Page 23 of Mr. Big Stuff

I had been waiting for her to stir from her sleep for the past hour and she hadn’t budged, instead she chose to burrow deeper beneath her covers the moment I had a glimpse of hope her eyes were fluttering open. If not for how hard she had been working and the long hours she’d put in with me in and out of bed, I might have woken her with my dick, but I kept myself from doing that knowing the alarm would wake her in less than three minutes.

On cue, the bells started to ring, bringing her back to earth. Her deep stretch made the covers drop beneath her swell of breasts. I watched them jiggle as she settled.

“Hey, look up here,” she mumbled around a smile.

“Morning, baby.”

I leaned in to give her a small kiss, not caring about a little morning breath something I’d never thought would be possible. When I pulled away from her, getting a good look into her sleep-tinged eyes, she smiled again.

“Morning, baby.”

She yawned and looked around the room as if just now realizing we were at the hotel.

“How long you been awake?”

“Uh, maybe an hour. Maybe two.”

“And you’ve been watching me this entire time?” She seemed embarrassed.

“Not the entire time. I’m a busy man, you know.”

She shook her head. “I know I look terrible.”

“Far from it. You look beautiful, Tracey.”

Her eyes went soft and I felt this strange sensation overcome me. That I wanted to always make her feel like this. Cherished. Loved. Happy. Because that is how I felt with her.

“Come on. Let’s get up,” she told me.

“Okay, but first, let me wake you up.”

“I’m awake!”

“Nuh uh. Com’ere. Let me really wake you up.”

And with my mouth wrapped tight around her hard dark brown nipple and my finger drawing circles inside of her wet pussy, I woke my baby up for the day.

“Everything turned out so nice. I don’t know how you do it.”

I wanted to tell her I didn’t know how I kept my dick out of her all afternoon with her wearing that black off the shoulder number that showed off her beautiful brown skin and toned arms. I kissed the woman so much, I was disgusting myself with all this affection I couldn’t hold back. She became an addiction that I couldn’t kick. But that’s not what she was talking about, I’m sure.

“What do you mean?”

“Everything. I mean I realize you had help. A whole lot of help-especially from me—but it was clear you orchestrated every detail for this event.”

Truth was, the event ended up being better than I could have imagined or planned for. Khalil Berry’s connections helped make Mr. Black’s Juneteenth in the Park the best thing I’d ever managed. Everything from all the attendees wearing their red, black, and green with yellow, to the face painting, the dancers on stilts, the backyard cookout style meal. The art vendors from around the country, the on-site jewelry makers. Like Crystal Noel, who created her pieces on a whim from deep down in her spirit. Her jewelry was so beautiful that the moment Tracey ooohed and aaahed over a necklace piece, I knew I would get it for her. The highlight was performances from Rashaad who at one point brought his chef wife, Zoe, who’d been working on the catering, up on stage to serenade her and the baby she was carrying in her swell of a belly.

There were so many couples in attendance that it turned into a romantic interlude that had me pulling Tracey in my arms from our event table and swaying with the music. I didn’t care who saw us or what they thought. When Necole came by to “check in” and found me hugged up with Tracey, she gave us both an evil glare before stomping off muttering about, “niggas ain’t shit”. Tracey couldn’t contain her laughter. I just pulled her in closer and enjoyed her softness against me before we had to start wrapping up the evening. Truly, this event was everything.

Even so, I didn’t feel comfortable taking that much credit. I felt my shoulders lift in a shrug without thought, especially given the role Khalil Berry played in it. He came and stayed for just long enough to check things out. Dap Rashaad, hug his niece and chat with some of the attendees, before he rolled away to get him to Zola who was still feeling contractions. She was due July sixteenth but he doubted she would make it.

“I’m used to it. It’s what I love doing. I mean, I’m usually behind the scenes, making sure things go this way and that way, and that the business owners know what direction will best suit them. Helping them grow confidence so I don’t have to be there to guide them through it, but this event, for my organization, this is my baby.”

“I know, which is what made it special. It was a labor of love for you.”

Her eyes were sparkling under the recessed lighting. What I saw in those deep dark orbs hit me like a sucker punch. Admiration. Not lust, like I was accustomed to, though I sensed that there as well. But she was genuinely impressed with me and the event turnout.

“Well. When this is all over, if I ever need someone to run something so dope for me, I’ll be sure to reach out to you.”

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