“I don’t even know what to say.” He let out a soft chuckle. “I’ve sold my work before plenty of times. I’ve had it featured in galleries too but this is amazing.” He handed me the phone and leaned over to kiss my temple.
“Riri!” A sleepy little voice squeaked from the back seat.
“River!” I laughed, equally happy. He was tall like his daddy but I carried him in the house because I missed him. We sat on his new bed in his room and he showed me every toy he had. Roman was in the living room cleaning up and I was happy. I was so fucking happy.
“Wanna see my picture?” River asked. I nodded and he brought me a picture of what looked to be a dog. “I made it.” He beamed with a smile and his dimples melted me. His eyes shone bright and I could see that he was happy too.
The beauty of Roman’s heart had the power to do that. Being in his presence made people happy. Without warning, River crashed into me with a hug, burying his face in my chest. “I missed you, Riri.”
“I missed you too, kid. I don’t like when I can’t see you,” I sighed.
“Me either. Can you stay? Don’t leave.”
“I’ll stay for the night.”
“Longer.”
“I don’t know, River. I’ll try.” I pushed out a breath and squeezed him a little tighter. Roman let me put River to bed and I kissed his forehead before reading him a story while I laid beside him.
He was asleep in no time. I couldn’t explain the feeling that swallowed me when I felt his light snores rumbling against me. I knew it was love though. How could Michelle ever mistreat him? He was such a sweet boy. How could any parent mistreat their child? How could my father mistreat me?
I pried myself away from River’s warm body and backed out of his dark room. The only light was the Paw Patrol night-light in the corner, casting a soft glow. I backed right into Roman’s solid frame. I spun around and he steadied me with his hands on my waist.
“Shit, you scared me,” I laughed with my hand on my chest.
“You really love him, don’t you?” He asked. There was a look on his face I couldn’t place but it made my insides clench.
“So much,” I nodded. Roman kissed my lips then held me.
“That means more to me than you’ll ever know, Zuri. You don’t have to love him but you do and it’s not for show. I can tell.”
“I can’t even explain it but he’s such an amazing child. I want him to be happy.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He pulled me into his room and we sat on the bed, facing each other.
“You don’t ever have to thank me for loving River. It was involuntary,” I smiled. “Just like loving you.”
“Was loving me involuntary?” He quizzed, stroking my hair then the side of my face.
“Yes. I realized it all at once. You’d become a part of my universe and without warning; you existed in every space of my world. Even when everything seemed to crash together and break, you were there in the jagged pieces and in the healing ones too. You’d become the needle and thread stitching together my galaxies.
I became the glue holding yours together. It was involuntary. Nobody ever plans to create a universe. It just happens.”
“Big bang,” he said staring at me.
“Big bang,” I nodded.
“I wish I could explain what I see when you talk, Zuri. Your words…” He shook his head and pulled me in, his fingers wrapped around the back of my neck. We kissed then he pulled back a bit. “It’s like every word holds a different color, uses a different brush stroke. One day I’m going to paint while you talk and show you,” he insisted.
“That sounds amazing,” I laughed.
Words faded into nothingness as Roman’s hands traveled the curve of my waist and mine slid under his shirt. His skin was warm and smooth. I caressed each hard dip and ridge like I was reading a love story made from the parts of his body.
Once my clothes were off, I straddled him and peered down, my hair sweeping to one shoulder. “You’re so damn beautiful,” he marveled. He looked at me like I was a work of art in the Louvre.
I felt him stiffen beneath me and shut my eyes at how my body reacted to his. I eased on top of his stiff cock and moaned as he penetrated me. I rocked my body and drew circles on top of him with my hips. They looped together over and over while his hands gripped my waist.
“I love you,” I moaned, looking down at him. I felt the surge of my climax building and Roman bucked into me from below, making me cry out.
“I love you too, princess.” He grabbed my ass and a shiver snaked down my spine.
“Roman!” I cried out, bouncing faster and faster until the bed whined beneath us.
“Soak my dick, Zuri. It’s all yours.” It was all mine. All. Mine. “Cum for me, baby.” He commanded and my body obeyed. My spine curved forward and Roman’s mouth connected with my breast, nibbling on my nipple until I convulsed around his cock.
“Shit,” he groaned. His warm breath tickled my skin, sending goosebumps across my chest and shoulders. I felt him empty into me and I savored it while I moved my hips around and around. “Zuri,” he called, clutching me. “Fuck…you gotta stop moving.” He chuckled.
“You feel so good though,” I whined.
“You feel good too. Too damn good. My soul left a long time ago.”
I laughed and sat still on top of him, feeling the way he throbbed inside of me, stretching my pussy. I was made for him, it seemed. We fit like hand and glove.
While we laid in bed together, I looked at the glow in the sky and ran over to the window, naked. Roman sighed and tossed me his shirt. “Don’t stand in front of the window naked, princess. You belong to me and I will spank you.” He slapped my ass and I yelped with a giggle.
“It’s snowing,” I said with a sigh, turning to face him.
“It is…it’s beautiful.” He backed me against the window then his lips fell to my bare shoulder where his shirt slipped down. “Have you ever been fucked against a window in the winter while the snow falls?” He asked, lifting me.
“No,” I breathed. “Can you make that happen for me, Daddy?” I purred, pulling his bottom lip in my mouth.
“Absolutely.” He rubbed my clit, sliding his hand between us. “You wanna watch me or the snow falling?” He asked while he pinched my nipples.
“I want to watch you while I watch the snow fall.” He lowered me to my feet and spun me around so that I faced the window again. He pushed his shirt up around my hips and sank into me. I was so wet for him already. He electrified me down to my toes.
I watched our reflection in the window as snowflakes floated to the ground, coating it in a white blanket. My breath fogged up the window while I threw my ass back on Roman, moaning with every stroke.
The icy window met my nipples while he fucked me relentlessly and it made me shiver. “Are you going to make my dick creamy with your sweet pussy, princess?”
“Yes!” I moaned, making the circle of fog spread across the window.
“Such a good girl. Cum for daddy.”
“Mmm, I’m so close.”
“I know. I feel it. You’re so tight, Zuri. So fucking perfect.” I came while he uttered his last word and he let out an animalistic noise. It was a noise that possessed me. I was his.
I pouted when he pulled out of me quickly. But in the next breath, he lifted me high against the window and positioned my thighs on his shoulders so that he was face to face with my pussy. When his tongue connected with my clit, I tossed my head back and let out a string of curse words.
He left his marks on both of my thighs and he didn’t stop until I was a puddle. Until juices ran down my thighs and his chin. By the time he let me down, I couldn’t do anything but kneel before him because I damn sure couldn’t stand.
His thick dick stared at me, hard and proud and I took him in my mouth. I couldn’t stare that thing down without tasting it. Roman fisted my hair and fucked my mouth until he came. I caught it all. I didn’t want to miss a drop.
/> After we climbed out of the shower, Roman looked at me and smiled. “Can you help me with something?”
“Sure, what’s up?” I asked.
“I need to put presents under the tree for River. You know he’s never really had a true Christmas? I wanted to go all out for him.” He took me into his art room and opened the closet. The entire thing was filled with wrapped presents from the floor to the ceiling. I laughed and nodded my head.
“Roman, this is so fucking awesome. River is going to lose his shit. Let’s put them under the tree,” I beamed. It took us an hour to get all of River’s things under there but once we were done, it looked like any kid’s dream. I couldn’t wait to see his little face light up in the morning.
We fell asleep in his bed, watching the snow and talking until our conversation turned into snores. I was full and satiated.
**
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” Roman’s voice pulled me from my warm sleep but I was fine with it because I got to stare into his eyes.
“Merry Christmas,” I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. When I was done rubbing my eyes, I noticed a small box in Roman’s palm. “I got you something.”
I plucked it from his hand and grinned from ear to ear. I felt horrible though because I couldn’t get him anything. “Roman, thank you but I didn’t have a chance to get you anything. I’ve been on lockdown.”
“Christmas isn’t about getting gifts. It’s about giving. You gave me more than you know. Open it. I have more to give you. I wanted to wake up before River so I could watch your face light up too.” When he moved off of the bed, I saw the small pile of gifts on the floor at the foot of the bed.
I didn’t pretend to hide my giddiness.
I opened the jewelry box first and gasped when I saw a beautiful, gold butterfly necklace. Roman put it on and clasped it for me. “This is gorgeous,” I rushed to the mirror and stared at the way it shone against my chocolate skin. It meant the world to me and I nearly choked him with my hug.
“I don’t know how much longer you have at Aspen Grove but I know it won’t be the same now that I’m gone. I wanted you to have a butterfly with you no matter what.” I thought my heart would pop.
I fell to the floor like a little kid and tore through the pile of gifts. He’d gotten me a set of handcrafted ink pens, lacy panties, a pair of earrings, and twelve journals all individually wrapped. I was over the moon.
Still…nothing compared to watching River tear through his presents and squeal each time with delight. That boy had more things than any kid his age knew what to do with. He deserved it though.
**
Roman
Spending Christmas with Zuri was unlike anything I could have imagined. I was finally calm. I’d been in a state of unrest since we hadn’t been able to be alone. For weeks, I tossed and turned and dreamt of her eyes. I missed her.
Seeing her in class wasn’t the same even though it was better than not seeing her at all. Now I wouldn’t be able to see her there either. I wasn’t looking forward to winter break being over. I decided to focus on the moment though. I couldn’t tomorrow away all my today’s.
I sat on the couch while she played with River and his mountain of new toys. His eyes and laughter were bright spots in my soul when I got down, thinking about not knowing how to see Zuri. He kept me afloat.
“Okay guys, we have to get ready to go to grandma and grandpa’s,” I said, after reading a text from my mother, reminding me that River still had gifts to open at their house. Since getting sole custody of my son, my relationship with my parents had been easier to tolerate but I still struggled with allowing them so deep into my life. River was already attached though.
“Okay, Daddy,” River hopped up with all the energy of an almost four-year-old, and ran to his room.
“Okay, Daddy ,” Zuri purred, standing up and kissing my lips. It was perfect. I wanted to take a snapshot of that moment and save it forever. I wanted our entire lives to be moments that mimicked that one.
“You better behave, princess. Daddy will spank you later.”
“I don’t think that’s as much of a threat as you were hoping,” she crinkled her nose up and laughed before sliding her hands along my chest.
“Oh yeah? You know after River goes to sleep…it’s on.”
“Let it be on then,” she held her arms out and I couldn’t resist tickling her sides. I tossed her petite frame over my shoulder and carried her into my room. I dropped her on the bed and she squealed from behind a mess of dark curls. I pounced on top of her and bit her neck playfully but the way she moaned was anything but playful.
“Zuri, you can’t make noises like that.”
“Why not, Daddy?” She asked quietly. I had to move before I fucked her right there on the bed. I was glad I moved too because River came in…naked. Zuri and I both laughed and got him dressed.
Maurice opened the door for us when we arrived and I took my glass of champagne with a smile and nod. “Merry Christmas, Maurice.”
“Merry Christmas, Mr. Clermont.” I nudged Zuri and she placed the gift I’d gotten him in his hand. His eyes grew wide and he smiled.
“Thank you for putting up with my parents, Maurice.” He let out a hearty laugh and opened the envelope. Inside were tickets to a Broadway play. “I know you never get to enjoy things so I want you and whoever you choose to have a night on the town. You deserve it.”
“Mr. Clermont…I don’t know what to say. This means a lot. Thank you,” he embraced me and I patted his back.
“Don’t mention it,” I told him. Zuri and I moved into the living room where River had already found the ten-foot Christmas tree with gifts stacked taller than he was. The second round of Christmas had begun.
Zuri curled up beside me on the couch while we watched the tornado of wrapping paper and boxes fly through the air. Even though I was inside the Clermont bubble, everything felt right.
We ate dinner with my parents and I was floored that they decided to skip their annual Christmas party to have family time with River, Zuri, and me. I’d never seen anything like it. My parents didn’t miss a chance to throw a party. Ever.
Near the end of the night, my mother pulled me to the side while everyone else was laughing and sharing dessert. “Thank you for skipping your party, Mom. I know that was hard for you.”
“Not really. My son and grandson were more important…also, my future daughter-in-law. Roman, I’ve never seen you in love like this before. You look so…peaceful. It’s one thing to be happy. Ice cream can make you happy but to find something that puts you at peace? Well, that’s better than happiness.” Her eyes glittered when she looked up at me. Emotion rippled off of her.
“That’s true, Mom. I never thought about it like that.”
“Well, you should. That girl…she transforms you into another person. She’s absolutely beautiful and not just on the outside, Roman. She loves your son. She stuck by your side. She’s a good person. She’s not after your name.”
“I know, that’s one of the many reasons I love her.” I looked past my mother and smiled at the way Zuri pretended to steal River’s dimples and put them in her pocket.
“Can I ask you a serious question, Roman?”
“Of course.” I put my arms around her and kissed her cheek. It meant a lot to feel genuine love coming from her and to see it executed in the way her and my father decided to spend Christmas.
“Are you going to cut us off from seeing River?”
“I don’t know. I guess not. I’ll take it one step at a time. If I feel like he’s seeing things that will alter his good heart then, yes. Without hesitation. If you two plan to be like this from here on out then…no.”
“I can accept that. Now, I have another question,” she said, looking up at me with eyes that matched mine.
“I’m listening,” I said, lifting my eyebrow quizzically.
“Are you going to marry Zuri? I know it’s a question for much further in the future but you’re
like Henri. You know when you want to keep something forever.” I nodded my head with a chuckle. She was right. I didn’t need to think it over for years. I knew what was mine the moment I saw it.
Zuri was mine.
“Yes, Mom. I’m going to marry her the minute it’s feasible. If that means waiting until she graduates college, then I’ll wait. If it means waiting until she turns eighteen, I’ll wait. I think time will let us know.”
“But you do know without a doubt that she’s going to be your wife?”
“Absolutely. My heart already tells me she’s my wife.” I stared at her again, looking beyond my mother. She was so damn beautiful.
“That’s what your father and I thought.” She sucked in a breath and held my hands in hers. “I want to give this to you, Roman. When the time is right, give it to Zuri.” I opened my hand and saw her glittering engagement ring. She never wore it because she opted to wear the platinum wedding band instead but she used to show it to me when I was younger. She told me that she would know when it would be time to give it to me.
I never understood as a child because I was a boy and I didn’t know why she’d want to give me a sparkly diamond ring. It went right over my head and I didn’t think much about it afterward. Now, the memory crashed into me as I looked at the way it shone under the light.
“Wow, this was your great-great grandmother’s ring.”
“Now it’ll be Zuri’s. She should get it because she gives you peace.”
I bent down and hugged my mother, pressing her slender frame against mine. “Thank you, Mom. I’ll hold on to it until the stars align.”
“Okay, baby. I want to at least see pictures of the proposal,” she sighed.
“I can do that.” I slipped the ring in my pocket and we rejoined everyone.
“Everything okay?” Zuri leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“Everything is perfect,” I smiled and kissed her temple.
**
In two short nights, I’d gotten used to sleeping beside Zuri. Now, I was sitting in front of her mother’s house, trying to say goodbye. She checked in with her mom and asked if her father had been looking for her but found that he hadn’t. Her mother only told her that he called on Christmas to rub in her face that both her and Zuri were alone.
The Monarch Room Page 25