God's Gift to Women

by BAISDEN, MICHAEL

  “Yeah, me too.”

  She took a sip of her drink and moved in closer. She acted as if she was adjusting her seat, but I knew better. That made me even harder. I tried to keep the conversation going, hoping it would take my mind off my dick.

  “So, you said your father was a designer. Is he doing something else now?”

  “No, he passed away a few years ago.”

  “Sorry to hear that. I lost my father, too. My mother died shortly after. I don’t think she wanted to live without him.”

  “Life is so short,” she said. “It’s sad that people take it for granted.”

  “My father use to say money can buy a lot of things but it can’t buy back time.”

  “Money can’t buy happiness either. That’s why I live in the moment. Tomorrow’s not promised.”

  “So, you’re a philosopher, too,” I said to her. “It’s not often you meet a beautiful woman who is a deep thinker and knows men’s fashions.”

  “I also paint and write music,” she said. “I plan to release my first CD in December.”

  “Ms. Brown, where in the world did you come from? And why are you still single?”

  “I was hoping you could tell me,” she laughed. “Denise told me you were some kind of relationship expert.”

  “I’m no expert! I just give advice and try to keep my listeners entertained. Most of their problems are self-inflicted. They’re just too afraid to confront them. Sometimes it takes a person on the outside, a stranger, to motivate them to do something about it.”

  “Okay then, motivate me!” She moved in closer. This time she placed her hand on my knee. I had just managed to get myself under control and she had to go and do that. My crotch became so tight I thought I would burst my zipper. Luckily, I was saved by my cell phone vibrating inside my suit jacket. When I checked the screen I saw that it was Samantha.

  “Excuse me,” I said to Olivia as I answered it. “Hello?”

  “Daddy, I want to watch The Thomas Crown Affair, but Grandma said I had to ask you first because it’s rated R.”

  “Yes, Sam, you can watch it. But close your eyes during the sex scenes. Is there anything else?”

  “No.”

  “All right then, I’ll see you in the morning. Make sure you’re ready at five.”

  “I thought our flight was at seven.”

  “It is, but the airports are busy on Sundays and you know I hate to rush.”

  “Okay, I’ll be ready at five. Bye, Daddy.”

  “Bye, Princess.”

  When I hung up the phone, Olivia had a wide grin on her face.

  “That’s so sweet!” she said. “Do you have a picture of her?”

  I pulled out my wallet and showed her Sam’s photo from her last birthday party.

  “She’s gorgeous!”

  “Yeah, that’s my little princess,” I said proudly. “I think it was meant for her to be born on New Year’s Day.”

  “That’s a good omen, you know,” Olivia said. “How old is she?”

  “Ten going on thirty. Sometimes I wish I’d had a boy instead. Girls are high maintenance—salon visits, training bras, earrings. They need accessories.”

  “That’s what her mother is for. Doesn’t she take care of all the girl stuff?”

  “I guess Denise didn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what?”

  “My wife’s been gone for two years.”

  “I’m sorry, Julian, I didn’t know,” she said while patting my leg. “Denise and I only met recently, at the hair salon. She didn’t tell me about your wife.”

  “No need to apologize. I’ve been doing much better with it lately. A person can’t live in the past, right?”

  “No, they can’t, Julian. Life goes on.”

  Each time she spoke to me in that sweet sexy tone, my penis throbbed. I wanted her and she wanted me. Although we were perfect strangers, we were connecting on a mental and sexual level. The people sitting at the bar were noticing how close and comfortable we were. They watched as Olivia’s hand moved slowly up my thigh but we paid them no mind. We were shameless, like two horny teenagers.

  “Look, Olivia, I don’t want to lead you on,” I said as I gently pushed her hand away. “I’m seriously tempted to go there, but I’m starting a new life in Houston. This affair wouldn’t last.”

  “If I’m not mistaken, airplanes do fly to Houston.”

  “That’s not the point. I’m not interested in a serious relationship right now. I’ve been waiting my whole life for the chance to host a talk show on a major FM station. All of my energies have to go into this. Maybe if we had met at another time things could be different, but right now, my career is a priority!”

  “I’m not trying to marry you. I just want to stay in touch, no promises—no commitments.”

  “I’ve experienced enough relationships to know there’s always expectations and responsibilities.”

  “Look, Julian, we’re both adults. If you don’t want a serious relationship, that’s fine with me. But don’t deprive us of this opportunity. We both know what we want.”

  “Olivia, I just don’t want to start something I can’t finish.”

  “Why can’t we start and finish tonight?”

  The seductive tone of her voice made me weak. It didn’t help that it had been nearly six months since I’d had any. If there was ever a case of the devil being hard at work, this was it. Just as I was about to respond, Eddie and Denise returned from the dance floor. Eddie was drenched in sweat and talking smack.

  “Who’s the man? Who’s the man?” he boasted.

  “You are, baby,” Denise said nonchalantly. “Can we go home now?”

  Denise began pressing her pelvis and wincing. She was bent over like she had been punched in the stomach.

  “Are you okay, Denise?” Olivia asked.

  “My monthly visitor decided to drop in a little early. These cramps are killing me.”

  “All right, youngster, let’s go!” Eddie grabbed his jacket and put his arm around Denise. “Sorry to ruin your party, Julian, but nature calls. Give me a buzz when you get settled in. I’ve been dyin’ to come to H-Town to see what all the hype is about.”

  We exchanged hugs, then Eddie and Denise left. Olivia just stood there staring at me. We both knew what she was waiting on.

  “So, do you live far from here?”

  “No, I have a condo on North Michigan Avenue, about fifteen minutes by taxi.”

  “Do you need a ride?” We began walking toward the exit.

  “Is that an offer?”

  “I guess it is, but I want you to know in advance, I can’t stay long. I have a plane to catch in the morning.”

  “Does that mean you accept my proposition?”

  “Why not? Like you said, we’re both adults.”

  “Now that we have that established, do you mind if I use your cell phone? I need to let someone know who I’m going home with. A girl can never be too careful.”

  I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and handed it to her. While she dialed the number, I went over to give the valet my ticket.

  “What’s your license plate number?” she asked.

  “Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack. For all I know you could be a mass murderer.”

  “If anybody should be afraid, it’s me.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because it’s obvious that you’re a woman who’s accustomed to getting what she wants.”

  She stared at me with those hazel eyes. This time the expression on her face was serious.

  “You have no idea.”

  Chapter 5

  THE SHORT ELEVATOR ride up to Olivia’s condo seemed like an eternity. All I remembered was admiring her body in that silky red dress and fantasizing about all the sexual positions I wanted to put her in. Up against the wall and doggy style, I was thinking. My hormones were raging. I was intoxicated with the thought of laying down with such an erotic creature. I had made lov
e to many women throughout my life, but none had exuded a fraction of the sexual energy that Olivia did. Although she was soft-spoken and very feminine, I could sense that she had a darker side that demanded to be controlled, handled, and dominated.

  All that sexual energy erupted the moment we walked into her condo. Olivia unzipped her dress, stepped out of it, and then flung it across the room before the door was even closed. Just as I expected, she wasn’t wearing any panties. She pushed me to the floor and frantically pulled my pants and drawers off, then she grabbed my hand and led me onto the balcony. Her condo was twenty-five stories up with a spectacular view of Navy Pier. A brisk breeze was blowing off Lake Michigan. It was chilly, even for September. I tried to pull her back inside, but Olivia’s mind was set on what she wanted.

  “Fuck me!” she said as she bent over the railing.

  I should have stopped and put on a condom, but I didn’t. Olivia kept begging for it until I finally gave in. I spread her legs apart and drove myself inside her.

  “Oh, baby, that’s it!” she screamed. “Push it in deeper!”

  I decided to stop playing the gentleman role and allowed the dog in me to come out. I pushed myself deep inside of her until I felt my head touch the bottom.

  “Oh Julian, give it to me, baby!” she moaned.

  “Is this what you wanted, huh? Is it?”

  “Yes, baby, I’ve been waiting for this big dick all night. Punish me, Daddy, I’ve been a bad girl!”

  Just when I was getting into a groove, she suddenly stopped and dragged me into the bedroom. She flung me onto her king-size bed, which was covered with a white satin comforter, and began giving me head. At first it felt good; she was stroking it gently while flicking her tongue on the head. But then she started getting rough.

  “Hey, slow down, baby!”

  “Stop acting like a punk and man up!” Her tone was harsh.

  I lay back and tolerated the discomfort for a few minutes, then I flipped her onto her back. I drove inside of her as deep as I could. No more Mr. Nice Guy, I was thinking.

  I slammed into her pussy with the full force of my weight behind it. Her head bounced against the headboard.

  “That’s it, treat me like the whore I am, you fine motherfucker,” she yelled out. Then she slapped me on the face—hard.

  “I can see you need a man to take charge of your wild ass!” I grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled back on it.

  “Show me what you got, poppie!”

  For the next two hours we had a nonstop sexual marathon. Our bodies flowed together as if we had been making love forever. We screwed on the bed, on the floor, and against the wall, the way I’d fantasized. We were sweating so profusely a puddle formed in the center of the bed. It was the most exhausting and gratifying sex I ever had.

  When it was all over, Olivia rolled over onto the right side of the bed. She placed a pillow between her legs and turned on her side. I thought she had fallen asleep, but a few minutes later I heard sniffling. I thought about asking her what was wrong, but I figured it would only escalate into something dramatic. I wasn’t in the mood for that. I lay there for another hour looking out the window and admiring the beautiful view of Navy Pier. I knew it would be the last time I saw it from that particular point of view.

  When I was sure Olivia was asleep, I slipped quietly out of bed and went into the living room to find my drawers. After I got dressed, I wrote Olivia a farewell letter. I placed it on the kitchen counter on my way out the door.

  I had a wonderful time tonight. The experience was incredible! It’s not often you meet a woman who is blessed with so many talents, inside and outside the bedroom. I’m sure you’ll find someone who can appreciate all that you have to offer.

  Julian

  P.S. Thanks for trusting me enough to share yourself. That was the best going-away present I’ve ever had.

  Part II: Houston, Texas

  Chapter 6

  EARLY SUNDAY AFTERNOON Samantha and I arrived at Bush Intercontinental Airport. It was ten o’clock in the morning and the temperature was already eighty-five degrees. The humidity was so high I worked up a sweat just walking up the jetway. “Welcome to Texas,” I said to Samantha. She was sweating so badly her French braid was coming loose. After waiting at baggage claim for what seemed like an eternity, we picked up our rental car from Hertz and headed out to our new house. It was in a suburb called Sugarland, about a forty-minute drive from the airport.

  I was impressed by how smooth Houston’s roads were. In Chicago, you were liable to hit a pothole every twenty feet. The urban radio stations weren’t bad. I tuned in to Magic 102 as we merged onto the Sam Houston Beltway. I was surprised to hear a familiar voice—Funky Larry Jones, who used to be with WGCI in Chicago back in the late eighties. He must have been sitting in for another DJ, because he was usually on during the afternoon drive on weekdays. But who cared? I was just glad he was playing old school music. I was flashing back to the days of basement parties and roller-skating in Markham, Illinois. I almost crashed into the median when he played the song “Bounce, Rock, Skate.” That was a roller-skating classic.

  Just as we passed the jam-packed I-10 expressway, Sam let out a loud scream. “Look, Daddy, look!” When I saw what she was pointing at, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was a huge billboard of me on the west side of the highway, just before the toll booth. The background was off-white, the text was in bold red and green letters. It read LOVE, LUST, AND LIES WITH JULIAN PAYNE—WEEKNIGHTS 10:00 P.M. TO 2:00 A.M. ON 102.3 WBMX.

  I pulled over onto the shoulder and stepped out of the car. I didn’t know what else to do, so I just stared at it. “Smile, Daddy!” Samantha leaned out the window aiming her camera. “Say ‘cheese’!” We took turns taking pictures of each other posing in front of the billboard until a cop pulled up behind us. Instead of giving me a ticket, he asked for my autograph. Samantha was bubbling with pride. It was the first time she ever saw her father give an autograph.

  Not long after we got back on the road, we merged onto Highway 59. Three miles from there was our exit onto Highway 6. Samantha was in awe as we passed by all the brand-new shopping malls and parks with tennis courts. I knew she would be just as excited when she saw our house. My real estate agent made sure the new furniture was delivered and set up. Everything had to be perfect for Sam.

  When we turned the corner into our subdivision, Sam’s jaw dropped. The streets were spotless and the lawns were beautifully manicured. Service trucks lined the streets: Eddie’s Pool Service, Merry Maids, and Superior Landscaping. It was a scene right out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. I slowed down as we approached our house. It was a beige, two-story brick on the left side of the street. “Which one is it, Daddy?” she frantically asked. “Is that our house? Is it?” I decided to stop torturing her and pulled into our driveway. Sam leaped out of the car and started running around in the yard.

  “We’re rich! We’re rich!” she yelled out.

  “No, sweetheart, we’re not rich, I’m rich!” I laughed as I swung her around in a circle. “Let’s go inside, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  We ran around to the front of the house like two kids on Christmas morning. I put the key in the lock and slowly turned the knob. “Close your eyes,” I told her. I led her by the hand into the living room, then drew the blinds so she could get a good look at what was inside and outside. “Surprise!” When she opened her eyes she was speechless. In the corner sat an ebony baby-grand piano. I had her name engraved on the panel. It read To Princess, from Daddy.

  “I figured since you listened to Alicia Keys so much, you might wanna learn to play like her.”

  “I love it, Daddy.” She held me as tightly as she could. “You’re the best daddy in the whole wide world!”

  “Hey, it’s hot in here. You wanna go for a swim?”

  “Yeah! Let me get my swimming cap and goggles out of my bag.” She ran toward the door. “How far away is the pool?”

  “I’d say about, uh,
fifty feet.”

  Samantha stopped dead in her tracks. She was so overwhelmed by the piano she never bothered to look out the window at the pool in the backyard.

  “Last one in is a rotten egg!” I pulled off my shoes and took off running. Samantha was right on my tail. When we reached the edge of the pool we held hands and jumped in together. We splashed around in our jeans and T-shirts until we were exhausted. I put her on my back and swam into the shallow end, then sat her on the edge. She became quiet all of a sudden. That was a sure sign that there was something bothering her.

  “You wanna talk about it?” I asked her.

  “Talk about what?”

  “Look, if you’d rather not talk about it, it’s okay.”

  She seemed fine at first, then she burst into tears. I got out of the pool and put my arms around her.

  “I wish Mommy was here!” she cried.

  “Your mother is here, in spirit. She’s watching over us right now.”

  “Why did she have to die, Daddy?”

  “Only God knows that, sweetheart. But if your mother was here, she would tell you to be strong, carry yourself like a lady, and, most important, always do your best.”

  “You’re right, Daddy. I’m gonna be the best student in my class.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “And you know what else? I’m gonna learn to play the piano better than Alicia Keys!”

  “That’s my girl!” I lifted her up in the air. “Now let’s go inside and dry off. We’ve got lots of unpacking to do, and you have to get ready for your first day of school tomorrow.”

  As we were walking toward the house dripping wet, Sam looked up at me with those big brown eyes.

  “You know, Daddy, I wish Mommy could’ve lived long enough to give me a little brother.”

  “I know how you feel. I was an only child. It’s hard growing up with no one to play with.”

  “That’s not the reason,” she said with a sly grin. “I wanted a little brother so I could have someone to beat up.”

  Chapter 7

  MONDAY MORNING I dropped Samantha off at Clover Junior Academy. Just as we arrived, a convoy of yellow buses pulled up to the main entrance and began unloading students. It was obvious from Sam’s expression that she was disappointed by the lack of black and brown faces. For five years she attended Chicago public schools where ninety-nine percent of the students were black. Clover was ninety-nine percent everything but black.