Southern Comfort

by La Jill Hunt

  Darrius got up and walked over to the bed. He reached for Sydni and pulled her into his arms. She tried to pull away from him but he refused to let her go. As she buried herself into his chest, he clicked the remote on the stereo, knowing what disc was already inside. The sound of Destiny’s Child filled the room as Beyonce crooned out “Dangerously in Love.”

  Sydni heard the song and could not help smiling. It was Aaron’s favorite. He often joked that Beyonce was his future wife and she was going to serenade him with this song at their wedding. Darrius looked down and saw the faint grin on her face. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and kissed her forehead. He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweetness. He couldn’t resist; he cupped her face in his hands and continued kissing her. He covered her face with small kisses; her eyes, her cheeks, her nose, until he found the lips he had been yearning to taste from the first day he saw her. Sydni was hesitant at first, surprised at his actions, but she slowly opened her mouth, inviting his tongue and savoring his flavor. They explored each other, each one curious, both afraid to stop because this was a moment they’d both anticipated.

  Darrius’ fingers trailed along Sydni’s neck and she tilted her head, inviting his mouth where his fingers had been. He licked along her collar, nibbling and savoring. His hands reached under her shirt and cupped her breasts, his thumbs rubbing across her nipples. He could feel her pressing against his hands, wanting more. He was rock hard now and knew that if they went further, there would be no turning back. He leaned her back on the bed, removing his shirt, enjoying the look of desire on her face. Her heart was racing as he eased her boxers down and she undid his jeans. Her hands found his penis, rigid as she wrapped her fingers around it. They were both naked now, taking each other in with their eyes, both pleased by what they saw. Darrius kissed her again; this time there was no resistance. He wasted no time easing down her body.

  Her skin was so soft. He gently took each nipple into his mouth as she moaned. He continued down her stomach, kissing her thighs as he eased them open. His fingers found her wetness and she gasped as he played with her canal, making sure she was ready. Sydni felt his tongue licking where she had once imagined it. She closed her eyes as she arched her back, riding waves of ecstasy. She called out his name, begging him to stop because she couldn’t take it anymore, but he took her higher and higher until she felt she was going to erupt. Once she had, he smiled at her, biting his bottom lip. She pulled him to her and it was she that kissed him this time. As she felt the heat begin to rise in her again, she guided him between her legs. He paused, calling her name.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked her, rubbing her neck. Sydni didn’t answer him. She reached for the remote and clicked repeat, letting Beyonce answer the question for her. Darrius laughed and stood up completely. Sydni, confused by his actions, sat up to see what was wrong.

  “Relax.” He smiled and reached into the nightstand, taking out a condom. Aaron had always kept his stash there. He shook his head and said aloud, “Always prepared.”

  Sydni lay back on the bed, watching him unwrap it, still nervous about what was about to take place. He put the rubber in her hand and she rolled it onto him. She closed her eyes and prepared for the inevitable. She flinched as she felt his hardness enter her. This totally took Darrius by surprise when he saw the look of pain on her face. He tried to stop but she pulled at him, telling him to keep going. Slowly, he entered again and began a steady rhythm. Her tightness aroused him and he could barely control himself.

  He made love to Sydni like no woman he’d ever had. She clawed along his back and gripped his ass, wanting him to go deeper, faster and faster, until he couldn’t take anymore and she was crying out his name. He could feel her contracting as she told him she was coming. He exploded inside her, satisfied to no end. They held each other, both holding back tears.

  “You okay?” he asked her after a few moments.

  “Yeah,” she replied. He didn’t know if her silence was of regret. He looked up at the ceiling and chuckled to himself.

  “You wanna hear somethin’ funny?”

  “What?”

  “This is the room I lost my virginity in.”

  “Me too,” she said quietly, turning to face him. He realized what she was saying and his eyes got wide with surprise.

  “Why didn’t you say something? I mean, damn, Syd. Shit.” He lay on his back, shaking his head.

  “What? Would it have made a difference?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why? Would you not have slept with me? Would you have done something different to me? What, D?”

  “I still can’t believe this shit. I know Aaron is pissed as hell. He’s probably looking down right now saying, ‘That mothafucka. I told him to look out for Syd, not fuck her!’ ” He moaned.

  Sydni laughed at her newfound lover. “In a way, you’re probably right. But he’s not saying that. He’s saying, ‘Them nasty ass hoes. They got the nerve to be fuckin’ in my bed! Sydni got her own damn room!’ ”

  It felt good to laugh about Aaron. They lay for a few more minutes, then Darrius went to the bathroom. When he returned, Sydni slipped her T-shirt back on and got up to go. As she was coming out of Aaron’s room, she ran into Magic.

  “Hey, I called you but you ain’t answer the phone. What are you doing in Aaron’s room?” she asked, surprised.

  “I . . . Uh . . .” Sydni couldn’t think of anything to say. Magic could hear the music coming from the room and pushed open the door.

  “Oh, shit! D! I know y’all didn’t!” Magic yelled. Darrius quickly tried to cover himself with the comforter, but he knew Magic had seen enough.

  “Magic! We were . . .” Sydni began.

  Magic walked in and stood in the middle of her brother’s room, tears streaming down her face, which she covered with her hands. She bent over as she convulsed. Darrius sat up, still covered by the blanket.

  “Magic, I am so sorry,” he said. “I swear we didn’t plan for this to happen. We just . . .”

  “Magic, please listen to me.” Sydni reached for her sister and turned her so she could look in her face. Magic gasped as Sydni pulled at her hands and she yelled at her sister.

  “I knew you were in love wit each other. I told both of you. I just can’t believe y’all screwed in Aaron’s bed! I know he is having a fit right about now!” She laughed. This was the funniest thing she had seen in her life. She laughed and laughed.

  “This trick is laughing! I don’t believe this.” Sydni threw her hands up as she left the room. She sat on the toilet thinking about what she had done. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Darrius. But there was no point in getting caught up now that she was about to be out. She decided to ride it out until she left, having a little fun before she left NY for good.

  “I told you, Dr. Phil ain’t no joke. You need to pay attention to what he has to say. I know I do!” Magic yelled. She flopped into the beanbag chair and begged Darrius to tell her the details. He refused and told her to get out. There was a click as the disc changer switched and R. Kelly began to sing.

  “That’s okay. I’ll get them later from Syd. Wait a minute. When I came in, Destiny’s Child was on. Y’all did it in Aaron’s room, in his bed, listening to his favorite CD? Now that is funny.”

  “Get out, Magic,” Darrius told her again.

  “Oh, I will. I can’t believe this.” She continued to laugh as she went into her own room.

  “She finally left?” Sydni asked when she returned.

  “Yeah.”

  “I know she wanted a full report.”

  “She said she’d get one from you later.” He pulled her to him, kissing her neck. She laughed and her mouth found his.

  “I think we’d better get out of here and go to my room,” she said when she finally pulled away from him.

  “We need to talk to Magic anyway,” he whispered. She couldn’t help admiring his sexiness as he stood and pulled on his pants. She stood in front of hi
m and grasped at his crotch.

  “Come on, let’s go to my room. We can talk to her in the morning. There’s no point in disturbing her tonight. I have somethin’ else we can do instead.”

  “Are you sure you were a virgin? You seem kind of freaky.” He raised his eyebrows at her as she pulled at him.

  “I guess you bring out that side of me, huh?” She led him into her room. They made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  8

  The next morning, Sydni went into her sister’s room and found that she was not there. She dialed Magic’s phone but got the voice mail. She went back into her room and told Darrius that Magic was gone.

  “Where did she go? Damn, it’s only seven in the morning.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know what time she left,” Sydni told him. She looked at the clock. “What time do you have to be at work?”

  “Eight-thirty. Where is Moms?”

  “She’s still sleep. She got in late and she doesn’t have to be at work until eleven this morning.”

  “What time you gotta go?”

  “Eight,” she told him as she began rummaging through her closet for something to wear.

  “You want me to drop you off?”

  “You got time?” she turned to ask him.

  “I’ll make time for you. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She walked him to the front of the building and kissed him good-bye.

  “Thirty minutes. Be ready.”

  “Ready for what?” She licked her lips seductively.

  “I still don’t believe you were a virgin.” He kissed her again and told her he’d be back after he changed for work.

  As she was getting dressed, her phone rang.

  “Hello.”

  “Good morning, Syd. You ready?”

  “Uh, hey, Byron. I don’t need a ride this morning.” Sydni had forgotten that he told her he’d take her to work that morning.

  “Really? You’re not going in? You’re not sick, are you?”

  “No, Byron. I’m not sick.” She laughed. “I’m just gonna walk. I need to think about some stuff, that’s all.”

  “About my proposal, I hope.” He laughed.

  “No pressure, Byron. Remember the two conditions,” Sydni told him. She didn’t dare tell him about Darrius and their newfound friendship. She knew he would want the check back. Darrius and I aren’t serious, anyway. No sense in opening a can of worms.

  “I know, I know. Hey, I’ll still bring you your coffee later. How about that?”

  “That would be great. I’ll see you then,” she said cheerfully as she hung up the phone.

  The phone rang again and Sydni snatched it up, thinking it was Byron calling her back.

  “Yeah.”

  “Syd.”

  “Magic, where are you? Why did you leave? D and I told you we needed to talk to you.”

  “I know, Syd. But I had to get out of that house. I had to.”

  “Why, Magic? What happened?”

  “I have to tell you later. Are you going to work?”

  “Yeah. Darrius is coming to get me.” There was a lot of hustle and bustle in the background.

  “Where are you, Magic? I really need to talk to you.”

  “I know, Syd, and I gotta talk to you, too. But not at the house. I’ll call you later. I love you, Syd. Be careful.”

  “Be careful of what?” Sydni asked, but Magic had already hung up. She could hear Darrius blowing his horn. She grabbed her purse and ran out. As they pulled off, they never saw the eyes that had been watching them since she’d kissed him outside earlier, nor did they see the car that trailed them.

  “Hey, there. Hot coffee, cream and sugar. Just the way you like it.” Byron greeted her as he carried the steaming cup.

  “Oooh. Thanks. I need it this morning,” she told him.

  “Wow, you look like you had a rough night. What did you do? You got bags under your eyes,” he said with a worried look on his face.

  “Dat chile come in ’ere glowin’ dis mornin’ Whateva happen to her put a smile on her face, I tell you dat much, Mistah Byron,” Miss Donna said knowingly. “And what I tell you ’bout comin’ in ’ere wit one cup o’ coffee every day?”

  Sydni was glad Miss Donna turned the conversation to coffee so she wouldn’t have to explain what Miss Donna was talking about.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Donna. I totally forgot. I’ll bring you a cup tomorrow, I promise.” He smiled at her.

  “You betta, I tell you dat much. Or don’t bring one at all.” She waved her scissors at him threateningly and smiled back.

  “Well, Sydni, what time do you want me to pick you up this afternoon?” he asked her.

  “Well, you really don’t have to. I have to meet Magic and we’re gonna go get something to eat.”

  “Okay, where? I can meet you guys there.”

  “Not this time, Byron. I have to talk to her about some things and I want to do it alone,” Sydni told him. In all actuality, Darrius was picking her up and they had made plans for that evening.

  “Oh, I know. You haven’t told her yet.” He winked at Sydni. She just nodded like he was right.

  “All right, then. I’ll give you a call later.”

  “Okay, Byron. Talk to you then.” She walked from behind the counter and hugged him. She felt guilty about lying and didn’t know why she felt that she had to. It wasn’t like he or Darrius were her boyfriend.

  “Dat boy got a itch for you dat he shouldn’t have,” Miss Donna said after he had gone.

  “What do you mean?” Sydni asked. “He’s just my friend.”

  “Da way he look at you. Like a man wit a bleedin’ heart and only you can save him. Dangerous look. You be careful wit dat one.”

  “Careful of who? Byron? He’s harmless.” Sydni laughed as she stirred her coffee.

  9

  Sydni’s mind was filled with images of her and Darrius the night before. She caught herself smiling throughout the day every time she thought about him. She was extremely nice to her customers and Miss Donna teased her about her apparent change in attitude.

  Sydni tried to reach Magic on her cell, but got no answer. She left several messages and told Magic to reach her on Darrius’ cell phone.

  “Why is D hanging outside?” Mr. Joe asked as he came in the door. It was almost six and he had finally come out of his office. He had been holed up in there all afternoon.

  “He’s picking me up,” Sydni answered.

  “He’s picking you up? When did you all become friends?”

  “I tink dey’re more dan friends da way she been smilin’ round ’ere t’day, Joe.” Miss Donna laughed. Sydni’s mouth opened in shock at what Miss Donna had said. She quickly grabbed her purse and wasted no time leaving before Mr. Joe could say anything else. Joe raised his eyebrow as he watched Darrius embrace her and help her into the car.

  Darrius took Sydni to Maroon’s for dinner. They feasted on Jerk chicken, cabbage, and peas and rice, reminiscing about the past.

  “This place is my favorite,” she told him as they ate.

  “I know.”

  “What? How do you know?” she questioned.

  “I know you love this place. I know your favorite color is yellow. Your favorite TV shows are Boomtown and Law and Order. I know you want to graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice and then go on to the FBI Academy. I know you hate bananas, which is why you didn’t want any plantains, and I know you love R. Kelly as much as Aaron did Beyonce.” Darrius studied her face as he told her this. Never in a million years would he have thought that he would be sitting here at her favorite restaurant telling her this.

  Sydni sat back in her chair, totally stunned by what he had just told her. All these years she had held on to this hatred for him, not caring if he lived or died, and he knew everything there was to know about her. She was embarrassed that she knew nothing about him and her eyes dropped to her plate, not knowing what to say. He continued talking, not waiting for her to respond.
>
  “Aaron used to joke me when I would comment about how much of a bitch you were and how I hated you. He would tell me that I was in love with you. I denied it for years, but it was true. He was right, but you know I would never have told him that. I would just tell him he was crazy.”

  “Magic would tell me the same thing.” Sydni smiled. “They were probably in cahoots with each other.”

  “Probably.” He smiled back. They finished their meal and then stood to leave. Sydni excused herself and headed toward the restroom. A familiar face caught her attention and anger engulfed her. She stormed over to the table where a group of four men were sitting.

  “Where’s my sister, you asshole?” she hissed.

  “What?” The man looked at her like she was crazy. His boys looked at him in amusement.

  “Where is Magic?”

  “Yo, don’t be coming to me like that. What the fuck is wrong wit you?”

  “You are what’s wrong with me! Where is my sister, you murdering mothafucka?” Sydni’s blood was about to boil. She stood facing her brother’s murderer, fear nowhere in her body.

  “Yo, Malik! Who the fuck is she, man? What is she talking about?” his boys wanted to know.

  “It’s Magic’s sister, the bitch! Look yo, your sister is at my crib. Her ass don’t wanna come home and I don’t blame her. You need to take that shit up wit her. Now get the fuck outta my face before—”

  “Before what? You gon’ shoot me like you did my brother? Is that what you gon’ do, Malik?” Heads turned in the restaurant. Sydni was yelling to the top of her lungs, not caring who heard.

  “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t know shit about your brother!” He stood up and yelled back at her. Darrius came running to Sydni’s side, pulling her back, but she snatched away and swung at Malik, hitting him right in the mouth. Blood appeared from his lip as he touched it. He wasted no time charging at Sydni, but Darrius’ six-foot-two, two hundred forty-five pound frame stopped any chance of him touching her.

  “Do it,” Darrius told him, “and they’ll be carrying your ass outta here in a body bag!”