“Now I’m about to go home with my boyfriend and you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to have a nice big-ass piece of pie with ice cream! Good-night!”
****
“I’m impressed.”
Tiana nodded. After the confrontation with her mother, it was best that all three went home. She felt better already without being under her mother’s watchful eyes. “It was several years in the making,” Tiana took out the vanilla bean ice cream and some forks. “I’m just tired of the judgment and the crap.”
“How long have you been putting up with it?” Kieran took out the pies.
“For as long as I can remember,” Tiana scooped out some ice cream and put it on the pie slices,
“Tiana, do this. Tiana, do that. My mother actually wanted me to go by my middle name, Elizabeth, because she thought Tiana sounded too ethnic.”
“So how did she take your marriage to Chris?”
“She hated it and let me know whenever she could, which was often. She said it would’ve been better if I married a White European because at least Europeans are more cultured,” Tiana rolled her eyes, “but Christopher showered her with bling and gifts and well, money talks.”
Kieran knew he was walking a fine line with the next question. A part of him wanted to know where he stood with her. A large part wanted to know where
she
stood with him, parental influence or not. “You know why he was there tonight?”
“I know,” Tiana replied, more curtly than she intended, “but I also know what I want and Christopher is not in my future plans. He didn’t care about me back then and I doubt he cares now. I saw how he was around Tyson tonight; he barely acknowledged him. He nursed his beers more than he played with his son. All he did was solidify my decision to divorce him when I did.”
A small silence formed between the pair as Kieran took a bite of his cherry pie. He took notice of how different Tiana’s demeanor was when she was on Staten Island, to just a short while ago with her parents. It was a night and day. “So how do you feel now?”
“I feel like I have a pair of diamond-encrusted balls all of a sudden,” Tiana beamed. Her shoulders dropped. Dropping all of the weight she’d carried throughout the years made her relaxed and stressed-free. “I feel like I just climbed Mount Everest.”
Kieran took another bite of pie and licked his lips. There was a sensuous air between them. “You want to climb something else tonight?”
Tiana scooped a bite of pie and licked the crust of it, before taking it in her mouth, causing a moan from Kieran. “How do you want me, baby?” She seductively asked.
Kieran felt his cock stir in his jeans. He wanted Tiana in many positions, her body twisted in so many ways. He scooped a little ice cream with a finger and smeared it over Tiana’s chest. He leaned down to lick the ice cream. “You’re dirty,” he murmured, “We have to get you clean.”
Kieran’s tongue was magical and he sent her body into overdrive. He knew how to get her aroused without even saying a word. “You want me in the shower?” She moaned.
Kieran removed his shirt as Tiana took hers off as well. “I want you however I can get you.”
Tiana grabbed Kieran’s hand and led him to the open air shower in her huge bathroom. She locked eyes with his as she began to unbuckle his belt. She pulled down the jeans along with Kieran’s boxer briefs, his thick cock jutting out in anticipation. Her tongue quickly darted out to wet her lips and she softly bit them. She wanted to savor the moment for as long as she could.
She began to take off her jeans when Kieran stopped her. “No,” he stepped closer to her, “allow me.” He undid the jeans and pulled down the zipper. He slid the jeans along with her panties over her hips and pooled them at her feet.
Tiana carefully stepped out of jeans and waited for Kieran’s next direction. She felt his hands slide up and down her body, pausing where her thighs met. He nudged them slightly apart and felt how wet she was. “Damn,
bella
,” Kieran murmured, his low rumble vibrating throughout the room. He played with her swollen nub with his thumb, gauging her reaction with every stroke.
She didn’t care about her parents. She didn’t care about what other people thought. All she wanted was Kieran on her body, hovering over her as he slid in and out of her tight channel. She felt the moisture pooling at her heat, her pussy contracting again. “Baby…” she warned.
“Shh…” Kieran quieted her. He stopped playing with her and led her to the shower. They washed each other’s bodies and snuck in kisses. Kieran sat down on a nearby bench in the shower and pulled Tiana on top of him. He adjusted her position and slipped inside her, causing Tiana to slightly yelp at the increased pressure. She sat all the way down on his cock, happily accepting all of him inside her.
Tiana slowly rocked her body against Kieran’s, wrapping her arms around his neck. She increased her movement and opened her thighs wider to accommodate him. He fit perfectly inside, completely filling her. “Fuck me, baby…” she moaned.
Kieran grabbed Tiana’s ass and guided her. His breath quickened as he approached his own orgasm. “You want to cum?” Kieran kissed Tiana’s neck. “You want to cum on my dick?”
“Fuck, baby,” Tiana rode him faster. Her body stilled as the orgasm shot through her body, Kieran soon following her. She collapsed on top of him, showering him with kisses. “Baby, I love you.”
“I love you, too,
bella
.”
FOURTEEN
“What about this one?” Tiana walked over to a big tree at the lot. “I like this one!”
It seemed the holidays sprang upon them in record time. They had a nice Thanksgiving with Tiana’s friends and it was just a few days before Christmas. They already started planning more trips to back to Staten Island during the next year.
Kieran held Tyson as he walked over to the pine tree at the Christmas tree lot. It was a nice tree but he wasn’t sure about it. “I don’t know. It doesn’t have that ‘umph’ to it.”
“That
umph
?” Tiana teased. “I didn’t think Christmas trees had ‘umphs.’”
“They do,” Kieran caressed the pine needles. “You have to find the right one.”
“I have found the right one. I found the right one about five times, already,” she replied, “I’m tired of finding the right one.”
“It’s because you’re not seeing it how I’m seeing it,” Kieran walked with her to another tree,
“you see a tree that has sturdy branches and fir to put some dangling ornaments. I see memories.
I see which branch is going to have the first ornament. I see Tyson’s face lighting up when he crawls to the tree, plays with said ornaments, and is amazed by seeing them fall on the floor.” He wrapped his free arm around Tiana, “I see us snuggling up against the fireplace and admiring the lights.”
Tiana smiled. “This is the tree?”
“This is the tree,” Kieran nodded. “Let’s get this one.”
“Okay, stay right here so no one else gets it! I’ll get someone else to help us!” Tiana ran off.
Kieran pulled out his phone and glanced at his incoming message. He got a voicemail from the jeweler; Tiana’s engagement ring was ready. It was going to be a Christmas neither one would ever forget.
“Okay, this is the tree!” Tiana instructed to the guy next to her. “We’ll take this one.” She watched as the man took the tree and prepared it for Kieran’s truck. She turned to Kieran. “Is everything okay? I saw you on your phone just now.”
“Just checking messages,” he warmly smiled to her. “Just checking messages.”
After the trio left the tree lot, they went straight home and decorated the tree. Tiana put Tyson to bed and re-joined her boyfriend in the living room with the crackling fire place and lit Christmas tree. She snuggled with Kieran and lay on his chest. “This is what Heaven is like.”
“I think so,” Kieran rubbed Tiana’s arm. “I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas gift.”
“I’m sure you want a nice Christmas gift, baby?” she asked. “Don’t you want an upgrade to another bike? Or a better SUV?”
“I thought about it, but I’m good. I don’t ride on the bike as much as I should, so it doesn’t have that many miles on it. My truck is fine; I just need to get it serviced one of these days,” Kieran shrugged, “I don’t really need anything.”
Tiana turned to face him. “You are probably the only man I have ever met who didn’t want something for Christmas?”
There was something Kieran wanted for Christmas—a
yes
from Tiana. He would have to wait until Christmas Day to get it. “It’s not that I don’t want
anything
,” he clarified, “it’s just everything I have is here. But if you insist on giving me something, you can buy me clothing.”
“Clothing?” Tiana questioned. “That’s an unusual request. Why clothing?”
“Because eventually all women change their man’s clothing. It may not be right away but it’s a gradual step. A tie here. A shirt there. Some new socks here. Some new underwear there. Next thing I know, I have a wardrobe full of brand-new clothes and I had no idea what happened to my lucky Steelers jersey,” Kieran shook his head as Tiana giggled, “you know I’m right?”
“I promise I won’t mess with your lucky Steelers jersey,” Tiana crossed her heart.
“Oh, you better not,” Kieran warned, “you can do whatever you want to my clothes but if you mess with that jersey, woman, we will be fighting.”
Tiana snuggled again with him. “What is it with guys and their lucky jerseys?”
“Hey, whether the Steelers win depend on that jersey,” Kieran pointed out. “If I wear it, they win. If I don’t wear it, they don’t win.”
“Ooh, so that means you haven’t been wearing your jersey that much lately, huh?” Tiana smiled.
“Touché,
bella
. Touché.” Kieran laughed. “So what do you want for Christmas?”
“You know, every year I never wonder what I want. I spend all this money on my friends and family, making sure they’re happy, but I never wonder what
I
want. I’m more focused on making sure Tyson has a great Christmas than on any gift I might hope for,” Tiana slightly shrugged, “so honestly, I don’t want anything for Christmas.”
“I’ll give you something,” Kieran rubbed her arm, “I have a gift in mind.”
“Oh, you do?” Tiana became intrigued. “What is it?”
“Do you want to know now or wait until Christmas?” Kieran replied. He was really hoping she would wait until Christmas.
“You know what? I’ll wait.” Tiana smiled. “It’s more fun to wait.”
Kieran breathed a small sigh of relief. “I think so, too.”
****
“We’re going to stay in town for a little while and then we’re heading back to Staten Island to ring in the New Year,” Tiana couldn’t wait. She had gotten tired of celebrating the New Year, going to the same boring parties with the same boring people. This year was going to be extra special with Kieran and his family. Being an only child, she loved the pandemonium of Kieran’s large family and the multitude of personalities. Even if someone had a beef with another person, they always put it aside as long as Nicola served some of her famous tortellini.
“Sounds pretty serious between you two?” Allison prodded.
“You said that the last time?” Tiana replied.
“And am I right? Is it not serious?” Allison asked.
Tiana tried to hide the big smile that was forming. “Maybe,” she replied.
“Yeah,
maybe
my tail!” Allison laughed.
“Listen, it’s not that…” Tiana’s phone rang and she picked up her phone. “Hold that thought, Allison. Yes? This is Tiana Morris, how can I help you?” Tiana listened intently on the phone.
Her eyes narrowed and fine lines formed in the crease of her forehead. “What? I’ll be right there.
Thank you.”
“What’s going on?” Allison asked.
“Something happened to Christopher and he’s at the hospital. I’ll be out for the rest of the day.
Take all of my calls and just let everyone know I’ll be back in tomorrow,” she rushed out the door.
When Tiana arrived at the hospital, she made her way to Christopher’s room. When she entered his room, she was astonished by what she saw. Two long tubes were hanging from his mouth and nose. A needle was in his arm and attached to an IV. He was ten shades paler than she had ever seen him.
She swallowed the lump in her throat as a nurse stood beside her. “Are you the wife?” She asked.
“Ex,” Tiana corrected, “ex-wife.”
“He had a nice cocktail of Xanax, cocaine, and roofies which he washed down with alcohol,”
The nurse stated as she checked his breathing machine. He was stable enough to have the tubes removed. “He’s lucky he’s even alive.”
Tiana’s mind was clouded with confusion. As much anger she had for the man, she didn’t want anything to happen to the father of her child. “When did this happen?”
“Just a few hours ago. He partied all night and his friends claim they don’t know what happened to him.” The nurse rolled her eyes. “They all say that when they don’t want to get into trouble.”
Tiana kept her eyes on Christopher. She was distressed by his state; there were tubes everywhere and he looked nothing like what he did when she last saw him. She was angry at seeing him; how dare he do drugs and party when he had an infant son who needed his father? She was relieved he was still alive; maybe it could give him a second chance at life to start over. “Okay. Thank you.”
The nurse walked away and Tiana closed the door behind her. She walked into the hospital room and pulled up a chair next to Christopher’s bed. She grabbed his hand and softly kissed it. For several hours, she kept vigil at his bedside and thought about their marriage.
She thought about their wedding day again and how they promised forever and eternity to each other. She thought about how they were trying to have a baby and how frustratingly long it took them to finally conceive. She thought about Tyson’s birth and how Christopher had tears of joy that he finally had a son.
Tiana then thought about the screaming matches they would have with each other. She thought about the numerous women who would crank call her phone at all hours of the night. She thought about Christopher’s open flirtations with other women right in front of her face. And then her last memory of Christopher right before their divorce proceedings—how she caught him in bed, their bed, with another woman. She knew Christopher was cheating on her and the gossip blogs were full of lurid details about him sleeping with this singer and that singer. But for Tiana to actually see it with her own eyes? She had no choice but to leave.