He rubbed my leg and kissed my shin. “Okay. So no acrobatics. Got it. You just lay there and let me show you what you’ve been missing.”
And whew.I forgot what it felt like to feel… and he reminded me. With every kiss. Every laugh. Every time he checked in without killing the vibe.
When it was over, I was splayed out like a starfish, staring at the ceiling. He walked out the bathroom with water and a towel smiling.
“You good?”
“I think so. But my spirit left during round two.”
He grinned. “Tell it to come back. I got more in me.”
I blinked at him. “I need a nap, a snack, and a prayer.”
He leaned down, kissed me slow. “Better rest up then. We still got six more days of your Heaux Phase.”
7
Lyrix
The sun was doing the absolute most, pouring straight through the open balcony doors. I stretched, slow and sore in all the right places, and immediately noticed two things: I was naked, and I was alone.
I sat up in the tangled sheets, blinking my way through a mild hangover and some very vivid memories of last night. Maison had me folded up like a fitted sheet and his fine ass was nowhere to be found.
I looked around the room and noticed a tray. Silver dome tops and a little note card.
Wrapped in the comforter, I walked across the room like a spoiled housewife in a luxury drama. My thighs ached, and I was lowkey humming to myself as I reached for the card first.
“Had to handle a few work things. Be back by 4 to take you out for dinner. Enjoy the day. —Maison”
I smiled and lifted the top off one tray and gasped. It was catfish and grits. Perfectly fried. Golden. I swear I could smell the seasoning before the lid even came off all the way.
“Okay, Maison,” I whispered to myself.
I lifted the second dome expecting maybe fruit or something light and instead saw a whole damn stack of money. Underneath it was another note.
“For your adventures today. Don’t hold back. My treat.”
I laughed so hard I almost dropped the tray. Not Maison leaving me breakfast and a little hood-rich per diem. I shook my head and looked out toward the balcony. I could hear music drifting up from the street.
I sat down, tore into my catfish, and made a mental note to never question my Heaux Phase again. Because baby, it was the softest, wildest, most unexpected adventure I’d ever had.
Later that morning, I found myself standing in the middle of Jackson Square, sunglasses on, sipping an iced coffee that I may or may not have added a splash of whiskey to.
Maison had told me to start there, so I did.
The Saint Louis Cathedral stood tall and elegant behind me like it had seen centuries of drama, prayers, secrets, and scandal. I walked inside for a bit, taking in the stained glass. It was peaceful in a way I hadn’t expected. Holy, even. Like the kind of place you walk through and think,Damn, maybe I should get my life together… after this trip, though.
After that, I wandered the square, watching the artists paint portraits, the musicians blowing jazz through old horns, and the smell of beignets and pralines swirling through the air like temptation.
I saw him, one of those men that stand frozen, painted from head to toe in gold like a living statue. He had the tin can beside him, sunglasses on, and not a single muscle moved while people walked by.
Naturally, I had to test him. So I danced up. Hands on my knees, giving a little light twerk, just to see if I could break him.
That manjumped to life like a recharged robot, popping his hips and doing a whole damn two-step. I screamed. I wasn’t expecting all that. He laughed and pointed at me like “You tried it,” and the crowd watching started clapping and hollering.
“Y’all gotta chill,” I said, fanning myself, still laughing as someone snapped a photo.
A few streets over, I ducked into a cute little bakery that had just the right mix of old-school charm and good smells. The display case was stacked with pralines, cookies, and King Cakes.
