Page 21 of Essence of his Soul

I gasped. “Oh my God! He called you Daddy!”

Mark’s expression softened, and I could see the emotions flickering across his face. It was the same feeling I had the first time Tyler called me Mama.

This was his moment, and I couldn’t take that away from him. “You’re right. Tyler likes spending time with his daddy.”

“Da Da.”

Mark closed his eyes and let out a long, shaky breath. He stepped forward, kissed our son on the forehead, and whispered, “Thanks, Champ.”

Our eyes met, and we grinned at each other like fools before I managed to tear my gaze away. I sat at the table with Tyler while Mark returned to the stove, chopping vegetables for a salad. He looked so at ease in the kitchen, and I couldn’t help but notice. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he said without turning around. He reached for a pot on the stove and poured steaming hot pasta into a strainer. “My mama insisted I learn how to cook in grade school.”

“Really?” I said, reaching down to grab a carrot stick. I handed Tyler a piece of tomato.

“Yep,” he continued. “Tuesdays were my night to cook. I’d spend hours thumbing through cookbooks, planning a meal. Then, I had to make a grocery list and shop with my mother for all the ingredients. Every week, I tried to outdo Kelly.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.”

“And a lot of work.” He paused, smiling at the memory. “Butit paid off. Now, I like to show off whenever I get the chance.”

“Well, I’ve never been any good at cooking.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten,” he said, his eyes sparkling with a teasing light.

I groaned, remembering when I tried to impress him in the kitchen. Mark had shown up just as the fire truck was leaving. “I can honestly say I tried,” I giggled.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I moved to the other side of the counter. Mark was stirring a red sauce that smelled divine. While he wasn’t looking, I snatched a piece of fried catfish draining on a paper towel. Popping a chunk into my mouth, I moaned, “Oh, man.”

“Good?” he asked with a quick glance.

“Incredible. Fish is my favorite.”

“I know.”

I paused, surprised. Was there anything he hadn’t forgotten?

He forgot about you, a small voice inside me whispered.

“Why don’t you go change into something more comfortable,” Mark suggested, moving around the kitchen like he’d always belonged there. He had pushed his way back into my life and home and made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere. That made me feel… conflicted.

“Go on, Essence.” He turned and looked my way, his tone gentle but firm.

I sighed. Right now, I was too tired and hungry to argue. If Mark wanted to cook, let him.

* * *

I watched Essence leave the room, and a low moan slipped from my lips as my eyes stayed glued to the sway of her perfectly round ass. Everything about her teased me—from her full, tempting breasts to those long, shapely legs that had always driven me crazy. I was glad she stepped out when she didbecause if I had turned around, the way my body was reacting would've been way too obvious.

I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about finding me in her house unannounced, but I figured a brotha could win some points by cooking dinner. I wasn’t about to let her bite my head off without a fight. Essence was stubborn, and part of me was tempted to remind her who called the shots. But if I’m being real, that fiery attitude drew me to her in the first place.

I pulled two plates from the cabinet, scooped the pasta onto them, and spooned on the rich, savory sauce I’d perfected. I knew I was playing a game but wasn’t backing down. I told myself it was all about spending time with Tyler, my son. I’d missed so much already and needed to make up for lost time. But deep down? It wasn’t just about Tyler. There was this pull, this need, to make Essence mine. And that feeling had been gnawing at me ever since I stepped back into her life.

Two years without a woman would make any man feel some type of way. But this wasn’t just about needing someone in my bed. It was more than that. She was more than that.

As I tossed the salad, my thoughts drifted back to her, and it pissed me off that she was taking up so much space in my head. Being around Essence was intense. She had this way of making me second-guess everything, and I didn’t like that. Not one bit. I wasn’t the type to get wrapped up in feelings, but with Essence, it was only a matter of time before I had to decide. And what I wanted, more than anything, was her. But it had to be on my terms.

A few minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the hall. I shook off the thoughts and carried the plates to the table, trying to focus on anything but the storm of emotions swirling in my head. Essence stepped into the kitchen, Tyler on her hip, and just like that, everything else faded.

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