Playing With Fire

Chapter 3


Talia was dropped carefully upon the soft sacks again. Her dark hair fell into her eyes from the descent but she didn’t have time to swipe it away before Jack was hovered over her once more, caressing her neck and sliding his hands slowly over her peeked breasts.

‘Down on you.’ She considered the words again. Talia had almost forgotten they’d made a trade. She’d been so wrapped up in the idea of proving Jack’s mock of her abilities wrong (task accomplished) that any other activities were forgotten. Now she was anxiously trying to figure this one out.

Jack’s hands clenched at her fleshy mounds. As he moved his lips down her throat, he pushed her shirt up so his lips touched each nipple then traveled the valley between her breasts to kiss skin of her stomach. He didn’t stop there. He was making a slow path down the center of her body and only when his hands clutched around the upper hem of Talia’s pants which were still unbuttoned from earlier did it all start coming together.

Jack tugged sharply, maneuvering both pants and panties down her hips, as Talia had done the day before, and following each tug with a soft kiss, lower and lower and lower. Soon his caress was pressing against her partially exposed v-zone and Talia involuntarily clutched at the burlap beneath her. He sniffed softly, nuzzling through her curls until that part of her was finally bare for him. Jack drew a long, deep breath.

“Mmm…you smell delicious.” And quickly Jack nipped around her slit.

Dear God, she screamed to herself when the revelation hit her. Jack was going to eat her out. Like a rush of water from a broken dam flooded all the exhilarating details of the other girls’ gratification.

‘A glimpse of heaven’. Jessica had sighed. ‘Not much can compare to the high of a girl well eaten. I choose men by their tongues.’

The sudden press of Jack’s mouth on her nether lips, as though he was frenching against her mouth but flicking her clit rather than her tongue made Talia gasp audibly. Her head bolted upward to peer down at him over her heaving chest and she was met with Jack’s sly grin and murky eyes. He gently nipped her again, sliding her pants past her knees so he could carefully open her legs and expand the view.

“Damn beautiful.” He sighed, crouched almost on all fours, getting an eye full of Talia, wet and ready.

He wasted no time after that to remove her pants completely. They were tossed somewhere near but Talia didn’t take notice. She opened her legs wide for him as she lay against the sacks, trying to keep herself from begging Jack to put his mouth on her again and slightly irritated that she had to a wait even a moment.

This was sinful, wasn’t it? Lying sprawled under a man, anxiously waiting to feel his lips caress a place that was meant for husband lovers and not someone who happened to frequent your place of work lately. Aunt Alice would certainly say so. But Aunt Alice wasn’t here. And Jack’s hands were sliding so firmly up and down her naked thighs, his breath hitting against her already hot vagina it was hard to remember anything but the here and now.

She wanted him to press hard like the first time but Jack’s next caress came soft. A gentle nip, the kind she was used to feeling on her throat touched the opening of her hallow which was still moist with her desire. He slowly teased his tongue around the small hole, then up again, flitting as Talia had done to his length, and then swirling once around her clit.

She swallowed back a moan.

Kisses, gentle and teasing, so that she was catching her breath on every other touch, her mouth hanging open as though ready to cry out but only releasing pleasant moans. Encouraged, Jack’s hands slid under Talia’s knees where he pushed them up and apart as his work grew increasingly more fervent. He played his tongue around her clit firmer now, licking and sucking hard kisses that made Talia’s hips rise into his mouth while the two of them groaned together. She liked the new sensation of Jack’s hum.

The next bit of exploring Jack’s tongue did was to delve into her.

Talia’s hands raced to grip at Jack’s light hair, her head throwing back into the sacks and she understood now why he had held so tightly on his turn. There were tears rushing to her eyes as he pressed in against her, stabbing his thick tongue into that deep virgin crevice, swirling in and out while stroking teasingly at her clit with his finger.

“Jesus Christ, Jack…” Talia moaned, thrusting her hips to meet him with every stroke, caressing her hands through his hair and scratching at his scalp as they moved.

God she was going to hell, moaning like a cheap whore and loving every minute of it. Fuck Jack’s fingers. She’d take his tongue over his hands any day. Her legs were spread as wide as they could go, her vagina large and swollen from Jack’s attention, and still she stretched wider, rocking and writhing wonderfully under his tongue which aggressively shifted between clit and hallow.

She was breathless, calling his name to go harder, forcing it with her hands, begging. He slipped his hands up to her breasts and squeezed tight before turning all of his concentration to that small inflamed nub. The familiar ache welled up.

“Yes! God, yes, Jack!”

She was on the verge of everything glorious, feeling it begin to spread from the sweltering tempest between her legs like a bolt of lightening gathering together before the surge.

“Oh GOD, Jack…I’m coming...” Talia panted.

His grip was firm on her hips, his hot tongue racing before his mouth collapsed around the bud of her clit and sucked with such a passion that sent glorious spasms through Talia’s entire body. She tensed up into an arch as she moaned, loud and long, eyes rolling closed, wave after wave of the orgasm hitting her, more powerful than anything she’d felt before. Stronger than Elise’s damn vibrator, than Jack’s fingers the day before until finally her nerves were spent and she collapsed limp and helpless onto the burlap sack.

When the world returned around her she was aware of Jack’s tongue still doing circles as he lapped her juices. She rose to her elbows tiredly, hair falling across her eyes so that she saw him through a dark screen in the dimly lit warehouse, still breathing heavily. He stopped his ministration to meet her glance. Talia had to admit she was disappointed when he crawled up to meet her with a kiss because it was one of conclusion. And this time *she* was tasting a flavor on *his* lips.

Jack breathed into her neck and settled next to her.

That couldn’t be it. She was still on nerves from her orgasm. Damp with sweat, her center pulsed and she wanted to feel him push into her full and large and take her rough against the burlap sack until the ache was fully exhausted. But Talia was too tired to voice any of these opinions, something she was thankful for a few minutes later when reason returned.

“Have fun?” Jack smirked.

“What do you think?” she rolled her eyes.

Jack was doing small strokes up and down her stomach as he lay with her. “All in all a pretty good day, I’d say.”

She had to agree with that, so she nodded, smiling silly. Jack’s eyes narrowed over a grin. He lightly stroked back the loose strands of Talia’s hair so that her rich, dark eyes looked up at him with no obstruction. She could feel her cheeks still warm and wondered if her face was red or blotchy from the recent rush of blood. Jack’s gaze didn’t seem put off though. His look softened and all of sudden Talia felt as though she was seeing something she wasn’t supposed to.

“You’re so beautiful, Talia.” He whispered and softly kissed her on the lips. It was such a sweet caress and so carefully done that she waited for him to say something more but all too quickly he jumped away and that casual smirk played his lips, tenderness gone. Jack swiftly glanced at his watch. “We got about fifteen minutes. How ‘bout some good old fashioned making out?”

“Mmm…” she sighed, hiding disappointment. “Sounds good.”


xxx


Talia was making a careful list of all the reasons she was going to hell. The number one and most important was that she was lying. The second was that one of these lies involved Jack and a certain recipe to satisfy pride as well as carnal pleasure. The third (and most disturbing of them all) was that she was acutely aware her promise to keep things from turning to ‘mortal sin’ was fast fading and at the rate they were going probably wouldn’t last long.

If she’d only kept her mouth shut and hadn’t asked to see *it* yesterday then she wouldn’t be in this predicament. There wouldn’t have been sexual activity of any kind and they’d still be making out with a bit of respectable petting. Talia’s eternal soul was on what her father had called ‘a conveyor belt to hell’. It had all begun so small and now she felt as though things were speeding along in a direction she should probably change. But, God, the Great Almighty, Father of All, it was so good. How could she have stopped him?

She came around the corner of Hodson St. holding her jacket around her tight, more for her own comfort than to keep out the weather though the wind was blowing today. It whistled past her ears and so she missed her name the first time it was called. The second was loud and clear.

“Talia!”

Talia turned over her shoulder to see Brevin Merritt jogging toward her from across the street. His hair flopped against his forehead with each step, his cheeks were pink. Talia’s heart skipped a beat and immediately Jack’s soft farewell kiss was forgotten.

“Hey, Talia. On your way to meeting?” he asked when he finally caught up to her and she was pleased to see him with a ready smile.

“Yeah, I just finished work.”

“Mind if I walk with you?”

“Course not.” She grinned.

Brevin fell into step with Talia. Left, right, left right. She counted the steps desperately trying to think of something clever to say. The last time she’d been alone in Brevin’s company she’d dully informed him of the four most common scrapbook layouts. She still cringed at the memory of his long yawn. Luckily for her however, Brevin was in a talkative mood this evening. He bounced along occasionally casting his glance up and down Talia’s slim body which she tried not to notice.

“How do you like the new job?” he asked in a passive sort of way.

The new job. The first thing that jumped into her head was Jack’s dark eyes gazing from between her legs. Guilt like fire burned. She quickly coughed it away. “Its nice.”

“Its in the east sector isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Talia nodded timidly.

“Must get some interesting characters.”

“Occasionally…” When Talia thought about it though, all those rumors about the wild East side had yet to show their ugly scars in Blazier’s place. On the whole, while the people she’d encountered so far may have looked a trifle odd there was nothing devilish yet to distinguish them from any other she might find in her own community. But of course, there were those rumors and she’d yet to venture past McKail Ave. or even attempt a glimpse at the docks. Still… “Its not so bad actually.”

“That right? Then you figure its worth it?”

Talia laughed at the question. “An extra two dollars an hour…definitely worth it. If it means we get hot water and electric this winter, anythings worth it.”

“The price of survival right?”

“Absolutely.”

Brevin nodded his shaggy head of hair still grinning at the way Talia had laughed at him. “Yup, that’s the way things work now a days, huh? You do what you have to do. Like dad’s always saying, God loves a hard worker so put your shoulder to the wheel. Blessings will come to those that look for them.”

Talia kept the smile to herself. She could imagine *her* father’s response to such a comment. It would be something along the lines of ‘Blessings will come to all, whether they have the ambition to search for them or simple faith that God will provide.’ She wasn’t about to inform Brevin of this, however.

“Like with these,” he continued and pulled out a curl of pamphlets from his back pocket. “I was hanging them up over on Market street.”

The pamphlets were the same standard news letters Pastor Merritt produced every week. The curl wrinkled down the center of the headline but she could easily make out the Pastor’s message.

“Is that what your father’s been working on?” Talia asked eagerly, remembering her Aunt’s disapproving comment the day before.

“He wants to turn that old Davenport building into a community center.” Brevin spoke proudly. “He’s been working with some others from the neighborhood, getting ideas together and pooling money. It wouldn’t just be for the church but a place for everyone to go. We could really use something like that in this place.”

‘Really use’ was an understatement. The City was desperate for some sense of community. Common order seemed to be that of self preservation, even within the church (as evident in the meeting changes) It was simply the way of the City. Suddenly her Aunts words were racing through her head again. ‘Don’t let it seduce you into thinking this life is normal.’ She’d forgotten days of leisure and the town parties they used to have when they lived in the Outside.

“It’s a great idea.”

“I know. Except the property is owned by Bo Barris, like everything else and of course that means things are a little complicated but he’s working it out.”

“You mean your father’s actually going to deal with him?” Talia’s stomach twisted, her eyes wide. Pastor Merritt speaking with The City’s Boss, negotiating and on a subject the notorious man would be none too pleased to entertain. To imagine simple little Pastor Merritt facing Bo Barris as though he were another of his congregation he was trying to persuade, it made her nervous.

Brevin sighed irritably. Not at Talia but everything around them. “Of course. You can’t do anything these days without going through The Boss. Its all part of the process Talia. Everyone does it. Some people of the congregation are having a hard time facing up to that.”

“Like my Aunt.” Talia shrugged.

“Hey, I didn’t mean…”

“I know, but its true. She doesn’t think we should have anything to do with Bo Barris.”

From the corner of her eye she could see Brevin’s shoulder’s stiffen slightly. When she looked, he was biting away irritation and she had a sudden urge to defend her Aunt. “Well, I mean, he’s not exactly on the straight and narrow. Its because of Mr. Barris and his cronies that there’s so much crime on the East side, isn’t there? Some people say he’s personally responsible for half the floaters found by the docks.”

“That’s all hearsay.” Brevin waved away her words. “Besides, most of those floater’s are later identified as drug pushers or drunks.”

“And then some are so mangled they never find out who they were.”

He sighed. “People deal with Bo Barris all the time. Maybe not personally but through his people and if what you say is true then half the City would be in the docks. Besides, Bo Barris is a cherub compared to the renegades that have taken over the Outside. Mr. Frenswick was just talking about a family he traveled with from one of the other coastal cities. They had to separate when they crossed through the Outside. The last group was ambushed before the cliffs. They never had a chance. At least you can say Bo gives us that.”

There was only silence to follow. Long, painful silence that had Talia holding her jacket even tighter and swallowing back a choking sob threatening to rise in her throat. A moment too late, Brevin caught himself.

“I’m sorry Talia. I wasn’t thinking…”

Ashamed of her watery eyes, she shook her head fervently. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I just…”

“No, I’m an idiot.” He stopped and tugged at her sleeve so that she was facing him. “I’m sorry. My head has just been everywhere lately and I – I should’ve have thought a little before I spoke.”

“Brevin really…”

He looked more ashamed than herself at her tears. He held both her arms so that she was facing him and suddenly feeling all of Brevin Merritt’s attention directed at herself, Talia cowered pleasantly under his gaze and smiled. They were standing almost at arms length but for a fleeting moment Talia imagined Brevin collapsing those arms around her the way Jack did so easily and pulling her into a kiss. Instead he did the next best thing.

“Hey, Elise told me you were thinking of joining our committee.”

She felt her lips tighten. Damn Elise to hell. She could just imagine the smarmy way Elise informed him of her intentions and found herself blushing again. “I was…but my Aunt said you gathered in the afternoons and well, with my job…”

“Talia you really think I’d pass up my dad’s favorite member just because of a time confliction?”

She felt warm at his raised brow but still awaited his solution. It seemed to lie in the small stack of pamphlets he’d stuffed back into his pocket. He nodded at the bulge.

“I always have a little extra I can never get to, so if you want you can help me out before meeting starts everyday and then I’ll catch you up on what you missed in the afternoon. What do you say?”

For a moment she thought of Jack and how this might affect the appointment she’d already established. But Brevin’s hands were rubbing gently at her arms and she felt the warmth blossom. She was still thinking of her father from Brevin’s slip earlier and realized this was the perfect opportunity to climb off that conveyor belt back to something stable and familiar even if it was only to please a memory.

“Sounds like it can work.” Talia found herself answer, never minding the sudden surge of regret because Brevin was tucking her hand in his.

“Great.”