********
“Who the hel is Xavier, and why did you give him my phone number without checking with me first?” Déjà said to Jade as soon as they hooked up that evening.
“Before you snap, he had been begging me to introduce him to you, since that day you dropped me off over Jay parents’ house about 2 weeks ago. He was sitting in the white Range Rover.
“Stil , why didn’t you tel me about him first? He just cal ed and I had no clue as to who the hel he was.”
“Because I know you; you would have come up with any reason as to why you couldn’t hol a at him.”
“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?” Déjà asked.
“No. But, he is the kind of man that you have sworn off, but he is nothing like Shawn punk ass.”
“And how do you know that?”
“One, Xavier and Jay are cousins; they both used to be big time dope dealers, but are now retired. Two, because I’ve seen him in a Navigator, a Benz, and a Range Rover, and not to mention he’s part owner of the club we’re going to tonight. Plus, al the other businesses he owns. He stay iced out and laced in the finest gear, that’s how I know!”
“That’s where I recognize that name! He was a big time dope dealer. He was the guy that Shawn would go see to re-cop on his product,” Déjà said. “ You gave my number to a drug dealer?” Déjà asked agitated.
“Didn’t I say he is retired from the game? Besides, haven’t you ever heard of the saying don’t judge a book by its cover?”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing? Hel he might be a serial kil er. Besides, you know I can’t get into a relationship with another damn dope dealer. You know my history with Shawn. I said I wil never do that brand of men again. Now I have to change my number!” She spat.
“He’s going to be at the club tonight, so do you stil want to go?” Jade asked, hoping Déjà wouldn’t say no. She didn’t want her outfit to go to waste.”
“Girl please, I’m looking too good to go back home!” Déjà said, slapping five with her best friend.
~SEVEN~
The club was off the chain. Déjà and Jade headed straight for the dance floor as Bee cal ed for al the “Single Ladies.” They tore up the dance floor, but Déjà felt as if she was being stared at. They took a seat over at the bar. Déjà ordered an Amaretto Stone Sour and Jade ordered a Cranberry and Vodka.
The bartender came over with their drinks. “These are for you pretty lady, and the drinks are on the house,” he said, handing Déjà a dozen red roses.
“I think you have the wrong girl,” Déjà said to the bartender.”
“Is your name Déjà?”
“Yes.”
“Wel , I have the right girl.”
“Who sent these?” she asked, smel ing the flowers.
“Read the card,” he said with a smile.
Déjà looked over at Jade. She had a big joker smile plastered on her face. She opened the envelope and pul ed out the card. It read: Save me a dance, beautiful!
“Roses and he don’t even know you? Now that’s what I’m talking about!” said Jade.
“Okay, I must admit that was sweet, but I had my share of drug dealers and nothing good came out the relationship. There was cheating; baby mama drama, bonding them out of jail, etc. I just can’t tolerate another street dude,” Déjà said to Jade while sipping on her drink.
“Al men have those problems not just street dudes.”
“I know, but they’re most likely to come with that bul shit.”
“Says who?”
“Says me!”
Slow dance by R. Kel y came blasting through the speakers. “This here song is a special one from my main man Xavier,” the DJ said, lowering the music. Déjà looked over at Jade. She was smiling from ear to ear. Jay walked up behind Jade and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hey baby, can I have this dance?” Jay asked, reaching out for Jade’s hand. Jade was about to decline because she didn’t want to leave Déjà by herself.
“Go head girl!” Déjà said to her best friend.
Déjà was sipping on her drink when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Can I have this dance?” A male’s voice spoke into her left ear.
She turned around to decline his request, but she just stared at what was standing in front of her.
Xavier was a tal , brown skinned brother with a low hair cut that was ful of waves. He was sporting a muscle shirt that complemented his upper body, and a crisp pair of slacks. “I told you I’m going to make you mine!” he said as he took Déjà’s hand and led the way to the dance floor.
He whispered charming things in her ear the entire time they danced. Déjà hated to admit it, but Xavier had her panties soaked.
“I need to go to the ladies room,” Déjà said, stepping back.
“Okay, I’l be at the bar,” he said with a grin on his face, showing off his gorgeous smile. Déjà couldn’t stop blushing.
There is something about this man that’s attracting my attention, she thought to herself. Déjà promised herself that she wil never do another drug dealer, but Xavier was a gentleman. She pondered on whether she should slip out the back door or not, but it seems that he had the place on lock. There was a big muscular guy sitting on a stool next to the back door. He smiled and nodded at Déjà, as if he knew her. Women were looking her up and down with envy in their eyes. One particular girl stared at Déjà with her nose turned up, but Déjà paid her no mind. Men that were trying to get at her before, now turned the other direction, and the DJ fol owed Xavier’s every command. Plus, she rode with Jade, so she had no choice but to go back to the bar.
“I’m glad you didn’t run out the backdoor,” Xavier said with an attractive smile.
“There’s a back door?” she said, jokingly.
“Jokes, I like that!”
“Yeah, what else do you like?”
“You, and I hope the feelings are mutual.”
“I’m going to be honest. I’ve dated your kind and have nothing good to say about it, so I’m not sure how to feel.”
“My kind, what exactly is my kind?”
“The kind that doesn’t punch a time clock,” she said.
“Oh! Gotcha, I can respect that. Your girl told me a little about your past. But know this, that was my hustle that does not define me as a man. You can’t compare me to guys that you dated in the pass. A man’s occupation has nothing to do with how he treats a woman. But let me ask you this, what kind of bad experiences did you have?” he asked curiously.
“Oh, let’s see! There was cheating, baby mama drama, jail time, and having to bond them out of jail. You know, shit like that.”
“My point exactly, that’s just the type of dude they were. That has nothing to do with what they do for a living. If they drove a milk truck, they wil stil do the same thing because that’s their personality. As far as jail and you bonding me out, that’s something you wil never have to worry about. Trust me!”
“Why should I trust you?” Déjà said with a smile.
“I just told you, I’m not that dude you used to know.
I’m one of a kind, baby!” he said with self-assurance.
“Okay, Mr. one of a kind, can you at least enlighten me on your government name?”
“It’s Xavier Jones.”
“Okay, Mr. Jones. I’m Déjà Morgan.”
Déjà and Xavier talked a little longer until they were interrupted by a short, light skinned brother with braids.
“Yo X, we have a problem,” he said in a whisper.
Xavier looked over at Déjà.
“Go ahead, I’m about to get out of here anyway.”
“Can I cal you tonight?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Alright, baby. Tel your girl I owe her one,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.
On the way home Jade gril ed Déjà about her conversation with Xavier. ”You know I got to be nosey, right?” Jade said. “I saw y’al smiling al in each other faces.
/> What did y’al talk about?”
“Now you’re spying on me?” she said with a smirk.
“You know I had to watch him just in case he tried something slick. Then I’l have to cut him.”
“He seems like a real y nice guy. Not to mention, he is drop dead gorgeous with a body to match.”
“He is fine girl. You’re lucky I didn’t get to him first,” she said teasingly.
“You did, remember?” Déjà said.
“Yeah, but he’s checking for you.”
They laughed as Jade pul ed up in front of Déjà’s apartment building. It was three in the morning and Déjà was exhausted.
********
As soon as she walked in, she put the roses in water, ran a hot bath, and added her favorite Victoria Secret fragrance Love Spell with a few floating candles.
She undressed, and then pul ed her hair up into a ponytail.
She stepped into the steamy hot water. It worked wonders on her aching body. She couldn’t get Xavier off her mind.
She laid back, fantasizing about making love to him. Just as she was getting deep into thought, the phone rang. Déjà got out the tub to get it, but she didn’t make it in time.
The voicemail light began blinking. Déjà slipped into her pajamas, turned on the television, but turning down the volume, then checked her voicemail.
Hey baby, this is Xavier. I told you I was going to call you tonight, and I don’t make promises I don’t intend on keeping. Also, I wanted to make sure you made it home safe. Give me a call when you get this message, one.
Déjà didn’t notice how sexy his voice was until then.
She listened to his message over and over again. She didn’t want to come off as desperate, so she sent a text message instead of cal ing. It read:
Hey Xavier, it’s Déjà. I was in the tub when you called, but I did listen to your voice message. Thanks for making me feel special tonight. I really enjoyed your company. I am extremely tired, so is it ok if we talk tomorrow?
He replied: That was nothing baby, you’ll see. Get some rest. I’ll call you tomorrow.
~EIGHT~
Jade cal ed early the fol owing morning. “I knew I should have turned my ringer off before I went to sleep,” Déjà mumbled under her breath.
“Hey girl, what are you doing?” Jade said in an energized tone.
“You must’ve forgot that I was out al night with you, so what do you think I’m doing? Sleep!” she said, answering her own question. Just as Déjà was about to tear Jade a new asshole, her other line beeped. “Hold on, my other line is beeping.”
She clicked over. “Hel o!” she said in an irritated tone.
“Hey, baby, it’s Xavier. Did I wake you?”
“No, actual y Jade did.”
“Oh okay. How long wil it take you to get dress?”
“Um, about an hour, why?” She asked.
“It’s a surprise. No jeans or gym shoes. Where do you live?”
Déjà gave him her address, and then ended the cal .
She got up to shower, but forgot that Jade was on the other line. The phone rang back. She let it ring. It was eighty-five degrees outside, so she decided to pul her hair back into a ponytail. She wore a satin halter jumpsuit and a pair of sandals with a four inch heel. Her cel phone chimed just as she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup.
“Hel o,” she answered.
“I’m downstairs in the lobby,” Xavier said.
“I’l be right down.”
“Cool.”
She applied her strawberry lip gloss, set the alarm, and headed toward the elevator. Xavier greeted her with a dozen red, pink, and white roses and a kiss on the cheek.
“You look good, baby!” he said.
“So do you,” she replied. He was wearing a black designer button up, a pair of black slacks and a pair of gators. He opened the passenger side door of his white Mercedes Benz S550 with white rims and a double sunroof.
“So where are you taking me?” She asked as they merged onto Lake Shore Drive.
“I told you, it’s a surprise. So, tel me a little about yourself,” he said with a smile.
“Wel , to make a long story short, I’m 25 years old. I went to Flowers High School, and graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of Il inois. I now work as a social worker. What about you?” She asked, looking over at him.
“I’m 29, I was born and raised here in Chicago, I graduated from Prosser High School, and I have a degree in business from Purdue University.” Déjà was shocked.
“What you didn’t think I was educated?” he asked with a smile.
“If you went to col ege, why were you sel ing drugs?” she asked.
“I didn’t have a choice, couldn’t find work. I turned to the streets and got caught up. I became a drug dealer, and now I’m retired from the game, so glad I am!”
“Was it real y that bad?”
“If you only knew,” he said, “that shit is a headache, not to mention, dangerous as hel . To be honest with you, I didn’t think I would ever make it out the game alive or in the joint.”
“I don’t see how you can risk your life like that for a dol ar.”
“Trust me when I tel you, baby, I made more than a dol ar,” he laughed.
“Have you ever been locked up?”
“They tried to get us, but the cases never stuck. We had to deal with motherfuckers in the streets that wanted our seat on the thrown, and that was just as bad!”
“So you’re no longer a drug dealer?” Déjà asked, wanting to hear it from his mouth.”
“No, not anymore!” he replied.
“So, what is it that you do with your spare time?”
“I own a few homes, a couple of rental properties, a barbershop/beauty salon, a nightclub and I have a 5-year-old son name Jeremiah. I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a lot of spare time.”
“I guess not! Have you ever been married?” she asked.
“No, never married. I was too deep into the streets to settle down,” he said as he exited Lake Shore Drive.” Déjà and Xavier talked and laughed until they pul ed into the parking garage of Navy Pier.
“I love this place! My Aunt Gail used to bring me here as a kid,” said Déjà on the verge of tears. She hated to think back to her childhood. It was fil ed with so much despair.
“This is just the beginning. I have a whole day planned for you,” said Xavier, hearing the hurt in her voice.
He knew she had gone through something tragic in her childhood from the look in her eyes, but thought it was too soon to ask.
They walked the Pier hand and hand until they reached Midnight. Midnight was one the most talked about cruise ship that sailed Lake Michigan. They boarded the boat. They first stopped to take a picture together then headed inside. They grabbed a table next to the window.
Xavier had reserved the entire section so that no one wil be seated near them as they got to know each other.
“How did you know this was my favorite place?” asked Déjà.
“I did my homework,” Xavier said, winking at her.
She just stared at him with a smile.
They both ordered the salmon dinner and a few desserts from the dessert table. The band was playing Here and Now by Luther Vandross.
“May I have this dance?” asked Xavier, taking Déjà’s hand and leading her to the dance floor.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pul ed her in close to him. Déjà felt what seemed like ten inches bulging out his pants. When she looked up at him, he was smiling hard.
“I’m turning you on!” he said, looking down at her breast.
“How do you know that?”
“Your nipples just told me!” he said sarcastical y.
Déjà looked down at her nipples and they were hard as rocks. They both laughed.
Déjà was real y feeling Xavier. She couldn’t wait to get a taste of him. They were damn near having sex on the dance floor. By the time the boat d
ocked, Déjà was horny as shit.
“Wil you spend the night with me?” He asked, hoping she would agree.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too soon for me to be spending the night with you?” She asked, playing hard to get.
“No, I don’t. What, are you scared?” Xavier said in a cocky tone.
“Should I be?”
“No!”
“How do I know you’re not one of those guys that just like to hit it and quit it?” she said with a smirk.
“Who said anything about hitting it?” He said with a grin plastered on his face. They chuckled.
Truth be told, she wanted him to tear it up. Déjà haven’t had any dick in over a year. She was feeling like a crack head in rehab, but she didn’t want him to know that.
But, if he did his homework like he claimed he had, he would have already known that. Déjà and Xavier stopped by the picture booth. He purchased two photos that they had taken before going on the boat. They walked around the Pier for hours, and then took a ride up Lake Shore Drive with the sunroof open. He merged back onto 80/94.
“Would you like to go see a movie?”
“Sure!”
“Have you ever been here?” asked Xavier, pul ing into a parking spot.
“No I’m afraid not,” Déjà answered.
“It’s the bomb!” he said, helping her out the passenger seat.
Déjà was impressed. She had never seen a movie theater quite like this one. This place served dinner doing the movie; had a bartender serving drinks, and the most comfortable seats. They agreed on Jamie’s new movie.
“You never answered my question,” he said.
“What was the question?” Déjà asked, knowing exactly what question he was referring to.
“Wil you spend the night with me?”
“I would have to go home for an overnight bag.”
“We can stop by Macy’s and you can get whatever you need.”
“You real y did do your homework didn’t you? That’s my favorite store.” He smiled.
After the show, they swung by Macy’s. Xavier bought her some sexy lingerie, a jean jumpsuit that she had been wanting, a pair of designer heels with a matching handbag along with some under garments. They arrived at Xavier’s house a little past ten. Xavier’s home was absolutely stunning. It was a two story home with five bedrooms and four baths; a huge kitchen with al stainless steel appliances. The living room had al white furniture with plush white carpet and a sixty-five inch plasma mounted on the wal .
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