Southern Comfort

by ANDREA SMITH

  “Good afternoon, Gloria,” he greeted as she brushed past him. He caught a whiff of her perfume as she did.

  “Hello Avery. Beautiful day out, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, lovely. The Lord has blessed us with another clear sunny day with brilliant blue skies. I hope to enjoy what’s left of it this evening after our appointment.”

  “Well then, she replied, taking a seat on the sofa in his office, and crossing her long, toned legs, “Let’s get down to business so I don’t keep you any longer than necessary.”

  Avery quirked a brow as he took a seat behind his desk. She was acting a bit unusual today he noticed. Perhaps she and Eddie had made progress at home, although he hadn’t cleared her for marital relations just yet.

  “Do you have updates for me?” he asked, grabbing his tablet and scribbling today’s date on the fresh page.

  “Well, kind of,” she said with a smile. “Eddie has been so attentive to me—I mean, more than usual. I got flowers delivered to the beauty shop for no reason at all. And then, last night while I was sleeping in the spare bedroom, I heard him come in. At first, well, at first I was thinking he thought since he’d sent the flowers to me it entitled him to, you know, relations?”

  Avery nodded and waited for her to continue.

  “But he didn’t. He just walked over to the side of the bed and bent down so that our faces were within inches of one another and he said, “Gloria, you are my love. You are my life. I will show you the patience of Job, because your sweetness is something I do not take for granted, and it is certainly worth waiting for. And then he kissed me softly, and told me goodnight.”

  “I see,” Avery replied, scribbling notes on the pad. “And how did this revelation on his part make you feel?”

  Gloria shifted and re-crossed her legs, “Well, to be honest, it made my belly tingle. For the first time, Avery, I think I’m starting to crave my husband’s touch again. That’s a good thing, right?”

  Avery remained silent, and then jotted something down. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “I think it’s a positive sign, although I’m not sure you’re ready to take that step just yet. From what you told me in our earlier sessions, you’re not able to reach orgasm with Eddie. Why do you think that is?”

  Gloria ran a hand through her thick locks, and gave it some thought. “It’s funny you asked me that, Avery. At first I thought maybe I didn’t love him the way that a woman should love her husband, which had me really worried. It’s the reason I started counseling with you in the first place. But now I’m not so sure that’s it.”

  “And why is that?’ he asked tersely.

  “Because when I think about losing Eddie, it makes me sad enough to cry. I know that I love him every bit as much as he loves me. I think it’s nothing more than he and I having to spice things up a bit in the bedroom. I even bought a book about it.”

  “A book?”

  “Yes,” she replied excitedly. “It’s actually a bestseller. It’s called ‘The Hite Report: A Nationwide Study of Female Sexuality.’ It’s a bit controversial, but only with males,” she finished, giggling. “It all makes perfect sense to me.”

  He frowned with this new piece of information she’d just handed him. A book on female sexuality? Written by a clueless female no doubt and sprinkled with foolish notions and half-truths as far as he was concerned. Women that wrote that type of trash were generally lesbians he’d discovered and, for whatever reason, they claimed to be experts on female sexual response and anatomy. He only hoped that this Hite person hadn’t undone all the progress he’d made with Gloria.

  “Gloria,” he said, finally, “I’m not sure if getting information from a book is a productive means of dealing with your specific issues with your husband.”

  “Why not?” she challenged. “Have you read the book?”

  “Clearly, I have not,” he snapped, “but if you feel that some book holds the key to your marital happiness, then it appears that we have no further work to accomplish here,” he said, standing up and pushing his chair back.

  “Oh, Avery,” she said, quickly coming to her feet and walking around his desk to stand before him. “I’ve made you angry,” she said, searching his face. “I didn’t intend for that to happen. I thought maybe you would be pleased that I was trying to do research that might speed up the process. Nothing in that book can guarantee the results that have been forthcoming during our sessions. My only concern is whether Eddie can evoke those same pleasurable feelings when we make love the way…well the way you and I do. I seem to be very responsive to you, and I’m only trying to figure out why that is, that’s all.”

  She stepped closer to him as he regarded her coolly. She knew he wasn’t pleased with her, and she needed to rectify that before he terminated their counseling sessions. She couldn’t let that happen.

  “Look, Avery, I’m really sorry if I’ve done something wrong. I really thought I was trying to help myself.”

  He took her by the arm, and led her over to the sofa. “Gloria, how many times have I asked you about trust?”

  He waited for her response.

  “Lots,” she replied, looking down at her clasped hands in her lap. “And I do trust you, Avery, I really do.”

  “If that’s true, then you need not look outside these sessions for guidance. No book, no magazine, no magic potion is going to offer an appropriate resolution to the complexity of your marital issues, and if you think for one moment that that is the answer, then I recommend you pay a visit to a gypsy, or a fortune teller, or some such other novelty peddler and not waste my time.”

  “I’m sorry…” she stammered, “I had no idea.”

  “So, if we are to continue, I need for you to declare right here and now that there will be no more outside interference.”

  She swallowed nervously. Avery was clearly more than peeved with her. She had let him down in a big way. She needed to make amends whatever way she could.

  “You have my word, Avery. Please, what can I do to convince you?”

  “Strip now,” he ordered, “and I want you on your hands and knees waiting for me in two minutes.”

  He left the room, and she scrambled to discard her clothing. Once naked, she did as he requested, feeling somewhat humiliated at the position he had instructed she be in before he returned.

  Moments later she heard the door to his office open, and then it closed with a slam. He locked it and gazed over at her. She was facing the wall where the door to the outer office was located, so at least she didn’t have her bare ass facing him.

  He removed his clothes, and Gloria noticed his member was already hard as he slid his boxers down and it slapped against his abdomen. God, he was impressive. She pushed the thought of Stella from her mind, and the fact that just twenty-four hours ago, Avery had sunk his manhood into her. She felt possessive of him, and territorial. She was going to make damn sure all thoughts of Stella Martin were erased from his mind this evening.

  He came over and took his position on the sofa behind her on his knees. “This position,” he explained, “offers the ultimate pleasure for your husband because he controls every aspect of it, and you are left at his mercy.”

  The word mercy caused her to turn her head to look at him. “Yes, Gloria, it is important that your man feel in control during lovemaking. Despite what you might have read, your gender really hasn’t come a long way—nor should they aspire to. As you’ve experienced through our earlier sessions, you are most aroused when I exhibit complete control over your body and its responses.”

  He had Gloria there. She couldn’t deny any of what he had just said.

  His hand snaked its way between her legs, and his fingers plied her sex, gently spreading the delicate folds, and tending to the sensitive area with the utmost care. She released a sigh of relief knowing that Avery wasn’t going to punish her for what she had shared with him.

  She could now feel his erection, rubbing up and down against her buttocks as he pressed closer to her.
The wet sounds of her vagina responding to his touch signaled that she was wet and ready for him.

  She felt his hands on each side of her hips, raising her ass up so that he could gain entrance. And with one swift plunge, he pressed himself fully inside of her making her cry out in pain.

  Was he punishing her?

  He continued his brutal assault as he thrust hard over and over again.

  Finally, she spoke out. “Avery—this…doesn’t feel pleasurable to me.”

  He continued his relentless pumping, his breath ragged, “It feels pleasurable to me, my dear. I’m sure your husband will agree once you allow him to experience it. This is something a wife should do for her man, regardless as to whether your enjoy it or not. Donna has no issues with it, I can assure you.”

  And the fact that he had no inclination to see to her pleasure, and then mentioned his wife in the next breath, confirmed what Gloria had suspected: she had pissed Avery off with her talk of sex books and the cockiness with which she had delivered it.

  He continued rocking in and out of her from behind, his groans assuring her that he was close. His hands braced her hips, raising her up so that he could plunge into her deeper and faster as he grunted his pleasure. Then he suddenly stilled as she felt the throbbing of his member inside of her. He was ready to come and she thanked the Lord for that one favor.

  “Don’t move,” he hissed, his arms wrapped around her abdomen, pulling her in even tighter. “You take it all,” he rasped as his climax burst forth within her. He pumped into her several times, emptying his balls as tears came to Gloria’s eyes.

  Gloria was putting her clothes back on now that Avery had left the room to go out into the outer office and schedule her next appointment. She wasn’t sure that she wanted a next appointment. Things today had not gone well. Avery had been a callous and uncaring lover. He had spent their whole therapy session pleasing himself with no regard for her pleasure whatsoever. This did not sit well with Gloria.

  She finished dressing, grabbed her handbag, and walked out into the reception area. He was behind Bonnie’s desk, leafing through the schedule she maintained for his appointments.

  “Do you want to do next Thursday same time?” he asked, looking up at her as she stood in front of the desk.

  “Actually,” she replied, taking her compact out of her handbag and flipping it open to check her reflection in the mirror, “Thursday isn’t good for me. I prefer to go back to the Wednesday appointments.”

  Avery glanced back down to his schedule and frowned. “I’m afraid my Wednesday late appointment is taken.”

  “Is that right?” Gloria asked, running a tube of gloss over her lips. “Well, Avery, it’s like this: I had the Wednesday appointment first. If you choose not to honor it anymore, say the word. I will find another preacher that is willing to counsel Eddie and me. What I won’t do is bow down to that pig farmer’s slut. Call me at the salon before next Wednesday if that slot opens up.”

  She whisked out the door, leaving Avery Dawson in a state of surprise and dismay at this sudden and unexpected show of defiance from one of the most favored members of his flock.

  Chapter 18

  It was Friday and I was officially seventeen. My whole birthday gig had been nearly forgotten. My mother was now up and around. She was expected to return to work on Monday at the Piggly Wiggly, but her quiet demeanor and lack of energy spoke volumes to me about her emotional state rather than her physical one.

  I was in no way going to complain. My poor mother was dealing with something that I simply could not understand, but there was no way I would dismiss it as being inconsequential because I knew my mother better than that. She was not—or at least, she had never been a weak person until this.

  “Happy Birthday, Sunny girl,” she told me this morning as I readied myself for school. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get out and shop for you, but I promise, next year we’ll do it up big for your eighteenth birthday.”

  “That’s fine, Mama,” I said, giving her a hug.

  “Here’s your card, baby. I put some money in it. You buy whatever you want for your birthday.”

  I opened the card and two fifty-dollar bills fell out. “Wow—thank you, Mama,” I said, giving her another hug.

  “It’s from Avery, too,” she reminded me. “Make sure you thank your stepfather before you leave for school.”

  “I will. Oh, and is it okay if tomorrow night I spend the night over at Gina’s? The twins are going to be there, too. It’s a late birthday celebration for me.”

  “Well, I suppose that’s alright. But no drinking or running around, hear me?”

  “I hear ya,” I replied, grabbing my purse and heading down the stairs.

  Avery was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping his morning coffee and reading the newspaper.

  I grabbed an apple from the fridge just as I heard the honking of a car out front. It didn’t sound like Gina’s mother’s car either.

  “Uh…thanks for the birthday money, Avery.”

  “You’re welcome, child,” he said glancing up from the paper. “Mind you don’t spend it foolishly. Money in this household is hard earned.”

  “I won’t, Avery,” I replied. “Bye.”

  When I got outside I finally saw the source of the car horn. Gina had a yellow VW Bug.

  “Oh my God,” I shrieked opening the door, “is this yours?”

  “Yep,” she replied, beaming. “Eddie bought it for me since Mom has been bitching lately about not having her car available when she needs it. It’s a ‘72, but I think it’s in great shape, don’t you?”

  “I love it,” I replied, sinking down into the passenger seat. “You are so lucky. I mean, who else gets a car for my birthday?”

  “Shut up,” she said, laughing. “You and the twins will benefit just as much as me, you know?”

  “I know,” I conceded. “It just totally sucks to have my driver’s license but no car to drive.”

  “You can drive this one sometimes if you want.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Sure. You can be the designated driver when I’m under the influence of something.”

  “Who could ask for anything more?”

  “So, we’re on for a slumber party at my house tomorrow night. The twins are free—well, Rene will be coming over later. She has a date for an early movie with Randy that she refused to break, so he’ll drop her off at the house around ten. And the fantastic thing is that Eddie and Mom are going out to eat and then to play Bingo at the church social. Did you know that your stepdad is hosting Bingo at the church hall every Saturday night now?”

  “Uh…no, I hadn’t heard. We don’t talk much. In fact, I do my best to avoid the son-of-a-bitch.”

  “Yeah, can’t blame you for that I guess. He is pretty damn strict with you. Mom says it’s a great way to earn money for the missionaries. I swear to God, I’ve never seen her so involved in the church. It seems to be helping her relationship with Eddie, too. So, as much as you hate your stepfather, I gotta give him kudos for helping the folks. He has really been an influence on their marriage.”

  “Too bad he can’t do the same at home,” I snapped.

  That immediately got Gina’s attention. “Why? What’s going on now?”

  I felt my teeth tug at my lower lip. I really didn’t want to air our dirty laundry with Gina. I preferred just pushing it from my mind, but lately, it was too difficult to ignore. “It’s just…I can’t be sure, but I think maybe my mother’s fall wasn’t an accident.”

  “What are you saying?” Gina said, her eyes widened as the implication sunk in.

  “Like I said, I have no proof, and Mama certainly isn’t going to admit it, I just feel like maybe Avery wasn’t pleased about her being pregnant. It’s gotten really creepy at home, Gina.”

  “Oh Sunny,” she said, “you know if it gets to the point you can’t handle it, you can stay with us.”

  “That’s why I was trying to find my father. Now it looks like
I first have to find out who my father is.”

  “I know,” she said. “That really sucks. What are you going to do?”

  “Well, going directly to the maternal source is out of the question given her mood—and her history. I checked my birth certificate and my father is listed as Michael Wayne Gardner, so what the hell? I wrote him a letter and mailed it yesterday.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Well, what the hell else could I do?”

  “You’ve got balls, girlfriend. I’ll give you that.”

  Chapter 19

  Friday was Gloria’s busiest day at the shop. It was the last full day she was open before the weekend. She only opened for half-day on Saturday, and then re-opened on Tuesday mornings.

  She was smack dab in the middle of giving Bea Hildebrand a perm when Vicky, the receptionist came to her station and said she had a phone call.

  “Be back in a flash, Bea,” she said, dropping the roller she had been ready to use.

  Gloria walked up to the front desk and grabbed the receiver.

  “This is Gloria.”

  “Gloria,” Avery's deep voice said from the other end. “I think we need to reschedule your session for next week and make it for today.”

  “Today?” she asked incredulously. “Today is my busiest day of the week. What about Wednesday?”

  There was a brief moment of silence on the other end. “I can’t reschedule that session. I have a commitment to each and every member of my congregation, which you know. But I would like to focus on making better progress with you. I have an hour open from one to two o’clock. If you can’t make it—well, then I will see you next Thursday.”

  “Hold on,” she said, turning the open appointment book on the counter around so that she could read today’s schedule. She had a manicure at 12:30, and then nothing until 1:15. Her next appointment after that was 2:30.