The Juror

by Mardria Portuondo

  "My family would mind, and that's why you should carry our baby because it would keep them away," I said then sat back in my chair. "Honey, don't get me wrong. I love my family. They just don't respect boundaries and will take over your life. They don't know how to behave in private or in public, and I don't want your family to reject me because of them."

  "They would never do that, Riv."

  "It's a chance I’m not willing to take. Let's get married in private then they can do what they want. If we tell them before the wedding, believe me, it will not happen."

  "I think you're wrong but if that's what you want…," she said then switched gears. "No! We are doing it the right way. I'll tell my family…"

  "You do that. I’m fine with it, but I’m not telling mine."

  "My family will want to meet yours before the wedding."

  "That's why we shouldn't tell anyone. Let's just go to City Hall and do it please, babe," I pleaded. "They are going to ruin it for us. And by the way, your family will recognize me and they will not be too pleased that I was one of the jurors at your trial."

  Kathy knew I was right, and I was happy when she backed down because no one was going to fucking ruin this for us! I was happy she was seeing that now.

  Chapter 9

  She was lost in thoughts for a while then returned to her meal without saying anything, but I could see that she agreed with me. Her family would be all over her about the horrible choice she made, especially if they had any doubt about her innocence. And if my family knew that Kat was the defendant, forget it! World War III would ensue and they would have no problem saying whatever to their faces. It would be a nightmare!

  "I'll do it. We'll get married first then tell them after," she said but she wasn't happy about it, however, she knew that telling them first would be a disaster. As if she had read my mind, she continued. "Are you planning on telling your family how we met?"

  "Yes. We met on a plane."

  "And before that?"

  "They would have to discover that on their own because I have no intention of telling them."

  "It's possible that it might come up between the two families."

  "That's why they won't meet."

  "That's not realistic."

  "Maybe not, but it's a desire. Anyway, the marriage, the baby, they are some time away. We are just setting objectives for our relationship, but these won't be for a while, right?"

  "Not for a while...unless you want to…"

  "Do you want to?" I asked because I didn't want her to think that I was uncertain about spending the rest of my life with her.

  "Not now. I just want to know that all this is down the road waiting for me."

  "Until we get there, how about we start by me checking out your crib," I said with a smile knowing that she really wanted to take me home.

  "Really?" her face lit up. "You want to go now?"

  "Right now," I said and she grabbed my face and kissed me.

  We cleaned up and I packed an overnight bag, despite her telling me that I didn't need one. Soon we were in the back of her Mercedes being driven to her home.

  "Do you live in a house or an apartment?" I asked as she squeezed my hand in hers.

  "I used to live in an apartment and I loved the coziness of it, but I knew I wanted a family, and thought I would have had it by now, so I decided to buy a house," she said as she was unable to get the joy of taking me home out of her voice. "A few girlfriends managed to fool me into thinking it was possible to have all that with them."

  "How do you know I'm not fooling you?"

  "Because it feels different from all the others. My past relationships all gave off the same signals. I was just in denial because I wanted it so badly."

  "Well, lucky for you, I want it as much as you do," I said and kissed her cheek.

  I looked into Kathy's eyes and there was so much hidden behind them. She seemed somewhat reserved and shy, although her personality did not display that of a shy person. Something has switched her fire off, and the only possible thing was the nightmare she went through when she was arrested for a crime she did not commit. I knew it would take some time for her to open up to me and pour out all her feelings; the good and the bad. Then after, when I look into her eyes, they would be clear and not clouded by her fears and insecurities.

  "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met," she said, and I could easily say the same thing about her. "You take my breath away."

  "So do you," I said and caressed her face. "I’m just so grateful for stupid girls."

  "What?" she chuckled.

  "They had you and let you go. Now I have you, and they will never get that opportunity again."

  Kathy's face glowed with joy and that was how I wanted to see her for the rest of her life.

  "Welcome to the neighborhood," she smiled and that was when I looked out the window.

  The houses were spectacular and it seemed to be a gated community but I wasn't paying attention because I was so caught up with her that I didn't notice how we entered. It was very quiet and serene, and I started to wonder how long my family would take to destroy this whole place. They could never come here.

  "This is amazing. Not sure if I ever drove through a neighborhood like this before," I said. "No wonder you wanted to get away from my dump."

  "Nowhere where you are could ever be a dump to me. Welcome home," Kathy said as we drove into the driveway of a sprawling mansion.

  "Are you serious?" I laughed. "You really bought this and live here alone?"

  "You see why I'm depressed?" she giggled as the garage door opened and we drove inside.

  "How many children were you thinking of having?" I asked as the driver opened the car door.

  "Well, as many as I could. I just assumed that there were two females in the relationship so between us we could have eight or ten."

  "Ten?! Have you fucking lost your mind?" I exclaimed.

  "I take that as a no," she said and opened the door, but I was too shocked to notice my surroundings.

  "Of course it's a no!"

  "I hear you, babe. I will work with whatever number you want."

  "Hi, Miss Kate," a mature woman appeared into the living room.

  "Hi, Rita. This is my girlfriend, River. Don't make fun of the name," Kathy smiled and Rita smiled back. "Please take her bag to my room while I show her around."

  "Yes, Miss Kate. Nice to meet you, Miss."

  "Likewise," I said and she walked away with my bag in hand.

  "You noticed she didn't call your name?" Kathy laughed. "Poor woman didn't know how to say it."

  "I get that a lot," I said as my eyes roamed the living room that was lifted off the page of a magazine. "Oh my God. Kat, your house is breathtaking."

  "Our house," she corrected.

  "If there's no prenup, I get the house, you get the kids," I joked and Kathy burst into laughter.

  "So where will the children live?"

  "Your problem."

  Kathy continued laughing as she held my hand and led me to the kitchen that was decorated in silver and white. It was truly spectacular.

  "So where do you have breakfast?" I asked when I noticed there was no table or chairs. "In the dining room?"

  "In here," she said and opened the door to an adjoining room. "This is the breakfast room."

  "This is just beautiful," I said as I continued to be in awe of the place.

  "Can I get you something to drink? Champagne?"

  "No, thank you. What's out there?"

  "That's the towel hall leading to the indoor pool. Come let me show you the rest of the house," Kathy said and took my hand.

  Her home was picture perfection and the lawn was just so immaculately kept that I just wanted to roll around on it. The house was just way too big for her, but she explained her reason for buying it and explained that she had gotten used to the space.

  Our final stop was the bedroom, and I prepared for the workout I would get climbing the winding staircase, h
owever, Kathy directed me to the elevator that would take us right outside her bedroom.

  "Impressive," I smiled at her.

  "Considerate is more the word I would use. The nursery will be upstairs. Wouldn't want us walking with a baby up so many steps," she explained.

  "Very considerate, compassionate," I said as I pressed against her inside the elevator. "Beautiful, sexy…"

  Kathy grabbed me and flipped me around, and I was the one who was pinned. She kissed my lips just as the elevator stopped and the door opened. I tried to push her away out of fear that someone would see us, but Kathy was not concerned and held me in place. As concerned as I was, I relaxed and let her have her way because she was not easy to resist. It felt like this was something we had been doing for years, and I could not remember who I dated before her. This was a new and beautiful step in my life that I would never want to be without.

  "Stop me or I'll take you right here," Kat said into my mouth.

  "I tried, babe," I chuckled. "Now, I can't stop you."

  "I have a better place," she said and pulled away.

  Kathy held my hand and led me out of the elevator, and in just a few short steps we entered paradise.

  "Holy shit!" I cried out. "Oh my God! This is ridiculous!"

  "Like it?" she smiled.

  "Which idiot walked away from this heaven?" I asked as I walked around the room.

  "See, I found out that when you don't love someone it's impossible to pretend for long, no matter what."

  "I could pull it off," I joked.

  "So that means you'll stay here with me?" Kathy asked and I felt stupid to be surprised by her question. "You did say this house is too big for just me."

  I pulled her into my arms and wrapped my arms around her waist.

  "Do you make a habit of asking your girlfriends to move in on the first visit?"

  "This is my first time asking," she said looking at me with those big eyes and lashes so long I could feel the air when she blinked. "Two have visited, but the last one spent a lot of time here but never moved in, then disappeared when I asked her about having children."

  "Did you love them?"

  "I thought I did. Then I met you and now I know I didn't."

  "We met twice. On the plane and in a courtroom," I said, as I nuzzled her neck and inhaled her sweet scent.

  "You were a distraction."

  "You are a distraction right now," I said as I found her lips.

  That was all the encouragement she needed and my clothes were already coming off. Kathy appeared poised and conservative but in the bedroom, she was a beast. I helped in removing my clothes because I didn't trust her to take care of them, but I wanted her so badly that I was far from being careful myself. My legs were trapped in the pants and I fell into the plush carpet of her bedroom and she came tumbling on top of me. We both laughed but did not lose sight of our goal. My breasts were bare and Kathy covered one with her mouth.

  "Fuck! You do this to me every time…," I said and my mouth remained wide open as I gasped for air.

  Kat flicked her tongue over my nipples and I writhed in agony. She moved from one to the other and showed no sign of hurry to move on. My torso was off the carpet and the pleasure forced me into her, wanting her to eat me whole.

  "Fuck," she said with my nipple in her mouth. "You taste so fucking good."

  I wrapped my fingers in her hair and pulled her away from my breasts because I needed her somewhere more urgent. I opened my legs and pushed her down to my pussy, but instead, she got up and pulled me to my feet. She quickly got my panties off and tossed them aside then pushed me back onto her bed. I was almost lost in the soft plush of the white covers. I watched as she quickly got out of her clothes and panties then climbed up and saddled me.

  "I know you're waiting for me to make you cum but...I'm dying," she said and came up to my face.

  "No...you can't do this...I was first…" That was all I could get out because her wet pussy covered my lips.

  "Stop talking," she said and slowly began to move her hips.

  I opened my mouth and I could feel her wet flesh on my tongue. I stuck it out and she impaled it, sending my organ deep inside her.

  "Oh fuuuuuck! I'm gonna cuuuum!" she cried out and her body started to tremble.

  Kat told me she could not wait but I was not expecting her to cum so soon. I wanted to pull back, but I couldn't stop because she tasted so delicious. The feel of her soft, slippery flesh had taken over my senses and I just wanted to eat her until she begged me to stop. I put my hands between my legs to stop the fire that was between them. It felt so good and I rubbed my fingers against my clit harder, dying for release, but soon I found myself fighting for survival as Kat flooded my mouth and nostrils with her juices. Her cries pushed me further and further to the brink and my mind was trapped between allowing myself to cum or trying to breathe.

  Kat finally fell to the side of me, and I gasped for air.

  "Oh my God...are...are you OK?" she asked but then noticed my hand between my legs. "Wait."

  Kat removed my hand and held them above my head. She reached for a tissue and wiped my nose and mouth then took a nipple that was pointing toward her.

  "Oh shit! Harder!" I begged, and she pulled me deeper into her mouth. "Yes! Don't stop! Wait...stop...I need you down there."

  I pushed her down to my pussy and opened my legs wide for her to take me out of this beautiful misery. She opened my lips so that my clit was pointing directly at her mouth. I held my breath and almost passed out when she flicked her tongue over it.

  "Fuuuuuuck meeeeeee!" I screamed with no concern if anyone could hear me because what was happening to me pulled out a response beyond my control.

  "Cum in my mouth," she muffled into my pussy.

  Kathy sucked my clit into her mouth then circled her tongue around it, but what finally pushed me over the edge, like it did every time, was when she sank her tongue deep inside me.

  "Holy fuuuuuuuuuck!" I cried and grabbed hold of the sheet as I released onto Kathy's tongue.

  Wave after wave of pleasure rushed through me and out into her mouth, and every nerve in my body responded. I had never felt anything like this in my life and my heart swelled with love for the woman who was responsible for taking me on this new journey. I could feel her inside me. My heartbeat did not feel like it was mine anymore. It felt like her heart was beating in me. I had found my soulmate and we would be inseparable.

  ***

  Kat had shown me the rest of the house after we woke up from our lovemaking. It was something that I could never have dreamt of, and Kat made me feel like it was ours. It felt wonderful when she said "our bedroom" and "our home" which was confirmation for me that she wanted this life together just as much as I did. I had not seen my apartment in three weeks and I had been wearing her clothes to work. My boss and colleagues were asking questions about the change, but I provided no explanation. We would be getting married soon so everything would soon be out in the open. Kathy was completely against me going to work in such a stressful environment, but I felt like I still needed to be in control of some part of my life. She told me that she would take care of me, and I had no doubt in my mind that she would, but that would have to wait a while.

  My family had not seen or heard much from me and my grandmother was still giving me the coldshoulder. As for my friend, Pepper, we spoke a few times but I didn’t tell her about Kathy because I didn’t want her to take news back to my family. However, I brought up the possibility of dating a woman and it was not well received so I all but crossed her off my list. I was just happy to be with Kathy that I didn't care much what they thought.

  Kathy had been to her parents but that was because she didn't want them coming to her before she told them about me. I wanted to get married to her right away but she had been holding out to see if I would change my mind and have a big wedding. I was terrified of it because I knew her family would be against it and my family...well, they would just give the Polands m
ore reason to not want me in their family.

  "Baby, please," Kathy begged. "Let's just do this right."

  I looked at her beautiful, big eyes and wanted to tell her yes, but I was not prepared to risk what we had. I needed her with my ring on her finger before we told anyone about us.

  "Honey, I'm sorry. I can't give in to your request. I can't lose you…"

  "You won't lose me, Riv."

  "When your family finds out who I am, they will do everything they can to stop it, including cutting off all funding…"

  "I have my own money. I mean, my dad continues to add more, but if he doesn't we’ll still be fine. And for your information, my dad would never do that to me."

  "To force your hand, he would."

  "Why would he force my hand, Riv? He loves me, and he’ll be happy with whoever I'm happy with. You were a juror at my trial; that's it."

  "Do you hear how that sounds?"

  "Yes, but we are not seeking permission to be together. It doesn't matter how it sounds. I'm just…," she stopped and sighed. "Let's invite them for dinner and we can talk to them."

  "That's a waste of food. They won't stay long enough to eat. We'll go to them," I said in defeat.

  "Really?!" she lit up. "Oh my God, Riv! You make me so happy."

  "Yeah, yeah. The truth is, I expect something to ruin my happiness so let's get on with it," I said and got up from beside her.

  "Babe…"

  I walked through the door and into the elevator that took me to our bedroom. I got to the bathroom and closed the door then stood in front of the mirror. I looked at my face that had changed so much. It was relaxed and my skin was luminous from happiness, but stupid of me to think it would last. I was trying to warn Kathy that this was not going to end well, but maybe I was just a pessimist and not able to see what she was seeing. I took a deep breath and decided to trust her judgment of her family, but no way in hell mine would be a part of it.

  "Riv! Where are you?" Kat called.

  "In the bathroom," I responded and she rushed in.

  "Baby, are you OK?" she asked as she brushed my blonde hair from my face.

  "Yes...I'm fine."

  "Please don't worry about it. It will be fine."