The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance

by Harper Miller

“Uh, yeah, I did.” Crossing My hands and leaning forward in the armchair, I replied, “I want to thank you all for your hospitality and allowing Me to stay in your beautiful home these last few days. While micah and I have been here, I’ve been on the receiving end of some unfiltered thoughts. she warned Me that with so many members of her family visiting, it would be highly unlikely that people wouldn’t speak their minds. I know you all care very much about micah and her well-being, and so do I. I also know that due to her previous relationship with Brent, you’re very wary of her dating another white Guy.”

  Darren coughed.

  “No sense in avoiding the obvious. No one has mentioned it outright, although there have been some offhanded comments made referring to our racial differences.”

  “Well, hey, I want to say that it doesn’t matter, but it does, Rick,” Darren replied. “You seem like a nice dude, a good dude, and you clearly care about my baby sister, but the last white guy she thought she would be with long-term had no interest in settling down with her. He lead her on. The time that Brent spent fucking with her head could’ve—”

  “You watch your mouth, Darren,” Pamela interrupted, lightly slapping his hand.

  “Sorry, Mama,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, the time she spent waiting on Brent to get his act together was time she could’ve spent with the guy she was meant to be with, white or black. Would she have gone through the same thing if Brent had been black? Who knows, but what I do know is she sat pining over an asshole until it dawned on her that the relationship wasn’t going anywhere. Was it due to her being black? Again, I don’t know, but my sister is good enough to settle down with and I’m tired of seeing guys not do right by her.”

  Fan-fucking-tastic. The new Boyfriend always loves being compared to the ex.

  “Even before Brent, her track record with white men hadn’t been the best. Maybe that’s why I’m skeptical. Micah is a good woman with a good heart, Rick. She has one funky-ass temper, but she’s a caring soul. She balances all of it well and deserves someone who sees what a treasure she is. My sister is worthy of being treated like a queen.”

  “Darren Foster, you’ve got one more time to get foul-mouthed in my home . . .” Pamela warned.

  I couldn’t deny what Darren said. micah was indeed worthy of being treated like a queen. I treated her as such daily. she was My submissive, but that only made her more regal in My eyes. she was everything I thought a woman should be.

  Darren looked sheepishly in his mother’s direction as he began yet another apology. “Sorry, Mama.”

  He quickly turned his focus on Me, and the sheepishness disappeared in an instant. I was now the recipient of a death stare. “I agree with you, Darren. micah is quite the treasure. I see her as nothing less than a queen.”

  micah’s father, Monroe, chimed in, giving Me a piece of his mind. The hits just didn’t stop coming. “You know, Rick, I want to dislike you, but I can’t find a damn thing about you not to like. You’re successful, you’re well-spoken and well-rounded, you can talk about football and never tire of my shots at your sorry-ass Cowboys. You can play one hell of a game of basketball, you get along well with my brood despite their not-so-PC thoughts, you come from a good and stable home, and most importantly, you treat my daughter like she’s the center of your universe.”

  “she is the center of My universe, Sir. I’ll let the cheap shot about the Cowboys go for now,” I replied, chuckling.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, forget about those sorry-ass Cowboys, but I have to admit my son has some valid points. We want to say that race isn’t an issue but in reality it is. I like you thus far, but I need to know, are you in this for the long haul with Micah? Because if not, let her be. Let her go so that she can find the man who will love her the way she needs to be loved. Of course, I would prefer that Micah was with a man who looks like her daddy, but what I want doesn’t matter. I like you. You’re very attentive when it comes to Micah.”

  Why the hell was I continuously on the receiving end of the race discussion? First My mother, and now My future father-in-law. I know I hadn’t dated many women of color prior to micah, but this wasn’t a game to Me, this was My life. I wanted to start a future with this woman—I didn’t give a fuck if she was blue. I also didn’t give a fuck about people who may disapprove of our relationship. It was 2009. 2009! And interracial relationships were still a point of discussion? Why? Better yet, who cared? I was never the type to do things to please others, and I wasn’t about to start now.

  I could tell they weren’t going to make this easy. I had to sell Myself to micah’s nearest and dearest. I had to make them understand that even something so small as having her away from me for extended periods hurt. she was the missing puzzle piece in My life. I didn’t care about all of the other shit. I just wanted to be with her.

  “I’m not the white Guy looking for a black-girl fix, if that’s what you’re concerned about, Darren. micah isn’t the representation of a fetish to Me. My time with her is meaningful and based on mutual attraction and respect. I’m also nothing like Brent. I’ve never asked micah much about him, because, frankly, the guy before Me is irrelevant. All I knew was that his loss and his mistakes led to Me and her. There was no comparison. We weren’t in the same league.”

  I looked over to micah’s father, making sure he was able to see the sincerity in My eyes. “To address your concerns, Monroe, I value all that micah is. she’s a spectacular woman. As cliché as it sounds, her race doesn’t matter to Me. I can admit that before micah I hadn’t dated many women of color. Actually, I hadn’t dated any, if I’m going to be completely honest.”

  “Then why her? Why now?” Monroe inquired.

  Valid question, and I couldn’t fault him for asking. If it were My daughter, I’d probably ask the same thing.

  “Because I took one look at her and I wanted to get to know her. It just so happens that Fate led Me to her in her time of need. micah’s race was never part of the equation.”

  Darren once again cleared his throat. “Fate, hmph.”

  Her brother took every opportunity he could to bust My balls. I had to reel in My aggression because he wasn’t just some average Joe challenging Me, he was My submissive’s brother. I had to remember that winning his approval was the end goal.

  “Do you love our little girl, Rick?” Pamela asked.

  “I do, ma’am, with all My heart. I’d swear on a stack of Bibles in front of every damn priest imaginable if I felt it would make a difference. I do love micah, very much.”

  “And what are your intentions with her?”

  Finally, My moment to shine. I was nervous but more concerned with micah’s family seeing that I was the best choice—the only choice—for her. My love and dedication was incomparable. she was Mine. Standing up to reach into the pocket of My cargo shorts . . . I took a deep breath, cupping the black velvet box I’d been hiding for the past week in My sweaty palm.

  “Well, that’s why I wanted to meet with you all. micah and I have been living together for a few months. Our relationship has moved quickly, but it’s at a pace we’re both comfortable with. A love story can begin anywhere, and ours began the night I saved her life.

  “My intentions, Pamela, include asking all three of you for your blessing. I’d like your permission to ask for micah’s hand in marriage. I want to spend the rest of My life with your daughter,” I replied, opening the box that held the gleaming diamond ring.

  Darren whistled. “Shit, you give new meaning to go big or go home!”

  “I told you to watch your mouth in my house, young man. I’m not going to say it anymore,” Pamela reprimanded Darren, slapping him on the leg.

  “Dangit, Mama, sorry,” Darren replied, rubbing his leg. “That thing is huge!”

  “You’ve made a beautiful choice, Rick. You have good taste,” Pamela remarked. “The ring is absolutely, positively gorgeous.”

  I thought so too. It was hell trying to find the perfect ring, but it spoke to Me. There
was no doubt about it, I had the best selection for My pretty girl.

  “Thank you, Pamela,” I replied nervously. Shit, would they just tell Me everything was okay? I needed to know that they wouldn’t give Me any crap when I asked micah to marry Me. Regardless of what they said in this moment, I was going to ask her. I sought their permission as a courtesy, but even if they didn’t give Me their blessing, it wouldn’t deter Me. I asked out of respect for micah. I know she wanted her family to accept Me as Mine had accepted her.

  “Do you promise to honor her, Rick, and always do right by her? That means even when you both are mad as hell with each other,” Pamela inquired.

  “Yes, ma’am. I swear it.”

  Pamela nodded at My declaration and Monroe chimed in, “You know if I say yes to this, Rick, I’m handing over my responsibilities to you. Not all of them, but the day-to-day stuff. As Micah’s father, I can only do so much for her, but as the man in her life, you’re responsible for a whole lot more. It becomes your job to see that she’s happy and cared for. It becomes your primary responsibility to be there for her when she’s hurt and in need of affection and protection. If you bring children into the world, that love for her just expands. Asking my daughter to be your wife is something that will change you both. Don’t ask for our blessing unless you’re absolutely sure.”

  It sounded like I was going to get a thumbs up. I hoped everyone was on board, but I was still unsure where everyone stood.

  “I’m absolutely sure, Monroe. In all My thirty-seven years on this earth, I’ve never been more certain about anything in My life.”

  “Well then, you have my blessing,” He said, standing to shake My hand. “That’s one hell of a rock you got for my baby girl.”

  Goddamnit, her father gave Me a yes. I was feeling mighty high. Fathers are usually the toughest people to win over, but he said yes. I’ll be damned, he said yes.

  “Thank you so much for your blessing, Monroe. micah deserves the best, Sir.”

  Pamela walked over to Me and stood on her tip toes to kiss My cheek. “As long as you put many smiles on her face every day, you have my blessing sweetheart. Be good to my girl, Rick.”

  “Thank you, Pamela. I promise to do just that,” I said, beaming.

  A unanimous yes from the parents. One left to go.

  Darren reluctantly stood up from the sofa and looked at Me. He was maybe an inch shorter than Me, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he played pro ball. The guy was solid and staring daggers at Me. He walked over and extended his hand before breaking into a smile. “As long you’re not playing some jungle-fever shit, you have my blessing. But if you hurt her, I know where you live and will make your life hell.”

  “Darren! What did I say? You watch your mouth!” Pamela squealed.

  I laughed and pulled him into a bro hug. “Thanks man. This means a lot. No need to make My life hell. I promise to do right by your sister.”

  “So when do you intend to pop the question?” Monroe asked.

  “New Year’s Eve. So you can understand why I needed your blessing sooner rather than later.”

  “Understood. Well, good luck to you, and call us after,” Monroe responded.

  “I will. You have My word.”

  micah

  my Master and i spent the entire day doing something i would’ve never suspected He would take an interest in. We landed in New York City after an overnight flight and spent a few hours sleeping in. When we awoke, we had a midmorning fuck-a-thon, a shower, and a light snack, then Rick asked me what i’d like to do for the remainder of the afternoon.

  For the longest time, i’d been wanting to go to Barcade, but kisa and i could never manage to sync our schedules and make the trip to Brooklyn, so i suggested my Master and i go instead.

  Barcade, a microbrewery in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, featured vintage arcade games and a variety of tasty beers. We hopped on the subway, which was a feat in itself, since my Master was never one to utilize mass transit. Once we made it to Brooklyn, He indulged His silly side and gave me a piggyback ride in the partially melted snow from the train station to our destination.

  Riding on Him those few blocks, i laughed so hard my sides ached. He threatened to drop me more than a few times before we made it the brewery, but i knew He would never make good on His threat. i was seeing a side of my Master i hadn’t been privy to. He was lighthearted and, dare i say, fun. Not to make it seem like Sir was a stick in the mud, but He was much more into partaking in cultural activities like the opera and ballet as opposed to the more mundane aspects of New York City nightlife. He wasn’t much for bar-type atmospheres. Don’t get me wrong, my Master would let loose whenever an opportunity presented itself, but rarely did i get to see Him in such a whimsical mood. He’d been more carefree in the past two days. i wondered what brought on the change, but i was pretty sure the Cali sunshine had something to do with it. It had that effect on people.

  We arrived at Barcade and started with a few games of pinball followed by air hockey, and concluded with intense battle rounds of Ms. Pac-Man and Centipede. i’m very serious about my classic video games. We also drank a few beers and indulged in a basket of curly fries and burgers while reflecting on our holiday in Cali, since we both slept during most of the flight.

  When we arrived back at our condo, it was close to seven o’clock. my Master informed me that He made plans for us for the evening and i had forty-five minutes to get ready. The clock was ticking. i wasn’t informed as to what we would be doing, but i was told it would be a surprise i would never forget.

  After showering, flat-ironing my hair in record time, and applying my makeup to perfection, i left the bathroom to select my dress choice for the evening. my options weren’t easy. i had to choose from one of two dresses my Master had purchased for me as Christmas gifts. One was a stunning off-the-shoulder teal number. It fell just above my knee and had a split up the side that didn’t leave much to the imagination. The other was longer and white with gold embellishments along the scoop-neck collar. It did wonders for my cleavage. i wondered if my Master had help picking out the dresses. my instincts told me no, since He had such impeccable taste, but i secretly wondered how He was so in tune with what was new and hip in women’s attire. It was unusual yet mildly appealing.

  i selected the white dress; i had the perfect pair of gold stilettos to complement it. To be honest, not only did i choose the white because of the cleavage incentive, but it looked great against my rich complexion. i was sure my Christmas gifts set my Master back a couple thousand dollars. i balked at the extravagance but He reprimanded me, stating that since it was a holiday, He wanted to be generous.

  i humbly accepted His offerings without further comment.

  Just as i was zipping myself into the dress, Sir entered our bedroom. He opted to get ready in the guest room so we’d be on time for our evening plans. i had a tendency to take quite a long while to get ready and was pretty sure He had enough of my bathroom hogging.

  He approached me and then wrapped His arms around my waist, delivering one of His soul-stirring kisses that momentarily stripped me of breath.

  “you look beautiful, micah. Stunning, actually,” He said, slowly pulling away from me.

  Despite the fact that my lips were no longer joined to His, His presence lingered like a phantom touch.

  “I’m glad you selected the white dress. I have to be honest, I liked that one much better than the teal, although they’re both flattering on your figure.”

  “Thank You, Master,” i replied, bowing my head.

  “Are you ready to go?” He asked.

  “Yes, Sir, i just have to grab my purse and i’m ready.”

  “Great, I’ll meet you by the front door in five minutes,” He replied, exiting our bedroom.

  Once Rick left the bedroom, my stomach suddenly decided to do the wave. i was nervous and i immediately wanted to barf, but i wasn’t about to spoil a dress that likely cost a grand. i was never a fan of New
Year’s Eve. It was one of those holidays that i’d much rather skip. People made such a big deal over a few moments in time. Who cared what happened at midnight? Unnecessary pressure was placed on couples to make the evening special. i would have preferred to stay at home snuggled on the couch with my Master in my pajamas, but He made plans for us and wanted to ensure that we rang in the New Year in style. He hadn’t revealed what we would be doing. Whatever it was, i’m sure it wouldn’t disappoint.

  * * *

  We stood outside of New York City Center and my Master fought through throngs of people to get us a cab. Trying to catch a cab a few blocks away from Times Square on New Year’s Eve is next to impossible, but luck was on our side. We’d just exited the venue after watching a performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. i loved Ailey, and i was surprised when my Master informed me once we left our apartment that we would be spending the earlier part of our evening enjoying a performance before heading to a late dinner.

  Despite the fact that it had snowed earlier in the week, most of it had melted. It was unseasonably warm in New York City for this time of year. i think we brought back some of the California sunshine. The weatherman said the high was fifty degrees, which is practically beach weather in late December.

  We could have easily walked to our destination since the weather was so pleasant, but i was grateful that my Master thought ahead. i completely forgot about the sky-high stilettos i was wearing. Even if our destination was only a few blocks, i would be in a serious amount of pain by the time we arrived. Once we were situated inside the cab, He tenderly caressed my hand and linked His fingers with mine while instructing the cabbie to head to the Empire State Building. Traffic was a horrendous nightmare, but i was content just being with Him.

  “Did you enjoy the performance, micah?” He inquired.

  i couldn’t contain my smile even if i wanted to. “Yes, Sir, it was phenomenal. i had no idea You were interested in Ailey.”

  He lifted our joined hands to His lips and planted a soft kiss on the back of my hand.