Chapter 16
My entire body ached as I unlocked the front door and walked inside my house. It was a long day of touring properties around the city of Rosewind. All I wanted to do was eat, take a shower, then rub on my woman’s soft body until I fell asleep.
The one thing that kept me moving at work was knowing I was coming home to her. She’d let me know she wanted to spend the night together after leaving the center for the day. Lovie hated driving as much as I did, so I sent Austin to pick her up and drop her off at the house.
We were spending all our nights together, at this point, that on the ones I had to sleep without, her I simply couldn’t. I spent the entire night tossing and turning until the sun rose. She was becoming the highlight of my days. There was a new story about Good Trouble every single day, and I loved hearing every detail. Her excitement always rubbed off on me. The light in her eyes was undeniable as was her love for her work through her beautiful smile. Giving her the property was the best thing I could’ve ever done. It was rewarding to see Lovie grow into a woman she was proud of. She was finally done doubting herself and the unconventional ways she chose to get things done.
It was the reason we decided to call the center Good Trouble in the first place. Lovie was not the average person in the way she handled the kids at the center. She related to them in a way that helped her serve them in the ways they truly needed. Having been judged for being a wild child, which left her feeling like a burden and disappointment to her parents, created a heart of compassion and patience as she dealt with them. I knew when the time came, she was going to be an amazing mother.
I went to drop my briefcase off in my home office before heading to the kitchen. I heard music blasting from there, which meant she had no clue I’d just come home. I took up space, leaning against the wall watching her. She looked so comfortable and happy moving around the kitchen. She had shit everywhere, but the smile on her face as she rocked her hips was worth the time it’d take to clean this all up.
I could only wonder what she was making because we both knew she had no cooking skills. I admired her commitment to me though. Cooking wasn’t her strong suit, but she was willing to try so I’d have a home cooked meal after a long day. The realization had me sneaking up behind her.
She screeched when I hugged her from behind. She laughed with her hand over her heart.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack. You play too much.” She hit me on the shoulder with an oven mitt.
I chuckled.
“My bad. You were so in your zone I wanted to join in on the fun.” I placed a kiss on her cheek then rested my chin on her shoulder. “What are you cooking?”
“Shrimp scampi.”
I looked around at all the dishes trying to figure out how she’d manage to do so much damage to cook a simple meal. Then I had to remember my girl was really a novice. Instead, I focused on her thoughtfulness. She could’ve easily ordered takeout.
I backed into the island to watch her work when something caught my eye. Walking closer to her, I peeked at the thong peeking over the top of the cotton shorts she wore. The words Romani’s Pussy were in bedazzled letters on each string of the black thong. I pulled at it instantly aroused by her display of love and my ownership of her body.
“You know your heart is mine too, right?” I asked with a smile.
“Of course. You are the yin to my yang, or is it the other way around?” She lifted her head from staring into her pot of scampi sauce to think.
I chuckled at how adorable she was.
“I’m going to go take a shower while you finish up.”
Heading into the bedroom, I moved as fast as I could, getting undressed then getting in the shower. I was sure I washed off the day in record time too because I was so eager to get back out there with Lovie. There was never a dull moment when we were together. She always brought me out of my comfort zone whether through teaching classes about real estate at the community center or doing some TikTok trend with her. No matter how much of a fight I put up, I always went along with it because this was truly Lovie’s world, and I was just happy she let me live in that muthafucka rent-free.
Once I was clean, I hopped out. I walked into the bedroom to find Lovie in there laying out something for me to wear. My feet instantly carried me over to her. She was growing more comfortable displaying her love for me with each passing day. I never had to ask for anything. She just did things because she wanted to. I always knew underneath her tough exterior was a girl who wanted to be loved and feel safe enough to give it in return.
“Thank you, Trouble.” I wrapped my arms around her from behind, kissing on her shoulder.
“You’re welcome, baby.”
She grinned as she came from out the closet.
“I got this new shea butter for you.” She lifted the jar. “This scent is called magic waters, and it smells amazing.”
She pushed me toward the bed. I watched in awe as this woman took her time and moisturized me from head to toe, even going as far as giving me a foot massage. It reminded me of the humble work she did at Good Trouble for the girls on Sophisticated Saturday. I tried to fight the thoughts that said I didn’t deserve this woman because I knew I did. I showed up for her in the same ways she did for me. I always anticipated her needs or watched for areas where I could make things easier for her.
She had temporarily banned me from pouring money into the center. I respected her desire to fight for it in her own way, so I let her have it. But she knew if a cent was ever needed from my bank account, she could go get that. I was riding for her without question.
After she finished, she helped dress me. Of course, she chose for me to wear a pair of specially made boxers that had her face plastered all over it. Lovie was very territorial when it came to me, but I didn’t mind. Having a woman that was willing to fight for me healed me in other ways. I slapped her on the ass then accepted the kiss she planted on my lips.
“Let’s go eat.”
I followed her with my eyes glued to her fat ass bouncing as she walked. Those shorts were barely surviving her ass, and that thong was also still teasing me. I couldn’t wait to pull those shorts down so I could see it while murdering her pussy from the back.
She had already laid our plates on the island with cans of Cheerwine. My woman stayed on point, and I loved that about her. I pulled her seat out for her then tucked her in. I joined her then we held hands for a quick prayer.
“Lord, thank you for this food we are about to receive. Thank you for the hands that prepared it and the hands that are receiving it. It’s in your son Jesus’ name I pray and give thanks for my amazing wife. Amen.”
I opened my eyes to find Lovie blushing.
“Your wife, huh?”
I nodded. “Damn right. I’m putting a ring on that fucking finger.”
She tried to hide her smile by digging into her food. We talked about our days while we ate. She expressed concern about one of the little boys she adored. He was coming to the center less because he was turning to the streets. We debated on ways we could help him. She was certain he needed money to help take care of his sick mother. Even at fourteen, he was willing to do what it took. I knew what that was like and knew no young man should ever have to carry the burden of being the man of the house.
After dinner, we retreated to the living room to unwind for the night. We’d likely be out there until we were ready for bed. Lovie had two joints already rolled for us, so I laid on the couch first then she got in between my legs with her head resting on my stomach. My arms were so long I was able to rub her ass for comfort with one hand and search for something for us to watch with the other hand. We settled on this romantic comedy movie she kept talking about watching.
After a while, I sparked up the joint. The smoke filled the air quickly and relaxed me even more. I knew this bud was from Granny’s stash off one hit. Her shit just hit differently. I passed the blunt to Lovie as my phone started to vibrate. I reached for the phone and frowned when I saw the number flashing on the screen. I exhaled heavily tossing the phone down. My high was ruined just that fast.
“What? Who is it?” Lovie asked, sensing a change in my energy.
I ran a hand down my face. With a sigh, I kept it simple. “It’s her.”
She knew exactly what her I was referring to by the understanding nod of her head.
“Are you ready to talk to her?”
I stared at the ceiling, thinking of my answer as the phone started to vibrate once again. I felt Lovie move and realized she silenced it all together so I could think. It was the little things like that that made me appreciate her even more. She understood what I needed even when I didn’t.
“How can I save anyone when I can’t save my own mother?”
Her hands began rubbing my arm in a comforting way.
“It’s not your job to save her, Romani. She is a grown woman who is fully aware of the choices she is making. Don’t carry the burden of her choices on your shoulders for another day.”
“Am I a terrible son if I’m not ready to heal what’s broken between us?”
I felt her shake her head. Glancing down my body, I found her looking up at me with her chin resting on my stomach.
“No. You’re not. You’re a real son who went through hell with your mother. You can take as much time as you need to be ready for that. And if you never are, that’s okay too. It’s your prerogative. None of us know what you went through or what it’s like to carry it every day of our lives. You need to do what’s best for you.”
Her voice was steady and compassionate as she encouraged me to trust myself and to release the guilt of not being able to save her. Her support was exactly what I needed as I decided I was going to change my phone number. For the day to come when I was willing to talk to my womb donor, I needed time to heal on my own. The constant pressure from her phone calls were pushing me farther away because I resented her a little more every time I saw that number pop up on my phone.
“Thank you for not judging me,” I whispered.
She offered me her pretty smile. “I could never, baby. I understand what that parent trauma is like. You don’t need fixing. You are perfect the way you are. Mommy issues and all, I still choose you.”
I loved the unconditional love, acceptance, and space to heal she supplied me with. She just didn’t know how she was helping me let go of my abandonment issues one step at a time by continuously showing up for me.
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever open my heart up to my mother again, but I knew one woman that had it without a doubt. She was so fucking beautiful and all mine. I pulled her up my body so I could taste her lips.
“Can I fuck you from the back now?”
She nodded with a bite of her lips. “I thought you would never ask.”
In a matter of seconds, I had those shorts down and her riding me reverse cowgirl. As I laid back watching her ass bounce against my thighs while her pussy placed me in a death grip, all I could think about was how lucky I was. Who would’ve thought a little boy from the slums would find a love as satisfying as this one after so much abandonment and hurt? I knew if shit could get better for me, they could get better for anyone.