Black Butterfly (11 page)

“Thank you for the party mommy. Everything is so beautiful.”

She beamed with pride and kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome sweetheart, and thank you for being such a wonderful daughter.”  “Oh, there’s Janette Jamieson. She’s a wonderful designer. Seantay should talk to her about possibly getting into her fashion school.”

Dismissing me, she sashayed over to her elite associates. There were over one hundred twenty guests there. It was a small guest list according to mother.

Maurice walked over to me and kissed my hand. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” He asked. The flashing of the cameras had finally died down.

“Uh huh
and you’re high,” I whispered.

He was about to say something, but I cut him off.

“Don’t lie. You’re high as hell Maurice. You act as if I can’t tell. I can bet you I am not the only one who can tell. Damnit. You couldn’t wait until the party was over?” I had tears in my eyes, but I refused to allow them to fall. I was just glad that his drug problem hadn’t gone public.

“I am not high,” he whispered back. Despite what he said he looked guilty.

I shook my head and just walked away to join a few people from the cast of my show. It was about two best friends who owned a popular bar in Miami Beach called Cinnamon Star.

“Girl, you’re so lucky,”
My costar Jamica said smiling at me. She played my best friend and business partner Star. My character’s name was Cinnamon.

I managed to smile back. “Thank you Jamica.” A few other cast members crowded around me and started asking me a bunch of questions
about the wedding plans.

Maurice walked over. He didn’t want it to look as if we were arguing. He embraced me lovingly and planted a kiss on my forehead. “I love you,” he whispered in my ear. I knew it was all just a show for the guests. He’d probably spotted my ex
boyfriend Damion talking to my parents. He’d come from a long line of investment bankers. His father and my father were very close friends. That was probably the reason for his public display of affection. Suddenly I was ready for my precious party to come to an end.

Chapter 9

Seantay

I ducked out of the party, jumped in my car and checked my voice messages.

“
Yo’ Tay. It’s Reco. What’s going on with you? Why haven’t you hit a nigga up?”

I hated that word.

“Hit me back,” he said forcefully and hung up.

I sucked my teeth. I was not going to call him back.

The next one was from Reba. “Hey girl. I’m on a date with one of the sexiest men in the world.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her exaggeration.
She was always dating somebody.

“How’s the party? I can imagine,” she laughed. “Look, I snuck away to call you. I have to get back to my fine a
ss date. Call me later on girl, unless you’re going to get up with Raheem. In that case I know I won’t hear from your ass tonight. Anyway, I will talk to you later. Au Revoir.”

The last message was from Raheem. “Hey baby. It’s still early, so what’s up for the night? I want to see you pretty lady. Call me back.”

The sound of his sexy voice made my heart pound so hard I could hear it. My reaction surprised me. I dialed his number and drove off. He didn’t answer, so I left him a message.

“Hi Raheem. The party was the same old boring social scene that I can’t stand. I’m still ready to party and that’s exactly what we should do tonight. I’m going home to take a shower and change. It’s a little after ten now
, so call me back. I want to see you too baby. Later.”

*     
  *       *

I was dri
pping wet from my shower when my cell phone rang. I took my time answering it because I knew it was Raheem. I’d programmed a special ring tone for his number. It just so happened to be Usher’s “You Got It Bad.” Yeah, it was quite fitting for how I was feeling about him lately. I was going to make him wait for not answering my call though.

After six rings I finally picked up. “Hello,” I said sweetly.

“Hey baby. What took you so long to answer?”
              “I was in the shower.” I could hear Jay Z’s Black Album pumping in the background. “Where’re the hotspots tonight?”

“The Heat is going to be packed tonight. You know it’
s some concert going on tonight and the after party’s going to be there.”

I didn’t want to run into Reco’s ass. “I want to go somewhere else. Why don’t we go to South Beach? I heard there’s going to be a party on the beach tonight. Just imagine arriving wi
th my fine ass on your arm in an itty bitty bikini.”

That image
had convinced him quickly. An hour later I took the highway straight to his place. I felt those old feelings I’d developed in high school coming back, but I was in denial. I ignored what I felt and brushed it off. It was the good sex taking over my mind. I got to Raheem’s in record time and rushed up to the door. He answered the door looking good in a white Polo collar shirt, dark blue True Religion jeans, high top white Air Force Ones, and a white A fitted. The ice dripping from his neck, wrist and ears glistened even in the dark. He looked at me and grinned showing a platinum grill. It was just four of his top teeth though. I thought that shit was sexy as hell.

“Damn, you’re looking good mami. Mmm, I’m tempted to take you in the crib and do all types of shit to your sexy ass.” He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a passionate kiss.

I was blushing when he pulled away and brushed my hair out of my face. I knew I’d made the right choice when I decided to wear an extra short pair of black BeBe shorts, rust orange BeBe tank with black lace, and sexy black strappy Manolos. He couldn’t keep his eyes off my sexy ass.

“Change of plans baby. C’mon,” he said leading me to his black ’74 Cadillac
Eldorado that he’d had restored and detailed. It was hot as hell and had chrome twenty fours with white wall tries.

“Where’re we going?” I asked when we got in the car. He just turned on the Bose sound system and turned the volume up as if he didn’t hear me. Outkast’s Aquemeni blared
from the speakers.

He looked over at me as he drove off. “Just relax. You’ve seen
almost everything there is to see in the world, so now I am going to show you some beautiful shit that’s right under your nose.” He grabbed my hand and focused on the road.

I smiled the whole forty minutes it took to get to our destination. I didn’t spend that much time in the city. I only went there to party
and shop. Raheem got out of the car and opened my door for me. He helped me step out and kept my hand in his as we walked toward a highrise building. The building had a doorman, so I relaxed once we’d entered. Once we were in the elevator I asked him the same question he’d evaded before.

“Where are we going?”

“Chill baby. I got you. I won’t hurt you and I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re in good hands.” He smiled sexily at me. When the elevator doors opened he led me through a door with some steps. Another door was at the top of the steps. He opened it and I realized that we were on the roof of the building. “C’mon.” Raheem grabbed my hand again and led me to a blanket with a picnic basket, and Moet chilling on ice. There were also rose petals and a dozen red roses. I smiled as I noticed a small CD player with slow jams playing softly. I couldn’t help but get lost in the breathtaking view. The city lights displayed what I’d missed growing up tucked away in a so called “wonderland”.

“This is all so beautiful and thoughtful Raheem.” My smile was probably brighter than all of
the lights that illuminated the city of Miami.

“Yeah. I thought this would be
a lot more intimate than a beach party. Besides, I wanted you all to myself for a little while. Maybe we’ll hit the party up later on. I don’t want to run into any papparazi. I know how careful you have to be.”

We sat down on the blanket and he grabbed two champagne goblets.

“You don’t think we’ll get in trouble for being up here?” I asked.

“No, my uncle owns this building.” He looked up at me and winked as he poured us both some bubbly.

“So, what’s in the basket?” I asked as he gave me a glass.

He opened the picnic basket and pulled out
rosemary and garlic roasted chicken breasts, cream mashed potatoes, fresh baked yeast rolls, broccoli and cheese casserole and strawberry cheesecake.

“Mmm, this sure looks better than the food at Seandra’s engagement party,” I said licking my lips. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I laid eyes on the delectable looking food. He’d really impressed me.
              My phone vibrated inside of my purse and I discreetly turned it off. There would be no more interruptions.

Raheem fixed both of our plates and smiled a cocky smile as he sat mine in front of me. He knew that he was the man. We clicked our glasses together and made a toast before we dug in.

“To a beautiful woman on a beautiful night,” Raheem said staring into my eyes.

We dug into t
he food and just talked. The conversation and the food were both really good. Probably the best I’d had in a long time.

I smiled up at Raheem as he talked. “You
have a soft spot,” I teased.

He lit a blunt and blew the smoke out of his nose. “Most men do, but some are just afraid to show it. I’m not.”

It was funny how I was not intimidated by Raheem’s sweet gestures, but when other men showed any signs of liking me I was threatened by it. The bond we’d shared in the past must’ve been the difference.

“You wouldn’t show this side of you
rself to just anybody would you? So, why me?”

He shrugged his shoulders and passed the blunt t
o me. “It’s something about you. I just want to protect you and make you happy. I want to keep that smile on your face.” He cleared his throat. “So, you like the food? My uncle also owns a restaurant. I got him to set this up at the last minute, but he pulled it off. ”

“Yes,
and it was really good. I get sick of the food my parents like for our chef to make.” I leaned over and kissed him.

He eagerly kissed me back and teased my tongue with his. I pulled away from him and licked my lips.

“What are you trying to do on this roof?” I was smiling even harder.

He gave me a sexy look and bit his bottom lip. “You know damn well what I’m trying to do baby.”

Tingles made a journey all over my body as his warm tongue ignited my skin. “Uh Raheem. What if someone comes up here?”

“You don’t have to worry about that baby. We will not be disturbed. I promise,” he reassured me.

“But you cannot guarantee me that noone will come on this roof,” I challenged him.

“No baby. There’s no guarantee, but I can guarantee you one thing,” he said
trailing soft, wet kisses from my neck to my collar bone.

“What’s that?”
I asked as he removed my top.

“I can guarantee that you
’ll come so much you’ll forget where you are. Even if someone comes up here it wouldn’t matter because I’m going to make you feel so good. C’mon baby. You know how I do.” He took my nipple into his mouth and twirled his tongue around it, making it stiffen.

“You’re so freaky Raheem,” I whispered.
 

*          *         *

Raheem and I were seeing a lot of each other and it was becoming harder for me to fool my folks. My father and I were sitting by the Olympic sized indoor pool sipping on iced mochas when he asked me a really unexpected question.

“So, who are you seeing now? It can’t be Harold’s soon Clinton. I haven’t seen him around here in a while.”

Clinton Henderson was cute, but not my type. We’d gone to high school together, but he was now a sophomore in college. He was quiet and shy. I just kept him around at first to throw my parents off.

“Clinton’s cool. He’s off at school, so I am letting him have his fun.
Anyway, what’s new with you pops?” I asked trying to change the subject.

“
I have a few new business ventures I’m trying to branch into. Your Uncle Bradley wants to open up a restaurant in New Orleans. He wants to resurrect dad’s dream. You always do that.” My father smiled at me.

“What?” I asked.

“You always get me off the subject somehow. You have to be dating some knucklehead,” he laughed.

“Why do I have to be dating some knucklehead?” I asked.

“First of all you’re never home. You must be spending time with someone. Your sisters did the same thing at your age. You’re not fooling me one bit young lady.”