Love Delayed

by Love Belvin

  I was speechless. When he put it that way I forgot how disconnected it felt like we’d been. It made me reconsider the cave I’d been alone in while everyone else went about life. Stenton was offering me an opportunity to make a life for my son and me. He was giving me the tools to continue the journey I thought I’d derailed.

  I bit back the cry that begged to be released. I’d never been much of a crier, but lately my hormones had been off the charts.

  I nodded softly. “Thanks, Stenton.”

  His thick brows peaked as Stenton shook his head categorically. “No. Thank you.”

  Slowly, an assured smile worked its way onto my face. “Now, let’s eat. You need to restore that energy you exerted earlier.”

  He laughed. God, I’ve missed that. It warmed something deep within…this time carnal.

  “In that case, you need to clean your plate for what I have in store until I board my flight on Thursday.” He sounded sober with that one.

  “You’re staying until then?”

  His brows met. “Yeah, Zo, damn! What’s so hard to believe about that?”

  I smiled broadly. A goofy one. A goofy smile I couldn’t contain. And it felt great.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  “Zo,” he cried out lazily as I rested on my haunches with my head in his pelvis.

  Stenton’s head rolled back and forth, spurring my inspiration to keep pushing him into my mouth and pull him out with a suctioned jaw.

  God I’ve missed this.

  This expression. This communication. This interaction. His vulnerability. His need of me. While in his lap, I forgot about the loneliness, the exhaustion, the confusion, and the waiting game I played for Stenton’s ultimate commitment. When I felt the sweat beads from his thighs against my arms, I knew he was nearing.

  “Zo, baby, not like this. I don’t wanna come like this,” his throaty cry was raw and so…masculine. I missed having a man in my bed, at my mercy, in my mouth—and suddenly in my body.

  I released him from my mouth with one final suction. When my eyes met Stenton’s face, I saw his bottom lip between his teeth. His tattoos were all glistening, his chest lifted and dropped with hyper rhythm. And his long and lean arms were raised above his head where his wrists were tied together.

  Stenton agreed to me tying him up tonight. Having had more than an amenable day today since our heart-to-heart over lunch yesterday, we’d had a wonderful time talking, playing with Jordan, and even ended the day by going out to a quiet dinner alone. Eligia kept Jordan while we continued catching up.

  When we returned, Stenton gave Jordan his bath, I fed him then handed him back over to his dad to be put down. For the first time in over a year my heart didn’t feel so weighed down. We’d paid my tuition for the upcoming semester, sealing the deal for me to fulfill my dream. Stenton seemed just as excited as I was. What better way to celebrate than with our sweaty bodies rubbing against each other in passionate fury?

  When I handed Jordan over to Stenton to put down, I threw the question out there with little expectation of him agreeing to letting me tie him up. In all the time Stenton and I had been together he’d only entertained me a couple of times. After our lunch together yesterday, he pulled out the restraints from one of his bags and we played for hours into the night.

  Tonight, I had him in simple nylon restraints using one pillar of the bed. With the way he wriggled underneath me, I didn’t know how long he’d stay this way, so I quickly grabbed a condom to sheath him before sinking down on him.

  “Sssssss…” he blew through his teeth, feeling the friction.

  I was too excited to go slow. Something about having him tied up made me appreciate his reasons for inclining to this particular kink. Stenton’s muscles bunched and even rolled at times as he pulled against the device encasing his big wrists. I moved up and down on him, enjoying the fullness of him inside of me. Stenton started to move with me, flexing his hips up from the mattress as I pushed down on him. I saw the tip of his pink tongue peek between pinched lips and decided I wanted to feel that, too. I lowered my torso to capture his lips and rolled my tongue around his mouth as I rocked my pelvis against his. Stenton felt amazing and I could feel my orgasm stirring.

  Suddenly, I needed his hands on me, so I quickly rushed up his long arms to release the swivel snaps of the D-rings and separated the restraints. This wasn’t the easiest feat considering how tall his is. It was somewhat like climbing a tree. It was such a far reach that Stenton had to thrust alone as I released him.

  Before I was completely done, Stenton yelped, “Fuck, Niña! I’m about to come! The shit you do!”

  Then his big hands slapped my skin as he clasped my hips, ramming into me. My eyes slammed shut as I felt pleasure spikes shoot through each corner of my frame. My orgasm hit me quicker than I expected, and abruptly I was engulfed in immeasurable bliss. As my body began its first waves of euphoria, gyrating uncontrollably with pleasure, I grabbed the post he was once attached to and could hear Stenton’s ragged breaths beneath me as we met our release together.

  The best!

  It was magical, the things he did to me. His ability to make me feel so reverenced and valued. I floated above earth. Felt stronger than I had in a long time. In that moment, I collided with the clarity of my future. Felt like the old Zoey. The one that could take on the world.

  Then I needed to see him. Experience his eyes. When I settled my sight below I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

  “Holy mother of—! Stenton!” I yelped.

  Licking his lips, he smiled. “It’s okay. You’re good.”

  “No! Nooooo!” I straightened and covered my breasts. “I’m so sorry!”

  “Don’t sweat it. It’s all good, Zo,” he assured as he wiped my breast milk from his face.

  Stenton’s teeth were on full display as he smiled. His eyes were tight from his recent ascent and his tongue wouldn’t stop swiping his mouth. I shuffled off his body, wincing at the disconnect, leaped into the bathroom, turning on the shower and barely felt the ice cold water against my still hyper-sensitive skin.

  “Zo… Heeey…” Stenton soothed as he entered the shower and wrapped me against his hot hard frame, a stark contrast in temperatures, making my body jerk. He lowered his mouth to the side of my face. “Calm the hell down.”

  “I d-don’t think I’ve ever f-felt so mortified,” I attempted through chattering teeth, I was freezing.

  I felt Stenton steel behind me. He cupped my chin so that I could meet his eyes. While his face was wrinkled, there was a comforting smile playing on his heart-shaped lips.

  “Zo, this is me here. I’m no stranger. That milk feeds my son.” It took a few seconds for me to calm, but I eventually nodded, willing myself to believe he was okay with having my breast milk splattered over his face. Slowly, I turned to face him. I mean, it was Stenton and no random one-night-stand. My arms rounded his waist and I placed my head on his chest. “Besides, I’m not new to your bodily fluids. Remember, I’m the one who proved you can enjoy sex even when you’re menstruating.”

  I cocked a brow. “You’re the only man I’ve had sex with while menstruating. You’re the man who took my virginity.” I made sure to include cynicism in my tone.

  Stenton angled his head, “Ummmm…I didn’t take anything. I was actually forced to catch it if memory serves me correctly.”

  I slapped his chest. “Stenton! Is that what you tell people?”

  “Yup. Everyone who interviews me. And I make sure to include how perky your tits were the first time I saw them.” As I laughed he cupped my cheeks from behind, pushing me into him. He rubbed his nose against mine as he whispered, “You look even better now with the weight. You’re incredibly sexy, Zoey. Don’t doubt for a moment you’re less than what you were before Jordan. You’re even more attractive now.”

  I believed him. It was easy to. There was no way Stenton was lying to me when I considered the gleam in his eyes as he spoke to me and held me to his frame. We were so close that I c
ould detect the rhythm of his heartbeat. I took him at the sides of his face and kissed him tenderly. In that moment, I knew there was no other man who could love me or enrich my spirit the way Stenton did.

  A few hours later, I couldn’t find my way to sleep, so I stayed up with the television on at a low volume while on my laptop. I joined a few chat rooms for my upcoming classes. I wanted to know who I’d be spending my semester with. I was happy to be able to hook up with a few old friends.

  Stenton was fast asleep beside me on his back with his arms and legs stretched wide. All I saw was a tatted octopus in my bed. He was exhausted. This was supposed to be a restful few days for him before he did a circus round of commercial and print ad shoots and then go right back into training.

  My eyes started to get heavy, so I logged off my laptop and my attention unconsciously wandered over to the television where a rerun of the Wendy Williams show was on. I caught it as she introduced her next guest, Erika Erceg. The crowd went up in applause as the buxom beauty strutted out in a white fitted midi dress with five inch gold heels. She was beautiful: shiny jet black tresses, olive skin, long and thick eyelashes, plump pouty lips, and the perfect set of hips and booty. Erika was sinfully striking, which was the crux of her success. She didn’t sing, act or dance, but made her family’s surname a brand. She was also Tynisha’s nemesis for some reason: solely diva issues if you asked me.

  “So,” Wendy started her question while fluffing her hair. “What’s this I hear about your progression with your big crush—wait…how long have you been crushing on this man, Erika?”

  Erika’s flawless face falls into the perfect bashful expression. Her cheeks heat up visibly, and in the same moment, the crowd goes crazy over the picture that appears on the back screen of Stenton Rogers. I use his formal name because that is who the crowd sees, who she sees. There, in fact, were several pictures that flashed on the screen. One with him in his team’s uniform, another of him posing shirtless, and one black and white photo of him in a pushup stance in the rain.

  Another thing I observed was how Stenton was drop-dead gorgeous in all of them, completely stunning. Don’t get me wrong: even his sleepy face lasciviously stirred something deep within, but gosh! The producers hit the mark trying to demonstrate him being crush-worthy. Even I’d suddenly seen him in a different light. I experienced the lust Erika did.

  The last picture to flash was with Jordan about a month ago. That one stung. It was personal, of my child. I had to quickly remind myself that Jordan’s father was a public figure and he’d be as exposed as Stenton would allow.

  Erika’s gushing broke my daze.

  “It’s been like…oh my god…all his career. He’s always been so hot. When I would see him years ago, I would completely freeze, couldn’t even speak.”

  Wendy laughed along with her receptive audience. “So, have you talked with him or been out on a date with him?”

  “We’ve been out, but not like…alone. We’ve definitely been chatting a lot lately on the phone,” Erika offered.

  “Awwww…” Wendy sang. “That’s too cute.” Erika’s cheeks flamed again. “So, when was the last time you saw him?”

  I couldn’t believe the amount of airtime being devoted to a crush.

  “A few weeks ago at an event. We didn’t get to talk for long. You know he’s always being swept away somewhere.”

  “Yeah, Stenton Rogers has the most endorsement deals in the league, I’ve been told. You think you can handle that with your busy schedule?”

  Erika licked her lips before nodding her head animatedly. The audience went up with that one, too.

  “Okay! I don’t know about you all,” Wendy pointed to the audience. “…but I caught that.” She laughed along with Erika. “Okay, so when was the last time you talked on the phone with him?”

  “Two days ago.”

  Two days ago? My body jerked in bed. Then my neck snapped over at an undisturbed Stenton.

  “And was that conversation promising?”

  “It actually was. We agreed to spend more time with each other this coming season. I wish it could be right away, but I understand he’s busy and all.”

  “Yeah!” Wendy nearly shouted. “Busy with a newborn baby!” she screamed to the audience. “Does he talk about that? I’m sure that’s probably why he can’t start anything new. You should be careful with a man who’s just had a baby. That baby momma has rights, honey!” The audience clapped in agreement.

  Erika smiled placidly. Was she an airhead or something?

  “And you, missy,” Wendy continued. “Are you and Shirez over with? That was a pretty bad breakup less than a year ago. You know, Stenton is over thirty. He’s probably thinking with his head up here.” She pointed to her head near her brows. The audience agreed with their raucous applauses. “What was the last thing you said to Mr. Rogers?”

  Seriously?

  I don’t know why that question stabbed me in the gut. In fact, the longer this conversation went on, the more anxious I became. Stenton and I had a glorious two days together and although we were not solid and had no plans on extending it, I didn’t want the bliss to end.

  “Well, I told him when we do get together, I want to see how far down his tattoos go and that I’m nearsighted.”

  The room went up in a roar far more than at any previous point during the interview. My belly lurched and my arms wrapped around my waist. I found myself staring straight into Erika’s brown eyes, feeling vindictive. My eyes squinted and nose flared.

  “All right! On that note, we’ll be right back with Erika Erceg, talking about her new makeup line!” Wendy announced as the theme music began to play, alerting of the commercial break. Wendy turned and double high-five’d Erika as she giggled like a sexy vixen.

  My stomach was now rolling over with nervous energy. I knew it was a direct reaction to my rare case of jealousy. I wanted to wake Stenton up to ask about his relationship with this exotic socialite. I wanted to ask him if he called her before or after he called me the night before he arrived at my apartment. I wanted to ask him what his feelings were for her. If he found her just as sexy as every other man on this planet seemed to. I wanted to know if he believed all of his praises of my postpartum body, which he seemed to be infatuated with and if they came close to how he perceived hers.

  The most lewd curiosity was if she could make him lose control like I did. If he would claw her hips, shoulders or the back of her head the way that he did mine when I drove him crazy between my thighs or in my mouth.

  Suddenly, I needed to recall myself.

  I clicked off the television with the remote and turned toward Stenton, straddling his muscular frame. Creating a trail down his torso with my tongue, I shuffled down past his belly button and then his wiry bush of hairs until I hit the base of his penis. I felt him stir beneath me, even heard a moan. That incited my need to arouse him, to drive him crazy in the area Erika was so curious about.

  I twirled my tongue around the bulbous head of his penis, loving the feeling of it swelling in my mouth. The smooth and thin skin encasing his steely erection felt superb against my tongue. As my hands wrapped around the base of him, the tip of my tongue probed at the opening of him, tasting the first discharge of his pre-essence. The creamy taste of his viscid fluid that I spread around him before swallowing drove me wild.

  “Fuck, Zo,” Stenton stretched out, awakening from his reposed state.

  His big hands curved around my bobbing head. And when a groan escaped him, I suctioned harder, sheathed my teeth even more. I worked him further in with each dip I took.

  “Zo,” he cried out again and I felt supreme. It was petty of me, but I didn’t care. I needed to feel that I wasn’t a young amateur who seduced him and became an unexpected dependent by carelessly getting pregnant, changing his life forever. I wanted to be a skillful lover worthy of him being in my bed, so I took my time pleasuring him.

  “I’m going to come, Zo. Come here,” he demanded through gritted teeth.<
br />
  “Unn-unn!” I moaned. Then I pulled his wide crest from my mouth. “I want it here.” I countered and quickly took him in again, working him even more.

  I didn’t want his release just yet, I was having too much fun controlling his continence. His wide thighs rose and fell around me as he fought, squirming, and his pelvis strained beneath me trying to contain his pleasure.

  “Zo…I don’t know about this!”

  I did. And suddenly I did want his release now. I wanted to snap his source of control.

  “Elizabeth,” Stenton’s upper torso shot from the bed as he moaned.

  The rope snapped and he gave me exactly what I was looking for. He called me Elizabeth, a name I’d always shunned, believing it was more fitting of an old woman. I wanted a youthful name, hence my self-appointed moniker, Zoey. For the first time in my life, I appreciated my name. Yearned for it to come from this man. I craved to know he viewed me as a real woman. A woman he didn’t need to tolerate or care for, but one who could be viewed as an adequate partner. I longed for that validation from him, believing it to be the reason why he’d never chosen me. With this revelation, I jerked him more fervently and suctioned with more of a grip in my jaw.

  Then his hands roughly pushed on my head as his hips drove into my head. My breasts felt heavy, but this time not ready to express milk. I could feel my excitement at the apex of my thighs. He was ready.

  Within seconds, hot, virile, creamy fluids shot into my mouth. I had no time to think. I could only relax my tongue and let his release spurt into the back of my throat, reveling in my ability to render him undone in this manner. His breathing was harsh, rough air sloughing from his lungs as he trembled most vulnerably at my ministrations. There was nothing better. When he was done, Stenton reached down to pull me up and clutched me into his arms. As I lay over his hard chest, I could hear his racing heart. The heart that I wanted into so badly.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  “Good looking out, Paul.” Stenton ended the call next to me at the island in the kitchen. He looked over to Eligia, who was standing in front of the subzero refrigerator unit, waiting for him to finish. “You’re good to go. They can have your things moved in tonight. A driver will be here at noon. As far as meal preparations and scheduling, I’ll leave it to you two to settle that. I know Zoey will need some time to study outside of classes. Let me know if you need anything else.”