Chapter Text
He awakens with the nastiest headache he has ever suffered from and Shuri on top of him fast asleep. They are not in their apartment. They’re on the couch in Ramonda’s living room. He has his boxers on and his soon-to-be-wife is fully clothed in the dress she was wearing during the-…
Shit.
He turns his head to the side.
Thor is gone and so are the other attendees of the bachelorette party. He slowly slides off the couch and away from Shuri, somehow not waking her up. He crawls over to his discarded pants and sees a barrage of messages and missed calls from the men he was supposed to be celebrating with last night. Or tonight.
He squints at the time.
It’s five o’clock in the morning.
He’s going to get married in exactly twelve hours.
With his mouth feeling like it has cotton all inside it, he stands up to put his clothes on and trudges to the kitchen in hopes of finding some water. He nearly has a heart attack seeing Ramonda sitting at the table sipping on some tea.
“Chaac… Couldn’t sleep?”
“No. I’m always up at this time.” Ramonda sets her cup down and walks over to a cabinet. She pulls a glass down and fills it with water that comes from the front of the fridge. The more Namor stares at it, he realizes that the doors are digital. One of those smart refrigerators. He has always secretly wanted one.
He graciously accepts the water and downs it in seconds. “May I…?”
“Of course. With the way you were acting last night, your hangover must be killing you right now.”
Namor refills his glass by himself and drinks it a little slower this time.
“Yeah… What exactly happened?”
Ramonda shimmies her shoulders. “You shook what your father gave ya!”
He almost drops his glass. Brief images are haunting him. He was thrusting at Shuri’s face in front of her coworkers, friends, and mother. “Oh, Chaac…”
“Please. It was hilarious. I sent it to Ch’ah and he thought the same thing.”
Namor sets his cup down on the counter and groans into his hands. Knowing Ch’ah, everyone has to have seen it by now. He doesn’t even want to open his messages. He sees that there are none from Namora’s babysitter who knew he wouldn’t be coming back home until the morning. He ignores the group chat that he’s being roasted in and slides his phone back in his pocket.
“I assure you it won’t happen again.”
Ramonda rolls her eyes. “You have no idea what these eyes have seen. That was nothing. Anyway, I have something to give you.”
She takes the lid off a small box that was sitting on the kitchen table and returns to him with what she pulled out.
“Namor Almehen, let me see your wrist.”
Learning early on that it’s best not to upset an Udaku woman, Namor extends his arm to her. She rolls up his sleeve and ties a brown, orange, and red beaded bracelet to him.
“This belonged to Shuri’s father.” Ramonda smiles sadly as she holds his wrist with both hands and looks into his eyes. “He wore it on the day of our wedding and the decades Bast blessed us with, they were nothing short of amazing. I strongly believe that it will bring your marriage the same profound happiness.”
He touches the details with his fingertip. His bride will be wearing his mother’s bracelet and now he’ll be wearing her father’s.
“This is perfect, Ramonda. Thank you.”
She gives his wrist one last squeeze before letting it go. “There’s something else, Namor Almehen.”
“Yes?”
“Do get some more sleep, child. I do not want to pay the photographer extra to fix up the bags under your eyes.”
He promises her that he will and she shows him where one of the guest bedrooms is. On his way back to the living room to pick up Shuri, he notices that one of the doors is cracked open. He squints at the sight of a man snoring loudly, and it’s not until he sees the wing tattoos on his ankles that he realizes who it is.
“You have my father sleeping in your house, too!?” Namor whispers harshly at Ramonda, who is holding her tea cup again and shrugging.
“I’m the one who picked him up from the club. You can’t blame me for taking him to bed after all the nastiness he licked into my ear.”
“I…I should not be hearing this. I’m just going to take Shuri home with me. See you later.”
“Don’t shut the door loudly on your way out, mehen. ”
His shoulders tense up at hearing her call him ‘son’, but when he glances at her, she’s laughing quietly. Wanting to pretend none of what transpired the last few hours actually happened, Namor picks up Shuri and carries her out to her car that’s parked in the driveway. He finds her keys in the purse he has flung over his shoulder and gets her settled in the backseat. It’s astonishing how difficult it is to wake her, but he’s grateful for it now. She needs as much rest as she can get before he tears that up later.
He carries his fiancee up the stairs and manages to unlock the door without dropping her. The babysitter is wide awake on the couch; the light coming off her phone illuminates her face and gives her a freaky appearance.
“Just waking up?”
“Haven’t slept yet.”
“The hell is wrong with you teenagers,” he mutters. “Take a cat nap or something right there before you drive home so you don’t crash.”
“I had like two Redbulls, bruh. I’m good.”
Bruh.
Chaac, he prays Namora won’t call him that someday.
He’s glad he doesn’t have to put up with teenagers until the summer is over.
“Well at least have your parents text me when you’re home, bruh.”
“I will, Mr. A. See you at the wedding.”
They tell each other goodbye and after she closes the door, Namor peeks in Namora’s room to find her curled up in her bed with her basket of flower petals. She’s so excited for her role in the wedding and has many more besides that one.
He lays his Shuri down on their shared mattress and strips down to his boxers. He snuggles up close to her and kisses her temple.
“Only a matter of hours until we’re married.”
“I can’t wait,” she replies groggily with a delirious smile before she’s asleep once more.
This was a bad idea, but it’s one of her traditions.
It’s not the notion of exercising. After Shuri made him some potatoes this morning that brought him back from the dead, his hangover was cured and he felt well-rested. He’s able to comfortably run on this beach with her.
It’s seeing her that’s the hard part.
She’s wearing a pair of hot pink shorts that are squeezing her in all the right places and revealing just enough to tease him. Her sports bra allows her glistening back to be nearly fully exposed and he’s reached that point of the dry spell where he’d willingly lick the sweat off her skin if given the chance.
She stops and watching her drink from her water bottle arouses him further. She’s so good at gulping it all down and good Chaac he’s a damn pervert. He drinks his own water to distract himself, but then he feels her hugging him from behind and pressing their damp bodies together.
“I can’t wait to see you at the altar this evening, sthandwa. ”
I can’t wait to see you on all fours after that, in yakunaj.
“So that’s the next time we’re meeting, Princess?”
She kisses both of his shoulder blades and it sends a shiver down his spine. She’s playing a dangerous game and she probably knows it, too.
“That’s it. I need you to drop me off at Mama’s house so I can start getting ready.”
His eyes bulge out when she gropes him before pulling away. When he whips around, she winks at him.
She does know.
“Think there will be fireworks tonight, icham?”
Oh.
There’s going to be an explosion.
Namor slips on the long-sleeved white tunic that matches his straight-legged pants, both of which were woven with care by the hands of a Talokanil woman. His father had it shipped to him straight from Tulum after his measurements were taken and Namor can feel the spirit of his people within the cloth. It even has the smell of Tulum; the ocean and the sun mixed together.
Ch’ah is dressed in something similar, but it’s all-black. He stands behind his son as he hooks a jade necklace around him. The father is shaking his head as he stares at their reflections.
“Man, it’s like looking at myself from the past.”
“I highly doubt you were this handsome, but okay.”
His father pushes him playfully and they go over to the table where the picture of Fen is inside a large frame. There’s going to be a table at the wedding where there will be photos of all of their loved ones who are no longer physically here.
“She would’ve been proud of the man you have become, mehen,” Ch’ah tells him with his voice cracking. “You turned out to be exactly how she wanted you to be.”
Namor sniffs loudly as he feels his throat burning. He will not cry today. Today is a beautiful day, a sacred day. His mother is with him, always. He doesn’t need to mourn her. Ch’ah is right, though. Namor has worked his whole life up to this point to continue being who she raised. He would not be where he is now without her. He would not have Shuri without her.
How can he be sad when Fen has given him so much to be grateful for?
He puts his arm around his father and holds his shoulder tightly.
“Her husband isn’t so bad, either. I’d wish he’d stop sleeping around with my mother-in-law, though.”
The laugh Ch’ah releases is highly disturbing and suggestive that Namor tunes out whatever filth he has to say. He also picks up the photo of his mother and holds her against his chest to protect her from that, too.
She couldn’t fully wear white as it’s the color of mourning in her culture, and there is nothing to mourn today. She found the perfect strapless dress at the bridal store that her mother then took to a special tailor from the Xhosa tribe who added in five rows of black appliqued strips that follow the curve of the hem. They’re bordered by delicate white and dark blue beads along with narrower strips. Each bead was sown in with precision in both the dress and the isicholo on her head that matches it. Mama helped with pinning her long braids into an elegant updo to allow it to fit comfortably inside the hat.
She has Namor’s mother’s bracelet around her wrist and she wears a necklace made of one hundred dark blue beaded seeds. Her earrings resemble small elephant tusks and her face is painted with four white dots under each eye.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” Ramonda sighs while clutching her heart. “Your baba always talked about this day, wondering what you’d look like, who you’d be marrying. He’s smiling down at you right now from the Ancestral Plane.”
Shuri does not point out to her mother that she hasn’t believed in the Ancestral Plane since she was ten years old, because right now, there is nothing Shuri wants more than for it to be real. She’s too afraid to say anything back and mess up her makeup from all the tears.
Namora comes skidding into the living room. She’s wearing a beautiful white huipil with colorful flowers embroidered all over it. Namor finally had a break from his hair duties and Nakia not only curled Namora’s long, thick hair, but she made her a real flower crown to wear, too.
“Mama! You are so pretty!”
Ramonda gasps and touches Shuri’s shoulder lightly. “Did she call you Mama instead of Miss Udaku?”
“Yeah…she has for a while now.” Shuri sniffles and holds her arms out for her. She holds her tight and kisses the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers.
The daughter that every specialist told her she could never have is here, real as ever. Sweet as ever. Sassy as ever. Smart as ever. Perfect, perfect, perfect. In a few short months, she’s going to have a son, too.
She did not only find a good husband in Namor, but a family.
“We should go, Mama! Taatah’s going to think you ran away with Mr. Odinson!”
{Now you understand that you don’t eat those, correct?}
{Yes, Taatah,} Attuma tells him as he holds the bowl of kola nuts in his hands. {What about the broom? Am I going to have to sweep up after you and Naa eat them?}
{No. You and Namora are going to bring it over to us when my friend asks you to.}
{Oh! Got it!}
{I knew you would, smart kid.} Namor grins and shakes the hand of Zuri. “Have you been given any other updates from the agency?”
“The next step is the social workers coming to check out your home to see if it’s a suitable living place for him, but you should be getting a heads up for when that is.”
It wasn’t only financial reasons from keeping Namor taking Shuri on a vacation to another country for their honeymoon. They have to stay close to home for when Nakia needs them to sign the paperwork for the house they applied to. He booked a suite at a local resort and although it’s a fancy one, it doesn’t take much to please his Shuri. His mouth always works just fine.
Alright.
He needs to stop thinking about that.
Even if the social workers show up while he’s still living in the apartment, he’ll make sure it’s thoroughly clean and add an extra bed and more to Namora’s room. They’ll need all that for their new home, anyway.
Namor thanks Zuri and leaves the courtyard to check inside the adjacent ballroom where the reception is going to be held. Shuri’s teacher friends did a phenomenal job decorating all the tables and the stage. He should’ve expected as much.
He’s suddenly being dragged back to where he was and looks over his shoulder to see it’s N’Jadaka.
“Man, go back to standing by the altar looking all pretty. My little cousin will be here any minute and it’ll be bad luck to see her.”
“I was double-checking that-”
“Stop stressing, for real. No wonder your daughter says you’re older than you look. We’ve got it all handled.”
He ignores the Namora comment and breathes out. Everything really is coming together. The guests are starting to enter through the courtyard gate and taking their seats. Some he recognizes, some he doesn’t. He greets them all the same.
He goes to the altar where copal is burning and an arch is decorated with protea flowers and water lilies. Ch’ah is in M’Baku’s ear going over and over and over again how a Maya shaman does the ceremonies to the point his long friend sighs and says,
“You wanna do it, madala ?”
“Nope. I was simply giving you suggestions.”
M’Baku pinches the bridge of his nose, smudging some of his white paint there. “My brother, your father is stressing me out. I think he should be the one to do the Maya vows. I’ll do the Wakandan ones.”
Namor knows there’s no one better for the job. Ch’ah knows that, too. It’s probably why he started harassing M’Baku in the first place and why he’s whistling all innocent now.
“Fine. We’ll start with you, Táatah. Stop bullying M’Baku.”
Ch’ah raises his hands in front of him innocently. “Hey, there’s no bullying going on here.”
M’Baku’s sniffling says otherwise.
Namor looks ahead once everyone has been seated and he spots Namora hiding behind the fence with her flower basket. He’s getting choked up a bit over his princess and he can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when his queen comes out.
It won’t be long until he finds out.
A Wakandan musician plays the mbira while a Maya band plays their flutes. Namora enters through the gate and starts tossing the flowers like a professional. She gives a tiny wave to her father before taking a seat next to Attuma.
The guests all rise when the bride enters. She’s locked arm-in-arm with her brother and mother. Once she rounds the corner and she’s a straight line down from Namor, there she is.
His best friend.
The woman who he is going to spend the rest of his life with.
She’s stunning.
No other words can describe it.
He sees why she worked so hard to keep that dress a secret, but truthfully? She could be wearing anything and he’d find her just as beautiful.
Namor really won. After all these challenges and hard work, he actually won. He’s feeling like he beat that final boss, rescued the princess, and now he’s facing the congratulations screen.
But this is real.
He doesn’t know if Ramonda and T’Challa are crying as they give her away. All he sees is Shuri. Nobody else exists at the moment.
She’s all alone as she steps into the circle made of sugar that surrounds them.
“Don’t cry,” Namor whispers quietly. “Don’t cry. Please. If you cry, I’ll cry.”
“But my love,” she laughs sweetly. “You already are.”
He was wondering why his vision was starting to get blurry. He blinks rapidly to try and stop it, but the one tear that manages to slip out, Shuri wipes it away with her fingertip. He catches her hand before it leaves him completely, then he’s holding on tight to both.
He loves her so damn much.
And she loves him, too.
Ch’ah instructs them to kneel down together and once they are, he gives thanks to the Maya gods and goddesses who have helped bring Namor and Shuri together. He also thanks the ancestors, giving a special one to Fen. He takes the basket of flowers and thick green string from the stool nearby and sets it in between them.
“You two will make necklaces for each other with yellow and white flowers that represent the sun and the moon. These two represent positivity because they eliminate darkness in their own ways. The sun doesn’t just light up the day. It’s the reason for growth. It also provides warmth while the moon is a sign of hope during a dark night. This is how a marriage functions.”
The bride and groom create their necklaces and tie it around each other’s necks. He catches Shuri discreetly sniffing hers and he remembers how much she loves flowers. He plans to get her some often.
When they’re standing again, Ch’ah ties their wrists together with a red lace that cannot be cut until the vows are exchanged. It represents unity.
“Ch’ah Toh Almehen V,” the father tells the groom. “Under the eyes of Chaac, Ixchel, K’uk’ulkan, and all the ancestors, do you take Shuri Ramonda Udaku to be your wife, to live together in harmonious matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live.”
“I do.”
“Shuri Ramonda-“
“I do,” she blurts out without hesitation. Some of the guests are laughing while Ch’ah smiles.
“Calm down, chu’upalo. He ain’t going anywhere. Trust me on that.”
After he properly reads the vows and Shuri is still in agreement, he has them hold off on kissing each other as M’Baku steps forward.
“There are four elements on this tray in front of me that represent the stages of marriage that you two will endure. The first element is a lemon slice. This is the disappointment that you’ll face on occasion.”
Using their untied hands, Shuri and Namor give each other a lemon slice to bite into. He avoids focusing on the liquid dripping down her contorted mouth at the sourness. The slices are dropped back onto the tray as M’Baku moves on.
“Next, a sip of vinegar for the bitterness you must overcome in fights and trying times.”
It’s disgusting, but the two of them manage to get through it - just like they’ll get through anything in their way.
“A small bite of cayenne pepper to show a way of bringing spice and passion to your marriage.”
They both snort at the same time.
Yeah.
Like they really need help with that.
They take a tiny bite of the spicy pepper and before they can suffer from the intense burn, M’Baku has them give each other a spoonful of honey.
“Some sweetness to represent the joy.” M’Baku takes the tray and sets it off to the side. He’s holding a flask filled with alcohol and pours it onto the ground in each of the four cardinal directions. When he looks down and closes his eyes, the couple do the same. “Ancestors, I am calling out to you to bless our bride and groom on this holy day. T’Chaka, bless your daughter Shuri with your acceptance and guidance as she begins her new journey.”
Namor peeks at her. Her lower lip is trembling. He wants to hold her.
“We will now do the exchanging of the kola nut. Attuma, please come here.”
With his hair in a neat braid, Attuma stands up and approaches them with the bowl. They can hear some guests aweing at his cuteness, especially since he’s wearing a full-on suit like a little businessman. He hands Namor one nut and he snaps it in half. The bride and groom feed each other. Thankfully, Attuma is returning to his seat way before Shuri sucks on Namor’s finger.
“Calm down, miiso’,” he hisses and she giggles. Oh, he can’t wait to fuck her brains out in a matter of hours.
Oh, no.
He’s the one that needs to calm down.
That seductress winks at him and smiles innocently at M’Baku as they await their final step.
“Namor and Shuri have chosen to conclude their ceremony with the tradition of jumping the broom. Today we honor and celebrate the transition from two separate lives into one life united by love. We place a broom for jumping, which symbolizes the entrance of the couple into a new life together.”
Attuma returns with Namora by his side. They lay the broom in front of the couple, but before they can walk away, Namor snatches Attuma’s hand and Shuri takes Namora’s. The small family is standing in a line together.
“The leap they take together over the broom is a gesture to their dedication to working together through the tough and easy times ahead. They’re leaving behind the past and jumping into the future together secure in not only love for each other, but for their children as well. I ask everyone to please count to three with me and as we do so, shout with joy as they perform their first act of working together as husband and wife. One…two…three!”
The four of them jump over the broom together and a loud applause erupts in the audience. Namor can hardly hear M’Baku over the sound of it. He’s saying something along the lines of Mr. and Mrs. Almehen. As soon as Ch’ah cuts the red string, Namor takes Shuri in his greedy arms, dips her, and kisses her as hard as he can. It’s not until her manicured hands are traveling up his shirt and she traces his abs that T’Challa separates them.
“What do you need your backpack for? What’s in it?”
“Nothing!”
“Then why do you need it, Namora?”
“It’s got my games in it! You can’t expect me to dance all night! A girl’s gotta entertain herself!”
Namor runs a hand down his face and gestures to the door. He borrows Ramonda’s car keys and takes his daughter out to the parking lot. While she's scrounging around for her bag, Namor feels his phone vibrating in his pocket.
Atan💍: Myeni
Namor: sorry atan, Namora needed her bag
Atan💍: can we ditch our own wedding? This pussy hurts so bad 😢 she needs you
“Oh, Chaac…”
“FOUND IT!”
“Shit!” Namor drops his phone and Namora places her hands on her hips after getting her backpack on.
“What!?”
“Nothing!” He’s surprised that his phone hasn’t cracked considering this is the hundredth time he has dropped it on asphalt after receiving a spicy message from his now-wife. “Let’s go back in, everyone’s waiting for us.”
“Nobody’s looking for me, they’re checking for you! I’m moving on the down low.”
“Stop repeating your babysitter.” Namor locks up Ramonda’s car and he holds the door open for Namora once they’re back at the building.
“I’m excited to stay with Chiich all week! I hope you and Mama give each lots of presents!”
Namora takes off somewhere as soon as they’re in and he’s grateful he doesn’t have to elaborate on whatever she’s talking about. The song immediately changes from something upbeat and fast to something slow. His beautiful bride is coming toward him and takes him by the hand.
“Come, icham. I want to dance with you again.”
He could never deny her anything before and he’s definitely not going to now.
“How could I refuse being pressed against a fine, fine woman?” He leads her to the center of the dance floor where the lights have dimmed. He behaves himself and keeps his hand that’s not holding onto hers on the small of her back, not letting it slip to her ass that he’s going to watch clap tonight. He brings his lips close to her ear. “You have no idea how much torture I’ve been in…”
“I have a pretty good idea,” she teases while rubbing up against him. He groans quietly, trying to think of anything and everything to prevent getting an erection in the middle of his wedding. “We share the same pain. That’s why I sent you that message.”
“Mm…Let’s at least wait until the cake is cut, hm? Then we’ll both get what we-”
“GOOD BAST!” T’Challa screams and the DJ immediately pauses the music. All eyes are on his hysterical face. “THERE ARE RATS IN THE BATHROOM!”
More screams erupt when M’Baku comes up behind him holding one of the ‘rats’ by the tail.
“Have no fear, everyone! This rat is fake!”
Namor clenches his teeth together and lets go of Shuri. The music resumes and everyone slowly returns to what they were doing. The culprit is standing in the corner of the ballroom with her hands behind her back and whistling.
“ Chu’upalo… Where did you get plastic rats from?”
“Last Halloween! Our neighbors threw them away and I dug them out of the trash can!”
Namor’s head is throbbing. “You… dumpster dived for plastic rodents…”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“I don’t… I don’t have time for this right now. Stop looking in the trash can at the apartment complex. Stop looking in trash cans period. I’m having you stay with your grandfa-...” No, that’s no good. He’ll encourage that behavior. “Your chiich the rest of the night. No more pranks.”
Namora sighs dramatically. “Okay, fine. Only because it’s your wedding day.”
“Because I’m your father , Namora!”
“I can’t wait until Mama and I team up on you.”
After the ‘infestation’ was solved, Namor is on his way to the table where his wife is chatting with her brother and Nakia when something makes him stop.
Attuma is rooted where he stands, not quite on the dance floor yet but close to it.
“Attuma? What’s wrong?” Namor whistles over the sound of the music and he waves his hand in front of the boy’s face. He switches to Mayan in a sterner voice. {Namora didn’t leave that plastic rat in one of the toilets again, did she?}
Attuma shakes his head and points at a young girl in the middle of the dance floor. She’s wearing an orange scarf on her head and holding her dress as she sways back and forth. The fact that Attuma has still not looked away causes Namor to call his bride over.
“Is everything alright?”
“Do you know that child, atan?”
Shuri follows their line of vision and smiles. “Oh, yeah! That’s Okoye, Sipho’s niece. Do you want to say hi, Attuma?”
“ Naa, she makes my tummy hurt!” He buries his head against her torso and she’s fighting back laughter as she pats him gently. “I don’t know what to do!”
“It’s like making a new friend, sweetheart. Go on and ask her if she’d like to dance with you instead of playing!”
Attuma swallows so harshly that they can both hear it. He smooths down his tuxedo and looks at them as if silently asking if his fit looks good.
“You’re handsome as ever, mehen. Go on and ask.”
“What if she says no?”
“Well, not much you can do when a girl tells you ‘no’. You’ll be able to dance with the princess here, though. Right, atan?”
“You know it.”
Attuma breathes out and takes a few wobbly steps toward little Okoye. She immediately stops her movements when he stops in front of her. Shuri and Namor get closer to be able to hear the conversation.
“H-Hi.”
“Hi,” Okoye says back in a quiet voice. “What’s your name?”
“Attuma. Who’re you?”
“Koko.”
“Hi, Koko. Can I dance with you?”
“Hm…” Okoye taps her chin dramatically while thinking about it. “Okay! If you step on my feet, I’mma fight you!”
“Oh,” Shuri whispers to Namor. “She’s a tough one. I like her.”
Attuma and Okoye hold hands and start moving around in a slow circle. The adults around them are clutching their chests at the sweetness of it all. Shuri is so touched that she ends up telling Namor,
“Alright…I guess we can wait until the reception is completely over.”
“You sure you can do that?”
“Yeah… I’ve waited weeks. A few more hours isn’t going to kill me.”
What a good girl, that Mrs. Almehen.
She’ll need to get rewarded tonight.
The first thing she wants to do when they get there isn’t to make a mess of the sheets, but to enjoy the outdoor jacuzzi. After much persuading, he allows her to get ready by herself while he gets there first.
He closes his eyes and feels all and any tension in his body leaving him as the warm, bubbling water soothes his muscles. He tilts his head back and stares up at the stars. Venus is visible. The planet shares a name with the goddess of sexual desires, if he remembers correctly. She’s extremely bright tonight.
He lifts his head when there’s the sound of sandals shuffling against the cement. His wife is standing there, dressed in a white robe from the hotel room. She unties the knot deliberately slowly and when it falls to her ankles, she’s completely naked. He watches her fold her robe in half to sit on and then her toes dip into the water.
He’s unable to help himself. Her soft moans from the relaxation of it all draws him toward her and he nuzzles her knee. She smells like the expensive perfume she wore the night they met.
He makes his way up her thigh, his lips and tongue leaving a wet trail on her beautiful skin. Underneath the water, his arms wrap around her calves and spread her legs apart.
There might be cameras out here. They might get kicked out of this resort on their wedding night. But that doesn’t stop her fingers raking through his hair and that filthy, gorgeous mouth from whispering,
“You look so good there. That’s exactly where you belong, pleasuring your wife. Are you going to be nice and listen?”
The warmth of his breath is against her cunt as he laughs darkly. “You don’t like nice , Princess.”
As soon as he delves in, he can’t believe he lasted this long without it. He can’t get enough - her taste, her smell, the way her thighs shiver. He alternates between long, flat licks against her pussy and sucking on her clit. Her fingers curl in his hair as her body shakes with want at the way he keeps eating her like a starving man.
“Just…Just like that, myeni … Oh…” She’s arching her cunt to bury his face deeper in it and she’s grinding against his nose. She has always loved his nose. He speeds up and it’s all so much at once that Shuri squeezes her eyes shut and she whimpers up to the stars. “Namor.. I’m gonna-”
He needs her to come.
He needs her folds dripping on his taste buds.
He sucks her clit like he’s drawing venom from her veins. Puckering his lips, he squeezes the sensitive organ tight that the countless nerves send ticklish pleasure all inside her thighs and belly. He smothers himself with her, flicking his tongue at her hole, and groaning his hot breath all over her. A sharp cry and she’s coming. He continues to plunge down, hungry, hungry, hungry. She’s so satisfying - her noises, her pussy. His cock aches to be somewhere inside of her.
Always in touch with his needs, he feels her hand on his chest and she’s pushing him backward in the jacuzzi. She dives in and continues pushing him until he’s at the very end and sitting on the bench. He hasn’t masturbated since they made this pact. He opens his mouth to let her know that his first orgasm is going to be quick, but she presses a finger to his lips.
“Bast, you look so fucking hot with your beard wet from me.”
Oh, she’s planning on killing him tonight…
She runs her hands down his chest and grazes his abs before her fingers finally settle on his thighs. She spreads his legs apart and his eyes widen when she takes a deep breath.
“Shuri-”
She dives under and he feels his trunks being yanked off him roughly.
Holy shit.
She’s about to give him head underwater.
Was this some fanfiction thing or did she actually do some research because-
“Fuck!”
Her mouth wraps around his erect cock and she hums, blowing a small but steady stream of air out of her nose to keep as much water out of her mouth as possible. The vibrations from her noises and her expertise sucking as her head bobs up and down on his cock causes his eyes to roll back.
“Sir?”
He’s all out of sorts when an employee emerges from behind one of the palm trees. “...Huh?”
“Is everything alright? Someone reported a man sounding like he was in distress?”
“Ah… Sorry. Just my body relaxing. I’ll be quiet.”
The employee nods and walks away awkwardly. Now he can’t release the fucking moans he has been biting back.
He could feel that tight coil coming undone and he’s so damn close already. He reaches a hand underwater to tap her and let her know it’s okay to take a break. He doesn’t want this to end and most importantly, he doesn’t want her to drown.
But that talented freaky, wonderful, phenomenal woman keeps going.
She sucks him even harder, and when her hand fondles him, that sends him over the edge. He unloads in her mouth and she pops up out of the water. She swallows it all down and gasps for air.
“ Atan!”
He grabs that beautiful woman by the hips and brings her toward him. He needs to fuck her after that. How could he not? He sucks the water off her breasts, laving each nipple with his tongue and peppering kisses all over her mouth and neck. He grunts when she strokes his cock to harden him all over again and then she’s straddling him, guiding his length to her aching core.
He forgets all about that perverted employee and whoever else was spying on them. Who cares. They’ll learn a thing or two tonight.
He grabs her ass with all his strength and bounces her up and down on his cock rough and fast. He doesn’t conceal her screams. This whole damn town can know who’s fucking Shuri right, who is always going to fuck her right. Water splashes everywhere; there’s more outside of the tub than in at this point and their towels and robes are completely soaked.
They’re too busy chasing their mutual pleasure to care about anything other than their second orgasms, then they’ll go after their third, their fourth, their fifth… Whatever they can drain from one another as the night goes on. Their breathing is coming out in quick pants and then there’s an explosion.
In the sky.
Fireworks.
They laugh exhaustively at the sight of the bright lights popping off and then focus on one another, never breaking eye contact, never stopping. She swivels her hips and rubs her clit on his pubic bone, creating the friction she needs for extra pleasure.
“ Namor…”
“ Shuri…”
He reaches down between them as she leaves hickeys on his neck and he massages tight circles on her clit to deliver her to bliss. Her inner muscles clamp down on him and he comes, too. She milks him for all that’s worth and they moan in unison.
He languidly strokes her tits with his tongue as she rests her chin on top of his head.
“Damn,” she murmurs. “...I guess it really was worth the wait.”
“Hm…you’re not putting me through that torture again, Mrs. Almehen.”
“Sounds like a threat.”
He bites down on her sensitive, delicate skin and she keens.
“Maybe it is.”
One Month Later
“Namor, I seriously doubt they’re going to care if there’s a little scuff on the bathroom tile…”
“You don’t know that, atan,” Namor pants as he scrubs and scrubs and scrubs, yet nothing seems to work. “The social worker who checked out the apartment when I was trying to adopt Namora put me through hell.”
“They probably weren’t used to single men adopting babies.” Shuri squads down beside him and squeezes his broad shoulders tight. “Trust me when I tell you that we have prepared our house the best we could.”
“It’s so bare in here, atan. Attuma’s room only has a bed and a few clothes and-“
Shuri grabs his chin forcibly and he drops the brush. “Namor. They’ll understand when we tell them we moved in here a week ago. Do I need to make you relax, or are you going to do it on your own?”
He can’t even work himself up to a hard-on. The loud ringing of the doorbell sends a shockwave to his heart that nearly kills him and he’s scrambling to put all the cleaning supplies away. Namora nearly slips on the wet floor as she comes running out in her socks and her father catches her in time. Last thing he needs is a concussed child.
Oh, and he loves her.
“Is that the inspector, Taatah?”
“Yes, in chu’upalo. For the love of Chaac don’t talk about dumpster diving, rats, noises, sea leopards… don’t talk about anything until they leave. Got it?”
“Yessir.”
Namor opens the door and a woman wearing a red jumpsuit and holding a binder is waiting there. She appears close to Ramonda’s age and has that same killer stare.
“Good afternoon. Are you Ch’ah Toh Almehen V and Shuri Almehen?”
He smiles nervously after Shuri appears at his side. “That’s us.”
“And I’m Namora Almehen!”
The social worker’s face softens. She’s not as intense as he expected, after all. “Hello, Namora. I’m Ms. Grace. I’m here to see if your home is suitable for your future brother to live in. Is that alright?”
“Sure! Baba’s been working me like a dog all day long!”
Ms. Grace laughs while Namor fumes. “From the letters friends and family wrote on your parents’ behalf, it seems like they are very kind people who want the best for their children. Do you want to show me around?”
“Uh huh!” Namora takes Grace by her hand and starts taking her on a tour. When she disappears down the hallway and Namor attempts to chase them, Shuri holds him tight.
“Hey…let our daughter guide her. She wants Attuma here as much as we do. She’s not going to purposely mess it up. Plus, social workers are like teachers. They love kids. She’ll ask us any questions after.”
As much as it bothers him, Namor allows his daughter to continue doing her thing as his wife sits down with him on the couch. They hold hands and Shuri massages his with her thumb. It’s insane the power she has to relax him in any stressful situation.
Twenty long minutes pass by before Grace and Namora are back in the living room. Namor braces himself for what he’s about to hear.
“It’s quite impressive that you both managed to purchase this home as quickly as you did. You really wanted Attuma to have his own space, didn’t you?”
“After everything he has been through, it’s what he deserves,” Namor tells her with honesty. “I apologize that it’s not a fully stocked room. All of his belongings are at Zuri’s house and-”
“Mr. Almehen, you do not need to apologize for anything. You and your wife are both outstanding individuals. The agency praises you constantly for what you’ve done with your daughter and Shuri, the community adores your work as a teacher. Congratulations, Almehens. The next time I’ll be seeing you is at court for Attuma’s adoption day.”
Shuri, always the more emotional out of the two, jumps off the couch and hugs Grace tightly while Namor’s eyes sting. His daughter puts her arm around him.
“That was all me. You’re welcome.”
The Almehens, their attorney, and Ms. Grace are all sworn in before a judge. After the formalities take place, the attorney asks Namor to introduce himself. Forgetting about his nerves going haywire and only focusing on the young boy waiting to come home with him, Namor stands up.
“Good morning. My name is Ch’ah Toh Almehen V, but everyone calls me Namor. I work at TK Fitness as both a trainer and an accountant. During the school year, I drive the bus to and from Talokanda High School on the side. Seven years ago, I adopted my daughter from the agency that is present today. My daughter attends Talokanda Elementary School. The previous school year, her teacher was my wife, Shuri, whom I fell in love with. One day, Shuri got a new student. I helped her with strategies for teaching Attuma and during that process, we grew closer with him. He reminds me not only of Namora, but of myself. He fit in so well with my family and there’s nothing I wanted more than to be a good father for him. There’s not enough in this world and that child deserves the best.”
The judge listens to his every word completely, his smile growing wider after each sentence. He adjusts his glasses. “Mr. Almehen, I need to confirm that if Attuma becomes your son today, you’ll be providing a loving home for him as he grows into adulthood. Of course, it’s a bonus if that lasts afterward.”
“My home will be his safe haven, his place of comfort, and he’ll receive so much love he won’t know what to do with it, Your Honor.”
“He ain’t lying!” Namora shouts and the courtroom laughs.
“Give me a moment to review the adoption paperwork, Mr. Almehen. Sit down with your family for the time being.”
Namor nods politely and sits down at the bench with Shuri, Namora, Attuma. They all hold hands and bow their heads, the adults praying to their god and goddess as the judge looks over everything. Somewhere behind them, Ch’ah, Ramonda, T’Challa, and Zuri are waiting, too.
“Mr. Almehen?”
Namor looks up.
“I have signed the final adoption decree. Congratulations. Your family of three has officially become a family of four.”
He bangs his gavel and it’s a sound that brings a grown man to tears. He’s sobbing into his hands so much that not even all the arms around him can snap it out of him.
“The four of you need to take a picture with the judge!” Ramonda encourages. She’s the one shaking him the roughest. She sounds like she’s crying, too. “Get it together, Namor Almehen!”
He chuckles while taking the tissue from his wife and wiping underneath his eye. He stands on the right side of the judge while Shuri is on the left and their two children are in front of him. As they wait for T’Challa to show Ramonda how to focus the camera, the judge whispers,
“Have you had breakfast yet?”
“A very quick one.”
“Hm. Well, you know what I declare today?”
The children look over their shoulders at him curiously. Namora is the one to ask, “What?”
“National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, on this special day every single year.”
Namora and Attuma start jumping up and down excitedly. That idea makes Namor smile for the photo and he shakes the hand of the judge when it’s all over. Zuri agrees to ride with Ch’ah, Ramonda, and T’Challa to the ice cream parlor while Namor gets his family situated in his car. Before he closes Attuma’s door, the boy clings to him tightly.
“ In ka’atech, Taatah.”
“In ka’atech, mehen,” he rasps in return. He reaches his hand out to Namora and holds her tightly, too. “I love you, in chu’upalo.”
“I know that! Let’s go get that ice cream! The old people are gonna beat us!”
“Oh? So I’m finally not bunched in with the old guys now?”
“No, you’re still old. Just not that old.”
Namor closes the door and gets into the driver’s seat. As he turns the ignition on, he looks over at his wife. She has been crying silently since the decree was signed. When they get to the ice cream parlor, he parks the car and looks over his shoulder at their children.
“Go meet Tatich inside. I’m going to talk to your mother real quick.”
“Okay! Come on, TumTum!”
Namor waits until they’re gone before he undoes both of their seatbelts and leans over to hug his wife tightly. “What’s on your mind, in yakunaj ?”
“For so many years, doctors told me I could never be a mother. I meet you and I suddenly have two children calling me that. It’s like something out of a dream and a part of me is so afraid that this isn’t real. It’s too good to be true.”
He runs his hand all the way down her back until he’s able to pinch her on the ass harshly. When she yelps, he grins against her ear. “If you felt that, it’s not a dream.”
She laughs through her tears and her soft lips meet his warm ones. It’s the most intimate kiss they have ever shared - and there’s been plenty of them. He ends up stroking her mouth with his tongue and she groans before parting.
“Namor…”
“I was practicing for when I eat my ice cream.” He pinches her cheek gently when she puts on that fake-annoyed look. “Shuri, you should’ve never accepted that blind date.”
“Oh? And why’s that?”
“Because I’m gonna kiss you, and love you, and embarrass you, and I’m never gonna let you go.”
“Sounds like a threat.”
“Maybe it is.”
She releases something that sounds like a sexy type of a growl and she’s cupping his face. This time, her tongue is the one that goes inside of him and swirls around. He feels lightheaded when she’s speaking to his chin.
“ That’s how you lick ice cream. You’re a good eater, Namor Almehen. You should know better.”
His hands wrap tightly around her neck as he shows all of his teeth to her, giving a slight hint of what awaits her late, late tonight when it’s appropriate. “Chaac, I’ll never get enough of you and that filthy mouth.”