Chapter 28
Killian
Alayah’s spirits had lifted by the time we got to my house. My parents were already there along with Bridget, Ellie, and Collin. Of course, they had made themselves comfortable in my home. The Eastons had pulled up not long after we made it, and Kadeem said he and the fam were on the way.
When I introduced Alayah to my parents, my father offered her a warm smile and a handshake while my mother pulled her in for a hug.
She was acting like she’d never met her.
Although Alayah had never been to my home in high school, my parents were very active and showed up to school events, so they had met her before.
“It’s so nice see you, baby,” my mama said, rocking her from side to side. “I’m happy you’re home.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lake. It’s good to be home.”
Ellie slid her little body in between them and raised her arms for Alayah to pick her up. She smiled as she scooped her up in a hug.
“Hi, Ms. Alayah!”
“Hi, baby.”
“We can watch our movie now.”
Bridget shook her head. “Please go watch that movie with her. She will not stop talking about watching Moana with the real-life Moana.”
Alayah giggled. “Can I help with anything first?” she asked my mother.
“No, baby. Bridget and I made all the sides earlier. We’re just waiting on the meat to come off the grill. Go on in there with my grandbaby. She’s been waiting on you.”
“Okay, Ellie. Just let me shower and change clothes first.”
“Okay. Hurry back.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Easton, girls, make yourselves comfortable,” I said. “I’m sure my mama will make you feel right at home. She has a way of doing that.”
Mama playfully slapped my arm. “In not so many words, he’s saying I invade his space.”
“You do at times, but I love you, so I let it slide. I’ll be back.”
Alayah and I headed down the hall to the bedrooms. She dipped into hers, and I went into mine.
After stripping down, I headed into the shower.
Once the water was hot, I stepped inside.
As the water ran down over my body, I heard the bathroom door open.
When I looked back, Alayah was standing there clutching a towel around her with her hygiene products in her hands.
“Can I join you?” she asked.
Instead of answering, I opened the shower door to let her in. She dropped the towel, and my eyes trailed her beautiful frame. My baby was flawless. She stepped in and turned to face me. Slowly, she drank me in from head to toe. This was the first time she’d seen me fully naked.
Her eyes stopped at my groin area, widening as she took in my length.
“You want me to take all of that at some point?” she asked.
I chuckled. “I’ll be gentle, and it’s only if and when you want it.”
Her gaze lowered again, and she swallowed hard.
“You’ve um…you’ve pleasured me. I think I should return the favor.”
“Baby, you don’t have to do that. I like pleasing you. I don’t do it for anything in return.”
She peered up at me. “Well, I don’t know anything about oral pleasure, but I could give you something.”
Before I could reiterate that she didn’t have to, she took my dick in her soft hand and began to stroke it. I closed my eyes, and I inhaled deeply. I hadn’t been with a woman in months and hadn’t self-pleasured in about as long. Her gentle strokes slowly pulled a moan from me.
“Shit…”
I felt her soft lips against my neck, causing my head to drop back.
She trailed kisses from my neck to my chest before gently grabbing my chin and pulling my lips to hers.
As our lips and tongues intertwined, she continued to stroke my dick.
The blood in my veins was rushing, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I erupted.
“I love you,” she whispered against my lips.
“I love you, too, baby. So fucking much.”
I turned her so her back was to my front. While she continued to stroke me, I reached around and parted her lower lips with one hand while the other toyed with her pebbled nipple. With the first swipe against her swollen clit, I found her soaking wet.
I pinched her nipple harder as I nuzzled my nose into her curls.
“Does pleasing me turn you on, Layah?” I asked.
Her response came out as a breathy “Yes.”
I loved that she was discovering her sexual desires after years of abuse. Some people were never the same after that.
As I strummed her clit, I gently sank my teeth into her shoulder, causing a whimper to come from her.
“Killian…”
“You can take it,” I whispered. “I feel you throbbing for me, baby. I love that shit.”
She gasped as I bit harder and stroked her faster.
“Oh my God…”
“Right there…that’s it, mama. You feel so good to me, Layah.”
Her body trembled against mine. When her free hand gripped the hand I was stroking her with, I knew I had her. Her soft strokes to my dick became firmer as she bucked against my hand.
“Finish for me, love. I want to feel you all over these fingers.”
That had her head dropping back and her mouth opening. Before she could cry out, I clamped a hand around her mouth. Muffled cries beat against my hand as she came against the other. The sweet sounds pushed my nut forward, shooting out of me and hitting the shower floor.
“Shit!”
Once she quieted down, I released her mouth, and an exasperated breath expelled from her lips. I chuckled as I pulled my fingers away and turned her to face me. She peered up at me in a drunken gaze as I painted those juicy lips with her essence before kissing it off.
When I pulled away, her eyes were still closed.
“Baby?” I called.
“Hmm?”
“You okay?”
She nodded. “Mmm-hmm.”
I smirked. “Let’s wash up and get out of here before they start gossiping.”
By the time we returned to the front, Kadeem and his family had made it. I dapped him up and gave him a brotherly hug.
“What’s up, bruh?” he said.
“Ain’t nothing.” I turned to greet his wife. “Hey, Kyah,” I said, hugging her.
“Hey, Killian.”
“Congratulations on the little one.”
“Thank you.”
I scooped Parker up to hug her. “Hey, lil’ bit. How you doing?”
“I’m fine. Where’s Ellie?”
“Dang, Parker. It’s just forget me when you see your little friend, huh? You didn’t even hug me back.”
She giggled as she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Sorry, Uncle Killian.”
I placed her on her feet. “Ellie should be in the den. She’s about to watch a movie.”
“What movie?”
“Moana.”
Her eyes beamed with excitement because she loved that damn movie, too.
“Mommy, can I go?” she asked.
“Hold on,” I said. “I want you to meet someone. Baby!”
“Baby?” Kyah echoed. “You have a girlfriend?”
“Something like that.”
“When did this happen?” She smacked Kadeem’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Baby, I don’t be in this man’s business like that.”
“Lies.”
Alayah came out of the kitchen, her sundress swaying around her hips. I couldn’t help but smile because she was looking radiant. Kadeem slapped my chest.
“Look at him grinning,” he jested to Kyah.
Parker gasped. “Moana!”
Alayah came to my side, and I wrapped an arm around her.
“Baby, you already know Kadeem, but this is his wife, Kyah, and their daughter, Parker.”
Alayah smiled. “Hi, Kadeem. It’s nice to meet you, Kyah.” She stooped to greet Parker who was giving her the same look Ellie did when she first met her. “Hi, Parker. It’s nice to meet you, beautiful.”
Parker covered her face and giggled. She then grabbed Layah’s face and pressed her forehead to hers. Alayah smiled and looked up a little confused.
“It’s the way Moana greets people,” Kadeem explained.
“That is adorable,” Alayah said, hand over her heart.
“It’s adorable until she accidently headbutts you.”
“I said I was sorry, Daddy!” Parker exclaimed.
He laughed. “I know, princess. Go on and find Ellie.”
“Okay. Bye, Moana!”
She ran off toward the den, leaving us alone.
“It’s good to see you home, Alayah,” Kadeem said.
“It’s good to be home.”
“You went to school with them, too?” Kyah asked her.
“I did.”
“Awww! So you two are high school sweethearts?”
“Not exactly,” I answered. “I am sweet on her, though.”
Alayah blushed, and Kadeem pretended to gag. “You’re still lovesick, I see. Layah, I don’t know how you missed the googly eyes this man made at you in high school. If I had to hear your name one more time, I was gonna hook y’all up my damn self.”
I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t that bad, Kadeem.”
“Bullshit.”
“Baby, stop telling Killian’s business,” Kyah fussed. “He’s glowing right now, so I take it all is well. That’s all that matters.” She winked at me.
I chuckled. “That’s why I like you, Kyah.”
“I know.” She looped her arm through Alayah’s. “Come on, girl. The two of them are about to go gossip.”
“I kind of got dragged into watching Moana with Ellie so that’s where I’m headed.”
“Great. I can’t escape that movie anywhere.” Kyah sighed. “At least let me make a drink so I can stomach those two little girls singing at the top of their lungs.”
She pulled Alayah toward the kitchen. Kadeem chuckled as they walked off.
“What’s funny?” I asked.
“You really are glowing, my guy. That’s a fresh I’m in love type of glow.”
“I am in love, man. Real bad.”
“I knew it was coming. Does she love you back is the question.”
“She does.”
He smiled. “I’m happy for you, man. You two deserve the happy ending you were robbed of. I fully believe that if she hadn’t been locked up, you would have finally made her yours.”
“I might have worked up the nerve.”
“Hey, she’s yours now—unofficially.”
We slapped hands again before heading toward the back deck where my dad, Collin, and Mr. Easton were. As we passed the den, I could see Ellie and Parker practicing the island dance from the movie. They were already getting into character. Adrienne and Amiyah were gyrating right along with them.
As we passed through the kitchen, my mama and Mrs. Easton were in deep conversation while Kyah and Bridget made themselves a drink. The two of them and Alayah were talking like old friends. Maybe they would eventually become friends. I knew she had Londyn, but hey, the more the merrier.
Outside, the men huddled around the grill. Pops looked back at me and smirked.
“It took you long enough to come outside,” he said.
“I don’t know what you’re implying, old man.”
He shook his head. “Sure you don’t. Everything good? Y’all had fun today?”
“Man, I spent hours being clowned by three different women. The girls wanted to go indoor zip-lining, and you know how I feel about heights after that traumatic experience.”
Kadeem laughed. “I know you aren’t still going on about that hike, Killian.”
“I almost died.”
“You’re being dramatic as hell. We weren’t even that far off the ground.”
“Tell that to my head, neck, and spine if I’d fallen headfirst. I don’t care what you say, I prefer solid ground.”
“They didn’t hassle you too bad, did they?” Mr. Easton asked.
“Sir, they almost had to walk home.”
The men laughed.
“Nah, but seriously though. They had fun, mostly at my expense. I loved seeing them so happy together.”
He nodded. “They deserve these moments. Too many have been stolen from them. I’m just glad I’m still here to witness it.”
A round of “Amens” went up around the space.
“So how has it been having a houseguest?” Collin asked.
The rest of the men looked at one another and grinned as they waited for my response.
“It’s been nice,” I answered. “After being here by myself for so long, it’s nice to come home to someone. Even better, it’s someone I care for deeply.”
“You know, my baby is convinced she’s gonna have a new auntie,” Collin said. “She’s already talking about matching Halloween costumes with you two.”
Kadeem playfully nudged me. “I don’t think Killian has enough muscles to be the Maui character.”
“He definitely doesn’t have the hair for it,” my pops jested.
“What y’all aren’t gonna do is stand in my yard insulting me. If my niece wants me to be Maui, then I’ll be Maui.”
“That’s why she’s spoiled now,” Collin said. “I don’t know what she’s gonna do when you have your own kids.”
“Run my pockets still. One of these days I’ll tell her no.”
Mr. Easton chuckled. “Son, take it from a man that’s been married a long time: You never say no.”
Then men nodded in agreement.
“It only gets worse when you have daughters,” Kadeem said. “Don’t let Kyah and Parker get to giving me those sad faces. I just hand over my bank card and accept defeat.”
“So you’re a sucker is what I’m hearing,” I joked.
“I’m a man who knows how to pick my battles.” He slapped my shoulder. “I can always take you to the beauty supply store and get you a thirty-inch body wave.”
I jerked away from him. “You’re lucky I respect my elders, or I would have choice words for you.”
We all laughed at that one. It felt good to gather with my people.
It let me know that I worked too much and needed to take more time for things like this.
Work would always be there, but people were leaving this earth every day.
Time waited for no one, and I wanted to enjoy whatever time I had left with the people I loved most.