Prohibited: an erotic novel (9 page)

The hostess smiled back.

“Yes, I believe he is here.”

She led us into the restaurant and we followed her to a table in the back by the windows.

It was a very elegant dining area. There were windows everywhere. I was hoping that we would get a table near a window. I like to eat with the sunlight spilling onto the table.

It was warm and very comfortable in the room. The tables and chairs were decorated with a cream and red color scheme.

Mikey was seated at the table casually reading the newspaper, looking incredibly sexy. He was wearing a black collared shirt with dark blue jeans. His dark brown eyes and his dark hair made him look more alluring against the color of his shirt.

When he saw us approaching the table, he smiled.

My goodness he looked so much like his dad.

“Ladies, you’re late!” he said hugging Julia and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“When you’re with Julia, you’re always late.” I remarked.

He laughed wrapping his arms around me and placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

“It’s always good to see you Maxi.”

I smiled.

Mikey pulled out our chairs and we took a seat just as a server came to our table.

The server brought water and bread and Julia picked up a glass and took a sip. He laid menus on the table next to each of us and walked away. Julia leans over the table and looks at me with her long dark hair cascading all over the rolls.

She whispered to me.

“Do you think he is cute?”

Mikey started to chuckle.

I sighed.

“Julia, this again?” I asked in frustration.

Every time we go out she always tries to hook me up with someone.

“Just answer the question.” She insisted.

I glanced up at the server and watched him at another table. He was tall and had the darkest ebony colored skin. He was rather slim and not much of an ass, but he wasn’t half bad. The problem was he looked really young.

“Too young,” I said matter-of-factly and took a sip of water. She smiled and started to survey the room.

“What about him?” She questioned.

Her eyes traveled to a guy sitting in the corner drinking coffee and working on his laptop. He was eye-catching, skin the color of caramel with hazel eyes. He may have been the type I would go for in the past but as of lately guys like him have suddenly falling off my radar. On top of that, he looked like he was still in high school.

“Still too young,” I said shaking my head.

She heaved a sigh.

“Come on Maxi, at the rate you are going you’re never going to find someone.” She insisted. “You’re too picky.”

“I am picky and I’m not sure if I am ready to be in another relationship,” I said with mock exasperation.

“A good healthy relationship is what you need.”

“I’m not interested in a relationship. I’m more interested in getting laid.”

Mikey laughed spitting bread crumbs all over the table.

“In that case,” Mikey garbled with a mouth full of bread.

“Does it matter that they are too young?”

“Yes.” I said taking a sip of water. “I like a more mature man in bed.”

“Whatever.” Julia said folding her arms across her chest.

“Sex isn’t all that I am looking for. I’m looking for the one. My soul mate. ” She maintained.

Man, fuck a soul mate!  This “soul mate” business was for the birds.

I thought I found my soul mate in my ex-boyfriend. All I found was physical and emotional pain.

Satisfying my carnal desires was all that I was interested in lately. My mind drifted to Michael and I could not stop myself from thinking about that night. The way he made me feel was divine. He traveled my body like he had explored it before. As if the man was meant to taste, to feel, to investigate my landscape.

My head started to pound and I reached for my glass of water.

“Not like you are in a solid relationship either.” I accused grabbing a piece of bread from the brown basket sitting in the middle of the table.

I was getting hungrier by the second. Is that server coming back?

“Well, at least I’m trying.” She said reaching over and snatching my roll out of my hands.

She broke off a piece and popped it in her mouth.

“You know that bartender at Mikey’s wedding?” she asked finishing off the roll that she stole from me.

“I just happened to get his number.”

“Really?” I questioned leaning back in my seat folding my arms across my chest.

She smiled and brushed her hands off on her napkin.

“And,” she said pausing for dramatic effect. “He called and we are going to dinner Saturday night.”

She gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen on her beautiful face.

“Really?” I said trying to sound excited. “That’s great!”

I was excited for her but on the other hand I was a little jealous. Come to think of it, behind my tough facade, I think I have always been a little jealous of her.

She has long dark hair and a face to die for. Whenever we are out together guys just flock to her.

I am a dark skinned black woman and never really felt all that attractive especially next to Julia. Not to mention the horrific treatment from my last boyfriend, Timothy.

Timothy and I broke up about 9 months ago. We were together for about three years and I am still recovering from the physical and emotional pain. Those horrible three years were more than enough time to figure out that he was abusive and not the man for me.

After him, I refused to let a man control me again. I needed to be in control.

“This leads me to a question that I have to ask my dear best friend.” Julia said smirking as she leaned across the table.

By the look on her face I was thinking I didn’t want to know the question. Her expression made me a little nervous.

“Okay, ask away.”

She leaned in closer.

“Did you hook up with somebody near the bathroom at Mikey’s wedding?”

I was taken aback. Had she seen Michael and me? I am pretty sure that could not be the case. She would have been a little more pissed off and hopefully would not have brought this up in front of Mikey.

I tried to play it cool.

“That wedding was months ago. You’re just not asking me that question?”

“Well, like I said, I don’t get to see you very much anymore.”

Mikey looked stunned.

“You were hooking up at my wedding?”

I smiled.

“I didn’t hookup. I just made out with him.”

I look over at Julia.

“Why are you asking?”

She smiled.

“I walked past the hall to the restrooms and saw you with a man kissing. It was too dark to see who he was, but I could tell it was you.”

Shit! I thought. That was a close call.

I look over and see Mikey glaring at me.

“What?” I inquired.

I was enjoying his distress. He always looks so cute when he’s upset.

“So that is what you were doing when we couldn’t find you?”

I looked away. I didn’t know if he had noticed his dad walking out before me. I hoped that eventually he wouldn’t put two and two together.

“Who was the guy?” He asked.

Like I was going to tell him!

“Some cute guy I guess.” I lied.

He looked peeved.

“Are you fucking serious?”

I laughed.

“What?”

“Most of the men at my wedding were my relatives. So what cousin of mine did you fuck, Maxi?”

Julia laughed.

I just folded my arms across my chest clearly annoyed.

“Seriously, Mikey?”

Julia just sat shaking her head. Mikey continued to stare at me.

I was a little offended. Just a little. I mean, I have been a little over the top lately.

“Maxi, I want to know.”

“Mikey, I said I don’t know who he is and again I did not fuck anybody!”

Okay, so I said that last part really loud and people near us in the restaurant started looking our way. Julia and I started to giggle.

Mikey still didn’t find anything funny. He continued to stare at me. He looked extremely serious and I was starting to get nervous.

Had he seen his father leave right before me?

“So, you don’t know him. Did you at least get his name?”

His probing was making me very uncomfortable. I didn’t want to slip up. Man, I was starting to get pissed at Julia for even bringing this up.

“No Mikey.”

“So you just randomly make out with men you don’t know?”

“Can we talk about something else?” Julia asked.

I could tell the conversation now was making her uncomfortable as well.

At that moment, the server came back to our table and took our drink orders. Julia ordered iced tea and I ordered strawberry lemonade. Mikey just stuck to the water he was drinking.

Julia excused herself and made her way to the restroom. I took this as my opportunity to vent about Julia and her matchmaking skills hoping he would lay off my escapades at his wedding.

“Man! She is always trying to set me up. Can’t I have a decent lunch without being set up with every guy in the room?” I said munching on the last roll.

“No, you are not getting off that easy.”

I leaned back in my chair getting myself prepared to be put in my place.

His voice was velvet edged and strong. He moved closer until his lips were inches away from mine.

“Just the thought of another man touching you upsets me. Then you go and potentially almost hook up with one of my cousins at my wedding.”

Man, he looked so sexy when he was angry. Yet, if he was that angry over a cousin I knew that it was best not to let him know it was actually with his father.

On another note, If this was any other guy saying this to me I would be ready to take him home and fuck him senseless, but it was Mikey and he always teases me and baits me with us both knowing it will never go anywhere.

His face softened and the look in his eyes changed from upset to concerned

“You have got to lay off the random guys Maxi. As one of your best friends I am worried about you.”

I moved my chair closer to his. I didn’t want the people around us to hear our entire conversation.

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I do,” he interrupted.

“Someone has to because you don’t seem to give a damn and it really bothers me to see you put yourself in danger like that.”

I didn’t think it went that far. I didn’t think I was putting myself in danger.

“Mikey I think you are overreacting.” I said taking a sip of water.

He reached out grabbing my hand.

“Maybe so, but it’s only because I care about you.”

Mikey was always looking out for me. It made me sick to my stomach how badly I am betraying his friendship right now.