by Simone Kelly
Antonio jumped up, backing away. “Now, come on, man! Stop fucking with me!”
“Relax. Is it true?”
“Well, yeah. But . . . how did . . . What the fuck? How did you know all of that? I was eight. Yo . . . Yoooooo!” He scratched his head and looked around. “You are good.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Wow, and that was my neighbor, Miss Marie! Her cokehead son tried to kill her.”
Dee pointed toward him. “You see, we told you he is the truuuufff. Don’t mess with him!” A few snickers filled the room.
I hoped that in the semi-dark no one could see me gloating. How I adored my skeptics. I always found a way to shut them up nicely.
“Antonio, I saw it, because that is what I do. I can see things. If you didn’t know already, that pivotal moment in your life made you a better person. It helped you want to get in the very business you are in right now. You wanted to help people. You have this immense passion for the underdog, because many times you, too, have been the underdog and have wanted help and no one was there.”
“Man . . . shit, you are good, dawg. You’re right, you’re right!” He gave me a pound.
Dee chimed in to my defense again. “Good, now you can stop being a chicken. All right, Jacques. . . . Can we learn from you? Show us how we can do it! It’s something to pass the time at least.”
“Ohhh, good idea!” Kylie said.
“Okay. So, let’s just get everyone relaxed. Let’s play a quick game, so you can do what I do.”
I put the big flashlight on the floor to shine on the ceiling and give a glow to the room.
I picked up a chair. “Mind helping me?” They cooperated and we moved some chairs around the couch in a circle.
“Okay, let’s all sit down; close your eyes,” I said softly.
“Wait a minute, no séance shit,” Antonio grumbled.
“Relax, man. This is something a five-year-old can do. Totally easy. No ghosts involved.”
Vince sat down in the circle with us. “I might fall asleep, guys, so wake me up when it’s over,” Vince said.
Dee was on my left, Storm next to her on the couch with me. They both smelled good. I loved a woman who wore just enough perfume to leave a soft tantalizing scent.
Vince sat across from us with Kylie and Antonio, who stayed on the floor. I spoke slowly and deliberately. “All right, everyone, close your eyes and welcome in the silence. Take a deep breath of white light and peace. Breathe out with a gray mist of stress, tension.”
“Blackout tension,” Vince mumbled.
Someone giggled. I cleared my throat.
I was shocked when Antonio whispered, “Be serious, y’all. He’s trying to calm us down.”
I continued. “All right, breathe in.” Everyone took a deep breath in unison. “And out . . . good, good. Wow, you feel that?” I could feel the tension release with a huge sigh. “Okay, keep that slow pace and we’re gonna do this for about a minute . . . in and out . . . innnn and out, innnnn and out.” My head felt lighter and my hands tingled as I breathed with them. I felt more at ease, even in the darkness, which I hated. The room vibrated. I felt like waves of a peaceful ocean were coming over me.
“Okay, now we are going to do a fun exercise. We all don’t really know each other enough to get these answers right, so this is a game of trust . . . trusting your own gut.”
The room was still and calm. “Slowly open your eyes.” The moonlight shone in and the glow of the flashlights and candles set the tone for the ultimate relaxation room, even in the heat.
I heard everyone’s light breathing. A sense of serenity floated through. I saw Vince was starting to check out; his eyes were still closed. “Vince, why don’t you go first?” He snorted like he was just waking up. “Okay, maybe not you.” We giggled.
“Antonio, do you mind?”
“What do I have to do?”
“Just go to each person in the circle. Tell them what their favorite pastime is. You already have one up on everyone since you are a professional investigator.” I whispered loudly, “No pressure.”
“Yeah, thanks, Jack.” He said my name wrong on purpose. “Okay, so I gotta guess a hobby?”
“Correct. Don’t judge yourself or think about it, just spit it out quickly. Start here.”
I pointed at Dee, his nemesis. “Oh, that’s easy, smoking Newports at a party with her friend.”
“Well, yeah,” Dee said. “You’re kind of right!”
“Okay, okay.” Antonio clapped his hands together, which startled Vince. He licked his lips as he moved toward Kylie. “Next up, Miss Ky! Ummm, I’m gonna say swimming. You got those nice shoulders and that collarbone like a swimmer.” He tilted his head to the side as he eyed her up and down. “Skinny-dips from time to time.” He looked at me and laughed. “She’s into adventure.”
“Damn!” Dee said. “Wishful thinking, Antonio!”
“Well, he’s half right,” Kylie said. “I do love swimming, but not to get arrested! I did skinny-dip one time in college, though.” She laughed. “And, Antonio, you need to behave!”
“Ah, yeah, keep your fantasies to yourself,” I chimed in. Antonio moved over toward the couch. “Okay, Storm, right?”
“Watch it now!” Dee said protectively. He took a deep breath. He was really getting into it. “I don’t know, but I am gonna say what I feel. I get arts, painting, drawing, even sewing.”
“Wow!” Dee shouted.
“I’m impressed,” Storm said as she rubbed her belly. “Antonio, I’m a fashion designer. I have my own collection at Macy’s.”
“What . . . get the fuck outta here! Oh, I’m sorry, ladies. I’m sorry,” he stage-whispered to the unborn baby in her belly.
Dee laughed loudly.
“See, how could you have known that except for your intuition?” I queried. “Magic happens when you go within and trust. Now, what about me?” Antonio closed his eyes and took an exaggerated breath in through his nose.
With his eyes still closed he said, “I’m gonna say reading, but not just anything; you are into some out-there, next-world, heavy metaphysical stuff. Other cultures, people who were like geniuses and didn’t know it. You like aliens, too. Out-there shit.” He laughed. He opened one eye. “Am I right?”
“Right again!” I was actually impressed. “Wow, not bad. Not bad for a first try.” I clapped and everyone joined me.
“Okay, I’ll go next!” Kylie jumped up onto her knees. She smoothed out her skirt and I admired her curves from the back. Kylie looked at Antonio and dramatically took in a long deep breath, reached for his hands, and closed her eyes. “I wanna hold hands, is that okay?”
“Anytime, baby,” Antonio said.
“I think she was talking to me, Antonio.” I chuckled. “Sure, follow your intuition, Kylie. You probably do better with touch. Getting close to someone’s energy field works wonders.”
She took a moment to breathe. “I’m gonna say shooting range. I saw you with a rifle for some reason. You exuded a lot of power when you did it.” I saw him hold her hands a little tighter.
“Well, actually I do own a few guns.” He laughed. “I practice at the range, so I don’t get rusty.”
She scooted over to me on her knees and grabbed my hands. Our connection was ignited by touch. Her hands were so warm. My palms tingled.
“I just heard Broadway, off-Broadway. Like you like plays. You like new stuff though, not the corny Disney-type Broadway, you like edgy stuff.” She closed her eyes and squinted hard, like she was seeing something. “The art of expression in unique ways. One-man or one-woman shows, poetry, unique topics.”
“Very good, very good!” I said.
Antonio leaned up off the floor. “Wait now, hold up, hold up. Why I gotta be the niggah with the gun and Mr. Pollyvoo France is all cultured and shit?”
“Because he’s all cultured and shit!” Storm said loudly. Everyone roared with laughter. Since she’d been so quiet most of the night it took us by surprise. Dee was holding her sto
mach and almost crying from the irony of his comment.
“Oh Gawwwwwd!” Kylie screamed. “That was priceless!”
Antonio realized how he sounded and laughed as well. “I’m just saying.”
“This is fun,” Storm added. “But I’m so out of it, guys. Let me rest my eyes for a minute. I am praying when I open them, the lights will be on. I really am getting worried. I should have been in bed hours ago.”
“No need to worry, it will be over soon,” I reassured her. “Okay, break time, I guess.”
“Holy shit, we’re psychic!” Kylie shouted and high-fived Antonio. Vince slept throughout the laughter.
“You know,” Kylie said. “I’m sleepy now, too. I used up all that brain power.” She leaned on Antonio’s shoulder as he looked at her and smiled.
I looked at my watch. It was one thirty A.M. I sat down on the floor with my back against the wall. I closed my eyes as the mumbles and whispers turned to deep breathing. Vince was now snoring and, surprisingly, his rhythmic breathing was our lullaby.
About twenty minutes had passed by when Dee asked, “Can you walk with me to the bathroom? I’m not going alone.” I looked at everyone dozing or in a deep coma.
Without hesitation, I grabbed the smaller flashlight and said, “Come on, let’s go.” The hairs on my arms stood up. Dee led the way with each sway of her hips. I held the flashlight on her butt as she hurried in front of me. “Wait up, Dee. I’m supposed to be in front.”
“Catch me if you can.” She laughed as she walked swiftly. With each step, she was dripping with sweet sensuality. She was alluring and I was beginning to doubt she had to go to the bathroom at all. I knew she wanted me to pin her to the wall. She wanted to be held again, be touched and caressed. She slowed down and walked next to me. “That was such a cool exercise, Jacques.” Her breath smelled like a fresh stick of spearmint gum.
“Yes, it’s actually one of my favorites. I used to do it in workshops, but I haven’t taught in a while.”
“You really should, you’re a great teacher, Jacques.”
“Why, thank you.” We stopped at the bathroom door. It was dark.
I put the light up a bit, so we could see each other better. The power of a glance. It spoke volumes. I was mesmerized by her mouth. I handed her the flashlight so she could see. The door made a slow creaking sound as I watched her go in. I wanted to follow behind her, but I waited.
I heard the toilet flush and water running. She cracked the door open. “Jacques, can you come here for a second? I wanna show you something.”
My stomach churned. I felt like a nervous teenager. “Dee . . . now, that might not be a good idea.”
Softly she pleaded. “Just come here, pleeeeaaase.” Her hand pulled me in and I followed. I was curious, aroused, excited. I wanted to live on the edge. Just for a moment. She was a temptress and she knew it. I felt uncomfortable. My mind knew it was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I heard my spirit guides coaching me with a voice in my head saying, “Now remember, there’s no turning back.”
“Jacques, I know you try to be professional, but can I just get a hug? A real long one. I need it.”
The room was dark. “Where’s the flashlight, Dee?”
“On the sink. I know where it is. I don’t want to waste the batteries.” She giggled.
My back was against the door and she was standing very close to me. “Oh, is that what we’re doing? Saving energy? You know, you are such a tease.” I could barely see her face. The small window gave off a sliver of light from the moon. “Tues êtes un tel fait de taquiner.” I rubbed my hands down the sides of her arms.
“Whaaaat?”
“Such a tease, you are. You know that? We know a hug is nothing, but when done in the dark, it can be dangerous and so much more.”
She leaned in and whispered, “You are so fucking sexy, Jacques. And your speaking in French doesn’t help make it easier.” She sighed and her pelvis pressed against my arousal. “Can you read my mind?”
I put my hands, now moist from perspiration, on her waist. I felt a bit guilty, but I couldn’t stop myself. My fingertips pushed into the small of her back, under her jeans and right below her belt. I guided her hips closer to me.
“Yes, I can read it. It’s not very nice,” I said low in her ear.
“What? You don’t think so?” She laughed.
“Uh-uh. It’s rather dirty.” I was helpless as she breathed softly on my neck. “What is it saying?”
“It’s saying you’re a bad girl.” I rubbed my hands up and down the sides of her arms again and squeezed them. They were a little damp from the heat of the small bathroom, but so soft. I wondered if the rest of her body felt like that. I pulled her into me. I wondered if this moment would lead to much more. I could picture her getting on her knees.
She leaned into the side of my neck and kissed it, and then tugged on my ear with her teeth and nibbled softly. Our energies were intertwined now. They were ready to kiss, touch, and undress. I kept my eyes closed and my face tilted up. I told myself, Don’t kiss her, don’t do it. Don’t kiss. Then it will be officially cheating. Vicky isn’t my wife but . . .
The soft sounds of our breathing filled the room. Slow. Intense. Anticipating what was next. This was already crossing the line, but a kiss or a little more would be the start of something. No turning back.
“You feeling guilty, Jacques?” She spoke right on my lips. “I can tell. I bet you I know someone who isn’t.”
I tried to envision Vicky. Vicky roleplaying that she was in the dark bathroom with me. It took away the guilt. I didn’t look at her face. I just pretended. I thought about how powerful my mind was. That I could make things happen by just thinking it at times. I think this is one of those times. Dee rubbed the crotch of my pants. I wanted her to open them.
“Answer me, is he feeling guilty?” she said in a demanding voice. I loved her take-charge attitude. She stroked me gently and I grew even more helpless. Her bracelets jingled a sinful song of seduction as her hands rose up to my cheekbone. She tilted my face down to kiss me.
I had to act. I kissed her. She sighed as she kissed me back with wet spearmint kisses. Fast, deep, intense. Her tongue was magical. A very good kisser. The playful tension we held over the last year was ready to erupt like a violent volcano. “Damn, Jacques, I want you.”
“No, Dee, you know we can’t. I can’t believe this.” I contradicted myself by stroking her breasts and then I reached under her tank top to feel them in the flesh.
“Well, believe it.” She stroked me through my pants, making me even harder.
“Dee, you know . . . if things were different. If I didn’t have a girlfriend . . .”
She played with my zipper, teasing me, and gently tugged on my bottom lip with her teeth. She pulled the zipper all the way down and her small warm fingers ventured into my boxers.
“You do have a girlfriend, right?”
I nodded.
“Ohhhh, that’s too bad.” She wrapped her hand around my hardness and stroked it at length. “You like this?” she whispered. “Oh, shhhhhh . . . don’t worry, I won’t tell.”
I was trying to stay focused. I didn’t want to explode right on her. My head fell back in surrender. “Pourquoi tu es si bons? Why . . . why . . . are you so soooo good?” This was something I really had to get a handle on. How could I say no to her?
She slowly got on her knees and I felt her moist, warm mouth on the tip, teasing, her tongue flickering, licking the sides and playing with it. I wanted to grab her head and shove it to the back of her throat, but I held on to my senses. What would she think of me? This was already bad enough. She finally heard my mental plea and took me in with one swoop. “Ahhhh . . . Oh . . . Dee.”
“Shhhhhh,” she said.
“Ahhhh . . . Deeeee.” She took me in and out while using her hands to stroke me. I was weak. My knees fought to stay strong against the pleasure she sent through my entire body.
I forgot where we were for a moment.
She was incredible and I should have known, since I knew she was a . . . well, a very experienced woman. We were startled by a loud roar down the hall. Dee jumped up away from me and I pulled my pants up from my knees.
The light in the bathroom flickered, then came back on, followed by another thunderous roar of yelling and clapping. It wasn’t just from our building, but from outside, across the street. It was a celebration. The lights were back on.
“Wow, talk about timing, ah?” I said as I smoothed out my clothes and adjusted my hardness.
“Yeah, aaaawkwaaaard!” She looked in the mirror and fluffed up her hair. Suddenly, we were pleasantly surprised by a cool breeze and loud noise over our heads as the A/C turned back on.
“Jacques, you’re such a good man. I know you are not a cheater. I know. And I didn’t know Moroccans had such big dicks! I couldn’t help myself.” She touched my zipper with one last stroke. I had to compose myself.
I pushed my finger to my lips. “Shhhhh, that’s our little secret. We’re African, you know?” I teased.
“Yeah, you definitely got some Mandingo in your bloodline.” She laughed as she adjusted her breasts in her bra. “We should get back before they come looking for us. But I wanna get up with you before I leave. For reaaaaaal. We can’t just end it like that. Come on!”
“I . . . I don’t know.” I shook my head no, as much as I really agreed. “I think the lights interrupting us was a sign.”
“Well, she’s a lucky lady—that bitch.” She laughed and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Just then, I heard very clearly the voice of my guide Edna say, “You would have regretted it. I promise you.”
I opened the door and the creaky sound seemed to shoot down the hall. I stood outside the door waiting, but I wanted to act like I was in the men’s bathroom instead and decided to go across the hall.
“Oh, there you are,” Kylie shouted. “You see, it’s back on!”
“I can see that. Finally! I need to charge my cell.”
“Where’s Dee?” She looked behind me and then looked down at my pants.