All That and a Bag of Chips (16 page)

“Taylor, I-I want…I need you so bad.”

“Sh-h-h, just make love to me, baby.”

Craig rolled her over on her back and kissed her with his probing tongue; tasting, exploring. Venice met his thrusts. They became more intense each time he pushed in and out of her trembling body. Craig gripped her hips tightly and began to call out her name. First in whispers, then in screams.

“Venice…Baby! Oh! Venice!”

Craig buried his face into her neck as he shuddered to a halt inside her warm thighs. Salty tears ran down her cheeks as he stroked them away while kissing her on the neck, ears, and lastly, her soft lips.

Venice thought that Craig was definitely all that. He made love to her so powerfully, yet tenderly, which made her body feel like it was on fire. She pulled him tightly to her and buried her face into his warm neck. She could still smell the masculine scent he'd showered with earlier mixed with the scent of their love and it was heavenly. Venice woke up a couple of hours later and laid there watching Craig sleep. She realized that she'd almost lost him after her rendezvous
with Jarvis. She was still unsure about which one of them she really wanted to be with. She realized many men wouldn't want a woman who'd slept with another man. Especially, if they weren't seeing anyone else on the side. For a moment, she wondered what Jarvis might be doing.

 

Venice was awakened by Craig
stroking her lower back in the morning. She was lying on her stomach, but she soon turned to face him.

He gave her a morning breath kiss. “Good morning.”

“Good morning to you, Bennett.”

“Nice tattoo.”

Venice really didn't know how to respond, except to say, “Thanks. Looks like we're going to be late for class.”

Craig remained motionless. “I can't believe you have his name tattooed on your body. You must…really…never mind.”

Craig got up out the bed and went into the bathroom to shower. Venice could see that the tattoo had shaken him up a little bit. She waited for him to come out and said, “Craig…I don't want to have to keep on explaining my relationship with Jarvis to you. I told you what was up and I still want to be with you.”

Craig looked at her without emotion. “We really need to get to class.”

She showered and got dressed, but before they left the house, he pulled her close and said, “I'm sorry I was trippin' earlier. That tattoo just caught me off guard. I didn't see it the last time we were together. I'm sorry.”

“You don't have to apologize. I should've told you about the tattoo. I forget it's there.”

“Forget it, Venice. Just don't take too long getting back over here this evening.”

“Why? You gonna have something for me?”

He smiled as he pulled her to his body and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Venice LaShawn Taylor.”

Venice blushed. “I love you too, Bennett. I'll see you later.”

Before letting her go, he gave her a kiss, licking her bottom lip before his tongue dove in. Venice felt lightheaded as he finally took
his lips off hers. She had to steady herself for a moment before realizing that he'd actually taken her breath away.

“Are you all right, Venice?”

“Of course not! You just took my breath away…in more ways than one.”

“You took my breath away the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Their embraced lingered in silence as they stared into each other's eyes. Craig felt himself growing as his body pressed firmly against hers.

Finally, he said, “We'd better go before we start something we'll have to finish and we really don't need to miss class.”

“I know you'll give me a rain check.”

“Unlimited supply, Taylor. Unlimited.”

It was hard to release her embrace, but somehow she managed. They left off in separate cars to class…late.

As Venice drove to campus, she called Chanelle on her cell phone. After two rings, Chanelle answered, “Hello.”

“Hey, girl, how are you feeling?”

“I'm okay. My first class isn't until nine-thirty. What time is it now?”

Venice glanced at her watch. “It's about seven-fifty.”

Chanelle asked, “Aren't you going to be late for your class?”

“Yeah, girl, but I don't care!”

“So I guess you had a good night.”

“Yes, ma'am! I can hardly walk.”

“Dang! My man Jarvis has some serious competition.”

“Don't say that, Chanelle.”

“Why not? It's true. You don't know which one you want.”

“Girl, you know I'm in love with Jarvis. But, Craig takes my breath away. I love him, but it's a different love. It's hard to describe.”

“I feel you, girlfriend, and I'm happy for you. I think you two look great together, but be careful. I hope everything works out for you guys. If not, that's cool also because you know Jarvis is my boy.”

They talked a few more minutes, then Venice told Chanelle to meet her in the campus courtyard for lunch. Chanelle agreed and they hung up.

Venice finally made it to class and eased into her seat. Luckily,
the professor was writing on the board when she came in. This professor was famous for embarrassing students entering class late. By the clock on the wall, Venice was approximately ten minutes late. The professor gave his students fifteen minutes flextime before they were counted absent. One of her classmates, Tim, slid his notes over so Venice could copy what she'd missed. The rest of class went on without any problem. Her mind couldn't help but backtrack to the previous erotic night. She didn't want to tell Chanelle, but she really did have stronger feelings for Craig than she let on. She couldn't get him off her mind and when the professor finally called on her, she was lost in her daydream. After a nudge from Tim, Venice snapped back to reality and luckily answered the question correctly. At the end of class, the professor announced that even though it was homecoming week, the campus didn't shut down. They would be having a quiz during the next class on the previous three chapters covered. The class let out a disappointing moan.

Venice told Tim, “I'm glad he gave us a warning. The last thing I wanted to do this week was get caught by a pop quiz.”

“Me, too. You better be glad he didn't see you come in late. I'm going to the library to study later. You wanna meet me?”

“What time?”

“About three.”

“I'll try but if I'm not there by three-thirty, I probably won't make it. I'm going to the ball tonight. Are you going?”

“If you'll be there, I'll be there. Hope to see you in the library, but I'll definitely see you in class.”

Tim winked at her and walked off.

 

When Venice reached her last
class, she sat next to Tim as always. They were in the same major, Sports Medicine.

Venice asked, “So have you made up your mind about the ball?”

“I might go. Are you asking me to go with you?”

“Not this time. I'm hanging with my girls tonight.”

“How are you going to get away from Mr. Perfect that I see you around campus with?”

“Ha, ha. You're funny. He understands that I want to hang out with my girls for a while during homecoming.”

“Sure he does. I bet he already has you on lockdown. Especially if you've broken him off a little something, something.”

They laughed together and Venice punched him lightly on the arm. “You sure are silly!”

About that time, the professor began calling the roll.

With classes over for the day, Venice headed back to her room to get the itinerary together with her girls. Monique was in the room with several bags of new clothing on her bed. As Venice put her book bag down, Monique came into the room modeling a “sharp” evening dress with a back so low, Venice was surprised you couldn't see the crack of her ass.

“Damn, Monique, that's a sharp dress! Where did you find it?”

“If I tell you, I'll have to kill you. I don't tell my secrets.”

Venice giggled. “What Cake Daddy bought it for you?”

“You think you know me! Anyway, I can't reveal my sources!”

“That color really looks good on you, Monique. You go, girl!”

The dress was a beautiful silver, slinky dress, which revealed just enough and left the rest to the imagination. The dress was made for Monique's tall figure.

Later that evening, Craig called Venice from the lobby of the dorm. She met him downstairs and they sat on one of the sofas to talk.

“Venice, I know I asked you to come back over this evening. I forgot you wanted to go to the ball with your girls.”

Venice smiled and put her hand on his thigh. “Baby, you made me forget everything after that loving you put on me.”

Craig blushed. “You haven't seen anything yet. I've been holding back.”

Venice closed her eyes and said, “My God! What are you trying to do to me?”

“You'll find out. Anyway, have a good time with your partners. I hope you have fun. The frat ball is usually the best one out of all the others. Am I going to see you tonight?”

“I'm not sure yet. It depends on who's driving and how tired I am. I know I have a ten o'clock class tomorrow. I'll give you a call when I find out what I'm going to do. Is that cool with you?”

Craig gave Venice a playful shove. “You know that's cool with me. I'm having some of the guys over for a card party tonight, but I still want to see you. Galen said he might try to sneak out after curfew
so he can play. I know Spoonie and Skeeter will be there. Anyway, make sure you ladies take pictures so I can see how nice you look in your dresses.”

Venice agreed and told Craig to have fun playing cards. Then she said, “Well, I'd better go so I can stop by and see if Chanelle is still going.”

“Why wouldn't she go? Is she okay? I haven't talked to Spoonie lately. How are they doing?”

Venice rose from the sofa. “She likes him. They seem to be getting along fine.”

“That's good. I thought they'd hit if off. Well, I'm out! Be careful tonight and make sure you have a designated driver. If you need a ride, give me a call and I'll come get you.”

Venice walked him to the door. “Drive carefully and I'll talk to you later.”

“You call me when you know what you're going to do? I really do want to see you tonight.”

“Me, too. I'll work it out.”

“That's a bet.”

After giving Craig a kiss, Venice watched him walk out to the parking lot. So did a group of women walking toward the dorm. Venice smiled with pride.

After the elevator doors opened, she made her way down to Chanelle's room. As she knocked, Chanelle's neighbor came out of her room and looked her up and down.

Venice asked, “Do you have a problem?”

The girl laughed and said, “No!”

“Well you need to keep your eyes to yourself.”

The girl walked off. “You can't tell me what to do and you better watch your man.”

Venice was fuming as Chanelle opened the door and let her in. Chanelle looked flushed and saddened.

Venice asked, “Girl, who is that fool across the hall? I started to smack that heifer silly. I thought you were going to meet me in the courtyard.”

Chanelle was only half-listening. “What did she do?”

“She was just staring at me and walked off, telling me to watch my man.”

Chanelle laid on the bed. “What did she mean by that?”

Venice angrily said, “Chanelle, I don't know. She must want him! I've never noticed her before.”

“Don't worry about that fool. You know Craig ain't fooling around.”

Venice sat on the bed beside her. “Whatever! He's a man and you know how they act when women throw tail at them.”

“Venice, don't you let that skank start putting suspicion and doubt in your head. Craig doesn't seem to me like he would even touch anything looking like her.”

Venice asked, “Where's your roommate?”

“I guess she's still in class. She sure is weird. I try to make conversation with her, but she just talks when she has to. She usually just sits around staring.”

“Seems to me like your girl's got issues. Now, get up off that bed and show me what you're wearing tonight!”

Chanelle rolled over and said, “Venice, I don't feel like going.”

Venice pulled Chanelle up off the bed. “Oh, no you don't! You're not going to lay around in this room tonight. You know we all planned to go together tonight and you can't say you don't have anything to wear. So get up off your booty and you'd better be ready by seven o'clock.”

“Okay, okay, but I still haven't come on yet and Spoonie can tell something's wrong. I've been avoiding him a little.”

“Don't do the man like that! You need to try to act normal or tell the man what's wrong. Chanelle, you know I feel your pain. Remember, I've been through this before myself. It's scary but just hang in there.”

The two friends hugged.

“Thanks for the support, Venice. I'll try to pep up and I will be ready by seven.”

“You'd better be,” Venice said teasingly.

Venice left to head back to her room. She stood in the hallway for a moment and thought about the loss of her baby. She said a short prayer for her friend and walked to the elevator.

It was about six o'clock when the telephone rang. Venice answered the phone and was delighted that it was her mother.

“Hello, baby!”

“Hi, Momma! How are you?”

“Oh, I guess I'm okay. My arthritis has been acting up a bit, but I rubbed some of my special ointment on and I feel much better.”

Venice asked about her father and Bryan and his family. Her mother told her all was well. She did mention that her dad finally got up on Sundays and went to church with her. It had been years since her father attended church. Venice never asked why. It was a subject nobody touched. Her mom went on to tell her that Crimson had spent the previous weekend with them because Bryan and Sinclair had some high society dinner to attend.