The Underground Part 5

Brigg nodded. "Thank you, Miss Shayla," he said, sounding a little sarcastic to Nathaniel.

"It could be worse," Nathaniel said, using a towel to wipe his forehead. He felt like he had been rolled in charcoal, and the dust was baking into his skin. Still, he wasn't as irritated by the heat as he used to be. His mornings with Shayla took the edge off of the heat, the supervisors, and even Janice.

"Am I sitting next to the same guy who used to whine constantly? Why are you so f.u.c.king happy lately?" Brigg said.

Nathaniel shrugged, grinning.

Brigg eyed him closely.

"Break is over!" their supervisor yelled.

"It wasn't really a full 10 minutes," Brigg whispered to Nathaniel, but apparently, he hadn't done so quietly enough as their supervisor turned and glared at them, before walking over.

"What'd you say?" she asked.

"Ready to get back to work," Brigg said, his voice barely masking a quiver. She was known to be harsh. Rumor had it that she had sent two men to the C Center before they were 26, deeming their behaviors "dangerous and erratic" and therefore causing a threat to women's safety.

"Good. You two are back on jackhammer duty for the rest of the week."

Jack hammering was known to be the toughest a.s.signment, and they were done with it for the week. They each knew better than to speak up and remind her about Shayla's new policy that only allowed fifteen hours per week of jackhammer duty, which they had just completed.

Nathaniel and Brigg silently walked over to the jackhammers that were used to break up the top layer of the street for repaving. Without emotion, they put on their goggles and protective ear gear and began the work that vibrated their bodies and souls.

"DeLUCA!"

"Yes," he said, turning off his jack hammer not an hour later. The same supervisor yelled his name again. Brigg caught his eyes for a moment, and Nathaniel saw his own worry reflected back.

"This is for you and apparently it's an emergency so I am instructed to let you go," she said, eyeing the well-sealed envelope that she reluctantly handed him.

Chapter 10.

Nathaniel quickly showered at work and put on another set of Cambridge Public Works clothes, as that was all he had. He then hurried through the streets until he got to the hotel. Walking through the lobby, he felt self-conscious in his work uniform.

He glanced at the note one more time, in his lover's unmistakable handwriting as he waited for the elevator.

Room 314. Cambridge Marriott. Now!

The lipstick kiss at the bottom made him want to smile when he first got the note, but his supervisor was standing close by. It took effort to maintain his composure.

"What is it?" his supervisor had asked suspiciously.

"I've got to go," he had simply said, and shoved it into his pocket. He couldn't wait to get out of there. Obviously, Shayla couldn't wait either, he thought, grinning. It was highly unusual to be called away from a job site in this way. Even for the Queen's daughter, sending such a note felt too risky.

As soon as he was out of there, he relaxed a little, and now he was nervous again. Nathaniel tried to appear nonchalant when boarding the elevator, but was unaccustomed to being inside such an elegant building. Even the elevators were stunning with green marble walls and hand-carved wood trim.

He made his way to the room. As soon as Shayla let him in and closed the door, she opened the hotel's insignia bathrobe to reveal her sheer black negligee. The matching black garters perfectly complemented her s.e.xy body.

"I've waited a long time to share a bed with you," she said.

With an unhindered smile, she led him to the bed before she began to peel away her lingerie. She stood still for a moment, teasing him toward her as he admired every inch of her body as she touched her own b.r.e.a.s.t.s invitingly. They were perfect, ample, and accentuated her pet.i.te waist. The dip of her flat belly invited him to what was below. As she began to tug at his b.u.t.tons, he put his hands on hers to help her slowly undo the fly and then he removed his standard issue Public Works uniform of a blue polyester b.u.t.ton-down shirt. All the while, his eyes stayed on hers as she began to touch the muscles that defined the lines of his taut body.

He kissed her long and hard until she pushed him away to quickly pull her negligee over her head. He pulled her close again, cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and leaned down to softly suck on her nipples until they tightened with pleasure.

She backed away after a moment and sat on the bed. Clad only in a g-string, she spread her legs to reach in the panties where she touched herself, watching for his reaction. He wanted her so badly. Nothing would keep him from her. He went to her.

Her eyes met Nathaniel's for a moment before she began to kiss her way down his body, teasing him slowly until she reached his granite hard-on. She put her hands around him, before taunting him further, pretending she was going to take him in. Finally, she began with the tip in her mouth, tasting the pearl of saltiness on the end. He had to concentrate to control himself once her lips enveloped him completely. The smoothness of her mouth rapidly on him was too much and he felt his release too soon.

When she was done, she brought her face to his. "This is so perfect in a place like this." he said. He looked into her eyes deeply for all the nights they'd been apart, for the dinners they hadn't shared, and the public strolls around town that would never be. "Thank you," he added, holding her, caressing her soft skin with a relaxed pleasure that was unlike anything he'd ever experienced.

His hardness soon returned and he mounted her with unrestrained pa.s.sion. They rocked together in perfect rhythm. She moaned with bliss as he wrapped her legs around him. She shuddered as Nathaniel felt his o.r.g.a.s.m blast through her.

He said, "I wish..."

"Shhh..." she said, stopping him with her finger on his mouth. He felt relaxed as never before, but he wanted to say so many things as he gazed into her welcome eyes. Instead, he held her tightly, sadly wondering if he would ever have this opportunity again.

As Nathaniel stepped outside, he was greeted with the rush of people heading home for the evening. A surge of guilt and fear rose up in him and he decided to go by Eva's Diner, since it was on the way, and surprise Janice. The wedding was still a month away and he needed to keep her happy. He hadn't planned on cheating when he agreed to be her husband. He knew it wasn't okay and he also felt bad about harboring this secret from Brigg, too. Since they were kids, they'd always trusted one another. But this was different. He had to keep it to himself, for everyone's safety.

As soon as he stepped inside Eva's Diner, he saw the unbridled excitement on Janice's face. She ran to the door and gave him a big kiss and hug.

"What a great surprise!" she asked happily. "Oh, you smell so clean! Is that a new soap? I like!" she said, leaning close. He was very glad to have taken an extra shower after s.e.x with Shayla. Better to smell of soap than anything else.

"I showered at work," he said, offering only a piece of the truth. While he didn't love Janice, she didn't deserve to be cheated on.

"What brings you here?"

"I was going home from work and thought I'd come visit my love," he said. He had to lay it on thick as much to a.s.suage his guilt as he did to try to undercut his growing mountain of feelings for Shayla.

Janice lunged at her boss. "Eva, can I take my break now?"

"You lovebirds take your time," Eva said.

"Let's go outside so I can have a smoke," Janice said, grabbing Nathaniel's hand, as she stepped out the door and led him to a bench out front. The fresh air felt good, until she lit her menthol cigarette that traveled in slow waves toward him. Although she made no effort to shield the smoke, he didn't complain.

"Does my special man want me to take him out to dinner tonight?" she asked as she ran her index finger lightly over his hand in small spirals.

"I don't mind cooking, but I'm happy to go out too," he said lightly, not responding to her touch. He knew he should, but his mind ran elsewhere the moment she lit that cigarette.

"Great. Let's go to Antonio's and have a real nice meal. Can you wait for a late dinner?"

"Perfect," he said, trying to sound upbeat before leaning to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Great. I'll pick you up at 9:30 and we'll go straight from there. I gotta get back to work, even though I'd love to knock off right now," she said softly before giving him one more nicotine kiss, this one longer. He resisted his urge to pull away and grab a mint.

Antonio's was crowded, but Janice had been going there forever, and they were seated quickly.

"I had a fitting today for my dress," she said with excitement when they sat down. "It's so beautiful. I can't wait! Did you get your botox appointment?"

"Not yet, but soon," he said.

"Nathaniel, you must do that! It's 29 days until the wedding! You need to get that done so there will be time for it to settle down a little!" she said. He placed his hand on hers, and she visibly softened. His stomach knotted as he realized they were each counting the days for entirely different reasons.

"I'll make the appointment tomorrow," he said. "I promise."

As they walked home, she carried on about wedding details, making his stomach tighter and tighter, as he could only think of Shayla.

Soon after they got home, Nathaniel settled onto the couch in the living room, hoping to read. Janice soon joined him, clad only in a red see-through negligee that had accompanying crotch-less panties. She softly said his name as she showed him the intentional hole in her outfit, which repulsed him. He looked where she pointed, but the ripples of cellulite that surrounded her belly b.u.t.ton turned him off completely as he couldn't help but compare it to the negligee and beautifully smooth body of his true love, from earlier in the day.

"I'm a little tired, love," he said. He didn't know if he could manage another erection, especially if it wasn't for Shayla.

"I need you," she said. "It's been a while..."

"You know I love you. It's just that I've been working with the jackhammers in 100 degree weather. It's so exhausting," he said, pulling her close, the sour alcohol smell infusing his s.p.a.ce.

"Are you sure that's all?" she said, and he felt a new twinge of guilt for Janice. He had never heard her insecurity so blatantly. Of course he should have forced himself to have s.e.x with her on a regular basis. Even though it would be a challenge, he made a mental note to do so moving forward a at least twice a week.

"Of course that's all," he said, trying to be rea.s.suring as he held her close. He let the hug linger, and lovingly stroked her head, as if she were Shayla. He realized that he couldn't put it off forever. "We'll make some special time this weekend to be together," he said.

"Okay," she said, pulling back and looking into his eyes with a tentative smile. He held her gaze, but his heart quickened, as he worried that she would see into his mind. He had to be careful or she might dump him. He had no backup plan. It wasn't as if the Queen's daughter was going to drop everything, give up her place in the Palace lineage and propose to a laborer like Nathaniel DeLuca.

She pulled out a bottle of vodka from the cabinet and retreated to the bedroom. It was uncharacteristic of her not to have him fix her drinks. He was happy to be left alone. Shayla had given him a hardcover book as a gift and he pulled it out and opened to the page he had last read. As much as he tried, he couldn't concentrate. He closed the book and set it on the coffee table in front of him, wondering whether he preferred to have Janice bossy or insecure. Bossy Janice, at least, helped him justify the love he had found elsewhere.

He checked in on her a little later and saw she was asleep next to a half-empty bottle of vodka. He put the lid on it before turning off the light and closing the bedroom door. He retrieved Reminder of Truth, which he had read with a new fervor since he had seen Shayla's copy. They had discussed their favorite pa.s.sages, and he turned to one of those that fueled him when he felt unsure of how he was going to make it through another day, with all that he juggled.

...You must foster the change, dear reader! Give love and make love, and show the women our compa.s.sion. We must show women and the world that not all men are violent, rapists, or cruel. This is the truth and it must be revealed.

He reread it and absorbed the meaning before closing the book. He carefully replaced it under the sink, hidden away. It was late, and he was headed to bed when the nighttime silence was subtly interrupted with a tapping sound that caught him off guard. At first, he thought the noise came from their grumpy refrigerator, but he realized this stray sound wasn't coming from the kitchen.

He stood in the center of the living room, listening. Adrenaline surged from within him, moving toward his fingertips. He couldn't pinpoint its origin until it changed to a quiet knock on the door and he moved toward it.

It was nearly midnight. Who could be at the door? It could only be a neighbor from inside the building since anyone else would have to ring the buzzer to get past the initial set of doors. The knocking sound started again. He hesitated.

"Who's there?"

"It's Brigg. I know it's late, but can I come in for a minute?"

Nathaniel felt his muscles relax as the familiar voice calmed him. He was confused as to why Brigg didn't use the cell to at least text him and let him know he was coming. As he unlocked the door, he again wondered how Brigg got into the building without a key.

As soon as the door opened, Brigg came in.

"What's up?"

"I have some people I want you to meet," Brigg whispered, pulling him into the hall.

"Now?"

"Yes," Brigg said, and out of nowhere four men clad in black quietly overtook Nathaniel. One covered his mouth with a gag, two others helped hold him down while the fourth prepared a syringe.

"Hold still and it'll hurt less," Brigg said, but Nathaniel squirmed. What the h.e.l.l was going on? Why was Brigg doing this?

"This is for the best, my friend," Nathaniel heard Brigg say from the distance as he felt a shocking pierce to his arm, and after that everything went black.

Chapter 11.

"Brigg!" he managed to croak through his cottony-dry mouth. If his friend was in the front of the van, surely he would help.

Nathaniel's head boomed in sync with the highway's jostling ride. With effort, he roused his body to a sitting position, feeling a plethora of aches a presumably from being b.u.mped around in the van for G.o.d knows how long.

"Brigg, come on, man!"

"One more yell out of you and I'll pull over and put that gag back on," he finally heard in an unfamiliar bark.

Nathaniel looked around the back of the van, shades drawn on the windows so the only light came from the edges. Everything he looked at had a haze. He felt thirsty, like a dehydrated plant. What the h.e.l.l did they inject him with?

Most important, he felt no pain in his groin. There had been rumors about people randomly being captured and taken directly to the C Centers before their time. The government propaganda swore it wasn't cruel since full anesthesia made it so that there was no discomfort. Nathaniel lacked any faith in the government, let alone the C Center literature. To wake up as a Spot would be a permanent h.e.l.l. Then again, maybe that's where they were headed.

Nathaniel silently cursed himself. It must have to do with Shayla. How foolish he was to think that he and Shayla could get away with spending an entire afternoon in a hotel. It was a blur of tangled lovemaking and room service. Someone had seen them.

He guessed that they weren't on the highway anymore as the road suddenly grew b.u.mpy. His nerves rattled with each turn. The motor finally ceased and the driver door squeaked open and closed with a slam. Adrenalin and fear tore through Nathaniel. The back door of the van flew open and the shock of daylight blinded him.

"I'll do anything you want. Please, just don't castrate me! PLEASE!" he said as a primal desire for the survival of his manhood made him plead. Two masked people subdued him once again.

Shayla tried to stay focused, but the thought of Nathaniel being castrated made her ill. She hadn't heard from him in more than a week and shuddered to think that he had been picked up by the Tasers, 26 years old or not.

She knew something was terribly wrong. His work record was impeccable. He hadn't missed a single day of coming to her office door since they'd become lovers. He would never just vanish. Above all, he would never abandon her.

Shayla had lived her first 28 years without this man, but she was suddenly desperate for him. She hated that, but there was no turning away from her feelings. Her worry, anxiety, and sheer longing permeated every thought and at the end of another long day, she found herself exhausted but unable to sleep.