Single & Ready 2

by Lolah Lace

  I didn’t respond to the text. I didn’t see any reason to. I wasn’t trying to go tit for tat, but he hadn’t responded to any of my texts. I just didn’t care to acknowledge I received it. I slept uneasily, and I had a sex dream about Brandon. I hated waking up and remembering that dream.

  Mark and I made plans to go to breakfast the next day and go reserve a U-Haul truck for all my big furniture. I showered and put my hair in a ponytail.

  I couldn’t seem to shake Brandon from my brain so when I met Brandon at Honey Jam Café for breakfast I was happy to just get some food in my system. I lost ten pounds when Brandon did his disappearing act. I had just recently got my weight back up.

  Mark was a godsend. He did all the heavy lifting when it came to my move. He was really making it easy for me. Mark ordered pancakes, and I ordered French toast. We sat in the back of the restaurant where it was usually quieter. As always, I needed his input on this sudden reemergence of Brandon.

  “So yesterday I got a surprise visitor to the apartment.”

  “Visitor who?” He asked taking a sip of coffee.

  “Brandon.”

  “What? What did he want?”

  “He pretended to want his things, but he really wanted to plead his case.”

  “Did you entertain this loser?”

  “I listened to him if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Yes.” Mark huffed. “C’mon, you have to know you deserve better than him.”

  “Yeah but I don’t know. He had a sort of a good excuse for not returning my calls.”

  Mark leaned back in his chair to regard me with what appeared to be disdain.

  “Please tell me what bullshit excuse did this loser give you.”

  “His father had a heart attack, and he rushed to the hospital to be with him.”

  “And what he didn’t have any cell reception for two months?”

  “Okay, you’re doing the most. His father had cancer, and he died. He buried his dad.”

  “I still can’t understand why you weren’t a part of his family emergency while it was happening?”

  “He said he couldn’t deal with it.”

  “He’s lying.” Mark blurted.

  “Why would you say that? Maybe he just couldn’t deal with anything other than that his father was dying?”

  “And you want to deal with a man who can’t handle tragedy? Because life is full of them. His excuse is bullshit. You were with me at my father’s funeral.”

  “That’s different. We’re friends.”

  “Maybe you should start dating your friends because that guy is a loser.”

  “I didn’t get back together with him or anything.”

  “That’s good. He’s not worth your time.”

  “Is it okay if I figure out for myself who is worth my time?”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “Like what? It’s not like I slept with him. We just had a conversation.”

  The table had gotten tense. I’d never seen Mark act like this. He was passionate about something that didn’t even concern him. He was almost acting jealous. But no, that’s stupid. I eyeballed him and he eyeballed me right back.

  Mark pushed his plate aside and leaned forward. “I think you should date me.”

  I started laughing out loud. “Seriously Mark, I don’t have time for your unfunny jokes.”

  “I’m not joking.”

  “I don’t understand where this is coming from?”

  “I always liked you. We’ve been friends. You were always in a relationship. I never had a chance.”

  “Had a chance. What does that mean?”

  “I, I, wanted to ask you out in the beginning but you were always with someone. I’m single now and you’re single now.”

  “This is weird.”

  “No, not really. It’s sort of perfect. We like all the same things. We get along great.”

  “Because I think of you as a friend. I tell you stuff.”

  “I know. That’s why I think we would be great together.”

  “When did you come to this conclusion? You’ve dated about thirty women since I’ve known you.”

  “I really don’t think it was that many women. But you shouldn’t really hold that against me. I didn’t have a choice. You weren’t available.”

  “It’s my fault you slept around?”

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just saying you in relationships so I you were never available.”

  “Available for what?”

  “To date me.”

  “Oh, brother.” I sighed. “When did you start dating anybody? You don’t date. You just screw around.”

  “That’s the past.”

  “Since when?” I leaned closer to look him dead straight in his lying blue eyes.

  “Okay, look, I know this is a lot.”

  “It is for damn sure. We’re coworkers and friends. I’m practically moved into your house. Now you’ve gone and made everything so awkward.”

  “It doesn’t have to be awkward. You waste all this time on these losers. When we want the same things.”

  “Like what things?”

  “Marriage, kids, family.”

  “Oh my God, Mark, since when did you ever want to be someone’s husband? You can’t even keep a girlfriend for three months straight.”

  “I didn’t want to keep them. The woman I wanted has always been in a relationship.”

  “Me, you wanted me?”

  “Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “Because I just don’t believe you.”

  “When have I ever lied to you?”

  Okay, so that was something for me to ponder. When? I couldn’t actually come up with anything concrete.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. You have literally never, ever shown any interest in me. I have never been your type. Now that Brandon has returned, you just happen to want to date me. Sounds fishy.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure this seems like it’s out of left field, but it’s not.”

  “Okay fine. Just for kicks. When did you decide you wanted to date me? I’ve known you for years.”

  “When I first saw you. My first day at the company, but I didn’t know if you dated white guys. You are out of my league. I knew that right away. I had a crush on you at first, but things are different now.”

  “How so?”

  “Don’t freak out.”

  “Mark, don’t freak out about what?” I didn’t have any clue what would pop out of his mouth.

  He looked at the window and then back at me. “I’m in love with you.”

  My mouth fell open, but I didn’t have any words.

  “I felt this way for quite some time.”

  “Mark, c’mon. This is bullshit.” I looked down at the white tablecloth, then around the restaurant. There had to be a hidden camera somewhere.

  “I promise you this isn’t bullshit. Look at me. I would never bullshit you. Tanya, you know that. I have never lied to you.”

  I took a deep breath. I had a lot to think about and not enough time to think about it.

  “You asked me to move in with you? I said yes, thinking this was something else all together. What did you think was going to happen?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “No, seriously? What? Was I supposed to hear this and just fall into bed with you? Was I supposed to just do like all the other women and just I don’t know?”

  “You’re not other women. I hoped that maybe you would listen, believe me, and gave me a chance to show you we can do it.”

  “Do it. Do what?”

  “Be together.”

  “Be together?” I didn’t know if I was playing stupid are just really stupid.

  “We can live together and we can be a couple. We want the same things. I want to get married. I want to have kids. I want a family. I know you want the same things. We can have this together. It hurts me to see you trying to have a future with these assholes. You’re too good for the
m. We belong together. I just know you’re the one for me.”

  His conviction was breaking me down. I just wasn’t sure where down started and stopped. I knew Mark was a good guy deep down. I felt like an idiot. I never considered him in any other role in my life then a guy friend. His eyes were burning with exciting and passion and I had never seen that spark in him.

  Why was he springing this on me now? I’d known him for so long? Why did he believe we were meant to be?

  “Mark.”

  “Tanya.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Let’s go reserve the truck. This other stuff can wait.”

  “Okay.”

  Just reserve a truck and do what? Move into the house of my best male friend that just confessed to being in love with me.

  ***

  Things were weird now, but there was this facade that everything was normal. I was all moved in. I had my own bedroom and bathroom. I had been living with Mark for a week and we never discussed what happened. Had he stopped liking me? I didn’t know. He treated me the same. I didn’t know if I should bring up the elephant in the room. It was kind of like the ball was in my court. I just didn’t know what kind of court I was playing on.

  I felt courageous, so I went downstairs to the kitchen to see if I could have a deeper conversation than the surface ones we’d been having for days now. I heard the garage down open and wanted to catch him before he came upstairs.

  Mark was standing by the sink with a bottle of water tilted up to his lips. He was shirtless and wet. I did a quick search of my brain to see if I had ever seen him without a shirt on. I couldn’t remember that time. But if I did this time I was looking with a fresh set of eyes. The eyes that had secret information. The eyes that spotted muscles and a legit six-pack right above his waistline. Fuck! He was hot!

  “Hey.” He spoke first.

  “You went for a run?”

  “Yeah. I ordered Chinese. It should be here in an hour.”

  “Cool. Quick question. Do you walk round shirtless all the time?”

  His face changed. He was almost smiling. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”

  “No, no, I was just wondering. Shirtless landlord wasn’t in the lease agreement.”

  “We could ad an amendment if you wanted to go shirtless. It would only be fair.”

  Jesus, this was the stuff that made women fall for him.

  “Ha, I think I’m good.”

  “You are, but I wouldn’t be offended if you want to remove your shirt.”

  “I do no want to do that.”

  He shrugged. “Bummer. I’m going to shower. Food should be here in forty minutes.”

  He rushed by me and up the back staircase. My face was smiling, and I was just happy he wasn’t around to see it.

  I stood there and felt the tingle in my belly. Moisture pooled in between my thighs. Fuck! I was attracted to him. I couldn’t believe it. How did it happen? I’d been very close to him. We’d even slept in the same bed together. None of that mattered now because my panties were wet.

  I busied myself by washing clothes. We ate dinner together and went into the living room to watch the latest episode of The Chi. We were sitting on the same couch, but on opposite ends. He was flicking through the channels, but I was looking at him, not the TV screen. In the past we sat closer, but after his confession he started keeping his distance.

  “Hey.” I said. “I’m not crazy right. Things are different.”

  He paused like he was contemplating something. “Different how.”

  “With.” I pointed from me to him.

  “Yeah, it’s different.”

  “Why?”

  “You know why. I said a lot of things and you pretty much laughed at me.”

  “I’m sorry. That was rude.”

  “It’s fine. I still feel the same way, but I want to be respectful.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship.”

  “I don’t want to do that either but—”

  “It’s weird now.”

  “A little.”

  “What do you think we should do?” He asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let me think. Uh, I got it. We can kiss. I can kiss you and you can kiss me. If we start laughing in the middle of it, then we’ll know it was a bad idea. We can just go back to how we were before my mouth went on a talking spree.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Okay what’s really weird is I don’t think that’s a bad idea.”

  “Let’s try it.” He scooted toward me.

  “Right now?” I asked, surprised at how goofy and how sensible this childish proposition was.

  “Yes, right now.”

  “Stop smiling.” He ordered, and I hadn’t even realized I was smiling. “If you’re already smiling, you’re going to laugh as soon as our lips touch.”

  “No, I’m not.” I let out an unrehearsed giggle.

  “See, stop, be serious.”

  I made a straight face. “Okay fine. Do it. I’m ready.”

  “Okay chill, stop smiling.”

  I wiped my smile off with my hand, and he shook his head no.

  “Tanya.”

  “What?”

  “Stop fidgeting. Close your eyes.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to be very still. This was insane. I was giddy for no reason at all until…

  Uh, uh, oh, ah. His lips were on mine, and his tongue pressed its way inside my mouth. One of his hands gripped my shoulder, and the other hand cradled the side of my face. He was inside my mouth and I was slipping around from reality.

  My nipples stood at attention and my pussy starting throbbing. I sighed in his mouth as he devoured my tongue. Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!

  Stop! I screamed that word in my head, but it never came out my mouth. Instead of the word, I was able to push back on his chest.

  I broke the connection.

  “Tanya.”

  “Huh.”

  “Did you feel something?”

  “I did. I did, but you’re a good kisser.” I tried to shake it off, but my heart rate was doing cartwheels and backflips. “You have to be a good-kisser. You’ve had a lot of practice.”

  “I’m okay with you taking jabs at me. Everyone has a past.”

  “True, I’m sorry. That’s real immature. Mark—”

  “At least you didn’t laugh at me.” He bit his lip and I noticed. Instead of staring at his mouth, I looked down.

  No way!

  His dick was hard. I could see the bulge begging to break free. I couldn’t pretend like I didn’t see it. It was the one thing in between us on this couch.

  “You see that. You did that.”

  I didn’t really want to take credit for it, but then again I did.

  “Give me a chance. Come spend the night with me. Don’t turn me down.”

  He slowly placed his hand in between us. I looked from his eyes to his hand. I took his extended hand. He stood and pulled me to standing.

  He guided me up the stairs to his bedroom. Something was different about this first time. I knew what it was. I wasn’t afraid or nervous.

  ****

  MARK

  This sexy woman completely mesmerized me. I was in love with her and had been for so long. I wanted this, and I was determined to impress her. I had old tricks and new tricks. I had magic that rivaled Mike and David Copperfield.

  She followed me into my bedroom and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure this wasn’t the only time.

  We stood face-to-face and utterly silent. Her hands were pressed on my chest. I leaned into her and she closed her eyes. Her arms dropped to her sides. I grabbed her forearms and pulled her in for a soft embrace. I met her plump lips with mine. I plunged my tongue deep into her mouth. She feverishly kissed me back, and I fought her tongue for dominance in her mouth. I won and felt her stiff body loosen and fall into the rhythm my kisses comm
anded. She let me ravish her swollen lips, and I sucked her tongue deep into my mouth. I pulled away to see her flushed face. She was beautiful with her eyelids closed.

  I kissed her again. My hands were on her forearms, but they wanted to explore other areas of her curvy body. I vowed to practice patience. I wanted this to last. I wanted to savor every moment.

  Cherishing her lips was a treat, but I longed to taste her pussy. I walked her into the nearest walk and let her back into it. I removed my hands from her arms and dropped down on one knee. I pulled her shorts and panties down to the floor and helped her step out of them. I licked my lips when I got an unobstructed view of her pussy. I lifted one of her legs over my shoulder and twisted my neck to dive in. I buried my face in her moist pussy. Her leg dangled over my back. I needed more, so I draped her other leg over my vacant shoulder. I had a firm grip on her ass and I used the wall as leverage.

  With one leg down, I pushed up and stood. I lifted her high in the air. She needed something to hold on to, so she dug her fingers into my hair. I pressed my face deep into her wet, dark cave. I wanted to eat this pussy forever and now that I had the chance I was loving her juicy juice. She smelled like a goddess.

  “Oh, Mark!” Her voice distracted me.

  “Mm mmm!” I mumbled into her wet spot and spread her plump shaved lips with my moistened tongue.

  “Mark please.” She moaned.

  I burrowed my face and tongue deeper into her canyon. I wanted to relish this moment. I wanted to take my time and make her cream all over my face.

  Tanya was moaning with pleasure and pushing my face as far into her essence. My hands cupped her nice ass. She cried out as I licked harder and faster. I dug my face into her pussy and sucked her clit. I was a machine.

  I listened to her moans until she collapsed on top of my head. She almost toppled us over, but I took a step back and regained my balance. Her back slapped against the wall. I stopped moving and allowed her nectar to fill my mouth and ran down my face and neck. We stayed rested against the wall for a few seconds. I had her suspended in the air on my shoulders. I had to put her down.