Love Redeemed, Book 4 (38 page)

I tuck Rayna in bed and turn down the shades to darken the room.

“I need to get a few things done. Let me know if you need anything,” I offer before leaving the room.

Damn, this isn’t how I thought I’d be putting her ass out this weekend!

~~~~~~~~~~

For
the past week or so, I’ve been able to effectively rid my life of Dawn Taylor. Chesney presented her with Britni’s story that quickly quieted her threats of pressing charges against Rayna. I’ve given my parting words to Shayna. It’s unfortunate that she’s caught in this shit, but it’s only business to me. I assured her that if she ever decides to part with Dawn, I’d give her a reference. 

T
hings have also begun to heat up with the defendants of the sex video scandal. I relayed to Chesney that I want their asses prosecuted to the highest extent of the law bearing in mind the damage they were attempting to ensue on Rayna, and not to mention the memory of her best friend who is now deceased and unable to defend herself. Announcements of lawsuits went out last Monday morning, and by lunchtime, Chesney had heard back from the radio station that owned Lady Spin’s show and I received a call from Spin herself.

Though tactful, she tried to go the journalist
route by using the excuse of reporting a story without bias. Conversely, I wasn’t enthused; she fucking violated my lady to spite me. Rayna was devastated and justifiably. Michelle’s daughter could one day get a hold of that footage. I was advised not to speak directly to her. Beyond that, I could only tolerate a minute and a half of Spin’s cries of indignation. I now know the truth of the matter wasn’t that I’d stopped fucking her; she had said she was going back to Dalvin.
Hell, she’s still with the dude!
But it was because I found someone that stole my attention from casual relationships entirely. That’s the typical selfish and malicious move of a woman who wants to be
Queen B
to a man she never belonged to in the first place.

Rayna has
gotten calls from Britni and April. And just like me, Rayna had to dismiss Britni’s call per the advice of counsel. Rayna is still shaken by the web of lies and conspiracy that took place underneath our noses. Who would’ve thought Dawn would be so keen to connect all of those women that night and hatch such a plan. She had to be damn convincing and thorough, as she never knew about such a recording. What a crafty one she is. According to April, Britni said Tara had declined Dawn’s offer. I’m sure that was because I’d been throwing her money at that time and she didn’t want to compromise that.

I decided to take Rayna away the following weekend to help get her mind off all that
estrogenic bullshit. We jumped on a flight to San Francisco for the weekend.

I
t’s been too short for me, and against my preference of going farther for a longer amount of time, but Rayna has to work. I couldn’t help but feel like so soon into our marriage we need regrouping and can use a change in scenery, and arranged this trip. We’ve had a relaxing time, doing the tourist thing. We rode the cable car, something she was adamant about doing the first evening we arrived. We also toured Chinatown and explored
Pier 39
.

It’s o
ur last night there and I’m returning from the balcony off the bedroom of our suite. As I approach a resting Rayna, laid in the bed, naked beneath the comforter, I notice she looks a little pale. We’ve just made love minutes ago, before I went out and now that I’m returning, I see her caramel skin isn’t producing its natural honey glaze, especially after having made love. Her eyes look glassy and her body doesn’t possess the usual feminine poise. 

“You okay, little girl?” I
go to touch her head, not knowing what the fuck I’m searching for, just believing it’s the right thing to do. And quite honestly, it’s disconcerting.

“Mmmmm…” she sigh
s and applies a soft smile, but I don’t know if she’s simply quelling what she can pick up as my start to a worrying state.

“That’s not an answer, Mrs. Jacobs,” I
push.

“I guess I’m a little tired. We’ve had a long day and just top
ped it off with a happy ending,” she smirks.

“You sure? I’ve seen you tired before—
hell
—I’ve even worn you out past exhaustion a time or two, but you’ve never looked this fragile.”

Rayna giggle
s, causing my stomach to flutter at her delight. I look at her and all of my stressors are suspended, my worries take residence in the recesses of my mind. I love her so much and still can’t believe she’s taken me up on my offer of spending the rest of her life with me.
How the fuck did I pull this off?

“Either that or I’ve caug
ht Erin’s little bug,” she murmurs. “I tried seeing her before we left, and when I spoke to her, she sounded off. Brenda answered my call and said Erin apparently caught a cold that was going around her school.”

“Oh,” I
consider. “I wondered why you didn’t do dinner with her on Thursday.”

Amber still ha
sn’t come around to Rayna being back in Erin’s life. Gracefully her partner, Brenda, has. Brenda acts as the mediator for the two. It’s fucked up of Amber, but at least she knows she can’t continue with her control games.

“I’m gonna order room service,” I sa
y as I get up to grab the menu. “You want something?”

I d
on’t hear anything right away and figure Rayna’s pondering her answer. Then she mutters, “Not really…
maybe a brothy soup?
I’m not really hungry.”

“Yeah, you’re coming down with something all right, Jacobs,” I snort while spying the menu. “You never turn down food after smashing.” I turn to find her subdued smile. Poor thing
is fading.

I d
on’t particularly have a taste for anything. I’m just hungry. We had an early dinner, trying out a restaurant at the Pier that Rayna was eager about, but that was so many hours ago. I notice during my search the hotel doesn’t have the lengthiest dinner selections.

“You know what my biggest fear is?” Rayna ask
s from behind me. Her voice is soft and almost unrecognizable.

“No idea,” I murmur as I walk back towards the bed
, still studying the menu. After deciding a steak for me and chicken noodle soup for Rayna, I return my attention to her.

With the most austere
regard she softly says, “Not being able to be whatever you need me to be whenever you need it.” She swallows. “I have this fear of waking up from all of this,” she gestures the space between the two of us.

I chuckle
as I lay the menu on the nightstand. It’s more out of nervousness than anything else.

“Hey,” she nips my arm between her thumb and index finger. “That’s not fair. I’m pouring out secrets here. What’s so funny?”

I try to never leave Rayna out there emotionally, particularly when she’s revealing her core. She’s getting better and I make it my business to facilitate that.

“No humor, just irony,” I say as I
gaze into her sleepy eyes. I’m not sure if her drowsiness is causing delusion or there has truly been a turning of the corner in our relationship, but since we’ve become one, we talk far more frequently and share almost as much. “My biggest fear is that one day you’ll wake up and realize I’m not this all-knowing, larger-than-life...formidable entity of a man. That I’m just a jack of all trades; master of none. A mere man behind the smokescreen, trying to hold on to a piece of joy...that is you.”

Damn, that fe
lt good to release
. I’m not prepared to spill my guts right now, but I’m able to share that with ease. My faith in her sustainability is gradually returning.

“I need you, Rayna. I need
you to know that I’m working hard at making you feel secure, here with me. There is no other woman for me, nor has there been since you entered my boardroom. My soul rests with you.”

She gasps, and I can see the tears threatening to spill. I don’t want her crying, that’s not what this moment is about.
Happy or not, I don’t relish seeing my lady cry. I hold my breath.

“Well, aren’t we the needy pair?” Our eyes lock for a beat before
we fall into laughter.

“Indeed...just hopeless
.” I kiss her forehead that feels a bit warm. “But I couldn’t be in better company.”

The
next morning, we fly home. Rayna hasn’t improved. In fact, against my judgment, she forges ahead to work that Monday, only to be forced back in bed by noon. When she doesn’t get any better that Tuesday, I roll her into the doctor, who confirms she indeed has virus of some sort that doubles with an ear infection, and prescribes antibiotics. The doctor explains her bug will run its course on its own, but the infection should ease up in a couple of days. I’m just happy to have a diagnosis and solution for recovery.

I move around my schedule so that I c
an play doctor to her for a couple of days and work from home. The routine turns extremely domestic and quickly. Rayna stays in bed, sleeping on and off, and catching a little television in between. I work on my laptop, next to her unless I need to be in my office for a call. Azna finds his place right underneath Rayna.

When Rayna’s fever reduce
s, she ventures into the sitting area of the master suite and I set her up comfortably there where she sleeps less and watches more television. I cop a spot on the other side of the L shaped sofa and work, avoiding her fatuous reality shows. And Azna lays right underneath his maternal owner. It amazes me how dogs can sense when their caretaker is ill. He’s very protective of her, not even letting Rayna take a piss unsupervised. When Rayna shoos him out the door once she starts to regain her strength, Azna patiently waits outside until she’s done.

Eventually
Rayna grows tired of the master suite, something that surprises me; she covets that room since eyes on sight. I caught her in there molesting the bed during her first visit to the marina. I recall that night, thinking that room would increase my chance of tasting that ass. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t enjoy it the first time I had it in there.

When she move
s to the great room, insisting she needs a new view, Azna and I follow. She also starts eating, even if just a few spoonfuls of chicken broth. I feel victorious in aiding her back to health. I’m slowly regaining my Rayna. This lasts until Rayna’s fever lets up; she begins to feel better and all but kicks me out of the crib. That much about Rayna hasn’t improved as other facets of her; she still maintains that independent streak that I continue to rival.

~~~~~~~~~~

I shut the door behind me and can immediately hear Azna’s paws pouncing against the Italian marble floors as he heads my way. This small ritual thrills me this moment, as I’ve been stress as a motherfucker over this D-Struct search and police investigation. I toss my messenger bag and the bouquet of flowers on the foyer table and reach down to pick him up.

“Somebody was groomed today,” I sa
y as I ruffle his hair while petting him. Azna’s tail wags in my arms as he tries to catch my hand to lick it. “You didn’t let them snip your sac, did you? We need more testosterone in this piece, man.”

I let him down as I chuckle
to myself then yell out, “Where’s the Missus. of the house?” to no place in particularly.

Then I grab the flowers and head to the back of the apartment. I d
on’t hear movement, but that’s plausible considering the size of the place. Rayna isn’t exactly a phone chatterer so she could be anywhere, quiet as a librarian. I make my way into the master suite and scan the bedroom area and then the sitting room from across the way. I then give a cursory glance in the walk-in closet where I discard my suit jacket and tie, to no avail. By now, I know she’s in the bathroom.

When I enter
, I find her standing over the vanity, removing her makeup. She’s wearing a pencil skirt and a soft silk ivory blouse that though aren’t skin tight, still reveals the contour of her delicious frame. She’s shoeless, but still in her hosiery. My groin tingles.

I
’m starving for my wife, horny as a motherfucker. It’s been almost two weeks since we last made love in San Francisco. I’ve been out of town and she was so sick that I didn’t think of touching her, even when I dreamed it. Rayna still has a lingering dry cough, remnants of her bug, which coincidentally she did catch from Erin. But her glow hasn’t fully returned. And there are slight dark circles under her eyes, telling of exhaustion and evidence of recent illness, which is why I assume she’s wearing more makeup than usual to work.

Other than that, she
’s back to her feisty mannerisms, even let go of an intern earlier in the week for good reasons. My need for her has now risen to a volcanic level. My need for her has grown so severe that everything feminine I’ve seen and smelled over the past few days has reminded me of Rayna.  And I’m randy and ready to fuck Mrs. Jacobs. That’s what I do and do well, I’m sure of it. I sidle up behind her embracing her small frame beneath me, pressing my intolerable erection into her ass.

Damn I miss this!