Page 29 of Nobody But You

“Which means I can come all up and through here,” I said, nodding and gesturing around the house. I returned to her face to peck her on the lips.

“Fuck you, Stephon,” she said, brushing past me and heading towards the truck. I caught her wrist and waited for her attention.

“You can do that again when you’re officially my wife.” She jerked her arm away, and I heard the door open and close shortly after. I laughed and locked up, heading down the three stairs and landing behind her. Once I got in the truck, I hit the garage door opener and started the ignition.

“I can’t wait to go to your house and show you the same courtesy. I might make a little visit while you’re at work, like you did me,” she huffed, crossing her arms. I laughed again.

“Well, since we’re laying out all the rules, don’t touch a car door handle again while you’re with me, either.” She turned to stare out the window so I couldn’t see her smile, but it was too late. Jourdan Washington was precisely the good trouble I thought she was.

CHAPTER 14

Jourdan

Stephon drove through the streets of Cypress like he owned the roads. I glanced out deeply tinted windows as we hit the interstate and approached the city's center. We’d been driving for about ten minutes and hadn’t reached our destination. He was quiet, too quiet. I studied his profile to see the creases form on his forehead. He seemed to be in deep thought. I understood his demeanor if he was thinking about anything I was.

I’d decided that I was going to marry this man. Was it arranged? Maybe. Convenient? Most definitely. Neither of those was why I was doing it. I felt something whenever we were in each other’s presence. Something that I wanted to swallow me whole. The question lingering in my mind was, could I trust it?

Outside of the thoughts that spoke loudly in my head, Steph had The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill playing in the background. I took a break from my thoughts, letting her melodic voice fill the void. Until Steph finally spoke.

“There’s a kids’ football league that I coach for. We have practice this afternoon. I figured we could grab lunch and then head there. It starts at three. You down?”

“Yeah, I’m down. It’s not like you left me much of a choice, Stephon, since you’re just now telling me where we’re going.” I said in a teasing voice.

“That may have been intentional,” he said, smiling. Those damn dimples and those perfectly straight teeth. I wanted to kill him like Brandi tried to kill Darnell in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate for messing with my emotions like this. Except I would succeed.

Yeah, ok JoJo, talk your shit because that’s all you’re doing is talking. He has to be fucking with me, right?

I sank further into the seat, fighting between love and hate. I loved how Stephon made me feel, but I also hated it. Then, the song When It Hurts So Bad started to play further, toying with my emotions. Now, I was the one with wrinkled lines marring my forehead.

“What’s wrong, Baby?” His flexing muscles transfixed me as he guided the truck into Two’s parking lot. He whipped into the spot and cut the engine.

“Just thinking about love. Being in love means that I will eventually give up my power. I don’t want to be hurt. My heart has been broken enough to last me a million lifetimes. I don’t want to go through it again.” Stephon opened his door, got out, and walked around to open mine. He unbuckled my seat belt and then turnedme to face him. Regardless of my inner turmoil, I couldn’t ignore that being with Stephon felt right; he felt like home.

“Jourdan, I don’t want to take your power. I want to amplify that shit. I want you to feel more powerful than you’ve ever felt before,” he said, then leaned in, kissing me deeply. It was possessive and full of promise. I pulled him into me, taking all that he was willing to give before he stopped, pecking my lips a few more times before he spoke.

“Come on, I’m starving. We skipped breakfast. I’m too big to miss meals,” he said as he helped me down.

“You could always eat me,” I whispered.

“What was that?” He asked.

“I didn’t say anything,” I responded while shaking my head.

He held my hand as we crossed the lot and headed inside. The hostess greeted us at the door.

“Welcome to Two’s. Oh, hey, Stephon. It’s nice to see you again so soon,” she said, her smile eager. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, opening them to find hers glued to Stephon.

“Will you and your guest be...?

“Wife.” I bluntly spoke.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re excused. You said guest, but that would be incorrect because I’m Stephon’s wife. I felt Stephon behind me. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his body, where I felt his erection.

“You better tell her my usual booth because if she takes us to private dining, I’m not just going to eat you, Jourdan. I will spreadyou across the table, say my grace, and devour you. We don’t have that kind of time. Like I said, I’m a big man, Baby,” he whispered. Then, he leaned further down to peck the side of my neck. My eyes closed again involuntarily. I found the hostess flustered and uncomfortable when I opened them this time.

Mine!

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