Page 10 of Choosing the Chief

I do as he says. The bathroom is massive. It’s almost the same size as the bedroom. In the center is a jet black clawfoot tub with gold hardware. I’ve never seen anything like it. His decorator must have quite the eye.

“I know you like it hot,” he says as steam fills the room. He adds vanilla-scented oil and loosens his tie. “I am going to go and fetch you a change of clothes. You can get started.” He walks away and I start to undress.

I’m down to my underwear and bra when Adom enters the bathroom. He looks at me like I’m his next meal. “You still have clothes on?” The depth of his voice sends goosebumps across my skin. Adom has seen me naked plenty of times before over the past eight months, but the look in his eyes is different. I quickly discard the rest of my clothing and step into the bath. Adom smirks and turns off the bath water. I sit in the tub and realize how good it feels to be taken care of in this moment. Adom tries to strike up a conversation, but I am out of words. I’m just tired. When the tears start to fall, Adom takes action.

He starts to remove his clothes and I feel a mixture of excitement and panic. But he only strips down to a pair of black silk boxers. I realize he’s not joining me. Instead, he kneels down to grab a loofah and soap.

“You aren’t getting in?” I ask.

“No,” he says as he scrubs my shoulder.

I chuckle. “Then why get undressed?”

“So I don’t get my clothes wet,” he says as he draws the loofah to a spot just above my breast.

I start to hear noise in the bedroom. At first, I figure members of the guard are bringing my luggage up. But then I hear the voices linger. I try to block the voices out and enjoy my sponge bath. But then I hear the distinct sound of a suitcase open. Why would they open my luggage? Adom continues to nonchalantly scrub my body. I open my mouth to ask about the commotion, but Adom makes it to the V between my thighs and looks me in the eye. “Open up,” he demands. I comply.

He takes his time. He drops the loofah and cups his hands in the water, pouring it over my waiting mound, over and over again. I’m going crazy in anticipation. The pressure from the hot water is just enough to call my clit to action. He alternates between the running water and circles with the loofah until I burst. I close my eyes and linger in the pleasure. I have not had an orgasm since my accident. The moan I release from the back of my throat is all the tell that Adom needs. When I recover, I open my eyes and witness a smug smile from the Ashanti prince.

“Good girl,” he says with a full grin. “Now, let’s finish so we can get some food into you.”

I nod and he washes my hair and back before lifting from the tub. He sets me down on the heated floor. He grabs a giant towel from the rack by the sink and wraps me up, towel drying me from head to heel. Next, he completes the same cocoa butter ritual he performed three nights ago during another one of my nights of terror. He discards the towel and motions for me to head into the bedroom. When I enter, my good vibes are interrupted by the empty suitcases I spy on the bed.

I walk over to the suitcases and wrap my arms around myself, suddenly keenly aware of my nakedness. “Who unpacked my things?!”

Adom’s eyes widen slightly and then narrow. “Delali, my housekeeper. I asked her to hang your clothes and put your items away while you bathed. What is the problem?”

I walk up to him and look him squarely in the eye. I jab my finger into his chest. “You know I don’t like it when people go through my things! I’ve never let you or even your housekeeper in Atlanta handle my stuff. Why do you think I’d let some random ass servant in Ghana do it?”

He slowly removes my finger from his chest. He swallows hard, measuring his response. “Are you afraid she will steal something?”

My eyes go wide. “No, but that’s not the point!”

He rolls his eyes. “Well, Maya, what is the point?”

I look down. “Maybe I have personal items I don’t want everyone to be privy too.”

He cups my chin in his hand. He tilts my head up so I’m once again looking him in the eye. “You mean your pain pills? I instructed her to flush every one of them down the toilet.” I try to snatch my chin away, but he holds tight. He digs his fingers in a bit, and I dare not move again. “I did not bring you here for you to leave the way you came. There will be no opioids, no sleeping pills, no alcohol. You will not kill yourself out of some misplaced sense of self-pity. If you need a drug, I’m the only one you’re allowed to have. Can’t sleep? I’ll stroke your body to slumber. Phantom pain? I’ll give you the most intense feelings of pleasure you can imagine. Your mind fuzzy with nightmares? I’ll whisper sweet things in your ear all night long, until your mind is filled with dreams of paradise. Am I clear?”

I nod as he catches one of my tears.I’m crying because I’m livid. Not because I’m touched by his promises to fuck me.“It’s an invasion of my privacy, and I’ll never forgive you for it. I did not come here to trade one prison for another, Adom Annan. I thought you understood that.”

I walk away from him and enter a massive walk-in closet to get dressed. All my clothes are neatly arranged amongst a full wardrobe he must have sent for. I put on a pair of purple silk panties before opting for a nude-colored silk maxi dress. I skip the bra; I don’t need it. I can’t believe he’s treating me like some kind of junkie. I should have never come here. One thing is for sure: Now that I’m here, he will never let me leave.How the hell am I going to make 24 hours without my medication!If I weren’t in pain nearly all the time, I wouldn’t need to take so many pills. But I am: I’m not addicted, just healing. I’m pretty sure his cock can’t solve the damage. Not that I would let him anywhere near me now.

When I walk out of the closet, he’s dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt. I shoot him an evil look, hoping he’ll drop dead from my intentions alone. He does not. Instead, he looks at me and holds out his hand. I tentatively take it, and he seizes it like he’s afraid I’ll fly away. He pulls me into an embrace, and I feel his bulge thicken at my slight touch. He looks down at me with eyes full of laughter and lust before letting me go.

As we make our way to the stairs, he speaks. “I hope you’re hungry. You’ll need your strength.” He leans down and kisses the inside of my ear before whispering, “Welcome to your intervention.”

Chapter Six

Rescue

Adom

Dinner has been a disaster. Maya refuses to speak or eat. She’s upset that I had her luggage swept for drugs. What I can’t figure out is if she’s more upset about the missing drugs or the privacy invasion. On one hand, I really don’t care. On the other hand, according to my internet research, transparency and honesty are a must in helping someone overcome addiction.Tricking her may work against me.

But I can’t focus on that, because right now my mother is staring at me from the entrance of my dining room. I push my chair back from the table and stand. I take a deep breath and gesture to the open seat directly across from Maya. “Mother, what are you doing here?”

She saunters to the table and squeezes her wide hips into the seat. Her hips are wider every time I see her. She should take better care of herself. She gives Maya a onceover and sucks her teeth.She should take care and keep her capricious sounds to herself.When she finishes her inspection, she turns her attention to me. “What am I doing here, indeed. Seeing that my only child sneaks into town and tells everyone except his mother.” She sucks her teeth again.

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