Chapter 15
Hollis
“Luke, we’re on an expiration date. What are you talking about right now?” I said lowly after we broke the kiss that made me dizzy as hell.
“Fuck that six months shit. Do you want to be with me? No, better question, do you love me?”
“I—umm...” I shook my head first, then shrugged before I nodded.
“I need a yes or no answer, Hollis. It’s us or nothing for me, baby. I need you to be sure of the same thing.”
“Luke, it’s been a few months and some change of us even being on speaking terms. Do you know how crazy you sound right now? Or how insane I would be to admit to feeling the same out loud.”
“Crazy for my love and insane for all the muthafucking right reasons. I knew back then how I felt about you, you doubting me now? I keep telling you, ain’t shit changed between us but the years and time we wasted apart.
So am I the only person checking myself into the looney bin or do I have my right hand with me?
” The passion in his eyes had my heart pumping hard as hell and butterflies hitting the pit of my stomach.
Hollis, you know you want to be with him too, so what’s the problem?
I’m scared.
“Yes, but—"
“But nothing, Hershey. On some real live shit, I don’t even know why it sounds as if I’m giving you an option like you can leave.
I keep telling you, that shit ain’t happening.
Not again. For real, it’s either for life or forever over this way for us.
Love, we can figure the rest out. The way I see it, we got ten years to make up and forever to do the rest. And we can take it as slow as we need to, Hershey, this our shit, ’member?
Nobody in it but us and I’m choosing to spend forever with you. ”
“And I’m choosing to spend forever with you too. I love you, Deke.” I blushed, covering my face, completely outdone that I had just said that out loud.
“I love you too, Hershey.”
Luke picking me up had me yelping as he walked us backwards, laying me down on the full size bed.
“Uht uht, not on these sheets will you have me. Lawd knows when the last time they met soap and water was.” I protested, but Luke ignored me as he stripped me down.
“Shhh… and the things I’m about to do to this pussy gon’ be dirtier, they gon’ be okay.” My pants were down and my legs were spread as Luke’s face got lost between my thighs and his mouth found my lower lips.
“Agh!” I gasped as his tongue danced on my clit. His flicks sped up, so I held on to his head for support while I ground my pussy further into his mouth as he built me up to my first of many orgasms he would give me in his old bedroom.
I couldn’t believe I had just gotten back with my ex-husband.
He’s your husband, Hollis!
My muthafucking husband.
I stretched and remembered my whole body was hating me from the makeup sex Luke and I had been having since the day we added the benefits to our relationship. Months of getting bomb ass dick had my body sore but my smile wide.
I turned slightly to look at Luke who was still sleeping. I smirked when I noticed he was holding the ends of my hair in his other hand. This man was serious about not letting me go.
It had been a long time since I'd seen this side of Luke. The passion in his eyes that day reminded me of the side of him that used to chase me down until I talked to him or until we made up.
I sighed lightly before I kissed his lips, then removed his arm and hand so I could get my day started.
I’d blown off work again, so I knew Omar had left countless messages.
I just told him I was working on Shepherd still, which was bullshit.
I stopped digging. Angie had officially made it to the friends circle, so I knew her life was off limits. I just hadn’t told Omar yet.
I grabbed his robe then made my way upstairs so I could handle my hygiene.
By the time I came back downstairs, Luke was still sleep, so I decided to be a good wife and make breakfast and prep his ritual meal.
I got busy, cooking what I remembered was his favorite. Luke was a simple man who enjoyed savory foods generally, but he had a weak sweet tooth for cinnamon rolls. Well, mine.
I didn’t bake from scratch, no, but I could jazz up a can of rolls easily.
The trick was to let the rolls rise for at least twenty minutes before baking them with a little heavy whipping cream and extra cinnamon and sugar.
If I was feeling fancy or drunk off dick, I would add either cookie butter or fruit to take them up a notch. Today, I added peaches to the rolls.
As soon as I pulled them out of the oven, Luke appeared from his room in just a pair of basketball shorts, looking good as hell. I hated how I licked my lips as I eyed him lustfully. He made his way over to me, smelling good as hell as he leaned in to kiss my temple.
“Mmm… I got up just in time. Morning, Hershey baby.”
“I swear you did. The eggs and sausage ain’t done yet though,” I said as Luke ignored me, going for one of the cinnamon rolls, causing me to chuckle as he moaned his approval.
I laid the turkey patties in the iron skillet, shaking my head, then turning to watch him enjoying my food.
“What’s the occasion for your famous cinnamon rolls this morning? Is this your way of saying I did my thing last night?”
I pressed my lips together as I held my head to the side at his choice of words.
“Um… definitely not. This is what wives do. We get up, clean, and cook. I even started the prep for your lunch. Oh yeah, I meant to ask… I went for groceries and got the ingredients for your pregame meals. You still eat the burrito bowls I used to make, right? If not, I can find something else to make with what I have.”
He nodded, finishing the cinnamon roll while I put my attention back on the stove for a moment, cracking the eggs into the skillet.
“Yeah, you know I don’t change much once it’s routine. I got Kay making them now though. I tried maybe once or twice, shit I can’t remember. All I know is the shit was horrible.” We shared a laugh as I shook my head.
“Well, I got it from here. I’ll let Kay know,” I said with confidence. Cousin or not, I would be the only one cooking for my husband and the cocky ass smirk on his handsome face let me know he peeped that shit too.
I licked my lips, prepared to say some slick shit until the sound of the doorbell prevented the words from forming. Instead I said something else.
“You expecting someone?” I asked as my brows furrowed with Luke shaking his head as he washed his hands.
“Naw.”
I didn’t know why I stepped forward as if I were going to get the door but Luke’s frown and arms stopped me.
“Baby, what the fuck you on? Since when have you ever gotten the door when I was home?”
“Luke, you act like I’m handicapped. I can answer the damn door, even when you’re here. I mean, according to you and the people, this is my place of residency too. Now can I go see who’s at the door?” Luke grabbed my hand, kissing the back.
“Hell no, and it is, but baby, that could be anyone. What if it’s a shooter?
I want them to get me instead of getting you.
I keep telling you I get the doors, that includes this one.
These hands can do other things, like cooking the food you have on the stove.
Just focus on that, baby.” Luke flashed a grin that had me kissing my teeth, snatching away from him just as the bell rang again.
“Ugh, whatever. Go get the door, please. We don’t know who it is and they’re waiting.” I turned around, flipping the sausages.
“And they can wait while I correct my wife’s mistake privately.” The slap to my ass had me grinning as he left me there to finish cooking.
When he came back, it was with Skyla.
“Good morning, Hollis. I was hoping I came after breakfast so I wasn’t interrupting like I seem to keep doing.” I put on my fake smile as I took the eggs out the pan, then washed my hands.
“Good morning, no worries. Would you like to join us? The sausages are almost done,” I said, joining them.
“I have to admit it does smell amazing, but no thank you. Like last time, it won’t take me long. Just dropping off your envelopes. Congratulations on month two,” Skyla said as she produced two new envelopes with our names on them. I still hadn’t opened the first.
I reached for mine, picking it up and examining the weight. It was thicker than the first.
“Well, that’s it for me.”
“Thank you, Skyla, and please take a cinnamon roll for the road, I insist. Hollis makes the best. These even have peaches, so they’re kinda healthy,” Luke said. I put my attention back on them, hopping into gear to get it for her.
“Me too. You might as well get something for the delivery. We’re nowhere near the office.
Now, Luke overhypes them like a good husband, but I promise they are good.
And if you don’t, he’ll eat them all and blame me for the extra workout in the gym.
” I was in motion to the sink to wash my hands once more so I could package one up for her.
Skyla chuckled. “Okay, thank you. This is definitely going to help me push through my morning.” I put the cinnamon roll in a plastic container then grabbed a paper towel for her too.
“I’ma keep saying it, y’all are my favorite thus far. See y’all next month,” she said once she had the container in hand.
While they left me in the kitchen, I turned off the sausages, taking them out then going back to the thicker envelope, now curious what was inside.
I mean, obviously it’s a letter, Hollis, but what would Jimmy have to say in six letters and this intense.
I grabbed mine and headed to the living room where I stashed the other in the ottoman, comparing the two.
I had to be in there for a minute, because by the time Luke joined me, he had a plate with three more cinnamon rolls plus the eggs and sausages. I just shook my head because I knew this was our plate to share.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he took a seat next to me, placing the plate on the coffee table.
“My envelope is heavier this time. What do you think is inside?”