Fascination Street

by Bridget Midway

  “Girlfriend?” the young man asked.

  “Neighbor,” Solomon supplied and winked.

  “You’re banging your boss and your neighbor? Dude, you’re my new hero.” The kid raised his hand in the air to get a high-five slap.

  “Kid, find new heroes.”

  Grant tore out of the building, hoping to get home before Garland did too much damage.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Grant knew he was in trouble when he pulled into his driveway and Evan stood outside on the porch, staring at him and shaking his head. No time to explain the truth to his neighbor. He had bigger fish to fry.

  Stepping into his house, his heart sank when he heard the distinct sound of cursing coming from the back bedroom.

  “Zora?” Grant called.

  “Back here.”

  Not Zora’s voice. Sounded more like Winta.

  Grant peered into the spare bedroom and saw no one. When he looked into his bedroom, he caught a scene he could accurately describe as a coven of witches with a very pissed off head witch.

  Grant reached out for his girlfriend. “Zora, let me---”

  Zora jerked back. “Hold on.”

  Her repulsion made Grant’s stomach lurch. Did she hate him right now?

  “Animal,” Winta said.

  “I thought you were different.” Lynia, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, shook her head.

  Grant knew he was in the doghouse now. Lynia was fully dressed.

  “I am different,” Grant said. “If I can just talk to Zora, I can---”

  “No. You’re not going to poison her head with more of your lies.” Winta wagged her finger in front of his face.

  “I haven’t said anything yet. You all won’t let me talk!” He stomped his foot in exasperation.

  “What can you say?” Garland asked. “I caught you. You were going to fuck your boss on her desk.”

  Zora’s jaw flexed while she gritted her teeth. She shook her head as she stared him down.

  “I was not. Just let me and Zora talk about this.” He reached for her again.

  This time Zora stepped forward in a challenging way. “How could you? Is that why you’ve been acting so funny lately and why you come home exhausted from work sometimes?”

  Grant felt the steady rise of molten heat in his body the longer Zora accused him of cheating on her as she stood in a group of women he had actually fucked. “Look, whatever you think happened with me and Stephanie---”

  “Oh, so the bitch has a name?” Winta said.

  “Why am I even telling you all this? I need to be talking to Zora.”

  “Zora is not the only one you’ve hurt here, buddy,” Garland began. “We’re all invested in you. You cheat on Zora, you’re cheating on all of us. Just think of yourself as a Mormon with four wives.”

  Great. Grant was now married to Grouchy, Surly, Meanie and Sweetie.

  “So go ahead, Grant. Talk,” Lynia said.

  Zora put her fists to her hips, a stance he’d seen only one time since they’ve been together. “Tell me you’re not cheating on me, Grant.”

  His face and voice softened. “I’m not cheating on you.” He scanned the room. “I’m not cheating on you with anyone outside of this room.”

  The ladies seemed to take his sincere tone to heart. Their shoulders relaxed a bit as they stared at him.

  “This afternoon when you called me, Stephanie grabbed the phone and hung up on you,” Grant began. He undid the cuffs of his sleeves and rolled them up to his wrists. “I got pissed off and, on the advice of Garland and Lynia, I confronted her. I told her she had no right to hang up my call. Then I said something in jest that she took to heart.” He glanced at Garland when he said this part. “I told her I would put her over my knee and spank her and she went crazy.”

  “She was hitting you?” Zora asked.

  “No. Just the opposite. She got turned on. She wanted me to spank her and then some.”

  “I told you she was a submissive in hiding.” Garland nodded.

  “That’s when Garland walked in and saw me. As a matter of fact, she asked if Garland and I could come back and do a little something with her. I swear that’s all that happened. You do believe me, don’t you?”

  Grant searched her eyes to find that unwavering trust that was always there. Zora’s eyes were dim.

  “Honey, why would I go out and screw another woman when I have you---” He scanned the room. “---and these women to come home to every night?”

  “Lynia said you haven’t touched her all week,” Zora said.

  “Because I missed you. It’s no fun to do this lifestyle without you.” He took a step closer.

  Again the women crowded around her but Zora made it clear in her actions and in her body language that she needed no protection.

  “That story is nice, Grant. But you need to do more.” Winta put her hand on his shoulder to keep him at his spot.

  “What else do you all want? A pound of flesh? I’m telling the truth. I love Zora. I would never hurt her. I would never lie to her.” He turned his back on the women. “Why don’t you all believe me?”

  “Prove yourself, Grant,” Lynia said, her voice returning to its light, airy sound again.

  He turned around and found Winta and Garland stripping Zora naked while she remained still. He watched the display and wondered what role he would have in whatever ritual they were planning.

  “How do you want me to prove that I’m telling the truth?” he asked but didn’t break his gaze from Zora’s body.

  The fullness of her body had changed. Gone were the cute little tummy and her full thighs. Her stomach lay flat now and her thighs looked smaller than before. Certainly this all didn’t occur in a week but it had happened.

  The three ladies helped Zora onto the bed, positioning her on her back.

  “Make love to me,” Zora said.

  “Making love to you will let you all know that I’m telling the truth?” Grant questioned.

  “The ladies and I talked about the situation. I need you to show me that you cherish me.” Zora slid her hands over her body. “I’ve never not trusted you, Grant. You’ve never let me down. Don’t start now.”

  Grant started unbuttoning his shirt.

  “And we watch,” Garland commented.

  He paused for a moment before continuing. “What about the men?”

  “It’s us, the women, who were hurt.” Lynia made her place on the other side of the bed. “The men won’t be involved in this. Just us.”

  “That was my idea,” Zora said.

  Positioned around the bed like the beginning of a ritual, the women stood and watched him take off his clothes. Garland, standing at the foot of the bed, seemed to be the ringleader of this crew, this coven. She crossed her arms and occasionally made a perturbed sound that squeaked through her nose.

  Lynia and Winta flanked the sides of the bed. Both had their arms crossed while waiting for Grant to disrobe. It all seemed so clinical and less about sex, about making love.

  Grant pulled down his boxers. He, along with the other women, watched his manhood deflate before their eyes.

  “Do you all have to watch?” he asked.

  “A little performance anxiety?” Garland raised her eyebrows.

  He walked by her without acknowledging her smartass comment.

  “You don’t seem to have a problem performing in front of us on orgy night,” Winta said with a cock of her head.

  He crawled into bed and positioned himself on his side with Lynia at his back.

  “Don’t worry,” she began. “Just think about what Zora means to you. That’s what’s important.”

  Gazing down at Zora, Grant felt her hurt and disappointment. He was hurting, too. How could she believe these women over him? He’d been there for her throughout their whole relationship, good and bad.

  He kissed her hungrily. His mouth possessed hers like he needed to prove something to Zora and the women watching. Zora was his woman. He wanted he
r and no one else.

  His tongue darted into her mouth. The scene felt wrong, so wrong his stomach churned.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. He stroked his fingers over her cheek. “I would never hurt you, you know that.”

  “Did you kiss her?” Zora asked.

  The doubt in her voice tore his heart. “No. She grabbed me and kissed me. I pushed her away.” He held Zora tighter. “I don’t want her. I want you.”

  Grant felt Zora’s distrust wash away. Her eyelids lowered. He danced his fingers down her neck to her chest. Her heartbeat was strong and steady, not pounding away like his.

  He kissed her again, gentler this time. He let her mouth seek his, allowed her tongue to explore his mouth. His hand slipped around her waist. He felt her curve her back up to let him slide his hand under, hold her closer.

  “Better,” he heard Garland say behind his back.

  “Was worried there for a moment,” Winta commented.

  But he ignored them. Or at least he tried to ignore the women. Grant felt their stares boring in the back of his head. His hairs at the back of his neck stood on end, so much so that he bristled when Zora touched his cheek.

  Bad timing. His heart nearly stopped when he caught her hurt expression.

  “That’s it,” Grant said and let his girlfriend go. “I’m not doing this.” He sat up in bed. “You all want a performance and I’m not going to give it to you. Look for some other monkey to jump through your hoops.”

  “Grant, we’re not your enemy,” Winta said. She made her way to the end of the bed.

  “We’re a family here.” Lynia walked to the women, standing next to them and creating a united front.

  “Why don’t you want to make love to me?” Zora asked.

  Grant took two deep breaths before he placed his hand on Zora’s cheek and caressed it. “Babe, I would love nothing more than to make you come over and over again.” He kissed her, then glared at the neighbors. “But not at the expense of my integrity. That’s what all this is about. So if you all don’t mind, I’d like for you all to leave so that I can talk to the woman I love.”

  The women waited a beat, then in a strange synchronized way, they folded their arms over their chests, turned and walked out in a line.

  “I think he couldn’t get it up,” Garland said in a not-so-quiet voice.

  “You noticed that too?” Lynia asked.

  “My dick is fine! It’s you all who are out of it!” Grant called after them.

  The front door slamming responded to his remark.

  ***

  Zora remained in bed as she watched her boyfriend pacing back and forth. He’d slipped on a pair of pajama pants and hadn’t said a word since Garland, Winta and Lynia had walked out the door.

  No, that wasn’t entirely true. Grant had been mumbling something incoherent. Zora managed to catch words like ‘liar’, ‘trust’ and ‘crazy’ in his rants but nothing she could string together to make a logical sentence.

  Bringing the sheets up to her chest, Zora settled back against the headboard before springing her questions on him. She figured she might as well get comfortable because she suspected she wouldn’t like what she was about to hear.

  “What’s wrong, Grant? I thought you liked it here.” Zora pushed her hair back from her face.

  Grant stopped. The look he gave Zora chilled her to her bones.

  “What’s wrong? Three of our neighbors just barged into my home, told you a cock-and-bull lie that you believed and then you asked that I make love to you as a way to apologize when really I had nothing to be sorry about.” He scratched his head, then shook it. “If anything, those women owe me an apology for telling me what to do about Stephanie. Stand up to her. Be the dominant one. They set me up.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were having problems with Stephanie?” Zora had been feeling a bit of a separation from Grant for the last couple of weeks but she assumed it was workload and not his boss.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about hating your job?” he shot back.

  “I don’t hate it--exactly.” Zora nibbled her bottom lip. “Honey, you’ve changed and it’s not for the better.”

  Grant’s eyes got wide. “I’ve changed? Look at yourself. You get around these people and your whole attitude changes. You’re losing weight and---”

  “I’m getting healthy,” Zora said, cutting him off.

  “Getting healthy is one thing. Starving yourself is something else. I loved you the way you were.”

  “And, what, you can’t love me ten pounds lighter?”

  He rubbed his eyes. “God, stop twisting my words around. You’re just like them. I remember when you used to think for yourself and you didn’t give a damn what anyone thought of you or us. Now you’re bending over backwards to fit in with these people when I’m the one who truly loves you. I’m the one who’ll be there when you need me.”

  “I know that, Grant. But why can’t you open yourself up to trust them? They want to be our friends as well as our lovers.”

  Grant shook his head. “Friendship is one thing.” He pointed out the door. “They want total allegiance and I can’t give that to them. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Maybe we should think about pulling back from them. When our lease is up, we’ll move.”

  At his suggestion, Zora pulled the sheet from her body and jumped out of bed. “You want to see me stand up for myself? Here it is. I don’t want to go. I finally find a group of people who are genuinely kind and considerate. And I have fun with them. We both promised ourselves to be open to new experiences. Why are you closing yourself off? Why can’t you trust them like you trust me?”

  As though he’d been defeated, Grant kissed her forehead. “Trust is earned. I can’t open myself up to these people.”

  “Baby, what do you think will happen? Why would you think I would let anyone hurt me or you? You have to let go of the past.”

  He mumbled, “Easier said than done.”

  This time he kissed her lips before retreating to the third bedroom that they’d made into a den. Zora had to get through to Grant. His worst enemy on all of Fascination Street was himself.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  For the first time since moving to Fascination Street and starting the lifestyle, the weekend went by without any strange parties or events. Although Zora saw all of her neighbors working in the yard or washing their vehicles, no one paraded around naked or had sex outside. The placed seemed…normal.

  Zora sighed, thinking about how the neighborhood had changed. Was it because of Grant’s refusal to make love to her in front of the other women that day he came home from work?

  She brought her gaze up from her romance novel and peered at Grant. In his glasses and without a shirt, he looked sexy…damn sexy! He, too, had his nose in a book, a mystery Zora suspected, since those were always his favorites.

  The normal practice on Sunday nights started off with them reading in bed and sometimes ended with passionate sex. Since they hadn’t made love in over a week, Zora snuggled up to him.

  Her heart pounded in her ears. Folding a corner of her book down, she set it on the bed next to her and wrapped her arms around his waist. She’d almost forgotten the special training she’d gone through with Brax. Maybe tonight would be the night to try it out.

  “Grant,” she whispered.

  He peered at her. “What’s wrong? Too hot? Too cold? You want me to get you some water?”

  She shook her head. She smoothed her face over his bare chest. Her fingers circled one nipple while her mouth sought the other. With a delicate touch, her tongue swirled around his now pebbled nub.

  Grant shifted in bed. Zora peered up and saw him set his book on the nightstand.

  “I thought you were mad at me,” he said, his voice lower than normal.

  “Not mad. Never mad.” She answered him between licks and kisses. “Besides, you’re the only one here so I have to attack you.”

  “So I win by default, huh?” He grabbed her a
round her waist and flipped her onto her back.

  Zora squealed in delight.

  “Let me show you who isn’t second best then.”

  Grant’s passionate kisses took her breath away. Zora liked the feeling. She clutched at him, not wanting to free him just yet. She needed more of him.

  Just as he started a trail of kisses down her body, she heard the front door open. It had been such a long time since the neighbors took advantage of the Open Door Policy that Zora had forgotten that they would still come by at any time.

  “Shit!” Grant said. “Just when I was getting started.”

  As soon as Grant’s feet hit the floor, Art appeared in the doorway to their bedroom. “I’m not disturbing you two, am I?” he asked.

  “You have impeccable timing, Art,” Grant said. He stood up and didn’t bother to cover his erection that tented his pajama pants. “You always seem to come over at precisely the wrong time.”

  Art smiled that smile that must have parted a million thighs. “Then I’ll make this quick and get out of your hair. I have an emergency trip. Have to go to Colorado on business. I’ll be gone for a couple of days.”

  “You need us to watch your house? Water your plants?” Zora asked.

  “No, Winta can do that.” Art winked at Zora.

  “She’s not going with you?” Grant asked.

  This time his erection did subside.

  “No, not this time. Since the trip is so short we thought it would be best if she stayed here.”

  “So what are you asking as a favor?” Grant asked.

  Art peered over Grant’s shoulder at Zora. “Walk me to the porch, will you?”

  Hesitating at first, Grant followed the good doctor to his front door. But standing at the door wasn’t enough. Art actually stepped out on the porch and waited for Grant to follow.

  “Our wedding anniversary is coming up,” Art began in a low voice. “Besides work, I’m getting Winta a diamond ring and scoping out a piece of property up there for a vacation spot.”

  “Sounds nice.” Grant didn’t mean to sound bitter. If he could afford the kind of house Art had and buy vacation homes on a whim for Zora he would. As it was, he was just a regular guy with a regular job…a job he hated.