Page 2 of War
She could still remember how she clawed at his skin, causing deep welts in his back, while he moaned her name with each thrust. “Your pussy feels so good, baby,” he once moaned, “so wonderful, so tight.”
Faith adjusted her stance as moisture began to fill her panties. They’d made love all night long and she still wanted more. She wondered if she would ever get enough of Eli. “You made your point.”
“Maybe,” he softly blinked at her. Eli’s cell phone went off and he growled when he had to check it. “Yep, I’m running late already. Joey’s wondering where the hell I am for the staff meeting. I gotta go, Faye.”
“My parents want me to lead the young woman’s workshop in our church,” Faith began, “they think I’m setting a fine example to every woman who wants to serve God.”
“That’s a great idea,” Eli replied, “I can’t think of a better person to do it.”
“There’s one catch, however,” Faith softly bit her lip and looked away, “my parents don’t know we’re having sex. I don’t want to tell them we are, but I’m afraid they’re going to find out.”
Eli sensed where Faith was going with her concerns. “We can stop having sex if that makes you feel better.”
“I don’t want to. If you were bad in bed, then yes, I wouldn’t mind the break.” Faith admitted as Eli chuckled, “but you’re just so damn good, though. Like you went to sex school or something.”
Eli kissed Faith’s forehead. “Whatever it is you want to do, I’m willing to do. It just means on our honeymoon, you’re only going to see the ceiling and four walls.”
Faith blushed. “You nasty.”
“You love it, though.”
“Yeah, maybe a little bit.” She giggled.
“Yeah, maybe a lot.” He blinked.
“Bye, baby.” She pulled him down for a kiss, sweeping her lips across his. Every time they’d kissed, it became more passionate, more raw than before. Every day Faith loved Eli a bit more. He was the only one that understood her and he tolerated her demands, though she’d sometimes pushed him away.
She was going to become a better woman for him in the future, for their lives, so Eli wouldn’t have a reason to leave her again. “Te amo, Eli.”
“Anima mia,” he purred against her earlobe, “my soul.”
The memory faded into the background as Eli stared out the window. They never did stop having sex, but they never could spend the night with each other. It didn’t help matters that “Song Cry” just happened to play on his Pandora.
He leaned against the hard window and glanced down at the street below. It was crowded as usual. People were in a rush to get somewhere, bundling up against the brisk fall weather. They were happy, sad, angry, or ambivalent.
Eli wished he had their problems.
His stomach knotted into tight balls as he blew out a deep breath. His marriage was in turmoil once again and he could trace it all back to his affair. There were problems in their marriage long before he’d stepped out; something they both admitted in therapy.
She was tired of him working late hours and going to happy hour with his employees. He was tired of her withholding sex and forcing him to sleep in the guest room if she didn’t get her way.
The snowball eventually grew into an avalanche. When it exploded, their marriage crumbled. If Eli wanted to be honest, his marriage to Faith was on its last legs well before Simone re-entered the picture.
If it wasn’t for his affair, Faith wouldn’t have met Darren. If it wasn’t for his affair, Simone wouldn’t have became pregnant. If it wasn’t for his affair, Eli wouldn’t be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Overwhelming, crippling guilt plagued Eli. The affair happened three years ago. Two more children later, it felt Faith was still punishing him for what he did. Did she truly forgive him? He honestly wondered if she ever would.
Divorce wasn’t an option or even a brief thought, despite their yearlong attempt at it. He just wondered if things could ever move forward between them or if he was just wasting his time on a marriage that was beyond its expiration date?
He wondered how Erica was doing.
“You look like you would rather be anywhere but here,” Joey replied as he entered the shared office. He took a seat at his desk and flipped on the computer, “what’s up, little bro?”
“I’m thinking about entering counseling,” Eli focused outside, “I’m not really happy with my life right now.”
“Oh? What’s up? Besides the baby mama drama?” Joey asked.
Eli shook his head. “I just don’t think Faith has forgiven me for the affair. She claims she has but I have this feeling in my gut she hasn’t.”
