by Jolie Du Prè
“Yeah, of course.”
Cassie nibbled Katrice’s neck and Katrice moaned softly. “I like you, and I want to be friends, you know?” Katrice said.
“I am your friend.”
Katrice turned to face Cassie and kissed her lips. Cassie put her hands under Katrice’s dress. Skin and pubic hair greeted her touch.
“Jesus, you’re not wearing any underwear!” Cassie said.
“No, I guess I’m not.”
Cassie pulled Katrice close and kissed her again.
“What about breakfast?” Katrice asked.
“What about it?”
Cassie slid her finger into Katrice’s vagina while they kissed slowly and deliberately. Katrice pushed her ass against the counter for support and spread her legs as Cassie increased the speed of her penetration. Kissing Cassie deeper and faster, Katrice held on to Cassie’s head and rocked herself against her palm. “Mmmmmm,” Katrice moaned. She was getting close and Cassie knew it. Her breathing grew ragged and Cassie felt her heart beating fast under her dress. “Oh, God!” Katrice exclaimed. As her body reached orgasm, her juices flowed onto Cassie’s hand as Cassie continued to move her finger frantically in and out of her.
The women held each other in silence.
“I love to make you come,” Cassie whispered. “It’s the best thing in the world.”
“You’re a pro at it. Now I’m going to need a few minutes to compose myself if I intend to cook.”
“Good, ‘cause I’m hungry.”
The two women laughed and kissed each other again.
———
It was late, and Cassie felt her writing was going nowhere. All her sentences seemed to sound the same. It had been raining for two hours straight, and the crash of the water against the ground interfered with the thoughts in her brain. She felt lonely, like an orphaned child, and could think of nothing but Katrice. No woman had ever affected her that way before. All she wanted to do was to go over to Katrice’s apartment and be with her.
She didn’t call; she just showed up. And when she did, Katrice welcomed her, even though she had been asleep. She offered her some green tea. They didn’t have sex; they just held each other. Cassie couldn’t remember when she had felt so safe.
———
That July, a month later, Cassie prepared to attend a writer’s conference downtown. Katrice agreed to come as her guest, but would meet her on Saturday instead of Friday.
On Friday evening, the start of the conference, Cassie checked into her hotel room. After settling in, she changed into a red linen pantsuit, fastened her favorite pin to her top and fixed her hair and makeup. She would teach a workshop Saturday morning, sign copies of ‘Ebony’ Saturday afternoon and give a lecture Saturday night. However, on Friday night she could attend the dinner, listen to the speakers and just enjoy the evening. She ventured out into the reception hall and looked around. A large number of people were already there, chatting with each other. Most had nametags, and many were holding drinks.
“Hello! That brooch you’re wearing is one of my pieces.”
Cassie looked over at the woman who was speaking to her.
“You’re Ashanti Morgan?” Cassie was shocked to meet the up and coming artist who was making a big hit in Manhattan. Ashanti was stunning with deep blue eyes, which appeared to be natural, and dark chocolate skin. Cassie had never seen a blue-eyed black person before.
“Yes, and you’re Cassandra Brown. Now that we’ve made our introductions, why don’t we get a drink?”
“Well, okay. I don’t see any harm in that.”
They walked over to the bar. Ashanti smiled at the bartender and said, “Give this woman a glass of Merlot, please. You like Merlot, don’t you, Cassandra?”
“Yes. How’d you know?”
“I think I know what you like.”
“Oh, really? What, are you psychic or something?”
“Actually, yes, since I was a little girl.”
Cassie stared at Ashanti as she took a sip of her wine. This tall, lean, black woman with blue eyes probably was quite psychic.
“Listen, Cassandra, I say we ditch the over-cooked peas and dried-out beef that they’ll serve tonight and go get some real dinner.”
“I hadn’t planned on leaving the conference.”
“Well, honey, it’s time to change your plans.”
Cassie hesitated, but she left with Ashanti before she could think more about why she should not.
Chapter Four
“Take us to 929 West Belmont,” Ashanti ordered the cab driver as she and Cassie climbed in. She sat close. The smell of her sweet perfume filled the air, and the edge of her black dress gathered at her thighs, exposing her long, dark legs. Cassie tried not to stare at them.
The cab stopped at Ann Sathers. “This is a good restaurant,” Ashanti said. “You like it here, right?”
Cassie liked it. Just last week she had been there with Katrice.
Over dinner, Ashanti talked non-stop about her jewelry business. She was intelligent and even interesting, but it was hard for Cassie to get a word in about her novel writing. After a while, Cassie grew weary and found herself tuning out, staring at Ashanti’s blue eyes and falling into a slight trance. She thought about Katrice, and she wished it were her that she was having dinner with. But Katrice couldn’t say no to the health food store. They needed her to do inventory. She’d have to arrive at the conference Saturday morning. This annoyed Cassie, but she tried to understand.
———
After dinner, they took a cab back to the conference. Once they stepped out of the cab and paid the driver, Ashanti grabbed Cassie’s hand.
“Your room or mine?” Ashanti asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Your room or mine?”
“Look, Ashanti, the dinner was nice, but there’s still time for me to catch the rest of the lectures. I’m not heading back to my room, or yours.” Cassie said.
“Okay, all right. Let’s go see what’s going on, then.”
They went inside and walked to the dining room, only to find the last speaker wrapping up.
“Well, hon, it looks like you’re too late,” Ashanti said. “Let’s get another drink.”
“I’m just going to go to bed. I’ve got a class to teach tomorrow.”
“Yes, I know. I’m one of your students. It’s only nine. I won’t keep you up too late.”
“I think I’ve had enough to drink.”
“Girl, you don’t have to drive anywhere. One more drink?”
Cassie sighed. “All right, one more.”
“And this time I want to hear about you. I’ve been gabbing all night.”
———
Sitting in the hotel’s bar, holding another glass of Merlot, Cassie talked about the success of ‘Ebony.’ Ashanti asked questions and seemed to be genuinely intrigued. It was as if she was a different person than in the restaurant. Cassie felt more mellow and her concerns about her class began to fade.
“You’re feeling good, aren’t you?” Ashanti asked.
“Yeah, a little bit. No one has bothered me since I’ve been with you. That’s kind of nice.”
“I told them all to stay away. Ashanti’s here!”
She moved her stool closer and rubbed her leg against Cassie’s. Cassie looked down. Ashanti had beautiful legs that Cassie wanted to touch, so she did. She gently raised Ashanti’s dress, placing her hand on her knee. Then she looked her in the face.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Why are you here and taking a class of mine? You should be off somewhere making jewelry, right?”
Ashanti laughed. “I’d like to start writing and I figured this was a good place to begin.” She looked at the bartender. “Two more.”
“Ashanti…”
“Come on! The bar’s clearing out. Let’s take these drinks and finish them somewhere else. Your room or mine?”
“You don’t give up, do you?” Cassie
asked.
“Give up? Why would I do that?”
Ashanti smiled at Cassie. Cassie smiled back.
“Mine.”
———
Cassie’s self-imposed two-wine-limit was broken as she finished her fourth Merlot. She was officially drunk and when Ashanti put her lips on hers, she didn’t resist. Pushing Cassie on the bed, Ashanti climbed on top of her as Cassie lay still, startled by her strength. Ashanti gazed at Cassie. She, too, was drunk, and now her blue eyes took on an even glossier appearance. She removed Cassie’s clothing until she was completely naked.
“Just lie there and don’t move,” Ashanti ordered.
She stood up and took off her black dress and sandals. The only item she wore underneath her dress was a sheer black thong. Cassie breathed in deep as Ashanti slipped the thong down her long legs and off her feet before climbing back on top.
Rubbing their naked bodies together, they kissed furiously. Ashanti’s thin frame moved rapidly against Cassie’s larger one.
Then Ashanti stopped kissing. “I want you to sit on my face,” she said.
Cassie laughed. “What? I’ll smother you! You’re so skinny.”
“Put that ass on my face right now!”
“Okay, okay!”
When she pulled herself on top of Ashanti, thoughts of Katrice began to enter her mind. But they soon dissipated when Ashanti’s hands squeezed her bottom and her tongue ravished her clit. She leaned her head against the wall as she rode Ashanti’s mouth.
Suddenly, Ashanti turned her around to the opposite direction, amazing Cassie, once again, with her strength. Her wet, shaved pussy was now in front of Cassie’s face. As Ashanti continued to eat her, Cassie dropped her face between Ashanti’s dark thighs and madly licked her pussy.
Both women moaned loudly as they enjoyed each other. When it was over, they lay on the bed exhausted, and soon fell asleep.
———
In the morning, when the sunlight hit Cassie’s face, she woke and jumped out of bed. Ashanti lay asleep on the other side. Cassie nudged her awake.
“Ashanti, you’ve got to go!”
“What time is it?” Ashanti asked, half asleep.
“It’s eight o’clock. Thank God I woke up. Now I have a fucking hangover. You’ve got to leave.” Cassie grabbed her robe off the chair and put it on.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ve got a class,” Ashanti said. She got out of bed and put her clothes on. Then she glanced at herself in the mirror. “Shit, I look a hot mess!”
“Ashanti, please. You’ve got to go!”
There was a knock on the door.
“Oh, shit.”
“What?”
Cassie stood silent. There was another knock.
“Well, aren’t you going to answer it?”
Cassie couldn’t speak or move.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Ashanti said.
“Wait,” Cassie whispered, but it was too late. Ashanti opened the door.
“My, who’s this lovely woman?”
“I’m Katrice.” She looked at Cassie through the doorway; tears began to fill her eyes. “And I was just leaving.”
“Katrice, wait!” Cassie screamed.
But Katrice ran through the hall and disappeared down the stairs.
Chapter Five
Cassie stood staring down the hall long after Katrice was gone. A rush of nausea overtook her and she ran past Ashanti to the bathroom, slammed the door and threw up.
“Are you okay?” Ashanti asked, standing outside the bathroom door.
Cassie flushed the toilet and then rinsed her mouth with water from the sink. She could still see Katrice’s face, eyes sodden with tears, vividly in her mind. Not only am I a ho, she thought, but I’m also a shit.
“Yeah, I’m okay. You should probably go now.”
“I’m sorry if I caused a problem, but you didn’t tell me you had a woman. A beautiful one, too. She is your girl, right?”
Cassie leaned over the sink and stared at herself in the mirror. Women had come and gone in her life and she had never thought of herself committed to anyone. That was, until this morning.
She walked out of the bathroom and looked Ashanti in the eye. “Yes. She’s my girl.”
———
Before the start of her class, Cassie tried to reach Katrice on her cell phone, but there was no answer. Her students were eager to learn, and she would have to center her thoughts on teaching. She hadn’t eaten anything since she got sick. Her stomach felt like it had been punched a million times, and she felt better sitting down. Ashanti sat in the fifth row, but Cassie tried not to look at her. I just want to get this over with, she thought.
When the conference was over, and she was back at her place, she called Katrice three times, but it was obvious that she was not answering her calls. She decided to find her.
First, she stopped by Katrice’s apartment. But when she rang the buzzer, there was no answer. She looked around to see if her car was there, but it wasn’t. Next, she visited the health food store. Still there was no sign of her. The only place left was the Sunflower. When she arrived, Katrice was there, talking to one of the other owners. She took a deep breath and walked up to her.
“Hi, Katrice.”
Katrice flashed Cassie a wide smile. Isn’t she upset? Cassie thought.
“Hi! I hope your weekend was successful.”
“Can we talk somewhere privately?”
“Sure, let’s go into the office. No one’s there at the moment.”
They entered the office and closed the door.
“Katrice...”
“No need to explain. I knew what I was getting myself into when I slept with you the first time. My mistake was in assuming that you could be anything other than your reputation.”
“But I can be! I made a terrible mistake,” Cassie grabbed Katrice’s hands. “Katrice, you mean a lot to me. I realize that now. Please give me another chance.”
Katrice pulled her hands from Cassie’s. “You’re a wonderful writer, and I admire you for that. I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to speak here. We’ve sold lots of your books. Look, we can still be friends.” She picked some papers off of the desk and opened the door. “I’ve got to run now, but I’ll see you around.”
“I love you,” Cassie said.
Katrice turned and looked at her for what seemed like an eternity.
“I love you, too,” she responded, “but I don’t ever want you to touch me again.”
———
Four days had passed since Cassie had spoken with Katrice. The dishes in her sink had piled up, and there were four empty pizza cartons thrown on the floor in the corner of the kitchen. Instead of writing, she watched talk shows on television, beginning with Jerry Springer in the morning and ending with Oprah at night.
She sat in her chair, wearing the same robe, and nothing else, each day. It smelled of underarm musk and pizza, but she had no interest in changing, much less to do laundry. She wasn’t sure how many hours she had cried.
This is what it felt like to hurt. When Katrice had looked at her and said those words, she meant them.
Last Saturday, after the class, Ashanti cheerfully said goodbye and went on her way. She had no further feelings for Cassie, and Cassie had no further feelings for her. That’s the way it was. Sometimes they walked away unscathed and sometimes they were hurt. But the wall was torn down this time, and it was Cassie’s turn to fall. I deserve it, Cassie thought, what goes around, comes around.
———
It was Saturday and exactly one week since Katrice had found Cassie with Ashanti. Today was the day Cassie would try to pull herself together. She hadn’t left her apartment in a week, and she could no longer stand her dirty body and surroundings. She got into the shower and scrubbed her skin and her hair. She put on some clean clothes, dried her hair and put it up in a bun.
Her kitchen was the scariest. The dishes were a mountain of plates, bowls and cups and the trash had p
iled up, too. She attacked that room first, putting the trash into two big garbage bags. She stuffed the dishwasher and had to wash by hand the dishes that wouldn’t fit. She wiped off the counter and then took out a mop and a bucket to clean the kitchen floor.
Then she went for the living room. Magazines and books were thrown about, and she put them on the shelves. She pulled out the vacuum to clean the rug. A basket of silk flowers that Katrice had brought her from Lincoln Park sat in the corner. She stopped vacuuming to stare at them, and the tears came back.
———
At around eight that night, the doorbell rang. The sound almost made Cassie jump.
She spoke into the intercom. “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Katrice. Can I come up?”
Cassie leaned on the door, unable to speak at first. She thought her heart would jump out of her chest. “Yes, come up!”
She wanted to run down the stairs and meet Katrice, but she thought better of it. Instead, she waited in the doorway for her to appear.
Appear she did, looking more beautiful than ever before. She wore a red sundress that perfectly complimented her glowing skin. Her breasts bounced gently as she ascended the stairs. It was as if a ray of sunshine illuminated her entrance.
When Cassie saw Katrice, she smiled wide. Katrice did the same, yet they didn’t touch each other as they went inside.
Katrice put her purse down and scanned the room with her eyes. The silence was uncomfortable, but Cassie knew not to interrupt it.
“I’ve come to apologize,” Katrice said.
“Why? I hurt you.”
“Yes, you did. But you told me you loved me. Have you ever said that to another woman?”
Cassie shook her head.
“I didn’t think so. I do believe, though, that you were telling me the truth.”
“I was.”
“I know. But it was me who lied when I told you I never wanted you to touch me again.”
Cassie grabbed Katrice and held her tight. She rubbed her hands on her hair, down her body, touching her breasts and breathing in the scent of her skin. She kissed her gently on the mouth. They looked at each other for a long time.
“Would you make love to me, please?” Katrice asked.
“I think I can do that,” Cassie replied.
