Lost Girl in Transition Ch. 20

But Claudia loved it. So much in fact, that as Lucas began to decrease their speed, she found herself wishing they could do another lap. Still holding her tight, Lucas continually slowed down, until finally they were moving at a slow speed. Then he was leading her towards the wall, where there was an opening for skaters to exit the rink.

"That was amazing." Still glowing and tingling from the experience, Claudia looked up at Lucas, who smiled.

"I thought you might enjoy that," he said. "Really gets the blood pumping, doesn't it?"

"It does," she remarked. "And those moves you did when you were showing off your skills...they were pretty impressive."

"They weren't anything special, really."

Having reached the locker area, they both sat on a long bench, then worked at undoing their laces so they could remove the skates from their feet.

Actually they were," Claudia responded. "You moved so gracefully. It was kind of like watching one of those Olympic skaters."

"Except I didn't do any jumps or spins," he replied. "You know, the really fancy stuff."

"Still it was impressive."

Gleaming at her compliment, Lucas retrieved their shoes from the locker, but instead of allowing Claudia to put her own footwear on, he lifted her foot to his lap, then got started at putting on her boots.

"Wow, first class treatment." Claudia watched as he gently handled her foot, easing it into her fur lined boots before lacing them all the way up.

"You don't mind, do you?" Now putting her second shoe on, Lucas cupped her heel in his palm, keeping it steady as he put on the boot.

"Not at all." She couldn't get over how large his hands were, so sturdy and manly looking as they secured her boot laces.

"Good," he said. "Because I like doing little things like this for you, sorta makes me feel like I'm pampering you."

"You are," Claudia said as he lowered her left foot from his lap. "And I appreciate it, Lucas. It's very sweet."

He stood to his feet then, and as Claudia did too they strolled out into the main area, checking out a huge Christmas tree that was adorned with a multitude of glimmering ornaments. The walls were adorned with white twinkling lights, setting the mood for a festive holiday atmosphere.

There was also a large fountain that lit up with a variety of brilliant neon colors, and as Claudia and Lucas stopped to admire it, she focused on the acrobatic-like movement as the jets of water rose and fell. But soon her attention shifted, as Lucas took her hand into his, linking his fingers tenderly with her own.

"Is this okay?" He asked, the look on his face seeming to be one of hope.

"Yes," she replied, and lightly smiled to assure that it was.

Unhurried, they enjoyed the fountain for a few more moments, then made their way to the concession stand for some hot chocolate. Once procuring the hot beverage they relaxed at one of the tables, sitting side by side and sharing the warmth of their bodies. Steamy hot and with tons of whipped cream, it went down smooth as they sipped it. They didn't exchange any words, just sat comfortably in contented silence. But after a bit of time had passed, Claudia felt Lucas loop an arm around her waist. Turning her head to look at him, Claudia noticed him focus on her eyes. But then his gaze lowered to her nose, and that was when he began to quietly chuckle.

"What?" Claudia asked.

"Your nose."

"What about it?"

"You've got whipped cream on it." He brushed a thumb against the dainty tip, removing the white dot before licking it from his finger. "Mmmm. Tastes like Claudia."

Broadly smiling, she snuggled against him, resting her head against one of his broad shoulders. Beyond tranquil, she was glad she had accepted the offer to be taken out, as it felt good to be carefree and enjoying herself.

It seemed that guilt wanted to wrestle its way in, to make her feel bad about being out with Lucas and allowing the intimacy between them to build, but tonight she wasn't going to let it, because she deserved a bit of gratification. As far as she was concerned, everything was presently alright, and feeling his arms tighten around her, melded further into his warmth.

* * * *

It was after eleven p.m. when Lucas arrived home, entering the house and heading for the kitchen where the scent of food was luring him. Seeing that his mother had prepared frybread and deer stew, he procured a plate from the cabinet, then served a generous portion before eating at the counter. Having loaded the stew on top of the deep-fried dough, Lucas bent it like a taco, then took a huge bite that reduced it in half.

Rich with a flavor only his mother could create, the stew and frybread went perfectly together, warming his tummy and pleasing his tastebuds. In less than two minutes he'd consumed the entire portion, and after washing it down with a glass of coke, headed for his bedroom in the rear of the house.

It was with great reluctance that he even entered, as ever since the night that Claudia had been raped, he'd slept in the guest house out back. But every now and again he needed to pick up a few items, such as books or items of clothing that he still had yet to move out.

Now standing in his bedroom with a serious expression, Lucas gazed at the empty bedframe where a mattress once was, a mattress where Claudia had been raped on Halloween, but was now nothing more than ashes in the wind.

Having burned it the very same night of her sexual assault, that mattress was no longer a physical object, and yet Lucas could remember the drops of blood that had stained it, the blood which had come from Claudia's body as a result of the attack.

Two months had passed since the rape had happened, and yet he still felt a chill creep up his neck. Just knowing that she'd suffered so terribly in his bedroom was enough to put him off, so ever since that night had taken place, he'd been sleeping in the guest room behind the main house. Sure he'd saged, and burned sweet grass, and said prayers to banish the negative energy, but he still couldn't stomach the idea of actually sleeping in the bedroom.

The memories were still too sharp, and the emotions he'd felt that night were still locked deep inside him, dormant but ready to be released by the slightest trigger.

Not wanting any disturbing visualizations to pop up, Lucas lowered himself to his knees, then reached beneath the bed to procure what he needed. It was at that very moment, however, that an object on the carpet caught his eye.

Realizing it was a matchbook, he reached out to pick it up. With an immediacy that was stunning, alarm bells went off in his head, instincts nearly screaming out that what he had found undoubtedly belonged to the rapist. Noticing that the logo on the front of the matchbook was of a pink flamingo, Lucas then turned his gaze to the printed words beneath it: FLAMINGO SHOWGIRLS. FULLY NUDE AND GIVE THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN.

Having never been to a strip club in his life, Lucas knew for damn sure that the matchbook wasn't his, and turning it around to look at the back, he saw there was something scribbled there in blue pen: ROXY. 552-0202. COME SEE ME AGAIN, STUD!

Feeling a huge sense of triumph, Lucas stood to his feet, heart pumping quickly in his chest as the adrenaline began to fill his body. This was the break he'd been waiting for, the undeniable sign which pointed to the guy who had raped Claudia.

The address to the strip club was right on the matchbook, an hour away in a small town called Whitefish. He'd been there plenty of times before so he knew his way around, and if he got on the road immediately, he would arrive at half past midnight. No problem at all, Lucas thought while still gazing at the matchbook, as he saw that the strip club was open until two in the morning.

If luck chose to favor him, Roxy would be working tonight, and able to provide information on the scumbag who'd violated Claudia. Clearly this Roxy knew the rapist in a pretty intimate way, because her phone number was written down, so surely she would have a full description of what he looked like.

So charged up that he unconsciously flexed his fingers, Lucas couldn't help but look forward to the moment when he and the rapist were face to face, all alone and without anyone around to break them up.

He'd like to break the guy's face first, then move onto his arms and legs before doing some real damage. The kind that would leave the shithead immobile, and unable to do more except suck liquid from out of a straw for the rest of his life.

Eager to deliver a hell of a beating, Lucas rushed for the front door, matchbook clasped in his palm as he went outside and onto the porch. In seconds he was behind the wheel, starting up the engine and backing out of the driveway.

Then with a harsh squeal of his tires he was quickly taking off, racing towards Whitefish to meet with a stripper called Roxy.