Indiscriminate Attraction

Chancellor then thought about the place he had once used for all his lighting needs. “If you can wait a little longer, I’d like to take you to a place specializing in light fixtures. Light Up Your World has every type of lighting you can imagine.”

“Hmm, I think I’ve heard of the company. Pretty swanky place if I recall correctly. I have the weekend off. Are you free to take me sometime tomorrow?”

“I’m free.” Without all these heavy burdens he carried around, Chancellor would one day be as free as a bird. One day soon everything would, hopefully, be resolved.

He couldn’t wait for the topsy-turvy things in his life to return to right side up. He wished Laylah hadn’t revealed her attraction to him, since the timing for him to get personally involved with someone was not the best. If everything was the way it used to be, he’d be happy to sweep her off her feet and carry her off into the sunset. He sensed that she deserved a real live hero to enhance her life, a knight in shining armor.

Right now, Chancellor just couldn’t fulfill Laylah’s romantic needs. There was too much unsavory stuff on his plate. However, once he got his life back on track—and if she was still available—she had better look out. He planned to be hot on her trail.

Laylah thought it was strange that Chancellor had asked to be dropped off a block away from the shelter, but she had obliged him. As she drove the short distance to her destination, she had a chance to briefly think about some of what had transpired between them. Whether she had intended to or not, she had totally changed the nature of their relationship. For better or worse, she didn’t know. She had every intention of finding out.

Only time would tell.

Serving meals to a few dozen patrons had gone off without a hitch. Some evenings at the shelter were much easier than others, but rarely were there any without a single incident. Laylah was so grateful for how smoothly things had run, because she felt extremely tired. A hot bath and a couple of hours of reading would help rejuvenate her. Then she recalled it was Friday night. Open mic was something she loved to indulge in and hardly ever missed attending.

As Laylah was a woman who loved to write poetry, she also enjoyed sharing her creative works with others. Seated in the audience and listening to other poets was also a real blast for her. The majority of the poetry was spoken to music and someone might even hum or trill during the performance.

Bella’s Café was cozy, pretty laid-back—and the rules of the establishment cited no particular dress code. Most everyone wore jeans, sweats and other comfortable attire, as well as casual footgear. It was so easy to meet people at the event. Folks acted as if they were all one big happy family, as if they’d known each other their entire lives.

The very old jukebox was a favorite fixture. Hot wings and French fries, personal-pan pizzas and a few other fast-food items could be ordered. The only alcoholic beverage served was wine, but lemonade, iced tea and water were also available for purchasing.

Laylah looked all around the room until she spotted Chancellor. Wondering if she should ask him if he wanted to go to Bella’s Café with her was at the forefront of her mind. She actually thought he might enjoy it. It might also help him relax.

Then again, Laylah really didn’t know what Chancellor might or might not enjoy. She wanted to find out everything about him, though. Suddenly she was fearful about her chances of really getting to know him. It still bothered her that he’d earlier asked to be let out of the car before reaching their destination. Had he been trying to protect her from rumor and innuendo? That was a possibility. However, it hadn’t been necessary.

She truly didn’t care what people thought of her. Nor did she care what they said about folks she chose to closely associate herself with. It then dawned on her that that might not be the entire truth. All she had done since meeting Chancellor was worry about how she’d present a homeless man to her family, wondering and worrying about what they might think of it and him. Her expression rapidly turned pensive. Perhaps she needed to reassess what she had honestly believed was her position on the matter.

Regardless of how troubled Laylah was by her recent revelations, she still wanted to ask Chancellor about accompanying her or meeting her at the café. She would love to have him tag along. Her desire alone, to have him in her company, was a good enough reason to invite him. There were no rules or laws against becoming friends or even lovers with the homeless. What did she want them to become? Friends? Or possibly lovers?

What was wrong with them becoming both? Laylah smiled gently.

It didn’t take Laylah long to decide what she’d wear to Bella’s Café. A pair of beige jeans and an autumn-orange low-cut top would make a perfect fit for the evening’s festivities. The outfit was as stimulating as the sultry poem she’d picked out to read. “Tonight” was an intimately suggestive poem she’d written out of loneliness.

Thrilled only partly described how she had felt when Chancellor had said he’d love to attend poetry night. However, he’d totally refused her offer to pick him up at the shelter, where he’d been fortunate enough to score a bed. Benjamin had told him if he wanted to do a few odd jobs around there on a regular basis, he could do so. There’d be no monetary payment, but he’d already be in place to get a bed assigned at sign-up time.

She had taken it upon herself to ask Benjamin to use discretion in telling Chancellor about the new and used clothing handed out at the shelter, but only after he had expressed dismay with the attire he’d have to wear to the event. She thought he may as well make good use of all the shelter had to offer. She was sure he needed all the help he could get, so that should make it okay. Laylah didn’t know how things had turned out, since she had left before Benjamin had had a chance to say anything to Chancellor.

If Chancellor showed up at Bella’s Café wearing other duds, then Laylah would know he had been okay with Benjamin’s clothing offer. She knew he’d gotten to her place on the bus. There was a bus that ran right out in front of the café and it ran pretty often. If it had stopped running by the time poetry night was over, she’d just drop him off. That is, if he allowed her to.

Most shelters didn’t permit folks to come and go after they had been assigned a bed, but Second Chances was different than most places. The patrons were grown folks and didn’t need baby-sitters. However, if they didn’t come back there to sleep that same night, they’d be penalized. Someone else could’ve slept in the unused bed. Because of that, the violator of the rule couldn’t sign up for another bed for five consecutive nights.

So far no one had run afoul of the very fair rule; at least as far as Laylah knew.

While Laylah nervously drummed her fingernails on the café table, she kept a vigilant eye on the front entry. She was due to go up onstage and recite her poem in a few minutes, but Chancellor hadn’t showed up yet. He had seemed sincere enough when he’d told her he’d come down to Bella’s later on just to support her.

Maybe Chancellor had been offended if Benjamin had indeed offered him other clothing to wear. He was smart enough to figure out she may’ve had something to do with it. Not wanting to tamper with his dignity, she prayed that it wasn’t the case.

Laylah had really been looking forward to him being there, more than he’d ever know. In the next instant, her name was called out by the emcee. She looked up at the stage and then back at the front entry before she quietly slid out of her seat. Slowly, hiding her bitter disappointment, she began what seemed like a never-ending walk.

Once up onstage, Laylah spoke to the band leader and the emcee, Michael Brady.

Michael stepped up to the microphone and removed it from its stand. “Laylah is hardly a stranger to Bella’s Café. She has delighted us numerous times. Let’s give our lovely sister a warm round of applause. She’s going to excite us with a poem entitled ‘Tonight,’ penned by her own creative hand. Laylah Versailles!”

Smiling, Michael handed Laylah the microphone. He then gave her a warm hug before stepping aside to allow her to take center stage.

Laylah greeted everyone in an enthusiastic manner, smiling sweetly, cheered on by the houseful of poetry buffs. She took one last glance at the front entry and then at the table she’d just vacated. It was still empty, as empty as she now felt inside.

“‘Tonight,’” Laylah breathed softly, looking out at the crowd.

“Tonight I’m going to fulfill your needs and all your wildest fantasies. My darling, just close your beautiful brown eyes, think only of me, while my hot hands work their sensual magic on your entire anatomy.

Tonight it’s every part of your delicious body I fully intend to taste, as the ride to ecstasy is accomplished at a deliciously slow and easy pace. Relax and imagine me all dressed up in the beauty of your nakedness.

Tonight I’m going to make it fantastic for you, so turn up on your side. If the sensations are more than you can bear, just ebb and flow with the tide, as I rub this hot, jasmine-scented oil all over your strong back and thighs.

Tonight as you shudder, tingle and squirm under my expert touch, I hear your body talking softly, telling me that it wants me so very much. It’s also telling me you’ve fallen madly into love, as well as deep into lust.

Tonight a single candle turns the shadows on the wall a magical blue. Can you feel my electrifying fingers running rampant all through you? Though your hands haven’t even touched me yet, I feel the electricity, too.

Tonight when I’m done, I can’t wait for you to return the favor in kind. By your reaction to the butterfly kisses I’m raining down against your spine, I can tell you’re ready to surrender, ready for me to completely blow your mind.

Tonight when it’s over, I’ll be exclusively yours, and you’ll be all mine. My darling, raise your head and take a sip of this sweet, aphrodisiac wine. Better yet, let me pour it all over you to taste it from your dark skin so fine.

Tonight is over and now it’s time for us to fall into a dream-filled sleep.

The evening’s been fulfilling, what’s between us has grown so deep.

For some, tonight may be just another insignificant time of the week.

For us, the burning memories of this delicious night are forever ours to keep.”

Waiting for the thunderous applause to die down, Laylah bowed at the waist numerous times. Just when she thought it was all over, everyone began standing up, continuing to applaud her. This was her very first standing ovation at Bella’s Café.

Unable to believe the avid response, Laylah felt overwhelmed as she stood stock-still. “Thank you for your undivided attention and your kind generosity,” she said into the microphone, though she knew no one could hear her. The loud clapping hadn’t stopped; her emotional response had just begun. Laylah discreetly wiped away her tears.

Seeming to appear out of nowhere, Chancellor was at the very edge of the stage, holding out his hand for Laylah to take. She didn’t know how long he’d been there or how much of her poem he’d heard; she was just beside herself with joy at seeing him. If he could hear her heartbeat, then he already knew it sounded like a runaway freight train. But she didn’t care if he heard it. All she cared about was that he’d kept his word.

There were several men who hadn’t kept their word to Laylah. And it felt darn good to have one man who’d had enough integrity to keep his. He hadn’t said when he’d get there; he’d just said he’d be there to support her. And so he was.

Laylah gently laid her delicate hand inside his. “Glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. You were great. Loved the poem.”

So, he had heard her, she thought, happy he’d gotten there in time.

Chancellor gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he led her to the back of the café, where she pointed out the dimly lit table she’d occupied before her performance. Once they were comfortably seated, he pulled out a thin wad of cash and showed it to her. “I got enough work today to be able to buy you a drink. Name your poison.”

Laylah would have ordered a ginger ale, but she somehow felt he might see through her desire to keep the check fees to a minimum. “White wine, please.”