Made to Love: Carmen and Cooper's Story (21 page)

“
What?” I reply.

“
I made all three of you an
appointment at 11 AM; it will give you plenty of time to get
pampered and a massage. Now don’t be late. I’ll start cleaning up
while ya’ll get ready.” The girls and I are speechless.

We all rush to our rooms to get dressed. Upon
heading out, we thank him. Before exiting, I kiss him as he stands
at the sink washing dishes. He says he’ll lock up once he’s
done.

“
Until
tonight,
my
Carmen.”

One last kiss and I’m out the door
rushing to meet the girls at the elevator.

Once we get there, we’re sent to the massage
area where we lay on the tables awaiting the hands to relax our
muscles.

“
This was a total surprise,”
Marcia calls from a table down.

I am in the middle of her and
Giselle.

“
I’ll say,” Giselle chimes
in.

An hour later, we are fully relaxed and off to
get our nails done. Marcia and Giselle are at the polish center
trying to pick a color that will go the best with their attire this
evening. Cooper has reservations for all four of us at True
Elegance. I’m fully polished with my cotton candy coat and under
the dryer when they finally make their selections. Marcia chooses
deep purple with a glittery top coat. Giselle goes for a two-toned
gold look, the bottom layer is a dull metallic, and the tip is
shiny like 24-karat gold.

We make our way back to the
apartment, excited to get dressed for the celebration to come.
Marcia suggests we all meet in the living room for a photo once our
looks are perfected. Entering my room I see the special birthday
outfit Cooper has picked out hanging from the closest door. I hear
my phone go off and I see it’s a text from Cooper.

Hey beautiful, hope you enjoyed
the spa trip with the girls. A car will be downstairs for all of
you at 6 PM. Until then. I love you.

I respond:

Thanks babe. You’re just full of
surprises today. Only makes me love you more than I already do.
Until then. XOXO.

I apply my makeup and then walk
over to the lingerie chest and get my new black tights. The only
thing I will be wearing with color tonight is my red leather
jacket. Even my undergarments are black, strapless bra and lace
thong. I think about what’s to come after dinner. Unzipping my
dress, it is black with a jewel neckline, the see through material
ends right where my strapless bra sits. The bottom half flares out,
and is poufy on the side, due to the multiple layers of fabric
underneath. It gives the dress a sexual appeal. Sitting on the bed,
I slide my newly pedicured feet into my peep toe black suede pumps.
They tie at the top; the outer and inner sides have a sharp cut out
design. I’m just glad they’re comfy.

I glance in the mirror quickly to check myself
out. My ears are full of sparkle, thanks to Cooper. I smile and
grab my black clutch, making sure all the necessities are placed
inside. Closing the heart on my Tiffany bracelet, I head to the
living room for our close up.

Marcia is wearing a strapless purple satin
gown with black tights. The bow in the middle of her dress matches
the ones resting on the back of her suede purple high heel booties.
Purple teardrops dangle from her earlobes.

“
I should have known purple would
be your choice of color,” I say.

I’m almost knocked off my feet when Giselle
struts into the room. Her dress is strapless as well, coral.
However, the top half is embellished with gold sequins. The bottom
flares when she turns abruptly, and acts like she’s on the runaway
to walk back down the hall. Her sheer tights are met with five inch
suede Mary Jane heels. They are a lighter shade of coral from her
dress. The gold buckles are locked around her ankle, the straps and
heels are dazzled in gold crystals. She pairs it with a tan and
coral purse.

“I must say you ladies look
stunning.”

“
Not as much as you do, birthday
girl.” Marcia smiles while trying to get her phone ready for our
picture taking.

“
Ok ladies, we must make this
quick. Cooper has a car that will be arriving for us in exactly ten
minutes,” I announce. They are surprised. Before they can comment,
I say “I know he definitely has a way of making a lady feel
special.”

Giselle replies, “Real
special.”

I laugh. Marcia calls us all to gather around.
Once she is satisfied with the angle she counts down from three to
one and click, our photo appears.

Marcia comments, “Aren’t we quite the sexy,
diversified group? Giselle Barbadian, Carmen Bi-racial, and me,
Italian.”

I speak up and say, “Yes. We are the
multicultural version of Charlie’s Angels, only we are too hot for
our own good.”

And with that being said we make
our way downstairs. We’re all astounded by the sight of a limo at
the curb awaiting us.
Just when I thought
the surprises were done, here comes this
.
I grin as the driver holds the door for us. Champagne is already in
sight when we get in, compliments of my man. A brief toast is made
in my honor, each say something that is heartfelt.

We arrive at True Elegance, and Cooper is
waiting outside for us; he looks sharp wearing an argyle sweater
vest made with grays, blacks, and red. He wears it over his white
dress shirt with my favorite crimson red blazer. His slacks match
impeccably with his black leather jacket. He holds the door as we
begin walking towards it. He greets me with a kiss as the girls
walk ahead of us.

“
Carmen, you look
amazing.”

He twirls me around making the bottom of my
dress swing around. Scrutinizing me he says, “There’s just one
thing missing.”

I begin looking down wondering
what I’ve forgotten. He tells me to turn around and close my eyes.
Following orders I do so and I feel him lift my hair up and slip
something around my neck. “Ok, that’s much better, you can open
them now.”

My hand reaches for my neck where I find a
white gold heart necklace with ruby and diamond accents. The
pattern matching the same as the earrings he gave me for Christmas.
It lies smoothly against my breastbone, and the gems sparkle with
beauty.

“
Oh my, Cooper, I love it. You’re
definitely spoiling me today.”

“
Well today is
not only your special day, but also the day of love. I’m not giving
you anything you don’t give me each and every day
my
Carmen.”

He wipes the tear before it has a chance to
fall, “It’s too early for that. Just remember the best is always
yet to come.”

With a soft kiss, he leads me to
the back of the restaurant where I’m assuming Marcia and Giselle
are already waiting. As we walk, I think this day could not get any
better. I feel so blessed for all the love I’ve received thus far.
When we reach the back of the restaurant, the room is dark as I
enter. Suddenly the lights flick on and I’m welcomed with a loud
“Happy Birthday.” I look around to see my parents, his parents and
all my staff from the center. We all eat and enjoy each other’s
company. Champagne is distributed across the room for anyone who
cares to indulge. Multiple people have gotten up to toast me well
wishes for my twenty-sixth birthday.

Cooper hasn’t left my side all
evening. The girls and our parents sit directly across from us.
Soon the cake is brought out, its round and frosted with white
icing. “Happy Birthday, Carmen” is written in red with a single
rose lying across the top. One lit candle sits in the middle. As
the singing begins even the people in the restaurant have gathered
in the room to partake in the event.

Songs play over the intercom as the waiting
staff clears the table. “Love and Marriage” and “Going to the
Chapel.” The melodies playing above don’t register as I mingle
around, talking with the girls and people from my center. Everyone
is laughing at things Marcia says.

When the room quiets down I hear,
“Marry Me” by Bruno Mars. Confused by the selection of music, I
turn around to find Cooper. Taking me by my hand, he leads me to a
chair that is sitting empty in the center of the room. He kisses me
as he motions for me to sit down. At that precise moment, the next
track by Jason Derulo comes on. It’s also titled, “Marry me.”
Cooper positions himself on bended knee.

With Jason’s sweet singing in the
background he takes my hand and says, “
My
Carmen, you are
my
everything.” He opens
a red box, and I’m presented with a flawless three carat platinum
heart shaped engagement ring, semi mounted with diamonds. “Will you
do me the honor in spending the rest of your days on this Earth as
my wife?”

I’m stunned; I look at my parents for
approval. They nod in acceptance. “Yes, Cooper, I will marry
you.”

Tears of joys stream down my face
as he slips the breathtaking ring on my finger. We embrace and kiss
passionately. Our parents rush over, both of our mothers are
crying. They all offer their congratulations and of course, the
girls are dying to get a glimpse of the ring. It’s the most
exquisite thing I’ve ever seen. This day has been full of
celebration and unforeseeable things, I couldn’t be any
happier.
Well, at least until later
tonight
, I think to myself while finishing
my glass of champagne. I have much appreciation to give my fiancée.
Cooper and Timothy take my gifts out to the car. When they come
back in, we say our goodbyes. I ask Cooper if he’ll be coming home
with me this evening.

He responds “No, you will be staying at our
future home tonight.”

Blushing, I tell him I will have to go home to
gather some of my things.

“
Nonsense, I already have your
overnight bag at my place.” I took it with me this morning after I
finished cleaning up; I hope you don’t mind.”

“
I don’t mind at all,” I say with
a wink. Turning to the girls, “Ladies, I want to thank you both for
making this birthday the best a girl could ever ask
for.”

“Please, you need to be thanking
your future husband over there,” Marcia says as she lifts my hand
admiring the ring once again.

“
He sure knows how to pick them,”
Giselle chimes in.

“
I would give him approval in
helping my next serious man pick out a ring for me.”

We all laugh as they hug me
goodbye.

My parents are ecstatic over the events which
occurred tonight. My dad kisses me farewell but not before he tells
me “Sweet Pea, Cooper is quite the gentleman. He definitely caught
me off guard with his question, of asking me for your hand in
marriage. I almost cried like your mother. His respectful manners
made me more than proud to accept his proposal. You two are
destined to live happily ever after as your mother and
I.”

I’m pleasantly surprised with what
my father has just revealed. I hug him and my mother goodbye as I
search for the man who has made me the luckiest girl on the
planet.

Cooper’s waiting for me by the door with my
red leather jacket in hand.

“
What are you thinking about sexy
lady?”

“
I’m thinking about our first date
and how far we’ve come since then.”

“
We have come a long
way.”

“
Yes, Mr. Jackson, but the best
really is yet to come.”

He kisses me before pulling off; his hand
rests on my upper thigh until we reach the driveway.

Cooper makes us some final
celebration drinks. I escape to the bedroom where my overnight bag
is located on the bed. Unfastening it, I begin to dig for something
a little more comfortable to slip into. Inside I find some
provocative lingerie, compliments of Marcia. A note found near it
states “
Happy fucking, I mean birthday.”
Love, Marcia
. All I can do is shake my
head. I pull out the red lace teddy that hooks around my neck, the
matching thongs fall at my feet. I know what needs to happen and
fast before Cooper comes to search for me. I slip on the lace teddy
and thong, leaving the heels on I wore to dinner tonight. Without
the tights my candy apple polish is peeking out of the open toe.
Now I wait for my man.

Hearing his footsteps along the hardwood
floor, I stand in the sexiest position, making sure he can capture
my full ensemble. His eyes scan me from top to bottom, and he
immediately sets the glasses down on the dresser. I attack. I kiss
him. I run my hands through his hair then I slide him out of the
blazer. His hands are on my ass as our tongues swirl around each
other’s mouth. He’s working on the buttons of his shirt when I drop
to my knees. I have his pants unbuttoned and unzipped in record
time. My mouth is met with the crown of his hard cock. I open wide
to pleasure him with long strokes. He grips the back of my head
with his hand pushing himself even further into my mouth. I taste
the sweetness of his pre-cum.

“
Damn, baby” he lets out, right
before his request for me to stand.