Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Melba finally made it to her old Chevy, quickly slamming the door then starting the engine. Now that the show was over, Poet returned to the kitchen. Aunt Huni had dozed off. She smiled at the sight, then ate the last of her breakfast as she washed the dishes, leaving her aunt right there at the table. Once she was all done, she gently woke the lady up and helped her to her room for a morning nap.
Back in her own bedroom, she grabbed her phone to call a coworker about a work project, but noticed a text message with a video attached, from Kage. The message had been sent in the wee hours of the morning, but somehow she hadn’t noticed it:
You were asleep when I brought you home, and I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I carried you up to your room. Didn’t want to wake Huni, either. Your keys are in your purse on your bedroom dresser. I’ll talk to you soon.
A simple message that explained it all… well, most of it. Then, she played the video. Kage had recorded himself taking her out of his truck. She squinted and paid close attention. He’d attached his phone to his jacket some kind of way—perhaps placed it in a pocket. It was like watching a movie, but in his POV. He placed her over his shoulder, then fished her key out of her purse, opened her door, and came inside. In the darkness, he maneuvered as if he knew the place by heart, and then, light shined upon them as he crossed the living room, entered the hallway, and switched her to a cradled position before making his way up the stairs. Holding her just like a baby. The whole time, his low, deep voice was humming a soft tune…
Each step he took to the upstairs was slow, easy and careful. She looked like a doll in his arms. Her eyes watered at how he embraced her—as if she were the last person on earth besides himself, and he had to keep her safe at all costs. He kept on humming, and then, he got to her bedroom. She had no idea how he knew which room she stayed in, but he went right to it. He pressed her closer to his chest, turned the doorknob with his big hand, and shoved it open. They went inside, and he gently placed her down onto her bed. Silhouettes danced with slivers of light as he moved around her abode, then turned on the lamp. A dull, peaceful canvas of yellow filled the space, shining light on the situation.
He kept on humming, then kneeled at her feet. He removed her anklet. He set her sandals aside that he’d apparently had under his arm during the journey, neatly, next to the bed. Then, he set his phone down on her nightstand.
Now the video wasn’t so shaky. Everything was still. Quiet. He paused, just looking at her. Softly brushing her hair from her face with his hand. Seconds later, he turned his head real slow, and looked into the camera. Bright blue, striking eyes gazed at the phone—an icy gawk that made her blood run cold. He was looking at his phone as if it were an intruder, as if it had somehow interrupted his good time. Soon, his facial muscles relaxed. He moved closer to the phone as she lay in the background, sound asleep.
“I’m usin’ this as proof that I ain’t try nothin’ fresh with you tonight. You’re tired… like I told you that you were,” he whispered. “I’m gonna take off your clothes, put somethin’ on ya, tuck you in, and leave.”
He turned around, sat on the bed. She could feel her own heart thumping as he worked, ushering her skirt down her legs. Folding it, he set it on the floor. He ran his hand in slow circles along her thigh as he looked at her face, his expression dreamy. Abruptly clearing his throat, he then removed her shirt. He was so tender… so meticulous. She didn’t feel a thing. When her bra strap fell from her shoulder, he slipped it right back into place. He then stood and went into her master bathroom.
Even though he was off camera, she heard what sounded like him turning on the faucet. He returned with a washcloth and gently went over her face with it, removing her makeup. He started with her eye makeup, working it down to her lips, then flipped the cloth over and went over her entire face.
He began talking again, but his voice was so low, she could barely hear him. Poet paused the video, rewound it, and turned it up so she could listen…
“Look how beautiful you are without makeup… Not every woman can say that. Now, don’t get me wrong, darlin’. I ain’t never been the kind of man that felt compelled to get into women’s business with things such as that. I say, let a woman be a woman, but sweetheart, with a face like yours, I’d try stop a runaway train with my bare hands if it meant I could get just one pretty lil’ kiss from you.”