King

Lying down in bed, head facing the ceiling with Uti besides me wasn't how I envisioned the night. A cuddle under the duvet, her back pressed to my chest with my arm wrapped around her tiny waist while I nibbled on her ears. Or more kissing until she got tired because I could never get enough of her. But nothing like this distance between us.

The atmosphere had grown colder, just like her mood after the missed calls from the boyfriend. But I was happy she didn't call him back. The only evidence of our kiss in the bathroom were the images that flashed behind my closed eyelids.

God! Her lips were everything and more. It was as soft as it looked and I enjoyed every moment exploring it with mine, hearing her moan in pleasure. I wanted more. No, I needed more. I needed her lips on every part of my body, especially below my waist. Her kisses were like sparkling water, addictive and I was ready to get high on it.

"Uti. Are you awake?" My voice was a whisper floating in the darkness.

"No."

I chuckled. It was good to know I was not the only one who was having trouble falling asleep. The thought of what I could do to that body of hers, with her consent, of course, was enough to keep the sleep at bay and make me hard all over again. 

In a bid to break the quietude, do something that might calm starboy in between my legs, I turned on my side, placing my head on my arm. "How was your meeting with Cynthia?"

While waiting for her response I counted the seconds under my breath. If she didn't give me a satisfactory answer, I would be forced to call Cynthia. Her attitude from earlier still bothered me a bit, she was a far cry from the Uti who called me to pick up her kids.

"It was fine, more than fine. She gave me a slot for the fashion show ..." The rest of her words were lost on me, not like I had any experience when it came to women's fashion. But I was happy to know the meeting went well and to hear that excitement in her voice again. "Thank you."

"Anything for you." And I meant it, as long as it was in my power and within my reach.

When I thought she had finally fallen asleep, I sensed movements beside me. I couldn't tell if she switched positions but I soon felt a hand blindly reaching out for my body in the dark. Her fingers crawled up my arms until she located my face. She palmed my cheek, making me feel warm on the inside and I placed a hand over hers.

"King." I heard her sigh softly like she was weighing her next words. That was not a good sign. "We shouldn't be doing this."

"Doing what?" I could tell she was facing me now and I was tempted to kiss her again. To touch her everywhere until the only words left in her mouth was my name and the things she wanted me to do to her body.

"This." She attempted to pull her hand away but I held it back. Having it there made me feel like I could handle whatever she would say next. "The kissing, our closeness, everything is wrong. It can't happen again."

Those words evoked a certain fear in me and my heart began to race in an uneven rhythm. Perhaps I should have pretended to be asleep like she had been doing a few minutes ago. "Let's not talk about that now."

That kiss wasn't going to be our first nor last, not if I could help it. But I knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear or talk about. The same way I didn't want to hear her say how much she regretted doing it. 

This night was for the purpose of creating new memories, not for regrets over a kiss I would unashamedly partake in if given another chance. I was sure she would too, she only needed a small push.

"King, we ha-"

"Please."

She sighed again and I could imagine her shoulders sagging in resignation, her nostrils flaring in slight annoyance. I finally got a chance to bop that nose and I looked forward to repeating that little action.

I didn't say anything, neither did she. If talking was going to ruin the moment we already shared then I was fine with the silence and the untainted memories I was left with. I had so many reasons to look back on this night and I wanted to smile each time I did. 

"What's your favourite food?" My lips curved into a small smile at her attempt at a conversation. She really did care.

"Junior's yam porridge." Even Junior didn't know this, his ego was already too big, it didn't need more bloating.

"Junior can cook?"

"Yes."

"I love guys that can cook."

"He can't sing, I can sing." She laughed and I removed my hand from atop of hers, smiling to myself when she left hers that way on my cheek. "Don't worry, I'll sing while you cook, division of labour."

I didn't think before speaking but as soon as those words were out of my mouth, I knew it was what I wanted. I could already visualise it: Uti stirring tomatoes in the pot while I hummed a tune as I chopped onions, everything looked right. That was, minus the tears that leaked from my eyes because of the onions. Uti didn't talk again and I was content to remain in silence.

"How old are you?"

"29." I was surprised she asked this. After running a Google search on me, teasing me about my old Facebook pictures, I expected her to know the answer to that; I still remembered her age like it was mine. 

"Around the age I got pregnant with Emma." I thought about asking of her baby daddy but I decided against it, the only time she spoke about him, she didn't sound pleased. 

Her voice floated to my ears again, pulling me out of my reverie. "Will you like to have kids?"

"Yes, eight of them. Six boys and two girls."

Her laughter was more than enough reward for my ridiculous answer. It was a question Mother had repeatedly asked me and I still didn't have the right answer for her. At some point, I would want kids but when? I didn't have the answer.

"I hope you intend on giving birth to all eight of them."

"No. But I'll assist in making them," I answered confidently even though I was aware how absurd I sounded right now. 

She laughed again, causing me to smile. I was happy to know that I was the reason behind her laughter but the topic of children made me slightly uncomfortable. 

Turning the question to her, I asked. "What about you, will you like to have more kids?"

"Umoh will like us to try for another child," the name slipped from her mouth easily and I didn't think she realised I had frozen at the mention of his name because she continued talking. "And I have always wanted more kids, so it works. I guess."

Her hand on my cheek now felt like lead and I gently peeled it off. She didn't protest neither did she attempt to place it back and it saddened me. I missed her touch already.

"My favourite food is okro and semo with goat meat, you forgot to ask." She said when I remained quiet. I couldn't bring myself to say another word after hearing her talk about Umoh in that light.

At her reminder, my anger faded and a smile found its way to my lips. This was not how it was supposed to be, a few words from her and my defences were already crumbled; I was powerless against her.

Having no idea what to say, I picked up from where we left off on the issue of children, hoping my question wouldn't upset her. "Esther and Emma still think you are their sister, you don't mind that?"

I wasn't ready to have kids, always extra cautious when dealing with women but one thing was certain. If I got a baby now, the whole world was going to know that he or she belonged to me. At the same time, I understood that as a man and with my status, society was nicer to me unlike with Uti or single mothers of that age.

"I do mind." Her voice had gone lower, something I didn't think possible since we were conversing in whispers. "I wish they will say mummy even if it is just once."

The sadness in her voice struck me, she sounded like a mother whose child had been forcefully taken away from her and I wanted to wipe away all her pain. But I didn't know how. My hand found hers on the bed and I placed kisses on her knuckles.

A few seconds passed before she yawned, time for bed. She insisted on staying up for a while, that she was not ready to sleep and I unwillingly obliged her. When she fired a question at me, I delayed my response in hopes that she would fall asleep but that didn't happen. 

Questions began to fly back and forth between us, the topic of sleep was long forgotten. By the time she yawned again, minutes later, I knew more about another female that wasn't related to me. After her third yawn, I knew we had to call it a night.

"Okay, one last question." She cleared her throat noisily for dramatic effects and I couldn't help but smile. This playful side of Uti was one that I rarely got to see, if she didn't feel so sleepy, I would have loved for our conversation to continue. 

"Okay."

"What's your genotype?"

The question was odd, unlike her previous ones that had been playful. She yawned again and I was tempted not to answer.

"AS."

"Oh." 

Her response was flat, almost disappointing and I found myself asking, "what's yours?"

"AS." Her voice had also lost some of its cheeriness and she sounded even more disappointed than before. I shook off my worries, I was probably overthinking it. 

"We should get some rest," she murmured, her tone brook no room for arguments.

I was ready to protest her abrupt dismissal, question the sudden mood swing when her soft lips met my cheeks. "Goodnight."

* * *

My eyes were closed with my hands reaching for Uti on the other side of the bed. But the only thing I came in contact with was air. Rolling over, my eyes now parted open, I looked around the room. It was empty. It took a few seconds to dawn on me but when it did, the rest of the sleep disappeared and I bolted out of the bed.

Did she leave?

The bathroom was also empty so I found my way to the guestroom where Esther and Emma had spent the night. There was no one in there except for Emma who was still asleep even after I barged in.

One of my legs was already out the door when his voice stopped me. "Uncle Kiki?"

"Yes?" Turning around to face him, I smiled. I had finally come to terms with my new name, Samia would be proud.

"Good morning."

Emma was rubbing the back of his hand against his eyes and his lips widened in a toothy grin when his gaze landed on me. He stood from the bed, ran to wrap his arms around my waist before taking a step back.

His hands opened up and he pouted causing me to chuckle. With the little time we had spent together, I had picked up a few things about him. He liked to be carried.

Crouching to his height, I tickled him on his sides until he laughed. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

He nodded then pointed to my chest, I followed the direction of his hand which was now hovering above my nipples. 

"What's that?" 

I didn't think twice about my answer. "Nipple."

"What's nipu?"

He was still staring at my chest and I chuckled. I should have put on a shirt. Now I was stuck with a child who was interested in nipples. As if he could read my mind, he reached out for nipple and squeezed it hard, laughing when I winced.

"Don't do that," I murmured. First, it was my beard and now this, I could only wonder what part of my body he was aiming for next. "Nipples are part of your body."

"I like nipus."

No, you don't.

"Don't say that." I didn't want Uti reprimanding me if she found out he heard the word from me. I didn't trust Emma to keep quiet about it but I tried anyway. "Only adults are allowed to say it."

"Okay."

Hoisting him on my shoulders to avoid any more assault on my nipple, I strolled to the kitchen, the one place I had not thought to check.

Uti was in the kitchen like I suspected but she wasn't alone. Esther was there too, whisking eggs in a bowl while Uti chopped onions into tiny bits. An empty frying pan was sitting on the cooker and a bottle of vegetable oil was on the counter.

None of them noticed us enter into the kitchen, instead of calling their attention to us, I chose to stare at Uti. My shirt was becoming on her, better than it ever did on my body. I could see the faint outlines of her bra which was not present when we kissed. The sight reminded of the feel of her nipples pressed against my chest and my arms itched to wrap around her waist from behind while murmuring my greetings. 

"What are you two making?" The duo stopped what they were doing. Esther pouted while Uti looked at me with a smile and my heart melted. This was a sight I could get used to seeing every morning. 

"Pancakes," Esther responded, returning to her chore of whisking eggs. She raised her head in my direction again, stuck the tip of her tongue out at me, "we are using your kitchen."

"I can see that," I muttered with a laugh. 

Uti walked up to us with a smile lightening up her face. I wanted her to hug me and I would have done that myself if not for Emma on my shoulders who I was supporting with both hands; he was heavy. 

"Hey, we got started without you." We stood facing each other and her hands brushed mine when she reached for Emma.

Realising that that was the only form of body contact I would be getting from her, I sighed. "It's fine."

No, it wasn't, she should have woken me up to help. I would have whisked the eggs. During our talk in the night, she had let it slip that she knew how to make pancakes, even agreed to make some this morning. I had wanted to be there when she did it but I was glad to see her bonding with Esther. 

Perhaps I didn't mask my disappointment well because she said, "you can still join us. I'll let you flip the pancakes."

Her suggestion was crazy and I was ready to tell her how much of a bad idea that was before Emma who had been quiet all along interrupted us, screaming his head off.  

"I like nipus."

*****

I like nipus😂😂😂. Emma is a clown.

This chapter was fun to write, I had some awww moments and some bits got me cracking up. I'm happy to see both of them get along 🥰😍, I hope it remains that way.
*sighs*

Anyways, how's it going with you? Are y'all keeping safe? The lockdown ends tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it.

Question: What's your favourite food?