Finding Mrs. Right

by Kalani Zoldyck

  "Natalie is good for you." His smile faded and he was bought back to the reality that she thought their marriage was real. Well, in a way it was. Taking a deep breath he began packing the empty plate and utensils.

  "Very."

  "So, when will I get grandbabies?" she hurried. Romero squirmed in his seat and groaned.

  "Look, one thing at a time! First its get married, now its grandbabies...can you let Natalie and I get ..." he cut himself off before he said anything more. Romero stood up and came around the front of the desk. He relaxed on it as he looked at his mother. "Mami, I have a confession."

  "Oh dios mio. What have you done now, Rome." she muttered. Romero laughed and rubbed a hand over his head. An uneasy feeling went through him, but he trudged on.

  "Natalie and I only got married to make you and Grandma Lyn happy." he said quickly.

  "What?" she breathed, not sure she'd heard her son correctly.

  "We really don't know each other as well as I portrayed in the beginning." He took a deep breath and started from how he met her without all the detail in between. "Natalie's grandmother thought I was her boyfriend when I saw her crying one night after visiting you. I got nosey and was curious, so I started talking to her. Then with you complaining and worrying about me not having a wife, etc. I figured you would get better if I got married and you thought that I was in love."

  "Rome!" she stood up abruptly, her face wrinkled in anger at her only child.

  "Mami, it just started that way. Don't blame Natalie, she just wanted to make her Grandmother happy also and I felt it was a win-win situation for us both. We spent a lot of time getting to know one another and spending time together, though, so we aren't exactly strangers anymore."

  "This is a lie?" Rosario repeated as if she hadn't heard her son's excuse, then began pacing with Romero's head following her movements from side to side.

  "Well, it started out..."

  "Rome! You lied to me!" she said quietly. Romero twisted his mouth and nodded. "Have you given any thought to what Natalie felt when you thought of this ridiculous scheme!? What about me?!" she asked.

  "At the time, well, no. I just felt it was good for us both. Natalie bought it up the day she met you, but I felt it would be okay. Also, after Grandma Lyn passed away, we talked. Natalie and I...we..we..kind of..."

  "And..."

  "We are going to try and make it a real marriage, because...because...we've fell in love with one another." he looked at his mother as he said the words aloud. Rosario stopped pacing and sat back down in the chair.

  "So what started out as a lie, backfired on your ass!" she said bluntly. Romero started and cleared his throat.

  "I already liked Natalie, Mami. I just didn't expect this to come out of it."

  "Sometimes love has no explanation when it comes to it" she murmured thoughtfully.

  "I know." he stated, relieved that he had confessed. They both were silent for a moment before Rosario spoke again.

  "You know you didn't have to tell me that, Rome." she whispered.

  "I know that too."

  "You are too old for these games, Rome." his mother muttered, standing back up and gathering her purse. "I love you, Rome. I know why you did what you did, but don't think I won't notice if you try and pass off a baby as yours just to make me happy!" she stated and gave him a quick kiss before leaving.

  xxxxxx

  Rosario looked around the Quilt shop in awe. She'd never been in here and was very impressed with the business that Natalie had. She was a darling woman and knew she was not at fault for Romero's scheming ways, but she was glad that at least one of them was following their hearts. It was a big risk for Natalie and Rosario could only admire the woman for taking a chance on that child of hers.

  Natalie walked out from getting a few quilt swatches to hang up that she'd designed over the week she'd spent at her grandmothers. She was surprised to look up and see Rosario standing patiently in the middle of the room.

  "Hi!" she greeted her with a hug and gentle kiss on the cheek. "You look wonderful." she commented, Rosario thanked her and Natalie urged her to sit on one of the stools behind the counter.

  "I just came from seeing Romero." Rosario started. Natalie grinned wider. "He's so much more relaxed. Thank you, Natalie.

  "Oh, well..." Natalie blushed at all the "thank you's" she'd been getting. From Romero to his mother. She didn't think she deserved it, but she didn't know what to say to them.

  "He told me that your marriage is not real." Rosario continued. The wide smile that was once on Natalie's face faltered."I mean, that it started out that way."

  "I'm sorry."

  "That's okay. You love him, right?" Natalie nodded. "Then it's as real as it can be." Natalie looked at Rosario waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. Her calm demeanor surprised her. She'd expected a more upset woman, but then again, she was soft when it came to Romero.

  "I'm sorry." she whispered again.

  "Natalie, I would never had noticed that you two weren't for real. I don't know if it was just me being happy with Rome finally finding his soul mate or the way you would look at him."

  "The way..." Natalie cleared her throat, embarrassed that she hadn't been hiding her feelings as well as she'd thought. Rosario smiled openly at her and slid off the stool.

  "I think if you and Rome weren't meant for one another, you would have never been in the same place at the same time." she placed her hand gently on Natalie's threaded fingers, stopping the tense wringing that she was doing at being caught. "I truely don't think Rome expected to fall in love with you, but I can definitely see why he did. He needs a woman to tell him to stop and smell the roses. He needs someone that he feels he can come home to and need him more than his job needs him.

  I knew once he found the right woman, he'd focus his energy on something else besides work and if I was gone, he'd never had done it. So, finding you, Natalie, was actually the best thing Rome could have done. The fact that it was facilitated by something that could have ended my life, well...I'm just thankful that something beautiful came out of it." Natalie blinked rapidly at he comforting words. She could only nod as she tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "Now, that we've settled all this nonsense. I'd love to see your shop. These quilts are amazing. Do you design them yourself?"

  Rosario walked off to the pattern books that stood on a podium like counter, displaying all of the selections that she'd made. Natalie felt a sense of relief flood her and followed quickly behind her to answer the questions.

  16

  Natalie walked into the quiet of Romero's house, taking off her shoes. The silence made her wonder if he was even home at all, but she could smell the food and as she walked further toward the dining room, hear the music that played faintly in the background and couldn't imagine what he was up to.

  "Hey, you're here." Romero's voice came from behind her and Natalie smiled, surprised by the embrace and kiss he planted on her. It was slow and sensual. When he pulled away, he'd left her unable to speak, much less catch her breath.

  "I would have called, but..." She said after a moment. Romero shook his head and took her bag that was still on her shoulder and shoes. Romero had made a special effort that evening to leave work so that he could spend time with Natalie. In fact the roles had been reversed and he'd called her shop only to find out that she was immersed in the finishing touches on a quilt order. Romero felt it was an opportunity that he didn't want to waste. He'd showered and placed on a pair of dark blue denim jeans and a cream crew neck cotton shirt, hurried to the den after placing a take out order and put on his Motown mix favorites. With a satisfied grin, he'd waited patiently for her to come home.

  "Don't worry. Hungry?" he asked as his form headed back toward the front of the hall and up the staircase. He came back down a moment later to see a surprised, but happy woman standing in the entrance of the dining area.

  "What's all this?" she asked with a wry smile.

  "I don't know
." Romero shrugged and gave her one of his sexy playful grins. Natalie averted her eyes shyly at the look and willed her heart to stop hammering. Not knowing what to say or do, even after she'd told him how she felt, he still managed to make her heart skip and stomach flutter. "Let's find out..." he teased.

  Romero placed an arm around her shoulders and led her into the dining room, where he'd had candles and a mixed floral bouquet on the large banquet style table. Their places set with Natalie sitting close to him as he'd done before.

  "I didn't expect to see you here when I got off." she began as she watched him pour a deep dark red wine in her glass.

  "I figured I'd make a special effort." Romero summed. "Toast?" he held up his glass and Natalie looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. "To New Beginnings."

  "I guess we can toast to that." Natalie sipped the fragrant liquid while Romero watched her through a hooded gaze. Clearing his throat, he uncovered the dishes that were still warm and they dug into the simple meal of a hearty beef and rich red sauce with penne pasta. "This smells good. Where did you get this at?" she asked watching as he ladled it on her plate.

  "I used to be a single man, I know where all the good restaurants are to get a home-cooked meal." he teased. "By the way, what you cooked yesterday was wonderful. I didn't know you cooked like that?" Natalie blushed at the compliment.

  "I just followed a recipe." she explained. "My mother never bothered to show me much when I was growing up, so I learned from recipes and when I came to live with Grandma Lyn, she let me cook with her. I wasn't as good with the kitchen as with sewing." She laughed.

  "Well I couldn't tell. It was good. So…. I saw Mami today." he said.

  "Funny you should say that, so did I." Natalie laughed at the sheepish look that went across his face.

  "I should have called you and told you she would probably stop by. I just didn't think she would right after our conversation."

  "No, that's okay. I was surprised she was so calm about it." Romero laughed and took a deep breath.

  "Calm, no, but she'd probably let me get away with murder before she disowned me for good." they both laughed at the truth of the statement.

  Rosario was a push over when it came to her only child and Natalie was sure she was pissed, but being that what came out of it was positive, she couldn't fault them for the lie. They both fell into light conversation that came easy as the evening wore on. Natalie watched an expressive Romero that she'd seen during the months that they'd gotten to know each other. It seemed the burden of weight had been lifted and they'd both let down their barriers enough to let nature take its course. There was no more fighting how she felt and she watched him with the look of a woman that wanted the man before her very much.

  xxxxxx

  Romero cleared the places while Natalie headed into his den. Romero came down just as Marvin Gaye's "Dance With Me" came on. He let loose a deep laugh and grabbed her, swinging her around the empty space. He leaned down until his cheek touched hers. Natalie closed her eyes and let her fingers play against the fine hairs on the nape of his neck as they moved to the beat of the music. Romero pushed her away gently, twirling her around before bringing her back flush against him. Her laughter was music to his ears, when she looked up at him their eyes held one another's in a silent exchange. Natalie felt the heat surround her, even if she wanted to look away she couldn't. He had a way of holding her hostage, but it was in a good way. The reality of how much their relationship had changed seemed much more apparent than before. When the next track came on, Romero smiled and drew her even closer to him. The O'Jay's, "Stairway To Heaven", played a interlude for them both.

  Romero slowly danced with her, but soon it wasn't even dancing, more like swaying, then a complete stand still before he rubbed his lips lightly across her mouth, then pressing them firmly against hers. His kisses did something to her and made her forget everything. She was a slave to the passion that was slowly starting to consume her as his kiss grew deeper. Natalie found herself falling right into it.

  Romero felt the give of her as he slipped his hand under her shirt, feeling the soft skin of her back. His fingers gently drew small circles at the base. Romero's placed the hand that held Natalie's over his shoulder drawing her closer to him and he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, letting go of her was not an option anymore.. He ended the contact slowly, before nibbling a line from the corner of her mouth to the slope of her graceful neck, softly tickling the skin just below her ear, lingering at the pulse as he felt it beat against his lips. He could hear the quiet breathy sigh escape and instead of pulling away and creating space to stop before he went too far, he did the opposite. He was solid against her soft body and Natalie trembled lightly against him before he felt it melt. The smell of his cologne, the mood of the evening, everything was right. Romero lifted his head only to look into a pair of dark pools. Desire unhidden and want laid bare. He swallowed hard, but felt the excitement of making love to her fill every cell in his body.

  "Natalie..." he whispered, but it wasn't in question or permission.

  xxxxxx

  Romero hurried up the stairs with barely a glance to where he was going. His deft fingers slipped her shirt over her chest and Natalie helped free her upper torso from the confining fabric. She was wrapped around him tightly as he moved toward his bedroom. Romero's nostrils flared at the smell her skin imparted, that aroma of her that made his heart quicken and anticipation flood his mind. He threw the shirt on the floor as he walked into his bedroom. The bed itself inviting as they fell heavily on it without losing the close contact. Romero pulled off his shirt, feeling her small hands on his chest as they lightly ran over the grooves and valleys of the well proportioned muscles, the sinewy shape that she'd admired for months now came into view and it showed on her face.

  Romero quickly undressed them both before pulling her into the middle of the bed and wrapping himself in her warmth. Her limbs cradled him as his mouth explored every inch of skin. Her eyes shined in the semi-darkness of the room when he gazed upon them and it made him hold his breath for that much longer as the swell of need and desire reached its peak.

  Whispering her name against her lips, Romero could feel the slight smile and then press of her hips against his in response. Rising on his elbows, he just kissed her, taking in the feel of her body underneath his, loving how her breasts pressed against his chest, her arms wrapped securely around his shoulders, and her legs open waiting for fulfillment.

  Natalie took his weight as a comfort. Her heart thudded against it as the feel of his lips only heightened the mood. He looked amazing above her and turned her on more than she could ever imagine. Her hands automatically went over his hair, letting the softness gather around her fingers as he kissed his way lower and lower. Pulling the sensitive nipples in his mouth, teasing her skin with soft caresses of his hand. The hardness of his manhood, silky and hot against her thigh. A sense of urgency began deep within her womb as all her senses were bombarded with what lay ahead.

  "Romero...Ahhh" she breathed as she closed her eyes, his thick fingers prodded the inside of her thigh, cupping the pulsating entrance before allowing them to fill her. His thumb lightly circled the bud as he moved his fingers gently against the sensitive walls of her womanhood. He sucked her breasts simultaneously until she coated his hand with her thick juices. Romero stopped and moved over her, his lips touching her skin lightly as his breath softly ran over it as he whispered her name repeatedly until he came to her face. His mouth engaged hers once more in a passionate slow kiss, her thighs were hot against his waist and he drew a hand over them, cupping her hip as he pressed himself against her sex. He could easily slip into the heat that enticed him, in fact, he ached to bury himself deep within her, but commonsense nudged at the back of his mind and he regretfully ended the contact. .

  "Hold on, sweetheart." Romero moved her gently on the bed before leaving Natalie looking admirably at his naked behind while he went into the bathroom. A moment later he came ou
t, his shaft covered in latex and Natalie blushed, knowing that she hadn't given any thought to protection or preventing pregnancy. She hadn't thought of anything really and how Romero could she didn't know, but she was glad at least one of them was still thinking clearly. Romero came back over her quickly.

  "Why the face?" he asked, giving her soft pecks as his body slid erotically against hers. Natalie opened her mouth but only a small gasp escaped, her eyes closed briefly. "You're beautiful in every way possible, Natalie." Romero whispered, his eyes trained on hers, but before she could utter a word at the words he enfolded her in a passionate kiss that continued where he'd left off, guiding himself into the velvety sheath that pulsated tightly around him. He could feel her tense, then relax at the intrusion. Her body accomadating him as he heard the small gasp then soft moan escape her throat. She fit him like a glove--tight, hot, and very wet.

  The press of her hips against his was all that was needed to spur him into motion. Romero's deep thrusts set the pace. It was teasingly slow, yet thrilling for Natalie as he drew out of her body only to replace himself back into it filling her with sensation after sensation. She felt as if she was coming undone each time. He stayed close to her body, his face near hers as he kissed and licked along the erotic planes of her neck, face, and earlobes. Natalie's teeth was on edge, making love to Romero was damn mind numbing. She felt the deep coil that had resided in her womb throughout his foreplay begin to unravel as it threatened to burst forth.

  Sensing the nearness of her climax, Romero picked up speed and urged her through gentle commands to fall over the edge. Natalie dug her fingers into his shoulders as she released a cry of pleasure and Romero watched her heightening his own need for release. Her eyes half closed, her back arched, and her mouth slightly open, beckoning him to lick the fullness of her lips. He pulled her bottom lip softly, sucking gently as he continued to stroke her through her orgasm. The muscles in his back flexing as he continued to move in long measured strokes until Romero could no longer keep his climax at bay. Romero shifted until he gathered her behind in his hands, lifting her hips until he could go no further as he touched her womb. The sound of Natalie's moans as she tightened around him once more made him release a deep groan as he began his descent into what he imagined was heaven in the form of this woman. This time Romero lost all reason and sunk his face in the crevice of her neck as he let loose a long satisfying groan. The steady stream of his seed seemed to continue as they shuddered against one another.