His for the Taking

Chapter 1

KARIA GRABBED A BABY carrot from the refrigerator and stretched. She leaned back against the counter, carrot between her lips as she started scribbling down a few things to pick up. She was lucky to find anything to snack on in her fiance’s refrigerator. Both corporate attorneys with insane hours, neither one of them were exactly culinary experts.

Maybe she could talk Richard into going to a cooking class with her. That would give them something to bond over, and maybe get their relationship back on track. She stopped the furrow she felt forming on her brow.

If you’re going to go all in, go all in.

Things hadn’t been exactly peachy with her fiance these last few months, or ever, if she was being one hundred percent truthful with herself.

After another row with her father about her relationship with her fiance, Karia decided that something had to change because she couldn’t continue like this. It was a binary choice: break it off, or go all in.

Normally, her Type-A personality would demand that she sit down and make a pros and cons list. But she didn’t need to do that for her relationship with Richard.

Or rather, you prefer to avoid it, a little voice said.

Karia dismissed the voice. She’d been with him for three years already. She knew every nuance of what they as a couple were all about. And these days, they weren’t about anything.

Karia shook herself as she forced herself to settle into the ‘go all in’ mode. It didn’t feel right, but cerebrally, it made sense. It’s just the devil trying to be busy, she told herself as she focused on her decision.

She was all in dammit! She and Richard were two high-achieving people. They could make this work if they set their minds to it. She knew that’s what he wanted. And now, it’s what she wanted too. Having Richard come home to not only find her in his apartment, but find her in the little something risque from Rihanna’s Savage Fenty lingerie line that he’d bought her was a good way to jump-start things.

One of her fiance’s running accusations was that she not only wouldn’t move in with him, but she never acted like ‘his woman.’

You won’t move in with me. You apparently don’t like or appreciate the gifts I give you. I can’t remember the last time we had sex. Hell, we might as well just be friends!

Karia cringed as she remembered his outburst during their last argument. And he was right. It was time for her to ‘shit or get off the relationship pot,’ she decided. So all in she was. And tonight was the night she was going to prove it to him.

As she looked at the bright light beaming into his kitchen in the late, fall afternoon, she realized that she was never out during this time of the day. She was in the office most mornings before the sun fully came up, and it was usually dark by the time she left.

Richard, a corporate attorney as well, worked the same long hours. But something had to give, and this was the first step on what she wanted to be a new start for them. Tonight, she was prepared to be his woman in every way. She ignored the slight queasiness in her stomach as she made her way down the hallway to his bedroom to set the scene.

OPEN THAT PUSSY FOR me, baby. Yeah ... just like that. Give me that shit! Give it to me!

Karia’s hand froze in mid-air.

You better get this pussy, boy. Slam that dick home! Yes! Yes! That’s it Papi. Fuck me. Fuuuckkkk meee! a female voice keened.

Damn you got me bout to bust a nut up in this shit! Keep that pussy open. Keep it open. Wider. Wider for daddy! Damn! Oh shit! Oh shit!

Karia felt bile rising in her throat. As much as her head willed her to turn around and get out, her feet and hands listened to different signals.

Her hand found its way to the doorknob.

Her feet crossed the threshold into the bedroom.

Karia took in ass, tits, balls and dick – her fiance was fucking some random chick the same way he fucked her; hands dug into her waist, slamming into her from behind.

Karia! he said, his hips still pumping on his way to an orgasm.

The woman snatched away from him. What the hell?!

Karia laughed. She looked around to see where the sound was coming from, then realized it was her. This made her laugh harder.

Richard’s dick went limp, the slick wetness at the tip signaling that she’d deprived him of the ultimate prize.

He reached down and held it in his hands, his eyes a cauldron of shame, anger, regret and ... was that horniness still in his gaze?

Karia pointed at his limp member and burst out laughing all over again.

Chapter 2

LATER THAT EVENING

Serves his nasty ass right, Tiny, Karia’s best friend, said. I bet he was more upset that you caused him to lose his nut than the fact that you caught him red-handed raw-dogging some broad.

Karia looked at her phone.

Him calling again? Tiny said.

Karia shook her head.

How many times does that make? Nineteen, twenty? Tiny said. You’d think he would have gotten the hint when you wouldn’t let him in earlier.

I can’t blame him for not getting the hint. I always took him back before, Karia said softly.

I can’t argue with you there, but you never caught him with his dick actually buried in some chick either. Before, it was just suspicion and he somehow managed to talk you into believing that the sky was red, even though you’ve always known it was blue.

I know, but this time, it’s over. For good, Karia said.

You mean that? Tiny ventured. I’ve heard this before.

Yeah. Catching him was like a deliverance from evil. ... Ironically enough, I’d just decided to go all in with him; to do my part to make our relationship work.

Well thank god for small miracles, Tiny said. And I’m glad I was here when he stopped by earlier so your resolved wouldn’t weaken. You should have cut that nigga loose ages ago.

I know, but I just thought that if I gave us a real shot; if I did my part, that maybe, just maybe things would be different. ... You know, I haven’t been the best fiance to Richard.

That’s because you don’t love him; never did.

I never told you that. I’ve never admitted that to anyone, least of all myself, Karia thought.

You’d have to be blind as two Stevie Wonders with a Ray Charles thrown for good measure not to see that. Richard was your father’s choice for you. And of course, you went along with it. You always do. You all were about as compatible as a chihuahua and a polar bear. It never would have worked. Ever.

Now you tell me, Karia said.

If I’d have said anything, would it have made a difference?

No, Karia admitted honestly. You’re right. I was marrying Richard to please my father. I thought that maybe, one day, I’d eventually fall in love with him. We did have fun together and we do have a lot in common. And he is all kinds of gorgeous.

The problem with that last part is, he knows it. And on paper, y’all did couple goals some serious justice. Both brilliant legal minds. Fathers founded a law firm together. Went to the same law school. Y’all looked good together. But if the core is rotten, it ain’t worth a hill of beans. And Richard couldn’t keep his dick in his pants if somebody paid him. The only way to keep that one from fucking is to Lorena Bobbitt his shit!

Karia keeled over in laughter. You might be right about that. That’s why I never slept with him without a condom.

Ever?

Ever, Karia confirmed. A part of me always knew Richard was never faithful to me. He used to get so mad when I wouldn’t do it without a condom, but I stuck to my guns. My gut just wouldn’t let me do otherwise. I promised him that after we were married, the condom wouldn’t be necessary. But I think deep down, I knew we’d never make it to the altar.

You should have listened to that deep down feeling years earlier, Tiny huffed.

It’s not like I wasted a decade with him, Karia defended.

Felt like it, Tiny returned.

Three years ... and I’m not even thirty yet.

Two years, three-hundred and sixty-four days too long, Tiny said stubbornly.

Karia sighed. Well the Creator took the decision out of my hands. ... I wanted to be upset about what I saw today. But I think that’s why I started laughing. It was relief flooding through me. Otherwise, who knows how long I would have gone on pretending and trying to make it work.

Tiny raised her wine glass. Here’s to the Creator, who protects innocents and fools. ... Not sure which category you fall into yet.

Go to hell, Tiny, Karia laughed.

Only if you come with me. I’ll need somebody to play with when the devil gets busy.

Karia rolled back into the pillows of her living room couch, laughter gurgling from her throat. Tiny don’t ever change. You better not ever change.

Easy promise; wouldn’t know how even if I wanted to, Tiny said, turning her wine glass up.

Chapter 3

KARIA GROANED, TURNED over, and reached out to turn on the lamp on her nightstand. Finding only air, she blinked as she saw a phone on the nondescript beige box that she wouldn’t exactly classify as a nightstand.

What did they call this thing? Standing table? Counter top? Bed table? Whatever it was, it was all too stark of a reminder that she wasn’t in her apartment. She wasn’t in her bed. She wasn’t in her own pajamas.

She looked down and saw the science experiment that was her body: plastic lines of tubes hooked to machines that wheezed and beeped. Then it all came back to her.

She was in the hospital.

A heart attack at twenty-nine. She’d had a heart attack at twenty-nine.

She still couldn’t process it. But that’s what the doctor had said. Machines weren’t gurgling and beeping and disturbing the silence in her hospital room for nothing. It had to be true.

You’re awake, Tiny, said from a chair in the corner of Karia’s hospital room. Can I get you anything?

No, I’m fine.

I think where you are kind of makes that a bald-faced lie, Tiny said with her usual wit and candor, a nervous laugh escaping her turned-up, hot-pink lips.

Don’t you start, Karia replied, trying to hide the smile that came readily to her lips. If there’s one thing Tiny had always been able to do, it was make her laugh.

Karia sat up slowly.

Tiny made her way over and propped the pillows up behind her. She gently pushed Karia back into them. Better?

Karia knew that nothing was better, and it probably wouldn’t be ever again. She felt the silent trail of tears begin. Her whole body began to shake for what was, and what had to be, if she was going to get healthy again.

She fell into a trembling heap in Tiny’s arms.

Tiny rubbed her hair. It’s alright K. It’s alright sweetie, she repeated, a teardrop dropping into Karia’s hair, the twinkle of it like a little starlight. A starlight of hope, Tiny reasoned.

HE’S NEVER GONNA LOVE me, Tiny. Ever, Karia said sometime later, her breath catching in her throat. The hitch of it was all of her hopes and dreams – all that would never be – in one breath.

It’s not you, Karia. It’s him.

If he can’t love me, what man can? the voice of betrayal in her head drowning out the reasoning of her friend.

Did you hear me? Tiny insisted. "It’s not you. It’s him."

Maybe he was right. Maybe I shouldn’t have broken things off—

Don’t, Karia, Tiny cut in. Don’t you dare second guess yourself. You did the right thing. You know you did.

But it’s true, Karia said. Most women would give their eye-tooth to be with a man like Richard, and I just threw it all away. So he’s probably right. I’m not going to do any better, Karia said, raising tear-stained eyes to Tiny.

"You caught him raw-dog fucking someone else! Most women would not give their eye-tooth to be with someone like that!" Tiny said, exasperated.

Most men cheat, Tiny. Father told me that. And from what I’ve experienced, it’s true. Maybe Richard and I—

Richard and you nothing! Tiny insisted. One of the machines Karia was hooked up to beeped. It brought the reality of the situation back into focus for Tiny. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice. It’s just, oh God Karia, you deserve sooooo much better. I’ve loved you since were were knee high to gnats; loved you like a sister from day one. And you know I don’t throw my love around. So believe me when I say, it’s not that you’re not lovable. It’s him. Him."

"You may have loved me from day one, but I think you fell in love with my Cheetos and tuna fish sandwich first," Karia said through a watery smile, thinking of their first.

I ain’t gone lie on food. That’s practically against my religion, Tiny chuckled, remembering that first day of kindergarten.

Karia had been sitting alone at a table in the corner of the cafeteria. It was almost like she was trying to disappear into the furniture. She was quiet as a mouse. Hell, her Cheetos bag had barely made noise when she opened it.

Even at five years old, that hadn’t seemed right to Tiny. She’d taken her lunch box from the table where she was sitting with some friends and gone to join Karia.

Karia had been shy; extremely shy – she’d practically recoiled in fear when Tiny sat down at her table.

Something in Tiny’s five-year-old heart had went out to the shy little girl with the great big tuna fish sandwich.

Karia had pushed the sandwich to the side, and was silently eating her Cheetos.

YOU’RE NOT GONNA EAT your sandwich? Tiny asked.

Karia shook her head ‘no.’

Why’d you bring it if you’re not gonna eat it? You ain’t hungry? Tiny asked.

Karia shook her head ‘yes.’

Then why ain’t you eating your sandwich?

I don’t like tuna fish, Karia said slowly.

I do, Tiny piped up.

You can have it, Karia offered.

With all her might, Tiny wanted to say yes, but she knew she couldn’t take it if Karia didn’t take her sandwich in return.

I got a fried bologna sandwich. You like fried bologna? Tiny asked hopefully.

I never had it.

You never had fried bologna? Tiny asked, her eyes wide in