By the time I had completed the first paragraph, my fingers were racing across the keyboard. I probably shouldn’t have been putting up a personal ad knowing I wasn’t in my right state of mind; but to be honest, I really didn’t give a fuck. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
I finally went to bed around midnight and while I was closing my eyes I remembered something my favorite aunt used to say.
Be careful what you wish for because you might end up with more than you can handle.
3
NYREE
After I got off the phone with Janelle, I went into the spare bedroom and decided to do a round of kickboxing. It was probably my favorite workout program. Besides, I needed to sweat off some alcohol. I hadn’t drunk much but enough to be considered intoxicated, which always made me nervous. I’m a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force and getting caught driving drunk is not tolerated. If I lost my security clearance, my career would be ruined.
I slipped on my gloves and put in my workout DVD and went to work pounding on a bag in the spare room. The entire time I was thinking about Gloria and how jealous I felt. Weddings always made me feel that way which is why I didn’t want to go in the first place. I wanted a man—my own man. But finding one who had himself at least halfway together seemed to be next to impossible. It didn’t make any sense. I was tall with a nutty brown complexion and light brown eyes. I wore a short Rihanna haircut and considered myself pretty. Hell, I was smart and educated, and yet I couldn’t find a man worthwhile. I figured at my age I’d have been married with two kids by now. Instead I had neither. Sometimes I think maybe it just wasn’t God’s plan for me. I don’t know.
By the time I had gotten done with the video, I was so fired up I repeated the workout before I finally headed to the kitchen for a bottle of water. One quick glance in my refrigerator and I noticed I needed to take my ass to the grocery store after church tomorrow.
I heard a knock at the door that startled me. Who the hell was over at this time of the night? As soon as I yanked open the door, my heart jumped.
“Rock… what are you doing here?”
He stood there licking those delicious lips of his and I felt my vaginal walls contract. Oh my, who could forget how good they had felt stroking my kitty!
“Hey beautiful. Can I come in?”
Lord knows, I tried to roll my eyes and act like I was angry to see him, but there was something about Rock Curtis I just couldn’t resist. But I tried anyway. “I guess,” I said and released a long frustrated breath before I stepped aside so he could enter. As he passed I caught a whiff of his cologne. That man always managed to smell so good.
I closed the door, locked it then swung around with my arms crossed below my breasts. I was sweaty as hell and pissed Rock had caught me looking a hot mess. Nothing worse than your ex-boyfriend catching you looking less than perfect.
“What do you want?”
He stood there grinning and still licking his lips. “You. I want you.”
I ain’t gonna lie. His deep baritone voice had my body quivering. I tried not to fall victim to his voice or the throbbing between my thighs. “And what would your wife have to say about that?”
“I don’t care what she thinks.” He gave me a serious look, then sighed. “C’mon Nyree. Give me a break.” He reached out, took my hand and I let him lead me over to my sofa where we took a seat. He turned so that we were facing each other and I caught myself staring into those chocolate eyes of his that always made me feel like I had been caught under some spell. “I know I lied to you about my relationship with my wife and I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t going to cut it,” I snapped.
He shook his head. “I know that now. When I saw you tonight, I realized I had been wrong. But I had to come and tell you, I don’t love my wife, I love you.”
I was so sick of hearing his lies. “If that was the case then why were y’all at the wedding together?” My head was rolling around my neck.
He shrugged. “Appearances, that’s all. She’s still my wife but after I saw you, I realized I can’t keep on living a lie.”
I held my breath and tried to ignore how good his fingers felt caressing the back of my hand.
“Nyree, I—”
“What Rock? What do you want?” I cut him off with a little attitude. Mostly because I was mad at what I was feeling.
“If you’d let me finish...,” he began. “I came over here to tell you, after the wedding, I asked Regina for a divorce.”
My breath stalled and I stared him dead in the eye. I couldn’t believe I was hearing the words I’ve been waiting months to hear. I searched his expression trying to see if he was just running game, but his eyes were soft and sincere.
“Say something,” he prompted with a small insecure smile. I couldn’t believe he was nervous but it was written all over his face.
I gave a soft laugh. “I don’t know what to say.” And I didn’t. Hell, do you know how long I waited to hear those words?
Rock smiled brightly. “I’m hoping you’ll say you’re willing to take a mothafucka back.”
I was ready to jump into his arms, but it was taking everything I had to keep my ass planted on that sofa. “How do I know you ain’t lying?” I said taking a deep breath.
I guess he saw the skepticism in my eyes, because Rock brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “Because if you’ll let me, I plan on waking up in your bed in the morning.”
Oh snap! I was grinning like a damn fool. Rock never stayed the night. I mean never. He might have stayed until one or two in the morning, but he always went home to Regina.
“I love you and I want to start making it up to you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you love me. Tell me it isn’t too late for us.”
I met his lips halfway and he kissed me like a starving man and I was prime rib.
“Oooh! Baby, wait a minute.”
He pulled back and looked confused. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m all sweaty. Let me run and take a shower.”
“Babe for what? I’m about to get you all sweaty again.” He tried to reach for me, but I pushed hard against his chest. There was no way in hell I was about to let him get some with me smelling like a wild animal. I hadn’t had any from him in almost a month and nothing was stopping me tonight from feeling them lips on my clit.
“I’ll be right back. I promise,” I said, pleading with my eyes for him to hold on. “Watch TV or something.” I tossed the remote at him then dashed upstairs into the bathroom and turned on the water. By the time the water was hot, I had peeled off my sweaty clothes and was climbing in the stall. I was cheesing and got a mouthful of water but I didn’t care. I was just glad to have my man back. I lathered up, then glanced down at my kitty and noticed I had a bush. There was no way he was going down with my kitty looking like Grizzly Adams. I stepped out, grabbed my razor and gave her a quick haircut, then climbed back in and lathered her. By the time I made it into my bedroom, Rock was already undressed and lying across the bed butt-ass naked, looking delicious.
“Damn baby, get on over here.” He swung his legs off the side of the bed and signaled for me to come closer.
I was grinning like an idiot as I sauntered up to him, titties and ass jiggling with every step until I was standing between his legs. “Yes? What do you need?” I joked like I didn’t have a clue.
“How about I show you.”
My knees practically buckled when he held onto my waist, tugged me close, then took my nipple into in his mouth.
Oh damn, that felt good. Rock sucked deeply, drawing my nipple between his lips. My legs shook and I had to hold on to keep from falling.
“You like that, don’t you?” His eyes were dark with lust.
“Yes.” I was breathing hard.
Rock finally released me, growled playfully, and then pulled me laughing, onto the bed with him. I rolled onto my back, my head falling onto the pillow. Roc
k straddled me with his thighs on either side of my hips. I knew what he was looking at.
“I missed them titties.” His hands latched on then he squeezed and rolled my sensitive nipples between his fingers.
“Ooh baby!” I moaned in delight and arched up against him. My kitty was aching to be stroked. I frantically worked at his belt and zipper. “Take these off.” We could save the foreplay for another time.
He cocked his head to the side. “Damn, you must really miss this dick.” His confident ass was grinning as he rolled over and removed his pants and boxers. As soon as his Johnson sprung free, I released a long slow breath. Long, thick and slightly curved, yet it always hit my spot.
“See how bad I want you,” Rock said, climbing on top of me. “When he ran his tongue along my neck and down to my nipples, heat and need throbbed through my body. “Spread your legs for me,” he said in that sexy voice of his.
My horny ass did exactly as he asked while he dropped down off the edge of the bed and knelt on the floor. He then grabbed my ankles and dragged me down to meet his tongue. The first long lick had me purring like a kitten and the second nearly sent me through the ceiling.
“Yes, Rock. Just like that,” I moaned and grabbed his head, holding him in place. No way was he going anywhere before I came. Sure enough, my hips began to move meeting the rhythm of his mouth. “Ooooh, yesss!” Within minutes a scream ripped from my throat. His tongue continued to stroke me until my legs collapsed on the bed.
“You good?” he asked as if he didn’t already know.
I was breathing heavily. “Yeah, now get up here.”
I slid up on the bed and waited until Rock removed the plastic foil from his wallet. I loved watching my man roll a condom on his Johnson.
He caught me peeking and grinned “You want this, don’t you?”
I nodded, thinking about his crooked dick tickling the roof of my kitty. “Yes, I do.”
“Show me just how much you want me.”
No problem. I spread for him, slick and ready, and held my arms open, inviting him to take his rightful place between my thighs. He got into position, then locked his gaze, as he raised my hips toward him. Rock entered me slowly, inch by rigid inch. At first, he kept his strokes slow, pulling almost completely out before burying himself deep within me once again. Rock obviously was trying to draw out the pleasure. But, he didn’t have any luck at delaying the inevitable.
“Fuck me, dammit!”
Rock picked up speed, plunging into me, the slap of skin almost as loud as the moans escaping my mouth.
“Nyree!” He cried, thrusting into me over and over with pent up frustration. Waves of pleasure consumed my body again. The exact moment I came, his mouth came down over mine with a hunger that sent me spiraling out of control and crying out his name.
“Rock, yesss!”
When Rock finally collapsed on top of me, I wrapped my arms around him and sighed. While I waited for my breathing to slow, a thought came to mind. Now that I had him—now that Rock was mine—it didn’t feel quite as satisfying as I had hoped it would be.
4
JANELLE
“Penny, you put the sign out front?” I asked and waited for an answer.
“Yes. It’s out there with today’s special.”
I nodded and was pleased at how well the morning was going. Damn, I loved my job! I strutted through the restaurant making sure each table had been cleaned and place settings were on point. Everything was fabulous of course.
I owned FoxTrot, a chic restaurant that served southern cuisines without all the saturated fats. Folks traveled for miles to taste my peach cobbler and raved about my chicken and dumplings. Not that I expected any less.
Cooking recipes that have been in my family for generations and opening my own restaurant had always been a dream of mine. Now look at me. I’ve been nominated for Restaurant of the Year and I was confident that award was mine.
I strutted in six-inch heels to the kitchen and immediately the scent of collard greens with smoked turkey legs ruffled my nose. As much as I loved food I don’t know how I managed to keep this body looking so good.
“How’s things going back here?” I asked Mimi, my head chef.
She was stirring a pot of black-eyed peas when she looked up and smiled. “Everything’s fine.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Jamie, I hope you’re not burning the cornbread again.”
“No cuz,” he said with a groan, then moved over to one of the ovens and removed a beautiful golden brown loaf.
“Now that’s what I’m talking ‘bout.” I winked at my second cousin. He got a felony conviction at eighteen for robbing a convenience store. After serving two years I gave him a chance when no one else would. He’s still a knucklehead and I know I’m hard on him, but that’s because I want him to want to be better.
“All right y’all. We open in less than an hour.” I waved, then left the kitchen and moved down the hall to my office. As soon as I stepped in I grinned. The room was all about me. Pink and cream. From the walls to the pink chaise I kept in the corner near the window. This was my escape when the days got long and the nights even longer.
I moved behind my desk and logged onto my computer. I usually advertised in Wednesday’s newspaper and I had yet to send this week’s special engagement to the editor. Friday we always featured a live band. And this week was the Hump Band, a local favorite. I logged into my email and I noticed a message from Blackfolksmeet.com. My painted lips curled at the notification that I had three flirts and one personal message in my box. Flirts just means someone likes what they see. As a diva, I didn’t expect any less. It also meant they were too damn cheap to subscribe to the site, so they weren’t able to send a personal message. Since I had a few minutes before the crowd would start coming through the door, I quickly logged onto the site to take a closer look. Three clicks later, I discovered two of the men flirting were straight up busters. But the third sounded interesting.
Hey FoxTrot. You’re sexy as hell. I’m not into head games either. If you want a real man then hit me back.
I clicked onto his picture and stared at him for several seconds.
“Janelle, we still have that big catering order for Saturday?” My cousin said as she appeared outside my door.
“Yep.” I gestured with my hand for April to come here. “What’s he look like to you?” I waited while she maneuvered her wide hips around my desk and looked closely at the screen.
“Sexy, but he looks mean.”
“That’s the same thing I was thinking.” Jaguar22 as he called himself was golden-brown, with a close cropped haircut, light brown eyes and a salt-n-pepper goatee. I loved a man with pretty teeth. Yet even smiling he looked mean as hell.
Her chocolate eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Whadda you on? One of them Internet dating sites?”
“Uh-huh. Ronnie hooked me up with it.”
April moved in for a closer look. “Hmmm, I don’t know about him, cuz. You might wanna pass on that one.”
“Yep. That’s what I was thinking.” Although there was something about him I found intriguing. Lord knows I hated a man who was like an open book.
“Who else they got on that site?”
I clicked the mouse and scrolled through every man who had visited my personal ad. There were a couple that looked good enough to eat and several creature features.
“Hold up!” April shouted just as I was about to click on the last one.
“What?”
One of her brows went up and her mouth kind of hung open. “Hell nah! That’s Pat’s husband.”
I tilted my head and looked up at her. “Pat who?”
She gave me a strange look. “Patricia who works over at Hy-Vee in the deli department.”
I clicked through all five photos he had posted. “Oh shit! That is him.” We started howling with laughter. That fool even had the nerve to upload a photo of himself stunting in her Camry.
“Niggas ain’t shit.” April
shook her microbraids, with disgust. “I’m fina call my girl Shonda and put Pat’s man on blast.” She hurried out of the office and I was still shaking my head. There was no telling how many of these dudes were married.
I was getting ready to head up front for lunch when an instant message flashed across my screen. It was from Jaguar22.
What’s up sexy? You get my message?
I couldn’t resist a smile. I turned on the charm and typed away at the keyboard.
Me: Yep. I got it.
JAGUAR: So? Does that mean you’re ready to get to know a real man?
ME: I don’t know. You look mean.
I was grinning like crazy.
JAGUAR: Yeah, my boy said the same thing when I posted the photo. LOL. My bad. Take the time to get to know me and you’ll see I’m definitely worth getting to know.
He just doesn’t know how much grinning he had me doing over here. But there was nothing easy about me.
ME: That remains to be seen.
JAGUAR: Then let’s not waste time. How about we hook up this evening somewhere mutual? You pick the place.
As intrigued as I was to meet Jaguar, I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea.
ME: I don’t know about all that. You might be some kinda stalker.
JAGUAR: And so can you.
“I don’t think so,” I murmured under my breath. One thing Janelle doesn’t do is sweat a brotha, no matter how fine he is.
JAGUAR: C’mon. Pick a place.
I thought about it all of three seconds, then typed
ME: How about Shakespeare’s pizza at 7?
Talk a Good Game Page 2
