Don’t Ever Wonder

by Darren Coleman

  “You like that don’t you, boy?” Dee asked Brendan when he caught him staring at her ass.

  He didn’t even try to lie as the smile formed on his face. “Man, she’s sexy as hell.”

  “I’ll tell her that you’re feeling her.”

  “Nah, don’t do that.” Then it crossed his mind as he watched her body seductively rolling to the beat. She danced as if she were an exotic dancer and she had an imaginary customer in front of her. Brendan was mesmerized by her movement as she wound her body like a snake. “I mean…why would you do that?”

  “She’s not my girl. We’re just good buddies. You remember that thing I used to do with the credit cards…”

  “The computers?”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  “Tuesday, she’s the connection to the cards. Nothing going on with us except an occasional business deal, and that’s how I plan to keep it.”

  “Ohhhh snap,” Brendan yelled out. “So shorty is wild, huh?”

  “Wild about making dough.” He laughed. “I think you got a shot.”

  Brendan’s eyes lit up. “Seriously, even with her seeing me here with Tanisha?”

  Dee looked at Brendan as if he was an idiot. “Man, don’t get it twisted. She ain’t gonna want to marry you.” He laughed.

  Brendan thought about it for a second. When he glanced at Tanisha he felt a small sense of shame. Here she was, a beautiful sister, who any man would have been satisfied to go out with, yet she was thrilled to be out with him. She’d been straight up with him from day one and hadn’t played any games with him since they had met. Even though she was still dealing with her man she and Brendan had been out three times in the past couple of weeks. During dinner at Tony Roma’s, Tanisha had openly told Brendan that he was the type of man she was looking for. She had gone further and confided that even though it was early in their relationship she felt as though he was providing her with the strength and desire to finally break off her dysfunctional relationship. All considered, he was still far more interested in Tuesday. She turned him on in a way he couldn’t fully understand. She didn’t seem like the type of girl you’d bring home to mother, yet her demeanor and sex appeal fascinated him.

  The girls grew tired of dancing alone and moved back toward Brendan and Dee. Tanisha moved really close to Brendan and as she brushed up against him he felt the sudden warmth of her body as the scent from her perfume invaded his nostrils. While she leaned against his body, Brendan looked over her shoulder at Tuesday, who was standing next to Dee sipping her third drink of the night. Again he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Then, as the band took their places and began to play, it dawned on Brendan. He was actually considering acting out the exact type of behavior that he had always criticized Nate for. He had Trina at home, who unfaithfully or not, was playing the part of fiancée. He was in the club with Tanisha, who was falling for him so hard she was ready to dump her boyfriend. Even still, there was no denying that he wanted to fuck Tuesday. Right here in the club, the parking lot. It didn’t really matter. He was filled with desire.

  Dee caught him peeping at Tuesday once again and winked at him before he laughed. Brendan knew that Dee was inviting him into his world. He had offered Brendan women before, hook-ups that could get him into trouble, and opportunities to act foul. This time Brendan winked back and they all headed to the stage to hear Kenny and Chanté as they began to perform.

  Tuesday’s condo was located at the mouth of Georgetown. She had her place laid out. She gave him a tour and he took notice of the cherry hardwood floors, the expensive art hanging on the tan walls with the white crown molding. The living and dining rooms were filled with fine furniture. Brendan marveled at the stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and the fifty-two-inch plasma screen in the living room. When he reached her bedroom he remembered that Dee had told him that she ran credit card scams. She had a saltwater aquarium built into the wall, another flat-screen mounted on the wall, and a huge Victorian canopy bed.

  “So you like it?” she asked as she directed him to the couch, then she went into the kitchen to fix drinks.

  “Baby, your spot is all of it,” he responded as he fell onto the couch. He looked at the clock and noticed it was two thirty in the morning. Tuesday had slipped Brendan her number after the show. She had scribbled on a note, “Call me when you drop Mary Poppins off if you’re up for the challenge 202–777–3667.” He barely had time to get Tanisha to her car at the meeting spot before he called Tuesday. Tanisha had to work in the morning and was still hesitant to take Brendan to her place. Tuesday gave him directions and told him don’t stop until he hit the parking lot.

  “So, Brendan, Dee tells me that you live with someone,” she said as she handed him a glass of Rémy and orange juice.

  He swallowed quickly and almost stuttered. “I…well…”

  “No, don’t trip. It’s cool with me. I just think you’re a handsome brother and Dee speaks highly of you. I finally got a chance to meet you and I’m feeling your vibe. As a matter of fact, why don’t you call her and tell her you got too drunk to drive and you’re with Dee?”

  Brendan couldn’t believe she’d just said that. He thought about it for a second and said, “Nah, she might ask where Dee is or something. I’ll just head home in an hour or so.”

  “You think so?”

  He didn’t know how to take that, so he just nodded. They finished the first, second, and third drinks while talking and listening to slow music on WHUR. Brendan was amazed to hear that Tuesday had a degree in economics from N.C. State. He was even more shocked when she reached into her Dior bag and pulled out a makeup case filled with joints and fired one up. She passed it to Brendan, “No, thanks, I don’t get down.”

  “Oh, my bad. Do they drug test at your gig?” Tuesday took a pull and then lit an incense.

  “Nah, I work at Nordstrom.” Tuesday’s eyebrows raised. “I’m the manager of women’s shoes.” He laughed. “No need to drug test up in that camp.”

  “So what’s up? Get high with me.” She laughed out, “You afraid I’m gonna take advantage of you?”

  He laughed back. “I wish you would, but…”

  “But nothing,” she said seductively. “Hit this and then maybe you can hit this,” she arched her back poking her breasts out and sticking her rear end out.

  Brendan was never into smoking but like most men, he was one to be led around by his penis. She extended her hand with the lit joint and he accepted, with thoughts of having his way with Tuesday. He took a long hard drag. The smoke hit his lungs and burned his throat and he choked and began to cough. Tuesday fell out laughing at him. “Got-damn,” he said as his eyes began to water uncontrollably.

  Still laughing, she said, “You got to slow down, cowboy. This here is some serious Hydro.” She took another toke and blew the smoke out her nose. “I see a sistah is gonna have to teach you how to smoke.”

  Brendan didn’t want to admit that he hadn’t smoked since college. A half hour and two j’s later Brendan was higher than a kite. His head was tight and he was looking around the room trying to remember exactly where he was and wondering how he got there. Tuesday had turned down the dimmer and there were candles lit all over the room. He was staring at the flames as if he had never seen anything so remarkable in his entire life. When Tuesday came out of the room she was naked except for her socks. “Those are soooooo nice,” Brendan said as she stood in front of him.

  Taken aback, she cupped her breasts and responded with, “My titties?”

  “Nooo, those candles. They smell soooo good.”

  A smile slid across her face and she responded, “Mufucka, you high.”

  A grin erupted on his face, “Helllll yeah.”

  With that, Tuesday leaned over the table and lit the last joint. They smoked it together and Brendan got even higher. At this point he could have fallen over and went to sleep for two days, but Tuesday went to work on him. She unbuttoned his shirt and unfastened his pants. What Brendan didn’t know
was that when she smoked and drank she could go all night. It was already four in the morning and if he didn’t make it home in the next hour he was as good as fucked at home, and not in a good way.

  Once she had his clothes off she straddled him and kissed him as if he was the man of her dreams. He wasn’t responding aggressively enough for her so she began to run her fingers through his hair, gripping the back of his head and pulling his mouth to hers. She began gyrating on top of him, making contact between her clit and his penis. Finally his arousal began to catch up with hers and he wound up in a new place somewhere way past drunk, high, and freaky.

  Tuesday began to get wet and her juices were getting all over Brendan’s midsection. “I need you inside me right now,” she growled out. She reached back onto the coffee table and grabbed a condom out of her purse. She quickly tore it open with her teeth as she slid down to her knees in front of him. She wrapped her lips around his manhood and began to tease the head of his dick while gripping it with her hand. She was making more growling and purring sounds amid the slurping and sucking. He grew rock hard and she slid the condom down on him.

  Brendan was turned on but too out of it to take any control. “You want me to sit on it?”

  Brendan just nodded his head yes and leaned back. Tuesday turned her back to him and gripped him with her right hand. She guided him in as she sat down on him. Even with the condom he could feel her wetness. She wasn’t tight at all and he wondered for a minute if he was big enough for her. She let him know that he was just perfect as she began to moan.

  “Ohhhh shit, Brendan.” She was bouncing up and down.

  “You like it?” he shot back as he was now staring at her back. She was bouncing up and down fast. “You like it?” he repeated.

  “Oh, yeah, daddy. I love it.” She began grinding and bucking uncontrollably.

  Brendan was staring at the tattoos on her back. A lunging black panther, some Greek letters from her sorority, a cross with roses on it, and a design at the small of her back just above the butterfly that looked like a something a Harley-Davidson rider would have. He focused on them as she bounced up and down. She bounced until they became a blur. Soon all he could see was her brown body as she leaned forward. She began to moan loudly as he gripped her ankles. He could feel the familiar sensations of an orgasm as he started breathing heavy. “Ahhh,” he panted. “Yessss.”

  “Cum for me, Brendan,” she said as she leaned back and turned her face back toward him and kept humping him. Her back was arched and she was throwing the ass at him in perfect rhythm. “Oh, I feel it too. It’s so deep.” She began rubbing herself and Brendan went over the edge.

  “Oh…yeah…oh…yeah…aaaahhh…damn.” He began to ejaculate and was now lifting himself up off the couch banging into her.

  “That’s right. Bang me. Bang me.” With that she let out a scream and started her own orgasm. “Don’t…stop…fucking…me…in…the…ass.”

  “What?” Brendan asked.

  Tuesday paid him no attention as she wound up her orgasm and jumped up off of him. When her bottom released him he heard a plop and looked down to see that he had been in her butt and not her vagina. He was stunned. He never thought that he would enjoy anal sex, but he hadn’t even known the difference. She walked off to the bathroom and started the shower.

  She called a still-stunned Brendan in to join her and when he climbed in she scrubbed his body from head to toe. Once they finished she led him into the room where she proceeded to fuck him in more ways than one.

  At eight thirty he struggled to open his eyes as his phone began vibrating. Tuesday was still sleeping as he got up and got dressed. She barely woke up as he headed out of her place. He remembered the night and was shocked at the things that he’d done with Tuesday. She was wild, but he had to admit that he liked it. He had truly enjoyed himself, at least what he could remember.

  With a smile Brendan did recall his unwitting anal experience, the handcuffs, and the pounding he had given her as she shouted sexually explicit commands at him. What he didn’t remember was that during the heated sex, Tuesday had shown him why she was nicknamed Panther Girl as she scratched his back unmercifully.

  10

  Can’t See the Forest for the Trees

  Friday nights in D.C. are off the hook in the springtime. People have been cooped up all winter and are pressed to get out to see and be seen. Every restaurant, bar, and club is making money. From Georgetown, to downtown, to the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia, people are out partying and trying to mingle. Now we were back on the scene as if we never left. When I got a phone call from Nate letting me know he was back home, there was no question that a trip from New York was mandatory. He’d called the night after he left Kim’s mother’s house and a week later I was home. Shelly elected to stay back in New York because she had already planned a shopping trip to Woodbury Commons, so my weekend with the fellas would have no constraints.

  Nate gave me the biggest bear hug in the world in the parking lot of the Jasper’s over in Largo not caring how weird it might have looked.

  “Man, it’s good to see you,” he said as we broke our embrace.

  “You too.” I returned, smiling at my friend. “You looking good, bro. You been taking care of yourself I see.”

  “Actually I had put on some weight but I got it back together and I’ve been working out like crazy.”

  “So where is Brendan?”

  “He and Dee are on the way now.”

  “Oh, Dee is coming too? I’m going to need an appointment tomorrow,” I said lifting my cap off my head.

  “Yeah, you know he and Brendan have been hanging tough since we left.”

  “Yeah, I know and honestly I think that Dee has been a negative influence on that man.”

  Nate laughed. “Yeah, you might need to talk to him. He doesn’t want to hear anything that I have to tell him right now.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I told him that he needs to come to church with me.”

  I laughed. “So you were telling me that you found God. That’s a beautiful thing. I need to come along with you myself while I’m here.” I paused and tried to remember the last time I went to church. “So where are you going to go?”

  “Well, the church I went to in Charlotte was actually started by a brother who has a church right here in D.C. Lloyd Lawson.”

  “The name sounds familiar.”

  “Yeah, he’s really a dynamic brother. This Sunday will be my first time attending his church, but I did hear him preach in Charlotte a couple times. He’s the reason why I’m back in D.C.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Well, his words motivated me to face my fears and guilt. I put it all in God’s hands and here I am. I’m not running anymore not even from my own habits.”

  “That’s deep.” I said and then saw Brendan pull up with Dee following.

  We greeted each other and headed inside to get a table. Just like old times, Nate rolled up on the hostess and spoke to her for a few moments. A minute later the manager, Roy, came to the lobby and greeted Nate. They shook hands and laughed before he waved for us to follow him to our table.

  “Thanks, Roy.” Nate said.

  “No thang. It’s good to see you again. Don’t be a stranger.”

  “Some things never change, huh?” I asked, amazed at how Nate still had so much pull.

  We ordered drinks and appetizers and kicked it like old times. I let them know that my time in New York was coming to a conclusion. After my meetings with a company we were trying to acquire in Chicago I would be back in the D.C. area to stay. I tried to explain to them what the married life was like and conveyed all the joy that I experienced getting to know my daughter. Then Dee asked a question out of the blue that hit me in the face like a ton of bricks.

  “So, Cory, do you think that you made the right choice dropping Nina and getting back with Shelly just because you two had a kid?”

  I paused and the table was silent. The tho
ught went down like a cup of hot water burning my insides and before I could answer, Brendan jumped in. “Of course, he did. Dee, you just don’t know how much this nigga always loved Shelly, ’cause if you did—”

  Then I interrupted him. “No. I didn’t.” Every one paused again and I looked down at the table and quietly reiterated, “Damn, I didn’t.” It wasn’t the first time that I’d admitted to myself that I should have never married Shelly. I had already told Nina that I felt that way. But saying it aloud to my friends for the first time, I realized that I needed to do something about my situation. “But you know what, fellas?”

  “What’s that?” they said in unison.

  “At the end of the day, I’m gonna make it right.”

  “That’s cool,” Brendan responded in a low tone. Dee simply nodded and Nate’s eyebrows went up to show his curiosity.

  Eventually the conversation regained its pace. More drinks came between the people-watching and the laughing. The Soundstage was getting more packed by the minute. There was an assortment of professional women and men who had come in at happy hour who were blending in with the wannabe thugs and hoochies who were crowding the bar. As we laughed, talking about which summer events we were going to attend, a girl walked past our table. She was wearing a pair of Apple Bottom jeans and a handmade pink knit sweater. Her rear end was perfectly shaped and caught the eyes of everyone at our table. I watched as Nate amazingly returned his focus back to his entrée. Dee predictably said, “Damnnnn.” But I was amazed at what I saw next.

  Brendan stood up and moved quickly toward her and grabbed her arm. She stopped a few yards past our table and he was all over her. It was like watching a flashback of the old Nate. He said something to her and she began smiling. A few seconds later and he had his cell in his hand putting her number into it.