Chapter 5 #2
In this case, it was because although I lusted to see his muscular thighs, the jeans revealed more than enough.
On his feet were a pair of black suede designer ankle boots, and I nodded approvingly because he was giving very much BDE vibes, Big Daddy Energy.
Dressed in my usual pottery getup, I wore a red body suit, with cuffed and loose boyfriend overalls while my size fourteen figure sauntered closer to him.
I usually wore a perky smile for all my parents, but for this single father, seduction seemed to be the only ingredient I could serve up.
Maybe Temi’s advice to find my own play toy could work, and I wouldn’t have to deal with Syris’s shit so much.
Syris did permit us to have a side piece, but the men weren’t allowed anywhere near the family, unless they worked for him, and we had to have his approval.
Temi was always so cool because her personal guard, Eric, was blowing her back out every chance he got.
Sasha and Monet preferred to prowl outside of the mansion and together.
The fraternal twins were accustomed to sharing a man because that’s how Syris had groomed them.
Simultaneously, we stopped in front of each other as our eyes roamed appreciatively over one another and conveyed what we couldn’t say at the moment.
However, the message was clear; we desired one another.
Whenever he was close to me, tranquility was present.
The energy around him was peaceful and still.
It was as calm and simple as waves splashing ashore.
I wanted that feeling around me at all times.
I needed it. Fuck that, I deserved it. Holding out my hand to shake his again, Muse bypassed it and pulled me in for a hug.
While still holding MJ’s hand, his other arm wrapped around my waist, and I melted in our short embrace.
The feel of his warm lips on my earlobe produced a noteworthy shudder from me before he spoke.
“Mizz Lady,” he sang in his usual sexy and heavy island accent.
“Handshakes are for strangers. That’s clearly not us anymore.
Do you agree?” he quizzed, in a low and deep tone as we separated.
“Completely,” I agreed, then coated my lips in a seductive manner.
“Mmm. I see you like to play games, Era. Fair warning, don’t poke a sleeping bear. I’d take full responsibility for filling that gap in your heart and making that pussy leak,” he voiced for me to hear only.
“You’re a bold one, but how do you know there is one?” I queried with curiosity.
“Simple answer, you just told me by asking that question. You could have easily said you are a happily, married woman, but instead you followed up with your own question. It says a lot, trust me.”
“We’ll see about that.” I flashed him a sly grin and turned my attention to MJ.
He was pretty tall and striking like his dad, but he looked oddly familiar to me.
I wasn’t sure how that was possible, but I knew it would come to me.
“It’s very nice to meet you, MJ. My name is Era, and I’ll be your instructor until further notice. ”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Era,” he replied.
“Era is just fine, love. Let’s get you two setup and started.
Take a seat at any station you’d like.” I winked at Muse then walked in front of the class.
He couldn’t take his eyes off me, and that’s exactly how I wanted it.
Once I’d given out instructions, class started, and I helped each student and parent with the methods they needed to understand the sensory touch disorder.
I gave MJ a lot of my time because his disorder was a little more aggressive than the others.
He was going to need a lot of one-on-one time, but he showed a lot of potential.
Conditions like his took time and especially for him to be able to manage it the older he got.
As time went by, class was coming to an end.
I showed everyone where to place their soiled aprons and how to clean their hands.
Once they were done, they exited in groups while I cleaned the stations.
Footsteps in my direction prompted me to look up, and Muse was there with a grin on his striking face.
“Today went well, and I think MJ really enjoyed himself.”
I stood to my five-five height and grinned back at him. “I think so as well. He’s learning his limits with his condition and that’s a great start. I’m glad that you trusted me to work with him. I appreciate it.”
“I wanted the best, and I got it.”
Smirking at him, I put up my cleaning supplies and grabbed my items to head home. “You’re laying it on thick, but I catch your drift.”
“That’s not the only thing I’d like to pour on you, but I’ll chill out for now.”
“Please do,” I fired back and laughed. We exited my studio together, and I locked up.
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Mizz Lady. I’ll see you next week.”
“Thank you and two as well. Enjoy your weekend.” Muse and MJ walked away and strolled to his black SUV. As MJ climbed in, our eyes never strayed until Muse winked at me, then closed the door behind MJ.
“He’s going to be trouble for you, boss lady. I don’t think you should go down that road,” my bodyguard, Tyson, advised.
“Why not? Syris allows his other wives to have a side piece, so why can’t I?” I probed as I watched Muse drive away.
“Era, you know shit is different for you. I’m telling you this because we’re more like brother and sister. If you go down this path, just be prepared for a hurricane to follow.”
I looked at Tyson and smiled. “You got my back and that’s all I need.”
While Poppy sat in her favorite chair, I took my time and painted her nails and toes. She enjoyed our one-on-one time, and so did I. “So, how was your day? What did you do today?” I asked her as I added a glittery top coat to her toes.
“It was pretty good. Once I got out of school, I completed my piano lessons, then played with my siblings. How was your day?”
“It was pretty good. I helped more kids manage their touch sensory disorders.”
“Wow. Do you really like what you do?”
I paused painting her toes and looked up at her. With a wide smile on my face, I responded, “I enjoy it very much.”
Poppy cheesed in return. “It’s been a while since you brought me to the shop. Can I go back soon?” she queried as her round, honey brown eyes searched mine excitedly.
“Of course, sweetness. Your nails and toes are done, so how about we head into the family room for a movie and popcorn?”
“Sounds good to me!” she squealed.
I grinned then helped her out of her chair. I watched as she waddled into the family room because she didn’t want to ruin her toes. It was the cutest thing ever.
Once I got her comfortable and grabbed our snacks, I started our movie. We looked on and laughed together, but thirty minutes later, her head landed on my shoulder. Fifteen minutes after that, she snuggled onto my lap, and I knew Poppy had fallen asleep.
I could have woken her up then, but instead, I simply continued to watch the movie and finger comb her curls.
The feel of another presence caused the hairs on my neck to stand, and I turned to the entrance of the room.
Syris’s latest whore, who’s shit I had rocked earlier, stood there and watched me with disgust. I rolled my eyes upwards because I really didn’t want to lay hands on her again and wake up baby girl, so I chose to ignore her.
“You really should be more careful with the company that you keep. It would be a shame if Syris caught wind of the male visitor who’s been snooping around your shop with his son.”
I turned and mugged her goofy ass. “And you should mind the business that pays you instead of mine.”
“That may be true, but you should just stick with your lil pottery because we can’t have Syris dragging is favorite up the stairs and practically raping her again,” she expressed with venom as a devilish smile covered her face.
That was a real low blow. Her jab definitely inflicted the hurt she intended because Syris did me in that day, but in true boss bitch fashion, I didn’t allow her to see me waver in any kind of way.
“No, we wouldn’t want that to happen again, so how about you continue to focus on balancing his nut sack on your face while he grunts, no pussy is better than his Butterfly’s. ”
She stomped off, and I smiled and waved after her.
Although I was playing it cool, this bitch was tap dancing on my last damn nerve.
I needed to handle her fast because she was keeping tabs on me, and I didn’t like that at all.
Exhaling, I cut off our theater TV and woke Poppy up for her bath since it was getting late.
After sitting in the bathroom with Poppy while she bathed, I braided her long, dark brown curls into two long braids, then read her a bedtime story.
She was almost five and growing like a weed.
I watched as she snuggled down onto her pillow and under her cover, until she dozed off.
Creeping out of her room, Temi stood waiting for me by the staircase as she quietly waved a bottle of tequila in my face.
“It’s girls night, baby!” she sang quietly.
“Yes! Let’s go!” I replied eagerly. We walked through the mansion until we exited the kitchen back door and headed straight for the well-lit gazebo.
I sat our glasses down, and I looked at her. “Where’s Sasha and Monet?”
Temi took her seat and poured both of us a shot. “Syris called them for duty at the last minute. You know he loves fucking them together.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, there’s nothing like fucking sisters.”
Temi handed me a shot. Together, we licked the lime salt and drops of hot sauce on our hands, then tossed back our shots.
The heat from the liquor burned as it went down, but it hit the spot.
I bit into a sliced lime then leaned back into my chair.
It was such a peaceful night, and Temi followed suit as she relaxed in her chair.
“What’s new with you, sis?” she inquired, prepping our next shot.
“Between you and me, I have a crush on one of my students’ dad.”
Her eyes widened and a huge grin covered her face. “Do tell me more!”
“Well, he’s fine as hell first off. He’s quite the charmer, and his intentions seem pure. We had a brief encounter on me and Syris’s honeymoon. His brother was trying to talk to me and in typical Syris fashion, he knocked him out.”
She laughed. “Sounds about right. So, what’s his name?”
“His name is Muse Boxers, and it’s just something about him that calms me.
I’m surrounded by noisy adults and kids all day, but the moment our eyes connect, I swear all I can hear are the tranquil splashes of waves.
I want to feel that way every part of my day if I could.
” I tossed back the shot she handed me then stared out at our garden.
Temi placed down her glass and looked at the starry sky.
“That sounds a whole lot like love. Eric makes me feel that way. He’s my own escape.
Trust me when I say, there are many days I want to run away with him, but I have too much at stake and intertwined with Syris.
So, if anybody knows that feeling, I do.
I say get to know him and spend more time with him, but you know you gotta tell Syris. ”
We both exhaled because many of Syris’s laws didn’t apply to me, and I hated that shit. I was going to take the time to get to know Muse more and see how we vibed. If we showed potential, then I was going to tell Syris. I just prayed he didn’t lay hands on me.
“Sis, do you remember when Syris assaulted me and I asked why you were being nice to me and you said in due time you’ll let me know?”
Temi nodded. “I do.”
“What is it that you needed me to do?”
Temi smiled and rubbed the top of my hand. “Exactly what you’re doing now…Living.”
My face scrunched. “I don’t get it.”
“I wanted you to still live your life. Syris may call you Butterfly, but to me, you’re a real-life butterfly. I’d never seen a woman as beautiful as you, shaped curvaceous as you, and filled with so much life.
“Syris used to send images of the pottery pieces you made, and I thought wow, only someone truly special could create art so beautiful. I was born into this life. I’d never had anything special about me until Syris taught me how to run our businesses.
“Handling business is something I’m great at.
But one look at you and I saw how majestic you are and why Syris is so obsessed with you.
In the nutshell, you are a butterfly imprisoned, but you can still live.
That’s what I wanted you to do. I wanted you to live and not give in to your grief and circumstances. ”
Both of us sniffled and shared a tight embrace. “Thank you, Temi, for always being the big sister I’ve always wanted. You’ve made my stay here bearable yet comforting. I don’t know where I’ll be without your guidance, but I’m glad I chose to listen.”
“Me too, sis.” We continued to drink and enjoy our night together. I really was blessed to have Temi in my life.