Night of Seduction (9 page)

“Has that man
been here bothering her today?
”

“I
haven
’
t seen him or his mother. You know they only come
around if the news cameras are here,
”
TK
replied.

“I certainly
hope she is not going back into her shell again. I hate what that
family did to her.
”
Kerri stated as she angrily began
putting things away.

“What happened
to her?
”
Jason asked, concerned with the
conversation.

“Carl and Mable
Austin happened,
”
Kerri replied angrily.

“Carl is
Siri
’
s ex-husband.
”
TK explained,
“
He divorced her because his mother Mable decided Siri was
not the type of wife Carl needed to further his career in politics.
The divorce was played out like a soap opera on the local news.
Siri refused to comment on any of the accusations that were levied
against her and Carl was too spineless to contradict anything that
his mother said. The media reported her as having a questionable
relationship with a minor and accused her of marrying Carl for his
family
’
s money. She lost her teaching job at the high
school and the respect of the community.
”

“What happened
with the minor?
”
Jason asked.

“The boy was
seventeen years old and very taken with Siri.
”
Kerri
replied.
“
Siri was tutoring the boy one evening when the
boy made advances towards her. Well, Siri
’
s a fighter; at
least she was before this. She whipped that boy
’
s behind
good and sent him home to his parents. The boy went around school
telling people he and Siri were getting it on. Mable refused to
have her son
’
s name attached to
such a scandal and ordered Carl to divorce her. The
boy
’
s father discovered it was all a lie and convinced his
son to tell the truth. But it was too late; the damage had been
done. Siri lost her job, her husband, and her self-respect. The
irony of it all is I believe Carl truly loved her, he just
can
’
t stand up to his mother.
”

“What
’
s really sad is Carl
is the only man Siri has ever been with and he knows that to be the
truth. I
’
m afraid if she goes back into that funk she was
in before, she will never let another man into her
life,
”
TK sighed. She looked up at Eric.
“
You know you really touched her the night of your
concert.
”

“Yes, you
did.
”
Kerri added with a smile.
“
The next morning
she was full of life and ready to take on whatever was to come. A
few days later, she reapplied for a teaching position and she
finished a novel she had begun last year. I was so happy to see her
back to her old self again, until today.
”

Jason looked at
Eric, who was listening intently to the conversation. Eric looked
up at his brother. There was no way he could know he touched her in
more ways than the music.
“
I think
I
’
ll go down to her room. What number is
it?
”

“Number 12,
right next to the office so the principal can keep an eye on
her,
”
TK replied very disgustedly.

Eric cleared the table, picked up a bucket
of paint, a brush, and a roller and walked down the hallway.

♪

Appalled with
her behavior Siri sat at her desk and ate in silence. I acted
ungrateful to people that came to help the school. TK must be so
angry with me for not spending time with her and Jason. How am I
going to explain the way I behaved to my sister or her
mother?
“
How do I fix this?
”

“It
’
s really not that
bad. A little TLC cures most of the ills of the
world.
”
Eric
’
s six feet frame
stood in the doorway with a bucket of paint in one hand and the
roller in the other looking sexier than any person had a right
to.

“Not all
things,
”
she shyly replied. Embarrassed by his presence
she looked down at her barely eaten salad.
“
Silk, I know I
don
’
t have the right to ask, but please
don
’
t mention that night to anyone,
please.
”

Concern with
the tremor in her voice, he stepped into the room and closed the
door.
“
My name is Eric. Silk is my stage
name.
”
He sat the items in his hand down and sat at a
desk directly in front of her.
“
I was never one to
kiss and tell.
”

The vicinity of
his seat was a little too close for comfort. Siri stood and opened
the door.
“
I
’
m not
allowed to close my door when another person is in the
room.
”
She stood by the door and looked around
nervously.

The sexual tension was in the air as they
stared silently at each other. The shock of seeing her again had
not completely diminished for Eric as he fought the urge to kiss
her as thoroughly as he had before.

“I think
it
’
s important for you to know, I don
’
t sleep
around with men.
”

A devilish grin
appeared on Eric
’
s face,
“
Do you sleep around with women?
”

“No!
”
She swallowed,
“
I--what I
meant to say was I don
’
t sleep around. You
know like what happened between us.
”
She whispered while
looking out the door to ensure privacy.

“Oh, so that
was your first time?
”
he whispered back.

“No.
Umm
—
yes,
”
She replied flustered as she stepped
away from the door so the conversation would not be overheard.
Standing directly in front of him now with her arms folded across
her chest she whispered,
“
No, it
wasn
’
t my first time with a man; it was my first time with
a stranger.
”

“You should try
it again, you are pretty good at it,
”
he
teased.

Sure, she had
misunderstood what he said she frowned.
“
I
can
’
t go around sleeping with strangers. My reputation is
stained as it is.
”

“Well you could
just sleep around with me. I won
’
t tell
anyone.
”

Siri
’
s hands went to her
hips and her eyebrows furrowed.
“
As enticing as that
may be, I can
’
t do that. I
don
’
t know you.
”

He took her
hand and motioned for her to sit at the desk next to him.
“
I beg to differ,
”
he said as she sat
in the chair.
“
I think you and I
know each other better than some married
couples.
”

Blushing, Siri
lowered her head.
“
About that
night--
”

“Yes about that
night of seduction,
”
he interrupted her.
“
You left something behind.
”

“I did,
what?
”

“Your
panties.
”

Siri sprung from the seat and gasped.

“Will you
relax?
”
Eric laughed.
“
It
’
s not that
serious. No one will ever know Siri. You have my word on
that.
”

With tears
appearing in her eyes Siri whispered,
“
You
don
’
t understand. I just went through a really, really bad
period in my life. If something like this gets out about me it
would be catastrophic. I
’
m just beginning to
get my life back in order. I could lose my job, and the little
respect I
’
ve managed to earn back. Please, I beg you,
please don
’
t tell
anyone.
”

Eric stood and
embraced her. The fear in her eyes annoyed him.
“
Siri, I
will never tell a soul about that night.
”
He kissed the
side of her head and held her protectively in his arms as her tears
captured his heart.
“
Look at me
Siri.
”

Slowly she
raised her head until their eyes met. He wiped the tears from her
cheeks with his thumbs.
“
That night was very
memorable for me. I hope it was the same for you. I certainly
don
’
t want you to stress over it.
”

Mesmerized by
his eyes and his voice, Siri wasn
’
t sure which was
causing the serenity within her, but whichever it was, she was
grateful for it.
“
The memory of that
night soothes me to sleep at night and awakens me refreshed each
morning. I never thought I would have to explain it to my
family.
”

Touched by her
words he smiled.
“
I hope you will
explain it to me one day. But not now. We have a room to paint and
you have people to thank. Where shall we start?
”

Realizing she
was still standing in his arms, Siri slowly pulled away.
“
My room isn
’
t going to be
painted. I compromised and did the kitchen
instead.
”

“I have never
volunteered to do manual labor with these hands. Are you turning
down my offer?
”

Touched by his
confession Siri smiled.
“
Thank you for the
offer, but my boss will have a cow or two if this room is
painted.
”

“He looks as if
he could have two cows.
”
Siri smiled so
brightly at his comment, Eric was certain somewhere on earth the
sun was rising. Thinking to himself, I would love to see her smile
like that every day.
“
I
’
m sure he
would look and feel a lot better if he had at least one cow, so
what do you say we help him along.
”

“Hmm, you are
asking me to do something that will tick my boss off. Let me think
about that for a moment.
”
She acted as if she
was contemplating.
“
Works for
me,
”
she declared.
“
Let
’
s start with the back
wall.
”

Smiling
contently,
“
The back wall it
is,
”
Eric replied.

The local radio
station was on as the two worked silently. The deejay
announced,
“
We have a request
from a volunteer over at the elementary school on the north side of
Richmond. It seems they have a paint party going on over there and
I wasn
’
t invited. My feelings aren
’
t hurt,
just bruised a little. Especially since Silk Davies is there.
That
’
s right folks the one and only Mr. get them sticky and
wet is in town working to help our community. Way to go Silk, and
just to show you how much love we have for you here in the capitol
city, the next hour we will give a little of the old and new from
you. To my loyal listeners, let Silk Davies be an example to all of
us. It
‘
s the little things that make the biggest
difference. Enjoy the smooth sounds of Silk Davies, The Little
Things.
”

“That
’
s an interesting
nickname you have,
”
Siri commented as she painted the low
area and he did the high.

“Yeah, they
tell me it is well earned,
”
he replied reaching
over her head with the roller.