I arrived at the birthday party in Raleigh at the Bontecito apartments. Finding a parking space sent me around the perimeter of the complex several times before I eased into one by the trash dump. I was anticipating a fun time. Her birthdays always promised the goods. Good liquor, good weed and good laughs.
This was a pool party, but unfortunately, no one had ventured into the pool by the time I arrived. Instead, the crowd centered around the deejay's booth, which was directly across from the cash bar.
Walking slowly but with purpose down the sidewalk leading to the clubhouse, I scoped for the guest of honor as well as anyone else I might know. Like radar, my eyes centered on the cinnamon smooth skin radiating like a candle.
August in the Piedmont of North Carolina was as warm and misty as a bathroom after a hot shower. Jacquelin cooled herself in a gauzy, honey colored sheath that hugged her skin and enhanced her long legs. I gave an easy, wide smile and glided into her embrace. I bent down and leaned into her, making sure she smelled me. That evening in preparation, I had anointed my body in a special oil made of love, musk and myrrh. Special attention was paid to places where my heart pulsed, specifically my neck -- it was the main attraction when dancing and hugging.
"You smell good," she remarked with the cat-like smile and spicy eyes that drove me to instant fleeting thoughts of the bedroom. I gathered my concentration and thought, mission accomplished, and politely said thank you. I passed her my gift of incense and a lighter, two things a smoker couldn't do without. She took my hand and led me inside, directly to the bar. Something strong would get me in the mood. It would also relax my heartbeat that had quickened during the hug.
"Remy and coke with a splash of cranberry please," I asked the bartender. "And what are you drinking?" I inquired towards the guest of honor, still smiling.
"Oh this is a tropical sunset, with an extra shot of rum," she replied.
"I can't fool with that white liquor. We don't get along, too many bad memories starting with the name Ralph," I said. She laughed and it sounded like feathers falling on silk. Light and airy. Looking at her, I raised my cup.
"To many more years of celebrating life" I cheered.
With drinks in hand, we ventured to the couch and joined the rest of her friends. I gave my hellos and settled back to get into the groove of things and see the events as they transpired, up close and personal. The deejay was spinning out hits. People rushed to the middle of the room, the proclaimed dance floor for the evening, and I watched as folks bumped and grinded in a show that I enjoyed.
I was also enjoying being so close to Jacquelin. Her skin would casually rub against mine as we both danced in our chairs. I was getting the pricklies and goose bumps both at the same time. The closeness was getting me too excited, and since she had no idea of my hidden attraction, I got up to go check out the deejay.
He had long locks and an island look. He grinned on my approach, ready to flirt. I began helping him pick out songs and soon was given the mic to wish Jacquelin a happy birthday. She raised her glass in appreciation of the shout out and I realized she had been giving me her eyes long before I breathed into the mic. I smiled inwardly at the attention while turning to put the mic down. When I turned back around she was heading in my direction.
"Let's step out for a smoke break," she breathed into my ear.
Wild dogs couldn't have stopped me from the opportunity to get her alone.
"My car is right out front," she said. "And I've got an L already rolled."
"Cool," was my aloof response.
We stepped inside her black Honda Prelude and the tinted windows bathed us in secured darkness. Perfect for enjoying contraband and intimate moments. We were in the backseat folded and crumpled. Her legs were open to me, the honey colored sheath now cinched up high around a brown thigh and my eyes wandered to the mauve and pink where the thighs met in that perfect flower.
"Here take it, it's on you," she was saying and I reigned my imaginings back just in time to accept the blunt and hear the words that would change our whole friendship.
"There's a girl coming here that my friends don't approve of," she said.
"Oh really? Why?" I asked between tokes. "What's up with her?"
"We had an affair this spring," Jacquelin said frankly. "It started out with her casually chasing me. I was intrigued by her interest. She would take me out to drinks and dinner. One night we were at her place, and it was getting pretty late. She put on an old Marvin Gaye CD and asked me to dance. We stood apart at first, then the music was like a magnet that drew us together and we began to slow dance. It felt like home, good, safe and perfect. The kiss just seemed a natural extension of the slow drag. From then on, I was at her house every night for the rest of the spring."
"And your friends?" I asked, barely able to breathe. "Did you tell them?
"Not in so many words. I think they knew, especially my roommate. I didn't really want to talk about it. My roommate said it was a phase and to get over it. They didn't like my new found interest. After a while, their influence won out and I stopped seeing her," she said remorsefully.
"That's too bad. I think it's a wonderful experience every woman should have to really evolve as a sexual being."
I had to emphasize my acquiescence. In my mind, I was already holding her in my arms. I shook off the thought, difficult as her eyes penetrated me fully.
"So you've had one?" she inquired.
"Yes. More than one, and each of them were fabulous even though I know now for a fact women are crazy. I've learned that just because I'm a woman, doesn't give me special insight into the moods and motivations of other women," I said, my voice coated in memories.
"I always knew there was something ambiguous about you. In college, you were so mysterious," she said.
"I heard people were wondering. Actually, back then, I was strictly dickly. I was busy trying not to date the interests of the Deltas because I wanted to pledge. So I went off campus for the booty. Those were the days of the 'free fucks' as I call them. It wasn't until a year after college that I had my first same sex experience," I remarked. "But to keep it real, I did have my fantasies about a few."
"Like who?" she questioned, intrigued.
"Like you," I whispered. The confession stood in the air like the smoke we were creating from the rerolled cigar. She was smiling now and looked at me demurely.
"What was the fantasy?" she asked.
"I couldn't let myself go beyond a kiss. After that, my mind stopped. But I always thought you were sexy. I always felt we would have a good time in bed together," I revealed. This was the move if there was one. I could only let it out and wait for cosmic energy to return. Moments passed and we listened to the music I had stopped hearing after she first began her story. My heart doubled its rate when she made her next comment.
"So if that were to happen, where would it take place? It can't be at my apartment. You know my roommate situation."
"Well, I offered, barely containing my excitement, we could go to a hotel."
I couldn't speak anymore and neither did she. After putting the roach in the ashtray we got out of the car and sat on the hood. Within a few minutes, a white Beretta slowly pulled up near the trunk and something inside me knew this was the girl. Jacquelin rose up and went to the car window. After a minute, she called me over to be introduced. This is it, I thought. I wonder what this chick looks like.
I strode over and put on my nice-to-meet-you smile. I almost laughed. This one was no match for the kid. She was dark skinned but ashen, as if she was not resting enough. Perhaps, I mused, she was up nights trying to get Jacquelin off the brain. There were no smiles returned from the inside of the car. Only that look that says "I know you're my competition and though you'll probably win, at least I'm in the running."
I stood off to the side and waited patiently while Jacquelin told them to park. We all walked inside and rejoined the party. Though I couldn't speak for Jacquelin, I was up in the universe. A glance at her told me she seemed to be gliding high right along with me. Perhaps her balance was off from the THC, because she was leaning into me with renewed zeal. It could be that the herb was affecting her the same way it was me, and bringing heat to her groin. The conversation we had only moments ago was also a lingering factor.
After ordering another drink, we sat back down on the couch. Jacquelin was again beside me, and her spring fling was two people away.
More than anything, I dared not move. The birthday girl was rubbing my elbow and lightly scratching her nail against the wrinkled space where forearm and upper arm meet. It was an intoxicating gesture and I was enjoying this forwardness immensely.
After a few forays onto the dance floor and many more drinks, it was time for me to make my exit. Jacquelin was oddly ready to go as well once I declared I was leaving.
Prolonging the moment of goodbye, she offered to give me a ride to my car, which was only a few hundred feet further than hers. Cool, I thought. Once in her ride, I struggled in my slightly drunken stupor to come up with a clever comment.
"So when will I see you again?" was the only thing that came to mind.
"Just call me," she responded, also obviously in her own train of thought. We stopped just at my car's bumper and I bravely reached out to rub her flat stomach. She just looked at me and smiled coyly.
"You'll hear from me soon, take good care," I said as I reluctantly got out of her car.
Many days and nights were spent in a flux. I tried to remain cool and thought of the perfect time to call. Things like scheduling were difficult with this one, she was odd. If I called too soon, she would be evasive. If I let too much time pass, it would cool her off. Finally, it seemed like the right time to call. She didn't answer. I hadn't thought of having to leave a message. Now I would have to wait again. Pensively, I hopped in the car and went to the bookstore to fool myself into thinking I was not waiting for her call. But I was, and it finally came.
She was available and yes could meet up that night. Hurriedly, I made the connection with the friend who had a friend in the hotel management industry. We made arrangements and I got the room for that night. I could not believe it. It seemed if all went well, I would be spending the night with a woman I had fantasized about for many years. Serendipity is cool and I'm patient, so who cares if it took ten years? On the way back home I tried to think of what I would pack for the night in an attempt to keep my heart would stop beating so quickly in anticipation of seeing her. It didn't necessarily work, because now I was more excited thinking of what she would be wearing when I opened the door to see her on the threshold of what would change our relationship forever.
In my room, packing was a swift movement of gathering clothes. I couldn't really focus on the mundane task, knowing that in less than four hours, I would be sharing a bed with the sweet Jacquelin. I wondered then what she was thinking and if her nerves had her mind reeling and body shaking as mine were. I wouldn't let myself imagine what our entanglement would be like. I didn't want to have too many high hopes. All I knew was that I would try every aphrodisiac I could get my hands on in the limited variety of a small town.
Around six in the evening, this town turns off the welcome signs and closes shop. It's every person for herself. I didn't have time to go to the mall, and my money was limited anyway, so I settled for a couple of convenience stores. I ended up with the classic goodies of candles, incense and baby oil.
I got to the hotel and set everything up as best as I could. I lit the candle and incense and placed the oil by the bed. In less than 20 minutes she would be here and my heart sounded like the police beating on your door. In the next minute, there was a real knock and I almost fainted from the head rush. But I had to be cool. She gave a quick peck on my cheek as greeting. It appeared she still had on her work clothes, but did indeed have an overnight bag.
Smoking herb is an immediate ice breaker. It gives your hands something to do and you're completely relaxed once it's ashed. I could tell she was as nervous as I was and it seemed that is was up to me to make a move. I offered more wine and as we drank, my eyes searched the room. I came upon the baby oil glistening under the desk light as if a beacon of opportunity. A ha! A massage is in order. I'm not an expert, but in my own boudoir ratios, 80% of the time, sex comes after a massage.
"Let me rub your back" I said with caution.
Her answer was one swift move, and now her shirt was off and she was lying on her stomach with only her bra and translucent shorts. This is happening, I convinced my irrational mind. My clit, on the other hand, needed no persuasion as it throbbed in anticipation.
I treated her back with the delicate sensitivities used when blowing an eyelash off a cheek. Tender and strong, I used my hands as explorers on a mission to knead away all fear and tension. So totally absorbed was I in this heavenly job that it seemed her murmurs had blended into the sound of the summer shower that had begun outside.
"Only another woman would offer such a sweet massage," she whispered. I was on a cloud of euphoria and couldn't imagine anything more delicious than the combination of pleasure and the anticipation of more. Not until the wine convinced me to lean down and kiss the back of her neck.
She breathed deeply and turned over to face me. I almost got lost in the darkness of her eyes as they drew me in. Her mouth was hot, full and spicy from the cinnamon flavored cigar and the red wine. I was tipsy all over again as our tongues danced and played like butterflies on rose petals.
She reached down and untied the string holding my shorts up. There were no underwear to get in the way, and she seemed pleasantly surprised to discover skin. The heat that was inside my shorts was building, and on my inner thighs, close to my lips, I could feel the beginning of a long night of wetness. The rest of the clothes, both hers and mine, were peeled away in seconds and we were pumping hip into hip. I wriggled around trying to make contact with her clit. She was banging into my pussy like an uneven washing machine against the wall. I loved it, but even more, I loved the way she moved me so that now I was on my back and she was on top.
Her hand made a brief pass over my vagina until miraculously, she had a middle finger inside me and her other two fingers were massaging my clit. I was dazed, confused and about to come within seconds, all from a woman who claimed to have only had one other experience. Her thrusting made me move faster. She moved her knee against the back of her hand which pushed her finger to the hilt of me. Her hot breath was burning my ear.
"Come for me baby, come on my hand, she coaxed, licking and whispering in my ear. I could barely hear for the drumming in my head, the thunder outside, and my own moaning.
I felt the uncontrollable clenching happening deep inside my vaginal walls as I squeezed and tightened against the pounding. My whole body was shaking as I released the clutch I had on her finger. It seemed the entire bed rolled as I came and a torrent of wetness oozed out of me. I grappled with reality for a moment as I caught my breath. Did this just happen with my sweet Jacquelin?
A kiss on the cheek brought me back from the valley of pleasure. It was her, there, right now, and it was my turn.
I embraced her in a full bear hug and rose up. Now she was straddling me, her long legs gripping mine. I reached up and buried my head between her cocoa breasts taking in her scent. Raspberry nipples pointed out at me, so I took hold of one with my mouth and the other with my hand. I rubbed and sucked both in a circle leaving wet round trails. Slowly I rolled her over and started kissing every shadow I could find on her body. I felt her hands all on my back, ass and thighs. Reaching down I found her clit and began squeezing. Her moans let me know I was in the right place. I cupped her mound with my hand and eased in my middle finger. Her pussy was so wet I easily could have put in several fingers. Instead, I used my hand as a sandwich between our vulvas. This way, I would have the added weight pushing against my hand. I fucked her slowly, watching her face as she bit her lip.
"Yea, harder, it's so good," she growled.
I reared back off her for a second to reposition myself and go deeper inside. With my left arm under her shoulder, I had better leverage to push harder. We pumped in a frenzy of passion. She still rubbing my body and me sucking and licking everywhere I could reach without breaking our stride. The bed seemed to have floated off the ground in apparent rhythm with the simultaneous chanting of each other's names. Finally, she eased her hips up off the bed and grinded into me with renewed fervor. She grabbed the back of my head and took a handful of locks. She looked straight into my eyes as she yelled, pleaded with god and came with such force that my finger was thrust out and my entire hand was soaking wet.
One hundred kisses quieted her breathing and she finally fell off into a deep sleep. I laid there spooning her, reliving each pleasure-filled moment until I too succumbed to the most beautiful, peaceful rest.
The next morning, she got up early to prepare for work. She showered and began to dress all too quickly for me, as I wished for a repeat morning performance.
"Why don't you call in to work late?" I asked.
She laughed and continued dressing. "That would be nice, but I'm the manager," she replied. "The place would fall apart without me."
I wanted to say, so will I, but something must've been conveyed in my eyes. She came over with a brown bag and reached inside.
"Here's breakfast," she said, handing me a nectarine and then biting into one herself.
Munching quickly, I looked at her perfect mouth and remembered the places it ventured and things it breathed last night. With traces of fruity nectarine juice still in her mouth, she kissed me deeply as I took in her scent and the taste of her tongue. I wished her a good day at work and she walked out of the room, turning briefly to blow me a kiss.
It was months before I saw her again. In two months, she had moved to another part of town. She no longer had the same phone number. In that short amount of time, my life had also taken on drastic changes. I only had her email address, and after a couple of unreturned messages, I gave up on trying to contact her. Sure I was hurt. It was probably too much for her, I reasoned, trying to rationalize with my bruised heart. I couldn't believe something so awesome and intimate could be dismissed so easily. To this day, two years later, we have never spoken of that night we shared. However, I do have a whole new appreciation for nectarines.
Originally published September 2007 - "Sugar & Spice"