The car was waiting outside for them when they left the restaurant. Damita and Neal couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Neal started at Damita’s neck and nibbled his way down to her nipples. He wanted to rip the dress from her body and enter her immediately. He was hungry for her. His wet tongue traced a circle outside her dress, around her areola, enflaming her. Her hard nipples strained at the silk, eager to be free. He slipped his hand under her dress and inside her panties and sighed outwardly when he was greeted with her wetness. Once his fingers were inside of her, she gasped and began to grind herself onto his hand. He so wanted to be inside of her. He knew that these were the kind of moments that should never be interrupted. He removed his hand and Damita moaned. His fingers were soon inside her mouth and she sucked each one hungrily. Before exiting the car, Neal guided Damita’s hand inside of her own panties.
“Keep it wet for me, baby, okay?”
“What? Where are you going?”
“Driver, could you pull over here?”
“Of course, sir; will this be the final stop?”
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Neal replied.
Damita saw the driver get out of the car and walk over to the front passenger side where Neal was standing. She then saw Neal hand the driver some cash. He took the cash and walked away from the car.
Neal opened the car door and helped Damita out. He quickly backed her up against the back door, biting and sucking at her nipples voraciously, gripping tightly to her ass.
“Neal, what about—”
“Don’t worry. It’s only you and me here; no one else.”
At first Damita was afraid of being seen, but eventually she forgot all about it and gave into Neal’s hunger. Despite the chill of the night air, his hand under her dress was warm and inviting. She spread her legs and let him in. The sensation of him toying with her clit out in the open, where anyone might see, actually began to excite her. Neal then lifted her up, cradling her body in his arms and spread her out on the hood of the car, pushed her dress up and removed her panties. He entered her without ceremony and she came almost immediately, moaning and meeting his thrusts with her own.
“My God, baby, you’re so wet. I knew you still wanted me. It was only a matter of time. You belong to me. This is mine and only mine.”
As she tightened around him, it was more than he could stand and Neal could no longer restrain himself. He came inside of her with such force his legs were like jelly by the time he was done, as he attempted to stand. Damita still lay shivering on top of the car. She wasn’t sure if it were the cold of the metal against her nakedness or the multiple orgasms she had experienced.
Once he was standing strongly on both legs, he reached out his hand to Damita and helped her off of the car.
“Come on, angel, let’s go home.”
“But what about the car?” she asked.
“No worries. I gave the driver a thousand dollars and told him to pick the car up later. That will more than make up for any money he lost tonight.”
Neal fixed his pants and opened the front passenger door for Damita to get in and he drove them home.
As he drove, Damita dozed in the passenger seat next to him. He looked over at her and it occurred to him that no matter how independent a woman thought she was, all it took was a real man to keep her in line. He knew it and Damita would know it soon enough. It would take some time but eventually she would recognize who wore the pants in their family. The mere thought of his own family were enough to fill him with excitement. She didn’t know she wanted to be a mother yet, but he would convince her and if that wasn’t enough he would make it happen. He’d had enough experience to know that women were like children. They didn’t know what they really wanted until they had a man there to show them.
Damita woke up just as they were pulling up in front of their building.
“Hey, sleepy head,” he said.
“Hey.”
“I’ll be up in a minute. Wait for me?”
“I’ll try. I’m just so tired.”
Once Damita was inside the building, Neal got out of the car.
“Alpha Phi Alpha for life!”
Neal turned to find his frat brother, Michael, standing behind him.
“What’s up, man?” Neal asked.
“I should be asking you that question. You seem to still be up to your same old tricks. Who was that nice, hot piece of ass you were drilling? Does the wife know and more importantly, when do I get my turn?”
Neal sneered at his frat brother. “Watch your mouth, man. That was my wife.”
Grinning from ear-to-ear, Michael extended his hand to give Neal a pound.
“Damn, my man; you gonna leave me hanging? How did those pills work out for you?”
“We’ll see.”
“Here are your keys,” Neal said, handing him the car keys.
“You’re lucky we got history. I don’t drive folks around anymore. This is my company now. I’ve got a fleet of vehicles and drivers to match.”
“Yeah, I know; or have you forgotten who helped finance your little venture?”
“You won’t let me forget,” Michael said under his breath.
“Excuse me?”
“I tried to pay you back—with interest–and you didn’t want it back, but every time I turn around you want a favor.”
“Maybe you should have sold me a stake in the company like I asked and we’d be through with one another,” Neal reminded him.
Neal looked at Michael menacingly. “You will continue to do whatever I tell you to do or have you forgotten that little mishap you were a part of in college?”
Michael lowered his head. “No, I haven’t forgotten. You won’t let me forget.”
“I’m sure the young lady hasn’t forgotten either; she’ll have to live with that for the rest of her life. We all have to live with the decisions we make, Michael. Now it’s your turn to live with yours.”
Michael stomped off, got into his car and drove away, while Neal stood at the curb laughing.
“Some people refuse to take responsibility for their actions,” Neal said aloud.
Once inside the building, he looked at his watch, hoping that the effects of the Valium he had slipped into her wine earlier had not worn off. He was also looking forward to some sex without a whole lot of thinking involved.
By the time he got in the apartment she was sprawled across the sofa with her shoes still on.
“I spend ten thousand dollars on a fucking sofa and she puts her damn shoes on it,” he muttered to himself.
He picked Damita up, and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her out on their king-size platform bed and removed all of her clothing, including the shoes. He tried to wake her, but put very little effort into it. When it was clear she was not waking up, he spread her legs and unceremoniously shoved himself inside of her. She stirred and opened her eyes and he continued to pump away inside of her until he was done. He rolled off her and went to sleep. Confused and feeling overwhelmingly tired, Damita assumed she had fallen asleep while they were having sex. Within a matter of minutes, she too was asleep.
Damita slept better that night than she had all week. It was a sleep of contentedness. She allowed herself to believe that what happened on their wedding night was nothing more than a momentary bump in the road. If she didn’t allow herself to believe that, she would never have a restful night of sleep ever again.
Neal was already gone when she woke up the next morning. She assumed it had something to do with the car they borrowed the night before. She lay in bed reliving the night. Their lovemaking had always been intense, but there was something about last night that she sensed was different.
“I’m back.”
By the time Neal returned she was in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Is that bacon I smell?”
“You know I don’t eat that stuff,” he said.
“You can have some of the scrambled eggs then and maybe some toast?”
“I’d rather have mine poached. A trough of scrambled eggs laden in butter is the last thing I need.”
“So what’s this obsession about your body all of a sudden? You’re in great shape. You have been since I met you.”
“To keep the body in good health is a duty. Otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
“Buddha?”
“Yes.”
“Poached it is.”
Damita noticed Neal was suddenly sullen once again. She wasn’t sure why, especially given their spectacular night.
“Baby, is everything okay?” she asked.
“Everything is fine. You were moaning and talking in your sleep last night. What were you dreaming about?”
“I was talking in my sleep?” Damita asked.
“Yes, you were.”
“If I was moaning, it’s probably because I was thinking about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Neal, baby, what’s wrong?”
“What makes you think there’s something wrong?”
Damita watched him cautiously, sensing his irritation.
“Well, for one thing, you keep answering my questions with questions. I don’t understand. You seem angry. I thought we had such a good time together last night, but now you seem like you’re annoyed again.”
“You’re never going to let me forget, are you?”
“I thought we were past this. I thought after last night we could finally move past all of this; begin fresh.”
“Undoubtedly we can’t. Last night I listened to you. You didn’t sound like a woman that was beginning fresh. You sounded more like a woman who was livid. You were fighting with someone while you slept.”
“So now you’re going to persecute me for something I said or did while I was sleeping? I don’t even remember whatever it is you’re talking about.”
“You know what they say about dreams being manifestations of your life while you’re awake.”
“Neal, I have no control over that. I’ll admit that maybe it might have something to do with what happened, but that wasn’t my fault, was it?”
“Oh, so, that’s what we’re doing now? Are we laying blame for all that’s wrong with this marriage?”
“I can’t speak much about this marriage, since we’ve barely been married a week, but I do know that I never hit you. I also know that under the circumstances, I should be nominated for sainthood. A lot of women would have been gone the moment you hit them. I’m still here, trying to make this work. Instead of appreciating that, you keep bouncing back and forth with these mood swings. I don’t know where it’s coming from. You were never like this when we were dating.”
“You know, Damita, I must admit, I felt guilty after I hit you. I’ve been trying to figure out why I did it. I now realize it’s because there is something about you that is so maddening! You expect the world to kiss your ass. You think I should be grateful to you for not leaving. That’s not going to happen. You’re my wife and I expect you to act accordingly.”
“If you hold such disdain for me, why don’t you leave? Maybe we both made a mistake. Let’s end it here and now.”
“No.”
“What do you mean by no?”
“I mean exactly what I said.”
“Damita, when I spoke those vows, I meant every word I said. Marriage for me means forever.”
“But, Neal, if it’s not working, why on earth would you want to stay? This is clearly not working. You’re not who I thought you were and judging from your comments, I’m not who you thought I was.”
“I’ve always known who you are, angel. However, I never had any intention of allowing you to stay that way. None of that has changed. Your parents obviously spoiled you rotten. You think you can do and say whatever you want, but you will not do that and be married to me. It’s best that you learn that now, rather than wait months or even a year or two down the road to find out.
“I don’t believe that men and women have been or will ever be equals, in marriage or in life. You are not my equal and the sooner you figure that out, the better. I fully intend to hold up my end of the bargain. You should quit your job and get pregnant and I will be the man in this relationship, as it was intended.”
Damita was speechless. She had married a Neanderthal. “Neal, despite what you may think, this marriage is over. This is not what I signed up for.”
As she headed for the door, Neal blocked her way.
“Neal, move!”
“No. You’re not going anywhere.”
“You really are insane, aren’t you?”
Neal chuckled. “I want you to see something.”
“I don’t need to see anything.”
“I think you do. Look in the coffee table.”
Damita knew she should probably leave but curiosity got the best of her. She figured she would simply leave after seeing whatever it was he was talking about. She opened the coffee table drawer and saw nothing but the usual miscellaneous items they kept there.
“Look under the lining.”
She pulled up the lining in the table and there was a manila folder.
“Open it.”
There was a picture of Neal with another woman. She could have been Damita’s sister. The cocoa brown complexion, the slim build; even the long wavy hair was styled eerily similar to hers.
“Who is this?” Damita asked.
“Everything you need to know is there. Keep looking.”
Under the picture there was a newspaper article. As she read, she wondered what it all meant. “Okay, so I give up. Who is this and why did you want me to read this article? Why did you feel you needed to hide it?”
“You know what it means, Damita. I keep it as a reminder. She was my wife. Her name was Claire and she was even more willful than you. She pushed and pushed and never stopped pushing. She was infuriating and, like you, she eventually wanted to leave. I told her I would never let her go, but she didn’t believe me.”
Damita was stunned. “Neal, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I take the words until death do us part very seriously.”