“Sure, the commercial stuff is a good thing, but I just feel bad for the people who feel like their neighborhood is being taken away from them.”
“They should have taken better care of it then.”
“It’s not like that and you know it,” Jess protested.
The waitress returned with their wine, but they hadn’t even looked at the menu yet, so she gave them more time. Nicole picked up the menu and examined it as Jess went on.
“It’s the whole cycle of poverty. The jobs go away, the people who can leave, the neighborhood starts to deteriorate. It’s not the fault of the people who live there.”
“I love your bleeding heart, Jess. But you can’t argue this isn’t a net positive for the area. The people who sold you guys that house made out pretty well.”
“But they could have really cashed in if they’d held out a couple more years. They just couldn’t afford the spike in property taxes.”
“It hasn’t been so bad for everyone,” Nicole said, flashing Jess a knowing look over the top of her menu.
“What are you implying, Nic?” Jess’s tummy filled with butterflies.
“We both know one neighbor who’s made out pretty well in the deal.”
“What does that smirk mean?”
“Come on, Jess. I know what’s going on between you and Winston.”
“Did he call you today?”
Jess really was shocked. She knew Winston and Nicole weren’t serious, but she didn’t expect him to go running to her friend to brag that they’d had sex. She thought he was more discreet than that.
“Why should he have called me? What does he have to tell me?”
“I know what you’re trying to do,” Jess complained, her lips pressed together in a tight line.
“It sounds like there is something to tell. What happened last night.”
The waitress chose that moment to return, and the women hastily ordered their meal. Jess could see Nicole was eager to hear a story, but she didn’t know if she was ready to tell it. Nicole may have experience with this sort of thing for all she knew, but Jess had never discussed a mutual lover with anyone. She wasn’t even sure she should be discussing taking a lover at all—certainly not in public. They put in their orders, but after that Jess had no reason to stall.
“You really aren’t going to tell me what happened?” Nicole asked.
“Do you really want to know? You and Winston are sort of a thing.”
“Do I seem upset to you? You obviously want to talk about this.”
“I feel like I have a lot going on inside of me, but I don’t know that I want to talk about it.”
Jess felt Nicole staring at her. Her friend was not going to give up, and she basically knew already. Jess heaved a heavy sigh and chose to confess.
“Okay. It happened. We did it.”
“You sound like you’re in high school.” Nicole laughed.
Jess leaned in and whispered, “What do you want me to say—I fucked Winston? There, I said it. Feel better now?”
“I think that’s a better question for you. Do you feel better now that you did it? Is it out of your system?”
“I don’t know how I feel about it. Should I feel good that I broke my marriage vows?”
“But you don’t feel bad about it, do you?”
Jess allowed a little smile. “I should. I know I have nothing to feel guilty about—not really—but I can’t help thinking I should. Do you know what I mean, Nic?”
“I know exactly what you mean. And knowing you, I understand how you feel. Have you talked to Kyle?”
Jess nodded. “He’s fine.” Another guilty smile. “He’s more than fine. I think I blew his mind. I bet he still doesn’t believe I really did it. Honestly, I hardly believe it myself.”
“It is a little shocking. But I think it’s awesome. It may have taken you thirty-something years, but you finally broke out and did something wrong. You finally did something just for yourself. Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“When I’m not thinking about how wrong it is, yes, it feels pretty damn good.”
“Don’t let Winston hear you talking like that. I think he expects more praise than that.”
“Winston was…” Jess gestured like her head was exploding, and made the corresponding sound. “You did not exaggerate.”
“Did he ruin you for Kyle?” Nicole smirked.
“That’s not funny, Nic. The two of them are so different that I wouldn’t even try to compare them. And I love Kyle, so there’s no contest.”
“Okay, point taken. But Winston is amazing in bed. He’s even made me reconsider my stance on monogamy.”
“If any man could do it, it’s certainly him.”
“Did he do that thing where he makes you talk dirty?” Nicole asked. She poured on the drama and said, “Give me your big black dick! Oh please!”
Jess laughed. “He did. But can I be honest? I thought it was kind of hot.” The confession turned her pale cheeks crimson.
“Ooo, you like the dirty talk. I wouldn’t have guessed that. It can be kind of hot, but I thought it was a little silly that he was so into it. It made me wonder if the only reason he wants to fuck us is because we’re white girls. You know, the whole white prize thing.”
“I wondered the same thing, but it made me think about my own motives. Did I want Winston because he’s black and that makes it more forbidden?”
“You are not a racist, Jess.”
“I know that, but I think it’s in there somewhere. There weren’t guys like him where we grew up. Part of what makes him so hot is because he’s so different, at least for us.”
“Speak for yourself, Jess. He’s not the first black guy I’ve been with. And as long as a guy is hot, and he knows what he’s doing in bed, I don’t care if he’s orange.”
“Well, I’m not as experienced as you, Nic.”
“Is that a nice way of calling me a slut?” Nicole was smiling.
“I would never.”
They both laughed.
“So? You never really answered me. Is Winston out of your system? Or do you want more of his big black cock?”
“Keep your voice down, Nic!”
“You’re too cute.”
Jess sipped her wine and admitted, “I’m seeing him again tonight, and then that’s it. II go back to my real life.”
“Can you just quit like that? Can you go on like it never happened?”
“I don’t know about acting like it never happened, but it’s over after tonight. It has to be. As amazing as it is with him, I am a married woman, and I have to put my family first. I just don’t see this as something I could do as a regular thing.”
“Why not? If you and Kyle are both into it, what’s the harm?”
“So what am I supposed to do? Make dinner, read Maddy a story and tuck her in, and then sneak across the street to see my lover? I just don’t think that’s me.”
“All I’m saying is that you should never say never, hon. If you guys are both into it, you may find that you don’t want to stop. Maybe if it’s not Winston, it’s somebody else. It could be something you do every once in a while.”
“You think Kyle and I could be some kind of swingers?”
“I think the proper term for what your doing is cuckold, or hotwife, or something like that.”
“I just don’t see us like that, Nic.”
“What if Kyle doesn’t want to stop?”
“I hadn’t even thought about that. If that’s the case, we’ll talk about it.”
“I think you are open to it!”
“I did not say that.”
Jess really had not thought about anything past Winston. It was a one—okay, two—and done deal in her mind. But what if this was something that really turned Kyle on and he wanted her to do it again? She really didn’t know how she felt about that, and she had too much to think about with their current situation. Jess wasn’t going to drive herself crazy with hypotheticals.
“It lo
oks like our food is coming.”
Thank God, Jess thought. She was ready to get off of the subject.
~~~
The women lingered at the restaurant, talking and drinking wine, for so long that Jess was short on time when she returned home. Her shower had to be quick, and she blew her hair dry, rather than letting it air dry. She had no idea what she should wear for her final night with Winston, but it should be something special. Nicole did a great job picking her outfit the first time, but her friend couldn’t stay. Jess was on her own.
Since Jess didn’t think of herself as a seductress, it was difficult to pick an outfit for Winston. She knew what her husband liked, but she suspected that Kyle and Winston had very different tastes. There probably wasn’t even anything in her wardrobe that Winston would think of as over-the-top sexy. And then inspiration struck. It could have been too much wine, but she had a wild idea.
She went to her lingerie drawer and threw it open. Jess dug into the back of it, where the special stuff she rarely wore was kept. It was the things that Kyle bought her for anniversaries. The guilt over wearing something bought by her husband for another man was fleeting. It felt naughty and daring, and Kyle would probably even get a kick out of it.
Kyle mostly bought her elaborate lingerie, the kind of things she would only wear in the bedroom. Those pieces just weren’t comfortable to wear under clothes. She chose skimpy bra and panty sets when she picked something to show off for her husband. Jess worked hard on maintaining her body and was proud of it. While it wasn’t in her nature to show off for others, she did like being sexy for Kyle. She laid out the pieces Kyle had bought and zeroed in on one right away. It was a red and black camisole set Kyle purchased for Valentine’s Day three years ago. A lot of wives would be annoyed receiving lingerie for Valentine’s Day—it was really a gift for the husband—but he always accompanied it with a nice piece of jewelry, and Jess appreciated that her husband still found her so sexy. Not a lot of her friends could say that after the kids came.
Jess eagerly slipped into the lingerie and modeled it in the mirror. The body was black stretch lace, utterly see-through with polka dots, while the cups were red and satin and framed by heavier lace, presenting her breasts with a bow in her cleavage. The bottom edge had a flirty ruffle. The panties were also black and red and sheer, and had a big bow on the front to match the camisole, which she’d always thought was silly. She’d tried in vain to find a way to detach it without ruining the panties. Jess also wore the diamond pendant that came with the lingerie, and found matching diamond studs.
Pleased with her choice, she finished her makeup—color for her cheeks, kohl around her eyes, red lipstick to match the lingerie—and brushed her hair straight. Staring in the mirror, Jess habitually pushed her hair behind her left ear and pursed her lips, trying to look seductive. She just looked like a duck.
She posed in the full-length mirror and texted Kyle pictures, adding: Ready to go!
K: Ur going across the street like that?
-worried what the neighbors will think?
K: If they’ve seen you with him that ship has sailed
-haha. Funny
Jess pouted, wondering if she was that obvious.
K: U look amazing. He’s never going to let u out of his bed
-that’s the point!
K: R U wet?
-I’ve been wet all day. It still feels like a fantasy
K: It’ll feel real when he’s fucking u
Jess didn’t know how to take that and let it pass. She knew Kyle had mixed feelings, but he wanted her to do this. They would be fine afterward. She kept telling herself that. Jess only had to live with the nerves for a few more minutes. Once she was with Winston, all that would be gone. There would only be him.
-I’d better get going
K: have fun. Bring me something good
-my phone is fully charged. I’ll try to live up to your expectations. Love you
K: Love u
twenty-five
Winston waited nervously on his couch, flipping his phone around in his hand. His feet were up on the coffee table. The stand lamp in the corner was lit, but the room was otherwise in shadows. The only sound was the hum of the air conditioner in the window and the occasional creak of the house from upstairs. Jessica would be there any minute, and the wait was killing him.
He wasn’t used to nerves when it came to women. He had always been smooth as silk, and rejection was never a thought in his head. On the rare occasions when he had been shot down, he rolled with it, knowing there would be another hottie just around the corner. Winston wasn’t nervous about rejection. There was no question Jessica would be there. She was past cold feet. He was sure of that. But tonight mattered to him—mattered in a way he couldn’t explain. It wasn’t like he was trying to win her—that would never happen—but he did want to make sure she missed this. He even wanted Jessica to regret ending it so quickly. Maybe he could make her regret it enough that she would come back. Winston didn’t count on that, but he didn’t dismiss the possibility either. Jessica was full of surprises.
If Jessica didn’t come back, he could live with that. Having Nicole made that easier. Winston felt a pang of guilt. He did not think of the brunette as a consolation prize. If Jessica was full of surprises, then Nicole was an endless supply of them, and he felt like he’d only scratched the surface. Winston very much looked forward to exploring everything Nicole had to offer. He had a feeling their relationship might change with Jessica out of the picture.
Winston left the door ajar, so when Jessica knocked it drifted open. She called out his name, and he told her to come in. He watched her come through the door and close it, habitually locking it behind her. It appeared she did not want to be disturbed.
Jessica’s outfit was surprising. It was a denim shirtdress, belted at the waist and falling just past her knees. It didn’t show much skin. The dress was pretty, but it wasn’t sexy. She even buttoned it almost to her neck. However, spiked red heels tipped that she may have a surprise in store. She stood in front of him, on the other side of the coffee table and put her hands on her hips with the pretty, thin smile that always suggested she was pleased with herself.
“Hi,” she said softly, like they were just pals hanging out.
“Hey Jessie, what’s shakin’?”
“I’ve been thinking about you all day. I probably shouldn’t tell you that, but I knew I wanted to come back the second I left.”
“We don’t need to play it cool, baby,” he said, flashing his brilliant smile. “I like that you wear your emotions on your sleeve. I didn’t think you wanted to leave at all this morning.”
Jessica looked down, taking her pretty eyes away from him. “I didn’t, but if I stayed it probably would have killed me. I needed some recovery time.”
“Are you ready, Jessie?”
She nodded, short blonde hair bouncing.
“Then why are you just standing there?”
“I wanted to show you something.”
Jessica started at the top and slowly unbuttoned her dress. It parted slightly as she went, but he couldn’t tell what was underneath it. She unbuckled the belt and threw it back from her shoulders, dramatically presenting herself. Winston stopped flipping his phone in his hand and stared at her. Jessica was fucking hot. She looked like she’d just stepped out of a lingerie catalog.
“Damn, girl,” he said, followed by a soft whistle.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Winston poured over her body. The lingerie was classy, sexy without being slutty. He realized he could see more of her body than he initially thought. Her fabulous toned, flat tummy was visible through the top, and her nipples were two hard pebbles through the red satin. Jessica executed a slow turn and the panties were as sheer as the top. Her ass looked perfect. He pulled up his phone and snapped pictures.
“Hey, I have my own phone for that,” she protested.
“If tonight is our last night, I need something to re
member you.”
“I don’t think I like the idea of you walking around with these pictures on your phone.”
“C’mon Jessie, you trust me enough to fuck me. You don’t trust me enough to have a couple sexy pictures?”
She smiled. “That makes logical sense, but I still don’t know that I’m comfortable with it. Use my phone.”
Jessica bent over and retrieved her phone from a pocket in the dress she dropped on the floor and tossed it to him. Winston was happy to snap some photos. Jessica got into it as she posed for him. The room was light enough that her phone’s camera could still compensate and snap decent pictures. She looked particularly hot when she leaned forward and her diamond pendant was hanging right in front of her cleavage. He imagined it was a present from her husband. He would enjoy watching it bounce around as he fucked her. As he snapped the pictures, he took the liberty to send a couple to Kyle. The poor man shouldn’t have to wait for his thrills. Why not let him see in real time?
Winston’s cock felt like it was going to tear through his basketball shorts. He’d had enough teasing. He laid her phone aside and beckoned her to him. Jessica stepped around the coffee table and she gasped when he took her hand and pulled her onto his lap. He knew she felt his thick hard-on by the way she wiggled her little butt against him.
He brushed the fine blonde hair away from her face and kissed her. It felt so good to be past the initial awkwardness and tentative actions. He didn’t have to ask her any longer. He could just take her. Jessica closed her eyes and threw herself into their kiss, her tongue flicking back at his, while she caressed the smooth back of his head. He was shirtless, and she also rubbed his smooth, bare chest, making him jump when her fingernails tickled over his nipples. Winston was sensitive there, and very few women he’d been with could touch him there in a way he liked. Jessica didn’t linger. She kept touching him everywhere, like she was trying to memorize his body with her hands.
“Mmm, yes, baby,” he moaned, tilting his head back when her lips moved to tease him there.
Gentrified Page 24
