6 comments/ 9435 views/ 5 favorites Finding Amy By: Dimachaerus Note from the author. Thank-you dear reader for showing an interest in 'Finding Amy'. There are things you should know before embarking on this journey. Firstly that this is no mere story but in fact is a full length novel. If you are expecting an immediate payoff within five pages then clearly that won't happen. You will need the attention span that a novel requires. To exacerbate matters (sorry, I've like that word ever since 'Shaun Of The Dead'), it is also unfinished. What you are reading is a novel as it's actually being written. I have posted for your entertainment the first seven parts. Roughly a little more than 45,000 words. So what you have here is already the size of a novella with the finished novel likely to clock in at over 70,000 words. It's important that you know that before beginning. Actually I'm asking a lot of the reader. Finding Amy is a psychological journey. A sexual thriller. A mystery. Actually it's many things. I have been inspired by writing styles as diverse as Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club), Brett Easton Ellis (American Psycho) and Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), but the subject matter came from somewhere else entirely. If anyone has seen the films '8mm' and 'The Vanishing' then maybe you will understand where I'm coming from. Those two films both affected and disturbed me. Combining the spirit of the two was something that both intrigued and scared the hell out of me at the same time. In other words...... The grief and shock of someone close to you inexplicably disappearing into thin air (the Vanishing), combined with a seduction into the secret world of underground sex (8mm). And yes, that underground world most definitely exists. I'm constantly asking myself the question "Is Finding Amy too sexual to be considered a serious novel?" I'm also asking myself "Is Finding Amy too dark to be considered an erotic story." So as you can see, I'm conflicted and perhaps only you, the reader can make that distinction. If you can then please let me know. So welcome to the journey. If you do in fact go on to read all seven of these first parts then you have my gratitude and thanks. Of course feedback is welcome and appreciated. I only ask that if you are going to rate what I have written so far then please read all of it (such as it is). It will be completed and new sections will be added but please understand that it's not something I can rush. I trust that much like Ashley (the central character), once you begin you will find yourself unable to turn away. (And of course by then it will be far too late.) Some very observant among you may recognize an earlier (and shorter) draft of this book by an author called 'Real_First_time'. Just to clarify matters 'Real_First_time' is the only other name I have submitted work under. In this case I am simply bringing this piece of work over to my 'Dimachaerus' title because it better represents the kind of work I have been working towards as 'Dimachaerus'. (put far more simply....Real_First _time & Dimachaerus are the same person.) * FINDING AMY A study of obsession. By DIMACHAERUS "Buy the ticket, take the ride" - Hunter S. Thompson. Prologue. Ash. I'm so sorry I had to do it this way but I had no choice. We've been best friends for so long and It breaks my heart to do this but I have to leave and do something very important...something just for me. I knew there was no way I could explain it to you and that you'd probably convince me not to go, so writing this note was the only way I could tell you. I need to just fall off the map for a while. I thought my life was over when Jeff broke off our engagement and I can honestly say that you saved my life Ash...I love you for being there for me when I needed you. I'm figuring out how to live a different way, a stronger way, and I need some time alone to do it. I'm filled with hope for the first time in years. I'm so excited about what my new life will bring and I promise that I will call you as soon as I'm ready, but it's probably going to take 6 months, maybe more. Leaving my best friend was the hardest part of all this for me, please believe me when I say that. I will miss you every day, but I'm also very excited about the future now. This is not a 'good-bye', it's a 'see you soon'. All my love Your best friend forever... Amy Part 1. - I Miss My Friend. "Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children." - Jules, Ezekiel 25:17, Pulp Fiction. 1 Ashley carefully opened the crumpled envelope, and with great care removed the hand written letter that was folded neatly inside. The paper was worn and a little faded now, but with a practiced and familiar touch, she gently opened the page and began to read. Slowly, deliberately, she took in every word, perhaps trying to find some hidden message that she had somehow missed before. It was futile. She was always left with the same empty feeling, and with each reading she only felt further away from the truth. Further away from Amy. How many times had Ashley read that letter? Probably hundreds of times, and the result was always the same. Confusion. Grief. Anger. Now almost a year had passed since Amy had disappeared and that 'one year anniversary' weighed heavily on Ashley's mind. It was a particularly cold, December day as she stared out of the window of her small Boston apartment. Living in Brookline had definitely had its advantages. Close to the inner city but without the crippling rent of an up-town apartment. Her time in this place should have been the best couple of years of her life. Up until a year ago it had been, but that life had all but vanished now. Soft rain was washing away the last remnants of the most recent snow-fall and she quietly stared at the droplets of water as they slid down her window pane. It was a familiar cycle. There would undoubtedly be another snow-fall soon and in turn, another bout of rain would wash it all away and make everything clean again. She loved to watch the rain. It was something she used to do as a child and lately, Ashley had begun to find great comfort in reverting back to those old childhood habits. The world of her childhood didn't contain the sadness and pain that now dominated her adult world. She was beginning withdraw to that time more and more now with each passing month. Ashley's thoughts often travelled back to the summer of '97. Ash and Amy. Two fifteen year-old trouble makers and that summer at Lake Attitash. Both girls took northern Massachusetts by storm that year. They smoked, drank and made out with boys for the first time. They tanned themselves by the lake by day and then headed to nearby Hampton Beach at night. Jeremiah's was the only night spot they could get into but every night brought a new adventure. The following morning they would attempt to sleep in. The lake-house belonged to Amy's parents and they would almost always get woken up by Amy's mother. Even if they managed to sleep through that, they would inevitably get blasted awake by loud speakers from the boy's summer-camp across the lake. 'We were fearless back then' Ashley thought to herself. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. She always began to cry when she thought of Amy, but that was okay now. For the first time she was beginning to let go and she was at last starting to make peace with that. Ashley was due to make one final appearance on channel nine tomorrow night, but that would be the end of it. She just couldn't do it anymore. It hurt too much. Her tears mirrored the droplets of water sliding down the window pane in front of her eyes and Ashley forced a smile. "Even god is crying with me today" she said softly to herself before pausing to add the simple question that had plagued her for so long. "Why?" 2 Text message received 7:24pm Message from: Bryce Lucas Will. If ur home switch tv to wmur channel 9. Ashley Thomson being interviewed bout the Amy Price issue. **** William Harper stared hard at the text message for a few moments before picking up the remote and switching to channel nine. Amy Price was a name he knew all too well. Immediately he saw the familiar face of Ashley Thomson. She sat nervously with her hands clasped together in front of her as a generic, and very blonde female reporter embarked upon a series of difficult questions. "God Ashley, please stop doing this to your-self" Will said aloud as the interview went on. Ashley just looked more and more nervous with each question. He felt real sympathy for what she was going through. Her discomfort at being on camera was painfully evident. Ashley's best friend, Amy Price had gone missing almost a year ago now. This poor woman had done all she could to bring attention to the case but she was clearly fighting a losing battle. "We understand that Amy sent you a letter before she disappeared" The female reporter asked. "Yes that's true" Ashley replied. "And we also understand that in this letter she mentioned that she would be out of contact for more than 6 months?" The question took on an almost accusatory tone. Ashley looked agitated and shot back immediately. "Yes that's also true but you have to understand that Amy wouldn't just take off like that. It's been almost a year now and I really am afraid that something terrible has happened." There was a long pause before the inevitable comment was made. "Perhaps it's possible that she just wanted a fresh start in a new city. Her letter to you would certainly indicate that." "Yes that is possible I suppose" Ashley admitted with apparent frustration "...but nobody can find her, I really do fear the worst. The police were helpful to begin with but nobody seems to care anymore." "Well we can see how upset you are and all of us here at w.m.u.r. wish you all the best for a positive and speedy outcome to this puzzling story. If any viewers have information regarding the whereabouts of Miss Amy Price, please contact the number or e-mail address at the bottom of the screen". A photo of Amy then flashed on-screen with some accompanying contact details before the station quickly went to commercial. Will immediately switched off the television and sat silently for a long time. He was disturbed by what he saw for a lot of reasons. He knew all too well about Amy Price because he had been the first police officer to look into Amy's disappearance. He had sat face to face with Ashley Thomson on more occasions than he could remember, but the fact of the matter was that there was nothing more the police could do for her now. Amy price was not some teenage run-away. She was a 29 year old woman. She had even written a letter to Ashley Thomson just before her disappearance and in that letter she seemed to actually explain everything that was happening. From all accounts it seemed that she just wanted a break from it all and, in her words, "just fall off the map for a while". By god, that's exactly what she did. Probably the most unusual and worrying thing about all of this was that she had cancelled all of her credit cards and then cashed in all her bank accounts just before she took off. Unless you had something to hide, why the fuck would someone do that? That was a question that Will Harper had asked himself many times, but other than that, the case was not remarkable. What was remarkable however, was Ashley Thomson's overwhelming concern for her friend. The fact of the matter was that Amy Price was squeaky clean. No prior convictions and no apparent reason to run from anyone. She had more than enough money to start a new life twice over. She was untraceable and for all anyone knew, was probably living the good life on a beach in Mexico right now. The only person who seemed to show any concern for her, was her friend, Ashley Thomson. 3 December 15 Supplemental Report Regarding Case File MA007823 RE: Amy Price -- Missing Persons Report and ongoing investigation Investigating Officer - William Harper 657822 Assisting Officer -- Bryce Lucas 869327 Despite detailed investigation and thorough enquiries, no additional information regarding the whereabouts of Amy Price has been uncovered as of the writing of this report. No evidence of foul play or misadventure has come to light at this stage. The content of her letter to Ashley Thomson (see attached copy) indicated her desire for a fresh start and therefore it is perhaps possible that she is safe and well, however this cannot be confirmed at this point. Amy Price liquidated all accounts and financial assets shortly before her disappearance. She had an estimated $300,000 at her disposal and therefore has the means to support herself for an extended period of time. While this is unusual behavior, there is no evidence of unlawful conduct. Although this situation is clearly distressing for her long-time friend Ashley Thomson (also 29 years of age and friend of 20 years), we feel we have done all we can given the present information. In fact, we have conducted several additional enquiries at the urging of Miss Thomson with no result. While this case will remain open, no additional enquiries will be made regarding the disappearance of Amy Price until further information becomes available. William Harper Investigating Officer -- case file MA007823 4 In the days that followed her channel 9 appearance, Ashley's life became an ordeal. Her biggest fear was that nobody would respond at all. To her this was simply just the last roll of the dice and if this failed then there was really nothing more she could do. What actually happened in following days was unexpected. The morning after Ashley's appearance she was shocked to discover over one hundred e-mail messages in her in-box. By the fourth day that figure had become closer to three hundred. The sheer volume of mail was overwhelming, but it gave Ashley a renewed hope that she would see her friend again. There had to be someone who knew where Amy was. Perhaps there was even a message in amongst all that mail from Amy herself! Ashley's excitement soon turned to dismay after she had opened roughly half of those messages. Most were simple expressions of support. Almost none of them were helpful. Along with all the good-will messages there were also two marriage proposals and almost ten propositions ranging from romantic dates to offers of consolation sex. There were a couple of promising leads but nothing concrete. One man said he had seen someone that looked a lot like Amy while on a recent trip to Miami and yet another said they had just seen her in a 'Walgreens' store in nearby Manchester, New Hampshire. There was one e-mail however, that caught Ashley's interest more than the others. It was from 'Doctor Wendy Taft', a qualified psycho-therapist who had apparently assisted the Boston PD in similar cases before. 'Christ the last thing I need is some shrink telling me I'm insane' Ashley thought to herself, but as she read the message, she became more interested and even intrigued by it. **** E-mail received December 23rd From: W J Taft RE: Your appearance on channel 9. Miss Thomson. I was greatly moved by your concern for your friend Amy and your attempts to locate her. My field is Psycho Therapy. I have worked with the Boston police department in a consultation role several times over the last ten years. My work with law enforcement usually involves the psychological profiling of various persons. Ascertaining the mental state of an individual immediately prior to their disappearance can often give vital clues as to the activities they may engage in and sometimes the places they may go. I know it has been a year since the disappearance of Amy but I have seen similar cases where individuals have re-surfaced safe and well as much as five years later. I do not wish to give you false hope, just merely to point out that these things don't always necessarily end in tragedy. I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment with you for some time in the early new year (no charge of course). Perhaps I can add some insight that may help you. I assume you have a dossier or file with information about Amy. If you would care to forward any information that you feel is relevant I would be happy to give you an honest appraisal of what I see. Sincerely, Doctor Wendy Taft. (Oh and please at least try and have a good Christmas). **** Well it wasn't much but it was something at least. Ashley had all but forgotten that Christmas was only two days away. It really didn't make much difference to her. She had lost both of her parents in an auto accident not long after her eleventh birthday. Christmas just reminded her of her of them. Ashley immediately set up an appointment for January 3rd and Fed-exed a file of letters and reports to the address of Dr Taft. Ashley needed all the help she could get and she wasn't about to refuse any offer no matter what it was or who it was from. 5 Dr Taft's office was impressive. Solid oak shelves lined the walls. They all contained expensive looking books that hadn't been opened in years and the whole room gave off a rich, New England vibe. The location was equally impressive. Her office was situated in one of the most beautiful sections of down-town Boston and a stunning view of Fanueil Hall could clearly be seen through the window. Wendy Taft carefully examined the contents of the folder on her desk before she lingered on a glossy picture of Amy Price and Ashley Thomson. She guessed it was a holiday shot of some kind. Amy was a pretty girl with ash blonde hair. She had a mischievous smile but there was also a hint of something underneath that smile. She couldn't figure out what it was yet, but it was bound to be interesting, that much was certain. Ashley Thomson was a much easier read for Dr Wendy Taft. A classic dark eyed brunette with an expressive face that communicated a passionate nature with a dark edge to it. Of course profiling an individual based on one photo alone was hardly a scientific or conclusive method, it was just something Wendy Taft did for fun. It was surprising though, (even to herself) how often she would be right on the money about someone based on a photo alone. "Miss Ashley Thomson is here to see you Dr Taft", the intercom on her desk informed her. "Thank-you Rachel, you may send her in now." Wendy Taft rose from her chair and straightened out her pant-suit jacket before walking slowly to her office door. She always felt that it was impolite to greet a new client while sitting behind her desk. It created the wrong impression. She wanted people to relate to her positively and immediately, not create barriers. Despite her fifty years she had a youthful spring to her step and a smile that could disarm even the sternest of visitors. She opened her office door just in time to see Ashley Thomson standing in front of her with one arm raised as she was about to knock. She seemed a little startled at first and hesitated for just a moment before lowering her hand and then extending it forward in a rather timid gesture of a hand-shake. "Dr Taft?" Ashley said nervously. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Thomson, I've been so looking forward to this meeting. Please come in and take a seat." She motioned toward the seat in front of her desk and watched with interest as Ashley Thomson smiled with apparent effort, and then sat down. In truth, Wendy Taft was just as interested in Miss Thomson as she was in her missing friend Amy Price. Finding Amy This young woman had shown some very interesting behavior quirks during her interview on channel nine a few days earlier and she was very much looking forward to deciphering some of them in person. Ashley Thomson was smartly dressed in a feminine blue skirt-suit and jacket. Her hair and make-up were practically flawless. As Wendy Taft took her place behind her desk she was greeted with those same dark eyes she had seen in the photo only a minute or so earlier. Ashley Thomson was a striking woman and also a puzzle at the same time. Practically a therapist's dream. "Firstly I want to say how much I admire what you're doing Ashley.....may I call you Ashley?" "Yes that's fine, and thank-you for helping me." "Oh it's my pleasure" Wendy Taft smiled before continuing "I have looked through the information you sent me and I think I can give you some useful information." "Thank-you Dr Taft, any help you can give me would be wonderful." "Please, call me Wendy" She replied once again flashing her trademark smile to Ashley. "Okay....well...thank-you Wendy." Wendy Taft reached into her left breast pocket and withdrew a pair of expensive looking reading glasses. She then began sifting through the file on her desk before pulling out a page marked with a post-it note. "I'm interested in Amy's letter to you Ashley, specifically her reference to Jeff and their broken engagement. When was the engagement ended and how would you describe Amy's state of mind after-ward?" Ashley shifted nervously in her chair before answering. "It happened about six months before she left and it almost killed her." "Go on." Dr Taft urged. "Well I'm not sure what else to say. Jeff was a bastard. He broke the engagement only 2 weeks before the marriage date. It took a long time to bring Amy out of that, but we got there in the end." "You used the term 'we'. So it's fair to say that it caused you a lot of distress as well?" "Of course, Amy is my best friend. It upset me to see her so unhappy." "Yes of course" Dr Taft replied, her voice tinged with compassion. "Did Amy ever exhibit mood swings or emotional fluctuations over the years that you have known her?" "Who doesn't" Ashley replied sharply. "Fair point" Dr Taft sensed she had just hit upon a sore spot so she pressed a little harder. "How about in the weeks and months just after her break up with Jeff. Did those mood swings increase?" "Of course they did. Her heart was broken." Ashley shot back. She appeared realize straight away that her tone was perhaps a little too harsh and she seemed embarrassed by her own reaction. "Look I'm sorry Dr Taft, It's just that I'm not sure where this is going." "It's quite alright Ashley you deserve some answers and I will try my best to help you with that." She took off her reading glasses and closed the folder on her desk. Looking Ashley squarely in the face she began to explain, at length, her conclusions so far. "In my opinion.....and this is just educated conjecture mind you, your friend Amy Price was exhibiting classic Bi-Polar behavior. This behavior may have been quite mild up until recently, but this broken engagement with Jeff clearly lit a huge fire inside her and those Bi-Polar tendencies were greatly exaggerated." "What does that mean exactly?" Ashley asked sounding a little disturbed. "It means that you can't count on her to make rational decisions. A person who suffers from massive emotional swings is classically a slave to those emotions. When she is on a high she will feel unstoppable and even be prone to wild risk taking. When she is at a low point she may even be on the verge of suicide." "Oh my god" Ashley replied in shock. "I suspect that you and your friend Amy are more alike than you realize." "What exactly are you trying to tell me Dr Taft, that I'm a manic depressive or something?" There was real venom in Ashley's voice. She clearly didn't like what she was hearing and Wendy Taft could almost sense the emotional wall that Ashley had just thrown up to protect herself. "You don't know me or Amy well enough to say something like that, and to be honest, I'm a little insulted by that comment." Wendy Taft was almost shocked by how quickly Ashley Thomson had switched and gone onto the offensive then. Actually it was quite fascinating. Miss Thomson was clearly a very strong and loyal woman with some very robust mechanisms for dealing with any kind of threat. Wendy Taft had even given a lecture or two on such women in the past. She had used the term 'Lioness' as an analogy back then. Calm on the outside, but quick to strike out at any perceived threat to her or her family. She had seen this kind of woman many times before. They almost always appeared to be strong, resolute and almost unbreakable....but...the woman underneath that tough exterior was in most cases usually quite fragile. "All I'm saying Ashley, is please be careful. I don't think you realize just how much this situation has affected you. I'm not necessarily saying you are Bi-Polar or manic, but I do think that you are very vulnerable right now." "I'm not crazy Dr Taft, I'm just trying to find my friend." "I know Ashley I'm just trying to help you cope with that." "You can help me cope by telling me how to find Amy." Wendy Taft paused momentarily before changing her approach. Any kind of conflict at this point was nothing more than a barrier between her and Miss Thomson. It served no purpose. She needed to reconnect with this woman as fast as possible if she was going to get past that tough 'Lioness' exterior of hers. "In my opinion if Amy is trying to hide from the world she will most likely be somewhere close, somewhere familiar and comfortable. A small town perhaps." "Okay well that's useful" Ashley replied. Dr Taft paused and thought hard for a few moments before asking the question that had been nagging her for a long time. "Please forgive me for asking Ashley, but given the obvious distress this is causing you, was there perhaps some kind of romantic connection between you and Amy?" "Absolutely not! I am not a lesbian Dr Taft. Amy is my best friend." There was no hint of deception in Ashley's voice and Wendy Taft was certain she was telling the truth. She had one other theory that would explain Miss Thomson's behavior and she wasted no time in asking her follow up question. "How old were you when your mother passed away?" "How on earth would you know that. Have you been checking up on me?" "Call it a professional hunch." Wendy Taft said with some satisfaction. "I lost both my parents when I was eleven but I don't see how that's relevant." 6 Session Notes: January 3rd Therapist: W J Taft Client: Miss Ashley Thomson Time of Session : 9am Completed initial one hour session with Ashley Thomson. The main purpose of this session was to conduct a basic profile of her friend Amy Price using all information available. It is hoped that this profile will assist Miss Thomson in locating Amy Price who has been missing for approximately one year. Events prior to the disappearance of Miss Price indicate a strong possibility of Bi-Polar disorder. A failed relationship and broken engagement six months earlier would most likely have exacerbated these tendencies. There is a chance that Amy Price may still be alive but the balance of probability suggests that some form of misadventure has taken place. Miss Ashley Thomson exhibited signs of deep emotional stress during the session. Clearly an obsessive personality and an inability to deal with loss. She lost both parents tragically at an early age, therefore the loss of someone so close to her (particularly a female) has hit her particularly hard. Her persistence is admirable, but I fear that the personal toll on her would be immense should it come to light that Amy Price has in fact met with an unfortunate end. Close tabs should be kept on Ashley Thomson and extensive counseling recommended should the conclusion of this situation be an unhappy one. 7 The session with Dr Taft just left Ashley feeling empty. While it was true that she had seen Amy go through some pretty extreme mood shifts towards the end, it was quite another thing to hear her best friend of 20 years described as Bi-Polar with suicidal tendencies. It honestly felt as if Dr Taft had been analyzing her instead of focusing on Amy and how to find her. Ashley had started work at the publishing house a little late that day because of that appointment with Dr Taft. It meant that she had needed to work till 7pm that night just to make up the time she had lost. When she finally got back to her apartment that night she tried not to think about what she had been told earlier. It was all a little too much to process right now. She switched on the television in her living-room and made sure the volume was loud before walking into the bathroom and running a hot shower. It was a ritual Ashley performed almost every night. She had lived alone for a couple of years now but the silence of her empty apartment still bothered her. At least with the television on in the background she could hear the voices coming from it and not feel so alone. It hadn't always been this way. Much like Amy, she too was poised to walk down the aisle once, and she too had been jilted by her fiancée. Kyle. That colossal prick. How dare he do that to her. Even now, three years later, it still stung. When Jeff bailed on Amy it was like history repeating itself. She knew what a nightmare that experience was and she was determined to be Amy's savior and get her friend through it. Ashley thought that was exactly what she had done. When she received that letter from Amy it was like was a double blow to her. She had failed her friend and had now lost her because of it too. No matter how she tried to rationalize it all, it still felt to Ashley that she was partly to blame for all of this. She should have done something different. She should have been a better friend. If she had, then Amy never would have left. The warm water felt soothing as she lingered under the shower and she finally felt some of her tension begin to lift. She watched as the rivulets of moisture formed together and then ran down her body like tiny rivers. Ashley was no longer in her apartment then. Instead she was standing naked and exposed on a beautiful windswept beach. Not another human soul for miles, just her. The wind swirling around her, tussling her hair into straggly little ribbons. The metallic smell of ozone hanging in the air as a lightning storm made it's way toward her across the water. She was not afraid, just the opposite, she longed for that storm to reach her. She felt the wind lash at her bare skin and saw the surface of the water swirl and change as the rain moved toward the shore. Ashley raised her hands to the sky to greet the rain as it began to dapple her skin, making every inch of her body feel alive. That was her dream. One day she would find that place, and when she got there she would raise her arms to the sky and greet the rain as it came to meet her. When she finally stepped from the shower Ashley Thomson was a new woman. She felt cleansed in almost every way. She lightly padded her body with a towel before fetching a white flannel bathrobe from her bedroom closet and fastening it loosely around her waist. "Hell I almost forgot the most important part" She said to herself as she did an about face and headed toward the kitchen. There was a reasonably expensive bottle of New Zealand sauvignon blanc in the refrigerator that needed to be opened and tonight was the perfect night to do it. She poured a generous glass before re-corking the bottle and heading back to the bedroom. "Okay I can do this now" Ashley reassured herself as she fluffed up the pillows on her bed before getting comfortable and reaching for her 'Mac-Book Pro' on the bedside table. She swallowed a large gulp of wine and then began to sort through the last of the new e-mails that she had generated from that horrid interview on channel nine's 'news-watch'. To her surprise Ashley found that she was actually enjoying the experience. There was something comforting in being well known, even if it was for all the wrong reasons. Feeling the weight of so many people's thoughts focused in her direction was a new and not altogether bad experience. She felt somehow lighter, as if the force of gravity itself had decided to go easy on her tonight. Maybe she had finally done enough. Maybe it was okay to just let go of it now. Just like before, most of the messages were supportive and even touching, and yes, she even clocked up one more marriage proposal! "Only thirty-one messages to go" Ashley announced to herself as she took another sip of wine. The final few messages became a mixed bag. They ranged from touching to pornographic. Apparently there were a few men out there that thought that sending Ashley a picture of their penis was somehow helpful. Rather than be shocked, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself whenever she opened one of those. "Ten to go" Ashley informed her empty apartment as she opened the next message to find it almost blank except for a web-link which she clicked immediately. "Great...more porn" Ashley sighed as she briefly took in the image before moving to delete it. Ashley Thomson held her wine glass in her free hand and was in mid gulp when her life suddenly changed. She sharply drew her hand back from the delete button as something caught her eye. Her mind did an instant double-take as it registered something familiar and then re-checked it automatically. Her heart seemed to stop and her eyes got wide. She wasn't aware that the wine glass had fallen from her fingers. It bounced lightly on the mattress as it emptied its contents on her bed sheets and tumbled further before shattering as it hit the hard-wood floor. Again her mind began to check and re-check as it processed what it saw, each time confirming the last. Something approaching disbelief passed through Ashley. To say that she was shocked didn't communicate the feeling. To say that she was horrified didn't convey the depth. There was no word for what she felt and no label for what she was experiencing. No. this was something brand new. An emotion with no precedent and no name. 8 Ashley found herself staring 'open-mouthed' at a web page and a large image. To be exact, it was a profile page, and it was the member picture on that page that held her attention like a vice. It was a photo of a female with her face and head 'cropped' out of frame. The rest of the image revealed a girl kneeling up-right on a stripped-down mattress in a dark and cheap looking hotel room. She called herself 'Angel'. Her profile name was 'fallen_angel5'. Ashley's eyes scanned the website address at the top of the page before she continued to process the image. 'thedarkpalace.com' To be honest if Ashley hadn't been so shocked at that moment she might have thought the image was quite striking, beautiful even. The girl had her back arched and her chest thrust forward provocatively as she knelt on the mattress. Both arms were drawn back sharply behind her back giving the impression they were bound together by something. Her upper body was cinched into a tight, black see-through corset and her impressive cleavage practically spilled out over the top. The sheer, lacy triangle of a thong barely concealed her womanhood and her knees were spread to shoulder width in that slightly uncomfortable looking kneeling position. Around her neck she wore an antique looking cameo pendant with intricate lattice work. To be more precise, she was wearing Amy's pendant. Ashley had never seen another like it. It was an heirloom passed down from Amy's grandmother and it was a one of a kind. She loved that pendant and there was no way she would part with it willingly. "It can't be her.....it just can't be" Ashley mouthed to herself in disbelief. But there was one other detail that was almost as shocking which seemed to confirm the answer Amy had a tattoo. It was a tiny green clover leaf on her left ankle. The photo wasn't very clear but Ashley could definitely see a small green mark exactly where it was supposed to be. Once the initial shock began to fade, she just sat there quiet and still. Without the slightest bit of warning and without even knowing why she suddenly began to weep as the emotion of that moment overtook her. "Oh Amy...It's you...It's really you....I knew I'd find you." Part 2. - The Downward Spiral "I hurt myself today to see if I could feel. I focused on the pain, the only thing that's real". 'Hurt', Nine Inch Nails. 1 Ashley didn't sleep at all that night. She at least had the presence of mind to know she was in no state to go to work the next morning. She called in sick. Her boss Michael could barely disguise his frustration. Ashley knew her absence that day would place even more stress on an already overworked team, but she needed some time to get her mind right. The more she looked at the profile, the more she was convinced that 'fallen_angel5' was Amy. The term 'Fallen Angel' couldn't have described things better. The thoughts and desires expressed on her profile were explicit and extreme. Most of them were just plain dangerous. A collection of the most sordid and extreme fantasies. The kind of thoughts that most women would never admit to even if they had them. But Amy had gone beyond that. She had taken the next step. She had decided to make them real. "Slow down this time", Ashley told herself calmly. "Just take your time and learn as much as you can." She followed her own advice this time and tried to absorb everything she could. Where before she had skimmed through that shocking profile, she now lingered on every word and every detail. With each reading there was a new discovery and a corresponding shock that came with it. Her disbelief slowly gave way to astonishment and even a touch of admiration. She had no idea Amy had such ideas or was even capable of them. 'thedarkpalace' was essentially a dating site, but with a huge difference. At first glance it seemed to be devoted to sexual bondage and control but as Ashley read further she realized it was much broader in scope. It seemed at its core to be about connecting people who desire to be controlled with the people who want to control them, and that control could take almost any form. Anything that was alternative or even forbidden seemed to be catered for in some way. The tag line underneath the site banner read 'where dark souls come together'. That tacky double-entendre would normally have made Ashley's eyes roll if her mood hadn't been so serious. This was another world entirely. Amy had never been into this kind of thing in the past. If she had then Ashley would have known.......wouldn't she? The wheels began to turn in Ashley's head and she didn't like the conclusions she was coming to. The scariest thing was how much all this was beginning to make sense. Maybe Amy did have a secret life. A life she didn't want people to know about. If that was true then it would explain a lot of things. Suddenly an idea crossed her mind and a surge of hope came with it. She cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner and she scanned the profile looking for the latest log-in date. June 16th. Just over six months ago. Ashley was bitterly disappointed but it was better than nothing. Finding Amy Instead of being missing a whole year she had now essentially halved that time. While she had hoped for much more it was still a positive start. 2 thedarkpalace.com...Member Profile: fallen_angel5 Member Name: Angel Age: 29 Sex: Female Likes: Role-play, Submission, Group, Exhibition Sexual Preference: Hetero but flexible (bi-curious) About Me: Hi, I'm Angel and I have a secret. I guess I just got tired of being the 'good girl'. It all started out innocent enough, with little baby-steps at first, but that didn't last long. The deeper I get the more I feel alive. If you let me kneel at your feet I will purr like a kitten. If you put me over your knee and spank me I will moan for you like a whore. I can be so good for you, but I can be so bad too. This is who I am now. I want to experience everything. To feel everything. What I want: I want it all. I dream about getting fucked by a room full of men. I fantasize about being put on display and treated like a fuck-toy with dozens of people watching. If you tie me up you can fuck me for hours. It drives me crazy. I don't want a nice gentle first lesbian experience. I want a mean, beautiful woman to use me like a slut. I'd be so dirty for her. Selected Categories(tags): Submission, Bondage, Exhibitionism, Heterosexual, Lesbian, Fem-Dom, Role-Play, Group, Gang-Bang, Spanking. 3 Ashley stared once more at the profile picture. The shock of the last twelve hours had turned her thoughts into a jumbled blur and it was only now that she was starting to think a little more rationally. For the first time Ashley began to smile as she started to notice things that only a 'best friend' would. It felt like some kind of connection with Amy had been made once more. She began to realize the photo wasn't just a simple snapshot. She saw how carefully staged and choreographed it really was. "Typical Amy" she said to herself. Amy Price was a perfectionist and a camera hound. In every snap and holiday shot they took together Ashley looked okay but Amy would always look amazing. It was like she had some kind of sixth sense and be able to strike the perfect pose at the right moment. Normally that frustrated the hell out of Ashley but now it just made her smile. Even though her face was cropped out, the picture was, in fact, quite beautiful. The way she had arched her back to create the perfect contour. The way her breasts almost spilled out of her corset but not quite. It was the ultimate tease. Ashley felt almost envious. That feeling also made her smile. The old Amy vs. Ash rivalry was still alive and well. Even now. 4 It was a busy morning for William Harper. It was the 5th of January. He looked at the stack of files on his desk and wished they would all magically disappear. 'I've got better things to do than waste my time on this shit' he thought to himself. It bothered him that it was the 21st century and his job still required a mountain of paperwork. Literal, actual paperwork on actual pieces of paper. He wished his job was more like those tacky TV shows where a cop just pushed a button on a fancy computer and almost miraculously any crime was solved. Sadly, his reality was a little more tedious. Once all the running, shouting and slapping of cuffs was over, it all just came down to procedure. Careful, methodical, time honored routines that had to be done just so. Any screw-ups could potentially mean the difference between a successful prosecution or a 'piece of shit' lawyer getting an acquittal on appeal. It was the smallest of details that usually made the biggest difference. His close, almost military style haircut and the sharp creases in his freshly pressed uniform attested to a man who was meticulous and detail oriented. Even so, paper pushing was a detail he could do without. The display on his hard-line lit up as an incoming call came in. The number looked familiar. The call hadn't been diverted, it was his direct line. Not many people outside the station knew that number. "Officer Harper?" a familiar female voice enquired. "Speaking. What can I do for you ma'am." "It's Ashley Thomson." Will's mind immediately shot back to her TV appearance a couple of weeks ago. "Christ, yes, Ashley! How are you.......I saw you on channel nine. How did that go? Did you learn anything new?" "I need to talk to you Officer Harper. Something has happened." This didn't sound good at all. Ashley Thomson was more upset than he had heard her in a long time. "Please come down to the station as soon as you can and we'll discuss it. I'm riding a desk today so I'll be here till 8pm." "It has to be in private. A private office perhaps. Is that possible Officer Harper?" 'Christ this is getting worse by the second' Will thought to himself. He knew there was a pretty decent chance this whole Amy Price thing was going to end badly, but it was always hard on everyone involved when the truth finally came out. He had seen too many people fall apart because of it, but he had also seen many of them become stronger too. Sometimes that final closure was all they had needed to start living again. "Yes, of course, that's fine Ashley. Just make it here when you can and we can use one of the interrogation rooms." She didn't reply, she just hung up. That was another bad sign. If Amy Price had turned up dead somewhere he would've known about it already, but Ashley Thomson had clearly discovered something new and it obviously wasn't good news. When she arrived an hour later it looked like she had come directly from the office. A well dressed 'executive type' with a soft lap-top case slung around one shoulder. Will Harper ushered her into a small, white interrogation room and gave her a cup of coffee. They sat facing each other across a plain metal table. It was Ashley who was the first to break the silence. "I don't know what to do." "Just take it slow and start from the top." Will could see how uncomfortable she was. "I need your help, but you can't tell anyone about what I'm about to show you." "That's not how it works Ashley. If you have new information about Amy then I have to include it in her file." Ashley thought for a few moments before asking. "How about off the record, y'know.....advice." "Well, asking for my help is different from asking for my advice." He paused in thought before adding, "I'm happy to advise you 'off the record' but I have a duty to inform you that if any evidence of a crime comes to light it will be a whole new ball game." It was a small legal hurdle but Will knew Ashley had something huge up her sleeve, something delicate. "It's easier if I just show you." Ashley said suddenly getting animated as she fished an Apple Notebook computer out of her bag and powered it up. She began to explain. "I received hundreds of e-mails after the channel nine thing. Most of them were nice and supportive but they didn't really help me at all." Ashley continued to type swiftly on her notebook as she spoke. "I was ready to give up when yesterday someone sent me this." She quickly swiveled the notebook around to face Will Harper. "Go ahead, open it." Will saw an email that was almost blank except for a small web-link. He clicked the link and the screen changed. His eyes seemed to squint slightly. An incredulous, almost confused look crossed his face. 5 "You've got to be kidding me!" Will said trying to hold back his disbelief and failing miserably. "I wish I was." Ashley replied. "Are you trying to tell me that this girl is Amy Price?" "I know it's her." Her voice was firm and resolute. He was left in no doubt that she really did believe this person was her missing friend. The inevitable question followed immediately. "What makes you so sure?" "The pendant around her neck for one" Ashley continued, "It was an heirloom from her grandmother, it's a one of a kind. And then there's the 'clover leaf' tattoo Amy has on her ankle. Take a close look at the photo Officer Harper. Tell me what you see." Will studied the photo closely and sure enough, the girl had a small green dot on her left ankle. "We would need to have independent confirmation of what you say but yes I see the mark." "No". Ashley's voice was stern. "I told you. Nobody must know. I need your help officer Harper but nobody can know about this." Will Harper saw her point. She was in a tough situation. Ashley Thomson's growing agitation became more evident as he read through the profile thoroughly, taking his time, making sure he missed nothing. Will could see that she was greatly disturbed by her friend's new found secret life, but the truth of it was, it was nothing he hadn't seen (or read) before. Websites like this one were not illegal. In fact they were extremely popular. In reality there was a thriving community of people in the Boston area who engaged in underground sex acts such as the girl in this profile had described, and as long as it was consensual and nobody got hurt then it was all perfectly legal. "Assuming for a moment that this 'Fallen Angel' girl really is Amy Price...." "It is her, I know it" Ashley cut in. "Well, if that's true" He continued, "Have you considered the possibility that she doesn't want to be found?" Ashley seemed visibly hurt by what he had just said. She had no real answer to that question, but instead changed her approach. "But just look at the last log-in date, its six months old. She's still been missing for six months!" "Actually believe it or not that's great news Ashley." "How the fuck is that great news!" She shouted at him. Will Harper realized at that moment just how unstable this woman really was. That one moment changed everything. The quiet, confident, business woman persona was starting to crack and underneath that polished veneer, Ashley Thomson was clearly someone else entirely. An interesting transition suddenly took place in the mind of William Harper. Up until that point he had felt real concern for Ashley, but now he had nothing more to give her. All he saw now was an irrational, obsessed woman who couldn't accept that her friend had a secret life that had nothing to do with her. She was behaving more like a jilted teenager, not a twenty nine year old woman. After all this time she still didn't seem to fully grasp the situation. Will Harper wasn't a detective or assigned to any 'investigations unit' as such. None of those departments would have touched this anyway. No, he was just a regular cop that had taken an interest. He had seen a woman in distress and devoted his own time to this. Will had even attached himself as the 'contact officer' for that file. Truth is, thousands of women went missing every year. A high percentage would re-surface months or even years later, but it was also true that an even higher percentage never re-surfaced at all. 'It's a messy, unfortunate business but you just have to focus on the ones you can save,' Will had always believed. Hell, Amy Price had even left a note and taken every dollar and cent she owned with her. Of all the cases he had seen, this one had been the most likely that the missing person in question was not only still alive, but probably having the time of their life right now. The time for charity on this case was officially over now. He made it as blunt and as cold as he could. He had wasted enough of his time on this. He just wanted her gone now. "Its good news Ashley because when people go missing they usually end up dead within 48 hours. If they are alive after that, chances are they don't want to be found." Will stood up signifying that the meeting was over. "So that's it!....You're not gonna help me?" Ashley continued to shout. "Go home Miss Thomson. Get some rest, take a walk, hell do whatever you like, but just leave. I can't help you anymore." He watched Ashley Thomson leave in tears and Will Harper didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse. She needed to hear the truth and start living her life. As far as he was concerned he had just done her a huge favor. Maybe Amy Price was dead, maybe not, but she had made her own choices. Ashley Thomson just needed to cut her losses now and get her life back. 6 January 5 Supplemental Report Regarding Case File MA007823 RE: Amy Price -- Missing Persons Report and ongoing investigation Investigating Officer - William Harper 657822 Assisting Officer -- Bryce Lucas 869327 Interview with Miss Ashley Thomson (at her request) completed. Time of interview -- 1pm. No new evidence of unlawful activity or misadventure was supplied during this interview. Miss Thomson strongly believes she has evidence of Amy Price engaging in social activity in the Boston area as recently as six months ago, however she refuses to allow independent confirmation of this. Without confirmation, this is nothing more than conjecture. Furthermore, Miss Thomson exhibited erratic behavior associated with individuals under stress for extended periods of time. Counseling is suggested. No further action will be taken regarding Amy Price. This file shall remain open for future officers to access. After much investigation and enquiry, no evidence of unlawful activity or misadventure exists. (As stated earlier) Investigation is closed until further notice. William Harper Investigating Officer -- case file MA007823 7 Ashley sat in the middle of her bed with her knees drawn up to her chin and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. She slowly began to rock back and forth as she thought about what had happened that day and what a mess she had made of it all. She hadn't acted like this since she was ten years old. Back then her way of coping with something upsetting was to run to her room and curl into a foetal position on her bed. Her Mother would always be there to give her a hug and make it all better somehow. That had all changed when Ashley lost her parents. Suddenly her mother wasn't around to make it all okay. She never ran and hid from her problems again after that. Nobody was ever going to come to her rescue any more. When her Nana and Poppa took her in, they felt that 'tough love' was the best way to get their grand-daughter over the loss of her parents. Feeling sorry for herself was never going to be an option again for Ashley Thomson. The twenty nine year-old Ashley now sat curled up into a ball as she rocked gently on her bed. It was as if nineteen years of her life had been rolled back in one day and all that was left was a scared little girl. Nobody could have predicted how much the disappearance of Amy Price would affect Ashley Thomson, least of all Ashley herself. It was easier to cope with it when she felt like people cared and she was actually able to do something about it, but that time had passed. It was the humiliation that hurt the most. Ashley was a confident woman who kept her problems private. For the first time in her life she had virtually put herself on public display and pleaded for help in front of thousands of people. Her workmates at the publishing house all looked at her differently now because of the notoriety she had generated. She could see it in their eyes. Pity. The way Ashley saw it, she had been discredited, disowned and called insane all in the space of five days and it felt like she was losing everything. "How did I fuck this up so bad" She cursed herself. The tears came freely as she continued to rock back and forth on her bed. She hadn't cried like this since her parents had died. "It's all or nothing now" She said firmly to herself. In Ashley's mind she only had two choices. Neither option was easy, but then again she couldn't remember a time when her life had been easy, at least not since she was eleven years old. She got up, wrote both options down on a piece of paper, and then just stared at them. Even as she wrote them down she already knew she really only had one choice. **** My Only Options Now. Number one: Give up, Say goodbye, Get a fucking life. Number two: Find that selfish bitch myself - no matter what it takes....make it all okay again. **** It took less than 30 seconds before she made it official and drew a black line through one of the options leaving only one choice available. "I will find you Amy...no matter what...please hold on...please just be okay." Ashley announced out loud with a firm resolve. She felt her will return and her spirits begin to rise for the first time in days. 8 It was astonishing how easily things began to fall into place over the next two days for Ashley Thomson. If anything, the apparent ease with which things were happening only confirmed to her that she had made the right choice in carrying on the search for Amy by herself. The first thing she did was put in a call to Michael, her boss at the publishing house. Phoenix publishing was only a small player in the market but they had achieved a lot of success lately in e-book and electronic publishing. They had a growing catalogue and a download count of 1.5 million to date. Asking for bereavement leave during a time of such expansion was going to be a tough ask but she really had no other choice. The response to her request was almost shocking. "Take six weeks." Michael replied almost immediately. Ashley sat in stunned silence for a moment on the other end of the phone. Six weeks was far more than she had hoped for. "Are you sure that's okay?" Her voice was filled with almost shock. "Listen I've been thinking about this Ashley. We all see how this thing has affected you. I can get a temp to fill in and I can actually come out ahead with the tax man if we can call it 'Maternity Leave'." "You don't know what this means to me Michael." "It's my pleasure Ashley. You just have to promise me that you don't go off and get yourself pregnant for real in the next eighteen months. That would really screw up our taxes." They both laughed at that. It was the first time Ashley had laughed out loud in a very long time. From now on things would be different. She was on her own and that suited her just fine. She was sick of feeling helpless as she watched the police do nothing. It seemed they had officially cut Ashley loose anyway and that was okay by her. She had cut them loose too. Nobody needed to know a damn thing. This was her business now. Part 3. - Taking The Blue Pill "One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small, and the ones that Mother gives you don't do anything at all." 'White Rabbit', Jefferson Airplane. 1 Ashley woke up the next morning feeling excited about what the day might bring. She stretched and hurriedly got dressed. After fixing herself a cup of coffee she set up her 'Mac Book' on the kitchen table and then placed a 'legal pad' next to it. The pad was full of notes. She had spent most of the previous day going over her options and then writing them down. Today was the day she would 'pull the trigger' on her action-plan. Losing the support of Officer Harper had been a big blow. He was her only real contact inside the Boston Police. She had gone to see him in the hope that he could somehow get the 'dark palace' website to open up their records. Not only did that not happen but now Ashley was on her own. Despite that set back she didn't regret raising her voice to Officer Harper one little bit. It was worth it. "Okay what do we really know?" Ashley asked herself out loud. 'Well, for one thing Amy hasn't logged on for six months....that's bad', she thought as she milled things over in her head. Finding An Apartment I was looking for an apartment in the city, sort of a bachelor pad. One of several criteria was that it be in an area close to theater and restaurants. The city has several neighborhoods that are really interesting but one area is outstanding. There is an abundance of restaurants with menus ranging from moderately-priced comfort food to exotic offerings like Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian, all the way to very high-end with best-of-the-city Zagat ratings. The neighborhood demographic was very diverse with blue-collar housing as well as pricey brownstones occupied by young professional couples, and a large gay population. It was the gays and lesbians, in fact, who brought this section of the city back from the blight into which it had fallen 25 years before. I went to one of the top real estate agents in the neighborhood and met with one of the managers. She was a smartly dressed woman in her mid 40's. We spoke for a little while about what I was looking for. Lisa asked me if I was looking for a place for just one or was there a significant other to be considered. I told her that I was single at the moment, having been married for a number of years living out in the 'burbs, but I was now separated and looking for a new, more urban lifestyle. She said that I needed to meet Tony, one of her top salespeople, and that he would help me find exactly what I was looking for. Lisa said that Tony would call me and set up an appointment to view some properties. She said that I would definitely be in good hands with Tony. That evening, Tony called and we agreed to meet at 11am the next day, Sunday, at one of the properties he wanted to show me, a brownstone that had been refurbished into three apartments. I got up early Sunday morning, fairly excited to go apartment hunting in the city. This could be the beginning of a whole new life. I had my coffee and got into a nice hot shower. I did my usual morning ritual, which is to shave my pubes and underarms, something I'd been doing for many years. I've always had a thing about body hair. My wife and I had been shaving for years. I liked the look and the feel of being bare, as did she, and I felt that it had always enhanced our sex life. I usually masturbated during my morning shower but I decided not to. I would see what the day would bring. I put on a pair of weathered jeans and a silk shirt. When I wear jeans, especially a pair of well-washed ones, I usually go commando. I checked myself out in the mirror and, damn, I looked good for my sixty years. As a matter of fact, I thought I looked no more than 45. I was still trim and my penis was very definable in my seasoned jeans. At least, I thought I looked good. I met Tony in front of the brownstone at exactly 11am. Timeliness has always been very important to me so Tony was already on my plus side. Tony was a very handsome man with rich, smooth ebony-colored skin, about 35 years old, and clean-shaven. His skin seemed to glow. He was about my height and weight. He was wearing a pair of nicely fitted linen pants with no socks, a pair of great loafers, and a crisp white dress shirt with the top three buttons open, exposing a smooth muscled chest. He had exotic green eyes and a chiseled look, which testified to a visit up at the big house by one of his female ancestors in the distant past. We shook hands as men do when they greet each other. Tony had a firm handshake and a very pleasant smile. I thought that our hands were together just a little longer than they should have been for a first time meeting. Maybe it was just my imagination. Anyway, Tony opened the door to the building and told me to follow him up the stairs. The first unit was on the second floor of the building. There was a wine shop on the ground level. It was a long flight of stairs to the first apartment and all I had to look at on the way up was Tony's very tight bottom. My mind was playing tricks on me because I could have sworn Tony was making an effort to display himself as we walked up the stairs. The brownstone had been completely rehabbed. Everything was brand new and pristine. The highly polished oak floors reflected the new cherry kitchen cabinets, the black granite counters, and the stainless steel appliances. The building was on the end of the block so there were windows on three sides of the unit. There was a redwood deck off the kitchen. There was a living area, and two bedrooms. It was a very nice apartment. The asking rent was $2400. We went up to the next apartment, which was exactly like the first except the deck was smaller. It was the third apartment that had the real charm. It had no deck but was flooded with skylights. The dome of the original circular staircase had been saved and now was part of the ceiling. I told Tony that it was the top floor that really interested me and that I could see myself entertaining my friends in it. I asked him how much the rent was for the top floor unit and he said, that although it was the smallest, the rent was $2800. I told him I was definitely interested in the apartment for at least two years. He said that he would prepare a lease when he got back to his office. Once business was out of the way, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. Tony asked me what I was looking for by moving into the city. I told him that my wife and I were separated. Without sounding like he was prying, Tony asked me why. For some reason, I felt very comfortable talking with Tony. I told him that my wife had met a woman with whom she had become very friendly. Their relationship had gone beyond a friendship and they had become physically involved. My wife was not a lesbian, but found sex with this woman so comfortable and necessary to be fulfilled. It really hadn't changed our relationship, either emotionally or sexually. It seemed to add something. Coincidentally, at the same time my wife was discovering her new self, I told Tony, I found myself in a situation where I ended up having sex with a man, something about which I had often fantasized. I didn't consider myself gay but certainly I certainly enjoyed the man-to-man sex. It was new and exciting and different. After many serious discussions, my wife and I decided that we needed to explore our discoveries, that this either was a phase, or maybe we were both bisexual, or maybe we were both really gay. Tony seemed hypnotized by my story. I went on to tell him that my wife and I decided to live apart for a period of time, that we would "date" each other during that time, but that each would look into their "other side". As I told my story to this black hunk, I could feel my penis stiffening up, pressing against my jeans, showing my obvious arousal. Tony's pants started to tent a bit, as well. He stepped closer to me and, saying he hoped that he wasn't being to forward, unbuttoned my shirt. My nipples were already very visible against the silk. He could be as forward as he wanted, I thought to myself. All I could do was smile approvingly. With my shirt unbuttoned, Tony began rotating a finger on the each of my nipples. There was no doubt that they had become as hard as rocks. Before I could say or do anything, Tony leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. I was shocked. I had never kissed a man before, let alone a black man. Sex with a man was a physical thing, not emotional at all. I considered kissing to be more an expression of emotion, like love. His lips were so soft against mine. I felt his lips part slightly and his tongue slipped out, pressing against my mouth. I was in such a state of excitement, I couldn't resist my natural reaction. I could only open my mouth and let his tongue in. His hands were still playing with my nipples as he kissed me and I kissed him back. I unbuttoned his shirt and peeled it back off his shoulders. As he played with my nipples, I reached for his. They were huge and very turgid. I stepped back, bent down, and clamped my lips on his right nipple. Tony kicked his shoes off. I nibbled on his nipple as I unbuckled his pants and let them drop to the floor. Tony stepped out of his pants. Before me stood a black Adonis with a fantastically toned body. Tony was wearing sheer black boyshorts. His penis was half erect and tucked sideways in his shorts. I was on my knees in front of him. Tony was massaging my shoulders firmly and sensually. I pulled Tony's shorts down, revealing a very black, cut cock that had to be at least 7 inches long and a good 6 inches in girth. What was totally hot was that Tony was completely shaved, just like I was. His cock quickly went from semi-flaccid to fully hard. My mouth was only inches away from the head. I did what came naturally. I took the head of Tony's cock in my mouth and massaged it with my tongue. The desire to suck his cock was overpowering. This was only the second penis I had ever had in my mouth but the way I took it in, it could have been the 100th or the 1000th. "Like a fish takes to water" is what they say. I was sucking cock like I had been doing it for years. I moved my mouth up and down on Tony's magnificent penis. He gently rocked back and forth with my rhythm. With each stroke, I tried to take his cock a little deeper. It wasn't long before I could feel his cock hitting the back of my throat. I wanted to gag but did I everything I could to control myself. I kept saying to myself, "relax, relax", and I was able to get past the gagging until my nose was against his smooth silky skin. My hands were still playing with his nipples. I grabbed his buttocks and pushed him into my face. I knew by the way he was breathing that he was close to cumming. Oh, how I wanted to taste his sum. His rhythm increased as his orgasm approached. Although I anticipated it, his ejaculation still was a bit of a surprise. His cock pulsated and he came in my mouth, shot after shot. He whispered to me that I shouldn't swallow his cum. The taste of it was incredible and I wanted to gulp it down. No sooner had he finished with the last squirt, Tony pulled me to my feet and pressed his lips against mine. Again, his tongue pried my lips apart and my mouth opened, this time transferring his cum into his mouth. We tongue-kissed, snowballing his ejaculate back and forth until we had swallowed it all. We separated and Tony said that it was my turn. He dropped to his knees, unbuckled my pants, and my very stiff cock came out like a switchblade. He stroked my dick for a minute and then it disappeared in his mouth. He took it all the way in, deepthroating me with ease. I played with my nipples as he massaged my ass and my thighs. I wasn't going to be able to hold out long. Tony was well-experienced at giving head. I could feel the cum building in my balls and surging up through my cock. As I started to cum, Tony pulled back so just the head of my cock was in his mouth. I came with a force that was unlike anything I had experienced in recent years. My cum just kept squirting into his mouth. When I couldn't cum any more, Tony stood up. The next move was obvious. I pulled him to me and we kissed, exchanging my cum just as we did his. We broke our embrace and we both stepped back. Tony had a broad smile on his face with a bit of my cum dripping out of his mouth. I wiped it off his face and licked it off my finger. What had transpired was totally unexpected but, by no means, unappreciated. I must have had a pretty big smile on my face as well. As we dressed, Tony told me that the paper work for my new apartment would be ready the next day and that if I wanted to stop by his office at the end of the day, we could sign the papers and then he would take me out for a celebratory drink. Then he remembered that he had a bottle of vintage champagne at his apartment that he had been waiting for the right time to open. He thought that this was the right time. I had a feeling that more than a champagne cork would be popped.