by Katie Dowe
“This is perfect!”
“I knew you’d like it.”
He brought them both wrist bracelets before they disappeared into the throng of people. They took turns playing arcade games. Battled against each other at the basketball hoops. They even played a few games of laser tag that turned intense quick.
Kenzie’s competitive nature kicked in as they ran around the darkened room. She’d already taken out a few people, but she knew that Gianni was still around, lurking. She never realized how quiet the man was until he snuck up behind her and shot her in the back. The vest lit up brightly. She placed her hands on her hips.
“How do you keep doing that?”
“I’ve got skills,” he said with a grin.
Kenzie had to admit she felt even safer with him on her team now. The man was quiet, quick. She liked that. When they were too tired to run around anymore, they settled in at a table. They ordered a pizza, splitting the toppings when they couldn’t decide. Gianni cringed as she took a bite.
“Seriously? Anchovies? Why not just stick a big, dead fish in the middle of the slice?”
Kenzie stuck out her tongue. “It’s delicious. At least I didn’t ruin mine with fruit.”
They teased each other as they ate until their plates were cleared. They both ordered beer, but drank it slowly as they talked. The more they sat there, the more Gianni seemed to open up. She got to hear all about his family, the crazy things they’d do just for fun. Games that they’d made up that were completely fictional. Kenzie loved every story he told about his family, but it made her miss her parents.
“So, you have brothers and sisters?” She asked.
“Six. I’m the oldest of them all. What about you?”
Kenzie shook her head. “Nope. My parents had me, decided I was more than enough to handle by myself. I do wish I’d grown up with a sister though. I mean they borrow each other’s clothes, talk about relationships, hang out together when one of them is sad. Cassie used to be like that to me for a long time.”
“What happened?”
Kenzie shrugged as she took a sip. “I don’t know. She started modeling, I started singing. We both got really busy. Even before whatever that was that happened the other day, she changed. She’s not the same anymore.” She paused. “That’s not really fair though. I’m not the same person anymore either.”
“You’ve been through a lot,” Gianni said simply.
Kenzie was happy that Gianni didn’t elaborate. Didn’t offer her the pity party that most did. He stated the facts as they were, facts. Although there was kindness in his voice when he did it, she didn’t feel like he was pitying her for what had happened. It was a refreshing change. His hand reached out, brushed over the back of hers. She smiled.
“Do you want to go see a movie?” Gianni asked.
She nodded. “Definitely. I haven’t been to the movies in a while.”
“Let’s go.”
He paid the check before leading her back outside, the sun making her squint her eyes after the dimness of the place. They didn’t go back to the car, instead they walked a short distance to the movie theater, hand in hand. They settled on a horror movie, something Kenzie only vaguely remembered having a lot of blood and guts in the previews. As they settled in with their popcorn, she rested her head on his shoulder.
When the movie started, she tried to watch with a straight face, but the more it played, the more she made grossed out noises with the rest of the audience. She snuggled into Gianni’s arm deeper. Some of it wasn’t so bad, but the parts with the knives. She shuddered. Gianni glanced down at her through one of the scenes. He must have seen the revulsion on her face. He grabbed her hand before pulling her from the movie theater. They read the titles above the doors before they settled for a romantic comedy that had just started.
Kenzie leaned over closer to Gianni’s ear. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Gianni grinned back at her, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t let go of her hand through the entire movie. When it was over, she had forgotten the beginnings of the anxiety attack that she had began to crawl its way into her belly. They walked out of the theater together and headed back to the car.
“I have one more place for us to go, but I have to make a stop first,” Gianni said.
That was fine with Kenzie. She was having the time of her life. The stress was gone, replaced with affection for the man who sat beside her as the car drove down street after street. He seemed to know where he was going through. They pulled into the parking lot of a small grocery store. When he hopped out, she tried to tag along, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Stay, relax. I’ll be right back,” he said before he kissed her and walked away.
“Sneaky,” she said with a smile. She knew that whatever he had in store next she would like just as much as she’d liked the last surprises.
She turned on the radio. As soon as she did, she heard her voice pouring from the speakers. It never ceased to surprise her to hear herself on the radio When the song was finished, the DJ went on about it being the number one hit. Kenzie clapped her hands over her mouth, too happy to bother stopping the little dance of happiness that she did.
When Gianni came back out of the store, she told him all about it. He hugged her so tightly that she thought he’d crush her bones. They pulled out as the song began to play on another station. Her voice filled the car as they drove, making both of them laugh.
The car pulled to a stop in a small parking lot of a park. There were a few cars around, but it was mainly empty. Gianni grabbed a bag before he took her hand, leading her down the paths until they reached a wide pond. They sat together on the bench, relaxing against the wood as they watched the ducks play in the pond. Gianni dug into his bag, pulled out a bottle of red wine along with two glasses.
“You are entirely too good at this,” she said to him.
“I know.”
She nudged him with her elbow, making him laugh. They sat close together, their bodies pressed together as they drank the glasses of wine. When the sun was almost gone from the sky, they headed back to the car. Their hands stayed together on the drive back, both of them relaxed as they watched the world slide by them. When they reached the house, they didn’t wait to slip each other out of their clothes. They made love with a passion that surpassed all of their previous endeavors. When it was over, they fell asleep in each other’s arms, happy and content.
*****
Their time became consumed with the upcoming concert until they barely had time to see each other. Kenzie didn’t sleep, she was more worried than ever before. The thought that it had all just been a fluke coursed through her brain.
The day of the concert, she dressed in her first outfit. A red and black dress with a black petticoat, tall black boots and gloves to match. Her hair had been dyed a bright red. As the makeup artist finished working on her, there was a knock on the door. Gianni walked in asking if he could talk to her, alone.
For a moment, worry creased her forehead. The look on his face was so serious that she sensed trouble. When everyone had left the room, she waited nervously for him to tell her what was wrong.
Without a word, he slipped out of his suit jacket. He tossed it over the back of her chair before he sunk to his knees. His hands gripped her legs, pushed them apart as he pressed his mouth against her panties. She let out a stifled moan.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m helping you relax. Be quiet and enjoy it.”
Gianni didn’t have to tell her twice. He pushed the fabric of her panties aside, slid his tongue over her waiting slit. The sensation made her grip his hair, her legs automatically moving to clench at the sensation. He moved his mouth away, ran his fingers over her pussy before he slipped a finger inside. Another followed the first. He crooked his fingers, ran them over her sensitive spot as she tried to bite her lip to keep the sound at bay.
Before she knew it, his fingers were thrusting
inside of her, filling her up, making her squirm. She found herself grinding against his thick fingers, needing to draw out as much sensation as she could. It was almost a desperate longing she had to feel him inside of her, but he wouldn’t give in to her request. Instead, he worked his fingers in and out of her, the mounting wetness coating his fingers.
Gianni leaned his head forward, wrapped his lips around the hardened nubbin of her clit. He sucked it into his mouth, let it go. His tongue circled it, lapped over it until she was grinding her pussy against his face, any sense of shyness long abandoned between them. She felt her thighs shaking in his strong hands, unable to control the trembling that rolled through her muscles.
The man brought her to the edge, then stopped. She cried out in frustration, the look of betrayal on her face made him smile. She glared back. Why was he doing this to her?
“Trust me,” he said as if he’d read her thoughts.
When the orgasm that she’d been longing for had subsided, he started in again. His fingers roamed over the insides of her thighs, teased the tender, sensitive flesh there. His lips traveled to the insides of her thighs, teeth grazing over her skin until she couldn’t keep glaring. She groaned, praying that this time he wouldn’t stop the release that she needed when it came.
Gianni’s mouth traveled from her inner thigh, his lips kissed her bare mound. He feathered kisses on her skin until he reached her clit again. He tongue gave one long, slow stroke before it moved on, diving inside of her to explore her wet depths. She felt his fingers trail along her leg until they too disappeared inside of her. This time, he’d added three fingers. The fullness was almost too much, but she loved the sensation of it so much that she gripped his wrist. She began to fuck herself on his fingers, the action so lewd that it turned her on even more.
He grinned as his tongue made the journey to her twitching clit once more. This time, he took it slow. His lips sucked on her labia, pulling the flesh in, making her gasp and moan before he released her once more. His tongue worked in greedy, needy circles as he made his way to her clit once more. She could feel that old sensation building up, the tightening of her stomach signaling what was to come.
As if he knew that she was at her peak, he began to thrust his fingers inside of her more deeply. He picked up speed as his fingers pumped in and out of her slit, making her throw her head back. Her fingers threaded into his hair. As if that weren’t torture enough, he was licking her clit fast, pushing against her spot over and over until she thought she would explode.
Her breathing hitched in her chest, the moans that had been flowing so easily began to get caught in her throat. She found herself pushing the top of the dress out of her way. Her lithe fingers kneaded her breasts, rolled her nipples until the combined sensation was too much to handle. She cried out as she felt the orgasm sweeping up on her. If the first one she had felt coming on was strong, this one was overpowering.
Kenzie’ throbbing pussy clenched around Gianni’s fingers as the pleasure flooded her body. A long, low moan escaped her lips as she felt the orgasm build up before it took over her body. She cried out, wrapped her legs around Gianni’s neck as he continued to lick at her clit. It didn’t stop with the first orgasm though. As the first barely subsided, another crashed over her making her stomach clench as she cried out. She was sure the people in the hall could hear her cries. She didn’t care.
As she rode out her pleasure, she panted. Finally, the sensation slipped away leaving only her heavy breathing and shaking legs. As Gianni came up for air, he kissed her deeply. The warmth of his mouth mingled with the taste of her. She moaned.
“Better?” He asked.
Kenzie grinned. “Much better.”
Chapter 9
The screaming of the crowd invigorated her. As soon as she stepped on stage, the screaming of the fans made her heart beat wildly. It felt like home. There was no fear as she sang and danced. Through every outfit change and makeup retouch, she stayed elated. After they opened, Ben stuck around. She could see him watching from the sides of the stage, Gianni standing next to him with arms clasped in front of his body.
The only thing that soured the night was the lack of Cassie. Kenzie had thought that by now they would have set aside their differences as they had so many times in the past, but Cassie never showed up. Despite that, Kenzie enjoyed her night. She figured that was something for her to deal with later.
As the concert finished, she waved to her fans. She stood there, admiring their smiling faces. There was nothing better than that image. When she walked off of the stage, Gianni followed behind her to the dressing room. Adrenaline still coursed through her body. She had promised both her band and Ben’s that they would go for drinks, celebrate the success of the night.
As soon as she entered her dressing room, it felt off. Kenzie stood in the doorway, the roaring sound of the crowds behind her, but she couldn’t hear anything. Sitting on the vanity table there was a pile of notes that she knew hadn’t been there before. Gianni swept into the room, calling for the assistance of the other guards as he did so.
Kenzie didn’t want to step foot inside of the room, but curiosity drew her forward. The letters were all sprawled in sloppy cursive. She didn’t dare touch the paper, afraid of what might happen if she did, but she tilted her head to try to make out the wording.
“...slit your throat.”
“....I’m coming for you.”
“....Not long now.”
It was the last one that really shook her though. “I’m watching you closely. See you soon.”
Gianni grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the letters and out of the room. Other guards rushed past her as they began to inspect the room. Kenzie felt her stomach pitch. She pressed a hand to it.
“He’s not going to leave me alone until I’m dead,” she whispered.
“It’s going to be okay, do you hear me? I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” Gianni said as he gripped her shoulders, made her look into his eyes. She nodded. The fear that she felt didn’t go away.
When the search of the room turned up nothing, Gianni led her out to the car waiting outside. He sped off, leaving the place behind in record time. She couldn’t help but to gaze back at it. It had been the perfect night, the chance to push the past behind her where it belonged, but instead she felt like a small child, lost.
When they reached the safety of the house, Gianni ran her a bath. Tried to get her to eat. Nothing gave her pleasure as she stared straight ahead, the thought that the man could be so close without anyone seeing him once again, unnerving. When she stepped out of the tub, Gianni dried her off before helping her into a night gown and into bed. As he pulled the blankets up over her, she gripped his hand.
“How did he get into my room? I thought you guys were watching.”
“They were watching. They said no one, except for the people who belonged there, came in or out.”
A terrible fear gripped Kenzie. She wondered if it was someone she knew. The only problem was that she couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to do something like that to her. Everyone she knew seemed genuine enough, sane enough. She shared her thoughts with Gianni.
“We’re checking out everyone. No one gets a pass, okay?”
Kenzie nodded, but she didn’t feel any better. Gianni picked up a glass of water from the nightstand before handing her one of her sleeping pills. She didn’t protest, but took it down quickly. There was one thing she knew, she didn’t want to think about the night anymore. As she lay against her pillow, Gianni didn’t leave her side. She dozed off with her hand in his.
If she had thought her dreams would give her some kind of comfort, she was wrong. Her dreams were plagued with images of the people she knew stabbing her in the stomach. Every time she tried to dream of something new, her mind went back to her fumbling, blood slicked fingers running over her stomach.
Kenzie bolted out of her sleep for the last time, sweat covering her forehead.
She wiped it away with her arm, drank deeply from the cup of water sitting beside the bed. When she pushed herself up on her elbows, she noticed that Gianni was gone. The thought sent her into a panic, before she heard his voice, muffled. She tiptoed to the door, cracked it open slightly before she pressed her ear to it. Gianni seemed to be yelling at someone for what had happened. She didn’t bother him, it was better if he could figure out what was going on as soon as possible. She tiptoed back to bed, slipped beneath the blankets and let her sleeping medicine carry her down into dreams once more.
*****
Kenzie woke up the next morning groggy. She dragged herself out of bed before she made her way to the bathroom. As she washed her face, she stared at herself in the mirror. She looked tired even to herself. Kenzie forced herself to do all of the things that she was used to; shower, dress, hair. It felt like she was moving through a fog the entire time.
The coffee pot was already full, set for Gianni’s usual 6 am. She filled a mug with some of the steaming, hot liquid before she carried it outside to the back porch. Kenzie pulled her legs under her as she gazed out at the trees ahead. It was a peaceful morning, but she still felt the stirrings of paranoia. Even as she examined the space before her, she felt as though eyes were watching her, burrowing into her skin. She shivered.
Kenzie felt a hand on her arm. She jumped. The white mug fell from her hands, the hot liquid narrowly missing her body as it crashed against the porch and broke. She felt her heart thudding against her chest as she looked up. Gianni was looking at her, concerned.
“Don’t do that right now! I’m already jumpy.”
“I’m sorry,” he said as he sat next to her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
As she calmed down, she sighed. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m just really jumpy today. I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s watching me.”
