Shades of Sepia

XIII

Onika Tanya Maraj
August 19th
Houston, Texas

I blinked out of my sleep to the ominous music of Little Fires Everywhere. Beyoncé had her arm around me, rubbing my back with me on top of her. I adjusted, looked up at her, and saw her already looking.

"You alright?"

"I'm alright."

I had heard her in my sleep, talking about how she should have never pushed me that far, blaming herself for a punishment that was coming my way regardless of anything either of us said or done. I was sore, but she needed to relax.

"I told you to calm down and you didn't listen."

"Babe nobody's that worried about this but you."

"That's my job. I'm responsible for you. Tell me the truth."

"I'm sore, obviously, but I'm good."

I was more sore than I was admitting but if I told her that, we'd never do it again. I scooted up her body to get closer, the soreness coming for me, but I hid, resting my head on her chest. She went up under my shirt to rub my back.

"You know your punishment had nothing to do with Luke."

I rolled my eyes, happy as hell that she couldn't see me. "All for Darius?"

"All for your horrible mouth. I am going to restrict your drinking for a month. You can't even drink with me. I wasn't there but I heard you, and then you're holding that nigga's hand, dragging him through the club when you know better. But fuck that. When have you ever spoken to Darius like that?"

"I apologized."

"That's not what I asked."

I sighed, "Never."

"And you'll never do it again."

"Ew butt stuff?!"

I laid my head down on Sierra's pillow, waiting for her to stop watching that damn window. The girl was so sprung, I was sure if and when Sierra asked, she would be tooting that ass up too.

She sat criss cross applesauce beside my laying body, waiting for the details. I was happy that I'd gotten Beyoncé to allow me to talk to someone about our sex life. I needed my best friend.

"Did it hurt?"

"Girl yes, it's an ass."

She chuckled, "First time?"

"Going this far yes."

"Was it a punishment?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. How the hell did she know that? I wondered and wanted to ask if the Knowles sisters were just alike even in the bedroom. Solange didn't seem like the domination type or the punishment type, but from the outside looking in, neither did Beyoncé.

Sierra saw the way I was looking, "She had you sign that thick ass contract?"

"Girl," I lifted my head completely, "Did Solange make you sign a contract?"

"She didn't make me but yes I signed a contract. They're more similar than you realize."

"Damn bitch why didn't you say anything."

"Terms of my contract require me to wait for you to inquire, but now that Beyoncé's in your life, I'm pushing you a little bit. Solange doesn't need to know that though."

"So you lied about the whole summer fling thing?"

"Sorry, but those NDAs are as tight as your ass."

"Oh my God," I stuffed my face in her pillow to muffle my laugh, "Seriously though, I never expected Solange to be dominating you. The way y'all act, I'd think you would be the one doing the dominating. You've got that girl all whipped up."