Love Won't Let Me Wait Page 5

  Toya and I made our way over to the bar. We ordered a couple of drinks and stood by the bar grooving to the rhythm and surveying the dance floor. Toya was standing in front of me with her back turned to me. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

  I watched as she slowly moved her hips to the beat of the band. I was totally immersed in the movement of her body. I was mesmerized so by her dancing that I didn’t notice that she was looking over her shoulder at me.

  As I looked up at her she smiled at me. I felt somewhat embarrassed when Toya turned to face me, continuing to dance as she slowly made her way towards me.

  She came up to me and started to dance against my body. She turned around facing away from me and started grinding her butt on me slow and hard. Toya and I had been dancing a million times before tonight. We would dance close and grind on each other all the time. It had never affected me before. I knew where Toya and I stood and I left it at that.

  I don’t know if it was all the Courvoisiers on the rocks, the music, or the full moon, but I was extremely aroused. And, tonight I had decided to let it all hang in a pair of boxers. I wondered if Toya could feel the effects of her dancing as she continued grinding on me.

  At one point she backed away from me, pausing for a brief second. Now facing me she glanced down at my crotch and smiled devilishly before biting her lips and turning around continuing to grind her butt on me. There was a devious look in her eyes.

  Damn, she must have felt it. My dick was so hard it pained me. No need to be shy now. I put my hands on her waist and pulled her body tight against mine. I began to grind on her following her hip movements with my own. The band broke into a reggae version of Tony Terry’s hit slow jam, “When I’m With You.”

  I was now completely enthralled in the moment. I kept my hands around Toya’s midsection as she reached back over her shoulders and locked her hands around the back of my neck. We continued dancing like this until we were interrupted by the bands mid-set break. When the music stopped I collected myself and unlocked Toya from my embrace.

  I could tell that she was embarrassed, as was I. We both slowly backed away from each other. I began to straighten my ruffled clothing looking down to avoid eye contact.

  “You want another drink?” I asked trying my best not to appear rattled by the explicitness of our dance. Toya nervously fanned the air with her hand.

  “Yeah, it’s kind of hot in here.” I took her by the hand and began walking towards the bar.

  As we were leaving the dance floor I was startled by Raoul Richards, his face contorted in a broad and annoying smile. He had been watching Toya and I the whole time. Damn, the last thing I needed was to have to endure Raoul and his slick comments about Toya and me wanting each other. I was already feeling uncomfortable enough as it was. He started chuckling as we approached.

  “What’s up y’all?”

  “Hey, Raoul, what’s been up, I haven’t seen you in a while” Toya responded.

  “I’ve been around, still hanging.”

  “I see,” Toya answered. Raoul turned his attention towards me. He greeted me with a nod.

  “What’s up, Kalem?”

  “What’s up, dog, I wasn’t expecting to see you out here.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Raoul answered, chuckling slightly and winking his eye at me. “Do you remember that conversation we had today?” I lamely attempted to brush him off.

  “Not now, Raoul.”

  “No seriously,” he continued. “Do you remember what you told me? I’m just curious, are you sure about that? You know cause I think you may be mistaken.” Raoul was enjoying the moment. He loved to tease and when he found an angle to work you with he went after it like a bloodhound on the scent of an escaped convict. I refused to be sucked in.

  “We’ll be right back, Raoul; we’re going to get some drinks.”

  “Yeah it is kind of hot in here,” Raoul answered putting extra emphasis on the word hot. “I’ll see you two later,” he added with a smirk. He patted me lightly on the shoulder as we walked away. Oh how I wanted to slap that smirk off his face.

  “What was that all about?” Toya was clearly confused by Raoul’s antics. I shrugged my shoulders.

  “You know Raoul. You know how much of a clown he is.” Raoul did clown around a lot. He could be a real character at times.

  We got our drinks and walked outside to the open-air dance floor in the rear. We found a table near the DJ booth and sat down. The evening’s alcohol intake was beginning to show its effects on the both of us. We sat around grooving to the DJ for a few minutes before I suggested that we call it a night. I was beginning to tire and wanted to get home and relax. Besides, I didn’t want to give Raoul additional material for his ongoing comedy routine.

  We decided to take a cab back to my place. I didn’t feel safe driving after all the drinking I had done, despite my apartment being just a few minutes from the club.

  Upon arriving at my apartment I sat down on the sofa and turned on the television. Toya was lying next to me with her head resting on my lap.

  I began to gently pull at the thick, brown curls in Toya’s hair. She closed her eyes as I massaged her scalp.

  “Toya, are you sleeping?”

  “No.”

  “Maybe you should stay here tonight. I don’t like the idea of you driving back to Pinehurst alone this late at night, especially after we have been drinking.”

  “Mhuh,” Toya moaned.

  “You can sleep in my bed. I’ll take the guest room.”

  “What! You’re going to give up your bed for me?”

  “Yeah, just this one time, and only because I feel sorry for you stumbling around here all drunk. You should be ashamed of yourself.” Toya raised her head off of my lap

  “I’m not drunk.”

  “I know, I was just joking.” I stood up and started walking towards the stairs. “I’m going to get ready for bed,” I said as I made my way up to the loft that served as my bedroom.

  I grabbed a pair of silk boxers from the dresser and walked into the bathroom. I was still buzzing and hoped that a cold shower would snap me out of it. While in the shower I entertained brief thoughts of Shannon before forcing them from my head.

  After drying off and sliding into my boxer shorts, I slapped on some lotion, walked downstairs to the living room, and sat down next to Toya on the sofa.

  “Are you sleeping?”

  “No, I’m watching the news.”

  “Well, you can take a shower now if you want to.”

  “Do you have some shorts or a T-shirt I can put on?”

  “They’re in the top right dresser drawer.” Toya stood up and started up the stairs to the loft. I was careful not to stare at her as she walked away.

  I picked up the remote and started flipping through the channels. I could hear Toya going through the dresser drawers. I continued surfing through the channels before settling on an old episode of Howard Stern’s television show. The sound of the shower distracted me some. I was curious as to what was going on in my bathroom.

  Again I heard Toya searching the dresser drawers. I turned around to get a look upstairs. I could see a silhouette of her body through the smoke colored glass wall that blocked the view of the loft from the downstairs living room. I resisted the clutch of arousal as Toya bent over to step into the clothing she had picked out. Damn, this shit is crazy. I better go to bed before I get myself into trouble. I stood up and started walking towards the kitchen. I yelled out to Toya:

  “Hey, I’m going to bed, you need me for anything?”

  Toya walked out from behind the glass and stood at the top of the stairs. She was wearing my maroon silk boxers and the accompanying silk top. Goddamn was she wearing them! I have a thing for females and boxers, but I imagine Toya would have looked good in anything. I stood staring at her for a moment before regaining my composure and walking into the kitchen. I heard her descending the stairs behind me. I walked over to the cupboard and grabbed a glass before heading to th
e refrigerator and pouring myself some water.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Toya asked as she entered.

  “Nothing, I’m just tired.”

  Toya smiled coyly while twisting a strand of her curls between her fingers.

  “I saw you gawking at me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about you staring at me.” I took a sip of water.

  “Whatever.”

  “So you’re denying that you were staring at me?” Toya asked reveling in the obvious discomfort she was causing me.

  “I was checking to see what you had on. I don’t want you funking up my good silk pajamas.”

  “Yeah, I bet. Are you going to watch television with me for a little while?” I placed the empty glass on the counter and turned to walk out of the kitchen.

  “I’m tired; I think I’m going to call it a night.”

  “Please,” Toya begged walking behind me. “Just for a few minutes. I’m not sleepy yet and I don’t want to sit here watching television by myself.” I had nothing to offer in the way of resistance and quickly relented.

  “Okay, but only for a few minutes.”

  Toya smiled and pounced on the couch. I slid into a slouched position next to her. I picked up the remote and adjusted the volume on the still playing Howard Stern Show. I was about to change the channel when Toya demanded

  “Can we watch something else please? I do not want to watch this crap.”

  “What Howard? Howard is the shit.” I didn’t care one way or the other but I felt like being difficult. “Let’s watch this for a bit.”

  “You don’t even like Howard Stern; you’re just trying to aggravate me.”

  “How do you know what I like? I watch Howard all the time.”

  Toya sat up straight, glaring at me. “Change the channel.”

  “Girl, chill” I calmly responded refusing to look her way. “You asked me to stay up and watch TV with you. You can at least let me watch what I want.” She stared at me momentarily before lunging at the remote. I pulled it away just ahead of her grasp. She stood over me.

  “Give it here or else.”

  “Or else what?”

  “Or else I’m going to kick your ass!”

  I laughed loud and exaggerated. “You better sit down before I have to fold you up. You remember how I used to do when we were kids.”

  “Whatever! You couldn’t handle me then, and you can’t handle me now.”

  “Okay,” I answered brushing her off. “Will you get out of my way please?”

  “Give me the remote!” Toya yelled again reaching for it.

  “Nope,” I answered again pulling it out of her reach. I began to teasingly wave the remote in her face.

  “I thought I warned you earlier about teasing”

  “You don’t scare me. You keep threatening me like I’m scared of you or something. You better sit down before you get yourself in trouble.”

  “You know what; I think it is time that I teach you a lesson. See unlike you I take what I want.”

  I was about to respond when Toya pounced on me and began attempting to pluck the remote from my grasp. I laughed and continued to taunt her by keeping the remote out of her reach. We fell onto the floor in front of the television as she continued to try and wrest the remote from my hands.

  I rolled onto my back attempting to elude her pursuit of the remote. She jumped on top of me straddling my torso. I became acutely aware of her body provocatively thrashing against me as we continued play. I struggled to control the evidence of my arousal rearing itself below.

  Toya grabbed a hold of the remote still firmly in my grasp. I pulled it back over my head bringing Toya’s chest, her body still straddling me, firm against mine. When our eyes met, the tense grips on the remote eased and it fell to the floor. I could sense Toya was at a state of arousal that rivaled my own. We remained locked into each other’s gaze, our hands now clasped together. Her brown eyes beckoned me, pulling my lips slowly towards hers. I closed my eyes. Just as I anticipated the soft touch of her lips we were both startled by the loud sudden ring of my phone.

  Toya immediately rolled off of me. I stood up and began to collect myself as she started walking briskly towards the stairs. I walked over to the table and glanced down at the phone. Out of area scrolled across the display. I turned and watched Toya hastily climb the stairs to the loft.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, baby, what are you doing?” I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I recognized Shannon’s voice on the other end. I’m not sure if I was relieved to finally hear from Shannon, or her timely interruption of what could have been a serious change in the status of my relationship with Toya. I walked over to the sofa and sat down.

  “Nothing much, just lounging around. Where have you been?”

  “I’ve been running around all day with my sister, visiting my family, checking out some old friends. Why do you miss me already?”

  “I was worried about you. You could have called to let me know you’d gotten there safely. That’s messed up, girl, I didn’t know if you had gotten in an accident or what was going on. You don’t do stuff like that!”

  “Baby, I’m sorry, I called you first chance I got. Damn, I didn’t know I had to check in.”

  “Shannon, this is not about checking in. I’m not trying to keep tabs on you or anything. But I don’t think it’s asking too much of you to show a little consideration and at least call to let me know that you arrived safely. For all I know you could be dead on the side of the road or something.”

  “Kalem, don’t be so dramatic.”

  “I’m not being dramatic. There are all kinds of psychos out there, not to mention accidents and shit like that.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier, baby,” she finally relented. “I’ll try to be more considerate next time.” The sweetness in her voice softened my attitude considerably. “So what were you doing?” I nervously cleared my throat before answering.

  “I was just sitting here watching television with Toya. She’s gone to bed now. I’m a little-”

  “Toya?” Shannon interrupted. “Why is she over there?”

  “Well,” I started somewhat surprised by her reaction to Toya’s presence. “We went to dinner and caught the new Bond movie. After that we hung out at the Beach Club for a while. By the time we got back here it was kind of late so I insisted she stay here tonight. I didn’t want her to drive all the way out to Pinehurst this late at night.” There was a long pause. Finally Shannon spoke.

  “I don’t see why she has to spend the night over there, but that’s your friend so it’s up to you.”

  “So you trust me right?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” she answered half-heartedly.

  “Baby, you’re okay with this, right?” My intent was to relay concern for her feelings. Shannon hesitated.

  “Yeah, I know y’all are just friends, besides you’ve known her since you were kids, way before I was in the picture.” It’s just that I learned the hard way not to leave my man alone with another female…not even my best friend.” The poignant pause communicated everything I needed to know about Shannon’s reaction to Toya spending the night. She had left her man alone with her best friend and got messed over by them both.

  “Well Toya is the last person you need to be worrying about. We’re strictly friends,” I returned with the firmest tone I could muster. Flashbacks of Toya and I rolling around on the carpet crept into focus. I forced them away.

  I know,” Shannon relented. “Well you’re probably tired so I’m going to let you go to bed. Tell Toya I said hello.”

  “Okay. Leave your cell phone on so I can call you tomorrow.”

  “Alright, baby, I love you.”

  “I love you too,” I answered and hung up the phone.

  I stood up and caught a glimpse of Toya’s silhouette slipping into my bed. I turned off the television and walked into the guestroom.

  As I lay in bed I thou
ght about the nights events. I felt guilty about not being completely straight with Shannon. Although nothing happened, it could have and I’m not sure I would have stopped it.

  I wondered about my evolving feelings for Toya and how they would affect our friendship. I have always been aware of her beauty, and there has always been a healthy attraction between us. But I was confused about this suddenly intense sexual tension between us. Had it been there all along, buried in some shallow grave of denial, awaiting its moment of awakening? My thoughts returned to Shannon as I drifted into a blissful sleep.

  Chapter 4

  I’d made plans to meet Raoul at the gym at six-thirty this afternoon. My conference call with Calango and the people from Intellica had run over. I called Raoul and told him I would meet him there around seven.

  I was determined to make some headway with Intellica. I had been putting all my resources into making the deal happen. Calango is all set to go, but the Intellica people are wavering on our offer. It seems their stock has taken an upturn as of late and they want us to sweeten the deal. An unacceptable proposition, given that the upturn in Intellica stock is only temporary, and in fact being fueled by rumors of Calango’s impending buyout.

  I haven’t been spending as much time with Shannon as I would like. She’s been acting strange these last couple of weeks since returning from Baltimore.

  Things are the same between Toya and me. There is this weird cloud of sexual tension hanging over us that I just can’t seem to get rid of. It has added an interesting energy to our friendship. Every interaction with Toya, regardless of how innocent, has the tenor of a torrid affair where we are always one stride away from an illicit sexual experience.

  I turned into the parking area of the gym and saw Raoul removing his gym bag from the trunk of his Mercedes. I pulled into the vacant space next to his. Raoul slammed his trunk shut and walked over to the driver side of my truck.

  “What’s up, bruh?” Raoul greeted leaning back against his car.

  “Wadup, fool?” I rolled up the window, climbed out of my truck and locked the door behind me. Raoul leaned over inspecting the chrome custom rims on his Benz.