by Coffy Paige
The Pleasures of Id, Psyche Series: Book One
Coffy Paige
Published: 2012
Tag(s): "interracial romance" "Contemporary Romance" "Romantic erotica" interracial
Chapter 1
The burn in Maizah’s legs stretches from the undersides of her thighs all the way down to her kneecaps. She makes a mental note to stop when the heat reaches her calves. By weigh in after this run she’ll be well past her goal in pounds shed all in less time than she’s given herself. She was never a small girl to begin with, but it didn’t get bad until she was four. Her mother’s death ensues a bitter custody battle her father and her mother’s family in Africa. In the mean time her grandmother felt food would settle any hurt from the loss of her mother and bickering of the adults. When the smoke clears her father was the victor. But like a child that finally gets what he wants but suddenly loses interest, her father can’t be bothered with her once she’s in the states.
The thought of being away from her loving grandparents to live with her father and his new wife didn’t bode well with four-year-old Maizy. Her father was never the disciplinarian in the relationship and his own needs always seem to come first over raising a daughter. Her stepmother doesn’t seem to care much for it either so she makes sure Maizy is never too comfortable in her skin. Her eating persisted and Daphne never let up. The arrival of her little sister seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Yet by her first birthday her only words to Maizy, to her stepmother’s chagrin, were ‘fatso’ and ‘blubber’.
Over the years even her father joins in on the reindeer games from time to time sealing her fate as the fat outsider. Behind her father’s back, her stepmother and sister tormented her constantly for not only her weight but for her ethnic look and accent. Her father and mother being of African descent gives a cultural look that was very different from what she saw growing up in her southern Alabama town. Every time she tried to not listen to them the more apparent it seemed that they were right. Everything she sees goes so against the grain of what she represents or what everyone seems to gravitate to that she can’t help but believe the acidic taunts. Academics are the only constant that she can depend on. While it makes her a shy nerd in everyone else’s eyes it’s commendable in her father’s. Also, the only positive acknowledgement from him she can get, no matter how small the gesture.
By college she’s free of them but not the mental stigmas and prejudices. Pair this with the fabled college weight gain, the freshman fifteen turned into a sophomore ten, junior stand still, and the unexpected senior twenty. By the end of her college career she reaches the scale at 210 standing only 5’5”. In senior year of college, in a to-do list type of manner, she decides to get rid of her virginity just so her life won’t be as pathetic once she enters the real world as her sister. Her stepmother goes as far as offering to buy her an escort. With much expected disgust and expected despair she thanks them for their thoughts but says she’ll handle it on her own. The lucky winner being a study partner who is just as low on the dating totem as her. The experience is unbearable and not the least noteworthy but she feels she has to take what she can get.
She graduates top of her class to land an internship with a fastidious employer that makes her lose 20 pounds just through stress, starvation, and long hours alone. This leads to an opportunity to move to L.A. and start a life more desired instead of a life less loved. It was slow starting but while she acclimated herself in her new job she continued to lose weight. She could finally make time for the gym or fit a run in at the park and on off days, both. Now in L.A. for the better part of a year, every time a personal achievement was met something else in her life would get better. The first two months she admits to going overboard. She pushed herself to a near obsessive mentality. Even she knows she is going overboard when she starts to do some light research on cosmetic surgery Her trainer was constantly on her to slow down and how dangerous her mentality can be for her health. Even though ultimately she fired the trainer, in retrospect she was right. Maizah’s driving force was to live up to other people’s standards especially her stepmother and sister’s. The more she thinks about it the more she fantasizes of being that size 4 like her sister. To show her stepmother she was worthy or anyone for that matter.
That’s all behind her now. In only eight months she’s down to a 10. She no longer cared if she reached a 4 or 6 or even 8. The last four months have been just what she needs. The edition of private pole dancing helped curb that mentality in a healing way. With her family still in the south, they weren’t buzzing around her head of impending failure. Plus being able to talk through that pain with someone as encouraging as Char. With her help, she was finally connected to herself in ways no other person could tear her down from, not even her family. She no longer sees herself as fat, nerdy or ethnic but curvy, smart, and exotic.
She reaches the pole room to new and smiling faces. She’s glad that her gym finally put in a pole class because her private instructor, Char’s, schedule has been conflicting with hers lately. The class is new yet she needs something to keep her in tune with the moves she’s learned already. If all goes well, her big unveiling will be tomorrow. The instructor hasn’t come in yet and the girls seem to be practicing some basics from their first classes. The shades aren’t drawn yet either, in fact they seem to be gone completely. Maizy walks over to the window to watch for the instructor and sure enough she seems to be arguing with a gym employee and pointing to the room. No doubt it’s probably about the missing shades. Shrugging, she goes over to a free pole and begins a routine that Char taught her. To say she’s more advanced than the others is an understatement at this point.
Attention goes straight to her as soon as she climbs up and glides back down the pole. Maizy, not one to stop with her new addiction to attention, begins showing off. Each trick gets her a new oh or ah an even periodic bursts of cheers. This starts to bring attention to the room as more patrons gather at the window. Her long limbs reveal tautness and definition while her graceful positions create a demure pole ballet. None of the moves are the nasty ones she practices at home. Those she’s saving for someone special. When she finishes everyone cheers from inside and even some from outside of the room. Even the instructor who came to cancel the class is astounded from the skill and asks if she’d like to teach some classes. Laughingly, Maizy says she’ll think about it. The pride of it all makes her chest puff out a bit as she sighs contently and smiles to herself as she walks back out to jump on a treadmill.
A manly grunt on the bench press a mere ten feet away catches her attention. Mallory “Neanderthal” James, just the thought of his name makes her almost miss a step on the machine. She winces, as she didn’t know he’d be there today. She wonders if he saw her little performance a moment ago. Mal’ replaces the bar with the help of his friend Cyril then sits up. His loose curly reddish-brown hair reaches just over his ears, which is a breath of fresh air from all the wacky colors and shaved lines he usually adorns his head for his MMA fighting persona. His bright hazel green eyes flash in determination at his reflection while his usually fresh putty-colored lips burn white hot against his fair skin tone. His nose is strong along with his jaw giving him an old English like handsome flair. His build is less like a traditional Englishman and more reminiscent of a football player without looking too stocky or short. It was obvious the gym wasn’t his only line of exercise and it’s because of his fame and swagger the he can carry his muscles so well. Her body and mind go on autopilot as she continues her light jog. Her eyes drift close as a memory fades into her mind…
Four months earlier…
Maizah Winston sat at the gym’
s juice bar in a sulky manner. Her trainer had given her yet another lecture about going overboard with her workouts. ‘That was easy for her to say,’ she thought. ‘She already has the body she wants…and she gets paid to keep it.’ She ‘humphed’ and slid back in her chair. She really didn’t care what her trainer said. Maizy had already lost sixteen pounds in a month and she didn’t want to stop the momentum. She couldn’t wait for summer to have her first visit with her father and stepmother start with crow for dinner. She sees her protein shake coming towards her and moves to her jacket pocket for cash. The counter attendant, Jenny, stopped her, “Oh no Maizy, it’s already paid for.”
Maizy looked up with a confused face and laughed, “What do you mean? Because I get so many you’re giving me one for free?”
“Nope…see that fine young specimen over there? He paid for it.” Jenny pointed across the bar to a guy reading the L.A. Times. It was him! It was that guy with crazy hair that bench presses when she cycles. Actually she’d seen him more often in her routine other than the cycle. She was very surprised to see him in her early morning Up Dog yoga class the week before as well. Everyday except the weekends he was at the gym. He’d smile at her and she melt then avoid eye contact. One time he even tried to talk to her, she got so discombobulated that she swallowed her gum and she coughed her way to the bathroom. “What are you gonna do?” Jenny startled her from her reverie.
“Um…I don’t know…what should I do?”
“You go talk to him! Do you know who he is?” Maizy slowly shook her head ‘no’ as she stared at the hottie unabashedly. She was thankful he was so engrossed with his paper that he didn’t look up. But hey, guys sporting green hair couldn’t say much about not liking the attention. “Uh hello Maizy! Get a clue! That’s Mallory James, AKA Mallory ‘Neanderthal’ James! He’s one of the hottest MMA fighters that’s signed to the CFC with a 30-4 record.”
“CFC? What’s that?”
“Complete Fighter Championship. He’s such a nut on television that they’ve given him his own late night talk show on cable. Seriously Maizy, you would have had to been headless not to see his ridiculous promos. Hilarious!”
“Child, I don’t have time for television. I mean I’ve seen girls squeal for his autograph so I knew he was someone but I didn’t know he was all about that.”
Just as she finished, Mallory looked up and threw one of his devastating smiles at them before turning to the next page. Jenny just waved as Maizy darted her head away. When Jenny looked back she shook her head and laughed, “Maizy, stop it!”
“I can’t go talk to him now!”
“Why not?”
“He’s rich, successful, and gorgeous and I’m-”
“Just as gorgeous and successful! Stop putting yourself down sweetie. I’ll encourage you to lose weight for yourself and no one else. I think you’re more than beautiful the way you are and you’re only getting more so by the day. You just got an amazing place paid for in full by your awesome career. You’re a catch!”
Maizy eyed her fast forming friend begrudgingly. The pixyish black nymph was gorgeous by model standard. How could she could she ever understand? “Says the size 2…”
“Who’s in a boarding hostel because her ex-roommate is addicted to online gambling, that has to work three part-time jobs to make ends meet and is now a size 7 and growing because of it.” Maizy’s eyes softened with apology but Jenny just shook her head again to ward it off, “I’m not looking for a pity party I’m just saying that if I know I’m a catch even with all that drama. You’re drama free and well put together.” Jenny pauses to follow Maizy’s lingering gaze over to Mallory. “Fine don’t talk to him but I think it’s really rude to not at least thank him for the drink.” Jenny knew Maizy hated rudeness of any degree, as she was always the brunt of the infraction…
Maizy scowled at the fairy-like woman and reluctantly slid off her stool. On wavering legs she made her way to his table. She lightly cleared her throat and he turned down a corner with light eyes that surprisingly made her comfortable. He put the paper down as she spoke, “Uh I just want to…well…thank you for the drink.”
“No problem, you look like you needed it after your trainer left.”
“You heard her?”
“No but you didn’t look like you enjoyed the conversation much so I took a wild guess.” He shrugged as his smile deepened.
She sat at his table with a sigh, “That’s a pretty good guess…” she looked up as if she suddenly noticed her folly, “Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to just plop down at your table while you’re reading the paper. I’ll go.”
She nearly jumped out of the seat as his hand shot out to stop her, “No please. Stay…and talk to me a bit.” The hum that shook through them made their bodies vibrate. They locked eyes and she glided back in her seat across from him. He absently ran his thumb back and forth over the soft skin of the back of her hand. She stifled a groan as a small release of sexual tension was let go. “I’m Mallory James.”
“Maizah Winston, Maizy for short.” Her eyes drifted to his hand and he immediately let go.
“I’m sorry…I um…would you…I mean how about some dinner tonight?” Maizy gawked at him like he just asked her for a kidney. “Or…maybe another night?”
She couldn’t tell if she was more astonished at his nervousness or the fact that he was asking on a date. “Excuse me?”
“I’m asking you out Maizah.”
“Why?” Her face was upturned in an incredulous frown.
He matched her stare, “Why not? Is it because of my hair?”
“No.”
Her simple answer with no regard of if she did or didn’t want to go out with him must of made him mad. She didn’t know why and in any other situation she would of told him to fuck off and got up from the table. But for some reason, with him, it was an incredible turn on. Suddenly he squinted his eyes and something kin to annoyance was in the glare. “Is it too weird for you that I’m white?” The manner in which he asked the question was simple yet demanded an answer.
“No!” She squeaked out the words from shock.
His stance visibly slacked as he settled in his chair with a smirk. “Have you ever dated a white guy before?”
“Well no…but it’s only because I barely date at all.” The last part she wanted to bite her tongue in two for saying.
He reached over and touched her hand again, “Will you go out with me?”
Chapter 2
The machine beeps its warning that only 30 seconds remain and she opens her eyes to find a familiar male patron grinning at her over the treadmill’s dashboard. Maizy sees more of him in her gym classes these days. She figures it’s because he’s such a player as most of her classes are women driven. He’s a Latin cutie with a deep tan, dark eyes, flashy glamour muscles, and very manicured nails, brows, and facial hair. His name is Alex and they’d already been on two dates. Two dates that must have only went well in his mind because his constant calls and advances for a third date persists. Men were never a high-commodity in her world so she definitely wants to get her feet wet before settling. But drowned never sounds good and that exactly what she’d get with Alex. He definitely thinks he’s going to get something wet and it isn’t his feet.
The object of her desire is now sitting upright on the bench press with his eyes on them. His friend Cyril is talking to a gym hoochie who’s giving more eyes to Mallory than him but he’s all in their grill. It’s a hard stare that she can’t misconstrue as anything more than utter contempt. “So Ms. Maizah, it’s been a week and you still haven’t given me any answer about my party invitation.” His thick accent makes her smile in spite of herself. She tries to hide it, knowing that it sends mixed signals when she turns him down. It’s all so new to her. She just wants a moment to enjoy being the object of a male’s attention. He grabs her hand and boldly rubs it between his palms, “Mama, don’t hide that smile. On a cold dreary day like this, it’s all I need to brighten it up.”
&n
bsp; Her eyes dart to Mallory whose teeth must be dust at this point because his jaw is tightening and flexing so hard. Feeling caught she moves her hand away as she steps from the machine. She absentmindedly drags her towel’s edges over her dripping face and down to her slightly exposed cleavage and his eyes follow. “Those plans are still on hold. I have to check with my friend.”
A flash of irritation clouds Alex’s eyes. When she fed him that line the last time he told her to bring her friend with a lecherous grin. Obviously he thought she meant a female friend but her hesitation after that comment could only mean one thing. The friend would be her male date. He did well in hiding his true feelings. It annoyed him to know she won’t come off the pussy for him but she’ll wait over a month for a guy to tell her if he would be available. Meanwhile he’s willing to scratch any itch that joker wouldn’t. It’s that thinking that makes him continue to try. With each hopeful invitation to his party, for drinks, or another date, she has the same answer. No. Alex isn’t the type of man that gives up on anything, especially some newly “not to hot” piece of ass that thinks she’s better than him. “But the party is tomorrow.” He trails off with impatience. It’s taking too long to bed this bitch and it’s starting to piss him off.
She notices his slight attitude and registers her dislike on her own face, “I don’t know Alex. When I find out, you’ll be the second to know!” Maizy turns to storm off only to meet the appreciative glances of onlookers. Part of her blushes from the men checking her out but the other part relishes her confident command of the room as some of the women applaud her moxie. Her eyes glance involuntary to Mallory’s smiling face trained on her. She gives a shy smile, wave, and moves to the showers. Just before she ducks inside, the ever-growing harlot, as Char put it, decides to put on another show for the boys.
