CHAPTER 1
Max looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was as neat as it was going to be, clothes was fitting right, oh yeah she looked good. Even though she was not feeling 100% she promised Laney she would take her to Chinatown on her first day up from Texas. She was ready, she wondered if Laney was also.
"Laney babes, you ready?"
"Yeah, I am so excited," Laney squealed in glee hugging her friend.
The girls were polar opposites, but that did not stop them from forming a great friendship. Laney was a petite size 6 with long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes. Max was tall, brown skinned, with a mass of long brown curls on her head, plus sized and known for laugher and mischievousness in her grey eyes. In the four years they've known each other in college; they have been each others confidants, critics, stylists, study buddies, and alibis. Laney was the only sister to six brothers and Max was an only child, so they really valued their sisterhood. They even had nicknames for each other. Laney called Max, Blue because she used to be addicted to jeans, light blue, navy blue, and all shades in between. Max called Laney, Red due to her having red hair the day they met. The girls had years and secrets between them that made their bond stronger.
They hit Chinatown and worked their way up and down the long shopping avenue. Laney was goo-goo eyed at all the sights and sounds, she had seen New York in movies and heard of how bustling it was, but her senses were on overload. For Max, despite feeling terrible at the beginning of the day she was having a great time. She was in her element in New York. All the jostling and noise gave her an intense serenity. She missed New York when she was at college; she only came home for summer and Christmas. She had taken to spending Thanksgiving with Laney's family, since her parents had started spending their Thanksgivings in Tobago, couples retreat they called it. Right now they are in the South of France, living la vida country.
As a natural course to the day, Max took Laney to Little Italy. She loved Little Italy, when she was younger her father would bring her to the San Gennaro Street Festival. She would have a blast trying to win prizes and getting her fill on sausage and peppers.
They found a restaurant that sounded appetizing, and sat down to chow. The girls chatted about everything and anything, Laney gave Max a list of things she wanted to do while up North.
"Whoa Laney, slow down, you are going to be here for six weeks, we have time. Well actually you have time. Remind me to pick you up a subway map, and reload you metro card."
"Dude you aren't gonna going to hit the city with me?
"Not all the time, you know I have that internship, part time, but nevertheless it is going to be demanding. And plus I don't want you cooped up in the house all day waiting for me to get home. By the end of you vaca you will be a seasoned New Yorker, or at least the best tourist ever."
Laney laughed, "Girl you know my parents will disown my red-neck ass, if I return to them all citified."
Max's body rocked with laughter, thinking of Laney doing a Paris Hilton on the ranch. "Let's get out of here, before they put us out."
***********
"Oh shoot!" Max exclaimed as she tripped on her shoe lacings. She wore sneakers for the comfort of a walking marathon day like today, but she hated having to retie in public. Luckily she was by an alley and could stoop down without having her ass in the way.
"Laney pause for bit gotta tie my sneakers."
Max stooped down to tie her laces, wishing that she had invested in sneakers with Velcro, a little too late. As she gave the knot a tight tug she heard a whistle, a low drawn out sound causing her to turn her head slowly. She would have whipped around quickly, but she did not want to show that she was startled. Her eyes connected with a pair of dark ones, smirking and dangerous. Max stood slowly, patting off imaginary dust off her jeans, never breaking the staring the contest. She broke into a broad smile, picked up her bags and began to walk away with Laney in tow.
Just put one foot infront of the other,
she thought,
walk walk walk walk.
Who ever that sweet piece of man was made her stomach dance a bit. She felt like prey, an unusual feeling for her.
"Excuse me miss?" Leo called out to her hoping she would stop, but she kept walking as if she had not heard him.
Oh jeez, look at that ass, I could spend all night just smacking that,
"Blue is he calling you?" Laney asked. Max just shook her head never breaking stride, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Excuse me miss?" Leo said touching her shoulder. She turned around with the biggest smile on her face.
Is that real or fake?
He could not decide, so he continued. "It is not very ladylike of you to be bending down in alleys like that. Didn't your mother teach you better?"
Laney gasped, disbelieving that someone could be so rude.
But after all this is New York.
She glanced up to Max wondering what was her friend going to do. On campus, Max had a reputation for being smart, tough, sweet, and crazy. She did not like to get into fights, but she made it clear she was not to be crossed. In the same vein she would do some outlandish things like go skinny dipping, or prank a professor. She was unpredictable, and Laney loved that about her. Life with Max was never boring.
"Sir, and it is not gentlemanly for you to be staring at my ass, and then whistling as if it was on display for you. Didn't
your
mother teach
you
any better?"
Oh what an ass. Hmm look at that mouth, luscious and inviting. And those grey eyes, sensual and piercing.
This close he could see the rise and fall of her chest as she spoke, and what was that,
Oh snap did her nipples just get hard?
Leo liked what he saw, she was something different; a black girl with grey eyes, and he thought he picked up a faint accent when she spoke.
"Touché, madame. Let me make it up to you and your friend. Come join me for a drink." He stared into her eyes trying to get a read on her. She was smiling but her eyes said nothing.
She'd make a great poker player.
His inability to read her had him intrigued.
"No, thank you." Max started to walk away again. She knew danger miles off, and she had no idea what this Italian boy wanted with her, but it made her uncomfortable and very cautious. She had already assessed him the moment she had turned her head, and gorgeous seemed a limited description. He was breathtaking: tall, black hair, black eyes, a mouth that could only seduce, broad shoulders, well muscled, and the slight bulge in his crotch area told her all she needed to know.
Leo was scrambling in his head for words to say to slow her down again as he took in the sight before him. Her body was insane. She was big, curvaceous, and the way her hips swayed had him mesmerized. Her skin was a rich chocolate, and she wore her hair natural and in two long braids. He felt his cock getting hard watching her make her escape, but he couldn't allow her to get away so easily. "Please, bellas, how can I face my mother when I have disrespected a beautiful lady like you, huh?"
At that line, both Laney and Max stopped and laughed. Leo liked where this was going, if he could get them to laugh he had them.
Max winked at Laney and turned to Leo, "Sure we ladies would fancy a cold drink."
