His Substitute Wife... My Sister Book Two

by Sylvia Hubbard

  “Having a reception after a wedding ceremony is appropriate for this arrangement.” He stressed his last word but Charisse couldn’t figure out why he did that. “I would think you weren’t in any hurry to do anything with me unless it concerned the baby.”

  She looked over at Louis, whose eyes were screaming, ‘Ask him!’ “I don’t know what your problem is, Parker, but we’re not going to go anywhere except back up to our room.”

  “And do what?”

  “And…And…. And talk!” she said. “We need to talk about what your problem is and why are you being so nice if you have a problem with me.”

  Louis looked pleased but Charisse’s insides were turning upside down as all emotions left Parker’s face.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Charisse, if it doesn’t concern the baby.”

  “But you’re angry with me.”

  “Maybe we ought to leave,” Blu suggested, feeling uncomfortable. It was the first time he had spoken quietly.

  “No, Blu, you don’t have to,” Charisse said. “We’re leaving.”

  “I just said we had nothing to speak about, Charisse.”

  He was right, dammit! There was nothing for them to speak about but she certainly needed to see him in the privacy of their room. “You’re right, Parker, we have nothing to speak about.”

  He folded his arms over his chest with a confused frown. “What do you want to do, Charisse?”

  Was this his idea of a joke? Or had he married her just to embarrass her? Maybe he married her to also get back for all the pain and suffering her sisters had made him endure.

  “Are you trying to humiliate me?” she asked.

  “Why would I do something like that to you, Charisse?”

  “Because you’re angry at Cheyenne and Chyna.”

  “We really should go,” Louis insisted.

  “I want to go up to the room, Parker!” Charisse insisted.

  “Why? Why do you need me to go up there? Because if it’s just to discuss the baby, we can do it right here.”

  He really wanted her to say something embarrassing.

  “I want you!” she screamed.

  When he didn’t acknowledge what she said, she continued to speak.

  “And it’s not because of the baby. I want you.” Hesitantly she stepped closer to him. “At this point and time, I want to be with you Parker because … because you make me feel like there is reality which I’m prone to run from. And you make me sick, but in a good way, with the butterflies and tingles. And you drive me crazy when you kiss me and touch me. And I want you to. I want to be mentally insane for once in my life. I want to be the crazy that everyone thought I was.” Standing on her tiptoes, it was needed in order for her to put her arms around his broad shoulders. “I want to be crazy with you, Parker Mills.”

  His reserved nature seemed to just melt away and Parker swept her off the floor. “Then I must be crazy, Charisse, because I feel the same way.”

  Those wonderful lips of his that took away the world around her and enveloped her into a beautiful oblivion followed his words of endearment. When or how they made it up to the room, she didn’t know and she didn’t care, because being with Parker Mills gave her strength to want to live another day.

  As long as he wanted her in his life she wanted to be there and she prayed he would never stop wanting her.

  ***

  Parker let her sleep for only half an hour. His body was sated with sexual satisfaction.

  She had still been sleep when he had returned from the lobby where the wedding guests were still there. Parker knew Louis had to get back to school and Blu would take him. Judge Knowles would take care of the necessary paperwork from the wedding and send it to Parker at his home address.

  Seeing Charisse dressed to wed him had exhilarated him over the top and it had taken a lot of him to not want to drag her back up to their room in front of those few witnesses.

  But he needed to get on with his torture because his mind was still bothered by everything. He knew she didn’t like his odd behavior and it had literally made her insane. Even Blu doubted that going through with this was going to change Parker.

  In the sense that Parker wanted it to that was a good thing. He didn’t want the same marriage as he had had before.

  Parker kissed her brow and smiled down at her. This was his wife who now carried his child. Though his dream had been different, Charisse made him see that there was no black and white to anything.

  Yet, he didn’t want to start this marriage like before and not get the happiness that he felt he deserved. That was the reason for his odd behavior in front of others before the ceremony.

  Her confession had been shocking, but so needed to his soul and he knew without a doubt he would love her forever.

  “Charisse,” he whispered, caressing her face.

  She hummed and smiled, while stretching out her body. “What time is it?” she asked sleepily followed by an uncontrollable yawn.

  “It’s evening. Louis had to leave.“

  Gasping, she said, “Oh no! Oh gawd! I feel awful. I didn’t get a chance to tell everyone thank you.”

  He chuckled. “It’s okay. They won’t be mad.”

  Charisse stood up and stretched again.

  His eyes couldn’t help to look at her full voluptuous body and he took joy in noting her body would become even more beautiful as the baby filled out her stomach. He couldn’t wait to kiss the newness her pregnancy would bring.

  Not caring that she was naked, Charisse went to the bathroom to take care of her bladder. Afterwards, she washed up and brushed her teeth. When she came out of the bathroom, he was still laying on the bed. His eyes looked over her body and she became instantly shy feeling that intense look in them as if he wanted to ravish her.

  She walked by him to get to her clothes quickly, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her on the bed until she was under him.

  “Parker!” she coaxed trying gently to get away but his knees locked her in place.

  His serious face came over him as he looked down at her holding her on the bed so she couldn’t get up. “I’m still enjoying you, Cherie.”

  That was the second time he had called her that nickname.

  “Why do you call me Cherie?”

  “It’s called a nickname. And I want something to call you that no one else would dream of calling you.” He kissed her neck and whispered, “You’re mine and I want you to know I appreciate you letting me make you mine.”

  She didn’t care what he called her when he kissed her neck and chest like that. The phone ringing brought her out of her haze of lust that he was evoking, but it wasn’t the hotel phone. It was Parker’s cell phone.

  He reluctantly looked at the display and then abruptly sat up. “It’s Chyna,” he said in dread.

  Charisse pulled the covers over herself as if her sister had walked into the room.

  Chapter 42

  Parker knew he had a lot of questions for Chyna but as he answered the call so concerned about hearing from Chyna he couldn’t think of a thing.

  “Chyna are you alright?” he asked putting the phone on speaker so Charisse could hear too.

  “Of course,” she shot back indignantly. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m at a spa, Parker, receiving great medical care. Why would you ask me a stupid question like that?”

  “Because Joanie caught a flight to Arizona to come to the spa and you were supposed to return my call long before this. I’ve been calling you.“

  “I know that and I’ve been busy, but I saw you calling and the manager gave me your message.”

  Charisse was listening carefully to Chyna’s voice and she was convinced it was her sister.

  “Charisse is here with me as well. I have you on speaker,” Parker said.

  “Good,” Chyna said. “Because I’m really calling to speak to her. Charisse, have you returned the custody papers back to the court that your doctor sent to you?”

  “What papers?”
<
br />   “You should have received them a couple of days ago.”

  Parker interjected. “She hasn’t seen the mail in a while, Chyna. I’ll look over it today.”

  “Those papers must be returned to state your independence from Parker and my care.”

  “Why is this so important?” Charisse asked suspiciously.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Chyna said in exasperation. “You don’t think I did all this to have Cheyenne take my identity and use it against us all. Just get the papers and return them to the courts as soon as possible.”

  “Maybe you should return,” Parker insisted. “Having you away is not good.”

  “I have no intentions of leaving until I’ve regained my health,” she said stubbornly.

  “Did Joanie make contact with you while you were there?” Charisse questioned.

  “She left a note for me at the desk to call her because I had restrictions not to be disturbed.”

  “How do you think she found out?” Parker asked.

  “Phone records most likely,” Charisse surmised. “And that would be my fault, Parker. I called Chyna because I was worried about things.”

  He held her hand. “It’s fine, Charisse.” Their eyes met and it was almost as if they were alone again.

  “It’s not fine,” Chyna snapped ruining the moment. “Her stupidity led Cheyenne to me and now I’m doing double duty trying to keep them out of our business.

  “Please refrain from calling Charisse stupid,” Parker said ordered in his very serious voice.

  Charisse blushed at his protectiveness and was so tempted to put her arms around him and kiss him.

  “Should I have another talk with Cheyenne or post a restraining order immediately?” Parker suggested giving Charisse a wink. “I won’t be worried about her like this. I have too many other things in my business to worry over some silly sister-in-law’s jealousy.”

  “No,” Chyna said too quickly. “Just let me take care of this Parker and don’t worry about it.”

  That familiar feeling in his gut returned and he looked at Charisse to see that this bothered her as well.

  “This is your last time to fix things, Chyna,” Parker said. “I’m sick and tired of your plans that have done nothing but make Charisse’s life even more miserable. You handle this shit with your sister or I’ll handle it myself and see her ass in jail. Then I’ll pull all funding from your current plan and let you suffer it out.”

  Submissively, Chyna said, “Yes, Parker. Please don’t stop paying for the spa and the medical attention. I’ll take care of everything. You won’t have to worry about anything ever again.”

  Charisse’s frown subsided, but Parker didn’t like that Chyna had made his new wife upset already.

  “And if I call again, you better answer,” Parker ordered. “And I want weekly text messages from you to let us know you’re okay so Charisse and I won’t get worried like this anymore and do anything that would make you do triple duty.”

  “Yes, Parker.”

  He looked at Charisse. “Do you have anything else to say?”

  She could have said something about the bank account, but she had a feeling Chyna had something planned that could make sure that Cheyenne never bothered her again and it was more or less an ace in the sleeve Chyna needed.

  Yet, she had this feeling that she should say something, but by the time she really got the courage to say something, Chyna said, “There’s nothing Charisse needs to say to me.”

  “I’ll let her say it,” Parker sneered.

  Charisse shook her head. “No, Chyna. There’s nothing to say right now.”

  Parker didn’t wait for Chyna to say more before he hung up. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good.” She shivered a little because the room and suddenly felt cold.

  “Let me make you some tea and we can pack to go home right away to get those papers,” he suggested.

  She nodded needing a moment alone to regain her equilibrium. Guilt could tear a person up inside and she felt horrible about not being totally honest with Parker.

  ***

  Parker started the water for the tea and just as he was wishing that Charisse were there beside him, her arms came around his waist. Turning around to receive her in his body better, he saw she had just donned on a thick white hotel terry cloth robe.

  It felt good feeling her against him and they found that no words were needed as their bodies responded to the other’s proximity. Soon they were kissing and he was pushing the robe off of her shoulders, while she unbuttoned his shirt and then unzipped his pants.

  They didn’t care about anything else in the world as they became lost in each other’s kisses and touches. It was as if life or death depended on them making contact and when he couldn’t hold himself back, he easily moved his hands down her backside, cupped them and then lifted her up and then back down but making sure her body enveloped his rigid man root.

  Charisse threw her head back in ecstasy loving the feel of him inside of her. Their passion was unquenchable for each other and even the water on the stove knew it because they as they were exploding from their culmination, the whistle blew the steam out shrieking and howling just as Charisse and Parker were doing the same thing.

  Parker reached over a little and turned off the stove as Charisse buried her face in his neck enjoying the aftermath of their sex.

  “Why does it feel better and better?” she asked innocently.

  “Because we’re falling in love, mon cherie.”

  She frowned because neither of them had ever spoken words of love. “How do you know that Parker? I’ve never said that.”

  He pulsed his shaft in her to prove his point and she shuddered. “You don’t have to tell me anything, Charisse. Your body tells me so.”

  And she didn’t care about the tea anymore. She just cared about Parker finishing what he started.

  She knew this time it would take longer, but she loved the ride he took her on. There was still time to confess about everything and she would eventually but she wanted to give Chyna one more chance to make sure that Cheyenne stopped bothering them.

  In her heart she felt Chyna was trying to help, but Charisse wasn’t sure if Chyna was strong enough to handle Cheyenne.

  There was still time, she told herself. If it looked like Chyna wasn’t handling Cheyenne, then Charisse would confess.

  She would eventually tell him the whole truth but now, she didn’t want to. She just wanted to enjoy their immediate happiness.

  ***

  Arriving home, Charisse found the mail and the forms from her doctor. All she had to do was finish filling them out and then making them ready for Parker to mail the next day.

  When she awoke the next morning, Parker was gone, but Charisse knew he needed to get back to work and she started to read her books about pregnancy to keep her busy.

  Getting home and being the new woman of the house seemed strange to Charisse. Since this was previously her sister’s home, it felt odd to go places in the house she knew were just reserved for “Parker’s wife.” Parker had someone come to the house, while they were gone and removed all of Chyna’s clothes out of the closet and even let Charisse know she could do with the space whatever she pleased, but after a month of it Charisse couldn’t think of one thing to do.

  Parker seemed a little upset that Charisse had not moved her clothes from the third floor to their bedroom, but he didn’t say much about this because he was so excited about Charisse’s pregnancy.

  There was nothing from Cheyenne and Chyna had not called, but sent occasional text messages to Parker’s cell phone about her medical condition and assuring that she was taking care of it. Parker had begun to expect something at least once a week and it varied from the day, but at least Chyna was learning to stay in touch under his terms, which she had never done before.

  Their marriage papers arrived and Parker took Charisse to his private safe that he told her not even Chyna knew the whereabouts of it back in
his walk in closet and gave her the security combination code. Inside the safe were other important papers including his birth certificate and will, which Charisse didn’t even bother to want to touch. He made copies of their marriage certificate, in case anything happened she could have something as well. She placed her copy in her locked drawer that was reserved just for her. Parker had taken the initiative and moved this down to their bedroom.

  A month and a half after their marriage was Charisse’s appointment with the doctor. Parker had arranged for the medical equipment needed to be shipped to the home a week in advance and set up in Chyna’s old space since Charisse wasn’t going to do anything with it.

  She didn’t mind and was glad that he had found some usage for the room.

  Lately, she’d been so exhausted and sometimes when he came home late, she had been already asleep. He wouldn’t bother her except to crawl in the bed next to her and hold her.

  Although in the books it said she would be tired sometimes, Charisse felt this was abnormal to be so sleepy all the time. Sometimes she would just get out of bed just to eat and then she would be so tired she’d go right to sleep until she awoke again to eat. Other days she would hold off eating and try to get some exercise by going up and down the stairs and had even started to take up yoga. She increased her water intake by almost a gallon a day to refresh herself, but then found herself going to the bathroom so much she went down to half a gallon. Fruit helped her a lot and Parker would love to bring home mangoes, which she’d start to crave.

  “What time is the doctor coming?” Charisse asked knowing Parker was awake even though he was lying in the bed and her face was resting on his chest, but his quickening heart beat told her he wasn’t asleep.

  He was staying home just for the appointment when usually he was at work about this time.

  “Two hours,” he answered quietly.

  She rose to look at him. “Do you think it will be appropriate to have sex before he gets here?”

  His eyes were closed before she asked that question, but now one lid cracked open and an amusement graced his handsome features. “I don’t think it’s appropriate seeing that he’ll know clearly you were getting busy before he arrived.”