Divine

The wooden handle of the paint brush rested between his teeth as he analyzes her nude frame. Perky C cups a burnt sienna contrasting nicely with her dark brown nipples. He feels his manhood stir and throb but concentrates on making a perfect duplicate of the woman that lay before him.

"Can I see?" Pushing the brush through the knot of dreads that sits on his crown he shows her the reflection; oil on canvas. She gasped wrapping the white sheet around her body as she got up to get a better look. Her homegirl told her that he was the best, but this was immaculate.

"Oh my Gosh. You made me look fine as hell." He smirks, grabbing her chin to pull her attention away from the canvas.

"I only draw what is already there." Her knees weaken, and subconsciously her grip on the sheet loosens.

"T-thanks. How much do I owe you?"

He presses his frame against her. His intoxicating aroma weakening her further. His paisley lips caresses her neck as he frees her hand from the sheet, watching it drop to the floor.

"I think we can work something out."

~~~

Sunlight streamed through the blinds over Eric's bed. The woman from last night long gone, the only thing to prove that she wasn't an apparition was the streaks of edible paint that marred his ivory sheets. Shaking the kinkiness of last night away he hops in the shower, mind preoccupied with the endless list of task he must complete before weekend.

Monday mornings were the devil.

"Mr. White your brother is here to see you." Rolling his eyes he immediately regrets installing the intercom system in every room in the house.

"Thank you Leleah, take him to the study and tell him I'll be there shortly." Lathering then rinsing he dresses comfortably. Though he could afford it none of his clothes sported big brands. He was just never the type. At the age of twenty-six he has yet to own a pair of Jordans and that was fine by him. Slipping into his blue waxed denim jean jacket, white jeans, and baby blue chuck taylor all stars her went to see what his big brother could possible want at this ungodly hour.

Being the complete opposite Vato sits at his brothers desk in a crisp Giorgio Armani charcoal suit. A large cup of coffee is handed to Eric before he can even ask, to which he smiles at Leleah for.

"Do you mind me asking why I ran into a blushing woman with her skirt on backwards smeared in forest green paint on my way up here?" A glint of mischief sparks in his eyes and Vato simply shakes his head.

"Never mind. I just hope your being safe." Eric found it amusing that his brother was worried about him producing anymore heirs. That was the farthest thing from his mind. It was nothing wrong with having a little fun with another consenting adults.

"Now that we've got that out the way, why in the hell are you over here at these ungodly hours?"

"We have to get started on your next exhibition if we want to get all the renovations done in the next six months." Sighing Eric chastises

himself, the project completely slipping his mind.

"I completely forgot, I didn't even call the other artist on the docket to see if they would be free to participate."

"That's why Leleah took the liberty to call all of the previous artist you've had any affiliation with and asked them would they like to contribute any work." Looking at her she simply blushes and makes her way out of the room. When all else fails he could always count on her to keep track of whatever slips from his mind.

"Eric this is a big production with all of the proceeds going to the charities of each of y'alls choice. We want this to be as successful as possible."

"Get in touch with a good realtor. I've been thinking of buying a large commercial building for years and this is the perfect opportunity for me to finally put that plan in action. I need at least ten stories, the bottom five will house the exhibit and the rest will be office space and of course a suite for my personal use. Tell that if I have the time next week we can meet and go over the possible locations they have scouted for me." Vato scribbles his brothers' requests down, his blackberry vibrating annoyingly on the desktop.

"Who is that blowing up your phone?" He looks at the caller I.D., a grim look immediately consuming his face.

"It's Kalija." His jaw clenches, the mention of his ex and soon to be mother of his first born made him seeth.

"What is she saying?" She was only supposed to contact him with news about his son, and they had just gone to OBGYN Friday.

"She wants to see if y'all can meet up and talk."

"No, she wants to see if there is away for her to weasel her way back into my life. She misses the lifestyle that I was providing for her. I know her game bro and I've decided that I would no longer be a willing participant." He shakes his head ignoring her call.

"You decided to have a baby with her before the blinders came off and you saw her for who she really was. Now you have to deal with the consequences. I can't be y'alls middle man for the rest of your sons life." Eric stands, done with the conversation and anger with the fact that his brother was really lecturing him as if he'd done something wrong.

"Just make sure everything I asked you to get done happens. And since I'm being so unreasonable, I'll deal with Kalija myself." Walking out the study he makes his way downstairs to his studio. He knew after making this call he'd be full of rage, so he might as well us it in a constructive way. Going to her contact rolling his eyes at all her missed calls and unread messages. Her FaceTime rang twice before she answered fully made up like she was going out somewhere.

"How long did you expect for me to be playing phone tag with you?"

"Until I answered."

"We are too old for these games. I was just calling you to let you know what my birthing plan would be. My dula said I had to contact you and everyone else who might be there when I go into labor." She proceeded to go over what would happen from the time her water broke until the water birth.

"So are you still plan to do a lotus birth?" She shook her her, hand rubbing small circles on her firm belly.

"I think I'm going to encapsulate my placenta instead. It'll help me heal faster and promote breast milk. I thought it was best since the doctor said he was slightly underweight." Typing everything she said in the Notes app on his phone.

"If that's all I'll see you in two weeks for the. Ext Lamaze class." She chews her lip, a nervous tick Eric has grown to know means you has more to say.

"Do you think we'll ever get our family back together? I made one mistake Eric. If I knew then that one decision would destroy us-"

"If you cared enough then we wouldn't be where we are now. You decide to sleep with a man who could never give you as much pleasure as I have. You did that because you were selfish and thought you wouldn't get caught. Me, you and my son will always be family but I'll never be your man again." With that he hands up the phone. He didn't want to be too harsh with her because of her pregnant state but she had to realize what they had was gone. Tears stung his eyes but he refused to cry over her anymore. Grabbing a pail of paint he begins to paint with his bare hands.

Hopefully it'll be a prettier picture than his reality