Unsleeping beauty

You would have thought that a ten-hour bus ride, a full stomach, a relaxing shower, and the heat of the late afternoon would send me wandering off to dreamland the minute my naked body hit the fresh sheet and sleep-inducing comfort of the mattress beneath me, but no here I was wide awake and no reason for it.

I reach for the telephone on the bedside table and pause as I stare at it. Another antique like the Wizard of oz downstairs. I was beginning to regret coming here but then I thought of the five million dollars that await me and I must admit I start to feel much better.

I took the shiny black ear and mouthpiece and place to it my ear listening for some sound that it was working. I hear nothing but a sudden odd feeling that something was waiting for me to speak cause me to hurriedly replace it on the cradle. I reach for it again but my hand remains poise above it. As I watch it the joint mouth and earpiece rock on its integral cradle.

I stare at it some more with its built on circular finger dial. Little white buttons were above 0 - 9 with a clear as well as a dark dot nestled between the two buttons 9 and 0. In the center of the dial was a stylishly written Ericsson upon a capitalized L M. I realize as I stare at it that I was silently willing it not to ring.

I sigh and pull my hand away. I nestle myself against the broad headboard and hug the pillow to my naked chest then pull my legs up to it. My eyes wander around the room that held an armoire, a dressing table, the bed, and its single bedside table all of refine carpentry and matching interior design.

To the right of the bed was the bathroom, adjacent was the armoire and beside it the only window in the room. I had peeked through it earlier and saw nothing but the forest.

I closed my eyes and hope for sleep, maybe getting some rest would push away this nagging feeling of apprehension and second-guessing that was beginning to take root in my mind and the pit of my stomach. However sleep still held her distance and Layla was the one that occupies my thoughts, it was much more appreciated than the unacceptable feelings of anxiety.

I could already feel my body start to relax as I thought of the silky raven-haired beauty. Her eyes were the darkest shade of green with flecks of gold. Her soft bow shape lips were a perfect tint of bubble-gum pink. Her skin was like alabaster and smooth like satin. I loved her from the first day she came to the orphanage where I grew up unlike her who had the unwanted cruelty of three foster homes.

I could smell her sweet fresh scent and the strawberry scent of her shampoo. I felt my lips part in a smile. The thought of her usually set within me a peace I thought I would never find. I remember the first day we kissed. It had been on her sixteen birthday a year ago and I had found the courage to tell her I was in love with her.

That day I never had butterflies in my stomach, I had a whole wild herd of stampeding buffalos. I had been holding back as well as hiding how I felt for far too long, also being roommates and always having to be so close to her and not saying nothing was driving me crazy.

As we had sat by the broken door of the old stable that Aunt Larissa was for years now planning to renovate into another extension for the orphanage but never actually getting it done, much to the delight of a few of us who found reasons to use it to our advantage and hope she continued to procrastinate, I held her hand and said.

"Layla I need to tell you something and I hope it doesn't spoil our friendship."

She turns her mesmerizing green eyes to me and waited patiently for me to express myself when I had half expected her to turn from me in repulsion or turn me down gently as she was such a caring soul despite the bitterness she has faced.

"I love you too Al, I love you so much," she had beamed with sweet delight and when she pulled me to her and kissed my surprised lips I have never felt so elated.

Layla was my pleasure, my desire, my hope, my dreams, and my aspiration.  We had clung to each other, our kiss at first was timid but it quickly rose to a thrust of tongues that fueled wanton desire.

I remember how warm and soft her breast had felt as my hand slip beneath her white crew-neck t-shirt and push up her bralette. I caress it gently and felt the nipple harden further beneath my fingers. I had liked the way she had press up to me as if letting me know she was all mine.

I was beyond cloud nine. Layla was loving me just as much as I was loving here. I was finally having a piece of happiness' pie my life was no longer lonely, someone wanted me and wanted me with them. 

When we had pulled apart a few minutes later because we were out of breath from kissing we giggled and hugged. I had let my fingers caress her smooth cheek with the thin white line. It was one of the many scars she bore from her bitter life in foster homes. I vowed silently then and there to take her away and pave a life of happiness for her.

She had moved her face making her jaw and cheek caress my stroking finger. I loved her so much and told her so again. I knew I had to find a way to make our lives alright as I was a few months away from leaving My Lady Of Grace Guardian Home.

I will be going out into a world I barely knew anything about but over the years from being in Aunt Larissa kind care had generated enough to know it offered you nothing unless you take or work for it.

Months later we were once again sitting in the same place which had over time become our rendezvous spot. We sat there in silence her head now resting on my shoulder, her finger drawing tiny circles on my bare thigh below the cutoff of my old jean. She had no idea what such innocent moves were doing to my body.

My breasts were beginning to tingle with awareness and my center seem to vibrate with it. I was already wet from our earlier bouts of making out, now my panty crotch was soaked from her innocent carress.

I held myself together though and just sat with her my mind lost in the sweetness she was giving to me. I close my eyes and sigh as I was lost in the anguish of leaving Layla behind.

I thought how the night before as she had lain sleeping on her single bed a few feet away from mine her nightdress twisted to reveal the soft buff of her vagina in her lace panty had me once again fingering myself with thoughts of her and me together in a sexual tryst.

As I had withered against my fingers my release I had felt guilty. We had not moved onto the sexual stage of our relationship and as much as I had agreed to take it slow the need for her has intensified as the year sped away.

I knew I had to stop being so obsessed with Layla and tell her my true desires but here we were instead lost in the sadness of my imminent departure.

"Layla," I said with a finality that bore no questioning "Let us run away."

I had felt rather than saw her smile and when she spoke it was the cause of my being here on this bed arouse and missing her terribly.

"I have a better solution," she had said and started to reveal to me a bet that was made in a chat group she was in. This group consists of teenagers and young adults scattered around the country. They often post various tests, bets, and games that brought you various monetary rewards.

I listened to her as she told me of a recent post that requires a single female occupant to spent two nights and an evening in a supposedly haunted house. If that person endured those three days they would be leaving with five million dollars.

I must admit I was very skeptical and told her it was no doubt some stupid trick that her bored friends had cook up to see who was foolish to give in, and why five million dollars and not one million or even a couple thousand at that, but five million.

She had raised her head from off my shoulder and stared intently at me and I saw determination burning in her eyes. I felt my heartache thinking she was going to be broken when she realized it was not real.

She had reached inside the front pocket of her jeans and remove from it a neatly folded paper opening it she handed it to me. I read what was typed there.

I Lady Scarlett Ruins of Drakesville along with my counterpart is offering 5 million dollars to any female who is willing to spend two nights and an evening in my childhood home which is rumored to be plagued by ghostly activities.

Anyone willing to champion this cause will have to document their activities about the house with a video camera.

Person(s) of interest are asked to contact me Lady Scarlett Ruins at 1 555 673 1666 by the latest Thursday evening, 6 pm. Friday evening your stay at my house begins.

I look away from the paper and back at her with her eyes burning with anticipation. I knew I could not let her down. I could tell this was a moment she had been long awaiting.

"Drakesville is a borough on the west end of Pennsylvania and that is just a ten-hour bus ride from here. This is the chance we both need Al," she implored. "Come to think of it we could even make our home and our life there as they are not known to be homophobic."

I gave a little laugh as I look at her. "Why do I feel you had this all planned out."

She dipped her head and stared at the paper then back at me. "Yes, I did. I was going to run away after you left. I know I could not bear being here without you."

I knew each word she said was true as I too knew the bitter ache of knowing I would be leaving her behind. I took the paper and folded it and told her.

"I'll go to Drakesville and soon we will be together without any boundaries."

As she hugged me close her body in excitement I knew I could not deny Layla anything. It was not the bet or the five million dollars as much as it was this lovely girl that was once again drawing circles on my thigh that felt so real.

My eyes flew open from my sleepless state. I pull away from the headboard and look with searching eyes about the room but I was alone, but if I am alone why does my thigh feel as it has jus been caressed?