Forever Loving You : A BWWM Romance

by Nia Arthurs

  “I figured you were in good hands.” I smirk. “Nice dance moves, by the way.”

  “Shut up.”

  “What? You didn’t like dancing with Chandra?”

  “Of course I liked it. She’s a freaking goddess.” Ollie grabs his rag and flaps it angrily. “But she’s got ‘complicated’ and ‘high maintenance’ written all over her and I don’t need that drama in my life.”

  I slant him a disbelieving grin, but say nothing as I finish warming up and head to the weights.

  The gym fills up and Ollie’s too busy dealing with customers to speak to me. I complete my set and leave without seeing him again.

  Once I’m back in my car, I grab my phone.

  My heart pangs.

  Even though we just spent the night together, I’m missing Cobie like crazy.

  Eagerly thumbing through to her number, I call her.

  “Griffin.” Her soft voice sends my thoughts careening to last night and my body stirs with yearning.

  Being with Cobie was… different.

  At least for me.

  Back in high school I thought I’d be a virgin forever so, when I lost weight and attractive girls started hitting on me, I lost my mind and sampled every flavor of woman the city had to offer.

  My standards were low and my libido was high. I have no idea how I skated out of that phase without picking up a couple baby mamas and an STI.

  Eventually, sleeping around lost its appeal. The game wasn’t fun anymore and the tangled mess of broken hearts I left behind started to weigh on my conscience.

  Truth was, with my new appearance, I could have any woman I wanted, but I couldn’t find the woman I needed.

  Something always felt missing.

  Now I know what.

  Those other girls weren’t Cobie.

  She’s it.

  She’s The One.

  I’m a simple guy with exquisite taste.

  Now that I’ve sipped of Cobie’s lips, experienced her body, my palate’s been ruined.

  No one else will do.

  “How’s your schedule for today?” I ask, driving home.

  “I’m booked all day.”

  “Don’t you have any slot open?”

  “Maybe I can squeeze you in at three. I’ll have another client here, but if all you want is a simple wash…”

  “I’ll take it.”

  She laughs. “I’m playing.”

  “I’m not.” I flick the indicator. “I’ll see you at three.”

  Even though I made it clear that I’d be there, Cobie still looks stunned when I show up at her apartment later.

  Brown eyes wide, she pushes me into the hallway and closes the door. “I thought you were joking.”

  “Nope.” I slide my arms around her. The shirt she’s wearing is a little too small so my fingers get to glide across smooth skin instead of fabric. “I came for the scalp massage.”

  “I’ll see you tonight, hm? I’ll run my hands all over you then.” She pushes me toward the stairs.

  I hold steady. “I’m here as a customer, not as your boyfriend.”

  “Lover,” she corrects.

  I slant her a look. “Husband.”

  “Is that a proposal?”

  “It’s the ultimate upgrade. You should know now that it’s what I’m gunning for.”

  “It’ll take a while before you can afford that package.”

  “Noted.”

  Her eyes dancing, she adopts a professional tone and gestures to the door. “Right this way, Mr. Bech.”

  When I walk in, I notice another woman underneath a hair-dryer… thing—I have no idea what it’s called. She eyes me like I don’t belong and, clearly, in this natural hair salon, a white man with straight hair sticks out.

  Cobie pulls me to the kitchen and points to the chair nestled against the sink. Her curls are tied back in a ponytail, so I get the privilege of gazing at her face with no distractions as she leans over me to turn on the pipes.

  “How’d you slip away from work? I thought you had your hands full with the launch?” she whispers.

  “I needed a break.”

  “I missed you.” Cobie glances over her shoulder at the client and then bends over to plant a fast, urgent kiss on my lips. Her mouth is warm and so is her tongue as it darts out to touch mine.

  She pulls back.

  Clears her throat.

  “Mr. Bech, I must admit that I have very little experience with your hair texture. Since my conditioners are tailored to women with kinky or curly hair, I’m afraid it might not be what you need.”

  “I trust you, Ms. Simmons. Completely. You can do whatever you want with me.”

  She smirks and spritzes me in the face with the hose. “Can I do that?”

  I sputter. “Watch it.”

  “Sorry. My mistake.” She keeps rinsing and, somehow, the hose climbs closer to my eyes again.

  Drops of water sail over my cheek and jaw.

  “I apologize.”

  With a playful growl, I yank her into my lap.

  Cobie squeals.

  I bury my face in her neck and my fingers in her sides, listening to her explosion of laughter as I tickle her.

  The hose sprays everywhere, raining over the kitchen.

  I laugh with her, enjoying the feel of her body against mine.

  Enjoying the sound of her happiness.

  My fifteen-year-old self could have only dreamed of this moment, but he wouldn’t have been ready or secure enough to be the person Cobie needed.

  I am now.

  I’m ready to fill her life with a lot more laughter and love.

  Why?

  Because I love myself.

  And because I’ve loved Cobie Simmons since I was fifteen years old.

  And I will love Cobie Simmons until I’m fifty.

  Until I’m a hundred.

  Until I die.

  Epilogue: Cobie

  My conditioners are out to rave reviews. I’ve spent the past few days driving from store to store, just picking up bottles and trying not to cry.

  Today, Griffin, Chandra and I are at another chain store in front of the hair products section.

  I grab a bottle and suck in a deep, fragrant breath. “Doc did such a great job.”

  “He did.” Griffin nods, settling his arm around my shoulder.

  We’ve dated for almost a year now.

  As promised, his mom and dad drove up to meet me. At first, I was a little nervous, but Mrs. Bech accepted me so whole-heartedly it brought tears to my eyes.

  We chat every week or so.

  She asked me to call her ‘Mom’.

  I did.

  It was awkward but nice, and I plan on doing it again.

  “Imagine, none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me.” Chandra plants her hands on her hips in a superhero pose. “Gosh, I should have asked for a cut of your check.”

  I chuckle. “Just consider living in my apartment rent-free as a reward.”

  She rolls her eyes. Chandra’s bakery is back on its feet and she’s got all the finances in the world to move out, but she’s comfortable. So am I. Having my best friend close is handy…

  Unless I want my boyfriend close.

  Then she starts to get in the way.

  Even so, I’m glad to see her coming out of that shell she’s worn for so many years. A part of that, I think, is mostly due to Ollie, who’s been hanging around us because of Griffin.

  Ollie and Chandra clash in a way that’s entirely too flirtatious.

  And I’m happy for her.

  Rick left the country in exchange for her agreement to not go to the police. I doubt he’ll stay away, but Chandra seems content for now and we’ll all be here if that scum shows up again.

  Ollie, I know for certain, is itching to give him a pounding.

  “I’d just like to point out that I’m the one who chose this as the winner,” Griffin says.

  “Yeah, but we all know how shady that decision was,�
� Chandra mumbles.

  Griffin’s gaze shifts to me. “Can we leave her here?”

  Chandra throws a soft punch. “That’s no way to talk to the Queen Bee of Lakaster.”

  Griffin presses his lips together.

  Since finding out about the fact that we all went to high school together, she’s been teasing him about our supposed ‘status’, which is something we both find ridiculous as we never considered ourselves to be that popular.

  Griffin takes it all in stride, so I let her joke around.

  But if I see her crossing a line, I’ll step in.

  The only one allowed to tease my man about his past is me.

  “Come on.” I take his hand and tug him away before they start arguing, “I want to buy this one.”

  “Cobie, you’ve got a bunch back at home.”

  “Yeah, but I want to ring this one up.” I push out my bottom lip. “Please.”

  That soft look steals into his eyes. The one that says ‘this woman is mine and I still don’t know how’.

  That awe of Griffin’s knocks the breath from my lungs.

  Every time he holds me, he acts like I’m some exotic treasure he can’t believe exists. I have to remind him that I’m just as human, if not more so, than he.

  He kisses me on the temple. “Your mother would be proud.”

  I smile, the tears cropping into my eyes.

  Look, ma. We did it.

  Chandra pats my back and meets my eyes in silent agreement.

  Feeling extra sentimental, I turn and press a kiss to Griffin’s lips. “I love you.”

  “Love you,” he murmurs, eyes hazy. A man drunk in love.

  I step away. Grab three more of the bottles. “These too, please?”

  He laughs disbelievingly but tosses them in the basket without complaint.

  I smile and wind my fingers around his arm as we head to the check-out aisle.

  He nuzzles the top of my head with his nose.

  I lean into his touch, sighing from pleasure and contentment.

  Griffin Bech is the man I love.

  The man I will continue to love.

  Forever.

  THE END

  Hello! Thank you for coming along on this journey with me. If you enjoyed this story, I would be honored if you would let others know by writing a review on Amazon. Your recommendation will help other fans of interracial romance find my work and it would mean the world to me. Thank you for your support!

  Love, Nia

  A Word From The Author

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  Also by Nia Arthurs

  The Taming Series

  Taming Mr. Jerkface

  Taming Mr. Charming

  Taming Mr. Know-it-all

  Taming Mr. Darcy

  The Richards Books

  Call Me Torn

  Call Me Broken

  Call Me Lost

  Standalones

  Chasing Daniel

  The Switch

  Axle’s Secret

  The Good Brother

  Something New

  Love In Many Shades Series

  Cece & David

  Cece & David 2

  Cece & David 3

  Cece & David 4

  Lovesick Series

  Play

  Dance

  Trust

  Sneak Peek

  Swipe on for a sneak peek of my upcoming novel: FOREVER CRAVING YOU featuring Chandra and Ollie.

  Enjoy!

  Chapter 1

  Chandra

  Why do people fall in love?

  It’s just a bunch of endorphins and hormones releasing in the brain, yet it takes perfectly sane humans and turns them into animals.

  Exhibit A: My best friend, Cobie, and her boyfriend Griffin.

  They’re currently locked in a passionate embrace in the ratty couch with the tattered threads sticking out of the back of it.

  I get it.

  It’s an ugly couch that could probably handle a few more stains.

  But it’s ours. I helped Cobie buy that sofa for twenty bucks at a fleece market. We sweated like maniacs trying to heft that thing up the stairs.

  But we did it.

  Alone.

  Two independent women, spitting in the face of a world that said heavy lifting couldn’t be done without a man.

  And now, she’s here desecrating said couch in front of my very eyes?

  Man, I need my own place.

  I reach for the doorknob. Yank the door open. Slam it closed again.

  The bang rattles over the sounds of their heavy breaths and pleasured sighs. To be honest, when I first entered I thought the television was turned to the Discovery Channel.

  It was not.

  I tighten my fingers on the doorknob.

  Give it another slam.

  They still don’t notice.

  In fact, the groaning gets louder.

  My best friend is so engrossed in her man, I’m afraid I’ll see the exact moment I become an ‘auntie’.

  As much as I love Cobie, I don’t want to be all up in her business like this. I can barely tolerate it when she pulls me aside to relay some juicy detail after the fact.

  “Ehem!”

  They hear me.

  At last.

  Two heads pop up from the couch.

  One is brown-eyed. Slightly tan but clearly Caucasian. Broad shoulders. Strong jaw. Handsome. The kind that people see on billboards but not in real life.

  He blows out a breath. Runs thick fingers through his messy brown hair.

  “Hey, Chandra,” Griffin says.

  His eyes bounce right back to his girlfriend without missing a beat.

  The other head sticking out of the couch wears a smile. She’s beautiful—the kind that’s wholesome and natural and annoys the crap out of me because it’ll probably stay that way until she’s sixty.

  Soft brown eyes light up. “You’re home!”

  Catching them mid-make-out session has happened so often Cobie doesn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed anymore.

  I cross the room. “Sorry to break up your little party.”

  “It’s okay,” Cobie says, her voice breathless. “We were just hanging out.”

  Hanging out, huh?

  Pretty sure what was about to happen was crossing into HBO at midnight territory.

  Damn.

  I can’t remember the last time a man made me gasp like that. Sure I’ve been around the block. I know the positions and the rhythms and the dirty kinks, but it’s never been out of love.

  And it probably never will be.

  My bed’s been empty since Rick took off.

  No.

  That’s a lie.

  I’ve been spending my nights with Regret.

  And he’s not a cuddler.

  Stupid Rick. I’ve never regretted anything in my life, but he screwed with that perfect record.

  With my face.

  With my body.

  Just the mention of his name makes me want to scream and tear my hair out. The way things went down with my ex… I should have gotten out sooner.

  I know that.

  I’m ashamed and embarrassed when I think about the way he stripped me and pushed me out into the night. After everything, the ‘accidental’ slaps and the punches and the one time he threw a vase at me—tossing me out of his house with nothing but a flimsy curtain was the thing that got me to wake up.

  I’ve always been a practical person.

  Women do stupid crap all the time in the name of love.

  But that wasn’t why I stayed.

  Rick’s bank account me
ant more to me than anything else.

  Call me shallow all you want.

  Money is powerful. Never lies. Never passes on diseases.

  Never beats you.

  I know that in my head.

  But my heart?

  It’s been aching more and more. Especially being around Cobie and Griffin who act like the Couple of the Year all the time. I’ve seen the way Griffin cares for my best friend and I…

  I’m jealous.

  Okay?

  The girl who swore she’d never entertain love is jealous.

  I swallow past the lump in my throat.

  “Don’t mind me.” I whisk my hand. “I’ll just be in the room. Keep going.”

  Cobie paws at her boyfriend’s chest and rises from the couch. Her dress tumbles around her thighs as she strolls toward me. Slender hands tangle in her hair, foolishly trying to bring some order to the crazy mass of curls that Griffin has successfully knotted into a comb’s worst nightmare.

  “Long day?” she asks.

  “There was a leak in the pipes at the bakery. I just called the plumber. It’ll cost an arm and a leg to fix.”

  Cobie gasps. “No way.”

  I shrug, trying to look like I don’t care, but I know Cobie can sense the worry in my eyes. She wraps slender arms around her waist. Digs her teeth into her bottom lip. Glances at Griffin.

  As if activated by her gaze, he springs from the couch. “Maybe it’s not that bad.”

  Cobie nods. “Try for a second opinion. You could be getting suckered.”

  Griffin pulls out his phone. “I’ll call Ollie.”

  “He owns a gym.” I snort. “What does he know about plumbing?”

  “He renovated that place all by himself and did some of the pipe work too. I’m sure he’s got a basic grasp.”

  I hesitate.

  Cobie smiles. “It can’t hurt.”

  I glance away, feeling that familiar discomfort that always assaults me whenever I think about the man with dark blonde hair and blue eyes.

  Ollie and I… don’t get along. He’s never said it outright, but I can sense when I’m being judged.

  Tightened lips.