Page 82 of Blackbeard
Luisa squirmed out of my hold and climbed into Vlad’s lap. She was so small, and he was so big, that she looked like a doll by comparison.
While Baby Doll sat cross-legged on the floor, stuffing tacos into her mouth, my sisters flocked around her, releasing her thick wavy hair from its ponytail with noises of approval. She let them twist and braid her hair up into a crown, decorated with flowers and ribbons.
“Not a word from you,” she said, pointing a finger at me threateningly.
I snickered and snapped a picture with my phone. She swore as I made my getaway.
When Leigh finally finished cooking in the kitchen, she found me in the courtyard with several other cousins and Blackjacks. She perched on my knee, plucking a bite of sopaipilla from my plate. I hooked my hand around her hip, letting my gaze wander over her while she ate.
Her hair curled softly around her face, brushing against her neck. And that breezy camisole top looked like it wouldn’t take more than a firm tug to get it off…
“I’ve been thinking,” I said.
“Wait, don’t tell me,” Leigh replied. “You’ve been thinking that your wife is an amazing cook—despite her many failed attempts and burned food in the past that you have conveniently forgotten about.”
I breathed a soft laugh and gave her ass an affectionate pat.
“Exactly. You read my mind.”
She smiled, pleased with herself.
“You’ve done an incredible job with the courtyard, too,” I added.
I never had much of a green thumb, but it turned out that Leigh took to gardening like a fish to water. She picked up a few plants at the local garden center, stuck them in the ground, and they took off.
The landscape had been barren and plain while it was in my care. Under Leigh’s attention, it was now blooming in a rainbow of flowers, with pillowy patches of moss, and lush vines of ivy.
“I always spent so much time with Dad’s club,” Leigh said. “I didn’t have time for hobbies. I didn't even know what interests I liked. I never dreamed that I would enjoy plants, of all things. It seems so…”
“Normal?” I replied.
“Yeah.”
I shifted forward in my seat, wrapping my arms around her middle. At this angle, my chin was nearly level with her tits—a heavenly place to be. She draped her arms around my neck.
“As I was saying before,” I said, bringing us back to the original topic. “I was thinking we should make our marriage official. Sign the paperwork, have a wedding.”
Everyone still acted like we were married, and Leigh lived with me, so we didn’t waste our breath pointing out that no, we weren’t technically, legally married.
From inside the house, Esperanza called.
“I better be a bridesmaid!”
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
“How the hell did you hear that?” I shot back.
“I’m not getting old like you are. My hearing is fine.”
Leigh chuckled, untying my hair and combing it with her fingers.
“Would I get to wear a white dress?”
“Only if I get to take it off after the wedding," I replied.
She bit her lower lip with anticipation.
“Technically, you haven’t proposed to me yet. We should probably cover that, too.”
