22. Maliah
Maliah
By the time I pulled into Tahari’s apartment complex, the sun was beginning to settle behind the trees.
My backpack sat in the passenger seat beside my overnight bag.
Both made me smile a little. A lot could change in a few months.
There was a time when seeing Tahari meant making sure nobody from my family saw us together.
I’d sneak out of the house, make up excuses about where I was going, and pray Daddy didn’t ask too many questions.
Now, my parents knew exactly where I was.
Before getting out of the car, I grabbed my phone.
Just made it to Tahari’s
Mama’s reply came almost instantly.
Mama: Okay, baby. Love you. Tell him we said hey.
A smile spread across my face.
Love y’all too
I locked my phone, slung my backpack over one shoulder, grabbed my overnight bag, and headed into his building. I didn’t bother knocking because Tahari had given me a key weeks ago. The second I stepped inside, I frowned.
“Tahari?”
“I’m back here.”
His voice was coming from his bedroom. I closed the front door behind me and followed it.
When I reached the bedroom doorway, I stopped.
Clothes covered almost every inch of the bed.
Shoes were lined up across the floor, and Tahari stood halfway inside his closet with a trash bag in one hand and a stack of hangers in the other.
“What are you doing?” I asked with a confused stare.
He glanced over his shoulder.
“Cleaning.”
I looked around the room.
“It looks more like you making a mess.”
“It’ll make sense in a minute,” he said with a small laugh.
I dropped my bags beside the dresser before folding my arms.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
He disappeared back into the closet for a second before coming back out with another armful of clothes.
“I’m making a little space.”
I looked around the room again.
“For what?”
“For you,” he smiled.
I stared at him.
“For me?” I asked in confusion.
He nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“You’re over here enough to have your own drawer.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“A drawer?”
He pointed toward the closet.
“I’m thinking a couple shelves too.”
“A couple shelves?”
“And…” He scratched the back of his neck. “Maybe a little space for your shoes.”
I looked at the growing pile of clothes on the bed before looking back at him.
“So, you just woke up this morning and decided I needed closet space?”
“Nah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It just doesn’t make sense for you to keep bringing an overnight bag every weekend,” he said with a shrug.
I caught butterflies in my stomach, and I remember Mama used to always say that this kind of feeling was no good. But what he was doing meant the world to me. He was making room for me. I walked over until I was standing in front of him.
“You know…” I started.
He looked down and was staring me right in the eyes.
“What?”
“I think that’s one of the sweetest things anybody’s ever done for me,” I admitted.
A crooked smile spread across his face.
“You ain’t seen the best part yet.”
I raised an eyebrow as I watched him reach into the closet and pull out three empty velvet hangers.
“I even bought matching hangers.”
I laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth.
“You are such a dork.”
“Maybe,” he grinned while pulling me closer, “but I’m your dork.”
I smiled, stepped closer, and wrapped my arms around his neck. Naturally, his arms wrapped around my waist.
I tippy-toed and then gave him a gentle kiss before stepping back. He smiled down at me before reaching for my overnight bag.
“C’mon.”
I followed him out of the bedroom and into the living room while he carried my bag over to the couch.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“I could eat.”
“I got leftovers from last night.”
“Perfect.”
While he disappeared into the kitchen, I unzipped my backpack. I pulled out my laptop along with a couple of notebooks. When he walked back into the living room balancing two plates, he looked down at everything spread across the coffee table.
“You got homework?”
I nodded.
“Just an assignment for my sociology class.”
“When’s it due?”
“Monday.”
He set the plates down.
“Then eat first so you can have something on your stomach while you work. I know how important school is to you. And I ain’t about to be the reason your grades slip.”
Something about the way he said it made me smile.
Not because he was trying to tell me what to do but because he cared.
After we ate, I carried my laptop over to the dining room table while Tahari went back to the bedroom to finish cleaning out his closet.
Every now and then he’d walk back through with another armful of clothes headed for the laundry room, stopping just long enough to ask if I needed anything before disappearing again.
Hours slipped by without either one of us realizing it. The apartment had grown quiet except for the tapping of my keyboard. I stretched my arms over my head and let out a yawn.
“You still working?”
Tahari’s voice came from behind me. I looked up.
“I’ve been staring at this same paragraph for ten minutes.”
“I could tell,” he chuckled.
Before I knew what he was doing, his hands settled gently on my shoulders.
“You are carrying all this tension right here.”
His thumbs worked slow circles across the tops of my shoulders, easing muscles I hadn’t even realized were sore. I closed my eyes.
“Mmm…”
“That feel good?” he asked.
“So good.”
The massage was feeling so good that I almost let a moan escape my lips. I leaned back in the chair just enough for my head to brush against his chest.
“You’ve been at this table since you walked in.”
I looked up, and he looked down at me. Even from this upside-down angle, he looked so damn good.
“I wanted to get ahead,” I responded.
“And you will.”
He gave my shoulders one last squeeze before leaning down beside my ear.
“But tonight, I want you to go take a shower and to relax a bit.”
“My homework…”
“Will still be sitting right there when you get back. You need a break,” he cut me off.
I looked at the laptop screen, then back at him.
“You sure?” I asked.
“I’m positive.”
I smiled before closing my computer. I stood from the chair and then did a light stretch. Gently, I kissed him on the lips.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” he tilted his head and asked.
“For making me take care of myself.”
“Somebody got to.”
When I walked away gently, he slapped my booty. I grabbed my overnight bag and headed toward the bathroom. As the shower warmed, I caught my reflection in the mirror.
I just stood there. Somewhere deep down, I had a feeling that tonight was going to be different.
I had spent countless nights over here in bed with him, but something about this night in particular didn’t feel the same.
I wanted to take things to that next level.
I was ready. Not because I felt pressured.
And not because I thought it was expected.
I wanted this moment to happen because it was deserving. This man deserved everything from me.
I took my time in the shower because the hot water felt good after sitting in classrooms all day and hunching over a laptop for hours. When I finally walked back into the living room, Tahari had finished putting the leftovers away. My laptop was closed, and the dishes were gone.
He looked up from the couch the second I walked in.
“You done?”
“I think so,” I said with a smile.
I had on hot pink silky pajamas that had a button shirt with the pants to match. He patted the empty spot beside him.
“Come here.”
I tucked one leg beneath me as I settled against his side. The television played quietly in the background, but neither of us was paying attention to it. His arm rested across the back of the couch behind me while I absentmindedly traced circles against his palm.
“You know…” he said after a while.
“What?”
He stared at the television for another second before answering.
“I think I’m finally starting to feel a little peace.”
I looked up at him.
“Really?”
He nodded slowly.
“I’ve been watching your parents.”
“My parents?” I questioned.
He nodded.
“Yeah. The way your daddy looks at your mama. The way he still flirts with her after all these years. The way they laugh together. The way they move like they’re on the same team. I don’t know if they even realize they got it.”
“Got what?”
“Peace.”
He looked down at our hands before looking back at me.
“I spent a long time thinking love was supposed to be loud. Loud and toxic. I thought it was normal for people to yell, walk away, come back, and do it all over again. But your parents make it look easy. They make being in love look safe.”
He smiled softly.
“I never imagined I’d have something that felt like that. Not until now. Honestly, I never thought I deserved some shit like that.”
My heart swelled. I reached over and brushed my thumb across the back of his hand.
“You deserve that.”
His eyes met mine.
“You think so?”
“I know so,” I smiled before continuing, “and if my parents taught me anything, it’s that peace isn’t something you stumble across. It’s something two people choose every single day.”
He studied my face for a long moment before a slow smile spread across his.
“Then I want to keep choosing you.”
“And I want to keep choosing you too,” I smiled.
Aaliyah’s voice drifted through the apartment, filling the silence with something neither of us felt the need to interrupt.
Tahari lifted my hand and absentmindedly traced his thumb across my knuckles.
I watched him for a second before leaning over and pressing a soft kiss against his cheek.
He turned his head just enough for our eyes to meet.
His hand came up and gently tucked one of my curls behind my ear before he brushed his lips against mine.
The kiss was slow. It was like we had all the time in the world.
When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine again.
“Maliah…”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Yeah?”
He searched my face for a long moment.
“You sure?”
There wasn’t an ounce of pressure in his voice. His tone was filled with patience and love. I smiled while reaching up to cup the side of his face.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
He closed his eyes for a second, almost like he’d been holding his breath waiting for my answer. When he opened them again, they were softer than I’d ever seen them.
“I needed to hear you say it.”
He stood from the sofa and then held his hand out for me. I took it and let him lead the way to his bedroom. The music was the only thing that could be heard in the entire apartment.
So tell me what the deal, you’re not that far
I just got my bags and I’m headed to the car
Say, "Yes or no," ‘cause I’m on the road
I sat back on the bed and then scooted all the way to the headboard. He looked at me, lustfully. It was like he had been waiting for this moment forever, and in a sense, he had.
He pulled his shirt over his head and then came out of his pajama pants. His boxer briefs fit snug, and I could see his imprint.
“Unbutton your shirt.”
He was telling me what to do, and I was obeying every request. Once the silk material was off me, I dropped it toward the carpeted floor. The slight breeze from the ceiling fan caused my nipples to harden.
“Mmm,” he grunted before walking over toward the bed.
He hovered over me and scooted me down a bit so that I was lying flat on the bed. He grabbed one of my breasts and then put it into his mouth.
“Ssss…” I moaned out.
Can I come over? (can I)
Come on over (stop by)
Come over (to see you)
Come over (tonight)
I had lifted my body to help him get my silk pajama pants off me.
“Are you sure?” he asked again once I was lying under him naked.
“I’m sure.”
Deeply, he kissed me while taking off his briefs. I knew this moment would be a little uncomfortable. I had been reading up on it. Still nothing had prepared me for this.
“Uhhhh…” I moaned when he started to push into my walls.
“Mali, if it hurts, I will stop.”
I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, he was looking at me with nothing but love in his eyes.
“Keep going.”
Once he was all the way in, he let out a moan himself.
“Shit, Maliah.”
He was gentle with me. He kissed all over my face while he dug out my middle.
“I love you, Maliah. Fuck…” he moaned.
When the initial discomfort from him breaking my hymen disappeared, I was able to enjoy the moment.
“You hear me? I love you, Maliah.”
He kissed all over my face while working his hips in a circular motion.
“Mmmm… I love you, Tahari.”
Suddenly, I felt like I had to pee.
“Baby, I gotta pee,” I admitted, and I’m sure it was ruining the moment.
“Na, that’s not pee. Cum for me.”
He picked up his strokes a bit, and when he did, my eyes rolled in the back of my head.
“Tahari, wait… oh my… wait.”
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked while still working his hips in a circular motion.
“No… I just…”
I couldn’t find the proper words.
“Shittt….” I hissed.
“There you go. That’s my good girl.”
He kissed me deeply and then began to really have his way with me.
The bedroom had grown quiet again, leaving only the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the steady beat of Tahari’s heart beneath my cheek.
The television in the living room had stopped playing music about fifteen songs ago.
I lay against Tahari’s chest while his fingers lazily traced circles across my bare shoulder.
Every now and then he’d kiss the top of my head without saying a word. I smiled to myself.
“What?” he asked.
“You keep kissing me.”
“I know,” he chuckled.
“You ain’t tired of me already?”
He leaned over just enough to look down at me.
“Maliah, I waited a long time for you. You think I’m gonna get tired tonight?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I playfully smacked his chest and let out a small laugh.
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious.”
He caught my hand before I could pull it away and brought it to his lips and then gently kissed.
I snuggled a little closer, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear.
As I lay there in Tahari’s arms, everything felt exactly the way it was supposed to.
My heart was completely at peace. My eyelids grew heavy, and I knew that at any moment I would be fast asleep.