Chapter 3: Curiosity & Temptation

Late night, as usual, Ifedike go sleep for guest room. As I dey hear water dey run for bathroom, my mind dey fly. Even as e dey behave like autistic, that him body still dey ginger me. Lean muscle, wide shoulder, small waist, that V-shape, Adam’s apple wey dey show, back side wey dey stand, chest wey strong. Body correct like fresh Agege bread—every curve dey tempt person.

For Lagos night, everything dey quiet. Na only generator sound and water for bathroom dey ring for my ear. I dey count tile for ceiling, but my mind no rest. E get as my body dey do me anytime I remember say na me get access to this fine specimen. Sometimes, I dey pray make temptation no carry me go where my hand no reach.

But because of him wahala, e just dey ignore me. But I dey wonder, if e dey ignore me for house, e go still ignore me for bed? I dey curious to know how hate-sex with stone-face guy go be.

My friends go laugh if dem hear say I dey think like this. But true true, Naija women dey get that curiosity. I wan test that theory—if man hard for face, maybe e go soft for mattress.

I change wear my hottest nightie, waka enter him bathroom.

As I open wardrobe, my hand touch lace, my mind dey sharp. You know as e be for Nigerian woman—if you wan get wetin you want, na you go package yourself well. My leg dey shake small, but I bone face, waka enter.

Everywhere dey steam, Ifedike dey use hand brush him hair, e just expose that V-shape body. Water dey run for him back, pass those waist dimples, come land for him bumbum.

Steam dey rise, mirror don fog, light dey reflect for water wey dey run for him skin. I pause for door, mouth dry. As e dey stretch, muscle dey flex for back, all those small small details dey show. Even for Naija film, dem no fit capture this kain scene.

As e hear me, Ifedike turn sharp sharp. Him eye wey dey always blank, na shock and anger dey show now. E rush cover himself with towel.

Na sharp guy, no gree make I see finish. The way e take turn, I almost laugh. E shock, but pride no let am show say e fear me. For this country, na only pride dey make person stand strong sometimes.

"Wetin you dey find here?"

E voice rough, but na fear dey hide under. I dey see am for him eye, the way e dey shine like torchlight. My heart dey beat, but I pretend say I no see anything.

I soft my voice. "Baby, I dey worry for you. Why you dey spend so much time for shower?"

I talk am like person wey dey beg. I dey try enter him heart through the backdoor. For Lagos, sometimes na beg, sometimes na gra gra. Today, na beg I choose.

As I dey talk, I move near am. The steam make my thin cloth just glue my body, lace dey show my shape. Ifedike swallow spit, him ear turn red, e look another side, like person wey dem corner.

Na so I see say e dey try hide himself, but body no gree. E dey act shy, but body dey betray am. I dey see am—ear don red reach neck. For my mind, I dey laugh small.

I act like say I no see him tension, lift my leg, use body rub am.

Na small move, but my heart dey pound. Na so we dey do am for Naija—subtle move, but meaning deep. I dey wait make e react, but I no wan show say na me dey rush.

"Honey, make I help you? Why you dey waste time?"

My voice soft, but message clear. For my mind, I dey pray make e gree. If e talk no, I fit still push small.

"And as you dey take long, husband, your own too..."

Na so I dey hint am. My eye dey roll, my hand dey find way, my body dey ginger. I dey hope say e go read between the lines.

Before e know, I comot him towel. Ifedike eye open, e no get where to run. I look down, just dey smile.

That kain bold move, e shock even me. But for this life, if you no act, another person fit collect. Na so I dey smile, dey look as e dey freeze like statue.

"You fit dey autistic, but this your own still dey alive. Correct guy."

I dey tease am, dey laugh small. I wan make am relax, make the tension for room melt small. My own dey sure me.

"You—"

E wan talk, but my hand dey distract am. For Naija, if woman dey hold you for neck, na another level of trust be that. E dey try form strong face, but I fit see say the wall don dey break.

As I touch am, Ifedike face strong, but e no talk. Vein for him neck just dey show, like say e wan burst. I carry hand wrap for him neck, pull am come down kiss am. If you no wan talk, I go use mouth do am.

As I dey kiss am, my hand dey move slow. For my mind, na like new territory I dey conquer. Even if e no talk, e body dey speak volume. For our side, na this kain stubbornness dey sweet pass.

As I no gree leave am, Ifedike eye red finish, finally e surrender. I press my forehead for glass, hand reach back hold the guy wey dey work for behind. Him grip for my waist strong die.

For that moment, everything just fade. Na only our breath, steam, and heartbeat dey loud. If person pass, e go know say wahala dey happen for bathroom. For my mind, na victory song dey play.