Knowing Is Not Enough (12 page)

The conversation with Linda hadn’t revealed any diabolical schemes. Perhaps, despite my suspicions to the contrary, she really didn’t know anything. Until proven otherwise, the visit for now was classified as just a visit. But in the category of
what matters most
, Jake’s reemergence from the depths didn’t stack high on the bookshelf.

Being with Sanford and avoiding meeting Peter’s friend took precedence.

A key element of my “potential new boyfriend” analytical process was defining and labeling. I was feeling a little adrift in terms of what was going on between Sanford and me. If we were just friends, then it would be fine for Sanford to be around when I met the new guy. If we were on the verge of being more… I don’t want to kick the ball out of bounds with, although it brief, meeting with a potential suitor in front of him—that might not go over so well.

I managed to get in and out of the hair salon in less than two hours. We agreed to meet about six or six-thirty.
It wasn’t in Sanford’s nature to be late. I knew he would be there right at six. Tobey—unfortunately for me—was a different story. She was always late, and not just by a few minutes. If Peter was bringing a friend to introduce me to, I wanted to make sure Tobey would be there to thwart any unintended exchanges requiring any degree of explanation later.

I called Tobey, and she’d heard from Peter. The man he wanted me to meet would be there, “So make sure you look good!” she said.

“I don’t know what you mean by that. I always look good.”

I called Sanford on his cell to see where he was. I was batting a hundred. He picked up right away too. “Hello?”

“Hey, there, what’s up?”

“Nothing much,” he replied. “Just wrapping up here. What’s up with you?”

“Heading home, getting ready for tonight,” I said.

“Oh, what’s going on tonight?”

I frowned. “I know you playing, right?”

Sanford laughed. “Yeah, I’m messing with you. What time are we hooking up?”

“I told Tobey about six or six-thirty, but you know her, she’ll be late. We can get there about seven.”

“Okay, seven actually works for me, but I’ll probably have to cut out early. I have to work tomorrow.”

“No, that’s fine,” I said. “I need to finish some paperwork I didn’t get done today.”

“All right. So just meet you there or you want me to pick you up?”

“You know what? That sounds good. Will you pick
me up?”

He chuckled. “I would love to.”

“Alright, so about six-thirty?”

“What time is it now,” he asked.

“Five-thirty.”

“Okay, I can me it for six-thirty.”

“Good . . . I have a couple more stops to make, then I’m headed home.”

“Where are you now?” he asked.

“Driving to pick up my dress then to the grocery store.”

I could sense the face he was making through the phone. “You can’t do that tomorrow?”

I laughed. “No dear, I can’t. I’m wearing the dress tonight. Don’t worry it won’t take me long.”

“I’m not concerned. I’ll wait on you.”

“You don’t sound convinced. I’m telling you, I’ll be ready.”

Sanford laughed. “Yeah, okay surprise me.”

“Well, I just pulled up, so I’ll see you in a little bit.”

“Alright.”

I’d asked the owner of a clothing boutique I frequented way more than I should to alter a dress for me. I tried the dress on just to make sure it expressed what I couldn’t—or wouldn’t—say. To my delight, it did.

A run through the grocery store, and no sooner than I closed my car door I felt lights on my back. I raised my right hand over my eyes so I could see. Then I heard a car door open and Sanford’s voice. “Why aren’t you dressed?”

I opened my door, and stepped out on the lawn. “Is it six-thirty?”

Sanford looked down at his watch. “No, but you have
all of ten minutes,” he said. He grabbed my bags out of the back seat. I opened the front door and entered the foyer with Sanford close behind. I tilted my head back and sniffed up in the air. “You smell nice.”

Sanford smiled. “Oh you like that, huh?” He turned toward me and held out his arms for a hug. “Oh, so good, these hugs of yours,” I said. Sanford swayed me in his enormous arms. I peeled away and he pulled me back into him. I pulled away, and looked up at him. “You want me to get dressed?”

“I guess I can let you get dressed.”

I smiled. “Wise decision my good man.”

I went around the table and grabbed my things. Sanford walked to the refrigerator, opened the door, and grabbed a bottle of wine. “What’s this?”

I leaned back into the kitchen and turned my head toward the refrigerator. Squinting my eyes, I looked at the bottle. “Oh, its wine, drink some.”

Sanford continued to hold the bottle up. “I know that, but isn’t this the same bottle from the last time I was here?” Sanford stopped and thought about it for minute then asked, “How old is this bottle?”

I leaned back up and headed out of the kitchen. “I honestly don’t know. It should be okay. There’s plenty of other stuff to drink.” I left Sanford in the kitchen trying to decide if he was going to risk drinking some year-old wine.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the water. I glanced at the clock. It was six-thirty. If I hurried we could be out of the house by seven. I took off my clothes, tossed them in a pile on the floor and stepped into the shower. I hit the hot spots and stepped back out.
No towel
. My skin
drizzling with water, I ran into the bedroom to get my towel, and nearly ran into Sanford, standing there with two glasses of wine. Like Venus de Milo minus the towel, I froze, my mouth wide open. “I thought you were downstairs!” I stated.

Sanford’s eyes filled every corner of his lenses. He stepped closer to me. “Um,” he said. “Your body is unbelievable.”

I went for my towel to cover myself. Sanford stood so close, staring at me. I probably should’ve felt uncomfortable . . . but I wasn’t. I was actually turned on by it. “Amazing,” he said.

I grabbed one of the glasses of wine and drank it straight down. I knew I should hide my naked body, but I didn’t want to.

Sanford lifted his drink up to his lips and drank it in two gulps while I looked on. He threw the glasses on the bed and grabbed my head in his massive hands, placing each thumb at my ears, pulled me in and kissed me full on.

The warmth of Sanford’s tongue emanated through my veins. My breath labored, body pulsated from his touch. Standing on the tips of my toes, I raised my body just enough for Sanford to grab hold and lift me to his waist where I eagerly wrapped my legs. He glided the tips of his fingers on my skin while circulating his tongue in and around mine. Hungry for his touch, I awaited every sensation delivered from the gradual descent of his hands down my back cupping my behind as he slid them beneath me refraining to liberate his tongue from mine. Sanford carried me toward the bed gently resting me on top.

On my back I felt the strength of Sanford on top of me, my hand navigated down his back and around to the
front of his pants. I wasn’t thinking anymore. Celibacy and emotions aside, I wasn’t about to make love to just anyone . . . this was Sanford.

I unzipped his pants with deliberate intent unleashing what enthusiastically awaited inside pleased by the realization he was a big man in every way. Sanford’s penis was wet with the anticipation and his uninterrupted kisses sustained my humidity outside and in. Between my parted legs I lowered my hand filling it with him, caressing and guiding him inside of me. The tip of his penis, lured by the touch of my vaginal walls, he smoothly worked his way inside me thrusting in and out, hitting my clitoris with every stroke. I was wetter than I’d ever been before. Sanford awakened every cell in my body in each single uninterrupted stroke.

No foreplay, no oral, just him inside of me, pulling me closer and closer to him over and over, throbbing with every touch.

I couldn’t hold my excitement anymore. Every nerve ending in my body cried out, expelling itself through my lungs. Tears streamed down my face as I choked down each thunderous orgasmic eruption. With other men, I could only come once, if at all. This was new. Sanford was new and two was the magic number.

I knew eventually we would have to figure this out, but for now, after a quick trip to the restroom, I was preparing myself for round two. Sanford repositioned me at the top of the bed. I felt his head between my legs and his warm tender immense tongue.

My eyes rolled back into my head as he spread my legs toward both ends of the earth.

Snuggled under the cover, I rested my leg across Sanford’s warm naked body sketching his facial features with my index finger—across his eyebrows, around the eyes, down his nose followed by the outline of his lips. His lips were soft. I grazed my finger across them parting the edges with my finger until Sanford playfully bit the tip of my fingernail. “What are you doing?” he asked, pulling me close, kissing my forehead.

I raised my head to kiss his cheek. “Enjoying you.”

“I’m enjoying you, too. I don’t want to go out anymore.”

I gasped. “Oh, God, I forgot about Tobey. What time is it?”

We both sat up in bed. Sanford put his glasses back on and checked his cell. “Eight o’clock.”

“Tobey is going to kill us,” I said.

He laughed. “Kill you, you mean—she don’t care whether I come or not.”

“I should call her.”

“Tell her your not coming . . . you’re staying here with me.”

I looked over to the nightstand−no phone. It was still in my purse in the kitchen. Staying home in bed with Sanford was more appealing than going to a club. “Okay, I’ll call her.” I removed the comforter from my legs. Sanford reached for my hand. “Where are you going,” he whispered.

“Remember,” I kissed his hand. “To tell Tobey I’m staying home.”

I slipped out of bed downstairs. My screen flashed two missed calls from Tobey. I called voicemail. In the first message she sound worried, the second informed me if I wasn’t dead I better get my butt over there now. I contemplated a few seconds before giving her a call. Ditching her would be easier if we didn’t talk. Erring on the past of least resistance, I decided to call. To my great relief, Tobey didn’t answer. I left a message ending with a sincere heartfelt apology, before turning to head back upstairs into bed when the phone rang.
Ugh
, Tobey. I sat down on a stair. “I’m still at home,” I said.

“Are you on your way?”

“Actually, that’s why I called I was—”

“Don’t even think about staying home,” she threatened.

“I’m leaving in a minute.”

“Okay, hurry up.” The phone disconnected. I would be foolish to assume the call dropped . . . she’d hung up on me. As much as I hated to leave Sanford, I needed to show my face, even if only for a little minute. I got up from the stair, and walked back into the bedroom where Sanford
was now sitting up watching television.

“Did you hear?”

“Yeah I heard,” Sanford said, “but that’s okay. I have to go to work in the morning anyway.”

“Are you sure?”

“No, but I don’t have any clothes here.”

I walked over and sat on his lap. Lower lip fully extended. I was pouting. Sanford tugged at my bottom lip. “Don’t give me the sad face. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

I stood up and gave him a peck on the lips, cupping his face with my hands I said, “You promise?”

“I promise.”

“Okay, you can go.”

Sanford brushed my hair from in front of my eyes. He stood up, grabbed his clothes, and walked into the bathroom. I heard water running, and the sound of him clearing his throat. He returned to the room dressed to leave. Wrapped in towel, I kissed him goodbye and watched him through the window to his car.

After an unexpected evening saturated with love and lust, I pushed on to hang out with Tobey. It didn’t take long for me to get dressed and head her way. I navigated my way through a sea of faces, waving my hand in the air at the sight of Tobey signaling my arrival.

“Girl!” exclaimed Tobey. “Where have you been? You’re three hours late!”

I tilted my head at the chair next to her, “Is anybody sitting here?”

“Peter.” She pointed to the other side of the room. “But he’s over there.” She took a sip of her drink. “Sit down.”