The kitchen in Nier's estate was something else, like it was ripped straight outta a cooking magazine.
The table in the center was this huge slab of black marble, veins of gold running through it, catching the glow from these fancy pendant lights that hung low, casting a warm vibe over everything.
It match black tiles of the villa floor, really well.
Stainless steel appliances lined the walls, all shiny and and in order. A wall of fresh herbs grew right there in the room, green and fragrant, mixing with the faint scent of Nier's cologne, something sweet and sharp at the same time.
Outside the massive windows, the gardens view rolled out.
Imani plopped onto one of the cushy leather stools, the seat creaking under her as she tapped her nails on the counter, restless, and curious
She couldn't stop glancing, muchless stop thinking about Nier, who was over by the large stove, his back to them, as he prepare a meal for bother her and Tanya
His maroon hair was tied back loose, swaying as he chopped sharpen his knives, with a technique so smooth it felt like he was showing off.
In a way he was.
Apart from work, and watching movies, Nier also had minute passion for cooking.
Tanya sat next to her, gripping her piña colada as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded, her eyes darting between the drink and Nier's every move.
Imani leaned in close, her voice a low, gritty whisper.
"Sigh... Fuck me...
Imani said, unlike Tanya she was a very blunt a direct kind of gal.
"Look, Tanya, I hate to even say this shit out loud, but this cocky-ass, fine-as-hell asshole got me feelin some type of way."
Tanya's eyes popped wide, her glasses slipping as she whipped her head around.
Normally she talks perfect English, and even have the accent, but when suprise or comfortable she factory resets back to usual way of talking among friends or family.
In layman terms spanglish.
"¿Qué? Imani, what?!"
Her voice was all high and shaky, her Spanglish slipping out like it always did when she was rattled.
"You"re a married woman, chica! You know that, right?"
Imani sucked her teeth, leaning back just a bit, her head swaying.
"SPSHHHH!! Girl, I know. Marcus is my heart, alright? But I am sittin here, and I don't even know what the hell is wrong with me. My man's a freak in the sheets, and I love how he keeps it real romantic, but he ain't never cooked me no damn meal or sweet-talked me like Nier does. I am all kind of fucked up in the head right now baby."
She shifted in her seat, her black jeans creaking against the stool.
"Thank God for these thick-ass jeans, cause if I was in some thin leggings, you would see my whole situation down there. I am wet as hell, water to the Sahara if you catch my drift, and these thick clothes are the only thing savin me from embarrassing myself."
Tanya’s jaw dropped, her cheeks going red as she clutched her piña colada like it might save her.
"Imani, that's… ¡eso es demasiado! How you think Marcus would feel hearin you talk like this? Y'all been together since high school, corazón."
Imani shrugged, her lips pursing as she gave a blunt.
"Mhm."
She glanced at her whiskey, the glass half-empty, the amber liquid catching the light.
"But don't act all holy on me Tanya. I see you over there, thighs pressed tight like you tryna hide somethin. You rockin jeans too, girl, and I bet you just as messed up as me down there too. Don't play it off cooly, you are just as horny as I am right now . Then and again, it could probably be this damn whiskey hittin me hard."
Tanya’s face burned, her hands fidgeting as she pushed her glasses up, avoiding Imani’s eyes. “Ay, Dios, Imani, you’re gonna get us in trouble,” she muttered, but her voice was shaky, like she couldn’t deny the heat creeping up her spine.
Imani said as she looked at her cup, it was basically half way but it was strong.
Tanya's lips twitched into a nervous smile, her fingers fidgeting with her glass.
"I know, I know."
She said, her voice soft, her Latina side coming through.
"He is… a lot. Like, way too much."
"Too much? Pfttt...
Imani laughed under her breath.
"Don't even, Tanya. You red as hell right now. I saw you starin at his hands when he was mixin that drink. Bet you thinkin bout what else them fingers could do don't you hun!?"
Tanya's eyes went wide, her cheeks flaring up even more than it was.
"¡Imani, por Dios!"
She pleaded.
"I am married, okay? No estoy… no estoy pensando en eso."
Imani smirked, catching that switch in Tanya’s voice for a while, she had no fucking idea what she was saying fifty percent of the time but 100% of the time she understand what she is saying to a degree on her womanly instinct alone.
Leaning in closer, her own face flush as she licked her ears, and making Tanya recoil back, but not before she heard Imani said.
"Oh, you been spanglishin for a while now. Hehehe... You only do that when you’re nervous or feelin real comfy. Which one is it, girl? Cause I know you feelin something with this man around."
Her eyes flicked to Nier, still prepping his kitchen. Before he actually go into cooking, just as his mother thought him.
Tanya swatted the air, her laugh shaky but real.
"¡Cállate, Imani! You’re gonna make it worse. I am not… it's just… he is a lot, okay alot, it had been years since I have felt this kind of sexual attraction to another."
Imani wasn't letting up, her grin all but mischief.
"Nah, sis, we both feelin it. It clear to me he is pro fuck boy, no one is that good with words, if they don't get around. Honestly If I didn't have Marcus waitin at home, I would be all up on him, tryna lock that down before he even knew my name."
Tanya choked on her drink, coughing as she tried to hide a giggle.
"You're so bad, Imani."
She said, her accent thick now, words tumbling out.
"What about Marcus? He is good, ¿no? You can't just… say stuff like that without feeling a tad bit guilty."
Imani shrugged, her smirk fading into something softer, like she was thinking hard about it.
"Marcus is my dude, my ride and die yeah. But Nier? He is basically something I have never personally experience, he is a whole different kinda man. You tellin me you ain't wonderin? If David wasn't in the picture, you wouldn't wanna know what it’s like to have a guy like that look at you like you're the only thing in the room? The way I see it sweetheart, he is king with an empty throne, he has it all, but I can tell he is quite lonely. I don't know if you are looking around like I am, but I have not seen a single thing that grant evidence of another woman in his life right now."
Tanya gulp at Imani's words, her fingers fumbling with her glasses as she pushed them up.
"Okay, fine, he is a… guapo, ¿sabes? Really guapo. The way he talks, like he has already got you figured out, it is intense. But I love David. No voy a… you know, do anything."
Imani sipped her sparkling water, the one Nier had set in front of her earlier when they where talking without a word, like he just knew she wasn't drinking liquor, so he gave her more.
"Mmm, sure thing, boo. But them eyes of yours? They tellin me a whole different story. Take sweetheart David is loser, half a man, no not quarter. Dump him, and go big, life is full of risk. A real man is before you, don't let him get a way."
Tanya groaned, burying her face in her hands, her voice muffled.
"¡Ay, Imani, para! He is right there, chica, you're gonna get us in trouble."
Nier glanced back just then, his crimson eyes catching the light, a little smirk playing on his lips like he had heard every damn word but wasn't gonna say shit.
Rather he turned around and continue what he was doing.
After another minute or two, he was done prepping.
As he turned to meet them, in his hands, where two booklets, both where smooth as hell, but he slid them across the counter. It hit the marble with a soft smack, the gold lettering on the cover shining like it belonged in a five-star restaurant.
His eyes locked on them, with his usual cocky, unshakable vibe.
"Pick anything."
He said in a low voice.
"And I'll cook it."
Tanya froze, her glasses fogging up as she stared at the menu, a damn menu for home kitchen, this was something new indeed, and it made her mind spinning.
Imani on the other hand jaw dropped, her usual fire dimmed for a second as it sank in.
Nier wasn't just playing host; he was rewriting their whole damn world.
"I feel like a queen right now."
Imani said, while holding her chest.