Page 17 of Choosing the Chief

“Lord, Ella! We’re not 16-year-old virgins.” I laugh. “No, we haven’t had sex, but we’ve pretty much done everything else and a couple of things I’ve never done before. I think I’m falling in love with him. He makes me feel like my old self again. No! He makes me feel like an evolved version of my old self. I’m better.”

Ella’s eyes go wide. “What in the world is he doing? You never talk about men like this. Does he know how you feel? Do you think he feels the same?”

I shrug my shoulders. “That’s what I’m not sure about. I was thinking of telling him tonight. We are at a point of no return. Well, at least I am. If he doesn’t want me long term, now is the time to send me back to Atlanta.”

Ella nods. “I know that’s right!” Her eyes lower and she places her hand over mine. “I think he feels the same way. When he first got here, his first stop was to our house. He was sick with worry about you. He told me about the pills and everything you’re going through.” I snatch my hand away at the revelation. I figured she knew, but it still stings to hear her say it. She shakes her head and takes my hand back. “Please don’t be angry at Adom. I don’t think he knew how to help you and he was reaching out. I’m sorry I can’t be there for you right now. We help each other through everything.”

I smile and reach over to rub her belly. “This is your first priority now. I’m fine. I still have a long way to go, but Adom is amazing. I’m in good hands.”

I smell him first. “How good are my hands?” His lips brush the inside of my ear as he speaks, and I shiver. How did he sneak up on me? I don’t attempt to solve his magic act. Instead, I reach behind me and pull his face closer to mine to steal a kiss. My planned peck turns into a full make-out session. At some point during the kiss, Adom pulls me from my chair and we are intertwined like the roots of a tree.

“Ahem,” Kofi clears his throat. “You two are creating a scene. Perhaps you should take your activities to one of the 42 rooms in this palace.” Adom and I finish off our kiss with a tight hug. Adom speaks first.

“Oh, we will, but I must dance with my princess first. Please excuse us…king.” Adom takes me by the hands and escorts me toward the dance floor. I turn and blow a kiss to Ella, since it’s not likely I will see her again tonight.

The song “Like It”by Praiz plays, and I swear Adom had this planned. As we sway on the dance floor, the singer talks about how he likes his lover in bed.Face down.Adom starts to whisper the words to me. “I know you like when I put your face down.”

I do like it.I hope he plans to do it again tonight, only this time I want him to finish the job and make love to me.

“Adom, are we really staying in the palace tonight?” I whisper with excitement.

I feel his head nod. “We will have breakfast with Kofi and Ella in the morning. I knew you would never pass up the chance to stay in an actual palace.”

I laugh into his chest.Damn, he smells good. “You know me so well. All I need now is a tiara.”

He squeezes me tighter. “How do you know there is not one waiting for you upstairs?”

I pull away and look him in his eyes. “Do not play with me, Adom Annan. Is there a diamond headpiece waiting for me upstairs?”

Now it’s his turn to laugh. “Let’s go find out.” He releases me and guides me toward the ballroom exit.

“But wait!” I pull back. “Won’t it look bad that we are leaving so early?”

Adom shakes his head and pulls me into him. “Who cares? They’re lucky we showed up at all. Right now, all I can think about is making love to you, Maya. I’ve put it off for as long as I could. You were right earlier in the car. I was just surprised when you said we were more than friends. I wasn’t ready to admit it. But now, I am, and it is time I show you just how much more. Let’s go so I can make love to you.”

Hell yes!I give him a small kiss on the lips as an answer and we leave the ballroom.

The walk to our room is a labyrinth of dark hallways complemented by Adom’s lips, hands, and sweet words. Every ten steps or so he stops and pushes me against a wall to thoroughly ravish me. I’m so worked up by the time we reach our room that I contemplate ripping this $5,000 gown off. Instead, I take slow, deep breaths and prepare for what will await me once we are out of the hallway and truly alone.

Adom pulls out a key and winks at me as he unlocks the door to our bedroom. I lean up against the wall next to him, close my eyes, and catch my breath. “Are you OK?” he asks.

I smile as I hear the lock click open. Adom pushes the heavy double doors open. “I am now.” I walk past him and take stock of my surroundings. The room is definitely set up for royalty. I have never seen a bed so big, and every piece of furniture is made of hand-carved wood. The Ph.D. in me wants to study each piece of African craftsmanship and listen to the stories they tell. However, the woman in me wants to strip and jump Adom’s bones.

He walks up behind me and immediately begins to unzip my dress. “Let me help you out of this.” Once he does, I turn around to find him properly aroused by my chosen lingerie for the night. Where the scarlet dress simmered, the fire red lace set blazes against my skin.

Adom’s eyes remain fixed on me. “Perfect. Wait here.” He enters a closet. When he emerges, he is holding a Tiffany blue box. I get a brief burst of excitement followed by mild confusion. The box is too big to be a piece of jewelry. The only other thing Adom would buy me from Tiffany’s is stemware.

“What’s this?” I ask while reaching for the box. He pulls it back teasingly.

“Patience, princess. I will run some bath water. Join me in the bathroom with nothing on but what is in this box. Understood?”

I nod. I absolutely love surprises. He gives me the box and I watch him strip on the way to the bathroom. When he is out of sight, I open the box. The contents take my breath away. Inside, nestled in vanilla-scented tissue paper, is a diamond tiara.

Chapter Ten

Love

Adom

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