EPILOGUE
I passed the test.
Axel helped me study more thoroughly. He even made a mock test and the questions I got wrong were the questions I knew I needed to focus on. It’s such a huge relief to finally have my certification. While I know I didn’t necessarily need it because I know how to do the work, it will give my clients the satisfaction of knowing that their interior decorator is an expert. And the certification will look good on the wall behind my desk – that is when I get an office. We have too much going on right now for me to give that my full attention.
Axel is in the process of selling his home in Bridgeport while we look for a home in Columbia. There are a couple in Gregg Park where Zavier lives that piqued our interest. We’re meeting with our realtor to view those on Monday.
This morning, I awake to Axel’s hazel eyes beaming into my soul while his fingers dance across my stomach, making my body spasm. His lips form the most handsome smile, revealing the whiteness of his teeth.
Is this really my life? Gosh, I feel like I need to pinch myself every day to be sure I’m not imagining it all.
“It’s about time you woke up,” he says, rolling over on top of me until his warm, masculine body completely covers mine. He stretches my arms in the air and grazes his teeth across my neck before sinking them into my breast.
“Ah…mmm…Axel,” I gasp. I’m not even fully awake and this man’s insatiable appetite has my back rising from the bed.
“I know my name,” he taunts. “Say something else.” He bites my neck.
I don’t know what he wants me to say because words are difficult to form at the moment. Sounds – that’s all I can produce, especially when he positions himself between my thighs and claims my body like he’s the owner of my social security number. He’s incredibly gifted, and I’m glad he’s mine. I can’t imagine being this way with anyone else.
“I told you about closing your eyes. Look at me.”
I open my eyes to find his heat-seeking ones, bearing down on me. He bites his lips as he moves his body in ways he knows will rock me to my core. I hold on, feeling the ridges of his back muscles beneath my fingertips.
He lowers his lips to mine and whispers, “Say you’re mine.”
After moans leave my mouth, I say, “You know that already.”
“I want to hear you say it,” he says, then kisses the tip of my nose.
“I’m yours,” I say. “I’m yours, Axel. All yours.”
It’s not until I say those words that I realize the power of words when we’re making love. They trigger something in my brain that trickles down to my heart and even further to the juncture of my thighs.
He swipes his tongue across my lips before diving into my mouth, pulling my tongue and kissing me senseless, spineless, and mindless. I’m a blob of nothing beneath him.
And he knows it. I’m completely at his mercy.
“Ah...Ah—Axel,” I say, feeling my body completely cave and then shatter. I see the sun, moon, and stars simultaneously. It’s only when I feel his lips touch mine that I leave the galaxy I traveled to and return to the bed where a hot body and firm muscles hold me in captivity. He groans in my ear and muffles a growl – well he tries to, anyway. Our sweaty bodies collide between the sheets as he pours into me.
My goodness.
It’s first thing in the morning and I’ve already had a workout.
Panting, he falls next to me and says, “You gon’ mess around and make me get you pregnant.”
I chuckle and say, “I think you said that wrong.”
“Nah. I’m right. You got me losing my mind.”
“Well, I hope you lost it enough for today because we have a long day ahead of us. I’ma need you to keep your hands to yourself.”
“I’m not making any promises.”
I get up from the bed, walk to the bathroom, and turn on the shower.
He says, “Don’t turn that water on scalding like you usually like it. I’m getting in with you.”
“Uh, no, you’re not.”
He grins.
I know what it means. It means he is getting in with me and there’s nothing I can do to stop him. I don’t mind taking a shower with him. The problem is, Axel Jennings can’t keep his hands off me. If we’re going to make it to the business gala he’s been talking up for the last week – saying it would introduce him to business associates here in Columbia – then I need energy to work the room and be present.
I turn on the shower and step under the lukewarm water. Closing my eyes, I let it run down my face and relax me. I hear the shower door open and watch as Axel steps behind me. He closes his arms around me and sinks his teeth into my right shoulder. His hands cup my breasts. I place my hands on top of his and lean my head to the right, giving him clearance to my neck. He drags his teeth across my skin and then walks forward so I move forward.
With my arms flat against the glass, he invades my space. I’m clawing for relief, but there is none. I’m completely at his mercy, and he gives me none of that. He takes me the way he needs me. It’s thorough. It’s mind-boggling that he has this much stamina. He’s a pro and I’m his understudy.
“Axel!” I scream as waves wash through me while he tears me into two equal parts.
“I’m right behind you, baby,” he utters, then groans loudly in the confines of my shower walls.
We get dressed . We look good, too, if I do say so myself. I’m wearing a red sleeveless gown because when it comes to events like this, I always feel like you can never go wrong with red or black. Axel has on a black tux with a red bowtie. We skipped dinner, and while I don’t go to stuff like this, it sounds like they’re going to have some good food and hor d’oeuvres floating around everywhere. I hope they do, and I’m not talking about that healthy crap that leaves you hungry and ready to go eat a bucket of chicken after you leave. I need some real food – steak, shrimp, and a juicy salad that doesn’t look like a bag of lettuce with a few raggedy pieces of cheese.
“Baby, our ride is here,” Axel says.
I come out of the bedroom and he says, “Wow! I see I’ll have to keep you close to me tonight.”
“I’ll have to keep you close, too, with your handsome self.”
He opens the door and says, “After you.”
I step out. He steps out behind me, and I loop my arm with his. As we walk toward the parking lot, I say, “Wait—I know that’s not for us.”
There sits a black Mercedes Maybach. The driver is standing outside the car and has already opened the back door.
“Yep. That’s the ride.”
“Oh, I see you—you’re on a mission to impress people tonight.”
“Not people. You.”
“I can assure you—you’ve done that already.”
I step inside the car, pulling my gown in behind me. He gets in, too, and when the driver closes the door, Axel puts his arm around me and kisses me.
“I’m going to keep doing it. You are the most important person in my world and I’m going to show you that every day by my actions—not just words.”
I place a small kiss on his lips so I don’t ruin my lipstick, then say, “Oooh…I’m so excited. I’ve never been to a business gala before.”
“It’s one of many we’ll attend, I’m sure. I think you’ll love it. Imagine the connections you’ll make for your business.”
“True,” I say, feeling butterflies in my stomach at the thought of starting my new business and meeting new people. The possibilities have me so excited, I can’t stop my leg from bouncing up and down.
“You’re nervous?” Axel asks.
“And excited.”
“You’ll be fine,” he says, interlocking my right hand in his left, then bringing it to his mouth to kiss it.
We pull up at The Astor. The driver gets out and opens the door. I’m surprised to see a red carpet leading into the hotel and signs that point to the ballroom. I smell food already and it smells so freakin’ good. Yeah, I’m definitely going to have a good time tonight.
As we walk to the door that leads to the ballroom, I see a sign on the door that reads, Private Event . I look at Axel and say, “You know what sucks?”
“What’s that, baby?”
“If I had a business name, I could’ve made some business cards and had some to pass out tonight. I have nothing.”
“That’s fine. You don’t want to rush any aspect of your business. Trust me on that. In due time, you’ll have the perfect name, website, logo, slogan, email address, office—all of that. And I’m going to be right there to help you along the way.”
“Thank you, Ax.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
He kisses me on my forehead and says, “Are you ready?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Proceeding to the set of double wooden doors, Axel pulls one of them open and as soon as he does, music starts playing. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling above what looks to be a dance floor. The room is full of people who are applauding, but they’re not business folk that I was all set to mingle with. They’re my family. My mom, brothers, cousins, Nykendy, Alyssa and my sweet lil’ Kaden. I see my best friend Capri with Dorian, Mr. Alton, Ms. Campos, Mr. Edmonton, Mrs. Phillip, Ms. Hernandez and Mauricio. I see Axel’s parents and his best friend, Murphy. I just met them a few weeks ago and now they’re here. I see people I know from the community, my mom’s friends, my brother’s friends – firemen and doctors.
I’m stunned.
With a nervous smile, I turn to look at Axel and ask, “What’s…going…on?”
“Welcome to your prom. I promise I won’t ruin it for you this time.”
The cheers and applause that erupts coincide with the tears falling from my eyes.
“Ax,” I say. “You did all of this?”
“Yes, with the help from all these beautiful people.”
I hide my face in my hands and crash into his chest. I’ve probably screwed up my makeup, but I’m so emotionally wrecked right now, I really don’t care. For him to do something so special for me and invite my family and friends, even my tenants from the complex has me shaking.
“Baby,” I hear him say.
I don’t move. I stay buried against his chest.
He places a hand behind my head and holds me, letting me cry. Once I’m all cried out, I hear him say, “Myra, look at me, baby.”
“No.”
He grins. “Come on, now.”
I finally look at him, seeing love, happiness, and longing in his eyes. He says, “I told you I would make it up to you, and I did. I got your whole squad here. It’s your night, baby. Let’s do it right this time.”
“This is nice,” Zavier says. “Make sure you keep her happy just like this.”
“I plan to,” Axel responds.
“Aw,” Capri says. “This has got to be one of the most romantic things I’ve ever witnessed.”
“Me, too,” Mom says.
“It’s ah’ight,” Zander adds.
“Hush, Zander,” Alyssa tells him. She pulls him by the necktie and says, “Come dance with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Axel looks at me, dries the tears on my face, and says, “It’s your time to shine, Sunflower. Are you ready to dance with me?”
I wrap my arms around his neck and reach for his lips with mine. I take a kiss and feel his arms around my back. I kiss him with my whole heart, with my all, and after I’ve taken all I want, I look at him and say, “Okay. Let’s dance.”