After All (15 page)

“
Some song, huh?”Anthony
gazed into her eyes.

“
Some dance.” Michelle made
a conscious effort to slow her breathing as they returned to their
table.

The others were already there laughing
and joking about the all the wild costumes around. That Anthony and
Michelle were subdued did not go unnoticed by Laree. The men left
to replenish their refreshments.

Laree poked Shantae in the ribs. “Did
you see a certain couple heating up the dance floor?”

“
Yes indeed. If they had
gotten any closer, she would have been wearing his costume,”
Shantae put in.

“
We were dancing,” Michelle
popped back.”I think we would have looked stupid standing at arm’s
length from each other.”

“
That was more than a dance,
honey. Y'all were making love,” Shantae crunched on a
cracker.

“
Sho nuff. What happened to
`We're going to be just friends'?” Laree asked.

“
I'll tell you what
happened; once she got next to him, she couldn't fight the feeling.
Woo-wee, didn't take my man long to melt the Ice Princess.”Shantae
turned to Laree.

“
Uh-humm, that's
right.”Laree slapped her palm against Shantae's in a high
five.

Michelle was trying to think of a
stinging retort when the guys came back. As they set up fresh
drinks, Michelle decided to accept the teasing with good humor.
After all how could she deny it? From the moment she saw Anthony in
the newsroom, her feelings for him could not be ignored. Despite
her best efforts and misgivings, the desire to be with him returned
full force. Watching him smile, seeing the sensuous curve of his
full mouth, hearing the rich deep tones of his laugh, caused her
heart to pound. Still she had to keep in mind the dangers that came
with giving too much, too soon. What if he turned on her again?
Suddenly the merriment in his eyes disappeared. Michelle became
alarmed that he could read the caution in her face. She looked up
to see Marcus weaving his way towards them. The smile on Anthony’s
face was replaced by a guarded frown.

“
Good evening everybody.
Seems like y'all havin' a good time.”Marcus was dressed in a dark
suit with tails and carried a mask. His eyes were abnormally
bright. A petite woman stood slightly behind him wearing a vacant
grin.

“
Hello, Marcus.”Anthony
glanced away.

“
My, don't the ladies look
lovely tonight.”Marcus stared down at Michelle.”Introduce me,
cuz.”

“
Michelle, Laree, Shantae,
and D'Andre, this is my cousin, Marcus. You know
Cedric.”

“
What's happenin'?”Cedric
nodded to Marcus and the woman.

“
Damn, where are my manners?
This is Nedra.”Marcus jerked a thumb in her direction.

“
Hey.” Nedra
giggled.

“
Havin' a regular par-tee,
eh cuz? Mind if we join you?”Without waiting for an answer, Marcus
pulled up a chair next to Michelle.”Yeah, uh grab that chair over
there,” he said over his shoulder. Nedra wandered off to sit down
at another table still giggling. “That's good. Cute but not too
bright.” Marcus leaned close to Michelle.

Cedric took a deep breath. “So what
have you been up to since you got home?”

“
Ain't nothin' to it. Just
hangin', you know. Got a job thanks to dad. Yeah, my old man always
comes through for me, in his own way and his own good
time.”

“
Well, congratulations.”
Cedric spoke quickly seeing Anthony begin to say
something.

“
Yeah, right. Maybe okay
ain't enough, see what I'm sayin?” Marcus blustered.”Now if I could
get set up like my man here,” He thumped Anthony on the
back.”Everything would be cool. But I got a plan.”

“
Setting your goals is a
step in the right direction.”Michelle smiled at him.

“
Oh, I've got goals all
right. I'm going to get what I want, one way or another.”Marcus
lost his grin for a second.

“
I wish you luck.”
Michelle's smile faded when she saw Anthony's expression. He was
looking from her to Marcus.

“
Why thank you. Say, you're
even more beautiful in person than you are on television.” Marcus
locked his gaze on her breasts as he leaned still
closer.

“
Back off, man.”Anthony put
his arm across the back of Michelle's chair as he stared menacingly
at his cousin.

“
Whoa, can't take the
competition? The lady and I are just conversing, cuz. Where's the
harm?” Marcus let his gaze wander the length of Michelle's
body.

“
You're pushing your luck
with me, Marcus.”Anthony started to rise from his seat.

“
Come on now. Chill man.”
Cedric reached across Shantae to lay a restraining hand on
Anthony's arm.

“
I think your lady friend
might be getting a little lonely.” D'Andre nodded towards Nedra.
She was making kissing noises at passing men.

“
Class act she ain't,”
Marcus snorted in disgust. “Cut that crap out,” he shouted at her.
“See y'all later. Bye beautiful brown sugar.”

With a laugh at the murderous
expression on Anthony's face, Marcus slid his chair back from the
table. He sauntered away with Nedra trailing him.

“
Let it go, man.”Cedric
withdrew his hand only after Anthony was no longer staring at his
cousin's retreating back.

For the rest of the evening everyone
worked hard to recapture the gaiety before Marcus crashed their
party. Eventually Anthony loosened up and began to smile then
laugh. When they were alone at the table while the others danced,
Michelle was glad that all of his anger seemed to have
evaporated.

“
I'm sorry about getting so
uptight a while ago. And I apologize for Marcus. I guess I
shouldn't let him get next to me,” Anthony said.

“
He was just being silly
because he'd had a little too much to drink. He didn't mean any
harm.” Michelle shrugged.

“
I wish I could believe
that. Anyway, I really am sorry.”

“
You don't have to keep
apologizing. It's okay.”

Michelle put her hand on his arm.
Looking into his dark brown eyes framed by thick black brows, she
felt that familiar warmth spreading across her body. When he placed
his hand over hers, the warmth began a flame. The lights dimmed as
the band began another love song. Their heads close together, they
were locked in a world apart. A world reluctantly abandoned when
the others came back to the table. They sat for another fifteen
minutes drinking and talking. Occasionally, greeting friends who
came over to say hello.

“
Well, y'all ready to call
it a night. Crowds thinning out anyway.” Cedric looked
around.

“
Fine with me,” D'Andre
said. Standing, he put Laree's jacket on her shoulders.

“
Anybody want to go
somewhere else. There's this really nice new night club on Third
Avenue.”Shantae held Cedric's hand.

“
Nah, I don't think
so.”Laree moved close to D'Andre.

“
Michelle?”Anthony looked at
her, his eyes shining.

“
I've had enough of crowds
tonight.”Michelle met his gaze.

“
Ooo-kay, guess that's a
wrap then,” Shantae said as she winked at Cedric.

All were unusually quiet on the ride
home. Cedric had a jazz cassette playing softly. The two couples
seated behind in the van held hands and spoke quietly. Laree and
D'Andre were dropped off first at her apartment.

“
Goodnight. Thanks for
driving us.”Anthony helped Michelle out of Cedric's van. He fished
the keys to his apartment from his jacket pocket.

“
No problem. Later,
Chelle.”Cedric waved.

“
Bye, Anthony. Goodnight,
Michelle.”Shantae took advantage of the fact that Anthony had
turned away to give Michelle an exaggerated wink.

“
Cedric, take her home
please.”Michelle gave an exasperated sigh.

“
What was that all
about?”Anthony hung up their jackets in a hall closet.

“
Nothing. Shantae was just,
I mean... It was nothing. Nice party, wasn't it?” Michelle
definitely did not want to explain so she changed the
subject.

“
Yes it was. Let's have some
wine.”Anthony put on some music then sat close to her on the
sofa.

“
Listen, don't go to any
trouble. It's late and you're probably tired.” Michelle began to
fidget with her shawl, pulling it to cover her neck and chest. Her
misgivings crept back now that they were alone.

“
No trouble, and I'm not
tired.”Anthony fingered a tendril of her hair that trailed down her
neck.

“
Oh.”Michelle avoided
looking at him.

“
You are one gorgeous Bride
of Frankenstein. That dress makes you look like anything but a
monster.”Anthony laughed softly. His arm moved from the back of the
sofa to her shoulders.

“
Thanks. Humm, gotta use the
bathroom.” Michelle stood abruptly.

“
I'll be here when you get
back,” Anthony growled in his best imitation of a
monster.

Finding the light in the hall bathroom,
she closed the door. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she
tried to come up with a credible excuse to leave. Work? Michelle
cursed. No, big mouth. You already announced to everybody how glad
you were to finally have a weekend off. Feeling ill?

“
You all right in
there?”

“
I'm fine.” Michelle
answered as a reflex without thinking. Idiot! Now you can't say
you're sick. Taking a deep breath, she flushed the toilet and
turned on the faucet before returning to the living.

“
Here you go.”Anthony handed
her a long stemmed wine glass.

“
I better not since I'll be
driving home.” Michelle was mesmerized by the way his chest rose
and fell underneath the shirt of his costume.

“
If you wait several hours,
the effects will wear off.” Anthony took a sip from his glass, his
eyes on her.

“
Well I...Michelle's voice
trailed off. Absentmindedly, she drank deeply.

“
Keep that up and you'll
have to stay all night. Umm, have some more.”Anthony refilled the
glass.

“
Oh no.”Michelle protested
weakly even as she allowed him to pour the sparkling
liquid.

“
Oh yes.”Anthony pulled her
to him. His mouth covered hers.

“
I don't want to spill this
on your sofa.” Michelle drew away, her senses reeling from the
waves of desire.

Without answering, Anthony put down his
glass then took hers and set it on the coffee table. Using one
finger, he lifted her chin slightly. He seemed to come towards her
in slow motion. Michelle searched every inch of his face. The
smooth brown skin. Dark cotton soft, hair framed his features. She
closed her eyes and surrendered. The intensity of her response to
his kiss surprised them both. Wrapping her arms around him firmly,
she pressed her body to his. The chiffon shawl slid down allowing
his hands to caress the smooth, flesh exposed by the low cut dress.
Cupping one breast in his hand, Anthony traced kisses down her neck
to the soft mounds. Michelle breathed a low moan as she arched her
back to meet him. Anthony paused causing her to gasp with
frustrated desire. But in moments he lifted her from the sofa to
stand against him. Seeing no resistance in her eyes, feeling no
attempt to extract herself from his attentions, Anthony took her
hand and led her to the bedroom.

“
Wait.”Anthony
whispered.

He went into the kitchen and returned
with two large candles. Setting opposite ends of the large dresser,
their flames were reflected in the wide mirror giving the room a
faint golden glow. With maddeningly slow motions, he unzipped her
dress and eased it down over her hips. Pausing to kiss her, he then
pushed it to the floor. Michelle stepped back to remove the
strapless bra and pantyhose she wore. Never taking his eyes from
her, Anthony rapidly yanked free of his costume.

Michelle sank down to king sized bed
and Anthony lay beside her gently stroking her thighs.

“
Tell me what you want. Tell
me.”Anthony groaned as her hand sought to caress him into an even
bigger erection.

“
Here.” Michelle guided his
mouth to her breast. She cried out as his tongue touched her
nipples ever so lightly.

Anthony shifted to get closer to the
nightstand. Reaching into the drawer, he took out a condom. Tearing
the foil packet, he removed the thin, latex sheath. Michelle
waited, anticipating his touch. Anthony pushed her back to nestle
on the pillows. Burying his face in her hair, he tenderly entered
her. For long, luscious minutes they matched slow movements.
Teasing each other to heights of passion before pausing. But only
for scant seconds. The sensation of their union compelled them to
begin again, each time with more urgent.

“
I love you.”Anthony
moaned.”God, I love you so much.”

“
Anthony,” Michelle gasped,
clutching his shoulders.

Lifting her slightly from the bed, he
plunged ever deeper. Michelle felt an explosion of pleasure begin
inside her at the probing of his hardness, then roll throughout her
body taking her breath away. Feeling his body shiver, she cried
out, a cry of pleasure and abandon. Tired and spent, they lay
together with arms entwined. Both remained silent and thoughtful
for a long time.