Divine Intervention (12 page)
Read Divine Intervention Online
Authors: Lutishia Lovely
22
Meet Me at the Altar in Your White Dress
P
rincess was stunned, sure that she’d heard incorrectly. One thing was for sure: she was out of the eye of the hurricane and back into the straight-up storm! “Kelvin, you can’t be serious.”
rincess was stunned, sure that she’d heard incorrectly. One thing was for sure: she was out of the eye of the hurricane and back into the straight-up storm! “Kelvin, you can’t be serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life. I don’t want us in separate rooms when we get to LA. I not only want you, but I
need
you, Princess, by my side, in every way. If there’s one thing that’s come out of what happened to the rev, it’s that life is short. We can’t take it for granted that we’ll be here another day, another year. And I can’t take it for granted that you’ll be here either. I came this close to losing you, baby.” Kelvin placed his thumb and forefinger less than an inch apart to emphasize his point. “I don’t want to take that chance again.”
need
you, Princess, by my side, in every way. If there’s one thing that’s come out of what happened to the rev, it’s that life is short. We can’t take it for granted that we’ll be here another day, another year. And I can’t take it for granted that you’ll be here either. I came this close to losing you, baby.” Kelvin placed his thumb and forefinger less than an inch apart to emphasize his point. “I don’t want to take that chance again.”
An unexpected tear slid down Princess’s cheek, almost before she realized she was crying. “I can’t believe this is happening. Did you forget that barely twenty-four hours ago I was standing at the altar with another man? That if it hadn’t been for”—
divine intervention
—“your father’s illness I would be married to Rafael right now?”
divine intervention
—“your father’s illness I would be married to Rafael right now?”
“I’m remembering it all too well,” Kelvin responded, his rapidly blinking eyes suspiciously moist. “It’s how I know that I don’t want to spend another day without you being my wife.” When Princess turned to stare out the window, he continued. “Baby, please hear me out. I know that this feels sudden and crazy and unexpected. But is it really? When you look deep down in your heart, is there a place where this feels right and perfect and a long time in coming? Is there a part of you that knows that even as unorthodox as this all looks, it’s exactly what should be happening right now?”
Princess spoke barely above a whisper, still not looking away from the darkening sky with Sin City beckoning just beyond them. “Is this what you had in mind when you asked me to come with you? When you whisked me away without even a change of panties, telling me that you’d take care of everything?” She finally turned to look at him. “Is this the everything”—she used air quotes—“that you had in mind?”
Kelvin shook his head. “No. When I asked you to come with me to be with my dad, it was because I honestly wanted you beside me during this time. Then, when I was on my way to the airport, it hit me: why not take a little side trip that would keep you by my side forever? I know we love each other and even more than that, we have a special bond that can’t be denied. You’ve already done the whole big hoopla church thing, worn the gown, had the party.”
“Are you serious? You think what happened this weekend counts?”
Kelvin shrugged. “Doesn’t it?”
A heavy sigh was Princess’s answer.
“I thought we could do something nice and quiet, simple, no fuss. Then later, we can have a party and invite the world if you want. I’ll do whatever it takes, Princess. I just want you with me.”
Princess railed against her feelings, worked to stay connected with her head, not her heart. “What about our different beliefs?”
“I know what you’re trying to say . . . that we’d be unequally yoked.” Princess could not help but show her surprise. Kelvin chuckled. “Uh-huh, you didn’t believe me when I said I was listening to some of the religious yakety-yak. I know you think I’m a straight-up heathen, but I’m not. I believe in God, Princess. I just don’t believe that you have to go to church every Sunday and wear your Christianity on your sleeve or your face. Believe it or not, the rev has been schooling me about the Bible and whatnot.” Kelvin looked a bit sheepish as he added, “And whether or not you should become my wife.”
Princess crossed her arms, her face one of indignation. “So you didn’t have this planned but yet you’ve talked to your father about me.”
“Months ago, when I kept trying to reach you, kept hoping you would call. I told Dad how I felt about you, and that I wanted to marry you. That’s when he hipped me to the whole unequally yoked concept.”
“And you’re still here, popping the question? He must not have hipped you very well.”
“Ha! That’s just it, baby. He said that phrase don’t have anything to do with superficial qualities—liking the same food, or watching the same TV shows, or even attending the same church. He said the definition goes deeper, to a soul level. We both believe in God and at the end of the day, I believe we both want the same things: to be good people, raise a healthy, happy family, make a difference in the world.”
The wall around Princess’s heart began to descend, along with the plane. “What about your lifestyle, Kelvin? All of the women?”
“That comes with the life of a sports star, love. But we’ll deal with them together. Look, when I say ‘I do’ to you, it will be ‘I don’t’ for all them other clowns. I swear to God.”
“These words are coming from the single, healthy young man who earlier spoke of needs that are regularly getting met?” Princess’s face could have been in the dictionary, next to the word
skeptical
.
skeptical
.
“That’s just it. Even though I’m young, I’ve been in this game a minute. The novelty of pussy on a platter gets old after a while; strange how this and the variety can get overrated. I promise you,” he continued, softly. “It will just be you and me.”
The plane landed. The couple was driven down to the strip. And when they returned to the plane an hour later, it was Mr. and Mrs. Kelvin Petersen who entered.
23
Standing in the Need of Prayer
T
ai sat at the island of her spacious kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee flavored with Baileys Irish Cream. It was 10 a.m., and the house was quiet. King was up and out early, tying up last minute details at the church office before heading to Barbados, Michael hadn’t come in last night, Tabitha had spent the night with Mama Max, and Tai imagined that Timothy—known for playing on Xbox or Wii until the wee hours of the morning—was probably still in bed with his head buried under the covers. Tai rubbed her shoulders, making a mental note to schedule a massage. It had been a hectic few weeks, a draining weekend, and she’d been up late last night as well, talking to King, thinking about Princess, and praying for Derrick.
ai sat at the island of her spacious kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee flavored with Baileys Irish Cream. It was 10 a.m., and the house was quiet. King was up and out early, tying up last minute details at the church office before heading to Barbados, Michael hadn’t come in last night, Tabitha had spent the night with Mama Max, and Tai imagined that Timothy—known for playing on Xbox or Wii until the wee hours of the morning—was probably still in bed with his head buried under the covers. Tai rubbed her shoulders, making a mental note to schedule a massage. It had been a hectic few weeks, a draining weekend, and she’d been up late last night as well, talking to King, thinking about Princess, and praying for Derrick.
As if on cue the phone rang. Tai knew that it was Vivian, without even looking at the caller ID. “Good morning, sis.”
“Morning.”
“How are you doing, Viv? Any news?”
“I’m on my way to the hospital now for a meeting with Dr. Black. They conducted some preliminary tests last night. I think I’ll feel much better after talking to him.”
“How are D2 and Elisia handling everything?”
“They’re wearing stoic Stanford faces right now,” Vivian answered, referring to their grandfather, who one never saw sweat. “But I can tell they’re both shaken. Elisia asked if her father was going to die.” Vivian’s voice broke. “I barely held it together to give her an answer. Tai, I’ve prayed, I have faith, but I’m also frightened. If anything happened to Derrick . . .”
“Whatever happens, you’re in God’s hands. We just have to keep praying, believing, and speaking those things that are not, as though they are.” Tai’s conversation slid effortlessly into prayer. “God, by faith I’m thanking you that right now my friend Vivian’s husband and your beloved son Derrick Montgomery is healed, healthy, and happy.”
“Thank you, Lord.”
“I thank you for blessing him with a strong body, a sound mind, and a long life.”
“Yes, Father.”
“We call upon you to be Jehovah Rafa right now, Lord, the God who heals. We call upon and thank you for the ministering angels even right now surrounding his bed.”
“Thank you.”
“We thank you for working through Dr. Keith Black, Father, to help diagnose, treat, and cure whatever is ailing our brother.”
“Please, Jesus.”
Tai’s voice gained in intensity as she slid off the bar chair and began pacing the floor. “Father, we stretch our hands to Thee, no other help we know. If you withdraw yourself from me, oh wither would we go.”
“We need you, Lord.”
“You said we could ask you for anything, God, and that nothing would be impossible. You said that we could take a mustard seed of faith, Father, and move a mountain.”
“Yes!”
“You said that before we called your name, God, you would answer. And that while we were yet speaking . . . you would hear. You said that if two or three gathered together in your name that you would be in the midst of us. We’ve gathered by way of this phone call, Father, and we’re calling upon your name right now.”
“Hear us, Lord!”
“The devil comes to steal and destroy but you come that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.”
“Yes...”
“And so we thank you for the life of Derrick Montgomery, and that even now, by the stripes of Jesus Christ, he is healed!”
“Thank you, Jesus!”
Tai’s voice softened. “Now, Father God, I pray your blessings upon my sister Vivian and her and Derrick’s children, Elisia and Derrick Junior. Give them the strength to withstand the lies of the enemy, Father God, wisdom to navigate this treacherous journey, and peace in the middle of this storm. We stand on Your Word, believing that our prayer is already answered, and that it is so.”
“It
is
so!”
is
so!”
“Thy will
is
done!”
is
done!”
“It’s done right now!”
“In Jesus’s name . . .”
“Thank you, Tai,” Vivian whispered, after she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “I didn’t even know how much I needed that.”
“God did,” Tai answered, with a sniffle. “And like I told you yesterday, Viv, I and a bunch of other people are here for you. You can come out from behind that stoic Stanford face that you mentioned earlier. And let us help.”
“Okay.”
“I know you said otherwise, but I don’t have to wait for the diagnosis. I can come now if you need me.”
“Carla is a blessing. She came by last night. And the women of the church have rallied around me.”
“Girl, we all know that Carla Chapman is one praying woman! I’m sure it’s also helpful that Kelvin is there, especially for D2. Though you must have been shocked to see my daughter with him. I tried to phone and warn you, but couldn’t get through. Did she stay there or get a hotel room? I haven’t heard from her.”
A brief hesitation and then, “They’re staying at the Ritz, Tai, both Kelvin and Princess. He phoned late last night to say we’d see them in the morning.”
One second passed. Two. Five. “Kelvin and Princess are at a hotel, instead of your house? Ah, hell.”
“Now let’s not jump to conclusions, sistah. They could be in separate rooms.”
“Come on, Vivian. That’s like saying that cows can fly and we both know better than that.” Tai suddenly wished there was something stronger than coffee and Baileys in her cup. “I hope you have a few extra minutes before going to see Derrick . . . because now it’s me standing in the need of prayer!”
24
Sex Ain’t Better Than Love
P
rincess shifted and tried to rise. But Kelvin pulled her back against him. “I’ve got to use the bathroom,” she said.
rincess shifted and tried to rise. But Kelvin pulled her back against him. “I’ve got to use the bathroom,” she said.
“Hurry back,” he mumbled.
She did. And no sooner had her back hit the thousand-count sheet of the king-sized bed than Kelvin had his arms wrapped around her. It was almost as if he had to keep touching her to know that he wasn’t dreaming—that the woman he wanted was not only by his side and his bed, but was also his wife.
“I love you,” he said, lazily running his hand up her silky thigh and around to tweak her already hardening nipple. “I want you,” he whispered, pulling down the sheet to kiss her shoulder.
“Again?”
“Ha!”
After landing in Los Angeles around 7 p.m., Kelvin’s LA assistant met them at the airport and drove them directly to a boutique on Rodeo Drive. The owner was waiting in her custom Mercedes, along with her diamond-collared golden chow. An hour later, they left with everything that Princess would need, at least for the next few days: dresses, shoes, blouses, pants, underwear, jewelry . . . and a few negligees. While Princess shopped, the assistant went around the corner and secured a complete set of MAC makeup, a curling iron, and a variety of toiletries. And while Princess and the assistant were busy, Kelvin set up an appointment that would make his wife’s apparel complete.
They arrived at the hotel around nine, tired but giddy—a couple in love. As Mama Max would say, you couldn’t hit Kelvin in the butt with a shiny red apple. He was the proudest man in the room. After making her decision to say yes, Princess got out of her head, let her heart take over, and truly felt like a brand new bride! Later, she’d compare how she felt now to how she felt the day before she was to marry Rafael, and she’d be stunned. She would wonder how she’d ever thought that she’d been truly happy. And be even more grateful for God and His timing.
The Ritz-Carlton suite was perfect, filled with marble, mahogany, and panoramic views from their twenty-fifth floor window. They spent little time looking at the fifty-inch TV or sitting in the formal dining room. But they made full use of the luxury bath with rain showerhead, mounted body jets, and soaking tub. Princess relaxed her no drinking rule for the occasion and shared a bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil, which went perfectly with their elaborate room service choices: lobster-filled spring rolls, braised Kobe beef short ribs, and Alaskan king salmon. When the kitchen discovered who was in the suite and on what occasion, the executive chef appeared at their door. He explained that their meal and champagne were on the house, and offered them an elaborately decorated, absolutely decadent chocolate masterpiece that he’d whipped up just for them.
After that came the loving. And it looked as though Kelvin was nowhere near through.
“Baby, it’s been so long,” he murmured.
“We’ve been asleep for what—six, seven hours? It hasn’t been long enough.”
“I’m hungry.”
“Order room service.”
“What I want,” Kelvin eased a hand between Princess’s thighs, “is not on the menu.”
Princess couldn’t help but smile broadly as she turned to face her man. It had been almost four long, hard, sexless years where at times she thought she’d climb the walls with longing. She’d tried very hard to practice what she preached and was successful—for the most part. She hadn’t had intercourse, hadn’t fooled around. But God knew she’d be lying if there wasn’t a time or two that she’d pleasured herself just to take off the edge. Unlike a virgin, she’d known exactly what she was missing. Sex between her and Kelvin had always been amazing; their connection during times of intimacy went deeper than the act. With them, getting back in the groove was just like riding a bicycle—everything came back as if no time had passed. Only it was even better than before.
“So . . . it’s not on the menu, huh?” she asked, scooting closer and kissing Kelvin’s thick, bow-shaped lips.
“Not at all.” Kelvin deepened their kiss, even as he spread her legs with the hand that was between them, lazily and lightly running his middle finger between her slippery folds. She immediately got even wetter. He groaned, placing a finger inside her as he swirled his tongue around her mouth, reacquainting himself with every spot. Princess gasped, spreading her legs wider, running her hand up and down Kelvin’s broad, muscled back. She felt his rock hard dick brush against her thigh as he shifted, and ran his hand from her shoulder to her knee, gently caressing spots in between.
“Umm.” He left her mouth, kissed his way to her cheek and down to her neck, continuing on to her breasts, swirling his tongue around one nipple while using his fingers to rub the other one into a hardened pebble. Princess shivered from the assault, clutching the sheets when he continued lower still, swirling his tongue inside her navel, kissing the top of her bikini-waxed crotch, and each side of her thighs. Bypassing her paradise, he licked down the length of her thighs and back again, rubbing a sensitive area just behind her knee. He continued down to suckle a toe as his thumb sought and found her juicy button, flicking it and driving her into a frenzy; Kelvin was enjoying the mewling sounds coming from Princess, loving the feel of her flesh in his mouth.
I waited so long for this. You feel so good....
I waited so long for this. You feel so good....
Princess couldn’t think at all. Words pinged from one side of her brain to the other—random, spontaneous—a mental cacophony accompanying the physical aria that Kelvin so expertly played. Anticipation crawled up her leg along with Kelvin’s tongue, from her ankle to her calf to her knee to her thigh, licks in and around her sweetness and then . . . boo yow! He literally hit her spot, his tongue licking her pussy as though it was a gourmet ice cream cone, his fingers stroking her breasts to spread out the joy.
Please. Kelvin. I can’t wait much longer.
Please. Kelvin. I can’t wait much longer.
Even as a relatively inexperienced teen, Kelvin had known how to rock her world. Brothah man had picked up some tips along the way and now had her universe tilting on its axis. It was as though her snatch was gold, Kelvin’s tongue was a metal detector, and he was recreating the rush of 1848. He alternated between quick, tickling licks and long, purposeful swabs, causing Princess to scream so loud that she grabbed the pillow to stifle the intensity of her release. She shivered and shook and felt the power of Kelvin’s lovemaking down to her core. But Kelvin Petersen wasn’t finished. He was just getting started.
He kissed his way from her lower lips to her upper ones, barely giving her time to regain her senses before he joined them together in one, long, delicious plunge. Because of his size and the time she’d gone without sex, last night’s reinitiation had been slow and methodic. The three or four times after that made Princess Kelvin’s perfect fit. So this focused thrust was not only well-received, but Princess’s inner walls clutched their welcome, her sticky wet kiss sang his copulatory praises. “Um,” Kelvin moaned from a place deep in his soul, as he pulled out slowly, to the tip, and dove back in for a second helping of Princess’s paradise. Languidly, methodically, he stroked her; soulfully, skillfully, he held her tight. “I’m so glad you married me,” he whispered, letting his dick cosign on just how much. “I’m so glad you’re my Princess. I’m so glad you’re my wife.”
After her third orgasm, a sweaty, sated Princess climbed on top and led the dance. She shifted so that Kelvin could fill her fully, laughed as he watched their connecting with glazed-over eyes. Placing her hands on his strong, broad shoulders, Princess recreated the glide of a merry-go-round, riding Kelvin like a cowgirl who would have done Bill Pickett proud. But Kelvin couldn’t let her have all the fun. He once again switched positions, placing pillows under Princess’s hips before placing himself behind her. The friction created from how his “Lord have mercy” met her “thank you, Jesus,” caused them both to shout hallelujah in a lover’s tongue. Princess blew an orgasmic gasket and Kelvin exploded inside her. They flopped down on the mattress, totally satiated, totally spent.
“I love you, Mrs. Petersen,” Kelvin whispered as he wrapped a sheet around them.
“We have to go and see Uncle Derrick,” Princess replied, taking deep breaths to steady her breathing. “We promised your mom.”
“Okay, let me lie here for five, ten more minutes,” he said, pulling Princess flush against him and resting his head on her shoulder.
The newlyweds fell into a deep sleep. They didn’t wake up until noon. When they left the hotel a half hour later, their eyes were on each other. Which is why neither one of them saw that another pair of eyes was squarely on them.
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