by Tiana Laveen
“You wanna see a show? I can give you a show, baby.” He panted as he caressed her back, christening her face and neck with kisses.
“Where is this big blockbuster of yours supposed to take place? You said you’ve been staying on Tremlett. I don’t want to ‘see a show’ at your mother’s house,” she teased.
“Nah, we’ll get a hotel room or go back to your place. Whatever you want.” Suddenly, she pushed him back and looked into his eyes. “What? Ya think I’m movin’ too fast?”
“Kinda.”
“It’s either yes or no, Egypt.”
“I’m not sure. On one hand, we’ve known each other for years, but on the other, we haven’t. I don’t know who you are anymore, and you don’t know me. This is just… strange. I know you have to go back to California soon, and neither of us knows what we’re doing. We’re just doing it – whatever ‘it’ is. I think—”
He silenced her with another kiss.
“You always did overthink things, Egypt. We never finished what we started in the library bathroom that day. Reading Rainbow… I’ll sing the adult version.”
“Please don’t…”
“Butterfly in the fuckin’ sky, I’ll make ya cum twice and sigh! Take uh look! I’ll have you shook! A readin’ raaaaainbow!” She burst out laughing, shaking her head, and leaned back in the seat. “You wanted to see Christmas lights tonight, baby? I’ll show you some fuckin’ lights and colors, all right.”
“Mmmm hmm, we’ll see, big talker.”
“It’ll be better than the 4th of July.” He pulled away from the curb and grabbed his phone.
“Siri, call the Four Seasons on Boylston Street.”
The robotic female voice replied, “Calling… Four Seasons Hotel… on Boylston Street…”
He tossed his phone down and busted a U-turn. “I gotta stop at a packie and grab some wine and Magnums, too. It’s time we make up for years of lost time. I refuse to waste a second more…”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nights Over Egypt
She knew she’d be in the shower far too long, although she didn’t need one. A simple freshening-up before intimacy would’ve sufficed, but she figured it would buy her some time.
Egypt’s mind was racing like NASCAR had rented space inside her skull for the night. She closed her eyes, allowing the warm water to saturate her hair. Each strand became heavy, and her body began to prune under the rush of the hot stream. She glanced out the clear glass door. The mirrors were steamed, and the smell of fragrant bodywash did little to put her wrecked nerves at ease. She could hear music playing, and the sound of Jordan happily humming. He was waiting for her, perhaps butt naked in the middle of the bed. The thought excited and frightened her all at once.
“Everything all right in there?” he called out, his deep voice towering over the tunes and the water.
“Yes, I’ll be out in a minute!” She quickly turned off the water and stepped out onto the floor mat, patting herself dry with the fluffy ivory towel. And then, she caught her reflection in the wall to wall vanity mirror. Holding on to the edge of the white counter, she studied the droplets of water that remained on her shoulders, the shape of her heavy breasts, thinking how her areolas were larger than she’d wanted when she was a teenager, to the point she obsessed about them. She trailed her fingertip over the left nipple until it hardened. She remembered how self-conscious she’d been about her entire physique in that small men’s bathroom in the library, fearing that Jordan would be turned off by her, that they’d be heard, that he’d recoil from her soft flesh, the mere touch of her.
I was silly. He wouldn’t have been there if he didn’t want me, but such is the mind of a teenager… She regarded the extra skin and pooch about her abdomen. She swallowed, pulling and tugging at it, and turned to the side, both proud and taken aback at how her mind had grown and changed over time. She smiled at herself, finally embracing all that she was, all that she’d been, and all that she’d be.
She touched the stretch marks caused by her weight loss over the years, the smaller portions, the power walking and eating fewer desserts. It had been hard yet she’d never deprived herself completely of the culinary pleasures of life; she simply managed her compulsions and cravings better. The issue was more emotional than anything else.
She pulled at a roll of skin right above her hip, then laughed at the way it bounced. She studied herself not with disgust, but with remembrance… paying homage to the journey she’d traveled. She wasn’t pencil thin, and she was fine with that. She was healthy, in shape, a work in progress. Finally content. Finally in acceptance and in love with herself. She startled when a knock sounded at the door.
“Can I come in? I need to take uh piss in the worst way. I’ve been holdin’ it, baby.”
“Yes, here I come.”
She quickly wrapped the towel around her naked body and opened the door.
Shit.
Every muscle within her stopped in its tracks. Her eyes widened to the point that she could feel the strain and brush of air from a nearby vent hitting them. There Jordan stood, tall, broad-shouldered and huge. EXPOSED. A commanding, towering, naked beast, peering down into her soul. A million-degree hot flames danced in his sexy amber eyes. He trailed his gaze from her head to her feet, then slowly back up again. The devil in the flesh tossed her a cheeky smile before parading past her to the toilet. His muscled back towards her, she got an eyeful of his broad shoulders, brawny and tattooed arms, long hairy legs, and tight ass.
She began to make her exit as she heard him start to relieve himself, but then, he called out to her. “Hold up. I wanna talk to ya.” She leaned against the doorframe as he shook his dick, then flushed the toilet.
He turned and faced her, and a whimper escaped her mouth. Her face heated and she had to restrain her embarrassed laughter at the audible reaction. He chuckled lazily and stroked his beard.
“That was cute. I take it I get the ol’ Egypt seal of approval. Come ’ere.” He approached the sink, soaped up his hands, then washed his dick. It was quite interesting to watch him rub the soap along the head and shaft so fast and efficiently, then jam it under the stream of water to rinse it off. He proceeded to wash his hands.
“I like your body art.” I like your body, period.
“Thanks.” He grabbed a hand towel and dried his hands. “I first wanted to—”
“I don’t have any STIs,” she blurted out.
He raised his brow.
“Well, that’s good to know. I don’t have any STIs or anything like that, either. I get tested. I can show ya on my phone.” He pointed to the door. “I always wear protection, too. I haven’t fucked without a condom since I was like, twenty, and my ex wasn’t on birth control, so I’d use them consistently with her, too. I have no kids, so, ya know, I think it’s safe to say half of L.A. would be populated by me and me alone by now if I didn’t cover my sword.” She swallowed a laugh. “How about you?”
“Me? Oh, no worries. I haven’t populated half of Boston.”
He burst out laughing.
“When’s the last time someone parked the car in your garage?”
“Real classy, Jordan.” He chuckled then shrugged. “Well, I haven’t had sex in over ten months, but yeah, I would get tested when I was active. I’m also on birth control.”
He nodded in understanding.
“I wanted to talk to you about what you like, too. What you’re into. I like to please in bed, ya know? I want you to have a good time. So, if there’s somethin’ you’re not really feelin’, then I wanna know. I’m pretty open minded. I do a lot of things, so, I mean, it’s whatever.”
She crossed her arms and bit her lip. I’m nervous. I’m actually nervous around this man right now… Oh, God.
“I’m, uh, I’m pretty open, too.”
“All right. So, you like your tits sucked?” He cocked his head to the side and stroked her shoulder. She nodded. “Yeah?”
“Yeah…”
“Hard?”
/>
“Not too hard.”
“You like bites on the ass?”
“Are you serious, Jordan?”
“Very.”
She mulled the question over.
“Maybe… again, not too hard.”
“Massages?”
“Yes.”
“Play with your feet?”
“I’m too ticklish.”
“Pearl necklace?”
“With the right person.”
“Me?”
“Yeah…”
“Queening?”
“Queening? What is that?”
“Sitting on my fuckin’ face.”
“Yes.”
“Fisting?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Suck your toes?”
“I told you my feet are ticklish.”
“Dress up like a bumblebee and sting ya?”
“Jordan…”
She turned away from him, laughing her ass off.
He grabbed her shoulder and gently turned her back to him. “I know I’ve been joking around a little, but I want this to be nice for ya. Cool?” She nodded, and he bent down and kissed her. His kisses were divine. Heavenly. “Let’s see what’s under here.”
He reached for her towel and she immediately tugged on the material, knotting it in her hand. What am I doing? Jordan’s total demeanor changed. His shoulders slumped, his eyes darkened. He could be angry or disappointed. Perhaps both.
“I’m not gonna hurt ya again, Egypt. You can trust me.” He took her hand and placed it against his chest. The warmth of his skin, the silkiness of his chest hair, and the way his torso rose and fell caught her attention, loud and clear. She swallowed, closed her eyes for a mere second, and damn near fell apart as she sensed his strong heartbeat beneath the tattooed flesh, covered in thick, black, Italian words and a crucifix. It was then that she noticed one of his nipples was pierced… Damn.
He gently took her hand, and slid it further down his body, over hard abdominal muscles and onto his erect dick. It was long, heavy, and thick, a thing of perfect beauty and power. Her fingertips trailed along the knotted veins of his cock, then back up to his soft, brown pubic hair. He nestled his face in the crevice of her shoulder and neck, and suddenly she felt the heat of his body as he made the space between them vanish all together. She wrapped her arms around him when he pushed her against the wall.
“I can’t wait to taste you, baby.” With his words he sent her somewhere seedy, dark and lovely. “I’ve dreamed about eating your pussy. Now, I finally can. I bet it tastes just like candy. I bet it’s hot and soft. Tight… so fuckin’ tight. I’m gonna wreck it, annihilate it. You’ll be craving me later… no other dick will do for you.”
Her pussy pulsed and soaked itself at his affirmations. “I want you to touch me, baby… suck my cock until you suck out my soul. I wanna see you gag on it, and then, baby, I’m gonna put you in a million different positions, make you beg for me, make you scream my name, make you cum so fuckin’ hard that the sheets are soaked. Waterbed. I’m gonna fuck the shit out ya so bad, that pretty mouth and pussy of yours are gonna know me, and know me well… It’s gonna hurt so damn good, baby, I’ll have to carry ya outta here, cradle you in my arms…”
He pulled her hair at the back of her head, forcing her to lean until her neck was fully exposed to his touch. Then, he kissed and sucked all along her throat with urgency and need. His large, rough hand slid between her knees, and she shuddered when he cupped her pussy. He rubbed and pressed his fingers against the wetness of her love, and she damn near came from that alone.
I can’t let this happen. If we do this, I’ll be attached to him. No… No!
Without a clue what came over her, she slapped his hand away, then shoved him back with both hands and pressed her thighs together. She must look crazy, wild even. Tears welled in her eyes and she quickly blinked them away.
“It’s okay,” he said quietly, surprising her. He lifted his hands as if to say, ‘See? I’m safe.’
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Jordan. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This isn’t like me.”
“It’s all right. This, uh…” He ran his hand along the back of his neck. “This may not have been a good idea after all. Maybe you were right. Maybe it’s too soon.”
He approached her tenderly, kissed her cheek, then walked out of the bathroom, leaving her alone. And right then, she came undone. The tears fell freely now, one after another. Her emotions were all over the place. She wasn’t certain if it was the seventeen-year-old within her or her present self who was so despondent.
Suddenly, the music changed, and a soft and pretty melody filled the room. Ahmad Jamal’s, ‘Soul Girl.’ When she turned around, she caught Jordan putting his boxers back on. He grabbed the remote, turned the music up a notch higher, then walked over to the other side of the beautiful hotel room and opened the bottle of red wine, pouring it into two glasses.
“It’s here if you want some.” He raised his glass in the air, as if to say cheers, then took a sip. Her heart melted at the sight of him. The way he smiled at her. The way he didn’t drag her through the mud. The way he accepted her… Tightening the towel around her body, she made her way over to the window to check out the amazing view. The city sparkled with plentiful lights.
“I know this room was expensive. I’ll pay for it,” she muttered.
“I don’t want your money, Egypt.”
“I know, but…” She shrugged. “Please, just accept it. I’ll reimburse you by sending it to your PayPal or CashApp.”
“Nah, money won’t do anything. I don’t give uh shit about how much I paid on this room. All I want is you. Come ’ere. Not gonna make any moves on you, all right? I promise.”
She nodded and approached him. He gave her another sweet kiss on the cheek, then walked over to the bed to lie down, his head against the pillow and eyes to the ceiling. He shook his head.
“Can I ask ya something, Egypt?”
“Yeah.” She decided to join him, lie with him, nestle next to him. She curled up against his body then rested her head on his chest. With open arms, he welcomed her and hugged her, drawing her close.
“You think I’m just toying with you, don’t you? And it upsets you because usually, you can see through people probably by now in life, but I confuse you. You think I might be up to something but you’re not sure. The past and the present are blurring together, and they hold the future choices you make.”
She gave him a curious look. Sometimes, in the midst of his silliness, constant cursing and flared temper, Jordan demonstrated great restraint, patience and insight. He’d been like this as a teenager, too. He always had a wisdom about him, but you had to be close to him, very close, for him to let you know his true thoughts.
She sighed.
“Yes. You summed it up perfectly. I’m sorry about what happened in the bathroom. That was weird.”
He stroked her shoulder.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
They drew quiet for a bit. He felt so warm, so alive. Energy in the flesh.
“I have a confession. I think I know why I chickened out. I let someone get in my head tonight. I feel foolish.”
“Who got in your head?”
“Andre. He means well, but he and I kinda got into it about you.”
Jordan’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t seem surprised by the information either way.
“Well, Andre doesn’t call the shots. You’re a big girl. You can make your own decisions.” He caressed her arm while still looking up at the ceiling. She laughed. “What?” He smiled. “What’s so funny?”
“Back in the day, when people called me a big girl, those were fighting words.”
He smiled harder. “You were sexy. No need to fight about it. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, you want something to eat? I can order room service.” She nodded and he rose, turned down the music, opened a drawer in the nightstand and handed her the
menu. After scanning through the options, she handed it back to him.
“I think I’ll get the buffalo chicken sandwich and Caesar salad.”
“You got it.” Jordan picked up the phone.
“Good evening. Room service.”
“Yeah, hey, good evenin’. I wanna get a chicken sandwich, and—”
“Buffalo or crispy?”
“Buffalo, a Caesar salad and an iced tea, lemon, no sugar.” He remembered that I love iced tea, and just how I like it… “For me, I want a Pepsi, the ham and pastrami sub, no pickle. My grandpa calls ’em a spuckie. It’s ridiculous. Makes ya lose your appetite as soon as it comes outta his mouth.” The lady on the other end erupted in laughter and Egypt followed suit. The smile he sported then was the greatest smile ever.
“Oh my goodness, I haven’t heard that term in a long time, Mr. DeMarco! Your food will be delivered up to you soon.”
“Thanks.”
He disconnected the call, picked up the remote, and turned the music back on low. The sounds of Gerry Mulligan’s ‘Night Lights’ drifted through the room.
“It’s story time. Come lie back on me.” She did what he asked, expecting to hear a few jokes. “One day, a long time ago, I was walkin’ outta my house. It was a day like any other day in the fall of Dorchester. The leaves were dried out on the ground, pinecones covered the sidewalks, and the temperatures were droppin’ by the second. I buttoned up my coat, and down the steps I went, and my dad yelled at me that as soon as I got back home, I better shovel that gotdamn sidewalk and the driveway. I got smart wit’ him, under my breath of course. I was a smart ass, not stupid, and headed on down the sidewalk on my way to school.
“On the other side of the street, walkin’ the same direction as me, was this girl all bundled up in a tan coat that was far too small. She had a red hat on, a big fuzzy ball on the end of it, and when she walked, she kinda bounced with each step.” She tucked her face away from him, hiding her smile as she burrowed in his chest. “I saw ’er, and at first didn’t think much of it. As time passed, she was still trotting along. The walk was long, so I knew we had to be goin’ the same place. Sure enough, we arrived at school at the same time. Well, I got there probably about twenty seconds before she did. This happened day after day. I realized that this wasn’t a one-time thing for her. She lived close by. I was walkin’ to school because my father made me. Said it was important for men to be strong and tough. Meanwhile, my sister got to ride in the car with her friend.” He chuckled. “Anyway, after a while, I didn’t mind.
