This is my entry for the Halloween contest. For those bothered by such, it contains a strong element of voyeurism. Have a spooky, scary and above all sexy Halloween!
* * *
"It would appear that the new tenants are moving in," Miranda said, looking out of the tall window at the street and sidewalk three floors below.
"Seedy-looking customer," James remarked from beside her, looking at a young man getting out from behind the wheel of a rental truck, dressed in jeans and t-shirt.
"They all are, these days." Her voice always sounded faint in this upper room.
"And here's a second load," he said. An attractive young woman emerged from a second vehicle and propped open the front door with a box. She was dressed in cut-offs and a tank top which left little to the imagination. Even from the third-floor window, one could see her nipples through the fabric.
She heard James sigh faintly. "This used to be such a proper street - good, decent people, people who knew their manners."
She looked up at him. "And the cherry trees! Do you remember the cherry trees on either side of the road back then? I did so like those, before they were ripped out. How long ago was that?"
"Too long ago," he said softly. "They
were
pretty."
The couple below carried a steady stream of belongings up the sidewalk. James and Miranda could hear laden footsteps in the bottom hallway. On one trip, a large flatscreen television was carried in.
"No doubt we'll have to listen to TSN and raucous music blaring at all hours," he pronounced gloomily.
"Now, James, be charitable. After all, it's not like you never enjoyed sports. And we did meet at a concert."
"Both of us were properly dressed," he said. "And we were married before..."
"Times change," she said, cutting him off. "Everything changes."
"Except you," he smiled, backing away from his sour mood. "You haven't changed since when we were first married."
"Mama always warned me to beware of charmers," she laughed.
"Did she? But your father was nonetheless gracious enough to grant me your hand in marriage," he smiled.
"Oh," she laughed, "Mama could be convinced; Papa was a charmer himself." She paused for a moment. Her head tilted to one shoulder. "What did
your
mother warn you of?" she asked impishly.
He thought for a moment. "Flirtatious young women," he pronounced solemnly.
"Oh! Surely not!"
"She was quite serious about it. But it helped that she knew your mother; she was willing to make allowances."
"She actually called me a flirt?"
"Of course not. Well, not in so many words. She did however make some pointed remarks to my father about... what was it? Oh yes, a tennis costume you wore the first time you and I played doubles with them."
"Oh? I remember that dress. I didn't think it was all that daring -- it, it was well below my knees!"
"Apparently, Mother said, it caused me to spend a lot of time looking at your ankles."
"Really? I thought you were a perfect gentleman."
"I was. And I had been -- looking, I mean. Still do, truth be told."
Miranda smiled delightedly at him, pale eyes beaming. Her silver hair gleamed in the late afternoon light. "You old devil!"
"I throw myself on the mercy of the court, madam."
Down below, the portage of possessions into the old brownstone continued. The late-September afternoon had begun to turn windy and bits of paper and other refuse began blowing about the street. The next time the young woman appeared from below, she was wearing a hoodie. Despite his earlier remarks, James looked a little disappointed.
Eventually, the move seemed to be complete. As the older pair watched, the new couple reappeared hand in hand, kissed at the curb. The girl locked the small car where it was parked while the boy drove away in the van. She waved as he pulled out, returned inside. From below, they could hear water running.
James and Miranda quietly made their way down to the first floor. The young woman, apparently waiting for the apartment bath to fill, was inserting a small piece of paper into a label holder in the building mail box. Not seeing them, she stepped back, smiled and went back into her apartment. The sign read, "Tom and Sasha McKinley."
"See?" she smirked. "Married."
"Yes, dear."
"You and your old-fashioned morality."
"Yes, dear."
"Don't you 'Yes, dear' me, James!" She paused, almost blushed, then whispered ever so softly, "Despite your stick-in-the-mud attitudes, sir, you were a good husband. And..." she hesitated for a moment, "... a very good lover. Momma never told me how much fun 'conjugal relations' could be."
He turned to see her smiling at him. It was a loving smile, one he knew and treasured.
"Legend has it that anyone can play a Stradivarius well, my love."
She dimpled at the complement, gave a short curtsey in his direction.
He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Out of idle curiosity, Miranda, what
did
your mother tell you about 'conjugal relations'?"
Her voice was dry, but not entirely lacking in humour. "Mama made known to me that women had a duty to their husbands and that I should be thinking of the privilege of bringing your sons into the world for you."
"Ouch! I hope..."
"It was something I was prepared for, dear; I am not complaining. Society was much about duty then, you will recall." Her loving smile grew, became almost lustrous. "And then you taught me something very different! Poor Mama."
Their love flowed from smile to smile.
The two stood inside the main doors for a while, watching the street. They had turned to go back upstairs again when the door opened and the young man returned. Combing his tousled hair back with his fingers, he whistled as he strode hurriedly down the hall, noticing neither of them. There was a bottle of wine under one arm, a bunch of roses in his hand and a large smile on his face.
He opened the door to his apartment and was about to enter when he froze in the doorway. A sultry voice spoke from within.
"Welcome home, Tommy!"
The boy blinked, stepped inside. James and Miranda, from the stairway, could hear his reply, "So
that's
the Halloween costume you were telling me about? I love it!" The door closed.
James and Miranda looked at each other, eyebrows raised. They'd been in the old building for a very long time and knew its layout well. It was only a minute before the two of them were watching Tom and Sasha inside their apartment from a higher vantage point.
Amidst the clutter of boxes, containers and packing paper, the young couple were locked in a standing embrace. Her hands held their heads in a prolonged kiss, while his swept up and down her slender body. Flowers and wine had been discarded on a nearby stack of books. The only light came from a dozen candles of various sizes and sorts flickering from as many improvised holders.
The girl was dressed in a red and black corset, a tiny red thong and lace-topped black stockings held up by a thin garter belt around her waist. Her arms were encased in black above-the-elbow gloves, she'd let her blonde hair down from its previous ponytail and the tops of brown areolae could be seen peaking over the top of lacy corset cups. Her makeup was perfect; Miranda thought she could smell perfume. The girl's eyes shone with come-hither invitation.
Her partner was stocky and just shorter than she, clean-shaven with dark hair. He was still dressed in jeans and a dark t-shirt. A plain gold ring on his left hand was his only jewellery. His teeth gleamed in the candlelight.
"Going to wear this trick-or-treating, Sash?" he murmured, stroking her hair.
"Silly, this isn't my Halloween costume. It's my
welcoming-my-new-husband-to-our-first-apartment
costume. Do you like it?"
James snorted from his watching place. Miranda glared at him, her eyes glowing in the dim light. "James!" she whispered, "You always said you liked me in my corset!"
He relaxed beside her. "You are of course quite correct, Miranda. She does look most... um... alluring, I must admit." He turned to look down at her. "If you don't mind my saying so, that is."
"Why should I mind, dear? As long as you don't mind me finding
him
handsome." She gasped just slightly when the girl below her grasped the hem of her husband's t-shirt and pulled it up and off him. "Oh, my! Look at those muscles! He must spend a lot of time doing something strenuous."
"So, new husband in new apartment," Sasha smiled below them. "There's beer in the fridge and pizza in the oven." Her smile turned impish. "If you're hungry, that is."
His strong hands slid slowly down over the stayed satin to clasp her firm bottom. "Hungry for what?" he teased.
The girl grinned. Her hands slid down his chest, over prominent abs and then, crossing to her own chest, lifted half-bare breasts invitingly. "Mmm?"
"I
am
hungry!" he growled. "Turn off the stove."
She laughed, her voice bubbling with delight, before pulling away from him and heading for the small kitchen, taking wine and flowers with her. Behind her, Tom began shedding his jeans and boxers. Freed, his manhood lunged out, bouncing as he struggled to remove socks and shoes. It didn't take long.
Miranda looked up at her tall husband beside her. Her eyes were wide. "Almost as handsome as you, James!"