by B. Love
It took her some time to get over that because she felt like him dying was her fault. He was working so hard to get the house back, so she started to hate materialistic things. She wanted to stay in the hood and live a humble life as thanks to her husband for all that he’d given up for them.
But it was Ransom’s dream to provide for her the life his father wanted her to have.
“So how does this work?” Dr. Ranger looked from one to the other. “You both have different values and beliefs. Where love and marriage and family are important to you, Leigh could do without.”
“Well,” Leigh interjected, sitting up. “Not anymore. I know when we first started I told you that that was a huge difference between us and a problem, but not anymore. I don’t just want to be in a relationship with Ransom, I want us to eventually get married and have planned children as well. That’s why I’m here. Not for him, but for me. To make me better for myself. And him. Our baby. Our future.”
Ransom silently took her hand into his. Now he was the one zoning out. Because as Dr. Ranger asked her next question, Ransom stared at Leigh, completely tuning her out.
Ransom
It didn’t seem to work between them. The whole breaks and space thing. Every time they were supposed to be apart, they always seemed to find their way back to each other. This time was no different. Instead of going their separate ways after the therapy session, they were going to stop by Leigh’s place so she could change before having an early dinner.
Now that Ransom saw the unfamiliar car in her driveway, he was glad that he’d came. Yes, Leigh could protect herself, but as her man, that would always be his job. Especially now that she was pregnant. Leigh sighed and rolled her eyes as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“You know who that is?”
She nodded as the driver’s side door opened. “My daddy.”
“You wanna talk to him?”
Tilting her head, she shook it as Ricky leaned against his car. “I guess. I’m over the shit now, honestly.”
As serious of a moment as it was, Ransom couldn’t help but chuckle as he opened the door and headed over to hers. She was so nervous about seeing him at first, and now it was like she didn’t give a fuck. That was Leigh for you. She either cared too much or didn’t care at all.
They both watched as Ricky walked over to them, and Ransom couldn’t help but look for similarities between them. But the moment he looked down at Leigh, he couldn’t help but become enraptured by her beauty. Her smooth cocoa brown skin. Those under turned eyes. And when she looked up at him, that beautiful wide smile. Reserved only in this moment for him.
“You haven’t been answering my phone calls,” were the first words out of Ricky’s mouth.
Neither of them were in a rush to look at him, but when they finally did, Leigh said, “I’ve had a lot going on.”
“Look, I know you think I stood you up, but I didn’t. I apologize for taking the medicine so close to our meeting, but I couldn’t bare the pain anymore.”
Her shoulders relaxed as she thought over what he’d said. “What’s with your back? Is it arthritis or something?”
“Bad accident, ten years ago.”
Leigh nodded and stepped closer to Ransom’s side. “I’ma head out. Give y’all some privacy,” he offered, to which she shook her head and took his hand into hers.
“No. I don’t want you to go.” Leigh returned her attention to Ricky. Her head shook as she gritted her teeth. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for years. I thought I’d feel some type of happiness. Relief. To finally have you back here with me. But the truth of the matter is, I don’t feel anything. I guess that’s better than hating you or being sad, because it means I don’t need you in my life. But if you decide to be in it, that will be okay too.”
Ricky nodded as he hung his head and cupped his hands in front of him.
“I uh, I really want to be in your life. I know I have a lot of making up to do, and I’m willing to do that. I’m just grateful for the chance.”
Leigh looked up at Ransom as she smiled with one side of her mouth. “If you’d like, you can stay and join us for an early dinner. We were going to go to a restaurant, but I guess I can cook something here.”
“I would like that.”
Finally, his eyes trailed over to Ransom and Leigh introduced them. He decided to be cordial and respectful for the time being, but he still didn’t fully trust Ricky. Either way, Leigh would need someone in her corner if she decided to forge a relationship with him, because her sisters definitely wouldn’t feel the same way.
“I’m happier than I’ve been in a really long time, and that’s thanks to you,” Maria confessed, leaning against the wall as Jax opened the door of their suite. They’d taken a trip to Las Vegas for the weekend, and they hadn’t slept much since they’d arrived. That’s what Vegas did to you though – it filled you with so much excitement and adrenaline that you never wanted to sleep or leave. Well, people like them who loved to party and gamble.
“Gone with your drunk, emotional ass,” Jax teased, holding the door open for her so she could step in first.
“I’m serious, Jax, and I’m not drunk!” Maria giggled as she pushed herself off the wall. “I am tipsy but I’m still in my right mind.” A pout covered her face as she added, “You told me I could be soft, now you giving me a hard time about it!”
“Aight, aight. You right. I just want you to be like this all the time, not when you got some liquor in your system.”
Maria wrapped her arms around him, in no rush to enter the room. “I always feel like this with you. I just… sometimes… feel like it’s not safe to share that with you. Just because I don’t want to let you know how happy you make me and you switch up and use that against me.”
“Come on now, Maria. Do you really think I’m capable of doing some shit like that? Huh?”
“I know that in my heart. It’s just my mind that still needs time to get on the same page as us.”
Releasing her, Jax demanded, “Well you need to tell that motherfucker to hurry up.”
Maria pushed him away gently as she laughed, but her laugh faded when she finally made it into their suite and saw what he’d had done while they were out. A soft pout covered her face as she looked from the wine and fruit tray to the flowers in the middle of the bed and in the jacuzzi. Jax’s arms wrapped around her, reminding her that he was still there with her.
“This is beautiful, Jax. I love it.”
“I’m glad. I uh…”
Breath hitched, Maria waited impatiently to see if those three words would come out of his mouth. He chickened out, releasing a heavy breath instead. That was okay. Maria would wait. Because even if he never said the words, Jax showed her his love on a daily basis. And it was his consistency that made her heart feel safe enough to open up to him and trust him. Once her mind was on the same page everything would be golden.
“Jax,” she called softly, lowering his hand between her thighs. Since she was expecting him to make her wait again, Maria was filled with pure excitement turned pleasure when his hand slipped between her jeans and panties and began to slowly caress her clit as he nibbled on her neck.
“You sure you ready?”
“Yes,” she almost moaned, closing her eyes as pressure began to build within her.
His free hand slid into her shirt, cupping her breast with his warm palm. As he circled her neck with his tongue, Jax thumbed her nipple and caressed her clit through her panties with the same speed. She leaned back into him, surrendering herself to the pleasure that he was effortlessly giving her. Tilting her head back, Maria’s mouth opened slightly as her walls began to close. The seat of her panties were so fucking sticky and wet it was starting to become uncomfortable.
For so long she’d been anxious for the orgasmic ride he’d promised to take her on, and now, all she wanted was to feel him inside of her. As Jax bit down on her neck, uncontrollable shudders shot through her body as she climaxed. He held onto her, kee
ping her from doubling over or dropping onto the floor while he continued to caress her clit.
“That was one,” he informed, as if she didn’t feel it her damn self.
“No, Jax,” she pleaded as he removed his hands from her. “Just give me the dick. Please”
Jax laughed as he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. “Nah. You said you wanted to feel everything I had to offer right? So you cuming nine or ten times before I even give you this dick.”
“Jax, please! I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I promise I just need to have you inside of me. We can do all that extra shit tomorrow.”
Jax grumbled under his breath with a pout as he removed her clothing. At any other time, Maria would have found it funny before she gave in, but not tonight. Tonight, she wanted them to become one as quickly as possible.
“Can I at least taste this pretty as pussy, Maria?” Without waiting for her consent, Jax spread her legs and ran the tip of his tongue between her folds. “Can a nigga at least do that?”
“Ye–” Her consent turned into a moan when he latched onto her clit, sucking and licking it at the same time her back arched. Gripping the back of his head, Maria fed him more of her pussy as his tongue bent and twirled around her clit as he continued to suck. No one had ever mastered licking and sucking her clit at the same time, and that pressure alone was enough to have Maria’s eyes rolling into the back of her head as her toes curled. “Okay,” she surrendered, trying to push his head away. “That’s enough.”
Ignoring her, Jax used the full length of his tongue to slurp up the wetness that had gathered at her opening before licking her folds and clit until her body began to convulse as she came again.
Yea. No. Wouldn’t be no nine or ten of those tonight. Hell, she could barely handle the first two. Jax’s level of pleasure would definitely take some getting used to, but Maria was one hundred percent up for the challenge.
He placed the bends of the back of her knees on his shoulders and massaged her breasts as he continued to feast on her, eliciting slurs from within her throat that she’d never heard herself speak before. It was as if they both were speaking in foreign tongues.
“Damn,” he moaned as her nectar continued to pour. His finger slid inside of her, fucking her G-spot as he sucked her clit into his mouth.
“Jax,” she whined, pushing him away and pulling her deeper at the same time.
“This pussy wet as fuck, Maria. You really want this dick huh?”
Unable to speak, her head nodded as she gripped the sheets. Toes curling, Maria’s eyes squeezed shut as her pussy began to pulse. “Yesssss,” she managed to get out finally before her body began to quake. This time, when her orgasm subsided, Jax removed himself from between her legs and began to undress.
As she regulated her breathing, Maria watched him take his clothing off piece by piece until only the coverings of his tattoos remained. Biting down on her bottom lip, she found her eyes glued to his dick as he got back into bed. Back between her legs. She was unable to resist taking him into her hand and feeling his heavy girth as he leaned down to kiss her. Wrapping her legs around him, Jax gently pushed her hand away.
He coated the tip of his dick with her nectar before sliding it up and down her opening. Her slick folds. Pulling yet another orgasm out of her before even entering her. Then, he began to gently tap her clit with his head as he continued to slowly tongue kiss her, pinning her hands over her head when she tried to push him away. The rapid tapping was about to send her into her fifth orgasm, and Maria had finally gotten comfortable enough to crave it and welcome it instead of trying to hold back.
“What number was that?” he asked, slowly sliding into her with a cocky grin. She was so tight he could barely get his length inside of her. Thankfully, she was wet as hell, because his thickness was stretching her already. “How many was that, Maria?” he asked again, easing himself in inch by inch before pulling back out again.
“Five,” she confessed, opening her legs wider. “You owe me four,” she challenged, smiling wider at the sight of his. But that smile turned into her crying out when he gently rammed his way inside of her as he accepted her challenge with…
“Don’t run from this dick, and I got you.”
Jax
This trip was just what Jax needed it to be. What they both needed to be. Since they would be returning to Memphis soon, they decided to drive out to San Diego. Jax considered going to Malibu to see if he could feel closer to his brother, but the thought of being in the same city as his parents didn’t sit well with him.
It took them a little under five hours to get to San Diego, and their trip so far had been worth every second of the drive. After going to the mall, they walked along the beach, got their feet wet, and made a bonfire. They rotated two blunts before heading further up the sand and snagging a few tacos. Jax was convinced – no place had better tacos than Mexico and California.
As Maria bit into her third chicken taco, she rocked from side to side humming to herself with a smile on her face. Jax wanted to say it was the weed that had her in such a happy mood, but he knew that wasn’t the case. Still, he wanted to hear her say it, so he asked, “What you over there all happy about?”
Giggling, she covered her mouth to make sure no food would come out.
“Life,” was her simple answer, but she elaborated more when she was done chewing. “This is one of my favorite places to travel, and I love it more now that I’m with one of my favorite people. I’m high off some good weed. This food is good as hell. It feels so amazing on this beach. The view is love. I’m just happy, Jax. I wish life could be like this every day.”
Jax nodded in agreement as he wiped his mouth. “It could be if you moved here. Or somewhere with a beach. Have you considered that?”
Maria sighed as she looked out into the ocean. “I have, and I want to. I just feel like I got a lot of hustle left in me. When I move here, I want to be in a state of flow, you know? So I can really enjoy it.”
“I feel you. I’m the same damn way. Places like this got a different vibe to ‘em. If I moved here, I wouldn’t even wanna be in the streets no more. I’d just want to live the good life. Leave all that drug shit alone.”
“Exactly. Just let my legit money make money for me and enjoy my life.”
He didn’t want to make his suggestion too hastily, so Jax took a chug of his beer and allowed the thought to marinate before saying, “So why don’t we do that?”
Pulling her eyes back to his, Maria smiled with confusion covering her face. “Do what?”
“Hustle for a few more years, retire, then move here to flow.”
Her smile widened before it turned into a giggle. Jax didn’t have to look, but he was one hundred percent sure she was twinkling her toes under the table.
“Are you serious, Jax?”
“Dead ass. What you think?”
“So what does that mean? Is this your way of saying you want to marry me and have babies and shit, or do you mean to just have fun for some years before we go our separate ways?”
Jax chuckled, but it fell quickly, and his expression turned serious. “Ain’t no going our separate ways. Now that I got you, I ain’t letting your ass go.” Sitting back in his chair, Jax cupped his hands in his lap and repeated, “So what you think?”
There was still disbelief in her eyes, probably in her heart too. “So in like three to five years, we’re going to move here? Together?” Jax nodded and Maria chuckled. “Stop with the bullshit, Jax.”
“I’m serious as hell, Maria. I can show you better than I can tell you. All you gotta do is agree.”
Squeezing the back of her neck, Maria looked out into the ocean again before returning her eyes to his and smiling.
“Okay, it’s a deal.”
“You sure?”
Nodding adamantly, Maria stood and walked over to his side of the table. Straddling him, she blocked out their surrounding as she covered his lips with hers. And Jax didn’t mind at all.
No matter their surroundings, he would always accept her love and affection because of all the work he’d put in to make her comfortable enough to give them both.
If Christian would have known her mother had male company, she wouldn’t have come inside. If she would have known it was her father, she wouldn’t have come at all. Though she hadn’t seen Ricky in twenty-one years, there was no forgetting his face.
His beady brown eyes. Wide nose. Classic mustache goatee combo. Peanut butter brown, red hued skin. The main difference now was his weight. Christian remembered a slim version of Ricky. Now, he’d put on at least thirty pounds of grown man weight.
God had blessed them, because none of her sisters looked like Ricky. They looked like his mother. Like Ever. All having her cocoa brown skin and striking features. Leigh was shaped like his side of the family, but Christian was shaped like her mother’s side of the family. Maria had created a slim frame of her own with her active lifestyle and working out.
Christian always wondered how she would feel when she finally saw him. If she’d be angry, sad, happy. Right now, none of those feelings consumed her. If anything, Christian felt numb. Empty. As if all the space inside of her that was supposed to be filled with his love, care, guidance, protection, and nurture over the years was expanding – preparing to burst at the sight of him.
“I forgot you were coming over today,” Porsha blurted quickly. “His impromptu visit threw me off.”
That was believable, seeing as the front door was unlocked and that was never the case. It was as if he’d bombarded his way inside, just as he was trying to do in her and her siblings lives.
“It’s cool. I can come back later.”
Her body moved quicker than her eyes did. They rested on him a while longer. Maybe, deep in the pit of her, she wanted to tattoo this visual of Ricky inside her brain in case another twenty years passed before she saw him.