66. Corinthians
Corinthians
"If you want a big wedding, we can wait." The room was quiet; it'd been long enough for Judah's excitement to run its course finally, and he'd fallen asleep. My family was around in the hallways, talking, checking in, trying to give us space but still lingering.
"I've never wanted a big wedding," I replied. Uri's fingers traced the flower tattoo on my arm. I laughed softly and shook my head. "I never even wanted a wedding."
His hand stilled. "You don’t want to get married?" I could hear the panic in his voice. Goodness, I hadn't realized how much I missed hearing him until now.
"If I were going to marry anyone, it would've always been you."
"Do you want a big wedding?"
"I want to be married to you." I looked up from our hands to see him watching me. "So stop worrying about a big or small wedding. I don’t need anything but the people in this room."
"I want to adopt Judah. Give him and you my last name. I don’t care shit about Robert being..."
He couldn't finish his sentence, and I couldn't correct him, not until I was sure.
I planned to get a DNA test soon. Uri and I didn't keep secrets, but I would keep this one until I had the answer I needed.
I didn't want to give Uri false hope. If the test came back and Judah wasn't his, then I would carry that disappointment to the grave and beat Kenbral into one.
"Okay," I agreed. "After all this is over with. We can have you legally adopt Judah."
Uri stopped, looked up at me, and then smirked.
"Nah," he said, then shook his head. "I want him legally mine today.
" He looked at the door, then back to me.
"I already talked to Nine about it. Months ago, actually.
He can make it happen. The same way he did for Fire and Lynx. He already has the paperwork ready."
"Did you secretly marry us like Fire did Lynx?" I laughed.
"Would you be mad if I did?" His eyes sparkled with mischief, and then he smiled. "Because if you aren’t then I can get Nine to work right now."
"Nope. Would you?"
"I wouldn't be upset, but I would be a little annoyed," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because I want to remember the moment when I kissed you as your husband for the first time."
The door to his room opened, and in walked my grandparents. Madea's dark eyes went to Judah lying on the pullout couch asleep. "You ready?"
"Yes, ma'am," I answered. And I was. Despite everything going on, I was ready for this moment. I’d never wanted marriage or thought I was worthy of it until now.
Until this man sitting walked back into my life and made me remember how strong I was.
Marrying him was never going to be a mistake or something I regretted.
"Good," she smiled, then turned to Granddaddy.
"Say the words, let them kiss, and enjoy their night as husband and wife.
" She approached us, kissed us on the forehead, then went to where Judah slept and picked him up.
“Tomorrow we will be back. We will discuss a few things, and then you will rest, Uri.
Not because you want to but because you need to.
" She adjusted Judah in her arms. "So will you, Corinthians. "
"Madea..."
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
Kiss your wife, Four," Granddaddy interrupted me before I could start.
"This isn't us dismissing your marriage.
It's us understanding who you are. You won't celebrate until the person responsible for your pain is dead.
He has loved you since you were a little girl, fighting in that ring or basement.
You helped nurse him back to health and protect him when he couldn't protect himself.
You two are proof that love is without a doubt the ultimate gift. "
"Can you tell the family that we will accept visitors tomorrow?" Uri asked.
"Yeah, we can do that. We will see y'all tomorrow." Granddaddy took Judah from Madea, and they walked to the door.
"Granddaddy?" Judah sleepily mumbled. "I'm not getting a dog."
"It's alright, grandson," Granddaddy replied as he patted his back. "We can talk about getting a dog at our house." Granddaddy opened the door and stepped back to allow Madea to walk out first.
"I'm getting a mini goat," Judah said as they walked out of the room.
"I still cannot believe you bought him a mini goat!" I fussed after the door closed. I turned to see Uri sitting in his bed with a serious look on his face. "What’s wrong?"
"You didn't hear what your Granddaddy said?
" He asked me. "He told me to kiss my wife.
How am I supposed to do that when you're still sitting over there?
" I laughed, then stood, moved the small table from beside his bed, and leaned down until we were nose to nose.
"Is this better?" My lips brushed against his as I spoke.
"Damn near," he answered, then kissed me. My breath caught in my chest when I felt his hand wrap around my neck. There was no fear, just excitement and hope. Even with Robert still out there, I had it. He stopped kissing me and smiled. "Now come here."
"I don’t want to hurt you," I said, shaking my head.
"I can't feel pain, remember?" Uri pulled me to him, and I climbed into his lap.
"Now what's your excuse?" His hands went to the waist of my sweats, and he smiled.
Even though I didn't want to be, I was turned on.
He moved his hand from my waist to inside my pants, then pushed my panties to the side. "I will stop if you want me to."
"I don’t want you to," I said, then kissed him. I was being mindful of his IV and monitors as I raised just enough to get my pants and underwear off. Uri being in a hospital gown worked to our advantage. I moved it out of the way, then lowered onto his dick. "Damn it."
Uri's hands went to my waist as I tried to even out my breathing. The feeling of him being inside me was welcome. I rested my head on his shoulder and took a few deep breaths.
"You okay?" He asked, and I nodded. "Let me know when you’re ready.
" I waited, then slowly began moving my hips in a circle.
Uri kissed my neck, then put his mouth to my ear.
“I, Uri Strong, vow to love Corinthians DeCorte for the rest of this lifetime and any other.
I vow to protect, honor, and love you. I know we won't always have good days, but the good ones will always outnumber the bad.
I have a million plans to make sure you smile.
I plan to spend the rest of my life making you happy.
We will grow old together. Raise our kids together.
And when you're scared, we can sleep in the closet together. "
"Uri," I moaned as I continued to move. He was taking care of me physically and emotionally. "Baby."
"I'm almost done, you can wait, can't you?
" He asked, and I nodded. "Good." He kissed my ear.
"I can't promise to be the perfect man, but I will try.
I'll die for you, Cori. I've experienced life without you, and I swear I never want to again.
Thank you for agreeing to be my wife. Thank you for being you.
Thank you for being the mother of my children.
Thank you for existing even if in the beginning we suffered. I love you, Corinthians DeCorte."
"That's not my name," I moaned as I felt myself starting to climax. I shook my head, then lifted from his shoulder. "Say my name, Uri."
"Corinthians Strong."
"Wife of Uri 'Four' Strong," I moaned as I orgasmed.
***
"Yeti's funeral is tomorrow," I told Uri as he ate. He was on a liquid-only diet and wasn't happy about it.
"You going?"
"Yes." Yeti's death was unexpected. When the alert went off saying help was needed in Yamari's room, I'd assumed she'd taken a turn for the worse. I was wrong. She wasn't touched. It was Yeti who'd been attacked. By Tank and Lavender. Two people who we now know work for Robert.
"Are you going to be okay?" He lay back and watched me. "I can come with you." I pointed to the tube coming from his side and the IV in his arm. Uri smirked, then shook his head. "I can take all of this out."
"If you do, I won't forgive you," I told him.
"You need to rest. You might not be able to feel pain, but your body can’t keep going like you want and not expect some consequence.
" I moved the table from in front of him and set it against the wall.
"I can handle a lot of things, but seeing you like this for longer than I need to isn't one of them. "
Uri watched me for a moment before nodding. "Alright," he agreed. "But we need to discuss some things before you go." He patted the empty spot next to him, and I sat. "Robert ain't gonna stop."
"I know."
"You need to be prepared," he continued.
"And I'm not talking about physically defending yourself either. Can you hand me my bag?” Earlier today, Nine had stopped by to check on Uri.
When he got here, he brought a bag. I assumed it was clothes for when he decided he was over being in the hospital.
I got up, grabbed the bag, and brought it back to him.
Uri opened it, pulled out a folder, and handed it to me.
"This is a quick breakdown of all my businesses, deeds to my properties, and access to all my accounts. "
"Uri..." I shook my head and tried to hand it back to him. "I don’t need or want this."
"Everything has your name attached to it," he kept talking like he didn't hear me. "Judah's too. Nine knows what to do if something happens to me."
"You're talking like you're going to the funeral and not me."
"No, I'm showing you that Robert doesn't run shit.
He ain't the one in charge. I'm giving you the keys to your future because I know you, Cori.
I see the look in your eyes right now. You are planning something, and you think I'm blind to that fact.
" I looked away, not in shame but because he was right.
I was planning something and knew that if he knew, he wouldn't let me walk out of here alone.
He cupped my jaw and made me look at him.
"We don’t do solo Cori. Tell me what you've done and what you plan to do next. "
"I plan to kill the person who shot you," I told him. My eyes searched his, and when he looked away, I realized he knew who pulled the trigger just like I did. "You know who shot you don’t you?"
"I do," he nodded. "My mama."