Love Delayed (43 page)

As
abashed as the fact was, it was true. Erika had been dying to fuck, but I couldn’t. Not yet. I still had Zoey in my system. I couldn’t understand why my son being so young and his mother being stuck in my psyche affected my libido—apart from Zoey.

“I
’m on the pill,” she whispered into my face as her fingers caressingly rubbed the back of my head.

I knew she was
on the pill, learned about during one of JR’s doctor visits when breastfeeding was discussed, even had mixed feelings about it, but never thought about going raw. My heart expanded in excitement. With her clamped to my frame, I mounted the bed and gently laid Zoey on her back. I roughly swiped all of the decorative pillows off the bed. I then looked down on her squirming underneath me.

“I can’t
, Zo. We need to use protection. It’s the responsible thing to do.”

“Stent...” she begged.

“Just hang on.” Her shoulders sank as I strolled over to my duffle, windswept through it until I found the box of condoms. “See,” I murmured in her ear while I pulled it on underneath her hips before returning to the bed.

Then I
cast my line of sight down at her full breasts. I couldn’t give a damn what changes her body had undergone, Zo was flawless. And mine. 

My tongue trailed the seam of her lips, down to her chin and chest, and then
my mouth greedily nibbled on her breasts. Her nipples swelled while suctioned between my tongue and lips. Zo had the best tits. Full, round and perky. I felt her bow from the bed, feeding them to me. I swelled even more as her moans turned uncontrolled.

I pulled my hand down between her trembling thighs.
Fuck, she’s wet
. She was warm as hell, too. When I saw she couldn’t last I lowered myself between her thighs. Zoey tried thrusting upward to capture my erection. My frisky ass Niña was coming alive.

“Calm the hell down,” I scolded low in her ear. “You’re tight. I’m trying to revive your femininity, not go ape
shit on you.”

“Stenton,” she panted with her eyes closed.

I knew I didn’t have much time before she would become irritated. I lowered myself, breaching her lips. I hardly gave a full thrust before I felt the friction. Zoey sucked in a breath, feeling penetration. She was extremely tight. So tight, my thrusts weren’t making much advancement. I thought quickly.

Descending my upper torso, I brought my mouth next to her ear and murmured, “Tell me your travel fantasy.”

“Travel fantasy?” she asked, trying to calm her breathing.

“Tell me about an exotic place you want to visit. What do you see yourself doing there?”

“Oh.” Zoey tried to pull her hips up to meet my marginal pushes inside her.

“Let me do this,
Zo. We have plenty of time,” breathed into her ear. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Okay,” she moaned. “
Ummm…travel fantasy.
Br
-Brazil…I’d love to take the cog-train to visit the Cristo Redentor. I’m sure it’s beautiful. An
d—
ahhh!” she winced. I pulled back. “View the sun setting from the Two Brothers Mountain.”

I could feel
Zoey relax as her mind took off with thoughts of Rio de Janeiro. I continued with my gentle thrusts. I was happy to have had a release already, because there was no way I could keep this mild rhythm and disposition without it. Even at this pace, I was reminded of how incredible it was to experience Zoey this intimately.

“Two Brothers?” I grunted.

“Yeah…” she breathed. “It is the perfect viewpoint that allows you to witness the social contrasts in Rio de Janeiro. The sunset is
s
-said to be—huhh…” she groaned. “…romantic.”

I felt leeway.
Zoey was just about where I needed her to be.

“I’m going to take you there. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll see everything Brazil has to offer,” I whispered in her ear as I picked up my rhythm and switched angles in my hips.

Zoey’s mouth collapsed as she tried to focus her heavy eyes on me. She caught on to my promise. The next thing I knew she pulled my face into hers and wildly threw her tongue into my mouth as she pushed her hips up to meet mine. My Niña was fucking me back, telling of her renewed confidence. In no time, her moans increased in volume as did her breathing. I was giving her all I had without attempting to break her in two. She felt incredible.

The moment my mouth lowered to her left breast and pulled her nipple deep into my mouth,
Zoey’s body tensed. I knew she was preparing for her release. And she did. Zoey threw her pelvis into me with rough upswings that animated the fuck out of me. I brought my head back up to witness her soar, and damn was it beautiful. Her eyes were wild and her mouth slacked as she sang octaves that pleasured something deep inside of me. I needed to at least hear it again.

So, as soon as I was convinced she was done, I abruptly pulled out, backed up on the bed and buried my face at the apex of her smooth thighs. My tongue twirled, my lips rubbed and sucked, and my nose teased. I lost all control
, inhaling her sensual musk that intoxicated me, deluded me of any conflicts we may have had. I ate Zoey like a starved man, because I was. I’d missed her terribly, but didn’t know how to convey it to her.

When
Zoey’s hands cupped the back of my head and her pussy pumped into my face, it was my turn to moan. We cried out together, though only one of us orgasmed. I’d never experienced anything like that in my life.
Only Zoey
.  

While waiting for her breathing to calm, I showered a trail of kisses from her thighs up to her belly where I kissed and licked and caressed with the side of my face, worshiping the incubator that gave life to my son. To me. I whispered into her skin messages of admiration and appreciation of her plight into motherhood. Her hand came down, fingering my scalp, and
I glanced up at her. Her eyes were zoomed into the ceiling and I believe she was fighting to keep her tears from falling. We lay there in silence for some time while she came down from her flight. I struggled not to get caught up. It was damn hard.

I scooped her up in my arms and took her into the shower where I paid more
homage to her body. When we were done, I moisturized and massaged Zoey then instructed her to get in bed to nap. Her eyes were heavy and not in a salacious manner.

As I rolled the covers over her, she muttered, “But you didn’t...you know.” Her eyes went down to my semi-erect penis.

I gave her a one-cheek smile. “This isn’t about me.” Then I stilled, abruptly sobering. “You okay, Zo?”

She gasped and her eyes widened in reaction. “Are you leaving already?”

I chuckled. “No. I’m going to check in on my kid while you nap.”

Her
eyes softened. “You look like you could use a nap, too.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her muffled yawn.

“I’ll sleep later, Niña.”

“Here? With me?” She didn’t attempt
to mask her desires. That was Zoey; she left all pretenses and games out of the equation. I’d always admired her for that.

Amused, I scoffed, “If that’s allowed.”

She nodded softly before turning over to find sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

~
Zoey
~

I slept for nearly three hours. That was unheard of with an infant around, especially one you’re nursing. Speaking of which, I knew it was time for Jordan to eat. In fact, it was an hour after his feeding time. With heavy breasts, I leaped to the bathroom to relieve myself and wash the sleep from my face. Stenton was in my apartment somewhere and after what he put on me earlier, the awareness of my appearance had resurfaced.

I tried to wrap my mind around what his visit meant. Paul called me with instructions that made it clear what Stenton’s intentions were. The manner in which he informed—not requested—for me to welcome Eligia into my home and to my son, and to wear a piece of sexy lingerie that had been delivered first thing in the morning gave an indication of his intention to have Jordan cared for while we had other plans. Intimate ones. I didn’t know where the gesture had derived from, and even hesitated with going with the flow. However, I had to quickly get honest with myself about the loneliness I’d been plagued with and how I teetered on the edge of depression. As arcane as Stenton had been, he’d never been callous.

When I gaited into the living room where I heard voices, I saw Stenton’s long legs sprawled out on the floor, bouncing Jordan on his thigh. Those two were always a sight that swelled my heart.

“Hey, look who it is!” Stenton announced excitedly to Jordan. “Food!”

With a pleased smile, I smoothed my housecoat and sat on the sofa above them. “I expected to come out here to his fussing. It’s time for him to eat.”

Just then, Jordan started to cry for me. Stenton handed him over to my outstretched arms.

“I’ve been a successful distraction. I was trying to give you ten more minutes before we disturbed your much needed nap… Oh, wow. He’s ready,” Stenton observed as he watched me uncover my left breast to feed Jordan.

Jordan’s little hands reached up to grab me into his pouted mouth. He was beautiful. His need of me to eat was a phenomenon like none other. It strengthened our bond that much more. I glanced over to Stenton to find his eyes dark and heavy.

My nose wrinkled. “Does this arouse you?” I couldn’t believe the look in his eyes.

“Everything about your postpartum state seems to arouse me,” he informed hoarsely and I couldn’t miss his quizzical expression. I’d guessed that off fact surprised him, too.

I cocked my head to the side, stirring the pot. “What about my pre-postpartum state?”

Stenton snorted sexily, “That, too.” He was adorable when slightly embarrassed.

“Wonder where that will leave me when I’m done nursing.” I murmured that while peering down at Jordan.

I heard Stenton exhale. “I don’t imagine much changing. You’re a very attractive woman, Zoey.”

Not attractive enough for you to want more than friendship.

I didn’t speak those words out loud for fear of ruining what he’d been trying to accomplish by being there.

We sat in silence as Jordan fed himself into a sleepy stupor. He was just about done
when Eligia appeared, gingerly waiting on him to finish with a cordial smile on her face. With her hand crossed in front of her, she informed at a comforting volume, “Lunch is ready. I can change Jordan and put him down for another nap when you’re done.”

Initially
, I dithered. I was not accustomed to someone else caring for Jordan. Only family assisted with him, but they were limited due to our distance. Ruth stayed over last night because she was meeting friends here in the city, so she helped last night and that was a bit out of the norm. Stenton was extremely familiar with the care of Jordan, so when they had their time together, I pretty much stepped back, giving them their space.

When Jordan’s suction broke, I knew he was done. I wasn’t exactly empty, but realized since Stenton kept him busy for so long, the kid was exhausted. I chanced a glance over to Stenton, down on the floor to the right of me. He gave me a warm regard and I couldn’t be rude to his help after that. Besides, I was having second thoughts about having help.

I handed a dozing Jordan over to Eligia who thanked me after arranging him over her shoulder to burp and pacing to the back of the apartment. 

“Time to eat,” Stenton announced cheerily, breaking my attention from my baby being hauled off. I couldn’t help but believe it was by design.

Just off the main area of the kitchen, next to the floor-to-ceiling window, was a table set for two. It smelled even better in closer proximity than it did permeating the apartment all afternoon. We sat down to eat.

“What’s this?” I asked, feeling my stomach growl. “Smells awesome.”

“Bacalao Encebollado,” Stenton curled his tongue around like a Caribbean native as he fixed his napkin on his lap. “Stewed cod fish, rice and beans, and plantains. Eligia said the fish will help with your breastfeeding. Something about the baby’s brain development.”

“Oh,” I
squeaked, stumped by her thoughtfulness. “Funny that you mention her extra mile. I’ve been having second thoughts about childcare.”

Stenton’s eyes rose. I was sure I had his full attention.

“About a week after I had Jordan...while I was under an insomniac spell, I reapplied for school.”

“Where?” he asked almost desperately.

“Princeton, of course.”

I could see Stenton visibly relax. That was weird. He motioned for me to continue.

“I’d put it to the back of my mind after doing it. Then a few weeks ago, my old advisor emailed me, excited about my application. She assured me that Wharton would still be interested if I could jump right back into my undergrad career. I know she’s trying to discourage a long break. I’ve struggled with my decision, but...” I bit my bottom lip as I observed Stenton’s eager posture. “I think it’ll be best for me to go back...this fall.”

His eyelids fluttered and he sighed deeply. “Is that what you were stalling to share? Why were you so afraid to tell me you’re ready to go back to school? I couldn’t be happier for you. I support your decisions, you know that.”