A few feet ahead were tulip petals on the sand, a large tower of red and white roses surrounded by tealight candles, and there were more candles surrounding the white tablecloth-covered table.
Three tealight candles and another bouquet of roses were on the table, along with dome covered dishes.
A light, brown-skinned woman with long braids sat in the distance, playing a harp, and a man dressed in jeans and a tuxedo jacket and dress shirt, played the violin.
Tears sprang to my eyes at the sight before me. I turned to Harlem and saw him smiling at me.
“My God, do you get any more romantic than this?”
He winked and kissed my forehead. “Try me.”
I slanted a firm gaze his way. “I hope that you don’t do all these sweet things to get me and then stop once you have me.”
He pulled me against his hard body and stared down at me. “Tegan.” His voice was firm. I knew that he was serious because he never called me by my real name anymore when it was just the two of us. If it wasn’t Baby, then it was sweetheart, my love, or beautiful. “You’re not gonna keep questioning my intentions. I told you that I’m not him, and you said you wouldn’t keep comparing us.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry, because you don’t deserve it, Harlem.”
He brushed his lips against mine, and I opened my mouth for him to deepen the kiss. His hands rested at my waist, and we danced slowly to the music playing. Our kiss was all teeth, tongue, and lips as we consumed one another’s mouths, unable to get enough of each other.
“Our relationship will be a never-ending journey of surprises, and I won’t ever stop cherishing and pampering you,” he explained when he ended the kiss.
Harlem pulled my chair out for me. When he sat down, we prayed over our meal before we dug into our parmesan chicken.
“What type of woman are you in a relationship?” he asked.
“I love being connected, but I also need the independence of still maintaining my identity. I cannot afford to lose myself completely in a man and a relationship, because I’ve done that before. I allowed Carl to push me to a place where nothing existed beyond him except for my job. I need to have my hobbies, friendships, and familial relationships that I nurture and nourish. You will be my priority, but there will be other important variables in my life.”
“I can respect an independent spirit because I cherish my freedom to be who I am; alternatively, I enjoy being a protector, even if that means protecting your independence and your need to maintain your identity. I’m all about sacrifice in a relationship. There’s nothing I won’t give, no limits I won’t go to protect my woman and the relationship, and nothing I won’t do to ensure that you’re happy. That’s why it’s important for me to have a partner who will protect my heart and not allow me to go out completely.”
“I’m willing to give that when I know that my man has my best interest at heart. I don’t mind being a soft woman to a man who wants to appreciate, love, and pamper me, because I’m willing to do the same.”
“As long as you know. I respect your time to be with your family and your girls, because I’ll have that same time.”
“You’ll be with your girls?” I teased, lifting an eyebrow and narrowing my eyes at him.
“You know what I mean. My boys and I will still have our time, but you will always be my number one priority. My time will mostly be spent with you, and I expect the same. That doesn’t mean that I won’t understand and respect your need to be with your peeps too.”
We ate our meal and enjoyed the music as the waves washed up only a few feet from us. When we finished and dessert was served, the sun started to set.
The moment that dessert was served, Harlem pulled me from my seat and set me on his lap. I giggled but affectionately cuddled up to him. He sliced the pie in front of us and fed me.
“Mm. This is delicious.” I moaned.
“Is it really?”
“Yes, you should try it.”
He leaned in and kissed me, licking my lips and sucking them until the remnants of the whipped cream were gone.
I pulled back and smiled. “You really should try it.”
“I think I like it better from your lips.” He moaned and kissed me again.
We sat that way for a while, watching the sun slowly descend over the western horizon and Harlem feeding me. The spray of the ocean breeze kissed our face every now and then, and sometimes the soft mush of the sand would rise to tickle our toes as the waves crashed against the shore.
“You know what?” I asked after a while, licking my lips clean of whipped cream.
“What’s that?” he asked, pausing with a forkful of chocolate chip turtle mousse pie halfway to my mouth.
