by Tiana Laveen
Xenia clapped her hands to draw everyone’s attention. “Today is Saint’s thirty-eighth birthday, but he keeps telling me he’s still twenty-one.” Everyone laughed. “Saint, we’re all here to celebrate this special occasion with you. We love you, and I’m excited to spend many more birthdays with you.” Everyone clapped as she kissed him on the lips and smiled.
Saint looked around at everyone. “I want to thank all of you for coming out. I really appreciate it. It’s great to see my father here. That means a lot.” Saint’s father smiled and waved to him from the front of the crowd. “It’s been a crazy year.” he continued, “A lot has happened, but most of it was good, and for that, I’m blessed. I got married to this beautiful woman right here.” He kissed Xenia’s forehead. “I’m still booked for engagements, almost three years out. I have a new book that’ll be coming out dealing specifically with married men and how to keep the romance alive. I’d like to think I know a thing or two about it, but I guess Xenia would be the person to ask.” Everyone laughed again. “The only person missing is Mama.” Saint looked back at his father with a smile. “I know she’s here in spirit and would be so happy to see all of you gathered together like this. Well, let’s not draw this out. I can smell the food. Let’s get the music on and have this party!” Saint said as everyone started moving about and clapping.
Xenia pulled him aside and kissed him again. “You’re going to love the food. I made sure all of your favorites are here including that Moroccan bread you like,” she said, pleased with herself. Saint reached down and rubbed her stomach.
“So, when are we going to tell everyone about the baby?” he asked excitedly. “Now is as good a time as any. Everyone’s here,” Saint urged.
“This is your day, Saint! I’m not doing that right now. Now come on, I want you to have a good time.”
“But the baby is a part of me. OK, fine. But think about it at least.” Saint started to mingle. He looked to his right and saw George and James enter the room. Smiling, he made his way over to them, giving them both the official White Knight handshake.
“Ahhh, my brothers. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He could sense that they weren’t just there for the party.
“Saint Aknaten, happy birthday, Brother. Your lovely ‘queen’ invited us,” George said.
“Yes, I see that. OK, what’s goin’ on?”
“There’s some important business in Florida that needs to be addressed. We need to arrange a conference there. Two men, one Cambodian, the other from Ireland, were assaulted and their Black wives kidnapped and killed after a military function. The racial tension is thick. We hate to talk to you about this on your birthday, but it’d be wonderful if you could come down there and speak sometime soon. There have been numerous death threats due to a small but powerful supremacy faction.”
Saint nodded. “Of course I will. I’ll follow up with you later today, OK?”
“Thank you, Saint,” James said.
“Now please, make yourselves at home,” Saint offered. He walked up the winding staircase and entered his bedroom. He opened his nightstand drawer, removing a photo of his mother. He sat on the bed and held it tightly, tears slowly forming in his eyes.
“Mom, I want to thank you for giving me life, and for being here. I know you’re here with me. I can feel you. Today’s my birthday, and it’s the best birthday I’ve ever had. I’m married to my soulmate, the one you helped me protect. We’ve got a baby on the way, Mama. I’m sure you know. I’m helping people every single day. That’s all I ever wanted to do. I finally accepted who I am. I know my life will never be the same now that I understand the power I’ve been entrusted with. I want to make you proud. I want to make Xenia and my son proud and do right by them. I’m far from perfect, so I want your help me along the way. I pray to God often, thanking him for giving me all that he has. I no longer see what’s happened as a curse. Raphael showed me that I wasn’t looking at this the right way, and I thank God for giving me such a good best friend. I don’t feel alone anymore, Mama. I feel love all around me. Thank you for teaching me how to give and receive. You’re my inspiration, and if I’m half as good of a person as you were, then that’s pretty good. I love you, Mom.” Saint kissed the picture, placed it back in the nightstand, and rejoined his party.
* * *
“Who ever heard of such a thing? No!” Xenia said as she made her way through the supersized Babies ’R Us store. Saint followed behind her with the scanner.
“I want to do it. They can throw you their own shower,” Saint said defiantly. Xenia stopped and spun around, forcing her hard, round stomach into him. He looked down at her tummy and laughed. “Look, just because your belly is bigger than mine doesn’t mean you can push me around,” he joked. “Most women would be happy that their husband would want to throw them a baby shower,” he said as he scanned a toy truck.
“You don’t even have time anyway. You’re working more than ever!” Xenia said as she looked at a pair of pink socks.
“I’m working more so I can have everything wrapped up before the baby is born and spend more time with you two after the birth. And I already told you, it’s a boy. You may as well keep walking and make your way on over to the blue section.”
Xenia rolled her eyes and laughed. “No one is one hundred percent right except God. I could still be having my little baby girl,” she said as she stopped to look at a purple top and pants.
“Go ahead and find out from the doctor then,” Saint said with a smile. “You said you wanted to wait until he was born to find out for sure, but I think you need to have what I’m saying confirmed. After you find out I’m right, you’ll owe me a favor,” Saint said with a devious smile.
“Mmm hmmm. What kind of favor? Something perverted no doubt,” she said sucking her teeth.
“You know it,” Saint said with a wide grin. “And I’m throwing you that shower,” he laughed.
* * *
“OK. Well when was anyone gonna tell me about this?” Saint asked, his eyebrows bunching up as he wrinkled his forehead in annoyance. “How long has this blog been up, and why hasn’t anyone issue a response yet?” Saint asked the White Knights of the Round Table.
“Saint, your ‘queen’ is almost due with your child, and we didn’t want to worry you with it. We’re handling it. This isn’t a bad thing. It’s great exposure, and she’s asking some great questions. The owner of the blog calls herself ‘Princess Inferno.’ She’s an advocate for I.R. and…”
“George, I need you to say what I.R. means for our guests here from Japan who aren’t familiar,” Saint said, bowing to the two Japanese men sitting across from him.
“My apologies. ‘I.R.” is an abbreviation for ‘interracial relationships.’ She discusses ‘rainbeaus,’ which is a term used to describe non-Black men who date Black women. She’s taken some great photographs of interracial couples as well. It’s obviously created quite a buzz, Saint, and she thinks very highly of you.”
“That’s fine, but the problem is…” Saint’s cell phone rang. “It’s Xenia. Excuse me, Men..” Saint got up from the head of the table and headed out the large conference room.
“Hi, Baby. What’s up?” he asked, cradling his cell phone under his chin while he searched his pocket for loose change to put in the beverage vending machine.
“Hi, Sweetie. What are you doing?” she asked.
Saint rolled his eyes, “Baby, I told you today’s that big meeting. You know what I’m doing. Why do you do stuff like this? You must be bored,” Saint smiled.
“Oh, no. I’m far from bored,” Xenia said.
“Well then why do you keep playing on my phone?” Saint asked. “You forward me silly-ass jokes, call me asking what I’m doing when you already know, and tease me by telling me in text messages that you’re going to give me some – and then when I get home, all hot and ready, your ass is asleep. You’ve done that the last two weeks, and I’m not falling for it anymore,” Saint laughed. “Blame it on the pregnancy. You sle
ep constantly,” he chuckled.
Xenia laughed, then stopped short. “Well, this time I’m calling for a reason. I just wanted to let you know that – my contractions are three minutes apart. Go ahead and finish your meeting, I’ll see you later. Ouuuch! Oh, my Gaaawd!”
Saint’s face turned white. “Don’t hang up, Baby! Breathe through it.” Saint counted and breathed with her until it was over. “Why didn’t you say that at the beginning of the conversation? Why do you – oh never mind. I’m leaving right now. I’ll be home as soon as possible, Baby. I know it’s hard to remember when they come, but just breathe through it. I’m on my way. Hold on.” Saint disconnected the call and walked into the conference room.
“Gentlemen, please continue without me. I have to go right this second. My ‘prince’ is about to be born.”
* * *
Saint looked into Xenia’s glossy eyes as he held her hand tightly. He looked down at her hospital gown and back up at her face, kissing her forehead and cheek.
“You’re doing great, Baby,” he said as the doctor instructed her to push again. Xenia looked over at Saint, unable to breathe. The pain was all over her face, and he so desperately wished he could take it away. Saint wiped the tear away from his eye and looked back down as she was told to push again.
“The head’s right there, Xenia. You’re doing great,” the doctor said. Saint released Xenia’s hand and held her foot as he closely watched his child being born. Xenia watched as he tried to keep back the emotions. His chest heaved up and down as he attempted repeatedly not to lose his cool. Saint finally succumbed, and the tears of immense joy fell as he saw the baby’s head emerge.
“Oh, my God, Xenia. You should see all this black hair,” Saint said as he laughed and cried simultaneously. The nurses laughed. Xenia smiled briefly, before screaming at the top of her lungs as the doctor tried to get the shoulders through.
“Easy. OK. Stop pushing. Stop pushing,” the doctor said as he turned and twisted the baby. Xenia gasped and fell back further onto the bed.
“Please get it out!” she hollered. She had refused pain medication several times for her brutal contractions and was now regretting it.
“You’re almost there,” the doctor assured. “Now give me another push,” he said. Xenia bore down, pushing with all of her might.
“Xenia, the baby is almost all the way out,” Saint said as tears continued to roll down his face. He went back to his original position and held her hand, peering down as far as he could see.
“OK, Xenia, just one more push and I think we may have a home run here,” the doctor said. “Now push.”
Xenia bore down, feeling as if she was going to pass out. “Breathe. You have to breathe,” the nurse said as she rubbed her hair, patting her face with a cold cloth.
“Congratulations!” the doctor said as he pulled the baby the rest of the way out. “It’s a boy!” The baby immediately began to cry. Xenia started to cry, relieved and happy. She looked over at Saint.
“Lucky guess,” she said, exultant tears falling from her eyes as she laughed.
“Thank you, Baby. This is the best gift you could’ve ever given me.”
“Mr. Aknaten, do you want to cut the cord?” the doctor asked as he clamped the umbilical cord.
“Yes,” Saint said through blurry, reddened eyes as they handed him the cold, metal scissors. Saint clipped where instructed, wiped his face, and handed the scissors back.
“Do you want to hold your baby now?” the nurse asked.
“Yes!” Xenia answered through sobs, as Saint helped her sit up some.
“What’s his name?” the nurse asked as she handed Xenia the baby, placing him on her chest.
“Well, I had a girl’s name picked out, so I think I’ll let Saint do the honors,” she smiled.
“He’s got your nose and hairline, Saint. Matter of fact, I don’t see me at all here, except the lips maybe,” Xenia said as she rubbed his cheek with the side of her finger.
“Yeah, he does look like me,” Saint agreed and grinned, falling in love more and more every second. “What do you think of ‘Hassani?’” Saint asked.
“I like that. What does it mean?”
“It’s Egyptian. It means ‘handsome.’ He looks like me, so you know,” Saint laughed.
Xenia slapped his hand, “Still vain! Even on this special day we don’t get a break from your arrogance. Nothing changes,” she laughed. “I like that though. What about a middle name?”
“I wanted to honor my mother in some way too, so I was thinking of ‘Jewel,’” Saint said as he delicately touched the top of his son’s head. “‘Jewel’ isn’t Korean, obviously, but there’s a boy’s name that’s similar to it that my mother always loved. What do you think – Hassani Jewel Aknaten?”
“I love it!”
“I love you. I’m proud of you, blessed, and grateful.” Saint kissed the top of his son’s head, closed his eyes, and melted in the moment.
* * *
“Come on now, stop being stingy,” Saint said, his face smooshed between two pillows as he laid his long, muscular leg across Xenia’s.
“Get your heavy-ass leg off me!” she laughed. “You’re gonna wake the baby with all of this foolishness.”
“You’re making far more noise than I am, Little Mean Ass,” Saint said as he moved the sheets to the side and knocked her legs apart with his knee. Lying between her thighs, he looked into her eyes and gripped her hips. He glanced quickly over at the bassinet. Their son was fast asleep. “He should be in his own room by now. It’s right next door,” Saint whispered as he kissed her neck. He pinned her arms above her head, kissing and sucking her neck urgently. Xenia moaned, quaking from his touch.
“Saint, we can’t! He’ll wake up!” Xenia whispered half-heartedly. “We should wait,” she smirked.
“Xenia, you want it as bad as I do. I’m not trying to hear that. It’s time – the recommended six weeks. You know you want to give it to me, so stop playing games,” Saint grinned. “Now come on,” he said as he lowered his mouth down to her bare breasts, wrapping their bodies up in the sheets. He kissed all over her, massaging her gently, then moved back up to her breasts, enjoying their fullness. She shut her eyes and held him close as he ravished her body, bathing her from head to toe in tiny kisses. She watched as he disappeared under the covers. Bracing herself, she giggled as the covers rustled. She gurgled as she felt him not waste any time. He slid his thirsty tongue up and down her pussy, lightly licking her lower lips and sucking her delicately.
“Mmm,” Saint moaned as he continued to delight her orally. He could feel her wetness increasing. “I missed you so much,” he mumbled.
“Missed me?”
“Not you, her. I’m having a private conversation here. Do you mind?” Saint said as he ran his finger over her pussy lips. Xenia laughed.
“Oh, my God. You have issues.” She laughed again as she watched the sheets move up and down as he moved his tongue in and out. She closed her eyes, moaning loudly, trying in vain to control her volume. He moved up to her clitoris, stroking it lightly with the tip of his tongue as he slipped two fingers inside her.
“Ohhh. Ahhh. Uhhh,” Xenia moaned, moving and twisting her hips. “Damn it.” She gripped the sheets as she came, Saint kept right on, licking and sucking lightly on her clit until another orgasm came and grabbed her, never seeming to let go. Her toes pointed straight down as her entire body received wave after wave of lovely sensations. Saint continued, slowing down gradually as he listened to her heavy panting. He came up from under the covers, smiling as he kissed her cheek.
“You’re so good to me,” he said with a wide grin. “You gave me breakfast in bed.” Xenia laughed. Saint lie down on his back and stretched. He cleared his throat. Xenia looked over at him and turned back around. Saint cleared his throat again. “Uh, hello?” he said. Xenia burst out laughing again. “I was getting to it. Damn, you’re impatient!”
“Well, what’s the hold up? You need to mak
e change for a dollar or do a crossword puzzle real quick? I don’t understand what’s taking so long,” Saint joked.
Xenia moved between his legs, taking his thickness in her hands, licking it up and down slowly. Saint groaned. He looked down at her and smirked. “Aren’t you going to tell him that you missed him too?” he asked with a fake sad face. Xenia burst out laughing, causing vibrations against his dick.
“Mmm, that felt good. A hummer, do that again,” he said as he reached down and stroked her hair. Xenia hummed, moving her lips across his shaft, down to his balls and back up. She went back up to the head, sucking lightly. Saint’s stomach tightened as his climax approached.
“Mmm, yes. Baby, I want to feel you now. How do you want it?” he asked as he looked at her releasing him from her mouth.
“I think we better be careful still. Definitely no doggie style yet,” Xenia warned.
“OK, I’ll just get on top, missionary style. We’ll keep it shallow,” Saint said as he waited for her to lie on her back. He caressed her cheek before lying between her warm, soft thighs. Saint moved his hands to her ass cheeks, squeezing them as he eased his way inside. Xenia grimaced.
“You OK?” he asked, immediately stopping. “Do you need more time?” he asked sincerely.
“No, it’s just that nothing’s been in there for a while,” she smiled. “I want to. I’ve wanted to make love to you for weeks,” she admitted.
Saint started up again, moving at a snail’s pace until he was all the way inside. “Everything OK?” he asked softly in her ear.
“Perfect, it’s perfect,” she said, welcoming her husband’s dick back home. Her pussy contracted around it, embracing it, loving it. His body jerked involuntarily as he felt her muscles hugging him.
“Damn,” he sighed. “It’s been the longest six weeks ever. You feel so wonderful, Baby,” he said as he started to slowly thrust in and out. While he made love to her, he thought about their life together. He thought about the first time they met, the first date, the first kiss, the first time he made love to her, the first post-marriage argument, and now their first child. She looked up at him, desperately wanting to read his thoughts.
