Masque

You're Invited Saturday night, I'm having a party and I want You to come Costume's the Fashion I've rented 'The Mansion' Come join me and let’s have some Fun

"Ugh!" I groaned, shaking my head. "Renea…you and your corny poetry."

"I know. It’s bad,” she replied with a laugh, “but you won't want to miss this. There are going to be a ton of people there. Almost everyone invited has RSVP-ed to attend." Renea worked for a well-known record company. I've never quite understood exactly what it is she does there. What I do know, is that she actually knows a lot of the artists who are signed to the label.

"Like who?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Renea gave me a sly smile. "You'll just have to show up to find out."

I can't believe I let her talk me into this, I thought as I walked into The Mansion. I handed my invitation to the man at the door.

"ID?" he asked me.

"Where would I put it in this get up?" The man smirked at me. I pulled my license out of a small pocket I had sewn inside my bolero jacket. I unhooked the veil as I handed it over, so he could see my face and tell I wasn't trying to 'crash the scene.'

Once inside, I hunted around for Renea. I found her, dressed as Tinker Belle, standing near the bar. She was talking to a man who was dressed as 'The Phantom' -- Black tux with tails, white vest and tie, and a red satin lined, black opera cloak. The man was tall. His dirty blond hair hung just past his shoulders. For some unexplainable reason, I felt that I knew who he was, even though his mask concealed most of his face.

I hung back, waiting for them to finish their conversation. Renea saw me, and was soon standing by my side. "Your Nazi doorman almost didn't let me in," I told her in a sarcastic tone.

She rolled her eyes. "Sorry about that. He was the company's idea. They insisted on having some form of security."

"Well," I said, "I still say the man needs to have the rod taken out of his ass."

Renea turned me around as she inspected my guise. "You look great, hun! I Love the outfit!"

"Thanks," I grinned. "Being a costume designer does come in handy from time to time."

Renea laughed. "I guess it does." She put an arm around my shoulders. "C'mon. I'll buy you a drink and introduce you around."

I met several of Renea's co-workers, and a few of the musicians who were there. It was a little hard telling some of them apart. The costumes everyone wore were all so elaborate.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I looked around. No one was overtly staring at me. I turned back to the conversation Renea was having with a guy dressed as Peter Pan. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get another drink."

"Vodka tonic," I told the man behind the bar.

"You're a genie, hmm?" I jumped at the sound of a male voice. I turned to see who was behind me. The man I had seen with Renea earlier was standing before me. The Phantom smiled. "Do you grant wishes?"

I've heard better pick-up lines before. I stood there, staring at him for a moment. "Do I know you?"

"Would you like to know me?" He was English. There was no mistaking that accent.

I took my drink from the bartender. "I have to get back to my friends," I smiled and turned away from him. I started to walk off when he touched my arm.

"At least tell me your name."

I shot him a grin that was just as cocky as the one he'd given me earlier. "Genie," I replied, walking off into the crowd.

I knew who was watching me now. I could feel his eyes on me, like fingers on my skin. Whenever I'd dare to peek, he would quickly look away.

"Flirting with someone?" Renea asked. I shook myself out of the daze and blankly looked at her. She smiled. "Go over and talk to the guy. You don't have to stay latched to me all night."

I shook my head. "It's just a guy who tried to hit on me earlier. He's been watching me all night."

Her eyes glittered. "Even better!"

"Renea!" I gave her a slight shove.

"Well, I've got to start the game, before this group gets too drunk to participate." I gave her a questioning glance. "Don't worry, this is going to be fun."

Renea took off toward the staircase, followed by Peter Pan. Halfway up the case, she addressed the partygoers. "Everyone, if you'd please..." She waited for it to quiet down. "Since we've got the use of this whole estate, a few of us got together today and arranged a scavenger hunt. Anyone who wants to play will draw numbers, and pair off. You will each receive a list of twelve things to find that have been hidden, either in the house, or outside on the grounds."

A low buzz rumbled through the crowd. I was surprised. I would never have dreamed of sending a bunch a rock musicians on a scavenger hunt, let alone think that they'd actually like the idea. I guess it was all the alcohol they had consumed.

I drew my number from the hat -- 16. As I waited for the others to get theirs, I looked around to see who I might end up with. Renea called number one. Two people walked up, and she gave them a list. Fifteen pairs before me. Sixteen, my turn. I couldn't believe who walked up beside me.

"We meet again, Genie."

My eyes begged Renea to let me switch with another partner. She handed me the list and winked. "Good luck, you two."

"Well… let's see what we have to find here, shall we?" he smiled as he pried the paper from my hand. "Most of this looks easy. What do you say we start outside, since everyone else is checking around the house first?"

I was only half listening to what he was saying. "Sure," I mumbled before he took my hand and dragged me outside.

It seemed like we walked around for hours. It was late, and the night air held the chill of early fall. I rubbed my arms and prayed my teeth didn't chatter too loudly. The Phantom looked down at me. "Cold?"

"No, I just like to pretend I'm freezing to death," I shot at him before I could stop. It's my pet peeve, being asked stupid questions. It drives me insane.

He stopped and looked at me a moment. "I guess that was pretty silly of me to ask. You're hardly dressed in that costume." He removed his cape and wrapped it around my shoulders. I clutched it to me, thankful for the little bit of warmth it provided. "Better?"

"A little," I smiled up at him. "I would have to have chosen this costume when its like, fifty degrees out."

"I like it. Did you choose it because of your name?"

I nodded. "Genie is my nickname. It was Renea's idea for me to dress up as one. I couldn't come up with anything else I liked," I explained. I rubbed my arms under the cloak as the wind picked up. The first mist of rain began to fall. "Great! Just what I need. I'll be soaked and cold."

He looked back toward the house. "I didn't think we'd gone that far," he said, seeing the lights as tiny specks in the distance. "These grounds must be huge."

"They are," I answered him. "I used to work here, and I've walked the whole thing. They go on for acres."

The rain was coming down harder now. "We're not going to make it back there in this." He searched for somewhere to take shelter. "What's that?" he pointed to a small building about a hundred yards off.

"The caretaker's hut." He took my hand and we headed for it.

Inside, I pulled the cord on the light so we could see. I dug through the firebox and found a couple of pieces of wood for the hearth. "It's not much, but at least we won't freeze," I said as I lit the fire.

"You do know your way around here," he said. He shook the water from his hair, while I wrung out my ponytail. I noticed him watching me as I did this. "Is that all yours?"

"This?" I flicked the ends of my hair at him. "Some of it is, some of it isn't." He raised his eyebrow at me. "I've had extensions put in it. It's about a foot longer than my real hair, now."

He took the band I had my hair rigged up in, and removed it. My hair now fell loose over my shoulders and down my back. "Jesus, girl, it hangs down past your ass."

I smiled at his remark. "I know." I ran my fingers through my hair, rubbing that 'pulled up' feeling from my scalp. "Pulling it up like that makes it look shorter. I wanted to appear really long." I suddenly felt his hand cupping the back of my neck. I looked up at him. "What are you..."

He kissed me, his mouth warm against my own. He tugged at my lower lip with his teeth, as if begging me to open up for him. I consented, parting my lips to welcome his tongue with mine. His arms enveloped me. I slipped my hands around his neck, threading my fingers into his hair. I pulled back slightly and looked into his pale eyes. "What is it you want from me?" I whispered.

Gentle fingers brushed over my face. "Whatever you want to give me." I shut my eyes against his butterfly's touch. Every nerve in my body was on a heightened sense. The mere nearness of this man made my body ache to be with him.

"And if I give you everything?"

A sexy smile formed on his lips. His thumb rubbed over my mouth. "I'll give you the same in return," he said, low in his throat. I ran my tongue across the pad of his thumb. I smiled at his growled response. I ran my hands around to his chest, slipping them inside his jacket and sliding it from his arms. His mouth retook mine as I reached between us, freeing the buttons of his waistcoat, which he quickly shrugged out of and discarded. I pulled on the ends of his tie, letting it hang around his neck as I tore his shirt open. I wanted so badly to feel the heat of his skin on mine.

Breaking free, he took my hand and walked me over to the bed. He pulled my little half-jacket off, then took the tie from around his neck. He carefully tied my wrists together, making sure the knot wasn't to tight. Lying me on the bed and lifting my bound arms above my head, he began to touch and caress my exposed flesh. I writhed with longing as I savored each torturous kiss. His hands ran up and down my sides, hitting the ticklish spots at my waist. I couldn't stifle the giggles he'd caused. He lifted his head, smiling at me. "You like that?" I licked my lips, nodding at the same time. He traced a line across my stomach, making me crazy with need.

"Please," I begged him, "let me see your face. I know who you are."

"You do?" I heard him ask against my body. He glanced up at my face. "Who am I?"

"I've often wondered if you would caress a woman in the same way you do that mic stand of yours,” I admitted. “You do, Eric."

He removed the mask, a bit reluctantly. I brought my hands down and reached out to touch his cheek. He smiled and kissed the back of my hand. Eric helped me sit up, and unhooked the bra-top of my costume. It got hooked up on my bound hands and we both laughed, so I laid back and again held them out of the way.

The velvety softness of Eric's tongue on my breasts was nearly too much for me to handle. Tugging gently on my nipples as he sucked on them. "Oh, God," I though I was going to be delirious before he finished. His mouth moved lower on my body, circling my belly button with his tongue. He placed his hands on my hips and removed the rest of my costume with one fluid movement. He drew his hands up my inner thighs. Instinctively, my hips rocked upward to meet his touch. I could feel his fingers enter my slick passage. His rhythmic stokes bringing me closer to orgasm. Eric rubbed his thumb skilfully over my clit. I felt like I was going to explode. I cried out, "God, what are you doing to me?"

"Shhh," Eric ran his other hand up my torso and cupped my face. "Just let it happen," his whispered. I could hear a gruffness in his voice that hadn't been there before. He moved himself back and leaned down to me. The heat of his tongue inside me was all it took. I clutched at his hair as I gasped. Convulsing under his touch as he stroked my body. He continued his ministrations, stoking a new fire alight inside of me.

I somehow freed one of my hands from the tie. Grabbing Eric's shoulders, I pulled him up to me. Kissing him, I turned him over in the bed. He was now lying on his back. I straddled his waist while I stroked my hands over his chest. I circled each of his nipples with my tongue, hearing him moan softly. I slipped my hands to his pants while I teased his skin. I quickly had them off of him as he lay there, looking at me with those lusty eyes of his.

I cupped him in my hands. He drew in a sharp breath. Slowly, I rubbed his crest with my thumb. "I wonder what I could do with this?" I teased. I ran my hand down the length of him. "Not to give you a big head or anything, but I do believe, Mr. Daley, that you have the largest cock I've ever seen." His eyes widened in surprise at my statement. I laughed and he smiled. I leaned over and licked him. His hand found the back of my head and held me there as I continued. I took him into my mouth, still massaging him with my hands as well. I could hear his breathing as it slowed and deepened. His long fingers rubbed my neck as I brought him to his peak. I loved the way he tasted. I licked the last remnants of his climax from my lower lip as I sat up and looked at him with a cheeky grin. "Was that one of your wishes?"

"You are a very dirty little girl, Genie," he growled pulling me down on top of him. His words heated my skin. "Just the kind of woman I like," he said before he had me once again on my back. His manhood was again hard and I could feel it pulse against my thigh. "I can't promise to be gentle," he whispered before he entered.

I let out a strangled gasp as he filled me. It took seconds for my body to adjust to his size. I raised my hips to meet his trusts. He moved deeper, feeling like he would rip me apart.

"You are so hot," he whispered in my hair. "You want me that much?"

I wrapped my legs around his hips, allowing him further inside without pain. My finger dug into his back. "That much and more," I breathed into his ear. I rocked ever so slightly forward. "Oh, Jesus! God, Eric! OH!"

I let out the breath I was holding, collapsing against him. Waves of passion flooded over me. I held my hands to his face, opening my eyes to look at him when I could breathe normally again. I rocked slowly, lying back with my knees folded under me as he neared his end. Arching my back, I ground into him, feeling his body jerk. He spilled into me and rolled onto the bed next to me.

"Wish two," he said when his heartbeat was back to normal.

I rolled onto my side to look at him. I ran my fingers over his chest, brushing lightly over the fine hairs that covered it. His was hard as steel, yet smooth as silk. "And what is wish three?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

He caressed my cheek and gave me a soft kiss. "My third wish is… that I wish to see you again."