Loose Ends Part 6

"My request from my last phone call less than an hour ago. How soon we forget."

"I'm sorry, but I did forget; refresh my memory. Come on, talk to me, baby."

"Oh, you want to play games, Kree?" I asked in mock anger.

"No, baby, just give me a hint."

"Okay, come closer and I'll whisper it in your ear."

Kree slid over closer to me.

I bent down and moved her hair away from her ear. "I requested that my beautiful wife indulge me in my fantasy."

"Go on, I'm listening." She grinned a seductive smile.

"I asked that my wife leave the underwear at home and show me her p.u.s.s.y, since I haven't seen it in over a week."

"Oh, I see. Is it your wife's fault that you're too tired every night? All you want is sleep. Is that her fault?"

"No, baby, it isn't."

"All work and no play makes Brice a dull boy."

"I know, baby."

"Well, I have a surprise for you." She slid over closer to me and caressed my face. "Oops, I dropped my fork; be a gentleman and pick it up for me."

I smiled and bent down to reach under the table to retrieve her fork.

"Do you like what you see?"

"Looks like paradise to me."

She slowly inched her dress up and spread her legs. She'd honored my request after all. "Well, pick up my fork and come back to the table, because our waiter is on his way over," she anxiously stated.

I picked up her fork and slid back next to Kree just as our waiter arrived with our entrees. Kree and I both looked at each other and burst out laughing. The Cuban waiter looked from one to the other like we were both escaped lunatics from the local nuthouse. After he left, we enjoyed our lunches, chatted and, every now and then, we'd look at each other and burst out laughing all over again.

After lunch, I did something I hadn't done in years. Kree had turned me on so much that I couldn't go back to work yet. I drove her over to a nearby park and found a secluded spot, which was easy, since it was the middle of a workday. I leaned her against an oak tree, pulled up her dress, and handled my business until I got enough of what I'd been missing.

Kree.

Okay, I'm bored silly. My life has to consist of more than exercising, trips to the mall and gym, watching TV, playing Miss Homemaker and pleasing Brice at night. Speaking of Brice, he's happy, very happy. He's following his dreams, and things are quickly coming together. However, sometimes I feel that his dreams don't involve or include me. I feel like I'm losing him.

When we first moved to Georgia, things were cool because Brice spent more time with me. He drove me around, helped me to learn my way around the city and get a feel for Southern living. I had my own personal tour guide. So I never had the opportunity to be bored, but now . . . now I'm bored.

Brice is never home, yet he expects me to be here at his beck and call. He always has me running around doing errands for him: Pick up this, call this person, check on this. I feel like his glorified secretary instead of his wife.

In Germany, I had things to do because the American wives of the marines stuck together. Some of those women became like sisters to me, and I loved their children dearly. I still kept in touch with a few of them.

I want to do something with dance. There are several studios and clubs that need dance instructors. Even though it's just part-time, the manager of the gym where I work out asked me to teach an aerobics cla.s.s. I know Brice is going to say no at first, but he has to understand how bored I am and allow me to work. It's only part-time, and I'll be here in the evening when he arrives home. It shouldn't be a problem.

Believe it or not, Brice actually arrived home a little early today, and I was ready. I had prepared one of his favorite meals: smothered pork chops and baked potatoes with green beans and a Caesar salad on the side. I had even gone out and picked up a chocolate chip cheesecake from Mick's.

I had already showered and sprayed on his favorite perfume. My hair was loose, in small curls. I had on my s.e.xiest lingerie with a matching robe and slippers. Maybe some of Mother's conversation was rubbing off on me, because I was trying to use my womanly wiles to get my way.

Things started out smoothly. When Brice walked in the door, I met him with a deep, pa.s.sionate kiss. I know I looked good, because a l.u.s.tful look immediately appeared on his face. I handed Brice a gla.s.s of wine and told him to undress. I had a hot bath ready and waiting for him. Brice just looked at me with raised eyebrows and walked down the hallway.

I followed him into our bedroom. He started to take off his clothes and commented that dinner smelled good. Once in the bathroom, I sat on the toilet seat and watched as he undressed his magnificent body. Brice's body is gorgeous; I could sit and just stare at it all day. When he flexed to pull off his s.h.i.+rt, I saw his bulging muscles, and when he pulled down his pants and the underwear came off, his jimmy was semi-erect.

After Brice got in the tub, I sat on the edge and washed his back in gentle circular motions. I made my first mistake by asking him about the job before he was fully relaxed. He hadn't even finished his first gla.s.s of wine.

"No, Kree, absolutely no. h.e.l.l no," Brice screamed.

"Tell me one good reason why not, baby?" I whimpered.

"Kree, when we first married, I told you I didn't want a wife who worked," Brice screamed. He finished bathing himself and prepared to get out of the tub.

"Oh, I didn't know it was set in stone. I didn't know it was a legal, binding agreement. Anyway, this isn't like really working. It's only teaching a cla.s.s a few hours a day. I'd be home before you got here."

Brice wrapped a large purple towel around his waist and began to rub lotion all over his body, ignoring me.

"You should be glad I'm contributing to the household fund. It's going to be tight until the business is up and running," I cried, still trying to make my case.

"Kree, let me worry about the money and providing for our household. You don't worry about it. The change you'd make from that place wouldn't make or break us," Brice hissed as he continued to look at himself in the mirror. He began to brush his teeth. "Anyway, I don't want my wife working half-naked around all those h.o.r.n.y men who are in and out of that place."

By now I was standing behind him with my arms wrapped around his waist and my head resting on the center of his back. I made sure my b.r.e.a.s.t.s brushed up against him a couple of times.

"Baby, mostly women take the cla.s.s."

Brice spat out the mint-flavored toothpaste and rinsed out his mouth with water.

"I don't care. You're not doing it. I knew this whole setup was so you could get something out of me."

"It wasn't even like that, baby. I just want to make you happy. You're never home now, and I wanted tonight to be special and relaxing for you."

"Whatever, Kree. Today has not been a good day. It's been setback after setback. So coming home and listening to your d.a.m.n mouth is not helping matters," Brice said as he ma.s.saged his creased forehead.

I made my second mistake of the evening. "But Brice . . ." I started to say.

"Kree, didn't I tell you to shut the f.u.c.k up? What part of that don't you understand?"

"I know that this-"

What happened next took place in slow motion. Brice turned around and grabbed me by the shoulders and slammed me into our bathroom wall. "N-O, Kree. I said no and I don't want to hear another m.u.t.h.af.u.c.kin' word about it. Do you understand me or do I have to make you understand?"

I just stood there, shaking like a leaf and staring at him in disbelief.

"Kree, do you understand me? Answer me!"

By now, his towel had fallen to the tiled bathroom floor and his nakedness was pressed up against me. I felt totally violated. I couldn't get my brain to tell my vocal cords to speak the words he wanted to hear.

"Kree, I'm going to ask you one more time if you understand me. I suggest you answer me," he barked with fury in his glazed eyes. He held my chin in a viselike grip and forced me to look at him.

"Yes, Brice, I understand," I whimpered, starting to cry uncontrollably.

"Don't start that crying, Kree. You know I hate that s.h.i.+t! d.a.m.n, I didn't need this tonight!" Brice let go of my chin and bent down to pick up his towel. "Now clean up your face. When you come out, fix my plate."

I got a warm washcloth to rinse my tears away and noticed the beginnings of small bruises on my shoulders. I forced myself to stop crying before Brice came back with all his fury.

"Kree, I'm hungry! I'm waiting for you to fix my plate," Brice shouted from the next room.

I jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Kree?"

"I'm coming, Brice. Just a minute."

When I made it to the kitchen, I had securely wrapped my robe around my gown and I couldn't look at him. I proceeded to fix his plate while Brice sat at the table and read the newspaper. No words were exchanged, no apologies exclaimed.

I placed his hot plate in front of him and was getting ready to leave. "You're not eating?"

"I'm not hungry." I looked at the floor and bit my nail down further.

"Come on, baby, sit down and eat with me." He folded up the paper and placed it to the side.

"Okay." I nervously twisted a piece of my hair behind my ear. I put a small portion of food on my plate and sat down quietly across from him. I focused all my attention and energy on my plate and making it through dinner. My perfect evening had gone straight to h.e.l.l.

Brice continued to eat and look at me while I attempted to chew my food. I didn't dare look up.

"Kree, I didn't mean to hurt you, but you know my feelings about having a stay-at-home wife. When we have babies, I want their mother at home."

Still looking down, I said, "I know." I wanted to say, We don't have babies yet. So what's your point? However, I knew the deal by now. I still remembered the first time he hit me early in our marriage. Over in Germany, I had arrived home late from a day of shopping to find a fuming Brice sitting on the sofa, eating a cold sandwich and drinking a beer. Angry words were exchanged, tears were shed by me, and I ended up with a split lip and promises from an apologetic Brice that he would never, ever hit me again.

"Kree, look at me. You can't stand to look at me now? Believe me, I didn't mean to hurt you."

I glanced up.

Brice looked like a wounded animal. I forced myself to give a plastic smile. "Okay, baby, I believe you."

That seemed to make him happier and less tense. "Kree, you don't have to cover up your body from me. Get up and pull off your robe."

I stared at him for a few seconds in disbelief, not moving, and Brice patiently waited. Something in his eyes told me to do what he asked.

"Okay." I slowly stood up to untie my robe and place it on the adjacent kitchen chair. The flimsy material of my short gown didn't cover up too much. Now I felt self-conscious with my nakedness.

Brice looked me up and down with appreciation. I guess he ignored the bruises that were very prevalent now.

"Nice. I love to see you in that."

We continued the remainder of our dinner in silence. I don't know what was going through Brice's mind, but I was thinking that, once again, he was making me feel like a wh.o.r.e. Every now and then Brice would ask me something and I would answer. It was all a blur.

When Brice finished his dinner, I jumped up to take his plate into the kitchen, sc.r.a.pe it off and place it in the dishwasher. I planned to go to bed and get away from Brice for the remainder of the night.

As I was walking by, Brice grabbed me gently by the hand. "Come here, Kree. Where are you going in such a hurry?" He pulled me onto his lap and intertwined his fingers with mine.

I sat down with my entire body frozen. Stiff.

"Relax, baby, I'm not going to hurt you; loosen up." He gently ma.s.saged my neck and back in circular motions.

Brice looked at me curiously for a second, then tilted my head to his with his hand, forcing his tongue into my mouth and pulling me into him.

Brice rubbed his strong, firm hands between my legs and kissed my neck and b.r.e.a.s.t.s until a soft moan escaped my lips. He tongued me down with deep, pa.s.sionate kisses and gently sucked and squeezed my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and nipples as they responded to his touch. My gown was down at my waist now.

"Yeah, that's my baby. Close your eyes and give in to the good feelings. Doesn't that feel good?" he repeated over and over while his fingers probed and prodded.

Even though I didn't want to enjoy it, my body betrayed me. Brice swept me up into his arms like his property and carried me into our bedroom.

At one point he turned my chin to make me look at him, deep into his light brown eyes.

"Kree, come for me, baby. Give in to it; come for me." Faster, deeper, faster, harder he went. A volcano was rising. Bubbling. Erupting. It was amazing. Suddenly I felt this warm sensation engulf my entire body and my legs started trembling. At his command I came for him, hard. Brice never took his eyes off me. I shuddered uncontrollably beneath him as he stroked my hair and face. With images of Brice triumphantly smiling down at me, I fell sound asleep.

Mia.

"Okay. I'm okay. I couldn't be better. I'm fine. Inhale ... exhale . . . breathe through your nose. It's natural to be nervous. He doesn't control me. He can't intimidate me any longer." I repeated this three times softly to myself as I pulled outfit after outfit from my walk-in closet and dresser drawers. Too tight, too conservative, too short, too s.e.xy . . .

The big reunion night had finally arrived after several delays. Lyric had gotten an ear infection and Christian had gone in to work unexpectedly, etc. . . . Tonight was the night; we couldn't put it off any longer. It was showtime! Lights, camera, action!

Christian had been dressed long ago. He chose a simple pair of tan slacks with a light-colored, lightweight pullover sweater. Christian was looking completely casual, laid-back and relaxed with his recently trimmed hair and goatee. This wasn't fazing him one bit. I had finally gotten him out of the house for a short time. I gave him and Lyric kisses and sent him on his way to drop her off at Mama's for the night.

I didn't need to be any more nervous than I already was, and Christian's watching and rus.h.i.+ng me was not helping matters. After leaving Mama's, he had instructions to pick up our Greek salads and the shrimp and lobster party platters from a little gourmet shop near Midtown. The bottles of wine were already chilling in the refrigerator, and our house was immaculate. It was so clean you could literally eat off the floor. It should be; I had spent last night cleaning it from top to bottom. Nervous energy.

I felt like a giddy teenager getting ready for her first big date. My stomach was full of b.u.t.terflies and nervous flutters. It wasn't that I was looking forward to this; it was that I didn't know what to expect from tonight. If memory served me correctly, anything was possible with Brice.

Christian had finally informed me that he and Brice had met and talked weeks earlier. I wasn't surprised, and, amazingly, I wasn't even upset. I knew my Boo missed him, and my love for Christian overcame any anger I may have felt. Now Brice had my palms sweaty, had me pacing back and forth and basically acting like a lunatic, with my stack of clothes getting higher and higher on our king-size bed. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go casual, dressy, in between or what. I didn't know how to dress or even how to act. I was at a serious loss, but Brice had always had that effect on me.

Finally I stopped, chilled and reflected after a frantic call to Sharon. She said one sentence to me and I was empowered: "Girl, don't give him your power." With that one line, I hung up with a smile on my face and Sharon's advice in mind-to make him sorry for what he couldn't have anymore.

After deciding to be myself, I chose to wear a denim wraparound knee-length skirt with a bright red knit wraparound top that tied on the side. It dipped a bit low in the front, but it had a built-in support bra and was comfortable. Tonight comfort was key.

Pleased that I had finally made a decision on my attire, I could relax for a minute. However, after glancing down at my watch, I decided I'd better get a move on because the magic hour was fast approaching. As my soothing bubble bath ran, I gave the living room one last going over. I strategically placed photos of Christian and me, and of Christian, Lyric and me, all happily enjoying our lives together, throughout the living room. I moved one of our wedding photos to the end table.