The Underground (13 page)

The woman stood quietly, clearly waiting. His heart pounded as he tried to assess her needs. She was from a different generation, and he knew to take that into account. The lines and wrinkles of age accentuated her frown. Her hair was long and untamed, but not in a beautiful way. She had tried to tuck the wiry gray bundle of hair back into a sensible barrette. She wore a plain dark skirt that flowed past her knees, and a practical long sleeved blouse that did it’s best to hide her ample middle.
 

“I’m Trisha,” she finally said with unmistakable shyness.

“I’m Nathaniel,” he said, trying to figure out what to do next. She didn’t move.

“Would you like to come and sit down here?” he asked, motioning to the seat beside him. She barely nodded as she walked over. He hoped she would say something, but all she did was look at her shoes, which reminded him of his grandmother. It was a thought he tried hard to shoo from his mind. After all, he was trying to prepare himself to perform a sexual act with this woman!.

“What do you do?” he asked, trying to sound interested. No reply. “Tell me about yourself, Trisha,” he said. Still, no reply. He was growing more nervous, conscious of the cameras. There would be a review and critique after class, frame by frame, like the football analysts did on the Webavision after each play.
 

It was imperative to connect with her, and quickly. In order to ever leave the Underground, he had to pass this test. He needed to understand how to cater to any woman. But, how?
 

“You look like you have a lot on your mind.” As though unlocking a door, Trish began to speak, quietly and slowly. She spoke about how her brother died, how close they were… how sad she was. She looked down at her hands as she spoke, and Nathaniel noticed her fingernails had been bitten all the way down. He listened closely to her story, trying to appear concerned, as though she was the only woman on earth. While listening, he tried to think of what to do next. That was his goal.

He gently took her hand, and she allowed it. She looked up at him, and revealed more of herself, about her childhood, about what she was feeling. He knew he had broken the spell and as he leaned in to hold her body, he felt her soft flesh snuggle into him. He pulled her closer and realized this was, perhaps, all she wanted.

He needed to pass the test in front of him and hoped he was right. Admittedly, he was more than a little relieved not to have to have sex with this woman who held no spark for him. Some time passed with the two of them cuddling, and he figured things would end soon. He didn’t know how he would know it was over, but presumably she would tell him. He had been a perfect gentleman. He smiled to himself, knowing he had done well.

“Would you kiss me, Nathaniel?” she asked, and suddenly he realized he knew nothing at all. He was back at square one. What did this woman want and need? He must always think this way. There was no rest for a man trying to understand a woman.

Without a word, he caressed her ruddy face, and smoothed the wild, course hair that was straying from the barrette that had slumped to one side. He looked into her cloudy brown eyes and gently kissed her. As much as he didn’t want to, he knew that it had to be genuine. She kissed him back, and pulled him close before lightly placing his hand on her breast, first it was outside of her blouse, and then she gently guided his hand beneath her blouse, and finally she revealed her big white brassiere that looked about as sexy as a pair of baggy sweat pants. He reached behind her and unfastened the six sturdy hooks that held it closed. Her large breasts spilled immediately downward past her waist. He reached to touch them, consciously forcing himself not to flinch at the softness of her flesh. She was clearly enjoying his touching. He was glad, as he knew it was important to pass the test. He thought back to how he used to please Janice by pretending. Trisha was much nicer than Janice, but she was older, and saggier.

They slowly undressed until they were both completely naked. She wordlessly rolled onto her back and spread her legs, revealing herself to him with a starkness that he did not savor. He wished she would ask to turn out the lights, but she clearly wanted him to meet her eyes with his. As he entered Trisha, he did his best to give her all the pleasure he would need to give to any woman, even though he nearly recoiled at the task. The bed squeaked to the slow rhythm of their movements.

“Keep going. I’m coming. I’m coming, but not yet,” she whispered to him. It took an effort to maintain his hard-on, but he managed by thinking about Shayla.
 

Her climax was obvious with a soft yelp of pleasure that was a signal. It took effort for Nathaniel to come, which he could only do with his eyes closed, picturing Shayla straddling him in her office, which he had taken pleasure in so many times. It had been more than four months since that time.

“You were a little slow picking up on what I wanted,” she said, breaking character as soon as she caught her breath, not a minute after he was done. He realized she was a great actress. This woman wasn’t shy at all. “First time, so that’s okay, but you need to really pay attention to the woman’s cues,” she said. With that, she got dressed and left.

The next day, he was just as nervous. He hadn’t scored that high with Trisha, but now knew to expect the unexpected. It was a different sex chamber, decorated like an elegant hotel room. There was a canopy bed covered in a sheer purple net highlighted with golden sparkles. The bedspread was plush red velvet with a golden cord around the trim, and the embroidered pillows were plentiful. It was very inviting, with the peaceful music piped in to match the relaxing scent of flowing incense.

This time, Eudora entered the room. Although he knew she was a tough judge, he felt a little relieved since maintaining an erection would be relatively easy. He looked for clues in everything she did.
 
She wore a nearly sheer black shirt, and matching pants. It was clear that she had no undergarments on top or bottom, which Nathaniel found both titillating and startling, especially as his eyes made a natural b-line for the inviting perfectly trimmed triangle that sat between her legs.

She smiled at him slyly. Was this the same Eudora who never showed even a remote sign of happiness?

“Show me what you’ve got,” she said. Despite everything, her boldness shocked him. That’s all she said as she folded her arms and undressed him with her eyes. Nathaniel noted that she didn’t even introduce herself. Was she Eudora or playing some character? He wondered for a moment, but quickly let those thoughts slip away, and followed her lead.
 

This was a woman who wanted to get right down to it. Forwardness was easier to read. He deduced that Eudora liked it raw and mighty with all the force he could give her every which way.

He kept his eyes on hers, before walking to her. He kissed her passionately, grabbing the back of her head and pulling it toward his own. She kissed him back with a confidence and strength that told him he was on the right track. His hardness was immediate, and he stopped thinking and let his instincts take command.

He quickly pulled her shirt up, exposing her breasts, which she seemed to enjoy as she leaned them toward him. He licked her nipples before biting them, lightly at first and then his teeth closed in a little bit harder, causing her to let out a whimper that he recognized as pleasure.

The next few moments were so fast, with clothes flying everywhere, like fur flying in a cat fight. He picked her up and threw her down onto the bed, before sinking himself into her with a single motion. As Eudora put her hands on his ass pulling him deeper and deeper, he knew that this was no act. He was riding her with a wildness that he was afraid would make him come, and suddenly stopped.
 

Eudora’s eyes grew wide with surprise, and Nathaniel smiled deviously.

“Get on your hands and knees,” he said with a commanding voice that he nearly didn’t recognize as his own. She scurried into position and he pulled her hips toward him, entering her from behind with a zealous satisfaction. Nathaniel felt like an unleashed animal. He didn’t worry whether her quick guttural sounds were of true pleasure or some fake teacher act. He needed this, more than he imagined. His release came more quickly than he would have liked, but he felt satisfaction as he buried himself deep, finally slowing each thrust. His breaths were short, and when he pulled out, he fell back onto the mattress, pleased with himself. He certainly felt darn good. He couldn’t be sure, but it sure seemed that Eudora enjoyed her work as the Master Instructor Sexpert. Even Eudora took a few moments to compose herself and get her breathing to a normal pace where she could talk.

“Did it even occur to you to try and talk dirty to me? Ask me if I’d like that?” she said. “You should’ve seen that I’d be receptive to that kind of behavior or maybe even a little spanking.”

“I’m sorry,” Nathaniel said, sheepishly, but didn’t feel that sorry. He knew she had enjoyed the sex.

“Don’t take it personally, Nathaniel. We have a job to do. You’re good. You are. I can see you work hard to pick up the nuances of behavior. I saw it in yesterday’s tapes and I saw it today. You just need to try a little harder. I know you can do this,” she said, pausing. “The Underground needs you, Nathaniel.” He appreciated her encouragement. He was amazed how easily she drifted in and out of character.

As soon as she left, his body relaxed. He thought about what she said as he dressed, and vowed to do exactly what she said: Try harder.

Over the next few days, he dealt with women of all body types and moods. He felt like he was getting better, but the sexual acts were still challenging. At the moment of each orgasm, thoughts of Shayla commanded his mind. He knew that his body was Underground, but his heart and soul belonged many miles away.

Chapter 17

“Calling to check in,” Gerald said from the cell-phone he kept solely for Underground communication. “It wasn’t easy, but I snowed her regarding Nathaniel’s whereabouts and deadened that trail.”
 

“How did you do that?” Simon’s unfriendly voice spat back.

“I made things up. The Queen would never question information I offered to her. Right now she’s preoccupied with her daughter’s focus on a lower class man. Truthfully, the Queen doesn’t want him to be found. I think she was relieved with my explanation.”
 

“Good work,” Simon said, and Gerald couldn’t help but think how rare it was to get any kind of complement out of Simon, not that he cared that much.

“How is this Mr. DeLuca doing anyway?” Gerald asked.

“Perfectly well, moving right along,” Simon said, non-committal.

“Why don’t you let me take care of the Queen. I can do this,” Gerald said.

“Don’t even think about it. We need you to stay there for the new government. You have Shayla’s confidence and we’re especially going to need that after the changeover.”

“I’ve been waiting a long time and I know I could handle things…”

“We’ve all been waiting a long time. You, me and every other Spot wants to be the one to bring her down. You’ve done a phenomenal job, but you’ll get your day. We all will, and soon, so hold onto that. This is about all men.”

“I can’t forget,” Gerald said, rubbing the mandatory tattoo on his neck. “It’s not easy to resist the temptation.”

“It’s not easy for any of us. She is the reason castration is still the law. We’re so close.”

“You’re right. I know. I apologize for even questioning…”

“Don’t apologize. Just do your job.”

Chapter 18

After seven days of the sex lab, it suddenly disappeared from Nathaniel’s schedule. He was relieved that the constant challenges of those encounters were behind him, and yet also somewhat disappointed. He had to admit that the sex labs left him with a kind of sexual confidence he had never experienced. In fact, he was starting to feel surer of himself in many ways.

 
“Put on your shoes, Nathaniel, there’s someone you should meet,” Crosby said to Nathaniel that evening, when making evening rounds. In all of Nathaniel’s time in the Underground, he had never been allowed out of his room at night. Perhaps he was going to see Brigg! To see his friend’s face would be like magic. Nathaniel quickly put on his shoes and followed Crosby.

They walked through the labyrinth of hallways as Crosby hummed, repeatedly using his access codes to unlock deeper corridors of the Underground that Nathaniel didn’t even know existed. Finally, they stopped in front of a door, and Crosby paused before finally punching in the access code. When the door finally opened, Nathaniel felt like he was looking inside a fantasyland. After spending months Underground, his eyes were nearly unaccustomed to the rainbow of silken colors that greeted him. The tapestry-covered couches and the sweet incense infused his senses. The carpets were plush, and the paintings on the walls boasted scenes of men giving speeches – seemingly from yester years. The bookshelves took up an entire wall, filled with leather-bound books. He longed to touch everything. This was, by far, the most beautiful room he had seen since arrival. It was so much to take in, but when he turned to the left he saw a sight he could not believe. There, on a yellow embroidered chaise lounge chair was a man in a jasmine colored robe. But this was not just any man. It was Chester, smiling broadly at the dumbfounded Nathaniel.
 

Chester finally began to laugh, and his purple tattoo appeared to be laughing too. When Chester saw that Nathaniel wasn’t moving, he stood up and moved toward Nathaniel, opening his arms. They hugged for a long moment, and when Nathaniel backed away he still couldn’t believe it. He tried to speak, but was unable. Chester motioned for Nathaniel to sit across from him on a softly pillowed couch. They sat in silence, as Chester allowed Nathaniel to acclimate to his surroundings.