by Tina Martin
Dante planted a kiss on Ezra’s cheek, then found Emily’s right hand with his.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” Antoinette said. “Are you staying for the week?”
“I am, but I’m going to need you to babysit Ezra for a few hours for the next couple of days while Emily and I work out some things, and spend some quality time together.”
Emily smiled.
“That won’t be a problem. I’d love to babysit.”
Emily leaned close to Dante and whispered in his ear, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Dante looked at her. Smiled warmly.
“I suppose since we’re here, we need to try one of those steaks everyone’s been raving about,” George said.
“Wait, hold on a minute,” Antoinette said. “The cheapest steak on the menu is seventy-five dollars and it only comes with a side of broccoli. I’m all for fine dining, but seventy-five dollars? We would’ve been better served going to Golden Corral.”
Emily chuckled. Her parents ate at Golden Corral at least once a week.
“Don’t worry about the prices, Antoinette,” Dante said. “Tonight is my treat. Get whatever you like.”
“Now we’re talking,” George said, studying the menu more intently.
Dante looked at Emily again and asked softly, “How have you been feeling?”
“I’ve been okay.”
“I’ll try my best to help you relax tonight, okay?”
“Looking forward to it.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emily stepped into the suite while Dante held the door open for her.
“I’m going to run you a bath,” he said.
“Dante, you don’t—”
“I’m running you a bath,” he said slower. Softer. “So take off your clothes, or would you prefer I did it for you?”
“I’ll do it, Dante.”
He smirked. “Okay. I’ll get your bath ready.”
Once she got undressed, she took a few steps towards the bathroom and saw candles lit all around the tub. Pink and red rose petals floated on top of the water.
“You were supposed to wait until I came out for you,” Dante said studying his naked wife.
“Should I go back into the bedroom until you’re ready for me?”
“No, baby.” Dante walked towards her, flicked off the lights then with the candles as their only source of light in the room, he led her to the tub.
“Watch your step,” he told her.
“Okay.”
Once she was in, her body completely submerged, she watched him stoop down beside the tub and reach for a bath cloth.
“Lie back. Close your eyes and let me take care of you.”
“Dante, we have a ton of things we need to talk about.”
“I know, but right now I want to take care of you. So let me.”
“Fine,” she said with a smile gracing her lips.
Dante smiled, too. She was a bossy little thing, and he loved it. Loved everything about her. Her drive, ambition and dedication. “How about this? I’ll talk, for now, and you listen.”
“Do I have a choice in the matter?” Emily asked.
“No, and keep your eyes closed.”
“I can do that,” she said, closing her eyes. “Anything else, Mr. Champion?”
“Yes. Relax.”
Emily pulled in a calming breath with her eyes still closed. She listened as the water rustled and trickled while Dante gently dabbed her face with the damp cloth.
“So, I’ll tell you some highlights from the last few days of my life while I give you a bath. Is that okay?”
“Yes, Dante,” Emily responded, eyes still closed.
“So, um…as a team, me, Dimitrius and Des decided we should change the name of the Grieving Hearts Connect Resort, not the website. The resort. Basically, the resort is not making as much money as it could be.”
“But that’s not why you built that resort.”
“It’s not, but I have to look at it as a business now,” Dante said, dipping the rag and wringing water out of it.
“Is it losing money?”
“No. There’s a small profit.”
“And by small—”
“It did two million last year.”
“That’s not small, Dante.”
“It is compared to the profits our other companies are pulling in.”
“But everything isn’t always about money.”
“It is when you’re The Champion Corporation. I’m not talking about myself. I’m talking about the company now, baby.”
“But you are the company. You and your brothers. GHC used to be special to you. You were passionate about helping people cope with grief. Told me it was an avenue you wished was available to you when you lost Anita. I know how much something like that would’ve benefited me when I lost Melvin. Now you’re going to take it away from the community for a few more million dollars that you don’t need?”
She was right. He couldn’t dispute that. The Champion Corporation was doing just fine without changing the business model for GHC and initially, he didn’t want to change the model. But Desmond and Kurt presented him with the numbers and made valid points about how much GHC could earn if the business model changed.
“See, this is precisely why you should’ve been home,” Dante said. “This is exactly the kind of tongue-lashing I need sometimes to keep me focused.”
Emily smiled. Her eyes remained closed.
“In other news that’s somewhat disturbing, I found out that my father wasn’t faithful to my mother.”
Emily frowned. “How do you know that?”
“Because I have two half-brothers and two half-sisters.”
“What?” Emily asked, her eyes opening wide in shock.
“Eyes closed, beautiful.”
“But—”
“Closed.”
She reluctantly closed her eyes while Dante continued giving her a bath. “I got a visit from Harding Champion. He said he was my half-brother, and he was telling the truth. We have the same father. Dad was leading a double life and had another family on the east coast while we were raised on the west coast.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Tell me about it.”
“So what happens now?”
“Well, I’m going to reach out to Harding to see if we can work out a time that everyone can meet.”
“But how do you feel about the situation?”
“It’s not ideal, and I was angry about it at first, but like I told Dimitrius – we can’t punish Harding, Mordecai, Amira and Zoya for something our father did to them. That wouldn’t be right.”
“No. It wouldn’t be.”
Dante stopped talking to concentrate on bathing her. He lifted her legs from the water, one by one to wash them. Then he focused on her feet, giving them individual attention. He washed her hands, gently rubbed the cloth across her breasts, down her stomach and to the very middle of her.
She gasped.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just a little sensitive.”
“Do you feel relaxed?”
“I do.”
“Good. Now, you can step out so I can towel-dry that sexy body of yours and give you a full body massage.”
She stepped out and Dante dried her off with a plush Egyptian cotton towel. Then he steered her towards the bed, took her towel and instructed her to lay whichever way she felt comfortable. She chose to lay flat on her back, so, on his knees next to the bed, he began massaging her feet. Standing, he used his hands to squeeze his way up her legs, massaging her thighs. With his torso positioned on top of her legs, his lips a kiss away from her navel, he said, “I can’t believe I have another baby growing in here.” He lowered his mouth to leave warm kisses all around her navel, making her body quiver.
“Why can’t you believe it?” she asked softly.
“Because, not too long ago, I was at a point in my life where I didn’t see this happening for me…thought I’d missed
my opportunity to have a family, and then I found you.”
Emily smiled.
He kissed her there again. “I know this pregnancy has caused you a little anxiety.”
“It has, but not because I don’t want the baby. At this stage in my life and career, I’m not prepared for it.”
“I know, baby,” Dante said, positioning his body next to hers, pulling her close to him. “I know you want to do it all. That’s why I love you so much, Emily. That’s one of the reasons I pursued you so persistently. We have like minds. Like goals. You are a business owner. I’m a business owner.”
“Yeah, but you make millions. I’m just a little shop.”
“True enough, but just like you told me, a moment ago, that GHC wasn’t about the money for me, I know the boutique isn’t about money for you. Am I right?”
Emily nodded. It wasn’t about money. How many times had Dante emphasized to her that she didn’t need money? Didn’t need to work full-time?
“Yes,” Emily answered. “You’re right.”
Dante pulled a piece of cover up over her body to keep her warm. Face to face with her, lips to lips, he said, “Listen to me, sweetheart. I want you to have it all. I want you to be a mother to our children. I want you to have your store, and I want us to be happy. Now, how do we get there?”
“We—”
“I’ll tell you how. I’ve given this a lot of thought because making you happy, seeing my children thrive is my number one goal in life. Now, as it stands, you want to work at the boutique every day and still be mommy-Emily, right?”
She chuckled. “And wifey-Emily.”
“Okay. So I think the best solution to the problem is for you to work part-time outside of the home.”
“But—”
“Let me finish, darling. If you worked part-time at the store, let’s say from eight until noon, then came home and spent another two or three hours working on inventory and other bookkeeping matters in your home office, you get the best of both worlds. You get to stay on top of your work and spend time with Ezra and soon, our new little one.”
“That could work.”
“Yes, but only if you’ll be willing to give up your full-time hours at the boutique. Will you be willing to cut back your hours?”
Emily looked at him with an inquisitive gaze. She loved this new plan of action.
“Emily?”
“I heard you. I was just wondering why you changed your mind. Before when I told you about my dilemma, you were so adamant about hiring folks.”
“I was, then I realized that’s not what you wanted.”
“Well, I like it the idea, and I’ll be willing to do that for our family.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. Now, I’m going to throw in an incentive.”
Emily perked up. “Which is?”
“I’m giving up Mondays at work to be home with Ezra.”
Her eyes widened. “You are?”
“Yes. My work is important to me, but not more important than my family. When Ezra grows up, I want him to remember me as being a part of his life when he was younger, not always being at work.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll give up Mondays, too.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. You want to shake on it?” Emily asked.
“No. I’d rather seal it with a kiss,” Dante said, leaning forward to capture her lips. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest with the connection and that was just a kiss. He kissed her thoroughly. Every corner of her mouth received attention and then he stopped, connected his vision with hers and smiled.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why’d you stop?”
“Wasn’t sure how far you wanted to take this, and I don’t want to come on to you if you’re not feeling it.”
Emily maneuvered her body and climbed her mountain of a husband until she straddled him. Looking down at him, she said, “I’m definitely feeling it.”
She lowered her body on top his and met his slightly opened mouth with her lips, feeling his lips catch her bottom lip while his hands settled on her back, crawling upwards to the back of her head. But something restricted their connection. He still had on clothes. She wanted to feel him, skin-to-skin. She wanted to breathe in his scent, run her fingers across his chest. The T-shirt he had on had to go.
Tugging at it, she said in a desperate plea, “Take this off.”
She sat up to give him clearance to pull the shirt up over his head and after he did so, he eased out of his boxers. Leaning back down on top of him, she whispered, “So much better.”
Then she kissed him again, locked their mouths together in a way that she’d never done before, moaning and taking his lips.
“Mmm, Emily, sweetheart. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I’m more than okay.”
“I mean, with the baby in the mix.”
She giggled. “Yes. It’s okay for the umpteenth time. Did you forget how active we were when I was pregnant with Ezra?”
Dante chuckled. “I remember. So, that’s what I have to look forward to?”
“Yes. Especially with my hormones going nuts. Plus, you’re so freakin’ hot, precisely the reason I’m pregnant now. Can’t resist you.”
“Can’t resist you either, sweetheart.”
She shifted her body and maneuvered over him, taking it upon herself to connect their bodies, slowly easing down on top of him, slamming her eyes closed in sheer pleasure while a groan left his mouth. “You don’t mind if wifey is in control tonight, do you?”
“Don’t mind at all.”
“Good.” She took more kisses from his lips – small, sensuous ones that she trailed to his ears and neck.
With his strong arms, he locked them around her, kept their bond tight as she rocked slowly. Knowing her body, reading every little signal, he felt her clench him, squeeze him then come apart on top of him. He groaned, her name leaving his lips when he let go – sensations tearing through him the same way they tore through her.
Through the heavy breathing, through the panting, he moved his body underneath her. It was cute for her to think she was in control, but the truth of the matter was, he was the one controlling matters.
Faint moans escaped her lips, became louder with each pull of her own body against his.
“Dante!” she cried, unable to withhold the scream building from the deep cave of her throat. She opened her mouth, released it and he took it, sealing her mouth with his the same way he sealed her below.
And it happened for him again as his body crumbled beneath her. Head spinning. He stared up at her when he was able to open his eyes again.
“Oh, Dante,” she said after resting her head against his chest, still straddled atop him, their bodies still intimately connected. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “For what?”
“For everything,” she said, panting. “For coming here to Jacksonville to be with me…to resolve our issues. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to be here.”
“Sweetheart, there’s no place else I’d rather be.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
~A Week Later~
Dante leaned back in his chair on a crisp, Tuesday morning, yawning. They’d made it back to Asheville Sunday night, and as he and Emily had discussed, they stayed home yesterday to spend time with Ezra. And it worked out well. They took him to the park, then they ate lunch while Ezra slept in his stroller. After Ezra was down for the night, they curled up on the sofa and watched a movie, then stayed up late making love into the early morning.
Now, back at work, Dante called a meeting with his brothers. While he waited for them to come to his office, he sent Tennyson an important email:
From: Dante Champion
To: Tennyson Tillman
Cc: Dimitrius Champion; Desmond Champion
Subject: Re: GHC Name Change
Tennyson,
Hold off on any further work re
garding our discussion, a week ago, about a possible GHC name change. We’re not going to pursue this any further.
Thanks,
Dante Champion | Chief Executive Officer
The Champion Corporation
_________
“Welcome back,” Dimitrius said, stepping into Dante’s office.
“Same to you. You look like yourself again,” Dante teased.
“I am myself.”
“Everything good with you and Melanie?”
“Yep. All is well on the home front. What about with you and Emily?”
Dante nodded. “Couldn’t be better.”
“Good morning, fellas,” Desmond said, stepping into the room.
“Morning,” Dante said.
“What’s up, Des?” Dimitrius asked.
“Not much.” Desmond pulled out a chair and sat down.
“How’s the family?” Dante asked him.
Desmond smiled. “They’re good. I got up early this morning, had breakfast with them. Celeste spilled apple juice all over me, so I had to rush and change clothes. Then Nolan got me right here with his sharp fingernails,” Desmond said, pointing to the red scrape underneath his nose.
Dante laughed. “Sounds normal.”
“Yep. Normal.”
“And Sherita’s okay?”
“Yeah. She’s good. Still trying to find a way to make her happy with this work situation though. I know she wants to work more than a few days a week. She wants to be at the studio.”
“Then let her be at the studio,” Dante said.
“It’s not a matter of me letting her do anything. It’s the simple fact that she wants to do it all. She wants to work and take care of the kids.”
“Emily wanted to do that, too. The solution we came up with is, she would work part-time, four hours a day, and we would both be at home on Mondays with Ezra. In fact, I don’t see why all of us can’t take one day a week to be at home. We all have home offices. We don’t have to be here every, single day.”
Dimitrius nodded. “Sounds good to me. I’ll talk to Melanie to see which day she’ll need me the most.”