Chapter 8 Semi
Semi
The grand opening was turning out better than expected.
Every chair stayed full, people lined along the wall waiting, and business owners from the block slid through to show love.
I made my rounds, shaking hands, checking cuts, keeping eyes on everything so the day ran smoothly.
Some of my older clients had already pulled up—men who sat in my chair back when I ran my first shop.
Handshakes turned into hugs, a few of them reminding me they’d been waiting on this spot to open since the day I closed the last one.
That type of loyalty was what made the grind worth it.
Case was in the back running his mouth with a group of barbers, acting like he’d been running shops his whole life.
Maya floated around too, keeping things smooth, refilling trays, pointing folks where they needed to go.
Mama was up front, hugging damn near everybody and making it clear she was just as much a part of this as me.
She caught me when I passed, pulling me into a hug. “You did good, baby… real good.”
I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Ma. Besides, I had to… you wouldn’t have let me do anything less.” I smirked.
“You damn right I wouldn’t, now go be nice.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yeah, Ma, I hear you.”
I moved back into the crowd, and that’s when I saw Zora walk in with her girls.
Tiana and Nia were laughing about something, but my eyes went straight to her.
She didn’t do anything extra—just walked with that calm confidence, but heads still turned.
The second her eyes found me, she gave me a soft smile.
Case elbowed me, grinning like a fool. “You see your girl?”
I didn’t make her wait. Soon as Zora hit my line of sight, I cut through the crowd and pulled her in for a hug. She smelled like she wanted me to eat her up right here in front of all these people and my mama, but I kept it cool.
“Glad you came,” I told her.
“Wouldn’t have missed it,” she simpered.
I nodded at her girls. “Appreciate y’all for coming, too.”
Tiana grinned. “Of course. Congrats, Semi. This place looks good.”
“Yeah,” Nia added. “You gotta nice lil’ vibe going on here.”
“’Preciate it,” I said. “Y’all grab some food, and enjoy yourselves.”
Maya came over, still moving quick like she had three jobs to juggle, and her face lit up when she saw Zora. “There she is. I was wondering when you were gonna pop in.”
Zora smiled, leaning in for a quick hug. “I told you I’d be here, but if you keep dodging your touch-ups, I’ll have to come to that hospital and just do your hair on your breaks,” she joked.
Maya laughed, rolling her eyes. “Girl, between the hospital and chasing after CJ, you’re lucky I even make it to the chair, but you always save me, so I’ll shut up.”
“She keep you together better than Case does, that’s for damn sure.” I smirked.
“Don’t start your shit,” Maya warned.
Zora arched a brow at me, that sexy smile tugging at her mouth. “You always got something slick to say, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
Before I could add more, Tiana slid over, holding a drink in her hand. “Hey, girl.” She tapped Maya’s arm. “Let me see those hands.”
Maya laughed, shaking her head as she held her hand out for Tiana to inspect. “They’re still intact, but I’m overdue for a new set.”
“Mhm…I’ll send you your appointment because you’re not about to walk around here like I fucked your hands up or I’m a neglectful technician.” She cut her eyes at Maya, causing all of us to laugh.
The three of them were laughing, Zora blending in like she’d been part of this circle for years, when Mama came strolling up with a grin on her face, I knew she was about to start some shit.
“Well, well,” she said, sliding right into the conversation. “So, this the young lady I been hearing about.”
“Ma, don’t start.” I groaned.
She waved me off without even looking at me, her attention locked on Zora as she reached for her hands. “I’m Mama, and don’t pay him no mind. He thinks he runs things, but we both know he doesn’t.”
Zora smiled, polite but amused. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Mama held her hands tighter, ignoring me completely. “Pretty, too. I see why he’s walking different lately. Don’t let him fool you, though. He’ll act tough, but he’s soft where it matters.”
“Ma,” I said again, sharper, but she just chuckled, gave Zora’s hands a squeeze, and patted my chest before wandering off like she hadn’t just embarrassed me in front of half the damn shop.
Before I could even reset, Semerah came running up, tugging my sleeve. She froze when she spotted Zora, eyes wide. “Oooh… I love your hair! Daddy, can I get red hair like that?”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Zora smiled. “Red hair is a big commitment, so when your dad says it’s okay… we’ll explore it. Okay?”
Semerah nodded her head relentlessly like she knew that her hair would be red by tomorrow.
“You can forget the red hair, Peanut. You’re lucky I let you have them braids that’s too damn long,” I fussed. “Anyway, this is my friend, Zora. Zo, this is my baby girl, Semerah.” I introduced the two.
“Your friend or your girlfriend?” Her lil’ nosy ass asked.
Zora’s brows lifted, her lips curving slow like she was waiting for my answer.
I cleared my throat. “A friend,” I said, holding Zora’s eyes. Then I let the pause sit before adding, “For now.”
Semerah smirked like she got the answer she wanted and skipped off toward the food table. That’s when Case walked over, grinning like he always did when he had something smart to say. He looked at Zora, then back at me. “I see you finally made it out.”
Zora laughed. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”
Case lifted his glass in her direction. “Good… maybe this nigga will stop pouting.”
“Man, get the fuck on,” I laughed.
Zora just smiled, excused herself to rejoin her girls, and walked off with that sway that made it hard not to keep watching. Case waited until she was gone before he spoke. “She’s a good look, Semi… real good look.”
“I know,” I confirmed.
The night stretched long, but I moved through it the way I always did.
Every few steps though, my eyes cut back to her.
Zora wasn’t doing anything extra, just laughing with her girls, sipping her drink, sliding into conversations like she belonged, and every time she caught me looking, she didn’t look away.
Case was at my side half the time, cracking jokes, telling me who I needed to speak to, but even he noticed where my focus kept landing, but I ignored his ass every chance he tried it.
When I wasn’t watching her… I was thinking about her.
The way she looked in that long-sleeved crop top, showing off her toned stomach, or the way her jeans were practically obsolete in the front but still fit her like a glove.
The way she had fit in with my people without even trying.
My mama liked her, Maya already had a history with her, and even Semerah had lit up around her.
Zora had walked into my world like she’d been meant to, and I couldn’t ignore that.
By the time the last of the crowd started thinning out, I spotted her near the door with her girls. I moved in before she could leave.
“Come home with me,” I said, low enough for just her.
“Semi…” she breathed out.
“Semerah’s gon’ be with my mama tonight,” I cut in. “And I want you in my space.”
Her eyes searched mine, testing me like she always did. She hesitated, shifting her weight like she wanted to argue, but then she gave me that slow nod.
“Alright.”
Nodding, I walked her outside to her car and kissed her lips softly before she left. I stayed back to close up, dapped Case, and thanked him for holding it down. He smirked when he caught where my head was. “Don’t say shit,” I warned him, and he laughed, letting it go.
Mama hugged me before leaving with Semerah, whispering that she’d see me in the morning. I told her goodnight, kissed my daughter’s forehead, and watched them pull off before locking up behind us.
***
I had been home close to two hours before Zora showed up. I had time to shower, change and smoke before she got here. As soon as I saw her on the other side of the door… I pulled her inside, pressing my lips against her neck.
“Can I get inside first?” she simpered.
Instead of responding, I shut the door and took possession of her lips this time.
“Mmm,” she moaned against my mouth.
I kissed her again, slower this time, before guiding her toward the couch. She slipped out of her jacket and sank down, crossing her legs like she was trying to act unbothered.
“You acting like you missed me.” She smirked.
I dropped next to her, arm resting behind her shoulders. “Maybe I did.” I leaned down and pecked her lips again.
She looked around the room, then back at me. “You really pulled today off. Everything went smoothly.”
“Yeah, it did,” I countered, never taking my eyes off of her. “Everybody had something to say, though. Kept telling me you’re a good look for me.”
“And what do you think?” She raised her brow.
I leaned in, lips brushing hers. “I think they’re right.”
She tilted her head, studying me like she wasn’t about to let me off easy. “That’s too simple, Semi. You don’t just repeat what everybody else says. What does it mean when it comes from you?”
I slid my hand along her thigh, squeezing firm. “It means I’m not looking at you like a fling. It means I’m not here to play around. I want you with me. That’s what it means.”
“So, you’re saying you want to be with me?” she squinted.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
She leaned back, lips pressing together like she was weighing my words before she gave the smallest nod. “Alright, Semi. You got me.”
The second the words left her mouth, I was kissing her again, harder than before, hands pulling her close until she was pressed against me. Every sigh slipping out of her mouth dragged me in deeper.
She shifted, climbing onto my lap like she needed to be closer to me. My hands slid up her thighs, gripping tight, and I kissed her harder, swallowing the little moan she let loose.
Her fingers went to the back of my head, her nails digging into the back of my neck, causing me to growl at the feeling.
I grabbed her waist, flipping her under me on the couch before she could protest. My mouth trailed down her neck, teeth dragging just enough to make her gasp.
Her nails dug into my back, her legs locking around me tight like she wasn’t trying to stop me, anyway.
She moaned when I dragged my mouth down her body, kissing her breasts, biting the curve of her hip before pushing her panties aside.
She tried to close her thighs, but I pinned them open, tongue working her until she was clutching the back of the couch and moaning my name like she couldn’t hold it back.
“Fuck, Semi—”
I pulled back just long enough to look up at her, chin wet, voice rough. “That’s it… don’t hold that shit in.”
She arched her back and shivered as I slid up, lining myself with her drenched opening before pushing in slow, inch by inch, until she was crying out again.
“Damn,” I groaned against her mouth. “You gripping the fuck outta me already.”
Her nails dug into my shoulders as I drove deeper, setting a pace that had her cursing with every stroke. Every thrust had her cursing, her body meeting mine like she was in a race to see who could take the other down first.
“You feel that?” I muttered against her ear; hand locked around her throat just firm enough to hold her still. “That’s me making sure you don’t forget who the fuck you gave this to.”
“Mmm…shit,” she moaned, voice breaking as I slammed harder into her.
I shifted, hooked her leg higher on my hip, and fucked her deeper, rough enough to pull a scream out of her. “That’s it,” I growled. “Take this shit.”
Her eyes rolled back, her body trembled under mine, and I kissed her hard, swallowing every sound she made until she shattered, clawing at my back, legs locking around me.
I didn’t let up, thrusting through her climax until my own release ripped out of me, heavy and raw, spilling deep as I buried myself inside her one last time.
I stayed there, breathing hard against her neck, kissing her slower now. My hand still cupped her face, thumb brushing her cheek like I wasn’t ready to let her go.
Because I wasn’t.