Michael
Roses.
The smell of roses filled the kitchen with a sweet scent. The scent was a change from the breakfast we were eating.
Roses.
Maria always liked fresh flowers. Every morning she requested a fresh bouquet of flowers on the table and everyday a different set.
It was always Mondays tulips, Tuesday chrysanthemums, Wednesday violets, Thursday sunflowers, Friday daisies, and Saturday jonquils.
Today was roses.
Maxine smelled like roses.
She smelled so fresh and sweet. When I held her body close to mine all I could smell was the scent of roses as if her body was covered in the soft velvet petals. I stared at the flowers thinking about how incredible it felt to touch, to kiss and to smell her.
It was extremely strange to me. I have never been very attracted to black women. They were never my type. Yet this one has me wishing I hadn’t waited so long to get one in my bed. I was fixated with her smooth chocolate skin and big brown eyes.
She looked stunning last night. The dark fabric blended nicely against her ebony skin. I couldn’t get the hour we spent at the wedding rehearsal out of my head. How it felt to touch her and make love to her. I am not sure what drew me to her. The passion, the exhilaration that I felt was electrifying.
I’m obsessed.
I was lost in related thoughts at breakfast until I was brought out of my stupor by Maria’s voice.
“Michael!”
I shook the cobwebs out of my head and looked into her face.
“Are you listening to me?” She said taking a forkful of eggs into her mouth.
“Yes, I’m listening.” I lied taking a sip of my orange juice.
“Michael, what’s wrong?” She asked calmly. “You seem all-flushed.”
The concern on her face was evident, but there was no way of explaining to her what got me so hot and bothered.
“Nothing. Just a long night.” I said focusing now, trying hard to seem as normal as I could manage. I continued to eat my breakfast.
Maria smiled.
“It was a long night. It was a long and magnificent night. I find it so hard to believe that our little
bambino
is all grown up and married!” She exclaimed with a happiness I have not seen in her eyes in ages.
“Our little
bambino
is a grown man starting a family of his own.” I said trying hard not to look at the flowers on the table.
“Shannon thought the reception was absolutely stunning, but she sure can get under my skin sometimes.” She said smugly.
“I thought she was one of your best friends.” I remarked not really interested in the conversation.
“She is, but she just kept saying: ‘I don’t know how you pulled this off Maria, such a beautiful wedding.’ The nerve!” She fumed popping a piece of pineapple into her mouth.
The juice from the fruit rolled down her chin. It amazed me to see it. Prim and proper Maria a little not so prim and proper. In an instant, she wiped the juice from her chin with her napkin.
It was good while it lasted.
“So, Selena and I are going shopping this morning in about an hour. I need a new autumn wardrobe.”
“It is summer, dear,” I said.
I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth.
She gives me a look of surprise and begins to tell me how you must buy fall clothes in the summer and spring clothes in the winter. Then she jumped to another topic and another topic. My head was spinning.
It was hard to concentrate on what she was saying. She went on and on about Shannon and Melissa, the mother of the bride, and how much more beautiful she was than those ladies.
Appearance was her main concern these days.
“Did you see what Melissa was wearing? I completely out dressed her. The mother of the groom is not supposed to outdo the mother of the bride. Ridiculous!” She said with a satisfied grin on her face.
I was lost. My mind was swimming.
At that moment, our youngest child 15-year-old Mitchell, came bounding into the room. He knows just the right buttons to push to get his mother upset and all worked up. I enjoyed watching the free spirit of this one. He reminds me of myself.
“Slow down Mitchell,” Maria said holding onto her seat as if his movements were so extreme they were threatening to throw her off.
He completely ignored her nearly leaping around the room, opening up the refrigerator and pulling out tons of food.
“Mitchell, we have food right here for you at the breakfast table.” She said waving her hand across the spread.
Mitchell once again ignored her and popped a breakfast pastry into the toaster.
“
Dio mio!
Mitchell, please sit down and eat breakfast!” She exclaimed.
Mitchell was right on track with pushing her buttons. His mother’s face was getting red from frustration.
I had to intervene.
“Mitchell,” I said with an air of authority and humor.
“Have a seat please.”
Mitchell grabbed his pastry, plopped it on a plate and sat down at the table. Maria shot me a look. I knew exactly what she wanted to say. ‘Why does he always listen to you?’
I smiled and looked over at my son devouring the pastry as if his mother and I do not feed him.
I toke a sip of orange juice.
“Mitchell, slow down.”
“No time, Dad. I have to meet Johnny at Dave’s house. We’re gonna go skateboarding.”
“On a Sunday? I do not think so. This is your time to do your homework and study.” Maria replied beginning to clear some of the food from the table.
Mitchell looked at me with fear written all over his face. His eyes were asking me to do something.
“Maria, shouldn't you be leaving? You are going to be late.”
She glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Oh dear, you are right.”
She drops the dishes in the sink for Margaret and exits the kitchen.
I look over at Mitchell and he’s still looking at me. His wide eyes are asking me to reverse his mother’s verdict.
“Alright, you can go.” I said.
He smiled and jumped up from the table.
“But…”
He stopped and turned staring at me.
“You have to make sure that I do not get any complaints from teachers that you are not doing your homework-ever!”
He smiled and ran from the kitchen.
I looked around and I was alone. The kitchen was a mess, but Margaret will clean it. I looked around and my eyes traveled back to the center of the table and back to the roses.
They were staring back at me.
***
Later that day, I found myself pacing my office like a caged animal.
Thinking of her again.
Maria and Mitchell were still out and I couldn’t find anything that could distract me from thoughts of her. I obsessively studied every inch of her that night. The way she walked, the curves on her body, the sensuous way she licked those soft and supple lips, the rise and fall of her breast and her sexy voice as she called out my name over and over.
I was losing it. I couldn’t get her out of my head. I got myself so worked up; I needed a release. I needed her right now and had no idea how to get her. I couldn’t believe how stupid I was. I didn’t ask for her number. I didn’t know how I could get it especially since I couldn’t remember her last name.
I knew she was friends with Junior, but he never brought her around. If I asked him, I knew he would get suspicious.
I stopped pacing.
I was so turned on. I thought about masturbating, but I knew that wouldn’t curve the hunger and the passion that I felt at the moment.
Maria was never around anymore. She tried to avoid me when I was in this state. She never wanted to be the object of my desire. Though, I have always desired to make love to my wife, I had to settle for other women.
Most could not hold a candle to my beautiful Maria.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I opened my desk drawer and reached for the lotion I always use. I was in the process of unzipping my pants when my cell phone rang.
I looked at the screen and saw Lorenzo’s name.
It hit me.
Lorenzo and Julia. They have to know her number. But how can I ask them for it? I ran through a handful of excuses in my head before settling on one. I quickly answered the phone.
“What can I do for you sir?” I answered playfully.
“I was checking up on you. Making sure you didn’t die in a horrible death or something.”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks for your concern.”
I struggled a little bit with what I wanted to say. Then I let it go.
“Hey, Lorenzo, what is the name of the young woman that accompanied you guys to the wedding?”
“What?”
I closed my eyes and thought about her. I remembered how delicious she smelled and how her earring grazed my lips as I tasted her…
“You know, the young black woman you guys brought to the wedding. We know her name is Maxine, but we didn’t get a last name.”
I heard muffled sounds coming from the other end. I could not tell what was being said. On my end however, I heard the front door open and close. I could hear the sound of heels clicking on the hardwood floors.
Maria was home.
I could hear her cross the foyer and up the stairs.
Normally she would race into the room to show me all of her purchases…unless she overspends. In that case, she would hide a few things before letting me in on what else she bought.
My thoughts were interrupted by Lorenzo’s voice.
“Mike, her name is Maxine Marshall. Why do you need her name?”
“Maria is sending out thank you cards and just wanted her full name.”
Maria was coming down the stairs. I had to end this conversation quickly.
“Okay, you are making me forget the real reason why I called.” Lorenzo said.
“Oh what’s up?” I said nonchalantly.
I hear Margaret and Maria talking right outside my office door.
“I just wanted to invite you out for a boys’ night of debauchery for your birthday. Are you free?” He asked.
I released the breath that I was holding.
“Don’t know. Maria may have something planned. I’ll have to let you know.”
“Alright cool. Just give me a call.”
I hung up the phone with the plan to search on-line for Maxine Marshall and find my lover once again.
Maria bustling and full of energy breezed into my office with a bag in her hand.
“Michael, I have a surprise for you!” She chirped walking over to my desk and sitting on the edge.