Her First (4 page)

Madison
led him into her master bedroom.  They laid back on the lavender and cream colored satin bedding that dressed the king sized bed.  Their kisses intensified as Ethan’s hands took pleasure in roaming over her body.  Moans of satisfaction escaped Madison’s lips.  The desire for Ethan was about to overtake her.

“
Ethan, nooo…stop,” she moaned. 

Ethan
looked into her eyes.  He saw how frightened she was as they almost took their relationship to another level. He didn’t want to rush her. 

His voice was hoarse when he responded, “Okay, baby.  Let me hold you.” 
Madison nestled against his chest.  He wrapped his arms around her warm body until sleep overtook them.

The next morning, Ethan did a double take when he opened his eyes to be staring at an eggshell ceiling trimmed with a border of lavender and cream designs. He slowly lowered his chin to his chest and looked down, convincing himself that he wasn’t dreaming. The skirt Madison wore was bundled up around her waist and her legs were entwined in his. His pants were snug in one spot and he needed to move, but he didn’t want to wake her up.

Last night while he was listening to her recant her story, he felt a need to protect her from everyone. He was drawn into her more than he should be, but couldn’t help it. There was something about her that made him want to be everything she needed.

Madison stirred before opening her eyes. “I’m sorry for falling asleep on you. I felt comfortable being in your arms.”

Ethan
brushed the hair from her forehead. “You can fall asleep on me anytime.”

“It’s almost eight o’clock,”
Madison said after looking at the clock. “I can’t believe I overslept.  I hate being late.  I’d rather not go at all than to walk in late.” She thought for a moment. “I think I will call in sick today.”

A mischievous look came across
Ethan’s face.  “I think I’ll play hooky from work too.” This would be the first sick day he’d taken in two years. “I don’t mean to disturb this very relaxing position, but let me go get my cell phone out of the car.  I need to make a couple of calls but then I’ll be back to join you in your sick bed.”

“Don’t be using me,” she teased.

He assured her before standing up, “Trust me, I’d never use you. Only love you.”

Madison
reached over and took the cordless phone from its cradle and handed it to Ethan.

“You can use this. I’ll give you some privacy. I need to go jump in
the shower,” she said as she fumbled for undergarments in her dresser drawers.

Ethan walked over and sat down in the chair that was beside her bed.  He watched Madison as she walked out of the room and into the attached bathroom to go take a shower, his eyes focused on her ample behind.

He was quite tempted to join her in the shower, but opted to remain sitting in the chair. He had been careful about getting involved with anyone, but in less than a
month, Madison had him committed to her. 

While he waited on
Madison, he made several phone calls.  One of the first calls he made was to Joyce. He apologized to her for his behavior. Joyce pretended not to forgive him, but reassured him that she would handle everything while he was out.

***

“Can you pass me the outfit that’s hanging in the closet? Right there to the left,” she yelled as she stuck her head out the bathroom door.

He opened the closet door and was amazed at all of the clothes and shoes. It was like her own private boutique.  The closet floor was full of shoes in different styles and colors. He shook his head as he thought about her attitude about one pair of shoes. He handed her the outfit. “I couldn’t help but notice that you’re a shoe freak.”

She laughed. “Takes one to know one.”  She then disappeared back behind the bathroom door.

“Do you mind if I use your guest bathroom? I have some gym clothes out in my car that I can change into,”
Ethan yelled while she got dressed in the bathroom.

“Sure. It’s down the hall and to the right. I’ll be out in a minute.”

By the time he made it back inside with his gym bag, Madison was dressed. She showed him where the towels and extra soap was located. While he showered, she cooked breakfast. They spent the entire day talking and laughing. They realized they had more in common than they originally thought.  Both of their last relationships ended when the ones they trusted betrayed them by cheating. They both poured themselves into their work to hide the disappointment. They were equally surprised that they were bonding in such a short time.

Nighttime was closely approaching and they hadn’t left
Madison’s house. They were deciding on a movie to watch when Madison’s cell phone rang. “Hello,” she answered.

Charlotte’s voice echoed from the other end. “Are you okay? I called you at work and the receptionist said you were sick and she also added that you were probably somewhere with your handsome husband.”

“Oh she did?” Madison sighed.  “I’m fine, but I have company right now, so I’ll have to call you back.”

“
You can't just drop that bombshell on me and then rush off the phone. Is it Ethan?”

“Maybe.”

“I told Frederick that you two were probably together.”

“You talked to Frederick?”

“Yes. He called to see if I had talked to you because he was trying to reach his brother. He got the same response from Ethan’s secretary. I can’t wait to tell Frederick where he is.”  Charlotte giggled.

Ethan
walked behind her and looped his arms around her waist. He planted kisses on the nape of her neck. Madison could barely concentrate. “I’ll tell Ethan that Frederick’s looking for him.”

“I knew it. You just confirmed my suspicions. You go girl!”

“Bye, Charlotte.”

“Looks like your brother and my best friend have been looking for us. Don’t worry, she can’t wait to call him and let him know that you’re safe.”

Ethan turned Madison around to face him. “My brother is the last person on my mind right now. Come here.”

He took her hand and led her to the oversized living room chair. He sat down first before pulling her onto his lap. “Girl, you’re so tantalizing, I could devour you right now.”

“Oh really? Well, you’re not too bad yourself.”

“Before we take this further, I think we need to discuss where we both want this to go,”
Ethan said.

She ran her hands through her hair, hoping
Ethan couldn’t sense her nervousness. She’d never wanted anyone as much as she wanted Ethan. Yes, she wanted him in the physical sense, but she also wanted to share her thoughts and dreams with him. Perhaps her family's past concerns about her living the single life had finally gotten the best of her.  She didn’t want to do the dating thing anymore.  It was both time consuming and a waste of time knowing that the person you are with is no more than a date, a time filler.  She wanted more.  She wanted Ethan.  She desired to have him be the person she could be herself with and not worry about being judged. She didn’t know what his response was going to be, but she felt like she had nothing to lose by being completely honest.

“I want more than a
sexual relationship,” Madison resolved.

“I agree. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve been drawn to you. At first I admit it was your physical essence, but your inner spirit has captivated me. I’ve tried forgetting you, and the more I tried, the worse off I felt,”
Ethan confessed.

“Really?”

“Yes. I needed to see you one more time to get you out of my system. It’s too late, because I realize now I can’t get you out of my system.”

“You’re not just saying that are you?” she asked, feeling like she had won the lottery.

With a stern, yet soft look on his face, Ethan answered. “I don’t say anything I don’t mean. If you don’t remember anything else I tell you, remember this; I don’t play when it comes to my emotions. I know this may not be an appropriate time to be asking you this, but I’m going to ask anyway.  If you’re dating other men, will you please stop and allow me the chance to show you that we can have something wonderful? All I’m asking for is a chance, Madison.”

“I’d love to, but there’s one problem,”
Madison said, looking down.

Ethan
felt his heart dropping. “What?”

“I’m not dating anyone else,”
Madison looked up and smiled.

“You had me worried for a minute.” He released his breath.

So that there would be no misunderstandings, she asked for clarification.  “Does this mean we’re going to exclusively date one another?”

Ethan
took his hand and placed it on the back of Madison’s neck. He gently pulled her mouth down to his. He kissed her with tenderness before responding, “Yes. That’s exactly what it means.  After all, I‘m already your
husband
, aren‘t I?”

Madison
stuttered, “I…I…I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Neither can I. Who would’ve thought that I would be sitting here with a woman who seems to be everything my heart has ever desired.”

“You know how to make a girl feel special.” Madison laid her head on his chest.

“You are special and don’t you ever forget it.”  They formed a special bond that day as they sat in the chair talking.

They were so into each other that the night passed and the dawn of a new day found them still awake. They remained in the bed the majority of that Saturday. Between watching movies and talking, nighttime approached once again. Although they had cuddled and done some heavy kissing and panting, they had not yet crossed the realm of physical intimacy.

Madison
hoped Ethan understood her reasoning for not wanting to have sex with him this early on in their relationship. But the only way to find out was for her to talk to him about it.

While they cuddled,
Madison brought up the subject. “Ethan, how would you feel about us taking
it
slow?”

“
It
,” he repeated.

“Sex.”

“I told you I don’t have a problem with it,” he said nonchalantly.

“I don’t think you understand.”
Madison removed herself from his embrace so they would be facing one another.

“Enlighten me,”
Ethan said with a concerned look on his face.

Madison
looked him directly in the eyes. “I’m willing to give us a try, but I don’t want sex clouding either one of our judgments. I want to be sure there’s more than a physical attraction.”

“For me it is,”
Ethan stated.

“Good, because I think waiting to have sex will enhance our relationship. It’ll give us a chance to know each other better.”

Ethan pulled her back into his arms and said, “When we do have sex, I want it to be because we both know beyond a shadow of a doubt that neither one of us is going anywhere.”

“Exactly.”
Madison gleamed.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’ll be hard because you’re a desirable woman, but building a lasting relationship with you is more important to me at this time.”

Madison hugged Ethan tight and asked, “Where have you been all of my life?”

“Waiting on you.”

Madison felt guilty about spending the entire weekend being lazy. She didn’t go to work on Friday, nor did she take care of any of her weekend errands. But the number one thing she felt bad about was that she’d overslept and missed church.  As she got dressed, she was thankful that God had brought Ethan into her life.  She made a silent promise to God to attend Wednesday night’s Bible study since she missed Sunday service.

After being at her place for the entire wee
kend, Ethan went home to get a change of clothes. After telling Ethan her dilemma about not having the husband her family expected to see at their monthly Sunday dinner, he suggested that he make his very first appearance as the mysterious husband.  Madison told him that he didn’t have to do that for her, but he insisted.

“It’ll be our little secret,” he assured her.

She agreed when he flashed his killer smile. Madison knew she would never be able to resist those dimples of his.

They spent the next few weeks getting to know each other better. Madison hadn’t felt this at ease in a long time.  With Ethan agreeing to attend her family dinner, she was able to relax her nerves. 

Madison
was putting on her lipstick when she heard her doorbell.  She finished putting on her lipstick and then messed with a few strands of hair.  She made it to the door but then had to go back into her bedroom to retrieve her purse with her keys in it.  By the time she made it back to the door, the doorbell had sounded a second time.

“Sorry,” she said, answering the door where
Ethan stood waiting.  “I had to get my keys.”

He took her hand and led her to his Silver SUV. “No problem.  I thought you were having second thoughts.”

“Oh, you’re not getting rid of me that fast, mister.”

“That’s exactly what I like to hear.”

They rode in silence for the majority of the trip except when Madison blurted out little facts about herself that her family might ask him and Ethan did the same about himself.

Madison
gave him directions to her parent’s house. As they pulled into a residential area, Madison commented, “I thought you were going to change your mind. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you did.”

Madison
pointed to a dark brick-red split-level house.

“I
’m a man of my word,” Ethan responded as he parked in front of her parent’s house.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to
imply otherwise. It’s not every day a woman finds a man who’s as caring as you are… and willing to do the insane.”

Ethan
interrupted her. “Before we go in, I wanted to give you something.” 

She remained quiet.
Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. “I know we’re still getting to know one another, but I know enough to know that I want you in my life.  Please wear this pendant as a symbol of what the future can be. When you feel you’re ready to make a commitment, say the word and we can upgrade it to a ring."

Madison
knew that if a fly flew around her now, he would be able to find a resting spot in her mouth, because she was speechless. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected this. Everything is happening so fast. We can take it slow. We don’t have to rush it.”

“So Ms.
Allen, is that a yes?”

She jokingly responded, “It’s
Madison and yes it is.”

Ethan
removed the necklace from its box and placed it around Madison’s neck. After making sure the clasp was secure, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. They were caught up in the passion and didn’t stop kissing until they were disturbed by a knock on the passenger’s window.

“It looks like we’ve been busted,”
Madison said as she straightened her dress before opening the door. “That’s my nephew, Jerry Junior, but we call him Junior.”

She opened the door and gave
Junior a hug. Ethan walked around and Madison introduced them. They followed Junior into the house to the foyer. The entire family was lounging around in the living room waiting on the guests of honor to arrive. 

Ethan
took Madison’s hand and kissed the outside of it before giving her hand a reassuring tug as they headed down the foyer and walked hand-in-hand to the living room. When they reached the living room, all eyes were on them. Madison cleared her throat and announced, “Hi everyone. I know you all were wondering if we were going to show up.”  She paused and took a couple of deep breaths before continuing, “I want you all to meet Ethan Campbell.”

Ethan
flashed a smile before completing Madison’s sentence. “Her husband.”

***

Everybody crowded around them. You could tell the family resemblance because all of the Allens had high cheekbones and some had emerald eyes like Madison. In attendance were Madison’s two brothers, Gerald and his wife April, and Jerry and his wife Janice. Her two sisters, Pam and Adrienne, were also there with their husbands, Louis and Edward. Madison’s father stayed in the background and observed from his dark green lazy-boy chair that sat positioned in the middle of the room. Her nieces and nephews were running throughout the house.

Each member of
Madison’s family reached out to Ethan with open arms. The men gave him a hearty handshake, while the women gave him tight hugs. Finally, Gerald led him to their father.  Madison’s mom, Ethel, directed her to the kitchen. Her sisters walked right behind them while her sister-in-laws went to see about the children who were making their way through almost every room in the spacious house.  It was the same house Madison and her brothers and sisters had grown up in.

Ethel flashed an approving smile. “
Madison baby, he looks like a winner. Why did you hide him from us?” she said as she walked over to the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of lemonade and then a pitcher of tea, placing them both down on the newly updated black and gray marbled kitchen counter.

Madison
cleared her throat. “I was selfish. We don’t get to spend much time together, so I wanted him all to myself.”  She began assisting her mother by gathering glasses from the cupboards.

“I see why, because he is
gorgeous. He makes Brad Pitt look like mince meat,” Pam said while everyone else laughed.

“I can’t put my finger on it, but something doesn’t feel right.” Adrienne frowned as she sat down at the kitchen table, the table that was now used
as the kid’s table while the adults dined in the formal dining room.

Madison
ignored her comment and proceeded to get plastic cups for the kids.

Pam, who sometimes instigated the sibling rivalry, asked, “Adrienne why do you say that?”

A wicked looking smile spread over Adrienne’s face.  “Madison, you’ve only known him a short while. Nobody in the family has met him until now and so we’re supposed to accept him into the family? Are you sure you really know him? He looks like one of those playboy types. Why did you go to Vegas when everybody knows in this family, we always have church weddings?”

Ethel jumped in before an argument started. “Adrienne, it doesn’t matter, he’s family now. So please keep your comments to yourself. 
Ethan is part of this family now, and if your sister is happy, then that’s all that matters.”

Madison
hugged her mom. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Now ladies, I didn’t
work all day at this hot stove for my food to get cold. Pick up one of the bowls or platters and help me get everything on the table,” Ethel ordered.

They each filled their hands with glasses, beverages and platters and headed towards the dining room. Ethel cooked a
big southern dinner fit for royalty. She had baked a ham, roast, made mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fresh green beans, candy yams with fresh dinner rolls and a peach cobbler for dessert.

“I think you out did yourself this time,”
Madison stated as she placed the glasses she had carried in her hands down at a setting and headed back to the kitchen.

Adrienne walked back into the kitchen and stood next to
Madison and whispered, “You’re hiding something and I’m going to find out what it is.”

Even as kids, Adrienne always stayed on the other siblings heels in an attempt to catch them in the act of something that was sure to land them punishment or embarrassment.   It was clear that she s
till hadn’t grown out of her childhood tactics as a result of sibling rivalry.

“Whatever. Just because your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, there’s no reason why you should try to find something wrong with mine.”
Madison tried to control her anger, but failed.

They were both giving each other the “evil eye” when
Ethan walked into the kitchen.

“I hope you ladies aren’t talking about me with that look on your faces,” he joked.

Adrienne reached out and hugged him. “Now don’t worry about what we were talking about, brother-in-law. Just make sure you don’t remain a stranger.” She then turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Ethan
looked at Madison. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“It’s a family affair.”
Madison looped her arm around his and they walked out the kitchen.