Page 23 of Hooked on Loving Him

“You… my dear soul catcher, are off the single market, which means you need to prepare for our first date as a couple.”

“Mm. On that note, it's time for me to get back to work,” she says, smiling, causing her entire face to brighten as she pushes her chair back. Warmth spreads through my body as I follow suit.

“Yeah, I need to go check on my team to make sure shit is shaking like it’s supposed to,” I say, interlocking our hands as a zing of current surges through me from our connection.

Yeah, I’m definitely gonna marry Ashari’s ass.

“Your team? What do you do?” Ashari asks as we head toward the front entrance to leave the drink palace because this place is more than a coffee shop.

“I own a shoe company,” I say nonchalantly as Ashari stops suddenly with her eyes wide.

“Which one?”

“K. Patt Kicks,” I say, smirking as her mouth opens and closes several times before I tug her along while exiting the entrance ofSipping Thangs Beveragesso we don’t block the women attempting to enter.

“Why didyou kiss me like that, knowing I had to go back to work?” I ask, frowning as my lips tingle in recognition of what took place between Kayshon and me at the end of what he refused to acknowledge as a date of any kind.

A low chuckle sounds through my receiver, hitting me directly in my lower region, causing me to bite my lip while clenching my thighs.

“Although I disagreed with the reason for our link-up, I couldn’t allow your pretty ass to get away without experiencing the softness of your lips. Trust me, you didn’t make it easy for me to continue with my day, either.”

“Tell me about how you came to own a shoe company. That is so cool. I have wanted to go check out the inventory but haven’t had a chance yet.”

“I saw most kids come to school in the latest shoe fashions, and unlike them, I was impressed with the styles, colors, and structure of how they were made. My mother could only afford to buy me secondhand clothing and shoes that had been well past their expiration date. My love of shoes grew when Mom bought me a pair of Nike’s that were somewhat high top, but what stood out most was the yellow in the swoop and tongue and the border. I saw myself creating something just as fly but with other colors that would stand out more than the bumble bee yellow of those shoes.”

“Wow. The only thing my young ass did in elementary school was dodge Tommy Cranes, who thought it was funny to pull my pigtails and push me off the jungle gym.”

“You said, Tommy Cranes?” Kayshon asks as I hear clicking in his background, which causes me to inquire about what he’s doing.

“Mhm. What are you doing?”

“Looking the nigga up so I can beat his ass,” Kayshon says as I laugh as a giddy feeling enters my body.

“How are you gonna beat his ass so many years later, Kayshon? Make it make sense,” I say, smiling.

“His ass will catch these hands for the old and new you who hasn’t forgotten what the nigga did. Oh shit! According to this memorial page that pops up on Facebook, it looks like karma already got him. Damn. Justice should have been in the nickels that beat this nigga’s ugly face because bro got skipped when God started creating handsome men like me.”

Giggling, I shake my head at Kayshon while adjusting myself in bed, enjoying the lighthearted banter of our conversation.

“You ain’t right.”

“Oh, trust me, I know. Don’t worry, though. I’ll only push you when I need to deepen the back shots you’ll happily take.”

My pussy purrs while moistening as I mentally war with liking and disliking Kayshon’s statement and wondering if he can back up his words. Silence penetrates the line, giving me too much time to think and feel the thumping in my lower region.

I wonder if Kayshon fucks with his glasses on or if he sheds them like Steve Urkel after exiting the transformation chamber.

“Aye, Shari. Let's play truth or dare,” Kayshon says after several minutes. My heart stalls momentarily when I hear him shorten my name.

Well, look who’s getting comfortable in their self-proclaimed position.

“Ooh, this sounds fun. Do you want to start?” A grin forms after asking the question because of the reminder of his need to lead.

“Nah, you can ask me something… I’ll take a dare though.”

“I dare you to read a page of a book in a romantic style,” I say, giggling.

“Man. Y’all women be thinking of the craziest shit. Hold tight.”

---