Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever (13 page)

“You . . . should see your hair,” I wheeze.

“And you . . . should’ve seen . . . the look on your face.” She laughs harder.

When it subsides, we walk companionably to the kitchen where she puts on some coffee, and I forage through the fridge for breakfast.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me you were into BDSM?” I try to keep the accusation out of my tone.

She frowns as she sets two mugs onto the counter. “There isn’t a large community of African Americans in the lifestyle. I guess I didn’t think you would understand.”

If I hadn’t met Tristan White, and wasn’t about to do exactly what she’d been doing for I don’t know how long, I wouldn’t have been understanding. In fact, I know I would’ve been downright judgmental.

“You’re right,” I say. “Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have had a frame of reference then. How long have you been doing this?”

“Since our freshman year. Derek introduced me to the lifestyle.” Derek was her boyfriend until just before we graduated.

“Oh man! And to think, I accused him of being abusive to you. No wonder I got that vibe from him.”

She nodded. “Derek could be intense.”

“I thought you broke up with him because you finally came to your senses.”

“I figured you didn’t believe me,” she chides. “For the record, we did break up because he got a new job in San Francisco. We weren’t ready to take our relationship to the next level, and forget a long distance relationship. I did that shit in high school. It ain’t fun.”

“Word.”

“Since graduation, I’ve occupied the top position in my recent relationships.”

“Get out!”

“I haven’t met anyone I wanted to submit to since Derek.”

This doesn’t surprise me about Jada. She’s fierce. “Sounds like you were really into Nate last night.”

Jada brandishes a coy smile. “You don’t know the half of it. So, you’re going to sub for Tristan, huh? Is that why you didn’t want me to see what was in the package he sent you?”

“Yes. Well that, and his fucking NDA.”

“People guard their privacy in the community, therefore there are rules for the lifestyle.”

“I know, right? The first rule of the lifestyle, you do not talk about the lifestyle. Second rule, you DO NOT talk about the lifestyle. Third rule, if
the submissive
safewords
, the scene is over.” I recite to her like the rules of
Fight Club. “
This is the first time I’ve ever signed a contract to give somebody some.”

“Tristan and Nathan are high-profile individuals. It wouldn’t do for, what mainstream America considers, their deviant sex lives to be revealed to the public. It’ll be scandalous enough that the most eligible white bachelors in Chicago will be linked to two black women.”

“Yeah, forget once you go
B
lack, you don’t go back. Once you go
W
hite, it’s outta sight, or some shit,” I say, and we collapse in peals of laughter.

“No, once you go
W
hite, it’s dy-no-mite!” Jada enunciates like Jimmy “JJ” Walker from Good Times. “Even better,
Fifty Shades of Black and White.
”

“More like
Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever
,” I say when I catch my breath. “You ever see that Wesley Snipes movie?”

“No, you’re the movie buff. I’m sure it was a stellar work of celluloid goodness.” She pauses, then continues in a serious tone. “Look, Keisha. I know your background. Tristan doesn’t. If it ever gets to be too much for you, remember you can always safeword.”

This is why I love Jada so fucking much. She knows me better than anyone and has all the details about my deceased, abusive, alcoholic father.

I smile through tears I do everything in my power to prevent falling. “Thanks, bestie.”

She links her arm through mine and leads me to a seat. “Now, tell me, have you read Tristan’s submissive contract?”

“Yes, several times yesterday. After Church. I thought I was gonna have to go back, and seek some spiritual cleansing, an exorcism or something afterwards,” I say. “Talk about some freaky shit.”

She looks stung.

“Joking. I’m really looking forward to him doing some of that stuff to me, believe it or not.”

Jada sighs in what I assume is relief. “What are your hard limits?”

“I’m glad Tristan didn’t have any of that nasty shit I read about on the internet on his hard limits list. I wouldn’t let anybody piss or shit on me. That is fucking gross. None of that choking shit either.” I tick off the short list on my fingers. “Basically, I will
not
swallow
, and I might consider a pearl necklace if he lets me clean myself up afterwards
.
But
, I don’t think I’m going to be able to allow him to whip me with stuff.”

“Some people have weird fetishes. But, some of the floggers don’t even hurt, Keisha. Really.” She looks sincere, but then again, she hadn’t been beaten by her father for years, either. “There are crops he can use that will give you only pleasure, not pain.”

“What you talking about, Jada!” I say it like I’m little Gary Coleman, addressing Willis.

“All I’m saying is, just don’t rule out all the crops and floggers, because then, what’s the point in embarking on this relationship for you or him? But if I may give you a piece of advice?”

“What’s that?”

“Tell him about your past.” I’m shaking my head, but she keeps talking. “As your Dom he’s interested in everything concerning you. He will take care of you, and he won’t allow any emotional or physical harm to come to you in your role-plays.”

I stand up, and don’t realize until I look at my hands that I’ve left marks, I’m clenching my fists so hard.

“Now that’s the biggest hard limit for me,” I say. “I’m not telling Tristan about that. I will not have him feeling sorry for me.”

With a stubbornness I get from my Mama, I dig my figurative heels in, and Jada knows me well enough to let it go.

“Then, always remember your safewords. He will stop if you use them, if he’s a good Dom.”

“I think he is,” I say. All I have to go on is what he’s told me, and how he’s made me feel. Somehow, I get that he intends to do right by me. “Okay, enough heavy stuff. Are you seeing Nate again?”

Her face lights up. “Yes! Oh my god, Keisha, he’s everything I dreamed he would be, and more.” Where had I heard those words before? Oh, from me, about Tristan and his sexual prowess. I get moist just thinking about him.

“Keisha?” Jada snaps her finger in front of my face. I must’ve zoned out.

“Sorry. Oh, by the way, I thought you hadn’t met Nate before?”

“Well, I couldn’t tell you, ‘Oh yeah Keisha, I saw Nate White quite a few times last year at some BDSM parties.’ He was there, but I never got to meet him personally. He was with that supermodel, Lavender, then.”

“She’s in the lifestyle?”

“Oh, yeah.” Jada goes to the coffeepot and pours us both a cup. “And she was insanely jealous. I saw her kick some other chick’s ass one night who just looked at him a little too long.”

My eyes stretch. She reassures me. “Oh, that doesn’t usually happen at these events. That girl who got the beat-down was new and didn’t realize you shouldn’t be eyeballing other subs’, Doms.”

“Oh.”
Now
I’m at a loss for words with Jada.

“They’re having a Munch soon,” she says. “I think Nate’s going to see if Tristan wants to go. If so, he’ll bring you.”

“What’s a Munch?”

“It’s a gathering, usually at a restaurant somewhere, where we eat good food, and get to know other people in the lifestyle. And Nate’s going to get us tickets to the games for his upcoming season.”

I frown still thinking about this Munch thing. “I don’t know if I’ll be ready. I have so much to learn.”

Jada smiles. “You just stick with me, girlfriend. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

I was beginning to feel better about this kinky shit, more and more.

#

Jada is true to her word, she teaches me everything she knows about submissive postures, role-plays, language I might hear from my Dom, and ways to keep myself out of trouble. She even shows me her secret stash of sex toys, salves, and creams she uses to prevent scarring.

“I thought it didn’t hurt,” I say. “Why do you need this stuff?”

“As Tristan eases you into the lifestyle he’s going to use a soft touch. But just because you’re olive-skinned, doesn’t mean you won’t bruise, or that some implement he uses won’t break the skin. He’ll most likely have all this stuff, but you need your own supply to use when you’re not with him.”

I pick up a pair of crotchless panties. “You have some of the kinkiest lingerie.”

She grins. “The kinkier, the better, I say.”

“You sound like someone else I know.”

“You’re preaching to the Choir. I just had a long night with his twin. What are the odds they’d both be into BDSM?”

“Nate didn’t tell you how they got into it?”

“Girl, we didn’t do that much talking. After he remembered where we’d met, and told me he’d gone the majority of last season without a submissive, he asked if I were up for the challenge. I think our interview was quite possibly the most erotic conversation I’ve ever had. Then the role-play, and the sex.” She fanned herself. “It won’t be long before we’ll be able to practice total power exchange twenty-four seven.”

“What is total power exchange? Tristan said something about that Saturday.”

“It’s a mindset where you become hyperaware of your dominant and he has complete authority and influence over your life, making the majority of decisions. Some couples do 24/7, which means that protocol in the D/s relationship is in play anytime, anyplace and the dominant partner gets complete power at all times. It’s euphoric, it’s pleasure being reciprocated in your every word, deed, gesture. You’re firing on all cylinders. It’s hard to explain, but you’ll know it when it happens.”

“How?”

“Take a cue from your Dom. He’ll be exceedingly pleased with you, and he’ll make you feel like you’re in heaven.”

#

Jada and I ride to Tristan’s building together in his limo for the signing of the contract between White Enterprises and Kente Studio Records. I hesitate to tell her I won’t be riding back with her, but I needn’t have worried.

“Who says I’m going back home?” She smirks. “Nate’s picking me up after and we’re going to his place to—”

“I hope you guys have a nice dinner,” I cut her off, then nod toward Moses.

She laughs. “I’d bet our first month of profit, he’s under an NDA, too.”

“You would be right, Ma’am,” Moses pipes up. He smiles at us through the rear-view mirror, and we relax.

“Anywho,” Jada says. “I probably won’t be back until Thursday night.”

“Same here. Good luck!”

Our process through reception is smooth, and we’re walking off the elevator on the penthouse floor in less than five minutes. Darryl ushers us personally into Tristan’s office, where Nate is sprawled on the sofa, and Tristan’s at his desk. They stand as we enter the room. The guys are cordial, until Darryl leaves the room, then the familiarity ensues.

Nate picks Jada up and swings her around, and Tristan swoops in for a kiss. I eagerly return it, and we part.

“Darryl will be back,” Tristan says to Nate and Jada, “so be cool.”

Their lips release with a loud smack as they part. I giggle.
What were the odds that
Jada and I would be dating brothers
?
Then I remember, Tristan and I aren’t dating. We have an
arrangement
. I’ll need to talk to Jada about that. She and Nate already look like a real couple, so at ease around each other. Tristan can be kind of stilted.

When I look up at him again, he’s smiling. “What?”

“I want to hear more laughter from you in general, but also in my role-play room.”

“Then I suppose that would be up to you, Mr. White.”

“Is that so?” He challenges.

“Yes. As I told you once, you need to take a chill pill.”

“Oh, that.” He leans in to whisper. “Keep giving it to me like you did the other night, and I’ll take all the chill pills you want me to take, baby.”

I try to control it, but my mouth turns up in a smile. Tristan moves us to the small table in his office that seats six, where he and Nate hold chairs for Jada and me. Darryl returns with a homely looking fellow with advanced stage, male-pattern baldness going on. Tristan introduces him as, Gibson, one of his corporate lawyers. I’m not sure if that’s a first or last name.

As expected, Jada challenges Tristan about the necessity for finding another location.

“We really hoped our business would be instrumental in the revitalization of the neighborhood,” she says. “A lot of young people in and around the Gage Park area are extremely talented, but the south side is all they’ve ever known. If we move the business further north to attract a wealthier clientele, my concern is that those kids will be lost to us.”