DOWN LOW (EPISODE 8)

Previously on DOWN LOW…

*

“Oh God!” Adaora sighed as her heartbeat slowly returned back to normal, and the violent tremors of her orgasm subsided. She reached between her legs, twisted her fingers into Liliana’s thick silky hair, and pulled her slowly upwards, along her body, until their lips were against each other.

“I really needed that,” Adaora whispered against Liliana’s lips, licking them slowly.

Liliana grinned. “Anytime, babe.”

“Now it’s your turn,” Adaora growled, capturing Liliana’s soft lips in hers, and turning so that Liliana was flipped onto her back.

Liliana’s soft oomph of surprise gave way to a moan as Adaora placed her open palms directly over her taut nipples and began to knead her breasts softly. She released Liliana’s lips and subsequently began oral ministrations on her breasts, flicking her tongue over the nipples while her fingers slid downwards along Liliana’s supple body to come to rest against her nether lips. Liliana arched her back as Adaora’s deft fingers slid into her, and her thumb caressed her ultra-sensitive clit.

“Oh God, babe, you’re killing me!” Liliana gasped, as Adaora slowly bit her taut nipple, one and then the other, while sliding her fingers in and out of her vagina.

Within minutes, Liliana’s orgasm ripped through her slender frame, sending a load moan echoing around the room. Adaora wrapped her arms around her quivering lover and Liliana hugged her back. They remained in the embrace, sated from the spent passion, for a few moments.

“I am going to miss you, Lili,” Adaora whispered softly.

“And I you. You have no idea how much,” Liliana whispered back.

“Well, we have almost three months more anyway. Let’s enjoy every moment together,” Adaora said.

Liliana kissed her forehead, trying not to think of how quickly time usually flew.

“You seemed moody today though – all through the dress fitting. What was troubling you?” Liliana asked, moments later as their bodies cooled and their heartbeats returned to normal.

“I’m always troubled these days, my dear. A forced wedding would do that to you.”

“Have you actually tried telling Chief Nweze that you don’t want to marry him?” Liliana sat up slightly as she asked this.

Her lover gave a short, bitter laugh. “Of course, after he has practically sponsored my life and that of my family, I will now come and say, ‘I’m sorry, I no wan marry’. What kind of person would that make me?”

“An honest one,” Liliana said softly.

Adaora shook her head vehemently. “An honest person would have told him from the get-go that she couldn’t accept his generosity if it required marriage in return. But me, what did I do? I pretended obliviousness to what his real intentions were as I cashed every cheque and withdrew every naira from the bank account he helped to fatten. And even after he voiced his true intentions, that he wanted me to marry him, I never uttered a word of protest. I just pretended that someday it would all go away and I wouldn’t have to pay up. I am a coward, Liliana, and if I even dare speak to him in an attempt to cancel this wedding, I would become a vile, dirty, deceptive Jezebel. Certainly not an honest person!”

Liliana was silent for a while as she stroked Adaora’s back gently. She finally said in a soft low voice that Adaora rarely heard, one that hinted at dark thoughts and dangerous deeds.

“You are right, Ada. It wouldn’t be fair to Chief Nweze at all. You are like an investment to him, and everyone deserves to see their investments mature and come to fruition.”

She stood up from the bed and walked over to the window, her gait sinuous and catlike. Adaora stared at her retreating back with sudden trepidation.

“I could help solve this, Ada. Just say the word and all this stress will disappear. If you even play your cards right, you could come out richer from all of this.” Liliana turned slightly and the bright afternoon light glinted off her rich hazel eyes, and they seemed to glow with an ominous green light.

Adaora shivered as goose bumps ran up her spine. “Liliana, please, I beg of you, no. I will marry Chief Nweze, and that is that. It is my decision, my cross to bear please…”

Liliana turned fully to face Adaora and cocked her head to the side. The light was behind her, so she just appeared to be an ominous shadow standing at the window.

“What kind of lover would I be if I didn’t help carry your cross?” she said, her voice still soft and deadly.

“I don’t want my cross carried like that, please, Liliana!” Adaora cried, her apprehension turning her voice breathless. “Just leave it like that! You have already helped me once before, to exact revenge on the man that stole my innocence! Yes, I felt avenged. Yes, I felt relieved. But the guilt still haunts me till this very moment! Please, Lili, I will not have another death on my conscience.” She inhaled a shaky breath.

“If you will not allow me to help you, then please, never complain about your impending nuptials to me again,” Liliana snapped.

Adaora recoiled. Then her eyes flashed as she retorted, “Excuse me, but what are you even saying? You can’t be upset after you promised me that you were done with that lifestyle and those people, yet you want to use those ties to ‘help’ me! You said you were done killing people, Liliana! You were just about to break that promise to me now, yet YOU are upset with ME?!”

For a moment, Liliana stared woodenly at her, even though she could not make out her expression clearly because of the shadow it was cast in. Then Liliana sighed, hunched slightly forward and buried her face in her palms.

“I’m so sorry, Ada,” she husked. “I’m so, so sorry. I really don’t know what came over me.” She began to sob softly into her hands and Adaora slid out of the bed and went to comfort her lover.

“Shh, my sweet Lili, it’s alright. Just hold me and let me hold you.”

Liliana reached for her and Adaora took her in. And they gently rocked in each other’s arms as the warm afternoon sunlight danced around them.

***

“It’s really very rude and uncouth of you to show up to someone’s house unannounced, much less with almost all your worldly possessions,” Timilehin said in her iciest tone to the petite and curvaceous woman that had barged into her house moments earlier, and was now firmly ensconced in the living room couch, flipping through TV channels and looking very much at home.

“Oooh – uncouth? Such a big word for a house girl! My dear cousin really polished you up nicely,” the young woman replied, giving Timilehin a disdainful sneer.

White hot rage burned through Timilehin’s slender body, but all she could do was clench her fists tightly. When she spoke, her voice was strained with the restraint she was holding over her rage, “Listen, Amina, I won’t trade words with you –”

“As if you would dare,” Amina muttered.

Timilehin gritted her teeth and continued, “This house is inhabited by not only your cousin, Ronke, but by me and another of our friends. Good upbringing requires that if you are coming to someone’s house, you inform the person beforehand. This is not okay.”

Amina turned to give Timilehin a look that was part irritation, part amusement. Then she rose from her seat, flipped her thick weave of black-and-pink colours over her shoulders, and lifted a finger to Timilehin.

“OK, hoe,” she began, “first of all, exactly who do you think you are to be telling me about good upbringing? You are nothing but a village house girl. The fact that you have read a few books, and my dear cousin persuaded my aunty to send you to school, and you are now wearing nice things doesn’t change what you are – a common plebeian, worth less than dirt.

“Secondly, this apartment belongs to my father. It is part of the many properties that the Quadri family owns, and this particular one is in my father’s name. Ronke and that other bitch that lives here pay rent to my family. Therefore, I am technically your landlord. You are lucky I am not throwing you out on the street where you belong –”

The slap that landed on Amina’s face, knocking the rest of her diatribe out of existence, was shocking in its occurrence and its intensity, and it sent her reeling until she dropped into the couch she’d just stood from. Her hand was on her burning cheek as she looked up, startled, at the virago now standing before her.

“I will not stand here and have you talk to me with such utter disrespect!” Timilehin said, her body vibrating with all the intense emotions coursing through her veins. “Yes, I was brought from a village deep in the backwaters of Ekiti State to be a house girl for your aunty. But that was ages ago. I have climbed out of that demeaning existence with Ronke’s help, not even her mother’s. And I have created a life for myself. I am educated. I run my own business. And I pay my own bills! You will do well to address me with the respect I deserve as a human being.

“Also, despite your father’s protest, we pay rent to him, not to you. You are not the owner of this apartment unless your father dies and wills it to you. So please, get the hell out of this place and wait outside till Ronke comes back and figures out what to do with you, because I refuse to breathe the same air as a vile-tongued, privileged little like you!”

Amina lifted herself shakily to her feet, her eyes spitting hatred at Timilehin as the latter towered over her.

“You would have to carry me out of here in a body bag, because I will not be bossed around by the likes of you,” she spat.

“It would be my pleasure then,” Timilehin replied and pounced. She grabbed hold of Amina’s arm and began dragging her to the door.

Amina cried out in surprise and anger, as she hadn’t expected the slender Timilehin to be so strong.

“Jesus Christ, Timilehin! What’s going on?” Adaora cried out as she walked into the living room with Liliana in her wake. The two women took in the scene at a glance, before Adaora continued, “For God’s sake, let her go!”

Timilehin ignored her and continued towing the furious and frantic Amina to the front door.

“Timilehin!” Adaora said again, and then turned an exasperated look to her lover. “Liliana, won’t you do something?”

Liliana leaned against the small mini bar and surveyed the scene with wry amusement. “I don’t know, Ada. I think you should let Timilehin have her way here. That girl looks slightly unpleasant.” She smiled and added, “Besides, who doesn’t love a good cat fight?”

Written by Santa Diaba