Complete The Set--A Taj Jackson Erotica

Before the days of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, there was a little thing known as MySpace. And trust me I was on there, following my friends and of course 3T. Much as social media has become the center of life for a great many people, Myspace was at the start of it and created its own subculture. And for the young woman in my story...she should have paid much closer attention to what was being posted. (MY FIRST EROTICA SINCE SEPT. 2017!!!!)

"Complete The Set"

 

A Taj Jackson Erotic Short Story By: 

Mjsloveslave 

Cove Heights, California

Autumn, 2005

“...We need to talk, ASAP. Meet us at Dream Smoothie at 11:30...”

That brief, benign message, sent via text, which had roused Eugenia Weatherford from a deep and peaceful slumber, for the moment, had proved to be nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

But as her little, gleaming, metallic green VW Beetle traversed the highway overlooking the brilliant blue Pacific, connecting the suburban offshoot of Cove Heights with the larger Santa Ynez, Eugenia believed she was in for, at the least, a causal drink with her best girlfriends, and at the most, being talked into some careless shopping.

While many others took the event of whiling away a Saturday afternoon at the mall in the company of friends, it was still very fresh, new and exciting to Eugenia.

For, up until only a few months ago, Eugenia had been something of a child in an adult's world.

It had long been Eugenia's dream to be a teacher, and she had always known, almost from birth, that she would pursue a career in education in some capacity.

Teaching was a notion that had practically been bred in her.

Both her parents, and all four of her grandparents had been educators.

Her grandparents on her father's side had been high school teachers in their native Glasgow, while those on her mother's had taught the same level, in Casablanca.

It had been pure Kismet that her parents even met, doing the four preceding them one better, as college professors—Quantum Physics for him, British Literature for her—while employed at the local University of Cove Heights.

And while Eugenia was enrolled in the very school in which her parents taught, hardly did their paths ever intertwine.

Her grandparents had been keen on her to teach high school as they did and her parents had been turning the screws on her to pursue the collegiate level...neither were her passion.

Eugenia, raised an only child, in a house full of some of the greatest and most complex minds on the West Coast, possessed an affinity for children.

Elementary Education was her destiny.

Perhaps it was from not quite having the same hallmarks of childhood as her peers; it wasn't often that a girl still in grade school could read Sweet Valley Twins novels during the week and then go on to peruse The Complete Collected Works of Shakespeare on the weekends and speak on the latter better than those twice her age.

There were no Girl Scout meetings or sleepovers in Eugenia's formative years; instead there were conferences and symposiums.

No ball games or dances, only discussions and lectures.

Though privileged, though well-bred and well-read, Eugenia had been something of a loner, with only the characters in books and plays as her companions.

Had been, as in past tense.

Since enrolling in UCH, Eugenia Weatherford had blossomed spectacularly.

For the first time in her scant life, she had friends....friends her own age, not her parents' age, and had begun attending events she'd only read about in teen novels and seen on television.

She'd gone to football, soccer, baseball and lacrosse games, attended the Welcome Freshman Dance, her very first dance, even if she had gone stag, and in general was enjoying a social life, one which she'd only fantasized about.

Saturdays had once been the day preceding the day she went to Mass with her parents; now it was the hot spot in her calendar.

There was always something to do with her two best girlfriends, Teena and Bunny.

Whether it be a movie or a game or a house party, or like today, catching a smoothie at the Seven Sands Galleria for this alleged 'talk'.

Though she should have been happy, happier than she'd ever been in her natural life, really, Eugenia still felt she was missing out on a crucial aspect of this brave, new world in which she thrived.

Eugenia wanted a boyfriend.

Teena and Bunny had them, a set of brothers whom had been their exclusive steadies for almost three years!

It seemed silly and childish, but didn't most people yearn for what they saw their friends with?

Didn't a child also want an ice cream cone or a lollipop if they saw their bestie eating one?

Keeping up with the Jonses so to speak?

There was a haunting twinge of jealousy she couldn't quite mask when Teena boasted about how Taryll had taken her on a romantic moonlit cruise on his father's yacht down at the marina or Bunny bragged that TJ had taken her to see their favorite singer, Phil Collins, in concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The men were always calling them on their cells and checking on them asking if they needed anything, and more than once, TJ had personally walked Bunny to and from her classes on his days off from work.

Eugenia oft wished for the attentions of a man, someone to hold her hand, to stroke her hair and ask her out on dates.

Yet, that aspect seemed elusive like a criminal on the lam.

It was a code she couldn't crack, a question she couldn't answer.

Not having the solution to a problem annoyed Eugenia, for she was used to solving any and all problems which arose for herself.

Except this.

It wasn't books and equations. It was man and woman, emotions, relationships, things which she knew so very little of.

None of the men she took classes with seemed interested and she was far too embarrassed to ask her friends' help in the matter, as it seemed being in a relationship came so easily to them.

Her friends were so in love, faces aglow with affection at the very thought of their beaus.

Eugenia had no idea how to turn the tides in her favor.

Pulling into the packed asphalt-topped parking lot sprawling in front of and flanking the sides of the Galleria, Eugenia squinted, hunting for any available spots.

The Seven Sands Galleria, offering both high-end and discount stores attracted customers in droves and on Saturday the place was an utter madhouse.

Grumbling to herself and slamming on the breaks as a reckless child stepped out in front of her—only to be snatched up by a scolding father—Eugenia's mind was elsewhere; she didn't want to commit vehicular manslaughter.

Not after she bumped an old lady on a walker for being distracted by the radio only a month ago.

Sure, the woman had hobbled away relatively unharmed, cursing, with a few scrapes and bruises to her wrinkly credit, but that was enough to shake up Eugenia and make her acutely aware of her surroundings.

Never did Eugenia see the tidal wave rushing towards her.

She had to circle the lot a good five times before fate decided to intervene and she managed to maneuver into a nifty little spot not too far from the front entrance.

So what if food court where Dream Smoothie laid was located in the rear of the mall on the second floor? A bit of walking wouldn't kill her.

It never had in the past.

Unfolding from the car and and looping her small Coach purse in the crook of her arm, she started for the entrance, completely ignorant and unaware that all over the lot, she was causing cases of whiplash here and there.

Eugenia was a beautiful girl but failed to see it from the mistake of having too many trees blocking her view of the forest.

She was of average height, with a generous, womanly figure that was sultry but not overtly sexy, and today dressed down casually in a lace-trimmed teal cami with matching sweater over it, coordinating just so with a pair of teal, chocolate and white striped, flared trousers.

The stacked heels of her chocolate leather boots clacking as she passed through the gold and gilt revolving door of the seven story tribute to all things excess and conspicuous consumption.

She was quite uniquely comely as provided by her uncommon lineage.

The florid, European features of her Scottish father blended seamlessly with the more exotic, ethnic ones of her Moroccan mother.

Her skin was a smooth, shining cocoa shade, no bumps or blemishes to be seen, as she'd never suffered the woes of acne like her friends.

Her face, slightly oblong, bore wide, dark, knowledgeable eyes under thick, groomed black brows, that were naturally straight but had been whittled into a sharper arch thanks to the skilled ladies at the Glo-N-Go Salon on the fourth floor.

Eugenia had her mother's nose, proud, thin in the bridge with flaring nostrils above a plump, full mouth, but not so large that it overpowered her face .

But while Mr. Weatherford was as red as any carrot-top could hope to be, Eugenia's hair had come out a strict, stark, raven black, mirroring that of Mrs. Weatherford.

And like her father's it was bone straight, parted to the right this morning, and falling to her mid-back gracefully.

Never one to pile on the cosmetics, Eugenia's was a look on the very natural end of the spectrum, a dark brown shimmery shadow, glossy lips and a pop of teal on the lower lash lines were all she had needed to get out the door.

She appeared as sweet, wholesome and darling as any nineteen-year-old could possibly be.

A quick ride up the escalator and a short jaunt later, the neon lit arch marking the start of the Food Court came into view and before she could even reach it, her nose was tickled by the mingling scents of beef patties frying on flat tops, weenies being grilled, french fries swimming in baths of hot grease, the pungent aroma of coffee...oh, it was enough to drive her into an olfactory overload.

She hadn't made it a good three steps beyond the arch when a familiar, heavily accented voice called to her,

“Hola Chica! Eugenia, over here! Vamanos!”

A few tables away, a young woman was up and waving madly at her.

Smiling, Eugenia returned the gesture, calling back, her own voice deep with a smoky, mystical quality to it,

“Hey Teena!”

Christina “Teena” Montalvo was as alluring as Eugenia but in a much more provocative manner.

Petite Teena was five feet exactly, but when she teased, ratted and volumized her shoulder-grazing hair, streaked in shades of ash, copper and dark golden brown, she could supplement her height another good six inches.

Her curves, in a perfect hourglass shape—with about 30 extra minutes of sand in the rear—were on display for anyone with eyesight,in a belly baring army green baby tee and a camo micro-mini which showed off smooth, shapely legs.

Her make up was splashy, going for glow, heavy on chunky glitter shadow and copious amounts of bronzer, bringing out the gold in her olive complexion and her bottle green eyes.

Eyes which danced with delight as Eugenia gave her a little hug, the pair settling back down at the table, where two large cups set sweating.

“I got your fave...” Teena tossed her head, her Spanish accent thick as her figure as Teena had spent the first twelve years of her life in San Juan, relocating to Santa Ynez at the age of twelve to attend a prestigious all-girls' Catholic school.

“...Berry Berry Blast!”

“Thanks.” Eugenia dropped into the nearest seat, helping herself to a deep drag of strawberry, blueberry and raspberry goodness, inquiring around the straw in her mouth,

“Now, I read your text, what was so important that I had to drag my carcass out of bed and come flying the next town over?”

Hands bearing long, nails with French tips, each with a crystal on the moon, flagged at her, Teena cautioning,

“I would tell you myself, but since a certain someone wants to pretend she's Columbus discovering America, I'll let her tell you!”

“Well, where is Bunny?” Eugenia savored another sip and her eyes following the long finger pointing past her nose.

Picking out the tall blonde woman poking a straw into her own large cup at the black and white Dream Smoothie kiosk.

“In all respect, that Gringa was the one who did find it all out, so I'll let her tell it. No sense in slap boxing today. I just bought this skirt from the Gap last week and I'll be damned if I ruin it, busting someone's nose and getting blood on it!”

Oh, Teena was saucy and bawdy.

And in the short time Eugenia had known her, Teena had engaged in no less than seven different fistfights—always coming out the victor.

The result of growing up the only girl in a family with four elder brothers who just had to pick on her, so she claimed.

That and not taking flack from anyone breathing.

Bunny, Razr phone in hand as she used her free thumb to text, most likely her beau TJ, was making a slow approach.

Bunny Denette was the tallest of the bunch, knocking on six feet and model slim, though she had no ambitions to pose in front of a camera's scrutinizing lens.

(Unless it was for TJ...)

She was something of a sugary take on the pop-punk, skater look, wearing a hot pink muscle tee with a skull and cross bones on the front in rhinestones, baggy black cargo jeans, several studded belts around her hips, and checkered Vans on her feet.

(Still it was a look that annoyed her devoutly religious Irish parents, who thought it was the look of the Devil!)

There was nothing at all off putting to her personality, as she tried to portray with her misbegotten, Hot Topic laced appearance.

She genuinely was one of the sweetest people Eugenia had ever encountered.

Bunny was pretty with a thin oval face into which her white-blonde hair, arranged in a chin-length bob, the asymmetrical bangs covering one of her red-brown eyes circled in thick black liner.

Her lips, an icy, frosted pink were curled in a sheepish smirk as she finished her message, shutting the device which had placed TJ's initials on it in pink and white crystals.

Bunny really was too Barbie to be Badass.

“Eugenia, hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!” She was greeted with a much tighter hug and that tinny voice ringing in her ear.

“Hi--”

Those brownish eyes danced with glee as Bunny, leaving one skinny arm around her shoulders pulled a vacant chair beside her with her foot and sat.

Gulping a swig of a bright orange smoothie, she questioned, a faint wash of color coming to her porcelain cheeks.

“Aren't you so excited? I mean couldn't you just lie down and D-I-E? I nearly died myself when I first found out! Oh Eugenia!”

The citrusy,oceanic scent of CK One was overpowering with Bunny throwing herself against Eugenia again, squeezing her so hard, her breathing was becoming labored.

“Excited about...what? Bunny! Bunny, let me go! Bunny you're choking me! Bunny!”

It was a struggle but she managed to loosen her friend's death grip, repeating,

“What am I supposed to be allegedly bouncing off the ceiling about?”

Brown eyes darted to green ones,

“You didn't tell her,Teena?”

“Damn it,you told me not to,Bunny!”

“Well how the hell was I to know you'd pick today to actually do something I asked of you for once?”

Teena slapped the table and raking glossy black nails through her pale hair, Bunny wrinkled her nose haughtily.

The expression softening as she questioned ominously of Eugenia, sucking on her straw,

“When's the last time you checked your MySpace?”

Cashmere draped shoulders bobbed,

“I don't know. I've spent the last week working on that big essay for Professor Orenthal. You know, I'm doing that paper about the emotional needs of children in the classroom.”

She'd been swamped churning out that thirty page essay; the last thing on her mind was the popular social networking site.

“I've been practically living in the library and on research sites--”

Delicate fingers pinched her lips shut, and the wispy tawny brows drawn on Bunny's forehead wiggled.

“That's all fine and dandy, we all know you hit the books like Tyson hits anyone stupid enough to get in the ring with him, but I'm asking you: Have you looked at MySpace lately?”

“And I just told you—NO!” Eugenia shot back curtly and out the corner of her eyes saw that Teena was also grinning at her broadly, her bright red, matte lips showing off her white teeth.

A sobering gaze went betwixt the two.

“...Why? What's so important on MySpace?”

Leaning closer so that their noses almost touched, Bunny pressed further,

“Who's in your 'Top Eight'?”

That required a bit of thought as Eugenia didn't set as much store by the 'status' of being in someone's top eight displayed on their profile page dictated, but she was going to in a matter of seconds.

“Um...you and Teena of course, Taryll and TJ, Irene Du Boise, Shelley Marin, Donna Zimmerman--”

She rattled off the names of a couple more of their mutual friends whom they took teaching classes with, and Teena, her own face darkening with a mix of impatience and impertinence threw her two cents in.

“Don't you also have Taryll and TJ's big brother in your eight?”

Eugenia squinted trying to remember his name.

“I guess so, he's the guy with the braids...uh--”

“TAJ!” Her friends chorused in a singsong fashion,eyes bulging from their sockets

“What about Taj?”

Eugenia only vaguely knew of Taj Jackson, the elder sibling of her friends' boyfriends.

She'd added him ages ago, but as far as communicating with him, she doubted she'd said more than 'thanks for the add' to him at all.

It went no deeper; he was merely an acquaintance in the flimsiest sense of the word.

“Well!” Bunny was all crimson, tossing her hair from her face.

“Dig this...”

She leaned further into Eugenia.

“Last night, I was on the site and I meant to click on TJ's profile, because....duh, but I hit Taj's by mistake, cause they're listed right next to each other on my page. So, anyway, his profile popped up—its all spooky and shit with bloody clowns since Halloween is right around the corner--”

“I need a costume” Teena interjected to no one in particular, “Taryll's taking me to the party the Phi Beta Sigma frat is tossing--”

“Why the hell you going to a frat rager? Didn't Taryll graduate, like, five years ago?” Bunny was distracted and Teena rolled her eyes,

“His cousin, you know the one with the ears and braces, Duke, invited us. Taryll was big man on campus back in the day. Dude's a legend. Did I tell you about the time he set Dean Wittenmeyer's car on fire--”

“What the entire hell does any of this have to do with Taj and MySpace?” Eugenia snapped and both her friends fell silent, “I haven't eaten yet and I'm wondering if I need a snack to get through whatever point it is Bunny is trying to make, and the tales of pranks Teena is regaling us with!”

The remark caused the Latina to purse her lips angrily, but she said no more on the topic, leaving the floor open to Bunny.

“Oh, right!” Bunny tittered white locks swishing. “Like I was saying, I looked on his page and get this Eugenia: you were FIRST in Taj's 'Top Eight'.”

“So?” Eugenia missing the vast cues of such a move ,mumbled and her friends groaned in exasperation.

“So--” Bunny pinched the back of her hand, “It means Taj is into you! Like, really!”

It was a notion that struck home after a second and caused an extreme reaction.

A rarity, Eugenia was speechless, eyes swelling in her head.

A man....a man was interested in her? He liked her?

He was, as Bunny so eloquently phrased it, “into” her?

Like...he wanted to go out with her?

It was so strange, so foreign an idea to Eugenia it could have been written in Hieroglyphics and she was at a loss to wrap her mind around the concept.

“But...but...I don't know anything about Taj!” She sputtered, overwhelmed.

Was the entire room suddenly tilting and swaying around her?

“You said he was older than Taryll and TJ and I know Taryll just made thirty in August! How old is his brother?”

Eugenia had little to no experience with men, much less ones older than her.

“His birthday is in August too, four days before Taryll's--” Teena pointed out.

“Taj is only thirty-two--” Bunny started and numbers crashed in Eugenia's head, with her wheezing, lungs straining,

“Thirty-two? He's thirty-two? Jesus Christ! That's thirteen years older than me!”.

“And so what?” Teena rolled her eyes. “You're legal--”

“Barely! I'm only nineteen!”

“You think I care that Taryll's thirty—hell no! He damn sure doesn't care about my age!”

“Who cares—Taj Jackson is a great catch!” Bunny chimed in. “He's got money, working with his brothers and daddy. They've got those old fancy movie palaces from the twenties. Their family owns a bunch of them, all along the coast and the fellas manage them. Show all those old silent pictures. Taj owns his own business! How many other guys you know of in our crowd that owns their own business? Run their own shit? The man is part of an empire. Everyone knows all the Jacksons got money--”

“Money isn't everything Beatrice!” Eugenia intoned, calling her friend by her true first name, garnering a rolling of the eyes.

“I know it isn't but...you don't want a broke man, do you?”

Teena snapped her fingers.

“Straight up, and don't you think it would be cute? All three of us dating the Jacksons? Three of us; three of them! A package deal! You want some other gal who don't deserve him to get him? Hell no!” Teena snapped her fingers a second time to emphasize her point.

“You're nice, smart and pretty!” She added, Bunny nodding wildly in agreement. “Taj is really smart. Half the shit I hear him talking I don't understand. He's really into his work. He likes those old films and stuff. Taryll says he's even taking night classes on Film History. Acting like he's going to be a film historian, and that could be another side venture to put more coin in his already bulging pockets. He likes studying, everything. Book worm, just like you!”

“And he is cute as all hell! They're all Black and Latin! Got that exotic mix going on—all kinds of spicy!” Bunny was digging in her Dooney bag, retrieving her wallet.

With a bit of shuffling, she produced a Polaroid.

“I took this at TJ's birthday party but I want you to see what Taj is doing!”

Eugenia remembered the party celebrating TJ's twenty-seventh birthday.

It was a simple affair in the backyard of his father's Encino estate, with about two hundred guests.

Eugenia had tagged along, as, of course, she lacked an official date, and had kept to herself during the soiree.

The photo was held under her nose.

In the forefront was TJ, goofing it up, messily biting into a large slice of chocolate cake on a plate, ganache streaming down his chin.

In the background, Eugenia could make out herself, being served a glass of punch at the drink station.

And several feet away, peeking from behind a tree, she spied Taj Jackson.

She faintly remembered him, quiet, somber, in a Bugs Bunny shirt and jeans.

They hadn't spoken.

But there he was, plate of cake in his hands.

Staring directly at her.

It was unmistakable.

“He was like that eyeing you the whole party...” Bunny was in her ear. “I even asked TJ about it a few days later and he said Taj was asking about 'the girl in the yellow dress'--you! Taj wouldn't shut up about you. Kept asking how old you were, where you went to school, everything. He likes you, Eugenia! He does. He's just shy!”

“They're all shy,” Teena shook her head derisively. “Took me forever to get Taryll naked!”

“You're nasty!” Bunny accused with a squeal and Teena snorted,

“That's why he loves me!”

As the pair cackled Eugenia couldn't help asking, breathlessly,

“So, now what? Taj likes me...where do I go from here--”

“Waiting for tonight, Oooooooh! When you would be here in my arms!”

On the tabletop Teena's Razr, its case bearing the flag of her homeland, lit up with the sounds of her idol, Jennifer Lopez, singing one of her hits.

(Y'all remember when J.Lo used to sing?)

Immediately the phone was snatched up.

“Hola Papi...” She spoke sensually, twisting in her chair. “We're across from Dream Smoothie! Bring all that sticky caramel to me! Love you, Mi Amor!”

Shutting the phone she announced,

“Right on time! The fellas are joining us for lunch, and for God Sakes, Eugenia, talk to Taj!”

“I...I will....” Eugenia stuttered, as she had no weapons of manly destruction about her.

“How...” She finally surrendered feeling ignorant and hating the sensation of such empty-mindedness.

“Just flirt, be cute, let him talk...” Bunny advised and Teena concurred.

“Compliment him, laugh at his jokes, touch his arm and stuff if you can...guys like that.”

“Ok, I'll try...” She trailed off, catching sight of the tall, good looking man easing up behind Bunny, finger to his lips.

TJ, the youngest of the trio was towering, with movie-star, chiseled features, his blend of African-American and Dominican as apparent as the red sweater on his back.

He was dark, with fine bones, gold-tinged eyes under extremely groomed brows.

His lips, a touch thin, parted over his teeth, and before she could blink, he'd grabbed Bunny by the shoulders dipped her back and laid a wet one on her.

SMACK!

“Oh goddamn it, TJ!” Bunny squealed as he guffawed, patting at his hair, cut in a stacked fashion the dark coils frosted with auburn and honey around his face, the longest bits reaching past his sculpted cheeks.

“You know it scares me when you do that!”

“And you know you like it! Just had to kiss My Baby!” He teased taking her hand and pecking the top of it.

“TJ!” The white face went scarlet, peals of giggles going up.

She always did titter into oblivion when he was around.

He waved at the other pair, smiling smugly, turning to Bunny.

“I'm getting a sandwich from Atomic Sub, you want?”

“Sure!” She allowed him to pull her chair back, TJ putting an arm around her hips, pulling her close, the two started across the Court.

“They clown too much!” Teena was dismissive and went to have another sip of her smoothie, only to find it gone.

“What the hell--” She started , whirling in her chair as the man behind her slurped loudly from the cup, his face tanned crinkling at the flavor.

“Ew, mango! You know I hate mango, Sugar!” Taryll Jackson was laughing as Teena hopped up and into his arms, mashing herself into him.

“Baby!!!”

Taryll had taken his looks from the boys others, a softer version of TJ, his look was a touch androgynous, with clear hazel eyes and dark curls tamed into a low cut, a few dancing across a high forehead. He was a trifle stockier than TJ, who was enormously fit, but Teena always had liked her men a little bit more hefty.

(And she was famous for feeding her lover all of her favorite dishes from Home)

The pair kissed, Teena pinching his cheek, “That's why I got the mango, you greedy—AH!!!!!”

“Come on!” Not caring who saw, Taryll hoisted her bodily up on his shoulder.

“I want some hot dogs and you're coming with me!”

“No Taryll! Put me down! Papi! I don't want to moon everybody! I'm wearing a thong! Put me down! Damn you,Taryll!”

As Teena swore a blue streak in Spanish, some of which Eugenia understood, she slumped in her seat.

A cool sweat springing up along her spine.

She knew Taj was somewhere in the vicinity.

Just when and where he'd make his appearance, was unknown.

Nervously, she glanced around.

TJ and Bunny were necking in line at the sandwich shop, Teena hanging upside down and slapping at Taryll's backside through his jeans to be set upright, bobbing with every step as he trotted towards the hot dog stand, to no avail.

“Do...you like burgers?”

A voice, mild, mellow and learned, inquired meekly from behind her.

The very sound sent shock waves through Eugenia, as she took notice a man sidling up beside her.

Taj Jackson.

Slowly, her head turned, peeking over her shoulder, up at him.

Looming over her was a somewhat tall figure, not as tall as his siblings, dressed casually in dark denim jacket and jeans over a white shirt with silent comedian Buster Keaton's rugged face giving its trademark deadpan expression.

Staring down at her through a cascade of dark, tiny plaits, springing from the top of his head.

And was automatically smitten with the eldest of the Jackson brothers.

With his head lowered,she saw his cheeks, smooth and round, a few freckles here and there, lips, shiny and supple above a clefted chin, mirroring the one Taryll had, but had missed TJ in the womb.

The dangling braids hid his eyes, but she felt them.

It was then she realized he was waiting on her answer.

“Y...yes, I like burgers.” She whispered, and his hand was on the back of her chair, pulling it out for her.

She stood, unintentionally invading his personal space, a whiff of peppery cologne lingering in her nostrils.

Up close, he looked much younger than his given age of thirty-two.

He appeared at least a decade younger than that.

His eyes, a deep murky brown glinted , shifting behind his hair and it wasn't lost on Eugenia they dipped down for a moment.

She wasn't sure how she felt about the obvious observation of her bosom, where a tasteful amount of cleavage was displayed by the silk of her cami.

There, they were examined a moment longer than what Eugenia felt comfortable with but was unsure whether she wanted to call him out on it or not.

His eyes returned to her face and his chin dipped, orbs unblinking as his hand came up, wrist flicking, indicating she lead the way.

Tentatively, Eugenia began to move, weaving in and out of the tables packed with other shoppers having a bite to eat and shouting loudly to one another.

Heading for the illuminated plastic burger over the Yum-O Burger stand, near the very back of the Food Court.

Taj was silent, much as Eugenia remembered him at TJ's party, kind of fading into the scenery.

The line to Yum-O's was about ten deep and as they reached the tail end of it, Eugenia, by some force, managed to question,

“I...I've never eaten here before...I usually get a sammie from Atomic Sub...what do you usually get?”

For the very first time, Taj Jackson smiled, cheeks growing rounder, little puffs appearing beneath his eyes, teeth pearly,

“Well, I get a big burger...it might be too big for you: The Double Rodeo Burger.”

“It...it sounds good, what's on it?” They moved up a few feet.

“Two patties, cheese, onion rings, pickles, lettuce and barbecue sauce--”

“Do they make a single patty version?”

He chuckled goofily and it put Eugenia at ease.

“Gosh, I've never asked. My default is a double burger anywhere I go!”

His eyes fell to her chest again.

Moving further, there was a lull, to which Eugenia filled with the advice she'd been given,

“Teena...” His eyes drifted back to her face as she spoke. “Teena said you run a movie theatre?”

“Yes..” He tossed his head clearing his braids from his face. He really was handsome in an understated way.

Straight brows, the warm, kind, sleepy eyes, a permanently pursed little mouth.

“...I own and run Jackson's Chinese Theatre, over on Highland Avenue. I'm kind of hands off, the place runs itself. I know all the people I employ and its mostly just movie buffs and historians that drop in to see the silent and early talking pictures. On...”

His hand was on her back, so tender through the cashmere of her cardigan, pushing her forward, the line advancing.

“On Sundays, I play the pipe organ--”

“Oh, you play organ?” Eugenia echoed the obvious and Taj nodded,

“I play organ, piano and flute. Do you play any instruments?”

“No.” Eugenia tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a silver stud. “I wish I could though. I'd...I'd like to hear you play sometime...”

She'd have listened to that man play the kazoo if she had to!

“That's kind of why...I wanted to talk to you, Eugenia...”

The sound of his voice when he spoke her name...she couldn't describe it.

It was as though Heaven had opened its arms and pulled her to its wondrous folds, rocking her in a loving embrace.

His eyes sank past her chest and to his own feet, in worn sneakers.

“The whole month of October, we're screening classic horror films. Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, all that sort of stuff. But um...next Sunday...we're screening Nosferatu. We're also showing the English and Spanish language versions of Dracula, but those are sound films.. Eugenia...”

Stiffened, inhaling and holding the breath, waiting patiently,

“...would...you...that is, would you like to come to see the movies, and hear me play?I'd have invited you for tomorrow, but Frankenstein is a talkie. I mean...I know you probably don't like silent pictures but...”

He trailed off at the small, soft hand on his wrist.

Gripping it gently.

She didn't know why she did it, impulse made her do what felt right.

“I'd be delighted to go, Taj...thank you.”

He wore bewilderment like his jacket, as if he couldn't fathom she'd agree to spend time with him.

“No...thank you...”

He was grinning.

She'd made him happy.

“The....the film starts at seven...do you want me to pick you up or--”

“What'll you have, Mister?”

Taj's bumbling was interrupted by the greasy faced teen manning the register.

“Oh! A Double and Single Rodeo Burger, fries and a Coke--”

He glanced at her for assurance and Eugenia smiled back, mouthing “Yes.”

“And two Cokes, please.”

“That'll be $15.67.”

A leather wallet was fished from Taj's back pocket and the gold card in his hand fell to the bright linoleum floor, when he heard Eugenia, barely audible above the din,

“Is there any way I can see you before next Sunday?”

There were question marks in his eyes.

“Yeah...I...I practice the organ every day...from eleven am to three pm., at the theatre. Except for Wednesdays. I have my film courses that day. You're welcome to sit in, keep me company...”

She did want to keep him company.

“I'd like that--”

“Sir, that's fifteen--” The punk at the register started and shooting up, card in hand, Taj snarled, startling Eugenia,

“Do NOT interrupt my lady when she's speaking to me!”

Did he really hurl the card at the cashier?

The card bounced off the boy's forehead as he tried to bumble an apology.

“I'm sorry, Sir...I didn't mean any harm...you were just holding up the line....”

Eugenia could only stare in awe at Taj's profile, with him scowling,

'My Lady'.

He'd called her 'My Lady'!

She didn't even mind how rude he'd been.

The card was swiped and returned to Taj with a receipt, Taj placing his hand on her back and scooting her to the side.

And Eugenia continued to stare feeling a bit prideful about the entire scene.

She was wanted...and it didn't phase him to proclaim that fact to strangers.

There was a long interval until he spoke again,

“Could...could we not sit with my brothers and your friends, Eugenia? I'd like to just talk to you, without distraction, if that's alright. I don't want an audience ogling me...us.”

His tone reverted back to utter softness and stunned he wanted to make time alone with Eugenia, she could only nod and was rewarded by his hand slipping down, grasping her hip and pulling her closer to him.

And she allowed herself to be pulled closer to him.

Did she ever want to part from him again?

It was a watershed moment; she'd long envied her friends and how their loves would hold on to them, showing belonging and ownership and now she had it herself.

Eugenia never wanted to relinquish it.

She refused to.

* * *

Lunch with Taj Jackson had been something of a dream to Eugenia, as the entire floor of the Food Court had faded in a delightful rosy haze and she could see him, and only him.

For over three hours, the pair sat, noshing on burgers, and getting to know one another.

As interested as Eugenia tried to appear with Taj, so was he with her, lighting onto the fact she was studying to become a teacher and had spoken at length about how he respected educators and all the stresses they put up with.

It was refreshing to Eugenia to find someone who truly showed an interest in her life and how she lived it.

Taj had graduated many years earlier with a Master's in Business—which helped a great deal with the running of his theatre—and like her friends had told her, had returned to take courses in Film History.

He had only intended it to be for one course to be better versed in the material he screened at the Chinese Theatre, but it was growing to be of a real hobby to him and he planned to apply to take more courses, as many as he could fit into his schedule.

He was so passionate about his work and studies; it was rare to find a man who glaned so much enjoyment fro his work.

They shared a broad, friendly conversation, and Eugenia found speaking with Taj easy and natural as if it were something she'd done all her life.

It was like she'd known Taj all her life.

Perhaps in another life...she had.

He possessed many qualities she discovered she admired; he was sweet and attentive, a bit on the nerdy side—he'd slipped into a monologue about Early Technicolor Processes that lasted over twenty minutes and yet, she wasn't bored with him.

There was something about his voice, the way he gazed at her through that sheet of braids, the way, as their plates were emptied, he reached and took her hand in his.

So soft and gently he'd held her hand, kneading the knuckles as his attention never once deviated from her.

Eugenia...she'd never felt this way.

Was....was she in love?

That quickly? That abruptly? That completely?

Yes!

Taj made Eugenia feel special, made the things she said seem important...made her important.

It was an enchanting, all-consuming sort of feeling.

One which she'd witnessed her friends bask in constantly and was now her turn.

She was a part of that exclusive little club.

Eugenia lost track of how much time she spent with Taj.

Once their plates were bare and the Cokes drank, he'd politely disposed ot their trays, pulled her chair for her...

That was the last time she saw her friends that evening, as Taj led her by the table near the lit arch, and four faces smiled at them knowingly.

For the following six hours, until the mall closed for the night at ten pm, Eugenia was with Taj.

Wandering every floor of the mall, talking about this, that and the other thing, getting to know one another on more complex levels.

Finding they had similar tastes in music, and liked various dishes, although Eugenia was fond of seafood and Taj was not.

The longer they were together, the more time they spent, the more comfortable Eugenia grew with Taj.

The more meshed they became.

By the time all was said and done, Eugenia and Taj were pretty much a minted item, Taj escorting Eugenia through the now sparsely occupied lot to her Beetle.

There the two had stood, exchanging numbers, Eugenia typing hers into Taj's Blackberry, Taj thumbing at her Razr.

They lingered awkwardly a few moments, before Taj had moved closer, embracing her.

She'd almost sank to the pavement when his lips, moist, warm and supple, pressed her forehead, and in a low whisper, he bid her good night.

Eugenia hadn't wanted the night to end, but wanting to give the proper impression and not act too “fast” she had resigned herself to allowing the driver's door to be opened and slipped behind the wheel of her vehicle.

Taj had shut the door, leaning down and in the glare of a lot light he'd beamed, asking her to call him when she made it home safely.

He...he was looking out for her.

He was already protecting her.

Eugenia wanted to swoon but managed to stammer something to the effect of an affirmation and was further warmed all over as he pinched her cheek in farewell, staying put and watching as she had backed away and driven off.

The last she saw of him, was Taj standing alone, under that light post, blowing a kiss after her.

She'd screamed with glee all the way home.

Eugenia Weatherford was in awe.

In awe and at a complete loss for words.

And had been for the last ten minutes, since she had maneuvered her Beetle into the parking lot fronting Jackson's Chinese Theatre.

While she had known that all three of the 'Teez' owned and ran vintage movie houses, Eugenia had never been to the ones run by Taryll or TJ, as they all screened classic films and her friends couldn't have cared less about a picture starring a matinee idol who'd moved on to that 'silver screen in the sky' decades before any of them had been born.

Eugenia wasn't exactly sure what she had expected as she'd driven through the streets of Santa Ynez, but the imposing limestone structure rising a good three stories on the horizon at the very end of Highland Avenue, far exceeded her anticipation.

Stretching out on either side of the front entrance, the building was a milky, whitish green cast, and it took a moment for Eugenia to realize the facade was made to mimic the coloring of jade, hailed in Chinese culture for supposedly bringing good luck and fortune.

The palish green was a perfect foil for the ostentatious entry.

Contrasting in a brilliant red and resplendent gold, the entry shot up an extra story on its own, styled after the fantastically curved pagodas of mainland China, two columns of massive crimson marble, flanked by a pair of carved, stone lions.

Slowly, on shaky legs, and the chunky heels of her color-blocked purple and orange platform sandals—she'd gotten nonstop texts since five am with her girlfriends insisting that she dress cute and sexy but not over do it—Eugenia exited her car, mouth agape, continuing to stare.

Her hands fell to the waist of the simple, plum silk midi-dress she wore, waist cinched by an orange obi belt, a fact which tickled her as she'd chosen a garment with a nod to Asian culture, unfortunately, the wrong culture.

She only hoped Taj wouldn't notice or be offended by her gaff.

Pausing to tuck her keys into a clutch, she glanced around the lot and found it vacant, except for one other car a few yards from her own; a midnight blue Pontiac GTO with a white racing stripe down the middle.

And even from so far away, could make out “TAJ” on the vanity plate.

The man was all class, that was for sure.

It was his car...and they were apparently the only ones there that late morning.

They were alone...they were going to be alone in that huge theatre.

An audible gulp escaped her glossed lips.

She'd never been alone with a man, not really.

Not like this.

Oh, it set her heart all atwitter with a mix of excitement and apprehension, as she made her way over to the gold-plated door, its embossed surface showing a pagoda with Chinese maidens in traditional garb by a river collecting water in urns.

It was all so beautiful, so extravagant.

Incredible to believe it was a threatre!

The entire place seemed more a relic to be displayed at the Smithsonian; something delicate and fragile to look at, but not for daily use by the general populous.

Passing through the doors, Eugenia found herself in a long, brightly lit corridor, frescoes of China over head, the silk-papered walls lined with portraits of bygone films stars: Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Norma Shearer, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Mickey Rooney, Laurel and Hardy, dozens of them, and it wasn't until she reached the second set of doors leading to the inner lobby that Eugenia saw it.

The portrait of Taj Jackson.

Over the doors, it was larger than life-size, Taj, in a red satin pantsuit embroidered with a fire breathing dragon along the right side of the top, he stood stoic and grim, staring through his braids boldly.

A huge, gilt, broad sword clutched in his hands.

Light glinting off the blade.

It was an arresting portrait and Eugenia liked it immediately.

Taj was so strange and she adored his strangeness.

He was really getting off on the theme of his theatre.

Coming out into the lobby, she was bombarded with more of that red and gold color scheme, and the scent of fresh, buttery popcorn.

To her right was a pagoda shaped ticket booth, vacant and to the left was a long, marble concession stand, the classiest and most opulent one she'd ever seen, a vintage brass popcorn maker slowly spitting out fluffy white kernels.

Beneath leaded glass, packages of candy sat waiting to be sold, and moving over the plush red carpet, Eugenia came to a quick halt.

In the center of the counter, an stuffed panda set, holding a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Hands to her bosom, Eugenia rushed towards it, overcome by emotion at Taj's thoughtfulness.

“Aren't you just darling?” She cooed picking up the toy and hugging it to her, looking over the box.

Eugenia had never seen a box so detailed.

It was at least two feet by two feet, covered with alternating rows of pin-tucked red and white lace, radiating outwards, a satin rosette in the center.

There were at least five pounds of candy there, just for the taking.

Oh, he was as sweet as the treats!

The lid came off revealing dozens of sumptuous candies, all decorated with little stripes ans bows of colored chocolate.

Some even bore edible gold glitter!

So distracted by the little gut busters, Eugenia had no idea she as being admired from afar.

Hidden by one of the massive bamboos reaching from a Ming Dynasty urn, Taj was peering.

Watching.

Marveling at how wonderfully the bright, saturated colors popped off her deep complexion, how the dress displayed her curves without vulgarity.

How her long hair swayed as she popped a small truffle into her mouth, declaring to the bear,

“Ooooh, coconut, my favorite!”

Didn't she know how gorgeous she was?

Didn't she know she'd been driving him to the brink of insanity since he'd first laid eyes on her at TJ's birthday party?

It had always perplexed him, how a girl so beautiful, so witty, so sweet had remained single.

Why hadn't some other man snatched her up, claimed her as his own?

For a while Taj wondered if it had been in her attitude?

He'd been around his brothers' girls long enough to know which traits he disliked.

Bunny seemed a little airhead wannabe emo and Teena was too coarse and provocative for his tastes.

Eugenia was neither, he'd learned that the day in the Food Court.

She had a soft quiet way about her, spoke mildly, and had a mind as sharp as his, if not sharper.

She was all he wanted...and needed.

Helping herself to a second chocolate, Eugenia hummed smugly.

These were the best tasting chocolates she'd ever eaten; and it was clear Taj was a man of good taste.

It was evident everywhere. His extravagant theatre, his fine classic car.

He was understated, but sophisticated.

So unlike his brothers.

TJ joked and horsed around to the point of annoyance and Taryll...he was too quiet, only really opening up if Teena got too loud.

A third candy went up, bitten in half.

It had nougat and pecans, not coconut.

Eugenia paused, mid-chew, a familiar, spicy aroma invading her nostrils.

She turned slightly, her heart ramming her sternum, startled.

There he was...looming alongside her.

Staring.

Eugenia blinked, transfixed.

She'd...she'd never seen all of Taj's face before.

But there he was, with the sheet of braids that usually fell into his eyes, pulled back.

He was even more handsome, those straight brows, his eyes directly on her.

Cheeks mildly oily, lips curling ever so slightly.

He was under dressed, in a black jacket over what appeared to be an Oakland Raiders tee and loose trousers repeating the Raiders emblem—were they pajama bottoms?

Quietly, he plucked the remnants of the candy from her hand and tossed it in his mouth.

Smacking and looking.

Eugenia tried to speak,

“T-t-thank you for the bear and choco--”

She staggered suddenly, warm hands gripping her biceps, that peachy, exquisite little mouth mashing hers.

He...he was kissing her!

His lips so smooth, so succulent, massaging hers in a way she'd never experienced.

Didn't he say he played flute?

He had a mouth like it!

Weakly she clutched at the glass display, feeling his teeth on her bottom lip.

Finally...finally he pulled back, that little smile on his lips.

Taking in the bewildered look on her face.

Her mouth agape, she was clearly stunned and he politely shut her mouth for her.

Gathering the bear and heart-shaped box, he started for the gilt door between the bamboos.

Reaching them, he turned back, finding her still at the counter.

“Eugenia.”

Hearing her name, she blinked, coming back to life.

Eyes like saucers at him.

“Why--”

“I'm your boyfriend....” He stated matter-of-factly, free hand on the Buddha figure serving as the knob, opening the door for her.

“Plus, I was going to have an anxiety attack from Hell if I didn't kiss you...Honey. I had to...”

Her boyfriend, he'd claimed her!

Feeling herself flushing, Eugenia crossed the red carpet towards him and as she passed, she impulsively pecked his glistening cheek.

He chuckled loudly, teeth showing.

Oranges and roses.

The entire main auditorium of Jackson's Chinese Theatre fairly reeked of the warm, spicy, intermingled floral and citrus fragrance, far overpowering the scent of popcorn and gooey butter that had permeated the lobby.

Though Eugenia considered herself something of a connoisseur when it came to movie theatres, she went to them regularly, she was wholly unprepared for what had lain in wait for her behind that gold-plated door.

The theatre, according to Taj, had been made to seat about nine hundred people, and row upon row of plush red seats filled the space, going up for two balconies in the very back.

All of the walls were a deep, bloody red, printed in gold with more images of dragons, and pagodas and if one squinted hard enough, little naked ladies frolicking.

In between the panels were oversized laughing Buddhas ,shimmering under the recessed sconces on the walls, over the effigies, competing with the tremendous chandelier suspended from the very center of the carved and relieved ceiling, a stained glass version of the more traditional paper lanterns seen at festivals.

Eugenia was in awe her neck craning as she gauged and gaped up at the many dragons and unclothed maidens, from where she sat perched on the little tufted bench before the pipe organ Taj played to accompany silent films.

Frankly, she had been a bit afraid to sit on the lacquered, painted bench, with more colorful dragons at the legs holding up a quilted velvet seat.

It was likely as old as the theatre itself and she worried about breaking what was probably a priceless relic of the Silent Era.

The organ...Eugenia had seen the organ played at Mass every Sunday and it paled in comparison to this behemoth taking up a great portion of the wall, trimmed in red velvet like the seat,hundred of pipes of polished brass sparkling before a double keyboard of fine ivory.

It was an antique, that was for sure, and probably had been there since her own grandparents had been born.

Off to the side, between the huge stage where a thick red curtain stood concealing the silver screen was a small, white plastic table, on top of which a portable DVD player had been situated.

Taj must have just started the film when she had arrived as the small screen showed only the title card: “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror”.

While Eugenia had never actually viewed the film herself, she'd read up plenty about it and should the topic arise, felt she could hold an intelligent conversation with her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend...what a wonderful, magnificent word.

“Here we go...a large Diet Cherry Coke for you, and a large Vault for me...”

Spinning on the seat, Eugenia saw Taj slowly sauntering towards her toting two paper cups in his hands, red, of course, with “Jackson's Chinese Theatre” printed in fancy script over a fire breathing dragon.

Even the way he walked was so casual, so deliberate...

A man at ease in his life.

Reaching her and handing over the drink he added,

“I didn't want to feed you theatre food, like hot dogs and stuff. You deserve better than that, so when I finish practicing, I'll take you out to an early dinner. Any place you like.”

“Thank you...I'd like that.” Eugenia whispered staring down into her cup, noticing there were real maraschino cherries floating in it.

Shrugging out of his jacket, Taj cast it over the seat where he'd placed the panda and box of chocolates.

It was then, as he took his place on the bench beside her, that she noticed his watch.

On a wide band of black leather were three faces set in silver, a larger one for the hour and two smaller for the minutes and seconds.

“I... I like your watch.” She was barely audible as he cracked his knuckles, readying to play.

“Thanks. I picked this up last year in El Segundo. There's a big Steampunk convention. You'd like it. People dress up and cosplay, everyone looks like they fell right out of a Jules Verne novel. I'll take you next year.”

He said it so mildly so easily that Eugenia was taken aback.

That quickly they'd made a date for an event. Just like that.

She'd seen arrangements be made that swiftly between her friends and Taj's brothers, but never expected to be sharing an exchange like that.

She really was swimming in new, uncharted waters.

Several knobs were tampered with on the console, Taj leaning and pressing play on the DVD player, the film beginning.

Instantly his hands were at work, tapping out a slow, somber, melancholy tune.

And much to Eugenia's surprise, it was a very low music, she had expected it to be much louder.

Lord only knew the organ in Mass was deafening.

As if reading her mind, Taj alerted her,

“I decreased the volume on 'Big Bertha' so we could hear each other speak.”

Moving her straw as a cherry was blocking the brown caffeine liquid from getting into her mouth, Eugenia asked.

“Do...do you really do this all week every week? Just sit and watch films and play the organ?”

“Yes...” His fingers never stopped moving. “I have to watch the films to know what piece to play where. Like I said we get a lot of movie buffs and historians in here and from time to time, some of the elderly folks that saw the initial screenings. I like to make them feel like they've gone back in time. It's hard enough to find a theatre willing to show an old silent, much less one with a organ to play the score for the film. But I do it.”

“Why Taj? It seems so much easier at the more modern--”

“Just because something is a bit more advanced doesn't mean it should completely wipe out its predecessor.”

Below his feet moved on the pedals, never missing a beat.

“I mean yeah, you got your 3D and Imax and all that stuff, sound pictures, CGI all that, but I have an appreciation for what paved the way to it. It interests me, always has.”

The braided head turned and he glanced at the beautiful young woman, ardently listening and hanging onto his every word as though she'd never heard the English language until he'd opened his mouth.

“I'm a big movie watcher Eugenia, you have to be in this business and so I've been to a lot of theatres, but I remember being a little boy and going to places like this with my grandfather and he'd sit and talk about all the movie stars he came up with...it just stuck with me. And when he and my father and uncles started restoring these places I jumped in. Here I am, running it, and it does good business. I mean its paying for my night classes and my apartment and car and everything I have. There's a lot of people who like the old films, like the old ways and I cater to them.”

More music spilled from the organ and he added with a wry chuckle,

“I think that's why I was drawn to you when I saw you at my brother's party: You...you looked like one of the old film stars. Not like an exact duplicate of anyone, but the way you walked in and carried yourself...regal, elegant, stylish. A real lady.”

Deftly beginning to play with only one hand, he draped his free arm around her shoulders,drawing her closer to him.

Enveloping her in that peppery scent of his cologne.

“I wanted to go up to you, and talk to you so badly at the party...” Taj admitted, eyes on the screen where a tall, skinny, bald, malformed creature stalked an attractive woman.

“...I was too shy. I could only stand and stare and hope I didn't look creepy doing it.”

“No...no, you weren't creepy.” Eugenia assured him, his hand kneading her shoulder. “I only wish I had noticed. But there was so much going on around me--”

“You were all alone. I saw...I watched...” Taj confided. “I couldn't take my eyes off you. It hurt me, how you were by yourself. No one asked you to dance or talked to you. I asked TJ about you, he knew you through Bunny...said you were sweet and kind, had nothing but good things to say.”

Eugenia felt herself glowing.

“Like...Taryll kind of knew you, but I knew TJ probably saw you more 'cause I know he's always tearing up to the UCH campus to walk Bunny to her classes...”

Eugenia, straw to her mouth but no longer drinking was staring up at him.

The way his cheek jiggled as he spoke, the curve of his nose, his ears, how they stuck out just so, the little dimple in his chin.

Even the way his Adam's Apple quivered intrigued her.

“I know I've annoyed the hell out of my brothers the last few months, but I didn't want to make a fool of myself, if I came trying to talk to you...and you were already seeing someone else.”

“But...I...I wasn't. I'm not...” Eugenia started and that little cross between a grin and grimace came to his face.

“I know...I just found it hard to believe...but...Eugenia...”

The music stopped and he turned to her slightly,

“You do like me...right? Like, you want to be with me--”

“Of course, Taj. That's why I'm here. That's why I spent the whole day with you at the mall...” Without a thought her hand was on his chest and it shocked her to feel his heartbeat so rapid.

Was, was she making him nervous?

Excited?

“What...what is it you like about me?”

His heart skipped a beat as he had made the inquiry.

Kissing at his jawline, she delighted in him squeezing her, replying dreamily,

“You're easy to talk to...I love your voice. You're...you're very intelligent Taj. We were talking about anything and everything the other day. I like the fact you're so dedicated to your work. It's wonderful being around you too...you're....you're gorgeous.”

His eyes were dark golden slits at her.

“And you're not with me just because your friends are with my brothers—to 'complete the set' so to speak?”

Now it was Eugenia's turn to have her heart skip.

Going stiff, she pulled back, gasping,

“No! No, Taj...I like you, really. I'm attracted to you. You, not because we're both parts of a trio! I--”

His left hand was playing the organ again, heavy, gloomy music filling the space around them.

“It's not often I find a woman I want...” He interrupted her, continuing to play one handed, his other grasping her wrist, preventing her from rising.

“...and I tend to get 'serious' when I do find her...you.”

His eyes were drifting over her, as they had in the food court.

“I'm thirty-two. I don't want to waste my time on a meaningless fling. I'm looking for the real thing... something to last...”

Once again, he had been ogling her bosom, rising and falling with short intakes of breath, when his eyes darted back up to the warm dark ones filled with curiosity.

Why did the corners of his eyes tilt so?

Why did he look so...sleepy all of a sudden?

“Do you want to be 'serious' with me?”

There was that feeling of stupidity gnawing at her.

“I...I don't know what you mean by that, Taj...” She was hesitant and for the first time, he hit a discordant note that echoed through out the hall.

If he was bothered by the statement, he didn't let on.

“I think you do...you're not ignorant Eugenia. Far from it. ”

His chest puffed as he took a deep breath, a lull coming to the playing.

Taking his hand off the keys, both were clasped in his lap as he turned further towards her.

His eyes danced over her figure in a way like he could see through her garments.

She hastened to look away, understanding his meaning and wasn't quite comfortable with it all happening at breakneck speed.

“Have you ever...”

It took a moment to connect in her shaken mind as to what he was hinting and for the first time in her life Eugenia divulged a secret even her own truest friends didn't know.

“Yes...ahem...once...in San Francisco...”

He was up, by the DVD player where he'd set his cup, having a drink.

“...it was at a symposium on ...the work of Sylvia Plath...with a boy in my Literary Club...”

Her hands were fiddling in her lap.

His voice sliced through the air.

“Was he good to you?”

Flushing harder than ever, Eugenia dropped her head, staring at her cup and cherries floating in it.

“He...he was okay. We were only seventeen...”

“That was just two years ago...”

Taj was standing over her.

“Was he the only one?”

“Y-yes...” Eugenia admitted hesitantly glancing at him

“That wasn't a man you were with...it was a boy...”

His labored breaths moving the hair on top of her head.

“I'm a man...your man...Look at me.”

Obliging the head came up and Eugenia saw fierce hardened eyes on her own.

Searching her bewildered face.

Taj hissing,

“I'll be better than okay...”

A small red fruit was plucked from the cup.

Looking up she watched him pop it in his mouth, chewing on it.

Another appeared on his fingertips and was offered, held just below her lips.

Eyes on him, timidly, Eugenia allowed him to feed her the cherry.

“You have the sweetest mouth...”

The cup was taken from her, placed beside his own near the DVD player, Nosferatu still in progress.

Hands in the pockets of his baggy Raiders pants, he sauntered a few feet away.

Near the center of the stage, staring at the glowing footlights.

“I'm....thirteen years older than you, Eugenia Do you think you can handle that?” He questioned and she spun on the seat to face hum.

“Yes...Taj--”

“I've wanted you so badly...its been driving me nuts...come here....please...”

Tentatively she stood and crossed the carpet to him.

“I want to be near you, Eugenia and I've made a decision.”

His head turned to her, eyes wild in an otherwise sedate face.

“I take my film course at UCLA...I want to transfer to UCH...because you go there. And I can see you.”

He informed her, hands coming out his pockets and clasping behind him.

“I want to walk you to your classes, have lunch with you...”

He moved suddenly, grasping on to her arm, pulling her into him.

“I'm...I'm in love with you.”

The words, barely escaped his lips before they were mashing on Eugenia's.

Her initial reaction was to flee, yank away, but she couldn't.

Taj was too strong, and peeking, she could see the muscles bulging off thin, toned arms, holding her in place.

His mouth bright and tasting of bitter citrus from his Vault energy drink.

“Taj!” She jerked back, his tongue having slipped past her lips.

He beamed at her.

“You know you like it!” He sneered and was at her mouth all over again.

Pressing her against him, arms wrapping her tightly.

Abruptly, his head was on her shoulder, huffing into her ear.

“I can't let go! I can't let go! I can't let go!”

Eugenia held him in her arms, feeling him heaving....and something else.

Further down, his hips were beginning to flex.

He was bumping his nether regions against her!

“Taj--” He sprang from her, jogging towards the gilt shut doors, and she could only watch.

Watch as he rose u on tiptoe.

Sliding the latch that locked the doors.

Sealing them in the theatre.

His hands were in his hair, removing the rubber band, setting his braids free.

Eugenia stumbled and bumped the stage behind her, Taj facing her.

From that far away, she could see his eyes!

His eyes shining with hunger.

And not for one of those leathery tubes of mystery meat on the rotisserie either!

He was a bronzed flash, sprinting directly at her.

“TAJ!”

The recessed lights on the wall of the theatre had been extinguished, the only glow coming from those running the rim of the stage.

Scattered about the carpet, encased in shadow, laid discarded garments.

A pair of beat up Nikes, a tee and trousers with the Oakland Raiders logo, black bikini briefs.

A purple dress, orange belt, color-blocked sandals...a violet satin strapless bra and matching panties.

Taj Jackson stood alongside the stage, and save for a pair of socks with Charlie Chaplin's Tramp character stamped on them, he was otherwise wholly nude.

His eyes fixated on the lithe, unclothed creature sitting on stage;s edge, meeting his gaze sheepishly.

So wide-eyed and innocent.

So very beautiful, dark skin shimmering against the lights, smooth, supple.

Her bosom proud and large, just as he liked...the first thing he'd noticed about her but would never admit.

The nipped in waist, the flaring hips, the way that little bared triangle was nestled and framed by her thighs.

Those creamy, satiny thighs!

Oh, how he could have taken a bite out of them!

As he regarded, so did she.

Taking in the lush, comely pale gold complexion, marred only by little darker nipples and the indentation of his belly button in the center of a lightly toned abdomen.

Her eyes drifted further down, Taj taking note of this but remaining silent, as she stared off at his nether regions.

Surrounded by a tuft of wild black tendrils, his manhood was quite large and girthy—larger than the 'boy' she'd first been with, standing straight skywards.

Quite imposing and a trifle frightening.

How did he possibly walk around with all that, without tripping over it

Taj was a man; all man.

Her man.

“Can't believe you're all mine...” Taj stated, voice falling into its lowest registers, drawing his words out as he began to pace towards her. “...and I can do everything I've dreamed with you.”

Large hands rubbing together in front of him, he eyed the unrestained breasts, swaying as Eugenia breathed tersely .

He was peering at her through his plaits devilishly.

“Are...you willing to make my dreams come true?”

The glossy bottom lip sucked in, Eugenia unable to communicate all of the emotions raging through her body. How could she?

She'd never felt this way, so completely attracted to, so engrossed and swept up by one person before.

She was at his disposal, yearning for his loving, slave to her feelings and no longer the thoughts.

Their eyes met, sparks flying and she felt herself give tiniest of affirmative nods in his direction.

That was all the coaxing Taj needed.

In a flash he was there, as she was raised on the stage, his face was level with her chest and simultaneously, he attacked her.

His mouth finding it's place over one of her tender areolas, sucking on it sloppily and loudly, fingers invading the tight little slit, going in knuckle deep.

It all happened so quickly, Eugenia was at a loss for words, and could only wrap her arms around his head, hugging him him tighter to her, gasping into those intricately woven braids springing from his crown.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Taj! Oh God! Oh my God!” She groaned, his head moving back and forth, that juicy mouth alternating between her nipples, no discrimination betwixt the two little hardened sprigs of flesh, his finger slipping back and forth.

Deeper into the pink tightness, flexing and fawning around his digits.

“Taj!”

“Haha!” He laughed into her bosom, the stroke of his finger quickening,

“I love how my name sounds when you say it, Sugar!”

“Ah! Oh! Oh Taj, stop! Stop!” Eugenia begged, his mouth finding its place in the crook of her neck, sucking greedily on it.

“I can't!” He retorted, tongue tracing her chin lasciviously. “I've started; I can't stop. I need you!”

Eugenia found herself sprawled on her back, pressing the cool wood of the stage, staring up at the spot lights overhead.

Taj's warm hands on her inner thighs, holding them apart.

A chill ran her spine, brought on by a cool tickling across her exposed private area.

Staring down her body, the nervously bouncing bosom, the knotted stomach she saw it was Taj, his lips puckered steadily blowing...into her.

“Don't...” She pleaded Taj leaning closer, the fingers on one hand holding the soft, pink folds of flesh back, exposing the little protruding bud of her clitoris. “....please!”

The fingertips on his other coming to his mouth, dampened with a flick of that sliver of tongue.

“AH!”

Her whole body tensed, his finger tips coming in contact with her little engorged bud firstly slapping at it to make it stand at attention and reach its peak sensitivity, and then...

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Oh God! Oh! Damn! Stop! Taj! Stop! Quit! Damn! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!”

She shrieked at the lights, entire form shivering to the cored as the fingertips were placed flush on her clit and he was rubbing at it for all he was worth.

“Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh!” She whimpered, a hand to her face, two fingers spreading the little bud wider and the index on his other poking at it.

Teasing her.

Sending shock waves through her.

“You like that? You like it, Baby?” He taunted, blowing on her again. “Tell me you like it.”

“I...I....I....” She stammered through grit teeth. “I....I....oh shit!”

“Tell me!”

“I like it!” She managed, hoarsely. “I like it!”

“Yes, Baby....you love what I do to you! I love doing it to you...and I'm not even done!” He cackled.

Then he was gone.

“Taj?”

Shaken, stirred and startled, Eugenia pushed herself back up into a seated position, raking a hand through her hair in confusion.

Her eyes scanned the empty theatre, and indeed, it seemed she was the only soul to be found within its elegant confines.

“Taj?” She repeated, a tingle of worry gnawing at her as she rose on unstable legs.

Where was he?

Had this all been some kind of lewd, terrible game?

Had he just been playing with her—her body, her emotions?

He couldn't have gone far, and even if he had, he was still naked as a newborn baby; his clothes strewn about the floor as were hers.

“Taj--”

Guuuuurn! Guuuuuurn! Guuuuuuurn!

She was cut off by a strange noise and it was a while before it registered to her just what it was.

Above her head, the rich red velvet curtains were beginning to part.

Taj hadn't left her; he was opening the curtains!

But...why?

It didn't take long.

Positioned in front of the dim silver screen, was an ornate, oversized chaise lounge.

More bloody red velvet, its quilted and gilt asymmetrical back curling and swirling lavishly.

Out of the wings, stage left, Taj appeared, one hand on his hip the other flapping in front of him as he toyed with himself.

Eyes boring holes in the alluring nude figure a few feet away.

Lips puckered as he continued to play, Taj crept across the stage silently to the lounge where he first sat, then rested on his haunches.

And began waving her over.

“You're the only show I want to see.” He hissed darkly.

After a false start, Eugenia walked towards him, keenly aware of his eyes on her chest.

There she hovered, observing his lustrous form, eyes trained on her.

A long interval of silence ensued, during which Eugenia felt her nerves waning and waxing.

Waiting his next move.

She knew his next move....she knew what he wanted.

And she wanted to provide it for him.

Slowly she stretched out on the lounge, sinking int the soft cushions.

A warm hand on her abdomen, turning the butterflies into angry hornets.

“Eugenia....” He hunched over her, smothering her heated face in pecks. “Have... you... ever … swallowed ...before?”

“Mmm-mmm” She shook her head, aghast and saw white teeth gleaming at her,

“You going to!”

Again, he was pushing her thighs apart.

Exposing the hidden pinkness.

She had started to turn her head from him when she found his hand on her chin.

Pulling her back so that he could see her face.

He wanted to see her...see how she reacted.

“Look at me.” He ordered releasing her ducking his head.

A crystal droplet of spit falling onto that stiff reddened shaft, rubbed in to lubricate it.

Eugenia was barely breathing, holding it all, eyes huge and on Taj, as he shifted slightly.

“Ugh! Awwwwwwww!” She whimpered, the bulbous tip mashing forward into her, forcing her to stretch and gape to accommodate such a large introduction.

“I know....I know...” Taj grunted through grit teeth, his hands resting on her breasts. “You can take it all. You can take it...it's all for you...”

Once settled, his hips began to flex.

Gradually picking up speed.

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” He declared excitedly, maniacally, kneading the firm fleshy mounds.

Taking in the rosiness coming to her cheeks, the little strained exhalations coming from shining lips.

The tropical smell of her, the warmth, the touch, it was all driving him mad.

Beneath him, Eugenia was starting to lose it herself.

Much too quickly.

She had been party to an innumerable amount of conversations with Bunny and Teena, with both detailing how they could, by some kind of magic which Eugenia lacked, could hold onto and suppress their own climaxes for long period of time, thusly extending how long they were intimate with their own boyfriends.

With Taj, it was damn near impossible.

How could she?

When he was so sexy, so stunning, his touch, his very aura taking her to the brink....and beyond.

She forced her eyes to open, oh this euphoria was otherworldly, seeking out Taj.

Her lover.

He was clinging to her breasts for dear life, stride never breaking his head thrown back. Mouth wide open as he stared off through time and space.

Her nails grazed his belly as she tried to garner his attention.

“Stop....stop....Taj....stop....you have to stop!” She warned weakly, a surge starting to rise in her.

“Taj...please! Taj! Taj—I'm....I'm gonna come!”

“I know.” He stated matter-of-factly to the rafters.

“That's what I want you to do.”

“TAJ!” She cried as he collapsed forward onto her, pinning her arms up and above her head, mouth on hers smothering away the cries of passion, hips moving faster, harder, grinding into her.

His breaths were hot and moist as he huffed in and out of her mouth.

Her moans of protest going down his throat.

She struggled against him, her body, and her entire spirit starting to give in to the act being performed.

Violently she pulled trying to loosen her wrists from his arms to push him away.

Get him off of her.

It was futile as he was stronger than she, and the way he had draped her legs outside his own prevented her from closing them in an effort to stop the sensation.

“TAJ! AH! TAJ! TAJ! AH! AH! AH! AH! SHIT! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! ”

She shrieked, body arching against him, a hot rush of liquid spurting from her, soaking his groin as it refused to stop driving that mass of meat into her.

Briefly, she saw him look down between them gauging the damage, all of his teeth showing in a smug grin.

“Goddamn, you got me all wet! Hahaha!” He cackled with a snort, kissing at her bottom lip. “You know what I like, Baby Girl! Wooo! You are amazing! I love you!”

Eugenia must have passed out.

She had to have.

Because the next thing she knew Taj was off her, on his knees at her side, his back pressed the back of the chair.

Gently rubbing the his damp, swollen tip against lips.

“Shit! Shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Come on! Come on! Ah! Ugh! Ugh!” He was mumbling under his breath.

Urging orgasm.

He was turning red...all over.

A solid, rosy red.

Droplets of perspiration rolling down his face as his brow crumpled, nostrils flaring.

Remembering his command earlier that he had wanted to her....ahem...swallow him, Eugenia stole a stance she'd seen Teena use when remarking about doing the same to Taryll.

Her mouth opened, tongue out, in anticipation of the blast.

“OH!” Taj commenced shaking wildly, face balling and contorting.

“Here it comes! Aw! Aw! AWWWWWW! Aw! Damn it! AW! Hmmmmmmmmm!”

With a final moan, streams of white shot from the dimpled tip, seven in all, flying down her throat, a surprising her.

Her gut reaction was to spit, but she found his hand clamped over her mouth.

Forcing her to indeed ingest the creamy saltiness.

She did manage it and was rewarded with a smile of gratitude on the sweaty, swarthy, shining face.

Taj wrapping his arms around her, hugging her close.

“I love you.” He repeated breathless, rubbing his cheek against her, hands tangled in her hair.

Doing the same to him, Eugenia chuckled, pinching his cheek playfully,

“I love you, too.”

* * *

Two Days Later

Eugenia sat near the bottom of the stoop outside the rollicking, ivy covered brick building that served as the hall holding all of the Elementary Education classes.

Backpack slung over one shoulder, she glanced at the crystal watch on her wrist.

Waiting.

“Hey Eugenia!” Friendly voices called, and she stood, Teena and Bunny jogging up to her.

“Hi--”

“Do you have a pencil I can borrow?” Bunny interrupted, “I forgot Professor Dunsmore was giving his lecture today and all Teena's got is ink pens.”

“Sure.” The zebra print back was opened, Eugenia digging through it.

“Well pardon me Chica. I prefer to use ink.” Teena rolled those green eyes and Bunny scoffed.

“Anyways, how's things going with Taj? Have you heard from him since you went to listen to him practice that pipe organ?” Bunny wondered with Teena cackling,

“Or did you let him lay that other 'pipe'?”

Eugenia went to respond sharply when a new voice answered crisply,

“Wouldn't you like to know?”

Eugenia felt warm strong hands on her shoulders and witnessed the seer in headlights look on her friends faces as Taj stood behind her, taking her backpack from her.

“Doesn't your class start at twelve-thirty?” He questioned, pulling her back slightly to smooch her mouth.

“Yes...it does...” Eugenia tittered, taking the arm offered her, Taj adding,

“Good, that gives me enough time to walk you to class, then get across campus to my Early Film Studies; it doesn't start until one.”

“Early Film Studies?” Bunny, shared a confused glance with Teena then, squinted at him as he started to pull Eugenia up towards the open doors of the hall. “You're going to UCH now, Taj?”

“You bet I am.” Taj smiled, tossing his braids out his face. “I have to go to the same school as my girlfriend.”

He started through the door with her and was tugged back a few paces as Eugenia, unable to help herself, turned back to her friends with a wry giggle,

“In case you're wondering; we did 'complete the set.'”

Laughing the pair proceeded down the hall, Taj wrapping his arm around her waist and nuzzling his love closer to him.

Eugenia happier than she could ever recall being in her scant lifetime.

And it was the most wondrous feeling.