Page 19 of On Everything 2

Ciara

I wasn't used to cooking on an open flame stove, so I damn near burned up the first few batches of shrimp before I got the hang of it.

It took me almost four tries, but by the last batch, the shrimp were perfect, if I say so myself.

I tossed them into a pot of garlic noodles that I had cooked, and the steam rising put a smell up my nostrils that confirmed this food would be good.

My stomach was growling loud as hell because I hadn't eaten anything since the few bites of pizza I had earlier.

So, I got in the kitchen and found what Hov had that I could make.

Hov had made it easy for me to be without him because he had texted me all the access codes to the doors and entrances.

He made sure to text me to make myself comfortable, but I was anything but in this perfect ass space.

I fixed a plate of food and then sat down to eat at the bar. I scrolled through TikTok while enjoying the noodles and shrimp. When I heard the front door open and shut down the hallway, I dropped my fork onto my plate.

"What's that smell? Who in here?"

Hov's voice vibrated down the hall, and I ran out to meet him.

"Oh, hey, Hov. I didn't know you would be making it back so soon. I plan on cleaning the kitchen as soon as I am done eating. Sorry for the smell of shrimp and garlic in here. I guess I didn't think that meal through."

He squinted his eyes at me and then put his hands in his pockets.

"You think I'm mad because you have my house smelling like this. You should be telling me what's for dinner?"

"Oh, well, I made some garlic noodles and grilled some shrimp that I found in the fridge. I hope that was okay."

"Of course it was. Is there any left for me?"

"There is plenty. This way."

I walked in front of Hov and into the kitchen with him on my trail.

He sat down at the center island, putting his phones and guns down on the counter beside him.

I could see in his face that he was tired and preoccupied with a lot right now.

I loaded his plate with some noodles first and then placed five shrimp on top.

I'd made some garlic bread, but I convinced myself not to eat it, so I gave Hov two pieces.

I'm sure he needed something heavy because he probably hasn't eaten all day.

"Thanks, mama, you going to have a seat and finish your food?"

"No, I'm done, actually. I fill up fast on pasta."

Hov took a bite of shrimp before swirling up some pasta on his fork. I watched nervously while he chewed slowly, until he looked up from his plate and smirked at me. Even that shit was so fucking sexy.

"You trying to take Bam's job or something?"

"Seriously? No, I'm sure it's not that good. I'm not a professional like him."

"And that's what makes your food even better. You're mine, so you are free."

I giggled while grabbing the pots I used and dumping the food before putting them in the dishwasher. Hov was tearing into his plate now, but as I made my way around his kitchen, I caught his eyes following me.

"What the fuck are you cleaning up for that hard for? There is a maid. I can make sure she comes in the morning."

"A maid for a mess I made? I'm not going to let these cabinets sit like this all night. I'm cleaning them."

"Alright, okay, my bad." He put his hands in the air as if he retreated, and I continued doing what I was doing for the moment.

Hov finished his plate and then asked for seconds, so I emptied the Tupperware onto his plate and put that in the dishwasher as well. I love having access to one of these. I always hated washing dishes growing up. It was the tidiest task done for you.

When I was finally done cleaning, I tossed the damp towels into the small hamper tucked away in the pantry and took myself back to the bedroom. My body felt heavy as hell while craving nothing more than a hot shower to wash my body after all of the cooking and work I've been doing all day.

The moment I entered the bedroom and walked into the bathroom, I had to pause just to take it all in once more.

That restroom was something I still couldn't get over, and this area was for sure bigger than my whole apartment.

Shit, when I look around, it's probably twice the size if you count all of the closet spaces behind all these doors.

The Marble floors gleamed under the soft light, the rainfall shower sat behind glass walls, and every fixture looked like it belonged in some luxury hotel instead of someone's actual home.

I turned the shower knobs, listening to the hiss of water building pressure, and reached for the door where I thought the towels were stored. But instead of shelves of the towels I'd seen before, I'd open a closet that looked more like a showroom.

The first thing that hit me was the scent.

Rich, warm, expensive scents floating in the air.

The scent pulled me in deeper before I even realized that this room smelled just like Hov, which is why I liked it so much.

On the wall to my left was an entire display of cologne and perfume bottles, arranged in perfect order on glass shelves that stretched high as the ceiling.

A sliding ladder, almost like something out of a library, was hooked to a sleek metal rail so you could climb up and grab whichever fragrance called your name.

I turned the small dial on the wall, and the lights in the room brightened.

I walked further and further inside, slowly grazing the sleeves of the expensive jackets and shirts with my fingertips. A lot of these clothes still had tags on them with brands that I had only seen in magazines.

Rounding a corner, the space opened up even more, but that was when I froze completely at the sight in front of me.

The harsh reminder that this was another woman's home was right in front of me, with her dresses, blouses, and purses hanging just as neatly as Hov's.

Not only were there clothes, but at least fifty purses were lined on shelves just like the perfume in the front.

Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dior, Chanel. It was every woman's dream who was into this kind of stuff.

This shit is crazy!

I stood in awe of such expensive pieces. It was like I was meeting a celebrity right now, shit, I live in Castle Hill. The only Chanel that I ever saw were fake with major defects that gave it away.

I stood, frozen in front of the wall of purses, my fingers hovering over a Chanel strap, when the faint sound of footsteps echoed behind me.

When I turned around, there was Hov's fine ass in that fitted black tee that contrasted perfectly next to the tattoos down his arms. I hadn't made out what each one meant individually, but the bigger picture was beautiful.

"Don't worry, I'll get all of her stuff out of here one day soon."

"No, it's okay, I didn't mean to come plundering through your stuff. Just came back here, admiring the size of this closet is all."

Hov walked up in front of me and placed his hand on my back, bringing me into his embrace.

"You do know I want you to be comfortable here, so anything that bothers you. Please let me know."

"You want me to stay here often, like live here with you?"

Hov laughed.

"Why you sound so unsure of your word's? Of course, I want you to live with me, and where it is, I don't really care."

"Okay, but what if I still wanted to keep my own place too?"

"Where, in Castle Hill?"

"No, I mean not there, but somewhere else. I'm sure I will be able to afford better with my new position at work."

"That's true, and as long as it's somewhere safe, I'm with whatever you're on."

"Yeah, definitely needs to be somewhere safe and secluded with Kairo running around.

Hov tilted my head back with his fingertip and looked me in my eyes.

"You don't have any fuckin reason to be afraid of that nigga. Let me handle him, and you let that fuckin fear go."

"Okay."

"But do you hear me, though, Ciara? If you're scared of another man, then I'm not doing my part. Just know I'm protecting you in ways you won't even know."

I nodded my head before he placed a kiss on my lips.

"Okay, baby. I understand."

"Good, now say I ain't scared of shit."

"I'm not." I giggled as he squeezed my body.

"Say the whole sentence."

"I'm not scared of shit."

"There you go, mama."

Hov laid a kiss on my forehead, and I tugged at the hairs in his beard before he and I walked back out of the room.

Did I expect to be falling for Hov this fast, no.

But he was making it so hard. I never felt so sure, so comfortable, so in tune with a man before, and I was with the same man for years.

Once out of the closet, I went inside the correct door to grab a towel and some of the new body scrubbing exfoliating scrubbers I'm sure belonged to Cashmier.

I felt so bad about using stuff that belonged to her, but I couldn't help myself when it was right at my disposal.

Plus, I want to be nice and smooth lying next to Hov in those silk sheets.

After all, his body is so soft, I just want to match him.

After I was done with my shower, the restroom smelled like a fresh garden from all of the body wash and creams lingering in the air. I put on a fresh pair of panties, and once I walked over to the sink to brush my teeth, I felt a sharp cramp shoot across my stomach.

"I know this is not."

I hurried over to the toilet seat and sat, grabbing a strip of tissue to wipe myself. Once I pulled it from in between my legs and saw the pink streak, I started to panic.

"I don't have any fucking tampons here. Shit."

I wrapped the paper towel in my hands and then went into the small toiletry closet to the left of the one where I had found the towel. Thank God that inside there was a box of tampons stashed away in the back. It wasn't the brand I usually used, but I guess these organic ones will work.

I opened the box to get one out, but what I pulled out was the opposite of a tampon.

"Fuck. Now I have to bother him. This is a bunch of condoms.”