SinSatiable

by Shelia E. Bell

  He stretched his arms out and released one last yawn before raising his towering frame from underneath the quilt that his great grandmother had made many years ago. He didn’t bother grabbing his robe. He was already fully dressed in the same outfit he’d worn when he made his entrance into the world thirty-one years ago. He loved being naked. It made him feel free, unbound by any and everything. Strolling slowly into the bathroom, he turned on the shower, walked over to the linen closet, grabbed a couple of towels and then stepped underneath the water, allowing the beads of warm water to massage his skin.

  Ring. Ring. He stopped soaping himself and listened. Every time I get in the freaking shower, the phone rings. Well, whoever it is this time will just have to wait. He moved his head swiftly from side to side to shake the water off of his face before starting his ritual. He made a frothy lather by rubbing the soap briskly between his massive hands. He reached down and grabbed his best friend and gently massaged it, being thorough in cleaning it. He followed the same method for his taut buttocks and chiseled calves. As soon as he felt the water cooling down, he finished rinsing himself off and stepped out of the shower to welcome the coolness that embraced him.

  ♦

  “Hey, Smooth, let’s roll man. We got five kilos coming in about half an hour. Get up and let’s move it,” he ordered followed by a couple of four letter words. “If I miss out on this deal, you can put on your concrete suit, cause you’re headed for your new home – the river.

  “Look, Nash, don’t talk that trash to me. You think I’m about to blow this. Hell naw, we got millions riding on this one and I plan to get my fair share. Come on, let’s roll.”

  Chandler and his unsuspecting partner, Smooth, climbed in the black on black H3. Chandler’s job gave him a high that no drug could ever do. He had worked this undercover assignment for almost a year under the alias, Nash, a member of a notorious drug cartel. Finally it was all about to come to an end. He’d gained the total trust of his associates, and they thought of him as one of their ‘to the death’ brothers. But in a few hours he would put away several members of the cartel for a long time to come including the fall guy, Smooth, who he’d worked closely with since he started this assignment. He concentrated his efforts on the job at hand and he and Smooth headed for their destination.

  When the shipment of cocaine arrived as scheduled, Chandler’s back-up was already strategically planted in inconspicuous places along the drop off area. He strolled along the boardwalk, confident that he was about to bust a major gang and take several million dollars worth of drugs off the street along with its top suppliers.

  Everything had gone as planned. He could still see the piercing set of blue eyes as they changed colors when he made the exchange and Chandler flashed his badge.

  “You’re five-o.” the gang banger yelled. If looks could have killed him, Chandler would have been dead on the spot. Several of the gang members reached for their weapons, but the back-up police officers were too quick for them and the bust ended nonviolently with eleven arrests.

  ♦

  The next evening, Chandler slowly opened the door to his apartment. He had left Nashville the moment he finished writing his report. Hanging around the city after such a major bust was not a good idea. He was glad to get home. He had a few days to relax before starting a new assignment. Before he plopped down on the cushiony sofa he ambled over to his bar and poured himself a shot of vodka with a spot of cranberry juice Then he laid down on the sofa, pushed the button on his answering machine and prepared to listen to his messages.

  When he woke up, it was the next morning. “I must have been more tired than I realized,” he said out loud. He eased up from the couch and looked around in a state of confusion. Whenever he had a long term assignment, it took him a while to adjust to being at home in his own bed, in familiar surroundings. He focused on the view in front of him displayed through the large picture window. He thought of Aisha and their last time together. Man, I’d like to see her. I will make her my priority for today.

  CHAPTER 18

  On her way to The Lynx Aisha felt a jittery feeling in her stomach. Telling herself that God had a hand in her decision to accept Elisa’s job offer at The Lynx, Aisha tried to justify what she was about to do by praying. Lord, I don’t always understand your way of working things out. I only hope that I can do this and get through it so that I can keep the studio.

  Elisa assured her that she could make the money she needed and then some. And Aisha didn’t have a problem accepting what Elisa said as the truth. She’d seen for herself the money Elisa made in a short period of time the night she went with her to The Lynx.

  Walking nervously inside, Aisha asked the doorman to page Elisa.

  Elisa saw the nervous look on Aisha’s face as she approached her. Elisa reached out and gave her new friend a hug of support and reassurance.

  “I’m scared. I shouldn’t be doing this. Suppose I make a fool of myself.”

  “That’s hardly possible. You’re a great dancer, choreographer and you’re beautiful too. Now let’s go get you dressed.”

  Aisha paused before putting on the skimpy front buttoned micro mini dress with a wide vinyl belt that rested on her narrow but shapely hips. The matching thong and spiked bracelet accessories caused her to shiver. How could she have resulted to doing something like this? she asked herself. But when she thought of the financial dilemma she was in she knew something had to be done. It’s only for a few weeks then I’ll have enough cash to make the down payment on the building, she managed to convince herself.

  “You are going to make a bank load tonight with that outfit. When I first saw it, I knew it was you. Here, take a sniff of this.” Elisa passed her a vial with a white powdery substance inside. There was a tiny spoon attached to the side of the vial.

  “What is this?” Aisha stared questionably at the vial.

  “Just a little something to make you more relaxed, that’s all. Don’t worry. It’s not habit forming. It’s just crushed valium. My doctor prescribes it for me. I crush it up so it’ll get into my system faster. Believe me. It’s safe. Plus I know you’ve heard of valium.

  “Yes I’ve heard of it, but I’m not into doing drugs.” Aisha had never done any kind of drug. She’d never been drawn into that world. The only thing she’d ever taken close to strong drugs was when her orthopedist prescribed Tylenol with codeine after she sprang her ankle dancing a couple of years ago.

  “Look, take a hit. Don’t be such a prude, girl.” She pushed the vial toward Aisha and then placed it in her hand.

  Without thinking any further, Aisha took a snort in each nostril of the yellowish-white substance. Within minutes, she began to feel relaxed and her anxiety had passed. She allowed Elisa to lead her to the open area.

  The blaring rap music pumped into The Lynx. Unsure at first, Aisha almost stumbled on to the stage. Seeing the men from the stage view frightened her beyond measure. Just as she turned to walk off the stage, Aisha spotted Elisa standing on the side of the stage behind the curtain. Elisa waved her hands back and forth and mouthed words of encouragement to Aisha. Slowly, Aisha turned back to the stage and began to move to the beat of the music. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine she was on stage at the Orpheum dancing for dignitaries and high society people who’d come just to watch her perform. Her rhythm picked up and the wild beat of another artist rapping carried her into the world she loved best. The world of dance. Before long, Aisha was working the stage like she’d been performing at The Lynx for years. Wrapping her slender legs around the pole, she held on with one hand and threw her head back while moving seductively keeping up with each beat of the song. She swayed her hips, closed her eyes and allowed the drugs and music to take her into another world. She slowly slid to the floor in a Chinese split oblivious to the approval of the gentlemen gathered in the lounge. When she stepped off the stage some ten minutes later to thunderous applause, her shyness and apprehension had disappeared. She had become one with t
he music. She jumped up and down in front of Elisa. The exhilaration she felt was overpowering.

  “Hey, you really knocked them off their feet tonight,” Elisa commented. “I didn’t see a shy bone in your body, girl.”

  “Thanks. I took your advice. I closed my eyes, listened to the music and pretended I was a famous dancer on Broadway. It worked. It really worked.”

  “See, I told you it wasn’t going to be so bad, didn’t I? Before you know it, you’re going to be able to buy that building, and you’re going to have enough cash left over to buy anything else you might want.” Elisa hooked her arm inside of Aisha’s and both women laughed as Aisha went to change into a different outfit for her next dance.

  It was three thirty in the morning when Aisha returned to her apartment. She thought she would be exhausted. But much to her surprise, she wasn’t sleepy at all. Walking over to her sofa, she threw her duffel bag on the floor and her cell phone on the table and sat down. Tonight had been better than she could ever have imagined and her feelings of guilt at what she was doing quickly dissipated. Her first night at her new part-time job had netted her over sixteen hundred dollars. Throwing the money up in the air, she looked up and said thank you, thank you, thank you God then prepared herself for bed.

  The next morning Aisha was awakened by the sound of thunder and lightening. Rain pounded against her bedroom window. Yawning and stretching she sat up in the bed, reliving the previous night’s events. Several minutes passed before she climbed out of her bed and took a hot shower. Afterwards, she called Angie and told her to cancel today’s classes after listening to the news saying that severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings were expected throughout the day. When she made a cup of spiced tea, she remembered what Elisa had told her before she left for home. “I left you a little something inside your purse. After tonight, you’re going to need a little something to pick you up.” Aisha hadn’t bothered to look in her purse to see what Elisa meant and had soon forgotten that she’d even told her that. But her memory was beginning to take focus and she searched inside her purse until she saw a vial like the one Elisa had told her to take a sniff from the night before. Aisha’s first instinct told her to throw the vial away but the loud ringing of the phone stopped her and she placed it in her nightstand drawer.

  “Hello,” Aisha answered. Elisa was on the other end.

  “Good morning. You up yet?”

  “Yeah, this storm woke me up. So I called in and cancelled lessons for today.”

  “Yeah, I know Angie just called and told me. By the way, did you find the little present I left you?”

  “Yes, I did. But Elisa, please don’t do that again. I told you. I am not into drugs. I know I did it last night but I’m not going to do that again.”

  “Like I said, it’s up to you. But if you change your mind, you’ll have it. I know you’re beat and sometimes you need something to get you started, that’s all. If you do decide you want to try a hit every now and then, there’s a doctor who’s a member at The Lynx who’ll be glad to write you your own script.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Well, look, I was just checking on you. I’m going to fix Gabby some breakfast and then I’m going back to bed. I’ll talk to you later on.”

  “Okay. Bye.” Aisha hung up the phone and walked over to the nightstand. She opened the drawer and reached inside for the vial. Kneading it around in her hand, she stared at its contents. Turning the black top with the tiniest spoon she’d ever seen connected to it, Aisha put it underneath her nose and sniffed.

  CHAPTER 19

  Aisha had been dancing at The Lynx for almost three and a half weeks. She’d managed to accumulate quite a little nest egg. Each time she danced, she began to feel more energized. Tonight she was going to perform her first private dance. Elisa had managed to set it up despite Jason’s protests. Jason wanted the girls to have at least three to four months of experience working at The Lynx before he promoted them to private dancer status. Somehow, Elisa convinced him to do other wise. Aisha had her suspicions of what Elisa did to make Jason change his mind, but she pushed her suspicions aside and repeated what Elisa often said, “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

  Ring, ring, ring. It was Tameria.

  “Hey, Tameria.”

  “Girl, what have you been up too? It’s been God knows how long since I’ve heard from you. Every time I call you that answering machine of yours pops on. And you don’t need a cell phone ‘cuz you never have it turned on either.”

  “You know I’ve been trying to raise the money I need to keep the studio. I’ve been out hustling girl, trying to get investors and working a part time job too. Plus, I know your schedule is so screwed up with school that I haven’t bothered to call you. I knew you would get in touch with me when you had a chance. So there.” Aisha declared.

  “Did you say you have a part time job? Tameria interjected, disregarding the part Aisha said about med school. “A part time job? Doing what?”

  Aisha had to think fast. What lie could she tell her best friend? “Uh, I’ve been teaching dance lessons at a private dance studio way on the other side of town.”

  “Oh, that’s great. How are things going?” Tameria was truly concerned about the studio. She knew how much it meant to Aisha.

  “Actually, I think everything is going to work out. I’m saving the money I make from this night job. And I’ve lined up some potential investors who’ve shown an interest in the studio.” With each sentence, Aisha found it easier to lie. She was relaxed and no longer bothered by anything Tameria said. She was glad she had agreed to let Elisa introduce her to the doctor with the hook up. He hadn’t mind writing her a prescription for her own supply of valium.

  “That’s a blessing. Well, do you have to work tonight? Or are you going to be able to come to bible study?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there. I don’t have to work tonight. So I’ll meet you there around six forty five.”

  Before leaving the apartment for bible study, Aisha took a hit of what she had come to call baby girl. In the past, she would never have thought to do such a thing, but that was in the past. Today was another day, and Aisha had to do what Aisha had to do. God surely would understand. Life for her had quickly changed in such a short span of time.

  When she arrived at church, it was still early enough for her and Tameria to have a chance to talk. Tameria wasted no time asking Aisha to tell her what was going on in her life.

  “Have you heard from what’s his name?”

  “Who are you talking about? Chandler?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I talked to him earlier this afternoon. Since I have tonight off, I’m going to meet him for coffee after bible study.”

  "That’s good to hear. At least you haven’t shut everyone out of your life.”

  Ignoring Tameria’s remark, Aisha asked her, “And what about you and Chase?”

  “Things couldn’t be better. I think I’m in love with him.”

  “Oh, Tameria, I’m so happy for you. Do you think he loves you too?”

  “Yeah, I really do. He tells me all the time.” Aisha embraced Tameria in a firm bear hug. She was ecstatic at hearing the news. Tameria nudged her friend. “Look come on, we’d better go inside. Bible study will be starting in a few minutes.”

  ♦

  “How was bible study?” Chandler asked.

  “Good as usual. Pastor Shipley is the greatest. The man makes things so clear and easy to follow. I love his method of teaching.”

  “I’ll have to come along and hear him some time.”

  “Okay, I’d like that. So tell me, what’s been up with you these past couple of weeks.”

  “I’ve been busy trying to close a couple of deals. You know my job believe it or not can be quite exhausting, not to mention time consuming and stressful. But seeing you tonight eases all of my tension.” He flirted.

  Aisha smiled broadly before answering. “It’s good to see you too. I’ve been rather b
usy myself.” She sipped on her cup of hot tea and looked out the restaurant window. Frost had formed on the window, making it almost impossible to see the trail of people moving quickly up and down the busy sidewalk.

  After they finished their coffee and tea, Chandler invited her to his apartment and she freely accepted his invitation. She yearned for some genuine affection and attention. Night after night men at The Lynx stared lustfully and sometimes propositioned her. But that was only for her body. She wanted to be wanted for who she was on the inside. Not as a sex toy. Soon she would be doing more private dances. Elisa had told her that two members at The Lynx had already discussed it with the illusive owner of the association. In turn, the offer had made its way down to Elisa, who was more like a communications representative as well as a dancer. Aisha had thought about it the past couple of days and the idea was extremely appealing. She’d made almost $12,000 over the past few weeks. Now she had a chance of making that and much more on a regular basis, dancing for a few nights a month exclusively for her clients. She would be able to make the down payment to buy the studio in another week but she hadn’t planned on quitting The Lynx. At least not yet. Her plan was to get as much as she could while she could.