“Did I say something wrong?” I ask, watching her closely.
“No, I'm just having a moment,” she sniffles, tears falling rapidly down her cheeks.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I offer, “I’ve been told I'm a good listener.”
“You didn’t do anything w- wrong,” she sniffles gathering herself before continuing, “you did everything right actually. The love you have for your wife is just a beautiful thing to see.”
“I’m lost,” I confess, “why are you crying?”
“Because I've never had anyone in my life love me enough to put me first,” she sighs. “It’s nice to see it, but it definitely took me back to a place I thought I had left.”
“Have you tried putting yourself first? You seem like you're carrying a lot.”
“Guess the tears kind of gave that away,” Marissa sighs letting out a humorless laugh.
“You can tell me about it if you want to.”
“I came to this place to escape a life that almost killed me and I ended up staying here for five years. But the island gets lonely sometimes, you know? I used to think I’d be married with kids by now. I guess life had other plans,” she shrugs.
“Look, I know this may not mean much coming from a man you don’t know but don’t let the past make you it’s slave. You can’t change what happened, but you can choose whether it’s going to hold you back or define you. The love you need will find you. You don’t have to go searching for it,” I tell her. “The love me and my wife have we had to work to cultivate and keep it. And even over twenty years later it's not perfect, but it's ours. And I wouldn't want to do life with anyone else. That’s the love you should strive for.”
“Whoa, who knew you were so wise, Papa,” she sniffles again.
“I’m just a man, who’s been through a few things,” I say.
“Thank you, Sammie,” she says, reaching forward to squeeze my hand.
“I’ll see you later tonight,” I tell her.
We nod our silent goodbyes before parting ways. I make my way back to our room finding Evie still sound asleep. After placing an order for room service to be delivered later, I shower then crawl into bed pulling Evie into my chest. I breathe in the coconut perfume that mixed so well with her natural scent, letting it fill my nostrils as I drifted off to sleep right along with her.
I wokehours later with Evie still wrapped in my arms. Her warmth felt like home. I loved seeing her so at peace. God, my wife is gorgeous. Everything about her is perfect and not just physically. Truly her presence is enough for me. Just looking at her made my day. Bringing her here was my way of showing her that her desires, wants and needs mattered to me just as much as mine mattered–if not more. I refused to ever see that lookshe had on her face when she told me I wasn’t making her come again. I couldn’t take that.
Pieces of her hair had fallen out of her bonnet laying against her face. Tucking the hairs back into the sleep cap, I get out of bed. A knock sounds and I know it was the food I had pre-ordered. I answer the door,tipping the attendant then rolling the tray into the room to set up the food. Checking the clock, I see we still had a few hours before our night got started.
Evie woke once the smell of the double cheeseburger and fries permeated in the room.
“That better be for me,” her drowsy voice croaks.
“You know I got you, Evie baby,” I chuckle, knowing she doesn’t play about her food.
Evie sits up in bed, almost snatching the plate from my hands saying a prayer before scarfing down the meal. That was one thing I loved about her; she wasn’t shy about eating. We finished our meals and checked in with our family before getting ready for the night.
Evie took one last look at herself in the mirror admiring the red corset with matching panties. The lingerie accentuated her waist, the heels elongating the line of her legs. She looks amazing, but that’s no surprise because she always does. While I was in the shower she snuck off to the salon and had her hair silk pressed. She looked like temptation personified, and if we hadn’t already made arrangements for the night, I would’ve gladly dragged her to bed and made her sweat out her edges–but I would get my chance soon.
“You look so fucking sexy,” I tell her leaning against the wall watching her apply her lipstick.
“I’m glad you like it,” she blushes, “I wanted to look nice for tonight.”
“Baby, you always look good,” I reassure her, stepping behind her wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Thank you, baby,” she smiles then teases, “you gonna be able to handle both of us tonight?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that,” my brow raises playfully.
“Oh baby, you know I can,” her husky tone sasses.
“Oh, we're gone see,” I challenge slapping her ass. Using the mirror to look her in her eyes I search for any sign of doubt there, “You know I love you right?”
