Nine
Ciara’s voice is welcoming and exotic at the same time.
As I lay face-first on the ground, I fold myself over to the pole, doing a handstand against it. My body is parallel to the pole as my legs stretch out. I bend my legs around the pole and push myself up with my arms, as my legs slowly kick in the air.
I grab the pole with one arm and lift myself into the fetal position as “Promise” plays overhead. I spin around the pole, feeling the wispy voice of Ciara against the thumping drum line. I land on my feet and arch my back away from the pole as my eyes are closed and I feel the rhythm and heat of the song.
I wrap my right leg around the pole and use it as an anchor to spin myself around back into another fetal position before I straighten my legs out. I slam my feet onto the ground and lift myself, slowly pop lockin’ to the song’s bass line.
This time, I’m well aware I have an audience, though the lyrics of the song are reading like a dedication to my fiancée. It speaks of our relationship rather perfectly and I wonder if Ian feels the same as he listens to the song.
You can be my teacher, I’ll do homework. And Ian has been my teacher. He’s been my lover, my protector, and my caretaker. He’s honestly rather perfect.
And I have more homework in store for me. Bae recently gifted me a book on how-to BDSM. The acronyms – bondage, Domination/submission, and masochism – is above and beyond what I’ve read in the books and seen in the movies.
In fact, it’s nothing like it at all.
It is more mental than physical. It’s like I have to put my mind through strenuous training and to be honest, I’m not sure if I can handle it. I honestly thought it was just about being tied up, but there’s so much more. Tasks. Assignments. Punishments. Discipline. The whole enchilada.
We’re heading to New York to meet with Nick and Zerrin and I’m both excited and terrified about what will occur in New York. Will I absolutely hate BDSM once I talk to Nick? Will I love it? Only one way to find out.
I climb back onto the pole, reaching the very top before I twist my body so I’m hanging upside down. In what has become my now-signature move, I open my legs into a split along the pole as I spin around. I grab the back of one heel and hold it as leverage while my other leg is the steady anchor for my body.
I grab my legs with both hands as they’re stretched out as I slowly spin around the pole. This movement demonstrates how flexible I am, but also is great on my core, as my stomach is the only thing holding me against the pole. I grab onto the pole with my arms and slowly swing my legs around before I invert my body again, hanging upside down while doing an open split.
I ease my body down the pole until my head is almost touching the ground. This is a dangerous move and I’m not proud I’ve bumped my head more times I wanted to admit but it’s one that requires super concentration and a steady grip.
I close my legs and flip myself over to the fetal position. I use this position as a temporary breather before I go into my next dance.
I slither across the floor, rocking my hips with each movement until I stand up. I drag one leg behind the other until reach the pole again, becoming one with it. I wrap my legs around the pole and re-enter the same fetal position I started with.
I come down from the pole and stand. I’m breathing hard and sweat covers my body. “So,” I manage to catch a single breath, “what do you think?”
“I think you just made me gay!” Emma stands up and claps as others follow. “Domi, that’s so incredible! Is that what you’re going to enter for the competition?”
It was Emma’s idea to have me start entering pole dancing competitions as a way to promote the studio but to also silence the detractors and letting them know I’m not some lucky girl who just happens to be with a Ferguson. I had legit talent before Ian and I intend to prove it. “I think so,” I turn to bae, “what do you think, baby?”
“I think it’s excellent,” he brightly smiles at me, “if you don’t win first place, I’m going to have a talk with the judges.”
“Well, don’t do that,” I chuckle, though I think Ian was dead serious. “If I don’t win, I’ll try harder next year.”
“And that’s what I really want to hear.” He winks at me and I feel all sorts of emotions running through me. He glances down at his Philip Patek watch and sighs. “Unfortunately, I need to leave. I have a meeting with staff I’m already running late for so I can’t stay.” He pulls me in for a hug and sweeps his lips across mine, capturing me into a soul-stirring kiss and my knees become weak. I don’t think they’ll ever stop doing that. “I’ll be home later tonight.” He leans in. “I have some reading material for you later.” He pulls back and winks at me again. “Love you, angel.”
“Love you more.” I lightly press a hand against my lips as I still feel the lingering effects of his kiss. My mind immediately goes to the reading material he has in store for me. BDSM? But I can’t think about that now. I have a class to teach in a few minutes and the last thing my students need is a teacher who can’t control her emotions.
Ian almost bumps into Lowell on the way out and she moves out of the way for him. Her eyes follow him as he makes his way out to the parking lot and the bitch makes sure to say bye to him. Yes, I already know a woman who has eyes for my man.
Lowell turns to me and I think she legit forgot I was her boss for a moment. “Oh, hey Dominique.”
“Hello, Lowell,” I simply blink at her.
Whatever I saw, so did Emma. “Watch out for that one,” she quietly warns.
“Oh, I’m on her like a newborn on a titty.” I politely wave to Lowell and she waves back. Le sigh. I hate it when bitches are so obvious they want my man. Bitch, get your own!
“Anyway,” Emma turns to me, “over dinner, let’s the discuss the hair and body care line. I have some great ideas I want to explore with you.”
Since the release of Dolce’s “Muse” video, people have wondered how I kept my melanin so soft and supple. I use my own concoction of almond, jojoba, and avocado oil, sweetened with jasmine and vanilla. It was Emma’s idea for me to start selling it and I think she’s onto something.
“Sounds good,” I reply, “wanna go to Sentiment? I think Ian’s at 3121 tonight.”
“Sure, let’s do that. I’ll take an Uber there since Gerald is watching the kids tonight.” She whispers in my ear. “I plan to get fucked up!” She walks away.
I shake my head as I watch my class stretch and get ready for today’s lesson. I don’t know what I would do without Emma.
~~~~~~
“So, I worked up a business plan,” Emma hands over a thick binder of paperwork, “this is just a rough outline of what you’ve talked about. I also took the liberty of expanding a lot of the points you touched on.”
My eyes widen as I was in the middle of swallowing sweetbread. “I’m sorry?”
Emma shrugs and looks almost embarrassed. “I was a business major at UCLA.”
“Ah,” I wipe my mouth and open the folder, “that explains it.” I briefly glance through the documents and Emma really did her homework. She outlined the SWOT and everything. Damn, girl. Maybe she’s worth the thirteen percent she’s currently getting.
“The goal is to make your line global. I know you’re catering to a black audience but I want you worldwide, Domi. There’s no reason why Becky in Ohio can’t also use the same line as Keisha in Watts.” I shoot her a look regarding the blatant stereotyping of ethnic names. “Oh, come on! How many Beckys do you know in Watts?”
She has a point. “When should we have this line debut? I still have to look over this.”
“It’s November now so I’m hoping sometime next year. It would be perfect and we can sell some at the studio.” She replies after a sip of wine, “we need to do a test run locally before we move onto other markets. I think it’ll be a hit.”
“I hope so. Here’s hoping.” I set aside the folder. “What else do I need to do?”
“Well, there is something I do want to talk to you about. It’s rather personal.” Emma looks around to see if we have the ultimate privacy. I hope she’s not about to spill any more Ferguson tea because I don’t think my body can withstand it. “First things first, Lula Jean’s birthday is approaching.” She takes a small breath. “Just to warn you, Ian might get into a funky mood.”
Somehow, I don’t think she’s referring to Parliament Funkadelic. “Funky as in?”
“Really moody and maybe emotional.” The last word is a surprise to me. Ian isn’t the type to get emotional so I wonder what that really looks like. I’ve seen him angry, annoyed, and even humorous.
I’ve never seen him emotional and for some reason, that scares me.
“He took Lula Jean’s death particularly hard because she was out to shop for his engagement party when she was killed. He has carried a strong burden of guilt for the past several years. I don’t think he’s ever properly mourned his mother.”
I’ve never spent Christmas with Ian so this is news to me. I can recall him becoming maybe a little quiet and withdrawn and I already knew the connection to his mother’s birthday. I didn’t think about his mother’s death date just a few days later would also make the entire month a disaster for him.
“I’ll handle it as well as I can,” I promise absolutely nothing but everything, “any advice on what I should expect?”
“Well,” Emma takes another sip of wine, “He tends to close up during the month of December and only lets everyone back in around January.” She glances over to me.
This is going to be a test in our relationship. I only wonder if Ian’s going to turn into a pumpkin on December first and return back to Prince Charming on January first.
Oh dear.
“What does that mean exactly?”
“That means hey Ian, how are you?” She greets him as he approaches our table.
I turn around in surprise. Impeccably dressed in a dark navy suit with a white open collar, I feel my breath stolen and all he did was approach our table. I get a whiff of his citrusy cologne and suddenly I feel the urge to drop down on my knees and give him the ‘Domi Suck You Long Time’ special.
When am I not horny?
“I’m doing much better now that I’ve seen the most beautiful women in the restaurant here,” he smiles at us. He leans down and kisses me, gently sucking on my bottom lip. His beard brushes against my ear and I inwardly shudder.
“Later, I’m going to tie you up and taste your cunt.” He promises before he stands up and addresses me and Emma like he didn’t just make me aroused to the point of no return and didn’t even blink twice.
I turn to him and feel his relaxed body become slightly tense, his blue eyes turn cobalt, and his nostrils slightly flared. Suddenly, it felt the room had come to a standstill and it was just the two of us in the room, in the restaurant, in the entire universe.
I feel the heat in my belly rise all the way up to my cheeks. Fuck him, fuck him, god yes, I want to fuck him.
While I’m salivating in my seat like a dog in Palm Springs heat, Ian and Emma are having a casual conversation. What? I know my man didn’t just turn me all the way the fuck on, just to leave me hanging while he’s entertaining his sister-in-law?
Ooh, I love and hate his smug ass.
“Enjoy your dinner, ladies. If you need anything, please have someone come get me personally.” He left.
Emma watches Ian leave before she addresses me again. “You need to be patient with Ian. I don’t know how he acts for sure but it might get ugly. But whatever happens, don’t take it personal. He never thought he would be in a position where he would be in a relationship and he’d deal with his mother’s death.”
I’m trying to calm down my arousal while Emma is talking serious business with me. I shake my head to relieve the thoughts. “He’s avoided relationships because of that?”
“Pretty much. He’s a bit of a loner but he does love you and wants you to be a part of his world. But if he acts funky for the entire month of December, remember he’s a pretty good guy the other eleven months.”
Seems fair enough. I only hope I can handle it. “I’ll remember.”