Twist (Siren Publishing Allure) (29 page)

“I met him on Facebook. He sent me an invitation and I asked him to go for dinner. We talked during dinner and then spent the first night together beside the waterfall that runs through the back of the property that he and Lee share, sorry, shared. Anyway. By the time we ended up back at his house, I already knew a lot about him. I really liked him, and when he invited me to stay, I did.”

“Was he always…I don’t want to use the word ‘violent,’” she whispered.

“No, he was never violent. He had an outrageous imagination, but he was sweet and tender like any other man.”

She hesitated, seeming to word her question carefully. “What if you didn’t want to do something? Did he force you?”

Lana frowned. “Of course not. I don’t know why you would even ask that.”

She shrugged, seemingly overly agitated by her vague answer. “I guess that I’m looking for something different and I’m not sure what is good and what is bad.”

“I have to think that is personal choice.”

Celia smiled, looking to see if anyone was near them. “I was watching TV last night and the woman screamed for more. I have never been aroused to the point where I would care if the guy stopped. I mean it feels good, but…At the club, I heard women and men beg. Can it really be that fantastic?” She took Lana’s hand from the bowl and began cleaning her fingernails before rubbing them with oil and filing them.

Lana wrinkled her nose, feeling bad for Celia. She remembered those thoughts from the later years of her marriage and sighed. “Enar knew how to drive me insane. It is hard to explain if you have never experienced it. With the proper stimuli, you can become aroused to the point that your mind becomes clouded over with the sensations. There is nothing more than the feel of your body, the feel of what he is doing.”

Celia stared at her for a moment and then began on other hand. “I can’t even imagine that.”

“While you are reading, pick up a how-to manual. Give yourself an hour of quiet time and try it. If you follow the instructions without cheating, you might begin to understand.”

“An hour? Sex can’t last for an hour. Can it?”

Lana instantly got a case of the giggles. “I’m sorry, Celia. I’m not laughing at you. I just thought of something funny.” She composed herself. “If a man wants to and knows how to, it can last a lot longer. It also helps if you know what does it for you. Then you can tell him.”

Celia blushed, holding up the polish. “You want this color on your fingernails also?”

“Yes, might as well.”

Celia was quiet as she polished Lana’s fingernails. She dried her feet, sanding any rough spots and rubbing cream into them. As she was clipping Lana’s toenails, she asked quietly, “Have you ever been in that…umm…store with the blackened windows?”

“The novelty shop? Yes. It has some very interesting items.”

“Don’t they just sell dildos and dirty books?”

“No. Well, yes, they do, but they have a variety of other things. They have different kinds of massage oils. Some get hot when you rub them in. They sell body paint, toys, games, and all sorts of stuff. Go in there someday on your lunch hour.”

“I couldn’t,” she replied in a giddy voice.

“Why not? I wouldn’t recommend going in there alone at night, but the place is harmless during the day.”

“But wouldn’t anyone who saw me think I was really kinky?”

“They have other ones around if you are too embarrassed to go into the one here.”

A sly smile spread over her lips and she asked, “Where?”

“I can’t give you exact locations off the top of my head. Go onto your computer and type in ‘adult novelty stores in Connecticut.’”

“I never thought of that. I suppose maybe I will.”

She finished Lana’s other foot and then polished her nails. Celia looked at her oddly and groaned. “I can’t believe that I didn’t do your facial first. That was really stupid. Now I’ll have to be super careful not to get it in your hair.”

“I’m not thinking too clearly today either.” She got up, hobbling to the table and pushing herself up onto it. Celia carefully wrapped her hair, trying to preserve the fresh style while still keeping it clean. She set up the steamer over Lana’s face to open her pores and then asked, “Would you like a cup of tea or anything?”

“Yes, I would love a cup of orange with honey.”

“Coming right up.”

Lana was happy to be released from the conversation, hoping that Celia would find another subject to discuss. Lana suddenly realized that in her earlier years she would have been appalled by the questions that Celia had asked. Today, she was simply tired of talking.

Celia returned, shutting off the steamer and rubbing cream into Lana’s face. “I put your tea on the table to cool.”

“Thank you.”

Warm, strong hands began to massage her legs, and Lana groaned. “Hi, Rolf.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“I can smell your cologne.”

He leaned and sniffed her legs. “I smell cinnamon sugar.”

“You said you loved it.”

“I said that I liked the taste.”

“I know. You ate my toast this morning, remember?”

“Yeah, all three slices plus my own. The bike handles excellent.”

“I thought so. How was the inspection slash introduction?”

“I think it went well.”

He rubbed Lana’s knee and she jumped, grunting sharply as she opened her eyes. He frowned at her. “It’s that sore?”

“Yeah. Falling on it again this morning didn’t help anything.”

His eyes narrowed as he stared above her. “Celia as in Cecelia Hastings?”

“Funny. I have a vague memory of Lana saying that you were intelligent while she was running her mouth about your perverted sex life. I guess not.”

He snorted with laugher. “This has nothing to do with intelligent and everything to do with the fact that age has not been kind to you. Lana, would you have guessed that little, miss goody two-shoes here was not only the prom queen but our high school Holy Roller? She was too good to even consider a date with me. I was a bad boy and the devil had my soul.”

Lana sat up, having no intention of allowing a woman that Rolf had just insulted touch her face. With her luck, she would end up walking around looking like a beet because Celia had scrubbed her skin raw. “So much for the facial.” She hopped off the table, heading to the bathroom to rinse off her face. She took the bands out of her hair and fluffed it with her hand before walking back out and leaning against Rolf.

He handed her a small bag, and Lana extracted the cookie, biting into it and groaning. She offered him a bite and he took it, chewing thoughtfully. “You were running your mouth? Celia claims that she is going to ruin us with the information that she gathered from you today,” he said, his eyes locked menacingly on Celia.

Lana swallowed the last bite of cookie, pursing her lips. “Really? We were having a bullshit conversation that began with a comment about a photo she had seen of me at Club Trist. Celia, there is no such thing as an introductory pass. I told you the truth, but I didn’t tell you anything damaging to me, Rolf, or Enar.”

“You belong to Club Trist.”

“Did I say that?”

“Not specifically. But you said that you know the owner.”

“Of course I do. Enar did business with him.”

“Enar was a damn sadist, you admitted that.”

“I admitted what? That he knew how to make me insane? I don’t think having a chocolate cream pie fight before sex counts as sadism.”

“You are fucking Rolf!”

“It’s none of your business if I am, and I also never said that.” Lana caught sight of the two town busybodies as they stepped into the salon. She raised her voice slightly. “I don’t know who you think you are or what you hope to accomplish by trying to slander my husband’s good name. You said that you had gone to Club Trist, and I played along. You asked me about Enar and Rolf and I told you that they were proud, trustworthy, and honorable men. You asked me if my sex life with Enar was violent and I told you that he was a gentle man with a creative imagination. As far as I was concerned we were simply having a woman-to-woman chat as you did my hair and nails. Now you have the gall to threaten Rolf? Have you forgotten that I own this business, as well as a good portion of the businesses in town? You work for me, and I hope you can afford to move, because if I fire you, you won’t get another job in this town or any of the surrounding towns. Do we understand each other?”

Her tone dropped an octave. “I will not have an employee who lies and tries to slander my husband’s good name. Do you honestly think any rational person would believe that Enar was a sadist? He was the sweetest, most generous man I have ever known, and it appalls me that you would even say such a thing.” She could see the two ladies nodding in agreement as she glared at Celia. “Are you going to apologize to Rolf, or are you going to find yourself another job?”

“I will not!”

“Then please pack up your things and get out.” She turned to Beth. “I am sorry to leave you shorthanded. I have a cousin who runs a salon in Branford. I will give her a call and see if she can recommend someone. In the meantime, anyone who already has an appointment today who has to wait for longer than a half hour will not be charged for whatever services they receive. There will, of course, be a bonus for the two of you if you don’t mind staying a bit late.”

Beth nodded. “I can’t believe what Celia just tried to do to you. She has always acted like she was above the rest of the town, but she has never been so blatantly rude. You had every right to fire her. If you don’t mind, my sister has the training to work here. She gave it up when she had her baby, but they need the extra money now. Could I have her send you a résumé?”

“Of course. Fax it to me and I will look it over as soon as I get it.”

“Thank you. Do you want one of us to finish your facial?”

She shook her head. “I believe these ladies have been waiting long enough. I’m fine.”

She took a step, grimacing. Rolf put his arm around her, keeping her steady as she headed for the door. He stopped to throw a twenty on the counter. “When you get a minute, go get yourselves a cup of coffee.” Once they were outside, he chuckled. “Damn, you’re a feisty bitch. I know what her problem is.”

“You couldn’t have warned me ahead of time?” asked Lana sarcastically as she slid onto the seat. “I would have had Olive do my face and nails.”

“Sorry. Are you okay to drive this?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Rolf shrugged and slid in behind her, inching his way as close as he could into her back. “I didn’t realize who she was. It was the sour expression on her face that gave her away. She used to be really beautiful. I wanted a date with her so badly. She wanted nothing to do with me. Then to rub it in my face, she went after Enar. He wasn’t interested in her, and she was livid that he had the nerve to reject her. It made her chase him all the more. I can’t believe that he hired her.”

“He didn’t. Faith quit about three months ago. Lee and I were too busy to deal with it. We glanced over the application and told Beth to hire her. She was qualified.”

“Is she married?”

Lana considered the question and then thumped herself in the forehead with her palm. “Oh shit! I just made the connection. I met her husband at Club Trist. He was an associate of Enar’s. I gathered from what he said he was interested in the kinkier side of life. She was into church and was appalled when she found out about the club. Her name was Cecelia. His last name was Corgan, which was the name that she used on the application. From what he said, things got really bad between them and he filed for a divorce. She was mortified but finally gave it to him.”

“So she blames Enar, adding injury to the insult of his earlier rejection.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Lana fired up the beast and they headed for home.

* * * *

It was shortly after they arrived home that Lee showed up with dinner. He took the food out of the carry cooler and then retrieved his tablet from its case, handing it to Lana. “Read.”

She tapped the screen to life. There was an open e-mail on the screen.
Lee, I don’t know what the hell happened, but I think you might want to read this. I already shot the article down, and when Celia refused to write something else, I fired her. She was our religious voice, but I can find someone else. Give me a call. Henry Simpson, editor and chief Ridgefield News.

She clicked on the attached icon, Rolf blowing softly on her ear as he read over her shoulder.
I find myself at odds today between a man who has always portrayed himself as a godly, generous soul and the truth of the depravation he has shared with his wife and twin brother. I feel that in good conscience I must warm my faithful, god-fearing neighbors about the acts that are happening around you. As many of my fellow church members are aware, I was forced to divorce my poor, depraved husband, who has sunken into the depths of evil. It was his choice to join Club Trist that put an end to our marriage. The club has a reputation for being very secretive and private. I found out when my husband joined that the reason for this is that the club is filled with those who worship the devil. They perform dark, violent acts of sadism upon one another, sharing their lust openly in this public forum. A seemingly upstanding member of our community introduced my husband to the club. Fredek Manard. I recently learned from his widow, while she enjoyed the services of Hall’s Salon, free of charge, that she was in complete agreement with her husband’s lifestyle. I have witnessed the brutal and oddly shaped bruises on her legs and arms, many of them resembling handprints. She tried to hide the one around her throat with a scarf, but it was all too obvious as I washed her hair. The fact that she tried to deny the violent acts which have been imposed on her makes me think all the more that they were done with her consent.

Her husband has only been gone for four days and she as much as admitted to me that she is already sleeping with Fredek’s twin brother, Rolf. This relationship is not one that either of them even bothers to hide, Rolf nipping her ear before choosing the polish that he wanted on her toes. Their wanton behavior, combined with Lana’s confessions of sin and lust, only further confirm my belief that we need to protect ourselves and our children from these people. We must get them out of our lives and keep them out. Club Trist needs to be run out of town, along with the entire Manard family. Let them take their money and go pander their sinful ways in some other city that doesn’t mind.