She tried to fight the smile creeping up. “Jue, stop. I’m tired, and I just wanna go wash my ass and get in the bed. Damn, can I do that?”
He kissed her again, slower this time, hands sliding up her back, tracing the tiredness in her body. “Hell nall! I want that bedpan pussy just like this.”
She grinned, pushing him back. “Eww, you so nasty, boy.”
The warmth between them was familiar, soft, lived in. A messy love that never stayed quiet for long. She let herself melt into it, into him. He undressed her, his hands tracing the clear curves of her hips, the dip of her waist, as if he was rediscovering her after a long day apart. He laid her on the sectional, his body covering hers. He kissed her deeply, the taste of liquor filling her senses.
Tasha was so into the moment that she forgot about the pain she had been feeling all day, but she never could deny sex with Juelz. His hands were roaming, and her body was responding more and more against him. He guided himself to her entrance, gliding in, a slow, easy slide they’d done a thousand times. But just as he pushed deeper, her breath hitched.
“Ouch!” she whispered, her hands flying to his chest to push him back. “Wait.”
Juelz froze, frowning. “What I do wrong? You good?”
She pressed her hand to her lower right abdomen, the ache spreading. “I dunno. It just… hurts all of a sudden.” She lookeddown at his erect penis, genuinely confused. “Did it get bigger or somethin’?”
He smirked, looking down with her. “Shit, unless it get bigger when that lickaa in me, then hell nall. It’s the same ten inches you been takin’.”
She shoved his chest, laughing despite the lingering sting. “Boy, please. Don’t flatter yourself.”
He sobered up quickly after hearing that remark. “Aye! Don’t get fucked up, girl.”
“Okay… okay,” said Tasha.
He started to push back in, his movements more careful this time. But the pain was still there, a deep, internal ache that was all wrong.
“Ow! Jue, stop! For real,” she said, shifting with discomfort.
He stopped instantly, pulling out completely. His mood shattered, replaced with a thick, confusing silence. He sat up, looking worried. “You crampin’? You need somethin’? Medicine?”
She shook her head, trying to steady her breathing. “I’m fine. It’s nothin’, just… weird pain. Probably from standin’ all day.”
“Tasha, that didn’t look like no ‘standin’ all day’ typa pain.” His voice softened, thumb brushing her jaw. “You sure you good?”
She hesitated, then shrugged. “Maybe it’s time for Aunt Flo or somethin’. You know that bitch don’t ever call before she show up.”
Juelz smirked. “Damn, again?” He frowned. “So you need me to get you some of them… whatcha ma call it…coochie Band-Aidsor whatever.”
Tasha busted out laughing. “Boy! They are not called that!”
He grinned wider. “Well, hell, that’s what they look like.”
“Jue, shut up,” she said, still laughing, tears at the corners of her eyes.
“I’m just sayin’,” he chuckled, hands up in mock surrender.
Tasha shook her head, laughter fading into a smile. “You so damn stupid. I don’t know how I got stuck with you.”
She thought about the first time they met at Emerald City Hospital. He’d walked right up to her in the hallway like he owned the place, chain swinging, smelling like cologne and some loud. His dreads were freshly twisted, and his fit was clean from head to toe. Niyah had been the one to set it up. Kinda. She’d told him about Tasha earlier that week, and apparently, he came looking.
He’d grinned that same lazy grin and said,“So I take it you the girl Niyah said got the real booty, and not one of those BBL specials, huh?”
Tasha had almost dropped her coffee. Niyah was in the corner hollering, and Juelz just stood there like he was proud of himself.
“Boy, what the fuck?”she’d snapped, ready to embarrass him in front of half the floor.
He just laughed.“I’m just tryna verify the rumors.”
Even back then, he’d been the same, bold, funny, and too damn sure of himself. She should’ve kept walking. But she didn’t. And somehow that one stupid line turned into all this, late nights, laughter, arguments, and the kind of love that wore her out and filled her up at the same time.
