“You realize you do that all the time, right?” she asked, answering his question with a question. “You arrange me how you want me every single time!”
He saw the humor in her statement because he did, in fact, do that when they were in bed together. He loved her touching him and loved being able to touch her and caress her. “Mmhmm, I want you touching me whenever possible.”
“I see,” she said, a half smile gracing her lips.
“What’s that smile for?”
“You’ll see,” she told him as she began softly stroking him. Scooting down the bed, she curled up on his thigh, her attention now diverted as she grabbed him. A soft hiss of air escaped him as she leaned forward and took him into her mouth, her hand stroking where her mouth couldn’t reach. Not to be outdone, he rearranged her so that he was free to warm her up, his mouth and fingers soon causing her to moan around him. “Zeke,” she breathed out.
He maneuvered her again so she was straddling him and pulled her face down so he could kiss her, long and deep. Feeling her wet heat, he leaned back and said, “Ride me, Cherub.” She needed no invitation and he soon felt her sliding down along his length. Low groans from them both had him gripping her hips before he began moving her up and down in the movement they both enjoyed. She leaned forward, using her knees to help her keep the momentum and he reached a hand up and fondled her breast before leaning his mouth closer and taking a nipple into his mouth. Words now impossible, only the sounds of their moans and the slapping of flesh filled the air. As he felt his orgasm approaching, he reached between the two of them and added some pressure against her clit with his thumb.
“Oh my God, Zeke,” she cried out, her body clenching as she threw her head back and her hips continued to move and jerk. Seeing the visual of her lost in the throes of her own orgasm caused him to follow close behind and he called out her name as he found his own release.
Spent, she collapsed on him, both breathing hard. “Gets better every time, Cherub,” he whispered in her ear before he kissed her forehead. “Let me get you cleaned up so we can get some sleep, yeah?”
She was nearly asleep when he spooned behind her, pulling her close. “I love you, Zeke,” she mumbled.
“Love you too, Cherub. Sleep well.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Thanksgiving Week
She was getting married in three days. Three days. Dex and Renda were up, as were a lot of the Brothers and their old ladies from South Georgia. Her girls were busy baking and getting things ready for Thanksgiving, as well as the wedding. She had finally “won” and while everyone was upset, since it was her day, she had them going to the Justice of the Peace on Wednesday morning so that they could enjoy Thanksgiving and then they were holding a combination reception/baby shower on Friday at the clubhouse. The biggest difference between the original plans and now was that everyone was going with them to the courthouse for the ceremony. She and Zeke would stay in town and then come out to the clubhouse the next day for Thanksgiving dinner.
“Cherub?”
“In here, Zeke,” she called out from the closet.
“What are you doing, sweetheart?”
“Trying to find shoes that fit now that my feet seem to have grown,” she replied.
“Cherub, we can get married with you barefoot if you need to be,” he told her.
“No, I think I have a pair of ballet flats down here somewhere.”
He looked at her – she was bigger than before and still had about a month to go. “Here, let me, sweetheart,” he said, helping her back out to sit on the bed. “What color are they?”
“Hmmm, I don’t remember exactly, maybe light pink? No, cream?”
He unearthed a pair of what he thought she was thinking and she pounced on them, saying, “Yes, these are them.”
“Let me help you with them, Cherub,” he said, as he knelt in front of her. He carefully slipped first one and then the other on. “Do they feel okay?”
She wiggled her toes experimentally. “They kind of feel tight, Zeke. Now what am I going to do?”
He removed them and got the Crocs she had been wearing back on her feet before he helped her up. “Looks like we’re going to find you something to wear, Cherub. Renda has the girls, that’s what I was coming to tell you, so that we can run some errands.”
“What would I do without you?”
“God willing, you’ll never have to find out, sweetheart.”
***
New shoes purchased and crisis averted, they spent the afternoon running errands before they went to the new house. It was pretty much done and he had been slowly moving things over so that after they were married, they could move in fully. As they pulled up in front of the house, she gasped. He had been busy! The Christmas lights were already on the house and there were a few inflatables that he had placed around the yard. “Oh Zeke, when did you find the time?”
“I didn’t, not exactly. Had Thad and the prospects help with this,” he told her as he carefully got her out of his truck. There had been a light snow so he was keeping his hand at her back as he walked her up the stairs and onto the porch. Unlocking the door, he opened it and brought her inside, stealing a kiss under the mistletoe that was already hanging in the foyer. “Wanted to show you something,” he said, leading her through the living area and into the kitchen before they went down into the basement.
She looked around in amazement. The last time she had been over, they had talked about what they wanted to do with the full basement and she had given a few suggestions but told him that ultimately, it would be up to him. He showed her the three guest rooms that were down there now, along with a kitchenette area that had a refrigerator and microwave so any guests wouldn’t have to come all the way upstairs for drinks. He had even put in a coffee bar and a game room with a huge television. “Zeke, this is amazing,” she finally said.
“Figured when Dex and Renda or Debbie and Pongo came up, you’d want them here instead of the clubhouse,” he replied.
“It’s perfect. And I suspect Renda’s going to want to be here when the baby finally arrives.”
He chuckled because she had already made that clear to Dex, who had shared it with him. Another reason to make sure this part of the house was finished. “Come and see what I’ve done with the girls’ room,” he told her as he led her back upstairs.
The house itself was a sprawling quasi-ranch with an upstairs that held all the bedrooms including a nursery that was directly off the master, and five more bedrooms. He led her to one of the doors and opened it and she walked into a castle. The only things missing were the twin canopy beds but he had said the prospects would be moving everything else over in the next few days. “They’re going to love it, Zeke.”
Taking her hand, he led her to their room. Since he loved the colors at her current house, he had replicated them in their bedroom. The only difference was he had gotten a bigger bed for them, envisioning times where they would curl up with the girls to watch movies. Wide eyes glanced up at him as she took in the room. He leaned down and captured her lips with his, teasing a sigh from her as she melted into his arms. Long minutes passed before he pulled away, feathering kisses along her jaw before he placed one last kiss on her forehead. “Love you, Cherub. ‘til my last breath.”
“Til my last breath, Zeke,” she whispered.
***
Wednesday dawned bright and clear, a fresh snowfall the night before making everything all pristine and fresh. She rolled over to find the spot next to her empty and she smiled. I’m going to the chapel and I’m gonna get married she thought before she started giggling. Easing out of bed, she went in search of some sustenance before she got ready. In the kitchen, she stopped and stared. The girls were in their highchairs, Dex and Zeke sitting at the kitchen table with cups of coffee, and Renda moving around making breakfast, ordering Thad around like he was her sous chef. “What’s going on?” she asked.
“We’re going to eat breakfast and then get ready to head to
the courthouse,” Renda told her as she plated some eggs for the girls. “Now, c’mon and sit down, bride-to-be, and get some breakfast. Going to be a busy day.”
Breakfast was a fun-filled affair and once it was finished and everything cleaned up, Renda pushed her toward the bedroom saying, “Go get beautiful, gorgeous.”
“Cherub?”
She turned around to find him directly behind her. “Hmm?”
“Need any help?”
Blushing, she smiled at him and said, “Nuh-uh, handsome, you gotta wait for this,” as she moved her hands down her body. He just grinned as he leaned in for a quick kiss.
***
An hour later, everyone all dressed and ready to go, he led her and the girls out to his truck. Thad was riding with Dex and Renda and they would take the girls after they were done at the courthouse.
“Momma?” Cailyn asked.
“Yeah, sweetie?”
“Today is when Papa Zeke becomes our daddy?”
Tears came unbidden to her eyes before she said, “Yeah, sweetie.”
“We can call him Daddy?”
“You can call him Daddy or Papa Zeke, whichever you want, okay?”
“I’m going to call him Daddy,” Cailyn stated.
“Me too,” Melora said.
Zeke took in a deep breath, as this was far more than he had ever expected. Looking at the two little girls, all dressed up to watch their mom get married, he said, “I’m proud to be your Daddy, girls.”
***
Once at the courthouse, things seemed to move fast. Before she knew it, they were in the judge’s chambers. Looking at the group, the judge cleared his throat and then called out to his secretary, “Mabel, can you check for me and see if we can go down into the garden?”
Looking at the couple, he said, “We have a garden that is pretty well-protected against the elements. Thinking it would be a better place for this given the fact that two little girls are all dressed up to watch their momma get married.”
A few moments later, the secretary came into the room and said, “It’s free, Judge. Y’all follow me, okay?”
Down in the garden, which was decorated with Christmas lights and poinsettias, the judge got them arranged and then, before he began the ceremony, said, “Is there anything either of you want to say?”
Taking a deep breath, Angelina looked up at Zeke and softly said, “I was lost and you found me and restored me and redeemed me to be the woman that God wants me to be. Much as Ruth did for Boaz, I promise that where you go, I will go and where you stay, I will stay. I will love you ‘til my last breath.”
Zeke, smiling down at her, lifted his hand and softly stroked her cheek before he said, “In the broadest sense of the word, I am your kinsman-redeemer, Cherub. Where you are is home and as long as you are by my side, we can weather any and every storm as long as we cling to the third cord that binds us.”
With tears shimmering in her eyes, she softly smiled. The judge, witnessing the obvious love the couple had, cleared his throat from the lump that had formed before saying, “While I normally don’t do this, I can tell that this occasion calls for it,” before he quoted 1 Corinthians 13, ending with, “Do you have rings to exchange?”
Within minutes, the ceremony was finished and she heard the judge say, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Strong arms enveloped her with one hand coming up to cup her face in a way that had her swooning. Leaning in, he said, “I love you, Cherub, til my last breath,” before he captured her lips in a soft but meaningful kiss that held a promise for all their tomorrows.
As they pulled apart, four little arms embraced them and they heard, “Momma, Daddy!” Letting her go, he crouched down to hug both little girls to him, unaware that Renda had been snapping pictures the whole time. He kissed both girls on their foreheads, eliciting giggles, before he stood and found his son waiting for a hug. Angelina, standing there as witness to the pure love the three kids were showing, found herself sniffling through her smile.
Renda got their attention and asked for a family picture, which the secretary, Mabel, gladly took. Leaving the courthouse, paperwork in hand, the kids went with Renda and Dex and Zeke took her hand and led her to his truck. Carefully helping her in, he helped her buckle before turning her head and kissing her. “Hello, Mrs. Morgan,” he whispered.
“Hi, Mr. Morgan,” she said, softly.
He took her to one of the nicest hotels in the area and once they were changed out of their wedding finery, he looked at her and said, “What do you want to do, Cherub? Thought we could get something to eat and then see what comes up.”
She gave him a mischievous look and a wink before she stepped into his arms and looped hers around his neck. “I thought,” she said, giving him a quick kiss, “that we could start out over there,” and she motioned to the bed, “and see what comes up.”
He grinned and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her over to the bed despite her protests that she was too heavy. He didn’t care if she weighted one hundred pounds or five hundred, he just wanted her and he set out to show her just how loved and cherished she truly was, grateful that room service was available.
***
Thanksgiving Day
Arriving at the clubhouse, they came in the door to whoops and hollers and cheers which caused Angelina to blush and Zeke to smile even more than he already was. Two small streaks came running toward them and he bent, catching the two little girls up in his arms. “Give your Momma a kiss, girls,” he said as he leaned closer to his bride. His bride he thought. The previous afternoon and evening had been spent in bed, making love and napping. He had gotten up briefly to order room service but other than that, they had stayed holed up in their room together. And he wouldn’t change a thing.
Angelina leaned up to give him a quick kiss, saying, “I’m going to go help get the meal out, handsome.”
“Okay, Cherub.”
He got the girls settled and chatted with Preacher and Dex and several other Brothers while the women brought the food to the table. Once everything was in place, he stood and blessed the meal before he began the task of passing plates. Thankfully, the old ladies had carved the turkey and ham, so it was a matter of getting what he wanted and passing it on down the line. When he realized that Angelina was taking items for the girls’ plates and not her own, he nodded at Renda who got another plate and quickly filled it for her. Once the girls had their plates, he reached over and squeezed Angelina’s hand and when she looked at him questioningly, he leaned over and said, “I’m sorry, Cherub. I wasn’t thinking.”
“About what, Zeke?”
“It didn’t dawn on me that you were working on their plates or I would have taken one of the girls’ plates so you didn’t have to wait to eat,” he told her.
“No worries, handsome. There’s plenty enough to go around, yeah?”
Conversation around the table was free-flowing and laughter filled the air. Zeke smiled, since Angelina had come so many things had turned around for their chapter, and he gave thanks again that she had come to them. He knew they complemented each other and couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them.
“Zeke, are you paying attention?”
“Hmm?” he asked, realizing that Preacher had been speaking to him.
“I said, these crazy women have just hatched a plan to go Black Friday shopping! The teens will watch the kids and we have to go to ‘carry bags’ or some such nonsense. Can’t you put your foot down?”
“Handsome, we figured if we went out later once the stores reopened, we could be done by breakfast and come back and sleep for a bit before the kids all got up,” Angelina said. “You know it’s going to get harder for me to shop next month.”
“Cherub, don’t want you wearing yourself out,” he said.
“I won’t. We’ve got a plan and as soon as the kids all go to bed, we’re going to make lists and divide and conquer.”
“What do you mean?” he asked cautiously.
“Well, if we figure out what we want from the different stores, we can all leave together and then split off and tackle the various stores. We’ll figure the money out when we get back.”
He thought about what she had said and decided it sounded good. “I like that idea, Cherub. May become a new tradition for us, yeah?”
She smiled at him and leaned over to kiss him. “I’ve got a few more I want to start with you, Mr. Morgan,” she whispered in his ear.
“I see,” he said, nuzzling her jawline.
The feasting over, the kids sat with the teens who helped them compose their wish lists, Cailyn and Melora sitting in Thad’s lap while Amelia wrote down what they said. Zeke drew Angelina aside and said, “Cherub, what say you and I tackle the toy store? And what do you think about the bigger gifts coming from us instead of Santa?”
She thought about it for a minute and then said, “I like that idea, Zeke, because not every ‘Santa’ has as much money to spend. What can we do for the kids at the orphanage?”
He looked at her and then said, “I nearly forgot with everything else going on, Cherub. Since we got the classes done, the families who participated will be taking in their foster kids in the next few weeks. I think all the children except the special needs babies who still need medical care will be in a home for Christmas.”
As tears streamed down her face, he pulled her close to comfort her. “It’s okay, Cherub.”
“I-I-I didn’t realize it would have such an impact,” she cried. “Let’s find out what they can use for the babies so we can take care of that, yeah?”
Her generosity knew no bounds he thought. “We can do that, Cherub. The Brothers and I have been collecting money to help defray the cost.”
“We could always use the money from my check,” she said.
“Cherub, thinking you’re going to need a bigger vehicle, yeah?”
Her Kinsman-Redeemer Page 18
