JABARI’S 26TH BIRTHDAY (PART ONE)

Disclaimer: this short story is rated R for raunchy. It features explicit content that is suitable for mature eyes.

“Where are you thinking of taking us to tonight?”

The texture of Jabari’s voice was warm and sweet, even over the phone. Sade could already feel herself softening and melting under the heat of his words.

She was eager for his dick and had spent most of her day fantasizing about getting on her knees and giving him the slippest blowjob ever.

“I’m undecided between Dera’s Kitchen and Toasted by Tiara. I’ve heard great things about both spots. Help me.”

Sade let out a frustrated sigh and Jabari gave her a moment to breathe before he spoke again.

Sure, picking a restaurant to go to was very much a first world problem, but Sade had been planning his birthday dinner for the past 3 weeks and Jabari was not going to make her feel like she was doing too much.

Because she wasn’t doing too much.

Jabari couldn’t remember the last time someone took their time to plan a birthday celebration for him; he was used to celebrating his day alone in his house or at a bar with strangers who didn’t mind knocking back free birthday shots.

If Sade wanted to pull out all the stops for him, he was going to let her and support her in whatever way he could and take the mental load off her mind.

“Which one has the highest reviews and offers the most privacy?”

“Toasted by Tiara for sure. They even have enclosed dining areas for couples who want privacy but still want to experience the restaurant’s vibe and ambiance.”

“Then let’s go to Toasted. The idea of having you all to myself even in a public space sounds incredibly enticing. Don’t you think, baby girl?”

Sade loved it when Jabari called her baby girl. She especially liked when he called her that pet name while his dick was buried inside her pussy and his tongue was jammed into her ear. He always sounded breathless when he said it, pumping his dick in and out of her, “baby girl, your pussy is gripping my dick so good.”

She couldn’t wait to bounce on his hard dick tonight. Birthday sex was always a treat.

“You’re right, as always. I’ll make reservations under your name.”

“Sounds good, baby girl,” Jabari murmured. “I am looking forward to peeling off whatever outfit you’re going to wear at the end of the night. Hmm. And eat your pussy from the back too.”

He could already feel his dick hardening at the thought of cupping Sade’s breast, circling his tongue on each nipple, licking, sucking, pulling, lightly grazing it with his teeth and spitting on it - whatever it took to make her shake and shiver in his arms, he was ready to do it.

Jabari had filthy plans for Sade’s face and body tonight.

“You are such a bad boy,” Sade squealed. “By the way, do you know the owner? I tried to find her on socials, but she is private as hell.”

Jabari didn’t respond immediately. He had 2 options here: lie by omission and confess at the end of the night or tell the truth and possibly ruin the birthday vibes.

He opted for the former.

“I know of her. And yes, she is notoriously private about her personal life.”

“Ouu. Mysterious.” Sade giggled. “I hope she pops by the restaurant tonight. It would be nice to meet the person behind such a successful restaurant.”

“Your brain gets so wet for ambitious people,” Jabari said, turning the spotlight back on Sade. “One of my favorite things about you, baby girl.”

“You are full of compliments today. Thank you, handsome. Okay, gotta run. Your birthday dinner isn’t going to plan itself.”

“Happy planning. In a bit, yeah?”

“In a bit. Mwah!”

After the call disconnected, Jabari leaned into his work chair and exhaled loudly.

Unlike Sade, he hoped that Tiara wouldn’t show up at the restaurant tonight; seeing her would complicate things for him and Sade. And Jabari disliked complicated situations.

“Tiara, you better stay in your fucking house tonight. Please.”

Jabari said those words like a prayer, a fervent wish, a request to the universe to not play chess with him, Sade, and Tiara tonight.

Sade looked beautiful under the amber glow of the light above their table. She was wearing a short dress, the one barely covered her perky ass, and stilettos that made her legs look long and fuckable.

Jabari wondered if she had worn this outfit with the intention of being slut-fucked after dinner; because if that was the plan, he was ready to give her exactly what she wanted.

The hostess walked them to the enclosed space next to the outdoor patio and told them they could move outside if they wanted a more intimate dining experience.

Their evening progressed naturally with Jabari feeling appreciated and cared for by Sade. While they passed around plates and cutlery and talked about their day, he kept his hand on her lower back and occasionally applied pressure to her waistline; his way of making her feel desired and sexy.

He was listening to something Sade was saying about her supervisor when he heard an all too familiar voice call his name. The voice, soft and firm, immediately released a horde of buried memories from their hiding place and they swarmed around him like fat flies.

“Jabari. What a wonderful surprise.” The voice moved from behind his table and walked into his direct line of sight.

Tiaraoluwa. Fuck.

Jabari turned to look at Sade, but her face was expressionless and he couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing. His jaw tightened and his energy shifted from relaxed into something cold and calculating; a version of him that he only revealed when he was ready to dominate a woman in bed.

“Tiara, not now.”

He stressed the not now in hopes that Tiara would catch the hint and fuck off.

But they were seated in her restaurant, so how far could she possibly go?

Fuck!

Tiara was attractive in a glaring and intimidating way: dark-skinned, petite, long braids down to her ass, dressed in a see-through slip dress that showed off her tight ass and trim body. Jabari could make out the shape of her black nipple covers and the high cut of her lacy briefs.

He had to give it to Tiara: she knew how to get anyone’s attention.

“You’re the one who made reservations at my restaurant,” Tiara said with a sly smile on her face. “Birthday dinner. Cute. It’s my birthday too, but you already knew that. Is that why you came here? To wish me a happy birthday?”

Sade’s face finally cracked. Jabari saw the post-dinner argument coming from a mile away and he mentally braced himself for a long night.

“Jabari, what’s going on? You said you didn’t know the person behind Toasted…” Sade’s voice trailed off at the end as she pieced together the puzzle pieces.

“Sade,” Jabari turned to look at his girlfriend. “We’ll talk about this later. Not here, please.”

Then he turned to face Tiara. “You’ve made your point. Can you leave my girlfriend and I to enjoy the rest of our night?”

“Girlfriend?” Now it was Tiara’s turn to look at and address Sade. “But he didn’t tell you about me or how close we were? Interesting.”

The way Tiara said close injected something sinister and masochistic into the ambiance.

Sade felt Jabari’s hand move from her back to wrap around her waist, his way of claiming and reassuring her that everything was okay, that this stunning and successful woman with the sweet voice and tiny frame was not a threat.

When Jabari spoke again, his voice was dark and commanding.

“Tiara. You need to walk away from this table right now. The only reason I’m not making this difficult for you is because I don’t want your staff to see you differently.”

Tiara’s smile faltered, but only for an imperceptible moment.

“There he is,” Tiara hissed. “Has your girlfriend seen you at your worst yet or are you reserving that the fuck session later?”

“Enough, Tiara!” Jabari cut in sharply. “You don’t get to approach my table and try to stir shit up. We’re done here. Walk away. Now!”

Tiara lingered for a beat before she tossed her braids and walked away.

Jabari turned back to face Sade and slid his hand up and down her back. His eyes burned holes onto her skin with such intensity that it made her breath hitch. He was angry, but he also looked a little sad and vulnerable.

“I apologize that you had to witness that interaction,” he said in a soft tone. “You are the only person who matters in this room, my life, and my world. I am present with you at this moment. It’s just us. Understood?”

Sade felt tension and anger radiating off Jabari’s frame. She placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed it gently.

“You okay?” she asked quietly.

“Yes, baby girl.” Jabari turned to kiss her cheek. “Please continue what you were saying. We’ll talk about Tiara on the drive back.”

But for the rest of the evening, Jabari was completely off balance. He no longer felt relaxed or comfortable, but he remained attentive to Sade’s needs and emotional state. Afterall, she had just witnessed a tense exchange between her boyfriend and a woman from his past.

Sade noticed the way his jaw worked when he thought she wasn’t looking, the way he tightly gripped on his water glass each time he took a sip, and the way his eyes kept darting around the room as if he was anticipating Tiara’s return.

When the check came, Sade tried to reach for it, but Jabari pushed her hand away and gave her a look.

“Don’t be silly, Sade. I’ll always cover the bill, even on my birthday.”

He stood up, helped Sade out of her chair, and kept his hand on the small of her back as they headed toward the exit.

As they passed Tiara at the bar, she called out, “Happy birthday, Jabari.” Her voice was sticky with mischief and jealousy.

Jabari neither acknowledged Tiara nor her greeting.

For the first time since they started dating, Sade didn’t trust her boyfriend.