Page 67 of Quasim: King Inferno

In my defense, I was done with Quasim when he had asked me if I was dealing with somebody or had a man. He was upfront about his situation with Grace, which was rare when it came to men in the entertainment industry.

“We’re done now.”

He cocked his head to the side like he was skeptical and couldn’t believe what I was saying. “Don’t tell me shit because you want me to feel better, B. I’m not rushing you, but I want to see where this could go, I enjoy kicking it with you.”

I smiled. “Our situation was complicated and there’s a lot of feelings there, but we both decided to end whatever we were doing and move on. I wouldn’t have come if me and him had something going on.”

“Your friends know?”

“Know what?”

“That you done with him… his brother seemed real sure that you and homie was together.”

I laughed. “You have to know Meer to know his sense of humor.”

“Being real, I’m not trying to get to know him… his loyalty is to his brother, and I respect that. I’m trying to get the girl, so making friends with him isn’t on my list of things to do.”

Zay was so real with his intentions and where he stood that it was foreign. He was telling me in so many words that he wanted me to be his, and I was scared. The same thing I had been begging Quasim to give me, he was trying to give to me.

“Meer is one of my best friends, so he comes with what I come with. He’s also married to my best friend… my sister. So, they are a package deal. How about we go out to dinner when I’m back from Bali.”

Zay didn’t look impressed as he cut into his steak and looked at me. “I don’t know, B.”

“You said you want the girl, well, I’m in front of you trying to share a piece of my world with you.”

He rested his fork and knife and looked at me. “Alright… I’m with it.”

I clapped my hands quietly. “Good. Now, can we enjoy our last night together before you jet off to be a superstar.”

He did a half smile as he looked into my eyes. “Would much rather be here with you. B, I’m serious about seeing where this could go. I’m not checking for no other women out there. I want to know we on the same page. I have the successful career, and now I’m working on getting my personal life successful, and that means I want a wife with some children. Seeing my sister have my nephew got a nigga wanting seeds like yesterday.”

I smiled at him as I reached across the table and grabbed his hand and toyed with his diamond pinky ring. “We’re on the same page. Those are the things that I want, too.”

“Ight.”

My head was throbbing from all the cameras and lights when we left the restaurant. This was what came with being with a man like Zay. He always made sure to check in with me and make sure that I was good.

I pulled my shirt over my head and did my skincare routine while humming along toyouby Jesse Powell. It was in my head hard, and I couldn’t get it out, no matter how many other songs I listened to.

Once I was finished with my skincare, I walked back into the room and Zay was on the bed flipping through the channels. “The news don’t report on other shit anymore. I’m not trying to see myself, I wanna know what the fuck is happening in the world.” He vented and tossed the remote down at the bottom of the bed.

“Zay is in their city and they wanna make sure everyone knows,” I teased, pinching his cheek, and he grabbed my wrist, kissing the inside of it while staring up into my eyes.

“Blair in the city and that’s all I’m concerned with.” He gently pulled me over toward him, directing me to straddle him, which I did.

I wasn’t ready to have sex with Zay, which pissed me off because I had this handsome man in a suite, and I didn’t want to bust it open or nothing. I stared down into his kind eyes and smiled at him.

“Oh really?”

“Yes, really. Gonna miss you, yo… past few days felt nice having someone with me.” Zay had his entourage that was with him while on tour, but he didn’t have anyone else.

He was the breadwinner for his family. This life seemed glamorous on the outside, but he did what he had to do for his family, there was no other option. Kind of like Quasim, he did what had to be done and unlike his brother, he wasn’t given a choice. It was the reason he was so resilient, strong, and serious.

My silent king.

Fuck.

This wasn’t about Quasim, and I needed to stop thinking about him. “I had a good time, and I’m gonna miss you, too.”

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