Page 53 of Kove and Xiah

“What?”

“There are three of them shits. Let’s go with three.”

“They’re not numbered.” I fought to contain my smile because he was over it.

“Xi, number them shits however you want and pick whichever one is three.”

I reached over him, grabbed the device, and added my favorite to the cart.

“Okay, done. You need a mattress.”

“This one is cool. What’s the largest size it comes in?”

“This is the only one you’ve been on. You should try some of the others to make sure it’s the right fit and works for you.”

Even though the one we were on was the most expensive memory foam they stocked, I still wanted him to be sure of which he preferred before purchasing. Furniture was one thing but where he slept to recharge after the physicality of being on the court was important.

I was not an athlete but I did appreciate getting a good night’s sleep because my mattress was heaven on earth.

“Aight, hold up.” He lifted his lengthy body from the bed and moved to the end. I yelped when he grabbed my ankle and maneuvered me closer to where he was standing. “Get on your hands and knees for a minute. I’m trying to see something.”

My mouth dropped open seconds before I lifted my foot and tagged him in the thigh with a kick that was more for dramatic effect than to do damage. His massive hand wrapped around my ankle again and he smiled cockily.

“You said I need to make sure it works for me. I plan on doing more than sleeping on this shit.”

I scowled at him and jerked my foot from his grasp before scooting back, retrieving the device, and climbing off the side of the bed. “I’ll pick.”

He chuckled. “See how easy that shit was. But see if they have this in an Alaskan King. That’s what I had in Dubai.”

“It’s probably going to be a special order but I’m sure they can get it.” I was already moving to the front of the store so he could check out and set a delivery date. What we selected was bare minimum but it was a start. Kove stood behind me incredibly close with his hands shoved into the pockets of his sweats, watching everything I was doing with the sales associate from over my shoulder.

I felt his presence even though he wasn’t touching me and he remained in the same spot for the entire half an hour it took to make the purchase and set up the delivery. After I informed them of the intended closing date, they set the delivery for that evening with a promise that we could adjust it at any time if things changed with closing. He handed over his card, paid the bill, and we left.

Kove said he had one more stop before we went to grab food and asked if I still had access to the house. With therealtor's code I was granted, I could view the property whenever I wanted, so we made the drive out to Chandler Heights.

Once we were inside, Kove walked to the kitchen and I followed him, stopping when he leaned against the counter.

“Ay, you bake right?”

“Yes, why?”

“I’m trying to see something. Move around the kitchen for me like you’re baking some shit.”

I frowned and shook my head. “I can’t do that. It will feel weird.”

“Nah, it won’t. When we first viewed this house you were excited as hell about the kitchen. I know your ass was running through how you would throw down in here. I’m trying to see what that looks like.”

“Why?”

“‘’Cause I need to see.”

“You cook?”

“Nah, not like that.”

“Then why?” I frowned again and he pointed to the open space.

“Xiah…”