chapter Eleven
It’s All Changing
Venncesso
Iwanted nothing more than to go down the hall and climb into bed for a few hours of sleep. Hell, it’s exactly what I should’ve done given the fact that Maria was so pissed off at me.
I knew she was aware that I was home. She’d walked passed the dining room and given me the evil eye, while I sat to eat alone. That’s fine. Maria and I, both understood what she was truly angry about.
There was nothing in the world I could do to right her truth. I wished I could’ve fixed things for everyone involved. I’m not a heartless bastard. Maria had always assumed there were other women.
I let her believe that. I wanted her to believe that. It was easier than knowing Lakeisha was and always would be the love of my life.
Lakeisha has always had a hold on me. Not because she’s the mother of my children. It started way before that. I couldn’t help the fate of our lives. Our story was one I couldn’t alter so easily.
I’ve been a magnet for the woman since I first laid eyes on her. It’s as simple as that. Victoria and Toni have only made my love for Lakeisha that much stronger.
So even though I knew I needed to tame my wife’s anger. My heart told me I needed to go sooth the soul of the woman I loved. She was hurting and I needed to do all I could to make that right.
I’ll deal with Maria’s wrath later. Besides, she couldn’t prove I didn’t have business to go tend to. It wasn’t uncommon.
I looked up at the stairs, one last time before walking out of the house. Everything was changing. My little girl wouldn’t be my little girl for long. For a man with so much power, I sure was feeling powerless.
~B~
Lakeisha
I’ve loved this man for as long as I can remember. I was my daughter’s age when I met her father. At sixteen, Venncesso La Marcello took my heart for his own and never gave it back.
Venny knew then we had no future. He chose to ignore that. My best friend tried to warn me against falling for her older brother. I knew Joann had always been remorseful for introducing me to her brother.
Our love almost started a war, another part of our history we just don’t talk about. I was so stubborn back then. Just like Victoria. I see so much of myself in my daughter. However, she’s the stronger version of me. I’m proud of that.
It ripped me apart to see what was happening to our lives. I allowed it. All of Venny’s promises turned to sand in just the blink of an eye. Yet, I still couldn’t turn him away.
I watched with tear swollen eyes, as he slipped into my bedroom like a thief in the night. Venny started to peel off his expensive suit and shoes. Always impeccably dressed.
For a man ten years older than me, Venny was still fine as hell at forty-five. He was just as fine at forty-five as he was when I met him at twenty-six. Ven could still pass for in his thirties.
His muscles flexed as he stood in his t-shirt and boxers. Ven is tall and muscular. He still had definition to his body from when he used to work out vigorously in his youth. His muscles rolled as he bent to remove his socks.
I rolled away as my body started to respond to just watching his. I didn’t want to feel for this man. I already felt too much. I was too hurt. Truth was, I needed to let Venny go.
He could be there for his children, but I couldn’t do it anymore. Too much time had passed. I’d been too silent about too much. This had to end, I could feel myself self-destructing. Venncesso was a drug I no longer wanted to take.
“I know you’re not sleeping,” he breathed in my ear after climbing into the bed and wrapping his arm around me. “You can’t stay mad at me forever.”
“Watch me,” I hissed out.
He sighed heavily and kissed my shoulder. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I’m so sorry, Keisha. You know I’ll make it up to you.”
I snorted. “How? How do you make up for hitting our child? How do you make up for your wife taking my daughter? Venny, please go home to your wife,” I huffed.
“Don’t act as if you don’t understand my marriage. You know me better than anyone. You know the sacrifices I’ve had to make,” Ven growls back.
I turn to face him, cutting him off. I narrow my eyes and glare at him. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you ever dare talk to me about sacrifices,” I intended to finish my rant, but Ven covered my lips with his, ending anything else I had to say.
I hated myself for giving into him. For melting right into his embrace. It’s always the same with us. The fire of his hard, demanding kiss seared away my own anger and common sense. If I knew what was good for me, I would’ve pushed him away and thrown him out of my bed.
Instead, I allowed him to control the kiss. Ven was right, I knew why we couldn’t be together. It didn’t mean I was happy with the role that left me. I’d always feared what I was teaching my daughter.
Yet, like a drug, I continued to be drawn in, time and time again. I moaned into his mouth, arching into him, as he firmly grasped my breast. We always fit together so perfectly.
Just like the first time Venny pulled me into his arms. He danced me in circles that night, on a rooftop in Brooklyn. I didn’t know it then, but he was just dancing me into his web.
“I love you, you know I do,” he groaned.
I stayed silent. I wouldn’t admit or deny a thing. It was what gave him power. My willingness to cave to his every whim.
I could feel his frustration rise, causing him to take it out on my body. Venny moved to latch his warm mouth around my nipple, his palm squeezing my other breast tightly. This man has always known my body better than me. Every time I think I’m going to deny him, he touches the right spot, breaking all the will power I tried to build time after time.
I whimpered as his mouth shatters my restraint. I felt his lips curl into a smile only frustrating me more. Tears leaked back into my ears. Loving someone shouldn’t hurt this much.
I’ve lost so much just to hold onto this man, but my soul burns for his touch. I watched his tanned hand travel from my breast, down my side to my core. I jerked the moment his fingers met my wet seam.
Another way Venny knew he had power over me, I’m always ready for him. Naked, wet, and ready. It didn’t even occur to me to put something on before climbing into bed. I knew in my gut he would appear, and I’d be ready.
“I will always do what I have to, to protect you and our family. You know this and Maria knows this, but in all of our hearts we know the truth. Don’t try to shut me out. Soon, Keisha. Everything will change soon,” Venny said with such promise.
I wanted to believe him, I truly did. I forced myself to, as he teased my body to climax. I panted breathlessly as he made his way down my body to replace his hand with his mouth.
I locked my hand in his hair, riding his face. My juices and his saliva soak between my cheeks, as I became so aroused I started to lose my breath. Venny nudged my legs further apart, pushing them back into my chest.
He has never devoured my core like this before. I clawed at the sheets, trying my best to get away. Ven only wrapped his arms around my thighs, pulling me back to his face. My belly quivered and every part of me started to shake.
I came calling his name breathlessly. Venny climbed my body and hovered his lips over mine, as his breath fanned my face. I looked into his light brown eyes.
“I will make it all right,” he promised, as he pushed his way into my body.
I locked my legs around his trim waist. “Please, Ven,” I pleaded as he started to give me slow strokes.
“Patience, Cara. That’s what we need, patience,” he groaned into my neck.
I reached for his back, digging my fingers into his skin. I’ve been patient all this time, but I couldn’t promise that I would continue to be able to. My heart was breaking. So, I held on with everything I had.
I felt the moment Venny knew he was losing me. His strokes became long and deep, calling me back to him. He shifted to look me in the eyes once again.
I could see it in his darkening orbs. The young man that pleaded with me to understand his family, to understand what he had to do. He was pleading again, but with each stroke I felt the dreaded feeling that he was pleading for so much more.
This time Venncesso would ask for too much. Even as he brought my body to climax, I felt it. It’s all changing and I can only brace myself. Once and for all, I would have to make a choice.