Chapter 35
Avidya
I was right in my assumptions. Once Toby laid eyes on my Joshua, he was a totally different person. He wanted to know how to do everything for the baby. I think Toby was more protective over my little boy than even Zachariah was, and that was hard to pass.
“I think we found our babysitter for the rest of our lives,” Zachariah joked as he stood behind me with his arms wrapped loosely across my torso.
“I bet they will fight over who watches him constantly,” I said. Not that I minded. I really didn’t want to be bombarded by everyone every day, though. I needed my time with my son as much as I needed time with my husband.
“When can he do a sleepover?” Toby asked as his eyes bounced between me and Violet, who now was holding the baby.
“Not few a few months,” I answered. I didn’t want my baby anywhere without me for too long. He was so little. Letting Zachariah take care of Joshua during the night was a stretch alone, but that was only happening because I had to have sleep.
“Maybe you could stay over one night and help me take care of him?” Zachariah hinted.
“Maybe,” Toby said wide eyed. The surprise on his face was apparent. It wasn’t often at all that Zachariah willingly talked to anyone younger than him.
“Wow, you really have changed,” Melio joked.
“Did no such thing,” Zachariah stated.
I shook my head at their antics. My husband did change for the better. We may have had our differences a year ago, but now things were so much better. The time apart did do us both good as we got time to figure out that some things were just not as important as we had first thought.
~oOo~
Before I knew it, everything was coming together all too well. For some reason, I kept thinking something would happen to cause me to doubt coming back. Zachariah did much better at the whole father thing than I ever thought he would. His entire family was surprised, too.
Lynn tried to contact me once, and after listening to her side of the story, I couldn’t really find it in myself to care why she did what she did. She was the woman that raised me, but never stood up against Cody on how I was raised. She may have been in an abusive relationship and didn’t know how to get out, but that didn’t mean I could forgive her.
She lied to me. She deceived me.
Yes, Lynn may have gotten me into Zachariah’s hands and that alone made my life so much better than it could certainly have ended up being. But I couldn’t forgive her. She was also responsible for my best friend’s death.
I didn’t want her to meet my son and I didn’t want her anywhere around either of us. I knew it was harsh, but I didn’t trust her after what she let Cody do, and what she kept hidden from me my entire life.
I couldn’t trust Lynn anywhere around my child.
Surprisingly, she understood. She said she hoped that I would someday change my mind, but she wouldn’t push. I was welcome to call her anytime.
Coming back to this life, I had expected things to be different between me and everyone. I wasn’t sure why, but I just had this feeling things would have been strained. Nothing was, though. I fell right back into where I had left them all.
I had been back for three months, and luckily Zachariah had put his foot down about not having everyone bombard us constantly, unless one of us asked for help. He knew that I wanted to take care of Josh without a bunch of people around at every moment.
Once a month, until now, someone had stayed the night to watch Joshua so Zach and I could get a full night of sleep. Joshua still wasn’t a huge sleeper, so that one night was more than welcome. He never left the house without me. Not until tonight anyhow.
Tonight, Zachariah wanted us to do another double date with Travis and Kenna, since the last one failed so miserably. This time instead of at the club, it was at an upscale restaurant where the four of us would be mostly secluded.
Per Zachariah’s request, I dressed in a little black dress that dipped in the back. The material flowed easily over my body, hugging my curves only slightly. My blond hair was left in soft waves down my back.
He wore black slacks and a dark blue button up shirt, and my heart soared at seeing him all dressed up for me. He knew how much I loved it when he didn’t shave, leaving a dusting of hair on his face. Every time I looked at this man, my heart beat twice in speed and I was filled with so much desire, I wanted to let him have his wicked way with me.
Soon. Soon he would do just that.
I also wore the necklace that he had given me that was meant to show the world that I was his. I couldn’t deny that it was one of my most favorite necklaces ever. The cross hung down past my collar bone. An infinity symbol held the chain around my neck.
Although it was dainty, it fit me perfectly.
Zachariah wanted to get me something that would be able to hold up to being pulled on, and I knew he would soon since Josh was a pro at wrapping his little fingers around everything he could. I think that Zach was happier about the fact that I put his ring back on my finger.
After leaving the car to be parked by the Valet, I hooked my arm through Zachariah’s at the elbow. The place was lit up with lights and it was so tall, I couldn’t see the top of the building form the sidewalk. This restaurant screamed money.
Along the sidewalk was a line of people waiting to be let in, who were all dressed as nicely as we were. Zach bypassed them, walking right up to the front where a man in a work uniform stood with a clipboard.
“Reservation for four,” Zachariah said.
“Go right on in, Mr. Melendez,” the bouncer said, opening the door open for us to enter.
“Let me guess, you own this place?” I asked.
“I own many places, my sweet,” he said, winking down at me.
My husband was one of many powerful men in this town, so I shouldn’t have been all that surprised that he owned this place among others.
“I just haven’t shown you off enough for everyone here to know who you are to me. Given time, everyone will know exactly who you are and you will get the same treatment wherever you wish to go in this town,” he said as a waiter led us to the back of the place.
That was not what I wanted, and I gave him a look. He simply shrugged at me, not at all concerned about that.
“I want to show you off, and to do that, people who will know who you are,” he stated.
Inside, the carpet was a dark red color that blended in nicely with the oak tables that were covered with white cloths and matching chairs.
Although the inside was as antique looking as the outside, it was extravagant. There were a number of people sitting about eating their meals as we made our way to the table.
Once at the table, Zachariah held the chair out for me before taking his own seat beside me.
“Is there anything I can get you?” the waiter asked.
“Just four glasses of water to start, please,” Zachariah said.
“Perfect,” the waiter replied before walking off.
“Do I want to know how many other places you own?” I asked, trying to appear as if I fit in here. I felt out of place.
“Probably not,” Zachariah laughed. “This one is not as fancy as some of the other places. But I thought this would be one of the few places you’d enjoy food wise.”
“You know you don’t have to impress me,” I told him as he took his own seat.
“Oh, I know,” he said, a smile spreading across his lips. “But I want to. I want to show the world that you are mine. They have to know that my heart is taken by the most beautiful woman alive.”
At his words, my cheeks flooded in color, causing him to laugh before leaning in and kissing my cheek lightly.
“I missed that blush,” he whispered.
Before I could reply, Travis and Kenna both arrived, taking their seats. It still amazed me how their relationship was conducted and how they worked so well together. Kenna was a Mistress and Travis was her sub. I never would have imagined him to be that way, and it was still a little strange to see it now.
“Hello, Avidya,” Kenna said my way after taking her seat. “How are you today?”
“Doing pretty well,” I answered. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I was the first time we had a double date, thank goodness.
“Good,” she smiled. “You two getting along these days?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Zachariah asked.
“Just wondering,” she shrugged.
“How are you two doing?” I asked.
“Really good,” Kenna answered. “Travis here got in trouble for talking today when I told him not to, so please excuse his lack of doing so now.”
“I don’t want to know,” I muttered with a blush. Travis simply smiled my way, causing my cheeks to heat once more.
“You probably don’t,” Kenna laughed. “When do you two plan to take more into the bedroom?”
“Soon,” Zachariah answered. “It’s been way too long, and we’ve been a bit busy.”
“I don’t want Josh hearing, nor do we want to be interrupted,” I shrugged.
The topic had come up a few times the past few weeks. We were both ready for more, but having a child in the house, or someone watching him in the house, kind of put us both off. Yes, his family knew what kind of sex life we both liked but that didn’t change that fact that we were uncomfortable doing it.
We had sex a number of times, but nothing like what we both craved. I wanted more. I wanted to be pushed to my limits and not worry about how much noise was made.
“I bet I know what you two will be doing tonight,” Travis said, wagging his eyebrows. A moment later, he stiffened as Kenna did something to him under the table.
“Do you plan to torture the man?” Zachariah laughed.
“He loves it,” Kenna returned, shooting a sexy smile towards my brother. “He knows what will happen every time he talks tonight. It was his idea so he could at least talk to his sister.”
At my widened eyes, she was quick to explain. “I’m not hurting him. I know his limits. If he wants me to stop, he’ll tell me.”
“I’m okay, sis,” Travis said my way. “You’ll love certain things when you get more comfortable with Zach.”
“If you say so,” I said, not so sure of that myself. I don’t think I could ever let Zach tease me while in public like this. At home, he had a few times and I loved it.
“Public display doesn’t seem like her thing,” Zach said, not upset. “But that’s okay. I’m not big on them much myself, as you know.”
We really were meant for each other.
Every time Travis talked, or close to it, Kenna would do something under the table, causing him to squirm and fidget in his seat. One time, he nearly even choked on his food.
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
God, I had missed all this.
For the rest of dinner, talk went well. Travis and Kenna talked about the new club that would be opening up in less than a month, and how they were going to set things up. Zachariah did mention that he wanted me to see it before the doors open, to give him my view of how I saw it because he wanted to do something a little bit different this time around.
I agreed, only because I wanted to know everything there was to know about the man that I loved. Things between us were completely different now.