Love on Liberty

by Mj Williamz

  They walked a few blocks, enjoying the night air.

  “We could walk back to the motel,” Dolly said. “It might take a while, but we could do it.”

  “We could do that, but we’d have to go through some skuzzy parts of town. And I don’t want you in danger. We’re okay here, but we’ll hail a cab soon.”

  “Fair enough.”

  They wandered along, looking at store window displays and simply enjoying being together when Tommy grabbed Dolly’s arm. Dolly’s first response was to pull away, but Tommy held tight.

  “We’ve got trouble,” Tommy whispered.

  Dolly followed Tommy’s line of sight and saw the group of young men approaching them.

  “Be calm,” Tommy said as she led Dolly backward. “Don’t panic.”

  The men started running toward them and Tommy hailed a cab just in time. She forced Dolly in and climbed in after. The cab sped off, and Dolly collapsed against Tommy, fighting tears.

  “That was scary,” she said when she finally found her voice.

  Tommy put her arm around her, holding her tight.

  “I thought we still had a block or two of safety. I’m sorry. I never should have let us get into that situation.”

  “It’s okay. We’re safe now.” Dolly realized the position she was in and forced herself to a sitting position well out of reach of Tommy’s arms. She hoped the driver hadn’t noticed them.

  Tommy adjusted the way she was sitting as well.

  “Yes, we are. I promise not to let that happen again.”

  The taxi dropped them off at the motel, and Tommy quickly unlocked the door, looking around as she did.

  “There’s no way they could have followed us,” Dolly said.

  “I know. I’m just being paranoid. But I feel awful for putting you in danger.”

  “It’s over, Tommy. Relax.”

  “I’m afraid I’m too freaked out to relax. I need a drink.”

  “Do you want to go back out to a bar?”

  “No. I saw a liquor store around the corner. I’ll go get some booze. You want anything?”

  “I’ll have some more wine,” Dolly said.

  “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

  Dolly waited for Tommy to come back. She turned on the old television in the room and tried to follow the story line of an old movie. She started to get worried. How long had Tommy been gone? She paced back and forth in the room. Tommy had been gone too long. Something was wrong. She needed to go see what had happened.

  She was just putting her jacket on when she heard the key in the slot. The door opened and Tommy walked in. Dolly threw her arms around her and pulled her close.

  “What took so long?” she said.

  “I had to find just the right bottle of wine for you. I didn’t just want to pick up some cheap shit.”

  “Well, you were gone forever. I was worried sick.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.” She kissed Dolly. “Now, I’m gonna make a drink. Let me open that bottle of wine for you.”

  “We don’t have a corkscrew.”

  “I bought one. Don’t worry. I think I thought of everything.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “Thanks, baby.”

  Tommy went over to her flannel shirt and reached into the pocket. She pulled out a joint.

  “What are you doing?” Dolly said.

  “Have you ever toked?” Tommy said.

  “Never. I’d get kicked out of the navy.”

  “Who’s gonna know?”

  “I will.”

  “Yeah, but they won’t. Come on. It’ll help you relax.”

  Tommy lit the joint and took a deep drag off it. She handed it to Dolly who did the same, only to end up in an extreme coughing fit.

  “Easy there,” Tommy said. “You’re not used to it. Little tokes for you, baby.”

  Dolly was still coughing as she handed the joint back to Tommy. Tommy took another hit and gave it back to Dolly.

  “Remember, little hits.”

  Dolly took a small puff.

  “There you go,” Tommy said. “That should do it.”

  Dolly sat back with her glass of wine, feeling mellow and relaxed, the events of the night fading deep into the recesses of her memory.

  Chapter Six

  Dolly tried to feel guilty for smoking the marijuana, but she didn’t have the energy. She sat back in her chair and noticed the brightness of the television screen and observed every thread in the old curtains. Everything seemed magnified and beautiful. She felt light-headed, but it was okay. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.

  She watched as Tommy crossed the room to her. She cut through the air as if cutting through water. She seemed to be moving in slow motion.

  “So this is what stoned is like?” Dolly said.

  Tommy laughed at the question.

  “Yep. Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Weird. Dry mouth.”

  “Yeah. That happens. Sip some wine. You’ll be fine.”

  “You feel better, too?” Dolly was having a hard time forming sentences, but she focused really hard to make them make sense.

  “I do. I’m much more relaxed now.”

  “You talk so easy,” Dolly said.

  “Huh?”

  “My thoughts won’t come.”

  “Sure they will. You’re thinking.”

  “But can’t say that.”

  Tommy was laughing.

  “Can’t say what, baby?”

  “My thoughts.” She paused. “Can’t make it to my mouth.”

  “Ah. Yeah. That can happen the first couple of times. But it’s cool. Just relax. Let it be. You don’t have to say anything. Just be.”

  Dolly thought how stupid she sounded and couldn’t stifle a giggle. She tried, but it burst right out, followed by another. She looked up to see Tommy smiling down at her and she lost it. She started laughing hysterically, so hard she had to fight to catch her breath.

  Tommy joined in and the two of them laughed for what seemed an eternity. Tommy finally stroked Dolly’s hair.

  “See? Being stoned is fun.”

  “Yeah, it is. I want more.”

  “Oh, no you don’t. You’ve had just the right amount. You won’t need any more for a while. Probably not tonight.”

  “But it feels so good.”

  “And it will. The feeling lasts a long time. Trust me. Can I get you another glass of wine?”

  Dolly looked down and saw the empty glass in her hand. She hadn’t realized she’d finished it.

  “Please,” she said.

  Tommy crossed over to the dresser and poured them each a drink. She carried them back and gave Dolly her wine. She watched Dolly take a sip.

  “This is good wine,” Dolly said.

  “Nothing but the best for my baby.”

  “You’re so sweet.”

  Tommy kissed her then, and Dolly was intensely aware of the flavor of Jack Daniels mixed with her red wine. The combination should have been repulsive, she thought, but it worked. It was a bringing together of the two of them and that was a good thing.

  Tommy’s tongue was fluid as it moved around Dolly’s mouth. Every inch it touched came alive. She tried to keep up with it, but found herself too stoned to be that coordinated. Instead she did her best to follow it around. Either way, Tommy had her more turned on than she’d ever been in her life. The long, slow kissing was drawing out her arousal, and she loved the way she felt.

  Dolly gave Tommy her glass of wine and stood uneasily from the chair. Tommy set their drinks down and pulled Dolly into her arms.

  “You feelin’ okay?” Tommy asked.

  “Never better.”

  “Right on.”

  Tommy pulled Dolly’s blouse over her head and kissed her again. Her kisses were slow and languid, and Dolly’s head felt lighter still. Tommy unhooked her bra and slid it down her arms.

  “Why do you wear these?” Tommy asked.

  “What?”

  “Bras?”
r />   “I kind of need to,” Dolly said.

  “No, you don’t. They’re contraptions that society says women must wear. You don’t have to wear one.”

  Dolly wanted to argue, but couldn’t find the words. She wanted to tell Tommy that the size of her breasts made it painful to have them free all the time. She wanted to tell her it was regulation in the navy that she wear one. She tried to formulate the sentence, but her mind was too fuzzy.

  “Yes, I do,” was all she could say.

  “Why? Because you have such large breasts?”

  “Yes. It would hurt.”

  “Would it really?” Tommy said.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay then. That makes sense.”

  Tommy cupped Dolly’s breasts. The feel of her warm skin against Dolly’s cool flesh made her nipples tighten. She knew Tommy knew how to please her and that she would be begging for release soon. She just needed to relax and enjoy the slowness with which everything was happening.

  Dolly fumbled with the button on her skirt and finally got it undone. The zipper was easy, but stepping out of the skirt proved challenging. She almost fell over several times. Finally, she put her hands on Tommy’s shoulders to brace herself and she stepped out of it.

  Tommy was laughing at her, but it was okay. It sounded like she was far away and it wasn’t hurtful. Dolly thought about how she must have looked falling over like that, and she started laughing, too. Soon, she fell onto the bed, laughing hysterically.

  When she caught her breath, she looked up to see Tommy looking down at her. She wasn’t laughing anymore, but she had a smile on her face.

  “What?” Dolly said.

  “You’re beautiful. And you’re fun when you’re stoned.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes, you are. You’re funny.”

  “I couldn’t…my skirt…almost fell…”

  “I know. I saw.” Tommy started laughing again. “But you’re fine now and you’re lying on the bed and now I need to have you.”

  “Okay.” Dolly tried to make herself stop giggling.

  Tommy stripped out of her clothes and peeled Dolly’s underwear off. As they lay naked, Dolly was overcome by the feeling of their two bodies pressed together. The sensation was deeper than any she’d ever experienced. The heat from Tommy’s body warmed her to her core.

  When Tommy kissed her again, Dolly didn’t even try to keep up. She kissed her back at her own speed. Tommy seemed fine with that. She slowed her tongue down and fueled the fire burning in Dolly.

  Dolly rolled onto her back and looked up at Tommy. Her blue eyes were dark as the midnight sky, and Dolly felt herself falling into them. But how was that possible? She placed her palms down and felt the bedspread under her. So she was lying flat. Phew. She shook her head to shake off the falling feeling.

  “Baby? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Something. Now, what?”

  “Just stoned I guess.”

  “I get that. Isn’t it groovy?”

  “Scary, too.”

  “Scary. How so?”

  “Nothing.” Dolly was too embarrassed to say what she was feeling.

  “Nothing should be scary, baby. Just enjoy the feelings. Relax and go with them.”

  Tommy kissed down her chest and when her mouth closed over a nipple, she felt a heat wave wash over her. She could actually see the air move as Tommy sucked on her nipple. It was almost too much, but then Tommy closed her teeth lightly over it, and Dolly felt her clit stiffen. She pictured it in her mind’s eye, pink and standing up. She put her hands on Tommy’s shoulders and pushed her downward, urging her to suck her enlarged morsel.

  Tommy laughed.

  “Someone’s in a hurry, huh?”

  “Need you,” Dolly managed.

  Tommy licked every inch between Dolly’s legs. Dolly closed her eyes and tried to focus, but she was on a cloud, floating above the bed, watching Tommy make love to her. She fought to bring herself back to the bed, but it wasn’t easy. Floating was easy, and she was half tempted to stay up there.

  Finally, Tommy broke through the haze and Dolly felt the need to come. Suddenly, she was back on the bed and Tommy was sucking her clit and she was teetering on the precipice. She kept her eyes closed and concentrated with all her might. At last, bright lights exploded behind her eyelids as she rode orgasm after orgasm.

  “Hey, baby,” Tommy said. “Are you with me?”

  “That was out of sight,” Dolly said.

  “Good. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “No, it was more.”

  “More than what?”

  “More than spectacular.”

  “Right on.”

  “How does marijuana do that?” Dolly said.

  “Do what?”

  “Make things so unreal.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean? You mean like intensify everything?”

  Dolly thought about everything she’d just experienced. She felt like a fool. There was no way she’d tell Tommy.

  “Yeah,” she said.

  “Isn’t it groovy? It makes everything better. Have you ever come that hard before?”

  Dolly didn’t have to think twice to answer the question.

  “Never.”

  “Good.”

  Dolly wanted to make love to Tommy then. She knew it was her turn, and it was always such fun pleasing her. She just didn’t know if she’d be able to focus enough to get Tommy off. She kissed her longingly, willing her tongue to run over and around Tommy’s. She kissed down her body until she was between Tommy’s legs.

  She dipped her head to taste her and once again, the strangeness began. She could see the different flavors of Tommy. How was that possible? She started to float again, but forced herself to stay grounded.

  “Baby, that feels so good,” Tommy said from somewhere in the distance.

  Dolly continued licking inside her, tasting red and green. It made no sense to her, but if Tommy was enjoying it, she wasn’t going to stop. She moved her mouth to Tommy’s clit, which tasted bright orange. She licked and sucked at it with severe perseverance. She needed to focus on just the clit. If she could do that, she could make Tommy come. She felt herself flying just outside her body. She let herself go and watched her sucking Tommy. It was a beautiful sight. Tommy’s hand on the back of her head finally brought her back to reality. Tommy soon cried out and Dolly smiled, proud of herself.

  “That was too fuckin’ much,” Tommy said. “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah? You liked?”

  “Yeah. I did.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No,” Tommy said. “Thank you.”

  They curled up in bed together and Dolly fell into a deep sleep in Tommy’s arms.

  Sometime in the middle of the night, they woke to the sounds of shouting and pots and pans rattling.

  “Go home!” voices chanted. “Baby killers go home.”

  People yelled obscenities, and Dolly burrowed more deeply against Tommy, who pulled her close.

  “Sh,” Tommy said. “It’s okay. No one will hurt you. They don’t know you’re here.”

  “But why are they here?”

  “This is the closest motel to the pier. It’s logical that navy personnel would stay here. But they’re not after you as an individual. Stay here and soon they’ll pass.”

  Dolly pulled her covers up over her breasts and leaned into Tommy.

  “I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be, baby. We make a lot of noise, but we’re peaceful. How would we be any different from you if we engaged in violence?”

  Dolly wanted to believe her, but it was hard. She was still stoned, so the logic escaped her. They heard a loud crash followed by the crowd cheering. Tommy pulled her shirt and jeans on and went to the window.

  “A car in the parking lot’s been turned over. The crowd is moving to another car. Wait. Do you hear that?”

  Dolly heard sirens in the distance growing nearer.

  Tomm
y stood at the window.

  “They’re leaving. They’re running away in all different directions.” She turned away from the window. “They’re gone now. And it looks like the owners of the car are out there checking out the damage.”

  Dolly was shivering.

  “Do you have some night clothes here?” Tommy asked.

  “Why don’t you just hold me?”

  “I will,” Tommy said. “But you need warmth right now in a big way. Here.”

  Tommy handed her some thick pajamas she pulled out of her suitcase. Dolly quickly dressed in the fluffy green pajamas and climbed back under the covers. Tommy sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I thought you were going to hold me,” Dolly said.

  “Right.” Tommy climbed into bed.

  “What’s going on?” Dolly asked. “What’s on your mind?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I don’t believe that. Talk to me.”

  “We’re not violent,” Tommy said. “We’re not. I swear.”

  “Was that your group? Did you see anybody you recognized?”

  “It’s dark out there, Dolly.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question. And the parking lot is lit up, so it’s not that dark.”

  “They all had bandanas around their faces. I couldn’t recognize any of them.”

  “But you think it was your group, don’t you?”

  Tommy sat silently. Dolly would have paid good money to see what was going on in her mind. She sensed disappointment. Was Tommy their leader? Had they fallen to chaos without her for just a couple of days?

  “I don’t know,” Tommy said finally. “I hope not. I really hope to God not.”

  “Are you their leader?”

  “No. Yeah. Not really.”

  “Well, that certainly cleared things up.” Dolly laughed.

  “We don’t have a real leader, you know? We’re all a bunch of hippies. It’s not like there’s a president and board of directors or whatever.”

  “Of course not. But the others look to you, don’t they?”

  “Sure. I guess.”

  “Are you worried about being away from them for so long?”

  “Hell no. They’re adults. They’re probably just hanging out and getting high. They may not even have noticed I’m gone. I think this was someone else.”

  The motel room was lit up with alternating red and blue lights.

  “The cops might want to talk to you,” Tommy said.