Destiny Deferred

We left the bar, and as we walked to my car with Ronnie’s arms curled under mine, she said, “David, you’re so handsome.” She looked at me mischievously. Her exotic almond-shaped eyes suggested the pleasures she held for any man that would possess her. She was a voluptuous babe, just as hot and steamy as the temperature was that time of year in the inner city of Baltimore. As we reached the half-lit parking lot, my heart was beating triple time. She was a real firecracker, and between the two of us, sparks were flying. She was the kind of woman that could arouse a man’s attention in more ways than one. I knew she was a little drunk, and I tried to settle her down by suggesting, “Maybe you had too much to drink; let me take you home.”
“I know exactly what I’m doing,” she said.
While I drove, she was as playful as a kitten, teasing me with soft, lush kisses on my neck. Ronnie was having her way with no resistance from me. What was I doing? Breaking my wedding vows, I had betrayed Tamara in the one way that I said that I would never do. I was caught up in the moment.
Upon our arrival at Ronnie’s apartment, she was as frisky as ever. She got out of the car and motioned with her finger for me to follow. Like a sheep going to slaughter, I followed the desires of my lower nature. This was crazy; I had not intended to go this far, but I felt like I was at the point of no return. We took the stairs to her second-floor apartment, all the while with her hands on some part of my anatomy. But I wasn’t innocent; Ronnie was an attractive lady, and lust was not hard for me to come by. I was touching her in places that piqued her emotions.
As soon as we entered her apartment, she grabbed me by the hand. “Let me give you a quick tour.” As we headed straight for the bedroom, she hurriedly called out, “That’s the kitchen, that’s the living room, there’s the bathroom, and here’s the bedroom.” We were then in her bedroom, and she was taking off her clothes with no shame. I am done, I thought. I might as well make the best of it.
As we began our carnal connection, Ronnie was crazed with obsession, and I liked it. The shape of her body, her breath upon my face, her intimate sounds of passion—this felt unreal. We were intimate strangers, but our naked bodies found companionship by indulging in the bare pleasures of sexuality. The night was full of steamy passion. I had not been with anyone but Tamara for ten years or more. Experiencing this woman unfamiliar to me was exciting. It was certainly not her first time, but judging by her reaction when I touched her body, her most recent intimate encounter must have taken place a long time ago. She wanted me to stay the night, but I knew I had to go and Tamara would be waiting. I told her that I would call her the next day.

David had just left Ronnie’s apartment. Unknown to him, the ball had been set in motion, the pendulum was now in full swing, and the bloodhounds from hell had gotten the scent of wounded prey. He was spiritually crippled and carnally motivated; only an act of God could stop the devastation that was about to follow.

On the ride home, I was initially feeling exuberant about my occurrence with Ronnie. However, by the time I pulled into my driveway, I felt like I had somehow soiled my soul. I had blown it. I said a “flare prayer,” asking God to forgive me, and I prayed that Tamara would never find out. I got in around one o’clock in the morning. Tamara was lying in bed but not asleep. As soon as I hit the bedroom door, Tamara sarcastically said, “Another late-night conference?”
“I’m sorry; my time got away from me,” I said, trying not to give hint to the guiltiness flashing in my conscience. As we continued in conversation, it escalated into an argument. The more she prodded me to do right by her, the more irritated I got. She really was not saying anything wrong. It was me; I was frustrated by my lack of morality. I had ventured into folly and foolishness for the pure purpose of pleasure. Nothing was going to make this night right but confession, repentance, and forgiveness. I could do the confession and maybe the repentance; however, there was no surety Tamara would pardon me. Subsequently, we argued till the break of dawn. I believe the only person who got sleep that night was Autumn, and I’m not quite sure of that.
The next day, I called Ronnie and asked her if I could see her again. She was all for it. This became the routine for a couple of weeks. We would meet at her apartment and continue our scandalous affair. I would tell Tamara that I had to work late and spend hours with Ronnie. On Thursdays, we would see each other at the bowling alley and be very discreet. But when we were alone, she became seductive and seemed like a woman willing to try anything once.
In the meantime, my marriage was deteriorating.