Italian Coffee House [BWWM]

- C h a p t e r 32 -

Ridiculously gorgeous and destructively desirable, heck it was hopeless to even try to resist the profound urge to touch her. She had upset something within me, a part of me unfathomable. She was easily the missing piece of our puzzle, even before I knew of her existence. It would've been otherworldly if my father was here. He might've love me with a quiet love, but he would've openly adored her. He would've loved her, just like Krysta does.

A gentle caress drew me from my reverie to gaze into the beautiful brown depths of my chocolate bride. It was something else entirely that she could read me like something of an opened book. More importantly, it happened with greater frequency the longer we spent time together. Her emollient hands pressed against my pectorals and I was certain she could feel the erratic drumming of the organ hidden beneath its surface. She tiptoed briefly giving me a light peck before stepping back a little. How fortunate we were to communicate without words, I think it a wedding gift from God Almighty himself. However, I could tell that she was fixing to ask me anyway.

"I'm ok Bella, there's no need to worry about me. You shouldn't be." By the expression on Ada's face, I could tell that she recognized my ambiguity. I caught her hand in mine, lifting it to my lips to place a kiss there.

"I can't help it that I worry about y-" My wife didn't have the luxury of finishing her sentence as I captured her plump lips under mine. A flash of light stimulated my peripheral vision, even as my eyes had been drawn shut by the intensity of our kiss. Ada giggled against my lips confirming my suspicions that Tey had taken our picture. She was even kind enough to lend it to us, causing her best friend to blush profusely. God she was so adorable. I held her closer despite our dilemma. Heck, she's my wife I'd kiss her anytime I darn well pleased.

It was my turn to wish Papa well. I recalled how inspiring it was to witness his rehabilitation to mobility. If anything, Josie had done her job with a sense of pride. To the point where my faith grew exponentially. The entire process was priceless. On the note of her inability to keep a poker face, she held out longer than I thought she would. I gave her that. In what time I'd spent with Papa over a good game of chess, it dawned on me how wise a man and perceptive he was. To the point where I began to question whether he'd already put two and two together about how his daughter and I came to be bound in matrimony. Not a shred of doubt crossed my mind where his daughter was concerned he might well have skinned me alive. Even my father must have turned in his grave, revolted that I had disrespected a his daughter-in-law. With such clarity of thought, I thought it better to shake his hand as a sign of respect. However, Papa wasn't having it. He pulled me into a bear hug, almost completely knocking the wind out of me. I coughed attempting to gather sufficient air, while he proceeded to pat my back. "I know how you coaxed my daughter into this union. Don't think for a minute that I'm ok with it."

Oh God! He knows! Laughter caught my ear, filling the room around us, as the gravity of my predicament began to sink in. What would he think now that Ada was pregnant with my babies? His grandchildren? I got a sunken feeling in the pit of my stomach. The strangest inkling that he'd known for some time, but waited precisely for this moment to impart the knowledge. As he did strategically in chess. Check-mate! He released me shortly, leveling me with a brief yet dreadful gaze. No doubt to convey his meaning. It wasn't enough that I was atoning for my sins. I found my wife, in all the chaos wreaking havoc on my peace of mind. She was in a deep conversation with her best friend and her back was towards me.

"Excuse me, can I borrow my wife for a moment?" Tionnè nodded, taking her leaving without much prompting, lending us some privacy.

"What troubles you my love," Ada perked up.

"Papa knows ... about the arrangement." A series of emotions played on her features while she processed to information, as she quickly grasped my meaning. For a moment, I thought she seemed rather relieved, but how could she be, if she didn't tell him. Had she told him? No my Ada wouldn't do that. Our engagement may have initially been facade, but there was no denying what we felt now.