4
T h e m u s i c t h u m p e d low in the background as I worked out. I was in the zone, chest bare and drenched with sweat, arms flexing under the weight of every controlled movement as I wrapped up my last set of curls. The gym setup I’d built inside my loft was damn near therapy at this point.
A heavy bag hung in the corner. Racks of free weights. State-of-the-art equipment. That black rubber flooring I had laid myself to get it exactly how I wanted. No trainer. No distractions. Just me, the silence, and whatever the hell was weighing on my mind that day.
I let the dumbbells hit the floor and grabbed a towel, wiping my neck and shoulders as I walked barefoot through the open-concept space. Concrete walls. Big ass windows overlooking downtown. Gray sectional. Black culture artwork. High ceilings with exposed black beams. Shit was peace.
I pulled the fridge open and snagged a bottle of water, drinking half of it before I even breathed. Checking my phone, I saw texts from my mama and my boy.
I nodded to myself. Good news. Everything was still moving. My empire was solid, but that didn’t stop the tension in my chest.
I leaned against the counter and stared at the phone for a second longer than I should’ve. I was trying my hardest not to press Autumn. I placed my phone down, headed to the bathroom, and stepped into the shower. That hot water was everything. I stood under the spray with my eyes closed, hands braced against the wall. She crossed my mind again, and my dick got hard instantly.
All it took was a flash of her face. Her voice in my ear. The memory of that wet ass pussy wrapped around my dick. Her legs up, soft moans while I stroked her. That woman had me in a fucking chokehold. And now, she was dodging me and lying about being okay. And for some reason, that made me want her even more.
After the shower, I didn’t even throw on clothes—just a pair of black boxer briefs and a spritz of cologne on my chest. When I got to the living room, I poured up a double shot of tequila and rolled up a blunt. I sparked it up, took a pull, and let the smoke float around the Christmas lights that lined the windows.
It was a little after ten at night, and I knew Autumn was in bed, probably reading. I hit FaceTime, and she answered on the first ring. She was lying in bed with a bonnet on.
“Hey. I was just thinking about you.”
“Oh yeah?” I said, my voice low and smooth. “I can’t tell.”
She cut her eyes at me. “Don’t do that.”
“Nah. What’s up wit’ you? I know it’s somethin’. You ain’t exactly a good liar, baby.”
“I told you. I’m just tired.”
“Autumn.” She looked away, lips pressed tight. I didn’t push, but I could see it—something in her eyes. I leaned back against the couch, smoking. “Aight. You ain’t gotta talk ‘bout it. Not right now.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“You still look good, though, even with that bonnet on.”
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile that followed. “Shut up.”
“I ain’t lyin’. Shit… I been thinkin’ ‘bout you all day.”
Her eyes flicked up. “Yeah?”
“Hell yeah. I miss you.”
She exhaled, biting that bottom lip I wanted to kiss. “I… I miss you too.”
“Missin’ how you sound when you whimper. Missin’ how wet that pussy was the last time I had you moanin’ in my ear.”
I watched her shift, just a little, as her thighs pressed together. “Woods…”
“Nah. I just wanna know if you been missin’ this dick the way I been missin’ that pussy.”
That got a small laugh out of her. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You knew that from jump.” I adjusted the phone, gave her a full view—tattoos, abs, boxers low on my hips, my chain sitting on my chest. Dick bricked up. “I know that pussy wet right now.”
“It’s… not.” Her voice cracked a little.
“Mmm.” I took another hit and exhaled. “You gon’ keep lyin’ to my face now, huh?” She stayed quiet. “I know you ain’t got on no panties under that big ass T-shirt, so, spread them legs and show me.”
“Woods…”
I didn’t say shit else. I just stared into the camera. And when she finally shifted, I knew I had her. I set my phone against the ashtray on the coffee table and angled it so I could get a better view while she set up her phone, too. Soon enough, she was back on her comfy-looking bed, a towel down, legs spread open. That pussy was so pretty.
“Mhm,” I groaned, watching her slide her fingers over her clit. Long, pretty ass Christmas theme nails. “That’s it. Just like that.”
I could see the way Autumn’s chest was rising and falling, the way her lips parted and her eyes glazed over while she stared. She licked her lips, still trying to stay in control.
“Fuck that pussy, gorgeous. I know you miss how this dick feels when I slide up in you deep and leave you stuck.” I pulled my dick out and she let out the sexiest moan.
“Mmm… shit…”
“You see this?” I asked, still smoking while I stroked my dick. “You see how bad a nigga missin’ you?”
Her eyes dropped to the screen as her fingers plunged and out of her wetness. She swallowed hard. “Yesss…”
“You want this dick for Christmas?” I asked. “Or you want diamonds? ‘Cause you can have both. But you gon’ work for this dick first.”
Her thighs shifted, opening wider. Pussy glistening. “Woods…” She let her head drop back against the pillow, and I could tell she was done fighting it.
“Fuck, that’s it. Play wit’ that clit. I know you ‘bout to nut.” She didn’t answer, just did as she was told and rubbed that clit, mouth open. Thigh trembling. Set out another shaky moan, biting down on her lip. “That pussy throbbin’, huh?”
“Yes…”
“Mmm. That’s what I like. Don’t stop. I want you to cum just like that. Let it out, baby. I wanna see it.” Her hand started moving faster, hips rolling against her fingers, mouth parting with every shaky breath. My dick was pulsing in my hand. “Let it go, baby. Don’t hold it. Cum for me.”
She whimpered, eyes fluttering closed, her other hand gripping the sheets. “Fuuuck…”
“Tell me you miss me.”
“I miss youuuu.”
“Say you want me.”
“I want youuuu!”
That pussy squirted, making a mess as I groaned. Speeding up my pace, I nutted hard, breathing deep, letting out a heavy grunt as my nut spilled over my hand. “Fuck, Autumn…”
She laid there still catching her breath, hand playing in her wetness, chest rising and falling. We didn’t say shit for a minute. Just looked at each other. Both quiet. Both thinking. Then, I broke the silence as I placed the almost finished blunt in the ashtray and picked up my phone.
“I fuckin’ miss you,” I told her, walking toward the bathroom to clean off my dick. She looked at me but didn’t speak. Yeah, something was up with her ass. Shaking my head as I turned the faucet on, I said, “Get some sleep, gorgeous.”
She cracked a light smile. “Goodnight.”
“Nah. It ain’t gon’ be good ‘til I see you. And I mean that.”
She didn’t reply. She just ended the call, and I stood there for a long time after the screen went black. My jaw was tight, blood hot, mind racing. Something was off, and I wasn’t about to sit back and wonder what no more. I gave her time. Now I was taking control. Whatever Autumn was hiding, she could tell me when I got there.