by Tiana Laveen
“Yup.” She grinned hard at him then turned back towards her book, as if it were more intriguing than him… more exciting… more inviting. It couldn’t be. Nothing was more exciting than him…
Why isn’t she fawning over me?
He stared at her, wanting to snatch the damn thing out of her hands, rip the pages out, chuck it to the ground, break the binding, then stomp it with his foot.
I’m jealous of a fucking book.
This is an all-time low for you, Lazarist. It’s not like it’s the Bible or anything. It’s a fuckin’ fictional historical mystery novel, for Pete’s sake. She’s going to be trouble. She’s pretending… playing games.
His cock twitched once again at the realization. Turning away, he journeyed to the Self Help section. Perhaps he could play on her sympathy. Yes, he could gather up a few books, keep them pressed close to his chest, then let them tumble in front of her… exposing his quasi-broken heart for the world to see… portray himself as in need of self-discovery, of healing of a wounded soul… one who wished to delve deep within and rid himself of his demons … a man in desperate need of love and understanding that only the mighty Sky could administer…
Poor, helpless Lazarist. Whatever shall he do?!
THOSE. FUCKIN’. PANTIES. ARE. COMING. DOWN!
Minutes later, they’d reunited at a small table for two by the window. People sat all around, indulging in banana nut bread slices, coffees, and Italian sodas. He observed her side-eyeing his collection of, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’, ‘You Can Heal Your Life’, and last but not least, ‘The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.’
That’s right, baby. I’m all about being fuckin’ sensitive to your needs ’nd shit… I’m loving and marriage minded. Never mind that my feet will never walk down the aisle again and I couldn’t care less about all of this relationship business… but I can see you’re not as naïve as I suspected, Sky… what a fuckin’ pity. You talk too fuckin’ much for one, ask too many questions. You look at me suspiciously so now I have to bring out the big dogs. Heart strings on pull in 3, 2, 1… showtime!
“You know,” he began as he clasped his hands together, making sure to look immersed in thought. “With all the work I do on any given day…” He shook his head, his expression glum. “It doesn’t give a lot of time for, say, getting to know me anymore. I don’t spend enough alone time with myself. I want to grow and expand, you know? I’m interested in human study, too. Introspection.”
“Really? That’s wonderful! We have a lot to discuss, then.” Her lips curled at the ends and her eyes widened with what he could only describe as a look of complete and utter conviction.
I’ve got you now, bitch… operation legs open has commenced!
“So, what have you been thinking about lately, you know, in regard to your own self-improvement?”
Plunging deep inside your hot pussy with my fingers then cock and making you scream. That would be a BIG improvement!
“Uh, well.” He flipped through one of the books, pretending he needed to think on it… put his words together just right. “Life and work balance, actually.” She nodded in understanding. “I tend to see my life through my work. It defines my existence to some extent.” And that was true…
“So, how do you think you can make that better?”
He shrugged. “Not so sure… I’m not always convinced it’s a problem, and that could be part of the problem, too.” Again… he gave her another nugget of honesty. “I’ve tried and haven’t always been successful. I love what I do too much, Sky.” He tossed up his hands and smiled. “See, owning a club like Fallen Angel has been a dream of mine since I was in my early twenties. I used to wish there was a place I could go to, where I could shoot pool, eat a fancy meal, and dance my ass off all under the same roof. I didn’t wanna have to hop on the train, catch a cab, or get a ride from a friend just to have one solid Saturday night. I wanted something all inclusive. Now sure, those places exist, but not like mine…”
“I’d have to agree with you there. It is definitely unique. That was creative on your part, and you filled a need in the city, too.”
I can fill your needs as well, Sky…
“Thank you. Fallen Angel is in a league of its own. I’ve never once been in the red, my employees are top notch, and I don’t hesitate to cut someone who isn’t pulling their weight. I make sure the food is good and fresh, that I have highly trained chefs. I guarantee that my comedians and entertainment acts have a good resume. I never want to bring in someone that’s lackluster. I ensure people get good drinks, none of that watered-down shit and I charge a fair price, too. The music for the club needs to be to the liking of the crowd, the place clean… bathrooms spotless. I take my customers seriously. Most days.”
They both chuckled at that. “The VIP sections are just that … for very important people. Red leather half circle booths with a drink and appetizer menu catered just for them. I want people to have a good time. Come out and blow off some steam… unwind after a long work week. When you come to Fallen Angel, it’s party time. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.”
“Why did you choose to open a club versus, say, a retail shop, bar, or something like that?”
“People laughing and having fun is a passion of mine. I am a born entertainer, but I’d rather do it behind the scenes and vicariously through others… kind of like these books.” He pointed to her small stack. “My words are in my feats; my characters or the employees and the work I put in—they do my bidding and I am pulling the strings. I don’t need to be in the limelight all the time… I much prefer that the chefs and comedians and the DJ get the accolades. That’s kinda a misconception about me. All I need is to be acknowledged. That’s really where my heart lies, and I’m cool with that. I’m a people pleaser too… but within reason.”
He winked at her. Picking up his lemon flavor Italian soda, he took a sip and set it down.
“You speak with such passion about work! I really like that.”
She leaned back in her seat and pressed her arms against her body, inadvertently drawing attention to her lovely tits. His eyes rested on that cleavage for a spell, his mind entertaining visions of him slicking his tongue all over them and tasting her nipples.
Too soon, he snapped out of it and looked back into her eyes.
“Yeah, it’s my passion. I don’t have any family, ’cept my mother and sister, my friends—they’re like brothers to me. I don’t have children, nothing like that, so essentially, my work is my wife, my kids, my car, my home, my heart… my God.”
“That’s tragic.”
His smile slowly faded. He couldn’t even fake his disappointment in her inability to simply go with the flow, not make this hard. The prey was acting up…
“How so?” He turned his plate to and fro and sank his fork into the thick slice of banana nut bread. He hated banana nut bread, but she insisted he try it. In an effort to get her ass naked before the end of the night, he complied.
“Because you just went through an entire spiel about how you want to help yourself, stop the life – work balance from being so one sided. Hey,” she said with emphasis. “I get it. If I could dance for eighteen hours a day, I would, but I know that’s not healthy. Not only that, I used to do just that it seemed. It practically killed me. My father had had enough and made me relax. I’ve been in your shoes. You have to stop the grind and look at the world around you, boo.” She smiled sadly. “At least every now and again.”
“You’re so right… see?” He shot her a grin. “I’m trying… but it’s hard, baby. I think I probably need someone around who can remind me of that, you know? Someone in my corner… Perhaps I need a special person who would make the slow down worth it? After all, what’s the point in reducing progress if there is no motivation to do so?”
“No motivation? You and your mental health should be motivation enough, Lazarist.”
“My mental health is contingent upon my bills being paid, my mother being take
n care of, my friends and associates who work for me getting their checks on time, and my dream constantly being fed, Sky.”
He pressed his finger into the table and could feel the crease in his forehead growing with aggravation. He hated that she was getting on his fucking nerves. Why couldn’t she just nod and agree? Why did she have to be so fucking difficult?
Here I am, telling her what she wants and it STILL isn’t good enough! When I said I needed motivation, this bitch was supposed to say, ‘I can try to be that motivation.’ That’s what happens nine times out of ten. These broads usually want to fuck me so they can get close to me, get licked by the lion, win my trust, and then go on fuckin’ shoppin’ sprees on my dime. I don’t mind that – we’re doing favors for one another essentially, but this woman really wants to help… she really wants me to live my best life. What kinda cockamamie bullshit is this?!
He smiled hard as he remembered he was in the line of fire, then shoved a piece of the banana bread in his mouth.
“Good, right?” She grinned.
He rolled his eyes, feigning ecstasy.
“Ohhh, is it ever!” he said with his mouth full. “This is amazing!”
This dry ass, flavorless shit tastes like the bottom of a fuckin’ dumpster behind Lin Lui’s Kitchen on a hot ass summer day! Jesus Holy Trinity, what the hell have I eaten as I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Taste Bud Death! Christ! It tastes like crackers from 1975! I’m dyin’ here!
He swallowed roughly, grabbed the Italian soda to help shove the shit down, almost gagging along the way. The woman’s brow rose as she watched him gulp down the remainder of his beverage to chase the brick that was caught in his throat then hop out of his seat to go purchase another.
“Would you like anything else?” He pointed to the counter up ahead that featured the pastries, beverages, and candies.
“No, thank you.” She smiled then opened one of her books as he sauntered away.
Something odd was happening. He felt exposed, as if all of his private inner workings, the rusty gears and all, were in full view. As he stood in the short line to wash away the rest of the horrid flavor from his mouth, he wondered why suddenly he felt that she could do what he could do so well, too? See through people’s bullshit with a mere glance. But he usually played along… never letting the liar, thief, or backstabber in his midst know that he was on to them until it was too late.
I’ve been played…
He’d thought he had her pegged…
Sky had come across as a bit silly, airheaded, and young at the club and during their first phone conversation. She had a kind of caretaker persona, too—the way she doted over her drunk ass friend and kept shoving him towards the attractive bald chick with the spinning green dollar bills in her eyes. What a kind-hearted, gullible soul. An easy target.
But… she was beautiful, too, which only added to the prize. He saw her as soon as she’d arrived that night. He was in his office and had just checked his cameras to see her piling inside, getting carded and her hand stamped, along with her band of friends. He’d leaned in closer to the camera, then hit zoom. After magnifying her face and body on the screen, he literally salivated.
I want her…
There’d been no denying it that night, and certainly not now. When he’d discovered later that she was a dancer, his dick saluted. He was one lucky son of a bitch.
Dancers were limber…
But now, things were uncertain.
She’s on to me…
She hadn’t said as much. Perhaps she was being polite, but typically he found it rather easy to roll over on a woman, make her believe in white maned unicorns, glittery rainbows, princes riding in on said unicorns under those goddamn rainbows… and all of the stupid shit that was required just so he could knock her pussy walls clear out the frame and never fucking call the broad again. After all, women were excessively emotional creatures; playing on that was as easy as 1, 2, 3.
And though he wasn’t convinced she wasn’t in that category – either way he sliced it, she had a mean poker face. The woman was rather hard to read at times, and that only added to his intrigue and irritation over the entire ordeal. He stood there feeling some sort of way… a mixture of frustration and admiration. Before long, he had another drink and was sitting back down, only to see that her face was planted firmly in a book.
She isn’t messing with her cellphone… she’s just into the book. Interesting. I need to ask how old she is. Maybe she is older than she looks. She acts it.
“So.” he opened the beverage and chugged it. “Tell me about how you became a dance choreographer.”
“Well, it just so happens that I’ve always loved to dance.” She slowly closed her book and crossed her arms along the table. “My father was instrumental in supporting me and my dreams, and he got me into dance classes when I was very young. I then began to audition and get dancing jobs as a child in commercials and I joined a professional dance troupe for children from New York City. We toured the country performing during the summers.”
“Wow! That’s impressive.” He tooted the chilled bottle back up to his lips.
“After that, I was contacted by various recording artists, locally that is, to help with some of their videos and on stage performances. That went very well and I established a name for myself. Then, about four years ago, I opened my own academy, ‘The Sky is the Limit Dance Studio.’”
He couldn’t help but feel her enthusiasm and it melded into him, making him happy for her, too.
“Catchy… so, uh, how’s business?” He spread his legs far apart and leaned back in the chair.
“It’s awesome. I’m very busy, but I make sure I give myself some down time. It’s essential.” She winked in his direction as if she were conducting some after school special, an intervention on his behalf. He grimaced and rolled his eyes.
I’ll be damned if she’s gonna be passive aggressive and drop little judgmental hints in my direction and not give it up! If I’m gonna be abused, it better come with some ass attached to it!
“How old are you, Sky? 26? 27?”
“No, not quite.” She chuckled. “I’m 33.” That confirmed his suspicions. “That’s another reason why I need down time. I think I’m in pretty good shape and it’s not that thirty-three is old… far from it, but when it comes to athletes and dancers, well, our bodies take a bit more of a bruising, so self-care is crucial.”
Why don’t you let me take care of your body and bruise up that pussy with some heavy poundin’ from my big dick tonight, huh? I’ll be cruel to the pussy, baby, then kiss it goodnight… I will make you cum so hard your back will cave in… make you think you love me, give you the time of your life like you never imagined…
“I think you should buy those books.” She pointed at his stupid collection. “I bet they’ll help.”
He nodded and polished off the rest of his drink, then looked out the window. The woman was a lost cause. He’d have to whip out his cellphone later and find a Plan B. Lazarist could tell about half way through a date if he was getting laid or not. At this point, this was a definite NOT. Her body language told him that she was closed off. Arms crossed across the chest, legs overlapped. She’d been averting eye contact at various pivotal intervals. The whole thing stunk to high heaven.
Something isn’t right. I’m never wrong about these things…I’m rarely shrugged off or turned down by women. She’s setting up the scene to say, ‘No.’ All the telltale signs are there. I know someone got into her head… I ALWAYS choose the right ones. Me and this broad should be leaving right now, heading to my place or the hotel and screwin’ each other’s brains out. Something isn’t adding up…
A few seconds passed and the reality hit him like a ton of bricks.
SHIT! I bet I know what happened…
I bet she called the bald chick… What was her name? Simone? Sherry? Shit-startin’ Stacey? No, Scarlet! Fuck you, Scarlet! I know you’re behind this shit! Yeah, and now Scarlet is a woman sco
rned because I chose her friend over her. She cock blocked. For fuck’s sake! Sweet revenge from one hunter to another! I guess she got the last laugh…
He played along nevertheless. Besides, at the very least, Sky was proving to be an interesting conversationalist. He had to give that to her. And it didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eyes. She had beautiful long hair and a nice smile, as well. But most of all, oddly enough, she had a quality he believed few possessed—she genuinely cared about how he felt…
Minutes passed and hours matured. The rest of their conversation consisted of small talk—still interesting, but uneventful. He felt himself shutting down, his interest in her twisting and turning in the wind… and for all the wrong reasons. The woman liked to talk about hipster type shit, and he was into it too, to some degree. It was hard accepting that this would be an uphill battle with no ending in sight. Would he have to concede? His dick begged him not to.
Not one to so easily give up, he gathered his weapons of mass pussy destruction and formulated a new plan. Honesty.
“All right, baby, look.” He shoved the books to the side with a swipe of his arm and cleared a path for him to rest his hands. “I know that you’ve been sittin’ here trying to figure me out, and I’ve been doing the same with you. You know what I want, Sky, so are we gonna do this or not?”
The woman’s face looked downright mortified.
“Oh give me a break with the jaw drop shit, would jah!” He waved his hand in her direction. “I want to take you home. Point blank, period. And before you ask, no, that’s not all I wanted, but it’s a big component, okay?”
“What else did you want then?” she asked dryly. Her eyes darkened with clear indignation.
“I wanted to get to know you, just as I said.”
“Lazarist, why do you think you are privy to my pussy just because you’re good looking, and have an expensive car and money? I swear, dating in New York is the fuckin’ pits!”
His eyes grew wide at her choice of words. What a raunchy little thing she was… and she looked so sweet and innocent.
