by Todd, E. L.
“She’s always naked,” Cortland said.
“And she’s always waiting for you,” I said.
Cortland elbowed him. “If you’re important, she’ll wait. If not, well…she might get started without you.”
Ryan shook his head. “She knows I can do it better.”
“Did you talk to Janice?” I asked.
“That’s what this is about? It really couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“Did you?” I pressed.
“Yes, I did.”
“What did she say?”
“She says she’ll do whatever I want, but she would like to live closer to her family.”
“I knew it,” I said triumphantly.
Ryan looked at Cortland. “Did you talk to Monnique?”
“Yep,” he said with a smile. “She said yes.”
“She did?” Ryan asked, surprised. “I thought she would say no.”
“I did too.”
Ryan nudged him. “You’re going to have to show me your moves.”
“They are guarded secrets that have been passed down my family for centuries. I aint telling you nothing.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Dude, that’s creepy. I would never want to learn my bedroom moves from my grandpa or something.”
I shook my head. “Enough with that. That means we’re really doing this. We’re moving!”
Ryan shrugged. “I guess it’s cool.”
I rolled my eyes. “Could you guys show any less enthusiasm?”
“We’re just moving,” Cortland said. “It isn’t that crazy.”
“You guys don’t understand how much this means to me. Everything worked out. I get to keep my family and I get to put my husband first.” I wrapped my arms around both of them and hugged them. “Thank you so much.”
Ryan patted my back. “I’m glad it worked out, Scarlet.”
“Yeah,” Cortland said. “I’m sure Sean will be happy.”
“Scarlet?”
I turned around when I heard Sean’s voice.
“What’s going on?” he asked as he came forward. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable.
“We were just talking,” I said quickly. “Nothing to worry about.”
“In the middle of the night?” he asked. “About what?”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him next to me. “I have something to tell you.”
He looked at me, waiting for me to explain.
“You know how you said you wanted to take over your parents company but you wouldn’t make me leave Ryan?”
“Yeah.”
“And you said you wouldn’t commute either?”
He nodded.
“Well, Ryan and Cortland have agreed to move to New York with us. So, problem solved.”
“What?” he asked as he looked at my brother and Cortland. “For real? You would do that for Scarlet?”
Ryan crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, Janice is from New York and she wants to go back anyway. I’m sure a new shop in the city will be just as profitable, if not more so than Seattle. I’m not giving up much.”
Sean looked at Cortland. “But you’re giving up a lot.”
Cortland shrugged. “Scarlet made me an offer Monnique and I couldn’t say no to.”
“What was that?” Sean asked.
“I told him he could have a job with the company. He could work with the computers, have a great salary, great vacation time, and great hours.”
“We aren’t even married yet,” Sean said with a smile. “You’re already handing out freebies?”
“What’s yours is mine, right? I also said he would have an opportunity to move up and be a partner one day.”
Sean looked at Cortland. “I will uphold the promises my wife made to you in my absence.”
“Thanks,” Cortland said.
Sean looked at me. “I can’t believe you did all of that.”
“I had to make sure you got what you wanted, Sean. You’re my husband. You come first.”
He kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Now we can tell your parents. They’ll be so happy that they’ll stop pissing me off.”
Sean laughed. “My parents will never stop pissing you off.”
“You’re really getting a prenup?” Ryan asked.
Sean sighed. “Scarlet said she would be willing to do it, which I feel horrible about.”
“Marriage is about compromise, right?” I said.
“Compromise between spouses, not their parents,” Sean said
“Well, get some normal parents,” I said.
“I wish,” he said with a laugh.
“Are we done here?” Ryan said. “My lady is probably getting stiff.”
“Stiff?” Cortland asked. “Why would she be stiff?”
Ryan smiled. “Because she’s tied up.”
Cortland laughed. “You’re such a dog. Have you no boundaries? We’re at someone’s house.”
“I bet Andrew ties up Diane,” Ryan said.
Sean held up his hand. “Okay. This is getting gross.”
“What?” Ryan said. “Your mom is hot.”
“Ew,” Sean said.
“Where’s their bedroom?” Cortland asked with a smirk.
Sean grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. “We’re going to bed now.”
Ryan laughed. “So you can rub sunscreen on my sister’s tits, fuck her in the room next to mine, and say she’s the best sex you’ve had, but I can’t say your mom is hot? It’s payback time.”
“Nevermind. We don’t need you to move with us. We’re good,” Sean said over his shoulder.
“That’s okay because I’m moving in with your mom,” Ryan shouted to us.
Sean and I got back to our bedroom and crawled into bed.
“Your family is something else,” he said.
“They’re your family too.”
He laughed. “That just makes it worse.”
6
Sean
When I woke up the next morning, Scarlet was still asleep. I was always an early riser, but she could sleep all day if I let her. She was the laziest hard worker I ever met. But it was okay because I got to watch her sleep. It was a favorite pastime of mine.
She took a deep breath then turned on her side, hugging me. I didn’t move as I watched her lips open slightly, part of her teeth showing. My hands glided her through her hair. The touch didn’t stir her. If I were a writer, I could write a thousand poems about this moment. I was more fascinated with her face than the most prestigious work of art. The complexity of her face was more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen.
When she took another breath, she sucked the air from my lungs. Her quiet sighs were music to my ears. I would never grow tired of hearing them. Even when we were old and gray, I knew I would still do this.
I woke up next to Penelope countless times but I never watched her sleep like this. In fact, I used to watch Scarlet sleep before we even got together. Maybe I’ve always been in love with her but I never made a move because I assumed Scarlet would shut me down. I regretted all the years we lost. We could have been married a long time ago.
She was going to be my wife tomorrow, and I couldn’t wait for that moment to arrive. I wanted her to walk down the aisle toward me, glowing with the all the lights that were held in the stars. The sun would shine but it would be a faint glow compared to her. I was never an emotional or sentimental guy, but I was mushy when it came to her. I never thought I would want to get married so much. In my youth, marriage was known as the time when you were too old to score girls and one night stands. I never imagined it being the best day of my life. But then again, I never imagined I would end up with Scarlet, the most amazing girl I had ever known. I wasn’t sure what I had done to earn her love. I made too many mistakes to count. I just hoped she wouldn’t realize she was making the wrong decision before tomorrow. If she did, she would leave me. And if she did leave me, my world would be over. The sun wouldn’t be bright. Clouds would alwa
ys cloud my sky. I really couldn’t go on. Loving someone this much was scary. I was so happy and appreciative of what I had that it was painful to think about. I never felt that away before.
She moaned quietly then opened her eyes. She stared at me for a long time before she was fully awake. “No pictures?” she whispered.
“I already got em.”
“I should have known.” She stretched as she yawned, still leaning against my chest.
“Sleep well?”
“Yeah.”
“Only one more day. I wish it was here already.”
“It’ll be here before you know it.”
“Let’s just get married today.”
She smiled. “You sound like a girl.”
I laughed. “I’m a total pussy with you. I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
“Well, at least you’re honest about it.”
“But you know what I want right now?”
“What?”
“Your pussy.”
“I walked right into that one.”
I climbed on top of her, pulling her legs apart. She didn’t object and I knew she wanted it. She enjoyed morning sex right when she woke up. When she was still half asleep, her body was relaxed and she reached her climax with lightning speed. I loved morning sex because I woke up with a hard-on. Opening my eyes and seeing the super model lying next to me always got me in the mood until I felt like I was going to explode.
I propped her up on the pillows so she was almost sitting up. Then, I grabbed her thighs and held them up, positioning myself over her. Her hands gripped my forearms, waiting for me to move inside her.
Like it was every time, my entrance was smooth. I moved far and deep, feeling her intimately.
“Sean.”
I loved hearing that. She didn’t say it often but when she did it almost made me come. I rocked into her gently, looking into her eyes, my whole world. Her mouth was slightly open, her pants coming out deep and heavy. I loved making her feel this way. I remembered her stories from her former partner. Most of them couldn’t get her off or they had no idea what they were doing. The ride was bumpy and uncomfortable. I made sure she came every time—and came hard. I hoped if I kept her satisfied she would never leave me.
My friends in college told me their girlfriends wouldn’t leave them no matter how many times they cheated on them because of that reason alone. It was hard to find a guy that was generous in the bedroom. I rocked Scarlet’s world every time so she wouldn’t look for it somewhere else. I was the master in the bedroom. I always left her coming back for more.
She leaned her head back and squeezed me tighter. That was my cue to start fucking her. When we made love she enjoyed it, loved kissing me, loved feeling that connection with me, and I loved it as well. But there was a point when I made her so hot that she wanted me to fuck her hard. I always delivered. I moved into her hard and fast, her breaths coming out shaky. Her mouth gaped open as she came. I could feel the tightening of her pussy as I moved inside her. It suddenly got even wetter. That was my trigger. It always was. I let myself go, coming deep inside her.
Knowing I was releasing myself inside her almost made me come harder. I got off knowing I was the only man that came inside Scarlet. She always wore condoms with her partners. I was the only one she went on birth control for. I claimed my territory a long time ago, but I liked claiming it every morning and every night.
“That felt so good,” she whispered.
That was music to my ears. “I aim to please,” I said as I kissed her.
“And you do a wonderful job at it.”
I kissed her neck. “Your pussy is the thing that feels so good. You’re always wet for me.”
“You make me wet.”
“You got that right.” I pulled out of her, watching her mouth fall.
“I already miss him.”
“You’ll be getting a lot more of him tomorrow.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to be sore.”
“No, baby. I’m always gentle.”
She lied back on the bed. “Let’s just stay here.”
“We’re going golfing today.”
“Golfing? Are you kidding me?”
“Put-put golf,” I said with a laugh.
“Don’t we need to get ready for the rehearsal dinner?”
“My mom and her twenty thousand maids will take care of all that.”
“I wonder what it’s like to have a maid.”
“You’re going to being finding out soon.”
She made a disgusted face. “We’re never getting a maid.”
“Why? You’ll need help with the kids eventually.”
“I take can take care of my own kids.”
“And you’ll need help with the house.”
“I take care of our apartment just fine.”
“Well, we’re going to get a bigger place.”
She sat up and looked at me. “You better not mean a bigger please like this mansion.”
“Isn’t that what you want? A beautiful house on the beach?”
“I bet your parents haven’t used the third floor in over a year.”
“What does it matter?”
“It’s just disgusting. There’s no reason to spend money on an elaborate house like this. I would rather give the money to charity or something.”
I stared at her, incredulous. I knew Scarlet didn’t care about money, but I didn’t realize how much. “I think I love you even more.”
“Why? Because I don’t want to be a housewife that has a nanny so I can do yoga? And a maid to clean the house and do the laundry because I’m just too lazy to do it myself? I’ll pass.”
“In my parents’ defense, the maids make good money.”
“It’s still ridiculous.”
“I’m sure the help appreciates a job.”
“I’m not having a battle about the positive effects maid jobs have on the economy. I’m just saying you shouldn’t live in a house so big that you can’t take care of it yourself.”
“Well, I do want to have a nice house when we have kids.”
“Nice is fine. This place is out of the question.”
“You’re so weird.”
“I’m weird?”
“Any girl would swoon at my feet, open her legs, and ask me to fuck her if I told her how much money I had.”
“If that makes me weird, I’ll take it as a compliment.”
I leaned over her and kissed her. “I’m just lucky that I’m marrying a girl who fell in love with me for me, not my money.”
“I wish you didn’t have money. Your parents wouldn’t be so snooty. Don’t even get me started on your neighbors.”
I laughed. “Tom and Sue were a hoot.”
“They better not be coming tonight or tomorrow.”
“I made sure they weren’t.”
“Good,” she said as she got up and pulled on a pair of shorts, a baseball tee, and a baseball hat.
I stared at her, admiring the outfit. Her hair was in a tight pony tail and it hung behind her, the silky stands curling at the ends. Her slender neckline was smooth and kissable. Her shirt was white and thin and slightly see-through. “You look so cute when you dress like that.”
“Cute?”
I wrapped my arms around her. “I love it. You’re adorable.”
“I threw my hair in a hat and pulled on lazy clothes.”
“And you still look like a million bucks.”
“Hurry up and get dressed,” she said as pulled on her running shoes. “We have to break the news to your parents.”
“What news?”
“That’s you’re taking the company.”
“Oh yeah.”
“They’ll be happy, Sean. Especially since we’re signing that prenup.”
I didn’t want to think about that. It pissed me off every time I did. Scarlet and I would never get a divorce. Even if she asked for one, I wouldn’t give it to her. We would work it out through the thick and the thin. Eve
n if she cheated on me, I would take her back because that’s how pathetic I was, how hopelessly in love I was. I was thankful Scarlet didn’t take advantage of my obsession and vulnerability.
I got ready then walked out the door with her, taking the stairs until we reached the entryway.
“Damn, look at those legs.”
“Mike?” Scarlet asked with a smile on her face.
“Who else would be that cocky to make a comment like that?”
She walked into his embrace and held him close. He looked down at her while he hugged her. “So you’re still going through with this?”
“Well, I was thinking about trading up.”
“Ooh. Who you got your eye on?” He smiled at her with a cocky expression.
“Andrew.”
“Ouch.”
She laughed and pulled away. “You didn’t think it was you, right?”
“A guy can keep dreaming.”
I walked over to him and hugged him. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I’m the best man. Of course I’m here.”
“I meant so I can kick your ass.”
He laughed. “Sorry. When you see a girl with legs like that, you hit on her.”
“You’re lucky I know you’re joking.”
“Or am I?”
“I think you’re in love with Scarlet. You don’t see her as a sister at all.”
“Those are some interesting theories you have there, Brother.” He clapped my shoulder then stepped back. “Are Janice and Monnique here? I hope they’re wearing shorts too.”
“I would keep those comments to a minimum around Cortland and Ryan,” I said.
“Especially Ryan,” Scarlet added.
He rolled his eyes. “You guys are no fun.”
“We’re never any fun to you,” Sean said.
“You got that right.”
We walked into the kitchen and had coffee and breakfast. My mom already had everything laid out and she was outside, preparing for the evening.
“Mom’s on mission,” Mike said. “She barely said hi to me.”
“Because she hates you,” Sean said.
“Shut the hell up.”
“Morning,” Ryan said as he came inside.
“Hey man,” Mike said as he embraced him. “You’re the only guy here that’s actually a man.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked. “Did you see the marks on Janice’s wrists?”
