Annette

Leonard

I stared out the large window of my home, the paper in my hand an eyesore. My biggest rival. Plans to tear down Shepherd Manor and build a massive bank. It wasn't the fact that he wanted to tear down my child-hood home that boiled my blood. The problem I have is he was building another bank in my town, on my turf.

Shepherd Manor, considered history to my brother and me. Also, the fact that he wants to build a bank on my property. That didn't sit well with me at all. I had worked and earned everything that I have; I didn't buy my way in with my daddy's bank account. I had everything a man would need a growing business, more money than I know what to do with, a beautiful girlfriend that I had well tamed. I wanted it all after the death of my mother, and ten years later. I have it all. I am the face of this town. I am the one who has succeeded with hard work, determination and being wise with my money.The thoughts of some pretty boy with daddy issues trying to make a name for himself with my hard work left a bitter taste in my mouth with the same acrid taste going down. I heard the door of my office open and close. Soon I felt slender arms wrap around my waist, a tender kiss on my neck. I turned my head to see the long platinum blond hair, turning my body around to look at Annette. She wore my favorite outfit. A white skin-tight jumpsuit customed made for her that showed off every curve of her hourglass figure. Her hair showered down to her thick waist, the body of a goddess-given to a woman that I knew I didn't deserve. But, she always sticks around. "What's bothering you, LeLe? You've locked yourself up in this office all day." I held up the paper in my hand as she retrieved it. It was silent as she read the document, " This is awful, wanting to tear down this home to build another bank, I'm sorry. I see why your upset." I was silent, " it is a beautiful home. Maybe you should buy it."

I cut her off, " I already own it. Shepherd Manor was my home."

"That scum! You can't let him tear down your home." I looked at her.

"Why don't the two of us go to that restaurant you've wanted to go to; you're probably hungry after waiting on me all day." I stroked her hair.

"You're thinking about Melroe's when a snotty child wants to tear down your home? Don't you care at all?" She looked at me with a sigh.

"Not even a little bit now. Do you want to go to Melroe's or not?" I got from the embrace as she sighed.

"Yeah, Melroe's sounds good. Let me go get dressed." She walked from the room, her head down. I sighed as I walked from the room; to take a shower and get dressed.

----------------Two Hours Later ----------------

Annette and I walked hand-in-hand through the pier, looking at the yachts and other boats. "Could we maybe skip Melroe's? I'm feeling rather tired."

I looked at her as we stopped, " Annette, is this about Shepherd's Manor, and you not wanting it torn down?"

She said nothing, then sighed, "Well, maybe a little bit."

" A little bit? You've hardly spoken a word in two hours. You're more upset than you want me to know." I kissed her hands as she looked at me.

"Why do you hate your home so much?''

I looked at her, "Both my parents died in that home, my father, we don't know what happened to him, and my mother killed herself."

Annette looked at me, wrapping her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing her hair. "I am feeling kinda hungry."

"That's my girl."

Annette

*Later that night*

The two of us returned from our outing as I slipped out of my skin-tight jeans and a loose blouse. I walked over to my walk-in closet opening the door walking inside clothes, aligned the walls as shoes of many designers aligned the carpeted floor. Fashion mannequin heads displayed various designer hats. I picked out a short, black silk gown with fur on the collar and hems. Slipping into it, I walked from the closet. To see Leonard taking his shoes off, his tie hanging from the pillow, his shirtless torso revealed a six-pack and toned muscular arms. His skin tanned. He was gorgeous. His short hair that wasn't even to his shoulders often slicked back, now unruly. The light blond of his haired damp and darkened, evident of another shower. Oreo's and chocolate egg creams were my ways of coping with any stressful situation; long hot showers were Leo's when that failed. He showed me how much of a lady I was with all-night activities. At that thought, I walked over to the window, looking at the great city outside. Leonard had expressed many times that children weren't something that he wanted. But still, looking at all my girlfriends who had much less than me, but to me, they had everything I wanted. A loving husband on their arm. A little boy or girl, running around their homes. But for me, I'm unmarried and not able to produce a child.

I walked over to my large vanity, aligned with various makeup and perfume. I retrieved a makeup remover cloth from the box and started to remove this morning's makeup job, gently wiping a tear from my eye before it could make its way down my cheek with the makeup gone. I got a large silver hairbrush and started brushing my hair. "Is something wrong, Annette? Other than earlier concerns."

I looked at Leonard, who looked at me with concern, "No, everything's fine. Why?"Leonard stood to his feet, walking behind me, kissing my neck, "Your silence tells on you every time. When you don't talk for a certain amount of time, I know something is wrong. Are you becoming miserable being my girlfriend? If so."I stopped him, " It's not that, I was thinking about us. I'm twenty-four years old. I want my own family. I want a husband to grow old with, sit on the porch of a big house in our old age and watch our grandchildren play in the yard, but I can't have any children of my own. It makes me feel less of a woman to any man that I'm with." I felt tears come to my eyes as Leonard wiped them away.

"So you want all that," he looked at me seriously at first, then with a gentle smile, "Very well, I'll see what I can do, dry your tears and come to bed we got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

I placed my brush on the vanity, standing up, and walked with Leonard to the bed. As we laid down, Leonard wrapped his arms around me as I lay my head on his chest, his bare torso warm against my cheek. I played with the hairs on his chest as he stroked my hair."I love you, Leonard."

He was silent but kissed my hair, "I love you as well, Annette." he sighed, " Annette, never think you are less of a woman because you can't have children, children or not, you're always plenty enough woman for me. Children aren't something I want, but to keep you happy, I'm willing to cooperate," he chuckled, "Keeping you happy isn't the hardest thing in the world to do. You; never ask for anything. Everything I've bought for you up to this point has been my decision."

I smiled, "Thanks, LeLe. That means a lot, even if we can't have kids. We can still be a family, can't we? Just the two of us."

"I don't see why we can't. We've been together for three years. I suppose it's only natural for you to want more from me. You are a woman, after all, and being with a man for as long as we have. It seems fitting for us to get married."

I rose, looking at him, kissing his lips. He rolled me over onto the bed, kissing my lips. I frowned, "The hot shower didn't work to settle your nerves."

His brow rose, "I had nothing bothering me, Annette. Christian, isn't a threat, this is natural. I need to prove to you, your womanhood it seems it's that time again." he kissed my neck. Trailing down my nightgown as I sat up, he took the clothing from my body. He rubbed rough hands down my stomach kissing my lips.

-----------Hours Later------------

I lay on the bed, stroking Leonard's hair as he slept, his head resting on my breast. His hair damped from our activities and shower from earlier, his soft breathing touching my bare flesh. I covered him up with the comforter. He stirred in his sleep as I stroked his jaw bone, " I would do anything for you, Annette." I looked to see he was talking in his sleep, "Marry me, Annette."

I listened as he talked with a smile, "I'll marry you, Leonard."

I kissed his hair, closing my eyes, soon falling into a deep sleep, still holding Leonard.

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