The News

**Kierra**“What do you think?” Jonathan asked, holding up a dress for me.“Nah. I’m not feeling it.”“What’s wrong with it?” he asked incredulously, running his fingers over the soft fabric. I cringed at the ruffles.“How do I say this kindly? It’s giving…I sing enchanting songs that attract woodland creatures while baking bread from scratch.”Jonathan gawked at the dress. “I think it’d look lovely on you.”“Lovely or not, I’d prefer the Slasher crop top and sweats.”“But,” he said, slowly approaching me with the dress, “my mother, who saved your life, I might add, purchased this for you,” he said softly, trying to guilt the hell out of me.It’s working, but he can’t play the ‘you’d be dead if it weren’t for my mother’ card for much longer.I grinned. “You’re an asshole.”“I’ll take that as long as you still love me,” he expressed before caressing my lips with his. That was enough to make me forget about my injuries. I cupped him through his jeans with my free hand and groaned when h

Not Convinced

**Kierra**I listened carefully to Jonathan’s recollection of his tumultuous relationship with Eliza from the time their marriage started to break down, her cheating, their divorce, and everything that followed.“To your extensive and intimate knowledge of Mrs. Baker, did you suspect she suffered from mental health issues?”Jonathan sighed and rubbed his forehead before answering. “I…it’s hard to say.”“How so?” Detective Prescott queried.“I don’t know how to say this delicately, and I don’t wish to speak ill of the dead, but Eliza was…spoiled. She had a way of getting what she wanted, and I’ll hold myself accountable and say that I enabled her 100%. I think she reacted poorly when she realized she couldn’t get what she wanted from me any longer. She became verbally and physically abusive—she busted the windows out of my truck and physically attacked me outside of my residence—there are corroborating police reports to prove that.”“Yes, I’ve read them. Mrs. Baker was also placed on a

The Confession

**Jonathan**A somber veil fell over the Baker residence after Detective Prescott left. Kierra grew quiet and insisted that she needed to return to bed. I didn’t argue with her. I tucked her in, turned on her favorite murder mystery show, and returned half an hour later with her breakfast on a tray. She offered me condolences, and I nearly told her she should save it for someone who cared, but I couldn’t do that. I had to continue to play the guilt-ridden, empathetic ex.Breaking the news to my children that Eliza was dead went exactly how I thought it would. Daisy didn’t give a fuck and inched out of my office as if I couldn’t see her leaving, and the matter didn’t concern her. Casey asked a million questions, and I answered them as straightforwardly as possible. And Grant…poor Grant. Devastated was not the word. He had a meltdown and began destroying my office. I allowed it until he reduced himself to crying on the floor in the fetal position. It was the least I could do for inadver

Christmas Day

**Kierra**A whimper escaped my parted lips as Jonathan stroked me. I was frustrated and ready for him to bring me to completion, which required him to drop dick fast and hard, but I knew better than to ask. It was our first time having sex since my accident, and he had already warned me that he’d fuck me how he wanted—nice and slow to not exacerbate my injuries. That was all fine and dandy, but my doctor cleared me to resume all activity, and I had a nifty soft cast that replaced the arm splint. I needed to get wrecked, and I feared the only way I could achieve that was by getting on top.My fingers threaded through his hair as he kissed my neck. I slicked back his damp, blond locks that fell into his face. He nipped at my flesh, and I clenched around him. I dug my heels into his lower back, hoping he’d pick up what I was putting down, but he continued at his snail’s pace. It wasn’t like Jonathan to be dismissive in bed, but I had to give him a pass. He’d been going through it since

Christmas Day II

**Jonathan**“Mr. Jonathan, I’m ready to open presents,” Kiyah whined with an adorable pout on her face.“Me too,” Casey co-signed.“I know you guys are, but we’re waiting on Uncle Ant’s family.”“Can you call them?” Kiyah asked.“So they can provide me with an inaccurate arrival time and get your hopes up? Yeah, no, thank you.”“I knew I felt my ears burning,” Anthony grumbled as he entered the living room with a sack full of presents over one shoulder and Nori dangling upside down by her ankle with his free hand.“Put her down!” Daisy exclaimed as she ran over to save her frenemy, who was giggling her head off, not asking to be saved.“What’s the matter, Daisy?” he taunted, ignoring how Daisy’s little fists pummeled the side of his leg.“Put her down!”“Whoops!” Anthony teased, dropping Nori lower. At that point, her head was only a few inches from hitting the ground.“Anthony James, if you crack my child’s head on the floor, then—”“Relax, Simone. It’s Christmas. Be merry,” Anthony

The Best Gifts

**Kierra**My face scrunched in displeasure as I watched our children bounce up and down with glee and smother the new addition to our growing family.“What is his name?” Casey asked as he damn near choked the dog out.“I don’t know. You and your siblings need to come together and think of something.”“Also, can we not be so rough with it?” I interjected. “We need to pet the dog with kind hands.” The last thing I wanted was for one of them to get bitten in the face because they were manhandling the dog. “Jon, I didn’t know we were seriously considering a dog. The last time we spoke, you complained about getting hair on your suits.”“That’s why the dog is hairless,” he explained with a satisfied smile.“What kind of dog is it?”“It’s an Xoloitzcuintli.”“A Xolo what?”“A Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the Mexican hairless dog. Xolos are an ancient Aztec breed, and they’re supposedly loyal, alert, protective, and calm-natured. He’ll be great for the kids.”I was nearly knocked off my fee