Lickin' License Read online

  “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Johnson.” He shook Candy's hand. “I look forward to helping Nature's Beauty become a profitable company.”

  Candy thanked him and left his office with a smile on her face. She was pleased about the thought of owning a second business. Besides her pockets becoming fatter, ownership had its psychological benefits. It was an ego booster for her. During her younger years, she had depended on the profits of the drug trade in Harlem to trickle down to her through the hands of hustlers she dated. But after Dez was killed and Candy gave up on men, she became obsessed with having control of her life and her finances. Opening the shop was the result of that obsession. Being a boss and having financial freedom became her drug of choice.

  RICH

  Rich smiled as Candy entered the elevator. “Well, well, well. How sweet you look in that business suit,” he said, standing with his briefcase. He inhaled her Donna Karan perfume that followed her into the elevator. “It's a rare occasion I get to see you in a suit.”

  “Speaking of rare occasions, I wouldn't expect to see a drug dealer in the Small Business Administration.” She turned her back to him and pressed the button for the first floor.

  “Still underestimating me,” Rich said, his eyes shifting down to her butt.

  “Still? What's that supposed to mean?”

  “Means I defied the odds.”

  “Odds?”

  “Yeah, Rich versus Candy, Chanel, Meisha and Leah. The deck was stacked and y'all tried to deal me five funnies.”

  “You should've been a prophet, because you love speaking in parables.”

  “Let me be clear. Y'all was shittin’ on my name so much in that shop that I can smell it every time I walk in.”

  “You know the world doesn't revolve around you, Rich.” She turned and faced him. “There's enough things to gossip about in the shop other than you.” She turned back around.

  “Hard to tell from all the stuff you told Vanessa about me being a dog.” He laughed. “Well, the dog got his bone.”

  “I could care less where you put your dick.”

  “I don't believe you.” Rich stepped forward, pressing his dick against her butt. He immediately became erect. He planted his lips on her neck, causing her back to arch forward as she gasped.

  “Get the hell off of me!” She moved away and turned around. Her eyes zeroed in on the huge bulge in Rich's pants. Then she looked into his eyes. “You playing yourself!”

  “It took five seconds of this dick on your ass and my tongue on your neck for you to figure that out? A delayed response says a lot.” Rich grinned.

  “Vanessa gon' find out a whole lot quicker.”

  “Vanessa so hypnotized by this dick that she wake up with it in her mouth and go to sleep with it in her hand. She ain't gonna let this thing go if you beat her with a bat.”

  Candy's eyes shifted back to Rich's erection.

  “My grandmother used to tell me the eyes don't lie,” Rich said with a smirk.

  Candy looked up as the elevator door opened. She stepped out and turned back to Rich. “Fuck you.”

  “That's exactly what you wanna do and you know it.” He stepped out the elevator, following behind Candy. He wondered if she was switching her hips for his visual enjoyment, because she had some extra swagger in her step. Staring at her butt, he thought of how soft it felt against him. The scent of her lingered in his nostrils. He could still taste her skin on the tip of his tongue. He had been thinking about sexing Candy for a while. But his mind had begun wandering more after his sexual catastrophe with Linda. His mental vision of Linda's worn out womb and the gang of men that he assumed caused it made him see Candy in a different light. She was the exact opposite—a woman who had not been with a man in years. Rich wanted to feel the tightness he knew he could only find between Candy's legs. He knew there was the potential she had been using dildos. But there was no tool that could compare to the natural stroking and weight of a man's body. With all these thoughts of Candy, Rich still had no plan for approaching her. It was simply the solitude of the small elevator, her sex appeal, erotic aroma and slick mouth that nurtured the sexual tension that pushed Rich to act.

  Rich made his way to his Porsche Carrera after Candy pulled off in her car. He needed to relieve himself after being riled up by his move on her. He pulled out his Sidekick and texted Vanessa. She sent him a message that she was at Mimi's house and would see him later that night. She mentioned having some good news. Rich then texted Jasmine, one of the top hotties he kept in rotation. She texted him back, telling him that she was in her pool waiting for him.

  Rich put the Porsche in drive. He stopped by his penthouse and dropped off his briefcase. In it was some information he had gotten from a friend in the Small Business Administration before he ran into Candy. There were a few hundred pages about a technology company he was considering investing in.

  Rich left his home and jumped back in the Porsche. He drove Uptown, through the Bronx and into Westchester County. He soon found himself parked in front of a white villa on a quiet tree-lined street in New Rochelle. He got out of the Porsche and walked up the cobblestone path through the lawn. He stepped on the porch, flipped through his keys and opened the front door. Walking through the large living room, Rich began unloosening his tie. He went to a bedroom, and peeped out the window.

  “She a bad motherfucker,” he spoke under his breath.

  Jasmine was sporting a pair of Gucci shades, lying on a beach chair. She was reading a King magazine with a picture of her gracing the cover. The young video vixen had the face of Meagan Good and the body of Beyoncé. But she stayed in more drama than Wendy Williams. Rich had met her at a strip club that she used to work at, before shaking her body in hip hop videos became more profitable than spinning on poles in the nude.

  Rich began undressing, carefully laying his clothes on Jasmine's bed. He grabbed a pair of his Calvin Klein trunks from the closet, slipped them on and headed outside. His bare feet trailed the wet tiles on the sun baked patio. He leaned down and planted a kiss on Jasmine's lips, then laid on the lounge chair beside her. “How many times you gonna look at that magazine?” he asked.

  “How ever many times it take for me to understand why these rappers' wives is beefing on my blog every fuckin' day about my interview.”

  “It could be them tig old bitties,” Rich said, palming one of her large silicone-filled breasts.” He laughed.

  “Stop,” she swatted his hand. “Broads just hatin'. That's what the fuck it is!”

  “That's the logical outcome of admitting in the pages of a national magazine that you had a married rapper’s face between your legs.”

  “A million motherfuckers is calling theyself MC-this and MC-that. I fuck one motherfuckin' rapper and I'm a ho. Broads all scared of me and shit.”

  “Them pictures of you posing damn near naked in front of this house he paid for on that Mercedes old boy gave you can easily make freaks nervous.”

  “Fuck 'em all.” Jasmine dropped the magazine and her shades on a small table and stood up. She walked to the edge of the pool, her butt cheeks jiggling with each step. She slowly eased out of her bathing suit, then turned to Rich. “Come and get me.” She dove into the water.

  “This freak got me chasing the pussy, literally,” he mumbled. “Watch when I catch her ass.”

  He quickly peeled out of his trunks as he stood up. His dick rose while he was staring at Jasmine's breasts. She was leaning in the corner furthest from him in the pool. Even with 15 yards separating them, he could see the sun glistening off her wet body.

  Rich dove into the pool and swam toward her. As he closed in on her, she took off.

  He swam after her.

  She circled past him with a smile.

  Rich pursued her, but she went under water and slipped past him again, popping up in another corner. This fucking freak got me going in circles.

  “Guess I'll just let you get it,” she said, climbing up on the edge of the pool. She s
pread her legs wide, her feet dangling beneath the cold water.

  Rich focused on her thick thighs. He saw the thin layer of hair covering her pussy glowing with droplets of water as he got closer to her. She laid back. Rich stood on the steps that lined the entire wall at the bottom of the pool. He grabbed her thighs and planted his face between them.

  Jasmine let out a moan and her body jerked.

  Rich slithered his tongue around her clit, then inside of her. Her legs wrapped around his neck as his tongue overpowered her. Her body began to quake. Next came the flow of her juices into his mouth, then her legs fell from his neck back into the water. Rich looked up, gazing at her flawless frame. He was laughing inside. He always found it comical how easy it was for him to subdue Jasmine's 32-22-38 physique with a few swipes of his tongue. He had never met a woman he could make cum so quickly.

  “You the motherfuckin' man, Rich,” she whispered as she leaned up on her elbows. She inched forward and wrapped her arms around Rich's neck, while slipping into the pool.

  Rich eased inside of her. He grabbed both butt cheeks as her legs wrapped around his waist. Then he suddenly pinned her to the wall and began pumping. Water splashed violently with each of his strokes. He winced when her long fingernails dug into his back.

  “You the motherfuckin' man,” she yelled.

  Rich rammed harder. He was about to cum. Her legs clenched him tighter as he released a load. She squeezed her legs tighter around him as his body went limp.

  “Damn,” she moaned. “Your shit strong. I can feel your nut up in me.”

  Oh shit, Rich thought. As they parted, he grabbed his dick. What the fuck! Until then, he had not had sex without a condom in over a year. The last time he did he had to coax an old flame into having an abortion. Children meant commitment, potential baby mamma drama and child support cases—all things Rich hated more than cops and snitches.

  “You hungry?” Jasmine asked. “I'm about to make me something to eat. You sucked all the damn energy out me, so I need to re-up.”

  “I gotta go.”

  “Motherfucker, you just got here!”

  Rich's mind was so focused on a possible pregnancy that Jasmine's tone of voice didn't upset him. He climbed out of the pool and walked off.

  “So you just bust a nut and break out? I ain't one of them hoodrats from Harlem, Rich!”

  “I gotta take care of something,” Rich responded. He had been seeing Jasmine for almost a year. Her home was his second residence and her cooking was something he craved each time he was there. He spent the night in her villa at least twice a week. He had his own key, a closet full of clothes, plus a towel, rag and toothbrush in her bathroom. He had practically moved in. But it was the first time he was leaving after staying less than a few hours.

  Rich sped up his pace, entering the villa. He made his way to the bedroom, where he had undressed and put on some fresh clothes. He had just finished lacing his brown Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, when Jasmine burst through the door like a stickup kid in a drug spot.

  “This is some real bullshit.” She pointed at him. She flailed her arms aimlessly as she barked about Rich treating her like a ho. Her eyes were bulging and her head was bouncing like a bobble head doll. She was naked, still dripping water from the pool.

  Rich jumped up. “Look, baby. I ain't walking out your life, I'm just walking out the door. Good thing about a door is you can go in and out of it, so I'll be back.”

  “Nah, fuck that!” She jumped in front of the door and folded her arms. She twisted her head back and forth. “You ain't walkin' out this motherfuckin' door.”

  Rich stepped toward her. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Why you playing, girl? Games is for kids and athletes. And neither one of us play with toys or balls, so let's stop the bullshit.”

  Jasmine gritted her teeth and slapped Rich's arms, knocking his hand off her. Before his hand fell to his side, his other hand had instinctively slapped her. Jasmine flew into a nearby dresser. She scrambled to her feet, knocking her jewelry box and bottles of perfume off the dresser to the carpeted floor.

  Oh shit. What the fuck did I just do? Rich's heart sunk into his chest. He wanted to apologize, but that would do little to change what he had unintentionally done.

  Tears trickled down Jasmine's face. She stood up, silently. Her mouth was open, her upper lip bleeding. Like a frightened animal, she slowly backed into a corner away from Rich. She was curled into the fetal position.

  Rich walked out of her room and her house. As he drove home, he regretted that he lost control. He was a womanizer, but not a woman beater. He had trained himself to control women with a slick tongue and stiff dick. His violent outburst was a sign that he had lost all control. Just like him chasing after Jasmine and sexing her without a condom. Just like him making a move on Candy. Rich was realizing that his lust for multiple women was creating problems for him. His life was slowly becoming unmanageable. He knew that he would have to get to the root of the problem to prevent any future drama.

  VANESSA

  Later that evening, Vanessa answered her doorbell. She greeted Rich with a kiss and let him into her living room. Sandalwood incense burned and Anthony Hamilton's vocals provided a backdrop inside Vanessa's cozy home. She sat beside Rich on the plush couch. “Remember when I texted you back earlier and told you I had some good news?” She smiled as Rich nodded. “Well, I got a book deal.”

  Rich kissed Vanessa and hugged her. “Damn, you doing your thing.”

  Vanessa had already explained that an agent had taken an interest in her book proposal—a few chapters, synopsis and outline. He had shopped it to a publishing company. She had learned today, that the company was interested. The contract offered to Vanessa required her to complete the manuscript within a year. It was ample time, considering that she was halfway done, but needed time to complete her college assignments and work at the shop.

  “I'm proud of you,” Rich said.

  Vanessa sensed some discomfort as she looked into Rich's eyes. She began rubbing his neck. “What's wrong, baby? Something's bothering you. I can see it in your eyes.”

  “I'm good. Cooler than a fan.”

  “Damn it, Rich.” She shook her head. “Please, don't lie to me.”

  Rich sighed. “I'm good.”

  “You're talking to me, Rich. I know you. When I walk into the shop, I can smell your cologne before I see you. I can tell your walk from almost a block away. I know everything that you hate about politics and love about investing. I know you sleep with your mouth slightly open, because some nights I've sat up and just watched you rest so peacefully. I know when you're about to cum just by looking into your eyes while we're making love.”

  “Love?” Rich's eyebrows rose as his eyes widened.

  Vanessa stood and began pacing. The word love was not supposed to come out of her mouth. She leaned against the wall next to the window. Her heart rate was accelerating, while Rich stood and walked toward her. She took his hands into hers, staring into his eyes. “What are we doing?”

  Damn near all day, I've been asking myself the same damn thing. Rich thought to himself.

  We've got this open relationship going. I don't question you. Sex with you is unbelievable. But it's become more for me,” Vanessa said. “Lately, you've been having sex with me, while I'm making love to you.”

  “That's deep.”

  “It's the truth. Sure, there is the physical aspect of what we share, but it's about the spiritual reality that spawns from the physical act. When you're inside of me, I feel like our bodies are one. Literally. I've never felt that way before. And when we're not having sex, but we're together, like now, I can feel your aura. It's kind of creepy, but in a good way, if that makes sense.”

  “I think I understand.”

  “Rich, I've never felt this way about another man. I don't wanna feel this way about another man, because I don't want another man. And you don't need another woman.”

  “You laying it on a brother kind of t
hick, baby.”

  “I need to know where you stand.”

  Rich was silent. He did a poor job of masking the fact that

  something was troubling him.

  “There you go again. Is it me?”

  “What?”

  “Something was on your mind earlier. And something is on your mind now.”

  “It's not you, baby.”

  “Then what is it? You said you've been questioning yourself all day. Talk to me.”

  “I went through a situation today.”

  Vanessa could see an emotional side of Rich emerging that was new to her. A lump rolled down his throat. Nervousness was in his eyes. Those were signs that fell outside of the calm, controlling demeanor she had always saw Rich display. She reached up, delicately placing her palms on his cheeks. “What kind of situation did you have?”

  “A female situation,” he said.

  Vanessa's hands slipped down to his waist. “It's okay. You can tell me.”

  “The details are not important. What matters is I realized I got issues.”

  “What do you mean, baby?”

  “Long story.”

  “We got time.” Vanessa was anxious. Her mind was everywhere, speculating the issues that Rich had to reveal. She had made up her mind that she would not allow anything to push her away from him. He had become a person she needed in her life.

  Rich took a deep breath and frowned.

  “It's okay.” Vanessa rubbed his leg.

  Rich took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. His eyebrows arched and he gritted his teeth. “Listen, baby,” he spoke slowly. “I don't want them freaks down in shop all in my business.”

  “I would never share anything personal about you to them.”

  “Mimi either. Nobody. If you gonna be my woman, I need absolute trust in you that you can hold water.”

  Vanessa nodded. “You can trust me, Rich. I love you.”

  Rich froze. It was as if he was assessing the depth of Vanessa affirming her earlier proclamation of love.