“Free your mind,” he said as he closed the creaky door behind them.
Pearl clung to Tony and Opal and Debbie grabbed hold of Rock’s arms as he led the way toward a small, brightly lit area.
A blindfolded man was attached to chains hanging from the ceiling and mounted to the floor with thick manacles. His only clothing was a leather thong and a spiked collar. On both sides of him were two women dressed identically in sleeveless black vinyl body suits with openings where the breast should be and patent leather thigh high boots. One carried a small twisted whip, the other a leather and fur paddle.
Debbie and Opal both held on to Rock a little closer. He smiled and urged them closer. Tony pushed Pearl through to the front of the crowd of people and stood behind her.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
He chuckled low. “Just making sure you get a real good look. Give you something to talk about when you get home,” he said in her ear. “Now watch.”
The man’s head hung low as the women played at slapping him with the whip and paddle, each taking her turn. The slaps came harder as they walked around him. The girl with the paddle slapped him across the butt so hard it sounded like a crack of thunder. His head snapped up then hung again, but he said nothing.
Pearl sucked in a sharp breath at the noise.
Tony put his hands on her shoulders and whispered to her again, “Shhh...” His
eyes were wide, as he gripped her shoulders tighter than he intended.
The rest of the crowd gently swayed to the music that played. Rock moved Opal and Debbie up next to Pearl and stood behind them, also swaying to the music.
After the girl with the paddle smacked him, she flipped it over and rubbed him with the furry side only to have the girl with the whip smack him again. Together they continued slapping, rubbing and whipping him until he finally cried out.
“No more, please,” he said breathlessly.
Smiling, the girl with the whip dropped to her knees in front of him. Pulling on the thong she released his already hardening penis and began sucking it. As it grew from her attentions, the other girl continued smacking him with the paddle with
thunder cracking results.
Opal’s eyes grew to saucer size. “Whoa.”
The crowd hushed her, “Shh…”
The women worked him into a frenzy, simultaneously sucking and smacking him.
His cries and moans, a mixture of pain and pleasure, came back to back as the crowd’s breathing grew louder and heavier.
Pearl watched, shocked and confused, unable to tell them apart as they morphed into a loud howl. Listening to him crescendo, she watched him erupt and the two girls take turns taking in his essence, before Tony pulled her away to follow Rock, who was already dragging Debbie and Opal off to the next scene.
The next scene was separated by a short distance of darkness before the brightness of the area came into view. Several people sat on small sofas around the platform area. They sat in empty spots among them and watched silently.
Spread eagle and mounted on the low platform with chains and spikes was a woman, covered only with a blood red, sheer scarf that draped across her large, pale, breasts and down her belly with the end hanging over the dark triangle between her legs.
Also between her legs was the hand of the man that laid next to her. His hand slowly moved back and forth, showing just the barest glimpse of the golden vibrator he used on her. The long sleeve of his swash buckler type shirt tickled her thighs as it brushed against them with his movements. He laid casually next to her, kissing her neck and working the vibrator as she writhed back and forth, moaning in obvious pleasure.
Lifting his face, he gave his audience a canine-like smile, showing what looked too much like blood dripping from it. The man’s smile widened upon hearing the shocked breaths filter through the crowd. With dramatic flare, he positioned one leg under the other, licked his lips, and then scanned the crowd slowly, making eye contact with everyone around the platform. His smile took an evil twist just before he threw himself back into the woman’s neck with a renewed energy. His actions raised her from the platform with a loud moan.
“Oh, hell no!”
“Ok, that’s enough.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen enough, too.”
Pearl followed Opal and Debbie as they left the scene. The guys ran after them, tripping over people as they tried to catch up. They literally ran into Rapture.
“What? You’re leaving? I let you into the most exclusive club in the five boroughs and you’re leaving?” He stood with his arms around his chest. “Have you at least seen all the scenes?”
“Well, Rap, we’ve seen two and, well, the girls have never seen anything like this, man. I think it might have been, umm, a bit much for them,” Rock said with a small chuckle.
He looked them up and down as they walked by him slowly. “Well, I guess our little mid-western girls aren’t quite ready for Club Rapture, huh?”
He looked at them smiling. “Not quite.” He slapped Rapture five. “Later on, Rap.”
“You’re always welcomed, Rock.” He turned to the girls. “Well, at least you’ll go home and tell people about the strange and exotic club you went to in New York City. Enjoy your trip to the big city, girls.”
Leaving The Dark Room, this time the girls leading the way, they headed for the bar. Tony ordered another round of Rough Riders and slid them to the girls, who quickly downed them. They stared at the empty cups and Rock ordered them another round that they sucked down just as quick.
“That…” Opal said slamming down the glass. “…was the freakiest shit I have ever seen.”
Rock and Tony laughed.
“No, no, really.” She leaned on the bar waving her hand. “I have done some shit, believe you me, but that…woo, I don’t know.” She looked at Pearl.
“Don’t look at me.” She chuckled. “You and Debbie are far more advanced in just about everything than I am.”
She giggled uncontrollably and Opal rolled her eyes and looked at Debbie. “What?”
She breathed out exasperated. “What the hell do you mean, ‘what’?”
Tony and Rock laughed harder.
She giggled. “What? Yeah, I agree. We have done a lot more than Pearl and yes, that was some freaky shit.” She giggled again, licking the inside of her glass.
Pearl giggled again.
“What the hell’s up with you?”
She shrugged. “I kinda thought it was, well, fascinating.”
Her sister stared at her. “Uh-huh.” She sucked her teeth. “And all these years they considered you to be the good twin.”
Rock grabbed his side, waving his hands around, laughing. “Ok, I think we’ve had enough of Club Rapture.”
Tony laughed just as hard. “Yeah, man, let’s go. I think my cousin and her girls need some sleep.”
He ushered the girls out the door and laughed again as the girls shrunk from the light of day, covering their eyes.
“Oh! What time is it?” Pearl asked rubbing her eyes.
Rock looked at his watch. “It’s five fifteen.”
“What?” Opal yelled. “No way!”
“Wow. Have we been in there that long?”
Rock shrugged. “Looks that way.”
“I’m starving.”
“I know just the place we can go.”
Rock directed Tony to a small restaurant near city hall called the Greasy Spoon where they had the best New York style breakfast that they ever had: scrambled eggs with cheese, fried potatoes, sausage, wheat toast and apple juice. The streets were filled with people in the midst of their morning commutes as they piled into the car, where the girls promptly fell asleep.
Tony dropped Rock back in Brooklyn before heading home. Pushing them into the house, he struggled to keep the three of them upright and made it to the stairs as his father came out of his den. He threw him the car keys, winked at him and smiled, pushing them up the stairs.
Carlos looke
d at his watch and laughed. It was 7:30.
Chapter 9
One by one, the girls dragged out of their rooms and met in the dining room. Aunt Carlotta was hard pressed not to laughed as they barely lifted their heads from the table to eat.
“Buenos dias, chiquitas. How are you feeling?” Uncle Carlos said, walking into the dining room.
“Good morning, Uncle Carlos,” they breathed out, one by one, still not lifting their heads.
He chuckled softly. “It is well in the afternoon, girls. The time is three fifteen.”
He took the glass of iced tea his wife offered him and thanked her.
They slowly looked at the clock and moaned, dropping their heads back down. “Uncle, why did you let us sleep that long?”
“You girls are not used to the twenty four hour pace of New York City. You needed your sleep or you would have woke sooner.”
“Is this normal here? I mean, does everybody party all night and sleep all day…like vampires?” Pearl asked.
His chuckle was deep and throaty. “No, sweetheart, not everyone, just the young people.” He took a long sip from his glass. “Now, Antonio has called you twice already and you’ve have been invited to a barbecue. Oh and Alejandro’s daughter…uh, hmm, what’s her name again, honey?”
“Maria, dear.”
“Ahh, yes, Maria. She has called for you, also, twice. She wants to pick you up and take you out for lunch and shopping for something to wear for the red, white and blue party.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“The what, now?” Opal said between bites.
“The party, Chica. Remember I told you, the big barbecue every 4th, like a family reunion kind of thing.”
She picked up her glass, nodding. “Oh yeah.”
“Does Aunt Constantina still wear the Puerto Rican flag as a skirt?” Debbie asked smiling.
Aunt Carlotta giggled. “No, child. She’s gotten too old for that.”
“I haven’t seen them in so long, Uncle. You know I’ve been in Indiana since I was ten and I haven’t come for the summer since I was twelve.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Her aunt came up behind her, taking her empty plate.
“Family is family. It will be as if you never left.”
“Maria said she’d be here around noon, so have Antonio bring you home at a decent hour.” He walked over to his wife and kissed her lightly. “Oh, Antonio said to call him when you awake; his number is on the refrigerator,” he said, leaving.
“He was up and out hours ago.” Aunt Carlotta dried her hands and left behind her husband.
“How the hell does he do that? I’m tired as hell,” Opal said leaning on the table again.
Debbie shrugged. “Must be a New York thing. Wonder what he has planned.” She gave Pearl a quick look. “Or maybe we should be wondering what he has planned for you.”
“What? Whatever. That man ain’t thinking about me.”
“Oh no, girl. He most certainly is thinking about you and when he looks at you it’s clear what he’s thinking, too,” she said with a chuckle.
“That sounds like he’s interested to me.” Opal giggled.
“Stop it, guys, you know I can’t do that.” She laughed with them.
“I don’t know. From the last scene I saw it looked like you kicked your Jake to the curb. A little premature I think, but hey, who am I?”
“Opal,” her sister whined.
“What? All I’m saying is if you ain’t gonna be with Jake you might consider having a harmless New York fling with that fine ass cousin Tony. Who ain’t your real cousin, in case you forgot.”
She sighed deeply. “His people are prejudiced. How can we be together under those circumstances?”
“I don’t know, Pearl. You guys will just have to work it out. But in case you change your mind, enjoy yourself and my cousin because he does seem interested and you’re only here for a week. Remember girl, what happens in New York stays in New York.” She stood up and snatched the number off the refrigerator.
Opal threw her fist in the air. “Amen, Deb!”
“Now, let’s go see where he is.”
They followed her to the den and plopped down on both sides of her, straining to hear as she waited for him to answer his phone.
“Talk to me.”
“Is that how you answer your phone, Tony? What ever happened to good ole hello?”
“What’s up, cuz?” he said happily. “You and your girls finally got up, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re up. Tired as hell, but we’re up. Where are you?” She pushed the twins away, but their heads snapped back next to hers like a rubber band.
“Just making some runs, Cuz, making some runs. We’ve been invited to a beach party later, so be ready around five. That will give us time to hit the rides and still make the party. Ok? Peace out!”
“What? Hello?” She stared at the phone. “He hung up on me.”
“What did he say? All I could hear was mumbling.”
“He said he’ll be here to get us around five to take us to a beach party.”
The twins looked at each other then back to her. “You mean a real beach, like, ocean type beach?”
“Yes, Chica, not that man made thing we have in Indiana,” she said chuckling.
“Where is this beach?” Pearl asked.
“On Coney Island, at the end of Brooklyn. It’s an amusement park that sits on the beach, but people live out there, too.”
“Brooklyn again, huh?” Opal smiled. “Hmm, does that mean we’ll be hanging with Tony’s fine ass friend, Rock?”
Debbie smiled with her. “Hmm, I sure hope so. Come on, five o’clock will be here before we know it.”
“Yeah, maybe we’ll have time to eat again, too.”
They went upstairs showered, changed and redressed. Debbie was throwing stuff over her shoulder looking in the dresser when she heard the knocking on the door.
“Come in,” she said digging through a dresser drawer.
“Antonio just called. He said he’ll be here in a few minutes,” her uncle said sitting on the bed.
Debbie stood up shaking the bottom part of her bathing suit. “Ok.” She tossed it on the bed next to him, stuffed everything else back into the drawers and sat back next to him, wearily. “I’m still tired, Uncle.”
He smiled at her and chuckled. “You know what they say, Chiquita, when in
Rome…” He tapped her leg. “Come, your aunt has made something for you and the twins to eat before you leave. You’ll feel so much better after you’ve eaten again. I promise.”
Just as they finished eating, Tony showed up.
“Ok, ladies, let’s do this,” he said busting into the kitchen. “Hi, Ma.” He kissed her cheek and sat in an empty chair next to his father. “What’s up, Pops?”
“Now, Antonio, you be careful with the girls today. You’re wearing them out already. They’re barely rested from last night.”
“Don’t worry, Ma. I’ve got friends out there. They’ll eat and be able to shower, too, and I’ll even have them back at a decent hour this time,” he said, smiling.
She made a face at him, but didn’t comment further.
“Well, since you’ll be trying to be on your best behavior, you can wash my car. I don’t want any sand on it when I get it back.”
“You got it, Pops. Ok, ladies, let’s go. Chop, chop!” he said, clapping twice. Debbie reached for her plate. “Ok, ok.”
“No, no, darling, leave it. Go have a good time.”
Smiling, one by one, they kissed Uncle Carlos and Aunt Carlotta on the cheeks, grabbed the bags she let them borrow and followed Tony out.
The short ride to Coney Island was spent with the twins’ ooohing and aahhing out the window and snapping pictures. Taking the long way, he drove down Surf Avenue so they could see the amusement park and beach as they drove onto 23rd street and over to Mermaid Avenue to his friend Rita’s house.
“Look, let me go in
side and talk to her first. I heard she was kinda shitty at me.”
“Really? Why?” his cousin asked.
He smiled. “Don’t know. Something she heard on the vine, I think.” He straightened himself up, gave them a quick wink and walked to the door.
Rita swung the door open and leaned on it. “Well, well, well. Look who’s come a callin’.”
He flashed her his best smile. “What’s up, Rita baby?” He looked her up and down. “You still look good, girl. Can I come in?”
She twisted her lips staring at him, and then turned away, leaving the door open.
He gave the girls a quick thumbs up and walked in. “Come on Rita, you’re not still mad at me are you?”
She stopped in her living room and turned on him with her hands on her hips.
“Hmm, let me see.” She put her finger on her lip, pretending to think. “You fucked me and left before I even got up. Then I heard that when you left me you went to see that bitch, Sony. She was out here that night and you fucked her on the beach…the same night! Right after me! So, umm…” she paused, touching her temple. “Yeah.
I’m still mad!” She wrapped her arms around her chest.
“Oh, come on, girl, you gonna believe the crap you hear on the grapevine or me?
Why would I leave someone as fine as you for a skank like Sony? Come on, girl, that’s like comparing hamburger to filet mignon.” He backed her up to a wall separating the living room and the kitchen. “Tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”
“No, Tony. I don’t think you can make it up to me this time.”
“Come on, Rita. You know I’ll do anything,” he whispered and kissed her neck.
“No, Tony, you always do this.”
“Rita baby, come on. I mean it this time. You just name it, girl, anything at all,” he whispered, still kissing her neck.
“Well, I could…” She pressed her forehead to his and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Anything?”
He pressed his body against hers, grinding against her, and whispered again, “Anything.”
“Well, we could go upstairs and you could make me feel good.”
He smiled and squeezed her butt. “Yeah, I could do that for you, but I kinda need a favor.”
The Yin Yang Effect Page 10