“You ever wonder how long we're gonna last? I mean us and Rich? They say fifty percent of marriages end in divorce.”
“I wouldn't call this a marriage, but I do wonder sometimes.”
“And?”
“I can't predict. I know that I'll do anything I have to in order to make our relationship work. And I won't let anybody come between us.”
Vanessa was silent.
“What about you?” Candy asked.
“Sometimes I wonder could I handle losing just one of you. It's crazy, because I don't know if I could even be happy with just one of you in my life. I need you and Rich.”
“We're a team.” Candy smiled.
* * *
Vanessa pulled up in front of Mimi's home. She had not been there in what felt like years. Vanessa had been overwhelmed with working on her book and maintaining her relationship with Candy and Rich. But she had kept in contact with Mimi by phone and e-mail. On occasion, the two had met for lunch. Since Vanessa had some free time, she decided to pay Mimi a surprise visit.
Vanessa stepped out of her Altima and walked up the short staircase on the quiet SOHO block. She rang the doorbell, then looked in Mimi's first floor window. She was shocked to see a tall, dark-skinned man with a bare chest open the window.
“Who you lookin' for?” he asked.
“Mimi. Tell her it's Vanessa.”
“One minute.”
Vanessa's eyes were still aimed at the window as the mysterious man ducked inside.
“What's up?” Mimi asked, seconds later when she opened the front door.
“I didn't know you had company,” said Vanessa. “I just stopped by to see what you were up to.”
As you can see, I'm busy tryin' to get busy.” Mimi licked her lips.
“Who is he?”
“He works with me. Been all over me for weeks.”
Vanessa's eyebrows rose. “Weeks?”
“I been meaning to tell you, but it's like when we kick it, the
convo is always about Rich and Candy.”
“Don't sweat it.” Vanessa smiled. “We'll talk later. Get back to your company.”
Vanessa strolled back over to her Altima and drove away with Mimi on her mind. She felt guilty for pushing her best friend away. They had communicated about every guy they had met since college. Now, Vanessa didn't even know the name of the man who was comfortable enough to answer Mimi's doorbell. She wondered if she would have learned about the mystery man had she not dropped by Mimi's apartment? The relationship Vanessa and Mimi shared had developed through open dialogue. Mimi was an outgoing person who said what came to her mind, and Vanessa always had an open ear. Vanessa was reserved, but comfortable revealing things to Mimi that had been hidden in the depths of her mind. The two women had contrasting personalities that complimented each other. But that cohesion was the result of open communication. Without that, Vanessa knew that she and Mimi had nothing.
Over the years Vanessa's relationship with Mimi had become her life. Her trust in Mimi was so strong that Mimi was the only person who Vanessa revealed the dynamics of her relationship to. Mimi had been the outlet that Vanessa had to express a joy she felt no one else would understand. But after speaking with Mimi minutes earlier, Vanessa realized that she had been spending too much time discussing her relationship. Mimi was tired of hearing her. Although Vanessa didn't get to spend much time with Mimi, the trip to her home taught Vanessa a valuable lesson. She had fallen in love with two companions and she was slowly losing her best friend.
RICH
Rich was driving a blue Audi R8 through Midtown, Manhattan. He had good news for Vanessa He convinced Ted to publish her book early, provided it met the expectations of the company's senior editor. So the book could be on shelves in a few months.
Rich turned on Lennox Avenue and headed Uptown. He parked in front of the shop and stepped inside. He kissed Vanessa then greeted Leah and Candy. The shop was about to close and they were the only people left inside besides Vanessa. He said, “I got an announcement. My baby about to be in it to win it in a hot minute.” He explained the news about his conversation with Ted.
“You the man,” Vanessa said, then kissed Rich.
“Ladies,” he turned to Candy and Leah, “I'm takin' my baby out to celebrate and it wouldn't be right if y'all not in the building.”
“Sorry,” Leah said. “My husband is taking me to see his parents.” She kissed Vanessa on the cheek. “Congratulations.”
Rich was happy to see Leah leave. He rarely got the chance to spend time with Vanessa and Candy in public. There was always an element of apprehension among the trio—a fear that if they were seen together too much, speculation could lead to rumors. Vanessa had expressed that it was the only thing she disliked about their relationship, because she was a free spirit who really did not care what people thought. But she knew that gossip could cause problems for business and disrupt the vibe among the women in the shop. She was also nervous that her relationship being made public could have some negative effect on her book. She knew of countless gay and lesbian authors who were defined by their sexuality instead of their writing skills. Vanessa was certain that her unusual relationship would be far more controversial.
Rich led them out of the shop and into the Audi. “You spending the night?” he asked Candy.
“Yeah.”
Rich nodded.
Minutes later they were pulling up to an exclusive eatery in Upper Manhattan. It was a vegan restaurant that was Vanessa's favorite.
Once inside, Vanessa chatted with the maitre d’, who she had known for years. He seated the group at Vanessa's favorite table.
“Thank you,” Vanessa said, as Rich pulled out her chair and helped her sit down. He did the same for Candy.
“Such a gentleman,” Candy said with a smile. “Who would've known you were once a thug on the streets?”
“First law of survival is self-preservation,” said Rich. “You been around and you know how it go down.”
“It's sad,” Vanessa interjected. “Some of the things people have to deal with on the streets, especially our youth.”
“It's a struggle to survive and a struggle to thrive on every level,” Rich said. “From the `hood to the Hamptons from the projects to the mansions. Life is a struggle, just different levels and manifestations.”
A waiter arrived and handed them each menus. Everyone at the table ordered, then continued talking until their food was served.
Rich glanced at a woman holding a newborn at the table nearest him. He looked at Candy and Vanessa, thinking about his future with them. They had recently discussed the possibility of having children. Rich wanted a son. Candy and Vanessa wanted daughters.
“See you thinking over there,” Candy said. “What's on your mind, baby?”
“Us,” Rich responded.
“Oh yeah?” Candy said.
Rich looked at Candy, then Vanessa. “Remember that conversation we had on the terrace the other day?”
“About kids?” Vanessa asked.
Rich nodded.
“What about it?” Candy asked.
Rich explained that he had been giving their conversation some serious thought because the night with Chase had been weighing heavy on his mind. Rich felt if he would have died that night, there would be no one to carry on his legacy. He had been questioning how he would be remembered. Many people in Harlem still saw him as a drug dealer and womanizer. Since it was hard to escape his past, Rich knew it would be easier to produce a reflection of him born into a privileged life he had nearly died to earn.
“I ain't gettin' no younger,” Candy said.
Rich looked at Vanessa.
“I'm not ready yet,” she said.
“You're about to be a famous author.” Rich smiled. “Plus, you need at least another year to finish school.”
“Are we ready to let the world know about our relationship?” Vanessa began citing a list of negative things that could come of Candy having a chil
d and their relationship becoming public knowledge.
“I got a solution,” Candy said. “We wait until next year. By then, Vanessa will be out of school. I'll have my hair care business up and running, so I can fall back from the shop. “I'll hire two girls to replace me and Vanessa.”
“I don't know,” Vanessa said. “Let's just wait a minute and see how we feel about this in the future.”
Rich was silent. He knew Vanessa had made some valid points about the drama that could come of their three-way relationship being revealed. But he also knew he wanted a son as soon as possible.
***
Back at his penthouse an hour later, Rich's head was propped up on a plush pillow on his bed. He was breathing hard and his toes curled. His eyes opened. He watched Candy as her tongue circled the head of his dick while Vanessa juggled each of his nuts in and out of her mouth. Rich tried to reach out and palm her head, but he couldn't. The overwhelming sensation that filled him was too much to bear. His arms were paralyzed and he hardly had enough strength and energy to curl his toes. Candy began sucking every drop of juice from him. Rich moaned and his body trembled. He could feel the cum flow from his nuts as Vanessa sucked them.
Candy crawled beside Rich and slithered her tongue inside his mouth. He turned to her as their bodies touched, their hands roaming freely. He felt Vanessa's warmth as she wrapped her arms around him and put hickeys on his neck. Her leg slid over his and she slipped her tongue inside his ear.
Candy turned around, reaching back and grabbing Rich's dick, gently rubbing it until it was erect again. “Put it in me,” she whispered.
Rich eased his rock hard muscle underneath her yellow butt cheeks and inserted it inside her burning wet flesh.
“Ahhh,” Candy whimpered.
Rich wrapped his arm around her as he sucked and licked her neck, slowly shifting in and out of her insides. He could feel Vanessa's tongue all over her neck and back.
Vanessa crawled over and made her way to Candy. She kissed her, sucked on her lips and trailed down to her large breasts, causing Candy to moan uncontrollably.
Rich pumped harder and harder and Candy screamed with each stroke.
Vanessa eased between Candy's legs. She managed to get a few stabs of her tongue on Candy's clit as her body shifted back and forth into ecstasy.
Rich came shortly after. His rapid strokes slowed to a halt.
Vanessa made her way back behind Rich. He turned to her and kissed her, engulfing her in his arms. Candy turned and hugged him from behind, slipping her leg between his. The trio lie entangled in the nude until they fell asleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
CANDY
Candy was seated inside of a McDonald's in Downtown, Brooklyn. She was impatiently awaiting Domingo's arrival after speaking to him hours earlier. She had met with Domingo once after their introduction in Red Hook Projects. She had paid him $1,000 to monitor Vera's movements in and about of her apartment. Candy planned to pay him an additional $1,000 after he helped her with the final stage of her plan for Vera.
Candy's fingers tapped away on the table, as she snacked on some fries. She gazed out the nearby window, waiting for Domingo to make his appearance on Fulton Street. She glanced at her watch. It was 9:40 p.m. When she looked up, Domingo was stepping out of the passenger seat of a burgundy Acura truck. “About time,” she mumbled, shaking her head.
Domingo turned his fitted Red Sox hat backwards as the Acura pulled off. He stepped off the curb and looked around at the huge intersection of Fulton Street and Flatbush Extension. He lived just five minutes away in Red Hook, but he seemed like a tourist in Brooklyn for the first time. He put his hands in his pants pockets and paced into the McDonald's and flopped down at Candy's table. “Hey sweetness.” He grinned.
“Candy. My name is Candy.”
“Still sweet.”
“Your little ass is too much.”
Domingo touched her hand. “You ready to get married, Mamita?”
Candy smiled. “What could your young ass do with a woman like me?”
“First thing I'll do is revoke your lickin’ license. Then I'll take ya ass for a ride and see what's up with all that junk in ya truck, ya heard?”
“Whatever.” Candy laughed, shaking her head. “So what you got for me?”
Domingo knew when Vera picked up her mail, went food shopping, to and from school plus some other routine trips to destinations Domingo was not sure of.
Candy said, “You're sure about all this?”
“Never doubt the kid, Mamita. Ya boy handle his biz.”
Candy took out her BlackBerry. “Run all that by me again.” She began typing in days, places and times of Vera's movements. “I'm a be in touch with you,” she said, after five minutes of typing. She stood, her thick thighs at eye level with Domingo.
“Mamita?”
“What?”
“That's all I get?”
“I'ma be in touch. When the job is done, you'll get the rest of your money.”
Domingo sighed. “Not that.”
“What?” Candy's eyes squinted.
“I ain't good for a kiss?”
Candy smiled. Then she bent down and pecked Domingo on the lips. She jerked her head back, just as he opened his mouth and his tongue crept out.”
“Damn, Mamita.” Domingo shook his head. “I ain't know you was no dick teaser.”
Candy grinned.
* * *
“Rich is my man and you need to get off his dick!” Vanessa barked at Chanel. Candy stepped from the back of the shop when she heard Vanessa's roar.
Chanel headed for Vanessa. “Ain't nobody on no fucking Rich dick!”
“I know because you inside his dick looking out the hole. I need to go home and give him some pussy so he can nut you out,” Vanessa screamed.
Chanel pointed her finger at Vanessa. “Heifer, who the fuck you think you talking to?”
“Hold up, hold up,” Leah said as she and Candy jumped in between the two angry women.
Chanel was huffing, her head shaking slowly. “Candy, you don't know. I will hurt that heifer.”
No you won't. You'll get your ass beat. “Listen,” Candy said. “This shit gotta stop, right now!” She pulled Chanel to the back of the shop.
“You don't even know what happened,” Chanel argued.
“I know what Vanessa said about you wanting to fuck Rich is true,” said Candy. “I told you before to be easy.”
“That's how it's going down, huh?” Chanel asked.
“Business over bullshit. I told you,” Candy said, emphatically. “Just leave her alone.”
Chanel was silent for a few seconds, staring into Candy's eyes. “Whatever.” She walked off.
Candy began breathing slowly, calming herself. She wanted to do nothing more at that moment than hurt Chanel. Chanel was unaware, but Candy had drawn a line a while ago. Candy's top priority was the well-being of the three-person immediate family of which she was a part. The women at the shop had become extended family.
Candy walked back to the front of the shop. “You okay?” she asked Vanessa, who was sitting and talking to Leah.
“Chanel was outta control,” Leah said.
“I tried to talk to her before about Rich like you said, Leah.” Vanessa frowned. “She said I was paranoid.”
“Exactly what happened?” Candy asked.
Leah explained that they were the last ones in the shop and were talking about men being unfaithful. Chanel made a few snide comments about men manipulating women who were not street smart. Vanessa ignored her, but then Chanel looked at her and said, “These heifers will go for anything 'cause they never had a real man.”
“That's when I had to say something,” Vanessa interjected.
“I never seen you so mad,” Candy said.
“You seen that vein poppin' out her head?” Leah joked.
“I don't like her and I don't trust her,” Vanessa said.
“Don't sweat it,” said Candy. “I just spoke
to her.”
“Yeah, you got bigger things to focus on,” Leah said, picking up a copy of Vanessa's recently published book Ghetto Love.
“You're right. My first book signing is coming up next week.”
“Yeah, girl. Focus on that,” Leah said.
Candy was focusing on Chanel. She was fed up with Chanel's games and she knew she would eventually have to be more forceful if she really wanted to stop the drama between Chanel and Vanessa from escalating.
VANESSA
Vanessa was inside a small bookstore in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. She was seated behind a long table with copies of her books stacked on each side of her. She sipped on a cup of green tea after signing her fifth book for the night.
I'm finally where I need to be. She stared at a huge poster of her book cover. Ghetto Love had been promoted online and she had received good reviews in Essence magazine and The Village Voice newspaper. She had been in the book store for a few hours as people wandered over to her, sporadically purchasing books. The book had been out for two weeks and she did not know how much it had sold. Judging from the sales at the signing, it would be some time before she became a best-selling author. But she was still happy to finally have her first book in print.
A 30-something woman with mocha skin and a bright smile
walked up and purchased a book. “Can you autograph it, please?” she asked.
Vanessa smiled. “Sure.”
“It's for my partner, Denise.”
Partner? As Vanessa signed the book, the word “partner” was stuck in her ear like wax. She had heard the term used by gay and lesbian people, but she never considered Candy her partner.
“Thank you,” the woman said. “She's gonna love it.”
“I'm sure she will. Thank you.” Vanessa noticed the woman's curvaceous figure as she walked away. Then she took in the sway of her hips. She's definitely sexy.
Vanessa didn’t usually see women how she saw Candy. But if she knew a woman was gay, her lustful tendencies kicked in. It was some type of psychological glitch in her mind. It made sense because sex was mental for Vanessa. It was the mental intrigue of sex with a woman that had attracted her to Candy.
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