Seeing her now made me realize that I’d been a fool. I’d given up on love and a happy future, but she made me realize that it was still possible and my heart wasn’t dead.

New Orleans

DANGER was staring me in the face—the same sign that Kayden sent me during his photo tour of the city. My mind was consumed by a haze of lust and disbelief. Kayden had his mouth all over my body less than thirty minutes ago and I didn’t want it to end. I couldn’t stop thinking about his rock hard cock and the pleasure I felt from his mouth and large hands.

Kayden leaned against the wrought iron fence separating the street from the trolley car waiting platform, pulling me against his body, and my body complied with his not so subtle coaxing. My head lolled back and rested upon his shoulder.

I couldn’t stop staring at the sign, even though I know it wasn’t meant for me, should I heed the warning? Kayden had already pushed me beyond my comfort zone within ten minutes of being in his presence. Am I out of my league with this man? My thoughts were interrupted when his lips brushed against my temple and his thumb caressed my arm. The gesture was filled with love and adoration, and it took my breath away. I closed my eyes and became consumed in the feeling of his skin upon mine. I jumped when the trolley whistle sounded to alert the waiting crowd of its nearness.

I turned my body, wrapped my arms around his neck, and stared into his eyes. I was mesmerized by the color and depth. The green center was trimmed in a brassy brown hue, resembling a turbulent ocean during a storm, and I was drowning in them.

“You told me your eyes were brown,” he said, “but they’re filled with gold and green flecks in the sunshine.”

“No one has ever noticed that about my eyes before.” I was in shock that he noticed the complexity in my eyes as I had with his.

“I want to know all of you… every spot on your body,” he said.

I swallowed hard and my mouth became dry as the words flowed through my ears and permeated my thoughts. I became lost in the possibilities that his statement held.

“Come on, babe, the trolley is here,” he said as he maneuvered my body towards the trolley.

The trolley car was crowded, but we found an open bench in the back. The wooden seats were small and caused every inch of our sides to touch. His hand rested on my knee as he turned his body to look out the window. As the car glided down the tracks, Kayden pointed out city landmarks and told me stories about the Big Easy. The street was lined with long and thin shotgun homes in all the colors of the rainbow. Beads leftover from Mardi Gras clung to the electrical lines like a jeweled necklace decorating Canal Street.

Kayden’s touch never broke from my body. He touched every inch of naked flesh as the car shook and lurched to our final destination—there was electricity between us. The trolley stopped abruptly and brought me back to reality.

“This is us,” he said as he stood and held out his hand for me.

I rested my fingers in his palms as he helped me stand. He secured me under his arm as we started to walk down the busy street. The people of New Orleans were as colorful as the buildings.

“There’s Bourbon Street,” he said pointing across the street.

My eyes followed his finger to a long narrow street filled with people. I had heard about the decadence that can be found in New Orleans, but nothing prepared me for what awaited. My eyes grew wide as my feet touched the edge of Bourbon Street.

Directly in front of me stood a sex toy shop, a strip club, and a large crowd of happy revelers. The street was lined with burlesque shows, clubs, and girls stood in the doorways dressed in thongs and pasties. Their bodies convulsed rhythmically up and down the doorway trying to tantalize the crowd to attend the show inside, everyone was vying for business.

Kayden squeezed my hand as he studied my face.

“The whole street isn’t like this, it changes to bars and restaurants before you enter the residential area. Hold my hand so you don’t get lost in the crowd,” he said. “Have you ever been in a strip club?”

“Not one with girls dancing, but I’ve gone to male ones.”

“We’re going to keep it that way,” he said.

Music streamed through invisible speakers filling the hot humid air. Bodies were swaying with the beat as they meandered down the street. The brick facades were lined with black iron balconies packed to capacity. The strip clubs gave way to vibrant bars packed to the hilt.

“Want to get a drink?”

“I’d love something sweet.”

“I got just the thing. It’s called a Hand Grenade, and it’s a New Orleans specialty.” He began to pull me down the street.

“What’s in it?” I asked.

“It’s a secret, but it’s filled with a bunch of different things. It’s sweet, but it’s strong too.”

A line of people formed near a small window to order a Hand Grenade to go. Kayden ordered one for each of us and the bartender place two giant green plastic drink glasses on the counter. The container was made of neon green, plastic, and a grenade shape at the bottom. I had seen many people on the streets carrying them as they walked. Kayden handed me the drink and my first sip was an explosion of fruity flavor across my palate. I swallowed a few refreshing gulps before taking a breath.

“Slow down a bit, there’s a lot of liquor in the drink,” he stated as I removed the straw form my lips.

“It doesn’t taste like there is any alcohol at all in it,” I said.

“They’re easy to drink and go down smooth. Have you eaten today?” he asked.

“I haven’t had much to eat and I’m hungry,” I said.

“Let’s get something in your belly before you drink too much more,” he said.

We sat on the stairs of the building next door and people watched while we finished our drinks. A drag queen directed traffic at the busy intersection and the crowd followed his guidance, although some seemed confused. My legs began to feel like jelly and began to tingle. I needed to eat before I became drunk.

We crossed the street to Yo Mama’s—our original meeting destination. We entered the dimly lit doorway and into the intimate dining room.

“There’s an upstairs dining area, too, let’s go up there to eat for more privacy,” he said.

The upstairs was furnished with tables and a separate bar area. All of the seats at the bar were empty and Kayden picked two in the middle for us to sit.

“We can sit closer at the bar,” he said.

Kayden pulled out a chair for me, and I collapsed in the chair. My chair began to move and my body lurched to the side when it came to an abrupt stop. Kayden had moved my chair close enough to his that our bodies touched.

The bartender arrived a moment later to take our orders. Kayden ordered Jack and Coke and I followed suit. My body was still vibrating from nervousness and excitement from earlier in the day, and I thought that one more drink would help calm me.

“Want to split a burger?” I asked Kayden. I didn’t want to overeat, but I was starving.

“Sure, how about the spicy burger and salad?”

“That would be fantastic. I’ll eat any type of burger,” I told him as I stroked his arm.

“It won’t taste as good as you did. I can’t get the memory of your taste out of my mind. I need another one.”

“Later, Kayden,” I said with a twinkle in my eye.

“Later? I want one now,” he said as his hand moved up my thigh.

I flinched when his hand reached my shorts. He reached a finger inside my panties and found my wetness. He left it there for a moment while I looked around the restaurant to see who was near. No one seemed to be paying attention to us, but my heart began to pound. He removed his finger from my panties, bringing it to his lips. Smiling, he placed his finger in his mouth and sucked on it with closed eyes.