by Tina Martin
Tapping a silver spoon on a glass table, Barringer got everyone’s attention when he said, “Okay, family. I hope everyone enjoyed the food.”
“Delicious,” Candice blurted out, walking back to the table with Junior.
“Good,” Barringer responded. “Me and my gorgeous wife,” he said, reaching to hold Calista’s hand, “Wanted you to know how happy we are to have family around to support us and to remind us how we’re supposed to love each other. Without you, I don’t know how we would’ve made it.”
Happy tears fell from Calista’s eyes. “Oh my God…I don’t know why I’m crying. Never mind me, guys,” she said fanning her hand in front of her face.
“Aw, it’s okay, Cali,” Elowyn said.
Barringer looked at Calista, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. Then he said, “I’m just going to say this before I explode. We have a bun in the oven.”
“Huh?” Candice said. “We already ate dessert. Now you’re telling us you have a bun in the oven?”
“Not a literal bun, Candice.” Kalina laughed.
“And not a literal oven either,” Barringer added.
“It’s like the bun you’re holding,” Calista said, brushing tears away.
Candice looked down at Junior and glanced back up at Barringer and Calista with wide opened eyes. She yelled, “Cali, you’re pregnant!”
Smiling, Calista nodded.
Candice sprang up from her seat with baby Junior and hugged Calista as best as she could with her free arm. “I’m so happy for you,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Elowyn trembled with excitement because she knew what this meant – her second grandbaby was on the way.
Theodore, Garrison, Bryson, Rexford, Colton and Everson all went to congratulate Barringer while the women buried Calista with hugs.
“Congratulations, Cali,” June said.
Short of jumping up and down like a lil’ kid, Kalina squealed with excitement and she already knew about the pregnancy. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“And I’m over the moon excited,” Elowyn said, giving Calista a tight neck hug and a kiss beside the cheek.
And while everyone was busy celebrating Calista’s pregnancy, June eased away to step inside of the kitchen, running a cup of tap water. She took a sip and held the cup in her hand while she leaned against the counter. Calista and Barringer’s news made her think about how, one day, she wanted to become a mother – to Everson’s children – no other man’s. She couldn’t imagine Everson not being the father of her children.
“Hey.”
She looked up and saw Everson entering the kitchen, standing tall, sexy as ever. He could rock a pair of jeans like nobody’s business, and he always kept his facial hair lined up, trimmed and neatly groomed. She was so caught up checking him out that she didn’t even speak back to him. She just took another sip of water, hoping it would help slow down her rapid pulse rate.
“That’s good news about Barry and Cali, huh?” he asked, standing closer to the door than he was to her. Even while they were in the same room, he’d give her space.
“Yes. Good news.” She took another sip of water to cool the heat overtaking her body – a side effect of just being alone in his presence.
Everson took a few more steps closer to her. “Have you been receiving my flowers?”
“Yes. I’ve received all of them.” She stared into his eyes. When she felt herself drifting, she drank more water.
This man, this man…
She felt like screaming. Why couldn’t he see how much she loved him? That he was responsible for her current emotions? That she was having a hard time forgiving him? But still, through it all, she wanted him. Needed him. Needed him to be the father of her children. Needed him like she needed her next breath.
“I know I messed up,” Everson said.
“Everson, let’s not discuss this here.”
“Then when are we going to discuss it? I call, but you don’t answer. I text and you don’t reply back. When are we actually going to work through this, or is the reason you’re not replying back or acknowledging the flowers I sent is because you’ve made up your mind that you don’t want this?”
She shrugged.
Everson took a few more steps until he was standing in front of her but still at a comfortable distance so as not to crowd her personal space. “Talk to me, June,” he said, throaty. “If you don’t want to be with me, I would rather know than torture myself thinking I still have a chance when I really don’t, so tell me.”
“Did you sleep with her?” June asked, staring intently into his eyes.
“No.”
“Then why did you go with her? I want to know why, Everson,” June said in a calm, rational voice. “You never told me why.”
He sighed and stared down at the floor. “When I saw her, so many memories came back. Eliana was my first love—we were high school sweethearts—and the excitement of being young and in love came back to me. And I could honestly feel how much she wanted me. It felt good to feel wanted.”
June sat her cup on the counter and crossed her arms. “If I’m hearing you correctly, you’re saying you don’t feel wanted in our relationship. Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, but our life has turned into a monotonous routine, June. Everything from the days of the week in which we dine out, right down to the time and place we make love – it’s routine. I wanted some excitement—I wanted to feel the way I felt before we married and settled down in the suburbs. I miss the way we used to pick random spots on a Friday night to go hang out and dance. You used to love dancing. You don’t dance anymore. And it didn’t matter where we were…if we were outside at night, you would come and hold my hand and we would stare up into the sky, stargazing. We don’t do that anymore. I miss that. It’s no excuse for what I did…still, I miss it.”
He stepped closer to June, eliminating the safe space that separated them. Taking her trembling hands into his large ones, he said, “I’m sorry, June. I know it’s going to take time for you to trust me again, but I promise I will never give you another reason to doubt my love and devotion to you.”
The tears started flowing – the first time she’d cried in days – and June couldn’t wipe them away now that Everson was holding her hands. All she did was sniffle. “I want to forgive you, Everson. I do, but I don’t want to be the woman whose man is comfortable cheating on her because he knows she’s not going anywhere. I don’t want to be your fool.”
“You’re not a fool. I’m the fool for lying to you and I promise, June, if you give me another chance, I will do whatever’s necessary to show you that I am one-hundred percent committed to you. There’s no other woman for me. It’s only you. It’s always been you.”
June sniffled. More tears fell.
“Please, baby.”
June felt her heart caving before she leaned into him, pressing her forehead against his hard chest, her body trembling as she cried. “You really hurt me, Everson.”
“I know, baby. I’m sorry,” he said, sadness welling up in his eyes for causing her this pain. “Can we go home and talk about this?”
With her head still pressed against his chest, she nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay,” he said, relieved.
Chapter 30
Her heart beats were coming in rapid succession now that they were home again. When she stepped into the kitchen, she could feel his warmth radiating in the short distance that separated them. That feeling alone made her gasp, igniting something she hadn’t felt in weeks – a fiery passion that only she could experience with him.
With Everson.
They’d come home to talk, but neither had said a word, just stared at each other in the kitchen as if they were strangers, uneasy around each other and thinking of ways to break the ice. What June didn’t know was, Everson’s heart raced as strongly as hers did. His hands twitched at the thought of using them on her. And the heat that crept over his entire frame – oh the heat – wa
s unbearable. His body raged with fire and desire. He needed her.
When he couldn’t tolerate it any longer – the racing heart, twitching hands, his clothes on the verge of combustion, them staring at each other – he closed the distance between them, pinning her against the island and lowered his mouth to capture hers, satisfying his craving to taste those lips he loved and missed. She still hadn’t granted him entry, so he left small kisses on her lips, holding her so tightly against him, she couldn’t stop the shudder from jolting through her, causing her to moan and gasp until her mouth was open wide enough for his tongue. He found her tongue with his, taking it, gripping her head tighter with his strong hands to drive further into her mouth while she moaned helplessly – surrendering because she wanted to. At the sound of her soft moans – ones he missed over the last few weeks – he kissed her fervently and lapped his tongue in longer strokes. He would take his time mating with her this way, but he wouldn’t touch her anywhere else unless she gave him a signal. He wanted her to want him. He needed to know that she was okay with going further than just kissing. If she wanted to take things slow, he’d happily oblige. If she wanted the opposite – well he was okay with that, too. In fact, he preferred to be intimately joined with her, but the ball was in her court. For now, he’d enjoy making love to her mouth while listening to the sweet sound of her moans.
She missed him. Still loved him, and she wanted to make love to him.
He pulled his tongue away from her mouth, nearly taking her tongue with it then whispered in her ear, “Give me a sign.” He nipped at her neck, causing her to breathe heavily and utter uncontrolled moans. Then he stopped, looked at her and said, “Give me a sign if you want me.”
Holding his gaze, she reached down to his belt buckle, unhooking it.
It was the signal he needed. He swooped her up into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“To our bedroom.” Even while holding her in his arms, he was able to jog up the stairs.
As they entered the bedroom, he lowered her feet to the floor and clothes went flying as passion filled the room. He claimed her mouth yet again as they tumbled onto the bed, his body blanketing hers like a quilt as he found that delicious tongue of hers again, kissing her with a stronger desire than he kissed her moments ago in the kitchen.
Then he stopped. Looked at her. Smiled.
“I missed you,” he said.
“I missed you, too, Everson,” she said softly.
He let his body fall next to hers, then used his fingertips to get reacquainted with her curves. With the slightest touch, he strummed his fingers across her breasts, down to her quivering stomach and even further to the most sensitive part of her – on down to her thighs.
All the while, her body shivered. The entire time, he looked at her face, turned on by her reactions to something as simple as his touch.
She bit down on her bottom lip, savoring this feeling of his hands exploring her body as if it was his first time doing so. Her stomach quivered as he worked his way back up again. Her breaths quickened when he rolled on top of her again, settling between her legs this time.
Holding her gaze, he eased the solidity of his love inside of her, slowly giving her time to accommodate him. Her hands clamped down on his thick arms, holding on while he settled into her depths. When he was fully buried, he threw his head back and relished the feeling, moaning into the air. “Ah, feels so good to be home,” he said. Then he lowered his head to her mouth and with his lips brushing against hers, he said, “I love you,” before plunging into her mouth all over again, feeling the softness of her breasts against his chest.
Her inner muscles showed him no mercy, squeezing him at varying intervals, prompting him to increase the tempo of his strokes. Blood pumped fiercely through her veins. Her back arched up off of the bed. For a second, she couldn’t see. Couldn’t think. Her pulse raged out of control as she shattered to pieces in a release so sweet, she didn’t want it to end. For a while, it didn’t, prompting her to cry out his name and hold him tighter until her body ceased quivering. Everson had always been a skilled lover, but tonight, he was on a new level.
Moving back and forth, driving her insane and to the brink again, his movements became quicker, more powerful yet controlled. And when he felt her coming apart beneath him again, panting and moaning, it electrified his own desire until his back bowed. A groan escaped his lips as he let go, releasing liquid fire into her soul, hollering her name as his body exploded.
He’d never lost himself like this before. The entire room was spinning and he was floating, hearing ringing in his ears, high as a kite as more sensations jerked his body. Then his body stilled. His breathing remained ragged and out of control, but his body stilled as he gazed down at June, holding her vision. He wasn’t quick to break their intimate connection. He wanted the feeling to last longer – wanted to reacquaint himself with her. Wanted her to feel his love. He was home.
“June,” he whispered.
“Yes?” she said softly.
“You know I love you, don’t you?”
She grazed her top row of teeth across her bottom lip then responded, “Yes.”
“You know you’re the only woman for me, right?”
A tear emerged from the corner of her left eye and rolled down to her ear.
And he knew why.
“Oh, baby,” Everson said, extracting his length from her, lying next to her and pulling her into his arms. “I’m sorry I hurt you, June. It won’t happen again, sweetheart. I love you and only you,” he said, feeling his heart break, now understanding the magnitude and impact of what he’d done. “It won’t happen again. You hear me.”
“Yes.” She sniveled, body still trembling as she cried, her tears splashing onto his chest.
And all he could do was hold her, apologize for his wrongs and assure her that it wouldn’t happen again. She was the only woman he wanted.
Chapter 31
“Good morning,” Everson said, stepping into the kitchen, watching June stir eggs.
June turned around, looking at her hot, shirtless husband, his six-pack on display, boxers riding low as he walked over to her in what had to be the sexiest walk on earth. He looked good enough to eat.
“Good morning, Everson,” she said when he was just steps away, feeling a wave of heat overtake her.
Everson dipped his head to take a morning kiss. A quick one – his lips pressing against her lips. And she took a moment to hug him, squeezing him tightly, enjoying the scent of him again. The warmth. The feeling of his strong arms encased around her. The way his facial hair felt rough against her soft skin. She slowly released him and took another kiss.
“Mmm…I’m looking forward to this. It’s been a while since I had your cooking.”
“I know. Do you miss it?”
“Do I? I’ve been feenin’ for it.”
She smiled. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure, but I’ll get it,” he said.
“No. I got it,” she told him.
And she made his coffee just the way she knew he liked it, setting it on the table in front of him. Shortly after, she came back with two plates of eggs and bacon. She joined him at the table.
She glanced up at him, smiled, then returned her attention to her plate.
“June.”
She looked up at him with raised brows.
“Last night was special, but I want you to know that it wasn’t meant to cover over what I did.”
She nodded.
“I intend to show you how much I love you—and I’ve learned from my mistakes.”
“That’s good to know.”
“And I still would like for you to travel with me, but only if you want to.”
“I can’t travel with you. I have a job now, one that I actually love.”
Everson grimaced a bit then said, “I had no idea that’s what you wanted.”
“Neither did I, but after everything that happened, I reali
zed you were my only identity. When people see me, they say, ‘that’s Everson’s wife’, like Everson’s wife is a job title. Don’t get me wrong, I love you and I love being your wife but I need my own identity in this marriage. Yes, we’ve joined our lives, but we each need our own individual goals and dreams.”
“I understand that,” Everson said, “But I thought you knew I wanted you to travel with me and eventually, you’d be a full-time mother to our children.”
June shook her head. “That’s not what I want anymore, Everson.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You no longer want children?”
“I do want children, but I’m not going to be a stay-at-home mother, falling into a mind-bending routine of warming bottles, changing diapers and dealing with temper tantrums – all of which you wouldn’t care to hear about when you arrive home from work exhausted. I understand you make enough money for us and then some, but this isn’t about money if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s about following my dreams, too, and I firmly believe that a woman shouldn’t have to give up her dreams to raise children while the man goes off and does whatever he wants. While he finds other women attractive—especially businesswomen—because his wife walks around the house in pajamas all day with Honey Nut Cheerios stuck in her hair.”
He smirked, then laughed.
She chuckled, too.
“I see your point, although you’d look extremely hot in pajamas with Cheerios in your hair, bae.”
“Whatever,” she said grinning.
“But you’ve stated your case. If that’s what you want, then you have my support.”
“Thank you, Everson. That means a lot,” she said. “And to your point about the marriage becoming routine and boring—I agree that we can make some changes there, too. I think we get so caught up in flying to this place and going to that place that we miss out on the little things that make a marriage grow and last. So, I’d love to do all those things we used to do before we got married, and I’ll make an effort to do more of that.”
