Page 186 of Taeja

The things he felt for her were like the scars all over his body — deeply ingrained and unremovable. It was something that came unexpectedly, but he couldn’t imagine life before or without it.

“Zain,” Taeja said.

“Yeah?” he answered, his voice hushed.

“Why won’t you look at me?”

“I can’t stand to see you crying, knowing that I caused it,” he said, a coldness settling inside him.

Taeja moved again. This time, onto his lap. She held his face and made him look at her.

Beautiful. A Goddess. That was what this woman was.

“I’m not crying anymore,” Taeja said. “And I didn’t know that you feel all these things for me.”

“I want to show you, but I don’t know how—”

“You know how,” she interrupted. “You show it through acts of service, but you have a little physicality in you, which is ironic.”

“How?”

“Because you don’t really like people touching you, yet you like it when I’m all up in your space, even when I’m wary about it. See how quickly you grabbed my ass and pulled me closer when I sat on you?”

“I didn’t know that was love. But it’s not how you want me to love you.”

“Zain, nuh badda wid the foolishness. I want you to love me in any way you can. And it’s fine if you can’t always say it, because now I’m completely sure that youdolove me. Just don’t tell me again that you don’t love me. Those words hurt a lot coming from you.”

He sighed, gently rubbing her ass between his fingers. “I’m sorry. I… love you,” he forced out, and Taeja laughed. His brows crinkled. “What?”

“You sounded awkward saying it.”

“I want you to get used to me saying it.”

“You looked constipated saying it, Zain. Mago laugh every time you say it.”

“But I want you to—”

She kissed him silent. When she pulled away, he leaned forward, not wanting to break the kiss yet. Taeja smiled against his lips as their kiss prolonged. She was still smiling when he finally allowed her to pull away.

“Just show me. You don’t have to tell me. Your love language is different. I’m starting to get that now.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

She smiled, laying her head on his chest. She sighed as she snuggled against him.

He kissed atop her head, squeezing her ass before gently caressing it. “Are you still in pain?”

“Yes. Nuh ask fi fuck mi.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Mi nuh believe yu. You’re hard, and I don’t know if it’s because you’re horny or if it’s because you’re still angry.”

He tensed. He thought she was too focused on him trying to express himself and wouldn’t see past the wall he threw up.

Realizing he took too long to answer, Taeja leaned off him. Her brows furrowed as she looked at him. “What’s making you angry?”

He sighed. “Can you lay back down on me?”

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