Page 29 of Fervor

Withdrawing my fingers, I grabbed the garter and pulled it off as the crowd watched. I didn’t give a fuck who was looking. This woman was my wife now. When I stood with the garter in hand, I brought my fingers to my mouth and sucked that shit dry as the ladies screamed in excitement. Yunique’s dark ass skin nearly turned red, but her eyes never left mine.

I caught my brother’s turned up lip in my peripheral. A slow smile eased to my lips as I grabbed her hand and pulled her from his lap. I pulled her in my arms and kissed her deeply. Despite the shit looming over my head, my ultimate desire was to make her feel loved and cherished, even if I didn’t quite love her yet. I wanted her to know that it was inevitable.

Leaning around her body, I handed the garter to my brother, and that nigga had a whole fit. He looked like he was having a whole ass seizure in that chair, trying to get away from that garter. Everybody was doubled over laughing at his crazy ass. It only got worse when Charmaine walked over to him and snatched him from that chair and practically shoved Yunique’s garter in his face.

Yunique was laughing so hard. It was a beautiful sight. I couldn’t help but stare at her as I held her loosely in my arms.She looked up at me and bit her bottom lip. “I have to toss my bouquet. My baby sister and Charmaine gon’ have to fight for it.”

I chuckled as I released her. When she turned to walk away, I patted her ass. “Hurry up, baby.”

She gave me a bright smile as I made my way to the DJ. I needed to see what we were dancing to. When I got to him, he told me that Yunique had indeed picked a song. I had never heard it, but it was called “Slow Dance” by Kehlani and Dixson. I couldn’t wait to hear it. I gave him a song to play right after, and he only chuckled at my request.

I turned my attention back to the dance floor where Yunique was. She’d turned her back and was preparing to toss it when her eyes met mine. I couldn’t even smile at the moment, because I was so fucking turned on. I just wanted to slide into her slowly. We were eye fucking something serious until Keke hollered, “Yunique! Throw the damn flowers!”

A smirk made its way to my lips as I noticed both Sasha and Char standing there with their hands on their hips. Yunique grinned then tossed the bouquet and immediately came to me, falling in my arms. It was at this moment that I realized I didn’t need to tell her a thing. I could say that I didn’t know she was even connected to Yonkers or that she knew who Mo was. The only way I would know was if Jungle or Vegas told me.

However, Vegas didn’t even realize Mo was my father, so he would be off the hook too. Why would that even come up? If she asked about my parents, I would just tell her they were both deceased. That wouldn’t be a lie. Maybe that would soften the blow.No, it wouldn’t.Yunique was too smart for that shit. She would put two and two together and know that we knew everything before this moment.

I couldn’t think about that shit right now though. All I could focus on right now was that this beautiful, educated, and intelligent woman was feeling me as much as I was feeling her.I kissed her head as I held her close, hoping this moment never had to end. This woman had me so fucking soft, and nothing about that felt weird to me.

The DJ spun the next track, and I assumed it was our first dance, because Yunique straightened up and stared into my eyes. Char walked by us brandishing the bouquet in the air as Sasha slowly shook her head. I grinned at their foolishness then gave my attention back to my wife. She slid her arms around my neck and mouthed the words when Kehlani started to sing.

I could feel the goosebumps popping up on my skin. A chill went up my spine, and my dick decided to show himself again. I pulled her closer and laid my lips on hers. This shit had to work, because I would wrestle with God for her. Like Jacob, I wouldn’t let go until He blessed me. She was the one… the only one. If I didn’t have her, I wouldn’t have anybody.

I separated our kiss and stared into her eyes as I listened to the man in the song sing. I spun her around, circling my arms around her waist. I leaned over and kissed her neck as I heard the man say in the song,“Tryna fuck my soulmate tonight.”

He had that shit right. Those were my exact sentiments. I wanted to take her into one of these rooms and get at her now. No one else here mattered. When the song ended, she slowly pulled away from me and turned to face me. Her hands went to my cheeks, and she stared at me so damn lovingly. The crowd applauded, but that shit died down as soon as Uncle Luke’s “Scarred” came on.

It was the same song she practically fucked me in the club to. She fell out laughing then started grinding on me, similar to the way she did in the club. She turned her back to me and started twerking as her sisters made their way to the dance floor with her. They started doing something to her dress, and when I saw all that poofy shit come off, I grabbed her by her hips and grinded my dick into her ass.

Everybody was on the floor, and our reception had turned into a club scene. Before I knew it, I was sweating big lumps, and so was she, but we were having a good time. When the song went off, Char came to both of us and patted our faces dry. She fixed Yunique’s hair that had come loose at the top then kissed her cheek.

“I hope to see y’all in Houston so we can establish a sisterhood.”

Yunique smiled big and said, “Thank you so much, Charmaine.”

She walked off, and someone from the Arranged Hearts staff led us to our table to eat. We were having some soul food shit and seafood for the people that didn’t eat beef and pork. I was ready to tear those black-eyed peas up. After helping Yunique sit, I pushed her chair in then sat next to her and grabbed her hand.

She stared at me and smiled so big. I couldn’t help but reciprocate it. She leaned over to me, and I kissed her lips. “Harlem, this is the happiest day of my life. I really don’t want it to end.”

“It doesn’t have to. For every day of our lives, I plan to make you the happiest woman on earth.”

I kissed her hand as they set our plates of food in front of us. She quickly released my hand as she eyed her plate. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Nigga, I ain’t ate today at all. My nerves had my stomach paralyzed, but that bitch is cutting flips now.”

I laughed as I picked up her fork. She stared at me as I scooped up some cabbage to feed her. She pulled it off the fork as I said, “I’m here to cater to you always, baby. Damn. I still can’t believe we ended up here, especially after our second meeting when you shot me down.”

She smiled as she chewed her food. Once she swallowed, she said, “Honestly, I was feeling you in my office. Of course, I surely couldn’t express that while I was on the clock. However, I had a nightmare that night about some shit that happened when I was a kid, so I figured I couldn’t handle a street nigga. I’ve been around enough of them to know. My daddy was one.”

I caressed her cheek with my thumb, thankful she was able to get past that. “So what changed? Are you still having nightmares?”

“No. It was just that initial meeting. I don’t know why it happened. It’s like I equate street with dangerous, especially when I don’t know you. While I know I still have so much to get to know about you, I’m familiar now.”

I nodded, hating that I had triggered her memories of the abuse she witnessed. Knowing my father was the reason she even had triggers bothered me. Changing the direction of the conversation, I said, “Well, after we eat, you know we have to get out of here so we can get our luggage and catch our flight.”

“I know. I’m so excited. So let’s feed ourselves so we can hurry.”

I chuckled and went to my food. As I ate, I could see Jungle staring at us. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he nodded. I did the same.

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