“Was that vanilla or white chocolate?” “Hmm?” I snapped out of my daze. “Oh, yeah. White chocolate. Sorry, Enrique, I’ve got a lot on my mind.” “It’s okay, Rissa,” he gave me his usual charming smile. “A large white chocolate Grinder, okay. And, uh, should I help you out again tonight?” “Oh, you’re a sweetheart, Enrique, but I’m just not feeling up to it. Sorry to disappoint you.” I shook my head ruefully.  “No problem, M...

Despite her numerous assurances to the contrary, I could never get my mind off my worry that Lucianna was going to lose interest in me due to the long wait. When I was finally able to get a babysitter three weeks later, she was still very much interested in going to dinner with me. And what a dinner it was, with an even better dessert. She left her apartment wearing a pair of black stilettos and a red v-cut cocktail dress...

“Are you sure you want to do this? You're probably used to nicer places than this,” Lucianna fiddled with her keys as we stood outside her apartment. The fraying blue carpet didn't look too great, and I was more than a little concerned by the black mold stains on the ceiling. “Please. I lived out of my car for a year and a half after I got out of college. You should've seen the places of some of the guys I slept with then...

Lucianna, like usual, could not stop apologizing about the dirtiness of her apartment hallway. I decided not to bother her about it. I'd said my piece, and she probably couldn't help it, being half-Japanese. Apologies, I had noticed, came to her as easily as breathing. “If what you've promised me lives up to my expectations,” I simply said, “That will more than make up for having to walk through here.” “Oh, I promise, you...

For about two years after I'd first met Lucianna, my life was better than it had ever been. We still didn't live together, but we visited one another regularly. We talked, we made love, we cooked for one another in the nude (save aprons, since nipple burns are no fun), and we watched movies together while she regaled me on her artistic interpretations of them. My life was far richer for having her in it. One day, though,...

Lucianna tied the front sash of her sheer robe, her coffee-colored nipples not the least bit difficult to see. “So, who did you say this guy was to you?” “I guess you could say he was one of my boy toys,” I ran circles over her lower back, “You’ve met him. He was working at the café the day you walked into my life.” She nods. “Ah. That guy. Yeah, he was pretty cute. I didn’t know there was anything more between you and hi...