Page 38 of Solomon’s Temple

Once we made it to my truck, Beauty waited for me to open the door, but I needed to get some things straight and in order with her first.

I cleared my mind of what occurred in the mall and released the anger inside of me.

My hand went to her hip, and I pulled her in front of the passenger’s door. I slid my palms in my pockets and sighed deeply.

“You make me act out, and that’s not good, Temp. Since I met you, I knew that I wanted you. Even after our conversation at Sweet Soul, when you warned me that you were no good for me, I had already made up my mind that you were mine.

“I’m still up for the challenge because the Big Homie gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. Nonetheless, I’m starting to feel as though you may not understand nor want to try this with me.”

Her head swayed from left to right slowly. “You keep saying how you’re a work in progress; well, so am I. Instead of you talking to me about your conflicts, you ran off and ghosted me. How can you look at me as your potential wife if you’re not giving me anything to believe that promise?”

I nodded. “What I did was wrong. I’ll admit that, but after what I did to your ex-boss, I talked with my pastor. I needed guidance and clarity on how to go about this with you. Nobody’s perfect, baby. We sin and fall short of His glory every day, but the only issue with that is when it becomes repetitive after repentance.

“I had no intentions of putting my hands on that man in there for real. I just wanted you to get rid of him before I got to you, because I knew there would be two options. Either he walked away willingly, or I was going to have to use force, and you see how that turned out.”

“I wouldn’t have been with him if you hadn’t left, Solomon. I was not going to sit around waiting on you. You made me feel like that little girl who sat in her foster mother’s window, praying that her dad would show up to get her.

“This is why I said I don’t believe in fairy tales. It’s all an illusion and false hope when it comes down to believing your knight is coming to rescue you from the dragon’s tower.”

I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes and could tell my absence hit harder than she let on.

My beauty had abandonment issues, and I felt messed up for putting her through that.

I stepped closer to her, placing my palms on her cheeks, running my thumbs under her eyes to clear the tears I could tell she was desperately trying to hold back.

“Your knight is standing right here, baby. I promise not to go silent on you again. You’re right. I should have communicated with you better, and I'm going to fix that. Will you forgive me and give me another chance? If I screw this up, I’ll let you walk away.”

Her palms slid up my chest, and she placed her forehead on mine.

“I don’t know how this is going to work with us, but I’m willing to try for you. I’m not perfect⁠—”

“I don’t need perfection, just progress, Beauty. We can do this together if you just follow my lead. I promise to never steer you wrong.”

She nodded lightly. “There’s only one thing you have to do to solidify this.”

“What’s that?”

She lifted her head, fighting back the smile that threatened to break through. “You have to seal it with a kiss.”

Amusement rested on my face as I roved my tongue over my teeth to hide it.

This woman. I know once I get her to my secret bedroom, I’m turning up in that . . .

I shook the impure thoughts of her from my head. “I’ll make you a deal. Once we get settled at our destination, I’ll consider it.”

She playfully pouted and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Where are we going again?”

I opened the door for her. “Didn’t you say something about shopping in Milan? I hope you didn’t think that man would really take you across the country to shop, did you?”

“I-I didn’t. I was only joshing with him, but I didn’t think you would either.”

“You’re going to learn quick that I don’t talk just because I have a voice, mamas.”

Her lips turned up into that mischievous grin again.

“See. There you go, sex-baiting me.”

I laughed. “Get in the car, woman.”