Page 57 of Tarek

She presses her hand against her chest. “Bets.”

“At least, you were pregnant before everything. I know for sure the child in your belly is mine,” I reply. No feeling of hurt or regret hits me. I am numb.

“You bet on me?” Her lips tremble.

“No, I heard about the bet at its end. After Aaron fucked you, he gloated actually,” I look down at my hands still seeing the faint bruises from hitting Aaron’s face for fucking my wife.

Ilyana stood still as she takes in the news, her hand resting on her belly.

“Dereck, I didn’t mean to, it just?—”

Raising my hand I stop her mid explanation. “I would advise you to stay away from Henry and Aaron. But I doubt you will. It doesn’t matter any way.”

Her lips tighten, and she lifts her chin. “It doesn’t matter. I matter Dereck. I fucking matter. I’m your wife.”

I smile at the way she says the word wife. Not with love but venom and hate.

“It’s a decision I will regret for the rest of my life Ilyana.”

Tears of anger spill down her cheeks as she reaches for me. Her fingers are clawing, her nails are digging hard and desperate into my chest. “I just want you to want me, the way you want her.”

My gaze searches her face for anything that would make my heartbeat faster. To make the air around me still. Nothing.

“Maybe if you didn’t deceive me, maybe if you didn’t hang that threat over my head…”

She reaches for my shoulder, her voice trembles. “I’m sorry. Please Dereck….”

I pull away from her grasp, my tone is icy. “Be warned, you do anything to hurt my child, and I promise…I will hurt you in return.”

Her breathing is shallow as she wipes away her tears. “Of course. But Dereck.”

“Leave, Ilyana. I don’t need to see you till my child is born.” I don’t wait for her response, I turn my back to her, listening to her hurried steps exit the library.

* * *

PENNY

It was fun shopping with Zeeta. Today we got the “fuck me dress” that we were looking for. We talked about my new situationship with Tarek, and I did mention that Tarek was good in bed. But I couldn’t tell her exactly how good he was. After our mini exhibition show downstairs, I still can’t believe we had sex while some people watched. When he said focus on me, I felt like my brain did a factory reset. And while I was still processing all that happened, he picked me up in his arms like I weighed a feather. No struggle, no ‘god girl you’re too big’. Nothing of the sort. He wrapped his jacket around my waist and lifted my chubby ass up.

“Tuck your head in my neck,” he whispered softly. Naturally I was obliged. Nestling my head in the crook of his neck and closing my eyes. Even now I can vividly recall his scent–invigorating and fresh like a cool summer’s breeze. In that moment I felt delicate and protected. It’s a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a long time.

When we made it up to his room, dear god. I never had anyone act like they wanted me that much. It’s a beautiful thing to be wanted. Each touch, each nibble, made me feel sexy. It was like he couldn’t get enough of me. The things he did to me, if another man did it, I would feel sick, but with him, it felt sinful but right. I can still feel it, the way we came together and …oh god after.

“Squeeze it out let me see my cum leak out of you,” that’s what he said. God have mercy. The way he licked, sucked and worshipped me until I was coming again and again, gasping his name. And when he kissed me after, tasting both of us on his lips, it should make me want to pull away. With anyone else, I would have. Hell, I would have thrown up. But with Tarek? With Tarek, it was the most erotic thing I ever did.

“Dear Lord, have mercy,” I utter, not realizing that I am rocking in excitement and slightly bump the old man in the line in front of me.

“Are you okay, child?” he asked.

I put my hands out to steady him. “I am so sorry. Did I hurt you?”

An old black man turned to glance at me. He looks down at me with his soft dark eyes. “You’re a little woman. No, you didn’t hurt me. But if I don’t reach the front of this line to get my coffee, I may hurt someone.”

I nod. “We are almost there. Screaming Bean has that effect on all of us. We aren’t leaving till we get our coffee.”

He raises his fist in the air like he has been doing that for years. “We stand strong.”

I laugh and follow. “We stand strong for coffee, and we are never leaving.”

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