Kea
Almost getting caught earlier made me try to stay away from Derrick as much as possible. Every now and then I would look around and catch him watching me, but I played it off. I kept hoping Jaquon wouldn't notice. Yes, a small part of me wanted to be with Derrick, but not here and not now. Jaquon was who I came with, and he is who I had to show the majority of my affection to. I have to say he made sure to pay more attention to me, which was a total turnaround from the last get-together we attended. The last cookout consisted of Jaquon smiling all up in some woman's face and whispering in another one's ear, but I couldn't think about the past now. I had to concentrate on our future, but did we have one together?
We ate and we drank until we couldn't eat anymore. Ms. Shirley put a hurting on the food, and we broke one of the commandments, and that was the sin of gluttony. Everybody sat back with their bellies tight, and now it was time for the men to get caught up in their card games, Jaquon being one of them.
People were quick to eat, but no one was quick to clean up after themselves. Ms. Shirley attempted to tackle some of the mess, but I made her sit down. She had done enough with the cooking. Now it was time for her to sit back and relax.
I picked up where she left off by throwing all the used paper plates in the trash can. I dumped drinks out of cups and picked up paper off the ground. I swear some people just didn't have any home training.
One of the trash cans was running over with garbage. I tried to lift the industrial-size black plastic bag, but it was too heavy for me to pick up. Derrick showed up out of nowhere to help me.
“I got it,” he said brushing his hand across mine. Instantly tingles surged throughout my body. “I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself,” he said.
I couldn't do anything but smile and get away from him. The only thing left to do was to store the leftover food and wash the dishes. Derrick had a dishwasher, so it made that easy.
Derrick kept looking at me with a passion hot enough to ignite us both into flames. Finally he got his chance again to be with me alone when I was loading the dishwasher.
“Meet me later,” he whispered to me.
“We can't do this. Not tonight,” I said.
“I need to be with you, Kea.”
“How is it going to look when both of us disappear?”
“Who's going to notice? Everybody is dancing and playing cards. No one will miss us,” he said grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it gently.
“You are really not making this easy,” I said.
“Dip out in twenty minutes and meet me at the cut overlooking the city. I'm going to leave now.”
“And you think your mother won't notice?”
“I'll tell her I have to dip out for a minute if that will make you feel better.”
It didn't make me feel better. Twenty minutes went by, and Derrick still hadn't left. I figured out later he was trying to see his parents off. They were ready to go home. Once he got them on their way, he mingled a bit, and then disappeared.
Watching the digits on my watch move at a snail's pace, I longed for that time when I could make my grand exit. What was I thinking, though? I couldn't go be with Derrick after uncurling myself out of the arms of Jaquon earlier. What does that say about me? And wouldn't Jaquon get curious about my sudden departure? Wouldn't he wonder why he doesn't see Derrick either? I would have to think of something. The guilt of the entire thing was killing me. Why was I worried about what Jaquon thought? He disappeared on me all the time. Why was it I was always thinking about our relationship when he never once considered me when it came to him doing what he wanted to do? I know he claimed to have changed, but why should I believe him? Or was I making excuses to justify me doing my dirt now?
I needed to do this. Maybe we could make this our last time together. Tonight I was going to step outside the box and do the unexpected. I was going to play Jaquon's game and be with the person I wanted to be with, Derrick. Whatever happens, happens.
Grabbing my car keys, I left without saying a word. Luck was with me because Jaquon was too busy playing cards to even notice. I was also glad no one screamed, “Where you going?” since a beer run needed to happen every hour and any car moving was responsible for the next run.
Arriving at the location Derrick specified, I saw him sitting in his car. The neon lights from his stereo glowed brightly. I let down the automatic window and cut my car off, and he did the same.
“Get out and get into my car,” he said. I didn't hesitate doing what he asked. Once in, I enjoyed the new car scent as the black leather seats welcomed me into his new ride.
“You like?” he asked.
“I do.”
“I have been wanting this SUV for a while now, and I finally got it,” he said, brushing his hand across the steering wheel.
Not meaning to change the subject I asked, “Derrick, what are we doing?”
“Honestly, I don't know. The one thing I do know is I want you. I know you feel a connection between us, Kea. When I saw you standing alone earlier, my mind led me to embrace you. Your body fits like a glove against mine, and I knew then that maybe what we got going on is not just an ordinary fling.”
“So you want me for my body?” I questioned jokingly.
“No. I love your mind too,” he said smiling. “I love your eyes, your scent, and your smile. I just love being in your presence.”
“But ...” I said.
“I know what you're going to say. What about Jaquon?”
“And your crazy ex-girl, Zacariah,” I added.
“Zacariah and I are over. There's no going back. I'm only looking forward. I'm driving blindly, but I clearly see I want you. When I saw you walk in with Jaquon, my heart skipped some beats.”
“I was nervous about coming because I was scared someone would figure out we've had something going on.”
Derrick reached for my hand.
I said, “You know, Jaquon told me he's going to change, and lately he's been showing me a different side of him.”
“But for how long?” Derrick asked.
“I don't know, but he hasn't been going out, and he's been spending more time with me.”
“Do you trust him?”
“Of course not. I'm still leery. I'm wondering where all of this newfound devotion is coming from all of a sudden.”
“Maybe he's starting to realize it's too late for him. He had his chance, and he blew it. Maybe I'm the man you need in your life right now.”
“And you're willing to lose your friendship with him?”
“Yes.”
The truth was in Derrick's eyes. I looked intently into them, searching for something that would let me know this wasn't meant to be. But the longer I stared, the more I could see his affection for me wasn't wavering.
“I don't know,” I said cautiously.
“Aren't you tired of getting walked on all the time? I know I am.”
“I am too, butâ”
“Kea, I know all of this sneaking around isn't right, but we walked around looking like fools with people who openly cheated on us.”
“I know, butâ”
“Baby, let's do this. Let's be together. I know I don't know your entire story, but I'm willing to convert this tragedy into a love story with a happy ending. And if you didn't know it already, Kea, I've fallen in love with you.”
If there ever were words a woman wanted to hear, here was Derrick telling them to me.
“Let me make love to you again.”
“Derrick,” I said before feeling the tip of his finger on my lips.
“Shhhh, just kiss me.”
He leaned over the console and planted his lips on mine.
“I want you so bad,” he whispered reaching under my shirt, taking my right breast in his hands. His thumb came in contact with my nipple, sending quivers through me.
“What do you want from me?” I said, then immediately thought it was a dumb question.
“I want you, baby.”
He leaned his seat all the way back to the reclining position and asked me to get on top. I crawled over and straddled him as my legs gripped both sides of him, fitting perfectly. I was happy I was wearing a short denim mini. Feeling his hardness beneath me, I leaned down and kissed him some more. His hands explored my body while I unbuckled his belt and jeans. He eased them down, exposing his immense manhood.
“Come on, baby, give it to me,” he whispered, ripping my G-string off. For a minute I thought how in the world was I going to explain to Jaquon not having on panties, but I figured when that time came, I could lie like he did.
Pulling Derrick's python free, I lifted myself upward, positioning his dick at the exact spot to enter me. Coming down slowly, we both sucked in sighs of pleasure. Mine was coming from this massiveness, and his from my warmth and wetness. And I was wet, dripping from the excitement of feeling this man inside me. My womanhood throbbed for him as I moved my hips in a circular motion while I watched the bliss all over his face.
“Oh, baby, you feel so good,” he said, sending my body to elevations never experienced with Jaquon.
“You feel good too, baby,” I murmured.
“I want to be in control,” he said sitting upward with his mouth connecting to my breast. “Let me be on top,” he said.
He maneuvered us to a comfortable position within the confined space of his new SUV. With one leg on the driver-side window and another on the dash on the passenger side, my body invited him in, and, boy, did he knock hard. He made love to me with a dynamism that sent my body into compound explosions. I believed if I would have asked him to keep going, he would have, but we had to get back to reality. Our lovemaking lasted a lot longer than it should have, and I hoped I wouldn't have to explain why I was gone for so long. But, boy, was it worth it.
After we were done, we fixed ourselves, not saying anything. We both looked into the darkness as the moon shined bright. We seemed to do this every time we were together. With us both spent and me now tired and sleepy, I closed my eyes, wishing I could doze off right here. Opening my eyes before I did fall into a deep slumber, I looked over at Derrick who was gazing at me.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I said softly.
“You look so beautiful.”
“You full of compliments tonight, aren't you?”
“I mean it too.”
“You don't look bad yourself.”
“I hope you have no regrets.”
“Not a-one. I'm glad I came. And, boy, did I ever.” We both laughed.
“Happy I could assist,” he said.
“Glad you could please,” I smiled.
“I guess we should head back to the peeps,” Derrick said.
“Do we have to?”
“Not if you don't want to.”
“I don't, but I guess we should.”
“Where do we go from here?” he asked brushing the hair from my face. “Are we going to be together?”
“Derrick, I don't know how we're going to do this, but I want nothing more than to be with you. I've fallen in love with you too and hope you will be a part of my future.”
Derrick
When I got back to the house, there were still quite a few people congregated in the backyard. When I left, there was one table set up for cards and now there were three. By the looks of the intense faces examining the cards in their hands, I don't think anyone noticed me being gone.
On cloud nine, I walked into the backyard with the intentions of mingling a bit when I was stopped dead in my tracks. Was I seeing this for real, or was this my imagination? Zacariah was looking at me, and she was sitting with Essence and Jaquon. I couldn't believe it. The fact Zacariah was bold enough to show her face back here and Jaquon arrogant enough to be sitting beside some female who was a little bit too close to him made me want to fly into a rage.
Zacariah waved, smiling that devilish grin of hers with her hair pulled up into a silver clip exposing her neck and silver hoop earrings. I turned with my hands balled into fists, wanting to snatch all three of them up, removing them from the premises, but I managed to maintain my composure.
I went into the house to clear my head a bit. I paced, wondering what I should do next. I felt like fighting. I had been letting these feelings fester way too long, and I was about to snap. Should I go out there and confront Jaquon now in front of everybody, not caring about my affair with Kea coming out, or should I just leave this situation alone?
I needed a drink. I went into the fridge to get a beer but when I went to reach for one, I was surprised to find none. These freeloaders had drunk up all my damn beer. I put what I wanted them to have in the coolers positioned near the table. Who the hell told them they could have my stash, and why in the hell were they in my refrigerator? I slammed the door shut, madder than I was when I walked in.
Kea entered trying to look inconspicuous. She must have seen the distressed look on my face because she came over to me asking, “What's wrong, Derrick?”
Before I could open my mouth to answer, Zacariah walked in.
“Hello, lovebirds. Where have y'all been?” she asked holding one of my beers that had been in my fridge.
Kea and I looked at each other and didn't say anything. Kea knew now why I was upset. I couldn't do anything but turn my back to Zacariah because if I kept facing her, I might slap the hell out of her.
“Oh, y'all don't want to answer me. I understand. You might incriminate yourselves.”
“I thought I told you to never step foot back in my house,” I said, snapping back around to address her.
“I was invited, Derrick,” she said fearlessly.
“By who, because I sure as hell didn't invite you?” I said raging.
“I accompanied Essence,” she said looking out the patio door at her girl smiling up in Jaquon's face.
“Who is Essence?” Kea asked.
“Oh, you don't know who she is,” Zacariah said slyly. “She's the one with the off-the-shoulder floral print number sitting beside Jaquon. Don't they look nice together?”
I wanted to smack that grin off her face. I knew what she was trying to do. I walked over to her, grabbing her by the arm and telling her, “You need to leave now.”
Zacariah snatched her arm away from me, and we both watched as Kea peered out into the backyard. I knew her mind was calculating things, and Zacariah was eating it up. She glanced back at me, and then at Kea who, by now, was opening the door to enter the backyard.