Twenty-Two
TWENTY-TWO
MALIK
This weekend was amazing. My date with Soleil turned into some fun with King and Sunny Girl, but the best part was hearing my name, Malik, knowing I’m really the one she’s thinking of. She may be orgasming from King’s words, but it’s my face she sees.
I stand lost in my thoughts as students begin filing in until I see her. She’s holding Dahlia’s hand and smiling big as she looks down at her daughter. When she spots me, the smile turns flirtatious and she tries to bite it back, something she seems to do quite often around me.
“Good morning, Dahlia,” I greet them when they come to a stop.
“Hi Mr. Dare! I got to see Auntie Kyle ‘cause Mom went on a date or somethin’.”
“Dahlia.” Soleil’s voice is shocked filled and I can only assume it’s because she never mentioned it to her. “Why do you say that? I told you I was going to see a friend.”
“Well Auntie Kyle said she’s your only friend, and that you were going to see a boy. That means a date.” Dahlia nods her head, stating it as a fact and wondering why her mother is having difficulty understanding that.
“Looks like I owe Auntie Kyle a phone call this morning.”
“Oh. And there were flowers. Boys bring girls flowers when they go on a date,” Dahlia adds.
Soleil folds her lips together and looks from her daughter to me, and I stand with a smug smile and arms folded.
“Sounds like you had an interesting weekend, Ms. Brooks.” She turns red and I can’t help but think about the way her cheeks blushed when I –King– told her she was beautiful.
“Hey Soleil.” Our interlude is shattered by a man who may find his tires slashed one morning.
“Oh. Good morning, Wesley.” Soleil is polite but stand-offish and it makes me want to rub it in that fuckers face.
She’s mine, dickwad .
His face reads a little irritated and I can only assume he heard our conversation. Dahlia wasn’t exactly being quiet.
“So you had a date this weekend. Is that why I didn’t hear from you?” He pats his son on the head and shoos him off without a single goodbye or have a good day.
“Um, I–”
“That is an inappropriate remark, Mr. Collier, and to be honest it’s none of your business.” Soleil’s eyes look cartoonish as they grow in size, while Wesley snarls at me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this was any of your concern.” His tone is condescending like I’ll back down to him simply because he’s a parent.
He has no clue who he’s fucking with, and I’ll show him who I am if he gets out of line with Soleil.
“Well, seeing as you interrupted a conversation and did so in front of the children, I’d say it most definitely is my concern. Dahlia,” I squat down and come face to face with her. “Would you please get the coloring sheets from the basket on my desk and pick a friend to help you pass them out?”
She looks a little nervous being caught in this tense conversation.
“Yes, Mr. Dare.”
I lean forward and whisper in her ear, “Make sure to give your mom a big hug and kiss. I think she’ll need extra today.”
This has her nodding with a giant smile. She wraps her arms around Soleil’s legs and catches her off-guard. But when she bends to scoop Dahlia up, the sweet girl begins laying sloppy kisses all over her mom’s face.
“Dahlia. What are you doing?” Soleil laughs, eyes closed and enjoying the affection.
“I just love you. Have a good day, Mommy.”
Soleil kisses Dahlia and sets her on her feet. “I love you too, little dove. Be good today.”
“I always am, Mommy. Mr. Dare said I’m the best at being good.” She waves and skips into the classroom, leaving Soleil and I laughing.
Wesley, on the other hand, is anything but amused. He glares at me and I can only imagine he’s hoping I will self-implode.
“Sorry, Wesley. My, uh, boyfriend,” Soleil flashes her eyes to me quickly and nervously. “And I had plans.”
I shove my hands into my pockets and pinch my leg to stop from shouting in your face, douchebag .
“I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend.” He crosses his arms over his chest and arches a questioning brow.
“It’s pretty new,” she explains.
“Is he that fellow I met at the beach when I ran into you and Dahlia?” My smug smile stretches.
Through gritted teeth and a tight smile she mumbles, “Mhmm.”
“Huh. Seemed like a nice guy. Friendly. Good looking, if I do say so myself.”
Her jaw twitches as she fights back a laugh and I love it.
“Well. I guess another time, then.” Wesley eyes me, then turns his attention to Soleil as he rakes his gaze up and down her body.
It’s obvious and lewd and if we weren’t in the presence of children, I’d shove my fist right through his mouth.
“Have a good day, Mr. Collier,” I say, effectively dismissing him and ending his gawking.
The sneer he gives me is a deadly one but I am left standing next to the beauty we both admire as he walks away.
When he’s out of sight, I lean into Soleil and whisper in her ear, “So you have a boyfriend, huh?”
An elbow flies back and jabs me in the stomach and I oompf.
“I can’t believe you said that. I can’t believe I said that. He’s just so annoying and persistent.”
“And it seems he doesn’t quite get the hint. Hopefully he does now.” She shakes her head with a soft laugh and our eyes hold. “Does what you said mean you’re going to give me a chance?”
“It means, I’m leaning more decidedly in your favor. But I need a bit more time.”
“I’ll take it.” It’s as close to a yes that I’ll get right now and I see that as a win.
The bell rings before I can say anymore and Soleil startles.
“I better go. Have a good day, Mr. Dare.”
“Have a good day, Sunny.” She freezes and I immediately recognize my mistake.
But in order to save the moment, I don’t make a move or break my face. I stay steadfast and make no indication about my flub. She studies me for a moment then waves and walks away. I breathe relief when she doesn’t put it together and remind myself to be more cautious.
I’ll make sure to check on her tonight. Message her as King, asking for something indecent, then as Malik, telling her how beautiful she looked today. That should put an end to any connection.
I watch her laugh as she talks on the phone. I don’t know who sits on the other end, but the person makes her feel light and carefree. Her legs are tucked underneath her in the plush chair and her lean legs grab my attention. She shivers and wraps the blue cardigan tighter around her.
The temperature is starting to drop in the evenings as we get closer to the official start of fall. With the way the weather spins here in the south, you could be sweating while dressed in shorts during the day but by nine pm, you’re reaching for sweatpants and your favorite slippers.
She stands from her seat and ends the conversation. When she walks closer to the front window, I duck down further into the hedge and wait for her to turn off the lamp. The lights darken as she moves through the house, turning them off to what I assume is going to bed.
I creep through the front yard, staying low and hidden, to the side of the house and around the back where I know her bedroom is. I wait for the light to flip on then slowly rise to peek inside. She does her usual change routing of changing into a nightgown, washing her face and brushing her teeth, then slides under her crisp white sheets.
Her bed looks cozy and heavenly, but maybe that’s because she’s lying in it. I envision falling asleep with her in my arms, feeling the warmth of her body, and waking up to fucking her. Breakfast as a family, laughing with Dahlia and kissing my girl when we head off to school. But my favorite dream is the one of her lying on her back in the bright sun, trees swaying and birds singing, as I smooth circles over her extended belly that carries our child.
It’s a wish I want more than life. I want Dahlia to call me dad, and I want to be the one to walk her down the aisle one day. I want to wipe away my tears when she walks across that big stage on her graduation day. And one day, far into the future, I want to sit next to my love, watching our grandchildren play and thinking about what a wonderful life we have.
I’m so lost in my fantasies that I barely notice the lamp flick off and the room go dark. It concerns me that she sleeps with her blinds open. She has large windows that face the backyard, and anyone could look over the wood fence and see right in.All it takes is one creep to find out she lives alone with a small child and they can be in her house in a flash.
The thought has me in a panic and I decide to do a check of her backyard. I check the gate which I know isn’t locked because I’ve been able to open it easily without being seen. I walk all along the perimeter, searching for loose boards or peep holes that some pervert might use to spy on her. I make mental notes of what to bring up to her in a not so obvious way to get her thinking about these security measures. I wonder if she has an alarm and what side of the house Dahlia’s room is.
I rush to the side of the house and look through the window that is always dark when I pass by, and squint through the blinds that are tipped just slightly open. I spot a small night light that is nothing but a dim light from where I stand, but I use it to help me map out the room until my eyes land on a bed with the outline of a little body. While I can’t see clearly, I know it’s Dahlia.
I next move to checking that all the windows and doors are locked, carefully tugging on them. All is good until I get to a door with a full glass panel. The knob twists and I quietly push it open. Stepping inside, I find myself in the kitchen that looks out onto the living room. I hold my breath as my blood begins to bubble with anger.
How could she be so careless? She has a daughter to think of. I hope this is just a one time oversight and not something she does regularly.
I wear my riding boots and stepping across these hardwood floors would be like rolling thunder. As quietly as I can, I begin unlatching my boots. I sit on the floor like a kid and work them off until my feet yank free. My muscles are tense when I place them down and rise up on my feet.
With the lightness of a dancer, I walk through the house peering into doorways and mapping out what room is which. There’s a small guest room at the front of the house and looking in, I find that it houses her desk and computer where we’ve spent a few nights enjoying each other. Rather, where King and Sunny have enjoyed each other’s company.
I pad over to the other side of the house and see three doors. The first is Dahlia’s and she continues to sleep. The door next to hers is a bathroom. I know that Soleil’s bedroom is next and my heart begins to thud with excitement. When I see her, she’s just like a sleeping Snow White, waiting for her prince to bring her back to life. As much as I want to, I dare not kiss her.
Enough time has passed while I was inspecting the yard and windows and doors that soft snores fall from her pouty pink lips. I step further into her room and stare at her body and how the sheets cling to her the way I want to. I reach out and ghost my fingers over the hair that has fallen across her face. Her eyelashes flutter on the apples of her cheeks as she sleeps.
I wonder if she dreams of me the way I dream of her?
I lean closer and inhale her scent. She’s all warmth and jasmine, like a summer day. I trace along her neck and over her collarbone, my breath licking her skin like fire.
She moans and writhes, and her legs rub against each other while her arm stretches above her head. The sheet drops and reveals her nightgown has slightly dipped, causing the top of her pink nipple to be exposed. I gulp down and bite my tongue to stop it from peeking out to take a taste.
“Malik,” she murmurs and I freeze.
Her nipple hardens and now I know our dreams take us to the same place where we both sink into the other.
Her breathy “yes” rolls through my soul, hitting me deep. Before I can stop myself, the tip of my tongue swipes across her peaked nub. I freeze when I realize what I’ve done and stand with bated fear that she will wake. Goosebumps dot her flesh and she moans while sliding her hand beneath the covers.
I watch the outline as it slithers to her aching core like a snake searching for the forbidden fruit. Her hand moves, working to fill the void of where I should be. Where she needs me. With an unhurried pace, I tug the sheet off of her and let my eyes drink in the way she rubs and plunges her fingers into her needy cunt. I’ve let myself come this far, so I excuse what I do next.
My hand fights through the stiff material of my riding pants until it grips my hard dick. I pick up the cadence Soleil has set and jerk myself to the same beat, pretending it’s her wet pussy gripped around me. When she rubs faster, my hand squeezes harder. And when her breath changes, short and shallow, I work myself over until I feel cum start to leak from my dick. Her back arches off the bed and her fingers disappear inside of her sweet cunt and I fill my pants with my orgasm.
Soleil’s body grows lax and her face looks peaceful as she rolls over. I take my free, clean hand and pull the sheet up to where it was before and take one last look at my beauty. I back out of the room, one hand still holding on to my cum soaked and now flaccid dick, stepping softly.
When I reach the kitchen where I left my shoes, I look around for something I can wipe my hand with. The counter is free of paper towels, where one might expect to see them, and I can’t even find a napkin. There is only one option that I can spot and I don’t know if I can bring myself to do it, but the thought of riding home like this really isn’t an option.
With a sigh, I cross the kitchen and snatch the dish towel that hangs from the handle of the oven. I shove it down my pants and wipe up what I can manage, then clean off my hand that is now beginning to dry. There’s no way in hell I’m putting my hand into my gloves like that.
Deciding to put my shoes on outside, I scoop them up and with the ease of a mouse tiptoeing past an angry cat, slip out the door, flip the lock on the knob, and close it. I have to tug at it a little harder than I would like, but with the knob being locked in its position, I don’t have a choice.
I hastily slide my shoes back on and scurry down the side of the house, remembering to grab my helmet and gloves from where I placed them next to the porch, and out onto the street where my bike is parked. Everything gets put into place and I fire up my bike and speed off.
I ride home on a high, and sticky pants, replaying the look on my girl’s face when she came. One day, I’ll get to watch the change in her eyes as she tips over the edge, riding my cock and saying my name.
One day, soon.