Chapter 1
Sage
“Mr Kodjoe, your new apprentice is here.” Jamie said as she gently knocked on the door of my dark room. “thank you, sweetie.” I said. “Show them to the studio.” I was currently processing some nude photos of an up-and-coming model. These are some of the sexiest photos I’ve ever taken. My blood is running hot. My dick is straining against the zipper in my jeans. “shit,” I said as I adjusted myself.
I entered the studio, closed the doors, and turned around. I dropped my rolls of film. It’s Winter.
Winter looked up from the sculpture she was examining; her eyes remained unreadable as she saw me. “Hello,” she said politely, though the furrow in her brow suggested she was trying to place me. It’s been a long time,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I approached her. I’m Sage Kodjoe.”
The name didn’t immediately click for her, which was understandable given the changes the years brought. I had gone from a lanky young man with a mop of unruly dread locs to a towering figure with a bald head and a thick beard that framed my chiseled features. “Sage?” she repeated, her voice filled with uncertainty. “Lamont’s old friend?”
“That’s right,” I said gently, seeing recognition dawned in her eyes. Her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes shined with a mix of surprise and a hint of nostalgia. “Oh ma’ gah, Sage!” She rushed over to me, the sculpture forgotten, and we embraced.
The warmth of her body against mine sent a jolt through me that I hadn’t expected. A soft moan rumbled in my chest as I squeezed her. We had a long embrace, and I rocked her side to side. She felt so good. Something within her allowed me to cover her with comfort. I didn’t mind one bit; she smelled amazing, like warm cookies and a hint of gourmand.
“I can’t believe it,” she murmured, stepping back to look at me again. “You’ve changed so much.” Her tongue involuntary darted out of her mouth to wet that gorgeous bottom lip.
“Life has a way of doing that to us,” I replied, trying to keep my cool. “So, what brings you to my studio, Nooky?” She threw her head back and let the most melodic laugh roar from her throat. My grin was wicked. “Nooky Sage?” she said, trying to hide her smile. “Yeah, I haven’t forgotten...Nooky.” She nodded, dropping her gaze to the floor.
Her smile faltered a bit as she shrugged. “I just needed some ...freedom,” I smiled. Ah, the type of freedom that only true artists can obtain, right?” I smirked.
Winter’s eyes searched the studio, taking in the vibrant paintings and sculptures adorning the walls. “Exactly,” she whispered. She paused, her gaze lingering on a particularly erotic piece. “I’ve always loved art but never had the guts to pursue it seriously.” Her delicate fingers traveled along the curves of the jade ‘waiting woman’ sculpture I recently acquired.
I nodded. “It’s never too late to start. Or, in your case, to restart.” She blushed slightly, and I couldn’t help but feel a thrill at the thought of her starting something new here with me. “So, what do you want to learn first?”
Her eyes met mine, a flash of excitement and a hint of something else--hope, perhaps? “Everything,” she said with a determination that sent a shiver down my spine. “I want to capture the world the way you do.” I closed the gap between us and dropped my tone an octave, “Photography, painting, sculpting, pottery.” “Pick your poison,” I said. A small smile tugged at her lips. “I’ll follow your lead.” She said, her voice was a bit shaky.
We spent the next few hours discussing art, life, and the shadows lurking in corners. She spoke very vaguely about her home life, which surprised me. Most women loved to go on and on about everything and nothing. She’s always been elusive and private, especially as a kid.
She had this mysticism about her, like she knew things..things that she shouldn’t know. That attribute is still very prominent within her. I looked down at her fingers; there was no ring. She had no children ..surprising. If she were mine, we would have a full house and one cooking. Our offspring would be beautiful.
“I’ve really enjoyed myself so much, Sage, ” she said, signing and looking at her watch. I have to go now.” I sucked my teeth.
“Ah, okay. But before you do, I want to capture this moment with Nooky,” I said, smiling, gesturing to my camera. She burst into a fit of giggles and started posing. I started photographing her, every click of the shutter punctuating the air with the promise of a new chapter in our lives. Her laughter filled the room and echoed off the walls. Her smile was genuine; she was free.
As she posed, her movements grew more playful..more sensual. She sat in the chair, arched her back, and turned her head to stare out the window into the night sky. She was breathtaking. I was in awe over how beautiful she was.
I was in love with her when we were kids, puppy love. Seeing her now, with all those womanly curves, made me ache with want for her. The soft light of the studio playing on her features, Winter is a rare beauty, drop dead gorgeous...the type of beauty that intimidates people. I wonder if she knows.... how powerful her energy is.
She had become a vision of beauty that surpassed even my wildest fantasies. She had the type of beauty that was classic and modern. Perfect symmetry in her features. I shot an entire roll of film, capturing her candid expressions and how she moved with a grace that was as mesmerizing as unexpected. Her laughter filled the studio, bouncing off the high ceilings and echoing through the space like a melody bottled up for too long.
Winter’s eyes sparkled as she watched me work, and I felt alive in a way that I hadn’t in years. The air was charged with an electricity that neither of us could ignore. Each click of the camera was a declaration of a connection that went beyond friendship, beyond nostalgia. It was a promise of something more that we both knew we needed but weren’t quite ready to face.
She checked her watch and sighed. “I’ve really got to go,” she said, the smile fading slightly. She grabbed her purse, resting on a nearby stool, and slung it over her shoulder. I felt a pang in my chest as she started to walk away, and the sound of her heels on the concrete floor was a stark reminder that our time together was coming to an end.
Before she could leave, she turned, balanced on her tip-toes and kissed my cheek, the warmth of her lips sending a shockwave through my body. “Thank you, Sage,” she whispered, her eyes shining with gratitude. “You have no idea how much I needed this.”
I watched her bounce out of the studio, her hips swaying to the rhythm of the music playing faintly in the background. My heart missed a beat as she disappeared into the hallway, leaving me with nothing but the lingering scent of her perfume, and the images burned into my mind. I was already longing for the next time she would grace me with her presence, the next time I could capture the essence of her soul through my lens.
With a sigh, I turned my attention back to the film. I needed to develop these photos to see the magic we created together. I noticed a blue Post-it on the floor. It has to be hers; I picked it up and read it.
‘You are more than enough, Winter Davenport.
-Winter, ’
I folded and stuffed it into my shirt pocket close to my heart.
The darkroom was my sanctuary, and as I worked, my thoughts kept drifting back to Winter’s smile and how it had transformed her whole face.
As I walked into the local bar, the weight of the evening’s revelations still heavy on my shoulders, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of amusement at the scene playing out before me. An older man with a frustrated expression was arguing with a much younger woman, her eyes flashing angrily. She slapped him hard and stormed out of the bar, leaving him looking stunned and more than a little defeated.
“Uh oh, someone won’t be dipping into the sugar bowl tonight,” I quipped to Quincey, the bartender, as I slid the envelope of photos across the counter. He chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he took them from me. “Looks like it,” he said, shaking his head. “Thanks Kodjoe”
He nodded to the corner booth, where a pint of beer and a shot of whiskey were waiting for me. It was our usual setup after a long day of work. “Nah, not tonight, my man; I’ve got to get to the house, but thanks for looking out for me, though.” I exited the bar and strolled my tired ass home.
Once inside, I kicked my boots off with a thud and went to the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes as I went, I turned the shower on, the water hitting the tiles echoing in the tiled room. The anticipation of the warm embrace washed over me, and I stepped in, letting the water beat down on my tense shoulders.
The heat was like a balm to my weary soul. The stress of the day melted away as I grabbed my dick, feeling it pulse in my hand. It had been on 83% hardness all day, thanks to the constant reminder of those nude photos and of Winter’s beauty.
I started stroking it, my hand moving with a familiar rhythm that I had practiced countless times. Each stroke brought back images of her in my studio, her eyes lighting up as she discovered the art I had poured my soul into.
I closed my eyes and imagined it was her touch, her soft fingers wrapped around me, guiding me to the edge of ecstasy. The water cascaded down my body, mixing with my sweat and making my skin tingle as I picked up the pace.
Her laughter played in my mind, as did how she looked at me when she realized who I was. It had been 20 years since we had last seen each other, and she had been nothing but a girl then, a shadow of the woman she had become.
The woman who walked into my studio today was a vision, a sculpture come to life. And as much as I tried to keep my thoughts pure, they kept drifting to the darker places where she was not just a friend or a muse but something more.
The warm water pounded against my skin as I stroked faster, my breathing growing ragged. The scent of her perfume lingered in my nostrils, driving me wild. I leaned against the cool tiles. My balls started tightening; I was so close. Picturing Winters’s sexy little mouth around my dick made me groan.
The water washed away the guilt and the doubt, leaving only the raw, primal need. I thought of her full lips, her eyes looking up at me, filled with passion and desire. I couldn’t take it anymore. With a final, powerful thrust, I came, the orgasm ripping through me like a bolt of lightning. I leaned my head against the shower wall, panting. It had been a long time since I had felt this alive and this horny; I chuckled lightly and shut the water off.
