Page 195 of Invisible Bars
From across the room, a deep chuckle rolled through the air.
Imanio stood near the dresser, shirtless, a chain resting against his chest, phone in one hand, and brushing his teeth with the other.
“You good, soldier?” he teased, voice thick with amusement. “Or you need crutches just to stand?”
“N-Not funny!” I chuckled, burying my face in the pillow. “I… I can’t feel my thighs.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you let a savage rearrange your soul.” He grinned.
I groaned again, muffled. “It’s your f-fault! I probably can’t walk!”
My body jerked with another spasm, and the outburst broke free, sharp as a spark against dry wood.
“Wheelchair Olympics, here I come!”
Imanio shrugged, dark amusement glinting in his eyes, like he was proud of himself.
“What can I say? I got good dick, baby. But last night was the intro. So if you can’t walk today, then you might wanna start praying. I told you I don’t do soft, and I went light on you, baby.Reallight. Next time, I’m not holding back. I’ma fuck you so deep you won’t just be walking funny—you’ll be moaning my name in your sleep, begging for a break I’m not giving. You gon’ cry andthank mefor it.” He winked with a cocky smirk then entered the bathroom.
I whimpered at the thought of ‘next time’.
“I don’t know h-how I’m supposed to make it at work today,” I mumbled.
“You’re not… because you’re not going,” he stated flatly, rinsing his mouth in front of the mirror like it was already settled.
“Wh-What?” I stuttered in confusion.
Imanio glanced at me through the mirror. “I forgot—you barely touch social media. But that restaurant incident? It’s gone viral.”
“Wh-hat?!” I said again, my voice rising, the tic coming quick. “Cranberry crime scene!”
“Yeah.”
My stomach flipped.
“Wh-what are they saying?” I asked, panicked.
The comments—that’s what I feared most.
People’s mouths. Their opinions.
“I haven’t looked at any of them yet,” he admitted, rinsing again. “But don’t worry about whatever is being said. I’m sure my publicist will be blowing up my phone soon with a game plan.”
He dried his mouth, then reentered the room.
“Until then, you’re not going back to work,” he stated in a tone that left no room for argument, but I wanted answers.
I slightly frowned. “Wh-why not? I… I just went back yesterday.”
Imanio strolled over to the bed, dropped onto the edge, and looked me dead in the face and explained, “Because this ain’t like before. Before you came along, when shit like this happened and the media got involved, I just had to protect my name… my brand. But now, I have awife.” He paused, gaze holding mine. “You. That means I protectyourimage, too.”
My breath slowed a little.
Imanio leaned back and added casually, “If it makes you feel better,wifey,I’m not going to work either.”
I nodded.
That did help… just a little.
