by Mia Madison
We pulled up to his mother’s house, and it was breathtaking. My heart palpitated at a faster rate. I wondered if I could really pull this off; if I failed, it would be instant egg on the face.
The front door opened before we could exit the car. A woman with olive skin and dark, curly hair emerged. She was about five feet six and built with thick, voluptuous curves. I could tell just by looking at her that she was Sicilian. She looked just like the aunts on my dad’s side of the family.
“Honey, you made it!” She walked towards the car with her arms stretched out to her son. Dom paused from opening my car door to meet his mother’s embrace. My heart warmed looking at the genuine love between mother and son.
“Forgive me, sweetie.” She pulled my car door open, allowing me to see the genuine sparkle in her eye. She was actually happy to see me, which was good, because I was scared she would hate me. “You’re so beautiful!” She turned to Dom. “She’s so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” My skin blushed from the pleasant compliment. “I’m Scarlett, but everyone calls me Morelli.”
She gasped as her eyes widened. “Really? That’s my name. I’m Scarlett also!”
We shared joyful squeals and playful smirks. She loved me and we shared the same name?
This was definitely a positive sign.
Ms. Scarlett sent Dom to the store for groceries. I attempted to leave with him, but she insisted I stay with her and enjoy some girl talk.
It was refreshing to talk with her. She was sweet, loving, and genuine. It was easy to talk to her; she was like one of my aunts. I didn’t have to talk about what I did with them, and they didn’t turn their nose up at me for doing so. Not that it mattered. I’d used Dom’s deposit to pay off all my credit cards, pay my rent up for the rest of the year, and put the rest in savings.
Technically, my past was officially buried, and all the way out here, in Destin? Nobody would know me.
“Scarlett, honey, have you eaten?”
“I had a little Starbucks before the flight earlier.”
“No,” she huffed, “That’s not food. Here, have a cannoli.”
She pulled a container of the creamy pastries out of the fridge. I smacked my lips and eagerly accepted, pleased to indulge in the filling that had the thick, stick-to-your-ribs deliciousness only an authentic cannoli could bring.
“Mmm, these are absolutely delicious.” I expressed my gratitude between bites, completely ignorant that I was speaking with my mouth full.
“Have you ever learned to make them?” she asked, eyes glittering. “I can show you.”
“No,” I shook my head. “My aunts refused to give me their family recipe. They said I needed to be married first.” I made a playful glower at their demands.
“That won’t be long, huh?” she asked, giving me a knowing look.
“No—I mean, I hope not,” I said, covering my tracks. “Your son and I have gotten pretty close. We’ve talked about the future and even discussed a little about marriage, but there’s no pressure. I’m twenty-five, so I have time.”
“Well, you know he’s forty, right?” Ms. Scarlett’s eyes raised in concern. “He’s ready for children and a family. He’s probably going to want a child as soon as possible.”
“You think so?” I asked with light skepticism. I just wanted to see where her head was as I played along.
“Tsk tsk. The one time my son brings a woman home, she doesn’t have the faintest idea what his intentions are.” Scarlett shook her head in disbelief.
“The one time?” I repeated.
“The one time,” she confirmed. Her plump arms jiggled a little as she stirred a pot on the stove. “I’ve been waiting on Dom to bring home a wife since he graduated college. He never did, running around with Nick and Kenny. Boys will be boys,” she said, shaking her head. She placed a hand on her hip and turned to me. “At least you’re a beautiful woman, and you have a beautiful heart with Italian values. I can see it all in your features.”
I smiled, thankful for the compliment. “Well I’m Italian and Dominican. Dominican families are pretty strong with their values also.”
“Really? That’s wonderful to know.” She said. “I’m sure your family has some amazing get-togethers. All that delicious Italian and Dominican food. How do you keep your figure?”
“Portion control and dancing.” I bit my lip to prevent myself from saying too much. “And lots of water.”
“Water, yes, especially here in Florida, where it’s always hot.” She nodded in agreement, and stopped to sip the sweating bottle of water next to her.
“Lord,” she said. “It’s so hot. I’m getting a blinding headache.” She turned a knob on the stove, and an empty burner came to life. “Shoot!”
Ms. Scarlett was flushed and didn’t look well. I didn’t know what was wrong, but I was concerned.
“Ms. Scarlett, here,” I said, standing up to take over. She stepped backward, and nearly fell, but I caught her just in time. “It’s a little hot in the kitchen. Let me get you some air.”
I led her to the living room, and turned on the ceiling fan. I went to the kitchen and turned off the sauce and the extra burner. I grabbed two bottles of water and a wet paper towel.
Ms. Scarlett looked flushed and disoriented. I twisted the cap off to give her fresh water. She winced her eyes as she drank, as if she were in a lot of pain.
“My head…”
“Do you have any medicine?” I asked, wishing Dom would come back at any moment. I was getting worried. Dom mentioned her health, and she didn’t seem well at all.
“No medicine, sweetie. Mama just needs a minute.” She closed her eyes. I monitored her for a few minutes, scared to walk away from her. When she opened her eyes, she said nothing, just stared thoughtfully ahead.
The front door opened, and I heard the rustle of plastic bags. Dom was back. He looked quizzically at us as and came to a stop. “Everything okay?”
“She’s got a bad headache and feels hot, is all.” I spoke in a friendly tone, but I used my eyes to communicate urgency.
He gave me an indistinct look before putting the bags down in the kitchen, and returning with a bottle of medicine.
“Mom, this bottle is full. It was refilled almost a month ago.” His voice was hard with aggravation, and his fists were clenched so tightly he could have shattered the orange bottle. “When’s the last time you took your medication?”
“I don’t need them,” she whined, giving a sloppy wave of her hand. Her labored breathing didn’t help her argument. “They make me feel funny.”
Anger burned hell-hot in his face as he glowered. His lips were pursed. They trembled in a torrent of shakes. I could tell he wanted to curse, but he was restraining himself.
“Mom…” He spoke carefully. “You’re about to have another stroke. It’s my birthday. Please, mom, for me, take your medicine.”
“Dominic,” his mother panted. She looked at him with a flushed face as she begged him to let her be. “I won’t be able to finish cooking.”
“It’s okay, Ms. Scarlett,” I said. “I’ll take over. I know how to cook.”
“No, no. You’re a guest. You shouldn’t be doing anything.”
“No, it’s okay. I love to cook. It would be my honor.” I patted her hand. “You can even tell me what to do and taste test, if that helps. But please, please take your meds, Mrs. Scarlett.”
Her face softened from its defiance when I pleaded with her. She gave a soft huff and replied, “Fine, I will. But call me Scarlett, or call me Mom. No more Mrs. I’m not an old woman.”
I chuckled and hugged her in relief. Dom and I caught eyes and I could see him exhale. He handed me the bottle of medication and watched Scarlett take her dosage.
He put on the TV for her and announced he’d start up the cooking again. “Stay with Mom, relax for a little while.”
I nodded at him. “Sure.”
The knitted anxiousness on his face had intensified, but with good reason. Scar
lett was uncooperative about her medication. I understood his concern; it would frustrate any child to see his parent being so stubborn. My poor fiancé would need one of my special stress-relieving blow jobs later tonight.
Dom
I proposed to Morelli in front of my family immediately after they gathered around to sing, “Happy Birthday.”
We were gathered around my mother’s from-scratch Italian cream cake. It was decorated with gold 4 and 0 candles. Once I blew out the candles, and everyone cheered, Mom went to grab a knife. As she began to cut, I stopped her.
“Everyone, may I have your attention please?”
I pulled Morelli close to me.
“Morelli, ever since I’ve met you, I’d never felt a deeper sense of certainty in where I belong. You’ve shown me that finding a good love is worth the wait, because the right woman will show up when I’m truly ready.”
I dropped to one knee, and retrieved a box from my pocket. My nieces and nephews shrieked, and my siblings gasped. My mother whispered, “I knew it!”
I looked into Morelli’s golden eyes. They blazed with surprise, and quickly became glassy with emotion. She was just as shocked as everyone else.
I opened the box, revealing a pristine heart-shaped diamond ring. It was gorgeous, picked out by Dilayla, and while expensive, worth every penny when I saw the look on her face.
“Will you do me the honor?” I said, swallowing. “Will you… marry me?”
“Yes, baby.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and her nostrils flared as she sniffed and nodded. “Yes!”
My siblings, Diana and Lorenzo, cheered, while my nieces and nephews clapped loudly. I thanked God silently that everyone seemed to take a liking to her, especially my mother and Diana. Both of them could be very picky about their standards for me.
“Welcome to the family.” My mother embraced her. “Dom, she’s gorgeous. I knew you would find the one.”
“Thank you,” I said.
We all enjoyed some cake, and then I yawned. It had been an eventful day, but I was drained. I needed to shower and sleep.
Morelli and I said our good nights, and headed up to my bedroom. It was still the same—a queen bed with deep blue and green bedding, and beige and blue decor throughout the room.
She slid off the ring, and admired it completely.
“Baby… The ring is… perfect.”
“I got a little help from Dilayla. I didn’t want to disappoint.”
“Thank you,” she said. Her honey eyes were filled with love. I felt those three little words - I love you - threaten to come to the surface. I bit down on my lip and blushed instead. She was saying it regularly, but I was still too scared to tell her the truth.
“You’re welcome.” I smiled. “Go ahead and shower. Ladies first.”
She smiled serenely at me as she placed the ring on the dresser and slipped into the bathroom.
Her gaze was peaceful, her energy calm. But the entire evening filled me with desire and terror. Yes, she would be my wife and partner-in-crime, and yes, I was undeniably attracted to her.
The sex? Shit, the sex was more and more fulfilling as the days passed. She knew exactly what to say, how to touch me, where to touch me, and when to let go. We were in perfect sync.
Yet, I was still terrified all the same. This felt almost too good to be true. She was beautiful, perfect—she and my mother had the same name! And my mother loved her.
I loved her.
I did.
But I didn’t know if I deserved to have her, if I could really be the man she needed—and desperately wanted—me to be. The more I learned of her, the more I realized this could easily become more than a business arrangement. And then what?
It felt so right, in so many ways, but we would know the truth. Could anyone trust a marriage built on a contract, even if we were compatible?
I looked at the ring, gleaming on the dresser. It was a gorgeous ring, but it came with a heavy price. The idea of breaking Morelli’s heart with a divorce down the line bothered me.
Scarlett Morelli, being the beautiful, sexual, love goddess she was, didn’t deserve me if I couldn’t at least try to give her the appreciation and adoration she needed.
Would it really kill me to let go of my fear and try? Shit, even if it doesn’t last, we can still enjoy the moment, right?
When she emerged from the shower, her natural beauty was on display. Her long, dark hair was damp and fell in crisp waves over her shoulders. Her curvy figure was displayed in a cute, satin two-piece. I looked at her beautiful legs, and admired her, all curves and candy, tanned and toned from a combination of genetics, good sun, and Miami life.
“Wow,” I said aloud, my mind traveling south along her curves. She was flawless, sensual, and alluring. And as of about an hour ago, she was now my fiancée.
“See something you like?” she asked, revealing perfect white teeth as she slid her ring on. She was elegant and refined without the makeup, her body gorgeous, even when it was covered.
“I can’t believe it,” I said, shaking my head.
“What?” She walked toward me, and I could smell the scent of jasmine and vanilla from her body oil. She pushed me back on the bed and straddled my lap. Her scent was intoxicating, and I felt my nature rise once more, craving a dip inside her tight, wet walls.
Sex… sex with her would be the perfect release after a long day. And considering I’d never had sex in my own childhood room, it felt pretty naughty too.
Without thinking, my hands slid up her soft, beautiful skin, and my cock stirred under her. She made me ache with need, and the more I was around her, the less I could control myself.
How foolish of me to even think I could keep my hands off her satin-soft ass.
“What’s on your mind?” she said, snapping me back to attention as I zoned out.
“I just… we’re engaged.”
“Yes, we are.” She leaned down and kissed me. I felt the same spark of electric desire I felt when she smashed me against her door on our first date. I fought the feeling that night, but tonight… I welcomed it. It felt… good.
“You… sure you want to marry me?” I said, this time from a place of bashful insecurity. “I know I haven’t been the easiest to deal with. But you have been so understanding. My mom loves you. My family does too.”
She looked at me as if I were a silly toddler asking a silly question. Her smile was amusing and loving. “Of course, I do, Dom. I love you.”
“Really?” My voice rose in astonishment. “Just like that?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged matter-of-factly. “I knew I loved you before I met you.”
“Explain.”
“I always knew that my life would be made solid with the right man in my life. I just needed to get myself together, enjoy life, you know? And get as financially prepared as possible.”
I nodded. She ground herself against me lightly, making me groan as she continued.
“My mother, my aunts, they always told me real love would come when I least expect it, and that it would feel wildly… familiar.”
“God…” I wanted to reply with something more substantial, but I could feel the moist desire heating up between her legs, and I was ready to take her down again.
“The heart-racing, sexy excitement you get in movies is cute, but it wasn’t the sign of real love, my mother said. She told me it would be this feeling of safety, security, and belonging.”
“But I resisted you,” I replied. “I fought you.”
“Yeah, but that’s because you were accustomed to being overlooked, the same way I’ve been overlooked.”
She traced her finger over my lips. The slow tease made my thigh shiver and tremble. Over the past week of us getting to know each other, there were a lot of erotic romps, and she learned the key to making my heart race every single time.
“You know what I decided, what made me say yes to your arrangement?”
“What?” I sighed, feeling my dick leak when she started
to suck on my neck. I moaned in protest. I needed a shower, and she sucked on my skin like I was made of sea salt and caramel.
“I couldn’t convince you through my words to give me a chance. I just had to take what I could get, and own it from there.” Her tongue snaked around my neck and the long licks made me melt.
“Fuck what you had, daddy.” She moaned in my ear. “I’ma give you what you deserve.”
“What’s that?”
“All of me.”
“And what do you want?”
“All of you. I want it all, Dom. The kids, the white picket fence, the dog, your big dick inside me, fucking up my walls every night.” She fished out my cock and stroked it. “I want the fairytale, only dirtier.”
“I’m your knight in shining armor, baby?”
“Yes, baby. You’re my king.”
“Okay, queen,” I said, giving in to the deep emotions I held back. I meant everything I said when I told her, “Let’s make this work.”
“Yes, we will. Now fuck your queen deep in her pussy.”
“Wait,” I said. “One more thing.”
“What?” Her eyes widened in apprehension. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said, caressing her beautiful face. “I love you.”
Tears welled in her pretty eyes. “Oh my god, baby. I love you too.”
I woke up the next morning feeling like a new man. I had a beautiful woman by my side, and she wore the ring of her dreams. More importantly, she was curled against me like I was the man of her dreams.
And for the first time, I truly believed—no, knew—I could have it all. I could have a gorgeous woman love me for me. I could have a woman who wanted nothing more than to please me. I could give my mother the daughter-in-law she wanted, and the grandchildren too.
But there was one thing I just had to do. Tell my mother the truth.
She needed to know that, if I moved forward with Morelli, things hadn’t started out as authentically as I’d made them seem.
