Cinder-Un-Rella [Companionship Inc., Book I]
Page 3
"Melanie, I asked you to leave,” his tone sharp as fined honed steel.
"Not before I show you my little surprise. I've started a new business and created a magnificent sculpture that I modeled after you, sweetheart. Tonight is the unveiling and I think you're going to like it.” Melanie jumped out of bed; her body glistened with the applied baby oil. He had to admit, she was a looker. He'd have to be dead not to notice. Hell, even his penis was ready to stand up and shout. Traitor.
Melanie pulled a sheet off the item on his dresser. It was a life-sized model of an erect penis, down to the last detail, and it looked suspiciously like Taft's.
"This is the Taft Shaft and it will go on sale tomorrow. It's my own creation. There's nothing like it on the market. Look, it's made of pliable Gortex; and feels as real as yours. And did you notice the shape? It points down when erect like yours, for that wonderful clit action that gets me off.” She punctuated the last statement with a huge smile. His stomach revolted. “It even has that little blue vein I love so much. It has a built in warmer, and it hums when it vibrates. Do you want to see how it works? I'll be happy to give you a free demo!"
Taft stepped back, not wanting to be this close to the person he abhorred. But, like it or not, he was intrigued with the innovation behind her handiwork.
"You don't have to do a thing, Taft. Just watch it do its job and give yourself a little credit for its existence."
Melanie turned one of the switches on, causing it to vibrate up and down, and then thumbed it up a notch to make it move in circles. “Look, the warmer has a fluid sac—it even ejaculates! It feels just like the real thing. What woman needs a real man when she can have the Taft Shaft? I'll make millions off these babies!"
Taft couldn't say a word, nor could he stop watching. Melanie made herself comfortable on his bed once more, with her knees bent and legs spread. She opened the lips of her vagina and placed the vibrating shaft at the right angle. “Oh, Taft,” she moaned. “You feel so good, harder, harder,” she said as she plunged the cock deeper, her free hand groping her breasts. She rolled over on his mattress, her milky white ass pointed in his direction as her hips ground up and down on the Taft Shaft.
Taft grew hard, in spite of his iron will resolve—despite the fact he loathed this woman. He was repulsed by his body's response—yet titillated. His reaction had been strictly biological and naturally he would be curious. He'd never seen anything like it; maybe in a porn flick, him and his buddies used to watch, but hell never in the flesh. He had to admit, though, he was turned on—but he wanted Victoria not the woman before him.
Melanie stopped abruptly and reached for the baby oil on the nightstand. She rubbed the oil around her anus. “Okay, Taft. So you don't want me, but I bet you can't pass up a chance to fuck this. I don't know of a man who doesn't secretly—"
"Enough,” he growled, bile itching up his esophagus.
In a low, seductive voice she purred, “I remember how you used to stick your finger in my ass while you shoved your dick into me, always hitting my G-spot. It felt like I was getting it from two men, one on each side. It'll feel so good, Taft—so tight and slick, you'll never want pussy again."
"Get the hell out, Melanie.” He had never been so close to wanting to strike a woman before. “You disgust me. I don't want to touch you."
"Okay, Taft. Have it your way. Time for Plan B. Lisa, you can come out of the closet."
A beautiful red-haired vixen emerged from Taft's walk-in closet. Her alabaster skin appeared whiter due to her flaming red hair and green eyes, making her pretty foxy. Dressed in a black teddy, she only had eyes for Melanie.
"Taft, meet my roommate, Lisa."
Lisa eased down on the bed beside Melanie, stroking her hair and kissing her fully on the lips.
"See, Lisa likes me, unlike you, Taft. You are about to watch what every red-blooded man has fantasized about. I'm going to make your every dream come true."
Taft knew he should stop them, knew they violated his space, but damn if he did not feel compelled to watch. Melanie slathered baby oil on Lisa and pulled her teddy from her slender flawless form. Melanie kissed Lisa between the breasts and fingered her nipples. She moved down to explore her red mound with her fingers. “What should I do now, Taft?” she cooed. “How do you think I should satisfy this earth goddess?"
He couldn't speak, couldn't move. Taft didn't want to participate in this sexual deviance, but he couldn't look away either.
Melanie patted the bed, “Come join us, Taft.” With spread legs and knees up, she rubbed her clit. “I want you to lick my pussy, Taft. You loved it before, in fact, if memory serves me well, you couldn't get enough. It's still the same; it tastes just as good. Ask Lisa."
Mesmerized, Taft stood rooted to the floor and stared at her, not believing what he witnessed.
"Okay, have it your way, Taft. But I know you want to watch, so would you rather she lick me first or should I lick her? Or would you prefer we do each other at the same time? It's your call, Taft. This show is all for you."
When Taft didn't respond, Melanie drew her head between Lisa's legs. Lisa put a pillow beneath her to allow Melanie deeper access. Melanie leisurely dragged her tongue along the glistening v, then smiled at Taft. “See, Taft, guys aren't the only ones that can make a girl wet. If we can do it for each other, who needs men?"
Lisa grabbed Melanie's hair, guiding her back between her legs and screamed with delight. Her legs wrapped around Melanie's head, squeezing it between her thighs. Moments later, taking a few minutes to recover, Lisa grasped the Taft Shaft, turned it on, and began stroking it over Melanie's body. She found Melanie's clit, teasing it with the vibration, before probing the tip of the shaft at her opening. Melanie squealed in delight, grabbed it, and forced it deep within her. “Where's your belt?” she gasped.
Lisa grabbed what looked like a garter belt and wrapped it around her waist, attaching the artificial penis to it. She mounted Melanie as if she were a man and began thrusting. As Melanie neared the crescendo, Lisa pushed the button at the tip to release the hot fluid.
"Oh, Taft, it should have been you.” She glanced at him, desire still evident in her gaze as it traveled to the front of his trousers. “Look, Lisa, he may pretend otherwise, but we definitely affected him—his cock is about to bust out of his pants."
Taft looked at the two sweaty women in disgust. “Get dressed before I call security. I want you both out of here."
Jumping from the bed like a panther, Melanie grabbed her clothes and said to Lisa, “Get dressed. We're out of here.” Melanie turned to Taft, a sour expression on her face, “I know it's that bitch, isn't it?"
Taken aback, not sure how Melanie would even know about his night with Victoria, Taft asked, “What the hell are you talking about, Melanie?"
"That black haired bitch you were out with the other night at The Omni. Is she the reason you're not interested?"
So Melanie had found out about his previous date before Victoria. “No, she has nothing to do with my feelings toward you. You and I have been over for a long time. You need to accept that, Melanie. Move on. I'm having the locks changed, again. Don't pull this stunt again or I'll have you arrested."
Melanie turned around slowly, glaring at Taft. “Like I told you before, you'll never be rid of me. I'm in your blood and in your dreams. If I can't have you, nobody will.” Her eyes blazed with a darkness Taft knew only too well.
This woman was capable of almost anything. Taft would never forget the night the detective brought the videotapes and pictures to him. Taft sat and stared at them in shock. He'd had no idea. He had thought she was having a fling, but nothing like this. When the detective played the tapes there was no mistaking Melanie. It had looked like a costume party—what she'd later described as an S and M party. Sadomasochism. Whips, chains, belts, screams, pain, sexual thrill. The idea sickened him.
He had broken it off immediately, but he had to seek counseling to overcome the pain of betrayal. After all, he ha
d thought he had loved Melanie. And why he hadn't seen clues early on in the relationship that she possessed this dark side was beyond him. The counselor had assured him that it wasn't something he could have foreseen. Melanie's symptoms and behavior indicated she had a serious psychological disorder called Borderline Personality. Unfortunately, it's a condition not treated very successfully.
The disease was one in which a person has no self-esteem, no sense of self apart from their attachments to others. It's almost as if they have a black hole inside of them. Consequently, they are master manipulators, and better actors than most coming out of Hollywood or New York. The psychologist suggested he change the locks on the doors, not answer her calls or messages, or try to be friendly, as she could easily become fixated on him, which could be dangerous. She told him to completely remove himself from all connections, lest she drag Taft into the black hole with her.
After finally removing the two women from his apartment. Taft tossed and turned the remainder of the night. He couldn't sleep. His base response to the encounter he had witnessed left him yearning for Victoria more so than when he had left her in the limo. Every time he drifted off to sleep, he woke up with another painful erection.
He tried getting up and taking a cold shower. It hadn't helped. Oh, hell, he'd repressed his libido from over work and no interest in any woman sexually—until now. Sharp images of Victoria in the back seat of the limo filled his mind and his cock responded in turn. Taft laughed. Yes, his penis definitely had a life of its own. As much as he'd enjoyed sex with partners in his past, no woman had ever turned him on like Victoria. His instincts told him she was the real deal. Not fake like so many he had dated before.
Taft always had a niggling sense of discomfort about Melanie, but he had been so taken by her charm, he ignored those nagging instincts. He swore he'd listen to them from that point forward after being burned by Melanie. Now, they told him he could trust Victoria. Taft wanted more than anything to protect her, provide for her, to populate the world with her. The thought of Victoria's flat stomach rounding with his child was a huge turn on.
He took the baby oil Melanie had left into the shower with him, squirting it in his hands and rubbing them together. Then grasping his shaft, he slowly stroked it, pulled it, rubbed his palm over the tip, imaging Victoria's lips wrapped around him. He jerked harder and faster, envisioning Victoria on her knees, loving him. “Victoria,” he whispered, as his release mixed with the stream of water and dissipated down the drain.
He wiped himself with a towel and thought, maybe now he'd get some blessed sleep. With any luck, sweet Victoria would be the focus of his dreams.
CHAPTER 4
Victoria walked into the shelter at midnight in a daze. Lamps still burned on the makeshift nightstands beside the cots. Moans and groans and smells of decay wafted through the large room. Victoria felt like she'd stepped through the looking glass to an upside-down world from the one she'd just walked out of—Cinderella returning from the ball.
Early the next morning, her cell phone rang, rousing her from her sleep. Stephen Sawyer himself had called rather than the computerized voice of Companionship, Inc. “You made a big hit last night. Mr. Houston has requested your services again tonight. I just wanted to congratulate you in person for an excellent rating on your first assignment."
Delight raced through her, before she thought of the ramifications of accepting another call from Taft. “I won't be able to accept this assignment."
"What? He's counting on you. You have nothing else listed on your assignment sheet. What's the problem?"
Victoria stammered, searching for a plausible reason to turn down the job. “I would prefer to have a different customer for each job. I think it's more professional and makes things easier all the way around. No chance of getting too attached that way."
She heard silence at the other end. “Victoria, that is not the way things work. Do you want this job or don't you?” Stephen sounded on the verge of being irate.
Fear raced up her spine, along with the thought of being in this hellhole for the rest of her life. She needed this job—at any cost.
"Yes, I want this job. I need this job. I'm sorry, Mr. Sawyer, I'll take any assignment you give me."
She heard him breathe a sigh of relief. “Good girl. You had me scared for a minute. You are going to be our star employee; I can feel it. Be at The Omni at 7:00 P.M. tonight for your assignment. Mr. Houston will be waiting for you at the lounge. The limo will again take you home."
"I'll be there,” she said.
Her body tingled at the thought of spending another evening with Taft. She hoped this time things would be a little tamer; hopeful, the stardust would settle from their initial meeting and they could control their baser instincts. Not that they had violated company policy. They had played within the boundaries. Although, her heart was not adhering to the rules, which terrified her more than anything.
Victoria spent more time than usual preparing for the evening. She selected a short, sexy red dress for the evening's job, and found a pair of red lace spiked heels to go with it. Someone from the shelter beat loudly on the bathroom door, yelling something about her taking so long. Staying at the shelter was like living in a college dormitory—no privacy.
* * * *
Taft sat at the table nearest the entrance of The Omni lounge so he wouldn't miss Victoria's entrance. Of course she would no doubt be stunning. But his heart pounded in anticipation of what outfit she might be wearing tonight. Last night's had bedazzled him. He glanced at his watch—ten minutes until seven—an eternity. He hoped she wouldn't be late. Patience had never been one of his virtues. He even fretted over the possibility that she might not show.
Hell, he wanted this woman, no doubt about it, his sleepless night proving as much. He tossed and turned with visions of Victoria filling his head, wanting her next to him, beneath him, so he could take her, again and again. He thought surely if he had been given one weekend with her, just one, he would purge his desires, making love to her so many times they'd both be too tired to move. Neither one would likely want sex anytime too soon; they would be spent. Just one weekend. That's all he needed. Then they could go back to their real lives—satiated ... and safe. Safe from the constraints and risk of emotional entanglements. Suddenly, he wondered if it would be enough—could he possibly have one without the other? Or did they come as a package deal when it came to Victoria?
Those questions continued to flit through his mind when Victoria walked in the door. Her extremely low-cut, v-necked red dress hugged her like a glove. Her staccato heels rap-tapped across the floor—and right into his heart. Taft felt like he'd been struck by Cupid's lethal arrow. And he was sunk.
* * * *
As Victoria approached the table, Taft rose to his feet. His thick black hair brushed back from his forehead, and his green eyes swept over her body. She noted the prominent bulge in his trousers.
"Victoria, you look lovely tonight.” His voice came across husky in his state of arousal. He was definitely happy to see her.
"Thank you,” she said, as he took her hand and brought it to his lips. A sense of power washed over her, confidence coursed through her veins along with the fresh wave of fiery heat. She felt like a princess, meeting her prince.
Victoria needed a drink—and fast. A drink to calm her frazzled nerves and borrow her some much-needed time to figure out her feelings toward Taft. Man, oh, man was she in trouble. Her thoughts of maintaining control flew right out the window along with her resolve the minute she had laid eyes on him. She could feel her body taking control.
"How about a drink?” Taft said, buttoning his coat, no doubt to hide his thrill at being in her company.
"Sounds good to me, I'll have an Amaretto sour, please."
Both sat silent, riding the current of energy pulsating between them. Victoria downed the Amaretto in a few quick gulps and noticed Taft's eyebrow quirk up.
"Would you like another?” Taft offered.
Soon they chatted about their respective day—just like an old married couple whose lives fit together better than an old pair of moccasins, putting Victoria even more at ease. Conversation and laughter flowed between them as if they'd known each other forever. Work was not supposed to feel this good. Victoria started at the thought.
I need to get out of here, she thought. At least for a minute to catch her bearings.
After excusing herself, she locked herself in the bathroom stall and gave herself a stern talking to about the perils of involvement. She wanted to be her own person, live a self-governing life and be dependent on no one. Taft made her feel like a Cinderella; she could get used to it, like it far too much, and all of a sudden find herself needing it. Nope, this is not going to happen to me, she scolded herself, it's not going to happen.
Victoria reflected back to preadolescence where her parents had constantly reinforced the importance of a woman to be connected to a man—those were the videotapes of the mind that formed the patterns in her life. Looking back, it seemed unhealthy to think, act and live based on the need to have a man at her side. Love didn't even seem a part of it, only need. And here she was about to fall into same old trap. And she wasn't going to allow that to happen. Okay, four deep breaths, she thought, and I'm back at the table—back to the work I'm getting paid well to do.