Broken (Endurance) (17 page)

wearing?"

Makayla smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Yeah, I would.  Okay, you know what? I’m leaving you hanging. Goodnight," Tamarius said sternly as he walked off.

Makayla laughed as she began to close the door,
only to be stopped by Tamarius'
foot blocking the way.  She opened the door to let him in. "I thought you were going to leave me hanging."

"Leave you? Never." He grabbed her.

"Babe, my parents are next door."

"Okay... why are you trying to ruin it for me."

Makayla laughed softly. She locked the door and pulled her cami over her head while Tamarius took off his shirt.  He watched her silhouette in the moonlight. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he whispered.

"No, but I can't resist you anymore. I missed you. It wasn't easy pretending to be mad at you."

"Pretend?"

"Yeah." She met his gaze. "Sorry." She looked away.

Tamarius wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, you’re going to pay for that."

Makayla looked into his eyes. "I thought men like you were dead."

"And I thought women like you didn't exist." He leaned down, kissing her and feeling her naked breasts against his chest caused him to become vivacious as he slipped off her thong.

Makayla unbuttoned his pants, and Tamarius picked her up and looked around the room.

"Floor," Makayla whispered.

"The floor?" Tamarius protested.

Makayla slowly gyrated against his chest.  With a groan, he guided her to the floor and made love to her. They fell into blissful sleep, holding each other.

Makayla was awakened by a sharp knock at her door. She knew it was her father and instantly panicked. They had overslept and it was now nine in the morning.

"Kay, breakfast is ready," Fa said.

"Okay, Dad. I’ll be there in a sec." Makayla jumped to her feet and looked down at Tamarius. He was knocked out. Makayla was grateful he wasn't the heavy snoring type. She got down on the floor where they’d fallen asleep and crawled over Tamarius, kissing him from his bellybutton to his neck.

He groaned. "Mmm, ready for seconds?"

"We overslept. Get up. I don't want my dad to see you in here," Makayla whispered in his ear.

"Okay, that’s not what I want to hear in the morning." Tamarius sat up as Makayla rolled over onto the floor. "Just one more time to hold me over?" He leaned over her.

There was another knock at the door. "Where is Tamarius?  He's not in his room. Did he leave?" Fa asked.

"He probably went for a jog, Daddy," Makayla lied.

"Oh, okay."

Makayla listened to her father’s footsteps fade away then whispered, "Hurry." They scrabbled to put clothes on.

"What do you want me to do?" Tamarius asked.

"Go through the window." Makayla hurried over to open it.

"Okay, why am I getting the feeling you've done this before?"

"Just go, sexy." She laughed softly and smacked him on the butt.

"Now I feel cheap." Tamarius smiled and stepped out of the window. "Hey...you have done this before."

"Just go."

"I’m jealous,"

Makayla finished dressing and met her parents and Tia in the dining room for breakfast.

Tamarius was also sitting at the table, smiling innocently. Makayla was baffled, but then remembered his ability to teleport. "Good morning." She smiled at him.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"I feel like I’m sixteen again," Makayla joked.

Tamarius smiled and shook his head. "Okay, what are we going to do about the orphanage?" he asked.

"Let’s go and clean everything up. Just gut it and get everything brand new. Get all industrial equipment for the kitchen," Makayla said.

"Wait, Kay... Please don't go there," Tia said weakly.

"Tia, what happened?" Tamarius asked. They still had not heard the full story about the night she was attacked at the children's home.

"Tamarius, don't let her go over there. She’s in danger." Tia brought her hands to her face and wept quietly.

Tamarius walked around the table to sit next to her. He consoled her by gently putting his arm over her shoulder. "We need to know what we are getting ourselves into."

"A week before this happened we got a new little boy. He was found wandering the mall long after it had closed. Nobody knew where he came from. He wouldn't speak or eat. He would just wander around the house. None of the kids liked him. They were afraid of him. The night that I was attacked, I had a nightmare about that little boy. I woke up to check on him and he was gone. I was blindsided and the last thing I remember is a demonic voice screaming, ‘Where is Makayla?’"

Tamarius straightened up and looked at Makayla. "Oh, you’re not going anywhere."

"Tamarius, come on," Makayla protested.

"No." Tamarius was clear.

"Kay, he is right," Fa said. "It’s too dangerous."

"Dad, don't help him."

"Kay, you’re not serious," Coretta said.

"Mom,” she whined.  “Okay everyone, listen and listen good. If I don't face this demon, he will eventually win by destroying everything I love and care about. If I don't stand up to him now, he is just going to find another way of getting to me later. I know that you all love me and you don't want to see me get hurt, and thank you for loving me, but I have to do this, especially now."

Tamarius stood up and walked around the table. "Can I talk to you privately?" he asked with his hands on his hips, trying to keep his voice calm.

"Excuse us," Makayla said as she stood up. They walked out to the gallery and leaned against her father's car.

"I understand what you’re saying, but I don't want you getting hurt. If I hadn't showed up when I did..."

"I let my fear get in the way."

"Kayla, this is crazy. I can't lose you now. I just found you."

Makayla pulled Tamarius by the waist of his pants, brining him closer. "How did you get dressed so fast?" She smiled.

"A magician never reveals his secrets."

"I love you and I have to do this."

"Are you busy tonight, Ms. Li?"

"No, why?"

"I will be back," Tamarius said, kissing her before walking back into the house to call a taxi.

Makayla followed him, curious about his sudden need to leave.

Tamarius hid his smirk as he watched Makayla search her mind for a reason to his behavior

"Where are you going?" Makayla questioned.

"Just wear something nice tonight. Why don't you and Tia go shopping?" he suggested.

"For a date?"

"Surprise!" Tamarius said sarcastically.

"Whatever!" Makayla walked off to find her cousin. Tamarius laughed, amused by her frustration.

When he returned later that evening, Makayla was in her room getting dressed while talking with her cousin Tia. Spending time with Tia, brought back so many good memories of their childhood. They reminisced over their crazy teenage years, laughing at how they drove Fa and Coretta crazy.

Makayla stood in front of her full length mirror. "Okay, how do I look?" Makayla asked her cousin.

"Well, after going through hundreds of dress
es
, I can see you picked a beautiful one. You look hot. Tamarius is going to love it," Tia said.

"You should come with us. He won't mind." Makayla sat on the edge of the bed to put on her high heels.

"I sort of have plans," Tia replied.

"What?"

"I met this guy a few months ago and I haven't seen him since... well, you know... anyway, he finally got a hold of me."

"You guys are going out tonight?"

"I figured it's time for him to meet Daddy dearest," Tia said.

"Oh, good luck," Makayla said, remembering the first time she introduced Tamarius to her father. She’d been a nervous wreck. Fa hadn’t cracked a smile and hadn’t joke with him one bit. He’d just grilled him for four hours straight. Makayla had been horrified. "You know Dad. He just loves us too much. It took me a long time to realize he wasn't being mean, he was just trying to be a good father and protect us from the crazies."

"I know, but it's just so nerve wracking." Tia laughed.

Tamarius tapped on the door.  "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Makayla opened the door.

"Goodness," Tamarius exclaimed. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." Makayla turned to wave goodnight to her cousin.

Tamarius led her to an awaiting limo and they were driven to a private helicopter.

Makayla had no idea what he had in store for her. She sat quietly in awe, not knowing what to expect next.

He smiled at her, eagerly looking forward to her reaction to his surprise.

Makayla wanted to talk to him, but couldn't. She had no clue what to say. She was speechless.

Tamarius grabbed her hand and pointed to lights on the beach far below. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter so that Makayla could get a better view.

Spelled out on the beach were the words 'WILL U MARRY ME'. Makayla covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned to Tamarius and hugged him. After circling around a bit more, the helicopter landed, and Tamarius helped Makayla out.  They stopped to take off their shoes before stepping onto the sand.

Tamarius had a picnic basket waiting for them on a blanket. A steel pan band played beautiful music in the background. He held Makayla's hand and led her to stand next to the blanket. Turning to face her, he got down on one knee. "Makayla Li, will you marry me?"

Makayla gazed down at him and couldn't believe what was happening. As she lost herself in his eyes, her mouth whispered, "Yes."

Tamarius jumped up and kissed her. He pulled a jewelry box out of his pocket then paused. "I hope you like it." He opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring.

Makayla gasped. "Tamarius, it's beautiful."  She reached for the ring.

"Wait," Tamarius said. He took the ring out of the box and put the box aside. "Let me."  .

Makayla held out her left hand as Tamarius slipped the ring over her finger. Her eyes lit up as she gazed at the ring. Tamarius was unaware that although Makayla had been married twice, this was the first time she’d been formally proposed to.

Tamarius held Makayla close and whispered, "I love you," as they stood on the beach.

Makayla looked up at him. "Nobody has ever done this for me."

"I know. It's over the top. I figured that way you couldn’t say no." Tamarius laughed.

"It's beautiful. I don't know what to say except... I love you."