End Zone Love (Connecticut Kings Book 4)

by Love Belvin

  “I can’t do any of it. I’m not…built to take on a man like…Trent.” My diaphragm still made it difficult to speak.

  “Awwwww, baby.” She smiled. I was having a damn meltdown and she was able to find humor in the moment? “You think there can’t be sunshine on rainy days? Now, I didn’t take you for being one of them little girls that believe relationships are supposed to be perfect at all times.”

  I sighed, closing my eyes against the wave of annoyance creeping up my spine. “April, I mean no disrespect,” my voice was low, words dripped slowly, “…but if not being one of those ‘little girls’ means staying with a man who had AIDS after he cheated on me for years should be acceptable in my eyes, I’ve got news for you. I’m one of them.”

  Great…

  Now Trent’s aunt would join the long line of people in his life who hated me.

  “Now, what I did was a lot. And I ain’t got to explain or apologize to nobody. But newsflash, young lady: no relationship is problem, issue, drama, or third party free.”

  I sucked in air. “You think Trent’s cheating on me?”

  “Girl, that ain’t what I’m saying! What I mean is, there’s going to always be that third person coming up, whether they’re just sniffing around the tree or dry humping it. Trent may never cheat, but that won’t stop the thousands of women who want him from trying. You just have to be strong enough to deal with it.” My face folded as I listened, trying to control my diaphragm. “And family drama? Huh! I done been in the Bailey family since I was little girl. You better just roll up your sleeves and get ready.”

  My eyes closed again at that visual. I didn’t have it in me. Already, I was failing and I hadn’t been his wife a year yet.

  Shaking my head, I whispered, “I can’t do it, April.”

  “You are exactly what that boy needs. Even Shank knew it.”

  “If you’re going to try to convince me with that story of Shank’s bet about us getting married and him wanting a lot of kids, I can tell you now, don’t waste your breath.” Now, I was being a bitch to April.

  I couldn’t help it.

  Her smile faded. “Come with me. I got something to tell you that will blow your mind. Leave this stuff here.” She pulled me from my chair. Quickly, I scrambled to grab my phone. Flashes of the gazillion things I had to do before closing my eyes flashed through my head. “And don’t worry about the cookies for Ky’s class tomorrow. I already made the packaged ones. Trust me; them kids will enjoy them just the same, child.”

  I sniffled the entire way to her room.

  He squeezed me tight in his big hold, smelling like masculine protection.

  I relished it with closed eyes. “Thanks for this, George.”

  “Are you kidding me?” he chuckled, letting go. “I’ve waited years for this. Wish I could’ve done more than walk you down the aisle.”

  Money.

  I snorted. “You’ve done more than your share since I moved in and invaded your home.” He looked gorgeous in his black tux, shining oxfords, and diamond point styled bowtie. “My gratitude is endless,” I murmured, smoothing down his right lapel.

  “Jade, I wish you wouldn’t think of it as a burden. Has it ever occurred to you that before you, I didn’t have children of my own? You’ve been a tremendous blessing—filled a void. My gratitude is exclusive.” I almost cried. Almost. My hormones were better controlled now at six months, miraculously. And I didn’t want to disrupt my makeup. I settled for a kiss on the cheek to respond instead. “I’m going to let you get back to what you were doing,” George offered, backing away. “It’s not every day you see the bride on her big day, applying makeup to the first lady of the church.”

  Lex laughed, sitting in a director’s chair, Redeeming Souls had available in their bridal suite. It was amazing.

  “Pastor may have the more important work today, but I’m actually serving a purpose here,” she jeered with George.

  We all laughed as he backed away toward the door. “Well, let me get back to my wife,” George breathed. “Kyree and I’ll be in the vestibule where Ms. Bell assigned us. We’ll see you there.”

  I blew him a kiss before he closed the door, leaving us alone. My makeup—all but my lips—had been done by an artist Elle recommended. My hair was styled and gown was on as we waited until start time for the ceremony.

  “Now, where was I?” I smiled, going back for the blush brush.

  Lex sat back in the seat, rubbing her non-existent belly.

  “I’m hungry,” she whined as I brushed her ebony cheeks. “A juicy burger would set me straight,” she moaned. “You have any cravings yet? I swear that’s how Ezra knew I was pregnant. The moment I asked for a bacon cheeseburger at DiFillippo’s one night after Bible study, his Spidey sensors went up—though he says otherwise.”

  My hand froze at her face. “Really?”

  “Yup,” she hummed. “Then he told me he selected the restaurant because he was craving their crème brûlée. That was a major key!” she declared firmly.

  I tossed my head back and laughed. “I can’t believe Pastor Carmichael has cravings! Trent has none. My only one, lately, is sex.” I stood straight, grabbed the bottom of my small bulge. “Man, it’s been crazy lately. I’ve been crazy lately.”

  “That’s life and marriage, especially when it throws you a curve ball.”

  “And they’ve been coming. Oh, my goodness! One after another. Just three weeks ago, I was ready to call this thing off. Now, I’m counting down the hours until I’m in his pants. Isn’t that insane? I’ll be leaving my eight year old for two whole weeks, and my major concern is jumping my man’s bone.”

  Lex tossed her head back and hooted nice and loud.

  “Welcome to the sex-crazed hormonal club, bruh!”

  “No!” I proclaimed with wide eyes, trying to watch my volume. “It’s not been this way the entire time. It seemed like the moment I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t want him touching me.” Her amusement ceased instantly. “I wanted no parts of the big guy. Didn’t even want him touching my belly.”

  Lex sat up straight in the director-style chair.

  I felt the need to explain. “It was the blues of my disappointment about getting pregnant. That mixed with his travel. The season is over, but Trent’s a brand and has been fulfilling obligations left and right, as well as pursuing his passion with at risk youth and football camps. It’s been tough on us these past two months. I’ve had a lot on my plate, too. I may not have been overwhelmed with the details of this wedding, thanks to the wedding coordinator, but I had to participate a little in the planning of today, tend to my son and his endless school projects, take on a new job with Trent’s PR firm, finish remodeling the house…it’s been a lot.”

  Lex’s brows furrowed and I watched as her tongue roved over her front teeth with her mouth closed.

  “Can I say something to you and not sound First Lady-ish?” I nodded, curious about what was coming. “Don’t let anything but infidelity and abuse stall your sex life with your husband.” She sat back in her seat. “I don’t say it publicly, but Ezra is a fountain of wisdom that I can’t even begin to understand. One of the few things that resonated with me immediately from his mouth is a man’s physical need of a woman. It’s so potent and raw that it can be uncontrolled and satisfied by anyone.”

  Panic shot to every crevice of my body.

  “You think Trent’s cheated on me?” I may have matured since being at his side, but I still had my insecurities and unfounded paranoia.

  “No!” Her hand shot in the air. “I don’t believe that at all. What I’m saying is their need for sex is similar to ours as pregnant women, who have the heavy inclination. We need to be satisfied and can likely have it done by any appealing figure, the need is that dire. But our bodies are only assigned to our vow exchangers.” Her chin dipped to ask if I followed. “Unless it’s an extreme circumstance, you have to provide the release for him—however you can.” Her eyes were big, reading. “That coul
d’ve contributed to the craziness you were experiencing. Things were out of whack because he was…without.”

  There was a brief pause as Lex narrowed her eyes. “This is going to sound crazy coming from me,” she tried to warn. “But sex with his woman grounds a man. It’s like a part of their biological rhythm. When a man commits to a woman spiritually, I believe there’s a supernatural power that exchanges between the two during sex. Ezra explains it better than I ever could, but I get it. I experience it with him. He travels a lot and recently, he’s flown me out with him, even if for a few hours. It’s been hard with Lisa-Mare, but I make the sacrifice because I now understand, I’m a function of his biological rhythm.”

  Oh. My. God.

  Her words hit me instantly and weightily.

  “What have I been doing?” I more or less asked myself.

  Lex snorted. “You’ve been adjusting to the vastness that is your husband. I get that part. Don’t get it twisted: I’m still learning…” She leaned into the mirror and murmured to herself, “and getting spanked along the way.”

  I ignored that, suddenly revved up to feel Trent inside of me. God, I’d missed him. And not having to wait until we landed on the island to kick off our honeymoon sounded more and more feasible with this talk of internal biological rhythms. I yearned to be connected to Trent on the most intimate level. My body began to heat in flashes, I was so ready for him.

  “Am I really going to do this?” I asked while backing up behind the partition to take off my thong. Tessie was able to pin the train so I could walk around in the gown without it dragging on the floor. No way was I asking her to help me remove my panties. “Will I have like a strike against me for the hell scoreboard for this?”

  I needed to know what I was working with.

  “Girl, Trent’s your husband already. Besides, far more scandalous affairs have gone down in the Bishop’s Office. Trust.” I peeked my head from the embroidered divider and watched as Lex casually spoke while blotting the side of her mouth in the vanity mirror. “Think of it as you anointing it, or something, against the bad spirits that’re probably still there from before Ezra took over.” She shrugged, not knowing I’d been watching her, frozen in shock. “At least that’s what I do.”

  No waaaaaay…

  After managing my panties down my leg, under what felt like fifteen pounds of material, I walked out from the partition.

  “You know, I have no one to share your off the cuff personality with,” I divulged as I tucked the panties in my garment bag. “Trent would never believe it—no one would ever believe how down to earth you are. And because I want to earn your confidence, I can’t share it. I haven’t even told Trent about you guys expecting again.”

  She took a deep breath. “Good. Ezra needed a moment to adjust to it himself. He’s started sharing. I’m sure he’ll tell Trent himself soon enough now.”

  “I guess he’s like me, huhn? The timing didn’t work for him?” Their first child, Lisa-Mare, was still so young.

  “That would be three of us.” She stood and grabbed her phone from the vanity. “My husband isn’t as mature as I am, so he needed more time.” Lex began tapping away. “Now, go. I’m running interference now.”

  It didn’t take much to get me going. I moved to the door and stopped, perplexed. “Wait. How do you know they’re in the Bishop’s Office?”

  “That’s where he holds the grooms this close to start time—if he likes them. Ezra can be antisocial with some people. Trent’s probably in there, having his head talked off.”

  I frowned, not being able to imagine Trent being bored in a conversation with his pastor.

  Opening the door, I winked. “Wish me luck.”

  “I’ll do you one better. I’ll wish you two orgasms.”

  I sucked in so much air, I choked on my way out the door.

  ~Seventeen

  She took my breath away…

  A petite stature of lace and beads, strolling down the aisle with grace like only Jade had, made me breathless. My ears rang, tips of my fingers stung, and lungs held full and unmoving. For a moment, I felt lightheaded, so filled with an emotion I didn’t know.

  I couldn’t see her face as she walked arm in hand with George, but I could feel her elegance as she approached. She may have shown up to my house with a kid and homeless, but I’d never met a more refined woman in all my years of good living and travel. Maybe because I’d never expected much from a woman outside of sex. Even before Jade, my conversations with women had been surface with most. The ones I was able to let down my guard around didn’t get much more than easy conversation. I had little need for more.

  Until Jade.

  As she got closer, I could make out her eyes behind the veil. They were strong on me, intensifying the heat stirring in my belly. This was what Jade did to my head. She made me crazy inside. I’d just let her take advantage of me in Bishop’s Office, and she still felt new to me. Innocent, pure. Just for me.

  Ah, man…

  The first tear slipped. I tried widening my eyes to stay ahead of the waterworks. I hated crying. It still wasn’t a show of emotions I accepted from myself, but I couldn’t control it. Jade must have caught on, because I caught her chin lifting in the air, and it seemed as though she strolled faster. She and George were now off beat to the music.

  I felt a tug on my leg.

  Kyree.

  “‘Sokay,” he tried whispering. “She’s coming.”

  That had me, Ezra, and Jordan, who were close enough to hear, cracking up at the altar. I wiped my face, trying to man up. My moms was in the audience and I didn’t want her to see me like this.

  Before I knew it, Jade and George were in front of Ezra and me. Our eyes were locked. Hers narrowed, communicating something good. Mine enjoyed everything I saw. From here, I could see her lip color. Another nude. Jade had been wearing lots of soft colors. When she busted in the Bishop’s Office earlier, wanting sex, she had nothing on her lips. I devoured them without the worry. Because I could…

  The day was finally here when I could claim her in public. Today would be the day the world knew she was mine: legally, spiritually, and physically. On the low, I always thought I’d get married one day. In my mind, it would be when I was retired and had lucked up with a chick who would be good with an arrangement. Maybe we’d have kids, maybe we wouldn’t. As long as we had good sex, and decent conversation, we’d be fine.

  But this.

  Her…

  She was more than that. Jade brought the banging sex, soulful love, and addictive pain. The good, bad, and indifferent: she was custom made for me.

  As Ezra spoke, kicking off the ceremony, my attention was stapled to my wife. The co-captain God sent in my red zone play. We finally made it to the end zone, and it was time to score.

  “Who here giveth away Jade Renee?”

  “I do,” George screeched, eyes above Ezra’s head with his chest puffed out.

  I held my hand out for her, ready for this touchdown.

  We waited behind a huge, factory size set of frosted sliding doors. Tessie stood to the left of Trent as he gripped my hand. She held a clipboard in one arm and with the other hand, pushed a wired bud into her ear.

  She glanced over at us with a concentrated regard and nodded as she mouthed, “Five, four, three, two, one.” Then she pointed at the industrial doors that separated, opening to the most spectacular regal ballroom hall I’d ever seen.

  There were softly colored lights, white flowers, and countless candles around the room. The announcing music sounded like an introduction. An electric guitar of sorts, stringing emotionally.

  Below us were hundreds of standing guests, robed in extravagant attire. I knew I’d just left them at Redeeming Souls in Harlem, but from this vantage point, it was more appreciated. Their applauses ripped the air around us and immediately, I felt a gentle pull. I peered up at Trent, whose impressed smile was quite a contrast to the sobbing face I’d experienced at the altar. It warmed me all over to
experience such a wide range of his emotions in one day. My heart was full as I followed him down the steps.

  Trent maintained one step ahead of me while carefully examining my movements. It was the heels. It concerned him with me being pregnant. I was sure to step slowly and rhythmically. And wonderfully taken by the splendor of the room as the guitar streamed into the air, our guests matched his concern with audible enthusiasm. I tried keeping my eyes from them and focusing on the task beneath my bulging belly. Less than ten steps down, Trent was on the landing, holding my hand to guide the rest of my journey. And apparently on beat with the music.

  He mouthed lyrics, “The sex. The love. The pain.”

  His eyes were intent, making it clear he was caught up in the spirit of the song already. It had meaning for him. Cameras flashed and countless voices congratulated and complimented us simultaneously. But my eyes couldn’t leave my husband. His were too entrancing as he mouthed unfamiliar lyrics to me. I tried smiling for the many cameras as I tuned into him, but it was hard. Trent was the main event for me.

  Someone tapped Trent on the shoulder, taking his attention. It was Azmir, his friend, pointing at my feet hidden beneath the gown. Without delay, Trent dropped to his haunches and began removing my heels.

  The nerve!

  I loved my Sophia Webster’s and wasn’t ready to part with them just yet. But there was no time to fight him on it. Trent effortlessly slipped the shoes off and took my hand, drawing me into the middle of the room, parting the sea of our energetic guests as he did. Trent’s eyes were slanted, as though he were intoxicated with love and lust. And just like that, my attention was fixed on his big body.

  When we stopped, Trent pulled me into his hardness as he serenaded me expressively. My belly was lodged possessively against his pelvis, which was dangerous at this proximity. My heels could have avoided it, but I don’t think my husband cared. The way he thrust into me, inaudibly serenading. My lashes wouldn’t stop beating, my smile would soon be painful, it was so broad. I tried fighting the plunge into eroticism with him. But Trent’s hip thrusts made it hard. He was performing for me, telling me this song was strategically chosen.