by Keyes, Janae
Lola Sangare had some secrets up her sleeve. I’d started calling her “The Baby Whisperer” that night. She taught me so much and I was grateful I could be a better father because of her. We formed a unique bond that night and she saw I only wanted what was best for my family.
I showed her the photo her mom had sent of our oldest two, my boys, Axel and Hakim, passed out in bed together followed by another photo of our eight-month-old baby girl in her bassinet. Our baby girl was named after Nina’s grandmother who’d passed away just before her birth.
It was funny, the relationship that formed between me and the rest of Nina’s family after everything. They finally saw us for what we were, happy. I attended every family event with Nina and the kids, and Jaheem and I even got along after I’d spent a couple weeks in jail over the assault. He and I would watch football together and feud over our chosen favorite teams. It took until Axel was nearly a year old before Nina’s father fully came around. He’d been trying to find a new way to exercise to prevent another heart attack. He’d been a fan of boxing and I offered to coach him a couple times a week to keep him active. He accepted and we bonded as well.
“I’m starving,” Nina commented as we reached the car and I was struck with an idea. It was one of those few nights we didn’t have the kids and maybe a little impromptu date would be perfect for us hard working parents.
“Let’s put your things in the car and go grab a little something to eat before going home,” I unlocked the car and placed her bag in the trunk before closing it and taking her hand into mine. “You deserve it. You’re the hardest working woman I know.”
Every single day I tried my hardest to spoil the fuck out of my wife. She’d given me everything I’d missed and needed in my life. She deserved every single moment for her I could provide because she saved me from my demons, but if you heard it from her, she’d say I saved her.
“I think I know where we’re going,” Nina jested as she jabbed her elbow into my side. I grabbed my abs in mock pain as she giggled away. Her laughter still got me right in the heart. So innocent and sensual at the same time.
“Figured a little blast from the past would be nice,” I commented with my arm back around her waist as we strolled toward The Grand Place.
I could never forget our first date. Taking my ballerina out for dinner and sharing our first kiss in the market square.
We chatted lightly on our walk. In the more recent days, we never got much time to just talk like we used to about anything and everything when we had two wild little boys running around and a new baby girl demanding attention.
We arrived at the little Greek restaurant we’d had our first date at. I opened the door and motioned for Nina to step inside first before I followed her in.
“Bonsoir,” we were greeted right away.
“Bonsoir, une table pour deux s'il vous plait,” I requested as I settled my hand on Nina’s lower back. She leaned into my body and glanced up at me, her brown eyes shitting through her long eyelashes.
“This way,” the waiter directed us to a small table for two and if I remembered right, it was the same table from the very night I got to kiss Nina for the first time.
Taking our seats, I took Nina’s hands into mine and held them tightly. My stunning wife and my entire my life sat across from me. I was amazed every day that I still held the love of the dark-skinned beauty I’d met in Central Station.
“Ma petite danseuse,” I cooed as I toyed around with her wedding ring.
“My Belgian Beast,” she purred in return. “Look at us. Some days I can’t believe it and then I look at our three beautiful children and I believe every moment from the joyous ones to the bad ones. It’s all us and perfect in a way.”
“Our imperfection makes us perfect I think,” I noted as we weren’t perfect, but we’d carved our own little piece of perfection.
* * *
NINA
After dinner, we didn’t hang around too long. We got directly in the car and started on the drive home. After Axel was born, we began our search for a home in the country. I wanted to be closer to my parents and Fabumi already lived in an idyllic town only fifteen minutes from them. We found the perfect home in Enghien for our family that was just beginning to grow as not long after we moved, I discovered I was pregnant with our second son.
I loved the life we were able to build. Marc had his final fight and that was it. He retired as promised. He took up coaching instead and I could tell that in the end it made him happier than fighting ever could. Jean retired a year ago and left the gym to Marc to be the lead coach while the practical business part was left to Fabumi. The best friends worked great together, and my husband came home every day with a smile on his face.
The best part was the relationship I eventually formed with my parents. It was nothing like we’d ever had. We were actually close and I was able to be candid with them in a way my brother had always been but not myself. My mom and I spoke at length about my depression and she was able to see my side and know I wasn’t being lazy or antisocial but mentally I was hurting. She’d become my best friend and I could relate to her as a mother.
I was constantly amazed that I’d carried three lives inside me. Three perfect little lives. Our two sons and one daughter were our entire world. When I saw them, I saw the fight Marc and I put up to escape our past demons and give life to a new generation that wouldn’t be hindered by those voices.
“Dinner was amazing,” I commented as Marc pulled into the driveway of our modest brick home.
Marc’s hand slid over my lap and gripped at my inner thigh. I moaned at his dominant touch. Though Marc no longer fought, he was still the Belgian Beast in our bedroom. I was grateful for this rare night where our children were sleeping at my parent’s and we had the house to ourselves.
“Come on, let’s get inside,” Marc instructed me. He didn’t have to tell me twice. I leaped from my seat and out of the car.
Marc met me at the front door and opened it. Stepping inside, I didn’t have the time to think as Marc slammed the door and pressed my body against the wall. Hiking my leg up, he reached under my dress and yanked my panties down my legs.
“Bedroom,” I murmured as his lips left fiery kisses on my neck and down over my collarbone.
“I need you now,” he growled against my heated skin. Now it was he who pulled his hard dick from his pants, lifted my legs around his waist and thrusted into me.
I gasped into the air as Marc rammed into me, my body pressed to the wall. He was the ultimate lover in my eyes. He’d been since our first time together, and now he was my husband who cared for me in every single way. He was the father of my children and kept us not wanting for anything.
“Marc,” I cried out as my hands gripped tightly as him.
“Not yet, ma petite danseuse,” he growled as he pulled me away from the wall and began carrying me through house. Navigating through halls and over discarded toys, we arrived in our bedroom where he dropped me to the bed.
I watched as Marc dropped his pants and kicked them off. He fought each of the buttons on his button up shirt before ripping it from his arms. He stood over me, the streetlights reflecting off his rock-hard body.
“Take your dress off,” he commanded, and I was quick to pull the dress over my head. Leaning down over me, Marc reached behind me and unhooked my bra, leaving me completely bare as he laid me back on the bed. “Perfect,” he murmured before he bent and sucked one of my nipples into my mouth.
As he sucked at my flesh, he spread my legs and his fingers dipped into my awaiting wetness and grazed over my sensitive bud. I moaned and slid my hands over his bald head as his stroking fingers matched that of his tongue.
Pulling up, Marc flipped me to my side and slipped behind me. He easily lifted my nimble leg and pushed inside me from behind. His arm wrapped around me and gripped my body tightly as he rode into me.
“Touch yourself,” he grumbled before my hands slipped down my bare body and between my le
gs to my clit.
Doing as I was told; I rubbed my fingers over my engorged bud until my cries filled the room along with Marc’s growls before he spilled into me.
Coming down from our highs, I faced him, and he pulled me to his chest. In the dim light, I could just make out his latest tattoo, our daughter’s name. My fingers traced the letters of her name on his chest and I grinned up at him.
“I remember the day I told you I was afraid you’d disappear and years later, you’re still here, loving me just as you promised,” I reminded him of that night in his apartment. One of our first times together when we were so new to one another. “Sometimes I’m amazed.”
“Me too,” he chuckled.
“Why?” I asked him curious.
“I’m amazed that this beauty still loves this beast.”
“Stay fucking used to it,” I joked as I played with Marc’s own words.
He took my face into his hands and kissed me with all his might. The love of my life, my husband, and the father of my children. My Belgian Beast.
Nothing is chance, there’s always a purpose.
THE END
Acknowledgments
This book was a labor of love from the first word. There is a reason I dedicated this book to the beautiful country of Belgium. I’ve lived in Belgium since 2011. I gave birth in this country and I work in this country. I’ve experienced the horror of terror attacks in this country, but I’ve also embraced the multiculturality that makes up this country especially the capital city of Brussels.
This book is a love story in and to Belgium through the eyes of my most diverse characters yet. Yes, I write interracial romance and my cast of characters is always diverse but there was something different about this book. First, this is the first book where none of my main characters are American. I wanted to write a story homegrown in Belgium but also be an immigrant story. Belgium is full of immigrant culture and it had to be a staple of this book.
Next, I wanted to take away the mask of the usual romance book characters. It is I think even if not mentioned that the characters in romance novels even if not white are by and large assumed to default as Christian. We forget that the biggest religion on earth is Islam and there are more followers of Islam in this world than Christianity. A good majority of immigrants are Muslim, especially in Belgium. I wanted to turn the tables and show that romance is for everyone no matter their religion, sexual orientation, or color. Marc and Nina were a love story that needed to be told through a different lens than the usual.
I want to take the time to thank a few people. To a woman who I’ve been able to message constantly with my questions about Islam and Muslim families, I want to thank the lovely author Sara Allen for all her help. My understanding of Islam I think is usual for most people who don’t practice the religion and I needed to dig in much deeper than a Google search, Sara offered her assistance and was my biggest help in telling Nina’s story.
Thank you to my Belgians, beginning with my husband, Olivier, for my language assistance, and friends Lauren and Ann. Also a huge thank you to my expat friends living here as well, Genevieve and Keila.
I truly hope everyone has enjoyed this story. I stepped outside my box and it delivered a beautiful love story that I am definitely proud of.
Thanks to Out of Your Write Mind for the beta reading services along with my other Beta Readers Simone Choi and Amanda McCoy. As always, thank you to Nicole Davis for her editing services, and to Julie Lafrance for proofing.
All my love,
Janae
About the Author
Janae Keyes is an American mom, wife, and hopeless romantic living in Europe. She loves to explore various cultures coming together through the magic of love. Residing in a suburb of Brussels, Belgium, with her husband and daughter, Janae loves to share her passion for romance with others.
For more from Janae visit:
www.JanaeKeyes.com
Also by Janae Keyes
Broken Politics
Sleepless Fate
The Champagne Bubbles Series
Hearts On Ice
Past Transgressions: A Russian Roulette Love Story
Homegoing
Never the Bride
Would Smell As Sweet
A Misconception of Loyalty
Influenced: A Good Girl, Bad Boy Love Story
Lady Guardians: Born to Ride
Pleasing the Professor
Decadence & Danger
All can be found on Amazon