I was surprised but not shocked, “I figured. She’s not really the type.”
“We all adore you, but Kris, she thought you were magnificent. The last time we took you to New York, she moped for two days until it was time to fly you back. When do you fly again?”
I shrugged, “I’m never sure, but tell me she lives in South Florida.”
“All of us live in Orlando. We do most of our business from there. You realize she owns the company, right?”
Now I was shocked. “Are you kidding? No, I didn’t realize. Not that it matters to me if she’s a pilot or the CEO or the flight attendant.” She chuckled at that. “I like her. And Orlando is a common trip for me.”
A thought crossed my mind. “Do you have a card?” She did and I took it happily. When the plane came to a complete stop, Dina gave me a little hug and a kiss on the cheek before heading over to open the exit door. A flight of stairs was already against the plane.
The cockpit door opened and Roan came out. He had a huge smile and hugged me. “Thanks, kid. Even a gay man gets a woody with all that noise. I’ve got to give Marcus a call and have him meet me at the airport. Some things can’t wait. I need that dick and I’m willin’ to get Tupac sung badly to get it.” I laughed; I have always loved gay men.
Kris came out of the cockpit and kissed me on the cheek. I told her, “Dina gave me your card. If I call you, will you answer the phone?” She asked for the card and wrote her cell number on the back, handing it back. “I take that as a yes.”
“Yes…definitely a yes.” I kissed her better this time, a true kiss that said, “This isn’t over” and left the plane. Now I was really exhausted.
Katie was parked on the tarmac to pick me up, and asked, “Nice flight?” as I climbed in. I looked back at the plane, and there was Kris, standing in the doorway. The warm breeze blew her hair back from her face and I caught her smile. I looked at Katie, “A really nice flight.”
She was going to drop me at my apartment, the standing arrangement when I flew out of town. I was surprised when she started up a conversation. “How are you feeling, Sarah?”
“I’m good, thanks for asking.” I replied simply. I thought she was just being polite.
She nodded and remained quiet for a while. “I ask because I’ve been where you are and after more than a year, I wanted to check on your health and well-being.”
This information didn’t completely surprise me. “You used to work for Vivienne in…um…a different capacity?”
She smiled in the rearview, “Indeed, I was quite the success.” Her eyes turned back front, “But after two years, I was burnt out, I had to give it up. I guess Viv didn’t want to lose me completely, so she made me an offer. I still make good money, shuttling the girls around. I keep an eye on you all. Try to watch for the signs someone might need a little help.”
“Do I show any signs, Katie, love?” I used my pet name on her and got another smile.
She waited to answer, but when she did, her answer was so honest, I couldn’t help but really hear her. “Not always. But there are times when I see a bit of weariness in your eyes. I think your heart is quite large. I know you’d put the needs of your clients before yourself. I see the way you cater to them, not like a job, but like a friend or lover with their needs at heart.”
I said nothing because I’d seen signs of emotional attachment with a few of my clients and blatantly denied it to myself. Only sadness was down that road.
I peered out the window, watching the scenery flow by in the tropical paradise so many people flocked to. I’d met so many seniors who thought moving here would be the best thing in their retirement. As the cost of living soared and the state became a home for transients, retirement in sunny South Florida wasn’t what it used to be. There were more bums on the corners, more abandoned homes and businesses.
For a moment, I longed for the Midwest.
“I think perhaps there will come a day, not too far in the future, when I’ll have to stop this line of work, Katie. I came from a simple way of life and this is far too complicated.” I paused and met her reflection. “I know what you’re saying. I hear you. I’ll be careful.”
She nodded in response and we spent the rest of the drive in silence. After my experience with Kris, my heart was tugged. Sometimes, it happens like that I guess. I wanted to see her, and I didn’t want to be paid to do so.
When I got out at my apartment, Katie popped the trunk and handed me my duffle. “I’ll see you at Vicki’s on Friday. You have a busy weekend.” She smiled and drove away a few moments later.
I watched the car turn onto Federal Highway and was surprised to hear my name from above. I turned, shielding my eyes from the setting sun, and saw Carrie standing next to my front door, arms crossed and a pissy look on her face.
With a sigh, I hauled my ass up the steps to the obvious confrontation. I felt like a trained monkey with Carrie. She got bitchy, I fucked her out of it, she was happy, and I was bored. The time had come to break things off with her sexually and I needed her calm to have that conversation.
That night, I fucked her into a calm state and had the talk I should’ve had much sooner with her. She cried and I said I was sorry. She asked me why and I told her exactly what was in my mind. Our relationship was on her terms and I was tired of trying to placate her.
I told her she was important to me, but sex complicated our relationship and I needed her to understand that. I explained there might come a day when things would change, but for now, I needed her to understand and respect my wishes.
When she left, she was sad, but for the first time since we’d dated originally, she acted like my friend again.
Chapter Twenty – Farewell to Friends
September 2000
Katie’s fear for me turned out to manifest in a couple of the others in our little group. Within days of one another, Lera, the flower child and Max, the kick-ass driver, gave notice they would be leaving.
Vivienne was not surprised to be losing Lera; she’d never pegged her to last but loved her “Earth Mother” thing. She’d enlisted in the Peace Corps and intended to use the money she’d saved to support her for ten years in little starving countries while she changed the world. Before her final weekend, I found myself alone with her in the library at Viv’s.
“I’m sorry you’ll be leaving, Lera. I always love our conversations.” It was a pathetic starter, but the best I could do considering the very late night I’d had with Tria, my would-be dominatrix. I was sore and in need of a massage, stat.
She was an animated person and needed little prodding to embark on the details of her mission to change the world, one person at a time. I discovered she’d not only saved her own money, but her clients had invested money in gear and supplies she’d need for her journey. I was impressed. I found her planning to be sound. It wasn’t a whim and she wasn’t as vapid as I’d always believed. Lera had a good head on her shoulders, as well as a cute body beneath it.
“Kosovo is destroyed, most of Africa is starving, and there is so much for me to do. And why shouldn’t I? Why sit here in luxury when there is more I can do?” I let her talk, remembering discussions about the state of the world I used to have in journalism throughout high school. I missed the passion about topics bigger than myself.
The person who was a total shock to everyone was Max. Vivienne had no clue she’d been thinking about leaving and giving three months’ notice didn’t soften the blow. It was the first time I’d seen Vivienne cry.
Max had been the first escort, years before, to work for Vivienne. Her specialty had been tiny women who wanted to feel safe, but couldn’t handle men. She was a natural and worked clients for almost four years during college before asking to be their driver instead.
The following week, Tria requested me again. Normally, I got a good two week break between our sessions. Max drove me and kept the security window open to tell me about her plans.
“I’m opening a little bed and breakfast in
Vermont, Sarah. My family lives there and I miss them. I place won’t be far away and I’m ready to go home. My boyfriend is amazed I’m finally walking away from my life with Viv.” She seemed excited and it made me excited for her.
“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Max. I never dreamed your life would be bed and breakfast.”
She laughed good and long before saying, “No one expects it. They see me and figure I must be a full-on lesbian, I’m not exactly the picture of feminine grace.” As I shook my head, she held up her hand, “No, I know how tall and muscular I am. I work it now because I’m comfortable in my own skin. My boyfriend is almost seven feet tall and with him, I feel like a dainty flower. I started working for Viv in my freshman year of college. It gave me the chance to attend without racking up loans, and let me tell you, I’ve acquired quite the little nest egg in the past few years. I’ll be sad to leave it, but a new life is calling.”
My smile was genuine when I said, “I hope you get all the things you want. Can you drop a line and let me know where your place is? If I ever take a vacation, I’d love to see it.”
“You’re always welcome, Sarah. Of course I’ll stay in touch. I have to see how your time with Tria works out…that woman is nuts but a hell of a lot of fun.”
I was taken aback, “You had Tria as a client? I had no idea!”
At the light she turned back to look at me, “That woman wore me out. I was used to women who were looking for a strong woman. No one could handle Tria until I took her on. After me, she went through all of Viv’s girls…no one could cut it. But you’ve been seeing her now for longer than I did and I’m impressed.” The light changed and she entered the intersection, turning onto the dark two-lane road that lead to Calipatria’s house. “Just know when to say when, if you get my meaning.”
We pulled into the drive and I placed my hand on her arm through the security window, “Thanks, Max. I’m going to miss the hell out of you. Your boyfriend is lucky to have you…and there is nothing manly about you, you carry yourself all woman.”
We shared a smile and she got out to open my door. Tria stood on the stone walk, waiting for me and waved happily at Max before focusing her full attention on me.
I sighed and prepared myself to ‘cowboy up’. She had a new toy she’d been dying to get me on. It was a modified riding bull. She’d bought it from a country bar that went out of business and had it changed up to suit her freakiness.
I climbed out of the limo in crotchless panties and leather chaps. A rhinestone halter and cowboy hat completed my outfit. As usual, Tria was dressed in identical attire and made quite the impression standing in front of her house. I met her halfway up the walk and embraced her roughly before being pulled inside.
Max was gone before the door closed behind us. Dinner, pool, and experimenting with the bull.
I was so sore the next day I had to schedule a massage. Decklan caught a look at my backside when I was going into the sauna and asked how I’d gotten bruised.
I told him a little about Tria and he frowned. “You’re not supposed to be bruised, Sarah. That is fucking wrong. It’s like the appointments where men are included…you didn’t sign up for that shit.”
I was unsure what to say, Decklan sounded truly upset on my behalf. I put a hand on his forearm, standing in front of him fully nude. “Deck, it’s okay. Sometimes you have to adapt to things. I’m really good at adapting. This bruise is nothing compared to injuries I’ve gotten in my life. I have a high pain tolerance and I’m really alright.”
I went up on tiptoe to lightly kiss his lips, “Thanks for caring, Decklan. I mean that.” I stroked his cheek and stepped into the sauna. Suddenly having someone say things out loud made them worse. I leaned my head against the sauna wall and closed my eyes. I couldn’t wait to get that massage. Lately, I’d been feeling tenser.
And my god, Decklan was looking really good these days.
Vivienne would be in full ‘recruitment’ mode and I wondered who we would get to replace Lera with the clients. In addition, no one made us feel as secure as Max driving the limo, but someone would have to take it on.
Chapter Twenty-One – Missing Normalcy
October 2000
We saw Lera off with a huge party a month after she told us the news, and all of us were sad to see her go. She and I shared books and had similar dispositions.
As we left the restaurant, she took me aside and said, “Sarah, I’ve asked Viv to assign you to one of my clients in particular. Her name is Michaela and I personally adore her. She requires a bit of finesse because she isn’t gorgeous like most of the customers. She’s a beautiful person, though…if you know what I mean.”
She paused to watch the other girls filing from the restaurant and into the limo. Decklan held the door for them. Max would be with us through the busy season and leave the beginning of January, so she helped the girls as they climbed in the limo. She was decked out in a shimmering red dress that fell to mid-thigh, reminding me of Zena, Warrior Princess.
“I know the other girls are good and kind but I don’t know if they can be as gentle as I know you can. Would you take care of her for me?” Her face implored me to agree and since I wasn’t seeing the Dorns as often, I had the opening in my schedule.
“Sure, I’ll take care of her. You don’t have to worry.” She hugged me tightly and we joined the rest of the group in the limo. We went clubbing and danced the night away. Decklan had me out on the dance floor for hours, dancing everything from grind to salsa. I was relaxed for the first time in months. He held me hard and I guess I needed to be held.
Lera’s plane would leave for South Africa two days later then she’d take a train north to her assignment with the Peace Corps.
We danced until dawn and dropped her at a little duplex on the beach. Her little earth-friendly scooter sat in the driveway with a sticker that read “Sea Turtles Dig the Dark” on the luggage pod. Vivienne gave her a scrapbook filled with her studio portraits. There was a lot of hugging, maybe a few tears, as we watched her wave one last time from her doorway and disappear inside.
The next day, I called Vivienne to ask her about setting up appointments with Michaela. She’d already spoken to the woman and I would be meeting her at her restaurant – a little Brazilian bakery and eatery – the following Friday.
Since I had time off, I planned to go to a Matchbox Twenty concert with Decklan and we considered riding our bikes up the coast. It had been a year since our time together in Orlando. We met in a seedy raw bar along the beach for lunch when I asked him to come to my apartment with me before the concert.
His expression was stunned, “You want me to come home with you, Sarah?”
“You’re the only non-job male I’ve been with in over a year, the last man I was with because I wanted to be. I…miss you, I guess. I’m getting burnt out, Decklan. I know you’re not into the forever crap and that’s fine. I’d consider it a personal favor if you’d remind me what sex with a man is like.”
He leaned toward me, “You’d consider it a personal favor for me to have sex with one of the most beautiful and sensual women I know?”
I smiled, “Since you’re the most beautiful man I know, thank you for the compliment.” He threw money on the table and pulled me to my feet. By the time we were on our bikes, I was thrumming with need. When we crashed through the front door of my apartment, throwing our helmets and keys on the living room floor, we were pulling at one another’s clothes frantically.
“Sarah, oh my god, baby. I want you so bad.” Decklan flipped me backwards on my couch and yanked off my boots, jeans, and panties. Taking my hands, he pulled me back to my feet as he unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. “Condoms in my inside jacket pocket,” he said as he pulled off his own boots. I searched and found them, ripping the package open with my teeth, and rolling it over his cock as he pulled his t-shirt over his head.
Decklan came at me hard, yanking me off my feet and slamming my back against my kitchen wall. I wrapped my l
egs around his waist and took his hair in my fists.
When he entered me I bit his shoulder. He worked into me until I felt him against my womb. He let me adjust for a minute as he kissed me possessively. He lifted his head to look at me and I smiled. “I’ve missed you, Decklan.” He groaned and started thrusting into me hard and fast. The entire situation turned me on so much I came really fast the first time.
Decklan lifted me by my ass and carried me into my bedroom. “Oh my god, Deck, it’s so nice to be the one carried for a change…” He lowered me to the center of the bed, still connected to one another, and came over me, supporting his weight with his forearms. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him deeply.
His strokes were relaxed, pulling all the way out and thrusting back into me deep. Decklan’s mouth never moved from me, kissing my face, neck, and shoulders until I was trembling with the building orgasm I wouldn’t let go.
He went still inside me and said, “Sarah, look at me baby.” He’d been kissing my neck and I’d turned my head to give him more access. I turned to look at him, his dark brown eyes staring into my hazel ones.
“You know what you’ve forgotten?” I shook my head. “You’ve forgotten how to let someone focus on you, how to let someone concentrate on nothing but you and your pleasure.” He smoothed my riotous curls away from my face and I felt a hard lump forming in my throat.
“Sarah, I want you to forget about anything I want. Forget about pleasing me, baby. Just being here with you is so good, watching you come is even better.” He started moving inside me again and whispered, “Let go, Sarah, take what you want. Come for me, baby.”
The feel of him inside me, powering into me slow and easy to build me up, not worried about himself…having him hold me and kiss me just because I was me, not because he was paying me to be here. When I felt the orgasm claw out from my womb, my body arched up to slam into Decklan’s, screaming his name.
In the Service of Women Page 16