Page 63 of A Taste of Grace

“It was perfect. You’re perfect.” I corrected myself. “With your freaky self.”

“Wait till I get to my house. I have lots of surprises in store for you,husband.”

“Okay,wifey. Let’s go.”

We cleaned ourselves and packed everything we needed for our honeymoon.

On the way to Grace’s house, I periodically stared at her out of my peripheral vision. The way she threw her tail back in my bedroom had me wondering about her past relationships. She responded like a woman who had lots of sex and liked it. Because of her introverted nature, I had assumed she was more innocent than what I witnessed at my house.

“Uh, Grace?” I stroked my chin, trying to form words that wouldn’t sound disrespectful.

“Yes?” She rested her hand on my thigh and smiled at me, her dimples showing.

“Where did you…um…learn to please a man so thoroughly?”

Grace removed her hand and stared at me hard before tilting her head back and laughing too loudly for my taste.

“I’m forty years old. I had a life before I met you, Holy Hoe.”

I knew she was teasing me, but I didn’t like thinking her sexual past might be spotty like mine.

“I know that, but you really took control of the situation back there. I wasn’t expecting all that technique and enthusiasm.”

“You wanted me to be limp like a rag doll?”

“No. That’s not what I meant.”

She placed her hands in her lap and took a big breath.

“I was a high-end escort to rich guys in college. That’s why I’m okay with you paying me to be your wife. It’s actually lower pay than I’m used to, but since I like Hannah and Esther so much, I settled for your price.”

“What the fuck?” I shouted and swerved slightly.

Grace reached toward the wheel, her eyes wide.

“Be careful. I’m kidding. Control your mouth, Pastor.”

I clung to the steering wheel and kept my eyes on the road, ticked off that Grace thought joking about promiscuity and prostitution was funny.

“Seriously, I had an older lover in graduate school who allowed me to enjoy sex. I’m happy to share what I know and like with you. It’s also good material for the novels I ghostwrite. There’s no need to be jealous.”

I poked my lips out.

“I’m not jealous.”

But my ego was bruised. I didn’t like the idea of Grace sharing herself like that with another man, even if it was years ago. She was mine now.

“You had an entire wife before me. How are you upset with me when you created two lives with another woman? If I hadn’t come along, you’d still be with her. Their mother isn’t dead. Y’all have pregnancy memories. I only had sex.” Grace frowned as I tried to get over my feelings.

I couldn’t believe we hadn’t been married a full day before our first fight, which was about sex of all things. Instead of enjoying my wife’s enthusiasm during our lovemaking, I critiqued her. I was insecure, jealous, and not grateful for the gift God gave me. I reached for Grace’s thigh and squeezed it.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, holding back a smile.

“I’ll think about it.”

I nodded and resumed the drive toward our honeymoon location, determined to receive and give whatever Grace offered from now on with an open mind and heart.

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