That Forbidden Love

Right. The burnout card. Everyone used it including his mother. How was he supposed to build the empire they needed, sitting back on his heels and whiling time away? He’d thought his brother would know better. But apparently not.

“I always have everything under control and you know it,” Zack said through gritted teeth, trying hard to keep his temper in check. There had never been any use getting angry at his brother. The asshat always found ways to put out the fire before it burned any harder.

“I know you do, everyone else does too.” The vivacity was gone from both Justin’s tone and face. “I know you don’t like this sort of surprise but truly I did this with your best interest at heart. You need to loosen up, bro. Stress is a real thing.”

Didn’t he know that? He needed to loosen up quite alright, but not on this level of crazy. Zack looked away and stared straight at the distance as a silver Ford Explorer approached steadily towards the parking lot.

Everyone close to him knew just how much he hated foolhardy, senseless risks that had a strong chance of turning ugly in seconds. He avoided them like the plague and preferred orderliness, sanity and control, even in his business. Jumping from the top of a bridge with just a cord holding you up was borderline crazy.

He often wondered why people took such stupid risks if they didn’t have a death wish looming already.

“This is dangerous, risky and pointless, Justin,” he turned away from the road to confront his brother. “Why do you like to put yourself in such situations? Is there any satisfaction that comes from playing with death and coming out unscathed?”

Justin shook his head and laughed sardonically. “Must there be an end goal to everything you do, Zack? How about just doing something for the fun of it. Trying something you’ve never done before just to feel the excitement and thrill that comes with it.

“Look around you.” He indicated the party of waiting jumpers walking around the landing and talking. “You think everyone there doesn’t make good decisions or live good lives?”

“I never said that, don’t misquote me. I just don’t understand the point of all these. Call me boring and uninteresting, I really don’t mind,” Zack stated, fishing out his phone from his pocket. On an afterthought, he warned in the sternest tone he could muster.

“I am not interested in participating, so don’t get ideas. Also, don’t pull this stunt again. We could have a drink and catch up anytime, but don’t set me up on these reckless trips anymore.”

“Oh, wow. Look at that body.” Justin wasn’t listening but staring past his shoulder. Zack turned around and followed his gaze to see an African American willowy woman in a white tank top and burgundy red shorts molded perfectly around her ass with dark red twists peeking from underneath a wide-brimmed sunhat.

She shut the passenger door of the Ford Explorer he’d seen earlier and beckoned to an electric blue-haired Caucasian man who emerged from the other side of the car. As she turned around, their eyes caught and held fast suddenly. Zack felt like he’d been hit straight in the face with a bowling ball.

He knew and had met beautiful women, and she was stunningly beautiful. Probably not more than five feet three, she was curvaceous in the appropriate places with a face the shape of a heart and a slightly pointy chin that was both cute and gave off an attitude.

But what drew and held his attention was her skin. It was a rich shade of cinnamon brown and appeared to be infused with warm, orangey-red undertones that gave off a healthy, ravishing glow. That body and skin was the truth alright.

Zack had always been attracted to black women for as long as he could remember. He loved the pure, evergreen richness of their skin and had always been fascinated by their enigmatic presence even though he hadn’t ever had the pleasure of dating one before.

Heck, he hadn’t even dated for a while or was interested in any form of commitment at this point in his life.

In a split second, she was crossing the space between them with a beautiful smile that seemed to light up her already radiant face. “Hi, there! Are you here for the bungee jumping party?”

Zack couldn’t find his tongue as he stared into her eyes. They were a piercing hazel brown that appeared to be highlighted with different flecks of green and gold as they penetrated and assessed him.

He had always had a preference for hazel eyes but this was the first time he was seeing it on a woman of African American descent.

They looked like the real deal and complimented her skin color beautifully. Her lips were another distinctive attraction. They were full, lush and stained with a cherry-colored lipstick that called attention to their mesmerizing qualities.

It was almost impossible to remember when he’d last been this affected by any woman in recent times and it took his brother’s quiet chuckle to pull him out of the depth of his rapidly growing heated thoughts.

“Forgive my brother, he is in a disagreeable mood today,” Justin spoke right then, yanking him back to reality and away from those mesmerizing orbs. “Yes, we are part of the party, or should I say I am participating in the jump.”

“Hello, my name is Justin and this Grinch here is my brother Zack.”

“Oh, that is great,” she replied in a husky, distinct voice that sounded both soothing and enchanting at the same time. It was enough to give any man ideas, most especially one who hadn’t been with a woman for a while, namely him.

“I am Jazmyn and this is my friend, Isaac,” she indicated to the man with her. Isaac gave a perfunctory wave from behind and tucked his hands back into his pockets, just as a loud whistle went off from the distance, signaling their attention.

“Hey, Jaz. I think they are about to begin, you coming?” He asked in a gruff tone, turning to walk away from them.

“I guess I’ll see you both at the jump,” Jazmyn said with a smile and turned to follow after him, but not before darting a glance at Zack with an unreadable glint in her eyes he couldn’t decipher.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this smitten before. She is something isn’t she?” Justin asked as soon as they were out of earshot, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously.

Zack caught himself in time and looked away from Jazmyn’s retreating figure. He didn’t know exactly why he’d been shaken up by her presence but it wasn’t something he was obliged to discuss with his annoying brother.

“Don’t you have to join them and be the dare the devil or something? Hell, I wonder if Mom knows about all these delinquent activities her favorite son indulges in.”

“You know, there is nothing wrong with letting your guard down sometimes. You never know what you might find when you do.”

Zack sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Justin’s astute intuitions were one of the traits he’d always admired but right then he couldn’t help disliking it.

“Well, thank you for the nuggets of wisdom, dear brother. I have some calls to make and will be in the car.”