Succulent

by Zane

  I faced him with a question in my eyes. I had always thought that Joy was the happy one. She had never seemed to have a care in the world. I, on the other hand, had always been the one to worry about every single thing. I had always been so focused on doing the right thing while Joy did the right now thing.

  “I don’t understand.”

  He explained his observations. “Joy is lost. She lacks direction. She doesn’t know how to love anyone above herself.”

  True, so far. I nodded in agreement.

  “You seem to have yourself together. You love unselfishly. You simply need to allow yourself to be loved in return. I want the chance to love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

  I gave him the chance he asked for. I gave myself the chance that I deserved. Joy wasn’t happy at first but eventually we worked things out. In the end, I remained close to my sister and in love with Roderick. Few people understand, but sometimes there simply is no explanation when the love jones comes down.

  Curiosity Stirred My Cat

  Tyanna

  “Thank you, God!” I said to myself out loud. It was Friday afternoon and I couldn’t wait to get off work. I loved being a schoolteacher, but those damn teenagers were pushing me to retire sooner than I had planned.

  I walked out of West Hartington High School, searching my purse for my car keys. “One of these days I have to clean out my purse,” I said, finding them as I approached my car. I got in the car and drove straight home, trying to beat the rush traffic.

  When I pulled into my driveway, I was surprised to see my husband’s truck sitting there. He was never home at that hour. The front door was unlocked; I shut it behind me after I walked in. I didn’t see any signs of him downstairs.

  “Kamar, baby,” I said.

  I went back in the great room, spotting Kamar running down the carpeted stairs. I hated when he ran up and down the stairs. We lived in a home, not a jungle.

  “Hey, you know the rules. There’s no running going on in this house,” I stated in dismay.

  Kamar flashed his sexy smile, the one that always dampened the inside of my cinnamon thighs. He walked toward me and wrapped his firm arms around me, caressing my back.

  “Hi, gorgeous,” he said before softly kissing my lips twice. “How was work, babe?”

  “Ugh, work! I’m so happy that winter break is next week.”

  He chuckled. “Okay.”

  “Wait a minute! What are you doing home from work?”

  “I left some files in the den. I need them for the streamline and pipeline contract.” There was a silent pause between us before Kamar spoke again. “I do have to get back.”

  “Okay, baby.” I readjusted his necktie and fixed his shirt collar precisely.

  “Thank you, gorgeous.”

  “Anytime.”

  “I’m glad that I got to see you before I went back to work.”

  Kamar kissed me good-bye and then he was out the door. What was I going to do now? I could call up a few of my girlfriends and find out what they were doing that night. Naw, I didn’t think so! I loved my girls, but sometimes they didn’t know when to go home.

  I managed to busy myself with a bit of housecleaning and washing Kamar’s funky-ass gym clothes as several hours passed. I finally took a break and settled down in our master bedroom. After taking a hot shower, I crawled into our king-size bed and snuggled up with my laptop. I decided to go online and check my emails. I came across two from my husband and read them. Kamar always wrote me little love notes while he was at work. I only wish his lovemaking was as passionate as his love notes. After reading his emails and responding to them, I decided to do a bit of Web surfing and browse through a few chat rooms: BLK Is Better, Fine BLK Men 4 U, and 30s Ebony 2 Love.

  Less than ten minutes later, I was bored to death. I couldn’t believe I even bothered looking in those corny-ass chat rooms. I needed to grade some research papers, but I had the entire following week to accomplish that.

  Kamar wouldn’t be home for another five hours. Lately he had been working late and I couldn’t stand it. My eyes looked back at the laptop screen and saw an IM Catcher pop up with an instant message from an unknown buddy. I was feeling lonely so I opened the IM and replied.

  KWC624: May I ask your age?

  MAXXINE: I’m thirty-two.

  KWC624: The picture in your profile is stunning, very classy.

  MAXXINE: Thank you.

  KWC624: How tall are you?

  MAXXINE: I’m 5'9".

  KWC624: You seem very intelligent.

  MAXXINE: Thanks, again.

  MAXXINE: Tell me something about you.

  KWC624: Well, I’m a little too old for you.

  MAXXINE: Okay.

  KWC624: I’m 6'4" 218 pounds—athletic body, light brown skin and mixed parents. My mother is white and my father is black.

  MAXXINE: Do you have a picture?

  KWC624: Yes, I’m going to email it to you now.

  MAXXINE: Thank you. So, exactly how old are you?

  KWC624: Smile.

  MAXXINE: Okay.

  KWC624: I’m too old for you, dear. What do you do for a living?

  MAXXINE: I’m a high school English teacher.

  KWC624: Do you have a man now?

  MAXXINE: Yes, I’m married.

  KWC624: Damn, just my luck. I should have known a sista as fine as you wouldn’t be available.

  MAXXINE: I appreciate the compliment.

  We continued to chat as I waited for his picture to arrive in my mailbox. We talked about my relationship with my husband and other miscellaneous topics.

  KWC624: Mail sent.

  I clicked on the mailbox icon and opened his email. I waited a few seconds before the picture downloaded completely. When it did, I was speechless. He looked so beautiful. His physical appearance reminded me of my husband. His complexion was perfectly bronzed. He had a chiseled face and well-defined arms. They were rippled with muscles. The brotha was built, a black Adonis.

  MAXXINE: You’re a very handsome man—debonair.

  KWC624: Thank you, dear.

  MAXXINE: You’re very welcome.

  KWC624: How long have you been married?

  MAXXINE: Almost eleven years.

  KWC624: Hmm, I see.

  There was a pause before he replied again.

  KWC624: So tell me…

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: What does an English teacher like you do outside of school?

  MAXXINE: I’m a tennis instructor, as well as being an indoor track and field coach for the girls’ team.

  KWC624: Oh really. I bet you have good form, too.

  MAXXINE: LOL. Yes, I do.

  KWC624: Smile, what else?

  MAXXINE: One of my favorite pastimes after work is hanging out with my girlfriends, going for long drives at night and to this local jazz club with my husband. I love going there, but I haven’t been there in a few months.

  KWC624: Why is that, dear? You’re unhappy with him.

  MAXXINE: No. I love my husband, but his business is interfering with our personal life lately. We hardly spend any time together anymore.

  KWC624: That’s unfortunate. Does he know that?

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: Is he still at work now?

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: I would love to be with you right now.

  MAXXINE: I’m sure, LOL.

  KWC624: I’m serious. I’m not talking about just sex. You seem very nice—devoting.

  MAXXINE: Thank you.

  KWC624: What is it about your husband that turns you on?

  MAXXINE: Don’t you think you’re getting too personal too fast?

  KWC624: I was just curious, dear.

  MAXXINE: If you must know, I’ll tell you.

  KWC624: Okay.

  MAXXINE: Well, it’s the way he looks at me; his eyes burn right into my soul. His body is smooth and hard. He’s hot. Everything about him turns me on. There’s also a softer side to him.
He writes me these little love notes from work, telling me how much I mean to him. He tells me how much he misses me when he’s away from me and how he can’t wait to get home to me. He lets me know that he’s in love with me. It’s the little things like that, that he says to me. They mean the most to me. They keep my home fires burning for him.

  KWC624: That’s very sweet, but if he’s not careful, another man can replace him.

  MAXXINE: I doubt that. He’s it for me.

  KWC624: If you say so. What else do you enjoy?

  MAXXINE: For the moment I’m enjoying our talk.

  KWC624: So am I, dear. What else do you enjoy?

  MAXXINE: Well, I enjoy a few things. I like going to art museums, reading, music, a day at the spa, my husband and everything else in between. I sound boring, don’t I?

  KWC624: You’re interesting—mature. I like that in a sista.

  MAXXINE: What does the KWC624 stand for?

  KWC624: Kenneth Warren Cooley is my name. June 24 is my birthday.

  MAXXINE: That’s a very appealing name.

  KWC624: Thank you. I’m assuming your name is Maxxine.

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: Nice.

  MAXXINE: And what is Kenneth Warren Cooley’s age?

  KWC624: I’m 57.

  MAXXINE: You had me thinking that you were some old man.

  KWC624: LOL, well you are young, dear. I didn’t think you would be able to handle me.

  MAXXINE: Well, there’s really nothing to handle.

  KWC624: Not yet, dear.

  I let that one slide and pondered the thought of where my conversation with Kenneth Warren Cooley might be headed.

  KWC624: Are you there?

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: I thought maybe I had scared you away.

  MAXXINE: You didn’t. Where are you from?

  KWC624: I’m originally from Chicago. I’m currently living in Arizona, and you?

  MAXXINE: Connecticut.

  KWC624: Oh, really! I have family out there. I also do some business out that way with a few clients and other places along the east coast.

  MAXXINE: What type of business are you in?

  KWC624: Investment Banking. You know, I have to fly out to Connecticut next week on business. I would love to see you.

  Was this man for real? There was no way I was going to meet some man off the internet, no matter how fine he was. I was not meeting any man, period. Hell no!

  MAXXINE: I’m going to have to pass.

  KWC624: That’s unfortunate. Maybe you’ll change your mind, dear.

  MAXXINE: I don’t think so. How come you’re single?

  KWC624: Because I’m picky. I love a sexy black woman who is educated, honest, classy, loving and caring. Plus, I’m waiting for you to divorce your husband.

  MAXXINE: LOL, you don’t know when to quit.

  KWC624: Quitting is not in my vocabulary.

  MAXXINE: Even when it’s a lost cause. I’m happy with my husband.

  KWC624: Then why are you talking to me on the Internet?

  Damn, he had me there.

  KWC624: I’m not trying to offend you. If he was doing his job, I wouldn’t enjoy chatting with his sexy wife.

  MAXXINE: Thank you.

  KWC624: You’re welcome. Think about what I said about meeting. I know we’ll be good for each other—something new.

  MAXXINE: Maybe next lifetime.

  KWC624: Why not this one?

  MAXXINE: I’m married and too young, sugah. Remember.

  KWC624: I think you can handle me. I’ll treat you right. I can teach you a thing or two that your husband can’t teach you.

  MAXXINE: You know you’re wasting your time.

  KWC624: That’s highly unlikely. I like talking to you, dear. We should be having this conversation in bed instead of like this—kissing, caressing and pleasing you. Showing and giving you love and the attention that you desire.

  MAXXINE: That all sounds nice, but I have to go.

  KWC624: Aw, don’t do that, dear. You want to call me and say goodnight?

  MAXXINE: I’m tired, Kenneth.

  KWC624: Okay, maybe next time. I want to chat with you again. I want to get to know you. I’ll treat you right.

  MAXXINE: I see. I’m sure you will.

  KWC624: Are you really married?

  MAXXINE: Yes. Why would I lie about that?

  KWC624: Just asking, dear. I hope I cross your mind tomorrow. I will think of you.

  MAXXINE: You’re too kind.

  KWC624: I’m just being honest. Think about what I said.

  MAXXINE: Okay. Goodnight, Kenneth.

  KWC624: Goodnight, Maxxine. Email me tomorrow, if you think of me.

  MAXXINE: Okay.

  KWC624: One more thing, what part of Connecticut are you from?

  MAXXINE: The West Hartington area.

  KWC624: Oh, really! I have family in that area as well. I hope you seriously consider my proposition. I’ll let you go. Sweet dreams, dear.

  MAXXINE: Thank you. Goodnight.

  After signing off the internet, my mind wandered into the damn gutter about Kenneth sexing my body. I wanted him bad, especially between my thighs.

  “Maxxine, quit it!” I told myself.

  I was a happily married woman—sort of. Yes, I was. I had to forget about him. That was it, problem solved.

  I woke up later that night, feeling Kamar’s hand rubbing the small of my back.

  “Hi, gorgeous,” he whispered in my ear before kissing it. I turned around to face him.

  “Hi, baby. What time is it?”

  “A little past one.”

  “I tried to wait up for you.”

  “You’re so sweet.” He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead with his soft L.L. Cool J lips. “I love you, gorgeous.”

  Then Kamar kissed me with a lip-teasing, toe-tingling, body-cracking kiss that stole my breath away. With one swift movement, he was on top of me. I gasped as he entered me, maneuvering all eight thick, long inches inside. I bit into his shoulder to stifle the scream that was so close to shattering his eardrum. The pleasure that I was experiencing rocked my soul. It was so intense that, within minutes, I was trembling with the most amazing orgasm that I’d ever had. Then I realized that Kamar was the one making love to me. Kamar continued to pump into me like a runaway train. He couldn’t hold back any longer. I could feel his hot juices pummeling the walls of my pussy.

  Then he cried out my name. “Oh, Maxxine, Maxxine! I’m cumming, baby.”

  I pretended to cry out to him. My voice was saying, “Kamar, cum for me, baby,” but in my mind, I was seeing the face of KWC624: Kenneth Warren Cooley. I yearned to know what he would feel like inside me. Could Kenneth make my toes curl and crack my back, or was he all talk?

  After we made love for the next ten minutes, Kamar drifted off to sleep, leaving me wide-awake and yet again unsatisfied. As I watched him sleeping so peacefully, I caressed his stubbly cheek tenderly and thought to myself, Where did all your passion go? I whispered those sentiments to him, but he was sound asleep.

  I didn’t do anything the entire weekend: no girlfriends, shopping, or work. My husband had started working on the weekends, even though weekends were our sacred time together, too. Well, except for during football season. Thinking about Kamar’s work schedule angered me so I switched my focus to Kenneth. Fucking him was all I wanted.

  “Maxxine, stop tripping, girl!” I told myself continually.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I went upstairs, booted up my laptop, and got in the bed. My heart was pounding rapidly, then I started laughing. It was ridiculous to get so excited and moist over some man from online, but he was a fine piece of chocolate.

  “He probably forgot all about our chat,” I vaguely said to myself. “Well, here goes.”

  I signed on. I checked my emails and noticed KWC624 had sent three. Just seconds after I read the last one, I received an instant message from Kenneth.

  KWC624: Hello!
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  MAXXINE: Hi, I was just reading your emails. Thank you.

  KWC624: You’re welcome. How are you?

  MAXXINE: I’m doing well.

  KWC624: That’s good to hear, dear. So how for real are you? Do you want a good man?

  MAXXINE: I believe any woman would want nothing less, but I already have one.

  KWC624: Well, that’s what you deserve, Maxxine.

  I didn’t respond to his message until he sent me another.

  KWC624: Have you missed me? Did you think of me at all after we signed off?

  MAXXINE: Yes, I went to sleep with you on my mind.

  KWC624: Really! What were you thinking?

  MAXXINE: I was thinking about what you said to me.

  KWC624: I want to be with you, dear.

  MAXXINE: You know this will never work.

  KWC624: Are you saying what I think you’re saying?

  I hesitated about his question. My mind was rambling all over the place. I couldn’t think of an answer fast enough to type back before Kenneth did.

  KWC624: Maxxine, are you there?

  MAXXINE: Yes.

  KWC624: You haven’t answered my question, dear.

  MAXXINE: I know.

  KWC624: It’s okay. I assumed too quickly. I don’t want you to feel pressured into this.

  MAXXINE: You know this will never work.

  KWC624: Smile.

  MAXXINE: This is crazy, but my answer is yes.

  KWC624: Aw, I wish you could see the smile on my face. I’m exhilarated!

  MAXXINE: Kenneth, don’t get your hopes up. I’m not promising you anything.

  KWC624: I believe we both know what we’re in for.

  We continued to chat for the next ten or fifteen minutes before exchanging our cell phone numbers. Kenneth called me immediately after we both signed off. For the next two hours, we engaged in phone sex. Kenneth’s oral sexual foreplay made me climax nine times. It was official. We made arrangements for the upcoming week to meet each other.

  I was a nervous freaking wreck, waiting for Kenneth at the baggage claim in McCarthy International Airport. It was overly crowded, my patience was running low, and my heart was pounding through my chest. He should have been there by then. I had made plans for us to go to the Bushnell Theatre; different events were going on during Black History Month. What the hell! I shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Black women didn’t do crazy shit like that.