SAPPHO INTL

songs of silk I

signature series by

MVXX.AMILLIVN

SAPPHO INTL: SONGS OF SILK I

ISBN: 978-1507779255

Copyright ©2015 by Maxx.Amillian

All Rights Reserved.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Volume 1 Ed. 2

Published & Distributed in conjunction with Amazon & Crxwn Empire Media.

Edited by Maxx.Amillian.

Cover Art Novel Design by Maxx.Amillian.

Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

The series is dedicated to my wife,

the love of my life- NinaStarr

1

"The answer’s in the body of a woman..."

There was no question about the origin of the divine creature that lay before me. That the gods and goddesses had come together to place this one onto her own special pedestal. To touch upon her petals with divine hands. And to deliver her magnificence among us mere mortals as they applauded.

The real question was why and how had I been so lucky to become acquainted with her tonight? I paused for a second to savor her and it seemed that the whole galaxy stopped to seek life’s purposes along with me.

And in this moment all of life’s secrets began to reveal itself. Her countenance held the spotlight gently, as her eyes beamed of the glory that had delivered her. Her bosom was a pure and golden bust formed with the tender loving care of the highest celestial order and her legs a graceful display of the magnificence of the heavenly hosts. The curves of her hips were forged and kindled of steel, yet sprinkled gently with the fire of charity. This seraph that lay before me was a triumphant tribute to the delicate tipping of the scales of universal creation versus aspiration—she was perfect balance manifested into form.

"The reason for life? All the answers are right here… ", I affirmed as I began to trace a trail of kisses from her navel to the electric halo that glowed slickly between her legs.

"…and here…and here..." I kissed the inside of her thighs and the beauty mark that lived there, as she writhed with want for me. “It’s all right here..."

In less than three years’ time, I’d gone from slinging cocktails to laying claim to the manager’s office in the Sapphire Lounge—one of the hottest and most exclusive lesbian clubs in Atlanta.

The music here was live. The ladies were thirsty and the nights were fast here at the Sapphire. And this spicy Puerto Rican angel was one of many divine go-go dancers known to work the cage.

On any given night, these dancers could be seen popping, twerking and slinking within the vertical bars of their circular domain. But with the full moon glistening and all the freaks out, they all danced like wild and hungry animals.  They gritted their teeth and showed their fangs. But it seemed that this one had even managed to wonder from her cage and into my own personal care to be fed—and as only another female could give it to her.

As the leader of the pack, I tried my damndest to uphold and maintain a professional environment within the club. But I was a sucker for a beautiful woman. And with a femme employed as gorgeous as this angelic dancer, it was just too easy to slide into bad behavior.

She’d been eyeing me all night and I could tell that all of her moves were for me. The steel of the bars, the sweat, and the excitement of the crowd was no match, as they all began to melt away with each and every sway of her hips. She had me in her targets as I shook hands with some of our most valued patrons. And tossed sly smiles to me as I escorted high-paying donors to the V.I.P. And as I made my way back to the blue-lit tunnel that concealed the back of house, she’d found a way to intercept me.

Was it wrong for me to give in? To mix business with pleasure and overstep the manager-employee boundaries? How’d I even manage to keep getting away with my midnight rendezvous’ when I knew the owners could be lurking around any corner of the club on any given night?

For all the questions that I might’ve had, tonight I found meaning amidst the slopes of her curves. And her confessions came with baited breadth; which leapt at each truth emerged by each and every kiss and peck.

".…your body…it speaks..." I kissed the inside of her other thigh, as the tip of my lips ran slowly past the mound that kept and held the keys to the upper chambers of knowledge and wisdom. "...And I don’t mind listening to its secrets."

"Oh my god..." She cried and tilted her head to the ceiling, as her body began to shudder with a wanting that only the tip of my tongue could soothe to pacify.

And now as the house music of the club reverberated through the main room and into my office, the bass dared to add another pulse to the heat that was intensifying between the long and sexy legs that my square and hardened jaws presently lay.

The night might’ve been gradually drawing to a close for the Sapphire but her legs were willingly winding open and welcoming me to part and purse her lips.

“Oh, Silk!”

My lips finally met her lap, as she inhaled deeply through clenched teeth and exhaled the yearning that had been building within her all night.

And she quickly became a mouthful, as I began to swirl a spell within her essence.

“Oh, yes papi yes…” She chorused with the whips and tilts of my tongue, as her body’s vessel danced within the trance.

Her soul received my enchantment and her body responded with resounding pleasure, as she opened her dancer’s legs wider to receive me.

She was now under my tongue’s rolled hypnosis. And like a charmed snake to a flute, her chloë was out of the basket and swaying to my tongue’s mesmeric rhythm.

I clutched and lead her hips movements, as I slipped up and down between billowed folds. And I molded the whole of my tongue within her, as moans of satisfaction escaped her.

“Coño…papi chulo…you feel so good...”

She murmured gently, like her spirit was speaking in tongues and her soul was rising. And we felt the edges of heaven together as the streams of perpetual bliss echoed throughout her garden.

“Ooh papito…”

Her fingers were now seizing and urging the edges of the desk’s mahogany to never let this moment end. And so was her heart’s beat, as I lovingly plucked her left brown and round nipple and strummed my four fingers along the other. I strummed her chord as though it was the most, sweetest acoustic guitar and this was my greatest love song. And the wetness that came with her hymn’s crescendo would stream and glisten to hasten moisture to my lips; and would confirm that she was at the brink of meeting her climax.

“…Silk, baby, that’s the spot!”

“Please, don’t move…don’t stop…papito.”

The pure essence of her spirit was begging to burst free. But the night was still young, and I knew she could endure. So I calmed my rising nature to prolong her cumming, so that we could soar together for just a little longer.

I gingerly blew a cooling wind into her mounting flame to soothe the climbing, building within. Then I began to breathe her in and to suck her in scandalously, as we would continue to dance this dance together.

“Oh, that feels so good!” She groaned as her body rocked.

She desperately clung to my mane as we climbed harmonious scales to dangerous heights and with ever-increasing speed.

My head continued to bob, as my jaws accepted to ingest her inside aura in and our light energy began to radiate the dim office.

I found her sweet spot quickly. And now held the key, as she arched her back resplendent with the heat of her own ecstasy. And with wings fully extended, she was wide open and flying at the speed of light.

My angel was thoroughly undone and now more than willing to surrender to me the full glory of the pearly gates.

She provoked my tongue to flick and flutter her wildly, like a butterfly’s wings in the wind. And to kiss and pull in the puffed up lips of her vertical smile, to brim into a full fledge grin.

And like I had blown a growing wind into an iridescent bubble, she was now filled and rising higher and higher towards the ceiling.

“Oh, Silk…right there…I’m about to…”  Her voice trailed.

Then just as my lips held and tongue tapped in time to ring the bell that tolled for her veritable and inevitable cumming—I heard the employee exit door open and close. And heavy footsteps began to echo down the small hallway.

I stopped abruptly.

“Oh shit, Silk, please don’t stop…”

I looked up at the small security monitor to our right, as the tips of my streams of hair tickled the insides of her thighs. And her hands desperately tugged at brick-hardened nipples, as she swooned and begged for me to continue.

“Fuck…papito, I was just about to cum…”

My eyes squinted to see two men in stiff, black suits making their way in quick strides to my office door.

One of the men I recognized as the man who interviewed me for the position three years ago. I remembered him because he looked like the Mister Clean guy—but way more fabulous.

The fabulous Mister Clean man knocked firmly on the door.

“Shh!” I mouthed the words and motioned to the dancer by placing my index finger over my own mouth.

The go-go dancer lifted up in frustration and glared at me with daring eyes. So I slowly slipped my finger in her mouth in silence to appease her, as she kneaded the moisture within her lap.

I gazed deeply into her beautiful brown eyes, as if we were exchanging moans in the throes of a very private conversation. And she pulled my finger from her lips slowly, like she had been sucking on a strawberry blowpop and was savoring the flavor of it.

A second knock could be heard, but those eyes. I couldn’t help but to be reeled back into our haze. So I re-engaged her, as I took her breasts between my lips. And she tilted her head towards the ceiling, with closed eyes and a gaping mouth, and began to silently move my fingers to slip in and out of her at a frantic pace.

And as we pumped together, I could feel the rush of her internal swelling pushing against my fingertips inside.

She was determined to finish this and I was more than willing to let her.

But the fabulous Mister Clean man on the other side of the door did not share our sentiment.

His leather shoes squeaked to cast a shadow, as he stepped forward to presumably place his ear nearer to the office door. And then he knocked loudly once again.

He was convinced that someone was inside and was not going away.

“Coño!”  My angel whispered in frustration and then glanced at the door. Then she looked back at me with eyebrows clenched, begging me to continue the culmination of her sweet release.

With hips grinding and her engorged lips binding to the palm of the hand that commanded my rotating fingers inside of her, I again began to insert my finger into her mouth to quiet her growing moans.

But I had to relieve the pressure of the growing impatience that stood beyond the doorway, so I finally inquired, “Who is it?”

“Headquarters,” the fabulous Mister Clean man said, firmly.

I slowly removed my fingers from her mouth, as she licked its exit; and then she clenched her legs in frustration, as I ejected the fingers that served to penetrate her.

I licked its glistening dew and quickly pointed towards the office bathroom, as I slipped on my slick Armani v-neck tee.

“One second.”

“Fuck!” She said under her breath along with a few other mumbled curses, as she tiptoed to the private bathroom.

I wiped away the trickling stream of saccharine juices that coated and flowed down my mouth and chin, as she made her way into the bathroom and shut the door, swiftly yet quietly.

I took a second to even out my breathing and my racing heartbeat. And as I opened the office door slowly, I forced the words “Hi” out of my mouth.

“PrimaDonna has requested to see you immediately.” The fabulous Mister Clean man commanded.

Then, without waiting for my response, they both abruptly turned to lead me down the small hallway in the opposite direction from whence they came in.

What could the owner, my boss whom I’d never even met before, possibly want to speak with me about at three o’clock in the morning?

I immediately sensed a nauseating feeling rising up within my belly. Was I finally caught up in my many late night rendezvous with the club’s go-go dancers and club-goers? I’d been very discrete about my affairs, but there was always whispers and gossip. Had the owners caught wind that I’d been using the premises as my own personal playground? Was I about to get canned?

I began to straighten my hair and clothes quietly, as I followed them. And desperately attempted to come down from my high, so that I could process whatever was coming my way with some sense of sanity.

But I was nowhere near prepared for this meeting; as I was still very wet and could feel the swish between my legs, within my boxer briefs, as we quickly proceeded.

I followed them in silence and total confusion towards a lit “EXIT” sign above the door that lead to the back alley of the club. The red light flickered, as if to signify and confirm that bad news was sure to follow such a hasty and late night meeting with one of the owners of the Sapphire Lounge.

I had heard rumors of the status of the owners from one of the bartenders that worked a little longer at the club than I did. But I’d never seen any of them in person. The bartender said that when the Sapphire first opened, the owners were a constant presence at the club. That they were a well-kept and well-traveled group of women. They were always in a rush to catch their private jets and didn’t mind dressing to the nines no matter the time of day.

PrimaDonna seemed to be the one at the forefront of the club’s design and operations and this was not the way that I imagined meeting such a prestigious woman, if it ever came down to it.

We finally stopped at the end of the hallway, right in front of the red, flickering “EXIT” sign and there was a door that before now had mysteriously gone unnoticed. It was strange, because I know I had to have passed this door a million times but sub-consciously, I must’ve simply assumed that it was a utility closet.

One of the men opened the lock with a brass skeleton key which was pulled from his pants pocket. The door was opened and a dim light came on in the small room.

The man instructed for me to have a seat while the other went out the back exit door of the building.

I sat down in the stiff-back seat and immediately began to panic.  I could feel it coming—trouble. And not just a tap-on-the-back-of-the-hand trouble, but the trouble that comes with careless recklessness. I was about to be held accountable for all of my mis-dealings. Weed sales to club patrons on the premises. Drinking on the job. Smoking on the job. Fucking on the job. Pick any one of them and I could kiss any type of references for a new job goodbye. And with my credit card debt, school loans, and hospital bills mounting, getting fired was the last thing that I needed right now.

I know I knew better, but all of the side hustles at the club were my way of taking care of myself and my own. Ever since my mom and dad passed in the accident that left me alone sixteen years ago in Miami, my aunt was the only family that I had left. She did her best to raise me; to keep me in school and out of trouble. And overall, I would say she succeeded. But then a stray bullet to her head ensured that I learned the lesson that has stuck with me to this day—live hard and look out for self first, because you never know when life will turn into a crazy ass snuff film.

The streets were unforgiving in Miami and my aunt was a firsthand witness to its bipolar nature—a sunny palm tree paradise on the surface and with the flip of the coin, a gritty drug infested underbelly roaring to rear its ugly head.

But my auntie was no stranger to it. The streets of Miami had claimed my auntie’s only daughter, as she’d o.d’d on a lethal mix of coke and pills after a night of hard partying. My aunt was devastated. And more than that—guilt-ridden. She told me that she felt like she could’ve paid her more attention, could’ve loved her more. So when she finally came to pick me up from the state ward, she said she’d never leave me alone. That I could always rely on her to be there for me.

So they’d placed her on life support. The bullet had succeeded in robbing her of her faculties, but she would not let the bullet take her spirit and her will to live. I always thought it was her way of keeping her word to me. And since then, I vowed that I would do whatever it took to keep her hospital bills paid and to visit her, as often as I possibly could.

Every other weekend, I’d ride I-95 to move a few zips and to keep up my end of the deal. But if I thought keeping that vow would be hard while I was working and dealing a little ganja on the side, what was I gonna do if I was fired?

New Year’s had just passed, a few weeks ago, and as I heard the club’s back exit door open, I felt the draft of brisk, winter air pass from the hallway and into the office to bristle over the hairs of my arm. The door slammed shut and the walls of this hidden office began to close in on me. My heart began to beat so quickly that I thought it would jump up and out of my throat. It seemed as though I was losing it even before my fate had come to show its face.

“Come on Silk, tighten up. Everything’s gonna be fine.” I consoled myself and began to take deep nasal breaths to level my breathing, as the sounds of footsteps echoed against the walls of the hallway.

A pair of stilettos made its way inside the room behind me and I decided to remain seated and faced forward, as the carpet began to absorb the footsteps midway. And then the faint, sweet smell of jasmine caught my inhale as she walked by.

She quickly made herself comfortable as she removed a heavy grey mid-length fur coat and released it to one of the men, who then placed it over his forearm and walked stiffly out of the room.

He closed the door behind him, as she stood by her seat and said.

“Good Evening. My name is PrimaDonna Valentina.”

♦ ♦ ♦

This was the most beautiful specimen of plant, animal, or human that I’d ever laid eyes on—PrimaDonna Valentina was a masterpiece.

I‘d admired plenty of women in my twenty-six years of living. And I’d learned early to appreciate the broad range of brushstrokes that came with each palette of the female species. So as a true patron of the arts, I found beauty in women of every color, age, and size.

But as I sat stilled in my chair, like an admirer of a painting come to life in one of the finest museums on the planet, I felt as though I’d only been scratching the surface of what true beauty really meant.

As she stood before me, it seemed that time had completely stopped and decided to bask in the beauty of her unique divinity with me.

She was intoxicating. Her dark features and silk black and long, loosely curled tresses complemented well her piercing, sapphire-gemmed eyes. Her strong bone structure suggested an air of sovereignty, while her supple lips hinted at a softness that must have seeped from inside of her. And as she slid into the large, coffee-hued leather chair and crossed her legs, her cool, grey, key-hole, mid-length cashmere sweater invited my eyes to drown in the smooth and creamy silhouette of a classic yet voluptuous bosom.

I’d come to know the beauty of a woman in a physical sense. And she was one of a kind. But this woman—PrimaDonna—seemed to exude something more that had me entirely transfixed. An internal beauty that was magnified by a power not visible to the naked eye, but instead resonated through to every senses to ignite my soul.

This goddess had my spirit instantly hypnotized and I was struck with overwhelming awe.

“Ms. Max Silk?”  She repeated as she opened and began to flip through a brown, leather executive folder. “Is Max short for Maxine?”

I remembered the situation that presented itself, as time quickly caught itself—and so did I.

I proceeded to do my best to re-compose and find my voice.

“Umm, no…actually, it’s just Max.”  I replied in as smooth a tone as I could muster. “But everyone calls me Silk.”

I sat back in my seat and began to breathe deep, measured breaths. And as I re-gained control of my faculties, I began to pick up on the little things.

I could tell that she was of an old world Italian heritage, from the slight romantic inflections on the words that escaped those full lips. And I could also tell she was a femme, or a feminine lesbian, because of the way that she locked eyes very briefly with me before looking around the office.

“Silk, it is then.” She smiled briefly. “I understand that you’ve worked at the Sapphire Lounge for three years. And in the time that you‘ve worked here, this club has more than doubled in liquor sales and in patronage. Is that correct?”

“Yes. Once I brought in the right deejay and implemented a marketing plan that promoted some of our new theme nights and go-go dancers, the club began to grow.”

“I see.”  She thumbed through the pages. “And I’m reading that you run a pretty tight crew with no incidents in the time that you’ve been here?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well Max, I must say, I’m impressed.”

She looked up from the folder briefly.

“I’m not sure if you were aware, but I had to release two managers before you were originally hired, due to an overwhelming number of altercations.”

“No, I wasn’t aware of that.”

“Yes. The rowdy crowds and the fighting were reflecting very badly on Sappho International.” She lamented as she scanned back through the folder.

“But it seems that you’ve really turned it around. I understand that you lived in Miami before making your way to Atlanta and receiving a dual bachelor’s degree in music production and music theory, as well as minors in art history, business…and literature.” She looked up from the folder.

“Looks like you were as productive then as you are now. What made you come to Atlanta?”

“Well, I thought that with my love for poetry and as a singer-songwriter that I might be able to break into the industry much easier in Atlanta than in Miami. Plus, at the time I needed a change of scenery, so I chose a school out of state.”

PrimaDonna began to close the folder.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you could return to Miami to be closer to your aunt and still make a more-than-reasonable income doing what you love?”

“How do you know about my aunt?”

PrimaDonna placed the folder onto the desk.

“Look Silk, I’m going to make this brief. We know about your aunt’s accident. We also know about your ‘extracurricular activities’ here at the club—despite the success of it. And that’s why we’re here together at this moment.”

I was immediately thrown off guard and reeling with the thought of them having access to such private information. And I could not decipher within my mind’s eye how she was able to find out.

My eyes must have given away my bewilderment, as she quickly added, ”you see here at Sappho Intl, we keep a tight ship, as well. We know and see more than you’re aware of.”

She shifted slightly to the side, and looked me square in the eyes.

“And that’s why we’re going to have to let you go, Silk.”  She said flatly and without a hint of empathy.

I was shocked and couldn’t believe that it was that easy for her to terminate me, after leading me to believe that I was an asset to the company.

“Umm…o-kayyy.” I managed to utter and began to rise out of the seat to gather my things.

“...But…only to proposition you with a different position within our organization…” She quickly added.

“…Consider this to be a promotion of sorts. And if you were to accept, you would become one of the newest employees of the Sappho Intl INNER core of operations.”

I settled back into the seat in relief and then shifted forward with curiosity.

“Inner core of operations?”

“Yes! You see, Silk…it seems that you have a unique appearance and personality, as well as a rather unique set of…umm…skills…that would prove equitable to you amongst the higher levels of our organization.”

“It would mean leaving your friends, your apartment at short notice. But if you so choose to accept this new position it would include a six-figure salary, with a hefty sign-on bonus and paid relocation to Miami…in addition to quite a number of other amenities.”

“What would I be doing?”

“Many of the same things that you do now. And I would go much further into detail, but unfortunately my time is precious and I would require that you take this move mainly on the faith and trust that the details of this offer shall be disclosed further by my assistant along the way.”

PrimaDonna rose gracefully from her seat and began to strut around the desk.

She sat on the desk’s edge and continued.

“Keep in mind Silk, that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to rub elbows with those who will get you to where you want to be in the music industry and beyond. And while I might add, I do not personally extend this offer to just anyone, if you DO so choose to accept, your life will be forever transformed—for the better.”

Her sapphire eyes became a deep and cool, ocean blue, as they held mine and she inquired. ”So, Silk, what’ll it be?”

I couldn’t believe that she moved so quickly. She was blunt, direct, and to the point.

PrimaDonna was the boss and she wore her title well.

After analyzing my position and brief consideration, I responded. ”Well Ms. Valentina, I don’t seem to have much of a choice…and life IS to be lived…sooo—yes. I’m taking a huge leap of faith here, but…Yes, I accept the new position.”

“Fantastic.” She responded evenly, as she stood from the desk’s edge.

PrimaDonna elegantly began to saunter towards the door and I rose out of my seat to follow suit.

As we walked, I scanned and scoped from behind her, the sensual curves of her dark, denim jeggings and the black, Manolo Blahnik ankle boots that served as ornaments to the long, athletic legs of this goddess. She was glorious and I would’ve done anything to become a more vital part of her domain.

She continued to command my attention, as she strutted and slid on a pair of black leather gloves.

“Silk, I want you to pack a small bag of things and be ready by 8:00 a.m. sharp. It’s 3:33 now, so that should give you a little over four hours. An executive car will escort you to a private jet as one of Sappho’s newest promoted employees. You will be debriefed by my assistant, as to the position’s description and expectations. She will also escort you to the South Beach Condo where you will be staying temporarily for ‘orientation’. Let me be the first to welcome you—again—to Sappho Intl.”

She turned to extend her hand and I shook it to seal the deal.

“And please, call me PrimaDonna. All of my friends do”

Then just as quickly as she’d entered, the goddess had opened the door, where one of the men had placed on her fur coat, and all three briskly exited the building.

As I heard the back door slam shut, I slowly sat back down in the chair, in exuberance, and breathed a sigh of relief.

I couldn’t believe what had just taken place.

I shook my head, looked around and chuckled to myself, “PrimaDonna Valentina—being fired never felt so good! Look out Miami here I come”

2

I was exhausted, yet driven by excitement as I exited and shut the door of the black, executive Lincoln town car.

As instructed, I’d freshened up and packed a small bag of clothes and personals early this morning.

And although I was still tired, I presently walked with urgency across the black tarmac toward the sleek, silver Gulfstream jet that awaited me. This would be my very first time on a jet and I was a little nervous, but the sounds of Me’shell Ndegeocello’s “Evolution” emanated from my iPod’s playlist and urged my feet to keep moving forward.

Suddenly, a young lady appeared at the top of the entrance stairs of the jet and began to descend towards me. And it was as if the sweet and exotic glide of her body’s movements had served a double-shot of caramel macchiato coffee to my sleeping senses.

As I watched her proceed, I began to feel the pumping of blood and a full supply of fresh oxygen being delivered to my still-dozing brain. My adrenaline kicked in, and all of a sudden, I became instantly awakened.

I clenched my jaws, straightened my posture and carefully scanned and scoped the full length of her tiny frame from behind my designer shades, as she walked towards me. She strode as though jolting congas were playing in the background and lively trumpets were promoting her rhythm. Thoroughly eroticized by the swivel in her curvaceous hips, I found myself hypnotized by the salsa that oozed from her song’s sensuality, as she met me halfway.

I just love strong, curvaceous chicks and it seemed that the progression of her dark denim jeans had been just the right tempo to wake me out of a walking nap this morning.

“Good morning. My name is Flourish. I’m PrimaDonna’s best friend and assistant.”

The palm of my hand warmly received her handshake.

“I’m Silk.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Silk. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.”

“So, you packed and ready to go?”

“Suited and booted.”

She smiled with approval, “Great. We’ve just finished re-fueling so we should be taking off in a minute.”

With Flourish leading the way we both began walking back towards the jet.

As she strutted, her black, silky hair swayed slightly above the small of her back. Her mint, green eyes complemented such dark features and suggested a refreshing, sassiness that I found tremendously appealing.

And if this was the Sapphire Lounge, I would have definitely invited her gorgeous ass to my office for a midnight soiree.

She clenched her short, fur coat a little tighter in the coolness of the Atlanta winter air before ascending up the steps of the jet. Her Jimmy Choo shoes clicked and clacked up the metal stairs. And I followed suit until we made our way into the bright interior of the cabin and settled into the taupe leather seats.

As I removed my dark aviator shades and leather coat, I began to take in the gold-trimmed luxury with which I was surrounded. A woman at the cherry wood grain counter began to pour two glasses of Voss water and handed one to myself and Flourish.

“So the prodigal son returns huh? Our Miami elite are going to love you, I’m already convinced of it. And it’s Silk, like the bed sheets, yes?”

Flourish flirted and smiled while she set the glass down onto a side table.

“…like between the sheets, yes.”

“Mh hmh…I can already tell that you’re as racy as they say…and I must admit—I love working with a confident andro.”

She removed her coat and handed it to the woman.

“A butch woman is already so free and so liberated—just so sexy; and to have a confident stud, that’s also so androgynous…it’s just invigorating to me.”

Flourish began to settle into the seat as she smiled at me.

“Well, here’s a personal question that I hope you don’t mind me asking. I admit it’s a little early in the day for such questions, but I’m just going to go for it. So Silk, have you EVER been with a man.”

“Oh, no! Never!”

Flourish laughed.

“You say that like I just asked you if you contracted a sexual disease. The only reason I ask is because some studs have dabbled, which is quite alright if you do.”

“Well I didn’t mean to say it like THAT—it’s just never been me. For as long as I can remember, I could never be sexually attracted to males. I guess it’s simply a matter of preference. It’s like seeing beauty in one painting style versus another. Some art lovers love Monet; I prefer Salvador Dali. Salvador Dali expresses himself through symbolism and a depth in his art which challenges the mind to see further into the painting. So, I guess you could say Dali conjures up a feeling of meaning in me that Monet cannot; in the same way that a woman moves me to arousal when a man does not.”

“Wow! Well played! PrimaDonna has plucked yet ANOTHER handsome diamond stud…and articulate too.  Diamond studs are rare and I’m always so shocked that PrimaDonna has no problem finding the best and brightest. She never ceases to amaze me.”

Flourish was very animated and was now talking at a thousand miles a minute.

“The pureness of your androgyny presents an anomaly. The tomboyish softness of your tanned skin, playful dimples and long eyelashes contrast with those strong hands and that strong jaw…and those piercing grey eyes—it’s all so amazing and you my dear are a real live diamond!”  She proclaimed as she moved a little bit closer and continued to size me up.

I took a sip of the glass of water and returned it to the holder. The same woman that poured the Voss alerted Flourish to the fact that the jet was now taking off.

Flourish thanked her and turned swiftly back to me.

“So, Silk…I know that you must’ve played sports. How tall are you?”

I grinned and said, “Five foot ten. And yes, I played a little ball in college. But I blew out my shoulder and lost my scholarship sophomore year. I was fine though. I moved on. Jiu-jitsu had always been my first love anyway. That along with a little bit of wall and rock climbing, helped me to get past the pain of not making it to the pros. I lost one love but I gained two more.”

“A jack of all trades, huh?”

“I guess you could say that.”

She studied my frame from head to toe and began to leisurely rest her hand upon my arms and knee from time to time.

“Lourdes is going to love dressing you, papi. You’re a good, few inches taller than all of our other employees and I can tell that you’re well-defined. I bet you have the endurance of a marathon runner…”

I could feel myself slightly blushing.

“…but I digress…”

She shook her head and seemed to re-align herself.

But little did Flourish know—I was sizing her up as well. Now that her coat was removed, I could see that she was built solid, like a thoroughbred, despite her shorter composition. Her frame suggested that she maintained a healthy diet while her trimmed muscle tone indicated that she worked out regularly, without going overboard. She was stacked and I couldn’t wait to get to know her sexy ass a little more intimately.

Flourish commented in amazement while running her fingers through the ends of my hair. “You have the longest and silkiest, black hair that I’ve ever seen, Silk. What’s your heritage?”

“Well, my father was Brazilian and my mother had an Egyptian and Greek lineage.”

“Wait. Had?”

“Yeah, they passed away in a hit and run when I was ten…”

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. I’ve made my peace with it ages ago.”

“But my mom and pops were some real bohemians. They used to say that a person’s strength lives within the strands of their hair. They rarely ever trimmed it then, so I decided to continue the tradition. I only trim a couple of inches off every blue moon.”

“Kind of like Samson in the Bible, huh? Amazing!”

“Mmh, I don’t know about all that. I’ve been doing it so long, it’s more habit than anything else. But enough about me. What about you, Flourish? Where you from?”

She adjusted her body and replied, “Hmm, it’s been a minute since anyone has asked me that. I’m usually the one asking all the questions. Well, I’m Portuguese but I’ve lived in Manhattan most of my life.”

“Wow, Manhattan? So you’re a big city girl, huh?”

“Yep. The Big Apple born and raised. But our organization has people from all walks of life. It’s probably one of the most diverse on the planet. I mean, it’s the difference in flavors that keeps the candy sweet, right?”

“…see the rainbow...taste the rainbow…”

“… Ooh, you are yummy.”  Flourish chimed excitedly.

There was a long pause, as she gazed deep into my eyes. She began to lean in towards me slowly as though she was already ready to see if my lips were as yummy as my words were. But she stopped herself abruptly, just as a bit of turbulence began to gently shake the jet.

“Ummm, so Silk, let’s get down to business.”

She re-gained her composure by taking a sip of water from her glass.

I, too, swiftly readjusted my position because in my mind I had already gratified Flourish a thousand times.

But I had to agree with Flourish—business before pleasure.

Have you ever heard of where the term “lesbian” or “sapphic” comes from?”  Flourish asked while unlocking the slim, silver aluminum briefcase that sat on the other side of her legs. She pulled out a leather executive folder, much like the one that PrimaDonna owned back at the club.

”I vaguely remember a story told to me about the term coming from a female poet who lived on a Greek Island, a long time ago.”

“Mh hmh, the island was called Lesbos. And the poet was named Sappho, and since around 600 BC, was the first documented example of a woman professing her love and appreciation of the innate beauty of another woman.”

“Sappho was a master of seduction to the women of this Greek region and beyond.”

“A master of seduction, huh?”  I took a sip of water. “A woman after my own heart...”

She smiled and continued.

“Because Sappho and many of her admirers were very wealthy aristocrats, over time the group had amassed immeasurable wealth and shared many powerful secrets that would bind them together; until eventually, they had no choice but to unify and organize in secret.”

“This secret society is called the Sapphic Trust and their members are called Sapphians.”

“Okay. So wait. Secret societies DO exist?”

“Well I can’t vouch for the illuminati’s existence or any new world order, but the Sapphic Trust is as real as they come. The original circle of women, some of them descendants of Sappho’s lovers and muses, were initiated by the daughter of Sappho. They organized as a means to preserve her poetry, her legacy as a lover of women and beauty, as well as to keep certain confidential and powerful documents and artifacts safeguarded and preserved over time. Twenty-five hundred years and many generations later, the circle had grown exponentially to become this international organization.”

I found myself, leaning forward in intrigue and disbelief that such a group would exist and that this information was being revealed to me.

I felt like the whole of my understanding of how the physical world operated had just been shattered and I sat shocked and amazed at this new world that was unfolding before me. I had so many questions, but I held back to allow Flourish to continue.

Flourish placed the folder in her lap.

”The Trust has for many years enjoyed various upscale and private events that’d been managed and sponsored by the board of directors of the group. However, over time, many of the Sapphians began to request events that were a little more risqué. Some of the members were and are married, simply to keep up appearances. And although they may keep open relationships and marriages, these Sapphians wanted to extend their social activities and protect their reputation at the same time. So, the Trust ruled to engage with an outsourced entity to manage certain events in favor of their more discrete members.”

“Therefore, the Trust outsourced the task to Sappho International, which was started by PrimaDonna's mother, Madison, and aunt, Diana. This arrangement was favorable because although they were Sapphians, they managed the wildest parties for the New York and international elite and social party scenes, as well as various groups of glamorous jetsetters. So they were used to keeping a certain level of discretion.”

“The Trust contracted them to manage worldwide social activities for their own über-rich members and Sappho International has provided this service for over two decades. Upon naming Madison and Diana to the Trust’s board of directors, PrimaDonna was recently named to take over Sappho International’s domestic U.S. activities and has been very successful at it so far.”

“This is all so fascinating, but what are these activities and where do I figure into this equation?”

She opened the folder and began to focus in on the details.

“Well Silk, you’ve worked at the Sapphire Lounge for three years. The Sapphire Lounge is one of many locations worldwide that the Trust owns and Sappho International manages for the Trust—mostly for the younger Sapphians and their associates. Sappho also manages a cluster of cigar clubs and vape lounges for the Trust. These clubs are called SocialClub9’s; and because they’re a little more low-key and risqué, they’re strictly for the elite Sapphians only.”

“So the SocialClub9 is where I’ll be working?”

“Yes. The SocialClub9 slated to open in North Miami convenes bi-monthly and you’ll be paid to make appearances, manage inventory, and manage the burlesque girls that entertain the guests. You will also play host to the drag queens, which we call ‘grande madames’ that come to perform about once every quarter at the clubs, as well.”

”Sounds cool!”

“Now in addition to overseeing SocialClub9 operations, you will also be expected to entertain our upper-level Sapphian clients on a more intimate basis. Many of our Sapphians on this level are clients that have inherited trust funds, some are CEO’s of Fortune 500 corporations, some have their own successful businesses and companies, and in some cases the women are heiresses of large dynasties, or are politicians and even celebrities. Therefore, many of these women have pleasure needs that should be satisfied with the highest levels of luxury and discretion. Sappho has maintained this standard to date with a buffet of elite mansions, as well as a full fleet of the finest and most sexually liberated studs and femmes one could only dream—and this, Silk, is where you stand as a real asset to the company.”

“Whoa! Wait a minute. Let me clarify what I think you just said…”

I looked around and began to whisper inexplicably.

“Sappho International basically arranges ‘sexual favors’ for the Sapphians.”

“In a nutshell…yes.”

“Kinda like a lesbian escort service?”

“I guess you could say an exceedingly elite lesbian escort service…sure…”

“Well I’ll be damn…Imagine that…”

I began to process all the things that Flourish was unfolding to me and I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing. It was something so wrong about it and yet it felt like such a natural transition for a stud like me.

I settled back into my seat as my curiosity fed into my urge to find out more.

I continued to listen in intrigue.

“In addition to the cigar clubs, Sappho International began a high stakes poker tournament a few years back that occurred bi-annually for select Sapphians. They called this nine day event of debauchery—Cloud9. They gambled, drank and enjoyed the company of femmes and studs who’d already had a healthy sexual appetite and didn't mind pleasuring these women without giving regard for locations or other restrictions…”, She cleared her throat,” ... such as yourself.”

”Hey, if you’re gonna do it—do it well, is what I always say.”

Flourish smiled cunningly and looked back at the folder to continue the briefing.

“Well, members of the Trust truly feel the same way as you do. So, to cater to this nature we created two fantasy houses to host the themed parties that occur at Cloud9. In addition to the gambling, Sappho recruited two gorgeous studs to play host and escort to the winners of the high stakes poker competition, as an added prize. This friendly side competition went over really well with the Sapphians. They were so drawn to the mystique of the studs and were even willing to share their winnings of the poker rounds with these studs. It went over so well during Cloud9 that these two studs began to be called ‘stallions’—as a graduated level from being just a stud.”

She looked up at me.

“…and this side competition would be called lovingly by the women as ‘The Mounting of the Stallions’.”

Without thinking, I asked, “Why would these members want to share their poker winnings with these studs…I mean stallions?”

“Good question. You have to understand the nature of a woman, and especially the nature of a very, wealthy woman to see why this isn’t so far-fetched. As I briefly highlighted before, a stud is a thing of mystery—almost a bending of the rules of nature. There is not one person who can truly understand what it feels to equally identify with both genders—like a stud. So, a diamond stud is truly a rare gem. And what is the most alluring thing that a woman could possess, if only for but a moment? And what would you give to satisfy the woman who already owns everything? You give this woman the rare presence of a diamond stud—which just so happens to be what you embody.”

“So diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend.”

“…AND a diamond stud is forever…PrimaDonna heard rumors of your sexual prowess, as manager of the Sapphire Lounge and of your magical way with women. She also heard rumors of your natural beauty and strength. After her initial meeting with you in person, she could confirm a few of these rumors and knew without a doubt that you were one of these rare gems whom have also never been penetrated by anyone—and that in itself, sweetie, is priceless. You are an aphrodisiac and truly mesmerizing.”

She began to drift and almost hover it seems, as if almost spellbound and entranced by me.

I always knew there was something different to having the swagger of a stud—a natural hybrid of male and female chemical energy. It was like I defied the laws of physics, or something, and that was an instant attraction—and not just to females. Most strangers—male, female and everything in between—would always become enthralled and amazed with my being. Something that came so naturally to me was always received with wonder and curiosity to others. I was well aware of this internal power but was never aware to what extent other people may have been transfixed by me.

I decided that I wanted to know more about this powerful group of women, so I quickly followed, “Well, I never looked at it that way. But, I guess I could see this perspective. So what’s the going rate for a diamond stud these days?”

Flourish laughed and flashed back to our current reality.

“Well, Silk, even though you joke, you stand to make a small fortune, if you play your cards right. But just because money is being tossed your way, so to speak, the whole affair is very respectable. One of our accountants, Lourdes, who just so happens to be one of the grande madams in the SocialClub9 that you will oversee, is the individual that accounts for all of the financials and transactions that your region will incur.”

“You’re expected to be one of the stallion spokespersons for Sappho Intl by not only managing the SocialClub9 but also making your presence known at Cloud9.”

“These are the procedures for Cloud9 and the weeks leading up to the event—you are now being flown to a South Beach condo which is owned by Sappho Intl. Oh by the way, this jet, all locations, and everything that you practically will see over the coming weeks is financed by the Trust and owned by Sappho Intl on the books. We will meet Lourdes and you will stay at the condo for three days, to get some rest and to receive the proper grooming before moving on to the next location.”

Flourish pulled two envelopes out of the leather folder’s pockets and handed it to me. It held a stack of fresh dollar bills in each one of them.

She continued.

”PrimaDonna has disclosed that you will receive ten grand per month for every month that you are with Sappho Intl. You’ll also receive a $2,000 stipend monthly, in petty cash, for any personal items that you may need during your employment. You’ll receive your salary at the end of each completed month. And this is your initial advance and first month’s stipend.”

“Lourdes and I will assist you over the next few days in purchasing a fresh, new wardrobe and anything else that you may need during your stay. After three days, you’ll move on to meet your team. They will back you in anything that you need, during your transition here in Miami, as well as at SocialClub9 and during Cloud9.”

“You will have your first visit to the cigar club within the first month of staying with the team at the second, temporary location. In this first month, you’ll also receive your official coronation into Sappho Intl, as well as the training necessary to be presented in prime form. At the end of one month, you’ll transfer to your final location which is also the location of the third fantasy house.”

“Cloud9 occurs at the beginning of March, which is about a month away. The first two fantasy houses are exquisite mansions, which are called the Palace and the Desert Dungeon. They are located in New York and Arizona, respectively. The third location is called Illumin8 and will be the mansion that you will enjoy for as long as you decide to stay with us. It’s being furnished as we speak and will be awaiting your arrival to place any finishing touches on the house that you may so desire.”

I thought,” This just gets better and better…”

“Cloud9 takes place over nine days—three days at each location. The first day is for receiving guests, the initiation of that location’s round of the poker tournament, and a themed social gathering. Your team will assist you with the creative process for your location’s themed party. The second day is when the poker winners’ bid for you, after the evening’s themed party. This party is usually a little more themed and raucous than the previous night and most of the members participate by wearing costumes for fun and sport. Lourdes handles all of the bidding and transactions and announces the outcome to each of you, which is promptly entered into the books. We call these winners, as well as all of our participating Sapphian clients, ‘Alices’ to maintain their privacy.”

She continued. “As stated before, whichever sponsor wins the poker round at the location gets to ‘sponsor’ a portion of their earnings or their purse to one stallion, which will pleasure her for the evening at that location and keep the auctioned amount. Over the nine days, whichever stallion acquires the most funds at the end of Cloud9 also retains an extra $100,000 bonus on top of their acquired total. Both of our stallions have seen totals of one to two hundred thousand dollars by the end of the Cloud9 events and some of our other femmes and studs have accepted upwards of fifty thousand dollars by the end of the event. Our poker participants win money and Sappho Intl as a whole makes good on their contract with the Trust—it’s a win-win situation for all persons involved in a safe, secure environment.”

“Because Sappho is an international entity structured in the Channel Islands, we have no tax implications. Therefore, everything is dealt in cash and international accounts—which are both much more convenient for us and much more private due to the nature of our business and our clients.”

I gripped the cash that I held, with a slight grin, and looked to the passing clouds that surrounded us.

“So, let me get this straight. You want me to enjoy random sex with beautiful, rich women AND I get to enjoy a new look and a free stay at a beautiful mansion—all while getting paid for it? Have I died and gone to heaven?”

“Let’s just thank our lucky stars for Sappho, the Trust, and Sappho Intl.”

I kissed the bills and added as I placed them into my backpack. “Fuck yeah…thank you, Sappho!”

Flourish grinned and then sipped from her glass of water.

”Do you have any questions so far, Silk?”

After some considerable thought I chose to keep it brief for now and asked only one.

“Well I mean, is what we’re doing legal?”

Flourish laughed and then proceeded to answer.

“You have to remember that the general public is not aware that we exist. The small portions of families, governments, and law enforcement agents that may have become aware of us in the past, all support our activities and have cooperated with our free reign, because it’s much easier to deal with these things within our ‘circle’ than having to explain it or pacify these things to the general, all-consuming public.”

“That makes sense.”

”Silk, these women are not only above the law, but over centuries have become so financially and politically powerful and connected that they are the law. We are a very powerful and private multinational organization. And as long as we’ve remained under the radar, we facilitate our own legal and protective framework. We retain our own levels of legislation and private security worldwide and therefore we police ourselves.”

“Cool.”

“Now, if there are no more questions for now…?” She paused for my reply.

“No, I think that’s all I have for now…”

“Good. Here are your keys. One is to the condo’s penthouse and one is to your brand new Porsche Cayenne. This Cayenne doesn’t even come out until next year to the average consumer. PrimaDonna already has you insured and I’m sure you’ll love it. The penthouse is already furnished as well. You have everything you need, for now, to present yourself as the newest premier stallion of Sappho Intl.”

As I took the keys, she asked firmly, “Do you understand and further accept the terms of employment?”

I looked around the jet to let everything sink in for a minute. I thought about what PrimaDonna had said about my whole world changing within an instant of making my initial decision. I gently sipped from my glass and took a deep swallow.

I looked Flourish in her emerald eyes and said calmly, “I accept and I’m all in.”

I proceeded to place the keys into my pocket. Then I sat back and smiled while Flourish beamed with a twinkle in her eyes and proclaimed. “Good! Because we would’ve had to drug you to erase your memory if you didn’t.”

“Awesome! Wait what?”

“Okay bad joke.”

“That was a joke right?”

“I’m just joking, Silk. We don’t employ any type of ‘conspiracy theorists’ methods of ensuring that our secrets are kept. Most members stay willingly and the few that leave simply feel that our secrets are not that believable to go public. There’s just not enough evidence to support hearsay.”

“Okay cool, cuz you had me sweatin’ there for a second.”

“Lastly, there are three general decrees within Sappho Intl. The first decree is the most important. You may make love but do not fall IN love. This applies to clients, our staff, femme and stud crowns, and stallions. We are in the business of pleasure and allowing oneself to fall for a client or another staff member can be detrimental and dangerous on so many levels. If pleasure can be a drug, then falling in love can be the ultimate overdose within an organization like ours—it becomes just too messy and personal. So keep it strictly professional.”

“The second decree, for obvious reasons, is to maintain privacy and confidentiality for our clients at all costs.”

“And the third decree is that Sappho Intl will not tolerate any activity that places us or any member of the Sapphic Trust under unnecessary scrutiny or degrades our worth to our clients in any way. We have a no tolerance policy when it comes to illegal activities such as violence, drug activities and thievery. Any exhibition of these activities is dealt with internally and can result in a termination of employment and banishment from our organization. It may also result in immediate cooperation with the appropriate in-house international officials.”

“Sappho Intl has never really had to deal with anyone breaking these decrees but they always remain in the back of everyone’s minds. Sappho Intl does not consider marijuana as a hard drug and on some occasions, such as Cloud9, I’ve even seen casual drugs, such as very, very small amounts of cocaine or pills, having been supplied to some of our clients; but it’s not frowned upon as long as it remains casual and does not leave the premises.”

“On some occasions, a client may have a request to enjoy the company of a member of our staff that they may favor. Paid house calls and personal calls are permitted by stallions, femme and stud crowns as long as you remain on your best behavior. And when you’re not working, you’re free to do anything that you wish on your own time, as long as you remain a pristine reflection of Sappho Intl. The rules and itinerary of Cloud9 will be explained more in detail right before the event, by PrimaDonna or me. She will also be checking up on you during the grooming process and coronation.”

Flourish finally closed the folder and exclaimed,” And I think that’s about it.”

She summarized,” Love the love we make and make the love we love. Enjoy the power of a woman, and you’ll go a long way, Silk. Trust me.”

Flourish placed the folder back into the slim, executive briefcase. She turned and pressed a button that caused a song, by what sounded like Rihanna, to flow through the jet’s audio system and fill the cabin.

Then without notice she added,” …and since pleasure IS our business, let’s get back to it.”

She placed her fingers around my head, leaned in and allowed her tongue to open my mouth passionately, like she’d been waiting and needing to explore my lips since we entered the jet.

And as her tongue formally met mine, the taste of mint laced my senses, as I breathed her essence inside of me. My hands began to move, without instruction, to her hips and I was hypnotized by the unexpected guise that currently held my mind fully capsized. Fire crept up my legs and my heart beat just a tad faster, as it seemed that in addition to Sappho Intl, I was quickly becoming a member of the mile-high club.

My hands now held a life of their own, as they began to assist with removing her tucked button-down blouse from the shackles of her denim jeans—since her own hands were busy pulling at my own mane in desperation.

I unfastened her jeans. And as soon as her shirt was released, my hands led me to blindly scale breasts of mountainous ecstasy. I placed my palm to climb her nipple’s peak, as they were now standing with a steep rigidity and calling me to meet its summit.

She was bra-less and on fire. And my hand began to cup and caress her voluptuous bosom, like the sculptor forms the clay.

And as her breast felt the tenderness of my hands, it seemed a signal was sent to trigger her own digits to become magnetized to the silk button-down shirt that draped her and to quickly un-button every single button.

I would wait and my patience would be rewarded as she presented her neckline to me. I traced and pressed my lips to the pulse of her throat, as I applied a coat of ecstasy to her lifeline. The aroma of her flesh hinted of fresh orange oil and tasted like sweet caramel. And I relished every inch and every morsel, while her fingers quickened their un-fastening motions. Her body faintly quivered as she moaned and finally, like the magic of Christmas morning, her blouse became opened. And like the first, shiny gift that had been waiting all season to be unwrapped, we were both enveloped in a state of bliss.

I would devour Flourish.

It was immediately evident that her name suited her perfectly, as half of her golden body and shoulder was covered with a beautifully, burgeoning swirl and flourish tattoo. It was exotic and her erotic breasts called out to me to add my own curls and bursts. I would submit my own design, as her divine and hardened nipples urged me to taste them, like the quill feather does to its inkwell. And the moans that escaped her were the testament that her destiny was written with the nimble stroke of my tongue’s pen.

I was melting inside myself, to the smolder of her body’s heat and wanted to know if she was as wet as I was. And as if she had read my mind, she boldly unzipped her jeans and softly straddled me.

Flourish was audacious and the intense heat of her now-neon eyes commanded me to slip inside for a small dip between her strong Portuguese legs. I would obey by tracing my finger’s tips along the borders of her purple, lace panties, while my mouth sucked from cupped and supple breasts, as her faultless body arched to the heavens.

Turbulence began to claim us and we suddenly felt the jet’s shake and shudder, which only made Flourish clench and tug at my hair harder.

She moaned in pure bliss and tickled my ears with a slight Portuguese accent,” Oh, Silk. I am so happy that you came.”

Her genuine appreciation would blow and balloon the lips between my own legs to tingle and throb.

I wanted more of Flourish. And though the turbulence would continue to jolt the cabin of the jet—we would not be deterred.

Flourish rocked in my lap with sudden urgency. Her body was calling my fingers to slide inside of her, but I had an unavoidable tendency to torture and play with a beautiful woman. So I paused and instead continued to slither teasingly between the lace and her soft caramel skin; until she grabbed my wrist with overwhelming authority and slid my fingers between her straddled legs, to slip into the moist treasure that had been waiting to be discovered.

She immediately writhed with pleasure, as her hips began to release the building heat that had been restrained; and I peered into her, as she began to grind in time with a point finger that had curled and directed its way through the heated halls of her body’s temple and cleverly ran circles along the walls that held the fire of her belly. With every flick of my wrist, it seemed that her foreign tongue was finding its way back into her throat, as she cursed exotically, in between produced moans of satisfaction.

Flourish smiled and reveled in the fact that I was as much a freak as she was. She delighted in the fact that she didn’t have to waste time and precious energy on persuasion—and right now she was yearning for more of me.

She ran her tongue over her lip and squinted, as she’d begun to roll forward to ride and grind me wildly. And then suddenly, as though she had just made a discovery, she began to slow her pace.

Flourish instinctively led me backward into my seat and began to run her hands over the lap of my jeans to find something very hard inside.

She looked at me and instantly grinned a devious, half smile.

Flourish rocked forward and whispered in my ear with a hint of seduction.

”I knew that I could feel something poking me. Is this what I think this is?”

“I’m a stud—so you know I stay strapped. You feel me?” I announced with utter confidence and drunk with the lust that built ferociously with the steam that had now formed on the windows of the cabin.

She nibbled on my ear tenderly and curled her toes into my knees, as she whispered.

”Oh, I feel you! Silk….You’re a freak! And I love freaks…”

She began again to ride me salaciously and proclaim breathlessly.

“Most women love toys....I love a stud that’s secure enough to provide the toys that women love the most…You’re a bad, bad boi…and that always turns me on, Silk.”

With that she had again propped her feet on my knees, leaned back slightly, and began to eagerly pull and slide my fingers through her river’s canal. Her body sat perched in earnest and fervently receiving my fingers’ pointed penetration, as her universe continued to expand. And like a juicer to a sliced and open orange, I had her wrapped around my fingers and gushing; and as the pressure began to build within the cabin, so did the pounding of my palms against her mound, to pulp and wring the citrus fruit.  Her moans increased. And with the quickening of my stroke’s vibrations, I maintained to rub her the right way.

I was sure that she would soon cum and drain, as I sustained my stroke’s persistence.

But it was then that the plane began to swiftly descend and the cabin began to quickly slant and slope.

I stopped abruptly, as we began to clutch each other tightly to keep from tumbling over. We both looked at each other and began to giggle in unison. It was crystal clear that we were in the midst of landing, prior to her grand ascension.

“Oh, I can’t believe we’re landing, already…” whispered Flourish amidst smiles and random kisses. “Don’t worry, Silk. THIS—will be continued…”

She slid off my lap. And I slipped my middle finger into my mouth to lick her wetness from it slowly, as she stared.

“Mmh…Flourish, you taste like sweet, Florida oranges…and the sweetest Florida mangoes.”

Flourish shuddered, as she fumbled with her buttons.

“Oh my God, Silk. You and I are gonna have plenty of fun together.”

She shook her head in frustration that she was not able to finish. But she quickly composed herself and stood to head to the lavatory to freshen up.

And I smiled deeply, as I began to see the beautifully lined palm trees that surrounded the air strip.

Flourish quickly returned and handled herself with an admirable level of professionalism, as she quickly concluded my brief.

“The town car will lead you to your condo on South Beach. You will enter the lobby and take the elevator to the top floor to the penthouse level. Oh, I almost forgot!” She went back into her briefcase. “Here’s the itinerary for the next few days which has the name of the condo and contact information, as well as the parking number that the Cayenne is located. I already gave you the keys to your vehicle and penthouse. Get plenty of sleep tonight because we have a long day tomorrow.”

She kissed me quickly and headed back into the bathroom.

But not before she turned around midway and added,” Oh yeah, Silk, one more thing…welcome home.”

She winked and kept going.

I gathered my things and stretched as the jet rolled to a slow halt.

I exited the cabin and stood at the top of the stairs to inhale the warm beach air of the city that I was raised.

I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and while casually placing my dark aviator shades back on, I said to myself, ”Welcome to Miami, indeed! And what a way to return….Buckle your seatbelt, Silk, this is gonna be one helluva ride.”

3

The faint sound of panting followed by deep gulps of water replaced the smooth purr of the Cayenne’s engine, as Flourish slid into the cream leather seat next to me and shut the door. Flourish had just finished her kickboxing class at the South Beach Gym and was all smiles, as she was now hydrating and quenching her thirst.

As we headed towards Washington Avenue to get some after workout smoothies, she lightly dabbed at the beads of sweat that formed on her forehead. I turned the air conditioning up slightly to allow her to cool down. Her nipples began to harden through the pink, athletic sports bra which was riddled with sweat and a testament to the intensity of her workout.

My own internal engine had been operating all day at 100 miles per hour and running from the day’s events. I would count my lucky stars that I took Flourishes advice yesterday and slept nearly all day instead of partying on the strip.

After I arrived in Miami and nestled into my gorgeous South Beach penthouse yesterday, I slept like a log in the beautiful king-sized cocoon bed in the master bedroom that was provided. I woke up to the sounds of salsa and club music mixed with the ocean tide in the distance and decided to go downstairs only to get some dinner, before I would crash again. It seems that my own brand of hibernation would be the prescription necessary to shake off the haze of exhaustion that had built up over the last 48 hours.

However, before turning it in for the night, I decided to take a small moment to appreciate the luxury that surrounded me. As my bare feet slapped across the Italian ceramic tiles toward the kitchen to pour a glass of Chardonnay wine, I marveled at the granite countertops and stainless steel kitchen furnishings. Then I decided to take a brief moment to familiarize myself with the audio system, as well as the mounted 70 inch flat screen that hung before me. After playing with the remote controls for a while, I walked up the winding stairs to the rooftop terrace and peered over the railing into the clear, black night. I closed my eyes and absorbed the ocean breeze and immediately shed a joy-filled tear that I had been afforded this opportunity. I remember even now how I was filled with utter appreciation, as the breeze lifted the locks of my hair off of my back; and I continued to shed tears underneath the crescent moon, as my mind, body and soul was consumed with tremendous gratitude.

Filled with overwhelming joy and sheer relief, I found myself going back inside and falling back into the cherry red, chaise sectional. I began to sob and laugh at the same time, because I couldn’t help but to think that I had to have been one of the luckiest studs to have a second chance at life like this. I also tried to remember the last time that I had cried like that and could never remember having a chance to release all of the pain that had been bottled up inside of me, since the death of my parents and the assault of my aunt.

After looking at the ceiling for a minute in reflection, I thanked the universe again and then headed back to the room and lifted the soft, white, Egyptian sheets over me and slept like a newborn baby.

It’d been one of the most soothing and restful nights that I’d ever encountered.

And the productivity of this morning was proof that the serenity of the night’s sleep had paid off well.

Today, unlike yesterday, was all business. I looked in the mirror upon awaking before dawn and vowed to myself that today would be the reason that I made the big bucks—and I committed myself to make every cent count.

It began with my usual early morning Egyptian fire breathing and tantric meditation—except for the fact that today I was able to enjoy it on the large, private balcony, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with the seagulls and the sounds of the tide to keep me company. The balcony was larger than my whole apartment back in Atlanta and even included a private infinity pool.

I would begin the day in divine balance and a sound mind, body and soul. And upon completion I would be ready to absorb whatever was required of me for the day.

I received a courtesy call from Flourish shortly thereafter to be prepared around late morning to meet and spend the day with Lourdes, whom was my regional accountant. So I promptly, went down stairs to throw around the weights for a little bit in the fitness center, carry out a round of Pilates, and then complete a brisk run on the beach to work off the Cuban steak with black beans and Cuban rice that I’d indulged in for my first night back home, late last night. After a nice soak in the luxurious whirlpool tub and throwing on some comfortable cargo shorts and a casual tee, I received a call that they were downstairs in the lobby.

As I rode the elevator down, with the keys to the Cayenne in my hand, there was an air of anticipation and enthusiasm flowing through my blood.

Today was a new beginning for me and would be the first day of the rest of my life.

The elevator bell rang and the door opened, as if announcing my presence, and Flourish and Lourdes immediately greeted me with smiles.

They both stood from the Miami deco seats in the lobby and Flourish saluted me with a hug and said,” Lourdes this is Silk. Silk, this is the one and only Lourdes—he is our honorary Sapphian. Miami regional accountant and Grande Madame.”

I shook his hands which were soft and meek in comparison to my own.

“You mean ‘the Grand-est Madame’ Flourish,” Lourdes beamed.

“And it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Silk. I’ve heard so many great things about you and you’ve already lived up to my every expectation. You are unequivocally the most handsome stud that I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

He sized me up from head to toe, as I replied, “The pleasure’s all mine.”

They both blushed and laughed as though they were schoolgirls that were sharing an inside joke and I was the clueless boi that they were crushing.

I looked at them and asked. ”What?”

Lourdes took one of my arms and Flourish took the other, as we headed together towards the parking garage. And they began to chat as though I had mysteriously disappeared, despite the fact that I towered over both of their much shorter frames.

“Flourish, girl, I swear, he looks even more gorgeous in person than you guys described. Like a god has graced us with his presence. We will have so much fun shopping. And I will have so much fun un-dressing…. I mean dressing this one.”

Flourish laughed.

“I told you! But we’re gonna have to get her out of these cargo shorts first though.”

“Hey, these are comfortable.”

They giggled and kept chatting.

“You know I’m on the case like Charlie’s Angels, Flourish. We’ll meet up with you in about four or five hours. That should give you enough time to do what you gotta do and give me enough time to create the whole wardrobe.”

“Okay girl, smooches!”

“Smooches!”

Flourish now spoke to me as though I’d magically re-appeared, as we all stood in front of the royal, blue Porsche.

“Okay, sweetie, Lourdes is gonna take you to buy your new gear. Trust me, Silk he’s all bark but no bite. He’s gonna take good care of you with one swipe of the company’s Black Card. Pay no attention to the drooling—he flirts with everyone. I have to go catch my Pilates and kickboxing classes and you guys will pick me up mid-afternoon. Alright?”

I de-activated the alarm and unlocked the door.

”That’s cool.”

”Okay, I’ll see you later and you guys have fun.”

Flourish winked at me from afar.

”Flourish, I may not come back with this one!”

Lourdes yelled from the other side.

“No kidnapping, Lourdes!”

They both laughed as he slid into the seat next to me.

I smiled and pushed the button to start the Cayenne’s engine.

“Alright, we’re going to Aventura Mall, sweetie.”

If Lourdes wasn’t such a cutie, I probably would’ve been a little more offended and very uncomfortable. But Lourdes was nothing like I expected and everything I expected at the same time.

As an honorary Sapphian, he was fabulous and internationally chic, which was what I anticipated when Flourish told me that he would be performing at the SocialClub9.

However, as an accountant, I expected someone in a stiff suit with a stiff briefcase to shadow my every move around town today. I was mildly surprised to be enjoying my time with a casually eccentric and hilarious young man whom just happened to account for my various purchases and transactions.

With his striking high cheekbones, long fanned eyelashes and exotic Indian eyes—Lourdes was like one of the girls.

As we made our way throughout the mall, he told me that although he was born in Mumbai, India and partially raised in London, he’d met Flourish and PrimaDonna in Manhattan and was quick to pick up their lifestyle, as they partied and traveled together. It was this fabulous personality and appearance, which right now included a hot pink Polo shirt and plaid slim shorts, that completely contradicted his true occupation.

Lourdes was just another reminder that I belonged to an organization that defied ordinary expectations.

Besides, I should’ve known better anyway because only in Miami could you wear flip-flops while working as a number cruncher.

As we made our way through the shops of Aventura Mall, Lourdes became my instant girlfriend slash assistant, as he lovingly demanded me to try on various linen casuals and other items that I would require for my new wardrobe. Although I welcomed him to call me Silk, Lourdes called me boss instead. He said that it made him sound like the naughty secretary and it was fitting to him, since he would be working in the new cigar club with me. Yes, Lourdes was the epitome of fabulous.

After shopping for a couple of hours, I quickly understood why we went thirty minutes out the way to Aventura, because this mall had everything. And it was as if he knew where everything was in advance—Hugo Boss, Armani, Journey’s, XXI Forever, and last but not least, Adolfo Dominguez.

Ordinarily this would’ve been torturous for me, because shopping was my least favorite activity, but Lourdes transformed the experience into an amusing adventure. He made me smile in every shop, as he had a way of influencing the cute retail clerks to flirt with me, whether they were bi-curious, straight, or anything in between, as I tried on the clothes. I never would’ve imagined having such a great time. And as Lourdes swiped the card for the last purchase, I felt a newfound sense of empowerment—I felt like a brand, new stallion.

Lourdes and Flourish were now admiring one of the outfits, which showcased my fresh, new style. I’d decided to keep it on and their sounds of approval flashed me back from my own private deliberation of the day’s events.

It seemed that since catching her breath and hydrating, Flourish had been re-invigorated and now was complimenting Lourdes on his fashion sense, as she scandalously stared at the new and improved version of me.

I began to blush and tried to change the subject.

“So how was your workout?”  I asked.

“Oh, it worked me in all the right places.”  She flirted jokingly as she continued to stare at me.

”I could take another workout though.”

Lourdes giggled. ”Flourish, you are too much!”

Ignoring both of them I followed,” You know, Flourish, I’m used to gettin’ out and throwin’ the weights around. Maybe we can workout together sometime, huh?”

“I would love to have you as a workout partner—especially since Lourdes breaks out in hives at the mere mention of exercise.”

Lourdes said, "Uh-uh. That is just too much for me. I'll leave all of that to the stunt men and you professionals. It might detract from my girlish figure. Besides, I got a high metabolism anyway.”

“We all would have a high metabolism if we fucked and sucked as much as you do,” Flourish added after taking a swig of water from her bottle.

They both laughed hysterically.

Lourdes finally said almost out of breath,” I guess you’re right, girl. There’s no denying that fact. I can’t help it. I’m beautiful and my style’s on fleek. All this must be shared—sharing is caring. So I make it my duty to give up the booty. Now, what kinds of smoothies do you both want?”

We both said in unison while laughing, “Mango Madness!”

We looked at each other in amazement, as I parked and Lourdes got out.

He said,” Now that’s freaky…I guess I’ll have one of those, too.”

“Oh yeah, Lourdes can you ask them to add coconut oil and another shot of protein in mine?”

“No sweat, boss…”

“Thanks.”

There was no place in the world like Miami. On Washington Avenue vendors were busy setting up and preparing for the club night. Cuban music blasted through loud speakers and international tourists zipped by on bright colored Vespa scooters. Subtle shades of pink, teal, yellow and bleached white buildings flooded my optical senses as I became submerged with the delight of being back home.

While we waited, Flourish turned around with curiosity to see what else had been purchased, as I switched the playlist on my soundcloud.

“So, Silk, where’s your bags? Are they in the back?”

”We took all the bags upstairs before we came and got you…since we had a little time leftover. But after dropping everything off at the penthouse, we picked up some turkey on wheat sandwiches from Café Del Mar for you to eat later—so you wouldn’t have to stop anywhere.”

“Oh, Silk, thank you. That’s so sweet. Lourdes is such a doll. He didn't flirt with you too much, did he? You know that dude is trés fabergé.”

“No, he didn't cross any lines AND he got the job done. I actually had a great time and he even treated me to lunch at the Grand Lux.”

“I love that place! They have a great glazed Salmon.”

“Yeah, that’s what I ate. I had to get some protein after that workout this morning. He had the Southwestern Salad.

“Mmmh…yeah, that one’s good, too. I think Lourdes got a little crush on you already.” She added slyly. “He texted me while you guys were in one of the stores. He said if you were a guy he would’ve been all over you already.”

“Yeah. Strangely enough, I get that a lot from gay men.”

“I bet you do.” She said under her breath. “Did he get you the laptop and iPhone?”

“Yep…”

She clicked the precisely manicured nails of her thumb and middle finger together and directed, “Let me see the phone.”

I took the chrome-plated phone out of the middle console, where it was charging, and handed it to her.

“I'm placing all of your vital numbers in it. You can call me or Lourdes for anything and at any time of the day or night. Okay? If you need to reach PrimaDonna at any time, you can contact me and she will contact you. I’m passing your number on to her, so she can contact you whenever she needs. So if you see a private number, then it’s probably her. PrimaDonna is a very private person in the beginning, but over time when she gets to know you, she usually trusts you enough to give you her number.”

I hope she opens up to me, in more ways than one. I thought to myself.

After programming the phone and plugging it back into the charger, Flourish continued, “All jokes aside, Silk, you look very sexy. Lourdes did a great job.”

“Yeah, when we took the bags up, I changed…especially after you smashed on my cargo shorts.”

“Aww, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” she said teasingly.

I smiled.

“Don't get me wrong. Cargo shorts are cool for the P.R.I.D.E. or for loungin' around. But these ladies expect a little bit more at our events.”

“I guess cargos aren’t the moneymakers. I have to admit, I do feel like I’m dressed to make a million right now.”

She leaned over and smelled the cologne that I had dabbed behind my ears.

She cooed, “Mmh, Armani Code…baby blue Armani shirt…tan, grey and blue beach polo shorts and Sperry’s to match. Yeah, that color scheme really brings out those sterling grey eyes. I see he got you a Movado, too. Nice touch.”

She scanned me like a ravenous wolf and I was on the menu as her mid-afternoon snack.

I blushed privately.

“Now you're REALLY suited and booted. You know you're gonna have to really get used to beautiful women gawking and staring at you. But something tells me you're already used to it.”

I smiled," Who really ever gets used to it? I can only pretend to, which is what most people do when the spotlight’s on ‘em…right?"

"True statement. I remember when we all started hanging out, I used to be the shyest one in the whole group.”

“And now you’re a force to be reckoned with.”

“Shut up, crazy.” She nudged me playfully. “Yeah, I’m a hurricane. But don’t get me wrong, underneath the surface I still have my moments.”

“So Flourish DOES have a sensitive side?”

“Hey you’re not supposed to know that. Don’t tell anyone, though.”

“Or what you’ll have to kill me.”

“Yep I’ll be forced to slay you.”

She leaned in close. So close, I could feel the magnetism that‘d followed us from the flight the day before. So close that every inch of my being tingled with the remembrance and the want to taste those lips again.

She felt it too, as we both locked eyes and began to lean in to each other.

But the sound of the front door to the smoothie shop opening stopped us in our tracks.

“Wow. I don’t know what it is about you, Silk. But you got me…”

She shook her head and smiled to herself, as she settled back into her seat and took a swig from her water bottle.

“Whoo, gurl that guy always tryin’ to get at me. He supersized all of our smoothies for free. I swear he’d give me the whole shop if he could.”

Lourdes opened the door to the Cayenne and immediately began gossiping about the clerk who was hitting on him, while I could still see Flourish eyeing me out the side of my peripheral. Flourish wanted me bad and I didn’t mind acting out every single one of the fantasies that was probably running through her mind right about now.

As I backed out of the parking space, the upbeat intro to “Corazon” came through the speakers faintly as it flipped forward on my playlist.

"Boss, I love this song! Can you turn it up a little?” Lourdes squealed.

He began to dance and sing in the back seat. I rolled down the windows a little more and headed down Washington towards our final stop for the day, which would be to the lavish condo that’d been provided to me.

Flourish began to move her body to the beat and turned around to grab her smoothie and hand one to me, simultaneously. We all sipped our drinks in relief, as we could finally begin to wind down. This was a productive day and the night would be our reward.

As we turned onto Ocean Drive, the sun was almost fully set. Salsa beats filled the air and vacationers were casually strolling down walkways and into sidewalk cafes. Sounds of Tito Puente and lively horns laced with cowbells, timbales and congas provided a spicy soundtrack to partially-clad beach bodies in bikinis. The traffic was not too heavy. But it was steady enough to slow to a lazy cruise and enjoy the ocean breeze with a picturesque horizon. The glimmer of the sunset’s red rays against the cool blue waves of the ocean became the backdrop for the dancing palm trees. Every day was easy breezy in Miami and this moment was the portrait of perfection that I’d been accustomed to.

“So, boss, I talked your ear off all day about me but we never got to talk about your background.” Lourdes commented while sipping his smoothie with glee.

“Well, mine isn’t as nearly as interesting as yours. My parents were kinda like new age hippies—Ganja smoking, art dealing cosmos. Books and art. Books and art. That was our thing. I remember before Art Basel blew all the way up, we used to host parties right around the corner.”

“You mean those mansions on Alton.”

“Yep. They might’ve been bohos, but they were great at what they did. We were the center of the art world here in Miami…before they passed on.”

“Wow, that’s crazy. To loose both of your parents so young—it must’ve been hard on you at that age.”

“Well, let’s just say I had to grow up pretty quickly. From then on, I was raised in Richmond Heights with my auntie Cher—my father’s younger sister. Now THAT was a totally opposite experience for me. Aunt Cher was the life of the lesbian community in Miami, despite our neighborhood being a rough area to live in during the time.”

“Richmond Heights, huh?”

“Yep. Southwest Dade County, ya heard. It’s been cleaned up a lot, but when I first got there, Aunt Cher had to put me on game…you know…cuz I had no idea of what it was to live in the hood back then. I was really naïve. But I learned quick. ‘Specially with the looney toons she always had around. And man could Aunt Cher throw a party. I mean, back then, it was going down and I was smack dab in the middle of it. But despite all that, she damn well made sure I got through school in one piece.”

“Does your aunt still live here?" Lourdes asked.

"My aunt caught a bullet that put her into a coma, at the end of my freshman year.  She suffered brain damage.”

"Oh, I'm so sorry, boss."

"No need to be sorry. It was an accident that happened eons ago."

“They say that everyone experiences a little bit of hell and a little bit of heaven to be able to fulfill their purpose here on earth—so I guess experiencing both sides of the tracks will give me a leg up on things in the long run.”

“I can agree with that.” Flourish said between sips. ”I lived on the streets for a time, until my mom was hired as a housekeeper for PrimaDonna's family. Then I was fortunate for Prima’s mom to have the heart to enter me into private school in Manhattan when we were 13—since we were all so close. Prima and I’d been best friends ever since. Fourteen years later and we still can’t be separated.”

“Ya’ll can’t be tamed either. Truth be told, you girls are just as raucus as you were in secondary school and the New York rainbow social scene. Those were some wild times.”

Lourdes and Flourish both giggled in private reminiscence.

“Whole world knows I’da been lost without my blow.”

“OMG! Lourdes, I didn't know you took powder that whole time!" Flourish eyed Lourdes in shock.

"Bj’s, girl, bj’s. I had to suck off a lot of powerful men to get my ass over here AND make sure I kept a proper education. You lesbians ain't the only ones with secrets, you know.”

They both laughed hysterically as we pulled up to the valet and tipped them to park the Cayenne in the underground parking.

We said our good-byes to Lourdes and as he made his way to his beamer, Flourish turned to me and asked with a smile,” How about we go upstairs and see what else you guys got today?”

♦ ♦ ♦

Flourish admired the luxury of the penthouse and collapsed onto the white fur shag area rug, as her body finally surrendered to the idea of winding down. I placed the smoothies and sandwiches in the fridge, while Flourish looked through the shopping bags that scattered the living room floor.

“You know you can also order some other stuff to lounge around in once you get to the second location. When it comes to style, Lourdes just gets you going in the right direction. Then it’s up to you to take flight.”

“Oh, I think I’m about ready to fly. He gave me some pointers that I can put to good use. I think he also got me over my fear of shopping. So I can get out there and get some of the essentials. Like real live workout gear. And maybe some socks that don’t involve tubes and stripes.”

“Congrats. You’re no longer outdated. Welcome to the land of the living.”

“Oh okay. You got more jokes. We got a regular comedian over here.”

“Just kidding. Just kidding. But all jokes aside, don’t hesitate to give Lourdes a ring when you need something. Especially since he knows your clothing and shoe sizes now. Everything can be dropped off before we have to leave. He is more than an accountant, he is your assistant. He wants to be used.”

“Bet. I’m cool with that.”

I poured both of us a glass of moscato and gave one to Flourish.

“It's been a minute since I’ve been here. I forgot how beautiful the view is with the floor to ceiling windows. They changed the décor, though…feels a little more minimalist—but still with a dash of Miami art deco.”

“Yeah, I love how Miami interiors have so much white-on-white, with just a few light splashes of cool, neon colors. It’s like living in heaven’s nightclub.”

I removed my shirt down to a black tank to reveal a full upper-body tribal tattoo. Then I let my hair down out of the Samurai knot, that it’d been up in all day, and dimmed the lights to an ambient blue.

I could sense her eyes following me around the room as I wound down.

“What does your tribal mean?” She now seemed subdued by the ink that covered the entire upper half of my body.

“It’s phoenix rising—self-preservation through light and love. I started it in high school to remind myself of where I’d been and where I’m going—that I might’ve died a little inside but I dusted myself off and rose up.”

“How appropriate. It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks. It’s amazing how it started out so small, but then it kinda took on a life of its own.”

I proceeded to light many of the floor candles that’d been provided by the penthouse and placed on soft tantric melodies from the Café del Mar playlist that I’d uploaded earlier.

Flourish began to relax as she drank from her glass and sighed. “God, I love South Beach!”

”I couldn’t agree more. There is no place like it.”

I sat down and instinctively removed Flourishes’ Nike runners and socks, as she continued to relax. She leaned back into the soft fur behind her and began to nuzzle its hairs with her fingers.

. “Oh yeah, this is exactly what I needed.” She proclaimed between sighs of sheer bliss.

She removed her sweaty sports bra and boy shorts and seductively dictated,” I’m going to take a shower…I hope you don’t mind.”

“Please make yourself comfortable. Mi casa es su casa.”

She bit her bottom lip, as if to seal the deal. Then she gracefully turned towards the arched hallway to the rhythm of the drums of the rich Ibiza melodies that now filled the room.

The sway of her full and rounded cheeks entranced me, as her form lightly disappeared down the hallway and into the bathroom. I heard the water from the showerhead begin to echo against the full marble granite walk-in and, after some time, I began to remove all of my clothes to follow the trail that her sensuous essence left.

Her smoothly, tanned skin was enveloped with soaped bubbles and contrasted with the forest green, marble granite that surrounded her. So, it wasn’t hard to find her through the mist of the steam where she bathed.

I opened the shower door and the streams of spray from above transformed into a light waterfall that chased the dirt of the day away. Droplets dripped from her eyelashes to join trails of rivers that cascaded from bouldered nipples to curving hills and lower valleys. Her emerald eyes urged me, through the mist, to meet her lips and she engulfed my tongue with such passion. With such release to the sexual tension that’d been building since our first encounter.

Our bodies followed our tongues’ cues, as we took refuge in the bliss that rained down upon us. And my hands followed the flourishes and swirled ink that guided the waters way. She sucked from my breast and passed her hands over my own wetness, as we moaned with a common yearning. And the echoes of frantic pants bounced off the walls around us.

I kissed her, inch by inch, to follow the trails of rivers and to passionately sip from cupped breasts that held stone-hard nipples. She moaned as though the wait had ached, as I continued to follow the rivers to inhale the heavenly mist that lifted within her navel’s steam. A dangling belly button ring sat there. And I bit and kissed it, ever so gently, as she arched her breasts towards the showerhead in pure ecstasy.

“God, Silk, I been wanting you so bad.” She managed to spout between gasping breaths.

I sunk to my knees, as though bowing to a queen, and lightly kissed the mound of flesh that held her Venus. Then I slipped past the dampened line of silky hair that tracked the path to vehement valleys of milk and honey. I chose to trek it to the fortune that she held within. And a wealth of liquid gold and wetness met me.

I allowed the fullness of my tongue to twist and captivate her jeweled pearl, which swelled delicately within the velvet box that kept it. And she was thoroughly luxurious, like a fine diamond set within golden rings.

Her drenched body was supreme and her lust had been building like the steam that now blanketed the shower’s glass door. And I was eager to write a message within it.

I dipped and touched my tongue's quill to her body's inkwell, so that she might sample my linguistic sonnet written in the most ancient of romance languages. I took the time to deliver upon her sensual scroll the most beautiful cursive letters and calligraphy that, in time, formed a powerful poem that foretold of our impassioned pleasure. And I tilted my head back and signed my name, as my sonnet began to come to life.

I felt the mist of water sprinkle my face and with eyes narrowed, I heard her moans bounce louder off the marble that surrounded us. The slick and dampened wetness of her vessel’s most natural lubricant flowed freely and would cause a crescendo of gratification to rise immediately from her larynx.

And her moans echoed to mix in harmony with her body’s own chant and tantric melody.

”Oh that feels so good…I need you to make me cum, baby.”

Her lips begged ferociously. ”Oh, I want you to fuck me, Silk. Fuck me, baby.”

I stood and my hands were instantly antagonized, by her urges, to caress her lovely breasts; and to stroke and stoke the fire between her thighs. And she was deeply mesmerized.

I lifted her up, pinned her against the marble and slid what I had strapped-on slowly inside of Flourish. Her head tilted backwards, as she was immediately filled by the full throng of the dong. And she held on tight, as my sonnet became a song.

She welcomed me inside as she clinched her legs to encircle me and her body immediately responded, in bliss, to the sweet, short strokes of energy that shot from the arches of my heels to the length of the ruler that filled her. Her hair and breasts bounced in the wetness around us. And our bodies rocked, as sprayed water splashed in rhythm with our conjoined bodies, to dribble and pour streams that collected upon the shower’s tiled floor.

“Oh, yes…” She began to drive her nails into my back.

She wanted for us to cum and I wanted her to feel me.

I turned off the water and carried Flourish into the bedroom, as she kissed me in a wild and passionate haze. I gently laid her on the bed and pounced upon engorged lips, as she opened her legs widely and panted breathlessly for me.

And I quickly found out that not only was Flourish a freak, but she was also impressively flexible.

She began grinding my tongue with a stark athleticism that forced her legs into a virtual split. And we began riding on the wave of my diamond's rays.

She rubbed her breasts together desperately, as I held her lips open and sucked her viciously.

“Ooh, I’m ‘bout to cum, baby…”

As we both braced for the silent charge, I quickly gripped and held her legs spread eagle and swelled the bulging head of my broad rod to pass below the bridge of her delta. And as it would slowly disappear to stretch her out inside, she began the chorus of a high-pitched moan.

She gazed at me with bliss-filled eyes. And though it was all so unexpected, she more-than-willingly entertained the lulled, long strokes of the thick and wet erection. And where her initial cumming had ended, a double dose of my dong’s delight had begun to take over.

“Yesss…baby…Oh, fuck me.”

She moaned at the dong’s dessert, like the chocolate lover does to the smoothest mousse. And I gained power with each and every pulsing of my pelvis’ persuasive sway.

The drums of Isis came alive within me, as I’d tracked the path towards and past her most private pleasure sectors. And while I clenched firmly to her thighs which kept her limber legs wide, I touched and fill her inside and could sense swells of her inescapable bursting rushing forward again. And with the storm on the horizon, I quickly and repeatedly banged the sweet spot of her belly’s tambourine, as the drums of ancient and old filled my veins.

I rocked her, as I became filled with a hulking might and the greater authority of a tribalistic instinct took my spirit over. I rocked her until every single sensory element could feel my love’s infinite command and intuition. We rocked until the higher octaves of her moan’s chorus could match the ritualistic rhythm of my own inner tantric chanting. And its swinging momentum would become more than she could handle as she was catapulted into a state of immeasurable bliss.

“Yes, I’m cumming! I’m cumming, baby!”

She pulled at her nipples and caressed breasts that were now veiled with sweat. I let her legs go and rocked forward to kiss and hold her, as she arrived with a reverberated quaking. My spine continued pumping and my hips continued curving within her convulsing, to pulse and continue striking the bell of her gong.

And with my unrelenting rubbing and steady thrusting, she came again.

Again and again, I persisted to softly knead and press upon the inner workings of it, while whispers of our beauty and appreciation filled our mind’s eyes together.

And still she came.

And with the constant cumming came nirvana.

The gates of heaven swelled and became open to overflow the purest blend of light and love from her spirit’s most sacred place. Her chorus became angelic and her body let go, as a mix of her and my own wet release flooded and flowed down our legs and glistened, as I slid out and slumped on the bed.

And then there was complete silence.

I looked at her and it seemed that she was in a state of shock and utter glee. She was breathing and yet held breathless to the beauty of our rapture.

“Oh…my…God…” She finally uttered after several minutes.

And because it was clearly evident that she’d been gratified, I danced with an unbounded glee inside. She rolled onto my chest and patted, in complete awe and amazement, the soaked through sheets that her body’s love left. She kissed me over and over again, with genuine appreciation and I could still feel her chloë throbbing ferociously against my leg.

“Ohhh, Silk…you are…”

Her voice trailed off, as she stared out into the darkness of the room. And soon after, she simply let her eyelids drop and began to doze amidst smiles.

I’d drained her and she was out like a light. But the sound of her serenity and peace-filled breathing was its own remuneration; as it seemed that we were both exhausted of all that our bodies could take of the day.

“Good night, beautiful.” I whispered.

I smiled, kissed her forehead and closed my eyes to join her in a drink of yet another night of tranquil sleep.

4

“You are a god among gods, my child!”

“Many will come. Trust the one you seek.”

A classically, beautiful woman with flowing dark and violet, curly hair hovered with what looked like a gold and glowing harp to deliver her most recent warning.

I awoke in a cold sweat from a dream that was all so familiar to me. I’d seen this woman in my dreams for as long as I could remember—and this night was no different.

It was always a dream and yet I was fully conscious as though I’d already been awakened and was simply having a casual conversation with her. The woman materialized with such clarity that I felt like I could reach out and touch her. And her face was one of a stranger’s but all too familiar to me nonetheless.

When she first appeared, I assumed her to be a figment of my imagination. But over time I decided to rule it out as a logical explanation since she made for good company—especially when I needed solace during the rough patches of my life’s journey. Eventually I began to see her as a glimmer of my own mother’s spirit, since the vision had always emerged as a calming self-assurance when I’d hit rock bottom or when there seemed to be nobody available to pick me up.

She was my guardian angel—a source of strength that regularly sent words of warning and wisdom to me throughout my life’s journey. And like so many other occasions, she would again make an appearance on this night to deliver to me a message of truth.

I sat up in the sheets that held me arrested within my disoriented state and looked around to gain my bearings. I tried to make sense of the riddle that she’d just divulged, but found it to be useless. It was too soon to understand the broad meaning of it. So, instead of banging my head against a wall, I resolved to wait for the puzzle to reveal its own answer over time, as it’d always done in the past.

Slowly but surely, I began to realize that it was still very early in the morning. I remembered that Flourish had left the night before, while I was still sleeping off our little sex-scapade; only to meet up again the next afternoon to get groomed with a manicure, pedicure and massage at the spa. I even got to sit with my aunt at the hospital and to check with the nurses to make sure that they were changing and bathing her regularly—but not before paying on her medical bills.

With so much progress in such a short amount of time, I was slowly but surely warming up to the whole idea of Sappho International and what the organization stood for. It was a dream come true and I was still filled with gratitude and riding high on the euphoria of living this new life.

However, as I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water and stepped out onto the balcony for a bit, I couldn’t help but continue to seriously think about this early morning dream that seemed more real than reality itself. Who was this woman who kept appearing? And what was the significance of events that was calling for her emergence now?

With everyone being transparent and forthright about all of the intentions and representations of Sappho Intl as an organization, I couldn’t see why I would lack trust in this situation.

I guess, time would only tell.

I decided to stick to my resolve and to return back to my bed to get some more sleep.

♦ ♦ ♦

As our E-class Mercedes limo entered the black iron gates and rolled up the circular driveway to the gi-normous North Miami Beach estate, I couldn’t help but continue to study the distinct differences between the two striking women that sat before me.

Flourish and PrimaDonna sat side-by-side within plush leather seats, as we pulled up to the second location where I was scheduled to become acquainted with my team. And while they chatted amongst themselves, I’d taken the moment to observe them behind the tint of my sunglasses.

Although Flourish and I’d been intimate, she was a conquest that was already conquered. Not to say that she was expendable, but that she simply wasn’t a challenge anymore. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Flourish was saucy, daring and probably seen as untouchable to many admirers. But with the chase removed, the cracks in her statue could be easily seen.

I could already tell that after one night of laying it down, she was the type to fall madly in love and become viciously possessive. I could see it in her eyes as she flirted unceasingly, the day before, and uncontrollably stared at me throughout our limo ride. She was definitely the stalker type if I allowed her to get too attached.

So I quickly realized that it was up to me to handle her with kid gloves from now on. I’d decided that she would be someone that I could trust to kick it with and have a few laughs—a friend with occasional benefits. To see Flourish as anything more than swirls, would allow the relationship to spiral wildly out of control. And with so much money on the line, I just couldn’t afford that to happen.

PrimaDonna, on the other hand, was a force to be reckoned with and would be a more worthy advisory. She was a walking holiday—a goddess Venus de Milo—and I wanted her badly.

From the moment I laid eyes on her, I found her to be a welcomed challenge because I knew that she wouldn’t be seduced easily. And as an admitted Lothario, I must confess that I do love a challenge.

Unlike the casual and carefree nature of Flourish, PrimaDonna was majestic without being pretentious. She carried herself with a grand and untouchable air, not unlike the queen who moves across a chess board with undeterred grace and sovereign measure. PrimaDonna was so self-assured, that much of her communication was short and sweet. And she held a cool directness that made me want to chase her—and for her, I would.

But I was well aware that this chase would be no walk in the park. It would be the ultimate chess game. So far, she’d given no indication of any type of interest in me. In fact, her only acknowledgement of my presence, had been my new role and position within the company. But with the right moves, a little bit of timing, and a lot of luck, I was pretty sure I could win this queen over.

“This is Playhouse No. 7.” PrimaDonna announced.

Only when she began speaking did I realize that we’d begun walking across the small courtyard to the large, solid mahogany door that was the main entryway of a beautiful, old Spanish Revival. The two-story Spanish Mediterranean style mansion provided the foreground to a highly secluded bay. And the charm and grandeur of its thickly plastered, mandarin stucco and red-clay roof tile made even the hairs on my arms tingle.

Yet, though my mind’s eye reveled in the adobe-styled trimmings of its old world elegance, my body reflected total indifference.

We’d arrived and I wanted to reflect a controlled and coolly composed first impression to my team. And as we walked together, Flourish began to detail the estate.

“Out of the nine training and operations hubs that we have globally, this is the one of the newest within the United States. The team that’s been living at this Miami hub has been in employment since right before the Cloud9 event that was last October. Most of the team not only assists with club or event management and support, but also provide entertainment and private shows for our online video feeds to subscribing Sapphians. Instead of calling them escorts we call them crowns.”

“This is your support system. They’re more than a loyal clique—they’re your family. They will be the pieces that will make this ride much more manageable for you and I think you'll find them more than suitable.”

The heavy, red mahogany and half-rounded front door opened and immediately the heavy, electronic baseline of what sounded like dubstep echoed through to the foyer.

A group of footsteps trickled across the polished terracotta brick tiles towards us. And everyone casually took a turn to hug and greet PrimaDonna and Flourish.

Then as the team lined up, all eyes were uniformly on me. I felt like a hot spotlight had settled on my person when Flourish began to move down the line to introduce each member—and yet I remained poised.

“I’m pleased to introduce Sappho Intl’s Miami hub team: Suez, Midi, Lolita, Kendra and NinaStarr. Team, this is the newest stallion—Silk.”

I immediately gazed down the line and decided that this was one of the most beautiful and diverse group of lesbians that I’d ever laid my eyes on.

“Suez and Midi, as you can see are our crown studs. Midi is the deejay and one of the programmers for our social networking site, while Suez will be your right hand man throughout your journey.”

I asked,” What’s good?”

They both gave me dap with an immediate acknowledgement of respect.

“Life and livin’…”

“We chillin’.”

“And for these three lively ladies. Whether you call them the Torpedo Trio, the Bermuda Triangle, or the Sirens; when you see one, the other two can’t be far behind…Lolita, Kendra, and NinaStarr.”

“Welcome to the Playhouse.” They all giggled and waved flirtatiously.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all ours.” said NinaStarr speaking for the trio.

“Why do they call you that?” I asked.

“Maybe one of these days you can find out for yourself.” Kendra had leaned into my ear and whispered boldly, while Lolita winked and NinaStarr smiled.

“Okay ladies, cool your engines. Please don’t pounce on her before she’s stepped foot in the Playhouse. You’ll have all weekend to get familiar with each other.”

PrimaDonna began to move towards the entrance hall while Flourish continued.

“Alright, Silk. Let’s give you a tour of the house and get you settled into your room.”

The trio sang in unison,” Nice to meet you, Silk.”

Lolita giggled,” Can’t wait to see you later.”

“See you later.” I smiled.

Flourish shot them all a cold glance, as we walked from the atrium through to the entrance hall and they all began dancing wildly to the music.

We moved throughout the immaculate lower level of the mansion which included the social room, gourmet kitchen, dining room and the Trio’s bedrooms. And I was immediately surrounded by Spanish-style arched openings, intricate crown moldings and top-of-the-line hand plastered walls, while PrimaDonna informed me that I would be staying here for a month to continue my growth within the organization, as well as prepare for Cloud9—which was next month.

We resumed our tour by making our way back to the central hallway and ascending the vaulted stairwell to the second level where my room was located. My hands tingled with anticipation, as my fingers danced over the custom wrought-iron railing and I looked out of the windows to the gorgeous view of the bay. At the top of the stairs we stopped in front of large, red oak double doors where Flourish proceeded to remove the key that unlocked the master suite. PrimaDonna informed me that I would hold onto this key and that this floor also included the other studs’ rooms, as well as a fitness room.

And then the doors opened.

I thought I could hear angels singing as we entered the immaculate suite that would lay witness to my transformation over the next few weeks. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, as we crossed over the vast solid birch floor together to the full wall plasma and state-of-the-art entertainment system. And I just couldn’t believe that I even had my own luxury Jacuzzi bath in the master bathroom. I looked up privately to peer through the skylight in the open-beamed cathedral ceiling to thank the heavens for gracing me with the universe’s glamour and glory. And in this moment time was stilled and the sun’s rays peered in to acknowledge and agree that I was truly blessed.

We stepped down to the sitting room which overlooked the resort style pool that set adjacent to the bay in the backyard. The room boasted a fireplace and French doors that provided us access to my own private balcony. It seemed once again, I was bathing in luxury. And I was quickly getting used to showering the universe with my gratitude for it.

They led me to a small table in one of the corners of the balcony. Then we all sat down and took a second to soak in the scenery.

If this was the extent of my temporary lodging, what grandeur would my more permanent location display? It was stunning and it all took my breath away.

“Silk, this is your master suite for the next few weeks. I hope that it meets your standards…” When PrimaDonna spoke it was like the aura of this masterpiece-of-a-mansion spoke through her. The mansion was sublime and she oozed sexy right along with it.

“Wow. This is all sooo…this is more than I could’ve ever dreamed or imagined for myself.”

“You’re humble. That’s a very attractive trait for someone who’s just had the whole world handed to them. All of our resources are available to you, Silk. You’ve worked hard for us in these last few years and it’s time you start getting used to the idea of someone taking care of you for a change. You’ve earned it.”

“Well thank you...for everything.” I projected, as I filed away PrimaDonna’s very, first compliment to me.

I looked around us further and there seemed to be a small kitchen tucked in the far corner of the balcony. There was a morning bar with a stone tile counter, maple cabinetry, and a hammered copper sink with a mini-bar. It came equipped with a full range of liquors and glassware.

I took the opening that had been given by PrimaDonna to make a subtle move to become a little more informal.

”Would you ladies care for a drink? I make a great mojito and I could take one myself.”

“Why not?” Flourish and PrimaDonna responded casually. It seemed that the tour and the Miami sun had wiped them both out for the day.

I began to look through the liquors and cabinets. And though it was a small distance from them, it was close enough for me to pick up on their conversation.

I heard Flourish sit back and begin to sing my praises as I began to find all of the main ingredients needed to make the perfect blend. I also heard PrimaDonna compliment Flourish on the upgrade in my attire.

“Yeah, Lourdes was telling me that she was one of the easiest studs to overhaul and that he actually had a great time with her.”

“Silk really has the most natural, striking features that I’ve ever seen.”

“She’s got to be the finest diamond stud that I’ve ever fucked.”

“Flo! I can’t believe you just said that…”

“I know right…I can’t help it, Prima. I tried to hold it in but…I mean…damn look at her. She has a cool fire…like an intoxicating power…I swear she might have even invented sex. Girl, I gotta be careful with this one…she might fuck around and have me whipped around here.”

I smiled to myself as I slowly mixed together rum, club soda, and lime.

“You’re going to have to check that though, Flo, because you have to remember that Silk is here to be shared.” PrimaDonna reminded Flourish. “Besides—any friend of PrimaDonna, doles out the whipping and never gets whipped…under no circumstances…especially with our history.”

They both laughed.

“Prima, you know that you know how to pick ‘em. I just know that she makes it really hard to maintain. I’m getting wet just thinking about it. I mean, she taught me some things …and the things that she does with her body. Oh, my God…I mean, I’ve seen women…umm how do I say it?…e-ject them…selves…on those pornos…”

Prima laughed and Flourish laughed with her.

“Eject themselves?”

“Yes. Eject…I mean, Prima, she made my body gush all over and that hasn’t ever happened before with any of my other lovers…guy or girl. I’m…I’m just baffled…and just cannot stop thinking about it…”

I always had a natural knack of finding a woman’s g-spot rather quickly. It was truly a unique talent to be able to satisfy a woman in this way. It surprised me that so many women had never had the pleasure of meeting their own g-spot and the full potential of their own orgasm. It also tickled me whenever I was obliged to facilitate that initial meeting and to witness the resulting reactions to the new discovery. Some cried with relief and ecstasy. Some were afraid of the unknown. And some were simply overcome with joy and gratitude. No matter what it was, I’d quickly grown accustomed to the various reactions to making a woman release with overwhelming ecstasy and many women had been blessed to experience my natural gift.

”…I mean, look at her. She’s a god.”

“Flourish, she’s a god among gods... which is why I chose her. All the world loves a lover and Silk will definitely give the other studs a run for their money. But you have to control yourself. Goddess, get a grip!”

She snapped her fingers in front of Flourish’s face, not unlike a psychiatrist wakes a patient under hypnosis.

And I beamed internally in complete elation. When women shared things, it was like unconsciously waving a carrot in front of a rabbit. It usually drives women to take it as an invitation to feed their curiosity, unbeknownst to the provider of the gossip. This meant that Flourish had unknowingly provided the platform to pique PrimaDonna’s interest in me and the chess game had officially begun.

“Girl, you’re right. I’m trippin’. Hey Prima, you know she has a beautiful tribal all over her body. It’s pretty impressive…”

“Flourish!’

“No but, Prima. Get this. She has the symbol within the tribal right above her abs. I thought that was weird…seeing as she’s never seen the symbol.”

“Hmm, that is interesting…”

“…to say the least…”

I added the final touches of sugar and mint to complete the perfect mojito. I then placed the glasses on the serving tray and headed back towards the table with as much oblivion as I could muster.

"I don't know about both of you, but to me mojitos are only meant to be enjoyed in Miami... It just doesn't have the same flair anywhere else ...”

As they sipped their drinks, they both began to relax a little.

“Mmh, this is mixed quite delightfully, huh Flourish?”

“This has got to be the best mojito, I’ve ever had. You know when you go to some bars, they water down the drinks so much that it drowns out the lime and mint. But this—this is really good!”

The mojitos were a success. PrimaDonna began to loosen up. And in addition to the gossip, I began to see a more casual side of her.

She set her sapphire eyes on me firmly and stared into my eyes deeply as she sipped her drink seductively.

“Yeah, the mint complements the lime very well. I haven’t had a good mojito in a while.”

“Silk, you’re a keeper!”

“Now that’s what I like to hear.” I sat back in my chair and got comfortable.

“I know we've been throwing a lot at you lately. I hope that you've been able to adequately adapt to all of the changes?”

“I'm all for change if it's in the right direction.”

“There’s a lot of love to go around at Sappho and we like our staff to be in peak condition. You represent us.”

“Well, it takes a lot of love to evolve. And what’s life but a series of evolutions? Last time I checked, I have a strong pulse for life and adaptation is my specialty.”

The mojitos continued work its magic, as Flourish had removed her sandals and began seductively rubbing her toes lightly up my leg.

PrimaDonna casually settled further into her seat.

“Well, I have to admit, so far change looks great on you.”

“Yeah, I think I’m getting there. Slowly but surely, I’m getting there.”

“Good. You’ll be thoroughly prepped and ready for your introduction into SocialClub9 and Cloud9. The bar is set high for you because you’re the first stallion selected without any connections to the core. However, you’ve met all of our expectations, so far, and we can formally attest to your potential. We’ve no doubt that you will fit in with the rest of the rank.”

“You will meet both of our other stallions, Sir Sheik and Pharaoh, at your SocialClub9 grand opening which occurs right before Cloud9, the first week of March.

“At SocialClub9, we’ll handle all grand opening preparations and then let you take over the reins gradually.”

The buzz was taking Flourish over as she continued playing footsies with me under the table with a seductive smile in her eyes. I jumped a little as she’d worked her feet towards my lap.

PrimaDonna looked at Flourish and nudged her under the table.

“Behave, naughty girl.”

“I think I might have to get another one of those mojitos to cool me down.”

PrimaDonna giggled and added. “You mean, heat you up.”

“With this Miami sun, it’s already hot enough don’t you think?”

“Uh uh Silk…you should know there’s no such thing as hot enough, when you’re in the 305. Especially after the other night.”

“Flourish!’

“It’s okay Silk…You’ll come to find that Flourish and I share almost everything. And there are absolutely no secrets between us. What else would you expect of best friends who share the type of history that we’ve had together?”

Prima shook her head as Flourish sat back in her seat and smiled.

”Flo tells me that you have a certain symbol tattooed on your body.”

“... You mean this symbol.”

I carefully lifted up my red Armani v-neck to point out the symbol and to cash in on the opportunity to show off a subtly chiseled eight-pack.

“It’s like the symbol of a female fitted inside a ‘power on’ symbol.”

Both women gazed as if both hypnotized and shocked at my boldness. Flourish smiled wider while I casually allowed my shirt to drop back down.

“Yes, that symbol.” PrimaDonna cleared her throat and quickly regained her composure.

“Well, the symbol was there throughout my parent's home when I was young, but I don't remember much about it. There are gaps in the memory of my childhood around the time they died. I don’t remember anything from age seven to about eleven. But that’s one of the few things that I could recall for some reason. So, I drew it for the tattooist to include in my tribal.”

“The sign happens to be the mark of the Sapphic Trust and Sappho Intl. It symbolizes the power of woman. It’s a reminder to never underestimate the creative power that a woman has been naturally given.”

“Silk, there are no coincidences and I believe that you have the power to bridge the gap between the newcomers of our organizations and the upper echelon of the Trust. I have a feeling that you’ll be one of the keys critical in advancing the Trust into the digital age of the 21st century. AND I believe you’re gonna make a lot of money doing it.”

“You will be staying here for one month until your mansion is fully furnished. We’re still shipping some things in from some other countries…Things you might enjoy in the mansion to set the stage for your ascent within Sappho Intl. And I can already see that this year, Silk, it truly is YOUR stage within our world.”

“Well, if this world is my stage…then I will be the star player.”

Both of our eyes gleamed with private understanding.

“Well, play on playa…Now, can we get another Mojito, love?” Flourish was feeling really nice by now.

PrimaDonna smiled in agreement. “One more drink and then we’re gonna let you get acquainted with your team, Silk. You have all weekend to play and then you’re all ours.”

Little did PrimaDonna know that she was gonna be all mine—the game was well under way.

5

“Do you prefer him or her?"

“Either one’s cool. I’m genderfluid.”

NinaStarr and the rest of the Trio inquired, as they passed the freshly packed pipe to me first. She gave me a long, wet seductive kiss and then I toked the glass elephant that’d been passed my way.

They called it “kiss, puff, puff, pass.” And the new spin on the age old ganja circle was in full effect. So, I took a puff and curled my jaws to allow it to create a straight shot to my lungs. A ring of smoke hovered, like a jellyfish, away from my lips to kiss the sky and I instantly felt the shot fill my lungs down to the floor of my belly. I held it in briefly and absorbed it deeply into my brain’s cavities.

“This is some pretty good shit.”

Lolita beamed. “That’s that Cali kush. And it’s more where that came from…courtesy of me and Suez. Since we both just came from the west coast, we each get a zip shipped out each month, special delivery—strictly for personal use though—and Suez usually smokes most of it.”

“Yeah, she smokes it like a chimney…the rest of us only smoke every blue moon.”

I released what little remained as I sat back to enjoy the company of the Torpedo Trio. They were delighted to enjoy my first night in my master suite with me and were even more enthralled with my presence.

Suez and Midi where still finishing up a mini-Madden tournament that they’d begun right before I came. They suggested that the femmes could have the pleasure of the initial introduction and I politely let them know that I would get at them tomorrow, so that we could bond and I could whip they ass at the same time—I was a boss when it came to Madden football and would jump at any opportunity to polish up my game with a little friendly competition.

However, tonight would be the girls’ night to get acquainted with me. And we were off to a real nice start. The Gorillaz provided the melodies to a lazy star-filled night as we all sprawled on the oversized, outdoor canopy beds that were provided on my private balcony. I’d placed a few small logs on the fireplace and “Rhinestone Eyes” echoed across the bay as the smoke from our circle filtered through the surrounding sheer, white veils of the canopy.

“So I guess this is our version of a team meeting, huh?”

I casually hit the blunt and released again.

“Pretty cool isn’t it? I always felt that the Intl shouldn’t really be thought of as a company, more like a secret sisterhood—we live by a different set of rules.”

“Well, I love it and I’m already lovin’ being a part of it.”

“Me too…which was exactly why I gave up modeling and climbed up the ranks a few years ago. It was my golden ticket out of the rat race…to achieve all of my dreams while having a damn good time...”

Kendra beamed as she conversed.

“I make my own hours, meet who I want when I want and still be Kendra 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It’s heaven on earth and every day I’m banking bees and honey.”

“Bees and honey?”

“Money, luv, money!”

“Dats wassup.”

“I feel a little over-dressed though.” I said with sarcasm as I looked at my grey dickie pants, black tank and black-on-black leather Converse All-Stars, then looked at the three beautiful goddesses wearing nothing but pink lace panties and pink and black corsets.

“We always dress like this. We’re wearing NinaStarr’s Femme Fatale Collection.” The girls giggled as Kendra struck a pose.

“Yeah, NinaStarr makes all of the burlesque uniforms and most of the outfits that you see throughout the Sapphire Lounge, SocialClub9, and the Cloud9 events.” Lolita added while pretending like her hands had transformed into a camera's lens and was taking Kendra’s photograph.

“Once the new social networking site gets up and running, I’ll probably have a full clothing line available to all our Sapphians from my own personal boutique—strictly streetwear and lingerie until I’m brass enough to eventually have my own couture house.”

“I’m impressed.”

“This is nothing. Just wait until you see all of my costumes at Cloud9 and SocialClub9. I have a small studio in the Miami Fashion District that was purchased by the Intl. Kendra models and fits the clothes and Lolita’s gotten very good with a camera. For all of the costumes and fashions that are sold within the Trust’s network, we share the profits with Sappho Intl.”

“That’s cool.”

NinaStarr seemed to be the confident and creative visionary within their group.

“What do you do on the side, boss?”

“I write poetry…lyrics for musicians…and I play the guitar and a few other instruments.”

“I’m not surprised…cuz you seem like somewhat of a renaissance stud.”

“I guess I am…what I seem to be...”

I chased the weed that’d filled my system by drinking a swig of Dos Equis, which was my usual ritual, and passed the blunt to the beautiful, long-legged Nubian that was propped on a white pillow next to me.

I kissed Kendra’s luscious, exotic lips and sat back to absorb the band of beauties that had encircled me, along with the high that was now slowly spreading within me.

“Ooh, you kiss very well.” Kendra smiled with splendor.

“I have to tell you, Silk, or I should say—boss—I can see why PrimaDonna has you on the fast track. You’re gonna give the other stallions a run for their money. I’m privileged to be on your team.” Lolita proclaimed while caressing my hair.

“So, Silk, how does it feel to know that you’re being primed as the newest stallion in the Intl, anyway?” Kendra toked and puffed.

“It’s surreal. I mean, I still can’t really believe that the Trust exists, let alone that it has existed for so long and that I get to party with these people.”

“I was blown away when Flourish told me about the Trust. I mean, they have a part in governments, whole industries…anything that you can think of—the Trust has access to it or owns it. You’ll be surprised. It’s like having the whole world in your little black book. And having that much access to power and fortune is so sexy…it’s a natural high…almost euphoric—you’ll see.”

Kendra was a royal, Nubian queen—a new age Nefertiti. She was the tallest out of the team, about the same height as myself, with very closely cropped hair and skin of the deepest, most opulent dark chocolate that I’d ever seen. Her ebony eyes and elongated neck told the story of a time of antiquated glory and I was entranced as she spoke.

“By the way I’m Kendra, luv.”

“She already knows your name, crazy.” Lolita and Kendra giggled together.

“Kendra doesn’t smoke very much at all.”

The high was starting to take hold of Kendra almost immediately.

”I’m originally from Capetown, South Africa. However, I spent most of my young life in the U.K. where I was first afforded the opportunity to model in Paris. But after a while I got bored with the superficial glitz…AND the long shoots…I can remember whenever we would take a shoot in New York we would go to the Sapphire Lounge in Manhattan. I always felt there was something more to it, underneath the surface. It had a vibe that was a little different then the regular gay and lesbian clubs. So I got a job as one of the go-go dancers and then got invited to be one of the burlesque girls in SocialClub9: Manhattan. PrimaDonna asked if I wanted to come to be a part of the Miami hub before last year’s Cloud9. That’s where it REALLY started raining and pouring, luv. I made more money in a month there than I did modeling in a year. Isn’t that insane?”

Kendra puffed and passed the blunt to Lolita. She then locked lips with her, as she tenderly caressed her face in the spotlight of the moon.

“I never dreamed that I would be having this much fun and be making as much money and contacts as I would here at the Playhouse. It’s crazy…”

“Right…” Lolita added as she took a pull from the spliff and laid back casually on Kendra’s lap. “…I used to be a dancer at this club in L.A. just to get by…and being around women who can appreciate women just is much safer and much more sensual. Men can be so boorish and boring. We women…we still have that creative butterfly flickering in our brains…I don’t know, maybe I just love women…and I love me a gorgeous stud even more…” The smoke from the blunt danced from Lolita’s exotic lips as though the butterfly that she referred to had been impelled to jump for a moment from her lips to kiss the sky.

Lolita seemed as though she was plucked straight from an anime graphic novel or a Tokyo hair salon in the Shinjuku District. Her freckled cheeks were a sharp contrast to her Japanese features and gave her an amazingly, animated appearance. NinaStarr and she were about the same height and both were about a half foot shorter than I. Her shiny black and purple streaked hair streamed down her back and onto the lap of Kendra. And she championed a large Japanese koi fish tattoo that cascaded down the bulk of her body and seemed to come alive and thrive vibrantly in the waterfall that adorned her.

“You’ll be surprised that a few of these members—don’t even know if they’re full on lesbians yet. They just know how to appreciate a woman’s beauty and like to watch the action. They love the company and we welcome them.”

Lolita turned around and kissed Kendra on the thigh three times.

The kisses’ notes resounded like the bell that rings when angels get their wings, as my high hailed ascending heights beneath the star filled sky. There was so much beauty in the mixture of their multiplicity and how they intermixed so easily with one another. It was like enjoying a flight within my own afterlife.

I looked directly at Lolita and asked in wonderment,” What are your origins, super cutie?”

“My mom was from Tokyo and my dad was from Sydney. They both mixed it up in L.A. which is where I was raised. But when they split up, I ended up in Arizona. I worked at SocialClub9: Arizona AND the San Francisco Sapphire Lounge. I even worked at one of the cyber lounges and coffeehouses that one of the Trust’s members owned in San Francisco. After I left, I heard that the Trust went in with them to turn it into one of the Elements.”

“…a coffeehouse?”

“Hell yeah! Like Kendra said, the Trust has a huge member’s list and their Sapphians have their hands in a piece of everything. Have you ever been to any of the P.R.I.D.E.S.?”

“Have I? I used to go every year.”

“Well, the Trust and many of its members have been some of the main sponsors for the various P.R.I.D.E. festivals worldwide, for as long as gay and lesbian pride has been celebrated within the mainstream. The Trust has seen and done it all. And an invitation into the Trust comes with a real, REAL deep network.”

”It’s like made up of different levels…from young, working queers who just like to party and be a part of the social network…to the entrepreneurs and professionals, looking to connect and have a blast within our community…and all the way up to the mega-rich, who have more than enough time to play and more than enough money to pay. There is no discrimination and really no lines to blur the different groups. Like we said before, we live by a different set of rules, fer sure.” Lolita pulled the smoke in deeply and passed the blunt to NinaStarr.

Kendra was now looking at me deeply.

“Your eyes are so clear…like, I can see your future…”

“Girl, you are blazed already…Kendra has a very, very low tolerance, despite the fact that she’s a sassy-ass…”

“No, really it’s like looking into a crystal ball…like I’m a fortune teller…”

I laughed which in turn started a domino effect as Kendra and Lolita also began to giggle.

But then NinaStarr suddenly kissed Lolita and it was as though their clinched lips shot sparks into the night. Their bodies were illuminated, as they closed their eyes and my body made their passion hard to deny, as my mind painted a portrait of the event. Their friendship and chemistry was becoming apparent, as I began to get more and more acquainted. If Kendra was seductively sassy and Lolita was deliciously sweet, NinaStarr was seriously sensual and serene. Therefore, all three of them together were a cocktail that I had to experience.

NinaStarr let the back of Lolita’s head go as she took her drag from the blunt and although she’d been relatively quiet up until now, she finally began to speak.

“I’m originally from Chicago and before you ask…Iroquois Indian and Irish. I was a go-go dancer at the Chicago Sapphire Lounge and a burlesque girl slash pin-up girl slash waitress at SocialClub9: Chicago. I’d been the designated in-house costume and freelance designer for Sappho Intl for a few years before PrimaDonna finally proposed that I join the Miami Playhouse about a year ago. And I do agree that you are the most divine living creature that I have ever had the pleasure of being in the company of...”

She was direct and highly blunt—even while blunted. She ingested the ganja as though she was a professional and had purposefully fallen into a tantric trance. And although the meditation soothed her soul she remained highly lucid.

NinaStarr was a shooting star. She had classic black and smoke inked arm sleeves and diamond dimple piercings in her cheeks. Her green eyes and striking long, red and loosely curled locks reminded me of those paintings of Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was so cool on the surface and yet her aura was a bright point of light radiating within the night sky—like her name suggested.

NinaStarr was naturally striking and smart to boot. And it seemed that when she spoke, everyone listened—and right now, it was her time to command the podium.

Unlike the light-heartedness of the other two of the Trio, she chose to tap into her internal source and evoke a serious message, as the tip from the spliff glowed red and burned slow.

“My people were seers and oracles. I have the ability to tap into my higher being and align my mind, body and soul at will. I can raise my vibrations and manifest divine knowledge easily—which basically means that I can see deep into your cosmic trail because the signs are all around us.”

“We three within this trio are all best friends and are all coincidentally the same age—25. We also all coincidentally have little to no living family, despite being from different areas of the international map. You, Silk are around the same age and are of the same circumstance. I believe there is no such thing as coincidences.”

“I say that to say that you have a guardian that’s been watching over you for a long time, Silk. A certain woman has been reaching out to you as a higher power for as long as you can remember and has impelled certain people to surround you—even now.”

“Wow, how’d you know this?”

I began to sober up a little as she dropped knowledge. This was more than a twist of fate. How could she know about this mysterious woman? What was the correlation of this woman and me in the greater scheme of things and why had NinaStarr been the one to divulge this information to me? All of these events, including this very moment were happening for a reason and I was now deeply linked to NinaStarr, as well as what she had to tell me.

“I’ve always believed that it was my mother, although she looks a little older than what I remember of her.”

“I’m not sure who this woman is, but I do know that I can feel her energy moving around you and compelling me to speak from my heart.”

“There’s a lot more to Sappho and the Trust than meets the eyes. There are dual realities occurring at any given time. While money and success is a reality to members of the Trust and a fantasy for us, love and passion is a reality to us and the fantasy for them. Love and true passion can be more powerful and intoxicating—because it knows no boundaries. It’s like a drug. So give it in careful doses.”

“Sex can be seen as a recreational drug to control and overpower weak individuals or it can be given as a subset of love to inspire and edify. This is the sole reason as to your importance within Sappho and the future of the Trust, Silk. You’re being called to continue building within this organization to inspire cooperation within the various economic levels to unite all of the members for a greater future. The Trust was meant to not only preserve the happiness of all of its current members, but to accelerate the growth of newer, younger and more ambitious members like us. We are the future of Sappho and the Trust.”

“The virtual feeds and the social networking website are only a few of the facilities with which the Trust is evolving, but there are certain members that are not too keen on things changing. You’re here to be the new face of the Intl but also the key to Sappho’s evolution. And they may not know it yet…but I see it clearly and it all starts in this house. There is a season for all…and a time and turn for everything …and the evolution IS not televised.”

“Girl, that’s deep! You got me hyped, luv.”

“I know…Starr-light…I have never heard you talk this serious before!”

We all listened intently now, as though we were kids being read a bedtime story before being tucked in for the night. And NinaStarr continued.

“We want to inspire these women through our events and appeal to continue to reach higher. When it's all said and done, we may be able to have lesbian music networks, glamorous fashion and film networks, media outlets…anything our little minds wants to attain... simply by continuing to bridge the gap between the creative sources and the commercial purchasing power that exists WITHIN this secret little network. Ladies, this has been our golden ticket to date and now we’re about to pimp our rides. We’re about to be our own promotions vehicle within this network.”

“So here’s the vision. Silk, you should see US as your eyes and ears within the Intl. We got your back. You said you have a passion for music, writing and poetry, right? If that’s the case then let your sex appeal work for you in more ways than one…if this is your stage, let us be your fly hype girls. We hype what you naturally have—sex appeal—and increase your worth and your stock behind the scenes. We also keep the hype going, even after the events, to sustain your appeal. All you’ll need to do is to live up to the hype. Before you know it, you’ll be getting more personal call requests than you can handle. You’ll be Sappho’s IT-stallion of the year.”

“…and from the looks of things Flourish is already hypnotized by IT, so I know you got the skills for IT.”

As NinaStarr articulated the vision, the other two began to chime in.

“…fo real. I peeped your voodoo tattooed all over Flo’s body…you got that girl sprung already.”

I laughed.

“Silk, you laugh but to these women. Sex, love, and attention from a femme OR a stud…it’s like liquid gold…it’s priceless to them…”

“The fact of the matter is that the Trust is going through major transformations right now. You have one side wanting to preserve the ritualistic and older way of doing things within the Trust and another side wanting to preserve the organization by becoming a little more modern and evolving as a group. Regardless of which way they go, one thing has always been and will always remain—the Intl aims to please and will stop at nothing to keep their Alices pleasured.”

“Another thing you’ll begin to pick up on is that these women love the fantasy that surrounds them—and they also love to run their mouths. This is where we come in because we have our ears to the ground. We not only become your eyes and ears, but also promote their fantasy of you, for you. We spend most of our time around these ladies. So, in the midst of the gossip we become your ultimate hype women while you remain untouchable. It keeps you presentable but gives the illusion of being almost unattainable. That means you don’t have to bend over backwards to flirt, provide foreplay, or really break a sweat in the chase of these women, because we’ve already warmed them up for you and done much of the research and dirty work on these ladies to save a lot of valuable time. It’s the ultimate promotions vehicle. You’ll know a lot about these women before they even cum your way... no pun intended.”

Weed has various effects on people. This night the ganja had us all unrepentantly talking and thinking deeply. Some of the greatest creations have come after an innocent smoking session and this plan would be going down in history as one of those great creations. And so far, this plan sounded fail-proof to me. It was almost like my life’s purpose had been revealed to me in an instant. I couldn’t help but think that all of my angels had been watching over me all along.

“For the majority, it’s not the act of sex that feels good but the manifestation of the idea or fantasy that fuels the act of sex…that feels good. That’s why people role-play or flings ‘just happen’. Because people have built up things in their mind so much that once attained, it creates a feeling of euphoria for them. That’s why they call all carnal acts ‘wants’ or ‘desires’.”

“True…”

So all you have to do, once we’ve built it up in their minds, is to execute on your role effectively and it will naturally manifest over and over again. Over time women will call upon that manifestation to eventually sustain the overall vision.”

As NinaStarr expressed the message, I couldn’t help but notice that her aura transformed from the naughty and rebellious rock star to having a Mother Earth-like disposition, as she continued to display her ability to provide deep insight and wisdom based on an impressive power of intuition. It was as though she chose to listen to a source that we were all plugged into; yet we chose to either ignore or remained too feeble to listen to the sheer intensity of the commanding light. She was neither ignorant nor afraid. She was fearless and a cool fire. Her sixth sense was strong. And the fact that she chose to impart this wisdom, as she addressed me, was captivating. I instantly held a deep respect for her creative power as I stared into her astronomical eyes. She in turn felt my natural power of presence as she finally pulled from the ganja. Then she stared intensely into my eyes while she passed me the blunt.

“But remember, Silk, I’m just the messenger.” She exhaled sensually and sealed our glorious circle with an impassioned kiss.

I’d almost forgotten that we were still smoking. But as we kissed, I could feel her power rise throughout my body; as though her message was being stamped and sealed within me. There’s something so sensual and defining about knowing your purpose in life—and I was internally consumed with it.

I was definitely in 7th heaven—but better. I was in Playhouse No. 7. And it seemed that NinaStarr was surprisingly my personal archangel and the ring leader of the team.

Upon its completion, NinaStarr hypnotically sat back and the other two peered at her in awe. Even Kendra had sobered up at the depth of the significance of the mission at hand that had been delivered.

“Damn, sexy, I’m so turned on by you right now!” Kendra said to NinaStarr.

“That’s church on a Friday for your ass…they can’t see you…” Lolita added.

“So we’re like Charlie’s…no…Silk’s Angels, huh?”

They were all excited as if they’d been given a duty to serve and protect me.

The more that I thought about the idea, the more I liked it. I would use my ability to seduce women to become our secret campaign to promote all of our creative endeavors. I would recruit more like us to build the organization, as a whole, while making money and getting the woman of my dreams—PrimaDonna—all at the same time. It’s like having a secret agenda within a secret society. It sounded like a win-win-win situation to me.

“Okay! I can dig it!”

“I’m down for it.”

“There’s power in numbers. I’m in it to win it.”

“Well, Silk’s angels it is.”

We all looked at each other as though we now had a common vision; like we’d sealed a pact that would carry us well into the future. And this was the closest I’d felt to having a sense of family in a long time.

As I toked on the blunt that’d been burnt halfway through, I still had a few questions for the ring leader of this newly discovered trio of guardian angels.

“So what’s up with Suez and Midi?”

Lolita talked low as though she was revealing a game plan.

“Suez is cool as fuck. Before Sappho, she was a reggaeton rapper that circuited throughout Cali and Florida. She’s Cuban and Puerto Rican and originally from Little Havana in Miami. But I actually met her in the Los Angeles Sapphire as one of the bartenders. Suez can smash on anybody in a battle cuz she got the street cred to go with her rhymes. She’s one of those studs that loves her fast cars and video games…real easy breezy.”

“…Yeah, she gotta swagga that’s real laid back but she’ll get buck if she needs to. She knows a lot of the more elite Sapphians because she’s been in Sappho longer than all of us and trust me when I tell you these ladies go crazy for her gangster ass. She’s been getting them hooked onto her music, too. It’s kinda wild to see someone from an upper class background kickin’ it with a thuggin’ ass stud with gangsta braids—but hey, some of them like it like that.”

“You guys should get along really well because she knows a lot about alot but doesn’t like a lot of drama...”

“Midi and Suez roll everywhere together cuz she’s the in-house deejay at a lot of Sappho’s events. Midi is the classic display of Nubian Paris—curly black and red dreads and all. She’s a modern renaissance stud–kinda like you, boss. She could mix a beat and deejay a party one minute and hack into some shit the next minute.”

“I heard she used to be a fitness trainer in Paris, too.”

“You never know, girl. She’s a stud of many colors.”

“We’ve been getting to know each other for about nine months and trust us—all of ya’ll are like perfect matches. They got your back just as much as we do.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and passed the blunt back around.

The last thing I needed was to be stuck in a house full of other studs that were filled with too much testosterone and beating their chests like they had a grudge against the world. I wasn’t one for putting out fires with other studs all the time, especially when I wasn’t the one that was sleeping with them.

“So, what’s Cloud9 like?”

Kendra pulled from the now waning blunt twice quickly, back-to-back, and then passed it on to Lolita. I took off my Chucks to get a little more comfortable after placing another small log on the fire and taking another long swig of beer.

“It’s like a huge costume party funded and sponsored by the city of Las Vegas on a nine-day binge…These women are horny and ready to gamble and spend money…and everyone is in the sexiest costumes imaginable.

“It’s like if Hugh Hef and Lady Gaga came together and hosted a sleepover.”

They all giggled while Lolita puffed on the diminishing blunt twice and passed it.

“It’s Mardi Gras on crank.” NinaStarr added as she puffed the last of the blunt and placed it into the ashtray. “It’s sumptuous revelry…And within it you are a god among gods amidst all of the debauchery.”

A god among gods, I thought. They say anything in sets of three’s is truth and this was the third time I’d been told this.

I smiled to myself as the sleepy horns of “Sumthin’ Like This Night” began to resound throughout the balcony. And the casually seducing vocals of the Big Snoop Dogg began to ricochet over the crystal ripples of the bay.

Kendra and Lolita began to dance an exotic dance in the bright moonlight. They rose and emerged like sirens from the water.

And as they danced, I felt impelled to ask NinaStarr something that’d been on my mind from the initial introduction.

”So why are you guys known as the Bermuda Triangle and the Torpedo Trio?”

“We can show you…better than we can tell you.”

NinaStarr leaned over and began to nibble my neck as they danced bewitchingly to the magical melody. And I’d instantly been charmed into their enchanting mirage.

Kendra and Lolita had begun to dance for me as pixies would dance and my body would be hypnotized as though we’d all been transposed into a fairytale.

It seemed that I’d asked the question of the night and together they became enlivened and animated. Their common aim—a shared intent on making all my dreams come true, tonight.

And I was already flying high within it.

My hands took a life of their own as they began collecting electrifying charges from NinaStarr’s stoned, toned and well-defined thighs. They began to glide, and with the current, her body began to coil and wind.

She chanted as in a mantra, “I love how silk feels against my skin…”

Our body’s voltage increased as my lips slowly made full contact with the pulse of her voice box, with which the words so sweetly originated.

“I love how you heighten all of my senses... you are sooo hy-per-sensual ...”

I began to loosen my grip on reality as the two fairies joined NinaStarr to become one aura of light and heat.

But this was no hallucination, as they directed me to lean back and began removing their pristine Victorian corsets and lace panties, as well as all of my articles of clothing slowly.

The confidence that they held within their own amusement made my juices soar. It was though they all ran on one shared cylinder and our bodies’ engines were quickly revving up as our throttles turned their gears. Then we all boldly took our seats among the heavens, as we began gaining ground at the speed of light.

I closed my eyes and could feel nothing but hot kisses, their hands’ palms and the sexual fluidity of circulating pistons; as their bodies began to form a triangular contour that would easily mold with my influenced form. And like a dare devil, I would fly my soul’s jet into the thin veil of their Bermuda Triangle and through flights of fancy land in a fantasy come true.

I could feel the moisture between my legs build as they teased and bound its borders with tender kisses. And though I was prepared and strapped for them, I could feel my pearl bulge and swell with the mound that contained its treasure. My mind became lost and found in the sheer recreation of their unified front; and the needle to my spirit’s compass spun uncontrollably within our committed insanity. My lap’s tank was fueled and filled with high octane and my lips anticipated my turn to eat from their pie in the sky. We would all soar together with no concern to the potential crash and burn; but with no visible end in sight, we would all live for this moment, as we kissed and panted groaned moans within our raging passion.

Then within an instant, they’d all stopped abruptly and in one accord. It was as though they’d reached a point of agreement within their synchronized execution and all three fairies assumed a pre-ordained position.

On cue, they began to formulate and fashion a device built of their bodies and sustained with all of our energies. It was an organized chaos and yet their stars were harmoniously aligned. And then without thought they began to offer their bodies as gifts to me, welcoming me to their cozy constellation.

“Lay down, Silk. We’re gonna take real good care of you, baby.”

Lolita held onto the bed’s rim and offered herself by sensually straddling my readied mouth and tongue. I began to run my palms from her hips to her firm, round breasts in sincere appreciation of her body’s offering. Her nipples reacted in stiff rigidity, as I continued to pledge my indebtedness by politely tapping and twisting and pulling her pleasure’s knob with my tongue’s tip. Her back arched and her throat moaned with an oriental sweetness. Little Lolita was humbly honored and grateful of my presence.

Simultaneously, NinaStarr lined behind Lolita to mount a muscle that currently stood at full attention. She moaned as it filled her belly and her hips began to rock, as the veins of this erection accepted her wetness. The palms of my hands successfully found its way down Lolita’s waist to lightly pinch NinaStarr’s nipples, as her body rocked towards the moon. Enlarged nipples, all dressed in pink that created slight goosebumps as I lightly brushed them. And the fineness of her hips swiveled as her breasts began to dance in the moon’s spotlight.

I focused and managed to taste Lolita and service NinaStarr simultaneously—it was a matter of simply multi-tasking the operation. And as I danced with them, my fingers continued to brush over NinaStarr’s nipples’ tips and grind in time with the pivot of her hips. Impressed with my ability to handle their bodies’ construction, within the triangular formation, she grabbed onto my cupped hands and became overcome with ecstasy as her fiery, red hair tossed and danced around her shoulders. NinaStarr was humbly honored and grateful of my presence.

Then, I could feel Kendra wrap her full Nubian lips around the mounting moisture within my lap and politely pleasure my sweetest spot. Oh, how her lips cupped and cuddled my most private region—like she’d located it through telekinesis. I felt myself sinking into the deep depths of her hypnosis, as she held onto my thigh and stroked herself in unison. It was as if she had calculated all of our coordinates and was determined to take this fantasmic flight even higher. Kendra was humbly honored and grateful of my presence.

Together, they’d engineered and fabricated a fundamental form that would hold the charge of their magnificent bodies’ galvanized particles. And, apparently, I held the trigger to their rocket’s docking station.

I was plugged into their bodies and resultantly they moved in one of accord. And it seemed that the countdown to liftoff had begun.

I was fully aware that each one of them were experienced enough to understand the depth of their body’s own lethal and individual intoxication. However, these three had conquered the concept of having power in numbers.

Somewhere along the way of their friendship they must’ve tapped into a formation that would be practiced many times over. Whether they’d stumbled upon this accidentally or deliberately would remain unknown—and really didn’t matter.

What did matter was that, together, they had perfected a performed ritual that was effectively titillating and mind-blowing to say the least. This was something that I’d never seen or been a part of before. And I was humbly honored and grateful of their presence.

They each and uniformly began to rise. And all of our bodies were escalating to resounding heights—until they each and all halted abruptly.

They each kissed me dearly and began to rotate. They would repeat this until they all had a turn—like musical chairs. This rotation was causing my mind to swim with a building and binding desire. I wanted to cum and each of their ballooning and pooling pussies was a beckoning suggestion that they wanted to cum, too.

Each was painted with sensuality and slippery when wet. Each was broadly delectable and moved their bodies in unison as if under a deep hypnosis. Together, they were a molotov cocktail and held the blueprint to a volatile compound of ballistic missiles and atomic bombs. The combination was nuclear and I was almost lost within the haze.

They continuously rotated within this alternate universe—this Bermuda Triangle—with the moans of firing sirens, whom were intent on killing me softly. My body was dripping and dancing along the edge, ready to explode at any moment.

And I was on the verge of a wet and messy death.

But then I got a hold of my faculties and stabilized my vitals. They’d constructed a device that would sink and devour the average human. But I was no average human. I was an able-bodied stallion and could handle the weight of this trio—the Torpedo Trio.

I decided that my jet’s vessel could, in fact, defy gravity and would attempt to pull a daring loop-de-loop. I seduced the axis to bend, by recapturing my composure, and championed my cockpit to take hold of my crew.

I would not be the one to collapse as our bodies collided. I was more than a stallion—I was Silk.

I began to coerce the Trio into a mounted position. I balanced out my needle, as I began to visualize the landing strip in the horizon. They all looked at me in amazement as though nobody had ever held the stamina or the will to disengage from their overwhelming influence.

And even I had to admit that this was a fun ride; but it was my turn to take hold of the controls. With sweat glistening, I stood tall and with feet firmly planted, I looked over the gauges of the wired Torpedo Trio and entered into NinaStarr. I invited Kendra to lie beside her and began to glide my index and middle finger into her body’s wishing well. I began to long stroke NinaStarr with the want of sheer explosion within my own vessel—my own body fervently urging me to make all of them cum in unison.

I rode and finger-fucked them with such grace and allure that Lolita couldn’t help but to stroke her own pulsing chloë and finally straddled Kendra’s tongue to complete a whole new formation.

I would be the captain of this novel vessel, which was now soaring within a new and exotic stratosphere. This atmosphere shone with the glisten of sweat and a rhythmic tide that unified our bodies according to the moon, stars, ocean, and sky; and as we perspired, my fingers’ and the full length of my ruler were coated with their slickened oils as they gushed over such a compelling and spontaneous sexual conception.

“Yeah, who got the juice now?” I proclaimed with enraptured confidence.

“You boss…ooh…it’s all…yours.” NinaStarr shrieked in lustful ecstasy.

As my hip’s engines rolled with grinding velocity and sweat dripped to NinaStarr’s abdomen, their moans signified that the torpedo was about to be released from its cannon. Our bodies began to levitate and my greatest aspirations of building a castle in the sky, on these women’s thighs, tore into the very fabric of my soul; and lo and behold they finally caught up with my resolve.

The gravitational pull and accelerated rhythm of my oncoming orgasm was almost enough to break the balance of our delicate design. But I was not about to let that happen on my watch—I was Silk.

I inhaled through clenched teeth and exhaled deeply and was filled with overwhelming love and a passionate desire. My brain’s main membrane took a moment to digest this glorious moment, as I sustained my second wind and dug in deep. Adrenaline raced and spread throughout the base of my spine instantly to ignite all of my chakras’ life forces and to summon the full potential of my sexual power. I pitched their bodies to move in the same tune with my ascending vibration and it became a communal rhythm. And with my body as the pilot, they all moaned increasingly and dribbled my name from their lips collectively. The muscles within my own face and body hulked, as I ferociously pushed and pulled their buttons to the limits of gratification repeatedly. They were eagerly subdued as they began to chant and scream curses within their own native tongues and I could feel the nebulas of light and sound begin to burst within our combined carnal connections. There was a faint sound of a sonic boom, as asteroids collided in the cosmic heavens and our bodies became vessels of luminosity with a million points of light. And as we all cooperatively came, I could swear that my eyes witnessed meteor showers around us. We all convulsed as liquid streams of ecstasy gushed from our bodies. Waves of currents, waves of euphoria and delight indicated that this was not delusions of grandeur; it was a spiritual combustion, as the fireworks within our minds’ eyes illuminated the bay like the Fourth of July.

We collectively collapsed in unison as we’d arrived at our final destination. We’d exploded together and now basked within our own luminescent aftermath.

And although we flailed upon one another, a shared current still ran through our bodies with the sealed voltage that still flickered from our cooling engines.

I had entered their own edition of the Bermuda Triangle, released the Trio’s torpedo and returned unscathed. And although I had spontaneously flipped their perfected system on its axis in the process, they smiled and gushed with utter glee. It’d been a rough landing—but a thorough landing just the same.

Each of the Trio kissed me and exhaustedly rested randomly against my chest and stomach. My angels’ praises became harmonious hymnals leading each of them to a deep and dormant sleep. All became silent and still while only the final embers of a waning fire stirred. Their beautiful and angelic smiles left a subtle indication, despite their heavy slumber, that they were all humbly honored and grateful of my presence.

I peered at the stars, engulfed with appreciation, as my eyelids began to feel heavy and my body shut down for the night.

This was exactly where I belonged.

6

“Pancakes and pink pussies!”

A pair of intense brown eyes that’d been peering at me had quickly disappeared, as I uttered the password. And the metal sliding peephole that framed these eyes had quickly slid shut. A piercing silence followed—save for the old, heavy moan and creaking of the un-assuming cast iron door that provided the back entrance way to an un-assuming brick warehouse in North Miami.

As the full moon shone over us, my team and I proceeded to get ready to walk into the discreet entrance that would lead us into the grand opening of the newest SocialClub9. This would be my very first visit and beneath the surface I was as anxious as a virgin on prom night.

I straightened my candy-apple red tie in a slick attempt to calm the butterflies that were fluttering deep in my belly. My mind drifted and I couldn’t help but reflect on the last few weeks that served to assist me in preparation for this moment.

It’d been a grueling three weeks filled with intense daily activity. I had been taught knowledge within a limited amount of time that the other two stallions had learned throughout their privileged lives.

But it wasn’t as hard as what everyone initially expected. I caught onto all of the lessons rather easily, as I quickly found that much of what I learned as a child and teenager were relevant concepts that simply required a jogging of my memory to provide for a reference point.

Flourish was given the task of taking me through this “orientation” period, as Sappho Intl had instituted an allegiance to the “Four P’s” of the Sapphic Trust: presentation, protection, pleasure and preservation. Flourish decided to focus mostly on presentation and protection, since I obviously had a natural handle on the art of pleasure and the preservation of the organization would be something that Sappho Intl would cultivate within me over time.

A daily dose of fitness and weight training, in addition to my usual Pilates and three-mile run, encouraged me to build on my lean muscle and increase my stamina to be in prime physical condition for my initial presentation. We reviewed my nutrition requirements as being one filled with plenty of protein, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement my vitamins. Flourish even took me to an indoor wall-climbing facility within West Miami on the weekends so that I was able to further accentuate my ripped physique with flexibility and nimble agility.

My presentation also included dining and communications etiquette as well as full-body grooming and maintenance. I was not used to regular grooming and was more of a roll-out-of-bed-and-go type of stud; especially since it was my natural preference to participate in a more organic and athletic lifestyle. However, Flourish insisted on at least a regular manicure and pedicure. She felt that everything else, such as skin, hair, and hygiene was already immaculately maintained.

They also emphasized the need for me to gain a sense of protection. Although I’d spent my teenage years growing up in one of the rougher parts of Miami, I amazingly never actually got into an altercation. Generally, I was a lover and not a fighter and simply had the intuition to keep to myself—unless I was kickin’ it with many of my aunt’s friends or my teammates. But I did agree with the necessity to know how to protect myself, as a stud, and for the added benefit of any woman whom might’ve had my company.

I’d written the book on the art of pleasure, but lacked the experience to understand the art of battle. It was suggested that I read “The Art of War” so that I would not only understand the dynamics of many social, corporate, and battlefield tactics and mentalities, but to also become a better leader and manager. Reading it would build the fighter in me’s mental muscles.

And whereas “The Art of War” had prepared my mind for my own personal protection, Flourish decided that my love for jiu-jitsu could be used to continue to build my physical protective skills. After looking into it, she thought that it was a perfect combination of martial art and combat sport that would carry on the progression of grappling and ground fighting techniques for me. I was overjoyed to get back to it and found out that I could enjoy my enrollment in the local Brazilian jiu-jitsu class immediately. I attended as instructed twice weekly.

I’d never been to a gun range, but always wanted to go just for kicks. And coincidentally it was required for me to also be able to handle a gun. Suez was used to going to the gun range, as well as handling various other weapons, and was obliged to take me to an indoor shooting range in Hialeah twice weekly, in addition to teaching me some tricks with daggers in our own time. This is where I ultimately found that the long, gangsta braids that she wore were just not for show but a handsome display of her own branded lifestyle. While Suez was handling rifles and Uzi’s, I was only handling a 9mm handgun. So I was appreciative of the fact that she would take the time to teach and advise me.

When I wasn’t sore or tired from my training, I was hanging out with my team. It seemed that I’d instantly bonded with Midi and Suez after kicking their asses in Madden football, dominoes and billiards a few times. They were both laid back like myself, just as the Trio had said, and we loved many of the same things—which included money, women, cars and music.

I let them read some of my writings and lyrics and they let me peep some of their mixes, songs, audio clips and videos. We got to be so tight that they were like the two amigos and I was the lost amigo that made the circle complete. And since in the past, I’d never gotten close to any other studs, it was kinda refreshing to be kicking it with them—without having it feel like senseless competition.

Likewise, the Trio had immediately welcomed me into the family. Since the first night that we’d all smoked and got blowed, they all agreed that I was the only individual to have survived the Bermuda Triangle standing and that they’d never experienced a simultaneous orgasm—which impressed them immensely.

And since I passed their test with flying colors, I was instantly rewarded with their respect and admiration as their fearless leader.

Sometimes Lourdes would come over and we would all play spades, pool, and games of chess and discuss the various strategies that I could use within this organization, as well as what we would present for our leg of Cloud9. We were more than just a team, we’d gelled to become a family and that was something I hadn’t felt a part of since leaving my Aunt’s house for college.

Now Flourish—she was a different story altogether. Although Flourish was training me, I had to ensure that sex-capades with her remained at a bare minimum. Since fucking, Flourish had been lulled into a false assumption of endless gratification with me. So, I had to take a step back for the sake of both of us, before she would be the end of both of us.

At first, Flourish was fiending for some face time like a cokehead in solitary, but I wouldn’t give in to her advances and I wouldn’t yield to her desires by giving away a mis-guided hit. I’d learned my lesson the first time and wasn’t about to slip too soon.

Don’t get me wrong, I still found her as sexy as the first day that I met her and it was hard for me to turn down the passion that I’d experienced with her; but it was absolutely vital to allow her to experience a cool off period by standing firm in my convictions. From my experiences this was the best way to nip an instant infatuation in the bud. And there was no way I could afford her getting even more attached by free-fucking my way to getting kicked out of Sappho Intl. This was nothing but a test and was ultimately for the best.

Besides, I had my sights on PrimaDonna and on acquiring as much money as possible. I hadn’t seen PrimaDonna since moving into the Playhouse but decided not to sweat her technique; and also decided not to tell Flourish about my hidden desire for PrimaDonna.

Instead, I committed myself to learning as much as I could, without any distractions. I was like a boxer with the intent to win the purse before fight night—I was focused. I was on a serious hustle for the Cloud9 bonus that would be mine in a few weeks and I would not get caught up in any games that could have me forfeit both the bonus and PrimaDonna.

I would not let Flourish’s games play me.

I remained centered within myself and Flourish could see how serious that I was about rising to everyone’s expectations of me, as well as my own expectations of myself. She eventually backed off and respected my growth because she genuinely cared about my overall success within Sappho Intl—despite her slight infatuation.

On Valentine’s Day, however, we did talk about how we could be just friends with benefits, after I’d invited her over to party with us. She talked about how she’d been trippin’ because I had given her the best head ever and all she wanted was a simple encore from time to time. We both had had one too many drinks and I finally decided to get me some and give her a release at the same time—after all, it was Valentine’s Day.

She was a woman about it and kept it professional the next day, as we continued our training. After that, we would only enjoy a few small quickies throughout the weeks whenever my craving for a little love and attention kicked in and got the best of me.

At the end of orientation, I’d been in the best physical, spiritual, and mental shape that I had been in a long time. Flourish and my team had given me the seal of approval and let me know that I looked like I was ready for what I was about to experience. I looked in the mirror at the ripped and freshly groomed and polished reflection of myself. And I was amazed at my own graduated appearance.

I’d transcended into my higher self and I was ready to rise to the occasion.

And finally here we were.

After three intense weeks of “orientation” at the Playhouse, I now stood in the warm yet breezy night with my team in cool anticipation of what I’d been prepped and groomed for—SocialClub9: Miami.

The first day on any job was always one filled with nervousness for me, and tonight was no different. It seemed that I always kept a cool composure on the surface, but I was the only one within my team that’d never bared witness to any of the semi-secretive cigar clubs, let alone managed one.

Yet, here I was standing in front of the massive, rusted black iron door that served as the gateway to my present future as a patron and a manager.

Despite my transformation, I was still human and still nervous. But I continued to summon calm, as I looked over my whole team. And as the butterflies began to subside, I became as cool as a cucumber.

My team had helped to sustain my confidence by dressing in similar fabrics and colors in order to make a show of their solidarity and support for my first appearance.

It was a joint effort. The Torpedo Trio championed candy-apple red one-shoulder corset dresses courtesy of NinaStarr’s burlesque Femme Fatale collection; while Midi and Suez agreed upon white seersucker cargo Miami beach shorts and red Armani tees. I decided to dress a tad bit more formal, so as to stand out and make my presence felt among the patrons and staff that I would be presented to for the first time. After going through various outfits that would fit the occasion, I elected to rock the moment with cool, casual white and charcoal grey striped seersucker pants with a matching vest and my own deep, candy-apple red tie tucked into a white long-sleeve slim fitted dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. We felt that we would be cool enough for a warm spring night out and also match the décor of the club.

We were all more than ready for this moment.

I took a deep breath to straighten my posture and maintain my cool, as the massive door creaked open.

And it would seem like the swinging door took an eternity, as I could feel the building excitement of those last few weeks release as miniscule drops of sweat through the pores of my palms.

A head of a young woman finally popped out, as she waved us through the opened doorway. The countless nights of dreaming of walking into the graduated world that I’d been promoted into had finally become a reality. And I was determined to make a magnificent first impression, as I made my entrance.

My hair lightly fluttered in the breeze as I took my first steps into the small receiving room of SocialClub9. I could hear the limousine pull off slowly as the door closed behind us and a pair of twins greeted us into the club’s receiving area.

One of the twins began scanning an area on the neck and behind the ear of Lolita with a small UV black-light scanner. It seemed peculiar that she would be scanning an area that looked like nothing more than bare skin to an ordinary onlooker. But as soon as she began swiping with the black light, a neon blue image that was etched on her skin began to glow and show itself. It was the image that PrimaDonna and Flourish were speaking of that represented a power of a woman. And, coincidentally, it was the same symbol that I held within my tribal tattoo. Each member of my team held the tattoo and was successfully scanned.

When it was Kendra’s turn to be swiped, she hugged one of the twins and began to squeal.

“Chai, I didn’t know that you were going to be working here!”

“Yes, ma’am…it was time to get up out of Manhattan. It was getting to be a little too stiff for me.”

“I didn’t even know that you had a twin! How utterly swank!”

“Double the pleasure, double the fun…”

“Right! Oh yeah, go ahead and swipe me.” She placed her arm in mine and began to announce me. ”This is our new boss and the newest Stallion who will be overseeing the managerial functions here at the club. This is Silk.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Chai and this is my identical twin, Thai.”

“Chai and Thai…that sounds easy to remember. Those are very beautiful names.”

“I like you already, boss.” She declared with a West Indian accent as she peered up at me and smiled.

“Ladies, I’m sure you guys’ll probably get more acquainted. Silk, hasn’t gone through her coronation so she doesn’t hold the Sapphian’s mark just yet.”

“Yeah, PrimaDonna gave us a heads up, so you guys can go on in.”

“They’re both from the Islands of Turks and Caicos and extensively trained in jeet kune do and firearms. That’s why they’re manning the doors.”

Chai headed to the front of the group and opened the second massive door, which instantly blew cool air onto my skin. Arm in arm, Kendra and I began to lead our team through a maze of sheer red curtains flowing from the high ceilings and gently swaying in the clean and cooled air of the club’s main hallway. We lightly dashed the curtains aside and began to walk the plush red carpet that absorbed our footsteps, as we glided down the long and richly lit hallway. The tapestry that adorned our brand new shoes held that new-carpet smell despite the various mixes of fragrances that each one of us had lightly dashed and dabbed on our skin before leaving.

I confidently pressed us forward, into the light of the hall, and was instantaneously greeted by the room’s warm sensuality and broad beauty. An alluring shade of champagne was intimately flourished with an elegant and intricate black, Baroque flower pattern, as it gift-wrapped the walls that surrounded our group, like a French lace corset on a Parisian burlesque dancer. Elaborate golden candleholders lighted and lined the wall to illuminate the essence of sophistication and luxury of the colossal, Spanish Cabaret paintings, which had been also framed in gold. The dancing Spanish women, within the paintings, commanded our attention as they were adorned with swift and oiled brushstrokes of gold, reds, greens, and beiges—and seemed as if they’d begun to show motion as we passed by them. Their painted hips swirled hypnotically and served as appetizers, to give us a taste of things to come. And the sound of salsa music reverberated through a pair of large, red double doors; which further encouraged us to come and join the festivities, as the doors slightly shook.

“Mano, you ready to enter the main room? Midi’ll probably join us after she finishes deejaying tonight…” Suez paused before opening the large red, door that shook before us.

I invited NinaStarr to take my other arm and Suez took Lolita’s arm as we prepared to make our grand entrance. I took a deep breath as Suez was about to open the door.

“I was born ready. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for...”

The door swung open and within an instant all eyes had descended upon our presence.

We proceeded to enter the grand main room of the club and my senses were immediately soaked with the pulse of the moment.

It was clearly evident that PrimaDonna had succeeded in mixing a traditional burlesque ambiance with a chic Miami vibe. The room had been draped with a rich, crimson red floral baroque background and modernized with chic white Louis XVI chairs and matching tables made of iron. Golden circular candles illuminated the beautiful faces of exquisite and international patrons and it was clear that lesbians from every corner of the world had shown up for a chance to grace the doors of the newest SocialClub9.

And with our entrance, the room instantly came alive.

There was a distinct resonance of random yet subtle murmurs of awe and praise and with every step we took across the red, oak wood-paneled floors there echoed the curiosity of patrons bent and intent on being the first to find out who we were.

It seemed that the mystery held the magnificent room captivated and breathed new fervor into the heart of the club as we glided by. Even the gold flower-imprinted, ivory white columns began to dance from the ceilings in time with the upbeat salsa tempo of Big Willie’s “Shame on You”. And I looked up towards the deejay booth and slightly smiled as I caught Midi’s eyes.

The room was sensational and I could’ve stopped to fully admire and appreciate its beauty. But the grand chandeliers glimmered above, in harmony with the gleaming and recessed floor and wall lights, in an effort to induce us forward towards the upper level V.I.P. section.

Our footsteps were effortlessly swayed into smooth and steady movements, as we ascended the stairs that led the way above the full bar to our section, which was partially hidden behind crimson red, sheer curtains. Upon completing our advance into the upper level, we were finally graced with a pristine vantage point of the whole room and I paused at the railing for a moment to absorb the full breadth of its wonderful burlesque charm.

The vision had already exceeded anything that I could’ve ever imagined; and yet I had to continue to maintain my composure since the whole room continued to gape at us in wonderment.

Gossip and guesses ricocheted up and into the upper level. And just when I thought everyone would erupt in sheer outrage at the obscurity, Midi’s Parisian accent erupted through the microphone.

“Bonsoir, femmes and studs…”

“Would you please join me in a round of applause for the newest stallion and overseer of the newest SocialClub9 here in Miami...Max Silk!”

I stood at the tar black, iron railing which looked over the crowd triumphantly and waved with distinguished distinction. Everyone clapped fervently. And unexpectedly a few of the femmes began to stand and yell in bunches, like they were sorority sisters at a frat party after Hell Week. I grinned so hard I could feel my dimples tighten, as my eyes twinkled in the lights with glee. I had come a long way from Richmond Heights and taken my rightful seat amidst modern day royalty.

“…all of her closest friends and associates call her Silk and she is pleased to make our acquaintances…”

As we continued to stand and scan over the ocean of patrons, the Trio began to recognize some of the patrons from other events and had begun to whisper to each other while pointing and waving. It seemed that my angels were already angling to work the crowd.

“Merci! Merci! Vous êtes magnifique! Now let’s make this party sizzle…”

The patrons finally took their seats, as Midi continued to turn up the volume on the electronic salsa mix that she’d been working on at the Playhouse and we all began to relax.

Entering was always the most challenging part for me and I was thoroughly relieved that the hardest task had been completed with success—we were finally in.

And our section was clearly for the dignitaries, as the majesty of our team would serve to complete its opulence. We all took our seats on Louis XV rounded settee sofas and antique white and cream buttoned-back Bergères that lined our side of this designated area, as if they were our reserved thrones. And Lolita, Suez, and Kendra began to discuss the presence of some of the patrons that they’d recognized, in a low but lively pitch.

The mix that Midi had initiated abruptly turned into a slow burlesque and salsa fusion and Midi in a low and guttural tone simply and slowly uttered, ”Anna…”

The first show had begun.

I sat back while one of the burlesque dancers had sauntered onto the elevated stage which was rimmed with recessed floor lights and surrounded by a small dance floor below it. I proceeded to pour a glass of champagne from a full bottle of Moët that chilled in a golden ice bucket and prepared to enjoy the show.

“You cozy, boss?” NinaStarr leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“I’m beautiful.”

“Yeah, you breezed through the hardest part. They love your fine ass already.”

I smiled.

“This is much more elite than the Sapphire Lounge, huh?”

“Very impressive.”

“I bet you think Anna is impressive, too.”

She leaned back closer to me and crossed her legs ever so sensually and in accord with the burlesque dancer with which the spotlight had been placed on the stage. The dancer bat her eyelashes flirtatiously at the crowd while leisurely removing her black, satin opera-length gloves and letting them drop to the ground. Her public seduction had begun and the audience became entrenched in her performance.

“I used to dance with that sexy Russian in Chicago. I always wanted to see if the freak in Anna was as real as her blond hair.”

We both smiled deviously; then sipped and consumed the fine bubbles of champagne poured from chilled Belair black bottles, as Anna’s satire ensued.

A black chair had been propped as the significant other to whom the tall Russian princess would be issuing a timid striptease. And the crowd just happened to be a voyeur to the satire, as the sovereign voice of Edith Piaf resonated throughout the room.

Anna whipped her black feather boa from around her neck and twirled it as her hips danced circles around the chair. She humorously whisked the boa back around her neck like a scarf and placed her hands on her hips in comedic frustration at the chair. Then she batted her long eyelashes at the audience as she began to sway her hips in excitement.

Suddenly, as if the thought just dawned on her, Anna had landed gracefully in the chair. Then, as though it was her reluctant lover’s lap, she spread her legs then quickly brought them back in, to arch her back in sheer ecstasy. She then unexpectedly popped up in parody, as her prim and proper, red and black burlesque dress had been cleverly unhinged at the back of her Basque-style corset, in the process. Her dress fell to the floor to reveal long and beautiful dancer’s legs, draped with a striking black fishnet garter and suspender belt, while her boa tickled full and round mounds of breasts covered by black, sequin pasties and black tassels.

Anna coyly covered her mouth with her hand as if to say “whoops” and batted her eyelashes. She stepped her black stilettos skillfully out of the dress that had been huddled around her feet and played with her boa while she began to dance. She casually lined behind the chair and held onto it as she made the tassels turn in time with her shoulder’s swivel. It was as if she’d placed her lover’s face into her bosom and playfully shook the shyness off of them.

The crowd clapped and whistled as the tassels twirled and swirled in synch. Then within an instant, Anna had positioned herself to sit on the chair sideways and arched her back to the sky while her golden locks dangled within the boa’s feathers. Oh, how she made those tassels move, as the burlesque and salsa fusion began to come to a close.

It seemed that these tassels had been twirling forever and I found myself becoming entrenched into a deep hypnosis—until she stopped on the dime with the clave’s abrupt end to the show.

It was at this moment that Anna turned towards the audience, tossed her boa back around her neck, crossed her legs and blew the crowd a kiss.

I was amazed.

“Let’s give a round of applause to Anna.”

NinaStarr and I clapped while some of members of the audience threw roses onto the stage.

“Yeah, Anna’s fire—but she ain’t got nothin’ on the Trio.”

NinaStarr dipped her head in Kendra’s direction as they both clicked their champagne glasses together in a private toast.

“I hope you get to see us later, boss. We perform at the end, right after Lourdes. You know they had to save the best for last.”

“Trust me, if it’s better than that performance, then I wouldn’t want to miss it.”

I felt the mood had shifted suddenly, as heads began to turn towards the main doors and we instinctively looked towards the doors to see what the sudden fuss was about. And even though I knew in my gut that there was only one person that could cause this sort of commotion, my eyes couldn’t prepare me for what they were about to behold—PrimaDonna.

The manner with which PrimaDonna managed to captivate a room had been impressively magnified—even at an event with as much magnitude as this night held.

She was mercilessly irresistible.

Like dazzling platinum and diamonds on ice, PrimaDonna glided with an ideal cut and flawless clarity. And with every subtle movement, all of the rooms light traveled freely through her and exited in a rainbow of sparkles.

She was absolutely breathtaking.

“Damn, PrimaDonna looks stunning in that charcoal grey strappy.” Kendra commented to Lolita.

“…and the back is open, too. You know Prima knows how to make an entrance.” Lolita drank from her champagne glass.

“The dress is a NinaStarr original straight from the Femme Fatale Collection. Kiss Kiss. Bang Bang.”

“Starr-light! I didn’t know you were making her dress for this event!”

“Why wouldn’t I be…I made our dresses right? She commissioned it last week and Flourish picked out the material.”

“Very nice! Very nice! I know those red bottoms are bangin’ too! She looks absolutely luxurious. Lolita, if I ever had the chance, the things I would do with her…” Kendra gawked.

“The things WE would do with her…” NinaStarr giggled.

“As bad as she is, I could see PrimaDonna wanting to be wrapped in Silk, though.” NinaStarr added. “Every woman loves a little Silk.” She winked at me.

The trio giggled, while I smiled privately.

We delighted in PrimaDonna’s strut across the room, as the red bottom soles of her Louboutins paved the way. And as she glided, her entourage began to slowly come into focus.

“So who’s the English gentleman escorting PrimaDonna in?”

“The one who has her arm is Sir Sheik and the one walking behind her, with Flourish, is Pharaoh—they’re the other two stallions.”

PrimaDonna’s train dressed well and looked as though they had just stepped off of the red carpet and into SocialClub9: Miami. Sir Sheik wore an eloquent blue velvet gentleman’s suit that seemed to be courtesy of Tom Ford, with a dapper scarf tucked into a plaid blue gentleman’s dress shirt and aviator glasses. While Pharaoh rocked slim black cotton and leather moto pants with a foil hooded shirt and leather jacket with rocker boots. Flourish sauntered beside Pharaoh with a classic, black Grecian and draping one-shoulder dress with Jimmy Choo stilettos. And I had to admit that they were all very sublime.

“The Sheik swears that PrimaDonna is her wifey, but no one’s really sure. I just know that they all go way back. All of them are thick as thieves.”

So these two studs were the other two stallions.

I don’t really check out other studs, but I had to admit that I was shocked by how handsome Sir Sheik and Pharaoh were. Although they seemed to be a couple of inches shorter than I, they sure seemed to stand out from the others. I could see how they were rare gems in the treasure chest.

Sir Sheik had very dark and sleek features but a pristine and gentlemanly air about her. Her slick and slightly curly shoulder length locks bounced neatly, as she advanced her slim frame with eloquence. She firmly removed her glasses as she clenched her square jaw and gently touted her nose into the air. She was the picture of perfection from head to toe and English Victorian elegance was written all over her.

But with all of the thick layers, she must have missed the memo on how humid it gets, despite it being March—I mean this was Miami after all.

Pharaoh’s persona seemed to be the direct opposite of Sir Sheik. While the Sheik was the ideal picture of a proper modern-day English chap, Pharaoh was the ideal image of Nubian punk rock. I had never seen anyone so confident within their own skin.

Unlike Sir Sheik, you could tell, even through the rock star garb, that she was ripped. She was the feminine face of the singer Seal but with a grip of piercings and a silky and long, jet black Mohawk with platinum ice blue tips. Her silver labret and bridge rings and slightly stretched out ear piercings shone in the candlelight, as the group advanced.

She projected style and swagger as she nodded towards a few patrons that she recognized in the crowd. Her chin held a deep cleft that gave her a raw energy that lit up even more when she flashed perfect, whitened rows of teeth and smiled at one of the femmes on the main floor. The young lady blushed and beamed as though she was attending a rock concert and was just invited backstage. Pharaoh was beautiful in all of her rock glory and even I was impressed with her—which didn’t happen often.

They seemed to be the most unlikely of associates and yet they remained in step like they’d been friends for a very long time. They were a band of opposites in every way and yet their common bond was the fact that they were all impeccably and inexplicably gorgeous specimens of Sapphians.

I had to admit that I had my work cut out for me, but I remained confident that I would rise to the occasion and carry my own among these beautiful gods and goddesses. I mean, honestly, if I was a femme I'd fuck them both; but if I was a femme I'd fuck me first. And as long as I remembered this fact I’d be fine.

All of the pieces to this chess game had finally been fully laid. And I was determined to allow my internal light to lead the way and ultimately prevail.

“Just a little word to the wise, boss—looks can be deceiving. Each of the stallion’s personalities is actually opposite their look. Pharaoh is way more laid back and patient than the Sheik. Don’t get me wrong, Pharaoh loves to party like a rock star. But the Sheik is the one that you have to keep your eyes on at all times. She’s very possessive and can at times have a slight temper.”

“Especially when she decides that she wants to be fucking with that white…”

“Yeah, she doesn’t take a lot of pressure very well and has been known to snort coke when she needs a shoulder to lean on.”

“…or a table to lean on…” Kendra added.

“Remember when she was fuckin’ with 8balls when Cloud9 first started a few years ago. They had to make her take a little vacation after that. She’s supposedly been on her best behavior since then—but everybody still keeps one eye on her at all times.”

“She’s like the oleander flower—beautiful and refined yet highly toxic. She’s gotten so good at playing both sides that one minute she can be a perfect gentleman and the next minute she can scheme and be just a little unstable.”

“Yep.”

“Mh hmh!”

All three of them poured a little more champagne into their glasses as well as mine and watched the group ascend to the V.I.P. area.

“Just be careful around her. Pharaoh and PrimaDonna keep her in check and relatively stable most of the time. But I don’t trust her, as far as I can throw her.”

“Good to note.”

They advanced up the stairs in silence and as they entered the V.I.P. section across from ours, I sipped from my glass and eyed all four of the royal court, as though they were slowly being aligned among the board’s 64 squares.

They stood at the railing and paused in unison.

Midi lowered the salsa mix and began to announce them.

“Please join me in a round of applause for Sappho Intl’s first lady—PrimaDonna Valentina…”

“…and another round of applause for our first stallions—Sir Samantha Amil Sheik and Pharaoh Dominguez.”

They each took their seats and PrimaDonna immediately turned to me and nodded her head in acknowledgement.

As I nodded back, the Sheik instantly sat a little closer to PrimaDonna and glared at me with discontent. Her eyes seemed to dial down from an innocent intrigue to hate, within a matter of milliseconds. And Pharaoh seemed to register a focus within her intense eyes, as if to instantly reel in the reins on the Sheik’s leash to keep her in control. I could already see what my Trio was forewarning.

“Merci beaucoup! And now…for the illustrious Grande Madame—Lola!”

Lourdes took the stage as the glittering eyelash fluttering Lola and the crowd went wild. She began to lip synch “Girl from Ipanema” which served to only amplify the excitement.

“Lourdes is too fabulous!”

“Indeed.”

Although I was amused by Lourdes’ routine, I wanted to take advantage of the moment to focus on the task at hand.

“So what’s the story behind Sir Sheik and Pharaoh?”

“Well, there’ve been plenty of rumors surrounding both of them. Many of them are highly inaccurate due to their ingrained ability to keep their own secrets well hidden. But people talk most to the ones that they fuck with the most. So I only know of what’s been told to me from clients that have fucked with either of them.”

“Sir Sheik’s people are Persian and Russian but she was raised between Dubai and the U.K.”

“Whoa…Dubai?”

“Yeah, her father was an arms dealer to both sides of the Iran-Iraq War and over the last few decades he got to be so wealthy and connected that he positioned himself to become one of the early oil contractors in the Middle East. He moved between Iran, Iraq, Russia and the U.K. to continue building his empire.”

“Even though he’d amassed an UNGODLY amount of power and fortune over time, for some reason, Sir Sheik saw only a tiny share of this fortune yearly—and would speak to him even less than that.”

“Yeah…everyone thinks that she was kinda disowned once he found out that she fucks women. Eventually he forgave her but still couldn’t stand the thought of his own daughter exercising her homosexual tendencies around him. She was shipped off to attend a private school in Manhattan in her freshman year of high school and has pretty much raised herself since then.”

“Sounds like out of sight…out of mind…”

“Yep. She used to get a small allowance of a cool quarter of a mil each year and was free to live how she wanted in Manhattan. That’s where she met Flourish, Prima and Pharaoh.”

“Okay.”

“Pharaoh and the Sheik were so close that Pharaoh used to share Sir Sheik’s Manhattan penthouse with her in high school. That was like their ‘bachelor pad’—paid in full courtesy of her father. And that’s where all four of them got to be such good friends. Anybody who was anybody lesbian in Manhattan has partied at Sir Sheik’s bachelor pad.”

“In fact, I think that’s where they got the original idea for Cloud9.”

“You know…I never put two and two together, but you might be right about that, Starr-light.”

“It does makes a whole lot of sense, luv. Leave it to you to connect the dots.” Kendra added.

“I don’t know. It might just be a hunch. But I digress. Pharaoh’s mom is of the Seneca tribe in New York and her dad is Dominican. He played baseball for the New York Yankees and where I heard she got most of her drop-dead gorgeous looks from. While you’re ripped with lean muscle, Pharaoh is cock-diesel ripped, like her dad, but without going overboard.”

“Pharaoh’s mom died of a drug overdose when Pharaoh was young though and she kinda rebelled after that. She was sent to a boarding school in the U.K. and then brought back to Manhattan after her dad re-married. She leveled out, but brought the drugs, sex and rock and roll swagga back with her. And the rest was history.”

“…yeah and the fact that NinaStarr has been crushin’ on Pharaoh for forever, ain’t no mystery either.” Lolita giggled.

“…yeah she gets all flush whenever Pharaoh comes around her.”

“Hey, you guys are supposed to be keepin’ that on the low. Besides, right now it’s irrelevant.”

Lolita and Kendra continued giggling then decided they’d better go back to enjoying the show.

“Anyway, boss, all of ‘em have traveled the globe together over the years and it’s been said that Sir Sheik knows eight different languages and can play the piano and cello very well. Pharaoh is the lead singer and guitarist in a punk rock band. And although they’ve partied heavier than most, they’re all well learned. PrimaDonna and the Sheik used to be very intimate. However, I personally think that the fact that the Sheik has been in and out of rehab has kinda taken a toll on Prima—but I can tell she still cares for her. I mean, I think they’re so close that they would die for each other.”

“And that’s all I know about them.”

“Thanks, baby. That’s all I need to know right now.”

“Well, ladies we gotta start getting ready to go on next.”

“We’ll catch you after the performance, boss.”

Each of my three angels gave me a kiss on the cheek and made their way downstairs.

The Trio had given me priceless intel that I would need to be able to make clever moves within this chess game. NinaStarr had said that I would need to take heed of Sir Sheik’s temper. Yet, despite the warning I would still make ballsy moves, if and when I wanted.

I’d played this game countless times and was raised to be fearless, because I knew the source from which my power came. This source was love, light and all life and creation—which were definitely all fear-free zones.

I was also taught to listen to my body’s temple and my temple was telling me to make a ballsy move—right now.

I loved playing with fire sometimes because it let me know that I was still alive. But sometimes playing with fire could get you burnt.

So either this move would get me embarrassed, brutalized or successfully get me into PrimaDonna’s territory. Either way it would be worth it.

To test the waters, I dispatched Suez over to forward a simple message telling the ladies that they looked absolutely ravishing tonight.

I drank from my Belair and waited as Suez began to whisper in PrimaDonna’s ears and point in my direction.

And although Lourdes had just wrapped up his portion of tonight’s entertainment, I would continue to be amused as the Sheik began to scowl in my direction.

This would be the first move of the match and the response would define the rest of the game. How would PrimaDonna play it with the hothead sitting next to her? It was time to turn up the heat and play with the flames.

7

“Why Silk, you look dashing!”

“Very suave, indeed.”

“Thank you, ladies.”

After Suez had whispered into PrimaDonna’s ear, PrimaDonna motioned with her point finger to come to her. So I, with a cool reserve, accepted her invitation and crossed over into her section to be showered with compliments.

I hugged PrimaDonna and Flourish while the Sheik could do nothing but look at me with contempt. I proceeded to shake each of the stallion’s hands and then took a seat while Suez sat next to me. I’d made it over into PrimaDonna’s territory and now it was time to turn on the charm.

As I poured a little more champagne into my glass, Pharaoh broke the ice.

“So you’re the newest stallion that I’ve being hearing so much about over this past month.”

“All good things I hope.”

“Good for you and not for us, especially with Cloud9 coming up.” Pharaoh smiled.

“And so it seems.”

“Well, it’s good to finally meet you.”

“Speak for yourself, Pharaoh.” The Sheik had finally joined the conversation but with even more disdain, as she stiffened her back and stared coldly into my eyes.

As I began to drink from my glass I quietly held her stare.

It was then that I noticed that she had one blue eye and one green eye. I always found that to be a truly amazing trait to have and was a testimony to the beauty of the universe—even though at the moment it did little to detract from the repulsive gaze that further hinted the depth of her scorn for me already.

“Be pleasant.” PrimaDonna whispered to the Sheik, right before Midi began to turn down the salsa mix enough to announce the Torpedo Trio’s performance.

Everyone seemed to ignore the Sheik, as if they’d been prepared for this unarguably dramatic reaction and sad show of rebellion.

But now it was the Trio’s turn to perform.

Super-cutie Lolita abashedly tip-toed onto the stage twirling a cute, pink and red parasol in a short, black satin Lolita skirt, as if the other two had unexpectedly thrown her into the spotlight.

She quickly got used to the stage and began to dance her way down the steps, into the audience and onto the lap of an unsuspecting stud.

The crowd began to issue catcalls and Lolita seductively pulled the stud onto the stage.

The other two had carried out a white chair together as they fluttered black fans between the fingers of their mesh opera gloves and sauntered lively within their short and sassy black, red, and pink burlesque dresses.

Midi began to spin Big Willie’s slow and seductive “Angel Eyes” right on cue, as they quickly surrounded the smiling stud. Lolita pushed the stud into the chair and the stud instantly seemed to know that she was in for a real wild ride, as the audience began to scream and jeer.

NinaStarr looked the stud in the eyes as she placed her stiletto in between the stud’s legs and onto the chair. And then all three ladies encircled the stud to place one hand upon the stud’s body to create a triangular formation.

The excitement was quickly building and they persisted to feed it, as they were just getting started.

The Trio all gazed down upon the stud and then into the crowd to disappear behind their fans and parasols. They continued to encircle their latest victim as if they were vultures flying above a dying prey.

Then without warning they threw down their fans and parasols and ripped off their dresses in one smooth swoop, revealing a pair of sparkly red garters with matching brassieres and naughty red bow stockings. They each covered their mouths in shock and amazement and each took their turn to give the stud a sensual lap dance. And after they would complete their individual dance, they would hitch their leg into the air, remove their garter and toss it into the crowd. And since any stud or femme would have gladly given anything to have been the chosen occupant of the white chair on the stage, surrounded by the three mischievous and play-filled angels—the lucky stud was in sheer heaven.

“The Trio never fails to entertain me.” PrimaDonna remarked and took a sip from her champagne glass.

“Never afraid to turn the flames on high heat, that’s for sure.” Pharaoh agreed.

As they continued to circumnavigate the chair, and the stud in it, they proceeded to sensually un-hitch the clasps that held their brassieres together. They held their breasts together, in one accord, as the brassieres casually fell down their sleek arms. And chi-chi couture pasties with green glitter covered in black lace and the black tassels that they cupped, became all that concealed their otherwise bare breasts.

They began to swirl them hysterically and in unison, as the show came to its dramatic close. NinaStarr took her place in the stud’s lap and leaned back to continue to twirl the tassels. Her body furiously shook the smiling stud in the process. The other two’s tassels became a fan to the sides of the stud’s face, so as to spectacularly heat her up and cool her off at the same time.

The show could not be topped. And as the crowd went wild, it could almost not be stopped.

We all clapped, as they leaned in to kiss the delighted stud simultaneously and in rapture.

And then they all stood to take a bow.

“That was impressive—my girls got talent.”

“Do they ever…they even got me excited.” Flourish added.

The music sped back up, as Midi proceeded to open up the dance floor to the riled up patrons.

And we continued to converse.

“So, Suez—it’s been a minute, bruva. When's the next mixtape dropping, some of my flowers and floozies are asking ‘bout it?”

“Real soon, mano, real soon.”

“You know—me, you and midi should collaborate at some point.”

“Fa sho, acho! You know, Silk writes lyrics and fucks with the guitar, too, maybe we could all jam sometime...”

“Silk…bruva…I had a scooby that you were a rocker. We can definitely get together to jam sometime. Anything with music—and I’m liking you already.”

Pharaoh’s brown eyes gleamed, as she tipped her glass in my direction then took a long swig from her glass and cleared her throat.

“So, Silk, we got Cloud9 in a week you gonna be ready for the spotlight?” Pharaoh continued to converse.

“Well, I'm no stranger to it.”

“Yeah, but you rolling with the real heavy hittas now.”

“Well, I’m a big boy I can handle the weight.”

“Oooh, this one got a swagger too, huh, Prima. You sure know how to pick ‘em.”

“That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”

The ladies smiled and continued to scan me from head to toe.

The Sheik began to shift in her seat and removed her scarf.

”God, it's warm for March.”

"Welcome to Miami!"

“I hate fuckin’ Miami!” The Sheik murmured under her breath. “Look, I will not pretend to like you or that I like the fact that you were invited into our elite organization, in such a short amount of time. There is no comparison between you and me–our names should not even be uttered in the same sentence. I am the true definition of a pure bred stallion. In fact, I am the stallion of the highest caliber. And it would take decades worth of intelligence, riches and power acquired for you to even begin to reach my level of superiority. You will never have my respect because you have nothing and therefore are nothing. And that is the end of it!”

“Belt up, bruva! Don’t be such an ass. There’s no need to lace into Silk on her first night, jeez. We all know this is a friendly competition. It's more than enough love here for all of us.”

I was not fazed. I was used to other studs hating on me because of my confidence, good looks and fearlessness. I usually took it as a sign of extreme envy and most failed to wear the green of it well.

“I have nothing and therefore I am nothing, huh?” I shook my head and laughed. “Now that you've exposed me for who you think I am and what you think I’m not—I guess you’ve stripped me down. But I don’t mind because I’ve always been a streaker.”

I retorted half laughingly.

“But I’ve got to say, I’m much too blinded by the beauty of this place to be distracted by my own nudity.”

I raised my glass towards PrimaDonna and Flourish in appreciation of their allure. “There’s no need to be a hater, homeboy, when we can all be greater tonight.”

I made it a point to stare into the eyes of PrimaDonna while Suez simply shook her head.

“Oh shit, speed racer…I think she might have stalled your ride on that one.” Pharaoh added before taking another swig from her glass.

The Sheik sat back stubbornly, as if she was irritated that I’d even attempted a comeback. “Stalled but not stopped.”

You could tell almost all of them had had a buzz already because it took a while for all of them to regain their composure, as Pharaoh began to mimic the Sheik’s prior protests and laughter erupted.

"Come, Silk, let me show you the rest of the club.” PrimaDonna stood and began to lead me downstairs while the others began to lighten up and enjoy the revelry.

“You handled that with class. You’ll have to forgive the Sheik. She can be rather particular about the company that we keep—I guess she won’t be satisfied until you gain her seal of approval.”

“That seems like an almost impossible feat according to her standards.”

“Believe me. It has nothing to do with standards and all to do with her need to be the center of attention. I care for her deeply, but I swear that she can be a big baby sometimes. But enough about her—let’s talk more about you and your new club.”

I loved how she made me feel like I was a part of this process. She made me feel like I really did own this club. I walked tall, as PrimaDonna placed her arms through my own and I began to escort her through the maze of the main room and into the rest of the social club.

PrimaDonna began to point out the particulars of the rooms as we glided throughout the club. By the V.I.P. areas from which we’d just come there was a door further up the stairs that led to my private executive office. My office held a private executive bathroom and a large one-way window that overlooked the whole main room of the club. The office would lead me further into a small conference room for staff meetings, and a very personal and very private V.I.P. room which held yet another bathroom area, plush couches, white felt billiards tables and satellite televisions. The room was reserved for my team members and other special guests.

The main room served as the heart of the club. Together, we moved through the main room and past the audience, the dance floor, the main stage and out the side exit of the main room to enter into the four chambers that ensured that the heart worked properly.

Just as the heart has two chambers to propel the blood out and two chambers to pump the blood in, there were two small parlors to cater to the staff members whom propelled and provided the entertainment and two small parlors to cater to the higher-level Sapphians brought in by the club itself.

PrimaDonna proceeded to lead me through to the first two chambers which included a backstage dressing room and backstage V.I.P. rooms. I was introduced to the burlesque girls, who I was unfamiliar with and that just so happened to be still hanging around. And I complimented the Torpedo Trio, who was just winding down after their magnificent performance.

They joked that we could all “hang out” in the private V.I.P. rooms together and get more familiar with the cozy private rooms, since we were headed that way on our tour.

PrimaDonna smiled and replied in jest that she and she alone had the pleasure of touring me through the intimate rooms, where upper-level Sapphians could experience a private dance with a chosen burlesque girl away from everyone else. And although she was joking, I thought that I could easily get used to the idea of having one-on-one time with PrimaDonna.

After moving quickly through the plush, private parlors, we continued to move arm-in-arm and on to the other two chambers. And these chambers were elegantly designed with a modern Rococo touch.

We entered the vape and lounging parlor where a few of the upper-level Sapphians were conversing and relaxing. And the pressed-tin ceiling and neon-blue LED-lit west wall immediately seduced my pupils, as the elegant and intricate black flower pattern that ran laminated and laced over champagne walls solidified PrimaDonna as a phenom among interior designers.

In fact, to call her an interior designer would be like referring to Michelangelo as just a painter. She was more of a visionary and an artiste—and this would be another masterpiece of a room that would prove it.

PrimaDonna succeeded in mixing the old with the new by playing with light and shadows. She would achieve it by taking advantage of the stark contrast between the simplicity and minimalism of the basic structures, such as the hypermodern bright blue painted walnut liquor bar and the radiant rococo decoration. The decorative objects such as the majestic chandelier, candle holders, engraved mirrors and glassware were inspired by the baroque style of Louis XV—however customized to be sensually slender and more graceful to reflect an ornate Rococo feel.

It was this feel that gloriously displayed her own boldly pristine human expression and artistic presence of mind, as I could thoroughly appreciate her divine design sense and would already fall for her endless assortment of creative touches.

We walked through the cozy and intimate room and I was introduced to some of the patrons that sat upon plush white sectional sofas and white Louis XV salon chairs.

I even enjoyed a game of billiards at one of the custom white felt billiards tables as PrimaDonna and some of the other femme patrons watched and discussed my overall swagger. PrimaDonna and some of the femmes were impressed by how my body moved around the table and flirted with me as a group, as I effortlessly stroked ball after ball into the holes. I didn’t want to tell the innocent stud that this was one of the ways that I made my living in college and that the game was over before it even begun.

I could feel a sense of entitlement in the smoke-filled room as I politely called and pushed the eight-ball into the corner pocket hole to become the victor for the night. It was a quick game of pool and even before the erupting applause had subsided from the impressed onlookers, PrimaDonna and I’d moved on to the last room.

The last chamber was a private parlor with poker tables and a walk-in humidor. It was decorated in the same style as the vape and lounging room, except that its color swatches were more burnt orange and crimson red rather than light blue and champagne. The décor still retained a sophisticated and luxurious nature. But from the sunset color sequences, I could tell that that this was a much more serious room. This was where all the business was handled.

“So what are you drinking and smoking tonight?” PrimaDonna looked into the hands of one of the pristine poker players to see what had been dealt. They conversed as though they had been familiar with each other for a long time.

“I’m sipping Louis XIII Cognac and a beautiful Altidas Behike Cigar—in honor of how well you’ve mixed the beauty of France with the passion of Spain.” She said without budging.

“I wish you would have been able to join us at this table, PrimaDonna? I think I would’ve had a little more room here for your chips tonight.” She smiled. ”Lady Luck has been good to me.”

“Well, I’ve been a little occupied tonight.”

After politely moving a few chips forward from her large pile of poker chips and vocalizing her bid, the beautiful blond finally looked up from her hand and coincidentally met my eyes.

“Well, well, well—PrimaDonna, you have truly outdone yourself. The new club is immaculate and the newest stallion is supremely divine.”

She held out her delicate hand, with the palm facing downward, and I seductively kissed the back of her hand. I could tell that she was instantly eroticized. I was her private aphrodisiac as she immediately laid her cards on the table and stood to peck me on my cheek’s dimple as if under a deep hypnosis.

“I’m honored to meet your acquaintance.”

The rest of the table became instantly captivated and PrimaDonna took the moment to announce me to the tables. I went around each table and shook all of the studs’ hands and politely hugged each femme member to welcome them to the social club. Some Sapphians also placed their hand out, so that I could grace them with my favor, as I’d done the first patron.

PrimaDonna would tell me later that those whom offered their hands would be some of the Alices at Cloud9. They were already previewing my stock. And according to PrimaDonna, it was already gaining momentum prior to the big event.

“You’ve made a charming impression on everyone relevant here tonight—including myself. I’m sure that where you are, is where you were always meant to be.”

We walked out of the last parlor and back into the valve that was the main hallway.

We were all alone for the first time since our initial meeting at the Sapphire Lounge. And seeing as how I wanted to take advantage of this moment, to make an even deeper impression on the queen while she was displaced from her rook, bishop and knight—this valve was the perfect corner with which to get just a little more acquainted with each other.

“So, I’m assuming that you’re the one that designs all of the properties?”

“Yes. I guess you might say it’s more than a hobby for me. It’s my greatest passion to take these structures and bring them to life”

“You have a keen eye. Or I should say an authentic ability to capture the unique charm of your clubs and mansions. You ‘re very talented, PrimaDonna.”

A person's creations say a lot about that person. And PrimaDonna had a tendency to hone in on the naturally unique qualities of the subject to architect a design that accentuated the positive to tell an intriguing story—in this way she and I shared an ability to mold and chronicle a narrative—hers through design processes and mine through lyrical writing and song. This would be a common thread that I would utilize to allow her to slowly let down her guard.

“Your work truly tells a beautiful story.”

“Well, thank you Silk. I actually studied art history and design at the university. It seems I’ve always had a knack for finding a diamond in the rough and expressing its full potential.”

“Is that what you’ve accomplished with your entourage?”

“I guess in a way it may’ve been a sub-conscious move early on, but over time they’ve become my closest friends. They know every side of me and they sincerely love and protect me.”

“It follows my time-invested theory.”

“…the time-invested theory?”

This was a risky move, but I wanted to keep the queen on her toes.

“It’s a theory that I have about freedom. Time, like money, can be a commodity. The more time that you’ve invested in the things and people around you, the more locked into the relationship you become, and the harder it is to evolve or step out of the environment. The investment of time ultimately lulls you into a sense of convenient security and diminishes your sense of free will—if you allow it to.”

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it. However, despite the time invested into them, I AM a free woman and I’m unafraid of change. I’ve never been enslaved by money or time and I simply love my friends.”

“Well, I guess my theory has some holes in it. I’m by no means a sociological expert.”

I needed to move the queen back into the other direction. And quick.

“In my opinion, helping to mold a person by design is truly noble as long as it’s progressive. It seems that you might have accomplished this IMPOSSIBLE feat with me and I’m truly grateful for it.” I said with sarcasm in order to change the tone of the conversation.

“Well, Silk, it didn’t take much from me or my resources. It seems that out of everyone you were simply the easiest to place. You were already prepped, primed and polished as a diamond stallion. I simply found you and presented your natural brilliance. Even I find myself intrigued by your aura. It seems, you have a multi-faceted perspective on life and I’m simply held in awe of your beautiful complexity.”

Her shimmering eyes glimmered like polished sapphires and dazzled me deeply. I wanted to tell her that the moon and stars paled in comparison to the splendor in her eyes. I wanted to tell her that I held a burning desire to take her even higher than this night. I wanted to kiss her passionately and sweep her off of her feet in fleeting ecstasy.

But I didn’t want to move too hastily and spoil my chances of getting further in the game by making a premature move.

Instead I practiced patience.

I would surely get the perfect opportunity, soon, to show her a more intimate side of me.

I deferred the hypnosis of her eyes and continued to converse, just to keep my poker face.

“Maybe we should be getting back to the others. We wouldn’t want to give the Sheik another reason to hate me.”

“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just more sentimental than most give her credit for. She has a certain nostalgia of the past that we’ve all experienced together and remains vigilante in keeping things frozen in time, as a way of continually pumping life into the love that we all share. I guess that you could say that Sir Sheik IS a prime example of your time-invested theory, in a way. She’s always been resistant to change and to her, you represent a real threat to a cozy way of life that she’s grown accustomed to.”

“But anybody who’s ever known me will tell you that I’m quick to blend into my surroundings. All I want to do is enjoy the same things that you enjoy and that she enjoys—the ability to enjoy pleasuring a woman.”

“Isn’t that what Sappho Intl represents? Isn’t that what YOU represent?” I whispered into her ear as we neared the entrance to the main room.

She paused and began to slightly fall back to throw her guard up—but I reacted quickly.

I smiled and began to joke around and look around in jest. “At least that’s what I was told…I mean I might have been misinformed…you know…or is it just a rookie’s prank and the joke is on me?”

She began to laugh and I breathed her laughter in.

“Over time, I think she’ll grow to like you and welcome you as the rest of us have. Just don’t allow her to change who you are because I definitely wouldn’t want that—you are a breath of fresh air for me and something that this organization had been calling for within the last few years.”

“And you’re a breath of fresh air for me, as well, PrimaDonna.”

I had her on the hook and things were getting really serious, really quickly, as we stalled before the main doors. But I wanted to be sure to make every move count. So I drew a little closer as we locked eyes, seemingly unable to will them away from each other. And I began to tilt into her sumptuous lips, until suddenly—we were stopped in our tracks by the opening doors of the main room.

It was so abrupt that we both jumped a little, as a snickering femme and flirtatious stud stumbled through the doorway.

And it seemed that their timing couldn’t have been any worse.

We both smiled and without saying a word moved through the doorway to return back to our areas.

Just when I was getting used to the feel of having PrimaDonna to myself, it was time to hand her back off to Sir Sheik.

I could sense that Sir Sheik belonged to a nobility that looked down on me, without even getting to know me. My mere presence annoyed her to her core. Despite what PrimaDonna felt, I just knew that she despised me deeply.

Even as we walked back into the main room, I could feel her eyes searing flames into me like the laser's red dot from the sniper's rifle.

A few of the patrons, drunk with revelry had taken to the dance floor to enjoy the salsa mix that Midi had cooked up at the Playhouse. And a feverish impulse to retain the company of PrimaDonna for just one more moment rose up through my body. If I was going to make a move to stamp and seal a lasting impression on her, I would have to make a very risky move right now.

The dynamic combination of rhythms from the world's African, Caribbean and Latin regions bounced off the walls, as the sultry salsa seduced the main room.

“Ooh, I love this mix.”

I took the opening and asked. “Before we go up, would you care to dance the dance of passion with me, PrimaDonna?”

The words moved from my hips and up through my lips before I could even wrap my head around the calculations. There were only two responses that I could receive but with the Belair flowing through me, I couldn’t conceive a negative utterance from those beautiful lips. I would never know unless I took the chance. And from my experience, that would be the only way to play a good game of chess.

"You are bold, Max Silk.” She looked up towards the V.I.P. area and then into my eyes. And before I knew it, her eyes said ‘yes’ even before her lips responded.

“Why not? After all, it is your grand opening.”

I must confess. I was a little taken aback but played it off by smoothly moving forward with a tender caress to the small of her back, as I led her to the floor.

Now there was no turning back.

We were instantly surrounded by flickering red floor lights as my hips flame dictated the flow of the dance. I’d officially entered the queen's court.

The clave proceeded to mix up the salsa of congas, timbales, piano, tres guitar and bass. I took her hand and the small of her back as she took my hand and shoulder. I stiffened my frame's upper carriage to support the closed hold while my feet caught the downbeat. And our hips and legs began to slowly stir the salsa.

The whole of the room breathed in the breadth of our commanding presence and it seemed that there was a unanimous gasp, as we took our first steps. Our bodies remained level and unaffected by the six weight changes in eight beats—save for our smooth hip movement—which moved with a passionate fervor.

Our hips teased each other without touching, as our shoulders gyrated in sync.

The full length of me supported her picture of perfection, within my golden frame, as we moved. And the other dancers stopped to create a circle around us, as our hips continued to move to the congas hypnotic rhythm.

I swirled her hand above her head, as she twirled within my orb and our feet danced in time with erotic exchanges like a peacock’s mating dance. And then as the rhythm slowed, we revolved around each other, as the moon does the globe.

As the verse ended, I lead her body to bow backwards slowly and seductively with a circular motion. My lead leg provided a stable post to her curvaceous frame and limber legs. And with shoulders back I gazed down at her passionately, as if she was now my prey.

The scent of her jasmine wisped through my nasal cavities to ignite my senses and we were on the verge of perverting the dance floor with our bodies’ flaming intensity. I was enjoying this dance immensely—and so was the crowd.

I abruptly brought her back to center, as we completed another cycle and I prepared to place her body on display. I spun her body's core on an imaginary axis, while my hand's palm led her into a lively swivel. My lead foot centered into her elegant frame and she continued to spin, as if her body’s orb was an exotic spinning top.

We neared the final heartbeat to our salsa’s rhythm, as the song began to wind down. I wound her up one more time slowly then placed my hand to the small of her back to exact a common fluidity. Finally, without warning, I lightly bent her limber body backwards boldly and before the eyes of many, as it signaled the dramatic conclusion to the song and dance.

I brought her back up and peered deeply into the twinkle of her sapphire eyes for what seemed like a millennium. I wanted to send her a subliminal gesture to indicate that against all the odds we were fated to be together—and in this moment, she seemed to decode the signal.

We were tenaciously transfixed until the crowd erupted with applause. Everyone began to cat-call and whistle while we finally allowed ourselves to let the gaze go.

We took a bow and walked arm-in-arm out of the center of the dance floor.

I now felt that my impression had been fully embossed and would not regret passing her on to the entourage that awaited her.

As we walked, I finally became conscious of the beauty of the diverse members of the audience. The crowd was an exotic sea of studs, femmes and burlesque girls. As we made our way through the circle, the beautiful array of females caught my eyes in deep desire. I had charmed the femmes and left a seductive scent for them to continue to sniff, even after I departed from the dance floor. Some even tried to rub up against me as I passed. And although PrimaDonna walked before me—they were not fazed.

They wanted me badly and PrimaDonna could sense it as we headed back to the V.I.P. gallery.

“Silk, that was sensational. I had no idea that you danced that well. I’m truly impressed.”

“I’m a Miami native, so it’s almost a requirement that I dance the salsa that well.”

“Well, that was breathtaking and now I KNOW you are going to give the other two a run for their money.”

“I sure hope so.”

We made it to the top of the stairs together and instantly I began to intercept the sights and sounds of the V.I.P. area.

“Well. That was fun.”

“I haven’t enjoyed a dance like that in a long time. Thank you.” PrimaDonna smiled. ”I’m gonna go visit the powder room to freshen up before we go back in.”

While she and Flourish went into the private bathroom, I rounded the corner into our section and was content to let the experience marinade.

The club was re-invigorated with the shock of our electricity and now felt lively and alive with the supplemented blood that was pumped back into the main room’s pulse.

I breathed in the club's floral baroque, like smoke. And my mind glided within the bliss-filled supply of my natural high, as I sat back into the seat.

I was feelin' real right and nothing could destroy my jubilation.

It was then that the unforeseeable occurred.

As soon as PrimaDonna and Flourish was well out of sight, Sir Sheik had instantly lashed out at me.

The Sheik held a pocket knife to my neck and it’d finally occurred to me that I might’ve crossed the line, just a tad bit, by dancing with PrimaDonna.

The Sheik had been on the prowl like the cat’s meow, just waiting for the opportunity to get at me. And right now, her blue and green eye blazed wildly.

“Whoa, killa, did I miss something?”

“You know—you dance really well. But I’m sure you are well aware that you have spit in my eye by stepping on MY toes. PrimaDonna belongs to me!”

“Damn, it doesn’t look like it to me…” I halfway joked as I placed my hands in the air with a motion to surrender.

“Whoa.” Pharaoh and Suez instantly stopped conversing with each other at the railing and placed out their hands with the same yielding movement.

Sir Sheik gripped the knife harder, as I could feel the cold steel blade press into my neck.

“You have upstaged and humiliated me within my own empire. And you thought I would idly sit by and allow this to happen to me! To ME—Sir Sheik!” She sniffed through her nose and twitched. “You know. I could slice you quicker than shit sticks and relieve myself of your filth.”

“Okay…just be easy, breezy. You don’t want to do this with all of these witnesses around. ”

“I don’t give a shit about these people. They fail to even notice us.” She twitched again. “You know you disgust me. I’d be doing you and me a favor by just letting you bleed out.”

The Sheik’s hand began to shake uncontrollably, as she clenched her jaws in hatred. Was she really this crazy? I began to think that she really could give two shits about murdering me and began to sub-consciously picture the swift swinging of her wrist creating a smile on my neckline.

I took a quick swallow, closed my eyes and submitted to my fate.

But then Suez took out a handgun from the back of her shorts and pressed it coolly to Sir Sheik’s neck.

“I wouldn't do that if I was you, carajito.”

Pharaoh was right when she said that I was rolling with the big dogs. The Sheik was like a pit bull lurking and currently in full attack mode. She was totally out of control and apathetic to the fact that we were surrounded by a room full of dancing patrons.

But Suez had my back.

She was a true gangsta and that was my homey already! She, of all people, wouldn’t be the one to stand for this.

And although I would’ve given anything to get the Sheik’s hand away from my neck, I wouldn’t want Suez to go down over my own risky business. I pitched the flames to the fire and I would have to be the one to put the coals out. I would have to be the one to rein Sir Sheik back in.

I tried one more time to de-escalate the situation.

I gazed Sir Sheik deep in the eyes with calm and spoke very slowly and softly.

“Listen…everyone just chill-ax! We don’t want to ruin a good party. You, Sir Sheik, are a stallion and way above this. PrimaDonna and Flourish will be on their way back any minute now. We wouldn’t want them to walk in on us like this.”

I could see her mind flash back to reality at the sheer mention of PrimaDonna’s name. And I began to feel the Sheik’s hand gradually relax.

Sensing the release to the tension, Pharaoh began to slowly pull the Sheik’s wrist back to remove the knife from my neck.

“Everybody, just be easy…C’mon Sir Sheik just calm down.”

“Damn, dude! You just blew my buzz!” Suez replaced the glock back into the back of her shorts and everyone collapsed back into their seats.

“You can thank your lucky stars that Suez was here—this isn’t over.” Sir Sheik returned her blade back into her pocket and sat next to me, as I rubbed my neck in relief.

I could now see why they put me through weapons training and stressed my need to understand how to protect myself. It seemed that even in Sappho Intl, one rotten apple could spoil the whole barrel—-and that rotten apple was Sir Sheik.

“Know this! Sappho and everything in it is mine! The quicker that you learn this fact, then the quicker we can all get along. In the meantime don’t fuck with me!”

The ladies began to round the corner giggling and the Sheik quickly embraced me in a gentlemanly hug. The Sheik smiled as I looked at her in disbelief.

“It's good to see you guys getting along already.”

I couldn’t believe how quickly she’d switched her tone. I took a drink from my champagne bottle and stiffened my vessel.

I was playing with fire and had almost got torched.

But what was even more frightening than me almost getting sliced in half, was that in my will to get exactly what I wanted, I knew, in my gut, that I was sure to walk the hot coals again.

This incident might have instilled fear into anybody else—but not me.

And at the very least I had ascertained two things–I’d seen the worst of what the Sheik was capable of and I knew that I had the loyalty of Suez.

I simply had to maintain faith that I was protected and in the future, I would also have to keep my eye on Sir Sheik.

Midi announced the last call for alcohol and thanked all the patrons for coming out for the grand opening of SocialClub9.

“Now please raise your glasses in a toast to the Mother of us all—to Sappho!”

PrimaDonna winked from across the way, as she mouthed the words in unison with me and the whole room.

“To Sappho!”

We raised our glasses and drank fearlessly to the future.

8

“Fuck me running!”

The vaulted room door glided open and the neon blue LED-light switched on to reveal columns of adult toys on one side of the room and rows of glock pistols and daggers on the other.

“And this is your concealed firearms and sex toys room.”

Early this morning, Flourish had escorted me to my final habitat in Miami—Illumin8. This haven of illumination would be mine to claim for as long as I would remain in Sappho Intl.

When we first rolled onto the vast expanse and into the black, iron gates, I was immediately intimidated by the sheer breadth of it.

I thought to myself. Oh my fucking God. What was I going to be doing with so much house? I mean, this was enough property to provide emergency lodging for some small countries.

Sensing my apprehension, Flourish told me that I could have my team over, at any time that I wanted, and was still welcomed to visit Playhouse No. 7 at my leisure.

This seemed to pacify me enough to get me into the front door.

But as we took the customary tour throughout the location, I began to warm up to the peace and serenity of the home. The aura that emitted from this mansion was calming and the solitude was a welcomed transition from the hustle and bustle of Playhouse No. 7.

Not to say that I didn’t love being in the company of my team. They were beginning to love and adore my presence as much as I was falling in love with them. But despite the vast amount of space that we all had there, I yearned for some boundaries and peace amidst the house of party animals.

I mean, how could I study in the library room or get up early and thoroughly meditate when the Trio and the studs were always partyin’. I loved their company, but I soon realized the urgent need to get into a space that was all my own—so that I could continue to develop.

And at Illumin8, I could simply envision how this beautiful environment could further upgrade me into a much stronger and smarter version of myself.

At the other two locations, I simply had to adapt to the environments. But within this mansion it was quite different—this house was a living vessel.

It was so much an extension of me that as I moved throughout Illumin8, it followed me. I was becoming one with the house. And as I breathed its presence in, I felt every inch of its customization to my every need—it seemed that its sole purpose of existence was to accommodate my unique and individual person. It seemed to know that it would become my sanctuary as I began this new chapter of my life.

This was a place for me to continue to create and to arrive at my highest self; a place to progress in every way that I possibly could to become the ultimate supra-stallion. This was a reliable space that I could finally call home.

The waterfront locale was situated amid the Venetian Island chain of Miami. The Venetian Island mansion reflected the clean lines of Miami modernism and had been one of only two Sappho Intl domestic U.S. properties to be constructed within this century.

The modern masterpiece sat on close to a whole acre of land, in order to maintain privacy and to accommodate the events that would take place here—including Cloud9, which kicked off tomorrow.

As soon as we’d entered my contemporary palace, I was greeted with stunning Miami skyline views that burst through floor to ceiling windows. And the morning sunlight flirted with soaring ceilings and impeccably finished marble floors.

My private chef was already dicing onions and bell peppers on the bianco cristal granite counter of the kitchen island. She smiled, said hello and motioned that the vegetables would be added to an omelet that was part of her welcome breakfast for me. The butter sang as it melted in the stainless steel pan that sat at the Viking stove. I was told that she could cook anything and that she resided in the staff’s quarters at the other end of the property with the rest of the employed personnel.

This mansion, unlike the other two locations, also held smart house systems which included things like motorized control of the lighting and shades, ambientour elegance, and whole house audio. From the gate access controls to the large media room that came with the wet bar—it seemed that everything was easily accessible, touch panel, or motorized. It was a technological work of genius.

As we’d moved throughout the first level, I began to fall in love with the fact that I could mature and evolve in ways that I never thought imaginable within a house of this magnitude. Every room had an added touch that spoke to the core of my being. It was as if PrimaDonna had my whole persona in mind as she was designing and furnishing the interior.

While the bulk of the three-level mansion followed a hip MiMo architectural style, with modern lines and minimalist furnishings, several rooms provided their own unique brushstroke to the masterpiece.

Some rooms like the conference room and ballroom were designed in the Miami art deco style, reminiscent of Old Hollywood glam with a distinct Miami twist. Cream-colored walls were accented with gold-framed floor-to-ceiling mirrors with sliding glass doors made of double-thick glass, in order to keep the rooms quiet and cool. The golden-trim mahogany desk in the conference room was accented by soft-tweed carpets in vertical geometric shades of purple, grey, coral and orange and was further sensationalized with metal tables, chrome geometric shapes and cubist paintings. Both rooms lay hidden away and in full-length, metallic purple tweed curtains, like a silver screen starlet. They were glamorous.

Some rooms were designed with more of an electronica flair. The gym, game room, as well as the smoke and lounging room all bore a more club-influenced style as reflected in the sexy photo murals that lined the walls. The full wall decals wrapped around the rooms and projected images of cityscapes and young women dancing and laying together in a house-infused social setting. Then square, frosted glass booths and other geometric sculpted pieces infused with recessed LED-lights, to assist in providing a hip and upbeat vibe. These rooms were red hot and the energy was high.

And then some rooms were simply Zen influenced. The bayfront Zen room was a meditation area enthused by the bay that surrounded it. The Miami sand that surrounded the property inspired the Zen room’s ceiling, which was built of twenty-two steel contoured beam structures, and covered by sand-toned painted wood. The contoured interior was further balanced by a customized indoor fountain and maximized natural lighting to round out a design inspired by the serene Zen ideology of the power of nature and simplicity.

All of the rooms may’ve had various design influences but had one thing in common—they all characterized a personality trait that PrimaDonna saw within me; which also meant that she’d been thinking of me the whole time that she was designing and furnishing this mansion. This epiphany made me smile inside as we began to reach the tail end of our tour.

It became even more evident of how much she thought of me when I was told of the other few bonuses that she’d adapted into my new home. The house had a small, private music studio with an executive office built into it. I would be able to write and sharpen my musical abilities whenever my heart’s desire. The studs could also come over and we could all hold jam and recording sessions.

The techno-inspired smoke and lounging room even came with a full wall aquarium filled with exotic, rainbow fish and colorful coral reefs that seemed to cater to my organic nature amidst the party environment.

In addition to the Cayenne, the garage even held a chrome-painted Ducati Monster and a Peugeot sports car for me to enjoy. And the dock held a few jet skis and a yacht.

We could’ve taken the modern floating staircase upwards. But why climb when we could ride? We rode the brass elevator to the rooftop terrace which, in addition to a full summer kitchen, welcomed me with the idyllic panoramic view of Miami and a bay that I could wind down to.

I looked over the bay and thought what did I ever do to deserve this? I thought to myself—I must have seriously died and taken the highway to heaven. And although less than a week ago, I’d been attacked at SocialClub9 by Sir Sheik, I felt that it would all be worth it if only to reside in this utopian mansion.

We finally ended the tour by riding the elevator down to the second floor which held ten bedrooms. Among these bedrooms was my lavish master suite. We entered it and the room spoke to me from the moment I stepped foot inside.

It said, “Welcome home, Silk…We’ve been waiting for you.”

The master bedroom was replete with a sprawling master bathroom and the largest walk-in closet that I’d ever seen. In fact, to say that it was a walk-in closet was an understatement. It was more like a small customized boutique that I would have fun filling up with new clothes and new kicks—that is once I’d padded my savings.

The suite also held a king-size chocolate brown perspective platform bed with abstract skylights overlooking it and a private terrace to boot.

I was truly blessed.

And while the ‘His’ walk-in closet remained intact, the ‘Hers’ closet was turned into the vaulted room, with which Flourish and I now stood—my very own private toy closet.

And if I was Batman then I’d stepped into the bat cave.

Dildos, straps, harnesses, vibrating bullets; anything and everything a girl and stud could ever want to play with, lined the walls.

"Consider this large walk-in closet to be your tool shed for all the tools you'll need to build on your reputation. It’s been outfitted to hold all of your protective gear and guns on the ‘protection’ side and sex toys on the ‘pleasure’ side, including the Ana Conda's Love Muscle 3.0.”

“You’ll probably not access the protection side much in the beginning because you’ll grow to use these different weapons as you mature within Sappho Intl. Hopefully you’ll NEVER need to use them, in all reality.”

I reflected back on the attack and thought that if I continued to fuck around with Sir Sheik, I might have to get acquainted with that side a little sooner than later.

Flourish pointed to the top row of the ‘pleasure’ side and continued.

“The ladies LOVE the Love Muscle 3.0—so, this bad boy is now your new best friend.”

“This is the newest in sex toy technology. It's been beta tested by the other two stallions and has proven to be the first device to successfully simulate a full erection from a soft position and return on command.”

She pointed as she began to explain the Love Muscle’s components.

“The erection of the shaft and testicles are controlled by a small internal computerized hydraulic system located at the base—which is activated by wireless remote, vocally or by touch. The system motors the muscle seamlessly by activating flexible springs to pitch and stiffen the long, limp central core of silicone, which serves as the core shaft; as well as to tighten it by gently pumping silicone gel into the surrounding layered sleeve. The gel is cleverly pumped from the internal spherical pouches of the testicles and upon de-activating, the gel releases back into its carrying pouches.”

“A thin layer of sterile, saline solution lies between the erection gel sleeves layer and the elastomer silicone shell—which is the outside skin; and saline also fills the small encircling tubes that serve as veins. And as you can see, the sculpted silicone head and testicles have been also filled with silicone gel, to retain its soft but rounded shape.”

“The harness is virtually strapless allowing you room to receive your own stimulation concurrently. It's even water-proof and self-lubricates with a lubricant that pumps and squirts through the tip of the head, upon activation.”

“The Love Muscle was created by a few of our own members who are also a part of the medical and science community. The research and development team applied some of the same innovations and cutting-edge technology that have contributed to biohybrid artificial limb and prosthetic technology.”

“And you, my handsome, have been given nine of them, in different sizes, which’ve been customized to your naturally tanned skin tone and pre-programmed for you. It will provide one of the greatest sex-periences, for the women that you service, by truly providing the best of both worlds.”

"I didn't know that you advertised for dicks now.”

Although my reaction was in jest, I was profoundly impressed by the equipment that stood before me. The loose sheath of silicone skin was as realistic as they came and seemed to rely on the thin layer of saline solution to slip up and down, past the harder silicone shaft system that it encased—so that it would hold a thoroughly realistic pull to it. The head and balls of the dong were perfectly crafted and the veins seemed to move with the pull of the surrounding skin and slippery saline. The engineering appeared to be functional yet pristine. It was absolutely magnificent.

"You sound like a commercial.”

She looked at me and then gave me a light love tap as I smiled.

"That's because I and half of the Trust highly endorse this product, like it was sent from the goddesses themselves.”

Each one sat in a velvet-lined box, like gold bullion bars being transported to banks from refineries.

"The Love Muscle has three levels that the shaft can fill up and inflate to—watch...”

She picked one of them up and proceeded to demonstrate.

"Power up!"

The limp, almond-toned ruler began to slowly rise and silently fill and tighten with a hardened pulsing. The internal springs served to pitch the shaft into a steady hard-on. And the head shone with subtle squirts of self-lubricating saline as though it was pre-cum.

She began to lick her lips seductively and calmly stroked and pumped the loose and encasing skin of the cock; which served to further load and harden the sheathed shaft, as she handled the growing muscle.

"Oh, oh, Silk"

Flourish sarcastically moaned and the veins began to swell with saline. And the whole of the silicone gel had been pumped and transmitted to fill any remaining spaces of the engorged shaft. The inflated Love Muscle had reached its maximum length of a full eight inches and looked as though it were on the verge of bursting with fluids.

"It has three levels and this is as big as this one gets. And trust me—it’s big enough. It's amazing. Your active words are power up, Oh, Silk, and power down...” At the moment she said the words 'power down' the Love Muscle began to de-inflate back to a flaccid state.

"... and that's how it works. The other two stallions swear by it.”

I had to admit that it looked and felt more life-like than any other strap and dildo that I'd ever seen. I loved trying new things and I couldn't wait to use it. This was now my favorite gadget and I was appreciating these ladies' ingenuity more and more daily.

“We could test drive it right now if you want to—I'm just pulling your chain. It virtually drives itself.”

“I'm sure that I will rise to the occasion.”

"I'm more than confident that you will, too. With your sexual genius in the driver’s seat…”

She let the words float off as it seemed that her mind had just now begun to process the idea of the marriage of me and this gadget. I, whom held the doctorate in the arts of pleasing a woman, coupled with this beautiful specimen of modern technology—it was a match made in heaven.

“…Mmh, you’ll ride like a dream.” She moved closer to me and gazed deeply into my eyes as if she’d sunken all too quickly into a trance again. But she quickly shook her head and snapped out of it. She learned through our short time together that she had to keep her wits about herself while around me.

“Ooh, I might have to take a cold shower after this. Besides, you got other more important things to do today. You’re officially going from a mere average and everyday stud to a fully inducted Sappho Intl stallion.”

"It seems like just yesterday you were rocking the cargo shorts and flip-flips and now you're a rock star stallion.” She playfully delivered a light peck and added. "You just remember who got you there.”

"Oh, fa sho, Flo. I know you always got my back...”

"That’s right. And you betta never forget it. So, now that you're settled in, you wanna get ready for your initiation ceremony. As a part of the ritual, you want to take a long bath in sea salt and wear nothing but the white kimono robe and Egyptian cotton boxer briefs that’s been set aside for you. Take your time. Ready your spirit. Then meet PrimaDonna in the meditation room in about an hour and I'll see you later tonight with the rest of the team.”

“Cool.”

"Oh and Silk, I'm really proud of you.”

"Thanks, Flo.”

♦ ♦ ♦

The low buzzing of the tattoo machine had just shut off, after the last of the neon ink had been etched on my neck, which completed the Sapphian mark that signified my official induction into Sappho Intl and the Sapphic Trust.

I was instructed not to eat anything but fruit and to drink water for the forty-eight hours that preceded the induction ceremony.

Since I was also instructed to bathe in sea salt right before the ceremony and to change into a clean white robe, I now sat purged of all impurities in the middle of the Zen meditation room on a stone that’d been placed opposite PrimaDonna—who also sat perched on a stone in nothing but a white robe.

“I’m finished. It’s completed.”

The room was completely dark save for the small floor candles that were scattered throughout the room, as well as the UV light that glowed nearby.

The private tattoo artist was a member of the Trust and licensed to tattoo with the necessary ultraviolet ink. And with the grace that came with repetition, she proceeded to hold up a small mirror and another UV light, so that I could see the purple glow of the etched image that had been branded onto the flesh behind my left ear on my neck.

“That’s perfect. Thank you.”

The tattooist began to gather all of her things silently and walked from the room just as quietly.

The second part of the initiation would begin as soon as PrimaDonna’s mother and aunt were ready to enter the room.

“Silk, now that you’ve officially entered the inner core of Sappho Intl and the Sapphic Trust, may you grow wholly through the leaves and branches of such fruitful organizations and respect the roots from whence they came.”

PrimaDonna remained perched delicately with crossed legs and yet with duly noted nobility. Even in the veil of dim obscurity, I could still make out her voluptuous lips, as they danced with every uttered proclamation, among the shadows of her well-proportioned face. Her beauty gracefully shone even within the darkness.

“Do you vow to respect the sanctity of the Sapphic Trust, the Counsel, and the Sapphians whom are now your sisters in love, life, and liberty?”

“Yes.”

“Max Silk. Welcome to the Sappho Intl family.”

Her lips smiled as she dipped her finger into a small, stoned bowl, which was filled with what felt like olive oil, and traced the Sappho symbol onto my forehead.

PrimaDonna casually slid her hood off and smiled.

“My mother and aunt should be entering, at any moment, to complete the second part of your induction. The induction in two parts represents the two hemispheres of the brain from which we’re urged to evolve. The first part is the objective or physical fraction in which you are the witness; whereas the second part represents the subjective or expressive fraction, in which you’re the subject.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“Do you mind if I ask you something?”

“I don’t mind.”

“How do you know the difference between the Sappho Intl member’s tattoo and the Sapphic Trust member's insignia?”

“Whether you’re a member of Sappho Intl or the Sapphic Trust you will have the same ink. However when you become a member of the Sapphic Trust then you receive—what looks like from a distance—up to three visible horizontal bars below the symbol. The number of bars depends on which level you may belong.”

“But I’m gonna share something with you that only a few people know. If you step up close to these bars under black light there’s a very, very small patterned digital code that is etched into it with ultraviolet light by the tattooist to maintain legitimacy—sort of like the dollar bill.”

“That’s very clever.”

“I have no idea why I just told you that. I guess you make me feel like I can trust you.” We smiled together as though we were long time friends sharing a naughty secret. I felt a confidence growing between us already.

“I’m glad that you’re warming up to me.”

I smiled and simultaneously the door to the room opened and closed.

PrimaDonna’s mother Madison and Aunt Diana entered the room in the same robes as what we wore. And though the meditation room was darkened they exhibited the radiance and grace of the goddesses of ancient. Their aura filled the space and it felt as if through some strange enchantment, the room had been transformed into an ancient temple rested upon the mountainside.

Madison walked a central vertical line from one wall to the opposite end, as Diana created a cross by walking a perpendicular central line in the same manner. Simultaneously, PrimaDonna straightened her body posture, closed her eyes and began to inhale and exhale, as if to signify that the second part of the ceremony had begun.

They all moved together without uttering a word.

Once Madison and Diana had reached the opposite walls, they turned to align themselves. And began to inhale, exhale and then chant.

"A single body. A single mind. A single soul. Makes us whole. Sappho echoes.”

Small, filled sacks escaped their pockets as they began to pour red sand onto the floor into the shape of a large circle the size of the room. They then created a large triangle inside of the circle; and then the Sappho symbol itself around me and PrimaDonna whom still sat cross-legged and faced each other in the center of it all. It looked as though we were now sitting in the center of a circular labyrinth.

Madison and Diana proceeded to place the sacks back into the pockets of their robes and then walked outward in opposite directions to the edge of the large circle. Madison lit a large standing, black iron floor candle and the whole room was illuminated. Diana went into her other pocket to remove a small bottle of water and filled a small stone bowl that set on a matching black iron stand at the opposite end of the circle. They both subsequently glided along the outside of the edge of the circle. They would pass their fingers through the candle’s flame, once they approached it, and dipped their finger into the bowl of water as they approached it. PrimaDonna slowly began to trace again the symbol on my forehead over my third eye. After rounding the circle three times, they walked the path into the center until we were all holding hands to create a circle.

“The three elements of water, earth, and fire are contained within this place. We may now breathe in and breathe outward together to make the breath of life as wind.”

We all inhaled and exhaled deeply together. Then Madison continued.

“We now exist as a single balanced organism in one accord—to represent life and truth.”

“The latitude and longitude represent the two centers of thought within the brain. The triangle represents divine wisdom and the circle represents the wholeness of the soul. All become elevated with the central body and power of a woman. We are Sappho’s legacy and mind, body, and soul, we have become whole.”

“We now reserve the right to the identity and customs of Sappho. We now reserve the right to the freedom of her practices and the dissemination of her truths.”

“Max Silk, do you intend to hold and keep all of her truths sacred?”

“Yes.”

“You have now been re-born of the body of Sappho. Welcome.”

They all repeated in unison. “Welcome!”

“If you could both please join us in the Hall of Antiquity after you get dressed. We'd like to talk to our newest stallion.”

The ceremony had been completed and they departed the room as quietly as they entered.

“Congratulations.” PrimaDonna smiled and we both stood simultaneously.

As we maneuvered through the labyrinth of red sand, PrimaDonna continued to gradually warm up to me.

“So Silk, how do you like your new home?”

“I’ve already fallen in love with it. I mean, it's definitive of me and really captures who I am.”

“Each mansion illustrates the character of the stallion that inhabits it. Which is why your new home is called Illumin8—it’s filled with the same light, love, and multi-faceted creativity that radiates from your person.”

“Well, PrimaDonna, you have a divine gift and I’m filled with overwhelming gratitude.”

“I’m glad that you can appreciate my gifts. And you haven’t even seen the Hall of Antiquity yet—that room was meant to be a surprise.”

“Yeah, I was just about to say that. It seems this house is full of surprises. I think that Illumin8 is gonna be the perfect cap to Cloud9.”

We now stood at the door facing each other.

"I can’t wait to see what you have in store, Silk. Lourdes is even geeked about it.”

“Oh, you’re gonna love it…”

“…Oh, I’m sure…Which reminds me…you know you were all the rave at the grand opening of SocialClub9. There’s been an overwhelming buzz about you. It seems that everyone wants Silk in their sheets this year.”

“And what about you?”

It was a bold move and one that seemed to take PrimaDonna by surprise as she paused and gazed deeply into my eyes.

Then ironically yet conveniently, the cotton sash that’d been tied around my waist became loosened and my robe leisurely draped open. PrimaDonna glimpsed my cotton briefs and more importantly the body beneath it—which was sculpted and a broad variation to the slim build that she was used to seeing in the Sheik.

My tribal tattoos and golden skin gleamed in the candlelight.

“You know, I love the smooth touch of Silk; but I seem to slip when it’s in my sheets.”

PrimaDonna began to finally reveal a slightly different side to me as she ran her fingers down my tribal, tracing it with curiosity. We leaned into each other slowly. I couldn’t wait to taste the sweetness of her lips.

But with stark astonishment, she shook her head with subtlety and stopped short. And then PrimaDonna opened the door instead.

“We wouldn’t want to keep my mom and aunt waiting too long.”

“PrimaDonna! What’s holding you back? What are you afraid of?” I began to tie up my robe while trying desperately to re-capture her eyes.

She’d made it out into the hallway and I followed her quickly.

“I’m not afraid.”

”Then why not let go, when I can feel that you feel me.”

“I DO feel you…and that’s what scares me. You’re so alive…with a bold intensity and propensity for life. And I have so much that requires constant containment.”

“…well I’m sure, but even you’re allowed to take a break from it all, every once in a while.”

And then without warning, she stopped and turned and peered up at me.

She looked into my eyes, as if she finally agreed with me. Why should she be the only one in a pleasure-filled organization refrained from having any of the fun and excitement?

I could read that she was tired of fighting her own desires. She simply ceased to want to resist herself for a moment longer and finally let her curiosity get the best of her.

PrimaDonna finally gave into her desire and kissed me.

With the softness of her hand felled upon my face, our lips interlocked seamlessly like two fated puzzle pieces that’d finally found each other throughout a thousand scattered Sapphians.

And though our eyes became closed, the whole of the universe seemed to slow down to stand still, as the hall’s light and love whirled about us.

Her lips were as supple and yielding as I’d always imagined them to be, and would taste even sweeter than the dream. Our tongues played and translated the extraordinary language of our verbal paradise, which was finally found and recorded to our soul’s elation. And as she melted in my hand’s caress, all was, and would be right in the world.

Our bodies, despite our soul’s motivation to ensue, finally departed us and we gazed deep into each other’s eyes again—each fascinated with the splendor of the other.

She slowly pinched her lip with clenched teeth, as if the taste of me still lingered on her spirit.

“Wow! What is it that you don’t do well?” She whispered.

“That kiss merely skims the surface, PrimaDonna.”

Still dazed by it, she smiled and played with the sash of my robe like a naughty Catholic schoolgirl, while her sapphire eyes glistened and blazed.

“I can just imagine…” She finally began to come out of her stupor and shook her head to regain her composure. “Well…I must admit…that was magical.”

“It was! But it’s those lips that made it unforgettable. Those lips…”

I fixed my eyes to re-capture her lips and then to captivate her eyes. And with as much charm as I could muster, I commenced to pull her back into my charge.

We moved so slowly now. But with the attempt to magnetize her back into my clutch—the overwhelming attraction would cause her body to brush against mine.

I could feel her shudder slightly, as she was the closest that she’d ever been to surrendering. But at the last, she began to force her body to walk backwards down the hall.

“I’m gonna go take a shower before I…”

As her words trailed, I grinned, with the understanding that I’d fully planted a seed of possibility within her soul—she wanted and would get more of me.

“I could join you…you know, help with those hard to reach places.”

She giggled and turned to walk down the hall.

“Very tempting…I’ll have to take a rain check on it. We’re meeting with my mom and aunt remember.”

I remembered—but it was worth a shot.

I watched her disappear around the corner as my heart danced a jig.

I was so excited that I wanted to do a thousand flips up and down the hallway—but I had to get ready for the meeting.

As I quickly regained my composure and turned to walk to my room, I saw the movement of a form out of the corner of my eye. The ponytail palm tree lightly shook at the end of the hallway, as if someone had just passed by.

And I could swear that my mind’s eye was telling me that the form was Sir Sheik.

I knew that my team and the other two stallions were slated to begin filing into Illumin8 to attend the small congratulatory celebration that we were having, in a few hours. The celebration was to double as a small send-off before we all had to take private flights tomorrow into Sir Sheik’s New York mansion—The Palace—which would serve as the host location for the first leg of Cloud9.

Maybe she made it to Illumin8 before the others?

Could that really have been Sir Sheik wandering through my home? Did she just see me with PrimaDonna and would our lips caress be the kiss of death for me?

I wasn't sure if she saw us or not—but I would definitely find out.

My heart began to race as I silently ran down the hallway and casually turned the corner with the ponytail palm shielding me.

As soon as I peeked around the corner, I could see through the reflection of one of the hallway mirrors that the door to a nearby room was swinging slightly ajar. I tip-toed up to the door and opened it slightly to peek inside. And there she was—Sir Sheik was pacing the floor of my smoke and lounge room.

She had indeed arrived a little earlier than everyone else. And as billows of smoke rose from a freshly lit cigarette, I could now see that she was also speaking on her cell and appeared to be heated.

“Yeah, fuck her... fucking bloody cunt!”

“Yeah!”

“Yeah! But I still can’t believe she fucking did it! I mean of all the fucking wankers…”

She abruptly dropped onto one of the LED-lit seating booths and clicked her cigarette against the ashtray to dispense the building ash and to take another drag, while the voice on the other side of the phone continued to speak to her.

“I know…I know.” The cigarette’s red tip lit up as she took a quick drag between words and exhaled it through her nose like a dragon.

“I know. I’ll let it ride, but only because we got bigger fish to fry…Yeah, did the hit go down? Good! What about the keys…Is the shipment ready? All 25? Excellent! I need that to make the other move…once it hits Arizona I’ll be ready for it... just make sure every one of them are below the textile rolls.”

I tried to decipher what the hell she was saying. The hit? Keys? I know she couldn’t be talking about kilos—as in kilos of powder. But what the fuck else could she be talking about? Was she talking about weed or cocaine? Did it even matter? I mean, I’d hustled weed on the side but nothing major—zips and qp’s —not kilos!

Sir Sheik was definitely a smoking gun and it was all very possible that she truly WAS running an empire, on the low.

But who else was aware of this? Does PrimaDonna know about this? Are all of them in on this or what? My mind started reeling with questions and all of sudden I didn’t know who to trust—outside of my own team. I think that I was now justified to question everything and everyone around me.

Sir Sheik ashed the half-smoked cigarette then went into her pocket to remove a glass vial of powder. She poured powder onto one of the lit and frosted glass booths and used a stiff hundred dollar bill to line it.

I looked back into the hall to ensure nobody had been coming and continued to peer at her in disbelief.

She then rolled the bill and proceeded to snort a line through the tooter. She sniffed and wiped the powder residue off her nose and applied whatever residue remained to her gum line and continued the conversation.

"…Yeah lately I've been residing high on a snow mountain.” the Sheik sniffed and giggled.

“Yeah, I know…I know…No, not yet…Pharaoh’s on her way down here now. I talked to her while she was in the air…She should be here any minute. We’re gonna head out tonight together…we’ll probably be at the Palace by midnight.”

“Hold on…I think I hear someone coming down the hall.” She looked over her shoulders and back at the door. And I quickly ducked behind it.

I breathed narrowed breaths silently and stood very, very still.

Then after a few seconds she continued talking again.

“That might’ve just been a figment of my imagination…I’m not fucking paranoid…and I’m not that either…just careful…“

“I sure wish I was right there with YOU…fucking Miami! It’s too fucking humid for me. Especially when I could be there with you freaks. I can’t wait to fuck that one broad…What’s her name again?”

“…No, that other one…Yes, that’s the one!”

Sir Sheik began to laugh and I’d decided that I had heard enough. I slowly began to make my way back to my room as quietly as possible.

Since SocialClub9, I’d come to the conclusion that Sir Sheik was psychotic or at the least highly unbalanced. But I really didn’t know how damaged and dangerous she really was. When she said that she controlled this empire, I really didn’t expect to take it to be a literal drug empire. I mean, she was operating hits AND drugs; and to top it off—this asshole was a cokehead.

So many questions raced through my mind as I rushed down the hallway to get ready for the meeting. I’d been inducted for less than ten minutes and now had doubts about the full breadth and reach of the whole organization.

My first impulse was to gather my things and run far, far away; but my spirit began to tell me that I had been brought here for a reason. And everything had its season.

Whether I could trust the Sapphic Trust or not would remain to be seen. But in the meantime, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and to simply take what had just been unveiled to me as a test of fearlessness, patience and will.

Everything had its tick and chime. And in my experience, the truth always came to the light, right on time.

As I rounded the corner, Flourish began to walk towards me down the adjacent hall.

“Congratulations Silk! I heard you just completed the induction. You haven’t gotten dressed yet?”

“Umm, not yet…that’s where I’m headed right now…”

“Silk, what’s wrong? It looks like you’d just seen a ghost?”

“I’m cool.”

“Uhh, okay…I’ll see you later then.” She yelled down the hall, as I kept walking briskly towards my room.

Ordinarily I would have stopped to chat, but I had to get to my room and re-group.

Outside of my team, I now had trouble trusting anyone. My heart was still pounding and my mind was racing at a dizzying pace.

As I finally made it to the privacy of my room, I would have to force myself to meditate and exercise calm. I couldn’t jump to any conclusions without any hard evidence. I would definitely have to allow this thing to play out without judging prematurely. I obviously was placed here for a reason and I simply needed to remain cool, calm, and collected.

But there was one thing that I was sure of—I would have to no longer take my role in this organization for granted. I would have to let this all play out for now. But in the meantime, II would surely need to keep my senses on high alert. I would be vigilant in observing everyone and everything around me, while keeping an ambiguous poker face.

And on the eve of the Cloud9 kick-off, it seemed that the stakes to this chess game just got much higher.

♦ ♦ ♦

If PrimaDonna reminded me of Monica Bellucci then her mother, Madison, was Sela Ward and her aunt, Diana, was Michelle Pfeiffer—at least this was what I was thinking as we approached the polished bronze door of the Hall of Antiquity.

Now that I could see all of three of them clearly in the light, I’d decided that I was being escorted by three gorgeous women to whom the word beauty couldn’t even begin to define.

Although PrimaDonna’s mother and aunt had to have been at least twenty years older than her, they appeared as though they might have been her older sisters. Madison and Diana had aged gracefully and preserved their magnificence as though they had drunk from the fountain of youth. And they both held a Park Avenue elegance while retaining a casual California charm.

They were all modern day goddesses.

“I love Miami.” Madison proclaimed.

“Believe it or not, it‘s one of my favorite cities in the world.” Diana followed.

“Silk, did you know that Miami is the only major city in the United States conceived by a woman?”

“No, I didn’t know that…and I’ve lived here for most of my life.”

“Julia Tuttle is the original mother of Miami and, to this day, the city of Miami is the only major city in the United States conceived by a woman.”

“Miami stands as one of only a few cities worldwide, begun and birthed by a woman.”

“Wow, I didn't know that there were ANY cities begun by a woman. But I always knew there was something so different and vibrant about Miami.”

“Mh hmh. This is one of the reasons why it comes as no surprise that this city has become an important piece of the puzzle to making our Sapphian society whole.”

After taking a nice shower and performing a round of Egyptian fire-breathing, I began to absolve my mind of many of the fear-charged emotions that my soul had constructed upon and convinced myself that everything would be fine. I’d decided that I would hold Sir Sheik solely responsible for her own words and actions without making judgments about anyone else. For now, I would view the rest of the Sapphic Trust innocent until proven guilty and let the universe continue to deal with Sir Sheik. And I was becoming more and more comfortable with this decision, as I now conversed candidly with PrimaDonna, Madison, and Diana.

“Now this…is the Hall of Antiquity.” Diana opened the bronze door and lo and behold—a glorious vision from heaven was unveiled.

“Oh…my…God!” I instantly saw a gigantic oil painting. And my mother, of all people, was the subject.

“Welcome to your library. This is where, I presume, most of your thinking, learning and writing might occur. We have taken the liberty of furnishing this room with more than a few artistic pieces that we thought you might appreciate.”

As Madison and Diana smiled, I moved towards the painting as if I was entranced and magnetized to it.

“The Sapphic Trust is a global organization. Most of our members are intercontinental. Your mother was one of a few Sapphians from the city of Miami and was the most mysterious.”

“My MOTHER was a member of the Sapphic Trust?”

“Your mother was a third level member and overwhelmingly beautiful!”

All of them now joined me to gaze up at the large portrait painting that’d been framed in gold and mounted on the wall.

“She held a magnetism that captivated even the highest and most prestigious of our Trust members.”

“With her long flowing hair and eyes wired with the wisdom of a thousand ancient prophets…”

They began to reminisce amongst the both of them like they’d forgotten I was there.

“Her face adorned with a magical proportion, as though she drank from the divine pool of beauty and the fountain of eternal grace.”

“Diana, you remember her mother's high cheekbones and deep-set dimples?”

“How could I forget? I would’ve died for her bone structure and those dimples... when she smiled the whole world smiled on her.”

“You have your mother's dimples AND smile.”

“She has her father's nose and strong jawline.”

“... and her mother and father's beautiful hair and height" They said in unison. They looked at each other and laughed.

"You are much taller than I expected though...But shame on me, because your mother towered over everyone...and that hair...just striking...”

“But those eyes are entirely your mother’s…eyes loaded with the passion and sensuality that fills your soul.”

Diana studied me, smiled and then returned to appreciate the painting.

“She was so compelling. Her allure commanded all eyes to drink her beauty in, from the moment that she entered a room. A painting of your mother was commissioned within the Trust and painted by one of her adoring lovers—who happened to be an esteemed artiste at the time—as a tribute to her light and beauty, before she passed. We stored it carefully and securely within our facilities after the tragedy and only now had the truest reason to display it.”

“Your mother was one of our most treasured members. She was a beacon of light and everyone adored her presence.”

“She loved your father dearly, but could never deny her appreciation and love of the female form. And he respected both faces of her, so that they could continue to engage in an open and honest marriage—which is true for some of us Sapphians, who have chosen to live dual lives in order to raise a family, yet enjoy the true nature within us.”

I peered at the painting of my mother and began to recollect my own visions and memories of her. We had such a close relationship that I had to push back many of these same memories, in order to endure the loneliness that would follow, after their death. Even now, I pushed back tears at the mere thought of her smile and laughter.

“She had an all encompassing knowledge and a plug to a power that reverberated throughout her essence. She was an engaging intellectual, with a seductive awe; and yet she managed to move with a silent, humility.

“She was one of the most divine women I had ever known.”

“Yes, she held this magnetism…” Madison now looked deep into my eyes. “…a magnetism that could have only come from the goddesses above. And it seems that this beauty...this magnetism...this internal light and love might’ve been passed on to you, Silk.”

In our shortened time together, my mother passed on one religion—the religion of love. Although we’d studied virtually every faith and culture together, she used to say that all of them held one thing in common; one thing that had lasted throughout the ages—the ultimate belief in the power of love. Pure love conquers and unites all.

She taught me daily that the pureness and power within me can only come from a place of truth. And the truth lived internal, with the divine guidance of light and genuine love. As long as I loved myself and remained connected to the source of love, then I would live a life truly free.

This practice and belief would radiate through me for years to come.

“You, Silk, are a perfect mix of both your mother and father. You’re absolutely illuminated—which is why this house fits you and one of the reasons why you’ve been brought into the fold with such haste.”

I was touched by their sentimentality and acquaintance with my mother and father—but I couldn’t let them see me cry.

I had to maintain my bearings in such a confusing and conflicted state. And I would not allow them to see a weakness within me yet—especially with the information that had been handed to me, in the form of a phone conversation by Sir Sheik.

So, I managed to fight back tears and re-align my vessel, as I looked at Madison, Diana and then PrimaDonna. They each smiled at me, as though they were being re-united with a long lost member of their family. And PrimaDonna smiled at me lovingly as though she’d just unveiled one of the greatest gifts to me. She was now seeing a different side of me—but it was a side that I wasn’t sure that I wanted to confront within myself, let alone to approach and show to her yet.

Although I was relieved to know that they were more familiar with my family than even I had anticipated, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being blindsided.

This surprise left me feeling somewhat vulnerable, but I remained poised.

“This comes as quite a surprise to me. It gives me comfort to know that I’m in the company of greatness—as was my mother. And I’m truly grateful for your thoughtfulness and your genuine truth.”

I hugged Madison and Diana in sincere appreciation.

“It is we who are truly honored with your presence, Silk.”

I felt the need to get out of the spotlight and began to walk around the room some more.

“You, Silk, are impressive! Most transformations take anywhere from three to six months and the manifestation of these transformations usually happens in waves. You, however, were placed on the fast track and underwent a one month transformation—you simply needed a little polishing. And your presentation has been immaculate thus far. We are truly inspired by you.”

“Thank you…Thank you.”

I was still a little weakened by my mother’s painting. I needed a diversion to keep me from falling apart.

It was then that I took notice of another painting that was mounted in the room. The woman from my dreams was looking down upon me. I began to move towards it.

“Who is this woman?”

Madison and Diana joined me to stand in front of two large paintings.

“That is the 'In the Days of Sappho' oil painting by John William Godward and the painting next to it is Charles-Auguste Mengin’s 'Sappho' oil painting.” Madison pointed to the painting before my eyes and then Diana pointed to a black vase on the floor nearby. “This is ‘Sappho Reading to her Companions’ on an Attic vase commissioned in 435 BC.”

“This is the woman who was named Sappho…and the originator of our organization.”

So the woman who had been appearing in my dreams and guiding me all of this time was indeed Sappho. I gazed at the paintings in awe and disbelief.

“There’ve been some myths throughout the centuries by outsiders as to the origins and original story of Sappho and of the Sapphic Trust.”

“Some say that she was an aristocrat that loved men and women alike. Some say that she was simply a beautiful poet who could love and appreciate the female form—and with violet hair and a honeyed smile—was the first to put it to song.”

“Her poetry was thoroughly awe-inspiring at the time, especially for a woman...so much so that Plato called her the tenth muse.”

“To the members of the Trust—the truth has been revealed from the mouth of Sappho herself.”

Madison and Diana were now speaking directly to me with a tone of seriousness and transparency in their voices. They were delivering a speech as a tag-team and I imagined that this was how they spoke at the Trust’s board meetings as chairman and secretary.

“For you, Silk, there is a time and a turn for all truths. But here is a single truth...”

“…Once upon a time, around the year of 600 BC, Sappho, who was a wealthy and famous poet and lyrist, was exiled to Sicily from Greece. It was here that she met a beautiful woman named Sophia Luna.”

“And although she’d been known to romance many women throughout Greece and Egypt, Sappho had fallen deeply in love with this Sicilian woman.”

“Sophia Luna had topped Sappho’s long list of lovers to become more than just another lover…she became her only soulmate.”

I couldn’t help but peak at an unaware PrimaDonna, as Diana and Madison began to tell the story of Sappho’s love for Sophia Luna.

“They lived happily as one and would even raise Sappho’s daughter, Cleis, and Sophia Luna’s daughter, Luna, to grow up together.”

“As time went on, Sappho started the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters—which were a circle of women loving women and were also composed of some of Sappho’s past lovers.” She pointed to a beautiful oil painting of seven women dancing among dizzying sheaths of cloth within a composited circle.

“They would feast together and provide support and sisterly guidance in a woman’s only environment. They were all content. And lived and loved in peace.”

I began to settle into this love story, like a warm blanket on a cold winter day. And as I felt its truth, I looked again across the room at PrimaDonna. I couldn't help but return back to the kiss that we’d shared in the hallway not less than a couple of hours ago. I couldn't help but fall in love with that brief moment of sincerity and cohesion. That brief moment of realness and oneness. That—even in that moment of distrust and uncertainty—I couldn't deny this feeling of overwhelming attraction to this woman. In fact, it was more than an attraction. For the first time ever, I couldn’t help but feel like I was falling madly in love—and it would be with this woman—PrimaDonna.

But falling in love with this goddess, of all the available women, was insanity. Unrequited love was always dicey; but with PrimaDonna it would be risky business for me, on so many different levels. Even now, she was so entrenched in the story that was being told that she was oblivious to the fact that I’d fixed my gaze so firmly on her and that these thoughts flowed through my mind. As I glanced at her, I wondered if she would ever be truly within my reach. I wondered if she could even begin to manufacture the same feelings that I felt for her. Maybe I was foolish to even think that a woman in her position could love me back. Besides, it would be breaking the primary rule of Sappho Intl, right?

I would have to conceal these feelings for now and avoid professing them to PrimaDonna at all costs. I breathed in deeply, as I forced myself to re-focus while Madison continued with the history lesson.

“The peace and happiness that they enjoyed was more than anyone could ask for. Nevertheless, as Cleis and Luna had grown older, Sophia Luna wanted to give Sappho another child in her likeness.”

“Since they didn’t have the technology that we have now, she eventually convinced Sappho to allow her to lay with one of her brothers, as an arrangement—to give Sappho another child. But when Sophia Luna and Sappho’s brother had finally lain together it would be in vain—because their act failed to produce a child.”

“Sappho instantly regretted the decision and was soon overcome with sadness and undue envy. Resultantly, Sophia Luna also became saddened.”

“Their sorrow deepened more with the realization that they could not undue what had been done. So, in the ultimate show of love and dedication to each other, they agreed to toss themselves from a cliff as a symbol of their undying love. They would rather die in loyalty to each other than to live with the knowledge of what they’d done to each other.” Madison pointed to another painting mounted on an opposite wall.

“This Gustave Moreau painting called 'Sappho leaping from the Leucadian cliff' captures her on that cliff with her lyre.”

“It’s beautiful, but how tragic.”

“It IS definitely compelling.”

“It was unfortunate. But, unbeknownst to anyone their bodies were spared by our rainbow goddesses, Artemis Orthia and Aphrodite Anosia.” Diana added.

Madison continued. “While everyone thought that they’d indeed been killed, their daughters, Cleis and Luna, eventually became lovers and also became at peace with their passing.”

“But over time they mysteriously began to receive letters of consolation and instruction from Sappho and Sophia Luna, stamped with the seal that duplicated Sappho’s sacred ring. The primary instruction was for Cleis and Luna to seek out the Seven Sisters and to begin to compile and catalogue the letters, as well as all of Sappho’s poems, songs and various other documentations and artifacts. Their daughters and the Pleiades would form the foundation for what would now be called the Sapphic Trust.”

“…the letters that were received, over time, by the daughters and the Pleiades detailed the structure and processes for monetary dues, inductions, protective, and healing ceremonies, as well as the overall vision for organization and growth. They received adamant instructions to document proceedings and events, as well as an order to begin to document and submit their own written stories, affairs and family’s affairs.”

“They began to support the institution of marriage as a necessity to pro-create and began calling them ‘arrangements’. And in an effort to record and supplement the ever-growing rolls of newly inducted Sapphians and associated lineages, they were ordered to document and maintain arrangements and successive offspring.”

“All of these instructions would be for the wisdom, love, and enlightenment of the generations that would follow. And over the centuries, these documentations and writings were transcribed into divine books held under lock and key. These sets of books became known as the Crown of Sappho.”

“The original first letter of instruction from Sappho is called Sappho’s Manifesto and the first compiled book is called Sappho's Jewel. The Jewel plus the twelve other compiled books make the thirteen total books of the Crown of Sappho—which spans the history of us all, locked away in a sealed and gilded bronze chest called the Legacy.”

Diana interrupted excitedly and added matter of factly. “The Legacy also contained some of the original artifacts, such as Sappho’s sacred ring and the blood keepsake lockets that capsulated and preserved a bit of each of their blood, within a silver and glass pendent and was worn with a chain about the necks of Sappho and Sophia Luna—as a testament to their undying love.”

Madison continued. “An abbreviated text was eventually commissioned and became a summary of the Crown of Sappho—-it was simply labeled ‘The Crown’. The original, printed Crown is also held within the Legacy and each Trust member is required to have read the replicated Crown from beginning to end.”

“Ultimately, it seems, that the child that Sophia Luna and Sappho originally desired would come to them in a different form than either of them could have ever imagined—theirs would be the birth of an inheritance in the form of the Sapphic Trust and the Legacy.”

“The preservation of the artifacts of one's culture is paramount in the culture's existence and persistence throughout time.”

“Every major theory, ideology, religion, institution, belief, culture or sub-culture begins with a story or idea and continues to thrive with the ultimate belief and the persistent transmission of that story through time—which is why there IS power in numbers.”

“As the initiated of an elite sisterhood, Sapphians have remained spontaneous and unafraid of going against the grains of society’s status quos. We’ve remained unafraid of breaking the mold of what a woman’s role and image should be. And we, as Sapphians, are trendsetters and go-getters because we believe and swear by Sappho’s Legacy!”

“…And someday you, Silk, will come to know it, as well as many other truths...”

As I looked into the eyes of Madison and Diana, I became well aware of the magnitude of the truth that had been conveyed to me. They had opened this world to me—a world that my mother and father were associated. My whole existence as a lesbian had now been somewhat defined and validated by centuries of achievement and knowledge. And as my mother’s daughter, this was the missing link that I’d been searching for all of my life.

I had so many questions but decided to ask only one.

“This is incredible! Why is this information kept a secret from those lesbians who may not be members—or the world—for that matter?”

“You’ll find out the answer to this question, as well as many other questions that you might have, all in due time.” Diana and Madison moved towards a window in the room as she spoke. Diana uncorked a bottle of champagne that sat in ice, surrounded by four flute glasses on a stand near one of the windows.

“Today is the day to celebrate our existence…”

“…and our right and freedom to love and enjoy pleasure.”

“This world IS our stage! And aren't we all actors latching onto and adopting what has been written for us…to be molded in the image of our environment... It is the actors that maintain our core fiber and DNA, as we evolve, that arise to become the superstars. And it is the love and creativity within that grounds us.” They walked back over and Madison proceeded to hand each of us a glass while Diana poured.

“Silk, I have no doubt in your abilities to become a star in this organization. That symbol that you’ve received at your coronation is a sign of great honor, privilege, and a testimony of the power of a woman. It seals your indoctrination into our company. And perhaps with time and evolution, you might earn a couple more Sapphian lines, as you’re propelled within the Trust itself.”

“Cloud9 is tomorrow. Be sure to enjoy yourself—as it is truly a celebration of the glory of womanhood and sisterhood.”

“Ladies, believe me when I say that I will enjoy this celebration to the fullest—I am deeply honored.”

As I drank from my glass and glared at the painting of Sappho and then of my mother, it all became crystal clear that this was yet another confirmation.

I’d been led to this place purposefully. And at this moment in time, this was exactly where I was supposed to be.

9

“Welcome to the wonderful whimsical world of Sappho Intl’s Cloud9.”

Everyone began to clap as Sir Sheik, Pharaoh, and I stood at the top of the white marble ceremonial staircase to announce the kick-off event at Sir Sheik’s Palace.

We’d all arrived bright and early this morning, after having jet set from the sizzling beach scene of Miami to the brisk and still chilled Sands Point, New York.

This area of Long Island, New York was still frosty. And although we reached late winter, the season’s snow still thoroughly blanketed the lawn and hedges that surrounded the honorable front court of the Palace.

As Sapphians and Sappho Intl entourages pulled onto the grounds of the estate, it became obvious to me that we were in for a sensationalized three days.

If my newly gifted home was a minimalistic masterpiece, Sir Sheik’s was a baroque magnum opus. The Palace reminded me of one of those exquisite fondant cakes; with cascades of cylindrical, curve shapes and theatrical curls decorating the faces of the mansion. The long driveway was carpeted with large squares of black and white marble and served to welcome the guests of the palatial estate. And though the tree branches and surrounding bushes remained bare, the atmosphere was as lively as the dramatic white convex and concave façades of the mansion, as antique red Aston Martins, charcoal grey Bentleys, and jet black Bugattis filed around an elaborate central fountain to be parked by valet, as they did in the days of the Cotton Club and ragtime bands. It seemed that we were all in for an unforgettable treat as we, in true form, registered our attendance to relish in this evening’s Roaring 20’s bash that awaited us.

We, three stallions, towered over everyone at the top of the stairs, as Cloud9 began to live up to its hype. And I looked down to gaze upon the mass of delightful studs and femmes that occupied the baroque inspired, all-white stone lobby.

Well-to-do studs sported tailored zoot suits with black ties and black wing tipped shoes, as they scoped the wealthy femmes that were in attendance and tilted their fedoras. The eager and affluent femmes shook their flapper slip-on dresses with feathered boas and finger-waved hairstyles, as they flaunted gemmed headdresses and stylistic Cloche hats. And THEY scoped us stallions, while coolly smoking from long cigarette holders and tapping their Jane shoes in cool anticipation. Everyone participated with elegance and each person’s detail was as authentic as the beaded fringes and sequins that decorated many of the femmes’ dresses and headbands.

It was the ultimate underground experience but would stand out as the event of the year.

Some of the Sapphians I recognized instantly, but some I didn't. Top models, TV stars and movie A-listers, rock stars and musicians, headlining entrepreneurs, trust fund babies, international heiresses, celebrities and even politicians. Their backgrounds were indeed wide and varied.  But they all held at least one thing in common—they were all in attendance for the magical ride that Cloud9 had to offer.

And as Pharaoh and I flanked Sir Sheik, even she seemed to be in great spirits—as we all were.

I could hardly contain myself, as we began to descend the staircase as orchestrated.

“Cloud9 is the ultimate poker and pleasure-fest...” Pharaoh merrily declared.

”Where it's okay to poke-her, as long as you please-her...” I suavely asserted.

And as I uttered the words, I broke off from our flanking position and struck a handsome pose, while centering sturdily on the stair landing situated right below the golden, staircase lantern. Then the other two continued descending parallel to the looping black iron railing.

“At Cloud9—every cloud has a silver lining and every fantasy’s fulfilled!”

Pharaoh stopped a few more steps after proclaiming her line and stood to pose, while Sir Sheik kept walking downward to the second stair landing.

Upon her arrival, the Sheik halted and we all announced in unison.

“…And tonight’s fantasy is Sir Sheik’s Speakeasy!”

Confetti blowers launched white confetti and streamers into the air from the upstairs balcony and the Sapphians went wild. Confetti danced in the air as Sapphians clapped, whistled and jeered with excitement.

“We’re here at the Palace for the first leg of events. Tonight, I’m your host and am pleased to introduce this year's noble participants of the Mounting of the Stallions. Most of you should know me by now. But for those of you who don’t, shame on you—I’m the one and only Sir Sheik.”

Sir Sheik opened her arms wide and commenced to turn and announce Pharaoh, who then brushed confetti off of her shoulders in jest.

Then Pharaoh, in turn, casually looked back and announced me.

I coolly straightened my tie, as the crowd went wild, and we both descended to re-join Sir Sheik to flank her at the base landing of the full fight of stairs. I began to catch the eyes of many of the women in attendance, within the light of the crystal chandelier. And it seemed that our coordinated welcome speech was a hit.

“And now, if we could all follow me to the stateroom for tonight’s festivities—and again welcome to Cloud9.”

We walked forward to lead the swarm of eager Sapphians past opulent columns and towards jazzy, upbeat horns that grew louder and more celebratory with every step that we took.

Sir Sheik opened the door to the grand ballroom and instantly red, green and black confetti, sequins, and mylar streamers rained down from a platform above us and danced over the new world that’d unfolded before us—it was Sir Sheik’s Speakeasy and we were all now floating on a dream.

It was a spectacular display and we became frozen with wonder. Polished gold-embroidered and mint green, freshly-felted blackjack and craps tables set sprinkled amidst shiny, brass and fine mahogany wood roulette wheels, awaiting to be spun; which in turn, surrounded a large center aisle, as the pricelessly enticing pin-up girls danced eagerly overhead on hovering red platforms and inside oversized, crystal martini glasses.

A colossal and buffed brass bar sat on one end of the massive room, as a femme bartender stood equipped to serve a wide array of martinis and top-shelf champagne; and a premier chip cage was placed at the other to exchange bills for betting chips.

Three strikingly large, black and charcoal grey Louis XIV Bergère armchairs, surrounded by black Louis XIV antique settee sofas, sat like thrones on three slightly raised mezzanines at varying ends of the ballroom. They each had small, red carpeted stairways that held small, red carpeted landings which served to usher pin-up girls and Sapphians onto and inside the oversized martini glasses; which were also outfitted with gigantic black, green and red velvet cushions and pillows. Slightly mounted and elevated black baroque and floral-wrapped platforms surrounded these martini glasses; further giving the whole floor, with which they all stood, an illusion of varying depths.

It was marvelous and I’d never, in my life, seen anything like it.

We began to make our way down the river of a central aisle that ran and branched into the many directions of the gambling room floor; and would ultimately lead us to our respective mezzanines. The subtle jangle of sequins and dress fringes began to dance around us as we proceeded and “Let's Misbehave” blasted from the room’s surrounding loud speakers. It was as if Irving Aaronson and His Commanders urged us to delight in the night, as we filed down the middle aisle in throngs. And my own eyes were razzled by the sounds and sights, until my spirit became dazzled into a state of overwhelming rapture.

I had to admit that it was all pretty impressive. And though Sir Sheik might have been lawless, she sure knew how to throw a party.

“Silk, you lookin’ to be a magnet over there, huh? Lookin’ good bruva—I might actually have some competition this year!”

“Hey man, I never thought I’d look so good in pin stripes…”  I looked around and surveyed the pin-up girls and beautiful Sapphians that were now thoroughly enlivened and moving to the music. “In fact, I’d never thought I’d see so many lovely ladies in one place at one time!”

“And I should be pashing in the loo with a few of ‘em.” Pharaoh was all smiles. ”Did you see those pin-up girls dancing on the front podiums? I've already placed all of them in my wank bank. Trust me—this will be an experience that you will not soon forget."

We each arrived and raced up the mezzanine steps to each of our respective thrones and my team finally began to fill my sovereign area.

“Whattup killa?”

“Ain’t nuthin', boss. Just checkin’ out all the prim panocha in the place…It seems like the ladies get mo’ and mo’ fine every year at Cloud9. So how ya feelin’, mano?”

“Shinin’ like a diamond. My right palm been itchin' all morning… you know what that means. I’m ‘bout to make a grip this weekend.”

“Stacks…on…deck…” Suez licked her thumb and mimicked a stack of bills being counted.

We both laughed as the Trio walked up the stairs each sipping a martini.”

“Well, hello ladies!”

“Hey, boss.”

“What ya’ll sippin’ on.”

“Chocolate martinis.”

“I think one of the waitresses is making her way up here next.”

“Cool.”

“Ooh, you look so sexy, boss…like the real original gangsters!”

“I think YOU got all of them wet, luv... and it's so strange cuz you each have similar zoot suits...”

“Well, it IS the stallion that makes the suit.”

“Well, the look suits you and you just made a whole lotta heads turn with that entrance. And I love how your white tie and gangster spats set off your eyes…”

“You look sooo dreamy.” Lolita added lightheartedly as she clutched her hands together and batted her eyes.

“Thank you…Thank you…and you gotta lotta moxie yourself, toots.” The Trio cracked up, as I did my best Bugsy Siegel impression and straightened my red, silk pocket handkerchief. ”…and all that jazz.”

“…and all that jazz, huh? You are too crazy, boss…But I gotta say, Pharaoh got you at a close second. I just love her mohawk. Ooh, She makes me wanna cream...”

“Okay, calm down, luv...come back to us...” Kendra snapped her fingers in front of NinaStarr's eyes.

"Oh, sorry about that—I got caught up in it!”

“It’s cool, as long as you caught yourself.”

“You know I would rock her sexy ass…”

Lolita and Kendra both looked at each other. “We know!”

“Anyway, boss, let’s talk business for a sec.” NinaStarr got real serious and leaned closer to me.

“I hope you’re ready to make some serious dough, cuz there’s an overwhelming buzz on your behalf without us even having to really campaign.”

“A little bird told me that the young, Dutch Alice is commanding a strong lead and is making it known that she wants to have you first AND if she wins the first leg she would be willing to give up her whole purse to you—so don’t be surprised if she’s the one in your bed tomorrow night. But we’ll keep you posted on her and the other poker leaders.”

“Okay.”

“Now, Lourdes is the one that books all of our event transactions, personal pleasure calls and house calls. I’m sure he's set you up with one of Sappho's private international bank accounts by now—as we all have one.”

“You’ll receive a text that says ‘Booking Inquiry Initiated’. This text means that a bid or request for your presence has been initiated. You will receive a summary of the details which includes a very brief background on the client, if there’s information to supply, as well as the amount. You send a text back saying ‘Accept’ or ‘Decline’. He sends back a text saying "Booking Completed" to confirm that the money has been booked and credited to your account.”

“We’ill also be giving you updated information as to the potential clients, as well as any clients that we prep for you or that you may want us to prep to send your way. And that's how each transaction works.”

“Cool.”

NinaStarr took a sip from her chocolate martini and gazed at Pharaoh while one of the waitresses had made her way up the stairs.

“Would you like anything to drink?”

“Yes, can you bring a bottle of Moët, sweetheart?”

“…and another chocolate martini.”

“I’ll be right back with that.”

“Thanks.”

“Pharaoh won the first year, but Sir Sheik’s won the last two.”

“Bet.”

Although the corporate culture of Sappho Intl was pretty casual, it seemed that there was an organized system in place for everything. I couldn’t help but wonder how Sir Sheik was able to sustain her corruption, in such a systematic environment; and even more importantly WHY she would be drawn to operating underhandedly, in such a rich and efficient environment—what would compel a person to swindle and hustle in paradise?

“I like those gigantic martini glasses. Those are a nice touch.”

“At each event there’s a platform present so that if a few Sapphians want to engage in a little public display of sexual gratification, then they may do so. The platform may be a whimsical sleigh or a cage, or in this case a martini glass—it varies based on the theme and is usually scattered throughout the location.”

“But there are unwritten rules to this public display. To take advantage of someone who is very much so under the influence or otherwise incapacitated is just tacky. It's embarrassing and spoils the party for everyone. Upper level Sapphians, stallions and select staff such as PrimaDonna and Flourish rarely takes part in public fornication with each other unless it’s with burlesque or pin-up girls.”

“And this is especially true of the stallions. If you guys take part in pleasuring on any of the public platforms, then it's considered to be taken as a slant or an insult on that individual. Mid-Level Sapphians have free reign. Burlesque and pin-up girls have free reign. All of us crowns on your team—thank God—have free reign!”

She didn’t need to explain further as to the reasoning. The art of pleasuring a woman is simple to me. But even in a rule-less society there are unspoken understandings and rules of etiquette, as it pertains to maintaining a sense of honor with a woman—especially amidst the various class systems. It would be like Lolita getting caught skinny-dipping in public versus a mayor’s wife getting caught doing the same thing—one is a girl gone wild moment and the other is simply shameful.

“Alright, I think I got it.”

The waitress had returned with our drinks and at that moment I caught a glimpse of PrimaDonna passing down below.

“C’mon, girls, let’s join the party.”

As soon as we descended the stairs to reach the floor, I felt a peck on the side of my neck and a soft brush of supple lips on the rim of my earlobe.

“Hey you, you look dashing.”

Time stood still as I breathed the subtle scent of jasmine into the hallways of my nasal cavities. I turned to meet a silver-screen flapper with a silver, sequined Halter neck dress, matching satin gloves, and gleaming studded stilettos. It was PrimaDonna twirling a long pearl necklace and wearing a small diamond studded headpiece.

“I dare say, PrimaDonna, YOU look ravishing.”

I could’ve stayed frozen in time, despite the merriment that was occurring around the two of us.

“So, Silk, are you gambler?”

I began to smile. But before I could respond Pharaoh and Sir Sheik snuck up on me from the other side.

“Oi oi savaloy! Anybody up for Blackjack? Prima? Silk? What about you Sheik?”

“Everything’s going smashingly. I wouldn’t mind playing.”

Their presence couldn’t be more ill-timed. So far Sir Sheik had been on her best behavior, but I trusted her glee about as much as a thief in a bank vault—she was sure to switch and steal our bliss, within the batting of an eyelash.

I quickly took the invitation, in order to move away from PrimaDonna—especially in the presence of the Sheik’s crazy ass. She was fickle and I was not about to stir up anything this early in the game. We had nine days of Cloud9 and I ruled in favor of exercising patience to get to the truth of all things considered.

“Silk? Prima?”

“I'm not really a betting stud, but tonight I'm game.” That would be the first of many bluffs tonight.

“Tonight I’m game as well.”

We all took our seats at the blackjack table and the dealer welcomed us. She dealt the first hand and I received a queen of diamonds and an ace of hearts out of the gate. Everyone else would hit to bust, while I would be the only one to stand. And as I took the first hand as a good omen, I would hope that I would rack in money all night—for it would be a sign of things to come.

♦ ♦ ♦

I awoke in my colossal antique four-poster bed in a daze. I looked around and there was a huge wad of neat bills tucked into my shiny, silver money clip and coupled with another large, neat stack that was sitting on one of the nightstands. I had instantly remembered that Cloud9 had indeed started out on the right foot, as I’d made a total of thirty grand at Blackjack last night. That would amount to about a thousand an hour since arriving at the Palace less than 30 hours ago!

My luck was high, as I’d cleaned out both of the other stallions for the night. PrimaDonna had cut her losses early and was honorably content in watching me hand it to Pharaoh and Sir Sheik.

As I got out of the bed and stretched, I vaguely remembered ending the night semi-drunk; but with enough sense to bid everyone adieu for the early morning, after the whole night of revelry, and making my way to my own room alone.

I even woke up this morning to meditate, soak in a bath and change into the silk pajamas that I was now wearing, before I returned to sleep. And with such a prosperous start to Cloud9, I couldn’t wait for the next event and the bidding to begin.

But right now, I was feeling a little curious.

I stumbled out of my corner room and into the hallway to stare up and into heaven—or a version of heaven that peaked through faux-broken and rib vaulted arches that’d been painted overhead to make it look like an ancient stone-arched ceiling. It was dramatic and breathtaking and I quickly decided that I wanted to see more of the Palace. So, I went downstairs and began to peak into the galleries of the first floor.

Even though it had to have been the middle of the afternoon, it was deserted and quiet. Everyone must have still been asleep or hung over. So, it would seem that I had the pleasure of the Palace’s ornate beauty all to myself.

With the emphasis on abundance and luxury, each gallery was a palatial style, swimming in bliss. And in keeping with the ambiance of the rest of the mansion, the ivory-white Venus de Milo sculptures, cupids and landscape-filled paintings, and exquisite vases of the galleries provided a sumptuous opulence for my viewing pleasure.

I arrived at and opened a door with a heraldic coat-of-arms etched into it. Metal plates made of bronze and precious metals immediately greeted me and the overall theme of the room suggested that this was a room of great personal legacy. Grand wall tapestries of landscapes and crimson red and black silk damask curtains sought to obstruct the natural sunlight and preserve the delicately curved shapes of gilded floral arrangements, carved and silver-leafed wood busts, and gilded stucco reliefs of frolicking putti and grapevines strewn throughout the room.

In the corner of the room, I found an ivory white chaise longue surrounded by a wall of portraits. I slid onto the elongated seat and studied the older pictures of an adolescent Sir Sheik standing with her dad, mom, and what looked to be a younger sister. This was obviously a more innocent time for her, as she smiled brightly and appeared much younger, childlike, and more like a Samantha than the current Sir Sheik.

I smiled to myself, as I surveyed the more recent pictures of her with a more youthful Flourish, Pharaoh, and PrimaDonna at various Manhattan clubs and high class events. They must’ve all been in high school because they all seemed so juvenile and carefree. They all looked like they couldn't have had a care in the world, as they each hugged each other with huge Kool-aid smiles, played pranks, drank and smoked weed joints in utter merriment.

I looked in a mirror that held golden feathers around its rim and thought to myself before leaving—-how lucky and blessed Sir Sheik had to have been to be surrounded by people who have loved her over the years and still remained by her side. How many times did she sit at that chair and reminisce? How many times had she looked into this same mirror and wondered if that joyful individual had remained inside of her and simply disappeared deep into the recesses of her spirit? And what had happened to cause this disappearance to occur? I didn’t have the answers yet, but one thing was certain—this room was living proof that a sliver of humanity, as well as the love and happiness of her former self, might’ve still remained, in spite of her current pain and anger.

I closed the door behind me and made my way down the hallway to return to my room.

“Hey! You’re up!”

I turned around to find Lourdes striding quickly and a few paces behind me.

“Just admiring this wall—it makes the hallway look much longer than what it really is.” I pointed at one of the corner walls. The wall’s mural mirrored the hallway ceiling and also depicted an antique, stone doorway with a grand window to a faux landscape.

“It’s like the one on the ceiling. It’s called a trump l'oleil.”

“Yes, I remember the term now from my art history courses.”

“Yep. It means to deceive the eye. It seems that it had you fooled, huh boss?”

“Maybe intrigued–but definitely not fooled.”

It seemed that deception was one of Sir Sheik’s strong suits, but I would not be fooled into living in denial, as it seems everyone else had done. My eyes were far from blinded to the truth. And I intended to keep my third eye widened, despite the revelry of Cloud9; since the truth always had a way of coming to the light when you least expected it.

“Sir Sheik had the spatial illusion murals custom painted. I think it’s a nice addition to the Palace.”

“It’s pretty interesting.”

I continued to study the mural.

“So how did you like the Roaring 20’s?”

“It was cool. I had a lot of fun playing a gangster for the moment.”

“They’ve already wrapped up the second day of poker, so your inquiries should be coming in, at any moment. So be on the lookout for your texts.”

“Yeah, NinaStarr already briefed me, so I’ll be looking for them.”

“Oh, here goes an inquiry now.” Lourdes took out his phone and read a text. ”Yeah, they started the bidding, so I gotta go. Masquerade Parade is tonight so get plenty of rest, boss.”

“I will.”

♦ ♦ ♦

I glided; winding through a labyrinth of radiantly dramatic demonstrations and highly sensualistic displays of theatrical lust.

If lascivious carriage applied in this state, we would all be guilty of the offense.

It was as if it was unanimously decreed a public decorum and of general decency to exercise our lustful passions unrestrictedly. Therefore, every single body’s libidos were at last free to be ignited with a high sexual drive and prompted with signals to commit wanton acts of libidinous feats and carnal deeds.

And for once the power of the pussy was without limits and reigned supreme.

This was the Masquerade Parade. And ironically, there were no charades, despite the procession of masks, as genuine intimacy overtook the halls and ballroom of the Palace.

Inquisitively, I found myself reveling in the evening’s carnival, as I awaited the go-ahead text that was to alert me to meet my first Alice.

While strolling through the hallway and into the main ballroom, a mix of Andrea Bocelli’s ‘Verdi Requiem’ and ‘Carmen’ echoed loudly throughout and served to provide an audio intoxicant to dizzying scenes of theatrical gaiety.

Studs in tuxedos, covered with black-hooded, floor length capes and elaborately sculpted masks, ushered in femmes, replete with Italian masquerade ball gowns and colorful masks, adorned in the grand Venetian carnival tradition.

And I glimpsed masks of every kind as I strode past.

Elegant studs nodded at me in stark reverence, as they glided by with Phantom of the Opera masks, harlequin patterned half-face masks, jester masks replete with beads and bells; and even black and polished gold papier mache masks with long noses.

Groups of femmes giggled and strutted by, with black lace and cerise butterfly masquerade masks of red, white, pink and purple; and half-face masks of gold, silver, bronze and red glitter adorned with gemstones, intricate gold leaves and plumes of feathers.

I, in my purple velvet and hooded, floor length cape, and the other two stallions, were the only ones without a mask. And we were the only ones whom could be easily identified.

And I continued to glide by—and watch as a voyeur would—as some femme crowns and burlesque girls chose to wear nothing but masks and black bejeweled thongs. In corner chairs and platformed beds, some studs had chosen to wet their appetite early and to taste these unclothed delights, as they moaned in gratifying consent; to kiss and lick sex-charged lips and nipples to the delight of not-so-innocent passersby’s. And some had even chosen to tickle and penetrate these individual appetizer treats, with their trance-induced legs widened and accepting glistening wet fingers; to become the entertainment for a small gathering of onlookers, whom, like a domino effect, would be turned on to delight in their own means of gratification.

I, the willing observer, grew wetter and wetter by the moment; overwhelmed by the sheer intoxication of pleasure that swelled the hallways and ballroom, like dense fog in the night. And like a match striking, to light a fire in the mist, someone had gingerly shifted my samurai knot and kissed me hypnotically on the back of my neck. It was a subtle, yet sweet, gesture amidst the seductive atmosphere that was now thoroughly soaked with decadent sex.

I turned with the gentility of a Venetian prince to peer into the eyes of who I’d already known was the originator. As I had immediately picked up the scent of jasmine that had already entered and filled my system, PrimaDonna smiled through twinkling sapphire eyes; gripping my soul like the delicate hand that held the pearl stick of the ivory white, ostrich feather mask that covered her face.

She was slowly seducing me and I was falling for it.

Since the beginning of Cloud9, it seemed that PrimaDonna was torn between maintaining a certain level of professionalism in leadership and following her heart’s desire. Split between publicly upholding a sense of loyalty to the ideals and command of Sappho Intl, while privately possessing a desire to surrender to her own body's wild urges. She was toying with it safely and at an unpredictable pace, while practicing a form of restraint that I hadn’t experienced with any woman before her.

And you could tell that she was a professional at it; having been groomed to exhibit a regal disposition, with which she was conditioned to maintain at all times. Therefore, hers was a stoic strategy of cat and mouse. And mine was a see-saw strategy of taunting her to give into her longing with a boyish charm, while pretending to at times display apathetic indifference—all the while quelling my own torturous thirst for her.

She, at present, firmly controlled the pace of this secret tryst. And sometimes it became agonizing to wait for the next time that I would taste her lips and feel the creamed softness of her skin.

Indeed it was a slow seduction; however patience was my strong suit.

“Are you enjoying this?”

“I am.” I placed my hand to the back of her gown and whispered into her ear. “But I could be enjoying it more.”

I could feel her smile brighten with the things that we could be doing right now.

Then, as quickly as her jasmine had entered my system, was as quickly as she disappeared into the crowd. And not a moment too soon, because I’d just received the text to meet my Alice across the room with enough time to shake off PrimaDonna’s spellbinding scent.

As I walked past the vibrant colors and fun-filled laughter that burst from behind the masks of the Sapphians that surrounded me, I began to see a Mohawk part the crowd in front of me.

Pharaoh began to walk towards me as I made my way to meet my lucky Alice for the night.

“Hey Silk, I’d say that Sir Sheik did okay, eh?”

“I have to admit…” I looked around the grand ballroom at the historical parade of ecstasy and gaiety. “She definitely knows how to throw a party.”

“Between you and me I thought it would be a bag of wank. Sometimes the Sheik can get a little snobby.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I began to move onward. “You’re a nut. Hey listen—I gotta go meet my Alice.”

“You wanna bean? You nervous?”

“A bean?”

She showed me a little pink ecstasy pill with a star etched into it.

“Aw, naw I'm good, playa’…”

“You sure?”

“Trust me—after witnessing all of this sexiness, I’m more than ready for this.”

“I hear ya. I’m hornier than a dog with two richies…And my Alice just came in—I'm 'bout to rock her garden like she’s never been rocked!”

“Shit…great sex AND mega-money…Silk, we livin' the life of Riley!”

“Fa sho!”

“Rock on! Rock it!”

“Let’s get it!”

I made my way to my Alice and was told that she would be wearing a pink mask with a pair of white satin gloves with the initials “L.A.L.” etched into them. However, despite the instructions, she noticed me before I’d recognized her.

She gently clutched my hand without saying a word.

I looked directly into her eyes and raised her hand to reveal the embroidery on her gloves, as I took a subtle bow of my head in her direction. I began to usher her in the direction of my room—this would be my first Alice and I was about to blow her mind.

The text that I received about her said that the Dutch Alice, that NinaStarr had spoken to me about, had indeed led both days and bidded viciously for me. She was an heiress of a family who’d owned a very accomplished Dutch pharmaceutical company. She lived between Paris and Amsterdam but unlike the pig-tailed, hash-smoking and vibrant Dutch girls that I’d been used to hearing about—she was a humble and severely serious, platinum blonde-haired bombshell. With a very short, petite frame and baby blue eyes, she reminded me of the lotus flower that’d just arisen from the watery chaos, from which it sleeps, and awakened to blossom under the clearest of blue skies.

And although she was not PrimaDonna, she was a beautiful and divine woman—and I would love her just the same.

We weaved through the masqueraded hallway with ease and instantly arrived at the door of my room. She remained silent and her hands seemed to be slightly shaking, as though she might have been a little nervous.

Once we arrived at the door, I smiled at her and then turned the knob.

As soon as I’d opened the door, I spontaneously swept her up into my arms, as though we were crossing a wedding threshold—a mild attempt to warm her up to me. And it must’ve served to loosen her up a little, because she laughed inside of her mask, took a deep breath and sighed.

“So, is this your first time to Cloud9?”

“It is. Although I frequent the SocialClub9’s, I have yet to attend a Cloud9 until now.”

“Well now, that’s one thing that we have in common, huh?” I smiled. “We’re both virgins to this most festive occasion.”

“I suppose that’s true.” She looked downward. “I’m sorry, I’m just usually very reserved—I still can’t believe that we’re here together.”

“But I AM excited to finally be here—with you.”

I smiled and placed her gently on the bed. I tenderly removed her mask in the dim light. And to my surprise, it turned out to be the Alice whose hand I kissed at SocialClub9.

“It’s you! Why am I not surprised? It seems you’ve been lucky since the grand opening of SocialClub9.”

“A little bit of luck and a little bit of skill—I suppose.”

“Or maybe a lot of skill…and a little bit of ambition and will.” I removed my cape, tuxedo jacket and shirt. ”Do you like Janelle Monae?”

“I absolutely adore Janelle Monae.”

I touched the iPod’s playlist and “Mushrooms and Roses” instantly filled the room. I began to move around the room, gracefully, to work my way out of the rest of my tux and light candles, as she undressed and sexed me with her eyes.

“My first impression of you, that night at SocialClub9, replayed in my dreams, night after night—and now that I'm with you, I have to admit, I'm just a bit intimidated.”

“Don't be! I’m nothing but a mere stallion and I'm honored by your presence. You're free to be whoever you want to be with me...”

She smiled, as I’d worked the main pin out of her carefully sculpted hair. Her platinum and golden locks instantly dropped to drape the shoulder of her gown with ease.

“Well, you’re definitely what they say you are…”

“And what is this that they say I am?”

I nibbled her ear as she closed her eyes.

“All the ladies have coined a name for you…”

“And what’s that?”

I whispered and lined my tongue to trace the edge of her ear.

“Sexy Silk…” She whispered with a moan, as her eyes remained sealed with ecstasy.

I worked my samurai knot loose and removed my tank to reveal my tribal.

“Because you’re charming…”

She gazed onto my semi-naked frame, as if mesmerized and suddenly cemented within it.

It would be my duty to slacken the hold, as I nuzzled her neck with my nose and began to undo the buttons of her ball gown. I smoothly undressed her masquerade gown and lightly kissed the nook of her shoulder. I breathed her in and left a trail of soft kisses for every inch of porcelain skin that was intermittently revealed.

“You’re bold…”

She inhaled deeply, as I paused before encircling my lips to her nipple and then released what seemed like a lifetime of relief, as I kissed her nipple to harden between my lips. And she shuddered in ecstasy, as I suckled her other nipple lovingly.

My Alice placed her hands to my head and sunk her own head back to look towards the heavens.

“And tantalizing…”

“Is that right?”

“Mh hmh…” she breathed breathlessly.

“Well…right now…I’m drawn in by your beauty.”

I gently coerced her gown to the floor and released her from a stiff cordiality, as I traced a line from the middle of her bosom to a belly button that begged to be kissed.

“You’re as magnificent and pure as the lotus flower…” I kissed the rim of her navel, as my lips and nose would revel in the aroma of cool lavender.

She was right—she was prim. But if you asked me for my sex-timation, I would say that she was already wet and ready for me—which was more than enough to loosen the lips and mind of any female.

We kissed with a purity of passion that said that my sex-timation was correct. She already quietly yearned for me. It had been built up since day one of Cloud9 and the Masquerade Parade served as an added aphrodisiac.

“…In Egyptian culture, the sun was believed to have arisen from the lotus. It was considered to be a perfect and divine flower…” I ventured back to lick again the inside of her navel teasingly as she smiled to herself. “…of course its white and graceful petals were also considered to be a natural intoxicant...and I’m already intoxicated by your natural beauty.”

I peered deep into her eyes, piercing past the triple-paned windows to her soul. And as her lust’s physician, I’d seen her spell before.

Hers was a tormented spirit; which was obsessively encased in fine crystals, to be boxed in and labeled, with the assumption that as an heir she must be persistently protected and controlled—like a fragile piece of glass is in a highly volatile environment.

Hers was a life of passions constantly derailed. A pretty little girl riddled with a neat nobility and yet put off by stark indifference. A perfectly iced princess made invisible to all, as long as she retained her plastic bubble. A beautiful woman long lost to the spell of boredom and doomed to a lonely and sheltered existence.

Hers was a soul riding on the high of expected ambiguity and an apathy plagued with the illusions of a need to maintain a solemn safety and security.

This lotus flower suffered from extreme loneliness and hers was always a jagged pill to swallow—a classic case of the doldrums.

She’d attended Cloud9 as an escape to her daily plate of bland stagnation. So, within this night, I would fill her with light and love and kill this dis-enfranchised state of solitude.

I would give her what she thought she wanted and then treat her with what she needed to liberate her loneliness. She would get a full dose of Silk and experience the fullness of life thereof.

As I gazed into her eyes there existed an aged disconnect. She was clearly broken. But I would be obliged to fix it through cunning linguistics. I pressed my lips upon her mouth, as I would commence to yield to her body’s youthful desires.

I took her hand and slowly guided her within my unzipped tuxedo pants so that she could feel how wet I was for her.

The sheer velocity of my love's liquid was a slick indication of how much I wanted her and how much I needed for her fantasy to come true. My nipples tingled and hardened as she stroked. And as my Alice rubbed my magical lantern, I would become the genie to fulfill her every wish.

She closed her eyes and whispered "You are so wet…I want you to fuck me, Silk, like I’ve never been fucked.”

I thought—that's the ticket to lick it.

To the relief of my own longing, she was already growing to become a bolder woman.

Tonight, she would lose the sweet innocence of a pillow princess and I would be guilty of setting her free to blaze wildly. Tonight, her body was my drug and I her wettest dream.

My hand would guide, to slide and rub and break the seal of her lap’s prescription. And she moaned with every stroke.

Our lips found a common lingo and my hands danced up and down her body, as does the pianist that tickles the white ivories with ease and an ever-so-delicate dexterity. We were now making beautiful music, as her spirit picked up on my body’s chord; and the kisses of my lip’s brim, fluted harmonious notes of fluttering crescendos amidst runaway scales, like the whimsical piccolo. Her body became my musical garden. And the hum and sound of her soul’s awakening was profound.

And then with tongue and thumb, I had worked my way between her spread petals and gently nudged and parted the folds of her sweet and filled lips open. I politely licked the wettened seedcase that’d been revealed. And she moaned to give her stamp of approval.

My hands' palm rested gently on her thigh and I filled her again with the slow-moving and smoothing stroke of my tongue—and again she moaned.

And like the filled pod of opium poppy, the sap of her seed served to spill out and refine with my tongue’s heat—and yet again she released smoky moans, as I was filled with a new and dynamic high.

I stretched out and became comfortable, as I brushed my tongue across her. With my head shaking ‘no’ and her lips whispering ‘oh yes’ with every stroke.

It’d quickly become an oral play to her floral arrangement, as this lotus had been watered and her bud began to blossom. And my own body compelled me to quicken her pace.

I threaded the eye of her needle to lace an extravagant fabric of silk to blanket her spirit. And my tongue would bob and weave the fabric, as she throbbed and grew; and my hands were equally as contented to become the comforter of her body.

I let my love begin to speak for itself, as her pulse and breathing began to dip and surge in time with my hypnotic undercurrent.

I licked the shimmering bulb of her lotus and blew the angel’s trumpet. And she moaned as I began to induce for her an ecstatic state.

My fingers alternated, with my own tongue, to tease and stimulate her juices to run freely. And its bold rotating resulted in an ingested dose of ecstasy—making her head spin with every spiral of her wishing well.

She was on fire and my tongue was wired to snake and give a rousing performance of crazy pirouettes and circle eight’s.

“Oh my God, Silk.”

She inadvertently grabbed my head, as I tenderly caressed her breast.

“Oh, yes!”

Her body began to roll and writhe in time to my tongue’s strikes, as our minds were now locked in a growing rhythm of our body’s delight. And her spirit could no longer put up a fight.

She was about to cum from me smoking on her rose. But the whole world knows that I was NOT about to let her get off that easy.

My jaws let go of her engorged lips and I commenced to blow a breeze to her pink jelly bean, as a buffer to her sweet release—this would surely dull the senses.

“Power up!” I commanded, as I beheld the power of her flower.

I played with her chloë, with the tip of my richie’s now growing head, as I squeezed the shaft and dipped the pen of it into the seeping ink of her fountainhead, to tease her.

She moaned in blissful frustration. “Oh my god, Silk…you drivin’ me wild.”

It had to be maddening. But in one smooth movement, I quickly stroked my muscle and dug in; to enter the head into her slowly and to blanket her with a quick and unexpected bliss.

“Oh…my…God.”

She grabbed the sheets, as I’d slid into her sideways, and the head of my ruler began to bulge inside of her, as I cupped her breast’s nipple into the palm of my hand. I dug my heel into the bed, for leverage, as my leg's quad became her leg's prop. Her body relied on me to cup it, as I gained access to her grand entrance from behind her.

Then with pinched shoulders and a clenched core, my muscle was a magnificent arc and further anchored into her. I threw her a rhythmic curve and skimmed her walls with a barrage of long, concentric strokes—and I was just getting started.

I’d worked my way to propel her petite frame to lie on top of me—as the length of my shaft hovered inside of her. Her body would gravitate and trampoline, as she looked to the heavens in amazement. And both of my hands supported the backs of her knees firmly, as her golden hair cascaded my chest and fell to the sheets, like a fountain.

I cradled her body against mine and she was finally in danger of losing her mind, as my hips began to curl, and pump and bind me even further inside.

I was lovin’ the Love Muscle as it was a long and thick ruler—and highly versatile. And with it, I would give this lotus what her body had desperately been in search of—a moment that lasted a lifetime.

I could sense the Love Muscle grow to the next level, as I lightly rocked her body and held her in my bed of flowers; with arms arched like sweet fluorescent rainbows. I rocked and rang her like the proverbial bell that tolled within her portly folds, as she shrieked and chimed to my cradle’s time.

“Oh, Silk…I love this…fuck me…” She was growing to be bolder, by the moment, and my muscle was now grown fully stiffened to the secondary level.

And she would easily and willingly assume the position, as her belly’s moans were filled with earnest gratitude.

But after careful consideration, I decided that she deserved my hips fullest cooperation—with an even more extended determination—as she pulled at her nipples in an uncontrolled desperation.

Then with the tip of my head, I pushed the swell that was growing deep in her belly and curved my pelvis to kiss and hit her most sacred spot.

Pilates had trained me for this ambitious round, as I began to rock her up and down to growing moans and measured breaths, as she widened her legs and clenched her breasts. Her compass tipped east, north and west. And I now became her anchor while her body would float and drift aptly along my body’s embankment.

My richie's heat and friction would be her new addiction, clearing a space to the very depths of her; and like a throbbing and shining lightning rod—the furthest reaches of her vessel became my member’s natural conductor; lighting every synapse as I loved her. And electric currents gripped and flooded her every nook and cranny.

“Oh, yes.”

And I would easily bounce and curl the delicate weight of her, as my pelvis met her sweetly rounded cheeks. She moaned with every throbbing beat of her belly’s tambourine.

Reality began to fade the more we rocked and swung, within our purple haze. We began to float and hover, as I was now her hallucinogen and summoning a state of utter nirvana, like an Alice in the sky with diamonds.

“…Yes, fuck me, Silk…fuck me.” Her words would roll.

She was swimming in pleasure.

Sweat and her royal wetness were now trickling from hers to mine, as we grinded and soaked the sheets. I served to stroke her, from her lips’ entry to the far ends of her internal universe, as she wriggled her pulsating chloë ferociously.

My own juices were building furiously and my hips were ready to let loose. And like a stallion with a runaway caboose, I quickly pulled out and flipped her, to ride her a little more deeply inside.

I placed her head on the pillow and the back of her knees met my elbows. I licked the sweat off her nipples to quickly re-enter her, as a large blue vein now pulsated down the center of her forehead.

My body was straightened and met her deep in the bowels of her soul.

“Oh, my…oh, oh yes!”

We rocked with a subtle sensuality, which quickly became a fierce and vigorously primal physicality, as she would now moan loudly and I would groan and grunt wildly.

“Oh, Silk!”

My earth touched her heaven, as our bodies became a magical horizon. And our skyline was utterly sublime.

And with clenched thighs and backside, as I ride, our vessels gently collided. And her body relied on my providing the key to her lock's neat yet streaming release.

My love's powder was pure and uncut, with a swift delivery and a bolt of light entering her stream of consciousness. The power of my love was multiplied and quickly growing within the hour. And as I felt my love muscle engorge to the third level, I began to stake my claim and take full ownership of her beautiful body. We were for the moment united, as she was filled with love, and I could see deeply in her baby blue eyes that I’d finally tapped past the mask and discovered the lover amongst her.

I took the moment to inhale and exhale. To breathe the moment in and fill my spirit, with her love as a fortifying mantra. And with tantric energies rising within me, I could feel my divine adrenaline surge from my soul through to the blood in my veins. All of my rotating chakras and coiled muscles grew fully stimulated, and I could feel my body surrender to a controlled and raging passion. The soft and sensitive side of Silk's love had drained and the full power and intensity of Max's love had now taken my body hostage.

She could sense this instant transformation, as my essence rose from my skin and the air became thickened with it.

My whole spirit engulfed her. And I drove deeper, as our hips moved as one. Our lust binded our mind as one, in harmony with the essence that surrounded us. Our ecstasy binded our souls in harmony with the song of satisfaction that arose from our throats, as synchronized moans. The whole of our spirits morphed into one reeling sequence, as it became an out of body experience.

We were plugged into each other and the power of light flowed within us. She became filled and together, we’d entered a state of grace.

I would stroke her quickly. I would stroke her evenly. And I would stroke within her a determined rubbing, over and over again, that would bring within our minds a coming of age of paramount proportions. With short and steady strokes, I would touch and fill every crevice with a deep ambition and was driven to succeed with her vocal permission. With every moan and scream, my body lifted and percolated like hydraulics with switches; with only the brim of my rod's tip surviving the climb to stay inside—and her body would remember that I was here.

My lotus began to scream my name, with a relentless repetition and in sync with the rhythm of her bouncing breasts. And yes, I must confess, that it seemed I’d finally endowed her with meteor showers of her own flower’s power, as she began to roll and grind with my muscle’s sweet caress.

And with eyes shut closed, we would remember the miraculous light that filled the now-serene and perpetual pastures of our mind, as I stroked her.

I am my lover’s antidote, as she would eagerly coat the now fully consumed shaft with a storaged and endless supply of her floral's oil; the veins glimmering, as if my ruler had gone gingerly mining to find her vessel’s liquid diamonds slickly flowing aplenty. And I, more than ever, ready to burrow her tunnel upon every persistent recoil. She was at the brink of her soul’s sinking and still I would not cease until she’d reached the full extent and outer limits of my own brand of self-sustained peace.

“Oh, Silk…I’m cumming!” Her proclamation was guttural, but frank. “Please, don’t stop.”

I wouldn’t and I dared to even alter my cadence.

“Oh, S—i—l—k…” She dragged the words out with eyes closed as she clasped desperately onto the contracted muscles of my back. “I…’m…”

Her words broke off and her whole body tensed within the viciousness of quivering quakes. And yet I persisted my stroking.

She welcomed it and would cum again, until I finally subsided and decided that her body could take no more. She’d reached the culmination of her spirit’s sovereignty.

And as soon as I would slide out, she would without body control, gush and flow and celebrate as though a fresh champagne bottle had just been uncorked. And her mouth gaped open as she’d drenched the sheets.

She sat up and smiled from corner to corner, as a whole new world had been opened to her. And then she laughed genuinely, as she was elated at its discovery.

“Oh…my…God.”

She just kept repeating and looking at the sheets.

“Oh…my…God.”

She finally laid back and took my head to lie on top of her stomach, as I hugged her. I looked up and into her face. And her eyes became dazed and dilated, as she was lost in the richness of her rapture.

My lotus could do nothing but shower me with praises and giggle. I began to chuckle with her, as I held her softly. Until her body finally grew aware of its own lifetime of pain.

She began to cry in relief and astonishment; and I finally climbed and rolled beside her to hold her silently against my chest.

“Thank you, Silk.” She whispered through tears of joy. “Thank you.”

And though she was dazed her body would finally succumb to the overwhelming satisfaction. Her vessel grew limp, as though she’d received a sudden shot of morphine; and I would cradle her as she slept.

Tonight was sublime—a complete and utter success. And since I’d served to my lotus the glory of a priceless fuck, it seemed as though I had indeed earned every penny of her purse.

10

“Que pasa pai?"

"Chillin’...” I looked around in my aviator shades as I gave Suez dap. “…yo, these some sweet rides, right?"

"I wouldn't mind fuckin' wit a few of them, loc.”

“Wassup, Midi. It’s not often I don’t see you stuck between a build and a break.”

”Even the deejay deserves to chill sometimes. I had to put it on autopilot for a sec, ya dig.” She took a swig of rum from her plastic cup. “Hey yo, you see shawty over there eyein' you, Suez?"

"I would lick her like a cool Piragua on a warm summer day, homey.”

The femme was scantily clad in pink, leopard-print vintage panties and brassier, and was coolly perched on a fully customized hot pink, rat bike. She flirtatiously swung her black stilettos, winked at us and smiled.

“Rat rods and rust queens. Does it get any better than this?”

I leaned against a tricked-out, purple candy-painted Chevrolet Impala, along with Midi and Suez, who was also checkin’ the set. We’d all gotten plenty of rest, yesterday, and flew jets to Pharaoh’s Desert Dungeon in Paradise Valley, Arizona. And the Reign of the Supreme Rust Queen was the first day’s event of the second leg of Cloud9.

Unlike Sir Sheik’s formal display of classical opulence and lavish excess, Pharaoh’s was an informal affair replete with an array of rock and roll sub-cultures and a modern gothic fanfare.

Everyone was informally dressed and laid back for the lighthearted bar-b-q and private car showing, where the one and a half acre estate became a massive sand-stretched playground. Young studs and femmes, that’d purchased or owned customized hot rods and rat rods, lined up to proudly display them, along with the sexy rust queens that paired up with them. The owners coolly sported cuffed jeans and white t-shirts rolled up at the sleeves and rockabilly old time bowling shirts. And while they leaned and catcalled, vintage pin-up rust queens peered through sassy cat-eye sunglasses and flirted in leopard-print and red gingham shirts that tied at the belly. Today, my crew was much obliged to rock a laid back lowrider style—tanks, dickie pants and button-ups, and Chucks.

And it was ALL good.

As the weather was nice and warm, even the cactuses were coolly smiling across the desert terrain for the superb showing of some of the most customized vehicles in the region. Although 1950’s hot rods and rat rods was the overriding theme, many of Pharaoh’s friends within the region had also provided other customized vehicles. Some of her team and many regional Sapphians had driven or had their vehicles transported especially for this very occasion. Many had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to show them off and Pharaoh’s Dungeon provided the perfect backdrop.

Collectors and enthusiasts parked their vehicles throughout the expansive Dakota, mahogany granite-laid parking lot in the front of the Dungeon. Elite playgirl cars like candy-painted Maybachs, fully customized Hummers and Mercedes with gull-wing doors parked near overhauled Mustangs, Oldsmobile 4-4-2’s and heavy Chevy’s. There were even custom-built Harley’s and custom-finished old school Ford Trucks on display.

While car aficionados and fanatics enjoyed the car show in the front, other Sapphians enjoyed the off-road desert buggies and the customized outdoor, skate park in the back. And as the roaring dune buggies kicked up dust in the distance, skaters and bikers performed aerials, and slides & grinds, as younger Sapphians drank from cups filled with liquor and cheered them on.

Since Pharaoh was in a rock band, much of her team was also rockers, skaters and bikers. It was as if Pharaoh had fostered a total lifestyle around her that attracted the same rocker traits in her team and associated Sapphians—much like myself and my team. They seemed geeked to be providing the private skate and biker expedition for the excited onlookers; which seemed to be a far cry from the lack of team participation that seemed to be present at Sir Sheik’s one stud show.

Iggy Pop’s "Rock Show" thumped in my eardrum as we continued to lean and sip rum. And our eyes continued to delight in the buffet of cars.

Pharaoh and the Sheik had just passed a tricked out ivory-white T-Rex and began to walk towards us.

“Pharaoh, Cloud9 just gets better and better. You’ve gone and blown my mind with this one…Cars and women galore—I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

"Cars and women! How quaint. I guess this would be the full extent of your grand American dream?"

Although Sir Sheik had been on her best behavior over the last few days, it seemed that the Sheik had reverted right back to the royal jerk that I ‘d been introduced to, prior to Cloud9. Once again I was thought to be an ass in the eyes of the top brass and once again she tried to strip me of my dignity—but I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. I was not about to let her sour attitude even begin to ruin my day.

"I don't know about my American dream but it makes for a good wet dream. Who wouldn’t bust a nut to a beautiful chick AND a shiny, new tricked out ride. I mean come on. It’s the ultimate cum on.”

“Yeah, man…be about it.”  Suez squinted her eyes.

“Jeez, Sheik, you just can’t help but be a dick downer.”  Pharaoh glared at the Sheik.

“Aww! Did I hurt your feelings? Well, excuse me kiddies, I mean it’s all very cute but all of it’s a little below my pay grade—no offense Pharaoh.”

“I don’t know about you guys, but I have the sudden urge to get a refill.” I commented coolly, despite my cup being still half full.

We walked away from the Sheik, as soon as she had settled to sit on top of the Impala that we’d been leaning on, and Pharaoh followed suit to leave the Sheik by herself.

"Going to cry in a corner, eh? Ah and that just proves that I AM surrounded by infants.”

I ignored her, as we walked directly into the Dungeon.

“Don't listen to the Sheik, she's been an ass all day today...”

“Oh, I definitely ain't sweatin’ it... I just won’t be party to it when you’ve provided such a sweet celebration for us.”

“Bruv, I feel ya!” Pharaoh began to direct us through the foyer of the Dungeon. “I really didn’t feel like putting up with it anymore today either—which is why I took a B-line as soon as you provided the out.”

“Man, it’s all good.” I took a moment to brush the dirt off my shoulders in jest. “And the party don’t stop, dude.”

“Binded and co-signed it, homey…” Suez, Midi and I pounded fists and blew it up, before taking swigs from our cups in unison.

Pharaoh laughed and we began to admire the mansion together.

“Yo, Pharaoh, you got a nice crib... real rock star stallion...”

The Dungeon’s quirky luxury was a delicate balance of emo rock and a modern Gothic design. Rose and lancet arches riddled the windows and high wooden beam ceilings complimented Goth-inspired crucifix-and-crystal décor. And as we walked across the anticato terracotta brick tiles, eccentric chrome-riddled guitars on hooks lined and led us down the main hallway.

“I know, right... It’s more than anything that I could’ve ever imagined. Check this room out...”

Pharaoh opened one of the all-black iron doors and we were instantly hit with rock n’ roll supremacy.

“This is my smoke and toke room.”

Black chandeliers and polished silver armoires goaded us to float inside. We stepped in and crossed black, high-gloss laminate floors, as though we were strolling across a giant grand piano. And in the center of it, as well as the all-black, royal ornament-patterned, velvet feature wall, was an enormous cursive insignia of Pharaoh’s name in raised royal purple chrome.

It was larger than life and truly awe-inspiring.

“Sup, bruvas…” By now Pharaoh had glided over to one of the armoires and pulled a small bag of weed out of a chrome canister. “Wanna get a build on?”

“I'll do you one better...” Suez pulled a freshly-rolled blunt out of a silver, single cigar holding tube that was tucked neatly in her pocket. “We can fire up this fat blunt right now...”

“Magic! Aww, Suez, you are on it...”

Pharaoh fired up the blunt as Silk, Midi and I settled into the room to form a weed circle. We set ourselves among two royal purple leather sofas, lined with metal nail-heads along its curves.

“As the host of this fine event, Pharaoh, would you like to do the honors?”

“I’d be delighted to.”

She took the first drag and sunk back into the over-sized black and white tiger-textured armchair that she sat in.

"The weed is peng!" She looked at the blunt and nodded her head in full approval.

“It’s Cali's finest!”

“Indubitably!”

“So…Pharaoh…I heard you won the first year and Sir Sheik took the last two Cloud9’s?”

“That's because I LET her. Since year one, I've been getting so many personal call requests that I don't really even try. So, I LET her hold the crown for a few…It's good for her self-esteem—otherwise I'd be undefeated. But I'm not pulling any punches this year. Like I said before—you're fresh competition.” Pharaoh winked her eye in my direction with sheer confidence.

"I got no worries—it's in the bag for me! Cuz I’m silky smooth in the room and a stunna in bed…” I moved towards the velvet feature wall, as I admired Pharaoh’s insignia on the wall up close. “Where I’m from, I was already the undisputed heavyweight champion. But I’m up for goin’ twelve rounds if I need to."

Pharaoh smiled at the retort. "Okay, Rocky, we'll see…"

"It’s a hard…” I clicked my tongue to the roof of my mouth and mimed a fuck motion. ”…knock life for us, fa sho! Come on princess, you know how it go…”

“Ooh!” Suez and Midi began to snicker at Pharaoh together.

“I don’t know Pharaoh, you might be looking at a TKO bro-ham.”

“It don’t look to good for ya.” Midi took the spliff and Pharaoh began to feel the effects as she slumped into her seat.

“All I know is that I’m a proven bet and you still a rookie—fresh out the gate.”

“Okay vet, we shall soon see.” I smiled and moved back towards the sofas. “But Pharaoh, check this out—Suez probably pullin' more than both of us combined, on the low. She might be the underground champion of Cloud9.”

"You know how I do...”

"That's only cuz I'm in the booth most of the time, otherwise I’d hold the title ...” Midi exhaled smoke and passed the blunt to me.

“Speakin’ of the booth, I better get my ass out there and start spinnin'...”

"Yeah, quit sleepin' on the job... or else we might have to have you replaced...”

"Shut up, fucker." She punched Suez in the arm then ran to the door, while we all laughed.

"Ow, pinche punto! I’mma git you later for dat, homes!" Suez grabbed her arm and flipped a bird at Midi, as she ran out the room.

"Get dat money, playa!"

"Always, kinfolk!"

I passed the blunt to Suez, took a deep breath, and began to relax my spirit.

“I can’t wait to check out dat sweet studio Prima setup in your crib, Silk.”

“You know, I’mma be in there as soon as Cloud9 is over, papa.” Suez looked over at Pharaoh. “I ain’t even seen it yet.”

“Man, it is sweet. I think I’mma hole myself up in there and just learn everything there is to know about it. I’mma fuck around and be a super-producer by the time I’m done wit it.”

“…And I’ll be jetting there every other weekend. We could fuck around and start a label on the low or sumthin’.”

“I can dig it. Just make sure you bring some of those sweet guitars, so I can fuck wit ‘em, too. The sky’s the limit, and man, you invited to jam anytime you want. ”

"You know what! I'm glad that Prima brought ya'll in because it was getting plenty lonely around here. Sheik is cool and all—I mean she's my best friend. We got a lotta history, but we don't have much in common these days. She can be a bit of a Bertie big bollocks—you know —a bit cocky…”

"Shit! Just a bit?"

"Right...” Suez looked at me in agreement.

“She pretends it. She puts on a great show. But sometimes I just wanna relax—you know?"

"But you can have any beautiful femme that you want…take your pick, lay back, and relax. Not to mention the mad cool team you got out here.”

"Lord knows I fuck like a dog in heat, but even that gets old and cold sometimes... sometimes I just wanna wake up with one femme and go to bed with the same one...a flower who can take this life and be down wit me at the same time... and then hang and jam wit a few cool studs and stallions—without all the drama...ya know...”

"Why, Pharaoh, that's some of the realest shit I've heard you say yet.”

"…almost too deep—that might be the sticky talkin'.”

"Since we all shootin’ the shit, I think both of ya'll might be some of the coolest studs I ever met—real talk. And don't tell her that I told you, but NinaStarr is diggin' you real deep.”

" Ooh…I ALWAYS had a thing for NinaStarr…I'm gonna have to file that away until the time is right…”

“…But you didn’t hear it from me, homey…”

"I got you. I got you, bruv…good looking” Pharaoh had quickly switched and drifted into her own reminiscence. “You know, Sir Sheik used to be way cooler than she is now. She used to be so carefree and a lot more genuine. I thought she was one of the strongest, wisest and coolest persons that I’d ever come to know, despite what her and her father was going through. But then her younger sis…while she was away no less…it just changed everything…”

She must’ve been talking about the little girl that was in the pictures with her at the Palace.

"What happened with her sister?"

"Sam’s sis was badly raped and murdered in London, when Sir Sheik was in her second year at the university. They say she started not to give a fuck about her family rank, after Sam left...then she started to rock the streets with some wild estate kids. I used to run with them, too, back in the day—but I've always been tough enough to roll wit em’. The Sheik’s sis was rebellious, but way out of her element. It was just way too fast and way too heavy for her.”

“She always blamed herself for it...for not being there. Before Sam had to come to Manhattan, her sister was practically her best friend. After she was sent away, her sister lashed out majorly... and to make it worse, it was unsolved. Sir Sheik’s whole world was shattered. She's been in and out of rehab ever since and she's never been the same—always with the need to control” She took a long drag of the blunt and then exhaled. “I truly miss those days before all of that...”

"That's fucked up!"

"Shit man, I'd never heard that before... that explains a whole lot.”

"Yeah, I know...”

We all slumped and looked to the floor, as though the weight of it had begun to bring us all down.

“Well, shit, here I've gone and blown the buzz. Jeez, I’ve gone and turned into a soft-lass! Quick, where’s my floozies, I need some ass…stat, man stat.” She fell out like she was losing oxygen. “Cheer up! This supposed to be a party...”

Together, we all laughed away the sudden pain.

“Suez, you got the lemon and lime?”

Suez and I looked at each other.

“Speak American English, homey?”

“The time, bruva, the time!”

“Oh…yeah, it’s going on four.”

“I guess I need to go play host now. Mr. Jim Beam is definitely calling my name…rock on, rockets.”

"Yezzzirrr...”

“Be easy, breezy.”

Before, I wasn't sure if Pharaoh was a part of Sir Sheik's madness—but now it was all starting to make sense. I deduced that Pharaoh was probably an innocent bystander to Sir Sheik's activities and simply the friend that most people could only wish they had—a friend that, through all of the tragedy, still stood by Sir Sheik’s side.

As we continued to toke, we chatted about how fucked up it was that Sir Sheik had to endure what she went through. But to me, it didn’t excuse the toxic behavior or the corruption that came with it. It seemed that the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to take a look around Pharaoh's house.

"Dude, let's check out the crib a little more...then we'll get back to the party!"

We walked through the hallway toking on the blunt and chatting about how Suez would’ve died if anything were to happen to her own sister; and how she’d practically raised her sisters and brothers while her single mother worked to support the family.

We got close to the end of the hallway and Suez said that she had to take a leak real quick and ash the blunt.

While she made her way to find a bathroom, I kept walking to the end of the hallway to turn into what looked like a lower level of the house. I walked down the steps and walked through a slightly opened wooden door.

As I entered the basement level, the light was already on and six wooden crates stood neatly in a row by an unused flat screen television. One of the crates was open and something was telling me to take a look inside.

Rolls and rolls of purple, yellow, pink and red fabrics stood side-by-side. I thought to myself that this must’ve been the shipment that Sir Sheik was talking on the phone about.

So it was only fabrics. I am such an ass. Man, I gotta to get a grip.

I turned to leave, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just another one of her illusions.

I removed a couple of the rolls carefully and down at the bottom was a shrink-wrapped package full of white powder.

“Fuck me running!" I whispered to myself as I brushed my hand over my scalp—this was truly some heavy shit.

But even though I was wildin' out inside, I had to maintain my composure and keep my wits about me, because someone could come in at any moment.

I quickly looked behind me to make sure that I was still alone and began to scan the room.

A private charter manifest had been crumpled up near one of the other crates and held ‘Sheik Textiles’ as the receiving company—it seemed that she was getting it flown in from Mexico under the guise of one of her companies and then shipping it from Arizona to the final destination.

Well, so much for Rule #3. In fact, she seems to have broken every one of Sappho’s rules since the day I met her.

I quickly unloaded a few more of the rolls of fabric and took out one of the keys of cocaine. And instantly, the pale smell of powdered metal resonated from the brick. I took pictures, from my iPhone, of the kilo along with the inside of the opened crate that still held some of the other keys and fabric. I also took a close-up picture of the details of the manifest.

Then I heard footsteps echoing down through the basement doorway. The voice of Sir Sheik soon followed, as she was talking to another voice on the other side of her phone and hesitated before entering the basement.

“Yeah, all 25 of them are here…Yes! They should be here in about five minutes. Make sure to tell those assholes to pour the coffee beans on top, put them in the plastic basins AND put the false bottoms in the crates over them THEN place the textiles on top. I know this is the first run but we’ve got to be airtight for the next runs…we’ve been moving the skag up there flawlessly. So we should expect the same down here partner—no slip-ups.”

As her voice reverberated and grew nearer, I quietly rearranged the kilo and the rolls of cloth back to where they’d been found and quickly scuttled to a nearby closet. I left the door slightly opened, so that I could have an unobstructed view from my hiding place.

The Sheik finally came down the steps and began to pace the floor next to the crates.

“Yeah…After it lands in Miami, it’ll be dropped at Cherry’s factory…Don’t sweat it, she has no clue. She thinks it’s just a normal shipment of fabrics. She’s outside partying, as we speak, with the shit-eater…yeah…” She giggled.

Sir Sheik stopped at the opened crate and took out her car keys. Then she took out a small bag of cocaine and dipped the tip of her key into it. She took a key bump as the voice on the other side of the phone continued speaking to her about the transaction.

“Yeah…the next run will come from Miami to the base but it's just too much going on with Cloud9 for me to handle both right now.”

As I shifted my weight inside of the closet, a shirt that was hanging inside of it fell to the floor.

“Hold on…” Sir Sheik turned to look at the closet and slowly made her way across the room to stand directly in front of it; while I had quietly backed up to the furthest corner of the closet at the same time.

She stood staring at it for a second and was about to open the door when the bell to an old grandfather clock tolled from across the room and her other line beeped at the same time.

"Hold on...” She checked the number on the phone. “Yeah…that's them... I'll call you right back.” Sir Sheik quickly clicked the line over.

"Yeah, come to the side door…everyone's partyin'. I'll be there in a sec.”

She disconnected the call and took another quick key bump. The Sheik then paused at a large antique mirror that brooded by the closet. She anxiously wiped her nose and smiled to herself while she straightened her rocker skinny jeans and gentleman’s vest that she wore over a grey t-shirt.

She then walked briskly up and through the basement doorway, as I breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Seconds later two huge studs came through the door with a dolly and quickly began to stack and roll the crates out of the basement.

For most people, seeing is believing. So I took a picture of all that I saw—just in case my word was not enough. Throughout Cloud9, I had let my work speak for itself and now I would allow Sir Sheik’s to speak for her.

“Let’s get a move on because I need to be back before the party ends.”

They’d completed the task as quickly as they’d arrived. And before I knew it, they’d loaded the last crate and closed the door behind them.

The universe had led me to stumble upon her whole operation and with poise I would carefully expose her corrupt heart when the time was right.

I’d opened the basement door after reviewing all the pictures that I’d taken. Then as soon as I’d put the phone back into my pocket and closed the door, I bumped into Suez.

“Damn, Suez, you scared the shit out of me. Where you been at?”

“It’s so many twist and turns in the Dungeon, I’ve been wandering around lost for a minute now.”

“Shit, I got lost, too! We both trippin’, huh? We better get back to the festivities.”

“We got some time to kill before they start the next skate expedition. Wanna race the desert buggies, homey?”

“You know I’m game!”

I’ve got to get these pictures to PrimaDonna a.s.a.p.

♦ ♦ ♦

It was a full moon in the wastelands of Arizona. Suez and I sat on top of an old rusted car as we witnessed what Mad Max’s wet dreams were made of—Leather and Silicone at Pharaoh’s Thunderdome.

The desert that served as Pharaoh’s backyard had been transformed by old and dusted muscle cars, trucks, stripped Yamaha motorcycles and old, unused oil rigs, to seat the onlookers for tonight’s event; and rusted tin, trash bins were used for bonfires to light the clear Arizona desert sky. A gargantuan steel-cage jousting arena sat in the middle, encircled by us cheering stallions and Sapphians alike. Some leather-clad Sapphians had crawled up to pepper the steel orb’s skeleton and some sat in hovering bird cages that dangled from inside the spherical structure. A wrestling match was occurring between two ecstasy-filled femmes, that were coated in the oil that filled their ring and fed the frenzy of the participants of tonight’s entertaining event.

Pharaoh’s Thunderdome was wild and unrestrained—and I was enjoying every minute of it.

I was dressed like an urban outlaw—black beater with black leather chaps and jeans with steel-toed crucifix-stamped black rocker boots. And I’d decided to let my silky hair down to flow freely.

I’d been drinking a pineapple Cîroc cocktail out of a plastic cup, as I cheered the oil wrestling match that was taking place and surveyed all of the fineness that was gathering around the arc of old muscle cars that we were now seated within. Sexy femmes in black leather hot pants and matching bikini cut tops kept winking at Suez and I, as they walked by; while studs decked in leather chaps with jeans and tank tops would wink at them.

“Hey, Suez, you wanna get a refill? I heard they got almost the same kinda cage inside and I wanna go check it out.”

“Ten tu camino conmigo!” Suez had caught the eye of one of the Sapphians that walked by with a leather whip wrapped around her shoulder and yelled out to her.

“Tu eres un chico muy malo!” The tall brunette motioned with her index finger for Suez to come to her.

“Mmh, I think I’mma have to catch up with you in a minute, boss. I got one on the hook.”

We worked our way down the hood of the car. “Handle dat, broki. Let yo freak flag fly. I’ll catch you later.”

“Ooh, quiero saber la frase más común para decir esto.” I laughed to myself as Suez began to spit game.

I smoothly worked my way to the inside ballroom, as flocks of femmes threw kisses at me, smiled, and whispered as I passed. A few of them, who’d obviously been drinking for a minute, even called out my name and boldly complimented my ass.

By the time I made it to the ballroom, I opened the double doors and would really understand why this place was called the Desert Dungeon—this place was not for the faint of heart.

Nestled right inside the doorway was an entry area with a large table strewn with feathered whippers and leather paddles, exotic lubricants, and every color and type of dildo imaginable—as well as small leather shoulder pouches with which to carry them.

A few of Pharaoh’s team members hung by the table and were covered in nothing but gold and silver body paint. They greeted me with a peck on the cheek, as I proceeded down the steps and into the main floor.

The room instantly transformed into a billowing sea of intertwined bodies and purple velvet. There was a much smaller version of the outdoor Thunderdome, inside the ballroom, and it served to anchor the room’s floor, which had become enlivened with rolling displays of revved up libidos. There was a center aisle that ran through the central dome, but the floor on both sides had seemed to be naturally customized into two room-sized, multi-leveled, purple velvet cushions with larger-than-life-sized velvet pillows strewn all over it. An overhead steel platform served to support swings and life-size bird cages that hovered over the velvet floor. And there were horny women everywhere to take advantage of every inch of the Dungeon’s room.

It was primal. Cages situated in the corners of the room, as well as the central Thunderdome, were tagged with black light paint as a red light scanned the room from overhead. White lights from the back would flicker to reveal supple beings in black leather bustiers, with buckles, and leather corset and G-string sets. Some of them were strapped with leather garter belts and arm bands. And most were armed with some of the items from the front table and were now putting them to use.

It was raucous. A homegrown mix of Nubian rock rhythms, laced with the dark yet intimate lyrics of Pharaoh’s soul, pumped through the room's system to echo through the veins of the room's pulse. High moaned riffs of her guitar siphoned with deep and slow-droned utterances of an ancient song, which served to rev the crowd to drive faster and deeper into themselves, like an auditory seduction. It was Tricky meets Santana on ecstasy—a musical mind fuck. And the crowd was eating it up—literally.

It was tantalizing. Trails of entangled bodies and lust-drunk limbs led to a sensual sea of ecstasy; and the ocean of bodies stormed the full length and breadth of the room. I passed multiple ménage-a-trois sessions, as I began to tread the center aisle. But then sprinkles quickly became a torrent of the lust-filled synergy and a collective panting of the largest orgy that I’d ever witnessed. With every step, swells of feminine fervor had instantly spilled over into the center passageway behind me. And, like an eel, I snaked through the corals of interlocked bodies that obstructed the path in front of me. It was a near-overwhelming odyssey, as alien, yet amorous, binges became organically intimate. And the moans and kisses that erupted from each wave became the siren to call and persuade me to indulge in my own destiny. It was as if the sheer vastness of leather and lush and naked fecundity mixed with the rock and roll and became the anatomy of an aphrodisiac that I could not refute. I’d yet to reach the central Thunderdome and it was getting harder and harder to deny the current’s beckoning call.

I was surrounded on all sides by rapturous femmes that were kissing and fucking with a carnal passion and unabashedly inviting me to join in. They were provocative and alluring. And as all of my senses were swamped and flooded, I sunk deeper and deeper into my own hypnosis. The surf of orgies soaked my eye’s docks, while my nipples became painfully stiffened and my body tingled with yearning. The scent of sweat and pure passion spiked my adrenaline, as I was wrought with desire and began to drown in the Dungeon’s sensual intoxication and tantric powers. I closed my eyes, as my head would lift to the ceiling. My feet became bound and no longer moved. And as I now panted with desire, the room threatened to finally claim me. I would become its latest victim and I feared becoming lost amidst the abyss of it.

Then with primordial instinct, I turned to survey behind me and it was as if with divine intervention, the sea of bodies was being parted—PrimaDonna was serenely gliding down the walkway with calf high tie-up stilettos and a classic slim, black, little leather dress. She balanced naughty with nice ideally and one could no less give pause to her distinctive flawlessness. It seemed that the tides had turned in my favor after all, as PrimaDonna’s light had begun to captivate my focus, as she walked directly towards me.

I inhaled deeply. I exhaled deeply. And then I went to the flickering candle in my mind. The whole room phased out and I was instantly calmed by her lighthouse. I could feel the pulse of my being become leveled, as she glided towards me. And once again it seemed that PrimaDonna would be my saving grace.

"You’re the picture of perfection. I like you in all black.” She whispered into my ear.

I wanted to tell her about the photos and of everything that I’d found, but between the sexual haze and the Cîroc in my system, I was in no position to think of nothing else but the tingle in my lap.

"I..I..I…well thank you…” I dragged out the words like a kid caught napping in class.

“No, thank you…” She now circled me as if to survey me from head to toe. "Mmh. Nice ass!"

She whispered again, into my ear, with the sensual tongue of Italy. And even though I began to melt with every word that graced my ear’s canal, I fought to maintain my composure.

PrimaDonna would prove to be a more than worthy opponent at this game of chess—she was a master of the game. And it seemed that she was no stranger to the virtue of patience, as well. As a sophisticated woman would, she always timed her entrances and moved with precision and absolute poise. And although she was not playing hard to get, she played me as a huntress does her prey—with a silent and graceful watching and taunting then pouncing when the time was just right.

But two could play that game. She knew that I was putty in her hands; I just hoped that my patience would pay off to her becoming putty in mine as well.

"Your flapper ensemble was beautiful, the masquerade ensemble was truly awe-inspiring—but what you're wearing tonight takes the cake! You look phenomenal in leather…”

I began to walk her towards the central Thunderdome and spoke earnestly in her ear. “…a vision good enough to eat—just like one of those Venetian ice cream treats.”

As she smiled, I thought to myself—PrimaDonna really didn't know that I would devour her fine ass and have her climbing walls on any given night.

Right now, she was driving me insane with longing—but I wouldn’t show it. I would simply corner her, little by little.

The spray of throbbing sexuality that surrounded us began to consume us and we became magnetized by each other’s lust and wanting. And just when I thought that I could get away with a touch, a kiss, a hidden caress—she abruptly, grabbed me by my chaps, and whispered a third time in my ear.

“You’re making me wet, Silk. And I can't help but want you.” She licked and kissed my earlobe, as my eyelids became sealed shut and curtained within its ecstasy.

“Maybe one day…” She then pushed me backwards and instantly another femme hugged me from behind. And though I was being kissed on the side of my neck, from behind by a stranger, I was frozen with desire.

PrimaDonna had disappeared almost as quickly as she came to me—like a mirage in the Arizona desert. And then she re-appeared across the room, as she kissed one of the silver-painted dancers on the other side of the dome.

The painted dancer was sprawled on the velvet cushion and blissfully receiving a wet, purple glowing dildo, with a vibrating purple dolphin for a head, that another painted dancer was sensually penetrating and pleasuring her with. And as the dancer’s head hung over the velvet cushion, PrimaDonna glanced at me sensually and then kissed her deeply, as the dancer writhed in a bewitched and mesmeric ecstasy.

She was surely teasing me; and playing with my ability to retain my tolerance and long-suffering. Nevertheless, I was confident that in time I would survive the desert to be rewarded with the oasis of PrimaDonna and I would drink of her cool waters to become fully quenched.

But in the meantime, I simply had to reach my throne in one piece.

I began to finally cross through the central dome’s interior and continued my trek across the room to the far back; where a full bar and a stage with three bejeweled thrones awaited me.

I sat in my throne and took in the scenery.

Everyone was filled with ecstasy. NinaStarr had finally found a common ground with Pharaoh, as they kissed in one of the darkened crevices and corners of the room behind the stage. Suez had made it to the central dome and was now locked in a passionate kiss with the wild brunette, as they scaled the side of the steel rungs of the dome.

But nothing could prepare me for what the large central bird cage had in store for my now burning corneas.

And I couldn’t believe the image that had been seared into my brain.

As they hovered in the spotlight, Sir Sheik and Flourish were grinding unabashedly for all to see. Perched on her knees, with eyes rolled up and the sensual back of Flourish arched, the Sheik would caress her taut nipples and laugh at me from behind, within the confines of the steel cage that hung overhead. The Sheik’s hands ran the length of Flourishes’ body seductively and her fingers disappeared between Flourishes’ opened legs and shot in and out, as the Sheik suckled the inked flourishes of her shoulders from the back. It was an insult and a bestial display; and Sir Sheik was definitely sending me a blatant and direct message.

That was it! I needed a drink and I wanted some pussy.

I would get both, as the text came in to meet my Alice by the main door in exactly ten minutes.

It was time for me to get a few shots of Patrón and get my rocks off.

♦ ♦ ♦

I’d recognized my Alice downstairs immediately. And although she recognized me as well, she chose to be stalked throughout the crowd, smiling with devious glee as we weaved through the web of bodies. As the hunt was on, I playfully pursued her. But when I finally caught up with her at the stairway to the hallway, she strutted throughout the hall in defiance, until I finally yanked her into my arms and acknowledged her.

“You wanna come and take a ride with me?”

“I like playing with you already! Yeah, I can ride with you tonight.”

I smiled abruptly and then we kissed with an animalistic vigor.

I tossed her over my shoulders, as she giggled and I led her into my room. Once inside, I playfully flung her onto the bed in a near-drunken stupor. My Alice smiled on the bed, as I growled and prowled with a sensual stealth. I clenched my teeth, like a roaming panther, and crouched at the edge of the bed. We began to hunt each other around the room like predator and prey. And as we playfully chased each other, we both stumbled around the room, as we were way beyond buzzed but not yet drunk.

“You’re a bad stud and I like wild…rough…fearless studs.”

We were both as near to drunk as we could be, without it being dizzy and messy.

And my Alice was highly voluptuous and stacked like a thoroughbred—thick thighs, lusty ass, long eyelashes and even longer legs. She would stand out in any crowd; with a distinctive and striking combination of brown sugar-toned skin and hazel eyes. But with a beauty mark, like Marilyn Monroe, to complement her full, luscious lips—she stood at the head of an elite class of extreme beauties. She had a raw sexual power and was the kind of woman that I could really have a lot of fun with. And with more than enough shots of Patrón and desire in my system—she would have a lot of fun with me as well.

The text that I received about her said that her family owned a sugar estate and Jamaican rum distillery. After her mother and father passed, she inherited the full estate and flourishing business. Business was so good that she simply needed to attend executive board meetings and pop-in every so often, to make sure everything was running smoothly.

She was raised primarily in and currently lives in Toronto. And with her purse, I now had a commanding lead.

The text also stressed that she was a wild one—and I wasn’t about to take that warning mildly.

Her steamy presence was viciously provocative, as she commanded my room with knee-high leather stiletto boots and lace-up leather boy shorts and a matching top, which was tied at the waste. Her all-black leather get-up only served to awaken and charm the savage beast in me, as it contrasted with her soft bronze skin.

And although she was not PrimaDonna, she was a beautiful and divine woman—and I would love her just the same.

She began to walk towards me with a slight and rhythmic bobbing and weaving, but with a highly focused intensity, as if she was charming a snake and I was her cobra. I would hover, squint, and lunge to bite the air before her.

She stood her ground and kept moving forward. It was erotic. And I began to slowly back down.

“Your reputation precedes you, Silk.” She unbuttoned the first few buttons of her shirt as she gazed into my eyes. “You have no fear and you are swaggerific…”

“I, guess some would say that.” I was hypnotized as her full and ample bosom began to peak out behind the black leather.

“Sit down!”

I smiled and slowly lowered to sit in the oversized, royal purple leather chair in the corner. I took direction now, with the power struggle turned in her favor, but I would be sure to give direction later.

“…AND…you have a gift…a sexual power…”

“Well, I don’t know about all of those things, I’m just a mere stallion.” I picked up the remote that sat by the chair and turned on my docked iPod to play “Whining” from my playlist.

She turned and faced the iPod player that’d been activated. She then looked over me and bent down to look me in the eye.

"You assume just because I'm from Jamaica that I like dancehall?"

I gazed at her plump and robust breasts that now bounced freely in front of me, as she bent down teasingly, and responded boldly. "Well, do you?"

"Well, yeah…”

"Good! Because I love it…all music and all love is universal…so I love all types of music.”

"So do I…"

She slowly began to dance and grind, as her body moved to the music like a contortionist.

"…and I love making love to all types of music...”

"Me too…I love FUCKING to all types of music, too...but I really love FUCKING to reggae...”

She stressed and reinforced the words like they needed to be bolded with emphasis, as she accented each sentence with a smoky, island flavor. She looked over her shoulders and her body ducked lower and into my lap, as she performed her dutty wine dance. The scent of her kai aroma filled my nasal cavities, as my own body’s secretions began to fill between my legs. And like the drummer does the steel drum, I tingled and danced all over inside. I was excited by her passionate vibes and closed my eyes as my body was consumed with her exotic essence.

"Mmmh, I love T.O.K.—da tune deh sick! What do you know about reggae music?"

"I know it comes from a sexy place, where the sexy women reside.” I whispered into her ears and began to carefully unlace her lace-up leather boy shorts from behind, as I began to dance with her. I slid my fingers inside of her and began to play with the sensual serum that had collected for me within.

"Ooh, you are a dutty…dutty stud!" She tilted her head back, closed her eyes and moaned. "They say sex is everywhere—but to me a GREAT fuck is hard to come by.”

"I'll make sure that you cum hard everywhere tonight!"

“I’ll be sure to hold you to dat, Sexy Silk.” She turned and began to back up towards the bed. And I began to follow her.

“Look like yuh want a sort out now, Sexy, Sexy Silk?”

It seemed that as the night went on her Jamaican accent would slur and dip in and out of her. And I would soon dance full-on with her native tongue.

“You turn me on...I hope that you don't mind getting a little wild tonight...”

“You're free to be whoever you want to be with me!”

I peered deep into her eyes, piercing past the triple-paned windows to her soul. And as her lust’s physician, I’d seen her spell before.

Hers was a proud yet victimized soul, constantly having to defend herself against those that hated her for her wealth and prosperity. A pretty little girl riddled with sweeping insensitivity. A damaged and enraged princess, made invisible to all as long as she got her way.

Hers was a drunken soul of sadness and hidden insecurities plagued with the illusions of a need to maintain control. All mortal beings eventually binded to her every bidding which was requested with a sweet and subtle revenge. Constantly struggling to rise to everyone's highest expectations of glamour and strength, she was an engaging woman long lost to the spell of a doomed lifetime of ease and privilege; as she was given the world on a silver platter with no real challenges to speak of that were her own. And yet each and every day was a ferocious fight to keep the world from seeing the weaknesses within.

She’d attended Cloud9 as an escape to her everyday jug of competitive order. But within this night, I would fill her with light and love. And kill this spoiled state of organized chaos and hidden rage.

Tonight, I would give her what she thought she wanted and then treat her with what she needed to liberate her exacted madness. She would get a full bottle of Silk and experience the fullness of life thereof.

I was again on the prowl like a panther, as I lurked and clenched my teeth. I growled as the panther does his prey and my eyes shone. I slowly backed her up onto the bed, as I kept her gaze. And I stealthily tore into removing my boots and chaps, as I could already tell that she was driven by a wild libido.

“You’re drunk!” She giggled and despite her hidden plight, hers was a beautiful smile full of life and paradise.

“I’m not drunk! You’re stacked like a thoroughbred…and I wanna fuck you!”

She backed up within the sheets and her unshackled shirt began to slide off of her body. And as she smiled and gingerly dipped and dodged like an iguana, I swiftly caught and pulled her by her ankles to the edge of my bed.

I unzipped and removed her leather stiletto boots and shorts. Then tossed them aside, as I pounced upon my Alice with the swiftness of the tongue that I’d been gifted with.

I placed the whole of my mouth upon her, to cup and mold the clay of her softly-shaped saucer. I skipped and licked her pulsing pebble and she began to get settled, as I sipped her river's delta. I licked her and licked her. And then like a potent potable, the strength of her firewater sweetly ignited my desire to deliver shots of my tongue to her with rapid-fire.

I would bob and weave through the lush folds of her lips that now swelled with each breast’s stroke, delivered at the hands of my palms and fingers.

And she was now swimming with the glory of my raw and sexual power.

“Ohh, baby, that feels so good.” Though she whispered, her moans were distinct and commanded my tongue to linger longer within her.

I would lick and kiss my Alice to thoroughly wet my whistle, as she was built like a piston. And tensions disappeared as her hips’ movements became tremendous—which proved that she was indeed a thoroughbred.

And like the dutty wine dance, the rhythm traveled up and down her spine to pop and throw shots, as my tongue returned the rally, to spiral and gyrate motions within her love’s oceanic potion. Her emotions catapulted wildly within the throws of our passion. And her arched back and curved hip's song egged me on, like the full moon rises to sway the wild and untamed beast to bay and to maim.

Her dam finally broke and began to release all of her hidden insecurities with it.

“Oh, yes baby…”

I siphoned her maraschino cherry and began to sip this Alice’s ale that felled from her. I drank her in, like a lush, and her bliss fed me like Memphis moonshine. She moaned and groaned. And it was soca music to my ears.

Once I’d turned her on, she was running and cumming like a faucet. And like nip from the tap, I was drunk with the bliss that passed to me.

But this was not the last call.

“Get on all four’s” I casually directed.

The liquor of this thoroughbred gave me the strength of ten stallions.

"Power up!"

I stood at the edge of the bed, as she shuddered on all four’s in ecstasy. And I pumped my ruler’s erection, as she peered back at me.

I progressed to lick and wiggle her chloë from behind and the tips of her long black hair shook and rattled with the rest of her cumming.

I straightened my back and pinched my shoulder blades together, as if I was marching into battle on the heels of this thoroughbred.

I quickly spread open her thickened lips.

And at first penetration she willingly backed up onto me.

“Oooh, give it to me daddy!”

“This is my fat pussy!”

I held onto her hips and as the head had disappeared within, I paused at the entrance to tease and torture her before sliding deep inside. And as I’d entered her, she would become the libation to my muscle’s shining dome; and I began to blend and mix her cocktail, as she moaned and cursed in her native Jamaican tongue.

“Silk, baby, stretch di pum-pum out... dutty stud”

I dug my toes and heels into the shagged fur carpet and drew my spine and pelvis in, as a dirty bliss fell upon us. The penchant feeling began to arise up and through my thighs; and with ass cheeks clenched, concentric circles dotted my mind.

My hips spooned and slapped the back of her legs, as she cursed and squirmed to the rhythm of my gyre and the scold of my rolls. I gripped and squeezed her fully-rounded ass and leaned into her pelvis relentlessly. And my love muscle swerved and bounced within her belly, as I fucked her with a wild and raging passion.

“Oh, Silk!”

As the ruler’s shaft engorged to the next level, I would slide out to tease and torture her. I climbed onto the bed behind her, on bended knees, and slid the bouncing and bulging head back into her.

“Fuck me, daddy!” She clenched the sheets and demanded.

With her hazel eyes blazing through me and her hair springing at every rebound, I began to bring up the rear. I gripped both sides of her, as her hips handled and commenced to swirl the richie around inside to grind, while I cupped her dancing breasts. And then I began to take over to bounce her full body on the dong and she began to shrill a trill, like King Kong raged inside of her.

“Ooh, fuck me, daddy!”

I spanked her ass and began to grind fast with her pussy still constricted. She was filled and I meant to awaken her soul, as I plunged deeper towards her body’s ocean floor. My ruler's shaft shone and shimmered on the outlet and recoil, bulging at the next opportunity to slide and climb the walls of her great abyss. Each time the bulging head found a way to hold on to the rim just enough to echo bliss throughout her body's vessel. And our rocking became a sexual compass, as the needle swayed between us.

She would truly miss the sweet kisses of this rocker by the end of this ride.

We fucked rough and with an utter obscenity. And the lips to her pussy slapped my member’s sack as she bounced and threw it back. My hands clasped the outside of her hips and simply guided her ass back into me, while her cheeks bounced and jiggled furiously.

I was fearless, as my hip and pelvic muscles slung the dong’s growing power inside of her. And as the shaft enjoyed the deep-sea diving, it pushed her to the brink of utter destruction. All the while, her mind and patois ran and reeled at a dizzying pace.

Liquor woven sweat trickled mercilessly, as I exorcised her demons. And then, as she moaned and screamed louder, my noble and divine essence began to take over. This was a test of my endurance, as I pushed her beyond the fringe. And every so often she would look back and squint her eyes threateningly. She looked back and held hell's fury in her eyes, in a relentless pursuit of the ultimate orgasm.

“Fuck me, baby, fuck me!” She closed her eyes and hurled her screams to the sky.

I set myself to congeal my kneeling to set the whole of the shimmering shaft to disappear between her full lips and then with a long stroke, the whole of the rod would slickly emerge to the neck of the bulging head, which would cling with a concise and concentric timing. And the quick and rhythmic tick, with which my ruler hit and switched it, was to the measure of the Swiss watches’ millisecond hand.

She now hailed my powerful presence as my sheer strength of cadence would prove indestructible.

“Oh baby…yuh gwan kill me…wid di daggerin’.”

Her patois was becoming a beautiful banging to my eardrum, as if to persuade my hips to win the uphill battle. She was cumming. And I was determined to chase all of her frustrations away.

She fully surrendered and it was a Jamaican jerk festival, as she came again and her legs began to shake and give way.

But I wouldn’t let her off that easy.

I was still drunk and not done.

So, I quickly laid her on her back and kissed her face. Then I began to kiss and place my tongue on her chloë, as her hips begin to fix and grind against it—the whole of my tongue content for the moment to vibrate it.

It re-invigorated her love’s elixir.

“Oh, I could cum…again and again. You turnin’…me on again…”

“Carpe diem, baby…seize the day!”

I juggled and suckled her jiggling breasts, like jugs of water balloons at a carnival.

I held onto one foot of her spread legs and kneeled faced forward into her to penetrate her again. And as her bended knee leveraged me, I smiled cunningly.

Mine was the wild ride that she’d been dreaming of, as I sunk deeper into her. She received me to rock fittingly within her newly wettened delight. She began to wriggle her chloë in earnest—resolute to cum a third time tonight.

I hulked to double my size and towered above her with full intention to insert my will upon her, as she encouraged my fortitude.

And then she threw me with a wicked declaration.

“Choke me!”

Though I was caught off guard, I would fearlessly oblige. I began to do the unthinkable, but the experience was mildly sobering. She was possessed again to rely on her pain for pleasure, as I began to close my hands around her neck. The relapse caused her to fiend for the abusive aching, which moved to consume me. And for the first time ever, I began to move with a divided mind. I relinquished to this murky spirit, within this moment of weakness and choked away the growing schemes, corruption and deceit that had been suffocating me. The thickness of its unexpected gloom surrounded me on all sides and now came to me in the form of my Alice.

It seemed that this place was bringing out the wilder side of everyone and even I’d fallen victim to its bewitching power.

A dark side of me was threatening to take over, as I amped up my body’s rhythmic pounding to a full throttle. She became thoroughly engaged, as she gasped for air in her moaning and the muscle bounced again inside. Maddeningly, her body had created room within her womb to receive more of me, as she was loving this torture.

The darkness overcame me, as my hips began to stir it up. And she was on the verge of fainting. I clenched my jaws tight, with hot air entering and exiting my flared nostrils; intent on poking to feed fuel and stoke the fire that lay deep within her belly. I was close to the edge and at risk of relinquishing to this sick and twisted turn of events. I needed something to reel the beast inside of me, back in. And I needed it quick, fast, and in a hurry.

So, I began to think incredibly happy thoughts for the sake of both of us. I gazed into her hazel eyes, earnestly, and thought about the beach that we would both soon set foot on. I visualized the red and purple strokes of the Miami sunset that would soon set upon us and the smile that lit up my Alice's face and it seemed these images fed into her life force. She allowed me to have free reign and she began to let go of her pain again. She let go of a torture that was long overdue.

I gathered my wits about me and slowly released my grip from her throat.

“We don't want to end the night like this baby. You’re too beautiful for this...” I whispered into her ear. ”I want to bring you to a beautiful place. Let me show you the way.”

I’d tamed the raging rapids of our angry spirits, as we both now relished the calm after the storm in a newfound relief and intimacy.

There was a ceasefire and her body coaxed me further, coaching me to come closely. Privately and with an unspoken treaty, we began to grapple with the idea of making love.

I kissed and caressed her softly; and blanketed her with a bliss of biblical proportions, as she was now yearning for the utter peace of my branded release.

"Oh, Silk…” She moaned soulfully and then whispered with her forehead clenched. “Make love to me…"

As I felt my love muscle engorge to the maximum level, I began again to stake my claim and take ownership of her beautiful body. We were for the moment united, as she was filled with love and I could see in her now warm and autumned eyes that I’d finally tapped past the mask and discovered the lover amongst her.

I took the moment to inhale and exhale. To breathe the moment in and fill my spirit, with her tranquility as a fortifying mantra. And with tantric energies rising within me, I could feel my divine adrenaline surge from my soul through to the blood in my veins. All of my rotating chakras and coiled muscles grew fully stimulated and I could feel my body surrender to a controlled and calming passion. The full power and intensity of Max's love had drained and the soft and sensitive side of Silk's love had now taken my body hostage.

She could sense this instant transformation, as my essence rose from my skin and the air became thickened with it.

My whole spirit engulfed her. And I drove deeper, as our hips moved as one. Our lust binded our minds as one, in harmony with the essence that surrounded us. Our ecstasy binded our souls in harmony with the song of satisfaction that arose from our throats, as synchronized moans. The whole of our spirits morphed into one mind-bending trip, as it became an out of body experience.

We were plugged into each other and the power of light now flowed within us. She became filled and together we’d entered a state of grace.

“Oh, yes, baby!”

I harvested a magical love within me that would quake and register to the upper limits of the Richter scale. And I disseminated its seismic energy within her folds. And it circulated and spread with every reverberated stroking.

I rocked her to pieces as the waves of devotion would ebb and flow steadily along the long, forgotten beaches of her hedonism. I drove to the depths of her and into an ancient tunnel within her womb’s tomb; and simply burrowed and ran my love, from the welled walls to the relic roof of this hidden den. And bended to curl up and lovingly stroke the abode within it.

She was drunk with my love and acceptance. And finally three sheets to the wind.

Clear tears, yet to fall, formed into the sides of her pinched shut eyes.

“I’m cummin’ baby…”

Her voice trailed off as her toes began to curl at her body’s caving in and her spirit rumbled with the love that had overtaken her.

I released all of my muscles to hug and hold her tightly and she dug her nails into the skin of my back. And her spray would bathe my legs as her mind, body, and soul convulsed with overwhelming pleasure. We plugged into a higher source together and our bodies became drenched with our love’s excess.

And the dust had finally settled.

“You’re beautiful, my thoroughbred!” I whispered with words whistling into her ear’s canal.

I sweetly kissed her now-released tears, as she bit down on flashes of her lip’s flesh and folds. And I, with the power of my spirit, committed the ultimate act of love. I became one with HER essence as she was now abruptly drained of all her pain.

“I don’t deserve you…” She proclaimed with all integrity.

“You deserve even more than me…you deserve you, baby…you deserve your love…”

I rolled over and scooped her up to lay upon me. She sobbed silently, with her whole body shivering against me. I kissed her forehead, as she began to breathe in and out to the rhythm of my heartbeat.

“Thank you for catching me, Silk…” She sighed deeply. “I’ll give you anything…fly you anywhere for a private call…”

“We’re gonna have a lot of fun together…” She murmured silently as the last of her tears hit my chest and I began to close my eyes to her sleep’s sweet melody.

And I couldn’t help but to think in relief—two satisfied Alice’s down and one more to go.

♦ ♦ ♦

“What time do we board?”

“I think around five o’clock our time and we’ll get there nine o’clock Miami time.”

My team and I’d been packed and ready to board the jet as we walked down the main hallway of the Dungeon.

“Good…because we have some last minute rehearsals before Miami Vogue tomorrow. I still have to meet with a couple of the models for fitting and they have to rip the runway before the real thing.”

“Last night was wild, wasn’t it? That had to be the wildest that I’ve ever seen Cloud9 get!”

“Girl, it was like Pharaoh had pumped pheromones through the vents and air ducts or something.”

“You never know with Pharaoh.”

“Well, I for one don’t mind if she did pump something into me, because I had a great time. I finally got Pharaoh all to myself and got to taste those luscious lips of hers…”

“Finally...”

“It took long enough, don't you think?”

“That was a long time coming.”

“And after Cloud9, I hope we can hook-up so I can have a looong time cumming…”

“You know, you are utterly mad, luv!”

“Girl, you crazy.”

“Looks like Sir Sheik and Flourish were having a great time too...” I yelled at Flourish, as she rounded the corner ahead of us.

“Yeah, I saw that too!”

”Girl, you are too scandalous!”

“Now, just hold your horses, Silk…”

Flourish stopped in front of me, un-amused by the confrontation.

“…I was rollin' last night, so half of me was high on E...”

“And the other half was high on Sir Sheik.” Kendra retorted in jest as the others giggled.

“It's cool. I mean we're all adults here...”

Even though it did get under my skin, I casually shrugged it off in front of the team.

“I mean, I don’t know why with Sir Sheik but…whatever curls your toes, Flourish…”

“Hey! Different measures for different pleasures…” The Sheik obnoxiously jumped into the conversation, as she rounded the corner with Pharaoh.

“I can’t help it if Flourish simply prefers me—I mean—-nobody satisfies like the one and only Sir Sheik!”

The Sheik cocked her collar up with a smug bravado while Flourish blushed. It seemed that she held bragging rights and was now unabashedly flaunting it in front of Flourishes now flush face.

“Flourish knows she wanted all of it. I own her and she cums only for me. Isn’t that right, Flourish?”

The Sheik laughed, as Flourish started to tear and finally ran back down the hall in embarrassment.

Everyone, including Pharaoh, shook their head in disgust and looked at Sir Sheik.

“What? An eye for an eye and a dance for a dance…Isn’t that right, Silk?”

I’d figured Sir Sheik to be an asshole with a grudge against me, but I’d yet to witness the Sheik behaving vindictively to her own friends—the same friends that’ve had her back for a long time. The very concept of it repulsed me and was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

She’d finally rubbed me the wrong way.

An overwhelming anger was rising through my veins and before I knew it, I’d rushed the Sheik with the unrelenting rage. I wrapped my hand around her throat and drove her backward into the wall behind her. I clenched and slid her up against the wall so that she could meet my eye level. Her feet began to dangle against the floor and for the first time I saw fear in Sir Sheik's blue and green eye. My whole core bulked, as she frantically clutched at my hand and struggled to gasp for air.

Everyone seemed to be frozen in shock to the fact that I’d actually shut Sir Sheik up.

I was sick of her shit and stood up to her in a way that nobody expected—not even myself. It took Suez and Pharaoh to peel me off of Sir Sheik, as she fell to the floor and gasped for air.

With flaccid legs, she finally stood and leaned against the wall. She continued to struggle for breath as PrimaDonna now rounded the corner. And I was still being restrained by Pharaoh and Suez, as the Sheik slowly gathered herself up and straightened her collar.

“What's going on here and why is Flourish crying?”

The Sheik inhaled deeply and proceeded to dodge the questions by kissing PrimaDonna on the cheek.

“Oh, it’s absolutely nothing my dear…just the excitement of going back to Miami is getting to everyone…”

"Yeah, it's nothing!"

I shook Pharaoh and Suez off me in frustration to walk in the same direction that Flourish had taken. I was losing it and I needed to find Flourish to begin to stabilize my karma before setting foot in Miami—the one place that I knew would return me to a sense of balance and poise.

I heard her crying in the smoke and toke room that we’d all gathered in two days ago. And as I opened the door, my intention was to apologize. But as I saw her crying, I couldn’t help but feel nothing but anger that she would let one of her closest friends break her down and humiliate her.

“Don’t cry, Flourish! Come on now, you’re not this weak!” I quickly became enraged with her fragility. “How could you sink this low and let her get away with it? Everything she said must’ve been true!”

With a quickness, Flourish jumped up and unexpectedly slapped my face. And without restraint, I backed her up against the wall, as I seemed to be still flush with adrenaline and held both of her hands above her head to be locked and pinned against the wall. She began to cry again as the subtle sting of her strike rose to fill my cheek.

“Silk! You don’t understand! I just needed to escape for the moment. I had been stressed and she offered me the pill to wind down a little and I didn’t know it would go as far as it did!”

I softened my grip but refused to release her.

“I'm sorry, Flourish…but she stripped you of your dignity and slighted me in the process…to allow her to have this power over you…It’s just not something that I expected to see from you.”

“I’d already been stripped…” She began to soften and whisper. “It's something different about you…It’s intoxicating…you're different than all the other studs and even the other stallions…you see me and you know me. It's like I'm addicted to you and I hate it that all of these femmes have access to you.”

She quickly began to regain internal fortitude, as she spoke to me.

“I hate it that you even acknowledge them.” She slid one of her hands out of my grip and ran her hands over the lap of my polo shorts.

“I miss you and I can't get you out of my mind! I’ve been craving you and it aches…”

She bit my lower lip, as she’d unzipped my shorts and began to stroke between my legs. She licked and kissed the fold of my lip, as though it held the key to the release of her aching frustrations. And with my own disappointments and irritations, it became easy to yield to her sweet surrender—and yet I remained angry.

I pinned her free hand again, as we kissed, and again she freed herself to sway my hands to pass under her free-flowing skirt and over the lace of her thong that held her throbbing mound.

Her heat called out to me. And again I admitted defeat, amidst the bouts of our own echoed panting. I feverishly drove her thong aside and slithered my fingers inside her lake of eternal fire. The blazes had long-scorched the steel fortification of her raging inferno and had been long-calling for me to stoke the flames. My fingerprints would now become the evidence of my arrest, as they glided and skimmed with a singed quenching inside.

My lips pinched vehemently and my tongue sucked long-hardened and groaning nipples, as she moaned me onwards to the aching that lived between her legs and now stirred for my penetration.

“Power up!” She commanded between pants. “Oh, Silk! I missed you…Fuck me, Silk.”

The rod began to fill and bulge. And I began to press upon her.

I kissed her passionately, to silence her words, and hitched her leg around my waist, to thrust my richie deep inside. I finally released her other hand, as I’d needed both hands and all of my body’s strength to fortify me. The release of tension was almost too much for her body to bear, as I could feel her womb and body welcome me.

“Oh, Silk!”

The shaft engorged and filled her throbbing belly, as the head grew further inside to instigate her tender pulsating. I closed my eyes and flashes of PrimaDonna’s face had unpredictably and uncontrollably filled my conscience.

I was now automated to gratify her body’s urges and began pushing for her to cum quickly. And she moaned in satisfaction, even though the rhythm was deep and punishing

I lifted her up to straddle me and ushered her from our wall of torture to the nearby sofa. I’d thrown her down onto the couch carelessly, as her liquid lava ran from the whole of the rod to the bulge and swell of the ruler’s knob. A matching fluidity spread, like an apple jelly over bread, between her widened legs; urging me to re-fill her tank until her reservoir was full.

I was drawing from my fury and yet leveling, with the stimulation of the image of PrimaDonna still flashing through my mind’s membrane. I feverishly stretched and broadened the glistening rod, as it had abruptly reached a long and broad maximum. I pinned the inside of her thigh against the purple leather cushions and pounced upon her pleading pussy, with an ample and daunting power and authority.

And she moaned from a deep and unchartered place, as I was fierce; like a fresh supply of steroids had been injected and now coursed through my pulsing veins. And with the pressure building, I was running on the fumes of a passionate rage.

Still intent on torturing her, I would slide out and pass my tongue over her seed and finger her, and then slide back into her in an alternating and repetitive manner.

She moaned with each increasing wave of affliction, until I was ready to relieve her pleasure’s agony.

I touched down deep into her womb, plunging and passing over lusted push buttons that seemed to have temporarily been left unattended and forgotten; while verbal blasts of passion escaped her vocal chords, in an unrelenting support of my bad behavior.

My leg and core muscles coiled and her belly opened up, like the feeding boa constrictor does in hunger. And I would pump and draw out her passageway from a gradual tightening to an agreeable and bliss-filled rolling absorption.

And it finally seemed that we were slowly reconciling with the smoldering of our hips circulation. Our rocking would be our meditation and I now relinquished to the soft spot that she held for me.

With locked triceps and cemented shoulders, I thrust and rolled with a stark abandonment. And I would multiply her blessings with a quickening and ever-obliging curving, as my hips and pelvis rocked; so that I was sure the head would rub and cuff her throbbing g-spot at the top.

The occasional boosting of a sliding, swirling swell served to amplify the friction and soon the culmination would be too much for her body to resist.

A few long strokes and taps, to the farthest back of her g-spot, would be instrumental in her climax, as she shrieked with substantiated pleasure.

“Yes, baby, I’m cumming…”

She’d waited for this moment for what seemed like forever and I owed it to her now to vanquish her body’s frenzy. I kissed her softly, as I’d finally lifted the cloud from the bowels of her soul and with the instant levitation she was exploding furiously.

“Oh, yes…”

I pulled out and her chloë tremored and streamed with a pulsing exhilaration.

“Oh, God!”

“Fuck Silk! I missed you…”

I rubbed and massaged her throbbing mound in silence—now unsympathetic for the repercussions of my actions.

She sat up to hug me and kissed me softly on the cheek.

“Whew! Now that wasn’t too hard now was it?” She said with a sarcasm and profound vigor. She’d been brought back to life like a plant that largely required watering—her smile an indication that her cup now ran over.

“Mmh…I NEEDED that…”

“Power down!” I sat back and straightened my boxers. “Listen, I apologize for everything, Flourish…I shouldn’t have called you out like that…”

I zipped up my shorts and caught my breath, as I could sense her gazing into my soul.

“You just made me so angry that you would allow her to have you sink so low. You don’t understand how much her mere presence is poison to my soul…And I don't even know how long I can stand it. I'm thinking about leaving.”

“Don't let her make you quit—you’re not a quitter! Don't let her get to you. You’re good for this organization. You’re good for your team, for PrimaDonna and even Pharaoh.” Flourish tenderly clutched my chin to look directly into her mint eyes. “Silk, you’re good for me.”

“I know you just saying this ‘cause you just got some good-good.” I smiled at her.

“No, not JUST because of that…”

She now laughed, as we were both now loosened all the way up.

“She’s just not worth it! Keep your eyes on the prize and stay focused. Remember what you’re here for…Don’t even let ME get to you. I just needed my fix…that’s all, okay?”

“Okay…you’re right…but you gotta keep your senses intact, Flourish. You can’t let your desires get the best of you. I’ll stay, but we all must be held accountable to our own impulses—including me. I gotta get a hold of myself and it starts here.”

I gazed at Flourish with a cemented sternness held in my eyes. And she bowed her head slightly.

“But…In the meantime, let's let bygones be bygones…do you forgive me?”

“Of course I do, Silk. It was my fault. Like you said, I have to hold myself accountable for my own inability to control myself. And I will do a better job of being a bigger and better woman. I can and will hold my emotions and desires in check, Silk.”

We hugged.

I needed someone to talk to and little did I know that my solace would come from Flourish. But, I wouldn’t tell her that I missed her friendship, as well. I would let the hug speak for itself.

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today is the precious present. So let’s just live within the day and take it as a blessing.”

“You damn right; and if there was ever anything that you needed to talk about, I’m your girl. Don’t feel you have to carry so much of a burden on your shoulders that you can’t come to me and talk it out.”

I began to think about all of the pictures that I still held and the burden of Sir Sheik’s operations that I’d been holding on to. I decided that right now was a perfect time as any to let Flourish in on just a dash of what I’d uncovered.

“Look, I don’t know if you know but…there’s some serious shit going on around here and I gotta get this to PrimaDonna…”

I’d taken out my phone and pulled up the first picture.

“I don’t have her phone number and can’t seem to get her by herself while Cloud9 is going on—so here…”

Flourished clutched the phone and gazed at the photo of the kilo of cocaine in confusion.

I remained tight-lipped about the bulk of what had been unveiled to me and simply showed her the first photograph and forwarded it to her phone.

“Flourish, I need you to forward this picture to PrimaDonna and tell PrimaDonna to call me when she was ready to discuss the picture further.”

“Is this what I think this is?”

“Yes and its Sir Sheik’s…give it to PrimaDonna and you’ll understand everything in due time.”

“What’s going on?”

"Just trust me, Flourish!"

She shook her head, as if to say okay, as I stood up to leave.

"I’ll make sure that she gets this right away...”

I kissed her on the cheek and walked away from the sofa. "Good! I'll see you in Miami.”

From here on out, I was all business.

11

“Come and take a magic carpet ride...”

"I'll be sure to spread my love inside you...”

“Take hold of the silky fringes and frills…”

“And tell me how it feels, as we indulge in the thrills of your hills and valleys that build with a skilled will…”

“It's like taking candy from you, baby…”

“So come and steal away with me…”

“…and seal our fate within this brilliant ecstasy…”

“Let us forage this land of bounty together with pleasure…”

“…in all of its unbounded treasures…”

“Tonight I’ll be your genie...”

“…unlimited wishes as you feed me…”

“Sappho she smiles as you seize me…”

“Appease me…”

“Relieve…”

“And take flight…

“On this magic carpet ride tonight…”

I set down the red and black oud that I’d been strumming, as a few skilled studs continued to play their metallic red, Turkish Darbuka hand drums lightly in the background.

"Welcome to An Arabian Night where I’m your host. Please enjoy your evening at Illumin8.”

The intimate performance that’d been delivered on the rooftop of Illumin8 was short and sweet, yet would definitely suffice.

This was meant to be a night of pure sensuality as the concluding night of Cloud9, as well as the final night of the Mounting of the Stallions competition.

There was a lot of buzz about me, within this first Cloud9, and the hype seemed to increase and spread among the Sapphians with each event that passed. PrimaDonna held high expectations of me and my crew’s ability to withstand the added pressure of the buildup and to live up to the talk. And as I’d prepped and delivered my pep talk to my team, on the jet before landing in Miami, I was certain that we would not disappoint.

We arrived by air to the balmy paradise of Miami. And as soon as I’d inhaled the faint trails of the ocean’s salt in the breezy, tropical air, it seemed that all of my recent frustrations melted away, ever so easily. My mental senses were cleansed and my spiritual senses had been instantly awakened from its fainted state.

And it felt good. Not good. It felt great to be back at Illumin8 for the last round of Cloud9. And with so much drama unfolding around me in Arizona, it felt great to be in an environment where I could feed from serenity and cultivate gratitude and peace.

From the moment we’d arrived, I meditated and re-aligned my balance. My spirit had been so weakened that I began my first day with a full cleanse in sea salts and a full meditation within the confines of my Zen room. I consumed fruits, water and pure proteins. I would take my time in supplementing my mind, body and soul; and by the end of it all, I would walk into the conference room to prep for the day’s events, fully refreshed and rejuvenated.

I would further summon peace by melding my mind to accept the realization that the series of events occurred in the way that it should have—therefore, the future would be exactly how it was meant to be.

I took comfort in the fact that everything would take care of itself. And it was confirmed in my dreams the previous night, when none other than Sappho herself had appeared in my dreams, once more, and consoled my spirit with a brief and gentle message.

"Everything is as it should be...”

Her words echoed, as a ringing in my ear even now and I was quite content to awaken with the resolve that everything would be fine.

As soon as Cloud9 was concluded, I would release the truth of Sir Sheik’s veiled empire and fully set the constraints of my spirit free.

But in the meantime, it was the last leg of Cloud9 and it was finally my turn to host.

We planned to deliver the fabulousness and sensuality of Miami to the Sapphians in a way that had never been realized before. Riding on the energy that had been expended throughout the first two legs, my few days of entertainment were meant to be a casual release.

We started out yesterday by rolling out the red carpet and receiving the sleek attendees of Miami Vogue. Femmes arrived to the white, minimalist haven of Illumin8 in exotic thong bathing suits and lively sheer sarongs; while studs rocked casual Tommy Bahama linen sets and sandals for the fabulous fashion show and pool party.

NinaStarr had combined girls, from some of the other Playhouses, with the rest of the Trio to model her new chic collection—StarrLit. The Sapphian guests nibbled on fresh, pink jumbo shrimp and exotic, sliced fruit while sipping fine bubbles of Moët, as the girls would strut the catwalk. They paraded thirteen pieces of lingerie, bathing suits, sportswear, and cocktail dresses on a slender glass platform; which overlaid and hovered the crystalline water of the near side of the infinity edge pool, while femmes pointed and admired in ecstasy. Their sleek stilettos clicked and clacked the fiberglass, while a homemade electronica and hip-hop international party mix thumped and bounced off the handmade, classic terracotta brick and marble tiles.

Midi deejayed and Suez would spit reggaeton lyrics from the second-level balcony, between sets, as Sapphians enjoyed roaring waverunners in the bay and splashed in the grotto and sparkling waters of the infinity pool.

And our event would be the definition of spring Miami chic.

The day’s events would turn into a house infused foam party, as the sunset would turn to dusk. And with the initial day’s events under my belt, I would return to my room last night at ease and relieved that it ran smoothly; and concluded without a hitch.

And now here I stood basking in the soft glow of another successful night, while I looked over the crowd; which was now gazing at me in reverie, as our second night’s events wound to a close for me.

As they applauded my sensual and heartfelt performance, their movements became slow-motioned in my mind. And I began to swim in the nostalgia of how far I’d come, in such a short time.

In the blink of an eye, I’d transcended from the bars of the Social Lounge to the rooftop of Illumin8—and it seemed in this moment to be innately surreal.

I breathed in the momentous sensation and privately reveled within its ripe maturity.

I had made it through the serene mystique of An Arabian Night and every single female would leave tonight feeling the cool warmth of its cordiality and peace.

This would be a night of natural intimacy, as I took full advantage of the sensual elements that constituted the landscape of Miami.

My estate had been transformed into a Moroccan oasis for the night; replete with small white cabana tents and a large white Bedouin main tent, which stood surrounded by the palm trees downstairs. Large-bowled fire pits and oversized sandboxes had been filled with white tea lights to line the path of enlightenment that awaited the Sapphians inside.

And it was like a painting that’d come to life. Within the tents, gypsy dancers urged our members to quench themselves with the willful hypnosis that their silver-coined waists and beaded bosoms provided, as they shook their hips like wound and beating tambourines. Gold and purple glitter-painted team members peppered fine Persian rugs, while snake dancers, with elongated yellow albino pythons dangling from their necks, speckled the oasis. Purple, blue, and green flourished peacocks strided amidst femmes draped in red-sequined veils and chained coin-belts, with loops and bells, to superimpose stunning brushstrokes on the colorful canvas of this evening’s masterpiece. And fascinating fire breathers served to light up the night’s sky.

It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever helped to create.

And yet my vision was still too large to end at the ground floor.

I selected to entertain rooftop, for those who chose to submerge themselves in the romance of taking comfort in the palatial locale that had been placed directly underneath the stars. Sheer white veils were suspended from an unimpeded, overhead structure and draped sensually to the ground. While bright red Moroccan-print carpets supported bright red piles of scatter cushions, as well as the large, white-platform lounging beds that Sapphians now applauded from.

Tonight was indeed a magic carpet ride, as even the coals from the rooftop firepits flamed and burned brightly—and I would be the genie for the lucky Alice who was along for the flight.

Embellished gypsy belly dancers surrounded me on all sides, as I glided with bare feet from the central area of the rooftop in an all-white linen shirt and drawstring pants set. And the performers would gather together and dance a traditional Middle Eastern performance with sheer veils and flowing scarves, as the audience watched with wonder.

I’d concluded my portion of the evening’s performances and was now headed directly to my suite to meet my Alice.

“Sexy Silk!”

Women clapped, jeered and eyed me as I sleekly passed them. I had even seen both my Alices, from the previous nights, whom now held lively gleams in their eyes for me, as I briefly conversed and flirted with them. Lourdes had texted me earlier, to inform me that I’d received propositions, from more than a few Sapphians, to fly across the world and dine with them in exotic places like Monaco, Gran Canaria, Nice and Rio de Janeiro as soon as Cloud9 had concluded; and as NinaStarr had foretold, these women had implied that currency and other resources would come with the pleasure of having known them.

But I couldn’t quite relish in the future yet, as I still had more important business to attend to in the present.

I took one quick and final sip from my glass of Moët, as I casually passed Pharaoh in earnest to head towards my suite.

"That was pretty slick, Silk! Shit, that turned ME on!" She smiled in jest. "I mean you're already well ahead...no need to rub our faces in it...”

“No harm intended…Strictly business, playboi, strictly business…”

♦ ♦ ♦

As I steeped in my Roman soaking tub, I hadn’t a care in the world—except for who might my Alice be and when would she be standing at my master suite door.

The only sounds that resonated the ample corner tub was the water’s silent whirling, as it whisked through the jets of the soothing whirlpool, and the calming, ambient sounds of Aquasphere that flowed from the master bathroom speaker. Cascaded and colossal, ivory pillar candles and Mediterranean oils surrounded me on all sides of the deck, along with a tray filled with fresh fruit and Moët that set on a small table nearby.

Before my performance, I’d received a text that the Alice requested to meet me in my room. But unlike my previous two Alices, there was no other information that Lourdes could supply to me on my lover for the night. The Alice wished to remain anonymous.

And for the first time in the Mounting of the Stallions, I was flying blind.

I wasn’t so much worried but more so intrigued. And I decided to focus more on the presentation of myself than the challenge of not knowing whom I would be faced.

I hadn’t yet been alerted as to when they would arrive, so I simply soaked and waited.

After meditating for almost half an hour in the tub and gazing at the stars outside of the bathroom’s window, I’d decided that I had soaked long enough. But just when I was about to turn the lever of the brushed nickel faucet, to turn off the whirlpool, I heard my suite door open.

I sat back in the tub and listened to the sounds of clanking trinkets and clicking stilettos crossing the marble to my suite. The stilettos abruptly stopped at the opened doorway of my bathroom.

“Well, can I slide onto your magic carpet ride, tonight?”

That’s my mysterious Alice? Is it who I think it is? The voice sounded familiar but I had a hard time believing it to be true.

I turned around and couldn't believe my eyes. It must have been a mirage or a cruel trick of the mind.

The vision of PrimaDonna standing at the door pierced into my conscience as a dagger would—kind of like the long, thin high and pointed heels that adorned her feet.

She struck a pose, with a flair of un-deniability; and was fully decorated in a red, three-row chiffon hip scarf and a skirt ornamented with gleaming silver coins and beads.

I thought it an optical illusion, but was sure that in my thoroughly relaxed state that my senses would not deceive me.

It looked, sounded, and even smelled of PrimaDonna, but I was still perplexed as to how and why she was standing in the place of my third Alice.

I must have worn my bewilderment on my face because she began to speak again, without me providing an answer to her question.

“I worked it out with your Alice for the night and it seems I'm owed her a favor. I couldn't resist after the first and second Alice beamed with accolades.”

She was the last person that I expected to be standing at my door and yet she was the one that I most wanted to be standing there. It's as if, after many weeks of wanting and longing, she had been conveniently conjured to join the ranks of my harem for the night. I'd pitched my hook so far out to sea that PrimaDonna had finally taken the bait to culminate this moment in time.

“…So, Silk, you finally have me to yourself.”

It seems that I, with utter patience, had finally lured the queen to a check and mate.

My heart was overjoyed and now pumped fresh and new quarts of blood into my body, like I’d been reborn. A renewed vigor overcame me and a divine strength impelled me to ascend to her level.

I took care to catch my breath and exhaled with a deep intensity as she looked into my eyes.

“You’re more than welcome, PrimaDonna, to come and ride with me.”

I commanded her attention by rising out of the whirling waters of the Roman tub like a pure bred Arabian stallion. And with muscles flexed and waxed flawless, I stood slated to stride towards her.

“I’ll be your genie, tonight.”

She placed her hands onto her hips and mouthed the sound "oooh" as I stood. Then she bit her full, plump lip and said. “You’re truly a force to be reckoned with!”

I began to move forward out of the tub and she placed out her finger as if to motion to me to stop.

“Don’t budge, Silk…I’ll come to you…”

She un-did her coined bikini top; and then her scarf and skirt—which crashed to the floor in one false swoop, as she exercised her right to reveal herself to me.

And like the discovery and deliverance of a chest full of precious stones—it was a grand and priceless unveiling.

PrimaDonna was the standard with which all woman-kind subscribed. She was a glorious sight to behold, as the shiny black and silky-haired locks that curled and draped from the crown of this queen of goddesses, lead my eyes from the softest skin of her delicate neckline to a full and ample bosom. Her hips sung songs as they graciously swayed and her soft, yet solidly sculpted, legs stretched for miles and even days. She was indeed an Aphrodite of Milos—and I would be one of the privileged to sing her praises.

The queen had indeed entered. And was now holding court as each of her smooth and lustrous advances commanded my attention.

And although her state of undress was truly disarming, I found a way to compliment her presence, as she glided slowly towards me.

“PrimaDonna, you’re absolutely spellbinding. The reality of your body far exceeds even my own imagination.”

I met her eminence at the deck of the tub, as the steam still rose from my skin and water still trickled my yearning body.

And, together, we finally embraced.

Our lips tussled and danced together, as they were locked in a stronghold. Our mouths became intent on taking the breaths of each other, for our body’s senseless torture. And our tongues intent on taking the speech from the other, if not to simply allow our lips to remain transfixed for a lifetime.

We kissed and we were instantly conveyed to a state of supreme bliss; the planets aligned and all the stars celebrated, with flight and dances throughout the galaxy.

And then as we finally and reluctantly tore ourselves from each other, we gazed deep into the eyes of each other, as though we’d been long, lost soulmates from another life and had simply been displaced through reincarnation. Her pure and pleasant jasmine mixed with the steam’s mist to blanket my senses and I was hypnotized. Its majestic presence invigorated my spirit and soothed my soul.

I would’ve gazed into her eyes until the end of infinity, but she grabbed my hand and we both were ushered back into the sunken bath—as her queen-ship had officially been received.

“Don’t worry, handsome, I’m not going anywhere…” She stepped into the water and looked into my eyes. “We have all night…”

She settled herself into the tepid water and looked around at the cascaded candles that was scattered throughout the bathroom and had spilled into the bedroom as well.

"It's no wonder the girls are in a frenzy over you…"

I settled into the water and smiled.

“Candles, ambient music, fresh fruits and Moët…I have to admit, Silk. You’re worthy of your supreme distinction…”

I still remained slightly entranced and caught off guard that I was graced with her presence, while her intentions became coolly succinct, as she managed the flow of our actions with a brevity and clarity.

I wanted to ravage this woman. But she had taken command of her longings so quickly. And I’d decided that it would profit me to compose my spirit, despite my own burning desires for her as well.

As long as I’d waited for this moment, I would delay my gratification just a little bit longer. It was time to shake off the haze and to be the self-assured stallion that they’d made me to be.

I clenched my jaws, straightened my posture and began to summon calm. I poured her a glass of champagne, as her regal eyes looked right through me. It was a sure sign that she had a vast amount of sex-perience. And while it should have intimidated me, it only drew me in more.

I would not be daunted because I learned a long time ago that all the world loves a good lover. And if Cloud9 had taught me anything, it was that I was not only good—I was phenomenal.

I began to feed PrimaDonna slices of caramel-dipped mangos and pineapples that set with strawberries and bunches of grapes in a silver bowl on a nearby tray. And the queen of goddesses would receive it, with sensuous gratitude, and swallow sips of champagne as a chaser.

Between nibbles she began to converse.

“So, Silk, you may be wondering why I’m REALLY here.”

“Mmmh, just a little bit.”

“Well, for the first time at Cloud9, you were singlehandedly causing a bidding frenzy. The girls were about to outright riot, so I HAD to step in and maintain order.”

I smiled at her hint of sarcasm.

“It was my duty to come join you…for the good of the girls.”

"Well, I aim to please and I’m glad you stepped in…for the good of the girls of course…”

"The Alices that came your way were two of the most challenging; and your ability to satisfy even them speaks volumes as to your overall capabilities...”

"Both were more than pleased. They seemed to even be…transformed.”

I dangled a grape on a vein between her lips, as her tongue guided it within and gently partook of its juices.

"What can I say—the anatomy of a woman has always intrigued me…and driven me to leave a lasting impression on the mind, body, and soul of such a divine species. Sex to me—like meditation—can be much more than physical. It can be truly spiritual.”

While I spoke softly, I began to bathe her with the finest Mediterranean oils and knead the coiled muscles of her noble neck and shoulders, as she began to close her eyes to relax.

I studied every inch of her, as an art student does the subjected model. The oils, which dripped from the brushstrokes of my hands, left slippery lanes along her elongated neck; while her spirit took the course to give her body over to the twists of wrists and the dabs of stroking, given at the hands of my fingertips. Her tanned and cream-toned body became slickened with the oils, which served to loosen and rub away any remaining tensions and apprehensions. And it seemed that PrimaDonna finally began to unwind.

I ran my fingers across her skin and now knew the complete and honorable joy her clothes must have felt in adorning her. And every place that my hands touched would be sealed with a soft and yielding kiss. My lips would tiptoe and give a good show of the skipping that it would now bestow; up and down to dip and dance from vale to vale with a zealous fervor. And for once my reception was uncontested, as I filled her with love and adoration.

I peered deep into her sapphire eyes, piercing past the triple-paned windows to her soul. But unlike the others, there was no spell to speak of on the surface and her lingering poison might have been so deeply masked that it was almost non-existent.

PrimaDonna was simply divine and her mask was a regal fortitude. And with full authority and without warning, she slid her fingers between my legs within the water.

"Ooh, you are so, so wet already.”

I felt my body shudder and lay backwards towards the deck of the bath, as she took control of me.

"It seems that you have that effect on me.”

My eyes closed briefly in my ecstasy.

“I blame it on your undeniable beauty, my queen.”

And finally her majesty had fully released the grasp of her measured restraint.

She stroked me in the water passing her fingers’ digits wherever they fitted. And her oceanic irises became dotted with speckles of shimmering sapphires and shone with waves of brilliance and desire.

I gave in, to swim within the loins of my impulses and finally kissed her lips once again.

I was jumping for joy and on fire with excitement on the inside; but on the surface, I was as cool as the other side of the pillow.

But PrimaDonna was breaking me down so quickly.

She backed me up onto the deck of the tub and again moving without warning, PrimaDonna poured champagne to spill and cascade down my body, as she licked the sweetness of its liquor from my skin.

The tables were for the first time turned against me, as she began to blissfully torture me with the tip of her tongue. And as my wetted locks splashed my shoulders around me, she began to implement her dominance.

PrimaDonna had so keenly reversed our roles, as she now licked between the grooved labyrinths of my own constricted abdominals to make her way towards coiled hips.

And it seems that I was now the fruit on the tray as she sucked the whole of me. I was an ancient aphrodisiac, like the pomegranate fruit. And with every ingested nibble, she grew increasingly activated.

And with every pump of my pelvis, my groans grew increasingly reverberated.

She set her lips to surround the heat, again and again, between my legs and it had been a building so long in the making—a smoldering fire quaking to awaken me.

Her jaws would increasingly feed my volcano's cumming, as she stretched and held the rim of my lips to open wide. And my vessel’s volcano threatened to erupt at each and every aching quaking.

She was as talented with her tongue as I was with mine. And my ability to curtail the volcano’s tremble was a trial by fire, like lava through growing fissures. Any second now, the molten rock of my climax threatened to burst through. And my ability to control the flow sank while she now feverishly stroked my bulging stead, as beads of sweat formed up on my brow.

“Oh, I’m cumming, baby…”

The raging ball of fire rose up and through my legs to usher in an unstoppable momentum. My vessel’s volcano erupted and it was a magnificent magma.

I shook and tremored; and smiled, as the heated lava dribbled and leaked between my rigid thighs.

She kissed my leg. Then took hold and lifted the richie. And began to lick my magma from me, as she stroked it.

“Power up…” She kissed the shaft and then chanted the words in victorious glee.

“I’m not sure when last you'd been gratified…” She stroked the ruler and the wetness that streamed between my legs. “But I figured that after all you’ve done for the ladies of this organization—you really do deserve this.”

“You’re amazing!” I chuckled and looked to the ceiling in utter satisfaction, as I moved with a now-balanced harmony.

To usher in her climax was the only way that I could show her my deepest appreciation.

And like a deep breath to a candle's flickering glow, my release inspired me to become alive and feed the vibrancy of our amorous awakening.

I dipped back into the water, as she slid my hand to feel the wetness of a legitimate longing that now slipped between her own legs.

She closed her eyes and quietly moaned.

It was now my turn to steer her towards her own gratification and I was determined to satisfy her as none had done before.

I was at present a cooled and hardened igneous rock, as I lifted her onto the shaft to straddle me.

“Oh my God, Silk! If you only knew how long...”

She held on and grinded in bliss, as she began to unveil and reveal her spirit.

We kissed within our newfound jubilee and we fed from each other's energy to become a constant stream of rejuvenation.

I swept her up with legs clenched against my core, as we continued to kiss passionately. And water flung all around us, to splash upon the Castle de Verre tile, as we transversed the master bath into my main suite.

We found our bodies furiously interlocked and in a hot pursuit of each other, as we crossed the marble through the pathway of sprinkled red rose petals. We’d held back for way too long it seems. We’d missed each other desperately. And now could not resist the viscosity with which our vessels wanted—needed—to make love.

We parted and passed through the sheer, red veil that draped from the ceiling and hit the chocolate perspective platform bed with a ferocious velocity, as a trail of incense leapt from the genie's lamp.

All of our built and pent up emotions were at the moment running wildly. But as I looked upon her alluring landscape, I relished in the fact that it was my turn to deliberate the pace.

Like Saturnalia, I would reverse the roles of master and slave within this Greco-Roman Festival and I exalted her body, as it was presented at its delicate and decadent best.

And I, the grandmaster to her royal highness, would dine among a feast fit for a king tonight.

The retinas of my queen’s eyes blazed electric blue, as I gently caressed the wet locks of her hair with the palm of my hand and savored the amaretto mousse of the nape of her insatiable neck. I delighted in cherry biscotti nipples as the ridge of her navel became caramel truffles and strawberry tiramisu. And as I followed her gondola's caramel trail, below bridges and through winding canals, I left sprinkles of cherry-filled kisses, as I indulged. And when I’d finally reached the delicacy of her cream-filled puffs, hers was a delectable banquet yearning to be infinitely felt and touched.

And it seemed that I would have my cake and eat it, too.

True enough—a line might’ve been the shortest distance between two points, but PrimaDonna’s winding and sloping curves were the sexiest expanse. Her scenic route was a sweet and irresistible escalade and now her charming Venetian serenade would guide me directly to the doorway of her royal court.

And judging by her acute aquatics, the festivities had begun and but were awaiting me to join the regale. And I would persist to quench my carnal appetite, as I took my first dawdling lick of her almond unhurriedly.

She was the sweetest sorbet. And as I let the flavor linger, she moaned in eager anticipation.

“Oh my God, Silk…you feel so good.”

I had finally reached the height of her reception. And her supple plum became a delicacy, as I sucked sumptuously on every bit and every morsel. I would quickly acquire an oral fixation, as I voraciously fed my sweet tooth; and her lips would respond and puff up like pastries, as she moaned. I and her plum would dance within pools and exult together. And my tongue would swirl and curl her gem, as me and her lips brim would slip and swim in jovial jubilation. My jaws would breathe her essence in and her moans would resonate at the constrictions of my oral cavity. And in her bliss, she was having a ball, as I drew in and blew off steam within the wine and confines of her chalice.

Her harvest was supreme. And she was delighted at my tongue’s ability to pluck it and to more than adequately commemorate her bloomed ripening, with the soft suckle of my remarkably cultivated palate.

“Oh, Silk...I’m cumming…”

As soon as the words had touched and fleeted her lovely lips and gave rise to blow an increasing width into my richie, I moved to quickly fill her up inside.

I crouched and ran the stretch of my shaft down the length of her labia, as she suffered the first of many climaxes. She moaned in sensuous torture, until I finally relieved her overwhelming ecstasy by crossing the folds of her threshold. Her walls and crevices quickly felt my presence as her soulful moans were now dotted with salacious zeal. And her body grew delighted to be awakened and eager to be beaming and brimming with vitality.

I took care to convey my utmost adoration, as the pools and byways of her hallways became nudged and thrust. And like passion fruit in gelatin, we mutually began to wriggle and bind together; with our bliss becoming a ballad sung with grand mandolins and driven by a romantic narrative.

“Ooh, God…Silk…”

Then without warning, she wrapped her long legs around me and flipped us both over on the bed. She spread her arms around us and kissed my chest as if a magic “x” had been painted over my heart.

She whispered into my ear. “Silk, I want to feel your tongue again.”

It seems that she was in control once more and her limber body proceeded upon an unexpected processional.

Her eminence traveled and climbed from my lap to my lips and her promenade was poetry in motion—a parade from the great Flavian amphitheatre to the greatest Roman square.

Her body moved like a ceremonial motorcade as the regal sounds of trumpets filled the air. Compelled to stroll on cruise control, I would pass my tongue again to taste and sample all that her body offered along the way.

I skimmed the tip of my fingers along the archway of the small of her back and made my way round a delicate waist. And with parted legs, she sat upon my chin and I swept my tongue to climb within, while her chloë would sit perched on my tongue like the cherry on top.

I smiled to myself as the wildness of her spirit was now freely placed on display to me. I gripped her finely, full and rounded cheeks to quench myself of the aqua vitae that streamed from her serene canteen. And the water of life would cool my lapping tongue, as she grinded and climbed the white leather headboard in a hyper-heated passion.

She dipped her dangled breasts into my mouth to taste her stretched-tight nipples and proceeded to kiss my lips and chest and my nipple’s own tautness. She was so sensual and vibrant in her spontaneity that our bodies’ pleasure regenerated continuously.

My queen had finally returned to the place with which her processional began and sweetly kissed and sucked between the folds of sheets of me. Ecstasy was found generously tucked within the crevices of my own homoerotic regions and made no bones about it, as I moaned in her allegiance.

Her lips and tongue guided me to a subtle rising, as I fixed my hips to roll and move in forward and reverse. She read me to a tee and it had been a while since I had been returned the pleasure that I'd given.

“Oh, shit…baby…” my moans were guttural and spouted from a foreign place. “I’m ‘bout to cum…”

I was blown, as I suffered from multiple orgasms. And my own nirvana shot up quickly into my lap and burst as waves of pulses to send streams down my leg.

My whole body shuddered with jitters, as she smiled blissfully down below.

Then with my vessel stretched, and PrimaDonna showering my body with kisses in perpetual bliss, she made her way on top of me to straddle and ride; her hair slapping her back as she made my lap her saddle. And with her back arched sensually, her hips rode with such grace, all while furiously stroking the surplus of my cumming.

I was amazed by her sexual aptitude and sat up to shower her with appreciation.

“Oh shit, baby…you drivin’ me crazy…”

“Shit, Silk…baby…you’re drivin’ ME crazy…” Her moans came from an unguarded place—a place of genuine fulfillment and authentic truth.

We embraced deeply and were straddled together and woven within each other, like a basket, as I licked and kissed her pre-possessed and sex-charged flesh.

“Oh, Silk.”

Her hips were kneading and weaving a simultaneous rocking. Our core carriages were convening and beginning to string together movements, in a joined unison, with a common language that needed no translating. Our bodies shared a common link, as our minds and souls were moving in sync.

And as we were now tightly knitted, my muscle began to grow and bulge to a maximum inside of her.

We were fitted as one spiritual form and conjoined to climax in one accord.

“Damn, Silk…I have never…found…another lover…to match me…like you…”

And with the utterance and authenticity of her whispered words, I flipped her over onto her back to take over. I would make sure that those words remain ingrained in her soul’s membrane.

"You got me Silk. I want you...to make me cum again…baby…"

Her terms of endearment breathed new vigor into me. And I was now a force to be reckoned with.

I pumped and tugged my richie, as she lay upon her back and rubbed her chloë to keep the ecstasy. I slid a pillow beneath her arched back and grabbed onto her writhing hips, as it was my turn to fill her with my talents

I shifted the shimmering dome inside and slid the full length of the bulging shaft to ride. And she was incredibly slippery when wet. The sheer strength and velocity of my rotation within the mounted pools, was a hydroplane on wet surfaces, as my body’s brakes would fail me—until a long stroke to the neck of the head would cause me to regain traction and center my overall gravity.

I had waxed eternal patience for this epic consummation and by now I had the formula to her precise proportions. I would address her body's universe with the spirit of her thighs egging my body onward and compelling my essence forward.

A new paradigm had entered her courtyard and I would construct a landmark within her that would dwarf the prominence of the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia.

Her womb was a tunnel of light. And I would sweep the range of her illustrious volume. Her bliss would retain me to maintain my graceful ability, as I rocked my core with the will of a luminary. Through a keen and stiff rigidity, I would stretch around inside until she would release her womb to make a hollow room. And I became the filler within her frame, as I poured into her a firm foundation. I would take care to mold and build a cornerstone of passion within our monument of love; and erect beams along long halls with a skilled and able-bodied masonry. Her walls swelled increasingly, with a slick and stoned solidarity, as her ceiling resonated with the calls and rolling vibrancy of my ruler’s column. And the mantra that echoed from her sweet lips only served to hasten the grandest opening.

“Oh…yes…”

Infused with a strong and metallic piping, my body’s acceleration would become electric. A concrete enthusiasm would take over every muscle, joint and bone to fill within her a quick and sloping vibration. And despite the beads of condensation that would form upon my back and forehead, my core would harness the energy of a thousand stallions to create the synergy to conduit her eminent cumming.

“Oh, Silk!” Her eminence, with squinted eyes, fled to a place of rapture as I built upon her rafters.

“Oh, Silk!” Her eminence welcomed the unending stream of effervescent love, a kaleidoscope of color that pierced and filled the greyness of her essence.

“Oh, Silk! I’m cumming…” I thrusted upon her deepest chamber, repetitively. And as she squealed at the top of her lungs in cyclical tribute, she held on for dear life.

“Oh, baby…”

Our royal game had created a few wells of desire within us and we were now submitting to a monumental release, as our lust for each other was relieving to drain over and over again. And as she began to throb between the fineness of her legs, even her reserves had been depleted; and even her bulging, pulsing chloë would burst through and sing between gleaming, fattened folds.

“Oh, Silk…” She clutched the Egyptian sheets in an effort to brace her quivering. And I kissed the side of her neck, as she had once done to me, while I held her sweetly.

I finally crashed to the bed in exhaustion and flipped over to lie facing the heavens viewed through my ceiling skylight. PrimaDonna placed her face to my breast and lovingly began to play with my nipple as I gulped heavy breaths and began to giggle.

"You…are…phenomenal.” She looked into my eyes in disbelief and continued to shower me vigorously with kisses. “Now, I understand the glowing…”

It was like she’d been re-awakened from a deep slumber and now smiled with unencumbered joy.

The measure of PrimaDonna’s happiness was priceless and I wanted to spend as much time within the company of PrimaDonna as humanly possible. I, like her, did not want this moment to ever end.

However, I had met my match and was now, for the first time in a long time, experiencing fatigue. She’d been the first of many lovers to drain me.

And despite my best attempts to stay awake, my bliss-filled exhaustion was getting the best of me. I’d closed my eyes and was beginning to slowly drift to sleep, until I felt the faint fluttering of eyelashes against my chest.

"I love butterfly kisses.”

She smiled and moved around a little to cuddle me tightly.

"Silk, may I ask you a question.”

It seemed that my eminence was wide awake and more than willing to converse. I had just a smidge bit more fuel in my tank and I would employ it to function and entertain her, until she fell asleep—PrimaDonna was well worth my company.

"Please, by all means, don't be shy now. You can ask me anything you like, beautiful.”

“When was your first time with a woman?”

“Umm, hmm. My first time would have been my high school French teacher—Nadine.” I gazed at the stars and began to reminisce. “Mademoiselle Nadine…”

“A high school teacher? Wild and reckless…” She gleamed. “Much hasn’t changed, huh? So tell me…how’d it happen?”

“As a sophomore, I picked French, thinking that it would be one of the easier courses to take. I mean, who’s going to really press a person to know how to speak French in Miami—a Spanish speaking city. After a while, I got bored with the class and would skip school to go and play pool with a few of my friends. At first she would get at me, since her class was the last of the day and I’d missed many of the lessons. But I started to take her seriously when it became one of the few classes that I needed to stay on the basketball team.”

“I asked her mid-semester if I could study after school to catch up…and she agreed. So I would stay after school to get tutored. And since no one took French seriously—being that we were in Miami and all—she would teach me alone. She was a young teacher…a beautiful redhead that had just graduated grad school and spent a few years in Paris. She would tell me her stories and I began to flirt with her even during school hours. And before I knew it, she had fallen for me. I had my first kiss with her in the class under the dangling French flag, late one afternoon, and the rest was history.”

“Wow…did you ever get caught?”

“No, we were very careful. It lasted a few months, but then I slept with a senior from the team and Nadine couldn’t stand me after that. I heard she’d moved back to Paris the following year.”

She shook her head. “Oh, so you were always scandalous, huh?”

“Mmh, just a little...”

I smiled.

“As you can tell, I’ve had many, many lovers since then…It all seems like so long ago now.”

“So is she the one who taught you how to…umm…do the things you do?”

“Umm, well I was attracted to females for as long as I could remember…With her I just instinctively knew exactly what to do and how to be. She’d never been with a female before and would say that I was the best lover that she ever had. I guess you could say I was a natural…”

"My first LIFE lesson that I can remember was from my moms. She used to say that we are to love one another and love the things we love genuinely... So I guess it's resonated throughout me to become my most basic instinct. Some people instinctively know how to cook well or play sports well. I instinctively know how to give good head...”

"Good head? How about superior head!"

"Okay...superior head...I marry my mind, body and soul to satisfy a woman...I guess it's always been a gift.”

“And gifts are meant to be given…”

I looked down at her and smiled.

“So when was your first time?”

She hesitated a little bit before responding.

“It was with Samantha…or as she has so thoroughly deemed herself—the Sheik...”

She exhaled deeply.

“Even though it wasn't her first time, it was mine. She was so smart and independent and I was young and naïve. At the time, I just thought that she was so incredible…I used to be madly in love with her—I mean she was my first…and you know what they say about your first. But as I matured into a woman, I realized how much damage she’d endured as a child and growing up. I realized that what I thought was love, was more of an infatuation to fix her…and I found it to be impossible to do that without sacrificing myself. So, I began to love me more…and began to fall out of love with her. In her mind, she still sees us as being together though. She still believes that I belong to her.”

“Why do you let her believe it?”

“Because I believe that if she didn’t have that safety net, then her entire world would shatter and who knows what she would do. I guess I just really love her as a friend, so I’m willing to allow her to believe in a fantasy to cope with her reality.”

“Mmmh, that’s deep…I guess that’s the foundation of Sappho Intl, huh?”

“I guess that it’s one way to look at it. I mean, reality is what your mind makes life to be…so isn’t reality merely different forms of observed fantasy come true?”

I thought about Sir Sheik’s secret operations and looked into PrimaDonna’s eyes, as she began to become a little guarded.

“I think that it depends on how and what you dream and believe in?”

“So what do you believe in?"

I looked back up at the stars through the skylight and began to spill out the integrity of my soul, as I might never get another opportunity to share this genuinely intimate side of myself to her again.

“Well, I believe in fostering and maintaining good internal soil…”

“Internal soil?”

“Yeah…so that when seeds of creativity are planted then good growth can occur…and manifestation of our creativity is maximized—kinda like in a garden. I believe in turning the illusions of your weaknesses into strengths—kinda like composting does for a harvest…and in all things, having gratitude.

“I believe in truth. That we hold the instruction manual internally to everything in this life, if only we decide to remain plugged into the universe who gives it and to follow it with certainty.”

“I believe in the stars, the soil, the sea and your smile...” I looked in her eyes and smiled.

"I mean…I believe many things...but above all I believe that you, me, the Trust, the new generation of Sapphians, and every living being... we are all divine citizens of this universe to live and love freely and to share our commonalities, differences and life experiences with each other in love...This is what I believe.”

“Love is in the details. And I have a constant love affair with words and music, the beauty of the female form, of life and all her living…so I guess I can definitely dig it when Ziggy Marley sings that one song…” I began to mimic and croon while PrimaDonna smiled. “Love is my religion…all we need is love.”

We began to laugh together, but then quickly settled back to cuddle each other.

"You have a lot of beliefs…You seem so secure and sure of yourself…and I like that about you.” She began to slow down her breathing, as if her mind was finally allowing her body to drift to sleep.

She whispered.

“You’re so universal... you're futuristic yet down to earth. You’re organic yet hypnotic...Silk, I believe you’re the future of Sappho Intl…and the Sapphic Trust...I just hope that you’ll bring me along for the ride…"

“Well, as long as you’re somewhere in it, my queen…I think I can live with whatever my purpose is…”

“Good…”

The gentle sweeping of her breathing upon my skin would prepare me for the deep sleep that would follow. And as I began to close my eyes to rest, I would not tell her that I was falling madly in love with her.

I had planted my seed and fertilized the soil. I would have to leave the rest to fate.

♦ ♦ ♦

I awoke, well before the first light, as the sky’s radiance had turned to a slight combine of periwinkle and silent grey. I remembered the late, late night rendezvous with PrimaDonna and mistook it to be a vivid dream, until I looked over and found my queen still peacefully sleeping.

She was holding my hand, even as she slept. And as I looked her over silently, I still found it hard to believe that I’d successfully reeled the queen into my bedchambers last night and had thoroughly gratified her throughout the night.

As I now looked over her, I began to think about our conversation and see beneath the surface. This was more than a queen—she was a demigoddess born from the marriage of goddess and woman.

PrimaDonna had been birthed from pure beauty and her cool demeanor was simply the mask of fortitude that was necessary to maintain the responsibilities of many.

And then I thought about the conversation and would also realize that she was a warm soul that’d simply been intoxicated by the Sheik's poison for too long. And like the unicorn that’d been tied to the pomegranate tree, it seemed that she was binded by the time that had been invested in her.

Now that we’d been intimate, things would have to somehow change. I didn’t want to be just the grandmaster of this chess game, but a rock with which she could lean on. I no longer desired to simply reign victorious over her majesty, but to show her something new and to make her a part of something a bit more elevated. And with this desire came a greater responsibility to grow as a stallion. Now, I would be held to a much higher standard.

Her sense of freedom and truth was locked behind a veil of lies and illusions of control. And if I really cared for her, I would have to acknowledge and somehow eventually transcend the door that stood between us.

Some say that a golden key can free any door. And I was sure that with patience and subtlety, my love could pave the way to be that golden key.

But all I had right now was the present and the ability to cement my first impression.

I began to awake her with my kisses and alert her to my presence—I didn't want the sun to rise without another opportunity to show her the full extent of how I felt about her.

I began to shuffle in the sheets and to shower her body with kisses. There were no splitting hairs, as I made my way down and round her smooth and neatly shaven mound and parted the folds of her lips. I began my enchantment with slanted tongue and tip, while I sweetly cupped her hips. She slowly began to awake, with ginger moans of bliss, as her sub-conscious began to process that she was experiencing what every woman wished—to be awaken by being tasted—as my tongue began to perform slow somersaults and aerial flips within her.

“Mmh, Silk…” Although her eyes remained closed, her mouth began to groan to my swirl’s seduction.

As she became teeming with streams of an unexpected bliss and an early-morning ecstasy, I would slip my fingers to stroke the wet locket that sat perched within her pocket. And her long legs stretched for miles, while I moved between her widened aisles, to kiss her toes. And she moaned.

I tenderly skimmed her shin with the tip of my tongue, like a skater traces circle eights to the iced lake; and would remit kisses of ecstasy along the inner vein of her thighs. And she moaned.

I kissed the beauty mark that lay there and my tongue would press upon her the idea of an escape to a grander and greater place. I would stroke upon the greatness of her majesty and she melted with each and every tender touch. And as the deepest moans of pleasure escaped her lips, hers was the sweetest surrender.

Her eyes opened and we uttered not a word.

Her blue, electric eyes would be the green light to my unyielding soul. Her blue, electric eyes would tell me to go beyond where anyone had gone before.

"Power up...up...up...”

My tongue dangled at an angle to taste upon her precious slice of paradise pie. And like a dam broken down, the flood of her internal fire was mine. It whisked me down valleys slickened with streams of a passionate desire and tossed me along lust-laced riverbends amidst reckless waterslides. It washed my soul to swim butterfly strokes through slippery slopes of torrents and surges of her love’s rivulets.

And I would inhale her essence in, like our death was sure to follow. I would inhale her in like this was the final breath. I would inhale her in and suck every pint of pain and potent poison out of her. I was one with her heart and soul—and couldn't let go. And in our impending death together, it seemed as though we began to levitate together as one.

I could feel the whole of the galaxy rising through her soul's nebula and into my own light. The billows of fog and vapors of darkness had lifted, from the place that it should never have taken refuge, and the dark haze turned to clear light. We’d finally reached the tranquil bridge to heaven together and there was no turning back. Our court's communion sang a song of rhapsody, as my tongue climbed PrimaDonna’s ladder in our glorious ascent. And the kingdom was upon us.

"Oh, baby...I'm cumming…"

We were right on the precipice of heaven's holy horizon. And as she was right on the verge, I made haste to re-enter the firmament of her vessel. I lovingly knocked on her heaven's door with all of the fullness of my adoration and the peaked pinnacle of my own divine and celestial powers. Blinded with desire and swinging over and over, I was now long-stroking her—like a rod to a piñata that was eager to break open with sweetened candy spilling over at the moment that she's broken.

Her gleaming eyes now shone the purity of an Egyptian shade of blue and I’d finally tapped past her mask to discover the lover amongst her.

I surrounded her with the strength of my love, like her destiny was in my hips swivel. And as we made love, her coming to see the light was pivotal.

We rocked like the moon which turns the ocean's tide. And we became the conductor to its swayed waves’ ebb and flow, within our rhythmic time. We rocked back and forth listlessly, like the ships out to sea; and as we rocked together she closed her eyes in an effort to finally see me—all of me. And to feel all of me deeply as my aura climbed higher within her.

I began to summon the light and heat of my star's highest vibration; to rotate the dials and manifest my fullest desire.

I breathed her in and my vessel became soundly empowered—every muscle fed with the breath of life. It shot and recycled through my chakras provoking and short-string stoking; each member and muscle to realize its individual power, role and movement while unified by one spirit, one rhythm, one motion and one breath.

The talents of my rod would now revel and splurge with the boasts of a balanced ch’i. And together we moved with the synchromatic energy harnessed deep within me.

Together, our journey pitched a rhythmic constant as my overwhelming life-force permeated the surrounding atmosphere. We linked with the passion of a free-styled rhyme, at an ad-lib pace, but our bodies remained locked together, as our hearts raced. And together, we finally reached and faced the euphoria of Sion.

“I’m cumming.” A tear touched the slant of her eye.

I would make sure of it, as my body hulked and would not impede my hip’s vigorous, yet rhythmic, curving and rolling and pumping. The sensual shrieks of her gratified groans spiked my adrenaline, as my body would snake between submissive legs spread widely.

Then with her eyes closed tightly and her mouth gaping open, her body became a garden of paradise, as she felt Eve’s rapture.

Heaven helped us, as we were consumed with the sheer intensity of its authenticity and our spirits burst into light and energy.

It was a spontaneous combustion, as she began to clench her legs.

“Silk, I'm about to…relieve myself…in the bed.” She opened her eyes and said with tears in her voice.

“Don't be afraid! It's not piss, Prima.” I looked deep into her eyes and pulled her closer into the warmth of my embrace. “Just let go and let it come.”

Earth and heaven parted. And she let it all go—like Aphrodite's chariots of fire still filled with undeniable grace, as it made its passageway into the glory of the afterlife.

Her love’s pleasure became a gentle brook that would rush and gush clean and crystalline spring water, purified by patience and a firm rock. And with her fluids in flux, she baptized me emphatically.

The nectar of the gods and goddesses flushed from her body, in streams and endlessly, as her own body's trigger pulsated internally; and all of the pain and the weight of the world that had been collected within and for far too long had finally been released.

We kissed and melded with an ever-increasing love and a relentless determination. We were a blue and sienna heat; the seed of the dancing flame which would torch and soon consume even the air that we breathed.

And I could hear the cherubims sing from high places as the purest diamonds and gemstones would rain from their voices' trails with golden speckles of echoed traces. Our bodies’ unison now a sensory universe, igniting sparks of starbursts with every touch. Electricity thickened our space, as hairs would now rise and take on the excitement of our new internal emergence as rebirthed beings—it was a loud silencing. It was magic. And now the heavens were truly aligned.

And we both contained this secret knowledge as we now looked deep into each other's eyes with an unspoken understanding.

A tear streamed down her face, as she kissed me with a deep and genuine gratitude.

And then I flipped us to support her now-drained vessel. And another single tear streamed down her cheek and onto my shoulder. The purity of its release singed a bright and glaring heat to my flesh.

Despite her newfound wings, she was laying in a vulnerable state. I began to see a silver sliver of a crack in this angel's halo. But like the rupture in the Liberty bell, it only served to magnify her awesome beauty. It seemed that right now at this moment in time, she was neither a queen nor a demi-goddess—PrimaDonna was a mortal human after all.

Her senses were flooded and loaded. She held me tightly, as if she wanted to cement this experience firmly into her memory. She began to cry and smile silently and simultaneously. And instantly her face and aura began to glow.

We exchanged kisses relentlessly and endlessly.

"Silk, you’re incredible.” She had risen to a place of wonder. "I've never experienced anything that pure before.”

And as she swooned in exultation, the belly of this beauty was smiling brightly inside.

Mind, body, and soul, we were now made whole. And her toes playfully rubbed my ankles, as if it were the only way to convey her truest feelings.

As the rays of a new dawn began to peek and pierce through the curtains, I held her earnestly. I had entered her royal court as a grandmaster and still managed to move heaven and earth. It seemed that I was now her heavens’ favored and she was for the moment my soul's playmate. And I was for the moment convinced that our love would reign eternal.

We began to breathe with the drifting of sleep. The aftershock of our bodies’ delight became the steady trance which would usher in our heavy slumber.

Between the thinness of my lashes, I watched as the softness of her face rose and fell with the inhale and exhale of my chest. And although the sun was rising, this would be the first time in a long time that I’d fallen asleep with pure peace. And I’m sure it might’ve been hers as well. This was the dawn of a new day.

12

“Congratulations! Let’s give ourselves a round of applause and a big pat on the back for yet another successful Cloud9!”

There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief, as my team and I looked at each other and applauded joyously while PrimaDonna made the announcement. After spending the night in heaven with her, I’d awoken at noon to find her already gone.

I assumed that she had to ensure that everything was in order for the final day’s event; and arrived to find that my assumptions were true.

PrimaDonna had planned a luxury catamaran party to conclude the nine days of festivities; with a little rest and relaxation for the few Sapphians who had not yet left and the remaining members which were still around to wrap up the concluding day.

The sienna sun was just beginning to set on the horizon. And while the Sapphians enjoyed their final hours of drifting on ocean kayaks, scuba diving, snorkeling and sunbathing on the water trampoline aboard one of the ninety-foot catamaran yachts, Sappho Intl crowns laid around in the main salons and statesrooms of the other—so that PrimaDonna could hold an unofficial meeting.

Despite it having been the most vigorous and grueling eight days that I’d ever experienced, Cloud9 had been a little slice of heaven. And as we all spent the last day casually unwinding, it seemed that all of the crowns were torn between feelings of reprieve, as we were now freed from the exhausting timetable of Cloud9, and an overwhelming sentiment of not wanting the excitement of Cloud9 to ever end.

As the catamaran yachts quietly drifted in the open ocean off the coast of Miami Beach, I was simply endowed with the soaring spirits of flying high with the lady of the hour. And as she continued to make the announcements and summarized the events’ results, I took sips from a bottle of Dos Equis, played with the string of my South Beach boardshorts and flailed my flip flops contentedly. Even the ocean breeze pleased me, as it teased and wisped my hair to swirl around me with ease. My spirit was flying freely and the palpable blithe and magnificent afterglow of PrimaDonna only served to feed my gleeful jubilee. I’d successfully gratified her stratosphere and nothing could interrupt my exuberant state of buoyancy.

"We had the highest participation and overall company profits since incorporating Sappho Intl, thanks largely in part to the newest rave among our lawless outfit—Max Silk!"

My team applauded wildly, as I lifted my beer in the air in appreciation.

“And as the winner of the biggest pot in the history of the Mounting of the Stallions at Cloud9, she also receives the $100K bonus and the crown.”

She winked her exotic eye at me and I smiled at the private shout-out.

“Congratulations, Silk!”

Everyone jeered and cheered in wild abandonment while Pharaoh raised my hand in the air to signify that I was the champion.

“Speech! Speech!”

“I’m a stallion of few words. Let’s just say I had a blast and I couldn’t have done it without my team.”

“Awww!” Kendra mimicked herself wiping a tear away while everyone burst into giggles.

“Everyone except Kendra—she’s just a beautiful ornament…“

“Hey! Now that’s just not cool…” She and everyone snickered.

“I’m just kiddin’…But I do think we should all give a round of applause to our always brilliant leader with which none of this could’ve been pulled together so radiantly…”

Whistles, smiles and applause filled the main salon and statesroom.

“And I appreciate each and every one of you…and thank you all for your participation. Until next Cloud9, please remain ever vigilante to pleasure and fulfill the fantasies of our participating Sapphians with the utmost respect and diligence. We’ve already received many personal call requests for not only our Stallions, but also many of the crowns.”

“Yeah, Midi got a special request... that one corporate attorney requested for her to stay far away…” Suez looked at Midi as the room burst into laughter. “She said if you come anywhere near her again she will have to file an order of restraint.”

“That’s not what she told me last night…Je t'aime, je t'aime…” Midi began to moan jokingly between sips of her half-drunk Corona beer. “She knows she loves me.”

PrimaDonna smiled and shook her head. “You two are insane.”

“All of your sum dividends have been wired successfully and we will be checking in on you guys regularly, as we always have. So please conduct yourselves to the standards of Sappho Intl and be on your best behavior. And if there aren’t any questions, this meeting is adjourned.”

PrimaDonna moved to speak to some of Pharaoh’s team members and other members began to disperse to the galley of the catamaran.

Pharaoh lit up a cigar’s rim and began to converse.

“Congratulations, Silk! Good show, good show…”

“Hey, I tried to tell ya…”

She puffed it and let it go as she sat back on the leather cushion to relax.

“So you got a little taste of PrimaDonna, huh?”

As the question had taken me by surprise, I stopped short of sipping leisurely from my bottle and my posture began to tense slightly.

“How the hell could YOU tell?”

“Aww come on, bruva. She always mounts the leading Stallion on the last leg…It's her private come on to have the last fuck to cap Cloud9. It's almost become a ritual and the Alice gives it to her for a guaranteed personal call from the leading Stallion.”

“Oh, really…” The words stung me immediately but I wouldn’t let it show. “I didn’t know that…”

“You didn’t think that she would go through Cloud9 without doing anything? Or should I say anybody?”

She held the cigar between her fingers and drank from a chilled Guinness.

“Consider yourself a lucky stag…with an added bonus on top of your bonus on your first time out…”

“So Sir Sheik AND you have had PrimaDonna?”

"Welcome to the club...”

She tipped the tip of her bottle to mine in a congratulatory toast.

“But I wouldn’t again. It was too weird for me and we were both really fucked up when it went down…I see her too much like a sister to do anything again…”

Her words trailed off and I looked to the sea, as I realized that the whole night that we shared together had been a joke. I drank from my bottle to disguise my anguish. It was as if I had died a million times inside.

“But it's funny though. In all my years of knowing PrimaDonna, I've never seen her glowing and all lit up like this before. It’s like you woke her up or something. I haven’t seen her this lively in ages.”

We both looked at PrimaDonna whom was laughing with members in the distance. She felt my eyes on her and looked at me smilingly. When before I was sure about where I stood with her, now I didn’t know whether to trust her smiles nor her flirtations at all. It seemed that everything around me was a secret closeted within other secrets. And now that Cloud9 was officially over, it was time to get to the bottom of things. It was time to find out the truth.

“Excuse me, Pharaoh…”

“Sure thing…hey Silk I might stay a couple of days instead of heading straight back to Arizona, if you don’t mind. I wanna check out the swank recording studio at your place…”

“Yeah, sure…” I replied without even looking back at her.

It was time to blow the whistle.

Right now, I was on a mission and my head was operating with the single-mindedness of acute tunnel vision. I headed straight through a crowd of members that were gossiping to PrimaDonna and smoothly whispered into her ear.

"Prima, I need to talk to you about something. Is there somewhere we can go to speak in private?"

“Sure. I think the king cabin should be available.” Although she’d been jovial she could see the urgency in my eyes. “Excuse me ladies.”

“Follow me.”

We made our way into one of the bedrooms and as soon as the door had closed, she began to deliver kisses to my lips.

"Mmmh! Round three already…”

She kissed my neck and I closed my eyes. We were both seemingly still flush with the ecstasy from last night and early this morning.

“I thought we'd wait until tomorrow when everyone was gone. But I don’t blame you...”

"We have to talk about something that's a bit more serious.”

She smiled. "This IS serious...” She led my hand under her sarong and into her thong to demonstrate how seriously wet she already was. "I've been thinking about you all day, Silk.”

I closed my eyes as she was getting harder to deny, but I couldn't help but think of what Pharaoh had just told me and that I had to get to the bottom of all of the confusion. I had to find out the truth behind everything, before I found myself sinking deeper into the murky waters that seemed to be surrounding me.

"Listen Prima...” I forced myself to back away from her. "Even though I want you so, so bad...there's something that I have to get out!"

I led her to sit on the bed and began to pace the floor.

"What it is it, baby? You look like you've just seen a ghost.”

"Sir Sheik is involved in some dirty activities and is using Sappho Intl as the cover.”

"Silk, baby, that's a serious accusation!"

She stood abruptly and her eyes glared into me as if wildly searching for the reasons behind my urgent need to hurt her.

“Is this about this morning? I mean, I know I left without saying good morning but why would you say such a thing about the Sheik? She’s a little brash at times but nothing that would put us in harm’s way…”

“Listen! I have evidence that implicates her in some really shady shit, Prima.”

I pulled out my phone, as I persuaded her to sit back down again. I proceeded to show her the pictures and detail everything that I’d bared witness to.

"Why didn't you give these to me earlier, Silk?"

"I gave the first picture to Flourish to forward to you, because I still didn't have your number nor the moment to bring it to your attention...”

I walked over to the window in frustration.

"Well, she never gave them to me or said anything about this and she's normally very good about these things...”

"I wanted to wait until Cloud9 was over to give everything a chance to unfold. I didn't want to jump to any conclusions based on assumptions.”

I took a deep breath because I was growing more and more irritated with the irrelevance of the timing. But then with containment and patience, I conceded to her.

"You know what...It's no excuse and you have everything now...”

"Well, it took a lot of courage to bring me this even now...”

I looked out of the window to the ocean that surrounded us. I became slightly disappointed that I didn’t choose to move a little earlier. But in my mind, I knew that the moment was precise. This was not the moment for any doubts or regrets. This was the time to remain steadfast and focused on the task at hand.

PrimaDonna sensed my resolve and looked through the pictures again.

"Oh my God! Sam, what’ve you done?"

She looked at the pictures with shock and amazement as she shook her head in disbelief.

“What’re you going to do about this?”

"Don't worry Silk…We WILL get to the bottom of this!"

I became numb with resolve.

"I have no worries, PrimaDonna. The truth reigns eternal.”

A veil of anger befell her beautiful face and she stood with the steadfastness of a leader. It was yet another side of her that I had not bared witness as of yet. And now I fully understood why she was entrusted as commander of Sappho Intl. It was clear that she had no idea of what had been taking place right under nose. Now that she was made aware, she was tenacious and it was now time to turn over the burden of this secret to her eminence.

"You're absolutely right and this MUST be addressed before everyone leaves tonight!"

♦ ♦ ♦

"My friends…we are here to talk about some disturbing activities that have been brought to my attention earlier today.”

Pharaoh, Flourish and Sir Sheik took turns shifting and slipping each other side glances as they sat in a slight semi-circle around the sleek metal tables of the conference room at Illumin8. I sat next to Pharaoh, so that I could get a clear view of everyone’s faces as the confrontation was taking place. PrimaDonna slowly poured a glass of water that set silently on the golden-trimmed mahogany desk and took a sip as she glared into the eyes of her long time friends. The tension in the conference room was thick enough to cut with a knife and the uncomfortable silence was deafening.

“Would anyone like to tell me what this photo is about?”

“PrimaDonna picked up my iPhone, which had been propped beside the pitcher of water, and passed the phone around to Sir Sheik who passed it on to Pharaoh.

“It looks like cocaine or something.” Pharaoh stared at the picture and then passed the phone to Flourish. “Whose is it?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out, Pharaoh.” She began to pace around the room with a cool stride and a firm tenor. "Flourish, do you know anything about this photo?"

Flourish looked at the picture and then at me as she began to shift in her seat.

“Silk showed me the picture and I didn't really know what to make of it…and I guess I just forgot to forward it to you in the midst of all the activity. “

“You didn’t think this was important enough to bring to my attention immediately, Flo?”

Flourish’s voice began to falter as she arose from her seat and began to pace the room.

“I mean, when Silk first told me about the photo, I couldn't be sure if Silk was the source of it…I mean, really Prima. Girl, we've all known each other for over a decade…We've never been known to do THIS sort of thing.”

What the fuck—I couldn’t believe Flourish of all people was throwing me under the bus. My heart began to accelerate and I had to force myself to breathe, in order to maintain my cool.

Pharaoh glanced at me with a look of sheer disbelief and then back at Flourish.

“I mean 25 kilos…”

She seemed appalled, as she looked back at the photo. Then she handed the phone back to PrimaDonna, as though it’d been diseased.

But although she was giving a good show of it, her movements were erratic and she forcibly avoided eye-contact with me.

“I mean…this is outrageous. Silk is new and this is the first time that we've ever seen such a thing within Sappho.”

She played me.

Despite our sexual connection and despite the fact that I’d considered her to be trustworthy—Flourish of all people was playing me. But why would she feel a need to do this to me? Why would she do this to me when it seemed that we were growing to be close with one another? Why would she make me out to be a thug, when she knew that I wasn’t on that level? Flourish wouldn’t have a valid reason to suddenly turn on me, unless she had something to hide herself. She wouldn’t have become so defensive so quickly, unless she was guilty of much more than procrastination. Maybe Flourish was in on the transactions with Sir Sheik and would throw me under the bus for her own self-preservation.

Flourish HAD to be in on it with Sir Sheik or covering for her—which would also explain why she didn’t forward the photo.

I began to look around the room over at Sir Sheik, whom was now visibly fidgety and sniffing sporadically.

“Look, love. It’s common sense. Nobody has a clue as to what that photo means. So it only makes sense that whoever owns the phone, also owns what’s in the picture.” Sir Sheik arose out of her seat and with irritation added. “Case solved! Now can we go? It seems that you and Silk have some more chatting to take place here.”

PrimaDonna continued to evenly pace the floor.

As my breathing began to even out, it had occurred to me that I never told Flourish the details of everything.

I kept my cool and squinted my eyes, as I asked Flourish. “How did you know how many there were, Flourish? I never told you how many bricks there were…”

“AND she never showed you the rest of the pictures.” PrimaDonna added with a steady yet forceful resolve.

These deliberations had now reached new heights as the eyes of both Flourish and Sir Sheik became panicked.

PrimaDonna marched over to Sir Sheik and Flourish.

“Samantha Amil Sheik do you know anything about THESE pictures.” Prima scrolled through to the next few pictures that had been withheld and passed the phone to Flourish and Sir Sheik, whom scrolled through uneasily.

“The manifest has your company’s name on it and there’s even one with you and some of your associates loading the shipment!”

Sir Sheik began to sniff uncontrollably and as she stood, the Sheik nervously unbuttoned the main button of her velvet purple Tom Ford jacket. She was visibly disturbed and unnerved while Flourish was flush with fear.

“I would’ve thought you would have been more willing and cooperative, Sam…” She peered deep into Sir Sheik’s eyes and furled her brow in anger while Sir Sheik looked away in silence. “My own two best friends…”

“I was indebted to her, Prima…” Flourish began to whimper as she began to break down. “I asked Sir Sheik for a favor a long time ago. Prima, you knew how my pops was…how he would get drunk and come after me and mama…how he took advantage of me. And I could never forgive him for that. I never got over what he did to us.”

“After her sister died, Sir Sheik came to me and said she saw him leaving his apartment one day. She said she knew I was still hurting and she could help me with the pain—that she would take care of him.”

Flourish began to cry.

“Sir Sheik had things on me and I’ve been indebted to her for a while now.”

“But why this? You could’ve come to me Flourish! You’re my sister.” She began to scan the eyes of her long time friends. “I can’t believe this! After everything we’ve all gone through together.”

“I’m sorry, Prima!” Flourish was sobbing and blubbering hysterically.

Sir Sheik began to pace anxiously and sniff uncontrollably.

“Pharaoh did you know about this too?”

“Pharaoh had nothing to do with any of this. Sir Sheik had been distributing everything, with Sappho Intl as a front. She said if I would help her, then I could consider my debt paid AND I would get a cut to keep things flowing smoothly and quietly.”

“Shut your trap, Flo!” Sir Sheik proclaimed with sarcasm and irritation.

Flourish began to raise her voice and quicken her confession, as she went more into detail.

“In the beginning I was reluctant, but then I got so deep into it. There was no turning back.” She looked directly into my eyes apologetically and with genuine regret. “That was until I met Silk and she made me feel alive. I wanted to get out, Silk, but I didn’t know how…I’m so sorry, Silk…I just panicked and didn’t know what else to say or do…”

“The Sheik talks so much about old money and economic levels but she has to destroy the lives of her own kind with heroin and blow to feel a real sense of power.”

“Shut up, Flourish!” Sir Sheik began to raise her voice as she glared at Flourish with rising fury.

“Silk, she hates you because she knows that she’ll never be the stallion that you are.”

She raised her voice again and the words that escaped her mouth flooded past her lips with increasing speed.

“She trafficks the drugs with her partner and peddles to Sapphians. Their base is between London and New York and this cocaine shipment was part of her expansion plan to smuggle it in from Mexico to corrupt Miami as well. Sir Sheik is all about more money and more violence—and it’s about time that she’s stopped!” Flourish turned to PrimaDonna. “Her partner is…”

“Shut up, Flourish!” Sir Sheik had stopped pacing abruptly and simultaneously pulled a compact glock pistol that’d been tucked below the small of her back and concealed in the waistline of her pants. “Just shut the fuck up already!”

And before anyone knew it, Sir Sheik had disengaged the safety and pulled the trigger. The sound of a piercing explosion filled the air, as a single round had been fired. And the sound of a shrill shrieking followed.

The echo of a now-shrinking, ringing reverberated in my ear and time seemed to stand still and run forward simultaneously. I was disoriented and seemed to be frozen with it—until my eyes began to register that Flourish had collapsed to the floor.

The bullet had found its way to pierce through the wall of Flourishes chest and she now lay struggling to catch bloodless breaths. I immediately rushed to her side as Sir Sheik had panicked and now held PrimaDonna at gunpoint, as she cried and shouted in horror.

“Flourish!”

“Don’t anybody else move!”

I kneeled down to hold her head, as blood gurgled and leapt from the hole in her chest. Her cotton tank became stained with the crimson red trails of regret and swelled redemption. Hot tears of fear burned her cheeks in frustration, as she began to cough up blood. And as her hopes to live another day dwindled away, her eyes reflected a silent surrender to her failed attempts to fight and hold on to claim another breath of life.

Despite the pain of drowning within her own blood supply, somehow she found the will to repent. She harnessed from the depths of her soul’s ability and mouthed the words as she struggled.

“I’m…sorry…”

And with the release of her final words and last strained breath, her flooded body submitted to the painful and persistent bleeding. And her eyes ran cold and empty.

Flourish had perished but not before releasing her heavy burden.

I, with a deep compassion, shut her eyelids to steep in the ultimate sleep. And closed my eyes to breathe in the life that she could not—she was forgiven and her sacrifice would not be in vain.

And as I turned to finally look up, a silent anger filled my lungs.

“Finally! Silence! You know, Flourish fell for you first, Silk. But I never liked her anyway.”

Sir Sheik sniffed and shook, as she held the fatal glock to PrimaDonna’s head and held her closely.

“We might’ve fucked with each other, but she would never be on my level. Much like you—she would always be beneath me.”

“Bruva, what the fuck is wrong with you!” Pharaoh screamed out, still shocked with the events that had transpired.

Despite crying, PrimaDonna spoke slowly and carefully. “Let me go, Sam. You'll never get away with this.”

“Let her go, Sam. We can still work this out, man.”

“It’s too late.” She looked at PrimaDonna. “Isn’t that right, love?”

“Look Sheik, this is between you and me.” I stood up slowly with both hands raised and looked her straight in the eyes. “Let PrimaDonna go. You know you don’t want to hurt her.”

The Sheik backed up closer to the wall, as she sniffed.

“Silk, you think you're so savvy don't you?” Rage and irritation began to surround her blue and green eye to fill and cloud the windows of her spotted soul. “I've operated for years under everyone's noses and yet there was NOT…ONE…PERSON who had a clue. My true power and reach was undetectable. And with everything that I built, no one knew—not even you my love. You were clueless. It was like you never knew me.”

Tears of sorrow streamed down the cheeks of PrimaDonna, as she glanced at the cold form of her best friend that now lay lifeless.

“I must have never known how damaged you really would become…and what it was capable of spawning within you, Sam.”

“Well, it’s too late now.”

She’d definitely lost it and might actually even be capable of killing PrimaDonna. I had to do something.

“You don’t want to do this, Sheik.” I spoke softly and calmly.

I had to shorten the distance between myself and them. I had to create a diversion to keep her from claiming another fatality.

I inched closer to PrimaDonna, with my arms still motioning that I surrendered.

Sir Sheik coldly pressed the tip of the barrel further into PrimaDonna’s temple, as she closed her tear-drenched eyes tightly.

“You know I always loved you, Prima…but that no good husband of yours was always in the way.”

“Oh, yeah! Bet you didn't know that did you, Silk?” She smiled crazily as she glared in my direction. “For all that you think that you know—there is so much that you don't know!”

“Yeah, she’s married. That's why she keeps herself well out of reach.”

“Sheik, you know that was a business arrangement, bruv.” Pharaoh began to calmly follow my lead and slowly moved forward towards PrimaDonna and the Sheik.

“Yeah, well. It still hurts, Pharaoh. She's been stringing me along for years.”

“And then Silk came along—and now you love this nobody, Prima! She isn't even on our level.” The hand that held her trigger finger began to shake uncontrollably. “And I know you love her because I can see it in your eyes! How she excites you and they light up whenever she’s around. After all we've been through why her?”

“We've been through everything!” The Sheik kissed a streaming tear that fell down PrimaDonna’s face and then pointed the pistol directly at me, with my chest as the new target. “Fuck her!”

I stopped in my tracks.

“Go to hell, Silk!”

I submitted to the mercy of my fate, as the Sheik began to move the finger that wrapped around the trigger.

But by the grace of God and Sappho, it was not yet my time to meet my maker.

“No!” Pharaoh shouted right before the Sheik had pulled the trigger and the shot rang out.

Within a flash Pharaoh had taken action. It was as though she was her father stealing first base for the Yankees, as she sprinted across the room and tackled me to take the bullet that had been meant for me.

And as I now lay in shock and checked for a non-existent hole, I would faintly witness PrimaDonna elbow the Sheik in the gut and bolt to the closed door at the same time. As Sir Sheik was doubled over momentarily in pain, PrimaDonna opened the door and ran down the hallway.

“Go! Silk, run!”

“…but your arm!”

Pharaoh grimaced in pain, as she clutched her arm.

“I’m fine! Help Prima!”

I glanced at Sir Sheik, just as she began to recover, and I bolted with a burst of adrenaline across the room towards the door.

She now shot at me, repeatedly, with a single-minded obsession to kill me.

“Fuck you, Silk!”

The glass pitcher shattered, as I moved past the desk and ducked behind one of the square leather chairs. The large chrome pyramid was pierced, as I darted to the conference room door. Glass from the frame of the mounted cubist painting flung against my shoulder, as I rounded through the doorway and into the hall behind PrimaDonna.

And as I gained ground, a bullet punctured one of the recessed wall lights of the hallway and another whizzed by my ear, as I frantically rounded the corner.

PrimaDonna looked back at me and opened the bronze door of the Hall of Antiquity. She motioned for me to follow her, as she glided inside and we both crouched behind the baroque day sofa, as PrimaDonna called for help.

“PrimaDonna, it’s time for this to end.” Sir Sheik yelled in the hallway before getting to the bronze door. “You all just don’t get it. You think this is nothing but a game. There is a war going on and it seems that I’m on the right side of things. If you hand Silk over then I can simply leave, PrimaDonna.”

She slowly opened the door as PrimaDonna whispered into the phone. I tiptoed to crouch behind the matching chair that set nearby so that Sir Sheik would have to pass me first.

“I can just slip out of the door and leave you to your precious Sappho Intl. It would be like I never was here at all.” She yelled with a stark sarcasm.

And as her voice echoed from the other side of the room, I began to look at the painting of my mother on the wall. Sir Sheik was right—It was time to end this.

Sir Sheik had violated and ended the life of my friend, had violated my home and was now attempting to violate and destroy PrimaDonna, as well as the vitality of Sappho Intl and the Sapphic Trust. This was an un-warranted assault on a life that I was just beginning to accept as my own. And it was time to step up and end this madness.

Sir Sheik’s wielding hands and clasped gun passed slowly before my eyes. And right before she had the chance to pass the rest of her body beyond me, I had leapt from my crouched position to grapple with her wrists in an attempt to loosen her grip around the glock.

I banged her hand against the antique desk, with as much force as I could muster, and the gun slid out of her grasp and onto the floor. And as she struggled to pick up the gun, I slid my body around her back and my forearm around her throat to administer a firm sliding collar choke. I was now wrapped around her like an anaconda and showed no leniency, as she flailed her arms and body about desperately. She backed me mercilessly against a column in an effort to slacken the hold that my constricted arm held around her throat. And when that failed she tried again, to no avail. She finally fell forward over the same chair that I’d been crouched behind and we both tumbled, head over feet, over the arm of it to crash upon the floor.

The gun was now in our sights again and we both scuffled and rushed to regain our balance. She was ahead of me until I tackled her back to the ground and scissor swept her to become mounted on top of her.

I grabbed the lapel of her velvet jacket, wound back and struck her across the jaw. And despite the wincing pain that’d been delivered, her gaze was crude and filled with hate.

With my adrenaline spiked and jutting wildly, I glared into her dilated blue and green eye and couldn’t help but see a dying Flourish. So I punched her again in anger. I began to see my own hidden fury in her eyes. It was a deep and unsettling rage that dwelled and rose from the inner recesses of my mind. Over and over again, I would strike her with an unrestrained wrath, despite her futile attempts to shield my strikes—until I heard PrimaDonna yelling and crying.

“Silk! Please!”

I finally caught myself. And with a bloodied fist, I picked up the nearby gun and stood to tower over Sir Sheik’s blood-spattered face, which for once lacked even a hint of smug repulsion.

I aimed the gun’s barrel to her head, even though she lay unconscious. I’d never wanted to cause harm to anyone like I wanted to end the mortality of Sir Sheik.

My whole body shook with the violent surge and begged my finger to pull the trigger. And even as she struggled to open her eyes, within her bludgeoned and weakened state, she too dared me to fire the deadly shot to her temple.

“You can’t do it. You’re…soft…and weak. You will never belong.” She whispered and faintly smiled.

She would be an asshole to the very end. There was no hope for her. And as she lay powerless on the ground, my hand shook and urged me to end the terror and existence of this loathsome creature.

“Don’t do it, Silk. Please, she’s not worth it.”

I took a deep breath and steadied my focus. The breath of life began to fill my lungs and the love of the cleansed air began to soothe my broken spirit. I began to function with a newfound clarity and was resolved to stand down. Fighting fire with fire was not the answer—I had to be the bigger stallion.

“When I first saw you, I thought you were one of the most stylish studs that I’d ever seen. And then when I heard your name, I assumed that you must’ve been very wise and revered. But you're no sheik—you're nothing but a sad and sorry soul. You thrive on the illusion of control by using people's fears against them—all to mask your own fear of loss, betrayal and abandonment. All to mask your own insecurities and the things that you can’t control. Right now you lack the ability to even love yourself. You've made a joke of yourself and I feel sad for you. I pray that you find peace one day…Sir.”

I laid the gun down onto a nearby table as Sir Sheik lay on the ground defeated and bloody.

I moved across the room to embrace and comfort a drained and damaged PrimaDonna.

"Everything will be alright.”

“Our security is on the way.” She held onto me with eyes closed and trembled as she sobbed into my shoulder. “Oh, Flourish.”

As I looked up at the painting of Sappho, I gave my appreciation to her guidance and her protective light. And although the damage had been done, it could have been much more fatal.

And then I saw a shadow moving out the side of my eye. A bloody Sir Sheik had somehow gotten up and yet again I found myself at the tail end of her pointed gun.

“You just don’t quit do you, Sir Sheik?”

“Silk, I knew you were weak.”

PrimaDonna looked up as I slowly stepped away from her.

“Not weak—just well intentioned.”

“Well, it seems that I'll have the last laugh…” She smiled mockingly. “…because the joke…it appears…is on you.”

She pulled the trigger.

And once again, it seemed that I was protected—as the gun had not fired.

She looked at the gun and tried again, as I braced myself.

Sir Sheik’s gun was out of bullets.

"Incredible!" She shook her head and sniffed. "Well, I guess, every stallion has her turn.”

The Sheik looked at her long time friend and lover with contempt.

“Good-bye PrimaDonna.”

She flung the emptied gun and ran out the door.

PrimaDonna looked at me in amazement. She clutched my neck and resumed her grief-stricken release as the sound of Sir Sheik’s footsteps echoed down the hallway.

The Sheik had gotten away, but her reign of terror was finally over.

13

Inhale. Exhale. Purge.

This week had been a moment of silence and a deep and healing meditation in my life, as I’d been programmed to execute in moments of tragedy before. I allowed my mind to take this time to absorb the truth, and my body to absorb peace, in order to see my soul steep within a cleansing bath of forgiveness in the weeks to come.

PrimaDonna slid into the white leather seat of the black Lincoln town car ever so coolly, despite being wrought with grief and anguish over the untimely death of the perished Flourish. And as we passed through the memorial park that held her burial plot, PrimaDonna still dabbed at tears shed for her closest friend, with a black satin handkerchief. Her tombstone had been marked with the sign of Sappho as Flourish now rested in peace amongst all the Sapphians that passed before her.

We hadn’t spoken a word to each other, even as we paid our respects to Flourish. And as we now sat next to each other within the deafening silence, it seemed that I still searched for the words to break the pain that Sir Sheik’s betrayal left between us.

“Her mother and father had long since passed. We were the only family she had left.”

She peered through her black funeral veil and out of the window to the far distant memories that she was now left with.

“We were all so close…I still can't believe this has happened.”

Her black opera gloves now clutched onto her handkerchief for strength and consolation.

“Sam betrayed not just my trust, but the trust of all of us. I don’t think things will ever be the same.”

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, Prima. If you give up hope now, Flourishes confession and death would’ve all been for naught.”

“You’re right. I just miss her so much, Silk.” She looked at me with blood shot eyes.

She continued her cold gaze onto the outside world, as the town car crept slowly through the streets.

PrimaDonna was a goddess whom, in my eyes, deserved to live an unblemished life. And although the Sheik forewarned of her current marital status and inability to ever bequeath her love to another, I still managed to feel that I was hopelessly in love with her.

I desperately wanted to take her from this place of anguish to an escape far, far away from grief. I wanted to be the solution to the crisis. I wanted to be the peace to her mourning.

And yet Sir Sheik’s words still haunted me. I needed my own answers and right now might be the only time that I would get them.

“Prima, why didn’t you tell me that you were married?”

“It was irrelevant at the time…there were much larger things at play.”

Her voice was low and somber.

“There were much larger things at play?”

I shook my head. It was no use pussyfooting around. I needed to be direct.

“So, did you feel anything for me that night? Was any of what you felt real or was I just another fantasy fulfilled for you? Was I just another game…a cheap thrill?”

“Of course not, Silk!”

She placed her handkerchief into her tiny purse and took out a silver compact mirror to apply foundation around her eyes, as she quickly began to recompose herself.

“Sure seems to look that way from my angle.”

“Listen, Silk.” She closed the case and placed it back into her purse. She then removed her veil and looked me directly in the eyes, as her words began to seep from her classic, red lips.

“Sir Sheik said a lot of things that night. I can only say that you’ve made me feel like no other person in the world. But I’ve learned that sometimes you have to look way beyond yourself, to the greater good, to be able to secure a way of life that you believe in.”

“Did you love the Sheik?”

“I cared for and loved the Sheik more than anyone has ever loved the Sheik. More than she even loved herself. But I was never IN love with the Sheik. She was bewitching and had become dangerously infatuated. I've been in denial for a long time and she’d been brooding and brewing for just as long, if not longer. I guess her pot finally boiled over. I've been a fool... a fool to think...”

Her words trailed off as she returned to her solace that hovered outside her window.

“Do you love your husband?”

“He was a childhood friend and we grew up together. Ours was a marriage of convenience and a business arrangement between our families, while I was still attending the University. My father was very wealthy and so was his family. Back then, I learned to be so guarded yet accommodating in my life. I felt it was my duty to fulfill my father’s wishes. But after my mother and father divorced, I’d been faced with my own decision—do I learn to love this man or do I excuse myself of this obligation, as my mother had done. I chose to learn to love him. And he learned to live with my attraction to both sexes.”

“However, after our time together, Silk, I do question if I ever have or could be IN love with him.”

She turned to face me again.

“Silk, I can say that you are the embodiment of love. It flows through your veins easily—so much so that it's almost overpowering.”

She gazed deeply into the windows of my soul and rubbed my face.

“I look into your eyes and you place me in a state of vulnerability that I've never felt before. I’m afraid of your purity and of what would happen to me and to this organization if I were to fall in love for the very first time…I mean, your passion is so intense and I’ve had a peak into both sides of what this passion would look like if ignited positively AND negatively. I’m afraid of what this kind of love would do to both of us.”

“Sometimes you just gotta take a chance, Prima.”

“I took a chance with the Sheik and...” Her voice trailed off and I interrupted before she could finish.

“I’m not Sir Sheik, Prima!”

PrimaDonna turned again to look into the distance.

It was then that we pulled through the small parking lot of an all-white stone building that stood nestled within the vast acreages of a lush tropical landscape. It was quiet and desolate, save for one limousine that was parked in the far corner of the lot. Our car rolled to a stop.

“Where are we?”

“This is the Nucleii. It’s the central hub for top-level Sapphians that reside and meet within the Miami cell. My mother and aunt require our attention.”

“Come with me.”

PrimaDonna quickly exited the vehicle and I followed suit. We ascended the double steps to the front door and entered.

Pharaoh, Diana, and Madison sat calmly within the center of the large and marbled lobby of the imperial Nucleii’s interior.

And like the outside lot, the stately room was quiet and uninhabited.

We passed leather seats and descended down the marble steps and into the pitted nucleus of the Nucleii’s massive interior. I immediately greeted Diana and Madison each with a hug. Then Pharaoh stood up to hug me, although her arm was secured in a sling.

“What’s good, bruva?”

Pharaoh’s voice was low and solemn. And her eyes were red and swollen with grief.

“It’s level—all things considering. How’s the arm?”

“I’ll manage. The bullet went through and through, so it’s healing quickly.”

“Good! Good…” My voice trailed off. I had yet to thank her for saving my life. But as I stared deep into her eyes and patted her on the back, there was an unspoken understanding that we were now closer than just mere buddies or passing associates. I would now consider her to be a lifelong friend.

PrimaDonna and Pharaoh hugged.

“Prima, luv…It’s good to see your beautiful face. We’ll get through this, luv.”

PrimaDonna fixed her lips to feign a smile within the seriousness of the moment.

“It’s good to see you too, Pharaoh.”

The five of us sat down onto the oversized, marble and cubed seats that formed a circle in the nucleus, to gaze upon a recessed light that emanated from the midpoint of the whole room.

“We are the only one’s here today and I will make this private meeting very brief.”

“We have all lost one of our own whom was a friend, a daughter, and a sister to us.” Madison looked at each one of us. “And no doubt, we are all suffering a considerable amount of anguish and grief. Nonetheless, it is at these times that we must find the strength to stand strong and come together to support each other more than ever. This is the time for truth and an indestructible trust within the Sapphic Trust—this is a time for cleansing.”

“Pharaoh you had indicated that you have something to get off of your chest.”

"Yes…” She straightened her posture and began to speak. ”Sir Sheik was my best friend…umm…our best friend for over 10 years. We all knew she had problems. I knew little tidbits of some of her affairs and never participated in them. But I would hear things here and there; and I stood by idly and did nothing about it—which in my eyes is a thousand times worse. I ignored many of her conversations and did nothing. Flourish was also our best friend…our sister. And I blame myself for her death because I could’ve said something or done something about it. And I didn't.”

A tear streamed down Pharaoh’s stoic face.

“And now we've lost both of them forever.”

She turned to face PrimaDonna.

“PrimaDonna, you're my best friend, and I didn't even let you know. I guess I thought that simply being around Sir Sheik could level her out. And saying nothing would let her know that she had a real sense of family to replace the family that had abandoned her. I thought that at some point she would come around—but she never did. She got worse and worse, until even I didn't know what to do. I’m so sorry.”

“Pharaoh, the burden of guilt is not your own.” PrimaDonna gazed at Pharaoh and responded feebly. “I think we all had a hand in turning a blind eye to Sam’s worsening behavior.”

“It would be easy to judge you for your silence, but in sacrificing your own physical welfare for Silk, you've displayed a tremendous sense of loyalty and courage, Pharaoh. You are forgiven.”

Madison continued.

“As you well know, Samantha is still on the run. We are working with our security detail to cue in on where she could be; in the meantime, any little information can help them track her down. Pharaoh, can you tell us a little bit about what you do know about Sir Sheik's operation.”

“Prima, you know as well as I know that after everything happened with the Sheik's sis, she never was the same. As her comrade, I think I saw it more than anyone else. It was like her psyche kind of split into two—half a scheming, brooding spirit and half the joking gentleman that we had all grown to love.”

“After everything that happened this week, I couldn’t help but replay everything that everyone said and different conversations that I had overhead from the Sheik…and some things now make a little more sense.”

“She’d gotten close to a whole other group of people over the years—a group of people that I was not privy to. Sir Sheik did have an accomplice—a partner who, I believe, also exists as a mole within the Sapphic Trust. I've never met this person, but I know that she operates internationally within the Trust because of how they would discuss Sapphic events and dates together. Sir Sheik has been in alliance with this person for more than a few years.”

“At first, it was just small time hustling within the parties and the clubs. But then they hooked up in London and masterminded a whole underground operation. Because they do most everything by phone, I've managed to piece together much of what was going on by listening to their conversations. They were involved with blackmail and burglary, gun smuggling, skag and blow…err or I mean…heroin and cocaine. And they would speak a lot about a hit list.”

“Like I said before, the details are sketchy, but this is some of the things that I can remember.”

“Is there anything else?”

“That’s all I can remember right now. But it seems that I’ve been recalling conversations with increasing intensity, so I’m sure I would have worked out much more in detail in time.”

“Good.”

"Pharaoh, that’s all for now. You may excuse yourself and wait for us in the garden’s labyrinth. Diana and I will escort you to your jet in a moment.”

"Alright then. Keep your head up, Prima. Oh and Silk, we'll hook up soon, alright?"

"Most definitely…"

The heavy heels of Pharaoh’s rocker boots echoed down the maze of halls and we began to speak again, once the back exit door slammed shut.

“We have one more thing to address, as it pertains to Silk, and then we will dismiss for today.”

I began to shuffle in my seat to straighten my posture.

PrimaDonna simply stared into the central light.

Inhale. Exhale. Purge.

“Silk…”

Madison paused as she looked at Diana.

“Although the content of what we are about to discuss is far from the tragedy that we have experienced, it is truly the time to reveal the truth of it.”

“Before your mother passed, she left us something of extreme importance. It seemed that she possessed an authentic and original copy of your family tree. The ancestral genealogy was passed on through the ages and before she passed, she left it to us for safekeeping. And she added—and I quote—until the time was right.”

Diana followed. “She also added that we might find something of interest within the tree.”

“We didn’t think much of it then and simply preserved it, along with many of the other Sapphian members’ rolls of genealogy. However, something phenomenal occurred when we re-opened our vault of lineages. We began to compare and record the descents, as we do every other decade and there was something very familiar about your mother’s tree.”

“We studied, compared and traced the lineage of your mother's ancestral line, with our own known and documented ancestral rolls submitted by Sappho’s daughter, Cleis, herself; which had been preserved over the centuries.”

“And although, Sappho’s tree had been interrupted and cut off over time; the family predecessors of your mother’s tree matched the known successors of Cleis.”

“Excuse me, come again?” I wasn’t sure that I heard them correctly.

“We traced and re-traced and each time, there was a distinctive match within the two bloodlines. And once you appeared within our organization we began to connect the dots.”

“Are you trying to tell me…” My own words trailed into the hallways of the Nucleii.

PrimaDonna lifted her head and looked at me in disbelief, at the same time that my eyes jetted from Diana and Madison to hers, in utter shock.

“But before we came to you with this truth, we had to be certain of the validity of this discovery.”

“We had to be certain that we were certain, to make this claim…” Diana added.

“…and absolutely SURE to profess it as truth—we needed evidence.”

I began to search the light myself, as it seemed both PrimaDonna and I had come alive.

“Silk…at Illumin8, we told you about the sacred ring and blood lockets that belonged to Sappho and was submitted to the Legacy Chest.”

Madison began to speak more quickly and excitedly.

“Recently, we asked PrimaDonna to secure a tiny sample of your own hair. We compared the preserved sample with a tiny sample of Sappho's preserved blood—and there transpired an exact match in mitochondrial DNA.”

I lifted my head from the light and peered directly at Madison in disbelief.

"So, are you trying to tell me that…I’m a direct descendent of…Sappho herself?"

"What we’re trying to tell you, Silk, is that you are the ONLY remaining blood descendent of Sappho and you are the heir to Sappho's Legacy and Crown.”

“You are the true daughter of Sappho.”

My mind began to reel and my heart began to accelerate, as I abruptly stood up from my seat. It was as if my own oxygen had been snatched from my body. I couldn’t believe what she was telling me.

I—Max Silk—was the heir of Sappho!

My eyes darted from Madison to Diana, as they smiled in awe.

I wanted to be as excited as they were—but I couldn’t breathe.

“I need to get some air.” I un-buttoned the top button of my dress shirt. “I need to get out of here.”

“Calm down, Silk. It’s okay.”

And before I knew it, I dashed up the stairs and out the door.

I didn’t know where I was going and why I was running. But I found my legs taking me down the outside steps and towards the town car.

“Silk! Wait!”

I’d slowed only to catch my breath.

Inhale. Exhale. Purge.

PrimaDonna had reached me and we both now walked in time to my breathing. We hadn’t said a word, even as we opened the door to the town car and slid into the seat.

I took deep breaths as PrimaDonna stared at me and the car began to move forward.

"Did you know?"

“No, Silk…I…”

“Prima, don’t lie to me now…did you know?”

I turned my face toward her slowly, as I could now feel my eyes blaze blades of a brilliant and pure light, as her eyes held my glare.

“I swear I didn’t…I had no idea. I was only instructed to secure a sample of your hair. They did the rest in extreme confidentiality. I swear—I had no clue, Silk.”

She scoped me with a newfound intrigue.

"Why are you looking at me like that? It's not as if I’m changed by this, Prima.” Even though I felt it to be far from the truth, I spoke with a firm harshness. It seemed that disconnecting myself from my environment was the only way that I would begin to digest what’d been revealed to me.

“I mean, I am still who I am. I am Max Silk.”

"But you don't understand. This changes everything.”

We rode the rest of the way in silence. Our minds riddled with and distracted by the rumbling pistons of our individual membrane’s now overactive engines.

PrimaDonna serenely interrupted my mind’s thunderous processing, as we pulled onto Collins Avenue.

“You know I never thanked you for saving my life and for standing up for us the way that you did.”

I took a deep breath and looked into her sapphire eyes.

“It was the right thing to do. Please let Madison and Diana know that I apologize for running out the way that I did. I just need some time to take all of this in.”

“I’m sure that they will understand it…considering the circumstances.”

She smiled softly.

As the driver slowed to a stop in the front drive of South Beach's towering Setai Hotel, she handed a file to me.

"This file holds all of the evidence to you and your family's background and the tree that leads all the way up to Sappho.”

I took the file into my hands.

“You can take your time reading it.”

“It was always your destiny to lead, Silk. It is you who will usher in the new age of us Sapphians. It was always you, Silk. "

She sweetly pecked me on my cheek’s dimple and placed her hand onto the door handle to exit the town car.

She paused on exiting, turned and added.

"Oh and by the way, Silk…”

“I am the direct blood descendent of Sophia Luna.”

PrimaDonna stood.

“And like I said, this changes everything.”

She gazed directly into my eyes and closed the door.

As she walked across the front drive and the town car began to pull forward, I stared out the window and at the back of her hair in disbelief. And she looked back at me, one more time before entering into the lobby.

Even though the truth can hurt the body, the truth ultimately sets your soul free—and I had finally found my truth.

Yes, fate had a way of circling back around like a boomerang. And as fate would have it, my destiny with PrimaDonna, Sappho Intl, and the Sapphic Trust had only just begun.