Page 84 of Own It

We arrived at the rooftop restaurant and were immediately escorted up upon entering the hotel. As much as I wanted to show off this nice ass dress, it was too damn cold for me to remove my man’s jacket, so I kept it on the entire walk to our table and planned to keep it draped over me for the rest of the dinner.

“This view.” I took it in.

“Not better than mine,” he replied, and I realized his eyes were on me.

“I hate how easily you make me blush.” I sipped the cosmopolitan with the sugared rim.

“Why?” He was leaned back in his chair, looking simply perfect with that full beard, alluring brown eyes, thick brows, and the scar under his eye that had easily become one of my favorite features of his.

“I guess because I’ve never been like this in any relationship. Everything you say, it’s like I wanna bathe in it.”

He chuckled sexily.

“So I’m special, huh?” He used my words.

“You are. More than that. As much as I can’t stand your ex, I’m happy she didn’t see what I see, because she would’ve never let you go,” I confessed.

He took my hand, brushing his soft lips over my fingers once he brought them to his mouth.

“I can admit I like that I got you in a place no man has ever had you. Not that I give a fuck about the moves, plans, or actions of the last nigga, but it’s nice to feel special. A nigga can’t even lie.”

I simpered, absorbing his features, his aura, the way he spoke. Rakim was so masculine and daddy-ish, but the way he could be vulnerable and was so emotionally intelligent at the same time made him all the sexier.

His steak and my lamb chops with herbed fries were delivered piping hot and smelling so good. Though he got the big ass loaded baked potato for himself, he had no qualms about the fact that after I tasted it, I wanted half of it. I loved how such a no-nonsense man was so easygoing when it came to me.

“What happened here?” I pointed under my own eye.

He swallowed the bite he’d just taken moments ago and said, “When I got to prison, niggas knew who I was and wanted to prove their bravado by fighting a nigga.” He took a sip of his whiskey. “This one nigga who’d been there for a lil minute and was kind of like the HNIC in that muthafucka was on that tip too. Long story short, I put his ass to sleep on the yard, and once I got out the hole for the shit, he caught me off guard and sliced my face.” Running his finger over the scar, he added, “Tried to get my eye, but his aim was off since I moved.”

“Wow.” I shook my head, still chomping down on this good ass lamb. “Was it like that the whole time? You having to sleep with one eye open?”

“For the most part until my last year. By that time, niggas knew what it was and put the word out anytime new inmates came in. I wasn’t a nigga who liked to walk around with my chest poked out though. I was on some chill shit, but if you came at me, then you got what you got.” He shrugged.

“I love listening to you talk.”

“Is that why you ask me so many questions?” He grinned.

“Do you mind?”

“Nah, not at all. Even when I didn’t know yo’ ass, I didn’t mind. I don’t mind anything you do, but at the same time, I pay it all the mind I got.”

“Ugh. See!” I shielded my face when I blushed, and his deep, husky voice let out a chuckle.

“I’m ya man. It’s cool. I be blushing too.”

“Lies.” I cheesed, watching him smile back at me as he cut more of his steak.

“Real shit. Face be hot as shit when I’m around you.”

I couldn’t do anything but beam as I ate more of my food.

We finished up our meal, and though the plan was to go home, we couldn’t wait, so next thing I knew I was riding him in the back seat.

* * *

THE NEXT MORNING . . .

Rakim pulled to a stop in front of my house and let the car run as he climbed out to help me from the car.