A/N Sorry about the delay. Things have been way out of control at work.

Corrina's Confrontation

Corrina wondered what was up with Manny. He was a perfect gentleman since that conversation about...umm..sex. She wondered if he thought that he had offended her and decided to back off. She noticed that he kept his distance from her and that he kept Molly up a little longer than he normally did each night.

He only gave her a quick kiss goodnight. He had done a total three sixty and while she knew that she should be glad, for some reason his abstinence bothered her. She wondered if he didn't desire her like he did before. She just wasn't sure what to think. While it was true that his talk that day had surprised and scared her a little, this behavior was worse.

She wasn't sure what to do. She wanted to talk to him...but she wasn't about to bring the subject up, so she busied herself with the wedding preparations.

She went downtown to Milla's to check on her dress to see if it was ready. She parked the car right in front of the store and got out and went in. She didn't see Jenny who was standing across the street. She had just come out of the drug store when she spotted Manny's car. Jenny watched as Corrina walked into the Bridal boutique. Her eyes narrowed and she decided to go and check things out for herself. Maybe Corrina was picking up something for the bride, or perhaps the bride was actually there! She stood outside by her car debating several minutes about what to do.

Corrina was standing in her dress when Jenny walked in. She stood at the door with her mouth open and Corrina would have loved to have had the moment caught on camera if it wasn't serious.

"May I help you?" Milla asked as she turned when she heard the bell at the top of the door.

Jenny stared at Corrina in her ivory wedding gown. What was going on here?

"Who is marrying YOU!" Jenny snapped looking her up and down.

Corrina wanted to wipe that smirk off her face.

"Manny Singer" she replied crisply. "The nuptials are two weeks away and no you are not invited!

"Surely this is some sort of joke!" she hissed. She looked at Milla.

Milla didn't respond and turned to Corrina. "I don't understand. Do you know this woman?"

"She's a scorned woman" Corrina replied. "I have what she wants."

" You're lying! I know he's not marrying YOU" Jenny snapped. "The thought of that is just so absurd! It's just laughable!"

"Then why aren't you laughing?" Corrina replied looking at herself in the mirror.

She looked over her shoulder at Jenny. "Are you following me?"

"I just want the truth!" Jenny said walking up to her.

"The truth..." Corrina said looking at Jenny "Is that Manny and I are in love. We're getting married. Get over it."

"You're crazy!" she snapped. "I don't believe you!"

Corrina looked at Jenny and rolled her eyes. "You're pathetic. When are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that he doesn't want you! Get over it!"

She looked at Milla. "I'm going to change now."

Milla turned to Jenny. "Ma'am I'm going to have to ask you to leave unless you wish to do business with me. I don't want any trouble."

"You tell that nigger that she hasn't heard the last of me!" Jenny snapped and stormed out of the store.

Corrina could hear Jenny's screeching all the way back in the dressing room. Well the word was out now and she just had to sit back and watch the fireworks.

She left the shop and headed to Manny's house. She looked at her watch and knew that Al would be back with Molly in a little while.

When she arrived, she found the house empty. A note was on the refrigerator from Al letting Manny know that he was taking Molly over to his mothers after she got out of school. Eva had requested that Molly come over and help her make cookies. It was Friday and there was no school the next day. Manny would most likely pick her up and have dinner with his mother.

It wasn't long before Manny walked in the door. He looked tired and threw his briefcase on a nearby chair.

"Bad day?" she asked smiling.

"Yeah, it was a rough one" he replied. "Where's Molly?"

"She's over at your Moms. You'll have to pick her up there." Corrina replied.

"Oh, that's right. I now remember." Manny said taking off his tie. "Al must have taken her there straight from school."

"Aren't you going over there for dinner" Corrina asked.

"I'll go a little later. I just want to relax a minute." He sat down on the sofa and unbuttoned his shirt. He leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

"I saw Jenny today" Corrina said watching him. He was laid back on the sofa with his eyes closed.

"Hmmm..." Manny said not opening his eyes.

"She followed me in Millas and saw me in my wedding gown."

Manny still didn't open his eyes. "So what? It's none of her business!"

"She had a bit of a tantrum too" Corrina replied sitting next to him.

"She'll get over it" he replied.

Corrina studied him for a minute.

"Manny..."

"Hmmm"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you mad at me?"

"No"

"You seem distant lately. I mean have I done something to offend you?"

"No"

Corrina looked at him. He hadn't opened his eyes yet and he was giving her one word answers.

"Are you sure that you still love me? Do you really want to marry me!" she snapped. She was irritated but wasn't sure why exactly.

Manny opened his eyes. "What makes you think I don't want to marry you? I asked you to marry me and I meant it."

"You've been acting different lately." she said.

Manny sighed. "What do you want from me Corrina?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You say I'm acting differently? You need to tell me how. What am I not doing? What is it that you want me to do? Explain yourself."

Corrina stared at him. She couldn't tell him that she wanted him to kiss her like he used to until he made her dizzy. She couldn't tell him that she liked it when he pressed his body into hers, that his attentions aroused her. She couldn't tell him. That wasn't proper. She looked away.

"Corrina, if you don't tell me then things won't change." Manny said sitting up on the sofa.

"You're supposed to know. A girl's not supposed to..." her voice trailed off. She was unable to finish her sentence.

"I'm not a mind reader, Corrina" Manny explained. "I need you to speak plain English."

"Ever since you tried to talk to me about...you know sex, things have been different. You seem distant." she said looking at her hands. "I guess you've just given up on me in that area, right?"

Manny leaned over and kissed her. "Of course not. I'm just trying to give you space. I realize that I was a bit aggressive at times. I thought I was upsetting you, so I decided to limit my contact with you, let you come to me. You make the first move."

"A girl shouldn't do that!" Corrina gasped.

"I know, I know, a girl isn't supposed to want a man like a man wants her, right? She's supposed to act like it doesn't matter but all the time she's aching inside? " He looked at her, his face serious. "That's a bunch of bull, Corrina. I need a woman who doesn't mind telling me and showing me what she wants."

He pulled her close to him and his eyes locked with hers.

"I want a wife who can tell me what she wants, Corrina. I don't want a scared little girl. You're a woman. I'm a man. I have needs and you have needs. One of my needs is for you to be able to tell me what you want. I need you to want me sometimes and to show me that you want me."

Corrina was quiet for a moment.

"What am I supposed to do?" she asked.

"Anything you want to do." he said. "There's no condemnation here, Corrina"

She stared at him. He leaned in close to her, his face almost touching hers.

"Forget what you've been taught. We are about to become man and wife. Talk to me. Tell me how you feel. Show me. Tell me."

"I love you, Manny" she said simply.

"I love you too, Corrina" he said. "Love is supposed to be expressed. It can be expressed in many different ways. Lovemaking is one way...I need you. I need you to need me. I need you to show me that you need me...desire me. Do you understand? I need you to need me."

She looked at her hands again. "I do need you." she confessed. "I miss you."

"I'm right here." he said grinning. "Come and get me."

Corrina pushed him back on the sofa and stretched herself on him. Pursuit was new to her. She had to feel her way. She placed her head on his chest and listened to the beating of his heart. Manny rubbed her back. He still did not do anything more and she could feel her frustration mounting. She wanted him to kiss her like he did before. She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his chest.

"Manny..."

"Hmmm?"

"I need you to kiss me like you used to."

"I still kiss you"

"Yeah, but it's different."

"I'm trying to maintain some control, Corrina."

"What do I have to do to get that again?"

"Kiss me like you want to be kissed and I'll respond. Make the move and I'll make the counter move." he explained. "Forget that stuff about what's a man's role and what good girls don't do. Let's just be two people in love, expressing that love."

Corrina kissed him hard, her tongue seeking his and he responded with his own. She felt him grow hard under her and she felt her own excitement building. He sucked on her bottom lip which made her moan and then she returned the favor.

"Manny" she said breaking the kiss. "I like the feel of you when you're like this."

She reached down and squeezed him and he moaned a little sending shivers through her belly

"You have the power, Corrina" he whispered.

"Make that sound again" she whispered back to him.

"Touch me again" he replied.

She kissed him again and rubbed him through his pants. He moaned again and the sound of his response made her hot. He reached under her dress and rubbed her behind.

"I think I see how this works" she giggled.

"Ah, at last" he chuckled "She gets it."

"Do you want me to...uh rub you until it...you know it happens?" she asked shyly.

"That would be nice...but only if you want to" he replied.

Corrina unzipped his pants and took him in her hand. He groaned again and she felt like she would explode. She could smell his arousal and it intoxicated her.

"Faster please, Corrina" he instructed as she ran her hand up and down his shaft.

Corrina found him slick in her hand and she moved faster and his moans were getting louder and she was getting hotter still. She looked at him and he had his eyes closed.

"Oh, god I wish..." he cut his words off and moaned again.

"What, Manny. Tell me" she said "Am I doing alright?"

"Yeah." he replied. He was bucking on the sofa trying to keep rhythm with her hand.

"Ummmm yeah" he groaned. "Squeeze me harder baby...that's it."

Just then the phone rang and Corrina let him go. Manny gasped at the disconnect. He couldn't believe the timing. He quickly took himself in his hand. The phone was still ringing and Corrina watched as he cursed under his breath and picked it up.

"Hello!" he said still breathing hard trying not to sound as irritated as he felt.

"Daddy!" Molly said on the other end.

"Are you and Corrina coming over for dinner? Grandma says that dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes."

"Yeah baby. We're coming" Manny said.

"Daddy what's wrong? You're breathing hard. Have you been running?"

"Uh, yeah baby. Daddy had to run to get the phone" he said looking at Corrina who was trying not to laugh.

"Alright Daddy. We're having pork chops!" Molly said gleefully.

"That's wonderful, baby" Manny replied.

"And applesauce" she continued.

"Great" Manny replied putting himself back in his pants.

"And peas...you like peas, Daddy!"

"Molly I get the idea." Manny said "We'll be there in a few minutes."

"Alright then. Goodbye Daddy" Molly said cheerfully.

Manny hung up the phone and ran his fingers through his hair. He was just that close!

"Damn!" he said grinning at Corrina. "Cock blocked by my own daughter!"

Corrina laughed and walked over and kissed him.

"It'll be alright, Manny." she snickered. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Manny rolled his eyes.

"When we get married, you had better be ready to stay in my bed for a week without food and water." he said . "C'mon let's go!"