by Jackson Kane
My heart melted at the sight of it. I couldn't remember one time Doug ever looked at me the way Luke looked at Molly.
“Hi Lucas,” I said as coolly as I could. I still got a little star-struck whenever he was around. I had to get over that.
How do you get over men like the King brothers?
Richard was one of the most powerful businessmen in the country, and his brother Lucas King was full on rock star. They were Caldwell Hope royalty and heirs—sort of—to their now-deceased father’s multi billion dollar fortune.
It had been a long couple of months… The town had only recently recovered from their insane rivalry. It was billionaire takes all, in that whichever brother knocked a woman up first got all the inheritance for themselves.
“Hey ladies,” He brushed his long hair back and smiled pleasantly to both of us. Then he slid down his mask, gave Molly an evil grin, and carefully hoisted his pregnant wife into the air. Molly protested, but was giggling through the whole thing. He seemed like the kind of guy that did this stuff with her a lot. “Sorry to interrupt,” he carried Molly off. “My wife and I have a date on the dance floor.”
Wow. I tried not to swoon. Richard King was hot as hell, but his younger brother Lucas... How is a man like that even real?
“Hey, while we have a second,” I approached a sensitive subject tentatively. I want to talk to you about something,”
“What's up?” She said, admiring her ring. Gloria was still aglow from getting the proposal.
I hated to do this now, but I couldn't wait any longer.
“I... want to sell you my half of the Black Rocket Records.”
“Why?” Gloria gave me her full attention. “We're just about to open a second location in San Francisco. Business is doing great right now.”
Yeah, that’s because I have nothing to do with the decision making process anymore. I was co-owner with Gloria on paper only. That wasn't her fault though, it was my decision.
Gloria flipped up her mask to look at me more sincerely.
“Gloria!” I cried. “Masquerade.”
“For fuck's sake... I'm leaving the mask off if we're going to talk like adults. The masquerade police can throw me in masquerade jail for all I care. This whole thing's stupid, and my fiancé owns the place, so I'll do as I please!” Gloria declared loud enough for everyone in the area to hear her. Feeling less flustered, she turned back to me. “Now talk to me. Is this about the concert a few months ago?”
“No.” And it wasn't; at least not completely. Although not a day went by that I didn't think about my colossal screw up that almost bankrupted us. “It's just... I don't know.”
Oh god, I don't even have the courage to say it out loud.
“Are you alright?” Gloria asked leaning in. She lowered her voice and flashed her eyes down my stomach. Gloria was the only one who knew about my recent miscarriage. “There weren't any—”
“I'm fine.” I unconvincingly shifted in my chair. “Never mind. Will you buy me out?”
“If this is about money, we can help.” Gloria's black-rimmed eyes brimmed with concern. She was a good friend to put up with my craziness. “Seriously. You don't have to do this.”
“No, I'm OK.” I blew out my air, and smiled genuinely. “I just need to separate myself from the old me and start over, y'know?”
Richard spotted us and sidled up next to his wife to be. He of course was dressed nicer than everyone. He wore an exaggerated gothic tuxedo with an opaque glass, and silver half mask that must've cost a small fortune.
Only seeing them together, did I realize that they each wore one half of the same mask. That was really clever and adorable.
Doug accidentally left the one I made him at home and came in wearing a paper plate monstrosity that he made in the parking lot. I'd spent a month working on them. All he had to do was bring it with him and he couldn't even do that. My blood began to boil just thinking about it.
“The trick to a masquerade party is to keep the mask on,” Richard pressed her buttons with a sly smirk.
“Oh my fucking God!” Her eyes went wide. She tore the mask off and slapped it on the table. “There. Now it’s on the table.”
I laughed.
“Hi, Judy.” Richard was unfazed by her outburst. “Do you mind if I steal my wife for a dance?”
“Actually,” Gloria started. Her annoyance fell away and concern again marred her face. “Judy and I were in the middle—”
“I don't mind at all.” I smiled, offering a chipper tone and stood up. I honestly I didn't want to keep talking about any of it. All it did was make me sad. “I need to go find Doug and harass him into at least one dance before he gets too drunk and makes another scene.”
I didn't relish the idea of finding him, but I couldn't stay at the table with the happy couple any longer. I excused myself and made my way through the dance floor toward the kitchen.
Now that I saw it up close, I realized the floor was painted to look like a giant jack-o-lantern with gaping block teeth and glowing eyes. I was looking at everything except where I was going, and crashed right into someone.
I bounced off the human wall, then tripped over my own heels. My face lit up in fright and shame. I was going to fall on my ass in the middle of room, full of the most important people in the state. Senators, TV anchors, the mayor, actors, everyone was about to see me make an utter fool out of myself.
Then I stopped, hovering in mid-air for a moment. A pair of large hands had swept me up and pulled me into a dancer's embrace. I, of course, didn’t recognize him because of the mask—which had two horns coming off the forehead, not like a devil but more akin to a Viking helmet—whoever he was, gracefully spun me to make it look like we'd been dancing together the whole time.
“That was close,” his deep voice had the sound of a smirk in it. “Usually I like to meet my dancing partners before I try to pull that move off. Are you alright?”
“Holy crap. That was incredible!” I caught myself squealing, and then forced a little more composure through my voice. “I owe you one, mysterious stranger.”
My social savior had broad, defined shoulders. He didn't wear a suit jacket, just a French-cuffed, button down, white shirt, black pants and a shiny, red lattice-design covered vest. I could feel the hard grooves of his muscled back through both garments. It sent a searing hot chill through me.
There was no way this guy wasn't an athlete.
His eyes were too perfect a shade of deep blue. I wondered if I could ever find that color in my oil paints at home...
“Yes,” he smiled mischievously. “You do.”
Chapter 5
Garrett
Five Years Ago
“Nice mask,” I commented, wishing it wasn't there. The half mask was porcelain with an accented tiara and peacock feathers shooting up from one side; it reminded me of something from the Italian Baroque period, but with bright and complementing colors. Among a room full of masks, hers stood out as more intricate and unique; it was easy to tell that love went into its creation.
I'd noticed her when I walked in, but intentionally kept my distance.
I pulled her closer than I should have as we danced through a hole in the crowd. She was tall and had some curves about her. I liked that. I led her to a quieter section of the dance floor so we wouldn't have to shout at one another.
That and, if I got any closer to Lucas King I was going to take his fucking head off. It was a good thing we had these masks on, or else both of us would wind up in the news again. I wasn't about to make a scene right now, not with his pregnant wife around.
Besides, after that blow out with Heidi a few minutes ago, the last thing I wanted was to draw more attention.
I needed a distraction.
“Thanks,” my blond haired partner smiled proudly. The look was enough to make me miss my next step. I hadn't seen genuine warmth like that in a long time. “I made it.”
So she was beautiful inside and out...
Who was
this woman?
“What happened over there?” She asked bluntly. “That woman looked pissed. Was that your wife?”
“Yes,” I was a little surprised by her forwardness. “We're in a rough spot right now. I was hoping coming to this event with her would smooth things over, but it’s only made things worse.”
Heidi and I have been in a perpetual argument for months now. The smallest things set us off these days. I was on my way to becoming a billionaire, and still nothing I did was enough for her. It drove me crazy. I doubted she'd even come home tonight. Not like it would’ve been the first time.
I hated to think of where she might go, or who she might go to.
“Did you forget an anniversary?” She guessed. Her voice was light and bubbly. If champagne could talk, it would sound like her. “Or a birthday? You didn't run over the dog did you?”
I wished it was that easy. Not the dog part though, that shit would be horrible. I wasn't about to tell a complete stranger that my wife just told me she didn't love me and was only staying because of our daughter.
“You don't have much of a filter do you?”
“I— shit. I'm sorry,” she said. “My curiosity tends to get me in trouble. I can't help it. Aside from the King brothers, you're the only one here who looks larger than life. In the good way I mean. I'm obviously not calling you fat!”
“I'd ask your name, but I guess that would defeat the purpose.”
“Yes! I'm glad you get that” She glanced to the side searching out someone; probably the person who didn't get that.
“Where's your date? You can't be here alone.” I glanced around this time, partly looking for some guy who was standing off to the side fuming that I was dancing with his girlfriend, and partly looking for my wife who might be doing the same.
I knew I wouldn't find Heidi. She'd left in our limo, gone to who knows where. I was doing what I could to hold things together for our daughter, but Heidi made it clear that she didn’t love me anymore. I wish it hadn't come to this; Jaclyn deserved a chance at a whole family...
“That is a great question,” my partner said sullenly. Then she chuckled, her hand slid across my back. “Doesn't look like it's our night, huh?”
“Who knows,” I spun her to the end of my arm, then rolled her back in. Her long blond hair cascaded over my neck and chest, inundating me with her silky texture and flowery-smelling conditioner.
I greedily breathed in as much of her as I could. “Maybe it is our night.”
She tittered nervously, thoroughly at a loss for words. I could feel her pulse race through her white gown. Her plunging neckline shifted when her spine went rod straight, as if noticing my touch for the first time.
She looked stunning.
I envied the poor, dumb bastard who this outfit was meant for; obviously the man was a fool for not noticing her enough.
Song after song, we danced in wordless closeness for a long while. It was perfect. For an hour or so I could be a completely different person who was just dancing with a stranger.
“I feel like I should call you something,” She said at last, once we drifted far enough from the rest of the crowd. The ambient lighting was strong enough where we were for me to finally see the emerald hue in her bright eyes. Not even the porcelain mask could hide her sparkling gems from me. “Not your real name of course, but something. Y'know?”
I didn't think she could get any prettier. I was wrong.
“Like a superhero name?” I let the absurd fantasy of it all part my lips in a grin. “Sure. Call me Grim. What do I call you?”
For bringing the naming concept up, she struggled with thinking of one. She had to know that I'd ask her for one as well, right?
“Rocket,” she sighed, her cheerfulness tarnishing a bit. It made my heart ache with sympathy pangs.
“Fuck names,” I said dismissively. I wasn't going to call her something that wounded her. “We don't need them. Just for tonight we'll be a man and a woman. To hell with everything else.”
“I like that.” She smiled again, pulling herself a little closer to me.
We chased the night away one dance step at a time, and for a while I was able to let go of all the other crap on my mind. Football was so fucking all-encompassing these days, I felt like it was smothering me. Coach Miller was such an incredible prick about not allowing me any time to get my personal life together. I didn’t know how much more of his shit I’d be able to take.
Far too soon all the dancing was done. I held the mystery woman in my arms not wanting to let her go. We'd slowly marched to the gallows of a decision. Part ways forever as strangers, or leave our broken worlds together.
It was so insanely tempting to do the latter… and just leave it all behind.
“Thank you.” she looked up at me hopefully. “It was a bad night until you came along.”
My pleasure.” I softly kissed her hand. A tiny birthmark above her thumbnail caught my eye; it was in the shape of a crescent moon. I whispered into her ear. “You still owe me one.”
My perfect dancer swayed lightly with anticipation. She wanted me to decide for both of us. The small portion of her face that I could see was eager, but also hesitant. I could only imagine what battles she fought in her head right now.
Thoughts of my newborn daughter washed through me and I knew that I never really had a choice at all. There was no way I could ever leave her, or be the reason she didn't have a full family.
My life was different now. My sacrifices were just beginning.
“Perhaps,” I said, heavily discarding something truly unique and special. I dove desperately once more into her emerald eyes. “In another life we'd have gotten one more dance. Good night.”
Then I left her forever.
Chapter 6
Judy
“Happy Halloween,” read the sign hanging from the great hall's threshold.
“Isn't it December?” My voice was so distant that I briefly felt like a ventriloquist's puppet.
The ballroom floor was painted bright orange and black, like a jack-o-lantern with a great Cheshire grin. I was dancing in the middle of everyone. One wrong step, and I'd fall into the pumpkin's gaping smile and disappear forever.
Everyone wore these elaborate masks, but it wasn't a costume party. They all had on the suits and gowns of a formal evening party. I remember loving the concept of it but the name flitted away from me.
What was that called?
“A masquerade,” the man I was suddenly dancing with answered the question I'd never actually spoken aloud. “Where's your mask?”
He twirled me. I felt so small in his arms; so safe. In the mirrored far wall, I could see that I was the only one in the whole dance that didn't have a mask on!
What happened to mine? I know I wore one. I vividly remember making it myself. Where was it now?
“I don't know...” Anxiety flooded me. This was a masquerade, I couldn't not have one. What was I going to do?
“Dance,” the masked man said, pulling me closer. He was tall and broad, and his hands were strong like rough-hewn stone. He had the shoulders and thighs of an athlete; a large one at that.
Baseball or hockey maybe?
No... Football - that was it!
It was glaringly obvious now. His mask wasn't a mask at all, but a football helmet. He wore pads over his finely tailored suit. “Stick with me and they won't notice.”
I believed him. How could they possibly see my face if I was dancing? I felt silly for not coming to that conclusion on my own. “But I don't know how to dance.”
“I'll show you. Then you'll never forget.” My partner masterfully led me around the dance hall. His every step was impossibly smooth and confident. He was amazing. Better than anyone I'd ever seen.
He moved me like a leaf on the wind.
I was his completely.
The music slowed and I got worried. What would happen if we stopped dancing? His body pressed against mine, and suddenly the pads weren't there anymore.
We were both completely naked.
“Our clothes!” I gasped, shivering. I looked to see if anyone was looking at us. No one seemed to notice.
“See?” He said, unconcerned. He still wore his helmet, the bars and straps somehow blacked out his face completely. That didn't make any sense. That wasn't how helmets were supposed to work. “They don't notice as long as we keep dancing.”
Who are you? I stared into his icy eyes, which were the only attributes of his face the helmet didn't steal from me.
“You know who I am,” he said. I heard the voice in my ears and in my mind. The look he gave me seemed to bore into my head, heart and soul simultaneously. He didn't blink or look away, and neither did I.
I wrapped myself around his great chest, and let my head lull in the nook between his neck and shoulder. Without clothes on I was so cold, but he was a blazing furnace of warmth. As long as I stayed there for the rest of my life, I'd be alright.
He didn't hear that thought, or if he did he ignored it.
He took my hand in a slow waltz, and slipped his leg between mine. I felt the massive bulge of his cock on my inner thigh as he dipped me low. I closed my eyes. His cock was warm and hardening, and spongy as it dragged across my leg. It melted the skin it touched, ruining me with renewed shivers.
My clit began to ache for his roughness. That yearning radiated out from my pussy until my whole body demanded to feel him inside of me. I was wet, and couldn't stop bucking up against him.
“It's been a long time since you were touched.”
“A long time...” I parroted distractedly. My limbs were turning into rubber. My body was giving in to him.
Despite my eyes being closed I could see that we weren't in the clubhouse ballroom any longer. We were in my old store, Black Rocket Records. My back and head still arched, I opened my eyes and looked at him. The rippling muscles in his arms and chest flexed to keep me from falling.
He gently lowered me onto one of the many small circular tables. The second he laid his fat cock on my swollen pussy, my legs began to tremble. It ignited a fire in me that only his cock could put out.