In Love with Ezra (Love Unaccounted Book 2) (10 page)

Who is that?

“Oh, mi gawd!” Ms. Remah gasped when we neared the fountain at the apex.

That snapped me back into the here and now.

Beautiful. I know.

I rolled my eyes inwardly. I still didn’t have a handle on my new home. I only knew I had to clean up behind myself and make up the bed every morning. I still hadn’t fully unpacked. I pulled up behind the truck and parked.

“I’m going to take you to your place first and then for a tour of the house after. I want you to put your things away,” I explained.

She didn’t reply, but I knew she agreed. I pulled her luggage around the side of the house to the back. I pointed out the massive deck, pool, and Ezra’s gym on the way to the in-law suite. I unlocked it with the set of keys Ezra gave me for her. Once we walked in, I was hit with a waft of new paint, carpet, and furniture. When I opted to toss out her old furniture set she’d been wanting to replace since I’ve known her, Ezra bought her a new one.

When she gasped again at the sight of it, I knew she approved and was able to sigh in relief. The place wasn’t that big, but slightly larger than her apartment. It was an open space with her bedroom in the rear and sectioned off. Her bathroom was just before it, but the half kitchen and living room were an open unit. She padded over to the small kitchen where she had a table, sink and refrigerator and glanced around. Then she made it back into the living room to inspect the sectional, wall unit, and found the fish tank. I heard a chuckle at that recognition.

“I’ve kept up with Oscar. He’s been with me since coming back from my honeymoon. Thankfully, my dad fed him enough to keep him alive for two weeks. I brought him here this morning.”

She snorted, I was sure overjoyed.

“Go see your bedroom. It’s the same. I washed your linens and put them on. We can get new ones if you want. I just wanted to bring some of your old into our new.” I left her luggage near the door and made my way to the back.

“Lexi,” she called from behind.

I turned to her, answering with my eyes.

“How much?” she uttered.

My face fell at that inquiry. It’s the one factor of my world I couldn’t reconcile. How much was what I had been accustomed to asking. There was always a price. Nothing in life is free. And aside from me living with her, I had Ms. Remah as a part of my debt. I fucked the landlord and could barter that fact. Ms. Remah didn’t.

“Those details haven’t been quite worked out yet, but either way, it’s no concern of yours—”

She tutted and rolled her eyes before I could finish.

“Listen!” I demanded. “I’ve never fallen back on my word! You know this. I got us. No matter how this pans out, you’ll be good.” I leveled my eyes with hers.

“But Lexi—”

“But nothing! If I need something from your disability checks, I’ll let you know, but for now, just relax.” I gained her eyes again. “I put my life on it.”

After seconds of warring, similar to Ezra and me, she exhaled and her shoulders shrank.

“Now let’s go see your bedroom. I see the limp in your walk. I’m sure that flight has your back out of whack. I have your prescription refills in the bathroom medicine cabinet.” I began to lead her to the back. “I went grocery shopping and stocked your fridge with snacks. Real cooking food is in the main house. Help yourself to anything. I bought it…”

I continued to run down the rules of engagement of our new home to her until I exhausted myself. When I was done, we took a tour of the gym and the big house. We entered through the kitchen where she would be coming into the house.

“Here’s the kitchen,” I announced as soon as we were inside, Ms. Remah trailing behind me. “Ezra just had it re-modeled…new appliances. I unpacked your pots, pans and dishes into the cabinets over here,” I moved to the island, “and drawers down here. You can rearrange them if you want,” I offered then glanced over to her and found her facing the opposite way with her mouth open.

My face balled initially then eased into a grin. Ms. Remah was impressed by Ezra’s style. She hadn’t seen his place until today. Things were so crazy before the wedding; we didn’t have the time for me to bring her up here to check it out. Hell, I hadn’t been here until returning from Kamigu. My things were brought here by a moving company two days before the wedding. Ezra was insistent on having my things moved in before the wedding. He offered me more time for Ms. Remah’s things. I’d guessed that was because her place was still under construction until recently.

I sighed, trying to ease into a place of comfort about having a new place—a real fucking house. Now if only I could trick myself into believing it was my home. Our home.

“Nice, right?” I couldn’t help my understanding smile.

Ms. Remah didn’t speak, but she did nod her head while her eyes scanned the plush room.

“Let me show you the entire first floor.” I shifted to move toward the door leading into the corridor toward the back of the house, near the garage. “There’s not much to see back here, so we’ll start with the garage,” I informed on my way out the door.

As I moved into the hall, something in my mind clicked. Although I’d only mentioned the garage, there was another door down here. The basement.

The sandbox.

My steps slowed abruptly just at the reminder of Ms. Remah not even knowing the space existed. I felt my body thrust forward when Ms. Remah bumped into the back of me. I had no idea she was on my heels.

“Lexi!” she cried. “Weh yuh ah goh? Yuh so clumsy!”

I caught myself and clutched my chest. I had to get my shit together! I was acting paranoid unnecessarily. Just as I was about to respond, I heard voices.

“Yes. You have to be careful with the hoister. If her frame is small and delicate you could dislocate her shoulder. Light pressure is the key.” I recognized that as Ezra’s voice, growing closer to the opened basement door.

He landed on the top step and froze at my sight. But I heard more footsteps behind him climbing the stairs.

“This shit is lit!” the other voice almost shouted.

That language was more vulgar than I was accustomed to hearing in this house outside of my own.  Ezra didn’t remove his eyes from me, but did move slightly to leave room for the faceless voice to land. And boy was he a lengthy one. And that was a lot coming from someone as tall as me. The first thing I noticed was tattoos. All shapes, sizes, and colors covering his arm and neck. His hair was covered by a hat. When his smile fell at the sight of Ezra’s now solemn one, he turned to me. That’s when I realized it was Stenton Rogers.

My neck snapped over to my husband. The one who forbade me from even letting anyone know this room existed. And now he had one of the biggest names known in basketball touring the damn place! This was hypocrisy at its best.

The hall went quiet while Ezra and I warred with our eyes. Ezra didn’t recoil in posture. In fact, the man had the nerve to muster a soft and disarming smile.

“Welcome home, Ms. Remah. I see you’re being shown around. I hope it meets your approval. How was your flight home?”

Home, home, home! He kept using that damn word!

Ms. Remah blinked, understandably confused and just as uncomfortable as Stenton Rogers.

“Good. Nice out back. Thank you, Ezra,” she muttered. “Yuh been good to my girl?”

“As I assured you, I’ve been the best. Wouldn’t you say so, Alexis?”

Did he really?

My mouth opened and then closed immediately. I looked at Ezra’s muscular frame in a dress shirt and slacks, his shoulders perfectly round and waist tapered. He always appeared smaller fully clothed, totally unlike the thick, bulging beast he was when naked. Then my eyes shifted over to the open door to the sandbox. I bit my lip.

“Uhhh… Yeah. He’s been something else,” I tried to assure, feeling fraudulent once again as it related to my husband.

Ezra smiled with his eyes and gave a courteous nod. “Well, there isn’t much back here, but the garage. I’m sure that’s what my beloved was bringing you down here to see. Right, Alexis?” Then his eyes returned to me with a glint of chastisement.

Oh, no the fuck you ain’t!

“Is that where you and Mr. Rogers are coming from?” I asked sweetly.

Ezra angled his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. That disarming grin still in place. His eyes raked from the top of my head down to my toes before he backed up, closed the door to the basement and then locked it.

“Stenton stopped by to chat. I wasn’t expecting you back home so soon.”

“My interview was cut short. I didn’t fit the bill, again,” my tone was hard.

“I am sorry to hear that, beloved.” He turned to Stenton. “Stenton, I’m sure you remember my wife.”

“Of course!” Stenton charmed. “Good to see you again, Lex.” He offered his hand for me to shake. I did. “I had to come check the homie out. I hate to intrude, but needed to run a few things past him.”

“Good to see you, Stenton,” I was able to get out.

“Well,” Ezra chimed in. “I guess we’ll have to be more careful in the halls. We’re now a full house.” His eyes went between Ms. Remah and me before he backed up and extended his arm behind us to grant space to the garage door.      

Ms. Remah moved ahead toward the garage and laundry room. I knew she’d love that ample space. I, on the other hand, couldn’t move. I felt bizarrely exposed and somewhat betrayed. Ezra had made it clear that no one knew about the sandbox. It was for us; our secret room. And here he was opening it up to a sports legend. Stenton Rogers’ name and image were worldwide. Our sandbox was not.

I must have channeled these feelings of confusion and betrayal through my eyes because Ezra sauntered over to me and whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll explain later.” He softly tapped my ass and moved past me with Stenton’s lanky frame and apologetic eyes behind him.     

~Lex~

The sharp rays of the morning sun pierced my lids causing me to shift, attempting to return to darkness. On a stretch, I rolled over, trying to chase the last remnants of my dream. That’s when a familiar, inherent scent flooded my nostrils. I felt heat radiating my skin, arousing my semi-conscious state. Feeling a wave of unexplained comfort, I stretched out my limbs and hit a slab of hard muscle.

Scent, heat, arousal, and hardness.

Ezra...

He’d listened. He stayed in bed on a Saturday morning to rise with me instead of engaging in his usual morning prayer and exercising ritual.

I cracked a lid to confirm my suspicion and was met with hard rippled flesh. My eyes roved up to find him impassively peering down on me. The reverberating throb in my clit suddenly matched that of my pulse. Hot blood rushed straight to the apex of my breasts, pushing them weightily into the mattress. I realized I’d awakened to the most dangerously captivating man I ever laid eyes on. And he was mine—
to fuck, at least
. My hand reached out on its own accord, lifting the comforter resting on his lap, his sinewy mahogany and lightly dusted chest exposed for my appreciation. I caught a glimpse of the inconvenience of his boxer briefs.

His brows hiked in muted inquiry.

Without preamble, I pushed under the comforter, rolling onto his thighs, my heavy breasts pushing against his hard legs until I was settled over them, forcefully pulling his boxers down. Once his nudity had been conquered, I shuffled impatiently between his corded thighs, taking his semi-erection into my mouth, using my tongue to trace the thickest vein on his cock until he reached the back of my throat. I continued that pattern until I tasted each lining my tongue could detect and enjoy.

That elicited a throaty shriek of pleasure from him. In no time, I was dizzied with arousal, desperate to release it all with him.

My head bobbed with frenzied enthusiasm around his now full erection, his big hand at the back of my neck, clutching me, guiding strokes from the tip of his engorged mushroomed head, down the veiny shaft until my chin tapped his full sacs. I couldn’t taste enough of Ezra. Suddenly crazed with burning desire, thrilled like a kid in a candy shop, I rushed to my knees, pushing from the bed to saddle his big body, mounting him.

“Ooooh...”

The fullness of Ezra never got old. The desperate need to sustain his breadth, in some ill-informed part of my mind believed it to be an accomplishment against my failure of not conquering his mind or heart the way I’d wanted to.