Vanessa Monroe
Thursday, May 30
My made up face stares back at me as Shannon braids sections of my long hair, and twists them into an intricate bun. Maggie did a great job removing the remnants of this morning’s hangover. My eyes are sparkling while my lips are popping. She did an excellent job on my eyebrows. I can’t stop checking myself out. I look damn good.
“V, if you don’t keep your head still this bun is going to end up looking like a squirrel’s tail,” Shannon states. “While you’re at it, can you stop bouncing your leg? You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize I was doing that.” I cross my ankles, and since I can’t shake my nerves, I cross my toes too. “I hope today goes well.”
“It’s going to be fine,” Alicia reassures me. I think this is the twentieth time she’s said that.
“I know,” I sigh. “I pray Pastor Miller doesn’t ask that objection question.”
“The what?” Tabitha frowns.
“You know,” I wave my hand. “The one where he asks if anyone has a reason for us not to be married, speak now or forever hold your peace. He told us it’s just a formality. We told him we didn’t want that question anywhere in the ceremony, but -”
“Why would he ask that?” Tabitha scrunches her face.
Alicia turns her head toward me and her entire body follows. “I wish he would part his lips and say something as stupid as that.”
“If it sounds like he’s going down that road,” Tabitha begins, pointing her finger at me, “then we’ll kick his ass.”
I burst out laughing, “How are you going to beat up our pastor?”
“I don’t know,” Tabitha declares, “but if he knew you and Kento like I do, then he would get to those I dos lickety-split.”
I laugh at their attempts to start a fight club, then it hits me. “Ladies, I’m finally getting married.”
Friday, October 19
I was hoping to avoid him, but there was no way around it. We’ve been stuck with each other for a week now. I can’t wait for five o’clock. I look over the graphics he sent over yesterday. I want to make sure Mr. Witherspoon is pleased with the design so I can give the okay. The sooner I’m done with this project, the better. I want to avoid running into him. So far, our communication has been by phone and email, and I want to keep it that way.
“Knock, knock,” he taps on the door of my office. He enters with two coffee cups in his hands. This is exactly what I was hoping to avoid.
“Hi, Brandon,” I look up. “You didn’t have to come all this way. I could’ve sent the approved pieces by the end of the day.”
“Nonsense.” He sets the steaming hot cup on my desk. “I wanted to stop by and get a better feel of the museum. It’ll be easier to get your thoughts and make the necessary adjustments if I’m immersed in the surroundings I’m trying to convey.”
Brandon is a pretty decent graphic artist. For some reason, my boss thought it would be a good idea to hire him to work on our branding. This museum is loaded with artistic talent and Mr. Witherspoon ignored it all. I think I need to consider new employment.
I spin my laptop toward him so he can have a better look. The desk between us will keep him on his side. I point out some of my concerns. He nods while he jots them down. I turn the laptop back around so I can flip to another screen.
“Congratulations,” he says as he leans back in the chair.
“Excuse me?”
“Your engagement,” he answers.
“Oh, thank you,” I say glancing at my stunning engagement ring.
I know he’s still pissed from the last time, when I saw him in the produce section of the market down the street. If I don’t make it a big deal, then hopefully he won’t either.
“Who’s the lucky man?” he smiles smugly.
“No one you know,” I answer. “Okay, so the next thing Mr. Witherspoon’s concerned about -”
“Well, third time’s a charm,” he glares at me. “Let’s hope you make it down the aisle this time.”
He smirks at me, knowing he struck a nerve. I blink rapidly, trying to remain calm. My hand reaches for my ring. I look down at it and see Kento written all over it. Smiling to myself, I say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
“What?” He narrows his brown eyes.
“You need to leave,” I look up at him. “Our business can be conducted over the phone and online. P. S. your sorry cheating ass is the reason why our relationship ended. Now get out of my office.”
I step away from my desk and head for the door. When I look back, Brandon’s taking his slow, sweet time gathering his things. Sighing, I snatch the coffee out of his hand and toss it in the trash. I grab his briefcase and toss it out of my office. It lands on the floor with a smack, then slides down the hall.
“The next thing flying out of here is going to be you if you don’t get the hell away from me,” I grit, pointing my finger in his face.
“You’re still sexy when you’re angry,” he huffed. “Call me when it doesn’t work out.” He reaches up to touch my face. I jerk my head and smack his hand away.
He chuckles under his breath as he closes the door behind him. Hot tears stream down my cheeks. I cover my mouth just in time to muffle the sobs. Brandon always knew what to say to hurt me. I should’ve known he’d remind me of my failed engagements. Why didn’t I take off my ring when he first came in? I told Mr. Witherspoon that Brandon would make this personal, but he wouldn’t listen to me.
My cell vibrates on my desk, lighting up with a picture of Kento on the screen. I don’t think I can talk to him right now, but I desperately need him. I pick up the phone sniffling.
“Hey,” I answer.
“What’s wrong?” Alarm is in his voice. “Are you alright?”
“No,” I reply. “I think it’s time I get a new job.”
“Vanessa, what happened?” he asks.
Sighing, I tell him what happened. He already knows Brandon and I were working together this week. He wasn’t thrilled when I first told him, and he’s not exactly ecstatic now.
After a long pause, he says, “Where does he work?”
“I’m not telling you where he works,” I sigh.
“Where does he live?”
“I’m definitely not telling you that,” I reply. “The last thing I need is for my current fiancé to beat the crap out of my ex-fiancé. I’m embarrassed enough as it is.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of,” he assures me. “Vanessa, if you had married either one of those guys, I wouldn’t have you. And I’m not letting you go.”
“Vanessa?” Audrey, my mother, calmly calls. “I’m coming in.”
The bedroom door opens before I can respond. Spinning around, I see her strolling towards me with a heartfelt smile and soothing hazel eyes. Her hair hangs in a sleek bob just below her chin, and the thick streak of gray hair that frames her face makes me think of Rogue from the X-men series.
“Sweetheart, why aren’t you dressed?” she asks. Her eyes glide over to my wedding gown that’s still on its hanger.
My knuckles pop as I squeeze them. I can’t keep still so I pace the floor. My breathing picks up again as I try to figure out how to answer her. She’s probably worried I’m having second thoughts, but I’m not. I just can’t shake this nagging feeling that I’m not enough.
“Nessa,” she places her hands on my arms. “Look at me.”
My legs want to keep going, but my mother’s strong grip keeps me planted. Slowly I bring myself to look at her. She reaches out to hold my face in her hands, then smiles. Tears begin to form in my eyes. I blink hard, hoping to stop them so my makeup isn’t ruined. My mother pulls a tissue out of her pocket and presses it to the corners of my eyes, then she leads me over to the bed and pulls me down next to her.
“I don’t know,” I finally say.
“Hmm?”
“I don’t know why I’m not dressed,” I explain.
“Are you -” she begins.
“No,” I say almost too forcefully. Realizing I just snapped at my mother, I regain my composure and continue, “I’m sorry. I’m just really nervous. I meant to say I’m not having second thoughts.”
“Baby girl, I know,” she chuckles. “The way you behave when you’re around him… He’s your person.”
“What do you mean?” I ask. “Do I act weird or something?”
“Heaven’s sake, no,” she answers. “You’re very comfortable around him. You act as if you know there’s nothing you can say or do that will make Kento stop loving you.”
“I didn’t do this with the others?” I wonder.
My mother laughs again, “Absolutely not. Davis was nice, but both of you were too young. Neither of you really knew what you wanted.”
“And Brandon?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes, “That boy was arrogant. I hated the way he made you feel secure one moment, then irrational the next. All the while he was cheating on you, and knew he gave you reason to be suspicious. I know you loved him and I hated that he broke your heart, but I’m glad he’s no longer in your life.”
“Dad never liked him and I knew you only tolerated him,” I laugh. “Kento truly has my heart, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll be enough. I know it’s stupid, but I can’t help but think -”
“Don’t do that to yourself,” she stares at me. “You can’t view your relationship with Kento through the lens of your past mistakes. Believe me when I say he’s nothing like those frogs you kissed in the past.”
“Yeah, he’s definitely my prince,” I smile.
“He’s your king,” she corrects me. “A king who’s waiting on his queen to meet him at the altar. So let’s not waste anymore time.”
She bounces up off the bed and walks over to my dress. “Vanessa, let’s go!” she calls over her shoulder.
“I’m coming.”
My mother has my gown off the hanger before I reach her. She helps me into it, buttoning the back. This is the third time I’ve been in this dress, and each time feels like the first. Goosebumps break out on my arms as the reality sets in.
“Oh, Vanessa,” my mother gushes. “You look amazing.”
We stare at my reflection in the floor length mirror. My braided updo is accented with a diamond encrusted and white pearl headband. The burgundy eyeshadow accentuates my eyes. Surprisingly, the diamond drop earrings that Alicia let me borrow aren’t too much. Between the bling in my dress, headband, and earrings, I opted not to wear a necklace. Apparently, my mother disagrees with my decision.
“Something’s missing,” she mentions, as she looks at my neck. Subtlety isn’t her strong suit.
“A necklace would be too much,” I say.
“Not the one I have.” She opens a long black box, revealing a single strand white gold necklace with a small, light blue diamond pendant. “Something old and blue.”
“Oh, Mom,” I sigh. “I always loved this necklace.”
“You’ve had your eye on this since you were a baby,” she fastens the clasp behind my neck. “Always tugging on it. Remember when you tried to wear it to your prom without my permission? You called yourself hiding it behind a tacky choker. When I saw that flash of blue, I was going to choke you myself.”
I laugh, remembering the shocked look on her face at my audacity. She was not thrilled with me sneaking into her things and taking something that belonged to my great-grandmother. I’m surprised I still got to go out, she was so furious.
“You said this is old and blue,” I state. “Not borrowed?”
“Humph,” is all I get from my mother. I can’t hide the huge grin that appears on my face.
“Are you giving this to me?” I ask.
She finally stops pulling and tugging at my dress to look at me in the mirror. Her smile is all the answer I need. I shriek in excitement. My arms snake around her and squeeze her tight.
“Vanessa Janelle, I can’t breathe,” she gasps, trying to loosen my grip. “You’re going to ruin your dress.”
“Sorry,” I say as I let her go. She smirks at me while she smooths down her hair. “I just can’t believe you’re passing this onto me.”
“When I noticed how you admired it, I knew I had to save it for you – for this day,” she says. “And someday you’ll pass it down to your daughter.”
I gaze at my reflection, twisting and turning to see myself at every angle. I was definitely wrong about not needing a necklace. The look is complete. Now I’m ready to marry my king.
Tuesday, December 4
“Thanks for agreeing to do this, Tab,” I say as we walk into the boutique. “I really appreciate it.”
“It’s no problem,” Tabitha drapes her skinny arm around my shoulder.
We walk casually through the shop, taking in the various wedding gowns. I’m on my third engagement, but this is the second dress I’ve had to pick out. It’s hard not feeling a teeny bit ashamed by the number of failed engagements I’ve had.
I tell myself the failures are actually blessings. I’m grateful they ended before I walked down the aisle. In spite of the challenges Kento and I have faced, I’m more relaxed with him than my exes. I’ve never been so sure about a man in my life.
He’s done everything he can to please me. With the exception of our blind date, Kento has never made me feel like less of a person. Kento always comes through for me. He also has my back in every situation. It took him some time to forgive himself for the way he first treated me, but he’s grown into a more mature man.
“Where’s Alicia? I thought she was coming,” Tabitha’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Is she still holding a grudge against Kento?”
“Not really. She’s running a few minutes late,” I frown at an off-white dress with too many ruffles. “No matter how she feels about Kento, she wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Alicia was there when my first fiancé, Davis, broke up with me six months into our engagement. He realized he wasn’t ready for marriage. I’m not sure why he didn’t know it before he spent the money on a ring and an elaborate proposal.
My relationship with Brandon was the longest I had ever been in. When that one ended, Alicia was there, consoling my broken heart. Now, I’m engaged again. Alicia can’t help but worry, even if Kento’s nothing like them.
“Honestly, if I didn’t already know Kento, I’d be wary as well.” Tabitha stretches behind a row of gowns for a dress that’s caught her eye. “At least she agreed to be your matron of honor.”
“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind she wouldn’t be my matron of honor. She won’t let her feelings about him interfere with our relationship. I just wish she’d give him a chance.”
Tabitha pulls out a white sheath gown with a three foot long chapel train. The bodice is embroidered with illusion side inserts with crystal beaded trim. It’s classic, yet chic.
“Here’s something fashionable,” she smiles. “There’s a deep-V neckline accentuating your neck while providing the right amount of cleavage. It’s not too flashy or too modest. Just the way you like it.”
The gown is beautiful. It would definitely compliment my long torso and curvy hips. Kento would love it.
“It’s perfect,” I say as I take the gown and head toward the dressing room.
While I’m changing, I hear Alicia come in. She and Tabitha giggle and chat away while I change. I’m so blessed to have them. This is the third time they’re helping me plan a wedding and they’ve been deeply supportive.
Alicia and Tabitha have taken their matron and maid of honor duties seriously. Alicia is a wealth of marriage advice, sometimes calling me out of the blue to tell me something that just came to her mind. She also helped organize the menu and hire the caterer for the big day. Tabitha took charge of the clothing as soon as Kento and I decided on the colors of our wedding. She also roped in Maggie once I gave her the wedding date. Both of them have helped me plan every detail down to the minute.
I step out of the dressing room and stand in front of them. Their eyes grow wide. Tabitha’s pout forms a perfect O, and Alicia’s eyes well up with tears.
“What do you think?” I ask.
“Oh, Nessa,” Alicia dabs her eyes with a tissue. “You look stunning.”
Tabitha’s cheeks turn red as she fights back the tears. “Yeah, it’s perfect.”
Kento Parsons
I open the door just a hair and peek through. The pews are full of family and friends, with the exception of the front row on the bride and groom’s side. Some of them are chatting with the person next to them. A handful glance at their watches, probably wondering the same thing I am. A few adjust their clothing as if anyone will notice their crooked tie or a missed button. All eyes will be on the bride – if she’ll ever get here. Sighing, I close the door and lean against it.
“Relax, man,” Zeke grips my shoulder.
“I am relaxed.”
He chuckles, “You’ve been peeking through the door, checking your watch and your phone since we got here. We’ve been clowning you for the past five minutes and you haven’t even noticed. But yeah, you’re relaxed.”
My groomsmen and I are hanging out in a room to the side of the altar. I glance around at them. Aaron, with his cheesy grin, gives me a thumbs up. Mateo, on the other hand, smirks and shakes his head. I burst out laughing.
“You’re not nervous, are you?” Mateo laughs.
I let out a long breath as my shoulders droop. I know it’s a rhetorical question, but I answer him anyway. “Vanessa’s late for our wedding. I’m not sure I remember my vows. And the church is packed with people who probably think there’s not going to be a wedding. I wanted today to be perfect for Vanessa.”
“There’s no such thing as perfect,” Aaron begins. I glare at him. I need his encouragement, even if it is a lie. “Sorry, man, but it’s the truth. Instead of obsessing over perfection, just be happy she shows up. Not unless she turns out to be one of those runaway brides.”
“This can’t be happening,” I shake my head. The ceremony was supposed to start ten minutes ago. She couldn’t have gotten cold feet. That’s not like her. If she ever doubted our future together, she wouldn’t have said yes when I proposed. So what’s taking so long?
“C’mon man,” Mateo chastises Aaron. “We’re trying to calm him down, not aggravate him.”
“Thanks, Mateo,” I say.
“No prob,” he straightens the lapels on his suit. “But I can’t lie either. Perfection is overrated. You -.”
I turn my back on him before he can finish. They start laughing again at my expense. This is the last time I pick them as my groomsmen. I need them to be serious and they’re making light of the situation.
“Alright, look,” Zeke says, regaining his composure. “You’re marrying one of the most beautiful women in the world. She’s patient enough to put up with your awkward ass. She loves you. Don’t focus on whether everything is perfect. Focus on the fact that you’re about to marry the woman of your dreams. Besides, Tabitha would’ve called you if something was up.”
My friends are right. I need to chill and stop letting my nerves get the best of me. Vanessa and I have invested way too much to not see this through. I smile to myself, thinking of what awaits us after we say I do.
Friday, January 25
I park in the driveway behind Vanessa’s Santa Fe. I hop out of my car hoping we found the one. We’ve been searching for what feels like forever. As I hurry up the walkway, Vanessa comes out the front door.
“This is the one!” she beams.
“I thought you were going to wait for me,” I say as I bound up the steps and kiss my fiancée.
She bounces on her toes, “I tried, but it kept summoning me.”
I smirk at her, “Why don’t you get this excited when I summon you?”
“Ha! Because you don’t come with four bedrooms and a two-car garage,” she laughs.
I shake my head as I follow her inside the Mediterranean-style house. Even though Vanessa’s excited, I prefer to reserve my judgement until the end. We’re at house number fifty-eight, and I’m exhausted.
I live in a loft while Vanessa lives in a small Spanish bungalow. Neither home is ideal for newlyweds, so we agreed to look for our first place together. Never in a million years did I think we’d look at so many houses. We’re both picky, but Vanessa’s frugal while I’m slightly OCD. We’re a special combination. I plan on buying our realtor, Francine, a spa day after this is over. Speaking of the ever-so-patient realtor, she’s nowhere to be found.
“Where’s Francine?”
Vanessa spins around in the massive living room, her giddiness refreshing after the stressful morning I’ve had.
“Stuck in the same traffic you were just in.” She spreads her arms out. “Isn’t this spacious?”
I look around the room a little skeptical. It’s huge, but I’m not getting my hopes up.
“Yeah, I guess,” I shrug.
Vanessa glares at me, “You didn’t even look at it.”
She saunters over, taking my hands and pulling me further into the room. “Try to imagine us starting a family here.”
She smiles as she wraps her arms around my neck. I stare into those hypnotizing eyes. I kiss her tenderly, wishing we could start working on having those kids she keeps talking about.
“We have to buy this place,” she whispers as she kisses my neck. “It’s the one.”
Her mouth makes its way back to mine. I squeeze her tighter against me.
“Vanessa,” I whisper. “We’re not buying this house if I don’t like it.”
She stops kissing me and lets me go. Rolling her eyes, she heads further into the home. “We’ll see about that.”
I laugh to myself. She knows what to do to get what she wants, but I’m determined to make sure we buy something practical and affordable. Even if I can imagine us making love in this room.
We give ourselves a tour of the sizable home. The dining room has a large window that lets in a great amount of light. I can definitely see us having Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners here.
The chef’s kitchen is amazing, the white marble countertops making the space bright and inviting. Vanessa and I enjoy cooking together, and I can picture us side by side at the stove, at the sink…on the island.
Shaking away my inappropriate thoughts of all I could manage to accomplish on this kitchen’s surfaces, I let Vanessa drag me into the pantry. It’s ridiculously huge. We’d certainly be able to do so much more than cook in here.
Every room we walk into fits our current lifestyle and allows us room to grow. Vanessa leads the way as I watch her from behind. Every place in here is definitely functional, but I’m coming up with more purposes for each room. We enter the master bedroom and I stop suddenly. Vanessa looks at me and smiles.
“I’m sure you’re thinking of how our new furniture will fit in here,” she laughs. “You can’t possibly be thinking about anything else.”
I make my way to her in less than three steps and lift her off the ground. She wraps her arms around me and stares down at me.
“I noticed you checking me out while I was giving you a tour of our soon-to-be new home,” she pecks me on the lips. “I knew your mind was in the gutter, so it’s only natural it would stay there when I showed you our new master bedroom.”
Our kiss is long and intense. She’s right. The house feels like it belongs to us. It has two too many rooms, but we plan on filling those rooms as quickly as possible. The fenced-in backyard is large enough for Cairo and maybe another dog, should we decide to get one. There are fruit trees in the back and plenty of room for a garden. The house is in great condition. All we need to do is put our personal touch on a few things to make it our own.
“Baby,” I murmur in her neck.
“Hmm,” she answers.
“I think we just found our new home.”
The music begins to play while I stand at the altar with Pastor Miller. Everyone turns their attention to the double doors as they open. Zeke and Alicia enter the room. If they weren’t already married to someone else, they’d actually make a good-looking couple. They’re followed by Aaron and Tabitha, then Mateo and Jordyn.
I should be paying attention and taking everything in, but there’s only one person who’s getting my undivided attention. Don’t get me wrong, everyone looks great. Tabitha made sure of that, but I’m not marrying them.
Zeke gives me some dap as he stands next to me. Alicia smiles at me before she stands to the left side of the altar. After a few beats, Aaron smacks me on the shoulder before joining Zeke. Tabitha winks at me then stands next to Alicia. I’m this much closer to seeing her. My heart hammers out of my chest while I fight to stand still.
After Mateo and Jordyn join us at the altar, Vanessa’s nephew, Langston, and niece, Helene, stroll down the aisle. Langston’s brows furrow as he concentrates on holding the small ivory pillow just right so the rings don’t slide off. His pace slows while Helene drops burgundy, blush, and ivory petals down the aisle. When she notices her older brother start to lag behind, she elbows him. The pillow dips ever so slightly, but the rings remain in place. The relieved look on his face makes everyone laugh.
Langston looks at me with a half-smile when he makes it to the altar. I smile and give him a high five. I’m about to tell him he did a great job when the music changes and the pastor asks everyone to stand for the bride. This is it. Two years of honesty and forgiveness, grace and love, pain and pleasure have led us to this moment.
The doors swing open. My heart stops when I see the most alluring woman in the world. Zeke pats me on the back and whispers something, but I can’t hear him. Hazel Eyes strolls down the aisle with her arm wrapped around her father’s. The white gown flows behind her. The neckline exposes all the places I want to kiss. Her hair is in a braided bun. She looks like a goddess. Almost immediately, I’m hard as a rock. I grip my hands together in front of me, hoping no one notices.
There’s some movement in the front row to my left, but it’s not enough to distract me. Vanessa continues down the aisle. We can’t take our eyes off each other. A deep swell of emotion threatens to bubble over. I try containing it, but it’s difficult when moments of our relationship play through my mind. I love her so much my heart aches.
Vanessa Monroe
I take my first few steps down the aisle. Everyone’s eyes are on me. A wave of emotion hits me in an instant. I’m filled with excitement and anticipation as I comprehend what Kento and I are about to do.
I don’t focus on any of the guests. My sights are trained on the man waiting for me at the altar. My heart skips a beat when our eyes meet. A smile broadens across my face. Kento brings a certain level of peace into my life that I haven’t felt in a while. After our disastrous date at Mancini’s, I never wanted to see him again. Now, all I want is him.
His dark brown eyes smolder as I draw near. There’s an undeniable attraction between us that we can’t deny. Even though his eyes aren’t roaming up and down my body, I know he hasn’t missed anything.
Kento’s hands are clasped in front of him. When I see a lopsided grin appear on his face, I know the sight of me and what he wants to do to me are driving him insane. He’s not the only one struggling to remain composed. That charcoal gray three-piece suit fits him just right. He’s clean-shaven, just the way I like. He looks so damn fine and he’s mine. I can’t wait until tonight.
I’m so lost in Kento, I don’t notice when my father says he’s giving me away to Kento. I have absolutely no idea what Pastor Miller’s saying. Alicia and Tabitha haven’t clobbered him yet, so I can only assume he hasn’t asked that dreaded question. I gaze into my soon-to-be-husband’s eyes. He winks and smiles down at me.
Tuesday, May 28
My fingers plunge through his dark hair as his tongue traces along my neck. I arch up as he leaves a trail of kisses down my chest. Suddenly, he mashes his full lips against mine before nibbling my ear. His dick is hard underneath his jeans. He’s pressed between my legs and my panties are soaked. I let out a faint moan as my desire for him increases.
I’m wearing one of his long-sleeved shirts. He managed to unbutton it, revealing my red-laced bra and panties. His fingers slide up my thigh where they curl around the elastic of my underwear. He’s about to pull them down when I quickly grab his hand, stopping him before we go too far. Kento groans in my neck, but he doesn’t let go of the red lace.
“Come on, Vanessa,” his mouth makes its way down the valley between my breasts.
“Uh uh,” I pull the lace material from his hand. “We agreed to wait until we’re married.”
His kisses make their way to my belly as he slides his hands underneath my behind.
“I want you. Now,” he growls.
I button the shirt I love to wear whenever I’m at his place. “I know,” I tease. “But we have to wait two more days.”
“You gotta be kidding me,” he gripes when I scoot up the bed. “Let’s get married today. The courthouse is open.”
I laugh, “There’s no way we’re getting married by the Justice of the Peace.”
I put on my shorts, then toss his green t-shirt at him so he can cover his perfectly sculpted chest and abs. His hard on fights to get out of his jeans. I hate doing this to him, but I want our first time to be as husband and wife. I never waited with my prior fiancés. I’m sure that didn’t have everything to do with the end of those relationships, but I’m tired of giving myself away too soon.
Kento adjusts himself, but there’s not enough room in those jeans for what he’s got going on.
“Well, I’m making love to you as soon as we say ‘I do,’” he declares without a smile.
I love it when he’s serious, but that doesn’t stop me from chuckling, “What about our guests?”
“What about them?” he smacks my behind as I pass by him. I swat his hand away. “They can leave, but the gifts need to stay.”
“You really are hard-pressed for that cocktail shaker set,” I tease, putting a stack of his folded shirts in a box.
We’re moving Kento’s things into our new home. My place sold before his, so I’ve been living in the house alone for the past few months. It would’ve been nice to live in my old home after we were married, but we needed space.
“Are you sure Alicia’s okay with Nate helping me move?” he asks as he tapes up a box marked photos.
Kento still isn’t my sister’s favorite person. She doesn’t hate him, but she doesn’t like him either. It doesn’t help that every now and then Kento sticks his foot in his mouth. Sometimes I think he does it on purpose to get under her skin. Their interactions have actually become quite comical. Now Nate, on the other hand, really likes Kento. It’s like they have some sort of bro-mance.
“Nope,” I state, “but you need all the help you can get. The more movers we have, the sooner we can live together.”
I smile at him. I don’t want him worrying about Alicia’s attitude. We’re getting married. I want everything to go smoothly. No family drama. I’ve had enough of it to last a lifetime.
Kento Parsons
Pastor Miller glances at us over the rim of his glasses, “I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now -.”
Before he can finish, I take Vanessa into my arms and plant a passionate kiss on her mouth. Our wedding guests are on their feet, clapping and cheering me on
I gaze into her eyes and whisper, “Now can I make love to you?”
She throws her head back in laughter. I scoop her up and carry her down the aisle. I’m dead serious. If there’s a broom closet big enough for the both of us, we’re using it.
I look out over the crowd and my eyes meet my father’s. I almost trip, but I have precious cargo in my arms. He’s standing next to my mother, but he’s not clapping like everyone else. He stares at me and gives me a knowing nod. I smile in return.
I glance down at my bride and kiss her before walking out.
Vanessa Parsons
Kento moves his hips to the beat as “September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire blasts in the background. The upbeat song makes this feel more like a cookout than a wedding reception. Everyone has a smile on their face and a drink in their hand. Zeke and his Caribbean wife, Lana, dance next to us. We sing at the top of our lungs with no inhibition.
I look over at my parents who are doing their version of the bump-in-grind. My eyes nearly pop out of my head at the sight. I wave my hand at Alicia who’s jamming with Nate. When I get her attention, I point at our parents. Her gaze follows and her jaw drops. I laugh as I bear witness to how my parents get down when they think no one is looking. They’ve been married for over forty years, so they must know something.
“Congratulations!” Tabitha shouts over the music. She hugs the both of us, smooshing me between her and Kento. Tabitha giggles as she saunters away. I don’t know what she’s been drinking, but I can tell she has a nice buzz.
I look over my shoulder and see her dancing alone. Less than a minute later, Aaron joins her. They’ve either already hooked up or they will before the night is over. Just then I notice Mateo kissing Jordyn on the cheek as they dance together. She hasn’t let go of that bouquet since she caught it.
Then the song switches to Maxwell’s, “Fortunate”, a smooth, slow jam. Kento holds me close as he sings in my ear. I giggle at his feeble attempts to sound like the R&B crooner. He spins me around and wraps his arms around me as we sway to the music. I run my fingers through his hair as he kisses my neck. I can’t wipe this grin off my face.
Kento makes another attempt to get me off the dance floor. He’s been trying to be alone with me since we got here, and every time, thankfully, something stops us. There’s no way our first time together is going to be in a closet somewhere. We’re almost to the edge when Kento stops moving.
“See?” I point out. “Every time you try to be sneaky something always gets in the way. Maybe God’s trying to tell you something.”
Kento releases his grip around my waist and slowly stands to my right. I follow his line of sight and see what, or who, has his attention.
Kento Parsons
My father stands next to the dinner table while my mother’s lips move a mile a minute. If he’s listening to her, he’s doing a piss poor job of showing it. He’s staring at me and Vanessa. The expression on his face is neutral, and I’m not sure if that’s a good sign.
I noticed him next to my mother when I carried Vanessa down the aisle. I assume his late arrival is what I saw out the corner of my eye when the ceremony began. Our paths have yet to cross. Partly because everyone’s celebrating Vanessa and I and because he and I have been avoiding each other. I guess it’s now or never.
“Wait here,” I say.
“I’m coming with you,” Vanessa takes my hand.
“No,” I shake my head. “I don’t want him causing a scene. I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
“I appreciate you looking out for me,” she smiles, “but he’s not going to do anything. He wouldn’t have come if that were the case. He wants forgiveness.”
I lean down to kiss her. “I love you.”
“I know,” she smirks. “No matter what happens, it’s just you and me.”
We walk toward my father. My mother stops speaking once she notices us. I squeeze Vanessa’s hand, pulling her slightly behind me. My father sees the gesture and nods his head.
He clears his throat and says, “I want to congratulate you and Vanessa.”
“Thank you,” I say, waiting for more.
He looks at Vanessa with sad, gray eyes. “The first time I met you, I said some awful things to you. I’m sorry. I didn’t come to disrupt your wedding,” he sighs. “It will take me some time to get used to this, but I’m glad you married my son. You remind me of my wife and I when we got married.”
My mother reaches out for Vanessa’s hand and squeezes it. I don’t know if she had anything to do with my father being here, or if he came to his senses on his own, but I’m glad he showed up.
“I don’t want to miss out on your life,” he looks back at me. “I don’t want to meet my grandchildren when they’re in elementary school like my parents did with you and your brothers.”
“I appreciate you coming to our wedding,” I say. “Thank you for apologizing to my wife.”
Suddenly he does something he hasn’t done in over a year. He hugs me, then whispers, “Don’t make the same mistake I did. Love and accept your family the way I should’ve done with you and Vanessa.”
“A sky full of stars and he was staring at her.” ~ Atticus
The lock clicks after I insert the key card to our suite. I prop the door open with our luggage while Vanessa watches me, smiling, from the hallway. She shakes her head at me as I approach her and pick her up.
She laughs, “How many times are you going to do this?”
“Until we reach our destination.” I carry her into our suite, then set her down.
I bring our bags into the room. Vanessa kicks off her shoes as she walks out on the balcony to look at the night sky. The moon shimmers off the Pacific Ocean as a light breeze flows throw Vanessa’s loose hair.
I pull Vanessa’s hair to the side, exposing her light brown skin. My lips graze her shoulder as I make my way up to the spot behind her ear.
“Mrs. Parsons, we have the whole week to take in the Hawaiian sights,” I whisper as I slowly pull her back into our suite. “Right now, we have some unfinished business.”
She smiles over her shoulder before removing her blue tank top and dropping it on the floor. I watch as she continues walking toward our room. She stops long enough to take off her white jeans.
Vanessa turns around to make sure I’m still watching her. When she confirms she has my undivided attention, she unhooks her black lace bra and lets it fall to the floor. Her fingers then slide down her lace panties.
A teasing smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “Are you just going to stand there?”
She backs into the bedroom as I quickly remove every stitch of my clothing. I close the gap between us, grabbing her by the waist and laying her on our bed.
It’s been a little over two years since I first laid eyes on Vanessa. Two years spent fantasizing about this moment with her. I finally have the woman I want to spend forever with, and instead of rushing in, I take my time.
My mouth explores areas I’ve been fortunate enough to taste before, like her soft lips, her bare chest, and flat stomach. All the while discovering hidden territories that now belong to me. Her supple breasts, throbbing clit, and hot core.
“Kento,” she whispers as I pump deep into her.
Her eyes turn a darker shade of gold when she climaxes. Her nails dig into my back as her body shakes underneath me. She rolls on top of me and takes control. Her sexy eyes gaze into mine as she rides me. I watch as her bouncing tits hypnotize me. My hands are everywhere. I squeeze her tits, smack her ass, and grip her thighs. I’m about to come when the rhythm of her hips slows down. She has no mercy on me.
I moan in frustration. I’m so close. She can’t stop now. I’m about to thrust hard when she gets off of me.
“Vanessa,” I pant.
I look down to see her mouth take in every inch of my shaft. By no means is she intimidated by my generous length. I grab the back of her head as her tongue teases me. She sucks me so hard I come instantly. I try to catch my breath as she gently kisses my abs and my chest. She straddles me and stares down at me.
“So, was it worth the wait?” Her breasts rise and fall with her breathing.
My dick grows hard between her legs. My mind sifts through a few positions I want us to try next. I sit up and bury my face in her neck.
“You have no idea.” I nibble on her ear lobe as I enter her warm wetness.
I make love to her again and again, committing to memory everything that makes her shiver and moan. Enjoying the sensuous sound of her voice when she says my name. I’m grateful to be the man who gets to see Vanessa at her most intimate and vulnerable state.
I don’t know if we’ll ever get to see Maui this week. Truthfully, I don’t care. I finally have my muse. There’s nothing I want more than her.
Max Sloane 