Porn Again, A Novel-Part Eleven

CONTINUED FROM PART TEN...

“Wow, thanks for not sparing me any sordid details,” Chas said as he put the phone down.

“Honey, who was that?” Pamela asked.

“Our wayward son.”

“Oh for Heaven’s sake. What did Lucky do this time?”

“Not that one. The dipshit, broken-hearted one.”

“Happy? Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I guess. Only he won’t tell me about his new job other than it’s in ‘electronics’. Speaking of which, what is that?”

Chas pulled from his wife’s hand a large massager that he hadn’t seen before.

“Hitachi Magic Wand. What in the world is this for?”

“Oh you know me, Chas it’s my darn back again. I did some stretching the other day and I think I went a little too far. Can you rub it for me?”

Chas relented, still growing suspicious over everything. “I just don’t understand why he couldn’t give me a few more details. We haven’t seen him since all the drama with Candace and now with Lucky around-“

“Oh honey, give it a rest. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe Happy’s not the only one suffering from all of this? There’s another party involved here you know?”

“Oh right,” he mumbled. “The jezebel.”

Pamela slapped him across the chest. “Don’t talk about her like that. She’s still our daughter-in-law and she needs support, not ridicule.”

“So you condone this sort of thing?”

“Well honey, we’re living in different times now-“

“You think I don’t know that? You’re damn right we’re living in different times now. And it’s all because of that fucker-“

“And don’t start with that again, please? I’ve heard enough of that from you. I’m just saying that maybe there was some underlying reason why Candy felt compelled to do what she did.”

The words surprised him, as he took a moment to study his wife.

“And no honey, I would never cheat on you,” she reassured him. “You’re all the man I need in this life...and the next.”

Chas nodded in approval, looking down at the massager. “Hitachi Magic Wand huh? Interesting.”

“I heard about it from the girls down at the hair salon. This thing does wonders for your back, trust me. Here, turn around, and let me show you.”

Against his suspicions, he relented. She plugged in the device and let it rip. He soon felt a loud, tingling sensation running up and down his spine. Unsettling at first, but he soon grew to enjoy it.

“Hey, this is awesome! I see why you like it so much!”

“And check this out honey,” she said. It even has a second speed.”

He nearly lifted himself out of his shoes as the second, more powerful wave of vibrations surged through his spine.

“Wow! This is unbelievable! You know, I just might have to take this to work with me sometime. My golf swing has been giving me some problems lately and-“

“Umm well,” she muttered. “You can’t!”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Well Chas, my back has been killing me lately and I need all the help I can get.”

“Ok fine, be greedy.”

He headed over to the fridge, noticing a small, tooth-shaped object. Picking it up and toying with it a bit, the thing suddenly came alive in his hands with intense vibration.

“Jesus Christ! What the hell is this?”

Pamela quickly grabbed the item and placed it in her pocket.

“It’s a neck massager babe. I told you I took the stretching a bit too far.”

“Why don’t you just go to the chiropractor like you always do?”

She stumbled for an answer. “Well...it’s the middle of the recession Chas. We should be thinking about saving money here and there. Besides, you were the one who said you didn’t want a man who should be holding a leaf blower putting his hands all over me.”

The old man thought about it for a moment. “Perhaps you’re right. Ok, fine. I still want to know what’s going on with Happy though. There was something in his voice on the phone that didn’t sit too well.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah...almost as if he was nervous like he was trying to hide something.”

“Put it out of your mind dear. You’re probably getting all worked up over nothing.”

Chas cracked open the fridge, catching a glimpse of something odd. “Honey, why do we have so many cucumbers all of a sudden?”

***

Candy stared intently at her cell for what seemed to be forever. It had been some time since her last steamy encounter with Marcus and she was becoming quite addicted. No missed calls. No texts. No voicemails. Nothing. As she sat outside the local café entranced in her little world, she browsed through several photos and videos she’d saved. The photos staring back at her showed a beautiful couple during some very happy times on the beach. Only it wasn’t Happy in the photos. Marcus had wined and dined her, along with awakening something dangerous inside. The video that soon played back for her caused her to sweat a little, along with a subtle perspiration and heat building between her thighs. Surrounded by several other people, none of them could tell she was watching a muted clip of a very provocative sex tape the two had made recently. She loved studying every line of him, looking for new and dangerous ways to please and take things to the next level. As she stroked the curl of her breast, she wondered if he was now thinking about her the same way she’d thought about him.

The clip suddenly ended as a woman passed by with a small child. Gathering herself a bit, she accidentally swiped over to another video. This one was of her and Happy...during happier times nonetheless. The memory should’ve stirred guilt inside. Instead, it only inspired boredom and a subtle repulsion. With her newfound sex life growing out of control, she found herself for the first time suddenly wishing she’d never married him. She felt as if she’d wasted the last few years with someone she could no longer connect with or relate to in the slightest. There was no turning back at this point.

Out of the corner of her eye, her spirits lifted when she saw none other than Marcus jogging down the street. The pinnacle of fitness, every muscle tightened as he moved, with beads of sweat beating from his brow. Candy couldn’t resist the urge to go to him, nearly knocking over her coffee before something else caught her eye. Catching up to him on his run was none other than Stacy. Candy looked on as she kissed him and they disappeared behind a row of parked cars and trucks. The sudden nausea stirring inside grew with anger. That bitch...

***

Huge spotlights pierced the night sky as the big event had finally come. The grand re-opening of Insatiable Desires brought out a flock of customers, locals, and tourists, all packing Bourbon St. Hordes of people browsed through the store as an energetic Jazz band played outside for the mob. The staff dress code, per Happy’s directive, was sophisticated casual for the event. No standard uniforms tonight; it was party time, to which nearly everyone on staff perked up a bit, even Danielle. Overall morale had been raised due to both Happy’s firm but easygoing nature the past few weeks. That along with the fact that the staff got to enjoy free food and drinks at the local strip club down the way for their first employee appreciation event only made the transition go more smoothly. True to his word, Lucky was having the time of his life on the balcony overlooking Bourbon St., playing music for the crowd. Kitty along with a few scantily clad strippers danced alongside him, throwing beads to the crowds below and teasing them with flesh on display. Cameras and cell phones lit up the night with flashes and recorded the action. Leave it to New Orleans to celebrate all year round.

“Hap I’ve gotta hand it to you,” Christopher beamed. “The store looks amazing! Sales for the first few months have been steadily impressive and I’ve never seen the staff getting along so well.”

“Almost wondered where the time went huh?” Happy replied.

As the two men surveyed the store, eyeing customers interacting with staff, couples testing out products, and getting a kick out of things they’d never experienced before, Happy had to take a moment to soak it all in. Whereas back in Fort Lauderdale, his past life dragged along from one bland day to the next, life seemed to breeze by quickly in New Orleans. It was only just yesterday when he’d received a double blow that rocked his world. Now, a few months had gone by and his life had changed completely. No longer a hapless corporate figure in a dead-end job with a dull marriage, somehow a fortuitous set of circumstances had whisked him away to a land of enchantment, debauchery, and a growing outlook on life. While he may have still had some qualms about what he now did for a living, at least it was a change. Sometimes that’s all you need to get that spark of life back.

Happy continued to go over further plans and ideas for the store with Christopher while checking out the action on the sales floor.

“That all sounds great,” Christopher added. “They’ll get a kick out of you at the manager’s meeting in December.”

“Manager’s meeting?”

“Oh, I guess I didn’t mention it. Every year there’s a manager’s meeting out in L.A. at the corporate office. All the store managers from around the company come out and go over the overall direction for the company as a whole. We go over what works, what doesn’t and you get to check out L.A. for a change. And don’t get me started on the Christmas party. There are usually a few porn stars showing up if you catch where I’m headed.”

Happy caught the drift loud and clear as he continued checking out the action. Beautiful women teased their husbands with leather floggers, ticklers, and other naughty treats. Others thumbed through magazines and sex manuals from the Kama Sutra to a book Happy had grown to become quite familiar with: SHE COMES FIRST. A subtle smirk crept across his face at the memory. For a moment, the cool breeze blowing through the store brought with it a lingering sense of foreboding and melancholy. For all the work he was doing to stay ahead, he’d almost forgotten how much he missed Candy. Sure, she’d cheated on him and drove a stake through his heart, but she was still his wife. There was still a history there, a connection with the one woman he’d always wanted to spend his life with. Surrounded by a brave new world filled with sex, passion, colorful items, and characters...the old Happy was still somewhere deep inside. Somewhere deep inside, the old Happy was wondering if he could ever go back home.

He caught another look at the lingerie section, which was littered with a line of ladies waiting to get into the only dressing room the store currently had. It was a problem that needed to be fixed, but at the moment, that was the least of his worries. A group of gay men and what appeared to be transgendered women were being a bit rambunctious in the area, trying on women’s shoes and other accessories. As much as he appreciated the cash coming in, Happy wasn’t exactly sure he wanted that sort of element in his store. No doubt friends of Blake’s, the kid was nowhere to be found. Why couldn’t they just shop like normal people and leave? This was getting out of hand.

“Hap, you’ve got a guest upstairs,” Barabbas called to him.

“A guest? For me?”

“Yeah buddy, an older lady. She’s hot”

He could feel the butterflies suddenly roaming about inside. That could only mean one thing...Delphine. Christopher already saw where this was headed.

“Only in town for a few months and at it already I see. Go get ‘em, hotshot.”

He skipped upstairs with a gleaming gleefulness normally reserved for small children in a toy store.

“I’m in the market for a ‘Ferrari’,” Delphine said as she saw him coming. “I think Mr. Barabbas here has me sold.”

As soon as he got close, she welcomed him with a warm, lingering hug that suggested anticipation of something more. That familiar perfume baptizing him, she held onto him as they walked around the store.

“This place looks amazing. So what do I have to do to get the Store Manager’s discount?”

He laughed. “And what would Mr. Devereaux have to say about that?” “Mr. Devereaux is away for the weekend. Big business as usual.” “Really? What kind?”

She groaned at the thought. “The kind that would take all night to get into. Shall I come over to your place and discuss it further?”

He blushed at the thought. This woman was mesmerizing. As they were engaged in conversation, that familiar group of ladies whom Happy had to impress and persuade with his knowledge appeared, smiling in his direction with a few new friends they brought along.

“Hello ladies,” he smiled. “Came back for some more trouble?”

“Correction,” the older lady said. “We came back for a lot of trouble.”

“Careful now. Don’t start anything you can’t finish. My man Barabbas will be sure to take care of you. Enjoy.”

Delphine had to do a double take at the new man before her.

Somebody had his swagger back in full effect. Damn, it felt good. “Impressive,” she said. “So what sort of trouble do you have for me?” “Well that all depends. Do you have any I.D.?”

She laughed.

“Follow me. I’ve got something special for you.”

He grabbed her hand, bringing her over to the counter where she saw a massive wall of shelves holding everything from massagers to blow-up dolls.

“Great, I was looking for another one of those inflatable sheep,” she giggled. “I had one before, but it had a hole in it.”

“You’ve got jokes I see. No inflatable sheep for you. Tonight, it’s magic time. Tell me young lady, a bit of a personal question for you. Are you into clitoral or vaginal stimulation?”

“Surprise me.”

“Careful what you wish for.”

He presented before her a small, pink massager with curved ends. The device quickly intrigued her as he placed it in her hand. It was a pretty snug fit as it curved over the area between her thumb and index finger.

“Mrs. Devereaux, allow me to introduce you to the We-Vibe 4 Plus. This baby won’t just vibrate...it will change your perspective,” he joked as he pulled from the packaging a small, discreet remote.

“Should I be afraid?”

“Not at all. You’re in good hands tonight. Velvety smooth yet firm, this little device is used both for clitoral and g-spot stimulation.”

“Both?” That threw her for a loop. This sounded too good to be true.

“Both indeed,” Happy continued as he placed his hands over hers, cupping the vibrator close. This was getting good. He stared into her eyes. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Happy clicked on the vibrator, sending a sharp surge through Delphine’s hand, startling her.

“Wow! That’s-“

“Pay attention. Eyes on me.”

She did as told. He continued to cycle through multiple pulse patterns of vibration, pulsation, and escalation, all with varying degrees of intensity courtesy of the remote. Delphine marveled at the sensations vibrating through her hand, imagining just how intense it would feel elsewhere. The bottom part of the vibrator was designed to fit perfectly inside, vibrating against the g-spot. The ridged, top end would in turn vibrate against the clitoris.

“Close your eyes.”

She did, as he continued to cycle through the speeds, bringing the intensity from a low buzz to an intense pulsing that completely convinced her.

“Now for the absolute best part. Naturally, you can wear this discreetly

for on-the-go use by yourself, but here is where the fun begins. Imagine Mr. Devereaux coming home late from work while you’re in the middle of a little alone time and he wants to join in. Well, the We-Vibe 4 Plus is designed to conform to your natural body shape. Just as you’re getting some good clitoral and g-spot stimulation, he can slide right inside you, providing the best of everything.”

“I already told you. Mr. Devereaux is out for the weekend.”

“I gathered. We’ll have to do something about that.”

She smiled. “So why is it called the We-Vibe 4 Plus?”

“Glad you asked. The true beauty of this little device is that couples can have fun using it both together and apart, no matter how far apart in the world they are.”

“Do tell.”

“For example, if you’re at home alone and you’re looking to play a little, the We-Vibe 4 Plus comes with an app for the iPhone where he can control the vibrations from anywhere in the world. Perfectly secure access that only the two of you can enjoy will ultimately guarantee hours of sensual excitement creating your very own set playlists and vibrating patterns. Now tell me you don’t want that.”

“Okay, I’m sold. Anything else?”

“Of course,” he continued. “Can’t exactly have a toy without some lubricant. Here, try this.”

“Pink Water?”

“Indeed. Perfectly safe and water-based with a consistency very similar to that of a woman’s natural body moisture. Goes great with toys.”

“Thanks but no thanks Hap. I don’t need lube to get wet.”

Happy tried to come up with a clever line for that one, but- “FAGGOTS!” someone screamed from downstairs. “God’s gonna punish all you filthy, disease-ridden sodomites. You all are gonna burn in Hell!”

Happy along with security rushed down to the first floor where Christopher was trying to diffuse an already volatile situation. A much older man in his 50s was harassing Blake and a few of his friends. Clutching a Bible in one hand, a few of his people were attempting to hand out religious leaflets to the customers. Barabbas and Starscream both rushed to the front to help out as well.

“Sir I’m going to have to ask you all to calm down and leave the store immediately,” Christopher said.

“No sir! We have a right to be wherever we choose! How can you live with yourselves? How can you sell this filth to decent people? And these filthy, disgusting faggots and freaks here-“

“FUCK YOU!” Blake screamed.

It was only a matter of seconds before fisticuffs were bound to erupt. “Blake, go into my office. I’ll speak to you later.”

“But Hap-“

“NOW!”

“You mean to tell me that piece of garbage works here?” the man asked.

“Sir, you’ve disrupted my business and insulted my staff. You need to leave now or we will have all of you arrested.”

The man looked over at Starscream with utter disgust. “And you young lady. You look like a complete whore in that getup. Does your mother know you dress like that?”

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Barabbas fired back.

“I wasn’t talking to you nigger!”

Enough was enough. The four of them along with security physically ushered all of them outside the store where the police quickly arrived, noticing the disturbance. As usual, when you ran a business that dealt with porn and sex toys, there would always be a group of religious zealots out in the field, harassing others and thinking they were doing God’s good work. Nobody knew who these people were, except for the fact that they popped up in the Quarter on special occasions, most notably Mardi Gras. Every year, a mass mob of them would stand out on Bourbon St., passing out leaflets and carrying picket signs that read: “GOD HATES FAGS, or SODOMITES WILL BURN IN HELL.” Insatiable Desires would always be a favorite spot of theirs, where they would stand outside all night, singing songs or attempting to discourage people from entering the store. Most of the crowd usually attempted to either ignore or poke fun at them. Most of the time there were no incidents...most of the time.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWELVE...