Awakening

by Lee Savino

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  …

  …

  But…no. He couldn’t. His place was in the darkness. In the cold. In shadow.

  So he gathered himself, drew down her dress, and used a ripped piece to sop up the dripping mess between her legs. He had to help her down the first few steps, until she regained her equilibrium. Halfway down he stopped and pointed to the abandoned Ben Wa balls.

  His body still buzzing, he wanted to whisper a sonnet to her.

  Instead, he made his voice icy. “Clean up your arousal.”

  He handed her a handkerchief. Cheeks an adorable shade of pink, Cora wiped the steps and collected the balls as he towered over her. When he held out his hand for the bundle, she didn’t look at him but bit her lip. The sight sent another shot of arousal stabbing through him.

  With a hand on her back, he escorted her to the elevator, steadying her when she wobbled. Her dress was torn in the back, the straps slipping down her shoulders, but she was too dazed to notice. She couldn’t do anything but lean on him.

  If he could keep her in this state, freshly fucked with his cum spilling out of her puffy pussy, gaze hazy and cheeks tinged pleasure-pink, he would. He’d be tempted to sell his businesses, buy the whole Crown Hotel, and take her in a different room night after night after night.

  Catching her in his arms, he gave her a kiss.

  “Angel,” he murmured and she melted into him.

  Fuck it. Marcus gave into what he ached to do all night.

  He wrapped her in his jacket and carried her the rest of the way, down the elevator, through the building empty of all but his Shades, and out to the car where he held her all the way home.

  Nine

  “The Orphan seemed desperate,” Cora told Maeve early the next morning, as they were taking inventory at the shelter’s store. Maeve had initially asked about how things were with Marcus—

  But Cora just couldn’t. Last night… Last night was… She’d thought if she finally got it all out and stopped pretending to be the good little wife…

  But her rebellious actions and words had seemed to fire Marcus up even more, if that was possible. She wouldn’t have thought so. But that race up the stairwell, and when he caught her— Her entire body flushed hot.

  Last night had only proved that nothing had changed. She was just as far under Marcus’s thrall as ever.

  She’d loved every single thing he did…but that had always been the problem, hadn’t it? She loved… Whereas Marcus only…what? Amused himself with her? Enjoyed taking his possession out to play with?

  And when he tires of you?

  No, it was far better to think about other people and their problems if she wanted to stay sane. Hence throwing herself into the Iris mystery as soon as she’d gotten to the shelter this morning.

  Plus, Chris and Iris really did need her help. And Marcus was wrong. Real love did exist. These two proved it was still possible, even in this corrupt, ugly world. It didn’t matter that that kind of love would never be Cora’s.

  “I didn’t know what to say when he asked me for help, though. But the more I think about it, the more I know I have to do something.”

  “A lot of people would say it’s not your problem.” Maeve swung her red hair over her shoulder, out of the way of her clipboard.

  Cora moved down the aisle, counting the bags of dog food and the chic chew toys the shelter sold to raise money for their non-profit. She looked forward to her volunteer time even though it was only two days a week. Though the dogs barked in the back, to her the place seemed peaceful. But any bit of peace was a mirage in the city. She was starting to see that. Marcus had always talked about how this city was barely held back chaos…

  Maeve let her work in silence until she came to the end of the aisle and faced Maeve again. Cora thought of the photo booth picture that even now she had in her pocket. Their bright smiles, full of such hope. And love.

  “Chris is right. I’m in a position to help. If I don’t do it, who else will?” Cora said with sudden certainty.

  This city was a bad place to be friendless. And even though The Orphan was worshiped and adored, Chris, the man behind the persona, didn’t have any true friends. No one else who could help him. He didn’t have anyone else in the world on his side, other than the woman he loved.

  Maeve didn’t look surprised. “So where do you start looking?”

  Cora bit her lip as she thought about it. But she always came back to the same conclusion, no matter how distasteful it might be. “The club where Iris worked. I think I’ll drop by there today.”

  Maeve raised an eyebrow. “And what does Marcus say about all of this?”

  “I can’t tell him.” Cora looked away. She was pretty sure Marcus would just tell her to stay out of it and that it was none of her concern. And there was a possibility that… “It’s complicated. And anyway, he’s busy.”

  She looked at Maeve for validation. “I was just going to slip away and check around. See if anyone’s heard anything. Maybe no one but us needs to know.”

  Maeve reached out and tugged away Cora’s clipboard. “You’re done here. Get going, but be safe.”

  Cora nodded, feeling scared and relieved at the same time. She couldn’t even fully explain to herself why she had to do this. Maybe because after last night, she had to show herself Marcus hadn’t swallowed up all of her yet—that there would be something left of her once he tired of her. She hoped her motives were better than that. She genuinely did want to help Iris and Chris.

  Either way, she was doing this. She pulled her apron off over her head and strode toward the back of the shop.

  Besides, what Marcus didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

  Cora slipped out the back door of the animal shelter, pulling her hair up in a ponytail and tugging a knit hat over it. She never went out this way. The dumpster was out in the parking lot off to the side, so she never had need to use this door.

  Still, before she stepped onto the street, she glanced this way and that to make sure Marcus’s men weren’t around. Usually they dropped her off at the shelter and left, with the unspoken understanding that she stay in the building.

  Even if they were hanging around—which they likely were with how twitchy Marcus had been lately—they’d probably be out front. As long as she was back before they came inside to get her at the end of the day, she’d never be missed.

  As she loped down the alleyway, she felt a private triumph. This would be her first excursion out in the city all on her own since…she couldn’t even remember when. Since before Marcus and that seemed like an eternity now, like a different life.

  She cut across to a side street, then took the bus part of the way and walked the last bit down a street lined with shops. Finally she came to a nice covered entryway with black pillars. “The Orchid House” was inscribed in purple letters over the door. It looked like a restaurant.

  She bit her lip and glanced around. The chances of her running into AJ were high. He owned the club. But if she stood here for much longer, she’d definitely look out of place. But she’d forgotten—until now—that AJ had told her to attend auditions at eleven.

  A glance at her phone showed that it was around ten now.

  She took a deep breath. It would be fine. She’d be in and out before anyone noticed. Well, she hoped she would be.

  Or she could be smart and get the hell out of here right now.

  She pulled the old picture out of her pocket. Iris smiled back at her, so innocent and carefree.

  “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done,” she hissed under her breath to Iris’s picture before pocketing it and pushing into the club.

  A dark narrow hallway led to a coat check area. From there the room opened up into a lushly decorated restaurant, with a bar on one side and leather armchairs facing a stage. And she couldn’t miss the two poles going from ceiling to floor on the stage.

  She gulped, hard. If she was caught, how exactly was she going to explain to Marcus why s
he had showed up to a strip club at ten in the morning on a Tuesday?

  She almost turned around and left. At least she’d tried.

  “Hey, honey,” a friendly voice called.

  Busted, Cora peered into the gloom.

  A young man stood behind the bar, wiping glasses dry. “You’re too early. Auditions don’t start until eleven.”

  “Sorry. Um, I’m looking for someone who works here?” Cora called.

  The man leaned against the bar. He was gangly but good-looking, with longish blond hair ending in curls around his face. “What’s your friend’s name, honey?”

  “Iris.”

  “Is that her real name or stage name?”

  Uhhhhh…good question? Cora’s mouth was suddenly as dry as dirt. She swallowed several times. The young man cocked his head and gave her a dazzling smile. He seemed amused by her discomfort.

  Fumbling inside her pockets, Cora approached and laid the picture of Iris and Chris down on the polished surface.

  The young man studied it, then shook his head. “I don’t know her. You sure she used to work here?”

  Cora tried to recall what Chris had said. “I think so. She’s missing and I’m looking for her, for a friend.” She stopped abruptly, wondering how much to share.

  “If you wait a minute, Anna might be able to help you. She’s worked here longer. She might recognize your friend.”

  Cora nodded her gratitude.

  “You can sit if you want. Anna should be right out.”

  “Uh, I don’t know.” Cora turned and stopped, distracted by the posters on the far wall. Most were of women in provocative poses, poorly disguised as gaudy art. “I don’t have much time.”

  “You sure you’re not going to audition?” The bar boy was still smiling at her, now overtly appraising her body. When Cora caught his eye again, he winked.

  “Don’t be shy, sugar. Everyone’s nervous their first time.” He nodded towards the stage and Cora turned back, walking slowly to one of the chairs to sit.

  She saw smoke curling out from the corner of the stage.

  “Um.” She glanced over at the bartender. He was watching it too and seemed unconcerned. For a second Cora listened hard, until she could hear the click of a fog machine in the background. She relaxed and turned back to face front.

  The mist kept creeping over the black stage, thickening until it was at least a foot deep.

  Then a song started playing, violins plucking on beat.

  A figure slowly appeared in the mist. The arms appeared first and then the face of a young woman, her big brown eyes staring right into Cora’s. She was petite and curvy, her figure clad only in black hot pants and a white skintight top. She came out of the fog, moving swiftly to grab a pole.

  She twirled slowly, her feet swishing through the smoke. She landed and twisted, spinning gracefully and then soaring around the pole again, somehow hooking her legs so her hands were free.

  She peeled the white shirt off provocatively, baring a sexy midriff. Then she smiled at her audience of two. She turned her back to them, then glanced back over one sexy shoulder as her booty swayed wildly. She reached up and loosened her long, glossy hair, letting it pour over her.

  The song ended and wow. Just…wow. Cora had never seen anybody move like that, so unconsciously raw and feminine and sexy. A clapping sound from the left caught her attention; the bar boy was grinning as he gave a standing ovation.

  The dancer disappeared and the smoke machines sputtered to a stop. In a minute the woman reappeared, hair tied back again, shirt tucked into wide legged black pants. She looked perfectly normal, like the girl next door.

  “Bravo,” the youth at the bar clapped his approval. “Looks great, Anna.”

  “Thanks, Paul.” The woman had a high-pitched, breathy voice. “Everything’s working perfectly. This is going to be my best show ever.” She giggled, a gorgeous, delighted sound.

  “Hey, this lady’s here to see you.” Paul waved to Cora.

  Anna kept her sweet smile as she approached Cora. “Can I help you?”

  As she came closer, Cora caught her breath. Anna was beautiful. Wide brown eyes surrounded by thick black lashes and perfectly bronzed skin—the woman wasn’t wearing a touch of makeup and she was lovelier than any model Cora had ever seen.

  “Are you here to apply for a job?” Anna asked, smiling broadly. She was several inches shorter than Cora, if more curvy. Even her plain clothes couldn’t hide her sexy figure.

  Cora realized she’d been staring. “Um, no, sorry.” She shook herself. “I’m looking for a friend who works here. Her name is Iris.”

  Anna’s smile switched off. Her dark brown eyes became assessing. She obviously knew something about Iris.

  “I just need to talk to her,” Cora pleaded, lowering her voice. “She’s missing and her fiancé is worried.”

  “I haven’t seen Iris in a while,” Anna said. “She used to work here but I think she left when she got engaged.” She hesitated, glancing at the bar hand as if she didn’t want to say more in front of him. “Paul? I’m going to head out for a bit and then I’ll be back.”

  “You’re on at two. Though I might need a dance or two before because the others are always late.”

  “I’m sure it will all work out.” Anna smiled enchantingly.

  “Did you get everything you needed?” Paul asked Cora.

  Cora blinked and nodded. “Um, I need to go actually.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Anna added in her breathy voice. “Just let me grab my purse.”

  The petite woman ran behind the bar and grabbed her things. She came back, sliding on large dark sunglasses that swallowed up her face. The hoodie pulled over her hair took care of hiding the rest.

  “Come on.” Anna grabbed Cora’s hand and pulled her out of the club.

  They ended up on the street. Which was where Anna rounded on her, her voice sounding more normally pitched and less sex kitten.

  “Look, I’m going to ask this once,” Anna demanded, “and I want the truth. Are you one of AJ’s girls?”

  Cora blinked in the bright light, surprised by this turn of events. “Um, no.”

  Anna put her sunglasses up so she could gaze straight into Cora’s eyes. “Are you working for him?”

  “N-no,” Cora blurted as the shorter woman got in her face.

  “Then how do you know Iris?”

  “I know her fiancé. The Orphan. He’s a singer and doing a show at—” She stopped when she realized she shouldn’t say ‘My husband’s club.’

  “I know who The Orphan is. Everybody does.”

  Faced with those striking brown eyes, Cora wanted to tell the truth. “Okay, well, his real name is Chris. I met him backstage and then later at a party. Iris is his fiancée and she’s been missing since yesterday. He wanted me to help ask around until the police can get involved.”

  Anna’s eyes narrowed, weighing Cora in the balance.

  “Chris asked me to come look for her. He’s not allowed to leave to look himself. Something about his contract. The guys he’s working with aren’t the best types…” Cora trailed off.

  She couldn’t imagine how that sounded. Right, a famous guy she’d met a couple times at a party had asked her to look into his missing fiancée. She probably sounded nuts.

  For a moment Anna just studied her face. Cora shifted from foot to foot, ducking her head nervously when someone drove past. AJ could walk up at any moment. They were still far too close to the club for Cora’s comfort. But crazy or not, she couldn’t just let this go. Anna obviously knew something about Iris.

  “Look, I’m not here to pry. Or cause trouble. I can give you my number, and if you find anything out, just call me, ok?” Cora fumbled in her pocket and took out the little notebook she carried. She handed Anna a slip with her number scribbled on it.

  Anna took it, and Cora started to walk away. If the woman didn’t trust her enough to talk to her, there was nothing Cora could do.

  “Wait,
” Anna called. Cora stopped and looked back.

  Huddled in the hoodie and sunglasses too large for her face, Anna seemed almost childlike. “Why would you help Iris?”

  Cora took a deep breath. She’d wondered that herself, all the way from the shelter to The Orchid House.

  You and me against the world, Chris had said. The lovers in the green room, gazing into each other’s eyes like they were the only people alive.

  “She and Chris were going to elope.” Cora took out the picture again and held it up so Anna could see it. “I want to help them. It means something, to have a love like they have. It’s special and precious. But it’s not…” Cora shook her head as she tried to find the words. “It’s not just that. It’s… I could be her.”

  She met Anna’s eyes, trying to be as honest as possible. “When I first came to the city, I needed someone to watch out for me.” She paused again. Marcus’s face flashed in her mind but she shook it away. He’d been her savior all right. With a vengeance. “Right now, I think Iris needs help, too. Sometimes that’s all it takes, one person willing to help. It can change everything.” Not always for the better, but that was neither here nor there.

  The dancer’s eyes bored into her, piercing her skin. Cora wished she hadn’t said so much, so awkwardly. She was ready to bolt, leave the area and find another way, when Anna spoke.

  “I can tell you about Iris,” Anna said. “But not here.”

  Ten

  Anna led Cora to a shop around the corner.

  Part coffee shop and part bookstore, the restaurant had nice private booths with high backs. Anna slid into one. “This is my favorite place to get a Buddha bowl. And they do a nice vegan lasagna. Plus espresso to die for.”

  “I’ll have what you’re having.” Cora smiled at her, glad she was letting her guard down.

  Anna ordered without looking at the menu. After the waitress got them waters and a pot of green tea, Anna settled in and studied Cora’s face.

  “I recognize you from somewhere.”