CHAPTER TEN

~Nella~

"He withdrew, his voice laced with misunderstanding. 'It's fine. I knew I wasn't good enough.' I lay there, confusion etched on my face. 'Wait, no, that's not it,' I said, reaching for his hands.

"'What is it, then?' he asked, his eyes searching mine. 'I just wanted a beautiful night with you, but it seemed like you'd rather be at your team dinner.' He shook his head. 'No, babe, I'm all yours. I was just tired, but I'm here now. Let's make it happen.' His gentle kiss settled within me.

"The soft R&B melody filled the room as he led me to the bed. Our kiss deepened, his lips tracing a path of desire from my lips to my neck then down to my navel. This time the kiss was more passionate. He slowly went down between my thighs as I gasped softly. His tongue made me feel wet and my fluid gleamed all over his tongue. I moaned softly whispering his name as I bit my lips.

His touch ignited some emotional rush down my spine. I gasped softly as he explored my inner thighs. The music's steady beat mirrored our passion, his strokes gentle yet intense. I held the pillow behind my head tightly as I whispered his name. I was feeling a mixture of pleasure and tiredness.

"After a while, we stepped into the shower together, the warm water cascading down our entwined bodies. He pinned me against the wall, his hands cradling my neck. I sensed his desire, his need for intimacy, his hands guided me downward below his waist and to his dick as I looked upward to him, his eyes locked on mine. I felt a flutter in my chest, unsure if I was ready for this level of intimacy.

Did he really want me to suck his dick? I thought we should have discussed this first?

"Just as I hesitated, he whispered, 'Relax, babe, let me feed you okay… you can do this. Make me cum inside of you.' His words sent shivers down my spine.

I had no problem with him cumming inside of me but not my mouth after all we barely use protection just that I have never done this, not even with any of my exes.

Just then I began to fake a cough cause it seemed he wasn’t going to let me get away without doing this.

“I think I need to get some water,” I said quietly, trying to avoid cutting the moment short.

“You will, but just give me a few more minutes,” he replied, his voice low but insistent.

I forced another cough, my chest tightening, before slowly pushing myself upright.

“Gray, I’m choking. I really need water,” I said, my tone strained as I made my way out of the bathroom, wrapping the robe around me.

“Did you really have to ruin the night?” he snapped, his voice sharp with irritation as he followed me, his footsteps heavy.

The frustration bubbling inside me threatened to spill over, but I chose silence instead. I walked out of the room, heading for the kitchen. He trailed behind me, his frustration palpable as he turned off the music with an abrupt flick of his hand.

“I’m talking to you, Nella,” he called again, his voice firm.

“Really?” I shot back, my patience thinning.

“Gray. You interrupted my dinner, destroyed plans with my best friend, and didn’t even think about how I felt—just to feed your own sexual tension. And now you expect me to just... what? Do this without a single conversation about it?” My words were rising in pitch, though I fought to keep my composure.

He stared at me for a moment, eyes flashing with anger. “Who the hell needs to talk about sex, Nella?” he yelled, his frustration boiling over. It was the first time I’d seen him this angry, and I was taken aback. “For God’s sake, we’re already together. I’m going to marry you. You’re mine, my woman, and I’m not letting you go.”

I felt my breath catch, the weight of his words hitting harder than I expected. “That’s not what I’m saying, Gray,” I tried to explain, my voice trembling as I searched for the right words. But he interrupted me, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

“Then what, Nella? Don’t love me if you’re just going to leave. Please, don’t make me feel like I’m forcing things.”

His words stung, and I froze. I wanted to say something—anything—but the knot in my throat made it impossible. He turned and walked back toward the room, shoulders slumped in defeat.

I sank to the floor in the kitchen, feeling the weight of everything between us.

Was he right? Had I made a mistake?

He loved me, yet I’m about to push him away without even realizing it. The harsh reality of my own insecurities hit me like a wave. I had no answers, only a hollow feeling in my chest. I eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep on the cold tile floor.

When I woke the next morning, I was surprised to find myself back in bed, the warmth of the blankets wrapping around me like a gentle apology. A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips before I heard footsteps approaching. Gray entered the room, already dressed for the day, his face soft but distant.

“I’m sorry about last night, babe,” I said quietly, my voice tinged with regret as I stood up to hug him from behind.

“It’s fine,” he replied with a sigh, brushing his lips against my forehead. “I’ve got to go meet a friend.”

I smiled, a little lighter now, as I watched him leave. He was right. There was no need for more words between us. But the silence, though comforting, still left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

It was 2 PM and Gray wasn’t back yet. I was sitting on the couch going through Gray's picture in his laptop when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—Ashley.

“Hey, babe,” she answered, her voice a mix of curiosity and weariness.

“Hi, Ash! What’s going on? How are you?” I asked, trying to shake off the heaviness still lingering from the night before.

“I’m great, but I should be asking you. What happened with Gray last night?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I let out a deep sigh. “Girl… I don’t even know where to begin.”

“What happened?” Ashley pressed, her concern growing as she picked up on my tone.

I paused, trying to gather my thoughts. “Well, he called while I was having dinner with the team, asking if he could pick me up. I told him not to bother, that I was out with friends and would come over to his place later today. But guess what, babe?”

“I’m all ears,” she said, her voice already intrigued.

“He still drove over to pick me up, and we ended up going to his place.”

“Girl, that’s a man on a mission,” Ashley said, clearly impressed. “So what’s the problem? You don’t sound so hot.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling the frustration creep back up. “Ash, he just wanted me to come over for sex. And after a super long day at work yesterday, that was the last thing I needed.”

“Okay, I get it, girl,” Ashley said, her tone softening. “But I think you could’ve just told him you were tired. Maybe settle for a cuddle and a N*****x-and-chill moment?”

“Yeah, that’s what I tried to do, but he wouldn’t let up. He insisted on having sex, and I feel like he was just craving me, you know? But, at some point… I kind of messed up.” I sighed again, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

Ashley paused, her voice calm and reassuring. “Okay, stay calm. Were you able to settle things?”

“Yeah… we did,” I muttered, though the tension between us still lingered in my mind.

Ashley’s voice perked up suddenly, her excitement contagious. “Well, how about we take a break from all this? Let’s go shopping! I’ve got something special in mind.”

“Okay, girl. Give me a few, and I’ll be ready.” I felt a small spark of excitement. Shopping was exactly what I needed to take my mind off everything.

“Don’t forget, you owe me a drink,” Ashley teased, her laughter ringing in my ear just before we hung up.

I leaned back against the sofa, a small smile creeping onto my lips. Yeah, Gray was definitely the definition of an intentional man but guess I wasn’t expecting last night surprise. But right now, I was looking forward to the distraction that Ashley was offering.

I stood up, shaking off the lingering thoughts of last night, and began to get ready. Whatever was coming up next, I could feel it in my gut—Ashley’s sudden shopping spree wasn’t just about clothes. She had something up her sleeve, and I was about to find out what.