Chapter 1925 - Back Home (4)

After exercising, Imani and Jamari returned to the apartment they are sharing.

As usually, Imani took a shower first and dressed up for the day while Jamari went to shower after she vacated the bathroom.

She was sitting in front of the dressing table and braiding her hair when Jamari exited the bathroom.

Her eyes widened at the sight of his toned body that was covered only by a towel that hanged loosely around his waist.

In a few months, Jamari will be sixteen years old and Imani seventeen, and her teenage heart raced at the sight of her handsome boyfriend.

The two of them were about the same height, but Jamari had a growth spurt recently and now he was a few inches taller than Imani. Jamari's features were changing from boyish to mature ones, and Imani was unable to stop staring at his body and at that towel that threatened to fall off with every step he made.

Of course, he noticed.

"Do you see something you like?"

His question pulled her out of her daze and his lopsided smile irked her, but mostly she was embarrassed that she got caught.

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "Get dressed. We don't want to be late."

"As you command, my lady...", Jamari said with a smirk and went to the closet.

Imani released the breath she was holding when he was out of sight. She was gawking and he saw her. How embarrassing.

She remembered the morning before Aiden was kidnapped, and when they touched each other, and his shaft was smooth and warm and firm, and he came on her hand and… her hands became clammy. It was two months ago, yet her palms are still humming as it happened a second ago. And after that, he touched her breasts and she didn't dislike it, but she ran away because the touch and the way he looked at her were too overwhelming.

Imani was not sure why she is reacting like this. She knows Jamari for a long time, and they are dating… and sharing a bed for the last two months, sleeping in each other's embrace, and she was fine yesterday. Why is she so uncomfortable today? Her heart was racing, and she was unable to calm down.

"Ready?", Jamari asked when he got out of the closet. He was tucking in a white polo shirt into his light blue shorts and she was sure that he never looked so dazzling.

He frowned slightly when he saw that she didn't finish braiding her hair. They have about forty-five minutes for breakfast, and if it takes longer, they will risk running late. And JoAnna does not tolerate when someone is late. JoAnna is friendly and bubbly, but when it comes to work and she thinks that someone is disrespectful or slacking, she turns into a she-devil.

"Let me help…", Jamari stood behind Imani and continued working on the braid she left halfway, without giving her a chance to object.

Imani's final hairstyle should be about twenty braids that get tied together in the back, but she completed only fifteen.

Imani closed her eyes and enjoyed the light tugs, knowing that it's Jamari's doing. Jamari was always attentive, and since they are sharing the living space, he would dry and style her hair without any shame. He even watched YouTube videos to figure out how to do some hairstyles which came super-handy because he would help her get ready for the day faster.

As he moved swiftly from one braid to another, his fingers would occasionally brush against the skin of her neck, sending shivers down her body.

"Your hair is done."

She jolted when he kissed the nape of her neck and the electric current that shot along her spine made her frown slightly.

He observed her reflection in the mirror keenly. "Are you OK?"

Imani was not sure how to respond. Was she OK? Why was she suddenly so aware of his presence?

"I don't know.", she admitted.

"Why don't you tell me what is on your mind?", Jamari probed.

"Do you think that we… rushed?" Imani saw that he was confused, so she clarified: "I mean… With moving in together."

Jamari held her shoulders and lifted her to stand up and face him.

"Why do you think we rushed? Did I do anything to make you feel that way?"

Imani inhaled a shaky breath. Her head was a mess, and his proximity didn't make it any better. "No, it's just…" She was unable to finish because she didn't know what to say. Confessing how he impacts her was too embarrassing. 

Jamari held her hands in his, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze and he gazed into her eyes, hoping that she will see his sincerity.

"Imani, I hope you don't feel pressured to do more than what you are comfortable with because I am happy the way we are. We will move at your pace, and I will not complain even a little bit because I enjoy spending my time with you. Don't take it away, please.", Jamari was desperate.

When they moved in together, Jamari mentioned to Imani that he has condoms handy, but when he saw her discomfort, he never brought it up again. He even hid them in the drawer with his socks so that she does not see them accidentally.

Any teenager in Jamari's place would take advantage of sharing a bed with his girlfriend, but Jamari is different because he is watching Imani for a long time and only he knows how much he endured for them to reach this point. He does not want to mess up now when he can hold Imani every night and wake up in the morning with her by his side. Sure, he would like to go all the way, but rushing and scaring her away is not the right approach.

Did he overdo it by walking around with only a towel on him?, he wondered. Or did he do something else? Haru told him that girls can be unpredictable, especially when 'that time of the month' is approaching, and Jamari started thinking about what date it is and how it relates to Imani's period.

Imani was surprised that Jamari said those words as if he can read her mind. But this was not about him rushing. It was about her thoughts going wild. Knowing that he is happy to be with her and that he is ready to wait until she is comfortable, made her happy as well.

She got on her toes and kissed him on the lips. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

Jamari was confused. "What way did you mean it?"

Imani smiled slyly and walked toward the door. "Let's go, or we won't have time to eat."

Jamari narrowed his eyes while looking after Imani. If he is not the one rushing and pressuring, does that mean that she is the one with naughty thoughts?

"Wait!", he called. "I demand an explanation!"

Imani giggled and hastened her steps, knowing that as soon as she is in the hallway, Jamari will keep his distance because they contain any form of intimacy for when it's just the two of them.

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