Chapter Six: Destiny
After Carlos and Stephanie were married, they went to her parents' house for dinner. Stephanie and Carlos walked in and prayed that Helen wouldn't throw a huge fit. They didn't want Helen's judgement when she learned her youngest daughter, Stephanie, married Carlos Manoso, a non-Burg man.
"Stephanie Michelle Plum, do you have any idea what time it is? Do you know how late you are?" Helen yelled at her daughter as she and Carlos came in.
"It's one minute after six, mom," Stephanie replied. "We're barely late."
"Why did you bring him here again?" Helen snapped, and it was then that Stephanie noticed Joe Morelli sitting at the table waiting for her.
"Joe, I apologize that my mother invited you for dinner tonight, especially because Carlos and I got married earlier today," Stephanie said, grinning. She held up her left hand to show off her new jewelry.
"Don't worry, Joseph. We will get that farce of a marriage annulled," Helen told him nicely.
"Helen, stop! That is enough," Frank snapped. "Our daughter is almost 33 years of age. She has the right to marry who she wants to. You will leave everything alone. You will let Stephanie live the life she wants to live. You will not interfere with their marriage," Frank said as he pointed a finger in his wife's face.
Stephanie wanted to cry, so she went into her husband's arms. "Come on, babe. I think we better leave for now," Carlos told her. He walked her outside the house and onto the porch. Carlos started to rub her back, trying to calm her down.
"Why does she do this to me?" Stephanie asked. "Why can't she be happy for me?"
"It is okay. I am right here, I will not let you go, and I will never leave you," Carlos told her softly.
While Stephanie and Carlos were outside, Frank confronted his wife. "Helen, how could you be so cruel? It is a very happy occasion. You wanted Stephanie to be married. Now she and her husband are outside on the porch, with Stephanie in tears. I will not let you destroy what she has now. You will leave them alone. I will be at the lodge." Frank grabbed his keys to the cab and went outside.
When Frank came out, he said softly, "Baby, I am truly sorry for your mom's behavior. I am very happy for you, as well as you, Carlos. I wish you both the best." He shook his son-in-law's hand and hugged his daughter. "Carlos, take her to your apartment. I don't want her here longer than she has to be."
"Come on, Babe. We are going back to Haywood," Carlos said.
Helen watched as Carlos helped Stephanie into his Porsche. Stephanie put on her seat belt, and once Carlos was in, the two went to Haywood.
Once they were in the underground lot, Carlos helped Stephanie out of the Porsche. The two of them walked into Haywood together. Tank noticed that Ranger was staying very close to Stephanie. He also noticed that Carlos was not happy. The two of them got into the elevator, and Carlos hit seven. "I am right here," he once again whispered into her ear. Once they were on the seventh floor, Ranger used his key card and let Stephanie in first. He quickly followed her inside.
"Babe," Carlos said, turning her to face him.
"I can't believe how selfish she is. You would think that she would be happy for us. But all she wants is me married to Joe Morelli instead of me being happy with you." Carlos saw his wife throwing her hands up in the air and pacing in the living room.
"Hey, let's get some food, and then we can go to sleep for the night." Carlos went into the fridge to see what he had. Stephanie came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his large waist. She rested her face between his shoulder blades.
"What's for dinner?" Stephanie asked.
He looked in and saw all the leftover containers. "Okay, time to make a call," he said. Carlos got on his cell phone.
"Yeah, boss," Tank said when he answered the call.
"Can you go to Pinno's if I call in an order for takeout and then bring it to us?" Carlos asked.
"Yeah, I am on it. What do you want?" Tank asked.
"Baked chicken, potatoes, with carrots? Two plates," Carlos said and then was gone. He then got on the phone and placed an order for pick up. Tank walked out of Rangeman to pick up the food for Carlos and Stephanie.
About fifteen minutes later, Tank came up to Ranger's penthouse, and knocked. Stephanie looked through the peephole. "It's Tank, and he brought us our dinner," Stephanie announced to Carlos. She opened the door. "Hi, Tank, come in," Stephanie told him.
Stephanie took the food, then went to the kitchen to dish them onto plates. She gave Carlos time to update Tank as she prepared the meal for them to eat.
Carlos kissed Stephanie softly on her lips. "I will be right back," Carlos told her. He stepped outside the penthouse to talk privately to Tank.
"Tank, Helen Plum is a pain in my ass. Stephanie told her that we got married today, and she went nuts. She kept talking about how she would annul this marriage and have Stephanie marry Morelli. Do me a favor? If Helen or any of the Plums come to Haywood, do not let them in," Carlos said, and then he went back inside the penthouse. Tank nodded and told Carlos he would notify the men on duty.
Stephanie was drinking bottled water, and the food was already on two plates. She had placed the food on the table. Carlos wrapped his arms around him and said, "I do have something better than water."
He went to the wine rack beneath the bar counter and removed a bottle of red wine. Carlos used the corkscrew to open the bottle. He let it breathe for a few minutes before pouring two glasses. Carlos gave one to Stephanie and raised his in the air. "To a long and happy life together, Babe," Carlos said as he sat down across from Stephanie. They gently tapped glasses and took a sip.
"Mmm," she moaned.
After eating their dinner, Carlos cleared the table, put the plates in the dishwasher and rinsed the glasses. He returned to Stephanie, picked her up, then carried her to bed. Carlos set her down on the floor at the foot of the bed. He lowered his chin to kiss her deeply and pushed his tongue into her mouth.
Stephanie embraced the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his thick neck. He trailed his hand to pull the zipper down on her dress. Once unzipped, the dress slipped off Stephanie and pooled at her feet on the floor. Stephanie pulled his shirt over his head, surprised she managed to remove the turtleneck.
Carlos gently pushed Stephanie onto the bed. He braced himself so he was looking at his wife. Stephanie saw the fire and desire in his eyes. He leaned into her until his tongue touched the skin of her neck. Carlos slowly licked down her throat as he savored the unique flavor of Stephanie. She closed her eyes. Carlos kissed down her chest, then pulled her bra off.
He tossed it over his shoulder. Carlos kissed the skin he exposed. He gently kissed her breasts. Stephanie gasped from the sensation and arched her back, pressing her breast into his mouth. Carlos gently pushed her back to the bed, then released her nipple with a moist pop. Stephanie took her turn to kiss his bare chest. She flicked his nipples with her tongue, drawing a deep moan from him. Her hands moved down his back as he shifted his position. He looked at her as he moved one hand up her inner thigh.
Stephanie shook in anticipation. Carlos traced around the waistband of her thong before tugging it down her legs. Stephanie reached for his pants. She flicked the button open and carefully pulled down the zipper. Stephanie used her feet to push them down his legs. They looked at each other, taking in the sight of their nakedness.
"Babe, this might hurt for a minute, but I will be as gentle as possible," he whispered. Carlos entered Stephanie for the first time. He felt the slight pressure as he pushed past her virginity. She moaned as he fully entered her. Stephanie was shaking from ecstasy as he paused to let her adapt to his size.
"More," she cried. Stephanie started to follow his every move. After they screamed through their orgasms, they looked at each other.
"Babe, are you okay?" Carlos asked her. Carlos was worried he had hurt her or caused her too much pain.
"Carlos, that was great. I am a little sore, but I'm sure it will pass." She curled up into his arms, and both of them fell asleep.