by Anna Black
“I know, Chase, but, baby, I-I-I,” she stuttered. “I’m not on any birth control.”
“I heard you, Madison.”
“So, why did you do that?” Her eyes watered.
“Because I just wanted to make love to you, baby. I wanted to feel you, Madison. I love you, baby. And this was the first time I’ve ever felt a woman’s flesh around me. I’ve never been skin-to-skin, flesh-to-flesh to a woman, babe.”
A tear fell from her eyes. “I wanted to feel you too, but I don’t know if I’m ready to have more kids. Losing my babies . . .” she cried.
Chase hadn’t even thought of that. He hadn’t even thought of pregnancy. He just wanted her. “Shhh, baby, come here,” he said, rolling off of her. She sat up on the step, still crying. He wiped her tears away and ran his hand over her curly mane. “I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t think of kids or tomorrow or the cost. I just wanted to be with you and experience your body. I’m so sorry.” He kissed the side of her face and tasted her salty tears. “Please, baby, forgive me. Hopefully, we are good. I mean, if we are not, it’s totally my fault, and I’ll accept whatever you decide. I swear.”
“I’m okay; I just don’t know about more kids.”
“Ever?” he asked, hoping that wasn’t the case. Now that he had fallen for her and started to get used to being a one-woman man, he realized he wanted to be a dad. If he and Madison married, he wanted kids.
“I don’t know, Chase. I lost both of my boys at the same time to an accident. I’d be crazy, I’d be a wreck, I’d be paranoid, I would be overprotective and guard my child with my life. I’d be so insane that I wouldn’t want my child to leave my sight,” she cried.
He held her tightly. “Baby, what happened to the twins and Dre had nothing to do with you not being a good mother, or you not protecting your kids. I’m sure you were a great mother, and that you will be a great mother to our children. I know you will.”
“Our children?” she looked at him.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I know you miss your sons and that losing them was hard for you, baby, but you’re here. Your life goes on, and you have to be happy again. Someday, even if it’s not with me, you will get remarried, and you’ll be blessed with more children.”
Madison rested her head on his shoulder, and he rocked her. After a while, they went up to bed. The next morning, they both decided to go in late. Chase made her a late breakfast when they finally got up.
“Hey, baby,” he said when she entered the kitchen.
“Hey. I see you’ve been paying attention to the cooking lessons we’ve been giving you.”
He walked over and kissed her cheek and smiled. “Yes, between you, my mom, Gina, and Cedric, I know my way around a bit.” He put a plate of eggs, toast, grits, and sausage on the island for her, and she sat down. “You want orange juice or apple?” he asked.
“Orange is fine.” She lowered her head to say grace.
Chase poured her juice, and before he could join her, his phone spun on the island. They both looked at the screen. It was Hope. They looked at each other.
“Answer it,” Chase said.
She raised an eyebrow. “Me?”
“Yes, answer it and see what she wants.”
She picked it up and swiped the screen. “Hello, Hope, this is Madison. Chase is busy at the moment. Is there something I can help you with?” She listened. “I’ll be sure to give him the message. Have a good one.”
“What did she say?” he asked when she hung up.
“Just wanted to make sure you remembered her dad’s birthday dinner this coming Sunday.”
“Yes, I remember. Wasn’t planning to attend.”
“Why not?”
He looked at her. “You know why, Madison.”
“No, why?”
“I don’t like to be in the same room with Hope and her father. All he talks about is giving her away to me someday.”
“Oh, so her parents want you with her too? Interesting.” She bit into her toast.
“Yep, that was the Gardeners’ plan.”
“Well, why don’t you go and take me?” She put her fork down when he laughed. “I’m serious,” she said.
“Madison, it’s better for me not to attend.”
“Okay, since you’re scared to show up with me.” She picked up her fork again and took a bite of her food.
“What? You know that’s far from the truth. I love you, babe. I want everyone to know that you’re mine and that I’m off the market.”
“Well, prove it. Take me to the party.”
“Fine, we’re going to the party.”
She smiled. “Aw, baby, you are so sweet, but we don’t have to go. I just wanted to see if you’d take me.”
“Yes, I am sweet, and we are going, so joke’s on you.”
“No, seriously, I don’t want to go.”
“Now, I do, and you are coming. Your man has spoken.” He went over and kissed her. “Now, finish your breakfast. I have to run home for a fresh suit and head to the office.”
“Okay. Will you come by the salon later? I still have boxes to unpack, and I know I won’t be done by six.”
“I will, and I’ll grab dinner.”
“Thank you, baby.”
He gave her one last kiss. “I love you. Be good.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter Sixteen
“So, Madison, how long have you and Chase been dating?” Shelby asked. She was one of the town gossipers who pretended to be a woman of God but was always up in somebody’s business.
Madison smiled. “Almost four months now.” She didn’t want to be chatting with that group, but Deena and the girls hadn’t made it yet, and people were pulling Chase’s arm left and right.
She had gotten cornered at the bar by the yammering crew of East Texas. “Four months? Really? How did you ever tame that man?” Melissa asked.
Madison shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. We met at his parents’ anniversary party. We talked, and he asked me out.”
“That’s it?” Terri asked. “I mean, Chase Storm is not an easy win, so you had to do something.”
Do something? Madison thought. There were no tricks up her sleeve, no magic wand or make-him-your-man potion in her purse.
Just as she opened her mouth to respond, Chase walked up. Thank God, she thought. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said, “but I need to borrow Madison.” He smiled and kissed her on her cheek. “Baby, I have someone I want you to meet.”
The ladies gawked, and Madison felt good that they thought she had some secret remedy to snag one of the finest men in East Texas.
“Sure. Excuse me, ladies.” Madison smiled.
“Bye, Chase,” the women sang in unison as they eyed the couple. Chase hit them with his charming smile. “Evening, ladies.”
“Thanks for rescuing me,” Madison said as they walked away.
“Anytime. I know that’s the gossiping crew of Tyler. What did they ask? How did you tame a man like me?”
“They did. How’d you guess?”
“Because the fellas kept asking the same thing. They want to know what you did to turn me into an honest man.”
Madison stopped walking. “Well, what’s your answer?”
“The answer is absolutely nothing.”
“Is that right?” she asked, putting her arms around his neck.
“Well, there was that one thing you did,” he joked, “but they don’t need to know that.”
She swatted his arm. “You are bad.”
“No, baby, you are, and I’m ready to blow this joint and take you home and spread them big thighs.”
“Calm down, baby. I’m still waiting for the girls to arrive.”
“Do we have to? I’ve already spoken to Mr. Gardener, assured Mrs. Gardener that you were a real date and not one for hire, and I’ve managed to keep my conversation with Hope under three minutes. Now that I’ve shown my face, we can go. You know, hot tub, wine, and . . .” He licked his lips. �
�You know I’m dying to taste you again, and now that you’re on the pill, we can enjoy each other at any given moment without worry.”
“I haven’t started them yet, Chase. I will on my next cycle. You are lucky those tests were all negative. The doctor said to take another one in a week, but I think we’re okay.”
“Again, I’m sorry. And since that night, you’ve been holding out on me, so tonight, I’m ready to get it in, baby.”
“We will.” She looked over his shoulder. “There’s Deena and Travis.”
He turned. “Okay, we say hello, and then we’re out.”
“No, Tasha and Gina are coming,” she said, pulling him in Deena’s direction.
“We don’t have to wait for them. It’s been almost a week, Madi. Let’s blow this joint.”
She stopped and turned to him. “How about we meet at my truck? I’ll give you a little head. That should hold you until we go home.”
“Oh shit, Madison, you just made my dick hard,” he confessed. She laughed but couldn’t respond because Deena and Travis were approaching. “Bathroom,” Chase said and rushed off.
“What’s wrong with him?” Deena asked when she reached Madison.
“Nothing, just something I said.” She winked at Deena.
“Let me go check on him,” Travis said after giving Madison a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
“So, my brother-in-law said the L-word? Are you serious? What did you do to him, Madison?”
“I didn’t do anything. Chase came by last Monday night after we had this argument about Hope Gardener calling his phone so much after business hours, and Tony was over. Instead of him ringing the bell, he sits in his car sulking for two hours. And then when Tony left after one in the morning, Chase gets out acting like a crazy man.”
“Wait a minute. Why was Tony at your house until after one a.m.?”
“That was the night his dad passed. You know he and I have a history. He just wanted someone to talk to. Anyway, after Chase went through my house inspecting my bedroom and shit, he comes back and tells me the idea of me being with another man makes him crazy. Then he admitted that he loved me.”
“That is fucking crazy. I never thought I’d see the day when he’d love anyone other than himself.”
“So I’ve heard. Was he that bad? I mean, because I can’t see him being that person. He is such a gentleman with me. So romantic and passionate in bed, and, girl, when he’s inside of me, I forget about everything and everybody. It’s like only he, and I exist. Deena, I’m in love, girl, I love Chase, and I pray that he’s changed, because every time someone gets wind that I’m with him, they frown and make faces, asking me two or three times if I am talking about the same Chase Storm. Even Sister Roberts was at my parents’ house one day, talking about how Chase was sleeping with two of her granddaughters at the same time, and they knew it.”
“Yes, Madison, he was that bad. I warned you. I told you what you were getting into when you first started seeing him.”
“But he didn’t lie to me, Deena. He told me the first day that some would say these things about him, but he said that he wanted to change; that he was ready to change. And I trust him. He hasn’t given me any reason not to. Of course, the first six weeks, his phone would not stop ringing. But those women gradually stopped blowing up his phone.” She frowned. “All but crazy-ass Hope. She’s going to make me check her ass.”
“Well, rumor has it that she was promised to Chase.”
Madison laughed. “Promised to him? What is this, the Middle East? There are no fixed unions in America.”
“What’s so funny?” Gina asked from behind.
“Yes, what’s the joke?” Tasha asked.
Deena answered. “We were just talking about how folks swore Chase would eventually end up with Hope Gardener. You know how she would be the one Chase eventually settled down with?”
“Well, they were wrong,” Gina said.
“Dead wrong,” Deena agreed.
“Yes, because Madison done put it on him,” Tasha said. They all laughed.
“Yes, you did, Madison. Chase was by the house the other day, and it was Madison this, Madison that. When I told Lance, he didn’t believe me.”
“No one thought he’d settle down,” Deena said.
Snatching a glass of champagne from a server walking by, Tasha said, “I now believe that there is a God.” They all laughed.
Chase walked up. “Hey, ladies, I need to borrow Madison. She sorta promised me something.”
Madison winked, and the girls giggled. “And what’s that, Chase?” Gina inquired.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Deena teased. “Go and handle your business. She waved a hand at Madison.
“We’ll be back,” Madison yelled over her shoulder as Chase pulled her away.
They were cut off by Hope. “Chase, hold on a minute. Where you running off to? It’s time for Daddy’s toast. Oh, hi, Madison,” she said when Chase pulled her up beside him. “I didn’t see you.”
Madison clicked her tongue. “I’m sure you didn’t. We were on our way out. Would you excuse us?” She pulled Chase’s hand to leave.
“Fat bitch.”
Madison stopped in her tracks and turned back. She narrowed her eyes. “What did you say?”
“Excuse me?” Hope made a wide-eyed, innocent face.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Baby, let’s go.”
“Yes, let’s.” Chase put his arm around Madison’s waist and pulled her in for a kiss before they walked out.
When they got to her Suburban, Chase got into the driver’s seat.
“The nerve of her.”
“Baby, don’t sweat that,” he said. “Hope’s a joke.”
“I know, but if she thinks that, imagine what everyone else is thinking.”
“Does it matter? What matters is what I think.”
“And what’s that, Chase? I’ve also been told you’ve never been with a plus-sized woman before. What made you pick me?”
He swallowed hard and rubbed his head.
“Seriously, Chase.”
“Baby, what? What do you want me to say? I think you’re beautiful. At first glance, I wasn’t thinking ‘Oh, she’s hot,’ but after talking to you and spending time with you, that changed.”
“So, you were not attracted to me when we first met?”
“Do you want me to be honest?”
“No, I want you to lie. Come on, Chase; I want the truth. What were your thoughts of me when Damon introduced us again for the fourth time?”
“I was thinking ‘She’s pretty. A bit heavy but pretty.’”
“And that’s it? Not that I was a ‘fat bitch’?”
“Hell no. I will admit the truth, and this is only because I’m in love with you, Madison. You are beautiful to me inside and out, baby. I honestly had never dated, touched, or even approached a full-figured woman in my life; well, maybe back in college, once, but after just talking to you that night, after hearing your laugh, your conversation . . . And that smile, baby. Your smile is hypnotic. Your eyes, those light brown eyes . . . You just won me over. So, no, initially I wasn’t attracted to you. But who cares? I’m attracted to you now, and I love you.”
She wasn’t thrilled with that answer, but he was with her—a plus-sized beauty—and not Hope the six back in the banquet hall. “Let’s go home,” she said, looking out of the window.
Chase sighed. “Baby, please tell me that you’re not mad.”
“No, I’m not. What matters is the here and now.”
“You’re right,” he said and cranked the engine.
They drove back to her place in silence, and when they got in, she went straight up to her room and undressed. She was in a bad mood, but when Chase joined her in the shower and went down on his knees to lick her clit, all was forgotten. He lifted one of her thick thighs over his shoulder to gain better access, and she came at the sight of him pleasing her center.
Although he begged to penetrate her ra
w, she insisted that he use a condom until she started her pills.
He pleaded again, promising he’d pull out. “Baby, I just want to feel your flesh again.”
“I want to feel you too, baby, but I can’t. We can’t get pregnant.”
“Okay,” he said and put on the plastic. They made love, and when they finally collapsed, Madison promised herself that she’d forget all she heard and trust her man.
Chapter Seventeen
Chase sat outside of Madison’s newly remodeled salon, now also a spa, with a ring in hand. Everyone was going to be there, but he was scared as hell to ask her. Not that he thought she’d say no, but he wondered if he could actually be a husband, a one-woman man. He had made it five months with Madison, and he didn’t need that last month to prove he was capable of getting to know and stay with one woman. His brothers did know what was best for him. Why they chose Madison was a mystery, but he was glad they did.
He got out, let out a deep breath, and put the ring into his pocket and grabbed the rose bouquet from the passenger seat. “It’s now or never,” he told himself. “I’m ready. Madison is perfect for me. Not picture-perfect to the world, but picture-perfect to me.” He straightened his tie.
“Baby, you finally made it,” Madison said when he walked through the door. “I was wondering what was keeping you.”
“I’m sorry, babe, got a little behind.” He kissed her. “These are for you. Congratulations. The place looks amazing.”
“Thanks. And you are wearing that suit. Blue looks good on you, Daddy.”
“Well, red does compliment your beautiful skin,” he said, caressing her arm.
“Madison, can we get a photo of you and Chase?” the photographer asked.
“Of course. Let me put these down.” She put the roses to the side on a little table. Chase wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in close to him.
“Now, face him,” the photographer instructed after he’d snapped the picture.
She did as instructed, and Chase smiled at her. “You’re beautiful, and I love you,” he said.
The camera captured their kiss.
“Beautiful. That was perfect. Now, we need you over here,” the photographer told Madison.