Beginning in ancient history, layers of myths have been wrapped around the truth about my kind; darkest mysteries and unspeakable horrors have been whispered in the darkness of the night until nobody living was able to discern truth from lie, and now only the mention of our name brings fear and nightmares. It is that fear that cloaks the nature of our existence and keeps us safe, keeps me safe. The Principis, they used to...

The snow tumbled from the sky like a curtain in big, wet flakes that glittered in the porch light and added layer after layer to the smooth, edgeless blanket that tried to swallow the world. From time to time, trees capitulated under the weight and threw their branches to the ground with a final, resonating gun shot, or faltered altogether with a cannon blast. The startled jerks and hammering heartbeat were the only thing...

You would never had thought how much temptation lurks around at a farm in the middle of nowhere. Paul and I had moved into the small estate at the outskirts of Hunter Village to escape temptation, to rid ourselves of city life with all the good-looking men and even, once or twice, equally good-looking women, who came onto me and whose allure and open flirtation I never could resist. I was a cheat, and I couldn’t help it....

Best read in sequence with part 1. The airport at Dubai was modern and clean, and the luxury associated with the premier Arabian destination sparkled in every little corner. I was finally back in my clothes, and Tamara guided me to a VIP lounge and told me to take whatever snacks and drinks I wanted before giving me a quick kiss and heading off to join the rest of the crew for their transfer to their hotel. There were onl...

Thursday - once I had been able to extricate my sore body from the bed - had been quite hectic. I spent a good part of the afternoon shopping, and it took me quite a while to find shops that had the kind of clothing I was looking for - flimsy, lewd and in crying colors. I had almost given up hope when I stumbled into a costume shop as a last resort. The sales girl crossed her arms when she saw me, and when I noticed the s...

The idea was wicked, so far from everything I had ever allowed myself to ponder that it left me breathless and wide-eyed. It was forbidden, crazy; if I was totally honest with myself, it was not something I should ever be contemplating. Yet there was this guilt that had wrapped itself around my heart like a wet, cold blanket and made my insides shiver, and I had been unable to shake it off. So I had confessed what I had d...

Most often in life, we carry around fears, and these fears, at unpredictable times, well up in terrifying intensity, only to turn out unfounded and leave us shaking with dizzy relief. We do things we shouldn’t do and say things that should have kept unsaid, and every so often, they lead us to face the dread of being discovered and demeaned for it. Our heart hammers, our hands sweat, and we pray inside that the images our...

I slept late into the morning, and when the light and heat of another humid Louisiana summer day finally pulled me from my deep slumber, my muscles were sore as if I had done a workout the day before. Well, in a way, I had. I groaned and got up from the bed, stalking awkwardly over to the bathroom door on protesting legs. I opened the door and found Erin inside, sitting on the closed toilet lid with wide-splayed legs and...

For the first few weeks working at Joelle’s, my feet never really touched the floor. This was everything I had dreamed of, and more. In case you don’t know about her - though I’d be curious if you didn’t - Joelle’s the woman who turned makeup into a true art. Where others only “applied” lipstick, rouge and eye shadow, she painted with an artist’s skill and turned the plainest women into goddesses, into true artwork. Nobod...

There she sat, grey-haired and stern looking like always, in the middle of the long cherry-wood table on the dais, her lips barely able to contain that self-assured smile that annoyed me so much. Behind her hung the usual silly and perversely expensive depictions of tiny angels worshipping the Lord. Left and right of her, her fellow senior sisters in their black habits waited submissively for her signal to start the meal,...

I had been called all kinds of names in my life, but “slut” was probably the most common - not that I really minded that one, because I knew that it came close enough to the truth. But I had really tried to be my best, chastest self for Andrew in the year we had been together, and besides the one or other time when I was boozed out of my mind, I thought that I had managed it rather well. When Martha, his mother, used that...

When I stepped out of the shower after a good half hour with my skin all wrinkly, I still had the smell of pee linger in my nose, but I was quite sure that it was only in my head by now. Anne was waiting for me, sitting on the toilet lid, one of my socks dangling from her fingers. I saw her wince the moment she spotted my body and couldn’t keep myself from feeling a twinge of satisfaction. I even turned around and closed...

A morning dawns, of loving passion bright warm kisses stroke most gently you awake. Sweetest stirring draws you to the light and lays down gifts you never hold or take. By love's pull drawn, you follow worship’s song that praises your sweet scent with gifted tongue. To you alone these praises do belong when Venus’ trap on willing prey is sprung. You leave the safety of your warming cave and spread out, gleaming beautiful...

I didn’t know if it was a wise idea to go home with a stranger, but Anne had hurt me, and I had ruined Helen’s dress, and if I was honest with myself, all I wanted was something intense to take my thoughts away from reality for a while. The sound of the key turning in the door’s lock promised that intensity, and I felt excitement bubble up inside. I was pushed inside before I could think about taking a step and almost end...

Life sometimes strikes you with insights at the most inopportune of moments, and I’m sure it takes the greatest pleasure in your despair when it dangles the fruits of these revelations just out of reach. It shapes ordinary moments into mystical experiences and drives frozen spears of longing through your heart, time and time again. And the devious, experienced bitch life is, it doesn’t give you any hints about what it has...