Eve Chapter 4

I hadn’t realized I was that tired. I slept like a rock. I woke up and saw the text from Stu. It read, dress comfortably, which I did. Only some jeans, an oversized cow neck sweater and some boots. I kept my hair cut short, so I didn’t have any work to do. I liked makeup but I wasn’t the glam type. I pulled myself together and headed out.

Stu and I went to dinner at this little Italian spot. The food was amazing, and place was cozy. We 

ate and talked for a long time. I appreciated the simplicity of Stu, way more than I had before. The energy was good, and he was easy to be around. I felt no pressure to be anything more than Eve.

We laughed and played around freely. The night was 

going well until I looked up to see my worst nightmare staring me in the face with the look of anger across his face. Mr. Black was headed out the door and looked up to see me laughing with Stu. He cocked his head to the side, as he and his friends continued to walk out. I put my attention back on Stu, unbothered. I actually felt good letting him see that I wasn’t losing no sleep over him. 

We left and headed to the club to dance off some of the food. Stu was a good dancer. He always put me in the mindset of lovemaking by the way he danced. This was about as close as we were getting so, we didn’t hold back. I had managed to keep my virginity intact and it would remain that way.

After dancing, we headed back to our table. Stu went to the restroom, as I watched all the people dancing on the floor. I stood up and swayed to the music, while waiting on him to return. If Janet was there, we would have hit the floor. I didn’t want to leaveStu hanging trying to find me, so I danced where I was. 

I picked up my drink and sipped it as the music took over. I closed my eyes as the base vibrated from my feet, up my body. I opened my eyes to see Mr. Black standing across from me on the other side of the dance floor. The club wasn’t big so there was far less space than you would imagine. But enough to keep a safe distance.

It was like the spotlight was on him as he stood there like a god. The glow around him made him look majestic. He stood there, holding both sides of his jacket collar, staring directly into my eyes. He didn’t move. I scanned his body; oh, he was different. It was like night and day. This Mr. Black didn’t look like corporate Mr. Black. This was just Black at this point. Sweat suite, and sneakers Black. Single cross on his neck Black. Hanging with his boys Black, different level Black.

I stared back as his stare became more intense. I could feel him all over me. I couldn’t look away and he wouldn’t look away. He held his position and the room stood still. It was just me and him. The music slowed down as Usher’s Tell Me played. The sexiness of the song, and the intensity of the stare had me in a trance as my body swayed to the music. I noticed that he swayed with me as if we were dancing together. I could feelhim near me, against me. I could feel his arms around me, Icould smell him. He licked his lips and I could taste them. Hehad me, and everything I thought before this moment went out the window. The words to the song had me wanting to go tohim. This was the most sensual thing I had ever experienced. Iwanted him in the worse way. I felt his heart calling for me, andmy heart desired his. This pull wasn’t by accident and it wasn’tintended for anyone else. He was mine and I was his.

He neverbroke his gaze; he was calling for me. His soul was screamingfor mine. My soul cried out for his. I had never needed anyonein my life, and I needed this man. I longed for him in the pit ofmy gut. I had never had anyone need me, but he did…I couldfeel it. Forget everything and everyone else, this was ours. Mybody wanted to be with him, he was home. My heart was where he needed to be. It was strange but very real.

The song went off just as Stu returned from the bar with fresh drinks. He must have gone there from the restroom. I had forgotten all about him, honestly. He broke the vibe and kissed my cheek, unaware of the opposition across the room. Black looked at me like I was his woman cheating with someone else. He wiped his hands over his head and down his face before walking out. All I could do was watch as he left with my heart.

The rest of the night was strange. I couldn’t shake him. I tried to come back to reality, and stay in the moment with Stu, but I couldn’t. “Hey, you alright? You haven’t been the same since I left.” He screamed over the music. I faked a smile and nodded. “Can we go? I am not really feeling this club anymore.” “Yeah, sure, whatever. You want to go shoot pool or something?” I smiled, hitting something would definitely kill some of this tension. “Yes.” I smiled, settling Stu’s poor heart. I had sucked the life right out of this date, Black started it, I thought to myself.

We headed to the pool hall which was a few blocks away. It was a nice, hole in the wall. The lights were dim and it was a cool vibe. People were eating, drinking, and playing. The sound of balls hitting each other put me at ease. This was my thing. My friends and I used to shoot pool all the time at home. Stu had no idea what he was in for.

He paid for the table as I bopped to the music. He got the ball tray and we headed to the back where our table was. I was ready. Stu smiled at my professionalism as I chose the stick and chalked it up. “Oh, so you play, play?” he said as he racked the balls. “I do a little something, something.” I smiled back at him. “Oh, you a shark. Only sharks talk like that.” We both laughed. I broke, we played, I won of course.I was chalking up for the next game, when a group of guys came in. You could not see them from where we were. They were a little loud, but it didn’t bother anyone. We all did, however, looked at the door to make sure nothing was jumping off. Out of nowhere, I felt warm. I could feel the same pull I felt at the club. He was here. Nah, I told myself. I was tripping.

We were having a good time, although Stu was down 2 games. “I knew it. You think you’re going to be running the table on me all night? I got to step my game up.” He smiled as he looked up at me and racked the balls again. “That is exactly what I plan to do. You just keep racking them sir.” “I got next on this table.” We both looked up. I know my mouth dropped to the floor, it had to. Stu looked at him, then me, then him again. He looked at me one last time to check for my answer. I shrugged my shoulders; I didn’t know what else to do.

Black was standing there, serious as a heart attack. He walked past me, cutting his eyes so Stu couldn’t see. I wanted to run, but that would be too obvious. This couldn’t be happening, it couldn’t be. Stu walked up and whispered in my ear, “You good? You know this dude? I can tell him no.” “I’m fine, you don’t mind, do you?” I asked, genuinely concerned. “Not at all. Somebody has to stop you.” He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. I could see Black’s jaw tighten, so sexy. His movements were that of ownership without words. I tried to pull myself together and break. I focused in on the game, trying not to make eye contact.

Stu was sitting at the table snacking. He walked up to me and whispered he needed to go out to take a call. I touched his shoulder, letting him know I was fine. I shot my eyes to Black who was watching us intensely. As soon as Stu walked away, Black walked up to me. “Is that your man?” I was stuck. He wasn’t my man, but we were seeing each other. I didn’t want to downplay Stu because I did like him. But more so because I didn’t know what Black was capable of. “He is my date.” “Not what I asked you. Is...he...your...man?" he was standing so close; I could smell his breath. It was like sweet mint, but not like gum. Just a clean, fresh mouth. He was leaning against the table chalking while I leaned forward to make the shot. “No, um, he’s my friend.” I shot and missed. “Liar.” He said, cracked a smile, and walked to the other side of the table. He shot, hit, and shot again. He was walking back around the table, so I blurted out “I am not.” Sounding like a child, as I tried to redeem myself. I was a little upset. “No worries, it’s temporary", he said leaning down right past my face and shot the next ball in. He shot, I shot.

Stu came back as we had one ball a piece and it was my turn. I ran the last two shots and beat him. Black had lost interest in the game as he sized Stu up. “Eight ball corner pocket.” I shot. “Damn Eve, you’re on fire tonight babe.” Stu came and hugged me. Black looked like he had seen a ghost as he put the stick back and walked straight out the door. “I guess he’s a sore loser, he didn’t even say good game or nothing.” Stu said and racked the balls. I was sad he was gone, but smiling on the inside at his comment, ‘temporary’.

Stu and I ended the evening in the cab. He knew it wasn’t going any further than that. He never pressured me, and I appreciated that. I wasn’t even in my door good before Janet came running out. “Hey boo, how was it?” She followed me in, Marshall not far behind. We sat up for half the night, talking about what happened. They ended up sleeping over, binge watching shows and eating popcorn. They were my rocks, and I was happy to have them.