Once I had our food plated, I took my seat, and Era returned. “Mmm. Everything looks and smells so good,” she cheered happily.
“It is, but let’s say grace first.” We bowed our heads then I led grace because I wasn’t sure if she could or not. When I finished, we dug into our meals. We ate quietly for the better part of our meal until I sipped some of my water, then finally answered her question.
“I was bartending at my brother’s party that wasn’t too far from here. You crossed my mind like usual, so I thought I’dhumor myself and see if you were here, although it was late as hell. Low and behold, you were here. What you doing here so late on a Friday night?”
Era wiped her hands and took a sip of her water before she responded. “Friday’s are demon days for Syris. There’s so much alcohol, sex, and all kinds of promiscuous activities going on, and I just hate being around it. So, I escape to my solace and leave him to his dealings.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how is it being married to a man with multiple wives? If you feel uncomfortable answering, you don’t have to at all.”
Era played with her napkin then addressed me. “It’s the worst possible life you can imagine.”
“Then, why are you there?”
She looked up at me, and I was taken aback at the storm brewing in those honey brown orbs of hers. If looks could kill, I’d be a puff of smoke already. “I’m sorry, but that’s a discussion for another day. All you need to know at the moment is that it wasn’t my choice.” She quickly wiped her eyes, and I felt like a whole asshole for making her sad. I needed to change the mood and fast.
“Mizz Lady, how come you never showed me how to make a flower pot, cup, or plate or some?”
She smiled broadly as she sniffled. “I don’t know. I just assumed it wasn’t your cup of tea.”
“Anything that involves you, is my cup of tea. Now, come and teach me how to make something.” I stood, then pulled Era from her seat, before I kissed her wet eyes. We hadn’t shared a kiss yet, but I hoped God put it in the universe for it to happen tonight. I was fiending to taste those full lips of hers.
“Let’s focus on us tonight. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes.” She nodded. I released her and she walked over to the drawer where she kept the one size fits all aprons, then handed me one. “So, you won’t mess up your nice attire.”
“Aww, you think I look nice?” I inquired with a smirk while I pulled on the apron.
“You always look great.”
I chuckled. “Don’t ho me out to make me feel good.”
She laughed loudly, and I enjoyed her carefree and happy laughter. Whew! I’m glad I made her feel better. “I’m not hoin’ you out or gassing you up. You really are a very attractive brotha, and not to mention you always smell incredible.”
I stared at her for a beat because she was about to make me risk it all for one night. “Come sit behind me, so I can show you how it’s done.” Era took her seat on a small stool, and I followed right behind her. She started her machine, and I watched how the murky grayish mixture blended and mixed. It began to swirl, and Era jumped right into molding it.
Once she had it where she wanted it, she grabbed onto my hands and immersed them into the warm liquid. Together, our hands molded the mixture in silence as Maxwell serenaded us from her playlist. It was crazy because this seemed to be our song.
This was by far the most intimate shit I’d ever done with a woman, and it was mind blowing. Her small hands guided mine, and I had no problem allowing her to lead me. My eyes strayed from the pottery mixture for a moment, and I observed Era.
Fine like hairs framed the side of her face and the back of her neck. The same fine hairs covered her warm brown eyes, and I noticed how hairy she was. It was definitely a turn on of mine.
Her ponytail hung down her back and although her hair was long, I can’t lie and say I would’ve loved to run my fingers through her curls she had before. When I snapped out of my thoughts, I looked down to see her staring up at me. Her lipswere pursed, and her honey brown eyes said everything she couldn’t.
Era didn’t need to say anything because the message was quite clear. Our eye contact never broke as I leaned down slowly, and she turned more to face me. We eased closer and closer, until our lips finally met. The moment had come, and this meeting was long overdue.
Our lips and tongue slowly tangled as they adjusted to the plushness of the foreign intruders. Era’s arms wrapped around my neck as my arms clamped tightly around her waist. Quickly, I pulled Era onto my lap because I needed to feel more of her. I needed her as close to me as possible.
Slowly, her curvy figure rolled onto my swollen erection, and this time, she made me shiver. It’d been a minute since I’d experienced this feeling and in any damn minute, I was about to blow prematurely. I needed to slow us down. Gently, I broke our kiss, and her eyes fluttered open.
“Wha—what’s the matter, love?”
I rested my head against her ample breast as I caught my breath. She was the only person who didn’t know I was celibate, and she needed to know. Rising, I stared into her eyes.
“I’m celibate. I haven’t slept with a woman in the past seven years. It’s been about finding myself and the woman for me before I go down that path again. How does that make you feel?”
Era’s eyes were wide from shock until she climbed off me then turned off her pottery machine. “What you’re doing is major. Most of the time in society we see women making decisions like that, but men, not so much. I applaud you heavily because you are a great man to me and it just seems like the more I learn about you, my heart shatters because I could never fully have you to myself.”
I stood from my stool and pulled her into my arms. Sweetly, I kissed her eyes then licked her tears that coated my lips. “We’llcross that bridge eventually, but tonight, let’s embrace the time that we’re sharing now.”
