Chapter 28: Chapter 28

: Honeymoon blues

I made oats cooked in almond milk as soulful blues echoed in the background. Yes, my husband did not come home last night and yes also my anger is slowly turning to bitterness and making me wonder what exactly didn't make my husband of one day come home.

Another pain wave crashed on me menstrual cramps was a bitch!

I woke up to a soiled bed and cramps that racked me every 5 seconds apart. At least he wasn't here to see the soiled bed and I am definitely not pregnant from yesterday morning love making. I went back to bed after trying to eat and failing miserably and I heard someone knocking.

I knew it is was him way before i opened the door. He walked in looking tired and worn out, a part of me pitied him but the bigger part felt happy he looked as unhappy and tired as i am.

"Good morning" his bass voice sounded deeper than it usually do.

I ignored him, rinsed out my bowl and went back straight to bed. I hissed out a soft groan as another cramp hit. He padded around the room softly took his bath and slid back into bed with me, his arms were folded around his head and he kept quiet not even saying sorry.

"Temi!" He called out. I said nothing in reply.

"Mine" he called out again. Like the English version will make me answer him speedily.

"Nina tried committing suicide yesterday afternoon. The rush of it all hospital,the worry and I couldn't leave her alone was why i did not come home last night." Sighing heavily. "Temi its too early in our journey to be apart. I truly need your support right now." He added.

I turned to face him and the pain and worry in his face was driving me insane.

"Is she okay?" I asked.

"She will be. Luckily what she overdosed on wasn't strong enough to kill her, and i got there on time. After Matt did you ever feel like taking your life?"

"No. After then Shayo died, how could I do that to my mum? Loosing a child is painful, more so two children. Plus a part of me knew he had taken enough from me already, he never deserved more. Why did you not reply any of my texts and calls last night?"

"You know you have so much light in you, it pulls my entire being to you. I am so scared i'll do this loving thing all wrong, just look at us its day two and we are at odds when this should be the honeymoon phase. Last night I was so scared you'll leave too, but mostly because I messed up too soon." A big frown creased between his beautiful brows as he said this.

Oh my poor baby! I hate seeing him sad.

"It wasn't mostly your fault, she needs love and the constant reminder that she is not alone. She needs God, therapy, and people around her. She doesn't strike me like the type to be sad and depressed though" I said reaching out to smooth out the frown on his forehead.

"Depression doesn't show on the face always. In a world where we try to portray perfection, where we do more of living in the social world that in the real; less face to face conversations, unhindered access to what we see and feed our mind on the internet both good and bad. The mind constantly gets fed with wrong information, wrong mindset, and our entire being revolves around the picture we create.

In a world where people fail us so much daily, intentionally. Where unkind words are the order of the day. Where no one feels comfortable at running at his or her own pace.

Where we forget the existence of the Almighty one and the entire purpose of our creation.

Where people live for the next fix, the next rush, the next high.

In the never ending cycle of living, loss, failed goals, no purpose, no love, low self esteem, abuse both sexual and domestic, genetics , isolation it flutters it wings and begin to grow." He said still curled up and staring at me. His honey brown eyes were a shade lighter today.



"How do we fight it. How do we not loose to it"

"FIGHT! Daily, consciously alongside stuff you mentioned earlier. You know there was a time in my life i felt it was an unending spiral of darkness. Till i met light. I remember praying for the first time after a long time and how light i felt after."

"My strong baby" I whispered.

"We were all broken, lots of us in different ways. But me and you a perfect fit, never forget that." Chris reached out his hand and pulled mine to his chest where his heart beat.

"I love you. Christopher Ayomide Olugbenga never forget that" i said tears filling my eyes.

"Me too. Grumpy! Me too" smiling through his eyes. So we lay like that for almost an hour saying nothing, only our eyes interlocked, my hand on his chest as we lay on our sides. What we lacked in words, our eyes said in volume. Menstrual cramps was not strong enough to break this intense communication, Nina was not strong enough to tear us apart.

Or so i thought!

*****

2 weeks later

Rio, Brazil.

"No! Ayo No!" I shouted

He laughed out in reply.

"I will castrate you at last I swear." Running far away from him.

"Haba baby! Please don't threaten my manhood. I need it o for future services" winking at me.

So here we are running around our hotel suite, because he wanted sex and I didn't. My favorite basket ball team just lost a huge match.

"Baby na!!! But its not my fault you know."

"I don't care. Keep that manhood of yours far away from me tonight. Be warned. Prophecy of doom!" Fuming.

Before the match started he wanted me to sit still while he continued a portrait of me, when i refused he just kept wishing my team will loose and they did, and he actually thinks I'll let him touch me.

Joseph the dreamer!

"Babe na! Is it until my zipper burst" he whined more.

Story for shango (god of thunder)

"I hope you know that I can come and make you do so without force abi" he added, a sharp predatory glint flashed in his honey orbs.

I knew he could but I still choose to ignore him, if there was anything I have learnt in the last 3 weeks of marriage was that my husband hates to be ignored; First he gets hurt, angry then he sulks.

"Okay, how about we take the jet and touch down in Newyork city for the next game. We watch it life and I get you a Lebron James autograph, including soul stirring pizza in Italy" raising up his hands as a sign of surrender.

"Hell yes!" Running towards him and tying to undo his zipper immediately.

"Okay baby calm down don't rape me" he said laughing loudly as i pushed him to the ground.

Thirty minutes later, we have somehow ended up in bed again, he was sleeping beside me. One of his arm was thrown lazily over his eyes and the other over the curve of my waist. He looked so peaceful he had lots of nightmares so he hardly slept for long and at night but those few times he did,

We left Lagos a week ago. Our first stop was Greece, lots of beautiful sunset and love making. Dealing with the Nina issue was hard but I took Liz advise and followed him to every hospital meeting. Although she was happier to see him than me, it didn't stop me. My claim was on my husband every step of the way.

When I called Liz to tell her what was going on, she had chided me for letting him go alone the first time. According to her she needs support from your husband and your husband needs it from you and this way he remains in your sight and get doesn't have to choose.

The Honeymoon phase was beautiful, one week down and 2 cities. 4 more to go. My romantic husband has changed the game, making me fall deeper in love with him. It still felt surreal this cold, scary, calculating billionaire others saw was all shades of loving and kind with me. We started from Lagos, to Greece then Rio. Venice, London and New york were still on our list of cities to go.

******

Venice, Italy.

Damn!

Chris had on a black cut off shirt, rolled up at the sleeve and black jeans trousers with orange coloured sneakers and a face cap. Gold Rolex wristwatch adored his wrist How can someone's husband look this good!

So this man will just be fine anyhow without his wife's permission.

The black outfit had a stark contrast to his light coloured skin. His mom was a light skinned African american beauty, making his skin color a shade I love to describe as creamy chocolate. He needed a hair cut though his black curls were full and shining. His hair curls were loser than the normal afro 4c more like 4a. My inside lurched as molten desire flowed through me and pooled at the pit of my belly.

With the way I am feeling, I pray we don't end up in bed soon.

"You too like rough play" my subconscious rolled her eyes out at me.

Similar to his outfit, I had on blue jeans with a black cropped top, paired with black Adidas sneakers. My hair was in a French bun and my edges were slickly laid with an edge controller.

He tucked his phone in his pocket and said" please pick a jacket or something you'll be cold."

I shrugged my shoulder in denial taking selfies.

He shook his head at my stubbornness and went inside to get a jean jacket it was his . So it was a bit big on me not too big but stylish still.

"Now you wont be cold and you are well covered"

I rolled my eyes at the latter part of the statement. Then i felt his lips crashing on mine; hot and deep as usual.

"Rule number two: dont roll your eyes at me. I'll just kiss you every time you do"

The intensity and shock of the kiss kept me mute.

How is it that every time each kiss taste different, more intense and sweeter.

The cold air outside hit me drawing me out of my kiss haze and i pulled the jean shirt around me loving how chic it looked and how nice it smelt; rich perfume, sandalwood the entire thing musky and heady.

We walked hand in hand down the street. Laughing with a lot of pictures, some we of us making funny faces at each other and taking that of places around us. We went from shop to shop eating various delicate and stealing kisses in between. Until my legs started aching from walking so much.

"Carry me" making a pouty face. He has been typing furiously on his phone for the last 10 min

"Why" he said not looking up at me.

"Because I said so"

"Not good enough" he replied smiling at his phone.

"Who are you talking to?" I asked a bit jealous.

"Angela" he replied smiling more brightly.

Who is Angela again.

"Who is she?" I asked quietly. Pulling my hands out to scratch my imaginary itch on my head.

"Tishe jawe" smiling brightly and putting his arm on my shoulder.

Oluwatunmishe fondly called "Tishe" is Chris cousin sister. The only sweet and kind one in their entire family apart from their dad.

Although relations between Chris and his Father was still strained, I try my best to get them to be at least civil towards each other.

Tishe was a fashion designer; A very good one at that. She made my wedding dress and evening gowns. Her styles and outfits were to die for and we actually get on so well.

"Oh!" I elbowed his shoulder and smiled at him.

"Ouch! Mean girl" he said. Rubbing the spot I hit.

"She said we should send her honeymoon pictures and we should make a baby soon. So she can be the coolest aunt and godmother" he added.

He bent down in front of me to carry me, and I was actually too shy to climb on.

Turns out public display was also more of his thing than I. I was so shy when he kissed my lips two streets back.

"No thank you" covering my face with my hands.

"Shy girl" he said and then retied my shoe laces.

I hit him again though on his shoulder this time.

"Keep hitting me o, you are definitely giving me massage when we get home, preferably hot oil"

"Come and make me na, as if I promised you anyone sef"

"I like challenges" he answered while giving me that hot look.

"Stop na" I whined.

"What? As if you don't like it too" Winking at me.

I raise my hand to hit him again but this time he caught it and kissed my knuckles.

I smiled at him. Daily I fall  in love with this wonderful man from the way he calls me Temi or mine, to the way he looks at me and adores me, to the sweet kisses, to the late night prayers and the lovemaking.

Our final destination was a new restaurant in the final part of town. It wasn't as posh as I expected from outside but the soft music that greeted  us was heavenly and the interior well decorated. It was half Italian bar, half restaurant. According to him the steak here was to die for.

So it turned out to be a night of good wining and dining, he even cut my steak for me. We finished eating and while sipping the wine and making small talk which we skipped during dinner he had this look in his eyes .

"Lets go and dance"Chris said.

I took his outstretched arms and we went to the dance floor. Dancing was something I was okay at, not exceptionally good or bad just fair.

Lionel's Richie songs hit first, soft and slow we gyrated on the dance floor then the Italian hit_ Tu Per Me, came next followed by mi corazon. Then the tempo shifted as the upbeat ' regetton lento' hit me, my system reacted and the wild, carefree girl before matt was awaken again. Hips gyrating, body swaying, hands moving we were moved in synergy and created magic.

At the end of the song we were both sweaty and he had the hot look in his eyes and I know I wanted it too.

"Lets go home" he ground out huskily.

"Yes please"

He put his hands on my waist called for the bill and called for the car.

Turns out although we walked here there was a car trailing us with his secret bodyguards.

The thought of body guards made me feel weird like i was way out of my league at times. The sheer strength of him and how much he has still spins my head.

We entered the silver Maseratti and drove straight home his hands on my waist still, the other on my hand occasionally pulling my hand to his lips to kiss my knuckles. The hooded look in his eyes though were unveiled, making me see how bad he wanted me.

We got home, into the elevators and crashed straight to bed. Mouths playing a different tug of war as they collided and hands pulling off every article of clothing found on each other.

Then in synchronised bliss we rode to the place where it was just him and me.

*****

New York City

I hugged my just autographed basketball vest to my chest smiling like my lips were going to split open.

My husband on the other hand had a big frown on his. He was displeased with the way I hugged the legendary basket ball player Lebron James, more so on how long we hugged, I fawned over him and how I keep hugging the vest to my chest like I won the lottery.

So we came to New York city as he promised to watch thee next big playoffs and he got me the autograph and a meet with the star. The how i don't know but my husband is a genius anyway.

"Would you stop hugging that vest" he said gruffly.

"No." Sticking out my tongue and hugging it tighter in the process. He just rolled his eyes at me, frowning more.

Instead  of replying him, I feigned pain and shouted "ouch".

"What is it?" he asked worry replacing anger and bending to look at my face.

I raised my head and kissed him, smiling happily at him after. Just like that initial anger was replaced with a smile and he was grinning like he won the lottery too.

Two fast sport cars parked in front of us outside the stadium and the way my heart raced I knew what was about to happen before he even said it.

"Come on baby, lets race" Chris confirmed.

O boy! Im about to show this man how it is done.

"Don't come crying for a massage when I am done with you" I replied, rubbing my hands in pure glee.

"Fine, as long as you dont pout or sulk after I beat you. No probs!" Smiling evilly in return.

The race was fierce, as we hit the fourth street side by side almost bumper by bumper.

He was so good at this!

We rounded the last curve and I was about to show him how racing for the last 4 years had sharpened my skills. Although racing was illegal,I knew this streets and it was the only vice i had.

Every time the Matt issue got to me, I came here and tried to outrun my demons. The thrill the high it calmed me.

I hit the last gear and gunned my feet on the pedal adding the nitro booster power, swerved a little to give his rear side a gentle push. Before he could adjust back on the street. I was flying down the finish line.

Although he recovered quickly my tires hit the finishing mark before his.

I jumped out the door and did my victory etigi dance with my tongues out to mock him.

He was laughing when he came down also. "Although you cheated a little, but damn baby! Im so proud of you"

"Okay what do you want"

"You cook for me the first month of marriage, when we get back to Lagos. Alongside the keys to your Bentley"

"Done."

We entered the car to drive back home, he had the tender look in his eyes.

"I love you so much, Temi. You complete me in so many ways, I cant wait to have kids with you."

At his statement my heart skipped a beat not just the normal elation of hearing his words but also guilt.

Although he talked about having kids immediately after marriage during courtship, I wanted to wait a year after marriage so I've been taking contraceptives secretly.

I know he will be so disappointed when he finds out, I feel like I am lying to him.

"I love you to shuga" i replied. Smiling as the guilt made my insides churn.