The Masquerade

Accepting the glass of champagne that was offered to her as she paused in the entrance to the ballroom, she adjusted her ask and scanned the room once before turning to the photographer that stood beside the short flight of stairs leading to the floor of the ballroom. Giving the camera a luscious smile, she nodded and moved away as soon as he had snapped her picture, letting the crowd of costumed bodies swallow her up. Stopping to talk with various people, she sipped her champagne slowly, wanting to make her first glass last as long as possible. The music hadn't started yet so people were still networking for now, so for the moment she found a seat at an empty table and got comfortable, content to people watch for a while. Absently she searched the room for Aleksandr, her mind conjuring up an image of what his costume might look like.

Fingering the pearl accents on the corset, a smile took over her face when the band took the stage some ten minutes later. So far she hadn't spotted Aleksandr but she had managed to identify almost twenty people based on how they carried themselves and the way they stood when talking to other people. It was amusing to sit back and just people watch and figure out who was who by their mannerisms alone. Finishing the flute of champagne, she set the empty glass on the table and stood just as a small gaggle of girls walked up to her.

"Your costume is simply to die for, who are you supposed to be?"

"A modernized Marilyn Monroe. I even have the beauty mark, see?" A tilt of her head sent the other side of her face out of the shadows and into the light.

"Well, you have our vote."

"Most definitely!" Chimed one of the other girls.

"Vote?"

"Yeah, this year there is a vote for best costume, both for guys and gals."

"Oh! Well, thank you ladies. Oh and have you seen a man in a tailed waist coat and cape with a golden pocket handkerchief anywhere by chance?"

"I think I saw him by the voting booths on the other side of the stage."

"Thank you again ladies, have fun."

Surveying the crowd, she moved away from the group of women and off towards the stage, dancing her way through the growing crowd until she spotted him at the bar instead of the voting booths. Quietly maneuvering behind him, she wrapped her slim arms around his waist and splayed her fingers against him -- one hand over his left pectoral and the other a few inches below the right.

"A little early to bring out the hard stuff, dontcha think?"

Hearing him chuckle, her arms loosened around him as he turned towards her with a tumbler of what she could only guess was vodka. Letting her hands fall against his sides lightly, she smoothed the fabric of his vest and grinned.

"It seems we match, Mr. Phantom. Though anyone who knows you well enough can tell its you, even with only half of your handsome face showing."

"I suppose we do. I feel as if I know you but I can't place you for the life of me...You'd think with such gorgeous eyes I would remember you."

"Oh...don't fret...You'll find out my real identity by the end of the night." Drawing him away from the bar and onto the dance floor, the turn of the century waltz was taken up by the band which threw them together more often then not as all the other people on the dance floor followed the old world style of the dance to a T. They avoided the parts that required them to switch partners and instead they stayed together for the duration as well as the next few songs as well. They talked throughout each song and she was amazed that he hadn't guessed who she was simply by her beautiful eyes (his words) and her voice. As the songs changed and the music melded into a new beat entirely, she drew away and curtsied elegantly.

"I have a feeling you are obligated to network and speak with more then just me tonight."

"You would be right unfortunately, save me the last dance?"

"If your lucky, though you might find me before then as well, you know."

"Indeed I might. I shall find you soon my golden temptress."

xxxx

Countless dances with coworkers later, she excused herself from her current dance partner and went to lean against the bar for a moment to catch her breath before ordering a vodka cranberry. As she waited she turned to lean the curve of her hip against the edge of the bar and survey the room and just as her drink was set beside her a strong set of hands captured the indent of her waist. Tilting her head, a pair of lips brushed across the ridge of her delicate ear; a gruff voice husky with a whisper. "A little early for the hard stuff, isn't it?" He was simply letting her know who it was, he had no desire to be stopped because she didn't know who was behind her.

"Perhaps...perhaps not. Have you had your fill of networking?"

"For once, yes. I must admit that watching you dance is the catalyst I needed to finish the business part of the evening quicker then usual."

"Such flattery will get you every where when combined with the boyish grin you do so well. Maybe I can interest you in a stroll through the maze in the back garden? I've heard it's quite lovely."

"You may, its just the thing to brighten my night, especially when enjoyed with you." Picking her drink up for her, he offered her his arm and guided her out the french doors that lead to a gorgeous patio. Gracefully descending the stairs, they walked at a luxuriously slow pace towards one of the many entrances to the maze, quickly finding themselves surrounded by ten foot high shrubs as they followed the path while they lost themselves in conversation. As they walked, they came upon a pair of opulent looking settees that sat beneath a stone pillared canopy made of pure red silk. Laying a delicate hand upon the intricately carved stone, Mya found herself ducking playfully behind the column only to peek out at him from the other side.

Playing along with the little charade she had introduced, he grinned and moved to relax comfortably on one of the settees which made Mya circle the pillar until she was once more 'hidden' from his view. "Come out, come out wherever you are..." His voice trailed off as his eyes followed the sight of her skirt blowing to one side thanks to the slight breeze that kept the night a pleasantly cool evening. Mya peeked one last time and he looked away as if he hadn't seen her. Taking the chance, she quickly changed pillars to stand behind the lounge chair he occupied, a soft and musical laugh escaping her though it sounded more like the laugh of a sylph or nymph then a human.

Softening her already sweet, feminine voice, she whispered to him, "Close your eyes." How he managed to resist that melodiously spoken request no one would ever know but for a moment his eyes remained open before his lashes met his cheeks in a secret affair. "They are closed, my sweet siren." Taking his word for it, she hesitantly moved out from behind the decorated pillar and danced the tips of her dainty fingers across the rugged width of his unyielding shoulders. Walking along the edge of the settee, she paused and leaned over him, one hand against the top of the chair while the other tenderly cradled the firm slope of his jaw. The meld of alcohol (though she hadn't had much) and her hidden identity made her bold, the dream from the night before fuel to the rise of flames within her; flames of need, desire and most of all -- lust. Drawing closer until she could feel his quickened breaths against her plump lips, she waited until he drew in a deeper breath before pressing her cranberry tainted lips to his. If she had any idea about controlling the kiss (as if!) it would have been shattered the moment he began returning that deeply sensual, seductive kiss. The kiss in the dream was nothing compared to the real thing, his large hands sank into the curls of the wig and cupped the back of her neck even as she moved to sink gracefully into his lap for fear of losing her balance.

Caressing the side of his face that was left uncovered by the simple white mask, her fingertips followed the arch of his cheekbone up to his temple before pushing back through the short sandy blonde stalks of his hair. Cradling the back of his head in her tender hands, Mya couldn't resist delving back into the hunger driven kiss once more after pausing to they could both draw in a reluctantly needed breath. Her small frame clung to his as he wrapped his arms around her, his fingers working the thick laces of her corset free until he could unwrap the beautiful present that was her body. Tossing the garment away, his lips parted as his jaw dropped slightly at the sight of such beautiful, firm breasts topped by two silver balls to either side of her perfect nipples. Leaning closer, he buried his face in her luscious skin, devouring her sweet flesh that smelled and tasted like the most delicious meld of mango and pomegranate.

She couldn't help the soft moans that escaped as he paid so much attention to the soft mounds of her breasts, her hands working at the buttons of his waistcoat and vest before discarding them both at the same time. One of the buttons on his shirt popped off completely in her haste but neither noticed, nor did they really care either, especially not when their mouths melded together like heat and sand right after a lightning strike. Laying her back on the surprisingly comfortable settee, he followed her down and settled himself over her, his shirt gaping open down to where it was still tucked into his slacks. A moment later her hands nimbly unfastened the button of his fly, the zipper edging down tooth by tooth as she buried her face in the side of his neck, nibbling and kissing at his sin as she saw fit. Running a hand along the back of her neck, he growled firmly when she nipped his earlobe but let out a deep moan only a fraction of a second later when her hand fished his member from the confines of his boxers and began to stroke him fervently.

"Oh...fuck yes.." He murmured, caught in the sensation of her silky skin enveloping the heat of his shaft. Delving his hands beneath the fabric of her skirt, it took him longer then he liked to fish through the layers to find the edge of her panties. Hooking his fingertips in the tight fabric, he pulled it slowly down her impossibly long legs and glanced at them, the bold red satin making him harden even more within her stroking grasp, something he had never even thought possible let alone experienced. Finally tossing the distracting material away, he once more sank his hands into the layers of her skirt to push it up until it bunched around her entrancing hips.

Looking up at him as her hand slowed the still firm stroke along his length, the sight of him wetting his lips with a swipe of his tongue made her tug him closer gently by the cock until the very tip teased her dewy folds. They both gasped sharply as his hips jerked in reaction to the sensation which only succeeded in sinking the head of his shaft into the drenched depths of her cunt. Gauging her body's response to his size, he moved slowly and gave her an inch at a time even though her eyes begged for him to just take her completely. Trying to keep her moans quiet just in case they weren't the only people enjoying the maze, she wrapped her legs firmly around his hips and locked her ankles against the small of his back, using the new hold on him to jerk him in against her. Crying out softly, she bit her lip so hard she was on the verge of drawing blood as he finally had all nine thick, solid inches buried within her sodden depths. Letting out a hard groan, he ground his hips into hers as he leaned down to capture her lips in a no-holds-barred kiss, holding nothing back as he began to move within her. Drawing out until only the very tip of him teased her slit, he drove back home with a vicious sounding slap of skin against skin, wanting to be gentle but the hunger within him was growing stronger by the second as she worked to meet his every thrust with an arch of her voluptuous hips.

Moaning the amount of her pleasure into the air between them, she kissed him again, teasing his lips and tongue with her own, nibbling at the width of his bottom lip before dragging it between her pearly whites. Writhing beneath him, she cried out as he grabbed her ankles in his capable hands and moved her legs until they rested over his shoulders, her flexibility showing as he did so. Clenching tighter around him in this new position, she let out another loud cry of need against his lips as he sought to muffle the sound simply because of where they were at. He longed to hear her scream his name and he wondered if she was even a screamer though by the strength of her moans he had a pretty good guess that she was. Dragging her nails down the ridged slope of his muscular back, the feel of his much bulkier body bearing down on her over and over was quickly becoming too much for her to handle. Her insides churned and her thighs began to quiver as he sped up, their breathing ragged and broken up with unrestrained moans and hoarse cries of pleasure as their lips hovered a breath's length apart.

Arching her back, she mashed her breasts against the wall of his chest, her own heaving with heavy, erratic intakes of breath as he jolted her system with a flick of his fingertip across her clit. Twisting the pierced nub of flesh teasingly between his fingers, he circled it in a hard little massage, her entire body giving away the fact that she was just as close to climaxing as he found himself to be. Time seemed to fly by but at the same time slow to a crawl, she seemed to notice every little detail; the tiny drop of sweat trickling down the side of his face to the way the muscles in his abdomen clenched as hard as a rock as he fought to stave off his orgasm for as long as possible. Reaching up, that tiny drop of sweat was wiped away unceremoniously just as he bent his head to the swell of her breast to trap a rosy pink nipple behind his lips, suckling at it as it tightened into a hard pebble of flesh beneath his attention. As the pleasure sky-rocketed she couldn't fight it any longer. The build up of tension and pleasure burst forth from the cradle of her hips, blasting outwards to the top of her head and the tips of her toes, causing them to curl until the joints turned white with the pressure. Digging her nails into the bulges of his biceps, he had to kiss her to cut off the scream of complete and utter pleasure as her orgasm reached fruition, her body writhing beneath and against his. The hot rush of her juices sliced through the thine line of his control, cutting it into the smallest pieces he'd ever experienced as he joined her in her climactic journey of fulfillment.

Exchanging moans and mewls of pleasure as they held the kiss for the entirety of their orgasms, when they did finally break apart they could do nothing but stare into each others eyes. Eventually he reluctantly withdrew from her, a groan of loss escaping him to match the tiny mewl that fell from her lips. Sitting up he took her hand and pulled her to him gently with a kiss to the backs of her fingers. "You are simply amazing...your just...damn.."

She found that fact that he was largely speechless very cute which made her want him again but they didn't have very much time left if his watch was anything to go by. "It's safe to say that your pretty damn amazing, too." She sighed lightly and stood, her skirt falling down around her legs once more as she moved to collect their clothes. Following suit, he caught her hips as she wrapped her corset around herself once more and pulled her back against him, kissing along her neck softly as the bell in the back courtyard chimed. He was amazed at how quickly and efficiently she was able to lace her corset back up though he noticed it wasn't as tight as it had been earlier in the night.

"I think they're about to announce best costume..." He said idly as he tried to capture her attention, she looked worried, panic stricken almost at the sound of the midnight bell.

"Maybe you could let me know who wins."

"How can I if I don't know who you are?"

"You'll find a way, your very resourceful sweets."

And in that moment he knew exactly who she was. He didn't need to see her gorgeous face beneath her mask, he finally recognized her eyes as she looked at him one last time before fleeing the clearing by a different path from the one they had taken to get there. She had called the waitress 'sweets' once or twice the night before and so now everything else was now allowed to fall into place after he had wondered about her identity for the entire night. Buttoning his shirt, he bent to retrieve his vest and spotted a blotch of bright red against the stones beneath the settee, the satin soft in hand as he picked it up. A grin broke across his face as he tucked the fabric into his pocket and headed back the way they had come, a plan forming in his mind on the way back. When he was back within the crowed ballroom he found he was just in time to see a picture of Mya projected onto the projector screen as the winner of the woman's best costume. Going up to the woman holding the microphone, he explained that 'Miss Monroe' had to leave early and that he would be happy to give her the prize that she had won. Tucking the envelope with the cruise ticket into his vest pocket, he was just about to turn and leave when he saw his picture come up next. Pausing, he waved as everybody began to clap once more, the woman handing him a second envelope a moment later.

"Thank you, I suppose now is the time for the unveiling, hmm?" He figured most people knew it was him already so in the distraction of the unveiling he slipped out a side door and went to find his driver, intent on starting his plan as soon as possible.

Xxxx

Wrapping her damp, braided hair up with the headscarf she only used for that purpose, she finished packing her newest acquisitions into the equally new hardcover suitcases and set them by the window. Crossing the room, she fell flat on her face on the bed and sighed, reliving every detail of the night for the thousandth time. Deciding to call down for room service, she ordered a hot fudge sundae with triple the whipped cream and a side of fresh fruit to go with it. Adding in a bottle of champagne at the last second, she hung up after it was all confirmed and sat back to flick through the TV channels in an effort to distract herself from reliving the best sex she had ever had in her entire life again. Hearing a knock on the door ten minutes later, she scrambled off the bed and pulled on a robe over her silk negligee and grabbed a ten dollar bill out of her purse for a tip. Opening the door, she expected to see a hotel employee but instead she looked up into the face of the man that was haunting her every thought. Arching a brow when she noticed the tray of desserts in his hands, she stood back to let him in.

"When did you start working for the hotel?"

"Well hello to you too Mya. Did you enjoy the party tonight?" He asked nonchalantly, wanting her to believe that he had no idea that it had been her that he had enjoyed the night with.

"I did, it was very lively this year. Everyone looked amazing. Did you come here just to check on me?"

"I did actually, I wanted to make sure you got back to the hotel safely." He stood by the dresser where he had set the tray of food for a moment longer before moving closer to her, closer then he would have yesterday. He slipped a hand into his vest pocket and took out the envelope that was meant for her and held it out to her.

"No one could find you after the unveiling but you won the costume prize. Also..." His other hand pulled the pair of red panties from his pocket and lifted them so they could both see them easily. "You dropped these when you bolted into the maze, my dear."

Taking the envelope, she was just about to thank him, a smile on her lips until he pulled her favorite pair of panties out of his pocket. Blanching slightly, she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out which was a good thing because it would have been stifled by the kiss that he pressed against her plump lips. Feeling his hands gently working to remove the scarf from her head, she let a faint mewl press against his lips before pulling away to look up at him. "Did you know it was me the whole time?"