Left (Left 1)

I turn to the long haired blonde photographer with the baby face.

“We do?” I whisper. He’s made this process as painless as possible, but contorting my body and giving face aren’t things I do during the ordinary course of my day. I scan the room for Houston and find him gazing back. I shake my head. He smiles. Not me. He mouths. I release a sigh. I’ve found the warm weight of his stare comforting and sexy. I’m not thinking about the camera when Ryan asks me to give him sex. I’m thinking about the hot bearded man I can still taste on the tip of my tongue.

I’m the last one to take solo photos. All the girls, sans a few who’ve been hanging out flirting with Ollie and being shut down by Houston, have gone.

“This is where I take my leave,” Efia says.

“Thank you again for doing this.”

“I would’ve been pissed if you hadn’t asked,"Efia says making me laugh.

“I know, that’s why I called you.”

She walks over and hugs me gently, careful not to mar my make up or muse my clothing. “You look incredible, and I’m not the only one that noticed. Put the man out of his misery.”

“Love you too Ms. Bossy Booty.”

She pulls away taking her laughter and lightness with her.

“I’m going to let you two have a moment while we get the last scene ready,” Ryan says, following Efia out.

“Why do I feel like you had something to do with this?” I ask Houston as I lean back against the black Chevy.

“I asked them to give us a minute. Come here.”

I push away from the car and walk over on four-inch black heels. I’m a sneakers and flats kind of gal, so I step with care. He holds out his hand, and I take it, curious about what he’s been hiding beneath the blue car cover. He pulls it down to reveal the maroon car that holds so many bad memories for us both.

“Houston?” I peer up at him confused. The car's been a silent reminder of pain. I never understood why he didn’t sell it.

“I wanted to ask you to leave the past behind with me today. The car has been a symbol of hurt and shame for far too long. I want to turn it into the representation of new beginnings.” He leans against the hood, spreads his legs and crooks his finger. “I think it’s time we take the next step in the healing process.”

“What?

?s that?” ask feeling breathless as I move between his powerful thighs.

“Confronting the elephant in the room. We’re not young and impulsive. I know my mind and my heart, and I’m willing to put my neck on the chopping block first if you promise, to be honest.” His hands singe me through the black taffeta material.

“Always.”

“I don’t want to date, or test the waters. This is not a crap shoot. I love you, Liv Honora Cole. You’re the woman I want to wake up and see at my side and raise my children with. I want you to have my last name, wear my ring, and be my partner. That’s the ending I’m working toward. We don’t have to move at a breakneck pace. But we need to have the same end game.”

“You’re my best friend, Houston. I trust you in a way I’ve never thought I’d be able to trust another man. All these years you’ve been restoring my faith in the male species, and I didn’t realize. I love you, and I want this with you more than anything.”

Joy sparks to life in his eyes. He rests his forehead against mine. “Liv.”

“Yes.”

“I want to be buried so deep inside you I don’t know where you start, and I begin.”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“I wanted to do this right, candles, flowers, and no rush, but I need to be inside you so bad right now it’s all I can think of.” He runs his fingertips up my fishnet stockinged legs. His touch sets me on fire. I run my fingers through his beard.

“I think we’ve waited long enough, don’t you?” Is that my voice so husky and full of need? He starts small fires everywhere he caresses. The rip of nylon makes me gasp.

“Need you, Kitten.” His lips crash down on mine. I lose myself in the glide of our tongues against each other and the sharp minty taste of his mouth. His beard is silk on my skin, and his scent is a cocoon blocking out the rest of the world. He works his thick fingers into the hole he created and strokes my slit. I moan into his mouth moving my hips as he guides me like the pied piper with his rhythm. He pushes my panties to the side and pushes into my slick cavern.

“Oh, yes.”