Chapter 23

 

 

MICHAEL WOKE UP WITH a start. He frowned. If he wasn’t mistaken, he thought he heard Ama’s voice. He listened harder. Silence.

He picked up the book from where it lay on the floor after he’d dozed off. His watch beeped. Six o’clock, and Esi hadn’t returned. Had she decided to stay there?

The door swung open, and a beaming Ama barged in.

“Ama, what’s happening? Why are you so happy?”

“Auntie Esi has come back,” she announced.

He sprang up. This was the moment he’d been waiting for since she’d left on Friday. Following Ama to the sitting room, he realised Esi must have gone to the bedroom. He couldn’t wait to see her again. He opened the door quietly, his heart pounding with anticipation. Should he embrace her as he wanted to, or just say a casual welcome as she probably expected?

When he entered, he did neither. She was stunningly naked standing before the wardrobe, her hair in braids, and a blue dress in her hand. She whipped around and froze.

“You’re beautiful.” Desire stirred as he feasted his eyes on the pleasant surprise of her nudity. “You take my breath away.”

As he approached, she did the silly thing of lifting the dress in a futile attempt to cover herself. When he reached her, he put a stop to her efforts, gently taking the dress from her.

“Don’t hide your beauty from me,” he whispered. Slipping his arm around her, he pulled her to him. “Welcome home, my wife.”

He should probably have asked her about her journey, offered her water at the very least, but having her in his arms again triggered a primal need that took precedence over tradition.

He bent and planted a kiss on her shoulder. Her sharp intake of breath pleased and aroused him further. He continued tracing a path up her neck, tonguing his way to her jaw. She inclined her neck, giving him access. When he reached her lips, she was breathing through her mouth. He captured her lips, kissing her unhurriedly, savouring the delightful taste of her.

“How’s my mother?” he murmured absently against her lips, cupping her breasts and caressing them gently. Her nipples immediately formed hard peaks against his palms.

“She’s fine.”

He pulled away only long enough to focus his attention on her very perky nipples. He took one in his mouth, allowing his tongue to slow dance around it, giving attention to each nipple in turn.

She arched her back, uttering a moan of gratification as she cradled his head in her hands.

“And your mother?”

Esi sucked in a breath. “…fine.”

She pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He groaned, his knees turning to wax at her touch. They sank to the floor, and he eased her carefully onto the carpet. He pulled back to gaze at her. She was such a perfect creation, more intriguing than anything that had ever been created by the world’s most renowned artists. Slowly, he lowered himself onto her, caressing, licking, and kissing from her lips to her toes.

Her breath became gasps. She touched him, running her fingers lightly over his arms. He slipped his hand between her thighs, loving the sound of her soft noises, basking in a ray of utter satisfaction, knowing that she enjoyed what he was doing.

He caressed his way up, spreading her legs apart in the process as he kissed a path towards her centre.

“Did you travel well?” He slipped between her legs and lowered his tender lips on her.

She gasped. “…yes!”

He feasted on her, relishing her taste as her moans rose, uninhibited.

“Oh, God, Michael,” she cried out, locking her thighs around his head.

He could feel her release approaching. He curled his hands around her thighs, spreading them for easier access. She called out his name, reaching for him. He grabbed her hands just as her body tensed and contorted, succumbing to her first release of the night.

“Esi,” he groaned as his tongue extracted every last bit of release from her.

 

****

 

Esi’s inner muscles continued to squeeze and quiver with remnants of her release. When Michael rose up over her, she was more than ready for him. She still couldn’t believe what he was doing. She’d expected him to acknowledge her arrival with a callous statement and leave her hurt, but here he was, kissing her and turning her into delicate putty. He propped himself on his elbows, grinding his engorged manhood against her feminine mound. She trembled with need.

His lips formed a smile. “I love you.”

Her breath whooshed out. She shook her head. She must have heard wrong.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to say it, too.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss into her palm. “It may be hard for you to believe, but it’s true.”

She blinked, yearning for this moment to never end, longing to remain in his arms forever.

He raised his pelvis just enough to allow space for his entry. A shiver ran through her. As he filled her, she yielded completely to him, receiving his every thrust with her body.

“I’ve missed you.” He kissed her dry lips, and her name never left his.

She held onto him with such ardour, as if she’d implode any second. Yet, she’d never been more alive. Their moans blended as they made love. Like a god and his goddess, they were changing the world, their emotions exploding dangerously as together, they came to a delicious climax. She screamed. Tears came to her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Concern reflected on his face as he kissed the waters streaming down her face.

She smiled through her tears and kissed him. He didn’t break their connection as he bathed her with light kisses.

“I love you, Esi,” he whispered.

The temptation to take him at his word overwhelmed her, but she’d learnt how quickly bliss could turn to pain, and even though his actions matched his words right now, they could change tomorrow. So, she’d take this moment and hide it in her heart.

As if he’d read her mind, he said, “I’ll say it until you believe it.”

They lay like that for a while, basking in the sweet silence they’d just created. Then, he picked her up and brought her to bed. Remaining in each other’s arms, they explored their bodies, falling in love anew with everything they touched. After a while, he rolled over, so she was lying on top of him.

“I love you,” he said a third time. “Okay?”

She released a breath. “Okay.”

Seemingly satisfied with her response, he resumed caressing her. “I could make love to you all night.”

With her heart overflowing, she giggled. “Then do.”

He smiled. “How would you like to be on top this time?”

A giddy sensation galloped up her spine. “Show me how.”

And he did.

Fingers intertwined, they danced the dance of love again and again, moving in perfect harmony as though they had indeed become one person—all night.

 

****

 

Michael woke up with Esi in his arms, much like their first time together. He was beyond happy. Staring at the ceiling, he hugged her closer and listened to her heavy breathing as peace settled in his heart. Everything was right with the world. Her hand slid across his waist in a semi-hug that made him look down.

“Hi,” he said.

She smiled and squeezed him tighter.

“Did you sleep well?”

She nodded. He checked the time.

“You’re going to be late for work,” she said without releasing him.

“It’s a holiday.” As he said this, he stroked her hair with slow, gentle motions. “Although, I do have to go to the office for a few hours.”

She offered no response to this, choosing to simply enjoy this time with him.

“Do you want to come?” He didn’t want to be away from her.

“Yes.”

They lazed in bed, enjoying each other for a few more minutes before getting ready for the day.

They arrived at the premises of AgroChem at close to midday. There was no one there except for the security guard who let them in. Michael showed her around, pointing out Osei’s office as they passed it. Finally, they reached his office, and he led the way inside, switching on the lights.

“This is where I come every day when I leave you at home,” he said.

“It’s nice.” She looked around.

He watched her inspect his office. He hadn’t done much in the form of personalising the space, but she appeared to be impressed. It took all his willpower to just watch and not touch.

“How long will we stay here?”

He shrugged. “I just have a document to type.” Remembering a previous conversation, he asked, “How fast can you type?”

She frowned. “I haven’t typed in a long time, but I used to be fast.”

“Maybe you can help me.” He brought her to his desk and plugged the IBM electric typewriter. Noticing her bewildered look, he said, “The keys are the same.”

She inspected the keyboard and relaxed a fraction as she placed her fingers on the keys.

He loaded some paper and placed the rest of the stack next to the machine.

“The difference with this is that you can delete a whole line.” He typed a line and deleted it to show her. “Write something.”

Dear Mansa, she typed, I returned to Accra safely, then she hit the backspace.

“Excellent. I’ll dictate, and you can type.”

Before going to sit on the visitor’s chair in front of the desk, he touched her hair gently, brushing his lips on the crown of her head. Nothing could go wrong today, he thought, or any day from now on.

“Okay.”

They worked for almost fifteen minutes before he took a break to check what they’d come up with. Satisfied, they continued again for another thirty minutes.

After talking for over forty minutes, his throat felt like parchment paper.

“I’m getting some water,” he said. “Would you like some?”

She gave him a smile and a nod. “Yes, thank you.”

Going to the kitchenette, he took a glass and fetched water from the dispenser. After downing two glasses, he nodded with satisfaction, then filled it up again for Esi.

As he returned to her, he heard a voice that almost stopped his heart, and it was coming from his office. Picking up his step, he half ran, dreading the damage Lena could cause. A few seconds later, he caught the last bit of what she was saying.

“I’m not surprised he didn’t tell you that we work together.” She stood at the door, leaning against the frame.

He pushed the door open, startling Lena. His gaze immediately sought out Esi who stood at the desk with venom in her eyes. Whatever Lena had said had hurt her, and she was trying hard not to cry. Michael didn’t feel rational, but he fought to remain calm.

“What the hell are you playing at, Lena?” he asked, but he stayed focused on Esi.

“I was just telling her we work together. It seems your dear wife didn’t know,” Lena explained sweetly. “Anyway, I came by to pick up some forms to work on tonight.”

She gave Esi one last look and walked out of the room.

Stepping out behind her, he caught her arm. “I don’t know what you’ve told her, but if you’ve caused any damage, Lena, I swear to God…”

He let the threat hang, not knowing what exactly he’d do. Right now, he just wanted to go back to his wife.

“What are you going to do, Mike? As far as I’m concerned, you’ve already done the worst thing you could do to me, so save your empty threats.”

She pulled out of his grip and walked off.

He found his wife still standing, staring at the door.

“Esi—” he started, but she cut him off.

“What happened on Saturday?”

Stunned to silence at the question, he could only stare back at her. He swore, rubbing his forehead. What had Lena told her?

“Did you go to her house?”

For a second, he considered lying, knowing the immediate consequences were going to be better than the truth. But if he wanted to earn her trust, he had to be honest.

“Yes.” He braced himself for tears, which never came. Instead, he watched as a cold calmness settled upon her—the same quietness she’d shown prior to her trip—and the feeling of goodbye he’d felt that week returned. He’d have given anything for her to shout at him.

“What happened?” she asked. “Did you and her—”

He didn’t let her complete the question.

“No.” He came to stand next to her, seeking her gaze. “Nothing happened.”

“I thought you said you weren’t seeing her anymore.”

“I’m not,” he insisted, and explained the events of Saturday.

“Are you saying she tricked you into going to her place?” She shook her head. “That’s not what she said.”

“Whatever she told you, if it doesn’t match what I’m saying, then it’s not true,” he said. “Esi, please believe me. You wouldn’t do what she did, I know, but she’s not like you.” No one is like you. “I love you.”

“Those are just words, Yaw.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “You don’t love me. You only say nice things when I cry.”

Helplessly, he watched the little progress they’d made over the past eighteen hours shatter before his very eyes. Not sure what else to do, he placed a hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off.

“Don’t touch me.” The anger finally burst through.

“Please hear me out.”

“It’s just sex you want from women, isn’t it?”

“No,” he said, defeated. “No.”

“Take me home.” Tears now flowed down freely. “I hate what you’re doing to me, Michael. If I’d known what you had in store for me, I wouldn’t have married you.”

“Esi, don’t say that.”

“I’m sorry I came back.”

His words died on his tongue. He shut his eyes to contain the pain. He didn’t know what to say. Even if he did, he had no time, for she stormed out of the office.

She didn’t speak to him all through the journey back, and the tension remained heavy. Even when they reached home, she refused to talk to him, and for the first time, Michael began to realise how much he’d actually hurt her in the past.

Even Ama seemed to be avoiding him. It dawned on him how his treatment of Esi in the past few months would have spilt over to her. She looked like a frightened lamb lost on a cold, dark night. What if she had been their daughter or his little sister? Would he have treated them so badly? Would he ever be able to fix this?

He had many questions, but not enough answers.