Killing Them Softly (4 page)

I watched her while she danced. She had the prettiest smile and eyes that drew me to her like a bee to honey. When she left the dance floor, I quickly thanked the woman I was dancing with, and went after Avonte. I had never cheated on Taye. The idea never even crossed my mind. Aside from the fact that we hadn’t been having sex on a regular basis, I really loved my wife—even though, lately, she’d been making my life a living hell. All that changed the moment I saw Avonte walk through that lobby. Since that moment, I hadn’t been able to think of anything else.

She went to the bar and I walked up behind her. "Hello again, Avonte."

She turned around quickly when she heard my voice. "Well, hello, Devin."

"You look like you’re enjoying yourself."

"I am. Having a ball," Avonte said, and turned to the bartender. "Kettle One and orange juice." She turned to me. "What are you drinking?"

"Barcardi 151," I told her over the music, leaning close.

When she handed me my drink, I moved closer to her, and once again, I felt the heat of her body. And once again, it caused the same effect.

"Come dance with me," Avonte said when a new song began.

I followed Avonte out on the floor, our drinks in hand. We finished our drinks on the dance floor, discarded our empty glasses on the nearest table, and kept dancing. We stayed out there for a long time. Avonte was quite the salsa dancer. We were smiling and laughing and having a good time. By the time we left the floor, we were both drenched.

We went back to the bar and I ordered another round of drinks. While we drank, we talked about the time we had just spent on the dance floor. Then I asked the question that I had wanted to ask her since I’d first seen her. "Did you come here by yourself tonight?"

"Yes."

"Where’s your husband?" I asked.

"I was about to ask you the same question." Avonte laughed.

"Yeah, but I asked you first."

"To be honest with you, my husband is in New York."

"Is that where you live?" I asked, hoping she’d say yes.

"Yeah, we live in Glen Cove; out on the island."

"Oh really? I live in New York too."

Avonte smiled like it was the best news she’d heard all day. "Now, stop avoiding the question. Where’s your wife?"

"She’s in the room sleeping. I tried to wake her to see if she wanted to come, but I couldn’t wake her."

"You must not have tried too hard."

"It’s a long story."

"Have the two of you been having fun together?"

"No," I said flatly. "We’re taking separate vacations, or at least that’s how it seems. At this point, I’ve spent more time with you than I have with her."

By this time, Avonte was laughing. "I’m sorry to hear that, Devin. I’d ask you why that is, but I’m guessing that’s a long story too."

"And you’d be right."

"Sorry, Devin, got no time for long, sad stories. Got one of my own I’m trying to work my way through."

"Maybe someday I’ll tell you mine, and you can tell me yours."

"Pity party for two, huh? But that assumes that we’ll get to know each other, and be comfortable enough to do that. I’m sure your wife won’t like that."

I started to say that at this time of night, my wife doesn’t even know I exist. "True, and I don’t think your husband will be too happy with your new friend either."

Avonte looked away but then she turned back quickly. "Come on. Let’s dance."

We spent the rest of the night dancing, drinking, and talking about any– and everything. When Rumba closed at four in the morning, we caught a cab back to the hotel. I walked proudly through the lobby, with Avonte on my arm like she was my wife. When we got to the elevator, Avonte turned and faced me. "I guess this is where we say good night."

"I was hoping you’d let me escort you to your room."

"I don’t think that would be a good idea," Avonte said, and pressed the button for the elevator.

"Well, I guess this is good night then. I had a great time with you, Avonte. Best time I’ve had in a very long while."

"I was about to say the same thing. Thank you for showing a lady a good time."

Well, why does it have to end? I could come up to the room with you and knock your back out.
That’s what I wanted to say to her. "It was my pleasure." I held out my hand as the elevator door opened. "Good night, Avonte."

She took a step forward and kissed me on the cheek. "Good night, Devin." Avonte got on the elevator. "Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow," she said as the door began to close.

"I don’t think you’ll be able to keep me away from you."

I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. I had to get away from Devin before I changed my mind, dragged him to my room, ripped off his clothes, and rode him like a horse at the Kentucky Derby. It had been a very long time since I’d had something thick and stiff inside me. Since Tyrone started fucking his new blonde bitch, which I assumed began when they started working on the acquisition, I hadn’t had any. Unless masturbation was considered getting some, it had been six months. I’m guessing the word
overdue
would have been an understatement at that point.

I had a good time with Devin. He was fun to be with, and a good dancer. While we were walking through the lobby, I looked at his hands and feet.
Big hands, big feet—big dick;
I know it’s an old wives tale, but in my experience, it’s held true. Devin had big feet—size thirteen or fourteen, if I had to venture a guess. And his hands were big, too. But he’s a big guy—six-two and well-built, so on him, big hands and feet would only be natural.

I sat down on the bed and turned on the television. I had to remind myself that I didn’t come here to get laid. I was here to relax, and to plan the rest of my life. But some serious fucking would have been nice right now. It’s too bad that Devin was here with his wife. If he wasn’t, I would have considered calling his room, and inviting him to come and play with me.

Several times while we were dancing and I turned my back to him, Devin would ease his body against mine. I felt him; felt how hard I was getting him. Nice to know I can still turn a man on. I stood up and got undressed in front of the mirror. "What does Blondie have that I don’t?"

After a quick shower, I slid under the covers. Even though I’d been drinking all day and all night, and had been out dancing, I was too hyped about my night with Devin to go to sleep. I picked up the remote and began flipping channels, thinking that it would help me fall asleep. I turned to HBO and Real Sex was coming on. I liked Real Sex. Let’s just say it’s always very interesting, and leave it that.

With my eyes closed, I lay there listening to the opening music, and then I heard a woman moaning like she was getting the shit fucked out of her. It’s Real Sex, so that didn’t faze me. Then I heard this man say something about the monster, the intruder, and the hammer. But it was when he said that this machine will spin, stroke, and vibrate all at the same time, that I opened my eyes, because I had to see what he was talking about.

I opened my eyes to see this woman lying naked on a bed with her legs in the air. There was this machine in front of her. It had a large wheel with a rod attached to it, and a dildo attached to that. I sat in amazement watching this machine fuck this woman, thinking I have got to get me one of those, and I got turned on. Again. The shower calmed me down a bit, because Devin had me on fire. I thought about how we were dancing, and how he wrapped those strong arms of his around me. I felt good in his arms.

The longer I watched the more turned on I got. I turned off the television and pulled back the covers. I licked my lips and put two fingers in my mouth, and went searching for something to play with. My nipples were hard, so I pinched and squeezed them a little bit. It didn’t take long for my pussy to start throbbing and for my hand to find its way down there. I took my fingers and spread my lips apart, and then I gently massaged my clit. I slid two fingers in and out of my sweet opening, slowly at first, but it never stays that way, and I thought about Devin.

By then, I was so wet that my juices are flowing freely out of me, slowly dripping between my butt checks. My pussy was on fire and my nipples were so damn hard, I had to give them some attention. I eased my wet fingers out and began squeezing my nipples. My nipples were wet with my juices, and I wished I had taken the time to get the bullet out of the bag. But I was too far-gone to even think about stopping to go get it. I stuck my fingers back inside myself and picked up the pace. Soon, my eyes and mouth were wide open, and I was screaming my ass off. If there was a better feeling on earth, I needed to know about it.

It was almost noon the following day when I finally opened my eyes. I slept really well, which didn’t surprise me with the day I’d had, not to mention the way I finished it off.

As I made my way to the shower, I couldn’t help but think about Devin. We had a really good time dancing. More fun than I’d had in a long time. As I enjoyed the sensation of steaming, hot water against my skin, I thought about my life to this point. Sure, I’d traveled to parts of the world that I had always dreamed of. Tyrone’s money allowed me to live a very comfortable life. I didn’t want for anything. But suddenly, it occurred to me that my life was very safe, very structured. That was the way Tyrone wanted it.

It wasn’t always that way. When we were dating in college, spontaneity was his middle name. It wouldn’t be anything for him to say on a cold Friday night in January, "Hey, baby. It’s too cold to spend the weekend here. Let’s fly to Jamaica for the weekend."

But of course that was before his father died, and he took over the business. Everything changed at that point, and it changed him. Tyrone went from the wild and crazy guy I’d fallen in love with, to Mr. Structure, the king of discipline. I decided right then that in this new life that was being thrust upon me, things would be different. From this day forward, I was going to experience everything life had to offer. Take some risks.

"Have some fun!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Once I had my bikini on, and my hair and makeup just right, I went down to post up at the pool to people watch. I know, I know, posting up by the pool for yet another day didn’t seem all that risqué, but you never can tell what might happen.

Just for a change of pace, I decided to have lunch in one the restaurants in the hotel. Even though it was after noon, I still wanted some breakfast food. A lot of people think that it’s taboo to eat breakfast food after noon. My soon-to-be ex-husband was one of them, but I was living on the wild side from here on out, so what the fuck!

A funny thing happened to me while I was eating that afternoon. I realized that I was alone. It scared me at first because I had never been alone. I went from my parent’s house to college, and then to Tyrone. I wondered was I ready for that; ready to make my own choices. In addition to drinking, I thought a lot about where my life had been, and where I wanted it to go.

And that was the problem. All I’ve been for years is Mrs. Petrocelli. Volunteering for this cause or the next, attending this function or that important fundraiser. I’d been to so many of those things I was starting to think my first name was,
and his lovely wife
. Now, that all was behind me. My name is Avonte, and unfortunately, beyond that, I didn’t know very much about who I was.

When I got to the pool, the usual suspects that were there the day before were there again.

"Afternoon, Manuel," I said to my bartender as I sat down.

"How are you today, Miss Avonte," he said, then placed a bar napkin in front of me and handed me a menu.

"I feel great today." It wasn’t too long after, that Manuel had my drink ready, and had sat it on the bar napkin. "I won’t be needing a menu today. I ate in the Ocean Terrace."

When I said that I had eaten inside, the look on his face distorted. Like he was really hurt that I wouldn’t be eating there. He dropped his head and went away without another word.

"Whatever," I said softly. I spun my chair around and looked out at the beach. As it had been the previous two days, the weather was beautiful, and the water was calm.

That’s when I saw him. There was Devin, walking down the beach. And much to my surprise and sheer joy, he was alone. "Charge the drink to my room, Manuel," I said, and got up. "I’m gonna have some fun."

I walked down to the beach and headed for Devin, and I had to hurry just to catch up with him. I started to call his name, but two things stopped me. One, wifey may be around, and two, it would be just too ghetto.

While I followed behind Devin, wondering where he was going, I considered inviting him up to my room to finish the job I had imagined him doing before I drifted off to sleep. But then I thought that I’d like to have some fun today. "What? Fucking ain’t fun?" I asked myself. It is, but I’d been in San Juan for two days, and other than going to Rumba the night before, I hadn’t been anywhere.

Today, I wanted to play tourist. I wasn’t really all that interested in going on any kind of sightseeing tour, but I wanted to see San Juan. Have an island adventure. And Devin’s sexy-ass would make the perfect escort. "Hello, Devin," I said when I got close enough to him.

He turned around quickly and he smiled like seeing me was the best thing that ever happened to him. "Hey, Avonte!" he said, and ran back to me. "How are you doing today?" Devin asked, and devoured me with his eyes. "You look—" he started, but couldn’t finish his sentence. Devin shook his head and finally said, "You are wearin’ the hell outta that bikini."

I laughed a little and said, "Thank you, Devin. You’re looking pretty nice in those trunks." And he was. The trunks were tight on him, and the longer he looked at me, the more the print of his dick became prominent.

"Thank you."

"So, I wasn’t expecting to see you today. I just knew you and wifey had a romantic day planned."

Devin smiled at me, and I got a little wet.

"Yeah, well, to be honest with you, Avonte, I did have a romantic day planned. But when I woke up this morning, Taye was gone, again, and I haven’t seen her all day."

"What’s up with you guys anyway?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you said yesterday that you’ve spent more time with me than you have with her, and here we are again. So what’s the deal?"

Devin took a deep breath, and then he told me his story. He went into this sad story about how they had lost two babies, and the effect that had on his wife and their marriage.

"I can’t even imagine what that must feel like," I said, as we walked along the beach together. I don’t know how far or how long we walked, because I enjoyed the conversation so much. Like everything else in my life, conversation, or more to the point, conversation with a man other than Tyrone, was non-existent. Devin told me what he did for a living and where he worked. I purposely told him very little about myself. I felt like if I started talking about my life, that I would start to cry. "So, Devin, tell me about this romantic day you had planned for wifey?" I asked when we got back to the hotel.

"We’re doing the first part of it. I had planned to take a walk along the beach, some good conversation, maybe play in the water. Then I was thinking about wandering around old San Juan. Maybe even hire a car and go out to the areas that most tourists don’t see."

"You mean the stuff that you don’t get on the packaged sightseeing tour?"

"Exactly." Devin smiled at me, and it had the same effect it had on me the last time. "Then after a fine meal, I wanted to top off the evening with a horse and buggy ride in the moonlight."

"Well, I may not be your wife . . ." I began.

"Taye."

Whatever.
". . . But, I’m not doing anything, and I would hate to see a great plan go to waste."

"You serious?"

"Don’t I look serious?" I stopped and held out my arms for effect. Devin looked me over for a second or two longer than I thought he should.

"Avonte, you’re a very serious woman."

"Give me a few minutes to change, and I’ll meet you in the lobby," I told Devin.

"Sounds good."

After a quick change, I met Devin in the lobby. I looped my arm in my escort’s arm, and we caught a cab to San Juan’s Old City.

Even though I said I didn’t want to, we took the walking tour. We walked behind the crowd. So far behind that we lost them at Fuerte San Felipe del Morro or El Morro Fortress. By the time we came out of the Cathedral de San Juan, we had lost the tour entirely. "I really did want to go to La Muralla."

"What’s that?" Devin asked in a tone that let me know that he was less than enthusiastic about doing more sightseeing.

"La Muralla is the City Wall," I said all bright and bubbly. "It’s a city by the bay that they built a wall around."

"Okay, let’s go," Devin said, and checked his watch. We got directions and found our way along the curve of the bay that led to La Muralla. It was completed in 1782 to protect the city against enemy attacks.

At that point, I had done enough walking for one vacation, so we went for drinks at a little place called La Bombonera. Devin and I talked for hours while we drank and dined on rice with squid, roast leg of pork, seafood asopao, and pineapple pie for dessert.

The sun was going down when we left La Bombonera. Devin, as he’d done throughout the day, checked his watch. "Do you have to go?" I asked, hoping he’d say no, and wondering how far I was willing to take this with a married man.

I could tell by the way he talked about her that he still loved her. But she seemed to be pushing him away, driving a wedge between them. Along with his love I could feel his anger at her; anger for something that wasn’t her fault. His wife made him feel unwanted. I knew what that felt like. I felt pretty unwanted, too. Maybe that’s why I could feel his pain. It made me want him.

"Even if I did, I don’t want to," Devin said.

"So, what should we do now?"

"How adventurous are you feeling, Avonte?"

"I’m ready for whatever—within reason, of course."

"Of course."

"So, what do you have in mind?"

"Come on," Devin said, and took me by the hand. We got in the first cab we could find. "Coliseo Gallistico," he said to the driver.

The driver let out a sneaky kind of laugh and drove on. "Where are we going, Coliseo—where?"

"What happened to your sense of adventure?"

"Okay, this is where the within reason part kicks in. See, I’m probably gonna be down for whatever we’re going to do, but the common sense part of me, go figure, says you’re in a foreign country with two men that you don’t know very well. Maybe I should at least know where I’m going," I said sort of jokingly, but I was serious.