Page 27 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

“So, are you coming in or are you just going to stand in front of the elevator all day?” Shade sat on the couch, a smooth smirk on his face. If it were left up to me, I would’ve raced over to him and knocked it right off. But I knew better. The only smart thing to do was to keep my distance.

“I’m good right here. Can you just give me my keys, please? Oh, and my phone too. Did I leave it in your car?”

He stood up and walked over to a desk that was in the corner of the room. Slowly, he opened a drawer and pulled out everything that belonged to me.

Relief washed over me when I saw my phone.

Thank God. I didn’t feel like having to replace it.

I took a tiny step forward, thinking he was about to walk my way. But instead, he just returned to the couch and sat back down.

“Shade,” I groaned. “What are you doing?”

“Come over here.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to make sure you’re alright, and I can’t do that without staring into those pretty brown eyes.”

He’s laying it on thick as hell.

I tried not to laugh as I walked over to him. “Fine, are you happy now?”

“Not quite.” Slowly, he rose from the couch, his stare never leaving mine.

Although he was wearing a white t-shirt, it was almost as if he wasn’t wearing anything at all.

The shirt looked like it was melted to his skin, and I could see every chocolate muscle bulging beneath it.

He pressed his hand against my face and sighed deeply. “I’m sorry.”

Confusion washed over me.

“Sorry, for what?”

“Instead of thinking about how all of this would affect you, I let my emotions get the best of me last night. Do I regret knocking that nigga on his back? Not at all. But I regret how all of that made you feel, and it wasn’t the time or place for it. Not with so many people watching.”

“I’m surprised you care about who’s watching.”

“I don’t. But I’m not the only one who has to deal with the consequences. So for that, I’m truly sorry.”

His hand was still against my face, and for some reason, it felt much softer to me now. It felt like it belonged there. “I accept your apology,” I replied.

“Thank you.” He passed me my stuff and stepped back.

Suddenly, he rubbed at his temple and groaned.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m cool. I just got a little headache.”

“Have you taken anything for it?”

“I’m good. It’ll go away in a little bit.”

I crossed my arms. “It’ll go away faster if you take something. Do you have some aspirin?”

“Yeah, in the bathroom in my room.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” I strolled out of the living room.

The moment I stepped into his room, I froze. His scent hit me like a memory I wasn’t ready for. Cool, clean, and just a little spicy. Like he’d just stepped out of the shower.

Damn, it should be a crime for a man to smell this good.

“If you stick around, you can take me in a little longer,” he said, his lips almost touching my neck.

Why the hell is he so close?

Why don’t I want him to move?

“You didn’t have to follow me, you know? I’m perfectly capable of finding the bathroom on my own.”

“I know, but I wanted to.”

“Of course you did,” I replied.

“I don’t see you trying to move away from me.”

Realizing he was right, I cleared my throat and walked into the bathroom.

It didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for.

“Sit,” I said as I motioned for him to go to the bed.

He did as I asked and grabbed the bottle of water that was on his nightstand.

Trying to play it smart, I didn’t sit next to him. Instead, I positioned myself between his legs and grabbed his hand.

I could feel the weight of his thighs as they pressed against mine, damn near locking me between them.

Shit, this wasn’t a good idea either.

Determined to stay focused, I dropped two aspirin into his hand and let out a slow breath. “Even though I wish things hadn’t gotten as crazy as they did, I do appreciate you having my back last night. Eli putting his hands on me?—”

“Was a fucking mistake,” Shade growled, jaw tight.

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. His protectiveness did something to me. “Yeah...a big one.”

“What did he tell you?”

“Well, turns out that he’s been screwing Nimah Watts. That’s who sent me that message.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep.” I sighed. “Oh, and you weren’t the only one who allowed your emotions to get the best of you last night. I kind of said some shit to push Eli to the edge after he told me all of that.”

Shade smirked, then tossed the pills into his mouth. “Do tell.”

“Long story short, I told him that you had...um...that you had...”

“Ate that pretty pussy,” he said, his free hand lowering between us.

But he didn’t touch me. Instead, he just hovered, my pulsating flesh highly aware of what could happen next.

Without warning, a strained breath released from between my lips, and my eyes shifted closed. “Why are you so determined to play with me?”

“Because you make it so easy,” he whispered.

“I’m not trying to.”

“I know you’re not. You can’t help it.”

“I really can’t.”

“It’s fine. Just let me do what you want me to do.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You’re a free woman now. Well, kind of.”

I opened my eyes. “What do you mean, kind of?”

“Because even though we’re not official yet, you’re mine. I just want to give you a day or two to get your ex out of your system.”

“A day or two? I’m going to need more than a day or two.”

He shook his head and stood. “Nah, I don’t think so.”

“Shade, I was with Eli for a long time. That means I have baggage. Not only that, I need to process everything that happened. That’s going to take more than a few days.”

He let out a breath. “Okay, fine. A week then.”

I laughed, but he didn’t return the sentiment.

“You’re serious?”

“Of course I am.”

“Shade, I can’t just jump into one relationship and go into another. I don’t operate like that. Besides, I don’t even know if I’m ready to be with a man like you.”

“A man like me? What kind of man am I?”

“You’re an artist, and I’ve worked with plenty. Y’all can’t be trusted. Why would I put myself in the same position that I’m currently walking away from?”

“Because I’m not them, and I damn sure ain’t him ,” he said referring to Eli. “I don’t sell dreams and then go fuck around. If I say I want you, it’s because I mean that shit.”

“Or it could just be because you want to fuck me, and if that’s the case...” I took another step forward, “let’s just get that part out the way.”

He lowered his gaze to mine, his expression unreadable.

“No doubt, I definitely want to fuck you, but I want to do that shit when you’re my woman.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you, that’s never going to happen.”

Shaking his head, he slid his finger under my chin and lifted my head slightly. “But it is, and when it does, I’m going to wait until you’re riding my dick to say I told you so.”

I swallowed hard, the thought of being on top of him damn near making me cum right in front of him.

“See,” he whispered.

I forced myself away from him. “Being attracted to you doesn’t mean I want to be in a relationship with you.”

“But you do.”

“Whatever,” I shot back. “If you really want to get my attention, how about you show me that you can be a good friend?”

“Too easy.”

“That means, just being here and listening. No trying to stick your dick in me.”

“Like I said, too easy. In case you’ve forgotten, I told you that I would never do anything that you didn’t want or allow me to do.”

“Mmhmm...that means your tongue too.”

He tensed. “Nyx?—”

“You have to agree, or we end this right here.”

He dropped his shoulders, disappointment settling in his eyes. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” I replied with a content smile. “Given everything that’s going on with Skye right now, I could really use a friend. She doesn’t need to be bombarded with all of my issues.”

“What do you mean? What happened?”

“Don’t tell anyone I told you this,” I said. “Mecca’s dumb ass got someone else pregnant.”

“What?”

“Yep, and you’ll never guess who it is.”

“Who?”

“Brookia.”

“Wait, Brookia Fletcher?”

“Yep.”

“But wait, she’s engaged to King.”

“Mmhmm, and he thinks it’s their baby.”

“Oh, damn, that’s cold. He’s one of the good ones.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Me too. Anyway, I’m trying to be there for her. But I don’t want to unleash all of my shit on top of what she’s going through.”

“I thought that’s what women do...bond over how niggas ain’t shit and all that.” Shade cracked a smile, and I tossed a pillow at his head. “What? Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not wrong. But like I said, I would rather not pile on her right now. I was just cheated on. That fool had a whole baby on her, and she’s been begging to have his kid. Not to mention, he’s been telling her that he hasn’t fucked anybody raw, out of respect for her.”

Shade frowned. “That’s the dumbest shit I ever heard.”

“Tell me about it.” I plopped down on the bed, and he sat down next to me. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling less pressure now that we’d set some boundaries.

He placed his hand on top of mine. “If a friend is what you want right now, then a friend is what you’ll get.”

“No hidden agenda?”

“No hidden agenda,” he replied.