The Shadow Box

by Ke, Alexis

  She glanced around the room, looking for speakers, something to allow her to hear what he was saying. The need to hear his voice was like a need for oxygen. She jumped up, moved around the room, searching the walls, the doors, the window. Nothing. Disappointment settled at the pit of her stomach and she moved back to the settee, only to see a button on the side table. Who’d’ve thought?

  She pressed the button and sat back down. Relaxing, she watched and wondered. Mister Mysterious kneeled in front of the woman and lifted her right leg. Immediately, he began caressing her foot and placing kisses along the sole. His mouth moved up her leg from foot to thigh, pausing and moving back down. The woman squirmed, moaned.

  Afryca squirmed and moaned.

  Embarrassment warmed her cheeks. She glanced around the room thankful she was alone. This was wonderful. No wonder this place is so exclusive, so secretive. Knowing she wouldn’t have to answer any questions or hide her desire she lay back on the settee and continue to watch.

  With each press of his lips to the woman’s skin her stomach tightened. He licked and laved his way around her body to the point Afryca thought the woman was going to fall off of the chair. God, she wished it was her. She wished it was her body he kissed and even better if it was Simon doing the kissing. Her clit throbbed with anticipation of what Mr. Mysterious was going to do next. Afryca’s hand slid beneath the waist band of her slacks and cupped her mound. She didn’t know who moaned first, her or the woman on the other side of the window. The orgasm hit her so hard she flung herself off of the settee and found herself sitting on the floor.

  Damn. What is wrong with me? She pushed up, sat back down and straightened her clothing. She glanced at the window and the woman was gone. When did that happen? Had she knocked herself out?

  The man turned his back to the window and took off the cummerbund. A familiar feeling swept over her. She stood, stepped closer to the window and stared at the back of the man. No, it couldn’t be. No way. Her fingers pressed against her lips, stopping the scream. Only one person could have a scar like that. The ‘Y’ shaped scar above his right hip couldn’t belong to anyone but Simon. She remembered when he got it, how he got it, why he got it.

  Oh, my God. Is this why he couldn’t go out with her? Is this why she was invisible to him? Why would he need her if he had all this? She wasn’t sure if she was angry, mad, happy or hysterical. Well, two can play this game. If Simon wanted to spend his time at this club instead of with her, then so would she. If she couldn’t have him in real life, than she’d have him in an illusion. Damn, she’d book this room every day that he was here if it meant her having Simon’s hot tongue on her even hotter body.

  She straightened her clothes again, took one last glance around the room and set out to find someone of authority, someone who could help her, someone who would tell her how much and who she needed to write the check too.

  ‘Get Me Some Simon’ was now in play.

  Chapter Five

  “Oh my God, Shadow. You really worked it tonight, didn’t you?” The receptionist said as she passed him in the hall leading toward the lounge.

  Not sure what the receptionist was talking about he turned, stared at her for a long humming minute. He always did his best when he worked at the club. It gave him much pleasure to pleasure a woman. But tonight hearing moans and groans was something that just wasn’t working for him. Lia, a good friend, was always game to put on a show with him. He’d hope no one would visit his chamber that night, but as soon as he heard the delicate chime of the bell his hopes were doused. Thankfully Lia wasn’t busy and like many times before, she allowed him to utilize her for the show he so magnificently put on.

  She got a kick out of how he put on the illusion of making a woman squirm and scream and never touching her. He blinked, refocused and said, “Huh?”

  The receptionist giggled, smiled. “A visiting guest was adamant that she had to visit The Shadow Box, today, not tomorrow, or next week, but today.”

  “Really, is that so?” Was all he could say, although the smile that broke his mouth was broad.

  “Oh yeah. She seemed really upset that you were booked the rest of the evening.”

  “Is she coming back?” His interest peaked. He was always a sucker for any female who requested him personally. However, on the rare occasion he had to make sure it wasn’t a stalker situation. One could never be too careful in this type of work.

  “I don’t think she’s even left yet. I think she’s waiting for someone. I did give her a voucher for the next time you're here. She made an appointment.” She looked up toward the ceiling as if trying to remember something. She smiled and said, “Tomorrow. She’s your first appointment.” She giggled again and strolled away.

  He tilted his head up in an acknowledging nod and headed toward the main reception area. If any luck he’d get a closer look at his voyeur. His gut told him this really wasn’t a good idea, what with the whole mask thing and all, but something itched along his spine and for the first time in his life he wanted. . . needed to see who’d been watching him.

  He glanced through the one way mirror. Nothing. No one sat in the lobby. No one was moving about. Had he missed her? Swinging the door open and moving over to the main entrance he slowly opened the front door and peered out. The only thing he saw was a feminine profile turning the corner. Her hips swayed gently from left to right in such a way it tightened the muscles in the pit of her stomach.

  Then she spoke to someone in the hall, and her voice almost took him to his knees. The high pitched lilt of it so reminded him of Afryca that he wanted to chase the woman down, swing her around and make sure it wasn’t her. Deep down he knew that wasn’t necessary. The club was the last place he’d find Afryca. He could only dream. He glanced at his wrist watch, groaned at the fact that his next appointment would be within thirty minutes and pulled the door closed behind him. He shouldn’t have looked. Now his mind was on Afryca. The last thing he needed. Oh well, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d imagined her body next to him and her legs spread for his mouth while he pleasured another woman.

  * * * * *

  She had to force herself not to run, skip or jump her way to the car. She avoided Tess’ side long glances until they pulled onto the highway heading south and then she giggled like a teenage girl who’d just seen her first male nude.

  “So, are you gonna tell me what’s so funny? I take it you enjoyed yourself. So what did you think?” The questions Tess fired at her gave her little time to think, much less answer.

  “Well. . . ” She turned in the seat, crossed her arms loosely under her breast and stared at Tess. After forming and re-forming her next statement in her head she said, “I don’t know if I should be mad at you or elated.”

  “I’m hoping elated.”

  “Why haven't you told me about this place before?”

  Tess didn’t answer her question. “You like?”

  She couldn’t hold it in any longer. She squirmed in her seat. Just thinking about The Shadow Room and Simon made her throb with need. “Oh. My. God!” She rapidly fanned her hand in front of her face. “It was wonderful,” she said as she bounced up and down in the car. Tess burst out in loud rapturous laughter.

  “Excellent. Then my job is done.”

  “Oh, no, far from it.”

  “Oh, oh. Looks to me like someone’s got the voyeur bug.”

  “Voyeur, my ass. I want to participate.”

  “Well, hot damn. That’s what I’m talking about.”

  Silence slid between them. Tess’ expression took on a look of a woman musing on memories. Afryca could only wonder what was going through her mind. After a few more seconds of quiet, she asked, “So how long did it take you to get comfortable. . . you know. . . there.”

  “Longer than you.” Tess’ gaze bounced from Afryca’s face to the road. “But, I didn’t have a wonderful and understanding friend such as myself to guide me along.” They both giggled. “Did you find a room that you particularl
y liked? Me, personally, I love them all.”

  “Oh, I saw how much you liked a room. I never saw you as the nipple clamping person, though.”

  “My sweet friend, there’s a million things I’ve yet to tell you about myself.” She smiled, her expression filling Afryca’s mind with a gazillion questions.

  “Hey, no secrets.”

  “Lots of secrets. That’s why I love this place. You don’t have to worry about your secrets getting out. So, which room did you partake in?”

  “None, yet.”

  Secrets. Yes. Just how much did Tess know and understand? Did she know Simon worked there? Was that why she insisted on her coming there? So Afryca could get a glimpse of Mr. Nice Guy up front and personal? Certainly not. No way would Tess have kept that away from her, knowing how much she wanted, needed him. She’d spent too many nights moaning and groaning about not having him in her bed for Tess not to tell her. No. Tess couldn’t know and Afryca wasn’t going to tell either. Some things a girl needs to keep to herself. Some things were best left in the dark, and sacred. Even if it meant keeping secrets from the one and only true-to-life-understanding friend she had.

  Pulling her mind back to the present she realized Tess had been staring at her for at least the last minute. “What I mean is, the room I wanted was booked for the rest of the night. I could come back tomorrow or next Saturday. . . . ”

  “Well?”

  “I booked a session for tomorrow.” She couldn’t help the broad smile that curved her mouth.

  “Tomorrow. Tomorrow? O-M-G!” Tess glanced up, hit the turn signal and swerved the car onto the upcoming exit ramp. “You bitch. You were gonna come back tomorrow without me and I’m the one who brought you here.”

  Afryca grabbed the dash board for support. “Tess! What the hell are you doing?”

  “I’m pulling over at this damn hotel and we are spending the night. What the hell do you think I’m doing?” She screeched the car to a halt in the parking lot of a little hotel.

  Afryca blinked, stared at Tess, then out the front window, and then at Tess again. “Have you lost your ever loving mind?”

  “No I haven’t, but I think you have.” Tess cut the engine and turned in the seat. “I can’t believe you weren’t going to tell me. You pig.”

  She tried to pout but knew it didn’t reach her eyes. “I was going to tell you. I didn’t want you to feel obligated to—.”

  Tess tossed her hand up, palm out in a ‘stop talking’ gesture. She clamped her mouth shut and tried unsuccessfully to halt the laugh that bubbled out of her throat. When Tess cut her gaze at her she said, “I don’t have any clean undies.”

  “Good thing that’s all you were going to say.” Tess shifted the car into gear, backed out of the parking slot and headed back toward the road.

  “Where are we going now?”

  “I think I saw a sign for a Wal-Mart a mile back.”

  “Oh.” Giddy butterflies fluttered in her gut.

  Tess had no idea how elated she was. She didn’t’ want to go all the way home and then drive back the next day. There was too much time to spend at home thinking about what she was going to do. There would have been too much time to change her mind. Now she couldn’t. Tess wouldn’t let her. She let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. However, nothing could loosen the knots twisting her gut with the thoughts of how it would feel to finally have Simon’s lips and tongue scorching her already hot skin.

  An hour and a half later they were walking toward their room. She wasn’t overly sure if she liked the idea of her and Tess sharing the hotel room, knowing now, she would not be able to do what she did almost every night, dreamt of Simon and his hands on her. Only it would be her hand between her thighs and it would be her fingers sliding in and out of her hot heat, dripping with her honey, bringing her to peak and ripping the moans and scream from her throat. Tonight would consist of her not telling Tess the major secret she now held next to her heart. The secret she would take to the grave.

  Simon and The Shadow Box.

  Chapter Six

  Simon stepped out of the shower and strolled to his connecting dressing room as he swiped the towel across his dripping skin. His mind was in jumbles. He hadn’t gotten more than three hours of sleep the night before because of the images of Afryca dancing through his brain and his groin. The anticipation was killing him. God, he prayed the woman he’d seen walking away from him was the woman of his nightly dreams. If he’d allowed his cock to rule him, he would have called her up on her cell and asked her. Then he’d tell her the truth and beg her to come back. He’d do anything to get her into The Shadow Box. He’d dreamt about it on more than one occasion. Luckily, he didn’t let his dick control his head. . . the other head. No, he’d wait for her to come to him and pray he was right.

  He sat on the edge of the chair and thought about the upcoming events. He’d take it slow and her even slower. He was going to relish every single second he had her in his room. When he’d designed The Shadow Box, he’d had her in mind. She was mysterious, enticing and alluring. He shivered at the thought of actually tasting her, sliding his tongue along the length of her leg, across and through her folds. He knew they’d be wet. Probably so wet he’d come in his pants at the first swipe and if there was the slightest possibility that that didn’t make him come he knew the second he got a taste, smell of her he would. All of the bricks he’d built around him where she was concerned would come tumbling down like Jack tumbled down the hill. But tonight he didn’t care. He knew tonight Afryca was going to be a temptation, a temptation no man should have to endure, but he didn’t care. At least once he’d have held her in his arms, in his mouth, even if she didn’t know it was him. Tonight was going to be his and only his. He glanced at the clock, blew out a breath in an attempt to lower his respiration and shorten his cock. If he didn’t get it together it was going to be a very long night, with a very hard dick. He stood and walked over to the closet to retrieve his pants, a broad smile straining the muscles in his face.

  * * * * *

  Afryca was as nervous as a virgin locked in a male prison. She’d glanced at the clock over a hundred times. Tess had already threatened to knock her on the butt if she didn’t stop pacing. But what was a girl to do? This was her dream come true. It should bother her that Simon didn’t know what she knew. It should bother her that she would exploit him to the fullest if it meant that at least once she would actually have his mouth on her body. She knew it should bother her that this opportunity might never come again. But. . . she shrugged her shoulders.

  It didn’t.

  Before the night was over she would have Simon’s mouth on her hot skin. He would make her moan and squirm and come, hopefully more than once. A thought hit her like a bullet in her chest. Could there possibly be another man with the exact same scar in the exact same location?

  No.

  There was no way the Gods would play such a trick on her. She shivered at the thought. Absolutely not, there was no way that could possibly happen. Could it?

  Certainly not!

  She allowed a soft smile to curve her mouth. Tonight she would enjoy. Even if it never happened again she would have her memories of the Shadow Box and Simon’s hot tongue imbued into her soul forever. Once again she stared at the clock. Damn, could the time move more slowly.

  “What time can we leave?” She asked Tess.

  Tess rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “You have another hour before your appointment. Or did you want us to go sit in the parking lot like some stalkers?” She glanced at Afryca, laughed and said, “Absolutely not.” Both burst out into boisterous laughter.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s just…” Geez, she didn’t know what to say to Tess without giving away her secret. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun.”

  “I know that’s right.” Tess glanced at her wrist watch. “We could go grab a bite to eat. By then it’ll be time to head to the club. Afryca had her handbag on her shoulder a
nd her hand on the door knob before Tess could finish the sentence.

  * * * * *

  Simon took one last glance around the room, making sure everything was in place. The soft music he’d downloaded into the hidden CD gave the room more of a romantic feel than erotic. He knew Afryca was going to love it. Although he’d never heard her mention as a favorite the specific musician blowing into the sax, he knew she loved slow jazz as much as he did.

  He allowed the soft smile to curve his lips. He’d waited forever for this one night. He didn’t want to blow it. Finally, he’d have Afryca in his arms, her hot skin under his lips and her moist heat under his tongue. Life couldn’t get any better. Realization hit him. He sucked in a breath, blew it out. Life could get better. If only Afryca would come to him without the shields of the mask, without the shadows and with full knowledge of who he was and what drove him. He grew hard, painfully so, with the thought of her sitting outside his room, watching, waiting, wanting.

  But what if the woman he craved was not the one turning the corner? What if his desire for her had clouded his mind so much that his wishful thinking and burning need drove him to make up the illusion that Afryca was at the club? Dread washed over him tightening a band around his chest. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think straight. He shook his head. He wouldn’t think of such a dreadful thing. It was her. It had to be her. He’d die a thousand deaths if it wasn’t her.