Chapter 6 #2
Casey playfully rolled her eyes then tore into the big orange box. Though she swore all she wanted was the cash from the swear jar, I got her something extra because she deserved it. Next to making school a priority, she took care of my shop like it was her own.
“Oh my God! Loso, you really spent bands on a bag for me?” she yelled, prancing around with the designer piece on her arm.
“You sent me that link for the bag months ago. There was no way in hell I would spend that type of money on some Employee Appreciation Day, but this is a special occasion.”
The petite princess rushed into my arms and squeezed me tight. “Thank you, Loso! I swear you’re the best boss in the world.”
“Oh, yeah? I want to hear you say that when I don’t let you leave early.”
Juice was next to open his gift, and just like Casey, I purchased him something he could use. They may have been expecting a bonus check since that was my usual route, but after the S.O.E giveaway, I wanted to put more thought into showing appreciation for their presence in my life.
“Hold up. So does this mean we don’t get our holiday bonus?” Casey quizzed in a cutesy tone.
“You’re getting your bonus,” I assured her.
Juice admired his new watch while stepping to the middle of the floor. “Aww, shit. Loso must have found him a woman who gave him some holiday cheer.”
“Something like that,” I said, keeping things short. “Casey, how much did you make off the swear jar?”
She retrieved the jar from her desk and waved it around. “Five hundred and twenty-nine dollars. Mind you, I started collecting at the top of the month. I’m so happy we have some days off. I want to prance around the mall with my new bag and spend some money!”
“You doing all that smiling. You better not let me hear you call me The Grinch again.”
“I make no promises.” Casey twisted her body from side to side. “Before we get off track”—Casey pulled an envelope from behind her back—“This is for you.”
My brows collided on the ends. “I told you—”
“I know you didn’t want a gift, but a kind man should be flooded with kindness. Merry Christmas, boss man.”
My smiling heart went still when the bell above the front door went off. All the joy inflating my chest oozed through my nose in a long drag. As good as the brickhouse looked in knee-high boots and an olive-green trench, her presence soured my mood.
“Melli, what are you doing here? Did we have something on the calendar?”
“No, but I wanted to see you. I missed you. It looks like I showed up right on time for the gift exchange.”
Casey sucked her teeth. “This bitch is delusional.”
The half-dressed woman moved to respond, but I cleared my throat, trapping her attention.
“Melli, come with me to my office,” I demanded, already heading to the back of the shop.
As soon as the door shut, she dropped her coat to the floor. Any other time, my dick would be rock hard seeing her in lingerie, but her chosen outfit was bizarre.
“You can’t be serious,” I grumbled. “Are you wearing the same Mrs. Claus costume Essen had on at Nightstand?”
She peered down like she didn’t know what she draped over her body. “I know you aren’t complaining. The last time I saw you, you were salivating over this bullshit. Why are you acting brand new now?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and chuckled away my annoyance.
“What is it, baby?” She whined and rubbed her palms down my work uniform. “I’m sorry if I came on strong when we spoke about Christmas. I’m willing to play my position and go with your flow.”
The stench of desperation sailed from her light skin. I wanted to feel sorry for her, but she didn’t respect herself. Nothing I said would change that.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to pass on the pussy, Melli. Our time together was straight, but it’s a wrap.”
Her shoulders lost their strength. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dead ass. I asked for one thing for Christmas, and if I slide my dick into you, I lose it as fast as I got it.”
“I know you aren’t talking about a bitch. That bitch.”
“I’m talking about my woman.” I corrected the ignorant lady.
“What the fuck?” She grimaced, closing her jacket. “We’ve been sleeping together for over a year, and once you chose to commit, you do it to the next bitch?”
No matter how much I wanted to defend myself, I recognized the shit sounded horrible. Unsure of how to ease her mind, I leaned against the desk until Melli stormed out the room.
“Fuck!” I forced out in a breathless tone. It was ironic how little I cared about Melli watching me get off to Essen, and now, I hoped her pain didn’t turn into revenge.
When my phone lit up, I snatched it from my desk.
I figured it was the angry lady texting me some disrespectful shit she knew not to say in my face, but my lips spread into a smile seeing Essen’s name.
Her message was only a picture of small bottles of perfume and cologne and what looked like snowflake shaped electronics.
What’s all that?
Pretty Girl: Giveaway goodies for the party. Pick them up on your way home, please.
Thoughts of laying up with her, sipping cocoa, and smoking a blunt sounded much better than working on cars, but knowing I wouldn’t be on duty for the next few days encouraged me to get off the phone.
It took me four hours to wrap up the day then get to Essen’s spot, but by the time I arrived, her front door was open.
“Essen, why the hell do you have the front door unlocked?”
“I knew you were coming. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
I moved forward and anchored her chin up. “I don’t mind waiting for you. Next time, keep it locked. Haven’t you saw Friday After Next? Niggas are desperate during this time of the year.”
“If someone runs up in here, this will be their last Christmas,” she replied, rushing back to the couch.
“I like hearing that type of shit. Say it again. Slow this time.”
“Cut it out before you get something started.” Her face prickled into a blush. “Let me show you the goodies I have.”
I picked up a few unopened perfume bottles off the table. “Where did you get all of this from?”
“I had the chance to connect with a few companies while at the country club. I explained that I’m an event coordinator, and I shared a few details about your parents’ Christmas Eve Anniversary party.
I really thought they were full of shit when they asked for my shipping address, but the packages started rolling in this morning. ”
My chest swelled with admiration. “The day you decide to start your own business, let me know if you need an investor,” I said with no hesitation.
“Mm. Business and pleasure don’t usually work out.”
“I’ll be a silent partner,” I suggested. “You ready for the long weekend?”
She jumped to her feet and started dancing. “Duh! I should be asking you. The party is Saturday.”
“I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”
“And what about Christmas?”
“You tell me. The family will be up north. It’s just us.”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to be. I was thinking we can drive up to meet the gang early Saturday morning.”
“If that’s what you want to do, then that means you ready to tell your brother about us.”
Essen’s orbs raced to her Christmas tree. A look of apprehension flashed in her eyes.
“I am. I know it won’t be easy. Shiloh may not talk to me for a bit, but he loves me. He knows I wouldn’t make a decision without considering the family.”
“You don’t have to speak to your brother alone. I got you, pretty girl.”
She straddled my lap and roped her arms around my neck. “Words like that are exactly why I refuse to love you in the dark.”
My fingers brushed against the silky material of her pajamas. “Mm. Make sure you pack these for the trip.”
“You like?” she flirted.
“I do.”
She planted her feet on the floor. “I’m happy to hear that since I got you a pair! I’ll be right back.”
I got comfortable on the loveseat while Essen disappeared down the hallway.
As soon as she was out of view, her iPad went off beside me.
I may have ignored it had I not saw the weirdo’s name on the screen.
To my satisfaction, the device was unlocked.
I didn’t bother to scroll to the top of their text thread.
I only concentrated on the message about their trip and a screenshot of reservations.
Fury sent my eyes around the room. For the first time since I walked into her house, I noticed two suitcases in the living room.
The idea of Essen leaving cut me deep, but the thought of her leaving to be with another man during the holidays was dangerous for all of us.
When Essen returned, I was already on my feet, yet seeing her sport the same confused expression as me rearranged my face.
“What’s your problem?” I quizzed.
She lifted her phone, so the screen was facing me. “Why is Melli posting pictures of herself outside of your shop, dressed like me, and talking shit in the comments of the post?”
“Because she’s a dumbass,” I damn yelled.
“Did you see her today?”
I sat down and placed my arms across the back of the loveseat. “She came to see me.”
“You didn’t put her out?”
“Of course, I did. She tried to fuck, and I turned her down,” I declared. “You pressing me about a bitch, but niggas sending you flight confirmations. Yo’ bags are packed. What’s really going on?”
She ejected a tight-lipped huff then went on to confess her plans to spend Christmas with Caleb. I thought it was flawed that she was willing to say fuck her family to be with someone she wouldn’t bring around them, but I kept my opinion to myself.
“So the study group story you told everybody about was bullshit?”
Nervousness seemed to crumple her spine. “Don’t I get credit for coming clean? It’s not like I’m going.”
“Yeah, but you planned to.” An amused laugh barreled up my throat. “Someone’s been a naughty fucking girl.”
I pushed her back on the floor and slid off her pajama pants.
Just like at Nightstand, Essen wasn’t wearing any panties.
A deep growl pushed through my lips as I flipped her over, leaving nothing but ass in my face.
In between taking off my hoodie and undershirt, I placed kisses up her back.
She shivered and moaned when my kisses turned into my tongue running up and down her spine.
“You always walking around with no panties on.” I smacked her ass then blessed the spot with my tongue. “You like walking around with my pussy out in the wild?”
“No, baby. I just got out the shower.”
“That answer ain’t good enough, mama.”
I treated her like a rag doll, holstering her body up on all fours. I smirked when I slipped my face under her pussy like I was under a car then moaned against her clit. “Pussy smells like water.”
“Fuck, baby. Suck on my clit. Suck on me, Loso,” she begged.
The vibration from my mouth seemed to jumpstart her hips.
Essen rocked back and forth on my tongue and cried out for more.
She had no idea I planned to make her cum all night.
She had no idea that getting her off could get me off.
Hard and intentional, I smacked one of her ass cheeks, birthing a lioness groan from Essen.
With more space to move, I flicked my tongue over her clit until she was screaming again.
“I want to taste that pussy juice. Give it to me. You already got my beard soaked.”
Essen lowered herself on my face, so my tongue slid right in her pussy hole. I reached around her and placed my hand on her tailbone, encouraging her to ride my shit.
“Loso, I can’t hold it, baby. I’m fucking cumming. I’m cumming.”
I stuck two fingers in her honey. “Let that shit go. My beard ain’t wet enough.”
Essen grinded and moaned until her body was spent. She rolled onto her back, and I hardly gave her a second to breathe. Like the petite princess was a doll, I snatched Essen from the floor. She wrapped her legs around my waist and arms around my neck as I backed into a wall.
“Your dick is so big and long, you could fuck me standing up.”
I gnawed on her neck while asking, “Is that what you want? Naughty girls don’t get what they want.”
She giggled then swiped her tongue over my lips. “But you want it too. Stick it in me. Fuck me just like this.”
Her vulgar comment made my dick jerk. I could feel pre-cum ooze out the head before I fulfilled Essen’s request. As she fed me one of her nipples and sucked on the other, I basked in her tight pussy.
I knew my dick wasn’t the type of meat you shove into a woman, so I took my time.
I rotated my waist and worked my way into her gently.
The sting of Essen’s nails digging into my skin made me slow my pace.
“You okay, pretty girl?”
She moaned into my shoulder. “Yes. It’s just so big.”
“You gon’ take it though, right? This is what you wanted.”
Her response became inaudible when I bench pressed her pussy onto my dick.
Blessed with walls as tight as skinny jeans, I cried out every time I slipped her off and on my dick.
There was no amount of shame that could keep my moans quiet, and the sound of my pleasure seemed to turn Essen on.
Every time my pleasure beat through the room, she licked or bit into my skin like it gave her energy.
“Ah! Do that again,” I blurted. “Squeeze that pussy, mama.”
“You like it,” she teased, nibbling on the top of my nose. “I know you like it. I can feel you getting harder inside of me.”
“Mmm. Keep talking.”
She moaned. “I don’t think I can. I can’t—I know you feel—shit! Slow strokes, baby. Your pussy likes slow strokes.”
When her head went back, I attacked her neck. I didn’t consider who would question the marks or what she would say. I needed to taste her in every way possible.
“Baby,” she cooed. “Let me suck it out of you. We don’t have protection.”
I cupped her ass. “You are my protection, and I’m yours. You hear me? You ever let someone think otherwise—shit—I’m going to make you watch me kill him.”
“Aww, yes! Right there.”
“Right there, mama?”
“Please,” she uttered. “Please don’t stop!”