"Girl all I want to know is was it good?" I could not help the snicker that escaped from my mouth. Of course that was what Cindy cared about, not the mental breakdown I was still experiencing after sleeping with Huey.

"If it will shut you up, yes it was good. It was very very good." I could feel my stomach tighten just from thinking about how good Huey was.

"That just proves that once you go black you never go back."

"Cindy I don't know that for sure!" I could feel my face heating up in embarrassment. Cindy was determined to prove that black men were the best in bed, not like she had ever had sex with anyone other than Riley to prove it; the same was the case with me as well, no one but Huey.

"Then why don't we do our own version of Myth Busters and prove it!" Pregnancy was definitely enhancing her crazier side. Four more months and hopefully she'd be back to her regular crazy.

"Cindy, I am not sleeping with Dane to prove your crack-pot theory."

"Why? Are you scared? Are you feeling chicken?"

"Honestly? Yes I am a little scared."

"Girl why? It's the same mechanism just a different color."

"Cindy what if the rumors are true? I mean I enjoy Huey's size, what if Dane is…smaller?"

"I could give you that b.s. about the motion, but honestly we all know that's a load of bull…crap." I giggled at Cindy's almost slip up. Riley had suggested that she try to clean up her language before the baby got here; Cindy had suggested that he "get the hell out of her business before he never saw the baby". Needless to say Riley didn't bug her about it again, and Cindy was making an effort to clean up her language. Adorable how they heeded each other's advice and worked together like a real married couple.

"Jazmine, you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Good so you're going to get it on with Dane after you're date tonight right?" Here we go again. Ever since I told her about my little slip up with Huey her solution to the problem was sleeping with Dane. She believed that the only reason Huey had affected me was because I had not slept with anyone in a long time, unlike him. I had to admit that it wasn't a bad diagnosis of my problem. The problem being that I was now dreaming of Huey, in more intimate ways then I would have liked.

"Cindy I am not sleeping with him."

"Why are you being so stingy with the goodies?!" In all honesty, I didn't know. I know the whole sex before marriage thing is just an ideal now that I've been married, but I want to see where this thing with Dane would go before I just hopped in the sheets with him.

"You want to know what I think?"

"You're going to tell me anyway."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that bit—trick, damn this is hard! I think you're still holding out for Huey. I think you're still hoping that he will romance you like they do in those romantic comedies you love so much. I think deep down that you still want to be with Huey, and when you guys get back together you want to still be the pure wife that was so devoted to him."

I sighed, "You're probably right. Hey, I have to go; we'll talk about this later when I pick you up to go shopping."

"I'm glad you realize that this is not over!" I hung up the phone still laughing at my best friend. A knock on my door caused me to look up at Erin who was waiting for me to signal her in. I smiled and nodded at her.

"May I speak frankly with you Mrs. Freeman?"

"Of course, Erin, go ahead."

"She's right." I practically burned my mouth on my teacup. I gave her an incredulous look. "Okay, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but honestly Mrs. Freeman your love life is more fascinating than mine at the moment."

"I'm going to ignore the breach of privacy, but go ahead and tell me your opinion as well."

"I think you should screw him." She said it so enthusiastically I had to laugh. "What?! I'm serious Mrs. Freeman. You're here pining for your soon to be ex-husband who for all we know could be enjoying his mistress as we speak, when there is a fine specimen of male ready to go all caveman on you as soon as you say the word."

"Caveman?"

"I saw the way he looked at you when he first asked for you, he wants to rip your clothes off and make a real woman out of you!"

"Erin, whatever you and Cindy are drinking should come with a warning label." I laughed at the similarities; I guess crazy is just the type of girlfriend I attract.

"We're sipping on something called the truth. It's time to stop being meek, subordinate, good little house mouse Jazmine, and start being sexy, fem-fatale, no holds barred Jazmine. By the way, here are a few of the portfolios from this year's applicants for the DuBois-Freeman art scholarship."

"Thank you Erin, I'll be sure to take your advice into consideration."

"You and I both know you're not going to take my advice. And I'd bet my yearly salary Huey knows you won't either." She was hitting below the belt, but she was right. If everyone else knew I would play it safe, then Huey was sitting back waiting for me to call him or show up on his doorstep.

"Look at you crossing over to the dark side. Remind me to tell you to raise Erin's salary. You don't realize how good of an assistant you have Jaz." I was getting tired of admitting that Cindy was right. After shopping around for baby clothes, in blue and pink since neither Riley nor Cindy wanted to know the sex of the baby until they were born, we went into Victoria Secret to find something for my date tonight with Dane. Cindy wanted me to go skanky while I wanted to be classy. We finally settled on a midpoint; I would choose the lingerie while she would choose the color. An easy sacrifice since I got to pick something that would at least cover my nipples and she got to pick a color that didn't make me look like a teenager trying too hard to be sexy.

I looked at myself in the mirror and loved what I saw. The lacy, full coverage bra and pantie set was a sure knock out and Cindy had selected a deep plum color to bring out my emerald eyes.

"Black and red have been done too many times, and while the classics are sexy, they are also safe. The only thing safe tonight is going to be a condom, and even then we're going to have a little fun with that." I rolled my eyes. The condoms were a problem. I didn't want to tell him to bring one because that would spoil the surprise, but I also didn't want to get the wrong size.

"You could always let the pill do its job."

"Cindy no that is way too risky!"

"I was kidding good Lord! Just relax; he'll have a condom with him."

"How do you know that? It's not like men just carry condoms around with them." I looked at her skeptically.

"If they want to get some and not get stuck with a baby they do. What's worse, their girl getting offended, or not having one and being stuck together for the rest of their lives if they aren't compatible?" She had a point.

"Fine, I'll just hope and pray that he has one."

I was a little anxious on the ride back, and Dane could sense it. He kept asking if I was alright and how I had enjoyed our evening. I tried to play it cool, as if I wasn't nervous about if I would come on too strong or if he would reject me. With Huey it was so natural; we'd been dating for a year and had both talked about taking our relationship further. Granddad had also helped by expressing his concerns of having great grandkids that were anything like Riley, which gave us a readily supply of condoms at all times. We walked up the steps in silence. Do or die time.

"I had a great time tonight. It never ceases to amaze me how you find the most amazing restaurants."

"I'll admit that I'm pulling out all the stops to impress you." His hand nervously swept through his hair.

"I am thoroughly impressed." I gave him a smile and turned to unlock my door.

"I guess I should bid you good night."

"You don't have to go Dane." I let the words float out of my mouth in a carefree but inviting tone. I threw down the gauntlet, now it was his turn to pick it up.

"Are you asking me to stay?" His eyes shined with child-like hope; the same hope X had had in his eyes when he thought I was going on a date with Huey.

"I'm asking you to stay."

"Well it would be rude of me to turn such a beautiful woman down."

"What a charmer." Opening the door and stepping aside for him to enter, I pulled out a bottle of wine and poured us a glass. "Make yourself at home, I'll be right back." I set my glass on the counter and walked back to my room. This was the now or never time, it took me a few minutes to work up the courage to do what I wanted to do. I should have brought that damn glass of wine with me for liquid courage.

I walked back into the living room and almost lost my composure when Dane's eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. I had walked back into the room in the sexy deep plum lingerie and my black heels. Grabbing my glass, I sat down on the bar stool and took a sip, moaning as the silky beverage cascaded down my throat. From the corner of my eye I watched his throat constrict and his pants get a little tighter. I continued to savor my wine, over exaggerating the pleasure I found in the cool beverage on a summer night. I opened my legs slightly then crossed them, giving him a peep of the lacy design, but not enough to fulfill a fantasy. I opened my eyes and noticed that his tie was looser. Good, I was getting to him.

"Good God almighty." He whispered. His eyes trailed over me with intensity and passion. His hands pulled the fabric away from himself, trying to relieve the pressure.

"Dane." My husky voice broke through his concentration. I could tell he was warring within himself. He nodded to me, showing that he was listening but his eyes had a mind of their own. I leaned back onto the counter and gave him a better view of my breasts. His eyes followed, darkening to that alluring sapphire.

"Dane." I said his name again. His eyes snapped up to meet mine, and the hunger in them sent a thrill of excitement sprinting down my back.

"Yes." His voice was riddled with attraction. The gravelly baritone awoke something within me; a need to be dominated, a need as primal as sex itself. I wanted Dane, and it had nothing to do with comparing him to Huey, I was relieved to discover.

"You don't have to pretend you don't want to take me right now." I licked my lips and gave him a seductive smile.

"Good." He stood off the couch and rushed me. He picked me up and sat me on the counter. In the flurry of kisses and love bites I smirked. My counter was seeing a lot of action.

Our heavy breathing was the only sound we were able to make. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to pull the sweat soaked strands off of my forehead. The coolness of my silk sheets was bliss against my inferno of a body. Sweat poured from our bodies as the smell of sex permeated the air.

"Wow." He breathlessly sighed. "You are, unbelievably flexible."

"I took gymnastics in middle school." I laughed as he looked at me, amazed.

"Thank you gymnastics." We laughed deliriously. In the silence of my bedroom I was deliriously happy not worrying about a thing. We sat in silence touching each other. His hands twirled the dampened baby curls around my forehead while my hands graced over his chest, dusted with barely noticeable blonde hairs. He shifted and I draped my exhausted body over his and lay my head on his shoulder.

"What are you thinking about?" His hands continued to dance through my hair. It was so peaceful in his arms, that I didn't feel any of the awkwardness that I thought I was going to feel.

"I was thinking that the three of us could go out for ice cream tomorrow night." His hand stilled and I bit my lip, anxious for his answer. His eyes searched mine, looking for something I hope he found.

"You're serious."

"Of course I'm serious, I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't. You know what never mind that was dumb of me." I began pulling the sheets to my chest and shifting out the bed.

"Whoa, whoa wait a minute it was not dumb." He reached for my arm and pulled me back under the covers with him. Once I was settled back into his side he spoke. "You just caught me off guard that's all. I thought you wouldn't suggest a meeting for at least a few more months."

"I wouldn't be able to keep X waiting that long, the kid gets his patience, or lack thereof from me."

"Well I would love to meet him, and not in a creepy molester kind of way, because I know that Mommy-brain of yours is going to analyze that comment as such." I laughed a little, a mother could never be too careful.

"He can be a bit much for a five year old, but he is a perfect gentleman."

"If you raised him, I'm sure he's a great kid."

"He is."

"So, ice cream tomorrow night after you and he finish dinner, so probably around 8?"

"8 would be good, that'll give me time to prepare him."

"Good." He kissed my lips and then rolled on top of me. His strong, slightly roughened hands trailed down my leg then brought it to rest on his hip. "Now ready for round 2?"

"Just one round, and here I thought you would have the stamina to go all night. I think the impress is wearing off." I tried to retain a serious face by biting my lip.

"Well I didn't want to overwhelm you, but since you are questioning my manhood, I'll just have to show you that I can go all the way until the afternoon without stopping."

"I look forward to it." I laughed as he penetrated me and proceeded to show me how caveman he could go.

"Are you nervous?" X's voice brought me out of my daze.

"No no no, why would I be nervous?" He tilted his head to the side and his eyebrow rose. I had to laugh at his expression; it was like he and Huey were carbon copies of each other.

"You sure you're not nervous?"

"Of course I'm sure honey. I would not let you meet him if I wasn't sure we'd be safe, but just in case I told Uncle Riley where we were going." The doorbell rang and X went to answer it while I stood behind him. Dane walked in looking as delicious as ever. Luckily X missed the lustful stare that surged between us and the slow approving way Dane's eyes danced over my body clad in a tasteful sheer high low dress.

"So you must be X, it's nice to meet you." Dane held his hand out. X glanced at the hand then back at me. I smiled at him and nodded approval.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Andrews." X's small hand was enclosed in Dane's larger hand.

"Please call me Dane; Mr. Andrews makes me feel old."

"Okay Mr. Dane." Dane look at me with an uncertainty but I shrugged my shoulders.

"X is a very respectful young man." I ruffled my son's afro and grab a jacket for him just in case it started to get chilly or rain; with Maryland weather you could never tell.

After X was securely strapped into his booster seat we drove to a nearby ice cream parlor to enjoy our frozen treats. I wrinkled by nose at Dane as he, to X's amusement, questioned my sanity over my dislike of chocolate ice cream. Both he and X ordered chocolate ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream while I stuck to my favorite, cherries jubilee. They both stared at me with incredulous faces as I made known my dislike of the so-called "only true ice cream flavor".

"Jazmine how can you not like chocolate ice cream?" Dane refused to believe that I had not fallen in love with the horrid imitation.

"It doesn't even taste like chocolate! And besides that it's just plain disgusting." I took another bite out of my sweet dark cherry confection.

"Mommy, you can't hate chocolate ice cream."

"And why not little man?" I made a kissy face while I tried to wipe his mouth clean but he kept turning away from me so he could do it himself.

"Because it's the best."

"Oh really? Well what about vanilla X? You love vanilla too." X looked torn between the notoriously opposing flavors.

"Vanilla is good Mommy, but nothing beats chocolate!" Dane and I laughed at his rebuttal. I was marveled throughout our ice cream date at how Dane and X got along, even if it was teaming up against me. X laughed a lot at Dane's stories of when he was a child. I noticed there was a slight flicker of sadness in X's eyes when Dane talked of his parents or siblings. I knew first hand that it was lonely being an only child, especially when you didn't have a close friend. X was a well-liked kid and he was always respectful and polite so parents had no problem inviting him on play dates, but play dates aren't like having a brother or sister. I told Huey I wanted a big family and he understood that I wanted X to have what he had, but after X was born was not a good time to bring in another addition to the family. I must confess that I'm happy we don't have another child; it would be too damaging to destroy two childhoods.

"Hey Spacey, you with us?" I blinked and realized X and Dane were waiting for me. I smiled to let X know I was fine then stood up and wiped down our table. I was right to bring a jacket, it was a little chilly when we walked out of the ice cream parlor.

"So X what's your favorite subject so far?"

"I really like history, but math is ok too."

"History and math, whoa those are some hard subjects to like. Why do you like history and math?"

"Daddy always talks to me about history. He says if you don't know your past, how can you or someone else know that what you are doing has never been done before. I like math because Mommy's really good at math and she makes fun games to help me learn my multiples."

"Do you like art like your mommy too?"

"Art is ok. I'm not a really good drawer so it can be frustrating at times."

"I understand, I wasn't very good at art either."

"What was your favorite subject, Mr. Dane?" X looked up at him bright-eyed as we walked through the small plaza. Many people strolled in and out of shops before the sun set and the stores closed.

"I didn't find my favorite subject until high school. I took a woodshop and welding class and I immediately loved to build things. My teacher suggested I look into architecture; that was the best advice I ever got from a teacher. I started to read about what architects do and decided that was what I wanted to do with my life."

"Cool!" After his initial hesitancy, X seemed to be enraptured with Dane. I was relieved to see that they got along so well; I was truly terrified how X would take to him.

"Yeah, I guess it is huh? I wish I had someone like you or your mom to help me with my math; math was always a hard subject for me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not a genius like you of course!" X beamed at the compliment. I placed my hand into X's soft afro.

"It's getting late; we should probably get home so you can get ready for school tomorrow." I could see the hesitance in X's eyes but he nodded and said ok. Dane dropped us off and walked us up to the door while I carried X, who kept refusing that he was sleepy despite the many yawns. I unlocked the door and told X to go and get ready for bed.

"Thank you for the ice cream, Mr. Dane."

"You're welcome buddy." X nodded and went inside.

"I must say I am relieved and more than a little impressed with how this outing went."

"You were doubting my skills again."

"Oh no of course not, don't be ridiculous." I replied with a smile.

"He's a great kid Jazmine, you did an amazing job."

"He is, isn't he? But I can't take all the credit; most of his advanced mind is a result of Huey, who despite his short comings is a pretty good father."

"That's good to hear. Will I see you this weekend?"

"Probably not, I have a lot of scholarship applications to review and pick the semifinalists. Plus I have some picnic X and I have to attend for Huey."

"Sounds like a fun weekend."

"It actually would be, you know if I didn't have to play the Stepford wife."

"Could be worse, Jaz."

"How so?"

"You could be spending the weekend forced to endure dreams about a beautiful woman and not be able to roll over and take her again." That familiar sparkle of caveman intentions sent a lightning bolt of desire straight to my core and back up. My toes clenched just thinking of how much fun it would be to spend the weekend rolling around in his bed. I came to my tippy toes and wrapped my arm around his neck while the other skated down his chest and gave his arousal a firm squeeze.

"Be a good boy," I slowly pumped him up and down to the cadence of my voice. "and I just might make that fantasy of yours come true." His breathing was harsh as he watched my hand work him.

"And what do I get if I'm a bad boy?" His head lifted to look me in the eye.

"Then I would have to punish you." I stopped massaging him over his pants. His eyes flashed for a moment and he groaned from the lack of contact.

"Punishment, didn't know you were that kinky." An idea of how kinky I was flashed into my head, but I knew I couldn't drop to my knees with X waiting on me to kiss him goodnight, that was just a little too kinky.

"I gave you an idea yesterday."

"You have no idea, how much I want you Jazmine." He licked his lips and kissed me.

"You'll have to show me later." I kissed him again.

"Right, later. Good night Jazmine; call me whenever you get the time."

"I will." I smiled and walked into the condo. I walked into X's room and saw him reading on his bed in his footie pajamas. "Did you have fun baby?" He looked up from his book and smiled at me.

"Yeah, he's nice Mommy, I like him."

"I'm glad to hear that sweetheart. Now let's get you into bed and comfy so you can wake up for school tomorrow."

"Okay Mommy." He sat the book on his nightstand and got off the bed and on his knees. I sat on my knees beside him and we both said our prayers.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen."

"And Lord, please watch over Daddy, help him be happy too. Amen." A few tears bubbled in my eyes but they did not fall. I tucked X in and kissed him goodnight, before turning out his light and turning on the nightlights in his room and the hallway. I looked at the time and decided Cindy would be awake.

"Chick what takes you so long to call me?! How did it go with Dane? How'd the date go?"

"One question at a time. What do you want to know first?" I heard her huff over the phone.

"First, how did the date go?"

"It went well. X and Dane got along way better than I thought, and X even told me that he likes Dane."

"That's good, now onto what I truly care about, the sex! How did it go? I want details!"

"If you need details on my love life, Riley must not be doing his job very well."

"Bitch I will slap you. My husband is doing his job excellently, I was asking for your sake." I heard Riley shout 'language' over the phone. They were comical really.

"All I will say is that Vanilla definitely gave Chocolate a run for its money."

"Ooh damn, we using code names and everything."