“These mashed potatoes are good, so I say blame yourself because I don’t blame baby girl one bit. You outdid yourself with this meal. My compliments to the chef, because most men in the past have never taken the time to be this considerate. Takeout, drive-throughs, and things of that nature are more the speed of the men I foolishly allowed myself to entertain.”
“Aht, aht. Let’s leave your past in the past and not do comparisons. You’re gonna find out that I’m a cut above all the rest, Ziya. Now, let’s get back to our questions from earlier. Whose turn was it?”
Wasting our time discussing the lame ones who came before me seems pointless because, if I have my way, Caziya will only have time to remember the things I do and say moving forward. I know she just got out of a little situation, but I’m about to pursue her beautiful ass in such a way that she will only see or think about what I do and don’t do. Every goofy before me is irrelevant and no longer necessary to Caziya’s future.
“Stay, Pwitty,”Zakiyah whines.
Dinner is over, and Zakai didn’t let Zakiyah have any dessert because he said giving her brownies and ice cream would only keep her up half the night. Although I’m not a parent, I understand the impact sugar has on a kid, so I didn’t interfere or attempt to sway Zakai’s decision. But now I’m standing at the threshold of Zakiyah’s bedroom, watching Zakai’s sexy ass kneel at her bedside, attempting to get her to go to sleep. Seeing this overly masculine man be sweet and affectionate with his daughter has my pussy thumping and purring like a newborn kitten.
“You can come over, Ziya,” Zakai says, looking at me, and I bite my lip before fully entering the room and moving in their direction.
I take a page out of Zakai’s book and kneel beside the little toddler bed that matches the Princess Tiana theme in the room. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I stare at the cute face of the little girl who strongly resembles her father. The little bonnet covering her head almost swallows her head as I fight not to laugh when it drops to her eyes when she shifts her position in the bed.
“Stay, Pwitty,” Zakiyah whines again, and my heart constricts.
“How about you and I say prayers, then you can get some sleep? Pretty girls like us need our beauty rest, cutie.”
“Otay. I pway wif you.” Zakiyah yawns.
The heat coming from my side reminds me of Zakai’s presence beside me as I turn to look at him for approval, direction, or even rejection of my suggestion. It didn’t occur to me until this moment that I should have probably asked him beforehand.
“I-is it okay if we pray?” I ask Zakai.
“Of course it is. Do your thing, Ziya.”
Releasing the breath that gathers in my lungs, I turn back to Zakiyah and provide her with further instructions so we can begin.
“Alright, cutie patootie. Here it goes. First, you have to close your eyes, and then I’ll start, okay?”
“Otay. I ready,” Zakiyah says, doing as I tell her, and a smile upturns my lips when her little eyes close, and she puts her hands over them.
“Repeat after me, Zakiyah: Father in Heaven. Watch over me while I sleep. Keep me safe. Keep me covered. Keep me protected. Remember Daddy and do the same for him. Amen.”
Zakiyah does her best to repeat my words with her limited comprehension, and I smile harder when she reaches the end before uncovering her eyes.
“I pway, Pwitty. Tank you,” Zakiyah says.
“You’re welcome,” I say, smiling.
“Good night, Kiki. Daddy loves you,” Zakai says before standing and helping me back to my feet.
“Luh you too, Daddy. Luh you, Pwitty,” Zakiyah replies, and my eyes balloon as my heart spins on its axis from the unexpected declaration.
Oh my—wow. Be still, my heart. This little girl is about to have me wrapped around her pinky.
“Night, Zakiyah.” The two-word response is all I’m capable of after such a staggering statement from her.
My mind reels as Zakai and I descend back down the stairs, and I pray that I haven’t done anything to step out of bounds. This is uncharted waters for me, and I hope that it doesn’t cause Zakai to call me out on it in a negative way. I didn’t mean any harm and simply did what felt right in the moment.
“It looks like my daughter is as smitten with you as I am, Ziya.” Zakai’s words pierce my ear canal, cutting off my thoughts as we reach the bottom level, and I stop near the front door.
“Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to overstep. My aunt would pray with me to get me to settle down enough to fall asleep when I had difficulty going to bed.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m good, and there will never be a time when prayer isn’t welcome. I need to implement more of it with Zakiyah if I’m being honest. Bedtime is perfect, and I might need you to text me the words you spoke so I can say them with her.”
A smirk slides into place, and I shake my head before responding to Zakai. “Oh no, mister. You’re gonna have to findyour own words to recite in prayer. Those have been copyrighted for me only.”
“Wow. That’s cold, Ziya.” A low chuckle that vibrates against my back from Zakai’s close proximity has my humor evaporating as my core warms deliciously.
