The Enlightenment Of Hanna Ch 03

Curtis had apparently chosen to pout, at least for now. He'd not said a word as he'd gotten ready and had ignored her when Hanna had asked him what he wanted her to fix him for lunch. She smiled when she heard the front door slam, although she wasn't exactly sure why it pleased her the way it did.

Picking up her cell phone, Hanna typed out a text to her friend.

Hanna: Change of plans. Can you two pick me up here at the house instead of the church?

She set about doing the breakfast dishes and was just finishing up when she heard the ding signaling a text.

Scottie: Decide not to go to the church?

Hanna: Had a blowout with Curtis. I'm not sure I'd find myself very welcome.

Scottie: Ouch, Nothing too bad, I hope?

Hanna: Got pretty bumpy. He left in a huff that isn't going to get any better unless his tune changes.

Scottie: You go, girl. Stand your ground. I'll see you in a bit.

Setting her phone down, Hanna smiled and thought, "Yeah, there's no way I'm giving my best friend up."

When Hanna got dressed for lunch, she decided that today, she was going to wear what she wanted. She selected a sundress from her closet that she'd bought for her honeymoon. She'd never actually gotten to wear it outside their suite. Curtis had taken one look at her and nixed the idea. He told her it wasn't appropriate women's wear for a Christian wife because it was too revealing.

Hanna had briefly argued with her new husband. She knew the dress clung tight to the curve of her breasts and ended two inches above her knees. But didn't he want her to look good for him when they went out in public?

Curtis's answer had been a resounding no. He'd explained to her that if he allowed her to go out dressed like that, it could lead to some man lusting after her, or worse. Curtis told her that he'd never be able to forgive himself if his sinful pride in her beauty led to another man's downfall.

Hanna had held on to the baby blue sundress even though her husband had suggested she get rid of it. She knew she looked good in it. Particularly when she wore her hair down, her long blond wavy curls cascading down over her exposed shoulders. And the saleslady Hanna had purchased the dress from had been quick to point out how the color of the dress had brought out the blue in Hanna's eyes.

When Hanna opened the passenger side door, she peaked into the backseat and found it empty. Sliding in and shutting the door behind her, Hanna leaned over and hugged Scottie before saying, "What happened to Gracie?"

Scottie rolled her eyes and said, "That job interview Damian is doing today is for a new Nanny. At the last minute, he decided he wanted Gracie to be there to see how she reacted to the girl interviewing for the job."

"That makes sense, I guess," Hanna replied.

Scottie shrugged and said, "Yeah, he wants to see the girl feed Gracie and get her down for her nap before he makes a decision on whether to hire her."

After cranking the car, Scottie looked over at Hanna. The blonde could feel her friend's eyes as they wandered over her body. With a lascivious grin, Scottie said, "You know you look good enough to eat, don't you?"

Hanna squeezed her best friend's hand and said, "Stop, don't be teasing."

Scottie put the car in reverse and turned to look behind her as she backed the vehicle up. Deftly reversing them back out onto the road, the redhead said, "I'm not teasing you, Hanna. I meant every word I told you last night. You're the most gorgeous female creature I've ever encountered. If I didn't know you were already spoken for, I'd have tried to seduce you last night."

Hanna blushed and felt a rush of fluids begin to coat the surface of her silk panties with their oily goodness. "Thank you, your so sweet."

Neither woman spoke for a minute as Scottie navigated the winding road that led up to the house Hanna and Curtis lived in. When she turned onto the main road, Scottie said, "So, are you going to keep me in suspense?"

Hanna looked her way, momentarily confused.

"Your kerfluffle with Curtis," Scottie said with a laugh.

Hanna smiled back at the redhead and replied, "Oh, he made a unilateral decision I didn't happen to agree with. I usually just back down. It's the way I was raised, I guess. A wife shouldn't make waves once her husband has come to a decision, or at least that was what my mom was fond of saying."

"What made this time different if you don't mind me asking?" Scottie inquired.

Hanna let out a little laugh and said, "You did."

It was the redhead's turn to look confused. "And what exactly did I have to do with it?"

Hanna told her about their breakfast conversation and added details about the heated exchange they had in her classroom the day before after she'd returned from lunch.

Scottie listened intently. When Hanna was through, the redhead reached across the console and grasped Hanna's hand. Their fingers interlaced with Hanna pulling Scottie's hand into her lap.

"I'm sorry that you being my friend is causing you problems," Scottie said, "I'd understand if you felt like you had to stop hanging out with me for now. I don't want to be the cause of problems in your marriage." Scottie said with sincerity.

Hanna squeezed her friend's hand and said, "Nope, not going to happen. Even if I wanted to do that. I couldn't do it now. Giving in to Curtis's selfish demands now would only embolden him. He's already parroting things my Dad always said, and I've had a lifetime worth of living with someone like my father."

Scottie kept her eyes on the road but allowed her thumb to caress the back of Hanna's hand as she said, "Good, I didn't really want to lose my best friend so soon."

"You never did say," Scottie asked, "why was Curtis asleep on the couch?"

Hanna groaned. She had kind of glossed over that fact when she relayed the details of her trouble with Curtis. She had hoped Scottie would find that particular detail incidental.

"He woke me up in the middle of the night from a dream. It freaked me out, and I threw an elbow in my sleep. It caught him in the side of the head." Hanna said with embarrassment in her voice.

Scottie winced, "Wow, you two really did have a rough time after I dropped you off. Did you have a nightmare?"

Hanna stared away from her friend, looking out the passenger side window. She was both embarrassed and ashamed that after she'd gotten mad at Scottie last night about her assumption that she was the woman Damian was after, she'd turned right around and allowed her subconscious mind to betray her.

Hanna had to admit now that Damian watching her bedroom window in the middle of the night for the chance to blow her a kiss goodnight, was a bit telling.

What's more, the way it had made her feel had been beyond pure arousal or attraction. She hadn't been able to quit smiling since then. It was likey part of what had driven Curtis's appalling attitude this morning.

"Not exactly," was all Hanna could manage to say.

"Shit," Scottie said before covering her mouth. "Ooops, sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. You dreamed of Damian again, didn't you?"

Hanna smiled, then reached over and patted her friend's leg and then teased, "Don't worry about it. I already know what a foul-mouthed heathen you are. That's part of the reason my insecure husband doesn't want me hanging around you."

Scottie slapped at her hand and hissed, "Bitch," in mock indignation.

When the two had stopped laughing, Scottie asked, "So, Damian?"

Hanna nodded her head but said nothing.

"The same dream or different?" the redhead inquired.

Hanna smiled, looking down at her hands. She thought back to the wonders of what she'd felt and the way she'd cum, despite it just being a dream.

And then there had been her goodnight kiss.

Quietly, Hanna said, "The same, but oh so much more at the same time."

"How so?" Scottie asked, taking a chance to steal a quick glance at her new friend.

Hanna sighed deeply and looked over at Scottie. "He gave me that big, black cock, Scottie. And it was everything you said and more. I came so many times that I lost track. I've never been drunk before, but I imagine it has to feel an awful lot like that. That's why I was so confused and lashed out when Curtis woke me out of the dream. I didn't want to leave it. I wanted to stay there forever. I wanted him to coat my insides with his seed, but my jerk husband woke me before that could happen."

Hanna had been so caught up in their conversation. She hadn't even noticed they'd gone in the opposite direction of Clayton and were entering the outskirts of Swamp Town.

"Why are we here?" Hanna asked, sounding somewhat confused.

Scottie pointed to a small and ancient-looking wooden building with a long and deep wooden front porch. The porch had several picnic tables sitting on it. "Damian found this place. They have the best barbeque I've ever tasted, plus I thought with all the heat you were catching back in Clayton. It might be best if we weren't seen together there."

"You didn't have to do that. I'm beginning to care less and less about what those people think of me. But I do appreciate you caring so much that you thought to do this." Hanna said.

"One thing, though," the beautiful young blonde asked, "Are you sure we're safe here? My father always warned me to stay away from Swamp Town. He claimed it was an excellent way for me to end up getting raped by coming here."

Scottie parked the car as she rolled her eyes. "Your parents told you a lot of things that weren't true. The people here are amiable. Even if they weren't, no one here would touch us simply because they know we're under Damian's protection."

Hanna considered her friend's words. They made her feel special. The butterfly's fluttering around her insides told Hanna she was starting to develop strong feelings for a man that she'd never met. Not unless you counted her dreams, and that would be silly.

It was a mild day. So the two friends opted to sit out on the front porch. They were alone out there except two young black men who worked a fire pit about forty yards away.

A young black waitress, her hair done up in cornrows with white beads periodically laced within the strands, came up to serve them. Hanna couldn't help but notice her beautiful young body. She was very lean, had small breasts, and the most delicate skin the young blonde thought she'd ever seen.

"Hi, Ms. Scottie," the pretty, young waitress said with a smile, "I'm so glad you got the chance to come back and see us." She casually added without looking my way, "And I see you brought a friend."

Scottie smiled at her and replied, "It's good to see you as well, Keisha. This is Hanna."

The dismissive attitude of the young woman inexplicably changed at the mention of Hanna's name. She looked Hanna's way and gave the young blonde an appraising look. The black teen bit at her plump bottom lip as she cocked one hip out to the side and looked Hanna from top to bottom. The young newlywed withered a bit under the intense and hungry stare of Keisha. She felt like she was being sized up before being devoured.

Summoning what little courage she had, Hanna stuck a hand out and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Keisha."

Keisha looked back over at Scottie and asked, "So, this is her?"

Scottie let out a deep breath as she retrieved her cigarettes from her purse. Looking into Hanna's eyes with a hint of fear. Scottie said, "Yes, this is her."

Hanna's head was spinning from the conversation. She watched as Scottie lit her cigarette and exhaled the smoke up towards the ceiling. This teenage girl already being familiar with both Damian's purpose and prior knowledge of Hanna's name could only mean one thing.

"You bitch," Hanna said, staring a hole into Scottie, "You knew all along he was here for me. You played me and sought me out in the park to befriend me.

Before Scottie even had a chance to respond, Hanna said, "Good lord, Scottie, you also used your own daughter to lure me in. What kind of mother does a thing like that?"

Scottie sent another gray stream of smoke towards the ceiling before looking over at Keisha. The pretty teen was watching the debacle in front of her with interest.

"Keisha, we'll take two rib plates with coleslaw and sweet tea with lemon." the redhead said before bringing the cigarette to her lips. When the waitress had wandered off to put in their order, Scottie said with calmness in her voice, "I'm so sorry, Hanna. But I told you plainly that first day in the park, that I would do anything for Damian. I was told to get close to you. Damian wanted to know what you were thinking about. He's typically very good at reading people. But Damian could only read you when you were sleeping. I may have done it because I was told to, but I haven't been faking anything. I've enjoyed every minute we've spent together, and I hope the two of us can be as close as sisters."

Hanna fought to hold back the tears she felt wanting to form in her eyes. She didn't know if they were from the anger she felt at having been used. Or if they were caused by the sincerity and sentiment, Hanna heard in Scottie's explanation. She desperately wanted to believe her new friend, if that's what she indeed was. But Hanna was tired of feeling manipulated by everyone. Her parents, Curtis and now Damian and Scottie. Just once she wanted to be able to trust that the person she was interacting with didn't have a hidden agenda.

Ignoring Scottie's apology and employing a flat affect to her voice, Hanna asked, "What do you mean he can only read me when I'm sleeping?"

The redhead seemed to hear the change in Hanna's voice, and it really seemed to have an effect on her. "Please, Hanna. I'm so sorry. Damian is my boss, but even if he wasn't, I can't deny him. You'll understand that, too, once you're with him."

The coldness was still present in her voice, the blonde said, "See, that's just it, Scottie. You and Damian never bothered to consider what I wanted. You just set about trying to manipulate me into wanting to become his precious queen. My parents and Curtis aren't interested in what I think or want either. They only want to cajole and browbeat me into conforming to their idea of how I should live my life and the optics of how I look doing it. I'm tired of being made to feel my ship has no rudder, and my course has been predetermined. I think for now on, I'm going to be making my own decisions based on whatever criteria I decide works for me. Anyone that can't accept that can just fuck off."

Hanna had never openly used that word in her life, and the power behind it felt good. She could tell her words stung Scottie. They hadn't been intended to hurt the woman, just to let her know she meant business.

"Now answer the question I asked you. What do you mean Damian can only read me in my sleep?"

Scottie released a deep sigh and sat back in her chair, her shoulders slumping. To Hanna, the woman's body language read that she felt beaten, and the look on her face spoke of being despondent over what had happened since picking Hanna up.

"I'm going to be as honest with you as I can and do it without lying to you, Hanna. Because believe it or not, I still think of you as my best friend. You matter to me a lot, and I never set out to hurt you."

Hanna said nothing and tried to remain as stone-faced as possible, Scottie studied her reaction, and when she saw her words had no effect, looked broken. Hanna watched her pick up her box of cigarettes and pull one out. When she had it lit, she started talking.

"Damian has this gift where he can see into someone's mind or heart. It's how he always knows exactly who to turn to when he needs help with an issue and what it will take to get that help. It's also how he knows just what will put the right pressure on someone who doesn't want to cooperate with his wishes."

Hanna watched as smoke streamed out of the redhead's nose when she'd finished talking. "So he's a master manipulator. Great, just what every woman desires in a boyfriend. I don't buy this gift stuff you're trying to sell me, though. Nobody can read minds, Scottie. I may be naive and not very worldly, but I'm not stupid."

Looking very sad, Scottie said, "Honey, I don't think you're stupid, and I never have. It may not sound believable, but you asked me a question that I could answer, and I answered it honestly as I promised. If it makes things more palatable for you, then look at it as perfect intuition and not some type of gift or power."

"Uh-huh," Hanna said, sounding less than convinced. She then added, "But not so perfect when it comes to me, huh?"

Taking a long drag from her cigarette, Scottie never looked up in answering the question. "No, not so much with you," the redhead replied, tendrils of smoke trailing each word from her mouth.

"What am I supposed to think would be different about nighttime? What? Does he break in each night and listen to me talk in my sleep?" Hanna asked with open sarcasm in her voice.

That got just a hint of a smile from Scottie. "In a manner of speaking, yes, that's precisely what he does. Only it isn't your bedroom or house he's breaking into, it's your unconscious mind."

Hanna rolled her eyes. "To quote the farmer asked by a city boy about what to look out for when crossing his pasture...bullshit."

"Your dreams, Hanna," Scottie said as she lit yet another cigarette. "You know, the ones even you said were so surreal you preferred them to your reality? That's Damian's doing."

Giving Scottie a look of incredulity, Hanna said, "And just how's he supposed to be doing that? This isn't some Hollywood movie, Scottie."

"I told you I wouldn't lie to you, Hanna, and I haven't. But I also told you that there were some answers I couldn't give you. Not because I didn't know the answer, but because it wasn't my truth to tell."

Keisha approached their table with two plates of food. She sat them down and then grabbed the two drinks from the tray as well. She seemed to be able to read the mood at the table and didn't hang around the way she had the first time.

Neither woman touched her food or drink. Hanna sat back in her chair and never even looked at her plate. The gorgeous blonde's focus was locked in on Scottie's eyes. She was busy trying to decide if the redhead actually believed what she was saying. Because it sounded like utter lunacy.

"So, you're telling me that you expect me to take the word of a woman who befriended me due to ulterior motives. Despite the fact your explanation is so unrealistic, it gives your boss abilities on a par with super-powers." Hanna said.

Scottie took another drag from her cigarette. She held the smoke in her lungs for what seemed an inordinate amount of time before finally releasing it directly towards Hanna's face.

The young blonde assumed that was Scottie's way of telling her to piss off or intimidate her. The redhead didn't realize she actually enjoyed the smell of menthol cigarette smoke. Hanna just smiled back sweetly at Scottie and said nothing.

She watched as her friend brought the cigarette back to her lips and inhaled deeply again before dropping it to the floorboards of the front porch. Scottie ground it out with her heel and exhaled the stream of smoke directly into Hanna's face one more time.

"Is that supposed to intimidate me or piss me off?" Hanna asked.

Scottie smiled and shook her head, saying, "Why in the world would I expect something you enjoy to intimidate you or make you mad? Something you've secretly always wanted to try but were terrified of being caught?

Hanna was shocked to hear Scottie's words. She'd never told a living soul those two details. She was at a loss as to how Scottie could know. Gathering herself, Hanna tried to play it cool.

"Somebody is giving you inaccurate information, Scottie," Hanna bluffed.