Chapter 13
Graham didn’t have to convince me to allow him to take me away for the weekend. I needed to get away like a crackhead needed their next hit. Plus, I had so much to celebrate.
Judge Carson came through big time. Victor was ordered to do fifteen hundred hours of anger management, take and pass a parenting class, and temporarily lost his visitation rights.
Once he completed the anger management and parenting class, he could have supervised visits with Keelan until he proved he was no longer a threat.
I wished the judge had been harsher, but the reality was that Victor wouldn’t do what he needed to do to regain his rights, and I believed Judge Carson knew that. This way, Victor would have no one to blame but himself for not having a relationship with his son.
“I still can’t believe you agreed to go away with me,” Graham said, pulling me from my thoughts.
“The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I wished we could’ve brought Keelan. He probably needs a break as much as I do.”
“Maybe the three of us can do something before he goes back to school. He didn’t seem disappointed when I talked to him.”
“You talked to him?”
“I did. Is that cool that I put my number in his phone?”
“Of course. What did you say?”
“That’s men’s business, but he was completely okay with us going away. Besides, he’s excited to spend the weekend with my brother’s family. They set the guest room up real nice for him, although they’ll probably fall asleep in the family room watching movies.”
“Good. I was feeling a little guilty.”
“No need, baby. He gave me his blessing.”
He glanced at me and winked before focusing on the road.
“So, where are we going?”
“That’s for me to know, but you’ll find out in an hour.”
“Fine, but this better be good.”
I kept my eyes on him while he drove, admiring the beautiful man God had created. I was afraid to fall for Graham because I was worried about losing the peace I’d gained when I left Victor. Little did I know, Graham would bring more peace to my life than I ever imagined.
I had no idea what his plans were for me this weekend, but I prayed to God he would put me through the mattress. After the night of Keelan’s birthday, he spent the next two nights at my house, but nothing happened. He didn’t even eat my pussy, and Lord knows I tried to get something popping.
Since then, we hadn’t had the opportunity to have sex, oral or otherwise. He’d been super busy getting ready at the studio, and by the time he made it home, we’d talk on the phone briefly before he was too sleepy to hold a conversation.
I’d been looking forward to this weekend and planned to let go of all my inhibitions and do precisely what Dr. Hart said, . . . let this man love me.
“Why are you staring?” he asked.
“Have I ever told you how handsome you are?”
“Hmm. Maybe, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”
“You’re very handsome. I bet those women in Chicago willingly committed crimes or called 9-1-1, hoping you’d be the officer who arrested them or showed up.”
The back of his head hit the headrest when he laughed, and I continued.
“I’m serious. Swear to me that didn’t happen.”
He laughed a bit longer before responding. “That never happened, but I did get a lot of cat calls when I was patrolling the neighborhoods and outside events.”
“I’m sure you did. They were probably like, ‘Arrest me, Officer Diggs. You can dig my guts out on the way to the station.’”
He thought that was hilarious and laughed for a good two minutes.
“Baby, I promise you, no one ever offered me pussy after being arrested.”
“Hmm. Those women must have been blind and dumb.”
“Are you saying you would’ve bust it wide open for me?”
“I would’ve let you put me in handcuffs and have your way with me.”
He glanced my way with wide eyes. “Word?”
“In a heartbeat.”
“You know, we can still make that happen.”
I responded by shifting in my seat because my pussy pulsed at the thought of being restrained by him while he did things to my body that no man had ever done.
I decided to shut my mouth before I bit off more than I could chew.
Aside from the fact that I hadn’t been penetrated by a man in over two years, my sex life had been pretty vanilla.
Before Victor, I’d never dated anyone long enough to experiment, and Victor must have saved all his freaky shit for his side bitches.
Eventually, I dozed off and woke up to the sound of Graham calling my name. When I opened my eyes, I found myself surrounded by the most beautiful scenery.
“Oh my God. This is so beautiful. Where are we?”
“In Sonoma, at a place called Truth Sanctuary. It’s a Black-owned bed-and-breakfast owned by the Truth family.”
“Is it new? I’ve never heard of it.”
“No. It’s actually been around long enough to be considered a historical landmark. I signed us up for the tour, and they’ll talk about the history.”
“Wow. I’m excited. Thank you for bringing me here.”
I leaned over the console and kissed him.
“You’re welcome, baby. Stay here while I go get us checked in.”
I was completely in awe when the tour ended, and quite disappointed in myself for not knowing I lived only an hour away from this phenomenal piece of Black history.
Not long after checking into our room, we went on a tour of the vast property. At the beginning of the tour, our guide shared how Truth Sanctuary came to be, and the story sent chills through my body.
Slavery, with the promise of freedom, brought the Truth family to Sonoma. Of course, that promise wasn’t fulfilled. Joseph Truth, Jacob’s great-great-great-grandfather, eventually secured his freedom and worked for an elderly white couple who didn’t condone slavery.
They never had children, and when they passed away, they left everything to Joseph and his family. Joseph was able to hold onto the land, and generations later, Truth Sanctuary became what was today. I was brought to tears by the time the guide was finished telling the story.
The property had everything from horses, roosters, and chickens to a pond filled with fish they cultivated.
They even had a vineyard where they made their own wine.
When we made it to the spa, I was speechless and couldn’t wait to partake in their services.
By the time the tour ended, I was pretty sure I never wanted to leave.
“What do you want to do first?” Graham asked as we headed back to our room.
“Everything.”
He chuckled. “We both know that’s not possible, but I already have you scheduled for the works at the spa tomorrow afternoon.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up at him.
“I’m so excited. You really are a different breed. I’ve never met a man quite like you.”
“And you’ll never meet another, so you can stop looking.”
“I wasn’t looking, but I’m glad I found you.”
He slid his hands to my ass and picked me up.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and smashed my lips against his.
As we kissed, I held onto him so tight, like I was trying to get in his skin.
Our tongues looped around and around and around, until he pulled away, sucking my tongue before disconnecting.
“Baby, I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you.”
“Good. I want you too.” I tried to kiss him, but he moved his head.
“Baby, chill. I know you want this dick, and I wanna give it to you, but not like this.”
He released me, and I sighed when my feet hit the floor. I was disappointed and starting to think I’d never feel this man’s dick stretching the walls of my pussy.
“Fine.”
“Are you pouting?”
“No, I’m not pouting. Let’s go horseback riding since you won’t let me ride your dick.”
I didn’t even wait for him to agree, and by the time he caught up with me, I was in the welcome area.
“I can’t believe you got an attitude,” he said, taking my hand.
“I don’t have an attitude. I’m horny and, quite frankly, ready for you to fuck the shit outta me.”
“Shh! Lower your voice,” he whispered, looking around to see if we had any spectators.
“No one is paying us any attention.”
“Hold up a second.”
We stopped walking, and I turned to look at him, anxious to hear why he continued to deny me his dick.
“This getaway is one hundred percent about you. I want you to try something new, have fun, relax, and be refreshed by the time we leave on Monday morning. Will you let me give you that experience?”
Now I felt bad for acting like a horny brat.
“Yes. I’ll let you give me that experience. I’m sorry for being a brat. Thank you for being so thoughtful and sweet.”
“You don’t have to thank me, baby. Just relax and enjoy your time here.” He held my chin and softly kissed my lips. “You ready to go ride these horses?”
“Yeah, but if I cum, don’t be jealous.”
I shook my head and chuckled at her comment but didn’t address it.
Neither of us had ever ridden horses, and once we got over our nerves, it was a beautiful experience. I caught on faster than Graham, and I teased him about it all the way back to our room.
“Talking all that shit, when I let you ride this dick, keep that same energy,” he warned.
“Tuh! As if I’ll ever get to ride it.”
He was standing at the end of the bed, emptying his suitcase, and I brushed past him on my way to the bathroom. He caught my arm and grabbed the front of my neck.
“I promise I’m gon’ give you this dick, and when I do, I don’t wanna hear no, ‘It’s too big. Wait. Slow down. I can’t take it.’ Go shower and start getting ready for dinner.”
He kissed my lips before letting me go and returned his attention to unpacking.
Truth Sanctuary was much more than a bed and breakfast. There was a fancy restaurant on the property that served dinner only. Graham had made reservations for us, and after we dressed in semi-formal attire, we were driven to the property in a golf cart.
The restaurant had a romantic vibe, with dimmed lights and soft jazz music playing in the background. We were seated in a round booth in the back corner, and although we weren’t alone, it felt as if we were.
We made small talk while sipping our drinks and enjoying our appetizer, but his energy shifted once the food arrived.
“What’s wrong? Is your food okay?” I asked.
“It’s delicious.”
“Why the sudden mood shift?”
“I didn’t realize my mood had shifted, but I was just thinking about some things.”
“Some things like what—I mean, if you care to share.”
“I’m not a religious person, but my connection to God is what kept me safe for all those years as a police officer. When I saw you from across the street, I whispered, ‘Damn, she’s beautiful,’ and I heard God as clear as day say, ‘That’s your wife, Son.’”
He spoke with such conviction, all I could do was listen.
“I don’t take that lightly, Naryah. I want a future with you and Keelan, and possibly another baby or two if you’re willing and able.
I don’t like to live in limbo. I like to know where I stand with those who are important to me.
We can take things as slowly as you need in order to feel comfortable, as long as you understand that you’re mine. ”
“Graham, you probably won’t believe me, but I’ve felt like yours since the first time you kissed me.
I thought back to that moment many times before our lips ever touched again.
Yes, my lack of self-trust made me question things, mostly my feelings for you, but I’ve worked through that.
If that was your way of asking me to officially be yours, the answer is yes. ”
He smiled. “Baby, I don’t know where you heard a question. I wasn’t asking, I was telling. You, and Keelan, are mine. Mine to protect . . . and mine to love.”
“I—you—wait . . .”
“I love you and Keelan. You stole my heart, and I know you and Keelan are a package deal. It’s impossible to love you without loving him.”
“Graham,” was all I could manage to say as tears gathered and fell from my eyes.
I cupped his face in my hands and pressed my lips against his. Our tongues didn’t make an appearance, but we remained connected for a while.
“Thank you for being patient with me. Most men would’ve cut their losses a long time ago,” I whispered when our lips parted, but our foreheads remained connected.
“How many times do I have to tell you, baby? I’m a different breed.”