"Took your sweet dreams, made that reality
Baby, we the dream team, seeing us shine
All the others want a piece of the pie
White wine on the bike rides, I'll keep you enticеd
Soul food, no guidelines, just follow the light
Truе love, the right kind, we made it alright…"

Nayana Iz – "Partner in Crime"

Sabine rubbed her arms.

The rope marks were deep and made parts of her brown skin red in the grooves of her flesh.

Their lovemaking had gone next level.

Lying on their bed as Erik finished untying her legs, she watched his face as he worked. Serious. His eyes were meticulous searching for any missed bruising or breaks in the skin. When she was completely free the best part came. He would sit behind her and cradle her in his arms, stroking her arms gently and whispering sweet soothing words of comfort with his aftercare.

Soft kisses to her forehead. Chaste caresses around her breasts and nipple piercings. Massages to her neck and shoulders. Soft pats to her clit piercing and folds. Just like the first time he tied her in the home gym and untied her in the bedroom so many weeks ago, her mental state came down from a high just like her physical state and the tears would come. Hot fresh tears of release. From the binding. From the sex. From the intense orgasms. Sabine took to shibari like a fish to water and it became a serious addition to their intimate couplings. Not all the time, but at least twice a week in some capacity. Sometimes there was no sex. Sometimes he would tie her up and suspend her from the bedroom ceiling and leave her alone to go into the headspace she needed to feel…free. He read a book on the bed quietly or sometimes sat out on the balcony to give her privacy, but close enough to check on her. If she wasn't suspended, he would sometimes, per her request, bind her in a simple and comfortable weave and leave her completely alone for an hour.

They talked often about what it was like for her to experience it. Surfing was such an existential adrenaline rush that she needed, but being tied up brought her back to her own body after pushing it to the limits on the water. For Erik, tying was a way to satisfy his need for more extreme ways to enjoy the human body outside of himself. Having sex with her while she was tied gave him pleasure because in his mind, even though she was the one being tied up, she was also the one in control of him. He wanted to give up control in some type of way and he found the perfect way to quench his desires by making Sabine the one who dictated when he could cum when he fucked her while she was bound.

The session they just ended was so intense because she had edged him with her pussy. Arms suspended above her head from their bed with her torso and legs bound tight, he fucked her from behind with his face pressed against hers, his lips near her ear as he continually asked her, "Can I cum?"

She wouldn't answer him and his lust intensified while he pumped into her tight wet heat. He would only receive pants and low moans from her.

"Can I cum? Baby, can I cum in your pussy?"

His pleas went unanswered and he would moan in her ear louder.

"Can I cum?"

"Hmmmm."

That's all she would allow him. Soft grunts from her lips, clenches from her walls all snug around his length, the creamy sounds of her wetness making him weak…desperate…brutal. His long strokes were death strokes, and the more time she spent denying him release, the harder he beat up her sopping slit. It would be easy for him to dominate as he usually did and just cum when he wanted which he did when they had sex without the bondage rope. But on those occasions when they made love using rope play, and she allowed him to cum inside of her, the rule usually was that she controlled when he could cum. He needed her permission. Erik submitted to her.

This was when Sabine could bring brutality back to him. She would have him going insane begging and pleading with that one question over and over, "Can I cum?"

He would cheat sometimes. Slip tricky fingers around her swollen pierced clit and fondle the nub until she broke and hissed out, "Yessss!"

The roar that would come out of his mouth. All hell would break loose in her pussy as his guttural shouts ended with a flood of semen drenching her womb. Erik will growl, yell, curse, and grip her hips as his pulsing erection soon brought about her own delicious release. Just like it did for her moments earlier before he untied and comforted her. There was nothing more powerful and more desirable than hearing her man lose control and scream out her name as she felt his essence spill into her hard and deep.

Sometimes, if she were gone for more than a week competing or doing work for Maverick Innovative Sports when they rejoined and finished aftercare from an exquisite time of shibari play, they would make love again soon after and Erik would revel in the marks on her body that he made while they were in missionary. He sank down to his balls and his groans in her ear would set her pussy to jumping and clenching so bad that she would whimper while his gold chain necklace dangled and touched her face with her toes pointed to the ceiling. And his kisses then? There had to be a God somewhere in heaven to create the blissful connection she felt when Erik kissed her while he plunged into her. His hands gripped her hair tight cradled around her head as he did his awe-inspiring demon time pumps into her core. By that time, she would scramble to clutch onto his back or shoulders or the sheets on the bed to anchor her soul from leaving her body. His body would press so tight…so close…so strong against her torso and his mouth would give her life, their tongues dancing and their hearts beating so fast…

Sabine often wondered why she didn't just die in those moments. What greater love could she find ever again than having Erik rooted within her? Loving her? Only her? Fused body and soul, she often started crying, and when he released her mouth and started moaning when he came…Jesus.

She wore his rope marks with pride and was grateful that her wetsuit covered up the signs when she had to fly out of town. If he did rope ties that involved her head and neck, she would wear choker necklaces to cover their indentations.

Erik was also a tease.

He showed her his two female half-torso mannequins and the full-body one in his closet. She had erroneously mistaken them for tools to hold up his jackets and shirts. They had been covered behind a huge rack of suits and belts. Pulling them into the bedroom, he showed her how he practiced his ties and designs, often weaving things for her to see that he would put on her body when she returned to him. Sabine would be dying of anticipation to get back home and strip naked for him after the children were sent to be with Calista on the weekends…

Sabine rested her head lower onto Erik's chest.

She kept her distance from the mother of his children. A respectful distance.

Calista requested that she be given weekend visitation on a regular schedule as she eased into being back in San Diego. Deuce adjusted to being at Mission Bay High and his mother got over him not going to an expensive private school anymore. Sabine didn't know until she had started living with them that both of Erik's kids had skipped full grades when they were younger. They were both brilliant inquisitive children and Sabine often forgot that Erik was smart as fuck himself.

She loved their evenings together when they were all under the same roof at the same time.

Because of their time in Baja with her family, Erik had incorporated family cooking time where at least three times a week they prepared dinner together as a family instead of eating out or ordering in. It was something that she took for granted as a child. Sabine enjoyed how Erik interacted with Deuce and Marina as they cooked together and shared their day. From what Deuce shared, spending more time with his father allowed him to enjoy his mother more, and the tension that had shrouded their interactions had gotten better. Marina was less anxious. Her school performance improved and she was able to focus more while maintaining high marks on her schoolwork. Support from an educational therapist and special instruction in school helped her overcome much of her processing issues. She surfed every day after school with Sabine and Erik, and when she wanted Daddy/Daughter time to herself, Sabine used that time to hang with Deuce. They had a love of skateboarding up and down the boardwalk to go have waffle cone sundaes sprinkled with caramel popcorn together. There was an ease with him now, and he often sought her out for companionship.

She couldn't believe how their relationship had shifted. Papi and Mommy probably had a lot to do with that. They were close to both children. In a way, she wasn't just his Dad's girlfriend, she was becoming his confidante. He seemed to love skateboarding with her more than anything, and sometimes they didn't even talk, just kick and pushed, and rolled.

Erik's cell rang.

"Gotta take this, baby," he said.

He rolled over away from her and walked out to his balcony.

Sabine used the restroom, took a shower, and then pulled on a simple cotton house dress. Erik's voice sounded serious. Had to be his lawyers again. He was talking to them a lot lately.

She roamed freely down the stairs. The house was theirs for the evening. Kids gone. Yvette staying over with her new boyfriend. She drifted into the kitchen and pulled a pint of chocolate chunk ice cream out of the freezer to indulge in as she watched tv on the kitchen counter screen. The Delta Airlines commercial she filmed came on, and she watched herself pretend to struggle with a surfboard travel bag and luggage. Jet planes zig-zagged across an imaginary globe and it ended with her plopping into a first-class seat and falling asleep against a window. It was in heavy rotation and she noticed it connected with a lot of people. She was recognized and stopped a lot more on the boardwalk when she skateboarded with Deuce.

When she was done stuffing her face with the ice cream she had no business eating so much of, she climbed back up the stairs. She wanted to sleep and enjoy the quiet before the children and Yvette returned. The respite would probably be short-lived though. Erik had a habit of waking her in the night to have sex. She'd feel that wood poking in her backside and his hands would roam up and down her side trying to coax her to open her legs for him. He would hold her limbs up high and rock into her as the sky lightened from their bedroom window. Morning loving at its finest. Soft pants. Soft quiet moans… especially if the children were home downstairs. She pretended that their early lovemaking made the sun rise in the sky. It had to be done. Without question. He would stare at her folds, then look deep into her eyes as he pulled out and stroked under the ridge of his swollen mushroom tip. He'd circle his thumb around the circumference of the head and say her name.

"Sugar…Sugar…baby…"

Her name was an invocation on his lips.

"I love you…Sugar…"

His strokes forced his cum onto her stomach and breasts. She had to bite her own lips to stay silent as he twisted up his own fleshy lips to keep from shouting as he ejaculated and waking up the household. The sex between them was the best then. The dawning of a new sun. A new day. A new way to love. The mornings made her feel like she got love right this time. Cracked the code. Found the secret to everlasting happiness. He truly was the love of her life.

"Well, I need fucking answers, Dax…"

Sabine stopped at the top of the third-floor stairs.

Erik was upset.

She turned to go back down the stairs to give him privacy but he was already headed out of the bedroom wearing the special handmade virgin silk robe she bought for him in Tahiti. Stress wore out his expression and she moved out of his way. He reached out and stroked her waist before continuing down to his office.

He closed the door behind him.

Sabine went to their bedroom and crawled under the covers. She waited for him to return but he never did until she fell asleep.

###

The doorbell rang and Erik answered it.

Colin stood before him looking refreshed in a crisp beige linen shirt and pants set with soft brown leather shoes.

"Hey man, come on in," Erik said.

They gave each other dap, but Erik could feel a slight tension in Colin's shoulders as he stepped into the house. They went into the family room to chill. Colin looked around and his eyes caught sight of new photos on the side table that housed several family photos. Christmas in Baja. Life around Mission Beach. Erik had his arm around Sugar with her arms thrown over Marina's shoulders with Deuce giving his best impression of teen cool with his arms folded and a smirk on his face. He couldn't fool anybody. It was clear as day that his son looked happy. There was another picture of Sugar and Marina surfing together on the same wave, a picture Erik was able to catch with his Go Pro as he paddled out past them. It was a gorgeous shot, Sugar and Marina both wearing braids and beads and serious surf faces. Erik was proud to see his child with perfect form on her board. Marina took well to Sugar's coaching. His daughter was set to compete in a junior division in two weeks and Erik kept out of her way as she found her own confidence in her abilities. Not having Daddy coaching her took the pressure off of her to be perfect.

"Nice pictures," Colin said taking a seat.

"It was a great trip."

"Everyone's good?"

"Great. Still working out some kinks with Calista."

"Sugar?"

Erik could feel just by looking at Colin that his feelings hadn't changed for his woman. Just the way he said her name had a loving lilt behind it. He didn't want it to bother him, but the back of his mind kept telling him…if he fucked up, this man would be there. His boy. His ace.

They had talked a few times on the phone over the passing months. Feeling each other out. He was nervous but felt open to the man.

"It's good to see you, E."

"You too. Want a beer?"

"Yeah, I'll take one. You still fuck with that German shit?"

"Yeah."

"I'll have that."

Erik brought him the beer and they drank making small talk. Colin had been speaking with Sugar's management team about having her promote his new battery-powered wave rider. Colin had found a way to make a smaller lithium battery that extended power for up to two hours, totally leaving his competition behind. He was smart enough to hire two ex-Navy engineers who found a way to make the wave rider lighter too for the consumer. Maverick was looking into designing sports equipment for aquatics, but Colin wanted a way to partner with them and corner the market. Sugar could be his way in if they allowed her to sell the product for him.

Within the hour, Sugar waltzed into the house and her face was surprised to see Colin.

"I thought we were meeting tomorrow," she said.

He stood and she walked up to him giving him a friendly hug.

"I'm here to see my boy."

Sugar nodded and her eyes darted to Erik's.

"Back in stride again," Erik said.

"No doubt," Colin said.

It made Erik feel good to hear him say that. Sugar sure did look pleased.

"Has Denice called you yet?" Sugar asked Colin.

"Yeah, we'll do a Zoom chat next week. I want you to give me your honest opinion of the product tomorrow. If it's not for you, I don't want you to attach your name to it," he said.

"Okay. But you make the best shit, Colin."

"I do."

"You want a beer?" Erik asked.

"No, I'm going to change shoes and then I'm heading out with Asia and Yolanda. I'm taking Stacy out for a treat. She's been on it with my schedule and managing my emails and shit. I want to show my appreciation."

She cozied up to him and stroked his wrists.

"Can I take the Porsche?" she purred.

"Yes. But no more speeding tickets, please."

"Thank you!"

She wandered out of the room and Erik glanced at Colin.

"She has you twisted around her finger," Colin joked.

"Can't help it."

Colin's eyes turned soft.

"You wanna go catch some waves?" he asked Erik.

"Hell yeah!"

Erik walked Colin out to the garage and his friend chose the new board he finished a few days ago. They took to the water and solidified their bond once more slowly but surely. Erik missed him. Missed the jokes. The laughs. The steady ear to listen to him bounce ideas. There was so much Erik wanted to tell him, but it would be too overwhelming. Especially since this was their first time being together since December.

Sitting on their boards as the waves lifted them and gently brought them back down, Erik watched his friend dip his hands in the water to splash onto his arms.

"You got quiet, E."

"A lot on my mind."

"Like?"

"Calista."

"Anything in particular?"

"I'm not sure if I want to split custody fifty/fifty again. The kids are in a good place. Sugar and I still have a bouncy schedule because of the circuit, but I feel like a disruption to this would be bad for Deuce and Marina. Calista is doing okay so far. I just don't want to rock the boat. She's pressuring me to hold up our original arrangement and I'm reluctant man. We're doing so well as a family right now. In two weeks we're supposed to dissolve everything and go back to the old way…I don't want to."

"Then don't. If Deuce and Marina are happy and doing great, then that's all that matters."

"I'm talking to Dax about it. Sugar thinks I should let Calista have them again. There's some friction there about it, but she doesn't know what it was like before. I'm trying to have an open mind. I want to believe Calista is really this new and improved person…"

Erik pressed his knuckles down on his board. The wax coating rubbed against his wet skin.

"I love having them with me. It's selfish, but dude, Deuce and Marina…they just shine now. All the time. Marina competes soon—"

"Yeah, Sugar mentioned that."

"We're all flying to Hawaii for it. Calista too."

Colin stared at his face again.

"What's eating you up?" Colin asked.

"A feeling. Not a good one."

"We can talk anytime you want."

"Thanks. I still see a therapist."

"That's good. A different perspective that is objective."

"Sugar helps by listening too. I try to keep a lot of stuff off of her shoulders. She's racking up so many wins man. I want her focused on that. I think she should slow down and be very selective this year on where she competes. I know the World Surf League will start circling her at the end of this year."

"Time for her to go to the big show."

"It's coming. She'll have enough points and I expect her to rank in the next few months. The pressure is on her too. She's nervous about it. She tries to play it off, but I know she worries about getting on the Pro Tour and not living up to expectations."

"Lemme guess, Natalie Spicer."

"Bingo. Natalie was hyped up for a long ass time last year. Got on the tour and fizzled. Big sponsors invested money, promotions, and Spicer choked. I know she runs that through her head all the time. Maverick is going all out with her. They expect a huge return on their investment."

"That won't happen to Sugar. She's too fucking good. If anything, Tahiti solidified her being the next great one. People are still talking about her performance there. Damn good coaching man. I see you all over her dominance. She keeps performing like she is now…there won't be a Natalie Spicer problem."
"Her winning streak has been fire. But like I said, she needs to chill a little bit. Not overexert herself."

"You want her here with you more is what you're really saying."

Colin's smile was big. Erik splashed water at him.

"She's given me and the kids a new life. A new extended family. I don't know where we would be without her. That's real talk, man. I don't want to make any moves without her by my side."

Colin's eyes darted behind him and he flattened his body on the board and started paddling. Erik watched him pop up with a smooth glide. His friend rode a nice wave and Erik paddled behind him to try and catch one for himself.

For two hours they surfed and let the water heal old hurts and solidified their brotherhood once more.

###

Sabine watched Colin go over the control components with her.

The Hover Glide Pro was easy to carry at only fifty-five pounds and Sabine lugged it herself into the Bay near the Surfgeist Headquarters. It looked like a small-sized surfboard at the top connected to a hydrofoil fuselage at the bottom. It was streamlined hydrodynamics for the water.

"Right now, we have four models we're working with. This one can get up to thirty miles per hour with a twenty-mile range if you are just interested in speed and distance. The others are made more for wave riding."

He opened up a slot inside the board and showed her the waterproof lithium cell inside.

"Plug it up, and charge it for three hours. Then you're good to go. Quiet motor. Emissions free. Wake free. All the stuff you like with all your marine biology studies. I did my best to make it as environmentally friendly as possible."

"I appreciate that."

She slipped her wrist through the controller's wristband. It was lightweight in her hand and reminded her of the hand-held price scanners used in supermarkets. Colin showed her how to turn it on and work the speed settings and how to connect the controller with the Bluetooth signal receiver embedded on the board.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah."

Colin had a board of his own and they practiced riding the board as if they were bodyboarding so that Sabine could get used to the different speeds and keeping the front of the board up. When she was comfortable with that, she shifted to getting on her knees and then finally finding a suitable speed for her to stand up on the board.

Colin was fifteen feet away from her and watched her yell in excitement as she flew across the top of the water. The propulsion system lifted her and the board above the water and she simply rode it like she would a skateboard or a surfboard. She switched up the speeds and raced with Colin around the enclosed Bay area shifting her legs and hips allowing the board to float her like she was stepping on clouds.

"I love it!" she yelled at him.

Colin's smile was so wide as he watched her.

When the controller blinked and started to reduce the speed on its own, she knew it was powering down. The two hours of tooling around and practicing jumps with the board flew by fast. She was a little surprised to see Erik standing on the dock waiting for them to glide back in. He helped Sabine climb out of the water with her Hover Glide.

"Looks like you had fun," he said.

"I did. What are you doing here?"

"Working out with Bruce. He couldn't come to the house today, so I came here. We just finished."

Colin stared at Sabine. He held his hands out.

"What do you think? Is it something you'd be interested in promoting for us?"

"Heck yeah!"

"Yes!"

Colin made a fist and pulled it toward his chest.

"If I can convince Maverick to get with us it's on and poppin'. Can you let us get some test footage of you riding it?"

"Yeah. Let's do it."

"Cool."

Colin brought out a similar board to the one she had and both men watched her glide near the dock as Colin filmed her with a small digital camera. When she finished and changed clothes, it was time to pick up Deuce and Marina from Calista's.

"Drop me off at the house," she said.

"I want to take us out to eat for dinner. The Korean buffet."

"Then drop me off at the restaurant and I'll wait for you there."

"Sugar—"

"I don't like going there, Erik."

"You're just sitting in the car—"

"But she always has to come outside."

"She doesn't do anything or say anything crazy—"

"Just drop me off—"

"I'm not dropping you off. Both of you are being ridiculous."

"She just stares at me."

"So what."

"Erik, if I don't like it, then support me not liking it and make me feel comfortable."

"It's just dumb to me."

"You like her seeing me in the car with you. It's petty to me."

"That's what you think I'm doing. Throwing you in her face?"

"It's how I feel."

She stared out of the car window as they sat in the Surfgeist parking lot. He turned his body toward her and reached for her arm.

"Look at me, Sugar."

She rested her right hand on her head and he turned her chin with his hand.

"I'm not throwing you in her face. You're my woman. We're a team. You keep placing yourself away from us when it comes to her. It's not right. It makes my kids feel bad. You and Calista will never be friends more than likely, but you're my life now. Deuce and Marina are part of that too. They can feel the tension when you isolate yourself like this. All we're doing is picking them up. They had a great weekend, and now we're going to have dinner. We can go home and watch a movie with them. Put them to bed, and then you and me…"

He nuzzled her face then kissed her neck. Reaching into her V-neck shirt, he fondled her breast, his lips taking over hers and Sabine caved in until he had her nearly panting.

"You're my woman and you go where I go? Hear me?"

She nodded.

Traffic was tricky and Erik ended up taking side streets to try and make up for a late pick up. He had Sabine text Deuce to let them know they would be late. The closer they got to the house the more anxious Sabine felt. Erik would never understand what it felt like to have his ex-wife doing that stare down. Even if no negative words were spoken, the look on that woman's face just made Sabine feel sour in the belly. The look said "Whore." "Homewrecker." "Thief."

There was a rental car in the circular driveway.

Erik texted with his phone and they waited.

Five minutes passed. Erik stepped out of the car and the front door opened. Deuce came walking out with a frown on his face. Calista was behind him followed by Marina and…

"What the hell are they doing here?!"

Erik's voice boomed loud. Sabine jumped out of the car.

Calista's parents Margie and Todd stepped out of the house and Erik walked straight up to them, his finger wagging in the air.

"Calista, I told you I didn't want them around my kids!"

"We're their grandparents. We have a right to see them just as much as anyone!" Margie shouted.

"Get in the car, Marina," Sabine whispered.

Marina stood open-mouthed, her eyes wide watching her father go off.

"Marina…"

Sabine tugged on her arm and walked her to the Porsche and opened the door for her. Deuce was already in the backseat sulking.

"We have lawyers too!" Todd shouted.

Spittle flew from the older man's wrinkled lips and Marge placed a righteous hand on her hip and held her finger in Erik's face. Calista stood near her mother allowing them to defend her actions. Erik turned his attention to her, his voice loud and menacing in its tone.

"They called my son a nigger and you let them be around them like that shit meant nothing!"

"Don't you curse at her!" Todd shrieked.

The old man grabbed Erik's shirt and shoved him back. Erik returned the push and Todd bumped into Margie.

"He's being violent!" Margie shrieked pulling out her cell phone.

"Just call the police," Todd yelled jumping back into Erik's face.

"Erik, let's go!"

Sabine pulled Erik's arm and he shook her off.

"These people are racist, Calista!"

"No, they're not! We need reconciliation. I watch what they say around them—"

"That's not the point! Deuce doesn't want to be around them. Why can't you do something for him that makes him feel better for once? Just once!"

Margie stepped closer to Erik.

"That incident was a misunderstanding. I called him a thug because of his behavior—"

"Being Black is not a behavior. It's what he is—"

"He's not Black!" Todd yelped.

"Fuck you mean he's not Black?"

"He's biracial, and he looks white—"

"Shut the fuck up, old man!"

"Mom, hang up!"

Calista reached for her Mom's cell phone.

"We apologized to him and Marina a long time ago. That was the past and it's over with. I can see my daughter's children… I have a right…."

Margie burst into tears.

"Look what you did to my wife…upset her with your bullying behavior. Just like you did to Calista. You never want Calista to be happy. You're the one who's racist. You hate white people!" Todd bellowed.

"This is some bullshit. Calista, you know better. They cause harm when they say shit. They've talked shit about Marina's hair, Deuce's friends, where he goes to school, how he dresses and speaks…you let it happen. You're just as bad as them. Do you want him to hate you too?"

"My son doesn't hate me…Deuce! Deuce… you don't hate me…"

Calista walked toward the car and tried to open the door. Sabine blocked her.

"Leave him alone," Sabine hissed.

"Bitch, you won't keep me from my son."

Calista shoved Sabine aside.

"Mommy!"

Marina's distressed voice brought Erik to the car. Deuce covered his face with his hands.

"We're leaving. Get in the car, Sugar."

Sabine glanced back at Calista's parents. Margie was still on her cell phone.

"Sugar, get in the goddamn car!"

"Don't yell at me!" she snapped.

She glanced at Calista. Erik's ex had a smug look on her face.

"He's not so perfect after all, huh?" Calista said.

"I want your kids to be with you. But having them here with your parents…and you know how they make Deuce feel. You're wrong for that. I don't give a fuck about how you feel about me right now, but damn. Look at your children."

Calista's eyes flicked to the back seat of the Porsche. Marina's eyes were red and watery and her bottom lip trembled.

"That's on you, Calista—"

"Marina…baby, Mommy's sorry. Deuce…I'll make it up to you next weekend."

"Won't be a next weekend. Not without Yvette being with them."

"Erik…that's not right. You can't do that to me."

"I have full custody. I can. I can have stipulations and ground rules for visitation. Sugar, get in the car."

His voice was softer.

Despite her behavior and ignoring Erik's wishes, Sabine felt for Calista.

"I'll talk to him. But your parents can't be around them."

Sabine climbed into the car and she could feel Erik fuming. She could also feel the children's pain.

"You two alright back there?" Erik asked.

"No!" Marina blurted out before she burst into tears.

"We're going to go eat and relax okay?"

The pleading in Erik's voice tore at Sabine's heart. They drove away in silence.

###

"You still giving me the silent treatment?"

Erik's eyes watched Sabine as she braided her hair in their bedroom bathroom. Leaned against the door jamb fully naked and watching her eyes in the mirror, she could sense his need to make up before they went to sleep.

"I want to sleep and forget today turned to shit," she said.

Slipping a small black rubber band on the last braid, Sabine pulled on her light blue satin bonnet and washed her hands.

"No fault of mine," he said.

"I'm not talking about Calista and her parents—"

"All I said was I think you should stay home. You don't need to go to Indo—"

"My friends and I are meeting up. It's Tadpole's birthday. I'm flying him over to be with me, Belmira, Gato—"

"I know you. You'll compete. You'll run into other surfers and get swept into doing it and showing off. Your body needs a break, Sugar. I need you to do selective competitions."

"I hear you, coach. And I'm telling you I'm just going to party."

"You can't be drinking too much either. People are taking pictures of you now. You think Maverick wants to see drunk group shots on social media?"

"My free time is my free time."

"No, it's not. Morals clause. Remember Alex?"

"Why bring that asshole up?"

"Stay home."

"No."

"Celebrate the birthday, then come right back."

"No."

She stomped out of the bathroom and climbed on her side of the bed that faced the window and sliding glass door.

Erik sat on his side of the bed. She turned her back to him.

"Can you just be my boyfriend right now and not my coach. Please?" she whispered.

"Okay," he said, "I want to spend time with you. I'm jealous that you want to run off to the other side of the world without me. I need my lady next to me at night. I can't sleep without her…"

He rubbed her backside and snuggled his body around hers. She reached her hand back and stroked his scalp.

"Now that's better."

He kissed her neck, then pulled the covers over them both. She turned her body and rested her head against his chest.

"Are you going to let Deuce and Marina visit her next weekend?"

"With Yvette."

"Don't antagonize her, Erik."

"She brought racists around my kids. That ofay stood there and told me my son wasn't Black. That wrinkled heffa called the police on me. For nothing. Her husband put hands on me first. You think I'm letting my babies go over there without supervision?"

"Margie and Todd won't be there-"

"So? She snuck them over behind my back. Tried to be slick. I'm through with her shit. They about to see a real nigga pretty soon."

"What does that mean?"

"It means don't worry about nothing…"

He kissed her again and turned the bedroom light out. The darkness enveloped them and her ear listened to the sound of his heart thumping.

When the new dawn broke, and his erection was pressed against her rump once more, Sabine pushed down his body and engulfed his length in her mouth. Gathering spit in her mouth, she let it make his tip sloppy wet. She dipped the tip of her pinky finger in his slit and teased it with in and out thrusting before she kissed and licked his balls. The muscles in his thighs flexed and his soft groans made her clit thump and her pussy lips grow fat. His hand slid down and took over his dick and she held her tongue out for him as his semen splashed over her lips and part of her face. He rested for twenty minutes before pulling her onto his thighs where he parted her folds with another rigid erection. He lifted her up and down and she let her head fall forward to watch his eyes. Her fingers splayed across his wide chest and an unexpected shout fell from her lips as his girth tugged on her clit and piercing just right and she broke apart all over his thickness.

"Shiitt…! Baby!" he huffed.

He gasped as he spurt into her, pulling her body down close against him as his dick shot more semen into her. She collapsed on his chest fully and their excited breaths echoed throughout the bedroom. She rubbed his pecs until he went to sleep.

Sabine thought of Indo, and her friends, and all the perfect swells that were predicted there. She stroked the center of his chest and knew she would defy him. There was no way she could be in the thick of the best surfers in her peer group and not shred.

No way.

###

Erik tried his best not to appear nervous, but he was.

He watched his baby girl walk to the water's edge with her surfboard and her competitor's number covering her vest. Her hair was braided tight and tucked up in a high bun thanks to Belinda who did her hair before they left San Diego to fly to Hawaii. Deuce sat next to Calista on a blanket and Sugar stood next to him, her hand in a death grip on his left bicep.

"That other girl is so good," Sugar whispered in his ear.

Erik was just pleased that Marina made it to the qualifying rounds, but little Mama kept doing well, and now she was doing a final heat. She was already a champ in his mind for getting that far. He didn't even care if she beat the stronger surfer or not.

His daughter turned her head to look for him. He held up a pinky finger and she held hers up.

"You got this, Muffin…" he said.

Marina and her competition, a fourteen-year-old champ named Wendy, stepped into the water and made their way to the line-up.

"She looks so little out there," Sugar said.

"Baby, your nails," he said pushing on her fingers.

"Sorry…sorry."

The swells were big for that time of year on the big island, and that particular junior competition was brand new although already prestigious.

Wendy dominated right away, and Erik could see that his daughter was intimidated by her. Marina's scores were pretty average during the heat, and Erik took note of how well she was handling her new board despite the low scores she was more capable of raising up.

She wiped out on a bad downturn.

"Oh, baby shark!" Sugar gasped.

"Come on, Muffin!" Calista shouted.

Marina recovered and time was running down.

"She'll take second," Erik said.

"That's so good," Sugar said.

"It is."

"Oh, wow…"

Sugar pointed to an incoming set. Erik's jaw grew tight.

"That's…that's big," Erik said.

Wendy started paddling in toward shore, but Marina had her head turned behind her watching the oncoming force.

"I think…Erik is she…?"

"She's going to take it!"

Erik moved closer to the water. Deuce ran down to be next to him.

Marina paddled her arms fast and the water lifted her high and she dropped down with such an aggressive turn that Erik shouted and hopped up and down.

"Ride that wave, baby girl!"

"Go Marina!" Deuce shrieked.

Marina dropped into a tube and she overextended her arm and her body bent back.

"Shit," Erik muttered waiting for the inevitable fall.

But his daughter twisted her body and whipped it forward and she shot through the wall of water and made it out intact on the other side. The crowd on the beach cheered and Erik ran up and down the beach as Marina made her way back to land. When she stepped onto the soft wet sand, Erik lifted her up.

"That wave was huge, Daddy!"

"I know!"

Erik stepped back from Marina, worried that he would steal her shine. He made his way back to Sugar as they watched Marina follow Wendy to the winner's stand with her board. Calista kept clapping and taking pictures as Deuce took pictures with his cell. Sugar had her cell out taking shots too.

Marina seemed distracted as the announcer presented the first-place trophy to Wendy. When she had her second-place trophy in her hand, she held it above her head for Erik to see. When she ran back to her family, Marina accepted the hugs and kisses from Calista and Sugar. Deuce gave her dap and a half hug, but Marina just stared up in Erik's eyes.

"That last wave tried to get me, but I did the Matrix on it and then I went through the tube and I could only see a little hole at the end, but I kept going and got real low, but then the board tried to come up and then—"

"Marina," he said stopping her in mid-breath.

"Yeah?"

"Baby girl. You came in second place. You beat out a lot of big kids."

She did. Sixteen-year-olds, fifteen-year-olds…she was the youngest competitor.

"But the wave, Daddy. It tried to knock me down but I didn't let it. You said to go out and make the wave my bitch—"

"Okay, you don't have to repeat everything I said—"

"—and I did that. I made the wave do what I wanted."

She didn't even care about winning anything.

She just wanted to conquer the waves. Just like him.

He hugged her then, and when his eyes landed on Sugar, she could see his emotion welling up.

"Oh, Muffin, I'm so proud. You were great out there!" Calista interjected.

Marina let go of Erik and hugged her Mom. Deuce held her surfboard for her and the trophy.

There was a celebration BBQ for all the kids who competed and their families. A couple of reporters got wind that his daughter was a winner and he did a few quick interviews and photo ops with Marina.

The day felt good. Until Sugar had to leave. She had a new Maverick brand commercial to film in New York. He dropped her off at the airport and he had dinner with Calista and the kids. He was not on good terms with Calista and they stayed neutral and sat away from each other during the meal, their focus and conversation only focused on Marina.

They flew home two days later and Erik placed Marina's trophy in the trophy case in his office moving his awards out of the way for his daughter's. He added two new slender cases in the room for Sugar's trophies, but when Marina saw where he placed her new one, she moved it next to Sugar's.

"You don't want to be in my trophy case?"

"I want to help Sugar fill up hers like yours."

He smiled.

"I tell you what…"

He picked up Marina's trophies and moved them to the brand-new empty case.

"This case will be all yours. You fill this one up by yourself. Cool?"

"Cool."

They linked pinky fingers.

Life grew a little hectic with the kids back in school and Erik missing Sugar. He left her messages every few hours letting her know he was thinking of her, feeling like some lovestruck teenager. Colin hung out with him while she was gone, but by the end of the week, Erik was suffering from withdrawals. He had a meeting in L.A. with his film production company. There was a bidding war for a small indie drama they made that did well at the Sundance Film Festival that was finally getting nibbles for distribution.

Driving back from L.A. on the 5 Freeway, allowing his mind to relax with a view of the coast on his right, he was shocked to step into his house and see Sugar sitting on the kitchen island in her red lingerie eating a pint of coffee bean and mocha ice cream and playing sexy love songs throughout the home sound system. She stuck her spoon inside the ice cream and placed it next to her hip.

"I came home early. I missed you," she said.

He grabbed her face and smashed his lips against hers.

"You've been on my mind all day, all week…"

He couldn't stop kissing her, hugging her tight, touching her. Sugar threw her arms around his neck and he plunged his tongue within her mouth. She came up for air.

"You must've really, really missed me to kiss like this…damn," she whispered.

"You keep me centered," he said while he stroked her back.

Her sheer lingerie top allowed him to see her breasts. Soft puffy sleeves and her hair done up in a slick top-knot made her look like a Princess. His eyes dragged down to between her thighs. His kisses on her mouth made her glisten down there. He could see the extra shiny wetness seeping at the crotch of her bikini panties. She groped between his legs at the large print poking out of his pants.

Erik reached into his trousers and pulled out his length. His fingers slid the crotch of Sugar's panties aside and he inserted his rigid manhood to the hilt. Lifting her from the island counter he thrust up into her as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

There was no talking.

No soft words.

No cooing, or purring, or sensual whimpering.

Erik was inside his woman grunting.

Sugar reached back until her arms were outstretched on the island bracing her body. He bent his legs and pumped hard and fast. Her mouth fell open and her eyes became tight until he barked out a harsh "Fuck!" as his body jerked and he ejaculated.

He wasn't done with her.

He carried her over his shoulder and slapped her ass as he moved her up the two flights of stairs to their bedroom where he pulled his clothes and shoes off. Sugar watched him and licked her moist lips when she saw that his dick was still hard.

Pushing her to her side, Erik spooned behind her and lifted up her strong leg inserting himself back where he belonged.

"Fuck me…" she huffed clutching onto the fluffy green blanket on their bed.

The scarlet red of her freshly done nails matched her panties. He lifted her legs in a different angle where he could watch his dick beating up her wet pink slit. The music swirling around the speakers in their bedroom made him feel like he could be in her pussy all night.

That's what he planned to do.

"Erik…Erik…yeah…yeah… yes, Daddy…"

"Sugar…you squeezing this dick just right."

"You missed this pussy?"

"Yes, baby."

"How much?"

He switched up his strokes and she yelped.

"Ooof…okay…okay…beating this pussy up…"

"You miss Daddy's dick?"

"Yes!"

"How much?"

"A lot!"

"You want Daddy to make a big mess?"

"Ooooohh…yessss!"

His fingers drew salacious slow circles on her clit and her walls clenched and the spasms made her shiver all over as she orgasmed on his dick.

A roar ripped from his throat as his balls drew up tight at his pulsing base and his dick exploded once more drenching her gushy pussy.

"You fucking bastard!"

Calista's brittle voice shattered the sultry music that accompanied Erik and Sugar's lovemaking.

Sugar pulled herself off of his dick and pulled the blanket around her body. Erik leaped up and grabbed a controller on the nightstand and turned off the music. His ex-wife stood in his bedroom fuming and red-faced.

"What are you doing in my house?" he shouted.

He grabbed his pants and shoved his legs in them, slipping on some sneakers quickly. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it on over his chest. Sugar stayed put on the bed.

Calista shoved some papers in his face. Legal papers.

"I'm going to have this thrown out, and then I'm going to take Deuce and Marina from you! Forget me trying to get fifty/fifty—"

"Get out of my house. My lawyer will deal with you—"

"My parents have excellent representation for me, so don't think you'll walk over me this time!"

"How the fuck did you get in here?"

"You're going to pay out of your ass. Child support—"

"Calista, get out. This is not the place," Sugar yelled.

"Fuck you, Sugar! Fuck you! Fuck you! FUCK YOU!"

Calista was belligerent then. Erik grabbed her shoulder and nudged her toward the door.

"Don't fucking touch me you prick!"

"Get the fuck out. We don't talk. The lawyers do!"

Sugar left their bed and he saw her go to their closet for clothes. Erik followed Calista down the stairs. The evening sun was slipping down behind the Pacific Ocean outside. For all the ugliness that was occurring in his house, the blood-orange sunset was spectacular.

"…you're going to pay so much money to me."

"That's all you care about? Money? With all the shit I've let you have…that I still pay for? All that time in treatment and you can't look beyond your selfish need to punish me for every little thing?"

"Paying for your kids isn't a punishment—"

"They live with me and they're happy!"

"…my father will make you pay our fees and I will have what is fair and equitable for once—"

She grabbed the knob on the front door and flung it open. He followed her out.

"Going to treatment showed me my worth, Erik. You can have your little love nest with her, but I'll have our children and live quite well—"

"You don't even deserve half the money I give you!"

"What makes you think that, asshole?"

Her eyes were so bright and spiteful, and so vindictive. Still the same selfish entitled bitch.

"Well? Why don't I deserve everything—"

"Because I know Deuce isn't mine!"

Calista's eyes blinked and her skin blanched even whiter.

"What?"

"I have three DNA tests upstairs in my safe that I took when Deuce was barely a year old, and I know he's not my blood you dizzy bitch!"

"Oh, God!" she shrieked.

Her hand flew to her mouth and before Erik could relish the truth finally coming out to her, Calista's eyes darted to the side of the house where a small cement bench sat. Deuce and Marina sat there waiting quietly for their mother to come out.

Deuce jumped up and his face made Erik's heart drop to his feet.

"Deuce…" he uttered in disbelief.

The boy's eyes regarded them both with horror.

"You're not my Dad?" he whispered.

The hollow sound in his voice brought a lump to Erik's throat.

Sugar ran outside and stood behind him.

"Deuce…I didn't mean for you to hear that—"

"Are you my Dad or not?!"

Erik couldn't get the words out. His mouth went dry and there was a growing pain in his chest where his heart used to be.

"Mom? He isn't my father?"

Calista dropped her head down.

"It's true?"

The boy's eyes welled up and he took off running.

"Deuce!" Erik shouted.

Erik tore after him, his own tears blinding him as he tried to salvage what was left of his family.