pure, brown skin bride | Suds 3

pure, Suds 3 | Episode 8

Miralys curled her tiny butter pecan hand around SHANTEL's and swung their entwined hands back and forth.

Shantel blinked back from space, remembering the girl as quickly as she had forgotten her. She pulled herself together, then smiled down at Mira's daughter. "Let's go."

Sylus blocked her path. "Hey."
Shantel tacked on a cordial smile. "Good Afternoon."

He swallowed hard, tearing his wistful stare away from Shantel long enough to offer Miralys a smile.

The little girl giggled and spun into Shantel, hugging her waist.
Shantel pursed her lips together.

"She's beautiful," he said, returning a forlorn gaze to Shantel. "Just like her mother."

She raised her precise brows and passed a hand through her layered bob, raking her nails through the straight ends, and smoothing them to the nape of her neck.

He ached through a brave smile. "I'm happy you got the daughter you always wanted."

A sliver of pleasure settled in her chest. His pain made her happy. She glanced down at Miralys and decided to let him think the girl was hers.

Still that wasn't enough, she had a million well thought out things to say to him, but his presence jumbled them all together.

Shantel emptied her face of emotion, and delivered a blank stare. It would have been easier if the years had taken away his appeal. They didn't. Instead he frazzled her senses. Her traitorous hand wanted to cup his cheek. Her dense body wanted to feel his touch. His voice alone stirred excitement in her heart. She held them all on a tight leash, refusing to fall into his trap.

A nervous chuckle escaped and his pearly teeth peeked through. "It's good to see you."

Unreliable feelings of excitement raced through her. Still, she remained stoic, refusing to even blink.

Sylus rubbed his chin. "It looks like everything worked out for you," he said. "That's good." He nodded and smiled at Miralys. "Your daughter is amazing."

~

SYLUS fought back the sting in his eyes. He scratched the back of his head, hating that none of their friends told him she had a daughter.

He glanced down at her bare ring finger and an inkling of hope strummed his heart.

Shantel remained like statue until the little girl tugged on her dress.
"Quien es el senor?"
He raised a brow.

Shantel smiled down at Miralys. "Let's go."

Desperate, Sylus blocked her path.
Shantel raised a brow, locking her thoughts away from him.

Confusion speckled his face as he glanced down at the bronze girl with big eyes and long eye lashes. Her curly dark hair fell in loose curls down her back.

"Was that Spanish?" he asked. His incredulous stare darted between Shantel and the cute girl.

Miralys giggled, covering her mouth as she rattled through an excited response in her native tongue.

Just then, Alex approached the huddle.
"Papa," Miralys exclaimed, jumping into her father's arms.

Sylus pieced together the puzzle and rubbed the back of his head together. The girl had to be about five years old. His smile brightened. Then he glanced at the familiar foreign man with deep set eyes. Was Shantel with him?

Alex slid his daughter gently to the floor. "Thank you, Shantel. She was not too much trouble, no?"

They weren't together, Sylus decided. He let his gaze settle on Shantel while she spoke. Her smooth, mocha skin glowed and her chestnut brown eyes sparkled when she smiled. He missed her smile.