CHAPTER 14
My father saw us to the airport the following afternoon. I gave him a hug and a kiss, telling him that we would be back next week. He had a particularly difficult time saying good-bye to Preston.
"She changes almost daily," he said sadly. "I hate to miss any of it since I missed all of it with you. She reminds me of Marley."
"Dad you know you don't have to wait until we visit you. You are welcome to visit us anytime you choose. Don't you get vacation?"
"A judge's vacation has to be worked out in advance to accommodate the court docket. And then, of course, you have to find another judge or three that might be willing to handle the additional case load."
"Why don't you think about retiring, Dad?"
"Good gracious Tylar, I'm only fifty years old. I think I might have a few good years left on the bench."
"That's not what I meant, Dad; I meant, you have the financial means to retire and spend more time with the horses and with us."
He pulled me to him giving me another fatherly hug.
"I'll see what I can work out okay, daughter?"
"Okay Dad," I replied, giving him another kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for putting up with me."
Preston leaned into him giving him a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek.
"Trey," my father said, holding his hand out to him, "Take care of both my girls."
"I will, Sir," Trey replied giving him a smile, "But they can be a handful, just so you know."
"Understood," my father replied, brushing a tear from the corner of his eye. He turned and hurried out of the terminal with his quick stride. I was reminded of the day we collided in the hallway of the courthouse. He had that same quick stride then as he hurried off.
Once back home, things seemed to settle back to normal. Jean was ecstatic to see both Preston and me; though she didn't make reference to the reason I had been gone, I suspected she had gotten wind of at least some of it.
I scheduled an appointment to see Dr. Karla Hunter later in the week. I wanted an individual appointment first to discuss what had transpired. I wasn't sure if Karla did couples therapy. If she didn't, I was certain that she could refer us to a therapist who did.
Trey, Preston and I went to visit Tristan, Gina and Reese the following evening after our return.
Tristan's birthday was this coming weekend. Gina asked if Trey and I wanted to join them for dinner at a new club that had recently opened in downtown Atlanta. Gina said it would serve two purposes: celebrate Tristan's birthday and check out the competition of the new club.
"Who will watch Reese?" I asked as I held him in my arms cooing to him. We were sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen.
"I found a babysitter through one of the employees at our club," Gina replied bringing a bottle to me so that I could feed him.
"Aren't you nursing any longer, Gina?"
"No," she said sounding a little bit sad, "I had to wean him a couple of weeks ago. I just couldn't produce enough milk through pumping and I needed to get back to work."
Tristan piped up then from the living room where he and Trey had been watching something on the flat screen.
"She didn't have to return to work that early. I told her that repeatedly, Tylar. You know Gina though; she thought the club would crash and burn without her."
"Quit eavesdropping on our girl talk, Tristan," Gina hollered out to him.
"Men," she said, "Half the time he is pure deaf when the trash needs to be taken out or the baby's diaper needs to be changed. The minute you and I get together to chit-chat he is suddenly all ears."
"So how are things with you and your man?" I asked watching Reese as his little fingers gripped mine on the bottle.
"I have no complaints," she said, smiling. "We are planning a spring wedding."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, check this out," she said splaying her fingers in front of my face. Gina had a beautiful engagement ring on her finger that I hadn't even noticed before.
"Oh Gina," I said admiring it. "Wait a minute. . .isn't that the one he gave to Libby?"
I watched in amusement as a stricken look came across her face. The realization that I was yanking her chain finally seeped in.
"You Beotch," she said laughing. "As if Tristan would dare to give me some recycled engagement ring."
"I've got to tell you, Gina, Reese is the picture of Tristan and you; a perfect combination."
The baby had blue eyes for now; he had Tristan's dark hair. He was beautiful.
"Yeah," she said proudly. "He's such a good baby, too."
"You know," I replied, "I knew from the moment I saw him that he was Tristan's. Didn't you see that?"
"Of course I did, Ty."
"Then why the paternity test? Tristan certainly didn't want one so why did you?"
"I don't know Ty. I guess with the impending birth of Tess and 'whomever's' baby it was important to me that I establish my baby was Tristan's for me."
"I don't understand," I replied.
"Well it's kind of like this; you have Preston and she is Trey's; I have Reese and I know for certain now that he is Tristan's. So I guess when that surrogate mother delivers Tess and Nigel's baby neither one of us has to feel insecure that she had one of their offspring before we did."
"Geez Gina; you are kind of complicated sometimes but I think I get it."
I pulled the bottle from Reese's little mouth and put him up to my shoulder to burp him.
Preston came running into the kitchen then with one of Reese's stuffed animals she had taken from his nursery. It was a panda bear and it was nearly as large as she was.
"Mommie . . .horsey," she said.
"No honey, that's a panda bear," I remarked rubbing Reese's back. She was distracted by Reese and dropped the bear onto the kitchen floor.
"Take that bear into the living room and show Daddy."
"Kay," she said reaching down for it and dragging it behind her to the living room.
"I'm sure glad you're back girlfriend," Gina said smiling after Preston. "Things just weren't the same without you nearby."
I got a nice big burp from Reese. I pulled him from me and he gave me a big, drooled grin.
"You are just too cute," I crooned to him. He gave me a baby giggle and suddenly I got a whiff.
"Somebody needs a diaper change," I said, wrinkling my nose.
Gina reached for him.
"Hey," I said raising him up to me as I stood. "You did your share of changing Preston's crappy diapers. This one is on me."
"I appreciate that Ty," Gina said, "But remember little boys need to be cleaned up under their sack and all."
"I think I can handle it Gina," I laughed, rolling my eyes as I headed to the nursery with him.
Preston was back in his nursery tearing through his toy box when I got there. I placed him on his changing table and got a clean diaper and the baby wipes. Suddenly Preston was enthralled with watching me change him.
"Baabby,"she giggled pointing to him.
"Yes. This is your cousin, Reese," I explained unsnapping his overalls and removing the soiled diaper.
She stood next to the changing table on her tiptoes watching me. I cleaned him up with the baby wipe. Gina was right. There was crap everywhere. I went through three baby wipes before I felt that I had gotten it all.
“Doodee, Mommie,” she remarked.
“Yes sweetie. He’s a baby and it’s okay for babies to go in their diaper. You’re a big girl though.”
“Uh huh,” she said smiling up at me.
I placed the clean diaper under Reese’s bottom. Preston pointed to his plumbing noticing that it was different than hers.
"What Mommie?" she asked looking at me for an answer.
"That's what little boys have," I answered quickly fastening his diaper up over it. I didn't feel it was time for a detailed anatomy lesson just yet.
"What that?" she repeated frowning. She was evidently not satisfied with my answer.
"Come on Preston. Let's go find that big panda bear. Show Mommy and Reese where you put him."
She trotted in front of me out to the living room pointing to the big panda bear on the living room rug. Tristan held his arms out to take Reese from me.
"There's my boy," he said proudly smiling at his son. Gina was busy getting some snacks ready in the kitchen. I sat on the couch next to Trey. He put his arm around me pulling me close. His lips brushed across my cheek softly.
Preston was watching us with her finger in her mouth as if she was making some connection. She giggled and turned her attention back to the big panda bear. She looked so cute in her little skirt and tights. Trey and I watched as she went over to where the bear was on his back on the floor. She straddled the bear, sitting down on his torso. She started rocking back and forth on him.
(Oh dear Lord!)
I quickly turned to look at Trey to see if I was reading too much into it. I realized that I was not.
Gina had just come out from the kitchen carrying a tray of cheese and crackers. She stopped dead in her tracks as a slow grin spread across her face. Tristan looked up from the baby and saw Preston riding the bear.
I elbowed Trey.
"Preston," he said rising up from the couch and lifting her off of the bear, "Let's find something else to play with okay?"
"Horsey Daddy," she whined leaning back over in his arms, kicking her legs as she tried to get back to the bear. "Horsey," she continued; fussing and squirming as he headed off to the nursery with her.
I leapt off of the couch. My checks were warm and rosy I could tell. I grabbed the bear up from the floor and shoved him into the guest closet in the entrance hall. When I looked up both Tristan and Gina were watching me with amused expressions.
"What the hell was that?" Gina said unable to hold her laughter back.
"That," I replied in a rather irritated tone, "Is what happens when someone doesn't properly raise the crib rail and lock it into place in the nursery."
I sat back down on the couch totally embarrassed by what they had just observed. "Let that be a warning to both of you."
"C'mon Ty; it is kind of funny. What? So she walked in on you and Trey? It happens."
"Not to me, Gina. That totally should not have happened. I thought she would have forgotten it by now. All it has done is piqued her curiosity. You should have seen her asking me about Reese when I was changing his diaper."
"That is just natural curiosity, Tylar," Tristan said, shifting Reese up against his shoulder. "She is at the age where she is starting to notice differences."
"Well I don't want her to dwell on those differences just yet."
Trey returned with her a few minutes later having found some blocks to play with. It was if she had totally forgotten about the bear.
Preston fell asleep on the way home. Trey carried her up to the nursery and got her ready for bed. I decided to allow myself one of my guilty pleasures - a nice warm bubble bath.
I relaxed in the tub letting the warmth of it sink in. I closed my eyes leaning my head back against my tub pillow that Trey had bought me for Christmas. When I opened my eyes, Trey was sitting next to the sunken tub watching me. I jumped.
"I'm sorry, sweetie; I didn't mean to scare you. I was just enjoying watching you enjoy your bath."
"Would you like to join me, Trey?"
He smiled at me with full dimple and started peeling his clothes off. God he was so gorgeous. I could watch him all day long - naked.
He slipped into the water beside me. We explored each other as if it were the first time. He lathered his hands up with the liquid soap and thoroughly massaged it all over my body. I did the same for him taking special care to massage his male parts tenderly. He drew in a breath as my fingers lingered on his very stiff manhood; my fingers circled the tip and gently flexed him in and out.
His mouth was on my lips; his tongue parted my lips and found mine. We kissed playfully and passionately. His hands teased my nipples as he dropped to take one into his mouth where he suckled gently from it. I moaned with pleasure. He moved to the next one and took his time bringing the rosy peak to full attention.
"Did he touch you here?"
(Oh My God! He did not just ask me that!)
I froze immediately. I felt like a statue. It was if Trey hadn't noticed. He continued touching and kissing my breasts; his hand had moved to the soft folds of my sex and he gently pressed his fingers inside.
He suddenly straightened up and lifted me from the water. He wrapped a towel around me and took me into our bedroom. I wasn't sure I had heard him right. Perhaps he hadn't asked that question at all. Perhaps I had only imagined that he had.
"I want you so much, baby," he said patting my skin softly with the towel to dry it off.
He placed me on the edge of the bed in a sitting position.
He knelt in front of me and spread my legs, lifting one and then the other to rest on each of his shoulders. He buried his damp face into the apex between my legs. His lips and tongue worked their magic as my hands fisted in his thick hair. I moaned softly as his tongue flickered over the soft folds and rolled onto my clitoris.
"Did he do this to you, baby? Did he put his mouth and his tongue on you, like I am?"
(Oh shit! This was not my imagination. What the hell was I supposed to say?)
Trey stopped what he was doing. I looked down at him and into his smoldering eyes. He wanted an answer.
"I'm waiting for an answer Tylar," he prodded gently. "As soon as you provide one, I will start pleasuring you again."
"Trey," I replied my voice quivered with emotion, "You aren't serious about wanting to know this are you?"
"I have to know, baby. It's killing me not to know. Now answer my question. Did he put his mouth on your sweet pu-ssy?"
My cheeks flushed with shame and embarrassment. This was painful. Should I lie?
"Yes, Trey. Yes, he did," I answered honestly.
As promised, Trey went back to pleasuring me orally. His tongue flicked inside and out of the soft folds of my sex. He gently inserted a finger inside of me; I was wet with anticipation."
"Did he fuck you with his fingers, Tylar?"
"No, Trey; he did not," I replied, a tear running down my cheek.
Trey continued with his gentle and precise fingering; he placed the palm of his other hand against the outside of my pelvic region, applying slight pressure to where his finger was inside of me.
Oh God, my sweet spot swelled in response to his expertise. I writhed beneath his touch; I ached for his manhood to be inside of me. I moaned in exquisite pleasure.
"Did he make you moan, baby? Tell me the truth."
"No, Trey; I did not moan for him."
"Good girl," he replied seeming genuinely pleased.
Trey pulled me up into his strong arms. He placed his knee on the bed and laid me back against the pillows.
"How did he fuck you?" he asked. His sapphire blue eyes were bright with lust and with anger.
"Trey - I don't think--"
"I asked you how he fucked you," he repeated, louder this time.
"Was he on top of you?"
I looked up at Trey and felt fearful for the first time ever. I nodded my head affirmatively.
"Well, let's see if I can oblige you much better than he did," he said softly.
Trey placed his hand on his very erect shaft and separated my legs with the other. He guided his manhood into me with one strong thrust, burying himself inside of me deeply.
I cried out in pain, but pleasure was soon to follow. He talked softly to me then as his hips gyrated in circular motions and he flexed in and out of me more gently.
"Ohh baby," he rasped and then moaned with pleasure. "You feel so fucking good, Tylar."
I met his thrusts with my own and I could tell he was quickening to orgasm. It was if picturing me with the 'other man' whose name he didn't even know had somehow excited him.
"Did you fuck him back like you're fucking me right now Tylar? Don't lie to me."
(Holy shit! How do I answer that question? Danny wasn't inside of me all that long; but I did recall meeting his thrusts briefly until I pushed him away.)
"Sort of Trey," I answered honestly.
Trey stopped immediately and raised my hips up; he smacked my ass hard with the palm of his hand.
(What the hell??)
"That is not an answer Tylar. I want a 'yes' or 'no' to these questions. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Okay," he said now ramping up into his 'interrogation' tone. "Let me repeat the question. Did you fuck him back when his dick was inside of you?"
"Yes Trey," I answered starting to whimper.
"Did he like it, Tylar? Did he moan for you?"
"Yes, Trey," I replied, more tears coming down my cheeks.
Trey's rhythm increased as he continued plunging in and out of me; my sweet spot was swelling as it did for him and only him.
"Did you like it Tylar? Did you moan for him?"
"No, Trey," I answered truthfully; I was thankful that it was the truth. Somehow I bet that he would have known the difference.
"Did he come for you Tylar?"
"No, Trey."
"Don't lie," he said, gritting his teeth as his hips rotated in a circular motion.
I was moaning loudly now at the pleasure Trey was giving me.
"It's the truth," I rasped.
"Did you come for him, Tylar?"
"No, Trey. I did not," I replied.
I pulled his face to mine, covering him with kisses. My lips found his; I wanted to silence his questions. They were painful to me. This orgasm was about us. It was not about Danny.
He was moaning now; he told me that I was his and only his. He asked me to repeat it. I did so gladly.
We reached our peak together; crying out and clutching each other in a frenzy of passion and lust. I felt my wet ejaculate release as I moaned and whimpered in pleasure. I felt Trey stop his thrusting as the familiar throbbing of his manhood prepared for release.
"What's his name?" he rasped, trying to hold his orgasm in check until he knew. "What's his fucking name?"
"Danny Duvall," I whimpered. My orgasm finished as his exploded inside of me.