The One I've Waited For

by Mary B. Morrison

  Delvin smiled. His teeth were perfect. “Never believe a man who toots his own horn. I’ll let you be the judge of my character,” he responded, parking at valet.

  Attendants opened our doors. Delvin escorted me to the elevator, up one level, to our destination. The host seated us at a booth in the corner.

  “You mind if I order for us?” he asked.

  Wow, I could get used to this. “I don’t mind at all.”

  The next three hours, we shared a bottle of Charles Krug cabernet, a jumbo crab cake, and calamari. He ordered the seafood trio for me, a six-ounce Kobe steak for himself, and for dessert we shared crème brûlée.

  We retraced our steps to valet. His car was parked up front. Delvin insisted on opening my door. Securing my seat belt, I said, “I had an amazing time.”

  He said what no man had told me. “You’re amazing. And I’d love to take you out again.”

  “You don’t mind my having three children? You know my situation.”

  Delvin parked in front of my apartment. “Sandara, lots of men take advantage of gorgeous women. I represent those women on a daily. The more beautiful a woman is, the more she’s probably been used and abused. Men who lie and cheat make women heartless. I already told you I have a large family. I’d like to get to know you better. Let’s enjoy getting to know each other. But first I need to know if you’re interested in date number two.”

  Staring into his eyes, I said, “Yes. I’d like that,” then paused. “No. Actually, I’d love that.”

  Opening my door, he held my hand until I was on my feet, then escorted me to my door. Delvin placed his hand at the back of my neck, leaned in, and gave me a passionate kiss. His tongue wasn’t all down my throat. His dick wasn’t grinding against my pelvic area trying to impress me.

  I cried.

  There went my heart again saying yes to a man before he’d asked me to have sex.

  CHAPTER 45

  Devereaux

  Antonio placed his hand on my knee. The warmth from his fingertips increased my temperature. My body was on fiyah!

  I knew the moment would come when neither of the girls was with us. We didn’t have to pick them up or drop them off. Just the two of us for the remainder of the night until other obligations would demand our attention at sunrise.

  This time we were enjoying a candlelit dinner for two in front of the waterfall at my place without our children. Nya and Sarah were in the overnight care of a reliable person, Etta.

  My cell was on do not disturb with no exception for my favorites. Antonio’s phone was powered off. I’d prepared a simple meal. I’d oven-broiled three whole lobsters, diced them into bite-size chunks. Didn’t want either of us to bother with the shells. Garlic smashed potatoes and spinach were the perfect sides. Dessert, if we indulged, was Bananas Foster.

  I was a decent cook, just hadn’t had a reason to spoil a real man. Wouldn’t stand over a hot stove ever again for a man who didn’t uplift and respect.

  “You know how hard it is to meet a woman of your caliber?” Antonio asked, dipping a piece of his tail in drawn butter.

  No, I didn’t. Thought it was easy for a man to meet any type of woman he wanted.

  “What I do know is it’s harder for a woman to meet a man who’s not hesitant to make a commitment and respect his woman when she’s not with him. How about trying to meet just one guy who’s open and honest? Even the decent ones are liars and cheaters.”

  I paused the agitation creeping in my spirit from having been a fool for Phoenix for four consecutive years, from twenty-five to twenty-eight. The ages made me think about what Alexis had said about our mother.

  I didn’t want to believe our mother would lie to us about something as important as paternity but her reason wasn’t plausible. Phoenix wasn’t perfect; lately he was horrible. Despite the road he’d chosen, he’d always be Nya’s father and Nya would have a relationship with him. Antonio could not take Phoenix’s place.

  “You’re okay with my being fifteen years older than you?” he asked.

  “Age is just a number.” I know that was cliché. It was also true, for me. Time for me to let a man love me more. If he happened to be a decade and a half my senior, I was good with that.

  I dipped my lobster, fed it to him. He dunked his, put it in my mouth. We shared a buttery kiss.

  Antonio whispered, “Let me make love to you, Devereaux,” then he pressed his lips to my ear.

  The gentleness of his touch against my wildly full afro made my body reheat.

  “Your hair is beautiful,” he professed, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

  Was it too early in our relationship to give myself to him? I hadn’t been with another man since Phoenix. I needed a man’s touch.

  Praying he wasn’t one of those men who would change after I shared my body with him, I held his hand, led him from my dining room table to the sofa. The room was filled with silence.

  “I can turn on some music,” I said, giving myself a reason to pause this intimate moment that created the urge for me to prematurely climax.

  “The music is already playing,” he said, pressing his lips to mine. “Can’t you feel it?” His hand moved slowly from my knee, under my dress, to mid-thigh.

  “I’ll get us something to drink.”

  His hand moved closer to my rejuvenated detoxed vagina. “Please don’t be the type of man who says and does what’s necessary to get laid.”

  Closing my eyes, I prayed he’d stop there. Give me time to dispel the sexual tension taking over my body. He grazed the edge of my outer lips. I gasped, opened my eyes, squeezed my thighs, trapped his fingers inside my labia.

  “I want you now, Devereaux.” He paused, then asked, “What would make you comfortable?”

  Naturally, I replied, “A ring.”

  “Tomorrow isn’t promised to me or you. We work hard. Let’s make love the same.” He lightly kissed me. “I hear you. If a ring is important to you, you deserve it.”

  Lawd, I was on fire . . . ready to explode! Jesus, it had been too long. Men were different. They could easily be into the orgasm and not the woman.

  “I reassure you. I’m not interested in any other woman. I won’t toy with your emotions. When love comes first, yes, I said love, intimacy is created. I’m not a character. Don’t write me into a script. Hold me,” he said, leaning his body into mine. “I need to feel you embrace me.”

  Relieved that his hand was no longer between my thighs, I held him. “You’re right. I do feel the music.”

  Melodic energy lightly strummed my vulva, encouraging me to add my own chorus line, “Make love to me.”

  The beat of his heart thumped rapidly when he placed one hand behind my back, the other under my knees, then carried me upstairs to my bedroom.

  “Let me do what you’ve asked of me,” he said, lowering my feet to the carpet.

  Neatly, he peeled the comforter to the foot of the bed, held my hand, then led me to the bathroom.

  Warm water splashed against our naked bodies. He coated my skin with body wash, cleansed my genitals front to rear, rinsed me well, toweled me off, escorted me back to my king-size bed, then tucked me in.

  What the hell?

  “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

  With each passing moment, the heaviness of my tired eyes battled my will to stay awake.

  Completely uncovering my body, he held my foot. Gliding his tongue between my toes made me laugh out loud.

  “You’ll get used to it. Relax.”

  This was no pedicure at the spa. The sucking made me cringe, in a good way until I became comfortable. “Oh, my, gosh.” The sensation was unbearably orgasmic. I was dying to kick. Didn’t want him to lose a tooth.

  As he trailed light kisses from my ankles to my knees, this time I did kick a little when the ticklish feeling crept throughout my body. Antonio quickly moved his tongue up to my clit, then licked softly. If he licked one more time I was going to cum.

  I was determined that
our first explosion was coming at the same time. I tugged under his armpits, suggesting he stop licking, climb between my sizzling thighs and penetrate this freshness.

  Reaching under the comforter, he retrieved a black cock ring, slid it over his corona, to the base of his shaft, then over his balls. Phoenix had never used one with me.

  The patience Antonio exhibited did not exceed the control he had over releasing himself. Each time I was on the verge of exploding, he’d stop thrusting and tease my nipples.

  The music in my soul was more intense than any song created for my show.

  He slid his head all the way in until he couldn’t go deeper. The walls of my vagina pulsated with the throb of his shaft. Felt as though we’d never stop climaxing. This moment was heavenly.

  We were quiet. Pounds at a time, his weight grew heavier by the minute. Never wanting this experience to end, I pressed my lips to his shoulder, rolled him onto his side, wrapped my arm and leg atop him, then I closed my eyes.

  CHAPTER 46

  Alexis

  Mothers were like wives. They did what was expected out of obligation.

  “He looks just like you, dude.”

  Touching Domino’s tiny fingers, I didn’t know a single mother who had given up on her kid. Trifling fathers who never showed up? I could start with my dad.

  “I have a little person depending on me, chick.”

  I’d never had what I’d considered a best friend. My mom didn’t have to be by my side the entire time. She could’ve left, let the nurses do their job, and come back to check on me like everyone else or left and never returned. Mother wasn’t my bestie but she was the greatest. I’d try my hardest to never take Blake Crystal for granted again.

  “Whatever you do, you cannot call my son ‘chick.’ Deal.” I wasn’t asking. After my recovery, I refused to leave Domino’s side.

  “Done,” he said, sitting beside me. “I kinda feel like I’m that boy’s pappy.”

  We laughed hard.

  I told my brother, “Don’t start no buzzing, man. You’re Uncle Spence.” Didn’t need my mom questioning me. “To silence the shit talkers, I’m insisting James do a paternity test.”

  “So you’re not sure?” my brother asked in front of my son.

  I wasn’t sure what my baby understood. I heard the nurses and my mother when they were speaking to me. Rolling my eyes, I chose not to dignify with a direct response.

  Exhaling, I confessed, “I feel hopeless.” My baby could fit in the palm of my hand. His diaper wasn’t much bigger than a bandage.

  After washing my hands, I uncovered my breast. “You’ve seen it before, chick.”

  I suctioned the nozzle to my areola, and the machine did all the pumping. I watched my baby’s milk collect into a sterilized bottle.

  “Dude, that looks like it hurts,” Spencer said. “And your boobs are humongous.”

  “It’s not painful . . . anymore. At first I was about to quit. But the nurse said it’s best for Domino.”

  Life wasn’t about sacrifices. Not for Alexis Crystal. Everything I’d do for my son, he’d deserve. The moment he understood right from wrong, there’d be accountability with no entitlements. He had to earn what he got. If my mother had taught me responsibility, I realized, I wouldn’t have hurt the people I love.

  Not spoiling Domino to the hilt sounded great. Hoped I could look into his eyes and tell him “no.” When I manipulated family, friends, and lovers, they couldn’t deny me. Already I was doing the unimaginable. Staying by Domino’s bedside.

  “You have a visitor,” the nurse said with a wide smile. “It’s Mr. West-Léon. Again.”

  Slowly, my smile grew the widest I could spread my lips. He’d come every evening after set.

  West-Léon sat beside me in the intensive care nursery. Scrubs were hot on him.

  “You get more beautiful every day. I swear. How’s our lil man doing?” he said. “You need help with pumping? I can relieve that machine.”

  Not requiring assistance, I answered, “Yes.”

  The way he placed his hand underneath my breast made my pussy twerk. I was advised to wait six weeks before having intercourse. Ready to dig into my treasure chest filled with toys, I whispered, “You have no idea what I’m going to do to you.”

  Spencer told us, “I’ma get outta y’allz way. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on y’all.”

  My brother and new closest friend was never in my way.

  “Why don’t you let me take you to dinner when you’re done. I promise I’ll bring you right back,” West-Léon said.

  “I’d love to but I can’t. You should’ve asked before Spencer left. I’d feel horrible if anything happened to Domino while I was out enjoying myself.”

  “How long before he can go home?” West-Léon asked, closing the flap on my bra.

  “Three, maybe four months. Depends on how fast he gains weight and how well he does breathing on his own.”

  Domino had what they’d called a hole in his heart. And if the fluid continued to accumulate in his brain, he might need surgery. I hadn’t shared that information with anyone. Knowing my son might not survive, I realized how my mother felt about me.

  My baby’s condition was my fault. Was thrilled to see they cut that head-banging fool from the football team. I had to stay with Domino. This might be our only time together.

  “You can’t stay here that long, Alexis. Dev has an opening for my love interest,” he said, placing my hand over his heart. “I have a vacancy on and off set that only one beautiful, amazingly talented woman can fill.” He raised his brows. Smiled. Kissed me.

  “For clarification. What do you want from me?” I asked. He didn’t know what my pussy tasted, looked, smelled, or felt like. Maybe he wanted to use me to secure his role.

  “I want to see where we can go,” he said.

  Men had a tendency to spark interest in a woman for a relationship, do a “no-show,” then pretend they were never the costar. I had a baby who needed me. All of me. I refused to be dickstracted.

  “There’s always another episode. If it’s meant to be. If we’re meant to be.” I stared at him.

  James entered the room, handed me an overnight bag. “Spencer told me to give this to you. He forgot. What’s up, West-Léon?”

  If James knew the truth about our son’s health, he’d be here day and night too.

  “It’s all good for me, man. And you?”

  Softly, I said, “Hey, James,” then told West-Léon, “Give us a moment alone. James needs to see his son.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll grab you something to eat,” he said.

  “Thanks, babe,” I answered to make James jealous, then added, “Wherever you go do not go to Spondivits Seafood.”

  “I feel you. I hate the way they treat their black customers too. I’ll get you something from Pappadeaux or Six Feet Under.”

  “Cool.” I loved both.

  James sat beside me. Chanel had stopped coming at my request.

  The pre-mommy Alexis would enjoy watching two men compete for my attention. I was still a diva but clearly over being petty.

  Didn’t like the way the loose skin of my belly made me cover up my sexiness. Mercedes’s demanding a tummy tuck was ideal. I almost went from delivery to plastic surgery. Dr. Paul McCluskey reassured me he’d sculpt me a new stomach with a six-pack that would make me look like a workout fanatic. The new me could wait. Plus, I didn’t want to have or look like I had a body harder than a man’s.

  “I want us to become a family. Don’t answer me now. Think about it,” James said, looking at Domino. The love in James’s eyes brought tears to mine.

  I shook my head. “Chanel is better for you,” I said, knowing James would never become my best friend or my sweetest lover. That position was currently reserved for West-Léon.

  That was if West-Léon didn’t mess things up.

  I’d grown tired of strapping on to make James cum his hardest. Chanel was pretty good at penetrating but she’d never per
fect my techniques. James would never give up anal and eating pussy was my vice. Earlier, I thought the three of us would make the perfect family. Now that I was a mother, I’d never subject my son to growing up in a confusing environment.

  “It’s over with her, Alexis. I’m not asking you to decide this minute. Keep my engagement ring, wherever it is. If you ever give it back, I’ll accept that as your final no.”

  I held James’s hand.

  “I will always love you . . . Always.”

  “I feel the same,” he said, admiring our baby.

  “James.”

  “Yes.”

  “There are some things you should know about our son’s heath condition. There’s a serious possibility Domino might not make it.”

  In a split second, James’s love turned to blame. “Alexis, what did you do?”

  CHAPTER 47

  Benjamin

  I dug myself into a bond with my mistress that was so strong only Jesus could save my marriage.

  Again, our children were at school. We’d dropped them off this morning. In a few hours, we’d have to pick them up. Together. Life was good for my wife and kids but I missed the hell out of my Arizona. Not just the way she cooked, cleaned, and performed fellatio. She was cool. Chill. Made me feel like a man. The man. I needed that. Needed her. Needed my wife but all she made me feel was pain.

  “You paid eight thousand dollars for a ring for me to signify you’ve ended the relationship with Arizona? Really? One of us is full of shit and it’s definitely not me, Benjamin Alexander Bannister.”

  The woman in front of me had changed. Or had she? Cursing. Badgering.

  Every damn day, I swear, I had to answer the same motherfucking questions. I was done with her relentless bitching. I exited my home office, went downstairs to the living room, turned on Steve Harvey, praying he was doing an intervention for somebody that might help me relate to my situation.

  Mercedes sat beside me. “Steve can’t save you, Benjamin Alexander Bannister. I am your wife and I demand an answer.”

  Exhaling, I asked, “What was the last question?” wondering why my father believed I should value a piece of paper over my sanity or what was in my heart. I sincerely loved Arizona. Missed hearing her sexy voice, her listening to me, her drawing me a hot bath. Her touch. All that and more.