Page 18 of A Million Boss Kisses

CHAPTER EIGHT

Marissa Bentley

S peeding across MacArthur Causeway Bridge, I placed a call to Karina.

Everything was happening too fast, shit was too perfect to be true, and I panicked.

A debriefing was very much needed. When I first went to stand in front of Yaseer to hide his growing erection, I found myself drifting from the conversation taking place in front of me and fantasizing about what he could do with a dick that felt long and girthy.

“If you calling me already that means you didn’t let that man scratch that cat. I hate that for you, friend,” she lectured through pants.

“Girl, I think he was broke. His fucking cards kept declining at the restaurant,” I grumbled.

“Where you at? Why the hell you breathing so hard?”

“I’m in my backyard on my walking pad before it gets dark. I can’t believe you ended up paying for your own date.”

“The story doesn’t end there bitch. When I finally say fuck it and pull out my card to pay for dinner, the same dude that I was telling you about last night comes over and pays for the meal.”

“Who? The one you slapped for talking shit about Quincy?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed, then ran down everything that happened since our conversation the night I slapped Yaseer in front of his entire company.

“I really don’t even know what to say. The sane me says stay the fuck away from me, but then the best friend me says you have always loved them crazy.

I don’t even know how you dealt with my brother’s crazy ass.

Then you went from Kadeem to Quinten. Although he sounds a little nutty, I can hear you smiling through the phone, Marissa. ”

“I am,” I admitted.

“So why did you leave the man stranded?”

“He wasn’t stranded. He was at his parents’ house. I’m sure he can get back to his ho…”

My words died on my lips because a candy apple red Benz swerved in front of me, blocking me from driving just before I could get on the bridge. “What the fuck?” I muttered, pulling my gun from my middle console out of reflex.

“What’s wrong Marissa?” Karina pried.

“My God! It’s him,” I sighed in relief when the door flew open after a few moments and Yaseer stepped out of the car with the box from San Sebastián clasped tightly in his hand.

He swaggered to the car like he hadn’t just run me down and cut me off like a lunatic.

It started to drizzle as he got closer and he was still calm and collected.

Smirking like he had all the time in the world and wasn’t holding up a car that was coming in the opposite direction.

“Who is him ?”

“Yaseer! This man just cut me off and he has the cake in his hand. Yaseer is…” My voice trailed off because I wanted to fill in the blank with a list full of names, but none of them really seemed to fit. He was unhinged, panty-dropping fine, so fucking confident, and above all else, persistent.

Yaseer gently tapped on my window, and I took a deep breath before rolling it down.

“You forgot the cheesecake before you took off on a nigga,” he commented, passing me the box.

“You really chased me down to give me the cheesecake?”

“Nah. I chased you down because you looked like the cheesecake healed something in you with every bite. Why are you scared to be in close proximity with me for too long? You were wearing your feelings all over your face after you finished eating the cake.”

“Are you sure those feelings were for you and not the cake?” I quizzed, happily accepting the cake.

“I’m positive they were for me,” he replied, leaning through my window. “You scared, I get it…”

“She ain’t scared! My bestie needs a man like you in her life. I love the energy! Keep stepping, Yaseer!” Karina screamed through the car speakers and I quickly tapped the button on the steering wheel to end the call.

“You told your best friend about me?” He teased with a cocky grin. “Rhetorical question, Marissa. I’ll let you go. You don’t have to speed the rest of your way back to your hotel room. I won’t chase you. It’s wet out here.”

Yaseer stood and turned towards the Benz. The sun was setting, the drizzling made the mood dreary, and something took over me because I caved. Watching him walk away suddenly left me feeling incomplete.

“Wait!” I shouted just before he reached his door.

Yaseer paused and glanced over at me. The smug smile that spread across his face almost made me want to reconsider just because I hated to give him the satisfaction.

Exhaling deeply, I clutched the cheesecake like it was grounding me.

I didn’t even have a real destination in mind.

Going back to my marital home was out of the question, and thanks to Yaseer, staying alone in a hotel room no longer felt comfortable.

He had ruined that sense of solitude when he effortlessly gained access to my room without my knowledge.

At least if I stayed in his hotel room, I knew his nutty ass would protect me.

“Enough chasing. If you want anything more from me, you’re going to have to show me you can handle yourself. We can have a nightcap in your room. I’m too tired to go anywhere else. I’ve had a long and draining two days.”

Yaseer’s grin grew wider.

“We can talk. That’s it,” I stated firmly.

“I got you. I know how to be a gentleman,” he nodded and slid into his car. He sped around me, dodging the car that was waiting to get by us, and I followed behind him to the hotel.

Yaseer grabbed my suitcase from the trunk before the valet took our cars.

I grabbed the cheesecake, and together we headed upstairs with my hand clasped firmly in his.

The extra boost of confidence that came with being on the arm of a dangerously powerful man was something I hadn’t realized I was missing until this moment.

The tingling sensation that appeared between my legs as we entered his hotel room had me giving myself a pep talk.

I told him that all we were going to do was talk, and I planned to stand firm on that.

Deep down, I was terrified of the next phase of my life because my husband was the only man I had ever had sex with.

“You want something to drink?” Yaseer offered, clicking around on his phone.

“I’d like a water and lemon drop,” I requested, taking a seat on the couch next to him. Our legs touched, my exposed thigh brushing against the soft fabric of his shorts.

Yaseer tried to pull me closer, and just his touch alone was enough to make my breath hitch and send heat swirling through me. I quickly scooted away, putting space between us and breaking the connection, but even as I moved, a part of me already missed the warmth of his body next to mine.

“I need to lay some ground rules. You’re not allowed to touch me unless I say so.”

“You got it,” Yaseer nods.

“And you have to be honest about anything I ask you tonight.”

“Bet. I’m an open book. What do you want to know?”

“You’re handsome, rich, and persistent. Why the hell are you chasing behind me?”

“Because you got the kind of energy that don’t come around twice,” he responded, eyes locked on mine like he knew I would be his.

“I’ve had models, actresses, and all types of shit.

But none of them ever came at me like you.

Your smart mouth, that spoiled strut, and the fact that you’ll fight or shoot is just the icing on the cake.

” When he said that last part, the reverence in his eyes was undeniable.

“You don’t need my protection, but you’ll always have it. ”

I swallowed hard, the mere answer making me wet between my legs, so I decided to switch to a topic that was usually a turn-off. “What happened with your daughter’s mom?”

“We were high school sweethearts. Had Amill when we were eighteen. I went off to college, and she stayed behind. After a year of raising Amill, she left her with her parents to pursue her modeling career and now she acts like Amill doesn’t exist.”

That answer wasn’t what I expected, and I felt guilty for even asking.

Yaseer still answered confidently, but something in his tone made me feel he could use a hug.

Breaking my own rule, I leaned over and wrapped my arms around him.

I was all too familiar with the weight of being a single parent.

I was only a year in, and my boys were practically grown, so I couldn’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for Yaseer to shoulder that responsibility since Amill was just a year old.

“I have the unfortunate pleasure of knowing what it’s like to parent completely alone. My soon to be ex-husband hasn’t seen our boys since I moved out of our marital home.”

Yaseer broke our embrace and his eyes locked onto mine, softer this time, but steady.

“That fuck nigga never deserved y’all,” he commented, taking both of my small hands inside of his, gently rubbing his thumb across the back of my hands. “From this day forward, you can hit me for anything you and the boys may need.”

“I appreciate that. You can also hit me if you ever need anything for Amill. I can see a friendship blossoming from this.”

“Friends? You see how them nipples staring at me. Even you don’t believe that shit,” he commented.

I yanked my hands away from his and threw my arms across my chest to cover my hardened nipples.

There was a knock at the door, and I melted back into the couch as Yaseer went to open it.

The same man who Yaseer summoned in the parking lot wheeled a cart inside.

A cocktail shaker, two martini glasses, and a small dish of lemon wedges sat beside a bottle of Beluga Gold Line and simple syrup.

A tiny container of sugar for a rimmed glass was tucked neatly beside it.

He offered me a nod, dapped Yaseer up, and was right back out of the door.

Standing from the couch, I was prepared to make my drink until Yaseer looked up at me. “What are you doing?”

“About to make my drink.”