Caramel Flava

by Zane

  Carmelo saw me to a cab. I did not want him to get in trouble by going back to the resort with me in a cab and the buses had stopped running. Besides, our good-byes had to take place there that night. I could not see him the day I was leaving. I was not dick-whipped; I was love-whipped and I knew it.

  Korey did as I suspected and attempted to get back with me the day after I returned. I told him to forget about it and go crawl back up in the bed with that cave witch he had cheated on me with. I returned to work as an investment banker. I had never mentioned my profession or how much money I made to any of the men in Cancún. I wanted them to assume that I was struggling financially and had merely saved up for the trip of a lifetime. I was actually very well off and lived on a two-million-dollar estate that was nearly paid off already. Within another year, I would own it lock, stock and barrel.

  For months I tried to forget about Carmelo. I had to admit that while I did not think he was beneath me like the woman he had been dating in Mexico, I was not sure that he could fit into my world. It was a hectic world, my microwave society, and things were much slower in Cancún. Life was more carefree. I tried to stay even busier than normal and fucked a new man every now and then; simply to satisfy basic needs. None of them could give me what I needed.

  By June I had phoned Carmelo and told him that I needed him. I had already purchased him a plane ticket and he had less than four hours to get to the airport. I prayed he had what he needed to travel to the States; he did. He had never left Mexico but had always dreamed of it.

  He was only supposed to stay for a few days but that turned into a few months. Now it has been a few years. Carmelo not only fit into my world, he is my entire world. My husband, the father of my twin sons and my business partner in CT Contracting, which I lend my financial know-how to while he runs the day-to-day operations. It is funny how things turn out. But, you know what? La vida tiene valor cuando no se sabe lo que trae el mañana. Not knowing what tomorrow holds is what makes life worth living.

  About the Contributors

  CURTIS L. ALCUTT was born and bred in Oakland, California. He walked many career paths before deciding to give writing a try. He now resides in Northern California with his family and is a writer masquerading as a small trucking company owner and computer geek. Please visit his website at www.mralcutt.com.

  JOCELYN BRINGAS is a young Filipina who resides in Northern California. She is currently a student at San Jose State University. In her free time she enjoys writing stories, watching television, shopping, traveling, eating, listening to music, and going to concerts. Her website address is http://bboys-style.com/delicious/.

  NIOBIA SIMONE BRYANT’S a nationally bestselling and award-winning writer of both steamy romance—as Niobia Bryant for both Harlequin/Arabesque and Dafina Romance—and mainstream fiction, as Niobia Simone, for Kensington/Dafina Trade. For more on her romance novels—eight to date—and her upcoming drama-filled mainstream release, Live & Learn, go to her website www.geocities.com/niobia_bryant.

  PETULA CAESAR, from Baltimore, Maryland, has authored an erotica anthology called Lipstick and Other Stories, published by Phaze (www.phaze.com). Excerpts are available on her website, www.tulabooks.com. She also writes for Mic Life magazine, (www.miclifemagazine.com), a publication covering all aspects of microphone culture, including music and spoken word poetry.

  WILLIAM FREDRICK COOPER is affectionately known as “Mr. Romance,” and his first novel, Six Days in January, was published in February 2004 by Strebor Books. A trailblazing piece of literature that explores the heart of an African-American man damaged by love, the novel received rave reviews in major periodicals in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Cooper is a contributing author to several erotica anthologies. “Legal Days, Lonely Nights” appeared in Zane’s Sistergirls.com; “Watering Cherry’s Garden” was a story for Twilight Moods: African American Erotica; “Snowy Moonlit Evenings” was composed for Journey to Timbooktu, a collection of poetry and prose, as compiled by Memphis Vaughnes; and “More and More” as well as “Sweet Dreams” were included in Morning, Noon and Night: Can’t Get Enough—a collection of erotic fiction. His second novel, There’s Always a Reason, which explores topics ranging from the psychological effects of hysterectomies to restoration of faith in love, will be published in Spring 2007 by Strebor Books.

  MICHELLE DE LEON, author of Missed Conceptions, Love to the Third, Once Upon a Family Tree and Evangie’s Fortune, has been creating chaos with her pen since the sixth grade. Born in the Bronx, she graduated from City College of New York with a degree in English. She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and daughters and is currently writing her first Christian fiction piece, We Never Danced to a Love Psalm.

  SUSAN DIPLACIDO is the author of three novels: 24/7, Trattoria, and Mutual Holdings. Her short story, “I, Candy” won the Spirit award at the 2005 Moondance International Film Festival, and Trattoria has been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. She can be found online at susandiplacido.com.

  ANNE ELIZABETH enjoys stories that catch the mind. Body and spirit work in synchronization, so must the path of sharing a story. If you enjoyed this diehard romantic’s tantalizing tale, check out her website for additional creations at www.anneelizabeth.net.

  TRACEE A. HANNA (BELL), author of A Little Bit of Sinning, was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and currently resides in Arizona. She is the mother of two lovely daughters and is currently working on her second book. Visit http://alittlebitofsinning.tripod.com. She thanks Lisa and Travis for their endless support.

  NALEIGHNA KAI, a Chicago native, is the author of She Touched My Soul and coauthor of Speak It into Existence and How to Win the Publishing Game. She is a motivational speaker and developmental editor who is currently working on her next projects: Open Door Marriage and Right Place, Right Time. Visit her on the web at www.naleighnakai.com.

  GENEVA KING (www.genevaking.com) has been published in Erotic Fantasy: Tales of the Paranormal, Who’s Your Daddy, Ultimate Lesbian Erotica 2006, and Best Women’s Erotica 2006. She intends to publish a collection of her stories, if her professors ever give her enough time to do so.

  KEEB KNIGHT was born in London, England, and resides in Philadelphia. He enjoys writing multicultural short stories, erotic fiction, and romantic suspense. He started writing six years ago and plans to make a career of it. He’s currently working on his first erotica novel. Visit his website at www.keebknight.com.

  TERESA LAMAI’S stories have appeared in several collections, including Best Women’s Erotica, Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, Lips Like Sugar: Women’s Erotic Fantasies, and Dying for It: Stories of Sex and Death. She has recently completed a collection of dance-inspired erotica, entitled Swayed to Music.

  JAMES W. LEWIS is an up-and-coming author living in Southern California. He has several publication credits, including stories in Chicken Soup for the Mother’s and Son’s Soul, Help! I’ve Turned into My Mother, and Truth Be Told: Tales of Life, Love, and Drama. His website is www.jameswlewis.com.

  SYDNEY MOLARE, a Mississippi native, is the author of five novels including Grandmama’s Mojo Still Working and Devil’s Orchestra. A veterinarian by profession, writing has become her latest passion. Please visit her website at www.sydneymolare.com.

  MICHELLE J. ROBINSON is the mother of ten-year-old identical twin boys. She resides in New York City and studied journalism at New York University. She has written several short stories and is currently working on two novels, You Created a Monster and Fraternal. She can be reached at Robinson_201@hotmail.com.

  SÉKOUWRITES is the New York–based editor of the serial novel When Butterflies Kiss. His fiction has been published in UPTOWN magazine and the anthologies Wanderlust: 14 Erotic Travel Tales and Intimacy: Erotic Stories of Love, Lust and Marriage by Black Men. Sékou Writes also authors two online relationship columns. More at www.sekouwrites.com.

  NIKKI SINCLAIR publishes fiction in a variety of venues
both in print and online. She lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Rome of the North. Or the St. Petersburg of the South. Or…you get the picture.

  PAT TUCKER is an award-winning broadcast journalist. She currently works in news at a Houston radio station. She is also a free-lance writer for the Houston Defender, Houston’s oldest black newspaper. Pat has worked for TV and radio stations in San Jose, California, and Texas. Her career in front of the camera began in Victoria, Texas, where she served as a TV and radio news reporter. She also held positions at the ABC and NBC affiliates in Waco, Texas, and at News 24 Houston in Houston. She is a member of the Houston and National Associations of Black Journalists. Pat is the author of the urban soul novels The Hook Up and Infidelity.

  ZANE is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books and the contributor and/or editor to nearly a dozen more. She is the publisher of Strebor Books/Simon & Schuster and a partner of de Passe/Zane Entertainment. To join Zane’s mailing list, please send a blank email to Eroticanoir-subscribe@topica.com.