“Your heart is pounding.”
“You make me wild for you, woman,” he said as he stroked her rounded buttocks with both hands. “Think Vincent heard us?”
She giggle-snorted. “I think Divine heard us.”
She didn’t sound sleepy so he slowly pulled his cock from her pussy and slid her to the bed. “I want to show you something I found.”
“Sure.”
First, he disposed of the condom and after washing up, he got the rest of the strawberries and whipped cream from the bathroom and set them on the bed. He located what he wanted her to see from the drawer in the bedside table and turned on the reading lamp.
She went to him as he reclined on the piled-up pillows and cuddled up in his arms, pulling the sheet and blanket with her. He balanced the bowls on his stomach and dipped another for her. He liked that she opened for him without hesitation and took what he offered her without making any comments about the cream being fattening. He enjoyed feeding her and taking care of her and the glow in her eyes told him he was making points in that assumption.
“What is it?” she asked as she peered curiously at the small bound book.
“We found it when we went through Patterson’s things a couple of months ago.” She inched closer so she could look on as he turned to the handwriting on the first page. He tilted the book and she could see there in Patterson’s boxy, masculine handwriting was the simple dedication, For Leah.
She put her fingertips to her mouth and he saw her eyes become glossy with tears. He turned to the first entry and her voice was shaky as she whispered, “Read it to me?”
“Her eyes dance with happiness and she doesn’t know
I see the loneliness there like a beacon that matches my own
She tempts me with a smile and denies what she needs
One of her kisses would enslave my soul and she doesn’t know
Her little feet tread the ground every day and I want to follow
Constantly in motion, touching lives, especially mine,
She makes everything better just by breathing, by being
But she can’t see what she needs and who needs her
Won’t accept the men that judge her by her heart
And not by the toil of her precious little hands
Little walking talking contradiction
How do I get through to you?”
James gathered the pages and leafed them rapidly against his thumb, showing her each page was filled with verse. “I had no idea he was writing poetry until we found this.”
“Patterson was a poet?”
“I haven’t read but the first few. It was too soon when we found it. It made me angry when I read them so I stopped. By the time I felt ready to read them, I’d also decided that I wanted you to read them with me. The few I’ve read at the front might make you blush, and others will make you cry. They date back to three years ago.”
“That long ago? He—”
James nodded. “He loved you, honey. We love you.”
“Has Vincent read them?”
“No. He said he’s not ready and may never be. He didn’t mind if I shared them with you, though.”
She turned red-rimmed eyes up to him and then said, “Read some more?”
“Sure.”
I sat beside you tonight, lonesome dove of mine
It’s not the way I wanted it but it was what you could give
I don’t know what it is about you that makes me strong
Strong enough to keep myself from breaking your boundaries
But one of these days lonesome dove I’m going to take you in my arms
I’ll show you the loving heart that beats just for you
And you’ll realize the time we lost is now time we need to make up
I watched your eyes as you watched the screen and I saw your features change
I saw the passion you keep hidden because you’re so afraid
And although I think it’s crazy, you believe you can’t measure up
To the love three men feel for you, you think you’ll never be enough
And I keep believing if I stretch out my hand and coax you long enough
You might let me hold you and show you my love
You’ll trust me and no longer be lonesome, my dove.
She didn’t say a word, and he was sure if he looked down, he’d see tears in her eyes, but he could hear her labored breathing and feel the heat of her cheek increasing, where it was pressed against his chest.
“I remember the night he was referring to in that one. I wish I’d given in.”
He kissed the top of her head and said, “How about one to make you giggle? I think you might like it.”
“Sure.”
You sassed me today, you fiery little angel, and told me to go to hell.
Can’t remember what I said that pissed you off and maybe it’s just as well
You turned your back and walked away like you thought we were done