Cristiana Chapter 11
The past two weeks with Reuben had been incredible.
We’d grown so close, and it felt as if we’d known each other for years.
Our sex life and play had never been better, and that extended into our personal time with each other outside of that.
Contrary to what people might think, we didn’t spend all our time together in bed.
He had been busy at Lustz while I was working on a large forensic accounting case that was tough, but the kind I loved.
I adored sleuthing for the facts. What I had so far indicated someone was embezzling or misappropriating company funds.
I knew I would eventually find out who it was. I felt myself getting closer every day.
Reuben and I discussed our work, but didn’t go into too many details to avoid breaching confidentiality.
While I shared how I was doing in my search, or perhaps the specifics of how I did something, he had no idea which companies I was working for or the names of anyone associated with them. The same was true for him.
There had been no more visits to Lustz as a couple.
I asked if Scarlet or any other woman had approached him.
He denied it. Since we pledged to be honest and to disclose if it occurred to either of us, I accepted his word.
I hadn’t been anywhere to be approached by Rhys or anyone else from Lustz without Reuben.
This weekend, he took Saturday and Sunday off.
The reason was two-fold. One was the get-together happening at Mikhail and Tajah’s house.
They invited their closest friends and family to celebrate Matea’s birth.
Everyone had agreed without hesitation. I offered to help them prepare for it, but my offer was declined because Mikhail had already catered it.
He knew if he didn’t, Tajah would try to do it, and he wasn’t having it.
I was relieved. She was barely two weeks post-delivery.
I was looking forward to seeing everyone, holding Matea, and seeing how Tajah and Mikhail liked the gifts I had bought for Matea.
Reuben and I had gone shopping for the baby.
I hadn’t known them when they had their baby shower.
I was making up for it. Shopping for babies was the one type of buying I enjoyed.
I’d been the same for all my siblings’ kids.
He pretended to be resistant to going with me, but he had a great time and chose items without my prompting him.
When I told him I knew he was full of it, he laughed and admitted that he had done it with all his nieces and nephews.
The second reason he took the whole weekend off was the one I was scared to death of.
I tried to talk him out of it, but the man was stubborn.
I even told him to go alone. Reuben adamantly shook his head and said it wasn’t happening.
I was usually a very confident woman. However, the thought of going there and doing that had me ready to crap myself.
Finally, after a lot of persuasion, some of it while I was weak after sex, I agreed. He swore I had nothing to worry about.
Saturday was the celebration for Matea. On Sunday, I was accompanying Reuben to his parents’ home to meet not only them but also his entire family. They were having a Sunday family luncheon. When I asked him to wait until we’d been together longer, Reuben had laid it out for me.
“Reuben, it’s a family lunch. We’ve been together for a month. You should wait until we’re established before you introduce me to anyone. And then, we should start with your parents. Springing me on all of them at once isn’t a good idea.”
“Is it because you’re having doubts that we’ll remain together? Are you second-guessing I’m the man you want?” he asked gruffly.
Horror filled me at the thought. We were up on the roof. Again, no one was there but us. Reuben was standing several feet away, by the edge of the roof. I jumped to my feet and partially ran to him. I grabbed his arm and tugged on him until he faced me. His back had been to me when he asked.
“Reuben, no, I’m not doing it for that reason at all!
I’m more convinced than ever that what we’re growing here is meant to be.
There is no one else for me. I just think that your family isn’t going to be happy that you bring some woman home, whom they have never even heard you talk about. Or have you?”
“No, I’ve kept quiet, but it’s been hard,” he admitted.
“Do you often take women you’re involved with, even casually, home to meet your family?” I asked, not seeing it as likely, but I had to ask.
He frowned as he shook his head. “Fuck, no, I don’t. You should know me better than that.”
“I thought not, but I decided to check anyway. They’ll want to know how long we’ve known each other and how long we’ve been dating.
If we tell them the truth, which is what I prefer, I bet they’ll tell us it’s too soon to know and we need to slow down.
I don’t want to give them any reason not to like me, carino. ”
“Tiana, I’ve never brought a woman home to meet my family, ever.
The fact I bring you will tell them how damn serious this is.
They won’t care how long we’ve known each other, believe me.
Hell, they’ll be asking when we’re getting married, how soon we’re having babies, and what names we like. ” He rolled his eyes.
His expression was a cross between exasperated and amused. I sighed when his arms crept around me, and I was brought close. I snuggled into his chest. We stood there for a long moment before I replied.
“Okay, I’ll do it, but if I survive this, you have to do something for me.”
He chuckled. “You’ll survive. What is it you want me to do?”
“You’ll have to come to meet my family in the near future so you can be the person everyone will stare at and dissect the whole time.”
Reuben tossed his head back and laughed. When he was through, he glanced down at me and grinned. “It’s a deal, mujer loca, crazy woman.”
I growled as I reached up behind his neck and brought his head down to mine. “I’ll show you a mujer loca,” I muttered before kissing him.
That was five days ago. When I asked if he had informed his parents that he was bringing someone, he said yes. And that he had only left it as someone. No matter how they tried to get details from him —asking if it was a woman —he refused to say.
However, I forced myself as we wound through the countryside on our way to Tajah and Mikhail’s house, to push my nervousness about tomorrow away. I refused to let it ruin my day. I was extremely excited to see everyone and explore Culleoka.
So far, it was beautiful countryside, filled with homes.
They ranged from modest trailers to large, more elaborate homes built on acreage, with everything in between.
It was a warm day, so lots of people were outside in their yards.
As we passed them, the people threw up their hands and waved. We waved back.
We were on a narrow, though hardtop road which wound through the area.
I was taking in the color of the trees. Their leaves were brilliant explosions of red, yellow, brown, and orange.
Dotted in there were the dark green of evergreen trees.
I was so busy staring and making exclamations about the scenery and some of the homes that I didn’t realize until we significantly slowed that we had reached our destination.
Looking to the left, I noted Reuben was turning into a long driveway.
Sitting back away from the road, a reasonable distance away, was a two-story, luxurious, traditional-style house that took my breath away.
It appeared huge, and the exterior was made of cream-colored stone.
Several vehicles were parked on a large cement extension off to the side of the driveway. Reuben found us a spot to park there.
I was craning my neck to take it all in when he came around and helped me out of the car. I blinked when he chuckled. I glanced over at him. His grin was huge. “I take it the outside meets your approval.”
I bumped his arm playfully with my shoulder. “Stop teasing. Yes, it does. Who wouldn’t love it? Is it the same plan they had for the house that was burned down?”
“No, it was different, more country but still sophisticated, if that makes sense. Mikhail and Taj said they should thank Laura for burning it down. They got an even better one. Let’s go inside so you can take the tour. It’s just as great.”
The door was answered by a smiling Hoss, who greeted me with a hug and Reuben with a back slap. From there, we spent the first several minutes greeting everyone in attendance. It was the same ones I’d met at the hospital when Tajah had Matea: Tamara, Gideon, Matvey, Victoria, and their bodyguards.
Additionally, there were a few others whom I knew from Lustz.
I smiled when I saw Iker and Sawyer. There were two people whom I didn’t recognize.
One was a pretty woman with Sawyer, whom he introduced as his sister, Sharlena.
The other was a man, in his thirties, I’d guess.
He was introduced as Tajah and Mikhail’s neighbor.
When Preston took my hand and smiled at me, I felt Reuben’s grip on my waist tighten.
I patted and squeezed his ribs with the arm still around him.
Drinks were served to us, and the conversation turned to the house rather quickly.
“I love the house,” I told the homeowners.
“Thank you, we do too. However, you can’t say you love it until you see the whole thing. Come with us, we’ll show you around. Everyone else has been here before, so you give me a reason to show it off,” Tajah teased.
“Lead the way. You don’t have to twist my arm,” I joke.