by Sarah Thorn
Time for rational thought, he told himself. You're engaged to Britney, and if you don't marry her, you will disappoint everyone and probably hurt her beyond repair. So much is clear, he decided. ''Now the hard part,'' he muttered to himself as he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. Why, when you think of the private detective Keke, do you get this incredibly strong feeling you want to rip her clothes off, bed her and live happily ever after with her? Dan opened his eyes and looked at the clouds that weren't far above his office. Two birds flew passed and it came to him.
*****
Keke sat down in the diner and ordered her usual from Jessie. ''Take the sugar away Jessie, it's too tempting.'' As Jessie took the sugar pot away, she shook her head. ''You're crazy. Nobody's got a body like yours, allow yourself, at least, some pleasures in life.''
Keke's cell phone rang. It was Dan. Now there's a pleasure I could really get hooked on, she thought.
''Keke? I would like to talk to you.''
''I'm listening.''
''No, face to face.''
''I'm at the diner if you want to come round.''
''Okay wait for me.''
Keke's fists closed in a little show of triumph. She knew he wasn't coming to discuss business; it was too soon after their initial meeting for him to expect any results from her investigations. After forty minutes Keke saw his car pull up outside the diner. He was wearing jeans and T-shirt, not his suit. Her eyes followed him to the door and up to her table.
Do it, he commanded himself. Don't deny your feelings, to hell with Britney and the rest of them, it's your turn to be happy now. ''Keke get up and follow me.'' Keke wasn't used to being ordered around, but she didn't mind now. ''Come on, what are you waiting for?'' She followed him, trying to keep up, as he walked out of the diner. Once they were clear of the door, he took her hand and led her down the side of the building. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her, hard. He was relieved when she didn't knee him or scratch him. He didn't want her rejection; he wanted her love.
''Kiss me more, I want to feel your lips on mine. Give me more,'' Keke whispered when she thought he was going to pull away. He didn't disappoint her. Dan couldn't remember when he had last been so hard. We can't do it here, he thought. ''Get in my car, we're going for a ride.''
Keke complied without saying a word. She closed her eyes as he drove faster than she liked out of the parking lot and onto the highway. Put your hand on her knee, keep up the momentum, make her really want you, a voice said to him. When he did, Keke put her hand onto his and pulled it from her knee up onto her thigh. Where the hell are you going, he thought. He'd been in such a hurry to get her into his car that he hadn't given much thought to where he was taking her.
When he pulled into the driveway, Keke noticed a white post and rail fence on both sides. Beyond, there were fields filled with horses. Again she closed her eyes as they hit a bump and took off. When the car ground to halt, it scattered tiny stones all over the yard. Keke opened her eyes and saw that hey were at a ranch. Dan had pulled up in the middle of the stable block. Surely our first time isn't going to be in a smelly old stable. She noticed some of the stables were occupied and some not. The horses looked as confused as she was.
''Who does this place belong to?'' she asked.
''It's mine, but I don't live here. Horses are a hobby. The ranch manager lives here. Can you ride a horse?''
''Er....it's been a long time,'' Keke remembered all those Saturday mornings when her mother had forced her to go to the local riding school. Endless circles on bored horses, with a horny riding instructor staring at her backside as it rose and fell.
''Hi Mike. Saddle Domino and Pudsy would you,'' Dan asked his ranch hand. Keke didn't like the sound of Pudsy. It sounded like an obstinate beast that would buck and kick and eventually bolt with her clinging mercifully to its mane.
''Let's get you into some riding things.'' Twenty minutes later Keke emerged from the tack room, dressed in a pair of jeans with leather chaps.''Here, no cowgirl is complete without a hat.'' When she put it on, she laughed, and her face lit up. She's marvelous, he thought.
Pudsy turned out to be Dan's horse. He was a magnificent quarter horse stallion. If your master has muscles like you, I'm in for a treat Keke thought as they lead their horses out of the yard.
''Never mount in the yard. The yard is for grooming, feeding and stabling, not riding.'' Why he was telling her this, she didn't know. ''Let's mount here.'' They'd reached a mounting block with two steps. ''Let me hold Domino while you get on.'' Keke stood on the mounting block and put her leg over her. She half expected the white mare to buckle under the weight, but the trusty steed remained rock solid. When Keke's buttocks touched the saddle, it all came back to her. The endless circles.
''You're good,'' he said trying to encourage her to relax. Keke was already out of breath, and they had only walked two hundred meters. ''Breathe. You're hyperventilating. In....out.'' Keke began to relax. ''Domino is our best horse, you could trust her with your savings.'' Except I haven't got any, Keke thought. They walked for half an hour, and Keke began to really enjoy herself. It was warm and sitting on a horse had given her a sense of freedom and power. The meadows they rode over were filled with wild flowers and the air smelled far better than the choking fumes back in Dallas.
''We're here. Let's dismount and tie them to that tree,'' Dan said. They had stopped next to a beautiful lake. When the horses were gratefully munching the lushest grass they had seen for a long time, Dan took hold of Keke and kissed her. ''I want you, and I have wanted you since we met. You're amazing.''
And what about his fiancee, a voice said to her. She ignored it. Keke was a pragmatic person. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her and she wasn't going to let any thoughts spoil the moment.
Dan took Keke's breath away with his kisses. His lips kept perfect time to hers as their tongues danced with each other. My heads spinning, I need to sit or lie, Keke thought. Without breaking their kiss, she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him to his knees. Before she could join him, however, he put his hands to her buttocks and pulled her groin to his face. When she heard him breathing in the scent of her excitement, she closed her eyes. That's what I want, she thought. I want sexual intimacy and he just proved he can give it to me.
She wanted to kneel with him; her legs were shaking, partly from the horse ride but mostly out of excitement. When she heard him lower her zipper she wondered how because his hands were kneading her buttocks. When she looked, he'd pulled it down with his teeth. My God, another surprise she thought as she thrust her hands into his dark hair. He let go of her to unfasten the button on her jeans. When it was open, he pulled her jeans down and watched as her pink panties came into view. ''Wow, you must have known,'' he said. ''I love black women in pink They look so sexy against your dark skin.'' If I'd known you were going to undress me today, I would have put another a better pair, she thought. She stepped out of her jeans and grabbed his hair again when he pulled the pink panties to one side and planted his tongue onto her.
''Oh Jesus, that's nice. Oh, keep doing that Dan,'' she said, winding his hair into her fists. Dan had no intention of stopping; she tasted wonderful. He loved the feel of her buttocks as his hands stroked over her smooth skin. She tried to take it all in. This wonderful man had his mouth on her womanhood, and his hands all over her ass, and it was too much for her to bear. Her legs began to tremble, and she had to lie down.
She dropped to her knees and then onto her back. Open you legs wide for him, you want this man, let him in, she thought. Dan lay between her legs and resumed his tongue work. Keke felt the grass on her back and his tongue on her womanhood, it was a superb contrast of hot and cold. Oh God, he's going to make me come, she thought as she felt her body begin to stiffen. ''Don't stop,'' she gasped. Dan grunted as Keke inadvertently pulled his hair too hard. She looked down and saw his mouth just below her pubic hair and his beautiful green eyes staring up at her. When their eyes met, it threw her over
the top, and she screamed out. Dan held onto to her impressed at the intensity of her orgasm. Her legs straightened, and her toes curled. Her back arched, and her stomach muscles almost cramped under the strain. Dan almost laughed when he noticed how she had disturbed the turf next to her She had gripped it like a bed sheet and ripped it up towards her.
''Let me see you,'' she whispered as Dan came up to kiss her. ''Stand up and take your clothes off.'' Dan stood up and pretended to be a stripper. He gyrated his hips and began to open his shirt, button by slow button. This will take all day, she thought. She sat up and pulled him to her by the leg. He felt her hands at his belt, and in what seemed like an instant, he heard her take a sharp breath as his penis sprung up in front of her face. ''Just how I like it,'' she said looking up at him. ''You're so big and hard.''
When her mouth encircled him, she felt him twitch. His balls were heavy and coarse to the touch and she loved the feel of them. They moved in her hand as his penis disappeared into her mouth. She moved her hand up and down his shaft as her mouth played with the tip of him. When she started to suck, he knew he was in trouble.
''Stop, Keke, stop.'' She didn't want to stop. She wanted to feel him shoot into her mouth. She liked oral sex, and she especially liked the taste of this man. He tasted salty and fresh, and the scent of his arousal was making her wetter than any man had ever done. Dan was strong, and he pushed her from him.
''No I want to come in your pussy the first time.''
''Then come down here and take me,'' she said, lying back and spreading her legs once again. She felt his penis at her entrance and held her breath. When she felt him slide inside her, she let out a little gasp. ''Oh, I love how that feels.'' She arched her back and pushed her pelvis up. ''Now make love to me Dan, make me yours.''
Her words were too much for him, and he felt himself about to come. Think of a brick wall, he told himself. He'd read in some men's magazine that if you are making love to a woman who turns you on so much you are in danger of ejaculating too soon, you should start counting the bricks in an imaginary wall.
Keke felt the urge to hold onto him tightly. His strokes were long and firm, and she moved every time he thrust into her. When he'd settled, he stopped counting bricks and concentrated on the beauty under him. ''Open your shirt, I want to see you breasts,'' he commanded. As she gasped under him, she undid each button and let the shirt fall open. Dan loved the femininity of her pink bra. Her large breasts wobbled each time he pushed into her, and she heard him begin to grunt.
''Give me you sperm Dan. I want to feel you shoot in me.'' Dan couldn't resist anymore. He groaned and stayed stock still as his penis unloaded every last drop into her.
Damn, he thought. Far too fast. That wasn't what I wanted. ''Keke, I'm sorry it was a bit fast, but you turn me on so much I .....''
''Shut up, it was perfect.'' She hugged him and kissed the side of his face. ''You are a lovely man.'' After an age, his penis slid out of her, and he rolled from her. As they looked into each others eyes, they both knew, something special was happening.
''That was great Dan. I.....''
He didn't know what she was going to say but decided he would leave nothing to chance. ''I don't want the woman I'm engaged to. I want you. Just so you know.'' The last thing Dan wanted was Keke to think she was just a fling.
''And I want you.''
''Keke, before we get involved, I want to tell you something about me.''
''You can tell me anything, Dan.''
''I'm an alcoholic.'' I'm only twenty-six and I'm an alcoholic, but I haven't had a drink for three years.'' He looked at her face, desperately looking for any sign of disgust. ''I nearly dropped out of college because of it. I was drunk all day everyday. My father paid for rehab and since then I've been okay. I still get strong urges to drink, and I'm afraid I will fall back into my old habits one day. But so far I seem to be winning.''
It all came back to her. Her father. Two bottles of vodka a day. A mother with black eyes and broken ribs. ''Sorry Dan. It was lovely. I'll do the work for you, but I can't have a relationship with you.''
******
Britney knocked on the door and waited. Where the hell was he? She knocked again, this time, harder. ''Alright I'm coming,'' he shouted.
She was in Shelborne Springs a small town just outside Dallas. Witherington Crescent was a neat little street where the neighbors were friendly, and the lawns well looked after. It was the kind of place where dad washed the car on Saturday morning while mom baked apple pie, and the kids whizzed around on bicycles.
Jason held the door open for her, and she entered the house. Without saying anything he took her hand and climbed the stairs. If the neighbors had been more attentive, they would have noticed the bedroom curtains close.
After they had made love, he rolled his muscle-packed frame from her, leaned down and kissed her. ''You know Britney, you always were the best screw at school and nothing’s changed. You've still got it.''
''And you still full of the same old BS Jason Lopez.''
''How long now? I'm tired of waiting. I need you, babe.''
''I told you. We still need to sign the insurance papers. I've got it covered. Don't worry my darling. We'll soon be sitting on a beach in Grand Cayman.'' She looked at the man she had loved at school but rejected. ''You know I was such a fool to let you all those years ago.''
''If I remember, you didn't have much choice. When your dad sent you to rehab I tried to get in touch with you, but it was impossible. You know we had the world at our feet. We were supplying the whole school; nobody was a rich as us at that time.''
''When I came out of rehab my dad kept me locked up like a prisoner. When he introduced me to Dan, I took the opportunity. I mean it was better than sitting at home, and I hadn't got a clue where you were. You know, Dan's not a bad guy, but he's gotta go.'' When she'd stopped laughing she looked at the tattoos on Jason's body and tried to figure out which one was new. ''I don't know why, but when I orgasm I always seem to need a line afterward,'' she added.
Jason got out of bed and reached into a drawer in the cabinet next to the window. He pulled out a pack of cocaine and handed it to her.
''That's my boy. You always give me what I want.''
*****
Janice looked at her watch. Where was Keke? It was gone ten, and she was never this late. When she heard a car pull up outside, she was relieved. ''My God Keke, you look awful are you alright?''
''Yes, I'll be fine. I'm just feeling a bit under the weather; that's all. Be an angel and make me some tea.''
Janice looked at her quizzically. ''But you never drink tea. How about a nice strong coffee to get you up and running.'' The mention of the word coffee sent Keke rushing to the toilet.
''You're not pregnant are you?'' Janice asked when Keke came back into the room holding a tissue. Keke looked at her. Twenty minutes later Janice was back at the office with a home pregnancy test. Keke went to the bathroom and shortly after Janice heard a scream.
After she had stared at the picture of Madam Tinubu for over an hour and wiped away more tears that she wanted to remember, she picked up the phone.
''Hi Dan, it's Keke.'' Dan was sitting in his office reading an email from Johannesburg in which the union boss had apologized for the inconvenience and instructed his members to return to work forthwith. Just the sound of her voice made all those feelings reappear. But her rejection had been sudden and brutal, and it had hurt him deeply.
''Keke, how's the investigation going? It's only three weeks to the wedding, and I'm getting nervous? Have you found what she's up to yet?'' he blurted the questions out one after another as quickly as he could.
''Dan, I'm....pregnant.''
''Is it mine?'' Jesus Christ, what a horrible thing to say, Dan thought. ''Sorry. I'm just a bit upset after you know..... and I'm shocked.''
''Dan, it's yours, of course, it is.''
There was a long silence. ''Well that's fantastic, really good news. Of course, I'll take ca
re of your every need, and you'll never want for money, I'll make sure of that.'' What Dan wanted to say was: please let's be a family,' but he didn't want anymore hurt.
''Thank you, Dan. I'd hoped you would understand. Raising a child as a single mom won't be easy, so I'm grateful for you support.'' The words single mom made him feel lonely and excluded. ''Let's have a coffee sometime and we can finalize the details.'' Sounds like a bloody business deal, Dan thought. ''You asked me about Britney,'' Keke continued. ''I've been following her, but I've been sick quite a bit, so I've put Janice on the job. The only time Britney went anywhere unlikely, Janice lost her in the traffic somewhere near Shelborne Springs. Do you know anyone there?''
''No.'' Dan's mind was still thinking about the horrific prospect of Keke raising their child without him. ''It's got to be a secret.''
''What has?''
''Your pregnancy. If people find out, my future may be at risk.''
''Okay. I won't tell anyone. Dan? Dan?''
Dan had hung up.
*****
Britney was driving towards Shelborne Springs when her cell rang. ''Hi babe, it's me.''
''Dan.'' How very inconvenient, he never calls me during the day, she thought. And why did he call me babe? ''What's up?''
''Can you meet me in town, I want to talk to you?''
''Sure when?''
''An hour.''
A line of cocaine flashed across her mind. She gripped the steering wheel harder and tried to block the thought, but it was impossible. She needed it and the thought of having to turn back to Dallas and go without was overbearing. Only a few days, keep it together girl, she told herself.
Dan liked Mary's tea room. It was a copy of one of those old fashioned bakers shops, with a tea room at the back. Britney arrived at the same time as the waitress. Dan ordered a pot of tea and scones with cream.
Don't mess it up Britney, told herself as she approached the table. Give him a kiss, make sure he suspects nothing. She flashed a false smile and sat down opposite him.
