Page 19 of Mine

Not too much time passed before I felt a presence over me.

“What are you reading?”

“It’s ‘Until the Last Breath’ by Shanora Williams,” I informed Rasheed as he sat on the couch next to me.

“I haven’t read that, but I read a couple of her books before.”

That piqued my interest. I looked over at him with a smile. He was so handsome. Rasheed was my favorite shade of brown, and I loved how smooth his skin was. The tattoos gave an edge to his appearance. It was something about a black man with tattoos in a suit that made my pussy wet. But even this morning with him dressed down, he looked appetizing.

“You read for pleasure?”

“I do.”

“What have you read by her, and what are your favorite genres to read?” I asked, turning slightly to face him.

“The first book I read by her was ‘The Wife Before.’ My favorite genres are thriller, mystery, and street lit. Don’t tell nobody, but I love a good romance too. It’s a palette cleanser and it resets my nervous system. What about you?”

My mouth opened and shut, but I couldn’t respond right away. I was trying not to judge Rasheed or compare him to other men I’d encountered, but he kept showing me ways he was so… different.

“Presly?” he called sweetly with a warm smile.

“Huh? Oh, yes! I read just about anything, but I love romance, urban fiction, and thriller too.”

We continued to talk about our hobbies and interests for a while. He shared that he liked traveling and experiencing different cultures and trying new food along with concerts, partying, and napping. I thought that was cute. I liked nappingtoo. We both had a love for reading and concerts, but I told him him that I also loved watching movies, especially if I could go to the theater, and cooking and baking. Surprisingly, when I stopped trying to be annoyed by his existence, Rasheed was pretty cool. Since I was only on the first chapter of the book, we sat closer to each other and read it together.

His arm was tossed around me, and he was close—intoxicatingly close. He smelled so good. His body was so hard and warm. God. I couldn’t take this. It was torturous. Yet I enjoyed every moment of it.

By noon, we both had grown tired and needed a nap. It was comical that we both wanted to take one at the same time. I was about to go to my room, but when he stretched out on the couch and pulled me down onto him, there was suddenly nowhere else I wanted to be.

The heat from the sun provided a comfortable warmth that relaxed me.

Rasheed’s arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. Close. I barely knew anything about this man, but in his arms, I felt safe. I felt whole. His hands slid up and down my back as he placed a kiss to my temple that made my eyes flutter and close. Rasheed ran his fingers through my hair before allowing his hand to rest on the back of my neck. There, on his chest, in his arms, I had the best sleep of my entire life.

Family Game Night

We all had a blast for family game night. The harder liquor was brought out, and people that had been shy or reserved started to loosen up. I loved how well my family got along with Jason’s, and Rasheed’s parents were cool too. Embarrassment washed over me for a moment when he introduced me to them as his sweet trouble, but Sandra and Elliot were obviously used to their son’s shenanigans and didn’t give me a hard time about it.

Sandra reminded me of my mom in some ways, so it didn’t surprise me that she and I got along so well. She had a sweet, nurturing spirit that it was easy for me to cleave to. We walked the grounds and chilled by the pool together, and she told me a few stories about Rasheed as a child that had me dying laughing until he pulled me away. After that, we swam a few laps beforea few of my cousins joined us, which somehow led to more drinking and another nap before dinner and game night.

Spades, Monopoly, dice, and charades were being played in all areas of the den and living room. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Mama’s side of the family so carefree, and I made sure to take tons of pictures and videos. When the younger crowd went to the game room to smoke and play pool, me and Rasheed gravitated toward one another. I knew how to play a little, but I really made lucky shots because I didn’t know what I was doing completely.

Rasheed took the time to not only explain where I needed to hit the ball and how I needed to hold the stick, but to show me too. When he pressed his body against mine, the feel of his chest and hardened dick made it almost impossible to focus on the game. I’d never deny he and I had chemistry, but there was something else brewing between us too.

By the time people started to trickle out and go to their own rooms, I was tipsy and in a very good mood. Paisley found me hiding in the corner and plopped down on the recliner next to me. My eyes shifted toward Jason, Tyler, and Rasheed as they talked shit about their last game of pool.

“Sooo,” Paisley cooed before erupting in a fit of drunken laughter. “Wassup with you and my brother?”

“Who is your brother?” I asked with a laugh of my own.

“Rasheed! Don’t play on his top like that. You know you like that man.”

“I mean… he’s cool. He’s very attractive. I like him. Nothing’s going to come from it though.”

“Why not, Sissy?” she whined, making me laugh again.

“I told you I wasn’t looking for anything right now. Plus, did you forget he lives on the other side of the United States?”

“So? You barely be seeing your men anyway. What difference does it make?”

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