An animated look takes over her beautiful, innocent face, bringing a bliss that replaces the loss of her body’s warmth. My heart thuds. I have missed this. Us. Talking. I steal a glance her way when she hops off the bed to the nightstand, half-naked and comfortable in her skin. Does she miss it too? I frown when she reaches for my phone, the corners of my lips lift to reciprocate the bewitching smile she shoots me.
She got me something. Are we back to gifts now? I have a lot of gift ideas, if she wants gifts, she will get them. Truckloads of it. My eyes fall on her butt in boy shorts, I let out a wolf whistle and she giggles with a slight shake of her head. What has this woman done to me? How did I survive without her? Right, I didn’t.
I pat my laps when she returns to the bed, with a pout she makes herself comfortable. My dick reacts accordingly, I muster a small smile. I should have worn my briefs at least. “Sooo. Sophia and I have been working on it,” she says, a frown slipping to her lips. Tilting her head, she says, “Well, it’s just a camera, we didn’t really do anything.” Tongue-tied, I nod and the words continue rushing out of her lips. “See.”
The phone feels heavy in my hand, I stare at it like it’s my first time with it. They put a camera in Bri’s room to monitor her progress. Contrasting emotions wrestle for space in my head, I feel like an ass for not thinking it first. El releases a long sigh, my gaze lowers to the phone in my grasp. “What’s this?”
“You will know if you stop staring at it,” she says as she drags it out of my hand to open an app I’m only noticing. I need to pay more attention. A new screen pops up. “And hit the damn play button. Watch it.”
Touché. Her sass is back. I pinch her butt, she waggles a finger. “What’s this?” I ask for the fun of it and the slap on the back of my head elicits a yelp from me. Who is this angry bird? “Fine, I’m checking it.”
“Good,” she retorts. I roll my eyes and unlock the phone. Fear makes me hesitate, El groans at my sluggishness. “Just hit the damn button, Mister.” I make a face, she snaps. “What is wrong with you?”
“Okay.” I throw a hand up, her eyes shoot laser beams at me. It’s crazy but her anger turns me on. My lips pucker, my finger hovers above the play button without tapping it. “Give me a kiss first.” In case the video ruins this moment, I want something to hold onto. She frowns, I press a finger to my lips. “A kiss.”
El is a ball of annoyance as her lips brush mine in the gentlest of kisses, she whispers, “Please, watch it.”
Time slows once I hit the button, everything blurs except for Sophia, El and Brianna. My eyes twitch as El sits on the edge of the bed to rotate Brianna’s limbs and a small smile curls my lips. Sophia says doing that will prevent atrophy—wasting of her body muscles due to lack of use. Since Bri is asleep, we have to do it for her. Help her move her joints so she doesn’t lose complete use of them when—if she wakes.
Warmth spread through my chest watching El, I am not the only one waiting for Bri. She says something to Sophia and both of them giggle. When she’s done, they sit in silence, the same silence that falls over us. My chest constricts as Bri’s eyelids flutter, none of them move. From the rigidity of their shoulders, I know they were not expecting it, neither was I. A ball of anticipation unfurls inside me, I chew my lips.
Wake up, Bri. Wake up for Daddy.
And she does. Her eyes finally open, she squints, wincing at the lights pouring from the ceilings and the natural light. Her movements are slow, almost painful and uncoordinated. The two women in the room just stare, shock boldly written across their faces. They finally snap out of their trance when her mouth opens to mutter something barely audible. Sophia hurries to dim the lights, screaming at El to get her a glass of water. The rest of the video is a flurry of activities as El rushes in with a cup and bottle of water. The sadness and disappointment she meets on her return is so thick I feel it here. Bri is back to sleep.
Guilt, remorse, hurt and many more emotions crash over me. They didn’t lie, they were in shock. I feel El’s palm on my face, the phone falls out of my hands and she tosses it aside. “El. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I overreacted, I more than overreacted. She has every right to be upset with me. Her hot breath mingles with mine, she tugs on my beards and her lips move into a smile that barely forms but it manages to banish some of my guilt. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too, I should have told you later.” I nod. “Did you hear it?”
“Hear what?” I whisper.
Taking the phone, she replays the video. It is less painful to watch, she slows the video at the point Bri opens her mouth. I don’t pick out her words at first, El offers me a small smile and replays it. After the third attempt, I am ready to give up but she doesn’t let me. She kisses me until I relax a bit and smile.
On the fifth try, I hear it. My eyes widen, my heart beats in my chest which tightens. “Da... Da... Daddy.”
Her speech is so slurred I almost missed it. What am I saying? I missed it. But all thanks to El. She gives my hand a small squeeze. Now that I have heard it, I can’t unhear it. I don’t want to unhear it. I am the one who hits replay on the screen this time, I rewatch it so many times El has to pry the phone from me.
“One last time?” She sighs. My grin widens when she hands over my phone and I rewatch it twice.
“Baby,” she calls out to me. I place the phone on the nightstand. I’ll rewatch it when she leaves for work.
Grown men don’t cry but my eyes water. The tears shimmering in El’s eyes don’t do much to keep mine at bay, my throat clogs and a muffled sob escapes me. She rests her head on my shoulder, tears finally leak to my cheeks and my hands tremble when she brings them to cup her face.
I won’t cry. I can’t cry. But she said daddy. My baby remembers me. My thumb brushes El’s cheeks, my heart melts at the emotion in her eyes. Straddling me, she kisses my tears, my pains and my fears away.
“I’m sorry, El. I’m sorry for ruining us.”
The little distance between us evaporates, her lips descend on mine and her fingers tangle in my hair. I whimper. Tingles shoot from my scalp to my feet. El kisses me again, a slow, sensual kiss that turns into something urgent and delicate. I gasp, she slips her tongue into my mouth and moans against my lips. The sexy sound hardens my cock, I unhook her bra and cup her breasts. She giggles as I fondle a nipple, I open my mouth to tease her but she silences me with another sizzling kiss that muddles my thoughts.
God, I love this woman.
Her boy shorts disappear, the pillow vanishes. Longing fills her eyes as she slides down my erection, I grunt in pleasure and massage her elegant boobs. She responds with a purr that has my chest vibrating.
Our connection is different now, more intimate. Each stroke is matched with one of hers, she sets the pace for me to follow. Her throaty moans, breathy whispers tickle my senses. At her mercy, I guide her rotating waist as she rides me, willing her to open her eyes. My heart hammers against my ribcage when her eyes lock on mine and she smiles. I know I fucked up but I love this woman too much to let her go.
“Baby,” she murmurs, her voice a temptation. Her body goes rigid, I thrust into her sharply, sending my seeds into her warmth. She blinks tiredly, my arms tighten around her waist to stop her from pulling away. “I love you,” she whispers. I would have missed it if I wasn’t this close to her. I don’t confess my feelings, I should but I don’t want to freak her out. She tucks her head in the crook of my neck. “Don’t move.”
I won’t. I cannot. My wife has spoken. Her order brings a smile to my lips. I love being buried inside her, brandishing her with my dick so she never feels comfortable enough to be with another man. Calmness engulfs us, I rub circles on her lower back. When her eyelids droop, I pull the cover over her shoulders.
Her breathing evens out, I whisper, “I love you, Elna Amahle Stark.”