Mercedes’ heart smiled at his admission, but she felt a little guilty. “Well, I mean, it was my fault you were shot,” she grabbed his hand across the table, “There’s so much I want to say. When I saw you had been shot and were bleeding I nearly fainted. I was so scared you w-were…” she trailed off not able to bring herself to say the words that she feared he could have died. Raul consolingly, brought her hand to his lips.
“Just please don’t ever do that to me again. I need you around for a long time,” she told him.
“How long?” He asked.
“As long as you’ll have me,” she answered sincerely. By the sexy smile that formed on Raul’s lips she knew her answer satisfied him.
“I need to tell you something about me that’s important for you to know,” she paused waiting for his response. When Raul nodded, she continued, “I don’t know where to start. I mean, you’ve met my parents and you were nearly killed by my illegitimate sister, so you know how fucked up my family is. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I had more siblings out there I don’t know about. When I was eight years old, I remember being in a grocery store with my mother and a woman came up to us. I can’t recall the entire conversation, but I remember the woman taunting my mother about how my father didn’t love her and how he only stayed with her to keep up appearances. I mean, this woman was bold enough to do this right in front of me. My mother hurried us out of the store. Later that night, it was one of the only times I heard my parents argue. After all the yelling, my father hurried out of the house, barely looking at me. I remember going to bed to the sounds of my mother crying that night. After that, I promised myself I would never let myself fall for someone who could treat me the way my father treated my mother. I spent most of my life avoiding serious relationships because I didn’t want to be vulnerable and then you happened.” Mercedes stopped to catch her breath and let her words settle around them. “I don’t want to be that way with you. You make me want more. What I’m trying to say is, I love you, Raul,” she said with tears in her eyes. She barely registered Raul’s movement, before he was pulling her up out of her seat and into his arms. After a few heartbeats, Raul took a step back.
“I’m glad you said that, finally, because I have something I want to ask you.” With his good arm, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a ring box. Mercedes’ eyes widened at the realization of what he held.
“Raul,” she whispered, as he dropped down to one knee and held up the open ring box.
“I want you for as long as I have breath in my body. I promise to be faithful, loving, and to cherish you for as long as God allows me to. Marry me, Querida,” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. Mercedes looked at the sincerity in Raul’s eyes and was reminded of how safe she always felt around him. How caring and loved she felt in his embrace. She knew she could trust Raul with her heart, for a lifetime. She knelt to the ground in front of him and nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak. She held out her hand as he slipped the cushion-cut Tiffany diamond onto her left ring finger. Mercedes threw her arms around his neck, making sure to be careful of his injured shoulder. She pressed her lips to his meaning for the kiss to be brief, but Raul had other ideas. He instantly deepened the kiss. Pulling back he stood, bringing Mercedes with him.
“Come with me, Querida,” he said, pulling her into the house and up the stairs. They spent the next few hours showing each other exactly how they felt for one another, having forgotten all about their uneaten dinner.
“Do you prefer a fall or a spring wedding?” Raul asked Mercedes that night as they lay in bed.
Chapter 18
Epilogue: Nine Months Later
“You take my breath away, Mrs. Santiago.”
Mercedes smiled as she felt Raul’s arms encircle her waist from behind. She leaned back into his chest as she looked out over the beautiful blue ocean of the Copacabana beach. The couple had married at the Copacabana hotel in Rio and opted to take their wedding photos out on the beach before returning for the reception.
Mercedes turned in his arms, facing her husband. “You stole mine a long time ago, Mr. Santiago,” she said as she raised on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Ready to go greet our guests?” he asked. Mercedes nodded. They returned to the vehicle to take them the short distance back to the hotel reception. They waited until Mercedes’ school year ended to marry, so they would have more time to honeymoon in Brazil. The couple planned to spend most of the summer in Raul’s native country. He looked forward to showing his new wife his most cherished locations in his beloved country.
“Here they come!” shouted Mercedes’ matron of honor, Devyn, who’d just given birth to a baby girl six weeks ago. Nikola and Devyn chose to name their new daughter Cassandra, and once again, Raul and Mercedes were the Godparents. The guests cheered as the wedding party was announced and stood, as Raul and Mercedes were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Raul Santiago. Raul and Mercedes had their first dance to At Last by Etta James. The couple danced in the center of the reception hall, as their guests admired the couple, clapping once the song was over. For the next few hours the couple danced, partied, and celebrated with their friends and family.
“Congratulations, young lady.” Mercedes turned from her conversation with Devyn to see Mistress Coco with a younger man who appeared to be her date.
“Thank you so much, Mistress Coco, and thank you for coming. I’m glad you could get someone to watch the club so you could make it down here,” Mercedes stated.
Mistress Coco waved her off, “Chile, Iris has been trying to get me down here for forever. I’m glad I could make it, now I have a chance to take advantage of the...view,” she said as she mischievously eyed the six-foot, chestnut-colored bald headed, man she had her arm wrapped around. The man appeared to be in his mid-forties, some twenty years or so younger than Mistress Coco. And apparently, was a Brazilian native.
“Diane, I’m going to let you talk with your friends. I’ll refresh your drink for you,” he announced in his beautifully accented English before placing a kiss on Mistress Coco’s cheek and strolling off. Devyn and Mercedes eyed the man as he walked off and then one another.
“Young ladies, don’t look so surprised, who the hell do you think it was that taught Stella to get her groove back?” Mistress Coco asked them. The trio laughed and talked for a few more minutes, before they were joined by Iris, Rosaline, and Mercedes’ mother Linda. Mercedes and her mother had worked on their relationship in the last nine months, and they were becoming closer than ever. Linda had decided to follow through with a divorce from Dwayne, and she even began taking computer classes at a local community college. Mercedes was proud of her mother for taking control of her life. She promised to help in any way she could. Dwayne was a different story altogether. He placed the blame for his divorce squarely on the shoulders of his wife, saying she wasn’t loyal in the face of adversity. While many members of his congregation continued to support him, others left after finding out about his infidelities and that he abandoned a daughter he had outside of his marriage. He had not spoken to Mercedes since he’d left New Orleans. Mercedes was disappointed, but she refused to feel guilty over the sins of her father. And today, was one of the happiest days of her life. She was ready to celebrate with the man she loved.
****
“How’s it feel to be married?” Nikola came up asking his best friend.
“It feels pretty damn good. You should have told me it felt this good. I might have done it sooner,” Raul joked.
“Yeah, well count me out of that shit,” Nikola’s younger brother, Andre said approaching the two men. Raul and Nikola just stared at one another, knowing Andre could try to avoid it all he wanted, but when it was his time to fall, he’d fall just as hard as they did. Both men also knew that Andre, would be an even bigger challenge than they were. Laid back as he came off, Andre could be the most stubborn out of the three men. He was no easy catch, but by the looks mama Iris, Mistress Coco, and even Rosaline
were giving him, he’d meet his match soon, if they had anything to say about it.
“If you say so, junior,” Raul said, clapping Andre on the back.
“Oh, Raul, Mercedes was asking for you,” Stacey, one of Mercedes’ bridesmaids interrupted. Mercedes and Stacey had become good friends over the last year. Raul and Nikola both had noticed the sly looks Andre had sent Stacey’s way when he thought no one was looking.
“Thank you, Stacey. I think it’s about damn time I take my bride out of here anyway. If you’ll excuse me,” he said departing from the group.
Raul glanced at the group of women off to the side of the room, a satisfied smile spread across Iris’ face when she noticed the look Andre was giving Stacey.
Maybe sooner than later. Raul laughed to himself as he strolled off in search of his bride.
“I heard you were looking for me,” he whispered in her ear from behind. He spun her around and pressed a kiss to her lips before she could respond.
“Mmm,” she moaned into his mouth. He reached around to grip a generous portion of the ass he loved so much.
Mercedes gasped and pulled away, “Raul you can’t feel me up like that in front of all our guests.”
“The hell I can’t,” he growled, pulling her to him once again. Mercedes laughed.
“No, there are serious people here,” she playfully retorted wriggling in his arms.
“Fuck it then. It’s time to go anyway,” he said at the same time he hoisted Mercedes, wedding dress and all, over his shoulder and began strolling to the elevator door. Their guests, whooped and hollered at Raul’s antics, drowning out Mercedes’ protests.
“I’m going to kick your ass as soon as I get down from here,” Mercedes said trying to sound stern.
“Promises, promises,” Raul laughed, as he pressed the elevator button to take them up to their suite.
“Querida, tonight is only the beginning of the rest of our lives. And you can rest assured the only woman waiting in my room and in my bed tonight and forever will be you,” he said as he placed Mercedes down in the elevator.
“Mm, sounds good to me,” Mercedes sighed contentedly as her husband pressed kisses down her neck. Tonight was only a prelude to the rest of their lives.
The End
About the Author: I am a daughter. A sister. An aunt. A former teacher. Non-fiction writer. And, now, a fiction writer! I love to laugh and am a romantic at heart. I fell in love with African-American/Multicultural romance about eight years ago, upon reading my first Francis Ray novel. I’ve been hooked on the genre ever since. A few years ago, I got the idea to pen my own romance novel. It took me awhile to follow through, but I’m ecstatic that I finally did! My goal is to provide diverse and interesting stories that center around women falling in love and being loved. My stories will also feature diverse social and personal issues that plague us. I look forward to working and growing as a writer. And I especially look forward to your feedback.
To receive notifications of future BWWM releases from Tiffany Patterson and Jessica Watkins Presents, please text the keyword “femistry” to 25827.
Jessica Watkins Presents is currently accepting submissions for the following genres: African American Romance, Urban Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and BWWM Romance. If you are interested in becoming an author and have a complete manuscript, send a synopsis and the first three chapters to [email protected].
Black Dahlia: Book 2 of the Black Burlesque Series, BBW, BWWM romance Page 20
