Jade

Chapter 9

I woke with a start.  “How is your side?” I asked sensing that he is awake.  “All better,” he answered.  “How long did I sleep?”  “Just a few minutes,” He responded, “Do you always jump when you wake up?”  “I'm not sure.  I think I do most of the time.  Why?”  “It is nothing.  I just wondered.”  “Did you sleep too?”  “No.  I just watched you sleep.”  “Don't you need to sleep,  to recuperate?“  “No, I am fine now.  We should probably get up.”

He left then so that I could get ready.  He had said that I have a couple of hours so I decided to take a shower.  I wonder if he can read my mind even when he is in a different room.  Yes I can.  So now I am going to have to be mindful of what I think about.  This isn't right.  I only do this sometimes.  Mostly to make sure that you are alright.  We are going to have a discussion about this.  I will be right there.  I heard the bathroom door open.  “Not right now.  I am in the shower.”  I hoped that it was steamy enough that he couldn't see me through the clear glass of the shower.  “It is steamy enough,” he stated.  “Can you wait until I am done in here?”  “Yes.  I will wait in the bedroom.”  Not having a lock on the bathroom door is such a problem.  I will not barge in again unless you are in trouble.  I finished as quickly as I could and got out.  I hurriedly dried off and put my soaked hair up in a towel.  I put on one of the plush robes from the closet and walked out into the bedroom.

He sat, waiting for me, on the bed.  “I am sorry that I am being invasive.  I promise you will get used to it.”  “I will get used to it!” I repeated, incredulous.  “It is only because you fascinate me.  I want to know everything about you,” he tried again.  “You fascinate me too, but I don't go poking around in your head or barge in on you while you are in the bathroom.”  He paused for a minute, “I fascinate you too?”  “Yes,” I answered cautiously, not sure where he was headed with that little bit of knowledge.  A smug smile spread across his face.  “I could let you read my mind sometimes too,” he offered.  “Or you could just stop reading my mind,” I countered.  “That is not going to happen,” he shut me down, “you will get to where you like it.  To where you want it.”  “I doubt that.”  “I have to do it when I cannot see you.  I have to know that you are alright.”  “What are you so worried about?  This place seems pretty secure.”  “There are many things that can go wrong that have nothing to do with building security.  I will prove it to you,”  he offered, “Tonight, at the club, I will not read your mind unless you ask me to.”  “Okay,” I agreed.  We were  both silent for a minute.  “Let me read your mind.”  “Not right now,” he looked down at the floor.  “Yes, right now,” I pushed.  “You will not like what you see,” he looked back up to my eyes.  “What will I not like?” I asked, puzzled.  “ Me mentally undressing you with my eyes.”

I could feel my cheeks burn as I blushed, probably the deepest blush that I have ever done.  I didn't know what to say to that.  I squeaked as I ran to the bathroom and shut the door.  I leaned my back against the door.  Now what?  I don't know what is more embarrassing, the blush or the squeak.  I wish I could take them both back.  How am I ever going to act normal around him now?  Does he do that all day long?  No I do not.  I love your blush and your squeak.  I just want you to be yourself around me.  Please come back out.  I will not embarrass  you  again.

I waited a few minutes to compose myself and opened the door, only dressed this time.  I walked out into the bedroom.  His jaw dropped.  He didn't say anything , he just stared.  “What do you think?  Is it too much?”  He didn't say anything.  He just continued to stare.  I looked in the full length mirror, seeing myself for the first time.  “I didn't pick it out.  It just happened.”  A white sleeveless corset halter top that shows a little more cleavage than I am comfortable with, decorated with diamonds.  A white form-fitting miniskirt that reaches down about halfway between my hip and my knee.  A slit on each side of the mini revealing white biker shorts.  Tall white boots, with two inch wedge heels, reaching almost to my knees.  A matching white jacket and opaque white tights finish the outfit off.  The only jewelry is my amulet, shining a deep violet, and my hair hangs loose about my shoulders.  My makeup is simple save for the violet rose drawn on my left cheek.  The green stem, complete with thorns, curls around ending at the corner of my mouth.

“Say something,” I goad him.  “You look beautiful,” is all he can manage.  “Are these real diamonds?” I ask, “I don't know if I am comfortable with wearing them.”  “They are and you will be fine,” he answered, “did the skin pick this out?”  “I guess so, because I didn't.”  “It is very fitting for the occasion.”

“Now what?” I sat down next to him on the bed.  “They are back,” he answered, “Let me get ready and then we will go.”  He got up and walked into the bathroom.  I could hear the shower turn on.  He didn't shut the door.  Serves him right.  I should just walk in on him.  You are welcome to join me at any time.  I just sat, dumbfounded.  I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just waited.  I heard the water turn off.  A minute, or so, later he walked into the bedroom with only a towel draped around his hips.  I looked down at the floor.  He's doing this purposefully to get a rise out of me.  “Not to get a rise out of you.  You are allowed to look anytime you want.”  He picked a cologne bottle up from the nightstand and spritzed his neck twice, then put it back down.  “Would you like to watch me get dressed?  I can go in slow motion so you can really see.  I can turn my back.  I am sure that you have seen a butt before.”

I looked up at his face, interested, “Yes, I would like to see.”  He turned his back and dropped the bath towel, “now, no drooling.”  I smiled, “you won't have to worry about that.” Ofcourse I saw it for a second and then thought about what a nice butt he has.  Dang it!  Stop thinking about it!  “It is okay for you to think about it.  I think about your body off and on all day.”  What?  “If you did not think about it I would wonder if you were lesbian.  It is okay to be curious.”

I got up and walked over to him.  I wanted to see this up close.  “Do not touch me while I am changing or I will change you too.”  He started with his pants.  I could see tiny little white fibers appear and start to weave together.  Several pockets appeared on each leg to form cargo pants.  Even slowed down it only took a couple of minutes for his pants to finish.  He turned to face me.  His boots were next.  Tiny little white fibers, again, that wove together then melted to form boots just like mine, except that they had no heel and only went up to mid-calf.  Next was his shirt, a white button-down with a breast pocket on each side.  Then a white jacket very similar to mine.  When he was finished his shirt was tucked into his pants and his pant legs were tucked into his boots.

“Is that a uniform?” I asked.  “Yes,” he answered, “so is yours.  We have several.” “What is the purpose of these uniforms?” “They are formal uniforms.”  “So they are worn for ceremonies.”  “Yes.”

“Have you been to a club before?” he asked.  “No,” I answered.  “Stay close to me and you will be fine.  If we get separated and you get scared just think help and I will come to you.” “Okay.”

I followed him to the living room.  Theo and Antony were arguing about who is the best dressed.  Kale and Ripley were just listening.  They stopped and turned to look at us as we entered.  “I think Jade is the best dressed,” Ripley pointed out, “are we supposed to wear uniforms?”  “You don't have to,” Yaris answered, “it is a choice.  We are ready to leave.”

“We are ready,” Theo stood up, digging the keys out of his pocket.  The others followed suit.  We all walked to the front door and filed out.  I was the first to reach the elevator, excited to be going out, and pushed the button.  The doors sprang open.  I went in and once everyone else was in I pushed the button for the first floor.  It took a little while going down, so I got to appreciate the view through the glass walls.  The lobby is still full of people.  I wonder why the lobby is always so full.  Do these people ever sleep?  I waited a minute.  No answer from Yaris.  I smiled.  My mind is just mine for a little while.

The elevator dinged as we reached the ground floor.  The doors opened and I moved to step out.  “Wait a minute,” Theo put his arm out in front of me.  The twins walked out first.  Yaris took my hand and we walked out, him on my left and Theo to my right.  Ripley came out behind us.  I try not to look around too much so that I can keep up, but there is just so much to see.  Why are there mimes in a hotel lobby?  I just love performance art.  Yaris is going to have to bring me down here tomorrow so I can just look around.  I catch a glimpse of clothing shops.  There's a souvenir shop.  I feel a tug on my arm.  I turn to look ahead of me.  We are almost to the front doors.  We stop at the front desk.  It is the same man from the other night, “ahhhhhh, Mr. Theo, stepping out?  Would you like for housekeeping to freshen up while you are out?”  “ That would be great,” Theo answered.  “We will have it sparkling when you get back.”  Theo nodded his thanks and we walked out the doors.

A black SUV with tinted windows waited under the hotel canopy.  They all got in:  Theo driving, Ripley in the front passenger seat, Yaris in the back driver's side, then Kale, then Antony.  “Where am I suppose to sit,” I asked confused.  “Here, on my lap,” Yaris answered.  “I'm not sitting on your lap,” I protested, embarrassed.  “Do you want to go or not?” Theo asked.  “I am not sitting on his lap,” Kale snickered.  I climbed in, my cheeks burning, and sat on his lap.  I sat forward, clearly uncomfortable.  “Lean back on me.  You will be more comfortable.”  I leaned back against him.  I began to smell lavender and mint mixed with something else.  I instantly relaxed.  “Do not put her to sleep,” I heard someone say.  “She is not asleep, just relaxed.”  I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply.  I laid my head against his chest.  Hearing the steady beat of his heart was even more soothing.  I could so go to sleep right now.  Do not fall asleep.  Just stay calm.  He wrapped his arms around me in a snug cocoon.