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  Belly satisfied, Vienna could still taste the delicious apple tart. Could still feel the warmth from the vanilla bean ice cream on her tongue. Glancing up at Jude, she realized she wanted else on the tip of her tongue.

  Another taste.

  His taste.

  “You’ll see. It’s a surprise I hope you’ll love.”

  His voice did that. ‘I’m-Barry-White-deep’ thing; it made her skin grown warm.

  A soft clicking sound, somewhere behind them, made Vienna glance over her shoulder.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. JUDE!” Vienna kissed Jude’s cheek, smiling so hard that Jude couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Yes?” he asked, the teasing tone in his voice making her wiggle like a child on Christmas.

  Before them, sat a large carriage- horse-drawn. The driver, an older gentleman, tipped his large hat toward them both.

  “Evening, folks. I believe we’re about to go for a ride.”

  Jude winked at Vienna.

  “Shall we?” Jude inquired, extending his arm to help Vienna into the carriage.

  ***

  “Thank you for such a memorable first date,” whispered Vienna, as they stood on her front porch.

  Ducking his head down to consider her eyes, Jude smiled, his dimples winking at her.

  “Thank you… for accompanying me tonight.”

  Her eyes were twinkling. So much happiness shone from her eyes in that moment Jude didn’t know what to do.

  Her eyes never left his as he took a step closer, closing the gap between them. Her breath hitched, stuttering to a pause just as his large hands framed her face.

  “Would it be all right if I? -”

  The finger of her right hand touched his full lips. She smiled, her own dimples showing. She trailed her finger lightly down his bottom lip. His eyes closed, and he drew in a deep breath.

  Licking his lips, he gently tilted her chin upward. His mouth was on hers, lips pressed against hers. He didn’t rush to move them; just exhaled deeply, inhaling slowly right along with her.

  Once he felt her soft hands on the back of her neck, her lips moved, as he took his time. Kissing her the way she needed. Her hands wandered further into his curly locks, and Jude nibbled on her bottom lip before pulling back.

  They both exhaled a breath, as their eyes opened.

  She made a little sound; one that had him pulling her by the hips, closer to his trembling body.

  God! I’ve wanted no one this much!

  “How-did-you…” she swallowed, glancing up at him after opening her eyes. She tried again. “How did you know I always wanted to be kissed like that?”

  A smile, slow and sweet, touched his lips.

  “Your eyes told me so.”

  Chapter Three: This Feels Right

  “Oh, boy. You’ve got that look in your eyes.”

  “What look?” giggled Vienna as she continued to brush her hair in the bathroom mirror.

  Her best friend Bryn gave her the side eye. Tall, an inch taller than Vienna’s five-foot, eight inches, she and Vienna had been best friends since before either of them could walk. They did everything together. Bryn’s hazel-green irises twinkled as she rose from laying on Vienna’s comfortable bed, stretching her long limbs. Her fingers drifted to her neck, resting there, as she walked into Vienna’s bathroom.

  “That look. The look.” Bryn smiled, nudging Vienna, as Vienna finished styling her hair, moving on to makeup.

  “Whatever, Bre. I like the dude,” Vienna scoffed, even though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

  “Yeah. You like him all right,” agreed Bryn. “You must like him if I’m meeting him today.”

  “How’re you and Zay doin’?” Vienna asked, opening her right eye wider so she could apply eyeliner.

  “We’re good.”

  Vienna stopped moving. She turned all the way around, facing Bryn, taking in her best friend’s somber expression.

  “You don’t look like you’re good,” challenged Vienna.

  Bryn smiled, forcing a smile to appear on her lips.

  “We’re just…”

  “Not good-”

  “Not everyone has that twinkle in their eyes when you’ve been in this the time Zay and I have. Trust me, girl.”

  Vienna bit her lip before finishing up her makeup. “Well, everyone who’s with the right person should.”

  She watched Bryn walk away, out of her bathroom and back into the large bedroom. That twinkle was still in Vienna’s eyes when she exited the bathroom. She chose a simple, white halter top, some matching shorts that rested along the tops of her thighs, accompanied by some large, gold hoop earrings and matching sandals that wrapped around her ankles.

  “How do I look?” Vienna asked, spinning around, so Bryn could see her entire outfit.

  “You look ready for your man.” Bryn’s attention pulled her toward her chiming phone. “And I have to get ready to leave. I’m meeting Zay. His parents are in town, and they’ve been asking about me. So, we’re having lunch. Some Greek place that his mom loves.”

  “Have fun today, Bre.”

  Bryn grabbed her purse from off Vienna’s bed, swinging it onto her right shoulder.

  “You too, girl. Do nothing I wouldn’t do.”

  Vienna wrapped Bryn into a tight, quick hug, before pulling them both apart.

  “Of course not! I’m not goin’ to jail tonight.”

  “Good girl,” Bryn smiled, laughing out loud.

  “Love you.”

  “Love you, too, Vi.”

  As they both made their way from Vienna’s room on the main floor, Bryn put on her shoes and opened the door.

  “Oh! Hi…” Bryn yelped, almost slamming into Jude’s chest. She quickly glanced up at Jude, before sliding past him, making a beeline toward her car.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Jude muttered, chuckling to himself, before locking his gaze on his girl.

  “You must excuse Bryn. She’s not usually rude.”

  Vienna watched over Jude’s shoulder, as Bryn flipped her off. Casting her gaze down to her phone in hand, Vienna texted Bryn.

  To Bryn: Who pissed in your cereal today?

  She wrapped her arms around Jude. Placing her phone inside the back pocket of her shorts, Vienna rested her head along Jude’s chest, as she felt his arms tighten around her waist.

  “Hey, beautiful. Are you ready?”

  “Yeah,” Vienna smiled up at Jude, “I am.”

  Jude leaned down, capturing her lips with his- not caring where Bryn might have been. Jude was a good, quick judge of picking up energy. He could read people. Whatever Bryn felt toward Vienna… or him… he shook it off. Not allowing her energy to tamper with their vibe.

  Vienna nibbled on Jude’s bottom lip before they broke apart. She reached for his hand, as he waited for her to lock her front door. Taking their time, they made their way around to the driveway where his SUV sat.

  Bryn’s car was nowhere in sight.

  “You okay, baby?” asked Jude, squeezing Vienna’s right hand with his left, opening the passenger side door for her.

  “Yeah, babe. I’m just happy you’re here.”

  Smiling, Jude placed a kiss on Vienna’s forehead.

  “I’m not goin’ anywhere, baby. That’s a promise.” He made sure she was seated inside, before placing another kiss along her shoulder. He met her eyes.

  “Because of ... we… this… feels too damn right.”

  Vienna smiled. She couldn’t agree more.

  ***

  “What’s on your mind?” Vienna asked as she dried her body as best she could.

  After hours spent being out in the ocean all day, the last thing she wanted was to get home soaking wet.

  “You,” Jude said.

  Blushing, she noted that his eyes were that golden color she loved so much.

  Leaning up, she captured his face between both of her hands, pressing her lips to his nose then his eyelids. Jude shivered, as a chill ran
down his spine. His hands gripped her waist.

  He loved her touch!

  As he opened his eyes, considering hers; what he saw calmed him. He was seconds away from being in love with her, as crazy as it seemed.

  He… knew.

  Every time he looked at her, Jude knew she was his One.

  Chapter Four: Don’t Be Afraid

  Who knew eight months would feel like something out of a dream? That’s how long Jude and Vienna had been dating for… before everything picked up the pace.

  “You’re beautiful,” Vienna spoke, as she lay on Jude’s back.

  They were in his bedroom. The TV was on; some episode of some reality TV show was on. Neither one of them were paying attention.

  Jude smiled, massaging her arms. Up and down in lazy strokes; the pads of his fingers pressing into her skin.

  “You’re the one who’s beautiful, baby,” he sighed, closing his eyes, never once willing his hands and fingers to stop moving.

  It started out slow. Slow that they didn’t need to rush. The slow that draws you in and lets you rest there. That kind of slow, sweet time was what Jude and Vienna were taking.

  He grabbed her hair, considering her eyes, before pressing a kiss along the left side of her face.

  “Baby, are you sure you want to do this? I don’t mind waiting longer. We’ve been doing it…”

  Before Jude finished his sentence, Vienna’s lips were on his. Her tongue seeking entry into his mouth. He gave it to her, his lips parting. He granted it, like he did every time she kissed him; turned up the heat. He always let Vienna take the lead; always the gentleman his parents raised him to be. He sighed, feeling her soft hands on his face, before deepening the kiss.

  Eight, almost nine months down, and he had yet to utter those three words. He was an action man. He showed Vienna he loved her every chance he got. But he could tell by the look in her eyes she needed to hear the words.

  A classy, driven woman such as herself? Yeah. Vienna needed to hear the words; Jude would oblige her, wholeheartedly.

  Tonight.

  Right. Now.

  Especially given what they were about to do…

  “Don’t be afraid, baby. Just tell me what you want.”

  Then she looked at him. That look. That fucking look would become his undoing. She smiled up at him, biting her lip.

  “I need you… to make love with me, Jude. I need you to be my first.”

  He slid his large hands over her curves, his hands coming to rest on her waist.

  “Only because I love you.”

  Chapter Five: Let Him Go

  Vienna stared at her best friend and her boyfriend. They were two pretty people who made such a lovely couple. But as they sat in the Italian restaurant, Vienna could sense something was, off with them. Vienna sat her phone down on the table, to the left of her.

  Where was Jude to help her with this mess?

  She offered her girl a soft smile, before taking her large glass of lemon water in hand, lifting it to her lips, drinking.

  “Jude should be here any minute.”

  And he should have. He had sent her an “on my way, babe” text fifteen minutes ago.

  “How have you been, Vienna?” asked Zay.

  Most people knew him as Zay, even though his name was Zion.

  “Good. Great.”

  Short, sweet, and to the point was best.

  “Just trying to keep my girl happy.”

  Zay slid his arms around Bryn’s back; she flinched.

  That was when it clicked for Vienna. She watched Zay kiss Bryn’s cheek. When Bryn tensed, offering him a tight smile, Vienna knew. Bryn wasn’t feeling Zay like he was feeling her.

  “Bre, let me talk to you for a sec,” Vienna nodded her head toward the ladies’ room not too far from the booth they were all sitting in.

  “Be right back, babe,” Bryn announced, kissing Zay’s cheek, turning away from him with such swiftness that Zay could only blink.

  A second later, she and Vienna were making their way toward the ladies’ room. Vienna placed a hand on Bryn’s right arm, eyes checking the bottoms of the stalls to make sure they were in the clear.

  “Bre, what’s going on, girl?” Vienna spoke, once she confirmed they were the only ones in the ladies’ room.

  “What do you mean ‘what’s going on’, Vienna?” Bryn leaned her back against the long area of sinks, folding her arms across her upper body.

  “Zay’s clearly over the moon for you. Can’t you see that?” Vienna shook her head, scoffing, before meeting her best friend’s somber gaze.

  “I see that.”

  “You will break that man’s heart. Why the hell are you staying, Bre?”

  Bryn let her arms drop to her sides, before she fiddled with the bottom edge of her yellow tank top.

  “Let’s make it through lunch. I’ll come over tonight and explain everything.”

  Without waiting for a response from Vienna, Bryn brushed past her and right out of the door,

  Vienna sighed.

  Damn straight Bryn was coming over tonight. She was getting to the bottom of Bryn’s issue with Zay.

  ***

  Vienna opened her front door, seeing Bryn holding a bottle of red wine, along with several bags filled with goodies. Junk food heaven.

  Vienna knew something was wrong.

  “Yeah,” Bryn smiled, as the stepped into Vienna’s house, “it’s one of those girls' nights.”

  Vienna accepted the bags from Bryn as they both make their way into her kitchen. Grabbing her electric bottle opener and two goblet glasses, Vienna looked at her friend.

  “So, talk Bre. What’s goin’ on? We tell each other everything.”

  Biting the right edge of her bottom lip, Bryn said nothing.

  She sighed, as Vienna slid the goblet, half-filled with wine, toward her, wrapping her hands around the glass. Bryn lifted the glass to her lips, drinking.

  “Zay cheated on me, Vi. Several months before you and Jude met. So…” she took another gulp, finishing the wine in the glass. “I cheated on him.”

  Vienna sighed, taking a small sip from her own glass.

  “Why the hell are ya’ll still together, Bre? It’s clear he still loves you. Even after that one indiscretion.”

  After setting her glass down on the marble island that makes up Vienna’s stove, Bryn folding her arms across her body, meeting Vienna’s gaze.

  “I can’t start over again.”

  Another sip from the glass, Vienna ran her right hand over her face.

  “Yes, you can, Bre. I did.”

  “It’s not that simple, Vienna. You never truly dated anyone other than Thad.”

  “And Thaddeus stomped my heart to shit, too, Bre! So… what you’re sayin’ right now is total bullshit.”

  Bryn moved over toward the refrigerator. “Want some Rocky Road, or do you want Mint Chocolate Chip?”

  “Stop deflectin’, Bre! Stop that shit now! You’re hurtin’… aren’t you?”

  Bryn’s right hands rested on the left door handle.

  Vienna pressed on.

  “You’re hurtin’ and you’re scared because you feel like the next guy after Zay is gonna hurt you. I know. I’ve been there. Not every guy is out to hurt you, sweetie.”

  Bryn opened the freezer, grabbing a small container of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, closing the door. As she grabbed a spoon from the drawer where Vienna kept her utensils, she exhaled.

  “So what the hell do I do now?” Bryn whispered, meeting Vienna’s eyes with hers.

  “You want the easy answer or the truth?”

  “The truth,” Bryn swallowed, sighing.

  “Let him go and stop hurtin’ yourself.”

  Chapter Six: Family?

  Vienna had missed this. Missed all the loud, crazy love her family was all about. So, when her father called her, inviting she and “whatever new guy that’s in your life” to Sunday dinner, Vienna called Jude.

  And it was a go.


  She and Jude had been so wrapped in each other that the mentioning of meeting each other’s families had never been established. Sure, they knew about each other’s families. Jude came from a large family of Alabama natives, who were now living in Florida. His mother and father were still together. His little sister Tia was in her first year at Harvard, while his older brother Miles was off in California, pursuing his dreams of making it as an actor in Hollywood. Jude had graduated from Morehouse and was pursuing his music career, making some of the hottest beats for the local artists.

  Vienna’s family was also large. Like Jude’s parents, both of hers were still happily married. She was the only girl out of two sets of twin boys. Joseph, the thirty-two-year-old lawyer of the family. James, the private investigator. Brandon, the “wild child” who wanted to make it big as a singer. Adam (who Vienna was the closest to) wanted to run for local office. He felt he could bring change, and Vienna was supportive.

  Vienna watched as her brother James pulled Jude to the side after dinner. She had locked eyes with Jude before he and her brother had disappeared out of sight. A soft hand touched her right arm. She glanced toward the touch, finding her father’s soft, gray eyes on her.

  At sixty, Paul Jordan was a dashing man. Strong, curly salt-and-pepper-haired, with the height that made you wonder why he had chosen to be a college, Statistics professor over basketball player.

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Hi, buttercup. We’ve missed you around here. Your Momma…” Paul chuckled, glancing over his shoulder.

  His wife slowly approached the two of them.

  Sixty never looked as good as it did on Mrs. Vesta Jordan. Short, white hair made her natural sunlight yellow complexion pop. And her gorgeous light, green eyes, small waist and five-foot, three-inch stature? She was a beauty!

  She smiled at her daughter before wrapping her arms around her husband’s waist.

  Vienna couldn’t do anything but smile.

  If love looked like what her parents shared, (and what her brothers and their wives shared) she wanted that and nothing less.

  She wanted that with Jude.

  “’Your Momma’ what, Paul?” Vesta questioned, as a smile spread across her husband’s lips.