by Dances
Since her friend had already told her that she never allowed any other guest to use this room, that Larissa claimed this to be her room and had redecorated it purposely for her, it almost moved Jada to tears. That this wonderful beautiful suite had been prepared for her was astounding. She had to admit that she'd been blessed the day she'd met Larissa.
She blinked quickly to dispel the sting of tears and with a sigh retreated to the bedroom and the closet, which she knew would rapidly switch the benevolent and loving feelings she now felt for Larissa into something else entirely. With a smile, Jada knew that she didn't even have to open the doors of the closet to know that she wouldn't approve of the garments housed within the huge armoire.
Hesitantly, she opened the doors, saw the garments, and grimaced. Quickly closing the doors, she decided to ignore the costumes for now. She had to wear them. There was no other choice, so instead, she determined to focus on something else and picked up the rules that Larissa had asked her to read through instead.
'Welcome all to the masquerade. To ensure the pleasure of each and every guest, try to experience the days ahead following these two simple rules. Wear your mask at all times. Lack of freedoms and inhibitions shadow our day to day life. The masquerade shall end that from this day forward until your day of departure.
'All pleasures must be freely given. No force should be used unless your partner requests it. The masquerade should be seen as a blank canvas upon which to paint. Do not abuse the medium you're using to express yourself.'
The two rules were simple and perfectly comprehensible. She'd half expected one of them to be for women to wear no panties or some such nonsense. Wear your mask at all times and don't rape another member of the party were pretty staid in comparison to what her thoughts had conjured up when Larissa had told her there were rules! Underneath the printed text was a small paragraph written in Larissa's handwriting.
'I can just imagine how horrified you were on opening your closet doors, but delve deeper and see past the colors, you'll find some really beautiful dresses that will suit you perfectly. I would never choose something that I know would make you feel inappropriate or uncomfortable. There are more colors in the rainbow than your usual black and blue, so wear the damned costumes and enjoy them!
"My name during these festivities is Scarlet, Alex is Rhett, and we all know why! Choose a name for yourself and feel the freedom of being someone else and not Jada Smith for the days ahead. Only Alex and I know who you are and which costumes are yours. Let your inhibitions go for once! I've already told you, I don't care what I have to do to make it happen, but you're going to get laid at least once while you're here in Scotland!'
Jada grinned as she read Larissa's scrawling script. She knew that she'd been had and by a pro nonetheless. Larissa always had been able to read between Jada's lines. It was amazing how Larissa was so free and relaxed, while she'd always been so uptight and practically survived on stress. Yet despite them being complete opposites, they were the best of friends. They accepted each other's differences with only a soft sigh or a grudging grin and enjoyed them.
With a groan she turned to the armoire once more and dragged a few of the costumes out into the open. Laying them on the bed, she had to admit that she'd judged the outfits prematurely. There were some exquisite gowns, an array of beautiful cuts, luxurious materials, and wonderful sexy designs.
As she looked at the bright colors, she decided that they weren't gaudy, they were vibrant and filled with life, much like Larissa. She fingered the expensive cloth used in practically every costume, amazed at how much Larissa was spending on this party. How the other half lived she thought wryly. All six of the dresses she'd found would probably pay her mortgage for the next year and a half! She shook her head in exasperation.
She decided there and then on a red dress that had immediately caught her eye. She lifted it and held it to her skin, draped it over her arm, and experimentally danced around the chamber with it. The warm rosy red complimented her skin-tone and the cut would equally compliment her figure.
Removing her mask, Jada quickly emptied her suitcase and placed her clothes in the closet and other bits and pieces in the nightstand. She grabbed her toiletry bag then headed over to the bathroom and got in the tub to cleanse herself of travel grime. It wasn't long before she was feeling much cleaner. Getting out of the tub, she started to roughly dry her body with one of the thick towels. She applied some moisturizer and immediately donned a pair of panties and a matching demi-cup bra.
Unexpected exhilaration coursed through her veins, pumping her blood until she had to clench her eyes against the sensations bombarding her. Her skin tingled, her insides pulsed. Feeling inordinately sexy, she slithered into the tight dress she had selected, the red silk caressing her every curve, giving her a perfect hour-glass figure. A fish tail flounced at her calves and feet, allowing her to move smoothly and without accident even though the design was very restrictive around the thigh area. A heart-shaped bustier cupped her breasts, forcing them up and plumping them out. She completed her ensemble by stepping into some matching red strappy platforms.
Jada made a conscious decision then and there not to look in the mirror at all. If she did, she knew that all her worries and inhibitions would come sprinting back, forcing her to lock herself in this room, keeping her from the night ahead. She deserved some excitement, deserved sexual freedom, for God's sake! It didn't matter that all this was new to her. She was determined to release the sensual woman that she'd caged inside her entire life!
And she was imprisoned, of that she was fully aware. What was it Larissa had said? 'I would have invited you, but I knew you'd refuse.' The words reverberated in Jada's mind. How much fun and pleasure had she missed out on by repressing a side of herself that longed to be free? She didn't want to think about it, not now, because she knew that no matter what happened during the masquerade, this would not be the first and last time she allowed that part of her to fly freely, well, at least she hoped not.
Grabbing the mask she'd worn earlier once more, she pulled it over her head, fussed with her hair, and hoped to God that she looked all right. She was had decided to wear her hair down, not much could go wrong with that look! Realizing she was hesitating by the door, she mentally pushed herself into action. Opening the door a little more forcefully than she'd intended, she burst out into the hallway. Refusing to look back at the safety of her room, she headed out into an uncertain and exciting evening.
Jada's suite occupied a corner of the third floor, so by the time she reached the second, she was regretting her choice of footwear. They pinched her toes slightly and sawed a little at her heels, but she refused to admit defeat. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt kind of sexy. Despite the mild discomfort, she felt like she looked decent, and, with any luck, possibly even attractive. She refused to allow a little discomfort to ruin the look, and, with a wry grimace, she remembered something her mother had once told her. 'You have to suffer sometimes if you want to look good.' Having always been far too practical for that, she had discounted that advice, preferring to spend her life in comfort rather than painful fashion. Oh, how she had fallen. If only her mother could look at her now!
By the time Jada reached the ground floor, she was relieved that she'd be sitting for the next couple of hours and that she could take her damned shoes off. The skin would probably be tender, but, other than that, she didn't think that she would have any blisters or that her feet would swell. Seeing her friend's butterfly mask in the distance, she hurried as fast as she could over to her. Grabbing her by the hands, she furtively whispered, "Thank you for this, Larissa. I won't let you down, I swear."
"Don't be silly, darling! I won't let you let me down," she said, grinned unrepentantly, then more stoutly she continued, "Anyway, I want you to have some fun. Let your hair down, relax! You look beautiful by the way. I think I should be jealous because that dress suits you more than it ever did me!"
"I have my doubts about
that," Jada said dryly, aware that Larissa's pale blond hair and creamy white skin suited every damned color, even the tones that should have washed her out she managed to make look good.
"I just want you to know, if some of the men start signaling you or something, don't be freaked out. I wore that dress last time, that's all. They should realize that you aren't me, but we both know that men don't usually pay that much attention to little things like that, don't we?"
"OK, Larissa," Jada said hesitantly, pausing to think over what she'd said. "If I'm you by association, there isn't anything that I need to know, is there? You're not some dominatrix or something like that, are you?"
Larissa laughed, the tinkling sound loud yet delicate in the large room. "No, darling, don't be silly. I would never do anything like that," she said with a wink before she walked off, leaving Jada to contemplate whatever the hell it was certain men would think she was in to.
Knowing full well that Larissa was wild in every other aspect of her life didn't bode well for Jada. It meant that her friend would have a very untypical sex life. While she, the unknowing idiot in the same red dress had had a very, very average sex life! She imagined cringing in horror at the sexual acts men, assuming that they already knew her, knew what she liked, what turned her on, would start whispering in her ear. Shaking her head determinedly, she decided to figuratively grow some balls.
With a grimace she walked over to the small wet bar and asked for a glass of white wine. After she got her drink, she moved over to a small seating area where she could partake in the evening but mostly could just keep watch over what was happening. She sipped at the drink and was surprised that within a few moments about all of the guests, around fifty men and women, had gathered in the hall. Some seemed to know each other. From that, she had a feeling that a lot of them never changed their mask. She saw lascivious looks pass between couples, hands slap butts, fingers pinch nipples, and feminine paws claw at trouser flies. She was both shocked and surprisingly aroused. There was something very free about it all, no recriminations or punishments for these simple yet effective sexual touches.
When the butler announced that everyone was present and that dinner was served, Jada stood with yet another grimace, but managed to walk without a limp to the dining hall. Seeing Larissa, she walked over to her.
Larissa linked Jada's arm in her own and dragged her over to their seats.
Jada couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in this situation, for no other reason than that she knew absolutely no one else at the party except for Larissa. She was extremely glad of the mask because a flush of discomfort marred her cheeks. She fingered the cutlery and napkins in front of her in agitation. When a servant came by and filled her wine glass, she stopped herself from taking refuge in alcohol. If something was going to happen tonight, she wanted to remember it instead of having the memories lost in a bottle of wine.
Ignoring her discomfort, Jada focused on Larissa. It was easy to see her friend was in her element. Sparkling with vivaciousness, she was the center of the party and didn't even realize it. Even seated at the head of the table, people from the bottom would walk over to chat with her for a few moments, and small clusters of people gathered around her. It was incredible.
She glanced over at the man who sat next to her friend. It could only be Alex. She watched him watch his wife. It was incredibly poignant to see both the pride he felt for her and the feelings of lust that that inspired in him. It was a private moment, one she shouldn't have witnessed, but it gave her an insight into her friend's marriage. One that perhaps should have remained secret, but she was nevertheless glad to have seen it. For in that look, Alex's feelings were on display and, had she ever doubted that he loved her friend, from this moment she never would again.
With a smile, she took a sip of water from another glass in front of her and mentally forced herself to relax, only to tense once more as someone sat down beside her. She didn't have to look at her neighbor to know who it was. Every single hair on her body stood on edge. It was one of those fight or flight feelings that she'd read about in school, but she had absolutely no idea why she felt like that.
Every muscle tense, she reached for her wine glass, not surprised in the least to see her hand tremble slightly. She was not a coward! She managed to grasp her wine without knocking the other glassware over and immediately raised it to her mouth to take a long sip of the sharp drink. The alcohol didn't stop the internal fight she was having, but it did relax her some. On a long breath, she told herself to calm down, that she was being ridiculous. But that didn't stop the need clamoring at her, no amount of words or trite phrases would stop her body from recognizing this man.
Stop being ridiculous, she told herself angrily, you're a strong independent woman!
How could she be having this reaction to someone she'd never even met, to someone she'd only ever seen in passing? Because it was him. Her body knew it, just as her mind screamed a negative. It was the guy she'd passed in the hall, the one whose gaze had captured hers, whose eyes had spoken to her, eyes that had described what he wanted to do with her. Just remembering the sensations his glance had made her feel started the earthquake again. Her breasts peaked under the tight silk dress. Despite the strapless demi-cup, she knew her nipples were hard and on show. How could they not be? She was practically falling out of the bustier, for heaven's sake!
Feelings of mortification threatened to drown her, but she jerked her chin up shamelessly. She had nothing, absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. So what, she was aroused. The guy next to her didn't have to know that just his presence had caused that! But despite that, she knew that this man was as aware of her as she was of him. Maliciously she hoped he had a hard-on from hell! At least he could cover his erection with the table! Her nipples were peaked under a revealing dress. She had nothing to hide behind! In one of her safe outfits, it wouldn't have been a problem, but in this dress, it was a huge problem. She doubted that anyone but herself and this man had noticed the state of her nipples, but that wasn't the point! How dare he, just by existing, arouse her! She was inordinately annoyed, at both herself and him. Perhaps it was unfair, but she couldn't help it. No man had ever inspired such feelings in her, no one had ever caused her to feel the way she did and it was frightening. It was more than that, it was terrifying.
Why should his presence both arouse and scare her? Why had her body reacted so violently, reverting back to the primitive instinct of fight or flight? It made no sense, only extreme danger should rouse that instinct. Perhaps being cornered by a pack of wolves in the middle of nowhere, with no one around to ask for help and no weapon to protect yourself, that kind of situation was where you felt that distinctive emotion, not in a dining room at a dining table with over fifty people, not including the staff, surrounding you. She was safe, was in absolutely zero danger. All he'd done was sit down, for heaven's sake! Yet her body still longed to escape.
Refusing to look at him while she was still so distressed and her less than composed self, she allowed her gaze to flutter about the room, looking for both reassurance from the sheer amount of people at the party and looking for the nearest available exit. When that thought passed through her mind, she jolted in shock. Was she actually contemplating leaving the party to escape this stranger? A stranger who had yet to say two words to her? In horror, she realized that she had been ready to leave, and, with that, determination powered through her. She was more ashamed of the cowardice she was feeling than she was at being present at an orgy.
Taking another sip of wine, this time not to relax herself but just to enjoy the fruity flavors, she cleared her throat, and, grabbing the roll beside her plate, she attacked it with her fingers and started to shakily spread butter over the bread. She took a quick bite, nearly choked on it, and managed to wash it down with some of her water. Feeling incredibly gauche but unable to help herself, she took another bite, this time managing not to kill herself, and then, in an attempt to defuse the situation, she leaned over to try to tal
k to Larissa.
The people once clustered around her friend had now headed back to their seats and she was currently conversing with the her husband who was on her other side. Waiting for the right moment to catch her not in conversation, Jada took a quick look around the dining hall. The tall vaulted ceilings, huge open fireplaces that were large enough for ten men to stand in comfortably, and large heavy wooden table that ran down the center of the room decorated with incongruous delicate china and runners was a sight she had grown used to seeing in her youth and it relaxed her immediately. The castle might not have been hers, but she still knew it well and classed it as a second home. Just being here had always brought a richness to her life that she'd found nowhere else, and, as with any other time, when she took a moment to take stock of her surroundings, to look at the beauty of past and present combined, it took her breath away and disposed of any of her current worries. It always worked and now was no different.
Shivering despite the two lit fires, she scrubbed a hand over her arm and saw that Larissa had paused a moment. Quickly intervening, she said, "Scarlett." When she received no response she hissed the name again, "Scarlett!" This time she was awarded with Larissa's attention.
"What?"
Leaning close to her, Jada muttered, "Who's the man next to me?"
"Now, darling, you know I can't tell you that!" Larissa teased quietly.
"Why not?"
"Because the whole thing has to be anonymous! I can't tell you who is who. That would be unfair, not only to the other guests, but to yourself, as well. You don't know these people, take advantage of that!"
"Scarlett," Jada said, her jaw clenched in frustration, "is . . . is he OK? You know, like not an axe murderer?"