Breaking the Cycle (14 page)

“I keep telling you, this is my dick. No other bitch is going to get any part of my dick. Lil’ skinny yella bitch all up in your face grinning. Was her pussy as good as mine? Could she fuck you like I do? Answer me, Eddie! Tell me how much you love my pussy and how good I fuck you! Tell me this is the only pussy you want! Tell me, Eddie, that you’ll never leave me or do me wrong! Tell me! Tell me!”

I couldn’t bring a response out of my mouth if my life depended on it. I couldn’t believe how hard she was humping on me, in an attempt to punish me and teach me that I wasn’t to look, let alone talk, to another woman.

Once again, when we were finished, she calmly walked into the bathroom and returned with a warm rag for me to clean myself.

From then on, the encounters worsened. Whenever we had a problem, it would start with a physical confrontation, more than likely to be followed by rough, aggressive sex. My only use was that of a prop.

C
HAPTER
T
WO

Candy was holding me hostage on the phone while I had a lot of work to do.

“What time you finish today?”

“I’m not sure. I still have quite a few patients in the waiting room. We’re extremely busy today.”

“Things are pretty much the same around here. Muthafuckas complaining about waiting in line. Complaining about the service. I mean, what do they expect when they wait until the last minute to come in and get their shit taken care of?”

“You know that’s human nature. Seems like once we see that final notice or deadline date, we get the fire under our asses that we should’ve had from the beginning.”

“I can understand that, but to wait until your tag or license is expired makes you really stupid. In the middle of the month, you can damn near walk in and out. You’d think everyone else would know that by now.”

Lana poked her head into my office. “Mr. Harris is prepped and waiting in room five, Dr. Adelson.”

“Thanks, Lana. Let him know that I’ll be there in a minute.”

“I guess duty is a calling.”

“Got to finish up so I can get out of here. Do you want me to pick something up, or were you planning to cook?”

“I was hoping we could get dressed and go down to Preston’s. I really have a taste for the seafood dish I love.”

“I’m really tired, Candy. Can I get a rain check?”

“Damn, Eddie. I was really looking forward to it,” she said in a whiny voice.

“I’ll make you a deal then. If you let me slide tonight, we’ll go to Preston’s on Friday and stay in a hotel. How does that sound?”

“I guess that’s a fair deal. Just make sure you get a suite. I love the oceanfront view.”

“I’m not sure if we can get a deal on a suite on such short notice, especially this time of year.”

“For someone who makes good money, your ass is so cheap.”

“That’s the only way I’m going to keep my money.”

“See what they say first, before you start talking against it.”

“I thought you could call, since you’re going to get home before me.”

“Why is it that you suggest something and then I get stuck having to do all the footwork? Which hotel were you talking about? I know how much of a penny pincher you are, but since we’re going to Preston’s, it would be nice to stay at the Loews. I mean, it’s what? Only a few bucks more than the Palms.”

“Call both hotels. See if they have any kind of specials for this weekend. Better yet, go online and see. I know the Royal Palm gives better rates online. Maybe the Loews does the same.”

“Do you want me to go ahead and put it on the credit card?”

“If you have to. Candy—”

“I know… call you first. Go see about your patient.”

I’d almost forgotten about Mr. Harris.

“Okay, I’ll see you when I get in.”

“Yeah, okay. Bye.”

She hung up before I could reply.

Things between us were unpredictable most days. I was trying my best to keep her satisfied, in more ways than one. Didn’t flinch when she asked about bringing her prized vibrator into our action. Using it on me was a definite no-no, but we discovered a few ways to please her by adding it into the act.

“Mr. Harris, how are you today?”

“Seeing that I’m sitting in your chair about to be put to sleep so you can pull my tooth out my head, I’m not sure I’m doing all that well.”

I laughed at the irony and continued to prepare for the procedure. “Don’t worry. I’ll have you feeling brand-new in no time.”

I had my assistant start the drip. Within seconds, he was out.

“Can you believe that Mr. Harris thought he could drive himself home after his procedure?” Lana asked.

“I guess it helps to have an arsenal of women to pull you out of a crunch. I didn’t want to leave him here, but it’s time to go.”

“A man with his credentials? Plus he’s single? I would’ve driven him home in that nice, new BMW he had out there.”

“Is that all that’s important to women nowadays? I mean, what about what’s in his head and in his chest?”

“Those things can be worked on. Relationships are something you have to put in time and effort on.”

“Is that right? How about being happy with them as they are? Why would you have to change someone in order to be happy with them?” I ran my tongue over the spot I knew was still there; no matter if the swelling had gone down. A busted lip; courtesy of a flying shoe.

“That’s not what I’m saying. You should never compromise your happiness for someone else.”

“So, that brings us back to your statement about Mr. Harris. Isn’t wanting him because of his money, nice house, and nice car, despite the fact that he may not be your Prince Charming, a compromise?”

“I guess, but those things let you know if you want to get to know someone.”

“Now, that’s shallow.”

“Hey, what can I say? Women have been known to be that also.” She laughed and walked out the door.

Never compromise your happiness for someone else, echoed in my head while I set the alarm. That one simple phrase was food for thought.

C
HAPTER
T
HREE

“Are you sure you couldn’t get a room next door?” I hesitantly asked Candy later that evening.

“If you feel I’m lying to you, why didn’t you make the reservation yourself? I don’t need this aggravation.”

It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford to pay the two hundred dollars-a-night room rate; just the principle of whether or not I had to. Although the Loews was by far the more extravagant of the two, the Palms was nothing to bat your eyes at and usually had more affordable rates. While it was touted as the black hotel, you couldn’t tell by the people working behind the counter, or anywhere else in the hotel for that matter.

I decided to give in, once again. “It’s been a long day for both of us and I want this to be an enjoyable weekend. So, the Loews it is.”

I pulled under the overhang and unlocked the doors. Candy waited as the valet ran over and opened the door for her. She seemed to switch into another mode once her hand hit his. Yeah, my Benz was nothing shameful to get out of, but it was like she was a star or something.

“Will you be with us this evening?” the valet asked as he stood waiting for me to turn over my $50,000 car to him.

“Yes.”

He pulled a card from his shirt pocket and wrote something on it before tearing off one part and handing it to me. He went on to explain the price of the valet service per night and instructed me to have them put the room number on it at the front desk.

“Thank you for choosing the Loews. Enjoy your stay.”

Candy stood waiting on the curb as the bellhop pulled the last of our bags from the trunk. We followed him into the grand lobby and made our way around to the check-in counter.

As the bellhop placed the last of our bags into the room, Candy walked over and drew the curtains back to reveal the breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean, which lay just beyond the white sandy beach. I placed a bill in his hand and he quietly thanked me and slipped out the door.

I walked up behind Candy and slid my hand around to her flat stomach, kissing the back of her neck. “Where to now?”

“I was thinking we could get dressed and either head down to Preston’s or Emeril’s. You know, they opened his restaurant a few weeks ago? With his reputation, it has to be nice.” She turned around and kissed me softly on the lips.

“This weekend is for you. Anything you want to do, simply ask and I shall try my best to oblige.” I gently kissed her, realizing those were the words she wanted to hear.

“Then, let me oblige you.”

She sauntered over to the bed. Slowly and methodically, she began to remove her clothing. The white midriff shirt with the flowing, wide-cuffed sleeves. The khaki cargo pants and black satin bra soon followed. With the sexiest of walks, she closed in on me and slipped her hand into my pants, caressing my manhood that was already at attention and waiting for the command. Her eyes never leaving mine, she undid the belt of my khaki shorts as I slid the white polo over my head. I kicked my leather slides off as she slid my pants and boxer briefs to the floor.

“Lie down,” she commanded.

Like an obedient child, I followed her orders and moved to the middle of the king-sized bed. She reached over to the nightstand and turned on the CD/Radio/Alarm Clock.

“Give me one second.”

She walked away and grabbed a CD from the case she traveled with. She placed it in the player and clicked it to the cut she wanted to hear. No sooner than she hit play, the room began to fill with the melodic sounds of Floetry’s erotic tune.

Candy sang along. “There is only one… for me…”

She knew it was a song that got me hot and bothered. I was ready to explode as she sang and did a sultry dance. One that ended with her slipping her thong seductively off to the music.

By the time the second chorus of “Say Yes” filled the room, Candy had straddled me and was riding off to ecstasy. She moaned along with them. Told me where her spot was along with them. Even erupted on cue with them. She collapsed on my chest as we both worked on composing our breathing, slowly coming down from the high we’d just experienced.

Why couldn’t it always be like this?

“Isn’t this place just gorgeous?” Candy’s head turned, scanning the room from one end to the other.

“Good evening. Welcome to Emeril’s. How many in your party?”

“Two,” I replied.

“How long is the wait?” Candy asked.

“One second.” The hostess looked over her seating chart. There were people in there, but it wasn’t what I would call packed. The hostess grabbed two menus and asked us to follow her.

“This is so nice. I wonder when he’s going to come back. You know he was here for the grand opening? I wanted to make it down here, but… Damn, I can’t remember why I didn’t.”

I looked over the menu and noted the prices. Not too over the top, but not all that inexpensive either. “You sure you don’t want to go to Preston’s? You did say you were craving it the other night.” Not that Preston’s was any cheaper; it’s just hard to find something to eat whenever you go to a restaurant for the first time.

Candy leered at me. “I’d much rather be here.”

“Now that was a real nice experience,” Candy said excitedly after dinner. “I must say, the food was excellent.”

“Yes it was,” I agreed. “Now, where to?”

“Hmm, let’s see…” She placed her finger to her chin. Pretended to be deep in thought.

“You know…” I kissed the back of her neck. “We could go back upstairs to that beautiful room we have…” Another kiss. “And make use of the bed…”

“Now, what fun would that be? We do that all the time. I want to go to a club. Oh, I know… Let’s go to Club B.E.D.”

“Why there? You know ain’t nothing there but a bunch of people trying to be seen by a bunch of other people who really don’t care about seeing them at all.”

“And what’s wrong with that? That’s what this entire scene is about anyway.”

“You mean, like staying in one of the most expensive hotels out here? Dining at one of the trendiest restaurants?”

“First of all, if being seen was what it was about for me, we would be at the Delano and not the Loews. Instead of the measly two hundred, you’d be really dishing out the dough.”

I knew the evening wasn’t going to go the way I planned from that moment.

“Are we going to the club or not?”

I realized if “no” had been the answer, the fate of my weekend would’ve been sealed. So, against all that raged inside of me, I followed as she made her way around to the valet stand.

“Why can’t we walk over there?” I asked.

“Walk! You must be crazy if you think I’m going to walk all the way over there in these!” She lifted her foot to show me the four-inch skinny heel of her shoe.

I pulled the valet ticket from my pocket.

We pulled up to the club where there was another charge for parking. Finding parking anywhere along Washington Street was a challenge, so it seemed fruitless to argue. We walked to the front of the club. A few people were standing around in hopes of being allowed the opportunity to party with the “in crowd” of the moment.

The cover charge was a ridiculous price. I looked at Candy long and hard. Never compromise your happiness for someone else, came to me loud and clear. Here I was doing exactly that. It didn’t matter that I could more than afford it. What weighed heavily on me was the fact that it came back to everything being about what she wanted. Never was it about me, or we.

As bad as I knew things could end up, I stood back at the door as she started to walk in. “Candy…”

She looked back at me like I had lost my mind. Then she slowly made her way back to me. “What?!” she said between clenched teeth. Clenched fists at her side.

“As much as I know you want to be here, I’m really not feeling it. I mean, I can’t see shelling out that type of cash just to say I was here. Can we just go?”

I was given the kiss of death when it comes to looks. I should’ve rolled with the flow in order to keep the peace, but I had been doing that for far too long.

“I can’t believe you’re going to embarrass me like this.” Her response was more of a hiss than anything else.

“Do you have money to pay for this? I mean, if you do, I’ll go in and we can hang all night.”

“So, we meet again,” a voice called out from behind us.

I turned around to find Nisha walking up behind us. “Hey, you!” I gave her a slight hug.

“Eddie, this is Mike, my husband. Mike, Dr. Eddie Adelson—the old friend from college I was telling you about.”

“Hey, Man. Good to meet you.” He grabbed my hand in a firm handshake.

“What are you doing here?” Nisha inquired.

“We were about to leave. It costs a pretty penny to hang out in here.”

“Don’t I know it, but Mike knows the owner and—”

“You guys are more than welcome to join us,” Mike interrupted and added.

Before I could decline, Candy came to life in a way that was so like her. After the cold reception she’d given Nisha the night of the dinner, you’d think she was the last person she would want to be indebted to. Strangely enough, Candy acted like she and Nisha were the best of friends. Being invited into a circle that would’ve been elusive to us otherwise seemed to animate her.

Mike, a successful movie editor, was privileged enough to be a part of the very “it” crowd. When you have extremely well known people walk over to you to speak, it’s a definite sign of some sort of royalty. Candy ate the semi-attention up she received as a result of being with Mike.

Candy excused herself to the restroom while Mike walked over to another bed to speak to some friends.

“Now, that was a switch,” Nisha commented. “I remember home girl looking at me the other night like I had the plague or something.”

“What can I say?” I shrugged. “She’s an opportunist.”

“You looked like you were ready to jet when we first walked up. What’s going on with you? Why haven’t you called me?”

“Just been busy, is all.”

“You do remember I’m a good listener.”

I definitely remembered. The long nights we used to have; sitting up shooting the breeze. Nisha had always been eager to lend an ear; dishing advice only when asked.