Page 28 of Grown Folks Confessions: Black Lush

I wanted it.

He wanted it.

And there was no use denying either of us what we’d already convinced ourselves we’d have.

I didn’t even notice when he put on a condom, but when he slipped inside of me, I almost slapped myself for being around this good dick all this time without sampling it every chance I got.

“Damn, I missed this shit,” he muttered. “Missed having you like this.”

“I did, too,” I mumbled. “We really do fit so good together.”

“Not good,” he said. “Fucking great. We were made to do this to each other.”

My giggle caught in my throat, choked by pleasure, his true words playing on repeat in my mind. We had something … special. Something neither of us had ever been able to define. This cosmic connection that was constantly pulling us together … or apart. Everyone saw it, and whenever photos of us together surfaced on social media, old classmates couldn’t stop asking us if we’d finally gotten together.

“Ares, I’m close,” I slurred, overcome with so much, yet still wanting more.

“Me too,” he replied, and something in the voice, or maybe just hearing him period, sent me over the edge, spiraling into a world of emotions that I welcomed because I needed to address how I felt about Ares. I needed to finally accept that a future without him wasn’t what I wanted.

If what he said was true and all those times that I thought he was joking, he actually did want me and wanted to marry me, then I could only hope we were on the same page. However, the way we’d finally gotten together was unconventional, and as Ares groaned into the curve of my neck and my legs wrapped around him even tighter, I knew that fake marriage or not, I was more than ready to give us a real shot.

twelve

Grown Folks Confession #12: I stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop when I noticed that I preferred to walk barefoot and give my toes room to breathe.

ARES

This ishow I want to wake up every morning.With Layla tucked into the curve of my arm, drool on the side of her mouth, hair a tousled mess, and my arm asleep from the weight of her big, yet beautiful, head.

In other words, it was my idea of a perfect vision at sunrise.

“We have to head to the breakfast gathering soon,” she mumbled, apparently more awake than I thought she was. “You deprived me of nutrients last night, so I’m starving.”

After we’d confessed that we had feelings for each other, we’d had two more sleepless nights where we couldn’t keep our hands to ourselves. By day, we enjoyed the panels and retreat. By night, though, we explored each other’s bodies, memorizing every scar, every stretchmark … everything that made us,us.

“That’s funny because I had told you we should order room service after the first round, but you slid my dick in that pretty pussy of yours and next thing I know, we missed room service hours.” I slipped my hands between her legs, gently coating my fingers with her morning wetness, before slipping them into my mouth to suck the taste off.

“You so nasty.”

I smirked, sneaking in a kiss on her bare shoulder just as she stood from the bed, blessing me with an unobstructed view of her gorgeous body before she slipped into the bathroom to take a shower.

I never liked the worddeprived.When I was in school, I didn’t really think too much about why I didn’t like the word. However, now that I was older, I had faced the fact that I disliked the word because when I heard it, I always thought of my time with Layla. Our missed opportunity and the biggestwhat ifof my life.

Until now …A part of me was nervous that the other shoe would drop soon, and once again, I’d lose my girl. Yet, the optimistic side of me pushed those damn insecurities aside.

After we’d both showered and I exited the bathroom to see her in a flowy, low cut, green dress, I couldn’t help but hike that shit up and give her another orgasm before we left our room to meet everyone for breakfast.

“You good?” I asked her as we made our way to our seats.

She smiled and slightly shrugged. “I’m good. It sucks to lose, and I have a lot of shit to figure out, but I’ve overcome setbacks before and I’ll do it again.”

“Damn right.” I reached over to squeeze her hand. “And I’ll be by your side to help you. Remember what I said, La. Whatever you have going on, you ain’t in this shit alone.”

I’d move mountains for this lady. She had to see that shit, right? At last night’s dinner, Navaeh had announced the winner of the investment, and unfortunately, Layla wasn’t chosen. I think in a way she’d suspected it after she owned up to how our marriage was fake and we’d missed the first day of the retreat.

“Remember thatsomethingI needed to tell you,” she whispered as more attendees began to gather. “It’s about my family and the reason I need the money.”

“Okay.” Immediately, my mind went to her dad. “What is it?”

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