To make my point, I pull her mouth to mine and claim her right there in front of everyone. As I breathe her in, I smell myself and I have to adjust her on my lap. When I pull back, her eyes are closed. She looks unreal, an angel sitting here in front of me. I stare each of the guys down, letting them know they can give me their best shot, but nothing is going to change. “So Loe is it?” Alright. Here we go. I look towards Kirk and incline my head. “What do you do for a living?” I give him the same answer I give anyone.
“Former Marine.” He looks as if he is waiting for me to elaborate but that won’t be happening. When it is clear I am not saying anything more, he shifts the focus to our relationship.
“What brings you here, with us?'' His question is innocent enough, but I know what he is really asking. He wants to know if I am playing with her. I respect his concern for her.
“My woman asked me to come like yours did, so here I am.” Now. Take that.
“Your woman, huh. You haven’t known each other for long have you?” I put my line of sight on Wesley who asked this question.
“Is there a point in there somewhere?”
“Seems a bit premature to assume she is your anything, don’t you think?” At this point I am becoming pissed and she knows it. I feel her squeeze my thigh, letting me know not to let it bother me, but I am not used to being doubted and questioned like this and even though I knew it was going to happen, I didn’t expect for it to feel so intrusive.
“I get what you're saying, but a real man doesn’t need months or even weeks to know when he has found the other half to his soul.” My girl looks at me, tears in her eyes. On her own she leans down and kisses me, her hand on my face. I find myself leaning into her touch allowing it to soothe and calm me like she has done since I first laid eyes on her.
“Well shit,” her friend Fabiola says, fanning herself. The other girls nod their heads and smack their guys, giving them the knock it off look and I guess my test is over.
The next hour or so is spent eating and listening to the women tell stories of their high school years. It's not an easy thing for me to admit, but I am actually enjoying myself. I like seeing her free and open. She is around the people she knows. I feel a pang in my heart knowing that once she finds out all I am keeping from her, we might never have this.
“Oh my God!” Vanessa squeals, bringing me back to the present.
“Oh no.” Nova says, putting her hands in her face. I look at everyone curiously. I am the only one at this table that doesn't know what is happening.
“Girl you know we have to.” I see the girls get up and pull Nova from my lap. Her face is a mixture of mortification and excitement.
“You are in for a treat.” Wesley says before turning his chair to face the dance floor. The Pussycat Dolls song ‘Buttons’ is playing and I see the girls walk out there and get in a line. Turning to the guys I have to ask.
“What’s happening right now?”
“Seems our girls did a burlesque act to this song in high school for a talent show. So, anytime it comes on, they get up and perform.” The three of them seem amused. Me, I feel possessive and hard as fuck. I watch as my girl twirls her hips seductively, leaning against her friends, with her hands in the air. Right before my eyes she is transforming into this sexy, confident nymph using her natural wiles to lure every man in the room. Getting up from my chair, I move closer to the stage. The drums inside of my head and balls are beating to the words. Mine. MINE. MINE. I need to be near her, ready to pounce and fight off anyone who is looking to take her for themselves.
She gets on the floor and begins sliding across it, her hair draped across her face. I am sure the other girls are doing the same moves, but I see no one but her. My red dragon, so unique and hidden but more powerful than she knows. Out of the corner of my eye, a guy begins approaching the stage and I go into war mode. He could be about to approach any of the girls but all I care about is her. As the song comes to an end, she and the girls begin laughing and they continue to dance to a song I have never heard before. The singer is asking for the man she desires to come back and make her feel one more time.