“Hey, you remember the last time you and I were at a press conference together?” I ask, turning my attention back to the present moment.
She smiles reverently, displaying those pearly white teeth. “If I recall the only other press conference we’ve done together, sort of, is when you asked me to marry you.”
I nod.
“God, that seems like such a long time ago, but it was only a few months back,” she says.
“And you’re officially mine.”
She sighs. “I’ve always been yours.”
“And always will be?” I ask.
“Forever,” she says, turning her lips up to me.
I meet her lips with mine.
“Stop that! You’re going to mess up her makeup!” Michael’s assistant squeals from behind us.
I lift my head to glare at her. “Don’t ever tell me what to do with my wife.”
The assistant’s eyes widen as she takes a step back.
“Landon, stop,” Melody admonishes. “Sorry, Amy.”
I simply grunt as Mel wipes her lip gloss from my lips. She quickly reapplies another coat to her lips before handing Amy her bag to hold. We take our positions behind the table where microphones have been placed. Mel blinks from the camera flashes, and I put my arm around the small of her back, comforting her. Seconds later I feel her relax into me.
“We’re on in 5…4...3...2…”
Seconds later, the lead reporter is talking about Mindy’s false accusations and how she was found out.
“So, Landon, tell us why you’re here today.”
“Well, as you all know it’s been a long few months for my family and me, mired by false accusations. I’ve felt the shame that comes along with people looking at you like you’re a monster. But I’ve come to realize that is nothing compared to what actual victims of assault endure.” I look down at Mel, whose eyes are filled with love and admiration for me. This spurs me on. “I believe we all experience things for a reason. And this issue has taught me that sexual violence and abuse is all too common in our society. Unfortunately, there are many who will use their size, strength, or another’s weakness to abuse, and it can happen to anyone. Even those we love the most.” I squeeze Mel’s hand firmly, attempting to stave off my anger when I think about what happened to her. “For this reason, my wife and I have decided to partner with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, more commonly referred to as RAINN. We aim to spread the message of rape and abuse prevention. We have made our first donation of a million dollars and we’ll ensure that our money goes directly to working on college campuses around the country to teach consent and how to reduce sexual assaults.”
“Landon!? Landon, did you say your wife?!” the reporters begin asking.
I hold up my left hand—the one with my wedding band prominently displayed—to silence them. “We won’t be taking any questions right now. Thank you. As I was saying, I have spoken with the directors of RAINN, and we are all in agreement that some serious efforts need to be made when it comes to teaching consent and what it means to respect others’ boundaries, particularly when there is alcohol or other substances involved. As an athlete, I believe this is even more important as unfortunately, many athletes become involved in sexual assault and rape. I am disgusted to know that I was ever teammates with someone who could commit such a heinous act, and I was even more horrified to learn that people I love could be affected by this type of trauma. For this reason, I am challenging my current teammates as well as professional athletes, in and outside the NFL, to do their part in speaking out against this form of violence. I will continue to do mine. Thank you.”
I nod toward the audience and look toward Mel, raising our clasped hands to my mouth to kiss hers. “Did you want to add anything?” I ask her.
She smiles up at me and I wipe away the one tear that falls from her eye. The cameras go crazy capturing that moment, but she shakes her head, letting me know that I’ve spoken for her.
“You said everything perfectly.”
I lean down just as she lifts her head and our lips meet in a tender kiss. When we pull back from the kiss, she wipes my lips free of her lip gloss, forgetting the cameras are there.
I hear a chorus of sighs and awwws around the room. I take a few more minutes to answer questions about our donation and how it will play out. I have become well-versed in rape stats on college campuses across the country, and recite these numbers to reporters. I finally confirm that Mel and I are indeed married. Michael has already prepared a statement and photo of us on our wedding day to release to the public after the press conference.
“Now if you’ll excuse us, we have a graduation ceremony to attend. My manager will release a statement later on today. Thank you,” I say to the audience and then stand to pull out Mel’s chair before escorting her out of the room.
“Walter, is the car ready?” I ask, not even looking behind me because I know he’s right there following us.
“Yup. It’s parked right out back with the engine going, just as you specified.”
“Walter, you deserve a raise,” Mel quips, glancing over her shoulder.
“That would be nice.” He laughs.
I simply grunt, not saying anything.
“I’ll work on the big guy for you,” she tells Walter, winking at him.
“The only big guy you better be working on is me,” I retort as we reach the car. I assist Mel into the car, holding the door open for her.
She leans over, grabbing my face. “Who else would I mean, handsome?” She presses her lips to mine for a quick kiss.
I close her door and look over at Walter. “Ten percent increase through the end of the year. Then you’ll receive another ten percent starting in January.”
His eyes widen. “I’ll take it. Thank you, Landon.” He attempts to maintain his professionalism.
“Don’t thank me. Thank my wife. On second thought, don’t say shit to my wife. She’s too nice and you’d probably convince her you deserve a fifty percent raise.”
“And you know he can’t say no to me,” Mel yells from the lowered window.
I simply grunt again, not wanting to admit out loud how right she is. I jog around to the other side of the car and get in.
“You ready, Red?”
She nods vigorously. “I’m so excited for this day. Let's go.”
With that, I pull off to make sure we make it on time.
****
“Come on, Mel. We’re gonna miss our flight!” I yell up the stairs to my wife. It’s nearing eight o’clock, and we still have to make it to the airport for our nine-thirty flight.
“How are we going to miss our flight when it’s a private jet? They can’t leave without us. We’re the only passengers,” she returns.
I clench my jaw at the truth of her statement. “Well, it’s a long flight, and I don’t want to delay it more than necessary.”
“Ugh, okay, okay,” she groans as she comes down the stairs, changed in red shorts, and a white V-neck, with a pair of high platform sandals.
I lick my lips as I let my eyes run over her body and take in her smooth legs, thick thighs and full hips that curve into her belly, up to her full breasts and up to her beautiful face.
“Babe, didn’t Gabriella look so pretty in her cap and gown? And wasn’t her speech great? She’s so young, but I know she’s going to go on to do great things. She says she wants to get her PhD in psychology like me,” she gushes, as she puts on her earrings in the downstairs mirror, oblivious to my staring.
Now her back is to me and my hands have a mind of their own as they reach out and cup each side of her round behind.
She glances up at me through the mirror and smiles.
“What were you saying?” I lean down and press a kiss to the back of her neck.
“I-I was talking about Gabriella. Wasn’t her speech wonderful?”
“Hmmhm,” I reply, still pressing kisses to her neck, but then I pull back. “What took you so long up there? A
ll your bags are down here,” I say, gesturing to the mountain of luggage sitting in our living room.
“I was looking for my birth control pills. I can’t find them.”
I stiffen behind her, staring at her eyes in the mirror. “What do you need them for?”
“You threw them out, didn’t you?” she turns and asks, accusingly.
“I sure did. We’re married and that damn case is over. We’ve got babies to make.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You could have asked me first.”
I shrug. “But I didn’t.”
She sighs. “What am I going to do with you?”
When I go to suggest the same thing I did the last time she asked this question, she covers my mouth with her finger. “I already know what your suggestion is. I was looking for the pills to throw out. I haven’t been taking them for the last two weeks anyway. And the next three weeks may be a nice time to try and conceive.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me.
We’re finally taking our honeymoon where we will spend the next two weeks in Tanzania before traveling to Zanzibar for the remainder of our stay. I’ve been granted special permission from my team’s owner to take a little more time off, so I’ll miss the first week or so of training camp this summer. Given everything that has happened this off season, the owners were okay with me taking a little additional time off before training camp to relax.
“As many of my little linebackers I’ve shot into you in the last two weeks, you’re probably already pregnant.”
She gives me that cute little frown when she thinks I’m being too vile. It’s a frown of admonishment, but I can also tell she likes it. “You’re so romantic,” she says, frowning.
“You love it,” I cockily state.
She sighs and wraps her arms around my neck. “I do.”
“For how long?”
“Forever,” she breathlessly admits as I lower my head into the crook of her neck.
“I think right now may be a good time to make sure my linemen have a chance to do their job,” I growl as I press Mel into the wall behind us and unbutton her shorts.
“Babe, our flight…” she reminds me, at the same time her fingers make their way to the button of my jeans.
I smirk. “It’ll wait for us. Open your legs,” I command as I push her shorts down and off.
She doesn’t hesitate to wrap her legs around my waist, and when my stiff cock finds entry into her warm womb, we both groan in pleasure. I spend the next twenty minutes filling my wife up with my seed, ensuring our bond of forever.
The End
Click HERE to join Tiffany Patterson on Facebook!
If you would like to receive text messages alerts when new Interracial and BWWM romances are released, text the keyword “femistry” to 25827!
Jessica Watkins Presents is currently accepting submissions for the following genres: Multicultural/Interracial Romance, BWWM Romance, and Paranormal Romance. If you are interested in becoming a best selling author and have a complete manuscript, send the genre, word count, a synopsis and the first three chapters to [email protected]!
Forever: a standalone, interracial romance Page 12