Page 56 of Set My Soul Ablaze

“What’s on your mind, baby?” I asked as I removed my shirt.

“We have a lot of unprotected sex. Like, we throw caution to the wind every time we touch privates. Are you prepared to raise a kid with me if we end up making a baby?”

I stepped between her legs and cupped her face in my hand. I peered into her big, doe-like eyes.

“Yes. Since the moment I first felt what the inside of your pussy felt like, I prepared myself for the possibility of a child with you. I want you to have my kids. I want to raise a family with you. I want to be there every step of the way as your body goes through changes so I can remind you just how beautiful you are as you protect, nourish, and grow our children in your womb.”

“Artez . . .” Her bottom lip quivered as tears pooled in her eyes.

“I don’t tell you I love you for shits and giggles. I tell you I love you because it’s the most honest and simple way I can convey what my heart and soul express. With you, my heart drums louder than a HBCU marching band. My soul hums a song only you have the melody to. Every part of my body exists for the sole purpose of loving you.”

The tears fell from her face like a ripple in a pond. I kissed her as tenderly as I could muster so she couldfeelmy words and know they came straight from the heart. I didn’t even know I could be as poetic as I was, but Mali brought that part of me out. My words flowed like lyrics to my favorite song when I was with her.

“Make love to me. I want my soul to dance with yours in the most primal form. I want our hearts to beat as one.”

Tonight, she was about to get eaten off the bone like some oxtails. No part of her warmth would go untouched by my tongue. No part of her body would go untouched by my soul.

A few weekslater

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

“I missed you too, Otis.” I rubbed the happy fur baby as he waggled his tail and barked with excitement.

Between the move and the crazy idea I had to open a second location, my days were busier than ever. I spent most of my time touring locations and talking to my financial advisor and assistants. Today was a rare occasion where I could squeeze in some time with my OG clients. Each one of them greeted me with excitement and love. It truly warmed my heart. I couldn’t wait to get the second location up and running so I could get back to my roots.

I really loved the employees I had because they all worked so hard and kept the place running smoothly. I’d also added a social media manager to help promote the business and upcoming expansion. Social media was a powerful tool that could really make or break a company, depending on how they interacted and appealed to the masses. Our social media manager, Arielle, was straight out of college, so she provided a fresh perspective on trends and marketing. Since she’d joined the team, we’d seen an influx of bookings.

“So you just gon’ switch up on me like that, Otis?” Dominique asked as I led Otis to my workstation. “She abandoned you, and I was there through the broken nails and dry coat. I brought you the best experience you’ve ever had.”

“Otis knows where home is,” I rebutted as I grabbed the brush to start his service.

“You sound just like those birdbrained bitches sprung on a trash-ass nigga,” Dominique teased.

“Nah, I hate ahe knows where home iswoman for real. It’s too many diseases out here to ever happily accept a cheating man back into my home.”

I could not and would not ever take back a cheater. Juda was no exception. He lied about his infidelities for years. He played me like a country fiddle. I knew my worth, and letting a nigga come back to my bed after rolling around in fleas all day was a hell naw for me, dawg.

“Say that shit louder for the bitches in the back,” Dominique hollered.

“Dang, Nique. You done dropped a hell of a lot of B words today. You feeling froggy? Somebody got you fucked up?” Kira asked as she swept the fur into a pile on the floor.

“My bad. I’m a little animated today. My emotions are a little high, but I’m chilling.” Dominique chuckled. She tied a bow into the curly hair of a teacup yorkie.

“What’s going on, mamas?” I asked as I glanced at her.

She shrugged. “It’s nothing, really.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing,” Kira added.

“But we won’t pry,” I countered.

“Right. When you’re ready, we’ll be here.” Kira swept up the rest of the fur before heading back to the front.

I turned up the volume on the speaker and focused on giving Otis the best spa treatment of his little life. I sang along to the R&B playlist while I gave Otis boops and rubs throughout the whole process. My favorite part of the treatment was always rubbing his coat and toe beans down in coconut oil.

“You did so good, Otis.” I tied a bandana around his neck and led him back to the front. I gave him a rope toy to play with until Eric came to pick him up.

The door chimed as I marked Otis ready for pickup on the iPad behind the front desk. My gaze lifted, and the blood drained from my face as if I’d seen a ghost.