by Pepper Pace
“It’s already set. You want something to drink? Water, juice, Saki?”
“Tea.” I made us both a cup of tea and took it to the living room on a tray where Dad joined us. Mom bit into an almond cookie.
“You bake?”
“Hai. It’s your recipe.”
She nodded. “Did good.”
“So where is your friend?” Dad asked. Mom gave him the evil eye. He shrugged. Mom’s game was that if she pretended Nikki didn’t exist, I’d know how little she thought of it.
“She’ll be here shortly.” No sooner were the words out of my mouth before the doorbell rang again.
“That’s her.” I leaped up and answered the door. Before she could come in I gripped her and kissed her quickly.
“Hi. You look great. Come in.” She did look great. With a shaky sigh she stepped into the lion’s den.
“Mom, Dad,” they stood up. “This is Nikita Mason; my girlfriend. And Nikki, this is my Mom Kayo and my father, Morio Yakamoto.”
“Nice to meet you.” Dad spoke, extending his hand to her
“O-ai deki-ti ureshii desu.” Nikki responded, surprising us all.
“Ahh.” My Dad smiled. “You speak a little Japanese.”
“Just what Tony has taught me.”
“Sit down everyone.” I said. “Nikki, do you want something to drink?”
She looked at the table at what everyone else was drinking.
“Tea would be good.”
I hurried to the kitchen hoping nothing would go wrong in the short time that I would be gone. Nikki liked her tea slightly sweetened, so I made it up quickly and went back to the living room. They all looked up when I walked in.
“What’re you talking about?”
“We didn’t know you and Nikki worked together,” Dad said.
“Yes.” I handed Nikki her tea and sat down beside her.
“We’ve been working in the same office about six months, dating about one month.”
“You not have problem having friend at work in same office?” Mom asked me. She gave Nikki a brief smile, because my mom would never be intentionally rude. That would be low class.
“Well, there hasn’t been a problem yet.” I said honestly.
“You not rock boat, Toi.” Mom said passionately. She sighed and looked at Nikki. “How your family feel about you date Japanese man?”
Nikki sighed too. “My family trusts my judgment.”
“Ge-ge?” She asked, and then in Japanese she said more to herself, “What do the young know about life with no experience?”
“Eigo-de- itte-kudasai,” I said softly. Please speak English. My mother leaned forward.
“Excuse me. You nice lady…or my son not care for you. But you two are much different.”
Dad put his hand on her knee, and she looked at him briefly then sat back in her seat.
“Not much different- not on the inside.” Was Nikki’s response.
Mom didn’t respond. I had hoped that they could have talked and gotten familiar with each other before this…I stood.
“Why don’t we eat?”
Dinner was ultra-polite everyone complimented the food. Nikki seemed to like the eel and conversation was neutral; about nothing personal or sensitive. After dinner we had tea cakes and Nikki and I had Saki while Mom and Dad had tea.
“You like Japanese cooking?” Mom asked Nikki.
“Yes. I didn’t know much about Japanese cooking before I met Tony, but I’ve grown to really love it.”
“Ahh.” My Dad smiled. “Soon you learn to speak broken Japanese well, just like my son.” We all laughed.
Mom said, “We should have sent Toi to Japanese academy like planned. Toi want to be like friends, listen to hippity-hop.”
Nikki smiled and looked at me. “That’s not all he listens to. He introduced me to a Japanese jazz musician Keiko Matsui.”
“Jazz? That not Japanese music.”
“No, but she fuses jazz and elements of traditional Japanese sounds.”
“Humph.” Mom huffed. “I no like Jazz.”
“You like Kenny G.” Dad said. Mom gave him the evil eye.
“We go home now. Nice meet you, Nikki.” Mom stood abruptly.
Dad took Nikki’s hand as we all stood. “It was nice to meet you Nikki. Tony has never brought
a girl home before. We worried that he not like girls but boys.”
“Dad! “ I laughed. Nikki covered her smile with her other hand.
“It was nice to meet you Mr. Yakamoto, Mrs. Yakamoto.” Mom shook her hand briefly then turned to the door. Suddenly she turned back and looked at Nikki closely. Her brow knitted in an odd way. Nikki self-consciously smoothed her hand over her skirt. Mom looked at me, and then frowned.
“Toi, you bring Nikki to dinner Sunday. Nikki,” she turned back still frowning, “you come?” Nikki gave her a perplexed look.
“Yes and thank you. I’d love to come to dinner.” We looked at each other, confused. I walked Mom and Dad to their car. When I came back Nikki was dabbing at beads of sweat on her forehead.
“You alright?” I pulled her into my arms. “I think I’m going to need one of your world famous massages after that.” I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.
“Done. You did good, baby.”
“Yeah.” Nikki frowned. “What was up with that last second change of mind?” I shrugged. I was just happy there was one.
NIKKI
Dinner hadn’t gone too bad. I was so relieved that it was over, though, and I could move forward with Tony. Tony’s Dad seemed very open minded and cool. Mrs. Y…well, I was reserving judgment until after Sunday dinner.
Tony and I both worried about work the next day, with Lisa walking in on us. But Lisa pretended that nothing was at odds, at least around me.
This coming Friday was Sweetest Day and the weekend before, I had slipped away and bought Tony some bling; a platinum watch from Cartier! I had never spent so much on a gift to a man before, but it felt right. I could barely wait for Friday to come!
Wednesday when I walked into the break room some of the ladies had their heads together. When they saw me they suspiciously changed the subject. I guess it was time for Tony and I to start discussing the possibility of unemployment.
That night Tony said that he wanted to take me shopping for Sweetest Day. “Make sure you clear your weekend. I need Friday after work and all day Saturday. You’ll need to pack an overnight bag.”
“What? We’re going away for the weekend?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, what should I pack to wear?” He smiled, not giving an inch. “Something comfortable to shop in.”
When Friday came we left directly from work. That morning, Tony had taken my bags and placed them in the trunk with his own, and as usual we drove in together. But when we left I didn’t see Tony’s Jag anywhere. He just smiled at me.
“I made arrangements for my cousin to pick up my car and take it back to my place.”
“Why?” He gestured for me to follow him and we walked away from the office and our co-workers until we were two blocks away. We stopped at a restaurant that we regularly frequented. There was a limo waiting for us. I looked at Tony in surprise. The chauffer got out and opened the door for us.
“Sorry for the walk but I didn’t want to give our co-workers any more to gossip about.”
We got comfortable. It was a beautiful limo! Tony hit a button and smooth jazz began to play; Boney James, one of my favorites. The sound system was magnificent.
“Thirsty?” He picked up a bottle of Cristal that was on ice. I nodded, smiling. He poured us each a glass full. We clinked. “Let’s toast,” he said, “to love.”
My heart swelled. “To love.”
Tony kissed me then we sipped the best wine I’d ever had in my life. There was a bowl full of the biggest strawberries. He fed me one. I bit into it like I was biting into a peach, It was so sweet!
“T-baby.” I chuckled. “Who knew you had so much c
lass?” He put the strawberry down and set our glasses on the mini bar. He was no longer smiling as he moved to sit next to me on the overstuffed leather seat. I watched him, confused.
“Nikki…” He kissed me. My eyes fluttered shut his lips trailed down my neck and past the hollow of my ear. “Nikki…” he murmured. I felt his hand slip into my blouse and cup my breast.
His fingers sought my nipple and gently squeezed. I sighed and ran my hands through his silky spiked hair. He unbuttoned my blouse and smoothly dropped to his knees before me. He pushed just enough of my breasts out of my bra until my nipple peeked out of the lacy black material.
Then I felt his mouth cover it. I groaned as he softly sucked and lapped first one then the other.
“T-baby…” I spread my legs as he hiked my skirt up over my hips. Then I wrapped them around him. He released my nipple and plunged his tongue into my mouth groaning against my lips as he pulled my hips forward off the seat and against his pelvis.
We spent the next several minutes just kissing. Oh, I loved his lips and tongue! I reached between us and unzipped him. Being on the pill we made the mutual decision long ago to forgo condoms. So when his cock entered me, straining against my most sensitive parts, I couldn’t help but yell out.
Tony pumped into me, burying his face into my neck and sounding like he was sobbing. I unclasped my legs as the feeling intensified. And
don’t ask me how but I brought my knees up and Tony pushed them up over his shoulder where the pumping of his hips slowed until he was just pressing and rotating against me; pelvis to pelvis.
He raised his face from my neck and he watched me with red, glassy eyes. He noted every reaction to each thrust, each stroke. Finally I couldn’t hold it back any longer and the next thrust pushed me to the brink and the one after that over the edge. I cried out throwing my head from side to side.
Tony lowered my legs, watching me until he went over himself, crying out, blinking and sucking his breath.
“I’m in love with you, Nikki!” I heard him whimper. “I love you.” He said much quieter. He put his head back into the crook of my neck. “I love you so much.” He sighed.
With hooded eyes I pulled his head back and looked into his moist ones. I cradled his face allowing my fingers to stroke his eyelashes, his lips, his jaw. “I love you.” I closed my eyes and murmured. “I love you…I’m in love with you-” He hugged me taking my breath away.
After a while I heard him murmur. “The limo’s slowing down we better fix ourselves.”
“Oh shit!” I pushed him off me and tucked and pushed body parts back into my clothing. Since T’s look was disheveled, yet corporate casual, all he had to do was pull his hands through his hair and fasten his pants. I had to find tissues to clean away our sex, fix my wig, and re-apply my lipstick. A spritz of perfume hopefully hid the evidence of our love making. Tony was watching me with a smirk.
I gave him a worried look. “Do you think the chauffeur’s going to know what we were doing back here?”
“With the way you were yelling? Yeah.”
“Oh my God!” I said, mortified.
“Baby, it’s not anything he hasn’t heard before.” He handed me a fresh glass of Cristal and we drank quietly listening to music and eating strawberries until the driver announced over an intercom that we had arrived.
Through the tinted windows I saw that we were at the airport. I looked at Tony surprised.
“We’re at the airport, T!”
“What?!” He exclaimed. “I told him to take us to the bus station!”
I rolled my eyes and then we both laughed. When the driver opened the door, he kept a blank, but polite face. Of course, I was positive that he had kept the intercom on and had been listening to every moan! I glanced to see if he had a tell-tale erection. He didn’t.
T would not tell me where we were going until we got to our terminal and I could see for myself that were on our way to New York; Manhattan.
My eyes got big. “You’re taking me shopping in New York?!” I squealed and gripped his arm. We boarded after a time and T led us to first class. I’ve never ridden first class before, so it was a treat! The flight attendant brought us nuts and cookies, and then once the curtain was pulled separating us from the rest of the plane, she brought us drinks. I ordered Hennessey on the rocks. T had the same.
“T, I’m having so much fun!” I exclaimed as we soared about the clouds. “Nikki, have you ever heard of the mile high club?”
When the plane landed, there was another limo waiting for us. T had arranged for a series of appetizers to be waiting for us since it was past dinner. There was chicken wings and French fries, shrimp cocktail and vegetable dip. I am not going to lie; between the two of us, we ate every bite! Sex twice in as many hours makes one ravenous!
The limo took us to the Hilton Hotel of all places! Talk about opulence. The lobby alone was enough to make me want to never stay at another Holiday Inn.
T checked us in. “What about our bags?” I asked.
“They should be waiting for us in our suite.”
“Suite?”
“Oops. I have big mouth. I had them shipped ahead.” He took my arm and we strolled through the lobby; T looking right at home, me barely able to catch my breath because I was so excited!
“T! I can’t believe this…”
“I thought maybe we’d get cleaned up then go out to eat.”
“Yeah, I can use a bath.”
When we got to the room, again I was more impressed than before. Oh my God; fireplace, living room with wet bar, big screen TV and
state of the art sound system. Double doors led to a bedroom in royal reds and golds. A king-sized bed, sitting high up and canopied, was the focal point. The room was breath taking! Our luggage set on luggage holders, champagne, chocolates and roses set on the bedside table. The bathroom made even T whistle. Double vanities, marble, round Jacuzzi already filled with bubbles. I sat on the side of the tub and placed my hand in the water. Damn…It was hot.
We stripped down and luxuriated in the tub together. I was a little tired but there was no way that I was going to let a little fatigue cause me to miss out on the New York nightlife!
We dressed and headed out. It was just after 9:00, but New York never sleeps! Since we weren’t really hungry, we had dinner at a small pizzeria; the best pizza ever! We bought some subway passes and rode up to Greenwich Village where walked around hand in hand taking in the sights and sounds.
“I’ve never had more fun T. Ever. I love this city.”
“I do too. I come here once or twice a year to shop.” He said.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve always wanted to come with someone.”
“I can’t believe it’d be difficult to find someone willing to go shopping with you in New York.” He smiled.
“No…just someone special.” He kissed me lightly.
We headed back to the Hotel and decided to put the champagne in the fridge for tomorrow. The next day I got us up extra early. We had an excellent continental breakfast then I put on my walking shoes and prepared to do some serious shopping.
We hit Harlem first. I must have stopped in fifty stores! T whipped out his platinum card and wouldn’t let me purchase so much as a tube of Mac lipstick using my own money!
When I started thinking that I had hit my limit, he began pointing out things I should buy. The only time he got the slightest bit annoyed with me is when I kept asking him if he was spending too much on me.
“Nikki, I’ll tell you when you hit your limit. I do have a limit in mind, and you haven’t hit it yet.”
Okay…At the hair store, a tear actually ran down my cheek. I bought eight falls that I have yet to see back home! T was so loaded down with packages that we took a taxi back to the hotel.
After depositing our packages, we stopped at a coffee house in lieu of lunch and I saw Tony drink coffee for the first time. He got latte and I had a caramel frappucino.
“Come o
n,” he said, taking my hand and leading me to another waiting limo.
“How do you do that?!” I screeched. How did he arrange all of this?! He just smiled. He then took me to some of the most expensive stores in New York.
“Are you crazy?” I whispered seriously when I looked at some of the price tags. Hey, I was content shopping in Harlem. He just smiled.
We went to the men’s department and entered a private dressing room. T shopped from a catalogue and a salesman brought out his choices for him to try on. T was a fool for Armani, like I was a fool for fake hair. He found himself two suits that looked so expensive I wouldn’t even peek at the price tag. But damn, did he look good. I refused to buy anything after checking out what he was buying for himself. The only way he got me to agree to allow him to buy something more for myself was by telling me he had tickets to an exclusive dance club and he started dropping names of stars and R&B and rap singers that showed up there regularly.