by Tiana Laveen
“Hey, wait a minute. There’s a cab right there. Wave him down.” She pointed across the street. “That way we don’t have to… I can’t wait! I can’t wait! Ohhh! I can’t wait! I can’t wait!”
She danced about, singing one of Sleepy Brown’s songs. Gio shook his head as if he felt sorry for her. She hadn’t taken a taxi anywhere in forever. Since Uber and Lyft emerged on the scene, she no longer had to see cabs whizzing past her, thinking she wasn’t a good tipper or turning her down because they didn’t want to go to Brooklyn or Harlem late at night.
“All right. I’ll hail him.” Giovanni thrust his arm in the air, whistled and waved. The driver looked up from his phone, nodded in their direction, and turned his vehicle around. Moments later, they were in the back seat.
“We’re not far… like fifteen minutes away,” Gio announced as he got situated.
“I loooove show tunes!” She giggled, wishing she could stop talking, but her mouth was moving a million miles a minute. “Do you love show tunes, baby?” Laughing with abandon, she slapped Gio’ shoulder as hard as she could. He looked at her, rolled his eyes, and shoved her hand down to her side.
“Yeah, I like show tunes. My favorite is called, ‘Radio Silence.’ Put a cork in it.” He grinned, kissed her on her cheek, and looked out the window.
“Fun times tonight, huh? Too much drink?” The driver laughed as he pulled away from the curb. His thick, European accent reminded her of one of Gio’s older uncles.
“Yeah, she definitely had too much to drink.”
“NO I DIDN’T! I’M JUST A KITTEN!” She burst out laughing again, her hair falling in front of her eyes. I feel so strange… She ran her hand slowly down her face. Maybe it was melting? “I’M MEEEEELTING!” She cackled like the witch from the Wizard of Oz.
“Damn, you are loud, Vanessa! Shhhh!” He pulled her to him.
They went along their way and she leaned close to him, playing with the hair by his ear. He swiped at her fingers, looking annoyed… which made him only look cuter.
“Stop it,” he whispered in her ear. “Stop touchin’ me, okay?” He gently gripped her fingers and looked into her eyes. “I gotta get you home, make you some coffee, and get cha in the bed. You’re a fuckin’ mess.”
“Let’s fuck,” she said in a low tone.
“You’re drunk. We’ll do it in the morning after you sober up.”
“No, I’m talking about right now.” The man’s brow shot up. “Right here… in the cab.”
“You two having fun in the city? There’s a festival tomorrow of some sort over this way,” the driver stated, clearly oblivious to her wicked desires.
“Fuck me now or are you a punk?!” she whispered as she gripped his chin, forcing him to face her. “Gio is a punk… I thought you were adaptable?”
“Uh,” Giovanni spoke up, directing his comments to the driver. “Yeah, we’re havin’ a ball. Really? A festival, huh? What kind uh festival?”
The driver began to rattle off the details while he leaned close to her.
“Are you fuckin’ crazy?!” he barked in her ear.
His brows rutted for a moment, but then the lines in his face smoothed and one of the most diabolical, carnal smiles she’d ever seen stretched across his face.
“It’s illegal, ya know… and normal people don’t fuck in cabs anymore.”
“We’re not normal…”
“Yeah, that sounds like a good festival,” Gio stated dismissively after the driver finally stopped speaking.
“Are you serious?” he whispered so low, she almost didn’t hear him. “You really want me to fuck you, right now?”
“Yes!” She reached for his crotch, and he swiped her hands away once again.
“Let me do everything,” he said. “Just follow my lead and whatever you do, keep ya fuckin’ trap shut.”
The man coughed loudly, while simultaneously taking his zipper down. Her heart pounded a mile a minute as she watched him wiggle ever so slightly, grab his thick, long dick through the slit of his boxers, then cover part of it with his hand.
“Pull just this side of your dress up… Leave your panties on. I’ll move ’em to the side,” he whispered.
She did as he asked, then slid part of her body over his thigh. Gio stole time like a bandit because within seconds, his palm was tight around her mouth, squelching a scream as he plunged upward inside of her.
“You look familiar,” the driver said.
“Yeah?” Gio held her tight, driving within her slow and steady. “I, uh, I’ve been on TV. I’m a fitness expert… Giovanni Luciano.”
“Yes! I knew I’d seen you before!” the driver stated excitedly.
Gio pumped his pelvis faster and faster, his cock so deep inside her, forcing her to ride a grisly wave of orgasmic elation.
“Yeah, that’s probably where. You work out?” Her eyes teared up as her need to laugh was cut short by the warm hand pressed against her face. The driver began to discuss his bike riding routine… No one gave a fuck.
He’s talking to the driver like nothing is going on! So thrilling, sexy, strange, sinful, divine…
She shuddered as he pushed hard within her, balls deep, and then didn’t move for several seconds.
“You ride in Central Park?” Gio asked, keeping things going.
“Yes, and there’s a good bike park in Brooklyn…” the driver continued on, describing the place in great detail.
Gio slid his free hand under her dress and taunted her clit, rubbing it hard with the pad of his thumb. When she started to tremble, he snatched his hand away from her pussy and held her tighter against his chest as she rained down his cock. His fingers pressed painfully hard against her lips, squelching her climax-filled screams.
Hard teeth, wetness, and heat surrounded her shoulder as he bit into her flesh and the flood of warmth she’d grown to know rushed within her pussy. He came quietly inside her, jerking and pushing against her back. She could almost hear his racing heartbeat.
Moments later, with a shaky hand, she slid away from him as he coughed loudly once again to get his zipper back up. At the end of the ride, Gio paid the driver and invited him to come work out at his favorite gym. As the guys did small talk, she exited the cab, feeling woozy, barely able to stand.
…And it wasn’t from the damn alcohol; it was that sexy motherfucker’s fault for knockin’ out her fucking pussy walls in the back of a New York taxi cab…
CHAPTER TWELEVE
Too Close to Home…
…Two months later
The house that had caught his attention was located at Swan Court in East Hills, Long Island. It boasted six bedrooms, seven and a half bathrooms, wrap around porch, French doors, and a huge rear deck. When he walked in his voice echoed up to the tall ceilings. Two winding double staircases led to a catwalk that split the upstairs in half. The place screamed elegance. The master bedroom featured trey ceilings, large his and hers closets, and a bathroom that was bigger than most Manhattan apartments, including Vanessa’s.
But Vanessa couldn’t see it…
In fact, Giovanni had come here alone with the real estate agent and hadn’t uttered a word of this visit to anyone. He got a wild hair up his ass that morning, excited and curious about what type of property was available in Long Island—particularly family homes with lots of space. So, he got online, perused some of the listings, then phoned a professional, stating a wish to be taken around to look at some of the places currently for sale.
He’d never had such a desire before. A bachelor pad was all he’d ever wanted, but things had changed. Just the previous night, when Vanessa was asleep in his bed, he sat up and looked down at her. The moonlight streamed through his window and the city lights danced upon her face. She was so fucking beautiful. She had the pillow firmly gripped to her body as she slumbered, curled against it in a way that made her stomach appear to protrude. She’d look pregnant to someone who didn’t know any better.
Yet, rather than be freaked out by s
uch a trick of the eye, he was curious… perhaps even a bit elated by the idea.
“So, what do you think, Mr. Luciano?” the real estate agent asked, her smile bright and hopeful.
“It’s nice… I like it,” he said nonchalantly as he slid his hand in his jeans pocket. “I’ll think about it, all right?”
“Sure, but don’t wait too long. Homes like this don’t stay on the market very long.”
He nodded in understanding, said his goodbye, and walked out to his car parked out front. Turning on the stereo, he listened to the tune of “My Sharona” by The Knack, turned all the way up at full volume. Tearing out of there, he rocked out to the music, bobbing his head and drumming on the steering wheel as he sang the lyrics at the top of his lungs…
Two weeks later…
“Frustrated and fuck both begin with the letter, ‘F.’” Giovanni plopped his head down on his mother’s kitchen table. The day had been far too long and he was dead tired. It was only 7:00 P.M., but it felt more like 2:00 A.M. He’d had so many clients in the last forty-eight hours that he barely had time to even take a piss. And he missed Vanessa. He hadn’t had time to see his woman.
“Giovanni.” Ma sat next to him, stirring her cup of tea for the evening. The rim of it was tattooed with her trademark dark red lipstick. “You’re so dramatic sometimes.”
“Nah, I’m serious, Ma. It’s been nuts. I have this one guy who won’t listen to save his life. He thinks he knows every damn thing and I’m like, why in the hell are ya here then if you got this all figured out? The guy is obese and has some health problems. I put him on a strict diet and he told me that most people piss out the vitamins from fresh foods and vegetables and that me tellin’ him to leave the processed foods alone is all a part of some big conspiracy.”
Ma burst out laughing and shook her head.
“What kinda crock uh shit are we talkin’ here? So now Doritos belong to one of the food groups? I mean, shit, everything in moderation but when death is beatin’ at your door, you gotta work your ass off to live, ya know? What a waste of time, I swear. Hey, where’s Dad?” He looked towards the living room. “I’ve been over here for twenty minutes and he hasn’t even popped his head into the kitchen.”
“Oh, sweetheart, you know that tonight is your father’s poker game. Every Friday like clockwork.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. I forgot.” He sat back up, sighed, and tossed his head back.
“Honey, if something’s botherin’ you, you can tell me.”
Steely Dan’s, “Do It Again” was playing on Alexa, soft background music to their conversation.
He plopped back down onto the table like a kid forced into timeout. Ma then patted his head like he was some puppy about to be put to sleep.
“It’s not bothering me, really. I just… I dunno.” He straightened his back again and grabbed his wrist to stare down at the ring on his pinky finger. “It’s, uh, just something I’m gearin’ up to do. A good thing. I’m thinkin’ about asking Vanessa to marry me.”
Ma’s dark brown eyes got big as saucers.
“You’re kidding me!” She slapped the table, forcing her drink to shake as she belted a loud round of laughs.
“No, I’m not. I’m dead serious, Ma. I think she’s the one… I’m ready.”
The lady grinned from ear to ear, crossed her legs, and took a sip of her tea, real dainty like.
“You’ve just made my night. Yes!”
She threw her arms in the air like her favorite team had just scored a touchdown. He couldn’t help but blush at her reaction; it felt good for his happiness to be celebrated.
“Oh, geez, I can’t wait! She’s gotta say yes! I bet you two will make some beautiful damn kids, Gio! Mixed kids are so adorable!”
“Ma, cut it out.” He laughed lightly as he ran his fingers against his low-cut beard, curing an itch. “All kids are adorable. I said something like you did to Vanessa one time and she said it was insulting.”
“How so?!” Mama shrugged, looking downright injured that he’d say such a thing. “I mean, my God—it’s true! Have you seen Diana Ross’ kids? They’re half Black and half White and grew up to be fuckin’ gorgeous. And what about Serena Williams’ daughter and that guy she’s married to that owns that website or whatever it is?”
“Reddit… Alexis Ohanian.”
“Yes! Beautiful little baby girl!”
“I understand all of that, Ma, but I’ve been learning a thing or two by being with her, okay? Some stuff you and I think is a compliment, actually isn’t. Like saying Blacks are good at basketball, shit like that. Anyway, with the whole babies thing, the problem is like…”
He paused, trying to find the best way to explain such a thing to the woman. “See, if you say mixed kids are so nice lookin’ to a Black person, sometimes it can sound to them that you’re saying, ‘Oh, Black kids aren’t attractive unless they’ve got something else mixed in their blood, like some White or somethin’ or another. Ya get it?”
Ma shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes as she popped her leg back and forth, rocking the hell out of it.
“Why tha hell is everyone walkin’ on eggshells these days? You can’t even give someone a compliment without it turnin’ into a big damn deal.”
She tossed her hands up, as if she was throwing in the towel.
“All I know is that when you two have kids, they’re gonna be fuckin’ gorgeous and I am not going to apologize for thinking that! Vanessa is a knockout and you are so damn handsome that you’ve been on the cover of muscle mags, showin’ off your body. My own friends lust after my damn son… You’ve put me in a precarious situation, Gio,” she teased, causing him to chuckle. “We got good genes and apparently so does she. Cream in coffee is beautiful, all right? Cream is nice on its own, coffee is fuckin’ life, but together they make somethin’ new and picturesque and I tell ya one thing—I’m not gonna be politically correct all the time, ’specially when it comes to some beautiful babies.”
“Would ya cut it out? I haven’t even asked her to marry me yet. I don’t have a ring, don’t even know how I’m gonna do it. It’s an idea, ya know? Something I’m seriously considering and here you are, already talkin’ about grandkids. Let us get down the aisle first.”
“You’re marryin’ that girl and it’s gonna happen sooner rather than later. I’m not even worried about it because you never talked about settling down. You’ve been runnin’ all over Manhattan since you’ve lived there, tossing yourself around like some frisbee! That’s what fame will do for ya, huh? Every time I turn around, I hear about you and somebody different. I don’t think you’ve kept the same girl for over a month, Gio. I’m surprised it hasn’t fallen off!” She waved at his crotch.
“Ma!”
The woman burst out laughing, but then turned serious quickly.
“I haven’t seen you like this since, well… you know.”
He swallowed hard, wishing she’d not bring it up. He’d asked her years ago to not bring that shit up again. Perhaps the way he stared at her at that moment made her move on… because she did.
“I’m getting those babies…” She held her chin high. “I’m a proud Italian woman from Long Island who loves God and will put a bullet in anyone’s ass who talks shit about my family. If Vanessa is thin-skinned then she better wrap herself in a wool blanket, an entire box of Saran wrap, five leather jackets and a parka because you know firsthand.” She pointed her finger at his face, the dark red nail shiny from her fresh manicure earlier in the day. “We don’t mince words ’round here. I dare anyone to try and tell me I can’t say my future grandkids aren’t fuckin’ fabulous… accuse me of bein’ racist or some shit. I just dare ’em!”
She shot up from her chair like a bullet leaving the chamber, her long, silky white robe swaying as she marched to the sink in her fluffy pink slippers. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Too bad not everyone has your heart, Ma. I can tell you who won’t be getting a wedding invitation.” He laugh
ed dismally.
“Who?”
“Who? What about your sister? Emma? Did you hear about what she said to me at Nonna’s party?”
“Yeah.” Ma dropped her cup in the sink and turned on the faucet. “Stupid bitch.” At this, he burst out laughing even harder. “Now you see why I only talk to her a few times a year. She’s an idiot. Honey, there’s gonna be people like that, ya know? Family or not, you just gotta tell them to fuck off and keep on moving. They’re not worth your time. You concentrate on your happiness, your career… You’re happy.” She shot him a look from over her shoulder. “I love seeing you like this.”
He stood from the table and walked towards her to take her in his arms. Placing a kiss on her cheek, he squeezed her tight.
“I am happy, Ma. She makes me real happy… like beyond happy. I, uh, went to a few places and looked at rings, too.”
“Did jah? Find something nice for her yet?”
“No, that’s the problem. I can’t find anything I like. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there was some good stuff, but nothing that said to me, ‘This is an expression of how I feel about cha.’ Maybe I should get a custom piece done.” He shrugged.
“Maybe… That might be nice. You know, all jokes aside, I was hopin’ to see this day, sweetheart. It’s been a long time coming.” Her eyes watering, she caressed along his jaw. “You’ve been through so much, Gio… so, so much.”
A tear streaked her cheek as she leaned forward and planted a kiss on his forehead. He didn’t want to talk about the past, the devastation of a life he’d left behind. It hurt too much; it killed him inside. That was then, this was now. Vanessa was his future. He closed his eyes and tightened his grasp around his mother, needing her like air to breathe…
Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy” played in the limo per Vincent Cooper’s request. Tapping his hand against his thigh to the beat of the music, he scratched his head while the vodka he’d just consumed warmed his chest. He leaned forward, removed his silver lighter from a small tray beside him and flicked the flame over and over again.
