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I didn’t care about his impatient sigh as I stood and used his shirt to tug him toward the bathroom. I made him lean against the counter as I grabbed the first aid kit from the hall closet. From the looks of both hands, he’d washed them but didn’t do much else. I didn’t see any dried blood, but I also didn’t see any remnants of creams applied.
“This is normal for you?” he asked softly as I began to apply a liquid antibiotic on one hand and then the other. “Bandaging battered hands?”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “Unfortunately. Did you forget who my father and brother are?” We locked eyes briefly. “I wasn’t in the streets with them, but after fights or a shooting, I saw the effects.”
Beethoven stared at me as I wrapped his hands loosely. “You’ll still be able to move them around. I want you to apply this solution for the next three days. Rewrap them for the next four nights. Then, keep the gauze off so they can breathe. If it throbs because of the swelling, ice it. Try not to keep it uncovered for too long. It needs this wrap and moisture to heal. Air will just dry them out.”
When he didn’t respond, I looked up at him to make sure he was listening. Because of how he’d leaned against the counter, our faces were closer. Our lips were closer. So close they touched. So close we kissed. What started as a slow, careful introduction turned into a deep, nasty exhibition as if we’d done this in another lifetime. I couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, that a man had kissed me so passionately. By the time he pulled away, I was too stunned to speak or move.
Beethoven stood upright. His body against mine pushed me back gently. Clearing his throat, he ran his fingers down the corners of his mouth as he looked at me with an intensity that sent my heart straight down to my pussy. It melted for him, resting in the seat of my panties.
“Get dressed so we can go.”
I nodded and swallowed hard, afraid that… instead of words coming out… it would be a moan.
I had no idea what Beethoven had planned for us. Since it was so late, a lot of places were closed. He ended up taking me to his family’s restaurant, where the chef prepared dinner for just the two of us. While we ate, we got to know each other a little better. He told me about his parents and childhood, and I shared a little more about mine.
We went over the basics about each other—our birthdays, favorite things, likes, and dislikes. After that, he surprised me by going back to the apartment and picking up Mahogany. Then, he took us to his gun range. He said he wanted to make sure we’d be able to protect ourselves if anything happened and he wasn’t around. I appreciated the gesture. I also appreciated the fact that, when we made it back to the apartment, Asylum was there waiting.
Asylum spent the next hour setting up security cameras, a new door that looked impenetrable, and bars on the windows that would keep any unwelcomed guests out—including my brother. Knives and guns were put in every room, and by the time the men were getting ready to leave, I felt safer than I had in a really long time.
“We still didn’t talk about the marriage stuff,” I reminded him at the door.
Beethoven gave me a sexy chuckle. “Yeah, we didn’t huh? Fuck it. Let’s just do it now and get this shit over with.”
“Okay,” I said with a light laugh.
It was crazy how that was the reason we were together, but it never came up. I was okay with that, but I also had to remind myself this was business… even if that kiss was really, really good.
I went back into the apartment so he and Asylum could talk before he left. When he came back in, we went to the guest bedroom where I’d been sleeping. As he took off his shoes, Beethoven called Mahogany’s name. She came and leaned against the doorframe, wiping sleepy eyes.
“Yes, Bay?”
As sweet as she sounded, I heard the irritation in her voice because she was my girl. Mahogany was ready to go to sleep.
“How much is your rent?”
“Why?”
“If she’s going to be staying with you, I’ma pay it.”
“Beethoven, you don’t have to do that,” I told him. “I’ve already told Mahogany that I’ll be going half on the rent for the duration of my stay.”
Ignoring me, Beethoven continued to stare at Mahogany until she looked at me then said, “It’s um… twenty-eight hundred.”
“Aight, cool. You got Venmo or Cash App?”
She nodded. “Venmo.”
“I’ll get the information from Whiskee and send the money for this month tonight. The next time I come over, I’ll have the amount for the rest of the year in cash.”
“Just her part,” she told him, pushing herself off the doorframe.
“Nah, I’ma take care of it all. Now go and get some rest. You look sleepy as hell.”
Her eyes rolled playfully as she thanked him and told us both good night.
“Beethoven, you rea—”
