PROMISED TO HIM
CHAPTER 23
ROY SMITH
I stood on the balcony, the night air brushing against my face, the city lights stretching far beyond the mansion gates. I puffed my cigarette slowly, watching the smoke swirl and fade into the dark.
Truth be told, I’d never felt like a stranger in my own house before tonight — but somehow, ever since she was here, everything felt different. She brought peace and chaos in the same breath, and I didn’t know which one I craved more.
When the cigarette was done, I chewed on a peppermint, trying to wash off the taste. My thoughts were too loud, her name repeating in them like a broken record. As I turned to head back to the bedroom, something fell from my blazer — a small piece of lace.
Her panty.
I froze for a second, the scent faint but familiar. I didn’t even know whether to laugh or lose my mind. I lifted it to my nose without thinking — and that’s when she appeared behind me.
“What the hell are you doing with my panty?” she snapped, eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re behaving like a pervert!”
I smirked, calm as ever. “Why did you leave this in my office?”
She hesitated, eyes darting away from mine. “Is it a crime to leave my things in my husband’s office?”
“Don’t try to release a beast you won’t be able to tame,” I said lowly, brushing past her. I could see the blush rising to her cheeks as I walked to my side of the bed.
I slipped under the covers, pretending not to notice how she kept glancing my way. But sleep refused to come. She was already fast asleep, turned toward me — and then, as if the universe was playing a cruel joke, she shifted closer.
This one slept like an airplane — flying all over the bed. Her soft body brushed against mine, and then… she moved again. Her small hips pressed against me, her warmth teasing every bit of self-control I had left.
My body reacted instantly.
I clenched my jaw, groaning under my breath as I felt my dick harden against her. I checked the time — 1:00 a.m. I couldn’t take it anymore. I slipped out of bed quietly and went to the bathroom for a cold shower. The water hit my skin like ice, but it still didn’t cool the fire burning through me.
Afterward, I called Msizi.
“Bhoza, I thought you’d be busy,” he said, half-asleep.
“You thought wrong,” I muttered, lighting another cigarette. “Dig more into Jayden’s issue.”
“He’s still in the hideout,” Msizi replied, his voice low. “But I’ll try to track his—”
“Don’t try …. find him,” I cut in sharply.
“Roy—”
I ended the call before he could finish. I didn’t need his opinions tonight.
Then I heard it — that small, sleepy voice calling my name.
“Roy…”
I turned around, and there she was, sitting up in bed with messy hair, rubbing her eyes.
“Bayi, don’t disturb me,” I said, grabbing a boxer
“Roy,” she said, rolling her eyes, “we both know you know my name. Stop calling me that.”
“Kusho bani?”[who said that?] I asked, raising a brow.
Her eyes widened. She froze, realizing what just happened.
“You… you understand isiZulu?”
I shrugged casually. “You never asked.”
“Yini indaba ungitshelanga ukuthi uyakwazi ukukhuluma isiZulu?” she asked, half-annoyed, half-shocked. [Why didn’t you tell me you could speak Zulu?]
“You never asked,” I repeated calmly, leaning on the wall.
“So why did you—?”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” I cut her off again, my tone sharper than I intended.
She looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line. I could tell she wanted to argue but decided against it. The tension between us filled the room like static.
Morning came faster than expected. I barely slept, watching her from the edge of the bed, wondering what spell she had on me.
Then the door opened.
“Dad?” I said, frowning. “What are you doing here? We’re sleeping.”
He chuckled softly, stepping inside like he owned the place
“I wanted to see my daughter-in-law,” he said, smiling as his eyes landed on Mayi curled in my arms.
“Seems like I came at the wrong time.”
Mayi stirred, blinking awake. When she realized who was standing there, she sat up quickly, clutching the blanket to her chest, face red.
“Good morning, sir,” she said awkwardly.
Dad just laughed, shaking his head.
“Good morning, my dear. I see my son is finally learning how to keep his wife close.”
I clenched my jaw slightly, not liking his tone. “Dad—”
He raised his hand, cutting me off. “Relax, son. I’m just saying… it’s about time.”
Mayi couldn’t meet my eyes. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her small hand rested nervously on the blanket. I could see the embarrassment written all over her face.
After Dad left, silence filled the room again.
She finally turned to me, eyes meeting mine. “Your dad thinks we’re… okay,” she whispered.
I smirked faintly. “Because you always want to stay close to me….there is so much space in the bed but you choose my chest.”
“There is nothing good about your rough chest”
She ran away and I chased her and she opened the cold shower by mistake and we just stood there looking at each other