Chapter 20
I was surprised to see the sun was out when we left my father’s memorial service. He wanted to be cremated, so we had the service just so people could say their last goodbyes. I was exhausted mentally and physically, so I didn’t hesitate to take Coye up on his offer of catering to me for the day.
After talking to my brother and knowing he and Coye were good, I felt as good as I could, given the circumstances of the day.
“Do you need anything before we go in?” Coye asked while his hand rested on my thigh.
“No.” I didn’t think I could interact with any more people for the day, and I didn’t have the energy to go home to pack a bag. I knew I could wear Coye’s shirts if I wore clothes at all. I just wanted to shower and curl up in bed in Coye’s arms.
“Okay.” He gave my leg a quick squeeze, then glanced in my direction. “You let me know if that changes.”
“I will.” I rested my head on the back of the seat and closed my eyes. Silent tears streamed down my face even when I didn’t want them to. I was tired of crying, and I had a headache.
Coye reached over and brushed away a few tears.
“I know there are no words for me to say that will make you feel better. Just know that I’m here.”
When we got to his house, he got out of the car, then came around to help me out. Once inside, he helped me take my jacket off, then hung it on the coat rack. Then, he bent down and helped me out of my shoes and left them by the door.
“Do you want to shower or take a bath?”
“A shower is fine. I feel drained.”
“Shower it is then.” He squatted down in front of me. “Climb on.”
I looked down at him, and a light giggle came out. I hadn’t climbed on anyone’s back since I was a little girl.
“Come on, girl,” Coye encouraged.
I placed my hands on his shoulders, then wrapped my legs around his waist. I giggled again when he stood and hoisted me up to a better position. Coye held on to my legs as he carried me upstairs to the bathroom.
In the bathroom, he placed me on the counter while he started the water.
“Lift up,” he said as he grabbed the bottom of my dress.
I lifted my hips and watched him pull my dress up over my thighs, then over my head. Once it was off, he placed it on top of the toilet. I watched him as he reached around and unhooked my bra. Slowly, he pulled it off as his gaze fell on me.
He tossed the bra on top of the dress, then moved closer to me. I opened my legs to give him room.
His tongue ran slowly over his bottom lip. “I missed you.” He leaned forward, then kissed my lips before kissing the top of each breast.
“I missed you, too.” I grabbed his face and pulled him close. Our noses touched, and I could feel his breath on my face.
The kiss we shared was slow and deep. Coye’s hand rubbed my bare back, making my panties wet.
“Let me get you in the shower,” he said when he finally broke the kiss. He picked me up and placed me on my feet.
I started to take my panties off, but Coye stopped me and did it himself. Once my panties were off, Coye looked up at me. His hand trailed up my thigh until he reached my middle. My clit throbbed, and I wanted him to touch me so bad. I pushed my hips forward a little.
“Not yet,” he said as his finger brushed over my clit.
I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted. The hot water from the shower made the bathroom steamy.
Coye chuckled as he stood up. “Take your shower while I make you some tea.” He tapped my ass and gently pushed me toward the shower.
I sucked my teeth but did what he said. Once I was in the shower, he gathered my clothes, then left the bathroom.
I heard the door close, then I stood underneath the water.
It was hot, and it felt so good on my tight muscles.
The tears returned as the water fell over my body.
I knew I couldn’t let my emotions consume me, but I was entitled to feel what I felt.
I lost the first man to ever love me. The man who taught me most of my survival skills.
I knew how to change a tire because of my dad.
Things wouldn’t be the same anymore, and it made my chest hurt.
I tried to keep my emotions in, but I couldn’t.
A loud sob escaped me as I slid to the floor.
I covered my mouth because I didn’t want to scare Coye, but it was probably too late.
He never came into the bathroom, though, and even though I wanted him to, I was glad he didn’t.
I needed that time to myself. Once I got myself together, I washed up and turned the water off.
Coye was on the side of the bed when I came out of the bathroom.
“Hey. You okay?” He stood and pulled me into his arms.
“I will be.” I wasn’t sure when I would be, but I knew each day would eventually get better.
He held me tightly against his chest and rubbed my back.
“I heard you crying, and it was hard for me not to come in there, but I felt like you needed a moment to yourself.”
Coye released me and sat on the side of the bed again, then pulled me onto his lap. He kissed my nose, then my forehead. I only had the towel wrapped around me, but I snuggled against his chest. He had on a T-shirt and sweatpants.
“Thank you. I did need that moment. I feel better now.” I covered my mouth and yawned. “Tired, but better.”
“I’m sure you are. Let’s get you settled so you can relax. I made you some lavender tea.” He placed me on the bed, then stood.
The aroma of the tea filled my nose as I got comfortable in the middle of the bed. Coye lotioned my whole body before helping me put on one of his T-shirts. He told me he had to do a couple of things, but he would come if I needed him.
Before he left the room, he gave me the tea and the remote control. I wasn’t in the mood to watch anything, but I turned the television on for background noise. I settled on a documentary while I sipped my tea. With each sip, I felt my body slowly relaxing.
At some point after finishing the tea, I felt my eyes get heavy, so I placed the mug on the side table, then got under the covers. It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when I felt Coye’s arms wrap around me, and he pulled me closer.
“You were whimpering in your sleep.”
I opened my eyes and looked into the darkness of the room.
“I was? I don’t even know what I was dreaming about.”
He ran his hand over my stomach. “Yeah, you were. Are you hungry?”
“Not really.” I nibbled on some food at the church, but my stomach was still in knots.
I turned over and faced Coye. The light from the moon flowed through the curtains, so I was able to see him a little bit.
“Thank you. Not just for today, but for being patient with me,” I said as I traced his cheekbones with my finger.
“I knew you would find your way back to me, but you had to deal with real shit. I want to apologize for trying to make you tell Jordan before you were ready to.”
I gripped his beard and massaged it.
“You don’t have to apologize for that, because it was my fault the two of you had it out. For that, I’m sorry. I’m just glad we all worked it out, and we don’t have to sneak around anymore. It was fun though.” I smirked.
“Let me find out you like sneaky shit,” Coye teased as he tickled my stomach.
My giggles filled the otherwise quiet room.
I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it didn’t matter because I didn’t have anywhere to go.
I took a few days off from the cookie shop to allow myself some time to grieve.
I knew it would take longer than a few days, but I also knew I couldn’t sit around and not do anything.
“Okay, okay.” I squirmed, trying to get away from him, but he kept a tight grip on me.
When he finally gave up tickling me, he kissed my lips.
“I ain’t gonna lie, it was kinda fun.” He kissed me again.
I traced the tattoos on his chest since he was now bare-chested. I let my finger trail down the middle of his chest until I reached the band of his boxers.
His dark eyes followed my finger, and he tilted his head when I stopped.
“What you trying to do, River?” His voice lowered, making my pussy throb.
“What are you trying to do, Coye?”
I yelped when he flipped me over onto my back and climbed on top of me. I opened my legs to give him space to get in between them.
Coye grabbed both of my arms, put them over my head, then intertwined our hands. My heart thumped against my chest as he stared into my eyes. I felt my cheeks flush.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you are so fucking pretty.” He kissed my shoulder. “And because you are mine.” He kissed the other shoulder. He released one of my hands, and I felt him pulling his boxers down.
Anticipation filled me because I felt how hard he was against my thigh.
It seemed like it had been so long ago since the last time we had sex.
Dealing with my dad and not talking to Coye, having sex was the last thing on my mind.
Now, I needed it. I needed a release and an escape from the ache in my heart.
With his dick at the entrance of my pussy, he asked, “And you know what else?”
He rubbed his dick up and down my slit.
“No.” I moaned as my back arched off the bed.
“I love you,” he confessed as he slid his dick inside of me.
The feel of him stroking me and him confessing his love, had my emotions all over the place. Tears slipped from my eyes. His eyes said the same thing his mouth did. So did each stroke.
Coye’s movements were unhurried, like we had nowhere else to be, and technically, we didn’t.
“I love you, too.” I cried as I came. All my emotions, good and bad, came pouring out of me as I continuously came.
“Let it all out, baby.” Coye groaned. He kept his pace steady.
I felt dizzy because of how hard I came multiple times. I closed my eyes and let the tears continue being released.
By the time we were done, I was spent. I didn’t want to do anything but go back to sleep. Coye quickly cleaned us up and got back in bed.
“I love you for real, River. You’ve been my girl since the first time we kissed, but it’s official now,” Coye said as he kissed my shoulder.
“I won’t argue with you.” I yawned and backed up into him.
He wrapped his arms around me, and within seconds, I had fallen asleep.