Page 16

COCO

One of my hands held Adir’s and the other held his wrist. It was the only way I could keep myself steady.

Everything about him intoxicated me, causing me to feel tipsy although I hadn’t consumed one drop of liquor.

It was a wonder I could put one foot in front of the other.

Unlike our wedding day, tonight was just…

different. Since watching him pleasuring himself the other night, his energy was nearly sweeping me up and taking me on a ride without him having to do much.

Recalling how hard he’d been, how sexy he’d looked, and how intoxicating his voice had been…

I couldn’t handle not having him anymore.

He’d brought me to climax without laying a finger on me.

His pull was just too much.

It was the way he looked at me, for one.

His eyes were low and darkly haunting like he sensed the inhibitions fleeing my mind and body.

Because, truthfully, they definitely were.

I’d strip right here in front of all these people if he asked me to.

However, I knew he’d never.

The way he looked at me told me that he hated to be leaving home with me looking so good.

He had no idea what lay beneath, but this dress left nothing to the imagination.

I’d worn expensive, barely there threads before, but this dress was so elegant that I was afraid to move wrong in it.

It concealed my body just enough to have Adir in his feelings because I was in the public’s view.

Only, I was solely glued to him.

Security flanked us as we walked the short distance to the red carpet where A-list celebrities stopped to get their shots in.

There were so many flashes going off, I had to look away for a second.

Jitters started to set in.

As I imagined, the Mayor’s Grande Ball was indeed something out of a Hollywood movie.

We stepped onto the red carpet to Adir’s name being repeatedly shouted.

The fact that all these people called out to him like he was a celebrity jarred me.

Our wedding was small and intimate.

This was open and overwhelming.

“Pretty Bell!” My name being shouted by the onlookers had my heart in my throat.

They know you ! my brain shouted, shocking me.

Adir was a pro. He stopped us, brought me into his arms, and gave the cameras what they wanted to see.

His hand on my bare back as he showed me off caused my face to flush.

“Beautiful!”

“Gorgeous!”

“Look this way!”

Several shouts and flashes played a musical of sounds and lights caused my head to spin.

Adir noticed that I became overwhelmed and tugged me closer.

He silenced the noise with a simple, “I’m right here, my love.”

Some unnamed emotion caused a smile to play along my gloss-covered lips, which in turn made him smile.

I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but I found his face soften whenever I was near.

Sometimes, I’d catch him off guard and there would be nothing soft about him.

Almost as if Adir was someone different with me.

So far, I’d been able to distinguish two different sides of Adir.

There was Dr. Bell and Adir.

Neither man seemed like the one to play with.

While Dr. Bell was passionate about his work as a physician, Adir was passionate about his family.

Dr. Bell was intense and focused.

Adir was slightly less intense and more unguarded when at home amongst me and the boys.

Something shifted in my peripheral, grabbing my attention.

A cameraman stepped a little too close, prompting Russ to step into action.

He pushed the man back, with the stocky, dark-skinned man laughing it off.

“Careful…”

Adir’s threat hit its target.

His eyes could’ve been fire the way he coolly glared at the cameraman.

He stared so long that it looked as if he’d blanked out.

A rumble through the crowd said that they noticed the flames bouncing off of Adir.

This man wasn’t even the man from the night he saved me and Quilo’s lives.

His body language was that of someone who could choke a man to death—right here in front of all these people.

It wasn’t until we entered the building that Adir’s features relaxed, therefore causing me to do the same.

My eyes dazzled at the regal decorations.

From the rich draperies to the expensive dinnerware adorning the circular tables, I felt like I was in a castle attending a royal event.

Then again, there were literal movie stars and sports and entertainment royalty in the building.

The fact that Adir rubbed shoulders with these people wasn’t even surprising.

He oozed a lethal combination of boss and gangster.

Both had anyone within arm’s reach speaking and trying to get a word with him.

He was the epitome of reserved charisma.

While he engaged, he made sure to keep it short and sweet.

One would think that I hadn’t married this man to save my brother’s life.

For I smiled whenever he introduced me as his wife, Pretty Bell.

Truthfully, it was like he loved saying my name.

There was always so much pride in his tone whenever he said it.

That was crazy, considering we both knew the reason we were in this position.

Just enjoy it while you can, Coco.

Love can turn into functional tolerance so easily.

The thought nearly brought a frown to my face.

There was my biggest fear.

Being tied to a man was one thing.

Being tied to him for the rest of my life…

and forcing myself to be happy knowing he wasn’t felt like the worst type of relational suffering.

That wasn’t something I wanted for myself.

One minute I was deep in my thoughts, the next I was in Adir’s arms, with his lips hovering over my ear.

“Pretty?”

“Yes, Dr. Bell.” I kicked the negativity to the curb and addressed him with a smile.

“There’s not a single reason that I could think of for why there should be a frown on that beautiful face.”

Smiling, I replied, “I can’t think of a valid reason either.”

“So, what’s the un-valid reason for the frown, my love?”

Gulping, I thought about lying.

There was no way I could tell this man what I was truly thinking.

He’d think I was simple minded and crazy.

“You’re tryna find a pretty way of wrapping up your thoughts. I want them raw… Just like I’ma be inside you.” He cocked his head.

“Raw and unfiltered.”

He seemed unfazed that we stood in the middle of a crowd, having a random, heated, seductive ass conversation.

“How about we have a seat first,” I suggested.

Or else I would’ve melted right there.

“Or…you can tell me what I wanna hear and put my mind at ease,” he retorted.

I found it hard to believe that his thoughts were ever in turmoil.

Adir always seemed so in control.

“We’re together for the rest of our lives,” I started.

“Right.” His response was quick, sure, and not up for debate.

“Providing we grow old together…uhm…I… How do you expect us to remain happy?”

He placed a kiss on my lips, then chased it with his thumb.

Speechless, I just stared into his eyes.

Turning me in his arms, over the crowd, he pointed out his parents.

Adir held me was the same way Judge Bell held Minnie.

That man was always showering his wife with affection.

“They look happy, don’t they?”

“They do,” I concurred.

“Do you feel their happiness.”

Tilting my head, I replied, “I do.”

“That’s real love, Pretty. That’s nearly forty years of being in love with the person they each said I do to. That’s a man who’d kill for his wife. That’s a woman who’d walk through fire for her husband. That is what I see with us. Regardless of what got us in this union, I intend to make sure you never wanna do this shit with another nigga even after I leave this earth. I’m gon’ love you that good, Pretty.”

He kissed me below my ear, causing me to shiver.

I didn’t realize my eyes had misted over until a face I recognized from a few weeks ago came into view.

“Boss, let’s get you to your seats. The presentation is about to begin.”

Russ broke the spell Adir’s body and voice had me under, but not for long.

As soon as we took our seats, Adir pulled me closer to him and draped his arm over my thighs.

Still floating from the kiss and the words that left his lips, I relaxed and let the cacophony of chatter and action drown out every negative thought in my head.