Page 24 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)

Isley

I immediately removed my shoes upon entering Bern’s unit.

When he moved into his place weeks ago, he bought me a pair of white fuzzy slippers that were kept beside the front entrance.

I really loved the way he and his mom had decorated his place.

I was feeling the neutral color scheme they came up with.

I hadn’t spent any time at his place since the accident.

He’d been over to me and Aunt Fee’s place every single day though.

“You want anything to drink?” Bern asked as he put our plates in the fridge. I couldn’t leave the block party without grabbing one of Miss Delanie’s soul food plates for later.

“No, I don’t need any more to drink. Those drinks I got from Miss Emma’s tent were strong as hell,” I answered as I plopped down on his leather sectional. I wasn’t drunk, but I was feeling relaxed. It was the calmest I’d felt in a long time. “What were you and Unique talking about?”

He raised a brow as he took a seat right beside me. “Not shit. She spoke and that was it.”

“Hmph.”

He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. “What’s that ‘hmph’ mean?”

“Nothing…it just seems like she did more than speak.”

“She wasn’t talking about nothing. I’m not messed up about that broad. But why you ask?”

I shrugged, suddenly embarrassed about questioning him. What he talked to his ex about wasn’t really my business. Or was it?

“I was just asking.”

He smirked, knowing I was being a little jealous.

He sat back and browsed through the movie selections on the screen before finally settling on Boyz n the Hood .

It was one of our favorite classics. I lifted my right foot to my lap and massaged it lightly.

The sandals I wore weren’t as comfortable as I thought they would be for all of that standing.

“Your feet hurt?”

“A little,” I admitted.

“Here, let me massage those dogs,” he jested.

“Nigga, my feet aren’t dogs…these are what you call beautiful feet.” I shoved him slightly as he placed my feet in his lap.

He studied my toes before beginning to massage them. “Yeah, you do have some pretty feet.”

I closed my eyes as a low moan escaped my lips while he pampered my aching feet. When I opened my eyes, Bern pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he stared at me with lust in his eyes.

A warm and tingly sensation flowed through me as his strong hands caressed me. There was no doubt sexual tension was in the air. The feelings I had been suppressing for so long were standing on the ledge, desperate to jump.

“Does it feel good?”

“Mmmmhmmm,” I mumbled, then pulled my feet from his grasp. “Thanks for that. I need to go to the restroom. Be right back.”

I stood and made my way to the guest bathroom, closing the door behind me.

Leaning against the door, I took a deep breath.

Get yourself together, Isley. My hormones were on ten and I was trying to bring myself back down.

Was I really ready to cross that line with Bern or were those drinks Ms. Emma served clouding my judgment?

I relieved my bladder then washed my hands.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Looking back at me was a woman who had been through a great tragedy.

A woman who’d suffered a great loss. A woman who deserved endless joy and a man who worshipped the ground she walked on.

I took another deep breath before returning to the living room.

Bern had gotten extra comfortable. He’d changed into a white tank, putting his strong, muscular frame on complete display.

I tried not to let my mind wander when I noticed his gray sweatpants.

I waltzed over to the sofa. His eyes followed me.

As I passed him, he grabbed my hand, pulling me into his lap. Bern swaddled me in his arms.

“Am I wrong for wanting you the way that I do, Isley?”

I almost melted like butter in his arms. “No.”

“How did it make you feel when I told you that I’m in love with you? Did I go too far?”

“It made me scared,” I admitted. “But it also forced me to really think about my own feelings.”

“And how do you feel, Icey?”

I bit my lip. “I feel the same as you, Bernie. I don’t even know when these feelings developed. I’ve tried denying it, but they are real.”

He held me tighter and kissed my temple. “What are we going to do about it? Do we pursue it? Or do we bury our feelings?”

I didn’t want to fight my feelings for him any longer.

I didn’t have the bandwidth to suppress my emotions.

If recent events had taught me nothing, it was that life was precious and fragile and there was no time like the present to start living life on my own terms. Going for what I wanted.

Chasing dreams. Creating new ones. As someone who’d lost so much in my life, I didn’t feel I had anything to lose by taking a chance on love with someone who had proven for twenty years that he was down for me.

“I don’t think I can continue to ignore the chemistry we have, Bern.”

“Good. Because a nigga was never going to give up on having you. Like Raphael Saadiq said, I would wait on you, my dear, even if it takes a thousand years.”

I rolled my eyes and giggled. I then turned and straddled him. His brows knitted together. “I love you, Claybern.”

“I love you, Isley.”

I leaned over and kissed his lips gently.

He opened his mouth, allowing my tongue to introduce itself to his.

Bern firmly grabbed my ass, pulling me closer to him.

Our mouths melted together in perfect cohesion.

The sweetness of his tongue was satisfying.

I gently gyrated on his very noticeable erection.

Bern’s hands fondled my ass as he devoured my mouth with a hunger I’d never met.

I gently pulled away while maintaining his gaze.

“Damn, Icey.” He blew out a breath. “You got a nigga ready to fuck the shit out of you.”

“What if that’s what I want?”

“Well, I’ve always told you that you can get whatever you want from me.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on his hardened dick that threatened to bust through the fabric of his sweats. My eyes widened at the massive print. A burst of heat flowed through my body, especially between my thighs.

He softly guided me to my feet and stood. Grabbing my hand, he led me to his bedroom. It wasn’t my first time in his bedroom. I’d taken numerous naps in that bed when I came over to chill with him. But this time I was in his bedroom for a different purpose.

Bern pulled me into his arms. I nearly melted like butter in his strong embrace. It was like I was right where I was supposed to be. The scent of his body wash and cologne were enticing.

“I love you, Isley. And I’m not in a rush for sex. I want to make love to you, but only if that’s what you’re ready for.”

“I love you, Bernie…and I’m ready.” I lifted my chin and kissed his lips before stripping out of my clothing.

His eyes widened in amazement, nearly making me bashful under his gaze. “Shit, I knew you were fine as fuck, but damn my imagination didn’t even do your body justice.”

I grinned as I climbed onto the bed. “So what are you going to do with it?”

“I have a few ideas.” He smirked as he pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his muscular frame. As fit as he was, one would believe he spent endless hours in the gym instead of just a few days a week. His body was covered in many tattoos. All with special meaning behind them.

When he dropped his shorts and his briefs, I stared in awe. I didn’t know what the hell I’d gotten myself into. Did I write a check my ass couldn’t cash?

“Yep, it’s all for you.” He groped his lengthy erection while peering at me.

He climbed on top of me. He peppered my face with kisses then his lips met mine.

I opened my mouth, allowing his tongue to enter.

His kiss was sweet and tender. The moisture between my thighs increased and I longed for Bern to give me what my body was begging for.

I squirmed under him in anticipation as he kissed my neck. He rolled off of me onto his back.

“Get on top, so we can go at your pace.”

I sat up and straddled him. I grabbed his swollen dick and slowly lowered myself.

As wet as I was, there was a little bit of struggle.

He was longer and thicker than I was used to.

The initial discomfort quickly turned into complete pleasure.

Bern gently fondled my breasts as I found my rhythm.

He filled me to capacity as I bounced up and down.

Immense pleasure flowed through my body.

I felt a connection I didn’t know was possible as our bodies joined.

It was like confirmation that our souls were meant to be together.

“Damn, your pussy tight as fuck, Icey,” Bern moaned.

I continued to grind on his dick, enjoying every inch until I came hard. I leaned on Bern as I whimpered and my legs convulsed.

“No, you not done yet… you need to nut again,” he commanded, lifting my ass cheeks then slamming me back down on him repeatedly. My already sensitive bud trembled as he continued to thrust into me with a deep hunger. Within a few strokes, I felt myself climaxing once again.

“There you go, baby,” he encouraged.

I felt weak as hell and completely spent as he continued dicking me down. He was giving me more than I was prepared for, but I didn’t complain. I basked in the great pleasure.

“Fuck, I’m about to bust,” he moaned as he held me tightly while releasing his own orgasm.

I rolled off Bern and collapsed on the side of him.

The orgasmic high that lingered made me feel like I was floating on cloud nine.

I didn’t realize Bern was going to put it on me like that.

That was the kind of dick that made you go through a nigga’s phone when he was asleep.

Lucky for me that he’d already laid the emotional groundwork so I felt secure in my spot in his life.

No need for me to snoop around in his phone.

Call me arrogant, but I was pretty sure I had him on lock.

Bern finally got up and walked toward the master bathroom. It was then that I noticed his latest tattoo. I slowly sat up and tears began to flow freely. I didn’t bother holding them back.

When he returned with a wet rag, worry lines filled his face. “What’s wrong, Icey? Why are you crying?”

“Your tattoo.”

“Oh yeah.” He sat beside me and pulled me into him.

“When did you get it?”

“Right after the accident. I just wanted to honor the sweet, innocent life that was never given a chance. And I know it wasn’t my baby, but I loved the baby and was prepared to take care of it like it was my own.”

“Thank you so much for thinking of my Angel.” I buried my head into his chest.

That was one of the purest acts of love anyone had ever shown me. And that was even more confirmation that we were destined to be together.