Page 17 of Half Sight Whole Heart

ERISS JACKSON

My eyes cut to Mahlia when she removed the bear Zyro had won for me at the fair.

“Now, why would you grab this out of all things from my house?” I quizzed.

“You’ve been sleeping so peacefully with it, bookie. I felt like you needed it,” she replied with a mischievous grin.

I groaned. “It just smells really nice.”

Mahlia laughed. We were in one of the four guestrooms. Ermias had eaten, brushed his teeth, and passed out.

Mahlia had carried him to one bedroom and convinced me not to smother him tonight, but to sleep in another room.

She promised me that Zyro’s house was one of the safest. I wasn’t worried about Delion the way Zyro put him on his ass.

That still tickled me because Delion always thought he was the toughest nigga around and untouchable. Zyro proved that to be a lie.

What Delion had said about my eye didn’t bother me one bit.

During our relationship, he would say shit like during arguments and then turn around and apologize.

After a while, I kind of checked out of the relationship because it got tiring, so when she showed up at our doorstep big and pregnant, I didn’t fight or cry about it.

I kicked Delion out since it was my grandparents’ house.

Mahlia sat down on the bed in her own pajamas. A serious expression graced her face.

“What?” I huffed.

“Zyro would really be good for you,” she said quietly. “I see how he is already protective…overprotective of you and nephew, that…I just can’t wait to see him with his own running around here. I swear he’ll keep your beautiful ass pregnant.”

“Mahlia…”

She raised her hands, stopping me from crushing her spirit. “Hear me out.”

I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Remember, I told you not to block your blessings. I really, reaaaally feel like my cousin is your blessing. He’s a damn good man.” She pointed a finger in my direction. “And you can’t deny that.”

“I also told you that I wasn’t ready to get in…”

“A relationship,” Mahlia finished, mocking me. I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m just saying, don’t let him get away. You might end up with a Zyleek.”

We guffawed.

“He’s actually fun to be around,” I told her.

“He is! Dating, though, hell no.”

“He might get it together one day, with the right one, but you’re right…I don’t want a Zyleek.”

We snickered again.

“Not too much on my bro.”

Our heads both turned to the door that Mahlia had not closed. My face grew hot because I was so embarrassed to be talking about his brother in his house. Mahlia was now on the floor, rolling with tears in her eyes.

“You know it’s true, cousin. I would never put my real friends on to Zyleek.

” Mahlia giggled. “That’s my boy, but he isn’t ready to settle down just yet.

If my friend was just looking for a fuck and fun type shit, then yeah, Zyleek is the man.

” I cut my eyes over at Zyro, and Mahlia caught it.

“Nuh uh, friend. Zyro and Leesa… nah, just don’t put their names together. ”

Zyro snickered. He leaned against the doorframe, wearing that lazy grin, one of his dimples exposed. Could I see myself with someone like him? He’s been nice since we met, and the way Ermias talks and gloats about Zyro all the time. The way his face lights up upon seeing Zyro needs to be studied.

“That nigga got three baby mamas…”

“That we know of,” Mahlia interrupted Zyro and added.

He scratched the side of his face. “They like it. All three of them are on that nigga, but he said he ain’t fuckin’ with nan one ‘cause they ain’t put shit on his bail.”

Mahlia and Zyro both cracked up. Without thinking, I picked up the stuffed bear and inhaled. I mean, eyes closed and everything. When I popped them back open, two sets of eyes were on me.

“You ain’t even gotta say it,” Mahlia hooted.

“You need me to spray some more?” teased Zyro.

Right then and there, I decided to play along. Mahlia dared me with her eyes.

“Sure. It can use some more,” I uttered, bringing a squeal out of Mahlia. She brought an arm up and rotated it in a circle as if rooting for me.

Zyro jutted his head toward the door. “Follow me to my room with the bear.”

I wasn’t sure what had gotten into me, but my legs began to move.

Mahlia’s jaw dropped. I followed Zyro down the long hallway.

All throughout his home, it smelled like lemons.

One of my favorite scents for cleaning products, wall plug-ins, and candles.

I was barefoot, and the cool, wooden floors felt good underneath my feet.

This wasn’t liquoring courage because I hadn’t been drinking.

This had to be the throbbing between my thighs that wouldn’t stop when I was around Zyro.

The two wooden doors that opened to his bedroom were taller than he and I.

This whole house was luxurious. I couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped my throat when I trailed him beyond the doors.

It was so beautiful. Everything was black, but the wall light fixtures made the aesthetic even more beautiful. His bed was enormous.

“My mama designed all this,” he told me without breaking his stride to his bathroom.

“She did a real good job,” I gushed.

The bathroom was just as amazing in black and gold, and the floor shower with the black and gold marble floor and walls took my breath away. The bathroom was massive. At least my bedroom and Ermias’ put together.

Zyro stopped at the sink where there were bottles of colognes on the counter.

Turning to face me, with one swift motion, he scooped me up and sat me on the counter.

I yelped from him, catching me off guard.

I tightened my hold on the teddy bear in my lap as he removed the top from a bottle of cologne.

I didn’t want to be gone too long because I didn’t want Mahlia to think something was going on in here, and I also didn’t want Ermias to wake up and catch me on this man’s bathroom counter.

Zyro shook the bottle once, removed the bear from my hold, and lightly misted it, spinning it around in his large hands. The veins protruding from his arms and hands were sexy as fuck to me. He was sexy.

The fresh, woodsy scent curled around us. Instead of handing me the bear right away, Zyro stepped between my legs. If there was a sound coming from all that thumping in my middle, it would be one of a drum in an HBCU band.

His nose twitched, and a slow smile spread on his lips. The seat of my panties was damp, and I could even smell my clean essence.

I reached for the bear so I could hop down and leave, but Zyro was too quick.

He moved it behind his back. He moved closer, one hand now on my thigh.

I swallowed, not knowing what I should do.

I couldn’t fake the funk if I wanted to; this felt good.

Having the opposite sex up on me like this, I hadn’t had this in a while.

He had me caged in. His voice came out in a rough rasp.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked.

I couldn’t even speak. Afraid that it’ll come out in a squeak or some shit other than my voice.

I nodded, looking in his eyes. That was all the permission Zyro seemed to need.

He leaned in slowly, cupping my chin. His lips brushed mine as he pressed them against mine.

Parting my lips, he deepened the kiss, slowly.

His thumb brushed along the edge of my jaw as if he was testing how far I would allow him to go.

He sucked on my bottom lip, then gave me a peck before stopping and stepping back. He slightly shook his head and glanced down. His dick was erect.

“See the shit you do to me, Eriss. You might need to leave ‘fore I do more than kiss yo’ beautiful ass,” he said with a low groan that sounded more like a growl.

Zyro dragged a hand over his face and laughed under his breath as I just sat there.

“I said I ain’t want a relationship, but you’re making it real hard, baby. ”

With the bear still in his hand, he gripped my hips and helped me off the counter. I was…disappointed.

He handed the bear to me.

“Go ‘fore I take it too far. I ain’t go lie…I want you bad, but I’m on yo’ time, baby.”

My body was screaming out, stay in there with this man and let him take you on a euphoric ride. I knew that ride would be better than any rollercoaster they’ve ever made. Zyro gave off that vibe.

I saw it from the shorts he wore. The length. The girth.

I felt it, too.

That kiss was still on my lips.

Boldly, I inched back in his space, and a bushy brow rose on his face.

Zyro licked his lips, then bit down on the bottom one while watching me.

I reached around him, placing the bear on the bathroom counter against the mirror.

When I straightened up, he circled his arms around my body, his hands roamed down to my ass, and he gripped both cheeks.

My body pressed against his, the bulge knocking at my stomach.

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

He frowned so cutely. “Scared of what?” he asked.

I licked my lips. “Scared of what this might turn out to be. Scared that you’ll get tired of looking at my eye.”

Zyro half-smiled as his brows drew together.

“Eriss,” his voice rumbled, “Ain’t nothin’ ‘bout you that’s ugly to me.

That hit deeper than the damn kiss. His thumb brushed my hip in slow circles.

“I’m not in the business to hurt you,” he continued, his gaze steady on mine.

“If you need slow, shiiid we can go slow, but I want to at least taste you tonight.”

My face grew warm. I felt like a damn schoolgirl.

“Maybe I should get back before Mahlia…”

He smacked his lips. “She knows what it is.”

We laughed.

“And what is it?” I asked teasingly.

“Lemme show you,” Zyro said, before dipping down low, taking my shorts with him.

I wanted to stop him because the hair on my mound was growing back since my last wax, but then I hadn’t felt lips down there in so long.