Page 88 of When Love Takes Over
“Do what you want, Kenzo. I don’t feel good.”
“Your period back already?”
“Kenzo, please. I’m not in the mood to go back and forth about how I feel. Can you let me go lie down?”
He looked at me for a moment, and I knew he could see right through my lies. I didn’t know how this man knew me so well, because we’d barely known each other for two months.
“Okay. Do you need ibuprofen, tea, or a heating pad?”
“Nope. I’m fine. Good night.”
He didn’t release me, but when I tried to stand, he didn’t stop me. I went to our bedroom to get my bonnet and phone charger, then took my ass to the guest room. If I slept with him tonight, the urge to smother him with a pillow might take over, and I wasn’t a murderer.
I got comfortable in the room and bed that didn’t feel familiar. As expected, I couldn’t fall asleep. To start, we didn’t usually go to bed until ten o’clock or later, and it wasn’t even eight. I also couldn’t stop thinking about Kenzo’s betrayal.
He promised he wouldn’t make a fool of me, but I should’ve known better. A man like Kenzo had way too many options to settle for one woman. He talked a good game, said and did all the right things, sexed me so good it felt like we were making love, and made me feel like I was enough.
I was determined to keep my feelings out of this arrangement, but like the naïve, gullible, inexperienced woman I was, I’d fallen for him. I hadn’t confessed my feelings to Kenzo, nor had I told Anika, who asked me if I was in love yet, every time we spoke.
About two weeks ago, Anika invited me on a brunch and shopping date. I honestly had never done either because I wasn’t lucky enough to ever have disposable income. When I shared my plans with Kenzo, he encouraged me to go and gave me his credit card, to which he’d already added my name.
I’d been gone for several hours and returned with more than a few shopping bags. Kenzo was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs when I entered the apartment, which Inoticed was dark. He took my bags and put them in the corner, then put a blindfold over my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
Once the blindfold was secured, he slowly guided me through the house. Soft music played in the background, and the aroma of food made my mouth water.
“Did you cook?”
“You’ll see soon enough. Relax and go with the flow, baby.”
From that point on, I stopped asking questions. When we stopped moving, I anxiously waited for what was next. He began to undress me, and when I was naked except for the blindfold, we were on the move again, but we didn’t go very far.
He uncovered my eyes, and I gasped in awe. The Jacuzzi bathtub was filled with roses and bubbles and surrounded by candles. A glass of wine, fruit, crackers, and cubes of cheese were on a tray that hovered over the tub.
“Kenzo, what’s this for?”
“Do you know what today is?”
“Umm, Saturday?”
He chuckled. “Happy one-month anniversary, baby.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that was something we’d celebrate. I feel bad because I’ve been gone all day and?—”
“Don’t be sorry. It was all a part of the plan. I asked Anika to spend the day with you so I could do something special for you.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say. This is beautiful and so thoughtful.”
“Anything for you. Let me help you get in.”
He held my hand while I stepped into the tub. The water felt perfect as I eased down until my body was fully submerged.
“Oh my God. This feels so good. I need to take bubble baths more often.”
“Good. Do you want your Kindle so you can read while you soak?”
