Pretty Packages

by Dodson, Mi'Chelle

  As the heat rose in the room on that humid night, the heat between the lovers did, too. The air filtering into the shed from the open windows wasn’t enough to cool their bodies, and so sweat poured from their pores.

  They didn’t care how hot it got in there. Or about the fact that they had to take longer breaks in between kisses in order to conserve oxygen. All they cared about was their driving need to give and receive the ultimate pleasure from each other’s bodies.

  At this point their slick bodies were rhythmically slamming into each other. Giada had already climaxed twice, and was about to go over the edge a third time, when Kentucky whispered in her ear that he was about to blow, too.

  “Let’s go together this time, baby,” Giada urged, thrusting her hips even more forcefully against him.

  Kentucky growled and squeezed her closer. Yet before he would release his essence into her, he captured her lips to muffle the loud scream that he knew would accompany this powerful moment. Giada clenched too tightly around him this time not to scream in pleasure.

  When that scream finally came, Kentucky promptly swallowed it in his mouth. Giada, in turn, swallowed his loud groan. When their hips finally stopped moving, the kiss finally ended. Even so, the lovers continued to cling to each other.

  For a woman who liked to have every hair in place and her clothes immaculate, Giada didn’t seem to care a thing about her appearance now. Kentucky liked that she hadn’t smoothed her damp hair into place yet, but rather let it remain frizzed from the humidity and her intimate exertion. He liked that she didn’t care that her shirt was damp and clinging to her bosom, that her skirt was wrinkled and rumpled to the point where it would literally scare an iron right now.

  My woman is changing, Kentucky thought as hope for a bright future with her mounted in his heart.

  “I love you so much,” Giada said once her breathing had regulated again.

  “I love you, too,” Kentucky replied, withdrawing slightly to look into her eyes. “I want you to be my wife.”

  “When?” Giada asked with eager eyes.

  “A year from now,” Kentucky replied, pleased that she looked ready to jump over the broom right now. “I want to make sure the school is up and running good before I take on a wife and the added expenses that come along with having a wife.” He chuckled. “Especially the kind of wife I intend to have.”

  Giada smiled and nodded in understanding. “So our long engagement officially begins now?”

  “Yes, but I thought you might want to wait until I put a ring on your finger to make it really official,” Kentucky replied, hiding the trace of disappointment he felt when she didn’t protest the delay even though he was the one that suggested it. He’d wanted her to say, “Let’s just get married now.” The fact that she didn’t revealed how materialistic she still was.

  No doubt she wants me to be wealthy enough to support her and her expensive tastes before we get married, Kentucky thought, recalling Giada’s dream wedding from her wish list.

  “Even so, we don’t have to wait another night to tell Mama. This is the kind of news she’s gonna want to know right away. She’s gonna be thrilled to know that she’s about to have a daughter-in-law soon,” Kentucky continued, pushing past his disappointment.

  “I feel like I’m a part of the family already,” Giada said, snuggling against his chest again.

  “As you should, because you definitely are,” Kentucky whispered, planting a kiss on her glistening forehead as his thoughts grew somber.

  * * * *

  Hannah wasn’t surprised to hear the news of their engagement. But she was surprised to see Giada looking so unkempt in her wrinkled skirt and frizzy hair. The dampness of Kentucky’s brown locks confirmed that this engagement had come about as a result of a heavy make-out session or a culmination of the real deal.

  Probably both. Hannah walked her stepson out to his car while Giada went to shower and change for bed.

  “Son, maybe you should marry Giada sooner than expected,” Hannah suggested.

  “Why do you say that, Mama?”

  “For one thing, she’s the first woman you ever dared to have sex with under my roof. I’m still feeling a little hot under the collar about that.” She frowned with disapproval.

  “We didn’t have sex under your roof, Mama. We had sex in my shed out back,” Kentucky replied, being as honest as he usually was with his stepmother.

  Hannah shook her head. “Okay, that was really too much information.”

  Kentucky chuckled. “Maybe so, but it was necessary to let you know that I didn’t disrespect your home.”

  Hannah smiled, despite herself. She never could stay angry with her stepson for very long. He looked too much like his wonderful father to ever let ire linger in her heart.

  “Either way, that’s just another sign that you need to marry that girl sooner rather than later. Especially since y’all can’t seem to keep your hands off each other. Plus, I really think Giada loves you enough to marry you without all the disposal income.”

  “Giada might love me enough to marry me right now, but I need this next year of waiting to confirm that she will stay by my side for the long haul. I figure if she can hang in there with me when all I can offer her is my love, dinner at home, a simple movie, and the occasional trip out of town, then she deserves to stay by my side when I can offer her dinners at fancy restaurants, tickets to movie premieres, and trips around the world.”

  Hannah nodded in understanding. “I think Giada is really going to pass this test.”

  “I hope so.” Kentucky sighed, looking back at the house. “Our future together depends on it.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kentucky got down on one knee and officially proposed to Giada on Wednesday evening. He had a ring and everything. He’d dipped into his retirement fund to buy that ring because he wanted Giada to have something they both could be proud to show off.

  Kentucky’s stepmother was there as he slipped the large ring on Giada’s trembling finger. Mercedes was also. Hannah smiled with approval as the couple sealed that moment with a kiss. The small dog leaped upon Giada’s lap and tried to get in on that smooch by licking the sides of their faces.

  “Mercedes, no!” Giada said, abruptly breaking the kiss to address her pup.

  Kentucky chuckled. “It’s all right, Giada. The baby just wants in on the love.” He patted Mercedes on the head. “Is that better, baby? Do you feel loved now, Mercedes?”

  In answer, Mercedes licked his face again. The humans laughed.

  Giada laughed and cried. She was so happy about being engaged to Kentucky. She was elated that he seemed to love her dog just as much as she did. Giada floated on a cloud for the rest of the night.

  * * * *

  The next evening, Kentucky took Giada to meet a couple of his friends. They were Sal and Beverlyn Delfino, owners of the club that gave Kentucky his first job as a bouncer.

  Giada had been instructed to bring along a swimsuit since they were going to enjoy the Delfinos’ company, pool, and a little barbecue. The first thing she noticed about the Delfinos was how rich they were. Their house was a mansion, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings of every room, and they had a fleet of expensive cars in their multi-car garage.

  The second thing Giada noticed was how happy they were. The Delfinos still seemed to be in love with each other after over twenty years of marriage. Yet it was the third thing that Giada noticed that made the greatest lasting impression upon her—Beverlyn’s protective nature when it came to Kentucky.

  Beverlyn was like the big sister he never had, though much, much shorter at only five-six. As the big-sister type, she wasted no time cornering Giada in the guest bedroom that she used to change into her swimwear.

  About what?

  Kentucky, of course.

  “Do you love him?” Beverlyn boldly asked after closing the door behind herself.

  “Yes, I do. Very much so,” Giada replied, not even blinking an eye. Fortunately,
she was already in her swimwear and thus didn’t have to deal with trying to change in front of her bold hostess.

  “I hope so, because Kenny definitely seems to love you. Not only does that big rock on your hand say a lot, but the fact that you’re even at my house speaks volumes.” Beverlyn came forward and sat down on the edge of the exquisite gold-trimmed sleigh bed.

  “Kenny hasn’t brought women here before?”

  “No. He never needed to. As a seasoned matchmaker, I usually have women waiting here to meet him. So imagine my shock when he up and called us with the news that he had not only fallen in love with someone, but was also poised to marry this mystery woman,” Beverlyn replied. “My question now is, how did you do it? How did you hook Kenny when none of my friends or associates could? Mind you, they were all just as beautiful as you. Some even more so, in my opinion.”

  Giada shrugged. “I really don’t know. Though I was physically attracted to Kenny from the start, I didn’t pursue him since I was heavily into pretty boys with fat wallets at the time. In short, I was a superficial gold digger and proud of it,” she said, being extremely honest as usual with people who she wanted to see the real Giada.

  Beverlyn’s brows rose. “So you changed your mind about the pretty and decided to settle for the fat wallet instead?”

  “Actually, I didn’t know Kenny had any money when I met him. I thought he was just a struggling bouncer who lived with his mother since he was always over there. By the time I found out he was rich, we had already slept together, and I was already in love.” Giada moved to put her regular clothes in the tote bag she’d brought along.

  Beverlyn looked doubtful. “How do I know that you’re not going to dump Kenny when a pretty boy with a fatter wallet comes along?”

  “First of all, I dumped a pretty boy with a fat wallet to get back with Kenny. Secondly, I’m willing to prove that I’m in this for the long haul to him and everyone else with reasonable doubts about me.”

  Giada paused from her task and looked Beverlyn straight in the eye. “Thirdly, I love Kenny with all my heart. I love how he loves me, despite my past.”

  “So he does know about you being a gold digger?”

  “Yes. He seemed to pick that up right away. He was the first man that ever made me want to abandon that lifestyle. That made me want something deeper with a man.” Giada smiled. “Kenny was also the first man to ever make me scream in ecstasy. I don’t know about you, but a woman just don’t let go of a man like that all willy-nilly. And if she foolishly does, she better wise up like I did and do whatever it takes to get her man back.”

  Beverlyn burst out laughing, instantly causing the tension in the room to flee. “I can see one reason Kenny loves you. Your honesty is adorable. It makes you even more beautiful.” She stood up and hugged Giada. “I wish the two of you all the best.”

  “Thanks, Beverlyn,” Giada said, feeling as if she’d found a big sister of her own.

  “Call me Bev. All my other friends do.”

  That comment produced another warm hug, one initiated by Giada this time.

  * * * *

  When Giada made it out to the lighted pool, Kentucky was already making laps across it. Sal was at the grill playing chef. Classical music streamed from invisible speakers.

  Kentucky stopped swimming midlap when he saw a laughing Giada and Beverlyn emerge from the house together. Their laughter didn’t give him room for pause. Giada’s swimsuit did that all on its own.

  Though the swimsuit was a one-piece, there were so many openings that it looked like a bikini. That suit had a halter top, a deep plunge that reached all the way to Giada’s belly button, and large slits on the sides.

  Kentucky heaved a sigh of relief that the swimsuit didn’t have a thong back and did cover most of Giada’s bottom. Yet the parts that did hang out were highly accented by her sensual walk in those stiletto sandals.

  Kentucky’s body instantly hardened, despite the cold water he was in. Oh, how he needed his woman. He needed her right now.

  “Giada!” Kentucky yelled, instantly drawing more than just her attention his way.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Giada asked.

  “That swimsuit,” Kentucky said in a lower tone, conscious of all eyes on him now. He swam to the edge of the pool.

  “You don’t like it?” Giada looked down at herself. “Do I need to change into something else? I brought a bikini with me, too.”

  Kentucky shook his head. “No, don’t change a thing, baby.” He grinned. “As for that suit, I think I like it a bit too much. But I may need to see it up close to make sure, though.”

  Everyone laughed. Sal turned back to his task. Beverlyn went over to join him.

  Giada walked over to Kentucky. “Is this close enough?”

  “Nope. This is.” Kentucky grabbed her legs and snatched her into the pool.

  With her shoes flying off her feet, a shrieking Giada went tumbling headfirst toward the water. Yet instead of hitting the water, she landed safely in Kentucky’s arms.

  “I’m going to get you for that,” she threatened, trying to get her bearings back with deep breaths.

  “Get me now,” Kentucky replied, giving her a heated look as he released his hold and allowed her to slide down his aroused body.

  “I . . .” Giada paused to moan as special parts of her body came in contact with special parts of his.

  “People are around, Kenny,” she whispered, wrapping her arms and legs about his neck and waist.

  “They won’t be for long,” Kentucky whispered back. “In a few minutes, Sal is gonna close the top of the grill, close the vents halfway, and then let the steaks cook slowly. Then he’s gonna find some reason to talk to his wife alone in the house.”

  “How do you know all this?” Giada said, still talking discreetly.

  “Ever since we got here, Sal’s been talking my ear off about how he just got back today from a two-week trip to Atlanta for that new club they’re opening. About how he hasn’t had a chance to recoup the time he lost with his wife. About how he hopes he won’t seem like a bad host if they sneak away for a quickie.”

  Giada grinned. “They’re still at it like that after twenty years?”

  “Yes, which is why they probably lasted so long.”

  “I want us to be like that, Kenny.”

  “At the rate we’re going, we probably will.” Kentucky squeezed her bottom. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

  Giada moaned. “I feel the same way, baby.”

  Suddenly they heard Sal say, “Kenny and Giada, Bev and I will be right back. We need to take care of something in the house. No need to worry about the steaks. I have them slow cooking.”

  “No problem. We’ll be fine out here by ourselves,” Kentucky said, giving Giada a knowing smile.

  When the Delfinos were gone, Giada said, “I definitely want us to be just like them twenty years from now.”

  “Let’s start now,” Kentucky said, lowering his lips to hers for a kiss.

  Their make-out session might have started in the pool, but it ended up in the Delfinos’ Jacuzzi.

  Maneuvering around their swimwear, Kentucky smoothly joined them to the hilt. They both moaned from the pleasure.

  “I wanted to take you like this that night in the boat’s Jacuzzi,” Kentucky said, bending forward to whisper in Giada’s ear as he began to slowly stroke her to ecstasy. His hands were around her torso, teasing her taut peaks through the deep frontal plunge in her swimsuit.

  “I wanted you to take me,” Giada replied, grinding against his every thrust. For leverage, she held on to the side of the Jacuzzi.

  “I couldn’t, baby. If I had, I would’ve never been able to let you to go back to his cabin,” Kentucky said, referring to someone whose name he hated to even speak these days, especially at times like these. “You would have been in my cabin from that night forward, which would have caused all kinds of problems on the high seas.”

  “I wanted to be in your cabin f
rom day one. Even when I was with him, I always fantasized about making love to you instead,” Giada said, not speaking Fabian’s name either. She paused to moan as Kentucky became more forceful with his thrusts. “Even still, it wasn’t the same. There’s nobody like you, Kenny. Nobody.”

  “You got that right. You also got the real thing now, baby.” Kentucky thrust against her hard again, causing her to moan louder. “What are you gonna do about it?”

  Giada looked back over her shoulder at that challenge. “Oh, it’s like that, huh?”

  “It’s just like that,” Kentucky replied, thrusting again.

  * * * *

  Accepting his challenge, Giada turned back around and gripped the edge of the Jacuzzi tighter. Then she began to work her hips in a circular rhythm that snatched a loud growl from Kentucky’s lips within seconds.

  “Oh, so you trying to tame a man, huh?” he said, closing the small space between them. “I got something for that.”

  “Bring it,” Giada challenged, meeting his hot gaze head-on as she grinded against him again.

  What did she ever say that for?

  Kentucky brought it all. Holding her close, he began to bombard her body with moves she didn’t even know he knew. Where did he get them from? Had they come out of some locked vault? If so, where was this vault? And what was the access code to get inside?

  Giada relented first. She simply couldn’t control the clenching in her core. Nor could she control the tingles of pleasure ricocheting through her body.

  As if he knew she was about to go over the edge, Kentucky immediately captured Giada’s lips in a deep kiss in order to muffle her inevitable scream. She released it thirty seconds later like clockwork.

  After swallowing her scream in his mouth, Kentucky went over the edge himself soon thereafter.