Between Love and Hate, page 27
"You would change." Biz answered, turning to face him. "It was like you'd shut down or something. You'd try not to let it show...but it always did. I could feel a wall around you. I knew I had your body, but your mind, your heart...they were off limits."
Cahlir's incredible silver stare faltered and he took a deep breath. "I remember." He admitted. "You made me feel so good, Biz. So damned good. Unfortunately, feelin' so good also made me feel guilty."
"Because of Liza?" Biz blinked away a tear.
Cahlir nodded. "Mmm... I didn't feel I had a right to any happiness with her gone."
Biz crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the ground. "I understand how you must've felt-now. Then, I thought you didn't want things more serious than what they were and I needed more than that for Libby. Every time I saw you, I kept hoping you'd be different, that you wouldn't shut me out. You always did."
Cahlir buried his face in his hands and inhaled. For the first time, he really understood why she'd done what she had. "Is that why you were so bent on keeping me at arm’s length during Atlanta?"
Biz leaned her head back and smiled. "Atlanta. Atlanta threw me. I didn't expect any of that. I didn't know if you were serious about the business side of it all, if it had something to with what was going on between us or if you knew about Libby. All I knew was that I wanted to give into you-to what I'd wanted for so long."
Cahlir stood and began walking toward her. "But you couldn't?"
Biz shook her head. "I knew if I did...and I got hurt again, I couldn't handle it. That was a chance I didn't want to take."
Cahlir quickly closed the distance between them. He cupped Bizay's face in his hands and kissed her teary eyes. "I'm not going anywhere, Sweet." He assured her, lifting her against his solid frame. "Everything I did to wedge my way into your life was to get you back with me. You and Libby are never getting rid of me."
Biz tried to blink away her tears, but they only grew more abundant. She was finally able to embrace the happiness that flowed through her body.
A tiny whimper escaped her, when Cahlir pressed kisses all over her face and neck. He carried her up the wide, carpeted staircase to her bedroom. One brush of his hand against the wall and the entire room was bathed in soft, golden light. He placed her on the bed and pulled the zipper on her clinging charcoal dress. He buried his face in the valley between the ample, dark mounds of her breasts. Biz moaned and arched herself closer to his mouth. Her hands cupped his head, urging him lower. Cahlir's fingers curled around the neckline of the dress and he peeled it from her shoulders. Biz wriggled her hips to help him pull the garment from her body. His large hands cupped and squeezed her breasts, before sliding beneath her back to undo the bra fastening. The wispy lace creation slid to the carpet, a delicate pair of matching panties followed.
Her hands were just as busy. She pushed the jacket off Cahlir's broad shoulders. His vest and shirt followed. Her nails grazed the bulging pects in his chest, her lips sought the tiny male nipples and bathed them with her tongue.
"Biz..." Cahlir groaned, allowing her to push him to his back. He pulled the pins from her hair and slid his fingers into her soft, wavy mane.
Bizay tugged on the silver belt buckle and pulled it from his lean waist. She unfastened the pants and slid them along with his boxers, to the floor. When he was completely nude, she worshipped his magnificent, chiseled physique with soft, wet kisses. Her teasing pecks moved upwards, until her silky, dark body covered him. Her thick hair provided an oasis for lovers, as they shared a throaty kiss.
Cahlir soon had his fill of Biz's taunting. His large hands gripped her hips, as he positioned her over his lap. Bizay's sharp cry of delight, mingled with his deep groan when their bodies connected. Biz threw her head back and gazed up at the high ceiling, as Cahlir's throbbing erection filled her. She met his powerful lunges with a fire of her own. Her slender, voluptuous frame rubbed against his massive hardness in wild abandon.
Knowing the love they felt was mutual, brought increased fever to the heated scene. Cahlir and Bizay felt as though they were making love together for the first time.
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later...
"Libby, are you sure this is where Daddy said for us to meet him?" Biz asked, as she parked her car.
Libby smiled and nodded. "Yes, Mommy. Daddy said, 'seven a clock Harper'."
Biz laughed and tweaked Libby's nose. "Well, we're here. May as well go inside," She left the car and walked around to help Libby out. As they headed inside the restaurant, Biz frowned at the nearly deserted parking lot. Very unusual for Harper's on a Saturday night.
"Biz!" Myron Harper called when they stepped inside. "Let me take your coat."
"Thanks Myron, hey Gerald," Biz called, smiling as Gerald Harper helped Libby out of her coat.
"Business is awful slow tonight, isn't it?" Biz brushed imaginary specks of lint from the tight, long sleeves of the short, burgundy dress she wore.
"Well, it's still pretty early." Gerald explained, picking Libby up. "Hey Biz, is it okay to take Libby to the kitchen and let her sample some dessert?"
Biz smiled at the gleeful expression on Libby's tiny face. "Mmm...that's right up her alley. Just don't let her sample too much." She said, watching the two new friends head towards the kitchen. "Y'all can't be too busy if you have time to show Libby around the kitchen."
"Honey, trust me, business is very good." Myron assured her, the smug smile still clinging to his lips.
Biz shrugged, deciding to give it a rest. One hand settled against her back, left bare by the cut of her dress. She looked up and smiled.
"I was just going to ask about you." Biz told Cahlir, who stood next to her. She admired the fit of his olive green suit coat and the matching trousers that hung over his long legs.
"Were you worried?" He softly asked, rubbing his thumb along her spine.
Bizay's lashes fluttered close for a moment, but she managed to shake her head. "This is all just a bit strange." She said, as they turned towards the dining room.
Cahlir gave Myron a secretive wink and followed Biz. "Strange?" He asked.
Biz nodded. "Very."
Cahlir held her chair for her and kissed the top of her head. "Would you like something to drink?" He asked, already beginning to pour the champagne.
"I think I need it." Biz whispered, accepting the glass. She had only taken one sip of the delicious, bubbly liquid, when the glass was pulled from her fingers.
"Hey I-"
"We have plenty of time to drink." He promised her while reaching into the deep pockets of his trousers.
"Well, what are we going to do now?" She asked, feeling totally bewildered as he knelt beside her.
"Right now," Cahlir sighed, turning her heavy chair away from the table with ease, "I'm going to propose."
Biz grabbed the edge of the table. "Propose?" Her voice squeaked.
"Mmm hmm," Cahlir replied, opening the top of the velvet navy case he held.
Bizay's thick lashes batted a thousand times, as she stared at the exquisite marquis cut diamond sitting high on a thick platinum band. "Oh my God..." She breathed.
Cahlir's deep dimples appeared in the corners of his beautifully sculpted mouth, as he enjoyed her surprise. "I know we agreed to take it slow, but you always try my patience." He sat the fabulous ring on the table and slid closer to her.
Biz could barely think with his hands moving possessively up over the length of her shapely legs and thighs. Cahlir pressed his forehead against hers, as his silver eyes gazed directly into her brown ones. "I want to marry you. Please say yes." He whispered.
Biz willed herself not to faint before she could answer. "Yes." She breathed, pressing her lips to his.
Cahlir slid his arms around her and the kiss deepened. They were so caught up in each other; they didn't notice everyone entering the dining room.
The newly engaged couple broke apart, when the crowd descended upon them with well wishes. A short while later; they were pulled to opposite sides of the dining room by family and friends.
Max Garven took Biz to the dance floor. "I never thought I'd see you and Cahlir get to this point." He told her.
Biz nodded. "It surprises me too." She admitted.
"Happy?"
"Very." Biz assured Max. She pulled him closer and they glided across the crowded dance floor.
"Excuse me man, can I cut in?" Cahlir was asking Max a while later.
Max grinned and stepped aside. "Congratulations, man." He told Cahlir, as the two of them shook hands and hugged.
Cahlir's silver eyes narrowed, as he turned to Biz and settled his arms about her waist. "I love you." He whispered against her ear.
"I love you." Biz managed, despite the mad fluttering of her heart.
Cahlir sighed and kissed her earlobe. "I never thought I'd hear you say that to me."
Biz closed her eyes and breathed in the seductive scent of his cologne. "I think we both wondered if we'd ever be able to trust again."
Cahlir raised his head and stared down at her. "Do you trust me now?"
"With my life."
The two of them held each other close, when a thought entered Bizay's mind. "Speaking of life," she began, "where are we going to live after this wedding?" She asked, watching a devilish grin cross Cahlir's lips. "I mean, I guess I'll sell my condo, if you really want to go to Chicago."
Cahlir nodded. "Well yeah, we'll have to go to Chicago so I can find someone to look after my house."
"Look after?" She asked, a frown tugging at her silky brows.
"Mmm hmm."
"Do you want to live in Atlanta?"
Cahlir shrugged. "I like it here. I can run my business from anywhere. I figured since your home store is here, you'd love it too."
Biz laughed. "You're damned straight, I love it! But, Atlanta's even farther away from California than Chicago. How often will Carla be able to visit?"
"Truthfully, I have a better chance of getting her to visit me here than in Chicago." Cahlir explained. "And all of our family lives in Miami. So, it'll be easier to visit them and vice versa."
Biz propped her elbow against Cahlir's shoulder and pressed her hand to her forehead. "You had this all figured out, didn't you?" She asked, her vibrant brown eyes sparkling with love.
Cahlir looked around at his new found family and friends. He had a beautiful daughter, a fulfilling career and the most incredibly provocative woman any man could want. Looking back at Biz, he cupped her chin. "Love, I never figured on any of this." He assured her and planted the softest kiss to her lips.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for spending a little time with Cahlir Decker and Bizay Donneeter as they worked their way through misunderstandings and broken hearts brought about by shattered trust and the pain of loss. In many of my stories it is either the hero or heroine that is weighed down by issues that present the barriers that agitate the relationship. The hero overcomes these ‘issues’ with the help of the heroine or vice versa. In Cahlir’s and Bizay’s case however, both are weighed down, and neither is in a position to help the other.
I’ve never written a story that tackled the issue that Cahlir faced- let alone tackled it from the heroes’ standpoint. We have our heroine Bizay Donneeter; tough and beautiful but wracked with her own set of issues. While Biz’s ‘issues’ may not have seemed as monumental as Cahlir’s, the fact that he would not share his pain with her made her ability to trust him a chore of its own. I enjoyed weaving this story that stresses the importance of communication and forgiveness. Helping Biz and Cahlir find their way to love from hate was as challenging as it was provocative. I hope you enjoyed the journey. Send me an email and chime in with your thoughts.
Love and Blessings,
AlTonya
altonya@alsreaders.com
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Altonya Washington, Between Love and Hate
