“Yeah, I’m good now.” I could tell she wasn’t, her big eyes looking into the Jack. She threw back another sip. “Two guys in black. One fat dude and some other weasel. Both of them had small penises. Quick money though. Made my quota for the night. They paid big and had some good drugs.”
“Okay, well there’s that. So they're trying to recruit your ladies? Your crew.”
“Yep.” She nodded her head up and down profusely. “They are, but all the girls won’t go near them. I warned them all. The streets are talking, know what I mean?”
I saluted Mimi with the last of my drink and threw it back. “I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
She tilted her head at me and looked closely.
“What is it?”
“You’re a real nice guy. Respectful to ladies. I’d fuck you for free.”
I laughed so hard. Mimi laughed right along with me.
“Thanks, I take that as a compliment, Mimi. Look, I gotta bounce. Take care of yourself out in the streets.”
“Okay, biker boy. What’s your name?”
“Diego. Nice to meet you.”
“You too. Bye, sweet thang.” I smiled at her brazenness. I tipped my hat to the bartender. He waved back. Only one Jack to ease the tension from the uncertainty that swirled around me. Now more information had opened. A pro’ ring. I should have known.
SIXTEEN
MISTY
Secret date night with the hunky and chiseled Diego. I knew I was falling in love and I had all my barriers down for him to walk into my heart. I hoped he didn’t break it.
Palo was out for the night; I checked. I had to creep and listen to his conversations to see when I could make it over there. I kissed the saint behind my desk which was part of our faith as Puerto Ricans. I wore one of my new panty-and-bra sets with a black maxi dress. I sprayed the peachy perfume I had in the air and walked into it, Beyoncé style. I straightened my hair and let it hang. I smoothed a nice clear lip gloss over my lips. If I wore my red lipstick he was just going to lick it off anyway. A smile formed on my lips as I slipped out of my room. I walked to the car and delicately slid in. A delicious excitement about the danger involved in being with Diego was making my blood hot with lust. What we had was like biting into forbidden fruit.
I made it to Diego’s house twenty minutes later and parked beside his badass bike where the chrome shone bright in the moonlight. It was clear out, with stars twinkling bright in the sky. I walked to Diego’s apartment complex and knocked on his door with a specific beat.
Diego answered the door with desire plastered all over his face. He had on a wife-beater, a three o’clock shadow and low-slung jeans. As always, his feet were bare. His muscles rippled and made his wife-beater sit just right. His dirty blonde hair was down. There was no talking. He scooped me in through the doorway with one arm in such a snap-second I nearly lost my balance. He looked at me with his hooded blue eyes before taking over my lips, tasting, plundering and discovering. The hot Latin fire burned deep between us. The passion of his kiss made me lose my breath for a moment. I heard a low rumbling groan in his throat and felt his manhood rise. He eventually let go of me and stepped back. I gasped and smiled wide.
“That’s how much I missed you,” he said, stroking the edge of my jawline.
“Papi. I like it. I will have to stay away from you more often.” I gave him sultry eyes.
“Please don’t,” he pleaded.
“I won’t, that won’t work for me either,” I giggled. He looked at me with the ocean-blue swimming in his eyes as he licked his lips.
“You look beautiful. And you smell damn good. You’re trying to give a man a heart attack.” He closed his eyes and got two wine glasses down out of the cabinet.
“No, I would never. I like to dress nice when I’m not at school. I figure I’ll be in scrubs for the next half of my life, so why not?”
“I like you both ways. You’re even more beautiful naked and in my bed.”
“Mmm,” I cooed.
“Red? I got us an antipasto platter too. Then we can think about what we want to eat.”
“You’re so thoughtful. It amazes me.”
“I keep telling you, baby, people got me fucked up. I’m a lover.”
“That you are,” I agreed.
