Page 21 of The Plus One

My eyes searched hers. She wasn’t slurring. Wasn’t swaying. Wasn’t looking through me. She was looking directly at me. Then she said the one thing I needed to hear. “I’m sober.” Her hand slid back onto my chest. “And I want you.”

Fuck. Every ounce of restraint I’d been holding onto snapped. I kissed her with pure hunger. This time, I didn’t pull away. Kema’s arms wrapped around my neck as mine went around her waist. I lifted her, and she gasped against my mouth. Her legs instinctively wrapped around me. And just like earlier, carrying her wasn’t a problem.

I crossed the few steps to the kitchen island and lowered her onto the counter. She looked up at me. And her lips were swollen from kissing me. For four years, I’d told myself this woman was off-limits. For four years, I’d watched her walk into rooms on another man’s arm and reminded myself that wanting something didn’t make it mine. I’d respected that. Even when I hated it.

But Kema wasn’t Markel’s woman anymore. She was sitting on her kitchen counter with her hands gripping my shirt, looking at me like she wanted the exact same thing I’d spent years trying not to want. I brushed my thumb along her cheek. “One more time.”

Her eyebrows pulled together. “What?”

“Tell me you want this.”

She didn’t hesitate. “I want you, Ace.”

That was all I needed. I kissed her again without any hesitation behind it. No reminding myself of all the reasons this shit could get complicated. Kema said she wanted me, and after four years of pretending I didn’t want her too, I was done fighting it.

Her fingers curled into the front of my shirt as I pulled her closer. The kiss got deeper, hungrier, and when she wrapped her legs around my waist again, I damn near lost whatever sense I had left. “Bedroom,” I muttered against her lips.

She pointed toward the hallway. I lifted her from the counter and carried her in that direction while she laughed softly against my neck. “Put me down.”

“Hell No.”

“Ace.”

“You ain’t complained about me carrying you all night.”

She laughed again, and something about hearing that shit while she was wrapped around me had me smiling too. I found her bedroom at the end of the hall and lowered her onto the bed. For a second, I just stood there looking at her because I couldn’t believe this was finally happening. “You having second thoughts?” she asked.

“Hell nah.”

“Then why are you staring?”

“Trying to make sure this shit real.”

Her smile slowly disappeared. “It’s real.”

I stepped between her legs. She reached for me first, grabbing my shirt and pulling me down until my mouth met hers again. She unbuckled her jeans and I slide them down her hips while she pulled off her shirt. I looked at her for a minute taking everything in.

Her body looked amazing. She was in red lingerie and seeing the lust in her eyes did something to me. I stepped back to pull my shirt and jeans off watching her as she unfastened her bra and tossed her thong to the side. “Aye, I need you to bow ya head.”

“Nigga what?”

“Bow ya fucking head I'm trying to pray before I eat my fucking meal.”

She looked at me but bowed her head. I climbed on the bed and hovered over her pussy. “Aye G, bless this meal I’m about to receive. Amen.”

She chuckled before her breathing hitched when I latched onto her bud. One thing a nigga prided himself in doing was saying grace before my meals. Father forgive me, but a nigga was goin' bless everything that touched my mouth.

My tongue darted out, teasing her folds, tasting her sweetness, and she gasped, her back arching off the bed. Her moans fueled my desire, and I dove in, my tongue swirling and flicking in a rhythm that felt perfect. Almost as if I belonged on her body. As if my tongue was meant to be exploring her.

“Oh M-mmy God, Ace,” she moaned, her hands holding on to my locs, guiding me closer.

I loved how she reacted to my touch, her body responding eagerly to every movement I was making. I could feel the heat radiating from her, the way her thighs trembled as I increased the pressure, my tongue dancing over her sensitive clit.

I wanted to take my time, to savor every moment, but the urgency of her gasps urged me on. I watched her closely, reveling in the way she surrendered to the pleasure, her breaths quickening, her body begging for release.

“Please… don’t stop,” she panted, and that was all I needed to hear. I picked up the pace, my mouth working tirelessly, alternating between teasing and devouring her, giving her exactly what she needed. I slid my finger inside her working in perfect harmony to help bring her to an orgasm.

With every flick of my tongue and every move of my finger, I could feel her teasing up. I reached up, slipping in another finger inside her, adding another layer of sensation. The way she cried out in pleasure sent a rush through me, making my dick harder.