Creative Love (Ladies of L.U. #1)

by J. Nichole

  Watching me, Bryan answers Laila, “He always takes his time. Would have certainly thought he would have been a pretty boy Kappa instead of a nasty Que.”

  Chris emerges from the room and says, “Watch it.” He grabs his keys and Laila's hand. Over his shoulder he says, “Let’s ride.”

  My feet rejoice when we are seated at the VIP table. My get ‘em girl outfit would not have been complete without these six-inch heels. But after wearing tennis shoes for most of the weekend my feet aren't ready for the gentle assault the elevation inflicts on my arch.

  “Let’s take a shot,” Laila hollers over the thump of the beat. After I throw the shot back Laila stands up and waves her hand toward me. “We’re going to the dance floor.” It’s been a while since we’ve been in a club together, but the liquid courage must be something serious because Laila was the least coordinated dancer of all the roommates.

  When we hit the dance floor we mix in with the dancers already moving to the music. The dance floor is much different from our years at L. U. where friends came with coordinated dances and chicks danced till they sweat their hair and outfits out. “Think Jennifer would like this up North music?” Laila shakes her head. We semi two-step through a few songs, nothing like the fast-paced booty-shaking we’d do down South. But before long my feet are begging for a break. “Let’s sit down for a few.”

  “Yeah my feet are killing me.” We both smile knowing we are on the same page. When we get back to the table, a few chicks are standing around talking to Chris and Bryan. When Chris notices us approaching, he scoots over and lets Laila sit beside him. He ignores the girls and starts whispering in Laila’s ear. I scoot in beside Laila, giving Bryan his space to continue his conversation with the girls, just waiting on my opportunity to swoop in as his sister. He surprises me when he bids the chicks farewell and turns his attention to me.

  “Not worthy of your artwork,” I say sarcastically.

  “Not even. I can't get my current muse off my mind.” He drapes his arm across the back of the seat and scoots in close to me.

  “Is that right?” He nods his head and runs his hand over my knee.

  “Her natural hair, brown eyes that hold an ocean of hope, an elongated neck,” Bryan stares at me as if he were committing my face to memory. “Breasts that could feed a nation of children.” I gasp and he laughs in response.

  Chris looks at us and his eyes don't leave Bryan’s hand on my knee. Bryan whispers, “Come home with me when we leave.”

  Chapter Nine

  Bryan

  Whether alone or with a group of guys, the club has always been my zone to find women. Being able to pick up women who don't realistically expect an emotional attachment; women who are looking to relieve their woes, whatever they may be.

  But tonight, tonight was different; the only woman I was interested in taking home was the one who came with me. Another first, not bringing sand to the beach was not only cliché` but it was my gold standard. And this weekend Nicole had me caught up twice.

  Chris warned me, and Nicole ignored me, but I couldn't resist. Then that kiss. That kiss was hard to pull away from. If it weren't for our plans for the night I would have convinced her to stay in with me, to allow me to explore her body.

  After the chicks in the club approached us and my dick didn't even flinch, I was assured I wanted Nicole. And I wanted her badly. If it were up to me, we would have exited stage left as soon as she came back to the table. I didn't want her liquored up, I wanted her sober, and fully aware of the passion I wanted to unleash on her.

  I also didn't want to heed my luck to any other random dude who could have tried his hand with her. I knew her goal for the night. She just wanted to be fucked; at this point any old dude would do.

  But she didn't respond when I asked her to come home with me. Standing across from her and Laila in the elevator I keep my eyes on the numbers as we are rising. Chris is trying to talk to me but I can’t focus on his words. His floor is next, when the doors open my eyes connect with hers and I wait. Chris steps around me and takes Laila by the hand as they exit the elevator.

  Nicole looks away from me as the doors begin to close. As the elevator starts to transcend we are alone. When the doors open at my floor I look to her. She steps off the elevator and leads the way to my apartment.

  When I open the door I feel rushed, but I want to take my time with her. I take her purse and lay it on the counter then guide her to the bedroom, leading her by the waist. Chris was right, without a couch the only suitable option in here is the bed to sit.

  I brush her hair behind her ear and break our silence, “I want you so bad right…” Our lips collide and she pushes me against the bed, her urgency obvious. I let her take lead, kissing me and climbing on top of me. I reach down to remove her shoes and then break from our kiss. “I don't want a quick fuck,” I say.

  She rocks back on her heels and concentrates on me. “That’s all either of us is capable of doing.” She shakes her head and continues, “We only have tonight. The few hours left of it.”

  “We owe ourselves more.” I grab her behind the head and kiss her with every ounce of certainty I have within me. My body tenses when I don't feel her relax. I release her from the kiss and ask, “Do you honestly believe you aren’t capable of more than fucking and leaving?” She looks down and I say, “As a matter of fact, let’s prove it to ourselves.”

  “Like not having sex at all?” She asks. “Leave me hot and heavy then send me home tomorrow with the thoughts of those kisses? And that’s it?” She stands as if she is going to walk away.

  “Don’t leave. Take a shower with me.” I reach for her and she doesn’t move. “Listen, this is new to me too. I don’t even know why I’m doing this. I’d love to be inside of you right now. But to be honest, I’ve enjoyed my time with you.”

  Nicole interrupts my outpouring. “You don’t have to feed me all of that to fuck.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ve heard every sweet thing a guy can say, and after weeks of being with me he still walks away.”

  I hold my hand up in the air. “That was his loss. Whoever he was. And I can’t guarantee you I’ll be around for forever. But I do want to see if this could be more than just a one night stand.”

  “You’re here in New York. You do realize that right?” She looks around my apartment and says, “You may be able to last a couple of days before you’ll be on the prowl again.”

  “You could be right. We could both realize that neither of us is capable of making this work. But what happens if we are?” As I try to prove to Nicole that this should be more than just a casual fuck I’m shocked about what I’m suggesting. I’ve known the girl for two days and I think I want to test the unthinkable. Most girls I meet, I fuck, then I walk away. Maybe spending all this time with her and not fucking has me disillusioned.

  She’s standing with her hand on her hip and her eyebrow arched. “I should get some sleep. I need to leave early in the morning.”

  “Shower first?” I look from my bed to her. “You know, new sheets and all.” She finally cracks a smile and walks toward her bag.

  “Would hate to dirty your bed.” She starts the shower and leaves the door of the bathroom open. I accept that as an invitation, her agreeing to take a shower with me. I begin stripping out of my clothes from the night and join her in the shower. In the outfits she’s been wearing all weekend I knew her body was bad, but seeing her completely in the nude, my dick instantly goes hard. The thought of not fucking seems absurd.

  From behind her, I begin to wash her back, rubbing small circles into her muscles. She allows her head to lean forward and soft moans escape from her mouth. I continue lathering soap down her legs and when I reach her feet I turn her toward me. Her breasts are on full display, her nipples as hard as my dick.

  I manage to keep my distance as the soap glides across her chest, down her stomach and above her mound. I hesitate before continuing down the front of her legs. She steps back and allows the water to wash away t
he suds. When the water runs clear she steps in closer to me and rubs her hand across my face and her breasts perch firmly against my chest. “What now?” She whispers.

  “You can dry off. I should probably get clean too.” She grabs the bottle of soap and instead of a towel she squirts the soap into her hand. Rubbing her hands together she creates a thick lather. Starting with my chest she massages soap into my skin, working down my body but avoiding my dick. I brace myself against the wall to keep my knees from buckling.

  When she finishes with my body she takes her time with my dick. If I’m going to keep my word of not fucking her till her legs go weak I can’t let her finish. I put my hand on hers and stop her strokes. “Let’s get out of here.” She looks up at me with a smirk on her face. She opens the shower door and steps out, grabbing a towel from the back of the door. I rinse off until she leaves the bathroom, and when she leaves I finish stroking my dick until I release. Grabbing a towel from the bathroom counter, I join her in my room where she’s made herself comfortable between my sheets.

  “These sheets are a little stiff.” I can hear her legs shuffling beneath the comforter. “May need to upgrade soon.”

  “I’ll be sure to put sheets on my house warming registry.” I drop my towel and climb under the comforter with her. With my chest to her back I say, “This may be a challenge for both of us.” She cradles her head into my neck and hums softly.

  The sun shines brightly through the window and I jump, feeling around in the bed to wake Nicole. She has to be at the airport for her flight, and Laila and her will both kill me if she’s late and misses it.

  Nicole isn’t in the bed. I sit up and call her name, “Nicole.” The corner of the bedroom where her suitcase was last night is empty. I lay back against the pillow with my dick at full attention. I crawl out of the bed to collect my phone because my bare room lacks an alarm amongst everything else.

  Six in the morning, and Nicole should be at the airport ready to board her flight. Although she snuck out like a thief in the night I decide to text her safe travels and my phone dings.

  Nicole: Thanks!

  This girl has me all fucked up, and my karma for fucking up women the same way is her not feeling anything for me outside of fucking. I plop onto the bed and consider ways I can get back to my old habits. The stiff sheets rub against my leg and I decide today is the day to get this damn apartment in order. Then I could have a chick here to work me over and make me forget about Nicole.

  Knocking down Bryan and Laila’s door, I hope Laila is available for the day to help me finish shopping for my apartment. The door swings open and Laila rolls her eyes when she sees me. “Bryan, do you know what time it is?”

  I look at my phone and respond, “It’s after noon. Why are you still asleep?”

  She moves aside and laughs, “I had to wake up early as shit to get Nicole in a taxi.” She stops and stares at me. “Why you couldn’t have done that I have no idea.”

  Because Nicole snuck out of my apartment, probably frustrated that all we did was sleep like an old married couple. What the fuck is wrong with me? “I didn’t think you would appreciate not seeing her off.”

  Her eyebrow arches and I’m reminded how spunky she can be. “Anyway, what did you need?” She looks back to the bedroom. “I’m dying to get my head back on that pillow.”

  I rock my head back and forth. “I was hoping you’d come help me finish furnishing my apartment today.”

  Her mouth drops and she rubs her hand over her face. “Today, Bryan?” I hunch my shoulders. “Fine.” She sighs. “Let me.” She pops her t-shirt. “Let me get dressed.”

  Chris has always been a hard sleeper. He didn’t even budge as Laila got dressed and we left out of the apartment. “You like Nicole?” Laila says as she stands across from me on the elevator.

  Her question catches me off guard and all I can do is laugh. Do I like Nicole? “Why do you ask?”

  She swallows then looks down to her feet. “She kinda told me about last night.” Of course Nicole would run and tell Laila about what happened last night. I’m definitely going back to my old ways. “Listen,” she says before the elevator doors open. Two older white ladies step on the elevator and Laila goes silent.

  “If you like her it’s no big deal. She’s a tough one, but she has to be.” Laila tells me as we walk down the street to the furniture store.

  “She has to be?” Nicole mentioned being left after guys sweet-talked her. I didn’t put much thought into it when she said it, but maybe some dude has screwed her over. Laila looks up at me and then away before mumbling under her breath. “What’s that,” I ask. “I couldn’t hear you.”

  “Nothing. It’s not my story to tell.”

  “I’m not the commitment type either.” I look down at Laila bouncing along the sidewalk. “Why change things now?”

  “You can give me something better than that, Bryan. Got me out here in these streets when I could be asleep, deep in a dream right about now.”

  “Sounds like Nicole and I have more in common than I originally thought.” Laila shrugs as we walk into the furniture store.

  Instead of lagging behind me in the furniture store, like Chris, Laila is picking out furniture and accessories to complement my apartment. The store clerk and I follow behind her, and as I agree with her selections as the clerk scribbles on his notepad. “Listen Laila, it’s been a minute since I’ve spent time with a chick, especially non-sexually. Your girl is cool as shit, and obviously sexy as a motherfucker.”

  The store clerk looks to me and then walks away to give us space. “And you’d want to settle down eventually, right?” I nod my head haphazardly.

  She picks up a pillow then looks to me and says, “Step your game up and don’t let your bruised ego get in the way.”

  “Easier said than done. Your girl isn’t interested.”

  Chapter Ten

  Nicole

  After swiping left on the suspect dudes popping up in the dating app I decide to login to Facebook, searching like an investigator for my old fuck buddy. Oh my God. He settled down. Scrolling through pictures of him and the same girl, I’m irritated by a few things. One, he was always my back-up when I needed someone to work me over. Two, after all these years he went and found someone when he never even offered to take me on a date.

  I throw my phone on the couch beside me and flip the channel to a cooking show hoping to get rid of my sexual aspirations. The chances of me getting laid tonight are just about as slim as they were last night laid up with Bryan. Still can’t believe that grown ass man laid up in the bed, both of us naked, and didn’t try to even rub up on me.

  The Italian food on the cooking show reminds me of the little place Bryan and I went to my first night in New York. My attempt to find a dude at the bar should have been an indicator that my weekend was going to be dick-doomed. I didn’t suspect, from that first night, that I would have converted Bryan into a guy who wanted to all of a sudden settle his playboy ways and be concerned about me more than sex. Why he couldn’t do all that after my trip to New York is beyond me.

  If I could cook, I’d run to the store for the ingredients for the Fettuccine Alfredo this chef is whipping up. He makes it seem easy, but of course he’s probably had years of experience in the kitchen. My mother was too particular about her kitchen. She didn’t want any of us kids in there messing up her flow. Instead she had us replace the fancy dishwasher with our hands. All these years later and I still would rather grab take-out, order delivery, or just graze on snacks before I would ever get in the kitchen.

  As I’m evaluating my life and prospects of ever landing a husband, my phone dings with a message.

  Laila: Ugh did you make it home?

  Instead of messaging her back I call her phone. “I’m home,” I say with a grin on my face.

  “Heffa you should have been home hours ago. How was your flight?”

  “I’ve been home for a while. And yes, I’m scandalous. Should have texted you when I go
t here. My bad.”

  “I forgive you.” I hear someone talking in the background. “But Bryan says he was expecting a text too.”

  “Right. That would be boo behavior. Clearly, we aren’t on that level.”

  Laila smacks her lips. “But you could be,” she whispers in the phone.

  “Laila your whispering skills are sub-par. Did you ever visit a library as a kid?” She laughs. “And what do you mean I could be?”

  “Hold on,” she says. I hear her moving before she continues, “I had to move away from him since you claim I suck at whispering. Anyway, I was talking to Bryan and he sounds interested in you.”

  “But why? I would have been the perfect fuck buddy. Wouldn’t have grown attached. Live in a completely different state. It would have been fuck buddy bliss.”

  “First of all what is fuck buddy bliss?” Before I can explain she cuts me off. “Never mind. Not important. Something about you has this dude messed up. I don’t even think he knows why he passed up the sex. But I do know he enjoyed the time he spent with you.”

  “Yeah thanks to my homegirl pulling a fast one and not being available. I’m still not going to forget that by the way.” I sigh. “But I’m pretty sure it all sounds good now until the next hot thing walks up to him ready and willing, and then he’ll remember what a bad idea it is to be on some commitment bullshit.”

  “Damn, Nicole. I’m really starting to get the feeling you won’t ever settle down.” She may be right. I may never settle down. My first attempt at settling down was met with rejection. Being a preacher’s kid, it was difficult having a boyfriend in high school. The only boy my father approved of was the deacon’s son. Fortunately, he was pleasing on the eyes and wasn’t as straight and narrow as everyone thought he was.