“The Café is only a block this way. I say we walk and can get a cab afterwards. That okay with you, Zara?” Natasha, our tour guide, explains while motioning to her left.
“Fine by me, I just need food.” I do this hand gesture asking for her to lead the way. I mean, who am I to kid? I’m starving and could eat a small pig if it was allowed.
We walk in silence and take in the busy city around us. Cars, taxis, and public transportation swarm the streets of New York. The sounds of horns, people, and a few chosen words float through the air. It’s so distracting that I wonder how people think in this city. With each thought that I’m trying to focus on, I lose it when a horn blows. I know that Atlanta can get busy, but at times it’s quiet and easy to lose yourself in your head. Rush hour seems to be an all day and night thing here. My anxiety has picked up from the crowded sidewalk and I’m thankful that I hear Natasha speaks up to announce that we’re at the café.
Seated, menu’s open, and drinks ordered. I get a bright idea and wonder if I can get the girls in on something with me. I take a few minutes to plan my speech and think it through. It has nothing to do with them and everything to do with Hatcher and me – which is why they might give me an eye roll or two. Menu still open while I search for the perfect lunch, I open my crazy mouth and just let it spill out. “You know that the increased blood flow to your vagina, plus hormonal changes, can make an orgasm more intense while pregnant?” I ask and wait.
“And why is this good for us non-pregnant people to know?” Morgan states as she reaches for her water and looks over to Natasha who only shrugs at me.
“It’s good to know because it’s not only good for my wellbeing, but mine and Hatcher’s relationship. Science has also proven that having orgasms might actually reduce the chance of giving birth early. In reality, it’s in my best interest to have at least one to two a day. I mean, we wouldn’t want to have this baby early, now would we?”
“Zara, you do know that we love you but last I checked none of us went that way – which means you are orgasm-less until you return home,” Natasha points out, while Morgan is still trying to figure out what is going on.
“I know that, silly goose. What I’m saying is we need to hit up a toy shop. I want to go purchase a few new items while I’m here and once I get home I can surprise Hatcher. I’m tired of fighting about sex, and since I researched it, I have a good fight on my hands to win.”
“Wait, you researched sex just so you could prove to Hatcher that it’s a good thing to do?” Morgan asks while shaking her head at me.
“Correct… and are you the surprised by this?”
“A little yes, but then again it’s you and nothing about you should surprise me.”
“So, what do you say ladies? Are we down for some toy action after lunch?” I ask just as our male waiter returns to take our orders. I don’t skip a beat as I order the turkey club and watch Morgan who is redder than a cherry try to say what she wants. Natasha is never fazed these days and continues with her order after Morgan.
Natasha shifts in her chair towards me, “Now, in your research did you find a place to go shopping, or do we need to ask for directions?”
“Nope, I have it all saved in my map app on my phone.” A smile spreads across my face. It could be pure lust as I’m dying to get back home where I can make myself available to Hatcher. He’s not going to know what hit him once I walk through that front door tomorrow.
“Of course you have it saved. You are like a walking machine; how can you always want sex? Do you ever get tired of it?” Natasha questions me, and I notice Morgan bite her lip. It’s what she does when she wants to know the same question, but refuses to ask herself.
“No, not really. I’ve always been sexual, but something with Hatcher is totally different. You all know that we’d been having sexual relations for years before you guys found out. I remember this one time I was on a date and the guy was so cute and seemed like he would be great in the sack. Ha! That was a joke. The first time we tried, I ran from his apartment. It was like he literally was humming the alphabet and had no idea where my spot was. Needless to say, I left and showed up at Hatcher’s for an evening lay and went home. That man wakes my body up from just the thought of it. You remember that one girl that worked at the shop when we first opened? What was her name, oh yes, April! She was telling me one day that her boyfriend would be the only one she’d have sex with and that was even after they broke up. Said something about her body only comes to life when she’s with him and that people are sex-mates, not soul-mates. That’s Hatcher; he’s my sex-mate for life. Even if we divorce, I’m pretty sure we will still have sex.”
“That can’t be right,” Morgan protests and continues to make her point. “We all have soul-mates, and if the sex is good, then it’s a plus. I can’t believe that… Don’t you want someone to enjoy talks with, have someone help you through the rough times, care for you when you’re sick? See Zara, it’s more than sex. You and Hatcher have more than just that.”
“We do, and I’m lucky that I got the the whole package. But come on, not all couples have mind blowing sex. Natasha, how is it with you and Diesel?”
“On a scale of one to ten, it’s around a hundred. He has tricks, and they can drive me completely mad. Yes, I love his company and what he has to offer, but in the end if it’s over I know I had some mind blowing sex recently and the next guy will need to compare to that. I mean I had good sex before, but not like this.”
I turn my head to Morgan, “What’s it like for you and Jayden? Was the prick better or does Jayden blow it out?”
“Jayden by far handles the bedroom better than Simon ever did. Sex is no longer scheduled or done in one position. I’ve grown fond of a few new ones that we’ve just watched.” I interrupt her before she can go anymore, “What do you mean watched? Are you watching porn finally? Please tell me yes!”
“I may be watching some and coming out of my shell, yes.”
“We’re so going shopping, not only am I getting something but you two are going home with a new toy also,” I say as the waiter returns with our food. He must be used to our conversation by now, because this time he doesn’t skip a beat and just places our food down and makes sure that everything looks correct. Other than needing another Ranch, our lunch looks divine and I can’t wait to scarf it down and get some shopping done. I text Frankie the address without explaining where we’re going. What fun would it be to say ‘Hey meet us at the sex shop over on Seventh Street and be prepared as we are all buying toys.’ Nope, I’ll let her figure that out when she shows up. Serves her right to have been missing this conversation. I have to admit though, I hate that she didn’t hear about Morgan and her new porn watching skills – I’d love to see this in action. I bet she turns red, but with time she’ll enjoy it more and more. I just might need to give Jayden some pointers for our girl that might spice up things for him. Even though Morgan has always been the shy one in the bedroom, she’s coming out of that closet thanks to Jayden. For this, I love him more than I could picture. But, at the end of the day if he makes her happy I couldn’t care less what day of the week they get it on.
Chapter 8
The three of us are standing out front of the address that I texted Frankie, and honestly I’m just ready to take my knocked up pregnant butt inside for shopping. On the way here, the girls pointed out that I was a little more excited to shop for a new toy than shop for my home or for the child on the way. I shrugged it off. In my defense, I already realize this and know that once I arrive back home I plan to get down to business. Natasha also went on record that whatever I purchase will be taken away when I pay for my items. She was ranting that they refuse to listen to any activity coming from my room and that I needed to wait to test it out once we return back to Atlanta. This is fine by me, especially since I plan to send a picture to Hatcher with a naughty note attached. That should give him something to think about until I’m home tomorrow.
“Oh come on, let’s j
ust go in and she can find us.” Opening the door, I head in and search for what I know I already want. It’s not a hard decision for me as Hatcher and I used to visit the local shop around the corner from the bakery. This bad boy has been in my sights for a long time and today it’s going home with momma. The Ocean Blue INA Wave is mine, and I shall never share the secrets of what this beauty will do. Well, I actually don’t know yet, but from the video and the shop owner’s testimony, it’s the best thing on the market. It looks like what we would call a rabbit but it flexes with you while hitting your g-spot. Plus, it’s rechargeable and no need to worry about those stupid batteries dying mid-orgasm. Yes, this has happened, and let me just say it’s never a good thing to call your partner and yell for more batteries because you need to have an orgasm.
“Did Frankie text you back? I can’t believe she’s not here yet and what is that?” Morgan questions as she’s inspecting the box in my hand.
“She did, but I guess she ran into traffic and this is my new love in life so back away.”
“I don’t want yours; I’ll get my own… What do you think I should get? What do you think Jayden would like?” Morgan asks without taking a breath and it causes alarm.
“Morgan, don’t you own one?”
“No, why would you think I owned anything like this, Zara? Come on, you know Simon was boring and could you imagine me busting out a vibrator in mid thrust?”
“Natasha!” I scream as I notice Frankie walking in at the same time.
“Why are you yelling? Have you lost your mind? Lord, I think this baby is sucking all the brain cells out of your head,” Natasha says while I just shake my head at her and this news from Morgan.
“Ladies, did you know that Morgan doesn’t own a vibrator, or any kind of toy?” Natasha speaks up first letting us know that she did know this while Frankie didn’t.
“Morgan you have to get one of these, some lube, and a sexy outfit,” I instruct as I grab the pink one from the shelf and shove it at her chest. I head over to the racks of lingerie and plunder through as I find the perfect one for her. With this not being her normal attire I want to make sure she’s comfortable so there’s no need to get fancy with garter belts and stockings. I hold out the spaghetti strap lace teddy that’s the perfect shade of pink. It’s not pale, or bright. It’s the perfect shade for Morgan’s complexion, lacey for a sense of sexuality and the rear is covered in ruffles for the girly effect that is our Morgan. It comes with a set of thongs for that extra kick. “What do you think?” I ask and get a huge smile in response showing her approval. “Now, it’s time for you two.” I smile and wait for them to turn in the direction they each want to venture toward. Natasha goes over to the bondage section and I have to admit that I’m a little taken back by this, but when I think about her and Diesel I change my mind. Frankie and I wander around as she takes her time to look and ponder which something she would like. I for a fact know that she has a collection and is not afraid to use them alone or with someone. “Do you use them with that boy toy you have?” I ask.
“No, I don’t.” Frankie’s response is short and directed at me like it was laced with fire. It seems that our conversation has taken us back some and not forward like I had planned. “You okay?” I ask as I still feel like there’s more to what is going on.
“I’m fine Zara, it’s just one of those days where I’m tired, I hurt, and honestly the last thing on my mind is a vibrator.” Her shoulders slouch forward; this being a sign that Frankie has had enough. “What you need to do is go home and relax, take a bubble bath, drink some wine, and dig out the heating pad. If you want we can finish up here, change, pick up something to eat and just hang with you tonight,” I say, hoping my best friend gives us the green light to an evening in with her.
“We can do that. I’m really sorry Zara, it’s just been a stressful few days and with everything going on with work, and…” She stops herself before she says anything else. The one thing I’ve come to learn with her is you don’t dig for the information, it’ll come soon enough. I pat her on the arm, offering a gentle smile before she goes to leave. I’ll let the others know of the change, but I know they won’t mind one bit for a girls’ night in.
With bags in tow, we head back to the hotel to relax a little. I take this time to go to my room and just relax. As I plop down on the ultra thick mattress my body relaxes into it, alerting me of all the sore muscles I’ve been ignoring. The sudden wave of tiredness hits me like a ton bricks and I allow myself to close my eyes for just a few minutes. As I release the pent up air from my lungs I relax, placing my hands on top of my swollen stomach. Gently, I rub them around the now bare surface and allow myself a moment to take in the way my body has changed. I didn’t notice it as much at home, but here in this hotel room without Hatcher lying next to me – I do. I notice how my breasts are plump. I notice how tight, swollen, and round my once flat stomach is. I notice how the joints in my hips feel as if they are rubber bands being stretched. I notice how my feet feel tingly from all the walking we’ve done today. This is what I’ve read about. This is my body changing, allowing for our child to grow. Most of all this is mother nature telling me I need to accept this, learn to grow with my body, learn to adjust to the new body and life that I have. Peace overcomes me while I lie here listening to the faint sounds of Morgan and Natasha laughing from the living room. A part of me wants to get up to see what’s funny, but I choose to lie here and bond with my unborn child.
Maybe this trip wasn’t just to see Frankie. Maybe this was a wake-up call for me, a way to show me how to embrace things back home.
A gentle knock emits throughout the room before the door opens. I don’t even need to look as I can tell Morgan is only peeking her head in when she speaks. “Zara, you okay in here?”
“I’m fine, just relaxing for a moment,” I say as I continue to rub my tummy, the action soothing me.
The bed dips down next to me. With a squinting eye I notice Morgan has now joined me and is propped up with one hand watching me. I don’t ask what’s on her mind as I know she will spill it soon enough. “Can you feel it moving?”
“No, I don’t think I can. I feel tiny bubbles from time to time that make it feel as if I’m gassy. From what we’ve read that’s normal and it’s most likely the baby. I should be able to feel it more soon.”
“It’s growing, you’re going to be so cute when you are big and round,” Morgan states with a hint of laughter in her voice. This causes me to give a quick chuckle as I picture myself round and wobbly like Humpty Dumpty.
“What’s so funny in here?” Natasha asks from the foot of the bed.
Morgan shifts before answering, “I’m just watching her rub her belly like it’s Buddha and have no clue what she finds funny.”
“First, I’m not rubbing it like it’s Buddha. Second, I was laughing at the fact that I’m going to look like Humpty Dumpy when I go to have this baby. Third, don’t disagree as you are all picturing it now in your heads. Fourth, I want cupcakes…” and with that last one the room emits in full belly laughs as they are getting used to my craving of sweets. See, this is a huge downfall to working in the bakery because I can stuff my face with them anytime I want.
“Well, how dare we deprive you of cupcakes? Roll out of bed Humpty, and let’s get that craving satisfied before you lock us away in a closet or something.” Natasha holds out her hand to help me up from my position. I laugh while shaking my head, picturing them doing this in a few months when I can’t see my feet.
“They have a place down in the lobby that sells sweets. We can check them out before we head over to see Frankie,” I say as I walk out of my room and wait for them to grab their items. Right now, I couldn’t care less where the icing comes from, I just want a glob of it to lick from the top section. Actually, I wonder if I could just get a cup of icing. That’s what I want; no cake needed just pure sugar and flavor. Just thinking about it as we travel down in the elevator causes me to lick my lips. It’s as if I can tast
e it and it gives me the perfect idea for when I get back home to Hatcher.
The short taxi ride to Frankie’s apartment has left me full and satisfied while Morgan and Natasha are just staring at me. The baker’s shop in the lobby wasn’t what we are all used to, but it worked for the time being. They even gave me a cup of icing along with the dozen cupcakes I ordered. So far, I’ve eaten two out of the twelve and all of the icing in my cup. It was almost as good as having an orgasm, but not quite the same. Natasha knocks on the door and just as Frankie opens it the aroma of pizza filters out and slams into my senses like a trash truck. My eyes become wide and I can hear the rumbles from my stomach. “Oh, you ordered pizza,” I ask as I barge right past them and head straight to the kitchen where the boxes are piled up on the counter.
“I did, and come on in.”
“There is no way you are still hungry,” Morgan states, as if I had just finished a huge steak dinner or something.
“I am, and Lord this smells so good. Can we eat now?”
“Yes, and did you guys already eat before you came? I thought we were ordering in,” Frankie questions, but I can’t respond as I have a mouth full of pizza.
“No, we had to stop at the little bakery in the hotel for this one to gorge herself with icing and cupcakes. I’m sure if you’re nice, she might share one with you after she’s done eating,” Natasha states as she rounds the kitchen island shaking her head at me and my sounds of happiness.
“You just wait…” I say, before swallowing and taking another bite.
“No, I think we will just have fun with you for a bit.” Morgan announces as she hip bumps me, earning her a glare of death as I almost dropped my slice of heaven.
The four of us pile our plates, grab our glasses, and make our way out to the living room. Once seated, I take another glance around the apartment and shrug my nose noticing how crisp and clean the place is. A part of me is happy that it doesn’t look lived in as this means Frankie is not settled here. This is her way of doing what she thinks is best and after she’s worked it out of her system, she will return home where she belongs. Just the thought of that makes me smile, which only earns me a few looks from the others. I shrug them off and lean back against the leather sofa to enjoy another slice, great company, and the feel of true happiness.
Sugary Sweets (A Taste of Love Series Book 2) Page 6