Leslie's Curl & Dye

by DL White

  But she surprised me.

  “I’m not going to get into your relationship. And I’m not going to issue any threats. I can see that he loves you and that you love him back. Take care of him, honey. And let him take care of you. Let him love you as hard as he needs to, and you return that. And that is what keeps things going past ten years, twenty years, thirty years. Love is hard, relationships are hard, but the work is worth it. Start today and every day, and keep loving through everything. You hear me?”

  I nodded, hearing her. And planning to follow every word of that advice.

  “Hey, girl. You look like you need this.” Tamera appeared next to me, holding a large latte from Rooster’s coffee. I took it from her with a grateful sigh, sipping a little off the top. “How’s everything coming?”

  “Good. Really good. Kind of waiting for something to go wrong, actually, things are going so well.”

  “Don’t be negative,” she said, cupping my chin. “I came to check things out, give my boyfriend a smooch and then steal your man. I want to take my time with his cut today. Are you coming by later? Whatever you’re doing with your locs right now isn’t working.”

  I scowled, pretending to be offended. “I can handle myself. You just take care of KC.”

  “I was being honest, as your best friend. Call me if you need me.”

  She flounced away, bellowing at KC. “Hey you, with the mess on your head! Did you sleep in the arms of a bear? How does your hair look like that right now? I guess I have to clean up your goatee, too? I’m charging extra.”

  “Tamera, don’t start with me. I’m about to be very powerful in this town.”

  “Okay, you’re not going to be King, just Mayor. Let’s go; I’ve been ordered to make you pretty and we have a long way to go.”

  I snorted, and consulted my list. So many items checked off. So many to go. But everything was turning out great.

  A few hours later, I sat next to KC, fresh from the salon with his stylish cut and trimmed goatee, while he watched intermittent election coverage and local news and ran therapy on his knee. He’d skipped his morning treatment and felt it, so I made him come home and relax with his leg elevated. It would be a long night of standing and walking around.

  KC’s parents were on the other side of the sectional, murmuring to each other during the broadcast. “What time are you planning to get dressed, son?” Kelvin squinted at the face of his watch, then tapped it a few times.

  “Soon as I finish my therapy, dad. Can’t rush it.”

  “I’m sure Leslie has him running on time. Don’t you, dear?”

  “You would think so,” I said, elbowing KC. “But he likes to mess with me. Everything’s all set, though, when he’s ready.”

  “Now that sounds familiar. I’d wake him up in plenty of time to get dressed for school. This one was always running for the bus, buttoning his shirt.” Gladys clicked her tongue and sipped from a glass of water.

  “Speaking of getting dressed, though, I’m going to head upstairs and start getting ready.” I pushed myself up from the couch and stretched. I wished I would have taken a nap, but there was no way I could have fallen asleep. “TC will drive you over to the Kit Kat for the election results.”

  “Alright, dear. We’ll see you both later on.”

  I headed upstairs and went straight to the bathroom to turn on the shower. Our clothes for the evening were already hanging on the back of the closet door. KC had so many suits in his closet that he felt funny buying something new, but Kendrick said he looked like he was about to turn into the Incredible Hulk in all of his old suits.

  Ella’s Boutique came to the rescue. She ordered him a simple black suit and tailored it so well that it fit like it was cut just for him. He paired it with a crisp white shirt and he’d wear it with the collar open, no tie. Mayor Adams never went anywhere without a tie. Mayor Cavanaugh planned to be a little more laid back.

  I picked up a black cocktail dress from Ella’s that just brushed my knees. I couldn’t wait to put it on and strut around Potter Lake with a handsome man on my arm.

  The bathroom mirror was beginning to cloud with steam, my sign that the shower was hot and ready. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and unhooked my bra, tossing them both in a corner of the bathroom. I was just thinking that I’d grab them later when KC appeared in the bathroom door, his eyes on my breasts.

  My nipples responded to his lusty gaze, but I had to corral my longing for him to run the tip of his tongue across them right quick. I unzipped my jeans and pushed them down my hips, kicking them to the same corner.

  KC sauntered into the bathroom and stood behind me, dipping his head to brush his lips across my shoulders. Like we had nowhere to be tonight.

  “Babe...we do not have time.”

  “Sure we do. The party can start without us.” He slipped his arms around my waist and he stepped close, close enough to feel him pressed into me. His hands smoothed up my belly to my breasts and grabbed a healthy squeeze before his thumbs found my nipples.

  I moaned, leaning my head back against his chest, putting my neck on display so he could nibble my ear and land a line of kisses across my skin.

  Some part of my brain was still functioning, reminding me that we had to keep things moving if we were going to make his party. “Can’t you...shit... seduce me after you win this election?”

  “Sure could. But I want to seduce you right now.” One of his hands traveled south to my mound. Two fingers dipped to part my lips and massage my clit.

  “Ba—umph.....your parents are downstairs.”

  “So you probably want to be quiet, then huh?”

  “Ugh, that’s not fair.”

  “What’s not fair is how sexy you are right now. You have no idea how much I want to skip tonight and crawl into bed and do nasty things with you.”

  “I think I have an idea of how much you want that.” I turned in his arms, sad to feel his fingers leave my body, but I needed to get my bearings again and I couldn’t make sense with him touching me.

  “Okay, let’s get in the shower, take care of…” My eyes flicked down to the obvious tenting in the crotch of his shorts. “Your situation. Then we wash up and get dressed and celebrate your election. Can we do that?”

  KC answered by dropping his lips to mine, then grabbing my hands and placing them on the band of his shorts. Nimble fingers twisted the buttons and pulled at the zipper. I looped my thumbs in the band of his boxer briefs and pulled everything down, then stepped back and rolled up the hem of his tee shirt. He pulled it over his head and stood back.

  For a quick half second I admired his molded chest and taut belly, bulging biceps wide, strong shoulders, and despite the knee injury, muscular legs and calves. He had filled out a lot, no longer in starting lineup physique, but to me, Kade Cavanaugh was perfect.

  I sighed, also wishing we could get into bed and make love all night. But we couldn’t, so I stepped into the shower. KC got in behind me, pulling me back against his chest.

  “You want me to put a condom on?”

  I shook my head. Though it had been a long while since his last casual encounter, I didn’t know what kind of life KC lived while traveling city to city with women at his fingertips. I’d been on birth control since before Dexter, but I wanted to be protected in case he was carrying something he didn’t know about. Over time we’d been using them less and less and after his checkup came back clean, I preferred that we didn’t use them, but he always asked if I wanted one.

  His fingers returned to the spot they’d been moments before, between my pussy lips and stroking my clit, but KC’s movements were more calculated. He knew exactly what to do to get me where I needed to be, and quickly. I leaned back and let the expert work. It was hard enough to concentrate on keep my moans low enough that only he could hear them.

  My body responded to the sensation of a hand cupping my breast, his fingers circling and stroking and rubbing my clit and his tongue in my mouth, sucking and swirling, driving me
so high I had to grab his wrist. I tore my mouth from his and moved forward, warm water cascading down my back. I reached for the towel rack for leverage and waited for KC to make his move.

  He gripped my hips, pulling me up against him and in the next moment, he was thrusting, little by little, until every inch of him was inside me. I bit down on my lip but I was finding it hard to keep my voice low. The sounds of his wet body smacking against mine helped to mask the growing volume of my yelps and gasps of yes yes yes.

  “You ready, babe?” He leaned forward to murmur in my ear, his chest against my back, his hips hunching against me fast and hard. It was delicious and I didn’t want him to stop. “You bout to come for me?”

  I nodded, not trusting myself not to scream. KC slid one hand around to the front of my body and found my clit. It didn’t take but a couple of strokes before I yelped out, “fuck…oh my God, I’m coming!” and my entire body started to convulse. My pussy clenched and pulsed around him so violently, I saw stars.

  “Oooh….” He cooed in my ear, not missing a single stroke. “That was a good one. Taking me over the edge right now.”

  “Do it,” I whispered over my shoulder. “I want to feel you come for me.”

  “I wanna tell you something first though.”

  “Like... right now?”

  His movements slowed to less of a frenzied thrust and more of a sultry, languid motion. Dragging it out was killing me. “Like right now, while we’re joined together, skin to skin. While I feel so close to you.”

  “Okay… what… what did you want to say?”

  “You already know, Les. You know what I’m going to say because I can’t hide how I feel about you. I know you feel it and I know you know it, but I never want you to go a day without hearing how much I love you. How much I care for you, how sexy you are to me. How I never want to be without you again.”

  I’d started sobbing halfway through his speech, both from the height of orgasm and the beautiful words that came from this man I was so in love with, had been in love with. I had tried to deny how I felt about him for so long, but he was unwilling to accept my rejection and kept pushing his way into my life.

  I felt him pulse, then a long loud groan rolled from his throat as he moved against me. “I love you, Kade,” I whispered as I felt him release inside me. “I love you so much. I’m going to love you forever. You’ll never, ever be without me. I’m always going to be right here.”

  “Yessss,” he hissed. He panted, his hands already roaming my body again. “That’s what I needed to hear.”

  An hour later we had finally pulled ourselves together. We were so, so late. But at the moment, I didn’t care. I’d twisted my hair into an updo and added a few light touches of makeup. KC was buttoning his shirt and staring into his sock drawer.

  “Just pick a pair, babe. They’re all mostly black anyway.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” He grabbed a pair and sat on the bed to pull them on. “Hey you know what I forgot to tell you?”

  “Hmm?” I grabbed his cufflinks from his jewelry box on his dresser and reached for one of his arms so I could help him put them on. “Are you wearing earrings tonight?”

  He shook his head. “Uh… my parents went over to TC’s right after you went upstairs. Mom wanted to change and dad wanted to lay down for a few minutes.”

  I paused, cufflink in hand while I glared at him. “So we didn’t have to be quiet? So I almost drowned trying not to scream and they weren’t even here?”

  He laughed, not answering. As usual. I tried to scowl at him but it wouldn’t stick. I finished adjusting his sleeves and his collar, then leaned down to kiss him.

  “Have I basically agreed to a lifetime of you fucking with me?”

  “Yep. It’s in the fine print.”

  “Good thing I love you, then huh? It’s the only way I can deal with it.”

  “Good thing.” He puckered his lips for one last kiss. “Love you too. We ready?”

  “We are, Mr. Cavanaugh.”

  “Mr. Cavanaugh is next door, Les. I’m just Kade.” He slid his arms into his jacket and buttoned it closed. A more handsome man, I had never seen.

  He slid his keys and wallet off of the dresser. I grabbed my clutch and tucked my hand into the crook of his arm. “Let’s go win this election.”

  If we hadn’t had a spot reserved at the Kit Kat Lounge, we wouldn’t have been able to find a place to park. The lot was jam packed already, with cars spilling over onto the street and parked along the shoulder of the two lane highway.

  “Good turnout,” KC mumbled, hopping out of the truck. I agreed, meeting him at the front door and stepping inside. The building was teeming with people indulging in drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Faces were angled up at the TVs, trying to catch the latest coverage.

  Bright lights popped on, nearly blinding us. Arletha stepped in front of KC, followed by a camera man. She shoved a microphone in his face. “Kade, how are you feeling about the election so far?”

  “I’m feeling pretty good,” he answered, his post game interview voice coming through strong. “I ran a great campaign, I learned a lot about this town, I fell in love with this town. I’m hoping that Potter Lake agrees that Kade Cavanaugh would be the best choice for Mayor.”

  “Have you seen any of the exit polls today? And have you spoken with Mayor… Mr. Adams?”

  KC smiled at the slip and the nod to his imminent win. “We watched the coverage here and there, but my parents are in town and we had so much to do to get set for tonight; I just haven’t had time to obsess about the results. I’ve not spoken to Mr. Adams, but you know, I wish him the best.”

  “A few residents have said this wasn't a fair fight, that you came in from nowhere and bought the town with your money and fame, most notably the arrangement that you worked out to keep Primrose Gardens open. What do you have to say to that?”

  KC smiled again, his eyes dancing. He was utterly amused by that rumor. He slipped his hands into his pockets and planted his stance, feet wide apart. “I mean, what can I say to that? If that’s how people feel, that’s how they feel. Primrose needed help and I was in a position to offer that help. If people feel like I used my famous face, my name and my money to help their loved ones remain in a facility where they’re well-cared for?”

  He shrugged, playing to the camera. “They’ll just have to be mad about that. I’m always going to do what’s best for this town, despite what people think of me.”

  Arletha smiled and started to move away to take over the broadcast, but KC grabbed the microphone again. “By the way, that’s whether I win or lose. I’m a resident, now. I love this town. I love this woman. Y'all know Leslie, right?” He dropped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. “So get used to seeing me. I’m not going anywhere.”

  That made Arletha laugh. KC stepped away from her and her cameraman to let them continue the broadcast. We pushed through the crowd, stopping at the buffet to pick up some of Helen’s beautiful creations. By the time we made it to the open area, a crowd had swelled in anticipation of post election results.

  KC grabbed my hand, intending to help me climb the steps onto the stage. Distracted, I raised a hand to wave at my mom and dad in the crowd and completely missed a step. When my foot caught nothing but air, I screeched, my arms flailing.

  With the same cat-like reflexes that had served him on the court, KC caught me by the waist and twisted me around. We fell together, but he wanted me to fall into him. The quick motion and tight space meant that his leg twisted unnaturally and when KC landed and let out a loud, pained cry, I knew.

  KC laid on his side, in his nice new suit, gripping his knee with both hands, writhing in what looked to be the worst pain in his life. His teeth were clenched, his face beet red, and he was trying hard to hold in deep grunts.

  “Oh my God! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” I turned to the crowd, who were nothing but a sea of faces to me. “I need a doctor! Somebody get a doctor!”

  “I’m here,�
�� I heard, through the crowd. Dr. Irons’ familiar figure stepped through the opening made for him.

  “Thank God. He fell—”

  “I saw,” he said, reaching for KC’s knee. He was still writing and groaning, and wasn’t about to let the Dr. touch him. “Good thing I came out to watch the election. Mr. Cavanaugh, you’ll need to hold still.”

  “Hurts,” he seethed. Tears rolled down his face, into his hairline. “Hurts so fuckin’ bad. I tore the ACL again, Doc. I’m sure of it.”

  Dr. Irons turned to me and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Take him to Healy General. I’ll meet you both there.”

  I looked around for someone— anyone to help. Tamera pushed through and kneeled next to me. “I called an ambulance when he didn’t get back up. They’re on the way.”

  “He was trying to help me. It’s my fault. It’s my—”

  “Honey, it was an accident. Don’t torture yourself. He needs you to be strong right now.”

  “Ambulance is here!” Someone behind us yelled. The crowd began to part to make room for the stretcher to come through. KC was glistening with sweat, still groaning as they loaded him on the gurney and began wheeling him out.

  “Find TC and their parents and tell them we’re going to Healy General.” Tamera gave me a nod, then pulled me into her arms before pushing me after the paramedics. “And call me with the results!” I yelled to her as I followed.

  The medics had given him something for the pain, so KC’s groans grew quieter as we sped toward Healy. I leaned over him, trying to talk to him. “Baby? You’re going to be okay. Dr. Irons is going to meet us at the hospital.”

  “You okay?” he whispered, his eyes opening enough for them to roll up so he could see me.

  “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’m so sorry, KC—”

  “N-no.” He shook his head, closing his eyes. “You’re okay. All I care about.”

  The ambulance swerved into a bay outside of the emergency room and the medics got out, then swung the doors open to pull the gurney out. Dr Irons came out of the ER entrance, wearing a pair of surgical scrubs and a cap. He was followed by a few nurses, who took over pulling the gurney. And then KC disappeared through the doors.