9. Public Announcement
Mia
“ I t’s Mia, invading your podcast airwaves. It’s Friday and the challenge of the week is trying to decide which game to watch live on Sunday. We have the Armadillos vs. Miami. Can the Armadillos remain undefeated? Our hometown basketball team will be hosting LA for the first time this season. I personally want to see Marquise and Malcolm in person, but those ticket prices. Whew! As always, go Houston. You guys know the drill, hit my social media with your score predictions.”
My producer counted me down before the red light flashed on.
He waved me out of the booth as I reached for my phone and exited the recording space.
Scott stood with his arms folded in the hallway.
“Mia, you have been on fire this week. The engagement has tripled on all fronts, including social media. Your energy has been electric. By Friday, you’re usually dragging, but since you walked in here Monday, you’ve been the old Mia. The one before Nathan,” Scott said, and I shrugged.
I didn’t know how to accept Scott’s words, unsure if it was a compliment or a dig.
Who was the Mia with Nathan?
The security system displayed a black middle-aged man wearing a white polo standing outside the door.
Scott and I stared at each other, but neither one of us said anything.
Using the mic on the camera, I questioned, “Can I help you? Did you rent out studio space?”
“I have paperwork for Mia Robinson,” he said.
Scott threw his hands up in mock surrender.
“I’ll go with you,” he offered.
We buzzed the guy into the lobby and watched as he stood by the half-moon shaped desk.
Jinx, our receptionist, left early on Fridays, but she always set the automatic locks on the doors.
I stood beside the black cloth sofas, leaving a space between us.
“Mia Robinson?” he questioned, and I confirmed my identity with a head nod.
“You’ve been served.”
He handed me a manila envelope and left before I could ask any questions.
“I’ll give you a few minutes. Let me know if you need me,” Scott said and left me alone.
I flipped over the envelope to see the Houston Family Court division.
Opening the prongs, I pulled out the paperwork.
The first page was a notarized letter.
“Marcus Allen gives Mia Robinson power of attorney over Harley Mae Robinson to make medical and educational decisions. Mia Robinson has been added to the Perry Elementary pick-up and check-out lists…”
It acknowledged a review for guardianship in six months and pending adoption at marriage.
My hands trembled as I continued to read the documents.
I covered my mouth as I sauntered in a happy unbelievable daze to my office.
After shutting the door, I leaned against it and read the paperwork again.
I bit back the tears as they welled in my eyes.
Marcus did something for me Nathan refused.
I accepted his break baby and raised her for two and a half years.
He wouldn’t list me on anything, while Marcus had known me for all of two weeks and trusted me with his daughter.
What the fuck was I doing with Nathan?
The vibration of my phone caused me to jump.
Marcus’s name flashed as I removed it from my back pocket.
Marcus
I’ll give you two hours to pack
I scrambled as I swallowed hard.
Me
Marcus, you can’t give me this kind of power
Marcus
You made me a promise, Mia.
I tilted my head back on the heavy wooden door and laughed at his statement.
By the pool, I told him I would move in.
Shit, he continues to one-up me.
I blew out hard and relaxed my shoulders.
Me
Mrs.
Allen is not going to go for us shacking up.
He wasted no time texting me back.
Marcus
Nice try.
You’re stalling.
Cleared it already with Granny.
A knock on the door stole my attention.
I stepped away and turned the knob to find Scott.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s damn near perfect,” I said and tucked the document behind my back.
He gave me a suspicious expression by tightening his face.
“I’ll beat Nathan’s ass,” he offered, and I waved him down.
“No. It’s not Nate. This is a good thing.”
Leaving the studio, I tried to think of something to get me out of this predicament.
The gesture alone pulled at my heartstrings, but he couldn’t give me this level of control.
We’re talking about a seven-year-old with big butterfly dreams.
I could see if we had been dating, but it’s been a few days.
I don’t care what he says, no southern, Bible-carrying woman was okay with premarital living.
I pulled into my driveway to see Marcus’s car taking up one side.
After I parked, I tilted my head back on the headrest.
What the hell did I get myself into?
But his gesture was beyond sweet and trustworthy.
Two taps on my window forced a smile onto my face.
Shifting my head in his direction, a set of brown eyes gazed back at me.
My fingers danced over the locks until I hit the button.
The door came open, and I covered my face with both hands.
Marcus pulled a hand away from my face and kissed them, tickling my skin with his beard.
“Let’s get you a few outfits packed until we can get you moved,” he said, and I gave a nervous chuckle.
Rotating my body halfway out the car, I gave him an unsettling smile.
“Marcus, we need to talk about this. We are talking about your daughter. Do you realize what you did?”
“I’m aware of what I did. I know she is safe with you and I’m investing in our future, Mia. This isn’t a game for me. I gave you some control over my most prized possession. If paperwork isn’t proof that I’m serious about you, I don’t know what else is,” he said.
Marcus secured both hands and kissed them.
“What did Mrs. Eddy say?” I questioned.
“What time are you coming over?” he said.
He lowered his head until our foreheads touched.
I inhaled his spicy cologne and the security he offered.
With no resistance from me, Marcus covered my mouth as our tongues fought for dominance.
“I’m a woman of my word. Let me get a few outfits,” I said and motioned to exit the car.
“Mia,” Marcus called my name as he caught my hand.
My heart raced from pure adrenaline as I turned to him.
“How about you agree to stay for a few nights? And we will see how things go from there. I still plan to date you. After one week, you won’t want to leave us anyway,” Marcus said, and I chuckled.
“I can do a week,” I said.
Mia, what are you doing?
I thought to myself as I pulled into Marcus’s driveway.
He was not leaving my house without me in his car or following behind.
I packed a few outfits, because I intended to stay for the days we agreed on.
Afterward, we’re going to have to discuss new terms.
Switching off my car, I watched Marcus approach my door.
I unlocked it before he raised the handle.
He extended his hand, and I gave him sad eyes, but it didn’t faze him.
Marcus chuckled as he pulled me from the front seat.
I followed him to the back and huffed as he removed my large rolling luggage and bag.
“Come here,” he said, and I moved closer.
He leaned down and pecked my lips.
“It’s going to be fine. They already love you.”
“Marcus, what are we going to tell Harley?”
I folded my arms across my chest, expecting a different answer from thirty minutes ago.
“The truth. We are dating right now and when you stop running, we’ll get married,” he said.
I tossed my hands up in the air.
Marcus released my luggage and tugged me closer to him by my elbow.
“Baby, let’s take things day by day. You’re overthinking.”
Biting down on one-half of my lip, I agreed with a nod.
Walking in front of Marcus, nerves danced in my stomach.
After he unlocked the door, he dropped a heart-shaped keychain in my opened purse.
Relief flushed through me once I realized no one was awake.
It was inching upon ten and everyone was passed out.
“The Allen women are early birds. They will be up at 6:00 a.m. making noise. My granny reads her Bible and cooks breakfast. Harley pops up thirty minutes after, waiting around and then gets dressed. I’m done with my run about 7:00,” he said.
I don’t get out of bed until 10:00 and some days 10:30, but I’m up all night watching sports news.
Sometimes, I engage with social media posts and talk to sources.
When Marcus led me down the opposite end of the hall to his bedroom, my heart smiled.
Standing in the bathroom, I changed into my silk pajamas and covered my locs.
Excitement and fear both danced in the playground of my heart.
Marcus found a way, and I still couldn’t believe it.
“Mia, I’m ready to cuddle,” he said in a light, mocking tone.
We both cackled afterwards.
Switching off the light, I walked out of the primary bathroom and headed to the bed.
Marcus pulled back the blue linens, patting the mattress.
I climbed in, lying on my side with my back to him and giggled.
He gently slid me over, cuffing my body with his hands until I landed underneath him.
“This is your side of the bed,” he said, and I covered my mouth to hide my smile.
“Why are you lying on it?” I questioned.
“To keep you warm,” he said.
Marcus spared no time, snuggling beside me and placing his arm around my waist.
The curve of his masculine core and soft hands had me aroused.
I wanted sex, but I didn’t know how to approach the subject.
Smashing my ass against his dick, he hardened.
“We need to break this bed in,” he whispered in my ear as he caressed my nipple.
I rolled over and paused his motion.
“Marcus, we need to discuss sex,” I said as I pulled his face forward and caressed his beard.
Our tongues danced inside each other’s mouths as his hands roamed.
“Yes, baby, tell me what you need,” he said, and I pushed him backward.
“In my last relationship, my ex suppressed me sexually. I desire different things,” I said.
Marcus licked his lips, waiting for me to finish.
“I like toys, role play, light restraints, and videos. I want to praise you and be nasty. Can we explore those few things?”
“Hell yea, I’m always down with you expressing yourself. Teach me and I’ll get on board. Do I go into character?” he asked.
“I’ll leave it up to you but it heightens the sex in my opinion. One more thing, I prefer a healthy amount of sex. Tell me when it’s too much,” I said.
Marcus’s smile grew.
“I’m never turning down sex. Wake me the fuck up,” he said, and I giggled.
“And birth control,” I said.
Marcus rolled over and secured his phone.
He opened an app with his face and handed it over to me.
It was his League medical records, showing no diseases.
“This doesn’t answer the birth control issue,” I said as I passed him back his phone.
“It does for me,” he said as he hovered over me.
“Oh no. We are not raw dogging,” I said.
He shrugged.
“I used my last condom the last time we had sex.”
“Most boxes have three,” I said.
“And we had sex three times. Twice in one night the first time you allowed me the pleasure of sliding in between them thighs,” he reminded.
Marcus danced his brows at me, thinking he won the argument.
“Buy more,” I suggested.
He shook his head no.
“I’m not wearing a condom with my woman. Shit ain’t right. Plus, I’m trying to trap you. Can’t work with a condom,” he said.
I giggled, thinking he was joking until I noticed he wasn’t laughing.
“You are serious as hell,” I said.
“Yep, this dick comes in raw,” he said, and my mouth parted.
I blinked twice as I processed his words.
“Wait, who said I was your woman?” I asked.
A soft kiss landed on my neck and worked its way upward.
Fireworks erupted each time his lips touched my skin.
The wetness of his mouth brought me warmth.
He worked his way up to my ear.
“You are mine. Don’t sign another man up to get his ass beat and his heart broken.”
I found his eyes and chuckled.
“We are not raw dogging, Marcus. But my yearly checkup was good. I haven’t been sexually active in two years,” I said.
“I’ll wait you out,” he said and pulled me into him to snuggle.
Mia, go to sleep.
I counted to one hundred twice, and it hadn’t suppressed the fire between my thighs.
The heat from Marcus’s breath and the print of his dick aroused me.
Would he deny me sex at 2:00 in the morning?
No.
Would he put on a condom?
No.
I bit down on my bottom lip as he unconsciously guided his hand up and down my stomach.
My desire for this man lying next to me already clouded my judgment.
Fuck it .
I faced Marcus and pecked his lips; he moaned but didn’t move.
I pulled more of his lips into my mouth and slipped my hands inside his pants, caressing his dick.
Marcus’s eyes popped open.
Without questioning, he deepened the kiss.
Marcus
As I pounded the sidewalk heading back home, I couldn’t help but smile.
I fought to get out of bed this morning, laying underneath Mia’s soft, full body.
She tried to resist me, but her horny ass woke me at two this morning, rubbing my dick.
Mia’s pussy was wet and ready.
After I climbed in between those thighs, she begged me not to pull out.
I’d craved her all week.
When the process server sent the proof of service, I did not delay connecting.
Giving Mia rights to make decisions for Harley was a no-brainer for me.
She was headed down the path of being her mother, anyway.
Plus, I needed someone outside of Granny to be able to make decisions.
Running up my driveway, I knew I needed to get into the shower, have a talk with Harley, and head to the team facility.
Stepping inside, I found my granny reading her Bible and drinking tea, with Harley close by, eating oatmeal.
Mia was nowhere in sight, but I wasn’t surprised; she’s a night owl.
I grabbed a bottle of water and downed it before addressing the ladies.
“Good morning, bossy Allen women,” I said, and both Harley and Granny chuckled.
“Good morning, Daddy,” Harley said, and Eddy waved her hand.
“Mia is here, and I invited her to stay a few days,” I said, and my daughter’s eyes widened to the size of her head.
I paused her with my hand.
“Granny, she is nervous about staying because we are not married. Cut her some slack,” I said.
“Like I told you earlier this week, you two are grown,” Eddy said and adjusted her reading glasses.
Earlier this week, when I approached Granny about Mia moving in, she didn’t object.
She knew I needed her with me without me saying it.
“Harley, I expect you to behave and listen to Mia no different from how you do Granny,” I said, and she shook her head with excitement.
“Where is Ms. Mia sleeping?” she asked, and my granny grinned.
I gave my daughter eye contact.
“Mia is my girlfriend; we are adults, and she sleeps in the room with me.”
“Okay, Daddy, is she awake?” Harley asked, ready to bolt from her chair.
Before I could answer, Ms.Renee opened the front door.
“Good morning,” she said as she put down her bag and migrated to the kitchen.
Harley wrapped her hands around Ms. Renee’s legs, and they shared a giggle.
Ms. Renee checked on Eddy first and afterward she hugged me.
On my bye week, I sent her off to the beach, and she didn’t fight me on it.
A week later she still had her vacation glow.
During my off season, she visits her daughters in North Carolina, or I’ll send her on whatever vacation she chooses.
I left the kitchen in search of Mia.
Opening the bathroom door, I noticed she had changed the bedding.
The shower water hitting the white, pebble-tiled floor exposed her location.
It’s a design I’m taking with me when I finish our new house.
I locked the bedroom door behind me and walked into the bathroom.
Mia had her back to the door, giving me an opportunity to join her.
I removed my clothes and slid into the shower.
“Marcus, what are you doing?” she questioned as I pulled her wet body to me.
I placed a kiss underneath her earlobe.
“I’m taking a shower with my lady,” I said and removed the soapy towel from her hand.
The first kiss landed on her neck as I explored my favorite part of her body, her breasts.
I moved underneath them as I sucked her wet ear into my mouth.
Grazing her nipple, she moaned.
“You are not slick, Mr. Allen. I didn’t need help taking a shower,” she said lowly.
“Sure you did,” I insisted as I dropped the towel and slipped a finger between her pussy lips, caressing her clit.
Mia rested her head back against my chest, as I continued to pleasure her most sensitive spot.
Spreading her legs, I entered her with one finger and stroked at a comfortable speed.
She gripped my arm as I added another finger and kissed her open skin on her neck.
“Baby, I’m about to cum,” she moaned.
“Please,” I whispered as I thrust my mouth into her neck, and her body jerked.
As her juices coated my fingers, her chest relaxed.
Mia watched as I ran those same fingers around my mouth.
“Sweet,” I said and we restarted the shower process.
Mia and I dried and changed into clothes before my phone sounded off about the meeting at the airport hangar.
“I have to report to the team plane,” I said as I pecked her lips, and she smiled afterward.
“What are Harley’s and Mrs. Eddy’s schedules,” Mia asked.
“Ms. Renee, our helper, is back and she will handle Ms. Eddy. Harley’s schedule is open. I would prefer she be in bed by eight. You can take her with you or leave her with Ms. Renee,” I said.
Mia shook her head because we both knew Tornado Harley wasn’t going to allow her to move.
I removed my wallet and passed Mia my black card, and her brows furrowed.
“Marcus, I’m a trust fund baby who earns her own money. My parents still deposit money in my account. I can cover Harley and I today. Stacie invited me to a baseball game and her parents own the team. Everything is free for us,” Mia said and pushed the card away.
I secured her waist and pecked her face several times.
“No, ma’am, take my card until I get one issued to you. You and Harley are my responsibility. Use the card, Mia,” I said, and she submitted with her eyes before removing the card from my hand.
“I need your phone,” I said.
Mia’s head jerked backward.