Page 83 of Essence of his Soul

“Aaah!” Mark was sinking fast and furious beneath thesensation of my mouth. Power rushed and churned inside him. His hands fisted in the sheets. I tasted and felt him on the verge of losing control. He grabbed my arms and dragged me on top of him.

“You need to do something about this,” he growled,“Now.”

“I thought I was.” I smiled as I rolled on a condom and then straddled his hips. He didn’t give me a second to breathe, pushing into me and bucking. I laughed and spread my hands over his chest, riding him, rocking hard, and watching his face. He rose up, pulling my legs around him, then quickened our motion. Gazes met and locked as our bodies beat a frantic rhythm. Sweat trickled, damp flesh melted. I gripped his shoulders while he pumped his hips.

“You are so hot,” he said against my mouth.

“And you feel good,” I moaned and then told him what his touch did to me, what he felt like inside me, thick and pulsing. Mark tossed me on my back and thrust harder and faster as I begged for more.

“Essence,” Mark chanted over and over. Then we both came; glorious spasms roared through us, leaving our pulses pounding.

Sapped of energy, Mark shifted to his side and collapsed.

* * *

The morning kicked off with us grabbing breakfast at Capriccio’s Café. It was one of those spots that still had holiday wreaths hanging in the windows, twinkling lights strung up around the counter, and the smell of cinnamon in the air. Essence had picked it out, and I couldn’t have chosen better. It was cozy, laid-back, the kind of place where you could enjoy a slow morning. The coffee was on point, and the breakfast sandwiches hit the spot. Essence was all smiles, looking relaxed like she was vibing with everything around us. I loved seeing her like that—just living in the moment.

Later in the day, we hit up this African American museum, and that place had a different kind of energy. The halls were still decorated with red, green, and black ribbons, and there were Kwanzaa displays mixed in with the art. The museum was about the culture—fine art, memorabilia, stories about family life, and the Civil Rights movement. The best part? We caught a tribal folk dance performance. Essence was all in, her eyes glued to the dancers, taking in every move. Seeing her like that, so connected, it did something to me. She was glowing, and it wasn’t just the lights from the holiday decorations hanging in the lobby.

After that, we made our way to Philadelphia Mall. The place still had holiday vibes going strong. There were giant candy canes, oversized ornaments hanging from the ceiling, and Christmas music playing in the background. We wandered in and out of stores, checking out sales, talking, and enjoying the day. But I had a plan, and it wasn’t just about window shopping. I led her into every jewelry store we passed, determined to findthering.

When I pointed out that two-carat diamond solitaire surrounded by rubies, I saw reality hit her. She tried it on, and I knew the second it slid onto her finger. The sparkle in her eyes matched that ring perfectly. No hesitation, no second guessing—I bought it right then and there. And while they sized it, we celebrated with food. The lights from the restaurant’s Christmas tree reflected off the glasses as we toasted to our future. I couldn’t help but feel like everything was falling into place.

By the time we got back to the hotel. It was after eight, and we were weighed down with shopping bags, but I could only focus on the diamond sparkling on Essence’s finger. We were stepping into something new, something real. I suggested we celebrate in the Jacuzzi, and she was all for it.

“You sure you like it?” I asked, catching her staring down ather hand again. The holiday lights from the window reflected off that diamond, making it shine even more.

“I love it,” she said, her voice soft but steady.

I poured us both a glass of champagne, raising mine to her. “Here’s to a lifetime of happiness.”

She blushed, her eyes dipping down as I leaned in and kissed her. It was soft at first, but then I let her feel what I was really thinking. This was it for me. Seeing her reaction, I knew she felt the same.

We settled into the warm water, the bubbles swirling around us, and she sipped her champagne. “So, what’s it like being an officer’s wife?”

I couldn’t help but tease her a little. “It’s like being a doctor’s wife—dress up for fancy events, keep your man satisfied.” I wiggled my eyebrows, making her laugh and swat at me.

“Be serious, Mark,” she said, but I could tell she was still enjoying it. “I want to know what military life is really like.”

I leaned back, getting comfortable. “Well, for starters, we’ll live on post.”

“Wait, I thought it was called a base?”

“Nah, that’s the Air Force. Army calls it a post.”

She nodded, taking it all in. “Okay, I didn’t know that. What else?”

“You’ll do your grocery shopping at the commissary.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why not just go to a regular grocery store?”

I chuckled, running a finger down her nose. “You can, but once you see the prices at the commissary, you won’t want to shop anywhere else.”

She nodded again, and I could see she was thinking this through. “Sounds like the base is its own little world.”

“Exactly. It’s a little city—movie theaters, gyms, drugstores, department stores—everything’s right there.”

Her smile lit up her whole face. “Have you thought of a date?” she asked, her voice soft but full of hope.

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