Page 23 of Dr. Bell

The Mayor’s Grande Ball sounded like something out of Hollywood movie. Hell… I wasn’t used to all this high society shit.

“Howdoyoulikethis one?” Minnie asked. She stepped back and regarded the white wedding gown with a broad smile. Thesparkling bodice fit me perfectly, and I loved the flow of the rest of the dress. Despite the price tag being out of this world, the dress was gorgeous. And I wished I could feel excited about marrying Adir. Also, I wished this was real and not a crazy ass means to keep me and Quilo safe. Yet here I was looking like a queen in this damn gown.

“Pretty?”

I glanced up from the dress riding my body so elegantly to a concerned look on Minnie’s face.

Sighing, she approached me. Understanding was in her eyes. “Your mother isn’t here to walk you through this. However, I am.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. Here was another dagger. My mama would never get to see megenuinelyin love and marrying.

“This is all scary. I understand that, too. If I can tell you anything as a mother, the way my son looks at you…” She stressed the last part. “You’re his person. I don’t give a damn who tries to come between you and him, remember that.”

Dr. Grace.And therein was athirdreason for my stomach to feel all queasy. I was sure she was justoneof his conquests.

“You hear me, sweetheart?” Minnie questioned.

Smiling past the clog in my stomach, I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I hear you.”

Satisfied, she stepped back. “Adir’s going to absolutely love this dress on you. Yeah?”

Glancing at myself in the full-length mirror, I had to agree.

Later that night, I was outside on the patio, drinking in the warm night air with my feet tucked under me and my hair inside of a bonnet, when Adir’s voice startled me.

“You’ve been quiet since you came home. My mama traumatize you?”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Of course, not.”

Adir walked over to the sofa and sat next to me. His masculine scent was like a magnet that was only made for me. It pulled me to stare at his profile as he sat there quietly. I pretended like his thigh touching my feet didn’t stir me when really the simple brush sparked my nerves into overdrive. I shivered in response.

“You cold?” he questioned. The smirk on his face gave away the fact that his question needn’t deserve an answer.

“Adir?”

He turned to me then. His intense eyes bore into mine. It was either that or the way his lips curved inwardly as he licked them that caused me to stare hard as hell.

“What’s up, baby?” he questioned.

“We haven’t talked about your exes…or anything pertaining to other women. Do you plan on having…other women?” My mind wandered back to Dr. Grace. Somehow over these last couple of days, her existence escaped me. That was until talking with Minnie jarred Dr. Grace back into my mind.

Slowly, Adir blinked. He turned his large body until my feet ended up on his lap. It shouldn’t have jolted me when his hands took possession of my left foot. As his eyes held mine, he removed the sock I wore, then brought my toes to his lips. Everything inside of me tumbled and tripped over each other, fighting for a grip on reality. His lips touched the tip of my big toe as his fingers methodically massaged my foot. I bit into my lip to stifle a moan that still came out.

“That right there,” he crooned as he kissed my other toes. “Another nigga will never hear you do that shit for him. Only me.”

I gulped.

“Another woman will never have what belongs to you, Pretty. I’ve belonged to you since I stepped inside of Smooth Brew and saw you sitting ya pretty ass in there.”

I fought a smile. “That was merely a few days ago. Plus, you were in there to see Dr. Grace,” I reminded him.

“My ex, Genika,” he stated.

Although I knew very well that they’d been together, disappointment settled into my stomach. It quickly dissipated when he kneaded my foot a little deeper. My skin tingledeverywhere.

“She and I haven’t been together in a while.”

“How long were you two together?”

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