“You ready?” Vanessa asked.
“Yup.”
The women stood and stepped out of the establishment into the summer sun. They
strolled down 125
th
Street through crowds of people in the shopping district. As they neared the
corner, shots rang out. People on the sidewalk parted.
“Look,” Vanessa pointed in front of them.
“Get down!” Leah pulled Vanessa behind a parked Acura TL.
Vanessa watched Chase running through the crowd as it continued parting. Behind him
was a teenager with a large handgun. Vanessa flinched, as the youth took aim and fired five more
shots. Chase was a moving target that cut across the street, weaving in between moving cars. Bullets shattered the windows of a parked Chevy Envoy, as Chase dipped behind it, picking up speed on the
sidewalk across the street.
“That young boy tryin’ to gun down Chase, for real,” Leah said.
Vanessa was frozen, shocked. It was the first time she had heard live gunshots or
witnessed life-threatening beef. The only guns she had ever seen fired were gripped by
actors on television and movie screens. All the violence that Rich had told her about during their tour of Harlem was now vivid in her mind. She thought of Rich. What would have happened had
he not left the streets behind? Would he have been with Chase, fleeing for his life?
“Come on,” Leah said, tugging on Vanessa's arm. “Let's get out of here before the cops
pop up and start asking questions.”
They made it to the shop minutes later. Candy and Meisha were inside huddled around
Chanel at her chair.
“Y'all heard about Chase?” Meisha asked.
“Some kid tried to rob him just now,” Chanel said.
Vanessa was amazed at how fast the news had traveled. Chanel said she was getting into
her Escalade, when she saw the botched robbery. She said Chase had just stepped out of a
jewelry store, when a light-skinned teen pulled a gun on him. Chase grabbed the gun and tussled with the kid until a few shots rang out and the kid fell to the ground with the gun, still firing as
Chase took off.”
“We saw both of them,” Leah said. “They turned the corner when we was walking down
Two-Fifth. That kid was trying to kill Chase, for real.”
“He even shot out the windows of a truck,” Vanessa added.
“He must got a death wish,” Candy said.
“'Cause everybody know Chase will kill a dude's mother to get to him,” Meisha said.
“And Rich ain't no altar boy. Wait 'til he find out. That lil boy is through.”
Oh, no.
Vanessa had not thought of Rich responding to the situation. She was happy that he was no longer running the streets. But for the first time, it dawned on her that Rich had an inseparable bond with Chase. If anyone could pull him back in the game, it was Chase. She
contemplated calling Rich to try and keep him calm because she was sure that word was
probably circulating to him, if it had not already. But Rich was in Connecticut on business and
would not be back in New York until the evening. So Vanessa figured that it would be best to see him face-to-face to speak to him about the drama with Chase. Then she began pondering whether
she was overacting? Rich was a man, a responsible man who had proved that by leaving behind a
world of drugs and death. He had proved to Vanessa plenty of times that he was a rational
thinker.
I hope he thinks rational about this situation with Chase.
* * *
Vanessa's iPhone rang later that night as the shop was about to close. Her heart jumped when she saw Rich's number on the screen.
“What's up, baby?”
“Where are you?” she questioned, nervously, pacing in front of her chair.
“I'm getting undressed, about to get in the Jacuzzi.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
“How was your day?” Vanessa tried to feel out Rich. She was not going to bring up the situation with Chase if Rich didn’t know about it.
“My day was cool. I just got back from Connecticut.”
“You went straight home?”
“Yeah. That's why I called you. I knew you was supposed to be over at your crib working on your book after work, but I need to see you.”
“Okay, I'll be right there.”
Rich had just gotten out of the Jacuzzi. He was lying on a large inflatable mattress on the
terrace, gazing at the stars. “Sky's the limit,” he mumbled, thinking of how much he had
overcome. He still could not fully grasp the reality of being out of the drug game and living a normal life. It was a good feeling to have the worries of beef and police out of his life, but the feeling was unusual.
Vanessa stepped onto the terrace and kissed Rich. He slipped his hand up her summer
dress, inching for her pussy. “Be patient, I'm gonna take a quick shower.” Vanessa said. “Stay right there.”
“You know they say
time don't wait for no man
, women either.”
“They also say
good things come to those who wait
and
patience is a virtue
.” Vanessa
smiled and stepped inside the penthouse.
Rich chuckled and lay back, gazing at the stars again. He thought about Vanessa for
another ten minutes, then closed his eyes and took in the summer breeze flowing over his body.
The only thing he was wearing was boxer shorts. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes, when
he heard the sliding glass door to the terrace opening.
What the fuck?
Vanessa was in a red teddy, walking toward him with Candy, who sported black
negligee. As a smile overcame Rich and he opened his mouth to speak, Vanessa put her finger
over her lips and uttered, “Shhh.”
Unbelievable.
Rich stared at their bodies—Vanessa was so petite and Candy was stacked
in every place that counted. He found it hard to keep his eyes off her. Their meeting in the
elevator flashed in his mind when the breeze brought him a whiff of the same perfume she
had sported that day.
Vanessa and Candy stopped a couple feet away from Rich and began kissing. Rich
couldn't believe how comfortable they seemed together. They slowly began undressing each
other. Candy's melon-sized breasts popped out of her bra, landing in Vanessa's mouth.
Damn.
Rich grabbed his rock-hard dick.
The women turned, facing Rich. Candy stood behind Vanessa. She sucked on her neck
and rubbed between her legs, while Vanessa massaged her own breasts. Candy opened her eyes,
looking directly at Rich as she nibbled on Vanessa’s earlobe. She dropped to her knees
gracefully, sliding her tongue between Vanessa's butt cheeks.
“Ahh,” Vanessa moaned. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head.
Candy slid between her legs, peeking at Rich before kissing Vanessa's inner thighs and
planting her mouth on her pussy.
Vanessa moaned louder, more passionately. She grabbed the back of Candy's head as
Candy licked and sucked her into a climax.
Damn, they some straight freaks. I never knew Vanessa had it in her.
Rich stood up, too
hyper to continue lying on the mattress. He slowly paced next to the mattress Candy laid on and
spread her legs. “Goddamn, girl.” He was staring directly at the fat lips of her pussy when
Vanessa dove face first between Candy's legs.
“Eat me. Yeah, eat my pussy,” Candy called out. She licked her lips and closed her eyes.
Rich balled his fists and gritted his teeth. He was trying to be patient. As soon as Candy
came, he planned to join them. He stood over Vanessa, gazing into Candy's eyes as she panted and moaned.
Candy leaned forward until she was standing. Vanessa then lay down and Candy sat on her
face. She slowly grinded, her lips quivering.
“Fuck this,” Rich mumbled. He stepped out of his underwear.
Candy looked up at him and grabbed his dick with both hands.
Rich exhaled deeply, savoring the wet warmth of Candy's mouth engulfing the head of
his dick. She worked it with her lips and tongue, then made her way down, swallowing as much
of him as she could. He watched her eyes roll into the back of her head as she grinded hard on
Vanessa's face. Candy used one hand to grab Rich's waist for balance, then suddenly her body quaked as
she came. She still managed to keep sucking Rich's dick, savoring each slurp, bobbing her head with her eyes closed.
Vanessa eased from underneath Candy. She slid toward Rich, nearly swallowing one of his balls.
“Damn. Yeah, baby. Y'all work it.” Rich reached down, pulling both of their heads
to him as he came. Candy sucked him dry and swallowed all he had to offer.
Vanessa and Candy stood and sandwiched Rich. He palmed Candy's ass, kissing her,
while Vanessa kissed on his back. They steered him to the mattress where he was forced onto his back.
Candy faced Rich and straddled him.
“Damn, girl,” he whispered. Candy's pussy was tighter and hotter than he anticipated.
She was the closest he had been to a virgin in years.
Vanessa stepped over him from behind his head. Her pussy landed square on his face.
She leaned forward. He could hear her and Candy kissing and moaning. Meanwhile, Candy's pussy locked on his dick and she rode him faster. She began slamming against him…hard.
“I'm cumming,” Candy screamed.
Rich reached back and grabbed Vanessa's ass. He pulled her forward until his
tongue was dancing between her butt cheeks.
“Stop,” she cried. “Please. It feels so good.”
Rich gripped her squirming body firmer. Reaching her climax, her juices leaked onto Rich's face.
They all got up and went inside the condo. They spent all night going at it in the
bedroom, switching positions, sucking and sexing until they were asleep.
* * *
Rich awoke the following morning and sat on his canopy bed. His back was sore and he
could feel scratches on it. He went to the bathroom, washed up and put on one of his Versace
robes. Fresh on his mind were the memories of a night of steamy, passionate sex. His time with Vanessa
and Candy had been all he expected and more.
Rich headed to the kitchen, following the scent of pancakes.
Look at this shit.
He smiled at the sight of Vanessa and Candy side-by-side in the
kitchen, preparing breakfast. The only thing covering Vanessa was a tank top. Candy had on a t-
shirt and panties. In Vanessa's hand was a skillet, while Candy stood squeezing fresh orange slices and strawberries into a juicer. Rich walked in between them, from behind, caressing both of their butts. He kissed Vanessa on the cheek, then pecked Candy.
“So, how was your night?” Vanessa smiled at him.
“Baby, you won't believe this.” Rich sighed. “I got attacked by two wild animals.” He grinned.
“You sure didn't put up a good fight,” Vanessa said, laughing.
“Yeah, but he was swinging that baseball bat.” Candy grabbed Rich's dick.
“That's a Louisville Slugger, girl,” Vanessa said, looking at Candy's hand.
Rich enjoyed the moment, hoping it would not stop. When he asked Vanessa for a one-
night affair, he had no idea that it would come with an overnight stay equipped with breakfast
and flirting. He was still amazed that Vanessa and Candy were so sexually compatible and comfortable together. More surprising was their joyful, friendly demeanor the morning after.
“We figured you worked up an appetite last night,” Candy said. “Even though you did a lot of eating.” She laughed.
“Speaking of our diet, I never would have expected you to be the type that likes
drinking.” Rich's eyes rolled from Candy's lips to his dick.
Vanessa and Candy laughed as they finished preparing breakfast. They sat beside each other at the large glass table, opposite Rich.
Rich looked at the soy bacon, tofu eggs and wheat pancakes on his plate. He picked up a piece of bacon. “Soy everything. This is my only problem with her, Candy.”
“I could get used to it,” Candy said, staring seductively at Vanessa who smiled.
“So you ladies thinking about having some more slumber parties in the future?” Rich chewed the piece of soy bacon.
“Can you handle it?” Vanessa asked.
“You know I like to sling pipe like a plumber,” Rich said. “And I ain't never been a party pooper.”
“We'll see,” Candy said.
Rich was pleased but confused. Pleased that future threesomes were on the agenda, but confused about how open Vanessa and Candy were with each other. He hoped that he was not witnessing Candy taking the only woman in his life away from him.
CHAPTER NINE
W
hile Vanessa was in the shower, Rich was sitting on the couch, sipping the fresh smoothie
Candy had made. Candy stepped in front of him, gazing into his eyes. She could not stop thinking
about the feeling of his dick pumping into her, his firm hands flipping her body into countless
positions. “Everything they say about you is true,” she said.
“Everything like what?” He set his smoothie on the table.
Candy sat next to him. She reached beneath his robe and grabbed his dick. It expanded in
her hand. “Everything about that. I been wanting to find out for myself since that day in the elevator.”
Rich stared at her hand as she unleashed his dick from underneath his silk robe. “Now
you know Vanessa gon' be out that shower any minute.”
“I don't think she'll mind after last night. Besides, I just wanna see it close up.” She
leaned down, inches away from his erect penis. Candy had never seen a man so well hung. She
kissed his dick, slid her tongue around the head, then closed his robe and stood up.
“After all that we been through last night, I would have never figured you was a dick
teaser,” Rich said.
Candy lifted her skirt and bent over, her ass just a foot away from his face. “You can
have me anytime you want, any place you want, however you want.” She turned and faced Rich.
“With or without Vanessa.”
* * *
Later that morning, Candy and Vanessa were at the shop before it opened. They
were discussing their threesome. Candy had confessed that she had never been with a man that
was as large and as experienced as Rich was. She leaned against her desk, near Vanessa. “And you.
You just took what we do to the next level. It's like Rich brought something new out of you that
I never saw before.”
Vanessa grabbed Candy by her waist. “I couldn't have done it without you. You and him
together.” She closed her eyes. “It was unbelievable.”
Candy had also felt the power of three. It was a first for her, just like Vanessa. Simply
thinking of their experience made her wet. The threesome was the first time that Candy's body
had been stimulated totally. No part of her body went untouched by the caress of a hand, lick of a
tongue or stroke of Rich's dick. She had identified new feelings and erogenous zones that she
would forever crave.
But Candy realized that she wanted all of Rich's attention. She needed his strokes to make up for all of the men who had entered and exited between her legs before she reached her
peak. She desired the feeling of Rich inside her womb, his eyes staring into hers, as if she was the only woman who existed in the world, while her arms wrapped his body. She wanted
Vanessa's passionate tale of her and Rich to become sensual stories of Candy and Rich. She did not want to steal Vanessa's man. She just wanted to borrow him.
“You know, he asked me 'how did I feel after last night?”' Vanessa said.
“What did you tell him?” Candy asked.
“That it felt so good I didn't want it to end.”
“Who in their right mind would want what we felt to end? I still can't believe I was with a
man. And I loved it.”
“So you're bisexual?”
“I don't know. It's been so long since I've been with a man. I thought that I could never feel like this again after Dez.” Candy shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe I'm just going through a phase.”
“You're no different than me,” said Vanessa.
Candy had no intentions of putting men back on her “must-have” list. She was content with Rich, although she didn't know how long their new relations would last. Neither did she know how intense they would become. Would there be sex sessions monthly, biweekly, weekly?
Their schedule would most likely be determined by their demand. Judging from what Candy knew of Vanessa and what she sensed about Rich, there would be a strong demand.
“I meant to ask you yesterday,” Vanessa said. “What's up with Vera? I greeted her
yesterday and she frowned her face up. She ignored me and damn near knocked me down when
she stormed in here.”
“She's a done deal. We're through.”
“What happened?”
“She don't understand the concept of friends with benefits.”
“You never talk to me about her.”
“Nothing to talk about.”
“How is she?” Vanessa asked, inquisitively.
Candy kissed Vanessa. “Nothing like you. That's the problem.”
“What's so special about me?”
“You're open-minded, cool to hang with, you're very sensual, your lips are sweeter than chocolate, your pussy smells like roses, you make me cum harder than any woman has and I love
you.” Candy slid her tongue into Vanessa's mouth, kissing her lovingly as she wrapped Vanessa
in her arms.
“I love you too.”
Candy leaned back when the whispered words entered her ear. She stared directly into Vanessa's eyes.
“I love you,” Vanessa repeated, without a blink. She said she had thought long and hard about Candy and she could not deny the feelings she felt for her. They were more than pleasure.
Vanessa was beginning to have the same gut emotion when in Candy's presence that she had
when she was around Rich. She felt wanted, needed and safe each time she was in the same room
with Candy.
“I want you to understand that I don't expect you to leave Rich for me,” said Candy.
“Okay.”
“And I understand that what we have is between us.”
Vanessa nodded.
Candy embraced her. The mood Vanessa's body generated within Candy was proof that
they belonged together. The emotion Candy was experiencing was new and intense. It was something that she could not fully define or explain, but her heart, mind and body told her it was
right. It did not matter that many people would consider their relationship taboo. It did not matter
that Candy had to withhold truth from the woman she considered family. The only thing that mattered to Candy was that Vanessa continued to spark that inextinguishable flame within her that
warmed her body each time they came together. What mattered was the love they each shared for
one another.
The following month for Vanessa brought her closer to Rich than she imagined time
would. She had moved into his penthouse. She had also been busy with her book, but she
managed to make time for Rich. They spent time together throughout New York City when they
were not at home. It was Vanessa's first time living with a man, and she learned that she enjoyed
cooking, cleaning and comforting a man on a daily basis. She also appreciated
that Rich often had the Jacuzzi or a warm bath ready for her after work, along with a meal she had cooked and Rich had reheated. Sex between them had become more passionate since they
were spending more time together.
Candy had also been spending more time with Vanessa. They often had sexual episodes
in Candy's office. Since Vanessa had moved in with Rich, but left her furniture and most of her
belongings behind, she and Candy had also been using Vanessa's apartment for personal time
together. The apartment had become Vanessa's second home. There, she and Candy cuddled and
listened to neo soul and watched DVDs of
The Wire
when they weren't sexing each other.
Candy had begun spending weekends over at the penthouse with Vanessa and Rich. The trio
had sex all hours of the day and night. They played strip poker and often Vanessa and Candy performed like
strippers, dancing with each other and giving Rich lap dances. Vanessa had not discussed it with
Rich nor Candy, but there seemed to be an understanding that Rich and Candy were not to have
sex unless Vanessa was involved. Though weekends were the scheduled days for Candy to spend
nights over, Candy often visited during weekdays, sometimes spending the night.
It was a Saturday night when Vanessa and Candy strolled through the front door of the penthouse.
“I'm gonna see if he's got the Jacuzzi ready,” Vanessa said.
“Okay.” Candy put down her Gucci bag and stepped into the bedroom.
As Vanessa neared the balcony, she heard Rich arguing. She posted up behind a grandfather clock where she could see the balcony. Rich was pacing back and forth in front of Chase.
“I tried to call you the day this little bastard Pana got at me,” Chase said. “Your number changed. When the fuck that happen?”
“When I stopped hustling. That phone was for you and me on the drug tip. Even though we never talked reckless on it, it was for us to keep tabs on shit. You know that. Why you didn't use my legit line? My business line?” Rich asked.
“I lost that shit, man. Fuck, I ain't Free or one of the motherfuckers you be talking stocks and bonds with. It's me, man. Chase.”
“And you shouldn't have disappeared for a month like you jumped bail or ducking the
Feds. All type of shit was going through my mind. I don't know if you sleeping in a casket or
lying in a hospital bed. I put the word out on the streets and half of Harlem was looking for you. Everybody acting like they blind or hard of hearing.”
“Vanessa—”
Vanessa turned to Candy, silencing her with her index finger covering her lips. She
pointed to the terrace, as Candy stepped over.
“It boils down to this,” Chase said. “I went OT to lay low and let this shit die down so I can rock these motherfuckers to sleep. I told you who sent this little bastard to murder me. You
know you the only one I trust. I got this shit planned, and it gotta go down tonight. I'm killing both of them motherfuckers. But I need you to hold me down.” Chase pulled an automatic
handgun from his waist.
Oh my God. No. Please don't take it, baby.
Vanessa's heart was beating faster than
Marion Jones, as she stared at the gun. She wanted to run on the balcony, snatch the gun and
throw it off the twenty-one stories.
“I ain't that far removed from the game that I don't got a gun, so you can put that away.”
Chase smiled and tucked his gun in his waistline. “Okay.”
“But I left the game to get out of this shit,” Rich said, shaking his head. “I ain't living for
me no more.”
Chase's eyebrows inverted and his lips twisted with anger. “If it don't
be for me, you wouldn’t be living at all. You’d be fucking dead. Another name on a mural on a
fuckin' handball court in a park in Harlem.”
“You right, Chase. I'm a hold you down, but you gonna put your own work in. And this
is it for me,” Rich said, shaking his head. “I told you game was over and to get out. I hope this
shit is a wake-up call to get you up out of this street sleep you in.”
Vanessa led Candy into their bedroom. Her tear-soaked eyes were wider than silver
dollars. “What are we gonna do? We gotta stop him.”
“Just calm down,” said Candy.
“But we gotta do something.” Vanessa had never been so scared. She felt helpless. Her
world had become a fantasy when Rich swept her off her feet. Now the solid foundation they had
created was crumbling before her eyes. She was faced with the reality that her life could change
for the worse in a second based on the decision of the man she loved.
Rich stepped off the terrace with Chase.
“I'll be downstairs in the car,” Chase said, walking out the front door.
Rich watched him close the door. He loved Chase. Chase had been the brother Rich never
had. He knew Chase would do anything for him. He had already proven it. But Rich was coming
to grips with the reality that he and Chase had grown apart. Yet Rich felt obligated to help him.
His mind was made up. There was no choice.
Rich stepped into the bedroom, spotting Vanessa and Candy. “When y' all get here?” he asked.
Vanessa bolted into his arms and hugged him tightly. I love you so much. Please don't go
with Chase. Don't leave this house. Please,” she begged.
Candy stepped over. “Rich, you can't go. It's not worth it. I don't wanna see you end up like Dez.” She wrapped her arms around him and Vanessa, forming a group hug.
Why the hell they had to be here?
Rich rubbed their backs, comforting them. “I'm gon' be all right.”
When Vanessa and Candy lifted their heads from Rich's shoulders, their eyes were puffy
and red. Rich felt like someone had snatched his heart from his chest and stomped it. He had
never seen either of them shed a tear. They had only brought joy to his life, that came by way of
smiles and seductive stares. They were too beautiful to cry, too delicate to face the hardship he
was putting them through.
Rich sat down between them on the bed. He wiped away the tears from each of their faces. He kissed each of them on the cheek, then put his arms around their shoulders. “I promise
y'all, tonight I'm coming back through that front door.”
Vanessa took his face into her palms. Her eyes began tearing again. “Every time I look
into your eyes I see me,” she said. “I love you more than I love life itself. It was you who took
me through Harlem and showed me how you escaped all of that madness. Don't go back
and become a statistic.” She hugged Rich for a minute and then slowly let him go.
“Listen to me, Rich,” said Candy, as he faced her. “I been knowing you for over
twenty years, when you was knee-deep in the game and you felt you had no choice. You do now. Vanessa loves you and I care about you a lot.” She kissed him on the lips. “You knew Dez.” Her eyes began watering and Rich wiped them. “When Dez got killed, I didn't want to live no more.
And Vanessa loves you way more than I loved Dez. The point is, what the hell are we supposed to do if you're dead or in Sing Sing?”