SOLEI #2
“All he asks for is payment upfront, and he can save anybody’s life,” he muttered.
“Gunshots, stab wounds, a beatin’, overdose…
doesn’t matter. If you’re still breathin’ when you get to him, he’s gon’ get you together.
” Money reached over and rested his hand on my thigh gently this time instead of gripping it possessively like he usually did.
“That nigga wasn’t about to let you slip away. ”
We drove in silence for a while, the city giving way to the suburbs, the streets getting wider and quieter. “Have you seen the news?” I asked finally.
Money’s jaw tightened slightly. “Yeah,” he said calmly after a second.
“This whole thing is about to get ugly, Money.”
“Nah.” He shook his head once, bringing my hand to his lips to kiss. “I handled everything. You don’t need to worry about none of that right now, Soul. The only thing you need to be worried about is gettin’ better,” he said lowly. “That’s it. I gotchu however you need me.”
I looked at our joined hands. “Thank you.”
He glanced at me, his expression serious. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I’ve already taken care of your condo lease and had your shit moved to the mansion. Take your time goin’ through everything. And when you’re ready, we’re gonna talk and get on the same page with therapy and… everything. Aight?”
“Check you out.” I smiled lightly, impressed and loving the way he was handling things. It felt so damn good.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into the driveway, and it felt different than when I came to pick up the kids. Money helped me out of the car, his arm around my waist again. We moved slowly up the walkway, up the front steps, and through the door.
“Mommy!”
Solina’s voice cut through everything. I looked up and saw her running toward me, her curly ponytail flopping as her face lit up with joy. “I missed you, Mommy,” she said, her voice muffled against my thighs. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you.” I ran my hand over her hair, tears streaming down my face.
Junior appeared in the hallway, moving more slowly.
He was old enough to understand that I’d been hurt.
My chest tightened as his arms wrapped around me because there was something different about the way he held me now.
Protective almost. Like somewhere in his young mind, he understood more than he should have.
“You okay?” he asked, pulling back to look at my face. The swelling had gone down tremendously, but I’m sure I still looked a little off.
“I’m just happy to be home, baby.” We stood there in the entryway, the four of us–me, Money, Junior, and Solina–holding each other. A family. Broken but healing.
“Alright, y’all,” My mother’s voice cut through the moment, surprising me. “Let your mama breathe. She just got home.”
I looked up and saw her standing in the living room doorway, her arms crossed, a small smile on her face. And behind her were Kyesha, June, Christen, and Janae. They were all there, standing in the living room with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.
“Surprise,” Kyesha said, her voice thick with emotion.
I started crying again. “What… what’s everyone doing here?”
“Where else would we be?” June said tearfully. “You think we weren’t gonna be here when you came home?”
“We’ve been planning this all week,” Christen added. “Money called and told us when you were getting released.”
I looked at Money, and he just shrugged, kissing my cheek. “Told you I gotchu, baby.”
“Let’s dig in,” Janer sniffled as she gestured towards the dining room.
I was shocked. There was food on the dining table, catered from Mama’s Kitchen, flowers on every surface, and balloons tied to the chairs. It wasn’t cheesy or over-the-top. It was just... real. This was my family.
???
Later that evening, after everyone had left and the kids were in their rooms, Money helped me upstairs to our bedroom. I moved slowly beside him, still sore and exhausted from the day.
“Sit down for me,” he said softly once we got inside the bathroom.
I lowered myself onto the closed toilet lid while he turned on the large soaking tub.
Warm water poured steadily as he moved quietly around the bathroom, adding bath oil and bubbles before testing the temperature with his hand.
The dim lighting reflected against the marble walls while soft jazz played faintly from the speaker built into the ceiling.
When he looked back at me, he held out his head, “Come here, baby.” He helped me undress carefully, his touch patient and unhurried.
Then, Money eased me down into the warm water slowly until I melted against the back of the tub with a shaky sigh.
The heat instantly loosened some of the ache in my body.
“There you go,” he murmured. “Relax for me.”
I watched quietly while he grabbed a washcloth and kneeled beside the tub.
His big hands moved gently over my skin, washing me with a level of care that made my throat tighten unexpectedly.
He cleaned every bruise and scrape like it physically hurt him to even look at them.
Every now and then, his jaw would flex hard before he forced himself to soften again.
Neither of us said much. We didn’t have to.
The intimacy of it all sat heavily between us.
Once he finished, he helped me out of the tub and wrapped me in one of the thick white towels. Then, he guided me back into the bedroom, where he sat me carefully on the edge of the bed. He poured some into his palms, rubbed them together, then slowly massaged it into my skin.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful,” he said quietly.
“I look like shit.”
“Stop.
Money started with my shoulders, his fingers working the oil into my skin with firm but gentle pressure. The eucalyptus scent filled the room, and I exhaled slowly, my body relaxing under his touch. His hands moved down my back, and the oil made his touch slick and smooth.
I felt heat pooling low in my stomach despite the pain. “This feels so good.”
“You deserve to feel good.” His hands moved lower, over my hips, my thighs, and the curve of my ass. I bit my lip as his hands slid between my thighs, and my breath hitched. “You want me to stop, baby?” he asked, his voice low.
“No.”
His hands stilled for a moment. Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Turn over carefully.”
I shifted onto my back, wincing as my ribs protested.
Money helped me adjust, propping pillows under my head and shoulders so I wasn’t lying flat on my back.
Then his hands were on me again. He oiled my legs first–long, slow strokes that made my skin tingle.
Then my stomach, avoiding the worst of the bruises.
Then my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples until they hardened under his touch.
“Mmm,” I breathed.
His hands moved lower, over my hips and my thighs, spreading them gently. And then he was kneeling between my legs, his eyes locked on mine. “You sure?” he asked.
“Please.” He didn’t need to be told twice. His mouth was on me a second later. His tongue slid through my pussy, slowly and deliberately, and I gasped, my hands fisting in the sheets. “Fuck,” I whispered.
Money groaned against me, the vibration sending shockwaves through my body.
His hands gripped my thighs carefully, and he pulled me closer, his tongue circling my clit with precision.
I couldn’t move much. My ribs wouldn’t let me.
He was feasting on me, his mouth relentless, his tongue flicking and sucking and driving me out of my fucking mind.
“Babeeee,” I gasped. “Oh, my God.”
He didn’t respond. Just kept going, his tongue moving faster now, his lips closing around my clit and sucking hard.
The orgasm hit me like a freight train. I cried out, my back arching off the bed despite the pain, my thighs trembling as pleasure tore through me.
It was intense. Overwhelming. Like my body was releasing everything I’d been holding onto recently.
Money groaned against me, his tongue still working, drawing out every last wave of pleasure until I was boneless and gasping and completely spent.
He pulled back slowly, pressing kisses to my inner thighs, my hips, my stomach.
Then he went into the bathroom for a cloth to clean me off before he finished oiling me down.
When all was said and done, I was in a sheer nightie beneath the clean, cool sheets.
“You need anything else right now?” he asked, kissing my lips.
“Just you.” He climbed in beside me, pulling me close carefully, and I rested my head on his chest. “Thank you, babe. For everything.”
“I can’t lose you, Soul. Not in this lifetime or the next. I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat, sounding strong and steady. This was home.