Epilogue
Niyi
I’M NOT BUILT FOR THIS LIFE. THE CREDITS OF OUR THIRD two-hour movie roll and so does my back. I know I was insistent on the movie marathon, but I grossly underestimated the mental fortitude and resilience needed to watch four straight movies.
Moyo has been easing me into it with her twelve-week, specially-curated “Make-Niyi-Fall-in-Love-with-Horror” course.
The initial plan was to have the marathon at the end of the twelve weeks, but my unwavering desire to spend every moment with Moyo persuaded her to up the timeline, given I’m now a pro at a double feature.
Turns out I should’ve stuck to Moyo’s plan.
Moyo places our handmade popcorn bowls on the coffee table and heads to the kitchen to grab another pack of Boom Chicka Pop’s Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn.
In her absence, I stretch even more because, regardless of how unfit I am for the movie-binge-watching life, I am built for the cuddling-with-Moyo-for-hours-on-end life.
My stunning girlfriend saunters in and, as if seeing her for the first time, she takes my breath away.
Girlfriend.
Every day since the Gala has been the best day of my life. I spend my days working on Ceramics Central items with Aaron; hanging with Merc and Vee if they catch me at home or rather, if I catch them using my living room as a third place; and after work, catching up with my Sunshine.
“You ready?”
I stifle a yawn. “Absolutely. Bring it on.”
As we’ve done throughout my horror-movie training, I turn away while Moyo selects a new movie from the floating shelves I built for her. When she’s done loading it up, she pulls me back onto the couch before taking her rightful place between my legs.
I kiss her hair as our limbs intertwine.
We’re barely through the opening credits of Bones when Moyo says, “You’re tired, aren’t you?”
I huff. “What? No. Why would you say that? And miss Snoop Dogg in a silk press?”
Moyo pauses the movie and twists to face me. She’s stone-cold silent, assessing me. I’ve never been a talkative person, but when Moyo gives me the look, I know it’s time to come clean.
“Only a little.”
“I knew it!” she exclaims. “This is why we had to stick to the plan. Do marathon runners just up and do the entire thing?”
I chuckle. “Are you comparing running twenty-six miles to watching four movies?”
“I’m so serious.” Moyo joins in with her adorable giggle. “Runners start small with a 5k, then work their way up. But no, Mr. Niyi had to go from 5k to the big leagues.”
“Ah,” I gasp dramatically. “You and your sharp tongue.”
Moyo rolls her eyes. “You love it.”
“Do I?” I lean over her and whisper. My index finger trails her neck in languid movements that stop time.
Moyo’s chest rises and falls with increased exaggeration. Her eyes track my movements as I get closer to her parted lips. I’m a hair’s breadth away when I say, “Movie time.”
My girlfriend sits up, and if looks could kill, I’d be decaying. But I can’t help but laugh.
“You think you’re sooo funny.”
My palms go up in mock surrender. “Just following your rules, Sunshine.” One of my first lessons was “cuddling is acceptable, but other distractions are strictly prohibited.”
“The movie was off,” Moyo whines.
“That’s not what you said two weeks ago when I wanted to kiss you during a bathroom break when we watched Final Destination.”
“It was a bathroom break. Not a break break.”
“A break is a break is a break.”
“What if I break you?” Moyo gets up in my face. Her eyes are hooded.
“As if you could.” I hold on to her hips and maneuver our positioning till Moyo’s straddling me.
She grinds against my groin, and I know I should’ve worn something underneath my sweats.
“You sure about that?” Moyo taunts as she feels my growing arousal.
My hands begin aching “You’re wicked.”
“Next time you’ll be sure not to tease me like that,” Moyo whispers before nibbling on my earlobe.
Shivers rip through me, dwindling my restraint, but I won’t give in.
After our first kiss, I’ve done well to maintain enough control till she’s begging, much to Moyo’s annoyance.
And she’s been attempting to break me ever since.
“You won’t get me.” It comes out strained.
Moyo picks up her pace. “You’re confident?”
She’s going to kill me. I’ll die happy, but she’s going to kill me.
“Yeah,” I moan, unable to hold it in.
This is about the time where, after turning both me and herself on, Moyo kisses me and we either dry hump to our satisfaction, or we have sex. But instead of the usual, Moyo gets up and heads to the kitchen.
I shake my head. What just happened?
“Moyo?”
“Yeah, babe.” She comes back with a glass of water. “Ready to continue the movie?”
“Uh, yeah…uh…of course.”
Her unhurried movements give me pause.
“Is everything all right?” I ask tentatively.
Moyo faces me with a wide smile. “Of course. I’m about to watch one of my favorite movies with my boyfriend, whom I love.”
I freeze.
“Um, can you say that again?”
“I’m about to watch one of my favorite movies.”
Nodding rapidly, I say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, but not that. The thing after it.”
“I love you,” Moyo repeats, softer this time. Her smile gets wider, her eyes crinkle at the corners. Staring at her makes me develop sunspots in my vision.
Unable to control myself, I pull her onto my lap.
“Say it again, please, Sunshine.”
Moyo holds my face, locking me in with her gorgeous brown eyes as she says the words slowly.
“I love you, Niyi,” she breathes, her lips inches from mine. “I’m in love with you,” she says, louder, bolder this time. My heart is about to rip out my chest.
Closing the distance between us, I kiss her, and she smiles.
“Told you I’d break you,” she giggles.
I kiss her nose. “No fair.”
“All’s fair in love and war.” She squirms as I line her neck, face, every section of skin available to me in kisses before pulling her into a deep kiss.
It’s undeniable how much I adore this woman. I pour everything into this rough, hungry kiss. My hands roam all over Moyo’s body, unsure where to start from, overcome by love, desire, lust, every sensation in the book.
Moyo, in only an oversized shirt and panties, gets even wetter, making me even harder. I’ll probably pass out if any more blood rushes to my groin.
“I love you, Moyo. Today, tomorrow, and however long you’ll have me,” I say, out of breath with bruised lips.
“And what if I say I want you forever?” She tilts her head.
“Then let me go ring shopping.”
Her jaw drops slightly. “No pub—”
“Public proposals. I know,” I say, moving in to kiss the corner of her lips.
“How?”
“I know you, Sunshine. You’re the light of my life. I pay attention, I know.”
She leans away from my kiss and raises a brow.
“I’ve, maybe, also asked Anjie and Sewa about it,” I concede.
Her satisfied, megawatt smile returns. “You’ve been planning a proposal?”
“If you stay ready, you never have to get ready.” I wink.
“You’re ridiculous.” Moyo laughs. “I never even said I love you,” she says, shifting in place, suddenly self-conscious.
I rub circles into her thigh and kiss her forehead. “You didn’t have to say those words for me to feel it. You’ve shown me love every day. Every single day, Sunshine. I was just waiting for you to feel comfortable and say it on your terms.”
“I love you.” We share a small kiss. Our lips touch, sealing the promise.
“I love you too, Sunshine. And trust me, it was worth the wait.”
Moyo’s hands go into my hair and my hands go under her ass. As we’ve done countless times now, without stopping, I carry us to her bedroom.
“You know we’ll finish the movie later, right?” Moyo says in all seriousness, as I pull down my sweats and she takes off her shirt.
I pull her into another kiss as my hands trail her body.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”