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  “Can we talk, Racquel?” Khalid asked, adjusting himself in the seat.

  “You’re not going to stop pressing me until we do, so let’s get this done with,” she huffed.

  Khalid felt the warmth of her breath against his flesh. His senses were awakened from her feminine scent. Even seeing her in his periphery, Racquel was alluring.

  “What do you have against me?” Khalid asked. “Why don’t you like me?”

  “Why does it matter,” Racquel questioned.

  “Because, if I did something in the past that offended you, and that’s what you’re holding on to, I apologize. I just don’t know what that something is, and I don’t want you to think my apology is empty,” Khalid reasoned.

  She was reminded of when Khalid asked the question before, of when Naomi asked the question, of when she asked the same question to herself and struggled with the answer, or maybe it was a struggle with articulating the answer. Racquel didn’t like to talk about her feelings, especially after the loss of her father. She was never one to whine yet because she had been so impacted by the loss and wanted to share her feelings of course with only people she trusted, Racquel still didn’t want to come off like a whiner to them. She didn’t hold conversations with people who constantly bemoaned and griped without doing something to change the circumstance they complained about. Racquel didn’t want to be that person. She struggled with tolerating herself, although she recognized that there was nothing she could do about changing the situation with her dad. He was gone, forever. There wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it, and that sucked so bad for Racquel. It made her shut down even more.

  “You don’t seem genuine to me,” she finally uttered. “You didn’t back in school.”

  “And now?”

  “I just don’t trust it, Khalid, I don’t,” Racquel replied. “Nobody is that honest and good.”

  His brow furrowed slightly as he tried to listen to what she said and didn’t say, to hear her heart as well as her words without becoming defensive about it.

  “Is that because you haven’t experienced people who are genuinely honest and good?”

  “The closest person that ever came close to that was my dad, and he’s gone, so,” Racquel’s voice trailed off.

  He heard the pain in her tone and then saw the shift in her disposition. She was more closed off and literally moved away from him when she replied.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your father, Racquel. I didn’t know.”

  “Thank you,” she answered curtly.

  Khalid wasn’t going to pry any further about her dad. He wasn’t going to say he understood because he didn’t. He wasn’t going to add insult to injury by trying to offer words of encouragement or how she should trust the Creator in these matters. That was not his place, and he would not impose his thoughts or predispositions when it came to that, he just wouldn’t.

  “I can’t change how you felt about me in school,” Khalid began. “The past is the past. But I am who I am, Racquel, and I would hope that you would look at me with fresh eyes instead of through the lens of high school. What I say, I mean. What I do, I do because I feel it’s right. I don’t have any ulterior motives. I don’t set out to intentionally or unintentionally hurt anyone. And if I do, and someone brings it to my attention, then I do my best to correct it, understand?”

  “I hear what you’re saying,” Racquel replied. “But as the adage suggests, actions speak louder than words.”

  “And what do my actions say to you,” Khalid crooned. There was a low rasp to his voice that registered low in her belly. Racquel didn’t miss the present tense in which he spoke, further distancing their history from the right now.

  “I’m almost finished,” she uttered slightly above a whisper.

  Khalid did not miss the deflection. That was okay with him. The lack of a quick comeback from Racquel meant that she was thinking, considering, and Khalid hoped, reflecting to that stolen kiss in the hallway, how he held her, how he touched her. And she was even though Racquel busied herself with equipment at her station so she could trim his beard with a single-edged blade, the traditional way.

  “I’m going to lower your head,” she instructed as she placed her hand on the headrest. She walked away from the barber chair over to the steamer for a fresh towel. Her soft-soled shoes made little noise as she moved, yet Khalid felt her absence when she was gone and her presence when she returned.

  “This is going to be warm,” Racquel said. “Very warm.”

  The anticipation of the heat to his face caused Khalid to breathe in and out through his nose, to level his breathing so he wouldn’t alarm when the towel touched his skin.

  “Mmmm,” he hummed as she wrapped the heated towel around his chin and then the crown of his head.

  The hum from his lips vibrated through her resonating in her chest and then descending into her yoni. She felt that hum the last time Khalid kissed her, and it was amazing. There was a part of Racquel that wanted to feel that hum again.

  Keep it tight, girl, she counseled herself. It’s almost over.

  “Let the towel stay for another minute or two,” Racquel suggested. She took the opportunity to steal away to her office. Her walk was swifter than her natural stride. Once the door was closed, Racquel shook her head. How did she manage to get herself in this situation? She could have sent him on his way, but no. She was drawn to him, yet she wanted to avoid him. He was interesting, yet she wanted to push him away and close herself off to him. Intelligence was sexy as hell to Racquel. It’d always been. Khalid was undeniably intelligent and not just in a book sense sort of way. He was internationally astute, and street-savvy, the perfect juxtaposition, and everything Racquel would have ever wanted in a man if she wanted a man, and had it not been Khalid Ali. She liked debating with him, getting inside his head, and not allowing him to get inside hers, even though he managed to do so. And she despised him for his eloquent abilities to reel her in even when she thought her guard was up. Is that part of why she disliked him so when they were younger, his eloquence, suave, and that gotdamn swagger when other boys his age had absolutely none? He was too damn smooth, and Racquel noticed it then and now. Taking a deep breath, she turned on her heels and opened her office door. Reentering the shop, the only thing she wanted to do was get his shave over with so she could end their current entanglement intellectually enticing or not.

  Racquel moved to her position behind the chair and removed the towel. Khalid’s skin still felt warm even though it was now exposed to cooler air. Then, there was a billowy cooling sensation to his face, yet, Khalid focused on her fingers drawing small circles against his heated skin, the lathering foam fading to his attention on how she touched him. After lathering above and below his defined beard, Racquel cleaned her hands and then picked up the single-edged blade, her daddy’s blade.

  “Keep still,” she purred as she set the steel against his cheek and then slowly cut against the hair follicle for a smooth shave in one pass.

  “This would not be a good time to tell a joke or to piss you off, would it,” Khalid uttered.

  “Or to talk,” Racquel poignantly chastised as she placed the blade against his skin again. A slight smirk penetrated her lips as she continued. Racquel was smooth with it and never once did Khalid question whether she would cut him. When she placed a delicate finger to his chin, lifting his head higher, Khalid took note of the ease with which she moved him. If there was still animosity, ill-intentions, she could completely take it out on him. He was vulnerable.

  The dark shadow of stubble roughened his angular jawline. With a smooth swipe of her sharpened blade, the stubble no longer existed. And she repeated that motion, being careful with him until the underside of his beard was neat and clean. She made sure that her lines were accurate and precise before taking a warm, damp cloth and removing any residue remaining on his skin. She was a professional and dammit, Khalid was going to know it. The energy, the sexual tension in the room was so high it was intoxicati
ng and suffocating and unavoidable.

  “Lifting up,” Racquel purred as she raised the headrest forward to its original position. Placing the blade in cleanser, Rocky dampened some cotton with aloe and all-natural astringent, gently wiping the areas the blade and the clippers touched. For the finishing touch, she lifted a hand mirror to Khalid so he could inspect her work. But as he lifted the mirror, his eyes fell on her in the reflection. Her eyes found his staring at her, but Racquel couldn’t turn away. She tried to command her feet to move, but his gaze held her firm. Even though there was no direction penetration of his eyes, Racquel was still held captive by his obsidian orbs.

  When Khalid lifted his frame from the chair, Racquel’s heart thumped like a piston, and she was able to find her feet. She pedaled backward as he advanced. Khalid’s eyes glazed with unbridled desire, and in her eyes, he saw unspoken need. He would make Racquel speak her need. It was necessary. Khalid kept coming forward, and Racquel kept backing away until she couldn’t anymore, the wall blocking her retreat.

  “Are you still mad at me?” Khalid’s hoarse whisper broke the silence but didn’t penetrate the elevated risque energy.

  “Yes,” Racquel spoke in a broken whisper.

  Khalid was not deterred, leaning in even more, and when Racquel lifted her hands to halt his advance, Khalid firmly grabbed her wrists and pinned them to the wall. Racquel protested, pushing against the strength of his hands, pressing her body against the steel of his form, her delicate nose slightly flaring as her eyes narrowed. Khalid’s warm sweet breath lingered a mere kiss above her full pouty lips. His appeal was devastating, and she struggled to reign in what she thought, what her body felt, what she desired most. Racquel pushed back. Khalid pivoted on his heels and found himself planted on the wall, the alpha woman in Racquel rising as her panting breath waxed and waned against the fullness of his lips. He lowered his mouth to hers. Khalid’s invitation was a passionate challenge; one Racquel found hard to resist. His lips parted as he pressed his mouth to hers. She drew his tongue into her mouth, claimingly. He devoured her mouth with deep, sweeping strokes of his tongue. His hungry possession of her mouth shattered Racquel’s intended calm, and she returned his kiss with reckless and wanton abandon. Khalid’s mouth did not become softer as he kissed her. He wanted her. He wanted Racquel to know and understand that he did not come to play with her.

  Chapter Twelve

  A sly smile spread across her lips as Khalid withdrew from her. Racquel’s cheeks heated up again as Khalid withdrew only enough to bring their faces so close together Racquel could kiss him. She looked from his dark eyes to the fullness of his lips and then back again. When Khalid shifted their positions once again, reclaiming the dominant space, Racquel purred, and a sensual laugh passed through her lips. Khalid didn’t allow her laughter to linger as his lips recaptured hers, even more demanding this time around. The kiss sent the pit of Racquel’s stomach into a wild spin. Khalid’s unrelenting kiss sang through her veins. The jolt of lightning Racquel felt shoot down her spine made her want more.

  Khalid’s ravishment became a trail of scintillating kisses down the length of Racquel’s neck. The surge of hot heat flowing through Racquel was hard to contain as he touched her in places, both mental and physical, that hadn’t been touched, at least not like that. As Khalid fondled her sweetness, he encouraged her pants and underwear off, leaving Racquel naked in front of him. As he stepped back briefly, taking the full of her in, Khalid folded in his lips and released them slowly. She was so beautiful. The sensual pressure between the two left no room for anything except succumbing to the overwhelming sensations layering one on top of the other.

  Khalid sat Racquel down in the cushioned barber’s chair and knelt in front of her.

  “Khalid,” Racquel moaned as he lowered his head, trailing hot kisses down her creamy thighs. Gently, Khalid’s hands eased Racquel’s legs open. She willingly draped them on the arms of the barber’s chair, giving Khalid unrestricted access to her jewel. His lips slowly descended to her inner thighs, leaving succulent kisses in his wake. Racquel’s head fell back, and her mouth opened, as sweet sensations moved through her. Khalid’s lips descended to meet her inner folds. He inhaled Racquel’s essence. His heart beat faster, and his manhood throbbed. Khalid ached for her. His lips kissed her folds. Khalid found it hard to resist her taste. He licked her, kissed her, and suckled her.

  Racquel cupped the back of Khalid’s head as he made love to her with his mouth. She heard his apology and felt it in her soul. Hot tears pressed against the back of her eyes with so much emotion, old and new, flooding her heart. Racquel felt the coolness of the night air against her skin and the hot of Khalid’s mouth between her thighs.

  After pleasuring Racquel and bringing the first of her pearl’s nectar to bear, Khalid finished disrobing, removing everything that held his manhood at bay. Racquel watched intensely as he covered himself prophylactically. When Khalid’s eyes met hers, there was a moment of absolute clarity. Racquel knew she wanted to give everything she had available mentally, emotionally, physically, and soulfully to Khalid. His eyes reflected the same; his desire to be with her and her alone.

  Khalid took Racquel in his arms and lavished her with deep, penetrating kisses as he lifted her leg and placed her foot on the island right behind him. Although thick, Racquel was very flexible, and at the point when Khalid eased the tip of his hardened cock inside her welcoming folds, the arch of her foot resembled a ballerina’s point. Racquel’s vaginal walls pulsed as Khalid eased his girth inside her. Her body’s response of sweet nectar smoothed the way as he slowly and methodically pushed the width and breadth of his manhood to the top of her jewel.

  “Ahh,” Racquel exclaimed as the walls of her jewel contracted and released to accept Khalid inside. Soon, the two fell into a nice rhythm, slow and methodical, the giver and receiver feeling equal. Khalid bent his knees, gaining leverage as he thrust harder and deeper inside Racquel. The sway of the barber’s chair moved in time as Khalid placed one hand on each side as he moved inside her welcoming folds; the muscles in his long mahogany legs constricting and tensing.

  Khalid moaned as he spread the cheeks of Racquel’s ass and eased himself deeper inside her. Khalid groaned as he gripped Racquel’s voluptuous cheeks, holding her firm. Racquel’s sensibilities heightened as she felt the strength of him enveloping her.

  “Rocky,” Khalid moaned on the verge of climax. Being with Racquel was unexpected and exhilarating, and right. Khalid grabbed Racquel by the waist and plunged himself to the hilt inside her giving walls.

  “Khalid, mmm, ahhh,” she moaned, breathlessly as her full breasts rocked back and forth in time with each thrust from Khalid’s virile masculinity. She, too, was on the verge of explosion as her body spasmed from the loving he was giving her.

  “Mmm, Racquel,” Khalid uttered as their flesh became one.

  “Khalid, please, Khalid, uh, uh, uh,” Racquel hummed.

  The pace in which Khalid’s hips thrust forward, coupled with the slapping sound of his thighs meeting her ass heightened the explosion the two shared. Racquel released a wave of hot wetness as her body seized with pleasure. Khalid fucked her through his climax and continued to pump at a slower pace until all the gism he had to offer spilled. Their breathing was jagged, and their bodies were wet with sweat. The chair continued to bend and slowly spin as Khalid pressed against Racquel’s back.

  The grip he had on her hips intensified as she worked her puss, enveloping his thickness deep inside her. Leaning over to meet him, Racquel licked his lips, mimicking her hip action with her tongue. Khalid’s mouth found her, and their tongues intertwined in a wickedly intoxicating dance. As they separated, Racquel bit down on Khalid’s bottom lip, instilling a bit of pain with the pleasure she was giving him. When she lifted, Racquel placed her hands on his chest, using his own body as leverage, as she offered up her fullness to him. The two fell into a heated rhythm, Racquel meeting Khalid’s every thrust, lingering in the downstroke, he
r ass slapping against his thighs. The motion of Khalid’s hips was intoxicating. With every upward thrust, Racquel could feel the tension rise. Khalid’s lips traveled to Racquel’s ear and down her neck, leaving trails of hot kisses along the way. As Khalid neared eruption, he moaned against her chest. Racquel leaned slightly back, balancing him there. She wrapped her free arm around him and held him as the thrust of his thickness increased, faster, harder, more intense. They moved in sync, and when Khalid erupted, spilling hot gism from his pole, the moan that emanated from his lips struck deep within Racquel. She joined his climactic moment, feeling newfound heat between her own thighs.

  He showed her what being with him could be like. He growled and gritted his teeth as he thrust his manhood into her harder and faster. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he pile-drived Racquel, leaving nothing to be desired. Racquel locked her legs and lifted her hips. She loved every minute of the reckless way he handled her. And then Khalid lifted fully on his knees, taking each of Racquel’s legs from behind him and pushing them over her head. The exposure to her puss was uninhibited, and he leaned in, using her legs as leverage, and fucked her with reckless abandon.

  “Uh, uh, uh, shit, Khalid, fuck me, baby, fuck me!”

  Hearing his name called did something to Khalid. He felt invigoration move through his body. The sound of his ball sack slapping against Racquel’s ass spurred him on. The wetness of her yoni encouraged him. The two fell into a faster syncopated rhythm, and Racquel took everything Khalid put out.