Mr take me as i am, p.1
Mr. Take Me As I Am, page 1
Mr. Take Me As I Am
Baes of Juneteenth
Iris Bolling
Contents
Untitled
Untitled
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Untitled
MR. TAKE ME AS I AM
Copyright © 2023
All rights reserved.
ISBN:
ISBN-13:
Untitled
Insert dedication here.
Chapter One
“Let me have a shot of Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium.”
“Going top shelve I see,” the bartender replied as the smooth sounds of neo soul played in the background. “Must be a special night.” She said while stepping on a stool to reach the elegantly designed bottle.
“Not really. I have a blind date tonight,” Cameo Rawlings, CEO of Palmer Innovations said as he took a seat at the bar. He was now wondering why he allowed his friend to talk him into this. There were a hundred and one things he could be doing in the office. But his friend, Ebony Sullivan, has been on him to meet this person since she moved over to city hall with their other childhood friend LT Palmer when he was elected Mayor of the City of Richmond.
When Cameo was asked to become the Chief Executive Officer for multi-million dollar company, his life was changed. His top priority immediately became the company. The trust LT instilled in him was humbling to say the least. Once you took over the position, he took it as his personal responsibility to ensure the company continued to grow under his leadership. There was no way he was going to disappoint his friend. They had come literately come from nothing, together.
Cameo, LT, Mint and Ebony all grew up in public housing. The four of them stayed clear of gangs and other bad elements, by sticking together. Cameo was always the cool one who got along with everyone. Mint was the muscle. If anyone came at them wrong he would handle them. Ebony, well, she was the girl with the body that everybody wanted. Hanging with them protected her from the guys coming at her. And then there was LT, the brains of the group. He kept all of them straight in school. Even Mint, who was not the brightest bulb in the ceiling, but LT made sure he graduated from high school. As for the rest of them, all received scholarships. But for Cameo, the scholarships helped, but he still had to get student loans to make his way through. However, when LT hit it big with the sale of his game, he paid off, Cameo and Ebony’s student loans and made sure both of them got through their masters debt free. When they all graduated, LT started his own software company and they all, including Mint worked at Palmer Innovations. They were all in a good place until Mint acted out when LT turned the company over to Cameo and not the two of them. It was an ugly scene and one Cameo hoped they would all work through one day.
For now, Cameo only goal was to get Ebony off of his back about working to much. They were in their thirties. LT had just gotten married to his beautiful wife, Sapphire, who they all call Phire. Now Ebony has decided it’s time for him to find a special woman.
“A blind date,” the bartender shrugged. “You’re a good looking guy. I can’t imagine you have a hard time finding women. Unless, you’re a workaholic.”
Cameo smiled as he picked up his drink. “My friend, who set this up, says I need some balance in my life.”
“Balance is good,” the bartender replied. “But you have to be ready to share your life with someone, you know what I mean.”
“Oh, I know,” Cameo nodded as the bartender went to help another customer.
Cameo checked his watch, then took a drink. He was giving this blind date one hour. After that, he was going back to the office to get a few reports completed before he head home. He looked up just as the door to the club opened. The atmosphere in the entire place seem to shift. The music changed to Closer by Goapele. It was the prefect song for the moment as the opened and a sleek body in the gold dress walked through.
For the first time in his thirty-five years of life, Cameo’s attention was completely captured by a woman. If she was his blind date, he was going to get on his knees and thank Ebony for the rest of his life. Every step she took caused his body had a physical reaction. He reached down between his legs to grab his dick for a slight adjustment The way she glanced around the room, with a small purse hanging from the arm she held elegantly up at the elbow, and the ponytail swinging from one side to the other, caused his adjustment to be irrelevant. Nothing could stop the reaction he was having.
His heart began to beat a little faster as he realized she was indeed searching for him. When her eyes met his, she smiled. The glass slipped from his hand onto the bar. It was a good thing the lights low and the bartender was right there.
“Is that her?” she asked while wiping the spilled drink.
“I damn sure hope so,” Cameo replied without taking his eyes from the woman.
“Here,” the bartender placed another drink in his hand. “You’re going to need this.”
Cameo heard he chuckle in the bartender’s words, but all he could do was nod. He took a drink took a swallow of his whiskey to calm down the rising pressure against his zipper. It did not help the erection was growing just from watching her walk towards him.
She stopped in front of him and smiled. “I’m Syndia James. My friends call me Syn. I certainly hope you are Cameo Rawlings because the sight of you is making a particular area between my thighs a little wet.”
Cameo laughed as he took her hand in his. “Ebony said you were rather direct.”
The charge from there hands touching sent alerts to his lower extremities. He knew she felt it as well, when she looked up into his eyes.
“Do you feel that?”
He nodded as she took a deep breath.
“My parents taught me not to waste time on small talk when you know.”
Still holding her hand in his, Cameo’s thumb rubbed across her smooth skin. He tilted his head a little to the side. “Know what?”
“When you know the sexual chemistry is right.”
Cameo held her gaze for a moment then brought her hand up to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss there, then slowly returned his gaze to her. “It feels more sensuous that sexual.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Yes,” he replied with a slight smirk as he held out the bar stool next to him for her to sit. As she did he nodded to the bartender.
“I’ll have what he is having,” she said.
Cameo sat. “It’s a little strong.”
“I like strong,” she said as the bartender poured the drink. “The difference between sexual and sensuous attraction?”
“Yes,” Cameo nodded. “Sexual is the physical reaction. When parts of your body comes to attention as my lower extremities and your nipples have. The sensual attraction touches your mind as the sense are stroked.”
“Really,” she leaned on the bar a little closer as she picked up her drink.
“Yes, really,” Cameo continued. While the physical will soon fade, or can be replaced by another, the mind will always remember how I made you feel. It enhances the physical.”
“How so?” the bartender was now leaning across the bar listening.
Cameo and Syn glanced at her.
“Oh,” she stood up and begin wiping the bar. “Sorry about that. I’ll just move down this way.”
Cameo chuckled, then looked back at Syn.
“I’m intrigued Mr. Rawlings,” She smiled. “Please continue with your distinction.”
“Close you eyes and listen to the sound of my voice.”
She did as he instructed. “Clear everything else from your mind. What are your thoughts? Do you feel fear, excitement or a certain calmness. I can tell you your voice makes my heart smile.” He ran a finger down her exposed arm. “Think about how my touch feels. Is it hard, is it gentle, is it annoying? I can tell you the touch of your skin is sending shock waves from the tip of my toes to the nerve flowing through my brain.” He moved closer. “Inhale deeply. Take in my scent. Is it repulsive, is it nice, or is it enticing? I can tell you your natural scent is lite, sensual and hot.” He leaned closer to her ear. It has me as hard as a rock at this moment.” Then he gently kissed her lips, parting her lips slightly. “How did that taste? Was it sweet, sour or did it make you crave more? I can tell you, the taste of your lips make me hungry for more.” He sat back out of her space, more to calm now his nerves that were on heighten alert and to give her a moment to react. “Sexual is the attraction to how a person looks. Sensual is the attraction to what makes that person unique. The sensual enhances the sexual, don’t you think.”
He watched as she slowly opened her eyes. The waning look in her eyes planed him.
“Did you just make love to me on a bar stool?” She picked up her drink then swallowed it right down. “Damn.”
Cameo chuckled. “Allow me to buy you another drink.”
“No, my brother, this drink is on me,” the bartender took a drink herself, then poured another for both of them. “I think I just came. God I need a man,” she said then walked over.
“I think you have an admirer,” She said.
“Does that concern you?”
“Not at all. I can hold my own.”
“I’m sure you can,” he took a drink then sat back. “You are not what I expected.”
She smiled. “You are a little bit of a let down.”
Cameo hand touched his chest, then groan. “Right in the heart.”
She laughed. “Ebony made me think I was meeting the next Idris. I would put more of a Boris Kojoe.”
Cameo thought for a minute, then shrugged. “I can take that, however, I prefer to just be who I am, Cameo.”
Chapter Two
Usually, Syndia would have a thousand and one questions of any man who she went out with. However, this sitting next to her affected her in a way she could not explain. There was a synergy that hit her the minute she walked in the door. At first she was a little thrown when he suggested they meet at the Omni Hotel. However, once she arrived, it made perfect sense. The location was right in the middle of both of their jobs. From his office it was a ten minute walk across the bridge or a quick five minute drive. From his officer at city hall it was less than a ten minute walk, or a quick trolley ride. Driving would be a ten minute headache with traffic. She figured he picked the location Palmer Innovation does a number of business meetings and seminars at the hotel. The city also used the locations when meeting with out of state visitors.
Syndia had been there on many occasions and knew the place well. She distinctly remember the last time a man asked her to meet at a hotel restaurant. The meal was delicious, drinks were on point, the company had a lot to be desired. To make matters worse when the bill came, his credit card was declined and she ended up paying the bill. It wasn’t a big deal to Syndia, however, the man who trying to impress her felt otherwise. Since that date, the now Councilman Dillon Pope had began an coordinated campaign to ruin her reputation. Of course the dinner incident happened before he was a Councilman. However, once he was elected, the attacks became more personal and degrading. His reasons were really clear. Her friend Lexi thinks he is afraid she will tell someone about that embarrassing moment. Or it could be the fact that Syndia refused to go out with him again after that. Syndia tried to explain it wasn’t because he couldn’t afford the dinner, it was because he was trying to be something that he wasn’t all through out the date. She would have enjoyed him more if he had just been himself. That’s when Lexi suggested, maybe perpetrating being a big spender, arrogant ass is who he is. And if that is the case, then, that was not what she needed or wanted in her life.
“You hit that drink like a pro.”
Her thoughts came back to the man sitting next to her. He oozed of quiet confidence.
“Uncle Nearest has become one of my father’s favorite,” she replied. “As the story goes, Uncle Nearest was a Black man who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey. A sister learned of the history, then brought the land in Tennessee where Uncle Nearest taught Daniels how to distill. Started the business in 2016 and now she has one of the top award winning whiskeys 3 years straight.”
“You know the history of Uncle Nearest?” Cameo chuckled.
“When something interest me I have a tendency to try to find out all I can about it,” She shrugged. “You have to admit it is a pretty fascinating story.”
“Kudos to the sister who brought it to life and to you for spreading a piece of history that should be told.” He held up his glass to her. Syndia held hers up. They toasted then swallowed the drink down.
“So tell me. Why is a spirited, intelligent, beautiful woman like yourself still on the dating scene?”
There is a paten response for that question, but in through in a curve ball. While most men ask what is a beautiful woman like her doing single. But that wasn’t what Cameo asked. Usually her beauty was the first thing mentioned. Yes she was very attractive, there was no getting around that. Standing a even 5’6 feet tall, weighing a slim, 127 pounds with everything falling in just the right places, she was known to turn heads just as she had done when she walked into the bar. She had been dealing with that reaction from men since she was a freshman in high school. This man, who was causing her inner lips to vibrate spoke of her spirit, of her intelligence, and then her beauty. He deserve more than the basic response.
“People look at me and think I have this great life because I live seemingly carefree, I dress stylishly and I’m pretty well off, financially. I work because I love this city. And I have the skill set to help others see it way that I do. I dress nice because my job calls for me to represent the city and the money, well my parents are well off and I’m their only child. Not many people take the time to look deeper, to see what Syndia James is all about.” She looked up him, then covered her eyes. “I have no idea why I just said all of that.”
He touched her hand to pull it away from her eyes. All of the sensations she felt when his lips gently touched hers returned. It caused her muscles to contract, her heart rate began to beat out of her chest. She wondered if he could feel the vibration emulating from her body through her hand.
“You said what you felt,” he smiled. “I have to admire that quality. A lot of people would put up guards around people they don’t know. Not you. You show who you are. Your action sends a simple message.”
“What message is that?” Syndia asked just wanting to continue to hear his voice because she liked the sound of it.
“It says, take me as I am.”
She couldn’t hep but smile. “That is actually my personal mantra. Take me as I am or don’t take me at all.”
He laughed. She decided then an there that her mission in life was to hear that sound every day.
“That’s funny. I say that to my kids all the time.”
She frown, “Kids? You have kids?”
“No. I mentor high school students who work for my company.”
“Yet you call them your kids. That’s special,” she was liking this man more and more.
“They are special.”
He was still holding her hand as they simple sat there staring at each other.
“You have eyes that a man could lose his composure in.”
Syndia replied, “Good, its only fair since I’m lost in yours.”
“Would you like to get out of here? Maybe take a walk on the canal?”
Syndia was wondering how long it would take for him to ask that questioned. Although he surprise her once again. He didn’t ask if she wanted to go upstairs to a room. No, he was very respected and asked if she wanted to walk on the canal.
“While that would be very romantic, I can think of a more productive use of that time.”
“What do you have in mind?”
His eyes were relaying the same message her body was sending. They were as confused as her mind, yet there was a glow of radiance that mesmerized her. “Before I answer that question I’m going to kiss you.”
His lips formed into a smile making them more desirable than before.
“Allow me the pleasure.”
He lowered his lips to hers. The sensations from before returned with a vengeance the closer he got. There was something about this man that thoroughly her curiosity.
Their lips met in a smooth, gentle kiss, like before his tongue parted her lips, but this time he did not pull back. No, this time his tongue merged with hers. Stroking all corners of her mouth, tantalizing all her senses, enticing every nerve in her body.
“My lord. I need a cold bucket of ice.” The bartender said as she fanned herself.
To Syndia’s dismay, he pulled away, then smiled down at her. A warmth spread through her that she had never experience before. Not even with what’s his name that she was once engaged too. She placed her hand on his chest. “I happen to know there are a number of rooms upstairs that could provided a little more privacy.”
“Yeah, y’all do need to get a room. I’m just saying,” the bartender chuckled.
Cameo glanced at the bartender as he reached for his wallet. “My bill,” he placed a black card on the counter, then placed a hundred dollar bill as a tip next to his glass.
