was an awareness in a sense. It’s what stretched my smile and brightened my eyes. It fed calcium to my bones to make me stand up taller and walk with my head held high. It caused my womb to constrict from being revived and fed seeds of purpose and intention without him even having to plant his own because he first made love to my mind, heart, and soul.

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