19. Merci
MERCI
Had I known Hammer stopping by to drop off donuts would lead to him devouring my pussy, I would have asked him to bring them every damn day since we met.
His thick, wide tongue had me trembling with each stroke.
Our eyes were locked briefly until mine squeezed shut from the pleasure.
The second he applied pressure just under the hood of my clit, I convulsed as I came.
Always taking pleasure in my pleasure, Hammer pressed my knees into the bed, tilted my hips, and continued to feast on me until I came two more times.
“Turn yo’ sexy ass around,” he commanded, turning me by my ankle in the process.
I wasted no time arching my back in preparation for him. I never liked sex from the back until Hammer. With him, I couldn’t get enough of it. As soon as he made his way inside of me, we moaned simultaneously. His strokes started out slow and deep, and I felt every inch of every one.
My mouth hung open, slob almost dropping from how paralyzed by pleasure he made me.
“I can’t hear you, Ms. Merci. I hear this pussy. She loud as fuck. But I can’t hear you.”
All I could do was bury my head in my pillow and grip the sheets as my toes curled and spine tingled. I came, then squirted, whimpering and moaning his name in the process.
“Mhm. That’s what I want, sweetheart. That’s my good girl.”
“Keep making my pussy talk to you, bae,” I begged, squeezing my nipple as I fucked him back.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, smacking my ass and tightening his grip on my waist.
My body felt like it melted into the bed as his strokes lengthened and hardened. At the sound of my doorbell, I cursed but made no effort to stop bouncing my ass against him.
“You not gon’ get that?”
“They can wait or come back. Please don’t stop,” I moaned as my body locked against him.
Except they didn’t come back later.
And they didn’t keep knocking.
As soon as I heard my mother’s voice, I immediately pushed Hammer out of me.
“Merci, are you okay, baby?” she yelled.
“Oh shit,” I whispered, hopping out of bed on wobbly legs. “She’s here so we can have breakfast together. You about to get me in trouble.”
Hammer laughed as I briskly slipped a pair of sleeping shorts on, then put on a shirt that didn’t match. I didn’t care at that point. I just wanted to get out of my room before she made her way in here. Rushing down the hall, I pulled my braids out of my face and tried to regulate my breathing.
“Hey, Ma,” I spoke breathlessly as I entered the kitchen.
“Hey, baby. You alright? I knocked for I don’t know how long.”
Clearing my throat, I smiled as I nodded. “Mhm. I’m great. I was just in bed.”
She eyed me, really paying attention to my appearance. “Clearly, you weren’t alone. I heard something, but I thought it was the TV.”
“I’m sorry, Ma. Hammer surprised me this morning on his way to work with flowers and donuts, and we lost track of time.”
“It’s not your beautiful daughter’s fault,” Hammer said, surprising me with his presence. “When I get around my sweetheart, everything else fades to black.”
Blushing, I was sure his charm would flatter her just as much as it flattered me.
“It’s nice to finally meet you. Hammer, is it?” Ma confirmed, extending her hand for him to shake.
“Yes, ma’am. And the pleasure is mine.”
Mama smirked at me before giving me a nod of approval. “I see why you’ve been hiding him. I’d want to keep him to myself as well.”
“Ma, please,” I groaned as Hammer chuckled.
“I’ma get out of here. Breakfast will be on me for the inconvenience.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” was what Ma said, but she sure didn’t reject the hundred-dollar bills he placed in her hand. It was as if a lightbulb flickered on in her head. She stared at him and released a quiet, “Hmm.”
“What?” I asked, making my way next to him.
“You look very familiar, Hammer. What’s your last name?”
“You’re already late enough,” I said before Hammer could reply. “You should probably head out, bae.”
“You’re right. I’ll see you later.” He dropped a quick kiss to my lips before telling my mother it was good to meet her again, then he left.
“Just give me a few minutes to freshen up, and I’ll be ready to go,” I said, trying to scurry out of the kitchen, but she didn’t let me.
“Who is his family?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “He thinks when I find out, that it will break us up, so he made me promise not to look them up.”
“Does he plan to tell you who he comes from?”
“Yes. In his own timing.”
Her mouth twisted to the side and head shook. “I don’t like that, baby. I get very good vibes from him. He’s a charmer, for sure, yet he seems genuine. But he looks too familiar for me to ignore, and that makes me concerned about who his family is.”
“Well, I want to know too, but I want him to tell me himself.”
“I’m not saying betray his trust by looking into him, but don’t let him betray yours either. You need to know who he comes from. If he’s not willing to share that with you, that’s a red flag.”
Sighing, I twiddled my thumbs. “I know, Ma.”
“Alright. As long as you know. Gone get ready, nasty lil girl. Never thought I’d see the day I’d walk in on my daughter fu—”
“Oh my God, Ma!”
“Don’t be yelling my name like you weren’t yelling his before I walked in that door.”
“Ma!”
This was probably the most awkward dinner Hammer and I ever had.
Hell, even our first time in each other’s presence wasn’t as awkward as this.
After what Ma said, I took three days away from him to think.
I knew eventually that the truth of who Hammer came from would come out, and though he was sure it would end things between us, I had no earthly idea who he could be attached to for him to think that.
During our time apart, I considered if I wanted to keep things as they were, knowing he held a secret that could break us up.
This afternoon, I went to his place and did a few loads of laundry since his house was already clean.
I picked his suits and shirts for the rest of the week and fixed dinner so it would be ready when he came home.
Now we were eating dinner, not talking, and avoiding each other’s eyes, which was certainly not like us.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I pushed my plate to the side and stared at him until he looked at me.
“What’s on your mind, Ms. Merci?” he asked before wiping his mouth.
“I need to know who your family is and what that has to do with our relationship.”
“Are you asking because you already know or…”
My head shook. “No. I told you I wouldn’t look into you, and I keep my word. I’d like for you to tell me who you are.”
“I already have, and more importantly, I’ve been showing you who I am every day.”
“You know what I mean, Hammer,” I stressed softly. “Who do you come from?”
His tongue rolled over his cheek before he pushed his plate forward and rested his elbows on the table.
“If I tell you that, I’ma lose you. I don’t want to.”
“So, what?” I chuckled as my frustration built. “You think we’re just going to spend the rest of our lives with me never knowing where you come from? With you never being around my people?”
“I mean… I didn’t expect it to be that way forever, but damn. I wanted it to last as long as it could.”
My head shook as my eyes watered. “If we have an expiration date, why are we even together now?”
When his expression hardened, I had to look away. “You saying you want us to be over?”
“I’m not saying that’s what I want, but if you can’t tell me your truth, I can’t be with you anymore. I think it’ll be better if we end things while we’re on good terms. Before something or someone ruins things for us.”
Hammer released a quiet chuckle before he sighed. “They already have.”
I stood, and he did the same. Hammer walked toward me, and I fought not to release my tears.
Was I capable of letting him go? Of course.
But I for damn sure didn’t want to. His arms wrapped around my neck, and he hugged me to his chest—tightly.
My eyes squeezed shut as I continued to fight back my tears.
“I’ma come back for you,” he declared as my tears finally started to fall.
“You promise?”
His breath came out shaky before he kissed all over my face, saving my lips for last. “I promise.”
Sniffling, I nodded as I clung to him. “You’re making me break my promise. I promised I wouldn’t leave you.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Trust me, I don’t want to.”
“Then why won’t you just tell me the truth!” I yelled, pushing him away from me. “Come on, Hammer. It can’t be that bad. Can it?” When he didn’t answer, I realized maybe it was that bad. So as hard as it was, I wiped my face, gritted my teeth, and walked away.
September
“Don’t be mad at me,” Ariel said sweetly, and I knew by her tone that she was on some bullshit.
My eyes rolled and she sniggled, which only irritated me more. Truthfully, a lot had been irritating me for the past month; that was why I’d been staying to myself. I let her convince me to get out the house and go bowling, and now I was regretting it.
The only reason I agreed was because I felt bad about declining spending time with Alia and Innah.
If I kept declining invitations, they’d start popping up at my house.
Hammer and I hadn’t spoken since I called things off, and even with life going on, I missed that man like crazy.
This was the first time in my life where it wasn’t easy to detach from a man.
I knew I loved him, but I didn’t know how hard it would be to live without the man I loved.
“What did you do, Ariel?”
“Well… Cujo and I were talking about how Hammer’s all sad, and you’re all sad, so we thought it would be a good idea to get the two of you together.”
“Ariel!” I whined, heart racing. “I can’t see that man. It’s hard enough going no contact. If I see him, I’m going to break.”
“And what would be so bad about that? Fuck his family. What y’all had was real, and that’s a silly reason to let it go.”
“I wish I could agree, but until I know who he is, I can’t be with him.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, sis. They just walked in.”