Fascination Street

by Bridget Midway

  She stopped. “I don’t mind doing it out here. I don’t care if they see us.”

  And she didn’t care. At this point she understood wanting to please Grant and having people see her overwhelming love for him.

  “I have no problem making love to you here either. But I want you comfortable and since we have no furniture, I know the spot to do it.” He brought her to the kitchen.

  With his hands under her butt, he lifted her gently and set her on the island.

  “How many times have we fucked on this thing?” she asked.

  He pulled off her sweatshirt, t-shirt underneath and bra before answering. “Not nearly enough in my opinion.”

  She took off his shirt. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it carelessly to the floor. As he undid her jeans she worked on his, until they both brought them down at nearly the same time.

  Struggling to control her labored breathing, Grant put his hand to her bare chest and eased her back onto the countertop. Her legs spread open for him, and he slid himself inside of her, finding slickness greeting him.

  Slow, precise thrusts pushed in and out of her until the sluggish rate got to Zora.

  “Faster, baby. I can take it,” she said.

  “Sure?” He braced his hands on her hips.

  With one nod, he slammed into her, in and out, back and forth until she felt him shaking. She stared into his wild eyes. Clamping her legs around his waist, she felt her own building climax swirling in her pussy, making it constrict around Grant’s thick cock.

  One last thrust inside of her, he released a long, low moan that spurred on her own climax. She clawed the counter until she thought her fingernails scarred the wood.

  “I can’t wait until we’re married,” he said nearly breathlessly. “Are you sure you want to have a big wedding?”

  He helped her sit up while his dick remained inside of her. To hold steady, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “I’m sure.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

  His hand rubbed down her bare back, soothing her. Opening her eyes briefly, she blinked when she saw a familiar sight.

  “Hello, Winta,” a much calmer Zora said.

  Grant, not screaming or scrambling to get his jeans back up, merely glanced over his shoulder at her.

  “Hey, Winta.”

  “Glad this time you all didn’t stop on my account,” she said.

  After a sweet kiss, Grant pulled out of Zora and did fasten his pants back up. Then he helped her down from the counter.

  “We just wanted one last hurrah before we left,” Grant explained.

  “I understand.” In a pair of spray-on looking jeans and furry boots that made it look like she had polar bear feet, Winta looked like a snow bunny. “Just came to do the last walk-through. You all ready?”

  Once Zora got her clothes back on, she stood next to Grant and took his hand. Unable to speak because of her tightening throat, she simply nodded at Winta’s request.

  Her neighbor wasn’t heartless. Zora noticed how pink Winta’s eyes had become, with a glossy sheen of tears covering them. If them leaving hurt Winta as much as it crushed Zora and Grant, then why were they still kicking them out? Surely they had forgiven Grant by now.

  Winta led them to each room. Zora wasn’t sure what was going on in Grant’s and Winta’s mind with each room they hit but Zora recounted the number of times she’d made love to the other neighbors on Fascination Street in each room.

  “Was this scratch on the wall here when you all moved in?” Winta asked as she pointed to a mark on their former bedroom wall.

  “No, it wasn’t there…until you clawed it that night it was me, you and Zora in here,” Grant answered. He squeezed Zora’s hand.

  Winta got a far away look in her eyes before a smile covered her face. “That’s right. You were really good that night. Well, you were great every time, even the first time.” She glanced at Zora. “And you too. I don’t know what I’ll do without---”

  “Don’t,” Zora said, cutting her off. “Let’s just finish this and go.”

  Winta nodded. Following her back to the living room, Zora leaned into her fiancé for comfort and support. She would miss this home. It was apparent that staying wasn’t an option.

  When they got to the living room, Zora gasped, looking at all of her neighbors standing in the empty space. Her heart accelerated gazing into each of their faces to figure out why they were all here.

  “Couldn’t let you go without saying goodbye, right?” Art said, gathering his wife next to his side.

  “Guess not.” Grant shook the man’s hand, then kissed Winta on her cheek.

  The chaste gesture must not have satisfied her. Winta slipped her hand behind Grant’s head and kissed him fully on his lips.

  Without provocation, Zora kissed Arthur on his lips. She would miss him most of all. She and Grant went down the line and gave each of them a kiss or a hug. Though somber, Zora and the rest managed to smile although she could almost hear their thoughts.

  “So what will you do with this house?” Grant asked. He gazed around the place and this time Zora noticed how much Grant appreciated the home instead of what being in it meant to them.

  “Actually, I sold it to Brax.” Art nodded toward Brax.

  “And what will you all do to it?” Zora asked.

  “Lynia and I are going to build an addition on it and convert it to a business,” Brax said. He wrapped his arm around his wife, who hadn’t hidden her tears since she’d been there.

  With furrowed eyebrows, Grant asked, “What kind of business are you thinking of running out of this place?”

  “Accounting,” Brax answered immediately. “Turns out my accountant was a crook. If Lynia hadn’t noticed something in the books, something relatively minor, this guy would have wiped me out quick. So I fired his ass but now I’m in need of an accountant to do the books for my publishing company.”

  Anticipating Brax’s next request, this time Zora squeezed Grant’s hand.

  “So I plan on making this part of my business. I’ll house the accountant here so I can keep a close eye on him…or her.”

  “Wouldn’t that mean that person would be a part of the Fascination Street lifestyle?” Grant asked. “You can’t expect to chain up Lynia on the porch and not have your new employee get suspicious or wary.”

  “You’re right.” Brax cleared his throat. “Which is why I want to offer the job to you.”

  Zora’s head spun listening to the request.

  “I would have asked sooner but we needed you all to clear the house anyway for the renovation. Until then, you can work out of my home.”

  “But we signed a year lease at our apartment,” Grant said.

  “The renovations may be done by then. If so, I’ll pay off your remaining lease or pay any charges you incur for moving out before your lease date and take on the expense to have you move back here.”

  Grant blinked. Zora could tell from his facial expression that he wasn’t totally convinced about the arrangement.

  “And what happens when we move back?” he asked.

  “Meaning?” Garland butted in.

  “Will Zora and I live in this house the way we were before, swinging with all of you, or will you treat us like you have been treating us for the last couple of months, polite but standoffish?”

  The six people gazed at each other and one by one smiles graced their faces.

  “You and Zora will be back like the way you two were before the incident,” Evan said.

  “As a matter of fact, I don’t know what plans you two have tonight but I’m firing up the hot tub. We would love for you all to join us.” Art beamed.

  “Then I guess all I have to say is take me to the hot tub and I’m glad to be back!” Grant embraced Art and the rest of the crew.

  However, Zora stepped back from the chaos and merriment to take an assessment of the situation. The smile she’d sported slipped off of her face the more she thought about what moving ba
ck to Fascination Street meant to her, meant to both of them.

  “Wait!” she said.

  The room fell silent and all gazes turned to her.

  “I don’t want to move back.”

  Zora could almost hear the collective crashes to the floor when their jaws dropped.

  Grant rushed to her first. “Zora, honey, what are you talking about? Moving back had always been our hope. We just said how much we missed everyone. I’ll have a job I’m sure I’ll enjoy. You can work whatever job makes you happy instead of accepting anything you can get. Our lives would be perfect. Why don’t you want to move back?”

  Zora took a deep breath before answering. “I was selfish when we first started this lifestyle. I loved the pleasure and the camaraderie that we had. But Grant, things have changed between us. I’ve changed. And there’s one thing that that accident has taught me and that’s life is short.” She held her man’s hands and gazed deep into his eyes. “You asked me to marry you because you wanted us to share our lives together. Don’t you ever think about children? I want them with you. If we stay here, we can’t have them.”

  Grant placed his hand on the side of her face. Agreement filled his eyes as he offered her a slight smile.

  “Yes, I want to have a life with you and that does include children.” He turned to the group. “I’m sorry. If having the job means we have to move to the house, then I guess I’ll have to turn down the job. Our plans together mean more than a job, a house and the perks that come along with it. I love you all.” He stared intently at Zora. “But I love this woman more.”

  Grant bent slowly and planted a soft kiss on her lips. With the kiss, a wave of relief and freedom washed over her. She didn’t need these people to validate her sexiness. She did that on her own just by making Grant hard for her whenever he looked at her. And speaking up for herself made her feel good. She didn’t need other people telling her what to do and how to live. She had a mind of her own. Fine time she started using it and making her own tough decisions.

  “Wait,” Art said and held up his hands, halting Zora and Grant from leaving.

  “You’d better make this good, Art,” Grant said. He wrapped his arm around Zora’s shoulders.

  “How about you two stay here until the baby is born then you can move to---”

  Grant didn’t let the man finish before he waved his hand in the air. “No. We’re not puppets and pawns. I’m going to make a home for my family and not be uprooted because of some silly rule. And I want to own my own home and not rent for the rest of our lives.”

  Grant pulled Zora to the door and Art blocked him. “Wait! God, man, when did you become so bull-headed?”

  “Was there a time when he wasn’t?” Garland asked, which caused a trickle of laughter in the group.

  Angst covered Art’s face as he scanned the expressions between his wife, Lynia and the other men.

  “It’s a stupid rule,” Evan piped up first.

  “So you want kids too?” Garland asked as she planted her hands on her hips.

  “Always.”

  Garland dropped her fists and moved closer to her husband.

  “I would love to see kids running around in the court area, wouldn’t you?” Lynia asked of Brax.

  Brax gazed down at her. He put his hand on her stomach as though she carried his child right now. “I hadn’t really thought of it. I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “We’re not talking about you guys,” Grant piped in. “This is about me and Zora.”

  “Hold on!” Art said. His cool demeanor unfurled in front of everyone. “I think we’re all in agreement that these last couple of months without Grant and Zora were---”

  “Shitty,” Garland said.

  “Lonely,” Lynia offered.

  “Lousy,” Winta concurred.

  “Okay, so let’s take a vote. All in favor of bringing back Grant and Zora, and foregoing the rule about children, raise your hands.” As each hand went up, Art quickly added, while staring pointedly at Brax and Lynia, “That means no more outside displays of affection.”

  Winta grabbed Art’s hand and smirked.

  “Yes, I know. No more morning glory for us either.” Art rolled his eyes.

  “We didn’t mean for you all to change your lives for us.” Zora felt flattered but responsible for taking down a whole neighborhood.

  “But change is good,” Brax said. He nodded. “Yeah, change is good. I say we let them stay. Grant, you still want the job, it’s there for you.”

  Grant turned to Zora, who had fallen back in love with this group all over again. “What do you say, Zo? Want to try it again?”

  She gazed into Grant’s eyes, then scanned the expressions on everyone’s faces. They all looked expectantly upon her, waiting with baited breath for her answer.

  “Never let it be said that I’m a quitter,” she said with a smile. “I want to come back.”

  The men released a long breath and all of the women squealed and held Zora gently so as not to aggravate her sore ribs.

  “To the hot tub?” Art asked.

  “To a restaurant. We’re starving,” Grant replied.

  “Good thing I cooked,” Winta said with a big smile. “And while we’re there, we can discuss wedding plans.”

  “What?” Grant ran his fingers through his hair.

  Winta ignored his pained expression and wrapped her arm around Zora’s shoulders. “I’m thinking a nice spring wedding in our backyards. You like swans?”

  “Swans?” Grant ran his hand down over his eyes.

  “Welcome back to the Street.” Art slapped Grant on his back.

  Yes. Zora nodded her head as she listened to Winta’s ambitious wedding plans. This was home, and she loved it here.

  Epilogue

  Art had to tap on his champagne glass a good minute before the rambunctious crowd in his backyard quieted down.

  Grant sat back down at the bride and groom spot at the table, assisting his wife next to him. He held onto Zora’s hand. His gaze fell on her wedding ring and his heart thumped. In all manner and form, he’d made this woman his wife.

  In her strapless wedding gown, she looked amazing. Her honey-colored skin glowed in the May sun. And, thanks to her adjusted diet and exercise regime, her body, which he loved before with all of its curves, was tighter. She was his pear and he couldn’t wait to take a bite out of her tonight.

  “If I can have your attention, please,” Art began. He really enjoyed his best man duties. “I want to make a toast.” He held up his glass to Grant and Zora, causing the rest of the one hundred guests to respond in kind. “To the happy couple. May you live long together and know nothing but love, happiness, fulfillment and harmony. Great love will see you through any hardships.”

  “And great friends will bail you out of jail!” Brax said, making the guests laugh.

  “Someone cut that guy off.” Art pointed to Brax but still carried a smile. “As I was saying, you two are the most beautiful people I’ve ever met, and that’s hard because I make people beautiful every day for a living.”

  Laughter trickled through the crowd.

  “You two deserve each other and all good things. To Zora and Grant, may you always be as happy as you are today for the rest of your lives.”

  “Here, here!” the audience said in unison.

  Just as Grant and Zora sipped their champagne, Art dropped another bomb. “Oh,

  and after everyone leaves, I’ll give you two your wedding presents.” Then he winked. If selling the house to them at a steal and paying for this wonderful wedding weren’t good enough, Grant wasn’t sure what else he was going to do for them. 273

  ***

  “Grant, put me down!” Zora squealed.

  When he tried picking her up and carrying her over the threshold, Zora balked.

  “Will you let me do just one thing traditionally?” he asked.

  “You’re being silly.”

  So he bent over, caught her at the waist and hoisted her in a fi
reman’s carry over his shoulder. Zora screamed as he carried her into their home.

  Once inside he set her down. “Now see. Was that so hard?”

  Her hand slid up the front of his pants over his penis. “I don’t know. Is it?”

  He growled. “If that dress didn’t cost more than the first three cars I ever owned, I would rip it off and take you right here.”

  “Why don’t you?” a voice said from behind them.

  Zora turned to the doorway to see her three sexy bridesmaids coming into their house. All of the women looked gorgeous in their strapless red satin dresses. Behind them came the men, all looking good enough to eat in their tuxedoes.

  “Don’t tempt me,” Grant said as he held Zora around her waist.

  “Before you two get started on your honeymoon, I wanted to give you your present,” Art said as he stood behind Winta. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Unfortunately we are all going to have to start locking our doors again.”

  The smiles melted from Grant and Zora’s faces.

  “Why?” Zora began. “Have we done something wrong? We’ve followed the new rules.”

  “What kind of game are you all playing here?” Grant asked, anger lacing his voice.

  Art reached into his front coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. “No game. See for yourself.” He threw it to Grant.

  Without hesitation, Grant opened the sallow colored envelope and pulled out a wad of papers. His eyes scanned over them and then widened. Zora only had to see one word on it before her heart pounded.

  “Hawaii? You all are sending us to Hawaii?” Zora asked, trying not to scream in excitement.

  Winta nodded. “Yep. My idea.”

  “But that’s not all,” Lynia said. “We’re going with you. All of us. A nice group vacation on a private island. We can do whatever we want.”

  Grant’s bottom jaw unhinged as he stared at the group. “I can’t believe you guys. This has got to be the best gift ever.”

  He hugged them all while Zora followed with kisses.

  “And now I have something special for you all.” He turned to Zora. “You wait right here. Everyone else follow me.”

  Zora stared at her sneaky husband as he took the group of people down the hall. The only place they could go would be a bedroom, either theirs or one of the spares. But why would he be taking them there?