Page 19 of Autumn & Woods
She blinked, and her lips parted, but I didn’t give her time to answer. I pushed back my chair, stood up slowly, and didn’t look back.
Id i d n ' te v e nmove right away. I stared at the spot Woods had just walked away from, like I imagined that low whisper in my ear. “Meet me upstairs in fifteen minutes. Third room on the left.” Like... sir. We're in a whole house with your family. What the hell? I couldn't believe the nerve of this man.
I pressed my thighs together and exhaled through my nose, trying to ground myself. That man was stress. The kind you remember later when you're in the shower, acting like your shower head is innocent. I sipped my drink to cool down, heart still thumping, and tried to focus on anything other than him.
“Autumn baby,” Big Mama called out from the far end of the table. “You gon’ help us get this kitchen cleared, ain’t you?”
Damn. I smiled softly and nodded, already starting to rise. “Yes, ma'am.”
Before I could even fully push back my chair, Yohana shot up, voice sugary as pie but eyes bitter as hell. “I'll help too, Big Mama. Been a while since I got in that kitchen with y'all.”
“Mmhm. You could use the practice,” one of the aunties mumbled under her breath, making me cough to cover my laugh.
The kitchen island was packed with foil pans, half-empty bottles of liquor, a tray of leftover rolls that somebody had forgotten to cover, and dessert tins with lids already halfway cracked open from folks peeking.
Woods’ mom was already at the sink, rinsing dishes, while two of the aunties wiped down the counters. I grabbed a stack of plates and started scraping scraps into the trash, trying to keep my mind off Woods and his audacity. “So, Autumn,” she started, coming beside me with a pan of half-eaten yams. “How you like bein’ backin the city? Got any malefriendsout here, or are you just taggin’ along with my son?”
The way she emphasized "friends" made my ears perk up. Slick-ass shade. “I'm enjoying myself,” I said simply, not looking at her. “It's been good to catch up with Taj and meet Woods.”
“Woods?” Yohana turned her nose up.
“He prefers to be called that,” I informed her with a smile, calm as ever.
One of the aunties coughed into her palm like she was hiding a laugh, and Sherry chuckled low under her breath. “Denise, be nice to Autumn,” Big Mama called, not even looking up from where she was wrapping pies. “You oughta be glad Quainterested in her. She's a good one. Autumn, baby, help me wrap up this turkey. You got a gentle hand.”
“Yes, ma'am,” I replied, grateful for the redirect. Yohana's lips tightened, but she didn't say anything.
We all worked in silence for a bit, but the tension in the room was thick enough to butter. Yohana kept trying to peek over my shoulder like she wanted to say something else, but she must've sensed she was on the verge of getting put out.
“You okay, baby?” Sherry asked, nudging me gently with a warm smile. “You went quiet.”
“I'm good,” I lied. “Just thinking.” As soon as the last of the foil was pressed down and Big Mama started arranging dessert tins for people to take home, I backed away from the island and rinsed my hands off in the sink. “I'm gonna get some air,” I said, grabbing my red up. I refilled it with a double shot of tequila and slipped through the house.
The night was breezy but still a little warm. I leaned against the railing, sipping slowly, looking up at the string lights they had hanging between the trees. Kids were somewhere in the back, screaming and laughing while tap music played loudly.
And I was out here… trying to talk myself out of going up those stairs. The throb between my legs hit harder. Woods had me shook, and I hated it. I hated how easy he slid into my mind. Into my space. Into me. That man was a walking danger zone with a dimpled smile and a heavy dick.Lord…
I took another sip, exhaled, and straightened my back. I was torn. Part of me wanted to go upstairs, to see what Woodshad in mind. But another part, the part that was still reeling from his boldness, was hesitant. I took a deep breath.Fuck it.
T h es e c o n dIheard the doorknob to the spare bedroom twist, my dick instantly got hard. I knew she would bring her ass up here. Rubbing my palms together, Autumn’s silhouette appeared. She eased the door closed behind her, and just stood there for a second, breathing heavily like she’d been running.
“Lock it,” I told her.
She did so without saying a word and then leaned back against the door, as if she needed support. I stood up from the king-size bed and walked towards her. She cleared her throat and I knew them drinks had her ass lit from the first word she spoke. “You wanna get me in trouble with Big Mama?” Her arms were folded like she was trying to contain herself.
I tilted my head. “Maybe.” She nodded once. I smirked and closed the space between us, stopping right in front of her.My hand came up slowly and grabbed her chin, tilting her face toward mine. “Why you come here lookin’ this good? Hmm? You was hopin’ to snatch a nigga up today?”
“Please,” she said, almost breathless. “I always look good.”
I laughed under my breath and leaned in. “I don’t doubt that, gorgeous.” Her eyes locked on mine. “I can smell you,” I whispered. “Swear to God I could smell that shit when you walked in this room.”
“You’re disgusting.” She didn’t even deny that she was dripping wet, though.
I leaned in and kissed the side of her neck. She gasped as my hand slipped down, found the hem of her dress, and slid underneath until I reached the inside of her thigh. Again, Autumn didn’t have no panties on. I was starting to think she never wore them shits.
“Before I get a lil’ crazy,” I mumbled against her skin. “I’ma assume you snatched them off on your way up here. Otherwise…”
“I tossed them.” She grabbed my button-up in both fists, eyes fluttering. “I didn’t come here for no dick, Woods. You being here was a mere coincidence. Now, are you gonna fuck me or keep wasting time?”
