“That’s why it’s fun.” He pats my ass and pulls me into line for the ride.
“Hey, man, I want to pay up for three rides,” Shadow says, slipping him a twenty dollar bill.
“Sure thing, man,” the tall worker replies with a wink.
I can see the knowledge in his dark eyes. I glance away. My face is hot, but so is my core. The man is making me shameless. He opens the bucket, and Shadow helps me step inside the shiny red cart. I sink down and he throws his arm over my shoulders, pulling me close.
He brushes his lips over the shell of my ear. “Let’s see how many times your man can make you come.”
His beard tickles my skin while his words make me gasp. The ride moves to allow the next cart full of people to board. He slips his hand under my skirt and trails his thick finger down the seam of my panties. “My shy girl, already wet for me. Am I turning you to the dark side?”
“I think you might be.” My voice warbles.
He eases my panties aside and touches my clit.
I go up in flames, gripping the edge of the seat as he circles my walls.
“So wet for me, and…tight.” He pulls out and eases in two fingers.
“Oh…” I bite my bottom lip.
“You have to remember to be quiet.” He kisses the area just below my ear.
I close my eyes and let the sensation of the cart circling and his clever fingers manipulating my flesh take me away. I struggle not to rock the bucket as the pressure builds. Panting, I tip my head back. Whimpers spill from my lips.
“You’re so beautiful when you try to contain yourself,” he whispers.
“A-almost there,” I say.
He increases his speed, and I’m flying with the moon hanging high in the sky with my man at my side.
He repeats the process twice before he guides me off the ride on shaky legs. “You look tired, girl. We need to get you off your feet.”
“Yeah, or away from my sex crazed old man.”
“It’s not my fault you’re irresistible and I got a lot of lost time to make up for.”
He only speaks of prison in passing now. But I know it affected him. He sleeps for shit, and he’s always watching his surroundings. I lift my hand up and cup his face.
He kisses my hand and steers us to the ride on the outskirts of the lot. We line up for the giant swan boat.
I watch as the people in front of us look back and think better of riding. With all the fucked up shit going on in the world, it amazes me that they continue to judge people by outdated stereotypes. The monsters I see on television are pretty polished, and adept at lying. We’re straight up. What you see is what you get. You might not like the packaging, but it’s America, we can dress how we please. I straighten my shoulders and hook my arms around his bicep. We step up to the entrance dock.
“Give us ten minutes, brother,” Shadow says to the teenager.
The kid is dressed in throwback white pants, with a red and white stripped sports jacket and a straw hat. He smiles nervously, showing braces. “I could get into trouble for that, sir.”
“I’ll make it worth your while.” Shadow presses a C note into his hand.
“You got it, man, ten minutes,” the boy says eagerly.
“I like how you do business,” I tease.
“You will once I get you inside the boat.” His voice is even huskier than normal.
I press my thighs together. Excitement courses through my veins. It feels good breaking the rules and doing all the things I missed out on as a teen. We step down inside the boat, and a for a moment sadness strikes. This could’ve been us all these years. Never again will I sacrifice everything. I may make mistakes, but I learn from each and every one of them.
The boat makes its way into the tunnel and Shadow pulls me onto his lap.