Chapter 1 #3
I sat quietly as he inhaled and let his head fall back as he released the smoke from his lungs. He shifted on his feet as he turned slightly. He was notably handsome, even from an awkward angle. His head moved from side to side as he worked out the residual tension in his neck.
My hand drifted to my bare neckline as his locs dusted over his shoulders. When his head dropped back down, our eyes finally connected. He only looked like he’d seen a ghost for a second before his face relaxed. I watched as his demeanor softened in real time.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you sitting there.”
My shoulders quickly rose and fell. “It’s cool. I slipped out of the party to get some air.”
“I hate birthday parties, actually. Even if I did like them, I can never just unwind without someone needing something.”
“Tell me about it. That’s why I’m out here trying to hide out and drink this expensive ass wine in private,” I said before finally taking another sip.
“It’s an open bar, you know,” he said, walking over to stand in front of me.
“I’m well aware of that. I’m just not a huge drinker. When I do indulge, I like to savor it.”
“Noted. You smoke?” he asked, extending the blunt that had been wedged between his lips.
I narrowed my eyes, shaking my head. Contrary to my response, I reached out and accepted it.
My eyes drifted close as I placed the blunt between my lips and inhaled the acrid smoke.
The handsome, lanky man, with skin like warm caramel and dark curious eyes, tossed his hair back as he moved down the length of the bench.
I watched quietly as he reached out and picked my legs up.
Once he lowered himself into the place where my legs once were, he pulled them into his lap.
When he relaxed, so did I. For some reason, resting my legs in a strange man’s lap didn’t feel as awkward as it should have.
It was actually kinda hot.I separated my thighs hoping to reduce the friction between them.
Thanks to strutting around trying to look cute all night, my panties were bunching into my unmentionables.
Every time the thin cotton fabric brushed against my clit, it was almost painfully stimulating.
The scent of my arousal was as intoxicating as the wine.
His nostrils flared, indicating that he sensed it too.
I felt like I should have been embarrassed, but the buzz I had only allowed me to feel even more turned on, as his eyes raked over me lazily.
“I’m scared of you in this dress, Choc,” he said, the weight of his hand causing fine bumps to prickle my legs as it landed on my thigh.
He pursed his lips around the blunt in his hand, then smirked as he let his gaze slide up the length of my body.
I graciously accepted his appreciation with a soft smile.
It felt good to be admired for a change.
My breathing shallowed as he took in every inch of the slinky black satin dress with its thigh high split.
“Thank you,” I said once our eyes connected again.
“What’s your name?”
“Jrue with a J,” I told him.
“You’re gorgeous, Jrue with a J.”
“Thank you.”
“Ian,” he filled me in, although I didn’t ask.
“Why aren’t you in the party, Ian?”
“I don’t want to be. Trust me, they tricked me into coming. They got about thirty more minutes out of me before I slide.”
“I don’t blame you. I like more of a chill vibe. I can’t stand all that loud music. Let me get some grown ass men and some smooth R&B.”
“So you don’t listen to rap?” he quizzed.
“Not this new shit. Give me some 2pac or UGK every day of the week, but this new music ain’t talking about nothing but killing each other, taking drugs, and disrespecting women.”
He nodded. “You’re right about that. I can’t stand these new rappers. What you know about Pimp C, though?”
“What do you know about him?” I countered.
“Hold up,” he said, doing his best Pimp C impression.
I burst out laughing before I could stop myself.
I covered my mouth with my free hand as I howled at this ridiculous and charming man.
All three of the voices in my head were telling me to run.
A man who could make me laugh that hard was dangerous.
The voice in charge was already locked in.
Ian’s eyes held me in place as he continued to hypnotize me with his gaze.
Clearing my throat, I took the remainder of my wine to the head.
“I need to be getting out of here,” I said, shifting to move my legs out of his lap.
His hands shot out, holding them in place before I could move.
“Where you going, Choc?”
“Home, I hope.”
“I thought you wanted to relax. I need somebody to keep me company while I watch the clock.”
I looked back at him with a smirk. “You scared to stay out here by yourself?”
“No, but I need a little more time to figure out which is more beautiful, you or these roses. I think you got them beat, Choc.” He grinned as he plucked one of the roses free and tucked it behind my ear.
“Wow, aren’t you a charmer?”
“Sometimes.” He shrugged. “You smell like roses,” he noted.
“Thank you. I’m wearing one of my favorite perfumes. It’s vanilla and rose.”
“I see why you like it. You smell good as fuck, Jrue with a J. I think an angel sent me out here to find you.”
“To me, it looked like you came out here to curse somebody out on the phone.”
“Yeah, but they could have got that anywhere. I been praying for some relief. I made a wish and everything. I could have cussed his ass out in a text. I had to come out here and find the starter for this heart of mine. You got this muthafucka drumming, Choc.”
I giggled. “You definitely know how to shoot some good shit.”
“And back it up too.”
“Yeah right. What can a woman you met drinking wine in the back of a party do for you?”
“Hide out in the back of parties, smoking weed and drinking expensive wine with me.” He grinned.
Why was this weak ass game actually working on me? I didn’t know what kind of wine this was, but it was making corny pick-up lines and bullshit sound sweet.
“You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“Thank you. Give me your number. I want to take you out for coffee or something.”
“Humph. Coffee?”
“Drinks, dinner, Putt-Putt golf, it don’t matter, Choc. I just want to see you again. I’m kinda busy tonight, and you’re already trying to escape. I’m holding you hostage as it is. I want to reconvene at a later date. Let me see you again.”
“Wow, who talks like that?”
“Like what? I ain’t here to sell you no fairy tales. I’m here to sell you some real-life shit,” he said, quoting Pimp C. I smiled as I finally shifted my legs out of his lap.“Give me your phone,” he urged.
I rolled my eyes playfully as I unzipped my purse and pulled out my phone. I could tell when he noticed my gun because his eyebrows lifted before his face settled into a pleased smile. After unlocking my phone, I passed it to him.
“Jrue!”one of the servers called, sticking her head out the door.I turned to face her, hoping she hadn’t seen too much.
“Just a minute,” I said, holding up a finger to her. I’d asked her to sneak out a bottle of that wine. It was time for me to collect. Once he had finished plugging his number into my phone, he gave it back to me. “See you later.”
“Call me, Choc,” Ian said to my back as I walked away.