Page 21 of Craving a King

I playfully wag my finger at him. “No, that will be my surprise for you.”

Kofi chuckles. “Very well, I look forward to it. We really should go now—it’s getting late. I need to get my lady some dinner. Those meat pies will only hold her for so long.”

“You’re right—Iamhungry again.”

Once I am dressed, Kofi and I head out into the darkness of nightfall. It is nine and the vendors are closing their stalls. “Kofi, thank you for an unforgettable day. It really has been special.”

Kofi looks down at me and grabs my hand before ducking into an alcove behind an empty stall. He quickly takes my lips into his and presses his strong body against mine. The kiss starts at my lips and mouth but ends in a trail down my neck to my breastbone before crashing back into my mouth again. I am spent.

Once we come up for air, Kofi places his forehead on mine. “The pleasure was all mine.”

Chapter Thirteen

Relaxation

Ella

Our drive back to Bonbiri is quiet.

Kofi keeps his hand over mine in the back seat of the car but remains silent. Every few minutes, he looks over to me and kisses the back of my knuckles with a half-smile before returning to his pensive look, staring out of the car window. I’m actually grateful for the silence. Between the conversation in the gardens, sex in the palace, and the gown Kofi designed for me at Mawuli’s, I am officially overwhelmed. I need some time to think about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We’re magnets and can’t keep our bodies off of each other.

But it’s more than that. When we talk, I’m talking to the other part of me that’s been missing. I know this is crazy; I’ve known the man for nine days. Yet, it feels like it’s the only nine days in my life that have made me truly and completely happy. That’s scary.

We are moving fast, and I don’t even know what we’re moving toward. I have 21 more days in Ghana, and then I am returning back to my life and business in Atlanta. Kofi will continue to rule the Ashanti and live the playboy life he always has. I cannot take the fact of me being the object of his affection as anything other than a fun fling across the sea. Even though he talks like it is more. He stated he wouldn’t let me willingly leave this orbit. Then, he made the heated promise to truly make love to me tonight. Those words signal more than a fling.

He seems sincere. But how can he be? I’m just a woman from Atlanta with a pretty face. There were others before me, and I’m sure there will be others after me. But somehow, he makes me feel like I’m the only woman he thinks about. He was even thinking about me before I arrived in Ghana—he admitted that in the gardens today. Nevertheless, I’m not making this more than it is. I need to slow it down and focus us back on the business of building schools in Kumasi. Whatever is happening between us is secondary to that and will take care of itself.

Each time I approach Kofi’s home, it is more breathtaking than the last arrival. It really is a spectacular property. In the moonlight, it looks like a shimmering palace. The light bounces off his home’s expansive glass surfaces. I can envision living here with him forever. But I won’t imagine that right now. Right now, I will go in and eat some food and start to ask him about his plans for education.

“Kofi? Do you think we can eat dinner on one of your decks? It’s a gorgeous night.”

He looks at me and grins. “I was thinking we would eat in the river room.”

I tilt my head to the side and purse my lips. “But that’s my bedroom.”

He laughs. “I know, Ella—I am seducing you. Lovers often have breakfast in bed, so why not dinner? Plus, we will already be in place for dessert.”

This man is always making my panties wet. It is becoming a real problem. But I have to resist and remember first things first. But I don’t want him to think I am opposed his suggestion. I definitely plan on having him for dessert later tonight. “Kofi, you can seduce me just as well under these gorgeous stars. Plus, I want to talk to you about my proposal. I think we will be able to focus more outside of the bedroom. Don’t you?”

He sighs and chuckles while pressing his body flush against mine. “OK, we can talk business underneath the stars if you like. But I will ravish you before tonight turns into tomorrow. I crave you.”

Yep. I’m pretty much soaked between my legs. My thighs clench together as he leans over to place a soft kiss behind my ear. It feels like a newly discovered place on my body that only he was able to find.

I look up at him and smile. “Thank you. I’m excited to show you my plans.”

“Great, well, let’s go inside.” As is his custom, Kofi exits the car first to walk over and open my car door. I haven’t touched a door handle in the past nine days. No man, whether it is Kofi, Senya, or even Chief Owusu’s son, allows me the chance to open any door. I swear they don’t make men like this in the states. Kofi makes me feel cherished and protected.

Kofi takes my hand and leads me out of the vehicle and up the path to the front door. When we enter the hallway, he takes my purse and gestures for me to walk ahead of him into the family room. Everything is clean and, in its place, the exact way it looked when I arrived nine days ago. It makes me wonder if it always looks like this. I know he has servants to keep his surroundings constantly clean, but I realize it looks more than clean. It looks unused.

“Kofi,” I turn around and ask, “May I ask you a question?”

“Of course.” He leads me to sit in a very comfortable-looking cognac leather sofa. The sofa is huge and can easily seat four or five people. As we both sink in, I note that the soft leather has a distressed look that still manages to look new. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture. Once we settle, he places his hand on my knee and gives me his attention.

“Do you ever use this room? Or any other rooms- besides the kitchen and your bedroom? Everything here seems so undisturbed. Are you always alone?”

He chuckles and arches an eyebrow. “Is this your way of asking me if I have women over here much?”

I laugh too. “No, you already told me that you entertain women at your palace and not here. I don’t know…the house seems lonely and not very lived in.”

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