Vanilla.

Poetry.

Mariah's POV

"You do realize you look sexy as hell right now?" Scorpio said out of the blue. "Just the right amount of booby and booty to let you know what you're working with but leaves you wanting more." He looked at me and smiled. "And I want so much more."

"Scorpio, you're so crude!" I gasped. I wasn't even wearing anything that revealing. I had changed into pink velvet short shorts and a white tank top without a bra. Yeah, I guess that wasn't a very good choice. But hey, I changed because I was dancing. Way before Scorpio barged into my room. His statement was flattering though. "Thank you." I beamed.

Right now, I was in our kitchen—what uni gives you public showers and private kitchens?—cooking some of my home food.

"Thank you? Really? That's all you're gonna say after I basically eye-f*** you and tell you that I've got blue balls." He sounded surprised.

I just shrugged at his speculating tone. "It was a compliment. So I decided to say thank you."

"Hmph." He huffed. We settled into a comfortable silence as I added spices and sauces to the chicken while he was, I'm assuming, on his phone. I was just adding the vegetables when I felt two hands literally dig into my ass.

"Haahhh!" I screamed at the painful surprise and dropped the spoon in the pot. "Oh, sweet baby Jesus. What is happening? Why am I seeing the light? Make the pain go away. Hooh!"

Why was he still holding me? So painful. So, so, painful. Ow. He gripped my hips before pulling me back to be flush against his front. Oh. "You wanna say thank you to that?" His lips grazed my ear and I sighed when he nipped my lobe.

"Um, uh. No? Yes? Maybe?" I stumbled over my words. "No!" I elbowed him, setting myself free from his cage and continued my cooking. It was ready which meant it was time to dish up but not before asking the guest if he wanted any.

"Yeah, sure, beautiful."

I blushed at his nickname and gave him his plate.

"You got any iced tea?" He shouted.

Scorpio Hall likes iced tea? "Yeah. You want?" I held the bottle up, to which he nodded his head vigorously to.

We settled on the couch by the window, watching Ridiculousness. It was the Steelo Brim episode, which had me laughing like crazy.

My laughter died down as I felt dark eyes burning holes onto the side of my head. "Do I have something on my face?" I inquired. We both set our plates and glasses on the coffee table in front of us and faced each other.

Smiling lightly, he replied. "Beauty."

Smooth. "Um. Thanks?"

"Why does that sound like a question?"

I honestly didn't know so I shrugged at him. It just came out that way I guess.

"You don't know how beautiful you are, do you?"

Biting my lip, I looked down. I don't think I'm beautiful. Pretty? Maybe. Beautiful? Heck no!

"Your skin.

Like silky smooth chocolate, it just melts in your mouth.

A delicate canvas that gets me aroused

When I look into your brown eyes, I know I'm going south

Because I'm falling for you hard, even in a safe house.

Your lips.

So full and inviting, I just want a taste, maybe more.

But no one can tame this hunger than that sharp tongue that leaves me sore.

A nose that can smell trouble from a mile away,

One that also hides a good girl that once went astray.

A head so strong, carried by an elegant neck

So tempted to take a nice, long lick.

A form so perfect, it makes it hard not to think about sex

But I know I shouldn't because you'll shoot me in the d***

Your walk.

Like a queen amidst her subjects.

But what pains me the most is that she doesn't need a king.

And it stings when you see me swing

But you don't pay attention to a thing."

"Oh." Was all I could say.

He smiled at me. "Oh?"

"Yeah. Oh."

"Was that not enough?" He raised his eyebrows.

"That was more than enough. I just don't know where you get the idea that I'm beautiful. I mean, I'm hardly pretty so for you to say I'm beautiful is craz—mm."

I was cut off by something soft on my lips. The hard but delicate texture made me freeze but my body went by its own accord and mimicked the actions of the instigator. He's kissing me. We're kissing. I felt his tongue lick the lining of my top lip quite softly, giving me a tingly feeling. Eventually, he prodded it in, to which I responded to with my own. I gripped the nape of his neck while his hands stayed at my waist. This is perfect. My first kiss is perfect. Wait. First kiss.

"Scorpio!" We were both breathing heavily, panting. "You just took my first kiss."

He smiled and played with my fingers. "For your first kiss, you're a good kisser. Amazing in fact."

"Okay, um..." Everything turned awkward and I bit my lip, furrowing my eyebrows.

I was lost in my thoughts when Scorpio pulled my bottom lip free from my teeth."Don't do that." He shuffled.

"Do what?"

"Don't bite your lip. It's making it harder."

I was confused. "Making it harder to what?" I didn't know what was happening. One moment we were eating and the next, he was telling me I'm beautiful. He's cooked in the head, I tell you. And now he's telling me biting my lip is making it hard but what is it that is getting so hard?

"God, you're so innocent." Now he bit his lip and rolled his eyes back, looking up. That's sexy. I shrank when he snapped his head back with a heated gaze. "I can't wait to corrupt you. No vas a ser capaz de caminar cuando estoy hecho con usted." He licked his lips, signaling my cue.

I stood up. "I think you should maybe go."

"But—"

"Really, Scorpio. Go."

I was glad when he got up and went towards the door but not long after, he came back to my position and gave me a deep, lingering kiss. "I mean whatever I say, Mariah. " and he left.

Slightly ditzy, I went off to clean the plates, thinking about what Scorpio had said. What does it mean? 'I can't wait to corrupt you.' It doesn't make sense.

I felt hands grab my hips and someone's pelvis driving into my bum. "Jessica, ew! Don't do that! You know, sometimes I think you're lesbian."

"That would work except I'm not a woman." A man's voice responded to me making me jump away from the body. I turned around to be up close and personal with the one and only Josiah Ginny.

I pushed him back roughly and stared in shock. "How did you get in here?"

"Door was open." He smiled. Oh.

"What are you doing here?" I sighed.

"Received your letter. Wanna explain?"

I saw the sealed envelope with the information on it and a red lipstick stain and snatched it from his hand.

Dear Josiah

You are something else. I've known you for the longest time ever and only now did I notice that you're the one for me. My eyes opened when you saved me from utter mortification. I remember that you and your boys had planned a prank for one of the girls at school. You even told me your plan. She was supposed to open the door to her locker where a water gun filled with egg yolk would spray at her and one of you guys would throw flour on her and another smash poo on her face.

I don't know why you would do that to a girl though. It's quite mean. But hey, who am I to judge! Oh, right, the victims BEST FRIEND! That day I had to get her stuff from her locker because she was held up with a teacher. But imagine my surprise when I got the wind knocked out of me a split second after I opened the locker. I fell on top you, crushing you in the process. Boy, you're so dang skinny. I can't. But that showed me the hero inside the devil that was you. So the rest of the year, I caught feelings with you trying to make up for it and making me feel special. I remember you're the one who introduced me to the upside down marshmellow milkshake latté and ever since then Ive been addicted to it.

But you drove me away and I don't even know why. I mean we still talk but I don't feel like the only girl in the world anymore.

I miss you Josiah Ginny.

I love you

From,

Mariah.

"Huh. Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore." I gleamed at him. "I'm over it."

He grabbed his heart like it pained him. "Ouch, Mariah. To think, I thought I wasn't too late. I appreciate the stats on the front page by the way. Nice to know that you think my ass is non-existent."

"Sorry, bruh but it's not there. So what do I owe your presence to? What do you want?" I crossed my arms, leaning on the counter.

"I just wanted answers and maybe another chance but I see you've got Scorpio Hall wrapped around your finger. You better take advantage of it." He winked. "Well, I'm out. See ya. Oh, and by the way, keep doing them squats."

I don't do squats. "Hey! What do you mean by that. My butt is amazing."

"Trust me, I know."

"What do you mean by that?" But he was already out the door.

"Hey, Josiah." Jessica's voice sounded from the hallway.

"Yo." He responded.

My best friend appeared in the doorway, posing. "Hey, baby." She feigned a sexy voice and pouted.

"Why did you give Scorpio your keys?" I whined.

"I wanted to become a godmother. Did you guys make mixed race embryos or nah?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Congratulations to whatever your goal was."

"You guys did it?!" Her eyes widened with her mouth.

"No." I sighed. "He kissed me."

She gasped and did an over-exaggerated spin and came to hug me. My best friend is strong and I was surprised at how she could lift me off the ground because I'm heavy. "I'm so proud. Tell me the details."

"Well..." I smiled as I thought back to earlier. "We ate some food and watched Ridiculousness. He told me I'm beautiful and I countered. Then he went on to recite a poem that made me feel funny and then he kissed me."

"Did he use tongue?"

I ducked my head down before letting out a meek, "Yes."

Jessica screamed a high-pitched one and held her hands together. "Your first kiss included tongue. I need to start planing the wedding."

"Ugh, no!" I pulled on a braid. "Just let it go! Nothing will happen."

She scoffed. "Yeah, right. Keep feeding yourself lies."