Page 20 of Craving a King

Kofi hands our trash to one of the many people that keep asking for the honor to throw it away. The royal treatment is equal parts off-putting and amazing. I don’t know how to feel about it, and then I realize it’s Kofi’s life and title. How I feel about what he was born into really doesn’t matter. I just need to focus on who he is outside of it all.

“Come, Ella—it’s time for your surprise.”

“Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. I’m excited to see what it is.” He guides me down a long stretch of stalls before we land at one with a simple sign that reads,Mawuli. I pause, remembering that name from Maya. This is where she called in an order for my Akwasidae outfit. “Kofi, this is the shop that Maya sent my measurements to for the Akwasidae. It must be the best if Maya shops here when she’s on the continent.”

“Yes! Mawuli is my personal tailor. I had her prepare something you could wear for the Akwasidae also. It looks like you’ll have two looks to wear that day. That actually works well.”

“But how did you get my measurements?”

He chuckles. “I had Adom send them to me. He asked your friend Maya for your dress size.”

“Oh, that’s silly. He did not have to ask Maya—Adom knows all my sizes. He likes to buy me things to wear.”

Kofi’s jaw tightens and he starts to tense. “How does Adom know such an intimate detail about you? And he buys you things? Are you sure you never slept with him again?”

I roll my eyes. He just can’t let my drunken night with Adom years ago go. I count to five before I respond, as not to bite his entire head off. The jealousy is kind of cute but way out of line. “As I stated before, Adom is my Morehouse brother and nothing else. We share a love of clothes and he often sees something I will like and purchases it. Furthermore, your question is asinine.”

Kofi looks slightly chastened. “I apologize for the offense. I just don’t want to think any man has been where I have been. I don’t share.”

“You know that’s borderline misogynistic, right?”

“No, I don’t. No man likes to share what is his, especially when it is a precious thing that he adores. I know it’s unrealistic because, regrettably, I am not your first lover. However, Ella, I aim to be your last.”

I am flabbergasted. What is this man saying? He keeps dropping hints of forever and exclusivity without really saying it. Maybe he’s just a smooth talker that’s a little sex drunk right now. I shouldn’t read too much into it, but it’s hard not to.

“Let’s go in and see what Mawuli has prepared for me. Shall we?”

“Of course.” Kofi leads me to the back of the shop, where a beautiful dark chocolate-shaded woman greets us with a brilliant smile. She wears her hair bone straight and jet black to her chin. When she speaks, her voice has a cherubic sound to it. She is all joy and warmth.

“Your majesty! Is this the beauty you were expecting from the states?” She envelops me in a hug and I instantly like her.

“Yes, this is Ella Jenkins. She is CEO and founder of Revolution Academies. We are looking to possibly bring her schools here to Kumasi for our children.”

Mawuli lights up with a look of recognition. “OH, are you Maya’s friend Ella?”

I nod emphatically. “Yes, I’m sorry. It seems you have made two garments for the same girl.”

“Oh, no worries! Two garments will work well for Akwasidae. You can wear one during the day to the parades. Then you can wear the other for the banquet and dancing. I did not put together you were the same person because Maya was very clandestine about your visit.” She looks over to Kofi. “Now I understand why.”

Kofi lifts his finger to interject. “She should wear my requested design for the evening.”

Mawuli nods in agreement. “Yes, I agree. Ella, why don’t you undress in that room right over there, and I’ll get the evening dress onto you for some tailoring first.”

I look at Kofi and he nods in the direction of the room. His gaze tells me he wants to come back there with me and watch me strip. Of course he can’t do that here.

When Mawuli brings the dress back, I gasp. It is shimmering gold lace with gold crystals dispersed throughout all of the fabric. The dress creates its own light. On the rack, I can see the lace pattern is an Ashanti tribal print overlaid on a silk bodice. It is stunning. Once I put it on, I can’t believe how well it fits. It is a sparkling glove hitting every curve of my body just right. The dress is a mermaid style with a bit of a train in the back. The front has a high scoop neck, but the back dips so low you can almost see the slip of my ass. It is conservative in the front and full of sex in the back. It is perfect.

“Perfect,” Mawuli says with a gasp. “You know, we won’t let the king see this until the night of the event. You will be a beautiful surprise.”

I laugh. “I agree.”

Mawuli then brings in a kente print pantsuit with a train attached to the bottom of the pants. The pantsuit has a cigarette pant and halter top; it is very chic. “Now, this one we will show the king.”

When I walk out, Kofi gives me a ‘make your panties wet’ stare before coming over to grab my hands. “You look like regality, Ella. You look like mine.”

I turn to look at Mawuli. She blushes and nods. “He’s right! You look like a queen! Your majesty, wait until the night of the Akwasidae—Ella looks like a million bucks in the dress you designed.”

Kofi looks disappointed. “I can’t see that one now. too?”

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