Page 76 of Madam, May I

“Whatchu doing, Lo?” she asked, her words slurring.

“I’m studying, remember. I have a quiz in the morning.”

“I got that feeling. I want sex-u-al heal-ing,” she sang with a body roll. “Come heal me, Lo. Heal me.”

“Alisha?”

“Who’s that?” she asked with a twisted facial expression.

Oh, that’s right, he thinks that’s my first name. Hell, everyone does. I’m Desi. Desdemona Dean. Thankyouverymuch.

“You okay?”

“Sex-u-al,” she said, slowly winding her hips as she stood in front of the window.

“Are you drunk?”

“No! Are you?” she snapped, looking down at her phone as if he could see her as she frowned. “Come. Heal. Me.”

“This is hilarious and sad all at once,” he drawled.

“Your ass,” she snapped before dropping the phone onto the floor and walking away in a haphazard pattern until she fell face-first onto her couch with her limbs spread.

* * *

Knock-knock-knock-knock.

Desdemona jerked her head up from the sofa and winced as every part of her body ached as she turned over.

Knock-knock-knock-knock.

Her mouth tasted sour, and the brightness of the overhead lighting hurt her eyes. Clear signs of sleep. “How long?” she asked, her throat dry and her voice raspy.

“I feel like I can’t stop.”

“Not that again,” she said, sitting up on the sofa.

“I feel like I can’t stop.”

Desdemona sighed, running her hands through her hair. It was already dry. That surprised her.

Knock-knock-knock-knock.

She looked over her shoulder at her front door before rising and walking over to it, feeling weighed down by a thousand pounds. She opened the door wide.

“Hey! Ho! Hey! Hold up,” Loren said, stepping inside to cover her nudity as he closed the door. “You naked little drunk.”

He swung her up in his arms.

“Loooo,” she sighed breathily.

He frowned and turned his head. “Whoo. That breath on fiyah!” he said.

She covered her mouth with her hands and then giggled. “My bad,” she mumbled from behind her fingers.

He carried her down the hall to her bedroom and laid her down atop the bed before covering her with the soft cashmere throw at the foot of the bed.

She snuggled down under it and clutched a few soft pillows. “Lo, I love your hair braided like that,” she said, opening one eye to look up at him.