“Mr. Justice, are you OK?” Justin asked as he moved a book from his desk.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry. I just left a meeting that has me a little disturbed. It deals with the very issue I want to discuss with you. You know that fraternizing rule regarding employees dating one another?” Gabriel began, trying to sound removed from the situation.
“Yes, we put it in place to discourage romantic relations between employees. It was issued to prevent a scenario in which a relationship might dissolve resulting in morale and productivity issues.”
“I just left a meeting where the HR Department concluded that it must let a manager go.”
Justin shook his head and smiled as he looked down at his desk briefly. He clasped his hands together. “Yes. Mr. Norris. It’s a shame. He was so well liked, but his behavior is just unacceptable,” Justin said matter-of-factly.
“Yes, I understand. I’ve heard through a third party that there may be a similar situation between a superior and subordinate. Does the relationship between those involved play a factor in how discipline is administered?”
Justin sat for a moment, deliberating on the question. “Mr. Justice, it would only play a part if charges were alleged, such as sexual harassment. Sexual harassment from a superior has different legal ramifications than harassment between peers.”
“But what if it’s consensual?” Gabriel asked as he crossed his ankles.
“It’s still discouraged, but we couldn’t necessarily use disciplinary action to stop it. Lewd public affection and sexual conduct on the premises would most likely lead to termination.”
“I see,” Gabriel smiled. “Well, thank you for your time, Justin. I’ll make sure that the people involved know about this.” He shook Justin’s hand and headed out the door. Gabriel immediately texted Candy:
U won’t believe this. Dragged N2 meeting re: K. Norris. Fired. Sex w/receptionist caught on tape. Spoke 2 Justin. I don’t feel safe yet saying it’s U & me yet. Need more time 2 think this through. I luv u. – Gabriel
* * *
“Green garlands go here! Red garlands go there!” called a party planner as she pointed to opposite sides of the large banquet room, tossing her white feather boa playfully over her shoulder. “The guests will be here in two days!”
Candy turned her back and laughed as she made her way to the parking lot. Her cell phone rang.
“Hi, Sweetcakes!” she smiled.
“Hi, my little spicy tamale!” Gabriel said back. “What are you doing?”
“Just finished checking on the hall for the party. You hired a decoration Nazi. She’s great!” Candy laughed as she got into her car.
“I didn’t hire her, Samantha did. She’s supposedly one of the best. Anyway, you sound a little tired. You aren’t supposed to be working on Friday night,” Gabriel chastised.
Candy shrugged her shoulders. “The party’s Sunday. What’s a girl to do? Hey, that gives me an idea. You wanna come over?”
“Finally!” teased Gabriel. “I thought you’d never ask. I was beginning to think you were an axe murderer and had a bunch of bodies you didn’t want me to see.”
“Oh, shut up!” laughed Candy. “I’ll cook for you.”
“I can’t believe we’ve been dating this long, and you’ve never invited me over.”
“Well, I figured due to our covert operation, we’d better not, but then I thought it may not make a difference.”
Gabriel sighed, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you’re the only one in the company who lives over there. I think we’ll be OK. I’m still trying to get my head around how to handle this. I can’t keep living like this, though. Give me more time to brainstorm.”
“Gabriel, you’re the one wantin’ to shout it from the highest mountain top. I’m cool. I know how you feel about me, and that’s enough.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, but you’re right – it’s important to me. I don’t want to hide you – us, anymore. Everyone else gets to put photos of their family and people they cherish on their desks. Other people get to ask what they did over the weekend, but I have to lie or wiggle out of the question. The only thing I can say now is that I have a girlfriend. Everyone close to me knows I’m dating someone, and that helps, but it’s not the same. Hey, that reminds me, tomorrow night the band plays at a bar. I’ve been MIA because of us, but I agreed to play. You wanna come down?”
“Oh, I’d love to! So they know about me, huh?” she laughed.
“They know I’m seeing someone. I haven’t given a lot of details, but yes, they know you exist and that we’re serious.” Gabriel said.
“OK, great. Maybe I’ll bring the girls,” Candy said as she put her car in reverse to leave.
“Sure, I’d love to meet them. The more, the merrier. See you in a little bit,” he said as he raced up his winding staircase to pack a quick overnight bag.
“Wait! You need my address,” Candy yelled.
“Again, you’ve forgotten who I am. I already have it.”
* * *
“I’m looking for the carryout bags. You didn’t cook this!” exclaimed Gabriel as he dug his fork into his last bite of collard greens.
“I bet you’ve never had soul food before,” Candy smiled as she bumped into him with her hip.
“If you were a gambling woman, you’d be broke. I most certainly have. This is really good, Honey. The fish, sweet potatoes – it was all great,” he said as he rubbed his stomach. “I’m so full,” he sighed.
“Come upstairs with me, and we can relax and watch some TV,” Candy said as she cleared the table. Gabriel assisted, following behind her as they entered the kitchen.
I didn’t know how tired you were or if you wanted to be alone tonight, but I brought an overnight bag just in case. It’s in my car,” he said with a wicked grin.
“Boy, you better bring that bag in here! Of course I want you stay,” snickered Candy.
“OK, I’ll be right back.” Gabriel walked out the front door as Candy finished cleaning up.
‘Oh crap, I forgot to clean the upstairs bathroom,’ she thought as she dried off her hands. Before she could make it all the way up the steps, Gabriel returned and called up to her.
“So you’re leaving without me?” he smiled sweetly, holding his duffle bag close.
“No, Baby. I remembered that I forgot to pick up around here before you arrived,” Candy explained.
Gabriel shrugged. “As long as you’re clean, I’m cool. I’m planning on putting my tongue in places that…”
“Hush!” Candy laughed. “Just come on up here.”
Gabriel smiled and raced up the steps. She opened her bedroom door, allowing Gabriel to enter. He shoved his hands in his jean pockets and looked around, admiring the book shelves, the detail of the bed design, and the cleanliness in the air.
“Well, it sure looks and smells clean in here. You keep house well,” he complimented as he set his bag on the ground by the bed.
“Thanks,” Candy said as she disappeared into the bathroom with a bottle of lemon-scented Pine-Sol. “I try.”
As she cleaned, Gabriel walked back over to his bag and removed various items. She emerged ten minutes later to see a bouquet of roses next to a bowl of strawberries, both sitting on the middle of the bed. She faintly heard Alicia Keys’ “Unthinkable” playing in the background.
“Oh, I love this song!” Candy said as she swayed back and forth. “Why do you keep doing these things? Why do you always give me flowers? You’re trying to make me fall in love with you again and again,” she smiled.
“I hope that you do. I believe that we need do to the same things to keep a woman as we do to get her. Flowers are important. The color, the scent, the beauty – it’s all about femininity. You see this?” Gabriel took his thumbs and opened one of the roses. “This looks like female genitalia. When the rose bud is closed, it looks like a clitoris. When a man gives a woman flowers, he’s worshipping her femininity – the scent, the look, the feel – everything
. Flowers get pollinated. Men are the bees.” Gabriel looked back at Candy dreamily.
“That was sexy, in a creepy sort of way,” Candy laughed. Gabriel smiled as he placed the bouquet back down. She walked up to him and pecked his lips. She let her head fall lazily on his chest while he took her into his arms and swayed with her to the music. His cologne once again excited her, causing her to smile appreciatively. She reached for the collar of his Polo shirt and unbuttoned it. He unfastened his jeans, then unzipped them the rest of the way. Soon he stood in a puddle of his own rumpled clothing. Candy quickly stripped down to nothing, allowing the warmth of their bodies to intermingle.
“Mmm, you smell so good,” he said as he held her close. “Like yams and biscuits,” he teased. Candy hit him playfully and laughed as they continued to sway.
“I need you,” Gabriel said as he looked deep into her brown eyes. “I need you so badly,” he repeated, pushing her gently up against the bed then lowering her down across it. She chewed her bottom lip and gripped the sheets, anticipating the deliciousness her body was about to receive. She trembled as she felt him grip her shoulders and pin her down. Kissing her from her head to her neck to her breasts and down to her navel, he parted her legs. His shoulders rubbed against her inner thighs as his fingers glided over her flower, opening the petals carefully. A flood of warmth took over her zone as she felt his hot mouth move up and down on her liquefied love. He sucked vigorously, shaking the bed as he gripped her hips and moved about. She had missed his touch for days. Her body was about to explode. Masturbation with his image in mind never did the trick. Her body demanded the real thing time and time again.
“You know just how to please me,” she sighed. Relinquishing her power, her body slowly convulsed, moving up and falling back down onto the wrinkled sheets. He watched the spectacle, his nature growing as his excitement rose. He slid further up onto the bed. She turned towards him, taking his penis into her hand, then swiftly popping the thick dome into her mouth. He moaned loudly as he gently put his hand on her shoulder. He sat up, opening his legs further. His exhilaration reached epic proportions as he watched her deliver the oral pleasures to his growing need.
“You like the taste of my cock in your mouth, Baby?” he asked in jagged breaths.
Candy hummed, “Mmm hmm.”
“Did you miss it?” he asked, his eyes rolling toward the back of his head as he softly thrust in and out of her mouth.
“Mmm hmm,” she responded as she looked up at him, his shaft fully engulfed.
“You look so beautiful,” he panted, his eyes partially open. “I missed your gorgeous mouth on mine, hugging you, kissing you, eating you. I look at you at work sometimes and just want to bend you over my desk right then and there and take you,” he uttered in labored, choppy breaths.
Candy tried to keep focused and not become distracted. They had made love countless times, and she had never heard Gabriel engage in dirty talk during sex. It turned her on so much she reached between her legs and rubbed her clitoris as he continued to dialogue.
“I want to fuck you,” he said.
Her vagina pulsated. It was her dirty little secret. She was highly turned on by filthy talk, but had never admitted it to any of her previous sexual partners.
“Say it again,” Candy stopped to say before continuing to suck and stroke his member.
“I want to fuck you!” Gabriel said louder, snatching himself out of her mouth, hoisting her up and tossing her abruptly on her stomach. Before she could look over her shoulder, he dove deep inside her, causing her to scream in ecstasy. The penetration was hard, deep, and fast. His body claimed hers as he leaned down over her back, doggie style, moving in and out, plunging deeper and deeper until he could go no further. The bed shook violently as he took command over her flesh. His testicles smacked against her ass cheeks repeatedly. He pulled on her hips, bringing her body forcefully towards his, forcing her to consume every inch of him. She cried out in submission.
“Yes!” she yelled as she buried her face into the sheets. An orgasm took over her body once again, causing her to writhe about. He perspired as he continued to work her over. Sweat dripped from his body onto hers, baptizing her, marking her as his own. Feeling his own reward arriving, he quickly flipped her over onto her back and pulled out. Inching towards her breasts, he jetted his essence onto her chest. She reached up and jerked his cock, extracting the last of the pearl drops onto her ample bosom. His body shuddered as his climax came to an end. He fell to the bed beside her. Out of breath, he uttered, “You…You have got to get on the pill or something. I…I can’t keep pulling out like that,” he smiled. “It’s killing me. I want to stay in where it’s warm,” he teased.
“I guess I ruined the ending. I was so happy that our STD tests came back negative that I wanted us to stop using condoms, but I know I need to do something.”
Gabriel nodded. “I’ll start using them again in the meanwhile. I got a little carried away myself after we received the results,” he smiled. “You can trust me, Candy. I’d never cheat on you. You don’t have to worry about me bringing you something.”
Candy looked down into her folded hands as past traumas rushed back, exposing wounds from long ago.
Gabriel took Candy’s hand. “I’d never cheat on you – never. I know you’ve gone through with that sort of thing in the past, but that wasn’t me. Ask anyone who knows me. You can trust me,” he assured.
Candy rose and walked into the bathroom, slowly cleaning herself off. Her vaginal walls throbbed from the aftershocks and soft beating they had received during the rambunctious lovemaking session.
“I mean that, Candy,” Gabriel called out.
“I know you do, Gabriel. That’s what amazes me about you. You’re the only man I ever dated that I have yet to catch looking at other women.”
“That’s so disrespectful,” Gabriel said as he rolled his eyes. “If I’m out with you, then my eyes need to be on you. I’m not going to stand there ogling anyone. I love you, and love doesn’t hurt.”
Candy pounded her fist harshly against her bathroom vanity. Gabriel raised his head and peered into the bathroom. He quickly leaped up and raced to her side. “What’s wrong?” he asked as he brought her towards him. She embraced him firmly. “You tell me love doesn’t hurt, but I’m scared to death. You’re everything I could’ve ever dreamed for!” she hugged him tightly. Gabriel hugged her back. “Oh, Candy. I’ve proven that you have nothing to worry about. We’re a gift to one other. You’re everything I could ever want, as well.” He lifted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “I’ll protect your heart as if it’s my own.” He gently kissed her forehead. “You don’t have to hurt that way ever again.”
Candy nodded, and then walked slowly over to her shower stall. She turned on the water, standing close by as it misted the room. Stepping gingerly inside, she waited for Gabriel to join her. They washed each other, gently and lovingly. After drying off, they dressed for a cozy evening at home. Candy made some buttery popcorn, accompanied with two large Diet Cokes on ice.
“So you don’t think it would be like that?” Candy asked Gabriel as she threw a piece of popcorn at him. They snuggled closely under a blanket, watching reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
“No. I told you I wanted to remarry, and if my wife – hopefully that may be you one day,” he smiled, “decides she wants us to try for a baby, then I’ll be happy. I’d love another child or two. Matter of fact, I look forward to it.”
“I love children.” Candy looked away dreamily. “I wanna have at least one, but who knows.”
Gabriel leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Who knows what the future holds? You’re right, but I can assure you if I’m in your future, and I pray that I am, we’ll try for that baby.”
Candy smiled as she let her head fall onto his bare chest.
BABY-MAKIN’ CASSEROLE
1 song appropriate to bump and grind to
2 warm bodies
1 welcoming
egg (Don’t scramble!)
1 sperm, out of the oyster
A warm place to lie
Candles, foreplay, and plenty of kisses
Stir, then bake for nine months and pop out of oven.
* * *
“Paaartay!” Jasmine said as she waved her thin caramel arms in the air. She laughed as she moved her hips through the sea of beige, pink, and pale faces. Dallas slumped against the wall as she waited for Candy to return.
“Look at him!” Candy said as she arrived and handed Jasmine and Dallas their drinks. They sat in the high-boy bar stools, watching the stage as the band members finished setting up.
“He’s really cute, Candy. He looks better in person,” Dallas said dreamily as she took a sip from her beverage. “This Sex on the Beach is good!” she added, taking another sip.
“Not as good as mine was,” Candy mumbled.
“Huh?” Dallas said, yelling over the cheering crowd.
“Nothin’,” Candy smiled mischievously.
Jasmine turned around. “Shhh! They’re about to perform!” Candy and Dallas looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Ladies and Gents, we give you, Gentle Scorpion!” the MC screamed into the microphone. The crowd applauded. Candy watched as Gabriel strapped his shiny, black guitar around his body. She looked intensely at his nimble fingers as he practiced strumming.
The crowd danced as the band struck up the instrumental to Aaliyah’s “Back and Forth.” Suddenly a woman came from the back and grabbed a microphone. Her platinum blonde hair was pinned up as she swayed her red-jeaned hips to the music then began to sing the lyrics.
Jasmine turned around and looked at Candy in awe. “What these white people know about this?” She got up and started to dance. “That white lady can sing! She sound just like ’er!”
Candy started laughing as she watched Jasmine contort around and Dallas clap. Candy felt starstruck.
I Want Candy Page 29