Shape of me✔️

Sneak Preview

F O L K T A I L S
•Time•
The sky paged along with Ikenna, hurrying him up as he made his way home from the farm. It was already late and apart from the white fluffy clouds that were turning dark, he could tell by the sounds of the evening drums sending his pulse soaring.

"She's grown already." He said to himself and smiled as Mazi Okeke's youngest daughter ran along with her older siblings. They all stopped to greet him, and he blessed them in return. It was surprising how fast she had shot up like a bean sprout. He could remember when she was born; it felt like just yesterday, but now she was already old enough to attend the evening dance.

Time flies fast. He thought.

The jingle of the bells on his pouch as they swung in the gentle breeze brought a big grin to his face. Their little chimes reminded him of her.

The bells were her's at first, until she noticed how fascinated he was by them. She then gifted the little spheres of iron to him as a show of her love later on. The bells themselves were charms for luck, while the string was wrapped around in a loop signifying the endless love they had for each other.

With the satisfying sound of his hoe hitting the ground with a thud, Ikenna found himself in front of his house.

"Roar!" A voice shouted suddenly, trying to scare him.

A chuckle rumbled its way through and out of Ikenna's chest as he stared in the direction of one of the few huts beside him.

"I know it is you Asuka. Come out." He said as he turned around a bit. A few years ago, he would had jumped when she shouted giving her the satisfaction that she wanted. But after getting tricked almost every single day, he was immune to it. Almost.

"You knew I was there. Not fair." A girl walked out with a basket underneath her arm. She was of average height and very beautiful. Her hair was plaited in 'Shuku' hairstyle, taking off every strand on her face and showing of her soft bone structure. Royal beads dropped from her neck in a pretty necklace, wrapped around her tiny wrists as bracelets and formed clumps on her head in the shape of a crown.

"Asuka you do this everyday. How do you expect me not to know?" Ikenna asked as she folded her arms on her chest. "Okay, okay. I am sorry. Come on my queen, smile for me." He coaxed her while pulling her arms apart and her to himself. "You know I love you."

"I love you too." She finally gave in and leaned into his embrace with a smile on her face.

"So where did my wife-to-be tell them she is going to at this time of the day?"

"I told them I was going to get tomatoes, but now that I think of it, the barn is too far away for me to go alone." She replied.

"So, shall I go with my woman to the barn so I can protect her?"

"If my love so desires." Asuka shot him a flirtatious smile and took slow deliberate steps as she walked ahead of him.

Ikenna felt his breath grow shallow and noticeably faster. He was heated up just by looking at her. Although she was wearing the women's night wrapper which was only a one piece flowing down to her ankles, he could still see the outline of her tempting body and it was driving him crazy.

Closing his eyes, he imagined his child perched on one of those curved hips, tugging on the heavy waist beads she always had on. The thought alone was enough to make him desire her as his wife more than ever.

"Asuka..." Ikenna called, his voice low and almost died down in his throat.

"Yes my darling?" Asuka turned around to look at him with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.