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Ecstasy and Agony
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"Do you think she'll like me?" Sarah asked Gerard as they left her apartment. Kissing her, he stroked her face.
"She'll love you, don't worry."
"But what if she doesn't?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
"I don't know," she shrugged biting her lower lip, "just nerves I guess."
"Bloody hell, Sarah, when you do that..." He pulled her to a stop and pressed her to the wall just before her building's exit, his hands to either side of her head.
"Do what?"
"Your lip," he dove in for another, deeper kiss, "when you bite your lip."
"You like that?" she asked, tilting her head, fluttering her eyelashes and biting her lip again.
"You know I do, luv." Gerard kissed her again, grinding his pelvis into hers until she groaned. "And your kit tonight, bleeding fuckable," he added running kisses down her throat.
"Well," she ran her hands down his back and gripped his ass pulling him closer, "you said Cassie said to wear something sexy."
"Black leather mini-skirt? At this rate I'll be shagging you again right here and Cassie's plans can go to hell." She giggled at the hoarse, desperate sound of his voice, at how hard he was already.
"I don't think she'll appreciate that," she said without any real insistence. Sighing, his forehead dropped to her shoulder and his body ceased pressing.
"Bloody hell, I know," he said resigned, "Give us a minute and we'll be off." Laughing, Sarah pushed him away gently.
"I don't think either of us will be
off any time soon tonight."
He smirked, "So sure about that, are you then?"
"Promises, promises..."
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Earlier in the day, while at her apartment, Cassie and Gerard arranged for them all to meet at the new combination dinner and dance club, picked by Jeff, rather than at her apartment so they left Sarah's and took a cab directly. It was a new establishment consisting of several floors of music, entertainment, and food, starting with a chic restaurant on the entire first floor. Arriving, Gerard exited then assisted Sarah out of the cab. The waning light of dusk set off the building's crimson neon marquee—'
Daedalus's Labyrinth'. Two steps onto the sidewalk, with his hand placed lightly at the small of her back, Sarah froze as she read the sign.
"Oh, shit...this is where we're meeting your sister and her date?" Gerard heard the anxiety in her voice and tensed.
"Yeah, why?" He followed her line of sight as she spoke and cringed.
"Labyrinth? Seriously?" She glared at him, "You don't see a problem with this for me?" Was this some sort of sick joke
? After what she told him then their fight?
"Sarah, I swear I only had the address, I didn't know the name." He faced her grasping her hands and said quietly, mindful of the crowded sidewalk, "This isn't about you or anything we've discussed. Cassie's friend Jeff picked the place; it's supposed to be the hottest new club in town."
"Oh." Now she just felt silly and a little reactionary.
'Not everything is about you, Sarah,' she admonished herself, embarrassed that part of her still felt so selfish and touchy. Had she not grown up at all?
"But if you're uncomfortable we won't stay. I'll tell Cassie—"
"No, no it's okay." She gave him a tentative smile, "We're here and it's just a club, right?"
"Right," he said with a tentative grin and squeezed her hands then tilted his head towards the entrance, "Shall we then?" Sarah nodded allowing him to lead the way and give their names at the door claiming their reservation. As they followed a hostess inside, they marveled at the stylish, fashionable décor of the restaurant; a unique blend of dark, classic fabrics and sleek metals.
"Wow..." Sarah said under her breath.
"Quite posh," he replied nodding discreetly in agreement as his hand gently steered her through the entryway behind the petite female guiding them. Winding, maze-like halls led passed various sectioned off rooms until they reached one with low lighting and smaller private booths. The hostess walked to a specific booth, and pulled back the velvet curtain revealing a very attractive blond couple looking at ease together.
"Jer, finally!" Cassie exclaimed springing from her date's side, and sliding from the U-shaped leather booth seat. Gerard nodded a polite thank you to the retreating hostess before hugging his sister warmly.
"Cassie, I'd like you to meet Sarah Williams." He stepped back keeping one arm around Cassie's waist, one arm reaching for Sarah, "Sarah, my sister Cassandra Scott." The two women sized one another up for a few seconds in silence.
"Good to meet you, Cassandra." Sarah said enthusiastically and extended her hand the same moment as Cassie, they automatically shook.
"Call me Cassie; no one calls me Cassandra, except Mum, and only when I'm in trouble," she said grinning, "Glad to meet you, too, Sarah." Gerard heard wariness in both women's voices and signed internally, bloody female territorialism...ah, well, as long as they acted civil. Cassie turned and waved her companion forward who slid from the booth and stood.
"This is my friend, Jeff Bankston, Jeff, my brother Gerard and his friend Sarah Williams," More handshakes, nods, and pleasant greetings. Gerard's first impression of Jeff was questionable: a youngish man dressed well but presenting a lackadaisical air.
"Hey, good to meet'cha. Cassie can't stop talking about you, Jer."
"Indeed?" He disliked strangers and new acquaintances being overly familiar with his name, but forced himself to stay social in the name of good manners; wouldn't do to be outdone by his little sister. "Shall we sit?" In agreement with Gerard, they all situated themselves around the booth seat pulling the curtain closed. The electric table and wall sconce lighting gave it a very sultry, romantic ambiance.
"So, Jeff, Gerard told me that you made the reservations?" Sarah asked politely after settling.
"Yep, had to pull some major strings," he said preening, "this place is the hippest, hottest place in town, you like?"
"It's very...distinctive so far," Sarah said hesitantly.
"What till you see the dance clubs upstairs, they're like mazes!" Jeff wolf whistled too loudly and all three of his companions winced. "Big dance floor surrounded by these cozy, sectioned off tables and nooks. Each club has different music and décor, but the maze idea is the same on each level but not the patterns."
"Oh, wow, that's...intriguing." Sarah managed to say. She felt Gerard slip his hand over her thigh and squeeze a reassurance. Mazes...ugh...
"I don't know that we'll be dancing tonight," Gerard said.
"No dancing?" Cassie practically squealed, "You can't ditch early! Jeff's told me all about the clubs and we've got to try them."
"Cassie..."
"No, it's okay, Gerard. I'm sure some dancing will be fine," said Sarah with wane smile. Clapping her hands, Cassie leaned awkwardly over the table and grasped Sarah's shoulder surprising Sarah.
"You'll love it, trust me!"
"You're looking attractive, Cassie, new dress?" Gerard deliberately redirected the chat.
"Yeah, thanks, got it for tonight." Cassie smiled at her brother then spoke to Sarah. "You're outfit is stunning, too, Sarah."
"Thanks, Gerard said to dress sexy so..."
"Well, I'd say you're successful. You club often?"
"Oh, not really," she said shrugging, "In fact I haven't worn this in a few years."
"And I'm bloody chuffed that you're wearing it for me, luv," Gerard said nuzzling her ear and pulling her close to his side with one arm. Sarah blushed remembering his earlier reaction to her leather skirt and felt other parts of her warm up.
"So what do you do?" Cassie asked leaning her elbows on the table and staring intently at Sarah. Giving his sister a suspicious glance at her intensity, Gerard scowled but remained silent.
"For a living?"
"That and whatever else." Smiling graciously, Sarah spoke about herself for a few minutes until the weird fascination Gerard's sister held made her uncomfortable and Gerard, picking up on her anxiety, said:
"Where is our wait staff? I'm more than ready for a pint."
"Right, man, we've got our drinks but you guys need yours. I'll go take care of that." Jeff slipped from the booth to locate a waiter. Gerard, Sarah, and Cassie chatted inanely until Jeff returned with a waitress who took their drink orders and left food menus. The rest of dinner proceeded well enough. Upbeat but dense, Jeff spoke on odd and shallow topics while Cassie continually questioned Sarah causing Sarah's answers to become more restrained and circular. Gerard wondered at his sister's persistence and obvious frustration, and slipped an unobtrusively supportive hand to Sarah's under the table.
Once the meal wound down and the conversation cooled to a strained lull, Jeff suggested departing the restaurant for one of the rave dance clubs. In agreement all around, the men took care of the bills and then they were off to the upper floors.
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Jeff and Cassie walked several feet ahead of them as they exited the elevator, and the pounding music of the club masked Sarah's voice from them as she spoke to Gerard.
"Why the fifth degree from your sister?"
He bent down to her ear, his hand resting easily on the small of her back, "I'm not sure. I think she's just worried about me."
"Why?"
"My last relationship was with a woman who wasn't very good for me."
"Relationship?" She repeated; her tone of voice and arched brow implying her intrinsic question regarding their status. He smirked.
"Well, of course, luv, what else do you think we've been doing this week? What sort of man do you take me for?" Blushing fiercely Sarah had no reply, and Gerard leaned over, kissed her temple, and pulled her into his side as they entered the dance club. Snuggling close she wrapped an arm around his waist. Craziness of the night before and this morning forgotten, Sarah felt content for the first time in her entire life. Over the music of the club she faintly heard his heart beating under her ear and knew there was no other place she'd rather be than by this man's side.
A raging beast of modern techno: the music of the rave thrummed against Sarah's chest, the bass vibrating through her heeled shoes and upwards into her body making her skin tingle. As they stepped down into the sunken room, her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and revealed a packed room of people. Most wore chemical glow-in-dark necklaces and bracelets of all colors, and gyrated on the large dance floor. A long bar dominated one side; and around the corners of the room she noticed low walls creating the privacy nooks Jeff spoke of, and along the edges shadows of walls and curtained doors. Unconsciously she shivered, visions of oubliettes coming to her mind. Gerard gave her a concerned look but she shook her head negative and smiled until he smiled back.
"Drinks everybody? This round's on me," Jeff said loudly as the music volume increased by their proximity to the dance floor. Gerard requested a beer, Cassie and Sarah both asked for a fruity cocktail. "Got it, I'll be right back." Cassie said something to Jeff that neither Gerard nor Sarah could hear before he left. Then they wandered off to find an open table. It wasn't long before Sarah's love of music overcame her unease and she pulled Gerard onto the dance floor leaving Cassie to guard their small table.
Squeezing through the crowd pressed at the bar, Jeff waited his turn then placed his order. Before he left their group, Cassie whispered to him to make sure her drink was a virgin. Discouraged that Sarah answered her questions so vaguely during dinner, Cassie was determined to remain clear-headed while Gerard's girlfriend loosened her tongue. Well...Jeff decided he could help Cassie out a bit more without her knowing yet. The end result justifying the means in his opinion, Cassie would agree with his methods once Sarah Williams sang her secrets and he would reap the benefits of a grateful Cassie.
The critical moment arrived when the fruity Fuzzy Navels for the woman appeared. Having prepared it before hand, Jeff inconspicuously withdrew a small piece of folded paper from his pants' pocket and slipped the powdered contents (which originally had been a small pill of Ecstasy) into the alcoholic Fuzzy Navel, quickly stirring it with a straw until the powder dissolved completely. The bar was so crowded with patrons eager to drink or continue drinking, no one bothered to pay attention to his actions. Certain of his success, he carefully collected all four drinks in his hands and weaved his way through the partying crowd finding Cassie at a table. He handed Cassie her virgin drink and set Gerard's beer and Sarah's altered drink aside before waving them over from the dance floor.
"Whoa, I haven't been to a rave in years! This is a sweet club, Jeff," Sarah announced loudly after she and Gerard returned to the table. Jeff pointed to her cocktail. They all continued to speak in raised voices to be heard over the dance music.
"Thanks, I got both you ladies Fuzzy Navels. Hope you like peach schnapps, Sarah."
"Oh...um...peach is fine." She smiled politely and sipped her drink. Peach...could the associations get any weirder?
"Oh, wow, total '80's flashback, Jeff?"
"Whatever, Cassie, you said something fruity. This was all I could think of. You order next time."
Taking a long pull from his beer, Gerard tipped his head at Jeff. "Thanks for the pint, Jeff, I'll get the next round," Gerard said ignoring his sister's complaint.
"Sure thing, Jer." Jeff and Cassie both drank then he took Cassie's hand, "How 'bout some dancing?"
"Okay." She grinned, took another swig of her cocktail before allowing Jeff to steer her onto the packed dance floor. Watching them leave, Sarah took a larger gulp and grimaced.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't know, but this is the strangest tasting Fuzzy Navel I've ever had." She drank again, grimaced again.
"Here let me try." He sipped then drank deeper, "Hmm...that's odd."
"I know..."
"Not really bad, just...different..."
"A weird aftertaste."
"Yeah...let me try Cassie's," Gerard snuck a sip of his sister's drink and immediately noticed that it was non-alcoholic. "Oh, well, there's a difference. Cassie ordered her's virgin."
"Really? Then I guess that's why it tastes different."
"Very much so."
"Oh well...I don't want to insult him, but I can't drink this." Sarah spied Cassie and Jeff walking back to the table.
"Allow me, luv." He knocked back the last two-thirds of Sarah's drink in one gulp not pausing to taste it then grinned and waggled his eyebrows. Sarah faked swooned.
"Jer, my hero."
"Always there for you, and you can blame that ability on my dissolute youth at university." He leaned down to kiss her and she met him halfway.
"Wow, you were really thirsty."
"Yep thanks, Jeff." Sarah answered with a smile not quite understanding why Jeff's return smile appeared so...satisfied.
"I believe it's time to really dance, Sarah," said Gerard not at all liking the odd look Jeff gave her. He grasped her hand and, desiring privacy from Cassie and Jeff, led her to the far side of the dance floor nearest a maze wall.
"Hey, Jer," Cassie called out as they left, but Jeff pulled her towards him.
"Let'em go, Cass."
"What? Why?"
"Just trust me on this. In about a half an hour you'll be able to get Sarah to answer any question you want."
"Jeff, what'd you do?" She asked torn between being appalled at his possible actions and jealous that dull Jeff outwitted them all.
"I'll tell you in a bit, once she starts singing." Grinning, he leaned both elbows on the pub table. Cassie stared at him uncertain who this man was standing next to her, and equally unsure how she felt about it, but she didn't follow her brother either.
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Sarah gave herself over to the pulse of the fast paced techo music as her body swayed in time with Gerard's. Facing each other, they wove their legs alternating and ground their pelvis together. Neither spoke, words were unnecessary; they communicated by touch, her arms around his neck and his hands gripping her hips. Faces burrowing into necks while mouths explored skin.
At some point someone handed them extra glow necklaces and they laughed while they draped each other with the neon jewelry. The effect was surreal and made their faces reflect the garish light in dark hollows and neon peaks. Then Gerard spun her around so that her back was flush against his chest, and their public sexual dance continued as other couples only feet away mimicked them.
Everything was dancing... It made her think of a modern Roman orgy without the nudity, except she noticed in the glowy dark, there were a few couples taking the dance farther. She and Gerard danced at the far edge with a wall blocking their one side. It gave them a sense of privacy. In the flashes of the overhead strobes and the bouncing glow jewelry, Sarah's vision grew blurry at the edges. She thought how similar this felt to her bubble dream in the labyrinth, but no fear existed this time.
She was getting warmer and not just because of dancing. She felt perspiration roll down her lower back, and Gerard's hands firmly grasping at her torso as he pressed his prominent erection to her backside. Her head felt too heavy; she allowed it to fall back to his shoulder, and he peppered her stretched neck with kisses and murmured something. Blindly, Sarah thrust her hands back to clasp his hips and buttocks, holding him close as she writhed.
So warm, so
hot...her skin felt ultra sensitive, and she wanted nothing more than for him to touch her. So when his hands cupped her breasts through her thin top and pinched her nipples she moaned into his ear. His own response was a strangled 'bloody fucking hell' then his hands quickly sank to the edge of her leather skirt, and shoved it up until his fingers met the damp curls of her Mons. She could tell how desperate his fingers were as they move around her throng and spread her open to tease and tantalize her. Any power of speech fled as she squirmed harder, pushing herself against his hands. Some part of her brain marveled at their wanton behavior (this wasn't really her). Even in the dark of the club she was displayed for nearly anyone to see as he conspicuously fondled her, but no one seemed to care, in fact others were doing worse as far as she could tell. And then his voice cut ruthlessly in her ear:
"I want you, right bloody now, Sarah. I need to shag you right here and I don't fucking care who sees us." All she could do was nod against his neck and chest because his fingers felt so fucking good inside of her and for some reason she couldn't stop, wouldn't have been able to stop.
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Nothing compared to the heady sensation of Sarah's backside pressed firmly to him as he grinded and held her. The small amount of alcohol he ingested going straight to his head, Gerard felt light-headed and free of the few inhibitions he did possess. His Sarah smelled delicious, and felt like a dream make to fit his hands, and as the heat in the room increased all he could focus on was the desire to bury his cock inside of her again...and again.
Then her head collapsed to his shoulder; she lie draped on him, awaiting like a buffet, and his hands went to work. Caressing, pinching, and fondling whatever in reach before he remembered the skirt. The bleeding fuckable leather skirt was his ending. Gerard spared a moment to check their dancing neighbors, who appeared as entranced with their own public displays of inappropriate behavior that they had little enough time to care about them. The thought of the skirt made him harder, he heard Sarah moan and he lost control. His evil hands took over, worked her skirt upwards exposing her, and delicately molested her. She loved it; he could tell she relished every flick and plunge because she practically climbed him backwards. Oh dear God, he couldn't control himself. His head spun, his vision blurred, his heart raced, his skin felt tight, and he was so fucking hot and horny. He'd never experienced lust this consuming. He had to have her now, he couldn't possibly wait else he might explode. What if...
"I want you, right bloody now, Sarah. I need to shag you right here and I don't fucking care who sees us." And when she nodded, and he swore he heard a whimper at the end, he thought he'd died because only heaven (or hell) granted such fantasies. This woman was his match in every way and he knew, at that moment, he never wanted to be apart from her.
Before either of them could think of the consequences, Gerard unzipped his fly and with Sarah's help moved the rear of her skirt up completely exposing her bottom. The front of her skirt looked hiked up but partially draped to cover just enough as she leaned forward slightly. In the dark, exploring by touch only, he rubbed himself against her bare backside and Sarah's hands reached around to grip and guide him.
With one last perfunctory glance at their neighbors a few feet away—one guy gave him a thumbs up which he ignored— Gerard caressed her cheeks, slid the thong aside, and fingered Sarah's moisten canal before slipping the engorged head of his member inside.
God...so hot and tight... Because of the music he couldn't hear her deep moan, but he felt her body jerk as she push back, impaling herself upon him. It was an awkward position and he was unable to seat himself fully, but being inside of her was worth any muscle cramp he suffered later. Grasping her hips, he helped move and balance as she thrust to his counterpoint.
The dance floor receded and smudged around them as their bodies became their entire world, a microcosm of combined experience. The drug completely taking over their perceptions, nothing existed outside of the bubble of their atmosphere. Every plunge and thrust a new blinding line between pleasure and pain for them both as their nerves sizzled with sensitivity. Oblivious to her surroundings and uncaring who saw how evident her position, Sarah bent forward until her hands touched the floor allowing Gerard to reach greater depths. White light blossomed within her closed eyes, and a sudden, ripping orgasm crested. She cried out, shuddered, and clenched around him.
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Once Sarah bent over and he thrust fully into her, Gerard felt himself reach Nirvana. Everything unconnected with them dropped away. The world finally made sense. All the secrets of life laid themselves bare. For the fleetest of seconds he perceived the complexity of destiny, fate, and free will before his climax shattered his consciousness. With a short, guttural shout, he collapsed, bringing them both to the floor. Immediately afterwards Sarah scrambled from underneath Gerard, adjusted her skirt, rolled him over, and zipped his pants before noticing he was awake and staring at her.
"Holy shit, are you alright?" She asked almost yelling to be heard over the music as she helped him sit up with his back to the wall.
"Fine, brilliant, you?" He grinned like an idiot. A few dancers moved in their direction but he waved them off.
"Sort of, I guess. Wow..." Her head felt funny, her heart raced, and her vision was still blurry. After effects of mind-blowing public sex perhaps? She giggled like she was five and he still had a goofy grin. What had they done? Why didn't she care?
"Dance?" He shouted and mimed getting up with a silly hand flourish.
Seriously? But she felt great, better than great,
spectacular! "Okay!" She said nodding stupidly and helped him stand. He seemed woozy and off balance so she put her arm around his waist, not that she wasn't light-headed and dizzy, too, but he seemed worse. They stumbled and weaved towards the middle of the dance floor, accidentally bumping into people and breaking apart dazed couples en route. Childish giggles erupted between them which upset some dancers and made others giggle with them.
Once they decided upon their favored dancing location, Gerard found that his legs didn't want to work properly so he leaned on Sarah. Their dancing became more of a shuffling, junior high, two-step which neither minded as they preferred snuggling close in their afterglow. Lazily, Gerard lifted his head from where it rested on Sarah's and scanned the dance floor. He blinked. A short distance away, a women with purple eyes stared at him keenly; she stood still while those around her danced. He blinked again and she disappeared.
Everything was moving too fast then too slow, in fits and starts, like someone kept messing with the speed. The glowing jewelry and strobes were long streaks of multi-colored light, impossible to focus upon. He blinked a third time, in slow motion. The DJ added more bass to the music and he could feel the individual vibrations travel over his skin and through his body. Sound moved through molasses in the air then became high-pitched and ringing. He looked at Sarah. Gone was the black leather replaced with a frothy white confection dress. She smiled; her eyes appeared dreamy and relaxed.
Wasn't there something vital he was supposed to remember? Something important revealed to him moments ago? A truth about himself which changed everything...would change everything. Glancing around, he concentrated on the other revelers. The dancers closest to them twisted, mutated: their faces becoming parodies of human visages, like horrid monster masks. Leering...they were all leering and laughing at him! They knew! They all knew what he had forgotten!
"No! Get away from me!" He shouted and jerked from Sarah's relaxed embrace, surprising her. Her stunned eyes gawked at him through the darkness. "Get away! You can't have my head! You're not allowed! He said it was forbidden!" He shoved her and she stumbled, dazed.
"Jer? Gerard, what's wrong?"
"It's not yours anymore, not yours! Get away!" He shouted at her then his eyes rolled back and he crumpled face first to the floor, seizing. His entire body spasming painfully. The side of his head beat against the wood tiles as he flopped. Foamed spittle flecked with blood flew from his clenched jaw and grimacing lips. His consciousness fled as each and every major muscle in his body, except his heart, cramped and contractured at once.
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Jer! Oh my God!" Through her own haze, Sarah flung herself next to the Gerard before screaming over the music as she grabbed the clothing of someone nearest, "
Call 911!"
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A/N: I certainly hope no tongues were injured in the process of reading this chapter. That means you Moira! LOL *happy dance* I'm ectatic that I'm keeping you off balance! This fic is long and just when you think you know what's happening...it isn't what you think at all! I've deliberately written in a lot of nuances in every chapter. This is a very layer story! Enjoy!
