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“I let you plan it… That’s gon’ have to be enough. I’m not letting you pay for all this shit, Malaysia. Get that thought out your head.” Her eyes rolled as she crossed her arms over her chest and mumbled under her breath. As I picked the Kindle up, I told her, “And quit all that huffin’ and puffin’ too. Ain’t nobody scared of your little ass.”
As much as she tried to hide her smile as I pulled her into my side, it spread.
“Did you at least enjoy yourself?”
“I always enjoy myself with you. But this was fun as hell. I ain’t even gon’ lie. I loved every moment of this.”
Her shoulders hiked as she grinned. “Yay. That makes me happy. I hoped you’d like it. I know we say we’re friends, but I really want us to be friends, bae. Regardless of what life throws at us, I want us to always have this foundation. I want us to always be able to enjoy each other and it not have to be just about sex.”
“Agreed. You’re the first woman that I’ve been with and truly considered a friend. I get the best of both worlds with you. You have a true place in my life outside of just my bed. I really love spending time with you.”
“Good, because I love spending time with you.”
She cupped my cheek, and we kissed until there was a knock at the door. I opened it and let the attendant roll our food in. If the pasta didn’t put me to sleep, I’d spend the rest of the evening reading with my baby, and I was sure I’d get just as much pleasure out of that as I’d gotten from everything else this weekend.
19
Malaysia
One Week Later
Sharing this moment with Aspen felt forbidden in a way. Forbidden because his pottery studio was his sacred place. This was where he came to create art and take his mind off things. He gave me one lesson, and I understood the peace it filled him with. However, it required too much attention for me to try and learn.
Today was different. When I came out to ask him what he wanted for lunch, I saw that he was working on a vase. He said he got the idea from my tattoo. My man was making vases for my bouquets. Just the gesture alone made me get teary eyed. But when I sat on his lap and molded the vase with him—forbidden. Vulnerable. Sacred. With our dirty hands, full hearts, clear heads… sacred.
Turning in his lap, I covered his lips with mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying not to get the clay on him. He didn’t care. He didn’t care. His hands, cold and sticky, gripped my waist to ensure I stayed in place. I lowered his sweats and boxers. Aspen’s dick sprang out, making it easy for me to slide down on him.
I rode him slow and took him deep. My whimpers mixed with his moans. His fingers dug into my waist as mine clawed at the back of his neck. He bit mine before licking it and moaning about how good my pussy felt. Our eyes linked briefly before mine rolled and closed as I came. He throbbed inside of me, filling me with his seeds as he did every time we became one.
My forehead rested on his as we caught our breath. I smiled and gave him a tender kiss. He carried me to the shower on the side of his studio. What was supposed to be us washing off turned into him eating my pussy and fucking me against the wall… then we made our way inside.
Christmas was just days away. Thankfully, I’d gotten all my shopping out of the way. I was most excited about the gifts I’d gotten Aspen. This would be the first Christmas I was spending with a man that I could proudly bring around my family. The fact that the men were leaving for a trip to Denver three days after Christmas tickled me. Daddy was on a cloud with Dejvi and Aspen. He may have had his reservations about the pace of our relationship, but the more time he spent with Aspen, the more open he was to it.
We were spending the day wrapping and packing a few pieces for Aspen to take to Rose Valley Hills. Saveth was going to have a showcase with him as the featured artist this spring, but she wanted to house the pieces now in preparation. I didn’t blame her. For what she was paying for them, I’d want to protect my investment too.
It seemed the gallery opportunity gave Aspen the confidence and courage to chase his dream fully. Money wasn’t an issue for him, and he could adjust his calendar and make time for what he wanted to do. He signed up for night art classes with Karrington, and I couldn’t be prouder. When he was in his studio or tattooing, he was in his purest and most peaceful form. I wanted more of that for him.
“Can you believe we’ll both be in school next year?” I asked, putting the top on the plastic bin that was now full.
“I can, actually. We’re in a good space right now. We can do literally whatever we want… go wherever we want. There are no limits.”
A soft laugh escaped me as I looked at him. In just a few months, we were growing, evolving together. Shifting into different versions of ourselves… together. He, to me, was proof of what true partnership and having someone by your side that believed in you could do. I went from aimlessly wandering through my twenties to having a solid plan and vision for my life. Even though I was still fully dedicated to experiencing all that life had to offer and going with the flow… finally taking my gift and dream seriously and going back to school was the perfect path for me in this season.
“Will it always be like this, Aspen? Or is this…” I shrugged and twiddled my thumbs as he stood upright and walked over to me. “Us just… giving and being so open because this is the honeymoon stage.”
His arms wrapped around me, and he pulled me close. Aspen kissed my chin, nose, and forehead.
“This isn’t a honeymoon stage for me. This is me. I can promise you, it’ll only get better from here.” He kissed my neck. “I’m clingy as fuck. I want to be in you, under you, on you, and with you every fuckin’ chance I get. I want to make you happy—it pleases me. I want to make you love me.”
“I—”
My mouth snapped shut. I wanted to tell him I already loved him.
Was it too soon?
Three months of this, of him... Of denying myself of him, craving him, comparing him to a man who had never been on his level. Surrendering to him, living with him, building with him. Making memories and having experiences.
It couldn’t have been too soon.
