Author: | Yuwanda Black | ISBN: | 9781536538762 |
Publisher: | Inkwell Editorial Publishing | Publication: | October 2, 2016 |
Imprint: | Language: | English |
Author: | Yuwanda Black |
ISBN: | 9781536538762 |
Publisher: | Inkwell Editorial Publishing |
Publication: | October 2, 2016 |
Imprint: | |
Language: | English |
PREVIEW
Lenae took her cup of tea and went to bed. It was cold when she finally heard the front door open.
11:09.
She didn’t even pretend to be asleep like she had so many nights before. This had to stop. She had to get some answers.
“Oh. You’re up. It’s kind of late for you to be awake, isn’t it?” her husband said as he entered their bedroom. “I thought you’d be out like a light by now.”
“Thought? Or hoped, Xavier? It’s been a long time since I’ve been asleep when you came home,” Lenae stated flatly.
“So you’ve been pretending?”
“Yes. I have.”
“Why?” he asked with a sigh.
“Because I haven’t wanted to believe what’s become overwhelmingly evident. Tell me, who is she Xavier? How long have you been seeing her? Who is this woman you're having an affair with?”
***
“Ready to pick up where we left off last night?” Linda asked.
“Not quite, but soon. Let’s get something to eat. I’m finally starved,” Xavier replied.
“What do you mean finally starved? I’ve always known you to have a hearty appetite … and for more than just food,” Linda noted, looking up at him.
“Well right now, there’s only one appetite I’m looking to fulfill, so let’s go grab a booth,” Xavier said, moving aside for her to lead the way into the diner.
“What finally made you forgive me?” Linda asked as they waited for their server to return to take their order.
“Who says I have forgiven you?” Xavier countered, leaning to one side and observing her from slightly hooded eyes.
“If you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here,” Linda countered.
“There are many reasons we find ourselves together now sugga,” Xavier said in his slow, Louisiana drawl, “but I’m not sure forgiveness is part of the equation.”
“So you haven’t forgiven me?” Linda pressed.
“To be completely honest, I haven’t given it much thought. Once what happened happened, I just kind of moved on with life,” he explained nonchalantly.
“With your wife and child?”
“Yes,” Xavier clarified.
“You never told me why you married her. Was it because she was pregnant? Because you felt guilty her husband got killed on your watch, so to speak? Or …”
“Did you ever consider that I love her?”
***
Linda watched Xavier’s lean physique, shoulder-length blonde hair and outrageously handsome face turn heads as he made his way to the back of the diner where the restrooms were. She leaned back in the booth and let her mind wander. It immediately went to what it felt like to lay in his arms after they made love. Those gold-flecked eyes glowed in candlelight as his lips settled on hers. His large hands spanned her waist, pulling her to him.
She reflected on her involvement with both brothers. She should have been ashamed, but she wasn’t. Becoming involved with Xavier had been as natural as being married to his brother Gideon all those years ago. And now, fate had brought her and Xavier together again.
And this time it would be forever if she had anything to say about it.
PREVIEW
Lenae took her cup of tea and went to bed. It was cold when she finally heard the front door open.
11:09.
She didn’t even pretend to be asleep like she had so many nights before. This had to stop. She had to get some answers.
“Oh. You’re up. It’s kind of late for you to be awake, isn’t it?” her husband said as he entered their bedroom. “I thought you’d be out like a light by now.”
“Thought? Or hoped, Xavier? It’s been a long time since I’ve been asleep when you came home,” Lenae stated flatly.
“So you’ve been pretending?”
“Yes. I have.”
“Why?” he asked with a sigh.
“Because I haven’t wanted to believe what’s become overwhelmingly evident. Tell me, who is she Xavier? How long have you been seeing her? Who is this woman you're having an affair with?”
***
“Ready to pick up where we left off last night?” Linda asked.
“Not quite, but soon. Let’s get something to eat. I’m finally starved,” Xavier replied.
“What do you mean finally starved? I’ve always known you to have a hearty appetite … and for more than just food,” Linda noted, looking up at him.
“Well right now, there’s only one appetite I’m looking to fulfill, so let’s go grab a booth,” Xavier said, moving aside for her to lead the way into the diner.
“What finally made you forgive me?” Linda asked as they waited for their server to return to take their order.
“Who says I have forgiven you?” Xavier countered, leaning to one side and observing her from slightly hooded eyes.
“If you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be here,” Linda countered.
“There are many reasons we find ourselves together now sugga,” Xavier said in his slow, Louisiana drawl, “but I’m not sure forgiveness is part of the equation.”
“So you haven’t forgiven me?” Linda pressed.
“To be completely honest, I haven’t given it much thought. Once what happened happened, I just kind of moved on with life,” he explained nonchalantly.
“With your wife and child?”
“Yes,” Xavier clarified.
“You never told me why you married her. Was it because she was pregnant? Because you felt guilty her husband got killed on your watch, so to speak? Or …”
“Did you ever consider that I love her?”
***
Linda watched Xavier’s lean physique, shoulder-length blonde hair and outrageously handsome face turn heads as he made his way to the back of the diner where the restrooms were. She leaned back in the booth and let her mind wander. It immediately went to what it felt like to lay in his arms after they made love. Those gold-flecked eyes glowed in candlelight as his lips settled on hers. His large hands spanned her waist, pulling her to him.
She reflected on her involvement with both brothers. She should have been ashamed, but she wasn’t. Becoming involved with Xavier had been as natural as being married to his brother Gideon all those years ago. And now, fate had brought her and Xavier together again.
And this time it would be forever if she had anything to say about it.