Page 91 of Falling Into Gravity

“I know,” he grinned. “You got that glowy look, like he done made you laugh all night.”

“He always do.” She tilted her head. “Kinda like you.”

Malik licked his bottom lip. “Yea? You miss me?”

Aku reached up and ran her fingers along her neck where his hickeys had faded just slightly. “Mm hmm. You tryna make me miss you more?”

“Always.”

They just smiled at each other. He rubbed his jaw, his confidence showing up in how he squinted at the screen like he was building a fantasy in his head.

“I was thinkin’,” he murmured, voice thicker now. “You ever fall asleep on the phone while somebody was talkin’ nasty to you?”

“Malik—”

“Nah, I’m serious.” He adjusted the camera so she could see more of him, arms folded behind his head now. “You got that sleepy voice on. You curled up in them lil’ silk shorts?”

She looked dead at the screen, biting the inside of her cheek. “Why you tryna get me started, Malik?”

“’Cause I can’t stop thinkin’ bout how soft you felt,” he said low, “how you was talkin’ me through it…slow like you knew I needed that.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

He dragged a hand across his abs. “I ain’t never had nobody touch me like you. Like you knew how heavy I was but you wanted to carry it anyway.”

She shifted under the covers, thighs squeezing. “Malik…”

“You wet just from hearin’ me talk, huh?”

She didn’t say anything, but he could see it in her face. That slow inhale. That lazy smile. That look that belonged to him now.

“I miss your mouth,” he whispered. “I miss how you say my name when you about to let go.”

“You tryna make me float.”

“Am I?” His eyes dropped lower. “You want me to stop?”

She shook her head slowly.

“Nah,” he murmured. “Didn’t think so. Tell me how you look right now.”

She pulled the blanket down just enough to show the silk strap falling off her shoulder, her bare collarbone catching the light. “Like I been thinkin’ about you since I walked in the door.”

He exhaled through his nose. “I wanna see you. All of you.”

“Then come get me.”

He sat up. “Say the word.”

“I will. Just…not tonight. I needed this first…to come home, to remember who I am when I’m not just your girl.”

She stamped them…she was his.

He nodded slowly, loving how she took charge and told him what it was. “You always gon’ be more than that.”

“Good,” she said, eyes fluttering. “Because I’m fallin’.”

“Fall then,” he whispered, voice like a promise only her soul could hear. “I’m right here.”

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