Chapter 21
Deshona
If someone had a telescope zoomed in on this living room, we would be a sight to see.
I actually wish I could take a candid picture with myself in the frame because this is a memory I’m gonna hold onto forever.
Alijah’s efforts to make up for being sick on my birthday has given me the experience of a lifetime.
I’ve been gifted flowers, jewelry, and various food dishes by way of whatever restaurant I went to.
But Alijah’s birthday gifts have my heart in a chokehold with their priceless, memorable effort.
“This shit is actually relaxing. I can see why it’s your jam,” Alijah says as my eyes lift from the coloring page I’m working on.
“Mm-hmm. It’s very therapeutic. I can do this for hours and not get tired or bored.”
Alijah’s eyes are focused on the page he's coloring as he switches pencils, giving me the image of the rapt attention a tattoo artist would have. His tongue peeks from his mouth as his eyes pinch in concentration like he was the designer of the artistic design on the man’s arms. From the many designs on Alijah’s body, I can see that he’s very passionate about what artists do.
It’s cute and swoon worthy. Alijah’s legs are spread wide as my smaller frame fits inside his circumference.
“You realize that tattoo isn’t real, right?” I giggle as Alijah peels his gaze from the paper, and a smirk slides into place, which makes my giggles grow.
“For a minute, I saw myself with a second job.”
I shake my head as Alijah chuckles before he returns his focus to his sheet. Silence enters the room as I resume my coloring session. Coloring with my man is a flex nobody told me to look forward to. But baby, I need more days like this.
“So now that you know how great this can be, will this be our thing to do together?”
Alijah chuckles as he continues to color before he speaks.
“I grant you one session and now you think this should become routine. What will I get out of it if I agree?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh, as my mind spins with salacious thoughts and all the ways I can bring Alijah pleasure.
An image of us in the throes of dual pleasure, in the sixty-nine position enters my mind.
The sweat that glistens on our bodies, even in my imagination, causes heat and a tremor in my body.
“Mm-hmm. Tell me something good, mama.”
I blink as my eyes meet Alijah’s direct stare, and the lustful gleam in his eyes darkens them. Need, desire, and a tinge of love cause them to sparkle as my body simmers like slow-boiling water.
“I can promise that your agreement will result in hours of pleasure that neither of us will easily recover from.” My voice is low and sultry as I stare intently at Alijah.
His tongue snakes out of his mouth slowly and causes my pussy to purr. Before Alijah can respond, a phone rings and instantly shifts the energy in the room.
“Damn,” Alijah says before he picks up his phone and swipes to connect the call. “Hello.”
With his heavy gaze on me, Alijah puts the call on speaker as a woman’s voice sounds through the speaker.
“Well, hello to you too, stranger.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Ma. We talked recently.”
Grunts and groans sound from the other end, and I cover my mouth to hide my humor because Alijah’s mom must have objections to his claim.
“You know, I’m gonna pray and ask the good Lord to give you the same headaches that you’ve given me when you have kids.
I didn’t know that when you became a parent it meant your kids treat you like a second-class citizen.
They grow up, skip cities, and forget all about their dear old mothers. My Lord.”
Alijah looks at me and shakes his head before he responds to his mother.
“I’m sorry, Ma. I’m a horrible son, and I’m gonna ask God for two lashings as repayment for my neglect.” He smirks.
Laughter from someone in the background makes my eyes pinch and my forehead wrinkle. My suspense isn’t long as a deep, older, yet eerily similar voice speaks.
“Son, you know how your mother is. How’s it going?”
“What’s good, Pops? Everything is straight.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Wow! I wonder how much Alijah looks like his dad because they sound so much alike.
“Before your mom gets in her feelings, there is a purpose for this call.”
I’ve stopped coloring and am completely tuned into this conversation like I know Alijah’s parents and have some kind of vested interest in the reason for this call. But I’m too nosy to get up and leave or mind my business enough to keep coloring.
“Oh yeah? Y’all cool? Everybody well? Doing okay? Tell me something good, Pops.” Alijah’s voice is heightened with concern that causes me to lightly bite my bottom lip in suspense.
“Of course. But there’s a family cookout this weekend, and your mother won’t hear of you not being here. You also aren’t far enough to claim that as an excuse, so I’m expecting you to be here.”
For some reason, that information makes me revert to what I was doing before. No one is dying, sick, or has any drama, so I can go back to minding my business. I pick up my color pencil and focus on staying within the lines as I work on the woman’s pants.
“No need for guilt trips. Clearly, you and Ma have been married too long that y’all are rubbing off on each other.”
I try to hide my giggle from the sarcasm within Alijah’s delivery as I mask it with a faint cough.
“Whatever. All I know is your narrow behind better be here, or I’m coming there to snatch you by your ears to drag you here myself,” his mother says with an authoritative tone that brokers no argument.
“I’ll be there. But I’m bringing somebody with me.”
Whoa!
My breath stalls, and my head shoots up to look at Alijah, whose eyes are already on me. There’s a playful gleam in his eyes and a smirk on his lips.
“What?” I mouth, and Alijah’s smirk increases as he nods his head while I shake mine.
Now wait a minute, Alijah. I don’t think our bounds for love are quite at the meet-the-family stage yet.
“Ooh. This sounds promising. See you on Saturday, Son.”
I’m barely able to process those words before the call disconnects. I’m as still as a statue as I silently stare at Alijah.
“Say what’s on your mind, mama.”
“A-a barbecue? I’m—are we ready for that?” My mind spins as I sift through various thoughts to release the rational and comprehensive ones.
“I’m in love with you, and I’m too grown to hide my woman from my people. What are your fears?”
My heart speeds up and slows down at Alijah’s words, because I’m in love with him too. Yet, with every moment that I’ve spent with this man since then, all shred of doubt has left me. Love for this man has snatched me by my edges.
“Deshona.” My eyes peer into Alijah as he waits for me to say something.
The last time a man took me to meet his family, I found myself drunk from taking back-to-back shots to drown out how much better I was compared to the last woman he brought home. Ugh.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep.”
I nod as I fight to ignore my racing heartbeat.
“Come here, mama.” Alijah’s voice is softer than it was a second ago as I scoot closer until my legs overlap his thighs.
My body instantly calms when Alijah wraps his arms around my waist as I nestle into his chest. The steady cadence of his heartbeat helps my heartbeat return to normal. I sigh with subtle breaths as I bask in the feel of my man.
“I got you, so you can be sure too, alright?”
My head bobs as I feel Alijah’s reassurance surge through my body and the need to resist the upcoming encounter and family event disappears the longer he holds me. I don’t know what will happen, but with Alijah by my side, I won’t have anything to worry about.
“Taste this. Does it need anything?” Alijah holds the spoon in front of my face with curiosity that shines in his eyes.
Alijah is cooking dinner, and instead of letting me wait in the living room until he’s done, he has me sitting on the counter beside him. Low jazz music flows through the kitchen, creating a mood of intimacy and comfort. This is another first with a man, and I like it . . . a lot.
I move my head back as my brows hike before my thoughts exit my mouth. “What is it?”
“A garlic cream sauce.”
“Oh.” I open my mouth wide enough for him to slip the spoon between my lips.
I close my eyes as the flavors burst on my tongue, and I bob my head up and down like a bobblehead.
“Mhm. That’s good.”
Alijah grins as he nods and moves to the sink to put the taste spoon inside before he grabs another one.
My stomach growls when I’m reminded of the steak that sizzles on the burner furthest from where I sit.
Alijah moves the two rib eyes in the pan and flips them on the other side.
I do a little jig when I see the nice color on the steaks.
Alijah is about to serve us steak bites, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower.
My mouth waters with anticipation because from the smells alone, I know this food is about to melt in my mouth.
“Hungry much?” Alijah asks with a cheesy grin.
“Mhm. You got it smelling like a chef is throwing down in here.”
“There is.” He winks.
The Cheshire grin on my face shouldn’t be as wide or goofy as it is, but I’ll be damn if Alijah’s confidence doesn’t make me giddy.
“So, tell me everything I need to know about your people. Do you have siblings, or is there only one of you?”
“My family enjoys getting together as often as everyone’s schedules allow us to be together. I love our close-knit ties, but sometimes it can be a bit much. I have a brother and a sister. I’m the oldest.”
I nod as I consider what he’s said about his family dynamics. My family is small, and we don’t have many gatherings together. It makes me wonder what it would be like to be like Alijah’s family.
“Oh. The oldest, and your mom still hasn’t adjusted to you not being in the same city with her.”
“If Ma had it her way, all of her kids would be under one roof. She loves her children and never grows tired of any of us. But the funny thing is it doesn’t feel like she’s smothering or preventing us from living our lives.”
Yeah, I definitely don’t know how that feels.
Roslyn has not only been smothering but also given me lots of reasons to hit the highway like I have gasoline panties on.
Hell, I haven’t even thought about going home for a visit, so we are not the same.
But it’s gonna be interesting to mingle with people who genuinely enjoy being together.
I wonder if I’ll feel like an interloper or if it’ll make me crave something I’ve never experienced before.
Since I’ve agreed to accompany Alijah, I guess I’m about to find out.