Free Pain and Pleasure by Harlem Dae Page B

spare I perused the racks of glossy covers. The men’s one piqued my interest. I liked the words on the front, the enticements, headlines to make men curious enough to pick up the goods. Was that really what men wanted to read? Six pack in six days. What does her sleeping position tell you about what she ‘really’ wants in bed? Protein diets are the new must-do. How dull. I was sure men really wanted to read things like Get her to suck your cock the way a man would , because surely men ‘got’ exactly how to do it, and Drive her so wild with your box of toys she’ll still be screaming your name when the sun comes up or Want anal? Teach her to love it .
    I laughed a little at my own silly headlines. I was sure they’d sell more magazines, though.
    Passing farther into the shop, I came to the fruit and veg section. This was where we’d said we’d meet. At three a.m.
    Fuck, I hoped he’d show. What if he didn’t? Here was me in my whorish get-up, out in the middle of the night, and if he was a no-show, what the hell would I do? Buy some groceries and go home, I supposed.
    I trip-trapped to the salad section. Thought about what I’d said earlier to Gabriel about bananas and cucumbers being like cocks.
    I picked up a cucumber, one that had a cellophane wrapper on it, kind of like a condom, tested its weight and its girth then passed it from one hand to the other.
    Gabriel had a nice cock. Heavy and thick, long too, but not too long, just right. I liked the fact that he was circumcised—that always appealed to me. Cocks looked pretty when flaccid without that extra bit, but each to their own. I wondered if it hurt when…
    “Excuse me, Miss.”
    I spun at the sound of a deep, familiar voice.
    Gabriel stood next to me, hands in the pockets of a navy jacket that bunched at his hips, the sparkle of dew in his hair. His cheeks were flushed and the scent of night rushed off him.
    I guessed he’d walked.
    Had he needed a drink, more than one, before meeting me? Or did he live really near to the supermarket?
    “Yes?” I replied, tipping my head questioningly.
    We had a deal—a deal to pretend we didn’t know each other.
    Well, we didn’t know very much about each other. Not really. I didn’t have a clue what his surname was, his age or what job he did. I knew other stuff, though, fun stuff.
    “I was wondering,” he said, “since you’re holding one, if you know a good recipe for cucumber.”
    He set down the empty basket he was carrying and I realized I’d forgotten to pick one up.
    Oh well.
    “Yes, actually I do.”
    I half smiled as I took in the stubble on his chin and down his neck. It hadn’t been there this morning—he’d been freshly shaved then. But I liked this just-got-out-of-bed look. It matched his slightly roguish features—the bump in his nose, the heaviness of his eyebrows. He wasn’t model handsome—more rough and ready in an expensive suit, a delicious combination for a bad girl like me.
    “Are you willing to share your recipe?” He picked up a cucumber of his own. Curled his thumb and index finger around it, like he was stroking a cock, and gave a few lazy rubs up and down it.
    I swallowed tightly and a sudden thought of watching him do that to his cock blustered into my mind. Damn, that would be so hot, to watch him wank. I hoped it would be on our agenda. If not, there was another fantasy to keep me warm at night.
    “Sure,” I said, “take one cucumber.” I paused and positioned my cucumber as if it were a dick protruding from my groin. “And a pot of cream. Smother the cucumber in the cream, add a little spice if that’s your thing, then let it marinate, slowly. To allow the flavors to soak into the ripe, moist inside of the cucumber, let the cream coat it all over. Best way to do this is by sliding it in and out of the cream…”
    His face broke into a grin. “Just as well I like cream, then.” He bent his head to mine. “ Your cream. I could taste it on my fingers all