Page 39

Tayla

O nce again, I could feel the sun hitting my closed eyes. Brice had opened the blinds again after he’d gotten up.

“Damnit, Brice,” I groaned.

I chanced opening them, then quickly covered my head with the comforter while they adjusted to the brightness. It was Saturday, and it had been almost two weeks since that night at the docks. Our life was finally quieting, and I’d even returned to work.

Flipping the comforter down, I finally sat up. In my groggy haze, I noticed a tray on the nightstand. A breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, and fresh-cut fruit sat on a warming plate. I moved it to the bed and began to dig in when I noticed a note. It was handwritten on a small, silver-embossed card.

Think back to any time in the past that included us. Do you have one?... I loved you then, Tayla. Eat.

I sat smiling over the note as I ate breakfast, reflecting on our time together.

Once I’d eaten, I finally headed into the bathroom to handle my morning routine.

I stepped out of the toilet room and over to the sink.

While I brushed my teeth, the reflection of a dress hanging on the linen closet door halted my task.

My mouth fell open, and my toothbrush, which had been in my hand, went into the sink.

What in the…

My hand went to my chest as I stared at the satin white sheath-style spaghetti-strap dress that draped low in the front around my breasts.

Its length led to the ground, forming a small train.

It was simple yet beautiful. With it were strappy Swarovski crystal-encrusted heels. Attached to them was another note.

Now that your mind has gone to our past, let me bring you to the present. I still love you, Tayla Renae. Get dressed.

I had no idea what Brice was up to, but my smile never faltered when I sat at the mirror applying my makeup.

After everything was perfect, I carefully slipped on the dress and heels and headed to find Brice.

When I reached the living room, Brice was on one knee, wearing an impeccably tailored black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and a satin black tie.

He held an open ring box with a large three-carat oval diamond on a diamond band in his hands.

Inside the same box was a band for him that matched mine.

“Brice! You cut your hair!” I yelled probably louder than I should have.

“You don’t like it?” he asked quietly as he stared into my eyes. I didn’t think it was possible but his ass was even finer than before. I hadn't seen him this way in years.

“Damn!” I said as I took him in .

“No, Baby, I love it! Did you do that for me?"

"Tayla, everything I do is for you," he said as I melted.

"Yes!"

“Yes?” He asked, confusion evident on his face.

“Yes, I’ll marry you!” He let out a hearty laugh, and I melted even more.

Damn!

“Let me ask you first, Baby,” he said teasingly. I nodded.

“Tayla Renae Young, today I want to change your last name to Washington because my love for you is forever. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” I exclaimed. Then, Case’s Happily Ever After began playing.

Once again, in the safety that Brice had created, I hadn’t noticed that the sliding glass door was open.

Brice stood and walked outside. When I reached the door opening, my breath was taken away.

The backyard had been transformed into a small, quaint setting for a wedding ceremony.

A white satin carpet covered in black rose petals lay before me.

At the end sat an arch of white roses with black ones sparingly mixed throughout.

Underneath the arch stood Brice, and to his left was Stephon, wearing an all-black tuxedo and shirt.

Jourdan stood on the other side, wearing a black satin dress similar to mine, but stopped mid-thigh.

Each holding a baby. In between stood the officiant.

Ms. Adri, standing by the door, placed a beautiful veil adorned with Swarovski crystals over my head, then hugged me tightly before handing me a bouquet of red roses.

Then I began slowly walking towards my forever, not stopping until I reached him.

He took my hands into his before the officiant started to speak.

“My name is Kenny Smith, and I have been called to wed you two this afternoon. I had the honor of marrying Stephon and Jourdan, and you two are strengthening the family ties, I see,” he said and chuckled.

“I told Steph the same thing,” Brice cut in, turning his neck to stare Steph down. Steph chuckled. I’m assuming that was one of the reasons he’d asked him to marry his sister.

“You ready, now, man?” Kenny asked.

“Fosho.”

“Would you like to recite your vows?”

“Yes,” Brice answered quickly.

“I’m going to speak from my heart. Tayla, there were several times when my heart stopped beating because I thought that I had lost you forever.

I never want to feel that feeling again.

I want my heart to beat forever for you and with you until our last breath.

Which, better be together or me first because I’ve already told you, you can’t ever leave me again,” he said and laughed.

“Brice, I promise never to leave you. I’ll always fight for you and our love, no matter what happens. I’ll love you and trust you in this life and forever into the next unequivocally,” I said as I stared into his eyes. The love, adoration, and passion in his eyes matched mine.

“Very well, that was beautiful. Brice Jeremiah Washington, do you take Tayla Renae Young to be your lawfully wedded wife? ”

“I do,” he said, then slipped the band and ring onto my finger that he’d taken from Steph.

“Tayla Renae Young, do you take Brice Jeremiah Washington to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” I said. Then I was tapped on my shoulder by Jourdan, who gave me his band.

“Thank you, JoJo.” I exhaled before slipping it onto his finger.

“I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Washington. You may now kiss your bride.” Brice pulled me into him by the waist and lifted my veil.

He stood looking deeply into my eyes for a moment before he leaned in and pecked my lips.

After his sweet peck, his tongue joined, swiping slowly, sensually, and tenderly against mine.

The world melted away while he poured his love into me.

He was also taking me there, and then I remembered that we were amongst company.

“I love you,” I said.

“I love you, too, Baby,” he returned.

“As her damn brother I don’t know how I feel about what the hell I just watched. I mean I’m two seconds away from kicking your ass.”

“Let’s go then because my fist gets tight every time you and JoJo do the shit in front of me,” Brice said as they both squared up. They both fell into a fit of laughter before embracing.

“Congratulations, man,” Steph said. Then he hugged me. Jourdan had walked over to do the same.

“Congratulations, Sis.” Behind her was Ms. Adri.

“Congratulations, Mija,” she said and hugged me as well .

Sis, Mija, Wife. My family!

“Would you mind if I took Brice with me for a quick ride?” I asked our guests.

“Not at all, Mija. It gives us time to prepare you two a nice reception dinner.”

“Y’all better come right back too. Don’t be having my sister out here in these streets being fast,” Steph said.

“Girl, don’t listen to him, that’s exactly what you need to be doing,” JoJo said, lifting her hand for a high five, which I gave her.

Then I pulled Brice behind me out of the house and into my Chevy SS.

I started her up, and like I always did, I sat for a moment listening to the deep rumble of the engine.

After the rumble had gone through my chest, I pulled out of the driveway and headed towards our destination.

“What are you up to, Tay?” Brice asked.

“Just enjoy being my passenger princess for a minute. Don’t be over there getting handsy, either.” He winked at me and laughed.

“Baby, I was drunk.”

“Don’t test me, Brice, I will pull Baby Girl over,” I said with a grin.

“You’re not saying anything I don’t want to hear, though, Tay. Because I damn sure didn’t consummate my marriage yet,” he said giving me his low bedroom eyes.

“Brice,” I whispered as I looked over at him. For the next few minutes, I fought to take my mind from between Brice’s legs. When we finally pulled into the parking lot of his medical practice, he sat up in his seat .

“Tay, you picked my keys up from Melanie?”

“I did, and that’s not all. Come on.” He exited the car and came around to get me out. As we approached the door, I handed him the keys.

“You do the honors.” He took them and smiled, opening the door.

Brice stepped inside and appeared at a loss for words.

If it weren’t for the ear-to-ear smile on his face, I would have thought he didn’t like it.

The lobby was bright with light gray walls.

The tiled floors matched the walls with various blue, green, yellow, and orange tiles sprinkled throughout.

“Tay, Baby,” he admonished as he walked through, running his hands over the modern, brightly colored, kid-friendly furniture that matched the aesthetic. I knew he was chastising me in jest because his body language expressed that he loved the space.

“So you don’t like it?” I asked teasingly as he continued through, entering one of the rooms. The door closed behind us.

I walked deeper into the room and stood, leaning against the treatment table, taking it all in.

Each was themed in one of the many colors displayed in the lobby.

Although the rooms were decorated, he would still need to order all his medical devices and equipment before opening, but the hard part had already been resolved.

“I love it,” he said, standing by the door facing me, but his head was down, looking at the floor.

I took in his appearance once more. His barber had somehow given him immediate waves.

The crisp lines around his taper faded into his beard.

His tuxedo jacket was unbuttoned, along with his shirt, and his tie hung loosely around his neck.

It was also bunched at the sides because his hands were in his pockets. He lifted his head to give me his eyes.

“Come here,” he said, his voice deep and commanding. I pushed off the table, taking my time as I walked over.

“You can walk as slowly as you want, but it won’t stop me from taking you fast and quick.

” My breath hitched at his proclamation.

When I reached him, he spun me around, placing my face against the door.

As he stood behind me, I could hear him unbuttoning his pants, and then the sound of the zipper excited me more inside the quiet room.

He reached down and began gathering my dress around my waist until my thong showcased my round ass.

“We’ve been married for nearly an hour. Did you think I would let another minute go by without claiming my wife?

I see you still got me fucked up. Now spread your fucking legs and arch your back,” he said as he ripped my thong off.

I arched my back perfectly as I watched my panties fall to the floor.

He entered me swiftly, filling me deliciously the moment my legs parted.

His arm reached around my waist, cupping my breast, where he toyed with my hardened nipple through the sheer fabric. My arm went up, wrapping around his neck, where his head rested in mine.

“Tay, fuck,” He moaned onto the shell of my ear, then his tongue licked out around the rim trailing down the side of my neck.

“Brice, mmmh,” I moaned in return. It was all we could say as pleasure consumed us both.

He rocked into me fiercely, his dick sliding in and out of my tight wet tunnel, the thickness touching every inch of my walls.

He groaned and bit into my neck as I tightened around him.

My body came alive with my orgasm, traveling down to my toes, where my legs gave way.

“Aaaaaaaahhhh shit Brice,” I yelled as he pulled me closer holding me up as he continued ravaging my body.

“I know, Baby…I fucking know,” he moaned into my ear as he painted my walls with his release. We both stood still, catching our breaths.

“Thank you, Baby. I love it and I love you,” he said as he kissed my cheek and the corner of my mouth. His dick still rested inside me and I pulsed around him at his praise.

“Stop, Baby,” he groaned.

“I already have to fight Steph’s ass when I get back. Look at your dress; it’s wrinkled as hell,” he said and laughed.

“Please, I bet a hundred that he and JoJo have snuck off to do the same. You know Ms. Adri doesn’t like people in her kitchen while she’s cooking. It’s the baby's nap time, too,” I laughed as he finally pulled out.

“Let’s go then,” he said, kissing my lips. He fixed himself, then bent down and picked up my discarded panties and stuffed them in his pocket.

“I’m bringing all my patients to this room so every time I close that door, I can think about you and what I did to you in here. Nah, that’s probably not a good idea I can’t have my patients in here talking about how bad their tummy hurts and I’m up in here smiling and shit,” he said and laughed .

“Hey, what do you think about taking a yacht for our honeymoon?”

“I’m down. Where are you thinking?”

“Been thinking about Mexico,” he said.

“Hmm, you’re up to something, but Baby, I’ll go with you anywhere, ride or die.”