Chapter 3

 
Two weeks later, Cleo came in at ten at night as usual, but she looked pretty excited, as if she had won a million dollars.
"What's your problem?" Nicole questioned, peeking up from her books.
"I found out that someone bought the two houses next to me."
"Who?"
"I don't know, but I like new neighbors."
Cleo just lived two blocks away from the Laundromat. It was a great walking distance, but she insisted on driving her car. Nicole's house was about nine blocks away. A nice hike, except when it was cold out and visibility was shit. Cleo had been complaining of the horrible conditions of the houses next to her for the longest and her kids couldn't play outside because homeless people, drug dealers and users always occupied the open homes illegally.
"This morning, just as I was crawling into bed after dropping the kids off to school, I heard this awful pounding and I went outside to cuss whoever was making the racket out. This man was there from some construction company. They were closing up the houses so they can stop the draft to start working on them. He asked me when I sleep and I told him. He was the nicest white man I've ever met – not like that ass that was in here a couple of weeks ago. He told me that he's making sure they didn't do any heavy construction during those times."
"That's great. Now the kids can get out your hair and get some fresh air."
"I hope so. He said he's going to put a security fence around the property so no one will be breaking in and not to worry because at night, someone would be looking in on the houses and if I wanted, they could watch over my place, too."
"Who is this man?"
"I don't know."
"What construction company?"
"I don't know."
Nicole decided not to question her anymore, becoming frustrated with Cleo's evasive answers.
The night went like usual and after Cleo came from her food and cigarette run, Nicole left. While she was walking home, she had this strange feeling someone was watching her. Hurrying up her step, she got home safely and didn't think anymore about it.
She changed Nanna's sheet and fed her grandmother until the exhausted woman fell asleep. Nanna's breathing was very shallow and Nicole prayed at her grandmother's beside that a new heart would come soon. Losing the only person in the world to care for her would be devastating.
After combing Nanna's stringy hair, she went out to the garage where she knew the student she tutored had left assignments or letters about her reports. Plus, others who knew she was sneaking for her degree and allowed her to use their address would leave her mail there as well.
There was a letter from the school she was getting her degree out of:
Dear Ms. Gray,
You are well on your way to finishing your degree, teacher’s certificate and Associate in Bookkeeping. We are proud to note that you have a 4.0 GPA and only one course left for both of your majors.
The letter went on to note what she received on her last paper and test assignments. Quickly, she scanned the letter until she got to the end:
Due to your rapid success in the program, we must request that you send in the final payment before we send you the last of your lessons. The amount of $1000 is needed to complete this process. This cost also contains your graduating certificates and references needed, plus the rest of the supplies and books.
Where was she going to get that kind of money from? She only had six hundred saved because she didn't expect to finish the course so quickly. Marvin would know if she tried to get any money and she didn't want to get thrown in a closet again for taking any money like she did before, even though the check was in her name. Marvin wasn't stupid when it came to money matters and he kept track of every dime that went in and out of the house and business.

Getting in on her shift the next day, she looked over the books while the other cashier ran the window. As usual, Marvin had been making withdrawals out of the bank account and this made her short on supplies. His withdrawals were becoming larger and larger. So she decided to pay off the bills two months in advance, writing a note that something had bounced due to his withdrawals and payments were requested like this until after the New Year. He wouldn’t catch on until after the New Year. Nicole had lied, but hopefully he would be too lazy to look back on the history. Nanna had said she was drawing up new power of attorney papers and would make Nicole sole heir.
As much as Nicole cared about the business, she cared about Nanna more. She didn't want her grandmother to go away.
At nine, Cleo's oldest daughter of fourteen called to let Nicole know that her mother had to rush the youngest child of one year old to the hospital because of an ear infection. It would be doubtful if Cleo could come in to work. Nicole knew if Marvin was told, he'd tell her to fire Cleo because this was her fourth time calling in in this month. Instead, she decided to work the shift. It would be slow on a Wednesday night, so she didn't have anything to really worry about. She asked the other cashier to stay for an extra hour while she got herself something to eat, then she let the girl go.
Delving deep into her studies after doing all the orders, at twelve, she wasn't aware of someone walking up to the counter until someone slipped a twenty in the money slot.
As before this one, she pointed to the sign without saying a word, hoping the john would go away.
Another twenty was laid on top of the first. "Can you read-" she was cut short as she found his eyes of green unusually breathtaking. Did he know how beautiful they were? Biting her lip from any smart comment she would have said, she said, "Whatever you want, I'm not that type of girl."
"What type of girl are you?"
"What type do I look like?" she snapped. He was purposely edging her into a verbal conflict.
"A sixty-dollar whore?" With that, he placed another twenty on top of the other two.
She looked down at the money, then back up at him. Deciding to play his game, she said, "Can't you find someone else to bother?"
"I'd much rather bother you."
"I don't like you. I don't like anything about you."
He leaned on the counter and lit a cigarette. "Feelings mutual, but a man's got needs and right now I want to finish what you started behind that garage."
"There's nothing to finish."
He took a long drag on the cigarette, giving her a skeptical look. "Rumor has it, for a good time, I can come in here about this time, set some bills on the counter, and you'll take me somewhere private and show me what a real woman can do."
"I wouldn't give you a good time if you paid me a hundred dollars. I told you I don't do that."
"Then who does?"
"The other girls, I guess. I don't and I won't with you."
"Is it just me or do you give your favors out to all those black men that come strutting up in here to pester you?"
Nicole decided to keep him guessing. "That's none of your business."
He took one more drag on the cigarette before grounding the butt out in the tray on the countertop. "How much is it going to take for you to please a white man like me?" There was a cruel intent in his tone of voice, but she ignored that.
Continuing his verbal play, she leaned in the glass to give him her best seductive stare. "You couldn't afford me," she whispered.
"How much?" he asked again, his eyes practically dancing like green Christmas tree lights now that he knew she was going to play with him.
Did he crave verbal foreplay? Was that how he got his kicks? Making someone angry, then sink to his level. Oh she would get him good. "Five hundred dollars."
He flinched and she smiled triumphantly. "That's a lot. What do I get?"
She shrugged, not letting him see she was completely out of her territory. This was Cleo's business. "A lip job," she said, borrowing Cleo's terminology.
His eyes widened. "That's it? All I get is a good lip job? Hell for five hundred dollars, I could buy a whole lot of crack whores on the corner and go to town for a day and a half in any hole I please."
"Then go down the street and get them, but here you pay for good and clean."
"How will I know it's worth it?"
She knew this idiot couldn't have that much money on him, but she decided to tease him by leaning close to the window. If she dropped her shoulders and pressed her bosom almost against the glass, it gave him a nice view down her shirt. "I'll make you scream for mercy."
"Damn!" He lit another cigarette and puffed even harder, as if he were deep in thought. "But five bills is a lot."
She sat back in her seat, loving the tease she had suddenly become. "You want a good time with me? That's what you have to pay."
"So you're going to guarantee me a lip job if I set five hundred dollars on this counter."
Knowing full well he couldn't have money like that walking around in the hood, she said, "Yep, if you do it right now."
He started puffing that cigarette like it was his life depending on it. "What about for five hundred dollars, I get two days worth of lip service? That's two-fifty a day, payable at the end of the service."
"You're trying to strike a bargain with a whore? Next thing you want is a warranty, huh?"
"It crossed my mind, but I’d at least like a verbal promise I’d get everything I paid for."
She laughed at his silliness, then nonchalantly shrugged. "You set a five hundred on the counter right now, and you've got me for two days for lip service; and only lip service I promise no take backs."
It was his turn to smile triumphantly as he grounded out that cigarette in the ashtray, and then reached in his back pocket to pull out the thickest wallet she had ever seen. He scooped up the three twenties and watched as her mouth dropped open when he laid five crisp new hundred dollar bills out on the counter and then pushed it into the money slot. "Shouldn't you be saving some of that saliva for me?"
Quickly closing her mouth, she glared up at him. "You had every intention of offering me whatever I asked."
"Maybe, but that's neither here nor there. Do you keep your promise?"
Nicole hated the idea of giving him any satisfaction, but she was a woman of honor. Besides, she'd always wanted to know how it felt. She’d seen it done enough and heard about it enough to be considered almost an expert at it, but actually doing it would be a whole new experience for her.
He started to take the money out of the slot, but she touched the top of his hand.
"Give me a moment."
"I don't have a moment. At five hundred dollars, your time is my time."
She picked up the money and counted it slowly twice, then laid it down on the counter in front of her, still staring at the bills in disbelief.
"Times a wasting, woman."
Straightening her spine and throwing her head back, she impersonated Cleo down to the cold glazed overshadowing of her face as she took the money and shoved it in her pants. "Give me a moment, sugar lips," she said, sliding from the seat. Going over to Cleo's drawer, she found a breath mint. She always saw Cleo put one in her mouth before going out. She grabbed her keys and went out of the door. She locked the front door with the electronic lock. If any customers wanted to come in, she could use the buzzer to let them in. He stood down there waiting for her and she avoided looking at him.
“If you can ace a home course in less time it takes to piss, you can certainly handle this cracker like a rag doll,” she told herself confidently.
Nicole took a deep breath and continued Cleo's disposition by switching her hips with a look of assurance to her body. Opening the door to the ladies room, she let him walk by her. She always watched as Cleo went in, but once the door had closed, she didn't know what to do.
The first logical thing was to turn on the lights, which he did once he entered. She went over to the toilet and put the seat down. As she faced him, he'd already crossed the distance between them in one long stride, pulling her into his arms and capturing her mouth before she could say anything.
She remembered his taste well and found that she was craving it once again. The hat on his head was knocked to the floor as she ran her fingers through his nape length blonde hair, loving the feel of it between her fingers as his mouth possessed her own. They moved like old lovers, touching, rubbing, and feeling everywhere, wishing the clothes were not present. Forcing herself to take control of the situation, somehow they’d maneuvered back to the door and she was pressed hard on him so that his back was against the door. One hand continued to hold his head in place while her lips ravaged his mouth, cheek, ears, and lips. Her other hand found his pants and began to unbuckle them. Her skills with opening clothing in the Laundromat came in so handy that she was able to open his pants and push them down without releasing her mouth from his.
As Cleo had said, initially they fight it, and by his strain he was definitely fighting what she was doing to him. He tried to pull her back in his arms as she slowly lowered to her knees.
"Shouldn't we sit?" he asked unsure.
"Does it matter?" she whispered huskily, right before she engulfed him deep into her oral cavity.
He gasped and she was positive she saw his leg vibrate from the passion she had erupted in him. Her eyes closed as she remembered Cleo's detail instructions, moving her hands inside his thigh, between his legs and around his buttocks as her mouth hungrily worked to bring him to please. She kept her teeth securely covered by her lips while she also kept a firm grip on him. While doing all of this, she moved her tongue voraciously around the tip, enjoying how his body was fighting, then succumbing, then fighting.
Just when he was giving up the fight, she slowly crept her fingers up and gently pulled at the base of him. The whimper of mercy from him made her smile and she brushed her teeth mistakenly over the sensitive tip. He grabbed the door handle for balance as his legs almost buckled underneath him.
She gasped as he filled her mouth, giving her no choice but to swallow as his large shaft pulsed between her fingers and lips. A film of sweat covered his entire body and intimately enjoying the scent of him, she buried her nose into his blonde hair, loving the soft feel of the follicles on her face. His member was still hard, but somewhat drained, yet she had a feeling if there was more she had promised him, nothing would stop him from laying her on this floor and taking her until the morning dawn. Reluctantly, she took a deep breath, testing the rawness of her lip and the soreness of her jaw. He was backed in the corner of the door.
Nicole went so far as to carefully adjust him and fix his pants, then she gave him a simple kiss on his chin. Soon as she drew away, those intense greens opened and held her gaze. She felt her breath catch in her throat. It wasn't fear she felt.
His arm drew her into him, molding her body against his. Then he kissed her forehead, her eyes, then trailed his wet tongue down until he entwined the tip with hers. She moaned softly, loving his kisses very much. He was older and knowledgeable, and she was positive he would be able to please her very much if given the chance.
“What the hell are you thinking? What the hell are you doing?” she thought.
Pushing away, she wiggled desperately out of his arms. She could tell he wanted her back, but when he stepped toward her, she stepped back two paces and held up her arms as if that could stop him.
"I have to get back to work and giving you anything more is not in the deal," she said, patting her pocket where the bulge of money rested.
He conceded and allowed her to leave, which she did quickly. Getting back behind the booth, she shrieked as she saw Cleo standing by the bin of clothes. "What the hell are you doing here?" she exclaimed.
"Working. The front door was locked so I used my key. Are you okay?"
Nervously she looked at the female bathroom door and pulled Cleo deeper into the back. "I'm okay. I was just a little queasy. Is everything okay at home? I had you covered."
"Well, he's fine and his daddy miraculously came down to the hospital and said he would let me go while he watched the boy. He's got a temperature, but his daddy said he'd stay with him." She looked very grateful. "Thanks for saving my ass with Marv."
"How'd you know I didn't tell?"
"Cause you are here and not him. He'd gladly tell me to get the fuck out."
They walked back up to the front by the glass and both gasped at the figure.
"I must have left the door unlock," Cleo surmised. "Isn't that the guy who gave you trouble last time? Want me to handle him?"
His back was to them, and he was puffing on another cigarette slowly this time. Nicole knew why.
He’s such a smug bastard, she sneered to herself, but she couldn’t help smiling, knowing she’d done a good job pleasing him. "No, I can handle him." Going to the glass, she slid back in the seat, adjusting the wad in her pocket.
He turned, his smoky green eyes assessing her generously. His voice was strangely low, but wasn't a whisper. "When do you get off?" His hat was back on his head, but turned the opposite way, giving him a boyish look.
"That doesn't concern you."
"It does with my money in your pocket."
"Thirty minutes," she mumbled, not at all liking the cool exterior he now exhibited.
He walked out without another word.
Cleo hadn't heard any of the conversation, but she still said, "He wasn't that hard to please."
"If you only knew," Nicole mumbled under her breath, still feeling the strange soreness in her jaw and the tiredness in her lips. They had definitely been through a workout.
Nicole had too much on her mind about this time to even comment on Cleo or feel any pity for Cleo's son. "I got some food in the back. I'm going to go. I hope your son feels better."
"Me too and thanks kid."
They hugged, Nicole went to the back and rinsed out her mouth in the sink, and she left out. The green-eyed smug bastard pulled up on the side of her in a company white Ranger 4x4 with BLACK'S CEMENT on the passenger door. He opened the door for her. Without a word, she got in, figuring he must be pretty high up in the company to get a company car; probably a supervisor or something judging by the way his hands weren’t that rough and by the managerial nature he carried.
"Don't you think we need to know each other's names before we go any further?" she asked as he got back in the driver’s seat and took off in the direction of where he had met her. "I'm Nicole."
"That's it? Just Nicole?"
"I think some anonymity is good between us. That means once this is over with, we won't have any ties to each other."
"Are you saying you would like to stay impersonal?" He divided his attention between her and the road.
"Now it's your turn. What's your name?"
He hesitated, as if he didn't want to give it to her. "Ethan," he responded, turning a corner sharply. They experienced a strange silence until he asked, "Do you often do this to gentlemen willing to pay your exorbitant fees?"
She shrugged purposely to keep him wondering. If he wanted to think of her as a whore, it made it easier to take his money. "I should let you know your money will be put to good use. I'm going to be able to afford my last course for school and graduation. Thank you."
He pulled up to the spot where they met the first morning.
"Here is good enough; I don't live far," she said.
He turned out the lights and the motor before facing her, positioning himself so that his hand rested on the top back of her seat. Nicole wondered if breaking proximity boundaries was his way of keeping control of the situation.
"Personally, I don't care if you bathe yourself with the fucking loot; I just care when will it happen again?" The heat in his eyes made her feel warm all over and she looked straight to keep from succumbing to any emotional attachment to this man.
She couldn't understand why she felt perturbed one moment to total exhilaration the next. Lots of men had hit on her. Many had tried to molest her, but nevertheless, she had stayed away from any and all invitations, never wanting to involve her heart or her body with any man. So why was she sitting here now with a man she knew she could never keep forever and who only wanted her for her oral activity? Carefully forming her words as to not let him know how much he was affecting her, she said, "Tomorrow night after work. I can't see you any sooner."
His look of disappointment out of her peripheral vision was clearly evident. "Why is that?"
"I'm busy during the day and I can't miss work."
He agreed reluctantly. "Fine."
"Where do you live?" she blurted out, looking at him.
"I thought you wanted us to remain anonymous to each other?"
Nicole flushed. "I was just wondering-"
He cut her off. "I love your mouth."
Her breath caught her in her throat as her heart raced. She couldn't help but to meet his smoldering look of wanton lust with one of her own. Barely, she forced out, "Thank you," because she couldn't think of anything else to say that wouldn't let him know she had enjoyed his comment very much.
"Can I kiss you?"
She nodded and leaned forward. His other hand caught around her nape, tilting her head slightly to deepen the passion they shared.
The feel, touch, and taste of him turned her inside out and sent her senses on a wild roller coaster ride that she wanted never to stop.
Pushing away, reluctantly, she pressed her back against the passenger door.
The hungry look in his eyes clearly told her this man had serious locked up emotions and if unleashed, he could tear her heart apart. No emotional tie-ups. Not now! Not ever!
"Tomorrow," was all she whispered before jumping out there and running down to her home.
Marvin had his buddies over, but when she got in the house, she didn't pause to greet them or assess the situation. She continued on upstairs past Nanna's room to her small room in the attic, where she plopped on the twin size old bed and buried her hands in her face.
What the hell had she gotten herself into?