Chapter 6

6

N eko

Date #2

I was taking full advantage of Malik being out of town for the weekend, so I planned to take Malorie out again tonight. She looked beautiful in her little black dress and heels. Her face was covered with light, natural makeup, and her hair was pulled up in an updo that made her look older and so fucking sexy .

Tonight, I was a bit more nervous than yesterday. This felt like a real date. I'd gotten her roses and she gushed over them before we left. We had dinner and went to Divine's for an art showcase then went to JD's for drinks and dancing. They were having salsa night, which started with a lesson for beginners before they opened the floor. For a while, I forgot this wasn't a real date. I was honored to have Malorie on my arm, and we really enjoyed ourselves.

"Are you looking forward to going back to school?" I asked as I drove us home.

"Yes and no. I'm excited about getting my master's but I don't think I want to leave home again. Which is crazy because I didn't want to even come back."

As she chuckled, I asked, "What made you change your mind?"

"You mostly. I know this isn't real, but it's been nice spending time with you and your people. I miss that family bond, you know? And experiencing the city as an adult has shown me how fun The Hills actually is."

"Then why don't you go to school here?"

"I've been thinking about it. Even if I do, I'm still going to move after I find a job. I don't want you and Leek to feel like y'all can't do your thing because a girl is living in the house."

Even though I smiled, my head shook. "That's your home, Mal. As you can see, your brother does his thing outside the house. He messes with so many women he doesn't let them know where he lay his head, so they won't pop up on him."

"Mhm. And what about you?"

With a shrug, I looked over at her briefly as my grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I'm cooling it right now. My focus is work and my art… and you of course."

She blushed and took my hand into hers. "You've always been so creative. How are things going with your art? Are you trying to make a living off it?"

I bit my bottom lip as I considered her words. "I mean… a part of me wants to, yeah. I would love to profit off my passion, but I don't want it to ever get to a point where trying to make money off it makes me love art less, you feel me?"

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"If I could find a way to avoid that, I would create art for a living for the rest of my life. If not, I'm content with the income I make as a broker and stager. Staging in itself is a form of art."

"That's true. That's kind of where I'm at with it. I feel like I'll end up utilizing my accounting degrees for business and my EAS degree for pleasure."

"Didn't you mention having a teaching opportunity in Korea?"

She sighed and scooted down further in her seat. "Yes, and I really wanted to take it."

"Why didn't you?"

Malorie looked out of the window. "Kingston mentioned marriage and not wanting me to go that far away." She chuckled. "How me waiting for a proposal after graduation turned into finding him cheating is beyond me."

I didn't want her to get in her head, so I kissed her hand and caressed it with my thumb as I changed the subject. We kept the conversation light until we made it home. I walked her to her door like I'd done last night since we lived in the same space. Unlike last night, I couldn't resist my desire to kiss her.

"How soon do you kiss these niggas?" I asked, staring at her lips.

She licked them and leaned against the door. "Depends on the vibe. Sometimes after the first date, sometimes it takes more than three."

"What about me?"

Instead of answering me verbally, Malorie wrapped her hand around my neck and used it to lower me to her lips. I was usually fully in control of my body and emotions, but kissing Mal after all this time unraveled me. The softness of her lips, the thickness of her tongue, our movements being in sync—her moans and whimpers.

God.

I was addicted. There was no turning back now.

"What now?" she asked, eyes still closed as I clung to her.

"Now… you go inside and leave me wanting more."

The sight of her tugging her bottom lip into her mouth as she nodded made my dick throb.

"Okay. Good night."

"Good night."

I held her for a few seconds longer before releasing her. If I couldn't get my dick down, tonight was going to be a long night.