"Daryl's madly in love with Amanda," Timothy told her. "Has been for years. Obvious, and I'm sure you've noticed more than once or twice his 'stiff' problem. Reeves knows it, he knows that Daryl should be telling Amanda what he's feeling. Has he?"
Seraphina closed her eyes, why was he making such sense tonight? "I don't know."
"No, he hasn't. He keeps him from playing 'close proximity' games together," Timothy explained. "I'm sure you've seen more than your fair share of feelings being unexplored in Hidden Secret. It's the way they were raised, not to explore. Never to kiss, never to become more adult." He leaned back in his chair. "Reeves was retrained, but only to a certain point. He's never seen the obvious, that this sector should be closed. That it needs to turn into something better."
"Oh, a condo? A resort for the rich adults themselves?" Seraphina questioned. "Don't act like this is entirely selfless. I know the many problems Hidden Secret faces, and I agree, and disagree with Reeves on things."
"Of course, he's an idiot," Timothy couldn't help but add. "You'll never understand any local that was born here. Every single one is different." He rubbed his head. "Even I'm different. I'll be different from normies every day of my life no matter how hard I try because I was raised with no exposure to the outside world in this petri dish."
"Oh, Timothy." Seraphina grabbed his hand gently. "I'm sorry. It's true, you have some moments where people can tell you were raised in Hidden Secret, but overall, you've grown up quite well. You seem normal to me."
Timothy lifted his head higher as he heard music. He watched others starting to get up to dance. "I can do a normal thing right now." He stood up and held out his hand. “Come on.”
Seraphina looked surprised as she stared at his hand. “You want to dance?”
“Yes, let’s dance like we’ve never heard of Hidden Secret before.” He stood up and proceeded to the dance floor with her.
Slow dancing was about the only dancing she had a chance to learn. “Ouch.”
“Don’t give me ouch,” Timothy complained as he accidentally stepped on her foot. “Reeves has been burning your hands, and you’re complaining about my foot?”
“Sorry,” Seraphina chuckled. It had hurt, after all her feet were in just as poor condition. Him striking it with his foot didn’t lessen the pain, but she couldn’t bear to let him feel guilty. “Thanks for this dance, Timothy.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Timothy held her closer, trying to concentrate on the steps.
You’re doing swell, keep it up, Timothy! Move to stage two.
Timothy scratched his ear as he adjusted his earplug that Tracy had been giving him advice through. He sighed as sadly as he could manage. “Well, we’re dancing. A movie would have been nicer though.”
“A movie is at least an hour and a half,” Seraphina tried to explain. “It’s past eight, Timothy.”
“I never get to see you,” Timothy hugged her closer as they danced. “Only Reeves gets to see you, all the time. What difference will one movie make? I miss watching movies with you.”
“We didn’t watch movies all the time.” Seraphina fidgeted. “Okay, one movie.”
“Yes.” Timothy spun her around. “That’s my Seraphina Medina. We’ll eat and go see our movie.”
“Shouldn’t we just go now?” Seraphina asked.
“Our food will almost be here,” Timothy reminded her. “I already paid for us.” He sounded down again. “You didn’t want to come here after all with me?”
“No, I did. We’ll eat, and we’ll catch a movie,” Seraphina insisted.
Timothy gestured toward the table. “Let’s eat first then. What kind of movie would you like to see?”
Tracy practically jumped up and down behind some potted plants. Who knew their biggest advantage was, in fact, feelings? Whatever Reeves did to her sister, she could now undo. With enough investigation and interviews with Timothy, she understood a lot about Reeves’ faults, which had now become Seraphina’s.
Also in Ahara . . .
“I hate that guy,” Reeves complained again, but stared at the rings. At least it gave him the chance to do what he had to. As predicted, Timothy was keeping her out later. Marriage or my courtezan. This is nuts. He picked out a ring for each one, both with a blue stone. Either way it all went down, he’d give her every option he could. “Those two.” He bought them straight up and left quickly. With the only task he needed to get done, and the deliberation it took to get them done, now he had to do the important thing.
Get her away from Timothy. Everything Tracy and Timothy was planning would be backfiring. This little stint would not last.
“That was great, Timothy. The movie was longer than I thought,” Seraphina admitted. “Still, it’s ten thirty.” She groaned.
“Was it worth it?” Timothy asked. “Was I worth it?”
“Yes, of course.” Seraphina said. “We haven’t spent time together for so long, it was terrific. Now I have to get to bed, I am exhausted.” She looked up higher and didn’t look as happy. “The elevator’s gone?”
“Oh?” Timothy looked where she looked up. “Ugh. Of course, he must have taken the entire airship to go check up on you because you are a little late going to bed. You’re an adult, make that clear to him.”
“Oh, he must be disappointed.” Seraphina realized. “I shouldn’t have been this long.”
“You are not happy about staying longer with me?” Timothy looked away. “I understand.”
“No, I did. I do, I loved our time together.” Seraphina assured him. “What should I do? I’m tired, do we have to go back to Ahara to reach the rewot?”
“No, of course not. Come to my place.” Timothy suggested. “Oh, but then Reeves might be a bit upset you didn’t meet up with him after he wasted his night looking for you.”
“You’re right. Getting sleep while he’s out looking . . .” Seraphina yawned. “ . . . for me wouldn’t be right. Okay, let’s . . .” She yawned again. “Let’s head back towards Ahara. We’ll find him somewhere.”
Half an hour later...
“There it is.” Timothy pointed above his car at the appearing airship. “I had a fun time. Do you want to do this again soon?”
“Well, I’m sure it’s late enough.” Seraphina insisted. “I should wait until after the training.”
“Oh.” Timothy looked away. “I’ll see you every five days then, if I’m lucky?”
“Timothy, don’t feel bad.” Seraphina got out of his car. “You don’t quite understand.”
“I’m trying to make things up to you.” Timothy sighed. “You’re not making it easy to do that.”
“Yes, I am. I can, just, can’t you wait a little while?” Seraphina asked. “Please, it won’t be long.”
Timothy just sniffled. “You say that now. Think about how long it’s been? I don’t know if I can believe you.”
“You can,” Seraphina insisted.
Timothy watched Reeves descending the elevator toward them. “Then we can go out again tomorrow?”
“Sure.” Seraphina replied.
“No,” Reeves walked over to Seraphina, his tongue in his cheek. “Where were you, were you in trouble?”
“Reeves," Seraphina didn’t know what to say. “One thing led to another, and it got a little late.”
“Won’t happen tomorrow night,” Timothy added.
“Tomorrow night? No, it won’t because there won’t a tomorrow night with you.” Reeves took off his shades and pointed them at Seraphina. “You have to train. Do you see how much sleep we’ve missed? We are not going to be the best we can be tomorrow.”
“Don’t yell at her!” Timothy cried overdramatically. “She wanted to spend extra time with me. She wants to spend time tomorrow with me. She already said yes.”
“Seraphina,” Reeves said as he tried to keep his voice neutral, but he must have been tired. “This is not the time to be having fun at night. You need sleep.”
“But.” Seraphina looked over at Timothy. “He misse
s me.”
“I do. Terribly.” Timothy smirked at Reeves. “It’s not right to keep us apart. Is this what it’s going to be like if she becomes a sidekick? Can I never see her again?”
“She needs sleep,” Reeves repeated. “It’s late, Timothy.” He pointed to the elevator. “Seraphina, you should head to bed.”
“She will need sleep every night,” Timothy said as he looked sadly at his lap. “Does that mean we can never date?”
“Then during the day,” Seraphina tried to suggest.
“If you make sidekick, you will be working the whole day.” Reeves reminded her. “Maybe you could see each other on vacation time?”
“Vacation time?” Timothy’s lips trembled. “I get it. I understand, I can’t see you anymore.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll learn to stay up and get up early too. I can do it; people can get used to smaller amounts of sleep.” Seraphina smiled at Timothy. “It’ll be okay.”
“Will it change later?” Timothy suggested. “It’s best to figure out a plan now.”
Good going Big Boy. Tracy spoke through the earplugs again. You’re making them extra tired. If you could push them just a bit further.
“It’s not best to figure out a plan at . . .” Reeves looked at his watch. “Eleven forty? Twenty minutes it will be midnight.”
Seraphina yawned, “Yeah, I’m tired. Let’s go to bed.”
“But what about a plan?” Timothy whined.
“Oh, Timothy, knock it off,” Seraphina groaned. “I can’t deal with you right now, I’m tired!”
Timothy nodded. "I see, you get cranky when you get overtired."
“Yeah, yeah, see you tomorrow.” Seraphina headed up the elevator.
“Tomorrow, we will figure something out,” Reeves insisted as he climbed into the elevator too. “Count on it.”
Chapter 27
"33, 32, 30, 33." Reeves looked at Seraphina’s numbers as he yawned. “You can’t even get in the 20’s anymore.”
“So?” Seraphina groaned. “You can’t talk without yawning. I’d like to see you . . .” She yawned. “ . . . do this today. I can barely stay awake.”
“We did not hit the bed until almost midnight,” Reeves groaned. “This is why I go to bed at seven. We must give up and go back to bed. We will only become more tired and it’ll get dangerous if you are too tired to . . .” he yawned again. “. . .flip right.”
“It’s day three, though. We can’t waste an hour.” Seraphina reminded him. “Why oh why was I out so late? It started out only being dinner, but he seemed so sad, and I couldn’t help it, I just, I wanted him to be happy. He missed me.”
“Well, I understand.” Reeves said. “As much as he does, he needs to realize you need these last three days. You must be the best you can be. Every hour of training makes a difference. It will too, if you pass this. These are only the little lessons to help you pass. There is so much more that you need to learn. You’ll have to figure out something, but please? Cancel your date tonight?”
“He’ll be sad,” Seraphina groaned, “but I’ll be so tired if he does that again. It was lovely spending time with him, but I do need sleep. How can I say no? I used to never have any problem telling him no. I can’t say no anymore.”
“There are some things you have to say no to.” Reeves said. “It doesn’t make you any less of a nice person. Sometimes, it’s smart to say no. If I never said no to Timothy.” He yawned and then chuckled. “I would not be in Hidden Secret right now.”
“Touché,” Seraphina agreed, “you’re right. I’ll get more sleep and then I’ll call Timothy and cancel.”
“Good,” Reeves nodded. “You are doing the right thing.”
“I know but-,” Seraphina spoke into her cell phone. “-no, I don’t want to make you feel inferior. Timothy, this is super important to me. Yes, you are super important too. No, no, I’m not saying that, I just mean give me three days. Just three. No, I’m not lying. Yes, I know we haven’t gone out much.”
Reeves rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Tell him that you can’t come, goodbye. Say goodbye, just say goodbye.”
“Look, I can’t come.” Seraphina tried to repeat what Reeves said. “No, I’m not trying to cut you off. No, you don’t have to come down here. No, please don’t sound so sad.”
Reeves grabbed the phone. He yanked his tucked in shirt out and rubbed it across it constantly to generate static. Then he hung up.
“Reeves?” Seraphina was surprised by the action.
“He knows.” Reeves gave her the phone back. “He is using you, Seraphina, he knows you can’t turn him down. Talking one on one will make it too hard. I know what to do.” He pulled her forward to him, catching her in his grasp. “We can’t train, so we better get some sleep.”
Oh, she knew that look. “Reeves, it- “
“The future can’t be predicted,” he said as he picked her up, bridal style. “I don’t care how this ends, as long as I give it my all with you.”
Seraphina found herself on the ground with a mattress, a blanket and pillows. Too far away from the room, this looked all quite set up. “Reeves.”
“Skip the dating, we’ll come back to that later if you want.” Reeves laid down beside her. “Your fingers are still singed.” He kissed them delicately. “I should make that up to you by trying something with my hands.”
Whoah. “Reeves,” Seraphina said. She watched him pull her closer and felt herself falling into the pool of emotions with him again. While those feelings were such shallow water and hard to navigate with Timothy, they were rivers of deep oceans with Reeves. She could always feel so much more with him. Their connection was so complete, while Timothy was nothing but a rocky shallow brook. It made it easier on focusing differently to get through the hurt she must have caused him. Now, the dominating feelings were overwhelming lust and anxiety. Such a bad idea. Yet, a good idea too.
How could she play with both like this? How could they both still be trying to win her? Just one give up already, she thought. One, just one give up. Although, even her mind couldn’t fool her own heart. She didn’t want just one to give up, she wanted Timothy to give up. She wanted to stay with Reeves. What would happen though? She couldn’t take care of herself, she needed Tracy or her own life. Being a sidekick would give her that own- “Reeves?!”
Whoah. She reached out to hold out his arm for support. She had been so preoccupied with her thoughts and feelings and emotions between them that she missed his initiative. He had slid his hands under her dress and rubbed her through her panties. “Reeves, I didn’t- “
“Silence your mind,” he whispered to her. “Do we even need words between? Ssh.”
She found herself lost in his kisses again as he continued to rub against her. She’d never felt that before from anyone but herself. Even then, not real far. She couldn’t get heavy adrenaline through her body before. Instead, to please one of her boyfriends, she had rubbed them or gave them a blowjob. Never had any of them even tried to find a way to please her. She drowned within his touch, literally and emotionally, wanting to quench everything he feared. Wanting to give him everything he needed. At the same time, he was clearly doing the same. Then, her mind went stark white as her wetness felt satiated. He had moved from the safety of above her panties to below them.
Her whole body trembled around him, and it only seemed to increase his need for her. There was no way she could be his sidekick, this passionate explosion would always happen between them. Elsewhere, marriage, or on his airship as an official courtezan. The term was ridiculous, but she’d be treated with the respect of being his woman. Yet? Still no place for-
She felt another wave of excitement come over her, it was so intense, a part of her wanted to back off while another part wanted to come closer. Feel him closer. His body on top of hers, she could feel his sweating chest beneath her now. He’d unbuttoned his shirt. She knew where it was all leading to. Her mind was screaming at her to stop, but every beat of her heart feeling him on
her just said go. In her own bold move, she moved his hand from where he’d been pleasing her to her bosom. Even her Hidden Secretan would understand that.
With every button being undone, she knew she made the right choice. She could never imagine anyone else so close with her. She kept one hand on his firm chest and feeling the coolness of his medallion beneath her hand, twirled it into her fingers.
She felt a slight conk on her head as his shades fell on the side of her forehead, but it didn’t hurt. She took her free hand and felt around for the edge of them as she felt him feeling around on her too. On her back, to undo her bra.
She lay bare to his eyes, naked with nothing to hide. He gazed back at her, his eyes glossy and overcome with his own lust and feelings. He kissed her a moment, ignoring her body just to taste her again. She squeezed the edge of the handle of his shades, reaching up to drop them safely above them. Safely out of the way.
He lifted his lips from hers again, his breath hot against her skin as he kissed her neck gently. Once. Twice. Harder on the third kiss. Asking. Knowing.
She nodded. Hearing the sound of his belt being undone, she moved her hands to his arm and heard a brief reminder of why she loved him again.
“I’ll play nice.” His words for when he penetrated her. Caught between being gentle and dirty. That was her man. She heard the crinkle of the sound of a condom package being ripped open and felt her panties being slipped lower. She felt the start of him. Hard but outside of her, gently moving. Playing. She felt a smirk beneath the kisses he started to give her again. She knew what the smirk meant, could feel it. It wasn’t a conscious gesture, but it was a matter of pride. He won. Yes, he did. He won her heart, her soul, her compassion and her trust. He understood her, how she felt about her sister, what scared her, what tempted her, her weaknesses and her-
Reeves stopped playing softly and did it. She felt herself getting hit hard, breaking! A different feeling from all the pain she’d felt so far. He eased up again, taking it easy against her.
Reeves Page 18