The Stranger On The Roadside
AN: Thank you for reviewing the last chapter.
The Talk, Part III
The Carter's home…
Thirty minutes later, Michonne entered her mother's home through the kitchen door and placed her mother's keys in the ceramic bowl designated for keys, and grabbed her car keys. The scent of fresh coffee filled the room. Her mother was absent and was no doubt getting dressed for work.
Michonne retrieved a mug from the cupboard and poured herself a cup of Java. She inhaled the nutty aroma, then sipped and savoured the hot liquid.
Michonne heard her mother's footsteps and looked up. Her face, however, remained blank as she felt the weight of her mother's accusatory eyes on her.
"What?" She snapped.
"Thank you for returning the car because I really didn't want to explain to your husband why I'm driving your car when I don't have my grandson with me," Toni replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
Toni remained quiet, but the allegation hung heavy in the air. As a result, the tension between the two women remained thick. Michonne took another sip of her coffee, placed the mug on the countertop, grabbed her keys and prepared to leave.
"I'm not dad, Mom. I didn't go out of my way to hurt him. Malyk and I were in a dark place, and things happened. I didn't seek Rick out for pleasure. Oh, and just so you know, I didn't fuck him last night."
"Darling, whatever you did or didn't do is none of my concern; you're the one who will have to live with it. Just don't confuse RJ in this unfolding drama of yours."
"We fully intended for RJ to know about Rick once he was old enough to understand. So don't worry; he won't have to wait till he's a grown man to find his father is alive."
"You're hurting, and I get that, but I won't apologize because I did what I did out of love. You are the light of my life, and I would do it again if given a second chance. The man doesn't love you—he came round again for what you could do for him."
"I'm not looking for a father. I was there— I know that you were both mother and father to me, Mom. I could never repay you for your sacrifice, but no child should have to pay because of feuding parents. That, too, was my choice as to whether or not I wanted to help the child. I'm all grown up, Mom. I love you, but you need to allow me to make my own mistakes and learn from them. It's not your job to protect me anymore. Just love me."
"Darling, I do. I love you very much. As RJ gets older, you'll see—right now, you're a baby mama bear, but that'll change. Trust me; you'll become more fierce."
Tears spilled down Toni's cheeks as she watched her grown daughter standing by the kitchen door, uncertain whether to run or stay. Of course, it wasn't always this way because, before the mess, they were mother and daughter, but most of all, they were friends. However, hidden truths came to light over the past twenty-four hours, which strained their relationship, unlike anything they experienced before.
Michonne's heart ached because, in all her years, she couldn't recall her mother and her being at odds as they were at present, not even throughout her teenage years. Michonne felt tears pricked at her eyes, so she walked towards her mother and hugged her as best she could with one arm and an injured limb. "I love you, Mom."
Toni embraced her daughter with both arms. "I love you too, sweetheart."
Then the two women held onto one another until their sniffles subsided. Toni kissed Michonne's cheeks and gave her daughter a gentle push. "Go! You're making me late. I have to retouch my face."
Michonne chuckled. "Mom, you're beautiful as you are."
"That's because you're the best thing that ever happened to me, darlin'. Now go. Shoo! Later."
"I'll call you later," Michonne replied, tearing up once more.
...
Thirteen hours later...
At almost eight o'clock that night, an exhausted Rick pulled in the driveway, parked the car, exited his vehicle, and then walked to the front door with his carry-on. He rang the doorbell to the two-story shale grey house with manicured shrubs on either side of the driveway. The homes and landscaping looked the same. The neighbourhood gave off the Stepford vibe with not a blade of grass out of place. Since the wedding, he hadn't visited, and his inlaws had relocated to a small gated community.
Minutes later, a petit buxom blonde with bone straight hair in a flowery dress unlocked the door. The woman was older, and her face appeared shiny but fragile like porcelain from excessive botox treatments.
"Rick, you made it," she added in a raspy voice, almost breathless. "I was beginning to worry about you."
"Sasha, it's good to see you again. You look great." He lied.
"You're such a charmer; I see why Charmaine fell for you. Come on in, sugar. You look like you could use a drink," Sasha added and opened the door wider for Rick to enter. "Good thang, you're here too because I hate drinkin' alone."
"Er—I'll take a rain check on that drink until I check in with my girls."
"Suit yourself, sugar. Reggie's playin' poker tonight, and Char's tuckin' in my darlin' sunshine."
"Give me five minutes. I'll pop upstairs to say goodnight then."
"You do that. But, Rick?
"Yeah?"
"I'm not sure whether Charmaine will be ready to see you. I never told her you were coming because I didn't want her to run off with the baby. As it were, it took everything for me to get us back here in time for your arrival. Poor Teia's schedule's off-kilter because her mother's catering to her every fancy."
"I appreciate the heads-up, Sasha. Thanks."
Rick set the carry-on down just inside the doorway and bound up the stairs. But when he arrived outside the small bedroom on the right at the top of the stairs, he paused. The door was slightly ajar, and Charmaine's voice announced. "THE END! Kiss—kiss. Good night, sweetie. Mommy loves you very much. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Mommy, when's daddy coming to see us?"
Charmaine had no idea when they would see her husband again, so she lied to her daughter. "Princess, daddy's busy working, but he'll come to visit soon."
Rick's heart ached for his little princess. He was grateful that he took the next few days off work to reconnect with his family. He had facetime with Teia earlier that day, but it was a pale substitute to holding his little girl in his arms and treasuring those little moments because children were like weeds; they grew up fast. He knew that for a fact, given he missed almost five years of his son's life. The son he had not met formally. As a result, he promised himself to be more present in his children's lives in the future.
Rick gently tapped on the door. "I'll be out in a minute, Ma," Charmaine whispered, but then the door opened, and her husband walked in the room.
Initially, Charmaine's face registered surprise, but she sighed as soon as she recalled why they were apart. Her shock, however, quickly turned to disapproval when their once exhausted daughter suddenly pulled off her bed covers and began jumping on the bed instead.
At the sight of seeing her father, Teia squealed with delight. Her eyes were suddenly alert, and they sparkled with excitement as she screamed, "DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!"
Rick smiled broadly, and his heart swelled in his chest. "Hey, sweetheart! Are you being good for mommy?"
Teia's head bobbed up and down with a huge smile, which created the cutest dimples in her golden cheeks.
Charmaine sighed in frustration.
"I just got her down, and now this. Couldn't you have waited until morning to announce your presence?"
"Char. Relax. I'll handle it," Rick replied. He felt guilty and reached for his wife to calm her because his actions were never meant to antagonize her.
Charmaine, in turn, avoided her husband's touch by shifting her body sideways, huffed and stormed out of the room.
Meanwhile, Teia, who kept bouncing on the bed like a trampoline, suddenly vaulted into her father's open arms as her mother slammed the bedroom door behind her. Teia's locked her tiny arms around her father's neck and kissed his cheek.
Rick, in turn, held his daughter tight. His eyes closed momentarily, grateful to be present; then, he smothered his daughter with kisses.
An excited Teia, tiny hands held her father's scruffy face, still adjusting to his presence.
"Daddy, you're here. Can you read me a story?"
"Yes, sweetheart, daddy's here. I'll read you a story then lights out, okay?"
"Nooooo. Daddy, you stay with me."
"Okay, princess, daddy'll stay with you until you fall asleep, okay?"
"Okay."
...
An hour later, when Rick failed to return downstairs, Charmaine went to investigate matters. She quietly opened the bedroom door and found Rick fast asleep snoring on top of the bed with his daughter tucked in beside him beneath the covers. As a result, Charmaine retrieved a blanket from the nearby linen closet, tiptoed back into the room and covered her husband. She kissed Teia's cheek, turned the lamp off, and then proceeded to her room across the hall.
...
The Kennedys...
Around eleven-thirty that night, after tucking a sleeping RJ into bed, Malyk climbed into bed next to his wife.
Michonne stirred as her body nestled into his warmth.
Malyk's strong arms closed around Michonne's tiny waist, and he nuzzled her neck. "Are you asleep?"
"I was. Is everything okay?" Michonne asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"RJ had another nightmare. He insisted on coming home because he was worried about his mommy."
"Poor baby, he's going to need to see someone."
"Yeah."
"I'll talk to Dr. Greene tomorrow."
"You know, about missing you—"
"Yeah?"
"He's not the only one; I missed you too," he replied, pressing his
firmness into her back.
"I missed you, too."
"How's your hand?" Malyk replied, kissing the side of Michonne's neck.
"My hand is doing as well as can be expected," she replied and scooted away from Malyk's closeness.
"What's the matter?"
"Malyk, I'm exhausted."
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know. It's been a few days since we've touched. All I thought about was getting back home to you, so when RJ insisted on seeing you — I seized the opportunity to come home. Call me stupid, but I thought my wife would be a little more excited to see me."
"Honey, I am. I didn't even hear the alarm because I was fast asleep when you crawled into bed."
"Is everything okay?"
"I'm sure nothing a little sleep couldn't cure," Michonne replied, leaned into her husband and kissed him goodnight.
...
Early the following day, as the light crept into the room, Malyk gently kissed his wife's bare shoulder around the spaghetti strap of her camisole top.
Michonne stirred and gently moaned as his kisses trailed over the soft silky fabric, which was now taut from her aroused nipples. His teeth gently grazed one and then the other as her moans punctuated the stillness of the new morn. "Mornin', sweetheart."
"Mornin'," she replied, feeling his steel member throbbed against her ass. This time there was an undeniable heat building within her in desperate need of attention. Michonne turned her head to the side and tentatively kissed his lips.
Malyk's large hand gently held her face in place and kissed her full heart-shaped lips.
Michonne's lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue and their kiss to deepen. Their tongues collided and unleashed a hunger, a direct result of several days of unsated needs, and their moans broke the tranquillity of the morning.
With her eyes closed, Michonne's free hand reached behind her into Malyk's pj bottoms took hold of his throbbing member. She gently tugged at it, which caused Malyk to groan and pull away.
Malyk broke their connection and grinned. "I missed you, but ladies first, always," he announced and continued to pepper her now exposed sensitive flat stomach with kisses.
"I missed you, too."
Malyk continued the journey kissing a path down her stomach, and soon he disappeared beneath the covers.
Michonne closed her eyes again and luxuriated in the feeling as his pink lips caressed her skin as the feather-light kisses trailed down her body to her feet and up her inner right leg to her center.
Malyk kissed her core through the flimsy pyjama shorts then inhaled her scent. "Mmm."
Michonne groaned, "Please!" She begged.
"In time, baby. In due time."
Malyk's voice was slow and raspier and an octave lower than before. Michonne felt butterflies in her stomach in anticipation of something more.
But Malyk continued his slow, torturous journey down Michonne's left side then up again. Finally, he gently peeled off the offending shorts leaving her in her drenched panties.
Michonne groaned once more as his large fingers teased her nipples roughly, which caused her to need to deepen. "Baby, please," she begged.
In response, she felt his tongue trail from the bottom of her slit to the top of her nub through the flimsy material; one hand held her thigh steady, then two thick fingers slid beneath the fabric and inside her slick wet core.
"OOHHHH," Michonne moaned, content with the new direction. Her head fell back, and she arched her back. The flimsy soaked material slowly shrank to the side, and his warm mouth and tongue joined in licking her slick folds, hungrily lapping, and slurping up her juices while his large fingers fucked her.
Malky enjoyed the taste of his wife. He couldn't get enough of her intoxicating taste and scent. His tongue and mouth alternated between licking and sucking her pearl while Michonne's body writhes beneath him.
"OOHHHH," Michonne purred.
"Do you like that, baby?" he asked as his hand reached up under the camisole and roughly massaged her breasts and teased her nipples, causing Michonne to be more vocal.
Malyk felt the tautness of her body. She was perfectly wound and ready for release because her moaning grew louder, and his dick throbbed harder, so his mouth and tongue worked in a determined frenzy to take her over the edge. His caresses became rougher, and Michonne arched her back more, and his face pressed deeper into her core.
"Oh God, I'm gonna cum." As her body tensed and poised for her first orgasm, her nails bit into his back, but as her orgasm crest and shattered core and her bodily vibrated beneath him, she uttered, "Oh, God, Rick."
Instantly, her eyes flew wide open. Suddenly, it felt like the oxygen was sucked from the room, and the walls closed in. It was too late. It was as if time stood still for a while, and her words rattled around in her head like a damn echo.
She prayed it was a dream, but when her skin felt the sudden loss of his warmth, she knew it wasn't. Her words vibrated in her head, so she knew Malyk also heard them and her heart ached at the pain she caused.
Suddenly, Malyk sprang upwards like a whale out of water and tore the sheets from his body as though their very touch caused his skin to burn. Then, he used the back of his hand to wipe the final traces of her from his face.
Michonne desperately reached for her husband, who shrank away from her touch, and she silently cursed herself for the mess she caused.
"Malyk, I'm so sorry," she cried.
Pain marred his visage as Malyk stood without uttering a word to his wife. Then stalked off in the direction of the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
A bewildered Michonne scooted off the bed. She retrieved her robe and secured the garment haphazardly about her body. She heard the shower running in the distance and knew Malyk would be a while. She couldn't believe what had just happened, but she understood why it did, so she cursed, "FUCK!"
Fifteen minutes later, when Malyk returned, he crossed the room and walked into his small closet. When he returned, he was fully dressed. He failed to acknowledge his wife, who sat on the edge of the bed. Instead, he grabbed his wallet from the dresser and turned to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Michonne asked.
"I need some air."
"Malyk, I swear to God, nothing happened between us."
"You sure couldn't fool me."
"And, what am I to tell your son when he wakes up and wants to go swimming with his father?"
"I'm sure you'll think of somethin'." Malyk turned to leave.
"Malyk, please don't go. We need to talk."
"Michonne, there's not enough space in this marriage for three people."
"Are you leaving me?"
"No, I'm fighting for my marriage, but the choice is yours—always has been," Malyk replied, closing the door behind him.
...
Houston
The overnight rain made for a relatively cool morning. It was early still, but the day promised to be a scorcher. For the moment, however, the air was filled with that rich earthy scent after the rainfall.
Rick rose early that morning. He slipped into his wife's bedroom, showered and dressed, and stole downstairs to enjoy an hour or two of calm before the proverbial shit hit the fan.
He sat on the back deck, admiring the perfectly symmetrical landscaped yard, sipping his coffee in peace, and watching the hummingbirds at the birdfeeders in the backyard.
Due to his distraction, he missed Charmaine's arrival in the kitchen. Then, suddenly, the patio door opened and closed. And Charmaine glided to the table, placed her coffee mug on it and sat across from him. It was the first time the two were alone since he arrived the night before.
The noise caught his attention, causing Rick to turn and watch his wife.
"What are you doing here, Rick?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you here? You've never wanted to come down any other time before, so what exactly are you doing here?"
"Sweetheart? Sasha called out, poking her head outside for a quick minute. "Oh, hey, mornin', Rick. I didn't expect you to be up and about this early. I'll get you something to eat. You must be famished because you didn't have dinner."
"Mornin', Sasha. Don't go out of your way for me. I'll eat when everyone's up."
"Don't be foolish. Reg's leaving to play golf shortly. Would you be up for a game?"
"Maybe tomorrow. I'd really like to spend some time with Charmaine today if you don't mind. Thanks."
Charmaine sighed loudly at the fuss her mother made over Rick. "Ma, I believe you came looking for me. What did you want?"
"Sugar, I just wanted to make sure you're alright, but I see you're in good hands, so I'll start breakfast," Sasha replied and quickly slid the glass door shut behind her, leaving the couple to themselves.
...
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