Release

by J , Louise

  “Bet she will,” Tommy says, “it’s one of her favorites.”

  I straighten up. “Who is this strange woman I’ve hooked up with?” I ask her.

  “He’s talking shit.” She tries to give Tommy the evil eye, but it’s not really convincing. She still wants to laugh. “You’re a troublemaker.”

  “That’s what you get when you interrupt man talk.” He holds out his hand to me. “I bet she makes you watch it. Six months tops.”

  I shake his hand. “No-fucking-way am I watching a bunch of men dressed in garters singing.”

  Tommy laughs and ushers his sister away.

  With a fake pout, Brooklyn heads over to the table where her mom is.

  She looks super cute, and I feel like a sappy fool.

  Twenty Nine: Dane

  In a bar and grill, I’m sitting at a table next to Evelyn. Our attention is on her daughter, who’s with Tommy and Katie over at the jukebox.

  I’m not sure whether it’s because of the relationship I have with Saffron, but few things please me more than observing close siblings. Brooklyn and her brother adore each other and they share the same sense of humor. That means I get to indulge in Brooklyn’s laugh, which I’m doing right now. It’s impossible not to smile.

  My gaze slides to Evelyn, who’s now watching me.

  Her lips curve and she looks back over at her grown up kids. “I know it’s early days,” she says, her stare unwavering, “and no pressure or anything, but I trust you to take care of my baby. I don’t know you that well, but the way you are with her and the way you look at her sets my mind at ease. She’s a tough little cookie, but cookies do crumble. This is the happiest she’s been in a while. That’s because of the show and you.”

  For a moment, I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting that.

  “I’m glad you can leave tomorrow with that peace of mind. We’ve all got our breaking points, but I’ll do my very best to avoid anything happening with your daughter that’ll take her there.”

  She grasps the hand I have resting on top of the table and squeezes it. “Thank you. It’s hard being so far away from my girl. I’m pleased she has a nice group of people around her here, especially Leona, Kayla and now you. Your sister and your friends seem lovely as well.” She moves her hand from mine and reaches into her purse.

  “Put that in your jacket pocket.” I look down, and she’s discretely passing me a DVD under the table. Taking her offering, I reach for my jacket.

  “If you’re going to tell Brooklyn I gave that to you, at least wait until I’m on the plane.” She smiles wide, looking even younger and quite mischievous. “She’ll kill me when she realizes what I’ve done.”

  I frown, curiously, and that seems to be enough to get an answer to the question I haven’t asked yet.

  “It’s Brooklyn’s first show when she was seven years old. Tommy transferred it from video tape to DVD for me. Everyone that gets close to my baby sees this, and since you’ve watched her in Release…” Evelyn raises her right shoulder. “You’ll recognize her immediately. Her favorite performance on there is the one to Disco Inferno. She’ll go mad when she knows I’ve given you that, but it’s tough luck. I’m proud of her and that was her first ever show, a year after she started dancing. Leona’s in it, too. She’ll go mad as well.” She chuckles without shame, and how the hell can I not laugh with her.

  Holy shit, Evelyn Scott is something else.

  Thirty: Brooklyn

  It’s the day after my family’s departure. I’m home alone, not long after returning from the studio. All set for a lazy afternoon, I lay back on my bed flipping through a magazine. I love the problem pages and sometimes I like the real life stories. This month’s offerings are rape, infidelity and domestic violence. I close the mag, drop it on my bed, and call Dane on his mobile. He’s at work, but we always talk during the day so I know he won’t mind.

  “Hey, beautiful, what’s up?”

  “Nothing, it’s just a bit rubbish here. I think I got too used to having Mum, Tommy and Katie around. I feel restless.”

  “I think I’m gonna have to do something about that. See you in two.”

  “No, I don’t want to tear you away from work.”

  “They’ll survive without me for a little while.”

  A massive grin rips across my face.

  Dane literally is at the main entrance to my block within two minutes. When I open my front door, there he stands in his black work T-shirt and cargo trousers. He hugs me in his way, kisses me on the lips and surveys me as he toes-off his boots. “Nice shorts. Best legs without a doubt,” he says.

  With the way he’s looking at me, he’s got about ten minutes of talk time before I pounce. No way is he leaving this apartment untouched. To top it off, there’s no Leona or Kayla around to have to take into consideration.

  Once we’re in my bedroom with the door closed, I stroll over to the radio and turn it off. I turn around and frown at the sight of Dane topless and unbuttoning his trousers.

  “Don’t get any ideas. I just don’t feel right laying on your bed in my work clothes.”

  I smile – he’s having a laugh if he thinks his visit will be an innocent one. Especially as I watch him stretch out on my bed in his black briefs. Oh yeah, the look of a bad boy and a Calvin Klein underwear model combined to perfection.

  He notices my magazine and picks it up. He now has approximately six minutes.

  “Anything useful for us in here?” he asks in jest, as he scans the cover. He’s on his back with his head on the pillows I already had piled up for me.

  “Nothing we don’t already know.” I walk over to join him. He starts flipping through the pages. “Ménage,” I say slowly, as the word jumps out at me from the article he’s stopped on.

  I kneel on the bed next to him, to his right and facing him, and sit back on my heels. In about four and a half minutes I’ll be straddling his hips.

  “Would you? Have you?” he asks, his enquiring gaze moving to me.

  The right side of my mouth lifts into an intended smirk. “It would be impossible for me to even consider another when I have you. Impossible.” And I absolutely mean it. “So, no is the answer to question number one.”

  “Good answer. Right answer. And question number two?” He’s already figured it out.

  I grin, certain he won’t suddenly develop a problem with my admission. “Yes.” I don’t fail to notice the movement beneath his underwear. I arch a brow at him. Two minutes.

  It pleases me that he seems more intrigued than disappointed or jealous. You can’t change your past, so it’s a pain in the backside when a man gets ridiculous and insecure about your earlier sexual ventures. If they know you aren’t a virgin when you meet them, and they still want you, then how dare they have a problem? I’m not offended that Dane isn’t jealous. He’s secure and I like that.

  “Who with?” he asks.

  “My boyfriend, Calvin, and his friend Dean.”

  “Did you like it?”

  I nod slowly with eye contact that says this is turning me on. It’s turning us both on, he is definitely hard now. I’m aware my ten minute time limit has now past, but I’m liking our conversation. I still intend on putting that erection to good use.

  “So no regrets?” he asks, dropping the magazine on the floor.

  “No. What would you say if I wanted one with you and another man?”

  His brows shoot up. “Share you? Hell-fucking-no! I don’t want any other man’s hands on you unless it’s for your performances.”

  “Good answer. Right answer,” I say to him, just as he did me.

  I’d have been massively unimpressed, pissed off, if he’d said yes. I have no problem with threesomes, I had a great time, but I want, and expect, Dane to want me all to himself. Plus, it was a one-off experience for me, experimentation. I have no desire to do anything like that again.

  “How many have you had?” No sense in asking Dane if.

  “Honest answer?” H
e’s serious, and now I’m more intrigued.

  “Honest answer.”

  “Five.”

  I’m not entirely surprised. “Always two women and you?”

  “No.”

  I shake my head, not really disapproving. “You and your naughty mates,” I tease. “How many times was it with two women?”

  “Once, but not like one time. I fell into an … arrangement with a couple chicks. It went on for a few months.” He looks thoughtful for a moment. “One of them was Clarissa.”

  “Ah, so she wanted you all to herself.” I’m telling, not asking, because I can imagine how the whole thing went.

  I feel sorry for her; she fell for Dane and ended up getting hurt.

  He’s really not the type of man any woman should fall for, based on his relationship history, but it is such an easy thing to do.

  I smile at him. I love the way he’s looking at me, I feel no less than adored. I’m often on the receiving end of that intense, deeply focused gaze, and I completely forget about anything but him and me in those moments.

  “You’ve been driving women crazy all over this city, Dane.”

  His expression doesn’t change from adoring, and I don’t think he’s taking my comment seriously. By no means does he lack confidence, but he genuinely doesn’t understand the impact he has. He’s ridiculously gorgeous with a body that’s beyond amazing – that’s great, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. Dane is clever, creative and skilled (sexually and otherwise), easy to be around, attentive, and he’s undoubtedly a good person with a big heart. There’s also nothing like having a man who’ll massage your heavy muscles on show nights, and any other time when required, without you even having to ask him to.

  What more could a woman want? He exceeds desirable.

  “Come here,” he says.

  I shift over to straddle his hips. Lowering my upper body down to his, I rest my forearms on the bed, either side of his head. He grabs my hips, anchoring me in place, pushing his rigid dick against me.

  “Did they fuck you in the ass?” He’s already figured out the answer.

  “Calvin did, many times.”

  Until Dane, Calvin was the one man I’d have done anything with. Until Dane, I’d labeled Calvin true love, and the only reason we broke up was because he didn’t want me to come to America for All about the Dance. We were together for three years. If it was really true love, he wouldn’t have tried to stop me leaving, and I wouldn’t have left him so easily.

  “Why haven’t you yet?” I ask Dane.

  “I was just thinking that myself?”

  Right now we are serious and acutely horny, and I am so glad I have a miniature bottle of lubricant in a Goodie Bag I got from a cool sex party I went to about a month ago.

  Once we’re naked and ready, I lie on my back with my legs resting up against each of Dane’s shoulders and my hips propped up with two pillows beneath me. Preparing me, Dane inches the tip of one lubricated finger into my tight rear entrance. Press, retreat, press, retreat… Slowly and gradually, I take the full length. Tiny sparks of goodness surround the finger penetrating me. “I should get bored during the day more often,” I tell him.

  “You won’t hear any complaints from me. I might have to fire myself, though.”

  Adding a second finger, he works me again. Press, retreat, press, retreat… I watch him, his expression shows deliberation.

  When the head of his cock, condom included on this occasion, is at my slippery passage, I close my eyes. As he starts to push through, it doesn’t hurt, but my body’s not entirely ready to accept him. It’s only a little uncomfortable, a slight burning sensation.

  “You okay?” he asks, tone kind.

  Opening my eyes, I meet his gaze. “Perfect.”

  Gently, he goes deeper, the nerves surrounding the first few millimeters awakening. Soon after, I feel full and stretched firmly around him. I glance down to find I’ve underestimated this well endowed man. We’re only about halfway there. Closing my eyes again, I wonder if I’ll even be able to take all of him.

  Dane continues to work with my body’s acceptance, and I find his patience and care to be the sexiest thing right now. Depth controlled, he starts to thrust faster. The sensitivity and intense sensation is amazing, I forgot how good this can be. Just the thought of what we’re doing is arousing, and that coupled with the feel of him is incredible. Add to that the sight of him; features that have gone from tightly drawn with careful consideration to a combination of slack and taut resulting from blatant satisfaction, the tension adding further bulk to his inked biceps, and the thick veins in his forearms. He is a vision like no other. I can’t help the soft moans that escape me, moans from more than physical pleasure.

  Anal sex is an acquired taste, and I like it quite vigorous with the correct preparation and build up. Dane always reads me well, and reacts accordingly, just as he is doing right now; powerful, intent thrusts. Even now, I’m aware of his control.

  He is never not in control of himself.

  I completely give myself over, as I always do with Dane.

  “You’re insane, girl,” he says, his voice coarse. I know he’s not surprised by this; he’s no different to me.

  My legs slither down from his shoulders, but stay hooked over his arms, which are either side of my waist. We both look down between my now wider open thighs and then at each other. Maybe there’s a sexual psychic connection we share, because I’m pretty sure we’re thinking the same thing.

  I lower my hand to my neglected pussy. I’m ridiculously aroused, soaked. I slip in and fuck myself with two fingers in time with Dane. A threesome for two people who have no desire to share each other.

  “Fuck! That’s hot,” he says in response to my self inflicted penetration.

  With the finger tips of my other hand, I caress my clit. My eyelids flutter closed. The overwhelming feeling of Dane plus my well lubricated fingers has me so close to the edge, I swear I can even feel the approach of my orgasm in my teeth. Every part of me knows what’s about to happen and the pull to my center is fierce, almost unbearable.

  “Shit,” I moan. I’m fighting to maintain my handwork as I’m taken over, and I’m aware that Dane is close. “Shit, shit.” So close, but it’s difficult to keep up the stimulation.

  “Don’t stop. Come with me, baby,” he commands, his voice strained.

  That sound, his voice, is all I need and for the first time, simultaneously we climax. My skin prickles and tingles all over as I come hard. My scream of Dane’s name blocks out any noise he makes, but I’m semi-aware of his final thrust.

  I move my aching hands and wrap my arms around him as he lowers his body onto mine.

  Thirty One: Brooklyn

  After Dane and I shower, and he returns to work, I go into the kitchen. I’m famished. At the table, I sit with a black coffee and some tuna pasta, and get lost in thought.

  A hand waves in front of my face. I blink, coming back from my deep mental space.

  “Hey, daydreamer,” Leona says.

  “Hi, when did you get in?”

  “Just now. What’s on your mind?” She sits down with me, elbows atop the table, hands cupping her jaw.

  “Oh, nothing, I was just daydreaming. Are you hungry?”

  “Nah, I just had lunch with Xavier.”

  “Where is he now?” I fork a load of pasta and shove it in my mouth. Carbs, protein and caffeine – bring ‘em all on!

  “Work. That’s where we ate. I came home from there.” She chuckles. “You should’ve seen us last night. We were having slow, lazy, tipsy sex in the missionary position. He said, “I love your eyes,” and I said, “I love your eyes.”” Now she’s speaking in a silly seductive voice. ““I love your lips, I love your lips, I love your cheeks, I love your cheeks.” We literally loved every part of each other for the duration of our easy shag, even down to our toes.”

  I giggle at her. “You two are nutters.”

  “That’s the dangers of alcohol, b
abe. You talk shit. We laughed about it today, though. Anyway, what you been up to?”

  “Dane just left and now I’m having a late lunch.” I sip my coffee, which is cooling more than I’d like, so I gulp down some more because I can’t be bothered to get up and put it in the microwave to heat it.

  “You two are so smitten. Weren’t you at his last night?”

  “Yeah, but I was bored, so he popped up for a little while. He has to go to San Jose with Eric this evening and it might be a late one. I’m not sure what time I’ll see him.”

  She picks a piece of tuna from my plate with her fingers and eats it. “So you’re still seeing him later?”

  Now I can’t help my face-splitting wide grin. “He’s given me keys to his apartment, so I can let myself in.”

  Leona bursts into a laugh and the resulting spittle sprays me. “Sorry,” she says, covering her mouth with one hand.

  “Thanks! I really needed a face shower,” I say, as I wipe my face with my hands.

  Her laughter settles. “I’m so sorry. Are you serious, though? He’s given you Keeze?” Her eyes are wide as she stares at me.

  “Yeah, so I can let myself in tonight. Or I can just stay here and he’ll pick me up when he gets back. It’s up to me, really. He said I should keep hold of them either way.”

  She looks stunned, her face frozen. “He’s keen.”

  “I know.” I’m hoping with every inch of me he stays that way.

  “I love seeing you so happy again. I’ve got my old Brooklyn back. Your new boyfriend gets my full approval. So what time are you going to his tonight?”

  “Depends if you’ll be here or not. Are you seeing Xavier?”

  “No, tomorrow.”

  “Let’s do something, then. I’ll go to Dane’s after.”

  “Cool, girls’ night. I’ll text Kayla and see if she’s seeing Chase.”

  “Wicked!” Best of both worlds; time with my friends and then over to Dane’s.

  We hit a bar we all like, ready to indulge in a cocktail or two. It’s a small place with background music, ideal for hanging out and talking. We sit at a table in the corner with a jug of margarita and some nuts. We get talking about going to L.A. with Release, in four weeks. We’re excited and impatient. We’ll be doing a solid week there, then we’ll be getting excited about doing it all again in New York, for two weeks, in November. We’ve got ten different theaters, for varying lengths of time, lined up for next year. 2012 is going to be an epic year.