All That and a Bag of Chips Read online

  Venice said, “Chanelle and Spoonie are sitting in the lounge. Craig, I think this is the best thing that’s ever happened to Chanelle. I hope it works out.”

  “Me, too.”

  The rest of the ride was quiet. Venice was beginning to feel a little nervous. She started thinking about Jarvis. She attempted to calm herself down mentally and physically.

  After getting to his house, Craig asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

  Venice responded, “Sure. Whatever you have handy.”

  “Cool. I’ll pour us some wine. Why don’t you toss your bag in my room.”

  Venice hoped the wine would calm her nerves. “Craig, is it okay if I take a shower?”

  “Help yourself to whatever you need. The towels are in the linen closet. If you need anything else, just holler at me.”

  “Okay, but I think I can find everything.”

  Venice showered while Craig double-checked all the doors, cut off the lights, and set the alarm. Craig turned on the TV and began to turn down his bed. His room was very neat for a college man but, then again, it wasn’t like a dorm room. His room was large enough to have a sofa, drawing table, and a desk for his computer. He had a queen-size bed with a padded cedar chest at the foot of it for additional seating. His walls were decorated with colorful African paintings and artifacts to compliment the theme. He had soft lighting that gave the room a warm and relaxing glow. Venice was impressed with his taste in artwork. Craig sipped on his drink and watched ESPN while Venice finished her shower. She found the warm water relaxing and spent quite a while under the soothing water.

  Craig knocked on the door and teased her. “Hey, girl, don’t use up all the hot water.”

  “I’ll be out in a minute.” Venice thought to herself, I need to be using cold water ‘cause I’m hot as hell!

  She finished her shower, powdered, and lotioned up. She decided to put on a little makeup before putting on her nightshirt and returning to the bedroom. Craig’s eyes scanned her body from head to toe.

  He stood up and locked eyes with her. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right out.”

  Craig went into the bathroom to take his shower. He could still smell the seductive scent of her in the air.

  Venice began to wonder if that night would be the night. She hoped so. Her curiosity was starting to get the best of her. The sleeping arrangements weren’t discussed and Venice didn’t want Craig to think she was loose. She sat on the bed, sipping her wine and contemplating what to do.

  When Craig reentered the room, he was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. He noticed Venice was acting a little nervous. “Venice, if you like, I can sleep in the guest room. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  What I wish you would do is hurry up and give me some loving, Venice said to herself.

  Aloud she answered, “You don’t have to leave your room. I appreciate your offer, but I’m okay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  After finishing their drinks, Craig stacked pillows so that they were in a semi-reclining position. That made it easier to watch TV. As time went on, Venice started getting sleepy and instinctively laid her head across his chest. Immediately, he became aroused. Mentally, he had to talk his desire down because he didn’t want to scare her away. Little did he know, she was just as aroused with their bodies pressed casually against each other. As the night wore on and nothing happened, Venice realized it would be up to her to make the first move. However, she felt that would give him the wrong impression of her. It was the first time she’d spent the night with him and she didn’t want to ruin it.

  All sorts of things ran through her head: Here I am, practically naked and he hasn’t even touched me. What’s up? Should I just put my hands in his shorts and take it? Nah! That wouldn’t be cool either. I’m just going to have to try and be a little more patient. But damn! Look at him. He is so fine and so sweet. Lord, give me strength.

  Venice decided to try and get some sleep. It was going to be hard to sleep lying next to him.

  Craig lay there watching her and wondered if he should make a move. He didn’t want Venice to think that all he wanted was sex, but he did want her bad. He assumed she felt his unavoidable hardness against her back. But if she did, she didn’t let on.

  He thought: Lord! I don’t know how much longer I can hold off not touching this woman!

  Venice definitely felt something pushing against her hips. For now, she was satisfied to know that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Even though her heart was pounding and body was throbbing, she managed to fall asleep.

  Fourteen

  Being an early riser, Venice woke up first just as the sun was rising. Craig was sound asleep and had his arm securely over her waist. Venice tried to creep out of the bed without disturbing him, but it didn’t work.

  “Where are you going?” Craig asked.

  “I was just going to the bathroom.”

  “Okay. Hurry back.”

  “Do you want anything while I’m up?”

  “I want you to come back to bed. It’s too early to get up.”

  Venice smiled. Just knowing that he wanted her beside him felt great. When she returned to bed, he massaged her back. Once again, she felt the familiar bulge against her hips.

  Damn! She lay there, feeling the warmth of his body as he snuggled up to her even tighter. She couldn’t understand his ability to hold out. She was about to explode. Her body was on fire and sweat started to bead on her forehead. A few minutes later, he started kissing the back of her neck sensually. Venice bit her bottom lip as his strong hands started caressing her thighs. He moved up to her breasts and reached under her shirt. She turned to him and felt him protruding even more as she wrapped her leg over his body.

  He opened his eyes and said, “Venice, I’m sorry. You’re about to make me do something I don’t think we’re ready for.”

  “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”

  He smiled and she gave him a seductive kiss on the lips. Pulling her closer to him, he said, “It’s not our time yet, baby. As much as I want to, I don’t think we should. It is the first night you’ve spent with me and I don’t want you to feel like I took advantage of you.”

  Venice met his dark gaze. “Maybe I want you to take advantage of me. Plus, Craig Jr. seems to be in the mood.”

  Craig blushed. “What do you expect? He hasn’t had anyone as sweet as you visiting before.”

  Venice nudged up against his neck playfully and stroked his lower body. “I’m game if you are, but I appreciate you having my best interest at hand.”

  “I just don’t want you to have any regrets later.”

  “The only regret I’m having right now if that we haven’t started making love.”

  That was all Craig could take. In a split second, he was covering her with his body and devouring her lips with his. Her nipples hardened as he stroked them with his fingers. Venice let out a loud moan as he covered the ripe peaks with his warm lips, sucking them raw. She grabbed his head and stroked his neck as he attentively concentrated on each one equally. Venice felt his impressive manhood as he ground his hips into hers. She immediately moistened and, within minutes, his fingers found the warm, wet jungle of love he’d searched for. She arched her body toward him as his fingers explored in and out of her. Venice could hardly contain the pleasure he was giving her with just his touch and wanted more.

  She looked into his dark brown eyes. “I’m a little nervous.”

  “I’ll stop if you want me to.”

  “I’m not that nervous.”

  They laughed as their lips found each other’s again. Venice wrapped her arms and legs around his impressive body as their tongues tasted their new found love. Craig stopped kissing her only long enough to protect them.

  “Taylor, are you sure about this?”

  She pulled him down to her so that they were eye to eye. “If I get any surer, I’m going to explode right before your
eyes.”

  She ran her hand down his heated body, took his fullness into her hands, and guided him into the space she long awaited for him to fill.

  “Oh my God!” she screamed out in delight.

  “Am I hurting you, Venice?”

  “No! Don’t stop!”

  Craig was happy to oblige Venice as their bodies met in savage rhythm. There was plenty of kissing, licking, and moaning until Craig hollered out her name in true love and ecstasy. He filled her completely and she’d never felt as reckless as she did at that moment. Matching his thrusts, arching into him, feeling his hot breath on her neck, she moaned his name long and slow. This sent him over the edge as Venice felt him moving in and out of her heat. His movement was precise and erotic as he dove deeper and harder until the tidal wave of his love exploded in her lower body.

  She held on tightly and convulsed beneath his body.

  He collapsed onto her chest, dripping with sweat and whispered, “You’re something else, Ms. Taylor.”

  “I hope that’s a compliment.”

  He ran his hand from her thigh and cupped her breast. “That’s an understatement.”

  “In that case, you weren’t so bad yourself.”

  He smiled and continued to stroke her nipple with his thumb. Their eyes met and Venice pulled him to her. “Kiss me, Bennett.” He held her in his arms and did as he was told. They continued holding each other and eventually went back to sleep.

  Venice had one final thought before falling asleep: I’m sorry, Jarvis.

  Once they finally woke up, Craig cooked breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, and got dressed. It was about 10:30 a.m. and Venice told Craig she needed to get back to campus. She didn’t have much to say during the ride.

  Craig asked, “Are you okay, Venice?”

  “I’m fine.”

  When they arrived at her dorm, he walked her to her room and gave her a kiss on the lips. “I’ll call you when I get out of church. Next Sunday, I want you to go with me. Okay?”

  Venice said, “All right. See you later.”

  When Venice entered the room, Monique couldn’t wait to tell her what she’d missed. “Girl, you missed it! That heifer down the hall in 311 had some chick’s man in her room last night. His old lady found out about it and those two got in a serious fight in the hall. The chick upstairs gave that heifer a serious beatdown, then almost whipped her man’s ass. Somebody finally called the floor counselor but by the time she got here, dude had left. Of course, that heifer in room 311 went to hide out in somebody else’s room. She got exactly what she deserved. The counselor tried to find out what happened, but nobody told her what really went down. I’m glad she got what she deserved. That’s not the first time she’s been caught screwing around with somebody else’s piece.”

  Venice replied, “I told you that’s dangerous business, trying to juggle men on the same turf. You can’t do that because what goes around, comes around.”

  Monique agreed, then went on to ask Venice how her night was. All Venice told her was that she had a good time and they just chilled.

  Monique didn’t believe her. “Girl, I know you’re probably as raw as hell!”

  “You’re so vulgar! Just because I spent the night at the man’s house doesn’t mean we did anything.”

  “Why not?”

  Venice wasn’t about to put her business in the street, especially with Monique.

  “Forget it! Have you heard from Chanelle today?”

  “No, but Jarvis called for you late last night.”

  “He did! What did you tell him?”

  “I told him you went out and that I didn’t know what time you’d be in. He said he’d call you today.”

  “Is that all? He didn’t ask you who I was with?”

  “No.”

  “Okay. I’m going down to Chanelle’s room. If he calls, tell him to call her room.”

  Monique was headed to the shower, but replied, “Okay.”

  Before Venice left the room, she decided to call Chanelle. As the phone rang, Venice reminisced about her evening.

  Chanelle answered the phone, “Hello?”

  “What’s up, Chanelle?”

  “You! What happened last night?”

  “No, you tell me. I want to hear how you and Spoonie got along last night.”

  Chanelle told her to come on down. Once the two of them got together, they shared their adventures from the previous night.

  Chanelle asked Venice, “Did you and Craig finally do it?”

  Venice wasn’t ready to share that with anyone yet. She was still trying to deal with it herself, so she lied. “No! We had wine, watched TV, and just hung out. What about you, Chanelle?”

  “Girl, you’re not going to believe me, but I spent the night with him and I let him hit it! And I mean hit it! I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never slept with any guy on the first date before. Spoonie was a perfect gentleman. I was the one who made all the advances. I guess all that stuff Monique said got to me. He’s really a nice guy. I just hope he doesn’t think I’m easy.”

  Venice was sitting there with her mouth opened in shock. “Are you the same innocent Chanelle I grew up with?”

  They both laughed.

  “Venice, he kept asking me if I was sure this was what I wanted to do. I told him that if it wasn’t, we wouldn’t be there together.”

  Venice was still in shock.

  “Girl, he wore me out! Jeremy was nothing like that. I couldn’t help myself. I felt like a wild woman. He’s a great lover!” Chanelle fell back on the bed in laughter. “I’m still tingling. I can’t wait to see him again!”

  “Chanelle, you guys used protection, didn’t you?”

  Chanelle had this weird look on her face. “Well, no. I’m on the pill so I’m okay.”

  “What about diseases, Chanelle?”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that at the time, Venice. I just made sure I was protected from getting pregnant. You don’t think I’ve messed up, do you?”

  “I hope not, but he should’ve known better also. You just met him and you don’t know anything about him. Don’t do that again if you guys decide to get together. Are you going to see him today?”

  “He’s picking me up this evening.”

  Venice said, “I hope this works out for you. Spoonie seems to be really nice. But you still have to be careful, Chanelle. Just take it slow. I know you haven’t seen Jeremy in a while and everyone gets lonely.”

  Chanelle giggled. “Jeremy who? I know, girl and I will take it slow. Thanks for listening and I’ll be more careful. I guess I was just hornier than I realized.”

  The two chatted a while longer before deciding to catch up later.

  Fifteen

  Over the next two weeks, the girls went to class, shopped at malls, and talked to their significant others on a daily basis in preparation for homecoming. Craig and Venice double dated with Spoonie and Chanelle a few times. Venice finally told Chanelle about what had happened between her and Craig the night after the game. She apologized for not telling her sooner. Chanelle was a little hurt, but understood when Venice told her that she was trying to deal with her emotions and just couldn’t tell her right away. Chanelle accepted her apology.

  Venice began attending church with Craig on a regular basis. She still hadn’t told Joshua about the progression in her relationship with Craig. She was beginning to have feelings of guilt. She didn’t expect Craig to be so wonderful and she was having unexpected thoughts about him. I guess these are the regrets Craig was talking about. Am I falling in love with him? I couldn’t be.

  Sleeping in the same bed with him was beginning to feel safe and natural. Whenever he came near or touched her, her body craved for him. They made love at every opportunity. Craig’s co-op kept him out of town a lot so Venice was always ready and excited to see him on the weekends. Sometimes she found herself nervous about Jarvis and about his homecoming, which was coming up at the end of the week. Venice had to make a decision, quic
k. She had been hanging out with Craig for several weeks and was getting really content with their relationship.

  Jarvis called to confirm her visit for the weekend. She told him she’d see him Friday afternoon. For some reason, even that felt awkward. It had been two months since they were together. Venice worried that Jarvis would figure out that she had been with someone else. Jarvis knew her inside and out and would know something was different. Jarvis’ dad setup Venice’s flight for her and Jarvis planned to pick her up from the airport.

  On Thursday evening, Venice phoned Craig to let him know that she wouldn’t be able to see him on the weekend because she was going out of town. He didn’t question her, which was a slight relief. Venice figured he was so caught up in his work that he didn’t think to quiz her. Craig had a lot of projects he had to finish before Monday, but he said he would still miss her. He told her to have good time and to call him when she got back.

  Venice felt guilty as she hung up the phone. She didn’t exactly lie to him. She just didn’t tell him any details. Her main concern was the possibility of him questioning her when she got back.

  It had indeed crossed Craig’s mind that Venice was probably going to visit her ex. He wondered how long it would be before he had to deal with it. He wanted a serious relationship with her but, like most men, was afraid to completely open up to her. He realized that once they started having a physical relationship, there would be no turning back. He really did want it all.

  Chanelle came into the room just as Venice began packing. “I guess this means you’re going, huh?”

  “Don’t start, Chanelle.”

  Chanelle sat down on the bed. “Have you told Craig where you’re going?”

  “I told him that I was going out of town for the weekend and that I’d see him Sunday.”

  “He didn’t ask who you were going to visit?”

  “No, but when I get back, he’ll probably ask.” Venice stopped packing for a moment. “What the hell am I doing, Chanelle? I’ve fallen in love with Craig! What am I going to do?”

  “Don’t ask me! I just hope you realize you’re playing with fire. How are you going to be in love with two men? How did you let this happen?”