Page 7 of Essence of his Soul

I wasn’t about to take no for an answer. “I insist.” Before she could argue, I grabbed the basket of clothes sitting by the TV and started folding them, laying out neat stacks on the couch like it was no big deal.

She paused, watching me for a second before asking, “You want something to eat?” She was stepping back, trying to keep some space between us, but her eyes were giving her away.

I smirked, then turned around, holding a pair of her silky, lace-trimmed panties. “Oh, what’s this?” I teased, holding them up like they were a prize.

“Give me those,” she muttered, her lips twitching like she was fighting back a smile. She snatched them out of my hand, but not fast enough to miss the glint in my eye.

I chuckled, enjoying how I was getting under her skin. “Still rocking blue, huh? Some things never change.”

Essence shot me a look, caught between laughing and playing it safe. She grabbed the laundry basket from me like she was cutting off the fun. “You want to help? Then pick up your son’s toys,” she said, rolling her eyes before turning on her heels andwalking out of the room.

And there it was—that sway. That walk. The wolf inside me howled, heat shooting straight down to my groin. Damn! I quickly dropped back down on the couch, ensuring she didn’t catch what was happening below the belt.

Down, boy, I told myself, trying to get it together. But it wasn’t easy. I closed my eyes for a second, and there she was, standing in front of me like she used to—those blue panties hugging her curves, teasing me. I had to breathe, trying to calm the fire inside me. Essence always had that effect on me. Even now, after all this time. As I closed my eyes, memories rushed in like a flood...

I was lying across the bed, my eyes on the bathroom door. Essence stepped out, her presence instantly filling the room.

“What do you think?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe like she owned the space—and at that moment, she did.

She stood there, looking like a dream wrapped in blue lace. A matching bra and panties clung to her curves, showing off everything that had me losing my mind. My breath caught in my throat as I let my gaze trail over her body, taking in every inch of her, the thin fabric barely covering what I knew by heart. For a stolen moment, it was just us, and nothing else mattered.

“C’mere,” I whispered, my voice low but filled with that hunger that was clawing its way to the surface.

Essence didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. She sauntered to the bed with that slow, confident stride that had my pulse kicking into overdrive. Her hips swayed with each step, pulling me deeper under her spell. When she reached the edge of the bed, she paused, her eyes locking onto mine, and in thatmoment, everything else faded.

She reached up, pulling the pins from her hair, letting those thick, natural strands cascade down over her bare shoulders. My breath hitched as she stood there, her hair framing her face and flowing like a halo of temptation. But it was her eyes—those deep, intense eyes—that had me. They were filled with the same fire and smoldering need that had been building up between us since I walked into her life. I could feel the heat between us, thick and undeniable, making it hard to think straight. All I could do was gaze up at her, letting that hunger take over, wiping out every rational thought I might’ve had. I reached for her, my fingers brushing against the soft skin of her waist, my body reacting to the warmth of her skin.

Essence leaned down, close enough for me to smell the faint hint of her perfume—sweet and intoxicating. Her breath was warm against my skin, and I could feel the tension crackling like a live wire, ready to snap.

“Are you sure you can handle this?” she teased, her voice soft but laced with a challenge. A slow grin spread across my face, my eyes locking with hers, pulling her closer.

“I’ve never backed down before, and I’m not about to start now.”

Essence’s lips curled into a smirk as she slid onto the bed, her body pressing against mine. The feel of her skin. The warmth of her breath. The heat of our connection was impossible to ignore. She was dangerous, and I was ready to fall headfirst into the fire. And just like that, we were lost.

“Damn,” I hissed. I stared down into the intense desire burning in her depths. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “You’re so sexy,” I murmured, then swooped in and covered her mouth with mine. The kiss was greedy and demanding. Her lips were warm and persuasive. Our tongues twined and merged in a hot, wet assault. As passion ignited, mine grew wildand wicked. I moved down the smooth line of her neck to her collarbone and then to her breasts, teasing her nipples to tingling peaks beneath the thin, silky fabric. A moan slipped from her lips. I unhooked her bra. Essence’s breasts spilled into my hands. Eyes locked, I lifted one to my mouth, my lips suckling and teasing her nipple possessively.

“Mark,” she moaned, arching into my hand.

Reached down, I slipped my hand inside her panties, then slid them down off her hips and down around her ankles…

A child’s cries yanked me back to reality. My mind had been clouded with old memories and desires, but all that vanished when I heard the soft sounds of a child crying.

Essence reappeared in the doorway, her voice calm and soft, slicing through the tension in the room like a gentle breeze. “Your son is awake.”

In an instant, the vibe shifted. The unspoken heat between us evaporated, replaced with something heavier, something real. I followed her down the hallway, my chest tight with anticipation, fear, and something I hadn’t expected. Hope. Each step made it harder to breathe, knowing that on the other side of that door was the boy who would change everything.

We stopped in front of a bedroom, and all I could see was Essence’s hand on the doorknob, steady and sure. She pushed it open to reveal a room decked out in bright Mickey Mouse colors, but I barely noticed the decorations. My focus was locked on the crib in the corner and the small body stirring inside.

Essence moved with the kind of grace and ease that came from practice. She leaned over the crib’s wooden bars with a tenderness that made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t ready for. Her smile lit up her whole face as she lifted a chubby-legged little boy into her arms. His giggles were instant, filling the room with pure joy. Essence turned to me, her eyes glowing withpride. “Meet your son, Tyler.”

Those words hit me like a tidal wave. My breath caught in my throat as I stepped forward, my eyes locking onto him.Your son. He had a round, cherubic face, full of life, with dark curls sprouting from his head, just like mine. And those eyes—wide, golden-brown eyes that looked up at me with curiosity and innocence- hit me deep. They were my mother’s eyes, no doubt about it. The resemblance was undeniable, just like Kelly had said.

My son.

“Hey, Lil’ man,” I whispered, my voice rough, thick with everything I was feeling—love, fear, joy, and a whole lot ofdamn, this is real.

Essence watched me, her face softening in a way I hadn’t seen before. Her pride was unmistakable, but there was something else in her eyes—something that reminded me she had done this alone. She could’ve made a different choice, but she didn’t. She brought my son into this world, raised him without me, and that hit harder than anything I’d ever experienced.

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