The Light in the Wound (30 page)

“Hmm, A, let me freshen up first. I still haven’t given you my gift.”

I gently pushed him back and headed to the bathroom. Minutes later, he was sitting at the edge of the bed looking sexy as hell, his hair all mussed up, shirtless and his erection straining through his boxers. I walked toward him wearing the hotel robe and carrying a little black pouch. I knelt between his legs.

“Happy Anniversary, Alex,” I whispered.

He opened the pouch and smiled. Inside was a platinum men’s chain with a matching platinum Ankh-inspired cross.

“You said you wanted to wear a crucifix. I thought this shape was a little bit more modern. Take a look at the back.” Inscribed on the back of the pendant were the words “You’re My Forever.”

“Thank you,” he smiled, “I love it. Best present ever.”

“I’m not done yet,” I countered. I untied my robe to reveal a completely see-through black lace negligee with a matching black lace thong with slits on the bottom. Something I bought with Betty when she was shopping for her honeymoon trousseau. Alex gulped and took a deep breath.

“Isa. You are utterly breathtaking. I don’t deserve you. Let me look at you first.”

I pushed my robe off my shoulders as I stood up. His hands roamed around my front, he cupped my breasts and leaned down to kiss them.

“I had a fight with the lady at Victoria’s Secret. She insisted these were D cups, while I told her I was a C.”

“I could have settled the bet for you. These are glorious, exquisite D’s. And they’re mine,” he said as he squeezed both of them together.

After giving him a few seconds to savor me, I gently pushed him back and knelt down to begin what I had wanted to do all night. I gave him my best mischievous look and huskily whispered into his ear, “I get to have my dessert first.”

I pulled his underwear down and sucked his tip in my mouth. I started taking all of him in, slowly at first, twisting my lips around him and using my hands and my tongue to fondle him.

His hands were in my hair, as he groaned and threw his head back. “Isabel, we have to stop, I’m so close.”

“That’s okay, babe. We have all night. I want you to come in my mouth. Now.” I pumped him with my mouth and hands faster and faster until he shuddered and poured his sweet tasting release into me.

Minutes later, he was ready to go again. “I’m going to have a perpetual hard on all night if you keep walking around like that.”

I had gotten up to look out the large glass window overlooking the expansive city. He walked up behind me and cupped my breasts from behind. I could feel his hardness against my back. I was getting so excited I felt the wetness dripping down my legs. It was if he read my mind when he slipped a finger inside me.

“You’re always so ready for me. So nice and tight. Let me loosen you up.”

I was pressed against the glass, as the one finger became two fingers and finally three. He used one hand to tear off my lingerie until I was stark naked with my breasts pressed against the cool window.

“Mmm, Alex. I want you inside me, please.”

He turned me around to face him, lifted me up and walked us toward the bed. “Tell me what you want me to do to you, baby. Don’t be shy. I’m here for you. Tell me.”

“I want you, Alex.”

“Do you like this?” He reached his head down to bite my nipples as he lay me on the bed.

“Or this?” All three fingers.

I moaned. “All of it, everything you’re doing.”

He brought his face to mine and kissed me. “I want to drink you up, let your juices flow through my veins. I can’t get enough of you, Isabel.”

“Alex, please, I want you inside of me.” I pulled him to me and guided him inside, bucking my hips to take all of him in. He was thrusting inside me, faster and fiercer. “Harder, Alex, harder. I want you in me all the way. That’s it, baby. Please.”

He then turned me around on my stomach and lifted me up on my knees. I was panting, I could hardly breathe. He rammed into me from behind. “Say my name when you come. Come with me, baby. Say my name.”

“Alex!” I screamed. “Oh Alex, you feel so good. I’m coming!” And as I clenched my insides to tighten around him, I came just as I felt him pulsating too.

Round three came in the form of leftover ice cream and chocolate sundae after ordering room service. Round four occurred as we showered the stickiness off to go to bed for the night. The screaming got louder and louder with every climax. It meant so much to Alex to hear me say his name. Making love to Alex was easier, more uninhibited. It didn’t hurt that he was much more experienced than Jesse and I combined. We used to talk about his escapades back in the day when we were just friends. I would listen attentively and ask specific questions as he regaled me about his one-night stands, sometimes he didn’t even know the women’s names. But every single time he would recount those experiences, he would always end our conversation with a statement alluding to the fact that none of those women were me.

I woke up to see the light streaming in from our hotel window. Alex was fast asleep. His right arm and leg were draped over me, and he looked so peaceful that I didn’t want to startle him by moving any part of his body. I lay there facing him and admired his striking features as he slept.
How did we get this far in one month? Less than twenty-four hours ago, I agreed to marry him. And then Jesse had to see us get into the elevator on the way to our room. What was he doing here,
I wondered
.

Alex slowly opened his eyes and smiled at me. “Hey.” He kissed my nose.

“Hey,” I answered.

“How long have you been awake?” he asked.

“Not long, just thinking.”

He caressed my face with his thumb. “Are you sore?” he asked.

“Nope.” I smiled.

He kissed me again.

“A? Did your parents know you were going to propose last night?”

“Yes. My mom and I bought the ring together. She chose it, I had no clue.”

“Do my grandparents know?”

“The day we golfed together, I asked for permission to propose.”

“Should we be setting a date for the wedding??” I asked.

“I know I want it to happen in the next three months.”

“Three months? I thought people got engaged for at least a year.”

“Not us, Isa. I want you to be my wife in three months, tops. I know I keep on saying this, but I’ve waited so long. I can’t wait any longer.”

“I guess I have to call my mom, Evie and Alicia today.”

“They already know. I called all of them.”

“You did? You’re so sweet! I need to repay you for all that thoughtfulness.”

He laughed playfully. “Okay by me. You can start now.”

That was Round 5.

We spent the rest of the morning together in bed, dozing on and off. “Why do you like to sleep so much?” He was caressing my jaw with his fingers, tracing a line all the way down to my chest.

“Why do you like to do it so much?” I jabbed back impishly.

“Because I can’t get enough of you. I’m making up for all these years of lost time.”

I started to lick his lips and pressed myself against him.

“Isa?”

“Mmmmm.”

“Jesse called me a couple of times in the office.”

“Huh. What did he want?”

“Don’t know. I was in meetings both times and the secretary just left me a note about it.”

I remained silent.

“I don’t think he’s going to give you up without a fight, Iss. I don’t blame him.” His brows had furrowed together and he had a worried look on his face. “You know I have to accompany my dad on a business trip to San Francisco, right? I’m thinking of canceling for now, since we will probably be busy with planning the wedding and all.”

“A, no, don’t do that. That deal is really important to your father. If you miss that auction, you’ll have to wait another year to bid on that property. Let me handle things from here. Two weeks will fly by and before you know it, you’ll be back.”

“I know. You’re right.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow at noon.” He still appeared concerned, and he looked at me like he was searching for an answer. Like he wanted me to stop him from leaving.

“I love you, Alex. I’m in love with you. Just know that, okay?”

“Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom.”

—Rabindranath Tagore

Late that same afternoon, I asked Alex to drop me off at my grandparents’ house while he went home to get ready for his overseas trip. He was going to meet me back there in time for dinner. I walked up the large, winding staircase and into my grandfather’s library where he was working on his computer.

“Isabel, I can’t get into my files!” My grandfather. Business Man of the Year. CEO and President of multiple corporations. The only time he ever looked confused or perplexed was when he attempted to use the computer instead of delegating this task to his staff.

“Grandpa, you’re going into another directory. Here, let me help you. Do you see this folder? I’m going to drag it to your desktop so you can find the files more easily.”

He didn’t hear a word I said. He didn’t care to learn. Why should he? After making sure that I moved the right folders where he wanted them, he asked me to shut down the computer. Just then, my grandmother walked in. My grandfather remained seated at his desk as we both sat on the chairs directly opposite from him.

“Congratulations, Isabel! We heard the great news.” My grandmother regarded me warmly. For the first time in my entire life, I could actually detect a twinge of love and pride in her tone of voice.

“A little unexpected and a bit too fast, but thank you. I’m happy.”

My grandmother then reached into her pocket and pulled out a magnifying glass. She gently took my hand and brought the diamond to the glass. “Hmmmm. Beautiful. VVS1 or even Flawless.”

“Grandma!” I chided. These things made her happy, I wasn’t going to ruin her moment.

“I spoke with Lori Nate yesterday and asked that the announcement be published in this week’s paper. She will include the designer’s name as well. I think we should see Pierre when you have time this week. Your mother modeled for him for years. He will only expect that we go to him. Have you picked a date?”