by Edwina Fort
He was insatiable. And what was really amazing was that I was discovering I was insatiable too. It’s true with Dillion, I often had to force myself to get in the mood when he came by. But with Tucker, I was having no such problems, every time he reached for me, I was willing and ready.
Oh, and my question last night about whether he’d been aware that we’d had unprotected sex had been answered this morning in the shower. Now before I tell you guys how, I just want to first prerequisite it with a few things.
First, he surprised me with breakfast in bed. And it was a really good breakfast: pancakes, beef sausage, grits, and the prettiest, fluffiest, most tasty eggs I'd ever had in my life. And obviously, by now, you guys know that I’m the kind of girl that can appreciate a good meal.
Second, I’d brought myself comfort about the fact that we’d had unprotected sex by first remembering that his department had sent over his medical records in his file that I’d taken a good look at after only glancing at it the first day he showed up in my office. And they gave him a full examination every six months since he joined the agency, except for a two-year period where his records seemed to go blank but pick back up afterward. His last exam was three months ago, he was tested for STD’s and all the tests came back clean. I’m just praying that in that three-month time, he didn’t contract anything.
And as for me, not only did Dillion and I use condoms every time, but I’d also been to see my gynecologist since the last time he and I did anything as well.
Now… as for becoming pregnant, I did some quick math in my head. And I am more than certain I’m not ovulating… Once again, at least I pray. Just for the record, for everyone out there reading my tale, yes, this is extremely irresponsible. And as a doctor, I cannot in good conscience encourage this kind of behavior.
But as a woman, I can admit that I’m weak and I make mistakes. When he stepped into the shower and lifted me in his strong arms while entering me with a powerful thrust that stole my breath, I made another mistake because he’d done it once again without protection, and it never crossed my mind to tell him to stop. I welcomed the pleasure I received against that stone shower wall, just like I welcomed his warm seed afterward.
Oh God, I don’t know why I’m so weak…
You know what? I take that back. I knew what my weakness was, it had been my weakness since freshman year. He sat behind me on the bed in a pair of gray boxer briefs and nothing else to cover that beautifully sculpted chocolate body, waiting on my answer about traveling to Toronto with him for the weekend.
“I can’t,” I told him as I slid my legs into my jeans.
He frowned. “Why?”
“We’re trying to put together a job fair at the clinic next Wednesday for the residents in the Oakwood Heights community. I’ve found a few employers that’s willing to hire felons and those without degrees. My goal is to present the people with opportunities they can be proud of, and a paycheck that will cover their bills. So far, I’ve found a few companies that have agreed to come out and show support, but not nearly enough. I’m going to have to spend all weekend trying to find a few more.”
I shook my head. “And with Dr. Kimble still out with an injury, that leaves just Dr. Ross, Oaklee, and me to try and bring this all together, while still meeting with our patients.”
He grabbed my hand, pulling me toward him before lifting me so that I straddled his lap. “Damn, Free, do you think you can save the world all by yourself?”
I smiled. “No…but I can do the best that I can.”
He didn’t return my smile. “How much can you do if you work yourself to death? What good would you be to the people if you‘re worn out? You have to take time for yourself. Trust me, I know.” He shook his head.
“When the captain told me I had to take a year off, I liked to had lost my f*cking mind. What was I going to do for a year? I didn’t know how to sit still…sitting still for me is—” His voice trailed off as he turned his gaze toward the lake outside of his bedroom window.
I gently turned his head back to face me. “Is what?”
“It’s dangerous. With nothing to do, it gives me too much time to face myself.”
“Why is that a bad thing?”
He chuckled. “Because I’m f*cked up inside that’s why. But we’re not talking about me. So, don’t try and change the subject. We’re talking about you, and the fact that you’re trying to work yourself to death.”
A little whimper escaped my throat as I lowered my head to rest on his shoulder. “I know…But I just have so much to do.” He wrapped his strong arms around me and I welcomed the comfort they brought. And as if he willed it, a sudden feeling of tiredness came over me.
The truth is, I am weary. I would love to go away with him for the weekend, but I don’t think I even remember how to do something like that. I can’t remember the last time I took a break.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve been on my best behavior. I haven’t been a brute or a bully in anyway…although you just admitted to bullying me. But I’m a big boy, I can take it.” His silliness made me giggle.
“So, I’m going to ask you to forgive me ‘cause I’m getting ready to be a bully now. You’re going to Toronto with me for the weekend. And you going to relax and have fun. That’s final.”
I sat up and looked at him as I thought about his words. I really could use a break. I could cancel a few of my clients Monday and Tuesday morning to see if I can get a few more companies on board for the job fair. Hmmm…So tempting.
“Where are we going to stay?”
He shook his head. “Let me worry about all that. Remember, stress-free weekend.”
I bit my lip… “You may be the worst thing that ever happened to me.”
He grinned, shaking his head. “Naw, baby, I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You’ll see.” This he said before he tossed me back into the bed. Laughing, I yelled as I tried to escape him… The man was insatiable.
Traveling to Canada wasn’t new to me. With Toronto only being an hour away, it had been a get-a-way favorite of Angie’s and my dad’s. She used to take Layla and Laureen shopping there in the Fashion District all the time. And although she took me with them, she very rarely bought me anything from the fancy stores they frequented. Walmart or the twins’ hand-me-downs was my lane and she made sure I never forgot it.
You know what? No! I forced myself to stop thinking about Angie. It would only ruin the great mood that I was in. At the time, I was so glad I’d let Tucker talk me into this, I’ve been smiling and laughing since I left home.
He came with me to my place so that I could pack a bag and call Rachel to look after Grapefruit for a couple of days. And of course, my kitty and Tucker clashed the whole time we were there. Tucker threatened to shoot him, and Grapefruit hissed at him, causing the big tough cop to squeak like a girl. Not ashamed in the least, his gaze came to me. “That cat is Satan.” I fell out laughing. Oh y‘all, it was amazing to see him being bullied by something so small. That is so what he gets.
Anyway, feeling like I was in a fairytale, he whisked me away to the airport after that to where his family’s private jet awaited us. On the plane were a very nice pilot and copilot who introduced themselves to me, telling me if I needed anything, not to be afraid to ask.
“You know what?” Tucker said to me a little later from where he sat in the plush leather seat next to mine. They were so comfortable that although we’d only been in the air for about thirty minutes, with thirty minutes still to go, I was fighting to keep my eyes open.
With my head resting back on the seat, I turned to face him with a sleepy smile on my face. “What?”
“This whole time we’ve been together, I haven’t had an urge to smoke once.”
My smile grew. “Really?” He interlocked his fingers with mine, bringing our palms together before lifting our hands so that he could kiss the back of mine.
“Really…You take my mind off the things that cause the unset
tling side of me to stir up. I just hope you allow me to do the same for you this weekend.”
I looked around the beautiful plane. “You’re already on the right track.”
And it only got better from there. We landed on a private runway in Toronto in front of the most beautiful mansion I’d ever seen. I was completely floored when Tucker told me the house belonged to his family.
I knew that his parents were filthy rich. Goodness, Angie obsessed over them all the time. If they were having a party or something like that and she didn’t get an invite, she would get extremely depressed, so much so that she would stay in her bed for days.
But I had no idea they were this wealthy. I’ve always been curious as to what a mayor’s salary looked like. But according to Angie, the Pelletier’s wealth stemmed from African gold mines. It is said that the mayor’s great grandmother was a Moroccan princess who married a wealthy Frenchman that moved his family from France to America in the thirties.
Because in that time, interracial couples were heavily frowned upon in the States, even filthy rich ones, they had a hard time finding a place where they were welcomed. So with nowhere else to turn, they ended up buying a town.
Aldshore…
Yep, you guessed it. Before it became the bustling beach town of the black elite, it all belonged to the Pelletier’s. But although Tucker was a prince in his own right, and pretty much the heir to the Aldshore throne, he never acted like it.
I mean, yeah, he was mean, and now that I was seeing him through adult eyes, I’m beginning to suspect that there is a deep and twisted root to his behavior back then. But still, he didn’t carry himself like someone who held the world in his palms.
Even now, I watched as he interacted with the staff of this castle of a house, who were all in a frenzy because they didn’t know he was coming this weekend. He spoke to them like they were his equal, even agreed to catch the fight with one of the groundkeepers later if we were back from the city in time.
There was something different about him. It was hard to explain, he just didn’t…fit. If that makes any sense. He was rougher around the edges than the other rich people in the neighborhood I lived in during high school. I will never include myself with them. Angie made sure to always remind me that I wasn’t one of them and would never be, and I’m grateful for it.
Laureen, Layla, and damn never everyone else I went to school with, except for Rachel and the other kids who were there on the scholarship program, were extremely spoiled and pampered, and were completely clueless about what was going on in the real world outside of their little plush bubbles.
But not Tucker… He’s never been like that. He’s never tried to speak with fancy speech, like so many residents in Aldshore. He never tried to dress in any way other than what he was comfortable with. And vice versa, whenever schools from the rougher neighborhoods came to play ours, he never tried to pretend that he was anything other than what he was.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as he showed me to our room for the weekend.
“Yes, I’m starv—” My words stalled as I got the first look at our room. “Woooww! It’s beautiful!” This one room was bigger than my whole house, from floor to ceiling, I’m not kidding. I’ve never seen anything like it. If you add a kitchen, someone could live in this room. And it was gorgeous, life of the rich and famous gorgeous. No wonder Angie is always kissing Mayor Pelletier and his wife’s butts.
“You like it?” Tucker asked, pulling me into the circle of his arms.
I grinned. “I love it. You know, if you keep spoiling me like this, I’m never going to want to go home.”
The smile slowly left his face as his gaze turned into that one that cripples me. The intensity level of it always held me paralyzed.
“Promise?”
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I wanted to tell him I was just kidding, but it was clear he was not. So instead, I blinked to break the spell he’d easily cast on me and forced myself to smile.
“So…what are we having for lunch? And please don’t say anything heavy, I’ve already eaten two days’ worth of carbs in those delicious pancakes you made for breakfast.”
He didn’t speak at first, just continued to look at me as if he was reading all of my secrets. I went to step back out of his arms, but he only tightened his embrace, holding me in place. The muscle ticked in his jaw, letting me know that I’d upset him.
“Since you can’t make a promise to me, allow me to make one to you….” His intense gaze studied my face, my hair…my neck. “I promise to do whatever it takes to make you mine...” His whispered words sounded like a threat.
I know what you guys are thinking at this point, that maybe that is why he was upset, but I don’t think so. After that, we would continue to have an awesome day. He took me out to lunch, we caught a show and made it back to his place to watch the fight with the groundkeeper, who’s name I found out was Raphael, his son, and a few of his son‘s friends.
Talk about fun, we had a ball. Do you guys know that there is a theater room in Tucker’s house?! Oh, my goodness! It was the best night of my life. We drank, we argued, we talked smack to each other. He and I got so drunk we had to help each other back to his room where we passed out fully clothed on his bed.
This morning I woke up to the surprise of my life. Tucker was gone, but laying on the bed next to me was a note that said there was a car waiting downstairs to take me for a day that was just for me, and that we would meet back at his place to head to the party together.
Ohhhh, guys! Never in my life have I ever experienced anything like it. My first stop was to have a beautiful breakfast at a little French chateau. It was quiet and peaceful, and for the first time in a long time, my mind was not bogged down with the long list of things that I had to do.
After that, I was taken to a spa. Okay, so this part of my story is a little embarrassing, but I'm going to tell you guys anyway because if we're going to discover what I did to upset Tucker, I’m going to have to be transparent with you guys.
I cried…
Yep, you guys heard me. A very nice young lady showed me to a dressing room where a big plush white robe awaited me. She told me to get undressed because I had several relaxation treatments planned for me.
The first was a facial. Have you ever gotten your face massaged? Oh, my goodness! I had no idea my face was tense until that young lady’s talented fingers went to work. When she was done, I thanked her profusely with tears in my eyes.
However, it was the full body massage that broke me down. I lay on that table for an hour. And in that hour, the masseuse tore down my soul…swept out all my worries and rebuilt it. By the time she was finished, I felt like a new woman. As if she understood what I was going through, she placed her hands on my shoulders and gently whispered for me to take my time before softly closing the door behind her.
I lay on her table, balled in a fetal position, and quietly wept. She stripped away all my stress and I felt naked. Eventually, I got myself together and when I saw that woman again, I just hugged her. She must have been quite used to that because she didn’t laugh at me or even stiffen in my arms, she just gently rubbed my back as I held on to her for dear life.
Whew! Okay, so after that, I was taken for a mani/pedi, and then to the beauty salon. By the time I made it back to Tucker’s place, I felt like a noodle. I was so relaxed I felt rejuvenated. When I got back to work, I would have a burst of renewed energy.
Mrs. Barletta, Tucker’s housekeeper informed me that Tucker was still not back but that there were a few packages waiting for me in our suite. I’m not going to lie, at that point, I felt like a kid in the candy store. No one has ever spoiled me. Everything I had, I worked hard for. Blood, sweat, and tears…
So of course, I was shamelessly soaking up being spoiled for the first time in my life, and after giving Mrs. Barletta a hug that pleasantly surprised her, ran up the stairs like a little girl to see what other surprises awaited me.
I threw open
the door to find several boxes laying on the bed. I recognized the names on these boxes, all the names of stores Angie said were not for people like me. With a huge grin on my face, I crossed the floor and after climbing up on the huge bed, opened the first box.
I gasped when I saw the stunning yellow satin material inside. In wonder, I ran my hand across it. I’ve never in my life felt anything so soft. For a moment, I was hypnotized by the sheer beauty of the material, but only for a moment. With a squeak of excitement, I jumped out of the bed and gently lifted the dress out of the box. The yellow material unfolded like a magic cloth. I kid you not, it was so brilliant it shined golden in the dim lighting of the room.
Holding it in front of me, I walked to the mirror to get a better look.
“Wow!” I cried.
It was a wrap dress that would need to be tied together in the front, just like my prom dress, only this beauty would never be found on a discount rack. I quickly looked through another box and found a pair of golden heels to die for. And would you guys believe they resembled the sandals I’d worn on prom night? But where the straps on my sandals tied all the way up my leg Greco-Roman style, these shoes had one little tie that made a cute bow at the heel.
I lifted the lid off another box to find a beautiful yellow satin shawl, in another box were a pair of lace panties with the matching bra. Can you guys guess what color they were? Bubble gum pink, like the pair I’d worn prom night, only this pair did not come from Walmart.
My God, how did he remember my outfit in such detail?
He’d called me the girl in the yellow dress several times. Like mine, that night seemed to be seared into his memory. But if it was so special to him, why did he leave me all alone on the beach that next morning? I shook my head... No negative thoughts. Not tonight.
Instead, I opened one of the smaller boxes and cried out when the light reflected off a pair of yellow diamond teardrop earrings, nearly blinding me. With hands that shook, I opened the second box and was completely floored to find the matching yellow diamond tennis bracelet.