He kissed me lightly on the lips, grazing softly to lick at both corners. “You’re a lot of trouble . . . damned nuisance at times,” he murmured as he ran the tip of his tongue along the seam of my lower lip. “More trouble than you’re worth, that’s for sure . . .” he muttered as his hands came up to frame my face and his tongue delved deep inside to capture mine. His low groan of pleasure as I slipped my tongue alongside his and kissed him back sent heat through me. I was hungry for this man, ravished in fact. Desire heated my skin, flashed through my veins and sent wild images flickering like porn on a Nickelodeon on the backside of my eyelids—images of him naked on top of me, plunging his hard penis into me as I arched to receive it and take it as deep as I could; him, holding my knees spread wide as his head dipped; him taking me from the back with his hands caressing my breasts; him, doing everything man was made to do with and to a woman.
If it hadn’t been for people yelling back and forth on the other side of the door, I believe I would have unzipped him right there and made him put that hard ridge inside me so I could ride him like a cowgirl while he sat in that chair.
But it wasn’t time for that yet. And I think we both knew it. When we finally did the deed, I wanted him to be all mine, body and soul. And right now his soul was tied up in this mess, and his thoughts were nowhere near being solely on me. We had to do this thing first. We had to find this guy, lure him in and take him down, and then, maybe then, I would tell him I’d fallen off the cliff without a parachute.
Chapter Five
Vanessa, while appearing very young, was smart, experienced, and inspired confidence. She was cheerful and helpful and made my “transformation” easy and fun. Juanita, the agent that had accompanied her, brought a chest full of makeup and wigs and trunks filled with all manner of clothing. Knowing I was to be a down-on-her luck single mother who tended toward the trashy side, I was still surprised at the final result.
My pristine pearly whites were now tinged yellow (I was assured that the stain was temporary) and a silver cap was visible when I smiled. Crowfeet had been etched with brown fine-line markers around my eyes and gray shadows were created to make me look weary. Fine lines had been added around my mouth and dark red lipstick had been applied purposefully so that it bled and created hard, coarse lips. Some concoction Juanita had come up with made my eyes tear and gave me blood-shot eyes in twenty seconds. Then my body was squeezed into too-tight jeans creating the effect of dreaded muffin-tops over my hips, which disgustingly enough were to be very apparent as the jeans were low slung and the skinny-strapped, madras-styled baby-doll top was inches from meeting the waistband. Normally I wouldn’t mind my midriff being so exposed, but this was hard, displaying such a distracting and unflattering area, flaunting the fact that I was not only tacky but on the verge of being fat and lazy, I didn’t like it one bit. An underwire push-up bra worked on creating the impression that if I could only manage to get my neck down low enough, I could suck my own nipples. Looking in the mirror, I had never seen my breasts higher on my chest or my cleavage deeper. It bordered on obscene.
Next, my hair was colored using an ugly brunette rinse, and then purple and burnt red highlights were added. The whole mess was teased to high heaven and left to fall down my back and shoulders. Vaseline was applied to the ends in a willy-nilly way to make it look as if I hadn’t washed my hair for quite some time.
The ends of my fingernails and toenails were torn unevenly then painted a vile shade of iridescent orange that I was told to work on chipping off when I felt nervous. Vamps that had clearly seen a better day were scuffed up even more before being handed to me to put on. I insisted someone find an anti-fungal spray before putting them on.
I was now the worst imitation I’d ever seen of Olivia Newton-John when she starred in Grease. I was shocked when the male agents nodded their approval and winked with undisguised admiration. Brick had to explain the phenomenon most men had of being sexually attracted to truly lusty, low class women. Something about them broadcasting experience along with a devil-may-care attitude and a willingness to try anything if they thought they’d have good time doing it. He added that it coincided with the impression most men had of themselves—that they invariably provided a good time for any woman they deemed to bed.
“But you,” he added with a raised brow, “you still manage to come off innocent despite the trappings. I don’t know what we can do about that. But darlin’, you are sexier than all get out. I’d hump you. I’d hump you against a bar stool if I could get you to bend over it.” He leaned in and kissed me on the side of my neck and said, “I guess I like my women on the trashy side.”
“Gee. Thanks. Nice to know. Great to hear I’m on your all-time wanted list.”
He smiled down at me and put his arm around my waist and drew me close. Then he leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You are wanted. You are needed. Don’t ever doubt it. And with or without your cavewoman hair I intend to have you so don’t let any of the sleazebags that come on to you bend you over anything, you hear?”
Vanessa came out of the bathroom just then and everyone turned to look at the twenty-something turned teenager. She was perfect. Down to her irreverent tube top that hinted at tiny newly formed breasts, to her short paisley mini-skirt and tall white leggings tucked into clunky black patent leather heels. Had the skirt been plaid and the leggings knee-highs, she would have been the classic schoolgirl image popular in porn movies. Braided pigtails completed the image but instead of two, ten braids were gathered together just above her ears and each time she turned they swished back and forth and fanned her youthful face. Yes, she was every pervert’s dream girl. Together we made a hell of a team and everyone acknowledged it, even Brick’s boss Joe, who I had noticed was slow to praise.
Everyone was given last minute instructions and assignments and then Vanessa and I climbed into the old Dodge clunker that would soon be leaving us stranded by the side of the road—just outside Junior’s hometown.
On the hour-long ride Vanessa and I got to know each other, alternating between our roles and our real lives, sizing each other up and deciding we liked what we found in both arenas. As the “mother,” I was driving. She was supposedly too young to even have a permit.
“Now, I know it’s going to be hard taking the lead as most people tend to gravitate toward the one with the most experience in these things, but don’t. Remember you’re the mother; I’m the daughter. I’m supposed to be subservient to you. Even though I certainly won’t be. My job is to act sullen, mad at the world, and at you especially so that when we have our big fight at the party, it can force the separation we need. Then you, being tired of all my shenanigans, can make the rift even bigger so you can capitalize on getting rid of me. Let’s role-play until we ‘breakdown’ to get the emotions right and work out some of the wording.”
She and I yelled at each other, throwing accusations back and forth until I got tongue-tied and we ended up laughing ourselves silly. Then I saw her freeze and sit tall. “There’s the sign. In three miles you pull over like you’re skidding off the road. I’ll get out and adjust some things under the hood. Then we wait.”
“How long do you think it’ll take?” I asked.
“If we stay in the car, forever—if we sit on the trunk, shouldn’t be more than half an hour I would think.”
Sure enough, half an hour later we were driven into town by a man in his sixties returning from the feed store. We sat on the bench seat of his pick-up and listened to his method of curing tobacco and tried out our roles.
We were deposited at the local garage, which doubled as a gas station and parts store. And while I cried poor and indicated compensation of a different sort as payment if the owner could tow the vehicle in and fix it for us, Vanessa kept up a running banter on how much she hated me and how she couldn’t wait until she was sixteen so she could be on her own.
David, the manager of the parts store, offered to drive us to Desperado’s, the only place in town where we co
uld get a bite to eat while our car was being checked out, and I thanked God that he was a Christian who only wanted to do a good deed—a gossipy Christian who soon had everyone in the diner/bar/meetin’ place up to speed on our predicament.
Sitting at a booth, Vanessa giving me the evil-eye while chomping on fries dipped in mayonnaise, I was approached by two men who offered to buy me a drink. Vanessa kicked me under the table and I found excuses to decline each one. Then with no reason at all, she kicked me again and I saw Junior in all his pudgy splendor ambling over. I recognized him from the photos Brick and Joe had shown me, he was bigger in real life and walked with the swagger that only truly spoiled kids and bullies developed.
“Heard you gals had a bit of car trouble.” He was speaking to me, but his eyes were on Vanessa. It was almost comical the way he looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on the portion of her tube top that showed under her flannel over shirt. She reached for her glass and with her thumb swiping in tiny circles, she absentmindedly played with the condensation. I saw the outline of one taut peak poke through the thin knit. From our earlier role-playing I already knew that she was an amazing actress, but darned if I knew how she managed to control that. But Junior sure as hell noticed. He stood straighter and I heard him take in a deep breath. He wanted that barely ripe morsel and honestly, I don’t think he cared who knew it because he turned completely from me and slid into the booth beside Vanessa.
“Scooch over sweetheart, let me talk to your mama, maybe I can help you gals out.” I had to hand it to the man, he had a nice husky brogue that he countrified. I wondered if he was trying to imitate Hugh Grant or going for an Aussie accent. Whatever it was, it worked—had I been blind, I might have dated the man myself.
I saw his hand move as if caressing her thigh. Then I saw Vanessa shimmy away from him to the other side of the seat.
“Aw, don’t be shy. Uncle Jimmy’s gonna make everything all better. I can get your car fixed, find you a place to stay tonight, and I’ll even buy your dinner.” I could smell his overdone cologne mixed with his barnyard body odor, the kind you get when a wet horse blanket is mixed with sweat. I didn’t know how Vanessa was handling it sitting next to him.
“Can you make her shut up and leave me alone? ‘Cause I’m sick of her talk, sick of her being spaced-out, and I’m sick of her comin’ on to every man in the county who’ll give her a cigarette!”
Junior looked over at me and smiled as he whipped a cigarette pack out of his denim jacket and shook it so one stood out. His smile widened into a grin as he reached over and offered it to me. I could all but read his mind. Here’s your cigarette now where’s my blowjob?
I looked over at Vanessa who had a sly grin on her face. Great. Now I was going to have to smoke a cigarette. I didn’t think I knew how, this was going to be cute. I was going to kill her.
“Uh, thanks,” I mumbled as I took the cigarette from the pack he was offering. He reached over with his lighter to light it for me and I put it to my lips. Vanessa gave Junior a hip chuck and said in a whiny voice, “I have to go pee, where’s the shit hole in this shit hole?”
Junior looked at her with his eyes wide and pointed to the other side of the bar. Then he eased out of the booth so she could get out and stood staring as her hips did the ba-donk-a-donk all the way across the room. When she disappeared through the door, he took his seat again. I put the cigarette out in her mayonnaise.
“Got a mouth that one does.”
“Yeah. She needs someone to teach her a lesson. She’s got no respect. For two cents I’d dump her here and leave. She’s nothin’ but trouble.”
He grinned and slapped two pennies on the table. “Well I got two cents.”
I smiled with what I thought was evil intent. “I was just jokin’.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, about the two cents. She’s worth more than that.”
“How much more?”
“You offerin’?”
“She a virgin?”
“Now how the hell would I know that?” I had already been coached on this one, otherwise I would have been stymied for sure.
“Yeah. Only one way to know for sure, then she’s not,” he said with a laugh. “But seriously, you need money?”
“Who doesn’t? But I need something else, too. You got any pain killers, I got a terrific headache.”
“Let’s negotiate the girl first, then we can talk about what I can do for your headache and whatever else it is that ails you.”
“What’s the goin’ price for a surly fourteen-year-old?” I had been told it was important to establish she was a minor early on.
“I can give you a grand. And I’ll fuck the surly right out of her.”
“I need more’n that. It’s gonna cost five hundred just to get that damn car fixed. Make it twenty-five hundred and you’ve got a deal. But you’ve got to keep her, I don’t want her back after all your fun and games.”
“No problem. I’m in the recycling business.” He gave a hearty chuckle and slapped his thigh.
“Okay. So how are we doin’ this?”
“I got the cash at home.”
I already knew an expense such as this was going to have to be funneled through momma and that this would be a two-step process at best.
“Well, go get it.”
“Bank’s closed. I’ll get it tomorrow. Your car won’t be fixed until then anyway. Listen, there’s going to be a big bash here tomorrow night. You bring the girl and I’ll bring the cash.”
“Then what?”
“I’ll slip her a little somethin’-somethin’ and take her home with me.”
“Then I won’t be able to get my car until the next day. She’ll find her way back.”
“No, I guarantee you she won’t.”
“Hey, you’re not going to . . .”
“You don’t get to say what I get to do to her.”
“I’m her mother you know, I don’t want her hurt.”
“A little restraint makes everything work out well for me. Now about your headache . . . these are on the house.”
He passed me a small snack-sized baggie with ten pills in it. “You like these, there’s plenty more. We can negotiate the price later,” he said with a wink and a leer, “You’re one hot mama. I’ll bet that mouth of your is wicked.”
He looked up and said, “She’s coming back, Have her here tomorrow night for the party and you can be on your way with a full purse, if you know what I mean.” He was offering me both money and drugs for my daughter as if he did this all the time. And women accepted. What a sad commentary for our times, I thought, but had to let it go and get back into character.
“Okay. Just don’t think I’ll settle for less, ‘cause I won’t. Have it all.”
“I will.” He stood to let Vanessa into the booth but Vanessa had other ideas and instead sat and shoved me over in my seat.
I made an oomphing sound to show my displeasure.
“If you didn’t have such a fat ass they’d be plenty of room on this seat,” she mouthed. “Hey, if you’re not going to smoke that, I’ll take it.”
She took the cigarette where it was sticking up in the mayonnaise, wiped it off on a napkin and put it to her lips. She waited until Junior lit if for her then she blew smoke right into my face. “You’re such a loser. You bargain for a cigarette then don’t even smoke it. You just wanted to get fucked right?”
I couldn’t help it, I don’t know what came over me, but I reached up and slapped her, and it was a pretty good one, too. As Vanessa’s head snapped back I saw the tiniest glimmer of a smile on her lips. She’d set me up. She knew I’d negotiated the deal and now she wanted to show that our animosity for each other was real. She didn’t want him to have any doubt about what was going down.
Junior stood with new admiration in his eyes. I could see his pleasure in discovering he’d have a feisty one on his hands tomorrow. He tossed money down for the meal we’d eaten. Then he handed me two twenties. “There’s a
motel across the street and down a block. If you two don’t kill each other, I’m having a birthday party for my momma here tomorrow night. I’d take great pleasure if you’d both come.”
“Cool. A party. Will there be a band? I’d like to hook up with one and be a groupie. You know, have wild sex with all the band members every night.”
“You’ve got yourself a handful here, don’t cha?” he said.
“Teenagers . . . what are you going to do? Can’t even give ‘em away, nobody wants ‘em,” I replied and smiled as he winked at me. I folded the money he had given me and stuck it in my cleavage. “Thanks for the cash.”
“No problem, Sugar. There’s more where that came from.”
“You got a new friend, huh? Does that mean he’s coming back to the room?” Vanessa asked with a snide look.
“No, not tonight. Tomorrow maybe. Let’s get out of here, I could use some sleep.”
Vanessa followed me out the door and across the street. She popped gum and flipped through all the souvenir brochures on the counter while I registered then she skipped after me going up the outside stairs. Once inside the room, with the door bolted, she grabbed me and hugged me to her chest. “You were terrific!”
“Uh, why thank you,” I said as I backed away from this deranged split personality. “Sorry I hit you.”
“No problem. I was counting on it actually. God, does Brick know how good you are at this or was this just blind luck?”
I shrugged. “Blind luck I guess. This is all new to me.”
“Well you missed your calling, I’d partner with you any day.”
I felt myself flush with pride. “Thanks.”
“So, what’s the scoop? What went on while I was in
the head?”
I filled her in then went to the bathroom myself. When I came back Vanessa said she had talked to Brick and Joe, his team leader and said they agreed that I had played everything just right. It was all on tape and would be used as evidence at the trial. I asked what we did next and she said we had to try to get some sleep without removing our makeup or clothing. There was no one here to put us back together and the wires had to stay taped in place. We would both try to sleep on our backs and then tomorrow we would hang around the motel room until they kicked us out. Later, in the evening, we would show up at the bar, join in on the festivities and after the exchange we would be able to get out of these hideous outfits.
Running Into A Brick Wall Page 3