She tugged, jerking my shoulder. I stumbled as we barreled down the alley towards the yellow door. Instinct told me I was getting myself into some serious trouble.
"Wait! Wait!" I yelled. Her long black hair wisped in the air and seemed to swallow my words. She didn't look back at me and leaned forward, tugging harder on my arm. I was about to plant my feet and brace against the pain my shoulder would inevitably endure-- when the yellow door flung open.
Darkness throbbed and absorbed the light. She stopped suddenly and turned. I blinked rapidly, trying to understand what was happening as we collided. She wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close, our mouths almost touching.
"Come." Her liquid voice slurped in my ears, and my brain grew fuzzy. For a second, I thought she was telling me to have an orgasm, and I suppressed what was sure to be a hysterical giggle. I became achingly aware of the wetness on my thighs and her long fingers, pressing my waist, that had moments ago wreaked havoc on my sex.
My clit took over, and my head wobbled forward and back like a bobblehead. A smile grew on her face, and dimples winked back at me. Oh boy. I was entirely at her mercy. I licked my lips, staring at the dips and curves of her full mouth.
Her feline gaze considered her prey. Amusement shifted the delicate muscles around her eyes. Her dark brow quirked, and for the first time, I noticed the slit shaved into it. She turned and tugged me yet again. We would have to talk about this pulling she was fond of.
As if going through a tunnel, I held my breath, and we passed over the threshold. On the other side, sparse lighting illuminated what appeared to be a warehouse. I glanced at the dust-covered industrial shelves that reached toward the shadowed ceiling. Nothing was on them save a few giant blocks of metal... car engines? I wasn't sure.
My breath jerked sporadically. Adrenaline coursed through me. A familiar shape sat in a wooden chair. She was relaxed with one ankle propped atop her knee. The same leather-bound book was in her hand. It was the masc woman who had caught my attention on the bus earlier.
Harsh lights surrounded her. The glow made it seem like she was leveling up in a video game. I wondered if she could see beyond the ring of lights.
"Talk." My sexual partner commanded. She jerked her head towards the masc woman. I shook my hand from her grasp, smoothed my dress, sucked deeply, and walked forward.
The Boss, I was guessing, snapped her book shut in one hand, and she gave me her full attention. I swallowed loudly and stood frozen, waiting. Her eyes took in every detail. I became uncomfortably aware of my fidgeting hands, wide hips, and thin lips. Nerves quivered in my neck. My eyes darted away from her gaze. The sensation of being seen after a lifetime as a shadow was almost too much to bear. What was her assessment?
A movement caught my attention. My "friend" approached a low-lit gathering of people to the right of the halo of lights.
Four people (three women and one man) sat in folding chairs. They looked like business executives sharply dressed and wearing designer shoes. Their faces were expressionless. Several naked women carrying trays handed out shallow old-fashioned glasses with a finger of what I assumed was hard liquor. These were some hard-core people.
A motion had my eyes darting back to the Boss. She was less than a foot away now. I melted at her barely visible nod and the muscle rippling in her jaw. She walked around me, and a finger slid across the back of my shoulders. I shivered, and a low chuckle rumbled from her.
"You gave us quite the show." Her voice was deep and rumbled. I looked to my left as she reappeared from behind me. My eyes followed the direction of her chin jerk. There, hanging from the ceiling, was a screen.
In crystal clear vision, a camera showed the view of the alley. The alley where I had just experienced the most intense sexual adventure. Sharp energy pulsed from my solar plexus to my clit. My face grew hot. They'd seen.
Was this happening? I was still recovering from the alleyway encounter, and now, I'm thrust into another fantasy. I craved being seen. I wanted to be watched. I wanted to be scandalous. A strangled sound escaped my lips, and I looked at the executives again. Their faces were a mix of arousal, smiling, and what appeared to be depraved thoughts.
Several glanced at each other, and I saw flashes of green. They were passing money between them. My eyes shot back to the Boss. What was this? What was happening? I straightened, trying to compose myself. Boss chuckled and twirled a calloused finger around a strand of my hair.
"Sara. You've impressed us so far. But how far are you willing to go?" I stuttered inside and held my tongue. What the ever-living fuck. They knew my name. I hadn't spoken to anyone since arriving in Seattle. What the fuck was I involved in?
"I'd like to go now." In a panic, I turned and practically ran back the way I'd come. My hand pressed against the bar on the door, and light shone through a crack.
"We know you don't have anywhere to go, darling. Wouldn't you like a nice place to stay the night?" Their offer was a red flag. Five years ago, accepting "free" room and board had resulted in the most tedious and frustrating existence possible. I stepped through the threshold, and the door snapped behind me. Fuck that.
A metal squeak sounded, and someone cleared their throat. I tripped as I looked back, still walking quickly from where I'd come. Boss held the bar to the exit and leaned against the metal door jam.
"You'll be famous. Lots of people will watch you, and I guarantee, if your little demonstration earlier is any indication, they'll love you." I paused. Fame. The opposite of invisibility. I turned slightly, waiting to see what she offered.
