“Who said anything about settling down?”
“I know that’s what you’re thinking. That’s the only reason you’re talking about romance. But I’m glad. Because after Vanessa dropped your ass, you were a pitiful ass puppy walking around here.”
“I wasn’t a puppy,” I said, thinking about my ex. This was the second time today she’d crossed my mind.
The night I proposed to Vanessa, she broke it off with me. We’d been together for four years. She lied and said she wasn’t ready to settle down, because there was still so much life that she needed to experience.
Seven months later, I learned she was in a relationship with her best friend, Lisa. Vanessa had come to me, asking if I would help her and Lisa have a child. That was the last time we’d spoken. Two years ago.
“Yes, you were. Look, man, I know you loved that girl. And I know that she broke your heart. But don’t let that shit sit in your heart and make you bitter until you lose out on a chance with a good girl,” Darnell said.
I coughed and then started laughing. “Why the fuck would I take advice on women from yo’ cheating ass?” I asked once I got myself together.
He scratched his head and looked around. “Guess you ain’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Gina and I got a baby on the way,” Darnell said.
“Word?” I asked, my eyes opening wider.
“Yeah. I told Pops, Ma, and Lauryn a couple of days ago. I just knew Ma or Lauryn would’ve called and told you about it,” Darnell said.
“Nah, I’ve been working crazy hours. I saw a missed call from Lauryn, but I haven’t had a chance to return it yet. Guess that’s what she wanted. So, what’re you gonna do now?”
He sighed and shook his head. “Get my shit together before I lose my girl, and some other man be tryna raise my baby.”
“That’s wassup, long as you’re doing it for the right reasons. Like love.”
“I love Gina, man. I’m thirty-two. Guess it’s time to grow up for real now.”
“A’ight. So, you wanna get into something?”
“Shoot some hoops.”
“Let’s roll,” I said, closing my car door.
While I waited for my brother to get into his car and head out, I thought about everything he’d said to me. Was it time to settle down?
CHAPTER 17 – SILVER
The day had been a scorcher already, but that was normal in late June in Summer Cove. Kole called an hour before his arrival, letting me know to dress casually and comfortably. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going.
I slipped into a short white cutoff denim skirt that buttoned in the front, and a black and white striped cotton top with a boat neck collar. Because of the North Carolina heat, I’d wanted to wear a pair of sandals, but he had stressed that I needed to wear closed-toe shoes. So, a pair of black ballerina slippers were my footwear of choice for the evening.
Kole rang my doorbell at six on the dot. I grabbed my oversized black handbag, keys, and black sunglasses and headed for the door.
“Shit!” he said when I pulled it open.
“What?” I asked, frowning, wondering if my outfit was all wrong.
“You and that fuckable outfit?”
“Fuckable?” I asked, looking down at myself.
“Hell yeah. That skirt’s so short I can reach under here and feel your cookie,” Kole said, showing me precisely what he meant.
“Kole! Someone might see you,” I whispered, looking both ways down the hall.
“What the fuck they gon’ do? Get mad because I’m touching my pussy?”
“Your pussy?” I said with a raised eyebrow.
“You heard me,” he said, his eyelids growing heavy as he took a couple of steps towards me, pushing me back into my apartment.
“It’s not your pussy unless the woman attached to it comes with that,” I said.
He smirked at me and grabbed my ass.
Reaching up, I planted a hand firmly on his chest. “Uh-uh. You promised me a date night. This isn’t gonna be all about screwing.”
“You got that right. Because there’s gonna be some fucking, sexing, and a whole lot of lovemaking,” he replied, kissing me on the exposed part of my shoulder.
“Come on, Kole,” I moaned, finding it hard to resist him.
One large hand wrapped around my tiny waist, pulling me closer to him. I swear if the girl across the hall hadn’t stepped out of her apartment, snickering, I’d have been screwing him in the doorway.
Instead, I pushed him away and gave him a stern glare. “Let’s go. Now,” I said, pulling the door closed behind me and locking it.
“Sure you don’t want to skip the meal and head straight for dessert?”
“What’s for dessert, Kole?”
“You.”
I laughed and grabbed his hand, pulling him down the hall toward the elevators.
“THIS IS SO AWESOME!” I said as I donned my apron.
Kole had signed us up for a cooking class on date night. There were several people in the cooking school, but we were all paired up in groups of four. There was one other couple in our group, and we shared an instructor.
“So, how long have you two been together?” the middle-aged African-American lady asked, smiling at me.
I glanced at Kole, not certain what to say. We still had not placed titles on our “situationship,” nor had we defined our expectations of each other. The closest we had come to that was him letting me know earlier that evening that this was “his pussy.”
“Almost a week,” he said.
“That’s so sweet! New love,” she cooed.
Her husband laughed. “Carli, baby, that ain’t new love. When you still early in a relationship like that, you’re trying to get to know each other. Son, pay her no attention. She’s a hopeless romantic. Always reading all those romance novels and think folks are falling in love at first sight.”
“Well, you did,” she countered.
“That did not happen,” he insisted.
“That’s what you told me,” she said.
“I said that because I was trying to get close to you. Quickly,” he said, winking at Kole.
Kole ducked his head and tried to keep a straight face, and I bit my bottom lip, trying to hide my blush.
“Boy, you didn’t have to tell me that lie. You could’ve just asked. You know you could’ve gotten it,” Carli said, winking at her husband.
“I know that’s right,” he said, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.
I scratched mine and looked at Kole, who leaned down and kissed me on the lips.
“How long have you two been together?” Kole asked.
“Thirty-three years,” they declared together. “And married for twenty-six,” the woman added.
“Awww, that’s so sweet,” I replied.
“Yeah, we’ve had our share of good and bad times. It’s not always easy, but when you take those vows, you mean it from the heart and stick through it. That’s what makes these years sweeter than ever,” the man said. “By the way, I’m Gene, and this is Carli,” he said, formally introducing himself and his wife.
Before either Kole or I could respond, our instructor came over to our station, introducing herself.
“Hi guys, my name is Natalie, and I’m going to be your facilitator for this evening. We have Gene, Carli, Kole, and Silver, correct?” she asked, looking at the group.
“Yes,” Kole said.
“Great, before I go into what we’re doing tonight, why don’t we make introductions around the table. Each of you can tell a little something about yourselves, and I’ll share, too. Okay?”
We introduced ourselves, sharing how long we had been together, how we met one another, what our passion in life was, what our culinary skills level was, and what brought us together for the evening.
I learned that Gene and Carli had met at work, she had a passion for reading and writing, and he had a passion for creating things with his hands. Both of them were exc
ellent cooks, and they were always looking to cook and try new cuisines. Their date nights always forced them both to step beyond their comfort zones. Carli shared that’s what kept their marriage unique and interesting.
Kole and I shared that we had also met at work, and we both had a passion for learning and speaking new languages.
“I wanted to create a unique date night for Silver and me so that we could get to know one another beyond work boundaries. I know the professional that she is, and I even know her in other ways. But I wanted to get to know the woman. In a casual and comfortable setting where she could relax and just have fun,” he said.
“That’s so sweet,” Carli piped up again.
“Well, tonight’s date night was a surprise for me. Kole wouldn’t disclose what our date would consist of. So, I’m here...and I have minimal cooking skills,” I shared.
“What about you, Kole, can you cook?” Natalie asked.
“I’m pretty useful in the kitchen. My mom made sure all of her kids could cook, and I like trying new things,” he said.
“Well, beyond breakfast foods, I can boil water, and that’s about it,” I said, causing Kole to smile that sexy smile at me.
“Baby, that’s okay. There’s a first time for everything,” Carli said.
“Yeah, Carli couldn’t cook when we first met. I had to teach her everything she knows,” Gene said.
I expected her to object to that, but she simply nodded with a smile.
“It’s fine, Silver. We’ll make sure that we move at a level that’s comfortable for everyone and explain everything tonight. So, you’ve all chosen the Italian seafood-fest for your meal preparation. Tonight’s menu consists of crostini, tagliatelle with a lobster cream sauce, scampi, and a chocolate mousse.”
Natalie explained each food before we began to prep our meal and move into the cooking phase.
Throughout the evening, Kole patiently guided me on things that I struggled with. And sometimes, he would stand behind me, one arm resting on my shoulder or around my waist and show me how to complete a task. I found his presence both reassuring and sexually arousing.
Wearing a pair of light-blue Levi’s, a white t-shirt, and white gym shoes, like mine, his outfit was simple. But the way that his t-shirt clung to his body, defining well-built shoulders, and highlighting his massive arms, was anything but simple. I wanted to rip it off.
My thoughts kept returning to the idea of running my hands over his massive, dark chest, licking my way down to his sexy chocolate abs. The jeans he wore didn’t help. While I didn’t have much of a butt at all, he had enough for both of us, and the jeans outlined it perfectly.
Not to mention, I hoped no one’s eyes were drawn to his package, bulging on his left thigh. Simply delicious!
We had so much fun throughout the night, teasing one another, making mistakes, interacting with Gene and Carli, and just laughing. The meal was wonderful, and we even shared some of our final creations with Gene and Carli. Kole had to grudgingly admit theirs tasted much better than ours, even if our meal was delicious.
I never wanted that night to end. That’s why it was so easy to find myself saying “yes,” when he invited me to his apartment.
“KOLE!” I SHOUTED AS his hands gripped my ass tightly.
The minuscule denim fabric of my skirt scrunched up around my waist. Kole was on his knees in the foyer of his apartment. My hands and face plastered against the cool surface of the front door as I queened him.
My legs were shaking, and I felt I was losing my mind. Kole had me gasping for breath, and all I could do was mutter Korean curse words under my breath.
If it were possible, Kole’s mouth was all over me at once. In my slit, on my clit, and up my ass. How he managed to move to all those places at once, I wasn’t sure.
He had told me on the drive home that he was still hungry. I had no idea what he was talking about because he’d eaten a large portion of food. But he’d shown me no sooner than we closed the door behind us.
Bear was spending the weekend with my sister, Sue, so I didn’t need to check on him. She’d taken a few days off work and wanted to spend time with “our baby.”
Kole’s hands roamed over my backside, squeezing and kneading it as his head moved in slow circular motions driving me crazy. Why was it that I came so quickly with this man? I had never experienced such quick, powerful orgasms. And no matter how fast I came, he wouldn’t let up on me.
My knees gripped the sides of his head tightly as I rocked my hips back and forth over his face. Kole’s objective was to please me, determined to take everything I had, and I held nothing back.
After we finished, I was sure my hand would be sore from pounding on the door. But I couldn’t help it. I continued to beat that door until someone knocked on the other side.
“Everything okay in there?” I heard a man’s voice call from the external corridor.
Kole kept sucking away at me, not even bothering to answer.
I sobbed as he drained my juices.
“Hello?” came the voice again.
“Ooohhhhwwooo!” I screamed as I came all over Kole’s mouth.
“Ma’am, do you need me to call someone.”
Kole licked the last of my juices from my slit as I moaned, his hands squeezing and digging into my ass.
“Need me to dial nine-one-one?” the man suggested inquisitively.
“Ahhh, fuck, no!” I shouted. “Go away! We’re fucking!” I screamed.
I could hear his footsteps swiftly moving from the door.
I rose from Kole’s face, and he was laughing so hard.
“That’s not funny,” I said, fighting back a blush.
“Ooohhhhwwooo!” he mimicked.
“Oh, you think that’s funny? Wait until it’s your turn!” I argued, pulling my skirt down around my hips.
My panties were in his car. He’d pulled them off me while we were sitting at a traffic light. I’d let him finger me and sample my juices during the last five minutes of our drive home.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” he growled, his dark eyes growing darker as he cupped his cock in his hand.
“I’m a woman of my word,” I said.
“Show me.”
So, I did.
CHAPTER 18 – KOLE
The following weekend was July fourth. Of course, my parents expected me to be at their house for the annual family cookout. Silver usually spent July fourth at home because her family didn’t celebrate it. Although she didn’t celebrate it, I felt a certain way about leaving her behind. So, I invited her to spend it with my family and me.
And Bear tagged along.
I don’t know what it was about that dog, but he stayed at my side more than by Silver’s. On the drive over, he’d been hanging over my shoulder, drooling and barking in my ear.
It pleased Silver to see how he reacted to me, so I extended patience I didn’t realize I had. I wasn’t opposed to dogs or any animals for that matter. But it was difficult to forget how he’d attacked me when we first saw one another.
“What are your plans for her, Kole?” Lauryn asked, bouncing my one-year-old nephew, Caleb, on her knee.
He was sleepy and fussy. I suspected this hot ass North Carolina heat had something to do with that, too, though.
“There’re no plans right now, Lauryn. We’re just kicking it. It’s only been a couple of weeks since we started doing that. I ain’t rushing nothing,” I said.
“Yeah, well, you brought her dog,” Lauryn said, tilting her head to the side, twisting her lips, and giving Bear a side glance.
Bear lifted his head lazily and gave Lauryn a dismissive glance before turning his head to me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that damn dog was smiling at me. I was reluctant to admit it, but he was slowly growing on me.
“Mmm. That’s not what D said,” my sister replied, twisting her lips and cocking her head to the side.
“And you listen to D because he’s the most reliable source?
” I said, pulling a face.
“You’ve got a point there, but he did say that he met the girl at your place a couple of months ago. Ma said you haven’t been coming around a lot lately,” Lauryn said. “So, the only logical conclusion is that it’s got something to do with her,” Lauryn said, nodding her head at Silver.
Silver was in the middle of the yard with my uncle and Pops, who were teaching her how to do the cupid shuffle. Surprisingly, she was having fun. She’d just survived a round of “Wobble” with my mom, two aunts, and female cousins who had hit the floor.
“Nah, it’s been kinda busy at work.”
“Yeah, I bet it has,” my big sister said, sending a pointed glance at me.
I laughed. “Why you all over my case like that, L?”
“Because you’re thirty, Kole. You’re not getting any younger. And it’s been two years since Van pulled her shit and you need to get over it. Just because she was a bitch about what she did, doesn’t mean every woman is. Let your heart be open to loving someone else.”
I shook my head. “Why are you and D pushing this ‘L’ word? It’s too soon to be talking like that.”
“Do you enjoy her company, Kole?”
“Yeah, I mean...she’s cool. Real chill, funny, smart, and...”
“Cute?” Lauryn finished for me.
“Cute as hell, with her sexy little ass,” I said, thinking about what she’d done to me on the drive over.
“Mm-hmm. Your ass is gone. Stop denying it. Little Miss Korea got my brother whipped!” Lauryn said, laughing and shaking her head.
“Whatever,” I replied, dismissing her words and taking my nephew from her arms.
His head had bobbed to the side, and I could tell he was getting heavy for her. My sister was tiny, like Silver. They were both about five-two, but Lauryn was a good one-twenty, whereas Silver was just under one hundred pounds, soaking wet.
I kissed his forehead and smoothed a hand over his damp curls.
“You got my boy out here sweating in this damned heat. You need to take his lil ass back in the house,” I said.
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