Page 43 of Sweetest Temptation
“What are we watching?” she asked casually as if she didn’t steal my focus completely.
I cleared my throat, eyes back on the screen. “Still figuring that out,” I said, scrolling while completely distracted by her.
“Ooh!Dirty Dancing!Let’s watch that… It’s one of my favorites. ButBreakingis one of my all-time faves!”
“Hell no! I ain’t watching that sappy shit. Pick something else.”
“Come on, Samir! That’s a classic.” She pouted, folding her arms with a fake attitude she knew damn well I couldn’t ignore.
“Man, you lucky you’re fine.” I handed her the remote.
She laughed, all proud of herself as she hit play. “You’re gonna thank me later. This movie is legendary.”
“Yeah, legendary for putting grown men to sleep,” I said, leaning back against the couch. I slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, surprised when she didn’t resist. “Comeover here. No one puts Baby in the corner,” I said, quoting a line from the movie.
“See! I knew you watched it before.” She grinned, giving me that playful side-eye.
“Man, my sister used to run this movie nonstop.” I chuckled. “I’m more of an action movie type.”
“Like gangster movies?” she asked, tilting her head.
“How do you figure? Do I look like a gangster to you?”
“No, but you do carry yourself like a street dude sometimes.”
“I used to be in the streets. But I gave that life up a long time ago after I almost lost mine.”
Her expression softened, curiosity written all over her face. “How so?”
Zanova shut the movie off and switched to a music channel on the TV. R&B began to play, and it gave our setting a nice vibe for conversation.
“I was shot three times,” I said casually, though the memory still burned in the back of my mind. “Died twice on the operating table.”
Her eyes went wide, disbelief flashing across her face. “Wow! I’m glad you pulled through, Samir. Did you ever find out who did it?”
I glanced down at her, half-smirking. “Let’s just say… He didn’t make it to see his next birthday that year.”
She froze, her body going tense against me. The air shifted.
I reached up and ran my thumb down her cheek, forcing her to meet my eyes. “Does that scare you? Knowing I took a life?”
“No,” she whispered. “He tried to take yours. So… Karma did what it was supposed to.”
“I think my ex-wife’s side nigga set the shit up. Couldn’t prove it, but my gut ain’t ever been wrong.”
Zanova’s brows furrowed slightly. “Your ex-wife?”
“Yeah, I was married before. She cheated on me. I guess she couldn’t handle losing my money and the lifestyle I provided her.”
There was a pause, heavy but not uncomfortable. Then she leaned her head against my shoulder, her voice soft as she spoke. “Guess we both were hurt by people who were supposed to love us.”
“Yeah. But the difference is, I ain’t letting that pain win again.”
We stared at each other for a long beat, her lips parting just slightly. I leaned in and kissed her, and she didn’t stop me. Her lips were soft and eager, like she’d been holding back for too long. I kissed her deeply, hungry to feel her as I’d been dying to do since I saw her in that dress. My hand found her waist, and she moved closer until she was in my lap, our bodies pressed close. The world outside the living room of this suite disappeared. There was only her scent, her warmth, and her quiet little breaths between kisses.
I slid my hands to the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head, breaking our kiss momentarily. When she didn’t stop me, I reclaimed her lips, pushing my tongue between her lips, as I palmed her breast through her bra. She moaned into my mouth, grinding in my lap, making my dick brick up even more. But as I tweaked her hard nipples, she pulled back, breathing hard, eyes looking unsure.
“Samir, we shouldn’t.” She closed her eyes as she shook her head.
