Elephant and Castle Empress
"Market trader Marva sells the best Caribbean produce in South London, but when chef Lucas comes looking for plantains, she gives him a private lesson in how to handle her goods."
"Yuh don't know how to pick plantain?"
Lucas flushed. He was opening a Caribbean fusion restaurant but couldn't tell ripe from green.
Marva shook her head, that thick body moving as she came around the stall. "Come. Mi teach yuh."
Her hands guided his over the fruit, pressing, testing.
"Feel that? Firm but yielding. That's perfect."
He was feeling a lot of things.
"Yuh need more lessons," she declared. "Come tomorrow, early. Before the crowd."
He came early. She taught him yams, ackee, scotch bonnets. Her body brushed his constantly.
"Yuh learning," she said on day three.
"I have a good teacher."
"Yuh have a teacher who like how yuh hands feel."
Day five, she pulled him into the back of her stall. Storage area, boxes of produce, no one to see.
"Mi been patient," she said. "Time fi see if yuh can handle the goods proper."
She kissed him among the mangoes and cassava.
That thick body against boxes of passion fruit. Her moans covered by market noise. His hands finally knowing exactly what to do.
"Yes! Lucas! Yuh learning good!"
She came apart in his arms, rebuilt, came apart again.
"Now that's how yuh handle Caribbean goods."
His restaurant opened to rave reviews. Everyone asked about his produce source.
"Trade secret," he always said.
Marva visits the kitchen after hours. Teaches him new things. Tests his skills.
"Yuh ready for advanced lessons?" she asks.
"Always."
Elephant and Castle's empress.
His kingdom surrendered gladly.