NOT EDITED

"Stephie baby, it's time to wake up." I felt his lips press against mine, and a sense of peace came over me immediately. Looking at the clock on the nightstand, I saw it was 8 o'clock at night. I grabbed my phone to check for messages and missed calls; I was supposed to meet with a consultant about catering for the wedding and going over my final playlist with the DJ & live band.

"Shoot, Rico's gonna be so upset at me for missing again." I rolled my eyes and set my phone back down on the nightstand.

Rich joined me in bed and pulled my body into his. He played in my curls while I stared at him.

"I called him right after you fell asleep. He came by a little while ago and picked up your notes; he only asked if you would FaceTime him sometime late tonight or tomorrow."

"Oh, thank you baby," wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him all over his face.

"I'm sorry about my little outburst earlier."

"Little?" He backed his head up slightly and smirked at me. I playfully rolled my eyes and turned my head.

"It's fine Sweets, you needed to get that off your chest."

Shaking my head, I agreed with him. I grabbed the remote to turn on the television but he stopped me.

"What?"

"You know I love you right?" He held my hands as he asked the question.

"Of course I do, I love you too Rich." Smiling I tried to turn the tv on again.

"And I'll never let anything, or anyone hurt you; not even myself. I never want you to carry stuff around in your mind like that baby. As your other half, I'm here to love you, care for you, and protect you. You can always talk to me Stephie, about anything." Lifting my chin, he caresses my face.

"I know." The words left my mouth slowly and softly.

"Then act like it little  girl; talk to daddy." He winked and pressed his crotch up against my thigh.

Smirking, I straddled him and traced my name on his chest with my fresh acrylic nail. He bit his bottom lip and placed his hands on either side of my hips. I moved in and met lips, taking my time on every inch and crevice of his mouth. I felt him growing under me, and I made a point to brush up against him with my lady, Kissing him from his lips to his neck, Feeling like I'd teased him enough, I whispered in his ear.

"Yes sir." Like he did me, I winked and brushes up against him one last time before getting out of the bed.

"Where you goin'?" He practically cried from across the room, making me laugh. I pulled my tank dress over my head, and slipped my bathrobe on.

"Shower."

My water was the perfect temperature, and my hair was up in a bun. I dropped my robe on the floor next to me and stepped in. I let out a breath as the water fell on me, sending relaxation all over my body. Just when I was about to lather up, I heard the shower door open. Rich stood there, completely bare, with a sultry look in his eyes. That face alone had me ready to lay down right here in this shower and let him take me.

He moved in toward me and I backed away. It gets harder each day, to try and resist this man. His touch alone makes my body ache and my panties moist; a cold shower has now become apart of my daily routine.

"C'mere." He demanded, just barely above a whisper.

Without any other thought I made my way over to him. We shared eye contact for what seemed like an eternity before he kneeled down in front of me.

"W- wait Rich, no... Oooooh yes. Right there." The second his mouth reached my lower lips, I was out of it. I missed him so much, and tonight I didn't even want to fight it.

"You missed me?" He groaned out just before lifting my legs over his shoulders and pressing my body up against the wall. My body quivered as he made love to me with his tongue, probing, licking, and sucking every inch of my lady.

"Mmm yea." I was dang near in tears, gripping his head and grinding my hips to the pulse of his tongue; any second now and I was sure to cum.

He took his time and kissed my pearl. He tweaked and teased me relentlessly while I squirmed in his arms. Each time I tried to pull away, he gripped my thighs tighter.

"Riiiiich... I- I can't take it baby." Arching my back, I dug my nails into his. A rush came over my body and my legs began to shake. If he didn't move now, my juices would be all over his face.

"You want me to stop?" He asked the question in between kisses on my inner thighs, and back to my womanhood. I opened my mouth to speak but only weak moans followed.

"Huh? I can't hear you baby." He smirked and put his head back down, breathing heavily on my lips. His tongue worked slowly and strategically back and forth, in and out of my entrance.

"Ahhh, Rich I'm about to- ahhhhh." Beyond any of my control, my juices squirted freely onto his mouth, chin, and all down his chest. He didn't stop there; he licked his lips and continued to lap up my juices into his mouth. I grew weak on his shoulders, and I couldn't muster up enough strength to say anything.

He turned off the shower and let me down to his chest without ever letting me go. Resting my head in the crook of his neck, I allowed him to carry me back into our room. Stopping right at the end of the bed, he gently laid me down. He hovered over me and placed gentle kisses on my body.

"I love you Stephie." He whispered to me. Leaning up, I kissed his forehead and stoked the back of his head.

"I love you too Terrell."

He continued placing kisses all over my body, and took each of my breast into his mouth. They've grown quite larger since I had the twins, and Rich has a slight fetish over them. Finally, I felt him place himself at my entrance.

"The babies, Rich." I reminded him.

"They're all asleep and the monitors are on." He assured me, looking seductively into my eyes.

Biting my bottom lip nervously, I gave him the go-ahead with a small nod.

"Wait!" I pushed against his chest before he could move.

"Really, Steph?" He mugged me and hit my thigh.

"Get a condom asshole." He rolled his eyes and stomped across the floor to his dresser drawer . I was definitely amused by his little fit he was throwing.

"Like that's ever worked for us anyway." I watched him mumble to himself while he placed the condom on.

"What?"

He sighed and grabbed my hips, sliding me down to the edge of the bed. "Nothin, put your arms right here." I grabbed his forearms and braced myself. I can't lie, most of my stalling is because Rich is huge as hell and we haven't had intercourse since before the twins were born; I feel like I'm about to be losing my virginity again.

"Ri-" he cut me off with a kiss.

"Now shut up and take him." Not long after the words left his mouth, he was entering me.

"Dang girl, you're tighter than before." He bit his bottom lip as he slowly eased himself into me. I felt a tingling down there with every inch he took; I missed this so much.

"I know... So ease up." I hit him in the chest after he tried to thrust himself all the way in.

"Baby, the head is barely in. You'll only feel it for a few seconds."

"Noooo Rich." I said with tears in my eyes. He rolled his eyes and looked at me as he kept inching. I closed my eyes and welcomed the familiar pleasure that I had longer for. Moaning out in pleasure, I gripped his neck.

"Shit! Rich, I told you not to do that." I yelled breathlessly at him. He didn't even say a word. Growing accustomed to his size, I worked my hips at the pace of his strokes. Our bodies moved together in sync, and I slowly drifted off into my own world of ecstasy. He wasn't only making love to my lady, but I felt like he was making love to my soul.

"Damn... I missed you Steph- a- ahhhhh." My eyes flew open to see what had just happened. He was laying there with his mouth open, looking like he had just seen a ghost.

"What? Did you just- tell me you didn't."

"I uhh- uh..." He looked at the ground and searched for words. A smile crept upon my face after I realized what happened; my baby really did miss me.

"You uh- uh-" Mocking him, I set up on the bed and covered my body with my towel. He smacked his lips and took the condom off to dispose of it. He came back into the room with his held still down.

"Awwwww, it's okay baby come here," His lips were poked out while he drug his feet over to the bed. I pulled his arms until he collapsed into my chest. It was a struggle to get him to look at me, but he finally did.

"Stop pouting Rich. So you came quick... I'm sure it's happened to everybody before." I was trying to lighten the mood but he wasn't having it.

"Not me. I promise that's never happened before."

"That's because I got that good-good." I danced around and ground my hips under him until he smiled. He kissed me from my stomach, back up to my lips.

"I'll make it up to you." He assured me, nibbling away at my neck.

"Mhmm... I know you will. Now come on minuteman, let's finish this shower." That earned a slap on the thigh for me and a mean mug for me; I couldn't help but laugh.

"You know what? I'll just settle this right now." I turned at the door to see him reaching for another condom. Giggling, I tried my best to rush in and close and lock the door behind me. It was no use; he pushed in and made up for his little mishap.

***
Let's just say I slept just as well or even better than Deuce and Bunni last night. After dropping Skye off for school, and taking Rich some breakfast to the office, the twins and I went back home. Since I didn't have class today, I could chill and get some work done around the house. The girls were supposed to be stopping by for lunch later too.

"Poochie, I miss you! Look babies, it's your uncle Pooch!" I was so excited to see my brother, even if it was just on FaceTime. We were always close before, but since we found out about mom, we've made it a point to talk to each other every single day.

"Hey babies, how y'all doin? Hey Peanut." He waved into the camera at us. Deuce and Rima were in their bassinet babbling to each other; they are so adorable. I still can't believe I get to call these sweet little angels my children.

"Ugh. I wish you'd stop calling me that."

"Never. Anyway, what you got up for today?" He was in his office doing paperwork. I could tell by the strained look on his face. He always goes above and beyond with his work, even if it means stressing himself out miserably.

"Not much. I've been cleaning all morning, but the girls are coming by in a little bit. How about you? You working hard enough?"

"Heck no, not nearly enough. Between this divorce, paying child support, and Christmas coming up? I need to take on at lest ten more contracts." He and I laughed together. We both know that finances are not his problem; he's just cheap as all get out.

"Speaking of divorce... How'd Anise take it when you told her you'd decided to go through with it?" Initially he was going to try and make things work with her, but she's still involved with the father of this new baby so that's a wrap.

"I'm a asshole, and I should respect the fact that she wants her child's father to be in his life." He mumbled without ever looking away from his computer. It used to bother him before but now I can tell that he just don't give af.

"That bit- I mean... To each is own."

"Yea, so I have a question." He set back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. Here we go.

"What's up?"

"Why didn't you tell me about Christian?" My eyes drifted away from the screen and I picked Rima up, placing her in my lap and put her pacifier in her mouth, then I held Deuce upright in my arms and gave him his bottle.

"There's nothing to tell."

"So I guess him beatin' ya ass ain't news at all huh?" He snapped.

"I swear, you and Rich gossip more than me and the girls."

"Don't play with me Quanni." He gave me a look if warning, and I knew I was supposed to start explaining.

"So why do I have to tell you again if you and him already talked? I rolled my eyes.

"You don't have to talk about it again, I just... I'm just kind of hurt that you never told me. You know I would've handled it for you; I'm your brother." He said matter of factly.

"Exactly. You would've killed him, and I was so stupid in love with him still, that I would've hated you for it after." I shook my head, thinking about how dumb I was for Christian. Oh well, lesson learned.

"You would've got over it." He shrugged, causing us both to share laughter.

"Anyway, you're my main concern baby-girl. I just wanna know that you're good." He studied my face through the phone.

"I'm good Pooch, I promise... So you can tell your lil girlfriend that too." He scrunched his face up, all confused.

"Who?"

"Rich. Y'all get on my nerves." I smacked my lips as I thought about their little bromance. Every time I turn around they're talking or texting.

"Chill, that's my boy. Plus, he takes good care of you, so he's alright with me. Anybody that treats my peanut like the Queen she is, has my approval."

"He is kinda cool huh?" I joked.

"And he loves him some Quanni too." He smirked.

"Yea, I noticed. I love him too Pooch, so much. I can't believe I'm marrying him in almost less than a month."

"Yea, my baby grew up on me. I guess I just have to accept the fact that now you don't need me to protect you like when we were little; you got a man now huh?"

"Yes, and I love that man!"

I talked with him on FaceTime for at least another hour before finally getting ready for the girls' arrival. It's just me and my brother, but I'm glad that we have such a close-knit family. I wouldn't trade any of them for the world; God certainly did place some amazing people in my life.

***
"Mrs. Reynolds, Lunch is prepared to serve. If you need anything else or have any questions, my staff and I will be here on-call." Rich's personal Chef, Enrique stated, just before handing me a glass of lemon lime spritzer.

"Thanks Enri, but I haven't made it to Mrs. yet." I smiled.

"Sorry ma'am, bossman's orders." He smirked disappeared behind the doors back into the kitchen without saying another word. Shaking my head, I playfully rolled my eyes and texted Rich.

Babe, thanks for lunch, I'll have Enri bring you a plate. Love you 😘😘
-Mrs. Cartwright

Mr. Reynolds 😍💞🔐😘
Anything for you sweets. 😘

Mr. Reynolds 😍💞🔐😘
What's the signature about?

It's my name

Mr. Reynolds 😍💞🔐😘
Not for long baby 😈

Laughing, I placed my phone on the arm of the couch, and put the twins in their swinger, and lit my candles that were centered on my coffee table. Between the kitchen and these candles, I felt like I was right back home in Chicago. Slowly but surely I'm adjusting to my new life as a working student, mother, and soon to be wife.

The twins were half asleep when my smart home alert signaled that the girls were pulling into the driveway. Thank God they all got here at the same time so I didn't have to repeat everything over and over again.

"Cause girl, what's the tea? Let me know honey." In walks Arayia, at the head of the group with her hands in the air. So dramatic.

"Cause girl if you wake my babies." I warned her by giving her the eye and she covered her mouth before sitting down on the edge of the couch.

"Hey y'all." Playfully rolling my eyes, I acknowledge Natalie, Rhea, Leah, and my girl Teirany. They each accepted their glasses from Riquè, and joined me on the sectional.

"Anyway, what's wrong mama? You sound pretty upset on that voice memo." Raye asked, taking a sip of her drink.

"Right, I got my tennis shoes and Vaseline out in the car waiting. What's good?" I watched Rhea reach for her keys and try to get up off of the couch.

Leah rolled her eyes and took Rhea's keys away from her.

"Now you know she's always looking for a reason Quanni." Leah is the well behaved twin, and also the eldest.

I listened to them all talk amongst themselves, trying to decide what had me so upset yesterday, that we had to schedule an emergency meeting.

"Did something happen to Skye?" Natalie held her chest and looked around the room as if she would find a clue somewhere around the house.

"No, stupid. She would've called us to the hospital if that was the case." Arayia rolled her eyes and gladly accepted her plate from Enri.

They were coming up with some of the lamest ideas. Finally they decided that Rich and I had gotten into a fight and I was calling because he had tried to put his hands on me. It got so ridiculous, they even had Teirany worked up.

"Okay bitch, let me find out we gotta fight Rich for putting his hands on you. I used to strip, it ain't nothing for me to cut a nigga." She was talking and waving her hands in between bites of her pasta, and I was oh so tickled.

"Y'all finished or y'all done? Cause y'all done ran out with these damn scenarios. How y'all just gone make my fiancé a woman beater?" My head was cocked to the side, and my mouth was wide open.

I was actually kind of shocked that they would assume the worst about Rich and I, but at least I know they'd have my back if anything went down. But by the time I got done with his ass, they wouldn't need to do anything but call a morgue, let's be real. He knows I don't go.

"My bad girl, I was just sayin. I know Rich wouldn't do that, the way he treats you? But your ass was acting strange yesterday." She lifted her hands in surrender.

"No, Rich didn't do anything wrong. He actually helped me in every way yesterday; he was all the strength I needed." With a slight smile on my face, I went to our message thread and texted him.

Mr. Reynolds 😍💞🔐😘
I love you so much Rich ❤️.

"Girl let that man work. Y'all just got off the phone." Rhea smirked at me, and sipped her drink.

"So yesterday Rich's intern came by the house to meet his family."

"Okay?" Natalie shrugged her shoulders and looked at me like I was crazy.

"Go on," Arayia said stuffing her face.

"His new intern... is Christian." T was the only one in the room who had not a clue as to who I was speaking of. After filling her in on who he was I continued on with my initial statement.

"The nerve of him." Natalie sucked her teeth.

"That's fucked up." Rhea and Leah both mumbled.

"That's crazy." T was shaking her head trying to process everything I had just told her.

I noticed that everyone in the room made a comment except for Arayia, which for her is extremely unusual.

"Like, why would he even be here in Texas of all places?" I rolled my eyes and subconsciously began to rock the Twins' singer back and forth.

"He lives here."

"Excuse me?" My neck snapped so fast in Ray's direction that I just knew I had whiplash.

"He's been in Dallas for almost three years now." She mumbles, casually taking a bite of her pasta. I could feel my temperature rising but I was gonna keep calm until I heard her explanation.

"How would you even know that Arayia, unless you've been communicating with him?" I eyed her intently until she finally looked up from her plate to me.

"Because I have?" She rolled her eyes in the air as if I was supposed to understand what she was trying to tell me.

"You have what?" I slide up to the edge of the couch to hear her better; not really but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Movement from everyone else in the room was at a stand still. Even my babies had stopped babbling.

"I've been talking to him Quanni. Look, before you try to go in on me, he's my friend. We reconciled our friendship long ago just like you did with me." She actually has the nerve to flash a smile at me like everything was all good.

"Raye, I didn't do anything to you; you were sleeping with my boyfriend and got caught. I'm not the one who betrayed a friendship, so I'm not understanding what the fuck you're talking about right now.

"Really Q?" She was staring at me as if I was in the wrong.

"Really Raye?" If she wanted to do tit for tat then so be it.

"Let's not do this y'all..." Natalie was looking back and back and forth between the both of us, trying to be the peace maker but I wasn't having it. Not today.

"No Lie... I wanna know why she's still involved with a man that ruined our friendship; the same man that put his hands on me." She wouldn't say a word.

"That man beat my ass!"

"Quanni please! Stop goin around telling that weak ass sob story like you didn't hit him first." She scoffed and took a sip of wine.

I laughed to myself and calmly stood up. For wherever reason, that prompted everyone else to do the same.

"He's not the only one who caught one... Is he Raye?" I smirked and nodded my head in the direction of the scar I left in the middle of her foreheads from my heel years ago.

"Okay that's enough." Leah eased in between the two of us.

All these years and I really thought I could trust this girl, Apparently not.

"You did all that lying and crying about how wrong you were. How that was the biggest mistake you'd made in your life, and you didn't want to lose our friendship. What happened to that huh? You still fuckin this nigga." I threw my hands up.

Each of the girls were doing their fair share to keep the two of us apart. I noticed Rhea had removed the twins from the swing and taken them to the other room, so I was sure of their safety.

"What's the beef Q?"

"You tell me! It's like you've had it out for me since day 1. I try and let it pass with the competition. Changing your hair so it will look as close to mine as possible, look at all the trouble you went through to get Leah to do your hair. The way you dress; your income can't support half those name brands you try to floss around just to keep up with the Jones's. Really even down to your circle. You wouldn't know anybody in this room if it weren't for me... Not even Natalie." At this point I was beyond pissed at this girl. The more I thought about it, she never really was a friend to me.

"Let's be real... You don't fuck with me."

By this time I knew I had gotten to her. Tears were running down her face, and I had not a care in the world about it.

"So that's how we doing it Quanni? Over a nigga?"

"He's not just a nigga and you know it. I was in love with that man and you knew it. I put up with so much crap from him, only to find out you had your share in it. He was my first love Arayia!" I yelled to the top of my lungs.

I could feel my blood begin to boil, and I was itching to relieve some pressure.

"Yea well he was the father of my baby!"

"What!?" Everyone said at once.

Clearly we were just saying things to hurt each other, because there's no way he could have fathered a child of hers.

"So we're really gonna bring up this lame ass pregnancy lie that you kept up all senior year?" I laughed and shook my head. With my hands on my hips, I walked over to the table to take a sip of my water. I was also discreetly taking my sandals off. Natalie must've caught on to what I was doing because she gave me a look that could kill.

"It's not a lie Quanni. That's why I spent the summer with my grandmother. We were having a girl... But I lost her. He came down for the service and even had a stone made for her. We go see her every year on what would've been her birthday..."

"March 9th." The one day out of the year that I never hear from her. It was all making since now. I shook my head in disbelief.

"I understand how you feel about Christian, but he was special to me too. He still is." I watched her scroll through her phone like she was looking for something.

She stopped at a photo I guess, and smiled a little. I glared at her as she held her phone up to me. Sure enough, there was a grave with both of their names on it. I took note of the name that was given to the little girl; Angel M. Coleman

"You took my baby's name?"

"What?" She grabbed her phone back, pretending to be confused.

We always said that after we were married, we would have a little girl and name her Angel.

"Don't act like you don't know what the fuck I'm talking about Raye. I told you about the name we chose; you knew that!" Now she was really beginning to annoy me.

"I don't know what you're talking about Q." She rolled her eyes for just about the last time.

"Oh yea? So what's the M stand for huh?" She waited before looking into my eyes, and we both said it together.

"Marie."

"You sick ass, weak ass, whack ass bitch. How dare you?" I was disgusted to say the least.

"Oh. Fucking. Well... So I took the name... Who cares? That's what you get for taking him." She scoffed.

"I didn't take an-"

"Bullshit! You knew I wanted him in the beginning. It was me who spotted him on the first day of school, not you. You knew that wee were talking." This was a side of her that I had never seen.

"Girl please, I wasn't checking for him. He pursued me... Remember that. Y'all only talked because of an end of the year assignment that he needed to pass and you know that. Remember he outed you in front of the whole football team? Just for a grade. You talked about him like a dog after, remember that? Any fool could see that he didn't want your ass; he asked you for my number... Remember? I guess you clearly didn't get over that though." I laughed.

"You sound so stupid! Get over it I won! I got the guy that you would die for. I pretended to be your friend all these years just to keep him in the clear. I listene to all your little sob stories and I never gave a fuck. You're lucky Rich thought enough to wife your ass; you're ridiculous Quanni. Yes I did it! Yes I still fuck him! I gave him the opportunity to take my virginity... And I carried his seed. That's a bond that you and him will never share... Who's laughing now?

I laughed once more and kindly moved Natalie and Tierany out of my range. With everything in me I slapped her. She wiped the blood from her mouth and smirked. I didn't even flinch when she slapped me back, because that was the one and only hit she would get this day. As soon as she opened her mouth to speak again I went to work.

"Quanni no!" Leah was trying to loosen the grip I had on raye's weave but that was a no go. She tried to trip me but instead I flipped her on the ground.

"You guys stop, it's not worth it!" I heard Natalie and the other girls yelling behind me, but I didn't care. This girl hates me with a passion and spent years pretending. I was about to let her know what betrayal felt like.

"Bitch let me go!" She tried to grab my arms but I slammed her head into the floor.

"What the hell? Stephanie what are you doing?" I heard a familiar voice but I couldn't stop hitting her, it's like something was controlling me.

I felt his hands pull me up into the air

"No! Let me go." I could feel myself fighting him, although I didn't want to.

"Y'all get her out of here." I was still in a trance. I could only hear every one else around, but only one thing was on my agenda.

"Bitch, that's your ass!" I heard her yell.

"Fuck you, your ass is mine on sight. Every time! Let me go Rich!" He gripped me tighter and ran into the other room.

"Stop it Q-"

"No, let me go! I'm not done with that lying ass-"

"I said stop it now!" He put me down and was trying his best to calm me.

"I can't believe her. I gonna kill that b-"

"Stephanie!" Something about the way he yelled my name caused all the anger in me to come to a halt.

"What's gotten into you? Look at yourself?" I turned to see a girl that I hadn't seen in years. That insecure girl that I thought I left behind in high school. Back then I was young and dumb, and just mad at the world.

"You don't know what she did Rich-"

"Oh I heard everything. Why you so invested in all this? Look at how you're living! You have a fiancé and three children that adore you. Why you fighting over this dude? In my house? With my kids in the next room?" The look he gave me hurt my soul. I could tell that he was disappointed. I was disappointed in me too. I shouldn't have let it get that far.

"I'm sorry Rich... I wasn't thinking." I went to grab his hands and he snatched them away from me. He looked at me like I was a foreigner.

"Damn right you weren't thinking... Are you still in love with this man? Is that what this is all about?" His face was twisted up in confusion and I was in tears.

"What? Richard No! Why would you even say that?" I cried, still reaching for him.

"Really? Because the way you just showed your ass in there makes me see otherwise. But I'm gonna give you some space. You need some time to get yourself together, and your priorities in order." He looked me up and down like he was disgusted.

I watched him go upstairs and I went into the guest bathroom to get my hair back together. By the time I had washed my face and put my hair back in a bum, he was on the way to the door with four bags in his hand.

"Where are you going with the kids' stuff?" I rushed to the front door to block him from leaving.

"We're gonna crash at Rhea's for a few days... You and I both could use some time apart.

"Time apart? Look Rich, I know I was stupid but you don't have to do this! I'm sorry." I hugged his waist and he just stood there.

"Rich... Say something!" I looked into his eyes for an answer.

"Move." I could feel my breath leave my chest and the room seemed to be spinning. This could not be happening right now. I watched as he put the bags in the car, then came back for the twins.

"Rich, don't take my babies." He wouldn't say a word, he just continued walking .

"Rich don't do this, I'm sorry! Rich... I'm sorry Rich!"

Without another word, he taken Deuce and Bunni and pulled out of the driveway. Just like that, my family was in disarray.