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15

B ully

I wouldn’t say I was nervous to have this conversation, but I was on edge. With how peaceful things had been between Innvy and I, I didn’t want involving our parents in our relationship to create anxiety. Normally I wouldn’t give a damn how anyone felt about what we were doing, but since I was aware of her mother’s lack of faith in our relationship, I decided to take accountability for that and see if there was anything I could do to ease her mind.

So, I decided to take our parents out to lunch. For the entire lunch, things were smooth. Bianca was cordial and warm like she was before I left. Aside from her calling me Houdini, she treated me like she did before what she called my disappearing act. I noticed the shift in her mood after I took a sip of my whiskey and told them, “Though I’ve enjoyed this time with y’all, there was an intention behind it. I want to talk to you about my girls.”

Bianca’s eyes rolled and she shifted in her seat before taking a sip of her wine.

“Go ahead, Son,” Pops urged, gripping my shoulder with a grin. He’d taken to Innvy just as quickly as I did and didn’t play about her or Princess.

“I know me leaving was unexpected, but I’m back now. Innvy and I are making very good progress and we will get married in the future. If any of you had any questions about my intentions or concerns, now is the time and space for them. And after, I don’t want to have to prove myself or my love again.”

“Your love is not my concern,” Mama B admitted. “It’s your stability I’m concerned about.”

“I can respect that,” I replied with one bob of my head. “To make it clear: My leaving had nothing to do with Innvy or the baby. I wasn’t running from marriage or my responsibilities. Even though it may have seemed like I was gone for a while, I did what I had to do to get back to my girls as quickly as I possibly could.”

Knowing the reason for my departure, Mama’s head hung.

“Can you share with us why you left?” Hamilton asked, causing me to shake my head.

“I can’t, but it was family related. It was life or death, and I really had no way out.”

“Are my daughter and granddaughter safe with you?” he continued.

“They are.”

“Not just physically,” Bianca said, sitting up in her seat. “Are their hearts safe with you? Innvy… She grew up around true love, healthy relationships, people who thrived. If you can’t continue that with her and my granddaughter…” Her mouth snapped shut and eyes watered.

“Mama B, I respect and understand your anger and I know it comes from a place of concern and hurt. Maybe even disappointment.” She nodded. “I know it will be harder for you to forgive me and move on than Innvy because she loves me and knows my heart and intentions. But I assure you, I will never abandon them again. Like I told our princess, only God will be able to pry me away from them. And the only struggles they’ll have are choices between silver or gold, islands or excursions, cash or access to my credit cards. You don’t have to trust me. Trust that your daughter has good enough discernment to protect her heart and our daughter’s if needed.”

“He’s right, hun,” Hamilton said, taking his wife’s hand into his. “We raised Innvy to know when to walk away. That’s been a part of her power. She’s happy and good on her own. She doesn’t need him.” His eyes shifted to me. “She wants him. There’s value in that, and I don’t think the boy will risk losing her again.”

“If he does, he’ll have to deal with me,” Pops said. “I done already told him I’ll beat his ass if he hurts my daughter or my princess.”

Ma chuckled. “All I have to say is this,” she started, taking my hand in hers. “Life is short, and sometimes harder than it should be. Our life partner is the most important choice we will make. Besides ourselves, they are the person we will spend the most time with on this Earth.” The rest of the elders nodded their agreement. “Even after the children are grown and out the house… you’ll still have your spouse. Your life partner. If in Innvy you’ve found someone that makes this world a soft, safe space… you do whatever you can to make that relationship last. Not just last but be healthy and prosperous. If you can do that, I think I can speak for us all when I say you have our blessing.”

Ma’s eyes locked with Bianca’s, and she nodded with a small smile.

“I have no intentions other than to make their lives as happy, whole, safe, and fun as I possibly can. I love Innvy with my whole heart, y’all. I’m not leaving them again.”

“In that case…” Pops lifted his old fashioned. “To new beginnings.”

We all lifted our glasses, and Bianca shot me a wink.

“To new beginnings,” we repeated in unison.

* * *

Innah’s hands smacked her feeding table as she cooed and talked in her own language. We were up to some two syllable words now, but when she got excited and started talking fast, I couldn’t understand what the hell she was saying. Baby girl had finished all her dinner, and as a reward, I was going to let her have a little taste of a popsicle. Not only did she enjoy the small taste of sugar, but I was sure the cold felt good against her gums.

“I’m coming, Princess. You’re so bossy.”

“Da-da, food now!” she yelled, opening and closing her tiny fists as I walked in her direction.

I chuckled with a shake of my head. “We gotta work on your patience, baby girl.”

The grunt she released increased my laughter and my pace toward her. Picking her up, I tried to keep her away from the popsicle as she reached for it to ensure I had a good grip on her.

“Damn, girl,” I muttered, putting the popsicle up to her mouth as she reached for it with wide eyes. It was my intention to take her to her mama so she could see but she was going at it so fast I didn’t bother.

By the time I’d given her a few licks, Gabriella made her way into the kitchen. She wasted no time scooping her out of my arms and wiping her mouth and hands before letting me know she was about to take her for a walk. I cleaned off her high chair then headed upstairs to see what Innvy was up to.

Confusion covered her face as she stared at her phone.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, gaining her attention.

“Bae, why do we have another account?” she asked, showing me her bank app as if I wasn’t the one who took her phone to add the account.

“Because you agreed to work less.”

Her eyes rolled before they watered. “Gabriel, you already set up a joint account for us. Innah has an account for her needs, one for her college fund, and one that she will have access to when she turns twenty-two.”

“Yes,” I agreed, tilting her head by her chin and giving her a slow, tender kiss. “And now you have another one just for you. Do with it what you desire.”

“Bully, I don’t need—”

“I know,” I interrupted to make clear. “And as long as you’re with me, you never will.”

Innvy stood, and since I didn’t move back, we were toe to toe. “You’re an amazing provider,” she complimented, wrapping her arms around me. “Not just of money, but of love, security, validation, fun, partnership—literally everything I need. I love you so much, bae.”

“I love you more.”

“Where’s my baby?”

“On a walk with her tete.”

“Good.”

Innvy tugged me toward the bed, and the seductive grin on her face made my dick harden as I bit my bottom lip.

“Can we stay wit’chu?” she asked, discarding of the clothes that operated as a barrier for me to get to her smooth, cocoa brown skin. Innvy was so mesmerizing I couldn’t respond immediately. Her tall, lean body. Those dark, doe eyes. Her round, pouty lips. That long, flowing hair I loved to grip. “Bully,” she called, cupping my cheek and forcing me to look into her eyes.

“W-what?”

“Can we stay wit’chu… please?”

I chuckled because it immediately made me think about Donkey on Shrek . “You saying you want to stay here permanently, sweetheart? Is that what you saying?”

“Mhm.” Her hands lowered to the waistband of my basketball shorts, and she pushed them and my boxers down. “Me and baby girl wanna stay here with daddy.”

“Hell yeah!” I chanted making her laugh. She had no idea… I’d been praying for that since the first night they spent here. I’d been doing everything I possibly could to make her not want to leave. “Of course you can stay. The only thing that will make me happier is you legally becoming my wife. We’ll go get the rest of y’all stuff this week, and if you want, we can rent your place out.”

“That sounds wonderful.” She lifted my shirt over my head, and as soon as it was off, I told her to get on the bed.

“On your hands and knees,” I demanded, and she purred—fucking purred . This woman was going to be the death of me. I was sure I’d be one of them old ass freaky men who died in their eighties from sex. That was going to be my future. Dying from a heart attack because I couldn’t stop fucking my fine ass wife.

I rubbed both ass cheeks before smacking them, then I rubbed them again. Innvy moaned and looked back at me as she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. My fingers slid between her slippery folds… taking a few moments to worship her clit before slipping inside of her wet, warm hole.

I took my time in her pussy, massaging her walls until she came. Dropping to my knees, I spread her cheeks and licked and sucked her pussy dry then wet again. By the time I was done, she was a shivering mess. When I lined myself up at her opening, she stopped me and turned.

“I want to taste you.” She kissed the head of my dick. “No, eat you.” Then licked the length of my shaft. “Gobble you up.”

And that was exactly what she did. My stomach clenched, and a sizzling breath released from me the moment she hid my dick in her mouth. As my head tilted, I grabbed her hair and closed my eyes. We didn’t have much time, but we were for damn sure going to make the most of it.