“You promised we’d stay until the costume contest is over, remember?” she asked, turning to face him. “Don’t you want to win the prize?”
He looked incredible, his white pirate shirt with its very full sleeves ending in long cuffs, lace covering the backs of his hands. The loose, black linen breeches did nothing to hide the fact that his cock was obviously straining against the leather ties that closed the fly. He also wore a wide, red sash around his waist, a very realistic looking yet fake antique revolver hanging from one hip, and a fake dagger from the other. He wore black leather boots, and white stockings that ended under the hem of the linen pants, with additional ties around his calves. His dark hair was covered with a red kerchief, which was mostly hidden by his pirate hat, and chains of thick gold costume jewelry swungaround his neck. Ariel giggled as he bent to kiss her, a faux diamond sparkling from its place in the fake gold cap on his front tooth.
“The only treasure I’m interested in is you,” he murmured, a moment before he kissed her. Ariel clung to him tightly, her heart pounding inside her chest as he proved yet again how he could reduce her to a quivering blob with a simple kiss. She squealed when a hard swat landed against her bottom.
“Ow, what is that?” she demanded, her head turning to see he had removed the dagger from his belt and was using the flat of it to swat against the thin fabric covering her ass. “Hey, that’s not very chivalrous.”
“Oh, my poor innocent siren of the sea.” He grinned and ran the edge of the dagger up the side of her hip and across her stomach, tapping the tip against the buried jewel in her navel. “Don’t you know that pirates have no greater desire than pillaging?”
The look in his eyes made her shiver as she pulled his head down to bring his mouth back to hers. “Pillage away, my Captain, pillage away.”
The two were enjoying drinks at the bar as they chatted with friends. Ariel loved her costume but was a little perturbed she had to be helped up onto a stool— and even then was unable to cross her legs other than at her ankles. When she spied Barbara and Craig, she practically teetered off the high bar stool in her excitement. Only Garrett’s quick reflexes had her caught before she fell, her bottom once again seated properly, his amusement showing in his grin.
“Good thing you have no intention of trying to escape capture, my siren,” he chuckled. “That costume is giving me all sorts of ideas about bondage.” He ignored her quick slap against his chest as he shook Craig’s hand.
“You look so adorable,” Ariel said to her sister. Barbara blushed, but giggled and gave a small curtsy. She did indeed look precious dressed as Alice, accompanied by her very own Mad Hatter. Craig twirled her around, obviously extremely proud to show off his partner.
Barbara’s hair had been styled into ringlets that cascaded down her back, held off her face by a wide blue headband. Her blue dress lifted at the twirl, to reveal layers of pink petticoats that gave the dress its fullness. A crisp white pinafore, tied with a huge bow in the back, white stockings, and slip on patent leather shoes completed her outfit.
Craig grinned and helped her onto her own stool, sweeping off his oversized hat and giving a low bow.
“Doesn’t he make the perfect Mad Hatter?” Barbara asked, as he stood again. Everyone had to admit that he did. Craig had been transformed by his costume. His trousers didn’t quite reach his ankles, and bright orange socks were visible below the grayish black of his suit. A long coat swept around his knees, open to reveal a vivid yellow vest with large gold buttons. The cuffs of his blue shirt peeked out from his jacket, and a wide green sash, splashed with spots of pink, was tied around his throat in a huge bow. The hat, however, was true perfection. When he plopped it back on top of his head, he gained another foot in height. Tucked into the red hat band was a large white note, with 10/6 written on it. Anyone who truly knew the story depicted in Lewis Carroll’sAlice in Wonderlandunderstood that even this hat was for sale—if, of course, one had the ten shillings and sixpence the tag declared as the price.
“Isn’t this fun?” Barbara declared as her eyes swept around the room, her amazement at the sight of costumed couples evident on her face. While it wasn’t unusual to see members wearing all sorts of costumes, on any other night, they usually consisted of far more skimpy and risqué lingerie, body-hugging Spandex or supple leather. It was truly a feast for the eyes to see how everyone had gone above and beyond to transform themselves for the party. “Oh my God, is that Nancy?” Her eyes widened as a woman dressed in nothing but a nude-colored bodysuit and a long blonde wig walked toward them.
“Yes, and I must say, she’s a dead ringer for Lady Godiva,” Garrett said, his grin showing his approval of the rather revealing costume.
“Look at Jason—he’s ‘Peeping Tom’ from the story!” Ariel giggled, seeing Jason dressed as a common laborer of the eleventh century, a cane tapping against the floor to show the blindness that afflicted him. The tale stated that he had disobeyed the order not to cast his eyes upon the naked lady riding her horse through the village in protest of the taxation that her own husband had demanded of their people. A villager named Tom had bored holes in the shutters of his window in order to “peep” at the beautiful woman. Everyone gasped as Nancy gave a shrill cry when the cane was lifted to land across her bottom.
“For a blind man, his aim is impeccable,” Craig commented as Barbara giggled.
“They couldn’t have picked better costumes, could they? Nancy is the exhibitionist, and her own poor husband is her voyeur,” Barbara said, her curls shaking as she laughed.
“I’m a little surprised Jason didn’t dress as a horse,” Ariel teased, and laughter filled the air around them, everyone most likely thinking it would have been appropriate and quite fun listening to Jason inform his lady that it was time for a ride.
Cleopatra and Marc Antony, more commonly known as Elizabeth and Logan, joined the group. Elizabeth was stunning with her black hair flowing like the Nile around her white gown, a golden crown decorated with a jeweled asp holding it off her face, a necklace of gold around her throat. She wore a belt of gold around her waist, decorated with fake jewels, and a beautiful serpent bracelet appeared to slither up her slender arm from her wrist to her shoulder.
Logan looked as if he had stepped out of the pages of history in his white toga, over which he wore a vest of leather armor. His muscular calves were wrapped with the leather thongs of his sandals. One arm was around Cleopatra’s waist, the other hand gripped the hilt of a sword that was much more lethal looking than the dagger Garrett wore. The couples had gone all out in their choice of costumes, each selection fitting the individuals perfectly.
As the group talked and sipped from their drinks, Elizabeth seemed too quiet. “What’s wrong?” Nancy asked, when she saw her business partner looking over her shoulder for the third time.
Having heard Nancy ask Liz, but not receive a response from his fiancée, Logan repeated the question. “Schatzi, what’s the matter? You seemed spooked tonight.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Liz was reluctant to voice her concern. She had felt uneasy the moment she had walked into the club. The room was full of people dressed in costumes, several wearing masks that hid their identity.
“I don’t know, perhaps it’s just the fact that it’s Halloween. I don’t know why some people insist on dressing up like characters from slasher films.”
Though Liz was attempting to play down her unease, Logan wasn’t fooled for a moment. Though she smiled, her eyesshowed her concern. “Talk to me, Liz,” he directed, his hand going around her waist.
“It’s just that I keep thinking someone is watching me,” she finally admitted. Looking at Nancy, she managed a small smile. “I know it’s silly. If anyone is being stared at, it’s Nancy. You do realize that you really do look naked, right?”
Nancy flushed but refused to allow her best friend to hide behind the comment. “I do, but that is not why you’ve been acting strange since you got here,” she said, looking around the room but seeing nothing to cause concern. “Who do you think it is?”
Liz also glanced around, hoping that the feeling would dissipate with her voicing her feeling. “I know it’s silly, but, well, I could swear the monk I saw looked like Greg Spenser. That’s impossible, right Logan? I mean, we have restraining orders.”
Logan nodded his head. Liz was correct, and yet his protective instincts ratcheted up a notch. “Yes, but though I hate to say it, a restraining order is really nothing more than a piece of paper. But I can say there is not a chance in hell he was accepted as a member.”
Garrett stood up from where he had been seated. “Any chance he’s here as a guest? We need to check.”
