Red Light Specialists

by Mandy M. Roth

  “There was a tray?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

  “Yes,” she answered, “along with this gown. Was I not supposed to take it?”

  “No, if it was there, it was for you,” he said. “They must have left it.”

  Again with the “they”.

  “I’d like to thank them.”

  “I’ll let them know,” he answered, nodding.

  “Yeah, all right, you do that, Pacal.”

  “What’s wrong? You look at me strangely today. Did you not enjoy last night? Did I not please you?”

  Last night the mask didn’t bother her, but right now, she really wanted to see his face, read his expression. He sounded kind, hopeful, gentle even. But not being able to see a smile…

  She frowned, hating his turquoise mask. It didn’t really matter what he looked like. She wasn’t shallow, not very shallow anyway.

  “Did I not please you?” he asked, his tone softer, insistent, maybe even worried.

  She took a deep breath. She really wanted to lie to him, but oddly, she couldn’t do it. “Yes, you pleased me very much.”

  “So you frown?”

  “Are you frowning?” she returned. “You see, because I can’t tell.”

  “My mask,” he stated, his tone flat.

  “It’s really not necessary, is it? Do you wear it for religious purposes? Do your beliefs dictate that you sleep and eat in it?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips. “How much would you like it if you couldn’t see my face?”

  To her surprise, he admitted, “Not at all. I wouldn’t like it. I like seeing your face.”

  “I have a missive for you, Pacal,” she stated.

  “I know.”

  She took it out of the folds of her gown. “Give me permission to give it to you.”

  “You look beautiful in the sunlight. I like your hair. It’s very pretty. Such a brilliant, rich red.”

  Sonja dropped her arm. “Pacal—”

  He stepped closer, cutting off her protest as he moved his fingers to touch her hair, pulling the long strands as he stroked her. “I wish to take your offer again.”

  Sonja’s mouth worked but no sound came out. He pulled her body close. His arousal pressed into her stomach. A weak moan escaped her, until all she saw and felt was him.

  Unable to stop herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck. The letter fell from her fingers. She gasped, but the Grafowk swept from the sky and grabbed it. The bird looked at her before flying away.

  Pacal’s mask nuzzled her throat. She didn’t care about the letter—not right at this moment. Turning slightly, she ran her hands over his body, feeling his muscles beneath his clothes. Sonja couldn’t stop. She needed to feel him, wanted him inside her.

  The jungle spread out below them. The sun was bright and warm. He pushed her dress aside and pulled up her gown. Her legs were bared to him. Sonja was just as eager, pulling up his poncho to free his stiff cock. Her pussy was wet, ready to be claimed.

  Pacal lifted her, squeezing her ass, as he pressed her to the outside wall of the temple. He thrust up, prying her body open. She was still a little sore from the night before, but her body welcomed him. The mask buried in her throat, oddly cool as her legs dangled behind him. Her back pressed into unforgiving stone. Primal sounds escaped their lips.

  Pacal pumped into her, riding her in firm strokes. It felt so good. Sonja cried out in pleasure, urging him on. “Oh, yes, Pacal, yes, fuck me. Ah, right there, don’t stop. That feels so good.”

  At her words, he thrust harder, pounding at her core. It was erotic, watching the sunlight on the jungle behind him, his glorious body taking her up against the temple wall, his long dark hair crashing around her, pushed to her by the breeze.

  At the same time, she knew it was crazy. She was fucking a stranger she didn’t know anything about. Sure, she’d been taught seduction, but this was her first mission and the RLS training didn’t say anything about meeting a man like Pacal. And to make matters worse, she thought she might have feelings for him. No. She couldn’t love him. That was crazy, almost as crazy as he was. But the feelings were there, building inside her like the sexual tension his cock wrought on her pussy.

  “Pacal,” she breathed, unable to fight her heart. It was too much. It felt too good, too right. “Pacal.”

  The orgasm hit her hard, racking her body in violent tremor. He grunted, coming inside her, filling her womb with his hot seed. She whimpered softly, holding the side of his mask, wanting to rip it off him.

  “Pacal,” she said, her words breathless. “What’s happening?”

  “I’m making love to you.” He let her legs slide down his body so she could again support herself.

  “I lost the letter,” she whispered.

  “It will be returned.” He took her hand, leading her to the front entryway. “Come with me. I wish to take your offering again.”

  * * *

  Pacal was pleased, though that happiness scared him. Sonja was so sweet, so giving a lover. When he was buried inside her, he never wanted to leave.

  He crossed the hall, wondering if she was truly the one, the one the prophecy foretold. Was the period of darkness finally to end? He’d given up long ago that the prophecy was true, but what if he’d been wrong?

  The urge to take her was strong in him. He wanted to fuck her, make love to her softly. He wanted to take her again and again, until she was bathed in his seed, until her belly was swollen with the life he had helped to create. When she’d taken him in her mouth, he’d been surprised. Never had he dreamt such a thing would bring him pleasure.

  He was so lost in thoughts of what he wanted to do to her that when he felt Sonja’s hand on his ass, he was surprised. He stopped before his throne in the ceremonial hall and turned. Instantly, she pressed her body to his.

  “Right here is good,” she whispered. “I want you here.”

  His cock lurched to full attention, more than ready to comply with her body’s demands. She walked aggressively to him, pushing his chest to move him back toward his throne.

  “Take a seat,” she ordered.

  Pacal instantly sat. He liked her games, her adventurous spirit. He’d sensed it in her that first moment, when the Grafowk let her touch it.

  Sonja ran her hands up his thighs, kneeling before him. He touched her face, liking the softness of her skin. She worked his poncho up over his thighs, freeing his cock to view. He tensed, seeing the look on her face, the way she licked her mouth. He knew what she was doing even before she lowered her mouth to suck his shaft between her lips.

  Glorious heat shot down his cock, shooting pleasure down to his balls and up throughout his body. Pacal pushed his hands into her hair, arching his hips as he pumped himself into her warm mouth. He didn’t want it to stop.

  He felt a presence around them and quickly pulled her off before she’d finished. She looked dazed, her lids lazily dipping over her eyes. Instantly, she moved onto his lap, straddling him on his throne. He knew he should protest, but couldn’t form the words as she bared her thighs and brought her wet, hot pussy over him. She thrust down, sheathing him completely, her body more than ready to accept him.

  Her legs dangled over the sides of the throne. Pacal groaned, grabbing her hips. He moved her up and down, not caring that they were being watched. More gathered in the hall.

  He tore her gown, freeing her large breasts. Pinching her nipples, he rejoiced as she cried out. Cream poured out of her, making his cock glide. Suddenly, she arched, her body clamping down on him hard. He couldn’t hold back, as he released himself into her.

  Afterwards, she lay weakly against his shoulder. “I’m falling in love with you.”

  “I know,” he answered, his chest tightening. “I know.”

  I know.

  Sonja pushed up, climbing off his lap. That’s all he had for her? She confessed her heart and all he said was “I know”?

  A tingle worked over her spine and she quickly turned. The hall was empty
.

  “They are pleased you’re here,” Pacal said.

  “They?” she whispered. There was no one there. They were alone in the hall.

  “Yes, they’ve come to see you.”

  “Oh.” Sonja fought back tears. It was as she feared. He was crazy. She licked her lips. “I have to…ah…get something from my bag. I’ll be right back.”

  “Sonja?”

  “Just a moment.”

  Sonja didn’t know what she was doing, but she knew she had to go. She couldn’t survive in the jungle without supplies and she definitely couldn’t stay in the crazy man’s temple any longer. Running to his room, she found her pack on the floor. She didn’t bother to change out of the dress. Putting her hiking boots on, she slid the pack on her shoulders.

  A chill went up her spine as she stood. Spinning on her heels, she looked around. No one was there. Her eyes met with a statue. She’d seen them all over the temple, strange, square-bodied things, so muscular that the gods would have been envious of them.

  “You’re just edgy, that’s all,” she whispered to herself. Licking her lips, she looked out into the hall. It was empty. She made her way down the narrow hall for the front entrance.

  “You’re wrong,” Pacal’s voice said.

  There was no answer.

  “No, stop saying that. You’re wrong,” he insisted. “She won’t leave.”

  Like hell, I won’t.

  Sonja edged in the dark shadows of the wall, trying to creep to the entrance without him seeing her. She could only hope that his craziness would trap him in the temple and she’d be able to get free. Pacal said he couldn’t leave the temple and that he didn’t go down the stairs.

  The bird had taken her letter, so it wasn’t like she could finish her mission. It wasn’t her fault he refused to ask her for it. Seeing freedom, she ran.

  “Sonja?” Pacal called behind her. “Sonja, wait!”

  She heard footsteps and knew he chased her. A squeal left her lips as she ran for the door. Bright sunlight greeted her and she blinked as the Grafowk flew past her face, squawking. She screamed but forged onward, terrified.

  “Sonja!” Pacal cried. “Sonja, no, wait!”

  She reached the steps, taking them two and three at a time.

  “Sonja, wait, come back!”

  “Sonja!” Pacal’s heart beat furiously in his chest. He saw her reach the first step, a point he couldn’t cross. He tried anyway, knowing he couldn’t go down. A force stopped him, hitting him in the face like a brick wall.

  “Sonja, please, wait!”

  Behind him his people gathered. He heard them talking, murmuring to themselves. He couldn’t see them, but he heard them, felt them.

  “Sonja,” he said softly. He fell to his knees.

  Suddenly, she stopped and looked at him. He lifted his hand, but he could only reach so far before he was blocked. He hit the field, wanting to follow her, but couldn’t make it move. In over five hundred years he’d never been able to make it move.

  His heart nearly stopped beating as she took a slow step back up. Hope tried to build. His people quieted behind him, waiting, as anxious as he.

  “What’s going on here, Pacal?” she asked, cautious. “I want you to tell me what’s wrong with you.”

  “Sonja—”

  “Are you crazy?” She took another step. Then, to herself, she whispered, “Am I crazy for talking to you?”

  He ran his hand over the invisible barrier that kept him from being able to go after her. Sonja reached out and he knew she was trying to feel the barrier. Her hand fell through air and she couldn’t. Pacal reached for her, but she pulled away too quickly.

  The voices behind him began to argue. He turned, yelling, “Quiet!”

  They instantly obeyed.

  “Pacal? Who are you talking to? There’s no one there.”

  “You just can’t see them,” he whispered. “Trust me, they are there.”

  “No, there’s no one there.” She bit her lips. Tears came to her eyes. He wanted to comfort her but couldn’t. “Tell me what’s going on. Make me understand.”

  “I can’t,” he said. “I can’t.”

  Death would come for all if he told. It was his burden to bear, his alone until…

  “Yes, you can,” Sonja said, trembling. She didn’t know what was going on with him, but there had to be something. “You can trust me.”

  “I do trust you,” he answered. The turquoise mask glinted in the sun. “It is you who doesn’t trust me.”

  “How can I? I can’t even see your face. I can’t read your mind. It’s like talking to a wall.” Sonja began to turn, intent on walking away. She stopped, moving to face him once more. “Tell me why I can trust you. Tell me why I should.”

  “My…heart…” he said, softly. He looked as if he would say more, but the Grafowk flew in front of him, flapping his wings in anger. The letter was clutched in his talons. The bird dropped it on the ground before him. Pacal took it and held it up to her.

  “That’s yours.”

  His fingers shook as he slowly nodded his head. He slowly opened it. She couldn’t read his expression through the mask.

  “What does it say?” she asked.

  “The same as all the others.”

  “Which is?”

  “It is time to let you go,” he said.

  Pacal turned, his head down. He walked toward the inside of the temple. Sonja watched him. She was free. The message was delivered. She could go. He wasn’t going to try and stop her. Her mission was done. If the letter said to let her go, he was. She couldn’t understand why RLS-69 would send her on a stupid mission like this, but they had.

  Chapter Four

  Sonja couldn’t do it. She couldn’t force herself to leave, couldn’t force herself to even turn away from the temple. Taking a deep breath, she climbed to the top of the stairs.

  The Grafowk stared at her. She reached into her pack and tossed a piece of meat at the bird perched at the temple door. He caught it and as he was busy eating, she went inside.

  Pacal sat at his throne, his head down. She felt his sadness, or maybe she imagined it. Sonja wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Maybe she was as crazy as he was.

  “I don’t want to go,” she said, her voice low. Pacal’s head whipped up to stare at her. Forcing her words to be stronger, she said, “I don’t want to leave.”

  “Why would you wish to stay here? I don’t blame you for going. I would leave if I could.”

  “What traps you?” She knew before she said the words that he wouldn’t tell her. “It doesn’t matter. What I want to know is if you want me to stay.”

  “Yes.”

  “And do you love me, or do you at least think you’ll come to love me in time?”

  “Yes.”

  Sonja took a deep breath. She braved a step forward. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why, but I was sent here for a reason. I think that reason was you. I can see why you’ve gone mad, being isolated in this prison of yours. I don’t know what’s happening and I may never know. But I love you. So help me, I’m as crazy as you are, because I’ve fallen in love with you overnight. I can’t explain it, but I feel as if I’ve known you my whole life, and yet I know nothing about you.”

  He said nothing, didn’t move.

  “Take off your mask, Pacal. I don’t care what you look like. Take it off. Let me see your face.” Sonja stopped before him. He didn’t move.

  “I can’t remove the mask,” was all he said.

  “Then let me.”

  The Grafowk squawked behind her as she reached for him. He didn’t move, letting her touch his mask. She tried to pull, but it was stuck. Digging her fingers around the edge, it felt as if it was adhered to his flesh. A weak sound of pain left him as she pulled hard.

  Bright blue wings flapped in her face, knocking her back. Sonja fell to the floor. She watched as the bird grabbed Pacal’s mask. Pacal screamed. The bird squawked. Sonja watched, helpless.

  Sh
e heard excited murmurs all around them. But when she glanced around, there was no one there.

  The Grafowk ripped off the mask, flying back with it. Sonja moved to see Pacal’s face but was blinded by light. She lifted her hand to block it, closing her eyes tight. The whispering voices grew and then suddenly were silent.

  “Sonja?”

  Sonja was too afraid to look. She licked her lips, shaking.

  “Sonja?” she heard Pacal say again. A warm hand touched her cheek, only to be replaced by warmer lips. She gasped, blinking in surprise. He pulled on her arm, helping her up.

  She hesitated before looking at his face. She gasped. He was handsome. Beyond handsome. He was quite possibly the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. He had dark, strong features and a firm mouth.

  “Why would you hide?” she asked. “You’re perfect.”

  He grinned. “No, you’re perfect. You broke the curse that’s haunted this temple for over five hundred years. Your ability to love unconditionally, without knowing or understanding. Your faith in your heart, in me. That is what’s perfect.”

  “Pacal?” a shout sounded. The first was soon joined by others. Sonja watched as the hall filled with people—all caramel-skinned and dressed in outfits similar to Pacal’s. They were smiling, cheering, chanting Pacal’s name.

  Sonja suddenly noticed that all the statues were gone. “What’s happening? Where did all these people come from?”

  “I told you, they were here the whole time. Their bodies were trapped in stone, but their spirits were trapped within the temple walls. Only I could hear them, but to speak this would have been to kill them.”

  “The whole time?” she asked, blushing as he turned to hide against his arm. “You mean, they saw…”

  He laughed. She loved the sound of it. Pacal pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “Don’t think about it. They couldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did.”

  How could she not think about it? Her blush deepened. She made a weak sound and hit his arm.

  “You say I broke a curse?” she asked.

  “I couldn’t tell you before.” Pacal took her hand and moved to his throne. He sat down, drawing her onto his lap. Sonja nestled against him, watching his handsome face as he spoke over the excited crowd. “Several of my people wanted to overthrow the gods. As punishment we were cursed. I had no part in it, but because I stood by their side and did nothing, I was cursed to walk alone, wearing this mask until the day my heart could be made whole.”