Chapter 10

―Five.‖
―Four.‖
―Three.‖
―Two.‖
―One…HAPPY NEW YEAAAAAAAAAA!‖ The

simultaneous clicking of the room full of glasses drowned out the music that was playing. Loads of confetti, and red and white balloons descended from the ceiling.

Taj wrapped his hands around my waist pulled me close, and whispered. ―Happy New Year, Storm!‖
―Happy New Year, Baby,‖ I said in elation.

―2004 is gonna be our year. Bigger and better things are on the way. Anything you want you got.‖
―I already have everything I want, Taj.‖
―But it‘s just the appetizer. The shit we about to eat is the full course meal.‖

I reached for his hand and kissed it. ―You know what? I‘m so grateful for you. I always knew I would be successful,‖ I paused and looked around at the crowded room of high rollers and ballers. ―Partying here tonight with P. Diddy, and Dame Dash, I mean this ain‘t no surprise to me. Shit, I belong here,‖ I declared with a trace of arrogance. ―But I never knew I‘d have a man in my life that know how to love every corner of me. Somebody I can be free andsafe with…somebody I can share my world with.‖

Beyoncé‘s, Dangerously in Love had appropriately begun to play. I quickly turned my back to him, and began passionately grinding him.

Taj put his hands on my waist and rhythmically moved my body with his. Then he began kissing me on my neck until he reached my ear and with his deep sexy voice whispered, ―Let‘s really go celebrate…and bring this in the right way.‖

Even though my Boo is hard as hell on the streets. He knows how to take care of me, I thought. Here I was bringing in the New Year with the man I love, in Miami at the Mercury Resort Spa heading to our penthouse suite. Life couldn’t be better than this. Without saying a word, I held his hand and followed him as he squeezed and maneuvered off of the dance floor.

Being with Taj always suppressed the memories of my ugly past. It stopped the war that was being fought within me. He had found a way to make this ghetto girl‘s heart sing. Somewhere in between, the light began to shine.

After being together for three years, Taj and I definitely had our share of problems. Neither one of us was ready for love. Hustling does that to you. You get so caught up with winning the game that you don‘t take the chance of opening up your heart and losing. But we didn‘t consciously take the gamble on love because love chose us. No matter what we did to get rid of, or ignore it, at the end of the day we were in the thickness of it. The innocence and power of our love—that connection— was totally undeniable.

* * *

When we arrived at our suite, Taj asked me to close my eyes. As he opened the door, I instantly smelled the sweet aroma of flowers. He held my hand and guided me inside, the more steps that I took the stronger the aroma became.

―Alright baby,‖ Taj said, ―now you can open your eyes.‖ I slowly opened my eyes and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. There were roses everywhere. Purple and red rose petals made a trail leading to the balcony. In the living room, there were vases filled with roses. On the cocktail table there was a huge tray of chocolate covered strawberries. My mouth opened but I couldn‘t speak. I was at a loss for words. I turned my attention to Taj, as we gazed in each other eyes– they were glittering with our love. While the tears rolled down my cheeks, Taj carefully cupped his hands on my face and I placed my hands on top of his. Then he softly kissed my tears.

―Baby, why you cryin‘?‖
―Because I…I never thought I would be here,‖ I whispered. ―I mean I never thought that I could have someone love me like this.‖

―You know I really love you,‖ Taj said. ―You‘re everything to me, Storm. You‘re my perfect Storm…just rain on me, Baby.‖

I wrapped my hands around his neck, tip-toped and replied, ―And you‘re the bling bling in my eyes.‖ I walked around the room in amazement, picked up one of the roses and took a sniff. ―Baby, when did you have all of this done?‖

―Remember when I told you I left my
wallet…‖ ―Yeah. You did this by yourself?‖

―Yeah,‖ Taj answered, opened his arms showcasing the floral arrangement. ―You ain‘t know your man could get down like this?‖

―I don‘t know what to say. This is beautiful.‖ ―You ain‘t gotta say anything. Come on, I got something to show you.‖ Taj grabbed my hand and took the lead following the colorful path of petals that led to the balcony.
―You cold?‖ Taj asked.
I shook my head. ―Nah, I‘m okay.‖

―You arecold,‖ Taj turned to walk inside our suite. ―I‘ma go get you a jacket.‖

―You don‘t have to,‖ I said grabbing his hand, ―I told you I‘m fine. Matter of fact, it feels good out here. But I know one thing…as soon as we get back to New York we gonna be some sick asses. When I spoke to Black earlier he said it was eight degrees there.‖

―Let‘s not talk about New York,‖ Taj said while he pulled me toward him as he leaned on the balcony. ―I don‘t want to talk about nothing but us.‖

We both stared out at the picturesque view. The brightness of the moon‘s reflection glared on the running waters. I inhaled the smell of the sea. Exhaling I asked, ―Isn‘t this beautiful?‖

―Yeah.‖
―I love the sea, its one of the few places where I feel comfortable at. Did I ever tell you that?‖
―You did. I wish I could package it up and hand to you. I love the look on your face when you are here.‖

―It‘ s the one place in the world that is quiet but not totally. Where you can hear music and no matter what state you were in when you arrived, when you leave peace belongs to you. You know what? I think we should buy a spot down here.‖

―That‘s what you want?‖
―Yeah, we‘re down here enough,‖ I said. ―I mean it‘s like a second home now. We could buy a condo or something. What do you think?‖
―Anything you want. You know that, ma.‖

―Taj, why you staring at me like that? You look so serious. What‘s wrong?‖
―Why does something have to be wrong with me admiring my woman‘s beauty?‖

I smiled and tightly embraced him. ―Thank you.‖ ―For what?‖
―For coming into my life.‖

Taj turned his attention to the table. ―Pour us some of that Cristal.‖

―Okay.‖ I walked over to the table and reached for the flutes.
―Put some ice in my drink.‖
―What?‖ I asked. ―You know you don‘t put no ice in Cristal.‖
But Taj insisted, ―Just put the ice—please.‖ Then he revealed a guilty smile.
As I reached for the ice bucket, I noticed what looked like a piece of ice with metal on it sitting conspicuously on top of the ice cubes. Convinced my eyes were playing tricks on me, I closed them tightly then opened them again. And to my surprise it was still there. While my mouth grew instantly dry, and the palm of my hands became moist I felt my legs being carried away. The excitement had my heart racing out of control and it felt as though it was about to come out of my chest. I put my hand on it in an attempt to soothe the intensity of the beats. I couldn‘t believe it. It was a yellow canary diamond ring, which had to be at least five carats.
Taj walked over to me, took the ring out of the ice bucket and while never removing his eyes off of me got down on one knee. ―Storm, baby, I don‘t know why you picked somebody like me.‖ Taj nervously licked his lips. ―I ain‘t got no big time degree in philosophy but I got a degree in streetology. It ain‘t no denying that we gotta bond that‘s unbreakable. We always gonna be together. No matter what happens in the street we gonna be together. ‗Cause I can‘t circle this life alone – without you. The shit I have worked so hard to build—my club, the houses, my

rides —it don‘t mean nothing to me if I ain‘t got you sharing it with me. It‘s all about you. I mean…your real. You a hustler and you know the streets. The streets obey you. But at the same time, you ain‘t forget how to be a woman, too. I ain‘t never met a woman that knows how to hold it down on all levels.

‗You‘re my road dawg.‖ Taj put his head down and tried to shake his escalating emotions. ―You‘re my best friend, my happiness…my idol.‖ Then Taj took my left hand, and carefully guided the ring on my finger. ―You definelove…the power to destroy someone but you trust them not to. I love you. And now Storm Williams, I want you to be my wife.‖

―Oh, my gosh…Taaaaj!‖

I had never felt so many good emotions at one time. As far as I was concerned, things couldn‘t get any better between Taj and me. Yet, I never imagined being his wife. It wasn‘t that I didn‘t want to be. And it wasn‘t that I didn‘t want to spend a lifetime without him. But I had never allowed myself to fantasize such perfection.

The men that previously had come in and out of my life meant nothing to me. We knew what was up right from the beginning. There were no hidden agendas. They wanted regal pussy and I wanted temporary comfort. I lived by one rule— never let a nigga leave his stain. It always worked— that is—until I meant Taj.

After taking a sip of his drink, Taj said, ―We gonna have the biggest mothafuckin‘ wedding New York ever seen.‖
―Taj, you want a big wedding?‖
―Hell, yeah! We gonna have something so hot even Donald Trump gonna be jealous of it. You know how I do…it‘s gonna be sick.‖

I kissed him ravenously. The only time I would drink was when Taj and I were together. Drinking always made me horny. Therefore, I always made sure Taj was around when I did. The alcohol, the realization that I would soon be his wife, Taj‘s cologne and the heat that was penetrating from his bralic body made me want him more than I ever had before. I anxiously started tounbutton Taj‘s shirt. ―Now let‘s really celebrate and bring this in the right way,‖ I said.

Taj rubbed his hands up and down my butt then gave me a sly smile. ―Oh, you being cute, huh?‖ Then he licked and nibbled on my ear lope. ―You sure you ready for this?‖

―Mmmm…let me show you,‖ I took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
―You gonna dance for me?‖

* * *

The bedroom had floor to ceiling windows. The vertical blinds were dressed in custom burgundy and red drapes. The massive room had a circular bed covered with red stain sheets and a mink comforter, which Taj had covered with rose petals. The room exuded jasmin fragrance, which went along with the ambience. Taj set the magical mood in the room as he took the master remote control instantly the fireplace opened up out of the wall, Brian McKnight was singing Undeniable and the lights were dimmed.

Taj had the fluke with Cristal and chocolate covered strawberries. We toasted, took a couple of sips and engaged in a long deep kissed. Then he started undressing me, Taj sat on the edge of the bed took both his hands and slowly explored every part of my body as if it were the first time he had laid eyes on it. He carefully laid me down then he took the chocolate covered strawberries out of the fluke and started caressing my body with it. He started from the neck, and then to the tip of my nipples. As he reached the tip, he gently took a bite of the strawberry, and then slowly traced his tongue on my nipple. He continued to lick me until he reached my crown. Then he plunged his tongue inside and skillfully wet my walls. I moaned, gnawed on my bottom lip. I didn‘t want him to ever stop. I was enjoying the ride he was taking me on. I pushed his head closer to my wet crown.

We continued to take turns kissing, licking, exploring, and caressing each other. Then I got on my knees and stroked his warm and erect muscle. I took my hands and spread his legs open and began softly kissing his inner thighs. Then I ushered his muscle in my mouth and gave him the deluxe oral treatment.

―Daaaaamn baby,‖ Taj screeched and moaned. Not ready to give in to climax, he picked me up and laid me back on the bed. Then he slid his muscle in me. We made love ferociously. We came together, rested and went again. No man had ever had the capabilities of bringing me back a second time…until I met Taj. Finally exhausted we fell asleep.

Suddenly, I felt Taj carefully removing his arm from underneath my head and covering me with the sheets. Then he quietly got out of the bed. I rubbed my eyes attempting to gain focus. ―Baby, where you going?‖ I asked in a whisper.

―I‘m ‗bout to roll up,‖ he whispered back.

Taj sat on the black swivel recliner. He crushed up his purple haze, laid it out in the blunt and licked one end and twisted up. While he waited for it to dry I poured us another round of drinks. I handed Taj his drink and climbed back into the bed. Taj reached for his torch and fired it up. ―You wanna smoke?‖

―Yeah,‖ I answered and sat up.
As we were blazing I sat watching Taj. He was fine and my man.

Taj walked over to the bed and kissed me on the cheek. ―What you thinkin‘ about?‖
―Thinking about us,‖ I said. ―The wedding…our
life.‖ ―I wanna get married right away.‖

―Taj!‖ I purred. ―We gotta plan. You say you want a big wedding. I can‘t plan no wedding overnight.‖
―You ain‘t gotta do it yourself. I‘ll hire somebody.

Don‘t they have people that do that stuff for you?‖ ―Yeah. They are called wedding planners, baby.‖ ―Right, so that‘s what we‘re gonna get. You ain‘t

gotta do nothing yourself. Don‘t worry about nothing. It‘s our world, Baby. In 2003 we was sittin‘ on the mountain top, but in ‗04 we gonna be dancin‘ on it!‖