15. Mali
A month later
Over the last month, I’d received the insurance money, signed the papers to my new home, and spent more money than I needed to on new furniture. Life was hectic, but for the first time in a long time, I felt happy—genuine and pure happiness.
“We’re always happy to help,” Bradlee commented.
“Especially if you’re promising to cook us a delicious meal for our hard work,” Connor added.
“Of course! The grocery order will arrive in about an hour. I’ll make sure everyone is nice and fed before they head home. Now, be careful with my vanity, please.” I winked at them both as they carried the expensive black item to the bedroom.
“Oh. Bitch, I ought to beat yo’ ass for hiding all these fine-ass firefighters from me. My goodness.” Joylei fanned herself as she walked in through the front door with a box of my keepsakes. It was the only thing she’d probably carry the whole time she was here, but I was here for her presence.
The vibes were impeccable. Music played while everyone had a task. I loved the fact the weather wasn’t too hot or too cold. There was a slight breeze as well.
“You’re all right with me, Flame,” Joylei said to Artez as he placed one of the new barstools in front of the kitchen island.
One thing I loved about moving into my new house was the fact every room had a theme or color scheme it followed. The kitchen, with marble counters, had a black-and-silver theme with seafoam green accents.
I listened to them talk as I rummaged through the new set of kitchen appliances I’d gotten. As I washed the pots and pans, I couldn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips.
“Yeah? I’m glad I meet all your requirements.”
“You make my girl happy. She has a new light to her that’s brighter than the stars in the sky, and that’s thanks to you. You took your time speaking life into her and showing her a love worth healing for.” Joylei sighed. “I fear if you hurt her in any way, I’ll have to kill you.”
Artez chuckled. “I would put my life on the line if I hurt Mali in any way, as well. You’ve got my word she’s safe with me physically, spiritually, and emotionally—wholly.”
Joylei clapped her hands. “I know that’s right. Now, on to the important topics. Which ones of your station siblings are single? I’m trying to have my happily ever after just like Mali.”
Artez shook his head. “You’ll have to find out yourself. I don’t get in anybody’s love life but my own.”
Joylei playfully rolled her eyes. “Boring. Tomato. Tomato.” She mimicked throwing tomatoes at him as he shook his head and laughed.
“Lei, you need to stop distracting my man and his crew. I’m trying to get everything moved in tonight so I can sleep all weekend,” I called out to my friend.
“Do you want me to make you an auntie or not?”
“Hey, so . . . you come sit down and shut up.” I joked with her.
“Nobody wants me to have my happily ever after. Now if my coochie shrivels up and falls off, then what? You gon’ love me coochie-less and alone?”
I cackled so hard my head started spinning. “Lei, please go to hell immediately.”
“Well, since I’m not going home with one of the firefighters, how may I help you in the kitchen, bestie?” Joylei went over to the sink and washed her hands.
“You can start on the fries. Season them with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder. I’m going to have two pots of chicken wings going at once to help make it go faster.”
For the first time in a long time, I was at peace.
I had my new home and my full privacy back.
I was grateful my parents always had a place for me in their home, but it was nothing like being in my spot again with no listening ears down the hall.
I could walk around naked, leave dishes in the sink, and play my music as loud as I wanted.
Not to mention, I could fully enjoy the intimate moments with my man without fear of disrespecting my parents’ home.
My life finally took a turn for the better.
When the last of the guests left, I leaned against the front door and exhaled. Cooking for six extremely fit men and women was not a small feat. It felt like I’d done all the heavy lifting the way my feet screamed to be soaked in a bowl of hot water.
Once I turned the locks and set the alarm, I walked back into the living room to see Artez lying across the couch with his eyes closed. Today had worn him out.
“Baby,” I called out.
“Hmm?”
“Are you staying the night?” I asked as I approached his still frame.
He peeked one eye open at me. “Can I?”
“I’d like that a lot, actually.” I joined him on the couch, lying between his legs with my head resting gently on his chest. His hands instinctively wrapped around me.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he rubbed my back soothingly. The feel of his strong arms on my body always made me feel protected, loved, and appreciated. I didn’t even know a simple touch could hold so many emotions and feelings until it became the norm for me and Artez.
“Right now, or as a whole?”
“Both.”
“Right now, I feel happy. I feel safe. I feel content. As a whole, I feel like my life is finally going in a positive direction. I don’t have to hide who I am.
I don’t feel dread when I wake up anymore.
I don’t have fear of running into Juda and him setting me back ten steps.
Everything is . . . perfect,” I explained.
A few weeks ago, the Cade’s Cove Police Department informed me they’d made an arrest. Apparently, Juda was a serial arsonist because they connected him to several other house fires over the last fifteen years.
He’d been setting fires since he was a kid and even killed someone.
He wouldn’t be getting out of the situation any time soon, if ever.
“I’m really glad to hear that, baby,” Artez replied. “You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live life without fear of anyone harming you. You deserve the world.”
“I love the way you talk life into me. It’s very appreciated.”
He leaned down and pecked my lips several times. “Do you need help cleaning up?”
“Juliet and Joylei helped me clean while y’all were all talking animatedly about your probie days. The kitchen is spotless. I’m so excited to have my own place again.”
“I know you are. I’m happy for you. If you don’t mind, I’ll call my security guy and see if he can come through this week to get you set up with the best security system. I know Juda is making his way through the justice system, but I still want you protected and safe on the days I’m not here.”
I poked out my bottom lip. “Yes, sir.”
“Gimme a kiss.”
“You got to come get it.” I smirked. I stood from the couch and grinned. I lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it onto the floor as I slowly made my way into the bedroom.
The bedroom theme was white and pastel blue with black accents. I loved the bed set and fur rug I’d washed and put together after dinner. I still had a lot of things to hang up and decorate, but the important rooms—bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen—were all set up.
By the time I made it to the main bathroom, I was completely naked. I turned the walk-in shower on and pulled my hair into a high ponytail. Yes, I was in a playful mood, but I direly needed a hot shower to ease the aches of the day away.
Smack!
Artez had snuck up behind me and slapped the fuck out of my ass.
A pleasurable sting spread across my cheek, which caused me to let out a combination of a yelp and a moan.
I turned on my heels to glare at him, only to be lifted into the air.
My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he held me against the glass of the walk-in shower.
“Artez!” I shrieked playfully.
“Nah. You gon’ gimme a kiss.” He scattered kisses all over my face and neck. When he made it to my lips, he lingered longer. The teasing pecks turned into long, passionate kisses that left me breathless and wanting more.
“A minute ago, you were a log on the couch. Now you’re Hercules throwing me all around the bathroom. Do you know that is insane?”
“I’ll always have that extra burst of energy to please you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Let me see.” I smirked.
“My pleasure.”
I assumed we’d have hot shower sex, but I was wrong.
The shower acted as the beginning of foreplay.
He washed my body, firmly scrubbing every inch of my skin.
Then as I rinsed, he washed himself. I was in awe of the sight of the soap cascading down his firm abs.
The dick between his legs twitched every so often, letting me know he was ready for the main course whenever the time came.
I giggled during the shower. I giggled through the slippery steps to the bedroom, where we laid our towels out on the bed and lotioned each other down.
I giggled at him laying me across the bed like a prime rack of ribs.
Then those giggles turned to moans as he ate me off the bone.
He sucked on my clit and tongue fucked my hole like he was going for a Guinness world record for most orgasms in a night.
“I’ll never get tired of the way you taste. Sweet. Sexy. Mine.” He kissed up my thighs, my stomach, and stopped to give each nipple a thorough suck.
Once my nipples were swollen and thoroughly sucked, he trailed kisses across my collarbone, up my neck, and behind my ear. I tensed up and giggled because he knew it tickled me when I felt his warm breath against my earlobe.
“Artez!” I called out.
“I ain’t even get to the main event and your neighbors already know my name.” He winked.
“Oh brother, shut up!”
“Who you talking to?” he asked as he used his free hand to spread my legs. He massaged his tip against my entrance.
“Y-you.”
“Look at you stuttering already.”
“Don’t tease me no more,” I pleaded.
“You want it?”
I nodded.
“Show me how much. Put all this dick inside of you.”
I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth and snaked my hand between us. I stroked his length and guided it into me. Inch by inch, I took him wholly.
“Fuck.” He groaned.
“It’s so much.”
“You can take it, though. Show me you can take all this dick.”
I shivered. I quaked. I shook.
The pleasure was pure. I closed my eyes and took it all. My pussy loved Artez. She always greeted him with the warmest hug. Then she held on tight until he brought the rain.
“You made such a mess on this dick,” Artez commented. He rubbed his tip against the length of my lips.
“You want me to clean it up?”
“Hell yeah.”
I moved around the bed until his tip was against my lips, and I slowly slurped him into my mouth. I tasted the mixture of our sex and hummed as my tastebuds danced. I sucked him clean, then I stroked him until his cum coated the back of my throat.
“Mmm.”
“Fuck.” He grunted.
“All clean,” I said once I’d swallowed every drop.
“You’re so nasty.”
“Only for you.”
He cupped my chin and pulled me up for a tender kiss. Nothing else mattered as we pulled the covers back and snuggled into the bed.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.
I could feel his lips pull into a smile. “I love you too.”