Twenty
TWENTY
MALIK
Monday came and it was hard to hide the smile from Soleil because the moment I saw her beautiful face, I was a goner. Then there was Tuesday. And Wednesday followed with her letting me know that Saturday was the night her friend could take care of Dahlia. The next two days passed by at a snail’s pace and I thought I was going to lose my mind.
It helped somewhat talking with her throughout the days. But we didn’t talk as Malik and Soleil. It was as King and Sunny.
K: Send me something to get me through the day, Sunny Girl.
SG: Someone could see it. What if you get hacked?
K: Private server, remember? I promise I won’t let anything happen to it.
It took her a while of hemming and hawing, but when she finally responded, I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. She was beautiful. Her small breasts, perky and round, sat in full view. Her small waist and creamy skin were flawless. Her face was covered by the phone, but I had a feeling that was intentional. No matter. I have every line of her face memorized.
And my sweet Sunny Girl was growing braver every day. It was later that night when she made a request of her own.
SG: So are you going to share or is this a me give and you take, thing?
The smile on my face was huge and my dick was instantly hard. I was only too happy to oblige her request which garnered a response from her that said, “ Oh heaven help me. ”
It’s now an hour before I’m set to pick her up and I’ve been ready since two p.m. Pacing my house, checking my hair and outfit over and over. I was tempted to go to her and just sit and watch from the shadows. I wanted to watch the way she combed her hair. Would she stress over what to wear, not realizing I’d take her in ratty sweats and bare feet?
I want Soleil any way she wants, and any way I can have her.
Stomping over to the back porch once more, I decide I need a little reprieve from my reeling mind.
Me: Hi Soleil. Is everything still good for seven?
It’s a shit question and a fucking weak excuse for texting, but I need to hear from her. I want to be with her. This waiting all day has been horrible for my sanity.
Soleil: Yes. Seven is still good. I’m looking forward to it.
Me: Me, too. See you soon.
With a wide smile I hit send and grab the flowers for her and my truck keys. I’ll waste some time driving around. Or maybe I’ll just park down the street and watch her house until five minutes before I’m set to pick her up. Which is exactly what I do.
The sun is beginning to drop but it still lights the day, casting bright orange rays like flames licking across the sky. I pull my truck several houses down since it’s too recognizable, and turn off the engine. Bushes line the yards, obscuring my view of Soleil’s house, so instead I pull out my phone and tap at my folders. I find the one I’m looking for and press play.
I watch as Soleil’s beautiful body comes undone. The way her skin blushed as she got closer to her release has me adjusting my pants. Her mouth hangs open and breathy mewls spill from her lips. She’s absolutely perfect.
I didn’t tell her, but I recorded our night because I knew it would be one that I wouldn’t just want to remember. I want to watch her, witness her beauty, over and over again. And since last Sunday, that’s exactly what I’ve done.
I get lost in reliving the moments when the spell is broken by the buzzing of my watch. Six-fifty. The alarm I set to keep me on track goes off and I quickly close out, then roll my way to her house.
My nerves begin to set in as I reach for the flowers and step out. I smooth my hand over my shirt, having opted for casual with black jeans and a black button up shirt, and pull my sunglasses off my face. With a trembling finger, I press the doorbell and wait.
Can it really be that this is the first actual date I’ve been on in years? For far too long, my nights with women have consisted of picking them up at the bar and taking them home for a night of fun. I can’t remember the last time I picked a woman up at her house and took her to dinner.
I play the good guy –which I mostly am– but deep down, I’m just as slimy as Danté. I use women for a quick fuck, once maybe twice, and then I’m done with her. That’s how it’s always been. It’s all we’ve ever known. But seeing Henny with Dagen makes me want more. And Soleil coming along tells me now is the right time.
I hear the locks clicking followed by the door slowly swinging open. When Soleil stands in full view, my tongue rolls back into my throat and I choke. Like literally, I start choking.
“Oh goodness. Are you okay?” Soleil steps out onto the porch where I stand and starts patting my back as I continue to cough, spittle flying everywhere.
I nod and put a hand over my mouth to catch any from hitting her face. “I’m okay. Sorry.”
She rubs a soft hand over my back then pulls away like a snake bit her. “Would you like some water?”
“Sure. That would be great.” She smiles shyly and steps through the front door and I follow.
My eyes travel around the space, taking in the plush sofa and colorful accents. Pictures of a smiling Dahlia and Soleil hang on walls and sit on tables. It’s warm and comforting and exactly what I hope to have one day. And I don’t mean the decor. I mean the family.
“Flat water okay?” She asks.
“Yes. Thank you.” I walk into the kitchen and stand at the island. “These are for you. And these are for Dahlia.” I hold out the two bundles of flowers I brought.
A larger one of purple Anemones that Dagen told me to get, because I have no clue about flowers and would’ve just purchased a basic bouquet of roses. And a smaller bouquet made up of brightly colored Dahlias for…well, for Dahlia.
She passes me the water, her eyes freezing on the flowers as her hand floats to the granite counter.
“Oh,” is all she says.
Way to give a guy a complex . I crack open the lid and suck down a big gulp.
“If you don’t like them, it’s okay. You can toss them out, or whatever you like.” I shrug and look down at my hands that grip around the plastic bottle.
“No. It’s not that. It’s just…” She takes a deep breath and fingers the delicate petals of one light purple flower. “Dahlia doesn’t know we’re going out.”
“Ouch,” I say, not realizing it wasn’t just in my head.
“I’m sorry. I don’t want her to get any ideas, you know. I mean, she already talks about you constantly. She is completely smitten with you. If she knew we were going out tonight, she’d start telling the world we’re getting married. That’s how her little mind works.”
“Would that really be so bad?” I ask her and she passes me a displeased look. “You’re right. I apologize. And I understand. Why don’t you just tell her you bought them. No need to explain beyond that.”
She chews on her bottom lip, considering my words, and smiles. “Yeah. Okay. I’ll say that. And thank you. These are stunning. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
Her fingers ghost over the shades of purple she holds in her hand, and inspects all the details.
“Like you.” Her brown eyes meet mine and I hold her gaze, letting her know that for me, she is the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
With the clearing of her throat, she quickly changes direction. “Is this okay? I wasn’t sure what to wear since you didn’t tell me where we’re going.”
She motions her hand down her body clothed in straight leg jeans and wine colored satin-like blouse. The dark merlot color next to her ivory skin and black hair make her look like a decadent dessert.
“You look gorgeous.” Her cheeks blush and she drops her head. “Do you have an extra pair of shoes you can bring? Some flats or sneakers?”
Soleil scrunches her eyebrows and tilts her head. “Yes, but…why?”
With a confident smile I tell her, “I may not be able to beat you at a game of pool, so tonight we play on my turf.”
The smell of gasoline floats through the air, and the sound of revving engines drown out the chance of having any private conversation. Add to that the helmets we both wear and I’m screaming at the top of my lungs.
“Are you having fun?” I yell over to Soleil who sits in her own go-kart.
She smiles wide and nods. “So much! Want to go another round? Maybe you can beat me this time.”
I give her a faux snarl and add in a wink. I thought bringing Soleil to a race track would help me redeem myself and keep my man card firmly in my grip after the spanking she gave me at pool. Little did I know that the sweet thing also kicks ass at go-kart.
She takes the corners perfectly and just when I think I’ve got the jump on her, she floors it and pulls ahead, beating me to the finish line once more.
“You’re going down, doll face. Let’s go.” This time, she winks at me and turns her attention to the track.
I signal to the track operator that we’re ready to go once more and he guides us to the start line. The little light sits on red as the countdown begins. When the last beep sounds and the green light flashes, we take off. Only I move slower and let her fly right out of the gate.
She’s focused, taking turns in a steady precision, and speeding up on the straightaways. At one point she looks to her right to see that I’m not on her tail. Her head spins around to search for me, and that’s when I make my move.
I take advantage of her momentary lapse in focus and fly by her. She tries to recover but over-corrects on a turn that sends her careening into the tire bumpers. After that, I don’t look back until I reach the checkered flag.
I’m climbing out, pulling off my helmet, when she finally comes to a stop. She reaches the parking bay and the attendant rushes to help her out. I promptly push him aside and do it myself.
She places her hand in mine and carefully stands. “You cheated,” she pouts.
I unbuckle her helmet and pull it off as she tames the hair that clings to it with static.
“No way, sweetheart. I never cheat. I simply saw my opening and took it. I can’t help it if you were distracted by my beauty.” I arch a brow and she playfully slaps at my chest.
I capture her hands and hold them to my beating heart as it thunders inside of my chest. I hope she knows that every thump-thump has her name on it. My thumb smooths over the back of her hand and I want so badly to take her lips with mine. But a noisy race track with dozens of onlookers is not the moment I want her to remember.
“Need some refreshments?” I ask her.
“I could use a cold drink.” She’s breathless but I don’t think it has anything to do with the race.
I drop one hand but keep the other securely in mine and pull her to the snack bar. I squeeze and feel her fingers tighten their hold. I take deep breaths in and out to keep myself from throwing her up against the wall and taking what I want.
We get in line behind a group of teenagers and stand in comfortable silence. Unfortunately, our silence is broken in the worst way.
“Is that Malik Dare?” A voice that sends shivers up my spine, the kind that invokes bile to rise in your throat, calls out from behind us.
Soleil turns her head and I cautiously do the same only to find the exact person I prayed it wouldn’t be.
“Hey Mal. How are you?” The woman that makes my skin crawl reaches out to touch my arm and I flinch away from her touch.
“Hello Soria.”
I haven’t seen her since the bonfire night months ago where she tried to scare Dagen away with the little stunt she pulled with Henny. The one Danté put her up to and the one that almost sent Dagen running without looking back. Thank god she and Henny are both too strong-willed and passionate to let an evil woman between them.
“How’s Hendrix? I haven’t seen him around much.” She runs her tongue across her lip as if it’s a move that could get me to beg for a taste.
Not a chance .
“He lives in Texas most of the time.” The line inches forward and I turn my attention away from her.
“Texas? Why?”
“His girl. That’s why.”
I can feel the heat of her anger as it pours out of her. “And is this your girl?”
I tug Soleil closer, urging her to not pay any mind as we reach the front of the line. “Yup. Have a good one Soria.”
I dismiss her and order us a couple of drinks and snacks, then quickly step aside to the pickup window and far away from that she-devil.
“Sorry about that. Soria’s a horrible person and I didn’t want to subject you to her word vomit.” She looks up at me with so many questions swirling in her eyes. “She was a one time hookup with Hendrix, and she’s been trying to squirm her way back into his life, and bed, ever since.”
“Oh.” Her eyes veer from my face to my necklace that hangs.
“She pulled some shit one night during a beach bonfire and tried to send Dagen packing. It almost worked, but Henny was already so hung up on Day that all she did was drive them closer together. I never touched her. Wouldn’t if the fate of the world rested in my hands.”
She meets my eyes again and gives her head a little shake. “It’s okay. It’s none of my business.”
I run my finger lightly across her jaw to her ear and trace the shell. “I want to make it your business. I want you to know everything about me and be a part of my life. And not just as my students' parents.”
“Malik. I–” My name is called and I close my eyes, frustrated that we’ve been interrupted.
I grab our stuff, not allowing her to carry anything, and guide us over to a table. She sits and I place her stuff down then sit closely beside her.
“Continue. Please,” I urge her.
She sips from her soda and I watch the way her pink lips wrap around the straw. I grow hot and under the table, my dick grows hard.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Her words break my revelry.
“Why?”
She brings her hand to her mouth and begins biting her thumb. “Well you know. Because of Dahlia and school. I think it would just be too complicated.”
I gently pull her hand away from her mouth and turn her face to look at me. “I don’t think you mean that. Your words hold no conviction. They’re what you think you should say, but I can tell they’re not what you want to say. Be honest with me. Do you think about me at night, Soleil? Do I ever cross your mind?”
Her lips begin rubbing together and I watch her pupils grow wide. I see the way her pulse jumps in her neck. Her breathing hitches and I bet if I ripped her blouse open wide, her nipples would be hard.
“Because I think of you constantly. That day you were late and showed up in those shorts and your shirt let me catch just a sliver of your skin…I replay the way you looked over and over at night. The day at the beach. The afternoon with my friends where you fit right in. They’re all little snapshots in my album of you that I can’t get out of my head.”
My crazy is out in full effect and she’s either going to run and pull her daughter out of myclass, or tell me I drive her equally insane and that we’re a perfect match. How I hope it’s the latter.
“I-I do think of you. But I also think about how complicated it would all be. How confusing it could be for Dahlia. Malik, in case you haven’t noticed, that little girl clings to you like you’re a lifeline. She needs you, as her teacher and a role model to look up to. I’d be a horrible mother if something bad happened and I took that away from her”
I rest my hand on her cheek and soothe away her fears. “Nothing will happen. I won’t let it.”
Our eyes lock, mine begging her to give in and let this happen, and hers full of doubt. The moment draws on and with each passing second, and my hope that she’ll be mine fades.
“Will you let me think about it? I’m really enjoying our time tonight, but Dahlia is my priority. And at the end of the day, she comes first.”
I’ll take it as a win because at least it’s not no. “Of course. I wouldn’t want you to make any decision, especially one like this, on a whim. Dahlia should come first, and I too want the best for her. Just know that I realize you’re a package deal, and I want both of you. All of you.”
The smile that crosses her face, sends hope blooming inside of me. While this wasn’t the place I wanted it to happen, the moment is just right.
I lean forward, inching bit by bit, and wait for her to pull away. She doesn’t and neither do I. Pressing my lips gently to hers, I blow out the tense breath I was holding, expecting her to put a stop to my advances.
She feels so good, so soft. Her lips are cold from the drink, and I long for her to part her lips so I can have a taste. Just one small taste is all I need to know that she’s the one I’ll want to drink from every day.
I let my fingers graze her cheek and the slightest of moans escapes and dances across my mouth. Before releasing her, I lightly lick the seams of her lips, leaving her wanting more. Hoping she wants more.
“Do you wanna get out of here?” Our eyes are still closed and our mouths are mere centimeters apart.
“Yes.” Her breathy voice barely makes it to my ears. “After I beat you again.”
I throw my head back in laughter and pull her into my arms. “Oh you think you can beatme again, huh?”
She nods, her smile bright, and says, “Yup. I know your tricks and I won’t be fooled again. Scared?”
“Never.”