Love Contract

by Andromeda

********************************

  Malaika

  I spit my drink out, coughing and sputtering. "W-W-What?"

  "I want you to have my child," he repeats.

  Before I know that I'm doing, I slap him hard across the face. "And that is my cue to leave," I say, getting my purse and stomping out of the restaurant.

  I run to the streets, looking around, then frown when I realize that I have no idea where I am, and I have no way to get back to the hospital. Suddenly, a strong hand grabs my arm. The electric current shoots through my body and I know who it is.

  What the hell…? I wonder to myself.

  He turns me around to look at him. Slowly, he takes my chin and tips it up so that I'm staring into his wolf eyes.

  "Don't do that again," he whispers huskily.

  "Do...do what?" I stammer, his eyes are holding me captive.

  "Turn your back on me," he answers. "Now I just want to talk...and you're going to listen."

  "And if I refuse?" I choke. What the hell is wrong with me?

  "You will listen," he whispers. "Now, we are going to go back into the restaurant, and you're going to sit down and listen to my proposal? Understand?"

  "W-W-Wi," I whimper.

  "I'm sorry? I couldn't hear you."

  "I said yes!" I snap at him.

  He smirks and lets me go. "Ladies first."

  Biting my lip, I walk into the restaurant and go to our private booth. He sits down across from me and takes a deep breath. "Now, about what I said..."

  "You're crazy!" I exclaim before he can finish.

  He raises an eyebrow, his grey orbs narrowed. "Do not interrupt me."

  "I'm sorry," I mumble under my breath.

  He nods and folds his hands over each other. "Now about my proposal." I open my mouth, but he raises an eyebrow and I close it.

  "Estipid," I grumble under my breath.

  "I will pretend I know what that means," he says. "But I'm here to talk to you. Now about my proposal: I want you to have my child."

  "Why?" I ask.

  "Well unlike you, I lack the...machinery, to have a child."

  I smirk to myself. "Why can't you get someone else to do it? An agency or something?"

  "If I use an agency, then the government will have my information. And if the government has it, then the media can get their hands on it. That isn’t something that I want.”

  “As if we can control what the media and government does,” I snap. “And so then tell me, Mr. Rinaldi, if I was to say yes to this fou proposal, what would this mean for me?"

  "It means that you would never be of want for anything. Anything you want, everything you need will be at your fingertips."

  "And of the child? Would you just take it from me?"

  His eyes widen, and then glaze over with slight anger. "I am not a monster, my Angel; when you are sure you are pregnant, you will move in with me for a year. Then, if you wish, I will move you into the best apartment or house of your choice, and then the child will live with you for two years. Afterward, I will gain full custody."

  "Will I be able to see him or her?"

  "Of course. Without you, they wouldn't be here; I wouldn't dare take a child from their mother."

  I nod, deep in thought. This seems almost too good to be true.

  "Why me?" I finally ask. "What's so important about me?"

  "I'm sure virtually no one knows of you,” he lists off. “You're in the prime of your youth, and from what I've read will be a very good mother."

  "You've looked me up already?"

  He smirks. "Did you really not expect me to do some research on the woman I want to be the mother of my child? I know everything about you."

  I bite on the corner of my lower lip. Does he know about Derrick? Does he know the real reason I left Jamaica? I am snatched from my thoughts by the sound of his groan. I look at him and see his eyes are swimming with lust.

  "Don't...don't do that," he groans huskily. "I'm trying to control myself my, Angel."

  "Stop calling me that," I grumble.

  He smirks and leans over. "I will call you whatever I want, my Angel."

  I roll my eyes and he smirks wider. "Can I have a moment to think about this?" I ask.

  "You have one week," he answers.

  "Fine," I snap. "Can we go back to the hospital? I need to get back to work."

  He smirks and gets up, holding out his hand. "Don't work too hard, my Angel."

  I roll my eyes and slap his hands away. He opens the door for me and I slide in. As he drives me back to work, my mind is working overtime. I swore after Derrick; I would have nothing to do with men. I swore that I was better off alone with my precious little girl, and raising my siblings. And yet, there is this man next to me who is asking me to bear his child, and as much as I want to deny it...I feel attracted him in ways I didn't know were possible. Mental. Physical. Sexual. Spiritual. I don't know how or why, but I am!

  When we return to the hospital, I immediately look for Pearl and find her in the breakroom, eating an apple and reading a book. As I change into my scrubs, I tell her everything that Giovanni told me.

  "Are you going to do it?” she asks.

  For a moment, I stop braiding my hair. "I don't know! Maybe..."

  "Do you want to?"

  "I don't know! I mean...this is Giovanni Rinaldi we're talking about here. One word from him and I'm off this program!"

  "Just do what you think is best," she whispers back. "But make him pay. And I mean big time."

  She rubs her fingers together, and I can't help but laugh.

  A nurse comes over and whispers in my ear. Smiling, I run out of the break room and into Yaya's room. When she hears me, she turns around and smiles.

  "Hey Dr. Robin," she says weakly.

  "Hello Yaya," I whisper, pulling up a seat. "You kicked ass."

  "I know," she laughs. "I heard that you took real good care of me."

  "Of course I did, you remind me of my sister."

  "Thanks for helping me, Dr. Robin."

  "Anytime Yaya," I whisper, kissing her hand before smiling.

  I get up to leave and guess who's standing there watching? Giovanni Rinaldi. While I try to ignore him for the next couple of days he is always there, watching me. One night, as I am sitting on my bed looking over some paperwork, I hear my phone ring and glance over at it. The number is marked unknown, but I pick it up anyway.

  "Bonjou?" I answer, using the Creole word for hello.

  "H...hello, my Angel," a deep husky voice says on the other end.

  “What the hell…” I mutter. “Rinaldi, how did you get my phone number?”

  "Aw mi bellissima angela,” he coos. “Did you really not expect me to not know it?"

  "What do you want, Rinaldi?"

  "You know; your voice is sexy when it's angry."

  "Rinaldi!"

  "Alright, alright," he chuckles. "I just wanted to check up on you.

  "Mmmhmm...that all?"

  "I was...wondering if you have thought about my proposal."

  "I've...thought about it," I sigh. "Sorry I haven't gotten back with you in the 1-week time frame. I've been very busy."

  "Oh? Might I ask why?"

  "Just CPS. One of my aunts doesn’t think that I can properly care for my siblings and daughter. I have less than a week to prove that I can or, an agent will look at my case for custody."

  There is silence on his end for a moment, and then he speaks. “I'm sorry to hear that my Angel, if you would like I'll make some calls and..."

  "No!” I say quickly. “No, I can do this. I'm fine." I refuse to be a charity case to anyone, mainly him. "But back to your proposal Rinaldi, I have been thinking about it."

  "And? What have you decided?"

  "I...I'll do it."

  “That is wonderful,” he says. “When do you think you will have a day off in order for us to talk about it?”

  “How does next Friday sound?”

  “Perfect then, I will se
e you then.”

  “Alright, good night.”

  As I hang up, I fall back on my bed with a groan. Why do I feel as if I’m making a deal with the devil?

  Chapter Five: The Contract

  Malaika

  "Manman, there's a man at the door asking for you."

  I look up from the papers in my lap and raise an eyebrow at Robyn's words.

  "What did he say he wanted?" I ask her.

  She shrugs. "I dunno. He just said he wanted to talk to you."

  Ok...Getting up I walk to the door and open it. In front of me stands a man in a suit and top hat. "Can I help you?" I ask.

  He tips his hat and bows. "Ms. Robinson? My name is Eric and I'm here to take you and family to Mr. Rinaldi's house."

  My jaw drops. Of course it was him.

  "One moment please," I say, closing the door and going up to my room. Punching in Giovanni's number, I wait until I hear him pick up.

  "Ciao? Rinaldi?"

  "You know where I live?!?" I shriek into the phone. "Sa ki lanfè a?" What the hell!

  He chuckles on the other end. "Calm down, mi angela. And yes I do. I sent Eric to bring you and your family to my home."

  "Why?"

  "So we can...talk."

  "Why do I get the feeling there is a double meaning to your words?" I ask.

  "Come on, your siblings and daughter can play in the game room while we talk about the contract.”

  I rub my temples and sigh. "Alright. Give me a moment and we'll be on our way."

  "Alright. Goodbye, mia angela."

  I hang up and sigh. I wish he would stop calling me that. Walking over to my closet, I change out my lounge wear and into a soft pink halter top, an A-line skirt, and pair of matching wedge sandals. I wrap my hair in a tribal head wrap before applying soft pink lipstick.

  "Alright guys," I say, getting my purse. "Let's go."

  They gather their things and we walk out, our eyes widened. It's a limo.

  "Wow," Grace gasps.

  "Yeah..." Jordan nods.

  Eric holds the door open for us and we climb in. Inside are snacks galore! Chips! Finger sandwiches! Sodas! Candy! Anything that could be your heart's desire. My siblings attack it and take no prisoners.

  I sigh and nibble on a cheese sandwich. I haven't had enough money to make a lot of groceries. I only make $1,200 every two weeks with the program, so that's $2,400 a hundred a month. However, rent is close to a $1,500 a month, then I pay almost $250 in amenities all together, and $60 in gas. That leaves me with almost $590 left, but over half of that goes to pay for my student loan debts that I pay every month. After that, it leaves me about $250 dollars left for food and clothing, but they are expensive and everyone has big appetites.

  Jordan is a football player and Grace is a dancer, and I'm not talking like one of those skinny stick kind of dancers. Ruby and Robyn both are growing babies, but they are also picky with certain foods. I sometimes go without food so that they can eat, and instead just use the $100 a month food allowance I have at the hospital. Maybe this thing with Giovanni will give me some extra money so that we won’t always be without. Not to mention my student loans…

  I am startled from my thoughts by Robyn tugging on my arm. "Mamman! Mamman! Look at that!"

  I look in the direction of her pointing and my jaw drops. The limo has come to a stop in front of a...mansion?

  "It's a castle..." Ruby whispers.

  "It's a palace..." Jordan whispers.

  "Welcome to Rinaldi Manor," Eric says as we pull up to the...I'm guessing it a courtyard. "Every Rinaldi since the time they came here has lived here."

  He parks in front of the white marble steps and gets out, opening the door and holding out his hand for us. One by one, we get out and he leads us up the steps and opens the door. We all gasp and look around. It's beautiful. It reminds me of those old Italian villas in Rome. The floor is black and white-checkered marble tile. A huge crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and a huge staircase with a fluffy white and gold rug running down the middle.

  "Mamman this place is etonan," Robyn whispers as I put her on my hip, using the Creole word for amazing.

  "I'm glad you approve," a booming voice says.

  We look and see Giovanni standing on the top of the stairs.

  "That means a lot," he says as he walks down.

  He's dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt that looks like a second skin. His eyes do a sweep over us before settling on me. I don't know why, but heat rushes to my face and I look away.

  "Who's that mamman?" Robyn whispers to me.

  Giovanni smiles at her. "I'm a friend of your mother’s," he says softly. "You must be...Robyn, I'm guessing?"

  She grins at him, flashing dimples and few gaps in her teeth. "Wi," she says, nodding. "That's me."

  "And who are we?" Ruby asks, always hating to not be noticed. "Chopped liver?”

  Giovanni laughs and looks at her. "No, I'm guessing you are Ruby. And you are Grace and Jordan, am I right?"

  "How much has our sister told you about us?" Grace asks, crossing her arms and lifting an eyebrow.

  None, I think to myself.

  "A lot," Giovanni says. "I hope you liked the ride in the limo. I had it full of your favorite things."

  "I loved it!" Robyn giggles.

  "So did I!" Ruby says. "We haven't had nearly that much to eat in a long time!"

  Instantly I stiffen, and Giovanni notices it. "Er...why don't you guys go into the game room?” he says. “Lunch will be served in a couple hours, and I have to talk to Malaika." He points to a large door. "Go through there and it's on your left."

  They all nod eagerly, but inward I'm cringing. I don't want to be left alone with him! Don't ask me why, but I really sense a double meaning behind his words of 'talking'. They nod, and Grace takes Robyn from me. When they are gone, Giovanni turns to me and grins.

  "Shall we go to my office?"

  Merde.

  ********************************

  Giovanni

  "...And that ends page five."

  Malaika nibbles on the pen in her hand as she looks over the second to last page of the contract I have given her.

  "I want visits every week is possible," she argues me. "Not every 2 weeks."

  I nod and make a note of that. We've been working for a couple of hours straight, arguing and making notes. I have to say I am very impressed, really beyond impressed actually. She honestly should have been a lawyer, if you ask me.

  As she scans over the last couple of pages, she suddenly freezes, her eyes bugging out of her head as she leaps to her feet in rage, glaring at me as she shrieks, "We are not doing that!"

  I smirk to myself. I know what she's so upset about. "Yes we are."

  "There is no way I'm sleeping with you!"

  I chuckle. "Well really, there won't be much sleeping..."

  She growls at me. "I don't care! I'm not doing it!"

  "It's in the contract. We will make our child...the natural way."

  Her eyes narrow and she grits her teeth. "No!" She gets up and marches to the door.

  I beat her there, crossing the room in three strides. When she opens the door, I close it and turn her around to look at me. Smirking, I place my hands on the sides of her head and look deeply into her eyes. I see the conflicting emotions swimming in her gaze, but I see the one I like the most: desire.

  "Mala..." I breathe huskily, placing a hand on her cheek.

  She nibbles on her lower lip, and that's all it takes.

  I pull her close, kissing her deeply, passionately, and possessively. Her eyes widen in surprise, but she begins to kiss me back. Her lips taste like sugar and honey. I would kiss them forever. I trail kisses down her jaw and neck, nibbling in certain places.

  "Gio..." she moans.

  My pants tighten at the sound of her words on my lips. Cupping her ass in my hand, I lift her up and she instantly wraps her legs around my waist. Moving back up to her lips, I nibble on her
lower lip, asking for permission and she gives it. My tongue slides into her mouth and wraps around her own, fighting for dominance. I carry her to my desk and set her on top. My hands move up and rip the weird head-wrap thing she has covering her hair. A soft cloud of silky curls flows down her shoulders, making her give a soft groan of pleasure.

  "Never cover your hair," I whisper huskily, kissing her curls before moving back to her lips.

  Our tongues dance, fighting for dominance but of course I win. I have to touch her. My kisses trail down her neck as she thrust her hands under my shirt, caressing my stomach and chest. I groan and slide my hands up her skirt. Her skin is so soft...I reach up and gently touch her. She gasps, arching her back against my fingers.

  "You're so wet, my Angel..." I whisper against her neck.

  I kiss and nibble, making hickeys and love bites. Pushing her skirt up and out of the way, I slowly slide her underwear off and smile while when I see them. Soft pink tangas. My brother, the ass, always told me that you can tell a lot about a woman by what kind of underwear she wears.

  Smirking, I tuck her panties into my pocket as I move back to her lips, kissing her deeply. I gently rub her pearl in my fingers, making her moan louder and softly pant. My rubs get faster and more intense, and she bites my lip passionately. Slowly, I slide a finger into her and begin to pump. A soft scream of pleasure rumbles in her throat.

  "You're so tight, mia angela..." I whisper into her neck, calling her my angel in Italian as I pump faster and faster, adding another finger. "So very tight...."

  Her inner walls clamp tightly around my fingers and she screams, her juices dripping down my finger. Smirking with satisfaction, I bring my fingers to my lips and lick them clean. Like sugar and honey.

  Her eyes widen in amazement as she pants heavily. "No one...has ever done that to me before..."

  Good, I think to myself with pride. Because I want to forever be the only one.

  "That's only a taste of what I can do," I whisper, looking into her eyes. "Still don't want to make our child the natural way?" I ask.

  She rolls her eyes. "Whatever Gio."

  I laugh and kiss her. "Don't act like you didn't like it..."

  I give her a moist towelette to clean herself up as I help her down from the desk. She looks around for her underwear, but I smirk. I'm keeping them.