Preseason Love (7 page)

Oh, I'm drinking tonight.

“I'm only having one glass. It's about moderation,” I rationalized with a smile. I had a new life, a new lust, and a new me.

I had to text Dev to see where she was. If I brought Kari home, she couldn't be there. That would mess up all of my first-time sexy time with him.

Dev hit me back quickly with an “out of office” reply, a good sign that Kari and I would have the place all to ourselves. It was no mystery that she was likely with Mel. I was so excited to get my freak on with Kari that I almost busted out into the Cabbage Patch.

We were finishing up our drinks when Kari gently touched my face and asked if I was ready. I could feel the rush of wetness hit my panties as I struggled to reply. He took my hand in his and we made a beeline for the exit.

The cold air hit my face and that was exactly the slap I needed
to calm my ass down. Kari mentioned that he drove into the city so we headed for his car. I was so hyped and ready to go that if he played his cards right, we might have gotten busy in the middle of the parking garage.

The music was on in the car, but it was really for background noise. We chatted nonstop until Kari hit a straightaway. That's when he firmly placed his hand on my knee. His manly touch slowly ran up my inner thigh, hiking my dress up in the process.

Kari continued to caress my inner thigh, teasing me. His fingers ever so slightly grazed my sweet spot and I could feel my pressure rising. I started to pant softly from the anticipation. Then he cupped his hand in between my legs, gripping my moist panties as he looked at me with a slight smile. He knew he had me.

Moving my panties to the side, Kari slid his fingers into my slippery warmth. It felt so good. I began to moan from the rubbing, touching, and moving of his fingers in and out. I yearned to know what this man had in store for me.

He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I slowly opened my eyes. I wasn't sleep, but it felt like I was in a dream state and I hadn't noticed that we had gotten off at my exit. After a few turns, we pulled up to the apartment and Kari unbuckled my seat belt before placing his soft lips on me again.

Once we made it inside my apartment, our hands were scouring each other's bodies searching for everything yet nothing in particular. I opened his shirt, exposing his bare chest. His physique was something to savor. Kari's skin was extremely soft and his chest surprisingly smooth, I wondered if he got it waxed.

Those thoughts quickly went away as he pushed me up against the wall and put his lips on mine, sucking deep and almost taking my breath away. His strength and control was sexy. His large
hand cupped my ass perfectly. We moved onto the couch where he laid me on my back and began kissing on my breasts.

“Aaaah!” I squealed. My nerves had karate-chopped me in the stomach and suddenly I had to shit!

Oh no! I can't be this scared. I want this. No, I really do. I actually want this. What's wrong with me?

I felt my stomach rumbling and my insides churning. I hoped that Kari couldn't hear what I was feeling.

Was it something I ate at the party?

He was kissing on my neck and it felt amazing, but my sensations were conflicted. This was not good timing!

What am I supposed to do? I have to go now before I embarrass myself even more.

I jumped off the couch and ran toward the downstairs bathroom yelling, “I'll be right back!”

I almost missed the last step and busted my ass in the darkness because I was moving so fast, but it was a 9-1-1 situation. The only thing flashing in my head was
WARNING! WARNING! YOU ARE ABOUT TO SHIT ON YOURSELF, SCOTTIE!
I slid into the bathroom just in time.

I sat on that toilet for what felt like a century when you have a sexy new lover waiting. I prayed that he didn't get spooked and leave.

By the time I emerged from the bathroom and headed back upstairs, Kari was sitting on the couch watching TV. He had the dumbest look on his face, but he did not say a word. He opened his arms as I walked over to him. I laid my head on his chest and that's how we fell asleep, in each other's arms.

During the wee hours of the morning, he woke me to say that he was heading home to get ready for work. He kissed me softly on the lips and walked out the door.

D
ev and I were obsessed with roaming the streets of the city shopping and exploring hidden gems. From macaroon cafes to underground spoken word poetry lounges, we wanted to consume every unique aspect that the atmosphere had to offer. The trash-laden streets could conjure up a stench like no other, but I gave it a pass because the mesmerizing sights, sounds, and people somehow made it all worthwhile.

Sometimes Dev and I would stop in the middle of what we were doing to say, “Can you believe that we live in New York! Aaahhh!” Then we would both giggle with excitement. This was exactly the type of invigorating experience I was longing for. I felt like I needed someone to pinch me.

Things with Dev and Mel were gradually growing more intense. During a chat one day, she even mentioned that he might be “the one.” If she didn't show up to the apartment on any given night of the week, my safe guess was that she was with Mel, which gave me time alone that I loved. Consequently, everything in the world of roommates was going smoothly.

Meanwhile, Kari and I had been consistently spending more time together as well. But after the awkward first attempt at taking our relationship to the next level, we had not gotten back around to sealing the deal.

“Do you think Kari could be gay?”

“Uh, where did that come from?” Dev looked at me puzzled as we walked crosstown on Fourteenth Street. “I thought you liked him. And no, I don't get a gay vibe from him.”

“Do you think he could have a secret girlfriend?”

“No!” Dev looked at me. “Again, I thought you liked him? Why the suspicion?”

“Surprisingly, I do like him, Dev.”

“You should. He is sexy as hell.”

“But you know me.” I shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes.

“Continue, chick, because you and I know how quickly you cut people off. I'm glad he made it this far,” Dev said, her big brown eyes giving me a wary look. “Are you trying to find a reason to get rid of him, Scottie?”

“No! I'm confused, I guess. He really hasn't tried to push up on me since the incident at the house. And that was weeks ago.”

“Wait, you mean the incident when you probably grossed him out with the bubble guts?” Dev laughed hysterically. “You're lucky he's still talking to you!”

I had no choice but to laugh. The situation wasn't funny at the time, but it was hilarious looking back. Dev putting things in perspective made me feel slightly silly. Kari was obviously interested in me.

“He probably thinks that you got scared the last time and he's waiting for your cue. Maybe he's trying to be respectful in letting you take your time,” Dev said.

“You could be right. I hadn't thought of it that way.”

“If you tried to jump his bones and he straight up rejected you, then maybe you would have a reason to be suspicious. Plus, does he really strike you as even possibly being gay?”

“No,” I said sheepishly.

“I know you. If you thought even for a second that he was actually gay, or had a girlfriend, you would have dropped him.”

“True, nothing worse than everyone except you knowing that your man likes men.”

“Exactly. So stop being silly and if you want it, then take it!” Dev said firmly as she puffed out her chest, then laughed at her own forcefulness.

“I think that's the spot ahead on the left,” I said, totally ignoring her last comment.

We were meeting up with a friend from college at a Hot 97 radio event. It was work for her, but all play for us.

The music was blaring and the after-work crowd was live. I couldn't get Kari off of my mind, but I decided that I needed to, at least for the evening. It was time to drink up and dance the night away. We caught up with our girl who introduced us to what seemed like the entire HOT 97 staff. To my surprise, there were actually a few cuties roaming around. One cutie could always help me get my mind off of another. Hell, I wasn't in a relationship so it was time to rotate and mingle.

I could see Dev from across the room showing off her moves on the dance floor. Her song must have come on. She was fresh out the hair shop, so her bob was bouncing from side to side with every move that she made. It was extremely entertaining watching guys try to keep up with her. If it was a booty-popping song that she really liked, she would need to do a solo to show off her dance skills. Dev was no stranger to freestyle dance or formal dance training, but I don't think that she ever believed in her skills enough to try to take it all the way to the professional level.

Eventually, I made my way to the other side of the club where I made friends with a couple of men at the bar. Nothing special.
We'd done a few shots together, so I was a little buzzed when Dev found me. Dev must have decided that she was finished with her talent showcase since she informed me that Mel was on his way to pick her up.

“Look, chick, if you're not trying to do the public transportation thing tonight, then you should hop in with Mel and me.”

My tipsy meter was at its peak, so I made a hasty decision against my better judgment. “All right, I'll roll out with you guys.”

“That's what I thought,” Dev said.

About fifteen minutes passed before Dev gave me the signal. We said our goodbyes and we were on our way toward the door when a sleazy-looking guy grabbed my arm. “Why are you leaving so soon, gorgeous?”

Is he serious?

“I'm on my way out the door and you decide to speak now?” I asked, without really wanting an answer as I snatched my arm back. “Have a good night!” I quickly shouted over the music and continued out the door. Some guys were laughable.

When we walked out, to my surprise, the line of people waiting to get in was stretched around the block. Mel was sitting right out front, VIP-style, in his black-on-black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Dev knew how to pick them, and we still had no clue what he did for a living. I could have told her my guess, but she didn't ask for my opinion.

Evidently, Que was back in town. Just my luck. His thick neck was posted in the passenger side as usual. When I saw him, my initial thought was to tell Dev that I would pass on the ride. But then I realized what I would have to do to navigate my tipsy behind to Jersey by myself and I got in the truck. I spoke to Mel and barely mumbled two words to Que. I think it was safe to say
that he knew I wasn't feeling him. We had a nonverbal under-standing.

Mel mentioned that he wanted to take us to this spot in Queens. I didn't like the sound of going back to Queens with him, but my head was spinning so my senses were not on high alert. Dev was down without hesitation. She would use this as her chance to see a bit more about him, like where he hung out when he was not with her.

We rode out to Queens chitchatting and blasting the music. When we exited the freeway, I could instantly tell that we were in the 'hood. You could see trash strewn about the streets, people hanging out on the corners, and abandoned buildings for blocks. Of course I didn't say anything.

As we made a few turns and rolled onto a well-lit block with quite a few bars lining the street, I saw a black car with extremely blacked-out, tinted windows swoop in front of us abruptly. It made a sharp
Fast and Furious
-type move, cutting Mel off and making it impossible to pass. Mel slammed on the brakes.

Dev and I both flew forward, and my head smacked against the headrest.

What the hell is going on? Are we about to get kidnapped or robbed or, shit, killed?!

All I saw was my life flash before my eyes. I started to sober up pretty quick.

Mel, still inside the truck, yelled out, “What the fuck?!”

Before he could finish his rant, the truck was surrounded by at least fifteen men with guns drawn. They looked like undercover cops and they were everywhere. I was secretly relieved. Cops were a better option than some relentless enemy of Mel's unloading an Uzi clip on us like a reenactment in a gangster film.

So many thoughts went through my head in a flash.

“Get out of the fucking car with your hands up!” screamed the officer with the gun pointed directly at me.

I was in shock. All I could focus on were the guns. They kept yelling at us to get out of the car with our hands up in what sounded like a cadence. I had no clue how to get out of a car with my hands still up. This could not be my life. I had no idea where I was, let alone what type of illegal activities Mel was into. As far as I was concerned, we were all fucked.

The officer on Dev's side yanked her door open. She hesitated initially, then decided that she better go ahead and cooperate. They had already snatched Mel out of the truck, and his face was pressed up against the steaming hot hood of the car, and they were handcuffing him.

Dev, Que, and I were instructed to go to the rear of the truck and put our hands on the back window. It was freezing outside, but the truck was still running so luckily, we could feel warmth on the windows.

We watched as they tore through the glove box, side-door panels, seats and everything else. Mel's Mercedes was a wreck. They searched every inch of it. I watched fearfully. I had no idea what they were looking for or what they might find.

I asked the officer closest to me why they stopped us, and he said that Mel failed to stop when an officer signaled him to pull over. I found that hard to believe. Out of four people in a car, not one of us realized that there were lights flashing behind us and that we were being signaled to pull over by the police. I called bullshit. I looked toward the front of the car, and Mel was still in handcuffs.