11 comments/  45372 views/  29 favorites

Battle Hardened, War Weary

By: MimiRose



Author's Note:

This is a revised and updated version of the very first chapter of "Battle-Hardened..." I was bored and dealing with a case of 'writer's block'. I decided to revised the chapter in hopes of receiving some inspiration to write again. 

Plus, I was inspired to do this after viewing twelve pages of 'Fuckyeahsexygingermen' on Tumblr. Don't judge me. LOL!

For the people who are reading this story for the first time: Thank you.

For the people who are re-reading this chapter until I add a new one: Thank you. 

****************************

When Kali Richardson woke up this morning, she felt like it was going to be a good day for her. Not a bad day and not a day where excellent things happen for her, but it were going to be a 'good, average day' for her. And for Kali, she thought that having at least one good day was... well, good enough for her. She felt like she deserved, at least, one good day, ever since she hasn't had one of those for a long time. To be precise, it's been nine months and three weeks since her last good day, which was the day before her grandfather unexpectedly passed away.

After she performed some of her daily rituals of an hourly exercise routine, a light breakfast and a shower, Kali stood in her bathroom and in front of the sink. There were still drops of water from her shower that clung to her cinnamon-hued flesh. A cream-colored towel was wrapped around her body, in an uncomfortable, constricting way. The room was saturated with the shower's steam. The medicine cabinet's mirrored door was coated with it. Using a hand, Kali wiped away the steam and was greeted by her reflection with her swipe of the hand.

Kali observed her reflection, silently, for a moment. She stared at her small nose that looked dainty and very 'lady-like'. It was so dainty that she barely could see the bridge of her nose in her reflection. Her friend Katrina once told her that there are women, who pay plastic surgeons a lot of money to make them a nose that looks like hers. Her grandmother always told her that God blessed her with a beautiful nose, which was different from her nose.

Her eyes drifted down to her lips. Her lips were not wide. Her lips were small, but plump. She had the perfect "Cupid's Bow" top lip that was brown in color with a bottom lip that had a healthy pink hue that turned burgundy, whenever she bit down on the plump flesh. As a teenaged girl, the neighborhood's 'dirty old men', as her grandmother used to call them, would yell out to her that she had lips that were kissable. One man even grabbed her wrist, yanked her close to him and whispered in her ear that her lips were "dick-sucking lips". Outraged and horrified, Kali managed to free herself and ran all of the way home. She told her grandmother about the encounter, who had informed her husband. Her husband silently absorbed all of the information and then quietly left their home, but returned an hour later. A few days later, on her way home from school, Kali was given an apology from that same dirty ole man, who sported some bruises and appeared to have been severely battered.

Kali's doe-shaped, soft eyes ended their visual survey on themselves. They were shaped beautifully with a wide and rounded out shape that makes the twenty-six year old woman look as if she possesses the innocence and naiveté of a child. They were also beautiful because of their unique color. The irises of her eyes were a gorgeous color of purple. They shared the color of the amethyst gemstone. Since she was a child, Kali was told that she have beautiful eyes. She had the experience of strangers approach her and tell her that she owned 'such pretty eyes'. Her friends complimented them, as well as her co-workers and employers. Her late grandfather, Jack, adored them while her grandmother Mare marveled at them and wondered 'who in the family did she inherit them from?' Reba, her mother, despised them and hated them. Jackson, her step-father, once told her that they were odd, but will 'catch a lot of customers and make them a lot of money'. 

'Jackson' her mind whispered to her. At the thought of his name, the image of his face popped up into her mind's eye and soon she felt her mind drudge up a bad memory of him. She felt that box that she made for him and his memories start to lift the lid off. "No" she growled, while her eyes squeezed shut and her face formed a grimace. Then she started to shake her head to the side, violently. "No. I won't think of you. Go back to your box. Go back to your box and stay there! No!" she screamed. Her shout bounced off the bathroom's walls. She popped open her eyes and glanced around the room. Jackson, his face and those memories were gone. Her mind was clear. 'It just needs to stay that way,' she thought. She opened the medicine cabinet and was greeted by two shelves of prescription medications. She found the desired pill bottle. She opened the bottle and produced a pill. Without an aid of a glass of water, she swallowed the pill with ease. 'I refuse to turn this good day into a bad one' Kali thought as she continued to look in the mirror.

Staring at her reflection wasn't just a ritual that Kali only performed, when she was home. The young woman also did this routine when she was at work. She used a mirror that she kept hidden in a drawer that was inside of her cubicle. Or she would use one of the mirrors that were in the numerous bathrooms at her job. There were times when she caught by a fellow employee or a customer. They usually assumed that the woman was conceited, vain and 'stuck on herself', when in truth, it was the complete opposite. Kali wanted to know what was so damn special about the woman that she saw in the mirror. She wanted to know why they wanted to fuck with her.

For a chosen career, Kali chose to earn a living through the process of medical billing and coding. She provided her expertise for a private medical clinic. By working at the clinic that only provides medical services for only women and where every employee was a woman themselves was perfect for Kali. The young woman was not able to work in an environment that also contained men. The job's environment was welcoming for her as well. Her co-workers were welcoming and friendly, at all times, but they weren't imposing and weren't bothered by Kali's dissociative behavior. Her office was a small room at the rear of the building, on the second floor, in a cubicle. On most days, she was up there by herself and she didn't get any visitors most of the time, so she could've gotten away with murder, if she wanted to. It was here, on her self-proclaimed 'good day', in which Kali's good vibrations had come to an end.

It was a few minutes before the beginning of her lunch break. Kali sat at her desk and she was in the process of working on a patient's chart. She was typing in the medical codes for cataracts, on her computer, when she heard the song "La Cucaracha" playing from the inside of one of the desk's drawers. She recognized it as being a ringtone from her cell phone. She also knew the identity of the caller, judging by the festive ringtone. A sense of dread flooded her soul and she let out a shaky gasp. Her eyelids stung and itch from the tears that were begging to be release. She glanced away from the computer's monitor and looked at the row of desk drawers. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a metallic-pink phone. On the small screen, the word 'Truck' appeared in capitalized, bold letters. She pressed the 'green phone' symbol and then pressed the phone to her left ear. 

"H-hello," Kali said in a voice so low, it almost sounded like a whisper.

"Kali, hey it's me, Truck" said the voice on the other line. Kali could hear the background noises. It sounded as if he was standing around in an airport. She assumed that he just arrived in New York from Missouri. "Baby, I need to see you. Tonight, I will be staying at the Charter. I'll be staying in room 1423. I should be there around 6 tonight, so anytime after that, its okay."

"All right," Kali said into the phone while she stared at the floor. Her tone of voice was void of any emotion. 

"All right, baby, see you later" and then she heard the call being disconnected.

In a moment of silence, she stared at the floor. She wondered why God didn't make her into something simple like a cheap carpet instead of giving her the life that she lived now. She was aware that there were thousands of women who would love to be in her place right now. If she was built like a normal woman, she was sure that she would love having a man call her and declare that he 'needed to see her'. During her moment of silence, she felt her cheeks being wet with tears and she figured out that the Zoloft that she ingested must've worn off. She gave herself another eight minutes to get herself together, before heading off to lunch.

For Kali, it looks like today is going to be a normal day for her, after all.

By the time Kali had left work, the sky had darkened, the sun reached dusk and the crescent moon was on display. The outside temperature had also dropped as well. It was an 'okay' temperature during the day, a modest thirty-nine degrees with no wind. But now, there was a constant wind that blew freezing, frigid air and the night's temperature had dropped to a measly twelve degrees. It was typical 'December-just turned winter' weather. On nights like this one, Kali usually hurries to get home as soon as possible. On nights like this one, she usually spends the night wrapped in two layers of blankets, watching movies on her television and indulging in some type of chocolate-confection. She thought about her night's 'what-ifs' as she traveled from Queens to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, while using the best public transportation that New York City has to offer. 

It had taken Kali ninety-three minutes to arrive to her destination: the Charter Hotel. The Charter Hotel is a new posh, modern hotel that is usually frequented by the rich and famous, as well as, by the people who wished to be seen hanging out with the rich and famous. The hotel was also Truck's favorite hotel to use during his stays in New York City, whether if it was because his team was playing a New York-based team or for other reasons. Kali hated coming here. Every time she set foot inside this place, she felt like she didn't belong in here. Despite the employees being friendly, she always expected for one of them to remind her of her actual station in life. If she had a choice in the matter, Truck and she would be meeting up in a cheap motel room that is located by the airport. She already felt like a cheap whore, so they might as well meet up in a place where cheap whores do their business. 

'I really don't want to be here,' Kali's mind spoken. 

She was standing in one of the corridors that made up the fourteenth floor. She was standing outside of room 1423, in front of the closed door. 

'Well, let's go home,' her conscience said to her. 'I can't. You know what will happen if I do...' her mind said before trailing off.

Her conscience continued to try to sway her into leaving the hotel. And judging how her body felt at the moment, it seems that her body was trying to persuade Kali to leave as well. The inner turmoil proceeded for a few more minutes, before she made the decision of staying. She reminded her conscience of the consequences of what will happen to her, if she left. She let out a sigh, squared her shoulders up and then made four knocks on the door. She didn't have to wait long for the door to open. 

She was greeted by a man, who was bare-chested, but was wearing a pair of sweatpants and sandals. He possessed the type of good looks and sex appeal that would make every woman ogled him. He was a physical example of tall, dark and handsome. He was standing at the height of 6 feet and 6 inches tall. He body was heavily weighed with muscle. The only thing that he possessed from boyhood was the 'baby fat' that seemed to stick to his face. It wasn't a chubby face, but it wasn't chiseled either. The pair of prominent dimples that were in his cheeks didn't help either. A nice prominent nose, a pair of cute lips and expressive dark brown eyes capped off his facial features. Kali, judging from the appearance of his wet hair that was matted down, assumed that he recently showered. 

"Kali" the room's occupant greeted her. There was a smile on his face. It almost was convincing to Kali that he was genuinely happy to see her. 

"Hi, Truck" she said to him, in a low voice. 'He was always the friendlier one out of all of them' she thought. 

She watched the man make three steps to his left, a gesture of invite into his room. She gave him another glance before accepting his offer. 

"Oooh yeah, baby...suck my cock, just like that, baby" Truck groaned while his massive hands rested on the pile of shoulder-length, brown curls that was positioned on top of Kali's head. His fingers would occasionally squeeze her skull, whenever a spike of pleasure would shoot through his cock and balls. His eyes drifted down his body to watch the kneeling, brown beauty in action. His eyes enjoyed the view. He loved watching his pole disappear and then re-appear out of her mouth. "You like that?" he asked in a groan. He watched those big, purple eyes shoot up to focus on his face and he heard her moan an answer. The sweet sound caused a vibrating stimulation against his prick and he groaned. Then his pleasure increased ten-fold, when her hands decided to join the party. He felt one of her hands grasp onto the pair of heavy sacs that hung below his prick and massaged with a firm touch. His hips jerked, in response and he growled a 'Fuck, yeah'. 

His hands held her head stationary while he proceeded on fucking her mouth with his cock. He loved the way her mouth, tongue and throat treated his cock as he thrust his meat inside. With his fast-paced stroking, he knew he was going to shoot his load soon. So once he felt a tingling, which turned into a pressure build-up in his nuts, he wasn't caught off-guard. 

"Fuck, I'm about to cum. Are you ready for it?" 

Once again, he heard her hum. Then, he felt her finger reach behind his nuts and lightly graze the thin, sensitive line of flesh that hid there. A light that was bright and white flashed before his eyes as a newfound sense of pleasure burned through his sex. The stimulation was too much for him. With a roar that formed in his stomach, with his eyes shut and his head thrown back, he came. He felt three streams of his spunk shoot out of cock and into Kali's awaiting mouth. He pulled his cock out of her mouth just to stroke the tail end of his orgasm onto her lips, chin and cheeks. His eyes danced in joy as he watched two more spurts of ejaculate land on her face. Once the last climatic wave left his body, he felt a little to no strength left in his lower body. 

"Shit, baby...fucks" he groaned as he made his way over to the king-sized bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress before laying his upper body onto the soft mattress. "Fuck..." he muttered one more time, before his voice trailed off and his mind started to wander. 

Three and a half months ago, Daniel "Truck" Logan had made a promise to himself and to God, after his last encounter with Kali. He made the promise of stop acting out his sins and become the righteous man that both of his grandfather's preach about on Sundays. Plus, he needed to be that man that he pretends to be, the man that was interviewed by sports writers or by television reporters. The type of man that follows the Lord's word and actually was not sinning, but winning.

Hearing that familiar term in his mind makes him dole a throaty laugh. 'Not sinning, but winning. No, it still hasn't grown on me', he thought, referring to the name of the charitable foundation/publicity stunt that his agent thought up.

The sound of footsteps snapped him out of his thoughts. Truck sat up and saw Kali standing by the bathroom's entrance. Her face was clean and she held the green, leather purse that she came with, in her hand. Her long, curly hair was now out of the confines and was down. His eyes drifted down to her body. The outfit she wore did nothing to hide the curves that she possessed. The tight, black and white Argyle sweater showcased her large bust, flat stomach and small waist. The light grey, pleated skirt highlighted her lengthy and beautiful legs. The decorative, lace stockings she wore also complimented her legs. The cute, but peculiar shoes that she wore also gave her legs and ass some good publicity as well. 

"What about my shoes?" 

The words broke him out of his reverie. He glanced at her. "What?" he said to her. 

"You said something about my shoes" said Kali as she took a few steps towards him. 

'You were thinking out loud dummy' his conscience warned him. 'I wonder how much did I say?' "Oh. I said that you are wearing some weird-looking shoes" he told her. He watched Kali glance down at her feet and then went back to staring at him.

"Oh, well, it's a new trend that's out" she informed him. 

"I kinda figured that. I see women wearing those shoes everywhere. I know my sisters have them. Also Mary-Anne has a couple of pairs—

'Don't you fucking even go there,' his conscience growled at him. Immediately, he closed his mouth and stopped talking. Truck glanced at Kali and noticed that she has become uncomfortable now. She's avoiding his eye contact now. 'Shit,' his mind growled. 'Ugh...Just fuck her and throw her the fuck out,' his mind said to him with a false sense of heartlessness. 

"Well..." Kali started out saying as she walked over to the room's desk and chair. She placed her purse onto the seat of the chair. Her coat was already hanging on the back of the chair. Then, like a shy little girl, she bowed her head a bit and said "...booties are the big thing right now, so..." Her voice trailed off. Kali glanced at him and he watched her eyes soften. 

Slowly, she made her way over to Truck and stood in front of him. Automatically, his hands gone to her hips while her hands rested on his strong shoulders. He wanted to take in her scent, so he pressed his face against the flat plane of her stomach. Then he rubbed his face against the soft fabric of her sweater. He always loved the fragrance that she emitted. It was an assemblage of fragrances: first, there was a scent of whatever perfume that she was wearing; there was the various smells of hair products and pomades, the scent of the baby powder and then the spicy smell of her natural odor. It was the fragrance that he loved the most. 

During this time, Truck's hands left her hips and drifted to her round ass. His long, thick fingers massaged and kneaded the supple flesh. He heard a sweet whimper from above his head. He felt her fingers dig into the flesh of his shoulders. His face's grazing ceased and turned into nuzzling at her shirt. His fingers stopped the massage on her ass. His hands slid underneath her skirt and his fingers felt the actual thing. Once his fingers came into contact with her bare flesh, his cock sprung to attention. Then the sound of her moaning made his member grow harder. 

Truck dipped his face lower and nuzzled her cloth-covered mound. A moan which floated into a whimper as well as a jerk of her hips was her reaction. He lifted his face away. He gave her a short glimpse. "You like this, baby?" his voice growled at her. She whimpered out a response and then she pushed her ass out more, into his waiting hands. 

During his massage, Truck would growl out his desires and his plans for her into the shrouded mystery that was her cunt. Then, he heard and felt her responses to his actions, all the while his dick begged for some type gratification. The overwhelming, tangy scent that seeped out of her pussy made his cock feel worse. His fingers massaged and kneaded whatever blankets of flesh it came across. He didn't feel the urge to stop. He was consumed with the urge of wanting to see her cum, in particularly with his prick buried deep inside of her. It was during this time he realized that he's never seen her cum before. In fact, he's never seen her behaved in such an arousal state before. During their previous encounters, he felt so impatient when it came to sticking his dick in any of her orifices and cum. Afterwards, he had shown her a hasty exit. He thought that it was better that way for the both of them. There was no sense of awkwardness between. There was no act of cuddling afterwards or any acts of 'pillow talk' between the two of them. He didn't entertain her by presenting Kali with possibilities of a relationship. Truck just escorted her to the hotel room's door. He thought that it was the best way to handle everything. It was a better way to handle his guilt, to be precise.


Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 02



Being that it was a Saturday, the clinic closed at an earlier time and it meant that Kali's shift ended at an earlier time of 4PM. By the time, 4:08 PM rolled around, she exited out of the building and was in the parking lot. As she walked further away from the building and further into the parking lot, she stared at a unique-looking car that was parked in one of the car slots. It was a posh-looking, black car. The windows were heavily tinted with a gray color. It was dark enough to keep an outsider guessing who was inside of the car, but light enough to let them know when there was an occupant inside. The vehicle's exterior was waxed and polished to perfection. Kali didn't have an extensive knowledge of automobiles, but she knew that this one was a foreign-made vehicle and looked as if it cost more than her annual income. She knew whoever owned the vehicle must've been a serious big-wig with some serious cash. 

'I know this car doesn't belong to anybody who works at Horizons. The highest-paid doctor in there drives a beat-up Hyundai!' 

Kali received the answer to the 'who's the owner?' inquiry, when she saw the car's owner exited the automobile. The owner was a man. In fact, the owner was a short man, who stood to be five feet-seven inches tall. There was a light tanned complexion to his skin tone, which meant he could've been of Mediterranean or South American descent. His black hair was styled and coiffed into a neat pompadour. He wore a simple pair of black slacks; a white shirt with a black blazer, with enough confidence that one would think it was an expensive designer suit. He left the car with his head bowed, so Kali did not see his face. He was straightening out his blazer. But, when she did finally get to see the owner's face, a huge smile formed on her face. When the gentleman saw her, he developed his own smile.

With an obvious eagerness to her stride, she made her way over to the man. As soon as she was closed enough to him, the man took her gloved hands into his own. He gave the back of each hand an enthusiastic kiss and then did the same thing to both of her cheeks. "Good evening, mi reina!" the man said to her, with a heavy accent. 

"Good evening to you, Mr. Santos! How are you?" Kali said to Ryan's driver. 

The short-stature man lifted an index finger in the air and then gave it three wags. "Ah, what did I say about calling me 'Mister Santos', Miss Richardson? I told you to call me 'Santos'. I prefer for you to call me 'Santos'. My father was Mister Santos and he was a mean son-of a-bitch. Pardon my French, Madame. So, for now on, you will call me Santos. And, to answer your question Madame, I am doing fine," the chauffeur said to her. 

"Well, I will try to refrain from adding the 'Mister' part. And I am glad to hear that you are doing well... Santos."

The chauffeur's smile grew broader. He walked past her and gone to the car, where he opened the rear-passenger door. "Good, good, good, now let's get you inside of this warm car and we shall go." Kali gave him a nod of her head along with a smile. She strolled up to the car and stepped inside. Once she was fully inside of the vehicle, Santos closed the door. Kali watched, from the car's interior, the man make his way to the driver's side and slide into the car. He re-started the car and adjusted the rear view mirrors. He glanced over his shoulder, at Kali, who sat in the backseat. "Now let's take this show on the road!"

Having the ability to travel in a luxury car, speaking with Santos and seeing the wonders of New York City by just sitting in the backseat, are the only highlights for Kali, whenever she makes a visit to Ryan at his foreboding abode. During this evening, Kali and Santos spoke of several subjects, as the chauffeur drove through a scenic route to Midtown Manhattan. They converse about different topics; that ranged from alien abductions in Alaska to the current status of crime in New York City and if the mayor Rudy Giuliani was doing a good job to the subject of Santos' home country of Peru to whether or not any New York-based team was going to bring home a championship. For Kali, Santos provided a sense of safety. He was the calm moment that occurred before the tumultuous storm that was Ryan came along and fucked with her well-being.

A sense of trepidation blossomed inside of Kali, when she noticed the familiar route that Santos was took. It meant that they were near their destination. She didn't know what type of perversion he had planned tonight, but she knew that by the end of the night she was going to feel ashamed, disgusted and sore. She felt like a little girl again; back when she lived with Reba and Jackson: petrified. 

The shiny, black, foreign-made car pulled along side the curb of a sidewalk that was in front of a large mansion. The once red-brick building stood there, looking menacing. Since she entered the car, Kali sat back for the first time and rested against the back of the seat. She stared ahead. She gazed out of the windshield and stared at the parked vehicle that was in front. 

'You have to do this. You have to do this. You have to do this. You have to do this..." she chanted inside of her mind. Her eyeballs stung. The tears caused her vision to blur.

Santos, being the gentleman that he was, helped Kali out of the car. Once he was certain that every limb and bit of her was out of the car, he closed the door. The two people stood in the middle of the sidewalk, standing face to face. Once again, Santos took a hold of her hands and gave each one a kiss. When he lifted his head, so he could stare into her eyes, Kali noticed that his dark brown orbs held a sense of concern and pity in them. Knowing that another person felt concern and pity for her caused her stomach to tighten up and a lump emerged into her throat. Her eyes started to burn badly as her tear ducts were forming tears. She tried her best to not cry in front of such a regal man. 

"Buenos noches, mi reina. Tu tienes el cillo de la santa. Soon, things will be better. I promise you. Vaya con dios, mi reina" Santos said to her, while clutching onto her hands. 

"Gracias," she whispered. A single tear managed to escape her left eye. She quickly wiped it away. "Have a good night, Santos."

He left go of her hands and gave her a kiss on her cheek before the two parted ways. She watched the man get back inside of the car, which Santos informed her was called a Maybach. She listened to the car's engine purr and rumble. Then, she watched the car pull away from the curb. She stared at its retreating taillights until she couldn't see the lights anymore. Afterwards, she gazed at the mansion. Kali let out a sigh and then began her night as being a sex-slave.

Kali used the lion's head-shaped door knocker a few times and waited outside for fifteen seconds, before the door opened. Kali recognized him as being Ryan's butler, Ignatius. Standing in the doorway was an older-looking, white man. His toned, body was six feet-three inches tall. His skin tone was lightly tanned despite the winter season. The top of his head held a healthy amount of soft gray hair. His hair reminded Kali of the clouds in the sky because both objects looked fluffy to her. He owned a pair of dark blue, deep set eyes that was the dominant feature on his oblong-shaped face. An aquiline-shaped nose was set in the middle of his face. A few inches below his nose were a pair of lips that were pink and small. She noticed that he wasn't wearing his usual uniform: a pair of black trousers, a white dress shirt with a cardigan over it, a pair of polished black shoes and a black necktie. For tonight, he was wearing a pair of black denim jeans, a light blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of brown loafers on his feet. She thought he looked odd in his casual set of clothes. 

"Good evening, Madame Richardson," he greeted her, as he stepped to the side, to allow Kali to enter the house. Once she entered the foyer of the building, a strong scent of Indian curry caught her attention. The scent assaulted her nose and caused her eyes to water. Kali used her hands to cover her nose and mouth. Ignatius noticed her discomfort from the odor. Guiding her further into the house, Ignatius said to her, "I'm sorry, Madame Richardson, for the abundant smell of curry. The kitchen staff and I are busy right now preparing a food itinerary for Master Whittler and Madame Garrison's gala. It's Indian-themed and we're creating a palate of Indian dishes. From the way Madame Garrison is preparing for this function, I have a feeling that I will smell like a curried slab of meat for months". 

"Sorry to hear about that, Mister Ignatius," said Kali through her hands. 

"Thank you for your concern, Madame Richardson. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back to the kitchen to finish with our dishes..." Ignatius produced a white envelope from his back pocket and gave it to Kali. On the front of the envelope was her name written, in calligraphy-style and in black ink. "Master Whittler wants me to give you this letter and gave me the instruction of telling you to open it, before you head upstairs. Have a good evening, Madame Richardson." Then, Ignatius left her alone in the foyer. 

While she stood at the base of the marble staircase, Kali opened the envelope and fished out the content, which was a postcard. On one side of the postcard were a picture and a few words on the other side. She stared at the picture first. It was a reproduction print of a famous piece of art. Kali have never seen the picture before. She was enthralled by the piece. The artist's choice of color was the thing to grab her attention. It was very pretty. She thought it was a mosaic piece at first. Then she noticed the two faces. The faces were of a man and a woman. They appeared to be sleeping and from their body language, Kali figured that they were a couple in loves with each other. The thought brought a smile to her face. The artist's name and the title of the piece were printed on the lower left corner. "Gustav Klimt... 'The Kiss'..." she read aloud as her eyes drifted back to the face of the woman. For Kali, the woman looked content and safe. 

'Could I ever feel this way around a man?' 

Her mind started to tread into dangerous territory, when she snapped herself out of it. She remembered about the writing on the other side of the card, Kali flipped it over and read the message. Like the envelope, the words were written in calligraphy and black ink was used. 

"My dearest Black Beauty, please come upstairs and make yourself comfortable. I am having my bath right now and I will be out soon. Love, Ryan."

After she read the message and viewed the calligraphy, an image popped up into Kali's mind. The image was actually a snippet that belonged to a memory of an event. The image was of a nine year-old, smiling, freckled-face, bespectacled Ryan Whittler. Kali remembered the event being of nothing major and traumatic. It was of an insignificant day, when they were students in Bainbridge Academy and they were in study hall. Both Ryan and Kali were the only fourth-grade students attending study hall, ever since every student in their grade was on a class trip. Kali's grandparents couldn't afford the trip and didn't want her to miss a day of school, so she was assigned to study hall all day. It was in that massive library, where she met Ryan Whittler. He was sitting by himself at a table and was making calligraphy on a piece of paper. 

'Ryan, what the hell happened to you?' she thought. 

She glanced at her wrist watch and saw that the time was 5:55 pm. She promised Ryan that she would meet him at 6:00 and he was a stickler for the time, so she marched on up the stairs. Taking two stairs at a time and in stiletto-heeled boots, Kali made her way to the second level of the house. Greeting her at the top of the marble staircase was taxidermy zebra that was mounted on a wooden pedestal. Kali gave the object a brief glance. She thought Ryan's taste for interior design was odd and gaudy. For instance, the second level's corridor had a 'black and white' theme: there was white carpeting, black wall sconces that were on white-painted walls. There were black chandeliers with onyx-colored prisms hanging from the ceiling. Framed 'black and white' lithographs from antiqued The Brothers Grimm novels hung on the walls. Then there was the stuffed zebra. 

But, Kali didn't think Mr. Whittler's choice of interior design wasn't spooky, until she first set her eyes on the mural that decorated the walls that were in between the second and third level of the house. At first, the mural frightened her. As she made her way to the third level of the house, to the master bedroom, her eyes bounced from wall to wall, as she taken in the art. The mural was a depiction of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. The artist had chosen to take Gustave Dore's works of art as his inspiration. 

The depiction of Heaven began at the bottom of the second staircase. In Heaven, there was a paradisiacal and utopia background. The angels were fierce and battle-ready. There were depictions of acts of fornication between the angels and the mortals.

Heaven was followed by Purgatory, which looked bleak. The Purgatory mural began in the middle of the staircase. There were humans who appeared to be in various stages of despair and pain. But, there was a positive character: a woman whose identity was hidden beneath several garbs and her face were hidden. She provided comfort and healing to several characters that were in the background. As she gotten closer to the top of the staircase and closer to Ryan's bedroom door, she was submerged in Hell. 

The Hell mural was dark and there use of a lot of black and gray, oil-based paints. In Hell, demons had free reign. The mortals were being tortured and in the mural the depictions were graphic. Like in Heaven, Hell also had its share of depictions of acts of fornication. But it was between demons and unwilling female, damned souls. As Kali made her way to the bedroom door, she noticed a new addition to Hell. She was painted on a wall that was adjacent to the black door. Kali actually took the time to survey the new art. 

The new addition was of a woman. Like the rest of Hell's characters, she was painted in black and white. She was sitting on a piece of ground. She possessed a crown of wild, wavy hair. It surrounded her nude form like a halo. She had her legs folded and pulled up closely to her torso. Her arms were lacerated and blood seeped from her wounds. They were protecting her legs. The lower half of her face was covered. The upper half of her face wasn't finished yet, so there was a blank spot. It made Kali interested as to see the identity of the woman. 

Kali didn't even bother knocking on the door, because she knew Ryan wouldn't hear the sounds. She entered the dimly-lit bedroom and closed the door behind her. Despite hating Ryan with every bit of her soul, she did love how bedroom and bathroom was decorated. His bedroom taken up the entire third level of his house, so it was large. It was large enough to fit three studio-sized apartments inside. There were walls that were painted a pale shade of yellow with white boarders and crown moldings. On the right side of his bedroom was where his bed and other matching accessories, as well as, the door that led to his dressing chamber. On the left side of the room, was the huge fireplace, a small lounge area with a few pieces of furniture, a spiral staircase that led to a balcony, four bookcases and to another room. 

Kali loved the minimal decorations that adorned the bedroom's walls: wall sconces, a few framed pictures and no stuffed animals. There were a few outlandish item as well: the two five-foot-tall, guardian lions that sat on opposite ends of the fireplace, the nine-foot-tall framed, photograph of his dick that hung above the fireplace and then there was his bed. Hanging above the bed and bolted into the ceiling was a twelve-foot-long light fixture. The light source had a 1940's art-deco design and was made from gold, silver and the onyx gemstone.

For Kali, she assumed that the bed must've been Ryan's favorite part of the room, due to the lavish and opulent setting. The bed was circular in shape and was large enough to fit fifteen people comfortably. The bed was set upon a platform that had five steps. The bed was surrounded by four columns that were adorned with orange and crème-colored silk drapes. Plus, the mattress was the most comfortable mattress that she laid on. She thought that the bed felt like Heaven against her body, even though the only time she ever laid on it was to commit acts that felt like they came from Hell.

She remembered that Ryan told her to 'get comfortable'. Kali removed her clothing because she really knew that 'get comfortable' was code for 'get naked and wait for me'. She neatly folded her belongings and placed them on the seat of a chair. Hoping that she was quicker with her task than he was with his, Kali climbed up the stairs of the spiral staircase. The metal steps were cold and it caused shivers to tingle at her skin. She made it to the balcony and trekked up to the door. The door was painted black and looked foreboding. Kali grabbed the knob. She prayed that the door was unlocked. She turned the metal knob. Unfortunately, the doorknob's was limited. She pushed on the door. The solid object didn't even move in the frame. A wave of disappointment washed over her and she shuddered. She sighed and pressed her forehead against the wood. Her right hand formed a fist. She punched the thick and solid surface. She didn't feel any pain from the impact. Her anger and disappointment protected her appendage from feeling the blow. 

'It has to be in there,' she thought.

She made her way back downstairs and ran over to the door that led into his 'dressing chamber'. She entered the well-lit, large room that served as Ryan's walk-in closet. The room comprised of ceiling-to-floor shelves, four island counters, chest of drawers and cabinets, as well as elaborate shoe racks. She knew that she needed to go through each one, in such a short time. She started with the island counters that was in the middle of the room. Her nimble fingers opened drawers and searched through the contents, hoping to find the item that she was looking for. As she searched, she silently prayed to God that she will find it during this search. Once she gone through that group of drawers, she moved on to a bookcase-type of armoire that was nearby. It was used to store all of his pastel-colored shirts, she noticed. She scoffed in absurdity, before going through the shelves and drawers. 

She found nothing, so she moved on to the next armoire. She ended up with nothing there either, so she moved onto the next one. She didn't find her desired object, but she did find an engagement ring that was purchased from Tiffany's, along with the receipt. She quickly glanced at the ring, before she replaced it back in the jewelry box and resumed her search. She skipped the next armoire, because it stored his girlfriend Suzette's belongings and Kali thought he was too smart and not risky enough to place the item there. She quickly searched through the last two armoires and turned up with nothing. By the time she was finished, Kali felt like she had gone through a work-out. There was the heavy dose of adrenaline running through her body. The muscles in her thighs and arms felt the strain from the constant moving. Her lungs also felt the physical burden of being on the constant run. 

On light footsteps, she strolled over to the bed, parted the partitions and climbed onto the bed. With every bit of movement, she felt that body part sank so deep into the mattress that she thought she was going to fall through. Getting into the center of the bed, she lied on her back and gazed up at the light source.




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 02



As she waited for the 'royal highness' to finish with his bath, she had some time to think about some things. She thought of mundane things like her 'To Do' list and what assignments she needed to finish at work on next Tuesday. Then her mind drifted to her newfound favorite subject: Daniel. He informed her that he preferred for Kali to call him by his God given name. She thought it was suitable. She pondered on his activities for today. She wondered if he enjoyed his team practices and the meeting that he had with his coaches today. She hoped that he didn't get chastised by any of them for anything. She wondered about his activities afterwards. Soon, she found herself asleep. 

Kali finds herself back in room 1423 at the Charter Hotel. She is lying in that king-sized bed. She is lying in the darkness, with the exception of the neon blue lights that glows from the light fixtures on the walls. She is naked and is covered by a blanket. She is asleep and is living through a dream that involves herself and her lover. In reality, she misses him and can't wait until they are together again. Her dream is making her arouse in reality. As she sleeps, the door that leads to the outside corridor is unlocked. The door opens and reveals a man of shadow standing in the doorway. He stands there briefly. The door closes with a gentle click. He is now inside of the room. He casually walks over to the bed side. He stands by the bed and gazes down at the sleeping woman...

In her conscious state, Kali's body started to react to the vivid imagery that occurred inside of her mind, during its subconscious state. As her level of arousal increased, her body began its reaction. The muscles in her stomach tightened up, in defense to a pressure that was built in her pelvic region. Goose-pimples grew on the flesh that was on her forearms as the rest of her body grew hot in core temperature. Her breathing pattern became shallower.

...The shadowed stranger takes in the beauty of the woman, who lies before him, as if she is a sacrifice to a god, on his altar. The neon blue light bounces off of her dark-hued flesh and making her form look ethereal. She makes a slight moan and shifts her weight a bit. As a result, the blanket sinks below her shoulders and rests on her stomach, but ends up revealing her breasts. He stares at the lovely pair of tits and feels his cock harden in his jeans, in reaction. His jaw twitches and his mouth waters at the thought of having both mounds shove into his mouth. They appear to be big and heavy; a perfect size that could fit in his hands. His right hand itches. It's a plea that is spoken to his master. It wants to touch one. The stranger complies with his hand's request. Bending over slightly, the stranger lightly cups the sleeping beauty's right tit. He slightly jiggles the mound of flesh, to watch the skin ripple as a result. Not satisfied with that touch, he grabs a hold of the mound and squeezes from the bottom. His hand goes further up and applies pressure along the way. Once he reaches the nipple, he gives it a pinch by using his thumb and index finger...

Kali's right hand left its resting place and reached across her torso to her left breast. Her slender fingers massaged at the skin and pinched on the nipple. Her left hand caressed her stomach and left thigh. She shivered in response, but was unaware of the pleasure. 

...She moans in response. The stranger wants to take her now, but he doesn't want to do anything rash. So, he waits. His hand leaves her tit and takes a hold of the blanket. He pulls the blanket away from her body and tosses it onto the floor. Her body is revealed. She is still sleeping. He stares at her body. With each passing glance, the need to have his cock buried inside of her increases. By the time his eyes stare at her manicured toes, his need outweighs the need to be chaste. In haste, the stranger takes off his clothes. They form a pile on the floor. Now, he was nude...

The pressure that formed in the pit of her stomach has drifted into the triangle that was in between her thighs. Her pussy's lips twitched from the pressure's arrival. The hidden pearl hardened as her slit seeped nectar. Her inner walls contracted and released in need. Kali's right hand drifted from her breast to her slit. Her fingers sought after the small knot of nerve endings. Once her fingertips found the treasure, they performed a dance of tiny circles against her. Her lower back lifted off of the mattress, her legs spread wider apart and she gasped as a thrill floated through her. Her body allowed her pussy to cry with want. Its tears were spread amongst her inner thighs and soiled the bed linen that she rested on. The tangy scent of her arousal filtered into the atmosphere. 

...The stranger leaps onto the bed. His action causes the sleeping woman to wake up. Her mind is still foggy as her eyes settles upon the naked stranger who is kneeling in front of her. By the time her awareness of the situation blooms it is too late. The stranger have her body pinned to the mattress. His right hand holds her dainty wrists down to the mattress. His bulky body keeps her from squirming and wiggling. He sees that her mouth is open and he hears the inhalation. He knows that she is about to scream for someone to rescue her. Using his left hand, he clamps it over her mouth. She screams into his hand. 

"Calm down. I won't hurt you. I won't harm you" the Stranger whispers in her ear. 

The woman continues to scream. She shakes her head from side to side. Tears leaks from her eyes. The Stranger doesn't say anything. He waits. He knows eventually that she will realize that her attempts at freeing herself are pointless. It doesn't take her long to come to that horrible realization. She calms down. 

"I won't hurt you. I promise you." 

He gives her a kiss on the forehead and peels away his hand. He gazes down at her beautiful face. She lets out a sniffle and a gasp. Her eyes glances up at his face. He glances down at her lips and watches as she takes her bottom lip into her mouth. Before she could release, the flap of skin is in his mouth. He suckles and licks at the thick flesh. She whimpers. She whimpers again, when she feels his mouth on hers and his thick tongue clashing with hers..." 

Kali moaned from the pleasure she felt as her fingers stroke her cunt. It wasn't the cock that she wanted, but her fingers would work. Her hips writhed and tried to receive the maximum stimulation. 

...Kali's hands are now free and she is no longer constrict by this man's brawny form. She is still lying on her bed, but her legs are akimbo. Her legs are now separated. The Stranger, the naked man who doesn't know, is now kneeling in between her thighs. Both are silent and haven't spoken to each other. She takes this time to observe the man. Despite the lack of light in the room, she could tell that he isn't the same race as she. The blue light dances off of his white, fair skin. She glances at his handsome face; he possesses eyes that are the color of onyx, a nose that isn't pretty and slightly crooked, and a pair of lips that are thin but are defined. He have long, dark wavy hair that reaches his cheeks, as well as, style in layers. Her eyes takes in the vision that is the rest of his body. His body is big and in shape: the chiseled arms, the rock solid torso with the 'eight pack abs' and the thighs that contains strength. Lastly, she gazes at his cock. Powerful in its own right, his member is erect and is standing parallel to the bed. For Kali, it appears to be staring at her. From the angle she is lying in, she could tell that he is very well-endowed, both in girth and in length. She feels her body reacting to such a beautiful tool. "Kali?" she hears spoken. Reluctantly, she tears her wine-colored pupils away from his cock and gazes into the Stranger's dark-colored eyes...

Kali opened her eyes and they came across the pair of pale green-colored ones that belonged to one Ryan Whittler, the owner of the small palace located in the middle of Manhattan. And according to him, he was also the owner of Kali.

In reaction, Kali became frightful. She stopped pleasuring herself. She was about to pull away from him, when he took a hold of her left ankle. The grasp was gentle, but Kali knew that was about the only thing that was gentle about Ryan Whittler. 

"No," he said to her, in his unique voice. He filled in the gap of space that was in between the two of them. Then he slipped his six-feet-five inched frame in between her opened thighs. He pulled himself into a kneeling position. "No, my beauty, please continue."

Kali scoffed in absurdity, at his use of the word 'please'. She found it absurd that he made it sound like she had a choice in the matter; as if she had the free will to say 'yes', 'no' or anything else. 

To avoid angering the ginger male, Kali continued to stroke herself. No longer dreaming about a handsome stranger, her level of arousal waned. So, she absent-mindedly played with her pussy, under Ryan's burning gaze. After a significant amount of time passed, she heard a sigh of frustration and then "Stop". Kali obeyed his demand and stopped stroking her bare cunt. "You're not enjoying yourself like you were before," stated Ryan. 

'No shit, Sherlock. How the fuck does you expect me to get wet and hot, when you're dress like an old woman, Petunia,' she said to herself.

Kali glared at the man who was kneeled before her. She saw that he was wearing black, Kohl eyeliner around the rims of his eyelids. He wore a silk kimono that was light blue in color and had bright pink flowers printed on the fabric. He wore nothing underneath the ladies' garment, so his nude form was on display. She resisted the urge to laugh at his outfit. 

"Rub yourself for me," he instructed. "And do it the way..." he waved his finger at her, "...you were doing it before." 

'Okay, you pansy' she thought. She closed her eyes and was about to delve into a masturbatory-inspired fantasy, when she heard his annoying voice again.

"Nope, I want your eyes open and I want you to stare at me," Ryan instructed. A growl of irritation left her body and she received a swat of the hand against her pussy for her troubles. She gasped and her hips jerked into the air, as pain shot through her. "And I don't want any of that black girl-sass coming from you either! Now get to it!" 

Kali leveled a gaze of strong dislike towards Ryan as she reached down into the area between her thighs and proceeded to stroke at her cunt again. Once again, she just stroked her pussy without any enthusiasm, as if she wasn't masturbating in front of another person, but was crocheting a blanket instead. 

"Kali," she heard him growl in irritation at her. 

It was a growl that was made as a warning. She felt her anger run through her body. He annoyed her with his stupid demands. If the act of having a champagne bottle shoved up her twat or the act of being ass-raped by a huge cock didn't scare her, she would've told Ryan to go fuck himself by now. If he allowed her to close her eyes and allowed her mind to drift off into a fantasy, she would've given him the reaction that he wanted. 

'Fuck, what should I do?' she thought. Her mind drew a blank when it came to ideas. She wasn't aroused and the fucking she-male wasn't helping her with his death-glares and implied threats either. She tried to drift her line of vision to different spots in the room, but she would receive harsh slaps to her thighs by Ryan, whenever she would. 

"KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME!!!" he shouted at her.

He slapped her thigh again. Kali glanced at him. Ryan, who was a participant of the androgynous style, was still considered masculine. Despite the taste for eyeliner, the effeminate voice and the penchant for wearing women's garments, Ryan was still an alpha male. His height was six feet and five inches and he weighed two-hundred and thirty-eight pounds, Ryan Whittler couldn't even persuade a blind man that he was a woman. She knew that Ryan never had any trouble obtaining a willing female. But, she didn't understand why he wanted to fuck her all the time. She knew that he was capable of easily finding a willing woman to fuck. He was wealthy, handsome, had a reputation of being 'a bad boy, he wielded some power and he had a distinctive personality. 

'All right, you bipolar, panty-wearing fuck!' her brain screamed at him. 

Her pretty, violet-colored eyes stared at Ryan's face. She made brief contact with his pale-green eyes and switched to gaze at his nose, when she felt unease by his glare. She stared at his nose that was slightly crooked, due to a previous act of being broken and then improperly re-aligned. Her eyes had gone from his face and traveled down to his neck, as well as, shoulders. Unlike Daniel's neck and shoulders, Ryan's parts weren't bulky with thick muscles. He possessed a build that was similar to an Olympic swimmer: svelte but was muscular. Like an Olympic swimmer, even his body was voided of body hair. As her eyes stared at his muscled torso, she felt her pussy twitch as blood rushed to that area. Her level of arousal was raise. Her fingertips ground against her clit.

'Don't stare at his face. Don't stare at his face. Ignore his stare. Ignore his stare. Focus. Focus. Think of Daniel... Think of Daniel....Daniel...Daniel...Think of...'

'...Think of me... Think of me, Kay-Ray... Think of me...'

Kali could've sworn she heard Daniel's voice. It was as if he just whispered in her ear. 'Think of Daniel...Daniel... Daniel...'

Like the night before, Kali's mind drifted off. Her imagination had gone into overdrive. 

A few minutes later, she was pulled back to her reality by her impending climax. "Ugh... Oooh, I'm cummin! I'm cummin. Oh God," Kali loudly groaned as her first wave of pleasure struck her. A litany oof feminine moans saturated the massive bedroom's atmosphere, as her body shook and trembled in orgasmic bliss. Once the spasms disappeared, she let out a loud groan. She rolled her tall and lithe form onto her left side. She buried her face into the soft comforter for a small reprieve.

Her moment of peace ended when she felt light warm kisses applied to her right thigh. There was a trail of kisses that started from her hip, down the curvy slope of her flank, her ribs and to her front where his mouth settled on her right breast. She rolled onto her back and spread her legs. 

Ryan slipped his body in between her legs with a familiarity, as if it was his rightful place. Ryan continued to apply attention to her breasts as he shifted his position. His right hand reached down to his prick and grasped it. Using his hand as a guide, the glans repetitively rubbed against her slit while collecting copious amounts of her nectar. He heard a light whimper come from her plump mouth and felt her wet cunt bump into his cock in the form of thrusts. Ryan guided his cock's head into her warmth and was greeted by a squeeze. He placed a groan against her breasts as pleasure shot through him. 

Kali's body trembled as she felt Ryan's dick wedged itself inside of her, in a brutal thrust. The thick, blunt object butted against her pelvis entrance as her pussy pulsed and grasped at him. With her jaw clenched, she let out a shrill as pain ran through her. Hot, fresh tears slipped from her closed eyes and ran down her face. Her fingernails dug themselves into his shoulders as her legs tightly wrapped themselves around her waist. She felt the tip of his tongue lick up the moisture that was on her cheeks. He managed to lick away the fresh tears that slipped out of her closed eyes.

"Open your eyes and stare at me," she heard Ryan say in a low, guttural growl. 

Her eyelids fluttered a few times before they pulled back and revealed their amethyst-hued orbs. Each eye zoned in on Ryan's face as it hovered over her heart-shaped face. Kali thought he held a facial expression of exertion. His entire face was flushed. His nostrils were flaring and were making harsh inhalations. His full bottom lip was tucked into his mouth and was held in place by his incisors. His green eyes glared at her. He released his bottom lip just to say, "Now keep them on me." Then, he withdrew his cock until the blunt tip remained inside of her. The pain, which turned into a level of discomfort, dissipated and she let out a sigh. Another sigh escaped from her mouth, when she felt his cock submerged into her and gave her cervix a nod. There was a slow withdrawal from her core with his cock pulling out gently and carefully. He didn't linger outside for too long before re-instated himself.

"Oh," she lightly gasped, as a lash of pleasure burst into her lower region. With her mouth agape, her eyes had gone wide in surprise at the unexpected sign of pleasure. "Oh," she gasped again as she felt another throb of pleasure in her sex as Ryan's cock doled out another stroke. Her lower back lifted off of the soft mattress as her leg's grasp tightened around him. Her hands fell from his shoulders and rested beside her head. 

"You feel..." he started out saying before having his voice trail off into grunts and groans, pleasure conquering his cognizant thoughts. 

"Oooh," Kali moaned as her body burned from pleasure as she received his cock in slow, fluid thrusts. Her eyelids fluttered like flying butterfly wings before closing permanently. Her hands gripped the blanket that she laid on. 

"Open your eyes," he said in a soft voice, his tone of voice could serve as evidence that his pleasure coursed through his body. Kali's eyes opened at half-mast; the bottom of her pupils showed. Her lips were pursed and Ryan took the pose as an invitation. Her moans were buried beneath his lips as he kissed her. 

"Harder," she sighed, once she felt his lips lift off of hers. 

"What?" he growled out.

"Harder... Harder... I want...Please," she moaned. 

With a loud, harsh groan, Ryan withdrew his cock and rose off of her pliant form. He kneeled on the mattress. "Get on your hands and knees," he instructed. Kali rolled onto her hands and knees in front of him. She felt his hands hold onto her hips and kept her still as his cock re-introduces itself in the form of a rough thrust. She moaned, her body trembled and her back arched as pleasure ran through her. During their rough rutting, his hands left her hips and sought her shoulders. "Oh yeah," Ryan grunted as he pounded his cock into his concubine's gash. The sounds of their bodies joining filtered into the bedroom. 

Ryan never felt this type of pleasure before with Kali. When compared to her previous times, she was now an enthusiastic lover and an active participant versus their previous interludes. He enjoyed the way her cunt clenched at his prick as he pumped into her warmth. He heard how she moaned and mewled in pleasure. He loved it. His eyes reveled in celebration as he watched her upper body writhed and how her lower body wiggled on his dick. During the sessions from the past, which happen to be every one of them, Kali acted as if she was practically comatose. She was quiet, emotionally cold and there was a glaze in her eyes. 

"Mmm," Ryan growled as he watched her pretty brown pussy swallow up his thick shaft. "Mmm, do you like this?" The urge to hear her say that she was enjoying herself was strong.

"Y-Yes," she stuttered. Kali cried out in ecstasy as she felt her climax slid into her body with an unsuspecting force. Her eyes shut closed while her body had become tense. A few intense tremors and spasms later, Kali's body sank down onto the soft mattress. Her body felt loose and soft like a pile of clay. "Baby," she sighed into the comforter. 

She felt a pulling sensation in her lower body and then a pair of hands on her waist. The hands asked for her to turn onto her back. She complied. Once settled on her back, her eyes focused on the tall and muscular physique that belonged to Ryan. He was still kneeled on the mattress and he filled up the space that was in between her thighs. His svelte, muscular torso was drenched in sweat, making his body glow underneath the soft lighting. His chest rose and fell with each pant that he had taken. His shoulder-length, orange-red hair was moist, wild and unkempt on his head. His neck and face was ruddy with exertion. His light-colored eyes glared at her. The gaze was unnerving for her. She was tempted to back away from him.




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 02



"Where have you been hiding, Kali?" Ryan asked her as he rubbed her thighs with gentle caresses.

"Huh?" she said, with her confusion shown.

In response, Ryan had taken his index finger and plunged his digit into her wetness. Kali's reaction was instantaneous; her back arched and there was a gasp from her lips. A carnal sense of gratification ate away at her cunt as his finger pumped out of her wet canal. She cried out again as she felt another thick digit insert itself into her. She felt his fingers dole out slow, sensual strokes that tapped every one of her nerve endings. "Oh...oh...oh...mmmm...oh...oh...Ryan...ssh...fuck...Ryan..." Kali continued to moan out her ecstasy. 

Suddenly, the pleasure was halted, when she felt his fingers slide out of her warmth. She let out a whimper of disappointment. She gazed at him. She saw that there was a wry smile on his lips. 

Ryan held his two fingers up in the air like he was swearing an oath. "This is what I was referring to," he explained to her. His fingers were coated with her nectar, a blatant sign of her arousal. He watched her eyes focus on his fingers. Her eyes narrowed and then widened as she was enlightened to the subject that she was referring to. Then she made a glance at him and then her eyes had become downcast. She was embarrassed. 

'Oh no baby, don't be embarrassed,' he thought.

He injected his fingers into his mouth and sucked her flavor off of his fingers. "You taste sweet, my dear," he commented. He watched her eyes stare up at his face. He kept his eyes trained on the woman that lied on the mattress, even as he changed his position on the bed. He lied on the mattress with the front of his tall frame lying on the mattress. In this new position, his head was placed in between her opened thighs and he was facing her cunt. His eyes stared at her shaven sex and he felt his big cock throb in anticipation. 

Kali has managed to maintain the upkeep on her pussy in the manner of which Ryan preferred and he was pleased. As he gazed at her bare pussy, a shiver ran down his spine. His right, index finger traced along her moist slit with a feather-light touch. He listened to her moan and watched her pelvis tilt to the ceiling. His eyes pulled away from her sex to stare at her face. He whispered her name and she stared down at him. "You taste sweet, my dear." With his eyes focused on her face, his tongue introduced himself to her cunt and to the honey that secreted from it. He heard her sigh. "You don't mind if I sample from the source, do you?" 

"Oh God," she hissed.

He started from her puckered flesh and ended at her clitoris, Ryan's broad tongue had taken a swipe at her. He heard her shaky wail. He felt her cunt nudge his chin as she arched her back off of the bed. He placed his forearms underneath her hips and kept her legs apart while he managed to keep his upper body's weight on his elbows and triceps. The thick fingers spread her slicked, chocolate petals apart to reveal her pink, inflamed core. He noticed how wet she was. His dick throbbed and his mouth salivated. His soft lips latched onto her bud and suckled on the bundle of nerves as if he was a newborn sucking on a tit. 

"Oooh God!" Kali screamed out. Her hands grabbed onto Ryan's bright red locks and gently yanked. 

"Mmm," he groaned as if he was savoring a wonderful meal. His lips licked and nibbled at her puffy, hairless lips. His tongue licked at her cunt and clit while three of his fingers stroke at her walls. 

"Ry—

Ryan coaxed another orgasm from Kali's body. His fingers continued to pump in and out of her sheath as he changed his position on the large bed. Before her sexual high could dissipate, he plunged his large prick into her. 

"Ryan," she screamed into the air. Her limbs wrapped themselves around his frame. "Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan..." She continued to moan his name, in a chant, as he thrust his cock into her. 

"Urgh, baby, baby, baby..." grunted Ryan into the air as he pounded his cock into her willing cunt. He rode her hard and rough until his cock was spent. When he came, his body fell under a spell. The muscles in his body tensed as he felt his mind and heart stop functioning. A bright light flashed before his eyes as his cock spurted out its seed into her willing womb. 

Once the raging fire that was his climax had simmered down to embers, Ryan regrettably removed his flaccid prick from her body, with a grunt. Before collapsing onto the bed, he gave Kali a slow, passionate kiss. 

"Come here," he panted, after a moment of lying on the bed and listening to their pants. He didn't feel right with the notion of having Kali lying so far away from him. He heard the mattress' springs creaked as she slowly moved over to him. She reclined next to him with her head on his chest and her right arm draped across his muscled stomach.

Ryan lifted his head off of the mattress. He stared down at the top of her head. His eyes drifted to her right shoulder and then surveyed the rest of her body. He wanted to commit this moment into his memory. He wanted to make sure that he didn't dreamt this night. He placed his head back on the mattress. He stared up at the ceiling of the bedroom. He listened to the small moans and whimpers that she made. The sounds were a lullaby for his soul. His body gradually relaxed and he became sleepy. Before he surrendered to his body's request for slumber, he managed to form a final thought.

'Damn, she's finally mine.'

The sounds of strong, gusting winds blowing outside of his multi-room, mansion is the reason why Ryan woke up from his deep slumber. He was disorientated. He lifted slightly off of the mattress and surveyed his large master suite for the source of the noise. Once he discovered that it was the wind, he relaxed.

He turned his attention on the brown-skinned beauty that was lying next to him. She was lying next to him in close proximity. He could even hear her soft snoring. She lied on her left side on the bed. She was in a slight fetal position with her arms tucked in close to her chest. Her lips were pursed. Her curly, dark hair was mussed and wild. He smoothed her hair out of the way. He planted a kiss on her pouty lips. Even as she dreamed, she reciprocated to his act of affection.

"Baby," he murmured into her mouth. "I don't know what's going on..." his voice trailed off. He glanced at her face. His hand cupped her cheek. "But, I hope it is a sign for our future." He gave her mouth another kiss. "I love you," he proclaimed. He heard her sigh. He watched her roll onto her back. His eyes were drawn to her breasts. The pair jiggled as a result of her movement. His right hand sought for her tits. His hand massage and knead at the ample mounds of flesh. There was a moan that formed in her chest. 

As Ryan's hand caress at her body, his eyes gazed at the large keloid scar that marred her left breast. A source of sadness bloomed inside of him at the notion that she experienced such a horrible injury. 

His mind thought back to the memory of when she revealed her scar to him, for the first time. They were nine years old and she was his best friend. It was during the wee hours of a Sunday morning, of the late days in the month of June. On the previous day, he arrived at the doorstep of her grandparents' house, after spending two hours traveling by public transportation. He had decided to run away from home, after receiving his latest beating. His step-father had beaten him, as a punishment for yelling at his younger half-brother. His step-father pummeled on him as if he was another man and not a child. 

He remembered that he was punished in front of his mother as she sat in a wingback chair. She ignored her oldest son's whimpers and tears. She chose to ignore the sounds of her husband's grunts and the sickening noise of his meaty fists slamming into her little boy's body. She chose to console and coddle his brother, who watched Ryan being beaten. Ryan remembered Claude wearing a grin on his lips. 

Ryan ended up with a broken nose and bruises from that beating. He remembered his step-father dragging his weakened body into the cellar, which served as his bedroom afterwards. He remembered waiting until he heard the old man exit out of the cellar before he burst into tears. One of the housekeepers came into the mansions sub-level a few minutes later. In her Russian-accented voice, she asked the young Whittler if he knew anybody that he could stay with and would help him. His young mind thought of three people. He told her that he did know a few people. The old woman smiled as a result. Then, she gave the young boy a twenty dollar bill and a plastic bag that contained sixteen quarters. She gave him a MTA subway map. Later on that day, with a knapsack filled with his prized possessions, Ryan ran away from home. 

Ryan then remembered Kali's grandmother's reaction, when she saw his face and the other bruises that marred his body. She openly wept and murmured a prayer to Jesus as she observed the bruises. He remembered crying himself. He cried, due to happiness. He was happy to know that there was somebody in this world who cared for him and loved him. He was aware that Kali and her grandparents were nice and friendly people, but he was unsure that they loved him. He didn't think anyone loved him. His step-father hated him. His mother didn't love him and only tolerated him. His father abandoned him, when he was seven years old. He didn't know his maternal grandparents. He believed that his paternal grandmother was the only person who loved him, but she was no longer living. She died of cancer, when he was seven years old. So, for him to see Mama Richardson, a retired pediatrician cry in front of him, he felt an invisible boulder lift off of his shoulders. 

During the observation, Ryan noticed that Kali and her grandfather were quiet. They both stood by the back door, staring outside while the Richardson's matriarch did her medical observation in the middle of the kitchen. The both of them were standing in front of the door with their arms akimbo and their hands perched on their hips. He thought that the both of them were angry at him. He mistook their silence as a sign of disapproval. It wasn't until later on that night, when the kids were lying in Kali's queen-sized canopy bed that he learned about Kali's history. Then she had shown her best friend her scars. Ryan was surprised, scared and then angry. He made her the promise that he would always protect her. Then she gave him the same promise. To solidify their oath, Ryan gave her massive scarring a kiss and she gave the bridge of his nose a peck. 

Unbeknownst to Ryan, the four days in which he lived with the Richardson family were the last days of feeling happiness as a child. On the following Thursday, he returned from a neighborhood park with Kali, her cousins Keith and Junior to find his step-father's car parked in the driveway of the house. Reluctantly, he had gone into the house to find his mother, step-father and Mister Hanley, his step-father's friend and lawyer inside of the living room. He remembered how dreadful that he felt and the hopelessness. 

Ryan banished the painful fragments of memory into the back of his mind. He didn't want to think of his family anymore. They caused enough pain and turmoil for him. He needed a distraction. Suddenly, his ears picked up Kali's sigh. 

'I found my distraction.'

His mouth sucked on the turgid flesh while his left hand massaged her right tit. She moaned and squirmed as she slept. His mouth released her right nipple. His tongue traced a circle around her nipple and then dragged across the deep valley to her left one. The tip of his tongue ran a circle around her nipple before his mouth drew her into his mouth. His ears picked up the moans that her mouth formed. 

"Mmm... Daniel," she moaned.

Ryan heard the name of the person that fell from her lips. His mouth had gone slack. 

'Daniel? Daniel? Dan—

He rose to his knees. He stared down at Kali's sleeping form. She was totally unaware of the anger that she had aroused in him. His anger burned at his soul. It caused his conscience to fall into the recesses of his mind. 

'Daniel? Was that motherfucker the person that you were thinking—?

Enraged, Ryan gave Kali a brutal strike across her face. The slap had caused her to slip out of her slumber. She was alarmed and disorientated. She didn't know what had caused her to wake up. 

"Ry—

Kali had glanced at Ryan's face and saw the anger that was etched on his handsome face. Her doe-shaped eyes had gone wide as the fear settled into her bones. She moved to go to the edge of the bed, but he managed to capture her. He grabbed a hold of her shoulder-length hair and yanked her form towards him. He pushed her down onto the mattress. Kali received another slap across her face. She screamed out in pain. In return, he gave her another one. His hands had gone around her neck. He squeezed tightly. She struggled against him. She let out a gasp and then a gag. Her hands grabbed onto his wrists. She scratched at his skin with her fingernails. The defense tactic had gone unnoticed. 

"YOU GODDAMNED SLUT" he screamed at her, before giving her face another open-handed slap. He noticed her tears and sobbing. "WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT HIM?" He gave her another slap. With his hands still gripping onto her neck, Ryan lifted Kali off of the mattress. He forced her to kneel in front of him and made her face him. "YOU LIED TO ME! I ASKED YOU IF HE MADE YOU CUM AND YOU SAID 'NO'! YOU SAID 'NO' AND YOU LIED TO ME! YOU FUCKING LIED TO ME!" he screamed into her face. 

"I don't know who you are talking about" she whimpered, in between her sobs. "I'm sorry, Ry—

"SHUT UP!" he commanded. "DID HE FUCK YOUR PUSSY? DID YOU SUCK HIS COCK?" he yelled at her. He felt her body shake in fear. Her face was smothered with her tears and with blood. His conscience did slightly rise to the forefront of his mind, when he saw the blood. But, then his mind's eye played an imagined image of Truck and Kali in an embrace. His anger overpowered his sense of regret. His body hardened as his emotions were frozen. "ANSWER ME!" he shouted.

"Yes," she whimpered. "Yes."

Then there was an ample amount of silence between the two of them. 

Kali saw the anger in his eyes and felt the emotion radiate off of his form. His grip on her neck loosens and then his hands released her neck. 

"Get on your hands and knees," he said through his clenched jaw. 

Kali heard the coldness and cruelty in his words. She knew that he had something planned and it was going to be painful. The urge to jump off of the bed and run away, filled her. Kali, however, didn't run away. Instead Kali shifted down to her hands and knees in front of him. His left hand took a hold of her right hip to keep her in place. His right hand guided his thick member into her warmth. She was still moist from their previous encounters, so she was able to adjust to his size. His cock lingered in her warmth for a moment before withdrawing. His cock returned a few seconds later and soon a rhythm formed. Her pussy was subjected to his cock's thrusts that were slow in speed and deep. She felt his girth stretch her walls. Soon, Kali's cries of despair were replaced with cries of pleasure. 

"Oooh... Ryan... Ryan... aaah... Ryan... Ryan..." she moaned loudly. His thrusts picked up speed. "Oh Ryan," she whimpered. She heard her lover growl loudly. His thrusts were rough. "Ryan... Ryan... Ryan...right there... Ry—

Abruptly, the pleasure ceased inside of her. His movements stilled. Then, she felt his cock slip out of her. Kali looked over her shoulder at Ryan. His eyes were focused on her face. She took note of the angry, icy glaze that covered his green pupils. She witnessed his hand cup his mouth. She heard him spit into his hand. His dropped his hand and she watched his arm moved in a swinging motion. An idea had run through her mind and it scared her. She flinched. Then she felt her neck being held down to the mattress by his hand. 

"Keep still," he ordered to her whimpering form.

Ryan guided his glans to the opening of her puckered anus. The tip of his cock nudged the opening. He listened to Kali plea of leaving her asshole unscathed. She apologized profusely. He listened to her for a few seconds before pushing the bulbous head into her ass, with the finesse of an angry bull in a china shop. He listened to her ear-splitting screams. He watched her struggle. In response, he forced two inches worth of cock into her ass. She screamed out. He rammed the rest of his prick into the tight canal, much to Kali's dismay. Ryan let out a drawn out groan. His cock was thoroughly pleased at the sensation that her ass was providing. 

"RYAN PLEASE!" Kali screamed out. Her arms flailed in the air while she tried to free herself. Her ass felt as if she was being ripped apart. Ryan was unmerciful with his harsh thrusts. Kali screamed for mercy. He ignored her. She felt like her torture would never end. When she heard Ryan announced that his orgasm was near, she sobbed with relief. A few seconds later, she listened to Ryan's roar. She felt four sharp thrusts before his cock was expelled from her rectum with a careless withdrawal. 

Kali immediately collapsed onto the mattress after her release. She slipped into a fetal position as she cried. Her hands had gone to her bottom, where she covered her butt, which was a misguided attempt to alleviate the pain.

"When I return, this bedroom better be empty," was his form of a goodbye. He slipped off of his massive bed and traveled to the dressing chamber, which is connected to the bathroom. A few seconds later, there was an ear-splitting noise of the bathroom's door closing shut.

By the time she managed to leave the bed and slipped her clothes back on, close to an hour had passed. She slowly made her way out of Ryan's bedroom. As she entered the stairwell and was about to close Ryan's door, she thought that she heard the bathroom's door open. She descended down the stairs at a methodical and dawdling speed. Any sudden movements caused a ripple of agony in the contusion that was her asshole. She was climbing down the stairs, when she heard Ryan's bedroom door open. Fearing that he was going to hurt her again, Kali's carelessly made her way down the staircase. She managed to become tripped up by her own feet. She tumbled down the remaining five stairs. When she landed at the base of the staircase, she landed on her left hand and wrist in a violent fashion. 

She had gone to lift herself off of the floor, when there was a shooting pain in her left wrist. She groaned in pain. She achieved in getting back up. She survived off of her adrenaline. Kali traveled down the first level of the mansion. Then she managed to make it to the front door and out of the house. 

Usually she disliked having her bathwater's temperature to be hot, but tonight she'll make the exception. By the time her bath was ready, the steam from the water already had the mirror and the window's panes fogged up. Kali slowly stripped out of her clothes and deposited them onto the tiled floor. She was about to toss her panties on the floor, but stopped when she saw the large spots of blood on the fabric. There was a suspicion that her anus was torn. Her suspicion was aroused as she was traveling home and she felt her moisture gather in the seat of her underwear. She knew that she needed to go to a doctor to have her wound inspected. 

Then, there was the problem with her left hand. Her wrist and hand ached. The pain was a dull throbbing when it was dormant. But when she moved her hand, the ache had increased and it was agony. She suspected that her wrist was broken or badly sprained. Her hand was more comfortable tucked into her body and pressed into her chest, like it was broken wing. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 03



18 Days Later...

Kali glanced at her gold Movado watch to check the time. It was fifteen minutes before eight o' clock. She knew that she should've been at the Tolley residence by now. She had left her home at a reasonable hour because she knew that it would've been rude of her, if she would've shown up to the party late. 

However, the New York City public transportation didn't care about her need of being punctual. While she was traveling on the first train, the World Trade Center-bound 'E' train, there were several unexpected stops along the way. An incident had occurred earlier in the day, which required the NYPD to intervene and it caused for several delays. So now, a twenty-six minute trip was altered into a forty-minute trip. 

Once she was off of that train, she had ridden on two more trains before she arrived into the borough of Manhattan. She had to take a bus afterwards. Luckily the one bus she did have to ride on, she was able to sit down in an unoccupied seat. She sighed in relief and silent thanked the heaven, because she was able to sit down and rest her feet. As she sat on the felt-covered seat, there was a dull sense of discomfort inside of her bum. 

****

When Dr. Katrina Mora checked her messages off of her answering machine, one of the messages that she listened to belonged to her best friend, Kali Richardson. In the message, Kali asked her friend if she had any time, during that day, to give her an examination. She stated that she was not feeling well at the moment. Katrina then noticed her friend's tone of voice. For Katrina, she thought her friend sounded sick. Immediately, she called Kali and informed her friend to show up to the office around noon. She listened to Kali thank her profusely. She noted her friend's voice. She sounded grateful, but underneath it, there was a sense of scariness. Once she was off of the phone with Kali, Katrina sighed as she placed the phone's receiver back on the hook. She gazed down at the framed picture that she kept on her desk. The picture that was encased was one of Katrina and Kali, when they were children. They were ten years old in the picture. The picture was taken by Kali's grandfather. 

She sighed once again. "Fucking Ryan" she groaned.

Noon has now approached. Katrina received a page from Lulu, an assistant who works the front desk in the patients' waiting room. She called the front desk and spoke with the young woman. Lulu informed the doctor that Kali was waiting in an examination room. 

"How does she look?" Katrina asked.

"She looks like shit" was Lulu's answer.

Katrina entered the examination room. She turned from the closed door to see Kali sitting on the examination bench. She noticed the small bruising on Kali's left cheek and how her left hand was curled and was held by her right hand. 

"Oh my God Kali, what happened to you?" Katrina said to her, feeling concerned. She walked over to her friend. She gently touched at Kali's face. 

"I..."

Kali shrugged her shoulders, shook her head in disbelief, sighed and then glanced down at her lap. Katrina clasped her friend on her right shoulder, in act of consolation. She lifted her head and stared at her friend while a pair of tears drifted down her cheeks. She let out a sigh. "Ryan" was her answer.

Katrina had let out an expletive. She took a glance at her friend. She noticed how dim her friend's violet eyes were. She recognized the look. It was an expression of hopelessness. She had first seen the look, when she was an ER doctor, working out of King's County Hospital. She saw the same expression of numerous women, who she treated while their abusers stood by the doorways of the examination rooms.

"You need to have that son of a bitch thrown into jail!" Katrina suggested to Kali as she walked over to her rolling stool. She sat down on her stool and rolled the chair over to her workstation. She pulled a few blank forms from a file holder and a pen from the breast pocket of her lab coat. She was silent as she filled out the pages. "Do you want me to test you for any STD's, STI's and HIV?" she asked after a while. Now, she was in her 'Doctor Mode'.

"No" Kali whimpered.

"Do you need a Plan B pill?" Katrina asked.

"No."

"Judging by the way you are holding onto your wrist, your wrist is bothering you. Do you want me to look at that injury?" 

"Yes," Kali whimpered. 

"Is there anything else that needs to be look at?"

Kali nodded her head and then a whimper escaped her mouth. "Yeah."

"Okay, what is it?" Katrina inquired as she wrote on a page. There was silence. Katrina turned her attention to Kali. "Okay, what is the injury?" 

Kali let out a sigh and then used her right, index finger to point to her right buttock. Katrina's dark brown eyes followed her finger's journey. Once she figured out what type of injury Kali was suffering from, she let out a growl. 

Kali stared at her friend. "I'm sorry, Katrina."

Katrina gave her best friend a glance before going to back to filling out her paperwork. "So am I" she mumbled under her breath. 

Kali allowed her friend to treat her injuries without an iota of hesitation. As Katrina did her work, both women conversed. They talked about a range of topics, in hopes of getting rid of the tension that was circulating throughout the room. Eventually, the topic of her last night with Ryan was brought to the surface. 

Katrina knew everything that was going on between Kali and Ryan Whittler. Kali reluctantly told her friend, a few months into her 'relationship' with Ryan. On a night, during the wee hours of morning, Katrina received a call from Kali. Her friend needed her help, ever since she was a doctor. Katrina, without any hesitation, quickly made her way over to Kali's house. Using a spare key that was hidden on the lentel of the front door, she let herself inside of the house. She founded Kali inside of her bedroom, sitting in her bed. Katrina had taken a gander at the blood that saturated a portion of the mattress, the blankets and on her friend. She knew what was wrong. 

Katrina had taken her friend to a nearby hospital, where she was examined and then was informed by the treating physician that she suffered a miscarriage. Kali wasn't aware that she was pregnant. 

"Did you look for the video tape while you were there?" Katrina asked.

"Yes, I couldn't find it. I looked in his closet and in his nightstand drawers. The tape isn't in there. But, I do think he has the video tape in this secret room that is in his bedroom. But, he keeps the door locked."

"The tape could be in that room. Or... the video tape isn't a video tape anymore" Katrina informed her.

"What do you mean?" Kali asked as she looked over her left shoulder at her friend.

"We live in a digital age, honey. Nobody uses VCR's anymore—

"Well, I do" Kali interjected.

"With the exception of you, no one uses VCR's anymore. Everybody is buying DVD players now. People are swapping out their VHS tapes for DVD's. Ryan probably has taken the footage from that old video tape and has converted all of that info onto a DVD. While you were going through his shit, did you happen to come across a DVD in an inappropriate place?" Katrina asked. 

Kali thought back to her search process. She remembers not coming across a DVD. 

"No, there wasn't a DVD" she said to her friend.

"Well, it must be inside of that locked room." There was a brief moment of silence. "Well, there's a bit of good news for you. He didn't tear anything to the point that you need surgery or stitches. There is slight tearing to your anal cavity, but it's the same type of tearing that comes from straining while you're pooping."

"Good, can you just fix it please?"

Katrina did her best to help Kali with her injuries. Her best friend concluded that her wrist wasn't broken or fractured, but was sprained. Katrina wrapped the injured limb with two rolls of Ace bandages. Then she had written a prescription for a low-quality painkiller. For the bruises, Katrina suggested for her friend to start wearing make up to cover up the bruising on her face and to wear turtleneck sweaters to cover up the bruising on her neck. 

"Kali, please consider pressing charges on that asshole. He belongs in a jail cell" Katrina told her.

"I'll think about it."

****

"HELLO KALI RICHARDSON!" Cossette Tolley greeted Kali after she opened the front door. 

"Hell—

Cossette let out a high-pitched squeal that could've cut glass. She ran up to Kali and placed her in an embrace. The exuberant woman gave Kali a hug that was so tight that her breathing was temporarily restricted. Even though the brunette beauty was petite, she was very strong. 

"Cossette, darling, I cannot breathe" Kali gasped. 

The woman released Kali from her clutches. "Oh," Cossette gasped. "I am so sorry! I tend to get too excited sometimes!"

"Cossette, I remember how excited you can get," Kali told her, which made the 5'4 woman laughed enthusiastically. 

A stiff, freezing wind blew at the women. "Oh, let's go inside and get out of this cold!" 

Cossette Tolley was a former classmate of Kali's, when she was a student at the private prep school. Kali and Cossette had a friendship that was founded more on necessity than from genuine interest. Both girls were bullied, starting from elementary school to their final year of middle school, by mutual classmates. They realized that there was safety in numbers, so they kept each other's company. Then, during the summer break before their freshman year started, Cossette and her family moved out of New York City to live in Charlotte, North Carolina. But, Cossette always remained in contact with Kali. 

A few days ago, Kali received an invitation, via email letter, from Cossette to attend this holiday party. The party was being held in her parents' home and was hosted by her mother, the brainchild for this function. The party also served as a "Welcome Back/Housewarming Party" for the couple, who recently moved back to New York City. 

Cossette had taken Kali's coat and gave the item to the hired coat check woman. "Kali, hubba-hubba, you look gorgeous!" commented Cossette as she stared at Kali. 

Kali gave her outfit a brief glance and then stared at Cossette. "Ummm, thank you, Cossette" she said to the woman. "You look wonderful tonight as well."

Kali did believe her friend looked beautiful. Her onyx-colored hair was styled in a French roll in the back of her head with an array of curls up top. The makeup on her face was subtle. She wore a knee-length, cocktail dress that was a sapphire-blue and had a scoop neckline. On her feet, she wore a pair of silver, high heeled sandals that Kali thought was inappropriate to wear in this type of weather.

Still feeling self-conscious about the dress, Kali glanced down at the dress again. 

The outfit that she chose to wear that night was an item that originally belonged to her grandmother. Kali found the dress stored in the back of the closet that was attached to her grandmother's old bedroom. At first, she thought her grandmother must've forgotten to pack the dress away, during the moving process. Then she realized that the dress was too small for her grandma's 176-pound frame. She realized that her Mama had left the dress for her. 

She thought the dress was too beautiful to wear for just any function. The dress was the color of red and was knee-length with three-fourth of a quarter-inched sleeves. The dress was made from silk and the material clasped onto every one of Kali's curves. There was a boat-neck collar that kept the atrocities that marked her flesh hidden. She wore a pair of flesh colored, stockings on her legs while a pair of black, and patent-leather 'peep toe' shoes on her feet. She straightened out her hair and then styled her hair with big, bouncy curls in a vintage 1940's way. Inspired by the upcoming holiday, she pinned a poinsettia and mistletoe to her hair. She kept her makeup neutral.

"I didn't know whether or not if I should've worn this dress tonight. I thought it was a bit risqué to wear. But, I couldn't find anything—

"No, no, you look great! You look absolutely gorgeous!" claimed Cossette. "You must tell me where did you buy this dress?"

"You're going to have to ask my grandmother that question. It was originally her dress."

"Oooh, so it's a vintage dress, which makes it even more fashionable. So, how is your grandmother, by the way? How does she like Georgia?" Cossette inquired as they walked out of the foyer. 

"She likes Georgia, but I think she prefers New York City..."

The party was in full-swing, by the time Kali arrived to the residence. Each room of the large townhouse was occupied with party-goers. The Tolleys didn't spare any expense, when it had come to this party. For entertainment, there was an actual band that was playing music while their lead singer sung tunes from the 1940's. The food and drinks were provided by a catering service, which also provided the serving staff for the party. The entire house was decorated in such manner that it could give the Bloomingdales' store-front windows a run for their money. Just by watching everyone else have fun had caused Kali's mood to uplift. 

Cossette volunteered herself as being Kali's tour guide for the rest of the night. She introduced Kali to numerous other guests, who were friends, family members or business associates to the Tolley family. Occasionally, the women were approached by the hired servants, who carried large silver platters and would ask the women if they wanted a hors d'oeuvre. Cossette politely declined while Kali would quickly snatch up a sample and thank the employee. She was starving.

"Oooh, Kali, aren't you hungry" claimed Cossette with a bright smile.

Kali blushed in embarrassment. She quickly chewed on the shrimp that was in her mouth. "I'm sorry, Cossette. I haven't eaten anything all day. I have been busy running around today and I haven't found the time to eat."

"Oh don't worry, Kali, you're doing what you're supposed to do at one of these parties, which is enjoy yourself!" Cossette told her, with her Southern twang prominent. "For a minute there, I just thought that I may not be the only pregnant one here—

During her case of surprise, Cossette let out a low gasp. Her bright blue eyes had gone wide in diameter. There was a blush to her cheeks and neck. Her right hand had shot up to her opened mouth and covered it. She glanced away from Kali and then returned her stare onto the taller woman. 

Meanwhile, Kali felt like a bowling ball had managed to sink into the pit of her stomach. Her mouth had suddenly gone dry while a lump formed in her throat. She blinked her eyes a few times to keep from crying. She placed her right hand on her friend's left hand. 

"Cossette... are you pregnant?" Kali whispered to her friend.

Cossette nodded her head frantically while squealing in glee. She ran into Kali's arms for an embrace. The taller woman wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and gave her a slight squeeze. "Kali, please don't tell anybody. It's a secret! I found out about the baby, two weeks ago and we haven't told anybody yet! We haven't even told everybody about us eloping! Promise me that you won't say anything?" Cossette asked her friend.

"I promise I won't say anything" Kali said to her friend, with her voice cracking. The woman parted, when they heard a few women shriek in horror. Both women looked in the direction of where the noise had come from.

Cossette and Kali quickly learned that the noise wasn't made in horror, but rather from awe. They both gazed at the small group of people who had entered the large living room. Leading the pack of individuals were Daniel 'Truck' Logan and Ryan Whittler. Standing a few inches behind Ryan, to his left, was Carlo Rossi, who was holding the hand of his girlfriend. Standing behind Ryan, on his right side, was Ryan's girlfriend Suzette Garrison. 

Kali noticed that both Daniel and Ryan were gazing in their direction. It appeared as if the men were staring at both women, but Kali knew better. 

'Shit, well, there goes my evening' Kali said to herself.

The group walked over in their direction while leaving a few women pleasantly stunned in their wake. The three men walked up to Kali and Cossette while the women of their group decided to lean against the doorframe that separated the dining room and the living room.

"Hey baby" Daniel announced as he strolled up to them. Kali watched as the tall, muscular man walked up to Cossette and slip the petite woman into his embrace. Cossette returned the act of affection and she applied a sweet kiss on his lips. 

Kali felt her heart make a few hard beats against her rib cage. 

Cossette and Daniel exchanged a few kisses before they separated from each other. Daniel then turned his attention to Kali.

"Hello Kali, it's been a long time since I've seen you! How have you been?" inquired Daniel, with a perfect mask of deceit on his face.

A strong source of guilt and shame had struck her at that moment. Here she was: hanging out with an old friend, who was pregnant and super-duper nice to her and she was secretly fucking her man. Then, there was the painful feeling of heartbreak that she was enduring. There was something about seeing her lover treating her as if she was a stranger made her heart hurt. Kali thought that her heart was going to fall out of its nest and drop into her stomach, where it will be burned by the acid that lays there. She so wanted to cry at that moment. 

Kali forced a toothy smile on her lips. "I am feeling all right, Daniel. How are you doing?" She stuck out her hand, a silent request for a handshake. Daniel's hand reached out and shook her hand. At the first contact, there was a shiver tingling at her spine and a flashback of their last sexual encounter playing in her mind. She reluctantly let go of his hand. She swore to herself that she saw a glimmer coat his eyes.

"I'm feeling wonderful" answered Daniel. He gave his wife a heart-warming hug. "I am a blessed man."

"And that's because we're not sinning, but winning" Cossette added, cheerfully with a bright smile.

There was a loud cackling of laughter. Kali turned her attention to Carlo, who was indeed laughing.

'What an asshole' her mind muttered.

"Good evening Carlo" Cossette said to the short-stature man, with a tight smile on her face. She looked over to Ryan. Her eyes perused the tall man's physique before glancing back at his face. She offered Ryan another one of her tight-lipped smiles. "Good evening to you too, Ryan" she said in a monotone voice. It was evident that she was not pleased to see the both of the men at her parents' party. 

"Good evening Mary-Anne, how are you feeling tonight?" Ryan greeted in his usual feminine lilt. "What a lovely little party that your parents have thrown. I would've been here sooner, except I didn't know what time this party started. After all, I didn't receive my invitation. It probably has gotten lost in the mail." 

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, ever since an invitation wasn't sent out" Cossette informed him.

Kali's eyebrows lifted from the amusement and pleasant surprise that she felt, once she heard Cossette's feisty statement. When they were kids, Cossette was meek and quiet. 

'Well, a lot can happen in many years', her mind reasoned.

At this moment, Kali noticed that Daniel was now staring at her while his woman was speaking to Ryan. Kali's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. His eyes were warm and lit with recognition. She thought that he was trying to apologize for the charade that he had just pulled. 

She adverted her eyes over to where Ryan and Carlo were standing. Her eyes glared at Ryan. He kept his attention on Cossette as she spoken to him. Tonight, he chose to wear a simple black suit and a white dress shirt underneath. On his feet was a pair of black Tom Ford. His bright red hair was styled in a ponytail. She noticed that he sported stubble on his chiseled face. His arms were folded across his chest. There was a grin on his face. His aura reeked of smugness. Unexpectedly, his eyes darted over to Kali. She watched his eyes scanned her curvy frame as she stood in front of him. Then a broad smile graced his lips.




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 03



'Oh no,' her mind sighed in weariness. She walked away from the small gathering. As she walked away, she could feel Ryan's eyes glued to her backside. She walked across the dining room to a corner of the room, where there was an unoccupied seat that was by a window. 

'Tonight is going to be definitely a long one.'

Kali had every intention of staying away from Ryan Whittler and the rest of his ilk. Two hours had passed since their arrival and so far she has managed to fulfill her objective. She has interacted with the other guests. She has listened to their stories. There were guests who she thought were interesting, funny or charming while there were other folks who appeared to be needy, boring or too elitist for her liking. During the conversations, she has recited a brief summary of her life to them, when they asked. Occasionally, Cossette would check up on her from time to time and then she would leave her alone, once she realized that Kali was enjoying herself. In between chatting with the guests, she managed to dine on the served food.

She dined on a lot of food. 

She made herself several small plates of meals throughout the course of her stay, which surprised her. She usually had a small appetite. 

Kali's mood picked up once more, when Deer and Chai had shown up with their six children. The brood of jubilant children shrieked and yelled with joy as they ran through the first level of the house with their parents chasing after them and apologizing to guests, at the same time. Needing the distraction, Kali helped the parents corral their children. She also helped Chai fix plates of meals for the kids as well. Kali could tell that the woman felt extremely grateful for the help. While the children sat at the long table in the dining room and eating their dinner, the two women chatted with each other. 

"So there's no boyfriend?" Chai inquired, while she gently bounced her seven month-old son on her lap. 

"Nope, no boyfriend" Kali answered her question while she spoon fed Chai's daughter Alexis a spoonful of jellied, cranberry relish. Kali watched the three year-old scrunch up her face and grimace from the bittersweet taste. Then the child opened her mouth for more relish. It earned a hearty laugh from both her mom and Kali. 

"Well, when you do snag yourself a man, don't rush it. Trust me, if I knew what I know now, back then, I wouldn't have married Deer" confessed Chai. The confession had caused Kali to stare at her. 

"Really, why?"

"When I married Deer, I was nineteen years old and I was barely finishing with my freshman at Villanova. I had fancied the idea of going back for my sophomore year, but then I found out that I was pregnant with Nicholas, so that dream was dashed. Then, I thought 'After Nicholas reaches the age of four, I will go back to school and get my degree.' But then, when Nicky was six months old, I discovered that I was pregnant. And this time, I had twins, so there was no time for me to go back to school. So, if I had to do it again, I would've waited until after I graduated college, to get married. Now, don't get me wrong, I do love my husband..." 

Both women looked across the dining room and into the living room, where Deer was with his friends. Deer was listening to Daniel tell a story. Kali noticed how Cossette was standing next to him. Her short arm was draped around his hips while Daniel's arm were draped over her shoulders. Something was stuck in her peripheral view, so she turned to see what it was. Her eyes ended up meeting Ryan's green ones. Quickly, she turned her attention back to Chai.

"...and I would swim a thousand oceans if that was a way for me to prove that I love him, but still... I would've waited."

"So, your advice to me is to not to rush into things?" she asked Chai.

"Yes" Chai said to her with a nod of her head and a broad smile on her face. "Yes, yes, yes, yes..." Both women cackled in laughter. 

Linus, Chai's four year-old son, ran up to the women. "Mama, I have to go to the potty," he announced. 

Hearing that announcement caused Chai to immediately go into her 'mommymode'. She stopped laughing. "Um, Kali, do you mind holding onto Aiden while I'll take Linus upstairs to the bathroom?" she asked as she stood up from her seat. 

"Oh no, I don't mind," Kali said to the woman as she reached out for the baby. The child reached out for Kali, which gave her a happy surprise. Chai gave the baby to Kali. With the baby secured on Kali's lap, Chai was about to walk away when Alexis suddenly announced that she needed to use the bathroom too. So, the mother had taken two children to the nearest bathroom. 

Now, Kali was left alone with Baby Aiden. She rearranged the infant on her lap, so now the child was sitting on her lap and was facing her. She was greeted with a wide smile from the baby, for her effort. She smiled down at the child. 

"Hey Baby Aiden, how are you?" she cooed to the small child. There was a series of monosyllabic squeals from the child, in response. "Oh, you're such a handsome guy!" There were more squeals from the baby. 

After spending majority of her time, sitting down, Kali grew restless. She still was watching after Aiden. Chai hasn't returned from the bathroom with the kids yet. She didn't want to abandon her post, in case the mother returns. So, she thought of another idea. She began walking around the large room with the baby. Occasionally, she would dance with Aiden, when the band would play a festive song. The child would squirm, giggle and coo as he was held in her arms, which in turn made her feel wonderful.

As she carried the festive baby, she thought about the unborn child that she lost, a few months ago. She calculated in her mind that she would've been at least in second trimester of pregnancy, if she was still carrying. 'I bet seeing me waddle into his bedroom with a big ole' pregnant belly would've made Ryan leave me the hell alone,' she silently mused as she walked with the child in her arms. 

As she made her fifth lap around the dining room, she noticed that she had captured the attention of two men that was sitting in the living room. She stared at Daniel and Ryan as they watched her. She gave them a nod of her head and there was a small smile on her lips. 

"Okay... I am back," Chai announced as she entered into the dining room with two of her children. The children returned to their assigned chairs while their mother sat down in her seat. She reached for her child and Kali returned Aiden to his mother. The baby cooed and smiled at his mom. 

"Chai, I'll be right back. Now, I have to go to the bathroom," stated Kali.

"All right, but you might not want to go to the one upstairs. There is a long ass line. It's the reason why it had taken me so long to come back," explained Chai. 

"Ok, good looking out," Kali told her before walking away. 

She walked into the living room and traveled over to where Cossette was standing. She was still standing next to her husband and Kali's lover, Daniel. She asked Cossette for the location to another bathroom. 

"There's a bathroom in the basement. It is not as fancy as the other ones, but it is operable. Would you like for me to show you where it is?"

"Yes, please" Kali stated. 

Cossette tapped her husband on his shoulder and reported to him that she was going to escort Kali to the bathroom in the basement. Daniel glanced at Kali and then down at his wife.

"All right, baby," he said, before giving Kali another quick glance. The two women walked away from the gathering and out of the living room. When they were traveling down the corridor to the kitchen, they were stopped by Mrs. Tolley.

Cossette's mother looked stunning. She looked younger than her sixty-three years of age. She looked better than the women that were half her age. Her skin was ruddy with a good complexion. Like her daughter, she held dainty-looking facial features of big, blue eyes, an upturned nose, a full top lip and a thin bottom lip with a pair of puffy cheeks, on a small round face. Her silver-gray hair was styled in a pixie cut. Her outfit for the night was a simple one: a white, buttoned shirt that had a boat neck neckline, a pair of wide leg, high-waist slacks and a pair of red loafers on her feet. Her neck and ears were decorated with gold baubles and large diamonds. 

"Cossette, honey, I need your help with the roast. Can you help me?" Mrs. Tolley asked her daughter. 

"Sure Mom, but first, let me show Kali the bathroom that is in the wine cellar and then I'll help you" Cossette explained. 

"Sure honey..." Mrs. Tolley grabbed a hold of her daughter's chin and gave it a gentle wiggle. She had turned her attention to Kali. "God has blessed me with a great daughter..." The elder woman let out a shaky sigh. There was a shiny glaze of tears on the surface of the woman's eyes. She started to fan her face with her hands. "... Whose about to make me into a grandmother, oh! I remember when the doctor's place her in my arms after she was born. Oh, now she will experience that beautiful experience!" 

"Oh goodness Mom, you need to quit it with the tears!" Cossette said to her mother, smiling with her own eyes moist. Cossette grabbed Kali's hand. "Come on Kali and let me show you where the bathroom is." 

The two women traveled to the kitchen, where it was occupied by servers and cooks. Cossette and Kali had managed to make it across the room to the entrance of the basement. 

"Okay Kali, once you're at the bottom of the stairs, you will make a left turn. By then you will be facing the shelves of wine. There are four shelves total. On the other side of the shelves are two doors. The door on the left is the storage closet. The door on the right is the bathroom. Like I said before, the bathroom doesn't look too nice right now, but the toilet and sink works" explained Cossette.

"That's all that matters for me right now," Kali told her. "Thanks, Cossette!"

Once submerged in the lower level of the townhouse, Kali let out a sigh of release. The quiet, dimly lit environment was welcoming. Plus the room held a pleasing, elegant scent of cedar wood. Following Cossette's directions, Kali found the bathroom without a problem. 

'She was right about the bathroom being basic,' Kali thought as she stared around the room. The room was the size of a fancy, walk-in closet. The walls weren't painted and the smears of plaster were shown. The linoleum tiled floor was littered with saw dust. The toilet and the sink with a cabinet was the only furniture in the room. A medicine cabinet was mounted on the wall, above the sink. 

Kali relieved her bladder and then washed her hands in the sink. As she was drying her hands on some toilet paper, the bathroom's door opened. "Hey," she shouted as she twirled around to face the intruder. She shut her mouth, when she saw Daniel stand by the door. She immediately noticed how his large body took up space in the small room. She thought he looked very sexy and stylish in his gray suit. "Daniel, what are you doing in here?" she asked him.

"I needed to speak with you. I thought this was my chance," he informed her.

"What about Cossette? She is in the kitchen—

"No, she's not," he interjected. "She is in the dining room with her mother. Trust me, she didn't see me."

"Okay," Kali muttered as she crossed her arms. "So what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" 

A grin formed on his face. His hand shot out and grabbed Kali's forearm. He pulled her into his personal space. Once she was close enough, he planted his lips on hers for a kiss. She flinched for a second and then relaxed. Her arms unfolded and her hands clutched at the thick columns that were his biceps. Her hands squeezed at the thick muscles. She moaned her pleasure into his mouth as his tongue licked her bottom lip. 

"Daniel," she hissed against his mouth before resuming the act of kissing him. 

The moment she felt his tongue graze at her lip, she lost a care for everything. She didn't care about standing in a small bathroom that was nestled inside of someone's basement. She didn't care about Cossette, his wife. She didn't care that a party was taking place on the first floor. None of those things matter to Kali, at the moment. All she wanted to do was stay with Daniel and have him to herself. 

His hands sought the hem of her dress. He pulled the fabric up, revealing her desirable body parts, until the dress rested on her round hips. Daniel let out a groan and then his fingers found the zipper that held her dress together. He pulled the tiny item down. Once her dress was loose enough, he peeled the dress off of her shoulders. She slipped her arms out of the dress and then removed the item entirely. She tossed the material over her shoulder. It was long forgotten before it was discharged from her body. 

"Let me look at you," he requested, once his lips parted from hers. "Spin around and let me look at you." He gently put her at arm's length from where he stood. 

Kali stood in front of her desired lover, wearing only her undergarments and high heels; red, French lace bra with matching French cut panties and a red garter belt. She stared at him as he leaned against the bathroom door with his massive folded across his chest. He was giving her an intensive gaze. She felt a conglomerate of emotions at the moment: shyness, carelessness and arousal. With careful steps, she spun slowly around. She felt his eyes focus on her as her back was facing him. 

"Counter," he growled, once she faced him again. 

She understood his one-word command. She sauntered over to the sink with her hips swaying along with every step. Facing the sink, she leaned slightly and placed her hands on the countertop. She turned her head to the side, so she could look at Daniel from over her shoulder. She spread her legs more than hip-width apart. She displayed the secret that she was storing underneath her dress, the pair of crotch-less panties. She knew that he had a fetish for seeing women in garter belts. But she wanted to see his reaction to the crotch-less underwear. She watched his eyes widen in surprise and then darken. A lascivious smile wrote itself on his face, which let her know that he planned on doing plenty of sinful things to her. 

"Face forward," he commanded, with his voice a tad bit deeper. 

Kali shivered with anticipation and then she followed his order. She looked into the mirror and stared at Daniel's reflection. He pushed his big frame off of the door. She watched as he peeled his blazer jacket off and then his buttoned down shirt. He hung both items on the nail that was embedded in the door. He was now bare-chested. She gazed at his reflection as he stood behind her. Her ears listened to the sounds of his pants opening. Her breath was caught in her throat and eventually escaped out of her mouth in the form of a panting.

His hands sought her hips while his pelvis pressed itself against the softness of her ass. He ground his swelling against her ass. He heard her moan and felt her press her ass further into his crotch. The fingers on his right hand traveled up her back and settled into her hair. His left hand drew his pants and underwear down his thick thighs, freeing his erection from its constraint. His cock slipped in between her legs and rubbed along her slit. Kali let out a moan that made his erection throbbed with intensity. With the aid of his left hand, he slipped his glans into her warmth. Both of them groaned at the sensation and cried out louder, when his cock was plunged further into her gash. 

"Fuck," he hissed. He relished the feeling of having her pussy clasp onto him. She felt so wet and hot, and so good, as she sheathed his member. 

"Daniel?" she whimpered. She stared at his reflection. His head was tilted back while his eyes were closed and his jaw was slack. 

His cock felt so wonderful inside of her. She was ready for him. She expected for him to start pounding away at her eager pussy as soon as the tip made contact. Instead he was still while fully sheathed. "Daniel, are you all right?" she asked him.

"Yes, I just savoring the moment," he groaned and then chuckled at his own joke. Using methodical, slow and fluid movement, Daniel pulled his prick out of her warmth but kept the glans connected. He gave her a thrust that was slow and made sure that his cock rested deep inside of her. 

"Aaah..." she moaned loudly. Her ass was grinding against his groin while her back was arched. "Oooh, come on baby, fuck me" she groaned.

Daniel's dick withdrew, but returned in the form of a quick, deep thrust. She yelped out her pleasure. He guided her upper body off of the counter by using a gentle tug on her hair. She pressed her back against his bare front. His left hand pulled the fabric of her demi-cup bra down and fondled her right tit. His right hand loosens its grip on her hair and followed the same path as his left hand. "All right, but remember, you asked for this," he whispered in her left ear before taking the lobe into his mouth.

****

"Oh... Oh God... Danny, please fuck me harder." 

The sounds of moaning and their bodies slapping against each other, as they fucked, filled the small bathroom. 

'BOOM... BOOM... BOOM... BOOM... BOOM!'

Kali felt his large, meaty hand cover her mouth. The intense high that she was floated on abruptly disappeared.

"Someone is at the door," he whispered into her ear.

A spike of fear had run through her.

"Tell the person that you will be right out," Daniel muttered into her ear. He removed his hand from off of her mouth. "Go on and tell them."

"I am in here!" Kali shouted into the door. She felt Daniel's cock expel from her body. "Oh," she gasped at the sensation.

"Ole' Danny Boy..." 

It was Carlo who was pounding on the door. "... I advise you to clean up right now—

"What the fuck do you want, C?" Daniel's voice pounded into the door. 

"Your wife and yours are looking for you right now while you are busy plowing la prostituta. Both Deer and Ryan are running interference and leading them on a wild goose chase, so I suggest you hurry up" explained Carlo, from the other side of the door. 

"Shit!" Daniel groaned. He backed away from Kali. Quickly, he had pulled his underwear back up and his pants. 

"Danny, wait a minute" Kali said to him, as she grabbed a handful of toilet paper from the dispenser. She had wet the paper and used the soggy bundle to clean Danny off. She wanted to make sure that her scent was not on his skin. 

"Thanks, baby" he said to her before planting a kiss on her lips. Kali helped him put on his dress shirt and blazer. She checked his face to make sure that none of her makeup had rubbed off and was on his face. Once his clothes were back on, he gave her another kiss. "Thanks again, baby." He gave her a lingering look, before making an exit out of the small bathroom. 

"Thanks, man" she heard Danny say to Carlo, before she heard the wooden stairs creak as someone climbed up them. 

Kali still stood in front of the sink and cabinet. From the mirror's reflection, she saw Carlo standing outside of the bathroom, by the doorway. She turned her attention away from the mirror and stared at the five-feet-seven inched man. 

Kali never liked Carlo Rossi. She considered him to be dangerous, yet pathetic at the same time. Unlike the rest of them, Carlo had become a student at the Charles Bainbridge Academy, when he was a high school freshman. Due to his over-inflated ego and abundant corniness, he was considered a 'loser' by the majority of the student population. His social status didn't pick up until he had become friends with Ryan Whittler, during his sophomore year. By then, Ryan was a part of the social scene elite and every one of his friends were popular, due to their association. For Kali, if Ryan was considered to be 'Count Dracula', then Carlo Rossi was his 'Renfield'. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 03



Kali took note of Carlo's current condition. She could tell that he had recently taken a drug and was now feeling the effects. His skin was pale and pasty-looking while shiny with perspiration. His eyes held a dull glaze in them, but his pupils were darting around. His body's movements were frantic. His voice trembled, which made his Brooklyn-'Goodfellas'-accent sound as if he was on the verge of crying.

"You must have one high-class, piece of trim. It's too bad that it is a part of a banged-up package" Carlo stated to her, as he leaned against the doorway. 

Kali looked away from him, as a result. His insult had applied a stinger to her confidence. She decided that she needed to clean herself off, get dress and go back upstairs. She moved away from the sink and searched for her dress. She found the red item lying on the floor, across from the toilet. She walked away from the sink and from the doorway, to fetch her dress. Meanwhile, Carlo continued to talk.

"You have one man fucking you in his parents's basement and you have another man going bonkers over you, while he has a smoking hot girlfriend upstairs..."

Kali grabbed her dress off of the floor and then grabbed a handful of toilet paper from off of the dispenser. She strolled back over to the sink. She tried to ignore Carlo and the hurtful statements that he was saying to her. 

"... So what it is about you that make you so special, huh? I've tried you once and didn't see what the big deal with you was..."

With the dress draped over the sink's counter, Kali turned on the sink and proceeded to clean herself off. 

"... I hope that you are charging for your services because it'll be a crying shame that you'll be broke after both of them leave you alone..."

Kali didn't want to hear any more of his insults. She used her foot to push the door closed. Before the door could slam shut, Carlo's hand caught onto the edge of the door. He violently shoves the door back open. The object slammed against the wall with a thunderous 'thud'. Kali flinched and screamed out in fright, as a response. 

"Don't you dare try to slam a door on me, È inutile, segnato da rifiuti di un slut!" Carlo shouts at her, as he walked towards her. Kali walked further into the room while Carlo entered. As he entered the bathroom, he slammed the door shut.

****

"Oh, where in the world is that boy?" Mrs. Logan asks to no one in particular. 

"You know how Daniel is, Mother, he doesn't like crowds too much. He needs some time to re-group" Mr. Logan informed his wife. "He'll be backing soon, don't worry."

Ryan Whittler stood next to the large fireplace, in the living room and eavesdropped on the conversation that occurred between Daniel's parents. He stood behind the couch that they sat on and listened. He had nothing else to do ever since each one of his friends had either left the party or gone off to do something else.

The presence of Daniel's parents, grandparents and other family members at this party was a 'surprise present' from his wife. Ryan knew the truth. He knew that this was a publicity stunt. He recognized a few reporters from the New York media outlets at the party and they appeared to be anticipating for something. Daniel's father, Councilman Thaddeus Logan, was not supposed to be here. He was supposed to be in Albany, New York with a bunch of other big-wig politicians, working on a new bill. Both sets of his grandparents lived in the South and didn't like to travel too much, which made their presence a surprise as well. His paternal grandfather, Jean Claude was a well-known minister of a Southern mega-church. 

Ryan caught Mrs. Logan give him a brief glance before she turned her attention back to her husband. 

"That Whittler kid is standing behind us" Mrs. Logan told her husband, in what she thought was considered to be a whisper. She wasn't aware that Ryan had a very keen sense of hearing. "What is he doing here?"

Ryan saw that Mr. Logan had turned his attention to him, before he glanced forward again. 

"I don't know, Mother" Mr. Logan stated. "Maybe one of the Tolley members has invited him."

"I've doubt it," Mrs. Logan stated. "They do not like that boy just as much as we do."

"So, there is a chance that Daniel or Mary Anne has invited him, after all, they all had gone to school together," reasoned Mr. Tolley.

"I doubt it, Daniel has told me numerous times that he hasn't been hanging out that homosexual blasphemy thing, since college," his wife informed him.

Ryan chuckled under his breath at the snipe to his sexual orientation. He laughed, but he didn't find Mrs. Logan's judgment to be funny. He had taken a sip out of his glass of cognac. The liquor burned at the back of his throat as he swallowed. Drinking from his glass was the safest response to that woman's assumption right now rather than his impulses.

"Mother, how do you know that he is a... homosexual? I just saw him with a pretty woman just a moment ago."

"You can just look at him and can tell that he is one! Oh Thaddeus, a lot of them homosexuals use women to hide their secrets!" was Mrs. Logan's answer. 

Ryan eye's shifted from the Logans to the tall and beautiful woman that was strutting into his direction. Suzette Garrison was a beautiful creature and she knew it. She has been Ryan's girlfriend since his senior year of high school. She was five feet-ten inches tall with a pair of gorgeous legs that takes up most of her height. She was naturally thin and curvy, which has kept her modeling career stagnant. She had long, naturally pale blonde hair that spans from the top of her head to her waist, which is a sign of her Nordic lineage. Her deep-set, dark blue eyes hid behind a straight, aquiline nose and a broad forehead that she hid behind a bang. Her lips were small and thin. She was definitely beautiful. However, Ryan was not attracted to her.

"Baby, I need to go..." Suzette announced to him, as she stood in front of him.

"Okay," he stated to her while staring at her and having another sip of his drink. His eyes quickly scanned over to the Logans. They stared at Ryan and Suzette. He saw Mr. Logan give his wife a poke with his elbow and then pointed over to them, as if saying 'See, I told you so'. Ryan chuckled at seeing that gesture. He turned his attention back to his girlfriend. 

"... My agent said that this is going to be a nation-wide campaign. The designer is as famous as Versace or Gucci—

"I said, 'Okay'. I understand if you have to go" he stated to his girlfriend, in a voice that displayed a lack of interest. He drained his glass of alcohol. "Let me help you catch a taxi."

****

'Just need a cigarette, but there is no way in hell I am going outside to smoke.' An idea formed. 'There's a basement. I'll smoke inside of there. No one is allowed down there, so it'll be no disturbances.' 

Patrick glanced around the kitchen for Mrs. Cartwright, his boss and the owner of Delish Catering Services. She wasn't a person that was hard to miss, ever since she was the only person in the kitchen, who was wearing all black clothing. His eyes spotted her as she stood by the kitchen's entrance, which was across the giant room. She was speaking with the woman who owned this massive house. 

'Go now, the bitch is distracted' his mind suggested. 

Patrick tapped a co-worker on the arm, a fellow server.

"I'm going on a cigarette break, cover for me, man" he notified the waiter.

"Sure, man" the guy said to him.

Patrick quickly strolled over to the basement entrance and quickly entered the stairwell. To avoid being caught by his employer, he closed the door. He stood at the top of the staircase and underneath the lit area while he started his cigarette break.

'Mmmmmaaaannnn, I needed this shit badly! I have three more hours to go and then—

'SLAM!'

The sudden, thunderous noise of a door slamming shut had interrupted his though process, as well as, giving him a fright. Patrick flinched and his cigarette dropped from his hand. The nicotine stick had fallen to the stair. 

'Shit, what the fuck was that?'

Realizing that the lit cigarette was on the step, Patrick ground out the lit end of the item as it lied on the stair. 

"AAAAHHHHH, STOP IT, STOP IT PLEASE!" 

Patrick received another fright at the abrupt sound of a woman shouting. The shouting had come from the basement. 

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

The demand had come from a man. 

Then Patrick heard another loud noise come from the basement. It sounded as if a body was slammed against another object. Knowing that there was a woman downstairs, being assaulted, he wanted to come to her aid. He raced down the stairs and was welcomed by four large structures that were in the middle of the room. It was a maze for Patrick. 

"PLEASE, CARLO—

Patrick recognized the sound of a hand striking out and connecting to flesh. Then, there were other sounds of a person being struck. Using his sense of hearing, he followed the barrage of noises. He ran through the aisle between two shelves and come across a closed door. There was light shining through the crevices of the door. 

Before his mind could catch on, Patrick used his foot to force the door open. The door slammed violently against the wall behind it. It was about to close again, but he caught the door and gave it a push. He glanced into the room. He saw that it was a small bathroom. 

His eyes focused on the scene that was unfolding before him. There was a woman lying on the floor. She was almost naked. She appeared to be petrified of the man who was hovering above her. Her face was wet with her tears and blood. 

'Rape... Rapist...' A thick and heavy set of rage consumed the young man.

His eyes cast a death glare on the man who was holding onto the woman, by her hair. The man wore a black, ill-fitting suit with a red shirt underneath. His coal-black hair was ruffled. His face was sweaty and flushed. His right cheek was ruined with three, jagged thin red lines. Patrick also noted the scratches and nicks that marred his neck. 

"WHO THE FUCK—

Patrick's fist connected to the assailant's face before the man could even finished speaking. There was a sting in his fingers and knuckles, but his rage protected him from feeling the pain. The assailant let out a grunt. His grip on the woman's hair loosened. He staggered backwards and he bumped into the wall. From his peripheral view, he saw the woman crawl away from them. Patrick walked up to the coward of the man. He noticed that the man was significantly smaller than his 6'3 frame. 

'Oh, he's a small one...' 

Patrick released another punch. This blow landed on the man's face. "Hey Tough Guy, you like beating up on woman? Well, how about you fight me?"

Then proceeded to pummel the guy. His fists pounded at his face and at his torso. With each punch, Patrick listened to the coward's grunts and groans of pain. He hoped that his punches caused just as much pain that he inflicted on the woman. The assailant's body crumpled and Patrick allowed the man to sag to the floor. He stood over the man's crumbled form. He glared at the man as he groaned and writhed in pain.

"You're nothing but a punk ass coward," Patrick sneered at the man. He grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt. "Get your ass up!" He pulled the man to his feet and then gave him a hearty shove out of the bathroom. The shorter man staggered a few steps and fell on the floor inside of the wine cellar. Patrick watched the man crawl down an aisle that was in between two wine shelves. He was about to go after the man.

"He's not worth it."

Patrick had come to a halt. The statement had come from a darkened corner. 

"Excuse me?" he said to her.

"He's not worth it," she repeated. 

He walked over to the corner. The further he walked; the vision of her form had become sharper. She was sitting on the floor, in a huddle. She was using her legs and arms to cover her intimates. The lack of light in the corner had prevented her face from being highlighted. 

****

"Say, do you want to come home with me? My parents aren't home tonight" Suzette asked Ryan, as she stood by the taxi. Ryan saw the hopefulness that danced in her cornflower-hued irises. 

"No" he said curtly. He walked over to the driver's side window and gave the driver the address to Suzette's home. Afterwards, he pulled the rear passenger's door open. He stared at Suzette. He saw the disappointment and hurt on his face. He didn't feel a lick of guilt for his action, but he knew that he needed to apologize for his behavior. "I'm sorry for my attitude. I have a lot on my mind. I have to leave the country on Wednesday, for a business trip, with my grandfather—

"Oh Ryan, baby, so you had took up your grandfather's job offer?" Suzette shrieked in excitement. 

"Yeah" he muttered. "I have accepted the offer."

Suzette let out a squeal and did a little bounce in celebration. She hugged Ryan, who didn't reciprocate. She gazed into her boyfriend's eyes. "Oh baby, I'm so happy that you've taken the job with your grandfather! You're gonna make so much money with that job and you can get to travel a lot. Oh, I know that you must be so excited about the job!" She gave him a kiss. "Oooh, we definitely going to have to celebrate..." Her glove-adorned hand had reached in between their bodies. She cupped his pants-shrouded dick and gave him a squeeze. She felt her body grow hot underneath the four layers of clothing that she wore. "... And we have to do it soon."

Ryan groaned in pleasure at the sensation that Suzette's hand was invoking. His cock needed the relief. For the past three hours, he has been pitching a tent in his slacks. His mind conjured up the image of the woman who was responsible for his arousal. Suddenly, he felt guilty. He brought his hand down to Suzette's busy hand and removed her hand off of his junk. He watched her eyes display disappointment. 

"Your cab is waiting," he explained to her. 

"Oh... okay" she said to him, with disappointment. 

The couple parted and Suzette entered the automobile. He made sure that her limbs and clothes were inside of the cab before slamming the door shut. He stood in the street and watched the taxi pull off. He continued to stand in the street as he watched the car drive down the neighborhood.

"BITCH, HURRY THE FUCK UP! MOVE!" 

The outburst disturbed the tranquil environment of the neighborhood. Ryan turned his attention away from the traveling taxi car. 

"DON'T FUCKING YELL AT ME, YOU STUPID—

"GIA, I'M NOT IN THE FUCKING MOOD RIGHT NOW FOR YOUR MOUTH!" 

Ryan recognized Carlo's voice. He gawked over to the façade of the Tolley residence. He saw Carlo descending down the porch's steps. Gia, his girlfriend, was following him. Ryan walked to the curb of the sidewalk and stepped onto the pavement. 

"...MY FUCKING HEAD HURTS! WILL YOU HURRY THE FUCK ON?"

Ryan strolled over to Carlo. He noticed his face's bloodied face. He felt shocked and then rage at seeing his friend's current condition. "Dude, what the fuck happened to you?"

"WHAT THE FUCK... What the fuck do you think happened to me? That fucking bitch... I gotta get the fuck outta here," Carlo stated to his friend. 

"All right, man..." Ryan muttered. His handsome face held an expression of confusion. "...have a good night." He watched Carlo nod his head and then walked away from him. Carlo stepped off the curb and proceeded to walk across the street. 

"I don't fucking know what the hell is his problem" Gia remarked as she walked up to Ryan. "He probably gotten his ass kicked for doing something stupid!" 

Ryan didn't say anything to her statement. Instead he gave Gia an embrace. "Have a goodnight, Gia." Ryan gave the woman a kiss on a cheek. 

"GIA, HURRY THE FUCK UP!" 

"Fucking asshole," she muttered. She walked away from Ryan and followed after her boyfriend. 

Ryan stood in the same spot as he watched the couple walked up to a parked, black Lincoln Navigator. He watched the two people climb into the truck and eventually pull off. 

****

"Was he your boyfriend or something?" Patrick asked the woman.

"God no" she explained to him, her voice croaked. 

Patrick and the woman were now in the bathroom. The woman sat on the toilet while Patrick stood in front of the sink. Using the spare dish towel that was hanging from the back pocket of his slacks, he cleaned the blood from off of her face. He was also observing the wounds that she possessed. 

When Patrick approached her, as she was cowering in the corner, he felt an overwhelming need to protect her and give her nurture. As soon as he saw her face, he bit down the impulse to search out the son of a bitch and throw him another beating. He knew that she was in a 'fight or flight' mode, so he treaded carefully. Using a soft tone of voice, he convinced the woman to leave the corner and to allow him to help her. With slow steps, she emerged from the shadow. Once he noticed her lack of clothes, he closed his eyes and proceeded to hand her his black shirt to wear. She tentatively took the shirt. Once she was covered, she let him know. 

"So, who was he, if you don't mind me asking?" Patrick asked as he dabbed blood off of her top lip. Fresh blood had seeped from the gash that decorated her lip. "This one is going to need stitches" he muttered under his breath.

"Oh great" she groaned. "How bad is it?"

"Bad, if I have to guess, you will receive five or six of them. Plus your top lip is going to be swollen and bruise for a few... weeks" he reported. 

She groaned in disgust. "As if I don't need any more injuries right now."

There was silence between the two of them, with the exception of an occasional groan from Kali.

"I would like to ask you a question, but I know that you will be offended with it" Patrick asked her. 

"Ask away," she said to him.

There was a five-second silent moment. 

"Are you a prostitute?" He saw that her eyes slowly closed and her jaw clenched in a grimace. "I know that it's a rude question, but—

"No, I'm not, but I will admit to you that I do feel like one," she confessed to him. She opened her eyes and gazed at her savior. "Why did you want to ask that question, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well..." he sighed. He sat on the sink's countertop. He draped the bloodied towel over his left knee. "No offense, but you appear to be used to this type of mistreatment. A few minutes ago, you were being beaten and now... You're calm" he explained. "The only women that I know who deals with that type of shit, like that are abused women."

There was a moment of silence. Patrick proceeded to clean her face.

"Why did you think that I was a prostitute?" she asked him.

"I didn't say that I thought you were a prostitute. I asked you if you were a prostitute. And to answer your question, I thought of that one because you were down here, in your underwear, getting beaten up by some slick-willy looking cat."

"Oh..." she sighed. "No, I'm not a prostitute... Not by choice, anyway. I am a medical coder actually. I work for a clinic, where I perform the medical billing and coding."

"Oh... seems like a... boring job," the young man stated.

The woman laughed at his joke. Patrick watched the woman laugh and he felt like a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders. He wanted to make sure that she felt okay. Her laughter gave him the confirmation.

"What's your name?" he asked her.

"My name is Kali. What's yours?" she said to him, with a grin on her face. 

"My name is Patrick."

****

After watching Carlo leave the party with a bloodied face, Ryan returned to the Tolley residence to resume his role as an unwanted guest. He entered the townhouse's foyer at the same time when a raucous applause and cheers broke out in the living room. The house band started to play another tune. He entered the living room and saw the members from the Tolley family and the Logan family standing in the middle of the large living room. They were hugging each other and speaking to each other while a small group of photographers were snapping pictures of them. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 04



Author's Note: Hello, every one. 

This is a revised chapter. So, if any of the readers (who are re-reading this chapter) notice any changes or any new additions, please don't think that you're losing your mind. I did revise this chapter... again.

For the individuals who are reading this chapter for the first time, thank you for taking the time out of schedules to do so.

In regards to the new updates to this story, I am in the process of typing the chapter up. Hopefully, the new one will be submitted into Literotica before the first day of Spring. 

 *********

Three Months and two weeks later: April 17th of 2001

"Hey Honey, I'm home!"

Daniel entered his rented, four-bedroom home with the greeting. He dropped his gym bag onto the marbled floor of the foyer. He walked out of the foyer and into the living room. At first glance, he laughed at the scene that was revealed before him. The living room was a mess. 

There were scraps of paper and various charms everywhere, a sign that Mary Anne was in the process of scrapbooking again. She had picked up the hobby at the beginning of her second trimester. One of his teammates' wives had shown Mary Anne a scrapbook that she made, during one of the Emperors' practice and she has been hooked ever since.

Daniel left the living room and had gone on a mission to find his wife. He searched all of the rooms that were on the first level of the house: the dining room, the kitchen, the laundry room and the pantry. Then he had gone upstairs to the second level of the home to search for her, but she wasn't in any of the bedrooms or the bathrooms. He figured that his wife had left the house to go run on an errand. He returned back to the living room, so he could clean up the mess that she left. 

It was the month of April. The winter season was almost over and it was a week shy from being spring. Daniel was happy and content, which is something that he hasn't felt in a long time. Daniel contributed his surge of happiness on the fact that he had a lot going on in his life in which he should've been thankful for. He had a career and he was able to financially support himself and his family. He didn't have to rely on his parents' fortune to take care of him and his. He was thankful that he was healthy. His family was healthy. His wife was blessing him with a child, a boy, who was due in August. His son was progressing as normal as possible, according to Mary Anne's doctor. As he cleaned up the living room, he thought about his little boy. A broad smile grew on his face as he thought about his son, Sean.

Back in December, at hiss' home, when he learned about Mary Anne's pregnancy, he wasn't happy. If he was honest with himself, he was angry and upset about being a father. He didn't loved Mary Anne and the last thing that he wanted was to have any more legal attachments to her. 

Daniel knew that he wanted to be with Kali. He knew that she was attracted to him, as well as, wanted him. Since their last encounter in that hotel room, he had initiated the divorce process. He didn't tell Mary Anne about his desire to terminate their marriage. He didn't even tell any of his family members. He already hired a real estate agent to find Daniel another place to live. He knew that he was willing to give Mary Anne more than half of his fortune and property, just as long as the divorce was finalized. But, once the announcement about the pregnancy was made, he knew that he couldn't divorce his wife. He was raised with the notion that a man divorcing his wife, when they have a family, was a sin. Plus, he knew that it would make him look like a jerk. Kali would never be accepted into his family. He was sure that his parents would give him an ultimatum, if he did leave Mary Anne now. Even though his parents annoy him from time to time, he couldn't imagine living his life without their involvement. 

On that night, he was also angry that he was the last important person to know about the pregnancy. He felt slightly emasculated, which he now felt ashamed about. Despite the jovial expression on his face, he was infuriated. 

Later on that night, he had used Ryan's face as an outlet for his rage. It provided a temporary relief, but the rage returned a few hours later and it lingered. The anger continued to linger for months. During those months, he had made his feelings known to his wife that their marriage was for convenience. He didn't declare to his wife that he didn't love her, but he did show it. He stopped returning and initiating signs of affection. He stopped telling Mary Anne sweet and romantic things. He refused to touch her. He slept in a different bedroom. He began to drink alcohol more frequently. There was minimal communication between the two of them. 

When it had become too much for Mary Anne, she confronted her husband. She asked him if he loved her anymore. She asked him about any extra-marital affairs that he was committing. In a fit of rage and in tears, she screamed at Daniel to explain the reason for his odd behavior. In response, Daniel walked out of the room and soon out of the house. He ended up traveling to a teammate's apartment, where he drank himself into a stupor.

Over the months, he tried to numb the anger and the hate with liquor consumption. Then, one day, the rage was killed. For Daniel, it started out as a normal day in March. He was scheduled to attend a few team-organized meetings and participate in a few interviews. He also knew that Mary Anne was scheduled for a doctor's appointment for the day as well. He wasn't interested in the doctor's appointment, but he did tell her to 'have a good time' while she was there. Then he left the house to go to his team's practice facility. 

Daniel returned home later on that day, in the evening. Mary Anne had already cooked dinner and she was eating her fill, in the dining room. He didn't bother to greet her. He had gone upstairs to a bathroom to shower and change into clean clothes. When returned to his assigned bedroom, he found a picture on his nightstand. At first he thought Mary Anne had left another memento of their marriage in the room. She was prone to do such tactics, even though she did act like she was resigned to her marriage's current condition. He was about to crumble the photo into a ball, but he had taken a gander at the photo. It was a sonogram picture. 

The photo was in black and white, as well as grainy. Daniel didn't know what he was looking at. He stared at the sonogram with fascination. He studied the picture, in hopes of understanding which body part belongs to the baby. Then suddenly, a huge wave of guilt and regret crashed onto Daniel. He thought about the recent months that has passed and about his behavior towards Mary Anne. 

Daniel knew that he had to make amends with his wife. With the sonogram picture still inside of his left hand, he made his way down to the lower level of the house. He walked into the dining room, where Mary Anne was still eating her dinner. Without saying a word to her, he grabbed her right, slender wrist and pulled her out of her chair. She protested. He ignored her. He pulled her into his embrace. She fought him, but he was too big and too strong. During her struggle, Daniel had spoken the words "I'm sorry" into her ear. She stopped struggling. She broke down into a song of wails and tears. Daniel could feel the pain and sorrow that she harbored. It seemed to have been radiating off of her body. When he felt her arms wrap around his waist, he knew that she had forgiven him. 

Daniel was almost finished with the cleaning process. He picked the arts and crafts items off of the floor and vacuumed the carpeted areas. Now, he was cleaning off of the coffee table. He was placing random items into a wastebasket. He had come across a small, black leather-bound book. On the front cover, there were the numbers "2001" in gold, embossed lettering. He figured that this book was Mary Anne's daily planner. 

'She must've left it,' he assumed. He knew that Mary Anne carried this book around more than she did her Old Testament Bible. He placed the daily planner onto the table and resumed his cleaning. 

After the living room was cleaned, Daniel was starving. He traveled to the kitchen and proceeded to stave off his hunger. As he was creating a massive turkey sandwich, he heard the front door of the house open and then closed. He listened for his wife's footsteps. She entered the living room. There was silence. Then, he heard footsteps enter the dining room. 

"Hey Baby, how are—

"Where's my supplies?" she asked, sounding upset while interrupting her husband.

Daniel looked away from his turkey sandwich and stared at his wife. Mary Anne was standing in the kitchen's doorway. He saw that his wife held a frazzled expression on her beautiful face, which still glowed. He saw that she held onto her daily planner and clutched it close to her chest. 

"I thought that it was—

"You thought that it was what?" The volume in her voice was raised a few notches. "It was my supplies! I was planning on using it for my scrapbooks!" 

"I'm sorry baby" apologize Danny as he stared at his wife while marveling at her unusual behavior. "I thought they were garbage—

"Garbage, you thought that my supplies were garbage?" she shouted at him, while sounding offended. 

"No, I thought that you were finish with the—

"What were you doing with my daily planner?" she asked. Her blue eyes were narrowed, her nostrils were flaring and her teeth were clenched. 

'What the hell is going on with her?' he wondered as he stared at her. The irrational behavior was not like her.

"I did nothing with your daily planner!" He traveled over to the sink and deposited the soiled butter knife. He proceeded to clean the utensil. "I found your planner on the coffee table..." He turned away from the sink to stare at his wife. Instead, Daniel turned to face the doorway. His wife left the kitchen. 

Daniel backed away from the sink and then walked out of the kitchen. He entered the dining room and walked to the center of the room. He peered into the living room. He saw Mary Anne in the living room. She was standing in front of the loveseat and behind their coffee table. She was staring into the daily planner. She was reading something. 

'What's going on with her?' he asked silently.

Then he noticed the look of concern that was on her face. His mind had thought of Sean. The idea of something is wrong with their son's health entered his head. 

"Mary Jane, what is wrong?" he asked his wife from the dining room.

Mary Anne flinched and she glared at her husband. "Nothing's wrong?" she said, brusquely. "Everything is fine!" 

He gazed into his wife's beautiful, round eyes and saw her anxiety. "Mary Anne, is there something wrong with Sean?" Daniel was now worried for his unborn son. He knew something was wrong. Even though Mary Anne stated that everything was okay, he didn't believe her. 

"No, the baby is fine" she muttered and then she walked out of the living room, leaving her bewildered husband standing in the dining room.

****

Tuesday, April 17th, 2001, at 6:00 AM

Ryan Whittler gazed into his bathroom's mirror. He was trying to tie his silk, burgundy tie. The three busted up fingers on his left hand was messing up the process. The tie stood out against his onyx-hued suit and black dress shirt, he noticed. He decided to wear the suit with the black shirt because for him, it represented intimidation and power. For today's activities, he needed all of the power and intimidation. Once his tie was set, he had taken a step backwards to fully appreciate the ensemble. After his appraisal, Ryan set out for work.

Mr. Santos, his chauffeur, picked him up from his Midtown Manhattan home and escorted Whittler to his place of business. Due to the constantly shitty traffic, Ryan didn't arrive to work at his desired time, but he was still early. 

Santos opened the Maybach's posterior door and then Ryan stepped out of the car. The driver walked over to Ryan and stood in front of him. His employee observed Ryan's tie and blazer. He straightened out Ryan's tie and then fixed the cloth that was sticking out of his blazer's breast pocket. "No matter how many times that I've shown you" Santos started out saying as he lined up his employer's tie. "... You always tend to mess it up..." Once the problem was fixed, Santos had taken a step back to observe his handiwork. "There, now it is perfect!"

"Thank you, Santos" Ryan said to the driver.

"You're welcome, Sir. Now, for today, you need to remember a few things."

"Oh, yeah," chuckled Ryan. "What do I need to remember, Santos?"

"The first thing to remember is that you need to eat a hearty breakfast for this morning..."

Ryan laughed.

Since his childhood, Santos has given him a list of reminders for every morning, before they parted ways. When he was a kid, he relished listening to them. As a teenager, Ryan used to roll his eyes as if he was annoyed by attention, even though he loved that Santos took the time to speak with him. And now as a man, he truly appreciates Santos' advice. 

"... The second thing you need to remember is you deserve to be here. You will encounter co-workers who are going to consider you to be a 'silver spoon, rich kid' who managed to get the corner office because of your last name and a case of nepotism. The truth is, you belong up there and you deserve your position. I remember when you use to come up here with your dad and when he would tell you things about the business, you would soak all of that info like a sponge. You're smart and more importantly, you are built for this business..." 

Santos gazed into the younger man's green eyes and saw life behind those orbs. There was emotion and Santos knew that Ryan was struggling to contain it. He gave Mr. Whittler a smile and then proceeded on talking. 

"The third thing to remember is you do not allow your grandfather to give you any shit. He will try to undermine your choices and stamp down on your independence as much as possible. Do not allow that man to such a thing to you, Ryan. Do you remember what I used to tell you, when you used to be afraid of bugs? Do you remember?"

Ryan nodded his head. "Yes, I remember.

"What did I used to say?"

"You..." Ryan stopped speaking and turned away. He stared down Church Street and stared at the long stream of people. He really wasn't staring at the people. He was focused on something else. He was trying not to show any type of emotion. He believes that if he displayed any emotion, even anger, he was weak. He was taught that he didn't want to give his opponents the upper hand. 

He turned his attention back to Santos. "You told me that they were more afraid of me than I should be of them."

"That's correct," Santos stated with a broad smile. "He is afraid of you. He knows that he can't control you anymore. Unlike your family, you don't need anything from him. I'm sure that he is still kicking himself in the ass for actually offering you a position in his business. Plus, he doesn't like the fact that you're more of a suitable successor for his fortune than any other relative of his and that kills him."

"Is that right?" Ryan said with a smirk on his face. 

"You know that," said the driver. 

"In all honesty, I never thought of that."

"Well, he does, Ryan. Now, off you go and I will pick you up at six. Have a great day today, Sir," his chauffeur said to him.

"You have a great day yourself, Santos."

Ryan made a few steps towards the entrance of the building and came to a halt. He stopped and then gazed at the tall building that stood in front of him. The building was one of the tallest buildings in the world. Whenever he would visit his father's office, as a kid, he always tried to view that top of the building, before he would enter. His eyes would strain in hopes of spotting the top. He always considered the North Tower of the World Trade Center to be an amazing building.

After the elevator arrived to the 38th floor and before Ryan could step out of the carriage, he spotted a tall and lithe woman leave her desk. She spotted him and proceeded to walk over to him. At one point in time, Ryan thought about trying to initiate something with the executive secretary, Penny. But, he knew that engaging in an 'out-of-the office' relationship with a co-worker would not be a good idea. He also thought that Penny is the type of woman who wants a 'couple' relationship and not a 'friends with benefits' type of relationship. Then there was the fact that he was busy already was juggling two relationships, one with Suzette and the other one is with Kali.

In his eyes, Penny Himura was very attractive and definitely his type. Physically, the Japanese woman was taller than most of the women that he's been with, with the exception of Kali and Suzette. She was five feet and eleven inches tall, naturally. Her body possessed curves, which he knew was frowned upon in her culture. She held an ample amount of breasts, a narrow waist and a pair of wide hips. She wasn't as curvy as Kali, but she wouldn't be over-looked. Her skin always maintained a healthy glow and a tan that appeared so natural that a person couldn't tell that she used a tanning bed. She kept her straight, black hair into a pixie cut and it complemented her round-shaped face. Her facial features can be describe as very pretty and demure; she owned a pair of pink, full lips, a small nose, a pair of arched eyebrows and a pair of eyes that were small but sharp. 

In regards to her personality, it was the thing that really caught Ryan's attention. Unlike her face, Penny's personality cannot be described as being very pretty and demure. She is brash, brave and an out-spoken individual. Ryan knows that she has no problem telling anybody her opinion about them, despite how unfavorable that opinion can be. He has witnessed Penny verbally cut down both men and women, who thought they could intimidate her with their job positions and wealth. 

"Good morning, Sir Whittler!" Penny greeted him as she approached him. The two adults laughed at the inside joke that she made. 

"Good morning Penny" he greeted. Penny and Ryan walked away from the elevator and entered a corridor that led to the executive's private offices. "What does my schedule look like today?" he asked her.

"As if you didn't know" said Penny with a sly grin. She proceeded to run down his daily itinerary. "At 10:45, you have a meeting with the other executives and including Mister Whittler, our all-knowing Master of our universe..." 

Ryan laughed at Penny's dig at his grandfather. He told her to continue with her task. 

"At 1:00 PM, you have a lunch meeting with the Fukui family. The meeting is about the Japan account. And you will be having lunch at the..." Penny gasped in awe. She hugged her clipboard and she stared up at the ceiling briefly. "...You're having lunch at Knives and Dishes Restaurant today!" she swooned. "I am so jealous of you!"

"I'm not going there to ogle at celebrities, Penny" Ryan stated to his secretary.

A gasp of disgust escaped from her mouth and she glared at Ryan with a facial expression of disgust. "Fuck a celebrity!" she proclaimed. Ryan burst out laughing. He wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. "I am referring to the delicious food that you will be chowing down on! You are going to be eating stuffed shrimp and wild rice pilaf in garlic butter while I am stuck here, eating Top Ramen! It is not fair!" she claimed. "Oh," she gasped. "Do you need a Japanese translator for the meeting? I can be your translator!"

"Penny, I don't need one. I can speak Japanese fluently. The Fukui family can speak English fluently and besides, I thought that you couldn't speak Japanese that well," informed Ryan. The co-workers arrived to Ryan's office. He unlocked the door and then pushed it open. He allowed the woman to enter the office first, before he walked in. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 04



"I can improvise!" she stated.

Ryan chuckled. He walked over to his massive desk and powered on his computer. "I'm sure you can, Miss Himura." He pulled his brown leather, rolling chair out from underneath his desk. He settled into the Horizon High Back chair. "Okay, now, what else do I have planned?"

"At 3:00 PM, you have another meeting, but this one is with the marketing department. Don't expect for this meeting to be over before five, because they're idiots—

Ryan let out laughter that was loud and booming. 

"I know that they are idiots because I used to work down there and trust me with my judgment..." Penny stared down at her clipboard. "After work, you have to meet up with your fiancée, over at Kleinfeld Bridal, on West 20th..."Penny noticed the facial expression of bewilderment on her boss' face, so she explained. " And I know this because your fiancée has called my phone six times already and it's..." She looked away from the clipboard to stare at her wrist watch. "7:34 AM right now," she groaned in irritation. "Please give that woman a call before you head off to your meeting."

"I know and I am sorry, Penny."

"No problem, boss."

****

The first meeting was about to start in fifteen minutes. Ryan had just finished eating his breakfast of wheat toast, a bowl of porridge, a glass of green tea and two slices of turkey bacon. During his breakfast, he managed to do some of his work as well as make a few phone calls. Now, he was inside of his private bathroom and was brushing his teeth. As he cleaned out his mouth, he thought about the upcoming meeting. He figured that he should give off the appearance of caring about his subordinates' work ethics, so he decided to ask questions at the meeting. The inquiries that he had come up with were questions that he already knew the answers to. He wanted to portray himself as a leader and an authority figure.

Ryan knew that the employees of Whittler, Falcon and Hancock Realty thought that he was here, due to nepotism. One day, he mistakenly walked into one of the men's bathrooms and discovered that a few of his colleagues were speaking ill about him. They didn't see Ryan as he entered the room, so they continued to speak. They were joking about Ryan's perceived sexual orientation, about his choices in clothes, his penchant for being featured in gossip magazines and in the newspapers. They commented about the case of nepotism that occurred. The men had come to the conclusion that Ryan's purpose of being an employee was to fill out a desk. They expected for Ryan to do absolutely nothing. 

Usually, he didn't allow the insults from other individuals to bother him. But, this time, their remarks irritated him. So, he decided to prove them all wrong. Within a two-month span, he obtained eight properties and handled each account by his self. He managed each account until he sold each one for a price that passed the million-dollar mark. In the span of sixty days, he had accumulated a quarter of a billion dollars for his grandfather and for his associates. His colleagues now understood why Ryan was residing in a corner office in the executive suite.

Ryan entered his office to find that he wasn't alone anymore. He glared at the elderly man that sat in one of reception chairs that was positioned in front of Ryan's desk. The man's physical appearance seemed to have changed drastically since the last time Ryan had seen him, which was close to four months ago. In December of 2000, the older man had a head full of silver-gray hair. His complexion was ruddy with good health. His face was full and plump. His physique possessed a great amount of weight. He was able to fill out his designer, tailored suits.

Now, in April of 2001, this same man appeared as if his health had taken a nose dive. The silver-gray hair was gone and was replaced with a receding hairline and thin layer of white strands. Ryan could see the baldness that lied underneath. His complexion was now pale and ghastly looking. He was so light that Ryan could see the various veins that were underneath his skin. There were brown spots that covered his face and neck. His face lost the plumpness and was gaunt. His suit didn't cover his frame well. Ryan thought he lost a lot of weight. He looked sickly. 

'It looks like karma has finally caught up with the bastard,' thought Ryan as he stared at the man. 'And from the look of things, she has served the bastard right.' 

Ryan walked away from the bathroom's doorway and traveled over to his desk. He glanced at the old man. "Good morning, Grandfather," greeted Ryan as he settled back in his chair. "What are you doing in here? Our meeting is in fifteen minutes."

The older Whittler male settled his dark blue eyes on his grandson. Ryan noted that his grandfather's physique made appeared sickly and weak, but his eyes conveyed strength. "I know when the damn meeting starts!" The older man stated. His voice sounded thin and weak. "I had come in here to see what you were wearing today! This is your first meeting since your arrival to the company! I want to make sure that you are dress like a man and not like some fairy-faggot!"

Ryan grew angry. He glared at his grandfather. His jade eyes narrowed and the rows of his teeth ground against each other, an act of dealing with his anger. 

"You, Boy, will not make my company look foolish because you want to fulfill your need to wear women's clothes!" his grandfather demanded. 

"Duly noted," Ryan growled from his clenched jaw. 

A tension filled, silence entered the large office. The elder Whittler and the younger Whittler stared at each other. Each man tried to intimidate the other. Eventually, it was the older man who glance away first. He observed Ryan's desk top. 

"You need some pictures of your fiancée on your desk," his grandfather stated.

'What the fuck is this old geezer talking about?' Ryan said to himself.

"The employees are more comfortable talking to a man, when they have some semblance of a family. It makes the man more relatable and down to earth. The potential clients will respect you more. You need to come to my office and look at my desk. I have pictures of my wife and our kids—

"Speaking of your wife: how is my mother?" Ryan asked. 

He didn't care about his mother's current status. All Ryan wanted to do is get inside of his grandfather's craw. When Ryan saw the old man's jaw tighten and his eyes grow hot with irritation, he knew that he succeeded. 

"She's fine. She's probably somewhere in the city, spending up my money and buying shit that she doesn't need" was the elder Whittler's answer. 

Before his grandfather/step-father could delve any further with his information, Ryan asked, "What is this meeting about?" He didn't want his grandfather to think that Ryan was interested in listening about the family's comings and goings. He wanted to keep this relationship with his grandfather strictly professional. 

During his grandfather's explanation about the meeting's objective, Ryan's mind wandered. His eyes turned away from his grandfather and traveled to the ceiling-to-floor windows that were behind his desk. He stared out of the window and stared at the other buildings that surrounded the area. 

Ryan thought about his reasons for accepting his grandfather's offer of having a job in the family business. When the offer was given, it wasn't even done by the Whittler patriarch. The old man had sent one of his business partners to Ryan's mansion and offered the job position while they dined on tea and crumpets. For most people, if they were in Ryan's position, they would've told the business associate to 'fuck off'. Ryan thought about saying the same thing, for a second, instead he accepted the job. 

Over time and after playing an armchair therapist for an afternoon, Ryan came up with an explanation as to why he accepted the job, even though he didn't need the position. He thought of a couple of reasons. The first reason, which happens to be the one that he hates to admit to himself, he wants the old man's approval. It had taken a consumption of half of a bottle of Johnny Walker Black and the case of intoxication that followed, for Ryan to admit that one. Then he decided that he was a real, fucked-up person for wanting the approval. His grandfather was the catalyst to the dissolution of his parents' marriage and for his father abandoning him. This was also the same man who constantly abused Ryan throughout his boyhood and early teenaged years. 

Ryan's second reason was the assumption that he could be suffering from a weird case of Stockholm's Syndrome. 

His third reason for accepting the job was that he wanted to overshadow his father's accomplishments while completing a task that his father was never able to do. He wanted to work for his grandfather, just like his dad, but he wasn't going to allow his grandfather to destroy his spirit. Ryan had a hunch that part of the reason why his dad left him, after uncovering his wife's infidelity, was because his spirit had finally broken. He remembered that his father heavily loved his mother. He remembered watching his father make several attempts of giving his mother hugs and kisses. She would rebuff him. He recalled the expressions of hurt on his father's face.

Thinking of the image of his father's hurt face caused a stinging sensation in his eyes. 'Shit, what the fuck is wrong with me?' he pondered. The sounds of his office phone ringing has stolen him away from his thoughts. Ryan glanced at the electric clock that was on his desk. The time was 10:37 AM. He had eight minutes before the meeting. 

"You better make that phone call quick, Boy. We have to go to that meeting" his grandfather warned. 

His green eyes glared at the man. 

'As if I didn't fucking know that,' he thought. 

Ryan watched the old man rise from the reception chair and walked out of his office. Ryan snatched the phone off of the hook. He pressed the phone to his ear. "What's up Penny? You have to make this quick. I have the meeting to go to."

"I know, Boss, but you have a phone call from Mister Valentine. He said that he is calling you with a progress report" informed Penny. "I figure that this was too important for you to go to your voice mail."

'Mister Valentine, you definitely need to get a bonus after this thing is done.'

"You are absolutely right, Pen. Patch his call through" instructed Ryan. The call was disconnected and there was a clicking noise. 

"Good morning, Mr. Whittler" said the caller.

"Good morning, Mr. Valentine! What do you have for me?"

****

Christie was pretending to be a princess, who was from a planet called Purple Ice. Her name was Princess Ice. She was a kind princess, who allowed her people to eat ice cream and chocolate brownies all day. She had two cats named Mario and Luigi. At night, she liked to escape from her ice castle and go flying around space. 

Princess Ice was now flying through space and tonight she brought along company. She had met a little girl named Kali and she liked the girl so much that she invited the child. Kali and Princess Ice were flying around space. They were flying around planets and floating in between stars. 

Kali squealed and laughed in delight as she jumped on her queen-sized mattress. She waved her doll in the air as she bounced. She loved her new toy. 

Kali loved Christie, her new doll, very much. She was the first and only toy that she owned. She received the doll, a few days ago, from her mommy's new friend. His name was Jackson. She had met him, a few days ago. He was nice. Mommy told her that Jackson was her new daddy. Mommy said that he was going to give her pretty babies because he had lighter skin than hers. Kali didn't understand what her Mommy meant. All she knew is that Jackson, her new daddy, was a very nice man.

On the day that she met him, he had shown up to their apartment in a nice-looking car. He had taken Kali and Mommy out to Jamaica Avenue, where she and her mommy had gone shopping. She didn't have as much fun as her mommy, who bought a lot of clothes. After the trip on Jamaica Avenue, they had gone back to their apartment. It was there, when Jackson had given her the Christie Doll. Kali thanked Jackson profusely. 

"Hey, Kali!" she heard as she bounced on her mattress.

Kali and Christie stopped jumping on the bed and their game of "Pretending" ended. She glanced over at her bedroom's door and saw Jackson standing there. 

"Hi, Daddy," Kali greeted cheerfully. She leapt off of the bed and then traveled over to the doorway. She stood in front of Jackson. "What's up?"

Jackson laughed and then ran his fingers through her afro. He squatted down to his haunches, so he was staring directly at Kali's face. His hazel pair of eyes stared into her purple eyes. "I need your help," he said to her. "Can you help me? You see..." he grabbed a hold of her arms. He held her arms in a gentle grasp. "Your mama would help me, but she's sick right now and she can't do anything. Can you help me?" 

The idea of helping her new daddy thrilled Kali. She loved her new daddy. She noticed that since he arrived, her mommy was happy again. He bought Mommy gifts and she would smile and be happy. She loved when her mommy was happy. So, as a way of saying 'Thank you' to Jackson, she decided to help him. Kali nodded her head. "Yes, Daddy, I can help you!"

Her new daddy, Jackson, smiled. Seeing him happy made Kali's tummy tickle and she laughed. 

"Good, good, good, I need you to help me by being nice to my friend, Kali. You see, he is very sad right now and he needs something to make him happy. I think you can make him happy. Do you think that you can help him?"

Kali nodded her head. She held up Christie. "He can play with my doll." 

"Well, that's nice" her new daddy stated as he glanced at the plastic toy. "But, I think my friend wants to play a different game. Are you willing to play a different game?"

Kali was a little disappointed. She stared down at the floor. Her bottom lip poked out as she pouted. 

"Kali, it's not nice to be selfish," warned Jackson. "Whenever we have a friend over, you have to do what he says. We're going to have a lot of friends over and we have to make them happy. Do you understand?" Kali didn't answer him. "Would you like for me to take Christie away from you and give her to another little girl?" Kali looked up him with an expression of alarmed. She shook her head. Jackson nodded his head. "I thought so. So, why don't you go and sit up on the bed while I go and get my friend?"

"Okay, Daddy," she whimpered. 

"Good, now get," he said to her with a sudden case of harshness. 

Kali walked over to her bed and climbed up onto the mattress. She sat at the edge of the mattress. She was started to play with Christie, her catfish. She was playing with her toy, when she heard her bedroom door open. She placed her fish onto the bed and then turned her attention to the doorway. 

Standing in the threshold while leaning against the doorframe, was a white man. He wore a light-colored linen suit, a Fedora hat on his head and a pair of brown sandals on his feet. He was staring at the floor at first. 

The little girl with the bright, purple eyes wondered about the man who stood in her doorway. She continued to stare at him. The man suddenly lifted his head and revealed his face for little Kali to see. Her doe-shaped eyes widened in shock. A gasp escaped her mouth. She watched a smile slowly spread across the lower part of his face as he stared at the young girl. 

"Ryan, what are you doing here?" a now adult Kali inquired as she glared at him and continued to sit at the edge of the mattress. 

Ryan pushed his body off of the doorframe and then strolled into the bedroom. He shut the door behind him. "I am here because I own you and despite what your godfather says, I will have you" he growled with a voice that surely wasn't human. 

Kali let out a gasp and then scrambled away from the edge of the bed. Her nude form crawled across his large, circular bed, in his bedroom. She managed to crawl about a foot away, when her journey had come to an end. She felt Ryan grab onto her right ankle and then yank. She lost her balance and fell onto her belly. He pulled her body down the mattress. She was dragged to the center of the mattress. She was grabbed around her torso and was flipped onto her back. Once she was settled on the mattress, she was greeted by a horrifying sight. 

Kali let out a blood-curdling scream into the room. She continued to scream as she stared at the scary entity. Kneeling before her was a large, nude demon. His body was of a human male, but his head was something else. His face resembled a bull. There was a snout, menacing-looking teeth, a pair of frightful eyes and a pair of large, long horns growing out of his head. His unnatural eyes watched her as she lied there.

She needed to get away from this creature. She grabbed a hold of the black, soft bed sheet that was underneath her body. She pulled on the fabric and used her arms' strength to pull herself away from him. She managed to gather some space between the two of them.

"You're mine!" the Demon roared at her. He grabbed onto her legs and violently pulled her back towards him.

Kali covered her eyes, so she couldn't see him. She heard the monster growl in anger. "Open your eyes," she heard the creature command. She shook her head. "Kali, open your eyes!" The voice didn't sound demonic and unnatural anymore. The voice belonged to Ryan. She slowly opened her eyes. 

The Demon still kneeled in front of her. He was still naked. But this time, he possessed a hard on that was eye-catching. She gulped loudly as she gawked at it. She closed her legs and held them tight. 

The monster grabbed her right knee. "Keep your eyes on me," the being instructed. He pried her legs apart as if he was simply prying apart a book. He pressed her knees into the mattress, so her sex was exposed. The demon gazed at her hairless intimate parts. "You look good enough to eat," he growled. Before she could respond to his comment, his head was in between her thighs. His mouth was licking at her pussy with the same vigor that a kitten has with a bowl of cream.

She was shocked and mortified, Kali was unable to move. Her face held the same shock expression as if she was frozen by Medusa herself. Her violet eyes were wide; her jaw was slack and caused her lips to form a perfect 'o'. Her body's position was stiff. Her head, neck and shoulders were lifted off of the mattress. Her arms lied at her sides.

"I..." she whimpered.

The Demon-Ryan-Monster continued to lather her brown, hairless lips with his tongue. His thick and long fingers spread her puffy labia apart to adore the jewel that lied underneath. Her body jerked as a source of reluctant pleasure struck her core. 

"Aaaah," she loudly gasped. "Aaah, oh God, please stop," she begged. She didn't want to feel this type of pleasure from this creature. Her hands touched at his red mane. She tried to push the massive head away, but it wouldn't budge. His mouth continued to work over her pussy. The lure of her impending orgasm was an offer that she couldn't turn down. Soon, her hands encouraged his actions. "Oh God," she moaned. Her upper body fell onto the mattress. 

During a shudder cry, her eyes closed...

Kali's eyes opened to the sounds of her alarm clock's blaring, incessant and annoying ringing. Barely conscious, she rolled onto her left side and stared at her clock. She reached over and shut the alarm off. She lied on her side for a few minutes. She needed some time to shake off the fog that comes from being waken up after a long amount of sleep. Once she was fully conscious, she used her feet to pull the blankets off of her legs. 

"Oh God," she groaned into her right hand while rolling onto her back. She was conscious of the moisture that was soiling her inner thighs. "I can't believe I had a sex dream about fucking a demon," she muttered to herself. She thought back to the unusual dream that she had just created in her mind. So far, this dream was her eighth dream this month. The first five dreams were about Ryan creeping into her bedroom while she was asleep, as a horny cat burglar. The sixth and seventh dreams were something out of a romance novel. They were whimsical and fantastical. "What the hell is wrong with me?" 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 04



'Maybe you have Stockholm Syndrome,' her conscience suggested.

Kali chuckled. 

She sat up in her bed and swung her legs off of the edge. She planted her feet on the carpeted floor. "Oh God," she groaned. She glanced at her pillow. She wanted to go back to bed. Today was the first day of her three-week vacation and she was still getting up early in the morning. "No, no, you have to go to your meeting," she chastised herself. 

Kali attended one weekly group therapy session, another effort at treating her PTSD. Besides the prescribed medication and the group therapy session, she has weekly private meetings with her psychiatrist. Her therapist Abby is also the organizer for her group meetings. 

The meetings have been a part of her PTSD treatment regimen since she was twenty-four years old. At that point in her life, her PTSD symptoms were detrimental to her health. Her nightmares were constant. She had certain idiosyncrasies. She was afraid of occupying unknown rooms, in particular, bedrooms. She couldn't occupy a room that the other occupants were men and she was the lone woman. The fragrance of English Lather would cause her to have panic attacks. She was also prone to having hallucinations. Since her first meeting, Kali has managed to make wonderful progress.

'Oh God, I hope that I am not late,' Kali prayed.

The small, stiletto heels clicked against the polished linoleum tiles as she ran down the hallway. The clicking noise echoed off of the walls. She tried to run as fast as she could, but she was weighed down by groceries.

Kali was awoken at a reasonable hour, on this Monday morning, April 16th. She managed to get ready for her day, in under an hour and she was out of the house before 9:00 AM. Her meeting begins at 10:30 AM, so she had an hour to fulfill the errands that she needed to do. Each of the twelve members of the group was given the role of providing snacks for the people during the sessions. It was Kali's turn, for this week. She had gone to a local marketplace to buy some condiments, eating utensils and napkins. She bought small jars of grape jelly, orange marinade and strawberry preserves. She bought a canister of cream cheese, butter and some kosher lox. After she left the supermarket, she had gone to a local bakery and purchase two bags of assorted bagels. Then, she visited a Dunkin' Donuts store and bought three boxes of assorted donuts. By the time, she started her journey to her therapist's office; she had her arms filled with groceries.

Her psychiatrist's office was in a posh-looking, building that held fourteen floors, in Rego Park, Queens. By the time she arrived to the building, the time was 10:23 AM. She managed to travel to the eighth floor, by the freight elevator. As soon as she was able to get off of the elevator, she ran to her therapist's office. Once she arrived at the brightly-lit office, she was panting and sweating. 

She entered the office and saw four people lounging the waiting room. She recognized them as fellow members. They were sitting in the reception chairs. Some were reading newspapers and the others were staring at their cell phones. "Good morning, everybody!" she greeted as she walked into the area. 

Everyone gave the woman a collective greeting. "Good morning, Kali!" 

One of the members, a man by the name of Jim, had stood up and approaches her. "Kali, give me those bags and groceries! You shouldn't be carrying all of these items!" he gently admonished her. 

"Oh," she gasped. She was surprised by the act of chivalry. She gave the boxes of donuts and grocery bags to Jim. "Thank you, Jim!" 

"You're welcome, darling" he said with a smile. "Go on and hang up your coat while I'll take this to the meeting room." 

"Okay, thank you" she said with a big smile. She watched Jim travel into their meeting room, which was another room that was adjacent to the waiting room. She walked over to the coat closet that was next to the doctor's office. She peeled off her light blue knitted cap and her navy blue pea coat. She stuffed her hat, scarf and mittens into the left sleeve before she hung up her coat. 

Kali entered the meeting room and found six more members inside of the room. They were in various stages of hanging out before their meeting begins. She saw Abby and her assistant Gabrielle inside of the room. They were standing in front of the large, dry erase board and talking to each other. Jim had placed the boxes of food and groceries on a long wooden table that was pushed against the right wall. She walked over to the table and proceeded to fix up the food. 

"Oh my God..." Kali heard her therapist even before she could see the woman. 

A petite, 5'5, middle-aged woman had approached Kali. The woman wore a large red sweater and a pair of black pants and a pair of black ballet flats on her feet. Her pale cheeks where affected by a slight case of freezer burn. Her brown hair was slightly mussed and wind-swept. She wore her gold, round eyeglasses low on the bridge of her nose. 

"Look at all of this food!" the woman claimed. She placed a protective arm around Kali's waist. She gazed down at the opulent display of food. "What did you do: buy out the grocery store?" she joked. Kali and the therapist laughed. 

"No, I haven't," giggled Kali. "I just wanted to make sure that I bought enough food!"

"You certainly bought enough food. I think you're going to make us eat our fill to the point that we all are going to be dozing off during the meeting," Abby quipped.

Kali laughed. "I know I had over-reacted by buying all of this stuff, but I caught a shopping bug," she explained to her therapist. She continued to arrange the food, the condiments and everything else with a finesse and ease. "Besides, if there is any food left over, I'm sure Cody will have no problem taking this food..." 

Kali and Abby looked over their shoulders to a man that was positioned across the meeting room. He was posted up in a corner. He was sitting in a black leather armchair that was between the wall and a potted plant. He was busy reading a magazine. He possessed a lanky build that was showcased in an ill-fitting, tight red sweater, a pair of slightly tattered blue jeans and a pair of sneakers that had seen better days. On the top of his egg-shaped head, there were light brown hair, which was already thinned and barely covered that bald spot at the crown of his skull. He wore a pair of discolored metal, round-eyed eyeglasses that were small in size. His optical accessory highlighted his small, deep set round eyes and they were held up by his bird-beak type of nose. Below his bird-beak type of nose, there was a mouth that reminded Kali of black sea bass' mouth. His lips appeared to frown all of the time.

"... He is always the first person to take the leftovers and then some..." Kali turned to face her therapist. "Abby, are you sure that he is here because of the therapy and not because of the free food?" 

"Trust me, he is here for the therapy" Abby confirmed. "He is just a cheapskate and stingy." Abby began to help Kali arrange the food. The women continued to converse. 

As the women chatted by the banquet-styled table, they were approached by a posh-looking, young woman. She was a statuesque beauty with chocolate-brown hair and glowing, tanned skin. She wore a zebra-printed sweater dress, with a pair of tight black low-rider jeans underneath, along with a pair of black high-heeled boots on her feet. 

"Good morning Abby! Good morning Kali!" the woman greeted each woman. 

Kali and Abby gave the woman a collective greeting in return. "Good morning, Jennifer!"

"Oooh Kali, you look absolutely lovely this morning!" commented Jennifer as she took in Kali's choice of wardrobe. 

"Really, you think so?" Kali inquired, as she glanced down at her outfit. She glanced at the teal-colored, cashmere sweater and the pair of black trousers that she wore, as well as, the black boots she wore. "I just picked whatever item that I can fit and hoped that it matched," she informed the fellow group member. "Thank you for the compliment! The way I feel right now, it is more than welcomed." 

"No problem, honey, you deserve it!" Jennifer walked over the table. She grabbed a napkin and then a sprinkled donut from out of a box. She stood in between her therapist and Kali. "Sorry for interrupting your conversation, but I need to know something, Abby."

"What is it?" the therapist asked her patient. 

"You must tell me about the new guy. Is he going to be a new member to our group? Or are we trying him out temporarily?" asked Jennifer. "Cause, I would definitely like to try him out." 

"Oh, Jennifer," Abby scoffed. 

"We have a new member?" said a surprised Kali.

"Yeah, he's sitting right over..." Jennifer pointed over to a person, who was sitting in the center of the room. "...there, in the Trust Circle." 

Kali looked in the direction of where her group mate was pointing. Her eyes scanned the large group of blue chairs that was in a circular formation, also known as the Trust Circle. Her amethyst eyes spotted the man that Jennifer was referring. Her eyes widened, due to feeling amazed at the sight. His broad back was facing the trio of women. He was facing the front of the room, staring at the dry erase board. This man was large in height and in weight. He had the height of a giant, but the build of either a professional bodybuilder or one of those professional wrestlers. Kali thought that this man was gargantuan. She wondered how the chair was able to withhold all of that weight. She quickly tried to think back to the moment when she entered the room. She tried to remember if she spotted this man before. She didn't remembered seeing him. She concluded that he must've entered the Meeting Room, after she did. 

"Oh my God," she gasped. "He is huge!"

"Yeah, I'm hoping that he is huge in another place," Jennifer had said in a half-jokingly manner. Both Abby and Kali laughed at Jennifer's audacious nature. 

"Well, Miss Temptress, why don't go over there and introduce yourself?" suggested Abby. "I'm sure that he would appreciate the welcome."

"He does appear to be nervous," added Kali. 

Jennifer's hazel eyes glistened with a sense of interest. She pulled the bottom of her sweater further down her thighs. The collar of her top drifted down her collarbone to reveal her cleavage. Once her shirt was in the desired position, she used her fingers to pinch at her nipples. Kali let out a gasp in shock while Abby chortled. 

"I'll see you ladies later," Jennifer told the both of them. "Let me go and be the Welcome Committee!" The woman walked away. They watched the young coquette travel over to the center of the room. They watched her stand in front of the new member. She had spoken to the large man as she extended her hand. 

Kali and Abby had turned back to the table. The food was ready to be served.

"Only Jennifer could use a group therapy session as a dating service..." 

There was a sudden rush of fluttering inside of Kali's stomach. She felt as if a small animal had run across her stomach. She loudly gasped and made a stagger. Her hands had clutched onto her sphere that was hidden underneath her top. 

Abby witnessed her patient's sudden change in behavior. Feeling alarmed, she was by Kali's side quickly. She held onto her waist. "Kali, honey, are you all right?" 

In response, Kali laughed. "I'm all right, Abby. I just experienced... I think..." A jubilant smile spread across her full lips. "I... I think my baby just moved right now." She gazed down at her bulging stomach. 

"Describe the feeling to me," suggested Abby. "I can tell you whether or not if it was the baby that moved."

"Oh my... It feels like fluttering. It almost feels like..." There was another case of fluttering inside of her gut. She grabbed a hold of Abby's hand and she placed the hand on her stomach. 

The therapist felt the skin ripple and twitch underneath her hand. She let out a giggle. "Yeah, that's your baby moving! And in the way she is moving, I think she might grow up to be a dancer!"

'My baby is moving,' Kali thought as she continued to feel her child move. She felt as if she experienced an 'out-of-body' occurrence. It was too surreal. It was too beautiful and it felt so wonderful. 

"Oh wow," muttered Kali with tears in her eyes. 

Abby had given her back a soothing rub. "Let me go and start the meeting..." She stood closer to the woman. "Congratulations, Mommy" she said, softly. She walked away from Kali and traveled to the Trust Circle. 

Soon after Kali experienced her baby's first act of movement, the meeting had begun. Abby, being that her role was the meeting's organizer; she was the one who made introductions. She stood in the center of the Trust Circle. 

"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to say that I am happy to see all of you here today!" she addressed the group as she slowly spun around. She wanted to make sure that she stared at each member as she spoke. "Today, as we all know by now, we have a new member here..."

At this moment in the therapist's address, Kali glanced at the man who sat in the row that was in front of hers. She couldn't see his face still. He kept his head dipped. She observed him as he sat there. He was quiet. He appeared as if he wanted to be left alone. 

"... Sir, can you please stand up and come to the center of the circle?" the doctor asked the giant of man. 

She heard the large man let out a sigh, which could've been mistaken as a grunt. The giant lifted himself out of the chair, which creaked during his movement. Now standing, he appeared magnanimous. He traveled to the center of their center. He used long strides and was in the desired spot in no time. 

Kali gawked at the man as he stood in front. He is nervous, she assumed. His body language conveyed that he was shy. He was fidgeting from both of his feet while his hands fumbled with his knitted cap. He gazed down at the floor. 

"Um, good morning to everyone..." the new member greeted the members, Abby and her assistant. He briefly glanced at the crowd. "My name is Kyle Oliver..."

Kali watched Mr. Kyle Oliver stand there. The first thing she noticed was his skin. It was the body part that stood out the most. It was an unnatural color for his racial makeup. He was the color combination of brown and orange. Due to the useless information that she possessed, she knew that the orange-brown skin was the effect of a spray-tanning process. She also knew that most bodybuilders use the spray-tan effect, as preparation, for their competitions.

'Well, it will explain the large build that he has,' she concluded. 

The second thing that she noticed was his face, or rather, every feature that was on his entire head. His black hair was slicked away from his face and was styled with hair products. The hair that covered his temples had patches of gray hair. On his oblong-shaped face, there were features that were masculine and handsome. There was a broad forehead that was now littered with worry lines as he folded his brows. His nose was dignified yet couldn't be an example of conventional beauty. The bridge was thick and it made the nose the prominent feature on his face. He possessed a pair of cheeks that were chiseled. The pair of eyes that was positioned above each cheek was the shade of dark brown. They were so dark in color that they could've been black. Each eye had a round shape to them, similar to hers but they were so different. His eyes were alert and cautious as they glared warily at everyone. She saw his feeling of distrust in them. His pink lips contrast with his skin's current color, which made his face appear odd. 

"... I am thirty-five years old..."

'He's thirty-five? He looks a bit older than thirty-five.'

"... I am a construction worker..."

'It does explain the clothes,' she said to herself. 

Kali stared at the Kyle Oliver's clothes. He wore a thick, black denim jacket that had the sleeves cut off while leaving frayed pieces in its wake. Underneath the denim jacket, there was another jacket that was black and leather. The leather jacket was unzipped and revealed two more layers of clothes: a gray sweatshirt and a white thermal. He wore a pair of blue jeans on his thick, long legs and a pair of battered, black boots on his feet.

"... I have been diagnosed with PTSD, back in September of 1999, when I was still in the Marines. I have been..."

Kali's eyes stared down at Kyle's hands. They continued to play with the knitted cap. Like the skin on his face and neck, his hands also were the color of brown-orange. They were large. She imagined that his hands could hold her head as if he was holding a tangerine. 

'Or his hands are large enough to capture a pair of breasts in his hands?'

Her hormone-addled mind conjured up a portion of her dream from the previous night. Instead of being with the Demon-Ryan-Monster, she was with Kyle Oliver. A mental image of a pair of brown-orange hands kneading her breasts seared into her mind. They were cradling and caressing her sensitive skin.

Kali sighed, as a flood of arousal drowned her core. She felt her breasts become inflamed. Her nipples hardened. Her core seeped. 

'Kali Doreen Richardson, you are checking him out!' her conscience teased her. She blushed with embarrassment. She ran an appreciative hand over her pregnant belly. 'No, no, I am not. It's... It's just my topsy-turvy hormones!' Kali nodded her head, completely oblivious that she was conversing with herself. 'Yes, it is my hormones.'

"...I would like to get to the point where I am better," Kyle Oliver reported to the group. He stared at Abby. "Um, Ma'am, it's the only thing that I have to say," he informed her. 

"It's okay and you have given us just enough. You can return to your seat, Mr. Oliver," the therapist instructed him.

"Um, thank you Ma'am" Kyle Oliver mumbled. 

Kali watched the new member walk back to his seat. Before he sat down, Kali's eyes and his eyes had met. Unlike his time of standing in front of the Trust Circle, Kyle had managed to keep his eyes on her. She felt like she was caught with her proverbial hand stuck in the cookie jar. She gave him a simpering smile as she stared up at him. He gave her one, in return. He sat down in his chair and then glanced over his left shoulder to give her another glance. 

The day's session proceeded. Abby allowed the group members to speak and converse with each other. It was during this time, Kali made a brief glimpse at Kyle Oliver. He was silence throughout the meeting. He remained in his seat as well. Even though he did not participate in the meeting, he did provide his attention to whoever had spoken. There was an occasion during the session, when Kali offered her input. She felt his eyes on her. There was a fluttering in her belly. She knew that it wasn't her daughter fidgeting around.

Once the meeting was concluded, Kali lingered around for an additional thirty minutes. She chatted with a few members, had shared a conversation with Abby's assistant and then helped Cody clean up. Truthfully, it was more like showing Cody how to pack the food up in the grocery bags, so the plastic bags won't rip while he was on his way home. Afterwards, she wished everyone a 'good day'.

She opted to take the city buses than the subway, so she waited for the 'Q60' bus at a designated bus depot. There were eight other passengers in the depot, who were waiting for the bus. She stood in line, behind an old lady. She gazed down the long street that was nicknamed the 'Boulevard of Death' and hoped to see a bus. 

'Nothing,' she sighed. 'Well, at least the weather isn't bad today.'

Three months and a few weeks have passed since the night of the Tolley's holiday party. For the first few weeks after, Kali was living with ongoing cases of anxiety and paranoia. She was anxious because she was worried about Ryan's reactions to his assault. She knew that Ryan was manipulative and was prone to be vindictive. Plus, he had a lot of money to obtain the resources that he need in order to enact his revenge. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 05



Author's Note: This will be a quick note. I am going on a little break. It is not going to a long break, just a few weeks. During this break, I will have a few more chapters written and I will post them here, on Literotica. 

In this chapter, I've decided to take break from writing about Ryan and Kali. I've decided to write about Daniel and Mary Anne. 

Thank you for reading my story.



***********





"For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first."

-Suzanne Collins



"It takes one to know one... It takes one to know one... It takes one to know one. Come on, got-damn it, it is not so hard to figure the damn puzzle out!"

Daniel continued to watch Amber Lynn McCoy from Plano. Texas buys vowels and more consonants rather than solve the puzzle. 

He is sitting in his living room, on his comfy loveseat. He is watching an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" off of his floor model television. He was avoiding staring at the time. He knew that if he did spot the time, he would've grown irritated. He knew that they were going to be late. He knew that his grandparents were going to chew his ass out for not being punctual, even though Mary Anne is the person responsible for their tardiness. 

Daniel couldn't help himself and he ended up staring at the clock feature that was on his cable box. In a soft shade of green, the numbers read '7:43'. He was supposed to be at the restaurant at '6:30'. 

'Shit... Damn it Mary Anne, I swear she is probably going to be late to her own funeral!' 

He silently stewed for a bit. He knew that he was only going to increase his stress level and his anxiety, by allowing himself to stay mad. He also was aware what tends to happen when he becomes anxious and stressed. The first sign began, ten minutes later, with a case of sour stomach. His stomach rumbled with nastiness and there was a burn. Daniel clenched his stomach and let out a groan. 

The burning sensation ended up traveling up to his chest, where it lingered. There was an ache and a pressure. His face grimaced and he let out another groan. He grew hotter and he started to sweat. His heart began racing. 

"I need a drink," he gasped.

Daniel shot up from his seat. With rushed steps, he trekked into his kitchen and to his refrigerator. He searched through the large appliance until he found his desired item. He withdrew the six-pack of Budweiser and placed them on the kitchen island. With the same control that a starving man would have with a pack of Saltine Crackers, Daniel drank from three cans. During each can's consumption, he would let out a moan of appreciation. By the time his third emptied can touched the countertop, he noticed that the sensation in his body was gone. Plus, he noticed the slight buzz that he was enduring. 

Mary Anne was inside of the living room, when he returned from the kitchen. She was standing behind the couch. She had her arms folded across her ample chest. She held an expression of annoyance on her face. He noticed that she has been wearing that facial expression for quite a few days now. Then he noticed that she was wearing her bathrobe and slippers. 

"Why are you not dressed?" inquired Daniel as he stared at her.

"Are you drunk?" she asked him, with her eyes narrowed. "I smell beer."

"I had a beer earlier..." was his answer. "While I was waiting down here for you because I thought you would've been dressed by now. Why are you not dressed?"

"I'm not going," replied his wife, as if she didn't think she was wrong for leading her husband on.

'What?' he thought. He crossed his arms over his massive chest. He felt his irritation starting to creep back up. "Why?"

"Because I have nothing to wear," was his wife's reason.

'What? You had me sitting down here in the living room...' he surmised.

"My grandparents are waiting for us at the restaurant!"

"So, go out to eat with them! They want to see you anyway!" Mary Anne snapped at him. "They do not like me at all! They never did like me!" 

Daniel let out a scoff. He strolled up to Mary Anne. He placed a gentle hold on her slender shoulders. He stared at his wife's beautiful face and gave her a smile. "Do you want anything from Costello's while I am there? Do you want me to bring back a couple of slices of carrot cake for you?"

Mary Anne slapped her husband's chest while they were both laughing. "Why did you have to say 'a couple of slices', as if I am going to eat a whole cake?" she giggled. 

"Because, baby, you can throw down on some cake—

Mary Anne unleashed a series of love taps on her husband's chest. Daniel laughed as he accepted the blows. 

"Okay, baby, I have to go now. My grandparents are waiting for me..." Daniel gave her a kiss on her forehead, one on the tip of her nose and then he planted a passionate one on her lips. She moaned in delight. Her hands clasped onto his bulging arms and gave them a squeeze. When they parted, she was panting and her cheeks were flushed. "Okay, I really have to go now." He gave her a peck on her lips. "I love you." Daniel squatted, so he was facing his wife's swollen stomach. "And I love you too, Little Sean." He planted a kiss on his wife's stomach. He heard her giggle. 

He walked over to the loveseat, where he had placed his coat. He slipped his coat on his brawny frame. 

"Please be safe while driving tonight, baby" suggested Mary Anne. 

"I will, honey. Call me, if you want anything."

"I will, baby" she said to him as she rubbed her belly.

****

"Where's Tinkerbelle?" Daniel's grand-aunt Abigail asked him, referring to his wife. His grand-aunt always makes her dislike known, whenever she has the chance.

"Well, 'Hello' to you too, Aunt Abigail!" Daniel said to the woman as he gave her a hug. 

"Mmm, look at you!" she said to her sister's grandson, as soon as they parted. She stared at her grand-nephew with adoration. "You look so big and strong like Johnny! Delia, doesn't Daniel look like Johnny?"

Delia, his maternal grandmother, stared at him as she sat down in a chair. "Yeah, he does look a lot like Johnny." Daniel gazed at his grandma and took note that her green eyes held a 'far away' look. He is familiar with the look. His mother does the same thing. 

"Boy, ya' late!" his grandfather Tin said to him, after he returned to the table from his stint in the restroom. Tin pulled out a red velvet-lined chair from the table and sat down. "Where's that gal of yours? Did she come with you?"

"Sorry Grandpa," Daniel said to his grandfather. He had taken a seat in a chair that was on the other side of the table. "Mary Anne is home. She wasn't feeling too well tonight."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear, honey. You tell her that I say that I hope she feels better," his grandma said to her. 

"Oh Delly, she is home because she probably couldn't figure out which mink stole she wanted to wear tonight!" his grand-aunt explained. 

Daniel had cut his eyes over to the woman who was sitting to the right of him, at one of the heads of the table.

'Oh shit, I am really starting to believe that this old bitty is really a psychic like they say that she is.' 

He continued to glance at his grandmother's baby sister. The woman was reclined in her chair to the point where the chair's front legs were lifted off of the floor. Her hands were planted against the back of her fedora hat and her arms were akimbo. 

Abigail saw that her grand-nephew was staring at her. She gave him a smile and then a wink. 

"Grandma... Auntie Abigail... You two ladies look very beautiful tonight," stated Daniel. 

His grandmother blushed and coyly stared down at her hands. He knew that his grandmother always blushed when someone gave her a compliment. Daniel thought that she did look very lovely tonight. Every time he had seen the woman, she always wore a smock dress and worn-out shoes. Her hair was always kept tucked underneath a scarf. Now, she had her black-dyed hair in victory rolls and a gardenia pinned in her hair. The back of her hair was loose with big curls. She wore minimal makeup on her pretty face. Instead of the smock dress and a pair of moccasins, she wore a lilac-colored sweater and a pair of black, boot-cut styled jeans with a pair of black flats on her feet. 

"Oh, thank you Danny. It is very sweet of you to say that," Delly said to her grandson. 

"What a crock of shit, Danny" his grand-aunt said to him, in response. "I can believe your compliment to your grandmother. But, I know that you're pulling my leg right now! You are doling out compliments as if I am Lady Godiva and here I am dressed like Annie-fucking-Hall!"

Daniel gazed at his grand-aunt's attire. 'She's right; she is dressed like Annie Hall,' he concluded. Abigail was wearing a men's styled suit, but the suit was tailored to her voluptuous frame. 

"Abigail, watch your language! We're in a really nice restaurant," Delly informed her sister.

"Oh, hush" Abigail stated to her sister. 

Daniel laughed. 

The family were enjoying themselves at dinner, which surprised Daniel. Every once in a while, their good time was interrupted by a person who was a Missouri Emperors fan. They would either ask for an autograph or a picture. Daniel would comply to their requests. 

He was expecting to spend the evening waiting for it to be over. He also expected to spend the duration of dinner having every bit of his life dissected and picked apart by his grandparents. After having a few conversations with his relatives, he realized that they were different from the paternal side of his family. With his dad's family, having dinner with them is brutal. 

Then he realized that he didn't spend a lot of time with his mother's kinfolk, not even when he was a child. He always spends time with his father's family, even on the holidays. The only times he was able to spend time with the Thompson family were at wedding receptions and funerals. Daniel wanted to change that tradition. 

It was after their meals and right before dessert was served that Daniel had brought up his proposal. "Grandpa... Grandma, after the baby is born, I would like to bring Mary Anne and Little Sean down to Little Rock and visit you guys," proposed Daniel. 

His grandmother's eyes lit up with happiness in response. There was a glossy coating to her green eyes, which alerted Daniel that she was about to cry. A broad smile lit up her face. "Oh," she loudly gasped and then she clapped her hands together once, in rejoice.

"You're all right, Grandma?" He thought that her reaction was a bit unwarranted and on the overdramatic side. 

The elder woman couldn't speak. She could only nod her head. 

"Okay," he said under his breath. 

His grandpa turned to his wife and asked her to dance with him. Then he whispered something in her ear, in which she laughed. She nodded her head. The married couple removed themselves from the dinner table. Daniel watched his grandparents walk over to the dance floor that was the epicenter of the dining area. For a moment, he watched them dance to the house band's version of the Isley Brothers' "Groove With You". His heart began to race, but it was in a good way. He admitted to himself that he adored the sight of the elderly couple. 

He turned his attention to his grand-aunt Abigail, who was also watching the couple dance. "Is my grandma always so excited?" he asked the woman.

Abigail turned her attention to her grand-nephew. "My sister is an even-keeled woman, usually. She has never lost her temper or her control towards anyone. She never loses her cool and get excited about anything. But, I can say that what you did tonight was something that she always wanted."

"What? Why?" Daniel found that tidbit to be preposterous. "I only gave a promise to visit her and grandpa!" he informed Abigail. 

"Even if it is a promise and you never do visit her, Delly will still appreciate the promise. It lets her know that you want to spend time with her. Do you understand?"

Daniel nodded his head. "You make it sound like Grandma Delia believes that I don't want to be around her."

"She believes it, Daniel..." Abigail smiled. "Well, she did believe it."

"Why would she believe such a dumb thing?"

He watched the smile lift off of Abigail's face. She stared down at the table. Then she sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. She glanced at her grand-nephew. She gave him a wry smile. She positioned herself in a different angle. She was now leaning her upper body against the table while her forearms were resting on the table. She was now closer to Daniel. 

"I know that you don't know much about us, Danny, so I am going to tell you something about myself. I don't like keeping secrets. I've never kept a secret before in my life. I also don't believe in beating around the bush either," she explained to him.

"Okay." 

The woman licked her lips and then pursed them, before speaking. "I might as well tell you..." Her green eyes stared at Daniel with intensity. "Danny, the reason why you and your sisters never been around the family is because your mama doesn't want y'all kids to know that we're... black people."

"What?" Daniel unintentionally shouted. Luckily for the both of them, Daniel didn't draw any attention. "What do you mean by 'we're black people'?"

"Simple, we're black," Abigail explained. "Your grandmother and I are black, or African-Americans, if you preferred that term. Your mother is half-black. We just so happens to have physical features that is associated with white people. Is that explanation simple enough for you?"

Daniel just glowered, in response.

"Would you like to see a picture of your great-grandparents?" she asked him.

"Yes, I would like to see a picture..." Then he muttered under his breath, "Crazy Woman." His name-calling earned him a slap at the back of his head. He flinched in pain. 

Abigail placed her black, leather clutch bag off of her lap and onto the table. She opened her bag and then produced a small pink wallet. She opened her wallet and then placed the item onto the table, in front of Daniel. He peered inside of the holder. On the left side of the item, there was a compartment for the pictures. The compartment consists of five plastic sleeves that was positioned in layers. The sleeves were used to store photos. 

Daniel stared at the first pair of photos. One photo was an old photo that was kept in great condition. Judging by the quality of the background and the clarity of the picture, Daniel knew that the picture was done by a professional photographer. The model for the picture was an older, black man. In the photo, he was positioned so he was not staring into the lens. For Daniel, he thought that the man looked debonair and distinguished, even with the broad smile on his face. The black, thick eyeglasses that he wore made him look professional. Daniel couldn't see the resemblance between this man and his mother.

"That's my daddy," Abigail announced. 

Daniel looked at her and witnessed the huge smile on her face. Now, he recognized the resemblance. His grand-aunt reminded him that she could be a 'Daddy's Girl'.

"His name is Octavius Martin—

"Mama had once told me that her family comes from Italy," Daniel said absent-mindedly.

"Your mama always did like to make up stories," Abigail said to him. "She also changed her name as well. She broke your grandpa's heart with that one. The man had done raised her since she was a few months old and he raised her like she was his own child—

"Grandpa—

"He is not your grandfather... biologically. Your mother's biologically father is a guy named Dennis. He did a 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am' on my sister and left her a baby in her stomach. Your grandfather had come along towards the end of Delly's pregnancy and they ended up marrying a few months later."

The two individuals had gone back to viewing the photo of Daniel's great-grandfather. 

"My daddy was a great man. You have some of his mannerisms too. I was watching you eat tonight and..." She let out a wavering sigh and then she chuckled. Daniel could see the sadness in her eyes and feel it bounce off of her.

"When did he pass away?" Daniel asked. 

"On October 28th, 1979," she announced.

"You two were close, huh?"

"Yeah, we were close, when I was a kid. Then, when I was thirteen, I had gotten knocked up and our relationship changed dramatically. But, his relationship with Delly never altered or changed in any way."

Daniel's eyes had gone wide with surprise. Abigail asked him what was wrong. "You had a baby, when you was thirteen?" 

"Yes, in fact, I had two of them. I had my twin girls, Jesse and May. I had them with my first husband, Jamie. Jamie and I had a 'shotgun wedding'. I didn't love him. I married him because I wanted to see my daddy happy with me again."

"You said 'first husband'. You were married more than..."

"I was married ten times exactly. I was married more than Elizabeth Taylor!" she said, sounding amused. Daniel chuckled. "I married each man that managed to knock me up. After Jamie left me, I had two babies to take care of, so I had gone looking for a daddy for my kids. All I ended up doing is finding another man to leave a baby in my stomach and once again I ended up in a loveless marriage. Your grandma, on the other hand, managed to get lucky."

Daniel's eyes focused on the picture that was positioned next to the photo of his great-grandfather. 'Oh shit,' his mind gasped in shock. He stared at his great- grandmother's photo and can definitely see the resemblance. His great-grandmother looked exactly like his mother. There were a few differences such as the eye color and the texture of their hair, but they weren't distracting.

"There are pictures of me, Delly and Johnny on the next page," reported Abigail. 

Daniel turned the plastic page. There were two photos on this page. Unlike the photos of his great-grandparents, this photo was an amateur photograph. It featured three teenagers, two girls and a boy. The girls were posing in swimsuits while the guy was bare-chested, but the top of his swim trunks were shown. Each girl was sitting on the boy's massive arm while he flexed his muscles. He recognized his grandmother and Abigail. The third person caused Daniel let out a chuckle in disbelief. 

"What's so funny?" inquired Abigail. 

"It's apparent that I didn't pick up some manners from my great-grandfather..." She gave Daniel a quizzical expression. He explained. "Back in the day, lifting up girls was my way of flirting."

"Oh," she gasped and she clasped his hand. "Yeah, just like your great-uncle!" They laughed.

Daniel stared at Johnny and observed his great-uncle. His grandmother and Abigail was right. He did look like his relative, except Johnny's hair was shorter and wavy. His great-uncle even had a nice physique. He smiled and then gazed at his great-aunt. 

"Aunt Abigail, what happened to Johnny?"

She stared at him for a moment. Her eyes had gone dark. Then they had become downcast. She let out a sigh. 

"You-You don't have to tell me, Aunt Abigail—

"I want to, baby" she informed him. She let out a sigh. She had taken a sip out of her drink. She let out another sigh before she began speaking. "Out of us three kids, Johnny was the youngest. He was the biggest out of all of us, but he was the baby. When Johnny was thirteen, he lost his virginity. It was to an older woman. I was the first person that he told. By then, he was at least six feet tall and had a body like a man. By the age of fifteen, that boy had become a grade-A poon hound dog..."

Hearing the petite woman use profane language caused Daniel to unexpectedly choke on his saliva. He sputtered and then coughed. 

"You alright?" she asked him.

"Yes, ma'am" Daniel gasped before taking a swallow out of his drink. 

Abigail continued. "When Johnny was eighteen, he had taken an interest to a married woman named Faye Clark. Faye was married to a rough rider, who was a peanut farmer. She was also a white woman..."




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 05



Daniel had an idea of where this story was going. "How was the affair found out?"

"Faye became pregnant with her son and daughter, back in 1966. Everybody in our town knew that those babies did not belong to Frank, her husband. Her man was hardly home and always was on business trips. Once her old man found out Faye's infidelity, he had beaten the holy hell out of her and then tossed her out of his house. She didn't have any other place to live, so she had gone to my parents' house."

"So, wait a minute, this Faye woman knew that Johnny was—

"Black? Yes, she knew about Johnny's race and about us. The town that we are from is very small. At the time, it was segregated, but everybody knew everybody. We, Martins, were legendary in our town. We're Black, but we could pass for White people. Back to the story: Faye and Johnny decided to do the 'family thing' with each other. My dad, a few of my uncles and Johnny had built a nice house on my family's property, for the new family. They knew that they needed to be careful, when they were in town..." 

Faye had taken a sip out of her glass of gin before she continued with her story.

"The last time I saw Johnny alive was on September 16th, 1966. He had picked me up from my job to escort me home. At the time, I was 'in between' husbands and I was working a waitress job at a diner. I was living on my own, in a shitty apartment. We talked as he drove me home. Before he drove off that night, we talked in the cabin of his pick-up truck. He told me that he was excited about becoming a daddy. I was nervous for him. He was going to be the father of half-white babies during a very ugly time in America. He assured me that everything was going to be all right. Then he told me that he needed to go to Hancock's, which was a local grocery store and pick up some snacks for Faye..."

Abigail had gone silent for eight seconds. "He was excited about becoming a dad. And..." 

When she stopped speaking, he glanced at his great-aunt. Her face was glistened with tears. Her makeup was ruined. 

"Auntie, I'm sorry" he apologized. 

"He was gone for four days. We looked for him. There were people who said that my brother caught a case of cold feet and he deserted Faye, but we knew better. On the third day of his disappearance, his truck was found. It was wrecked. Then, on September 20th, we found him. Or rather my mama was the one who found Johnny. They..." 

She sniffled. She grabbed a napkin off of the table. She wiped her face. 

"They placed his body on my parents' doorstep with a sign taped to his torso. My mommy was the first person to find him and she had gone crazy on that day. My daddy had come home that night to find her cradling him, on the front porch. By the time I had found out about Johnny, he was already carted off to the funeral home while my mama was taken to a nearby hospital. I didn't know how he died until twenty years later, when I found a newspaper article about his death..."

"How did he die?" 

"Based off of what the article said, he was beheaded and was castrated. When my dad was alive, he wouldn't tell us. He refused to tell us anything. At his funeral, the casket was close. Art Tomlin, the funeral home director refused to tell us too."

"Did they find his killer?" inquired Daniel.

"Everybody knew whose his killers were. Faye's ex-husband and his friends had no problem gloating about killing my brother. They bragged about it for years. They harassed us. They harassed Faye and the children, as well. We all knew that they did it."

"And nothing happened to them?" Daniel felt outraged. 

"The cops didn't bother to interrogate them. But they did receive their comeuppance in 1974. Faye's ex and his rough riding buddies were found in a wooded area in Tennessee. They were torched to a crisp. No one knew who did it, but there was speculation that my father did it."

"They probably crossed paths with the wrong cowboys," concluded Daniel.

"No, my father was the one who orchestrated the murders," Abigail told him. Daniel stared at her wide-eyed in amazement. "I believe he had something to do with it. I remember two months before the murders, my dad had gone to Memphis. He had gone to visit a friend of his named Luther. At the time, I was living with Daddy and Mommy. I was divorced again and my kids and I were staying with them. I remember seeing my dad pack a lot of money in a suitcase..."

Abigail had taken a sip out of her drink. 

"He had me take care of mama while he was gone. I believe that he did it. My dad had motive. Now, you won't find me crying for them..." 

Abigail had taken a long pull from her glass of gin. 

Daniel sat back in his chair and try to absorb all of the information that was given to him. Within the time span of three hours, he had learned something about his mother that alter his perception about her. He learned about a tragic event involving his doppelgänger. Then, he was exposed to a family secret that sounds like it had come from an episode of "The Sopranos". He felt like he wanted a drink. 

The sensation of vibration permeated through his left thigh. He was pulled from his thoughts. He realized that his cell phone was ringing. He withdrew his phone from his pants' pocket. He checked the Caller ID. It was Mary Anne. 

"I'm guessing that you do want those slices of carrot cake," he said into the phone, sounding amused. 

"Danny," Mary Anne panted. Daniel's cause for concern increased. She sounded scared and panic. "I need you to come home! I am in labor!"

"What?" he spoke into the phone. He stood up from his chair. 

"My water... My water ruptured and I am having contractions! I have been counting them and they are three minutes apart!" 

"Mary Anne, baby, I need for you call the ambulance! I will meet you up there!" he instructed. 

"I did call them! The EMT's are here right now! You don't have to worry about calling your parents, I already did! I've called Doctor Peterson and he is on his way to the hospital! I've called my parents too! I've gotta go! Bye, baby! I love you!" Then, the call was disconnected. 

"Honey, are you all right?" Abigail said to him. 

He stared at his relative. "Mary Anne is in labor! She told me that her water has broken," he informed his great-aunt. "It's too soon for her to go into labor! She is only five months pregnant! There's something wrong with Sean! I know..." His voice trailed off.

Daniel left the table to go find his grandparents while leaving Abigail at the table herself. 

Abigail watched Daniel's large body walk away from the table. He was traveling to the dance floor. A sense of sadness had washed over her. She shook her head in disappointment. "Damn you woman..." she muttered into her glass before taking a sip of her drink. "The Lord protects babies and fools, so I know everything is going to be all right."

Daniel left the table to go to the dance floor. He needed to find his grandparents to tell them the news. He found them in the center of the dance floor, dancing to "Boogie Wonderland". He explained to his grandparents about his call with Mary Anne. The look of fear in his grandmother's face caused Daniel to become terrified. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, along with Daniel, left the dance floor. They traveled back to their table. They arrived to the table to see Abigail settling the bill with the server. 

Abigail gazes at her great-nephew and she sighs with great disappointment. She could see the worry and the concern in his eyes. It was conveyed in his actions. His hands fumbled with his coat as he tried to fasten the buttons. He reminded Abigail of her brother. 

To lighten up the mood, Abigail asked Daniel, "How are you feeling, Daddy?"

Her attempt at humor failed at the moment she saw his face turned sour-puss. 

She smiled sheepishly, "I'm sorry."

*****

Daniel, his grandparents and his great-aunt made the trip up to the hospital. He drove his Lincoln Navigator in silence. He could hear the chatter going on around him. He didn't participate in the conversation. He was too worried about the welfare of his wife and son. He knew that she was in her fifth month of the pregnancy. Based off of the various pregnancy books that he has read, the baby's lungs are not fully developed.

'How is he going to breathe? Will he use a machine in order to breathe? Is he going to be retarded? Is he going to be like Big Sean? Is he going to be bedridden like him? What's going to happen to my son?'

Danny's eyes became blurry with tears as his mind drifts off and he thinks about his baby brother, Sean.

Sean was the youngest child that Daniel's parents sired. He was born premature. His mother had gone into labor during her fifth month of pregnancy. Her doctor tried to stop the process, but they were unable to deter. 

Daniel was fifteen years old at the time. He was very excited about his mother's pregnancy, especially ever since he discovered that she was carrying another boy. For a very long time, Daniel was the only male-child out of eight children. He was excited that he was going to be able to show his younger brother how to do things.

After Sean was born, he was whisked off to the hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit, where he was put through a series of tests. No one was allowed to see the small baby boy while the doctors administer the tests. Daniel was scared. He didn't understand what was happening with his brother. He asked his father and was told nothing. He asked his mother, who did nothing but cry. 

When he learned that Sean was not going to live past his first month, Daniel was devastated. His parents also told him that the doctors informed his parents that if Sean were to survive, he was going to be mentally handicapped. He had taken the news hard. 

To everyone's surprise, Sean lived past his first month. He lived to see his first birthday and his second birthday. The doctors were correct with their diagnosis about his physical and mental incapability. He wasn't able to breathe on his own accord and he needed to use a ventilator. He was mentally delayed and he couldn't communicate. He had no use of his limbs. He either lied in his bed or he would travel in a motorized wheelchair. 

Daniel absolutely adored his little brother. Whenever he would have free time, he would spend the time with his brother. He would lie in his brother's bed and would read stories to him. He knew that Sean loved those moments. He also loved those moments as well. 

On the day Sean died, it was six years later. Sean was six years old. Daniel was twenty-one years old at the time. He was a college senior and was a football star. It was on the night of a game, when he received a call from his father. His father told him outright that Sean died from a complicated case of pneumonia. 

Daniel felt as if his heart stopped. His body had gone cold and numb. He thanked his father and ended the call. With his mind set on 'auto pilot', Daniel continued to prepare for the football game. Later on that night, he used his grief. He managed to obtain the school's record of the most tackles in one game.

"Grandpa, I need for you to drive," Daniel asked with his voice breaking up. 

"Sure, son" he heard his grandfather told him. "Danny, just find a space on the off-ramp and I'll take it over."

A few minutes later, Daniel found an empty spot off of the ramp. He followed his grandfather's advice. He parked his truck and turned on the hazard lights. He stared straight ahead and out of the windshield. He gazed at the highway that was lying before him.

For Daniel, he wasn't thinking about the highway routes or about the traffic. He was occupied with his thoughts. He was thinking about his unborn child's health and he was thinking about his deceased brother. Daniel began to cry. 

"Oh Danny," Tin, Daniel's grandfather, groaned. 

Hearing the concern that was buried in his grandfather's statement triggered something in Daniel, in which his cries became evident to the other occupants in the car. In the midst of his sobbing, he hears his grandmother sigh, while she was sitting in the backseat. He heard his great-aunt whisper a prayer underneath her breath. He felt his grandpa clutch his arm.

"Danny, your baby is gonna be fine," the Thompson patriarch assured him. "He's going to be—

"He's going to be like Sean," sobbed Daniel. He proceeded to cry into his hands.

"You don't know that, Danny" his grandfather told him. "He could be fine—

"Tin is right, baby" his grandmother added. "Little Sean is going to be all right!"

"He is fine, Danny" Abigail interjected. "He is gonna grow up to be one fine man, thanks to you!" 

"I don't know how..." He continued to sob into his large hands. "Oh God, please make my boy healthy!"

"We have to get to the hospital, Danny. We have to go and see your baby boy," his grandfather told him. His grandfather patted Daniel's shoulder and soon helped him out of the car. The elder man escorted Daniel to the other side of the car. He helped him into the passenger seat. By the time the older man reached the driver's seat, Daniel was calm. 

"You're all right?" his grandfather asked. 

Daniel nodded his head.

"That's good. He's going to be fine, Danny," his grandfather told him.

The travel to the hospital was a blur to Daniel. He gave his grandfather the directions of the hospital and the trip was flawless. Rather than scour the vicinity of the building for available parking, his grandpa dropped Daniel off at the hospital's entrance. He rapidly exited the car and ran up to the building's entrance. He almost crashed into the sliding glass doors. 

The large and hulking man ran down a short hallway of the Mount Pleasant Hospital which led to the 'Help-Information' desk. He ran up to the small clerical area and stood at the counter. He saw two women sitting behind the desk. He noticed that they were dressed in nurse's uniforms. They were both staring at their respective computer screens. 

"E-E-Excuse me," stuttered Daniel, an obvious sign that he was nervous. The two nurses turned their attention to him. "My wife is here and she was brought here..." As he was explaining to the hospital's staff members about his wife's arrival into the hospital, the nurses' eyes widen. "... Her name is Mary Anne Logan and she—

A nurse shoots up and out of her chair. "OH MY GOD, YOU'RE DANIEL LOGAN!" one of the women screamed. Then, she begins to shriek with excitement and she is joined by her co-worker. 

Daniel tries to have the nurses' focus on him. They continue to have their 'fan-girl' moments by screaming and jumping up and down with glee. He proceeds to wave his hands in front of their faces. "I need help in finding my wife! She is here because she is in labor! Ladies—

"HE CALLS US 'LADIES'!" one of the nurses shouted to the other. They continue to celebrate. 

"Can..." Daniel's voice trails off, when he sees an orderly walking towards the front desk, from another hallway that is to the left of the kiosk. He leaves the two nurses and runs over to the man. He asks the employee if he knows the location to the maternity ward. The orderly not only gives Daniel the directions, but he also shows him the location to the elevators. 

By the time he reaches the maternity ward, his anxiety level was increased. His stomach rumbled while there was a pain in his chest. He really wanted a taste of alcohol right now.

Once he had set foot off of the elevator, he was greeted by another 'Help-Information-Registration' desk. Unlike the first desk that he approached, this kiosk was larger and had more nurses assigned to this station. Daniel ran up to the desk and stood on front of it. He felt four pairs of eyes staring at him. 

"My wife... She's in labor. She came here at... I don't know the time. I don't know what room—

"What's your wife's name, Sir?" one of the two nurses , who was sitting closest to the counter, asked him. 

"Her name is Mary Anne Logan," answered Daniel. "And-And she was brought here..." Then he proceeded to ramble. 

"Please, calm down, Sir."

The instruction had come from behind him. He turned around to see an older woman. She was wearing the standard nurse's uniform. She was a slim and petite African-American woman, who appeared to be in her mid-50. Her skin was the same color of the bark from an oak tree. Her dark-colored hair was cut short. She wore a pair of plastic, bright red eyeglasses over a pair of expressive, brown eyes. She stood behind Daniel with her arms folded across her chest. Daniel could sense that this woman was always professional and handled her business with authority. 

"I'm sorry—

"It's okay, Sir" the woman said to him.

"My wife is in labor. She came here. I don't know where—

"What's your wife's name?" 

"Her name is Mary Anne Logan," he informed the nurse. 

The woman walked pass Daniel and she traveled to the front desk. She stood in front of the desk. 

"Nurse Sampson, you need to be focusing on your computer instead of that magazine that you are trying to hide underneath your desk! You should've been helping this man find out where his wife is residing! Nurse Dean, you need to..." The nurse continued to scold and throw out instructions to her subordinates. Daniel watched the supervising nurse work while the other four scrambled around.

"Diane, she is in Room 838," the nurse informed her supervisor. 

"Follow me, Mr. Logan, I will show you to your wife's room," the supervisor told him. 

Daniel followed the woman. She led him away from the front desk. They walked down the short hallway and made a right turn into a long corridor. 

"I'm sorry for my nurses' lack of professionalism. They are usually efficient. I am sorry about that," the nurse said to him as they both walked.

"Don't worry about it," he said to the nurse.

They were about to reach the end of the hallway, when the nurse stopped in front of a door. He stopped.

"We're here," the nurse announced. She knocked on the door and then opened the metal object. The nurse peep her head inside. "Good evening Mrs. Logan, I have a special person who is here to see you!" The nurse moved out of the way to allow Daniel to enter the room. 

Daniel entered the large birthing suite. His eyes were focused on his wife. 

"I'll give you guys some privacy," the nurse informed him. "Congratulations Daddy!" she said, cheerfully. 

Daniel glimpsed at the nurse. "Thank you." He returned his attention to Mary Anne. She was lying in a start-of the-art bed. She was strapped up with a heart monitor, an intravenous drip, a fetal heart monitor and some other machine. She was sitting upright. Her blue eyes were focused on him. Daniel thought she looked like she was in pain. Her small and pretty face was drenched in sweat. Her hands clutched onto the hand railings of the bed. She was practicing her breathing techniques that she learned in her Lamaze sessions. 

"What had taken you so long?" she grunted.

"I'm sorry, baby" he stated as he strolled over to the bed. "I have my grandparents with me—

"You brought them here?" she inquired, sounding offended. Her eyes were wide. "They are going to ruin this for me!"

'What are you talking about?' he wondered.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "They are here as moral support—

"They hate me!" she claimed, in between her panting.

Daniel scoffed in disbelief, which earned him a very stern look from his wife. "They don't hate you."

"They do, your family hates me! Your grandmother just stares at me! She doesn't say anything to me! Then there is your Aunt Abigail! She always say snide remarks to me as if she thinks that I don't understand!" Mary Anne whined. "I don't want them in here!"

"Okay," he murmured before taking a hold of her right hand. "They won't come in here." 

A pang of guilt touched at Daniel's soul. He felt he was denying his grandparents and Abigail once again. His chest developed a nasty ache that pulsed while a burning sensation scorched at his insides with a snail's pace. He let out a cough, which was an effort to get rid of the burn. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 05



"They will wait in the waiting room."

****

Daniel was warned from his teammates that the labor process was a long one. He didn't know that the process was going to be so long and arduous. He arrived to the hospital suite around a quarter after 11:00 PM. It was now close to 7:20 AM. According to her doctor, Mary Anne's cervix was dilated to ten centimeters and she was now given the 'okay' to push. 

While holding onto Mary Anne's right leg, Daniel looked around the large room and took note of all of the guests that now inhabited the birthing room. His mother was sitting in a posh-looking, rocking chair that was positioned across the room and next to the incubator. His mother was standing on the left side of the bed while his father-in-law was standing at the foot of the bed, a few feet behind Dr. Peterson. His father-in-law was given recording duties. The only person who wasn't there was Daniel's father, who was in New York due to business. 

His mother, Claudia, was the first person to arrive to the birthing room suite. She arrived around 1:00 AM. Despite being so early in the morning, his mother was dressed-to the-nines and her face held a coat of fresh makeup. Daniel also noticed that his mother had entered the room with an irritated expression on her face. He figured that she must've seen her family, waiting in the lobby. 

It was around 3:23 AM, when his parents arrived to the room. Mary Anne's mother entered the room looking so unlike his mother. His mother-in-law entered the room wearing an ill-fitting sweat suit, a pair of white gym socks and a pair of gray Asics on her feet. Her usually-coiffed hair was rumpled. Her face was flushed and her eyes were slightly red. He had a feeling that the older woman was crying earlier. His father-in-law was dressed identical to his wife: a sweat suit, a pair of socks and a pair of sneakers. His eyes were slightly discolored as well. 

Daniel knew why they were crying. He didn't want to think about those negative thoughts so he focused on the tasks at hand, which was to make his wife as comfortable as possible. He was playing the role of 'happy, father-to-be'. He counted softly into her ear as she endured her painful contractions. Together, the husband and wife performed several Lamaze positions, to help her deal with the contractions. He allowed his wife to hold onto his hands and squeezed the hell out of them. He massaged her lower back with his hands. He fed her chipped ice cubes, when she became thirsty. In order to lighten up the mood, he told jokes. He nursed the sore spot on his head that was created by Mary Anne, after he told one of his jokes. He complimented her and gave her plenty of 'Good job, Mary Anne' as she pushed. He thought he had done everything that was possible.

It was approximately 7:48 AM, when a miracle occurred. In Daniel's opinion, he had just witnessed a miracle and it began when he heard the sounds of crying. The wails were strong and powerful. Daniel had taken a look at his miracle, when Dr. Peterson held his son up in the air, after he cleaned out his son's air passageways. He watched his little boy kick his chubby legs and stretch out his long arms. 

"Congratulations, Parents!" Dr. Peterson announced, as he settled the squalling baby onto Mary Anne's now-empty belly. A nurse started to wipe the amniotic fluid and birthing matter off of the newborn. Daniel still witnessed his son moving around and listened to him cry. 

'He looks healthy. He doesn't sound weak. Oh, thank God.'

Daniel begin to cry with tears of rejoice. His son was healthy. Little Sean was healthy and breathing with a good pair of lungs. He was so emotional that he couldn't even sever the umbilical cord, when the nurse asked him. Dr. Tolley had done the honor. Daniel didn't mind, after all, he has just received the biggest scare in his entire life. But, now, he's just witnessed a miracle. 

He gazed at Mary Anne. She was staring at their son. He changed her focus, when he gave her a sweet kiss on his forehead. She reached up for a kiss. He reciprocated. 

"I love you, babe" he declared softly to his wife. Announcing the declaration didn't make his heart pitter-patter or his stomach to convulse, like he thought that it would. With Mary Anne, Daniel didn't have the same reaction, like when he had spoken the words into Kali's sleeping face, those few months ago. It was at that moment is when he decided that he was going to focus on forcing himself to fall in love with Mary Anne. He needed to stop loving Kali Richardson. He needed to be with Mary Anne. He needed his son to live in a household, where his parents actually loved each other. 

Daniel watched Mary Anne's eyes watered, after he announced his love for her. "I love you too," he heard her say to him, as her brow wrinkled and tears spilled down her face. Both of them exchanged stares. "Go, see our boy!" she giggled to him. 

Daniel turned his attention away from Mary Anne. He realized that the nurse had carried Little Sean over to the incubator. He returned his attention to Mary Anne. "Are you sure? You don't want me to stay?" inquired the happy daddy, who sounded like an excited little boy.

Mary Anne laughed at his rampant excitement. "Go, go ahead," she said to him. 

Daniel placed her right leg down, gave her another kiss and eagerly walked over to the pediatric examining station. Claudia and his parents were standing nearby while the nurse examined the baby. Daniel approached the gathering. He received congratulations from his in-laws before they walked over to Mary Anne. Then, he received a soft-spoken 'Congratulations' from his mother, who continued to stand by the incubator. He walked over to the examining station and stood next to the nurse. 

"Is my son okay?" inquired Daniel while staring at the infant who was now quiet. "Is he breathing all right? There is nothing wrong with him?" 

The nurse giggled in delight. She adored witnessing new fathers act so nervous and excited about their babies. She proceeded to swaddle the eight-pound, 10-ounce baby boy in a blanket. "Yes, he is fine, Mr. Logan. His vitals is fine. He is breathing normal. He is a big boy. He weighs eight pounds, which is one of the biggest babies to be born here in Mount Pleasant. It shouldn't be too surprising. We're just happy that we didn't need to give Mrs. Logan a dose of Pitocin," the nurse informed Daniel. "Every has gone great."

He nodded gleefully. Daniel was pleased. The nurse's news had made him feel happier. He asked the nurse if he could hold his son. The nurse giggled once again. She handed the baby to his father. 

"Here you go, here's your son, Papa!" the nurse said to him as she handed the baby over to Daniel. 

"Thank you," he said to the nurse while staring at his son. 

He surprises the nurse with his knowledge of how to hold the infant. He made sure that his son's head was secured in his hand. For the nurse, she usually sees fathers fumble with their babies while having a 'scared shitless' expression on their faces. 

"Well, look at you!" she said cheerfully. 

Daniel laughs. He carries the baby over to Mary Anne. She gives the child a quick glance before she resumes her conversation with her mother. She doesn't ask for the child. A small part of his brain tells him that something is off. He quickly ignores it. 

He walks across the room to where his mother was sitting. He stands next to her chair. His mother is staring over in the location where Mary Anne is located. He sees the 'glaze' look in her eyes. 

"Hey Grandma," Daniel announced, cheerfully. 

"Hey baby," she said unemotionally while staring at Mary Anne. 

Daniel notices that something is off with his mother. 'What is going on with everybody?'

"So, how does it feel to be a grandma again?" he asks, trying to make conversation. 

"It's the same as before," was her answer. She stood up from her chair. "Listen, I am going to go outside and smoke a cigarette," she announced to him. She walked over to her son and grandson. Claudia's green eyes stared at her son and then she gazed at Little Sean. She smiled wistfully while staring at the sleeping infant. Then she stared up at her son's face. "I'll be back, Danny." She touched at his left cheek. She smiled. "I'll be back soon." Then she removed her hand and walked away. 

Daniel watched his mother leave out of the birthing room. There was something wrong with his mother. She wasn't herself. Usually, his mother is ecstatic about being a grandmother. She should've been playing the role of 'over-bearing but doting' grandmother. After all, Daniel has witnessed his mom play that role five times already. She was so good at that role, he thought that his mom could snag an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, a Screen Actor's Guild Award and a People's Choice Award. He knew that it had something to do with his deceased brother. He knew that his mother also experienced child birth during her fifth month of pregnancy. But, in this case, Little Sean was born healthy. 

'Maybe she is feeling like God has cheated her from experiencing the same thing.'

Daniel passed Little Sean to his maternal grandma. "I'm going downstairs to tell my grandparents the news," he announced to his wife. 

"Daniel, your grandparents are here? I didn't know that they were here. They should be up here—

"Mom, they can't come up here..." Mary Anne informed her mother, curtly. She shook her head slightly. "They are the ones that I've told you about."

Daniel growled in irritation. 

Mary Anne stared at him. "Okay, but hurry back soon," she said to him. He felt as if she had dismissed him from her presence like she was a royal figure and he was a leper. He growled once again. Daniel gave his baby one last glance, before he exited the room. He traveled down to the lobby of the hospital, where the waiting room was located. He found his family members. His grandfather was awake while his grandmother and great-aunt was stretched out over a few chairs, asleep. His grandfather stood up and strolled over to his grandson.

"Son, how did it go?" his grandfather asked him. 

"It had gone wonderful! The baby is healthy! He weighs eight pounds! He's big!" informed Daniel, excitedly. The two men hugged. His grandfather congratulated Daniel.

"That's wonderful!" his grandfather told him. "I told you that everything will work out!"

"I know, thank you grandpa!"

"You're welcome, Son!"

"Hey grandpa, did you see my mama?" Daniel questioned.

"Yeah, Jackie O. had gone outside."

Daniel turned his attention to his Aunt Abigail, who was sitting up in the seats. She stretched her limbs and then rolled her shoulders. She rose to her feet and walked over to the two men. 

"She had gone outside to smoke a cigarette," stated Abigail. She placed her hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Did I just hear that Baby Boy is doing okay?"

Daniel nodded his head. "Yeah," he said with a goofy smile on his face. "He's healthy and he's one big baby too!" 

"Well, congratulations baby!" She gave her grand-nephew a hug. "Go ahead and talk to your mother."

"Thanks!" he said to Abigail. "I am going to see if I can bring Sean down to see you guys!" Daniel then left the waiting area.

"Okay!" his grandfather said loudly while his grandson left the room. 

Abigail stood next to her brother. She sighed in disappointment. She placed a hand on his strong shoulder. He gave his sister-in-law a gentle pat on her hand. They both gazed at the broad back of Daniel as he walked across the hospital's atrium. 

"Delly told me that you've guys cleaned out the back room, after I called her?" inquired Abigail. 

"Yup," he grunted, as he crossed his arms over his barrel chest. "We did it, right after Delly had gotten off the phone with you. We were cleaning out a room at 2:30 in the morning, by the way. Plus, your phone call had interrupted the fun that I was having with my wife, all—

"Tin, I do not need to know about your fun with my sister," Abigail told him.

There was silence amongst the two of them. 

"Are you sure about that dream of yours?" he asked his sister.

They watched Daniel walk through the exit to the building.

"My dreams never lie to me. Besides, I saw a cardinal on the day that Delly told me about the pregnancy. Whatever I see one of those birds, someone is being betrayed and lied to," she explained. 

"I would scoff at that, if I didn't know that you're right," Tin said to her.

Abigail sighed. "Well, now you have to be there for the boy. Well, for the both of them until the girl arrives."

Daniel exited the building, in search for his mother. He spotted the woman, standing at the sidewalk's curb, which was fifty feet away from the hospital's entrance. She was standing in front of a lamp post while she was smoking a cigarette. She was staring at the traffic. He walked over to his mother.

On his stroll, he surveyed her looks. Claudia, his mother was an 'one-of-a kind' type of woman. She was forty-six years old, but she looked to be in her mid-twenties. Standing at 5'6 tall, she always commanded respect as if she was a 50-foot giant. She was extremely beautiful. She was very curvaceous and she kept herself in shape. On her diamond-shaped face, there were a pair of round eyes that held green irises, which would darken whenever she was angry. She had a up-turned nose and a pair of plump lips that were underneath. Her skin was flawless with the exception of the brown-reddish birthmark on the right slope of her neck. Her skin's color was similar to the coloring of a banana peel. He didn't think much of her skin tone before last night. Now, after learning about his ethnic background, she does resemble a woman of mixed-ethnicity. Her long, thick and black hair was styled in a fancy-looking bun. 

Claudia stood out like a sore thumb as she stood in her spot. She looked too posh for St. Louis. She was wearing a floor-length, chinchilla fur coat and a pair of high-heeled leather boots. But, he did believe that the cancer stick that she was holding did cheapen her style a little bit.

Daniel casually strolled up to the curb and stood next to his mother. She didn't notice him. She was so deep into her ocean of thoughts that she didn't notice her company.

"Hey mom," he greeted her.

Claudia received a fright. She jerked in response. Daniel laughed at his mother's reaction. She slapped her son's thick, right arm. She tossed the cigarette into the street. "Got-damn it Danny, you've just scared the shit out of me!"

Daniel continued to laugh at his mother.

"It's not fucking funny!" his mother shouted at him. She proceeded to try to box with her son as he laughed at her. He just swerved and dodged her blows. The faux fighting had come to a climax, when Claudia suddenly threw a headlock around her son's thick neck. Using her right hand, she ran her fingers into his brown hair. 

"Yes, it is!" he claimed while being subjected to his mother's play-fighting.

"No, it's not" she said to him, trying to sound serious. She soon failed in her attempt, when she burst into a fit of giggles. She released her son from her hold. Mother and son laughed together. At the moment, they didn't look like a parent and child, it was more like brother and sister.

"Hey Ma, did you see grandma and granddad in there?" 

Claudia's face sobered up. She had taken a few gulps of air. "Yeah, I've seen them," she said as condensed air left her mouth and nostrils. 

"Did you say hello to them?" 

"No. I don't think they want to speak with me right now. They're upset—

"I don't think they're mad at you, Ma. I had dinner with them last night. Grandpa and Grandma seem happy," explained Daniel.

"They're angry about something that happened a long time ago."

"Are you referring to Johnny?" the son inquired. 

Daniel's mother glared at him. "They told you about Johnny?"

"Abigail did—

Claudia scoffs. "The woman should've kept her mouth shut." 

Daniel was offended. "Why should she? She just told me about our family—

His mother kissed his teeth in annoyance. In response, he leveled his mother with a glare. 

"She told me about their parents and about Johnny. There is nothing wrong about that! Why are you making it seemed...?" He was struck with an idea. "You are ashamed, aren't you?" He glared at his mother. She was staring at her son with an extreme distaste. He felt his heart beating crazily. He has seen that look before, but it was usually tossed towards one of his sisters, after they have done something stupid. "You're ashamed of your family. Why? Is it because they are Black? So what, they're Black! Does dad knows? What about the girls?"

"Things were different back then—

"And what about now? Things are different now and it is a lot better—

"Yeah right, Danny! The only thing that is different now is that people learned how to hide their hate, when they are in public places! Once they are inside of their homes or when they are around like-minded individuals, their hate comes out! We may not be able to read about niggers in a newspaper now, but trust me, it is still being said! I have been on this Earth longer than you, I know this! I have attended dinners with your father and I have heard the word spoken by dignitaries and politicians! I have dined off of thousand-dollar plates while that word was uttered around me! Trust me, Danny, I know!" 

With the exception of her panting, there was a tense silence between them. 

Daniel ended the quietness with an inquiry. "Does Dad know about you?"

"No, he doesn't—

"Do you think that he should know?"

"No! And he's not going to know about me!" 

Daniel's mouth had gone agape. "Are you serious? Did it ever occur to you that one of us kids could've been born looking a bit brown?"

"When I was pregnant with you, the thought had occurred to me. Then, after I gave birth and I saw you, I stopped worrying about it," his mother explained. 

"What about the girls? Does Baby Dee, Caroline, Heather or the others know about you? Do they know that you can really check 'Black' on your Census Bureau forms?"

His mother temporarily scowled at her progeny. "Baby Dee, Caroline and Heather know. When they were seven years old, I made the mistake of sending the triplets to Arkansas to spend a few weeks of their summer vacation with my parents. Got-damn Abigail had taken the girls to the 'old folks' home' where my grandmother was living in and they saw pictures of my grandfather. Then, Abigail told them..." His mother muttered 'that bitch' underneath her breath. "I was livid, when I found out. I cursed them all out and have gotten my kids out of there. I think that is why Caroline and Delia don't like me too much... and they keep on pushing out babies with their Black boyfriends."

Daniel stared at his mother with anger. He was disgusted by her previous antics. His grandparents and his grand-aunt deserved better treatment. 

"Don't you dare stare at me like that!" she shouted at him while seething. "I did what I had to do, in order to get what I want! You don't know what it's like! You don't know what it's like to wake up one morning and find a headless body on your doorstep and it's your uncle! You have no fucking clue about how it feels to hear white people talk about the death of him as if it was a great thing!"

Daniel watched his mother scream at him. He can feel the hate and anguish fall off of her words. Her beautiful face was red while her eyes dripped tears. He felt pity. 

"Ma, I'm sorry—

"Danny, save it!" Claudia produced another cigarette from out of the pack that she kept in her coat's pocket. She lit the cigarette. "You are complaining about me keeping secrets? Fine, I won't anymore!" She had taken a puff out of her item before speaking again. "You want me to tell you the truth? Fine! Let me start with this one: Little Sean is not your son!"




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 06



Before the fog of slumber could disperse, Kali received flashbacks of the events that occurred on the previous night. There were images of their coupling and recollection of the sensations from those activities. She sighed as a blanket of heat wrapped itself around Kali. Her arousal clung to her body like a fragrance to a flower. 

"Oh my God, what the hell is wrong with me?" she wondered loudly. Kali lifted her blankets off of her body to gaze down at her naked body. She stared at the mound that was her stomach. "What is wrong with your mommy?" Coincidentally, Kali felt fluttering inside of her stomach. She laughed, when the thought of her baby saying 'I don't know' entered her mind. She dropped the blanket and gazed at the ceiling. "I should've thrown his ass out as soon as he entered the house."

'But, if he didn't stay, then he wouldn't have had his outburst and you guys wouldn't have talked,' her conscience suggested. 

"True, but I wouldn't have fucked him, if he wasn't here."

'True, but if you really think about it, which is more important to you: the reward or the regret?'

Kali groaned in irritation. Her conscience was correct. She thought that she should've been grateful for the event that occurred on the previous night. Ryan confessed to her that he wanted to change. He wanted to receive treatment and help for his anger and emotional issues. As she lied in her bed, she moved her left leg slightly and an ache burst inside of her pussy. She moaned in response. Another memory from last night entered her mind. 

"Mmm, why do jerks have to be the best lovers?"

Kali lounged in her bed for an additional hour before she slipped out of her bed. Once she was out of her comfortable bed, she prepared for her day. She chose the outfit that she was going to wear for that day: a pair of blue maternity jeans, a pair of gold flats and a pink sweater that was adorned with gold-leaf embellishments. Afterward, she took a quick shower, where she was bombarded with memories of the moments she shared with Ryan. She had to scold herself to stop thinking about Ryan and his random acts of tenderness. 

After her shower, Kali left the bathroom and entered the hallway. On her way to her bedroom, she made a stop at the middle bedroom. She stood in the doorway and peered into the bedroom. The bedroom was empty with the exception of a few cardboard boxes. This room was assigned to be Athena's bedroom. She bought her daughter's bedroom furniture, but nothing was arranged. 

'Eventually, I'll get to it,' she thought as she gave the room one last glance.

Kali traveled to her bedroom and sat on the edge of the mattress. She stared at the wall that was across the room. The light brown-colored wall was devoid of decoration with the exception of a chair that was pressed against the wall. She stared at the wall and a memory was brought to the surface. Last night, Ryan had thought of a nifty idea of fucking her against the wall. She recalled how her body was alight with lust, arousal and pleasure. She remembered how his eyes bore into her with an unwavering glare while his thick cock plunged into her depths. Kali shuddered.

Her eyes drifted to the straight, high back chair that was pressed against the wall. She remembered Ryan carrying her and sitting on that chair while she straddled his thighs. In this angle, his cock was stored deeply into her warmth, where the tip of his cock touched at her cervix. He was caring while they fucked in this position. His thrusts were shallow and slow in pace. Kali surprised herself by cumming again with another case of ejaculation. Her thighs and his legs were drenched in her nectar. 

Her hands ran across her floral-printed duvet as she recalled more of her previous night. After a brief interlude of the floor, where she experienced another orgasm, they continued on her bed. He placed her on the edge of the bed and fucked her with fast and deep thrusts. While she was on the cusp of her orgasm, she pleaded with Ryan to cum with her. She knew that he was prolonging his hardness. They ended up sharing their climaxes together.

Then, there was the incident with the marriage proposal. Ryan proposed to her. When he popped the question, she thought that she was dreaming. She was stunned. She couldn't speak at first. When she did spoke, she turned down his marriage proposal. She expected for Ryan to become angry and lash out. Instead, the smile disappeared off of his face and disappointment was etched on his face. He whispered a meek 'okay' and then carried her to the bathroom. He placed her in the bath tub and she cleaned herself. He left her alone for a few minutes and then he returned to the bathroom. They ended up sharing a bath. 

When they returned to the bedroom, she learned that Ryan cleaned the room. He picked up the pile of clothes that was on the floor. He changed the bed's linen and the blankets. The fresh covers and blankets were pulled down to the foot of the bed. She was impressed with his resourcefulness. He instructed Kali to lie down on the bed. Then he gave her a massage and he used the body oil as the massage oil.

Ryan used his hands to rub out the knots and aches that lingered in her joints and muscles. She cooed and mewled in appreciation. Her arousal surged forward and her scent perfumed the atmosphere. She heard Ryan growl lustfully. She hoped that he was going to initiate another round. Instead, he continued to massage.

Kali ended up falling asleep during the act. She woke up at a certain point of the night to discover Ryan was not inside of the bedroom. There was folded piece of paper on the pillow that was lying next to her. She snatched the paper off of the pillow and read the letter. Written in calligraphy, Ryan let her know that he had gone home because he had to go work on the next day. He promised to call her. He left his contact information, including the addresses to his house and place of business. Knowing that he had gone home, without waking her up to let her know, made her feel disappointed. She lied back in her bed, with the note in her right hand and she thought about the night's events until her sleepiness had taken a hold of her again. 

Now she was awake and was wondering what the hell is wrong with her mental state. She had consensual sex with the man that she hated. She tried to come up with a suitable reason as to why she had sex with him. She knew that she couldn't blame her diagnosed sexual problems because if that was the case, then she wouldn't have had sex with him. A few days ago, she hated Ryan Whittler. Hell, fifteen hours ago, she thought of him as a monster. Now, however, she believed that Ryan wasn't a monster, but as a human being. He was a flawed human being, just like her.

'Fuck, I need someone to talk to. I need to speak to Katrina.'

She needed to talk to Katrina, despite knowing how her best friend was going to feel. Katrina was the perfect person to speak to, at this moment. She was a great listener. The woman offered honest, unbiased opinions.

"Hello buddy!" Katrina greeted once the call was connected.

"Ryancameoverlastnightandhehadabreakdownandweendeduphavingsexlast night," Kali blurted into the phone. She wanted to come clean to Katrina. She knew that if she started her conversation with pleasantries, she would've chickened out with her plans of telling her best friend about the night before. 

There was a three-second worth of silence before Kali heard a sigh.

"All I've heard was the word 'Ryan' and then the words 'last night'. Would you care to slow down and repeat yourself?" asked Katrina.

Kali let out a sigh. "Ryan had shown up to my house last night. He saw that I was pregnant. I think he already knew that I was pregnant before he had shown up. Anyway, we argued. He threatened me with the promise that he was going to take me to family court, for custody—

"Bullshit," stated Katrina into the phone. "What judge in their right mind would give him a child?" 

"I know, right? I told him off—

"Oooh, what did you say to him?" asked an excited Katrina.

"Um, I called him an 'arrogant asshole'. I told him that he was 'irresponsible' and that he was a 'monster'. I told him that he was unfit to take care of Athena. Then, he told me that he was responsible person because he was getting married. I told him that I do not want his girlfriend around my daughter. Can you imagine what type of things that she would teach my daughter?"

"She'll probably teach her how to suck a dick while riding in the back of a limo—

Kali ends up bursting into laughter, in response.

'Great minds think alike,' she mentally concluded.

Once her laughter fit ended, she proceeded on with her testimony. "Katrina, he and I... Um, we proceeded on..." Kali sighed heavily. She mentally prepared herself to hear Katrina's impending, onslaught of chastising and expletives. "He and I..."

She heard Katrina sighed. "Kali, girl, you didn't do what I think you did?"

Kali winced. "I... did."

Katrina was quiet for a moment. "Why?" Her tone of voice displayed calmness.

Kali shrugged her shoulders and stared at the floor. She felt guilty and stupid. "I don't know, really. The only thing that I could go on is the fact that I was horny and he turned me on. He was massaging my neck and shoulders and you know how I've been feeling as of lately..." Then the memory of Ryan's emotional collapse popped into her head. "Oh," she shouted as she bounced once on her bed. "I have to tell you what happened before we had sex!"

"Mmm-hmm," she heard Katrina groaned with disbelief etched in her voice. "I know what you're doing, Miss Thang. I am going to allow it, just this one time. But we are going to talk about that other thing, in a minute. So, what happened before you guys had made the beast with the two backs?"

Kali giggled, due to the old school reference that her best friend had just used. There was a fluttering feeling in her stomach, so she rubbed at her belly. "Last night, Ryan flipped the hell out in the middle of my bedroom..." Kali proceeded to explain to her best friend about Ryan's outburst. She recollected the events from last night to her best friend. Kali would hear Katrina giggle every once in a while, as she told her friend about the event. "Katrina, please stop laughing." 

"What?" she chuckled out. "You're funny, especially when you said that you kicked the shit out of him while he was kneeling on the floor and crying like the bitch that he is." She proceeded to laugh. Once her laughter ended, she asked, "Why in the hell did you sleep with him?"

'Damn Katrina and her quest for information!'

"I... I was horny," Kali answered.

"You could've just used your hand or a vibrator and if you didn't have one of those, you could've used a household appliance to satisfy your thirst."

"What?" Kali laughed at her friend. Then she began to ponder what kind of appliance would work. "What kind of appliances would...? You know what, never mind. By the way, you are a freak!"

"Hey missy, don't knock it until you've tried it!" warned Katrina, before laughing. "Now, back to my question: why did you sleep with him?"

"Because—

"Yes, I know! You were horny... But you could've masturbated after kicking him out of your house, Kay. Why did you sleep with him when you didn't have to? I mean, you still have your copy of the video, right?"

Kali turned her head to the right. She stared straight ahead at her dresser. She gazed at the façade of the drawer that was located in the upper left corner of the furniture. She knew the contents that were hidden in that drawer: her underwear, the Smith and Wesson 642 Revolver and the DVD that was the key to the end for her current trouble. 

"Yup, I still have my copy," she informed her friend. 

"Have you watched the tape yet to make sure that the DVD is the right one?"

"I've watched the first few minutes of the tape. I was starting to become uncomfortable, so I turned the DVD off. But, I know that it is the tape," she informed Katrina.

A few days into the month of March, Kali returned home from work to find a notice taped to her screen door. It was a notice from the United Postal Service. A UPS delivery man had shown up to her house to give her a package and she needed to sign for the item. Kali wasn't home, so the delivery man had left the notice. In the note, the package was sent to the master postal office and she needed to pick it up. She eventually found time, later in the week, to go to the post office and get her gift. She assumed that it was another gift from her grandmother. Instead of a box of baby clothes, she received a manila envelope. 

As soon as she was home, Kali ripped open the package. She peered into the envelope and saw a CD case inside. Her mind had gone blank, her heart pounded against her rib cage and her legs had given out on her from shock. As she kneeled on the carpeted floor, she cried in rejoice. She whimpered her gratitude to God as she sobbed. She whispered her declaration of love to her unborn child. 

She gathered her wits. She pulled the plastic case out of the envelope. A folded up piece of white paper had fallen out on the envelope. It had fallen to the floor. She placed the CD case on her knee and picked up the paper. She unfolded the paper. 

'NAIL THE BASTARD!'

There wasn't a name or any other tell-tale signs, except she knew that Ryan wasn't the person who mailed the DVD to her. She read the note again and observed the handwriting. She knew that it wasn't Ryan who had written the note. The lettering was not poised and neat, like his handwriting. He knew that he was too vain and too much of a perfectionist to have piss-poor handwriting. 'Whoever sent me this...? God bless you,' she remembered saying to herself and to God. 

"I can't believe that you cannot press charges against that asshole!" claimed Katrina. 

"Thanks to the state of New York's statute of limitations," Kali muttered. She used to say that statement with a taste of bitterness on her tongue and a lack of respect for the law. But now, she sounded and felt nonchalant. "I was told, by a lawyer, that I could file a civil suit against Ryan and against Carlo, if I wanted to. I don't want anything of theirs—

"Except for Ryan's dick," joked Katrina. 

Kali groaned in embarrassment. She buried her face in her hand.

"If it was up to me, I can have my dad hunt Ryan down and castrate him. Then you can play with his cock as much as you like," Katrina suggested.

Kali stood up and strolled over to her dresser. She chuckled. "I'm sure that you and your dad would enjoy that very much," stated Kali as she opened her underwear drawer. 

"Yes, we certainly would."

"Speaking of your papa, Uncle Davis called me on Thursday. We had a nice conversation. He asked me about Ryan actually."

"He did, what my father told you?" said an interested Katrina. 

"He wanted me to give him the name of my child's father. I'm sure that if I would've given him that information, Ryan would've been brought to my doorstep, bruised and bloodied. And your daddy would've been standing behind him with a shotgun aimed at his back," Kali joked. She heard Katrina laugh. "Speaking of shotgun weddings, Ryan asked me to marry him," she informed her friend.

Kali heard a loud gasp from her friend. 

"He did—

"He proposed to me, last night" she informed her friend. She rubbed her belly. 

"What... What did you say to him?" Katrina sounded concerned. 

"I told him 'no' and he took it well, which surprised me." 

There was silence.

"Katrina, are you okay? You're not yourself," stated Kali. "I was expecting to hear a whole bunch of curse words from you today. You're...quieter."

"Yeah, I am fine. I've just had a long day today and it is not even 1 PM yet," she answered.

Kali thought that her best friend sounded like she was fatigue. "Aw, how many patients have you seen so far?"

Katrina gave a mirthless chuckle. "So far, there have been eight patients and only three kids actually had appointments today—

Kali let out a hiss. "Oooh, it's been one of those days, huh?"

"Yes, it's been one of those days," laughed Katrina. "I cannot wait to go home and climb into my bed and just forget about this day."

"If your mom, dad and T.D. are going to allow that to happen," Kali joked. "You know how busy your family is; they're a bunch of Energizer Bunnies! Your mom is going to force you to go on errands with her—

"Oooh, you're right," Katrina groaned. "I promise the old lady that we were going out to Five Towns after I leave here, so we could go to BJ's."

"See, I told you" countered Kali. "Then, your dad is going to interrogate about when you're going to find a nice man to settle down with and get married..."

Katrina grunted, in response. 

"... Then, T.D. is going to ask you the same thing," joked Kali.

"You're right about that one," agreed Katrina. "He's just like my daddy: a pain in the ass, when it comes to sticking their noses into my love life, except for T.D. acts like my protective older brother."

Both Katrina and Kali laughed.

"I say, you should be in bed before 1:00 AM tonight, unless... If one of your lazy ass sisters doesn't drop by the house and leaves their kids there for the night," Kali pointed out.

Kali heard Katrina let out a long groan of frustration. She laughs, in response.

****

Kali decided to cook, after having her phone call with Katrina. By the time the conversation had come to a close, she was feeling a hell of a lot better. Katrina helped Kali sort through the murky, swamp that was her emotions. Together, they were to decipher the goals that Kali wanted with her 'new and improving' relationship with Ryan. 

Now, Kali was feeling better. She was in her kitchen and she was cooking herself dinner. It was 1:00 PM, which was an unusual time to start, but she was bored. For tonight, she chose to cook stuffed pork chops with a seasoned bread crumb-dried cranberries-green pepper-sausage stuffing. For the side dishes, she chose to grill some asparagus and make mashed potatoes with beef-flavored gravy. To satisfy her 'sweet tooth', she was baking a peach cobbler for the dessert. 

'Oh, it's hot in here and I am thirsty,' she thought as she danced to the music that was playing from the kitchen's radio. 

She strutted her way to the refrigerator and fetched a bottle of water from the large appliance. She stood in front of the metal door as she quenched her thirst. Her eyes stared at the random items that she had posted on the fridge's door. She stared at the random, colorful magnets that she collected over the years. Then, she gazed at the exhibition of photos that she taped to the door. There were photos of her grandparents, of herself throughout different stages of her life, pictures of Katrina, some of the photos were of juvenile Ryan and Daniel, several photos of her extended family members, old photos of her father and the plethora of sonogram pictures that was taken throughout the trimesters. 

Her lavender eyes stared at the pictures of her unborn child and an idea flashed in her head. 'Sonogram... Ryan... Picture frame... Hallmark Store... Gift... Job... Lunch... It is too late to go now. Nope, it has to be for dinner...'

Once her idea is planned, Kali smiled.

****

"...profits. In conclusion..."

Ryan's eyes drifted away from the presenter that stood at the head of the conference table. His eyes focused on the face of his Tag Heuer watch. He read the time as being '4:48 PM'. He sighed.

'Thank God,' his brain muttered. He was pleased that this meeting was about to end.

Ryan Whittler was a reluctant guest in an executive board meeting. This one was an important meeting in which all of the executives and the 'power players' of the real estate company needed to attend. It was a meeting about the company's current financial state. The meeting's time span was four and a half hours long. When Penny notified him about the meeting's specifics on that morning, he physically cringed as a result. Then, he silently regretted that he didn't work a position of a lower-level employee.  




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 06



There were parts of the meeting in which he managed to daydream. He recalled the memories of the events from last night. A lascivious smile remained on his face throughout the duration of the meeting, as a result. The hardened cock that was encased in his tailored slacks was another after-effect from his daydreaming. He also had become impatient. 

By the time the meeting was adjourned, Ryan was hungry and horny. While his colleagues hung around the boardroom to 'shoot the breeze', Ryan didn't bother to stick around. He quickly left the room, even in his delicate condition. His cock was hard to the point where his member throbbed with pain along with the arousal. He believed that his hard-on could shatter diamonds, if he wielded it like a hammer.

Ryan really wanted to go back to his office's private bathroom, so he could rub this pain out. As soon as the elevator door opened wide enough, Ryan passed through the threshold. Once his feet were on the floor, Penny was immediately standing in front of him. Ryan chose to ignore her. He proceeded to walk down the short hallway that led to his office. "Not now Penny, I have to go to the bathroom!" he announced, with a wave of his hand. 

She ignored his announcement. "Yeah Sir, um, you have company in your office."

Ryan came to a halt. He turned back around and strolled up to the executive secretary. He glared at Penny and made sure that she saw that he was not pleased with her action. "Who is in my office?" he said, letting his lack of professionalism and tact known. 

Her dark brown, almond-shaped eyes glared at him. "I advise you to go back to being professional with me, Mister Whittler, because if you don't, I can become unprofessional too," warned Penny. 

Ryan stared down at the woman for a moment before apologizing. "I'm sorry, Penny. I'm just a bit short-tempered today. Now, tell me, who is in my office?"

Penny made a small grin. "It's a very pretty woman..." Her grin had turned into a broad, toothy smile. "So I advise you to break out a can of air freshener once you're done with the bathroom."

'Suzette,' his mind answered. Then, there was a mental image of her face. Ryan growled in irritation, as a result. He gave Penny a glimpse. "Thank you, Penny." He walked away from the woman.

"You're welcome, Boss," she shouted to his retreating form.

Ryan briskly walked down the hallway. He mumbled insults under his breath as he strolled. 'Let me kick this bitch out of here,' he thought as he stood outside of the office. He turned the knob and then he pushed the door open. 

"What the hell—?"

"Hello Ryan."

The moment that his emerald eyes landed on her figure, the putrid words that he was about to speak died in his throat. He was surprised. His eyes bulged while his chiseled face turned pink. 

"I hope you don't mind that I am here," she said to him, She wore a pleasant expression on her face. There was a contented grin on her face. He sensed that she was at peace. 

'No, I don't mind,' his muttered commented. 

Ryan entered the office; he closed the door behind him and then put the lock mechanism in place, so they won't be interrupted. The last thing he wanted was for his grandfather, one of his associates or Penny to barge into his quarters while Kali was here. He returned his attention back to his woman. He watched her placed plastic food bins onto his desk. 

"When I arrived here, your secretary told me that you've been in a meeting since noon. Luckily for me, I had come up with the idea of bringing you an early dinner..."

He noticed the delicious aroma that was circulating in his office. His stomach loudly rumbled, requesting for some food. The noise has managed to garner the attention from the both of them. She laughed. 

"And it sounds like I did the right thing!" she joked. 

She walked over to the reception chairs that were in front of his desk. She stood in front of a large, red plastic bag that was positioned on the chair. She withdrew items from the bag. Then she strolled over to the desk. His eyes took a hold of her round hips as she strolled. Her hips swayed seductively. They were his siren's call. An image of grasping onto the naked hips while his cock plowed into her, popped into his mind. His dick throbbed in response.

"I hope you are not on any special diets because I am..."

His eyes focused on her tits, which were showcased in a pink sweater. They were positioned on a delightful pedestal that was her bra. The curves of her breasts were highlighted, thanks to the V-neck collar of her sweater. They looked fuller. He assumed it had something to do with her pregnancy. His mouth watered.

"... I made it with mashed potatoes with gravy. I've grilled some asparagus and I cooked some stuffed pork chops..."

Ryan stared at her ass as she walked back over to the chairs. Her jeans were fitting so nice on her that he believed that they could've been made especially for her. He smiled while thinking of lustful intentions for that ass. He knew that that was one part of her body that benefitted from her pregnancy.

"...for dessert, I have made peach cobbler."

'I can't- fucking-wait to feel that ass... Oh wait, did she just say that she had made peach cobbler?'

Ryan walked a few steps closer to where she was standing. "Did you say that you made peach cobbler?" 

It was the first thing that he has said to her since entering the office. She looked at him and giggled at him. 

"I knew the peach cobbler would've caught your attention! And I bought ice cream too. It's not homemade, like my grandmother's ice cream, but this will do." She surveyed the desktop to made sure that she had set everything up. Once she realized that everything was in place, she sat down in one of the reception chairs. She looked over at him. She smiled. "Come on and let's eat!"

Ryan stood in the same spot and took in the environment. For him, he believed that everything felt right to him. The woman that he loved and who was carrying their child was in his office because she wanted to surprise him with dinner. Plus, she was here with his favorite dessert. He felt his heart raced, when he learned that Kali was here because she wanted to do something nice for him. She did it because she wanted to do it and not because she needed something from him. 

"Are you okay?" she asked him. She wondered what was wrong with him. He was just standing there and not saying a word. Ryan was a man that was not without a few words. 

He walked up to Kali and grabbed her shoulders. With a subtle bit of prodding, he asked her to stand up from her seat. She gazed at him. 

"What's up, Ryan?" she asked him.

In response, she felt his full lips settle onto her fuller ones. His full lips commandeered the act. The kisses were rushed but they were thoughtful. His lips felt soft against her fuller ones. She felt the tip of his tongue graze across her bottom lip, which was a request for an invitation. She moaned out her acceptance. Her moist, wet cavern was penetrated with his tongue. She moaned in pleasure while her arousal increased and her self-control decreased. Her manicured nails dug into the material of his plum-colored shirt while her hands clasped his biceps. She pressed her smaller and softer frame closer to his bigger and harder one. She felt his large hands grip on her hips. 

She didn't come to his place of business looking for a fuck-session. She wanted to do something nice for Ryan. She felt like he deserved it, for some odd reason. Her libido was dormant, when she entered the building. It was still dormant, when she arrived to this floor. When she entered his office, her arousal was subdued. However, when she saw him, her arousal was lit up like a napalm explosion. Her pussy pulsed and the seat of her panties was moist, when her purple eyes focused on him. 

Kali thought he looked incredibly sexy and polished, on this evening. Ryan wore a tailored grey suit that was molded to his tall structure. His dark purple, buttoned down shirt was clinging to his torso, which appeared to be broader with more weight. He kept his red hair in a ponytail with a few strands framing his face. 

For the first time, Kali desired him. With the ease that was similar to snapping her fingers, she accepted the desire. 

Once she felt the touch of his fingertips grazing her clit, some of the fog that she was under disappeared. She pried her mouth away from his. She whimpered. "Oh, Ryan," she moaned as his fingers continued to stroke at her clit. She could feel her cream saturate her thighs and underwear. "Ryan, we need to stop," she panted against his lips.

Ryan gazed at her and smiled. "I will... In a minute, I will stop," he reported. He planted his mouth on her lips and continued to finger-fuck her pussy. His fingers delved into her with shallow thrusts while his thumb grinded circles into her clit. 

Kali ground her pussy against his hand while her pleasure throbbed inside of her. She moaned against his mouth while her mouth was fucked by his tongue. The fingers of her right hand released his bicep and traveled down to the fastenings of his pants. She unfastened his pants and then placed her hand into his trousers. She was slipped her hand into the opening of his underwear. A strong thrill ran through her as she touched his cock. She heard his growl and felt the vibration against her lips. She pulled out his heavy piece of meat from his slacks. She removed her mouth from his, so she could lick her right palm.

"Oh, fuck" Ryan growled as he watched Kali lick at her hand. The sight caused his balls to tighten. 

Her mouth returned to his as her hand clasped onto his swollen member. A long and drawn out growl escaped his mouth as she stroked his cock with slow-paced pulls. She felt his fingers increased their speed and now they were thrusting hard into her pussy.  

"Aaaah fuck," she cried out as her pussy throbbed. She tilted her head backwards and exposed her neck. His lips soon latched onto the slender column. "Ryan," she gasped. "Ryan, fuck me," she pleaded. "Please, fuck me right now. I need it," she cried out. "I need it badly. Please, Ryan..."

The sounds of her pleading and moaning caught him. His original plan had gone out of the window. He planned on just fingering her until she came. But now, he wantwanted to fuck her badly. He wanted to mark her, just so she didn't forget him. He wanted to make her feel so good that she wouldn't want anybody else. 

Ryan withdrew his fingers from her cunt, as well as, from her panties and jeans. She didn't question him, which he liked. Immediately, he felt her hand leave his cock and her lips parted from his. He watched Kali quickly shed her underwear and jeans and kick off her shoes. She walked over to a reception chair and leaned forward, so her hands held onto the back of the chair. She rested her right knee on the seat of the chair. In this position, her ass was poked out and her cunt was on display. She glanced over her right shoulder to stare at him. She held a seductive look on her face. 

'Fuck yeah,' his mind growled as he quickly drew his underwear and pants down his legs. He removed his shirt and tossed it onto his chair. Using short and measured steps, to which Kali laughed in response, Ryan made his way over to Kali. 

"Come on Orion, show me..."

Ryan guided his glans into her wet and hot cavern.

She lets out a yowl-like moan while she arches her back. "Ah, oh, come on baby, come..."

With a sharp thrust, his cock was submerged into the depths of her pussy. 

She whimpers in response to the pleasure that she felt from having his thick member invade her depth. "Ah, oh God, baby, oh got-damned, you feel so..."

Ryan growled in response to the pleasure he felt as her pussy clench onto his turgid member. She felt wonderful. He withdrew slightly from her cunt and slipped back into her. Knowing that she loves to be fucked hard, his thrusts were fast and plunged deep.

She moaned softly. "Orion..." she moaned softly. 

"Do you know what you...?" His voice had come to a halt. A grunt slipped from his mouth. His hips slammed against her ass with ferocity and the sounds echoed in the office. "Give me your leg," he demanded, in a growl. He heard Kali whimper. She obeyed his demand. He clutched onto her right knee and held her knee out. He felt his prick sank deeper into her warmth. 

Kali let out a scream that echoed in the room. She bit down on her hand to keep from screaming out again. 

"You don't have to keep quiet baby," he informed her, as he continued to thrust. "The room is soundproof." The office was soon filled with loud moans along with the sounds of skin slapping against skin and the chair scraping against the hardwood floor. 

"I'm cumming," she whimpered. Soon, her body started to tremble and spasm while her pussy contracted and released around Ryan's stiff member. "Fuck," she grunted. 

Ryan's climax was set off by Kali's orgasmic reaction. He leaned his upper body forward. His front was pressed against her back while his face was buried in her curly hair. His thrusts became choppy and less fluid. His hand clutched tighter on her left hip while he felt his cock released a torrent of cum into her waiting womb. Once the high of his climax disappeared and his mind was functioning again, a notion entered his mind and it warmed his soul with hope. The thought of having Kali pregnant with their second child, soon after the birth of their first baby, entered his head. 

'I love it, but she will be my wife first before that happens.'

Ryan and Kali continued to press against each other as they rode through their endorphin-induced high. The sounds of their pants filtered the office. 

"God," she gasped, after the moment of silence, "that is one hell of an appetizer!" Both of them laughed. She felt Ryan let go of her right leg. She settled her knee onto the leather seat of the chair. Her knee was wet. She stared down at the seat. There was a puddle of fluid. "Oh God," she groaned in irritation. 

"What?" she heard said into her hair. She felt Ryan remove himself from off of her back and out of her pussy.

"I... squirted again," she reported to him. 

"You sound like you don't like to squirt. You don't like how I make your pussy feel?" Ryan asked.

"No, it's not that..." Kali gingerly changed her position in the chair. She turned around and sat in the chair. "I..." She stared up at him and broke out in laughter. Ryan stood before her and he held an expression of disappointment on his face, including with a pout on his lips. 

"Well, if you are going to sit there and laugh at me, I am going to take me and my cock away from you," he said to her, feigning the act of being upset. While his underwear and his pants around his ankles, he 'duck-walked' away from her. Ryan, to the soundtrack of her loud laughter, traveled over to his chair that was behind his desk. He had gone through a desk drawer and produced a washcloth. He tossed the item at her and she caught the fabric with her left hand. "Great catch," he remarked.

"Thank you. Being a left field catcher for eight years of my childhood does have its advantages," she told him. 

She watched Ryan duck-walk into a room that was located a few feet behind his desk. She assumed that the room was a bathroom. A few seconds after he entered, she heard the sound of water running. She stared at the doorway and listened to the sounds of movement that were leaving the bathroom. She changed her position in the chair. She tucked her legs closer to her torso and rested her chin on her knees.

While she was alone in his office, she thought about the event that just transpired. Once again, she fucked Ryan and the act was consensual. She even begged for it, as if she was a queen that was in heat and was yowling for a tomcat to fuck her. However, unlike the first time, Kali didn't feel one bit of shame or an iota of guilt. She thought back to their previous sexual episodes, the ones from six months ago. 

'Wow, what a difference from what happened back in June. I don't know what's going on with me. One minute, I hate him and I loathe everything about him. And now, I love... Wait, I don't think I love Ryan? Do I love Ryan? I don't... think so. But, I don't hate him anymore. I...' She lets out a grunt that conveyed her frustration. 'Everything... just feels... I don't know what to call it.'

Ryan emerged from the bathroom, a moment later. She thought he oozed pure sensuality and sex appeal as he entered the office. He was somewhat dressed; he properly wore his pants but he was still bare-chested. His gait possessed confidence and the knowledge of a predator. His hair was free from its confinement and it added to the predator appeal. In his left hand, he carried a wet washcloth. He traveled over to the location of where she sat and then he squatted down in front of her.

"Open your legs," he instructed with a gentle voice that made her pussy throb more.

Kali complied with his order and allowed for him to clean her off. "You didn't have to do this, you know" she told him as he wiped the evidence of their sex session off of her legs.

"I know, but I wanted to do it" he informed her as he gently swiped at her swollen sex. There was a case of silence between the two of them while he cleaned her off. "I didn't—

"Ryan, I want to talk about the..." She paused in her speech. Kali felt a little apprehensive about the topic she was about to speak about. She let out a breath before she resumed with her conversation. "I want to talk about your proposal, the one from last night."

He stopped the movement of his hand and stared up at her face. "Okay," he murmured before he rose to his full height. He walked over to the front of his desk and leaned against the edge. He folded his arms across his broad chest. He stared at her with a stoic expression on his face. He stood in front of her and there was a foot of space between the two of them.

Kali stared at him and let out a deep breath. She arranged herself in the chair, so she sat in a better pose. "Okay Ryan, first off, I want to tell you that I do have feelings for you. I am aware of that much. I think if I really-really-really think about it: I've always had some type of feeling for you. I think it is because we've known each other since we were kids. Shit, I even care for you, Ryan. I want to..." Kali sighed. "Hold you and squeeze you until you can't breathe right now. I want to take that hurt that you're feeling and just take it away. I figure this out last night, after you proposed and I gave you my answer. The way that you looked at me, I wanted to cradle you and make you feel better as if you were a baby." She watched how the corner of his mouth curved slightly. She noticed that his eyes' water line were about to release a flow of tears. She felt her own eyes sting as a result. She glanced at the floor. "But, I don't know why I developed any for you. After all, for a very long time, you have treated me horribly. I've tried to figure out how I've..." She let out a deep breath and then she subtly shook her head. "All I can do now is focus on the present and with that said, I cannot marry you..." She watched his mouth turned into a thin, flat line. She felt the disappointment and sadness pour off of him. "Not now anyway..." She saw his eyes widened briefly. A smile slowly appeared on his face. "Ryan, I cannot marry you now because you have to make up for a lot of shit that you have done to me..." She watched Ryan enthusiastically nod his head while he continued to smile. "... I cannot give you the very best of me right now, because in all honesty, you don't deserve me. Um..." She wiggled in her chair to alleviate the numbness that she felt in her ass. "... Then, there's the fact that you're engaged to get married to Suzette."

The enthusiasm quickly disappeared. His eyes briefly widen and the smile on his face withered. She just gave him a reality check. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 06



'Fuck,' he mentally groaned. 

He managed to forget that he was engaged to Suzette. He also forgotten that she had the DVD and she was in the process of blackmailing him. 

"Fuck," he grunted. He pushed himself off of the desk. "Fuck," he repeated. He ran his right fingers through his hair, as an act of feeling agitated. He strolled over to the windows in his office. He stared out and focused on the view. He was quiet for a moment. He tried to think of ways of getting out of this arrangement with Suzette and attain the footage in the process. He kept coming up with scenarios, but he knew that they would hurt Kali in the process. He couldn't do that to her. He let out a sigh. "Baby, I have a problem."

"What's the problem?" he heard her say. 

"I cannot break off my engagement to Suzette."

"What do you mean? If you don't want to be with her, dump her, it's simple as that," she informed him. 

Ryan shook his head. "No, baby, it's not that simple." 

"What's the problem: her parents had given your family the three cows and the two goats as a part of her dowry and now you can't give it back?" she joked. 

Ryan chuckled. 'I wonder if she will believe me, when I tell her this shit,' he then thought as he stared out the window.

"No. The problem is that I am being blackmailed by her. She has something of mine and I want it back and the only way that I am getting it back is if I obey with her demands."

"What were her demands?" she inquired.

Suddenly, he felt her hands touch at his pectorals. His body jolted from fright. She quickly apologized. "It's all right," he said to her. He grabbed onto her left hand. He brought her digits to his lips and gave the fingers a kiss. "To answer your question, she wants me to marry her and to give her some money."

"How much money did you give her?" 

"I had given her twenty million dollars—

"Are you kidding me?" Kali squealed in disbelief. "Twenty million dollars and you had given her the money? Whatever she has hanging over your head must be—

"She has the footage of us, from our graduation night" he blurted out. 

The office became quiet. He assumed that Kali was shocked into silence. He expected for Kali to go berserk at that moment. Ryan expected for her to start to physically attack him. He was surprised, when all she did was give a simple 'oh'. She proceeded to caress his back with her hands. 'Shit, I was expecting another type of reaction.'

"Were you expecting for me to have another type of reaction?" she inquired.

He chuckled, even though he still felt uneasy about her reaction. "Yes, I was expecting another type of reaction."

"Baby," she sighed. Her hands stopped moving on his back.

Ryan felt his member become weighed down with arousal at the sound of 'baby'. He reached down to the front of his pants and he gave himself a squeeze.

'Are you sure that you want to do this, Kay?' her conscience asked. Kali let out a sigh and then she nodded her head. 

She gave each of his shoulders a kiss. "In regards to the blackmail, you don't have to worry about Suzette any longer because I have the DVD," she confessed to him.

****

April 18th, 2001

"Todos derecho Miss Sandoval, he comprobado de Ethan ictericia y es borrado. De hecho, se trata de aclarar muy bien. Pero me gustaría que el hijo de nuevo para asegurarse de que está avanzando en la dirección correcta. (All right Miss Sandoval, I've checked Ethan's jaundice and it is clearing up. In fact, it is clearing up very well. But I would like to see the baby again to make sure that it is progressing in the right direction.)" Katrina stated to her patient's mother in Spanish.

The young mother sat in one of the reception chairs that were positioned in front of Katrina's desk. She held her five-week-old son in her arms while she stared at Katrina with her rounded, dark brown eyes. It's been five weeks since Baby Ethan was born and the doctor still saw the stress, tiredness, the sense of lack of knowledge, the sense of scariness and hopelessness in her orbs. Every once in a while, Katrina would have to glance away from the fourteen year-old girl, because it was too painful to see the negative energy inside of the girl's eyes. 

"Muchas gracias, Doctor Mora. ¿Qué debo hacer si la situación empeora? (Thank you, Dr. Mora. What should I do if the situation becomes worse?)" Miss Sandoval inquired. 

Katrina stared down at her keyboard. She let out a few coughs, in hopes of dissolving the lump in her throat before she answered the inquiry. "A continuación, quiero que me llame. Me Llame, utilizando el número que está en su hijo la clínica tarjeta y, a continuación, alguien aquí me llame. (Then, I want you to call me. Call me; using the number that is on your son's clinic card and then someone here will call me.)"

The mother let out a broad, toothy smile, which was infectious because Katrina released one of her own within a few seconds. 

"Todos los derechos, gracias Doctor. (All right, thank you Doctor.)"

Katrina stood up from her executive office chair and traveled from behind her desk to the front of the office furniture. She stood in front of the girl and helped the child arrange her bags while she carried her infant son. The doctor placed her hand on the young mother's shoulder, as an act of spiritual support. 

"Miss Sandoval, necesito para configurar otra cita conmigo, de la recepción. (Miss Sandoval, I need for you to set up another appointment with me, at the front desk.)" Katrina informed the patient's mother.

"Okay," the girl said to her son's doctor. 

Katrina escorted the young mother to the front desk, where the mother had set up another appointment. Afterwards, Miss Sandoval and her son had exited the premises. Katrina stood in the now-empty, patients' waiting area and stared at the retreating back of Grace Sandoval. 

"These moms that come in here seem to be getting younger and younger these days," Katrina stated. "That girl right there is living with her 96 year-old grandmother, in a one bedroom-apartment that is over a Chinese restaurant. She told me today that she saw a rat inside of her son's bedroom. Do you know that that girl has parents who own a house up in Hollis Woods? She has an aunt and uncle who live by themselves in a big house, over in Richmond Hill. But she is living with her elderly grandmother in a rat-infested apartment because no one else in her family would take her in. God forbid, if something were to happen to her grandmother because then she and her baby will be probably place in foster care."

Lulu sighed in disgust. "And they seem to be doing this alone as well," Lulu stated. "Thank God, when I had my son, I had help from my dad and my grandmother. They didn't toss me out like I know some parents do to their daughters. Thanks to them, I was able to go back to school and get my diploma. They also helped me maintain a steady job while going to college. Then, there's another person that I have to thank..."

Lulu stood up from her rotating chair and prepared for her departure from the clinic. 

"There was a certain doctor who also helped me by giving me my first full-time job at this big ole' clinic. She is kind of short and kind of cute. She has a pixie cut and is single and lonely as they come—

"Fuck you, Lulu" Katrina said to the secretary.

"You don't mean that," said Lulu with faux disgust.

"Fuck you," the doctor giggled before retreating to her office. 

The young, Miss Sandoval's son was Katrina's last patient for the day. As soon as the doctor reached her office, she let out a gut-harboring groan of happiness. She peeled off her pair of Aerosoles Mary Jane's off of her feet and she trekked over to her chair. With a loud and wavering sigh, she planted her 5'5 frame in her seat. She powered up her computer and opened up the music media program. A few minutes later, her 15x15 feet office was filled with music by Zero 7.

To further add on to her quest of relaxation, Katrina swiveled her rotating chair around, so she could face the wall that was behind her desk. On the wall, there was a spacious cupboard and two bookshelves below. There was another desk arranged below the shelves and against the wall. She used this space as her 'relaxation area'. There was a small, electric water fountain, a few votive candles and a potted bonsai tree. The doctor lit the candles. Afterwards, she leaned further into the high-back chair. She stared at the yellow flames for a moment and soon she felt less stressed and tense.

"Now, I am starting to feel better," she muttered under her breath.

Katrina pushed her chair away from her relaxation corner and gone back to her primary work area. Before she could go home, she needed to type up a few progress reports for her patients' records. She began to work on her reports. She was a few minutes into her work, when the office phone rang. She checked the Caller ID and saw a familiar telephone number.

"Mom..." Katrina muttered. Katrina grabbed the receiver and lifted it off of the hook. "And she's probably calling because she wants to remind me about going to BJ's." She placed the plastic receiver against her left ear. "Hey Ma, what's up?" she said into the talk-piece.

"Hi, Honey!" her mother greeted with her own husky voice. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"I am doing all right. I cannot say the same thing about T.D. because I am about to kill him," her mother said, nonchalantly. 

'What?' her mind screamed in shock. 'What does she mean?' 

"Ma, what happened?"

"Today, T.D. came home from school, late by the way, I might add..."

The relaxed state that Katrina felt was now disappearing quicker than a pair of panties off of a whore on a Saturday night. She felt her tension return. Her stress, however, did not return. But, her anger did grow.

"... I told him to go to his pig-sty of a room and clean it up. Do you know what he did next?" her mom stated.

"No, Ma, what did T.D. do next?" Katrina asked as she rubbed her forehead.

"HE SUCKED HIS TEETH AT ME!" her mother shouted from her line.

The doctor stopped rubbing at her head. She stared blankly at the computer screen that was poised in front of her. Her stomach's muscles tighten. There was slight bit of pressure stabbing at her temples. Katrina's body tensed up. She was pissed off. She believed that her mother did not deserve such disrespect. Her fingers pinched at the flesh that was on her forehead before they traveled to her hair. She frantically scratched at her scalp for a moment.

"...He sucked his teeth at me as if I was one of his little friends that he hangs out with..." her mother informed her. "I need for you to talk to T.D. please."

"Okay Ma, tell him to come to the phone," stated Katrina as she stared at the computer screen. 

Katrina heard her mother place the phone's talk piece down. In a few seconds, she heard her mom scream T.D.'s name. The volume of the voice was low, which meant that her mother's position was far away from the phone.

"T.D., BOY, PICK UP THE PHONE!"

A minute later, Katrina heard the second phone line activate. "Hello," she heard, a few seconds later. The voice belonged to a boy. He sounded as if he was bored and a bit smug, which are characteristics that was usually reserved for pre-adolescents.

Katrina lurched forward in her chair. "You listen to me and don't you dare say a got-damned word until I tell you too!" she said into the phone with her teeth clenched. She was met with silence, which let her know that he was going to obey with her rule. "Your grandmother told me what you did to her, after she had told you to clean up your filthy room. Once you get off of this phone, you are going to go to your room and you're going to clean it! If that room of yours is not clean by the time I arrive home tonight, you can kiss your summer vacation goodbye! I will not take you to Cooperstown to go visit the Baseball Hall of Fame! You will not go to football camp and you can forget about joining the Pee-Wee squad! You will not have any sleep-overs, your grandpa will not help you build your tree house and I will not take you Upstate, so you can visit the Juggernauts' training camp!"

Katrina heard T.D. scoff in disappointment. "Awww Mama!" whined T.D.

"Do not 'Awww Mama' me," she warned him. "Once you get off of the phone with me, go apologize to your grandmother!"

"I thought you said that you wanted me to clean my room after I got off the phone!" T.D. protested. 

"Boy, don't you dare be a smart ass to me," Katrina told her son. "Go apologize to your grandma first and then go clean your bedroom! Do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am," her son said to her while sounding dejected.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between the mother and son. Katrina wanted her son to fully digest the possible repercussions of his actions towards his grandmother. 

Katrina let out a sniffle and then leaned back in her chair before speaking to him. "I'll see you tonight" she said to him. "I love you baby," she declared. She never ended any of her conversations with her son without declaring her love for him. She wanted her son to know that his mother always loved him. She knew where it stemmed from: her guilt for not always being there for him, when he wanted her to be around.

"I love you too, Mama."

"Now, go and tell your grandma that I want to speak with her," she demanded.

"All right, ma'am."

She heard a clicking sound afterwards. Her mother returned to the phone, a few minutes later. "Hello, honey."

"Hey Ma, I've spoken to that knuckle-head. I told him to clean up his bedroom. I told him to apologize to you before did. Did he apologize to you?"

"Yes he did apologize to me. He did it, when he was giving me the telephone. Thank you for intervening, baby. What did you say to him?" her mom inquired.

"Nothing much, I just threatened to take away his fun for the summer. I promised him that if he didn't clean his room today, then he was going to spend a lot of time in that funky ass bedroom of his, during this summer."

Mrs. Mora chuckled, in response. "I don't know what has gotten into that boy! I remember when he would do his chores without a problem and he would do it with a smile on his face. Now, when you ask him to do something, he will give you some back-talk in return!"

"The answer's simple, Ma. Our boy is morphing into a teenaged boy," informed Katrina. "Soon, he'll be extra moody, extra sarcastic and extra sloppy. Plus, there is the extra dose of wacky hormones that will be running his body. It's normal for him to be this way, Ma."

"Well, if he is going to be like this, then he's going to need for a positive, male role model in his life," commented her mother.

"He has a positive, male role model in his life," the doctor informed her mother.

"I was not talking about your father, Katrina. I was hoping that you would get in contact with T.D.'s father and tell him..."

Katrina let out a groan of annoyance while her mother continued to speak. Now, her mother was beginning to irritate her. 

'She just had to bring this shit up,' she thought as she rested her forehead in her left palm. She listened to her mother's rant for a few minutes before she decided to put an end to the noise pollution. "His father—

"Don't give me any stories, Katrina! I don't want to hear any lie that you've made up! All I am saying is that you don't owe it to your father and I; the only person that you owe is your son! You cannot keep telling him about the stork and how he is a blessing from God! He is going to get older and he is going to ask you more questions about his dad!"

Katrina felt sick. Her stomach felt unsettled. She felt queasy. She usually felt this way, when she felt guilty about something she had done.

"Ma—

"Don't give me any excuses, Katrina! Nine years ago, you returned home for your Christmas break, after spending your first semester in college and you were pregnant! Your father and I were shocked! Your father wanted to give you an interrogation about Tristan's father, but I talked him out of it! I figured that you would tell us at your own pace—

"Well, it was a shitty time for me," stated Katrina.

"It was at one point, your father and I thought that you must've been raped—

"WHAT?" Katrina said into the phone, sounding appalled. "Why would you think so?"

"We thought... Well, your father thought that you were raped because every time we mentioned anything about Tristan's father, you would become intense and then you would cry uncontrollably," her mother explained. 

Katrina thought, 'Well, it does make sense for them to feel that way.' She lifted her face away from the palm of her hand and she stared at the office's door. "Ma, I wasn't raped."

The doctor heard her mother sigh in relief. There was a moment of silence which lasted twenty seconds. "So, what happened then?" she heard her mother ask. 

The sound of her mother's inquiry caused the memories to resurface to the front of her mind. They were the memories of the event that led to Tristan's conception. It was also the memories that led to Katrina feeling the ultimate act of degradation. Katrina felt that lump return to her throat. This time, it felt like it was the size of a golf ball. Her throat ached to the point that the corners of her jaw felt the discomfort. Her eyes stung and her vision became blurry while her tears slipped down her face. 

She lets out a soft whimper before she responded to her mother's question. The reason why I cried all of the time, it was because I was..." Katrina let out a healthy sigh. "I was heartbroken. Tristan's father was my first love and he also gave me my first taste in heartbreak. The night that I lost my virginity to him was the night that Tristan was conceived. On the next day, he said some horrible things to me and he broke my heart. He hurt me truly." By the time Katrina was finished, her round face was wet with tears. 

"Does he know about Tristan?" Mrs. Mora inquired.

'No,' thought Katrina. 

"Yes," she lied to her mom. "I told him, when Tristan was a year old. We bumped into each other one day, by accident. He invited me to a lunch date. I accepted. I wanted to tell him about Tristan. Plus, I thought that maybe he and I—

"You wanted to rekindle that romance with him, didn't you?"

"Yes, I wanted to make it work," she confessed. "At the lunch date, I told him about Tristan. The look on his face, his reaction to the news, told me everything. He was appalled and upset. He told me that he couldn't be a father. He told me that he was engaged to be married and he had a baby on the way. I just nodded my head and then I left the restaurant. I haven't seen him since then."

'You're going to Hell for telling that damn lie,' warned her conscience.

She heard her mother sigh. "God damn that man for neglecting that beautiful boy," her mother swore. Her mother's voice sounded cold yet passion-filled. Her mother sounded like a woman who was capable of a homicide. A shiver dripped down Katrina's spine, as a result. 

"Ma, I have to go now," she announced. She wiped at her cheeks and then sniffled. "I have to do some more work before I head home tonight."

"Okay, baby, I'll see you tonight. Don't forget about our trip to BJs tonight!"

Katrina groaned inwardly. "I won't forget, Ma."

"I love you, honey."

"I love you too, Ma."

After her phone call with her mother, Katrina originally planned on resuming her work. But, now she can't even type up a word. She turned away from her computer's monitor. Her focus shifted over to the small gathering of framed photographs that lined up against the edge of her large, oak desk. The frames varied in size and were made from various materials, but each frame kept a picture that meant something to her. 

She started on the left side of her desk and she gazed at a framed picture that was the first object closest to the edge. The frame was a sterling silver frame that she bought from Bloomingdale's. The frame stored a picture of her parents, back in 1969. The picture was taken on the day of their wedding. Her eyes scanned the next picture, which was encased in a frame that was molded out of Waterford Crystal. The photo captured Katrina and T.D., an hour after he was born. Her mother had taken the picture, using her Canon EF camera. In the photo, her son was lying on Katrina's bare chest while she held onto her newborn son. Her eyes were closed and there was a look of contentment was smeared amongst her sweaty face. She ran her fingertips across the glass pane that kept the picture inside. The third photo was inside of frame that was carved from slate stone. The photo was of Tristan, when he was seven-months-old. He was lying on his stomach and on a blanket. His round, dark brown eyes stared at the camera and he was smiling. The deep dimples that were in his chubby cheeks were pronounced. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 07



Author's Notes: Hey, everybody!

I hope every one is having a better week than I am enduring right now. I have been suffering from a case of the "Lazy Days". I haven't been productive (in regards to this story and the other ones) and I don't like it one bit. Plus, it doesn't help that I managed to hurt myself and I've been taking prescribed painkillers that has been making me feel sluggish. 

If you haven't read any of the previous chapters, then you wouldn't know that I have been updating and revising the past chapters. The updates are not drastic, so don't worry about it. 

In regards to a new chapter, I will be posting one soon. I promise. 

***************

Two months and two days later, June 20th, 2001...

"Good morning, may I speak to Mister Daniel Logan please?"

Daniel placed the handle of the pitchfork into his other hand, so he could hold the cell phone in his right hand. 

"This is Daniel," he announced into the talk piece of the NEXTEL phone.

"I am speaking to Mister Daniel Tristan M. Logan, am I correct?" the person asked.

Daniel rolled his eyes in annoyance. He began to pace around the pile of dead leaves that he recently gathered. "Yes, you are correct. You are speaking to the Daniel Tristan Micah Logan. How can I help you?"

He listened to the woman chuckle from the other line. He knew that she heard the smart-alecky attitude from him. 

"I apologize for being a nuisance, Mr. Logan. I need to make sure that I am speaking to the right person. The information that I have is confidential and important. Once again, I wish a 'good morning' to you. My name is Roberta Thoms. I am a social worker for the Better Tomorrow Family Placement Center. It is an adoption agency. I am calling in regards to your son, Sean Alexander. We—

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Daniel was jolted from his sleep by the abrupt sound of a cry. He was awoken from his dream, or rather, from his brain's involuntary task of recollecting. The noise was loud and sharp. It sliced through the tranquil setting of his bedroom. It caused his heart to beat harsh and rapid. Adrenaline raced through his veins as the sense of fright settled down. 

He opened his eyes and found himself being greeted by the ceiling. He saw the ceiling tiles, which meant that the night was about to turn into the day. He calculated that the time had to be around 5 AM. He figured that he had to be asleep for a few hours since the last feeding. 

'Oh goodness,' his fatigue mind groaned. 'I need some fucking sleep.'

"Oh, I need some extra time to sleep," he groaned.

With his large right hand rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Daniel rolled onto his left side. His large body was a few millimeters away from the edge of the king-sized mattress. His round, dark brown eyes stared at the source that caused his disrupted sleep.

"Sean, dude, why are you not asleep?" he groaned as he stared at the wooden crib that was four feet away from his bed. 

Due to the minimal lighting and the Winnie the Pooh-themed crib bumper, he didn't see his son in the crib. But, he damn sure heard him, thanks to his consistent cries. 

"Sean, if you love your daddy, you would go back to sleep and stay asleep for at least six more hours," stated Daniel. 

Little Sean continued to fuss and cry for someone to help him. 

"All right, all right, all right..." grumbled Daniel as he slipped out of his comfy bed. 

Daniel grabbed the discarded pair of sweatpants that was on the floor and he slipped them on, along his pair of flip flops. Once dressed, he traveled over to the crib and peered inside. He gazed at his son, who kicked his thick legs while he continued to cry. Sean's eyes were opened and he was glaring at his father as if he was saying 'Why are you standing there and just looking at me? Help me, daddy!'

Despite being two months old, Daniel knew that his boy was going to be a powerhouse, when he grows up to be a man. His stature was bigger than the average newborn. Plus he was thick and he was heavy. In his small fat hands, he has a strong grip that even impressed Daniel. Even though Daniel believe that he was going to be supportive of any career choice that Sean will pick, he really wanted his son to be involved in some type of sports, in particular football. 

Daniel picked his baby up and carried him in his strong arms. He whispered comforting words into his son's ears while gently rocked the infant. After a while, he listened to Sean's cries go from being loud and harsh to low and soft. Then, he began to whimper and coo. Daniel figured out that his son was just fussy and needed to be comforted.

"Oh, so you want to hang out with your old man, huh?" he said softly into the crown of his son's head. He listened to Sean's coos. 

Daniel felt stuffy now. The bedroom felt like a sauna to him. His grandmother insisted on turning on the house's heating every night, ever since the night's temperature dropped down to the 50's. 

"Why don't we go outside and get some fresh air?" he said to his son. "But, first, let's get you dress in some clothes. I don't want you to catch a cold."

Daniel added some more clothes to his hulky frame and then slipped some clothes onto his baby boy, before they left the bedroom. Once inside of the hallway, Daniel heard the sounds of life occurring on the first level of his grandparents' house. There were the sounds of a radio program playing, the clattering of pots and pans, as well as, the sounds of bacon frying. The delicious scent wafted through the air and it caused Daniel's stomach to rumble. Father and son had traveled down to the first level of the large house to go to the kitchen. 

Daniel entered the kitchen and saw his grandparents inhabit the room. Tin, his grandfather sat at the dinner table and was reading the newspaper. His grandmother, Delia, stood in front of the stove and she was monitoring the food. She looked away from a frying pan when she saw Daniel entered the kitchen. 

"Good morning, my babies!" Delia says happily with a broad smile. 

Daniel has been staying with his grandparents for the past sixty-three days and hearing his grandmother's "good mornings" everyday still made him feel great. With every greeting and a sight of her bright smile, his soul felt a jolt of happiness. 

"Good morning, grandma!" greeted Daniel before he gave his relative a kiss on her left cheek. She reciprocated by giving him a peck on his left cheek. She pushed the hood of Sean's apparel out of the way, so she could give Sean a kiss on his forehead. 

"Good morning, my sunshine!" she cooed at Sean, who cooed in response. Delia reached for the baby and Daniel handed him off to her. She proceeded to fawn over the baby.

"Good morning, grandpa," Daniel greeted his grandfather. 

Tin placed the newspaper on the table and stared at his grandson. "Good morning, son. How are you feeling, this morning?" 

"I am feeling all right. I'm just tired," Daniel stated as he sat down in an unoccupied chair that was in front of the dinner table. "I've been up most of the night—

"We know," both his grandparents announced. 

"We heard you up and walking around last night..." his grandmother informed him. Then she cooed, "...with this scrumptious little critter!" Then she proceeded to make squeaky noises and shower Sean's face with kisses. Daniel laughed at his grandmother's antics as well as felt his heart swell up with adoration.

"How many hours of sleep did you manage to get last night?" asked Tin. 

Daniel grunted, in response. He placed his left elbow on the table and rested his chin in the palm of his left hand. "I don't know, but I do know that I didn't receive my full eight hours that is recommended."

"Oooh," Tin grimaced as he held his cup of coffee in his left hand. "I remember those days."

"What are you talking about, old man?" Delia stated to her husband. She walked over to an available chair and sat down with Sean sitting on her lap. "If I recall, you were in bed, asleep and snoring while I was up and taking care of our kids!" 

Tin placed an expression of outrage on his face. He placed his hand over his right pectoral. He let out a gasp of awe. "I am outraged! I did provide you with help! I had kept the bed warm for you!"

The kitchen erupted in laughter that had come from the three adults.

"Oh," groaned Delia with a grin on her lips. 

She grabbed the wet dish rag that was on the table and threw it at her husband. Tin effortlessly caught the wet rag and then placed it on the table. Once the laughter had died down, Delia announced her idea to Daniel.

"Danny, me, your grandfather and Abigail are going to Porter, the next town over, today for a shopping trip and to meet up with some friends of ours. Why don't we take Sean with us, so you can get some sleep?"

"That sounds like a great idea," his grandfather added.

"I think you need to get some sleep. You look like you really need it. Ever since you've brought Sean back, you have been giving one-hundred and fifty percent in taking care of him and you haven't been taking care of yourself..."

"And you're going to need all of the sleep that you're going to get, once you go back to training camp," his grandfather pointed out.

"Speaking of which, what are you going to do in regards to Sean? Who is going to take care of him while you're away?" inquired Delia.

Daniel let out a chuckle. 'Wait until they hear this answer,' he thought. "Believe or not, your daughter has decided on helping me take care of Sean while I am away at training camp," he said with a smirk. 

Delia's mouth opened slightly and her eyes widened in bewilderment. "Claudia has decided to help you with Sean?" She glanced at Tin, who just shrugged his shoulders. Then she stared at her grandson. "Our daughter is going to help you take care of Sean?"

"Yup, she offered her help and she's even thrown in the offer to help me hire a nanny too. I accepted my mother's offer," reported Daniel. 

"My daughter Claudia has agreed to help you? Claudia, your mother, has agreed to help you with the baby that belongs to your ex-wife? The same ex-wife, who have cheated on you and inadvertently made my daughter an enemy? We are speaking about the same Claudia that has created a smear campaign against this boy's mother and has been embarrassing that girl in the newspapers; that same Claudia?" asked Delia.

Daniel chuckled. "Yes, the same woman."

"Why does she want to take care of the child that is the biggest reminder of your ex-wife's affair?" 

"I guess she realizes that Sean is a victim and the only innocent party out of this mess. Plus, she knows that I need all of the help that I can get," informed Daniel.

"Well, all I am going to say is watch out for her. I love my daughter, but I know that she can be vindictive, when she is crossed. Or in this particular case, when any of her family members are crossed," warned Delia.

Daniel stared at his grandmother for a full eight seconds before he responded with an "Okay, grandma." 

Daniel didn't tell his grandparents that he already contemplated on the reasons why his mother wanted to help him take care of Sean. He didn't speak about his initial reservations about allowing his mother to help him. He didn't tell his grandparents that after he told his mother that he accepted her offer he threatened her with a promise. He told his mother that if she were to do something to hurt him and to keep him from taking care of Sean, he was going to tell his father everything about her family. 

"Okay baby," Delia murmured. "Just be careful please."

"I will, grandma."

"And please call us every day, even if you don't have anything to talk about."

Daniel chuckled. "I will, grandma."

"And if you have any of the holidays off, can you please visit us? And you can even bring the French nanny too. I know that Claudia is going to hire one of those French ones because she thinks it's fancy. You can bring her too."

Once again, Daniel chuckled. "I will visit you, grandma."

"And can you send us a lot of pictures of you and Sean? You can email them to us, because I know how to use the computer now."

"Yes, grandma, I will."

Delia looked down at Sean. "Danny baby, I have a question for you?"

"Yeah grandma?" Daniel murmured. 

"Why does this poor baby have on a snow suit?" she inquired.

"We are about to go outside and take a walk around for one last time. What? Do you think the snow suit is inappropriate?"

"Baby, its sixty-nine degrees outside right now and all he needs is a sweater—

"He doesn't need..." Tin stated. The two adults stared at the old man. "... the sweater either. It is beautiful outside."

"Are you sure guys?" Daniel asked. "I don't want Sean to catch a cold."

"Honey, he is going to get sick if he continues to wear this hot ass snow suit," Delia pointed out. 

A few minutes later, Daniel and Sean exited the house and entered the outside. He stepped on the back porch and walked to the top of the staircase. He notices the temperature. His grandparents were correct. The weather was beautiful: the temperature was perfect, not chilly and not hot. The sky was a shade of lavender, purple, burgundy and blue. Dawn was approaching the horizon. He stared out at the acres of land that was presented.

Daniel stared down at the top of his son's head. "Okay, I may have overreacted."

With his son still in his arms, Daniel stood on the porch of his grandparents' farmhouse. He gazed out at the twenty-eight acres of land that was presented before him. He surveyed the layout of the property. He knew that his grandparents bought the property in the 1970's, even though they didn't have any plans of starting up a farm. The house was erected in the epicenter of the property. On the land, there was a horse stable and a barn. 

Daniel imagined an older version of himself watching Sean run amok on this very same land while he sat on this porch. Then he bent his head and gave Sean's crown a gentle kiss. He whispered an apology into his son's left ear. It was the twenty-sixth time that he has said 'I'm sorry' to his son since the day of his birth. The first apology fell from his lips, fifty-nine days ago. On the day that he has received his sanity back and gained another purpose in life. It occurred a few seconds after Ms. Thoms placed son in his arms. 

As he stared out at the field, Daniel thought about his previous dream which turned out to be a memory. On April 25th, a week after his blow-out with Mary Anne, Daniel received the call from Ms. Thoms. When she informed him of Mary Anne's intention of placing Sean up for adoption, he was stunned. He didn't think that his ex-wife would've been able to abandon her child so easily. As he listened to the social worker speak, Daniel thought about Mary Anne. Then he thought about his marriage. Before the end of the phone call, Ms. Thoms informed Daniel that he needed to fill out some applications, in order to relinquish his parental rights to Sean.

On the night before Sean's birth and while Mary Anne was enduring labor, Daniel filled out a couple of forms that were issued by the hospital. He didn't bother to read any of the applications. Instead, he just filled out the required information. One of the forms that he filled out was for Sean's birth certificate. As the result, the state of Missouri recognized Daniel has being Sean's father and legal guardian. 

Daniel scheduled an appointment with the social worker for April 30th. He admitted to himself that he felt weird about "waiving his paternal rights" for a child that was not his son. He also felt like he was abandoning the child. 

On the following day, Daniel left Clinton, Arkansas to return to St. Louis, Missouri. During his visit in St. Louis, he met up with a few of his former colleagues and hung out with his old teammates. They had taken him to several nightclubs on that night, as a "Bon Voyage" celebration. Aside from that night, he spent the remainder of his time in his hotel room.

He woke up on the day of his appointment feeling sick. He had a headache that festered in the middle of his forehead as if it was pinned there. His stomach rumbled. He felt queasy. His saliva was thick like molasses. He thought that he must've caught a case of the flu.

Even though he felt terrible, he knew that he needed to attend the meeting with Ms. Thoms. When he arrived to the adoption center's building, his stomach's condition worsened. As he sat in the waiting room, he grew cold sweats. When he was inside of Ms. Thoms' office, he had difficult time of breathing. When he spoke to the social worker, Daniel stammered and stuttered, an act that he hasn't done since he was a ten year-old boy.

The meeting consisted of Ms. Thoms informing Daniel of his choices in regards to his rights as the father. The kind woman informed him that Mary Anne had given up her rights a few days before she was discharged from the hospital. The notion that Sean had been lingering in the foster care system for a week entered his mind. He had become bothered and angered. Suddenly the urge to view Sean had become strong within inside of him. 

"Is it possible for me to...?" Daniel said softly and humbly. He squirmed in the chair that was positioned in front of Ms. Thoms' desk. "Is it possible for me to...?" He paused in his speaking and licked at his bottom lip. "Is it possible for me to see him?"

In reply, Ms. Thoms created a grin on her lips that spoke volumes.

Ms. Thoms ended up making a phone call and spoken to a woman named Miss Ruby. The conversation lasted a few minutes. After the call ended, the social worker informed Daniel that they were going on a trip. During the journey, the woman explained to Daniel who Miss Ruby was. She explained that this woman had been a foster parent for over thirty years. She was a retired elementary school teacher. They ended up traveling to the house that belonged to the woman, who happened to be Sean's foster mother. 

Miss Ruby stood on her porch as Ms. Thoms pulled her car into the woman's driveway. From where Daniel sat in the car, he saw that the woman was small and elderly. She was African-American. She was petite in height; he guessed that she was about five feet tall. She was a portly-sized woman who wore a floral-printed house coat and a pair of slippers on her feet. She wore a dark blue-colored scarf on her head in an elaborate way. 

Ruby welcomed Ms. Thoms and Daniel inside of her home. She escorted them into the living room section and instructed them to have a seat on her French colonial-inspired couch. Both Daniel and Ms. Thoms smiled to hide their discomfort as they sat on the thick, plastic covering. The three individuals talked. Mostly the women chatted and Daniel remained quiet most of the time. He observed the environment and Ruby. Despite the woman being kind and owning a home that was cleaned, he didn't feel comfortable with Sean living inside of the home. He concluded that he thought Ruby was not the right person to take care of Sean. He thought that she was too old and not energetic enough to take care of a little boy.

After an hour of talking passed, Daniel was impatient and his condition was worse. His headache continued to pulse. The contents in his stomach grumbled. There was a strong pressure buried in the pit of his stomach that managed to move to the crack of his ass. He needed to go to a bathroom immediately. He asked the elderly woman if he could use of her bathroom. The old woman granted Daniel the permission and then she verbally gave the man directions. He thanked the woman and then excused himself. 

According to Ruby's directions, the bathroom was located on the second level of the house. He quickly made his way up the staircase and into the hallway of the second floor. He found the bathroom and then relieved himself of the pressure that he felt inside of his guts. After he finished with the bathroom, he entered the hallway. He was about to go back downstairs, when a noise caught his attention. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 07



He stood on the second step of the staircase and listened for more noise. He didn't have to wait too long because a few seconds later, he heard it again. The noise was the sound of mewling. He compared the noise to the sound of a small animal like a kitten or a puppy. The mewling stopped and then a cry filtered the air. Daniel had entered the hallway and he figured out that the crying came from the middle bedroom. 

The bedroom's door was slightly opened. A ray of sunlight shone through the cracks in the door and into the hallway. There was a colorful and juvenile-looking clown decoration on the door. He pushed the door open and stood in the doorway. He gazed into the nursery, at the white crib and listened to Sean's cries. His heart began to race while the muscles in his stomach tensed up.

'Oh my God, he is in there. Oh my God,' he said to himself. He sighed. 'I wonder what he looks like. He—

"That's Sean."

'Oh shit,' his brain yelped.

Daniel turned his focus away from the crib and stared at the little boy who was on the other side of the bedroom. Daniel's body did a subtle flinch due from being surprised. He didn't notice the little boy. 

The child sat on the edge of a small bed. Daniel assumed that the child must've woken up from his nap. He was dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt that held stains and a few holes, a pair of tattered brown cargo shorts and a pair of white socks. For Daniel, the boy appeared to be around the age of four years old. His skin was the shade of a medium brown. He had a pair of round, dark brown eyes and a pair of dimples that was deep. The large man thought the kid was adorable.

Daniel smiled at the child. "Yeah, I know." He entered the bedroom and stood a few feet away from the doorway. 

"My name is Kassim," the boy announced with a smile and as he pointed to his chest. 

Daniel chuckled. "My name is Daniel, but you can call me 'Danny'."

Kassim hopped off of his bed and walked up to Daniel. He extended his left hand in front of him. "Please to meet you, Sir." 

Daniel stared down at the kid and then at his hand. He was impressed with the manners that this kid was showing to him. He smiled as he grabbed a hold of the little boy's hand. The two individuals shook hands. 

"It's nice to meet you Kassim."

Kassim removed his hand from Daniel's grip and he walked towards the crib. He stood by the railing and leaned against it while staring at Daniel. "So, are you here for Sean?" the boy asked.

"Yeah," Daniel said to him as he walked over to the crib. 

He stared into the crib and gazed at the newborn babe. The baby was awake. He was fussy and was fidgeting around. He was lightly cried. Daniel took note of the baby's honey-colored skin and curly, dark blonde hair. His cherubic-styled face was moist with tears. His brow was wrinkled and his deep set eyes focused on Daniel's face. 

Daniel stared at the baby and felt his body undergo a transformation. The headache disappeared. The ache in his stomach rippled for a few waves and then the feeling disappeared. He felt as if the infant boy was the cure for his ailments. 

'What the hell is wrong with me?'

The tips of his fingers began to tingle. He rubbed his fingertips together in hoped of getting rid of the weird sensation. He felt an urge to touch the infant and hold him. The feeling was strong. 

"Pick him up; he'll stop crying if you pick him up," suggested Kassim. "Sean likes it when he is being hold."

Daniel reached into the crib and taken a hold of the infant. He lifted the baby out of the bed and brought him close to his chest. He stared down at the baby. A strong shudder swam through Daniel's body that caused to let out a whimper. He began to pace in the bedroom. He began to breathe heavily. He felt hot. The room felt very stuffy to him. He felt a gamut of emotions: shame, cluelessness, fear, happiness and then he ended up feeling contentment. 

The sense of shame was the result of realizing that he also deserted Sean as well and not just Mary Anne. The acknowledgement caused Daniel to tear up. He felt cluelessness because he didn't know how to take care of a baby. He didn't anything about the act of fathering. But, he was going to do it anyway because he wanted to take care of this child. He was fearful because he knew the being a single parent was going to be tough for him. He didn't want to make any devastating mistakes while he raised Sean. On the other side of the coin, he felt happy that he was going to be able to raise this wonderful boy. 

Daniel stopped pacing and he stood in the middle of the room. Then he felt complete and utter contentment. He gazed at Sean. The baby boy stopped crying and now glared at him. Daniel noticed that his eyes were a dark shade of green. He chuckled when he realized that the body shared the same eye color with his mother, grandmother, grand-aunt and his deceased brother. 

'Yeah, he is definitely going to fit in fine with the family.' 

This time, he didn't see the son of Mary Anne and the reminder of her extra-marital affair. Now, he gazed at his son. He bent his head down and gave Sean's scalp a kiss. 

"I'm sorry," he whispered into his son's hair. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." 

Dawn had arrived and the sun sat in the middle of the sky. Daniel traveled off of the porch and strolled down the long, asphalt-paved road that led off of the property. He held Sean in his arms as he casually walked. He talked to his son. He told the sleeping newborn stories about certain events from his childhood. He told a tale about an injury incident that occurred during his football career. He told a compelling story about enduring the pain of having a broken pinky toe, when he saw a cherry red, 1999 Ford F-150 turn onto the road. The truck drove down the road and came to a stop, a few feet in front of Daniel. He walked over to the driver's side of the truck. He stared at the woman who sat in the driver's seat. 

Just like the time that she was at Costello's, Abigail wore an outfit that would garner anyone's attention. Abigail did not dress like an average grandmother or behave like the average one either. She wore a black, leather Stetson on her head. A plaid-printed, buttoned down shirt with a tight, black tank top underneath that highlighted her bust. Her shoulder-length, gray-silver hair was free. On her diamond-shaped face, she wore minimal makeup: a few coats of pink lip gloss on her lips and black eyeliner lined the rims of her deep set eyes. 

"Good morning Papa!" greeted his great-aunt Abigail with a cheerful smile on her face. She glanced down at Sean's sleeping face. She swooned. "Look at that handsome little guy, Danny, he is so adorable!" 

Daniel smiled. "Good morning, Aunt Abigail. How are you this morning?" 

"I am feeling great, honey," she said to him. She gazed at her grand-nephew. An expression of concern grew on her face. "You, on the other hand, look like shit," she commented. 

Daniel gave his great-aunt a grin. "Awww Abigail, you always know what to say to a man to boost his ego!"

She gave a wry smile. "I hope your kid doesn't get your taste in sarcasm," she informed him. "Do you want a ride back to the house?" Daniel nodded his head. "Well, get in, boys!" 

Daniel entered the cabin of the vehicle. He held onto the baby. Aunt Abigail placed her foot on the gas pedal. The car began to move. He stared out of the windshield and stared at the large farmhouse that was coming into view. Then he stared at the vast land that surrounded the house. A shiver ran down his spine, when he realized that he will be leaving this beautiful place in two days. The Juggernauts' training camp was going to start in five days and he needed to be present at the training camp facilities in four days. He knew the he was going to miss this place. 

"I am going to miss this place," stated Daniel as he stared out the windshield. 

"Well, this place is sure going to miss you, baby" she informed him as she continued to drive down the road. "And we're going to miss you too."

Daniel blushed and stared down at his son. He heard his grandmother's sister laugh at him. He glanced over at her.

"I see that your grandmother isn't the only one who cannot handle receiving compliments," she said to him. She watched as his cheeks grew darker in color. She cackled. Then a comfortable silence entered the vehicle. "Before we arrived to the house, I want to tell you something," she suddenly informed him. "I just want to say that I am proud of you for raising Sean."

"Aunt—

"No, let me finish," stated his great-aunt. "I just want to say that I am proud of you for taking care of Sean. A lot of men, who have been in your experience or will have a similar experience, will leave in a heartbeat. They will leave and they won't look back. Trust me, I know from my own experience. I believe one-half of the men, who does stay around will act like bastards. There are some men out there, who are mean and have no problem mistreating their wives' or girlfriends' kids. A lot of men are uncomfortable with being fathers to children that doesn't belong to them. I don't know why. Maybe..." Abigail let out a deep sigh. "Maybe it's because of biology and nature that makes the men uncomfortable. Well, I am proud of you for doing it." 

Daniel stared down at the floor of the cabin and then back out of the window. "Well..." Daniel gave his sleeping son a glimpse. "... Thank you, Aunt Abigail. I appreciate the words." His hands gave his son's waist a gentle squeeze. Daniel did not believe that it was impossible for not being able to love Sean. He did feel love for that little boy since he was surviving in his mom's belly. 

"Have Mary Anne called you lately?" asked Abigail.

The mention of his ex-wife's name caused Daniel's ire to rise. Then, he silently cursed at himself for feeling that way about her. 

"No, I haven't spoken to her since we had that 'divorce-mediation meeting'. Now, the only time we communicate is through our lawyers," he informed his great-aunt.

It has been a month since the last time he saw her. He has been trying to forgive her since the day that he returned to Arkansas with Sean. After all, she was the woman who was wholly responsible for creating the most important person in his life. Plus, he knew that he about his role in being a catalyst in her affair. Plus, he knew that if he were to place all of the blame on Mary Jane, he would've been a liar and a hypocrite. He knew that he wasn't the best husband during their marriage.

Abigail clucked her teeth in pity. "Mmm, such a shame, I believe that you guys should've gone through this amicably, instead of how it had gone."

"Well, Mary Anne should've just accepted the divorce settlement and allow our annulment to become finalized quicker. Instead, she kept being hard-headed—

"No, she was acting like a wife who wanted to make her failing marriage work," Abigail pointed out. Daniel noticed the edge that was in his great-aunt's voice. She was annoyed. "She wanted to continue to—

"To lie to me and make our shitty relationship work for the sake of the cameras?"

Abigail slapped him on the back of his head. The young man flinched. She drove her truck off of the road and parked. She turned off the ignition. She unbuckled her seat belt and then she turned in her seat to face her great-nephew. She watched Daniel as rubbed the pain out of the back of his scalp. 

"Ow, what-the-fuck, Abigail?" he gasped. 

Abigail pinched the large man on his thick arm. He flinched again and then glared at her. She pointed her right, index finger in his face. 

"You listen to me and you listen to me good, boy! All in all, I think that you're a good man. And in regards to Mary Anne, I think she is a good woman. Both of you two are two good people, who have done very bad things to each other. I understand how hurt you are about her act of cheating, but you have to keep one thing in mind: You didn't love her! And you cheated on her as well! You never did love Mary Anne! You knew that you didn't love Mary Anne, way before you proposed marriage—

"I did—

"Boy, don't you dare lie to me," stated Abigail. She let out a breath. "You proposed marriage, even though you didn't love her. You married her, even though you did not love her. Why? I don't know. And I don't care. But what you need to know is that Mary Anne loved you. She loved your big, giant ass! I know, in my heart, that she loved you. I don't care for the girl, you know that fact. But I do appreciate that she loved you. She wasn't a gold-digger or some up-and-coming actress who was dating you to make a name and a reputation. She was a woman that fell in love with you." Abigail settled deeper into her seat. 

Daniel now understood why Abigail was upset. She was aware that Daniel didn't love Mary Anne, but continued to 'play games' with her. 

"If she loved me, she wouldn't have cheated on me..."

He knew that it was petty and childish of him to throw that tidbit out there, but he didn't want to be the only selfish jerk that was called out by his aunt.

"And you cheated on her as well," counterpointed Abigail.

"...And lied to me about the true identity of Sean's father!"

Abigail and Daniel stared at each other. There was tension and it gradually filled the cabin of the Ford F-150.

"Let me tell you something, Danny: women love stability. We are taught since we're little girls to achieve stability. It doesn't matter in regards to race, culture and creed; all women want a sense of stability. With that being said, a woman will do what she has to do, in order to maintain what she has," she explained to him. "This is why Mary Anne continued to lie to you. She wanted to maintain her lifestyle of an honorable, married woman. She wanted to maintain her reputation of being a God-fearing, virtuous woman who has morals. She also wanted to make sure that you remained loving her..." Abigail shifted in her seat. "... Unbeknownst to her, you didn't love her at all."

"I did love her," mumbled Daniel.

"Are we going to have this conversation about your love for Mary Anne again?" Abigail asked even though it was rhetorical inquiry. "All right, let's say that you did have love for the girl, you didn't have the same type of love for Mary Anne like the type of love that you have for that Kali gal."

Daniel stared at his aunt. In return, she stared at him. He could see in her bright green eyes that she was waiting for him to challenge that accusation. He wanted to give Abigail a rebuttal, but he knew that it would be pointless. There was no point in lying to a clairvoyant. He focused on the scenery that was outside of the car.

With the mention of Kali, Daniel began to think about her. He hasn't seen her in over six months. The last time he physically saw her was at his formers' house, at their holiday party. Then, the last time he had contact from his former lover was a little bit over a month ago. He received a letter in the mail from her. The letter was addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Logan" and she had written his old residence's address on the envelope. Luckily, the letter along with his other mail was forwarded to his grandparents' home. He learned that she also sent an invitation as well. He read the invitation first.

Daniel knew, from judging the cover of the card, that the invitation was involving a wedding ceremony. The card was crème-colored and was made from special paper. A silk, black ribbon ran down the center of the cover. A ceramic, oval-shaped plaque was positioned in the center of the ribbon. On the plaque, were black calligraphy-styled letters 'R' and 'K'. 

Knowing that Kali, his first and only love, was getting married to another man made him feel disappointed. He wasn't devastated. He was slightly surprised about the fact that he didn't feel emotionally terrible. It was at that moment that he realized that his love for Kali had changed. He still loved her, but he wasn't in love with her anymore. When he thought about her, his heart didn't pound and his gut didn't feel like World War 3 had erupted from the inside. 

He opened the card and read the contents that were inside of the invitation. "You are formally invited to witness the union of Ryan Whittler and Kali Richardson as they are joined in holy matrimony..." 

He was stunned. He re-read the card's contents and hoped that he read the wrong name of the groom. Once Daniel realized that she was indeed marrying Ryan Whittler, he grew angry. He assumed that she was being forced into being legally bound to his former best friend. Daniel knew that Kali was a very kind person yet she was vulnerable and was capable of being mistreated by others. He knew Ryan was the type of person who would enjoy having another person to manipulate and inflict pain on. After reading the invitation's contents, he felt the need to speak to her. He wanted to convince her that she was about to make a mistake.

Then, Daniel remembered about the second thing that she added in the envelope. He unfolded the sheet of loose leaf paper that she added. He read the letter. In her letter, she addressed both Mary Anne and him. She gave updates about her life. She discussed how she was in love with Ryan. She made mention about Ryan's improvements in his character and mental health. She didn't elaborate about the tools that he was using. She also announced that she was pregnant and she was going to be a mother to a daughter. Then, she ended her letter asking for Daniel and Mary Anne to attend her wedding, despite their ill opinions of her fiancée. 

"Your grandma told me that your girlfriend had sent you a wedding invitation," Abigail told him. 

"Yeah," he said, glumly. He continued to stare out of the window. "She is married to a guy who used to be my best friend. The wedding was four days ago."

"Ouch," she said before sighing. "Despite that tidbit, I hope they have a long and healthy marriage."

"I hope so too, for her sake."

After their conversation, Abigail and Daniel arrived to the house. His grandmother finished with the preparation of breakfast, by the time they entered the farmhouse. The three adults ate their meals and conversed in the meantime. After the meals were finished and the dishes were cleaned, they prepared for the trip into Porter. Daniel had gone to his bedroom to prepare Sean for the trip. An hour later, Tin, Delia and Abigail was packing items into Tin's SUV. 

"All right Papa, we have to go now," announced Abigail as she sat in the backseat of the vehicle. She did an occasional chuckle as she gazed at her great-nephew, who stood on the other side of the vehicle. She watched Daniel stand in the space that was in between the SUV's back door and the car. His upper body was inside of the car while his lower body remained on the outside. He was hovering over the car seat that rested on the other side of the backseat, the area that was behind the driver seat. "Sean is going to be fine."

Daniel gave his great-aunt Abigail a glimpse and then he resumed inspecting his son. He also continued to inspect the straps that were keeping the car seat in place. He wanted to make sure that the chair will not come loose during the trip. 

"I know," he muttered. "I just want to make sure..." He stared at his son, who was asleep. "That everything is going to be okay." 

"Everything is all right, son. Now, let's us get on the road before the traffic becomes heavy," his grandfather stated as he sat in the driver's seat.

"Okay," stated Daniel. He gave his son a kiss on his forehead. He gazed at his son for a minute. Then he began acting out another inspection. 

"DANIEL," all three of the car's adult-inhabitants said, collectively.

"Okay," he said to them. He backed away from his son. He slipped his massive upper body out of the car and then closed the door as gentle as possible. He stared into the car's window, at his son while he slowly backed away from the car. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 07



Tin, his grandfather stuck his head out of the driver's side door. "I know that this is the first time that you guys have been separated, in a long time. But, you don't have anything to worry about. Now, all you have to do is get some sleep, Danny, all right?"

Daniel nodded his head. "All right, grandpa."

"Get some rest, Danny!" his grandmother suggested from the inside of the SUV. 

"I will, grandma!" 

The vehicle's engine started up. Daniel felt his skin vibrate. He was starting to feel anxious.

Daniel watched his grandfather's 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee drive away and down the long asphalt road. He stared at the automobile as it became smaller and smaller as it drove away. His anxiety increased as he watched the car drive away. He knew that he was experiencing the case of the jitters that all newly-minted parents deal with, when they are separated from their children for the first time. But with his anxiety problems, he felt like he was dying. He placed his left hand against his right pectoral, right above the location of the ache. There was an ache in that area where there was a combination of pressure and burning. The burning sensation was also in the center of his stomach. 

'He will be all right,' his brain kept reminding his body. 

Daniel wanted to stand in that same spot until his family returned. But he knew that if he did do such a thing, then he needed to be committed to a mental institution. Instead of holding a vigil in front of his grandparents' house, he decided to follow his grandfather's advice. He turned towards the farmhouse and gone into the house. He entered the house and locked up the entrances before he headed to his bedroom. Upon entering the bedroom, he took note of the slight mess that he created during his attempt at packing Sean's diaper bag. To keep his mind occupied, he cleaned up the mess and organized the clutter. Once he completed his task, he decided to take the long-awaited and highly-desired slumber that he needed.

The father decided to take his tired ass to bed and take a nap. He stripped out of his clothes and remained in his boxers. He turned the soft, cotton blanket and plaid-printed bed sheet down. He climbed into the bed and covered himself with the bed linen. As soon as the back of his head touched his pillow, Daniel was submerged in the threshold that was in between the conscious and the subconscious. It was also in this area of the slumber process where the mind likes to re-play memories as if it was a featured film in a movie theater.

**********

Daniel glared at his philandering wife for a few seconds longer before he spoke again. "Explain yourself," he grunted while placing the daily planner on his left knee.

Mary Anne sat up in her bed while she stared warily at her husband. She clutched the blanket to her chest as if it was a shield.

"I... You forgave... I... We... The baby... He's yours," stammered Mary Anne as she stared at him.

Daniel eyed his wife while she stuttered in her speech. His right hand clutched the chair's hand rail and clenched tightly. He was sure that his face was passive and he wanted his wife to believe that he was passive. Truthfully, he was enraged. He wanted to destroy every piece of furniture that was inside of this room. He wanted Mary Anne to feel just as much pain and humiliation that he felt.

"... You forgave me!" Mary Anne sobbed.

'I DID NOT!' the beast inside of him screamed. 'SHE IS A LYING BITCH!'

Daniel slowly closed his eyes and grimaced. The ache in his chest was persistent and the pain was intense. He groaned while his right fingers clutched the chair.

"You're implying that I knew about Sean's father already?" he asked with the sense of disbelief evident in his voice's tone. He found Mary Anne's statement to be absurd.

"I prayed to our Jesus Christ and I asked Him to help you to forgive me—

"In order for this forgiveness thing to work, you should've confessed to me that you had cheated on me a long time ago instead of... WAITING UNTIL THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH AND HAVING ME FIND OUT ON MY OWN THAT HE WASN'T MY SON, MARY ANNE!" Daniel didn't have any intention of losing his composure. But, the beast that was his anger kept rattling against its cage, begging for freedom, whenever he had to listen to Mary Anne speak.

He watched Mary Anne flinch and then yelp in fright at the first syllable of his raised voice. She continued to hold her blanket up to her chest as she sat in her bed. Once he finished his statement, he sat back in his seat. Daniel continued to stare at his wife. He surveyed her face to gage her reaction to his words. Right now, she was crying and she occasionally whimpered. Her sapphire eyes were squinting and glassy from the unshed tears that were waiting for their turn to seep down to her cheeks. Her brow line was wrinkled. Her pale cheeks were blushing with a pink undertone. Her pink, plump bottom lip was trembling as she wept. 

Strangely, the question of whether or not Little Sean will cry in the same manner entered his mind. A mental image of the infant flashed in his head afterwards. It was from the moment when Dr. Peterson was held up Sean in the air, after he was born. Daniel felt the merciful side of him was about to make an appearance. He brushed the emotion of pity away.

'He's not your son, damn it, forget about him.'

Daniel let out a huff of air from his lungs before he spoke. "When you found out that you were pregnant, you should've told me right then. But, what did you do instead, Mary Anne? You convinced me to marry you at some cheap, Vegas wedding chapel just so we could fuck and you could pass this baby off as mine..."

Daniel saw his wife flinch in disgust at the usage of profanity.

"...because we all know that there was no way that you were going to have sex with me without us being married. After all, you have to keep on pretending to be the good, church-going girl."

"I'm sorry, Danny!" she sobbed. Mary Anne began to cry heavily. Her shoulders sagged and her small body trembled.

He listened to his wife cry for a moment before he had spoken again. "Who is the guy? Do I know him? Does he attend our church?" asked Daniel.

"You..." Mary Anne stared down at her blanket-covered legs. He saw that she didn't want to discuss this topic with him.

'Well fuck that shit, she is going to talk about this whether she wants to or not,' his conscience told him.

"...might know him, Danny," she reported to him in a soft tone of voice. 

'I might know him, is he a teammate of mine? Does he work for the organization? Who is he?' 

For Daniel, the notion that there was a strong possibility that Mary Anne has had sex with a teammate of his or an employee of the organization bothered him. He knew that incidents such as this one can cause major problems for the Emperors' organization. A sensation of burning ached in the center of his chest and in his gut. The strong abdominal muscles clenched tight in order to brace with the pain. He grunted from the pain. His right hand clutched onto his chiseled, hard abdomen. 

"What's his name?" grunted Daniel as he massaged his stomach's muscles.

Mary Anne stopped crying. She now stared at him. He gazed into her eyes. He knew that she was apprehensive about telling him, which made his anxiety worse. 

"What's his name, Mary Anne?" 

She sighed. "His name is Milo Winters and he—

"UUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

Her statement was cut off by the sound of Daniel groaning loudly.

'Oh shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit...' he silently cursed while shock and disgust coursed through him.

Daniel knew Milo Winters. Milo wasn't a Missouri Emperor teammate. He didn't work for the organization, but he knew a lot of the employees for the company. He had spoken with the man several times, over the years. Based off of Daniel's opinion of the man, Milo was a nice guy. Besides being a 'nice guy', Milo Winters was also the grandson of Peter Olive, one of the owners' of the Missouri Emperors.

Daniel covered his forehead and his eyes with a massive hand while his eyes were downcast. He was quiet for a moment. He was now worried about his career. He believed that his wife's mistakes has fucked with his career. He knew that he had to figure out a way to handle the repercussions of this mess. He knew that it was impossible to sweep this shit under the rug because he knew that this baby was a bi-racial child, ever since Milo Winters was African-American. He knew that he was going to have to get his agent and his publicist involved in this matter. 

"When did this happen?" he inquired, with his hand still covering a portion of his face. He knew that he was going to hear some unbearable things, but he felt that he needed to know.

He heard Mary Anne groan and then make a loud swallow. "You were away at training camp. I was here in Saint Louis. I was alone here and I didn't have any friends or family here to spend that time with me. Milo and I kept in contact with each other. We first met in 1996 at the Olive Christmas party. He was there, remember?" 

"Yeah, I remember," Daniel grunted. 

"He was very nice to me while we were there. We talked about our faith and we talked about other things. We have so much in common. We remained in contact for the past five years. Whenever he is in town, we would have dinner together..."

Daniel removed his hand from off of his face. He glared at his wife. 

"... Eventually, we had become friends. He was very kind to me..." He noticed the fresh tears that dripped down her cheeks. He felt the sadness shoot off of her small body as she sat in her bed. He knew that she wasn't just sad about her act of infidelity. "... He was kind to me. I was lonely. He actually would make the trip out to Saint Louis from California just to see me. I appreciated the effort..."

'She was in love with him,' he silently concluded.

"... I was lonely and you weren't there. You weren't there for me, even when you were in the home. You were so..." Mary Anne sniffled. "You acted different. You behaved differently than how you were, when we were still in college. Back then, you were loving and affectionate towards me. It was as if something happened to you between our senior year and last year that made you changed. Then, I realized what it was..."

Hearing the last statement from Mary Anne made Daniel's stomach muscles clenched while a chill clung to his skin.

"... Last December, when you came home from a road trip, you had forgotten to go through your dirty clothes before you dumped them on the floor in the laundry room..."

Daniel thought back to that particular day. He remembered the day that his wife was speaking about. He tried to remember if he left anything in his suitcase that he would considered to be 'incriminating evidence'. 

"... I found a pair of..." Mary Anne's face drained of color while her features grimaced from the disgust she felt. "...used, women's underwear in the pile. They were a pair of garters..."

'FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK...' his brain continued to scream.

"...and they were soiled with..." Mary Anne proceeded to frantically rub her hands together as if she was trying to rid her hands from the filth that she felt. "...your..." She shook her hands in the air. "...essence on them." 

'Shit,' his mind groaned in embarrassment. 

There was silence between them. The event lasted for a few seconds.

"All right," Daniel murmured as he gently nodded his head. "I did cheat on you," he confessed while glaring at her. "But, it didn't give you the right to lie to me about Sean and claim—

"You hurt me, Danny!" Mary Anne stated while interrupting him. Her voice was now steady and held a sense of contempt. "You hurt me with your drinking, with your acts of neglect..." 

Daniel noticed that the fiery sand sassy side that Mary Anne had inside of her had come to the surface. Her tears stopped. The volume in her voice had increased. Her anger grew and blew off of her.

"...from your gallivanting with your whore," she screamed at him.

Mary Anne unknowingly called Kali a whore and it caused Daniel to glare at his wife with an unabashed hatred. 

She didn't acknowledge his reaction. "You hurt me and you left me alone! Milo..." She nodded her head for a few times. "...he was there for me. He was there for me, when I was alone—

"Save your excuses, Mary Anne," her husband said to him. Daniel sat up in his chair. He wanted to leave the birthing suite. He had heard enough from her.

"Don't you want to know why?" she asked.

"No," was his curt and short response.

Daniel rose from the chair. He grabbed his coat off of the back of the chair.

"Wait a minute, do you want to talk?" Her voice sounded frantic, surprised and confused.

"No."

He slipped his thick, wool pea coat on his big frame. 

"I want to make our marriage work," she told him.

"And I don't," he stated so nonchalantly while he buttoned up his coat. He didn't bother to stare at her as he spoke. "When you leave the hospital, you can live in the house. I won't be there. The lease is up at the end of this year. You—

"Where are you going?" she asked him sounding frantic.

"Somewhere else," was his reply. "My lawyer will contact you in a few days—

"Lawyer, what? Danny, what's going on?" 

Daniel glared at his wife. "I am getting a divorce," he explained.

Daniel groaned in irritation; when he realized that he was awoken from his sleep. The blaring sounds of his cell phone ringing was the reason why he had woken up. His hand sought after the appliance that lied on the bed, next to him. 

"Hello," he grunted into the talk piece. 

"Danny..."

His brown eyes opened with quickness. His level of concern rose. He sat up in his bed. Daniel recognized the voice. It was his Uncle Jack's voice. But Jack sounded as if he was on the verge of crying. 

'Something is wrong...' he thought. There were names of various people that he knew ran through his mind. 'What's wrong?'

"Uncle Jack, what's wrong?" he said into the phone, with his voice displaying urgency. 

There was silence and then there was the sound of crying. Jack was the strongest man that he knew, so to hear Jack crying was frightful. 

"Jack, tell me, what is wrong?" 

There were more sounds of sobbing coming from Jack Logan. With each passing second, Daniel thought of the different people that he loved that could've been harmed. In his mind's eye, the images of his parents, his siblings, some of his extended family members and even Mary Anne flashed through. 

"Kali..." he heard his uncle speak into his phone. There were more sobbing as well as incoherent words. 

The mentioning of Kali caused his body to tremble as fear ran through his body. He started to breathe heavily while his lungs seem to have developed inability to function properly. He licked at his bottom lip, a tic that conveys his nervousness. 

"Uncle Jack, I need for you to calm down and breathe," he instructed to the older man. There were a few loud gasps from Jack. "There you go," he said in a soothing voice, even though he was on the verge of losing it. He listened to his uncle release a series of breaths. 

"It's Kali," was the first words that Jack has spoken that were coherent. His voice still trembled, but he was calmer. 

With his heart pounding and the contents in his stomach rumbling, he asked his uncle, "What's wrong with Kali?"



Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08A



Author's Note:

First, I want to say 'Hello' to every person who is reading my story. 

I also want to apologize for the long-assed waiting that you guys have been experiencing, when it comes to posting new chapters. 

In regards to this chapter, I decided to title this one 'chapter 8A' because I wanted to post something for this story. I originally intended to post a very long chapter, but I have been lacking the motivation to write. I'm sorry, guys. 

********************************* ********************************

Saturday, May 5th, 2001...

Thanks to the daylight's saving time, the sun was still out despite the fact that it was 4:12 in the afternoon. Kali loved the fact that the sun was still on display, when she left work in the evening. With the sun still out, she didn't feel like she worked long hours as if she was a slave. She also loved the fact that as soon as she left the building, her two-day weekend began. 

Kali Richardson entered the asphalt-paved, parking lot, when she spotted a familiar vehicle that was parked in the spot a few feet away from the clinic's entrance. Henry, her assigned chauffeur, stood next to the rear of a burgundy, 2001 Mercedes Benz CLK-Class with the door opened. The driver, the car and the chauffeur services was a 'baby gift' to Kali, from Ryan. He didn't like the fact that Kali had to take public transportation every day while she was in her current state. She was apprehensive about the lavish gift, at first. She didn't want Ryan to believe that she was going to use her current condition as an excuse to spend his wealth. Plus, she had the foolish idea that the chauffeur wouldn't respect her. She thought that he would consider her to be the 'trashy, pregnant girlfriend' of the infamous Ryan Whittler. Luckily for Kali, her initial apprehension turned out to a figment of her imagination. She liked Henry and she made aware that the feeling was mutual. He was kind, out-going and he was friendly. He was always punctual.

"Good evening, Miss Richardson," Henry the driver greeted Kali. 

Kali welcomed the driver with a huge and happy-inspired smile. She strolled up to the driver and the car. "Good evening, Henry," she greeted the driver. 

The driver smiled and then proceeded to help the pregnant woman into the rear of the car. She thanked him for his act of chivalry. He made sure that none of her limbs or clothes was sticking outside of the car before he closed the door. As soon as the door closed, the car's air conditioning greeted her large and heated body with cold air. She let out a loud sigh of relief. The air conditioned car felt so great for her. Ever since the beginning of her fifth month, she felt hot all of the time. She knew that it was one of those disliked symptoms that developed. She let out another sigh. She wanted this work day to end so badly. She was tired and hungry. Plus, she experienced a bad day at work. 

"So, how was your day, Madam?" Henry asked her after he settled into the driver's seat.

"I've had a very, very, very shitty day today, Henry" she giggled. 

"I am sorry to hear that, Madam."

"It's alright, but thank you for your condolences." Kali made a glimpse out of the passenger window, at the passing scenery. Then she stared at the back of Henry's head as he drove the car. "I had a bad day at work today. It seems as if none of my co-workers wanted to do their jobs today. And when they don't do their jobs, I cannot do mine and when that shit happens, my boss becomes angry with me. Today, my boss verbally handed my ass to me because I wasn't able to put in any medical codes for some important accounts today. He accused me of being lazy and unproductive. Then, he accused me of thinking that my pregnancy gives me carte blanche to not do anything while I am at work. It was after that moment, when one of the people who works in medical records entered the office with a cart full of records for me to code. Then, she apologized to me and to my boss for not bringing the information as soon as possible. To add insult to injury, my asshole-boss didn't even apologize to me for his remarks."

"Well, that is typical," commented Henry. "Most bosses do not like to apologize to their underlings. I think it is a rule in the 'How to Act like an Asshole of a Boss Handbook'."

Kali laughed. She stared into the rear view mirror that was mounted on the windshield. Her lilac eyes focused on the driver's reflection. She stared at Henry's face and gazed at his brown eyes. He stared at the rear view mirror and smiled.

The driver and Kali conversed as the journey continued. There were moments when the driver and the passenger were silent and they enjoyed the moments of quietness. They allowed the sounds from the radio to served its purpose and entertain them. It was also during these times when Kali stared out of the window and reflected. 

Kali's thoughts were mostly focused on three things: Ryan, Athena and them as a familial unit. In regards to the ideas about Athena, she wondered about superficial things like which parent was she going to look like, the duration of the contractions, what outfit Athena should wear when she comes home from the hospital and other thoughts. She also thought about Athena's potential upbringing, which led her to think about the familial bond between the three of them. Then there were the thoughts about Athena's father. Her thoughts about Ryan were more about his behavior and personality since he started to attend his therapy sessions. 

A few days after Kali's surprise at his job, Ryan had his first meeting with his psychologist. In regards to the status of this therapist, the only things that she knew were that the doctor was a man and his expertise was lauded by Ryan's butler, Ignatius. On the eve of that day, Kali prayed before she closed her eyes and had gone to sleep. She prayed that Ryan would continue to attend his therapy appointments and strived to meet some sort of mental, as well as, an emotional stability. 

On the day of his first appointment, Ryan was calm and behaved indifferent to the fact that he was going to talk to a psychiatrist. Kali was the person who was nervous and jittery. She hoped that Ryan was going to have an 'okay' visit with his therapist for that day. She attended enough therapy sessions to know that a doctor and his/her patient do not always get along. She knew that if Ryan did not like and respected his psychiatrist, then he was going to drop all of his future appointments and possibly stop his process altogether. If Ryan discontinued his quest for being a better man, then she would break off her relationship with him. She would've made sure that he would never have a role in their daughter's life. She loved Ryan. She knew that she did and she came to accept this fact. She also knew that if she needed to leave him alone, she would. 

'Love...' Kali sighed as she absent-mindedly gazed out of the window at the other moving vehicles on the highway that led them to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. 'I love him. It's funny how I can say this shit to myself, but I haven't been able to open my mouth and say it to him. I should—

"Miss Richardson, are you all right, ma'am?" inquired Henry from the front of the car. 

Kali was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of the driver's voice. She focused on the man. "Mmmm, what is it, Henry? I'm sorry for not paying attention to you. I was deep in my thoughts." 

"Oh," the driver chuckled. "I'm sorry, Madam. I thought that you said something to me."

"Oh," she sighed as she smiled. She had gone back to staring out of the window and then back to her wandering thoughts. 

Since the day that she presented him with the 'early dinner, a dessert with a unique appetizer' at his office, Ryan's relationship with Kali had changed. So far, that change in their relationship had been for the better. The first thing that changed was Ryan's engagement to Suzette. After she informed Ryan that she was the new owner of the DVD, he stared at her in disbelief. She explained some of the details of the day that she received the DVD in the mail. She explained about the discovery of the DVD in a manila envelope and she also explained about the note that accompanied the item. Ryan was interested about the note. He asked her about the details that were mentioned in the note. She told him about the message. Afterwards, Ryan remained silent for a few seconds before he asked her if she still had the note. She became worried. She knew that when he was quiet, he was contemplating and whenever Ryan has the time to contemplate, he could become dangerous. She nodded her head. He asked her if she didn't mind giving him the item. She promised to give Ryan the letter, which she eventually did a few hours later. After their discussion, Kali and Ryan had their dinners. 

It was during their meal time, he had come up with the proposal of Kali staying inside of his mansion during her three-week vacation. Her conscience and her brain advised her to decline his invitation. Her heart and her gut instinct told her to accept. She listened to her heart and her instinct. She told Ryan that she would stay at his house. She watched his lightly-tanned face grow into a shade of pink while his pink lips formed a smile. His green-tinted eyes dazzled with excitement. There was an aura of happiness that seemed to exude off of him. His good mood had affected her mood as well. Emotionally, she felt proud of herself for being able to make Ryan feel happy. Physically, her flesh felt heated and tingly. There was a fluttering sensation inside of her stomach. Her heart pounded against her chest. Despite the topsy-turvy sensations, Kali just smiled at him and continued to chow down on her second pork chop.

During her three-week vacation at the Whittler Manor, her brain kept telling her that she would eventually regret her decision. However, Ryan had proved that hyper-critical and cynic part of her soul wrong throughout. Ryan proved to her that he was changing. One of the first things that he had done, when she arrived, was set her up in her own bedroom suite. She was surprised by the act and she felt a little disappointed. He explained to her that he wanted to show Kali that she meant more to him than just a 'wet hole to fuck'. 

The second thing she had done was observed her unborn daughter's father as if he was a behavioral health, case study. She observed his behavior and demeanor throughout the eighteen days. Based off of her observations, he didn't behave like the manipulative, violent, vindictive and masochistic asshole as before. All through the days that she was living there, Ryan behaved differently. He was attentive. He was sensitive. He was warm and he was kind. He was accepting and more importantly for Kali, he had shown her that he did love her. 

Ryan wasn't the only person to treat her with respect. Ignatius and the housekeeping staff treated her more like a family member than as the 'girlfriend' of their employer. They treated her as if she was a part of their unit. They didn't create false pretenses. 

Kali enjoyed her vacation so much that she continued to "live" with him, even after she returned back to work.

Her thought process was interrupted, when she felt the Mercedes Benz stop moving. She made a glimpse out of the rear passenger window. She saw that the car was parked in front of a familiar, brick mansion. She had gone through a physical transformation. A strong wave of heat drifted down her body while her cheeks emitted a buzzing sensation. Her heartbeats were fast and powerful. There was a strong quivering that ran through her stomach. There was a subtle sense of light-headedness. The last time that she felt like this was when she was a teenager and it was on the nights before Christmas Day. As she observed the mansion, Kali didn't feel frightened. She felt giddy.

Her spirit used to fill up with dread, whenever Santos used to pull the car up along the curb that was in front of Ryan's spacious home. Now, when she did saw the red-brick façade of the house, she felt relief and excitement. Now, her mind was filled with ideas and plans of potential activities that she and Ryan could do. She thought of different recipes for food that she could cook up in the large, restaurant-styled kitchen. She thought of interior designing ideas for the nursery. She especially thought of the fun activities in the master bedroom. She loved to blame her pregnancy-induced, raging hormones as reason for those activities. But as for tonight, all Kali thought about was a few activities: eat, take a bath, persuade Ryan to give her massage, a thorough fuck-session, cuddle while conversing and then falling asleep.

Kali saw Ignatius stand in the doorway as she set foot on the sidewalk. She waved to the older, British man before turning her attention over to Henry. 

"Have a good night, Henry," she stated to the young man. 

Henry gave Kali a smile that dazzled. "Have a good night, Madam."

Kali traveled to the small porch that led to the front door of the large house. Ignatius stood in the threshold. 

"Good evening, Madam Richardson," the butler greeted with a slight bow. He extended his right hand in front of him, a simple gesture requesting for the three bags that she held. The pregnant woman removed the bags' straps from off of her right shoulder and then handed the objects over to Ignatius.

"Good evening, Mister Ignatius," she responded to him. 

Ignatius made three steps into the eastern direction to allow his employer's girlfriend onto the premises. "Come on in, Madam. It is dreadful and blistering and sweltering out there. You shouldn't be standing outside any longer than you should, especially in your current condition. Please come on in."

Kali walked through the threshold and entered the foyer of the house. 

"Earlier today, I had made the mistake of leaving the house because I needed to go to the market for some groceries..."

Kali stopped listening to Ignatius after that point in his monologue. The action was unintentional. She stopped listening to Ignatius because she was distracted. She managed to catch a whiff of food. The fragrance was coming from the kitchen that was at the end of the corridor that was connected to the foyer. She proceeded to sniff the air as if she was a hungry dog that caught a scent. The scent tickled her nostrils, which meant that there were spices used. She managed to decipher that one of the spices as garlic. Since her first trimester, she ate any type of food that had garlic. It was one of her food cravings. Her stomach rumbled as a result of her hunger. The spicy scent that filled up the foyer spoke to her. It told her the meal would taste delicious and she would ask seconds and maybe even thirds. There was a deep rumble inside of her protruding belly. Then, there was a series of heavy fluttering as well. She gave her belly a caress. 

'Apparently, I am not the only one that is hungry,' she silently announced.

She heard Ignatius laugh. She pulled her attention away from the heavenly scent and glanced at Ignatius. The older gentleman had just closed the front door. He started to stroll up to her. "I had a feeling that I was talking to myself..." he said with a smile. He came to a halt and stood in front of her. The older man stared down at the pregnant woman. "Tonight's dinner is going to be a grilled filet mignon, roasted Yukon potatoes with rosemary and grilled mixed vegetables with Balsamic-garlic basting sauce and Italian herbs. For dessert, there will be your favorite: chocolate-mousse pie—

"Ooooh," Kali moaned in delight. Her doe-shaped eyes were wide and her lips formed a well-designed 'o'. 

"I knew that was going to get your attention!" he chuckled.

"At this point, I like anything just as long it is on a plate and it is not moving," Kali explained to him. 

Ignatius laughed once more. "Well, you don't have to worry about having the cow jumping off of your plate. I'm pretty sure that he was dead, when I bought the meat from the butcher."

Kali giggled. "I cannot wait to sit down and eat him. But, I need to freshen up a bit and change out of my clothes first."

Ignatius nodded his head once and he grinned. "Okay, Madam. By the time you will be finished with your errand; your dinner will be ready..." Kali reached for her bags. "... In regards to your bags, I will bring them up to the bedroom. You are not going to carry these heavy bags, Madam..." Ignatius placed the bags' straps on his left shoulder. 

Kali and the butler parted ways; she traveled upstairs while Ignatius returned to the kitchen. She trekked from the first floor of the eleven-bedroom, mansion to the master bedroom. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, she felt like she had just ran eight miles with a twenty-pound weight strapped to her torso. She was sweaty. The muscles in her calves and thighs ached and pulsed, pleading for a moment to relax. Her lower back was sore. Her chest ached and her lungs burned slightly. 

"Uuugggghhh," she groaned. "He should have put an elevator inside of here," she mused. 

'Please don't mention that comment around him,' her conscience warned. 'He just might have one built inside of the mansion.' She giggled.

She made the trip up to Ryan's bedroom to change out of her work attire, which consisted of a pair of khaki, maternity trousers, a light pink tunic and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. She entered the bedroom and traveled a few feet away from the entrance, when she realized something. She came to a halt. Kali surveyed the lavish styled bedroom. She acknowledged that her perception of this bedroom had changed.

'Things are different, but they are still the same,' she concluded. 

She recalled her old opinions about this room. She remembered how she used to hate this bedroom because of the pain that she use to endure in here. 

'But things are different now and that's all that matter...'

Now the activities that occurred in this room have changed. She thought about them as she stood a few feet away from the entryway. There was a shudder of excitement invoked inside of her. Her brain replayed memories of their recent activities in a montage. As a result, her body grew warm with arousal. She felt her already sensitive tits swell further and her nipples emit soreness. Dampness began to form inside of her panties. The organ that was the cause for her wetness was hot and it pulsated. Her panties felt tight and constricting. A lustful idea popped up into her mind and it caused her inner walls to contract and release. She eyed the 'emperor-sized' bed and her pussy's desire intensified. She knew that Ryan would not arrive home any time soon because he had to attend another one of his therapy appointments tonight, after he left work. 

'Your hand doesn't do half of the shit that his dick does, but it'll get the job done,' her mind reasoned.

Her slender fingers grabbed the hem of her pink tunic. She removed the item off of her to show her bare torso. Her shoes, pants and her stockings followed suit. She dropped each discarded item to the floor. She was now clad in her red and black, polka dot bra and g-string panties. Kali trekked over to the large, circular bed and climbed on the incredibly soft bed. She crawled to the center of the mattress. Before she could plant her pregnant body on the mattress, her sense of smell caught Ryan's natural scent. She lied her curvy, thick body on the bed. She moaned in contentment as she buried her nose into the soft blanket. She began to think about her daughter's father.

"Ryan," she moaned as she closed her eyes for a moment. 

She opened her eyes and she focused on the framed picture that was mounted above the giant fireplace. Her pupils expanded in delight as she viewed the black and white photo of Ryan's cock. Her thoughts drifted into sexual territory. Her brain reminisced about the previous night, she was awoken during the wee hours of the morning by having an orgasm. She discovered the cause of her nocturnal emission afterward. She didn't see the top of Ryan's head, thanks to her round belly. But she felt him, in particular, his mouth and his fingers. He managed to coax a few more orgasms out of her before he fucked her with his big cock and then gave her one more. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08A



While she relieved the moments from the previous night, the fingertips on her right hand ran across her wet, thick tongue. Her digits traveled down to her brassiere-adorned, left tit. They slipped underneath the lace fabric and caressed the skin. Her fingertips drew imaginary circles around her nipple. The engorged flesh emitted signals of pleasure throughout her body. Her legs spread further apart and her back arched in result.

"Ooooh, ugh, oh goodness" she moaned as a result of the pleasure that she felt.

Her left hand drifted down the front of her body to her cloth-covered genitalia. Her fingers cupped her sex in a gentle touch. Her fingers grazed her slit. A ripple of pleasure slipped into her pussy. It caused her hips to lift off of the bed and then for her legs to spread wider. She moaned and turned her head to the side. As her hips continued to rise off of the mattress in an erotic, repetitive way off of the bed, her fingers rapidly rubbed at her pussy. The fabric from her panties prevented her from experiencing the pleasure that she craved. She wanted to feel more pleasure. Her fingers brushed the seat of her panties to the side and exposed her slicked cunt. 

"Oh," she gasped in pleasure, from having her exposed sex being subjected to the cold wind that circulated in the bedroom. 

Her left hand proceeded to massage the ache out of her inflamed sex. Her body jerked, twitched and trembled with every lash of pleasure that she received. Her right hand pulled the cups of her maternity bra from off of her tits. Her fingers and their tips massaged pleasurable sensations into her mounds. 

Her eyes watered and then were covered by her eyelids. "Oh Ryan," she moaned into the atmosphere. "Come on baby."

"BOOM!"

The sudden and loud noise startled Kali. She was pulled out of her lust-induced daydream. Even with the added weight to her tall frame, she managed to scramble to her hands and knees. She stared at the bedroom's door while her heart continued to race and adrenaline running through her veins. There were more noises, but this time it was a raised voice. She realized that the loud noises came from one of the floors below the third floor. Kali fixed her bra and her underwear properly. She climbed off of the bed and trekked over to the closed door. Kali pressed her right ear against the solid wood. She listened.

"YOU FUCKING LIED TO ME!"

The voice belonged to Ryan. For Kali, she thought that he sounded like he was enraged. She opened the door and was met with the sound of another person's voice. 

"Ryan..." Kali figured out that the other person was Ignatius, Ryan's butler. Kali noticed that unlike Ryan's voice, the older man chosen to keep his voice low in volume. But Kali heard the sorrow and the regret in this man's voice. "I'd lied to you and I am sorry for doing it. But, I am not sorry that you were able to see him. He—

"HE MEANS NOTHING TO ME! I STOPPED CARING ABOUT HIM ON THE DAY THAT THAT BASTARD LEFT!"

Kali continued to listen to the men argue as she descended the steps in a careful and dawdling manner. She reached the last four steps, when she realized that she was in her bra and panties. 'Oh shit,' her brain stated while she stared down at her bra and then at her belly. She turned around and climbed a few steps to go back to the bedroom. 'I can't—

"Ryan, I had no choice..." Ignatius still spoke to his employer with a calm voice.

Kali stopped moving. She paused to listen to Ryan's butler speak.

"... You wouldn't go and see him, so I decided to butt in. I didn't do it, so I could hurt you. I did it to help you—

"BULLSHIT..."

Kali stood on the eighth stair now and she continued to listen to the verbal fight that occurred on the first level of the mansion. 

"YOU KNOW THAT I DO NOT WANT TO SEE HIM AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM! YOU KNEW THAT HE WORKED THERE!"

"Yes, yes you're right about that one, Ryan" stated Ignatius. She heard the sense of remorse in his voice. "But, I thought—

"YOU'RE A CONNIVING, SON OF..." He stopped speaking. There was a millisecond's worth of silence before she heard Athena's father scoff. "I am..." The volume in his voice lowered. She heard Ryan sigh and she heard his disgust and his sorrow. "I am tired. I am going to bed."

"Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!" Ignatius shouted, a few seconds later.

Kali heard footsteps on the marble staircase that led up to the second floor. She turned around and quickly made her way up the staircase that led to Ryan's bedroom. She was quick and quiet with her actions as she closed the door. She trotted across the room to his bed. She climbed her delicate form on the bed and then lied in the center of the bed. She lied on her left side and faced the bedroom's windows. She closed her eyes. She pretended that she was asleep. Kali knew that pretending to nap was a silly thing to do, but a huge part of her soul did not want Ryan to know that she heard his argument with Ignatius.

She closed her eyes. She listened to every sound that filtered the bedroom. Her ears picked up the sound of her breathing. She listened to the soft noise of the cold, air-conditioned air that poured out of the bedroom's air vents. There were the faint sounds of the outside world: the New York City traffic, strangers' chatter as they strolled past Whittler Manor, the faint sound of sirens from a fire truck and the occasional sound of a dog barking. She was ten seconds in her charade, when she heard Ryan make his presence known. The creaking sound of the doorknob entered the bedroom. She felt adrenaline surged through her veins. The bedroom door opened. She listened to his footsteps as he entered the bedroom. She heard Ryan walk over to the left side of the bed. There was silence. She felt his heated gaze on her prone body. There were goose-bumps on her arms, as a result.

"Kay," she heard him say. She didn't budge or made a noise. "Kay-Ray," he repeated. 

Kali remained silent and motionless. She knew that in order to make her case of pretending to sleep look more authentic, she couldn't answer his call right away. She listened to her boyfriend call her nickname a few more times before she 'woke up'. She let out a moan. She stretched out her limbs and then she yawned. She gingerly rolled onto her back and then she lifted her upper body off of the mattress. She pulled her legs into the 'crossed leg' pose. She gazed at Ryan who stood a few feet away, at the side of the bed. "Hey honey," she greeted him, sounding dreamily.

Kali noticed Ryan showed the effects of his verbal sparring with his butler. There were red splotches covering his handsome, square shaped face. His vivid, emerald hued eyes were alert as they focused on her. She saw the intensity that hid behind those orbs. His nostrils were flaring. She believed that he looked angry, but she didn't felt any of those vibes from him. 

"Hey baby," he responded. "How are you feeling?"

Hearing the word 'baby' from his lips caused a physical reaction to erupt inside of her. There was a stabbing pain in her nipples and her clit pulsated. She discreetly ground her pussy against the mattress to ease the pressure. She eye-fucked him as he stood by the side of the bed. Today, he was wearing a grey-colored shirt, a pair of black slacks and a black vest. There was something about Ryan in business attire that always made Kali hot and bothered. 

"I'm fine," she informed him, the octave in her voice was deeper, a tell-tale sign that she was aroused. Her current state didn't go unnoticed by Ryan. Kali noticed that his green eyes darkened and a smirk appear on his face. 

She leaned back slightly and balanced her upper body's weight with her left arm, wrist and hand. Her right hand caressed the swell of her protruding stomach. "Everything is fine, from my end: I am fine, today was okay..." Her right hand cupped the bottom of her belly. "Aaaannnnndddd..." she pronounced in a silly, long-winded drawl. "Athena has been moving aaaaaalllllll day today," she giggled. 

She watched Ryan's face changed from being intense to jovial within a few seconds. His eyes widened and a toothy smile graced his lips. Then she heard sounds of clatter erupt in the bedroom. She figured out that he had taken off his shoes. He climbed on the bed. He kneeled on the mattress, near the edge. He stripped out of his vest and tie. He tossed the items on the floor. He unbuttoned the first five buttons of his grey shirt and revealed a sliver of tanned flesh. 

"You might as well take the rest of your clothes off, buddy" she suggested. He stared at her with an amused expression on his face. "Once you set foot on this bed, those clothes have to come off."

"Oh really, is that the rule?" he asked with a grin.

Kali nodded her head. "Mmm-hmm," she hummed. "That is the rule. So, I advise you to take the rest of those clothes off."

"If that is the rule..." Ryan stated as he unbuttoned his shirt as he stared at her. "What about you, ma'am?"

"What about me, Ryan?" she stated with a smile and as she watched him.

"You still have your bra and panties on, so you're not obeying the rules," informed Ryan while pulling his shirt from out of his black trousers. 

"Fine, I can take care of that," she said to him. 

Kali sat up straight and she reached the bra's front clasp that was in between her tits. 

"Don't you dare," he warned her with a friendly, admonishing tone of voice. 

She halted her fingers' ministration and then placed each of her hands on a thigh. She turned her attention towards Ryan. Her eyes widened with delight when she saw him drawing his pants and underwear down his muscled thighs. His cock swayed in the air as he fidgeted. She imagined having his appendage plow into her sopping cunt and fucking her hard. Inside of her cavern, there was a dull soreness that pulsated, as a result. She moaned, which caused Ryan to halt in his process of stripping out of his shirt. He threw her a smoldering look that declared to her how much he wanted to fuck her. She heard her boyfriend emit a growl. She moaned again.

"Ryan—

"In a minute, baby" he informed her as he unfastened the cufflink that was on the left sleeve of his shirt. The Geoffrey Beene cufflink, which was keeping the right wrist cuff close, was unfastened next. He tossed both cufflinks on the hardwood floor. 

She watched Ryan slip out of his shirt and throw it on the floor. He gave Kali a glimpse before he changed his stance on the bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress. She eyed Ryan as he bent his upper body over so he could peel his pants, socks and underwear off of his legs. The orange glow that poured from the ceiling's light fixture highlighted the ripples of musculature that was a part of his broad back. Kali's eyes also observed the old and fresh scars that marred the flesh. She knew that her fingernails were the cause of the new ones. She also knew that Ryan's monster-of a-grandfather was responsible for the old ones. The years-old scars were keloid, like the ones that marred her back. As she stared at them, she wished that his grandfather receive his comeuppance for all the pain that he caused Ryan.

Ryan stood up from the bed and he turned around to face her. Her lavender-colored eyes took in his nude form. Her eyes danced with joy as she stared at his defined pectorals, the chiseled external oblique muscles and the rectus abdominis muscles that decorated his torso. As quiet as a mouse, she adored all of the strength that he exuded. She ogled the defined muscles and the rest of his fit build. Kali realized that he indeed had gained more weight. In her opinion, his physique appeared heavier. Then, she thought about Ryan's opinion about his weight gain. For the past two weeks, he had claimed that he gained eleven, "extra and unnecessary" pounds. He declared the cause of his weight gain was a result from eating all of her home-cooked meals.

'But he looks good with the weight on,' she concluded. She glimpsed down at her stomach briefly. 'I wish that I could say the same thing about me.'

Her attention was pulled away from his torso. The thick, meat that was stored in between his legs had garnered her attention. His spectacular, uncircumcised prick was erect and heavy. Her eyes focused on the layer of skin that covered his glans. She loved that part of his cock due to the intense pleasure that it gave Ryan as a result, whenever she played with this area. 

"Do you see something that you like?" he asked with a smirk. 

His statement pulled her focus away from the act of ogling. She tore her eyes away from his cock and balls. She stared at his face and then she noticed the Cheshire grin that were on his lips. Then she took note of the mischievous sparkle that was in his eyes. Just by that stare, Kali knew that Ryan caught her eying his swollen member. She tasted a bit of embarrassment from the fact. Her cheeks tingled and she smiled. 

"Of course baby," she stated as she giggled.

There was another growl from Ryan as he placed his hands on the mattress. His hands traveled further up the mattress and eventually he began to crawl on the bed. His eyes stared at her as he crawled across the spacious piece of furniture. She took note that his movements were confident and loose. Despite being posted in such a vulnerable pose, he still exuded power and control. He reminded Kali of a large beast that was in search of prey.

'Then, I guess that means that I am—

Ryan's lips touched the curve of her stomach and caused Kali's thought disruption. His 'belly kiss' gave off a lasting impression. There was a sense of restriction inside of her throat and it caused Kali a bit of difficulty to breathe. She grew hotter. Her relaxed body trembled as if she exerted herself. She felt her heart swell up with adoration from the knowledge that Ryan was able to love someone else other than his self. She found it adorable that he was able to dote and show affection towards their daughter, despite the fact that she was still in Kali's womb. 

Ryan's lips started a trail of kisses on her torso that traveled from her navel and ended when he kissed her lips. His soft, thick lips caressed hers. She let out a loud groan as her body lost all the stress-related tension. Her fingers slipped into his shoulder-length, ruby locks and her fingernails lightly scratched at his scalp. Her legs slipped out of the folded angle and extended in front of her. She changed her angle on the bed from sitting up to lying down. Ryan followed her movement and he ended up lying next to her. The front of his hard body was pressed against the curves on the left side of her body. He kept his upper body off of the mattress by using the strength in his right forearm. Kali felt his cock nestled in between their bodies. He rocked his lower body against the mattress and her flank. He groaned in pleasure against her lips. 

There was a delicate touch against her collarbone and then on the area of flesh that was above her left tit. The act of grazing caused a ripple of want to erupt in her. Her lower lips did a pulse and her inner walls contracted before releasing. Kali felt his right hand lie flat against her chest and then drift down to the valley that was in between her breasts. His thick fingers slipped into the cleft that was there. His digits gave the sensitive sliver of skin a few seductive sweeps. The sensation caused her nipples to throb in pleasure. As their lips continued to embrace, she felt her bra give leeway and her breasts spill out of the cups. Her sensitive breasts released thrills and pleasure from being exposed to the cool air. She moaned against his lips. His fingers and thumb massaged the thick, heavy mounds. His left hand traveled between the two breasts. He occasionally gave her nipples slight taste of pain, when his fingers would reach up and pinch them. Her lips pulled away from his. The master bedroom was soon filled with her loud moans. Her head, neck and shoulders lost the ability to continue to stay off of the bed. The back of her head landed against the soft mattress. Her eyes opened into thin lines and she glared at the light fixture that was on the ceiling. She felt his face bury into the slope of her neck and then she felt his lips kiss the small patch of skin. He began to nibble on her neck with his teeth and then would soothe the sting by licking at the spot. The heavy amount of pleasure that his mouth and hand was doling out had become too much for Kali. Without experiencing any extreme clitoral or vaginal stimulation, she managed to experience her peak. 

"OOOOOOOHHHHHH FUCK," she screamed into the air as her body thrash against Ryan's dense body. "RYAN, RYAN, RYAN, RYAN, RYAN, RYAN..." she chanted as she came. 

Her orgasm was intense and powerful. Her body trembled. She felt her stomach tensed up. Then, a flurry of quivering. Once she settled down, her ears picked up a loud, grunt of discomfort that rang throughout the bedroom. The left side of her pregnant body had become chilly. She no longer felt his heated, dense body against her. She opened her eyes to see that Ryan had pulled away. She observed her lover. He was lying on his right side, on the bed. His eyes gazed at her. They exchanged glances as they filled the room with silence. 

Ryan was the person who disrupted the peaceful environment. He grabbed her left hand and held it into his right hand. He stared at her hand. "You love using those nails of yours," he grunted before he had broken out in a chuckle. 

She giggled briefly. "I'm sorry," she said to him. 

He gave her fingers a kiss before he placed her hand on the mattress.

Ryan drew his body closer to her. His body was pressed against her again. A thrill of happiness ran through her body and it caused her daughter to shift around in her womb. He brought his lips up to her right earlobe. He sucked on the fleshy tissue for a few seconds.

"Oh," she sighed as her eyes closed.

His lips hovered over her ear canal. She felt his moist breath fan her ear for a second and then he spoke. "Did I tell you how much I love you today?" he whispered. 

"Yeah," she moaned. "You told me this morning before I left for work. Then you called me around ten this morning and you told me then. Then, you called me around noon..." She ended up giggling.

Ryan's face floated over her beautiful face. He stared at her eyes. She felt his fingertips brush a lock of her curly hair from off of her forehead. He gave her a peck afterwards. She smiled and then moaned in response. Then, he gave her a kiss on the tip of her nose. She giggled and her eyes opened. His lips found her soft, fat ones and gave her a kiss. She moaned in delight. His lips gave her left temple a kiss. He drifted down to her mouth and planted a series of passionate kisses. The bedroom's climate had become stuffy and humid. She moaned as her hands grabbed on his hair. She tried to force Ryan to focus his attention on her breasts. She heard Ryan laugh. 

"Patience, patience," he teased her.

"Fuck patience," she moaned. Then she pushed at his head again while he chuckled. His lips and his mouth traveled down to her right tit. The tip of his tongue traced the outline of her areola before his teeth gently bit into the flesh. "Oooh fuck," she moaned. She felt his teeth nip at the curve of her tit. Her mouth formed a whimper after she felt each of his teeth's kiss. His tongue lathered her mound with saliva. She felt his hand squeeze onto her left mound and then fondled. 

"Ryan, I want to fuck now," she moaned into the top of his head. 

"You're really impatient tonight, huh?" he chuckled.

"Yes!" she groaned. In order to persuade her boyfriend to stop his current ministrations, she placed her right hand on his cock and gave the shaft a few pumps. She watched his eyelids close over his green eyes and a groan leave his mouth. 

"Fuck," he grunted. Her hand was still wrapped around his shaft, when he changed his posture on the mattress. She jerked his cock as he rose to his knees. "Mmmm, fuck," he grunted. She gave his prick a few more strokes. Her wrist released aches because of the odd angle that she held it in. The hold that she had on his member loosened. Kali quickly changed her angle on the bed as well. She sat upright again and sat in front of him. Her right hand latched on to his sex and she resumed her actions. "Ugh, fuck... Baby, stroke my cock for me," he groaned. Her eyes focused on his face. His face was pointed up to the ceiling. His eyes were closed and his brow ridge was wrinkled. His mouth was opened slightly. She stared at his face as she listened to his groans and his panting. His cock had become her focal point once again. She stared at the foreskin of his cock. She watched the coral-hued, thick skin reveal the glans and then sheathed the tip. Her brown-skinned hand moved along the pale shaft in a rapid pace. The bedroom's atmosphere was filled up the sound of his moaning. She took note that his hips were thrusting upwards and towards her hand. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08A



"Baby, do you like it?" she spoken in seductive whisper.

"Ggggggggrrrrrrr fuck yeah," he growled. His mouth released more groans. "Fuck, baby..." He began to make pants that were rugged and noisy. Kali glanced at his face. His cheeks intermittently puffed out while his nostrils flared. His eyes were closed. "Fuck, baby stop," he requested.

"You want me to stop?" she asked with a seductive edge in her voice. The speed in her hand's movements decreased.

Ryan let out a shudder. His right hand sought her hand. He squeezed her appendage before he forced her to stop with her intentions. Her hand fell off of his member. A loud groan left his body as his shoulders sagged. "Lie down," he instructed. He opened his eyes and focused on the love of his life. He watched Kali recline on the bed. At first, she rested on her back and then she shifted onto her left side.

"What are you--?"

"We've never tried this position before," she explained.

A smile formed on his lips as he felt his body warm up to the idea of trying this new sexual position. He had gone on to press the front of his warm, chiseled body against the back of her curvy frame. A thrill had run through his body, when he felt how warm and soft her flesh felt against him. He growled out his contentment. His lips touched her right shoulder. He placed another kiss on her right cheek. He heard her moan out her pleasure. Then he felt her lush bottom wiggle against his groin. His hardened cock was wedged in between her thighs as a result. He groaned again, when he felt how slicked her inner thighs felt. Her heated pussy occasionally grazed against his member.

"Baby, give me that beautiful leg of yours" he instructed. Kali complied. His hand clasped onto her right thigh and kept it up in the air. His lips gave her a peck on her right cheek. "Okay baby, put my dick in that pussy of yours" he stated in a seductive whisper. Seconds later, the fleshy shell of nerves that covered the tip of his cock felt her soft fingertips. The tips of her fingernails lightly scratched along the thin layer that was his foreskin. Ryan groaned while his hips slammed against her ass and lower back. "Fuck," he whispered. She grabbed a handful of his meaty prick's shaft and guided his tip into her warmth. Both lovers groaned from the pleasure. His hips surged forward and then his shaft was sheathed.

"Ooooh baby," she groaned. "Oh fuck me, honey!" In the midst of her fog, her right hand reached behind her and took a hold of his right hip. She gave his hip a gentle squeeze as a way of asking her lover to continue. 

Ryan pulled his pelvis away for a few inches. He felt his cock leave her cunt for a few seconds. He felt like he was ejected from Heaven. His mouth formed a hiss. Then, with a hard thrust from his pelvis, his cock was implanted again. 

"Oh fuck..."

"Oooh come on baby..."

Ryan kept a tight grip on her right leg throughout their lovemaking. His thrusts were hard, fast and they lacked depth. In this position, he felt her cunt provide the tightest grip on his cock as he plunged into her warmth. In this position, he wasn't able to tap the spots that he desired. Despite his inability to have his cock buried deep into her gash, he enjoyed the moment. As long as Kali enjoyed their time, he also enjoyed it. 

It was when she was about to experience her climax, when he decided to change their positions on the large bed. Kali's urge to experiment had awakened a similar need inside of Ryan's soul. He wanted to see how long he can withhold her orgasm from her. He knew that he was treading in dangerous waters, but he was in a playful mood. He placed her thick, brown leg down and took a hold of her hips. With his cock still buried inside of her, Ryan shifted their bodies. She rolled onto her knees and elbows while his frame took on the kneeling stance, behind her. His cock sank deeper into her warmth. Both of them moaned at the carnal sensations that they endured. His hips pulled away from her bottom as his fat prick slid out of her. There was a short thrust and he was welcomed again. He proceeded on giving the both of them pleasure. The moment that he felt her pussy's walls clutch him in a sporadic fashion and he heard her frequent moans, he decided to change their sexual position.

"Turn onto your back," he told her after a while. "I want to see your gorgeous face, baby." He heard her groan softly and then the noise of sucked teeth. He smiled and released a snicker. 

With a bit of reluctance, he withdrew his prick from out of her body. He continued to kneel as he watched Kali shift around. She rolled onto her back. She spread her long legs and bent her knees, exposing her pussy. His eyes zoned in on her sex and he groaned. He slipped his body in the space that was formed by her opened legs. He held his upper body over hers by using the strength in his arms. He regarded her and stared down at her heart-shaped face. 

"Hey gorgeous," she heard Ryan say. Her heart made a few hard thumps and she gave him a lazy smile. A second later, she felt his lips grazed her left temple. She moaned as her eyes closed and her hands grasped onto the hard bulges that were his muscled biceps. Then she felt warm lips on her lips. His lips performed kisses that felt innocent but she felt the passion that lurked. There was a series of passionate kisses that led to her feeling hot, impatient and bothered. His lips traveled down to her right breast. His mouth worked over the engorged, fat tit for a moment before his left hand took its place. His mouth moved over to her left breast. His lips gave the scarred skin a series of kisses. 

His act of affection did not go unnoticed by Kali. At that moment, the act made her appreciate her physical beauty and appreciate him. A thick bulge formed in the back of her throat. Her eyes watered as she viewed the sight. She noticed that Ryan was unaware that she was tearing up. She wiped her tears away with the backs of her hands with quickness. She didn't want this time to be ruined due to her vulnerability. 

Ryan's mouth sucked on that fat mound of flesh as his cock rubbed along her dampened slit. A sequence of moans and expletives ran from her mouth during his cock's act of exploration. Also, her lower back pressed against the mattress while her voluptuous hips lifted off of the bed. Her legs wrapped around his narrow hips and the heels of her feet pressed against the backs of his thighs. Her hands grabbed his broad shoulders and her fingernails dug into his skin. She wanted her release. 

He removed his mouth from her body. He pulled away from her breasts and he arranged his body so he could stare directly in her eyes. For a stranger, they would think that Kali's eyes conveyed innocence at that moment. But, Ryan knew the truth. She might looked innocence, but behind those beautiful purple orbs was anger and frustration. He chuckled. "You're really impatient tonight, huh?"

"Yes," she growled through her clenched teeth. She tried to rub her pussy against his groin to illustrate her need for him. She let out a groan that conveyed her frustration, when she didn't achieve her goal. She whimpered, "More".

"You want some more?" he groaned.

"Ah..." she sighed. "Yeah, I want it."

She felt the flesh-covered glans of his cock slap at her slit. Her clitoris released a burst of wonderful sensation in reaction. Her hips twitched while a moan was drawn from her mouth. Her fingernails dug deeper into his shoulders. His hand continued to slap his blunt sex against her slit with rapid strikes. 

"Oooooh fuck," she screamed. "Ryan, if your ass don't fuck me right—

Her statement was cut off by the sound of her scream. She felt his cock split her swollen lips apart as he pushed his member into her fuck-hole. His cock submerged into her gash and stretched her walls with his girth. The bedroom's walls were greeted with the sounds of their moans. 

"Fuck," he growled as he bottomed out. 

Ryan tilted his face towards the ceiling. With his eyelids at half-mast, he glared at the light fixture. In this posture, he reveled in the sensation that his girlfriend's cunt provided. There was an urge to pound away at her sex. His mind played imagined scenarios of his cock repeatedly plunging into her awaiting cavern. A shudder had ripped through his body and left it trembling as a result. He took a deep breath and then gazed down at the woman who was responsible for his pleasure. He lowered his upper body. His lips captured hers for a kiss. 

Kali moaned against his mouth. The kiss made her heart pulsate. A sensation of fluttering erupted inside of her belly. She knew that the movement wasn't caused by her unborn child. She knew that it was something else because the last time she felt that sensation, she was nine years old. It occurred on the day when Ryan Whittler was snatched out of her life by his grandfather and his mother. She felt the feeling, after the nine year-old, red-haired boy told her cousins that she was his girlfriend. She didn't know why she felt that odd movement in her belly, but she liked it. Now, as a grown woman, she knew what it was. It was the sensation of knowing that she was in love.

As soon as Ryan's lips parted from her mouth, she whispered, "I love you" against his lips. Unexpectedly, she was met with silence. She noticed how the environment became motionless and quiet. She grew alarmed. She opened her eyes and focused at the sight that was before her. Ryan still hover above her. He was glowering at her.

"Ryan, are you okay?"

"What did you say to me?" inquired Ryan. 

Kali stared intently at him. She took note that his face held a mask of confusion. His brow ridge was wrinkled. His green eyes were vibrant. She begun to think that he was offended. "I..." Her voice trailed off as she gave Ryan her own expression of confusion. She tried to swallow that large lump in her throat. "I said that I love you, Ryan." He remained silent. She watched his eyes stared at her eyes, then drifted down to her chin. She felt her face lit up with heat as a result. Then she noticed that his eyes were glossy like the coating off of a photograph. She realized, after a few seconds of observation that he was about to tear up. 

'Oh no baby, please don't cry because of me,' she thought.

"Ryan, baby—

Her statement was cut off by Ryan's sudden act of kissing her. She squealed her feeling of being surprise on his lips. His soft lips provided a kiss that was rough and she felt the urgency. His lips planted themselves against the slope of her neck. He gave the sensitive area a few kisses. 

"I love you too, baby" he murmured. He nuzzled his face into her collarbone.

Kali heard the sense of relief and appreciation in his voice. She wondered, 'Did he think that I didn't love him?' Her hands grabbed his neck with a gentle touch. She pushed at the thick column; a request for him to stare at her. "Baby, did you believe that I didn't love you?" as she glared up at the ceiling.

She was greeted with a groan. He sounded embarrassed. "Yes," he answered. She grabbed a hold of the sides of his face. She forced Ryan to stare at her. Once she stared at his handsome face, she saw the emotions of shame and embarrassment on his face. She wistfully smiled at him. 

"Baby," she murmured. "I do love you. You..." she sighed. "You're changing into a better person. You have been treating me better and..." She tried to come up with the right diction to describe her feelings. She gave up her efforts, when she acknowledged that she couldn't come up with the proper words. When it came to telling him how much she loved him, she knew that she had to show Ryan how she felt. She believed that she wanted to spend the rest of her life showing how much she loved him. "You're the man that I love." Her teeth played with her plump, bottom lip for a few seconds before she spoke again. "Baby, I love you. I'm sorry that I cannot describe it to you. It's like describing colors to a blind person."

There was silence between them as they continued to gaze at each other. Then suddenly, a wide smile grew on Ryan's lips. She sensed that her man believed that he was worthy of her love and affection. She knew that she did the right thing by announcing to him that she loved him. He needed to hear it. 

"Tell me again," he requested. 

She laughed. Then she brushed a few of his red locks of hair from his forehead. Her hand cupped his cheek. Without a flinch, she gazed at him. Then she complied with his request. "I love you," she declared. He kissed her in response. Then he made the same request again. She snickered before she repeated, "I love you." Once again, he repeated his request. She giggled and then repeated herself. Then, to be a smart ass, she asked "Would you like for me to say it in French?"

"Yes," he said to her during a chuckle.

"Je t'aime," she stated. 

He grinned. "Say it in Italian."

She snickered again before she answered. "Ti amo."

Ryan gave each of her full cheeks a kiss. "Tell me in Spanish please."

He placed all of his upper body's weight on his left arm, wrist and hand. His right hand clutched on her left thigh. With a little bit of persuasion, Ryan changed both of their positions on the bed. He rolled them around. Now he was the person who laid on the mattress. She straddled his hips and sat on the tops of his thighs. Her clit was pressed against his pelvis. His large hands grasped her round hips. In this angle, she felt his cock nestled more into her body. His large prick felt thicker and longer. The tip of his member felt like it was butting up against her cervix. 

"Oh," she moaned from pleasure. She shifted her hips. The movement caused a bomb of thrills to explode in her cunt. Her interior walls clenched onto his shaft. Both of the lovers groaned. 

"Tell me in Spanish," he groaned with a raspy voice.

"Te amo," she whimpered.

Kali lifted her ass off of his legs. She felt his cock's shaft slide out of her pussy. Then she extracted the entire shaft but managed to keep the glans stored. She slowly plunged his engorged member back inside of her. A shiver ran down her spine as she was subjected to the pleasure. 

"Come on baby," he groaned. His hips rose up from the mattress and pushed his cock further into her warmth. "Come on and show me how much you love me."

She placed her hands on his chest while she leaned her upper body slightly. She applied her weight on her calves and knees as they pressed against the mattress. Once again, she lifted her ass up to withdraw his prick from her hole and then she sank back down. Her pussy ground against his pelvis, once he was submerged, balls deep inside. 

"Uuugggghhh," he groaned loudly. His hands gripped her hips tighter. His lower lifted off of the mattress while his upper body and his head rested on the bed. His eyes were closed while his mouth kept intermittently opening and closing. His knees bent and the tops of his thighs brushed against her bare back. 

Kali glared at her boyfriend, the man that she was in love with. "I am going to show you, baby," she moaned. "I hope that you're ready."

  *****************

"...The look in your eyes

Has found me

I am sending

Sending my love to you

Praying that you are home

Sealing it with a kiss..."

'Okay, what-in the-hell is taking him so long to bring his ass in here?' she wondered.

Kali stopped singing along with the music that played from the bedroom. She glanced at the bathroom's door. "BABE!" she screamed at the object. She hoped Ryan heard her. 

"I'll be there in a minute, honey!" she heard a second later. "I'm just..." He paused. "I'll be in there in a minute! Just..." He paused again. "Just continue to soak in that tub and relax!" Then she heard the sounds of objects falling to the floor, from the bedroom. "Ouch, damn it," she heard a millisecond later. A few seconds later, there was an "I'm okay!" 

She chuckled and shook her head. Then she sighed and leaned against the back of the tub. Her curvy, brown body was covered with the hot and sudsy water. Her hands rested on her swollen stomach. A few seconds later, she felt movement. There was a spike of happiness that burst in her soul. She gazed down at her stomach.

"Hey," she chuckled. There was more fluttering. "I thought that you were done for the day, young lady." Athena poked Kali's side. "I guess not," she chuckled. "Your daddy is supposed to be taking a bath with me right now." There was an abrupt loud crashing noise that erupted in the bedroom. She jolted in fright and she sat up in the tub. She stared at the closed bathroom door. 

"Everything is all right!" she heard a few seconds later.

'Oh goodness,' her brain groaned. Kali chuckled. She leaned back against the tub. With a loud sigh, she relaxed again. Her eyes drifted their focus down to her belly. 

"I can't wait to hold you in my arms, baby girl..." 

All of a sudden, a strange sensation ran through her body. It was a feeling of relief. She felt a large amount of tension disappear from her shoulders and her chest. It was the type of tension that she didn't know that she held onto. A knot of pressure that was in her lower stomach drifted down to her pelvis, where it lingered for a few seconds and then it disappeared.

'What the hell was that? I hope....' her brain murmured before trailing off. Then she realized why she felt the sensations. 'Oh my God.'

It was the feeling of relief; it was the sensation of spiritual resolution. It was the reaction that she longed for since she was a child. It was the feeling that told her that everything was going to be all right. She didn't need to stress all of the time. She didn't need to worry about someone harming her because everything was going to be all right. She could relax. She could finally live instead of surviving. A lump formed in her throat while her eyeballs stung with tears. Her heart raced and her skin tingled from the anticipation that she felt. She glimpsed down at her stomach and blinked her eyes. Her cheeks were wet with tears. She sniffed and then giggled. 

"Everything is going to be all right," she said softly. She nodded her head as she allowed that affirmation sank into her awareness. "Everything is going to be okay." She lovingly rubbed her stomach. "Everything is going to be okay." 

Ryan entered the bathroom, twelve minutes later. He entered the room while he sucked on the index finger that was on his left hand. She gave him a quizzical expression.

"Are you okay, baby?" she asked. "You were..." She paused when she saw Ryan step into the bathtub. She moved out of his way. He ended up taking her original spot in the copper, free-standing tub. She slipped her big frame in between his long legs. She kneeled and faced her boyfriend. Her left hand grabbed the damp washcloth-covered and the bar of soap that rested the edge of the bathtub. She dunked the two items into the bath water. "You were making a lot of noise in there."

"I'm all right," informed Ryan. "I was searching for something."

"Oh," she whimpered. "Okay." She cleaned his torso with the sudsy washcloth. "I was hoping that you didn't hurt yourself while you were doing whatever it was that you were doing." 

A case of a comfortable silence had fallen between them as she proceeded to wash him. She lathered his left arm with soap and water. She dunked the washcloth and the soap into the water. Once she rinsed out the soap from the washcloth, she rinsed off his left arm. She proceeded to lather up the washcloth again. "Give me your other arm," she softly instructed. He extended his right arm out in front of him. She held his hand and guided it to her left shoulder. He kept his hand there. She applied a layer of soapy lather on his long, powerful limb. 

'Look at you,' her conscience teased. 'You're taking care of your baby. Well, you're taking care of your bigger baby.' Her cheeks tingled as she blushed from the mild tease. She tore her focus away from his arm and she stared at Ryan. She discovered that he was gazing at her. There was an intense energy behind those orbs. It was too intense for her and she grew intimidated. She gazed down at the bathwater. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08B



Author's Note: Hello again! 

This is the second half of Chapter Eight. 

I am going to put this story on hold for a while. I want to complete both "Skin To Skin" and "Choosing Your Battles" first (ever since both tales are going to short stories) before I'll start up with this story again. 

In regards to my health, I am getting better. My migraines have disappeared and my fatigue is...wavering. But, I am optimistic about my health.

Without further ado...

****

Saturday, June 16th, 2001

"Kali, honey?"

Kali was pulled from her trip down 'memory lane' by the sound of another person's voice. She was in the process of thinking about the night that Ryan propose, when she heard the familiar voice. Once she were fully aware, she realized where she was standing and what she was doing before she began to daydream. She stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling length mirror. She was in the process of slipping on her wedding gown. She still held the top half of her dress close to her bosom. 

"Kali, honey, are you feeling alright?" 

Kali turned away from the mirror and she turned her attention to the dressing chamber's entryway. Her eyes focused on the vision of feminine beauty that stood in the threshold. Kali noticed that her grandma didn't wear something that was the stereotypical-"Mother of the Bride"- attire: the embellished jacket with the matching skirt and the ornate hat. As her eyes took in the elegant and regal-looking beauty, she understood why Jack chose to be with her. 

Maryland "Mare" Richardson stood in the doorway. For this day, she wore a floor-length, Grecian-inspired chiffon dress. The soft material embraced her voluptuous, 36-25-43 inched figure while the ornate sash that was tied around her narrow waist made her waist appear even smaller. The dress' mauve color complimented her sienna-hued skin tone. The dress' low collar and the thigh-level split showcased some of Kali's grandmother sex appeal. A pair of yellow gold, Indian earrings graced her earlobes while her long neck was adorned with a clunky, yellow-gold necklace. There were gold bangles on left wrist. Kali was surprised to see her grandmother dressed in such manner. Under normal circumstances, Mare wore jeans and baggy sweatshirts along with a pair of Keds sneakers. For today, Kali thought her grandmother looked like a queen. 

If Mare was a queen, then her black, waist-length dreadlocks was her crown. Her dreads were styled in a fancy up-do that made her oval-shaped face and long neck appeared even more sophisticated. Her makeup was minimal: her wide-set, prominent eyes were lined with black eyeliner and mascara, her wide and plump lips were decorated with lip gloss. Her cheeks were coated with a thin layer of blush. 

Kali's grandmother stood in the doorway of the dressing room with a dark green shawl in her hands. She took note of her grandmother's demeanor. Mare's hands fiddling with the shawl while her dark brown eyes darted around the dressing room. The younger woman sensed that the older woman was remorseful. She knew why her grandmother felt this way and she knew that she was the cause of it. She felt guilty. 

"Hi Mama," she greeted her grandmother.

"Hello baby," Mare returned her greeting. The woman had entered the large and lavish closet just by taking a few steps. Kali noticed that Mare's left thigh was revealed whenever she took a step.

'Oh my...' thought Kali as gazed at her grandmother's 'peek-a-boo' thigh. 'Yeah, Jack and my grandmother are definitely doing it.'

"Do you need help with your dress, honey?" Mare inquired. Kali saw the pleading expression in her grandmother's eyes. She knew that her grandmother wanted to be in her company. 

"Yes, I need your help," Kali explained. "I have a zipper that is in the back—

"Oh, sure honey, I can help you with that one!" 

Kali heard the relief and the joy in her grandmother's voice. She left out a deep breath as she felt tension seep out of her shoulders. She turned around and had her back faced towards her grandmother. She gazed into the mirror. A few seconds later, her grandmother's reflection joined hers. The older woman stood behind Kali's slightly taller form. Kali stared at Mama's reflection. She felt her grandmother's fingers touch and gently pull on the fabric. Then, she felt the dress go from being slacked to fitting her curvy body. She turned her head to the left and glanced at Mare from over her shoulder. She thanked her grandmother. Kali then stared down at wedding gown. 

Kali thought that her wedding gown was gorgeous. The floor-length, soft matte satin dress was the color of ivory. Her fingers ran down the A-line skirt portion of the gown and she enjoyed the way the material felt against her hands. Her fingers ran across the beaded work that covered the spaghetti straps of the dress. Her fingertips traced the intricate details that decorated the waistline of the dress. The dress did a wonderful job flattering her pregnancy. Kali enjoyed staring at the sight that was presented before her. She knew that she looked beautiful. 

"You look beautiful baby," Kali heard her grandmother say.

The younger woman turned around and gazed at Mare. "Thank you, Mama. You look beautiful today too."

Mare smiled. "Thank you."

There was a silence between the two of them. Both of them felt awkward. Each woman tried to deal with the weirdness by focusing on their clothes. Mare picked imaginary lint off of her dress while Kali pretended to straighten out the strands of beads that covered the dress' straps. After a moment, Kali, then, walked away from the ceiling-to floor length mirror and made her way over to the island counter. Her head was bowed just a little and she played with her fingers. There was a source of humility that bloomed inside of her.

"Um..." she hummed. Kali glanced at her grandmother. "Mama, I want to say something to you..."

She pressed her lower back against the edge of the counter. She continued to stare at the older woman. Her fingers continued to move erratically for a few more seconds.

"... I want to apologize to you. I—

Mare shot out her right hand in front of her to let her granddaughter know that she should stop speaking. She held her hand out for a few seconds before she returned it back to her side. "Please don't apologize, baby. I wasn't mad at you for saying—

"But I was disrespectful towards you and I was wrong—

"But I didn't take what you said to heart though. I just chalked it up as you being upset about seeing me with Jack. And you were absolutely correct, in regards to being angry at me. I deserved it. If I was in your shoes, I would've been angry too. I would've been mad if I had seen my grandmother with a man that was not my grandfather," Mare explained.

There was a significant time of silence between the two women. Kali was the first person to talk. "From what I've seen on that day, Jack makes you very happy. He is a great guy—

"He is a great guy," Mare pointed out.

"And I know Pop-Pop wouldn't have wanted you to live out the rest of your life alone. He would've wanted you to move on—

Mare nodded her head. "Yes, he would've wanted me to continue to live my life in the best way that I could."

There was more silence. Kali pushed her pregnant frame from off of the countertop. She made a glimpse at her grandmother. "I will admit though..." She frowned up her face. "...it is icky and weird knowing that you and Jack are bumping uglies like a bunch of horny teenagers." Kali shuddered. 

Mare laughed at her granddaughter's antics. "And how do you think I felt, when I had to listen to you and Ryan for the past two days?"

Kali felt a strong blush creep into her face. Her eyes widened and her jaw had gone slacked. 

"And I know that he had snuck in here last night, even though he wasn't supposed to see the bride!" stated Mare with a toothy smile.

Kali covered her face with her hands. "Oh my God," she said with a muffled voice. "I knew that we were too loud!"

Mare let out a hearty guffaw that echoed in the opulent closet. She walked over to Kali and placed her right arm around her granddaughter's shoulders. "There is nothing to be ashamed of! It is perfectly natural. Besides, it is quite obvious that you're sexually active." Then Mare stared at protruded surface that was Kali's tummy.

"I know," groaned Kali. "But it is still embarrassing," stated Kali. Her hands still covered her mouth. Her voice was still muffled. Mare laughed, in response.

The jovial moment came to an end when the wedding planner and a photographer entered the room. 

Melanie Matters, the person that Ryan hired to plan the wedding, was a gorgeous and vivacious woman. Even though Kali and Ryan saw the professional side of this woman throughout the planning process, the mother-to-be had an instinct that this woman was a firecracker. When Melanie entered the closet, Kali surveyed the wedding planner's attire and she concluded that she was correct with her assumption. Melanie, like Mare, chose not to wear conservative style of clothing. The petite-statured woman wore a crème top that was off of her shoulders and form-fitting. She wore a tan, leather belt that was wide and thick. The belt reminded Kali of the corsets that Ryan liked to wear from time to time. An A-line, brown skirt covered her fit legs and a pair of tan, patent leather high heels graced her feet. Her blond hair was styled in a messy, French roll.

"Good afternoon, ladies!" the woman greeted cheerfully. She held onto a clipboard and there was a hearing device in her right ear. Both Richardson women thought that the wedding planner's energy was enthusiastic. She stared at the each of them. "Both of you look absolutely beautiful!"

"Thank you," Kali and Mare collectively said to the smaller woman. 

"You're welcome! Okay, ladies," she announced with a clap. "Joel, here..." The wedding planner used her right index finger to point to the man that stood a few feet behind her. 

Mare and Kali glanced behind Melanie to take a glimpse at the man who was standing behind the petite woman. 

"... He is the photographer for the wedding. He will be taking pictures of you, Kali. His photos are candid shots, so you won't have to pose and all that. Plus, you don't have to hide from him today." There was an American Southern dialect littered in her tone of voice. 

Kali and Mare laughed.

"We also have two videographers and another photographer on the premises. Also you don't have to worry about any paparazzi infiltrating the property. I know that Mr. Whittler was very concern about that happening. There are eleven security guards on the premises and they are here to make sure that none of this is leaked to the press. Also, I have three assistants who will be standing by every entrance with a list of the guests' names," Melanie informed the bride.

Purple eyes widened while their owner listened to the wedding planner. Kali was surprised to hear the news that there was a chance that paparazzi would crash their wedding ceremony, in order to take pictures. She wondered what type of individuals would be interested in her wedding. She was aware that Ryan was considered to be famous amongst the New York City socialite scene and in some of the social scenes in foreign places like London, England. Despite that bit of knowledge, she assumed that no one would care about their wedding ceremony.

It was only a few months ago, when Ryan's name was no longer implanted in American gossip rags, society section of magazines, newspapers' gossip sections and other publications. When his name was mentioned, he was always portrayed as being a 'bad boy-pompous-arrogant-party boy' that was the grandson of a billionaire, real estate mogul. On some occasions, there were pictures of Ryan as he exited different nightclubs and the homes of other rich people, as well as, a few of Hollywood's popular figures. It wasn't until a few months ago, around the time he reconciled with Kali, when his name was no longer mentioned. 

When news broke that he was engaged to a woman that wasn't rich or famous, his popularity sky-rocketed again. According to several news pundits, he had behaved 'too much like a rock star' to even settle down. Ryan received word from one of his acquaintances that worked at a New York City-based newspaper that a picture of his fiancée was highly desired and editors were willing to pay a lot of money to any photographer, in exchange for one photo. To avoid Kali from being harassed, Ryan hired the guards to keep the photographers from being a nuisance. 

"Don't worry, sweetheart about any of your wedding pictures being shown in the papers. When it comes to the guards, we have the best of the best," Melanie reported.

Kali felt relieved. She gave the wedding planner a smile. A hand touched her right arm and she glanced at Mare, who stood beside her. "Everything is going to be fine, honey," her grandmother stated. Kali nodded her head. She believed in what her grandmother said.

"The ceremony is going to begin in thirty minutes. Right now, your guests are downstairs and they are enjoying beverages and chatting. Also, a..." Melanie developed an expression of bewilderment on her face. "...card game is going on right now at a table full of older gentlemen."

Mare and her granddaughter laughed due to an apparent private joke. Melanie continued to stare at the two women with confusion. Her reaction made the moment feel funnier to both Mare and Kali. Mare didn't want to appear ruder towards the other younger woman, so she explained. "It is well-known in our family that playing cards is a staple for every family function. If you were to ask some of our family members, they will tell you that it is mandatory. In our family, there is a joke that states that you can recognize a Richardson anywhere because if we are invited to a function where there's food and liquor, it is guaranteed that a card game will start up." 

The wedding planner nodded her head. "Oh," she sighed. 

Both Mare and Kali knew that the woman did not sense the humor in the situation. 

"Okay ladies, the wedding ceremony is going to begin in twenty-eight minutes..." As Melanie talked to Kali and Mare, Joel the photographer was snapping photos with his camera. Every once in a while, the three women heard the sounds of the camera's flash popping. The flash lit up the closet. "...My assistants and I have to move the guests into the courtyard and then I have to wrangle up your Uncle Davis. I would say, in about fifteen minutes, you can come downstairs, okay? Miss Richardson, do you have any questions for me?" inquired Melanie.

"Yes, I do" answered Kali. "How's Ryan doing?"

Melanie smiled and then her face emitted a glow. She turned her attention away from the bride and her grandmother. Kali watched the woman stared down at her clipboard. A few seconds, she produced a rectangle-shaped, velvet jewelry box that was navy blue in color. On top of the box, there was a folded up paper. She handed both items to Kali.

Kali accepted the jewelry box with trembling hands. Her heart pounded against her chest while adrenaline rushed through her body. She felt honored. She knew that there had to be jewelry inside of that box, from her soon-to be-husband. She wasn't expecting anything from Ryan, except for a wedding band and to hear the words 'I do' come from his mouth. Whatever the item was, Kali deeply appreciated the object already.

"Mister Whittler is doing alright. He wanted me to give you this. He instructed me to tell you to read the note first," Melanie informed her.

"Do you want me to hold the box, baby?" Mare asked her granddaughter. Kali nodded her head and then passed the velvet-lined box to her grandmother. Then, she unfolded the paper and proceeded to read the note.

"I wanted to let you know three things. The first thing is, I love you, baby. The second thing: I wanted you to have something that was blue. And the final thing is: Every night, before I go to sleep, I thank God that I was not able to go on that trip to the Smithsonian, back in '81. I'll see you later, Mrs. Whittler."

"Oh," she gasped as she read the note again. Her right hand reached up to the side of her head. Her fingers clasped on her earlobe and she squeezed the flesh. 

She thought back to the day that she met Ryan. They were both assigned to a day of study hall because they couldn't go on the school's field trip to Washington D.C., to visit the Smithsonian Museum. She couldn't go on the trip because her grandparents was notified about the trip too late and they weren't able to gather up the funds. She remembered Ryan's reasoning for being at school on that day. Ryan couldn't go because his mother didn't bother to read his permission slip. She remembered their first interaction. After going through a bit of nostalgia, she felt tears forming.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Mare asked, concerned for granddaughter's well-being. Mare noticed that the sclera of Kali's eyes were pink, as well as, there was a glossy coating over her eyes. "Oh no honey, please do not cry! You'll ruin your makeup! What does the note say?"

Kali couldn't speak at all. She passed the note to the older woman. Kali walked away from her grandmother and Melanie. She walked over to her section of the closet. She traveled over to the chest of drawers that she used to store her lingerie and underwear. She opened the third drawer. 

"Oh," she heard her grandmother gasped. "Oh, that sweet boy! I love him..." Her grandmother's voice trailed off and Mare was then heard sniffling. 

"Oh my goodness, both of you are going to make me cry," Melanie the wedding planner stated. 

Kali silently cried as she searched through the drawer until she found the item that she wanted. The item was the gift that she wanted to give to Ryan. It was wrapped in white lace. The lace used to be a part of a favorite dress that she owned, when she was a child. She planned on giving the gift to him on their wedding night, when he was her husband. But she scrapped that idea after she received her gift. The present was a framed sonogram picture. It was the second framed sonogram picture that she had given him. The first picture was a gift that she gave him almost two months prior. She gave him that picture because she thought he needed some inspiration to continue in his efforts to change. This second picture was more of a surprise for him. She also provided a note to go along with the item. She closed the drawer. She walked back over to where her grandmother and the wedding planner stood.

"Oooh, please do not cry, Miss Richardson! You'll ruin your makeup!" Melanie suggested. The wedding planner produced a blue floral-printed handkerchief from underneath her shirt. She walked over to Kali and dabbed at her cheeks. She gently wiped away the tears that were smeared on her face. "There you go, ma'am. Now, your makeup is perfect again." Melanie stared at Kali's face. "There..." she murmured before she nodded her head once. "Now, you can open your gift."

Kali had totally forgotten about the gift. She considered the note to be her present rather than the piece of jewelry. She turned to her grandmother. Mare passed the jewelry box to her. Melanie traveled over to where Kali stood. It was obvious that she wanted to see what Ryan had given her. The bride noticed and she giggled. Kali opened the box. She peered into the velvet box and gazed at the content. Her lavender eyes bulged from awe and disbelief. 

"Oh my God, it's so..." Melanie gasped, her level of awe was evident. "He has good taste!"

"Well," Mare chuckled. She glanced at her granddaughter. "You shouldn't be surprise, after all, that diamond in your engagement ring is the size of a crater!" Then she let out a hearty chuckle. 

"Yeah..." Kali gasped. "But Ryan has a way of surprising me," she said to the both of them while she ogled at the lavish, sapphire and diamond encrusted bracelet. 




Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08B



"Those sapphires have to be, at least, two carats" Melanie pointed out. 

"I guess he wanted the sapphires to match the engagement ring," Kali assumed.

"How many carats is the diamond in your ring?" the wedding planner asked.

"Two and a half carats," she answered.

"Ah, close enough," Melanie mumbled. 

The three women giggled. 

"Do you want to put the bracelet on?" her grandmother asked. 

Kali nodded her head. She passed the velvet box to her grandmother. Mare passed the note to Kali, who folded the paper and then tucked the item into her cleavage. She held up her left hand for her grandmother to apply the bracelet. The older woman took the jewelry out of the box. She placed the bracelet on the wrist and fastened the clasp. 

"Now, I think the bracelet is beautiful," stated Mare with a broad smile. 

As she stared down at the expensive gift, Kali remembered her gift for Ryan. "Oh," she gasped. She turned to Melanie. "Melanie, can you please give this gift to Ryan?" Then she held up the lace-covered picture frame. 

"Yes ma'am," Melanie said to her with a nod of her head and a smile on her lips. 

Melanie traveled over to the dressing chamber's exit. She stopped walking when she reached the threshold. She turned to face the two Richardson women. Kali noticed a small smile on the woman's face. It was a small smile that was normally used to mask sadness. But the most beguiling feature on the woman's face was her eyes. Her narrowed, evenly-spaced, hazel eyes held a source of familiarity, according to Kali. 

"Kali?" the wedding planner spoken.

"Yes, Melanie?"

"I just wanted to say that my baby brother is a lucky man." Then Melanie gave a broad smile to the two women and held it for four seconds before she exited the closet. 

Mare and Kali was deeply rooted in the spots that they were standing in. They were both shocked from the recent discovery that Melanie was Ryan's older sister. After a minute had passed, Mare turned her attention away from the empty doorway and to her granddaughter. "Ryan has a sister? I thought he only had brothers."

Kali slowly nodded her head. "Yeah, he has a sister. He used to talk about her all of the time, when we were kids. She is his half-sister; they have the same mother. I know that she was living with her dad, but I don't know anything else." She slowly shook her head in hopes of getting the mental cobwebs out. "Oh my God, that was a pleasant surprise."

"Yeah..." Mare laughed. "It was a surprise."

*****

A few days after Ryan proposed, he hired Melanie Matters to plan their wedding. Kali didn't know what to look for when it came to hiring a wedding planner, so she left that responsibility to her fiancée. She didn't care about the process of planning for the wedding ceremony. All she wanted was the marriage. 

In regards to the location of the wedding ceremony, they decided to have the ceremony and the reception inside of Whittler Manor. Both Ryan and Kali were not religious and they didn't belong to any religious denomination, so they didn't want to have the recitation of the vows being spoken by a priest in a church. Ironically, they thought two non-religious individuals getting married in a church was sacrilegious. 

Despite having a short deadline to create a gorgeous setting for their wedding, Melanie managed to make the best out of the situation. The wedding's endless budget, which was supplied by Ryan Whittler also helped the planner to achieve her objective. Due to Ryan and Kali's meager input when it came to planning the wedding, Melanie chose every decoration for their ceremony. She searched out and hired everyone from the caterers down to the printing company that made the invitations. 

When it came to the ceremony's theme, she called it "Romance and Passion". She chose to design the wedding ceremony's venue with items that conveyed romance. The venue, which was the courtyard that was built in the center of the property, was decorated with candelabras, wreaths and garlands of flowers and cherry blossom trees. She also made sure that every corridor that was inside of the house was decorated in the same manner. Each doorway, staircase rail and archway was decorated with a botanical garland that was made with gardenias, multi-colored angelonias, and pink begonias and rose balsam, along with ivy vines. Within each corridor that was accessible to their guests, six-foot tall candelabras were lined up against the walls. There were candelabras used in the courtyard as well. They decorated the aisle that Kali will walked down and there were a pair of them posted up against each doorway. There were lines of adolescent-aged cherry blossom trees served as guard rails that surrounded the seating arrangement in the courtyard. 

Kali believed that Melanie was an experienced, wedding planner so she wasn't worried about the plans going awry. She was more focused on Ryan and their impending marriage. So on their wedding day, when she entered the first level of the Whittler Manor, she saw everything for the first time. Her mind had gone blank while her eyes bulged and her mouth was agape. She tried to observe everything as her feet carried her down the marble steps. 

'Oh my...' her brain muttered as the rest of her body surveyed the decorative foyer. Kali stood in the center of the area and spun in a circle, in order to view everything. 

"Melanie has outdone herself with everything, hasn't she?" Mare commented. "When I arrived this morning, I was so excited that I actually tear up!"

"Yeah," sighed Kali as she viewed the garlands while she slowly spun around, "yeah, she did do a great job."

A silence had fallen between the two women. Kali continued to survey the foyer while Mare viewed her. The older woman gazed at the young, expecting woman with awe. She stood on the first step of the staircase and just stared at her granddaughter.

'We did it, baby. We were able to do it,' she said to herself and to her late husband, Geoffrey. Her dark brown eyes pulled away from Kali and stared at the ceiling. She thought about her late husband. She was sure that he was proud. Then a mental image of her son's face flashed in her head. She was positive that her son was proud as well. Mare glared at her granddaughter and her mind began to reminisce. 

When Maryland Richardson and her husband was about to transitioned into their "golden years", they received a surprise, on one memorable day. The married couple of twenty years learned that they were grandparents of a four year-old girl, thanks to a phone call from a social worker from a New York City social services agency. The social worker informed Mare and her husband, via speakerphone, that Kali's medical records labeled their deceased son Augustus as her father. Then the man from the agency gave the grandparents a little bit of information about the child. During the conversation, Mare listened to the man's voice and took note of the anxiety that was lined in the tone. Her gut instinct told her that something terrible had happened to that child. Unbeknownst to Mare, her granddaughter was the same child that was spoken about by every news outlet that was stationed in New York City.

Mare thought about all of the things that the "professional experts" had said about Kali, when she was a child. She remembered every prognosis and diagnosis that the hired mental health professionals had told her, as well as, her husband. They told Geoffrey and Mare that Kali was too damaged from all of the abuse that she suffered. She was going to remain in an unhealthy state. She was going to grow up and turn out to be a 'mentally damaged' woman who would be a danger to herself and to others. She recalled the time when one prestigious psychiatrist had told the grandparents that she was 'a feral child who needed to reside in a mental health institution'. Once she heard the word 'feral' slipped out of that doctor's mouth, a ball of anger formed inside of her chest. As the anger lingered, there was a burning and achiness inside of her chest.

She believed that her granddaughter deserved a chance to be helped. For the first three years that took place after Kali was rescued, she resided in the children's ward of a mental health institution that was located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. For every day, for three years, Mare would make a three-and a-half hour trip to the hospital, in her 1970 Cadillac DeVille. For every day, out of those three years, Mare made that long trip only to spend a few hours with her granddaughter. For one thousand and ninety-five days, Mare gave it her all in regards to showing her granddaughter that there was more brightness in this world than there were dark clouds. 

During those visits, the grandmother participated in doctor-approved, behavioral-mental health exercises with Kali. The treating psychiatrists thought that the exercises would help Kali establish trust with her grandmother. At the beginning, it was rough for Mare, for both her body and for her spirit. There were incidents where Kali physically attacked her grandmother, as well as her appointed psychiatrist and the staff. Mare would return home on those nights with scratches, bruises and the occasional black eyes. There were times when she would return home and she felt spiritually worn out. They were the times when the older woman's heart would entertain the garbage that was generated by the pessimistic side of her brain. There were thoughts that her granddaughter would never become healthy. She would eventually grow older and live in mental institutions for the rest of her life. For Mare, those times were the roughest. She knew that she could cure a bruise or a cut with some salve and tender loving care. She knew that she couldn't do that with a downtrodden spirit. She ended up crying most of the time. Once the tears stopped, Mare spoke with her husband and then they prayed to God together. 

"Mama?"

The call of her name came from her granddaughter. Mare was yanked out of her sea of memories and was pulled back into reality. She focused her attention on Kali. With her recent trip down memory lane still fresh in her mind, she continued to stare at the younger woman with more amazement. Kali stood in the foyer in her wedding gown. Her long, tulle and lace veil surrounded her curvy body like it was a stream of smoke. She was about to get married. She was also about to become a mother to her own daughter. She was well-adjusted, mild mannered and emotionally stabled. She wasn't feral and she damned sure proved those doctors wrong.

Mare smiled a broad grin. 'Please Augustus, smile down on your daughter and on her husband.'

Suddenly, she was afflicted with a foreign physical occurrence. She experienced a case of slight light-headedness. The strength in her knees lessened and she buckled a little. She clasped on the thick mahogany wood that made up the bannister. Her heart raced. Her left hand touched her chest and her palm felt the strong beats. Then she felt a shudder that began at the base of her neck and ran down to her knees. Her body grew very warm as her nose caught the faint scent of Yardley of London's Jaguar cologne. It was Augustus' favorite cologne and his staple fragrance. Then she felt her boy's presence. She felt as if he stood next to her, above her, in front of her and behind her simultaneously. Mare knew what she had just experienced and it caused her to whimper from the excitement that she felt. She never believed in the acts of the paranormal. But she believed that she just experienced one. Then she came to the conclusion that her son had shown up, so he could witness his baby get married. 

Once Mare gathered her bearings, she climbed off of the marble stair and traveled over to where her granddaughter stood. Kali stared at her with tears in her amethyst-colored eyes. The older woman knew that the younger woman wasn't sad. She saw Kali's happiness shine off of her. Mare clasped onto the younger woman's shoulders as an act of affection. She gazed into Kali's eyes.

"Are you ready to say 'goodbye' to Miss Kali Richardson?" inquired Mare.

Kali nodded her head. "Yes I am. I am also ready to say 'hello' to Mrs. Ryan Whittler." Both women laughed. 

Mare drew Kali into her arms and then embraced her. Her long, toned arms tightened around her granddaughter's expanded waist. She buried her nose into the nape of Kali's neck. She inhaled the fragrance of Vanilla Fields from off of her neck. She also took in the faint, spicy scent that was a part of Kali's natural musk as well. She did this because she wanted to smell her granddaughter one last time. She wanted to store her granddaughter's scent into her memory bank. She hugged her baby in a strong hold. She wanted to savor this moment for the rest of her life. She wanted this embrace to mean something to the both of them, just like the first one which occurred twenty-two years ago in the children's ward of The Institution of Saint Dymphna of Behavioral and Mental Health. 

With only fifteen seconds in her hands, Mare took another trip down memory lane. She recalled the event of which she met Kali for the first time. She thought about Kali when she was an older child, who was shy around strangers but a sweetheart and polite. She remembered the teenaged version of her granddaughter, who was friendly and didn't mind socializing with her aged grandparents. Then she thought about the woman that Kali turned into. She was assured woman, who was about to become a wife and a mother soon. And she still didn't mind hanging out with her grandmother. She thought about Ryan, her soon-to be-grandson. She was aware that Ryan had a tough childhood, like her Kali. She also knew that he was correcting his errors and trying his best. Mare witnessed the couple together and she knew that they were going to be fine. Knowing that Kali was going to be fine made Mare cry.

Kali knew that her grandmother was crying before the woman released her first audible cry. She felt Mare's body shake. When her grandmother did let out a sob, she thought her heart was going to sank down into her stomach. Kali's arms tightened their hold. Her subtle action seemed to have caused Mare to cry louder and harder. Her emotional outburst was about to come forth after she had to listen to her grandmother's sobs. She had to bite down on her fleshy bottom lip in order to keep her tears at bay. She chose to focus on the pain that she felt. Once she felt her heartbeats slow down and her eyeballs stop stinging, she turned her attention towards her grandmother. 

"Sssshhhhh... Grandma, it is okay," whispered Kali into the woman's left ear. "I am going to be fine. Ryan and I are going to be fine. I promise you." She continued to embrace her while she consoled the woman. Mare eventually stopped sobbing. They continued with their embrace for a few more minutes. When they parted ways, the two women stood in front of each other. "You feel better?"

Mare nodded while she wiped at her cheeks. The demure woman let out a snort. "Oh great, I've ruined my makeup!"

"It's alright Mama, you can let the makeup lady fix it for you!" suggested Kali. She grabbed her grandmother's hand and led the woman back over to the staircase. "We can go back to the bedroom and she—

"No, no, no, no Kali, you need to go to the patio and get ready!" her grandmother protested as she waved her left hand in front of her. "I'll go upstairs and have the makeup re-done."

"Are you sure, Mama?"

"Yes honey, I'm sure! Now, you go on to the patio and meet Jack and Davis! I'll be down before the ceremony starts, I promise."

"Okay, grandma" she said as she nodded her head. Kali had let go of her grandmother's hand and then had taken a few steps away from the older woman.

She walked away from the staircase and entered the long corridor that led out of the foyer. She walked past several rooms as she traveled on her way to the patio. During her journey, she encountered different members of the wait staff that was hired to serve every one of their seventy-four guests. They gave her compliments and she thanked each one. By the time she reached the patio's entrance, she was blushing. 

Kali stood in the patio's entryway and she quietly observed her Uncle Davis. She viewed the tall, six feet-five inched man as he stood in the elaborate porch. Davis had his back facing towards her. He stared out of the window pane that was a part of the sliding glass doors. His hands were buried in his pockets. Kali assumed that he was swimming in his thoughts. He wore a tailored navy blue, pinstriped suit that highlighted his lanky frame. 

"Hey, Old Man" she greeted him as she leaned against the doorway. She saw Davis jerked from the surprise of her voice. "I thought you said..." She watched her uncle turn around to face her. She viewed his aged, handsome face morph into the expression of surprise. His deep set, brown eyes widened and a wide smile formed on his face. His dark brown skin grew bright. "...that a person should never turn their back towards a door." 

"Baby Girl..." Davis sighed, making his astonishment evident. He folded his long, thin arms across his broad chest. Then he made a few steps towards her. "...you look absolutely beautiful." Kali pushed her arm and shoulder off of the post. She entered the dining room and she traveled over to her uncle. "I know that I have told you this before, but I am going to tell you again. I am deeply honored that you have chosen me to walk you down the aisle and to give you away. I always considered you to be my daughter and I know that Joey considers you to be another daughter for her. I hope that you consider me to be like a father to you as well."

Kali blushed. Then she felt a case of strong fluttering inside of her. She cradled her bulging belly and then she felt two kicks against her left palm. She gazed up at Davis' face. "I do consider you to be like my father, Davis. You have always been there for me and your family as well." She took a step back and surveyed Davis' outfit. "You look very dapper, Uncle Davis!" she informed him while she perused his suit. "You're as sharp as a tack!"

"Yeah, the old cheapskate finally decided to buy a decent suit!"

Kali turned to the doorway and saw Jack Logan enter the room. He casually strolled up towards the two individuals with his hands in his pockets. He wore a huge smile on his usual stoic face. Kali also noticed his relaxed nature and the glow that shone from his skin. 

'Good sex will do that to you...' Kali concluded. 'Wait a minute... Mama and Jack... EWWWW!' Her face made a slight wince. She watched the other NYPD detective stroll over to where she stood. 

"If it was up to him, he would've shown up to the wedding wearing his uniform!" Jack stated in a joking manner. 

"You are absolutely right!" stated Davis. Kali glared at him with a shock look on her face. Davis stared down at her and started to backpedal. "I mean... What I mean to say... I mean... Because of you, Kali, I..." Davis proceeded to stammer as well as try to excuse his outburst. "... I... Damn it..." He failed. "I blame you!" Davis said to Jack as he glared at him.

Jack smiled and did a 'Who, me?' gesture with his thumb pointed at his chest. 

"Yes, you Jack!" stated Davis. 

Jack chortled in response. "Uh-huh," grunted Jack. He turned his attention towards Kali. A warm smile had lined his lips as he gazed at her. He held a gentle grip on her shoulders. "My God... You are absolutely gorgeous, Sweetheart," he declared. Kali heard his adoration for her in his statement. 

"Thank you," she sighed as the lump in her throat had grown larger. She inhaled and then exhaled a big gulp of air, in hope of settling her nerves. She surveyed his stylish, black suit. "You look very handsome today, Uncle Jack. But then again, you always dressed nicely."





Battle-Hardened, War Weary Ch. 08B



Davis gasped in mocked annoyance. "I received a lowly 'you're handsome' while this old goat over there receives a 'very handsome'!"

Kali glanced at Davis and laughed. He continued on with his charade. He sucked his teeth and then he strolled over to the glass doors. Kali stared at him for a few seconds before she turned her attention over to Jack.

"Mama and I had made up," she notified him. 

Jack smiled and then he grabbed a hold of her left hand. His larger hand gave her appendage a gentle squeeze. "That's good to hear, Sweetheart. Your grandma was worried about you being angry," stated Jack. 

"I was a bit upset but I knew that I wasn't angry at Mama. I..." She sighed. "...I was upset because she had moved back to New York and she didn't even tell me about it."

"On my behalf, I'm sorry, honey" stated Jack as he stared down at his girlfriend's granddaughter. "Technically, we were still doing 'the long distance thing' when you found out. She was in the process of returning, when we were..." Jack's face grimaced. "...caught. I'm sorry that you had to find out that way. We were planning on telling you a few days later, after she had moved into my apartment. We weren't expecting to bump into you and Ryan at that street festival."

"I accept your apology, Uncle Jack. I need to apologize to you—

"No, you don't have to, sweetheart."

"No, I have to apologize. Just like I did to my grandmother, I disrespected you as well. I should've acted like the adult that I claim to be instead of like a kid who was having a temper tantrum. I'm sorry, Jack. I shouldn't have said those things about you. I know that my grandfather wouldn't have approved of my behavior. I don't think that you were plotting and waiting for my..." Kali sighed. "I'm sorry, Jack."

Jack Logan gave her a smile. "Your apology is accepted, Sweetheart."

There was a multi-second span of quietness. Kali stated, "To be quite honest with you, I am thrilled that you and my grandma are together. If I had to pick out a man for my grandmother to date besides my grandfather, I would've chosen a man like you."

"Thank you, Sweetheart."

Kali did a little smirk. "I will admit to you: I am a little freaked out when it comes to seeing my grandmother behave just like any other woman..." She saw the facial expression change on Jack's face. He appeared to be amused but confused by her statement. She had gone on to explain. "I always have seen her as 'Mama', the asexual being that loved to cook everything 'from scratch', who sewn clothes, created baby blankets, had gone to church twelve days a week, wore jeans and loved to garden. Now she's 'Mare', your girlfriend, who just happens to be a mother, a grandmother and a soon-to-be great-grandma. Then, there's the fact that my grandmother is most likely having sex with you..."

Kali watched a devious-looking smile grace his full, pink lips while there was devilish chuckle. 

Her face formed a grimace. "Eeeeeewwwww," she groaned while she felt a sense of disgust. "I really did not—

"We might be older, Mare and I, but we're not dead! We still have our biological urges and needs that need to be fulfilled—

"Eeeeeeewwwww," she groaned loudly. "I don't want to hear it!" She had taken each of her index finger and planted them inside of each of her ear canals. "LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, AL, LA, LA, LA... I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA..." Kali chanted as she walked away from a laughing Jack. She strolled over to where her Uncle Davis stood. She noticed that Davis was chuckling as he witnessed the exchange between Jack and her. Once she was aware that she was out of Jack's earshot range, she stopped chanting and she removed her fingers from her ears. 

"You two are in rare form today," chuckled Davis.

"Yeah, we need to take our show on the road. I swear, we'll make a killing!" she said to her uncle as she smiled. "I would rather feel like this instead of being a nervous wreck," stated Kali. 

"Yeah, I hate feeling nervous too," Davis pointed out. "With times like those, if Katrina is around, she'll..." Davis paused, once he realized that he made a mistake. His eyes briefly rose. "Oops, shit," he muttered. He glanced down at his niece/surrogate daughter. Her pretty pair of eyes drifted down to the floor. Then he felt the sadness lift from her body. 

Kali could feel her uncle's eyes focus on her. She pretended that she couldn't feel the heat sensation that accompanied his unwavering stare. She lifted her eyes' vision from off of the floor and focused on the sliding glass doors. She stared out of the doors and into the patio. She tried not to focus on the sadness that she felt, an after-effect of knowing that her best friend was not going to attend her wedding ceremony. She was so focused on the patio's floor tiles that she almost didn't hear Davis' inquiry.

"Have you spoken to my hard-headed, big headed daughter as of lately?"

Kali's eyes drifted off of the patio and she stared at her Uncle Davis. "Um..." Her right fingers lightly scratched at her throat, trying to get rid of the bulge that was stuck inside of her throat. "No, I haven't. The last time we've spoke, it was more like she was shouting at me. It was when she... You know."

Davis sighed while he gently shook his head as a sign of pity. "I've tried to get her to come to the wedding, but she refused. Her mom tried to persuade her to come as well, even Tristan tried to get her to come. She refused still. I know that her brothers, Tea Cake and Arian are going to try to convince her to come today. They promised me that they were going to drop by the house before they come here. She has allowed Tristan to come. She even had taken the boy out to the Avenue so he could buy a suit. I don't understand that child sometimes—

"I understand her reasoning, Uncle Davis" Kali informed him. She nodded. "I know that she doesn't like Ryan and she hates that we're together now. I know it and I understand it. I also have to accept that Katrina is not going to be here and more than likely, she doesn't want to be my friend anymore—

"That's nonsense, child!" Davis declared. "Right now, she is just upset and she is acting like her usual self when she is angry, but I doubt that she wants to stop being your friend."

Kali sighed as two tears dripped down her face. She wiped the tears with a trembling right hand. She shrugged her shoulders. "I think that Tea Cake and Arian are going to show up today empty-handed. But I do appreciate their efforts though."

The sound of feminine giggling interrupted their moment of reflection. It came from behind them. The two people had turned around and stared at the spectacle that was before them. Jack and Mare stood in the threshold of the doorway that led to the corridor. They held stances that lovers performed: there was a small bit of space between them, their arms were entwined in an embrace and their faces were nuzzling against one another. Mare's face displayed happiness, which matched Jack's face. Kali saw Jack whispered something in her grandmother's ear, which caused the woman to laugh, a few seconds later. 

"It is going to take me some more time in order to see those two as a couple," Kali pointed out.

"Me too," Davis added. Kali glanced up at his face and saw the grimace on his face. She laughed. 

The laughter ended as soon as she saw Melanie enter the room. Kali noticed that Ryan's older sister was in her 'professional, wedding planner' mode now. She held onto her clipboard and she still had her earpiece nestled in her ear. She strolled up to Kali and Davis.

"Okay, Miss Richardson, it is time," she announced. 

A sense of excitement ran through Kali, once she heard those words. She smiled and felt her skin tingle. She viewed the wedding planner perform her task of arranging the placement between Mare and Davis. Melanie ended up placing Davis on her right side and her grandmother on her left side. 

"Okay Kali, once you approach the beginning of the aisle, you will meet up with my assistant Pam," explained Melanie. "Pam has your bouquet. She will give you your flowers and from then on, you will have to wait until the string quartet starts to play the wedding march. Do anybody have any questions?"

Kali shook her head. "No, I don't have any questions." She looked at her grandmother. "Mama, do you have any...?"

Mare shook her head. "No, I don't have any questions to ask." The two women stared at Davis.

Davis, in his best English accent, said "I have no inquiries that can quench your mental palate, dear madam!"

Jack, Melanie and Mare stared at Davis with a facial expression that best be described as 'What-the-fuck is wrong with you?' Kali, however, just giggled. 

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Melanie blinked her eyes a few times. "All...right, Kali are you ready?" 

"Yes, ma'am," she said as she nodded her head. "I am ready."

Melanie smiled at her and Kali understood the meaning behind that smile. She knew that Ryan's sister was happy that her brother had found someone to love. Kali had a hunch that Melanie knew about Ryan's upbringing. Then she briefly wondered if Melanie was abused by Ryan's grandfather too. The two women shared a silent exchange for a few seconds. Then the wedding planner glanced at both Mare and Davis.

"On the second count of the wedding march, you will begin to walk down the aisle, okay?"

Melanie proceeded to give the trio a few more directions. Once she was done, she led the three adults out of the patio and out of the large house. Before Kali could complete her first step on the ground, she was affected by the day's climate. Earlier in the day, she received word that the temperature was going to be ninety-three degrees, but with the rabid humidity, it was going to feel like it was one-hundred and eight degrees. At that moment, she thought that she could handle being outside, under that humid and hot weather. Now, as she stood on the patio, she wasn't so sure. 

As the four adults stood on the patio, Kali savored the moment. She stood still and observed everything. She tried to enjoy the feeling of the thick, hot and humid air that clung to her skin. The music that played before she made her stroll down the aisle. She gazed at both Mare and Davis as they stood by her sides. She wanted to remember their appearances. She wanted to remember how they behaved and their demeanors on this day. She wanted to always remember the moment when her grandmother realized that she was no longer going to bear the family name. She wanted to remember all of Davis' jokes and funny antics. She wanted to remember how she felt and how she behaved during this day. She wanted to remember how excited she felt. The way that her heart raced with adrenaline. The way there was heavy pressure nestled in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to remember all of it. 

"Are you ready, honey?" Mare asked her.

Kali's process of reflecting was interrupted. She glanced at her grandmother. She took note of the happy expression that graced Mama's face. Her head nodded a few times. Then she glanced at her Uncle Davis. He gave her a soft stare before he gave her left bicep a gentle squeeze with his hand.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's take this show on the road," announced Davis.

The four adults climbed down the red brick staircase and they landed on a brick walkway that led to the courtyard. Kali noticed that the music became louder as she walked closer to the area. She listened to the music that the string quartet was playing. She recognized the song. She begun to sing the lyrics to The Pogues "I Love You Till the End". Before she could sing the second chorus, the string quartet effortlessly transitioned into their version of Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine". 

The grandmother, the granddaughter and the uncle made it to the threshold that led to the courtyard. They were greeted by a woman, who was Melanie's assistant, Pam. She held onto Kali's bouquet which consisted of gardenias, white calla lilies and white roses. She handed the bride the lavished floral arrangement. Then the lanky woman observed the bride to make sure that she didn't have anything out of place. Kali observed the courtyard's appearance as the assistant checked her out. 

'Everything is gorgeous,' her brain enthusiastically squealed. 

Once Pam realized that everything was okay, she led the three adults a few feet away from the entryway to where the aisle began. Kali surveyed the venue with the same vigor that an interested child would stare at an amazing toy. She heard the quartet begun to play Richard Wagner's "Bridal Chorus". She watched every member of their audience rise from their chairs. Then she watched every guest collectively turned their heads and stared at the back of the venue. Kali's face felt hot as they stared at her. She felt Mare squeeze her right bicep. The corners of her mouth curved upwards.

Her eyes traveled from the large gathering of guests and over to the structure that was at the end of the aisle. Her eyes gazed at the make-shift altar, which consisted of a wooden platform that was covered in a white tarp and positioned in front of the twelve-foot tall, granite water fountain. In particular, she gazed at the handsome man who stood on that altar. 

She believed that he looked absolutely erogenous and dashing. Ryan wore a black suit and a white shirt, a vest with a metallic red, silk necktie. The suit was tailored to his tall and fit body. The suit was made with a European cut. His bright red hair was loosed and styled in layers to frame his face.

'Red waves,' her brain sighed as she focused her attention on his hair. Then, Kali's eyes locked with his vibrant green eyes. She saw the intensity in his orbs as he glared at her. A shiver tickled her spine as a result. 

'Oh shit...'

Ryan's mind had gone blank. He became infatuated with the vision that was almost twenty yards away from him. She stood at the beginning of the aisle with Mare.

'Oh shit,' he silently said to himself again. 

Ryan continued to ogle his soon-to-be wife. He first stared at her beautiful face. He saw her happiness. The wedding gown that she worn looked beautiful against her brown skin. His eyes drifted down to the swell of her midsection. 

Suddenly, his mind started to function properly. His first actual thought was about his unborn daughter. He thought about how he was fully prepared to spoil her with affection and love. Just when he was about to imagine the face of his daughter, he remembered something important. 

'No, wait...'

Ryan chuckled as he stared down at his feet for a second. Then, he focused his attention on his soon-to be-wife. His eyes glared at her belly.

'She's having twins,' his brain corrected itself.

Ryan laughed again. Then he recalled the moment that occurred almost forty-five minutes ago. He remembered the moment that Melanie handed him a gift. He was residing in a room that was a part of another wing of Whittler Manor. He was getting dressed, when his older sister entered the bedroom. She gave him the gift and told him that it was from his bride. His cheeks turned a crimson shade and his stomach rumbled while a thrill had coursed through his body. He held the lace covered object in his hands. He quickly unwrapped the gift and stared down at the object. His gift was a fourteen-carat gold, picture frame. There was a note stuck to the window pane of the item. On the note, she instructed Ryan to focus on the picture and pay attention. He removed the note from off of the frame. He gazed down at the picture and saw that it was a sonogram picture. 

Ryan scanned the ultrasound photo while he hoped to find the surprise that she wanted him to find. 'Okay baby, what do you want me to find?' he pondered as his eyes viewed everything. He was about to call it quits, when his eyes caught the prize. His eyes stared at the small oval-shaped spheres. There was a typed-up word next to each sphere. For the left sphere, there was the term 'Girl A' and there was the term 'Girl B' for the right sphere.

Once he realized that he was going to be the father of twin girls, his body had gone under a physical reaction. A bright white light flashed in front of his eyes while a strong shudder ran down his back. A strange sense of coldness clung to his body while he experienced a temporary case of light-headedness. All of his reactions happened simultaneously. He was surprised. Once the initial reactions had worn off, he immediately warmed up to the idea of being a daddy to another daughter. 

The abrupt sound of the "Bridal Chorus" yanked Ryan from his thoughts. He watched all of their guests, which mostly comprised of Kali's friends and family, stand up. They all turned their attention to the back of the courtyard. They stared at the bride. He re-focused his attention on his soon-to be-wife. 

'Got-damn, she is so fucking beautiful,' he thought as he watched Kali march down the cobble-stoned aisle. 

She walked down the passageway with her grandmother and with a man that she referred to as "Uncle Davis". Ryan waited for his bride, even though he was naturally impatient. He noticed that Kali ogle him as she walked towards him. He watched her lips moved. She mouthed the words 'I love you'. His heart gave a few strong thumps as a result. The trio of adults came to a stop in front of the altar. Kali's gaze never faltered. She kept her eyes on Ryan. He listened to the string quartet carry out the notes of the song before stopping. The courtyard had gone silent. Ryan watched the guests returned to their seats in his peripheral vision. 

Ryan briefly glimpsed at the Judge Honorable Thurston Goode, the person who was going to oversee the ceremony. Ever since Ryan and Kali weren't religious, they wanted someone that was not a priest to help them administer their vows. Plus, they needed someone who was willing to take the time out of their schedule and do it on a short notice. Judge Goode was his father's godfather and was the best friend to his late grandmother, Andromeda. So, Ryan had asked the seventy-eight year old man and he agreed to preside over the recitation of the vows. 

The judge gave Ryan a smile before he walked away and off of the altar. He walked up to the bride, her grandmother and her uncle. Ryan heard the judge speak softly to the three of them. He introduced himself to the three of them and asked them about their current status. The three of them answered his inquiry. Then, the judge addressed the audience.

"Who gives this bride away?" 

Davis answered, "Her grandmother and I do!"

"Very well," Judge Goode announced with a voice that was a little softer. He stared at Kali. "Kali, can you please follow me?" 

She gently nodded her head as she stared at him. She turned her attention to Mare, who gave her a kiss on her left cheek. The older woman said some words to her granddaughter. Ryan then watched his future wife turn her attention to her uncle. They shared a verbal exchange and then Davis gave Kali a kiss on her right cheek. He whispered into her ear. Her beautiful face contorted into a mask of laughter. She said something to him and then gave him kiss on his left cheek. She broke away from her 'parents' and she trekked to the altar. 

"Kali, can you please stand in front of Ryan?"

Ryan saw Kali walk up to where he was standing and then she stood in front of him. He automatically reached out for her hand. She placed her left hand into his large right hand. Her fingers closed over his thick fingers and she gave them a squeeze. He glanced down at their hands. The sight caused his body to tremble. He tore his eyes away from their hands and he gazed at Kali's face. There was a huge smile on her face. 

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Judge Goode addressed the audience. "Today, we are here to witness and to celebrate the union between Ryan Whittler and Kali Richardson, as well as to commemorate the joining of two families!" The judge allowed a few seconds of silence to pass before he spoke again. "A famous philosopher by the name of Lao Tzu had said that 'being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage'..."




Battle Hardened, War Weary



His hands' task came to an abrupt end, when his fingers came in contact with thin bands of elastic. There was a band that ran vertically down on each of her ass cheeks. His fingers did a brief investigation and found out what they were. The information made his cock ache and a growl of desire leave his throat. Quickly, his hands removed themselves from underneath her skirt and sought after the fastening of the article of clothing. He found the button and zipper and roughly unlatched the fastenings. Once the skirt was removed, his eyes came upon something that seemed to have come from his favorite masturbatory fantasy. In his fantasy, usually his 'dream girl' wore a garter belt, stockings and panties that were white in color. Instead of white, Kali was wearing black, lace stockings, a g-string that was black and lace, as well as the garters. He also saw her desire smeared all over the inside of her thighs as well. Her cunt's nectar was glistening on her thighs under the hotel room's bright light. His fingers sought out of the source of such nectar.

"Oh, oh, Truck!" Kali loudly gasped as she felt his fingers rub along her wet slit. Her hands grasped his shoulders tighter while she grinded her panty-clad pussy against his fingers. His thumb searched out the tiny, hard nub and rub at it in a fast pace. She moaned as bursts of pleasure coursed through her sex. "Oh... Oh...Truck... Oh..." 

Unconsciously, her left leg bent at the knee and her foot lifted in the air to rest on the pillow-top mattress. In this position, Truck had more space to explore. He scooted closer to the edge of the mattress, closer to her pussy. That tantalizing scent of her arousal greeted his nose. It was non-overpowering scent that he wanted to experience more of. With his thumb still rubbing at her clit, he removed the crotch of her panties away to exposed two puffy, chocolate-brown lips that were slick with her essence. His eyes darted over to the small puff of hair that decorated her mons, which was styled and shaped into a small heart. His lips curved into a smile at that discovery. He briefly removed his thumb away to pull the rest of her underwear away. But, his mouth joined in on the fun this time. A high-pitched wail escaped her lips as she felt his mouth suck on the pair of lips. His thick tongue slipped out of his mouth and ran across the seam of her sex. His tongue sucked up her nectar. He groaned from pleasure. He thought she tasted delicious. The small muscle dipped into the crevice and wedged the lips apart as if he split apart a fruit. His tongue was greeted with more of her tangy honey. He moaned into her cunt. He lapped at her in search for more. 

Her right hand grasped onto some of his hair while her left hand used his right shoulder for balance. "Puh... Puh-lease... Oh God..." she moaned. His left hand no longer ground pleasure into her clit. His appendage stroked pleasure into his cock. His right hand was grasped the back of her left thigh and he held the leg in that position and kept her exposed. 

After a while, Truck removed his mouth from off of her cunt and glared at Kali. "Look at me," he ordered her, in a gruff voice. 

The expression on her face, at that moment, made Truck want to permanently place it there. Her face was flushed, eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly opened. There was joy and sereneness there. When she heard his command, he watched her open her eyes and throw him a lustful gaze. She no longer held the innocent, 'deer in the headlights'-gaze that she usually possessed. This was a stare from a woman. 

"Do you like it when I'm eating your pussy?" he asked her. In response, her body shook and a gasp slipped out of her, like she felt a miniature orgasm. 'Fuck, if she acts like this when I'm just talking...' He took a bite out of her inner thigh to get her to focus on him again. She let out of a yelp. "Answer my question" he demanded. 

After fifteen-second break, she gazed down at him. "Yes..." she said a breathy whisper and then a hint of a smile shown up on her face. "I like it when you eat my pussy." 

'Oh damn,' his mind whispered, while in marvel at the woman whom he was mouth-fucking. "Good..." he said with a cocky smirk on his face which contradicted how he really felt, "...now watch me make you cum". His tongue flattened against the bottom row of his teeth, Truck took a long swipe at her sex, which started from her asshole and ended with the protruded flesh that covered her clit. He felt her back arch, her pussy hump his face and heard a loud gasp filter the room. Her physical reaction made his cock swell as well as his ego. Then the tip of his tongue made tiny circles against the hidden nub, before taking another lick. She called out his name and he felt himself smile.

During his mouth's exploration, his dark brown eyes were focused on hers, to make sure that she watched him. To his satisfaction, she obliged to his demand. There were points in time, when her eyelids were flutter, but they would open and re-focused on him. 'Good girl,' he thought as his mouth suckled at her pussy. 

He remembered that her cunt was a very tight one and with his sizeable cock, if she wasn't prepared then it wasn't going to be pleasurable. He lubricated his right middle finger with her own juices, he inserted his digit into her tight cunt. She moaned and jerked a little at the intrusion. She soon clutched at his finger and rode it as if it was a small cock. She was so wet that his hand was coated with her juices despite her hips' recent start of movement. He was able added two more of his fingers and her pussy accepted both into her warm embrace. 

Truck knew that Kali's orgasm arrived, even before she announced its arrival. The signs were there: the heavy panting which turned into moans. Her hips movement altered: the rhythm had gone from smooth and consistent to choppy and staccato. Her eyelids were halfway lowered, her nose was flared and she bit into her full bottom lip. "I'm..." she gasped out. 

"Yeah, baby, cum for me," he grunted as he watched her unravel. 

At the sound of his words, she came. She let out a cry that sounded like a high-pitched gasp and then her upper body folded over his upper body. The upper half had gone rigid while her lower body shook. Her arms rested on his shoulders as her face pressed against the left side of his head. Her mouth was pressed close to his ear, so he heard every whimper she made. His fingers continued to stroke her as her womb contracted and released against them. His thumb ground against her clit during her climax and after, when all she was left with were little tremors. He felt as if she followed his command. A sense of pride washed over him and pretty much landed into his prick, which ached at the thought. 

After Kali's climax, he gently slipped his fingers from out of her twat and guided her to sit on his lap. She didn't put up any resistance, ever since her legs felt as if there were no bones inside of them. She sat in a 'side straddle' against his massive legs, her head rested against his left shoulder. Her arms were wrapped around his torso, in an embrace. They both sat there wordlessly and enjoyed the silence. The sounds of the ceiling's vents blowing warm air and the muffled sounds of the outside world were the only noises the flooded the room. 

For the both of them, they were lost in their own thoughts momentarily. For Truck, he thought about Kali and how it was fucked up at how the Fates turned the romance part of his life upside-down. For Kali, she was too busy thinking about the event that transpired just a minute ago. Tonight, was supposed to go down as a 'Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma'am' and then she was going to go home. She thought the highlight of her night was going to be the part where she takes a shower and washes away Truck's cum, the portion of KY Jelly she used and the shame off of her body. Then, her night would end with her lying in her bed, in her favorite pajamas, eating a bowl of ice cream and watch reruns of "Law & Order" on television. Then she would fall asleep. Now, Kali was positive that that orgasm and Truck's mouth was taking the top spot. 

"What'd you say?" 

Kali was pulled out of her thoughts, by the sound of his voice. "What?" She thought her voice sounded hoarse. 'It's from all of that screaming that you've done,' her mind teased. 

"You were muttering something. Then, I asked you 'what did you say?'" Truck informed her.

"Oh," she giggled, "I was thinking out loud. I was probably talking about how I thought the highlight of my evening tonight was going to be lying in bed, eating ice cream and watching old "Law & Order" reruns. Turns out, I was wrong."

"Oh yeah? So what is this evening's highlight for you?" he asked, feeling amused. Truck heard her giggle and then turn her face into the crook of his neck. 

"I can't say," she said, shyly. 

"No, don't pull that 'Little Shy Girl' routine on me" he chuckled, before he lifted her up slightly and forced her body at an angle, where she had to face him. She tried to hide her face with her hands, but he pulled them away. "Tell me what your highlight is for tonight?" She giggled and shook her head. "If you don't tell me right now, then I am going to hold you down and tickle you," he threatened. His voice sounded serious but they were playfulness in his eyes. Her eyes had gone wide and bright. Truck knew that would get to confess, ever since he knew that she hated being tickled. "So I advise you to tell me!" She quickly muttered something under her breath. "Excuse me, Miss Richardson; I need for you to speak loudly for all of the class to hear. Do you remember that line from Professor Grant-Hilton's class?" 

"Yeah," she groaned, "I remember her".

"Now, tell me about this evening's highlight and don't mumble it out," he instructed. 

"All right... My highlight for this evening... is you... making me... cum," said Kali, who felt embarrassed about her admission. She then saw the wide smile on Truck's face and it just made her embarrassed all the more. 

"So..." he started out saying as re-arranged her legs, by using his arms' strength, so her limbs straddled his waist. His cock was wedged in between both of their torsos. "... The highlight of your day was about me making you cum?" he asked, positioned face-to-face with her. She nodded her head. "Well, baby, I plan on..." As he spoke, his right hand line the tip of his cock up to her slit and proceeded to rub. The thick head rubbed against her, gathering her moisture and preparing her for its invasion. She let out a moan at the sensation that he was stirred up inside her. "... Being the highlight of the rest of your week."

"Mmm... please fuck me" she whispered, as she raised her ass up off of his lap. Without a warning, his cock made a quick thrust into her cunt. He grunted at the intrusion. She moaned as she clutched onto his shoulders. 

"With pleasure, baby, with pleasure" he grunted and then he proceeded to show her how he was going to outshine everything else that happened for her that week.

Two hours, twelve minutes and five orgasms later, Truck laid in his rented bed and stared at the room's ceiling. He was physically drained, his dick was happy and his sexual appetite was sated, for now. He knew that his need for her was going to return, ever since he had the 'reluctant-sexpot' that was lying next to him in bed. When it came to Kali, a simple roll in the hay was never enough for him. The first time that he fucked her, foolishly, he thought that it was going to be a one-shot thing. It was going to be the last hurrah for his senior year of high school. From what Ryan told him, it was a chance of a lifetime: to hook up with his dream girl for one night. She wasn't wearing white-colored garters, but it was still something from his fantasy. Once it was over and done with, he thought that she was out of his system. 

Fast-forward the time to eight years later, when he saw Kali at a 'high school reunion' type of function, Truck learned that he was wrong. By then, by having a career of a famous, professional athlete, Truck learned that he wrong about a lot of things. In particular, who was his friends that were out for his best interests and who were the snakes that were waiting to see him make that proverbial falling from grace. 

The feminine sounds of Kali's groaning was what snapped Truck out of his thoughts. He glanced over at the beauty. She was still asleep. He watched her body roll from her right side and then lay on her back. She lied in the same position as he. He noticed that she wore her sweater. Before she fell asleep after the seventh (yes, he counted them) orgasm that he gave her, she managed to take off the tattered and cum-stained lingerie, along with the shoes and stockings. But, she still kept that sweater on. He had a notion that she must've been feeling hot and uncomfortable in that sweater. Hell, he was lying nude underneath a thin bed sheet and the heating in the room made him sweat profusely! 

'Well, maybe she isn't hot,' the part of his mind that he converses with, informed him. 

"True," he muttered. 

He was about to leave it alone, when a less-acknowledged bit of information popped into his mind. He thought back to the numerous occasions of when they had hooked up. Prior to this awesome night, there were six occasions from the past six months. During all of those occasions, he realized she was fully dressed. The only article of clothing that she removed was her panties. Tonight, when she removed the skirt and the underwear, they were the most clothing that she removed ever. 

'What the hell is she hiding?' his mind thought. His conscience told him it didn't matter and to leave her alone. But his curiosity proved to be the bigger and better man out of that fight. 'She's hiding something,' he thought. 'Yeah, she's hiding something.'

Trying to be as sneaky as a cat that hunted a mouse, Truck slid over to the other side of the bed, to get close to Kali's sleeping form. He observed the top that she wore. He noticed that the Argyle-printed sweater had eight buttons that were applied down the front of the top. He didn't apply too much pressure as Truck managed releases all of the pearlescent-capped buttons from their holdings. Thanks to the desk's lamp, Truck just saw a sliver of skin. Buried underneath a veil of shadow, he saw a huge tattoo on her left breast. 'Is this what she is hiding from me? A fucking tattoo?' A smile grew on his face at the thought of shy Kali Richardson being brave enough to get a tattoo and a shitty one, at that. He wanted to see more, so he pushed the flaps of fabric out of the way. He shifted his body around, so the lamp's light could shine on the markings. Once his eyes settled upon her bare torso, the smile faltered. 

'No' his mind whimpered. 'No, no, no, no...' It was as if the horrifying vision that was before him had caused his mind to be stuck on one word. 

Inside of him, a chill ran through his spine and stayed there. He felt a conglomerate of emotions too: disbelief, sadness, pity and finally anger. He wanted to provide nurture and comfort to her, but he wanted to provide pain and retribution to the bastard who was responsible. 

Truck was so mesmerized yet repulsed by the sight that he didn't see the Kali's pale purple eyes glaring at him. Nor did he see the open hand that had coming towards his face in an alarming speed. 

The pain from neither the slap nor the sound of flesh striking flesh was the factor that woke Truck from his daze. The sudden jerk of Kali's body trying to move away from him was the factor. Based on pure reflexes, Truck grabbed a hold of Kali's shoulders and pinned them down to the mattress. She started to kick out her long, thick legs, in hopes of kicking him and rendering him powerless. In defense, he straddled her waist to keep her steady. After she realized that she couldn't move, she started to scream. She screamed for aid, obscenities, her hatred from him and anything else that she could think of. Knowing that the room was sound-proof, he allowed her to scream. He knew that she angry at him for violating her privacy, so he allowed her to scream insults at him. Suddenly, after screaming her head off for a significant amount of time, she stopped. By then, there was a slight ringing in his ears and he was grateful for the silence. Then, he heard the low-volume, crying from her.

"Kali?" Her crying becomes louder at the calling of her name. "Kali, baby, please don't..." His voice trailed off as he found it impossible to speak, due to being overcome with his own pain. He hated hearing Kali express her grief. He felt the fight leave in her body and he released his hold on her. He lifted off of her and gathered her pliable form into his massive, brawny arms. He held her close to his chest, in his arms while he listened to her sobs. He occasionally whispered how regretful he felt for her and other words of comfort while he placed kisses on her forehead. 

Like with all sudden explosions that eventually burn down into embers that smolder, Kali's outburst had gone from loud and withered down to her just sniffling. By then, a significant amount of time passed. Truck did not know how much time has passed, but he guessed it was a lot of time, because his joints were numb and his muscles were screaming from the discomfort that they felt. He sat in the same kneeling pose while he held Kali in his arms. 

"Kali?" Truck said to her. She made a slight noise. "I'm sorry." Again, she made another noise. "I know I shouldn't have... violated." He didn't like that that particular word to come from his mouth. In fact, he felt his stomach churn. "... you by trying to remove your clothes off, but I thought that I was doing a good thing. I'm really sorry, baby." Then he fell silent. He was expecting for Kali to have a negative reaction. Instead, she was silent. He gazed down into her face.

Kali seemed to have fallen into a stupor. Her eyes were open, but he saw that there was no life in them. Her breathing was shallow, as if she was sleeping. He wanted her to speak to him and not shut down on him. Or worse, she grew to fear him. His mind raced with different ideas of what to do. He thought of calling the hotel's front desk and asking for their help. But the thought of having this night released to the press, deterred him from doing that one. He thought about giving her a hard open-handed slap, in hopes of that it would wake her up. But then he thought that it would backfire on him. Finally, he resigned to just letting nature take its course. He managed to shift his body into a comfortable angle while he continued to embrace her. He stared down at her catatonic figure. Truck whispered a prayer to God. After the prayer was recited, he had gone into silence. A pregnant amount of time had passed. An idea came to him. He didn't know where it came from. But, he was going to try it because he was out of any smart ideas. 

"Kali, I'll be back, okay?" She didn't respond. He released her from his arms and placed her onto the bed. He whispered his re-assurance of returning, before he jumped off of the bed. 

Truck exited the room and entered the bathroom. After turning the bathroom's lighting into a softer, calming dim version, he made his way over to the bathtub. The hotel room's tub was a fancy, highly-artistic version of a tub and under normal circumstances he would use the shower feature. But this wasn't a normal time and he really needed to use this tub right now. He figured out how to turn on the faucets and figured out which nozzle operated the hot water and which operated the cold water. There were a basket of bath products resting on the edge of the tub, so he tossed a few products inside of the mounting water. Then, he made his way back into the room. He saw that she was still lying in the same spot that he placed her. Truck walked over to the desk. He grabbed the clock radio. He started the music device up and music filled the room. He walked back into the bathroom and saw that the tub was almost filled to the top with water and suds. He entered the room again and gone over to the bed. Truck picked up her 5'9 frame and carried her out of the room like she was a child. He carried her into the bathroom, he sat her on his lap while he sat on the edge of the tub. He turned slightly so he could turn the water off. Wordlessly and slowly he peeled the sweater off of her body. At first, he expected another outburst from Kali as he started to take off her clothes. Instead the young woman remained quiet and still. Being that they were under slightly better light, he saw the layer of sweat that clung to her skin. He saw the sweat stains that were on her sweater. 'So, she was burning up in that sweater'. He tossed the sweater on the floor. Now she was only clad in her black, lace bra. Now, Truck saw the ugly imperfections that slightly marred her beauty. 




Battle Hardened, War Weary



Her torso and her shoulders displayed an array of scars. Some scars were minimal, healed up wounds that left dark-hued markings. The others were harsh-looking in appearance. They were either healed up wounds that formed keloids or hypertrophic scars. He only seen the ones that adorned her front, but as he sat there with her, his fingers felt the ones on her back. His eyes traveled to the one scar that first caught his attention. The one scar that made his body turn cold and a flame of anger shoot through him. It scarred the flesh that covered her left breast as if it was some sadistic form of a badge. Truck guessed from the pointed top and to the bottom, it was about twelve inches long and about nine inches wide. The scar was shaped in the manner of the item that burned her flesh: a clothes' iron. Her skin even had taken the form of the iron's ventilation holes. Judging the appearance, he guessed that the wound was old, which meant that she received this wound when she was a child. An image of a nine year-old Kali popped into his mind and then the thought of someone hurting her like this entered his brain. He grew enraged again, but he quickly stamps it down. Right now, he needed to focus on her. Besides, he thought that the scars slightly marred her beauty, because for Truck she was still gorgeous. 

After removing her bra, he cautiously placed both of them inside of the bathtub. The temperature of the water felt great against his skin, so he assumed it didn't bother Kali. Grabbing a complimentary sponge from out of the gift basket, he dunks the sponge into the water and proceeded to clean Kali. He started out with her neck, washed every visible body part that was below and ended with her feet. As he cleaned her, he spoke to her in a soft whisper. Once lathering her up in soap, he rinsed her off and then laid her body against his. Soon, he stopped talking and allowed the music that was playing from the other room to try to snap her out of her daze. 

"How did you get the nickname Truck?" 

At first, Truck thought the question was a figment of his imagination. But, then he felt her move against him and eventually stare up at his face. A big wave of relief landed on him, once he realized that she finally out of her self-imposed trance. "You want to know about my nickname?" he asked, confused. 

"Yes," Kali said with a smile. It wasn't the type that reached her eyes, but he'll take it. "From what I've remember, everyone called you 'Daniel' or 'Danny'. It wasn't until I saw you play your first game as a pro, on TV, that I've heard people call you Truck. Or... 'The Mother-Trucker' sometimes," she said to him with a rolling of her eyes. 

Truck let out a deep-rumbled chuckle. "You don't know how many times I've tried to tell my coaches, the staff and my teammates to stop calling me that. Every time my mother and grandmother hear that name on television, I always receive a call from the both of them. Um... in regards to the Truck nickname, I received it during my rookie year, in training camp. It was during a practice and we were doing Okalahoma drills. Do you know what Okalahoma drills are?" 

"Yeah, it's when a player is being tested on their contact skills by the coaches," she said to him. 

"Very good," he said to her, while giving her nose a slight tap with his finger. "Anyway, I was being pitted against a big son of a bitch that goes by the name Tank. Do you know who Tank Lawson is?"

"No, but I'm going to guess that he is a big son of a bitch," she said to him with a smile. He chuckled and gave her a playful swat on her bountiful ass. 

"Yeah, he's a big son of a bitch, but he's perfect if you want him to guard your quarterback. Well, in an Oklahoma drill, I was pitted against him. The Truck nickname had come from when I tackled his ass down to the turf and everybody said that I ran him down like I was a Mack truck. It's not original, but that's how I've gotten the nickname."

"Oh."

Kali's line of questioning did not stop there. She then asked him about his days in college and then about his rookie year of being in the Professional Football League. Then, she asked questions about miscellaneous topics. With every question, he gave her an honest answer. Truck understood the gist of her questioning. He knew it was a way for her to trust him again and to gain of sense of familiarity with him. He also saw it as a way for him to earn her trust. 

It was an hour later since her 'return' and they were now lying in the bed again. After their bath together, Truck dried her off and then applied some jasmine-scented body lotion to her skin. Now, she didn't mind his appraisal of her scars and the act of being nude in front of him. He thought that it had to do with the fact that she was too busy asking him questions. They left the bathroom and gone back into the room. He instructed her to get in the bed while he turned the clock radio off, as well as, the desk's lamp. The room was filled with a low neon blue glow that shone from the walls' sconces. He shuffled over to the bed and climbed in on the emptied side. Kali scooted over to where he laid and rested her head against is massive chest. He felt too tired to even get something started with Kali and for once his dick agreed with him. 

"So what do you have planned for tomorrow?" she asked him.

"Huh?" he said to her. "Um... I have to go to team meetings, then practice, do a couple of interviews, practice, go out... with some teammates, hopefully, I am in here and in bed before midnight. Why do you want to know? You want to take me out on a date or something? Cause, if you do, I have to tell you that I'm not a cheap date...." Then, he slipped into a sarcastic, over-exaggerated feminine dialect. "I want to go to a nice restaurant and eat some lobster and steak and drink from $400 bottle of champagne—

"And if I take you out to some fancy restaurant with expensive food and $400 bottles of champagne, I am expecting to be tapping some ass that night" Kali informed him. The statement caused Truck to break out in a hearty guffaw that echoed off of the walls. His body trembled from the laughter's exertion. 

"That's cute. Real cute of you" he said to her. 

"But no, I just wanted to know to... just to know. If you can't tell by now, I am asking random, dumb questions to... get to feel safe again."

"I know, baby, I know" he said to her. A pregnant amount of silence floated through the room. Both could sense that the other was still awake. "Kali?"

"Mmm?" she hummed.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure. I've been asking you questions. It's only fair." 

"What was that thing?" he asked. He was met with silence. He thought that he asked an inappropriate question. He was about to apologize for asking, when she stopped him. 

"I am trying to think of a way of explaining it to you without you being confused. A lot of normal people don't get it—

"You are normal, Kay-Ray" he said to her, also mentioning her childhood nickname. "You're just a normal human being who's gone through some shit and you're doing the best to get through the pain. If you ask me, you're stronger than a lot of people. I know chumps who can't even get through practice without bitching."

She was silent for a bit. He felt moisture on his chest. He was aware that she was crying again. "Thank you" she said to him. She removed herself from his embrace and sat up. 

"You're welcome" he said to her, feeling a lump formed in his throat and his eyes sting. He hasn't felt this way since his baby brother's funeral, eight years ago. 

"Shit, I'm crying again and I haven't even answered your question. Um... to answer your question, I tend to... check out from time to time, when I don't want to deal with shit. Abby, she's my therapist, told me that a lot of PTSD people do it, when they are confronted with something that makes us uncomfortable."

"PTSD?"

"Yeah, it stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

"The shit that army vets have after they return from war?" he asked.

"Yeah, the one and the same, except anybody could get it, including civilians. At my weekly meetings, I've met people who are survivors from car accidents and from other things like natural disasters and such. But there are a lot of old guys in my meetings who did fought in Vietnam. I was diagnosed with it two years ago."

"No shit?" he said, feeling in awe of the severity of how Kali's illness.

"Yeah, no shit." Again, there was silence. "I started doing it, the blacking out thing, when I was a kid. Back when I was beaten, or when other bad things happened to me. I would allow my mind to take me out to sea at night—

"Out to sea?" Truck said, sounding confused.

"Yeah, one of the places that I go to, in my mind, is out to sea. And I go at night. I think the ocean is beautiful at night."

"You can't see shit, at night, so how is it beautiful?"

"That's the beauty of it. You can hear the sea, but you can't see it. Have you ever stood in the ocean at night?"

"No, I've never had the urge to" he said as he adjusted himself.

"Well, I have and it's fascinating. It's thrilling. It's like being on a rollercoaster," she informed him. 

"I'll take your word for it. You said that you've go to other places?"

"Mmm-hmm. There are two other places. One is a cenote that I've visited a few years ago, on a trip to Maya Rivera. In Mexico. The other place is an igloo. I've never been there. I saw a picture in a magazine and I thought it was beautiful." 

There was a large mount of silence that occurred. Then, Truck said: "Kay-Ray, please tell me that the person who did that shit to you is rotting away in a jail cell or dead at least?"

Kali let out a sigh. "One person is indeed dead while the other is rotting away inside of her head, in some funny farm, out somewhere in New Jersey."

"The other person... is she your mom?" Truck asked.

"I'm tired. I am going to sleep now," she said brusquely. She lied back down. Instead of lying next to him like before, Kali was now lying in the unoccupied spot in the bed and she had her back facing him.

"I'm sorry for asking," he said to her, sounding remorseful.

"No, don't be, Truck..." she sighed. "... I'm the one who should be sorry for snapping at you. To answer your question, yes, it was my mom."

Truck wanted to know about the other son of a bitch, the one who had the fortune of being dead. But, he knew that Kali didn't want to talk about that painful part of her past. Plus, he heard how tired she felt, in her voice. So, he decided to end his line of questioning for the night. He scooted over to her side of the bed. He pressed his bigger frame against her smaller one. He whispered a 'good night' into her exposed ear. He was about to pull away from her, when he felt her clasp his thigh. He stared down at her hand and witness it makes its way up his thigh, to find his left hand. She then grabbed a hold of his hand and guided it to her front, where she ended up having his left arm cradle her torso. She wanted him to stay there. He smiled, gave her a kiss on the cheek and lied down next to her. He relished the time that he's spent with her tonight. He tried to memorize every detail from tonight. He managed to remember a few things, before slumber's veil had fallen over him. The last conscious thought he had, before falling asleep, was how come being with her felt so right and yet it is so wrong? 

The sounds of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" pulled her out of her sleep. She was having a good sleep. No, she had a great sleep. After she woke up, she didn't know where she was at first, but then the memories of the previous night flashed through her mind. Amazingly, at some of those memories, she found that her pussy was wet as a result. She looked to her sleeping companion and felt the urge to wake him up. But first she needed to answer her phone. 

Using the dull, neon blue light as a light source, Kali made her way from the bed, across the room and to where her purse was stored, without bumping into any piece of furniture. She grabbed her purse out of the chair and fished her cell phone out of the bag. She stared at the screen and checked the Caller ID. The words "The Asshole" in big, bold letters were smeared across the screen. A sense of annoyance and disgust blew up inside of her. She let out a huff of air before answering her phone.

"Hello," she said into her phone. She thought her voice still sounded hoarse.

"Well, hello there, my darling" the caller from the other line greeted. 

The caller's voice was the type of voice that could've made any woman drop her panties. It possessed a deep baritone type of tone. The only thing that marred the voice was the fact that the owner of said voice always added feminine inflections. Kali knew that due to this habit, a lot of people thought that the caller was a gay man. It was an accusation that followed him since they were children. He wasn't gay; Kali knew that tidbit of information, all too well. 

"How are you, on this lovely morning?" 

"I'm doing fine, Ryan. In fact, I was sleeping" she informed him.

"Sleeping? On this fine, Friday night? You should be out partying. Or better yet, you should be here in the City, perhaps entertaining company in the form of a football player perhaps."

'So this is why he calls me,' her mind thought. "Are you referring to Daniel?" 

"Why yes I am. He's in town this week, in fact. His team is playing the Juggernauts on this Sunday. I am going to assume that he's called you already."

"Yes, yes, he has. I am with him, right now," Kali informed him. 

She expected for him to say something in response. Instead, he was silent for a period. It was an obvious sign for Kali that Ryan was perturbed. She knew that he was the type to become hot-tempered easily and that he was prone to fits of jealousy. A broad smile reached her face and inside of her there was a bit of happiness at the thought that Ryan was angry. 

'If he doesn't like sharing his toys, then the asshole shouldn't have shared his toys with other people. Serves him right.' After the silence ran too long for her, she said a "hello" into her phone.

"I'm... I'm here... Just thinking..." the baritone-effeminate voice said to her. 

'He's pissed,' she thought. In her mind's eye, she imagined him sitting in an expensive, asinine piece of furniture that he owns, with a grimace on his face while having this conversation.

"So... how long have you been there?"

"Since seven o' clock," she answered with a smile on her face. She wondered if he could hear the smile. 

"Was... was... was he better than me?" Kali heard him ask. At this point, she wanted to laugh, but she didn't. 

"No" she lied. "I pretty much just lied there, like I usually do." She heard Ryan give a smug chortle at hearing that bit of information.

"Good. Did he make you cum?" he asked. 

'Yes, plenty of times. And I am hoping that he can give me a few more, once I get off the phone with you, you fucking pansy-pink wearing-jack ass.' Her thought made her giggle a little. "No" she said, after taking a few seconds to calm down. "No. I can't cum. You know that." 

'I used to believe that was true.'

"Okay... do you have plans with him for tomorrow?" 

"No. He has tons of things to do tomorrow and he's going to be busy on Sunday, of course and then he's going home on Sunday night," Kali informed him.

"My, my, don't you have his itinerary mapped out?" Ryan said to her, with his voice sounding agitated. Of course, Kali found the whole thing gleeful. "You do realize that he is going home to his fiancee, right?" 

"Of course, I know that, Ryan" Kali said to him, with her voice maintaining a level of even-keeled. "How could I not forget about Mary-Anne? I've been seeing her face all over my television screen, talking about not sinning, but winning. I like that that she is talking to the kids about making the correct choices in their lives. I just wish a certain somebody would've thought about his choices in sharing his reluctant-blackmailed-sex slaves, so he wouldn't be throwing hissy-fits over the phone—

"WATCH WHAT YOU SAY TO ME!!!" was the statement that was shouted from the other line. Ryan's voice no longer held the fancy, feminine lilt, but now possessed an angry baritone that was natural. "If I was you, I would be careful as to what you say to me. In case you've forgotten, my Kali, I can make your life into a living Hell. Your ass is better off being my cum-stained whore than some side-street, ghetto trash that is turning tricks. After all, it is your destiny, isn't it?" he warned.

'Low blow, asshole' her mind growled.

With tears forming at the rim of her eyes and with anger running through her veins, Kali said, in an even tone of voice, "I've forgotten and I am sorry," through clenched teeth.

There was a chuckle from Ryan's end of the phone call. "Well, that's better," he said with his voice now saturated with that feminine lilt again. "I don't want you to forget your place. Because I have no problem reminding you, once again. Now, with that being said, I want to see you tomorrow, after you're done with that big Neanderthal of course. And I want you cleaned, of course."

"Yes, I will be clean," Kali informed him.

"Are you going to work tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir" she said to him while she stared at the sleeping form that slept in the bed.

"Okay, so Santos will be picking you up from your place of business and I expect you to be here by 6 PM sharp."

"Yes."

"Kali, have a good day today and I'll see you tonight," said Ryan. She could hear the smugness in his voice. At that moment, she wished that she could slap the smirk off of his imagined face. 

"You too," she murmured. 

Then she heard the call disconnect. Kali turned her phone off and tossed it onto the desk's top. It landed with a loud 'clang' upon impact. Mindlessly and wordlessly, she made her way into the bathroom. She did a brief search for the switch of the light source, she found it and turned the light on. A bright light flooded the room. She blinked a few times in order to adjust. Kali used the sink to wash her face and her hands. Just by talking to Ryan over the phone, Kali felt dirty. After she dried her face off with a hand towel, she put the towel on the sink's counter. She glanced in the mirror and saw Truck's reflection. She yelped and jumped from fright. 

"Sorry," he said to her. He walked into the bathroom and stood behind her nude form. His hands went to her hips and then applied a light caress to her back. Kali noticed that he was still naked himself; when she felt his erect cock's head graze her back.  

"It's alright, you just gave me a bit of a fright," she said to him with a hint of a laugh. She glanced down at the counter. Inside of her head, she thought about her conversation with Ryan. 

"Kali, are you really alright?" Kali's eyes lifted from the counter top and gone back to the mirror, where she stared at Truck's reflection. She saw in his eyes a source of genuine worry. 'Is he worried about me?' she thought. 

"Yeah, baby, I am all right. Actually, I will be all right. How's that?" she said to him, with a smile on her face. In response, he pulled her into his arms and held her in a tight embrace. He planted a kiss on her right shoulder. The act of affection did go unnoticed by her. She felt her heart swell with emotion and even a swelling taken place in her lower lips. 'What the hell is going on with me?'

"That sounds better," he told her. They stood there silently for a minute, before Truck spoke again. "Baby, I want you know that I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Mmm-hmm," she groaned, feeling mistrustful of that declaration. 

"No, I mean that, Kali. I'm not like Ryan. I'm not like that asshole." 

Kali saw, in her reflection that her facial expression morphed into one of pleasant surprise, when she heard Truck refer to a good friend of his as an 'asshole'. From what she remembers, Truck and Ryan were the best of friends during their years of high school.