Marlene

Mary Lou was an older black woman who had gone to hell and back in her life. She was raised by her alcoholic mother and began doing drugs on the streets when she was a teen. She still came around the homeless shelter I would go to every Saturday and get breakfast, sometimes dinner as well.

She said I reminded her of her sister who passed away when she was twelve, so full of love and laughter.

When she spotted me with tears in my eyes she hugged me and told me to follow her to have a cup of coffee at a diner. "Where have you been crazy girl, I never see you here anymore."

Her words made me realize that with everything this past year and a half; I stopped coming here all together five months ago.

"I got married." She congratulated me while I pulled my wallet out to show her the picture of Oliver from our small wedding. He had a big smile, and even with the lack of teeth, looked just like Harry. "My son." when I explained the situation she cried.

"I can tell you love that boy." I nodded crying into my hands. "Tell me what's wrong honey, your makeup is coming off." I chuckled.

"He's the best guy I could ask for, but somethings bothering him and it's affecting us. It's hard to explain but I can't argue with him like I want to because in my mind he's fragile." I told her everything from how we met, to the bruises, and pregnancy. I sat in that booth with her and had dinner as we talked.

She told me of her experience in an abusive relationship and everything she feels now and it was things Harry told me he felt. He had trust issues and nightmares like her. "Marlene, you can't stop yourself from living your life with him because of the past. Honey the reason you stopped coming was that you don't have the urge to be needed anymore, that baby needs you. Go home and fight with him, don't be scared to tell him how you feel even if it hurts his feelings."

"You're right." I nodded. I know fighting wasn't good, but maybe a heated discussion would fix this.

I left some money and walked her to the shelter where I got a cab and had him take me home. I walked into the house and could hear Harry talking on the phone. "...okay I'll call Liam and double check- yeah okay bye." I quietly closed the front door and heard him walk into the kitchen grabbing a set of keys and walking out into the living room where I stood. He stopped dead in his tracks as he held Oliver in his arm. "Jesus, Marlene thank god." He walked over to me and held me close.

"Mama!" Ollie cried out when he noticed me. I took him into my arms and kissed his head.

"I'm right here baby, mama went out for a bit." I walked past him to take Oliver to the living room to sit with him. He followed closely behind me and watched as I grabbed Oliver's milk and sat on the couch to put him to sleep.

"Are you not going to talk to me?" He asked but I ignored him. "I went looking for you right afterward and you disappeared so I picked up Ollie and came home, but you never showed up." I didn't say anything.

After I put Oliver to bed I walked over to the bedroom and took off my jewelry and my heels, sighing in relief. I showered and watched as Harry sat at the end of the bed looking frustrated. I shut the bedroom door and took a deep breath.

He's not fragile, he's a grown man and we are two married people that need to work out their differences.

I crossed my arms and shook my head. "You're a dick," I told him making him look up at me.

"I know I am."

"Let me finish." He nodded. "I am your wife Harry, you asked me to marry you and you wanted me for better or for worse. I love you with all my heart and I love our son." He nodded. "But the way you treat me is bullshit! I know what she used to do to you, I saw the bruises and the marks on your skin! I am terrified to even yell because I never want you to feel unloved, but I'm not going to stay quiet anymore for your benefit!"

"I'm not a porcelain doll Marlene!" He stood up.

"In my mind you are! But not anymore, I want to treat you equally and like you're the man you are. The man that loves me and holds me down during sex- that's the man I want to see all the time. Confident in what you're saying not scared." he seemed confused and honestly so was I. "Why the fuck did you leave me there!"

He sighed. "I don't know, I was upset and I took it out on you."

"What were you upset about?" He shook his head. "Harry you have to tell me! If you love me you would tell me these things-"

"Emily's father contacted Edmunds!" He blurted out.

I was confused. "What?"

"Marlene, Emily's father is not just a rich asshole who has a lot of money, he's a powerful man who can ruin my entire life with a snap of his fingers." I blinked.

"What is he in the mob or-" The look on his face made me stop talking. "Are you being serious right now?"

"He's not in the mob- at least I don't think- but he might as well be. He called Edmunds and offered him money to fire me, Edmunds was confused and said no. Then today there was a gas leak, that's suspicious as hell." I finally understood this past week, Harry was paranoid. "I didn't want to tell you because I don't want you to be afraid." I nodded slowly taking a seat beside him.

Everything I meant to say went out the window. "I need a drink."

*

Later that night after being awake until two in the morning I decided to wake Harry up. I poked his chest and he sighed. "I'm awake." He told me.

"I can't sleep," I whispered.

"Why?" I didn't want to tell him that I was terrified of a man I had only met once so I lied rolling over on top of him to kiss his face.

"Miss having you inside of me." I kissed his lips.

"You miss daddy, princess?" Even when I'm not in the mood, Harry can get me in the mood easily. "Tell me." His hands reached down to my ass where he squeezed.

"I miss you, Harry." He looked at me, gently placing his hands on my face.

"I'm right here baby, I'm so sorry that I probably made you feel like shit. Tomorrow let's go out on a date, you and I and I promise we're going to talk and I'll show you how much I love you." He pulled me close to kiss me. I felt the heat in my tummy return quickly and I knew we had just had what I would consider a real fight.

On the other hand, the thought of him leaving me there, being so mean stuck in my mind; it's too overpowering, and blocking out all the sweet things he says to me. "Ugh, I'm still mad at you." I rolled off of him. "You left me." He leaned on his arm.

"I'm sorry." He pouted making me roll my eyes. "I love you." I slept with my hair in a loose bun with a few hairs sticking out, which he slowly pushed behind my ear.

"You can't sweet talk to me all the time." He pouted. "You have to make it up to me, and in a non-sexual way." He lied back on the bed and sighed before suddenly standing up and putting his house slippers on, walking out of the room. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to build a boat." He put his jacket on.

"What?" I turned the light on to see him standing there in his boxers.

"You heard me,  woman, you want to know how sorry I am? Words can't even describe it, so guess what?" He shrugged. "I'm building you a boat. what time does Home Depot open?"

I stared at him and began laughing so hard that I fell back and smacked my head against the headboard "Oww!" I was still laughing.

"Shit are you okay?" He walked over to kiss the top of my head. "Do you not want a boat? Perhaps a tree house or a nice desk-"

"Harry!" I covered his mouth. "I forgive you, lay down it's late."

"You mean early." I rolled my eyes.

"Don't make me mad again." He kissed me gently. This time I felt the spark that we had together ignite. My fingers tangled in his soft curls and pulled him closer to me. I kicked my foot from under the blanket and wrapped my legs around him.

He pulled away and looked into my eyes. "Marlene, I want to show you how sorry I am baby, please." I nodded quickly as he began kissing my neck, leaving trails of open mouth kisses down to where the thin material of my tank top began. He began pulling it off, too slow for my liking if I'm honest. The second he revealed my breasts he pulled away to help me finish undressing.

I placed my hands on my boobs and covered myself from his wandering eyes. "I'm shy." I teased.

He smirked. "Not for me you're not." I put my hands behind my head and he smiled. "What do you want me to do?" He whispered.

I laid flat against my bed completely naked. Harry seemed to be enjoying me like this; quickly grabbing a hold of my hip and turning my lower body slightly to the right to be able to see my pussy from behind. I flipped over completely and felt his hand come down on my ass.

"I don't think I want a spanking, but perhaps a nice massage would make me forgive you?" I heard a deep chuckle come from his throat.

"Let me go get some lotion-" I cut him off rolling off to get some oil from the side of my bed. He sighed. "You've come prepared." I hummed laying down waiting for him to start the message. I gasped feeling the cool oil on my ass and heard him giggle.

I didn't say anything as his fingers worked magic on my lower back down to my behind. He moved farther down to my thighs and I knew he was teasing me. Every time he massaged between my legs, into my inner thighs, his thumb would run up my slit. I knew that he knew I was wet, and the oil was making me slicker. "Harry just fuck me already." I moaned lifting my ass up a little. He got off of me making me groan but as soon as his dick was up to my face I knew what he wanted.

I opened my mouth and wrapped a hand around the base to direct him past my swollen lips. I looked up at him as I sucked and bobbed my head. How is it possible for him to look just as sexy from this angle when this is the worst angle in the world.

"Touch your pussy while you suck daddy's cock." I pushed my thighs to get some friction from his words. I quickly turned back onto my back and took him into my mouth while my free hand reached between my legs to touch my dripping heat.

Harry moved me to lay with my head off the edge of the bed and I knew he was looking for some type of permission as he looked at me. "You gonna fuck my mouth, or are you just gonna stand there."

He let out a shaky breath and aligned himself to put his cock back into my mouth. I learned something about myself at that moment, I had no gag reflex when I was upside down.

Harry seemed to notice immediately as he began moving his hips slowly to push his cock further down into my throat. I began rubbing circles into my clit and knew I was going to cum. I let out a long moan making him pull away and letting me breathe. Before I could even catch my breath he had me back under him kissing me sweetly across my chest and up my neck. "I love you." He whispered.

"I love you,  baby. Even when you piss me off." My voice sounded a bit raspy from our previous actions. I gently ran my hands over his arms, taking in his beautiful tattoos, soft skin, short little curls on his chest.

He didn't understand that my heart beat out of my own chest every time I remembered he was mine, and only I could see him like this. Naked, sweaty, heavy breaths between kisses.

His lips were the perfect shade of pink that matched to the head of his length that pushed into me, filling me up perfectly. At the exact same time, we both moaned in unison. I have never had this level of security with someone in knowing that I would always be alright. I knew that outside of this bedroom, and in the inside, he'd always take care of me.

"Princess." he moaned. "Look at me when you cum." I gasped as my mind caught up to the body, my thoughts escaped and all could think of was how good he was making me feel, and how loud my moans must have been at this point.

My body jolted, my back arched, and I felt myself let go; releasing a clear liquid as Harry used his hand to rub over my clit in a fast pace motion. My mind went completely blank and I swore I was seeing stars, along with feeling the soft flesh of Harry's behind as I pulled him closer to me. I looked into his eyes and only one thing came to mind. One word. "Fuck!"

*

The next morning I woke up to something heavy on top of me and realized it was Harry sleeping close. I looked down at him and how he held one of my hands in his while the other was on my boob. The night before, or as Harry would say, this morning, was amazing. I smiled kissing his forehead and closing my eyes again for a few minutes before Oliver woke up.

But then I suddenly heard what sounded like Oliver besides the bed. "Mamamama goooo." He sang.

My eyes widened as I slowly moved from under Harry to find Ollie sitting on the ground beside us holding his ducky. "Oliver!" I stood quickly and Harry sat up half asleep and confused. "How did you- did you escape your crib honey?" He giggled and I looked him over to make sure he hadn't hurt himself.

"What's going on?" Harry looked at him.

"I told you we needed to lower the bed, he got out of his crib."

"Sick Ollie, barely walking and you already know to climb." Harry put his fist to Ollie who just began to nibble on it.

"Harry, he could have hurt himself, we need to get another gate and lower his bed." I shook my head but he just grabbed Oliver and lifted him up as he lied on his back. He tossed Oliver up giving me a panic attack.

"Daddy!" Oliver laughed.

"It's too early for this." I shook my head.

*

A couple of days later Harry got a call from his mom that she wanted to see the baby and that both she and Harry's dad would come by. It was at that point that I had to ask Harry about our marriage. "Did you ever tell your mom that we got married?" He was currently in the kitchen making me dinner.

He looked down at his hands and made a face. "Yeah listen, I sort of never told them we got engaged." I stared at him for a bit. " I mean your parents had to know because I asked your dad-"

"So you don't want your parents to know that you asked me to marry you?" He shrugged making me frustrated. This is what Mary Lou was talking about, I need to stop keeping my mouth shut. "Harry you are stepping on some thin ice right now so I suggest you don't give me a shrug and say yes or no."

"Of course I want them to know we're married but it will kill my mother to know we got married on a boat without her there." He explained. "I'm trying Marlene please just- I'm so dumb right now and I have so much on my mind that it's not even funny anymore."

I walked over and put my hands on his cheeks to pull him in. "Stop thinking about the 'if's' we're going to be fine." He nodded. "How long until the foods finished?" He looked down and told me to give him a few minutes.

I went to put Oliver in his high chair and sat with him. He smiled at me and giggled as I made a silly face, him repeating the same face back to me. He was beginning to look more like Harry, his hair getting fuller and darker every day; still blonde but for the most part he looked alot like the photo of Harry at this age. "Poop." He said to me.

"You made a poop, I think daddy wants to clean your tushy." He giggled. "You like that word huh, tushy." Again he giggled.

"Tush! Tush!" He clapped.

The smell of his diaper suddenly hit me and I sighed knowing I had to change him since Harry was making dinner. We walked to his bedroom where I laid him down on his changing bed and cleaned him up singing the alphabet song.

I began talking to him on how the alphabet song is just twinkle twinkle little star. Being an infant, he didn't say anything back to me.

I looked through his window and noticed a black SUV parked out front. I sighed as the window rolled down and Emily sat in the back seat.

I've had enough.

I grabbed Oliver and took him back to the kitchen where Harry was busy marinating the meat. "Poop!" Ollie yelled clapping.

"Did he use the toilet?" He looked freaked out.

"No! I changed him, I'm going to check the mail." He nodded as I turned to walk outside. I marched straight to the car and knocked on the window. She slowly rolled it down and I shook my head. "What the fuck are you doing here? You have a lot of nerve coming here." She was wearing sunglasses and had her head turned away but as she turned to me my eyes widened.

Her lip was swollen, cut open and looked like she had been punched in the face. She slowly took her glasses off and her eye was completely swollen shut. "Can we talk?"

*

Thank you for reading. Xx

-K