As Long As We Got Love Read online

  He rubbed his prickly face against her back. How could a woman’s body be so soft? So delicate? How could one woman make his heart swell to double its size? Using his fingers, he stroked her pleasure like the strings of a guitar, teasing her, loving the feeling of her against his fingertips as much as he enjoyed the moans from deep within her throat. And when he couldn’t hold out any longer, he buried himself inside of her, feeling an immense amount of pleasure as her body received him. Listening to her moan. After he’d fully accomplished the task, he kissed her back, rolling his tongue over her shoulder blades while positioning his hands at her waist. Slowly, he worked his member backward before lunging forward again, repeating this push-pull motion rapidly until her moans became whimpers. Until he felt her muscles clamping down on him and squeezing – seizing control of his mind and then she crumbled and cried out for him as she fell apart but somehow managed to remain on her knees while he was still clinging on to her backside, still deep within her depths. A roaring groan tore from his throat as sensations pulsated through him, sending him plummeting into a potent, mind-spiraling release of his own – one that nearly brought him to tears. Or maybe the urge to cry was from the guilt he carried of the way he interacted with Eden. When he was on his pills, he was good to her. When he was off them, he treated her like she was the worst thing that ever happened to him. He knew she was growing tired of it – so was he – but controlling it was another matter.

  He collapsed on top of her, still molded to the shape of her. Still inside of her, not willing to let go. When they were like this, they were perfect. They were one. Completely unified and in sync with each other. “I love you, Eden,” he panted.

  “I love you, Dilvan.”

  Dilvan closed his eyes, bathed in a sauna of her love a while longer before he released her. Before he physically disconnected from her. When he finally did so, he laid beside her after watching her lower herself down to the bed. Then, he lost himself in her eyes. “I don’t deserve you,” he said.

  “Dilvan—”

  “Wait. Let me talk. Let me say what’s in my heart.”

  “Okay,” she said softly. He looked like he had a lot on his mind.

  “You are an incredible woman, Eden. You’re the ideal woman for any man looking for a wife. You’re already the complete package. So, how did you get mixed up with a psycho?”

  “Stop it. You’re not a psycho, and I’m not going to let you talk about yourself like that.”

  “That’s how I feel—like those people who can’t function without the aid of something foreign that they have to put inside of their bodies to alter their mind. How can I call myself a man? Hunh?”

  “Because you are a man, and you cannot allow yourself to be reduced by your illness, disorder or whatever you want to call it. All you can do—all we can do—is seek help, get the treatment and the medication we need, then move forward. There is no shame in taking medicine that you need, Dilvan. I’m not ashamed of you,” she said stroking her fingers alongside his face. “Sometimes, you get so caught up with this sickness that you don’t see how truly incredible you are. You are incredible and I’m not saying that because I’m your wife. I’m saying it because it’s true. You are smart, handsome—you’re everything I want Dilvan. I don’t feel like I’m stuck with you. I’m glad we’re married.”

  Tell him you’re pregnant. Tell him you’re pregnant. Eden heard her sister’s voice over and over inside of her head but she couldn’t tell Dilvan anything yet, not while he was feeling this way about himself. Well, they did just make love so no doubt he was feeling good and relaxed right about now, but his mind was on bipolar again and its effects. She threaded her fingers with his hand and left a kiss on his lips. “It’ll be ok, Dilvan. We’ll be just fine.”

  Chapter 8

  -*- Henry Robinson -*-

  “What else can I do, Dad?” Destiny asked. She’d helped her father at Coastal Pastries now and then and would be there all day helping him today since she was done with school. A straight ‘A’ student, she was exempt from mid-term exams.

  “Make sure the bathroom is clean and has toilet paper and paper towels.”

  “Okay.” Destiny walked to the back to get some cleaning spray and a rag.

  Around the same time, Gabrielle stepped in wearing a black coat. “Whew…it’s a little chilly this morning. Good morning, Dad.”

  “Mornin’ Gabrielle. How are you this brisk morning?”

  Gabrielle chuckled lightly. “I’m doing okay…just dropped off the kids with Lalita. How’s everything here?”

  “I’ve got it all under control for the moment. Destiny is here today, too.”

  “Oh. Where is she?”

  “Checking the bathroom.”

  “Carmen didn’t make it, hunh?”

  “No. Not today. That girl was knocked out when me and Destiny left this morning.”

  “I ain’t mad at her. She probably deserves it after college. I hear it can be challenging for the freshmans.”

  “I wouldn’t know...couldn’t afford college back in my day.”

  “Well, I didn’t go to college either. Keeping up with the kids is exhausting enough for me.”

  “Now, you leave my grandchildren out of this,” Henry chuckled. “I’m just kidding. I know how it is to have youngins runnin’ around. As a single father, you girls certainly were a handful for me. Destiny still is.”

  “Destiny still is what?” she asked, walking into the main area where they were standing.

  “Hey, sis,” Gabrielle said, looking at her sister. They were about the same height even though they were years apart. Destiny had on a dark pink sweater and had her natural hair done in twists. “Glad you made it in. We were just talking about how much we love you.”

  “Sure you were…” Destiny said with skepticism in her voice as she hugged Gabrielle. “The bathroom is clean and well-stocked, by the way.”

  “Good,” Gabrielle said. When a customer walked in, Gabrielle turned her attention to the door to see a middle-aged woman toting a classy handbag, dressed in a black pantsuit with her hair in curls like she’d just left a salon after having a roller set. She walked up to the counter.

  Henry met her with a smile. He’d seen the woman before – like at least five times before – and each time, she was dressed nice. Looked like she was on her way to work or some place important.

  “Good morning,” she said, greeting Henry.

  “Good morning. Are you having your usual?”

  A pleasant smile came to the woman’s face. She was impressed that he actually recognized she was a regular customer and had remembered what she’d ordered. “Yes. The usual.”

  “Okay. One decaf coming right up.” Gabrielle glanced over at the woman immediately noticing the way she was looking at her father. She rolled her eyes over to Destiny to see if she also picked up on the chemistry between the two and when Destiny waggled her eyebrows, Gabrielle was certain that she had.

  “You must work around here,” Henry said watching her smile. He thought her face, the crinkles in the corner of her eyes were as beautiful as her smile – a smile that was lovely enough to brighten his day.

  “I do—a few miles down the street actually. I work for One Source Travel Agency.”

  “That would make you a travel agent.”

  “It would.” She smiled. Removing a business card from her purse, she handed it to him and said, “If you’re ever in need of an agent, give me a call.”

  “I will,” Henry said, taking the card. He placed her coffee on the counter and after handing her change, he said, “Have a lovely day, Miss—” He glanced at her business card and saw her name, Wanda Staten. “Have a lovely day, Ms. Staten.”

  “Please, call me Wanda. And you are—?”

  Henry cleared his throat before he said, “Henry Robinson.”

  “It’s nice to officially meet you, Henry.”

  “You as well.”

  “Ahem,” Destiny said, taking her father’s focus away fr
om Wanda for a second. It dawned on him what she wanted – to be introduced.

  He grinned when he gestured over to his girls saying, “And these beautiful ladies are my daughters, Gabrielle and Destiny.”

  Wanda’s eyes brightened. “You have daughters. How lovely.” Wanda glanced at his hand to make sure he wasn’t wearing a ring. He wasn’t. She immediately wondered what his story was. Maybe he was one of those men who didn’t marry but still had a significant other. Whatever the case, he had some beautiful children.

  “And there’s one more who isn’t here,” Destiny offered.

  “Three of you, huh?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Destiny said.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet all of you.”

  “You as well,” Henry said.

  Wanda picked up her coffee cup and said, “I’m off to make people’s travel dreams come true. Have a good day.”

  “You do the same,” Henry told her.

  As soon as Wanda exited the shop, Gabrielle smiled and looked at her father. “You were flirting with her.”

  He waved off her comment. “I was just being friendly.”

  “No Dad. You were like all in her face. You like her, don’t you?” Destiny asked.

  Henry looked down at Wanda’s business card and said, “She seems like a nice lady but women like that are usually taken—not that I’m interested.”

  “She wasn’t wearing a ring,” Gabrielle said, “And she gave you her business card because she wanted you to have her contact information.”

  “Yeah, so contact her,” Destiny chimed in to say.

  Henry chuckled while sliding the card inside of his pocket. “Calm your spirit little girl. I already told y’all…I’m not chasing after a woman.”

  His defiance had Gabrielle wondering why her father had been single for so long? He couldn’t still be in love with their mother could he after she’d run off and left him to raise three girls by himself? Or maybe that bad experience completely turned him off from women altogether. Was he intentionally punishing himself to a life of loneliness?

  Chapter 9

  -*- Prasad and Lalita -*-

  Prasad pulled out the chair at the dinner table for Lalita to sit.

  “Thank you,” she said getting comfortable by scooting her chair underneath the table a little further then hung her brown purse on the armrest. Her eyes settled on her husband’s steel, gray eyes and his silky black hair. They hadn’t had a date night in forever it seemed. She’d forgotten how handsome he looked in a suit – how the features of his chiseled face popped after a fresh shave. She smiled appreciatively that this Alexander was her Alexander.

  “You look beautiful, Lalita. Have I told you that already?”

  “Yes, like five times since we left the kids at your mom’s. Oh and by the way, have I told you lately how much I appreciate your mother? She is the best mother-in-law ever. She’s always so busy, but she still makes time to watch the kids.”

  “That’s mother. In fact, I wish she would focus more on being a grandmother rather than the businesswoman who does it all. She has way too much money to be working so hard.”

  Lalita gave a half smile then glanced at the menu.

  “You really are beautiful, Lalita. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful woman as my wife and the mother of my children.”

  “Thank you, Prasad,” Lalita said but the more he complimented her, the more she dreaded bringing up the subject of working and being independent. Of finding her thing.

  When their food arrived – curry chicken with a side of black beans and rice – Lalita saw her chance to make her case. Prasad was relaxed, eating good food and sipping on fine wine when she said, “Prasad, I know we discussed this a while ago but I want to revisit it.”

  “What’s that, baby?”

  “Me—working,” she said paying careful attention to his reaction. First, he grimaced, then picked up his wine glass and finished it off.

  “Lalita we’re not strapped for cash. I—we have money and plenty of it. There’s really no real need for you to work outside of the home sweetheart.”

  “It’s not about the money, Prasad. It’s about growth and self-fulfillment. I love being with the kids but I want to do something,” Lalita said. It was then she remembered what Gabrielle told her – that she needed to have a plan of what that something would entail before bringing up the subject to Prasad. And she didn’t have a plan. All she had was a flurry of ideas but nothing concrete.

  Prasad dabbed his mouth with a napkin, leaned forward and asked, “What is it that you want to do? You’ve been talking about this for a while now, so tell me.”

  She frowned because she didn’t have a clue.

  “First,” he continued, “I thought you wanted to do something in the restaurant business or work with my mother in some capacity, but then I began to realize that’s not what you want. So, I’m asking you—what do you want to do?”

  Lalita chewed on her bottom lip, unsure of what to say. She still had no idea.

  Prasad stared at her intently. Waiting. “Sweetheart why don’t you take a week to think about it, and then we can talk. Will that work?”

  A smile appeared on her face. “Yes. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Always,” Prasad said. He could sense her frustration, but he was also frustrated because he provided her and the kids with everything they needed, and then some. They didn’t want for anything. Why was she so determined to have her own thing when all she had to do was continue being his loyal, faithful wife and mother to their beautiful children?

  Switching gears while sharing a slice of mango cheesecake for dessert, Prasad said, “Mother is going all-out for this reunion.”

  “I know. It should be a good time. Two days of food, family and fun.”

  “I just pray everyone behaves,” Prasad said, and by everyone, he meant Dilvan.

  “Me too.” Lalita finished chewing and then said, “The last time we were all together was for Gabrielle’s baby shower for T.J.”

  “And that was a disaster.”

  Lalita nodded. “Come to think about it…that’s probably why Gabrielle didn’t have a big family baby shower when she was pregnant with Amryn.”

  “I can’t blame her,” Prasad said. “Dilvan was out of his mind then, and according to Heshan, he may be right back at it. But, we’re not going to worry about the negatives. I think it will be a good time.”

  “It’ll be nice to see everyone together as a family,” she said.

  Prasad laid his fork down on the dessert plate that they shared. “How are we?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, staring across the table into his eyes.

  “Me and you. How are we doing as a couple?”

  “I think we’re doing fine unless there’s something you aren’t telling me,” she said. “Are we doing fine?”

  Prasad cracked a smile. “Of course, we are. Wait—aren’t we?”

  Lalita laughed. “Yes, we are. I still love you just as much as I did the first time we met.”

  “Is that right?” Prasad asked, reaching to hold her hand from across the table.

  Lalita clutched his hand and responded, “Yes, that’s right.”

  “Good because that’s the same way I feel about you.”

  Their gazes locked on each other and held for one powerful, significant moment.

  “Mother’s keeping the kids tonight. We’ll have the entire house to ourselves to do whatever we want and in whatever room we want to do it in.”

  “Then, let’s get the check so we can go.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Prasad said smiling, raising a finger for the waiter.

  Chapter 10

  -*- Dilvan and Eden -*-

  Eden got out of bed, glancing over at Dilvan’s side of the bed. He wasn’t there. She stretched, smiled and felt warm all over when she reflected on last night and how they’d made love. The joy she felt in her heart told her she had her man back.

  She put on her robe and slippers
then headed downstairs to find Dilvan on the phone in the kitchen. Walking there, she listened:

  “I don’t care what they say! I’m not taking less than a hundred thousand for this shoot and you know what, Len, if they’re not going to give me what I want, don’t bother calling me back!”

  Dilvan dropped the phone on the granite counter like he couldn’t care less if the thing broke. He released a heavy sigh.

  Eden walked up behind him, placed her hands on his shoulders to console him and his body jerked. “Sorry…didn’t mean to sneak up on you. Is everything okay?” she asked, hoping that it was after the night they’d shared. She brushed a kiss across his cheek and he turned to look at her with dark gray troubled eyes that made the barely visible hair on her arms stand up.

  “Yes. Everything is fine. That was Len. She wants me to take a modeling gig for a winter catalog spread. The offer is $75,000.” He shook his head. “These businesses never want to pay you what you’re worth.”

  “How many outfit changes were they talking?” she asked.

  “Somewhere between ten and fifteen.”

  “That’s not too bad but, then again, I don’t know anything about modeling so—”

  “You may not know anything about modeling, but you’re beautiful enough to be one.”

  A smile beautified her naked morning face. “Thank you, Dilvan.”

  “You’re welcome, Eden.”

  Eden skipped to the refrigerator, removed a carton of eggs and a package of turkey bacon. When she closed the refrigerator door, Dilvan got up from the barstool, walked over to her and said, “Give me those. I’m cooking.”

  “You are?” she asked giggling. Dilvan never cooked. Suddenly he wanted to prepare breakfast?