Chapter Text
The Following Week
—Knock,Knock—
Glancing at the clock, his heart accelerates at the confirmation of who is on the other side. “Come in.”
Athena walks in, her smile as beautiful as ever. “I will be going home soon.”
“Are you sure I can’t tempt you to stay and have dinner with me tonight?” Her shoulders soften, yet her eyes continue to sparkle. “I have your favorite on the menu tonight.”
“Pork chops?”
He nods. “With the rice and beans recipe I learned from Diaz’ abuela.”
“I wish I could stay,” she sighs, “but my father is expecting me home tonight.” Seeing her frown tugs at his heart.
Swiveling in his chair, he stands and beckons her to join him with the flick of his wrist. “Is everything ready for tomorrow?”
“As ready as we can be.” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she sinks against his chest. “My mother’s words will be cutting.”
“She is very protective.”
“And stubborn.” She leans back, her brow dipped in determination. “But so am I.”
He can feel her muscles coiling and tightening under his palms. “Athena, no matter what happens, I will continue to love you no matter who’s permission I have or do not have.”
Her brow lifts in surprise. “What happened to you not wanting to take me away from my family and community?” If her voice were harsh, her words would be more condescending, yet it is soft, curious as to his change of thought.
“After our conversation with your father, I realized that he was testing my strength; not my physical strength, but rather my will. I think in his own way, Pastor Wesley did as well when we both met with him.” For five days, the only sentence that has been circling within his head was Mr. Carter’s plea to continue to fight for his daughter. During the length of their relationship, he has been hesitant to take her away from the people she loves and the community she has known all of her life. The last thing he wants for her is to feel ostracized from all that she knows. However, he has come to realize that their relationship is not as black and white as what people see on the outside. She can have anything she wants and, it’s been made crystal clear on numerous occasions, that she wants him. While the guilt of moving on still eats away at his soul, his heart beats for her.
“Talk to me, baby.” She palms his cheek. “What are you thinking?”
“I deserve you, Athena.” It pains him to see her eyes widen in surprise. “I still feel guilty for all that has happened, but I’ve come to realize that God put you in my life for a reason.” He covers her hand on his cheek with his palm. “I will fight for you, because I don’t want to live a life without you.” If this were more of a romantic scene, he probably would have proposed to her, but not here in his office the day before they are going to tell her opinionated mother about their relationship.
“After my divorce, I didn’t think I deserved to find love, not when I failed at keeping my husband happy and certainly not with two children as part of the package. Then I met you; a big, strong fireman on the outside and every bit of a gentleman on the inside.” She lifts up onto her toes and leans in towards him, their foreheads touching. “We deserve each other, Bobby.”
Again, he wants to ask her to marry him, but he holds his tongue. She had told him that that is what she eventually wants, but not at this second. So, instead, he makes a different promise. “No matter what happens tomorrow, I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my life.”
“Even if my mother doesn’t approve?”
“Even if our world ends tomorrow.”
His heart excitedly jumps when he feels her smiling against his lips. “Our world is just beginning, baby.”
He pulls her close to him, her body warm and inviting. “You are my world, Athena.”
She kisses him in response, her lips gentle, loving. “You sound as if you were about to propose to me.”
Pulling her hand from his cheek down to his chest so that she can feel the drumming of his heart, he leans back slightly so that he can look at her directly. “I will marry you, Athena. It won’t be today or tomorrow or the day after that, but I will marry you.”
“Even if our marriage is not legal in half of our country?”
“It’s been legal in California for ten years and I have no plans of moving anywhere else.” He kisses her forehead. “All I ask is for you to act surprised when I ask you.”
The sound of her soft laughter makes his heart sing. “Deal.” She lifts his hand from his chest and kisses his knuckles. “I have to go.”
“Is there anything I can say or do to convince you to have dinner with me?”
“Not tonight, but come hell or high water, I will come over to your place tomorrow night.”
“Even if your mother doesn’t approve?”
She looks at him as if he sprouted three heads. “She’s the ‘hell’ and ‘high water’ I was referring to.” Her features soften, her smile reaching her eyes. “The kids are camping with the Robinsons this weekend. No matter what happens, I will spend the evening with you.”
“Then I will cook the pork chops tomorrow.”
“Mmm.” She leans in and kisses him, her lips absolutely divine. “I look forward to it.”
His arms tighten around her waist, her body fitting snugly against him. “Is that all you are looking forward to?”
She playfully lifts her brow, her smirk small, yet mighty. “If you have to ask that question, then maybe I should wait until tomorrow to answer it.”
Gently pushing her until she is against the wall, his heart ravenously pounds against his chest as he imagines how their night will start and end. “I am looking forward to seeing you in my bed.”
“I’ll make sure to bring my pajamas.”
“I will tear them off of your body,” he growls much to her amusement. “I will explore every inch of your skin with my lips.”
“Oh, my! Such big dreams for a pork chop type of night.”
He knows exactly what she wants from him and, never one to deny her anything, he gives it to her. “Fuck the pork chops,” he whispers in her ear, “I look forward to being inside you.” While she hasn’t told him directly, he knows just from her reaction that she loves it when he talks dirty to her. “I want your beautiful legs wrapped around my hips, your nails digging into my skin.”
Her fingers scratch through his hair at the base of his neck, her palm keeping him from moving. “Then I can’t wait to show you what I bought.”
“Please tell me that it’s red,” he sighs as he rests his head on her shoulder.
“You will have to wait until tomorrow.”
“But I want you now,” he whines.
Lifting her shoulder so that he can straighten himself up, she pushes against his chest with the tips of her lovely fingers. “Patience is a virtue, Captain.”
“When it comes to you and the things you buy to drive me crazy, patience has no place between us.”
He dives in to kiss her, yet he is met with her finger pressing against his puckered lips. “Tomorrow, my love.”
Taking a deep breath to help calm himself down, he lightly kisses her adorable finger before stepping back. “Is there anything I need to bring to your home?”
“No,” she murmurs as she fixes her rumpled clothing. “Pastor Wesley will be joining us.”
“Do you think that is wise?”
“We have no say in the matter, not when my father invited him.” She smooths out the wrinkles in her skirt. “I’m honestly glad that he will be there. He will be our biggest ally.”
“And what of your father? Has he said anything else to you about our relationship?”
“Nothing directly. When I told him that you were coming to the house on Saturday, his only response was that we were cutting it real close to the deadline he gave.” She rolls her eyes. “Honestly, I think he doesn’t know yet how he feels about our relationship. He hasn’t kicked me out of the house just yet, but he’s not supportive either.”
He desperately wants to tell her that everything will work out in the end, that her parents will grow to like him and that everyone will accept them, but he knows that it’s not that simple. The world doesn’t work that way and the people that love them the most have their own breaking points. “No matter what happens, Athena, I will love and cherish you for the rest of my life.”
Throwing her arms around his neck, she brashly kisses him, her pristine dress back to being wrinkled as she presses against him. “I love you, my darling.”
He pushes her back against the wall, his fingers digging into her hips. God, he wants her, all of her, surrounding all of him, yet her hands to his chest tells him that they must wait until tomorrow night. Slowing their kiss, he takes a deep breath before stepping back. “I am counting down the hours until dinner tomorrow night.”
“Me, too.” He presses his feet along his boots when her smile is softened with plump lips and dreamy eyes. “I have to get going.” She quickly smothers down the wrinkles on her dress before stepping around him to gather her sweater and purse. “I will see you tomorrow for lunch.”
“I love you.” Before she can open the door to his office, he grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles.
“I love you.” The tip of her finger runs down the slope of his nose before she disentangles herself from him and makes her way out.
As he watches her disappear down the hallway, he realizes just how long the night ahead of him will be. Maybe I can practice the maple bar recipe. He had promised Miss Maple that he would come to her home to help her take down some boxes from her attic. He had thought about bringing some of his own maple bars to get her opinion on them, but he doesn’t want to offend her.
“Hey, Cap.” Johnson walks into his office. “B shift just clocked on. The guys and I are going to the diner. Did you want to come with us?” Usually on Fridays, the younger guys go and hang out with each other. They invite him to come along, but he has always declined the invite to spend time with Athena.
Now that his night is free, he gives Johnson a smile and nods. “That sounds nice. Let me get changed.”
Placing his truck in park, he checks the rear view mirror once more, his fingers doing their best to flatten his hair, before stepping out onto the street. Athena had suggested for him to park on the street, just in case her mother wanted to leave to get some air. Smoothing the wrinkles from his button down shirt, he opens the passenger side door and threads on the coat Miss Maple had offered to iron. With the plate of maple bars he had made, again with the help of Miss Maple, in hand, he makes his way to the front door. Once the second hand moves the time to exactly five minutes before noon, he takes a deep breath and knocks.
In the intervening seconds as he waits for the door to open, he reminds himself to be humble and respectful. He wants Mrs. Carter to accept him for the sake of Athena and her happiness, but he knows that it will take time. Rome was not built in a day.
“Hi.” Athena greets him with a beautiful smile.
Despite his nerves causing him to be nauseous, he tries his best to give her a confident smile. “I have the pork chops marinating.”
Her giggles helps to settle some of his nerves. “I’m glad. My mother knows that something is afoot. Are you ready?”
He holds the plate of maple bars that have been blessed by Miss Maple herself. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
She leans in close and whispers, “Just remember, this is the first time you have been inside this house.” He draws a cross along his chest as she invites him in. Wrapping her hand around his offered arm, she escorts him down the small set of stairs into the living room.
It is there they find Mr. and Mrs. Carter and Pastor Wesley conversing together. All talking stops as Athena presents him to her mother. “Momma, you remember Captain Nash.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Pastor Wesley.” He places the plate of maple bars on the table.
Mrs. Carter coolly draws her eyes up to him. “Captain.” She then zeros in on Athena’s hand clutching his arm when he straightens up. “What is this?”
Giving her his best midwestern smile, Athena answers for the both of them. “Momma, Bobby has come—”
“Bobby?!” Mrs. Carter’s use of his first name cuts like a sharp knife. “Since when are you on a first name basis with your boss?”
He can feel Athena’s hand tense. “Bobby and I are dating.” The silence in the room has the power to peel the wallpaper off the walls. “I wanted him to come here to meet you properly.”
Mrs. Carter sharply turns to her husband who has the good sense to stare down at the floor. “You knew about this?”
Like a condemned man facing the gallows, Mr. Carter swallows hard before he looks at his wife. “I saw them dance together last weekend.”
“Where? At that…” Something must click for Mrs. Carter when her eyes narrow at her husband. “Is that why you have been moping around here for the past week?”
“I have not been—”
“Samuel Carter, don’t you dare lie to me.”
If he weren’t so nervous, he would have laughed at the whole exchange. Just to be on the safe side, though, he presses his lips together and tries to think of the report that he has yet to write for the Chief that is due into his office on Monday morning.
“Beatrice—”
“No!” Mrs. Carter holds up her finger to stop him. “You don’t get to talk, not when you kept the fact from me, your wife, that our only daughter is romantically seeing a white man.”
“Momma, Bobby is—”
“No, I don’t want to hear from you either,” Mrs. Carter cuts off her daughter. She then sets her sights on him. “Captain Nash, how long have you been courting my daughter?”
Now he knows how Mr. Carter feels as he faces his own gallows. “We have been dating since last November?”
“November?!” She sets her eyes back on her daughter. “And you didn’t think to tell us this at any point?”
“It was selfish of me to keep this from you and daddy. I’m sorry.”
“You are only sorry because you got caught by your father.” Mrs. Carter looks back at her husband. “And do you support this?”
As Mr. Carter struggles to answer his wife, Athena takes pity on him. “Daddy tried to pay him off to disappear. When that didn’t work, the three of us sat down and talked.”
“Without me,” Mrs. Carter finishes.
Mr. Carter finally finds his voice. “They love each other, Beatrice.”
“No. This white man has fooled our daughter into thinking that he loves her when all he wants is to taste what has been forbidden to him.”
“Momma!” “Beatrice!” and “Mrs. Carter!” all collide together, but his voice is the loudest above them. “You daughter is no fool. She is smart and beautiful and exceptional in everything she puts her mind to. While I know the truth of our relationship must come as a shock to you, Mrs. Carter, don’t ever, ever, doubt my love for Athena.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do.” Her voice is like pure venom from a hissing snake.
He, however, doesn’t back down. “Mrs. Carter, I assure you that our love is not fleeting, nor a fling. It is real, as real as the love that made this house a home. Under the advice of Pastor Wesley, we took our time to tell other people about our relationship.”
Mrs. Carter slowly looks at Pastor Wesley, her mouth as hard as steel. “How long have you known about this?”
“Does that matter?” He can see that Mrs. Carter is trying to restrain herself from saying what she really wants to say, yet Pastor Wesley continues on. “I was hesitant myself when both Athena and Bobby came to me with this news, however, I sat and listened to them.”
“And do you approve of this relationship?”
“They don’t need my approval, just like they don’t need yours.”
Mrs. Carter looks affronted. “Excuse me?!”
“Bobby and Athena will love each other no matter what you think or impose.”
“Is that so?” Mrs. Carter looks back at Athena, her eyes narrowing as if she is challenging her daughter.
Athena doesn’t back down. “It is. I love Bobby and Bobby loves me. Neither you nor anyone will change how we feel for each other.”
Mrs. Carter just rolls her eyes. “You just haven’t found the right black man.” The heaviness from her statement shocks Athena from immediately replying. “Now take Charles for instance—”
“Charles?!” Anger surges through him like a powerful electrical wave as he looks at Athena. “The same Charles who accused me of not respecting you one minute just for him to harshly grab your arm and yell in your face that you are a disgrace to your community the next.” At her slight nod, he glances back at her parents. “He is who you would prefer your daughter to marry?”
Mrs. Carter looks rightfully ashamed while Mr. Carter demands, “He did what?!”
When Athena remains quiet, he reiterates, “He grabbed her arm hard enough to bruise her and called her a disgrace.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
“Because it was handled, daddy.”
“By whom?”
“By me,” he calls out. “No one has the right to put their hands on Athena and think they can get away with it.”
“Does that include you?” Mrs. Carter finds her voice once again.
Again, he doesn’t back down. Mr. Carter had warned him to never back down from a fight when it comes to Athena. He didn’t realize it until now that he also meant fighting for her honor, to know when to be a protective guard dog one moment and a warm shoulder to lean on the next. He will not make that mistake again. “I would never harm your daughter. I will spend the rest of my life loving, honoring, and respecting her the way she ought to be loved, honored, and respected.”
“Oh,” Mrs. Carter rolls her eyes, “he’s going to be your savior now.”
Not understanding her statement, he looks to Athena to explain, yet he wisely remains silent when he feels her vibrating with anger. “That is utter nonsense, momma. I don’t need Bobby to save me.”
“Save you from what?”
“From being a divorcee with children and elderly parents,” Athena murmurs with the roll of her eyes.
He truly can’t see the connection. “What does that have to do with us being together?”
“She thinks you, a white man, is saving me from a cruel and penniless life with no prospects.”
It is Mr. Carter who turns to her, his own anger now rippling along his face. “Is that what you think will happen to Athena? That I wouldn’t be savvy enough to make sure that Athena and the kids aren’t cared for if something should happen to us?”
“I’ve seen it happen to many women.” Mrs. Carter sharply looks at her husband. “And can you sit there and tell me that the court with its all white judges never overturned or voided a colored person’s will?”
Mr. Carter is not able to counter Mrs. Carter’s point and his own fury grows exponentially not only at the injustice of it all, but, more importantly, that they are focusing on all the wrong things. “Mr. and Mrs. Carter, I cannot control the reaction of others outside of my control. I am simply a man, an imperfect one, who loves your daughter and will fight for her happiness until the day I die.”
“Love will not provide for her, nor will it protect her from the injustices you have obviously never experienced.”
“We will provide and protect each other,” Athena effortlessly replies. “Momma, Bobby and I will continue to see and eventually marry each other whether you approve of it or not. You don’t have to love Bobby or like that we are together, but all I ask is for you to give Bobby the same respect he is giving you.”
“How can I give a man my respect when I just found out that he has been secretly courting my daughter for nearly a year? He has done nothing thus far to garner my respect, let alone my approval for my only daughter to marry him.”
“Momma—”
Mrs. Carter holds up her hand. “Furthermore, I don’t believe that Captain Nash has your best interest at heart, not when he doesn’t fully realize the danger he is putting you in if your courtship becomes knowledge. Any relationship with him other than that between a boss and their employee would be a mistake and that is my final word.”
“I don’t agree with you, momma.”
“We have very rarely agreed on anything, Athena.”
“I will continue to see Bobby,” Athena says with the lift of her chin.
“And I will continue to see Athena.”
Mrs. Carter throws her hands in the air. “Then it seems as if we are at an impasse.”
Glancing at Athena, his heart tugs into the pit of his belly at her frown. “I know you might find this naive on my part, but I hope there will come a day where you will change your mind when it comes to our relationship.”
Mrs. Carter’s brow lifts in surprise. “It is naive and, as both my husband and daughter can attest, I very rarely change my mind.” She turns her attention back to Athena. “Your father and I will continue to support you along with May and Harry at this time. Once you marry him, we will no longer support you.”
“I understand, momma,” Athena murmurs.
Pure panic drums against the base of his throat. “Will you continue to see Athena?”
“Of course I will.” Her annoyance at him can be heard through her exasperation. “While I don't agree with her choice in suitors, I will continue to love my daughter and my grandchildren.”
He lets go of the breath he had been holding. While this is not the most ideal outcome, Athena will be able to keep her family. “Thank you.”
“There is no reason to thank me for loving my family and wanting the best for them.” Again, he can hear Mrs. Carter’s annoyance with him through the huff in her voice.
Instead of closing himself off to the person who is not afraid to viscerally obliterate him by the use of her words, he shows his vulnerability. “I didn’t want Athena to lose her only family nor the only community that she has ever known. She loves you dearly.”
Mrs. Carter tips her chin to the side, her eyes boring into him. “And what of your family? Your community?”
Gritting his teeth, his heart begins to pound against his chest as the image of his children begins to pull him down the familiar dark hole. A small, pinprick of light shines like a beacon when he feels Athena gently squeeze his arm. “I lost my wife and children to a fire nearly four years ago. With both of my parents dead and my brother’s refusal to speak to me since we were teenagers, I left St. Paul when I was hired by the Los Angeles Fire Department.”
For a second, blink and it’s gone, Mrs. Carter’s brows dip in sympathy. “How old were your children?”
“Brooke was nine and Robert Junior was seven.”
“They were just babies,” Mr. Carter whispers.
“I know what it is like to lose a family.” He glances at Athena, the simple sight of her understanding eyes and beautiful smile is enough to pull him from the gripping clutches of his despair. “I will do anything to make sure that she doesn’t experience that type of loss.”
“Even if that means walking away from her?”
“Yes,” he instantly answers. At Mrs. Carter’s surprised features, he expands his thought. “I would fight to the death for her and for everyone under this roof, however, if it squarely comes down to our relationship and the life of someone she loves, then I would love her from afar.”
“But with the good Lord willing,” Pastor Wesley calls out, “it won’t come down to that.”
“Amen,” Athena whispers.
Mrs. Carter wearily glances over to Pastor Wesley. “Obviously you condone their romance.”
“Far be it from me to cast them away into a world that will hate them upon sight.” Pastor Wesley’s smile is bright and so full of life. “They deserve to have as many people in their corner as they can possibly get.”
Patting his wife’s knee, Mr. Carter stands from the sofa and makes his way towards them. He holds out his hand to him. “You may count me as one of them.”
Despite Mrs. Carter tutting under breath, the handshake he shares with Mr. Carter is firm. “Thank you, sir.”
“If you hurt my little girl, I will make it my life’s work to make your life a living hell.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pastor Wesley follows after Mr. Carter with a handshake with him and a friendly hug with Athena. “What is this you brought, Captain?” He points at the covered plate on the coffee table.
“Maple bars. I’ve been trying to get the recipe as close to Miss Maple’s as I could.”
“Do you cook, Captain Nash?” Mrs. Carter sounds disinterested, almost bored.
“Bobby is a wonderful cook, momma.”
Pastor Wesley’s “Mmm” when he bites into a maple bar takes everyone’s attention away from Mrs. Carter rolling her eyes. “These taste just like Miss Maple’s.”
“I received Miss Maple’s approval today.” His statement hangs in the air when everyone, including Mrs. Carter, looks at him with eyes wide in surprise.
“Miss Maple has never approved of anyone’s attempt at maple bars,” Pastor Wesley murmurs.
“You must have misheard her,” Mrs. Carter reasons with an air of superiority.
Miss Maple had actually warned him that no one would believe him. He, at first, thought it odd, however, with the reaction from those around him, he understands why she had mentioned it. Digging into his breast pocket, he pulls out an envelope that Miss Maple had given him before he left her home. “She wanted me to give this to you.” He passes the envelope across the coffee table.
“Me?” Mrs. Carter doesn’t take the envelope.
“She said that only you would take this seriously.”
He can see curiosity flittering across Mrs. Carter’s face. Taking the envelope she opens it and silently reads the note. She then folds it and stuffs it back into the envelope. “Captain Nash is speaking the truth. He is the only one she trusted with her family recipe, although why she would do it is beyond me.”
“Bobby?!” Athena pulls on his arm. “How? She has been saying for years that she is taking the recipe to her grave.”
His smile is wide, proud. “I figured out the secret ingredient, the one piece I was missing from my own maple bars.” The previous night, while out with his team, they had gotten onto the subject of weird remedies that their families swear by. After a quick trip to Chinatown, he spent the rest of the night making maple bars until he felt he had the right consistency. “I promised Miss Maple that I would not tell another living soul unless they found out the one secret ingredient.”
“Secret ingredients, secret courting; when will the secrets end,” Mrs. Carter sighs, but no one pays attention to her.
“You know that the other firefighters are going to want these everyday.” Athena’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “They will be more popular than your world famous donuts.”
“Miss Maple has been quite gracious with her help,” he humbly murmurs. Noticing Mrs. Carter’s annoyance at their lighthearted conversation skyrocketing with the silent roll of her eyes, he decides to not overstay his welcome. He squeezes Athena’s hand first. “I should go.”
Athena glances at her mother before nodding. “Thank you for the maple bars.”
“You are very welcome.” Letting go of Athena, he offers his hand to Mr. Carter. “Mr. and Mrs. Carter, thank you for allowing me to come to your beautiful home.”
Mr. Carter shakes his hand. “Have a good evening, Captain Nash.”
“You as well, sir.” Although Mrs. Carter is intent on not giving him the time of day, he still offers her a smile. “I hope you have a lovely day, Mrs. Carter.”
“That remains to be seen.” Mrs. Carter coolly looks at him, her eyes just as piercing as when he first walked in. “Good afternoon, Captain Nash.”
Thankful that things turned out better than he thought they would, he gives Mrs. Carter the obvious space she desires. He then shakes Pastor Wesley’s hand. “I will see you tomorrow, Pastor Wesley.”
“Have a good evening, Bobby.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Athena murmurs. Just as she closes the front door behind her, she abruptly pulls him around and wraps her arms around his neck. All of the stress and tension from their afternoon melts from his shoulders as his hands tugs her closer into their embrace. “I love you.” Her warm breath tickles his ear. “That went a lot better than I thought it would.”
“It did,” he murmurs into her neck. “Are you still coming over tonight?”
“Of course.” She leans out of their embrace, her coy smile soft. “I wouldn’t dare miss pork chop night.”
“I’m more interested in the red thing you bought.”
“What makes you think it is red?”
“Because I’ve been a good boy and my favorite color is red.”
“Mmm.” She leans in and kisses the corner of his mouth. “You have been a good boy, but you will still have to wait for tonight.”
Inhaling slowly through his nose, he lightly kisses her before taking a small step back. “I love you, Athena.”
“I’ll see you in a few hours, Captain.”
“I look forward to it, Sarge.”
“I love you, Athena.” His heart still goes pitter-patter with her every touch, every laughter, every morsel of attention she bestows upon him.
His stomach does an excited flip when she kisses his bare chest. “I am completely head over heels in love with you, Bobby.” Her fingers dance flutter across his skin, their touch light but with purpose. “Even if you did burn the rice.”
Laughter bubbles up from his chest. “You distracted me with your soft hands and mesmerizing kisses.” It took everything he had to take all the other food off the stove before he gave himself to this goddess of a woman before him.
“How would Miss Maple react to that type of excuse?”
“She would be delighted.” He kisses the top of her head. “And, possibly, a little jealous.”
“That plate of maple bars were gone within an hour.”
Pride fills his chest. While that particular emotion is a sin, it’s better than filling himself with hope that the one person he was wanting to impress enjoyed what he brought. “I’m glad everyone enjoyed them.”
“Pastor Wesley more than anyone else.”
That makes him laugh. “I think he’s just happy that the recipe will continue on.”
“My mother had one.” He holds his breath, his heart pounding against the base of his throat. “Even though she didn’t say anything, I can tell that she liked it.”
Knowing that that is the best reaction he can receive from the stoic Mrs. Carter, he exhales out from his nose with slight relief. “Did she say anything more about our relationship?”
“No. She ignored me for the rest of the day. When I told her that I was coming here for dinner, she rolled her eyes and walked away.”
He winces at the obvious pain he can hear in Athena’s voice. “I’m sorry, Athena.”
Abruptly, she lifts herself onto her elbow so that they can see eye-to-eye with each other. “You have no reason to be sorry.” Her brow stubbornly dips in steel and, for a moment, he is reminded that Athena is every bit her mother’s daughter. “She is the one acting rude. You were kind, but firm during our discussion.”
“I don’t want there to be a rift between you and your family. They love you very much.”
Her features soften in the caressing light of the moon streaming in through the window. “I know, baby. It will take time and patience for my mother to come around to our relationship. I’m not going to push our romance in her face, but I’m not going to hide from it either.”
“I wanted her approval so badly,” he confesses within a whisper.
Capturing his cheek, she leans in, the tips of their noses brushing in a sweet eskimo kiss. “It will take time.”
His smile is small, their lips brushing each other in his effort to remain optimistic. “Rome was not built in a day.”
“My mother and the city of Rome have much in common.” She kisses his bottom lip. “There was one victory we should not overlook.”
His smile widens. “Your father?”
She nods. “As a practice, my father always stands by his word. For him to go from ‘I will only approve if your mother approves’ to being our ally was big, baby.”
“I was surprised when he offered his support and hand to me.”
“I’m not.” At his raised brows, she expands. “Although we were there for my mother’s benefit, my father was watching your every move. We could tell him until we were blue in the face of our love for one another. It wasn’t until you fiercely defended my honor when you told them about Charles did I see my father look at you in a different light.”
“I thought I was being too aggressive.”
She shakes her head. “You were who you needed to be.” Slipping back down so that she is laying across his chest, she rests her chin on his collarbone so that they are still looking at each other. “My mother’s intention when mentioning Charles was to remind me and everyone in that room that successful black men were still available.”
The tip of his fingers draw up and down the soft skin of her arm. “But you want me.”
“I only want you, baby.” A small smirk plays upon her lips before she lifts herself with a steady hand on his chest and swings her leg over his hips. Positioning herself on him, his body shivers with a delighted anticipation as the modest white sheet used to cover them slips down revealing the delicious curves of her body. “Can you feel my desire for you?”
Grabbing onto her waist, his erogenous moan answers her question when hips rolls into hers. “I lo… love you, Athena,” he stammers.
Capturing his cheek with her palm, she waits for him to look directly at her. “I will always choose you, Bobby.”
“Always,” he promises.
Lifting herself up, she aligns them together before sinking down onto him; the feeling of her completely surrounding him sending his love for her straight to the moon and back. Their movements are slow, methodical, wanting to draw out every feeling, every desire, to be displayed for only them to see.
As tall as he is, his favorite view will always be of one where he is looking up at her, witnessing her unraveling at their shared touch. In these moments, he is but a mere man, gladly subjugating himself to be a supplicant to the power of love she graciously gives him time and time again. He would do just about anything to be able to see her from this viewpoint every night for the rest of his life.
The tips of his fingers explore her body on display as she continues to ride him; her pert breasts, her soft tummy, her strong arms, but, most importantly, the receptive junction between her thighs. He can feel her tightening around him, her erotic moans for more the only thing keeping him grounded. His eyes stay focused on her as his thumb continues to rub tight circles. When she finally reaches that precipice with the shout of his name does he allow himself to tumble over the edge with her. While it is rare for both of them to reach that delicious peak at the same time, he finds that the plunge is deeper, sweeter, when it is shared.
Melting into him, their hearts thrash as they lay together. For a few seconds, his mind wanders to the the small, black velvet box he has hidden under the mountains of socks in the small dresser drawer merely eight feet away. It holds his promise, his love, their hope and future in that small box. While it is not time to show it to her just yet, he shivers with excitement that the day will come sooner rather than later.
Their future might not be picture perfect, but it’s theirs for the taking.