The Kiss
By Delroy Nesta Williams
She took one lick of her ice cream and I knew that I wanted those
lips against mine. It was cherry vanilla. The dim light of the lamp post and
the short rain shower that had just subsided meant that we were alone on Old
Street under one of the huge verandas that had made Roseau famous. The
French-influenced architecture was all around and provided temporary shelter
from the short shower, but it was the furthest thing from my mind. There were
beads of rain drops on her forehead and cheeks, her hair partially covered her
visage but I was still able to look her straight into her eyes. They were
hazel, complimenting her skin color. She looked at me, smiled and those dimples
of hers just made a small cry to me. She wanted me, her eyes also told the
story. I touched her left hand, held her fingers between mine and pulled her
towards me. I could feel her heart racing, even more than mine. Her lips were
still covered in the cold ice cream as I leaned in and touched the corners of
her mouth whipping off a spot. I licked my finger.
"You
can have the real thing," she said
"The ice cream?" I teased.
"If that’s what you really want," she responded.
"If
that’s what you’re giving me," I nervously quipped realizing now that I
was on the brink of that first kiss.
She leaned in and for a moment my mind took a journey back to our very
first encounter. Who would have thought that the brief two-minute meeting of nearly
three years ago would have led to this instant?
Annie, her sister had introduced us during one of our brief mid-town meetings.
Annie was the coworker of my ex-girlfriend Crystal and often teased me about
getting back with her. Her relentless teasing had morphed into a friendship,
one that would prove very tricky but beneficial. On one of those afternoon encounters,
Sophie was with her. I didn't pay her any mind at first but during those two quick
minutes Sophie did something that would remain with me for a while. I didn't
even figure it out at the time but I did recognize it the next time we met. In
fact, I recognized it from a photo I had seen of her. She was the girl that I
had always wanted to be with but was never lucky enough to encounter. I had
often found myself in affairs with needy young women, needy of my money, my
time and that usually turned me off. For one, I didn't have much money and
secondly I was a busy-bodied person. My free time was spent traveling around
the island or freelancing overseas.
I was so busy that my last relationship was based on a Facebook encounter,
which coincidentally would be where I came across Sophie again. It just
happened one day while I was bored at my office. I logged onto Facebook and
there she was, ForeverFabulous, her profile name. Her profile picture stared me
right in the face, her eyes fixed on mine or maybe it was mine fixed on hers. I
can’t remember those details. That's when I realized that I needed to have her,
right then and there. She jumped off the page and appealed to me. It was sexual
but it was also a lot more. She stood in her living room, in a green and yellow
bikini. That confidence called out my name. It was like she was saying
"I'm sexy, I know it but you still can't have me. Eat your heart
out."
I was determined to prove her wrong. I had a knack for defying the odds. I had
to do it this time as well. I would get her. Yes, she would be mine. So I sent a desperate friend request and I got back an
immediate acceptance. It was on and popping. I didn’t say anything to her at
first, I just sent a poke. The attention-seeking poke. I got no response so it
was back to the drawing board, plan B. I sent a solitary “hi” to her inbox,
still no response. It was time that I made her feel my presence on Facebook, I
would not be ignored. It was time to go through her photo albums. I would like
every one, except those that looked like she was with her boyfriend or some male
companion. That would be a clear signal to her; that should work. It didn’t – nothing,
not even after two weeks of “stalking” her profile.
I was going to do the desperate thing next but her sister saved me
the trouble. Just as I was contemplating sending her a timeline message about
my desperate need for her, Annie tagged Sophie in a status. She responded so I
joined in the conversation too. Pretty smart, if I might say so myself. She
wouldn’t ignore my comments after all, they were general and discreet but I
made it evident that I was trying to get her attention. I sent her a private
message at the same time. Bingo, she replied although not the response I
wanted:
“Please, leave me
alone, I don’t want a man and I’m not interested in you,”
“I’m not trying
to be your man!” I replied defiantly.
“So why are you bothering
me then?”
“Oh, so you’ve
noticed?”
“Yes, so now stop
it please!”
“I’m sorry but I
can’t stop,”
“Well then, I will
have to stop you!”
And with that she signed out on me. I felt cold, defeated and
fearful. What would she do? I signed out immediately too, I didn’t want to
know. I stayed off from Facebook for a few days but when I went back, there was
nothing.
I would not be daunted by this first act of rejection so I sent
her another message. She responded:
“Persistent?”
“Very,” I replied.
“I like that,”
“Is that all that
you like?” I asked.
“There are other
things,”
“Can I find out?”
“Can you?” she
quipped.
“I can!” I
confirmed.
She responded with a smiley face. I was in. I found out that she
lived in Goodwill with her mom and brothers. She was still in a relationship
but it was on a rocky road, and although she had a son with her boyfriend at
the time I thought I could work my way around that. Just a minor detail I
thought if she was going to be mine. I wouldn’t try to break up her
relationship but I would still make my move.
Over the next few months we would talk on and off on the phone. I
also saw her a few times in Roseau while I was running errands for work. I
visited her workplace every time I could, even if it meant spending just two or
three minutes. I would always make sure I made her smile before I left, giving
her something to think about after my departure. I had hoped she thought about
me after my brief visits. Thoughts of my friend zone situation with Miss George
would often cloud my mind and get me depressed but I was determined not to fall
to the trappings of any other young lady looking for mere friendship. “You’re
everything I want in a man, but nothing I am looking for in a lover,” she had
told me, the final dagger in my coffin. It took me years to get over her but I
had managed, although I still suffered from temporary lapses and bouts of
depression. She was the last girl that I would attempt to give my love, there
was no more love in me to give.
But Sophie was different, we talked often about meeting up to
spend some real time together and our conversations had crossed the friendship
barrier a long time ago, but she always kept brushing me off with some reason
or another. I never complained though, even if it killed me inside because I
had already made my intentions clear to her so many times; I wanted her and I
would be as patient as I could, as patient as I needed to be to get her into my
arms, even for a fleeting moment. I wanted her if it meant I was the sidekick,
just a scratch-my-back-when-it-itches type of situation or the main squeeze but
I couldn’t stay in the friend zone for too long. I had suffered in the friend
zone too many times in the past; I didn’t want any more female friends. Maybe I
was too direct but it was better than being uncertain.
Kellyne, one of the few female friends that I had allowed to get
close to me had invited me to the Windsor Park Sports Stadium to watch the Dominica National Football Team receive a pounding at the hands of their neighbor, St.
Lucia. I had always liked her company; she was one of the ladies who would get
other young ladies to take notice of me. She didn’t mind that, she wasn’t
interested in me in any way but she drew attention to me and Dominican women tended
to gravitate to men who were already taken, so I played the role. I held her
hands while walking up the stand, giving her small nudges while we sat next to
each other. I even left my seat to get her popcorn and soda. I fed her the
popcorn, we laughed and laughed loudly. Kellyne was the perfect attractant so I
played the boyfriend role and it felt good.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, surprising me so much that it
caused me to shift in my seat.
“So that’s your girlfriend?” the anonymous text asked.
“Yes!” I replied, lying but playing along to see where this was
heading.
“Okay,”
“Just okay?”
“I thought you were single,”
“Is that a problem?”I deflected.
“No it isn’t!”
“btw, who is this?”
“lol, now you’re asking?”
“Yes, now you got my interest”
“I’m just behind you, a few rows, in yellow,”
And with that I turned around slightly to see Sophie with a sly
smile on her face. She had this yellow flowered summer dress that hugged her
body. Not the type of outfit that I expected her to wear but she showed it off
very well. There was no one sitting next to her though, strangely.
“Are you alone?” I
asked.
“Yes,” she
responded.
“Where’s your
boyfriend?”
“He doesn’t like
football and he lives far!”
That was the opportunity I needed but Kellyne was with me. Kellyne wasn’t paying any mind to my text
messaging as she was embroiled in the game. She was one of the few females that
I knew who could understand football but she was a Manchester United fan and
that point of contention was enough to turn me off. Manchester United was my
sworn enemy. Kellyne knew it too and rubbed it in every time she got a chance,
especially since my beloved Arsenal were yet to win a trophy in eight years.
“So what are you
doing after?” I messaged Sophie.
“I’m not sure…
head home, I guess,”
“Right away?” I
asked, a little disappointed as I turned my head towards her again. She was
staring in my direction, right at me to. She smiled when she received my
message.
“Yes… you have
plans for me?”
“I was hoping we
could spend some time together,”
“But you have
company,”
“Let me worry
about my company, just make sure you’re company later,”
“Yes sir!” she
replied
“Meet me by I-Roc
around 8,”
“Cool,”
“Nice,” I
replied, turning my attention back to the game and Kellyne. Suddenly I found
myself nervously excited, fidgeting with my phone and keys. I couldn’t think
straight as I was already imagining Sophie in my arms.
I-Roc was locked by the time she met me there, almost an hour
later than we had planned. I was just beginning to walk away when she called my
phone. The Arch wasn’t the safest place to be alone at that hour. A vagrant had
made the gazebo his bedroom, as he clumped away in a corner trying to keep
himself warm even with a very cold river breeze to his back. I was shivering although
I wore my hooded sweater so it amazed me how he looked so at home in rags on
the cold concrete floor while at the mercy of the river. He actually snored
quite loudly even without a comforter or pillow.
Sophie gave me a tight squeeze, so tight that I didn’t even feel
like letting go. Her nipples pierced through her dress; either as a
result of the cold weather or she was really excited to see me. I closed my
eyes briefly to imagine my fingers running over her plump breasts and my tongue
massaging her nipples. I was trying to hide my anticipation but my eyes were a
dead giveaway.
“Let’s get out of
here!” I ordered.
“Where are we
going?” she asked.
“You want ice
cream?” I hit back, my voice trailing as I pulled her by the arm. I didn’t even
wait for an answer. I wanted to show my decisiveness tonight. It was a part of
my plan. As we strolled towards Island Ice Cream I couldn’t help but think
about Kellyne. Although I was having this very overtly sexual conversation with
Sophie my mind drifted to Kellyne, I had left her immediately after the game.
The poor girl thought I was going to check on my mom who suddenly developed
chest pains. I had text Nigel, one of my “bomb tags” and told him to call me
back but remain silent on the other end of the line. I pretended to be talking
to my sister and was reacting to her news about my mother’s pain. Kellyne was very
sympathetic and even suggested to drive me to my mom’s house but I declined her
assistance. I told her I needed to walk, needed to think and clear my mind
before I became too emotional in front of my mother. The truth is that I wanted
to rush off to meet Sophie. Now that I was with Sophie, I was thinking of Kellyne
though. I snapped back to reality, and nudged Sophie a bit to let her know that
I was still there with her. She smiled and pushed back at me but I was
expecting it. I grabbed her by the arms and pulled her next to me.
“It’s about time I
hold you in my arms, I could get used to this,” I said.
“Me too, I like
the feel of being in your arms,”
“I don’t want to
let you go,”
“What about my
ice cream?” she reminded.
“Oh yes, the ice
cream,” I repeated.
I continued walking shoulder to shoulder with her, my hand
brushing against hers, every now and then holding it for a few seconds, just to
keep some form of contact. She didn’t mind, she was actually more open and more
unperturbed than I would have thought.
“So what flavor ice
cream do you want?” I asked upon entering into the shop.
“I want whatever
it is that you get me,”
That sounded so suggestive that it caused me to stumble on the
tiles. I grabbed one of the pillars to steady myself as Sophie pretended not to
notice. The shop was filled with parents and their children so we ventured unto
a small wooden bench just behind everyone else to wait our turn.
“I want to tell
you a secret,” I said
“Tell me!” she
ordered
“In your ear,” I responded
as I leaned towards her.
She leaned towards me as I placed a soft bite just on her ear
lobes. She hissed but didn’t make awkward or rash movements to draw the
attention of the crowd.
“I should have
expected that, I will know better next time,”
“What else should
you expect,”
“I don’t normally
have expectations, so surprise me,”
“That I can
definitely do,” I confirmed and stepped
forward to order the ice cream.
I got her a double scoop of ice cream on a wafer cone and for
myself, a bag of M&M’s.
Sophie’s lips touched mine and although they were cold, a bolt of
electricity shot across her body into mine. Her lips were so soft and moist and
as I caressed her tongue with mine I brought my hands to her cheeks, holding her head
in place to savour the moment. I lay soft bites on her lips and ran my fingers
to the back of her neck. She jerked forward slightly and her pelvis slanted
right into my crotch. I was fully erect and she knew it. She rubbed against me
letting out some soft moans as I lowered my hands down her back and grabbed her
ass. She dropped the rest of the ice cream cone and pushed her hands under my
sweater and vest to dig into my flesh. Her cold nails caused my back to arch. She
smiled and let out a lowly giggle under her breath. I slightly pushed her in
between two vendor’s stalls and pinned her against the wall. I started to
thrust my waist into her, grinding between her thighs. Her moans were getting
louder. I lifted her dress, lowered her panties and squeezed her bare ass with my
hands. I wanted to have her there and then. I pulled her even closer towards
me, now nibbling on the back of her neck as she ran her nails up and now my
back, it felt like she wanted to tear my flesh from the bones. I wriggled myself
in such a way that my pants were beginning to fall to my ankles and lifted her
left leg. She didn’t stop me. At that very moment a car whizzed past us,
splashing a pothole filled with dirty water in our direction. That must have
woken Sophie from her sexual daze and she jumped from my grasp and pulled up
her panties.
“Stop, stop, we
have to stop,” she cried out.
“Okay, okay,” I replied
still a little dumbfounded myself.
“I shouldn’t even
be here, I am not a cheater, I am not a cheater,” she kept on repeating.
“Let me take you
home then,” I said, hoping that I would get the chance to redeem myself on the
way to her house.
“No, no… I can
make it on my own,” she replied, as she dashed away from me.
I tried to chase her forgetting that my pants were down to my
ankles and fell, my arms just saving me from the gutter's muddy water. I pulled myself up,
put on my pants as quickly as I could and ran in the direction that Sophie had taken. I took the corner and ran up Great Marlborough Street but Sophie was
speeding away already, almost out of sight. I didn’t want to chase her any
further to create any scene so I stopped, calmed myself and walked home.
I hadn’t walked for five minutes when I noticed a white Toyota
Corolla pull up in the area, about thirty meters ahead of me. Out walked
Kellyne and this well-built man. I stopped and looked on, making sure though
that I wasn’t seen. He opened the door and they went upstairs. The door locked
behind them. I walked towards the door, listened against it and suddenly found
myself stooping down at the base of the step. Tears streamed down my eyes.
“I love Kellyne,”
I whispered, “I love Kellyne.”
ings, all that was debatable was the number of runs that the team would achieve and the margin of defeat. I was disappointed in the team's overall effort but there were still moments of brilliance and times when the whole environment made me observe in awe at everything going on.