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“Shhhh– There’s no need to explain. I’m a man, Rome.

And I’m one who understands that in life, we’re all following someone’s orders, so I get it.

I’m not tripping. It was time for me to let them know I’m not whoever they were hired to protect you from.

There was no need to wait for that introduction.

“Suddenly, I’m on their team. Shit, I wasn’t hired, but I feel like it’s my duty to protect you too. We have the same agenda. Don’t call them off. Let them do their jobs. They know more than I know. They see more than I see. They hear more than I hear.

“They’ve been around. I’m just coming around. And, when they are around, my attention is undivided. It’s on you. And, it can stay on you knowing that whatever evils you’re being protected against won’t prosper.”

He pressed play.

“Stop worrying your little head. You’re good. I’m good. Everybody will be on one accord from now on. I can assure you.”

Sac lowered my phone into his lap. Just like my AirPods, he’d taken it hostage. I didn’t mind because it freed his hand. As his palm rested against mine, I began to do that thing he’d suggested. I stopped worrying my little head.

The tracks laced together perfectly, sounding off one after the other. The transitions were seamless. It felt like a never ending love song on loop.

The nine-minute drive felt like nine full lifetimes. As I stepped out of the truck, I embraced my inner feline, wondering if a tenth lifetime with Sac was too much to ask of the universe. Of God .

“How are you today, ma’am?”

“I’m well, Joshua.”

Georgio’s was no secret in Mt. Clarke. It was a well sought after evening adventure for the bougie, bored, beloved, and breaded.

However, you’d have to be at least two of the four to enter.

The guest list was closed months in advance.

A spot was hard to come by if you weren’t familiar with the staff, the owner, or someone who brought value to their brand.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has–” I admitted. “Good seeing you.”

Joshua started at Georgio’s five years ago. Six months before my family’s departure, he managed to get the approval for employment from the fourth board member– Chemistry Childers .

“Good evening, Sir!” Joshua greeted Sac with glistening eyes.

“Evening.”

“Reservations?”

Chuckling, Sac nodded. “Something of the sorts.”

“If the keys are still inside, Olla will escort you to your table.”

“They’re still inside.”

“See you all when you return. Sir. Ma’am .”

With a nod, Joshua took off in the opposite direction.

“Good evening, Ma’am. Sir. I’m Olla. I’ll be seating you this evening.”

Olla was new. And, she was gorgeous.

“Evening, Olla. You’re lovely.”

As a woman, I felt a great sense of responsibility to compliment a woman who deserved praise; big or small. It was my duty. The world was cruel enough to us. Life was hard enough for us. Generosity, especially from another woman, could make all the difference in the day.

“Oh, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You’re lovely yourself. Your skin is glowing.”

“Skin– dew . The Summer Dewo .”

“Thank you. I’ll be on that website tonight. I’ve heard great things about that brand!” Olla exclaimed, leading us to the door.

“They were all true,” I confirmed.

Sac reached, but was unable to catch it before it was pushed open. He stepped aside and allowed us to enter before following us inside. To my surprise, there was utter silence in the restaurant.

Furrowed brows led me through the empty establishment. We stepped onto the elevator, operated by an attendant. Olla was still near, staring at the silver doors in front of her. When they opened, she stepped off, leading us to the floor to ceiling windows that made up the top level of Georgio’s.

“Here.”

It wasn’t until we reached the table closest to the astonishing view of Clarke that she stopped. Sac pulled my chair out. I lowered into it. By the time my hands flattened on the table, I recognized the large black Chanel bag in the seat next to me. Beside it was an orange Louis Vuitton bag.

My eyes landed on Sac. My nostrils flared as I brimmed with excitement. He was becoming. His smirk revealed just how prideful he was of the moment. His moment.

“Gifts–” I smiled.

“You weren’t the only one preparing for our night, Ms. Mellow.”

“While I was making a playlist you were–”

“Scratching shit off your gift list.”

Chuckling, I asked, “I have a gift list?”

“Not exactly. I just have an ongoing list of things I’d gift the woman I found worthy if I ever got the chance. Shit I see while shopping. On my homies wives. On the big screen. Online. Just things, most of which will hold their value over the years.”

“Should I open them now?”

“I’d love that. But, at the same time,” he paused, shrugging, “You’re not new to this, Rome.

I sensed it long ago. So, to spare me the heartbreak, if you’ve already got these pieces in your closet, take them home.

Open them in your downtime. And, let me know if I need to replace them with something you don’t have. ”

Sniggering, I nodded. “That sounds like the perfect plan, Sac.”

He wanted to maintain his pride. Flex that inflated and handsome ego of his. I wanted him to, so I would save the gifts for later. Not because I couldn’t open them now but because he was right. The likelihood of me having whatever in the bags in my closet was high.

“You’re–” he paused, getting comfortable in his seat. “I don’t know if I have the words for exactly what you are– how you look tonight– for you at all, honestly.”

“I have one for you,” I confessed.

“Yeah?”

“You’re generous .”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “How so?”

“From the size of the Chanel bag, I know that’s at least twenty thousand inside. You’ve cleared Georgio’s– of all places . I’m slightly impressed.”

“Slightly?”

I shifted my eyes around the restaurant and then back to him.

“Slightly.”

This wasn’t out of the ordinary for me. None of it. And for any man I lended my time to, it was expected. Required. Necessary. It was the standard. My family’s standard. My standard.

“It’s the standard.”

His head was still lifting and falling.

“The standard,” he repeated slowly. “I like that.”

“Hmph. Do you?”

“Yes. It lets me know that not many men around these parts can have what I’ve gotten ahold of because they simply aren’t the standard. Can’t manage the standard. Can’t maintain the standard. Can’t even make the fucking standard.”

“I’m not interested in men, Sac.”

“Have you sworn them off because one has broken your heart?”

He was awfully handsome when amused. His face tightened as he smiled, holding his hand to his mouth to suppress a chuckle.

He’s perfect .

Naturally, his skin was flawless. His eyebrows were thick. His eyelashes were long and curled upward. His nose was wide. His lips were full. His eyes were lusty. Live. Low, yet wide with interest. He was intrigued. He was enamored.

“No one has broken my heart. No one has had the chance to.”

His brows furrowed. Suddenly, his smile disappeared and all movement halted. Sac paused, picking up on everything I was putting down. He began piecing it together rather quickly.

“No one has–”

“Taken me on a date. Pissed me off. Cheated.”

I sighed, shaking my head.

“Courted me. Ghosted me. Lied to me. Strung me along. Played with my head. Embarrassed me. Betrayed me.”

“Loved you?”

I shook my head.

“Chased you?”

I shook my head.

“Kissed you?”

I shook my head.

“Entered you?”

My breath hiked in my chest. My eyes grew tired. They sagged with desire. Passion. Lust. Desperation. Salacity. Still, I shook my head.

“No.” This time, my voice made its presence known.

“Tasted you?”

I shook my head, batting my lashes slowly. Suddenly, I was overcome with heat.

“No.”

Sac halted, gazing with unblinking eyes.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

I began to count down, trying my hardest to regulate my system.

Breathe, baby .

After ten seconds, his right hand pressed against his face. He rubbed it up and down as if he was attempting to remove his skin, but he was attempting to make sense of what I’d just revealed.

“I’m sorry, Rome–”

He began, piercing my heart.

“Sac–”

“I’m sorry you’ve never felt the pleasure you are long overdue for. I’m sorry you haven’t reached that paramount place of womanhood without the help of something battery operated or– self . And, most of all, I’m sorry that I can’t fathom having food without having you.

“You’re the only thing I care to eat at this moment. Maybe I’ll be able to digest food after I’ve digested you. Penetration won’t be the pinnacle of our night. Your pussy– in my mouth, on my chin, on my nose will be.

“When you’re ready, I’ll have you. But, tonight, I’m going to taste you. And, you’re gonna cum– on this table. On my face. On my fingers. Wherever you’d like.”

In an instant, Sac was up from his seat and snapping his finger. He circled it at once and whistled to get the staff’s attention from across the room. Within the next few seconds, feet were scurrying across the floor and the echoing emptiness of the place was almost as loud as my heart.

Sac snatched the napkin from underneath his silverware. They fell onto the table.

Ah .

The sound of them colliding startled me.

“Do you understand me, Rome?” He asked, stuffing the napkin in his shirt.

I was unsure if I understood much of anything. I was a mess. Between my legs. Between my ears. Everywhere .

“Do you understand, Rome?”

I nodded.

“Good, then. I just need your permission. Your consent. Before you touch the drinks I’ve ordered ahead of this night– so I know this isn’t influenced by anything but nature. Yours as a woman. And mine as a man who seeks to please himself by pleasing you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Do I have your permission, Rome?”

I blinked.

Once.

Twice .

Swallowed another lump in my throat. This one stayed in place. I swallowed again.

Once.

Twice .

I blinked again. Swallowed again. Tried breathing again .