by Blue Saffire
My heart warmed with his words. As I pulled away from Uncle Sisqo’s arms, I turned to look at Aunt Tali. That’s when I noticed Victor had been propped against the wall watching the whole thing.
His face was so twisted and angry it had to be hurting. I didn’t know anyone could scowl that hard. I didn’t want to hurt Victor.
Just as I started to feel bad and thought about going to him, Raul placed his arms around me. I turned to look up at him and he pecked my lips. He was so happy to see me.
“Yo, I really missed you,” he whispered in my ear. I smiled and he pecked my lips again.
“Thanks for coming,” I said as I smiled at him.
“You know that’s not a problem. I got something for you,” he said as he swayed me in his arms.
“I told you not to,” I whined.
“I can’t do that to my baby,” he said in my ear.
“Ra,” I complained.
“What?” he chuckled and handed me a box from his pocket. I took the box and opened it to find a white gold necklace with a diamond heart pendant hanging from it.
“Aw, Ra, you promised you wouldn’t,” I whined, “thank you.”
I reached to hug him and he pulled my face to his to kiss me. I was surprised and tried to stop him, but it was too late. It wasn’t the simple peck he’d started with. This time he captured my lips in a full kiss.
“Excuse me,” Aunt Tali said and cleared her throat. “I have children in my home.”
“Sorry, ma’am,” Raul called over my shoulder as he held onto me. “I really missed her. Thank you for letting me come to your home.”
“Mm um,” Aunt Tali said and gave me a look. I know she thinks he’s too old for me. I could see it in her face.
Uncle Alex had just finished introducing all the kids to Uncle Sisqo as Raul placed the necklace around my neck. Uncle Sisqo gave Raul a warning look when he thought no one was watching. I didn’t think he would be so kind about Raul dating me if he wasn’t his little cousin.
Victor stood there looking sick. That was hurting me. I wanted to be happy and be with Raul, but I still care so much for Victor.
The family went right into taking pictures. Aunt Tali wanted a bunch of them. I took pictures with Raul, pictures with all the kids, pictures with Uncle Alex, and Aunt Tali, pictures with Uncle Sisqo and my favorite was the picture with everyone.
Aunt Tali called it the picture with my family. I liked that, even if one of my family members was mad at me. Aunt Tali yelled at Victor a few times, telling him not to ruin the pictures. She had to yell at Al a couple of times too, because he was frowning and watching Raul.
I was happy when the guests started to arrive. It allowed me to be able to be distracted. Raul gave me some space as more people came around.
He continued to hold my waist or my hand whenever he could. I hadn’t expected him to be so clingy. I know we talk a lot, but he seemed to like me more than I thought.
Raul kept me dancing once I greeted everyone. Every time I started to look anxious or sad about Victor, Raul would pull my attention back to him and make me smile. My friends from school pulled me aside as soon as they got a chance.
They wanted to know what was going on with me and Victor. A few asked who Raul was. I didn’t want to get into any of that. I was saved by Aunt Tali making the announcement for me to go outside.
My heart raced. I was getting my car. I hoped it would be brand new. I wanted a nice car like Victor and Alex.
Raul grabbed my hand as I rushed out of the house. Parked right out front was a coupe version of Victor and Alex’s Jaguars. I squealed my head off. It was a shiny red and had a pretty red bow on it. I ripped my hand from Raul’s and ran to get in my car. I turned on the car and started to squeal again.
Uncle Alex and Uncle Sisqo stood by the driver’s door with their hands in their pockets looking like proud fathers. Aunt Tali pulled Victor and Alex along with her as she made it to watch me check out the car. She was fussing at them both under her breath.
“Thank you so much Uncle Alex and Aunt Tali,” I squealed as I got out of the car.
“You are welcome, Mama,” Uncle Alex said and gave me a hug.
“You are welcome, Baby,” Aunt Tali sang. “You can really thank Vic and Al, they picked it. Victor picked the car and Alex picked the color.”
“Thank you, Alex,” I sang and gave him a big hug.
“Thank you too, Victor,” I said as I reached to hug him. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and squeezed me.
“You’re welcome, now you have what you wanted. Guess I couldn’t trust you,” Vic said in my ear in a pained voice.
I pulled away slowly to look him in his face. I was so hurt. I tried not to cry. His face looked just as hurt, like I had betrayed him.
I didn’t know what to do, but I needed to get away from him. We were really over. He hated me and I did nothing to start this.
I turned for the car to get inside and closed the door. I started the engine again as I pulled on my seatbelt. Before I could pull off the other door opened and Raul climbed inside with me.
I had wanted to be alone, but I couldn’t speak or stop. I had to go. I raced out of the courtyard.
“Easy, Mama,” Raul chuckled. He looked over to me to see the tears running down my face. “Baby, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” I choked.
“Ma-me, pull over,” he said softly.
I did as he asked because I was starting to cry too hard to see straight. When I was safely on the side of the road, Raul unfastened his seat belt and reached for my face. He kissed the tears on my face, then lifted my chin to press his lips to mine.
I let him kiss me because his warm breath and nice scent reminded me of the night he comforted me. He reached to unfasten my seatbelt, then pulled me closer to him. Both our breathing became heavy, he wasn’t holding back like our first kiss.
“They not treating you right here?” he panted at me. “I’ll take you home with me.”
“No, they’re really good to me,” I answered as I caught my breath.
“What happened then?” he demanded.
“I don’t know, maybe I’m just overwhelmed. I’m happy to see you and the car and the party,” I lied. “I’m just really happy.”
“I’m happy to see you too,” he moaned and leaned to kiss my neck.
I moaned as his hand grabbed my waist and his mouth parted on my neck. He gently started to suck at my skin, sending a chill down my spine. Raul was no Victor. He was way more mature in more than one way.
He started to kiss his way down my collarbone, flicking his tongue at my skin every so often. It felt nice, but I was confused at the same time. Something just felt wrong. This was wrong.
“Ra, wait,” I called.
“Yeah, baby,” he breathed and kissed me.
“Can we slow down,” I said softly.
“Yeah, if you want to,” he replied and kissed me again. “I just missed you, Mellie. You’re all I think about.”
“I missed you too, but maybe we should go back,” I whispered.
“You want me to drive?” he offered.
“No, I’m okay now.”
He kissed me lightly one more time before putting his seatbelt back on. I moved back into my seat and put on my seatbelt. I looked at him nervously as I noticed the windows were fogged. He reached to turn on the defroster and laughed. Once the windows were clear, I went back to the house.
People were still outside waiting for me as I pulled up. I tried to fix my face after I parked the car. Raul got out to come over to open my door and reached to help me out of the car.
I noticed Victor talking to Shelia by one of the bushes. She had her arms around his neck. Once he saw me he placed his hands on her waist, my heart ached that he would try to or want to hurt me like that. I just placed my head against Raul’s chest and walked into the house.
I tried to eat or drink something, but I didn’t have an appetite. I made my rounds to my guests just w
anting the party to be over. Raul held me against his chest for the rest of the night.
Once everyone was gone Uncle Sisqo hung around with Uncle Alex a little longer. Raul sat holding me on his lap in the grand room while we talked. Uncle Sisqo let Raul know they were leaving and he pulled me outside.
“I want to see you again,” Raul said as he pulled me into his arms while we stood beside the Hummer.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Come see me. You licensed now,” he laughed.
“Okay,” I laughed back, “when?”
“Friday, I’ll take you to dinner,” he said with a big smile.
“Text me tomorrow?”
“You already know, Mama,” he said and leaned to kiss me. “You look cute in that car.”
“Thanks,” I laughed.
“I’ll see you Friday.” His eyes were gleaming as he looked down at me. I gave him a shy smile as I stepped away.
Raul got in the truck as Uncle Sisqo came out of the house. I ran over to hug Uncle Sisqo and thanked him for the envelope full of cash he gave me as a present. I wasn’t in a perfect mood, but it was a better one than earlier.
I went to see if Aunt Tali needed any help. She had a clean up crew there, but she was still doing some things herself. I figured helping out was the least I could do.
As I got to her, she smiled as she placed all my gifts in a pile. I hadn’t gotten to any of those yet. Aunt Tali waved me over and sat on the floor next to the pile. I walked over and sat down with her, pulling my shoes from my feet. She placed the first gift in front of me with a big smile on her face.
“So did you enjoy yourself?” she asked.
“Yes, thank you so much,” I chimed.
“Meliyah, you are such a beautiful girl inside and out.”
“Thank you.”
“I just worry about you. When I think that you’re not living enough, I find out you’re dating a man. I just want you to be careful honey,” Aunt Tali said with sincere concern written on her face.
“I wasn’t dating Raul. We text for a while when I first got here and we just started again when… well when I could not find a date,” I explained.
“Oh, that is beautiful,” she chimed as I pulled a blouse from the box she placed in front of me. “Meliyah, I have been in your shoes. Guys like Raul lead to heartbreak. You either watch them go to the grave or to jail. I’ve loved someone just like him and lost him. I don’t want that for you.” She passed me another gift as I listened to her.
“I know. I don’t want that either, but what I want I can’t have,” I said sadly.
“Meliyah, if that boy you were after doesn’t want you, then it really is his loss. You’re so special and you deserve someone special. Don’t waste your time chasing things that are not for you.”
I placed the box I opened down and looked at her with tears. “But Aunt Tali, this one was special. You don’t understand something changed… something I couldn’t help and it ruined everything. He did care about me… at least I thought he did. He never treated me like the others.” I was crying now as I shrugged.
“Honey, if he really cares about you he will be there when the time is right.”
“I don’t know. I think I hurt him.”
“Meliyah, trust me. It will work out. Just be mindful with what you’re doing with Raul. Okay,” She cautioned. “Now on a lighter note, here is something from me.”
“Really, but you gave me the car.”
“I guess I do spoil my children. The car was just one gift,” Aunt Tali laughed.
I opened the wrapper and then the box. When I looked inside it was a red designer bag to match my car. I chuckled and leaned to hug her. She rubbed my hair as we hugged.
“It figures you would buy me a bag that matches my car,” I laughed.
“None of my babies are going to be looking raggedy.”
“You really see me as one of your babies?” I quizzed.
“Yes Meliyah, I love you like one of my own. I wasn’t sure about you coming here, but I’m glad you did,” she said with a smile.
“I would never do anything to hurt you or your family. I love you all too much.”
“Even that rotten Victor,” she chuckled.
“Yeah,” I said and looked down at my hands and shrugged.
“He is so much like his father,” Aunt Tali said and started to stare off into space. “I worry that I’m doing something wrong with him.”
“You are doing great with him. Victor is just… Victor,” I said.
“You two have a strange relationship, don’t you?”
“I guess,” I replied.
“I’m not sure if he is jealous that you are here or if he just wants to protect you like he does his sisters. His dad was over protective and jealous,” she laughed. “I can laugh now, but he would drive me crazy sometimes.”
“You really loved him, right?”
“Yes, I did, but I don’t regret any of my past.”
“Do you think you will ever tell the twins about him? I mean they don’t know, right?”
“No,” she closed her eyes and shook her head. “They don’t know, but I plan to tell them.”
“Sorry,” I said as I watched the tears fall from her eyes.
“No, it’s okay.” She said as she swiftly wiped away her tears.
We moved through the gifts as Aunt Tali started to tell me stories about my dad and Victor. I could see why she thought Victor Jr. was just like his dad. I could see my Victor all in her stories of her Victor. When we finished with the gifts Aunt Tali looked tired. We went to the kitchen to get some cake and then we went to our rooms.
I learned a lot about Aunt Tali and Uncle Alex that night. I also learned more about Victor. I wish I would have done things differently with him, but I guess Aunt Tali was right. I will be with who I am meant to be with in the end.
chapter Eighteen
Colliding Ships
Taliyah
“I think I made a mistake in pushing Meliyah to date,” I sighed in frustration to Alex.
“I think I want you to stop worrying so much. Meliyah is a smart girl. Raul knows not to hurt her. Sisqo would handle him if he did,” Alex reassured me.
“But that’s just the point, Alex. She is smart, but how street smart is she? That world isn’t for her. She reminds me so much of me. I was so naïve to the life going on around me. Raul isn’t just too old for her, he is living a life she doesn’t need to be a part of,” I huffed.
“Baby, you also have to remember that she is nothing like our girls. If we push, we may push her right into what we don’t want for her,” Alex sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look at what pushing her has done so far.”
“Why didn’t you stop me from pushing her,” I grumbled.
“Because you are hormonal and you tend to get a little crazy when you are. And since I’m the one responsible for that I let you have this one,” Alex chuckled as he pulled me against his chest.
“Ugh, that cake is giving me heartburn.”
“When’s your appointment,” Alex murmurs into the top of my head.
“I have to check, my brain is already turning to mush. I think it’s in like a week or two,” I sighed.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m not answering that question,” I chuckled. “You know what happens every time I do.”
I paused and smirked. I turned to Alex and lifted to my knees. Alex looked up at me with a smile on his face.
“What are you up to?” Alex laughed.
“You know what I want. It’s started already. You were looking good all night,” I said seductively.
The smile on my face grew as Alex’s sweat pants jerk. My friend in there was on the same page as me. Alex laughed louder as I reached to pull down his sweats with one hand and slipped my other hand inside to pull him out.
Alex reached for his t-shirt I had on and lifted it over my head. His eyes locked on mine as I slow stroked him. I wiggled down lower, to r
est between his legs and wrapped my lips around him.
Alex’s head fell back against the headboard and he groaned. I reached for his hands and pinned them beside him. I was taking control tonight, at least for as long as he would allow.
I used just my mouth to bob up and down on his shaft. I relaxed my throat to take as much of him as I could. Alex groaned as his legs rocked on the sides of me.
I looked up through my lashes to lock eyes with my husband. His hooded lids told me a number of things. One being, my time was almost up. He wasn’t going to allow me control for much longer.
Alex turned his hands over beneath mine and grabbed a hold of fingers. He gently tugged me, causing him to pop free from my mouth. I crawled back up and over his lap.
Alex grasped my hips and slowly brought me down onto him. My head fell back as I sank down onto his hard as steel shaft. I swirled my hips and started to lift and drop on him.
Alex cupped my tender breasts in his palms, pulling one nipple into his mouth. I cupped the back of his head and held him to me. I continued to alternate swirling my hips as I rode him. I soaked his dick as my sore breasts sent a sweet pulsing right to my core.
“Alex, Baby, yes,” I whimpered.
“Don’t fight it,” he groaned against my breast.
I was so close, but I didn’t want to come already. I was so tired I may have passed out if I did. I had more I needed to talk to Alex about and I wanted to go a few rounds.
I mentally fussed at my oversensitive body. I was going over hard and fast. When Alex moved his hands to my cheeks, prying them apart as he thrust up into me, I had no choice. My body jerked hard like I was being riddled with holes.
Alex’s dick was soak and wet. I keened loudly as he dipped his head and lick up the center of my breasts. Alex wrapped me in his arms and pulled me into his chest as he rocked his way to climax. I whimpered with my aftershocks that squeezed around him.
My eyes were closed, but my mind continued to race once Alex settled us against the bed. I shivered as his fingertips traced up and down my spine. Alex laced his other hand with mine.
“What else is on your mind,” Alex murmured.
“I need to tell them,” I whispered into the room.