“When I'm a get to see you?”
“See me?”
“You won't let me taste that Candy, the least you can do is let me see some eye Candy.”
Candy laughed. “Still horny as ever, ain't you?”
“You know I got a sweet tooth, a fetish for Amazons with model faces.”
“It's a difference between a fetish and a fantasy.”
“Well, I'm clear on my need for a face-to-face.”
“When the time is right. Bye.” Candy hung up.
“What he talking ‘bout besides how sexy you are?”
Candy recounted everything to Rich.
“So, he wanna see you? Probably think we in New York.”
“Doubt it. But everything was supposed to go down yesterday, so maybe.”
“He ain't say nothing about Vanessa?”
“I wish.”
Rich let out a deep breath. “We gotta find her.”
“I just hope she's all right.”
* * *
Hours passed, and Candy and Rich were in New York. They had yet to locate Vanessa. Their phone calls went unanswered and Vanessa had not responded to the messages they left on her voicemail. They had come to New York under the assumption that Vanessa had not left the state after checking out of the hotel on Long Island. But they were now confronted with the possibility of her having relocated to any state in America.
Candy stood at one of the windows in Rich's cabin in Balmville, New York. The hideout was located in Orange County, not far from New York City. Candy stared at the tree Chase had been chained to during Rich's torture of him. Candy had mixed feelings as she thought of her and Vanessa firing bullets into Chase, ending his torture and his life. It was hard for Candy to feel remorse for killing Chase and wanting to kill the others involved with her worst experience. But Candy knew that risking her life or the lives of her loved ones to accomplish this task was not worth a prison sentence.
Rich hugged Candy from behind and kissed her neck. “You okay?”
“When Vanessa gets here with us.”
Rich ran his hands up and down her arms to console her. “We put the line out to her. It's just a waiting game until she responds.”
“I just thought of something.”
“Talk to me,” Rich said.
“Let's just have Domingo take care of Chanel and the rest of them.”
“You mean pay the dude who can't keep an eye on them to kill them? The dude I don't trust?”
“We all wanna see them dead. Me, you, Vanessa. But it's no use in us pulling the trigger, especially when we gotta play this waiting game and then get the runaround.”
“I don't know about Domingo,” Rich said, shaking his head.
“He the only one who can get around them all at once.” She turned around and faced Rich. “What you think?”
“I'm thinking about Vanessa right now. Tomorrow. Let me think about it.” Candy kissed him and hugged him.
“Let's get some air,” Rich said, leading Candy to the porch in the back of the cabin. Rays from the sun beamed down as they stood under the shade of the awning. Rich sat on a chair and Candy sat on his lap.
“It's still beautiful out here.” Candy looked out at the acres of grass and trees on Rich's property. Candy and Rich seemed to be isolated in the wealthy neighborhood. The only sounds heard were birds chirping and the ruffling of leaves ushered in with the sporadic breezes. The closest house was a ranch that could be seen in the distance from the front of the cabin.
Rich slid his hands inside of Candy's skirt and into her thong.
Candy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She began to grind her ass into his lap as his finger crossed her clit and entered her pussy.
Rich massaged her breasts with his free hand.
Her back pressed against his firm chest as she grinded slower and more sensually. Candy could feel his ten inches bulging from beneath his shorts. She turned around and removed her shirt and bra, then lifted her skirt as Rich pulled down his shorts and underwear.
“Hurry up,” Rich said. He pulled at her thong until Candy stepped one of her heels out of it.
Candy looked at Rich's dick standing at attention. She was hungry for the sensation it had given her so many times. She had thought about it constantly during their time apart. She felt Rich's strong grip on one of her butt cheeks as she straddled him. “God.” She closed her eyes when her insides enveloped Rich's thickness and she plunged downward. She could feel his tongue touch her hardened nipples before his lips pressed against her breast and the suction of his mouth brought a good portion of it inside of his mouth. His arms wrapped her back, pulling her closer to him each time she slid up and down his shaft with a slow motion. His hands ran all over her back, confirming that every part of her body belonged to him. He held her like he never planned to let her go.
“I love you, Rich. I love you,” she whispered in a sensual tone.
Rich worked her other breast with his mouth. He went down slightly as Candy leaned back, swerving her hips like she was dancing to a reggae song. Rich kissed the center of her chest, just beneath her breast. Candy moaned as he sucked her soft skin, her long hair touching his hands that embraced her back.
Candy picked up her pace. She reached back, grabbing Rich's knees. “Yeah, Rich.”
“Come on, baby,” Rich uttered as he swiveled his movements into hers.
“Yeah, ohh. Yes.”
“Oh, shit.” Rich pulled Candy closer.
“Huh, huh, Ahhh.” Candy and Rich came at the same time. As she felt his hands slide down her sweat-soaked back, she looked into his eyes and kissed him. It felt so right to be back in Rich's arms, to feel him inside her. But Candy knew she needed Vanessa in order for their lives to be complete.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
VANESSA
Things had changed drastically for Vanessa in just days. She had been spending nights at Peg's apartment and Heather’s house since she checked out of the hotel. When they were not having sex, the majority of their time was spent discussing social issues ranging from animal rights to feminism. Vanessa had even been to a CSA protest at a lab in Ithaca, New York where experiments were performed on cats. Vanessa was not ready to make the pledge to advocate for the issues Peg and Heather did, but she could not deny they had valid points and important causes they supported.
“Killing is wrong and that's the bottom line,” Peg said.
“It's a cowardly act,” Heather added.
Vanessa was sitting in a health food store watching Peg and Heather debate with a man who was buying several pounds of organic red snapper. But it wasn't the fish that mattered to Vanessa; it was the concept of killing. The arguments Peg and Heather hurled at the man applied to Vanessa's hunger to kill Chanel and her crew. Vanessa had rode past the tournament several times looking for them, to no avail. She was beginning to take it as a sign that her plan was not meant to come to fruition. Listening to Peg and Heather speak of the immorality of killing was confirming that. Vanessa felt like a hypocrite. Who ever heard of a killer vegan? What the hell has my life come to? Vanessa was slowly reclaiming her identity that preceded Candy's kidnapping and torture.
Vanessa left the health food store with Peg and Heather. They were in Peg's Toyota Prius heading to a CSA meeting. It would be Vanessa's second time sitting among college students engaging in discourse on animal rights, veganism and other social justice issues. Vanessa had not become a member of the group, but she enjoyed the discussions. The conversations were so far removed from mainstream society that they rendered the group’s members as outsiders. It was a feeling Vanessa had coped with for years as a youth. But the group was empowered through their defiance of norms.
“I was checking out your sex tape for the hundredth time,” Heather said from the back of the Prius as Vanessa sat up front in the passenger seat beside Peg.
“And?” Vanessa said.
“First, I wanna say that Candy is hot. And I know you said Rich is a hell of a cock-slinger, but how did you
guys commit to him?”
“Love.”
“It just seems a bit debasing as a woman. Of course, I'm all for a threesome. But two women in a relationship with a man reeks of the type of inequality that women have fought against since the era of Susan B. Anthony,” said Heather.
“It is a hard pill to swallow,” Peg added.
“I actually think having a threesome but not being in a committed relationship is debasing,” said Vanessa. In that instance, the women are merely being used, as opposed to a relationship where each party is equally obligated to each other on every level, and not simply for sex.”
“But the man is still the one who reaps the benefit that the woman doesn't,” said Peg. “He has the benefit of two women. Would Rich have allowed another man to participate in a threesome with you guys?”
Never. She's got a point. Vanessa thought about the time Candy had jokingly asked Rich to allow her to bring another man into their bedroom. Rich laughed it off until Candy continued pushing the issue. For the first time, Vanessa had seen Rich become angry. He raised his voice and slammed his fist on the dinner table, nearly knocking off the plate of food Candy and Vanessa had prepared for him.
The food we cooked. Vanessa reminded herself of all the things she and Candy had done to cater to Rich. The meals they prepared, the hours they spent cleaning his home and washing his clothes. Certainly, Rich had occasionally had some meals ready for them when they arrived home from work. But those were leftover dishes cooked by Vanessa and Candy, simply reheated in a microwave by Rich. He's no different than any pimp.
“It's not unusual that you don't see the chauvinistic implications in that relationship,” Heather said. “Men have a way of downplaying their role in oppressing us until it seems normal.”
“Not to mention they have society on their side,” added Peg. “Everything is leaning in their direction. When we think of any position of authority, be it police officer, doctor or lawyer, the image of a man comes up.”
Heather said, “What positions come to mind when you think of women? The nurse who takes orders from the doctor and the secretary who caters to the lawyer. So the image of a man being in a relationship with two women may be different, but it's understandable. Yet society can't fathom a three-way relationship between two men and a woman.”
Vanessa was growing angry with Rich and he wasn't even in her presence. He and Candy had been leaving messages on her phone for days, but Vanessa simply ignored them when she saw who they were from. She was still frustrated with Candy for leaving her to chase behind Rich. But as she thought of the situation now, in context with the feminist views of Peg and Heather, Vanessa realized Candy was simply under Rich's spell, just as she had once been. This shit was all his plan from day one. Vanessa remembered when Rich first broached the topic of a threesome. He had nonchalantly inquired about it in response to a comedian who joked about threesomes on television as he and Vanessa watched.
“You do understand that a woman would benefit both of us, right?” Rich had argued.
Thinking back, Vanessa could not deny that their relationship with Candy had benefited both of them. But Rich was definitely the person to benefit most. Vanessa had thought about this before, but Peg and Heather made the reality vivid. Reflecting on Rich made Vanessa want to call him up and tell him how she felt. But that was simply a thought. She had more important people in her life now: Peg and Heather.
* * *
An hour later, Vanessa sat Indian style on one of the large pillows in the circle of the multicultural group of thirteen CSA members in Heather's carpeted basement. Jasmine incense burned as the students took notes on iPads and writing pads while snacking on fresh fruit and assorted nuts. On Vanessa's right was Peg. Heather sat across from them on the other side of the circle. There was a positive vibe within the room generated in spite of the diverging views that gave rise to intelligent debates. There was a collective openness and willingness to agree to disagree on certain topics. The two black faces, two Latinos and one Asian fit in perfectly with the majority of white students. There was an openness that Vanessa had experienced with Peg and Heather since she met them.
A slender, light-skinned woman with curly hair and a narrow face held up a book titled Sistah Vegan. It was an anthology of black women who were explaining their experiences as vegans. “One of the women in here makes a valid point that I've grappled with for years.”
“Your mouth still waters at the sight of cooked calf testicles,” Peg said, drawing laughter.
“Okay, Tina Fey.” The light-skinned woman smiled. “Seriously, as I was about to say, sometimes as an African American I feel white people act as if they have a monopoly on veganism, white affluent people in particular.” She looked around the group. “Not you guys, thank God. But some of the larger vegan and vegetarian organizations.”
Vanessa added, “I feel like that sometimes also. Even many black people think being a vegan is a 'white thing.' People on both sides need to be more empathetic. There are unique cultural experiences and issues relative to the racial, ethnic and class makeup of people who are vegans. Vegans are not some monolithic group.”
“You're right,” Heather said. “Vanessa and I debated yesterday about comparing the living conditions of animals to the living conditions of enslaved blacks.”
Vanessa listened to Heather and then the rest of the people speak. She thought about how she had convinced Candy to change her eating habits temporarily. While Candy did not agree with everything Vanessa said about veganism, she had always been interested in hearing Vanessa out.
Unlike Heather, Candy had agreed with Vanessa that the comparison between the treatments of animals and slaves was not the best analogy to convey the seriousness of the mistreatment of animals. Even though Vanessa and Candy came from contrasting classes, they shared a skin tone that helped them connect on many levels where Vanessa could not with Peg and Heather.
“You okay?” Peg asked.
Vanessa snapped out of her thoughts with a smile and a nod. “Excuse me,” she announced to the group. She stepped out of the door, went downstairs, exited the house and stood in front of Heather's home. She pulled out her Droid and the battle between her thoughts of calling Candy and her thoughts of not calling her ravished her gray matter. She paced in front of the large flowerbed beside the concrete path leading to Heather's front door.
“The least I can do is check her messages,” Vanessa whispered to herself. She began scrolling through her smartphone. She came across one from Rich, then contemplated seeing if he had anything to say about Candy. She played the message. Vanessa stopped pacing immediately, her mouth wide open. She learned that Candy had been arrested in Atlanta for assault. Panicking, she fumbled with the phone, scrolling through message after message. She learned that Rich had come to New York in search of her, before returning to Atlanta to pick up Candy. King had bailed her out and they returned to New York to find her, before leaving back to Atlanta.
Vanessa called Candy.
“Vanessa?” Candy responded.
“It's me.”
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Vanessa, I'm here too, baby,” said Rich after taking the smartphone.
“Yeah,” Vanessa replied nonchalantly, unlike how she usually responded by telling Rich she loved him. Her perception of Rich and her relationship with him and Candy had changed. “Put Candy back on the phone.”
“Okay.”
“Vanessa,” Candy said, “where are you?”
“Are you still in Atlanta?”
“Yeah, but where are you?” Candy asked.
“On Long Island.”
“They said you checked out the hotel.”
“I did. I've been staying with some friends.”
“Friends?”
“I'll explain when I get to Atlanta.”
“When?”
“No later than tomorrow, depending on how soon I can book a flight.”
“Okay.” Candy paused. �
��You know I love you, right?”
“I love you too.” Vanessa hung up and held the phone tightly. She felt reinvigorated, having reconnected with Candy. Her task was now to save Candy from the clutches of Rich.
“You okay, Vanessa?” Peg asked as she stepped over.
“Yes. I have somebody I want you and Heather to meet.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
RICH
Rich knew there was going to be a problem between him and Vanessa since he spoke to her minutes earlier. He sensed it in her words or lack thereof. Of course, he and Vanessa had parted on bad terms when she walked out of their hotel suite with Candy in Las Vegas. But that was the past. Candy was beyond that and Rich was looking toward the future. So long as Vanessa removed murder from her plans for the future, Rich knew of nothing that could interfere with them rekindling the three-way relationship they once had. But that was wishful thinking based on the bad attitude he got from Vanessa on the phone.
Lickin' License Part 2: More Sex, More Saga Page 15