Even though he had a baseball cap pulled down over his face and was hiding in the shadows of a ring of trees, Dorothy recognized Oscar.
She walked over to him and he looked up, putting the joint behind his back.
“It’s okay, Oscar. I can smell that for a mile. You’re not fooling me!”
“Hey, I’m just chillin’ you know. Just trying to relax, gotta get back at it tomorrow.”
“I’m in the same boat. I was just going to come watch them shoot a scene or two and then get home. I have to work tomorrow myself. At the store.”
“Working people... but don’t you make enough at the market to live?”
“I can survive on what I make reading for people, sure, however, I have to work at a regular job since we don’t have proper health care in this country. I need the insurance. Otherwise, I’d be quite content.”
Oscar held the joint out to her.
“Want some?” he asked. Dorothy looked at it and shrugged.
“Sure, why not? Now that it’s legal just about everywhere, we don’t have to worry about drug tests at work and all that anymore.”
“True,” Oscar said. “As long as we’re enjoying ourselves in our off hours, what difference does it make how we do it?”
Oscar stared at her. His eyes were big in the reflection from the set. Dorothy’s heart pounded. The fear that he had for her, the disdain he had shown her, his anger... all was gone. All that remained was a peaceful, blissful look. Dorothy wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t.
The birds sang around them, flitting from tree to tree, the squirrels hopped and played. The branches crackled under the weight of the animals. Spring was emerging slowly in the little woods. Dorothy and Oscar walked a little bit, but it was hard to go off the path too far because it was still so muddy from the winter. There were even clumps of hardened snow, ice, and other gunge that hadn’t yet thawed.
“Did you ever figure out the ghost?” asked Dorothy. “Are you still having trouble with it? Them?”
“Yes, I’m still having issues. I don’t know what to think about any of it. But I’m not as freaked out as I was a few days ago.”
“Why don’t I come by again tonight... check it out?”
“No, there’s no point.”
“Are you worried that we’ll get more than we bargained for?”
“No, it’s not that... well, maybe it is.”
“We could stop by my place and I can grab some supplies. We can at least smudge a few of them out for a day or two.”
Oscar laughed.
“You might think I’m crazy, but I did actually try that a few times now. It’s been over a week.”
“Has it worked?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Oscar confessed. “When I go to bed, I wear one of those sleep masks so that I don’t have to see anything until morning.”
“That’s a great idea. Have you done anything else besides smudging?”
“Not really. I thought about getting some crystals or something. Maybe a big chunk of quartz.”
“Are you a witch?” Dorothy asked raising her eyebrow.
“No,” Oscar laughed. “But I know stuff, especially considering the show I’m on. I’ve picked up a few tricks here and there.”
“There’s a lot of interesting lore on your show, that’s true!” Dorothy said.
The sun was bright orange through the trees, rays reaching and reflecting. The hubbub of the film crew setting up was audible, cars and trucks roared and shifted around, the crane was cranking, flies flapped around as they were being erected. A glimpse of the team was visible through the bare trees.
“Let’s go back towards town. Do you want to go for a coffee before we go to that creepy old room?”
“Don’t have to ask me twice!” Dorothy smiled.
A short while later they were eating blueberry crumble and drinking double lattes. They laughed easily at each other’s jokes, the seriousness of the past few days had somehow melted away like the snow.
Dorothy reached out her hand to touch Oscar’s. Visible sparks sprang from their fingers. Dorothy recoiled.
“Whoah!” Oscar laughed. “Electrifying!”
Dorothy rubbed her hand and looked at it and then at his.
“Something’s up,” Dorothy said.
“What do you mean by that? It was just a shock, it happens all the time to people, even regular people who aren’t witches and actors.”
“I know what you’re saying but something is off... hmmm,” Dorothy said. “Don’t worry, it’s not me. It’s whatever’s happening, just like when you thought you saw me turn into that creature. I guess I’d better be careful if I want to touch you or hold your hand...”
Oscar took her hand. This time there were no sparks.
“Don’t worry, Dorothy.” He cupped his hands around hers. His hands were warm. Dorothy stared at his fingers, strong, forceful fingers that she’d watched do horrendous things on the show as well as deliciously sexy things. She wondered how they would feel roaming along her body. She looked from his hands to his face. He stared back at her with wide eyes.
“You’ve made my job so much more interesting since I’ve met you,” he said, pulling her hand closer to him.
Dorothy blushed.
Oscar took her hand and pressed it to his lips. His touch was warm and soft. She giggled.
Oh my god, I’m acting like a teenager. But boy, he’s cute!
He stared at her with an intensity she recognized from his television series and had always yearned to direct toward her. And now, here was that moment, here was that man.
This time I’m not going to do anything stupid.
After they finished their coffee and crumble, Dorothy led Oscar back to her house.
* * *
The plants had taken over the living room. They were crawling before her eyes as she opened the door. The rustling of the leaves was loud, and the smell, the most beautiful smell she’d ever smelled, was overpowering. She walked into the room, entwining herself into the touch and perfume of the plants.
Oscar stood in the doorway; his face frozen with surprise as he watched the vines encompass every area of the room from floor to ceiling.
“Oscar, you must come and try this,” Dorothy coaxed as she was enveloped by vines and peanut pods and melon bits.
“Dorothy, what is this? Why didn’t you warn me?”
“Mmm, Oscar, breathe that wonderful perfume, can you smell it?”
Oscar nodded, the fear on his face softening.
“Come with me... come with me...” Dorothy beckoned. “Come smell the plant, come and taste the plant...”
One of the melon bits burst at her touch and it splattered across her. She licked the jelly from her fingers and then her arms.
As Oscar watched her, he was tugged further into the room by tendrils wrapping around his ankles, and then his hands, pulling him towards Dorothy.
Thick ropey vines closed the front door.
“Try this,” Dorothy put her juicy fingers into his mouth.
“Mmmm, that’s delicious. What is it?” He asked, still awed by the plants rustling around, roping themselves throughout the room and around Oscar and Dorothy’s limbs.
“I don’t know what it’s called. I’ve never had this before either...” Dorothy said. “The plants grew a lot while I was gone. Like, a lot!”
“What are they doing? What are we supposed to be doing?” Oscar said.
“I think we should just enjoy ourselves,” Dorothy said.
“I think you’re right,” Oscar said. They looked at each other and then, they kissed.
One kiss led to more. The plants wound around them as they kissed, hungry for each other, entranced by the strange perfume. Their hands roamed across each other’s bodies. Dorothy stroked his back, broad, firm, it felt as magnificent as she had dreamed it would when she watched all of those episodes of him in his underwear.
His hands explored her back, her breasts, her butt. She leaned into him with a moan.
>
The room was thick with the plant’s fragrance, each mouthful bringing new joy and pleasure. She gulped it down in-between kisses, her tongue entwining with Oscar’s.
“Oscar...” she pulled back from him. “Do you want to go to the bedroom?”
Oscar nodded, his lips locking on hers once more. They kissed all the way to the bedroom, the plants pushing and pulling them, undulating and growing thicker and longer still, wrapping the room once more, as vines hung from the ceiling and wrapped around the lamp.
Dorothy pulled Oscar through her bedroom door. She unwrapped the plants first from Oscar, then from herself. She patiently peeled each leaf back, some were quite stubborn, and others were bursting with melons that were making a mess. At last, the plants were pushed back outside of the door.
Inside the bedroom, there were no plants to distract them.
Oscar pulled Dorothy to him and tilted her head up, kissing her. He licked peanut pod juice from her forehead.
“Is that a bathroom?” he asked, indicating the door.
“Yes, it is. Please, help yourself.”
“I was thinking a shower might be nice... a hot steamy shower!” he kissed her neck. She shivered with delight.
“A shower sounds like just the thing,” she answered. “Definitely.”
Oscar went into the bathroom.
“Hey,” he shouted.
“What is it?” she asked, going towards the open bathroom door.
“Are we alone here?” he asked.
“We should be,” Dorothy said. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“I thought I saw... never mind, my brain just being silly again. Don’t worry about it.”
Oscar turned on the faucets and soon the room swelled with steam.
“That’ll cut the chill of the day,” Dorothy said as he helped her remove her clothes. He slowly slid one bra strap down, kissing her on the shoulder. She could barely contain herself as he kissed his way down her shoulders and then nuzzled her now-naked breasts.
He pulled her panties down, kissing her belly and then her thighs.
She stepped out of them and then she removed the rest of his clothes. His erection was growing beneath his underwear. She firmly rubbed him on the outside of his underwear until he grew larger. Then she slowly pulled down his underwear. He carefully stepped out and she looked at his cock. Her breath hitched as she looked him over. He was even more handsome, firmer in every way than she’d ever dreamed. And here he was, in her bathroom. She gazed up at his face, his strong jaw and penetrating eyes. He held out his hand.
“Stand up, Madame. Let’s go into the shower,” he said. She stood up, holding onto the side of the tub for a moment as the world swam before her eyes. She was dizzy, with lust, with longing, with the intense emotions the plants inspired within her. So much was happening at once, it was overwhelming.
Shouldn’t I be worrying about the plants right now, not getting laid?
Dorothy stepped into the bathtub and Oscar stepped in carefully behind her, pulling the shower curtain around the circular tub. The steam filled her lungs, and the moisture calmed her. Oscar adjusted the water temperature and then turned back to her. He tilted her head up to his and kissed her long and hard.
She eagerly kissed him back, standing on her toes, locking her arms around his neck, the smoothness of their naked skin gliding and sliding together under the shower.
She put her hand up.
“Just a sec,” she said. She drew the shower curtain back and carefully stepped out of the tub. She went over to the cupboard and brought back washcloths and two types of body wash. She handed him the washcloths and then held up the body wash.
“Which do you prefer, something fruity or something musky?” she asked.
“Musky, mmmm,” Oscar said. Dorothy put the fruity one on the counter and brought the other gel into the shower with them.
“Let me have one of those,” she whispered into his ear. She took a washcloth and put gel on it. Then she did the same with the washcloth he held. They lathered each other up from head to toe. Slowly, and carefully, they made musky bubbles. They rinsed each other off with the handheld attachment. Dorothy found them both towels and they went into the bedroom, laughing and kissing the whole way.
They fell onto the bed, kissing and rolling around in the towels. As the towels fell away, they explored each other’s bodies.
Oscar’s hands fondled her breasts, teasing her nipples. He sucked and pulled on them while she stroked his hair.
Dorothy reached across the bed to her nightstand and pulled open the drawer. She deftly withdrew a condom and passed it to Oscar, who swiftly tore open the package. In an instant his cock was covered and for the briefest of moments Dorothy chuckled to herself that his speed made the action seem almost like magic.
Oscar then crawled down the bed and spread her legs. His strong fingers stroked her pussy, first lightly on the outside, then with forceful strokes against her clit, and into her vagina. Dorothy squirmed against his hand, her juices flowing.
Oscar lowered his face until his tongue was licking her clit. Dorothy spread her legs wider, enjoying fingers in her pussy, tongue on her clit. She moved her pelvis against him, spurring him on.
“Oh, that’s so good. Oh... mmmm.” Dorothy sighed. She rocked her pelvis as his strokes grew faster and deeper. Before long, she cried out.
“I’m coming.” She moaned as she quivered and thrust against his hand and face.
Before she had a chance to catch her breath, Oscar was inside of her, filling her up with his cock.
“You’re so big,” she sighed. “Oh, fuck me, Oscar. Please fuck me.”
Oscar made slow deep strokes as Dorothy rubbed his back. His muscles tensed beneath her fingertips as he plunged deep inside of her, pinning her to the mattress.
“Oh, god!” she moaned, biting his shoulder. “You’re amazing.”
“Your pussy is so tight, so warm, I could stay inside of you forever,” Oscar said as he slowly pulled in and out of her.
Before long, his strokes grew faster. His breath was hot in her ear, and she ran her hands up his back, pulling on his hair. Her hips raised up to meet him. They fucked, slowly and then quickly, changing rhythms, rolling on the bed. First, he was on top, and then she was. Finally, Oscar was back on top again, fucking fast and furious.
“Yes!” Dorothy cried out. “Yes, I’m coming... Fuck me!”
Oscar kept fucking her as she came, her climax making her body tremble while he continued plunging in and out.
“I’m coming,” Oscar cried. “Oh, I’m coming.”
Oscar’s buttocks clenched beneath Dorothy’s fingers and she pulled him deep inside of her as he convulsed with orgasm.
Dorothy lay panting, her body quivering with the warm glow of pleasure. She looked over at Oscar who also was grinning and panting.
“You’re wonderful,” Dorothy said. “You really know how to please a woman.”
She rolled over to plant kisses along his glistening chest and cheeks.
“And you know how to please a man,” Oscar said with a wink. “Wow, that was great.”
“Are you thirsty? I’m thirsty. I might have some beer or wine or water.”
“A big glass of water seems about right for now!” Oscar smiled. “Whew.”
“Me too!” Dorothy said. She rolled towards the edge of the bed and stood up. She looked at Oscar.
Oscar Dominion is lying naked in my bed. I just fucked Oscar Dominion. My mind is going to explode. Just be cool, be cool, be cool, as the song says.
“I’ll come with you,” Oscar said. “It’s a jungle out there.”
Dorothy found them some clean towels which they wrapped around themselves, and used one of the washcloths from the shower to roll the condom off of Oscar’s still swollen cock. Dorothy braced herself as she opened the door expecting a wall of foliage to smack her in the face.
To her surprise, the living room was empty of any plants at all. Not one stem. Not one leaf.
And there was a rank odor in the air.
“What the... .?” Dorothy said.
Oscar stared; his mouth opened wide in disbelief.
“Where did they go?” he asked. Even the enchanting smell was gone, replaced by a lingering undertone of rot.
“I... I... don’t know...” Dorothy said. Her heart began to pound wildly. Did the plants wander off? Was she going to get in trouble with Lucy? What if the plants went somewhere and caused trouble? Could they cause trouble?
Dorothy rushed into the kitchen. The plants were gone from there as well. Not one stalk or leaf, just spatterings of dirt and empty jars of all sizes half-filled with water.
The smell was strong, fishy, like low tide.
“Strange...” she said as she went to the fridge to get them some drinks. As she poured them each a glass of water to start, she noticed thick globs of slime spread along the floor.
“Was that there before?” Oscar asked just as Dorothy noticed puddles of wet leading towards the door. She opened the door, looking quickly for anyone or anything. There were no plants, no leaves, no stalks. No ONE. Just a few puddles of sludge here and there.
“What happened? Is this what happens in Hermana?” he asked.
“I think they were stolen,” Dorothy said.
“Stolen? How could someone come in and steal that jungle without us hearing a thing?”
Dorothy blushed.
“I’m not sure I noticed anything but you...” she said, turning to kiss him. He kissed her back, stroking her hair.
“Now, you’re distracting me,” Oscar said. “What are you hiding, beautiful lady? A demon? A ghoul?”
Dorothy laughed.
“I’m not quite sure yet,” she said. “But I have a hunch. Here, come with me.”
She thrust a fresh glass of water into his hand and then wrapped her fingers around his other hand as she led him into the parlor.
“Have a seat,” she indicated to one of the chairs in front of one of the larger crystal balls. She lifted the protective velvet from it and laid it carefully on one of the side tables. He looked at her. She grinned.
“Oh, here, let me get you something to put down,” she said. She went over to a little cupboard and took out two green and gold pashminas. She handed one to Oscar.
Taurus: A Hearse of a Different Color Page 17
