Page 68 of Save Room for Us

“What’s acting accordingly, Anastazia?”

“I’m not about to hop out into the dating world. I mean this here wasn’t supposed to happen but it did. However, when I do start dating, you won’t be a factor for me. I can’t be one of your many options while you’re all I have. Shit doesn’t work like that over here.”

He stared at me and I waited for him to argue but he simply nodded, running his hand down his face as his dreads hung loosely, surrounding it.

Falling to the side of me, he pulled me in close, kissing my lips.

“I’m gon’ stop fucking her and anybody else,” he finally said after a while, clearing his throat. “But you make sure ain’t no niggas in ya face, Anastazia.”

“Niggas aren’t in my face. I don’t even go anywhere.”

“Chef Greg’s muthafuckin’ ass almost took a bullet tonight, though.”

I guffawed as I threw my arm around his solid frame. When I tried to do the same with my leg, I felt his solid pole through his jeans.

“I’m sorry about that.” I spoke on it.

“It’ll go down.” He covered his eyes. “You may have to get off me for a second though.”

“Maybe you can take me home and?—”

“Nah. Don’t leave me. I want you here, baby.” He pecked me again. “A nigga just need a minute. A woman has never had me this hard in my fucking life.”

“For real?” I pressed my chin into his chest.

“Real shit.” Uncovering his eyes, he frowned, “You said that’s shea butter on you?”

“Yes, the real stuff. Comes hard and you have to melt it down.”

“You so fucking soft. You smell so fucking good. What you put on ya pussy?”

“I take showers?” I giggled, seeing the seriously puzzled expression on his face.

“Muthafucka was falling off the bone.” I cracked up at his statement. “I like that design too.”

“It’s a landing strip.”

“Don’t get rid of that. I fuck with that shit.”

“Yes, sir.” I smiled.

“Can you stay the night?” he asked so sincerely that I wanted to say yes but I couldn’t.

“Not tonight… no.”

“The baby, huh?” He offered up an excuse, so I took it.

“Yep.” I shrugged sadly. True enough, Sophie was knocked out with her grandmother who she sometimes preferred over me and my strictness.

The real reason was that I often woke up in the middle of the night due to bad nightmares, and I didn’t want Asif seeing it. I also didn’t want to be held all night because it wasn’t endearing to me, it was traumatizing and reminded me of the many nights I was in pain from not being allowed to urinate or break free from Cedric’s strong hold.

Gripping my chin, he kissed me deeply, before slipping his tongue into my mouth. I loved the way he kissed; it was passionate but had a tinge of gangsta to it. We stayed like that for a minute until he drove me home.

The next morning…

Walking into the living room carrying Sophie, I heard a familiar voice coming from the TV as I inhaled the scent of my mama’s homemade biscuits.

As the picture came into view, I recognized Jacinta looking like a grieving widow as she sat with a balled tissue pressed to the corners of her eyes.

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