But he can’t be with Stenton because I’m with Stent—
At that thought, my back leaped from the mattress. I glanced frantically around the room. It wasn’t familiar at first because I hadn’t spent too much time in here yesterday. I’d only laid in bed for thirty minutes before slipping into Stenton’s room. My initial panic was being found out. I couldn’t have my family discover my weakness for Jordan’s father. My concession. Speaking of which, there was no sign of him. Then I got a waft of the scent sex smeared into my skin, all over my face, down my neck, over my breasts, and down my belly around my hips, butt and thighs.
Stenton.
He must have thought better and brought me in here sometime this morning. We’d rolled around his bed and floor for what felt like hours last night, leading into the morning hours. I smelled like him…and me. Like us. The chemistry of our blended scents is what forced me out of the bed and into the shower before anyone thought to come look for me.
After getting dressed, I headed toward the voices in the kitchen, smelling delicious bacon on the way.
“Merry Christmas!” my dad shouted as soon as I turned into the doorframe.
Everyone was there. The first person I searched for in the crowd was my joy, Jordan. He was there in his high chair, chortling at the child-play my mother engaged in to get him to eat. I approached him cheerfully.
“Hi, pumpkin! Merry 1st Christmas!” I cooed.
Jordan flanked his arms, excited by my voice. Enduring pain, I landed consecutive big kisses on his chubby cheek while he wiggled and shrieked in delight.
“Why your lip look like that?” Ruth so intrusively pointed out.
“Like what?” I sucked in my swollen and cut bottom lip.
Then my thoughts immediately went to Stenton, whose lanky and tatted frame I found leaning on the counter with one leg crossed over the other, sipping on coffee. His bushy eyebrows and slanted eyes were glued to me as if he owned me thrilled me even after all the copulation we’d engaged in the night before. Stenton’s presence was placid until you met those marbled eyes. I couldn’t cave like I did last night under the influence.
Ruth scoffed. “Like Buddy Love about to turn into damn Professor Clump!”
“Ruth!” I turned, prepared to get in her face.
“Girls!” My father called out. “We have guests. And you, Zoey, have one to send off.”
Huhn?
When I initially came into the kitchen, my attention went straight to my child. I glanced up and saw Bernard sitting across the room, at the table with an empty plate in front of him.
“Oh, you’re still here?” I’d totally forgotten about Bernard staying over.
“Merry Christmas, Zoey.”
“I’m sorry. Merry Christmas, B. I’m sure Sister Graham is worried sick that you’re not waking up in her home on Christmas.”
“No. She knows I’m in good hands with the Barrett’s,” Bernard assured. I flung a glance to Stenton and saw his jaw clenching.
“Oh. Okay,” my voice rang soprano. Since when?
“I’m gonna be heading out now. I just wanted to stick around until I had a chance to say goodbye and Merry Christmas to you.” I smiled nervously. Since when was Bernard so sentimental? “You mind walking me out?”
“Sure.”
Bernard turned to say goodbye to the room. He started over to Jordan’s high chair, and within seconds, Stenton had the baby in his arms with his back to Bernard. If that wasn’t a “back off” maneuver I don’t know what other nonverbal cue could be more blatant.
“Goodbye, Jordan,” Bernard offered in lieu of touching him.
At the door, he turned to me wearing an inscrutable expression.
“Zo, are you still with him?”
My brows wrinkled.
“With whom?” My reply was purposely formal.
“With Stenton Rogers. Are you two a couple now?”
“Now? What are you getting at, Bernard?”
Bernard let out a long breath, rolling his eyes. “Zoey, I heard you two in there last night?”