Trina felt beautiful in it and wanted to make a good impression on the rest of his family. She paired it with matching sandals that were comfortable and chic. She kept her makeup and jewelry to a minimum opting for a costume jewelry set that was minimal and matched the dress. Overall, she was pleased with her appearance and hope that Damon and his folks would love it too. She felt bad that she didn’t greet them properly when she first set foot in the house because she was fast asleep. She felt like she probably breached some rule of etiquette and prayed that they wouldn’t hold it against her.

“I see you are finally awake.” Said Damon as he came into the room. He was dripping with sweat and had on only a pair of boxers. He looked like he rolled around in the mud with some pigs that’s how dirty he was. She couldn’t help but eye his chest and became undone with lust. “Like what you see,” he said as he winked at her. He went to a nearby suitcase and pulled out some clothes and his favorite body wash. When he collected everything he needed he headed to the bathroom to take a shower. She was treated to a view of his firm backside and tough calves. No doubt he had been playing some sport probably football with his brothers and cousins. She tried to recall all he told her about his family. He said they were huge and spanned across several states.

The house would be overcrowded this weekend and tents would be erected outside for those who couldn’t fit in the house. The Arlington annual barbeque was held every year around thanksgiving, it bridged the gap between the older and younger generation. Trina had never been invited to a cookout of this magnitude before and was looking forward to some barbeque ribs and mash potato, candied yam, corn on the cob whatever was cooking, her and the baby wanted it all.

Damon spent more time than her in the shower for crying out loud. She had to fight the temptation to join him in the shower as she envisioned him letting the water from the shower nozzle run down the length of his body.

She could envision his taut and muscular body all covered in soap. In her fantasy he looked like one of those pin up models that you see in a calendar. No doubt he would have the suds of the soap all over him and she would take great pleasure in bursting his bubble. When he finished washing and drying off he came back out for his briefs which he had somehow manage to forget. He had a huge gray towel wrapped around his waist and he made a quick dash back into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He couldn’t give in to temptation, he had to resist the s*xual temptation Trina provided. It was going to be hard sleeping in the same room with Trina and not having s*x but he needed to show her that s*x wasn’t the main reason for him wanting her in his life.

He felt like if he made love to her now not only would they miss dinner but all the festivities would have been finished by the time he was done with her because he felt insatiable. Trina sat on the edge of the bed with her hands in her lap waiting patiently for him to be done. She just want to be brave and face his family, a sea of unfamiliar faces, by herself. When he was done Damon came out of the rest room fully dressed. He sat down besides her, turning to just observe her for a few more seconds. He knew she would have the appreciation of all the single men tonight. Family or not he couldn’t wait to slip his ring on her finger and declare to the world that she was his.

“Have everything you need?” when she nodded her head in affirmation he took hold of her hand and together they walked down the stairs. Hand in hand like a united couple all their earlier bickering forgotten as they called a truce for the occasion. He hovered over her, overprotective as always, guiding her steps by holding on to her elbow and adjusting her dress if necessary so she wouldn’t trip and fall. He led her to a nearby table where his grandparents and parents sat and he properly introduced her to them. His mother was a stout woman that overshadowed everyone else and wielded a huge handcrafted fan to ward off the mosquitoes that were attracted to the warm bodies.

Everyone smiled cheerily and was very amicable towards Trina as they asked her basic questions and included her in their conversations and it was easy for her to relax. Damon looked so much like his dad that she teasingly called them twins. He joked that when he got back to the city he would have her vision tested because he looked nothing like his dad. The only drawback was that she couldn’t have any wine and she gazed longingly whenever they uncorked a bottle and shared it amongst themselves. Knowing Trina’s penchant for wine Damon went and got her a class of non-alcoholic wine that they had bought for the kids. Trina enjoyed it even more by relishing the fact that Damon was doting on her.

Most importantly he had turned off his cell phone and stored it away for the trip. This raised her admiration of him to the utmost. He really was serious about getting to know her more and putting effort into making their relationship work. So she had no choice but to do her part as well. When it came time to eating their delicious meal she cleared her plate with gusto and his mother brought her seconds. She laughed when Damon told her to take it easy, it was just the first day or he would have to rent a truck to carry her body back to the city she wouldn’t be able to fit in the car. She took his ribbing as it was meant to be good natured and pure fun and promised him that one day she would serve him his just desserts. He told her smugly he was looking forward to it.

It was getting late and most of the children had been put to bed. Damon and Trina soon found themselves alone.

Damon asked. “That day that I came to look for you in the hospital I couldn’t understand why you would be angry that I would want to ask you to marry me. Granted it was short notice but I felt it was the best decision at the time. Now that a few more weeks have passed and I have had ample time to think about it I no longer feel slighted by your refusal. I realize now that you were scared and I was offering nothing that you wanted. You wanted reassurance and comfort and a pledge that I wouldn’t leave your side no matter what. You’ve seen marriages fall apart and divorce tear apart families. You felt like you were trapping me into a marriage I would later regret, didn’t you?”