I stepped closer to him and kept my voice low. Still, an edge filled my tone. “It doesn’t matter. Stay away from her.”
Oliver widened his eyes. “Okay, buddy. Do you know the guy or something?”
“I don’t like people who don’t have respect for other’s relationships.” I pulled out my hands from my pockets and fisted them.
“All right.” Oliver stepped back and raised his hands in the air. “I was just saying she’s not married so—”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“I get it, but—”
“She’s still taken. Stay away from her.”
His forehead wrinkled. “I’ve got it.”
Jade headed over with Ganesha. “Hey, guys. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Are you ready?”
She nodded. “I drank a little too much. I need to get back to the house and have some water.”
“Sounds good to me.” I waved at Oliver. “Bye.”
He frowned. “Bye. And. . .see you later, Jade.”
“Okay.” She waved goodbye. “Stay safe.”
We left the park.
After several feet, Jade glanced my way. “What happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“It looked like you wanted to hit Oliver.”
“He was ogling you and talking about how he didn’t care that you had a boyfriend, he would still go after you.”
“I have a boyfriend?”
“I told him you did. He didn’t seem like your type.”
“He’s not, but I would rather you not tell people I’m taken.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “It’s a lie and you never know. He might’ve had a cute brother or something.”
“No. He’s a muscle head moron. His brother would probably be one too and also have on an even tighter shirt.”
She laughed. “His shirt was pretty tight, but I’m not mad at that.”
I shook my head.
“What? Women can be shallow too.”
“Apparently.” I considered how she gazed at me in T& T earlier today. I had to admit I enjoyed her attention and her agreement with Ross on having women ride me. The only thing I wondered was if she would be interested in grabbing a ticket and hopping on. Not that it mattered. The last thing I needed to do was make a move on my sister’s bestie. Especially right after this crap with Amber. Many times I’d left a relationship, gotten drunk, found a female, and had a quick fling based on nothing but hot sex.
I actually liked the sound of that now, but Jade couldn’t be the female. Those flings always involved women that I never had to see weeks later. Whereas Jade came to all family gatherings—Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, Easter, and other celebrations. She’d even been at my college graduation, partying right next to Zora.
I could make no move on Jade. Mom would be disappointed if I broke Jade’s heart. Zora would lose her mind.
“What are you thinking about?” Jade asked when we hit the building’s front door.
“Nothing.”
“I was thinking that maybe we should buy an air mattress or something because the couch is going to be uncomfortable for me.”
I shook my head. “You’re not sleeping on the couch. I am.”
“Sure, but it won’t be enjoyable.”
“You let me worry about that.”
“You should be comfortable.”
Warmth rose in my chest. It was nice to be around a woman who thought about my needs, instead of complained and demanded. “I’ll be fine, Jade.”
“We still should order one.”
So much had occurred today—from the state lockdown, Amber cheating, and Jade being at my sister’s place—I hadn’t spent much thought on the sleeping arrangements.
“Maybe, you’re right. I’ll order one later.” I opened the door for her.
Ganesha trotted through first. She followed. “Hopefully, it will come in time.”
“If not, then I’ll deal with the couch.” I walked behind her as we headed up the stairs, doing my best to not study the curve of her ass.
Flatten the curve. I bet Oliver thought he would be flattening a lot with Jade. He better stay away.
His not caring that she had a man made me angry. It struck a nerve with Amber’s cheating earlier. Granted, it wasn’t the other person’s fault. The deceitful significant partner was the problem.
Anger rose in me.
To get rid of it, I went back to the lovely curve of Jade’s ass, feeling guilty as my cock jerked in my jeans.
It’s just a little look. How can I not? It’s right there in my face.
“Worst case scenario,” Jade’s ass wiggled as she climbed the stairs. “We can maybe share the bed. Of course that’s until the air mattress arrives. But that’s only if the couch is giving you trouble.”
My cock jerked again. Sharing the bed with Jade would trigger nothing but trouble. Although my mother, sister, and I loved her like family, she wasn’t my relative. She was a sexy, fun, woman. So warm and soft. If she lay next to me in those damn little Hello Kitty shorts, I wouldn’t get any sleep. I would be thinking about yanking them down and playing with her pussy.
She glanced over her shoulder. “What do you think?”
I licked my lips. “Sounds good. We can share the bed, if necessary.”