12. Artez
“Am I crazy?” I asked Juliet on the phone as I pulled up to Mali’s parents’ house. We’d shared locations after our third friend date, but I still felt apprehensive about my decision because it tittered the lines of concerned boyfriend and stalker.
“No. You’re not crazy at all. It’s been almost a week since you’ve physically seen her and over three days since she’s replied to a text. It’s only right to pull up and see what’s going on.”
“Cool. I didn’t come empty-handed either. I brought her favorite tacos from the food truck we went to on our first date. I’m trying not to freak out, but man, she’s got my nerves bad.”
“Will do.”
We ended the call. I pulled out my phone for a final Hail Mary.
ME:
Hey. I haven’t heard from you in a couple of days. Are you good?
I waited a few minutes. No response. I turned the car off and got out. I had the bag of food in one hand and my phone in the other as I followed the stone path to the front door.
ME:
I’m outside. Open the door before I break it down.
The response came almost immediately.
Mali :
***
ME:
You’ve got forty-five seconds to open the door, or it’s coming down.
Once the message was sent, I put the phone in my back pocket and waited patiently. I wouldn’t actually break her parent’s front door down, but I needed to get her moving with urgency. It didn’t take long for the door to open.
She was slightly out of breath, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the tear stains on her cheeks and the redness in her eyes.
“What happened? Did someone hurt you?” My protective mode kicked in immediately.
“Flame, I-I . . .” She ran into my arms and cried. Her knees buckled in my embrace, and the food was no longer a priority. I dropped the bag and scooped her into my arms. I held her like a baby—my baby. I walked into the house and closed the door with the back of my foot.
“I got you, baby. You’re safe in my arms.” She clung to me, sobbing deep from the pit of her soul.
I didn’t care that this was her parents’ house. I climbed the stairs and searched for her room. Luckily, it was the first door I opened. I had her room memorized from the late night FaceTimes. With calculated movements, I lay on her bed and let her cry into my chest.
My heart ached at the sound of her sobs.
I didn’t move.
I barely breathed.
All I could do was hold my girl while she cried. All I could do was to be her safe space to feel her feels until she was ready to share with me. All I could do was lay beside her and pray we made it through this together.
While I rubbed her back, I tried to prepare myself for the worst. Something or someone hurt my lady, and I would be out for blood soon.
Time passed.
When she finally calmed down, she peeked up at me and sniffled.
“Hey,” I spoke first. I offered a smile.
“I got snot on your shirt. I’m sorry.” She rubbed her hand on the wet spot of my shirt.
“I don’t give a fuck about this shirt. Are you okay? Are you ready to talk about it?”
She sighed. “I guess I have to.”
“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable doing.”
“You’re right. It’ll be hard, but I don’t want to push you away anymore.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
She took a deep breath. With a quivering lip, she began.
“Last week, my ex popped up at the shop . . .” She told me everything.
From the threats, the cheating, and the possibility of an STD.
She told me about how they had done nothing intimate in over five months.
She said they spent most of their time arguing. There was no peace in her home.
I was gutted. I kept my facial features neutral as she continued. I didn’t want my shock to shut her down.
“That night, I came home and scheduled a next day full panel testing. I wanted to make sure nothing was coursing through my body without me knowing.”
“That’s the smart thing to do. I know waiting had to have been eating you up.”
“It did. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. It was a mess. The test results came back a few days ago. I have a clean bill of health. It’s only by the grace of God, really.”
“I’m happy to hear you’re free of any diseases. I want you to know I’ve got your back through any and everything. I’m your safe space. I’m your protector.”
She poked out her bottom lip and rubbed my arm. “I know. I guess it scared me to think about what would happen to our relationship if I had something.”
“It would definitely be hard to navigate, but I would for you. I’m thanking God we don’t have to go through it.”
She sniffled. “You’re a good man, Flame.”
“I am, but I’m also human. Part of me wants to find your ex and kill him with my bare hands. He hurt you in ways you should never have experienced. He deserves to be eaten by maggots.”
“He’s not worth you losing your freedom.”
“You deserve justice. The only way a nigga like him learns his lesson is if he meets a real man not afraid to put him in his place.”
She cupped my face and rubbed her thumb against my cheek. “I don’t want you to think about that anymore.”
I closed my eyes and took several calming breaths. I wanted that nigga’s head on a stick, but I wanted to make sure Mali was good too.
“I’m gon’ chill for now. One more instance with that nigga and all bets are off.”
She giggled. “Okay. That’s fair.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips against hers. I missed the feel of her lips against mine. “Never let us go this long without kissing again, you hear me?”
“Yes.” She smiled and pecked my lips several times.
“I got us some tacos, but I dropped them on the front porch. Are you hungry? Do you want me to go get you something to eat?” I asked as I rubbed my hands along the curves of her body.
“Can you do me a favor instead?”
“Whatever you need, I got you.”
“Can you take the pain away? Can you make the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak leave my body? Can you make me forget how insane I felt for ignoring what my woman intuition told me all along?” The passion in her tone took me aback. The request felt beyond my scope of skills at the moment.
“How do you want me to take the pain away, baby?”
“Make love to me.”
Shit.
I searched her eyes for any sign of joking. There was nothing but seriousness and determination in her gaze. I sat up and pressed my back against the headboard. I pulled her onto my lap and gazed into her pretty brown eyes.
“Are you sure this is what you want? I don’t want to feast upon your body, and you regret it afterwards.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’ve never wanted something more in my life. I pinky promise I won’t regret it after.”
“There’s no going back. I won’t be able to stop until I’ve memorized every part of your body, inside and out.”
Her hips rocked slightly in my lap. The friction and warmth radiating off her pussy had my dick hardening in my pants. She needed me, and I needed her.
“Just be gentle with me.”
“Always.”
My hands snaked around her waist and slid down the curve of her ass. Even in the boy shorts she wore, I got a great feel of her soft body. I started off with light kisses against her neck while my hands familiarized themselves with every inch of her.
“Mmm.” Mali tilted her head back and moaned.
“Stand up and take those clothes off.” The demand came with several kisses.
“Oop. Yes, sir. I have to turn on some music, though. Don’t need my parents hearing anything we’re about to do.”
I chuckled as she stood up and sauntered over to the door.
She twisted the lock and turned on her Bluetooth speaker.
She turned on the music, and the melodic sounds filled the silence.
She tugged off her T-shirt and shorts. Her naked body was beautiful.
The stretch marks on her stomach, thighs, and ass were mesmerizing.
She closed the distance between us as I stood up to remove my clothes.
As my pants pooled around my ankles, she gasped.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I stepped out of the pile of clothes and pulled my shirt over my head.
“I knew it was big, but I didn’t know it was that big. I don’t know if I could handle all of that.”
I smirked. “I know how to maximize your pleasure without hurting you, baby. I’ll stretch and prep you well before I put this dick in you.”
“Okay. Where do you want me?” She looked at me as she fiddled with her fingernails.
“Face down on the bed. Toot that ass up so I can eat it from the back.”
“You’re so vulgar during sex, oh my goodness.” She moved past me and climbed onto the bed. She grabbed a pillow to bite on while she lifted her hips into the air and gave her ass a good wiggle.
Smack!
I gave her ass a good spanking and massaged the area to ease the pain.
“I thought I told you to be gentle.” She whimpered as she angled her head to glare at me.
“I am, but my intrusive thoughts won.”
“You’re a—mmm.”
I cut her complaint short as I spread her ass cheeks and placed my tongue on her pussy. I marveled at the sweetness of her juices against my tastebuds. She tried to run, but I held her in place. I ate her pussy from the back like it was my last meal.
“You taste better than I ever imagined.”
“Thanks,” she replied through moans.
While I ate her pussy, I applied pressure to her booty hole with my thumb.
“Oh!” She yelped in surprise. The addition of my thumb while my tongue flicked her throbbing bead, had her squirting her juices all over my beard.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I asked as I licked my lips and stood at the foot of the bed.
“For the mess on your face.”
“Baby, this won’t be the last time you squirt on my face. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
She smiled. “Good. Me too.”
I grabbed her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the bed.
I spread her legs and trailed kisses up the length of her inner thigh and up her stomach, before I pulled one nipple into my mouth.
While I sucked on her titties, I slid my middle finger into her warmth.
I massaged her pussy, digging deep inside of her to prep her for my length.
I wanted the foreplay to last as long as possible, but we were both anxiously awaiting the first stroke.
“Lay on your back for me, beautiful. I want to see your face when I fill you with this dick,” I commanded.
She didn’t say a word as she moved around the bed until she was in a comfortable position on her back.
I climbed into bed and pressed my knees into the mattress.
I spread her legs and stared at the dripping wet pussy waiting for me.
With one fluid motion, I rubbed my tip against her entrance.
I plunged into her, taking us to a point of no return.
Her warmth greeted me and introduced me to the wetness of her walls. Her pussy hugged me like I was always meant to be here.
Don’t bust quick.
Don’t bust quick.
“Fuck.”
“Shit.”
We cussed in unison. I hovered over her, burying my face in the crook of her neck. Then the fun began. Inch by inch, I filled her with my length. Her pussy welcomed me with open arms, begging me to give it all to her.
“Oh!” She was breathless as she massaged her fingers at the nape of my neck. I loved the way her fingernails felt on my skin. The feeling made me calm, no matter where we were or what we were doing.
“I got you. You set the pace, baby. You tell me when you’re ready.”
I waited on bated breath for her to give me the go ahead. I trailed kisses along the length of her neck as she wrapped her legs around me, locking her feet by the ankles.
“I’m . . . I’m ready.”
Greenlight.
Slowly, I pulled back, only leaving the tip before pushing back into her. I repeated the action again.
And again.
And again.
“Mmm, shit. Just like that, baby. Just . . . ooo.”
“You like it?”
“I love it. I love it so much,” she cried out.
“Shh. You got to be quiet. I don’t want your parents hearing this.” I smirked.
“I’m trying to,” she whined.
I stuck my tongue in her mouth to muffle her moans as I stroked into her.
In.
Out.
Pause.
In.
Out.
Repeat.
In.
Pause.
As I removed my tongue from her mouth, I used my hands to hold my weight off her. My eyes perused her face. The tears poured from her eyes.
“Why are you crying, my love?” I stopped my movements immediately.
Was she hurt?
Did I hurt her?
Fuck. What did I do wrong?
“I’ve never felt this much pleasure in my life.
You . . . you’ve shown my body a type of care I’ve never had before.
You make me feel whole. You make me feel appreciated.
You make me feel a euphoria I assumed existed only in fiction.
Please don’t stop.” She shook as tears fell down her face.
With a thrust of her hips, she beckoned me to continue, and I listened.
Making love to Mali for the first time felt like jumping into the pool during a hot summer in Texas.
It was a full body experience that I felt from my scalp down to the soles of my feet.
It ran deep from my soul. The moment we shared would solidify a connection impenetrable by any outside force.
Mali would be my wife in this lifetime and the next.