The research was going slow. I had hoped to complete the phone interviews by the second week of the project and here it was the third week and I was only half-way through. The survey was too long and I kept losing people before it was finished.
I dialed another name on my list and waited for the receptionist. She answered in a slurred, monotonous tone that spoke of the boredom of repeating the same phrase over and over.
"Hello," I answered, grabbing another blank survey. "Aaron Parker please." There was a slight pause while I waited and then she returned.
"I have an Aaron Parks..." she suggested.
"Hmm...," I paused rechecking the name on my list. "Is he in the M.I.S. department?" Maybe it was just a spelling error in the data I received from Marketing.
"I think so," she confirmed.
"Yes, that must be him," I answer. "Thanks." I crossed out the name on my list and wrote in the correct spelling.
"This is Aaron Parker," he said answering the phone. He had a nice voice and I instantly wondered how old he was.
"Hello," I said putting a smile in my voice and launching into my introductory spiel. "This is Monique Grant with Technology Research Corporation. I'm gathering research information for current trends in remote access and I was wondering if you would answer a few questions for me today."
"Well, I'm not sure..." he hesitated.
"I promise to take only a few moments." In my mind I was begging him to stay on the line and help me get through one more survey.
"I'm having a hard time saying no to such a lovely voice," he answered. "What did you say your name was again?"
"Monique." I smiled and decided to make my voice as lovely as possible. "Monique Grant." I wasn't sure I had him hooked, but I decided to reel the line in just a bit. "Tell me Mr. Parker," I said as sweetly as possible. "How many remote access sites do you have dialing into your corporate headquarters?"
"Um... three I guess," he answered. "What was the name of the company you're with again?"
"Information Technology Corporation," I answered. "And how many employees do you have in your company?"
"Oh, I don't know... a thousand I guess."
"Great," I said marking my survey and going on to the next question. "And how many of those employees work remotely?"
"Do you have any idea how sexy your voice is?" he asked. "I mean, does everyone say that to you?" I was a bit surprised by his comment and laughed out loud.
"Not really, Mr. Parker." He had totally broken my concentration and I stopped to remember the question I had just asked.
"Call me Aaron," he said. "Look, I think we should make a deal here. I'll answer your questions if you answer mine." I grinned silently and thought about it. I needed his data and could always lie if he asked me something I didn't want to tell him.
"OK," I said playfully. "But I believe you owe me an answer to that last question."
"About a third," he answered.
"Your turn," I said.
"Are you married?"
"No," I answered. "What is the corporate function of the employees dialing in? Are they sales, technical support, etc.?"
"Sales," he answered quickly. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-Four." I couldn't help but laugh at the question. He was definitely flirting with me and it was making the survey a lot more fun to do.
"Great!" he answered.
"I'm so glad you approved," I said sarcastically. "Are they connecting via a T1 or modems?"
"Hmm...," he hesitated. "I'm not sure."
"You're not sure?" I was confused. How could an M.I.S. manager not know how people were connecting to his system.
"No," he repeated. "I'm not really involved in that part of the business."
"Well, what part are you involved in?" I was beginning to worry that he wasn't going to able to complete the survey.
"I'm in the Engineering department." I didn't answer as I rechecked the list from Marketing. It was suppose to be only M.I.S. managers.
"Does that count as a question?" he asked.
"Well," I sighed. "I thought you were the M.I.S. manager. My data shows Aaron Parks or Parker as the head of M.I.S. for Letec Enterprises."
"Who?" he asked.
"Aaron Parks or Parker at Letec Enterprises," I repeated. I heard him laughing loudly in the background.
"This Aaron Parks at Lexton," he said finally. "We're a government contractor." Between his flirting, answers, and now this revelation, I was completely flustered.
"You mean I have the wrong number?"
"Does that count as a question?" he joked. "Because I'll answer it if it does."
"I guess so." I appreciated his sense of humor in the light of my obvious mistake.
"Yes, you've got the wrong number.. and the wrong person." I was disappointed that it meant I wouldn't get another survey and that I would have to end an enjoyable conversation.
"I get another question," he reminded me.
"After this mistake, I'll give you three," I joked.
"Great!" He sounded so pleased with himself. "This is great... give me a minute. I want to make sure I pick the right questions." I grinned silently at his interest. He sounded so sweet. I wondered what he looked like.
"Who or what has made the biggest impact on your life?" he finally asked. I was shocked by the question. I expected something like, 'what color is your hair'.
"God," I answered truthfully, wondering if my deep faith would turn him off. It did a lot of men. They don't think a woman that has a deep faith in her heart can have a sexual feeling in her loins.
"Hmmm..." he responded. "Interesting answer."
"How do you feel about black men?" he asked next.
"Well...my daddy is black and I love him, so I guess I would have to answer that I love black men."
"Cool," he chuckled into the phone.
"One more question left," I warned.
"Damn," he whispered, and then quickly apologized for using the word. I didn't respond.
"Well, if I only have one question left, I guess it's this one. Will you go out with me this weekend?"
"What?" I was totally shocked. I mean, it was a playful conversation, but I didn't even know the man.
"You can't just call me and get me totally enthralled with you only to tell me I am a wrong number," he pleaded.
"I don't even know you," I protested.
"I'll tell you what," he quickly interjected. "You can make up another survey of questions you want to know about me and I promise I'll answer every one."
"I don't think that would be an appropriate use of my employer's time," I said teasingly. I was interested in his proposal, but reality was reality.
"I'll give you my home phone number and you can call me tonight," he suggested.
"I don't call guys." I was enjoying being chased. It was so unusual. Most guys either have oversized egos or are too afraid of me to try.
"Trust me," he said. "I'll call you if you give me your phone number." I sighed realizing I had backed myself into that corner.
"I don't know..." I hesitated.
"Just because I'm asking a wrong number to go out with me doesn't mean I'm crazy," he joked. "Really, I'm cool."
"Oh, all right," I answered.
And that's how it started with Aaron. He called at 8:30 that Monday night and we talked until 10:00 o'clock. The conversation flowed so easily, it seemed like only minutes. My survey was very complete. He was 26, lived in D.C., had never been married, no children, grew up in Detroit, got a full scholarship at West Point, and had been working in D.C. for the past two years as a programmer.
He was 6' tall, weighed 180 lbs, had black hair, brown eyes, liked the outdoors, and believed in God despite his Baptist roots as he had joked. I sensed a lot of imagination and creativity, and although he was assertive when he wanted to know something, he wasn't pushy. When we said good night, we both felt the strong connection.
He called back on Tuesday night with his own survey of questions for me. Some of them were about what I looked like: light complexioned due to my mixed heritage, 5'6", 150 lbs, brown hair and green eyes; a graduate of business from Rutgers currently working my way up the marketing ladder. But soon our conversation drifted to our beliefs and how they had directed us throughout our lives. At one point I laughed when right in the middle of me telling him about a spiritual experience I had had, he interrupted to tell me how sexy my voice was. He was the first with whom I'd ever felt I could be both.
On Wednesday night I was out late with friends and found a message from Aaron waiting for me on the answering machine, saying that he was sorry he had missed me. I smiled as I replayed the message.
Thursday he surprised me by calling me at work. I hadn't given him my work number and was stunned when I heard his voice.
"How did you get my number?" I asked.
"From the phone book," answered Aaron. "Don't give me more credit than I deserve."
"But, how did you know where I worked?"
"If I remember correctly," he joked, "it was my second question."
"Ah, so it was," I laughed.
"Listen," he said. "I can't get any work done today wondering when I'm going to meet you. So, will you go out with me this weekend?" I could hear his pencil tapping on his desk.
"OK... sure," I answered. "When?"
"Friday night?"
"Friday?" I asked. "You mean tomorrow?"
"Yes... unless you want me to come down tonight," he jested.
"No, I can wait until tomorrow," I laughed.
"Where should I meet you?"
"Why don't you take the train down and I'll meet you at the station.
"That sounds great," said Aaron. "What time?"
"I think there's a train that gets in from D.C. around 7:10; try to catch that one. If not I'll wait around until 8:00 o'clock. If you're not there by then, you lose."
"Don't worry," promised Aaron. "I'll be there."
"How will I recognize you?" I suddenly realized I didn't have a physical picture of him.
"I'll be wearing black slacks and a black leather jacket."
"Great," I laughed sarcastically. "A black guy wearing black slacks and a black leather jacket. How could I miss you?"
"Well, what are you going to wear?" he countered.
"I don't know..." I stammered. "Something black I guess. I wouldn't want to stand out."
"Very funny, Monique," he whispered. It was the first time he had called me by my name and it resonated to my soul. Who was this man who could move me?
"I know," I said. "I'll wear my silver heart earrings."
"I hope they're big enough to spot more than five feet away," laughed Aaron.
"They are if I pull my hair back," I teased.
"So, if you think I'm too ugly, you'll just let your hair down, huh?"
"Thanks for the tip," I laughed.
"Someday I'll learn to keep my mouth shut," he chided. "OK, tomorrow night then. I'll see if I can make it through tonight without calling you... you know... just to show I have some self control."
"I like men in control," I whispered.
"Really now..." His voice grew husky and deep. "I hope you'll say that to me sometime when we're both naked."
My heart stopped. Why had I said that? Why had he? What would he think of me? I felt paralyzed; unable to talk or move. I wanted to make a joke to lighten the intense tension I felt, but nothing came to mind. Before I could respond, Aaron said good-bye and hung up.
Suddenly I was nervous about meeting him. I felt like I had revealed a part of me that I wasn't ready to show him yet. Something I hadn't shown anyone in a long time. I had always demanded respect from men, and held myself very professionally at work. Consequently, men were always polite to me... even in bed. Why was it that I found myself fantasizing of a different kind of lover?
On Friday I decided to compromise about wearing only black. I chose a black and white striped pants suit. As I slipped on the black stockings, I almost changed my mind about wearing pants. But I didn't want to look too sexy for work or the guys would never stop questioning me about my plans.
I threw some paperwork into my briefcase and noticed my small bible tucked in the lid compartment. It was there with me always. Like my faith. Like my God. Like my desires. I sat down on the bed and opened it randomly to Proverbs. What spiritual fortune cookie would be mine today? My eyes landed on Proverbs 4:13
Always remember what you have been taught.
Don't let go of it.
Keep safe all that you have learned.
It is the most important thing in your life.
Well, that was generic enough. I closed the book and tucked it back in the briefcase. I opened the small compartment next to it and looked at the three Saxon Gold condoms I had stashed there long ago.
"Always be prepared," I had lectured the girls at the counseling center where I worked during college. "The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak." Too many young girls had ended up pregnant from getting swept away with the moment. I vowed to myself that I would never do that. I closed the brief case and headed off to work.
It was a busy day and I had appreciated the distractions from thinking about meeting Aaron. I finished the phone surveys and had begun to compile the data, which was normally the part I enjoy the most. But the closer it got to seven o'clock, the less I could concentrate.
At six-thirty, I drove to the station and checked the arrival times. The train from D.C. ran every hour and arrived at fifteen after each hour. I scanned the crowd as I walked through the station on the off chance that he had taken the earlier train.
Women and children sat on the church-pew-like benches waiting for their fathers to come home from work. I had always found the station kind of quaint with its little shops and skylights. The paint was yellowing and the stain of the wood was going black with age, but it really was a touching, throwback kind of place.
I settled onto a bench to wait and fingered one of my heart-shaped earrings. They had been a gift from my mother just before she had passed away.
"Wear them and they will bring you all the love you will every need," she had written on the card. She had written almost the same words on the card that came with the cross necklace I wore that she gave me at my confirmation ceremony when I was twelve.
Finally the 7:15 train from D.C. arrived and I decided to stand and walk a bit closer to the gate. Crowds of people descended the stairs and walked briskly towards the parking lot or towards waiting loved ones.
I spotted him instantly and watched him move to the side and scan the people in the station. He was beautiful. When he looked in my direction and made eye contact, we both smiled. I thought about walking toward him, but I just stood there smiling. For the longest time, so did he. He shook his head slightly and walked over to me.
"You forgot to mention how beautiful you were." He took each of my hands in his and just stood in front of me smiling. Then he glanced up at my earrings and laughed.
"What?" I asked smiling.
"I was just thanking God that I was talking to the right girl!"
"Yes, you do have a habit of getting wrong numbers," I teased. He didn't move or let go of my hands, but remained smiling and looking at my face.
"I can't believe I've found you." His words seemed so quiet in the middle of the noisy station.
"Well, if I remember correctly," I joked. "I think I found you."
"Semantics," he waved me off with a hand. "Pure semantics." As we turned to walk to my car, he reached for my hand and swung it gently as we walked."
"Afraid you'll lose me?" I looked down at our hands and then winked at him.
"Oh, I'll never lose you now, Monique."
We went to an Italian restaurant that was a favorite of mine and had a relaxing dinner of pasta and wine. It didn't seem like a first date. Perhaps because of the long, preceding phone conversations. It just seemed as if we had known each other forever. When I stared at his lips, I wanted to kiss them. When I focused on the small patch of chest from his unbuttoned collar, I wanted to see more. I tried not to let my attraction be obvious, but there was nothing frigid about my body language.
His eyes and his sighs told me the feeling was mutual. When he asked if he could see my apartment after dinner, I agreed. It was when we were getting back into the car that I first tasted his lips. Since I was driving, I unlocked his car door and started to walk to mine. He stopped me and pulled me into his arms, his hand caressing my cheek as he kissed me softly.
"Is that what you were waiting for?" he whispered.
"Yes," I answered between kisses. The passion grew stronger and deeper with each kiss; his hand moving from my cheek to the nape of my hair pulling me in closer. Finally I pulled away and buried my face in his chest as he held me.
"God, where have you been all my life?" he whispered.
"Right here," I said smiling up at him.
He let go of me and we both got into the car and headed toward the apartment. It didn't take long to give him the tour. It was a one-bedroom casually decorated and filled with pictures of my family and friends. I turned on the stereo and poured us each a glass of wine as Aaron took off his jacket and settled into the one piece of furniture I love - a double-sized lounge chair and matching ottoman. It was smaller than a love seat, but larger than a chair, and made for lovers.
When I came with the wine, he patted the cushion next to him and I smiled, handing him his wine.
"Dare I get that close to you again?" I asked.
"Dare you stay that far away," he challenged. I compromised and sat on the ottoman near his feet.
"Something tells me I won't escape you no matter where I sit."
His eyes were intense as he searched my face and my heart. "No, Monique..." he said taking my wine glass and setting it with his on the side table. "I intend on making you mine tonight." He pulled me up into his arms, half lying on top of him, and ran his hands over my silk top as we kissed. His hands felt good on my body and it responded in kind. At one point he squeezed me so tight that I could feel my cross necklace making an imprint in my chest.
"Ow!" I cried out.
"What is that thing?" he asked as I rubbed my chest.
"A necklace," I answered, brushing the hair back from my face.
He reached up and unbuttoned the first button on my blouse. I sat frozen like a mouse as he looked in my eyes and moved to the next button... and the next... until my blouse lay open exposing my naked breasts and my cross necklace.
"Do you think that cross is big enough?" he teased.
"My mother thought I needed the extra protection." I smiled and winked him.
He held the cross in his hand and fingered it as he looked at my nipples. I could feel them harden with his gaze. My breathing was shallow as I allowed him to see all of me. Using the cross as a lead, he pulled my head toward his lips and kissed me deeply as his hand slipped inside my blouse and caressed my back.
"Do you know how much I want you?" he whispered.
Even if I had had any doubts, his hard cock pressing through his trousers would have extinguished them. I pulled away from him and stood up next to the chair, letting out a long sigh. My blouse hung open and the cross swayed in front of me as I reached for my glass of wine.
"This is getting kind of hot for a first date," I said taking a sip and then putting the glass back down. As much as I wanted him, I also wanted his respect. I started to button my shirt and he rose from the chair.
"Please don't," he said taking my hands from the blouse. "You're so beautiful, I want to see all of you."
His hands moved to my collar and gently pulled the blouse down off each shoulder, his eyes searching my face for any protest. When he found none, he continued until my blouse fell to the floor. He quickly pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor next to my blouse as he pulled me up against him. When flesh pressed against flesh, I let out a long sigh and melted in his arms.
"What God has brought together, Monique," he said holding my face in his hand, "Let no man tear apart."
I knew then that I was his, body and soul, to do with as he pleased. When he took my hand and led me into the bedroom, I followed. When he removed the rest of my clothing, I helped him. When he asked me if I had any condoms, I retrieved them from my briefcase.
I slid naked onto the middle of my bed and watched him undress. His body looked strong and beautiful as he took off his slacks and stood in his black, silk underwear.
"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" he asked sliding onto the bed and laying on top of me. His kisses ignited into unbridled passion as his lips moved over my body. My nipples stood erect for his tongue and found shelter in his mouth. I squirmed as his tongue traveled downward and teased the skin between my legs.
"Aaron..." I moaned. "Please..."
"Yes, Baby...," He nibbled at my inner thighs and bit at my labia gently with his teeth. I hadn't come in so long that I felt I would scream. "Are you going to give me your juices?" He licked tentatively at the lips and I squirmed to get closer.
"Oh yes," I moaned. "Please lick it..."
His velvet tongue felt so good on my pussy that I grabbed for the edges of the bed to hold myself still. His tongue darted in deep and the flicked across my clit, driving me wild. Pressing first one finger and then two inside of me, he twisted them as he licked my clit. I came so hard that I grabbed the pillow and held it over my mouth fearing the neighbors would hear my cries.
"Oh, you taste sweet," he said pulling the pillow off my face and kissing my lips. I loved the smell and taste of myself on his lips.
"That was so good," I purred. "So, so good." I slipped my hand inside of his shorts and caressed his hard cock. It felt thick and long as it slid through my hands.
"Easy Baby," he warned. "You've got me so hard..."
"Do I get to taste you?" I asked with an evil smile.
"Next time," he promised. "Right now, I just want to be inside of you." He stood up from the bed, dropped his shorts and picked up a condom from the night stand.
"Do you know how to put one of these one?" he asked.
"Actually I'm not as experienced at this as you might think."
"Remind me to teach you next time," he said winking at me. "It can be fun." I watched as he slipped the circle over the tip of his cock and rolled it downward over the shaft. When it was secured in place, he slid between my legs and nibbled at my nipples, kissing the cross that lay between them as he passed.
"Do you know how long I've prayed for you?" he whispered as he pressed his cock against the entrance to my pussy.
"No..." I whimpered. His pushed his cock in hard until it hit the back of my pussy and stopped as he gripped my body tight. He stared into my eyes as we lay there connected as one.
"Tell me that you're mine now," he demanded. He moved his cock out slowly and then pressed it back in, making me crave more.
"Aaron... please," I whined.
"Tell me, Monique," he repeated. "Tell me that you're mine."
"I'm yours Aaron," I cried. "Only yours..." He fucked me hard then. Hard and deep... sometimes fast, but more often slow as he kissed and bit at my neck and face.
"Your pussy is so tight, Baby..." he moaned. "It's heaven in there." His cock felt so good inside of me, I didn't want it to end.
"Come on, Baby," he panted into my ear. "I'm gonna make you give it to me now." He increased the rhythm of his thrusts and I squeezed my pussy tighter against him in a challenge to see if he would come first.
"Oh... damn,Baby," he growled. "Give it to me now." He grabbed my ass with both hands and pounded my pussy until I started to grab my pillow again.
"No, let it out," he panted. "Let me hear you come."
"Aaron..." I cried. Deep at the back of my pussy, the orgasm started and I reached harder for every stroke of his cock.
"Oh God, yes!" cried Aaron as he started to come. The groan accompanying each thrust of his cock equaled my cries of receiving them. Neither of us wanted it to ever end and nursed it until we finally lay still in each others arms.
"Lord have mercy," he panted into my neck as we lay entwined in sweat.
"Lord have mercy, indeed," I sighed.
"I hope you don't have any plans for the weekend," said Aaron kissing my forehead softly.
"Why?" I asked looking up at him.
"Because we have a lot of lost time to catch up on," he answered, moving down and biting my nipples. "And I haven't even begun to do all the things I want to do to you."
"Oh really?" I closed my eyes and stroked his hair as he lay in my arms. "Do you think it will take the whole weekend?"
"It may take a lifetime," he said squeezing my ass hard enough that I squirmed to get away. "But I want to get a head start."
