14. Jawaan
Same Day, Time Unknown
Me:
What time will dinner be ready? We're coming, but we need about an hour or two to nap.
Sending the text to Kyce and Kayshon in our group message, I place my phone in my pocket before watching Zurmani interact with her brother. I'm leaning against my car, trying to come down from my time at the altar. I see why my brothers attend this church with their wives. Pastor Reese is the truth, which is why Zurmani and I joined the church along with Zion before leaving the altar. The news I'm going to share with my family during dinner is gonna have them thinking I've been cloned or something. Yet, when God moves, who can question His power or goodness? I just hate the jokes and commentary forthcoming with this being Zurmani's first official meeting with my family.
Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.
The incessant buzzing from my pocket causes me to remove my phone because I'm sure Kyce and Kayshon are responding to what I sent.
Kayshon:
Little nigga, since when did you start taking naps?
Kyce:
We can push it back two hours because I'm not giving you an excuse not to show up, little bro.
Me:
Bet.
"Aye, man, Nae Boogie is gonna coordinate a day for us to get together. In the meantime, take care of my sister," Zion says, pulling eyes from my phone to see Zion and Zurmani standing in front of me.
I have been texting without paying attention, so their close proximity has the area around my eyes tightening.
"I got her," I declare.
Zurmani hugs Zion quickly before releasing him, and I open her door, waiting for her to get in when Zion walks off.
"Today has been great, but I'm sleepy now. I've cried so much I feel like my eyes will have me looking like I don't know how to bob and weave," Zurmani jokes when I get in and start my car.
"Mhm. This is why we'll go to my crib to nap before dinner. I feel like my emotions have been through an incinerator, and I need a minute to reset."
"Ooh, a nap sounds great. I love you." Zurmani's eyes stretch and a sneaky grin upturns my lips from the rockets firing in my mind at hearing those three words. "I... uh..."
"We don't do take backs over here, so stand on it, Tigress." Putting the gear in drive, I back out of the parking spot so I could take us home.
Home... the place that now feels like a sanctuary and the dwelling I no longer have a reason to run from with Zurmani in my life.
Bzz. Bzz.
The vibrating coming from my phone has my eyes slowly opening before dropping to the body wrapped around me like an anaconda instantly bringing a smile to my face. Gingerly, I shift my body to retrieve my phone from the table without disturbing Zurmani's peaceful slumber. Thankfully, Zurmani only tightens her hold on my waist, which almost prevents me from grabbing the device but she doesn't wake up.
Kyce:
This is your friendly bro-call. Rise and shine, little, brown-eyed boy.
Kayshon:
You have ten minutes to walk through the door, or I'm coming to violate your peace.
Me:
Gotta wake the missus, and then we'll head that way.
Locking the phone, I gently shake Zurmani to wake her up despite wanting to stay where we are a little longer. Stretching out on the couch in my basement before Zurmani laid beside me, draping her arm on my body, had been like taking melatonin. Sleep found me quickly and gave me the most tranquil rest I've ever had to date.
"Mm," Zurmani moans when I shake her again, causing a low chuckle to escape my mouth.
"Come on, sleeping beauty. We gotta head to dinner, or my people are gonna prevent us from resting."
Zurmani lifts her head with a slack expression, and her eyes appear dazed, causing me to smirk from the frown on her lips.
"I'm tired, Jawaan," Zurmani whines before lifting her body and stretching.
Her movement causes her leg to bump into my dick instantly, causing it to twitch, and a grimace fills my expression. I have been trying to be a gentleman by not crossing any bounds with Zurmani. However, my lack of sex has my dick quickly standing at attention, ready to find out how many strokes it takes to get Zurmani's honeypot to pop.
"Come on, before I give us another reason to need a nap." Tapping Zurmani's thigh, I wait for her to stand before getting vertical.
"For the record, I'm not opposed to that," Zurmani purrs in a sultry voice, causing me to drop my head.
Now, she wants to show signs of being a vixen. Ugh.
"You trying to seduce me fresh outta church is nasty work, Tigress," I say, taking her hand and walking toward the steps while I still have the decency to do so.
He's a forgiving God, so you should bend Zurmani over these steps and let her know what you're working with.
Ignoring the statement from my conscience, I clench my jaw while ascending the steps and breathing a sigh once I reach the main floor.
"Come on, Cleo. I'm sure your sisters want to see you," I say before hearing dog chains rattling, letting me know Cleo is running.
"Jesus," Zurmani whispers when Cleo comes charging around the corner where the den and her kennel are.
"Sit," I sternly order before Cleo drops onto her hunches, waiting for my next command. "Extend your hand so she can smell you, love," I tell Zurmani.
"If she bites me, I'm kicking your butt, Jawaan," Zurmani warns, slowly doing what I said.
"Come be nice to your mama, Cleo."
Cleo looks from me to Zurmani before lifting her nose in the air without moving, then turns her head away from Zurmani.
"Wow. See, this is exactly why Jalil will be coming home with me. I ain't got time for a hormonal dog. Come on, I'm ready to meet the rest of your family. Hopefully, they don't act like she is, or this will get ugly fast." Zurmani rolls her eyes before turning toward the door and walking out once she unlocks it.
"Dang. You're gonna have to chill, Cleo. You're not the woman of the house anymore. Dang."
Woof. Woof.
Cleo barks as if she's telling me about myself before walking out the door, leaving me to follow behind her.
"Lord, please give Cleo some act right before she becomes the reason my woman leaves me."
"What's good, family?" I say five minutes later, making my way around the table to greet my people.
"Wow. Two for two," Masani states, intently staring at Zurmani, who hasn't moved from the dining room threshold.
"Shit. My bad, love. Everyone, this is my piece of toffee, my baby mama, my lady... Zurmani Coates," I introduce, returning to Zurmani, lifting her hand, and placing a kiss on her skin.
"Hold up, did this little nigga say his baby mama?" Kayshon asks.
"He had me at piece of toffee," Ms. Aretha says.
"Shoot, I'm stuck at hearing Masani boast about being two for two," Kyce adds.
"Jawaan," Zurmani whispers.
"No worries. I got you, Tigress," I assure her, leaning closer to Zurmani, removing the space between us.
"Let the girl breathe, son," Papa D jokes, causing a low chuckle to escape my mouth before I pull away from Zurmani.
With her hand in mine, I resume greeting my people while also providing personal introductions to each person I come to.
"It's very nice to meet you, sweetie. I hope you're taking good care of our Jawaan," Mama Lo lovingly comments.
"I'm working on it," Zurmani replies in a soft tone that I'm unfamiliar with hearing from her.
"Don't let us intimidate you, suga. We're a harmless bunch. After all, if you can survive this one, you're already light years ahead of the game," Ms. Aretha says when we get to her.
"I mean. The poor thing has been having to listen to bad jokes and lies for God knows how long," Kayshon adds.
"Hm. Meanwhile, you're suffering from prolonged exposure to Hell's tenor. Blink twice if you need me to plead with Heaven so you can receive a pity severance package," I joke while pulling out the empty seat for Zurmani before sitting in the one next to her.
"Forget you, Jawaan. I was almost starting to miss your tail," Ashari says.
"Nig—" Kayshon starts before Papa D cuts him off.
"Let's not delay this delicious-smelling meal any longer, shall we? Since you've been on an unexpected leave, why don't you say grace today, Jawaan," Papa D insists in a deadpan tone that brokers no argument or rebuttal.
"Thanks, Papa D, because I had a feeling they were about to get started, and my stomach is touching my back," Kyce interjects.
Warmth fills my chest, and contentment surges through me when I look around the table at my family. Despite my absence, I have missed having this time with them each week. A squeeze to my thigh has my eyes shifting to Zurmani, and my heart skips a beat at the smile on her face. Having Zurmani here for the first time makes the moment worth every dig or backlash of my disappearance I'll potentially experience before I leave for the evening. I provide the first directive to break the eye contact between Zurmani and me.
"Everyone, bow your heads." Taking a second to allow my family to do what I asked, I shift my mind into an attitude of prayer. "Father, thank you for allowing us to see another day. Thank you for the group of people gathered around this table. Thank you for family. Thank you for what you did at the altar this morning. I also want to thank you for gracing Zurmani and me the privilege of becoming parents. We will make sure that our son is raised in a house where You are at the center. La?—"
"What did he say?" Ms. Aretha asks, but I continue preventing anyone from answering.
"Lastly, thank you for this food that we are about to receive. Let it be nourishment for our bodies. For Christ's sake. Amen."
Opening my eyes and lifting my head, I look around the table at the varying expressions on my family's faces. The various degrees of shock show that they all caught onto what I said during my prayer. Again, a squeeze of my thigh has my eyes shifting to Zurmani, whose orbs shine with disbelief, shock, and something I'm unable to identify. Desperate to put her mind at ease, I lean over and kiss her lips.
"It had to be said, anyway. Why not in the best way possible," I whisper while shrugging when a light gasp escapes Zurmani's mouth.
"Uh, do you mind repeating what I think my ears heard a minute ago?" Kyce asks, interrupting the moment between Zurmani and me.
"Zurmani and I are the proud parents of a baby boy. Congratulations, the family has a new addition," I announce, smiling.
"I can't tell if you're serious or auditioning for a spot on Comedy Central," Ms. Aretha voices.
"Oh, I'm very serious. Becoming a parent only produces jokes when your kid has a blowout seconds after you've removed their diaper. Pass the roast. I'm starving," I nonchalantly request.
"Do you think they'll forgive you for how you chose to tell them about Little Man?" Zurmani asks while adjusting the covers over her body.
Convincing Zurmani to spend the night with me was easier than I thought, thanks to the heavy food we'd consumed. Zurmani said she was too tired to drive across town to her house, so naturally, I jumped at the chance for her to sleep in my bed. The only problem with that is my dick has been thumping against my thigh since coming into my room after doing a final walk-through of the house.
"The better question is: Do you think God will forgive me for my thoughts about you?"
Father... please forgive me because Zurmani is definitely what I want.
Holding my gaze on Zurmani, I memorize every detail of her facial structure before slowly stalking toward my bed. Zurmani's eyes become heavy with seduction, and my dick hardens to the point of pain when blood rushes to my lower region.
"I thought we were going to keep today sacred," Zurmani reminds me, wetting her lips.
"I'm hoping that God, in His infinite wisdom, will be merciful knowing that temptation is taking over my ability to think rationally."
Lifting the covers and seeing Zurmani's bare thigh has my mouth watering, and I throw the blankets off her body, fully exposing her to my desperate eyes.
"Ja-Jawaan," Zurmani whimpers sexily, instantly elevating the temperature in the room.
"We're going to get married, but I can't wait until then to make love to you." My tone is hard and deeper than usual, and my thread of restraint completely snaps when Zurmani lifts the shirt she's wearing over her head.
When the garment hits the floor somewhere behind me, I pounce like a lion catching its prey.
My lips move over Zurmani's exposed skin, leaving goosebumps in the area I hit while I fight the urge to growl like a wounded animal. I gently push Zurmani's body until she's lying flat while positioning myself over her before claiming her lips in a passionate yet punishing kiss. The longer our lips connect, the dizzier and weightier my head becomes. Zurmani's hands grip my back like she's afraid to let go while she moans in my mouth.
"Fuck!" I say, breaking our connection when my lungs protest from the lack of air, filling them with the ability to continue kissing Zurmani.
"Wrong or not... I need you," Zurmani confesses in a straining voice, alerting me that I'm not alone in how I'm feeling right now.
"You shall have me," I assure her, staring into Zurmani's eyes full of longing and desire.
Reclaiming her lips, I take time to explore the recesses of her mouth with my tongue, vaguely tasting the peach cobbler we had for dessert. My heart rate increases when my hands begin exploring and come in contact with Zurmani's breasts.
All right, God, I know it's Sunday, and you just gave me some heavy blessings, but can you not cause my dick to malfunction or strike me down mid-stroke? I need Zurmani in the worst way, so please continue to be merciful.