Untangle Me Read online

  I parked my truck in an empty parking lot within walking distance to the community. I walked through the darkened woods to the canal that surrounded the homes. It was thirty yards to the other side, which I knew I could swim easily. The only problem could be the alligators that were hidden by the veil of night. I swam as quickly as I could and tried not to look around. Adrenaline and alcohol were coursing through my veins and giving me stamina and strength beyond my natural abilities.

  I climbed out of the water and collapsed on the bank. I stared at the stars, watched them twinkle in the sky, and caught my breath. I thought about my love for Lisa, and her ability to throw me out like a piece of garbage. My blood began to boil with anger, and it propelled my body forward. I walked with a purpose… get my clothes and get the fuck out.

  I knocked on the door, but no one answered. The house was dark. I used my key to unlock the front door and enter ‘our’ home. I started thinking about all of the money, sweat, and tears that I poured into our relationship and the home we made together. My anger increased and my mind raced. I threw around some of the things that I had purchased. At what point did I snap? I’m not sure, looking back. I had been so controlled and excluded from other people in my life… she had played the last head game with me.

  I couldn’t stop myself, I loved her, and she was throwing me away. I came here to grab my shit for work and leave, but I got wrapped up in my anger. I wanted her to feel my pain and became so consumed that I left behind my keys and identification. I had a long walk and swim back to my truck and time to figure out where to go, but never got the chance.

  I heard sirens before my feet ever touched the water. I jumped in and moved with urgency. My hands touched the grass and I hopped out of the water and ran. I hid in the woods and evaded the police for a short time, but they caught up to me.

  She reported that I entered the house unlawfully and didn’t live in her home. I was charged with burglary and trespassing. I could not convince anyone that I lived there. The police would not listen to any of my pleas. They said that my name was not on the lease; therefore I wasn’t a resident. I had a key, my mail was sent to the house, and all of my clothes were there… but they said none of it mattered when determining my legal right to enter the property.

  I could understand how sometimes things go way beyond what we expected when alcohol factored into the equation. We’ve all had an experience where we’ve woken the next morning horrified by what we had done the night before.

  Did he have an anger problem? I hadn’t seen a glimmer of anger in the time we’d spent talking or chatting online—he seemed so easy going. My brother found no trace of it in his phone calls, and everyone said he was a nice guy. That night could’ve been a single event caused by drinking too much.

  I had no right to judge anyone on his or her life experiences. Life is a series of events that help us become who we were meant to be.

  “Are we still going to meet?” he said in a sad voice.

  My heart pounded, I responded quickly, “Yes.” I sealed my fate. I needed passion, and he might just be the cure.

  My Melted Heart

  My wish had come true, Sophia finally agreed to come to New Orleans and spend time with me. She had invaded my thoughts, and was the reason I woke up each morning. I checked my phone for her messages before ever crawling out of bed. Messaging and talking no longer satisfied my craving, though.

  I needed a good girl in my life, and I wanted somebody I could trust with my secrets and my heart. She hadn’t had many men in her life, unlike the women I’d been involved with in my past, and that made her even more desirable. My judgment had been off for most of my life, but I was finally on the right path. I couldn’t imagine her not in my life at this point. She knew I had feelings for her before she agreed to visit, but not the depth; I understood her weariness.

  I worked all day while she drove to New Orleans. I asked to leave work early so I could get home to shower and prepare the apartment. I lived with a couple of guys and they weren’t known for their cleaning skills. I wanted everything to be perfect.

  I wanted to get my hands on her—to kiss her. I shaved my head slowly, making sure not to miss a spot. I wanted to feel her hands glide across my skin. I trimmed my facial and body hair. I wanted to look my best for her.

  When I was finished, I sat with the boys and waited for her to call.

  “Dude, I can’t believe you’re having some girl come here for a weekend and you’ve never even met her before,” Tom said.

  I shook my head, “She’s fucking hot, man. She’s unlike any other girl I know.”

  “You don’t know her at all, what if she isn’t who you think she is?” Mark asked.

  “What?” I asked with my brows furrowed.

  “You’ve seen a picture of her?” Tom asked.

  “I’ve seen a lot of pictures of her. We have friends in common. She doesn’t have a made up profile picture, if that’s what you’re hinting at, jackass.”

  “Never know. I’m just saying, she may not be all that,” Mark said.

  “Can we see some pictures?” Tom asked.

  I flipped through my tablet to a special folder I had filled with pictures of Sophia. I tapped on a photo of her and turned it in their direction.

  “Holy shit,” Mark said.

  “Bullshit,” Tom coughed.

  I swiped the picture to the side and her face filled the screen. Her large brown eyes lined in blue eye liner and gold shadow always caught my attention, and I knew the guys would be green with envy.

  “That girl is coming here?” Mark asked.

  “Yes, fucker. She’s staying here with me the entire weekend. Don’t be assholes this weekend. Remember, there will be a lady in the house.”

  “You trust us around her?” Tom asked.

  “I don’t plan on leaving her side… She’s mine, hands off… eyes too,” I said tapping the picture viewer closed.

  “You going to date this chick or just fuck her silly?” Mark asked.

  “I’m going to have her. She’s definitely girlfriend material, I’m drawn to her.”

  “Jesus, you sound like such a pussy, Kayden.” Mark laughed and slapped the table.

  “Fuck off.”

  “Wait, what about those other bitches you’ve been fucking?” Tom asked.

  “I haven’t seen either of them in a long time, I’m done with them. They don’t compare to Sophia. They were convenient and suited a purpose.” I said.

  “Wow, you’re whipped and you haven’t even touched her yet.” John bellowed from the couch.

  “I’m far from whipped, dickhead. I know a good thing; I have to do it right with her.” I told them.

  My heart began to pound feverishly as my phone began to ring.

  “It’s the moment of truth,” Tom said.

  “Fuck off, all of you.” I quickly walked out of the room.

  I checked myself one last time in the mirror, taking a slug of mouthwash and swished it quickly.

  I walked past the guys, ignoring them to make my way outside, not wanting to miss her pulling in the parking lot. I sat in my truck and watched the street. I wanted to get a glimpse of her before she saw me. I thought about hiding, but Sophia didn’t like surprises. I felt like I could barely breathe. She pulled into the drive and up to the gate. She was even more beautiful in person than I had imagined.

  Would she still like me when she met me? God, I hoped so.

  She looked around and zoomed in on me. Her face instantly broke out into a bright white smile. Thank God, she must not be disappointed. I opened the gate using the remote in my truck and waited for her to pull around. She pulled into the empty parking spot next to mine and turned the car off quickly.

  Seeing her now made me realize that I’d been a fool. I’d given up on love and a happy future, but she made me realize that it was still possible and my heart wasn’t dead.

  New Orleans

  DANGER was staring me in the face—the same sign that Kayden se
nt me during his photo tour of the city. My mind was consumed by a haze of lust and disbelief. Kayden had his mouth all over my body less than thirty minutes ago and I didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t stop thinking about his rock hard cock and the pleasure I felt from his mouth and large hands.

  Kayden leaned against the wrought iron fence separating the street from the trolley car waiting platform, pulling me against his body, and my body complied with his not so subtle coaxing. My head lolled back and rested upon his shoulder.

  I couldn’t stop staring at the sign, even though I know it wasn’t meant for me, should I heed the warning? Kayden had already pushed me beyond my comfort zone within ten minutes of being in his presence. Am I out of my league with this man? My thoughts were interrupted when his lips brushed against my temple and his thumb caressed my arm. The gesture was filled with love and adoration, and it took my breath away. I closed my eyes and became consumed in the feeling of his skin upon mine. I jumped when the trolley whistle sounded to alert the waiting crowd of its nearness.

  I turned my body, wrapped my arms around his neck, and stared into his eyes. I was mesmerized by the color and depth. The green center was trimmed in a brassy brown hue, resembling a turbulent ocean during a storm, and I was drowning in them.

  “You told me your eyes were brown,” he said, “but they’re filled with gold and green flecks in the sunshine.”

  “No one has ever noticed that about my eyes before.” I was in shock that he noticed the complexity in my eyes as I had with his.

  “I want to know all of you… every spot on your body,” he said.

  I swallowed hard and my mouth became dry as the words flowed through my ears and permeated my thoughts. I became lost in the possibilities that his statement held.

  “Come on, babe, the trolley is here,” he said as he maneuvered my body towards the trolley.

  The trolley car was crowded, but we found an open bench in the back. The wooden seats were small and caused every inch of our sides to touch. His hand rested on my knee as he turned his body to look out the window. As the car glided down the tracks, Kayden pointed out city landmarks and told me stories about the Big Easy. The street was lined with long and thin shotgun homes in all the colors of the rainbow. Beads leftover from Mardi Gras clung to the electrical lines like a jeweled necklace decorating Canal Street.

  Kayden’s touch never broke from my body. He touched every inch of naked flesh as the car shook and lurched to our final destination—there was electricity between us. The trolley stopped abruptly and brought me back to reality.

  “This is us,” he said as he stood and held out his hand for me.

  I rested my fingers in his palms as he helped me stand. He secured me under his arm as we started to walk down the busy street. The people of New Orleans were as colorful as the buildings.

  “There’s Bourbon Street,” he said pointing across the street.

  My eyes followed his finger to a long narrow street filled with people. I had heard about the decadence that can be found in New Orleans, but nothing prepared me for what awaited. My eyes grew wide as my feet touched the edge of Bourbon Street.

  Directly in front of me stood a sex toy shop, a strip club, and a large crowd of happy revelers. The street was lined with burlesque shows, clubs, and girls stood in the doorways dressed in thongs and pasties. Their bodies convulsed rhythmically up and down the doorway trying to tantalize the crowd to attend the show inside, everyone was vying for business.

  Kayden squeezed my hand as he studied my face.

  “The whole street isn’t like this, it changes to bars and restaurants before you enter the residential area. Hold my hand so you don’t get lost in the crowd,” he said. “Have you ever been in a strip club?”

  “Not one with girls dancing, but I’ve gone to male ones.”

  “We’re going to keep it that way,” he said.

  Music streamed through invisible speakers filling the hot humid air. Bodies were swaying with the beat as they meandered down the street. The brick facades were lined with black iron balconies packed to capacity. The strip clubs gave way to vibrant bars packed to the hilt.

  “Want to get a drink?”

  “I’d love something sweet.”

  “I got just the thing. It’s called a Hand Grenade, and it’s a New Orleans specialty.” He began to pull me down the street.

  “What’s in it?” I asked.

  “It’s a secret, but it’s filled with a bunch of different things. It’s sweet, but it’s strong too.”

  A line of people formed near a small window to order a Hand Grenade to go. Kayden ordered one for each of us and the bartender place two giant green plastic drink glasses on the counter. The container was made of neon green, plastic, and a grenade shape at the bottom. I had seen many people on the streets carrying them as they walked. Kayden handed me the drink and my first sip was an explosion of fruity flavor across my palate. I swallowed a few refreshing gulps before taking a breath.

  “Slow down a bit, there’s a lot of liquor in the drink,” he stated as I removed the straw form my lips.

  “It doesn’t taste like there is any alcohol at all in it,” I said.

  “They’re easy to drink and go down smooth. Have you eaten today?” he asked.

  “I haven’t had much to eat and I’m hungry,” I said.

  “Let’s get something in your belly before you drink too much more,” he said.

  We sat on the stairs of the building next door and people watched while we finished our drinks. A drag queen directed traffic at the busy intersection and the crowd followed his guidance, although some seemed confused. My legs began to feel like jelly and began to tingle. I needed to eat before I became drunk.

  We crossed the street to Yo Mama’s—our original meeting destination. We entered the dimly lit doorway and into the intimate dining room.

  “There’s an upstairs dining area, too, let’s go up there to eat for more privacy,” he said.

  The upstairs was furnished with tables and a separate bar area. All of the seats at the bar were empty and Kayden picked two in the middle for us to sit.

  “We can sit closer at the bar,” he said.

  Kayden pulled out a chair for me, and I collapsed in the chair. My chair began to move and my body lurched to the side when it came to an abrupt stop. Kayden had moved my chair close enough to his that our bodies touched.

  The bartender arrived a moment later to take our orders. Kayden ordered Jack and Coke and I followed suit. My body was still vibrating from nervousness and excitement from earlier in the day, and I thought that one more drink would help calm me.

  “Want to split a burger?” I asked Kayden. I didn’t want to overeat, but I was starving.

  “Sure, how about the spicy burger and salad?”

  “That would be fantastic. I’ll eat any type of burger,” I told him as I stroked his arm.

  “It won’t taste as good as you did. I can’t get the memory of your taste out of my mind. I need another one.”

  “Later, Kayden,” I said with a twinkle in my eye.

  “Later? I want one now,” he said as his hand moved up my thigh.

  I flinched when his hand reached my shorts. He reached a finger inside my panties and found my wetness. He left it there for a moment while I looked around the restaurant to see who was near. No one seemed to be paying attention to us, but my heart began to pound. He removed his finger from my panties, bringing it to his lips. Smiling, he placed his finger in his mouth and sucked on it with closed eyes.

  “Kiss me.”

  “What?”

  He reached over and grabbed my neck to pull me close enough to kiss me. “I want you to taste yourself on my lips. I want you to know how sweet and delicious you are.”

  He kissed me deeply and passionately. I could taste myself on his lips and tongue. It was intertwined with his intoxicating taste that I craved more than any food. After a moment he released me, and I sat there like a fool—unable to move.
r />   I averted my attention away from Kayden in order to gather my thoughts while he ordered our meal. I had never acted like this—public displays of affection weren’t in my character. I clutched the cold drink and swirled the straw with my tongue. I have never felt such electricity with anyone like I felt with him.

  “I’m dying to take you into the bathroom and fuck you right here. I won’t though, the first time needs to be intimate and last longer than a quickie against the bathroom wall,” Kayden said in my ear in a slow even tone. His words held promise of sexual pleasure like I had never experienced before.

  I pretended to pout, although I could have never gone through with it. I had never had sex in a public place in my life, and the idea of it scared the shit out of me. Kayden made me want to do things outside of my norm. I wanted excitement, but would I be willing to do all it entails? I didn’t want a quick fuck in a bathroom either; I wanted it to be slow so I could savor him.

  We barely spoke while waiting for our dinner. We kissed and touched each other, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. I was drawn to his free spirit and he oozed sexuality. His face was beautiful and I couldn’t stop gazing into his eyes. The food finally arrived and we removed our hands from each other only to eat.

  Kayden ordered another drink for each of us and my stomach began to turn. The sweetness of the Jack and Coke wasn’t harmonizing with all the other contents. I didn’t complain even though I knew I would pay for it tomorrow. Kayden seemed unfazed by the alcohol coursing through his veins, unlike my jelly legs, hazy thoughts, and squinted eyes.

  My stomach filled quickly due to the liquid floating inside. I watched him finish the burger and lick his fingers. His hands were large and his fingers were thick. His lips were full and engulfed his fingers one by one. My thoughts were riveted by his motions and I jumped when his hand trailed up the inside of my thigh. The people around us disappeared from my vision and I was overcome with lust. The bartender was on her phone facing away from us, and he was driving me wild.