Last week, Dallas learned that someone was outside his apartment, looking for him. Could it have been Samuel, or is that just wishful thinking on Dallas' part? If it was, then why? The answer may lie in today's episode of Dallas in Wonderland II. Then go see what the other Briefers are up to! Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!
Sometimes Samuel sat behind his imposing mahogany desk,
fingers steepled against his sensual lips, regarding Dallas with his unusual
coppery eyes flecked with green. Watching him, like a cat waiting in front of a
mouse hole waits for the mouse to emerge. Except he wasn’t only the cat, he was
the bait, too, wasn’t he?
Other times, he pulled up a chair close to the leather couch
Dallas lay on, so close that it took all of Dallas’ self-restraint not to reach
out and touch him in inappropriate ways.
Ways that were far less inappropriate when they’d been
together in Wonderland.
Today was one of those days.
Samuel sat so close that his scent wafted to Dallas, that
enticing aroma comprised of arousal and need, and the earthiness of desire. How
badly Dallas wanted to bury his face in Samuel’s naked crotch and inhale him.
Nothing in Samuel’s demeanor indicated this was even an
option.
Dallas forced himself to focus on Samuel’s words. Too often
they made little sense to him and today was no exception. Apparently, Samuel
had been appointed by the court to be Dallas’ psychiatrist. Dallas wasn’t sure
why. At some point, at Samuel’s recommendation, a decision would be reached.
Regarding what? Dallas had no clue.
Samuel cleared his throat, a gentle reminder for Dallas to
pay attention. But Dallas had been
listening. Samuel had just asked him about the dreams, was he still having
them. That’s how he referred to their time in Wonderland. As the deranged
dreams of a disturbed mind.
No, he never came out and said that in so many words, but
Dallas could read between the lines. He knew all too well he’d been tarred by
the brush of insanity and that’s why he’d lost so much of what mattered in his
life. He was determined, though, not to let it stick to him. But at this point,
he had no idea what he needed to do to reverse what had happened.
Everything was still too confused, too muddled. Reality and
fantasy mixing and merging in his mind. He never knew where one left off and
the other began. Just when he thought he had a handle on it, everything
changed, like a demented traffic light giving mixed signals.
And underneath it all, Dallas was convinced he’d find the
flagrant fingerprint of his unfaithful ex, Quentin Mandrake. He just needed to be
able to prove it.
“Have you had any
more of those dreams?” Samuel repeated the question.
“No, Dr. Levi,” Dallas dutifully replied.
Not for lack of trying, he had to admit.
Samuel shifted in his chair, recrossed his legs. Dallas
watched the expensive material of his trousers tighten about those familiar
legs. Samuel had the body of a much younger man. Dallas wasn’t even sure how
old he really was. The subject had never arisen between them.
“Are you taking the pills I gave you? Every night?”
Now Dallas was on shakier ground. The truth was he had no
desire to put strange chemicals into his body, even those prescribed by the
delicious Dr. Levi. He had them, yes, every single one that Samuel had ever given him. They were tucked safely
in his apartment, just in case he ever changed his mind.
Dallas doubted he ever would.
“Dr. Levi, may I ask you a question?” Dallas’ way of not
answering Samuel’s, so he wouldn’t have to lie to him.
Samuel’s smile was condescending. “The deepest waters make
the least noise.”
What does that even
mean? Dallas wasn’t sure if it was an observation, or simply something
calculated to confuse him even more than he already was.
“What do you wish to know?” Samuel prompted.
“How do you know Quentin?”
“What makes you think I know Mr. Mandrake?”
Dallas found it maddening that Samuel often answered a
question with a question. Used his own avoidance tactic on him.
Besides, he’d answered this question before. Just as he’d
asked it before. And never been satisfied with the response. He expected the
same result today.
“I saw him. In your office. The day...”
“Yes, Dallas? The day... Please finish your thought.”
But you already know
what day. Dallas’ thoughts flared angrily. The day of the trial. The day Queen Quentin tried to take your head
off.
That was the day he’d awakened to find himself in Samuel’s
office, the day his world had begun to unravel. He felt the key to everything
lay in Wonderland. It was imperative that he return, as soon as possible, so he
could put everything right.
But how?
“The day you said you loved me,” Dallas said softly. He didn’t
look at Samuel, afraid of what he might see. Mirth? Anger? Contempt?
Or the worst possibility... pity?
“Sit up, Dallas.”
Startled, Dallas obeyed, swinging his legs onto the floor.
The leather couch creaked as Samuel took a seat just behind him. Dallas couldn’t
see him, but he felt his presence all too well.
Now this was something different.
“Tell me more about what you think I said,” he encouraged
Dallas in a breathy voice. Warm fingers caressed Dallas’ neck, massaging his
flesh. “You’re very tense,” Samuel observed.
Was that really so surprising, under the circumstances?
“Did I say I love you, Dallas? Didn’t you say you loved me?”
Dallas closed his eyes, his skin tingling where Samuel
touched it, thinking back to that day. To the hateful crowd that chanted Off with his head. To the vengeance-filled
Quentin-in-drag who’d referred to Dallas as his tart. What had actually been
said? Who said what?
Then he remembered.
Dallas had been the one that told Samuel, ‘I love you.’ Yes,
that was it, not the other way around. Bitterness filled Dallas’ mouth.
Had he been wrong, then? Wrong about everything?
Wait just a moment.
He craned his neck, turning startled eyes to Samuel.
How the blazes had
Samuel known what was said by whom... unless he’d actually been there?
“Hold on, my love, hold on.”
Samuel smiled.
to be continued
Now go check out the other Briefers for more flash fiction fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment