Lessons In Love (Bantu Academy Series Book 1) Read online

  “Several.”

  She blinked. “Did you say several?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Are you some type of polygamist?” Leslie asked with a frown.

  “No.” Caelum shook his head.

  Leslie looked at him. “Then what?”

  “The several Mrs. Bannakas include my mother, my grandmother, my sisters-in-law, my great-grandmother, my great-great…”

  “Stop.”

  He grinned. “You asked.”

  “That’s not funny.”

  “You know it was. Your face was priceless.”

  Leslie smiled. “That’s a terrible joke. You had me thinking you were trying to put me in a harem or something.”

  Caelum stepped closer. “No, little pretty goddess. I would never do that.”

  They both turned at a quick knock on the door, and Leslie frowned as Mr. West entered her room.

  “Miss Benson,” he said with a smile, and Caelum stepped back from her.

  “What can I do for you Mr. West?” Leslie asked.

  Andre looked at Caelum, then at Leslie. “I came to see if you needed any help setting up your room?”

  Leslie shook her head. “No, I should be good.”

  “Mr. Banneker, right?”

  Caelum shook his head. “No, Bannaka.”

  “Sounded like Banneker…like Benjamin Banneker.”

  “I hear that often.” Caelum replied.

  Andre nodded. “So you teach history?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “What did you get your degree in?” Andre asked, as Leslie watched the interaction.

  “African American Studies, and I’m currently a Khemetic Historian.” Caelum explained.

  “Egyptology?”

  Caelum shook his head. “No, Khemet.”

  “Aren’t they the same?”

  “As far as location…”

  Andre looked confused. “I don’t get it.”

  “You should stop into my class this semester. You’d learn something.” Caelum told him.

  “I’d love to learn more about it,” Leslie said to Caelum.

  He looked at her. “Ask me anything you want, any time.”

  She smiled at him. “I will take you up on that offer.”

  Andre looked between the two, and moved closer to Leslie’s desk, where she sat.

  “Like I said, Miss Benson, I’m here to help with anything that you need.”

  “Thank you, Mr. West.”

  Again, he looked from Leslie to Caelum.

  “I’ll see you both around the school.”

  “I’ll be here.” Caelum told him.

  ‘Me, too.” Leslie agreed.

  They waited until he’d left the room and closed the door before laughing.

  “I think I have some competition.” Caelum told her.

  “For what?”

  He moved closer again. “For the attention of the beautiful queen.”

  “You want my attention?” Leslie asked.

  “You demanded mine.”

  She felt a chill down her spine at his deeply spoken words.

  “We have a program to plan.” She reminded him.

  “One that is going to be the best this Academy has ever seen.”

  “You’re confident.”

  Caelum smiled. “I’m a black man.”

  “My first thoughts when I saw you, were that you were not just a man…”

  “I descended from the stars and was created by the Heavens.” He told her.

  “That’s why your name is Caelum…”

  He looked surprised.

  “You know what it means?” he asked.

  “Yes, I may not know much Khemetic History, but I know some things. Your name is a constellation…”

  “You’re right. I’m impressed by you.”

  Leslie looked at him. “Is that all it takes to impress you?”

  “Would you like to impress me more, Miss Leslie Benson?” Caelum asked.

  “That may be all I’ve got.” She teased.

  “No, not by a long shot.”

  She stared up at him. “What makes you say that?”

  “A woman who undresses me with her sexy eyes, then shouts out what she wants to do with me…”

  Leslie blinked. “What?”

  Caelum grinned at her. “I daydream, too…”

  Chapter 2

  “Am I daydreaming now?” Leslie whispered.

  “Then we both are…”

  Leslie felt the warmth again in her lower region as their eyes connected. The intensity of his gaze was so strong that Leslie had to look away before she did something to this man.

  “I think we both should work on setting up our classrooms.” Leslie told him.

  Feeling her anxiety, Caelum backed off. “Okay, Miss Leslie Benson…but first, I need to give you my number so that we can start to work on our program.”

  She looked back at him. “Okay…”

  Leslie took out her phone and entered his number as he recited it. For his name she entered, MAN OF MY DREAMS. Quickly, she closed the phone as he waited.

  “Now call me, so that I know that you really entered it.” Caelum requested.

  “You don’t think I saved it?”

  “Let’s see.”

  Leslie shook her head and re-opened her device. She pressed a button, then watched him, as his phone rang. Caelum looked at the screen, then nodded.

  “Okay…” He smiled at her.

  “Trust, that number is locked in.” Leslie told him.

  “You can call it anytime…in fact, I hope I hear from you later tonight.” He said smoothly.

  She smiled. “Thanks for that green light, because I was wondering how I was going to justify hitting you up…asap.”

  “The sooner the better.”

  Leslie got to her feet, and looked up at him.

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Then, I will talk to you later.”

  She nodded. “Yes, you will.”

  Leslie watched him walk away and out of her door. Letting out a long breath, Leslie then looked at his number in her phone.

  “Wow…” she whispered to the empty room. “This is going to be the best experience of my life.”

  Leslie began to decorate her room for the upcoming year, and before she knew it, Niyah was knocking at her door.

  “Hey Leslie,”

  Leslie looked at her watch. “Hey Niyah…I lost track of time.”

  “Still daydreaming?” Niyah asked with a smile.

  “No, not this time.”

  Niyah leaned back against the desk. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. I love my room.”

  “You’re setting it up nicely.” Niyah said, looking around.

  “Thanks,”

  Niyah watched the young woman, who they all loved and adored.

  “I’m so glad that you’re here.” Niyah shared.

  “I’m so glad, too,” Leslie replied, then glanced around the room. “I never thought I’d be here. I never thought I’d be walking, or that a handsome god would give me his number and tell me to call him tonight.”

  “Mr. Bannaka?” Niyah lifted a brow.

  Leslie smiled. “Yes…”

  “I’m so glad. I thought it was Mr. West.”

  Leslie frowned. “No, not Mr. West. He did come and offer to help me out.”

  “Yeah, that’s his M.O. with the female teachers.”

  “I hope that’s not Caelum.” Leslie said worriedly.

  “Mr. Bannaka comes highly recommended. Didn’t you hear his credentials during the meeting?” Niyah asked.

  “No, I was daydreaming, remember?”

  “Oh yeah,” Niyah replied. “Well, I’ll let him tell you, since you’re calling him tonight.”

  Leslie flushed. “I don’t even know what to say to him. He sets my hoo-hoo on fire.”

  “I’m still not accustomed to some things you say.” Niyah told her grinning.

  “Sy
d will understand.” Leslie said, speaking of her big sister.

  “Yes, your sister and my brother are some real freaks… who like to photograph it.”

  Leslie grinned. “See, that’s what I’m talking about.”

  “You’re a teacher now. We can’t have parents finding you in compromising positions on social media.” Niyah warned playfully.

  “Just because we film it, doesn’t mean it gets in the Cloud.” Leslie told her.

  “You are too much girl,”

  “Listen, to have my first time with someone like Caelum Bannaka, I’d have to film it…just to believe it was real.”

  Niyah laughed. “Oh, your body will tell you it’s real.”

  “He’s so big and handsome.” Leslie purred.

  “That he is…”

  Leslie looked away. “I mean, I know we’re working on the program together, but he seems to like me.”

  Niyah walked over to where she stood. “Of course he likes you, Leslie. You’re a beautiful person, inside and out. If he’s a smart man, which I think he is, Caelum is going to love you to death…like we all do.”

  Hugging the woman that she truly loved like another sister, Leslie smiled.

  “Thank you, Niyah. You’re so sweet.”

  Niyah pulled back. “Listen, I know you’re overwhelmed with Caelum Bannaka right now, but take your time and let him get to know the woman we know.”

  “He’s so big and so handsome,” Leslie said in awe.

  “Yes, you told me that.”

  Leslie smiled. “It deserved to be said twice.”

  ******

  Leslie arrived at home after her day at the school and was greeted at the door, by the cutest face ever.

  “Auntie Leslie!”

  The little boy reached for her bag, then took her hand, with his other hand.

  “How’s my favorite helper?” she asked.

  He smiled so handsomely, like his father.

  “Ready for school.”

  They walked inside the house, with Leslie on her cane.

  “Well, I was there today, and I know you’re going to love it.” She told him.

  “Are you going to be my teacher, too…and Auntie Niyah?”

  Leslie looked thoughtful. “I don’t know yet, but we’ll be there….and I’ll be checking on you.”

  “I’m going to be good.”

  “I know you are. You’re a good boy and so smart.”

  “I’m smart because my Daddy’s the best lawyer in the world.” He bragged.

  Leslie laughed. “Your Momma says the same thing.”

  He looked up at her. “And my Auntie Leslie is so pretty…”

  “Oohhh…you are your father’s son.”

  “Yep, I’m Curtis Kendall the Sixth.” He said proudly.

  Little Curtis continued to walk with Leslie to the living room, where his younger brother sat playing on the floor.

  “Look, Julius! Auntie Leslie’s home!”

  The little toddler ran over to where Leslie sat on the sofa, and she lifted him on her lap, while Curtis VI placed her bag aside and took a seat next to her.

  Hugging them both, she kissed their faces.

  “My two favorites,” Leslie told them. “I missed you today.”

  “We missed you too,” Curtis VI replied.

  When the boys’ mother walked in, she smiled at the trio.

  “They’ve climbed all over you already?” Sydney asked.

  “They know who loves them,” Leslie said, hugging them both tightly.

  Sydney took a seat across from them. “How was the first day?”

  Leslie smiled. “It was incredible. I have to tell you all about it.”

  “I can’t wait to hear it.” Sydney said interested. “Let those two go in the kitchen, where their Daddy is making a treat for them before dinner.”

  Hearing treats, Curtis VI, jumped down from the sofa and grabbed his brother’s hand. “Come on Julius, Daddy has a treat for us.”

  “Treats!” Julius yelled.

  Both boys left the room and Sydney turned to the little sister she’d found, and would never lose again.

  “You look happy,” Sydney told her.

  “I am.” Leslie replied, sitting back. “Today was amazing.”

  “You like your classroom?”

  Leslie nodded with a sly grin.

  “What else?” Sydney asked, suspiciously.

  “I like Mr. Caelum Bannaka.”

  Sydney lifted a brow. “And who is that?”

  “He’s the new history teacher…and he is so fine…and so big.”

  “Wait, you met a man?”

  Nodding eagerly, Leslie agreed. “But, he’s not just a man…he’s sent from the stars.”

  “Leslie…were you daydreaming?”

  “Yes, I was…but he’s real. Ask Niyah…”

  Sydney stared at her. “Did you talk to him?”

  “I have his number and I’m calling him tonight.” Leslie told her. “We’re working on the Black History program together for the Academy.”

  “Oh, so this is work?”

  Leslie shook her head. “No, he’s the man of my dreams.”

  “Leslie…”

  “I know Syd. I know that I get carried away with things and fantasize about stuff, but Caelum is real…and I think he likes me.” She said earnestly.

  “I don’t want you to get hurt, Leslie.”

  Leslie smiled. “I know, me either…but I’m walking now, and I’m working. Pretty soon I’m going to get my own place and I need to start living my life.”

  “You know I want that for you, more than anything, but you don’t have to move too fast.” Sydney said quietly. “This is your home, and we’re in no rush for you to leave.”

  “I love you guys to death, especially my nephews, but I want to see what life is like. I want to experience new things…”

  “Like sex?” Sydney asked knowingly.

  “Number one on the list.”

  Sydney stared at her. “Leslie…”

  “Caelum had my lady parts so hot, I had to make sure my panties weren’t burned.”

  “You are too much.”

  Leslie closed her eyes. “He’s unreal Syd. I’ve never even seen a man as handsome as he is.”

  Sydney frowned. “What about Curt?”

  Smiling, Leslie opened her eyes. “Curt is fine, but Caelum is a god…”

  “Did someone say my name?”

  Both women turned to see Curt entering the room, carrying two boys in his arms.

  “Hey, Curt!” Leslie said with a smile.

  “There’s my favorite sister-in-law.” He winked at her, before putting the boys down and sitting next to his wife.

  “Dinner’s on and the boys have had their treats to hold them over.” Curt told Sydney.

  “Thank you.”

  He kissed her lips, then turned to Leslie, while the boys scrambled off to their books and toys.

  “How was the first day of work?” He asked.

  “I was just telling Syd, how wonderful it was.”

  He nodded. “Good. That’s a great Academy. I can’t wait for C.K. to start next week.”

  “He’s so excited.” Sydney added. “I can’t believe my baby is going to kindergarten.”

  “He’s going to love it,” Leslie assured her.

  “He has both of his aunts there, so I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Curt commented.

  Sydney turned to Curt. “Leslie was just telling me that she met a man at school.”

  He frowned. “Not Mr. West, I hope?”

  “No, his name is Caelum Bannaka. He’s the new history teacher.” Leslie answered.

  Curt nodded. “Okay, I have to come check him out.”

  “Why?” Leslie asked.

  “Because my wife said, you met a man at school…”

  She looked confused, so he continued, “That was her way of telling me that I need to check him out.”

  Leslie turned to Sydney. “Really, Sydney?”r />
  “Yes, I want to know who’s setting my sister’s panties on fire.”

  Curt looked at Leslie. “Wow…on fire.”

  “Look, I love you two…but you’re not going to play parents to me. I’m a grown woman.” Leslie warned.

  “We’re just looking out for you.” Sydney said firmly.

  “I like Caelum and I don’t want him to think I’m even more weird than I already am, with two grown people checking him out on my behalf…” Leslie protested.

  “First of all, you’re not weird,” Sydney told her.

  “I’m a twenty-six-year-old virgin who walks with a cane…”

  Curt frowned. “That doesn’t make you weird, Leslie. You’re a beautiful person, inside and out…and any man would be damn lucky to have you. Know that.”

  Leslie smiled softly. “Thanks Curt. This is my first time meeting someone that I really want to get to know…as a man.”

  “That’s wonderful, Leslie.” Sydney encouraged.

  “I want him to like me, too.” Leslie shrugged, then looked at her cane. “Even with my disability…”

  Curt and Sydney shared a look, before Sydney moved over to sit next to her sister.

  “You’ve come so far, Leslie, and we’re so proud of you. You’ve worked hard to walk again, and to start your life outside of a wheelchair. If someone doesn’t want you because you use a cane, they don’t deserve you.” Sydney told her.

  “Caelum didn’t seem to mind, but he could’ve just been being nice.” Leslie commented.

  “You’re getting stronger every day,” Curt said supportively. “And whether you walk with or without a cane, it doesn’t matter. We love you either way.”

  Leslie smiled. “You guys saved my life and I can never thank you enough. You got me out of that facility and helped me out of that chair. You’re the best.”

  “You’re the best,” Sydney told her, giving her a hug.

  “Aunt Leslie is the best ever!” C.K. shouted from across the room.

  “Yes, she is…” His parents agreed.

  ******

  That evening after dinner, Leslie showered, then slipped into her bed. Nervously, she picked up her phone and dialed Caelum on a video call. When his handsome face came on the screen, she smiled.

  “Hi,” Leslie whispered.

  “Not only do I get to hear your sweet voice, I get to see your pretty face, too?”

  Caelum began to memorize the brown sugar skin, big doe eyes under soft brows and kissable, pouty lips, under a slim nose. Her long dark silky hair was braided up into a cute style, that made her look both sweet and sexy. He’d already put to memory her five-foot five little toned frame, with nice little curves.