"Look at it this way, what better way for them to know that I'm no longer available - than seeing me with you, wearing the ring I put on your finger?"
"Do I need to arm myself?"
"Fuck no! They might be jealous, but not stupid." He paused a moment in thought, "You scared?"
"Hell no! You got anything to be worried about?"
"Hell no! If I did, think I'd be stupid enough to take you there?"
"So what you trying to say? Is there somewhere I might go and find out a bunch of dirty secrets?"
Jake pulled her down to him for a kiss, "No - smooth your heckles Ms Cooke - you're about to be the next Mrs McPherson - take pity on all the other women out there whose dream will now die of ever getting me." He chuckled in her mouth, pulling her down on top of him, kissing her neck, making munchin' noises and tickling her until she was a puddle of weak muscle from laughter. Just fleetingly Abby and Zonobe crossed his mind. More so Abby, than Zonobe. Abby hung out at the local bar only, she'd never gone to the one he would be taking Vivian too because the drinks were too high and the atmosphere was made up of a better class of people than she was used to - that would be the last place to encounter Abigail Cox.
Chapter 285
It wasn't long before their play turned into something more serious. Jake leaned over, stretching to lock their bedroom door, and returned to her, pulling her into the center of the bed beneath him to make slow love to her; taking his time while getting into the habit of not penetrating with his entire length; he left off using the ring again, because he simply wouldn't break the mood to look for it, he just needed to be mindful of her limitations. It seemed, every time he went all the way, she was left sore and reluctant for the next time. He couldn't have that; besides he really didn't want to push it and cause her injury - he wanted her pregnant - hurting her wasn't the way to get the job done.
Vivian was in heaven when he made love to her slow; when his objective was to please her to insanity; when he restrained himself from fully entering her body, so that it was just enough for her to comfortably take him, and enough for him to find that pinnacle of pleasure. Pleasure so acute it made her rush to cover his mouth with her hand to keep in his grunts while climaxing, which barely helped, because the sound of him seemed to bounce off the walls around them. When he relaxed on his back beside her, he started laughing. "What is it with you covering my mouth?"
"You don't even try t'be quiet! Gruntin' all loud - I don't want them to know what we doing!" She whispered, regretting her words the moment they left her mouth.
"IF ANYBODIES LISTENING - WE JUST HAD SEX!"
"Oh my god Jake, you are wrong." Vivian cried and then to her humiliation.
"WE KNO-O-OW! WE HEAR-R-RD!!" Royce called back.
Jake cracked up laughing, Vivian buried herself beneath the covers, "I am never coming out of this room again!"
"What about from under those covers? I were you, I'd be out in the next 10 seconds!"
Vivian shot out from under, "Nasty dog!"
"Here baby, pull my finger."
"Hell with this, I changed my mind, I'm gettin' out of here!" She leapt from the bed, naked, grabbing her robe off the chair just as he blew one, loud and proud - laughing the whole time. "Thought you weren't leaving the room - again!"
"Jake that's disgusting! Don't make no sense! Like I wanna be smelling yo'ass!"
"Get used to it baby, more room out than in, hey - where you going?"
"Out for fresh air." She stomped from the room, doing the best she could not to make eye contact with Royce who was sitting at the kitchen table, still laughing.
"Poor Vivian - you'll get to used to him." Shanna called out in sympathy just as she closed the bathroom door.
A moment later, Jake came sauntering out of their room, in full strut, hand rubbing his hairy belly, his loungers on - hanging low on his hips, no shirt, bare foot, grinning at them, "If you will excuse me," He tried to open the bathroom door, it was locked, "Darlin' I'm standing out here butt naked, open the door."
"You lyin', you better not be!"
"Better let me in, Royce gettin' an eye full, feelin' cheated."
Shanna cracked up laughing as Royce turned to him making a face, "Hey!"
Vivian opened the door, scared it might be true; with him, one never knew, she fell for it; he forced his way in grinning, playful, "Made you look! Let me in here!"
"I knew you was lyin'! What you want?"
"Gotta wash big Willie, we just had se-..."
"Will you stop that!" Vivian hissed, her face burning, "You ain't got a bit o'sense!" She dragged him in, closing the door behind him.
He pulled her to him, kissing on her, "Can't wait until our house is done, I can do what the hell I want then."
"And you don't now?" Vivian asked, grinning, trying to get his hands off of her so she could start the shower.
"Can't walk around buck naked, my Jack hammer swingin'. When I'm in my own house, you better believe I will be."
Vivian shook her head, dropped her robe and stepped into the shower. Jake dropped his loungers and stepped in with her.
Outside the door, Shanna could only smile at the laughter, squeals and pleas from Vivian for him to stop it.
"Your brother is something else."
"Oh don't I know it." Shanna returned. Royce was on one of his breaks, which was about over. With all that had been going on, he had laid off of her concerning their many discussions, but he figured if he didn't bring it up, neither would she.
"Shanna, you doing all of this planning on their wedding, what's going on with our own?" He asked right out.
Shanna's smiled slid from her face, "You said you would give me some time."
"You've had some time Shanna, you've had time. I wanna marry you Shanna."
"I know! You've told me, you said that already." She turned to the sink, realizing he was not about to leave it alone. She heard him stand from the table, walk up behind her, until she felt him standing there, suddenly his hand appeared beside her, and watched it, place a small blue velvet round, ring box before her. The sight of it made her catch her breath. His thumb popped the lid open to reveal a beautiful, simple, brilliant cut, 1 carat solitaire diamond engagement ring - sparkling and glistening there before her.
"I know it's simple, and - uncomplicated - but that's me."
She was frozen in place. He backed away from her, leaving the ring before her; picked up his hat from the table placing it on his head and walked out, leaving all there for her to think about.
* * *
Meanwhile - earlier across the road...
The house, for the moment, was filled with noise and chaos due to the addition of just two more kids. Sasha and Joseph added temporary reason for things to get a bit more noisy and unruly, which Sylvia was willing to allow for just a period of time; she figured both needed to work off a bit of stress and energy from what was happening at home. The noise stemmed from Angela, playing her stereo loud - blaring into the rest of the house while she entertained Sasha the way that young girls do. The other noise came from Isaac and Darren - having Joseph there for their entertainment. They were high strung to have someone almost their age to play with. Joseph in his mature way tried to keep them under control, and in fact, came up to Sylvia as she prepped for the next days dinner, taking a deep breath and exhaling it, shook his head saying, "Auntie Sylvie, these babies bad - they ain't had no home training, have they?"
Sylvia exploded into laughter, hugging him, patting him on the shoulder, saying back, "They wearing you out, Joseph?"
"Yes ma'am, they got me tired, make me wanna go t'bed early. Can you calm them down now, please? I just wanna chill rest o'the night, watch a little TV."
Sylvia knew he was serious and fought to keep a straight face, "Yes I will, you go on let Crystal know what you wanna watch while I get them under control."
"Thank you, let'em know, tomorrow, I'll play with them some more, but that's enough for tonight." He finished dragging his feet
as if he'd run there from Chicago and was worn out from the journey, heading for Crystal, who was on the phone.
Sylvia went and rounded up her two, telling them it was time for their bath and then bed, with Isaac saying right away, "Jo'phus too?"
"Joseph - not Jo'phus - and he'll get his bath later after you two."
"He can take it wit' us grandma." He informed her.
"Not tonight, he's tired now - but it's almost your bedtime, let's go." She marched them off to the bathroom upstairs.
Crystal had ended her conversation with Rochelle, who was coming by with Letté, Kayla and Omiyah.
Mundo had departed not long since, was off somewhere with his friends; Shawn was on the phone trying to get a hold of Derrick.
Across the road in the studio, Ben had brought some things of his and placed them in the office that would be his, working on his laptop enhancing and brushing up the photos he took of his friend and girlfriend.
Crystal knew that he was there, his car was parked on the mini parking lot that still had to be tarmacked and lined for customer parking. After seeing to Joseph, checking in with mother, letting her know where she was, and that she'd be back in a bit she headed his way after getting the nod and wave from her mom.
Ben had chosen to work there because it was peaceful, quiet - no distractions. When Crystal silently showed up in the doorway, he'd been working an hour and needed the break. He smiled looking up at her, "Hey you, your timing is perfect, I was about to take a stretch. Having this office is fantastic - we're not even connected yet - but the work atmosphere really lends itself to getting things done. Thought I'd give it a try."
"Em, that's nice." She returned dryly.
He paused, his eyes raptly on her and knew immediately all was not right. He had been lounging back in his office chair, her expression made him sit forward. "Something wrong?"
"Yeah - I cannot believe you told Victor about us, in L.A."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"On me like bees on honey? Your plans to take me and the boys away? Things that happened there?!"
"He's a fuckin' liar! I never said a thing to him about us in L.A. - nothing! Crystal, don't confront me like I'm stupid! There's no way in the world I would ever tell him anything about us, ever!" He stood from the chair, angry as hell. "I'm gonna tell you something right now, he's desperate! He'll say anything, truth or not, to keep you away from me, know why? Because he can't stand the thought of you moving on and leaving him! While I can't blame him one bit for it - what stinks about him is, all of his energy is about you, instead of about his own goddamn sons! Something else - I don't like the way he handles them - I don't like how impatient he is with them - or the fact that he takes them on, just - because - they're his sons. Crystal, he's not into them - they are nothing more than a means to an end."
"You trying to say he doesn't love his own sons?"
"Maybe he does love them, but you know what, there are men out there, that can't be a father to small children. They can only deal with them when they're older, full of common interest and can basically take care of themselves without having to change them, feed them, watch them, entertain them. I've seen it many times in the Dells when teaching swimming. Father's that couldn't cope with their young ones, but were fine with their older kids. So maybe, maybe he's just one of them - okay - I'll give him that. Maybe he's waiting for them to get older so he can toss a ball to them without having to take them to the toilet, when they're not throwing a tantrum because they can't have bubble gum at the checkout. In truth, I don't know which he is - but I know this, he needs to be their father now - right now - not a fuckin' babysitter who can't wait for their mother to return! And right now, that's - what he is. So let me get this in and make it clear, no matter what you decide Crystal, based on all, I can tell you this - I'm not the one! He is not going to punk me out with his bullshit and lies! He may have you fooled, but I'm not having it! You know me Crystal - dammit! He's all front!"
"How do I know that? How do I know that you're not all front?! All bullshit and lies?"
Ben paused, then deflated, as if her words let the air out of his tires, "You don't. That's really it in the nutshell isn't it? With him, you think you know what you'll be getting - maybe. With me, you don't - I'm another gamble. And knowing you, because I do, know you - wanting to do everything right - just so - you're not gonna gamble on me, are you? I don't think you really believe him, but he's given you the argument you need to back away from me, hasn't he?"
"You think being in this situation is easy for me? This is not just about me - if it were just about me - it wouldn't be so hard - in fact, it wouldn't be hard at all. But I have two children that I have to make sure, I'm making the right move for. My life is what it is - their life is still in the making - and I'm the one responsible for making it what it is - I can't afford to gamble with them!"
"Crystal - if you go back to him - it'll be the biggest mistake - of your life. I'm in love with you Crystal, I am. He's not. He's not in love with you - he's not in love with his own flesh and blood sons - oh shit - sorry, I wasn't supposed to say that was I? What the hell - I believe - that I love them more than he does."
"You can't say that! You don't know him - not really. You've only seen him a couple of times and that's with you two going at each other."
Ben threw his hands up, "Loyal to the end, aren't you Crystal? To the very end. Okay, tell me here and now - do I turn my back and walk away from you, never to look back? Tell me now, is that what you want me to do?"
With him putting it like that, was close to getting hit in the stomach, her ears started ringing, because she'd basically said to him already that it wasn't about her, but her boys. If it was just about her, she would be with him right now, in a heart beat, come what may, what ever might be down the road. Tears rushed to her eyes staring at him, "This is so easy for you, isn't it?"
"Are you fuckin' nuts!? You must be if you think that! I'm standing here giving you my heart, have done from the very beginning to take - or break - and you think - that's easy for me?"
Crystal didn't want to face him, she started backing away, turning from him. He grabbed her arm pulling her back to him, "Crystal Bella - I have never lied to you! Not ever! Not - ever! I love you - I love those boys - and I am the one gamble - the one move - you should make! But I can't make you. All of this, really is, up to you. Yes, he is their father ... but remember this, Crystal - who was your father? Armundo Payne - wasn't it? So, go..." He released her. "... the decision is yours - I hope to God you can live with it, because come what may, I have to - don't I?"
Still unable to speak, Crystal turned from him, arms crossed over her breasts, she headed back across the road to see that Rochelle was there with the girls. A new car in fact, she was moving up, doing well.
"Hey hey hey! We here, what's up girl! Check it out, how you like me now?" She bragged to Crystal, posing by her ride as Kayla, Letté and Omiyah climbed out of the car.
Crystal put on a fake smile, waved at them, "Hey! Girl that is too nasty - where the money from? They gone catch yo'butt, stickin' up them Kwik-Trips and all night convenient stores - buyin' fancy cars!" She joked, making Rochelle laugh and slap her a high five. "Shhh, don't tell nobody." Rochelle played along. "Tell me what's on the agenda tonight, you better?"
"Yeah, you know me, give me a minute, I'ah bounce back. What's up with you all? Wassup on your agenda." She asked, smiling at them as they pooled together to greet her.
During the teasing between her and Rochelle, she never saw the look on Omiyah's face, because she too, was good at putting on a fake front, a smile, a look to say all in the world was great - even though, in the pit of her stomach, she wanted to spill her guts to Crystal and tell her, she'd been sleeping with Victor. That she was in love with him; and come what may, she would do all she could to get him. She liked Crystal as a friend, but she loved and wanted Victor more, and was willing to sacrifice their friendship, if it came to that.
"Just here to check on our girl - ain't much else happenin'." Rochelle spoke up.
"Mundo here?" Kayla asked immediately - she had always had a thing for him, but he only played around with her, never saw her as a future prospect. She was very much aware, that he saw Letté that way - yet, the two of them got along fine until they started drinking or getting high.
"He's off doing his thing Kayla, probably won't see him until dawn."
"Girl, that's why he don't see you, you all in his face when he's around, let him look for you." Letté advised.
"Letté I'm not cold like you - besides, I was just asking." Kayla defended herself.
"Here we go, chill with that shit! Oh - oooh shit! Who the hell is that!" Rochelle asked dramatically, having caught sight of Ben as he came out of the studio. Everyone, including Crystal turned to look at him. He was heading their way, his eyes deliberately avoiding Crystal's to make contact with Rochelle and the others, crossing the road to pass by them, speaking, "Evening ladies."
"And such a nice one, Crystal - introduce!" Rochelle demanded.
Ben had no choice but to put on breaks hearing her.
Playing it off once more, Crystal smiled at Ben, "This is ah - Ben, my - my stepbrother - Shawn's oldest; Ben, this is Rochelle, Kayla, Letté and Omiyah."
He really wasn't interested in meeting anyone, but didn't want to be rude, he smiled, shook all of their hands, noting that Rochelle held on the longest.
"Nice meeting you all, don't mind me, I'll leave you now."
"You ain't got to leave, you can stay right where you are." Rochelle boldly invited.
Ben smiled, "Maybe some other time, later ladies." He resumed in his direction, looking for Shawn concerning software that he had, to ask if he could install it on his laptop.
Rochelle turned back to Crystal, "Holy-shit and goddamn, his ass look good - to me! Stepbrother huh? I sure hope that's all?"
"It would seem so, she is married to Victor you know." Letté spoke up.
Rochelle smiled, "Ah, they don't know yet girlfriend, perhaps you'd like to tell them, I don't spread shit - keeps my ass out of trouble."
BOMAW 10-12 Page 143
