The Marriage That Didn't Stay in Vegas (BWWM Romance) (6 page)

              “Phoebe, James would like for you to come to his office.”

              “I’m kind of in the middle of something. Could you ask him if --”

              “Tell her to get in here now!” I heard him yelling from his office through the receiver.

              “I’m on my way.” I got up and went down the hall to his office. 

              Everyone watched me as I walked into the heart of the firm.  Caress gave me a small smile and I returned it. 

              I knocked. He gave the “You may enter” look.

              I sat down right across from him.  He was on the phone, talking. I kept my head to the floor.  He tossed an envelope in front of me so I opened it.  I slid the contents out and gasped at what I saw.  Xavier had signed the divorce papers and had given me my ring back.  I felt the tears welling up. I knew I couldn’t make it without crying in front of Uncle James.  I straightened the divorce papers and placed them on top of the envelope.  Then, I placed the ring in the center of the divorce papers.  I made sure everything was straight and neat before I got up to walk to the door. 

              “Hold on a sec, John. Come back here!” he called out to me.

              “I need to use the restroom,” I told him without turning around.

              He didn’t try to stop me.

              I walked to the bathroom. I shut and locked the main door as soon as I was inside.  I didn’t want anybody in here for this show. After a few minutes, there was a knock, and I knew it was Caress.  I scrubbed my face and dried it well.  I opened the door and she stood back so I could come out.  

              “James had a meeting across town, so he won’t be back for the rest of the day.”

              I nodded and did my best not to sniffle.

              “Go home, and we’ll see you tomorrow.” 

              I left the office and went straight home to bed.  Mr. Luther's wish came true: I did cry myself to sleep every single night. Getting out of my bed was getting hard and harder. 

              The next few months were terrible and seemed to drag by.  We celebrated me passing the bar, me winning my first case, and my birthday.  A few co-workers and college friends came to celebrate with me.  Mom, Dad, Caress, Uncle James, Addison, and Daphne were the ones who planned the festivities.  We had half of the restaurant reserved for our party. 

              Caress and I went to the bathroom together.  At the bathroom sink, we laughed and poked fun about who was drunker.  Someone walked in the bathroom and we tried to keep our voices down to a minimum.

              “Well hello, Mrs. Luther.”

              Caress and I both turned to see who had called me that. 

              Mini and Xyliar stood by the bathroom door. I yanked a few paper towels out of the dispenser and tugged for Caress to come with me.  I walked past them. Caress stared at me as I tugged her away with me. 

              “Phoebe,” Caress uttered.

              “Shhhh.”

              “Phoebe!” she yanked at me, and I finally looked at her.

              “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just go!”

              “Well, you better get ready to talk about it.” I followed her frightened eyes and they were glued to our table. 

              I noticed the people standing up around it and then, I saw him.  He was standing toe to toe with Uncle James and my father.  The restaurant was so noisy that no one could hear them, but if you were looking at them, you could see the tension in their bodies.  We slowly walked over to the table and when I got within earshot, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. 

              “You were just a toy to her and she’s done playing with you.  Why don’t you stay in the toy chest like a good little puppet?” Uncle James spat.

              Xavier pushed Uncle James. He lost his balance a little, falling back and bumping into the table hard; a few glasses clinked and broke from the jolt.  Now everyone in the restaurant was looking at our scene.

              I stepped over in front of Uncle James while he collected himself.  I glared at him and his eyes looked as if they lost their fight.  My dad stared at me with confusion and shook his head at Uncle James.  Mom stood to her feet and told Dad she was ready to go.  Dad moved over towards her quickly while they both stared at me.

              “I’m sorry,” I told them both with glossy eyes.

              “I can’t believe you would hide this from us, Phoebe,” my mother told me with a hurt face.

              “It’s extremely complicated.”

              “Did you need money that badly? It couldn’t have been love; you don’t even love yourself,” Dad said. 

              I stood there, looking at them and then, I stepped back so they could pass through. 

              “I’ll take care of the bill,” Uncle James said as he chugged down the rest of his drink. He straightened his suit coat and walked away from the table. 

              I looked over at the rest of the party still sitting there in shock. I had to say something.
Quick, anything to fill up this thick air,
I thought to myself.

              “Thank you all so much for coming out to celebrate my birthday with me.  My apologies for the confusion and for the embarrassment of knowing me,” I said with tears streaming my face. 

              Addison and Daphne stood. They both looked as though they would fight a war for me.  I shook my head at the both of them.  I had squeezed Caress' hand before I grabbed my clutch bag from the table. 

              I turned, passing the Luther men and women. Xavier just stood there staring at me as I walked passed him. I went out of the front door and did not look back. I was waiting for a cab when I heard the front door of the restaurant open.  A cab stopped and I climbed in and gave the driver my address.  I threw my head back against the seat.  I knew it would take at least thirty-five minutes to get home.  I powered my phone off, knowing it was going to be ringing all night, and let myself lose consciousness.  When I got home, I got straight into the shower then collapsed in bed. 

              I woke with a jolt when the doorbell buzzed. I heard the buzzer again and looked over at the clock. It was a little after midnight.  I got up, checked the street, and saw a cab out front. 

              “Yes?” I spoke into the box.

              “May I come up?” he asked me in that honey voice. 

              I pressed the buzzer.  I unlocked the door and went back to the window. The cab was driving away. 

              He walked through the door and I stepped into his view. 

              “What are you doing here?” I barked.

              He walked to me after he shut and locked the door behind him.  He pulled me to him, and I surrendered my whole body and soul to him just like that.

              “Xavier,” I breathed as he traced little kisses down my throat. 

              I couldn’t keep still with him distracting me like this. He pulled back to the window seat and sat down, pulling me over the top of him.  He had changed from his suit and was now wearing a fitting tee with loose jeans. His biceps ate through his shirt. I wrapped my hands around his big, cut arms. 

              “Xavier,” I breathed as he slid his hands under my sleep tee.

              “Did you miss me?”

              I nodded, not able to speak. I yanked one of his hands and forced it down below.

              “Mmm,” he moaned.

              “Take me,” I begged him. 

              He put his lips on mine and I took over with a force that had him nearly breathless.

              “Slow down, Mrs. Luther.”

              I pulled back and stared at him. “Say it again,” I moaned.

              “Mrs. Luther,” he said, pushing my panties to the side, sliding two of his fingers in me.

              “Oh God, again!”

              “Mrs. Luther.”

              “Don’t stop!”
              “Mrs. Luther.”

              “I want you, X.”

              “I’m right here.”

              “You’re not close enough… Get inside me.”

              “No.”

              “Why not?”

              “We're not ready for that yet.”

              “What?! Xavier, you have three full fingers in me. What are you talking about?”

              “Shhhh.”

              “Fuck this,” I said.

              “Do you want me to stop?”

              Just then, he rolled his thumb across my pulsating knot. My eyes rolled back to the back of my head.

              “Do you?”

              "Uhmmupha,” was all I could mumble out.

              He stood and laid me on my back on the window seat on top of the cushion.

              “No, no don’t stop,” I told him frantically.

              “Shhhh.” He bent down and started his liquid late night snack.

              “Oh God, yes!” I arched my back and pumped myself towards his mouth.                He wrapped his arms around my waist and really got into it. 

              “Xavier!” I said a little too loudly. 

              I scared myself with my reaction.  I put both hands on the back of his head and forced him to stay.  He dropped to his knees, growled, and slurped me up.  He stayed down there until I came twice.  My legs shook and they felt like gelatin.  I stayed lying down on the window seat too afraid to move.  He wiped his mouth and stood. He looked around, taking my condo all in.        

              “It’s a lot smaller than your palace, but I like it,” I told him half-heartedly.                He looked at all the framed art and looked over every piece of décor I had. 

              “Would you like something to drink? I have water, juice, beer, vodka, wine, and a bottle of champagne…”

              He just shook his head and continued to look over the place.  I had a two-bed, two-bath condo; there wasn’t a lot to see here, but he seemed fascinated. 

              “Where’s Meow Meow?”

              Hearing his thick, honeyed voice made my mouth water.

              “She passed away four months ago,” I told him, not meeting his eyes.

              “I’m sorry.”

              “So, when you said all I had was my cat, well, I don’t even have her now.” I gave him a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.  

              He came and sat down next to me.  “Do you want a divorce?”

              “What kind of marriage do we have?  We haven’t seen each other in four months.”

              “We can have whatever kind of marriage you want to have.  But, do you want to divorce me?”

              “I don’t know.”

              That was the honest truth. I had no idea if I wanted to divorce him or not. 

              “Would you do me one last favor?”

              I looked at him, not budging. 

              “I want to give you a million dollars and I want you to quit or take a long leave of absent from the firm.  I want you to do whatever you want to do with the money.  Go wherever you want to go and be whoever you want to be.  Once you’re done, I want you to call me and let me know if you want to divorce me or not.  If you want this divorce, I will give it to you.  But, to be perfectly honest with you, Phoebe, I don’t think you really know what you want.”              
              “Xavier, what do you want?”

              “I want you, but I want you to want me, too.”

              “I do.”

              “Not the way I need you to.”

              We sat there in silence, both of us looking out the window. 

              “Do you have a passport?” he asked.

              “Yes.”

              He touched the side of my face. “I’m sorry for the scene at the restaurant, but you just act as if I never even existed.”

              “It's okay… I think about you all the time. I couldn’t stomach turning the divorce papers in. They’re in my bank safe,” I told him.

              Xavier nodded.

              I really didn’t hold any grudge against him.  I understood his pain and I understood his reactions.   

              “You look just like your mom.”

              I nodded. “Can I sleep next to you?”

              “Yes.” He gave me his hand.

              I guided him behind the French doors and into my bedroom.  I lay down and he slid in behind me.  I pressed my butt up against him and his not-so-little morsel. 

              “Don’t,” he warned. 

              I rubbed up against him harder and he moaned.  “X, it’s been so long.”