Page 39 of Ex- Factor
“I don’t even want to have sex,” he murmured. “Not tonight.”
I blinked. “What?”
“I just want to lay here next to you. And talk. Let you love me out loud.”
I leaned in and kissed his temple, then his cheek, then the corner of his mouth. Slowly, for a few seconds. Then I pulled away.
“It’s your birthday. Whatever you want.”
We stayed in the bed, sleeping and talking until morning.
Chapter Twenty-Two- Silas
Donte was just getting out of his car when I pulled up into my driveway.
Of course. I rolled my eyes.
He had on a fitted button-up like he was coming from a damn photoshoot—arms all flexed, gold watch catching the sun, smile too easy for a man with that much nerve. He didn’t even look like Eshe’s type.
I cut the engine and stepped out. I thought about staying in the car, but he was already looking in my direction. I didn’t want him thinking he intimidated me.
“Silas,” he said, like we were cool. Like he hadn’t shoved me at a party full of witnesses. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
I didn’t respond. Just folded my arms and leaned on the hood.
He walked over anyway.
“Look, man. I know you think you and Eshe got something right now, but don’t get too comfortable.”
My brow lifted slow. This motherfucker had nerve.
“She always comes back,” he said, like it was fact. “We’ve been through worse than this. She’s using to prove a point.”
I rolled my head on my neck. “You sure you want to say that out loud?” I asked. “You should have kept this to yourself because when it doesn’t happen, it would have hurt less.”
He kept going anyway.
“She hates losing. And right now, she feels like she’s winning with you. But it’ll pass. It always does. I paid for her granny’s house, you know that? That car she drives? I bought that too. She doesn’t go nowhere without a piece of me.”
My fists twitched. “You done?”
Donte shrugged, his face all smug-like. I could tell he wasn’t used to being hit.
“Just figured I’d give you a heads up. Let you know what’s coming.”
I took a step forward—close enough to smell his cologne.
“Let me be clear. If you ever talk to her again, or pull some stunt like showing up at my party, I’ll make sure your medical bills bankrupt you. Then I’ll buy your house and demolish it.”
His eyes narrowed, jaw twitching. “You threatening me?”
“No. I’m promising.”
I heard a car. Out of my peripheral, I saw Eshe turn onto my street.
And maybe I should’ve just walked in the house and pretended this conversation never happened.
But I was Silas. And I was petty. And this smug motherfucker annoyed me.
