Authors: Shelia Goss
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #United States, #African American, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Multicultural, #Multicultural & Interracial
She turned around and placed one of her hands over the necklace. “These are beautiful. Thank you again. You’re going to make me cry all of my make-up off.”
“Now we can’t have that,” Marcus responded.
Violet pointed towards an empty table and said, “Our table is over there. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Violet, this is your night. I understand darling. I know how to keep myself busy in the meantime.”
“Thank you,” she said before giving him a quick peck on the lips.
Violet excused herself and continued to oversee the event. Violet was making sure the food was being prepared to their specifications when Janice showed up in the kitchen. Janice stated, “I was told I would find you back here.”
“Janice you look absolutely wonderful. Lavender suits you well.”
Janice pretended to be shy. “Thank you. You are wearing the silver well yourself. I swear since we went on a shopping spree, you have transformed into a new woman. Or is it because of that tall fine hunk of a man out there?”
Violet giggled. “Might be a combination.”
“Whatever it is. I like it.”
“I’ve gone over everything and things are looking well. Now all we have to do is wait for the people to show up and the party to begin.”
They walked back out toward the ballroom. “Violet, I have something to tell you,” Janice confessed.
Before Janice could tell her anything, a man dressed in a black tuxedo informed Violet he was unable to locate the auction list.
“Janice, I’ll get back with you in a minute. Let me take care of this.” Janice stood there and watched as Violet left for the other room.
After the small mix-up was resolved, Violet walked through the lobby and was happy to see people walking toward the ballroom. As she walked in the same direction as the ballroom, she dropped the program she had in her right hand. She leaned down to pick it up and when she stood back up, she was looking David straight in the face. “Violet. You look beautiful.”
“David.”
David tried to take her hand, and because she didn’t want to make a scene in front of anyone, she gently withdrew it out of his grip. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”
“I’ll manage.” She tried not to snap back at him, but failed. “Now if you’ll move, I have people I need to greet.”
At that moment, a petite woman with short cropped hair came and wrapped her arms through David’s. “There you are. I was wondering where you had slipped to so quickly.”
David looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but in between the two women. “I want you to meet somebody. She’s the reason why we’re here tonight. Dena, this is Violet.”
Violet showed some grace and reached out to shake her hand. “Hi. Thanks for coming. Now if you guys will excuse me, I have to find someone.”
As she was walking away, she heard Dena say, “I thought you told me she was the nice one. She acted like she had an attitude toward me.”
After Violet heard her comment she decided to put extra twists in her walk.
***
Oh. I have an attitude. I swear. What she doesn’t know is I don’t want him. She can have him and his issues. Speaking of men. I better find my friend, before he thinks I’ve abandoned him.
***
As the night got under way, items were auctioned off. From the way things looked, the community center was going to be in the red for at least another year. Before the dancing was to begin, it was Violet’s duty to announce the opening of the dance floor. “Hello everybody. Once again, I would like to thank you all for coming and we at Community Affairs appreciate everything you all have done. Thanks to those who gave their money and to those who have signed up to donate their time. This was the most successful charity ball yet, so give yourselves a hand and let the party begin.”
As she walked from the podium, she felt someone’s eyes on her. She ignored the feeling and took the hand Marcus extended towards her. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “May I have the first dance?”
They danced to the next couple of songs and were leaving the dance floor, when the DJ played the newest version of the electric slide. “I don’t know where you’re going mister, but let me show you how it’s really done,” Violet said grabbing Marcus’ hand.
When the song ended, Violet excused herself to the ladies room. She was feeling bubbly from the champagne and from having fun with Marcus. She was applying some more lipstick, when she became startled to see not one, but two exact faces staring at her in the reflection of the mirror. She turned around and instead of her normal reaction of tensing up she gave Rose a hug.
Rose was stunned and didn’t react immediately to the hug. She found herself hugging Violet back. “You look so gorgeous,” Rose commented.
“Rose, I didn’t expect you here.”
“I came with Lance and I didn’t expect such a warm greeting.”
“Lance. Lance King, the music mogul?”
“One in the same. His sister works with you.”
“Yes, his sister and I are good friends.”
They continued to talk as if they were friends catching up. Violet looked at her watch again as other women started to pile in the bathroom. “I guess I better get out of here, before they send a search party out looking for me. I’m glad you came.”
“See you later,” Rose responded.
Violet didn’t respond to Rose’s last comment. She continued to walk out of the door. She surprised herself with her open affections toward Rose. “Maybe there’s hope for us after all,” she commented to herself.
The rest of the night went by well and even though Rose and Violet didn’t hold another conversation, they occasionally glanced at one another. Marcus tried to be attentive and noticed a change in Violet. Violet reassured him she was okay. “I’m tired from preparing for the ball.”
“Baby, we could leave now if you’re ready.”
“No, I can’t leave until the last person does.”
Janice overheard them. “Go ahead. You’ve done more than enough of your share of work. Terrence and I can make sure everything closes down properly.”
“Terrence, are you okay with this?”
“Yes. You guys go ahead. We got this. Now go.”
Violet and Janice hugged. Violet whispered in her ear, “Glad to see you’ve finally warmed up to Terrence.”
Janice stuttered, “I…well, he’s grown on me.”
“I see,” Violet said, looking in Terrence’s direction.
Violet and Marcus walked away.
As they were waiting for the valet to bring their cars around, David walked out with his date and Rose was walking behind him with Lance. Violet saw the scene and felt as if the walls were closing in on her. “Oh no,” she blurted.
Marcus leaned over and whispered, “What’s wrong baby?”
“Look,” she said, turning her head towards Rose and David’s direction.
“There’s your car. You don’t have to acknowledge them. Come on. Let’s just get you in your car.”
No one had noticed her until the petite woman David was with, pointed and made a statement, “Both of your women are here. I never would have believed it, if I didn’t see it for myself.”
Rose was standing behind David by now and questioned his date. “Excuse me and you are?”
Marcus touched Violet’s arm and motioned for her to move. “Come on baby. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“I know, but I can’t leave like this.”
“Yes you can. There’s my car and I’ll follow you.”
Violet got in her car and while she waited on Marcus to get into his, she saw Rose and David’s date going at it. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked as if they were arguing. A horn blew and broke her concentration. The valet attendant knocked on her window and motioned for her to move her car.
When she reached her house, she tried to give Marcus her undivided attention. She needed a few minutes to gather her thoughts, so after making sure Marcus was comfortable in the living room, she went to her bedroom.
***
Marcus has been so patient with me. I had planned on a nice romantic rendezvous after the party, but this night has been full of surprises. I don’t know if I’m up for it.
***
Before she could change her mind, she undressed and put on her bronze colored lace trimmed babydoll that stopped a little above the knee. She grabbed the matching short robe and headed back downstairs. She heard the sounds of soothing jazz as she descended down the stairway. “Sorry for taking so long.”
Marcus stared at her and desire flamed from his eyes. “It was well worth the wait. Watching you come down the stairs was like watching an angel come from on high.”
She let out a schoolgirl laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Dance with me.”
They danced and were enthralled with one another. She leaned on him and inhaled a mixture of his natural scent and cologne. His scent was an aphrodisiac to her. He bent down and placed a short passionate kiss on her lips before ravenously taking her mouth with his. She felt as if she was floating on a cloud. As they kissed, she could feel the rise of his manhood. He picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. He placed her on the bed and looked deep into her sparkling brown eyes. “If you’re not ready we can wait. I’m satisfied with holding you.”
She had years of frustration built up and she was so in tune with her body that at this point, she couldn’t think of a legitimate reason to turn back. “I am ready.”
She reached up and pulled him on top of her. While they kissed, she undressed him. She ran into a snag with his belt buckle, but he stepped in to assist her. His moans got deeper. “Oh Violet. I’ve dreamed of this moment while on the road.”
He helped her take off the rest of his clothes. He removed a condom from his wallet and handed the condom to her. She placed it on him as they kissed. He leaned her back as he continued to place small kisses all over her body. She begged him to mount her, but he declined. “No baby. It’s not time yet. Lay back and let me take care of you.”
He continued to please her in ways she hadn’t experienced with David, in ways she only dreamed about. He turned her over, took his tongue and licked down the center of her back. Before she could get over the excitement of his tongue on her back, he placed more kisses in spots on her body that she wasn’t aware were sensitive. With each move, she could feel the water falling. He turned her around facing him and buried his face deep within her garden. Her own moans sounded foreign to her, but she allowed him to take her on a journey long overdo. She enjoyed each stroke as he entered and pushed her over the edge. She was brought to her sexual peak so many times, that she felt as if her head would explode from the excitement. She enjoyed every minute of it. After being completely fulfilled, they laid in each other’s arms and fell asleep.
ROSE
“Can you believe the tramp David was with?” Rose said while getting in the bed with Lance. “If you wouldn’t have pulled me away when you did, I was going to cold pop her in the mouth.”
Lance laughed. “You are something else. I thought you were happy David expedited your divorce.”
“I am,” Rose responded.
“Forget about her and come give daddy what he’s been wanting all night.”
Rose annoyed yelled, “I swear Lance. You’re like a dog in heat.”
“You shouldn’t be so desirable. I’m thankful your husband divorced you.”
She leaned down and kissed him. “Oh Lance.”
After they made love, Lance fell asleep immediately. Rose stayed awake and thought back to the encounter she had with her sister. For a few minutes, they talked as if they were old high school friends who’d lost contact and were running into each other at a reunion. Rose saw Violet when she was getting ready to leave and before Rose could speak to her, Violet had already gotten into her car. The man Violet was with was tall and one of LA’s most eligible bachelors. She was surprised her sister was interested in a basketball player.
***
Violet you’re full of surprises girl. First I find out your escort is Marcus Jameson, the finest man in basketball and to top it off, I get a surprised hug as if you were glad to see me. I don’t know if I should call you or wait for you to call me. I know one thing, Mama will sure be glad. I’m so tired of not having someone to share things with. Oh well, let me go to sleep, staying up all night won’t change anything.
***
Rose kept busy by auditioning for several different movie roles. She was finally able to bounce back from the negative publicity of Violet’s interview and her much talked about divorce. The media had a field day with the divorce. Fortunately David agreed to file for divorce under the reason of irreconcilable differences, instead of adulterer. She agreed to not ask for any type of alimony or any other type of monetary award. She spent the next few months in the studio with Lance recording her music CD. She was scheduled to do a photo shoot for a magazine cover and the first single would be released the following week.