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astraystayyh · 10 months

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You're sexy I'm sexy

Jeongin x reader. Friends to lovers. Lots of pining and tension. Innie has a fat crush. Mention of alcohol and drinking!

Inspired by You're sexy I'm sexy by Eric Nam, also by this moodboard by @chachachannah <3

Jeongin is out with his friends, and you. You're tipsy and sitting on his lap, and he doesn't think he can keep his crush for you at bay anymore.

skz song series masterlist.

a.n: 7/8 of the series and a little fun break from all the angst <3 can't believe there is only one fic to go now :")

Jeongin is out with nine of his friends, they are loud and boisterous, their laughter echoing throughout the small bar they're in. Yet, the only thing he can seem to focus on is you. You're giggling at a joke Minho just told, and it feels as if your laugh is molten sunshine, running through his veins and igniting him from within.

You squint your eyes as you take a sip of your drink, your nose scrunching up as the liquor grazes your tastebuds, and Jeongin can't seem to take his eyes off of you. He is enthralled by your every move, and you're not even doing anything.

He's had a crush on you for a while, four months to be exact- 120 days where his every waking moment was spent thinking of you. It happened so abruptly, taking him completely off-guard. He's never felt this way before- a blushing mess, putty in your hands, so pliable for you to mold however you want.

He shakes his head, tugging slightly at his black bangs. He remembers how you complimented him on his new color, running a hand through his freshly dyed hair. You’re always so nonchalant, in your way of touching him as if you don't leave him burning up in your trail. As if your knee bumping into his doesn't make electricity shoot through his body, as if your arm resting lazily on his shoulder doesn't make the world around him fade away, until all he sees is you.

You stand up to go get another drink, and Jeongin finally feels as if he can breathe again. "You're staring at yn," Hyunjin nudges his side with his elbow, and Jeongin drawls out a whine, hiding his face in his hands, "I know."

Some time has passed, and Chan has called over some people he knows, so now everyone is squeezed into this tiny brown booth with Jeongin at the end of it. But no one seems to mind the lack of space, everyone is delighted the exam season is finally over.

You come back, a red drink in your hand, and Jeongin can tell it’s you just from the intoxicating smell of your perfume. He's learned to recognize you through those small details- he can even distinguish your soft knocks on his door when you visit his dorm.

There is no place left for you in the booth, and you pout slightly. Jeongin goes to stand up to leave you his place, but you push him gently back down.

"Do you mind?" you ask, pointing at his lap and he startles, looking between you and his legs. He stays silent for a while, unsure of how to answer, and you smile slightly.

"Never mind, it's okay," you leave to get a chair but he grabs your hand abruptly, pulling you on top of his lap.

Jeongin doesn't know what's taking over him, he's never been this bold. But he accounts it on the one sip of alcohol he's taken, this, and the fact you proposed such a thing. He knows you're tipsy because your cheeks are tinted pink and you don't seem to mind where you’re sitting, on his lap.

Jeongin can't think straight anymore, too overwhelmed by the warmth of your body. You are everywhere, all at once, and he feels a sudden urge to bury his face in your hair and never let go. You move your hair to your right shoulder, and the scent of your shampoo tickles his nose. The curve of your neck is exposed, and he wonders what would happen if he grazed it with his teeth.

Would shivers run down your spin? Would you gasp softly, pupils dilating as if trying your best to take him all in?

You are laughing, again, and the melodic sound pulls Jeongin out of his wandering thoughts. He finds it endearing, how your entire body shakes when you chuckle, as if laughter reverberates through you from head to toe. Was it normal to be so aware of someone's existence? To know them more than you know yourself?

"Am I bothering you?" you turn to ask him, a soft smile on your face, and he shakes his head. It felt as if his tongue was tied in an impossible knot, he couldn't think, or dare to speak with you so near.

"You're warm," you point out, placing your cold hands on his heated cheeks. He closes his eyes, leaning into your cooling touch.

"Here, let me," you smile, grabbing the collar of his leather jacket and shrugging it off of him. He simply watches as you place the discarded jacket on top of your lap, before rolling the sleeves of his white t-shirt a bit upward. Your hand lingers on his forearm, squeezing it lightly, and it feels as if you’ve sealed the skin with your palm. Anyone who gazes at it will be able to tell you touched him.

You lean your back onto his chest, and Jeongin tentatively wraps his arm around your waist. Your hand reaches up to play absentmindedly with his silver rings, and he wonders what you must look like to other people. He wanted them to think that you were a couple, he realizes. Maybe if enough people believed it, it'd become a reality.

The night passes and the place beside Jeongin frees up, but you stay on his lap. His chin is now on your shoulder, your back snug against his chest. He can feel every twitch of your body and every soft exhale you take, and he unconsciously mirrors your actions, as if looking for any way to intertwine your being with his.

He goes to grab a water bottle from the table but you hand it to him, unscrewing the cap in the process. You turn to face him, as he brings the bottle to his mouth, his eyes still fixated on you. A water droplet runs down his throat, and you trace over its path with your finger lightly, which makes his Adam's apple bob up and down furiously.

Your finger doesn't leave his skin- you are tracing over his collarbones now, and he licks his lips nervously. Your touch is barely there, it would be farfetched to even compare it to a feather. But it's you who's touching him, so he feels it, everywhere.

Your hand moves to rest on top of his chest, and he knows you can feel his heart beating widely in there. He thinks the entire room can hear it at this point. A testament of what you do to him, of what you make him feel. Only you.

"Hi there," you smile innocently and Jeongin lets out a dry chuckle, his hooded eyes gazing intensely into yours.

"Hey you," he whispers, grabbing a strand of your hair and twirling it between his fingers. His gaze flickers from your eyes, to your nose and then to your lips. It stays there, too enamored to possibly move somewhere else. You're talking, he knows you are, but he can't seem to hear what you are saying.

He can't blame it on the alcohol because he hasn't even drunk that much. But his mind is foggy with thoughts of you, of what he wants to do with you, if you'd let him.

"Why are you looking at me like this?" you ask, a slight giggle rhythming your words.

"Do you even know how pretty you are," he says in awe before his eyes slightly widen in shock. Did he just say this out loud?

"Is that why you kept looking at me all night?" you smile, a hint of teasing in your tone, and Jeongin buries his head in your shoulder. "Shut up," he says lowly, embarrassment clear in his voice at being caught.

"It's okay, you're so pretty too," you smile, pulling his head away so you'd be able to look at him again.

His eyes find your lips instantly, like two magnets that can't help but be drawn to one another- fated to be together, no matter how much they try to stay apart.

"Can I kiss you?" he asks breathlessly, raw hope dripping from his tone. "We don't have to be something more I just-"

You cut him off with your mouth crashing on his, desperately, and he gasps onto you as if you're the oxygen with which he breathes. You taste sweeter than he could've ever imagined, and he's getting drunk from the way your mouths move against one another. He wraps his arm around your waist, thumb brushing your sides gently in an effort to bring you impossibly close. Your hands finds his hair, tugging slightly at the ends of it, and it's as if you wanted this too all along. As if Jeongin wasn't alone in his longing for you.

Your lips are soft, immensely so, and he doesn't think he can go back to not kissing you. To preserving you in his mind as a fond memory, not when he knows what it feels like to have his mouth on yours.

"I want to be somebody to you," he says between kisses, desperation lacing his words. He doesn't care how needy he sounds. He's been waiting for four months. If there is a slight chance you like him back, he'd take it and water it enough until it blooms into something much more.

"You already are," you smile into the kiss, your teeth clashing against his which makes you both giggle. "You'll kiss me again when we are sober, right?"

"I'll kiss you for the rest of my life if you'd let me," he brushes his nose against yours gently, and you smile softly at him, wiping the remains of your red lipstick from the corner of his mouth. He places a tender kiss on your wrist, before pressing his swollen lips onto yours again.

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hairyjocktf · 2 months

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The Bear Brew

Jake was the star player of his university’s hockey team, and with two successful championships under his belt he was captain for this next season. He’d practically been raised for this position. His parents had put him in hockey lessons as soon as he could stand up, and every moment through his childhood and teenage years had been dedicated to practice. He was the star player at his high school and given a scholarship to play on the university team. He’d been told not to let all that go to his head but he knew he was the best player on the team. Every match there would be throngs of fans in the stands chanting his name after every goal, wearing shirts with his face on them, and begging for pics with him after. His life couldn’t get any better.

His teammates, however, were over it. They’d made him captain just to shut him up after he’d been talking their ears off for the past three years. It helped that issue but only inflated his ego even more. Jake had somehow gotten even more obnoxious this season, becoming combative during practice and not taking any criticism about his play. The guys were sick of it, and while Jake was off stroking his ego by chatting with his fans, they hatched up a plan to get back at him. They’d found this beer called ‘Bear Brew’ that promised to put some pounds on anyone that drank a can. They knew Jake would never turn down grabbing a drink to celebrate a victory, thinking himself the one responsible. They weren’t sure exactly how effective it’d be or how long it’d take but they just hoped it would take Jake down a peg.

Two days later, after another decisive victory, it was time. Another player named Eric interrupted Jake’s victory lap.

“Hey bro, wanna grab a beer with us and celebrate?” He asked.

“Finally ready to celebrate my accomplishments, huh?” Jake retorted, “Sure dude, I’m down for a couple rounds, you’re buying though.”

“Deal,” Eric said through gritted teeth. He knew it would be worth it to see this through. They both returned to the rest of the team.

“I heard you chumps are buying me a beer tonight,” Jake laughed as the others wore forced grins. “Let’s hit the bar bros, I’m thirsty.”

On their way to the nearest sports bar, one of the players slipped Eric the Bear Brew so he could give it to Jake. He hoped Jake wouldn’y pay too much attention to the label or read the fine print, but Jake already wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed so it’d probably be fine. They entered a local sports bar that had a decent crowd.

“Alright Eric, first rounds on you bro!” Jake announced as he slumped back into a booth along the wall. Eric glared as he made his way to the counter, the rest of the players trying to seem normal and hide their excitement. He brought back a whole armful of cans, passing out beers to the team, making sure to hand Jake the Bear Brew. “Alright boys!” Jake announced to the group, “To victory and my next championship title, you better back me up!” He took a huge sip of the beer. “Damn this shit tastes kinda weird, the fuck did you get me Eric?” He laughed before taking another sip.

Eric chuckled nervously, “Just thought I’d get you somethin’ premium bro.”

“Damn straight you did, I like that kinda talk,” Jake responded, luckily not putting any more thought into the matter. He kept on sipping at the beer, making obnoxious jokes and trying to hit on the waitresses walking around. He felt more buzzed than usual from one beer, and noticed an odd feeling in his stomach. He ignored that for the moment, yelling at the team, “Another round bros! Gotta treat me right tonight.”

Luckily, the team had planned for this and brought extra beers for Jake in case he asked for more. Another player went up and ordered beers for the team, brought them back and handed Jake the Bear Brew again. Jake started chugging the second beer, and he was really starting to feel odd. He was almost feeling drunk from just two beers, and his stomach was queasy in a way he’d never felt before. He took a couple minutes to just lay back against the seat and close his eyes to give it time to settle. But settle it did not, and the feeling eventually became uncomfortable to the point he couldn’t ignore it. He put his hands on his stomach to try and comfort it, but immediately he felt something very, very wrong.

Jake opened his eyes and looked down at his stomach. He nearly gagged at what he saw. Instead of his chiseled abs he now had a pudgy stomach, and it only seemed to be getting bigger. His defined muscles were disappearing behind a thick layer of chub. He was speechless, watching his defined pecs inflating with fat. It looked like he’d been binging beers for years! His perfect workout routine was vanishing before his eyes as his entire body gained 5, 10, 20 pounds. A round belly now stretched his shirt to its limit, with sagging tits to match. It looked as if he’d been dirty bulking for years on end, and Jake was mortified. He glanced around at his teammates hoping no one had noticed his inflating body, feeling his face as a double chin began to form under his formerly tight jawline. He was panicking, trying to keep cool and maintain his cocky bravado while hiding his growing gut.

He could feel every part of his body growing plump and soft, threatening to burst out of his tight clothing. His feet were pushing against his shoes, and even his hands were growing larger. Jake felt sick to his stomach, and without attracting attention he got up and made his way to the dingy restroom in the back of the bar. Out of breath, he put his hands on the counter and stared at his bloated reflection in the mirror. He could barely recognize himself, having put on years worth of weight in the last few minutes. As he watched himself, he noticed some dark spots appearing on his face. Upon leaning towards the mirror, he realized with horror that thick, brown hairs were starting to poke out of his face. They popped up around the sagging edge of his jaw, and began spreading across his puffy cheeks. His upper lip was quickly buried beneath a thick, unkempt mustache as the hairs took over. They crawled down his fat-laden neck as well, reaching down towards his collarbone. His mouth dropped open as his face was in an instant coated in thick wiry hairs. There was no way he could go back out to his team now, what would they say? He barely looked like his old self anymore.

Jake reached up to feel his newly grown beard, the coarse hairs scratching against his fingers. He tried to come up with a plan, but the several beers had dulled his mind down. Those thoughts were cut short as a sudden itch arose on his chest. Jake started to scratch at it, clawing at his chest before he felt something that filled him with horror. He felt stubble. He tore off his shirt and looked down to see more hairs pushing out of his soft chest, starting between his former pecs and blossoming outward. They grew dense and thick, giving his chest a respectable coating as it stretched out, encircling his nipples. The hairs climbed up his collarbone, connecting with the beard hairs that had claimed his neck already. A line of hairs shot down from his chest to his navel, spreading a new field of hairs on his stomach. His torso itched up a storm as a thick pelt was growing in, but Jake felt a mixture of horror and pleasure as the sensation felt unnaturally good. He groaned watching the hairs grow longer on his chest, curling and tangling with the others.

As he reached up to feel the growing hairs, Jake saw a flash of dark under his arm, somewhere he had kept shaved before. He lifted his arm up and saw thick brown hairs worming their way out from the previously smooth skin. At first it was just a few but as he watched the tuft grew thicker and bushier as the hairs multiplied. The hairs even spread out to connect with the rug on his chest, completely visible even with his arms at his sides. A few seconds later the smell hit him. Those hairy pits reeked! It was eye watering, and he could see the sweat dripping down the wiry hairs as they kept growing longer. The hairs began crawling outside of his pits, wrapping around his shoulders to blanket them in the same thick fur. He looked like he was wearing a hairy shirt, barely able to see the skin under the growing hairs. His new fur continued to spread, as Jake felt the itching engulf his back. He turned in the mirror to glimpse the hairs popping up across his shoulder blades, making their way towards the middle where they met and grew into a thick fur. That fur sprouted down his spine, completing his coat. Above his ass it had grown in particularly thick, suggesting more to come soon. His arms were next, hairs sprouting down his thick biceps, and burying his forearms in a rug of dark hairs. The backs of his large hands were also coated, thick hairs popping up even on his knuckles.

Despite feeling horrified at what he was becoming, Jake was overwhelmed by immense pleasure from the changes. Every hair that sprouted produced a euphoria like nothing he’d experienced before. He could feel the follicles pushing through the skin as they covered him in luscious brown fur. Something was distracting him from that sensation though, and it was in his crotch. A burning and stretching feeling was occurring down there, and though his heart sank, Jake pulled down his waistband to peek. His previously trimmed bush was pushing out, dark hairs erupting from his groin as they spread like wildfire. The hairs sprouted and grew thicker and curlier as they multiplied, traveling from the base of his cock all the way up and merging into his thick stomach hair. The bush spread outwards onto his thighs, and he felt his balls expanding as they began to hang lower. They too were buried beneath the fur that was taking over his groin, with thick wiry hairs growing all over his enlarging balls. Jake moaned in ecstasy as his pubes kept sprouting, growing longer and bushier. It felt wrong and disgusting but his body was overtaken by hormones and endorphins, the sensation of pleasure was undeniable.

The hairs continued taking over his smooth skin, traveling from his bush down his large thighs, popping up and growing dark and curly. They coated his legs, growing dense enough to darken the shade of his skin as hair sprouted all over his thighs and calves, before reaching his feet. Jake pulled off his shoes that were ripping at the seams, exposing his now size 15 feet. He watched as hairs wormed their way out across the tops of his feet, even sprouting on his toes. His entire body was now coated in thick brown hair, and Jake rubbed his hands through the newly grown fur as he moaned from the sensation.

His moment of pleasure was cut short by someone banging on the bathroom door.

“Hey Jake, you all good in there bro?” It was Eric, eager to see if their plan had worked.

“Uhh,” Jake hesitated, brought back to reality in a flash. “Yea dude, just a little sick to my stomach it’s no big deal, I’ll be out in a sec,” he replied with a shakiness in his voice. He looked at himself in the mirror. What would the rest of the team think? He looked about ten years older and fifty pounds heavier, not to mention the hairy mess he was now. He was unrecognizable as his past self, not to mention that his clothes didn’t even fit anymore. He struggled to put his shirt back on, leaving his hairy belly exposed, before cramming his huge feet back into his shoes. He took a deep breath, and then unlocked the door and walked back out into the bar.

His teammates had gathered around the door, waiting to see what had become of Jake. They gasped in unison as he opened the door, quickly changing to a howling laughter.

“BROOOO WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?”

“No way it actually worked! I can’t believe this”

“JAKE YOU’RE SO FAT AND HAIRY”

“GET OWNED DUDE”

“That Bear Brew really did a number on you man!”

Jake was taken aback, his transformation had been potted by his teammates! He was stunned into silence, standing there with his half-fitting shirt on as he was laughed at voraciously. Slowly the laughter cooled, and Eric came up and slapped him on the back.

“See you at practice tomorrow dude,” he said with a chuckle.

The rest of the team left Jake and headed out of the bar. He stood there grappling with the reality of his life now, how was he going to go back to everything like this? In the face of overwhelming stress, he decided to put it out of his mind for just a little while. He walked back to his table, picked up another can of beer, and sat down. His life was a problem for tomorrow.

#male tf #hairy tf #hairy #bear tf #hairy chest #hairy pits #beard #hair growth #my writing

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livelovecaliforniadreams · 1 year

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I broke an amazing guy's heart by being selfish

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javierpena-inatacvest · 10 months

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Chapter 1- I D.A.R.E. You

Summary: After starting your new job as a 3rd grade teacher at Alma Pierce Elementary School, you meet a handsome Javier Peña who has been forced to come give a presentation to your grade. Although you've never met him, you're shocked to find out you may have more in common than you'd think.

Warnings: Mentions of Javi's past work for the DEA, mentions of death and grief, language, financial compensation if you were subjected to the D.A.R.E program as a child, Javi's family friends giving him sass

Word count: 6.2K

A/N: Post Season 3 Javi lives forever in my brain, as the first chapter of this story takes place in Laredo, May of 1997. This man deserves love, and boy is he going to get it.

Series Masterlist Next Chapter

“It’s your lucky day, Peña!”

Javier glanced up from the pile of paperwork scattered across his desk to acknowledge the voice coming from the doorway to his office.

“What do you want, Carter?”

Javier's voice half grunted in response, his eyes shifting back down to the pile of papers on his desk. In his doorway stood his office mate, Detective Eric Carter. When Javier began his new position with the Laredo County Sheriff's Department 4 months ago, it took everything in him to keep from calling his new co-worker Steve. At a glance, he looked just like his old DEA partner. Tall, lanky, with a wiry head of blonde hair and bright blue eyes. 30 seconds into meeting Carter, it didn’t take long to realize looks were about the only thing he and Steve Murphy had in common. Eric Carter was a human ray of fucking sunshine, and his chipper demeanor was blinding Javier this early in the morning.

“It’s your turn!” Carter replied in a sing-songy voice, slapping a red file folder onto Javier’s desk, covering the papers he had been sorting through. Javier picked up the folder and crinkled his brows in confusion. He turned the cover towards him, holding it just far enough away so that his squint trying to read its contents wasn’t too obvious. God, he just needed to give up and buy reading glasses already.

As he got the folder just the right distance away from his face, he gave Carter a look that said absolutely fucking not. The folder read D.A.R.E school assembly lessons, with a picture of the Lion mascot giving a big thumbs up in his black D.A.R.E shirt. The office had recently been recruited by Laredo Public School District to start giving presentations to the Elementary schools, using the program aptly abbreviated for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

“Just take away the “R” and rearrange some letters and it spells DEA!” Carter laughed to himself. “It’s like it was made for you!”

“No.”

“Sorry Peña, you’re bottom of the totem pole this week. We’ve all done our time, and you’re the last one left in the office who has yet to go present. It’s not even that bad, you just basically go talk to these kids for an hour and tell them drugs are bad, don’t do them, yadda, yadda, yadda, you get the gist, and then it’s done. Piece of cake!”

“I’m not fucking going.” Javier scoffed. “I have shit I have to get done.” Gesturing in annoyance to the piles of papers on his desk, now in disarray from the folder being thrown on his desk.

“Not a choice, Mr. Peña.”

A new voice passed by the doorway, and a much broader frame stood behind Carter’s. Chief Deputy Dean Morris, had joined the conversation, knowing that it wouldn’t end easily for Detective Carter if he kept harassing Javier about it. Morris was head of the department, and what he said, went. Coming from a background in the Air Force, Morris knew how “civilian” a position at a sheriff’s department must have felt for Javier after his time in the DEA. 5 years ago, it seemed fair to think that neither of them would have assumed paperwork, mundane training programs, and now, arguing over talking to 10 year olds about the dangers of doing drugs would have played any importance in their jobs.

“Right of passage. Ever since the school board dropped this on us last year, we’ve all done our time. Believe me, no one wants to do it, but like Carter said, today is your lucky day!” Morris’s voice oozed with sarcasm, knowing that Javier would absolutely hate every second of what he was about to have to do.

“You lucked out on your day to go too, Peña. It looks like you get to go to the school with the hot teach-OW! Hey! What was that for?!” Morris had slapped Carter’s shoulder before he could get out the rest of his sentence.

“Keep it in your pants, okay Carter?”

Carter let out a huff of defeat. “I’m just saying, he could have gotten worse days to go…”

“Just read from the notes, let the kids ask a couple of questions at the end and then you’re on your way. Easy peasy. When you get to the school office they’ll let you know where to go.”

Javier opened his mouth to rebuttal, but before he could even get out a word, Morris held up his hand to stop him.

“Not a choice. I’ll have Carter help you finish sorting paperwork, so don’t try to bullshit me and tell me that you have too much work to get done.”

Javier let out a sigh of frustration that was a little louder than he intended it to be. His hands rested on his forehead as he rubbed the bridge of his nose before replying.

“Fine. But this is one and done.”

“Good man.” Morris reached over Javier’s desk and gave him a pat on the shoulder. He and Carter started to make their way out of Javier’s office when Morris turned his head over the back of his shoulder.

“Carter’s right about the teacher, too. She’s a catch.” He winked and shut the door behind him.

Javier gathered his things and made his way through the office, passing by Detective Carter’s desk.

“Have funnnnnnn! Say ‘hi’ to the hot teacher for me!” Carter mocked, twinkling his fingers, waving at Javier.

Without saying a word, Javier flipped him off, and kept walking.

Settling into his truck, Javier set down his belongings in his passenger seat, and opened up the red file folder to see where his unexpected journey was taking him.

This is fucking ridiculous He mouthed to himself as he cranked up the AC in the truck with one hand, and rummaged the other through the items on the seat. Reaching next to him, he grabbed and opened the folder, and grazed his index finger down the inside cover, where a schedule of schools, dates, and times were printed. At the bottom, he found

5/27/97- Alma Pierce Elementary School, 12:00-12:30 pm, school cafeteria

Javier’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach. He read the line several times, re-checking the location and date to make sure what he read was true.

Fuck.

To any of his other co-workers who had been tasked with giving one of these D.A.R.E. presentations, the elementary school they were assigned to that day most likely held little to no significance. Of course, out of the 16 elementary schools in the Laredo Public School District, Javier was assigned to the one that held the most significance to him.

The school that his mother taught at for her entire teaching career before she passed away.

Since returning home from Colombia, Javier had been avoiding human contact like the plague. He had returned as somewhat of a “hometown hero” after his accomplishments with the DEA but couldn’t have felt further from it. He had become Laredo’s hottest topic.

“What was it like to help catch Escobar?! The Cali Cartel?!”

“We’re so proud of you, the DEA couldn’t have done it without you!”

“When are you going to come over and tell us all about Colombia? We want to know everything!”

Each question, compliment and conversation about his time in South America was like a knife to his heart, slowly twisting with each word that came out of someone’s mouth. He could feel the guilt and burden of his time away growing heavier and heavier as he politely smiled through these conversations.

But worse than the strangers who felt entitled to berate Javier about his time in Colombia, were his friends and family who he had been actively avoiding since returning home. Besides his father, Javier hadn’t seen anyone close to him since his mother’s funeral 8 years ago. It hurt Javier knowing that he had returned to Laredo a changed man, haunted by the things he had seen and done. His mother’s closest friends, those that she worked with at Alma Pierce Elementary School, had promised to fulfill Lucia Peña’s dying wish that they would look out for Javi and made sure that he came home okay.

Well, Javier was home. He wasn’t quite sure how to break it to them that he wasn’t really okay.

As he drove and parked in front of the school building, Javier’s heart began to beat heavier in his chest. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel as he started at the entrance to the school. He couldn’t decide if the feeling swirling around in his stomach was comfort or terror, knowing that Alma Pierce Elementary looked exactly the same as it did the last time he was here 9 years ago with his mother.

He did know that part of that feeling definitely had to be terror, as he began to think about the fact he was about to be interrogated relentlessly by his late mother’s closest friends. Might as well sign these women up to work for the DEA- they were probably more terrifying than anyone Javier had encountered in his time working there.

After a few more deep breaths, Javier gathered his things out of his truck and headed towards the main doors. Each footstep felt like he was walking through wet cement, questioning if it was too late to turn around.

Practically tip toeing in to the office, hoping to be as inconspicuous as possible, Javier let out a soft “Hi, I’m from the sheriff's department, I’m here for-“

Before he could even finish his sentence, the office secretary, a tiny and graying Señora Gutierez was thrusting her arms across the threshold of the office desk to wrap Javier in an impressively strong hug.

“JAVIER PEÑA. I cannot believe it’s you! oh my sweet mijo, look at you! The older you get, the more like Chucho you look, dios mio! Why haven’t you stopped by?! We have all missed you so much, what have you been doing? It is so good to see you!”

Here we go.

“Hola, Señora.” Javier half grunted from how tight he was being squeezed. “It’s nice to see you too.”

“I have lots to ask but I know you need to go, or they will know that this old woman has been running her mouth, making you late.” Señora Gutiérrez began shooing her hand, as to send Javier on his way.

Javier chuckled. He felt his body begin to ease slightly, letting the familiarity of friendly faces bring him a small sense of comfort.

“I would hope after this VERY LONG time that you have not been to see your mamà’s dearest friends, you still remember where the cafeteria is?” She gave Javier a playful grin.

“Sí, Señora.”

“Everyone will be so happy to see you, mi amor. Now go, or everyone will be after me for keeping you!”

Grabbing his things, Javier made his way down the bustling hallway. Tiny faces stared up at his, as he shuffled his way towards the cafeteria doors. There, he was greeted by a sea of children chatting amongst themselves and 3 smiling faces, patiently waiting for his arrival.

“JAVI!”

Out of any of the faces he was bound to see today, these were the 3 he would recognize anywhere. The ladies who stood before him were the fellow 3rd grade teachers who had taught alongside his mother for almost 20 years.

The ladies surrounded him in a bear hug, Javier quietly noting to himself that he had definitely reached his hug quota for the next several weeks.

“It’s so good to see you, Javi.” The first of the 3 women spoke, her words sweet like honey. Linda Garcia was short and stout, her gray bangs brushing over the brim of her glasses as she looked up at Javier. Linda had always had a soft spot for Javi, and reminded him the most of his mother.

“It’s good to see you t-“

“PENDEJO. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! WHY HAVE YOU NOT CALLED?! WE SWORE TO YOUR LATE MOTHER THAT WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF YOU, AND IF IT WASN’T FOR CHUCHO KEEPING US UPDATED TH-”

“Maria, let the boy breathe, this is the first time you’re seeing him in years, and this is the route you’re going to take? Dios Mio.”

Standing next to Linda were her 2 partners in crime, Maria Rogers and Estelle Lopez.

If you didn’t know Maria Rogers, you would be shocked to see the ferocity that came out of such a tiny woman. Javier’s mother used to refer to her “el vòlcan”- a matching nickname for her fiery personality.

Estelle, on the other hand, was one of the most soft spoken people that Javier had ever meant. If she had something to say, he knew it was time to listen.

“Hi everyone, it’s really great to see all of you.” Javier meant it. As overwhelmed and flustered as he was, it brought him peace to know after the hell that these last 8 years had been, some things never change.

“MRS. ROGERSSSSSSS. WHEN IS THIS GONNA START?! I’M HUNGRY AND I KNOW LUNCH IS AFTER THIS.”

“BE QUIET, MICHAEL. YOU KNOW WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR ONE MORE CLASS. YOU’RE SO ANNOYING.”

“AM NOT!”

“AM TOO!”

Chatter and fidgeting amongst the 3rd graders instantaneously increased, the crowd of children now growing restless.

“Oi, these niños will be the death of me, thank goodness this school is almost done.” Maria mumbled under her breath, the other 2 teachers rolling their eyes and laughing in agreement. “We’re just waiting on one more class, but they should be here any minute.”

Overhearing the conversations shouted across the cafeteria, Agent Carter’s voice wandered through Javier’s thoughts.

“You get the school with the hot teacher!”

Obviously, Carter was not referring to the 3 women who stood before him. Although he wasn’t one for crude office banter, Javier couldn’t help but wonder if Carter’s statement really held true. With a genuine curiosity and a slight smirk on his face, he leaned back, arms crossed and asked, “Yeah wait, there’s still four 3rd grade teachers right?”

The women all shot him a look that took him aback, their eyes burning a hole though Javier.

“Jesus, you men really have a one track mind don’t you. Yes, I’m sure all of your friends from the department have been more than happy to tell you about our new teacher who just joined us. She is a sweet girl, and I am sure she is sick of getting harassed by all of you.”

“Maria, I was just asking a quest-“

“Javier Jesus Peña, I have known you since before you were born. Wipe that smug look off your face, I know exactly why you asked the question”.

Yup, things haven’t changed a bit.

Before he could retort, the cafeteria doors began to swing open, followed by a long line of children, and you.

“1, 2, 3, eyes on me!”

“1, 2, eyes on you!

God, the amount of times you’d had to repeat that phrase as the end of the school year approached, you might as well have gotten it tattooed on your forehead.

“Okay 3rd graders, we’re already 5 minutes late for our assembly, and I’m sure the other classes are not going to be happy that we’re holding them up, and probably making us late for lunch after”

The chatter stopped. With only a few days left in the school year, you were running out of ammunition to keep your class’s attention. At least the threat of being late to unch would work for now.

A little hand shot up from the middle of the line you were about to trail down the hallway, like a mother duck with her babies following in line. “What’s your question, Jaun?”

“Do you know if it’s gonna be the same guy as last time? He was kind of scary.” Mumbles of agreement came from the voices surrounding him. The Laredo Sheriff's Department had sent in a slew of their employees each week for these presentations, and you had been convinced none of them had ever even attempted to talk to a child. Last week’s presenter, Martin, Michales, something like that, had spent the large time of his presentation talking about getting murdered by the Cartel, leading to tears from many of your students, and a prompt request to not have him back.

“I don’t know sweetie, it seems like there’s someone new who comes every week, but I sure hope it’s not him.” The class let out a small giggle. These were the moments you loved about your job as a teacher, especially now that you had moved to an older grade where your kids finally picked up on your subtle jokes with them.

You had been with your class since after Christmas break, filling in as a long term sub for a 3rd grade teacher on maternity leave. The job followed an impromptu move from Chicago to Texas after breaking off your relationship with your boyfriend (regrettably, almost fiancé) of 3 years, who had been cheating on you behind your back for 2 of them. You felt like an idiot that you hadn’t seen it coming, but it still hit you like a ton of bricks. Paul had plenty of red flags, but your optimistic demeanor and the mounting peer pressure of watching your friends get married and start their own families made you feel trapped. It still stung to think you would have settled for a miserable life with Paul out of the fear you wouldn’t find anyone else.

Desperate to get as far away from Illinois as possible, you packed your bags and made the nearly 4 day drive down to Laredo, Texas. Laredo, a strange choice to many, but made nothing but complete sense to you. Your best friend since the 2nd grade, Sarah Alverez, had moved to Laredo your Freshman year of high school, her father accepting an agricultural engineering position in ranching country. You spent every summer until college visiting her and her family, having nothing but the fondest of memories for a sleepy town outside of San Antonio. It was a stark chance from the hustle and bustle of Chicago suburbia where you had spent your childhood. Long, carefree summer days made you promise yourself that if you ever did leave Chicago, you’d find yourself here. Well, you had made good on your promise, but for reasons that still made your stomach churn in gut-wrenching knots.

You and your class journeyed down the hallway to the cafeteria. Thank god it was a short trip, because you were far too tired to put up with the bickering and shenanigans the back of your line often seemed to plague you with. Just as you were entering through the cafeteria doors, you promptly turned around, your body facing the line as you walked backwards further into the cafeteria. “Isabella and Jorge, keep your hands to yourself! You two know you’re not supposed to be in line togeth-” Before you could finish your sentence, the back of your body collided with one behind you that you hadn’t seen since turning around to stop a near WWE smackdown in the hallway. You had bumped into kids more than once who weren’t paying attention to their surroundings, but it became very clear, very quickly, that the body you had backed yourself into was not a child’s.

The body you had backed yourself into was much taller and broader than yours. Two large hands firmly, but gently grasped around the middle of your upper arms to catch you without stumbling backwards any further. An overwhelming scent of cedarwood and sage cologne filled your senses. This obviously was not one of your coworkers, either.

“Oh my gosh, I am so sorr-“ you started to apologize as you came to face the body that had stopped you in your tracks. Your apology halted as you were met by incredibly broad shoulders covered by a navy blue suit jacket. As your gaze continued upwards, the shoulders were followed by a strong square jawline and plush lips, the upper covered with an impeccable mustache. Continuing up, you were met with the most beautiful, deep chocolate brown eyes, whose soft stare soon met yours. There was no denying that this man was devilishly handsome. Realizing that you had most definitely been starting too long, you restated your apology. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were behind me.” Your eyes shifted away from his and darted down to the floor.

A small smirk formed on his face as he looked down at you. He didn’t realize it, but he couldn’t help it. You were wearing a yellow sun dress that hit just above your knees, covered by a light washed denim jacket. Your dress swayed beautifully as he watched you take your last few steps backwards, making him question himself if he let you run into him on purpose. You smelled like vanilla and something sweet that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Pink embarrassment flooded your cheeks as a soft smile on your face met his. He now too realized that he had been staring a little too long, and that he still had his grasp on your arms as you had turned around to look at him.

“No it’s okay.” He let out a small laugh under his breath. “I just didn’t want you to go too much further and trip over anything else.” He gently let his hands leave her arms, and watched as she brushed a piece of hair out of her face and looked back up at him.

“Should we go sit down now?!” A small voice shouted from your line, causing you to snap back to reality, realizing that you had a line of children still standing behind you.

“Yes, sorry sweetie” you replied, brushing your dress down back into place. “You guys can go find a spot behind Mrs. Rogers’ class.” Your class passed by you, paying no mind to the interaction that just took place between you and the man you had just bumped into.

As you watched your class pass by, you turned back around to find the man still staring at you, causing your heart to palpably beat in your chest. The same strong hands that had caught you were now extended in your direction, offering a handshake to introduce himself. “I’m Javier Peña, uh Javi, actually” as your hand met his, realizing how small they felt in his grip. “I’m from the Laredo Sheriff's department, I uh, I’m the one that’s supposed to be doing the whole presentation thing today.” Your hand stayed in his as you introduced yourself. God, his hands were something else.

His grip loosened as your co-workers began to move towards you. You began to realize how hot your face felt, knowing that you were flushed with embarrassment not only from almost falling into a crowd of 10 year olds, but from how awe struck you were by the man who had caught you.

The three women on your 3rd grade team had taken you in as one of their own when you started your job here. They had been more than happy to step in to help you with whatever you needed, including trying to set you up with every single man your age that they knew. With the exception of the parade of overly forward sheriff's department members who had been at your school every Wednesday. Those 3 had no problem telling those men to fuck right off and leave you alone (in the nicest way possible.) The ladies slowly crept closer towards you, sly grins stretched across their faces as they giggled like school girls.

“OH, so it looks like you met our sweet Javier!” Linda said with over exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Sweetie, you’re SO good with the technology around here, you know how us old ladies are. Maybe you could help him set up the video he needs for his presentation today?” You knew damn well these women knew how to press play on a VCR. You grimaced your face at Maria. While you couldn’t see your face, you were absolutely positive your expression was screaming “Oh my God, could you please make it any more obvious that this man is insanely attractive and you don’t need to add to the embarrassment after I already ran into him like an idiot?!”

“Yeah, of course, I’d be more than happy to help!” You pointed towards the stage that sat in front of the cafeteria. “Just come this way and I’ll show you how to set it up.”

Following behind you, Javier leaned his head down towards yours. “Must be the most complicated VCR set up I’ve seen in a while.”

You let out a giggle. “Yeah, they're all very sweet, but not the most skilled with anything that has to do with technology. When our principal had mentioned the idea of us potentially getting a computer lab, they just about had a heart attack. Setting up the TV to play a video should be no problem.” You gestured towards the stage at the front of the cafeteria where the TV cart was kept for presentations. He followed behind you, keeping a respectful distance. Not respectful enough to keep himself from staring at the curve of your ass in your dress as you walked up the stage stairs.

“Do you have the tape you need to show?” Your words went in one ear and out the other. Carter and Morris weren’t kidding. He hated to admit that those idiots were right about anything, but God, you were beautiful. His gaze was locked on you as squatted down next to the VCR, ejecting its previous contents. It seemed in that moment that you very much both realized that when Javier stood in front of you, you eye level with his waist, staring up at him, dangerously close to his coc-

“Uh, yeah, yeah sorry,” he shook his head slightly to snap himself out of the thought he was about to have. “Thanks.” he smiled sheepishly.

“Well I’m no technology expert, but all you should have to do is press play wherever you need to, and you should be good to go! Let me just roll this cart out for you and we’re good for you whenever you’re ready!” You began pushing the cart out onto the stage, but before you could get anywhere, Javi had his hand over yours.

“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure it’s probably heavy, I can push it.” He insisted.

You raised your eyebrows and gave him a look that made him step away.

“What, you think I can’t do it?” Defiantly, you pushed the cart out to the middle of the stage to prove a point, looking back at him and shrugging with an “I told you so” look on your face. Any other woman he had met would have thankfully given up the task, let alone offer to do it at all. At that moment, Javier Peña knew you were not just any other woman. And that- that terrified him in the best way possible.

Just before you hopped off the edge of the stage to re-join your class, you looked up at him as he ran his fingers through his locks of thick, curly brown hair, trying to regain his composure.

“Good luck up there, Mr. Peña.”

Javier couldn’t even tell you what had happened in the 30 minutes that he was up on stage. There were many times throughout his career where he had stared out into a sea of blank faces as he gave a presentation about intel, informats, wire taps… but having the eyes of 80 9 and 10 year olds glued to his every word was an absolutely terrifying experience. Not because he was nervous about the judgment of a child who may or may not even be able to tie their shoes or wipe their nose, but because of what they may say about him to you. It took everything in his power not to stare at you the entire time he was up there, but every time he glanced in your direction, your face lit up with a reassuring smile. You had even given him a little thumbs up when he had successfully started the VCR, playing a clip of Daren the D.A.R.E Lion.

As the presentation finished, the kids applauded and gave a unanimous “thank you!” prompted by the teachers.

As your class gathered behind you to walk down to the cafeteria, Maria tapped your shoulder.

“Take a picture, mija, it will last longer.”

You were too busy staring at Javi to even notice that Maria was talking to you. Her words went in one ear and out the other.

“Huh, what? Sorry, did you say something?”

“I said, take a picture, it will last longer.” Maria laughed to herself. “I don’t think your eyes have left him once since you walked in here.”

You hated to admit it, but it was true. You had known this man for less than an hour, and he already had butterflies dancing around in your stomach. God, what were you, 12?! Pull it together.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Maria.” Of course you did. If you were wearing pants, they would be up in flames. Liar, liar, pants on fire.

“I’ll take your class to lunch today. I’ll be back to help stack all of the chairs in a few. I’m sure he could use some help cleaning up, and I’ve heard that VCR is really difficult to work.” Maria nudged you before she turned around to collect your class and parade them out of the gym. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Trying to contain your excitement, you playfully rolled your eyes and shook your head.

The other teachers and students left, leaving just you and Javi. He gathered his things that he had left on the stage and started to make his way back down the stairs. It took him a moment to realize you were standing at the edge of the steps, arms crossed over your chest, smiling up at him.

“I’m sorry if the kids were rowdy. It’s been a zoo since there’s only a few days of school left.” You both let out a small chuckle. Now that you two were alone, you became very aware of how nervous you were.

“You did a really great job! Honestly, you’re the best person we’ve had since we’ve started doing these presentations. The guy we had last time, I can’t remember his name, something with an M?! Anyways, I don’t think he’s ever spoken to a child in his entire life, and there were definitely some tears.”

Definitely Morris, Javi noted to himself.

“Thanks, I uh- didn’t think I’d be so nervous to talk in front of a bunch of kids. I’m glad it wasn’t too bad. I should thank you for helping me with that video. Didn’t need to get my pride bruised in front of 10 year olds. Also glad I didn’t make anyone cry.”

You both let out small laughs, your cheeks revealing small smiles across your faces. While the silence between you grew, the distance between you began to shrink as you both subconsciously took a small step towards each other.

He watched as a small wave of sadness flooded your expression. “Stinks that this is the last week of presentations before the school year ends. it would have been nice to have you back.” You looked at him with a half hopeful smile. You saw the same feeling reflected back in him as his brow scrunched and bottom lip entered a small pout.

“Oh shit. Yeah, I uh, I guess I forgot it’s the end of the school year. That would make sense there wouldn’t be anymore presentations.” He rested one hand on his hip, as the other traveled through his thick, brown locks. You bit down on your bottom lip, stunned by his broadness and shoulders to waist ratio, which was made even more apparent as his fingers combed through his hair. His deep brown eyes met yours, melting you instantly. “If I had known that you would have been here, I would have signed up to come a lot earlier.”

Before you had a chance to recover yourself from the puddle you had just turned into, the cafeteria doors swung open once again. Maria was a woman on a mission. Her tiny, thin frame marched with purpose towards you both.

“Oh good thing I caught you, amor! I was just thinking that I had something important to tell Javier before he left and I’m so glad you’re here to hear it too. Javi happens to be a dear familiar friend, and I was just telling him before the presentation how excited I am to see him and his father at my cookout this Saturday! I know you had mentioned you were thinking about going! You’ll be there, won’t you Javier? Aren't you so excited to come to the party this Saturday?”

Maria and Javier entered a silent stare down. Their expressions allowed them to have an entire conversation without speaking a word.

There’s a party on Saturday? What are you talking about? What does this have to do with anything?

Dios Mio, Pendejo. Take the hint. I already invited her. She will be there on Saturday so you can see her again. Don’t mess this up.

“Oh really?” You chimed in, perhaps a bit too over enthusiastic. “I wasn’t really going to know anyone besides the staff at school, so it would be nice to see another familiar face!” In all honesty, you were trying to find a way out of going before just now. Huge social gatherings of strangers weren’t really your thing, but if it meant it was a chance to see Javi again, you would brave it.

“Oh yeah, the uh, the cookout! Yeah, uh, yeah, I’ll be there. It would be really nice to see you again, too.” Although Javier’s tone carried a tint of confusion, his smile was confirmed that his statement was genuine.

“Bueno!” Maria clasped her hands together and shook her head in delight. “So you will BOTH be there on Saturday!”

You could already feel your heart swelling at the prospect of seeing Javi again.

“Oh and mija”, Maria turned towards you, your face lighting up, wondering if she had even more good news to deliver. “They need you in the office. Isabella and Jorge got into a wrestling match in the cafeteria and the secretaries needed to call their parents. Oi, these niños are like wild animals, summer cannot come fast enough!”

“Of course they did. They might as well put WWE referee under our job description because it seems like that’s all I’m doing all day. It’s like herding feral cats.” you groaned. “Those two cannot be together next year…”

Javi let out a snort. “Sorry”, he said, trying to contain his laughter. You joined in, realizing the ridiculousness of your statement.

“Alright, well I guess that’s my cue to go. It was really nice to meet you, Javi. I’m really glad I get to see you again.” It took every ounce of strength in your body to move yourself out of the cafeteria doors. As you walked away, you turned once more to look back over your shoulder, to find that Javi’s eye’s hadn’t moved from your direction since you turned around. “See you on Saturday.”

Even after you were out of sight, Javi still stood frozen, his eyes wide and jaw still half open.

“Hola, earth to Javier, are you there?!” Maria interjected, waving her hand in front of Javi’s awe struck face.

Snapping out of his trance, Javier began to speak, but was stopped before he could get out a single word.

“Listen to me mijo. I want you to be happy. That was all Lucia asked for before she passed. So first and foremost, you are welcome.” Maria gestured, alluding to the fact that Javier owed her big time for what had just happened. “Secondly, she is a sweet girl. If you do anything to break her heart, so help me, I will come to the ranch and run you over with your father’s tractor. Understood?”

“Understood.” Javier understood that this was not a threat, it was a promise.

“Good. She’s a good one, Javier. She reminds me so much of your mother. Lucia would have loved her.” She reached up her hand to cup the side of Javi’s face, before bringing her other arm around him for a hug.

Javier exhaled, trying his best to hold back the tears that were welling in his eyes. It was the first time since returning home that he felt a sense of relief and comfort fill his body. Maybe, he was more than the man he was returning home from Colombia. Maybe, the people who loved him before he left still loved him now, despite the person he’d become. Maybe, just maybe, someone else could love him for the new man he now hoped to become.

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blackwoolncrown · 1 year

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Reading list for Afro-Herbalism:

A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies and Rituals for the Body and Spirit by Stephanie Rose Bird

Affrilachia: Poems by Frank X Walker

African American Medicine in Washington, D.C.: Healing the Capital During the Civil War Era by Heather Butts

African American Midwifery in the South: Dialogues of Birth, Race, and Memory by Gertrude Jacinta Fraser

African American Slave Medicine: Herbal and Non-Herbal Treatments by Herbert Covey

African Ethnobotany in the Americas edited by Robert Voeks and John Rashford

Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect by Lorenzo Dow Turner

Africans and Native Americans: The Language of Race and the Evolution of Red-Black Peoples by Jack Forbes

African Medicine: A Complete Guide to Yoruba Healing Science and African Herbal Remedies by Dr. Tariq M. Sawandi, PhD

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh, African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry

Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston

Big Mama’s Back in the Kitchen by Charlene Johnson

Big Mama’s Old Black Pot by Ethel Dixon

Black Belief: Folk Beliefs of Blacks in America and West Africa by Henry H. Mitchell

Black Diamonds, Vol. 1 No. 1 and Vol. 1 Nos. 2–3 edited by Edward J. Cabbell

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney

Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C. by Ashanté M. Reese

Black Indian Slave Narratives edited by Patrick Minges

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau

Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry edited by Camille T. Dungy

Blacks in Appalachia edited by William Turner and Edward J. Cabbell

Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Taymer Mason

Dreams of Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America by Sylviane Diouf

Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life by Emilie Townes and Stephanie Y. Mitchem

Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman

Folk Wisdom and Mother Wit: John Lee – An African American Herbal Healer by John Lee and Arvilla Payne-Jackson

Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living by Stephanie Rose Bird

Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica White

Fruits of the Harvest: Recipes to Celebrate Kwanzaa and Other Holidays by Eric Copage

George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden

George Washington Carver: In His Own Words edited by Gary Kremer

God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia by Cornelia Bailey

Gone Home: Race and Roots through Appalachia by Karida Brown

Ethno-Botany of the Black Americans by William Ed Grime

Gullah Cuisine: By Land and by Sea by Charlotte Jenkins and William Baldwin

Gullah Culture in America by Emory Shaw Campbell and Wilbur Cross

Gullah/Geechee: Africa’s Seeds in the Winds of the Diaspora-St. Helena’s Serenity by Queen Quet Marquetta Goodwine

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica Harris and Maya Angelou

Homecoming: The Story of African-American Farmers by Charlene Gilbert

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish

Just Medicine: A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Leaves of Green: A Handbook of Herbal Remedies by Maude E. Scott

Like a Weaving: References and Resources on Black Appalachians by Edward J. Cabbell

Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife by Margaret Charles Smith and Linda Janet Holmes

Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race, and the American Imagination by Melissa Cooper

Mandy’s Favorite Louisiana Recipes by Natalie V. Scott

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet Washington

Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife’s Story by Onnie Lee Logan as told to Katherine Clark

My Bag Was Always Packed: The Life and Times of a Virginia Midwife by Claudine Curry Smith and Mildred Hopkins Baker Roberson

My Face Is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations by Mary Frances Berry

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Bundles

Papa Jim’s Herbal Magic Workbook by Papa Jim

Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens by Vaughn Sills (Photographer), Hilton Als (Foreword), Lowry Pei (Introduction)

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy

Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage by Diane Glave

Rufus Estes’ Good Things to Eat: The First Cookbook by an African-American Chef by Rufus Estes

Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of African Americans by Wonda Fontenot

Sex, Sickness, and Slavery: Illness in the Antebellum South by Marli Weiner with Mayzie Hough

Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane Diouf

Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time by Adrian Miller

Spirituality and the Black Helping Tradition in Social Work by Elmer P. Martin Jr. and Joanne Mitchell Martin

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird

The African-American Heritage Cookbook: Traditional Recipes and Fond Remembrances from Alabama’s Renowned Tuskegee Institute by Carolyn Quick Tillery

The Black Family Reunion Cookbook (Recipes and Food Memories from the National Council of Negro Women) edited by Libby Clark

The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales by Charles Chesnutt

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham

The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller

The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Classic Southern Cookbook by Edna Lewis

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: An Insiders’ Account of the Shocking Medical Experiment Conducted by Government Doctors Against African American Men by Fred D. Gray

Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret E. Savoy

Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine by Bryant Terry

Vibration Cooking: Or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor

Voodoo and Hoodoo: The Craft as Revealed by Traditional Practitioners by Jim Haskins

When Roots Die: Endangered Traditions on the Sea Islands by Patricia Jones-Jackson

Working Conjure: A Guide to Hoodoo Folk Magic by Hoodoo Sen Moise

Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing by Michelle Lee

Wurkn Dem Rootz: Ancestral Hoodoo by Medicine Man

Zora Neale Hurston: Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings: Mules and Men, Tell My Horse, Dust Tracks on a Road, Selected Articles by Zora Neale Hurston

The Ways of Herbalism in the African World with Olatokunboh Obasi MSc, RH (webinar via The American Herbalists Guild)

#herbalism #african american #rootwork #african #native american #hoodoo #voodoo

1K notes · View notes

nonotnolan · 7 months

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Just Another Sunday

"Eric, what the hell happened to you?" He looked up from his phone with a confused look on his face, as if he hadn't suddenly transformed into a stacked muscle God. I couldn't help but start to hyperventilate a bit. Weird stuff had been happening all over town this week, but until now the three of us had been spared.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," he said, pausing for a few moments before shifting back over to his phone.

"Like hell you don't!" I yelled, stomping across the Joey's kitchen to yell directly in his face. His casual body posture confirmed that I was still dealing with Eric, at least-- my self-survival instincts were telling me that yelling at a man this large was an easy way to get the shit kicked out of me. Joey, Eric, and I had been easy targets for bullies our whole lives. Or at least, we had been until whatever the hell just happened to Eric. "Something weird is going on! You suddenly gained 6 inches, two shades of skin tan, and god only knows how many pounds of muscle. Did you really not notice that happening?"

He laughed, ruffling the top of my head before speaking. "What do you mean I gained all this? C'mon, Bro. I've looked like this for years, you know that." His wide grin deflated a bit as I glared at him, unblinking. "Bro, you're freaking me out. I've always looked like this. Look, here's my camera roll. This is us just last week. Remember?"

Now it was my turn to be confused. Our friend Joey took this photo for us... only it was the two of us clutching our pudgy stomachs and making fun of everyone outside enjoying the last weekend of swimsuit weather. Now here was Eric, every bit as shirtless and as sexy as the people that we had been mocking.

"Seriously, Bro, you're freaking me out a little." Eric pressed the back of his palm against my forehead. "Seems like you might be running a fever or something. I think you'd better stay home and get some rest. I'll ask Master Joey if you can share my bed in his servant's quarters."

Hang on... Master Joey? Something about that didn't sound right. I tried to figure out why that phrase sounded so peculiar, but I was finding it a bit hard to concentrate on anything. It almost felt like a headache, but in a forgetful sort of way. "Hang on... why would I share your bed?" I asked him. "We both have beds in Master Joey's quarters. Something weird is going on. Pull up that photo again, would you?"

We looked at the photo of me and Eric enjoying the Hot Tub one last time before swimsuit season was over. Master Joey loved taking photos of his servants and their masculinity-- all of our phones had tons of photos like this in our camera roll. Why had I been freaking out earlier?

"Sorry, Eric, I'm not sure what's wrong with me," I said, rubbing my hand over my head. Feeling the buzzed stubble always helped calm me down. Well, that and working out at the gym, but that wasn't really an option right now.

"Don't sweat it, Bro," he said, thumping me on the back. "I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow. Anyway, it's time for our evening progress pic for Master Joey." Eric set up the timer on his phone while I peeled back my tank top. Master Joey loved getting pictures of our hot bodies each night, and we loved knowing that our master would masturbate himself to sleep at the thought of us.

A thought crossed my mind. "Hey Eric... is there any reason we don't let Master Joey have sex with us every night?

He laughed, thumping me on the back a few more times. "You know, it's funny... I was just thinking the same thing. Having Master Joey's cock up my ass actually sounds pretty nice. Should we make that our new evening ritual?"

"I think we should," I said, nodding in agreement. What was the point in having such a plump and meaty ass if no one was going to use it? And anyway, it was the least we could do for the man who allowed us to serve under him. Weird stuff has been happening all over town this week. It's a relief to know that Master Joey will always keep us safe.

#male transformation #gay male transformation #chronovac #reality shift #retcon #nerd to jock #muscle jock

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tigertales9 · 9 months

Text

Sink or Swim

Pairing: Joe Burrow x Reader

Warnings: 18+ / Smut / Angst / Fluff

Description: Things go sideways when you invite your new neighbors over for cocktails and nibbles

Time/Place: Off-season (mid-July 2023) / Cincinnati, Ohio

A/N: This fic takes place a couple weeks back, pre-camp and pre-calf injury 😢

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You check your phone for what seems like the 100th time in the last hour, rushing to finish setting up your cocktails and nibbles spread before your new neighbors, Jake and Eric, arrive. "Where the hell is Joe?" you mutter under your breath, adding several slices of fresh lime to an obscenely large pitcher of margaritas just as your doorbell rings.

You hurry to answer it, greeting your guests and ushering them through the house to the back patio where you have several appetizers ready to accompany the aforementioned pitcher of margs. You get both guys set up with drinks and nibbles before checking your phone again.

Nothing. You chew your lip and toggle back and forth between mad and worried at the fact you haven't heard from Joe in the last several hours. He hasn't responded to your calls or texts and that is 100% not like him. Last you heard he was headed to Black Sheep to work out, but he promised to be home by 6:30 to meet your new neighbors.

"Joe should be here any minute," you smile, trying to relax and make small talk while still being in a state of uncertainty.

After quickly downing your first margarita, you're feeling much more relaxed as Jake tells a story of how his perfectly planned marriage proposal went comically wrong. The three of you are still laughing like hyenas when the patio door opens and Joe walks out, the look on his face causing you to immediately jump up and intercept him.

"Hey," you chirp, your eyes going wide when he ignores you and strides straight up to Jake who hurriedly gets on his feet. "Joe, this is Jake, our new neighbor," you state, looking back and forth between the two men.

"Wow, you look a lot taller in person," Jake chuckles, holding a hand out to shake. "Thanks," Joe mutters, squeezing Jake's hand harder than necessary while flashing a smile that doesn't quite reach his pale blue eyes. Jake snatches his hand out of Joe's overly-firm grasp and takes a step back. "This is Eric," he mutters, gesturing at the smaller man standing beside him. "Don't shake his hand," he whispers loudly to Eric, both men giving him wary smiles before you break the tension.

"Joe? Can I talk to you inside for a sec?" you ask, giving him a 'don't try me' look when he cuts his eyes at you. Joe gives a terse nod and heads for the house. "Be right back," you whisper to your guests, quickly following Joe inside.

"What the actual fuck is wrong with you?" you hiss as soon as you close the patio door. "And where the hell have you been?"

"Me and some guys went to that bar just around the corner from the gym. Had a beer and a few wings, no biggie."

"No biggie?" you seethe. "You were supposed to be home by 6:30 to meet our new neighbors." He rolls his eyes as you continue. "You've been ignoring my calls and texts for the last few hours. Would you like to explain why?"

"My agent was annoying me so I decided to ignore my phone for awhile." He gives a nonchalant shrug. "Sorry I forgot about cocktails with the new neighbors, but I'm not loving the fact that I just caught my fiancée getting hit on by two men."

"Getting hit on? Have you lost your mind?"

"I know what I saw! I watched y'all for a few minutes before coming outside."

You take a deep breath and give Joe a slow once-over, taking in his purple tee, black shorts and the black headband keeping his unruly curls somewhat in check. "They're married," you state, narrowing your eyes at him when he hits you with a stank face.

"Oh yeah? Well, where are their wives?" he asks, accompanying his stank face with a bitchy smirk. "They probably got tired of watching their husbands eye-fuck you so they went home."

"You have lost your damn mind," you snort, shaking your head in disbelief.

"But I'm not wrong, am I?"

"You are 100 percent wrong," you snap. "Jake and Eric are a couple!" Joe's eyes widen as you continue. "They're married to each other."

You can tell from the look on his face the exact moment the realization hits. "Oh," he murmurs, quickly followed by an even more emphatic "ohhhhhhh, why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think I needed to tell you. If you'd been home at 6:30 -- like you promised -- it would've been immediately apparent when you met them. Don't try to shift the blame onto me!"

"I'm not trying to shift . . ."

"And another thing," you interrupt, stepping forward to put a finger in his face. "It's not my fault that you're a heteronormative jackass!"

"You know I'm not like that," he argues.

"And yet here we are," you scoff, rolling your eyes as you brush past him and grab a plate of brownies off the counter.

"I, ummm, I'll join y'all as soon as I pee."

"Suit yourself," you mutter, throwing him a look as you head back outside.

You walk back out and give the guys a quick apology. "Sorry about that," you soothe. "He totally forgot about cocktails & nibbles tonight." You set the brownies down on the table before continuing. "Not to mention he thought y'all were hitting on me."

"Told ya!" Jake hoots, pointing a finger at Eric.

"Y'all picked up on that, huh?" you ask.

"Yeah, we figured he had the wrong idea," Jake chuckles. "I told Eric I'm surprised he didn't whip it out and pee on your leg to mark his territory."

Y'all are still cackling when the patio door opens and Joe ambles out to join you, a slightly sheepish look on his face as he approaches the table. "I owe y'all an apology," he says, dropping into a chair and giving Jake and Eric a sincere smile. "Can we hit the reset button?"

"Absolutely!" Eric chirps, grabbing the plate of brownies and shoving it at Joe. "Here, have a brownie. They make everything better."

Joe laughs along with the guys as he grabs a frosted brownie and takes a big bite. He chews and swallows before speaking up. "Best brownie I've ever tasted."

"For real," Jake agrees. "We def need to get the recipe from Y/n."

"Y/n is an amazing cook," Joe states, giving you a smile while polishing off his brownie. "She's actually amazing at everything," he continues, winking at you as he reaches for another gooey confection.

"Awww," Eric and Jake say in unison, laughing when you narrow your eyes at Joe before joining in the laughter.

Thirty minutes later -- after another margarita and some fun banter between the entire group -- you excuse yourself to use the bathroom. As you finish peeing your phone chimes with a text. You see it's from your best friend, and it's a simple "WTF?" plus a link.

You quickly wash your hands before clicking the link. It takes you to a twitter post of a bleached blonde woman hanging all over your man. You bite your lip as you peruse the pic -- her push-up bra doing work under her low-cut top as she leans against Joe, her smile looking like the cat that ate the canary. You feel an absolute wave of anger flow through you as you read her caption. "Met Joe Burrow tonight! So glad I got to tell him how HOT he is in person! He seemed to really appreciate it."😉

You send a quick reply to your bestie and head back outside, your poker face in full effect as Joe meets your gaze for several seconds before returning his attention to Eric who is telling a funny story about accidentally setting his college mascot on fire with a sparkler.

You take a deep breath, seething at the disrespect your man has dished out this evening. It's not that a woman basically threw herself at him, hell you're used to both men and women thirsting over him and it's not an issue; he's objectively hot as fuck. But the fact that he ghosted your ass for several hours and blew off your plans? Fuck that, you think to yourself. He's gonna hear about it later.

You tune back into the conversation as Joe continues to make small talk with the guys, a thought forming in the back of your mind about the reaction Joe had when he came home. By the time Jake and Eric leave -- carrying several brownies home with them -- you think you've pretty much got the entire thing figured out.

Joe closes the front door behind your guests and breathes an audible sigh of relief. "They're really nice," he states, his eyebrows heading for his hairline when he turns around and sees the look on your face. "What is it?" he asks.

"How many women hit on you at the bar tonight?"

"None," he scoffs, giving you an incredulous look.

"What's this then?" you ask, showing him the tweet on your phone.

He squints at the screen for a second before meeting your gaze. "I didn't think she was hitting on me," he states, shrugging his shoulders when you roll your eyes at him.

"So if I was at a bar, and a guy was hanging all over me telling me I'm hot, would you think he was hitting on me?" you ask.

"Maybe," he mumbles.

"There's no 'maybe' about it, Joseph, and you know it! -- So let's break it down: you blew off our plans tonight, ghosted my ass for several hours, projected your shitty behavior onto me and our new neighbors when you finally came drag-assing home, and LIED to my face just now about getting hit on at the bar. Does that about cover it?"

"I forgot about our plans and lost track of time. And what the hell does 'projected' mean?"

"It means when you came home and saw me and the guys having a laugh, you immediately decided we were doing something shady like you did at the bar. Pure projection on your part."

"I didn't do anything shady."

You stare at him for several seconds while he shifts his weight from one foot to the other, gathering your thoughts before finally speaking. "I've got so many things I wanna say to you, but I probably shouldn't," you admit.

"Go ahead and say 'em," he mutters. "Just unload on me. Maybe it'll make you feel better."

You narrow your eyes at him. "You know what would make me feel better? If you came close to putting as much effort into this relationship as I do." He drops his gaze to the floor as you continue. "I've curated my entire life the last several years around your wants and needs. I live in a city that I would never live in if I wasn't with you. I like it fine, but it's not my first choice."

Joe picks at a thumbnail as you forge ahead. "I work from home so I can be at your beck and call." You feel tears start to roll down your cheeks but you keep going. "I can't remember the last time we did something spontaneous like grab an ice cream cone and walk around downtown, go on a picnic, go to the farmers market, a pumpkin patch or a dozen other little things that I'd love to do with you."

"I'm sorry," Joe mumbles, his gaze capturing yours as you angrily wipe the tears off of your cheeks.

You shake your head in agitation. "Your excuse for never doing much with me in town is because you don't want the attention of fans, but it's obvious you actually love the attention as long as I'm not there to cockblock."

"Not true," he argues.

"Let me rephrase that," you sneer. "You love the attention as long as it's from thirsty women who mash their titties against you and tell you how hot you are."

He shakes his head but keeps his mouth shut as you continue.

"I used to love international travel, but that's something else I've basically had to give up for you. The last time I left the country was almost three years ago when I went to Paris with my mom, aunt and cousin for my cousin's 21st birthday. I felt bad about leaving you alone for ten days so I haven't done it since. Meanwhile, my passport is gathering cobwebs since you don't think there's any reason to leave the U.S. for vacation."

"You're right," he states, raking a hand through his messy curls while giving you a pleading look. "You're absolutely right and I promise to do better."

The silence stretches out for several heartbeats before you speak up again. "Quit saying what I wanna hear. I'm not done being mad at you yet."

"What can I do to make it better?"

"Not a damn thing. I mean, nothing says 'fuck you' quite like ghosting your fiancée cause you're enjoying the attention of thirsty randos at a bar."

"I didn't enjoy it," he mutters, a hot blush rising in his cheeks as you stare at him unblinking. "I didn't flirt back," he mumbles under his breath, biting his lip when you give a derisive snort.

"You didn't flirt back, huh? You wanna cookie for that?"

"No."

"Then how about a little of your own medicine?"

"Meaning?"

You wipe the rest of the tears off of your face before answering. "Meaning I have plans Friday night with the girls."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know yet," you shrug. "Maybe a bar, maybe a club." You take a step toward him and tilt your head back to look up into his face. "The only thing I know for sure is I'm gonna wear something short, tight and low-cut, a pair of fuck-me pumps and some dick-sucking red lipstick. Pretty sure that'll get me a little attention, don't you think?"

"That'll get you a fucking ton of attention and you know it," he grumbles.

"Yeah, I know." You give him a bitchy grin and bat your eyelashes. "But I promise not to flirt back," you snark, throwing his own words in his face before spinning around and heading for the back door. "I'm gonna take a swim to cool off," you state, slamming the door behind you.

Joe steps out onto the patio just as you pour yourself another margarita. "It's not a good idea to get too lit before swimming," he scolds, dropping into a patio chair as you guzzle the entire drink before setting the glass on the table with a loud thud.

"I'm a better swimmer than you even when I'm tipsy," you boast, yanking your halter top off, quickly followed by your shorts and strapless bra. You give him an arrogant smirk while his gaze rakes over your mostly-naked body. "I've been swimming since I was four years old, plus I was on the varsity swim team in high school."

"I know you're an amazing swimmer," he admits, "but you probably didn't practice or compete while shitfaced."

"I'm not shitfaced," you argue, pondering whether or not to keep your purple lace thong on for a few seconds before Joe's voice cuts into your thoughts.

"How many margaritas have you had?"

"Three."

"And you feel tipsy, right?"

"Yes, Officer Burrow, I feel a little tipsy," you snark, rolling your eyes at him. "You wanna give me a field sobriety test?"

"I wanna give you something," he states, treating you to another slow once-over. "Let's go to bed."

"No." You put your hands on your hips as he stands up and levels a no-nonsense gaze at you.

"Look, that last drink hasn't even hit yet. I don't think it's safe for you to swim."

"Well, good thing I don't need your permission," you snap, grabbing the margarita pitcher and chugging the last several swallows before setting it back down; you smack your lips in the most annoying way possible and give him a catty wink before turning to sprint for the pool, a shot of pure adrenaline racing through you when you hear him hot on your heels. You hit the jets (you were also a track star in high school) and launch yourself into the pool just before he can grab you, hitting the cool water in a sleek, shallow dive that barely ripples the surface.

You swim the entire length of the pool underwater before coming up for air. You throw a look over your shoulder while catching your breath, surprised to see a pile of clothes and a pair of sneakers where Joe was last standing but he's nowhere in sight.

Before your alcohol-fogged brain has time to register the meaning, he pops up right beside you in the deep end of the pool, his smug smirk leveling all the way up to cocky when you let out a surprised squeal. "You scared me!" you holler, splashing water in his face when he laughs at you.

"Come here," he orders, swimming toward you while you continue to retreat, his eyes going wide as he realizes what you're about to do.

"I'll race you," you challenge just before pushing off hard from the wall; you immediately launch into a strong freestyle stroke, the once placid water churning as the two of you swim side-by-side down the length of the pool, your groan of aggravation loud in the humid night air as you quickly look over just before you touch and realize he's barely beat you. "Dammit!" you snap. "And I even had a head start."

"Not much of one," he soothes. "I got a good push-off like half a second after you."

"Oh shut up," you grumble, making your way over to the pool steps while wringing the water out of your long hair.

"I mean it was really close," he states, watching as you climb the steps and plop down on the top step, his gaze immediately drawn to the way your boobs bounce and jiggle as you vigorously finger comb your hair.

"Don't look so smug," you mutter. "You're almost a foot taller than me plus you have those long-ass noodle arms. Of course you're gonna out-touch me."

"Noodle arms?"

"Not to mention I have more drag working against me since my tits are way bigger than your dick."

"Damn, woman," he chuckles. "Noodle arms plus a small dick. You really know how to make a man feel good about himself."

"Quit fishing for compliments; you know your dick is huge but it's smaller than my boobs, especially when you're not hard." You flick a quick glance down his body, unable to see much below hip level since it's underwater. "I'm assuming you're not hard."

"Not yet," he purrs, giving you a dirty wink when you roll your eyes at him. "What about the noodle arms?" he pouts.

You run your gaze over his muscular arms before responding. "I was just talking about the length not the thickness."

"Mmmm, talk dirty to me," he groans, walking closer until he's just a noodle-arm's length away from you.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Literally every word coming out of your pretty mouth is pissing me off right now."

"Why don't you shut me up then?" he goads, giving you a filthy grin.

"Meaning?"

He slowly licks his lips while staring directly at your lace-covered crotch. "I know better than to talk with my mouth full soooo."

"Oh good one," you snort, quickly standing up before shucking your panties off; you wring the water out of them then grab your towel and dry off, giving Joe a knowing smirk as he watches you closely. "You just wanna get your dick wet."

"My dick's already wet," he quips, climbing the pool steps to reveal his very wet, semi-erect member.

You roll your eyes and toss the towel at him as you turn to walk toward the house. "You know what I mean," you grumble, throwing a look over your shoulder as you continue toward the house. "Just because I'm tipsy doesn't mean I'm gonna forget I'm mad. You'll just have to get yourself off tonight."

You take exactly three more strides before you feel his hands on your waist. "Put me down!" you grit out, simultaneously annoyed and impressed at how easily he snatches you up and wrangles your squirming body onto the oversized rattan daybed sitting in the far corner of your covered patio. You hit the plush cushions facedown with him partially on top of you, his big frame holding you in place as you continue to squirm.

"Manhandling a woman who is much smaller than you is not the flex you think it is," you snap, biting your lip as he pushes your damp hair to the side so he can nip and suck at your sensitive neck. "But I bet you're wet," he whispers in your ear, causing a shiver to run through you. "Of course I'm wet," you scoff. "I just got out of the pool and didn't fully dry off." His dirty chuckle causes a throb of arousal in your core. "You know what I mean," he purrs, echoing your words from earlier. "Whatever. I'm not remotely aroused," you lie, going completely still as he slowly slides one hand from the base of your neck down the length of your spine. "Let me get you off," he whispers, massaging your ass while nipping your earlobe hard enough to make you gasp. "I'm the reason you're mad and stressed out," he continues. "You'll sleep better if make you cum a couple times."

"I doubt if you can get me in the mood," you grumble, your voice muffled by the daybed cushion. "Well at least let me try," he coaxes, sliding a hand between your thighs while nibbling at the super-sensitive spot just behind your ear. "Good girl," he purrs as you spread your legs a bit wider to give him better access, his deep voice in your ear causing a gush of liquid heat in your core.

You try to stifle a whimper as he ghosts two fingers over your slit, dipping just inside to get them wet before pulling out to tease you, going deeper and deeper each time until he's finger-fucking you with slow, deep strokes.

You try your best to keep quiet but your body language gives you away, your back arching to help him hit the perfect angle over and over before he suddenly withdraws his fingers. You're about to protest when you hear loud sucking noises, a shot of arousal rushing through you when you realize he's sucking your essence off his fingers.

"That's not pool water, baby girl," he teases, smacking his lips like he's enjoying filet mignon. "Shut up," you grumble, smiling against the cushions as he graces you with a raunchy laugh. "You know the best way to shut me up," he goads. "Fine," you state, rolling onto your back before spreading your legs, a sizzle of heat racing through you at the look of pure lust on his face as he immediately crawls in between. You shove a pillow under your head for a better view as he gets down to business.

Your first climax hits fast, with Joe's tongue on your clit and two fingers inside you, his deep voice speaking delicious praise against your most sensitive flesh as he expertly works you, your hands fisted in his hair and his name on your lips as you come apart.

You're still gasping for breath when he goes for round two, using his thumbs to spread you open while slowly thrusting his tongue deep inside, avoiding your over-sensitive clit for what seems like ages until you start writhing and begging for release.

He uses his entire sensual playbook to bring you to the edge over and over, holding intense eye contact as he teases you with his tongue and fingers, pulling back occasionally to talk dirty to you, causing your pleasure points to throb at the raw lust in his voice.

"I'm close!" you gasp for about the 15th time, groaning in frustration when he flutters his tongue over your clit before pulling back. "Joseph, if you don't finish me off I'm gonna do it myself!" you warn, a shot of pure arousal overriding the alcohol flowing through your veins at the sound of his deep, throaty chuckle. "Yes, ma'am," he purrs, adding an expert flick to the thrust and drag of his talented fingers inside you, ruthlessly hitting your g-spot while sucking your clit.

Your mouth opens in a silent scream as your climax hits, wave after wave of pleasure flowing through you as he continues to stroke you through your orgasm. Your heavy breathing is the only sound you hear for several minutes, your pulse jack-hammering then slowly returning to normal as you come back down.

When you finally catch your breath you hit Joe with a bratty smirk. "You did a lot of talking for a man who says he doesn't talk with his mouth full."

"You complaining?" he asks.

"No, sir," you chuckle, reaching for him just as he eases off the daybed. "Are we finished here?" you ask.

"Don't want you to think I'm just trying to get my dick wet."

"I was mad when I said that," you grumble.

"I know." He leans down and gives you a quick kiss. "But dick is not on the menu tonight."

"You're gonna be hardheaded about it, huh?"

"Yep."

"Suit yourself," you mutter, vaguely registering the sound of the patio door opening and closing.

A few minutes later Joe shakes your shoulder. "You awake?" he asks, smiling when you give him a sleepy look. "Sit up and take these," he orders, holding out two ibuprofen and a bottle of water, watching closely as you do his bidding. "Thanks," you mutter, drinking more water before standing up. "I need to go take a shower, but I gotta clean up first," you grump, taking a couple steps toward the patio table before he stops you. "I'll clean up," he promises. "You go grab a shower and get in bed."

"You sure?" you ask, trying to stifle a huge yawn as he grins at you. "I got this," he states, patting your plump butt as you walk by him heading for the door. "Thanks, babe," you murmur, letting loose another yawn as you walk inside.

Fifteen minutes later you slide between your cool, crisp sheets, freshly showered and wearing nothing but a pair of panties. You wince as you replay the evening in your mind, feeling a little bad for reaming Joe out. He had it coming, you think to yourself, turning off your bedside lamp and trying to relax.

You're still half awake several minutes later when Joe walks into the mostly-dark bedroom; he sets a bottle of water on your bedside table before heading into the bathroom, the thoughtful gesture making you feel even worse. You sigh as you hear the shower turn on, sitting up to drink some water while pondering what to do. "I'll apologize as soon as he comes to bed," you whisper to yourself, setting the water back on the bedside table before laying down. You toss and turn for a couple minutes before hopping out of bed to turn the ceiling fan on. The quiet hum of the fan has you relaxing in no time, and the last sound you register is the shower turning off just before you drift off to sleep.

~ ~ ~ Four hours later ~ ~ ~

You wake up slowly, stretching your legs before rolling over to look at Joe, surprised to see him sitting up with his back against the padded headboard, the glow of his laptop giving him an ethereal look.

"Hey," you whisper.

"Hey," he says, giving you a smile as you yawn and stretch again. "How do you feel?"

"Fine."

"No headache?"

"No." You give him a wink. "Luckily Dr. Burrow got me to take some ibuprofen and guzzle water before bed. Worked like a charm."

"So far tonight I've been Officer Burrow and Dr. Burrow." He raises an eyebrow as he continues. "Pretty sure we're gonna need to do a little role-playing in the near future."

"Damn right," you purr, sharing a naughty smile with him before turning serious. "Listen, I want to apologize . . ."

"Nope," he interrupts. "You have nothing to apologize for."

"I was kinda rude earlier."

"And I deserved it. -- I can't sleep because I've been thinking about everything you said. I've been doing a little soul-searching and a little web-searching," he nods at his laptop, "and I've got a few things to talk to you about. Is now a good time?"

"Yeah," you whisper, pushing up into a sitting position and quickly pulling the sheet up to cover your bare breasts; you grab your water bottle and take several swallows as he continues.

"First of all, I want to say you were right about everything you said earlier. I've been lazy and complacent, but I'm gonna do better. I promise." He forges ahead before you can formulate a response. "Since we're so close to training camp there's not a whole lot we can do, but I have a few suggestions." He gives you a sweet smile. "You wanna hear 'em?"

"Of course," you answer, smiling back as he scoots closer to you; you notice he has several tabs open on his laptop, and you give it a brief glance before returning your attention to him.

"Do you have any plans for next Wednesday night?" he asks.

You think for a second. "No, I'm free."

"Wanna go to Sotto?"

"Really?"

He leans down and drops a quick kiss on your smiling face before responding. "Really. I'll make a reservation for 7:00 if that's okay? You know I get hangry if we eat too late."

"That sounds perfect," you chuckle, already contemplating what you'll wear.

"Speaking of reservations," he continues. "Why don't we take Jake and Eric out to eat since I kinda ruined our first meeting. I was thinking we could go to The Precinct. I'll reserve a private dining room and we can treat them to a nice dinner."

"Great idea, babe, they'll love that. I'll call Eric tomorrow and ask when they'd like to go."

"Okay, but I'm making the reservation, so just let me know when to schedule it."

"Yes, sir," you purr, giving him a sultry look when he raises his eyebrows at you.

"You better quit looking at me like that or I won't finish this conversation before pouncing on you."

"Yes, sirrrrrr," you repeat, giggling when he rolls his eyes in mock-agitation.

"Okay moving on," he chuckles. "Remember when we went to that party at the lake last summer? There was that cool lakehouse that we drove by a couple times when we got lost looking for the party?"

You furrow your brow as you try to think back, your face lighting up when the memory clicks into place. "The tall, narrow three-story house with the rooftop deck?"

"Yep," he grins, opening a tab on his computer and swiveling it to show you the screen. "It's called 'The Crows' Nest' and it's an Airbnb."

"No way." You lean closer for a better look. "It's even more awesome than I remember."

"I booked it for three nights during our bye week."

"Shut up!" you squeal, slapping Joe's arm as he looks simultaneously stoked and smug.

"I hope three nights is enough," he says nervously. "I thought about doing four, but . . ."

"Three nights is plenty," you interject. "If I remember correctly, it's about an hour and a half drive. We'll have an amazing getaway and be back in plenty of time for you to prep for the 49ers game the following week."

"I love that you already know my schedule."

"Front, back, side to side, Mr. Burrow," you purr, giving him a saucy wink.

"You're amazing," he states, dropping a kiss on your forehead before continuing. "Our bye week is early this year, so it'll be warm enough to make a nest on that rooftop deck and do a little stargazing." He smiles as he thinks about it. "We can take that telescope you got me for my birthday; if the sky is clear we'll be able to see a couple planets."

You bite your lip trying not to laugh. "What?" he asks, grinning at the cheeky look on your face. "I'm dying to make a Uranus joke," you snicker, making sure to pronounce it in the most your-anus way possible. You both cackle for a bit before settling down.

You eventually lean against him and look up into his face. "Thank you for doing all of this. You didn't have to, but I'm glad you did," you whisper, smiling against his lips when he gives you a lingering kiss.

"I wanted to do it. And if we weren't so dang close to camp, I'd do even more." He nips your bottom lip before leaning back. "I've got one more thing to show you," he says, opening another tab before nodding at the computer screen. You lean closer as you read out loud. "Apply for a first-time passport." Your eyes go wide as you look at him. "Are you for real?"

"Totally for real," he chuckles. "I made an appointment for next week to go down and get it done. I gotta take proof of citizenship, a photo ID, the completed application, my blood type, DNA sequence, inseam, shoe size and dick length."

"Flaccid or hard," you deadpan, grinning when Joe snort laughs at your quick comeback. "I'm so proud of you," you continue. "Getting a first-time passport is a pain in the ass, but you can renew it by mail and that's much easier."

"I'll take your word for it," he grumbles, "but I've got big plans once I finally get it."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Well, I mean … I hope you'll be okay planning our first big international trip. I'll be happy to help, but I'm gonna need you to take the lead on this, okay?"

"Okay," you whisper, trying hard to hold it together while he continues.

"We have all season to plan something amazing for next off-season. You can pick the destination, and I'll help with smaller things like restaurants and activities." He bites his lip as tears start rolling down your cheeks. "I hope those are happy tears since I made you cry the sad kind earlier tonight," he mumbles, his gorgeous eyes so filled with regret that you cry a little harder.

"They're major happy tears," you sniff, staring into his eyes as he wipes your tears away and drops kisses in their place. "I know your fav place to be is at home," you sniffle, "and . . ."

"My fav place to be is where you are," he interrupts. "Doesn't matter if that's here at home or halfway across the world; wherever you are is where I wanna be." He quickly sets the laptop on his bedside table before pulling you close. "I love you," he states, leaning into your caress as you raise a hand to play with his hair. "I love you, too," you whisper, pressing kisses on his face before locking eyes with him.

"Can I be honest with you?" you ask.

"Of course."

"I'm still going out Friday night."

"Damn!" he grumbles.

"I'm teasing!" you giggle, sticking your tongue out when he narrows his eyes at you.

"Trying to rile me up, huh?" he asks.

"Maybe a little."

"That's cute," he states, giving you a loaded look. "But I know exactly what you'll be doing Friday night."

"What?"

"Wearing something short, tight and low-cut, a pair of fuck-me pumps and some dick-sucking red lipstick." He gives you a smug smile. "But instead of wearing it to the club, you're gonna wear it for me."

"Here at home?"

"Yep, date night. I'll get dinner delivered -- whatever you want -- plus flowers, Champagne and anything else you want." He punctuates this statement with a filthy wink before continuing. "Then I'm gonna fuck you 'til you can't see straight."

"Sounds like a plan," you purr, sliding your panties off and sling-shotting them across the room. "Can we get an early start on the fucking part?"

"Yes, ma'am," he growls, both of you smiling ear-to-ear as he shucks his undies off before pushing up on one arm to look down at you, his tousled curls tumbling over his forehead as he uses his free hand to caress your breasts, your smiles morphing into something much more primal as his mouth captures yours.

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