Читать книгу Karma Kameleon - Stephanie Haefner - Страница 10

Chapter 6

It took me hours to fall asleep, and when I did, morning came way too soon. It was just before eight when Preston started chatting up Mr. Penguin in his crib. Since he wasn’t screaming to get out, I tended to myself first. I used the bathroom and the bleeding had almost stopped. When would this thing be over?

After a diaper change and a new outfit, since his diaper had leaked overnight, I placed Preston in his high chair and grabbed a loaf of bread. Rich was still asleep, and why wouldn’t he be? He’d slept in his own bed and it was Sunday. He had no reason to be awake and without the baby monitor squawking in his ear, there would have been no noise distractions to rouse him.

Now, that wasn’t fair. I couldn’t help it. He still had me pissed off.

I opened a cupboard door, for no apparent reason, and slammed it shut. After taking two slices of bread from the bag, I put them in the toaster slots and pressed the lever as hard as I could. Unfortunately, it made no significant noise. But I needed a plate for Preston’s toast, so again opened and slammed the cupboard door. Then I needed a butter knife–opened and slammed that drawer, too.

What a little bitch I was.

But none of it woke him. Truth was, I hated fighting with him and hoped he’d just get out here so we could hash it out and kiss and make up.

It was almost nine by the time Preston had finished his jelly toast and cantaloupe. I cleaned him and set him in his play yard. Right away he grabbed the musical light-up guitar Rich had picked as a Christmas gift. The thing kept him enchanted for at least ten minutes.

I walked to the bedroom, expecting to find Rich’s body under the comforter, still miles away in dreamland. But when I got there, the room was empty and the bed even made. I checked the bathroom–nothing. Back in the kitchen, I scoured the counters for a note or something that had gone unnoticed. Nope again.

He’d left without a word? Not a way to get back into my good graces.

Alone on a Sunday morning and clueless on what to do. Marcus and Kevin were bound to be home soon. Weather was supposed to be nice. Maybe we could go for a picnic or something. And if Rich missed it, oh well.

Preston played contently, so I tried my hand at something domestic. I dusted the living room and vacuumed the kitchen with one of those rechargeable sweeper thingies. Next I wiped down the countertops and began washing the few dishes in the sink. As I rinsed Preston’s sippy cup, the front door opened. I knew it was Rich by the crash of keys on the foyer table. Marcus and Kevin always hung theirs on the hook. I kept my eyes on the dishes in the sink. No way would I give him the satisfaction of running and asking where he had been.

He walked into the kitchen and I ignored him. Until he came up behind me and kissed a trail down the side of my neck.

I sighed and used every ounce of restraint I had to stop myself from spinning around and pulling him to me.

“I could hardly sleep last night. By seven o’clock, my eyes were wide open, so I went for a run. I never sleep good without you in my arms.”

His hands curled around my waist.

“You should have thought of that when you were rejecting me.”

“I wasn’t rejecting you.”

The anger bubbled up and I turned to him. “Then what the hell do you call pushing me away when I wanted to make love to you? No guy does that–ever.”

“Not again,” he mumbled and rolled his eyes.

“Yes, again. Until you give me an answer.”

“I told you. I didn’t want to. Why isn’t that good enough?”

“’Cause you’re a fucking liar.”

“I’m not lying. Please just–”

“Good Morning!” Marcus and Kevin burst into the apartment. Apparently their night had gone well.

Kevin bee-lined toward us, left hand outstretched. “Look, look, look!” He wiggled his fingers.

I smiled, putting my argument with Rich on hold. “You said ‘yes?’”

“I said ‘Yes,’” he screamed and pulled me and Rich to him in a group hug.

When we pulled apart, Rich gave Marcus a handshake. “Congratulations.”

Kevin stayed with me and pulled me to him again. “We’re gonna be brides together!” He quickly pulled away. “Or would I still be a groom? Marcus did the asking, so that makes me the bride, though, right? Oh, I don’t care. I’m getting married!” He hugged me again.

I let go and moved on to Marcus–my best friend since forever–and hugged him close. When we pulled apart, his smile beamed across his face.

“Were ya nervous?”

“Almost as much as the day I told you I was gay.”

I glanced back to Kevin, who was showing his engagement ring to Rich. “I don’t think you had anything to worry about.”

“I barely got on my knee before he screamed ‘Yes.’”

Kevin walked over to me and Marcus. “Let’s celebrate.”

“I think we celebrated enough last night, don’t you think?” Marcus said with a wink.

“Oh, yes.” Kevin smiled, eyes turning devilish. “I’m still a little sore.”

“TMI,” I yelled and covered my ears.

They laughed.

“We did a family brunch to celebrate your engagement,” Kevin said, turning to me and Rich. “Let’s do something different. Everyone go get ready.”

Marcus took Preston, and Rich and I headed to our room. Once the door was closed, I turned to Rich. “Let’s enjoy the day and finish our argument later.”

“No,” he said and stepped to me. He took my hand and brought it to his lips. “I don’t want to argue with you later. Can you please let it go?”

I didn’t want to fight anymore, either. “Okay.”

As he leaned down and kissed me, my anger and frustration melted away.

* * * *

An hour later, we had picked up a picnic lunch from the deli and were in a carriage riding through Central Park. It was a tad on the cliche side, but seemed like the perfect way to celebrate an engagement. The sun shone down on us through leafy tree branches, warming our skin. And warming our insides was the champagne Marcus had popped once we were on our way.

I snuggled against Rich, watching Kevin and Marcus. Preston sat on Kevin’s lap as he talked to him about the horse. He seemed very intrigued, for a one-year-old. Marcus beamed with overflowing pride, watching his son and his lover–his fiance. What might be a weird family unit to some, was perfect for us.

“So, Lexi,” Kevin started. “Have you guys talked wedding dates yet? ’Cause you know yours and ours can’t be too close together.”

“Um, no. But we want to keep it as simple as my mother will allow. I managed to talk her out of an engagement party, so that probably means the wedding won’t be quite as low key as we’d hoped. But soon…don’t want to wait real long.”

“We want to get married soon, too. No point in putting it off. We were thinking October. Love the fall foliage.”

“Oh, yeah. That will be beautiful.” I thought of a possible date for Rich and me and turned to him. “I don’t think we want a winter wedding, right?”

He shook his head.

“I guess that pushes us to spring. Wow. Almost a year away. I didn’t really want to wait that long.”

Silence surrounded us, only the chirp of birds above and a dog barking in the distance.

“I got it,” Kevin said, his eyes so full of cheer they might pop out. “A double wedding!”

“What?” the rest of us questioned in unison.

“It’s the perfect solution. We’ll be inviting virtually the same people to both weddings, right? Give or take a few family members and friends. And this way, we can all be married in the time frame we want without having two separate weddings so close together. It’s perfect.”

He had some valid points. But we already shared everything–a home, a child, almost every meal. Did we want to share this too?

“Um, I don’t know.”

“Lexi, it would be fabulous. We have to do it.”

I turned to Rich. “You wouldn’t want to do it, would you?”

“I don’t care. I told you, City Hall is fine with me. As long as it’s not crazy and out of control, I’m in.”

I hadn’t expected Rich to be so agreeable. But it would make the whole thing pretty convenient.

“Come on. Say yes,” Kevin begged.

“Marcus, what do you think?”

“I agree with Kevin. Both weddings would have a lot of the same guests. Seems silly to make them come to two separate events.”

“Well…okay then. I guess it’s unanimous. Double wedding it is.”

Kevin clapped. “Yay!”

“The only problem now…” I told him. “Is breaking the news to my mother.”

“Oh, you let me handle her.”

* * * *

“Are you sure you’re okay with this double wedding thing?” I asked Rich as we climbed into bed.

“Yeah. It solves a lot of problems. Plus, we can share the expenses too.”

“Money isn’t an issue. My parents paid for Abby’s entire wedding. And since my mother will insist on planning a fancy shindig, they can pitch in for it, too.”

“I wouldn’t feel right. And my salary isn’t good enough to give you the wedding you deserve.” He reached over and turned off the night-stand lamp. “This way we can do something really nice and only have to pay half the cost.”

“You know I don’t care about the fluff. I just want to be your wife.” I crawled to him and kissed him. “Sure you don’t care about sharing the spotlight with a gay couple?”

“Nope. Not at all.”

I sat up and pulled my nightgown over my head, then pressed my naked body to his bare chest. I kissed him again and started to gyrate on him, an instant rush of moisture between my thighs.

Rich held me tight and kissed me back, his mouth devouring me the way I needed. He hardened beneath me, only a pair of cotton boxer briefs blocking us from satisfaction. I reached my hand down and yanked at the elastic waist band, until he stopped me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, moving my lips to his neck and earlobe.

“We can’t.”

Not this again. “Are you serious?

“Yes, Lexi. I am.” He pushed me off him.

“This is fucking ridiculous.”

“Please don’t be mad.”

We lay there on our backs and I tried to calm myself down. After a few deep breaths, I turned to face him. “Will you please tell me why you won’t have sex with me?”

“I…I just don’t want to.”

What a stupid answer. “That’s it? That’s your reason?”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

“Well, it’s not all about what you want. We’re getting married in a few months. What about what I want…what I need? Did you ever stop to think maybe I need you to make love to me? To touch me and comfort me and remind me you love me and…” Why couldn’t I be tear-free for one freakin’ moment? “Maybe I need you to show me I’m not broken. Even though this horrible thing happened to us, I’m still…useful.”

Rich pulled me to him. “I love you so much. You have to know that. You are everything to me.”

I kissed him and my lips traveled to his ear. “Please make love to me.”

It took him a few seconds to give his answer. “I…I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Fine.” I pushed him away, using more force than I really meant to. But I was pissed. “If you won’t give me what I need, I’ll do it myself.

The full moon shone in through the window and I knew he had a full view of me. I lay back and spread my legs wide, put my finger to my clit and began rubbing.

“What are you doing?”

“Masturbating. What does it look like?”

“Stop…please?”

“No. I need this. And it feels too good to stop.”

A fresh flow of moisture came as I worked in tiny circles and big ones, soft moans escaping my lips.

“Come on. Why are you doing this?”

“Shut up. You’re ruining it.”

He turned his back to me and I kept on going, moving my fingers inside. God, it had been forever since I’d done this. Too bad I’d tossed all my vibrators.

I brought my fingers back to my clit again and gave no mind to my moans. I wanted Rich to hear me enjoying myself–all by myself. I wanted him to hear what he was missing. And when I came, I made sure he knew it.

It was all over and I felt no better than I had before. Shivering, I rolled over and pulled the sheet and comforter to my chin. Tears came to my eyes again, sobs catching in my throat. I couldn’t let him hear me cry.