“Wanna have some fun with her?” Jasmine asked, squeezing my butt with both her hands before I could answer. She started grinding her hips into mine. I glanced over at Monica, who was no longer trying to hide her stare. It was blatant. Her eyes were practically bugging out. I couldn’t help but turn the other way and smile.
“Did you see the look on her face?” Jasmine giggled. “Now that was funny.”
She was laughing, but I had serious things on my mind. All I could think of was that Monica still cared. She had to care. There was no way she’d ever grit her teeth like that if she didn’t.
“What d’you think, wanna really piss her off?” Jasmine asked.
“Sure. What do you have in mind?” I was enjoying Monica’s obvious jealousy after all she had put me through.
In one fluid motion, Jasmine placed her hand behind my neck and pulled me toward her. I was so surprised that I didn’t even realize we were kissing until I felt her tongue in my mouth. Not that I’m complaining. She kissed me with such passion and desire, I swear it felt like that kiss would never end. When our lips parted, I stared into her eyes, still savoring the effects of her kiss. I’d never had anyone kiss me like that before, not even Monica. I wanted to know if it was a fluke, so I kissed her again, and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when she reciprocated. A few seconds later, she broke the kiss, and all I could do was stare into space. It was definitely not a fluke. She was the best kisser I’d ever met.
“What’s she doing now?”
“Huh? What’s who doing?” I was still in a daze.
“You know who. Your girlfriend, silly.” She laughed, pulling herself away from me a bit. It was a good thing she did. I was about to kiss her again.
“Oh, her. I don’t know.” I glanced over at Monica, who had now stopped dancing and was staring at us with both hands on her hips. Jordan was standing next to her muttering curses under his breath, looking like he was about to lose his cool with her. It sure felt good to witness that scene. I held Jasmine’s hand and smiled at Monica as we walked back to the booth. Joe and Rebecca were waiting with their coats already on.
“I see Jazz helped you with your little problem,” Joe chuckled quietly.
I helped Jasmine with her coat, then took one last look at Monica. She was dancing with Jordan again, and he seemed to have calmed down. But she was also staring at me from over his shoulder. I couldn’t help but feel good about what had just happened. I loved her, probably always would, but now I felt free. I’d been obsessing over her since the breakup, like I was powerless to do anything but think of her. To see her get jealous gave me back some of the power, made me feel like I could go on with my life. Who knows? Maybe even with Jasmine. The way she kissed me, maybe that boyfriend in jail didn’t mean all that much to her. I took her hand and we followed Joe and Rebecca out of the club. It was time to move on with my life. Time to start a new chapter.
7
After we left the club, we all went over to Joe’s apartment to play cards and listen to music. It wasn’t the type of thing I did on a regular basis, but it was still early and I loved to play spades. Plus, Becky had made it clear that she was going to Joe’s with or without me. I didn’t wanna desert my friend, so I went along hoping to keep her out of trouble. Besides, I was having a good time with Dylan. He was smart, funny, and even more important, respectful. And he wasn’t bad to look at, either. If I didn’t already have a man…
When our card game was finished, Joe must’ve been bored, because he tugged on Becky’s sleeve and whispered something into her ear. Next thing I knew, they were headed for his room so they could have a private conversation. I tried to get her to stay in the living room with me, but she just waved her hand, telling me to mind my business. At that point I just shut up and let her do what she wanted. She was a grown woman and I was sick of being her conscience. If she wanted to be a hoochie and sleep with Joe on their first date, well, that was on her. I just hoped he was around in three months so I didn’t have to listen to her cry on my shoulder.
While Becky and Joe were having their so-called conversation, Dylan and I were left sitting on the living room couch. He was drinking a beer and I was sipping on some wine, telling him about Big Momma and the rest of my family. He was really a great listener. It felt as if we’d been old friends for years. He just sat there stroking my hair, which I loved, as I told him my life story. I knew I probably should have gone home as soon as Becky decided to go in the back with Joe, but I felt comfortable with Dylan, and it had been a long, long time since I’d had any kind of male company. I knew I was playing with fire, letting him play with my hair, and especially with me enjoying it so, but I just kept trying to convince myself it was a totally innocent conversation between two friends. Besides, I was having a good time and wanted to stay.
It wasn’t until about three in the morning that things became a little uncomfortable. That’s when we heard the bed squeaking and Becky moaning like she didn’t care if the whole neighborhood heard.
Now, I’m not gonna lie. I’m not into vibrators or threesomes or anything kinky like that, but I was getting aroused glistening to Joe and Becky make love. I’m sure Dylan was, too. Not only was he stroking my hair, but he also began to gently rub his fingers along my body. It felt like an eternity since someone had touched me that way, and his fingers were reminding me of things I’d almost forgotten. I closed my eyes, and an image of our kiss on the dance floor flashed into my mind. At the time, I’d convinced myself that the kiss was nothing more than a practical joke to upset his ex-girlfriend. But now just the mere thought of his tongue in my mouth was making me breathe heavy.
When I opened my eyes, Dylan’s lips were inches from mine and I wanted him to repeat what we’d done on the dance floor. I wanted him to kiss me so bad I could taste it. But thoughts of Derrick quickly took that taste away. I’d never cheated on Derrick before. Hell, I’d never even thought about it. I loved him too much for that. At least I thought I loved him that much, but Dylan’s touch was hard to resist. And I knew I had better do something fast, but when I decided to stop him it was already too late. He’d pressed his soft lips against mine and I felt the warmth of his tongue enter my mouth. At that moment, my love for Derrick was like a distant memory, and my lust and passion for Dylan was overwhelming.
We lay on that couch kissing like teenagers for what seemed like eternity. I’d probably be there right now if Dylan’s hand hadn’t found its way under my dress. Trust me, after the way he’d been kissing me I contemplated letting him continue, but images of Derrick alone in his prison cell flashed into my mind. I grabbed Dylan’s wrist, but like when he kissed me, my timing was off. He’d already pushed his fingers inside me and they were doing things to me I’d only dreamed of. I moaned, easing my legs open so that he could continue what he’d started. Hell, I might as well. I’d already crossed the line between the faithful and the unfaithful. And I must admit, it felt good.
I imagined what it would feel like to make love to Dylan; then I scolded myself for being so weak. I damn sure didn’t want him to stop, but at the same time I knew I shouldn’t let him continue. And it didn’t help matters at all that Dylan knew exactly where to touch to make me shout.
Finally I just said, “Fuck it.” It had been so damn long since I felt like this, and I was entitled to feel some pleasure, wasn’t I? Even if it was only for one night. I mean, there was Becky in the other room, getting her swerve on like she did every weekend. And yet here I was, in my third year of voluntary celibacy, worried about Dylan’s fingers. And for what? Derrick? Sure, I loved him, but I was still a woman with needs and wants, wasn’t I?