Ten

Baton Rouge, LA
June, 2001


It was move out day at the dorms. Cars and parents and friends and boxes littered the parking lot. Miki was almost glad that this would be over soon. Finding a place to park was next to impossible.

After weeks of emails and phone calls until Spring Break, Miki had gone home to Massachusetts to spend a few days with her mom. Her mom was active in community activities, doing a little reporting again, and kicked a man she was dating to the curb for cheating on her. Miki always knew that her mom was a strong woman, and for that, Miki admired her greatly.

Miki had news of her own to share: she had gotten a reporting position on the school paper, The Reveille, which she enjoyed immensely, and would continue until she graduated, if she wanted. She had made the Dean's list, which didn't surprise her mom in the least. Coley knew her daughter was a smart girl.

But the biggest news Miki had for her mom was that she had decided to try dating after all. There was a man at school that she had been talking to, and they decided that perhaps dating each other would be good for each of them. Miki didn't give many details, because there weren't any, really, to tell.

"So he's not really your boyfriend yet," Coley said.

"We're just friends who go out occasionally," Miki had said. "He's a nice guy, and I don't really want rush things."

In reality, Miki had been dating Matthew for about a week when she went home, so there really wasn't time to know how it would work out. She knew she liked being with him, and that they had fun on the couple of dates they could sneak in during finals. Sneak being the operative word, because Miki was still in a class where Matthew was the T.A. When Miki returned to school, then they could be more open.

Once they started dating seriously, it became obvious to them both that their feelings for each other were deepening. When classes ended in May, Matthew asked Miki to move in with him, and she accepted, but with one request: that she have her own room. It was a request that Matthew was happy to grant. He didn't want to rush Miki into anything until she was ready. He recognized that he was smitten with her, and he wanted to take it easy. When Miki mentioned that her new dorm roommate regularly entertained guys in their room, often while Miki was trying to study or sleep, Matthew pondered the idea that she move into his apartment off campus. They had different schedules, so Miki could come and go as she needed to.

Miki had packed the last of her things into the back of her car and drove the four blocks to Matthew's apartment. Miki tried to convince herself that they were just roommates, but her feelings for him were growing more intense. He made her feel safe, secure, and she realized she was falling in love with him.

Matthew was feeling the same way about her. He hadn't dated since a painful breakup with a girl in his junior year. She was a nice girl from Baton Rouge, but her family had way too much say in who she dated. Matthew wasn't "good enough" for their little girl, so she broke it off with him. He had thrown himself into his studies, and made the Dean's list for the first time that semester.

But Miki…she was different. She knew what she wanted, how to get it, and worked her ass off to achieve her goals. She had been named one of her class' top freshmen, and Matthew knew it was because she earned it.

Miki, he knew after a few weeks, had no idea how beautiful she was. She never thought to use her looks to get special treatment, preferring to let her academic performance speak for her, and it spoke volumes. Matthew learned that her father was a terrible man who tried to get Miki and her twin sister, Maddy, so messed up that they hated each other, their mother, and themselves. For a while, it seemed that it worked, but her mother recognized that they all needed help and got them all into therapy. Miki's father screwed up her self-esteem to the point that Miki still had nightmares about her childhood. Matthew had heard Miki crying in her room just days after moving into his apartment, but she never mentioned anything about it. Matthew decided that if Miki wanted to say something about it, she'd tell him in due time.

Miki had been living in his apartment for two weeks when one night, as they were watching a movie Miki had rented, they cuddled on the sofa, and soon were kissing. Before it got any further, Miki stopped. Then she told him that she thought she was falling hard for him. He surprised her by telling her that he felt the same way about her.

"What do we do now?" Miki had asked.

"We can go with the flow," Matthew replied, "or we can wait until the time is right to go further."
"I-I have been thinking about you in that way," Miki confessed, "but I don't want you to think that that is the only reason why I agreed to move in with you."

"You're not ready to take it that far, are you?" Matthew had asked.

"I don't think so. Please don't hate me, Matthew…"

"How could I hate you, Miki? I'd be willing to wait until you were sure you wanted to."

Miki looked up at him, "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Yes, Miki…I don't want to go faster than you're willing to go."

"I don't know what to say, Matthew."

Matthew took her into his arms and held her for a long while. He knew then that he loved her. Where have you been all my life, he asked her in his thoughts.



Matthew had to make a trip home to New Orleans to take care of some business in regards to the novella he had published three years prior. The publisher had offered it to a major publishing house and it was accepted. Matthew needed to sign some papers, and was being offered a generous advance. He was excited beyond words at the prospect of having the novella published by a major publishing house and it getting national exposure.

He wanted to bring Miki, and when he asked her if she wanted to join him, she readily said she would be happy to. She saw that Matthew was pleased. She wanted nothing more than to spend time with the man she was falling more and more in love with.

They were going to stay in an apartment belonging to his cousin in the French Quarter. Evangeline Giroux would be out of the country for several months, and invited her favorite cousin Matthew to use her place when he was in town.

Matthew didn't know if he could keep his passions to himself anymore. His relationship with Miki was deepening by the day, and the longer he spent with her, the more he wanted to show her how much he truly did love her. He had to keep in mind, however, that she was only nineteen years old, and very ambitious in her studies. When he decided to take Miki to New Orleans, that was where he was going to tell her how she made him feel.

Matthew wasn't going to introduce Miki to his family yet. He was afraid that they would scare the bejeesus out of her. He knew how some of his male relatives would react to this beautiful Yankee girl, and he knew that would possibly upset Miki. She didn't need packs of Cajun males swarming her wherever she went.

A cousin of Matthew's was going out of the country on an extended holiday, and told Matthew that he could use her apartment whenever he was in town. Vangie was one of the few people Matthew had told about his relationship with Miki. Vangie was very happy for him, because she had known him nearly his whole life, and knew if anyone deserved to be happy, it was her favorite cousin, Matthew DuPre.



Miki was kind of nervous about this trip to the Big Easy. As long as she was with Matthew, she was fine, but this would be the first time they would stay in the same place together. She thought she was ready if Matthew wanted to sleep with her, as she had been fantasizing about it for weeks, since the spring term ended. She imagined Matthew's touch on her body, and it made her shiver with wanting.

"Here we are, Miki," Matthew said when they arrived at the building that his cousin called home. "This is Vangie's place."

"It looks nice from out here," Miki said. Matthew noticed a touch of nervousness in her voice.

"You okay, baby?" asked Matthew.

"Yes, I'm fine," Miki replied. She loved it when Matthew called her "baby".

They went up to the second floor, where the actual living quarters were located. The bottom floor was a saloon. Matthew opened the door, and Miki gasped audibly. She was surprised that the apartment was furnished so lavishly.

"Wow, Matthew, this is great!"

"I kinda hoped you'd feel that way," Matthew said. "Vangie's mother and aunts furnished this place long before any of us were around."

"It’s really nice! I think I'm going to like it here."

"That's good, babygirl. I hoped you'd like it."

Matthew took Miki's bag and placed it in the hallway leading to the sleeping quarters. Then he took her hand and drew her close to him. Miki could smell his cologne and feel the softness of his shirt against her cheek. She felt safe in his embrace, and at the same time, felt vulnerable. She began to shiver despite the warmth of the room.

"Miki," Matthew said as he held her trembling body, "what's wrong, honey?"

"I-I don’t know, Matthew. I really don't know."

"I don't want you to be nervous, or scared or anything."

"I'm not. I feel safe with you."

He held her closer to him and soon she stopped shivering. He kissed the top of her head, then led her to the bedrooms.

There were four of them. They had their pick of three, because one was Vangie's room, and Matthew knew she didn't want anyone in there. He chose the other large bedroom, and Miki took the smaller one attached to it. Miki didn't think she'd be spending much time in there.

"This is like a hotel, Matthew," Miki said. She looked around the room admiringly.

"Well, you're close," Matthew said. "Back in the World War One days, it was a brothel."

"You're kidding me, aren't you, Matthew?"

"I kid you not. Our great-great gramma ran it. Maybe there's another 'great' or two in there, I don't remember."

They stayed in the big room for a few more minutes, then went out to the sitting area. It was there that Matthew decided that he would tell Miki he needed her, wanted her, fantasized about her.

The sat on a sofa and Miki cuddled up to Matthew's large frame. She laid her head on his chest, and let out a small sigh. She decided that she was ready if Matthew wanted her. She knew she wanted him.

Without realizing it, Miki felt her lips meet Matthew's in a long, passionate kiss. She felt his large hands caressing her body, her leaning into him.

"Miki," he sighed, "I want, I need to make love to you, my darlin'."

All Miki could think to say was, "Please, Matthew…please?"

"Please what, Miki?"

"Please make love to me, Matthew DuPre."

"You sure?"

"I've never been so sure."

Matthew got up from the sofa and led Miki back to the large bedroom. He sat on the bed as he held Miki at the waist. He looked up at her with passion in his beautiful brown eyes, and Miki knew she could no longer resist. She leaned down slightly to kiss him.

"I want you to be sure this is what you want," Matthew said softly.

"I'm sure, Matthew. I want you. I need you so much."

To show Matthew that she meant what she said, she removed her sundress and soon stood naked before him. She then sat astride him and offered her breasts to his mouth. He kissed each one, then took one nipple into his mouth and began to suck it gently. Miki ran her fingers in his thick dark curls as he pleasured her breast.

She thought she could feel his hardness through his jeans on the back of her thigh. She wanted that hardness deep inside her, loving her, fucking her…

Miki removed Matthew's shirt and threw it on the other side of the bed. They kissed, and soon their kiss grew deeper, more passionate, more wanting with each passing moment.

Miki then sat on the bed while unbuttoning Matthew's jeans. She reached inside and touched hardness, wanting it inside her, now if not sooner. She slid his jeans and his boxers down over his hips and legs until they pooled on the floor at his feet. He stepped out of them and kicked them out of the way.

Matthew joined Miki on the bed and spread her thighs apart. She soon felt him enter her and bury himself in her to the hilt. Miki's response was to groan loudly with pleasure of consummating her passion, her love, her desire for Matthew. His response was to take her to new heights, new horizons, new dimensions. She matched his every stroke with one of her own.

"Oh, my beautiful passion flower," Matthew said as he loved her, "I've dreamed of this since I realized I was falling in love with you. I will never hurt you, never cause you pain, never take you for granted."

"Matthew, I want you so much," Miki said, feeling herself coming closer to climax. "I want you to know how much I love you, how much I need to feel your love…"

"I've known all along, Miki, my darlin'," said Matthew. "No words were required…"

He sensed Miki was close to release, and urged her to let it all out. A scream tore loose from Miki's throat as she went over the edge to her orgasm. Matthew was right behind her, a series of moans and grunts escaping his lips as he emptied himself inside his beautiful lover. "Oh, Micaela, my love…" he sighed as it ended.

They laid together, entwined, Miki feeling Matthew's mouth and lips on her body. She surrendered to the passion that had been building inside her for weeks. She knew Matthew was her man, someone who loved her and cared for her, just the way she was. She never wanted this to end.

Neither did he.



In the morning, Miki awoke feeling very content. Matthew still slept next to her, snoring slightly. She sighed softly, still not believing that she and Matthew made love all night long.

He was gentle when he needed to be, and made sure she was being pleased. It was worth waiting for, she thought, a man who really and truly cared for me. It was far better than the fucking-like-rabbits sex she had with her boyfriend from high school. There was no way she could compare the two.

Miki got up to use the bathroom, padding over from the bed. She pulled on a robe that was way too large for her, and realized it must have been Matthew's. She didn't care. It was like being wrapped up in a big, comfy blanket, albeit one that smelled deliciously like Matthew's cologne.

When Miki returned to the bed, she sat on the edge. She was thinking that until last night, she had never said to Matthew "I love you". She thought it, she showed it, but had never said it. She did love him though, more than she ever thought she could love one person.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout, baby?" Matthew said as he encircled Miki's waist. She hadn't even heard him, so deep in thought she was.

She turned to look at him. "Lots of things. Mostly about last night and how good everything felt."
"I'm glad, babygirl," Matthew said. "I wanted to show you how much I care for you."

"I know now," Miki said as she let Matthew pull her back down on the bed beside him.

"Good," Matthew said, "because I was waiting for an angel, and she just happened to be you."

"Oh, stop," Miki said, feeling herself blush. But she liked the compliment. She was finding that Matthew was a very honest man. He was up front with his feelings, unlike other men she had known. She knew she was taking a gamble with her heart, and it looked like she had chosen well.
"I love you, Matthew," Miki said softly.

"I love you, Miki," replied Matthew. And he did love Miki. He loved everything about her. She was the angel he'd been waiting for.

He turned Miki over on her back and made love to her again before they went out for the day.



Miki was seeing New Orleans again for the first time, though this time it was through the eyes of a native. She had met any number of Matthew's friends, and it seemed like he knew everyone! And everyone had nice things to say about Matthew's new girlfriend.

Later, they ended up at Café Du Mond. Matthew wanted to take her there for something called a beignet. Miki had no idea what that was. Matthew explained that it was like a donut without the hole, sprinkled with powered sugar, and usually served with a coffee beverage called café au lait. Miki and her friends had never thought to come here on their daytrips. She was having a blast!

Monday was the day that Matthew was to go to the meeting about his novella. He admitted to Miki that he was a little nervous about it.

He'd given her a copy of the novella, titled River Pilot, to read soon after they started dating. Miki read it and liked the story of a Mississippi river pilot during the early days of the twentieth century. It sounded to her like it was autobiographical, but it was based on stories his grandfather had told when he was a child. She thought it would do well with a wider audience, and apparently, so did the big time publisher that was willing to give it a chance. Miki was really excited for Matthew. Not many people she knew had even seriously thought of writing a book, though she thought her mother might one day. She certainly would have some tales to tell, Miki thought.

Throughout the day, Miki thought about her twin, Maddy, in New Haven, Connecticut, attending Yale University. Miki hadn't heard from her sister in a while, and hoped she was doing okay. She had so much to tell Maddy when she got to a phone. She knew that Maddy had been dating one guy almost from the first day of school, and now Miki had a boyfriend, too, and couldn't wait to tell Maddy more about him.

Miki couldn't have known at that point, while she was enjoying New Orleans with Matthew, that Maddy wasn't as fortunate as her sister with her choice of men.

Maddy's life was about to become history painfully repeating itself.