“What?”
“Your little sounds and snores when you sleep.”
“I do not snore,” she snaps playfully.
“Um. You do. You sound like a damn tractor trailer,” he teases in an even tone.
“I know I don’t,” she says, mortified. “You lying, right?”
“Nah, bae. It’s loud as fuck but it helps me sleep,” he lies and she lifts her head to see his face.
When the side of his mouth forms a slight smirk, she hits his chest lightly. “Stop lying,” she says with a titter.
“A’ight,” he says, continuing to tease her. “I know what I hear.”
“Yeah right,” she mutters.
“I do miss your voice though. Tell me about your week.”
“It was good. I got a family reunion to plan and fifty-two people to book.”
“Damn. That’s a big ass family. Congrats, bae. You doing your thing,” he says and she beams.
Her efforts and hard work are finally paying off. She dabbled in the travel agent stuff before, when she switched with her sister years ago, but it had been a minute. Getting back into it for real has been a challenge but social media has been a big help.Melanin Voyages has really picked up and she’s been booking lucrative trips. This Bailey Family reunion is her biggest to date though. They are going on a seven-day, excursion-filled trip to Negril in March.
“Thank you. I’m excited.”
“You’re gonna outgrow your work space soon. We gon’ have to upgrade you,” he says.
“I hope so. I’m working on it. ACC has a travel and tourism program. I’ve been thinking about taking a few classes. I figured it can’t hurt. They have an intro course starting in January.”
“Sounds like you’ve been doing more than thinking.”
“Yeah, I have. I looked it up,” she admits.
“Then do that shit. Sign up in the morning,” he encourages and she simpers. His support is unmatched and she truly appreciates it.
“I will,” she says.
“That’s what’s up,” he says, then yawns.
“Go to sleep, baby, and stop trying to entertain me. I can talk about this all night,” she says, and at her words, he reluctantly closes his tired eyes.
For the past three nights, he’d barely closed his eyes. Finding his last contract took almost five days. Kantrell Bufford knew about the hit on his life and went deep into hiding. With strong connections in underground sex tracking, Kantrell was illusive for a minute, but Akeem, with the help of Axton, found him in a little ass town outside of Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Akeem studied his limited movement, found the prime location, and caved sleeplessly until he took the shot. He’s tired as shit, and within minutes, he drifts into deep slumber.
He doesn’t wake up till sometime after eleven when his nose catches the scent of his mom’s favorite sausages. After stretching his large frame across his bed, he treks to the bathroom, relieveshis bladder, washes his face, handles his dental hygiene, then slides on a pair of boxers.
As he journeys to the kitchen, the smell of Conecuh sausage makes his stomach grumble. Growing up and to this day, the only sausages his Alabama-native mom cooks are Conecuh. She gets them delivered.What does Sunjiya know about these?
The sight in his kitchen stops his steps and causes his breath to hitch. Pure perfection is the only way to describe his view. His once manly kitchen, devoid of anything feminine or soft, has pops of yellow and turquoise that complement the original brown and black. Her style has beautifully infiltrated this room and the rest of the condo the exact same way she’s commandeered his heart. She’s cooking his mom’s sausage in their kitchen and the light from the massive kitchen window hits her just right and she’s practically glowing.
“Pure fucking perfection,” he utters but she hears him and glances over her shoulder.
Smiling and eyeing his muscular frame, she says, “Good morning and I gotta agree but I hope you hungry.”
While stepping over to her, he admits, “For the food and you. It’s been too long since I tasted you on my lips.” After wrapping his arms around her waist, he presses his body into her backside then kisses up the side of her neck. “Good morning,” he says. “Is that?—”
“Conecuh sausage?” she finishes his thought as she turns the links over on the grill pan. “Yes.”
