“But he’s like five foot two and she’s easily six feet!” I couldn’t stop laughing.
Azmir looked so carefree. I’ve laughed with him countless times, but this time it wasn’t about me or him, it was at the people in our circle, making us connected.
My laughter slowed as I soaked his presence in. He was gloriously masculine—virile—and extremely fine. His teeth were so perfect and his lips were too inviting. The black long sleeve tee he wore told secrets of his chiseled chest and made me recall his abdomen muscles. He sat reclined on the couch, very relaxed and tempting. Suddenly, I wanted him, so bad.
In my haze I hadn’t realized he’d stopped laughing and had locked eyes on me until I heard him ask, “Penny for your thoughts.”
His expression told me he knew exactly what was flowing through my mind. But I didn’t want to fall prey to his sexual prowess. “Dawn Taylor,” I spewed effortlessly in my resistance.
Without a flinch he confidently said, “…is fully aware that you are mine and I am exclusively yours.”
Warmth blanketed my body and I shivered at his words. But…
On a long sigh I said, “Azmir—”
“I handled it all wrong. And for that I’ve suffered and am truly regretful. It won’t happen again.” He shook his head remorsefully, his beautiful eyes not on me. “Rayna, I may have gotten you into a relationship that’s for the most part unconventional, but you must stop doubting your role in my life. There is no one else, and if that hasn’t been clear I only have myself to blame. When I asked you to share my home it was because I’d decided on you and only you. Kissing her was a huge mistake…one of the biggest in my life. You have my solemn promise, it won’t happen again.”
He was so absolute in his decree. I tried—tried desperately to take him at each word and suppress every doubt and ounce of fear that clouded my mind. I knew the sad reality was he’d had claimed my heart long before I moved in with him. I wanted something from Azmir, I wanted forever. However, his betrayal with Dawn left me afraid to go full steam ahead.
My eyes bounced all over the place and I shook my head in confusion. He picked it up and reached over to me, using his index finger to lift my chin.
“I fucked up…but this…this right here.” He gestured at the space between us. “This distance between us…my starvation of you…your need for me, it can’t go on.”
Huhn? “What need for you?” I asked in incredulity with wide eyes.
Azmir gave a mirthless chuckle and cocked his head to the side, pushing his tongue into his molars before saying, “Rayna, you’re in heat right now. Unless you haven’t kept up with your pills?”
I knew he was referring to my birth control pills, but what did that have to do with Dawn Taylor?
“Yeah, and…?”
“And…you’re still on the same cycle. Your period will start tomorrow. I can smell your arousal. I sensed it when I saw you earlier in the lobby of the rec. I can’t stand to know you’re in need and I’m not here to satisfy you.” Azmir was confident with his assumptions—well…facts. Crap! I hate that I have no privacy regarding my own person with him! It wasn’t going down like that.
“Arousal?” I blew air from my mouth in a scoff.
His head swung back in a hearty titter. My eyes stayed glued to him, begging his pardon. Then suddenly, he locked eyes on me and slowly pushed up on the couch, moving over to me. I stilled, not knowing what he was about to do, but was sure he was testing me. Azmir brought his delectable lips to mine, yet he didn’t touch me. His gaze still locked to mine and his eyes were mesmerizing. Suddenly I heard my accelerated breathing. He touched my lips with his. They were soft and moist.
He didn’t kiss me, but spoke into mine, “Tell me you don’t need me to straighten you out.”
From the moment the first push of breath hit my face, my neck gave out and I staggered, but I regained control. I had to say something. I couldn’t let him win.