24. Talia
TALIA
ONE MONTH LATER
I hit send on the email and leaned back in my seat. I spun around and took in my new office that overlooked Downtown Cherokee Springs. While I didn’t have to come into the office, and I could work from home, it was nice to come in at least a couple of times a week and build the bond that I’d started building with my co-workers.
Everyone had been nice, welcoming, and excited to hear my ideas about the new column. So far, we had a huge following, and I had just finished the article for our first contest.
My stomach growled, and I looked at the time just as Kenyatta poked her head into my office.
“You got a minute?”
“Sure,” I confirmed as she walked inside and took a seat on the arm of the chair across from my desk.
“I know that you said you were going to reveal your identity, and the plan was to reveal it in two years after the column had been going strong. I was wondering if you might reconsider doing that sooner?”
“How soon?”
“Uhm, like in one year?”
I frowned. “What’s happening in one year?”
“Asante informed me that the James Beard Foundation requested us to nominate one of our reporters to be an emcee at next year’s awards show. We both instantly thought of you, but she didn’t want to accept the opportunity until after we ran it by you.”
“Oh, wow. Where’s Asante?”
Kenyatta glanced at her watch and stated, “Hopefully boarding her plane for vacation with her husband to Aruba right now.”
“Gotcha.”
“We had one of our famous on-the-run meetings.”
I giggled. “You mean the ones where she’s speed walking down the hallway to her car, and you’re chasing after her, throwing ideas at her, and picking up the suggestions she tosses back?”
Kenyatta tossed her long hair over one shoulder, folded her arms, and stated, “Exactly.”
She smiled, and her dimple winked as she shook her head.
“You two are a phenomenal pair, though. This magazine is amazing because of the way you two work.”
“This magazine is amazing because of our staff, people like you. We would have nothing without you and all the other writers and staff, Talia. I’m so grateful that you reconsidered.”
“As am I. Thank you all for being so understanding.”
She waved a hand at me. “Girl, please. Love gets the best of all of us at one point in time or another.”
“Don’t I know it?”
“So, your answer?”
“Uhm…let me talk it over with my sweetheart, and I’ll get back to you. How’s a couple of days from now sound?”
“Sounds perfect to me,” she agreed and stood from the arm of the chair she had perched on just as another knock sounded at my door.
“Well, seems like you’re a busy lady. I’ll let you get to it.”
Kenyatta pulled the door open, and to my surprise, Izael stood on the other side with flowers in one hand and a blanket in the other.
“What’s that for?” I asked, and Kenyatta looked between the two of us, smiled, winked, and stated, “Have fun, kids.”
She pranced out of the office, and Izael walked in. He set the blanket on the chair Kenyatta had just abandoned.
“These are for the beautiful lady in my life,” Izael explained and handed me the bouquet of tulips.
I sniffed them and looked up at him. “They’re so beautiful and smell wonderful. Thank you, baby. But why?”
“Because I love you? Do I need a reason why?”
“No. You don’t. But the blanket?”
“Well, it’s a little after six, and I was hoping that you would be ready to check out of here and join me across the street for a picnic in the park. It’s wine down Wednesday.”
“Oh, that’s right. They’ve got jazz artists over there.”
“Exactly. And they’ve got food vendors and a wine bar.”
“Well, let’s go. But I need to find somewhere to put these first,” I stated, holding the flowers up.
“Amerie is on her way in here. She saw me on the way in and rushed to the breakroom to get a vase for you,” he stated, referring to our receptionist.
I shut my computer down and gathered my things just as Amerie showed up.
“Here, let me take those for you. I’ll trim the stems and put them in water for you. They’ll be sitting on your desk when you return in the morning,” Amerie explained.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” I replied.
“Honey, thank that good man you’ve got,” she stated with a wink.
I smiled at Izael, who smiled back at me. He took my hand, grabbed the blanket, and led me out and down the hallway to the front doors. Within half an hour, we had grabbed a couple of hot dogs, some chips, and wine, and we were settled on our blanket toward the rear of the park.
Jazz music played, and a soft, gentle breeze wrapped around us. I discovered that Izael had two blankets. We sat on the biggest, fluffiest one, and he used the other one to lay across my lap. I wasn’t sure why because it wasn’t cold. It was the middle of June, and although it wasn’t scorching hot, I definitely didn’t need a blanket, but I didn’t question it.
“How are you feeling about not winning the James Beard award?” I asked when we had finished our food.
He had gone to Chicago a little over a week ago for the ceremony. I wasn’t able to attend with him because I was just starting my role at Bold Beautiful Black Girl magazine.
“I’m good, baby. I told you that I was.”
“I know, but still, I worry about the damage that I caused.”
“You didn’t cause any damage. You opened our eyes to a few things, and I don’t doubt with all the changes that Chef Caesar implemented we will get it next year.”
“I hope so.”
“Don’t worry about all that. Come here and give your man some love,” he stated and patted his lap.
I crawled onto his lap, and he wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. Izael pulled the blanket on me once more as we listened to the smooth sounds of Candy Dulfer as she showcased her expertise on the saxophone.
Izael bunched the skirt of my sundress up in his fingers and slid his other hand up my thigh. When his fingers reached the edge of my panties, I giggled.
“Okay, sir. Now, I understand the purpose of the blanket in this weather.”
“Definitely plan to bring you all the pleasure,” he murmured as he kissed my neck and slipped his fingers into my pussy.
“Zae, people are going to know what we’re doing.”
“How?” he asked with his lips pressed against my neck and then lightly sucked there.
“Because I can’t hold back my moans when you make me feel this way. You know I’m loud and that I’m a screamer.”
“Then don’t scream, baby,” he stated and pushed his fingers deeper inside of me.
My fingers clutched the edge of the blanket, and I bit my bottom lip, trying to hold my moans inside. He continued working me over until I threw my arms up and behind me to loop around his neck.
“The way you arching that back with them titties in the air, everybody’s gonna know what we’re doing.”
“Mmm.”
“If they can’t tell by that moan. They’ll know if you don’t open your eyes,” Izael whispered and shoved another finger inside of me.
My eyes flew open because somehow he had fit four fingers in me, and he pulled them in and out repeatedly until I released on his fingers.
“Zae!” I shrieked, overwhelmed by the emptiness I felt without his fingers.
“Just wanted to make sure that you were paying attention,” he teased.
I sat forward a little and watched as he sucked his fingers clean and winked at me.
“You’re no good.”
“Mm. Is that what you tell the man who’s about to make you explode in this park?”
“You’re not playing fair.”
“Am I? Just trying to satisfy my urges too.”
“I mean, you can always take me home and get more of me.”
“Oh, trust me. I plan on doing that too. But the way you was working that back and clenching that pussy around my fingers made me experience FOMO like a muthafucka.”
“Well, sir, could you please finish what you started?” I begged.
“Here. Lay back, and let me help you unwind.”
I did as he told me and splayed my legs wide on either side of his legs. This time, Izael rubbed my clit softly until it almost drove me crazy with need. My belly ached with need, and my pussy clenched with desire.
I wanted more. As if he could read my thoughts, Izael buried two fingers inside of me while he rubbed my clit with his thumb. I jerked my hips forward as he scissored his fingers inside of me. The feeling of completeness that washed over me with his fingers inside of me, his thumb on my button, and his lips on my neck was insane.
I was overwhelmed, and my body was so sensitive to his touch I could no longer hold back. I bit my lip as I moaned and whimpered before I told him, “I’m about to cum, Zae.”
“I’m right here to catch you when you fall, baby. Give it to me.”
“Zae.”
“Hmm?”
“I can’t…I can’t.”
“Yes, you can, baby. Just let go. Right here.”
Strangers were all around us, dancing and swaying to the sound of the saxophone and other musical instruments by the other musicians on stage with Candy Dulfer. I knew they weren’t paying any attention to me, but I didn’t care if they were. This was all that mattered to me, right here and now. Connecting and unwinding with the man of my dreams was the perfect climax, literally and metaphorically, to a long, exhausting day.
He pulled his fingers out of me and asked, “You want to taste?”
I gripped his hand and sucked his fingers clean. I moaned at the taste of my essence that coated his fingers.
“Talia?”
“What?”
“You nasty, baby.”
I smacked his thigh, and we laughed as he pulled me tighter in his embrace. He turned my head sideways, kissed my lips, and pressed my mouth until I opened for him. Our kiss was passionate, warm, and slow, much like the day had been.
When we finished kissing, I replied, “And you love every little nasty part of me.”
“Damn right, I do.”