From Famine To Feast Ch 17

Chapter 17: Questions & Answers

"Are we turning into sex addicts?" asked Alexis one night as we were studying in our room.

"I was wondering what you were thinking about. You hadn't looked at your book for quite a while. I thought you were deep in thought about some esoteric point your professor had made during lecture, or trying to understand a perplexing concept in your text, but, no, you were thinking about sex." I laughed. She didn't.

"I wasn't thinking about sex per se. I mean I wasn't thinking about some hot scene. Well, okay, that's how it started, to be honest. I admit that I was initially daydreaming about getting railed in the parking lot last weekend."

"Aha!" I pointed my finger at her accusingly. "Busted!" I closed my laptop. I could tell we were going to talk for a while.

"No, I'm serious! Think about the past several months and all the things we have done. Have we become orgasm junkies?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look, we've been in college for almost four years. During the first three, I only had sex with one person—my boyfriend—and he only had sex with me. And our sexual relationship was based in a loving, monogamous relationship. And you! You were practically celibate!"

"Hey!" I protested, "That's not true."

"Well, not totally celibate, but you know what I mean. You were barely sexual with anyone until relatively recently."

"Okay, that's fair," I admitted.

"And then everything changed."

"And then I met Lance and Yasmín, you mean."

"Exactly! A chance encounter at work, with random customers, completely flipped things over."

"You mean, flipped

me

over." We both laughed. "Actually, you've been flipped over a few times too!" We laughed some more. "I know what you mean, though. Meeting Lance and Yasmín revived my dormant love life."

"And altered the trajectory of mine. And Ty's. And Chris' too. And you could even include Tanya, Ali, and Kelly. Those two have changed all of us."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out!"

"Why would it be bad? Did what happened at Tetons' freak you out? You know if you weren't into it, you could tell Lance to stop at any point, right? He would totally stop if you said so." I was starting to get concerned.

"No, it's not that..."

"Are you sure? You could tell me if you didn't like it, you know."

"No, really. I did enjoy it. A lot, actually..."

"Then, what's your issue?"

"That's exactly it. What if enjoying it so much

is

the problem?"

"Huh? You lost me. Enjoying sex is a problem? Most people enjoy sex and most people don't have a problem with enjoying it. Except preachy creepers and creepy preachers—they don't like it and they don't like that other people like it. You're not converting to some moralizing anti-sex cult are you?"

"Hell no! What I'm trying to get at is this: are we developing an unhealthy obsession with sex? Are we becoming sex addicts?"

"Well, what do you mean by 'unhealthy'? What do you mean by 'addict'?" I started to google the terms. "Unhealthy" means 'harmful', 'unbalanced', 'not sensible', 'abnormal'. I don't think we've harmed anyone, including ourselves, do you?" She shook her head. "I don't think we're unbalanced. I mean, we still eat and bathe and study and work, right? I think we have pretty balanced lives actually." She nodded her agreement. "Sensible? Well, it makes sense to me! I enjoy it, so I do it. That makes perfect sense." Alexis laughed. "Abnormal... Well, maybe we have an issue there. I mean, I don't think that sex lives like ours are exactly normal or common. I mean, they call it 'getting freaky' for a reason. But, we're not

that

deviant, are we?"

"I don't know. I think we're doing outlandish things, but not crazy things. And there are probably lots of people like us. Look up 'addict'. See what that says."

"Well, there are two main definitions: someone who abuses something, like a junkie abusing drugs, and an enthusiastic devotee. Hmm."

"That's more of a gray area, isn't it? I don't think we're abusing anyone or anything with our sex lives, but someone might describe us as enthusiastic devotees of sex."

"Here's more: 'sex addiction refers to excessive sexual thoughts, desires, urges, or behaviors that can't be controlled and cause distress and harm to your relationships, finances, and other aspects of your life.' I'm not sure what constitutes 'excessive' but I don't think we're excessive. And I don't think our urges are uncontrollable. And, we're not causing distress or harm to other aspects of our lives like relationships, finances, work, or school."

"I suppose you're right."

"I just think that we are having some grand adventures, and that seems healthy to me."

"Okay..."

"Are you sure you're okay?" I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Society... people can be so judgmental about sex—especially toward sexually active women. I found myself questioning what we have been doing lately. Maybe I internalized some of that thinking. I was worried that I was losing perspective, that I was liking the sex so much, and that the adventures were getting so wild that maybe I was getting out of control. You know what I mean?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I do. And 'control' is key. Control is convoluted. I like it when Lance takes control. I think we both get excited when he is dominant, right?" She nodded. "I mean, it's hot when he directs us and tells us what to do. He pushes our boundaries and gets us to do things we wouldn't otherwise do, but we always maintain our own agency. We choose to do what he says. We consciously give consent. We willingly surrender because it is enjoyable, but we always maintain the right to stop or to say 'no'. The surrender of control is temporary, but after we are done fucking, we return to our healthy, balanced lives. We aren't sex addicts; we are well-adjusted young women in the prime of our lives who enjoy wild sex with good friends!"

"Sounds good to me. Thanks, Layla." We hugged. "I needed to hear that."

"The next time Lance contacts us, we'll tell him 'no' just to prove that we still exercise a healthy dose of control over our own lives, okay?"

Just then, our phones pinged. It was a message from Lance to our group text: "Good news!"

"Oh my god! No way! Now I'm worried all over again," yelled Alexis.

He sent another message: "I forget who asked, but someone was worried about security cameras at Tetons. Well, they do have cameras, but not in the parking lot. I asked the cute bartender. What happens in the parking lot, stays in the parking lot!"

We laughed heartily. "Oh my god! I thought the head sex addict was making another booty call right on cue!" Alexis wiped her brow with relief.

"Maybe he's just waiting a bit so we can all maintain a healthy life! You know how guys need recovery time before they can go again. Now go back to studying so you can show yourself that you lead a balanced life. I need to get ready for work."

--..—

The phone rang at work. "Hello, From Famine to Feast, Layla speaking."

"Are you busy tonight?" The woman's voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"Not very; we have plenty of tables open. No reservations will be necessary, but if you would like dinner tonight, you'll have to hurry because we will close relatively soon."

"I don't want dinner, I want dessert."

"Well, we can certainly provide you with a delicious dessert. Can you come quickly?"

"Yes, I can, depending on who I'm with." The woman laughed. "I'm right on the corner."

"Okay, see you shortly, then."

I hung up the phone and cleared plates from the remaining three tables. When I returned to the front, there was someone standing in the doorway. "Good evening, Layla."

I was startled that the customer knew my name, but then I recognized her. "Desiré! That was you who just called, wasn't it? I knew I recognized that voice!"

"Yes, it was me. I thought we'd switch roles tonight. You can serve me."

"Of course! Come in! Would you like to sit over here?"

"I'd prefer to sit by the window. I hear that's a good table for people who like to see and be seen." She smiled at me and winked. She sat in the same chair that Lance preferred for Yasmín.

"Okay, then. You know where you want to be. Do you also know what you want?" She nodded. "What can I get you?"

"I've heard that your crème brulé is a very sensual experience." She smiled knowingly.

I smiled back, wondering if Lance or Yasmín had told her something. "That's my favorite. I'll be right back."

I brought her dessert and then closed out the other guests. When I was done, I returned to her table. "Well, what do you think? Do you like it?"

"Please join me."

Since there were no other customers, I sat down with her.

"Yes, I do like it. I like the feel of cream on my tongue. Here, taste." She held out her spoon in front of my face. I opened my mouth and she inserted the spoon. I licked it clean.

"Mmm. I love it."

"Layla?"

"Yes?"

"I didn't come here for the crème brulé."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want something else?" I started to get up.

"Yes."

"What would you like?"

"You."

"Oh." I sat back down. "I...I didn't expect that."

"I got off early tonight because I want to get off later tonight with you."

"Oh. I don't know what to say."

"Say 'yes'. Or don't say anything and just walk out of here with me. I realize that we don't know each other well, but I've seen enough to know that you and your boyfriend are not exclusive. I also know that you are attracted to both men and women. And I know that you are willing to take risks and act spontaneously. Am I right?"

I blushed. "Well, yes, I suppose you are right on all three counts. I just have never had it spelled out so matter-of-factly before." She pushed another spoonful toward my face. I opened my mouth, closed my eyes, and accepted it.

"Do you think I'm attractive?"

"Oh yes, definitely."

"Good. I think you're attractive too. So? What is your answer?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this. Let me close up. I'll be ready in a few minutes."

--..—

Five minutes later, I was walking with Desiré on the sidewalk, remembering what Alexis was worried about. Here I was, going home with a woman I didn't know very well. In my head, I went over her concerns that we might be sex addicts. I reassured myself that we both concluded that we were not addicted because we led balanced, healthy lives, and that included being sexually active.

"Layla?" asked Desiré.

"Huh?" I responded.

"Did you hear what I said? Are you okay?"

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about Alexis. I'm okay. What did you say?"

"Are you okay with this? With me? Are you skittish about being with a woman?"

"Yes, I'm okay. But yeah, I'm also a little nervous because I don't have much experience."

She laughed. "Well, you could have fooled me!"

"No, I mean I don't have much experience being with women. I've played around a little bit with Alexis and Yasmín recently, but nothing beside that."

"I'll be gentle, if that's what you're into..." She smiled and held my hand as we walked.

"Thanks." It felt good to hold her hand. "Maybe just be forgiving if I don't know what I'm doing."

She smiled and nodded. "I'll take care of you. That won't be a problem."

"Where are we going?"

"We aren't going anywhere. We're already here." She stopped at a door and unlocked it. She led me upstairs to an apartment above a hardware store, a few blocks up the same street from where we both worked. She opened the door and ushered me inside. As I stood in the small foyer, she went to the kitchen to fix us some drinks. The place was small and tastefully decorated. Unlike Lance's place, it had the feel of a woman's touch. It wasn't pink nor frilly, but it was filled with pictures, books, and knick-knacks. It was homey and tastefully decorated. She returned with drinks in her hands. "Kahlua and cream for the lady."

We clinked glasses. "You know my drink," I smiled and took the glass from her.

"Well, that's kind of my job. And I'm good at it."

"Yes, you certainly are. I can vouch for that! And, if you flirt with the customer, you might receive a nice tip," I said, not intending it to sound as suggestive as it did.

"I often do," she raised her eyebrows mischievously.

"Often flirt, or often receive a nice tip?"

She leaned in close to my ear. "Both. Sometimes I flirt just because that's the part of the job that gets a big tip from the customer. Other times, I flirt because I want the customer's big tip when the job is over." She winked at me. I sipped my drink nervously as she leaned back. "But, right now, both of our jobs are finished for the evening. No more work; it's play time. Here, stand up," she said as she rose and held out her hand. I took her hand and she pulled me forward. "Let me give you a tour." She pulled me by my hand into the small kitchen. Then she showed me the living room, and unlatched a sliding glass door that opened to a balcony. I went to the rail and looked down the street.

"Hey, you can see the neon Rendezvous sign where you work! And there's From Famine to Feast! Oh!" I said in surprise. As I was talking, Desiré pressed her body against mine from behind. Her arms encircled my waist. I felt her breath on my neck. "Oh," I sighed in contentment. She started to kiss, ever so faintly, on my neck. I tilted my head so that my hair would fall away, giving her more skin to brush her soft lips upon. She responded by alternating kisses and licks, not only on my neck, but up to my ear as well. She nibbled my earlobe. "Mmm, that feels good," I moaned.

"You like that?"

"Mmmhmm." She was relaxing me, as well as getting me in the mood.

"You want more?"

"Yes, please."

She licked around the lobe, and then pushed her tongue in the canal of my ear. It felt overwhelmingly divine, like an 'eargasm'. When she withdrew her tongue, she softly bit the lobe and tugged it gently with her teeth. It made me squirm and giggle. She whispered softly, "I'm going to do that to you elsewhere very soon. Would you like that? Would you like my lips to kiss you softly down there?"

"Uh huh," I mumbled my affirmation.

"Tell me that you want it."

"I want it," I breathed heavily.

"What do you want, exactly? Tell me."

"I want you to kiss me down there."

"Yeah? And what else do you want me to do to you?"

"I want you to stick your tongue inside me, just like you did in my ear."

She kissed my ear again. "Oh, I will," she whispered. "Have you ever had a woman go down on you?" I shook my head. "Well then, we're both going to enjoy this. I'm going to make you cum again and again. I'm going to make you wonder why you didn't do this sooner. Would you like that?" She licked my neck some more.

"Uh huh," I breathed.

"You want my tongue to make you cum?"

"Yes, please." Her talk was arousing me just as much as her kisses.

"Oh, I will. I will make you squirm. I will make you convulse. I will make you writhe. But first, I am going to play with your titties. Do you want me to play with your titties?"

"Yes, please. Play with my titties." God, how I wanted her to play with my titties! Her teasing had me all hot and bothered, but she was taking her sweet time. Her dirty talk was so arousing, but she was progressing so agonizingly slowly. "I want you to play with my titties now, please."

"Oh, you do, huh?"

I closed my eyes and nodded. Her hands found their way under my blouse and slowly slid up my belly, making me breathe hard. When they reached the underwire of my bra, they traced the fabric around my sides and to my back. There, they unhooked the clasp. They slid back around to the front. She worked her fingers underneath the cups of my bra, tracing the contours of my breasts. I inhaled deeply at her touch and then exhaled slowly. I gripped the railing with one hand and tried not to spill the drink in my other.

"Are you okay with people seeing me play with your boobs out here on the balcony?" I opened my eyes wide and looked around. I was so lost in how she was making me feel that I hadn't realized how exposed we were. We were only on the second floor, not far from the pedestrians below. People on the sidewalk could easily look up and see us. There were also apartments on the second floor of the buildings across the street. Only one had their curtains open. No one was watching us from either location, but all they had to do was look. "Do you have a bit of an exhibitionist kink, Layla?"

"Well, I didn't used to think so, but lately a number of people have seen me, uh, playing. I don't really mind, I guess."

"You don't mind, or you like it?

"At first, it made me really nervous. Then, the more it happened, the more I got used to it. Now, honestly, even though I still get nervous, it turns me on. I guess it is all of that simultaneously: jitters and excitement mixed together."

"Well, in that case, I'll keep going. You want me to keep going, don't you?"

"Yes, please." Her hands lightly traced the curve of my breasts, causing me to sigh loudly. Then, she brushed against my nipples, which made me jerk.

"Oh, you've got sensitive nipples! I'm going to have fun with those." She ran all of her fingers across my nipples, back and forth like she was strumming a guitar. They quickly got hard. The more she played with them, the better it felt.

"Mmm. So good." I leaned my head back onto her shoulder and closed my eyes again, just enjoying the sensations in my nipples, but also the jolts of electricity that my nipples were sending to my crotch. Her caresses soon had me breathing quite heavily. Then, while one hand stayed on my tits, her other hand slid down my stomach. When she reached my waist, she unhooked and unzipped my skirt. I opened my eyes and looked across the street. There was a couple watching TV directly across from us. I watched them, wondering if they were aware of what was going on their neighbor's balcony. The anticipation of what Desiré would do next, along with the sense of danger of being so exposed, made me tremble.

As my unzipped skirt hung on my hips, her fingers hesitated at the waistband of my panties. "Do you want me to touch you?"

"Yes, please. I want you to touch me."

"Good. I'm eager to explore your pussy." Her fingertips pressed under the elastic and inched their way down my mound. She paused just above my clit, then slid down the right side of my crotch, carefully refraining from touching my labia. Then, she retreated back up above my clit, and then slid down the left side. I whimpered in anticipation. Her fingers lifted off my skin and I held my breath waiting for her to make contact where I wanted her to. But, to my frustration, she didn't. Instead, she gently tugged my trimmed pubic hair. As she pulled one side and then the other, I felt the seam of my labia separate, opening me up. Then she ran her hand down the left side and then the right. I moaned, half out of pleasure, and half out of frustration. "What's wrong, babe?" she asked.

"You're teasing me."

"Poor baby. Don't you like me teasing you?"

"No. Well, yes, I do, but..."

"But...?"

"But," I breathed, "but I want..."

"But... oh, you want me to play with your butt!"

"No! I meant... Well, yes, I do, but..." Her hand slid around my side, under my panties, and cupped my butt cheek. She squeezed the soft flesh and massaged my ass as her other hand massaged my boob. Her movements caused my skirt to fall to the floor, pooled around my ankles. Now I was standing exposed on the balcony in just my panties and blouse, with my bra hanging uselessly from the shoulder straps.

"Mmm. You've got a lovely bottom, babe. I've been admiring it for a long time. I always wanted to grab your ass, like Ty grabbed mine." We both laughed. "Now, I finally get to feel it in my own hands."