Back to Life Series Box Set

by Danielle Allen

  This December, I am in bed, struggling to get up because of a sexual experience that blew my mind and my back out with a man who made me feel safe in a relationship I could count on.

  I marveled at how last December seemed like a lifetime ago.

  My entire life has changed. I smiled. For the better.

  I pushed the comforter off my naked body and filled my lungs with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and bacon. I wasn’t sure if anything else was being cooked, but coffee and bacon were pretty much a five-star breakfast in my book.

  I groaned as I sat up. My body hurt in the best way. My lips felt bruised, the memory of where they’d been seared into them. I rubbed my thighs tenderly and felt my mouth turn up into a smile as I recalled how far my legs were stretched, pushed, and spread. I wasn’t in pain, but I knew without my pills, I was going to pay for the acrobatics I exhibited.

  But in my defense, I’d been waiting for CJ for almost a year. I couldn’t help myself!

  I tiptoed downstairs toward the kitchen in a T-shirt I found on CJ’s chair. With the smell of coffee and bacon guiding me along the way, I had tunnel vision. But something caught my eye as I passed a messy office I hadn’t noticed before. I took a couple of steps backward and I froze.

  The collage on the wall had my full, undivided attention.

  “Cedi?” I called out as I eyed the photos and degrees dubiously. My heart seemed to even beat with a question mark attached.

  Coming up behind me, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck. “Good morning.” He yawned. “I’m not usually a morning person, but after that thing you did last night, you deserved breakfast.”

  Although my mind was distracted, my body relaxed into his embrace.

  When I didn’t speak, he leaned around to get a better look at my face. “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s that?” I pointed to a huge collage of photos and diplomas.

  He let out an almost shy chuckle. “My mom has this thing about graduations so she gets a picture at every graduation ceremony and mounts it with a copy of the diploma. Those aren’t my real diplomas if that’s what you’re wondering.”

  I shook my head, unable to breathe. I walked closer to the display, with him in tow, and pointed to them all. My eyes lingered on the elementary school diploma.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I thought the C in CJ stood for Cedi.”

  He gave me a look. “No, I mean kind of. In Ghana, cedi is the currency…as in cash. My real name is Cash, but no one really calls me that since Aja died. I kind of wanted that to die with her because honestly, I’m a different man because of her death. Cedi is what my grandparents had called me since birth and it’s always been a nickname that only people close to me use.” He kissed my neck again.

  I loved that he was being so open with me and I wanted to ask more questions about his family and how he was doing with his sister’s upcoming birthday. I wanted to talk to him about what he was saying, but I couldn’t get over one point. “Your name is Cash?”

  “Yes,” he said slowly. “Cash James Addo. That’s my full name. I wasn’t hiding it from you. It would’ve come up eventually.”

  Stepping out of his arms, I waved his explanation off. “You said your mom was born and raised in Georgia and that you lived all around the—“

  “Florida Georgia line,” he finished the sentence for me.

  “Did you ever live in Thomasville?”

  “Yeah for a little bit when I was younger.”

  I put my hands on my cheeks and stepped away from him. “Why didn’t you say anything when I told you I was from Thomasville?”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “You didn’t tell me you were from there. You told me you lived in The Bluffs and even though that’s technically Thomasville, you know that’s the rich part that no one really considers Thomasville. Don’t most of those kids over there go to private school anyway? I didn’t even know your studio was in Thomasville until you had the fall showcase.”

  “But you never brought it up.”

  He shrugged, lifting his palms up in confusion. “I didn’t think about it really. I lived a bunch of places though. If I named all twenty places I’ve lived, fourteen of those places were from when I was a kid. We moved around a lot.” He seemed to get exasperated for a second. “Why are you asking me all of these questions right now, before we’ve had coffee? Are you mad that you didn’t know my full legal name before we had sex? Because the look on your face right now is throwing me off. Talk to me.” He reached for my arms but they were still bent since I was still holding my face. Pulling me anyway, my entire body became flush with his.

  “You went to Thomasville Elementary when you were there, right? Do you remember an Emanuel Mills? Manny?”

  “Yeah, yeah I do. Vaguely,” he nodded, pointing to the fifth grade graduation picture alongside his elementary school diploma. “Mainly because that was one of the only houses I was allowed to go to for playdates.” He shook his head. “Love my parents, but they were strict.”

  He walked closer to the display and directed me to a picture with CJ and about five other boys in their caps and gowns. As I got closer, he pointed at a dark haired, grey eyed kid in the background with his cap tilted to the side.

  Manny.

  I instantly started laughing hysterically.

  CJ smiled and kind of started laughing with me. “What’s so funny?” Then he stopped laughing. “You didn’t used to—”

  “Gross! No! That’s my brother.”

  “Wait…” He stared at me for a long time. “Manny is your brother?”

  I nodded. “Yes, but here’s what’s so funny. You used to come over when we were little and I had the biggest crush on you. Sahara had a crush on Manny and I had a crush on you.”

  His jaw dropped. “Bullshit?”

  “I’m so serious,” I gasped between deep belly laughs.

  I could barely look at him as he tried to make sense of what I was saying.

  He shook his head with a confused chuckle. “Bullshit! Are you kidding me right now?”

  Doubling over, I started laughing all over again.

  “That doesn’t even make any sense.” He scratched his head. “How?”

  I clutched my side as tears pricked my eyes. My laugh was loud and over the top as I scrambled upstairs to get my cell phone. CJ was on my heels.

  “What are you doing? You can’t even talk right now!” He chuckled as I struggled to get to my contact list and call Sahara.

  I was still giggling when she picked up on the second ring.

  “Hey, I was just about to call—,” Sahara greeted me before stopping suddenly. “Why are you laughing like that?”

  “Sahara, Sahara, listen,” I snickered. “You’re on speaker phone right now. CJ is in the room. Lots of stuff to update you on about that. But first, do you remember the first boy I ever had a crush on? During our princess phase.”

  “Yes. It was the cute little boy that Emanuel was friends with in elementary school. We were going to have a double wedding—me and Emanuel, you and… Wasn’t his name Cash or something like that? Yeah, his name was definitely Cash. We were—hello? Why are you laughing like that? Hello? Emily?”

  Chapter 24

  Tyree Barker

  Saturday, December 9th – 8:21am

  One Year Later

  “Happy Anniversary,” I murmured against her neck. With her back to my front, I hugged her naked body from behind. The black bonnet covering her hair gave me the access I needed to nibble that spot that always managed to turn her on.

  “Our anniversary was a week ago, silly—Ty!” Addison gasped, just as my fingers slipped to the epicenter of her wetness.

  “Yes?”

  “What are you doing?” Her breathing hitched as she moved her body closer to me.

  “Still celebrating being married to you,” I growled.

  Widening her legs, she moaned, “We’re going to be late.”

  I smiled at the sound of her voice
and her body’s reaction to me. Opening my eyes, I stilled my fingers and glanced at the clock. “We won’t be late.”

  “You shouldn’t start things we don’t have time to finish,” she murmured, rolling me onto my back and straddling me in one fluid motion.

  “I always make sure you finish.”

  Addison’s mouth spread into a smile and she leaned down to kiss me. “Multiple times,” she whispered appreciatively.

  Her soft lips met mine and before she could pull away, my hands found her face and pulled her back into the kiss. Our tongues touched and I pulled the satin bonnet off her head, tossing it on the floor. We kissed each other hungrily as the energy intensified in the room.

  Addison sat up and my gut twisted with desire. She was sexy as hell and even after a year of marriage, the anticipation of our bodies connecting made me even harder. I ran my hands over her breasts, tweaking her nipples, before resting them on her hips.

  Slowly, she lifted herself up and then sank down on my dick. I groaned loudly as she took each inch of me into her. She rotated her hips, allowing me to fill her completely. Running my hands over her hips and thighs, my breathing became increasingly labored as the seconds ticked by.

  “You feel so fucking good,” I breathed, closing my eyes briefly. Inhaling sharply, I shuddered. “And tight.”

  And mine. All mi—

  When she started moving, I lost my train of thought.

  Letting the tempo build, I watched her ride me. Each time she lifted herself on my dick, her breasts would bounce deliciously. The lustful moans that escaped her mouth made me crave her release. Hearing the wanton pleas of my wife as I touched her brought out a side of me I never knew existed. Her pleasure was my pleasure and I couldn’t get enough of her.

  She panted my name in reply.

  As she lifted herself up and down on my lap, I grabbed her ass, grinding our bodies together.

  She cried out, louder.

  My fingers flexed against her skin as we gyrated against each other.

  I thrusted my hips upward and she moved in time with my body.

  With her head tilted back and her eyes shut, I could see my effect on her.

  “Oh, God,” Addison gasped before I felt her constricting and convulsing around my dick.

  Without withdrawing myself, I flipped her over so that I was on top of her. She locked her shaky legs around my waist and looked up at me expectantly. Fisting the tangled sheets in her hands, she prepared herself for what she knew was coming.

  With long, deep strokes, I could hear her wetness each time I pounded into her. Hearing how wet I made her and how loud her moans became, spurred me on.

  "You feel so good," I grunted, crashing my mouth into hers.

  The desperation in the kiss was obvious as I could feel her desire and I knew she could feel mine.

  When her breathing changed, I knew she was close to her point of no return. Breaking the kiss, I reached between us. Using my thumb to stroke Addison’s clit, I caused her to instantly tighten around me. I didn’t just want to get her off again; I needed to. That need drove me to take her over the edge as her orgasm spread through her hot body. She writhed beneath me.

  “Ty, baby, pl-please don’t stop,” she begged in short, gasping pants. Her body tightened and shook as she came.

  Watching her come undone, my body started giving in to my own climax. Groaning, I increased my speed until the heart-stopping pleasure that only Addy gave me reached its peak. Seconds later, my body became rigid and with a growl, I exploded inside of her.

  As our bodies cooled down and we lay in bed panting, my heart raced. All I wanted was to stay in that spot with Addison. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything. She was the first woman that I ever considered taking a step back from work for and the moment I felt that, I knew she was the one.

  Addison was right. Our sex session put us behind schedule so when we arrived to brunch, we were a few minutes late.

  “The Barker family is here!” CJ called out as he opened the door.

  “Addo!” Addison shouted out, giving the man she called her brother a hug. “How are you?”

  “Things are good. Really good,” he assured her, with a smile as he let us into his townhouse. “How are you? How was the trip?”

  “Celebrating our anniversary with a week-long vacation in California was just what I needed. I’m fantastic.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “I’m in really good hands.”

  My heart beat for that woman.

  “What’s up, man?” CJ greeted me, his hand extended.

  With our hands clasped, we clapped each other on the back a couple of times in greeting. “Living life to the fullest. What about you?”

  “The same.” I recognized his smile because I saw it on my own face every single time I looked in the mirror. “I have no complaints.”

  The sound of Beyoncé’s song being butchered could be heard from somewhere deeper in the house.

  “I have one complaint,” CJ joked as he led me into the living room.

  Addison had already made herself comfortable as she watched Emily sing ‘Crazy in Love’ while dancing like she was in the video. When she finished, the three of us gave her a round of applause.

  “Hey, Ty!” Emily greeted me, giving me a hug before plopping down on the couch beside Addison.

  “Hey… What do we owe the pleasure of that rousing Beyoncé rendition?”

  She flashed the widest smile at CJ. “Someone needed to be cheered up so I thought I’d sing him a little something.”

  “You have the voice of an angel,” Addison exclaimed dramatically.

  “Angel of Death, maybe,” CJ teased as he looked at her like the sun rose and set at her feet.

  I laughed heartily and when Emily jumped off the couch to playfully attack CJ, I stole her spot beside Addison.

  “They’re cute,” Addison whispered to me as she snuggled into my arms.

  “Not as cute as you.” I kissed her temple and held her close.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  When I looked away from my beautiful wife, I saw Emily and CJ staring at us.

  “Get a room!” Emily’s lip curled in mock disgust.

  “Have some respect,” CJ added.

  They giggled their way out of the room and toward the kitchen.

  I shook my head.

  “Were we that annoying on our one-year anniversary?” Addison asked loudly.

  “Absolutely not,” I lied, threading my fingers between hers.

  When we entered the kitchen, we saw the table set for six people. “Where are your parents?” I asked CJ as I eyed the brunch spread that populated the table.

  “They are on the way. I told them eleven o’clock so they have thirty more minutes.”

  I nodded even though I had no idea why we would need to be at brunch thirty minutes early.

  We could’ve stayed in bed a little longer. I smirked, eyeing Addison’s ass as it swayed in front of me.

  “Oh, I didn’t realize,” Emily mentioned, straightening the flowers in the middle of the table. They were the same type of flowers as last year’s brunch.

  “Yeah, I wanted to make a small announcement before Mom and Dad got here and blew everything out of proportion,” he explained.

  “Oh my God. Omigod. Omigod. Omigod,” Addison repeated, letting go of my hand and running toward Emily. “Are you two engaged?”

  Emily’s eyebrows flew up and she backed away from my wife. Even I could see the panic on her face. “What?

  Coming up behind Emily, CJ wrapped his arms around her waist and gave Addy a look.

  “No, we’re not engaged,” he stated slowly, evenly. He then gave me a look that seemed to say ‘get her.’

  I stepped up to place my hands on Addy’s rounded hips, ready to pull her away at any time.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just got so excited!” Addison’s hands went to her cheeks and I could hear in her voice that she was choked
up. I pulled her back into my front and she sank into me. “I’ve just never seen you so happy, Addo. And I love you both so much. And right after Thanksgiving weekend, there was the thing with the jewelry store!”

  Noticing the looks on both Emily and CJ’s faces, I leaned down, putting my lips on the shell of Addison’s ear. “Baby, stop,” I whispered.

  Emily turned her head slowly, looking up at CJ. “Jewelry store? You’re not proposing, are you? Because I thought—”

  “No. I’m not.” He turned her around so that she was facing him. Cupping her face, he tilted her head upward. “We’re telling them about us moving in together. I’m not proposing.”

  “Oh, thank God.” Emily’s shoulders slacked.

  He seemed to search her face. “We talked about telling them when they got back, remember?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I just…” She shook her head and then she grabbed onto CJ. “It’s not that I don’t love you,” Emily clarified. “I love you more than anything. Marriage is just—”

  CJ brushed his lips against her, silencing her. “I love you. I’m committed to you. A piece of paper is not going to change the way I feel about you or us.”

  “I love you so much,” Emily whispered before I pulled Addison out of the kitchen so they could have their moment.

  As soon as we were in the hallway, I backed her up against the wall and kissed her hard.

  “Mmm, what was that for?” Addison asked, grinning up at me.

  I brushed her thick hair off her shoulders. “Do I need a reason to kiss my wife?”

  “God, I love hearing you call me your wife!” She closed her eyes and rocked into me. “Say it again.”

  I stared at her beautiful face with her eyes closed and a huge, heartwarming smile on her lips. “Wife…”

  I was so caught up in the way Addison looked at me that I didn’t hear CJ and Emily walk up.

  “If we ever do get married, let’s be less annoying than these two love birds,” Emily commented in a stage whisper.

  All four of us laughed.

  The doorbell rang and we all looked at each other. “I’ll get it,” Emily sang as she sauntered toward the door with Addison in tow.