Plaything

Not Like Them Other Dudes

Nikole

Fucking Jabari Moore… His words had me messed up. “I love you.” It wasn’t just what he said—it was the way he said it, like he meant every damn syllable. I laid there, my head on his chest, listening to his steady breathing as he slept. Jay didn’t say s**t he didn’t mean. He wasn’t out here, running game and saying whatever to get what he wanted. Nah, when Jay spoke, it came with weight. But that’s why I was stuck, staring up at the ceiling like it was gonna give me answers. What did this mean? Were we official now? Yeah, we been acting like a couple—him claiming me, me checking him in front of Vanessa—but we never really sat down and put a name to it. And when I called him my man, he didn’t deny it. Didn’t even flinch. I snuggled closer to him as he slept with his arm around me. Why did he have to go and say that? Now my mind was running in circles.

I glanced over at him. For the first time, Jay stayed the night. Usually, he’d come through, do what he did best, and head back to his place. But tonight was different. He didn’t just lay it down in the bedroom or the couch for that matter; he laid it all out on the table. I guess them three little words hit harder than I expected. He lived in a beautiful house, one that I didn’t fully get to observe each time I was there because I was either being punished or being pleasured. Right after we finished, I would get dressed and go home. Now, he was here in my apartment, sleeping in my bed with me. Honestly this was a lot. I guess he was right when he said I didn’t know what I was getting myself into

His arm tightened around me in his sleep, pulling me closer like he could feel me overthinking. I couldn’t help but smile a little. He didn’t even know how much space he was taking up in my head right now.

“This man…” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.

He was different from the men I used to deal with. Most of them didn’t want to claim me as their woman unless they knew I was f*****g someone else. They definitely didn’t give a damn about my life problems. Jay wasn’t out here begging for my attention. He didn’t blow up my phone, didn’t get jealous over dumb s**t. But he made sure I knew I was his, and he damn sure let me know when I wasn’t giving him enough of me. That type confidence he possessed was dangerous. And the way he carried himself? Chef’s kiss. Jay was detailed, from his work at the shop to the way he handled my body. Every move he made was calculated, like he was always ten steps ahead. It was sexy as hell but also lowkey intimidating. I wasn’t used to somebody knowing exactly what they wanted and how to get it. That was my thing and now it was like I with a male version of myself. That’s crazy work!

I sighed, slipping out from under his arm carefully so I wouldn’t wake him. I needed some air. I ended up in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a glass of water in my hand. It wasn’t just the words he said tonight; it was the way he was moving lately. Roses, massages, showing up and begging at my door. Who was this man?

I thought back to Vanessa at the shop. My chest tightened just thinking about it. I’d never felt that kind of heat before, like I could burn the whole damn world down just for looking at him. I wanted to beat her ass and what really got me was the fact that he probably would’ve let me. When I was going off on her, he didn’t try to check me nor did he tell me I was out of pocket. He just stood there and let me claim him, like he’d been waiting on me to do it.

Damn it, b***h, you got it bad. You were supposed to only f**k him not fall for him!

When I walked back into the bedroom, he was awake, propped up on his elbow, watching me deeply. Like he could see right through me.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice low and gravelly.

I shrugged, climbing back into bed. “Just thinking.”

He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Bout what?”

“Us,” I admitted. No point in lying. Jay wasn’t the type to let me half-ass anything.

His lips twitched, almost like a smile, but his eyes stayed serious. “What about us?”

“What are we?” The question came out softer than I intended, almost like I was scared of the answer.

“You tell me,” he leaned back against the headboard. “Cause as far as I’m concerned, you’re mine.”

My stomach flipped. “And you’re mine?”

He tilted his head, giving me that signature smirk. “You ain’t figured that out yet? Who else you know gonna do what I do for you? Send you roses, send you and your girl to get pampered, show up at your door like a damn fool beggin’? You think I’d do that for just anybody?”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the grin creeping onto my face. “You really thought you were smooth doing all of that? Anybody could send flowers.”

“I know I was,” he shot back with amusement. “I’m not like them other dudes. You know that and it’s true, anybody could send flowers, but you’ll never have anyone else like me and you know it.”

And I did. That was the problem. I knew he was a different breed. The way we started was never supposed to lead to me catching feelings for him. I never even considered falling in love. Dammit.

-

After our talk that night, things between Jay and I had been smooth lately. That man had me wrapped up tighter than a fresh sew in, and I wasn’t even mad about it. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment. It always does, right? Jay had been showing out in all the right ways. He wasn’t just saying I was his; he was proving it every day.

Tonight, we were chilling at my apartment. I was curled up on the couch, halfway paying attention to an old comedy movie while he worked on something on his phone. He was sitting there, looking fine as hell, all serious with his brows furrowed.

“Whatchu workin’ on so hard over there?” I teased, nudging him with my foot.

“Just some invoices for the shop,” he replied without looking up. “Trying to make sure everything’s squared away.”

“Mmhmm,” I wasn’t fully believing him. “You always working. Don’t act like you don’t have employees for that.”

He smirked, finally setting his phone down. “Ain’t nobody gon’ run my business like me.”

“Control freak,” I muttered under my breath, but I was smiling.

He reached out, grabbing my ankle and pulling me toward him. “What was that?”

“I said you fine as hell and I’m lucky to have you,” I shot back quickly, laughing as he tickled my foot.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he leaned in to kiss me. And just like that, the moment was perfect again. The crazy part was that I knew I wasn’t just falling in love with this man, I'm already in love with him. I hadn’t said it out loud yet. I mean, how do you even bring that up? “Hey, by the way, I’m madly in love with you.” Yeah, no. That wasn’t happening, at least not right now.

Jay’s lips met mine, and that was all it took for the movie to become background noise. His kiss was slow at first, almost teasing, like he wanted to savor every second. He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes.

“You lucky to have me, huh?” His voice was deep.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips. “Boy, don’t get cocky.”

“Too late for that,” he said as he smashed his lips against mine again. This time, there was no teasing. His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as his other arm wrapped around my waist. I melted into him, my body instinctively pressing against his as his warmth enveloped me.

His tongue traced the seam of my lips, and I opened for him, deepening the kiss. A low moan fell from lips in between the kisses as one of his hands traveled down my waist.

Suddenly, Jay lifted me effortlessly, settling me on his lap. My legs straddled him, and I could feel the hard evidence of his desire pressing against me. I grinded against him, my own desires heating up. He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as he caught his breath.

“Damn, woman,” he muttered, his hands sliding down to grip my hips. “You don’t even know what you do to me.”

I smiled, “Oh, I got a pretty good idea.”

His eyes darkened, and before I could say another word, he stood, carrying me toward my bedroom. Jay’s touch was different. It was softer, slower, and more intentional than ever before. Usually, our time together was a heavy combination of dominance and submission, full of commands, restraints, and the rush of surrendering to his control. But this? It was different. My heart fluttered at how delicate he treated me. When he carried me to the bedroom, his hands on my body weren’t demanding; they were reverent. He didn’t bind my wrists or demand my obedience. Instead, he undressed me with a tenderness that made my heart ache. Each piece of clothing he removed felt like a layer of armor stripped away until it was just me opened and exposed for him.

Usually, Jay would guide every move, making me wait for his permission to feel pleasure. But tonight, he let me set the pace. He followed my cues, his lips and hands responding to my every sigh and shiver. There was no teasing, no deliberate edging to test my patience. It was as if he wanted me to feel everything, all at once, without reservation.

When he finally laid me down and settled between my legs, they opened for him on their own accord. He raised them up, which caused the air to kiss my p***y. I was ready as I always am. He dipped his head low and began to lick me. It was slow, his tongue searing into my sensitive flesh as if he’s marking me. He didn’t grip my hips like he usually did, grounding me in his dominance. Instead, his fingers laced with mine, anchoring us together in a way that felt more intimate than any restraint ever could.

“Look at me,” he whispered, his voice rough yet gentle.

And I did. I saw the heat in his eyes, but I also saw something else, something deeper, more vulnerable. His pupils weren’t darker than normally were. They were fully brown like he wanted me to see him as Jabari. My legs tensed as his tongue went to work on my c**t. I wanted to come, but I refrained because this was so beautiful to me and I knew if I did come, that would be it. He got up, his hands trailing up my sides as he kissed me again, softer this time. His lips moved to my neck, leaving a trail of heat before it turned cool. I arched into him, my hands exploring the smooth and muscular planes of his back. He lined himself up with my opening before slowly inserting me. He moved inside me unhurriedly, like he wanted to memorize how we fit together. He didn’t push me to the edge and hold me there, didn’t play with the control he usually wielded so easily. Instead, he matched my rhythm, his body moving with mine in perfect harmony. He wasn’t f*****g me. He was making love to me and it was just as beautiful.

His hands didn’t grip or pin; they cradled and caressed my body. His lips didn’t issue commands; they whispered my name like a prayer. Every gentle word he offered felt like a soothing balm, sinking deep into the barren places within me. It made me realize how starved I’d been for tenderness, how much I’d ached to be renewed.

This wasn’t about roles or the debt. It wasn’t about the games we played or the boundaries we pushed. It was about something real, something raw. It was about love. “Jay,” I moaned in a whisper as the intensity of my release was beyond its peak. When we both finally unraveled, it wasn’t with the intensity of a power exchange. It was slow and sweet, a gradual surrender to the emotions swirling between us. And when it was over, he didn’t leave me tied up, didn’t order me to clean up. He stayed, holding me close, brushing my hair back from my face as we caught our breath together.