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Cordaé Snoh

The way she said my name made pre-cum seep from my dick and when she asked me to walk her to the section of those books she requested I prayed a wet spot didn’t appear on the front of my pants. At first glance, my face flushed with perspiration and my frames fogged when she said I could help her in several ways and my hands grew sweaty when she said the word come.

Having a beautiful woman like her flirt with me was completely out of my element. I wasn’t use to the opposite sex finding me attractive. According to my sister, I was a nerd because I studied in college, got good grades, stayed in the house and read books written by black authors. Chardonnay was the wild one. The social butterfly. I, on the other hand, was the quiet one.

After getting the line down, I slowly moved from behind the counter in search of Aisha. She was gorgeous looking like a black doll in her waist length coat, skinny jeans and boots. Her straight hair laid against her shoulders and her bangs almost covered her eyes. Her butt was perfectly round and I felt my dick begin to brick thinking about her.

Standing next to one of the three Christmas trees, I faked like I was rearranging the ornaments to look at her. She cradled all four books in her arms as she and my sister laughed about something; her pretty teeth on display.

“Cordaé, what are you doing?” My mother, who was of Indian and African American descent, made me almost jump out of my skin. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the front?”

“I just came to the floor to make sure everything was in order,” I backpedaled toward the registers. “I’m going now.”

My parents owned this bookstore and my mother had decorated it using her interior design skills. Nothing needed adjustments.

Back behind the counter, I retrieved my book and resumed reading. I was further ahead in my college career needing less classes than Chardonnay. I took my courses seriously so now that we were on break, I was able to catch up on some reading. Three of the books that Aisha was looking to read, I had already finished. The other one had just released and was on my Tbr list.

Pushing my frames up on my face, I flipped the pages of my book. I was a fast reader and the book was very entertaining. It was actually teaching me some things.

Minutes into me reading, we had an influx of people come into the store forcing my mother to help me keep the line moving. We had extended our sale and received new and exclusive books and merchandise from several publishing houses and independent authors. The crowd lasted for an hour before everything calmed again.

“You want to take your break?” My mother asked me, checking the registers.

“Yea, but call me if it gets busy.” I headed toward the back of the store.

I was surprised to see my sister and Aisha still here. I figured they’d slipped out during the rush of people. But they were sitting on the floor stools; a stack of books were in front of them.

Pushing through the bathroom door, I used the stall, fixed my clothes and washed my hands. Exiting out, I ran right into Aisha.

“Oh, sorry,” I backed up against the wall; my hands up in surrender.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” She was so close to me I could smell the Peppermint in her mouth; her breasts, grazed my chest.

“Well, umm, Merry Christmas,” I slithered from around her, taking long strides to the break room. I could’ve punched myself in the face for responding with that phrase.

Rounding the corner, I opened the refrigerator. Grabbing a bottle of water, I took a seat trying to focus on the TV. Some talk show played. I didn’t know what I was feeling but it was a feeling I was unfamiliar with.

“You see that fine girl out there?” My coworker, Trev sat down at the table with me. “She’s talking with your sister?”

“Yea, I saw her,” I played uninterested; my eyes still on the screen.

“That ass makes me wanna hit that,” he voluntarily said.

“Go for it.” I inwardly rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him.

“She don’t look like she fucks with young niggas,” he shook his head.

“You’ll never know unless you ask,” I downed the rest of my water, tossing the bottle in the recycle bin. Trev annoyed the mess outta me. “Gotta go.” I stood up, stretching my limbs. I walked over to the vending machine, paying for a Snicker. After eating it, away from Trev, I left out the break room.

“Sir?” I heard a young voice beckon me. “Can you help me find a book called Rumor Has It by Kutura B?”

A young teen, probably around thirteen asked me when I made it back to the floor.

“It has four girls on the cover in front of lockers, right?” I started to walk toward the young adult section.

“Yes. That’s it. Do you have it?”

“I think it’s over here,” I gestured her to follow me.

Finding the book, I sent the young girl on her way. She was so happy knowing that she’d gotten the last one. We’d sold out of that book.

“I’m back, Mom,” I voiced entering back behind the counter. “I got it.”

“Okay. Thanks. I’m gonna go work on the inventory. You know how to reach me.”

Behind the desk, I saw that my Mom had moved my book. Searching around, I found it inside the cabinet under the registers. Lifting my head up, Aisha was standing there in all her beautiful glory.

“Hey?” I shyly smiled.

“You know what?”

I looked at her curiously. I was piqued and intrigued with her because no woman had ever talked to me this much. It was kinda cool.

“What?”