Darian's Christmas Promise

CHAPTER ONE (The Promise) "I'm not willing to wait for you anymore Darian. If you can’t make a commitment to me, then I’ll find someone who will." Vanessa cried over the phone. "Then don't wait damn it! You were welcomed to leave this relationship at anytime, I wouldn't have stopped you. But no, like the little whore you are, cheating on me with that fag from the gym was your way of getting out of this relationship!" She was a piece of work, trying to ‘flip the script’, as Sandy would call it, by blaming this mess on him. She was the one who had cheated on him, in his home, while he worked every day, and paid her way through college so she wouldn’t have to strip anymore. This was how she showed her gratitude. He had been a fool.

"Jeff isn't gay, he's a Metro-sexual, and we’re in love." "Right. If that's what you choose to believe Vanessa, I’m not going to argue with you. Now that you’re out of the house, what do you want?" "Can we still be friends?" He heard the sob in her voice. "No, Vanessa. You're out and that's the end of the story. Bye." Darian hung up the phone and lay down in his bed, thinking about where he had gone wrong in the relationship. Realizing he wasn’t up to such a daunting task which could possibly take all night, he opted for comfort. Instinctively, he hit number one on his speed dial.

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"Hello." The raspy voice sounded over the phone, bringing a smile to his face. "Hey baby. What are you doing?" "Hey there, cowboy. I was just making out my Christmas cards and contemplating your Christmas gift." He rolled his eyes. He hated the holidays, especially Christmas. He almost never celebrated it; however, he always managed to buy a present for her. The truth was, every year for the past twenty years, he made sure that he purchased two gifts for her: One for Christmas, and one for her birthday, which fell on Christmas Eve. She had always been the reason for his seasons. She was the most important person in his world. “You were right; Vanessa was fucking the guy from the gym.” “I knew it. There was no way she was spending that much time at the gym with no results. Not when she could be at home, getting a work out with you. I know that I would,” she shamelessly flirted. “And the sad thing is I really don’t care. I am sort of relieved that she’s gone. Sex aside, I hated everything about her. She was shallow and way too needy. She was obsessed about her weight, and what was up with all that juicing? The only time she ever cracked a book was for class. Her grades—I don’t even want to get into that. Let’s just say, she was a real blonde bimbo.” Sandy listened quietly as he complained. “Why am I having such a hard time finding Mrs. Right?” “Maybe she’s been there all your life and you haven’t noticed,” Sandy hinted. She has always been crazy for Darian, and made no secret about it. Unfortunately he only loved her as a friend. “Or maybe it wasn’t meant for me to share my life with anyone, maybe I’m destined to roam this earth alone.” “You are a grown man; so stop whining. It’s a real turn off to women when a man does it. I’m going to have to school you on what women want when I come down there next week. Are you still up to the task of doing ‘you know what’?” “Sandy, if you’re serious about me being the one, then I’m up to it.” “You don’t sound like you’re ‘up to it’. With Vanessa out of the way, you should feel more relieved about doing it. Now you won’t have to live with guilt of cheating, unless it wasn’t the act of cheating that was bothering you.”

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3 Not this again! “We’ve been planning this day for fifteen years Sandy, I am not nervous for me, I am nervous for you. I still can’t imagine why you insist that I be the one to break your virginity.” “Because you promised me that you’d be the one to do it, contingent that I was still a virgin by my twenty-second birthday. Guess what: I still am. You’ve always kept your promises to me; so don’t start breaking them now. Besides, once it's broken, I’ll be more apt to find my own lover. I just want the experience before I go out into the real world of dating.” It was just like Sandy to rationalize everything. “By the way, thanks for faxing over your AIDS results. Did you check your email? I sent mine over to you.” “Sandy, you’re a virgin. I am not worried about catching any kind of sexual disease from you.” He shook his head. “The only thing that we have to worry about is pregnancy, and I have a bunch of condoms for that.” “Actually, I am not ovulating so you don’t have to worry about that either.” “I strap one on every time I’m getting ready for action. No exceptions. It eliminates a lot of potential problems.” “Well, then that’s settled. Will you be picking me up from the airport?” “Don’t count on it. I have a meeting with my suppliers that day, but Brian has assured me that he’ll be there to pick you up just in case I can’t make it.” Brian was Sandy’s older brother and his former best friend. Although no longer friends, Brian still worked for Darian. “I’ll take a taxi.” “Don’t. I’ll have your brother pick you up. If he says anything more than ‘hi’ his ass is mine. Okay?” She warily agreed, and he understood her reluctance. When Brian started to go down the path of destruction, he was determined to take Sandy with him. He would get drunk and beat her up. Darian found out, and beat Brian within an inch of his life for touching her. He had never laid a hand on her since; however, he did antagonize her by calling her ‘fat’, and other

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4 derogatory names. His last stunt landed him in the doghouse with both Sandy and Darian. Brian had gone to jail for drinking and driving on a suspended license. While in jail, he got turned on to heavier drugs than he was using before he was incarcerated. He promised his supplier, who was soon to be released from prison, a trade: ‘Some crack, for Sandy’s virginity.’ Luckily Dave ‘the drug dealer’ wasn’t into taking women by force because Brian had given him access to Sandy’s apartment, claiming that she was a willing participant. Dave came there looking for pussy and found out that he had been duped. Sandy called Darian, who had immediately come over to straighten out the mess; Dave had to settle for cash, which was fine with him. Sandy and Brian had been estranged from one another for the past fifteen years. Brian’s repeated betrayal of Sandy’s trust, subsequently affected Darian’s relationship with Brian. “Darian, are you listening to me?” Sandy sounded impatient. “I am now, what were you saying?” He had been caught zoning out. “I was saying that I’m not in the mood for any of Brian’s bullshit. If I had my way, I would bypass my entire family and see only you” “I know the feeling. Maybe one day I ’will get rich enough and then I’ll leave this place. Maybe buy my own island.” “Will you take me with you, or leave me behind?” “You know that I wouldn’t leave you behind.” And he meant it. There wasn’t anything under the sun that he wouldn’t do for her if it was possible; all she had to do was ask and he’d give it to her. Case in point: When she was seventeen, she couldn’t get a date to prom, so despite the fact that he was in college more than two hundred miles away, he came down that weekend, and had gone to senior prom with her. At prom, she found out that her former best friend had lost her virginity and she was convinced that she was the only virgin left in her school. He tried to convince her that she wasn’t, but she refused to believe differently. She asked him to do her a favor, and he said ‘yes’ before he found out what that favor was. “Take my cherry,” she had pleaded with him and he nearly had a stroke.

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5 “I can go to jail for that.” “No you won’t because I won’t tell, and you promised me that you would.” “That was before I knew what you wanted me to do.” “No matter, you promised and I’ll hold you to that promise.” “You don’t want me to get into trouble do you? I will if someone finds out.” “No. I love you too much, and who would take care of me if something happens to you?” She was feeling sad, and he felt sorry for her. He came up with the perfect solution. “Okay. I’ll take your cherry, on one condition.” “What’s that?” She got excited. “If you have a cherry for me to pop on your twenty second birthday, I’ll be the one to pop it for you. Deal?” “Deal,” she smiled. Sandy was like a baby sister to him; he had never seen her as a sexual conquest. She shared a kindred spirit with him. Both their mothers had been single parents with minimal outside help. While he was an only child whose father chose to ignore his existence; she and her brother had a father who died at an early age. Both mothers were addicts: his; a junkie, hers; an alcoholic. It wasn’t long before Brian had succumbed to the call of the bottle, so that just left him and Sandy. He had been fifteen; Sandy had just turned ten at the time. Stepping up to the plate that had been abandoned by Brian, Darian had taken little Sandy under his wing, making sure that she was safe. To her, he was her knight and shinning armor. To him, she was his reason for living. Neither his mother, nor Sandy’s had yet to kick her habit that he knew of. His own mother finally hit the jackpot and married a bigger junkie than she was. Jackson Whitesmith, her beau, was a junkie with money. Darian imagined that they were in cocaine heaven. Occasionally when he saw his mother; he always got the impression that he was a chapter in her life that she would rather forget.

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They hardly spoke to each other except when it was unavoidable.

*** “Hey Darian. Are you listening to me?” Sandy’s question brought him back to the present. “No I wasn’t, what did you say?” “I was asking you how Brian was doing?” Although she was bitter towards Brian, she had convinced Darian to hire him, as a personal favor to her, the last time he got out of the rehab clinic a few years ago. “He seems to be getting along okay. Audrey is driving him crazy.” “I’m sure they are driving each other crazy. He’s trying to stay sober; she’s still going through a bottle of Granddad a day. That’s a train wreck waiting to happen.” “Maybe Brian’s observation of Audrey’s behavior will help keep him on the straight and narrow.’ “Anything can happen. I’m tired of talking about them. Make sure that Brian doesn’t say one word to me when he picks me up, or your ass is grass. You got that buddy?” “Yeah, whatever you say.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head smiling. “So, what have you gotten me this year?” Every year, she got him something that she thought would enrich his life, but instead ended up cluttering his basement. If it hadn’t been for the sentimental value, he would have long ago had a garage sale selling the useless crap. “I’m not telling you.” “Why not? If you tell me now, it’ll give you just enough time to exchange it for something that I might really like or can use.”

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7 “Whatever. I’m not telling you.” “Then I’m not having sex with you.” “Yes you are. You made a promise to me.” “Then I’m not getting you a birthday present,” he lied. He already had the three hundred dollar gift certificate to her favorite clothing store, and a pair of Jimmy Choo boots. “What I’m going to give you is something that you can’t return to the store.” “Okay, then go on eBay and sell it back.” “Nope. It’s from the heart.” “Your virginity? Honey, if that’s it, I don’t want you to give it to me as a gift. I'm not worthy of something so precious. “No, I was thinking of a blowjob.” “What!” he yelled over the phone. She moved the receiver away from her ear. “You sound like Lil Jon. ‘What!’…. ‘Yeah’…. ‘Okay’,” she jested. “No. Say that again. You plan on giving me what for Christmas?” “A blowjob. We’ve discussed how your other women did such a piss poor job in slobbing your knob, so I thought that for Christmas, I’d give you the gift of a really good dick suck.” There she went, rationalizing again. “Have you ever sucked a dick before?” What the hell was he asking her that for? He should be dissuading her from her mission, not asking for her resume on dick sucking. “Not quite. I’ve been deep-throating bananas, cucumbers, and any fruit over eight inches long.” Damn, she was making him hot.

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8 “I don’t know what to say. I mean; this is awkward hearing you talk about sucking my dick and me taking your virginity. It feels sort of, kind of like incest to me. I’ve always seen you as my little sister.” “Well stop seeing me as your little sister, because I’m coming to get some dick from you, whether you feel incestuous or not, Bro!” “I have to say, you really have gotten my mind off of what’s her name.” “Veda.” “Vanessa,” he corrected. “Yeah, her.” “I also have another surprise.” “I don’t think that my heart can handle any more surprises.” “You’re heart will be able to handle this one.” “What’s the surprise?” “I’m not going to tell you. This one you can’t coerce out of me.” “Then I’m going to bed.” “Dream about me.” “You know I will,” he teased. “Night.” “Night.” Darian was more excited now than he had been when he picked up the phone. He wasn’t physically attracted to Sandy, or so he kept telling himself; however, she was for sure his soul mate. She was his other half; therefore finding anyone else to love was impossible. He had to end this…whatever “this” was, between him and Sandy when she came down. They were so co-dependent with each other, it was impossible to develop healthy relationships with other people.

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CHAPTER TWO (Brother knows best?) “Brian, Sandy is coming in at three, be at the airport by two thirty just in case it lands early.” “Okay. I’m excited to see her. It’s been what? Six years since she’s been home?” He saw the anticipation in Brian’s eyes. “Yeah, it’s been six years since she left here to go to Georgia.” “And she hasn’t looked back. My mom wants to see her.” This made Darian defensive. “For what? Have you discussed this possibility with Sandy yet? When you pick her up, I expect you to take her straight to my place. No detours. The only words out of your mouth are, ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye.’ Anything else and I’ll kick your ass, right after I fire you.” “Since when does Sandy need a middle man to dictate who can talk to her or not?” “Since you decided to use her as a punching bag and pimp her out; since Audrey decided to kick her out of the house when she saw her boyfriend at the time looking at Sandy. Since both you and Audrey decided that the contents in the liquor bottle was a hell of a lot more important than Sandy. That’s when I became the middleman for her. Now get going before you give me a reason to give you a beat-down.” “I need her information, and the keys to your house.” Brian sounded defeated and Darian began to feel sorry for him. The man was trying to get his life back together; however, he had burned too many bridges with his sister, which meant that he’d burned too many bridges with him, to be granted leniency. Going over to his desk, he picked up the spare keys that he had gotten back from Vanessa the day before. He threw it at Brian who caught them. “Here’s fifty bucks in case she wants to eat.” “You told me not to say anything to her.” “You can ask her if she wants something to eat.”

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10 “Are you sure that this is going to be enough?” Brian joked. They both knew that at five foot five inches, two hundred and sixty pounds, Sandy could out-eat both of them. Although fairly active in her day-to-day life, she was morbidly obese due to her addiction to food. “I’m sure. I’m paying for her meal, not yours. You can take your lunch on your own time.” “You’re the boss.” “That I am. Wait!” Brian turned to leave but paused and turned back around to face Darian. “Before you go, make sure you pick up the flowers I got for her, they’re in the refrigerator, and let her know that I’ll be home by six, so be ready to go out to dinner. “Thanks.” “For what?” “For being there when my Mom and I bailed on her. She’s a good girl, and because of you, she has turned out to be an incredible woman.” “No problem. I just wish that you and Audrey could get your lives together long enough to effectively become a structured unit for Sandy. She’s had a hell of a time going through her life overweight, and feeling unloved. She entered her twenties with the same plight. I hope that both you and Audrey find it in yourselves to make a conscious effort to be available for her if she decides to reach out to you when she’s here.” Brian put his head down. “I will do the best that I can. Despite my past, I do love my sister, and I appreciate everything that you have done for her and my whole family. With my record, no one else is going to take a chance with someone like me, especially not here in Century. I’d have to leave town to start over, or to make any kind of decent living. You’ve been good to my sister and me.” “You’re a hell of a surveyor and this company has grown because of your expertise. Also, I am glad that you’ve been trying to clean up your life. I just hope that you keep up the progress.” “I will. I have someone who believes in me.” “Who?”

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11 “I do. I believe in myself. And I know that I can do it.” Brian was confident in his statement. Darian hoped that he was sincere in his declaration. “Hey, Sandy’s twenty second birthday is tomorrow, is she still a ‘you know’?” He knew all about the promise to Sandy. Brian had read her diary and confronted Darian about it, hoping to use the information for blackmailing purposes, and finally to taunt him about the insurmountable crush that Sandy had for him. “Yes.” “Will you?” “If that’s what she wishes.” “But you’d rather not. Is it because you like your women on the lesser side of a hundred and fifty pounds?” “It’s because I don’t want to complicate our present relationship.” The fact that he wasn’t particularly attracted to big women was one reason for him not wanting to do it, but not the primary reason. This was Sandy, and he would do anything for her. “You know what? I can believe you when you say that. I mean, Sandy has always been a big girl, very overweight; yet, you’ve always treated her kindly, and with dignity. I remember you even broke up with Rebecca McFarland for making fun of Sandy’s weight. If it weren’t for the fact that all of your girlfriends looked like a Barbie doll, I’d assume that you were in love with Sandy. But then again, that very well maybe the reason why they are all your ex-girlfriends.” “Don’t try to psychoanalyze my behavior. I do love Sandy; she’s been my best friend for more years than I can count. She’s helped me as much as I’ve helped her.” “A real Bonnie and Clyde team.” “More like the Wonder Twins.” “Yeah, right. I’ve missed the episode when they fall in love with each other.”

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12 “Sandy and I aren’t in love with each other. We love each other. Now get going before she has my ass because you’re late. I need to get over to Pace for that meeting.” Darian left a few minutes after Brian.

CHAPTER THREE (Going Home) “You’re going to see him, aren’t you? You’re going to let him fuck you. You’re going to give him what I’ve been biding my time for over eighteen months,” Treshawn accused Sandy. She ignored him and continued to pack her clothes. She stood up and looked around her apartment, double checking that she had everything in her bag. It would be significantly warmer in Florida than here in Atlanta. Looking at the list in her hand, she started to check off accomplished tasks: packed her jeans, sweaters, pajamas, lingerie, and boots. Satisfied that she had everything, she put the list into the trash. She would be gone for the entire two weeks that school was out. The job of a schoolteacher had incredible perks, to compensate for the shitty pay. “I’m in love with you. And you expect me to stand around here and sit idle as you give to some other man what rightfully belongs to me!” “See Tre, you have lost your damned mind. I have never said anything about belonging to you. You and I are friends and now you wanna get all fatal attraction on me.” “Because you want to go home and have sex with someone else.” “Who I have sex with is none of your business. I haven’t offered you anything more than friendship. Hell, I’ve been deflecting any signals, or conversation that you’ve thrown my way about a committed relationship, so what’s the problem?” “I’m in love with you, that’s the problem.” He started to strip his clothes off. “What are you doing?” He had just pulled off his shirt and was kicking off his shoes.

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13 “You haven’t seen this clown in what? Six years. He’s probably fat and bald. I want you to remember what you’re missing when you look at his flabby pale body. I want the way that my body looks etched your mind when you go to meet what’s his name.” He pulled off his jeans and briefs. “Not bad,” she had to admit. His saddle brown complexion was a turn on; it looked good with his slightly slender, muscular physique. He was fairly nice to look at. Sandy eyes bugged out of her head when she saw his modest package, protruding from the nappiest pubic area she’d ever seen. And was that a lint ball hanging from a nap? What the fuck? “I am impressed Tre, now put your clothes back on and help me out to your car, my plane leaves in just over three hours.” She ignored him and went over to the closet and pulled out two more pairs of jeans to pack, just in case. Picking up the suitcase, she headed for the front door. Tre was still putting on his pants. “So it’s like that? Well don’t call me when you get back.” “Hell, if I weren’t pressed for time, I wouldn’t call you now. I’m sorry you had hopes of hooking up with me, but that’s just not going to happen.” He put his sneakers back on his feet. Feeling bad at the way this conversation was going, she walked over to the little Christmas tree that she had put up. There were two gifts left that she needed to disburse. One was for Tre, the other one was for Angie, her neighbor who was rapidly becoming a good friend to her; she would be out of town until after New Years. She handed him the large gift. “What is it?” He was pulling off the wrapping paper as he asked. “Look.” She had gotten him the surround sound system that he wanted. He tried to give her a kiss on the lips, but she turned her face and he caught her cheek. “This is exactly what I wanted.” “I know, you’ve been hinting at it since May.” Going into his pocket, he pulled out a small jewelry box.

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He started to go down on bended knee, when she attempted to stop him. “Don’t do this Tre, you know how I feel about you.” She tried to discourage him. He opened up the little black box. He had purchased a heart shaped diamond ring, with a platinum band. It was very pretty. “This is beautiful. I can’t imagine how you were able to afford this on a P.E. teacher’s salary, but it’s nice.” She laughed. He got up and hugged her. “I’ve been saving up for it. I have known for a long time that you’re the one for me.” “Oh Tre, you know that I like you, but honey, my heart belongs to someone else.” He moved to the wall that held a picture of both she and Darian hugging each other, it was at her college graduation. “You’re holding out for him? He might show some interest now that you’re not two- hundred and fifty pounds. But I loved you, even at your heaviest. I don’t see why you can’t love me back!” “I’ve always loved Darian. He’s been the constant in my life from day one.” She walked over to where he was standing, his eyes blazing with tears. She put her hands on his face. “I’ll be gone for two weeks. If it’s not meant to be between him and me, I’ll move on, but I have to try.” “I’ll be here when you need me. Take this ring as a reminder of my love, and to know that I’m here for you, no matter what,” he insisted, giving her the ring. She took it and put it in her duffel bag. They walked hand and hand to his car. He put the bags in the trunk of the car for her, and closed the door for her. “Let’s drive down there. I don’t mind,” he suggested for the third time. Although the trip wasn’t that far to drive, less than five hours away, she didn’t want to drive; neither did she want him meeting her family and especially not Darian. “Thank you, but I’d rather not. I have things that I need to take care of and I would rather take care of them without an audience.” She patted his hand. “Your family would miss you like crazy if you went with me.” Tre had a large southern family, who was big on tradition. He would be missed if he weren’t there.

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15 “That’s true. I just wish you were coming with me.” “I know. I had a blast at Thanksgiving. Your mother is the best cook in the world.” From there, the conversation flowed easily all the way to the airport. Once there, he didn’t leave her side until she boarded the plane. She could have sworn that he started to cry as she boarded the aircraft. On the plane, she was too excited to nap. The short flight landed on time, which was a blessing in itself. Brian was at the terminal waiting for her to come out. She looked back to see who he was smiling at and checking out. An old white couple was behind her and she was almost the last passenger to get off of the plane. Then realization hit, it was she that he was smiling at, he didn’t know who she was. Oh gross! She walked up to him. His face started to drop as recognition set in. His eyes had gotten as large as saucers, and his mouth dropped open. She decided to turn around and give him the full three hundred and sixty degree view. “Oh shit. Is that you Sandy?” He covered his mouth with his fist as her inspected her. “The one and only.” “What happened to you?” “I’ve lost weight. Like my body?” Lifting her arms in the air and twisting her hips from side to side, she mimicked Anna Nicole. “You look great. Darian is in big trouble. Do you have anything more than this?”He took her tote and her suitcase from her. “Nope. That’s it.” She followed him out to the truck. The ‘Sawyer Surveying’ logo was on the truck and she had a sense of pride. Darian was really making things happen. “Are you hungry?” Brian asked. “Not really. I’m anxious to see Darian, you can drive me to his office.”

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16 “He’ll be out of the office all day; however, he did leave instructions for you to get dressed and be ready by six, he’s planning on taking you out to dinner. And I almost forgot,” he reached into the back of the truck and grabbed a long box. “These are for you. From him.” She smiled. Every time she visited, he brought her long stemmed roses. She had really missed him. Darian would always love her no matter what, and because of that, she allowed herself to depend on him for even her very existence. She stopped visiting him because she needed to live without him. She knew that when he decided to settle down with someone, his future Mrs. wasn’t going to tolerate her stopping by for tea and crumpets everyday. She needed to move on with out him, so she stopped coming home. “How is Audrey doing?” Asking about her mother would probably be a safe topic; they both equally hated her guts according to Darian. “She’s still the same. I neglected to tell her that you were in town, to give you the option of seeing her, without pressure.” “Thanks. I’ll give her a call and let her know. Maybe she and I can do lunch.” “I’m sure that she would love that.” He was quiet after that. “And how are you doing?” “I’m living.” She could tell that he was uncomfortable with her. “You know the funny thing about my sobriety?” “What’s that?” “It’s like being in hell. I vividly remember everything I did to you and everyone that I loved. I live in hell everyday, and it’s this hell that keeps me sober. It’s the same hell that keeps Momma drinking.” Sandy didn’t know how to respond to his comment; she knew that he was in need of her forgiveness. “I wish both you and Audrey success on your road to recovery. I know how hard kicking an addiction is.” “How would you know about addiction?” he asked cynically.

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17 “Because I am a food addict. And I can’t quit my habit cold turkey. It sustains me.” “How can you equate being addicted to liquor to being addicted to food?” “As easily as you can equate being addicted to alcohol to being addicted to drugs. When I was feeling any kind of emotion, food meant more to me than anything in this world. It’s what made me both happy and sad. I turned to food as an outlet and a friend. Eating controlled my life as well as consumed it; so don’t try to assume that you know anything about my addiction. I will battle this disease until I am in my grave.” Brian took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “You do understand, and I guess we’ll be battling our demons for the rest of our lives. Here I thought you had it easy because you didn’t drink or use drugs. I never realized that you had another form of addiction, that was just as dangerous as the one mother and I have.” “Everything isn’t always what it seems. But then you know that. I was hurt just as much as you were by Audrey’s actions.” “But you have always been so much stronger than we were. You are a fighter and a winner. I’ve been jealous of you since the day that you were born. You have always excelled despite the insurmountable odds that you’ve had to overcome. I wish that I had half the strength that you have.” “You’ve been clean and sober for almost two years? That should count for something.” “You know how long I’ve been sober for?” “Yes. Darian keeps me posted on your progress.” “We’re here.” Brian announced, as they pulled up to the ranch style home. “Darian lives here?” she asked, surprised. The last time she had visited Darian stayed in a little town home. This house was made for a family of five. Brian took her bags to the door and unlocked the door for her. He stood at the threshold and handed her the keys. She extended her arms and gave him a hug, and he hugged her back. Sandy felt Brian’s body start to shake as he started to sob. She hugged him tightly as the tears rolled down her cheek. Her defenses began to break down.

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18 “I need to be going, but do you mind if I call you sometime?” “I don’t see why not. Let me give you my cell phone number.” She pulled out a piece of paper from her tote bag and wrote down both her cell phone and her home phone number. “The first one is my cell phone number. I hardly use it. I’m always home, so feel free to call me at my house.” “I will.” He kissed her on the cheek before leaving. “I love you Sandy, and I am really proud of you.” “Thanks Brian. You take care, and feel free to call me.” “Of course I will.” “Oh, don’t tell Darian about my drastic transformation when you see him. I want to surprise him.” “He will be surprised. Your secret is safe with me. As a matter of fact, I’ll be long gone by the time he returns to the office. See you later sis.” She watched as he got into the truck and left.

CHAPTER FOUR (The Surprise) Sandy had just gotten out of the shower when she heard the phone sound. She picked it up on the third ring. It was Darian. “Hey baby. You made it in safely.” “Obviously.” “Your brother was gone by the time I got back here to work. Did he upset you?” His concern was flattering. She smiled. “Actually, we had a great conversation. I told him to call me. Maybe he and I can keep in touch.” “That would be great. Look, I’m on my way home. Will you be ready to go?” 18

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“I sure will. Where are we going?” “I have a condo on the beach, keep your clothes packed because we’ll be spending Christmas there.” “Oh goody. I love Portafino.” “I know, so make sure you’re ready by six. Everything begins to close at ten. We haven’t quite recovered from Ivan yet.” “Is it going to be formal?” “Casual. Remember that it’s a little nippy on the beach this time of the year.” “I’ll dress accordingly then.” “See you in about a half hour.” “Okay.” They hung up the phone. Going over to her suitcase, she picked out her outfit. Her underwear consisted of a shiny black tee strapped lycra thong, an ultra sheer black bra that held and supported her large breasts very well. She wore her favorite boot cut, low riding jeans, with an ultra-tight short sleeve sweater that bared her midriff, exposing her pierced naval. She wore black high-heeled designer ankle boots, which gave her average five foot four inch height, an added two inches. Her lips were a glossy berry color that complimented her full lips and straight white teeth. With a clear sienna complexion, she opted to arch her eyebrows and forgo any other makeup. Her naturally dirty brown hair had been relaxed, and dyed a deep auburn color. She had gone to the salon earlier that morning and had her hair cut and styled to frame her face in long layers. Looking in the mirror, she admired her reflection. It had taken a lot of hard work to look this good and she was proud of it. Darian was going to be shocked by her transformation. She repacked her belongings, and sat them by the door. She was going back for her tote bag and leather jacket when the doorbell rang.

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“Who is it?” “Vanessa,” the voice answered. She opened the door. Vanessa was a more updated version of every other woman he’d dated since high school. Her hair was bleached within an inch of its life, her face was nice in the ‘I attended the school for Tammy Fay’ way. She was average height and on the petite side of one hundred and twenty pounds, but that was all lost on her humongous boobs. Sandy was a D-cup herself, so Vanessa had to be a triple E or an F. “Are you going to stare at my breasts all day, or are you going to invite me in?” “Sorry, I was just wondering how you could hold them up since you’re so tiny? Do they hurt? Because they look painful.” She hadn’t moved to let Vanessa in, hoping that the woman would get the message. Vanessa squeezed past her instead. “Wait a minute Pamela Lee, I didn’t invite you in.” The woman turned her head back to her quickly as if she said something peculiar. “Until recently, I lived here. Who are you? Besides the rebound girl.” “Hardly. My name is Sandra, but you can call me Sandy, now tell me what you want.” The realization hit Vanessa and she was shocked. Yeah bitch, now what? Sandy thought to herself. Portraying a cool demeanor since she was a schoolteacher, Sandy relaxed her stance. “You’re not fat,” the woman blurted out “And you’re not cute,” she rebutted, forget being polite, this bitch was going to make her forget her manners and give her ass a serious beat-down.

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21 “I’m sorry, it’s just that with all of the pictures of you around the house and everywhere we go, you were twice the size that you are now I didn’t recognize you. Hi there, I’m Vanessa.’ She held out her hand. Sandy was apprehensive about shaking it at first; however the woman’s warm smile convinced her that all was well in bimbo land. “I came by to get my juicer. I can’t believe I left it here. It should be in the kitchen.” She headed for the kitchen, with Sandy right behind her. She went straight to the cabinet and got it out. Sandy was already on her phone calling Darian. He picked up on the third ring. “I’m almost there, are you ready?” “Yeah, um Vanessa is here and she wants a juicer.” “It’s in the kitchen, I’m here.” He hung up the phone. “Told ya,” Vanessa teased. “I’m about to get some water, you want some?” Sandy asked her. She went over to the refrigerator and eyed its contents. Beer, wine, fruit, leftovers, where was the water? “The water is in the crisper,” Vanessa offered. Turning back to the refrigerator, Sandy bent down and opened the crisper where bottled water was layered; it took some effort to pull one out, so she hadn’t heard Darian as he came in through the door. “Vanessa, where’s Sandy?” Vanessa ignored him. She was too preoccupied gawking at the woman bending down in front of his refrigerator. The sight of her well-rounded ass exposing a shiny black t-strapped thong revealing a sexy tattoo of a brown pixie getting eaten out by a white elf also captured his attention. What the hell? He looked at Vanessa who licked her lips like she wanted to feast upon the woman’s body. “Who the hell is in my refrigerator?” he asked dazed. Sandy jumped up at the sound of Darian’s voice. She ran to him and jumped in his arms giving him a hug. “It’s me idiot. Sandy.” She was hugging him, as he stood there flabbergasted.

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“Sandy?” he asked, her words finally sinking in. “Is it really you?” He pulled her away from him and inspected her. “Ta dah!” She held out her arms, she turned around for him to look her over. “You look…” “Different,” Sandy supplied. “Hot,” Vanessa added. “Great,” he responded. Looking over at Vanessa, he asked, “You got your juicer?” Nodding a ‘yes’ to him, she held up the machine as proof. “Good, because it’s time for you to go.” He escorted her out of the kitchen to the door. “She is hot. Let’s do a threesome.” “Night, Vanessa.” He opened the door for her and closed it immediately. He turned back around and Sandy was standing by the kitchen door drinking her water. “Had I known that she was into women, I might have liked her better.” He told Sandy. She laughed and it warmed his heart. “Come here.” She walked over to where he was standing. She extended her arms around his neck. He hugged her back. “Surprised?” She asked and moved back a little to see his facial expression. She was pleased to see the lust in his eyes. “I’m very surprised.” He bent his head down to kiss her softly on the mouth. The usual peck that they shared deepened into a sultry kiss as she leaned into him and slightly parted her lips. He slipped a warm tongue into her open mouth and savored her sweet taste. “Now that’s a welcome home kiss.” She ran soft fingers through his dark blond hair and kissed him again. He gripped her behind as he grinded her close to him. Bringing his hands up to cup her breast, he tweaked her nipple. “We should be heading out to the beach, or we’ll never make it to dinner,” she suggested.

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*** He hated to release her, but she was right, they had needed to get going, and he needed to clear his mind. Things had certainly changed between them. “I’m sorry.” “For what Darian?” “For coming on to you, for groping you. I would have killed another man for doing to you what I just did.” “Maybe jealousy is the reason.” “Maybe.” He held her hand. “Hey, turn around; I want to see your tattoo.” She was surprised that he knew about the tattoo, but then she realized that he must have seen it when she was bending down. She turned around and leaned forward. She heard him suck in a breath. Darian felt the contraction in his chest as she exposed her backside. Her ass was a work of art that any man; be it gay or straight, would love to get his hands on. The tattoo was a picture of a lovely brown naked pixie lying on her back, with her left leg bent at the knee, as a white elf lay down, his face buried in her pussy. He knew that this picture represented him and her, and he planned to make her fantasy come true. “What are their names?” “If and Chance.” “Odd names for your tattoo.” “Not really: If you would give me a Chance, this is how it could be.” He smiled at her boldness. “I understand it now. So what if I gave you a chance. How do you think it would be?” “You know that it’ll be hell hot!” She winked at him. “But who said that I was referring to you?”

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24 He raised an eyebrow. “Are you vying for someone else’s attention?” “I might be, or maybe he’s vying for mine. I never did specify who was If and who was Chance.” “No you didn’t, and the way that you look, I’m sure you have every man and some women in the entire state of Georgia wishing for the opportunity that you’re blessing me with. Thank you.” They walked out to his car hand and hand. He helped her into the passenger seat, and placed her bags in the backseat where his briefcase was. “No overnight bag for you?” “I’m taking you to my condo; I have clothes and things already there.” “Duh! I don’t know why I was under the impression that you were just renting this place for a secret getaway.” “Nope, I own it.” “How long have you owned it?” “About a year, however, it was just completed last month.” “Did you and Vanessa stay there often?” “She hasn’t seen it since the renovation stage and I've hardly visited the place since it’s been finished.” “How come?” “You sure ask a lot of questions.” “I want to know a lot of things. For instance, will I be having sex in the same bed that you and Vanessa screwed on? And if you think that you’re screwing me there, than you are sadly mistaken.” “No, you will be the first woman in my bed at the condo.” “Then why do you have it?”

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25 “Primarily, because I can. Also, I do a lot of work on the beach and the surrounding areas’; staying close to my work is convenient.” “What about when….” She wasn’t able to finish her sentence because her cell phone rang. She answered it. “Hello.” “You made it there safely.” It was Tre. She smiled at Darian, who had focused his attention back on the road. “Yeah. I got in not too long ago.” “Have he seen you yet?” “Yes, I’m with him right now.” “Having sex?” “Going to dinner. If we were doing that, I wouldn’t have picked up the phone.” He laughed dryly. “I hope that he doesn’t go through with this. He loves you, but he’s not in love with you. You’ve waited this long to make love, why hand it over to someone who will never appreciate and love you? Hell, you’ve waited this long, wait a bit longer and save it for your husband.” Tre would never understand that if she couldn’t marry Darian, she didn’t want to marry anyone at all and seeing Darian again confirmed those feelings. She wasn’t the type to compromise. “This is really a bad time to discuss this—“ He interrupted whatever it was she was about to say. “When will be a good time to discuss it? When it’s obviously too late!” “That’s none of your damned business Tre! You’re really starting to piss me off.” “Well, that’s not my intention. I just want to be the voice of reason; you need to view things from my perspective. I love you and asked you to be my wife. Does that mean anything to you?” Tre sounded crushed. She didn’t want to hurt him, and she did deserve a lot of the blame by keeping him around when she knew

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26 that he was in love with her. She’s always been upfront that friendship was the only thing that she could offer him; however, his arrogant nature wouldn’t let him accept rejection once he was fixated on his conquest. “Bye Tre, and have a nice Christmas.” She hung up the phone. “Your boyfriend?” Darian asked. “A wanna-be.” Her cell phone rang again, ignoring it, she put it on vibrate. “I imagine that you have a lot of ‘wanna-bes.” “A few. Actually for the past three or four years, I’ve been chased a lot.” “And you have never slept with any of your pursuers?’ “That’s what they were ‘pursuers’. When I finally make love, I want it to mean something. I want it to be with someone who loves me because I am worthy to be loved, and not some guy trying to beat everybody to the punch. I am not interested in being any man’s conquest.” “I understand; however, what do you expect to happen between us, once we do this?” “Nothing really. I expect to get the loving of a lifetime, with my closest and dearest loved one and hopefully you’ll show mercy on me and give it to me more than once while I’m here.” “I don’t think that you have to worry about that from me. I plan on giving it to you the entire time that you’re down here.” “And when I go back home? Will we be friends with benefits?” “It will be as it has always been.” Although she was the most breathtaking specimen that he’d ever seen now that she’d lost so much weight, Darian didn’t want a relationship with her. He was afraid that he would lose what they had to something as inconsequential as sex. Sandy was sure she could change his mind about the relationship aspect. He loved her and she loved him. They were meant to be together, but in the event that he didn’t reciprocate her feelings; she was ready to move on.

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*** “It’s pretty amazing.” Sandy looked around. Living in Georgia, she had really missed Pensacola Beach. The atmosphere here was so laid back and comfortable. “You’ve sure come a long way from eating sardines and mustard out of the can, to eating salmon,” she told him. Trying to get the conversation started after the car ride to the restaurant was vexing. He clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk. “And you’ve come a long way in every…aspect.” “You mean I can now eat a simple meal without gorging myself.” She didn’t want to give him the impression that she was sensitive about her weight issues. He smiled, flashing straight white teeth, his brown eyes shining. “Yeah, you have come a long way from eating everything in sight, to controlling your eating habits. I am impressed with your progress.” “Thanks. I work very hard to maintain.”

**** Darian saw Audrey approaching, too late. She was on her way over to the table. She didn’t even recognize Sandy. “Well if it isn’t Darian Sawyer, what are you doing here?” Noticing Sandy for the first time, she looked closely at her daughter with vague recognition. “With this stunning creature. Sandy will be jealous!” Audrey had no tact. Darian thought. He couldn’t wait to burst her bubble. Holding his hand out to stop Sandy from saying anything, he signaled for her to stay seated. “Hi Audrey, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, her name is Sandra Goodwin, I think you know her.” Darian stood as Sandy started to stand up. “Oh my God. It is you!” Audrey was shocked. She came over to hug Sandy, who stood rod straight.

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28 “You are tiny! My baby girl is tiny! I want to introduce you to David. He’s not going to believe this.” She grabbed a hold of Sandy’s hand and pulled her to a table, which was occupied by a good-looking gentleman. Darian was in tow right behind them. “David, this is my daughter Sandy. Sandy, this is my friend David.” Darian came up beside her and possessively put his arm around her waist. She extended her hand to him and he kissed the back of it. David gave Audrey a questioning glance that wasn’t missed on Darian. “I am pleased to meet you, sir.” Standing up, he shook Sandy’s hand. “No, the pleasure is all mine. Would you two like to join us?” “I’m sorry, but we’re almost done with dinner, we have plans for tonight, but thanks for asking.” She and Darian were about to walk away when Audrey stopped them. “May I speak with Sandy alone for a minute?” Looking back at David she winked. “I’ll only be a moment.” Darian looked at Sandy who nodded back at him that it was okay. He went over to the table where David was and starting talking to him.

**** “This is a surprise. You look wonderful, and I didn’t know about this.” She had tears in her eyes. “Are things so bad that calling me to let me know that you are in town is such a daunting task? Was I such a bad mother?” “Yes in both cases. I came here to have a great time this holiday with my family—Darian! I am happy to see that you are doing well, and have a new man in your life, but I’m not, at the point in my life, where I want a relationship with you. Take care.” Sandy turned to walk away from her mother, but she grabbed her, spun her around and hugged her. “I am so proud of you and your brother. I haven’t done many things right, but I am so blessed to have you two. I am so sorry for everything that I’ve done to you, and I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me and your brother one day. And if you can’t do it for us, do it for yourself.” Sandy felt her mother’s tears roll down her cheek. She closed her eyes and hugged her back. “I love you Sandy and you continue to be more than I had raised you up to be.” “Thank you Momma. This really means a lot to me, but I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

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29 “I look forward to it.” They kissed each other on the cheek. Darian and Dave came over to them. “I need to go to the rest room. I’m sure that I look a mess with my makeup running. Take care, baby.” She squeezed Sandy’s hand one more time and left to the restroom. “It was really nice meeting you,” Darian told David. Darian paid the bill as Sandy sat in the car waiting for him. She waited all of her life to make amends with her mother, and just like that, it was over. Feeling betrayed that her weight was behind her newfound ‘mother’s love’, Sandy started to jones for something to eat. “Are you alright?” Darian asked as he got into the car. Sandy was shaking her leg and biting her nails. He noticed that she had tears in her eyes. Reaching over, he pulled her in his arms. “It’s okay.” He comforted her as she began to cry. “It’s okay.”

CHAPTER FIVE (A promise kept) Looking up from her tear-drenched face; she saw the caring in his eyes. “I want you to make love to me Darian. I want you to make me feel loved as if you’re in love with me.” He heard the vulnerability in her voice. He knew that embarking on this would be dangerous to their relationship; however, he couldn’t deny her request. Starting the car and driving off, he made it back to his condo in just a few minutes. “This place is beautiful.” She admired as he ushered her from the underground parking garage to the elevator. He pushed the button for the twenty-eighth floor. “Come here,” he ordered, and she walked over to him. He dropped her bags and snatched her into his embrace and kissed her passionately. Luckily there weren’t any other passengers in the elevator to witness their display of affection. He backed her up against the elevator and kissed her neck, as he grinded up against her. The elevator stopped, letting on two teenage boys. Darian looked down at Sandy and caught her blushing. “God please let the Earth open up and swallow me,” she prayed. 29

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From the mirror at the top of the elevator, she noticed that the boys were giving each other knowing glances, and smiling at each other. Thankfully the elevator soon stopped on their floor, and Darian grabbed her hand and her bags, as they exited the elevator. “Handle that,” one of the boys yelled at Darian. Walking up to the door, Darian asked her if she was ready. She nodded ‘yes’, and he opened up the door. “This is a nice set up you have here, Mr. Sawyer.” “Thank you. Follow me.” He walked to the master bedroom, where he started to immediately undress. She was too nervous to look at him directly, but she did take occasional glances his way every time he removed a different article of clothing, until he stood inches in front of her stark naked, and aroused. “You have a nice bed.” Sandy looked around to avoid looking at him. “Sandy, look at me,” he demanded. She looked up at his intense gaze. Boy Tre, you were all wrong, his body is beautiful all over, and he’s hung like a snake! “There’s another shower across from the spare bedroom if you need it. I need a shower; I’ll be out in a few minutes.” He walked butt naked to the bathroom. Sandy immediately went to her suitcase and pulled out her satin, wine-colored slip dress, with matching stiletto slippers. She went to his spare bathroom and freshened herself up. She was standing at the foot of his big sleigh bed when he came out of the bathroom. Water drops from his smooth body tempted Sandy to taste, as he stood there with the towel barely hanging from his hips. His smoldering glare spoke volumes of what he wanted to do to her. He slowly walked over to her; discarding his towel and exposing his hardened cock. He reached out and toyed with the thin shoulder straps of her slip, lowering it until her breast was exposed. Cupping the breast, he placed a nipple

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31 into his mouth and lapped at it, making it bead up, as his other hand worked its way up to her panty-less crotch. “It’s so smooth. I love a hairless pussy.” He stuck a finger into her sopping wet vagina. She gasped at his invasion into her tight cavity. “You’re hot and wet for me.” He rubbed her clit with his thumb. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation as he kissed her passionately on the lips. She could feel his erection grow larger on her belly, as he deepened the kiss. “Take off your dress and lay down.” She immediately obeyed, climbing up onto the bed and laying down. “Part your legs so that I can see what belongs to me.” She bent her knees and spread her legs out wide. Darian looked at the beautiful flower that was before him. He was overwhelmed with emotion, lust, passion, and love? Lying in between her legs, with his face in line with her pussy, he opened up her labia folds and started to lick her from her open cavity to her clit.

*** Sandy felt the electric shock go through her body. It was an indescribable feeling of rapture that overwhelmed her senses. Shaking her head from side to side, she caught their reflection in the mirror; it was just like her tattoo. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the sensations that were flowing through her body, as her she began to shake. Darian threw her legs over his shoulder and continued to lap at her pussy as she climaxed. She tasted so good to him, he was sure that he could spend eternity lapping at her cunt. He placed two fingers into her saturated cavity and fingerfucked her into a violent frenzy. “Ohhh God! Please, I need you,” she begged, and he rose up on his knees and pulled her down closer to him. Holding his dick in his hand, he slowly entered her dripping wet channel. Fighting the carnal need to drive into her, he continued to slowly feed her his dick. He stopped when he came up against a barrier that led to the promise land. Looking down at her, he demanded that she opened her eyes, and she complied. 31

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“Are you ready?” “Yes baby, I’m ready,” she declared, and he pushed up in her, breaking through her hymen. “Shit!” she yelled as he seated himself into her no longer virgin vagina. She balled her hands into fist as he leaned over and thrust in and out of her. “Don’t move,” she cried out, and he stayed still, until she was able to adjust to his size. He felt her vaginal walls contract around his cock, extracting a moan out of him, which delighted Sandy. Despite her discomfort, she did it again. “Bend your knees halfway and open up your legs wider,” he ordered, and she obeyed. He started to withdraw from her, stopping when his head was almost out of her, and then he pushed back inside of her, thrusting into her slowly so that she could adjust to his rhythm. She grabbed onto his hips as he set a comfortable pace. Now accustomed to his size, the more he pushed into her, the better it felt to her, and soon she climaxed. Darian picked up the pace now that she peaked, gradually intensifying the speed of his movements until he was fucking her wildly. He grabbed her hips and pounded her pussy like a man overcome with madness. “This pussy’s mine.” He demanded as he hammered into her, “Say it.” “It’s yours,” she responded breathlessly. That confirmation triggered his orgasm and he came. Breathing hard, he kissed her on the forehead. “That was the best sex I’ve ever had.” He exhaled. She smiled up at him, as he slowly pulled out and lay down beside her. She turned around on her side as they spooned together. “Thank you.” “Did I hurt you?” She shrugged her shoulders. He kissed the back of her neck. “A bit. But I soon got over the pain.” “Can we do this again?” ‘Now?”

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33 “No. I mean in the future…the near future.” He hugged her close to him. “No, I don’t mind. We can do it as many times as you want to, for the next two weeks.” “And then you go back to Georgia?” “Yeah. I go back to my life.” “Does that life include seeing me every weekend?” “That would be inconvenient. Besides, I don’t want to become a burden to you. You’ve completed your obligation to me, I can move on with my life now.” He stiffened his hold around her. “So you had no intentions of pursuing anything more than sex with me? And now that I’ve completed my promise to you, you can just waltz out of my life?” He got up and started to get dressed in a pair of baggy pajama pants that incidentally, she had bought. Realizing that he had forgotten the condoms, he cursed. “Shit!” “What?” “I forgot the condoms. I may have gotten you pregnant.” “No you didn’t. I told you that I wasn’t ovulating, so they’re no worries.” “I am worried, so don’t tell me not to. If you get pregnant, will you be ready to move down here permanently? What are you willing to sacrifice if you are pregnant? I’m telling you now, I am not moving to Atlanta, and I won’t let you raise our child by yourself.” “If I’m pregnant, I’ll do anything and everything that is in the best interest of our baby, however, I am not ovulating, so there are no worries.” Thinking that he was in a ‘win’, ‘win’ situation, he relaxed. “I’m going to want more pussy soon, so go soak in the Jacuzzi it’ll help with the tenderness.” “You are poetic in your demands for my coochie. I love you and thank you for considering my state of being. I am in fact a little sore.”

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34 “I hope that I didn’t hurt you too bad.” She rolled her eyes “Boys and their egos. I’m okay.” Feeling the soreness intensify as she walked, she couldn’t imagine breaking her virginity at a young age; it hurt way too much. “Hey, why don’t we soak together, maybe I can show you my technique in fellatio.”

**** Shocked at her statement, he hurried over to her and carried her to the Jacuzzi that was located in the master bathroom. Carrying her to the shower and gently placing her down, he turned on the heat, lights, and bubbles to the Jacuzzi. Sandy stood under the spray and enjoyed the feel of the water against her skin. “Could you go into my overnight case and get my shower bag?” “Sure.” He found the bag with ease and stepping into the shower, he handed it to her. “Thank you. You know that this is my first co-ed shower.” He was rubbing his cock against her behind; his hands hugged her around her waist. He was hard as granite, and she had made him that way. Sandy was in heaven. Bending down and picking up something—body gel, Darian rubbed the fruity fragrance over her body. He cupped her ample bosoms in his hand, thumbing the nipples making them hard as he kissed her neck. Sandy relished over the feelings that he was evoking in her. Sliding his arms down to her waist and further, he massaged her clit as he tweaked her nipples. “Can you take me again?” he asked, his voice lower than normal. She shook her head yes, unable to speak. Leaning forward and bracing herself with her hands up against the wall, she spread her legs apart, while he parted her nether cheeks and pushed up into her unyielding, wet pussy. She gasped at the sudden intrusion into her tight hole.

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**** Darian held her hips in place as he slowly thrust into her. He wanted to go slow and make this lovemaking experience last. That was his intention until he looked down at her damned tattoo. It triggered a feral reaction in him causing him to ram his cock into her—no it was now his, delicious pussy. Sandy panted at the pain and pleasure that Darian was giving her. She shoved her hips back on his cock wanting as little space as possible between them. She cried out in protest as he pulled out of her. Turning her around, he pressed her against the shower wall, and lifted her leg up at the knee. “Wrap your legs around me baby.” She did, and he thrusted balls deep into her. They looked into one another’s eyes, discovering each other in a special way for the first time. Leaning down, he kissed her freckled nose, and licked her upper lip. He bent his head down as far as he could and raised her plump tit to his mouth for suckling. He laved at the succulent brown nipple, as he continued to pummel her—his, sweet pussy. “Ohhh Darian, what are you doing to me?” She moaned as he pounded into her. Lifting her off the wall, he bobbed her on his cock, gripping her ass cheeks for leverage. “Do something for me baby,” he huffed and sank into her. “Anything baby.” Thrusting into her, he sank his fingers into her ass and spread her cheeks apart “Come for me.” Slapping her ass, he immediately felt her juices flow over him, as her walls engulfed his cock, milking him of his seed. Letting out a primal cry, Sandy came violently, with Darian following in a succession of cuss words.

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CHAPTER SIX

(Making Love Makes Changes) Sighing heavily, they untangled themselves and walked over to the Jacuzzi. Sandy sat in between his legs, letting the soft feel of the water relax her sore muscles. “Will making love change things between us?” She laid her head against his chest. “Probably,” he answered truthfully. “How so?” “I don’t think that I can just let you walk back out of my life. I want to be your man.” She sat up and turned to him. Looking him right into his brown eyes, she told him, “Are you serious about this? You want me to be your girl.” “I'm serious enough to ask you to move in with me.” He kissed her on the nose, and then softly on the lips. He might show some interest now that you’re not two- hundred and fifty pounds . Tre’s words echoed in her ear. She abruptly ended the kiss. “I’m happy with my life in Atlanta, I’m not sure if I’m ready to come back here to Florida, not with out a commitment.” She saw him roll his eyes. “Why is it that all you women want is a wedding ring”? “Hold up Darian, First of all, I don’t appreciate you comparing me with anyone else. I’m not asking for your hand in marriage, I just want to be secure in the fact that if I decided to uproot all of my belongings, and give up my job and everything else that I hold near and dear for a chance at love, I’m getting more out of this than a belly-full of come! I want to know that if I make a sacrifice, I’ll be the only woman you’re fucking.” She had stood up and started to leave the Jacuzzi. Darian sat down in the water; shook his head. Women, he thought to himself as he closed his eyes. He heard her leave the room and soon come back. Feeling the shadow loom over him, he looked up and saw the angry expression on her beautiful face.

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37 “And furthermore, I was proposed to today by Tre, so if I wanted to wed, all I have to do was say ‘when’ and he’d do anything for me.” She squatted down on her knees beside him and showed him the ring that Tre had given her. Grabbing the ring, he inspected it. “Very nice. Too bad you have to give it back to him so soon after he gave it to you.” He handed it back to her. “I’m not giving it back to him quite yet. I may have a change of heart. He is willing to give me what I want.” “What is it that you want? Do you want a commitment that includes the hopes of matrimony at the end of it? I won’t be manipulated down the aisle.” “Look Darian, I just want you to know that I have options. You’re the one who keeps bringing up getting married. All I want is a commitment to the relationship.” “I don’t understand what your kind of commitment entails.” “It entails you to be with me exclusively. I am your woman, and you are my man. We take care of each other, and we’re a team.” “So it’s just like what we have now, but magnified, and with fringe benefits. I can do that.” “Don’t get to comfortable with my request. I want to know what happens when one of us decides to move on?” “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” His ‘put off tomorrow, what you can do today’ attitude was wearing on her nerves. They had too much riding on this. If she lost him, she would lose everything. His need to satisfy his carnal hunger for her at the risk of everything they shared was draining her patience. “I want a guarantee that no matter what, you’ll always love me and will be there for me. I promise that no matter what, I’ll always be here for you too.” “You are all that matters to me in this world. I will always be there for you, no matter what happens between us, that fact will never change. Smiling and not wanting to further ruin the mood, she opted to make them both happy.

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38 “I owe you something,” she said seductively. “What’s that?” “A blow job so let’s go back into the bedroom and get it started.” She walked ahead of him and he pinched her ass as she walked. Pointing to the bed, she ordered him to ‘sit down right here.” He obeyed without question and that pleased her. Maybe one day he’d agree to some light S&M. She smiled at the thought, especially if she could be the Dom. Walking over to her bags, she pulled out some fragrant lotions. Returning to him, she kneeled at his feet, taking the sole of his foot into her hand and placing the foot straight up on her lap. The lotion that she applied to his body had a musky scent to it. She had purchased it from an African essence store with the knowledge that he would smell so good with it on. Squirting a dollop amount into the palm of her hand, she worked her way from the tip of his toes up to his thigh, methodically working her soft hands around his legs. She had been right, the fragrance smelled great on him. When she was finished applying lotion to his legs, she sat in between them. Looking lustily at the large pink cock in front of her, she moved forward and placed the mushroom head of his dick into her mouth. Immersing herself in the first taste of cock, she closed her eye, and let her tongue caress and lick the head of his shaft. Darian moved forward and opened his legs wider. “Ohh yea baby, you got it,” he moaned as he clutched a handful of her red hair. She had taken him almost all the way into her mouth, wetting his rod, while she worked the head. Clasping her hand around his staff, she pumped him as she bent forward and licked his man sacs. “Shit baby, don’t stop.” He was amazed at her technique as she carefully licked him in the most sensitive of areas. Lying down flat on the bed, he caused her to move forward. Pumping him, until she felt the sticky dew of his pre-cum, she sat up and licked her fingers. “You did good baby. Sit on it,” Darian watched her in awe, as she sat on the bed.

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**** “It’s not over baby, just a change in position.” She straddled him, her face to his cock, moving back, she placed her knees on each side of his head, her pussy looming over his face. Grabbing her ass, and spreading her cheeks, getting a clear view of her—no his, shaven channel, he licked a straight line from her clit to her anal cavity, and back again.

**** Gripping the sheets at her side, delighting in the pleasures that Darian was evoking in her body. Not to be outdone, she took his cock into her mouth, wetting it entirely. Dipping her tongue into his little hole, she felt it harden. Moving comfortably onto her knees, she swallowed his cock with an expert’s ease. She felt its head hit the back of her throat and then further. Sucking in her cheeks, she pushed him down her throat further. Slowly, she released him and swallowed him again. Thrusting his hips forward, he fucked her mouth like a man insane. Never had a blowjob felt so good. “I’m coming,” he hissed, his voice unusually high. “Ohh. Shit. Yes. Sandy. Have mercy,” he bellowed, as he squirted deep down her throat. Sandy felt rather than tasted his release as it glided down her throat. She eased him out of her mouth; his dick immediately missed the comforts of her mouth. She was the best. Spent from a blowjob, he was relieved that she lay down next to him. Draping an arm over his face, she laid close to him in his other arm. “Your breathing is erratic.” Pressing her ear to his chest, she felt the frantic beats. “No shit Sherlock. Where did you learn to suck dick like that?” He found himself getting irritated at the thought of her practicing on anyone else. “A banana.” “You learned—no mastered the art of ‘deep throat’ on a banana? Hell I’ve had professionals who could take lessons from you.”

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40 “Eww. You’ve paid for sex? Why?” “Because they knew what they were doing. Stop being so green, I’m twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight years old, and have never been married, there’s not much that I haven’t done.” “That’s nasty. Paying for sex. You don’t know where she’s been. And you mean to tell me that you’ve been with men too?” Sitting up abruptly. Oh Lord, her man was on the ‘down low’? She began to panic. “No, I’ve never been with a man, nor have I ever wanted too. I mean that I’ve had all kinds of sex, with various types of women.” “Have you ever been with a black woman?” “No, I’ve only been with white women.” “Until now,” she corrected. “Until now.” “Hmm. Interesting. Have you ever been with a big girl?” “No, only skinny ones.” “That sucks. You’re meaning to tell me, that the only women you’ve ever been with were skinny white women? How shallow.” “With blond hair. And you’ve never answered my question: You learned the art of ‘deep throat’ on a banana? I’m not buying that.” “Not that it’s any of your business; however, I learned the procedure from the Internet. There’s a bunch of information on the art of fellatio. By using a bananas, cucumbers, and dildos, I taught myself some techniques.” Feeling relieved, he embraced her, rolling her over on his side, seating her onto his now hardening cock. Looking into eyes as he drove into her until they both reached their climax, they fell asleep in each others arms.

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***** Sandy woke to Darian starring at her. “Hey sleepy head,” he greeted her. She was still in his arms, still stuffed with his growing cock. Closing her eyes she rolled off of him. “Where are you going?” His body was missing hers. “To brush my teeth and you need to brush yours too.” Smiling, he threw a pillow at her, missing her as she ran into the bathroom and closed the door. He heard her cell phone ring again, so he went over to her purse, picked it up and answered it. “Hello.” “Wrong number,” the man said and hung up. The phone immediately rang back, which Darian assumed meant that whoever it was had Sandy’s number on speed dial. “Are you fucking him?” the same caller asked. “If you mean is Sandy fucking me, she would be if you would stop calling.” The constant ringing of her phone irritated him, ensuring that he couldn’t fall back asleep. The caller hung up again. Pulling sweatpants on, Darian walked into the kitchen and pulled a beer out of the refrigerator. He had to lay down some ground rules for this relationship if it was going to work out. He headed back to the bedroom, laid down and turned on the television. “Was that my phone?” Sandy asked, coming out of the bathroom naked and soaking wet. “Yes. And you can tell your little admirer to stop calling.” She puts on her panties and an emerald green slip dress. Picking up her phone, she cursed. She had ten missed calls, all from Tre, something must be wrong. She immediately called him back. “What?” he snapped at her. 41

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“What’s the matter Tre? I see you’ve called me.” “Where were you?” “That’s none of your business, Tre.” “I already know what you were doing. Your new man made sure of that. Did you fuck him with my engagement ring on your finger?” “See Tre, now I’m going to have to curse you out.” Moving the phone to her other ear, she began to reprimand him. “First of all Tre, I don’t answer to you. You are my friend, that’s all, nothing else. So don’t get it in your mind that you can question my judgment, because you can’t, I’m not that kind of girl, and this is not that type of party. Are you hearing me? “Secondly, I’m not even wearing your ring, wouldn’t consider wearing it, so no, I didn’t fuck him with it on. As a matter of fact, I’ll make sure you get it back ASAP! I’m sorry I even let you talk me into taking it with me, because for real, no ifs and or buts I’m not going to marry you.” “So it’s like that? Keep the ring. I would have loved you no matter what. See what happens when you gain your weight back. See how fast he tosses your fat ass to the side. I won’t be waiting for you.” Click. The phone went dead. Closing her phone, she pulled out the charger and plugged it into the socket. Looking at her smugly as she wiped the tears from her face. “I guess he won’t be calling you anymore.” Darian said smugly. She lay down beside him. “You know he asked if I fucked you when I answered your phone.” He took another sip of his beer and pinched her nipple. “What were you doing answering my phone?” “It was ringing and it kept ringing. I got tired of hearing it, so I answered.” “And you couldn't give it to me?” “If it were an emergency I would have let you know.” She sat up in the bed and looked down at him. He hugged and kissed her waist as he watched a rerun of Seinfeld.

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“Do you have anything to eat?” she asked Darian. “I have some cold cuts and stuff. I have something you can put in your mouth that is zero calories.” He rubbed his cock. “Fuck you. And if you ever answer my phone again, I’m outta here.” She lay back down in the bed. She didn’t need food to calm her nerves. She needed anger. Tre may not have been right in his approach to winning her affections; however, his comments about hers and Darian's relationship planted seeds of worry about their taking the plunge into being lovers. “Don’t be mad at me.” Darian wrapped his arms around her. “Too late, I’m already mad at you.” Kissing her neck, he got up and walked over to his closet and pulled out her presents. “Happy birthday.” He handed the neatly wrapped gift and card to her. Sitting up on the bed, she shook the box and began to unwrap it. “Jimmy Choo boots! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She tried the boots on. “How do they look?” She kicked up a booted leg. “Sexy.” “Thank you.” She hugged him and began to unzip the boot. He sat at her feet and swatted her hands away. Pulling off her boots he placed them neatly back in the box and under his bed. He kissed her on the top of each foot. Sitting up, he hopped on the bed next to her. “You signed this card ‘with all my love’; do I have all of your love?” “You know you do.” Lying back on the bed, he spooned her as she put the card on the nightstand. “I love you Darian,” she declared. “I love you too.”

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CHAPTER SEVEN (The Christmas Promise) “I love Christmas,” Sandy said as they walked the mall holding hands. “I love you.” Kissing her on the lips, he hugged her closer to him. “We’ve been shopping all day, let’s go to the food court and grab a bite to eat.” Hopefully they could sit down and eat; he was tired from shopping and making love all morning. “Sure old man. I guess I can give you a break.” She laughed, hardly noticing that Darian had come to a complete stop. When she looked across the food court, she noticed Edwina, his mother, was pushing a carriage with a newborn baby, and a rambunctious child, who looked to be about five or six years old holding on to the side of the carriage, in tow. Edwina looked fearful at the sight of Darian. “Come on, let’s go.” He tried to escort her out of the food court area. Relief washed over the other woman’s face. Angry at Edwina’s relief at her son’s apparent departure, Sandy broke loose of Darian and headed in Edwina’s direction. The woman had the nerve to try and turn her carriage and escape. That bitch has some nerves, and she calls herself a mother. Darian caught up with her and spun her around. “Just let it go, she’s with children.” “Oh fuck that! You are her child, a fact apparently forgotten by her. It’s time to remind her of who she is.” She walked right up to the woman, who was trying to recover from her ungraceful exit. “Edwina, fancy seeing you here.” Sandy plastered on a phony smile that equaled Edwina’s. “And who are these darling little angels?” “Sandra Goodwin. Is that you?” She sounded truly astonished. “I hardly recognized you.” She embraced Sandy, who didn’t return the hug. “She turned out to be a real beauty, Darian. You’ve done well for yourself.” She finally acknowledged him. “How’s your mother, hon? I hear she’s doing well for herself.” “She looks well from what I've seen, but I'm not the best person to ask since we hardly have any contact with one another. You know that, ‘cut your losses’ 44

45 thing.” Sandy said sarcastically. “Don’t stand on ceremony Edwina, hug your son.” Edwin moved forward and hugged Darian. He patted her on the back, and then hugged Sandy to his side closely. She knew that he wanted to interact with his younger sisters. “She’s your mommy too?” the little girl asked, stepping from beside the carriage. “She used to be,” Darian answered honestly. She looked similar to Darian, except with blue eyes, the little girl stepped forward and extended her hand out to him. “I am Madison Whitesmith, pleased to meet you.” Taking her hand and lightly pressing them to his lips, he introduced himself and Sandy. “Hi sweetheart, my name is Darian, and this is my girlfriend, Sandy.” Madison extended her hand out to Sandy who shook it. Turning to the side, Madison introduced her baby sister. “This is Abigail, she’s only four months. She poops a lot.” Her comment broke up the tension that had surrounded them, they all laughed at Madison’s comment. Sandy went over and admired the beautiful baby in the carriage. She had to give it to the old broad, she had beautiful children. They all favored her. “Come over here and see her, Darian, she is a doll.” Sandy scooped the baby out of carriage and handed her to Darian, giving Edwina an ‘I dare you to say a word’ look. Darian briefly held his sister, before giving her back to his mother. “She’s beautiful. They both are.” Grabbing Sandy by the arm, he bid his goodbye. “Sandy and I need to be going. I hope that you girls have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.” He rushed off bringing Sandy with him. “Can we get our food ‘to go’? I’m ready to get home.” “Sure. I’m all done shopping anyway.” After ordering their food, they left the mall and headed home, but not before she went to priority ship Tre’s ring back to him. The day had been great until they had met up with Edwina. They had purchased a Christmas tree and ornaments; they had shopped for children’s toys for the children who were affected by the recent hurricane. Although it was Sandy’s idea; he had just gone along with it, unwilling to crush her enthusiasm for the season. “Why didn’t you tell me that you had two darling little sisters? And what was your mom thinking having children so late in life?”

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46 “Because I didn’t know Edwina had any more children besides me.” Gasping out of shock, she held his hand. “Edwina is something else. I can’t believe that she has totally cut you out of her life. That bitch has some nerve. Instead of hugging her; I should have cut her stupid ass.” “Calm down Annie Oakley. There is no need for you to get wound up. I cut her out of my life, and maybe she’s off of drugs, and needed to leave her old life behind, so she could make a complete change.” “At the cost of alienating you, I’m not buying it. She hates you for some reason and I want to know why.” Darian sat quietly and drove. “A penny for your thoughts?” Sandy asked as they unloaded the car. “I’m thinking about my mother.” They moved into the elevator, which had three other passengers in it. “I’ll tell you upstairs,” he whispered to her. She nodded at him. Once inside, they went into the living room and set up the tree. “I really like these ornaments that we’ve picked out for the tree. All white and silver against the green of the tree is beautiful.” Digging into the bags, she pulled out the porcelain dove they had purchased and hung it up on the tree. “I’m not finished setting up the lights,” Darian complained. “I know, but I couldn’t wait to see how he looked on the tree.” “Well, wait until I’m done.” “Sure thing, boss.” She went into the kitchen and fixed them some lunch. Darian was having a hard time accepting that his mother’s rejection was hurting him so badly, and the pain in his heart at seeing her caused him to lash out at Sandy. In the kitchen, Sandy huffed at Darian’s bad mood. “Grrr. I hate her!” Sandy growled as she fixed the plates. “I’ve since learned to let it go and so should you because she’s not worth the energy or the attention that you’re giving her” Coming up behind her, he took out her hair clip and hugged her by the waist. “And I’m sorry for snapping at you. I've had to learn to let go of the past and so should you My mother isn't worth the energy that you're expending on her.”

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“She hurt you, and I’ll never forgive her for that. But I’ll forgive you for anything.” She rested her head against his chest as her cupped her breast. “Attend to lunch later; I want to make love to you.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. “You know, as much as I like this tight fitting apple green sweater on you, it has to go.” He pulled off her shirt, exposing large breasts in an apple green satin push up bra. “Baby, you have the sexiest navel and that belly ring…” He gripped his large cock in conveying to her with out words, how much he wanted her. Unbuttoning her pants, she shimmied out of them exposing lace apple green panties. “You got any singles?” she asked. “Yeah. I have about,” reaching into his back pocket; he pulled out his wallet, “twenty bills.” “Sit down,” she ordered him down onto the bed. Walking over to the stereo, she turned on the local radio station. Unimpressed with its selection of music, she went over to his CD collection. “You oughta be shot for your music selection.” She winked at him. “They are mostly gifts. You should see some of the CD’s you’ve sent me over the years.” “I guess I’ll have to make do with this.” She played a Sade tune and backed away from the stereo. Stopping in front of him, she gyrated her hips in a circular motion, shimmying her shoulders; she thrust her boobs in his face. Cupping both breasts up, she licked them both as she moved closer to him. Never taking his eyes off of her, Darian reached for his wallet and pulled out a bill and not caring what dollar amount it was, he slid it in between her cleavage, as he licked the nipple that was set free during her touching. “No. No. No. You know the rules.” Grabbing her waist and pulling her down on him, he cupped her ass. “The rules state that all is fair…” “Is this love?”

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“It sure isn’t war.” “I love you too baby.” “Then show me. Use your beautiful body and show me.” Standing up, they quickly undressed each other and got into bed. Climbing on top of her, he entered her roughly. Wrapping her legs around him as he thrust roughly, she relished in the feel of his tender kisses on her lips. “Please baby love me. Show me that you love me. I need to hear you tell me that you love me because I am nothing with out you,” he begged as he plowed into her. “I love you. I love you. Darian, I love you,” she panted out harmoniously, savoring his overwhelming need to be loved. While enjoying the pleasures that he bestowed upon her body, she held him close to her and cried for him as he rode her body for solace. “Please don’t ever stop loving me.” He came apart with that last request. “I won’t ever stop loving you,” she promised as he pulled out of her and slumped over on his stomach, laying his arm across her midsection possessively. “I hate your mother, and to not tell you that you have siblings was cold, even my mother isn’t that heartless. You’re right to stay away from her; I’ll be your momma.” Turning over on his side facing her, he kissed her neck. “I don’t want you as my momma. I want you as my woman. My wife.” Snapping her neck to look at him she asked, “Your what?” “I want you as my wife, you know, ‘to have and to hold from this day forward’, and all of that jazz.” Sitting up in the bed, she noticed that they had money spread everywhere. She ignored it. “Stop playing.” She pinned him on his back. “I wouldn’t play with you like that. I love you. You are all that I have ever thought I have ever wanted. I can’t imagine another day with out you.” He wrapped her legs around his hips and thrust into her, making love to her again and again until they fell asleep.

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49 Waking up past midnight, Sandy kissed Darian. “Merry Christmas.” Sandy looked at the clock on the dresser. They had spent her birthday making love and making plans for the future. “Merry Christmas to you, too.” He kissed her on the lips and closed his eyes. “Darian promise me something.” “What’s that baby?” “Promise me that if I’m still childless by my twenty fiftieth birthday, you’ll get me pregnant.” Laughing and holding her tight, “That is one Christmas promise that I plan to keep.”

The End

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Author Bio L.T. Rashard was born in Jersey City, NJ where a large portion of her family still resides. As a child, she traveled with her family on military moves; however, she has spent a majority of her life growing up in Alamogordo, NM. She now resides in Florida with her husband and three children, where she is pursuing a degree in Psychology, while she indulges her in her love to write erotic romance. She loves to hear from readers: [email protected]

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