BEYOND THE RAINBOW

CHAPTER 3 - THE PLOT THICKENS

In a land beyond the rainbow a man of commanding height and noble visage stood, on the balcony of a high rise luxury apartment, somewhere in downtown Las Vegas. Idly gazing upwards he sipped on a scotch and soda and sighed as the Milky Way drifted back into white mist, and the heavenly fireworks came to a close. His dark eyes glimmered in the glow of the moon. Below his elevated position the view was of glittering neon signs and all manner of the extravagant, flashing lights of man's invention. It was doubtful any below had seen the stars going berserk through their imitation facade. Or if they had, would put it down to an electrical storm. There was no thunder, but they wouldn't notice that for the noise of their own making. Even in the penthouse, of his most recent acquisition, the noise pollution of traffic and beeping horns from the streets drifted up. In the city that never sleeps, decadent pursuits, in the name of fun, were in full swing. Business had never been so good .

The Casino magnate's sensuous lips twisted cynically. His luck was prospering on all planes. Boringly so. There was just no challenge in it, anymore. Certainly no satisfaction beyond transient indulgences of the flesh. Behind him, on a tousled bed of black satin, his latest conquest stirred sexily.

"Mmm, Nitas..." she sighed, flexing one long, delicious leg in search of him. Failing to make contact with the muscular thigh of her desire, she came awake, crossly, as moonlight beamed across her naked, alabaster breast. "Close the curtain!" She snapped. "You know I can't stand the light of full moon! What are you doing out there?"

Nitas D'Angelo stepped back into the bedroom, and deposited the empty glass, among others, on a service trolley, but he did not oblige her petulant demand. "You'll need to work on your tolerance levels where you're going, my pet," he murmured.

The woman on the bed squirmed out of the moon's light, into the darkness of his shadow as it fell across her. "What? Why are you dressed? Did you say we're going somewhere?"

"I said, it looks like the Fairies are out in force up there." Nitas lied smoothly, crossing the lush, red carpet to stand at her bedside "For all the good it will do them, I believe we've established that this strip is mine, have we not, Lillith? You did give me your soul last night, didn't you?" Her painted lips parted invitingly. A perfect foil for her boudoir decor and the red demon now glowing in her eyes. She still had a chance to evict it. She was ogling his manly proportions, outlined in the moonlight. He waited patiently for her answer. She missed the point.

"You like fairies? I thought my devil costume turned you on. You certainly lit my fire, body, mind and soul. We belong together."

Ah, there it was.

"So I own you, now? Lock, stock, and barrel? No regrets?"

"Of course not, darling!" She was becoming impatient at having her desires thwarted. "What's mine is yours and the night's not over. Do hurry up and come back to bed. I'll be your little fairy, if you like." She put the blood red tips of her long nails on his thigh, stroking him possessively. Her fingers plucked urgently at the thick fabric of his jeans.

"You're sure you want to sell the old man out? There's no going back once you throw your lot in with me. I'm a bad man, you know."

"Mmm, that's what I like about you. We're two of a kind," she agreed throatily. "Stop worrying. The takeover is all signed, sealed and delivered. I'll just be your social hostess from now on. For appearance's sake. Daddy wouldn't like it if I sold up the family business to an outsider. He's not quite dead yet, but he's all stroked out these days," she giggled. "So my power of attorney is solid. And I want the money. When can I have it? And you? I want you! Forever!"

"Excellent! We have a deal, then. You are mine."

"Then take your clothes off! Promise I won't peak! Take me, bad man! Oo! I'm a terrified little Fairy!" She closed her eyes in anticipation.