I had on this black dress that hugged every inch of me, the slit runnin’ up my thigh just enough to show off my leg every time Ishifted next to Couture. My heels had me sittin’ right, posture up and body sittin’ exactly how it was supposed to. I knew I looked good, but the way Couture kept glancin’ at me throughout the night made it hit a lil’ different.
He was dressed in all black too, and very well put together. He had on a fitted button-down, a couple buttons open at the top, showin’ just enough of his chest while his chain rested against his skin. His pants sat right on him, tailored clean, and his shoes was simple but sharp.
His waves was brushed down fresh, his beard lined up perfect, and when he leaned in close, his cologne hit me all over again. It was warm and rich in a way that matched the whole vibe of the night. Everything about him fit the settin’.
These past almost three weeks with Couture had been… easy.
That’s the only way I could really explain it and even though I hadn’t mentioned anything about establishin’ an actual relationship with him, shit just flowed. He wasn’t one of them men that made you question where you stood or had you sittin’ around waitin’ on a text that might not come. He stayed on me in a way that felt natural, callin’ me when he got a break, textin’ me just to check in, pullin’ up on me on my lunch break when he had time and when we was together, his attention stayed right where it needed to be.
We laughed a lot, and that was my favorite part. I’d be talkin’ my shit, just runnin’ my mouth how I do, and he’d sit there with that low laugh, shakin’ his head at me like I was somethin’ he couldn’t quite figure out but loved it at the same time. Even when I got loud, even when I got extra, he ain’t never try to tone me down. He just met me where I was and let me be me.
I took a slow sip of my drink, smilin’ to myself as I shifted a lil’ closer to him, my thigh pressin’ against his. This man knew what he was doin’, and he took his time with me in a waythat made everything feel deeper than just what it was. He paid attention, and that alone had me locked in.
“Why you smilin’ like that?” he asked low, his voice right by my ear as his hand slid a lil’ lower on my waist.
“Nothin’,” I said, side-eyein’ him with a light grin. “Just thinkin’.”
“Yeah?” he murmured, his thumb rubbin’ slow circles into my hip. “Look like good thoughts.”
I let out a soft laugh, shakin’ my head as I leaned into him, my shoulder pressin’ against his chest. “You ain’t gotta know everything.”
“I’mma still find out,” he replied, calm as ever.
I had finally told Toni about him. Of course I was gon’ do that, but I made sure she kept that shit to herself. The last thing I needed was Kay’Lo all in my business, askin’ questions and speakin’ on somethin’ I was still feelin’ my way through. This was mine, and for once, I just wanted to enjoy it without everybody else havin’ somethin’ to say.
Outside of him, my life had been movin’ how it was supposed to. Me and Yunique had been locked in at my apartment, eatin’, laughin’, smokin’ and just livin’ for real.
When she told me she found a new place too, I ain’t even hesitate to help her out. I gave her that eight hundred and told her to go ahead and secure that shit, then turned around and bought her some pots and pans so she could really feel settled in.
That was just me though. I took care of my people. But right now, in this moment, I was right here with Couture, and the way his arm stayed wrapped around me like he ain’t had no intention of movin’, had me feelin’ a lil’ too comfortable.
“Tomorrow,” he said after a minute, his voice a little quieter this time. “I’m headin’ out early.”
I nodded slow, even though I already knew. He had told me about goin’ out of town for a few weeks to cook for some peoplevacationin’ on a cruise and I understood it. That was his life, his work, and I respected that.
“Yeah, I know,” I said, glancin’ up at him. “You booked and busy. I’mma miss you, though.”
He smirked, but his eyes stayed on me. “I’mma still be on you though. Calls, texts, FaceTime… all that.”
“You better,” I teased lightly, but there was a part of me that meant it more than I was lettin’ on.
“And when I get back,” he added, reachin’ up to tilt my chin just a lil’ so I had to look at him, “I’m comin’ straight to you.”
The way he said that had my stomach doin’ somethin’ I wasn’t even prepared for, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. Then I pulled back slow, our eyes still locked as I stayed close to him. We stayed like that for a second, just lookin’ at each other, and for once, I wasn’t jokin’, I wasn’t talkin’ shit, I was just… here with him.
By the time the lounge started windin’ down, we got up and made our way out with his fingers laced with mine the whole time. I stepped out beside him with my heels clickin’ against the floor while my hips swayed natural, my dress movin’ with me as we walked.
When we made it to his Benz truck, he opened my door without me even askin’. I turned to face him before gettin’ in, reachin’ up to grab the tail of his shirt lightly as I leaned in.
Our lips met again, this time a lil’ deeper, and I slid my fingers into his beard, scratchin’ through it while I sucked on his bottom lip just enough to make him exhale low against my mouth.
“Damn,” he murmured, his hand comin’ up to the side of my neck before he pulled back.
I smirked at him, then slid into the seat while he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
The drive was calm as his hand reached over to hold mine while he kept his eyes on the road, and we talked about nothin’ and everything at the same time. Every now and then he’d laugh at somethin’ I said with that same low laugh that had me smilin’ hard as hell.
When we got to his place, he came around and opened my door again, holdin’ his hand out, not wantin’ to let me step down on my own. I took it, lettin’ him help me out before we walked inside together.
