We got caught. No alibi held, and no amount of talking could prove our innocence. We stopped caring who saw us a long time ago but we didn’t want it to end or happen like this.

            Two months ago Eryn finally convinced me to move into the downtown loft that she secretly paid for, for I was to be her kept mistress—a  secret from the outside, and the eyes of the city that knew her; a city that knew she was married. The loft was her home away from home. A place where at the, door she could lay her troubles down. We picked everything out together. From the furniture, light fixtures, and even the paint. We also did most of the work ourselves, just for the sake of spending time together.  One day while painting the kitchen, which was a rich butter she absolutely loved, I had an idea.

“Eryn?”

“Yeah?” She said, while looking over at me her brush mid-dip in the paint.

Smiling I said “lets paint naked”

Scrunching up her face she said “Eww no way, what if I get paint on my insides?” with complete sincerity.

Laughing at the thought of the paint getting on her “insides” I convinced her “C’mon it will be fun, and you never know where it might lead”    

Catching the hint of desire in my voice, she quickly began to undress.

Tossing our clothes into another room, I playfully flicked paint from the brush onto her back.  Shrieking she ran to the other side of the room to send paint flying onto my breasts and stomach.  Laughing like two kids we had a paint fight in the middle of our kitchen. Minutes later we sat leaning against the wall catching our breath still giggling from the earlier excitement.

I turned to Eryn and saw her looking at my nakedness.

“What is it?” I asked

“Get up” she demanded

Not wanting the fun to end I did as she asked. Standing up at my full height I towered above her.

“Now what” I whispered looking down at her.

Hunger and desire etched itself across her face.

“I need you to go to the shower”

Moving away I looked back to see her watching me stroll across the kitchen. Hesitating at the doorway, I paused for her to see the longing that was reciprocated in my own eyes. I saw her push back from the wall to stand up, and that was my cue to go. 

            I tiptoed across the stone floor of the living room careful not to get any paint anywhere. Making my way into the bathroom I paused briefly to light the candles that littered the counter space. Pleased with the soft glow that emitted from them, I climbed into the claw foot tub that sat in the middle of the room. Turning on the hot water I let the butter paint flow from my body down the drain. Suddenly slow, sensual jazz began to reverberate throughout the loft, startling me for only a second. Then a shadow threw itself across the shower curtain and I felt Eryn climb into the tub.  Coming behind me she pressed her breasts against my back and wrapped her arms around me, repainting me. Turning slowly, I let her lay her head on my chest. Wanting to ask what was wrong, I opened my mouth to ask. Shaking her head, she silenced me. Looking up she stood on her toes to kiss me grabbing my arms to steady herself. I closed my eyes and dipped my head to meet her kiss. Unexpectedly she pushed me back so my head went under the water, grinning at her playfulness I wiped the water out of my eyes and opened them to find her lathering a loofah with her favorite vanilla sugar body wash. The smile slowly disappeared from my face, and I searched hers only to find need.  Stepping to me she proceeded to wash the rest of the paint from my body, then her own as we switched so she could stand underneath the fall of the stream. I watched the water glide down her full hips and muscled legs. Legs you only get from years of dancing. Want completely overwhelmed me buckling my knees and made my center throb. Kneeling I licked a trail from her calf to her hips with my tongue. Turning, her sex was now level with my eyes. Starting at the top of her mound I licked, trying to get at her center. Moaning she grabbed a handful of my damp hair. Wanting her to open up so I could lick and taste her inner wetness, I nudged at her thighs. Making me look up at her she nodded her head in the general direction of the door I knew she wanted to leave the confines of the tub, I let her lead the way. Confusion flooded my face as we walked past our bedroom towards the study. The same study she had me locked out of for weeks saying she wanted to surprise me. Out of no where a key appeared and she unlocked the door. Looking into my eyes words passed between us silently. Closing my eyes like I knew she wanted me to, she led me into the room. Squeezing my hand let me know she was ready for me to see. Opening, I took in the sight of the most beautiful bedroom I've ever seen. A bedroom I've been talking about wanting forever. Real antique oil lamps hung from each corner of the room that was decorated in colors of chocolate, moss green, and burnt orange.  But in the middle of the room was the center piece. A huge California king bed sat cater-corner where Eryn laid propped up on her arms with her legs open to reveal the wetness of her jewel. Easing onto the bed I laid my nakedness on hers, letting my hand slide to the curve of her hip. Licking her lips with my tongue, I searched her mouth. Searching for the deep sadness I glimpsed in the tub, wanting to extract all things that resembled it. Moaning into my mouth she pulled my body closer, gliding my hand from her hip into her. Siding in and out I let her juices flow freely over my fingers and hand. Trailing a kiss from her neck, to her collarbone, I found myself licking around her areola making her squirm in ecstasy. Easing a nipple in my mouth I teased and licked her berries until she pleaded with me go down further.  Drawing my fingers out I raised my hand to lick away her juices, stopping me, I watched as she pulled my fingers towards her own lips greedily licking away her own nectar. Throbbing harder than before, I softly kissed my way down her abdomen causing her to twist. In her eagerness she thrust her dripping mound upwards to meet my kisses. No longer patient with my slow fullness, she parted the petals to her flower with her fingers granting me full access to her hardened fruit. Licking around her fingers I took her in my lips and sucked softly causing her the sweetest misery. Letting out a low throaty groan, she spoke for the first time since we were in the kitchen.

“Lei, I love you.”

Speaking softly against her heat I replied, “I love you too.”

As the CD changed to smoother upbeat sounds, I wanted to change positions. Moving from between her quivering thighs, I saw Eryn open her eyes to reveal puzzlement.

“Get on top” I said “I want to see your face when you come.” Sitting above my lips, I felt her warmth. I began once again to lick her slowly. Turning slightly at the waist she plunged her fingers into my river, causing me to gasp in pleasure. Above me Eryn gradually began to rock back and forth grinding her sex against my lips and tongue. Seconds later her pace quickened and her breath became haggard. “Lei…please...” she let out in breathy gasps. Feeling her urgency, I plunged my tongue deep in her cave. “Ohhh, fuck” she moaned. Flipping around suddenly, she turned to duck her head between my thighs and suck, her merciless rocking continuing. Muffled groans came from Eryn, as short gasps came from my end.

“….coming…” Eryn cried out. As her whole body shook, I felt my own orgasm begin. Climaxing almost simultaneously we both moaned from the pleasure.

Collapsing across me I asked Eryn to turn back around so she was again facing me, keeping in mind the multiple orgasms she was prone to having. Sucking gently on her still hard clit, I watched as she screwed up her face and tossed her head back. A low whimper of satisfaction escaped her lips. Her body let out a violent spasm, flooding my mouth once again with her sweet juices, I licked away every drop. Falling to my side we wrapped our arms around each other, never wanting to let go. Before drifting off to sleep, completely spent I felt her smile into my shoulder.

            What seemed like days later, I awoke to whispered obscenities. Looking towards the open door of our new bedroom I saw Eryn dash past.

“Hey what’s up?’ I called out to her sitting up in the bed, rubbing away the sleep. Her reply came back slightly muffled and sent me running towards the door.

“ITS 4 FUCKING A.M.!” oh shit I thought over and over as I sprinted towards the noise coming from the bathroom. “Chance has been calling and texting me all night” she said as I appeared at the doorway. Seeing the stress apparent on her face I knew I had to say something. As I watched her quickly wash away all tell-tale signs of our earlier lovemaking I told her, “Tell your husband you fell asleep at the office, your cell died and you forgot to charge it.” As the lie came out of my mouth it became real to me. With uncertainty in her voice she asked, “And you really think that’s going to work?”

“If you’re convincing enough it will” I stated with a hint of seriousness, looking directly in her eyes. Looking away she finished washing, while I searched for the clothes she had on earlier. Even though she had a full wardrobe here at the loft, she needed to be believable.

“I have your clothes” I yelled, turning around to find her directly behind me staring. Clutching my chest I let out a sigh, “make some noise next time” I said, as my heart rate slowed back to normal. Still eying me I knew then, it was because I was still naked. “Here” I said, putting the clothes into her arms. I walked back to the bedroom to find a robe, no longer comfortable and aggravated for the simple fact she was about to leave.  

Entering the room I leaned against the wall, watching her dress. What are we going to do I thought. Letting the notion fade I walked Eryn to the door. “Call me when you get…there” I said. Not wanting to call that other place her home, hugging her close not wanting her to leave. “I will” she said, tiptoeing once more to kiss me. I watched as she made her way to the elevators leaving behind the faint scent of vanilla sugar to keep me company.  

            Two weeks went by and we saw very little of each other. Thirty minutes here two hours there. After a day of not hearing anything from her I finally got a phone call telling me she was going to be over at the loft in an hour.

An hour later I heard her sliding the key into the lock opening the door.

“Hey!” I greeted her by grabbing her by her waist pulling her in close to land a solid kiss on her lips. Smiling up at me she told me what she had done.

“I told Chance I was leaving for California to do an interview; and I was going to be there for a week.”  As I laughed at the lie, I saw the joy in her eyes. We were finally going to be able to spend some time together.

Later we went to Buzz Brews, one of her favorite spots, so we could grab something to eat. I was eating pancakes Eryn ate a veggie wrap. While laughing at one of her stories about her and her wild cousin, Shay; unexpectedly the guy with the mohawk and acne scars that was sitting in the corner of the room when we walked in, put a envelope on our table and walked out the door. Puzzlement showed on both our faces, wiping her hands she grabbed the envelope. “Do you think you should open that?” I said, suddenly worried.  “Well” she started “I'm not sure but I guess that guy left this here for a reason.”  Opening the envelope, she pulled out several pictures. What she saw made the color wash out of her face. “What is it?” I asked, as a feeling of dread grew deep in my stomach. “Fuck” she whispered. One of the waiters dropped a glass causing me to jump. “What is it?” I asked again with more urgency. She let the photos fall from her hands causing them to spread across the table. Reaching for the pictures they revealed images of me and Eryn. Some showed us shopping hand-in-hand, some with my arms wrapped around her, some of us even kissing. “Chance did this” Eryn said. “So what do we do?” I asked. Getting up from the booth she started talking rapidly. “I have to talk to him, call him and…and tell him I came home early there’s something I need to talk to him about.” Quickly getting annoyed I stated “Good! Now he knows and WE can get on with OUR lives!”  Looking at me like she just realized I was there, she grabbed my arm dragging me out the booth “Come on were leaving” she said, throwing a twenty and a ten on the table.

Racing down the street in the Expedition she practically ran two stop lights.  Stopping at the loft she looked over at me and in a very plain voice void of any emotion said “I have to go.” With out so much as a kiss I jumped out of the truck and slammed the door, still irritated. Looking at the tail lights I watched her race off, once again to her husband.

            Walking in the door I greeted the doorman. “Hey Charlie.” “Good afternoon, Ms. Highland” he said with a nod of his head. Stepping on the elevator I pushed the button to floor 21. The more I thought about the events that took place minutes earlier the angrier I became. Why did I have to live a secret life? Why did I get only her spare time? Why the fuck couldn’t it just be me and her!?  Taking the keys out of my pocket I reached for the door thinking of the drink I would fix myself so I could temporarily forget this problem, to find it unlocked. “…What the hell?!?” I whispered as I walked cautiously into the living room to find Chance standing there, waiting on me.

“Come on in” he said, waving an arm. For a brief moment I was speechless, but for only a moment. “What the fuck are you doing here?!” I said with a hint of annoyance stepping into the room, to the smaller man that stood there like he lived here. I stood practically a foot taller than Chance, but he stepped to me like we were the same height. With venom in his voice he said to me. “This is my first and last words of warning. Leave Eryn alone. I know everything and I'm giving you a week to get your shit and get the fuck outta here. I don’t give a fuck where you go; just don’t let me see you.” Brushing past me he walked through the door leaving it open, leaving me to contemplate my next move.

            Two hours later found me waiting in the dark sitting on one of the plush couches we purchased weeks prior. Eryn had called saying she couldn’t find Chance and he wasn’t answering his cell, so she was on her way back over to the loft to talk one-on-one. I didn’t mention Chances visit. Walking in Eryn called out for me “Lei where are you?” In a low voice I answered. “Here.” Searching for the lights, she found the switch flooding the room with the soft light that came from the recess lights. Walking over to her, she reached out to me for a hug. Embracing her tightly I whispered in her ear, “He was here, he came to me and told me to leave you” at that time she went still in my arms then tried to pull away from me, I held her tighter. At the same time withdrawing the knife I hid from view, I continued “what he didn’t know was if I can’t have you…” Plunging the knife deep into her side all the way to the hilt, I quickly pulled the knife down so the wound would open and bleed faster. I felt her need to get away from me as she tried to shove me away. I let her fall almost dramatically to the floor. Looking up at me I saw tears fill her eyes along with bewilderment and treachery. “… He sure as hell won’t.” I finished. Kneeling beside her tears fell from my own eyes, causing a sob to rise from my lips almost chocking me. Looking into her teary eyes, comprehension pushed past the pain. Laying a kiss upon her lips I rose to walk back to my previous sitting spot, and with a heavy heart watched as she took her last few breaths on the floor of the home we had together.