Page 35 of Widow Mayker

***

Von and Amaré returned just as night settled in. They must’ve forgotten about the whole paintball situation because they were both out on the dance floor having a good time. I got another chance to observe Von and his dancing moves. We’d been outside all day, and I wasn’t the least bit ready to call it a night. From watching his parents slow dancing to listening to his brothers and their girlfriends schmoozing with each other, I reluctantly admit that I was enjoying myself.

Suddenly, Von was in my face reaching for my hands.

“Come dance with me,” he requested.

I didn’t have time to decline; he already had me on the makeshift dance floor. I started off a little uneasy, but Von’s magnetic energy plunged me into the beat. We danced to a couple of songs before I reclaimed my seat. Von used a fan to cool me off, and in the middle of allowing him to be wipe the slight dew resting on my cheeks, his father’s eyes locked with mine.

There was so much in Mr. Gunner’s sharp, assessing gaze. Throughout the time I’d been here, I noticed him watching me. In his eyes reflected the admiration of seeing his son tend to me. However, a warning also laid in his eyes. In observing Von and his father’s relationship, it was evident that their love for each other ran deeper than the lake just off in the distance. Von used yes sir and no sir when he talked to his father. His keen eyes even watched the way his father moved, as if he was afraid Mr. Gunner’s aging body would give out on him. I paid too much attention to them not to recognize the sheer adoration they shared for each other.

So, to see the warning in Mr. Gunner’s eyes shouldn’t have surprised me. Any man warning a woman to be careful with his son was alright with me. Then again, Mr. Gunner had always been on the right side of my memories.

***

“We ain’t gon’ skip over how you caught that nigga slippin’ earlier.”

Chuckling, I shrugged. “I was raised by Poppa and Adir. They teach all of us how to use a gun.”

“Hm. So, are you down to do this with me again?” he asked as we settled in that evening. We had both showered, the lights were down, the television on a movie, and we were chilling against the headboard. I sat between his thighs, nestled against his chest with my new blanket covering my body. His arms were around me, and they had quickly become so familiar that I crawled inside them without him ushering me to do so.

“What? A date?” I asked.

He nodded. “Another weekend.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “What now?” The fact that I didn’t automatically say no caused butterflies to settle in my stomach.

“Pops is retiring from the force. We’re celebrating in Atlanta,” he informed me.

“How sweet.” Against everything inside me, I asked, “Is this going to be a road trip?”

“It is,” he confirmed. “Just me and you on the ride. You can get to know me some more.”

“Hm. And when is this trip supposed to happen?”

“The end of the month. I really want you with me when I go,” he said, then kissed my cheek.

He’d done that a lot this weekend, but we’d never actually kissed. Now that I was sitting here, I seemed to crave that very thing.

“What’s on ya mind, baby?” he quizzed.

Turning in his arms, I straddled his thighs. The shock on his face made me laugh. Sobering, I stared at Von and traced his face with my fingertips. His nose flared, and he tucked his bottom lip between his teeth. When my eyes met his eyes, I smiled at the intensity in his.

“What’s on ya mind?” he questioned, lowly. His eyes dropped to stare at my lips. Many times, I’d felt a man’s dick pressed against me. This was the first time I felt a dick against me that caused me to feel any attraction.

As my fingers trailed over his thick, moisturized lips, I mumbled, “I just want a kiss.”

His fingers took my chin and brought me close while his other hand rested on my hip. He kissed my lips, then said, “They belong to me now. Just like you.” His lips touched mine again. “You stuck wit’ me on some ‘til death do us part shit.”

I giggled against his lips. He was so funny. “You’re pushing it, Von.”

He kissed me again, then added, “I’m holdin’ back, Maja.” His words were stapled with an open-mouth kiss that rendered me speechless. He took my tongue and entangled his with mine. Closing my eyes, I let him take over and enjoyed the ride. He sucked on my lips, tortured my tongue, and even sweetly nipped my bottom lip. This was a kiss. This was the start of something I wasn’t too easily ready to let go of.

Von thumped the brim of my hat. “When this comes off, I’ll know you’re ready to take us to another level. Until then, stop kissin’ me like that.”

Laughing, I turned back around in his arms, leaned back against his chest, pulled my blanket up to my chin, and settled in to finish the movie.

Festivities at the camp wound down Sunday afternoon. Everyone said their goodbyes, packed up, and headed back home. It was nice meeting Von’s mother, cousins, uncles, and aunts. It was even nice seeing Detective Gunner again. Today was filled with fellowship around a fish fry, card games, and a lot of laughter. As much as I dreaded going on this date with Von, I enjoyed myself entirely too much.