by Jaye McCloud
“Antonio you’re used to being rich and having people work for you. This is a bit much. Do I have to meet them now?”
“Yes. Do you think you’re going to hide away, here upstairs like a secret lover?” He gives me a look that dares me to say, yes that’s exactly what I want to do. I stick my tongue out at him and head to the dressing room; I need to find something to suitable wear –I really want to make a good impression. After going through every outfit I brought with me, I finally decide on a simple pair of navy blue slacks and a baby blue blouse. “Come on, Ti, what’s taking so long.” Apparently, Antonio is tired of waiting for me. “I’m coming; I just need to find my earrings.”
“They’re probably out here, depending on which earrings you’re looking for. Do you know you have the world’s most ill-mannered puppies?” I take exception to that comment…how dare he call my babies ill-mannered? As I’m walking out of the dressing room I’m fully prepared to defend my babies. “How dare you call my babies ill— Antonio, what are they wearing? Don’t tell me that you’re one of those people who dress their do—” My voice stops abruptly when I get to the bed and see that Antonio hasn’t actually dressed the pups in clothes. They are both romping and yapping happily, but I can easily see that Candi has this little pillow tied around her that reads –Marry, and Snow has a pillow that reads –Me. I’m shocked. I know I probably shouldn’t be, after all, Antonio has been saying that we belong together since the moment I met him…but still…this makes everything very real. I guess I must be taking too long to answer because Antonio stands up with his hands on his hips, lips pursed and brows slanted. “Well?” Looking at his belligerent face, I can’t help teasing him a little. “Well what, Antonio?” Suddenly, his expression changes, becomes softer, more boyish. Not breaking eye contact with me, he drops down to one knee in front of me. “Oh, Antonio, you don’t have to get on bended knee.”
“Shh, this is my proposal.” Ignoring the puppies, who have finally managed to get down from the bed, Antonio takes my left hand in his. “People like you and me, don’t fall in love willy-nilly, but when we love, we love hard and we commit fully. I love you with all my heart, spirit and soul. Tiressa Hawkins will you do me the honor of being my wife.”
“Yes. I love you. Yes, Antonio, I’ll marry you.” With a mischievously sexy smile, Antonio slides a cherry Ring Pop candy ring on my finger. “Don’t panic Baby, the proposal is real, but I know better than to choose your engagement ring without you. If I had gotten one too small, you would have been disappointed. If I had gotten one too big, you would have thought it was too flashy. Therefore, we’ll go to the jewelers and choose your ring together. Is that okay with you?” Grinning with absolute happiness, I agree. “Yes, that’s perfect.” Oh gawd, I want to jump his bones…I wander if all newly engaged women feel this way. I plant butterfly kisses along his collarbone, licking and kissing my way from one side to the other. As usual, our embrace leads to more heated kissing and tonguing. I’m rubbing myself against the bulge of his hard shaft, when he growls, “I want to take you back to bed.” I instantly say yes, pulling him more on top of me as I wrap my legs around his hips.
“But, I’m not going to.” He says, easing my legs from around him and getting up from the bed. “Antonio? Why not?” Smiling at me with determination, he replies. “Because I want to introduce you to our staff.” I lay on the bed looking up at him trying to figure out if he’s actually serious. Although his excuse of wanting me to meet his staff makes sense, there’s a sparkle in his eyes that’s quite suspicious. I can meet the staff anytime. I think Antonio enjoys my sexual aggression. I think he likes seeing me hot and panting for him…and he wants to keep me in heat. The question is –for how long?
I slide my foot up his rock hard thigh until I reach his crotch. He’s still bulging and I’m even more turned on running my toes across his thick rod. “No, Ti.” He grunts, taking hold of my foot and placing it back on the bed. “You’re not getting out of this. Come on they’re waiting, up you go.” He says as he easily lifts me up off the bed. “Fine. Fine, Antonio…have it your way.” I huff, bending down to put on my heeled sandals.
When we get downstairs, Antonio proudly introduces me to his staff. “Everyone, I’ve asked you here to introduce this beautiful lady, my fiancée, Tiressa Hawkins. I ask that you serve her as well as you serve me.” Looking around the room, he makes eye contact with each person. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important Tiressa’s happiness is to me.” Antonio is not known for his subtleness and judging by the expressions on their faces, I’m sure they all understand exactly what he’s saying.
Although Antonio has more employees, I meet Ms. Graye, the housekeeper; Drake, his personal assistant; Garrett, the cook—well, actually he’s a trained chef; and Carlos, the chauffer and mechanic. I shake hands and smile and try to make small talk by asking the right questions and saying the right things. They seem like okay people and I think I’m making a good impression on them. Time will tell.
After we do our meet-and-greet with the staff, Antonio decides that he wants to have lunch out by the pool. I change into a pink bikini swimsuit, but wear a pair of shorts and a t-shirt over it. I have no intentions of getting my hair wet, but maybe I can be talked into getting into the water at the shallow end of the pool.
“Antonio, are you going into the office tomorrow? You can’t keep staying home babysitting me.”
“I’m not babysitting you; I’m spending quality time with my fiancée. But now that you mention it, I have been away from the office for a while.”
I’m enjoying watching Antonio on the floating lounge chair in the huge pool. Although he asked me to get in with him, I declined and said that I’d rather sit on the lounge and watch him swim. I’m still hot for him and he has to know it, the way he keeps teasing me in his low riding swim briefs. I vividly recall the delicious tingling sensation in my cunny at the feel of his tongue sliding across my ass when we made love in the dressing room two days ago. He hasn’t touched me since, and I just bet that’s been deliberate. He was right when he said that I would learn to crave his lovemaking. If we didn’t have a house full of curious eyes, I would slip out of these shorts and open my legs wide and see if that doesn’t bring him running.
“I was going to talk to you about that and some other things.”
“What other things?”
“I want to schedule a meeting for you with my business manager. He can help you map out what you want to do with your curriculum ideas.”
Thoughts of seducing Antonio are forgotten for a minute. “Are you serious, just like that?”
“Yes, unless you would rather wait until after we’re married and have a kid or two.”
“No, I don’t want to wait; I think it’s a great idea.” I’m damn near on my tippy-toes with the thought of becoming my own boss. Damn, now I want him more than ever!
“The other thing I wanted to talk to you about is a celebration. My family knows you’re back and they want to throw a party for us.”
“No.” I say emphatically.
Sliding into the water and swimming to the edge, he levers himself up out of the pool, grabs his towel and sits down in the lounge next to mine. “Why not? Ti, they were worried about you and they’re just as glad that you’re back as I am.”
“Maybe some of them were worried and are glad I’m back, but I’m just not ready to see your family; it’s too soon.” I have an immediate reaction to the big warm hand he places on my thigh. “Ti, don’t get upset, it’ll just be my sisters and brothers and Katherine of course; and if you want to invite some of your family and friends that would be great.”
“Soo…” I can barely concentrate with his hand caressing my thigh, causing my core to hum in anticipation. “Do they know that we…that we’re engaged?”
“Yes. I called when I went to change clothes. Do you mind?”
“No, I called my sister when I went to change. I’m going to tell my parents later today.” We lean towards
each other at the same time, all lips and tongue and breathless moans. “So, can I tell my sister Gabby, to make plans for our engagement party?” He asks between kisses.
“No, but you can tell her that she can collaborate with my sister Mya on our engagement party.” I say between kisses.
“Fair enough.”
Leaning away from his tempting lips, I ask the question that has been on my mind for days now. “What are we going to do about your mother?”
“Nothing. We are only going to have people in our lives who love and support us.”
“Antonio, you know your mother loves you.”
“Yes, she does. But not enough. Come on, no more dreary thoughts; let’s take your ill-mannered pups to the park.”
***
“Why do you keep letting go of my hand? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” When I look up at Antonio, I can’t tell if he’s teasing me or annoyed with me. “I’m not embarrassed to be with you.”
“Then why do you keep letting go…you mad at me or something.”
“Of course not, I love you.”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m just…the stares…the looks are making me uncomfortable. The way people keep eyeing us...”
“Some people will always look at us like that. And some people will look at us and smile because they can see how much in love we are.” Forgetting about anybody who may or may not be staring at us, I melt into my guy’s kiss. “You’re such a romantic.”
“Only with you. Are you ready to go? I think the pups have had a good visit, we’ve been here for over an hour.”
“Alright, but before we go to your place, we need to stop by my apartment, I need to check on things.”
“I’m going to ignore that Tiressa.”
“Ignore what?”
“That crack about going back to my place.”
“It’s not my home, Antonio.”
“I told you, we’ll buy one that feels like home to you. Now call the pups.” Smiling up at him, I grab his hand and we walk over to the area of the dog park sectioned off for puppies. I stand at the little fence calling Candi and Snow, but they both ignore me romping happily with the other puppies. “Looks like we’re going to need to send them to puppy obedience school.” Antonio laughs so hard he’s barely able to get the words out. “Antonio, stop laughing and go in and get them for me, please.”
He eventually agrees to get the pups and it takes him only a few minutes. We’re soon on our way to my place for a quick stop to pick up more clothes, personal items, and other stuff that I need since I’ll be spending a lot more time at Antonio’s place.
When we get home, we get the pups settled in for the night, shower, and eat the best meal I’ve ever had—prepared by his personal chef.
Antonio and I are in the master bedroom watching one of his classic movies. “Can I ask you something Antonio?”
“Anything Babe.” He responds distractedly, clearly into the movie.
“Can I taste you?” That gets me his undivided attention.
“What exactly do you mean by taste me?”
“You know…can I taste you? You’re always tasting me. I want to know how you taste.”
“Oh gawd yes Baby!” He quickly turns off the flat screen and presses the button on the remote control that allows it to automatically lower into a hideaway compartment at the foot of the colossal bed.
“But here’s the thing…I don’t want you to touch me.” I rush to continue when he raises his eyebrow in question. “I want to be in complete control.”
“Okay, you got it. You’re in control.”
“No, I mean it Tony. You like to control things and this time I want to call the shots.”
“Okay, Baby…it’ll be all your way.”
“Good. Now take off your clothes.” Antonio hasn’t moved this fast since the first time we made love. He shoves the pillows from behind his back and hurries to undress while I calmly turn down the lights.
“Now lie flat on your back. Put your hands above your head and keep them there.” He complies with a lusty smile. “Really Tiressa, step by step instructions.”
“I’m calling the shots Antonio. You agreed.”
“What about your clothes?”
“No. I’m leaving my nightie on.” Clearly, he doesn’t like hearing that, but I’m calling the shots. Reclining close to Antonio’s hip, I run my fingers from the tip of his rod all the way down to the base and then back up again, repeating the caress several times. “You’re so hard, yet so soft.” Antonio’s breaths are becoming shallow and he’s holding onto his pillow. “Your rod’s not only long, it’s also fat! This is why it sometimes hurt when you’re rough with me. I can barely wrap my fingers around it.” I breathe in awe, sliding my hand slowly up and down, fascinated by the smooth warm heat of him. “Baby, I told you it’s going to take some time. But FYI, there’s nothing on me that’s fat. My shaft is thick, and it’s getting thicker because it wants to be inside you.” His rod twitches as if it knows it’s being discussed and agrees with what he is saying. “Not yet, Tony, I haven’t had my taste.” I purr in my sexiest voice, enjoying the sound of his deep-throated groan.
“I haven’t had my taste, come here.” He growls, sitting up and reaching for me. “Antonio, you agreed!” Exhaling a deep impatient breath, he reluctantly lays back down. “And your arms.” He lifts his arms back above his head. Shifting, I lay on my right side, with my head resting on his right side, just below his ribs. Moving closer, I place a gentle kiss on the slit at the tip of his rod. I like the way it feels. It feels firm, yet soft like his lips when we kiss. I like the way he smells…all fresh clean man and musk. I plant more kisses then slowly lick the bulbous head, not tasting the same spot twice. Suddenly, Antonio lurches up breathing heavily, he flips me onto my back as he moves to position himself between my legs. “Now it’s my turn.”
“But Antonio, I wasn’t finished.” I complain as he roughly yanks off my nightie and panties. “You’re gonna have to take a raincheck”, he grates.
Antonio
Coming up to my knees, I position the back of Tiressa’s thighs up against mine then grab her wrists and clamp them together in one of my hands, pinning her arms above her head. “No Antonio, don’t pin me down.” I silence her words with my demanding mouth, kissing her until she’s breathless. Each time I’m inside her body, I feel as if I’m conquering her all over again. She has no choice but to yield to my dominant strength. The power I hold over her is intoxicating and at times difficult to control. If she wasn’t so small and tight, I could make love to her without restraint. “Wider, Ti…open your legs wider.” I growl between clenched teeth as I release her hands to reach down and pull her legs up and wider for deeper penetration. “I need more of you.”
“Tony.” Her voice quivers as she pushes against my chest trying to shift away from me. Oh gawd the need to dominate is too strong. “Baby, hold still! I can’t—” I pin her down again, thrusting slow and hard. “I’m going to let go of your hands and I want you to wrap your arms around my neck.” When she does, I give her a long, wet passionate kiss, sucking on her lips and her tongue. “That’s it Baby, just like that. You’re doing good.” I moan my pleasure at the feel of her hot tight channel squeezing my shaft, triggering my release.
Breathing heavily, I roll off Tiressa’s prone body and lay by her side, bringing her to rest over my heart. “I love you Ti.”
“I love you too Tony.”
Chapter 26
“Antonio are you paying attention?”
He wasn’t. He was wandering why Ti isn’t answering her cell. He left a message almost two hours ago. “Of course I am Dad, but as I said before, as much as it pains me not to have Mom there, I’m not going to beg her to attend our engagement party. I’d rather not have her there if her presence is going to upset Ti.”
“Antonio, I understand how you feel, but this is just as upsetting for your mother. Give her a chance to make the right decision. Please, ju
st go to her, invite her to the engagement party.” Before Antonio can reply, his cell rings. “Dad, it’s Will.” He says and answers the call. “What?!” Antonio shouts getting to his feet.
“Antonio, Tiressa and Katherine have been in a car accident. They’ve been taken to Lake Mary’s. I’m on my way over to the hospital now.”
“How serious is it Will?”
“I don’t know, Tony—”
“Never mind. I’m on my way.”
“Antonio, what has happened?” Mr. Bentini demands to know, standing up also.
“Dad, Ti and Kathy have been in a car accident. I have to get to Lake Mary hospital.”
“Of course, I’ll tell Ms. Fuller to clear your calendar. You go on, your mother and I will be there.”
Antonio leaves his dad at the restaurant and rushes to the hospital, praying every second of the way. Although he hasn’t been to church years, he’s still a believer in the man upstairs, so he begs for Tiressa’s and Kathy’s to be okay.
Sprinting up to the reception desk in the emergency room, he gives the woman Tiressa’s name and tell her that she’s his wife; his expression dares her to question it. He’s immediately taken back to the examining room. “Dr. Lassiter, this is Ms. Hawkins’s husband, Mr. Bentini.” Antonio and the doctor instantly recognize each other. “Antonio.”
“Chase.” They shake hands and the doctor hurries to set Antonio’s mind at ease. “Congratulation on your marriage, Antonio, your wife and baby are both fine. Her shoulder’s a little sore and she’s a little shaken up —understandable considering what she’s been through, but fortunately for her and the baby, the car was sideswiped on the passenger side.”
After standing as still as a statue staring at his old friend in wonderment, Antonio finally pulls himself together. “Chase, are you sure about the baby…that there is a baby?”
