They were soon right where they were, both of them cut in between the two. Crystal and Rochelle stopped stunned, looked up at who was moving and dancing with them and broke into a fat grin. They leaned past the guys to look at each other and laugh and of course started dancing with them. Crystal felt excited, giddy, and joyful, her adrenaline shot up as she gazed up at Ben dancing with her. It was such an incredible surprise, no words were needed as they danced in perfect unison, and all of a sudden, Mundo's mix cut in with Will Smith's Switch again, everyone laughed and switched partners. Crystal ended up with Marcus, who was acting crazy and funny, his long lanky body moving all over the place, having a good time - clapping and ducking and moving his head he got down with her, while Ben danced with Rochelle. Two minutes into the song, the African drumbeat hit and then, an oldie, The Bar-Kays - 'Soul Finger' - was playing and the floor screamed and started going low to the floor, shimmying and gyrating, sweating and hot, they didn't care, the music was moving them. Everyone from the tables and the bar unable to resist the beat when Mundo growled in a gruff deep voice, "O-o-o-one - mo-o-o-ore - dustieeee!" The African drumbeat followed by Booker T & the MG's, 'Green Onions' - "Oh ye-e-e-eah, shake all that sweat off ya' - I wanna see it drippin'!" and after a moment of that, once more, Will Smith's 'Switch' - and they all jumped back again, laughing and dancing until perspiration covered their bodies, sweat rolling and flying as their heads shook and bobbed.
Crystal couldn't believe Ben was there. Everything in her lit up to a glow that was undeniable. She couldn't say what it was, or why it was, but to have him present, sharing that good time with her, placed her back to their time in L.A. when they'd come to know one another, really know each other. She danced more animated, more invigorated as if before, a part of her energy source had been missing and now it was found. She forgot about Rochelle and could think of nothing but dancing with Ben, moving with Ben, grooving close to Ben. They hadn't said a word to each other, there was no need. With the music playing around them, him by her side, she felt on top of the world, and her mind ran to him for an escape. As for Ben, of all things to be wearing, he wore a black cardigan, that made him look sexy as hell in it, but he was overheating. After the second switch, he'd pulled it off over his head, spinning it overhead as if a stripper and tossed it to the dj, Mundo, who caught it laughing, "YEAH YEAH YEAH - IT'S GETTIN' THAT HOT!! Anybody else wanna take somethin' off, be - my - guest! La-a-adies???" They all laughed. Crystal couldn't believe that he stood with a icy-turquois, silk wife-beater on, getting down with her, looking good as ever, his body glistening with sweat, turning her on. Looking so toned, he was distracting some of the ladies dancing nearby. He laughed out, because a few coped a feel, squeezing his ass - he didn't mind, because it was just a thang, as close as all were, it was to be expected.
Crystal was looking at him suddenly and then looked around, suspicious, she leaned in close to him, up to his ear, "What's so funny?"
Still grinning, he shook his head, moving against her and then shifting to move behind her as they danced when Mundo called out, "Okay now, let's slow it down a bit, but it's gone be hotter than ever... come on girl, all I wanna do - is - love - you, I wanna love you." The ladies screamed and the guys howled.
Ben and Crystal reacted immediately moving ever closer to each other, smoothed it out like warm honey being poured on the dance floor, his body flexed curled around behind her, barely an inch or two between them as the song swept over them. Gyrating and grooving in a way that said loud and clear, they were feeling it. At that moment and time, Crystal knew that nothing else mattered, no one else mattered, just the two of them out on the dance floor. She vaguely noticed that Rochelle and Marcus had gone back to their table, and yes, a knowing glance from Rochelle as well; that didn't matter either to Crystal, all else in her life was invisible for the time being, Ben was there, flanking her in one move, dominating her with another, loving her on the dance floor and for that moment, that place, she was loving him back - until that song ended.
It was too hot!
The place was on fire from all the body heat, they had to stop and get something to drink, he lead the way towards the bar, "Drinks on me, come with me?" Ben asked. Crystal nodded, for the moment, willing to follow him anywhere.
At the table.
"So, your name? I'm Marcus." He sat adjacent to Rochelle, leaning towards her with an elbow on his knee, close enough for her to look him in the eyes. He had lovely eyes surrounded by long sooty lashes and knew it, they were his mother's eyes, irresistible to more than a few.
"Marcus huh?"
"Yeah, Marcus, and you, come on now, be nice, grant me that name."
"How old are you boy?"
"Boy? What makes you think I'm a boy?" He grinned with the McPherson grin, bright white teeth flashing out at her.
"I know a boy when I see one, you a big boy, but-..."
"Emmm, you've been talking to a few girls I know, huh?"
Rochelle laughed, shaking her head, "Yeah right."
"What? Why you say, yeah right? Huh? I'm sitting here, trying to decide your best feature, those eyes, or, those lips." He spoke smooth, gazing into her eyes, then down at her lips, not willing to give an inch.
"Lord, they start so young." She murmured for him to hear.
"They? Girl, I'm a McPherson, we can't be compared to the rest. They? Ha! Come on, don't be like that, name?"
"Rochelle, if you must know. How old are you?"
"Old enough."
"Old enough, for what?"
He sat back, stretching his long leg out under her chair, never for a moment taking his eyes off of her. "Old enough to help you make this a night to remember, don't you want a night to remember? I do, with you."
Rochelle started laughing, "Boy, you want you some bad, don't you? I ain't never seen no white boy dive in like that."
Marcus grinned, he knew the game, if she wanted to laugh at him, let her. "What makes you think I'm a white boy?"
"Ah, hellooo? Your straight hair, honey blonde. Your features, you got a white look about you, those eyes, see you been tannin' too."
"I'm Puerto Rican, if you must know."
"Liar."
"You ever see a white boy my color? I'm like this all year around. Fact is, if I'm Puerto Rican, that means, there's some black as well, accordin' to my grandmother, that's a fact. Another something I bet you didn't know, Mundo and Crystal? My halves."
"Half what?"
"Siblings."
"If you lying and you know it, clap your hands!" She laughed singing.
"It's true, no lie, and Ben, he's my cousin."
"Uh huh, got you, thought he was Crystal's step-brother?"
He smiled, flexed his brows flirtatiously and asked, "You ever hear the song, I am my own grandpa?"
She exploded again, holding her stomach.
"It's complex, but that's us, if I start to break it down to you, it could take all night. I'd rather do something else, all night." He flirted boldly.
"Boy, you wouldn't know what to do with me, if you tried."
"Let me try, come on, please - let me try? I promise you, I'll give it my best."
"You think you gone just walk up in here, dance a few dances, give me the eye, try and talk all smooth and I'm just gone give it up?"
"I have two condoms on me; on the way, I'll pick up a couple more 3 packs, that should help."
"That should help?" She drew back, eyes wide.
"Yeah, I always ate my spinach, I'm a big strong boy, like Popeye; his arms and legs bulged big on him, and uh, I get the same results, just, someplace else." His winked.
Rochelle laughed again, looking him over, shaking her head, "Yeah, right..." She couldn't believe him, "...what would you do, if I shocked you, made you put up and prove all that?", she played with the idea, he was young and good looking.
"If I were you, I would... put me to the test, make me - prove it." He pressed.
Her eyes reflected she might take on the challenge, the
dare; her mind was reminding her that she hadn't had a man in a long time, after all, she was trying to be good. Last time she could remember, was at least 7 months ago, too long. He could see she was considering it and reached over taking her slender fingers in his, gesturing towards the door, "Come on, all these women in here, I spotted you from across the room. Ben said, when I asked your name-..."
"Oh, so you already knew my name?"
"Yeah, I did - but I needed you to give it to me. Ben said, you would probably chew me up, spit me out. Is that true, you that rough?"
"He said that huh?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph, you young, you can take it, or can you?"
"I don't know, I think you're gonna have to put me through it."
Rochelle sighed, looked him over, what could it hurt? He wasn't exactly her type, and despite what he said, she knew she'd have to work with a possible small pee-pee, and it was that she wasn't so sure of. But, having that thought, it would keep her shit tight, working with little dicks. "What the hell... come on, lemme lay something on you."
"Where we going? Gotta get more condoms first."
"We will, and then to my place."
"You got your own place?"
"I do."
Marcus felt the tremor again, one of elation. "I rode with my cousin." He informed her.
"I have my own ride, I'll take you where you need to go - even afterwards."
Marcus was on top of the world - mission accomplished.
At the bar, Crystal and Ben stood near the door trying to catch a breeze, the area was so crowded they decided to step outside a few moments to cool off. Ben made sure to keep Crystal inside towards the building, standing possessively at her side. Others were out, smoking cigarettes, talking loud, a few who'd drank too much were being obnoxious, but thankfully, never looked their way. They moved to the side of the door where a couple had just vacated it to step into a cab. Crystal leaned back against the wall with Ben standing over her, looking down into her eyes, she was the first to speak. "Didn't expect to see you here tonight." Her words were soft, breathless, trying to fight off what she was feeling having him there. A nice breeze blew, taking several strands of her hair across her face, it stuck to her moist skin. Ben couldn't resist reaching up, catching them to place back behind her ear. Such a small and simple gesture, sent her heart into a mad pounding, making her tingle all over and especially from the spot on her ear where his fingers touched her skin. The crazy thing was, they'd just seen each other the day before, yet it felt like weeks. To have him so near, sent her heart tripping with every other beat.
He was smiling. "I couldn't resist, hope you don't mind?" He commented, deciding he'd better put his hands in his pockets.
"No," She shook her head, "Why would I mind?"
"Because, you've made your choice haven't you? Maybe, my showing up here and there-..."
"I don't mind, Ben - you showing up, here and there, I don't mind at all. We are, still friends, right?"
"Yeah, that was after all, my promise to you. I can't believe he let you off alone without escorting you."
"He was called into work tonight."
"Yay, Lucky me..." he gave a quick mock clap, "...someone's on my side." He smiled.
"Ben..." his name came out with a soft, apologetic sigh - she didn't know what else to say. They stared into each others eyes, lost in the moment with so much on their minds they wished to share, but dare not. And yet, something passed between them there, something that spoke what they dare not. Ben stood, once more fighting what he was feeling inside to let her know how crazy it made him to know she was back with Victor. He opened his mouth to say what he was feeling but said instead, "We better, get back inside, get those drinks."
Crystal's eyes grew wide, in reaction to him ending this moment of just the two of them, her breath caught in her chest, she didn't want to go back in just yet. What she longed for was Ben to talk to her some more, stay near her. Her mouth came open to say that, when suddenly out came Marcus and Rochelle.
"Hey?" Crystal exclaimed at the obvious sight of them departing, "Where you going? We were going to get drinks." She asked, looking from one to the other.
Rochelle had that look on her face, jingling her car keys, her eyes on Crystal briefly, then to Ben and back again, "He ah, need me to run him by the store, pick up a few thangs, I'll ah, take him home from there, no worries." Rochelle explained, giving her friend knowing eyes. After all, she had gone back to Victor, and here she was, outside, up against a building, with her "step-brother" standing possessively over her. Of course Rochelle didn't care about that, what she cared about was that Crystal had gone back, when it was clear, with Victor, her heart was no longer - it was there, right there in that 6'3, dark and handsome, with eyes that could reach to your soul; charm and manner that had he been the one approaching her - yeah, she would have taken his ass home, no doubt about it. But what was stunning and clear - to anyone seeing them now, they were in love - end of discussion, big ass period please.
Crystal's and Ben's expressions mirrored surprise, looking from a grinning Marcus, hovering tall behind Rochelle, his hand at her back.
"Marcus?!" Ben used his name in reprimand. "What am I gonna tell grans when I show up without you?"
"Ahhh, how about, you don't go home tonight, find someplace else to go, we'll meet back up in the morning-..."
"Ah, hang on here, we're supposed to be doing a marathon on my dad's house tomorrow, remember?"
"Hey! That's it, I'll meet you there! But don't go home, that way, they won't question you."
"Marcus!"
"Chill chill, I'll take care of it myself - we gotta go." The last thing Marcus wanted to do, was stand discussing his grandparents when he had a fine and willing woman by his side, looking down at her, "You ready to go?"
Smiling, Rochelle looked up at him, "You sure you wanna go with me? I wouldn't want you to end up on punishment, somethin' like that." She teased.
"Hey, looking at you, they can put me on punishment, I'll be in my room, with a smile on my face, it'll be well worth it."
Shaking her head laughing, Rochelle turned back to Crystal, "Well, time to go, we'll talk later girlfriend. I'm sure I'm leaving you in good hands."
Crystal could only stand with her mouth open in disbelief and finally answered, "I guess so - uh - well - have fun, whatever your plans are."
Rochelle winked at her, "Heh-heh-heh - yeah, we'll be just fine, or at least I will be." And just like that, they were off down the street, heading towards the lot where her car sat parked and waiting. Crystal turned back to Ben, "Now what?"
"You, tell me? You need a ride home?"
"Well, yeah - I came with her. I can't believe she's gone off with Marcus!" She glanced back their way and then back into Ben's eyes, "I'm starting to wonder about that boy, I mean, the last time..." She grinned, tapering off, referring back to when they were in Madison the night before their flight to L.A., shaking her head, "Oh well, Rochelle can take care of herself."
"I'm glad to hear that, and you need a ride home. You have a choice, me, Mundo, or a taxi?"
Crystal bit into her bottom lip, she knew what she should say, but her heart chose, "You - if - you don't mind? Unless you'd planned on staying out later?"
"I'm here, Crystal, only because I knew you'd be here."
She smiled, "We better go in, let Mundo know, we're heading out, that you'll take me home."
They made their way into the busy club and dreaded having to cut through to Mundo, instead, Ben pulled out his mobile and text him that they were leaving and he was giving Crystal a ride home. On the way out, Crystal remembered his shirt, "Your cardigan?!"
"I'll text Mundo again, ask him to bring it home."
"Good idea." She returned softly and they were stepping back outside to a beautiful night with cool breezes. Walking towards the parking lot, Ben placed Crystal on the inside between him and the building, his hand to her back. Now that they were alone, and going to be alone unt
il he pulled into her driveway, they battled once more with all the things they wish they could say, but dare not. Unlike before, when she was filing for divorce and it was thought her marriage done and over with. Ben was fighting reaching out for her hand, just to hold it again the way he had before. Crystal was having breathing difficulties, brought on by her bodies reaction to being with him, this close to him. Stuck hard in her chest, was a boulder size knot of emotions bringing moisture to her eyes, for once, she felt an incredible urge to throw caution to the wind and plead with him to take her somewhere to be alone and so that, yes - he could make love to her. The fact that she was finally facing that crazy need, was making things so much more worse for her, because she'd gone back to Victor.
"Here we are." His voice broke into her thoughts as he opened the passenger side door for her to climb in.
She stopped before him, turning her back to the open car, looking up into his eyes, was on the verge of shaking, she struggled so with herself.
Ben stood gazing down at her, unsure of what he was seeing there, "What? Something wrong?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, "I'm .... I .... Ben - I-I-I ...." She shook her head and sat quickly in his car, her heart and her head going nuts.
Ben stood for only a moment before slamming the door and rushing to the drivers side, climbing in, closing and locking his door behind him, he turned on the seat facing her. With her profile to him, Crystal sat trying to get herself under control. He sat with longing eyes, dying inside, drinking her in, aware that she was going through something, and was afraid to speak, not wanting to stop her from where she was going.
BOMAW 12-14 Page 5