He was never one to press her for more than she wanted to give, and she realized that this time wouldn’t be any different. She always admired that about him.
Telling herself that she had already messed up a three-month sexual fast, she might as well do it all the way. As she watched him get dressed to leave, she extended her hand.
“Mario, come upstairs with me.”
She could repent tomorrow.
He halted, searching her eyes, wondering if she meant it.
She nodded.
He dropped the rest of his clothes and took the steps two at a time. As he embraced her again, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him as close as possible, savoring the scent of sex surrounding him. It felt so right. Absence didn’t make the heart grow fonder, it made the dick get stronger and the sex last longer. No lie!
Mario kissed her passionately as he carried her to the bed. This time his lovemaking was so intense that letting herself flow with him took away her sense of reasoning. They made love until the orgasms caused a three-second blackout—pleasure overload. That had never happened before. Mario wasn’t bullshitting this time, not one single bit.
After they burned every last ounce of energy, they slept. And for the first time in months the sleep was hard and dreamless, comforting and safe.
She couldn’t walk the next morning, and to tell the truth, neither could he. They missed work that day. The next day they established a comforting routine of making love, then falling into more comalike sleep.
Niyah wanted enough memories that would last until…when?
On the second day of missing work, they finally came up for air. They showered together before she fixed a hearty breakfast. Mario always had a healthy appetite. That morning, since she was equally famished, she almost made a career out of cooking. Meanwhile, the man could barely keep his hands off her, wanting to hold her or kiss her every chance he got, and making her giggle like a little girl, showing her at every possible turn how much he had missed her.
Feeling lighter and refreshed, Niyah had to admit it—she had missed him, too. She didn’t feel so—lost? Unsettled? Alone? He felt good to her. Just him holding her was right. And it wasn’t just the sex—it was Mario being…there.
After their two-day makeup marathon, they ate, then talked and talked. Well, mostly he talked, having so much to say that all she could do was listen. And that, too, was unlike him. She had known him for his quiet strength and reliability. He told her everything that happened during the three months they were apart, but it was his last words that got her attention: “Baby, don’t send me away again. Let’s talk about making this work. Let’s talk about what bothers you so much about me.” He reached out, gently stroking her face, his finger trailing a fiery path. “I love you.”
Mario never said anything he didn’t mean. And she knew for certain that he meant those three words.
No words came to her mind to say she felt the same. He opened his mouth to speak, but she tried to interrupt, preparing to halt any further words of love. “Mario, I just don’t think—”
“No, Niyah,” he said sharply. “Listen to me for a change. I’ve had enough of how you’ve sidestepped the real issues here. We need to find some common ground. I need to get some things out in the open. This time you will not brush me off. You will listen.”
Holding her hands, his tenor voice was strong, sure, and his manner kept her a willing prisoner. This was a first for her. She was normally the one to say what would and would not happen. Evidently things were about to change. She didn’t know how she felt about that.
As he gazed into her eyes, he almost dared her to disagree. She felt a little flustered, and opened her mouth to say something, testing his strength. She didn’t get a sound past her lips as he leaned forward, circling his tongue in the opening and silencing anything she had to say.
When he pulled away, Niyah was a little miffed, but she also secretly admired what he was doing. She’d always taken pride in her stubbornness, so she prepared to say something anyway. This time he leaned forward, kissing her even more passionately until she couldn’t think straight, then he pulled away once more.
He watched her. Dared her.
She sighed, but remained silent, brewing a little, but respecting him and his wishes. He didn’t rant and rave the way some people did when they wanted to get their message across. Mario used a calmer method to get her attention and make his point. The corners of his mouth drew up into a slight smile as he watched her frustration.
Taking several deep breaths, she remained silent, waiting.
His smile widened as he pulled her even closer. His deep, resonating voice penetrated her heart.
“Respect, Niyah. That’s all I ask.” He took a long, slow breath. “I didn’t want to pressure you and I almost made a mistake. I’m not going to let it happen again.”
Pulling away, he placed his finger under her chin, gently lifting it until her eyes met his. “I will not make that mistake again.” His voice sent shivers up and down her spine.
She wanted to say something, but thought better of it. His kisses were dangerous and effective.
After a few moments, he pulled away, sprinting to his clothes. He searched through them until he found a small velvet box. He opened it, turned it around, and handed it to her.
A ring! Beautiful. God, it was beautiful!
“It’s real,” he said as she stared at it, mesmerized by it.