My White Ex Soldier's Past (BWWM Interracial Romance) (6 page)

“
Dee...” he started to say before she kissed him deeply. He responded by dropping his fork and holding her tightly. She smiled against his lips and enjoyed the feeling of her conquest. She could feel him getting harder against her thigh. She loved it when she set the fire in his loins. She loved knowing that she could get him this hot without even trying. “Dee, please,” he moaned as she went on grinding her crotch. She pulled away and looked at him.

“
Please what?” she asked in a somewhat taunting manner. He turned his chair around and pulled her down to sit on his lap.

“
I need to be careful with you,” he said as he caressed her neck. She smiled and shook her head.

“
Why?” she asked as she looked down at him.

“
Because there is not one time I see you that I don’t want to take you in my arms and have my way with you,” he said with a smile.

“
Well, what’s stopping you, then?” she asked.

“
So that’s an official okay? I can do whatever I want without you holding it against me?” he asked. Desiree ran a hand on his back.

“
I have a few things that I can think of holding against you,” she said with a smile. Taylor smiled and lifted her up. She gasped when he placed her down on the table and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he kissed her. He pulled away from her and looked into her eyes.

“
Maybe we should take this party to the bedroom,” he said in a whisper. She shook her head.

“
The girls won’t be back for some time. Why hurry?” she asked as she claimed his lips again. She slowly undid the buttons of his shirt. She smiled at him as she took his shirt off and threw it on the floor. He returned the favor and pulled her shirt over her head. He smiled as he bent his head and kissed the top of her breasts. She ran her fingers through his hair and urged him on. He was just about to unclasp her bra when they heard the front door open and close. He pulled away from her and looked at her surprised.

“
I thought you said they won’t be back for a while,” he said in a whisper as he pulled his shirt over his head. “Where the fuck are the buttons?” he asked as she looked for her shirt.

“
Really? You guys, people
eat
here,” Rochelle said.

“
I think it’s a thing for them,” Cynthia said. Desiree looked at them as she held her top over her breasts.

“
The bedroom is less than ten steps away,” Rochelle said as the two walked past them.

“
We know. We’re sorry,” Taylor called as they disappeared behind Desiree’s bedroom door.

“
I see what you meant,” Cynthia said.

“
I know. Did you see the bulge on him?” Rochelle asked excitedly. Cynthia shook her head and frowned.

“
I was talking about the adventurous bit, Rochelle. Why would you even look down there?” she asked as she felt herself blush.

“
I know you looked too,” Rochelle said, looking at her cousin. “That’s why you have all that color in your cheeks,” she added as she disappeared to her room. She smiled as she thought about the way her sister would be embarrassed when she brought up the incident the next day.

Weeks after the Laura incident, Desiree was feeling much better about herself. It was amazing what a few facts could do. She and Taylor seemed to be doing better, which just meant that Cynthia and Rochelle were seeing her even less frequently than they were before. For Desiree this was what she always wanted, to go to bed at night without wondering what her better half was doing. Her mind being at ease about her man was one of the best feelings she knew. But it was all these things that led to a big question, a question that she had not prepared herself for.

It was on a Thursday evening after her shift and Taylor had offered to drive her home. At this stage of the relationship, the two of them hardly spent a day without seeing each other. If it was not a sleepover, it was lunch. If not lunch, then coffee after work, or Taylor picking her up from the store and then driving her home. On this day, Taylor seemed to be in a particularly good mood.

“You must have had a really good day,” she said with a smile.

“
You could say that. Found a new client in the suburbs,” he started smiling. “Woman wants me to come in even when there is not much to be done, and she has a pretty attractive retainer,” he added. Desiree looked at him and smiled.

“
I’ve seen you work. She pays the retainer for watching you work in that tight t-shirt,” she said. Taylor turned to look at her.

“
Aww, is that jealousy I sense?” he asked. “Because that makes you even sexier than you already are,” he added as he touched her thigh.

“
Hey, eyes on the road and hands on ten and two,” she said mimicking the guy from the driver’s ed commercial. He laughed and took his hand off her thigh. He turned to look at her briefly before he focused his eyes back on the road.

“
But seriously. I’m just happy. It’s just been a good day,” he said. Desiree shrugged. “So, how was your day?” he asked.

“
Good, the usual. Said hello to the customers, smiled at the annoying, impatient people, and on the upside, stopped an old woman who tried to smuggle out a DVD,” she said with a smile.

“
Really? How did she intend on doing that?” he asked.

“
She tried walking out of there with the DVD in between her legs,” she said laughing. Taylor grimaced.

“
I am really thinking twice about touching the electronics on display,” he said. Desiree laughed.

“
You and me both,” she said. “Once I busted a guy trying to steal a whole batch of memory sticks. I don’t even want to mention which areas of his body he had some of them stuffed in,” she said. Taylor winced even more.

“
You are really trying to dampen my mood, aren’t you?” he asked.

“
No, I’m just sharing the joys of my job with my boyfriend,” she said, laughing. Taylor smiled.

“
Well, thank God you are not a gynecologist or something,” he said as he pulled over in front of her apartment building.

“
You want to come in?” she asked. He shook his head no.

“
I better not. Every time I come in it ends up as another late night, not that I’m complaining. I just have a really early start tomorrow,” he said.

“
How early?” she asked looking at him.

“
Four-thirty,” he said.

“
Whoa,” Desiree said looking at him. “I love you, but I love my sleep more,” she said as she gathered her purse in her arms. She looked at Taylor to say goodbye but found that he was beaming. “What?” she asked.

“
My day just got better. That’s the first time you have said that you love me,” he said, looking at her. Desiree shook her head confused. “Yeah it is. You always say that you are falling in love. I didn’t realize that you were there yet,” he said with a smile. Desiree frowned.

“
Why are you saying it like that? Aren’t you there yourself?” she asked, a bit unsure whether she wanted to hear the answer. Taylor laughed and took her hands in his.

“
I got there a long time ago and it’s a good thing you’re there with me,” he said as he drew small circles on the back of her hand with his thumbs. “Because I have something to ask you,” he said as he released one of her hands to pull a small velvet case out of his pocket. Desiree felt her heart skip a beat. Why would he ask this, right now? Wasn’t it too soon? It was barely six months into their relationship and the ex-wife….or whatever Laura was supposed to be to him had just happened a few weeks earlier.

“
Taylor…I…” He leaned forward and kissed her, shutting her up.

“
Relax. It’s not what you think,” he said. “Not that I don’t plan for that too,” he added with a smile.

Okay. Then what is all this?” she asked as she looked at him.

“Open it,” he said as he put the velvet case in her hands. She looked at him before looking at the case. She was shaking as she opened the case. She felt an overwhelming dose of confusion and relief as she looked at a key inside the case. “It’s a key to my place. I’d like you to move in with me.”

She looked up at him, confused and lost for words. She wanted to say yes but at the same time she wanted to say no. Of course, she was glad he was asking her but it felt a bit rushed. She needed to be a hundred percent sure before he took this gigantic step in the relationship.

“Taylor, this is too sudden,” she said looking at him.

“
I know. So, what do you say?” he asked looking at her. She shook her head.

“
I really don’t know what to say, Taylor. I think we should wait,” she said. “I think I just need some time to think about it,” she added as she looked at him. He nodded and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

“
Of course,” he said. “Take all the time you need,” he added with a smile. She looked at him and smiled.

“
I hope you are not disappointed,” she said looking at him. He shook his head and held her face in his hands.

“
This is something that needs time, okay? I don’t really mind if you take time to think about it,” he said to her. She nodded and threw her arms around him. This was one decision she would have to think about very carefully. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast?” he asked. She shook her head.

“
Maybe lunch. I have the supervisor’s interview tomorrow morning and I have no idea how long it might take,” she said as she looked at him. He nodded.

“
That’s okay,” he said. She smiled and got out of the car. Her heart was still pounding as she walked around to his side of the car. She bent down and kissed him before pulling away and looking at him. She hated that he had a look that simply melted her heart. “Good night,” he said before driving off.

Desiree looked at the velvet case and put it her purse before walking through the main door of the building. As she walked up the stairs, she thought of what life would be living with Taylor. Going to bed and waking up every single day next to him, looking forward to dinners with him every evening. When she opened the door, Rochelle and Cynthia were already home. They were seated in front of the TV watching some old film as they ate Chinese food.

“Moo shoo pork?” Desiree asked as she walked towards them.

“
Moo shoo pork to you too,” Cynthia said with a smile. Rochelle and Desiree exchanged glances. It was an inside joke. One of their foster parents loved Chinese food so much that they would make sure they had Chinese at least once a week, and when you walked into the room and announced what you smelled, they would echo you and add “to you too.” It did not really mean anything, but it was one of the few good childhood memories Desiree, Rochelle and Cynthia shared.

“
There’s some for you too. Though we were secretly hoping you would not come home, or you would have something with Taylor,” Rochelle said as Desiree sat next to her. Desiree sighed and took one box and some chopsticks. She felt far away as she separated the sticks and began to eat. “Don’t you like it?” Rochelle asked as she looked at her sister.

“
Yeah, maybe ours tasted better,” Cynthia said. Desiree shook her head.

“
It’s nothing to do with the food. The food is awesome…delicious, actually,” she said.

“
Then what? We thought you loved Chinese,” Cynthia said. Desiree put her food on the table and leaned back against the couch.

“
I do, and I love Taylor,” she said. Cynthia and Rochelle exchanged glances and laughed.

“
Oh, we know that, sweetie,” Rochelle said.

“
Yeah log out before you leave. We all share one computer,” Cynthia said, giggling. Desiree looked at the two of them shocked.

“
You went through my emails?” she asked, stunned.

“
Just your Facebook. Nothing else,” Rochelle said quickly as if it was not a big deal. Cynthia threw a cushion at her.

“
What? It’s not like we broke any laws,” Rochelle said in her defense.

“
I don’t care. It’s still my own private business,” Desiree said as she felt herself blush. She could only imagine what Cynthia and Rochelle thought of her now that they had seen all the stuff she and Taylor had chatted about, not to mention the sexting.

“
Anyway, you were saying,” Cynthia said in a bid to change the topic.

“
Yeah, Taylor just gave me this,” Desiree said as she pulled the velvet case out of her purse. Rochelle squealed.

“
He asked you to marry him?” she asked as she threw her arms around Desiree who pushed her away.

”
No, open the damn case first,” she said frowning. She looked at her sister, surprised she would be happy about that. But then again, this was Rochelle. She was the one who believed the whole Prince Charming thing would happen to her. She believed in fairy tales, unicorns and everything in between. Rochelle opened the case and looked at the key.

“
What is this? I don’t understand,” she said. “What’s a key doing in here?” she asked looking at Desiree.

“
No,” Cynthia said, looking at her cousin. “Did he?” she asked, looking excited. Desiree smiled and nodded.

“
Yeah, he did,” she said with a smile.

“
What? Who did what? What the fuck are you guys talking about?” Rochelle asked, looking at Cynthia and Desiree.

“
Taylor asked me to move in with him,” Desiree said with a sigh. Rochelle squealed again.

“
Then why do you look like that? Aren’t you happy he did?” Rochelle asked, looking at her sister.

“
Yes, but I think it’s a bit too soon,” Desiree said.

“
Really? You guys have been together forever,” Rochelle said.

“
Actually they have been together for an acceptable amount of time. Normal people date for more than a few weeks,” Cynthia said as she looked at Rochelle.

“
Whatever,” Rochelle said as she rolled her eyes. “So, what are you going to do?” she asked as she looked at her sister. Desiree shrugged.

“
I don’t know. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do,” she said frowning.

“
But you love him,” Rochelle said. Desiree nodded. “Then what’s the big deal?” she asked.

“
Well, there is a lot to consider. I don’t want to rush into anything just yet, plus there is the whole Laura thing,” Desiree said almost sadly.

“
Who’s Laura?” Rochelle asked. Desiree looked at Cynthia.

“
You didn’t tell her?” she asked. Cynthia shrugged.

“
I didn’t think you would want me to,” Cynthia said.

“
Whatever you guys are talking about you can sort it out later. Just tell me who the hell is Laura first,” Rochelle said. Desiree took a long deep breath.

“
His wife,” she said in a low voice. Rochelle looked at her surprised.

“
I’m sorry, I didn’t hear right. I thought you said that Taylor had a wife?” she asked, looking at Desiree who was nodding. “Dee! You can’t move in with him. You have to dump him like yesterday’s trash,” she said.

“
Well, they are not together anymore,” Desiree said quickly.

“
So, he is divorced?” Rochelle said looking at her. Desiree shook her head. “No, there is no way you and that guy are still dating after this. I thought you would never be in this position again after Leon. You said it yourself,” she said looking closely at Desiree.

“
No. you don’t know the whole story,” Desiree said. Rochelle looked at her as she explained Laura and the reason Taylor was yet to be divorced. When she was done explaining, she could see the look on Rochelle’s face screaming “DON’T DO IT!” but there was nothing she could do. At the end of the day, it was still her decision and she was still not sure about moving in with Taylor, or with anyone for that matter. She always thought she needed to be near her younger sister. After all, she was all Rochelle had.