Seven

Daphne had an idea. She had to put Jada in a bad light in Brayden’s eyes. She called up her handsome cousin and told him she needed a favor. She asked Evelyn if he could stay at the mansion, telling her the plan she had in mind. Caleb was a playboy and knew how to influence a woman. She asked him to come and seduce Jada, putting her in questionable circumstances so that Daphne could blackmail her to leave Brayden. Once his heart was broken and he turned against Jada, she would be there to comfort him, she thought.

Once Jada and Brayden got back in their room, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with passion. “Hold on a minute,” he said, picking up his phone and turning on some soft music. He smiled at her and pulled her close, dancing with her. Brayden closed his eyes, enjoying their moment together. Jada was doing the same. She loved being in his arms, and she enjoyed dancing with him.

“You smell so good!” She commented, inhaling his expensive cologne. “That’s what we forgot today! I was going to buy you some colognes! And I know something else I need to get you, bathing suits for our trip…. unless you want to wait and buy them when we get to San Diego,” he suggested. Jada smiled at his thoughtfulness. “Yes, let’s do that, Honey. I think that would be fun to go to the mall since we are there overnight. I would like to see the area,” she agreed. “We will do anything your sweet heart wants to do, Pretty Lady. I aim to please,” he said.

“Speaking of pleasure…I’m going to take a shower. How about you join me?” He asked. Jada looked at him in surprise. She had never heard of such a thing. “I’ve never, I mean, I didn’t know…,” she stammered. Brayden stopped her by cupping her face in his hands, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

“I want to take my time getting to know my wife’s body,” he said, kissing her again, more passionately this time. “Come on, My Love, humor me. It’s something I’ve been thinking about, he urged, taking her by the hand and leading her to the shower.

Jada shyly entered the shower with Brayden. This was the first time they had stood in front of each other fully naked, and she felt a heated flush rising up her chest and neck into her face. She covered her face and turned away from him, feeling vulnerable.

Brayden smiled at his bride’s shyness. “We’ve already been together twice, My Love. Why would you be shy with me seeing you naked now?” He asked. “I don’t know, I guess it’s just you are seeing me completely naked and me seeing you…I’m a little nervous,” she admitted.

Brayden started kissing across her shoulder and up her neck, which he had figured out was one of her erogenous zones. When she relaxed her head against his face, he gently turned her around. He touched her breasts and then sucked at them as she moaned with her eyes closed, enjoying his ministrations.

When he suddenly quit, Jada opened her eyes curiously. “I want you to bathe me, my bride,” he asked, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his body. She jerked it back as if it burned her at first, but then she came back and caressed him lovingly.

“It belongs to you, Sweetheart. My heart, my mind, my body, it’s all yours,” he told her. “Just like this wonderful, beautiful body is mine,” he said, squeezing her bottom with both hands.

“I love you, Jada. I love everything about you,” he told her. “We are one now, you and me. If you hurt, I hurt, if you’re sad, I’m sad. What makes you happy makes me happy. I am yours and you are mine. We belong together,” he explained, holding her close.

Jada held his face in her hands and kissed him lovingly. “I love you too, Brayden. I never knew a man like you existed. I love you so much. I love everything about you too,” she said, kissing him more passionately.

They finished their shower and Brayden wrapped a towel around Jada, picking her up and carrying her to bed. He made slow sweet love to her, and then they both took a nap in each other’s arms.

Jada woke up first and stared at her husband. She would not be ashamed for him to see her naked anymore, she was sure of that. As he said, their bodies belong to each other.

Jada was still staring at him when he opened his eyes. “What’s on your mind, Sweetheart?” He asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“Having a baby with you,” she said. “I’m anxious to have a baby now,” she said, smiling, propped up on his chest.

“You think you might be pregnant?” He asked excitedly hugging her. “I don’t know, maybe. I should be ovulating, so it’s possible,” she said, hoping.

Brayden smiled. “That would make me so happy, Sweetheart. I’m ready to be a dad,” he said, considering the notion. “Mom would be happy too. Maybe then we could get rid of Daphne,” he added.

Marcy knocked on their door to let them know that dinner was ready and his mother was requesting his presence. “Tell her we will be there in ten minutes,” he said. “Stand strong, My Love. You may have to bring out the feisty side. You know the two witches will be on top of their game tonight,” he cautioned, sitting down on a chair to put his socks on.

Jada grinned a little at his suggestion that she bring out her “feisty side”. She pulled a robe on and sat down on his lap, putting her arms around his neck. “You like my feisty side, don’t you?” She asked playfully.

Brayden smiled at her. “That’s what turned me on in the first place. When you got feisty with me, I thought I gotta get to know this little firecracker!” He said, putting his arms around her and kissing her.

“So, to turn you on I need to tell you off?” She teased. “Pretty girl, to turn me on you only need to breathe. I’m permanently turned on when I’m near you anymore,” he said, playing with her.

“Hmmm, so if I do this…” she said, blowing softly on his neck, “that would turn you on?” She asked, being playful. “Watch it, girl. I’ll throw you down on this table,” he warned. Jada laughed, hugging him. “I love you, husband,” she said.

“I love you too, Pretty Girl. But we had better get dressed and get downstairs. We don’t want to upset Evelyn any more than she already is,” he said, kissing his bride once more.

The two got dressed and Jada quickly applied some makeup and styled her hair. Brayden pulled on a jacket and combed his hair in the mirror standing behind her. She smiled at his image in the mirror, and he winked at her. “Are you ready, sweetheart?” He asked. She slipped on her shoes, and they left their room together.

“Oh Look! It’s Brayden and his contract wife,” Daphne said with a smirk. “I thought you were going to be staying in the Old Mansion, Miss Pence,” Evelyn said.

“It’s Mrs. DeRoya now, Mom. And yes, we will be moving into the Old Mansion tomorrow. Are you in a hurry to get rid of your only son?” He asked, seating Jada.

“I was not aware that you will be staying there as well, Brayden. I thought you would continue to stay here,” she said. “This is your home,” she told him.

“My home is where my wife is, Mother. Now, may we please have our meal in peace?” He asked, irritated. “Bon Appetit!” His mother said, equally agitated with him.

The meal was chicken Parmesan with breadsticks and salad. “Please give my compliments to the chef. This is delicious,” Jada said to Marcy, the hostess who stood by their table. “Yes Mam, the cook is my mother,” Marcy said smiling at Jada.

“Dinner conversation is for those seated at the table,” Evelyn said, scolding Jada. “But I don’t expect you to know proper table manners,” she continued, looking scornfully at the girl.

“Would you please pass the bread? I can’t reach it,” Jada asked. Evelyn pretended not to hear her. Marcy stepped over and picked up the bread basket and held it for Jada. Evelyn gave the hostess a scorching look.

“When do you leave on your trip?” Evelyn asked Brayden. “Monday at one pm, so five days,” he told her. “Are you sure you should be gone from the office that long?” She asked.

“I do all my work by computer anyway, Mother. And meetings I can do via zoom, so it won’t be any different than being there,” he told her.

“It seems a lot of celebration for a contract marriage, Son. Have you forgotten that this was not meant to be a real marriage? Have you forgotten that she signed a contract?” Evelyn asked him, looking disdainfully at Jada.

“The purpose of the contract was to produce an heir, Mother. And so, it seems that Jada has fulfilled her part of that contract. She carries my child, your heir right now,” he said.

“However, you are not holding your promise to care well for her while she carries your grandchild, Mother. Starting tomorrow you will treat her kindly and respectfully as the mother of your grandchild,” he informed her.

Evelyn’s expression changed to that of shock. “You are pregnant?” she asked Jada. “I think so. The timing is right. I haven’t taken a test yet,” Jada admitted.

“You will take a test tomorrow and inform me when you have the results,” she told Jada. For the first time, Evelyn actually made eye contact with Jada, considering that she may be carrying a DeRoya heir.

Daphne was so upset with the news that she asked to be excused and left the table. Now how will I get her out of the picture? She wondered. Evelyn will want to protect the girl now that she is carrying Brayden’s child. Daphne paced back and forth in her room, wringing her hands with anxiety.

“You will take care not to do any heavy lifting or moving furniture, and I will make sure you have a nutritious diet. Brayden, you must make sure she gets plenty of rest,” Evelyn instructed. Jada looked at Brayden and he smiled at her.

“So, are you happy about becoming a grandmother, Mom?” He asked, teasing her, knowing she was holding in her excitement. Brayden could see a hint of a smile in the wrinkles around her eyes, but she remained stoic. “We don’t know that there is anything to be celebrating about yet,” she said.

“If she isn’t pregnant yet, I’ll do my best to make sure she is soon, Mom. That’s a promise. I’m gonna keep working at it til I make you a grandma,” he teased her. Jada put her hand over her face with embarrassment at his suggestion to his mother.

“Watch your manners with that kind of conversation, Son. I don’t want to think about what you do behind closed doors. That’s inappropriate to speak of such things to me. Mind your tongue,” she scolded.

Brayden got up and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Okay, grandma,” he teased. “You get the test, then we will decide if celebration is in order,” she said, still holding back her smile.

“May we be excused, Mother? We have to get our belongings moved over to the Old Mansion this evening,” he told her. “Don’t move. Stay here, both of you,” Evelyn pleaded. “What’s the hurry?” She asked.

“We have to, Mom. Jada has her siblings to care for. We need to get them settled in,” he explained. “You will come over and see me every day?” She asked, her eyes tearing up. Brayden took hold of her hand and promised her that he would.

He smiled at Jada and took her by the hand, leading her back upstairs to gather toiletries and such to take with them. Brayden stopped and looked at Jada. “You know, we wouldn’t have to move tonight. Mom is right. We don’t have to move until Sunday when the kids come to stay,” he said. “Could we stay here until then, give my mom time to adjust to me leaving?” He asked Jada.

Jada came over and put her hand on his shoulder, looking into his beautiful brown eyes. “Of course we can, Honey,” she said, smiling at him. He smiled and hugged her.

“I know she’s a bitch, but she’s still my mom. I hated the sad look on her face when I told her we were moving. She tries to be so cold, but she had tears in her eyes, and it made me sad for her,” he explained.

“I know that men and boys have a special connection to their mothers. I totally understand and I’m okay with waiting, sweetheart,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.

“Come back downstairs with me. Let’s have tea with mom and tell her the news,” he asked happily.

They came downstairs holding hands. Evelyn was sitting with Daphne in the living room having their tea. “May we join you?” Brayden asked. “Please, sit down. Have some tea with us,” his mother offered.

“We’ve decided to stay until Sunday, Mom,” Brayden informed her. Both she and Daphne’s expressions softened in relief. “Thank you, son. That makes me very happy,” she told him.

“We are taking the children and Jada’s aunt with us to Hawaii,” he explained. “So, I want to get them settled in on Sunday,” he told Evelyn. “We leave at one on Monday for our trip,” he informed her.

“You’re taking her aunt and two children on your honeymoon?” Evelyn asked, confused. “Well, it’s like this. Jada is like their mother, so in a way I’ll be their stepfather. And Jada’s aunt is like a mother to her. So, we decided this was a good way to establish our family,” he told her.

“One big happy family, huh?” Daphne said, making fun of them. “Oh, come on, Brayden! You don’t belong with those people. Come to your senses,” she pleaded.

“Shut up, Daphne. “Go home. You’re not welcome here,” Brayden told her. “Don’t speak to my guest that way, Brayden!” His mother shouted and Daphne held her chin up in the air, accepting Evelyn’s defense.