by Desiree King
Moondance
Desiree King
Copyright © 2012 Desiree King
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
To my best friend and husband, Kevin. Without you I never
would have been brave enough to take this step in my
writing. Thank you. I love you with everything in me
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would also like to thank those of you who helped me along
the way to this final step in writing this book; From my
friends both past and present who read countless drafts again
and again, to my sister in law who took on the enormous job
of taking my sloppy hand written pages and typing my
manuscript word for word. For that, I owe Tanya Sheely a
huge thank you.
Then of course thanks to the many inspirations that motivate
me, great authors both past and present and wonderful
musicians. Without those influences, I would not have written
word one. I would also like to acknowledge a great resource I
used, Fictionpress.net. I used your site to stick my toe in the
pool, and will continue to use this site as a tool to fine tune
my work.
And last, but certainly not least, my partner in crime, Kevin
Sheely, who pushed me to take this step an did all the
thankless grunt work of editing over and over again and
finding and working with Carlos Garzona and Tatiana Villa
for their formatting and amazing cover art.
Thank you all.
She did not know that the wolf was a wicked sort of animal,
and she was not afraid of him.
-Little Red Riding Hood
Chapter 1
I`m running in a dark forest. The loamy earth feels soft under my bare feet and my breath is coming as fast pants. The trees are like lifeless sentinles all around me watching my witless terror as I race for the lights I glimse between the trunks. 'If I could just reach the light I would be safe,' I thought to myself. My heart sank as I heard him behind me, chasing me. I knew that if he were to catch me I would be trapped and he might take my soul along with my blood. I put everything I could into my sprint and run faster, feeling the twigs and small branches whip my bare skin, slicing deep, and feel the warmth slide down as blood wells up and drops to the thirsty earth. This eerie wood seemed to be never ending and the wind was cold, blowing into my face. My blood frozen in my veins, I would never escape him.
I was almost there when I blinked and found myself transported to a crowded bar. I was sandwiched in the crush of people. The air was hot and smelled of smoke and sweat and I could barely hear myself think over the din of the people and the hard pulsing rock song coming from the stage. My heart still raced but now I could feel it and enjoy it as the terror turned to the rush of the crowd and I joined their twisting, writhing dance, hypnotized by the beat and lost in the melody. The band would play forever and I would die here in this ectasy, and happily.
The crowd seemed to get tighter I was surrounded. The air was getting tighter by the second and there was an explosion, maybe a flash pot on the stage or maybe a grenade but I felt my feet leave the ground as the brightness ate away my sight. “Alex…” I heard my name being whispered into my ear in a deep voice, an unfamiliar voice. I was in the dark again but instead of the forest I was standing in a strange bedroom. I looked down at myself to see hands on my hips, smearing what looked to be blood and ink on my skin, almost glittering in the moon light. His hands were strong and covered in tattoos and I watched them carefully as the red and black sank into my skin, leaving only a black tattoo of a wolf`s paw print on my hip. The room was silent but for our breathing and I was just getting used to the silence when I heard a deep growl behind me and more importantly, felt it rumble thru his chest where it was pressed to my back.
Suddenly I was wake sitting up in my bed in my hotel suite. I was gasping for breath and covered in sweat. Today was my last day here in LA and I knew just how I wanted to spend it.
Chapter 2
Los Angeles
"Hi, I have an appointment with Lisa." I smiled walking up to the counter.
"Just a moment she's finishing up. Do you have what you want?" A cute girl with bubblegum colored hair asked me.
"Yes," I smiled pulling the small piece of paper out of my bag. I handed the girl the page, on it was a drawing of a paw print, about the size of a quarter.
"What is it?" The girl asked.
"Oh, it's something my friend drew for me." I answered, that's when Lisa walked up to us. She wore a black tank top and blue jeans. She was tall at about 5'11 with black curly hair to her hips.
"Hi, Lisa." She extended her hand.
"Alex" I smiled.
"What are we doing?" She asked.
"I want that on my hip." I answered as the girl handed the image over.
"You want it that size?"
"Yes, and black."
"That's it?"
"For now." I smiled.
"First?" She smiled.
"Yeah I'm a little scared."
"Don't worry it'll be fast." Lisa said leading me over to a chair/bed. "I'm just going to free hand the stencil so you wanna get comfortable." She smiled as I unbuttoned my jeans and rolled down the left side. Lisa pulled out what looked like an ink pen and within seconds had an exact replica of the gliff drawn on my skin. "You wanna see?" She asked holding up a mirror.
"Looks good." I smiled and laid down.
"Lisa! Vic's here?" The pink haired girl called back.
"Do you mind if he comes back?" Lisa asked me.
"Not at all." I answered and within seconds a man who was very familiar to me walked through the shop. He was 6'1 with black hair to his shoulders but spiked up with shocking green eyes. He was covered in tattoos. He wore boots with jeans and a black t-shirt.
"Hey…" Victor's voice rumbled softly walking over to Lisa.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" She asked getting the gun put together.
"I was out and about, thought I'd stop by." Victor said then snuck a peek at the girl on the table behind Lisa. "Hi, Victor Greene." He smiled.
"Hi, Alexandria." I smiled back and Lisa turned on the gun and I jumped.
"Uh oh! First timer…." Victor smiled.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked turning red.
"You jumped and she didn't even touch you. It's alright you can hold my hand if it helps." He smiled as he pulled up a seat beside my face.
"That's okay." I was embarrassed enough I thought as Lisa spun on her chair to face me with the gun in her hand.
"Here we go! Don't move!" She said and within a blink of an eye there was searing pain and within another blink I was hanging on to Victor's hand for dear life.
"Alex…what do you do?" Victor asked trying to distract me.
"I'm a model…or I was."
"What happened?"
"Oh that's a long story let’s just say I took a break to heal, I'm actually hoping to start up again I have a few opportunities opening up soon." Why when I'm focusing on him is the pain less, I found myself wondering as I spoke.
"What have you done?" He asked.
"Runway mostly…" I smiled.
"Yeah, I don't go to those."
"Really, I'm up for whatever."
"Well I can help out there I got a call this morning, that my shoot for a Bass Guitar mag was cancelled because we lost the model, you want the job?" He smiled brightly.
"Really?!" I was dumbfounded, "Yes, thank you!"
"Hang on I'll be back. "He smiled and got to his feet and quietly walked out of the shop. The pain was back so I bit my lip to stay quiet and waited for it to be over.<
br />
"Okay all done." Lisa smiled smearing a clear goop on my new tattoo.
"Thank you." I smiled looking at it in the mirror, she bandaged it up and I walked outside to see Victor on the phone.
"Oh hey, hang on." He said into the phone. He turned to me, "here's all the info, see you later."
"Thanks." I smiled and headed for my car.
I walked into the studio for my first photo shoot in over a year and was trampled by the director of the shoot, photographer and image artist.
"Alex fantastic…come here…This is going to be the set." The director said leading me to a gothic bedroom set.
"Okay…that's great…" I smiled looking around.
"So…let’s head into makeup." The director started pushing me.
"Okay..." I rushed to the door the man behind me was shoving me toward. I found myself in a makeup and hair trailer listening to the photographer, image artist and director throw directions at the two poor women working this trailer. I sat quietly till the men left.
"God I hate them!" The first, a tall blonde spoke up.
"Okay…are you thinking?" The other, a short red head asked looking me up and down.
"I know just the thing." The blonde said disappearing into the racks of clothes. Moments later she returned with a few wardrobe bags in her arms. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Well these are out." The blonde tossed a few of the bags aside. "Okay here put these on then the robe." She handed everything to me and sent me in to change. In the wardrobe bag was a blood red silk slip night gown with a slightly flounced hem with black lace trim, and a pair of black string bikini panties. I put the clothes on knowing that as soon as I stepped into the room they would grab the duct tape. This little silk slip was not designed to hold large breasts up or in. I walked out to see the black stilettos and sure enough the tape. It was almost an hour later when Victor walked in. I was fully dressed, my long blonde hair was done in what many would call bed tousled curls but really it took an expert and a lot of time to get that look. My makeup was mostly natural looking just perfect except a high gloss red lip stick.
"Wow!" Victor said looking me up and down. He looked fantastic, I found myself thinking. He stood there in a pair of black pajama pants and a black tank top.
"You better hurry in here or the suits are going to have a heart attack or two." He smiled.
"All done… Take her…" The red head stepped back. I jumped to my feet and followed him out to the set.
"Alright! Let’s get on with this!" Victor called out and the show was on the road.
The photographer, a young kid not much older than me, walked over with a freshly polished black bass guitar. Later, I discovered it to be a Gibson Blackbird Bass, in fact the whole thing was almost matte finish black except silver iron cross decals for the inlays, and handed it to Victor. "Thanks Jesse." Victor smiled and slung the black leather strap around himself adjusting it all to sit just right low across his hips as he stood with bed to his back.
"Okay Alex, he's going to play and move around the room all I need from you is…" Jesse floundered for a word.
"Fawn over him you know like…" The director added, I think his name was Dean.
"You want me to worship him like the rock star he is." I laughed at his inability to express this.
"Oh good!" Jesse laughed, relaxing as I started lounging on one hip, my legs curled around looking up at him and just watched him as his hands glided over the strings, "Alex, stretch out your legs," Jesse called and I did as I was told. It was the same old dance as Jesse shouted directions and I did as I was told following Victor on his path around the room, till Jesse set his camera down and walked up to us again, "Lets try this, Vic, hang the bass across your back and face away from me, Alex you're gonna pose like you're kissing him.
"Alright," I did not even hesitate until I stepped up to Victor, unsure how they wanted to arrange this, "um…what kind of kiss?" I was confused.
"Here let me," Victor laughed and grabbed my hips in between his hands and yanked me up against his body and suddenly it felt natural. I wrapped my arms around his neck filled my fingers with his hair as the flash bulbs started again. "Vic! Her right leg over your hip!" Jesse called out and like it was completely his idea Victor curled his hand around my knee and hiked it up over his leg and ran his palm up the outside of my thigh, flashes again. Then Jesse spoke only one word, "alright!" and to my utter surprise Victor swept me up into his arms in a bridal carry and the flashes kept going, but finally Jesse set the camera aside again, and watched us quietly as Victor stood with me in his arms as if he could hold me up there like this all day.
"What?" Victor asked, suspicious.
"I…have an idea, but…" Jesse trailed off unsure.
"Spit it out!" Victor growled and set me on my feet.
"Here…" Jesse fiddled with the camera "you'll come up with it too!" Jesse said and started showing Victor a progression of pictures. Victor turned and looked around the set and his eyes settled on the bed then looked at me.
"Okay…two minutes," Victor said and led me away.
"How much do I need to take off?" I asked all business when we were in the far corner.
"You don't have to but he's right this all should resolve in the obvious place but if you're not comfortable," Victor was being very nice.
"It's fine, tell me what to do?" I smiled, and in response Victor just waved over to Dean and Jesse who were talking quietly in the corner.
When the two men finally joined us Victor spoke, "Jesse set us up."
"Fantastic!" Jesse grinned and got back to work.
By the end of the shoot I knew that I had to do my best to keep these pictures from my brother's sight, his head would spin around till it fell off. The bulk of the shots were of the first arrangement, Victor playing and me fawning over him in the various poses, then the masterful poses that followed and lastly were only four shots of Victor shirtless on his back propped up on one elbow with the bed sheets covering his pants completely and me in only the shoes and panties with the bass to cover my breasts where I knelt beside Victor, yes these were not something Joey could ever know about.
I went to change back into my clothes when I heard Victor and Jesse right outside the door and I learned something very important, Jesse was Victor's apprentice.
"Jesse, did you make me the disc?" Victor asked.
"Yeah it's right here…So where did you pull the trim from?" Jesse responded.
"I found her at Lisa's shop can you believe it?" Victor answered.
"Yes, somehow you are always surrounded by grade A ass. Help me out give her my number. I'd love to take your seconds." Jesse laughed.
"Number one, you couldn't handle my seconds. Number two, I haven't slept with her." Victor tried to explain but Jesse interrupted him with one word,
"Yet…"
"Number three, she's seventeen," Victor continued.
"I'm only 19." Jesse argued.
"She's still jailbait."
"You just want to keep her for yourself," Jesse sneered.
"No! She's going home to Orlando anyway what does it matter...I have to go! See you in the studio later." Victor rambled then I listened to booted steps clump away before I walked out feeling the young photographer's eyes on me as I walked by, but I could not just walk away and so I turned to Jesse grinning.
"He's right Jess, you could not handle his seconds or me," and I turned on my heels and sashayed out of the building.
Chapter 3
Orlando
I still was not sure where I had seen Victor before all this. I thought about it for weeks. Was it a dream, I've had this dream again and again since that day, and this morning was no different. I woke up drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and my skin was hot but I felt great. I just laid there thinking about Victor's hands on me, I only remembered flashes of the dream but I was amazed.
I decided to fuel my obsession and find out everything I could about him. I anxiously awa
ited my proofs of the pictures to arrive in my email.
I sat in my room drawing when my two best friends, Lynn and Jenny, came in.
"Hey sweetie!" Jenny smiled walking over and spying over my shoulder. "Wow that's amazing! And exciting." She squealed. "Who is that?"
"Victor Greene?" They both just nodded unsurprised. "I've been dreaming about him like crazy. You remember I did a photo shoot with him almost two months ago." I answered but the last part was news to Lynn I only told Jenny. I never took my eyes from the page before me; I'd drawn a perfect recreation of his hands low on my bare hips like they were running up my body. I shivered as I thought of the feel of his skin against mine and almost forgot whether the memory was from a dream or reality.
"You found a guy you're interested in?" Lynn asked surprised.
"Yes…but I don't have a chance." I answered.
"Why do you think that?" Jenny asked.
"Well I kinda overheard him talking to a guy about me." I said getting up and picking up a hair brush.
"Do you have the pictures?" Lynn asked.
"Yes…" I answered and walked over to my laptop on my desk. "There you go." I said opening the file. I got up out of the chair and let Lynn sat down.
"You give up too easy. What did he say?" Jenny laughed.
"He said I was jailbait." I sat on the bed and started brushing my hair.
"Oh that just means he thought of it, I mean come on you're only jailbait if he sleeps with you," Jenny laughed.
"OH MY GOD! ALEX! No wonder he thought of it!" Lynn exclaimed and within seconds Jenny was beside her, I did not need to see them to know what they were talking about.
"Wow Alex! These are great. When will the issue be out?" Jenny asked.
"Next week." I answered.
"Has…Joey seen these?" Lynn asked.
"No…and I'd like to keep it that way." I answered.
"It's public! How do you expect to keep him in the dark?" Jenny’s head almost spun around.
"It's a guitar magazine and I didn't tell him about it." I answered.
"Alex…How'd you get the shoot?" Lynn asked.