16. Birthdays at Christmas.
Birthdays at Christmas.
“Mommy, look!” Sera exclaimed as she showed me the tenth gift in a row that my brother had purchased for her. “It’s a toy dog!”
“And it makes noise. Great…” I say, reading off the functions. I glanced over at my brother as he smirked. “Your uncle is…something I can’t say right now.”
“Aww, I love you too, Zee!” He smiles as he tosses a balled-up wad of wrapping paper at me before crouching down to scoop up Sera in his arms. She giggles as he hugs her tightly. “Sera, tell your mommy to stop being a hater.”
“Stop being a hater, Mommy!” she repeats.
“Ooh, you little traitor,” I laugh, shaking my head.
I knew that as soon as my brother walked in the door, Sera would forget about me and be all up under her favorite uncle.
He spoiled that little girl to no end, and the same was true when it came to Zaiyre’s kids.
He was an amazing uncle and an even better father.
I loved that his son could experience the same love that we’d received from our dad growing up. It was beautiful to witness.
“Okay, family,” my dad says as he enters the room. “The food is done, and the table is set, so let's move this party to the next room, and after dinner, we’ll have cake to celebrate Sera’s birthday.”
The kids all cheered as they ran off to wash their hands in the bathroom.
It was a tradition of ours that every year, our dad would get up early and cook a Christmas Eve feast for our small family.
We also used the get-together to celebrate Sera’s birthday.
She loved spending the day with her cousins and had been looking forward to today for the past two weeks.
Especially because we wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas Day with them this year.
After lunch, my Dad would be heading out to go on a week-long cruise with my brother and his family.
Meanwhile, my sister was going to spend the week with one of her best friends.
They’d been planning a trip to Disney for their kids and were finally getting the chance to take them.
Of course, we’d been invited to join both trips, but we declined because we already had plans of our own.
After we were done here, we were headed over to spend some time with Jakayla's enormous family. Her moms had already texted me to say they had a bunch of presents for me and Sera to open once we arrived. I’ve always loved spending the holidays with them, because it was never only a one-day event.
No, the Collins went all out. From decorations to festivities to food, every holiday with them was like a family reunion, and I couldn't wait.
We spent the next two hours with my family, eating and going down memory lane, and it was a good time.
As the sun started to set, we all got to work cleaning up so that we could begin our separate journeys.
And after another hour around my family, we were saying our goodbyes and heading towards our final destination for the remainder of the year.
Since school was out until the 8th of January, we had plenty of time to enjoy our vacations.
I mean, Sera’s school started back on the 3rd, but since attendance wasn’t mandatory, she was free to skip a few days here and there.
It was around 8:30 at night when we finally pulled up to Kay’s house on her family’s compound.
Well, let her tell it, it was our house, and it had always been that.
From the first day I set foot on this property, she and her family welcomed me with open arms. They immediately made me part of their family, and over six years later, I was still here.
“I’m surprised that Princess is still up,” Kay chuckles as I help her out of the car. She immediately runs over to Mama Liz, who was coming down the steps with Mama Giselle close behind. “And of course, the first thing she does is run to her favorite people.”
“Don’t be jealous, Jakayla,” Mama Liz laughs. “She’s our only grandbaby at the moment, and she knows that means she gets all the loving. Besides, she’s the birthday girl. Isn’t that right, Sera?”
“Right!” She echoed.
“And you hear how she said at the moment,” Mama Giselle points out, looking between the two of us. “That means that we’re expecting at least one more from you two.”
“Dang, woman, let me wife her up first,” Kay chuckles, and I get excited at the thought.
“Well, hurry the hell up,” she fusses as she comes over to loop her arms in mine. She smiles at me lovingly, and I giggle. “Tell my big-headed daughter that there better be a ring under that tree in the morning.”
Jakayla rolled her eyes, but when she looked at me again, there was a smirk on her face.
I didn’t want to get ahead of myself by assuming that these were all hints of what’s to come, but I couldn’t help but feel a small tinge of hope.
I didn’t care if it was predictable or not, as planned out as some proposal on a beautiful tropical island or something in the backyard.
All I wanted was her to pop the question.
And I know what people might think. Zseyah, you could just ask her yourself if you’re so impatient.
And yes, I could, but she has stated plenty of times in the last few months that she wanted to propose to me first if I let her.
Of course, she was never forceful about the request, but I wanted to give her the chance to pop the question first.
Besides, I was really excited about being proposed to by a woman who I knew loved me unconditionally. Unlike Sasha, I knew that Kay was here to stay. I knew that she’d never treat me the way my ex did. I had so much love and trust for Kay that I wanted to scream it from the mountaintops.
“Ooh, it’s kinda chilly out here, ain’t it?
” Mama Giselle asks as we walk up the stairs and into the house.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, the scent of something heavenly hit my nose, and my stomach rumbled even though I’d just eaten a few hours ago.
“Ah, I see the smothered chicken is calling to you.”
“You know I’d never skip on a chance to have one of your home-cooked meals,” I chuckled.
“Well, I’m glad, because I made plenty. I figured y’all would be hungry after that drive. I also made cookies for our Princess.”
“Cookiesss!” Serenity exclaimed Mama Liz put her down. She runs towards the kitchen with Mama Liz right on her tail.
“Damn, y’all packed for the next month or something?” Morgan asked as she entered the house behind us, carrying a few bags. I hadn’t even noticed her coming down the road when we pulled up. She places the bags by the door and then pulls me in for a hug. “Hey, lovely sister-in-law of mine.”
“Hey, Mo,” I replied, hugging her back. When we break apart, I stare at her as I cross my arms over my chest. “Now, you already know I’m bouta fuss at your ass.
You should not be carrying all that shit while your shoulder is still healing.
Just because you don’t have to wear the sling anymore, it doesn’t mean that you’re free to overexert yourself. ”
“Aww, you do love me!” She jokes, clasping her hands together as she batted her eyes at me. I rolled mine, and she laughed. “I will rest now, Your Highness. You have my word.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I giggled, waving her off. “Now go sit down, please.”
She raised her hands in defeat as she chuckled. Mama Giselle ushers her into the dining room, leaving me alone to wait for Kay.
“You in here fussin’ at Mo again, love?” Kay asks as she brings in the last bag. She closes the door behind her and then immediately pulls me into her arms. We share a few quick kisses. “Mm, my bossy lady.”
“Hm, that turn you on or something?” I tease, and she nods, kissing me once more. My arms wrapped around her, tangling in her hair as I savored her taste. “Ugh, the way I would drop to my knees for you if we were alone.”
“How long you need?” She questions, a devious expression dancing across her face.
I thought about it for a few seconds before taking her hand and pulling her down the hall and up the stairs.
We only had about ten minutes before someone came looking for us, so as soon as the door to our room closed behind us, I had her against the door as I dropped to my knees, tugging her sweats and boy shorts down with me.
I spent those ten minutes feasting on her like she’d done to me plenty of times before. She tasted so sweet, and I wanted to stay down there forever, even after her release coated my tongue in the best way.
“Damn, you look so pretty on your knees like that, baby,” she told me as her hands ran through my hair. She tilted my head back a bit. “Open your mouth for me. Let me see the way I coat your tongue.”
I do as I’m told, and she moans as she takes her free hands to cup my chin.
She leans down to kiss me, and it does nothing but make me want to strip right then and there.
This woman knew exactly what to do to make me lose all self-control.
I wanted her always, and it was no secret that she had me at the palm of her hand.
“That’s my pretty girl,” she smiled, gently pushing me back in position. “Now, finish what you started, baby. I want my next release all over your face, okay?”
“Fuck,” I said, feeling the seat of my panties get even damper. “Yes, ma’am. I want that too.”
“Mmhm, I know, baby,” she chuckled. “I know.”
She let out a satisfied sigh as I went back to work.
She rode my face, and I matched her pace, licking and sucking like she was the last meal of my life.
I knew that once she tightened her grip on my head, she was close.
So, I applied a bit more pressure on her clit as I worked double time to get her there.
Not even a minute later, she was trying her best to muffle her whimpers as she came all over my tongue, dripping down my chin and fingers. It was a beautiful mess.
“Damn, you are dangerous,” she stated after catching her breath. She pulled me up to kiss me deeply. “You had me bouta sell my soul for another round.”