Page 40 of Cuffed By Your Love
I set the phone down gently and glanced around my living room. Chicken Alfredo warmed in the oven, while a bottle of wine rested on the counter, breathing, and soft, mellow music played in the background.
And still, my heart wasn’t completely settled. That was why I asked him to come, not because I needed help or because I was lonely. After a long day of babysitting grown inmates who had the emotional maturity of spoiled toddlers, I was trying not to explode from the pressure of being everyone’s rock. I just wanted to feel safe for once.
Elias had a truly remarkable presence. Just being around him made my shoulders relax without even realizing it. He had a special way of allowing one to cry while still feeling strong. He was the kind of man who not only made someone feel seen but also made them feel covered and protected. So, I invited him over, not for entertainment, but because his presence felt like safety. Tonight, I needed that more than anything.
Just as I was checking the garlic bread, I heard a knock on the door. He arrived right on time. I opened the door a crack and saw him standing there in a black tee that clung to his chest. His jeans fit perfectly, and in one hand, he held a dessert box, as if he were trying to win both my heart and my sweet tooth.
“I brought dessert,” he said with a smooth smile. “And something for your mama, too. How has she been feeling?”
That right there had me melting.
We ate, we talked, we laughed. I didn’t realize how starved I was—for peace, for presence, for something real—until I had it in my kitchen, where we washed dishes as if it were something sacred.
Somewhere between the second helping of Alfredo and our third round of banter, the conversation got heavier. I wasn’t sure what made me bring Kam up. Perhaps it was the way Elias looked at me, like he wanted to understand the cracks in my armor, not just the surface shine I displayed.
I gently set my wine glass on the polished counter, letting out a deep sigh. “My dad never really liked Kam. At first, I dismissed it as just his overprotective nature. But now, looking back, Irealize he saw something I didn’t. That man could pick up on the bad vibes long before I ever did,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.
Elias raised a brow. “What kinda vibes?”
“The ones that didn’t show up in the beginning. The ones that crept in slowly once he started to get comfortable. Kam used to belittle me in small ways. He would make snide comments when I succeeded, tell jokes at my expense, twist his face when I’d speak up. He said I was too opinionated, too loud, and too much.”
Elias didn’t respond immediately; instead, I noticed his jaw tighten, and his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The air around us thickened with unspoken words, and I could feel the tension mounting in the heavy silence.
“Did that bitch ass nigga ever put his hands on you, baby?”
I shook my head. “Nah, not physically. But the way he made me question myself definitely left bruises you couldn’t see. He was always accusing me of shit and turning stuff around on me when I questioned him about things.”
Elias stepped closer. “You’re not too much, baby. You’re just too real for somebody who was never ready to be honest.”
My throat tightened, and I immediately reached for my wine, nearly knocking it over in the process.
“I stayed because I wanted to prove my loyalty. But loyalty without reciprocity is just punishment.”
He nodded. “You done punishing yourself, Deputy Gorgeous?”
“I’m trying.”
He reached out, slid his hand across my lower back, and smiled softly. “Good. Because I’d hate to catch a charge behind someone who isn’t even a threat.”
I laughed breathlessly. “You gon’ crash out behind me?”
“Baby girl, I’ll crash respectfully.”
The tension in the room shifted, but not in a way that made one uncomfortable. It was the kind that made your toes curl before even being touched by him.
Elias leaned against the counter, his gaze locked on mine as if he were watching the sunrise. I pretended to wipe down the already clean stove, my hands moving, but my mind stuck on his words.You’re not too much.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re two seconds away from kissing me and ruining the peace we just built.”
He stepped in closer, the rich aroma of oud and pine enveloping me like a warm embrace. That damn beard glimmered in the light, radiating as if it possessed a halo of its own. His tongue slid slowly across his bottom lip before he spoke again.
“I’m not tryna ruin nothing. But I am tryna taste what peace looks like on you.”
I stared up at him, heartbeat thumping like a drumline in my chest. “You always talk like a spoken word poet?”
