~***~
Scotty learned that making crack and freebasing were two totally different things. Crack didn’t require the use of flammable chemicals, which was already a plus for him. The other ingredients were easy to get at any corner market in the city. Making the drug was easy, it was quick--allowing for drying time, and it burned cleanly. He watched several people smoke it and noted that they seemed to grow numb very quickly.
Dawson was showing them an operation where one room of a rundown apartment was used for cooking the product. Several people stood at a worn wooden table where burners, glass jars and other items were spread.
The living room is where the dried crack rocks were being cut, weighed and prepared for distribution. A few men and women were lounging around smoking the drug from glass pipes and G, who was no regular drug user wanted to take a try at smoking it.
Scotty quickly yanked the sleeve of his shirt; alarmed that G was willing to smoke some experimental drug that neither of them had ever heard of before. While his friend smoked marijuana on a regular basis, he had never seemed interested in anything harder. It was one of the reasons that Scotty had trusted G enough to partner with him. There weren’t too many people whose hands he would place his life in, but G was just that person.
“Man, what the hell are you doing?” Scotty whispered. “You don’t know what that shit is going to do to you!”
“Chill, man. I’m just going to try it once so we know if it’s worth our time.”
Scotty looked at the few people in the room that were smoking the drug and didn’t like that they all resembled fiends. No one would look like that unless the dope was good. He was uneasy that G would even entertain the thought of trying something that would make you look like that.
But G picked up a glass pipe, which was already black with the resin of previously smoked rocks. Scotty noted Dawson’s smug expression when he saw G light up and he knew that this was the moment that would change everything.
Scotty moved to the far edge of the room, not wanting to inhale any of the vapors, but he kept a steady eye on G who fired up the small yellow rock and inhaled deeply. He averted his eyes so that he wouldn’t see the bliss cross the young man’s face. Only, now images of Tino filled his mind. He couldn’t fight back the images of used needles on his bedroom floor, or memories of his doped up mother.
A bitter certainty hit Scotty that caused his heartbeat to speed up and his eyes to dart around the room for something that would erase the thoughts. But they only settled in around him becoming the truth; one day some kid would watch his mother smoking this crack shit—the same shit that he had supplied.
Scotty Tremont closed his eyes but he could not un-see the truth; the boy that had once wanted to preserve the innocence of all the little children was now the man that was responsible for creating a life of nightmares for them.
Much later when Scotty drove them back to the hotel, G began raving about the drug and how they could probably cut back the ratio to three to one. He was certain that the fiends were going to go crazy over it and that they would find a new customer base in people that couldn’t afford coke and those too afraid to shoot-up.
Scotty listened quietly for a long time before glancing at his friend.
“G. I’m through.”
His friend looked at him in surprise. “Through? You want to quit now? Man didn’t you see how easy that operation was going?! We’re about to become richer than our wildest-“
Scotty shook his head. “Look, I know. I know what’s going to happen.” He looked at his friend. “But this is as far as I go.”
G fought for something to say. “Because of Vanessa? Dude you are about to make enough money to give her a life that she could have never dreamed of!”
Scotty concentrated on the street. “I just want to give her a life that she can be proud of.”
G scowled and they drove in silence.
Chapter 25
Vanessa did not think that she would be a nervous wreck on her birthday, after all she was the one that insisted on losing her virginity as soon as they could, and she was the one that thought it was stupid to wait until September 17 before she could see her engagement ring even though she knew full well that she was getting engaged.
But Scotty was adamant that everything go by plan and even though it annoyed her that he was always so cool and calm about everything, she was secretly happy that it mattered so much to him.
Jalissa was lying on the bed rubbing her belly and watching Vanessa pace. “I can’t wait for this baby to come.”
Vanessa stopped long enough to smile at her. “Wouldn’t it be funny if he came on my birthday.”
Jalissa grinned. “No.”
Vanessa shook her head. “Are you still mad about my birthday being before yours?”
Jalissa sat up. “I was never mad. But look at me,” she smirked. “I should have been the oldest. I did it before you. I’m having a baby before you-“
“Lord have mercy!” Vanessa exclaimed while shaking her head in amusement. “Will you ever let it go? I will be doing something first; getting engaged.”
Jalissa shrugged good-naturedly and then laid back down. She yawned. “Have fun ‘cuz…even though it’s going to hurt like hell.”
Vanessa scowled and then decided to check her bag one more time. Scotty said he would be there to pick her up at 8 a.m. sharp and then they would drive to the mountains. It was barely 7:30 but she couldn’t keep still and kept walking to the window to look out for his car.
She silently listed off everything that needed to be done; called grandma yesterday to tell her that she was going out of town with Jalissa to celebrate her birthday, packed the two negligees that she had gotten from Fredrick’s of Hollywood, bought aspirin in case Jalissa was serious and it did hurt.
When she saw Scotty’s car pull up ten minutes early she squealed and darted down the stairs while calling out goodbye to Jalissa. She quietly let herself out of the front door so that she wouldn’t wake up aunt Callista who was sprawled out on the sofa bed snoring loudly.
Scotty looked good leaning against the car dressed in khaki pants instead of his normal jeans. He thought the same about her as she hurried out of the apartment dressed in a short summer dress that showed of her luscious legs. Instead of her usual ponytail, Vanessa’s hair flowed over her shoulders in curls and he suddenly wasn’t sure that he would be able to drive all the way to Tennessee without grabbing her up and having his way with her right there in the car.
He took her bag and then gave her a lingering kiss. “Happy birthday,” he whispered against her lips. “I have a present for you.”
She tried not to frown, hoping that he wasn’t going to propose to her in the parking lot. “Oh?”
“It’s in the glove compartment.”
Curious, she got into the car and opened the glove compartment even before closing her door. There was a leather-encased box and when she opened it she saw that it contained several never opened audio tapes. He got into the car and winked at her.
“Figured you might want to listen to more than country music while we’re driving through Tennessee.”
Vanessa laughed and thanked him. He knew her well because he had selected her favorites; Deniece Williams, Prince, Luther Vandross and others that she loved singing along with.
“You are the most thoughtful boyfriend ever.” She leaned over and kissed him.
Scotty informed her that they would arrive in Tennessee around noon where they could either stop for lunch—he gave her a quick glance—or just head to the chalet.
Vanessa glanced at the clock and swallowed thinking how close noon was approaching.
When they finally reached The Smoky Mountains National Park, Scotty gassed up the car while Vanessa grabbed them some snacks.
“Have you thought anymore about what you might want to study?” Vanessa asked as she tore open a package of licorice.
After breaking away from the drug business Scotty had told Vanessa that he
thought he might want to go to college. Over the last few weeks he’d contemplated what he might want to gain from college and realized that the idea of education really appealed to him. He glanced at Vanessa unsure of how she might feel about his idea.
“Well…I think I might want to teach.”
Her expression brightened in delight. “Oh that’s a good idea. I remember how you used to try to teach me Latin.”
His expression relaxed glad that she didn’t think it was stupid for an ex-drug dealer to want to teach kids. But there was something inside of him that wanted to do something meaningful with his life and teaching someone something that they had never known before excited him.
“Will you be able to teach after…well you know…juvie?” They never talked about that time of his life but Scotty had no problems with her knowing about it.
“I should. The center I was sent to had a diversion program that allowed for drug charges to be expunged at the age of eighteen. If it’s true that no one can see the record then no one would know about it.” It was something that he would look into later once he made sure that it fit into his much more limited budget. “What about you, babe? You said your mom left you money. Are you going to use it for college?”
She gave him a sly look as she chewed on a piece of licorice. “Aren’t you even the least bit interested in how much money my mother left me?”
“A million dollars?”
She scowled. “Funny.”
“Sure baby. How much did your mom leave you?”
“Sixty thousand.”
Scotty choked and nearly had to pull the car over. He gave her a surprised look. “Did you say sixty thousand?”
Now that was the reaction she was looking for. She smiled shyly. “Yep.”
He drove silently for a while before glancing at her. “Well I think we’ll be alright.”
~***~
When they finally arrived at the chalet, Scotty carried the bags into the house and dropped them right in the entrance. He turned and pushed the door shut trapping Vanessa between it and his body.
“Oh…” she said in surprise.
He dipped his head and captured her mouth, exploring its depths as her hands slowly went around his body.
Slow. Slow. Slow. Scotty chanted to himself mentally. Vanessa had no idea how much control it took to wait this long and he certainly didn’t want to scare her when they were finally here. He pulled her into his arms and held her, enjoying the feel of her body against his.
Vanessa’s hands lightly roamed his back, learning each dip and rise of his muscles. She looked up and he met her eyes. She marveled that his were the same cornflower blue and that although his face had matured and now held a soft morning stubble, he looked just like the boy that had picked gravel from her palms so many years ago.
Vanessa leaned forward and this time she kissed him, possessively, urgently. Scotty sighed and lifted her, never breaking the kiss as her legs locked around his body and her arms clasped his neck, clinging to him as she lapped and sucked and devoured his lips.
He walked them up the stairs to the loft bedroom. His hands clutched her perfect ass, the thin summer dress rising so that he discovered that his virginal love wore no panties. He groaned so low in his chest that it sounded like a growl and a moment later she was lying on the bed watching him as he quickly tugged off his shirt. Scotty paused as he took in the way she laid there watching him with hooded eyes and swollen lips and legs that rubbed restlessly along each side of his body.
Her dress was now hiked up around her belly and the dark patch of hair that marked the V at her apex burned an indelible memory within him. This was his Vanessa, so ready for him that he could scent the aroma of her desire. Scotty quickly pulled off his pants and then stood there between her spread legs, patiently allowing her eyes to explore his nudity.
Vanessa felt herself begin to quake only it began in that special place between her thighs where she had fantasized and dreamed that Scotty would one day possess. He stared down at her, eyes no longer cornflower but now a violent violet. His blonde hair fell into his eyes, both shielding and framing his handsome face. She allowed her eyes to drink in his hard muscular torso and the lines that defined his taut belly. Her eyes finally rested upon the erection that had tormented her for so many weeks. This was a part of Scotty that her imagination had not done justice. It was a beautiful part of him that was perfect to her, even while it seemed impossibly big.
Vanessa arched her back and slipped off her dress. Scotty’s breath caught in his chest even before he saw what was beneath the dress. It was because of the way that she moved so sensually as if her body understood what was to come…Once the dress was removed she reached behind her and undid a sheer bra, translucent enough that the image of her darkened nipples were visible. Once it was removed Scotty was in shock at how totally magnificent she was. She was perfect in every way, from breasts that swelled larger than her clothing had ever hinted at, to a slender waist that led to café au lait legs.
No longer willing to wait even one more second, Scotty placed his hands on her knees and gently spread them until he could lie against her body. At once, her legs moved to wrap around his body when his mouth covered her nipple.
Vanessa’s body reacted without thought or urging. Her back arched and her mouth opened, searching for her next breath because somehow it had disappeared. She felt Scotty’s fingers lightly tugging the other nipple and suddenly the air slammed back into her in a ragged moan.
The sounds coming from her forced him to grip her hips while he slowly gyrated against her, pushing as close to the heat that rose from between her thighs as he dared. He looked down between them at the way their bodies met, rolling and arching sensually against the other.
Vanessa quickly learned the way that Scotty’s hips moved against her, mimicking it she discovered that if they made concentric circles it sent explosions of pleasure coursing through her body. She grabbed Scotty’s shoulders, her fingers digging into him as her need began to build to a crescendo that had no outlet without him truly inside of her.
“Please…” she gasped.
Scotty reached between them and felt her slick wetness. It nearly caused him to spiral out of control. Quickly he lined himself up with her opening, holding himself at bay until she opened her eyes and looked at him.
“…love you so much…” and then he thrust inside of her, pushing past her barrier in one smooth motion. He closed his eyes against the flash of pain that he saw cross her face and didn’t move again until her grip on his shoulder eased. He flexed his hips slowly and she sucked in a sharp breath. He met her eyes.
“Okay?” He would stop. He would wait, whatever she wanted.
Vanessa saw Scotty’s brow furrow with concern for her and she quickly kissed him, silently urging him to make it feel good again. Scotty moved slowly and rhythmically until something in her rose up higher than the pain. She rolled her hips and gasped in delight when the tiny explosions returned. They took her breath away and she found that they were growing bigger and stronger.
The sounds coming from Vanessa were going to send Scotty over the edge but he could tell that she was so close. He wanted her to find her way to it. So he closed his eyes and grit his teeth and kept a steady rhythm, listening for her passion to spiral out of her control. Soon her breath came in rapid gusts and he rocked in and out of her, gently but firmly.
When Vanessa finally caught up to her tiny explosions she realized that what was actually waiting for her was far more powerful than anything that she had ever felt or could have ever imagined. With an uncontrolled wail Vanessa rode the crest of it and distantly heard Scotty’s guttural moan. Together they continued until all that remained was their labored breathing, sweat soaked bodies and exhausted limbs intertwined in a lover’s embrace.
~***~
Vanessa wrapped the blanket around her waist and then quickly dashed to the bathroom. “Bring me my bag!” she yelled to him. He got up and glanced at the mess on th
e bed and then closed his eyes for a moment. Forgot the condom…how could he have totally forgotten? He had even packed two boxes knowing full well that they wouldn’t go through them all in just two days…but he’d been hopeful.
This was the first time that he’d allowed himself to enter a woman unprotected, and now he knew that there was no comparison. Maybe they could talk about the birth control pill because he didn’t see himself ever wanting to sheath himself while buried inside of her.
He suddenly envisioned a little girl that would look like a combination of Vanessa and himself and a slight smile tugged at his lips…maybe one day, but not yet. He would be more careful in the future.
Scotty went downstairs naked and grabbed her purse and bag and then carried them to the bathroom. When he tried to open the door he found that it was locked.
“Why’d you lock the door?”
“Uh…I’m using the bathroom. Just leave the bag outside of the door.”
He smiled and did as she asked while he went about changing the bedding. When she returned, this time wrapped in a towel he was lying in bed. She blushed shyly at him and then dropped the towel and quickly jumped into bed and under the covers before he could stare at her nakedness. He put his arm around her but slipped the covers from their bodies.
She gasped in surprise but before she could reach for them and cover herself again Scotty kissed her.
“You are too beautiful to hide this body.”
She made a face. “I’m too skinny.”
“No. You are perfect.” He kissed her and heard her faint whisper.
“No, you are…”
They napped and when Vanessa woke up she saw Scotty watching her. He had such a serious look on his face that she rubbed her eyes and propped herself up on her elbow.
“What’s wrong?”
“Will you marry me?”
“Uh…” Her mouth dropped.
“I want to watch you sleeping every night.”
Scandalous Heroes Box Set Page 56