All the Time

by Cherie Denis

  His hand was on the phone when it buzzed and damn near scared the pants off him. Shit! He pulled back as if he'd been bitten by a snake and stared at the offending instrument.

  The strident buzz filled the room once more and Mike grabbed the receiver. “What?” he snapped into the mouthpiece.

  “I'm sorry to bother you, Mike,” Rita whispered. “Lawanda Jones is here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, but she insists you’ll see her.”

  “She’s right…send her in, Rita.” It's about damn time.

  The moment the door closed behind Rita and Lawanda was seated across from Mike, he growled, “Well?”

  “Patience is a virtue, Mr. Big Shot,” Lawanda said with cool dignity.

  “Excuse the hell out of me, Miss Jones.” Mike couldn’t mask his anxiety.

  She stood in one smooth, silent move. “Obviously, you don’t know a virtue when you need one. I don't have time for attitude. I've got work to do.”

  Her hand was on the doorknob when Mike found his voice. “Please accept my apology, Lawanda. I’ll admit I’ve been going crazy the past couple of weeks thinking you’d forgotten me and my problem.”

  Lawanda turned. Her look would have wilted fresh flowers. “Take my word for it; I did not forget your problem. Face it, what you ask of me was not some ordinary, everyday project. I’ve been busy since the day we spoke.”

  “Please sit down, Lawanda…and call me Mike.” He gestured toward the chair she had vacated.

  Lawanda’s eyes were cold, bottom-less, dark pools of shimmering black.

  “My most humble apology, Lawanda.” Internally, Mike cringed. He sounded like a fucking twit.

  She made him sweat for twenty long seconds before letting go of the doorknob and slipping silently back into the chair. She clasped her long, slender hands in her lap. Waiting. She stared at him with hard, knowing eyes.

  Mike was sweating like a prizefighter. Rivulets of prickly perspiration slid down his back and he longed to wipe his damp brow. Instead, he put his hands on the edge of the desk and pushed his chair back. Crossing one ankle over the opposite knee, he decided to wait her out.

  Five minutes passed slowly while Lawanda continued to stare obstinately at Mike. Watching and watching and watching until Mike was ready to scream. Beads of sweat continued to trickle down his face. When several drops of perspiration slipped down his temple and he didn’t swipe at it, she seemed to come to a conclusion.

  At last! Mike’s insides unwound like a broken spring when Lawanda gave him a slow, devious smile.

  “All right, then…Mike…let’s talk.”

  He quirked an eyebrow and remained silent.

  “I have researched your, or should I say, your wife’s little problem…Mike.”

  He nodded.

  “I phoned my mama in Hotlanda. She searched through all her books of incantations. We consulted with Mammy Love, who still lives far back in the swamps. My uncle had a hard time finding her, but eventually he succeeded. He spent days questioning her. Then he had to find his way back to my mama's place and give her Mammy Love's answers.”

  Mike gave her a smile he hoped was warm and encouraging. “Go on.”

  Lawanda’s fine, full lips curved up in an answering smile. “As I said, this wasn’t one of the usual questions we get. It was not easy to solve.”

  The doorknob jiggled, turned and Rita stuck her head in the door. “Can I get you anything to eat or drink?”

  “No, thanks,” Mike answered giving Lawanda a questioning look.

  Lawanda shook her head.

  “We’re fine, Rita. I’ll let you know."

  The moment the door closed Lawanda continued. “As I was saying…Mike, this wasn’t your every day run-of-the-mill request, but I think I have an answer.” She slipped a long slender hand down her hip. Her fingers disappeared into the folds of her dress for the shortest of moments and when they reappeared there was a tiny vial between her forefinger and thumb.

  Heart pounding like a son-of-a-bitch, Mike leaned forward.

  Lawanda held the vial up to the light, turning it slowly back and forth. Light refracted off the golden liquid inside and Mike’s heart leapt in his chest. Was this it? Did she really have a magic elixir?

  The look on Lawanda’s face was positively evil. Exactly how much was this going to cost? Life and limb? The vial was barely two inches long and possibly as big as Lainie’s pinkie finger. The liquid moved in the vial like molten gold.

  “Let’s talk about money, shall we, Mike?”

  “Okay…” he said without hesitation.

  Lawanda twisted the vial and gold shots of light hit Mike in the eye. He squinted, waiting and hoping for a miracle. It was nearly impossible to contain his impatience. His foot jiggled and his heart wouldn’t slow down. She had to know he was on the edge.

  “I was thinking.” She'd been silent so long, her voice made Mike jerk to attention.

  "Yes?"

  “Ten thousand sounds like a nice round number.”

  His eyebrows shot up and his jaw dropped. Ten fuckin’ thousand dollars? Holy shit! Did she think he was made of money? Well, he was the one who had told her he'd pay whatever it took. Now it was time to put up or shut up.

  Lawanda’s eyes were lascivious and devious all at the same time. “I’m thinking your little wife is going to love having a cock of her own. What do you think…Mike?”

  He licked his lower lip and nodded. His mind was full of images of Lainie sporting a penis. The possibilities were endless.

  “There’s just one problem, big boy…”

  “Oh?” Did he really want to hear this?

  Lawanda twisted the vial sending out golden sparks, mesmerizing Mike. He feared he was going to have to snatch the vial from her hand, but eventually she began to divulge her secrets and what she relayed left Mike nearly speechless.

  * * * *

  “One final warning, Mike…you must only put two drops in each glass of wine.” Lawanda waited for his nod before continuing. “It is very important…only two drops, or things may become permanent. Do you understand?”

  Mike was still trying to assimilate all she’d related in her calm cadence.

  “Two drops in your glass and two drops in her glass,” Lawanda reiterated.

  “Yes, Lawanda…I understand.” Oh, he understood and it was all so freakin’ weird. Was he was up to the challenge? Fear and excitement raged side by side in his brain. He’d never heard anything so outrageous in his life. Could he do it?

  Making the decision proved to be easy. It was only a breath of a moment before Mike put his feet flat on the floor and leaned forward. “What if it doesn’t work? How can I be sure it’s worth the money?” Clasping his hands between his knees, he hoped she wouldn’t notice they were shaking.

  “What kind of fool do you think I am? I’m not crazy, mister. I’m not going to give this to you to use as a sample, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Lawanda slipped the vial back in her pocket.

  “Wait!” This time Mike didn’t care if she heard desperation in his voice. “Don’t leave. How about if I give you $5,000 now and the rest after we try it?”

  Lawanda’s gaze was full of contempt. “I’m supposed to trust you simply because you’re so important in the company?”

  A smile tugged at the corner of Mike’s mouth. “Yes. After all, you know where I work and I’m not planning on leaving town any time soon.”

  After a few more minutes of negotiation, they agreed they would exchange cash and the vial of liquid gold the following day. Mike ushered Lawanda out of his office and escorted her to the elevator. He pushed the down button before putting a firm hand on her forearm, “Thank you, Lawanda, for all your research. I’ll see you in the morning with the money.”

  Her beautiful lips curved into a wicked smile, “Oh, I expect you’ll thank me even more after you try the potion.” She stepped into the elevator and pressed the down button.

  Even after the elevator door closed, Mike could s
till see her dark eyes, full of violent turbulence watching, watching him. Shaking his shoulders to ward off the miasma of evil Lawanda had left in her wake, Mike returned to his office.

  Rita stood in the doorway waiting, curiosity written all over her pretty face. She opened her mouth to ask him a question and Mike frowned. It was none of her fucking business what he and Lawanda had discussed.

  “Rita, don’t you have things to do?”

  “Oh. Oh, yes, as a matter of fact, I have some letters for you to sign.”

  “Good. Bring them in so we can get them out today.” He shut the door in her face.

  The following morning, Mike ushered Lawanda into his office and made sure the door was firmly shut. Lawanda stayed a few minutes then Mike walked her back to the elevator. Again, Rita was waiting for him when he returned. Mike ignored her questioning looks and returned to his office.

  Rita was becoming too damned nosy for her own good. And Mike was beginning to re-think his attraction to her. What really burned him was the fact Rita had taken it upon herself to warn Mike more than once of Lawanda’s reputation.

  Just yesterday, Rita had leaned over his desk, giving him a generous view of her braless breasts and proclaimed Lawanda Jones was a witch. She'd even gone so far as to intimate Mike didn’t have a brain in his head if he continued to fraternize with Lawanda.

  It was his office. He could have whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted in and no secretary was going to tell him how to run his fuckin’ life. Nice tits wouldn't influence him one iota.

  He wasn’t stupid, nor was he blind. The evil surrounding Lawanda was a plain as the fuzz on a kiwi, and he didn’t need some nosy secretary butting into his life. He wasn’t convinced Lawanda was a witch, but she certainly was something. She’d opened his eyes in three easy lessons.

  Lawanda might be evil, but he was willing to overlook it because she offered him a solution to his and Lainie’s problem. A proposition too tempting to ignore. Instead, he chose to brush off Rita’s warnings.

  In the privacy of his office, Mike sat and stared at the tiny vial for a long time. Did he have the nerve to do what had to be done? The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had to do this for Lainie. He wanted to do this for her and…for himself. Because, the secrets Lawanda had imparted to him were too tempting and delicious to resist. He had to do this.

  He had to.

  Chapter Nine

  It was Friday and Lainie’s birthday.

  Mike couldn’t contain his excitement. What a perfect day to give his beloved wife the gift of a lifetime.

  His only problem seemed to be how to present the gift. He mulled over the question for hours before finally latching onto the best solution.

  Late in the afternoon Mike put his plan into action with a quick stop at the local sex-toy store. Another hurried stop at the mall and he was on his way home.

  Even running all the errands, he found he was home before Lainie. It was only one hour, but an hour he put to good use by putting her gift together. He set the dining room table with their wedding china and put potatoes into the oven to bake. He made a fresh, green salad and set out a bottle of wine to breathe. With minutes to spare, he grabbed a quick shower and was putting the finishing touches on dinner when Lainie walked in the back door.

  She didn’t seem to be surprised to find him bent bare-assed over the oven. Instead, she dropped her purse on the floor and slithered up behind him. Clasping her hands at his waist she bumped her feminine mound against his naked buttocks and whispered in his ear, “If I had a cock…you would be so screwed.”

  Mike chuckled and stood. “You wish.”

  Lainie brushed her breasts against his bare back, rubbing hard until her nipples poked out like little fingers. Fingers he knew would soon scour his back leaving a trail of heat.

  “Um, darling?” Mike tried to get Lainie's attention, but she seemed intent on driving him to distraction. Instead of answering, she planted a soft kiss in the center of his back, making him shiver when she blew across the wet spot. “Mmm?”

  “Why don’t you go take a quick shower while I put the steaks under the broiler?” Mike turned and gave Lainie a kiss on her upturned nose making her giggle.

  “Keep your hands off the merchandise,” he ordered when she made a grab for his cock.

  “Ah, come on, baby, let me touch your penis for a minute,” she begged, brushing her finger over the apron covering his burgeoning manhood.

  “No, go get busy. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.” It was nearly impossible to keep his voice from reflecting his exhilaration. It a few short minutes, he would give her the best present of her life. A cock.

  Lainie opened her mouth to protest and Mike dived in for a soul-scorching kiss.

  When he had her limp and weak in his arms, he turned her small body toward the doorway. “Shower your sweet body and be fresh for me.”

  With one of her adorable pouts, Lainie gave him her usual plaintive taunts. “If I had a penis…”

  “I know, baby. I know. You’d share it all the time.”

  Her sexy butt disappeared around the corner and Mike sighed. Soon, my darling, soon you’ll have your wish.

  * * * *

  Lainie pushed her plate back, patted her lips with a napkin and the look she gave Mike spoke volumes.

  “How was your dinner, darling?” He stood and picked up her plate.

  “Delicious as always, Mike.” Her smile was positively angelic. “Someday, you’ll make someone a great wife,” she said in her whisky-rich voice.

  He grinned and dipped his knee in a mock curtsy. “Thank you, my lady.”

  He turned to leave the dining room and Lainie growled, “Nice ass.”

  Mike stopped in his tracks, and flexed his gluts. She was giggling when he left the room in a slow suggestive swagger.

  When he returned he found Lainie, a pensive frown on her face, staring at him.

  “What are you up to, Mike? You’ve been unusually secretive all evening. Something seems to be bothering you, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I just know it isn’t like you to be so quiet. Are you upset I turned twenty-nine today? Twenty-nine isn’t old, is it?”

  “Hardly, darling,” Mike grinned. “You’re still a girl. And, you’re still wearing me out. You worry too much.”

  He picked up the salt and pepper shakers and a few other things before leaving the room again.

  “For a guy, you sure have a gorgeous, tight ass,” Lainie added in a louder voice.

  When he returned he retorted, “Glad you like it. Yours is pretty sexy, too.” He adjusted the dimmer on the lights to its lowest setting.

  “I guess I worry too much, Mike. But, you have been complaining a lot lately about my age and my constant demands for sex. I thought you’d be happy I’m getting older. Better not get your hopes up though, because I might be more mature, but I’m not going to give up sex anytime soon.”

  Leaving the room, Mike’s laugh trailed behind him.

  He returned with a small cake and was pleased when her eyes lit up with delight. Setting the cake in front of her he said, “You're over analyzing. You know I love you with all my heart and I always will."

  "Young, old. It will never matter to me. You’ll always be perfect in my eyes.” He touched his lips to hers in a kiss he hoped would show her how much he cared. “Happy Birthday!”

  He touched a lighter to the five candles decorating the cake. "Make a wish, sweetheart."

  She closed her eyes and whispered something. Then, with a delicate puff, she blew out the candles.

  He sliced and dished up the cake, giving himself the largest piece. Fork in the air, he waited for Lainie to take the first bite.

  “Oh, darling…my favorite; chocolate, chocolate with chocolate butter-cream icing. You are the very best husband and cook in the world.”

  Mike grinned and took a bite. She was right...he was a pretty damn good cook.

  * * * *

  Lainie wondered what her han
dsome husband was up to. In years past there had been a birthday gift waiting for her on her dinner plate. Tonight there was no gift. It didn't really matter. His love was gift enough. It just seemed so unlike Mike. He hadn't talked much during dinner, not even about work. He'd simply watched every bite she took as if he wanted her to hurry up and finish.

  His Valentine gift, the golden phallus dangling on a fine chain, hung at this moment between her breasts. She had no doubt the necklace had cost him a significant amount, because the necklace she’d given him had not been cheap. Since Valentine’s Day had only been a couple of weeks ago, maybe he didn’t feel the necessity to give her anything else.

  Mike must be a mind reader. “I’ll bet you’re wondering if you’re getting a present, aren’t you, darling?”

  She took a bite of cake and nodded abjectly, “I guess I’m a little too obvious, aren’t I?”

  His warm laugh sent her heart into overdrive. “No, sweetheart, you aren’t. After all, it is your birthday.” He jumped up and bent over at the sideboard, giving her a nice view of his balls and cock between his opened legs and her throat went dry. The man was too sexy for his own good.

  “I know what you’re thinking, you bad girl.” He was reading her mind again.

  “Oops,” she said. “But, I’m not sorry. It’s your own damn fault you’re so delicious.”

  Curiosity was killing her as Mike continued to rummage around in a drawer of the sideboard. Lainie couldn’t control her glee when he pulled out a silver gift bag. “Oh, how pretty,” she exclaimed.

  He stood the bag next to her dessert plate and since he was distracted, she made a quick grab for his cock, but he fooled her and adroitly dodged her hand.

  “You are such a naughty girl,” Mike said wagging a finger at her. “Finish your cake and then you can open your present.”