“Oh,” was all I could say, piecing together the crazy life and relationship between Alton and Tynisha. This had to be a full time job for her, like raising another child. But I wondered why she would be okay with him hanging out at Stent’s place. It said a lot about her perception of Stenton.
I felt his warm lips on my forehead, reminding me he was still in the room. “I’m going to take a shower. We can watch a movie and then cook whenever you’re ready,” Stent murmured before leaving me there in the kitchen.
I went for my phone, prepared to text Angela and give her a piece of my mind. She knew better than to share that with a stranger. Not that my virginity was a big deal to me, but it was private. What if I told Stenton about all her sexcapades with men over the years?
I had all my words planned out, but when I picked up my phone I couldn’t do it. I knew Angela was in a bad place with the pregnancy and the last thing she needed was her past with Alton coming up at such a delicate time.
The day progressed. When Stenton was done with his shower, we made the marinade for the chicken we were going to prepare that night. It was cute watching his lanky figure in a massive kitchen, matching his size, but it being the most awkward room for him at the same time. We made a few snacks and took them to the theater room to watch movies with Alton. Alton offered me a beer and Stenton darn near bit his head off. I didn’t understand why, but like Alton, I respectfully sat back without questioning it. The doorbell rang again and Stenton jogged out of the room to get it, returning twenty minutes later to finish the movie.
A few hours later, Stenton uprooted from beneath me and left the room. Alton and I remained, watching Hostel. After some time, I missed him. Maybe because my temperature dropped and I didn’t have his body’s natural heat covering me, I’d become conscious of his absence. I don’t know how long it was before I saw him appear at the door. I caught him in my peripheral, and when I peered up, he gave a reverse nod, requesting that I join him. Without hesitation, I rose from the ginormous sofa and strode past Alton, whose eyes stayed glued to the screen.
When I approached Stenton, he took me by the hand and walked me through the house and to the master suite. I noticed immediately the door was closed, which struck me as odd.
We stopped at the doorframe and Stenton turned me at the shoulders to face him. “Zo, listen... Before we go inside, I need for you to consent to something and then make a promise to me.”
I nodded dubiously.
Stenton exhaled and rested his arm above his head, on the door, and buried his face in the crux of it. He eventually threw me a strange regard.
“That didn’t come out right. Let me say this. Last night was not how I wanted our first time to be.” Hearing that warmed me. I didn’t know Stenton had thoughts of being with me sexually. “It wasn’t my style at all. My sexual style can be a bit…eclectic.”
I nodded again, inviting him to continue.
“I want to share with you what I’m into, but I need you to give consent to it first, and then promise me you won’t run for the hills after.”
My pulse quickened. The jolt of excitement I felt was unparalleled. I’d always been said to be a daredevil, and in that moment I understood why. I would do anything with Stenton.
I nodded slightly, but executed, “Yeah…yeah!” more convincingly.
Stenton’s deep and piercing gaze vacillated between doubtful, then desperate, and then finally to convinced. He sighed heavily and went to his pocket and pulled out a strap of cloth. He turned me around to tie it over my eyes. It happened so quickly that I found myself panting.