Israel

by Celeste Granger

  She had already calculated the time difference between Atlanta and Sacramento and then shaved off some of that because with the urgency with which he spoke, Israel would take the jet. She couldn’t imagine him standing in line to board a commercial flight, not the way he sounded.

  The way he sounded. Cairo leaned her head back on her bath pillow and closed her eyes. He would be there soon. Mentally, Cairo wanted to be ready regardless of the outcome, although, in her heart of hearts, she hoped and prayed for a good one.

  Throughout the flight, Israel thought about Cairo. He couldn’t help speculating as to what the issues were that caused Cairo to pull away so abruptly. Israel also had to come to grips with his own responsiveness. Why this woman? He had dealt with any number of incredible women in the past, but none had gotten under his skin, penetrated his heart, or awakened his soul as Cairo had. That wasn’t his ego speaking either. Ego wouldn’t be on a plane flying across the country to try and resolve whatever the challenges were. Ego would have dismissed their encounter as tremendous but not permanent and moved on. And although Israel had never been opposed to the concept of love and all that loving someone else brought to bear, the connection with Cairo had happened so unexpectedly. He wondered whether or not love is what it was, if love is what he felt for her.

  The car was waiting for Israel when the jet landed. Tossing his bags on the backseat, Israel slid into the driver’s seat and started the vehicle.

  “7609 St. Monica Dr,” he spoke aloud, activating the navigation system.

  Cairo, I’m on my way.

  Although she knew Israel was coming, when the doorbell rang, Cairo physically jumped. The sound of the bell ringing through her home activated a palpitation in her heart and a skitter of feelings that coursed through her. She was excited and petrified and nervous, and hopeful all at the same time. Taking one final look in the mirror, Cairo tucked a tendril of her natural curls behind her ear as she made her way to the front door. By the time she arrived, her hands were visibly shaking. Cairo took a moment to shake them out before reaching for the locks.

  Breathe, Cairo, breathe, she uttered to herself as she opened the door.

  He smiled.

  She smiled.

  Israel’s eyes were sharp and assessing as they slowly raked over the length of her. Cairo’s eyes were also keen and assessing as they traveled the length of him, once again returning to his smoldering smile.

  “Come in,” she uttered, stepping aside enough for Israel to pass through. But that’s not what happened. He moved closer to her, but instead of stepping over the threshold, Israel gathered Cairo into the strength of his arms and eased her frame against his, drawing her close.

  “It’s good to see you,” Israel crooned against her.

  “I’m glad you’re here.”

  Lowering her arms from around his waist, Cairo invited him in, and once Israel crossed the threshold, she closed and locked the door behind them. She led Israel into the living room.

  “Make yourself comfortable,” she suggested. “Would you like something to drink? Wine, maybe?”

  “That sounds good,” Israel replied. “Is there anything I can help you with?” Israel offered.

  “Relax,” Cairo suggested. “I’ll be right back.”

  Israel sat down on the couch, but his eyes never left Cairo. He watched intently as she glided into the adjoining room, the billowy dress she wore falling effortlessly around her. She was regal and beautiful as she exited and even more so when she returned.

  “You look amazing,” Israel uttered as Cairo sat down on the couch next to him after sitting the tray with a carafe of wine and two fluted glasses on the table.

  Her skin flushed warm under his gaze.

  “Thank you.”

  “The least I can do is pour,” Israel suggested as he moved to the edge of the couch and picked up the carafe.

  The feeling of nervousness, coupled with anxiousness, had yet to subside for Cairo. Maybe the wine would help to take the edge off.

  She accepted the glass from Israel and waited until he had his glass before taking her first sip when he took his.

  “Mmm,” Israel hummed. “Is this the Silver Oak Cabernet Napa?”

  “Wine connoisseur and archaeologist?” Cairo mused smilingly.

  “I dabble,” Israel shrugged.

  “You dabble,” Cairo playfully scoffed. “That’s a seasoned palate for someone who merely dabbles.”

  “Tired after your flight,” Cairo asked after taking another sip of the wine.

  “I’m good,” Israel replied, “with the flight.”

  “But,” Cairo asked, hearing the pause in his speech.

  “But, I’m not good with how we left things,” Israel finished.

  Israel sat his glass down on the table and then reached over and eased Cairo’s glass from her hand, sitting it down as well. She naturally folded her hands in her lap, Cairo’s fingers clenched tightly together. He saw her hands and then her eyes. Gently, Israel placed his hand over hers and inclined her eyes to his.

  “I am here, beloved. I am here and willing to listen without judgment. Understand?” Israel reassured.

  She felt as though there was an impenetrable lump in her throat as the beat of her heart escalated to a near racing speed. Cairo’s chest rose and fell in quick succession despite Israel’s calming influence. Gently, Israel rubbed his thumb in a circular motion against her hand, never dropping his gaze from her. He hoped Cairo did not only hear his words but felt his heart. Slowly, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to settle her thoughts and her feelings that were running awry.

  “It’s okay, babe, just talk to me,” Israel encouraged.

  It took Cairo a few more seconds to find her words. She didn’t want this to go bad. She didn’t want Israel to feign concern once he heard what she had to say but then back away from her as she’d done to him. She didn’t want to feel his rejection after feeling the depth of his care and concern. Cairo didn’t want to be hurt, so it took her a few seconds to try and find the right words to say if there was such a thing.

  “I have endometriosis.”

  For Cairo, the words thickly hung in the air. She found it hard to maintain eye contact with Israel as the shame of how she felt and how she treated him began to surface. But the gentleness of his touch, the way his eyes softened as he looked at Cairo was unwavering.

  “I’ve had it for a while. I’ve seen all kinds of doctors and specialists. I’ve taken a host of medicines and experimented with all kinds of treatments. Despite everything I’ve tried, the prognosis is always the same.”

  She felt the soft assuaging of her hand by Israel, and it was comforting, yet, Cairo felt a rush of overwhelming sadness as she continued.

  “The doctors say that because of my condition, I most likely can’t get-”

  Israel heard Cairo’s voice crack and the tightening of her hands under his.

  “Babe,” Israel uttered, as he stretched his arm across the back of the couch and softly touched her shoulder. Another loving touch from him was enough to bring forth the tears Cairo fought hard to suppress. But if she stopped now, she may never get through it. She had to get through it, to say all of it. That was important not just for Israel but for Cairo. The more she spoke, the more she realized her sharing of the hard truth of her pain was bigger than trying to get Israel to understand. So, Cairo pushed through, despite it all.

  “The doctors say that because of my condition, I most likely can’t get pregnant or have a child.”

  Her lip trembled as tears began to spill from her lids.

  “The one thing that defines my womanhood is broken, and I can’t fix it. It makes me feel so incomplete, like I’m not whole… like I’m a shell of a woman.”

  Hearing Cairo’s anguished words and seeing her cry was heartbreaking for Israel. He wanted to reach out and grab her, pulling her close to him and comforting her. He wanted to tell her everything would be alright; yet, he didn’t want his words to rin
g hollow against the depths of Cairo’s pain. He didn’t know that everything would be alright. It’s something that is easy to say to try and be understanding, but it could also mean that he wasn’t really listening. For Cairo, everything was not okay. He had to be willing to let her speak and honor his promise to listen without interjection. What he could do was softly wipe the tears from her cheeks as she continued.

  “That’s why I pushed you away, Israel, because you deserve so much more than I would ever be able to give you. You deserve the complete package, not this empty shell.”

  She couldn’t hold back the flood of tears any longer. Cairo dropped her head and sobbed, for her hurt, for her pain for herself. Israel didn’t hesitate to reach for her, pulling her into him and wrapping his arms around her. Cairo’s head fell to his chest, and she was comforted. He now understood the weight of everything she’d held back and why she pulled away. Israel dared not pretend he understood what Cairo was going through. He would never fully know what she experienced. But at that moment, he confirmed for himself, and for Cairo that he was there, he listened, without interjection and without judgment. She wasn’t in the place to hear words of consolation, but when Cairo was ready, Israel would be there.

  That evening, Israel held Cairo for as long as she needed to be held.

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Cairo opened her eyes, she had to reacquaint herself with where she was. Cairo didn’t remember how she got to her bed, but as she lowered her head, Cairo realized that she was still fully dressed. Having always lived alone, feeling the weight of another person in her bed was different. She wasn’t one to have male company in her home regularly and hadn’t for years. Yet, feeling Israel’s thickly corded arm draped around her waist and the press of his amazing body cradling her from behind, the reacquaintance was immediate, and the feeling of safety and security was undeniable. Israel hadn’t left. Even after everything she shared with him, Israel was still there. He was still there.

  Cairo drew a meandering line down the length of Israel’s muscled forearm with her index finger and then intertwined her fingers with his.

  “Mmm,” he hummed against her. Cairo felt the shift of Israel’s body behind her, drawing him closer as he readjusted the hold he had on her waist before settling in again. It felt so good being in his arms. It felt natural and right. Yet, Israel hadn’t said much behind her disclosure the night before. He had been incredibly supportive and comforting, but he hadn’t really shared his feelings about it. Before she accepted that his presence, his touch was enough to confirm that he was okay with what she’d shared, Cairo needed to hear it from Israel’s lips. She needed to hear his thoughts on the matter, or she wouldn’t be able to go on enjoying the loving feeling. She wasn’t going to make any assumptions. That was too dangerous. As she lay there, feeling the strength and magnificence of Israel behind her, Cairo closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t want to be hurt. She didn’t want to be disappointed. She didn’t want to lose him even after pushing him away. That she knew for sure. What Cairo wasn’t sure of is where he stood on the matter.

  Israel was resting so well, even fully clothed. She felt kind of bad about waking him up. Maybe she would just let him sleep, let the conversation come up naturally. That sounded like a very mature response, but that’s not how Cairo was feeling. She had to know. The longer she was around Israel, the more those familiar amorous feelings of care, concern, and longing rose within her. Lifting his arm slightly so she could roll over and face him, Cairo inclined herself to him. He was an amazingly handsome man, even in his sleep. His face was so unencumbered, with no lines of worry, only peace.

  Israel was irresistible, and Cairo didn’t fight his irresistibility, lifting her hand and gently stroking his strong jawline with the back of it. He stirred again, and she watched his closed eyes flitting until the anthracite of his dark eyes met the midnight of hers.

  “Good morning,” she purred.

  “Good morning.”

  “Should I feel guilty for waking you up,” Cairo inquired. “You were sleeping so peacefully.”

  “I guess I can forgive you,” Israel smiled, reaffirming the hold he had to the center of her back.

  “Please,” she uttered dreamily, batting her long lashes at him.

  “You’re forgiven,” Israel smiled, placing a soft kiss to her forehead.

  “Even for pushing you away?” Cairo was antsy for his reply.

  “Oh, you’re seeking blanket forgiveness, huh?”

  “I am,” Cairo replied, “but I will have to understand if you can’t give that to me.”

  “We should talk about that,” Israel answered, his eyes never leaving hers. But for the first time, Cairo found them hard to read. She felt a distinct sinking feeling in her gut. Although she hoped everything would be okay, given how she’d handled the situation, she would have to be understanding if Israel couldn’t forgive her if her situation was too much for him to handle.

  Her thoughts were immediately snatched away as she felt the firm of his manhood rise against her flesh. A slight smile danced in the corners of Israel’s lips that were mirrored in Cairo’s.

  “If we’re gonna talk, we should probably not do it in bed,” Cairo hummed, her eyes lazily falling to his growing manhood and then back to his eyes.

  The smile that danced in the corners of Israel’s lips transformed to a much more salacious grin.

  “You’re probably right,” he replied, defying his smile and his girth. Israel didn’t back away from her, though, and it was becoming increasingly more difficult to quell her body’s natural response to him.

  “I’ll go first,” she flushed as her yoni thumped from his nearness. Before her will weakened any further, Cairo eased from Israel’s arms and scooted to the edge of her queen-sized bed, pushing the covers off before lowering her feet to the carpeted floor and standing up. Her yoni thumped again. Cairo squeezed her thighs tightly together to thwart the pulsating sensations that scurried through her. She could feel Israel’s eyes trailing her across the room. It would be so easy to return to the warmth of his embrace and give herself willingly to him. It would be so easy to delay the conversation and simply enjoy being with the man she found herself falling harder and harder for. That would be so damn easy because Israel was so damn fine. He created a yearning in Cairo she’d never experienced before, an insatiable urge to join with him in every possible way. And maybe not talking about it right now would be okay. Who's to say he even knows how he feels about everything considering how weighty the topic was. Delaying that conversation would also give Cairo a chance to not obsess about the possibilities, fret about his responsiveness, or lack thereof and to enjoy being with him. And as Cairo passed close to him, looking over her shoulder and seeing Israel in her periphery, she considered for another second, returning to him.

  She resisted the urge, and then, Israel eased his lengthy frame from the bed. Cairo’s eyes glazed with wanton need. She took a risqué glance at his magnificent bulge that pressed hard against the fabric that restrained him. When Cairo lifted her eyes from his protruding arousal, Israel’s simmering eyes were waiting for her. The strange tingling sensation gripped Cairo’s licentious body like a vise. Israel’s stride was fluid as he strolled sexily across the room. He moved closer until Israel left Cairo with no room at all. Israel stood so close she could feel the heat from his body. His hooded eyes were hungry, and Cairo was the delicacy he sought.

  There was a suspicious line at the corners of his mouth. Israel’s jaw clenched and his eyes slightly narrowed as he stood over her. She inhaled on a pant as Israel’s mouth drew closer and closer to hers, Cairo’s mouth lifting in mute invitation, welcoming him in. The kiss was hot, slow, and intoxicating, but that was the only slow thing. Just as quickly as Israel ceased the fullness of Cairo’s mouth, he withdrew, leaving Cairo’s mouth burning with fire. Israel stepped back, his eyes never leaving her as his large hands fell to his trousers, unbuttoning and then unzipping them, allowing his pant
s to fall to the floor. His thumbs then traced the edge of his boxers before he pushed them from his waist, letting them fall as well. His manhood had blossomed into a thick, swollen masterpiece. And without thought, Cairo’s eyes widened, and her tongue traced her bottom lip as he once again moved in her direction.

  As he stood closer than close, Israel’s hands traveled the length of Cairo’s legs, picking up her skirt as his hands moved higher onto her thighs. Cairo struggled to take a breath as every rise of his fingers against her flesh sent surges of titillation to her very essence, short-circuiting her inhale and her exhale. Cairo expelled her breath in a measured, steady hiss as his thumbs traced the trim of Cairo’s lace panties before easing them from her curvaceous hips. As her panties lowered, so did Israel, bending in his knees until her panties reached the floor. Cairo lifted one foot and then the other stepping out of them as Israel’s face lingered just shy of her palpating yoni. As Israel returned to his full height, his hands moved under her dress, skimming her thighs and her hips.

  And then he pinned Cairo to the wall.

  “Ah,” she gasped as his mouth descended on the pulsation at the base of her neck where her heartbeat thumped and pounded incessantly. Cairo’s legs spread for him as Israel bent his knees, and lifted her against the wall, leveraging the solidness of the surface as Cairo wrapped her legs around his waist. When his torrid extension found the damp petals of her womanhood, Israel groaned as her walls welcomed him. He didn’t fuck her slow and easy. He fucked Cairo hard and fast, and her body screamed for more, the slick wetness of her excitement coating his smoldering rod with every thrust.

  “Damn bae,” Israel growled against her mouth as his hardness electrified her. Israel pummeled her pussy as the pace of their passionate, animalistically divine entanglement teetered on the edge of spontaneous combustion. Israel’s tumescent core pounded her pearl as Cairo moaned his name.