I whined. “Why? I’m so close.”

“Hold it in. Get to the peak and slide it all the way in.”

“I-I… Shit…” I hissed in ecstasy as I listened to his guidance. The feel of his dick fully inside of me was beyond any description words could provide. I planted my feet into the mattress and placed my hands on his firm chest. I rode him like a cowgirl. Front to back, front to back, side to side. My movements were calculated for only a few moments before the pleasure became too much.

My back slumped as my legs shook from the intensity of the orgasm.

“Whew…” I giggled as I caught my breath.

“Now it’s my turn.” Marquise flipped me over and spread my legs. He fit between my legs and fucked my screws loose. I didn’t know how many times he’d hit my spot, but I was drained of all my juices by the time he climbed off of me.

After he’d finished, he went into the bathroom to clean himself up. When he returned, he wiped me down and pulled me to the head of the bed. We cuddled.

He rubbed my ass as I trailed my finger along his tattoos.

“What’s up with you?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“How’s work? What you got planned for the city? I know you were doing cookbook tours and shit before Granny Janie passed. I just wanted to check in and see what all you got on your plate right now.”

I smiled. “Work is busy. I’ve been trying to manage different buildings across the country without making flights. Most of my days are filled on Zoom calls with my assistants while they’re walking the restaurants for me. I canceled the rest of my travels for the year because I wanted Quis to get as much family time as possible.”

“I feel you. I appreciate all the time you’ve dedicated to placing roots in the city. I want to help take some weight off of your shoulders.”

“I don’t need any help?—”

“I know you don’t need the help, but I want to do it. I want to spoil you like I used to. I want to invest in you and my art.”

I poked out my bottom lip. “Aww, pooh!”

“Don’t do that.” He chuckled.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. I know you sacrificed a lot to get your parents back on track financially. I also know how much you enjoy being spoiled. I got you. I want to take over your bills and let you use your money to upgrade shit.”

I leaned up to kiss his lips. “Thank you, baby. I’m not one to pocket watch, but how can you afford to do that?”

“I had some cash locked away in a safe before I went down. Uncle Merlot also gave me some parting ways money. He said he wanted me to give you and Quis the life y’all deserve without struggling to do so.”

“That was nice of him.”

“Yeah. It surprised me, fa sho.”

I rubbed his chest. A beat of silence passed before I spoke again.

“I’m excited to see where life takes us this time around.”

“Me too.”

He pecked my forehead. His warmth and the soothing beat of his heart lulled me to sleep. My final thought was this was what I’d needed all those years ago. My soulmate was back in my life, and we could be a family again.

A few weekslater

“Thank y’all for joining us tonight. It’s been a long time coming since me and Honey rekindled our flame, and it’s only right to reintegrate our families together,” I explained as I stood at the head of the table in the backyard.

There was a long row of tables pushed together for all of us to sit as one connected family. We’d decorated the backyard in a gold and black scheme. Honey had thrown down with the seafood boil style buffet. There was corn, shrimp, eggs, crawfish, king crab, blue crab, snow crab, mussels, clams, and sausage links. The tables were covered in plastic, and brown paper towels were in front of everyone. Some folks had gloves, but the true down south natives got their hands dirty with the spicy blend.