by Anna Black
“And your eyes are beautiful.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
I was feeling her, and I wanted to be alone with her, so I then asked, “Do you want to get out of here, go to my place?” The question just jumped out, and I didn’t expect for her to panic. It was almost like I said the world was about to end.
“I, I, I, I can’t. I have church early in the morning, and Gabby just started seeing your brother, and I can’t let her leave alone. I think we should just stay here, you know. We shouldn’t leave,” she rattled off like a nervous school-girl.
“Whoa, beautiful calm down. It’s no pressure. I just wanted to be alone with you, but it’s cool. We can hang here, but please let me get your number.”
She audibly exhaled. “Now that, I can do,” she said. I pulled out my phone, unlocked it and went to my contacts. I typed in the word Juicy and handed it to her. “Type your number in.”
“Juicy? Who is—" she paused, then clarity had to dawn. “Okay, you want to put me in your phone as Juicy. I can live with that,” she said and then keyed in her digits. I took my phone back and then called her. She pulled out her phone.
“That’s my number,” I said.
“I see, so let me save it,” she said and typed in something. “Now, there you go,” she said and showed me her phone.
I read the name she put me in as. “Bear? So, you associate me with a damn bear?” I asked.
“Yes, a beautiful, strong Bear. I wasn’t trying to offend.”
“If you’re not offended by Juicy, Bear certainly does not offend me.”
She smiled and was about to say something, but the entire crew came back into VIP from the dance floor. We got back to mingling with our peeps. After a few more dances, I wanted her so fucking bad. I had to will my dick from getting hard when I held her from behind when we grooved. The next day we texted, but it was light. Then I got super busy with work, so our texting started to be every now and then. We’d keep missing each other when our fam got together. Either she had just left, or she wasn’t coming, or I’d have to leave for some reason or another before she showed. I tried to keep in touch regularly at one point because I really missed her.
It was crazy how two people lived in the same city but kept missing an opportunity to see each other. Once the family found out Gabby was pregnant, shit changed. We had a get together at my parents to celebrate the pregnancy news, and I invited her only to learn that Gabby had already told her. That night was the best because we took our first walk together and really talked without loud music or family and friend distractions. I learned that she was a sketch artist for the state, and she also worked with CPD when called on to sketch out criminals that a witness described. My mouth dropped. “Are you fucking serious?”
“Yes,” she said.
I laughed out loud. “What the fuck is that like?”
“Work, I’d imagine.”
I continued to laugh in amazement. “Out of all the millions of jobs in the world, I would have never guessed that shit.”
She laughed with me. “I guess it is not the typical nine to five. I mean, I get calls out of the blue at all hours, so that’s why we missed each other a lot.”
“Wow, I mean how did you get that type of gig?”
“Well, I am the eccentric kid. I grew up as a middle child. Gabby was excellent in everything, and Gem was just adorable. I did and tried so many things to impress my parents, but it’s like nothing was more magnificent than Gab, and all Gem had to do was flash her smile and puppy dog eyes at my parents, and they’d go to mush. So, I just found any and everything that made me great, like I became the Jack of all Trades. I dabbled in everything, and I’m so creative in so many things that I have to reel myself back.”
“Like what? Elaborate.” I said.
“Well, I am a damn good cook because I spent way more time in the kitchen with Gloria Jean than my sisters. I sew, crochet, and knit. I also have a side business where I teach families how to unclutter and get organized. I can put in a new engine, change oil, replace brakes and/or rotors thanks to spending time with my pops at his shop. I can decorate any room if you give me an idea of what you want. I refurbish furniture in my spare time. Let’s see. I am a math whiz, I write poetry, and I sing. My mother is a singer, so is Gemma, but Gabby can’t even hum.”
“Your short self can do all of those things and sing?”
She laughed. “Yes, I can do all of those things. I only have steady income coming from two of the things I’ve named, but domestic or foreign, I’d fix in my daddy’s shop alone or with my pops,” she smiled brightly. I was beyond impressed.
“You’ve told me all of those things about you, yet I look at this poised, soft-spoken woman that carries herself with so much grace.” She seemed so delicate, not a fierce sketch artist or mechanic of any kind.
“I’m just knowledgeable in a few areas, but I’m still a woman.”
“A gorgeous woman,” I said and halted. “I like you, Grace, but—"
“I know, physically, I’m not your type,” she said. She was way wrong.
I frowned. “No physically, you are definitely my type. I can only imagine all the things I could do to your sexy, juicy, plump ass. The way you look is all good babe, and I am so attracted to you.”
She dropped her head. I lifted it. “Please stop doing that, Grace.”
“Doing what?”
“Hanging your head low. I see you when you are in the room with Gabby, Gemma, Chas, and Tori and it is like you purposely ease into a corner or standoff to the side. And you should stop doing that.”
“I don’t know how,” she confessed.
“It’s easy, just shine and stop cowering in the background.”
“You don’t understand,” she sobbed.
“No, I don’t, so please help me. You are just as desirable and beautiful as your sisters and homegirls.”
“You’re the only one that thinks so.”
I rubbed my temples. I wanted to try and convince her that she was just as gorgeous, but I didn’t have time for projects. I didn’t have the patience to deal with insecure women, so I said, “Let’s head back.”
I started walking ahead of her, leaving her to follow me. When we got to the porch, I opened the storm door and let her walk in first and decided I’d leave her alone. I grew up oversized, outweighing my brothers and I was teased as a kid. They called me giant and Goliath, and always made fun of me because I was a heavy kid. My mom was plus-sized, and although my father was thin but cut, I figured I got the fat gene from my mother. By fourteen, I was playing football because so many encouraged me to do that.
By my third year of college, my first job was as a bouncer at my brother Gutta’s pool hall. My size alone made mafucka’s afraid to even try me. So, I figured out what I wanted to do. I wanted to do security, but I didn’t want to just be the man on the door. I started hitting the gym hard and changed my diet to transform the flabby areas of my body into muscle, and when I presented my idea to Gutta and Rel, they were on board. They encouraged me to get my degree, and then after they invested in my security company. I went in, and after two years, I had tripled my clients because I learned the surveillance side, and that’s when things took off.
Seven years later, at twenty-nine, my company was lucrative. I was living my best life, but I knew I worked too damn much. I could never have a decent relationship because women always nagged me on how much I worked so damn much. Around the time I met Grace, I declared I’d slow down and find a mate and stop smashing randoms, only to find out the one I’d be interested in getting serious with had insecurities. That was a no go for me, but after three or so weeks not talking or texting her, I missed her.
She’d text me with, ‘hello,’ or ‘hey,’ or little cute emoji’s or a bible quote, but I wouldn’t answer, even though I couldn’t get her out of my mind. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t shake the thoughts of her, and finally, she stopped texting. There were no more ‘hello’s’ or ‘heys’
or cute little emoji or bible quotes. I stopped showing up to places that she’d be, yet I missed her but convinced myself that I didn’t want a fixer-upper. I wasn’t cut out for that. She wasn’t confident enough for me, but still, I missed the fuck out of her and wanted to see her again.
One morning I woke up with wood after a heated dream I had. In the dream, I had her bent over at my kitchen island, and I was digging all up inside her fat ass pussy like she was all mine, and I woke up looking around the room as if I expected her to be there. I grabbed my phone and scrolled to her name, and when I read, Juicy I smiled.
GOOD MORNING
Juicy – HELLO & GOOD MORNING.
It was a start, and I’d hoped I could ease back in. I then sent her good afternoon and goodnight, and then I progressed to good morning babe and good afternoon sweetheart. The afternoon after my brother’s wedding rehearsal, after finally seeing her again, I asked her out. We went out, but it was odd at first, but good. Not long after that, work kept us apart, and then the shooting went down. I went back and forth with the police, handing over the surveillance footage and getting a lawyer just in case, and I hadn’t had time for my juicy baby. My brothers and I worked together to get Chas’ salon professionally clean, while my brother took her out of town to get away from the media and the chaos. As soon as Chicago’s finest dismissed all charges and declared that it was self-defense, I called my Juicy baby, and finally, we were on our third, but first official date.
3
Grace
I sat across from him gazing. I was so happy at that moment that we were finally moving forward that I was bursting. I had fantasized and dreamt of him, and finally, God had answered my prayers and made him reach out to me. The night we took our walk, I said something that rubbed him wrong, so I put my fork down.
“Malice,” I said.
“Yes,” he answered and put a piece of steak into his mouth.
“I have a question.”
He paused on chewing his meat. “Okay, ask me whatever.”
“I don’t want to bring up old stuff, but when we first met, we had a connection and the night at your parents when we went for our walk, you walked me back to the house, and then I didn’t hear from you again. What did I say or do to turn you off so abruptly?”
He swallowed and then took a drink of his wine. “Can I be honest?”
“Of course.”
“It was your lack of confidence. I mean, there I was telling you just how attractive I thought you were and how I saw you to be just as gorgeous as your sisters and friends, but your rebuttal was something negative about yourself and I just didn’t think I was cut out to deal with someone who had insecurities about themselves.”
“Wow,” I mumbled and then look down at the plate of food on the table.
“Like that, babe. Don’t do that. Stop dropping your head. You are like this radiant and gorgeous being, and your aura alone is so beautiful, but you fade in the background. You shouldn’t do that. You are a talented and elegant woman. I mean, have you truly taken a look at yourself?”
I sighed. “I do, and I just don’t see what you see, but I hear you, Malice. I try to be bold, confident and all that jazz, but I don’t know, I just think people look at me and think,” I said and stopped.
“Think what, babe?” My eyes welled. “No, don’t do that. Catch those tears before they fall. Fuck what people think. I think you are beautiful, baby and I dream of making love to you and pleasing that thick ass body of yours,” he said. I covered my opened mouth shocked that he’d boldly say that to me across the dinner table. Something about the things he said and how he said them to me made me feel some kinda way. My center throbbed.
“You don’t mean that,” I said shyly, but with a smile.
“Oh, I do, and if you and I were alone in this restaurant, I’d knock this shit off the table and lift your juicy ass up and put you right here in front of me and feast on you right now,” he admitted. I damn near fainted.
“Oh, Lord have mercy,” I said, fanning myself. “You are too much and everything you just said, I wish you could do.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” he asked with his eyes locked on mine.
“Yes,” I mumbled. “Yes, I mean, yes,” I spoke up.
“Good, because I want you, Grace Jackson,” he said.
I had never, ever heard those words come from a man’s lips before and even though I was still a virgin at twenty-eight, I think I had an orgasm just at his words.
“I need the ladies’ room,” I said and quickly stood almost knocking the damn table over. I rushed to the bathroom because I had to touch my center to make sure the wetness was normal because I had never gotten that damn excited in my damn life. I closed the stall door and damn near rolled the entire roll of tissue off the roll and then wiped myself. I look at the tissue to examine my fluids, and I knew that Malice would be the man to take my virginity.
I’d had dates, but only with men from the church. They were too old, too boring, and too churchy. I had never had the experience of meeting a man in the club because no man in the club had ever approached me. I had dudes in my inbox on Facebook, but no one I’d dare meet in person, so Malice was opening my nose just with the words he spoke. I’d now have hot stories to tell my girls because he was going to get it for damn sure. I’d somehow have my fat ass thighs wide open for his gigantic ass soon.
I flushed and exited my stall. I went to the mirror and examined myself. I did look gorgeous that night. Chas had slain my hair and make-up, and even though my outfit wasn’t sexy and trendy, I was cute. I made a mental note that the girls and I would have to hit up Torrid and Lane Bryant to help me with some ensembles that didn’t look like I was headed to church.
I washed my hands and then headed back to my table. When I approached, the thin waitress was standing too close to him, in my opinion. She was giggling about something with my man…I mean, Malice. He stood and hurried around and pulled out my chair, “Let me get that for you baby,” he said, and I smiled and took my seat. He returned to his seat, and the server didn’t even look my way.
“Did you need anything else?” she asked like she was annoyed that I had returned to my date.
“Baby, are you good? Did you want anything else?” he asked me.
“More wine would be nice.”
He reached for my hand and locked his fingers into mine, as he gazed into my eyes, not looking up at the server. “You heard her, more wine would be great,” he said.
“Got it,” she said with a little attitude and walked off.
“You got a fan, I see.”
“Maybe, but I’m a fan of Grace, so I ain’t checking for that baby. She is younger than Royal,” he laughed.
I laughed too. “You’re probably right,” I agreed. I took a bite of my pasta, but it was now a little too cold, so I put my fork down. “So, what made you change your mind and reach out to me again?”
“You. I missed you and couldn’t stop thinking of you. And my parents didn’t raise no fools. If you want something or somebody, you go after it or them.”
“I missed you too,” I smiled being honest. “I was a little disappointed when you stopped replying to me, and I thought about you a lot. When you text me that morning, I think my entire day was perfect.”
He smiled back at me, and it made me want to shake. That hunk of fineness sitting across from me made me weak, and it’s like I couldn’t sit still in my seat. I was a virgin, hadn’t met the right one, but Malice was proving himself to be the right one. I hadn’t met a man that I wanted so damn bad, and my insides were screaming, “let him take you home.”
The server came back with my glass. “Here we are,” she said and placed my glass near the empty one before removing it. “Sir, will you need anything else?” she asked, looking at Malice, again not directing her question to us. Hell, not to me at all.
“You do know that there are two of us at this table, right?” Malice asked.
“Yes, sir, I do, but�
��"
He cut her off. “There should never be a but. Now I don’t know if you are new, or just lack common sense, but I will give you a little bit of advice. You fuck with your tip when you do dumb shit like that. If a man is out with his lady, that means he showed up with his choice,” he said and then looked at me. “Honey, is there anything else you’d like?”
“No baby, I’m good. As a matter of fact, you can take this back,” I said, handing her the glass of wine she had just placed on our table. “I’m ready to go.”
“As you wish,” he smiled. “Check, please,” my chocolate giant said.
She took the drink. “Ma’am I’m so very sorry,” she apologized.
“Yes, you are,” I countered, and I couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth. That would be something Gloria Jean or Gemma would say. Who was I turning into that quickly?
“Young and rude ass,” Malice said as she walked away.
“I wanted my wine, but I was scared that heffa put something in it.”
“Good call,” he said. She came back with our check, and as I figured, my man’s tip was ‘learn to have respect for other women.’ We walked out, holding hands, and I was on cloud nine. That was the best date that I had ever been on, and that night I planned to lose my virginity.
4
Malice
I helped my lady into the passenger seat and then shut her door. I went around to get in, wondering if I should just take her home or ask her to go to my place. She did say she wanted more wine, and I had wine.
“So where to now?” I asked.
“We can go wherever you want to go. I have about three more good hours to hang.”
“Only three, huh? Where else do you have to be?”
“I have to let Bistro out,” she said.
“So, you have a dog? What kind?”
“A little Corgi.”
I nodded. “That’s cool. I love dogs, but I’m too busy to own one.”
“I bet. I mean, do you ever slow down?”
