Page 39 of Bern and Isley
“Nigga, my feet aren’t dogs…these are what you call beautiful feet.” I shoved him slightly as he placed my feet in his lap.
He studied my toes before beginning to massage them. “Yeah, you do have some pretty feet.”
I closed my eyes as a low moan escaped my lips while he pampered my aching feet. When I opened my eyes, Bern pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he stared at me with lust in his eyes.
A warm and tingly sensation flowed through me as his strong hands caressed me. There was no doubt sexual tension was in the air. The feelings I had been suppressing for so long were standing on the ledge, desperate to jump.
“Does it feel good?”
“Mmmmhmmm,” I mumbled, then pulled my feet from his grasp. “Thanks for that. I need to go to the restroom. Be right back.”
I stood and made my way to the guest bathroom, closing the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I took a deep breath.Get yourself together, Isley.My hormones were on ten and I was trying to bring myself back down. Was I really ready to cross that line with Bern or were those drinks Ms. Emma served clouding my judgment? I relieved my bladder then washed my hands. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Looking back at me was a woman who had been through a great tragedy. A woman who’d suffered a great loss. A woman who deserved endless joy and a man who worshipped the ground she walked on. I took another deep breath before returning to the living room.
Bern had gotten extra comfortable. He’d changed into a white tank, putting his strong, muscular frame on complete display. I tried not to let my mind wander when I noticed his gray sweatpants. I waltzed over to the sofa. His eyes followed me. As I passed him, he grabbed my hand, pulling me into his lap. Bern swaddled me in his arms.
“Am I wrong for wanting you the way that I do, Isley?”
I almost melted like butter in his arms. “No.”
“How did it make you feel when I told you that I’m in love with you? Did I go too far?”
“It made me scared,” I admitted. “But it also forced me to really think about my own feelings.”
“And how do you feel, Icey?”
I bit my lip. “I feel the same as you, Bernie. I don’t even know when these feelings developed. I’ve tried denying it, but they are real.”
He held me tighter and kissed my temple. “What are we going to do about it? Do we pursue it? Or do we bury our feelings?”
I didn’t want to fight my feelings for him any longer. I didn’t have the bandwidth to suppress my emotions. If recent events had taught me nothing, it was that life was precious and fragile and there was no time like the present to start living life on my own terms. Going for what I wanted. Chasing dreams. Creatingnew ones. As someone who’d lost so much in my life, I didn’t feel I had anything to lose by taking a chance on love with someone who had proven for twenty years that he was down for me.
“I don’t think I can continue to ignore the chemistry we have, Bern.”
“Good. Because a nigga was never going to give up on having you. Like Raphael Saadiq said, I would wait on you, my dear, even if it takes a thousand years.”
I rolled my eyes and giggled. I then turned and straddled him. His brows knitted together. “I love you, Claybern.”
“I love you, Isley.”
I leaned over and kissed his lips gently. He opened his mouth, allowing my tongue to introduce itself to his. Bern firmly grabbed my ass, pulling me closer to him. Our mouths melted together in perfect cohesion. The sweetness of his tongue was satisfying. I gently gyrated on his very noticeable erection. Bern’s hands fondled my ass as he devoured my mouth with a hunger I’d never met.
I gently pulled away while maintaining his gaze.
“Damn, Icey.” He blew out a breath. “You got a nigga ready to fuck the shit out of you.”
“What if that’s what I want?”
“Well, I’ve always told you that you can get whatever you want from me.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on his hardened dick that threatened to bust through the fabric of his sweats. My eyes widened at the massive print. A burst of heat flowed through my body, especially between my thighs.
He softly guided me to my feet and stood. Grabbing my hand, he led me to his bedroom. It wasn’t my first time in his bedroom. I’d taken numerous naps in that bed when I came over to chill with him. But this time I was in his bedroom for a different purpose.
Bern pulled me into his arms. I nearly melted like butter in his strong embrace. It was like I was right where I was supposed to be. The scent of his body wash and cologne were enticing.
“I love you, Isley. And I’m not in a rush for sex. I want to make love to you, but only if that’s what you’re ready for.”
“I love you, Bernie…and I’m ready.” I lifted my chin and kissed his lips before stripping out of my clothing.
His eyes widened in amazement, nearly making me bashful under his gaze. “Shit, I knew you were fine as fuck, but damn my imagination didn’t even do your body justice.”
