Page 68 of A King’s Obsession

My mind kept going back to dinner.

Her mama. The drugs. Coming home to eviction notices and utilities getting cut off. Then walking in and catching her own mama fucking her boyfriend.

That shit was foul.

Then there was her phone. That motherfucker had rung enough times for me to notice, but she never answered it or offered an explanation. I hadn’t asked either.

I let it ride.

For now.

My hand moved up her back again as I looked down at her. The more I learned about Jru, the more certain shit about her made sense. She wanted her own money. Her own work. Something with her name on it. She’d made that shit clear.

I respected it. Preferred it, actually.

I had money. I didn’t need a woman whose whole plan was to attach herself to mine and stick her hand out every time she wanted something. Jru wanted to know she could stand on her own whether I was there or not.

That shit was attractive.

Then there was this virgin shit.

Man.

I still didn’t know what the fuck to do with that information.

I wouldn’t have guessed it. Not because she acted loose. She didn’t. Jru just had this confidence about her. That mouth. The way she looked a motherfucker dead in the face and said whatever she had to say.

Finding out nobody had ever had that part of her made me want her worse.

But not tonight.

Not after the shit she’d just told me. Whenever it happened, I wanted her mind on me—not her mama, not that nigga she used to fuck with, not all the shit she’d been through.

She shifted on my chest, her fingers curling against my shirt before her eyes slowly opened. She blinked up at me, still looking half asleep. “You still up?”

“Obviously.” I looked down at her, wondering what the hell else she thought I was doing.

Her sleepy frown made me laugh. “Don’t start,” she warned, narrowing her eyes at me even though she could barely keep them open.

“You asked me a question,” I reminded her, still rubbing my hand over her back.

“And you could’ve answered it like a normal person.” She gave me another irritated look, but the corner of her mouth twitched.

“Could’ve.” I shrugged, knowing damn well I was getting on her nerves.

She rolled her eyes, but instead of moving away, she snuggled closer and tucked her face against me.

I ran my thumb over her arm, thinking about the question that had been sitting in the back of my mind. “Let me ask you something. What made you stay a virgin this long?”

That woke her ass up.

Her head lifted from my chest, eyes narrowing while she studied my face. “That’s what you been laying here thinking about?” she asked, looking like she couldn't believe I'd waited until the middle of the damn night to bring it up.

“One of the things.” I kept my eyes on hers, letting her know I was serious about wanting an answer.

She stared at me another second before laying her head back down. Her fingers picked at the front of my shirt while she got quiet.

“My mama,” she finally answered, her voice softer than it had been a moment earlier.