Page 2 of Cutthroat

“Awww Babe. You know your lasagna is my favorite, but it’s Thursday. I’ll be here at the office late as usual. I thought bringing Malcolm on as a Partner would lighten my workload, but it’s making shit worse,” Jermaine said while responding quickly to the second incoming text.

“Now I see why you called me Eden,” Eden sighed as she shook her head. “You know I love Malcolm, but he doesn’t know what being a partner means. He wants to be in control. He wants your spot. Sometimes friends and family simply can’t work together. It’s a sad fact,” Eden shrugged.

“You’re right. What are you doing now, I still hear a lot of movement?”

“I’m packing all this shit up. You know how much prep work goes into your specialty lasagna. This will be dinner for Tuesday,” Eden admitted.

As much as she loved her man. She would’ve never gone through the trouble of making a lasagna if she had remembered what the day was. Work had driven her so crazy that she had to dip into her‘on the clockliquor stash’more than once to calm her nerves.

“I’m sorry babe. Look, do me a favor,”

“What?”

“Go get a glass of wine and unwind. When I get home, I’ll eat the stress out of you,”

Jermaine’s third leg turned to stone at the thought of burying his face in between his wife’s legs. It amazed him how satisfying her sent him over the edge.

Eden’s clit pulsated. Jermaine made it his business to devour her to the point of unconsciousness and she loved him for that. She was more than ready for the Earth-shattering orgasm she’d receive.

“Don’t make me come to your office and spread eagle on your desk Mr. Shelton. I’m overdue forsome office sex,” Eden said as she slid her fingers inside her leggings.

Jermaine’s erection instantly died. The moment he started mixing business with pleasure, he knew the days of having his wife coming to his office were over.

“Those office romp days are over. Your screaming ass almost got me fired. You refuse to be quiet,” He laughed as he thought back to a simpler time in their marriage.

“Stop blowing my back out so well and I’ll stop screaming,” Eden joked. “But seriously Babe, is the Malcom situation the only thing bothering you?” Eden asked, she knew his joking right before a meeting meant something else was going on.

Jermaine inhaled.

He had approached this topic in the past, but every time he did, Eden shot the idea down. He was hoping that this time would be different. Exhaling, he got ready to shoot his shot.

“Yeah, there is something else on my mind. I was calling to gage your temperature,”

“Gage my temperature? Why?”

“Edy, I think, know I know that we’re ready. We’ve been married for a while; our lives are stable, and I think it’s time we started our own family. Addsome little Shelton’s to this large nest. I want my own legacy. Watching you take birth control pills makes me feel like you don’t want kids with me. I’m your husband, not some dude you just met,” Jermaine said truthfully.

In the beginning of their relationship, they were both enthralled with finishing their degrees and landing careers within their field. He understood that Eden didn’t want children before she was married. But they had been married for five years now. Though he had a lot of maturing to do as a man, he was positive that the only woman he wanted to bare his children was Eden Marie Merci Shelton.

Eden sighed.

She had shot this conversation down so many times. But now, she was ready.

“You’re right,” She admitted.

His eyes nearly popped out of his head. Jermaine was stunned. This was the response that he wanted, but he honestly wasn’t expecting it. For years she had shot the kid talk down, but now she was all for it. He didn’t know what to say. Instead of saying anything he sat speechless.

Eden laughed. She knew her response had caught him off guard.

“Your silence says a lot. Look, you’re right. I apologize for making you feel like a boyfriend. In all actuality, I’ve always wanted children. I’m just afraid,” Eden said honestly.

“Afraid of what?”

“I’m afraid of not doing a good job. My parents raised us girls to focus on our brains and disregard our beauty. That’s why when someone compliments my looks instead of accomplishments, it angers me because I’m so much more than a pretty face.

Eve and I are extremely hardworking and giving, but Envy acts like the spawn of Satan. That bothers me. I never understood what happened to make her act the way she does. I don’t want my kid to turn out like her,” Eden admitted.

Jermaine nodded even though Eden couldn’t see him. He now understood her hesitance. Her sister, Envy, was bat shit crazy. She was only concerned with herself. She stole her parents’ identity, Eden’s debit card, and stole Eve’s car and wrecked it.