The Underground Read online

  “You sure you want to defy me, Shayla?” the Queen said, with a cunning stronghold in her voice. “I don’t care how old you are. If you were here, I’d wash your mouth out with soap,” her mother said before hanging up on her. Shayla was shaken more than she cared to admit, but her thoughts were interrupted with a knock on her office door.

  Chapter 9

  Again, Nathaniel saw light underneath her office door and knocked. As she opened the door, he was, once again, lost in her aura.

  “Come in,” she said, smiling, but her voice was flat. Maybe he was wrong and his thought of her enjoying his company was purely in his head.

  “You sure? I could just leave this if you’re busy.”

  “Please,” she said, stepping away from the door and sitting at her desk. He sat down and took the coffee from the bag and held it out to her. She gently took the cup, her quiet gaze resting on his. Usually, she asked how he was right off the bat, but she said nothing.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked carefully.

  “I can’t really talk about it,” she said.

  “I didn’t mean to pry…” he said.

  “You’re sweet,” she said, her smile returning, along with a glimpse of the woman with whom he had become acquainted. Her warmth melted his heart.

  “Well, if there is anything I can do…”

  “You have already done something, Nathaniel DeLuca, and you don’t even know it,” she said with a lightness that made him feel something deep inside.

  “I hope it’s something good,” he said, smiling back.

  “For one thing, you bring me breakfast each morning, and well… I’ve been thinking about what we talked about the last time you were here.”

  “I was afraid I said too much,” Nathaniel said.

  “I’m glad you said what you did. You spoke the truth, and I know that was difficult, not because you’re dishonest, but…” she said, her voice growing quiet. Nathaniel looked at her and the silence between them thickened.

  “I’m afraid,” he said. “All men are afraid.”

  “You don’t have to be afraid of me…”

  Shayla was silent and took the muffin from the bag, setting it on her desk. She observed it, as though strategizing about how to approach it. Finally, she pulled a small piece from the edge, and popped it in her mouth.

  “I believe you. I trust you,” he said. “But I still wonder. What am I doing here?" he said.

  “Do you know how things used to be? You probably don’t even know about my great grandmother, the first Queen,” Shayla said.

  “I know of another era,” he said, cautiously.

  “Have you read about it?” she asked.

  He felt like she was talking in code and it made him uncomfortable because he wasn’t entirely sure.

  “Maybe I should go,” he said, blushing.

  “No,” she said with the authoritative command he was accustomed to hearing when she spoke to supervisors on worksites.

  Shayla rose from her seat and locked the door. She pulled a dark velvet bag from deep inside her purse and held it out to him. Nathaniel looked at her and she nodded.

  He opened the bag and pulled out a book that he never thought he would see one time, let alone twice. Reminder of Truth.

  “I’ve read it,” he said quietly, his hands shaking as Shayla stood over him. She took the book and set it gently on the desk and engaged his eyes before silently leaning over and kissing him softly on the lips. Nathaniel couldn’t hold back. The kiss was slow and gentle, and as she took his hands and guided them, he inhaled her sweet smell that he had been starving for since the moment the scent first tickled his nose. Each kiss made the flutter in his stomach reach down immediately making him hard. He walked down her neck with his lips and she let out a soft purr of pleasure that let him know each kiss was just right.

  Shayla’s hands touched the thick calluses on Nathaniel’s hands, as if they were Braille and she was memorizing them. She looked into his eyes before feeling his biceps and instinctively straddled him unabashedly, feeling the tenseness of his muscles, making her unable to ignore the excitement between her legs. They both thought only with their bodies as they explored one another, gently but firmly. It was a curiosity that needed satisfying.

  When there seemed to be no other place to go beyond the boundaries of their clothing, Nathaniel stopped. While his hardness wanted nothing more than to feel his skin against hers, he knew better than to assume. She touched his stiffness and smiled at him.

  “What now?” he asked softly, hoping for an answer that would fulfill his sexual excitement.

  She silenced him with a kiss and began to take off her clothes.

  ——–

  He thought of himself as a gentleman caller who was courting his ladylove with muffins and coffee, instead of flowers.

  “I’m sorry, but I’ve got an early meeting,” Shayla said with sadness as soon as he came in, squashing the moment that had become the jewel of his routine over the last month.

  Nathaniel’s face showed obvious disappointment. Shayla grabbed him and gave a passionate kiss, showing her preference for their morning’s usual routine.

  “I have to go, but I wish I could stay here,” she whispered flirtatiously, as she fondled him.

  “Don’t get me all excited, then!” he joked, as he couldn’t help but grow hard with her hand wrapped around him.

  “You gotta go now, but give me my coffee and muffin,” she said, playfully grabbing the bag from him.

  Nathaniel walked toward his post, waiting for his hard-on to soften. He resorted to the only sure way to get it to crawl back inside. He imagined Janice in one of her ‘sexy’ outfits. It was always a full-proof way to squelch his sexual desire. He hated to do it but learned this trick in high school when his hormones controlled him completely – Think of something disgusting and your hard-on instantly disappears. Otherwise, there was no break from the sexual tension.

  As the morning dragged, Nathaniel focused on work, alongside Brigg, until their first break of the day.

  Brigg took a long drink from his water bottle as they sat on the curb. “It’s gotta be a hundred degrees. Thank God for this break.”

  “Don’t you think we should thank Miss Shayla?” Nathaniel said.

  Brigg nodded. “Thank you, Miss Shayla,” he said, sounding a little sarcastic to Nathaniel.

  “It could be worse,” Nathaniel said, using a towel to wipe his forehead. He felt like he had been rolled in charcoal, and the dust was baking into his skin. Still, he wasn’t as irritated by the heat as he used to be. His mornings with Shayla took the edge off of the heat, the supervisors, and even Janice.

  “Am I sitting next to the same guy who used to whine constantly? Why are you so fucking happy lately?” Brigg said.

  Nathaniel shrugged, grinning.

  Brigg eyed him closely.

  “Break is over!” their supervisor yelled.

  “It wasn’t really a full 10 minutes,” Brigg whispered to Nathaniel, but apparently, he hadn’t done so quietly enough as their supervisor turned and glared at them, before walking over.

  “What’d you say?” she asked.

  “Ready to get back to work,” Brigg said, his voice barely masking a quiver. She was known to be harsh. Rumor had it that she had sent two men to the C Center before they were 26, deeming their behaviors “dangerous and erratic” and therefore causing a threat to women’s safety.

  “Good. You two are back on jackhammer duty for the rest of the week.”

  Jack hammering was known to be the toughest assignment, and they were done with it for the week. They each knew better than to speak up and remind her about Shayla’s new policy that only allowed fifteen hours per week of jackhammer duty, which they had just completed.

  Nathaniel and Brigg silently walked over to the jackhammers that were used to break up the top layer of the street for repaving. Without emotion, they put on their goggles and protective ear gear and began the work that vibrated their
bodies and souls.

  “DeLUCA!”

  “Yes,” he said, turning off his jack hammer not an hour later. The same supervisor yelled his name again. Brigg caught his eyes for a moment, and Nathaniel saw his own worry reflected back.

  “This is for you and apparently it’s an emergency so I am instructed to let you go,” she said, eyeing the well-sealed envelope that she reluctantly handed him.

  Chapter 10

  Nathaniel quickly showered at work and put on another set of Cambridge Public Works clothes, as that was all he had. He then hurried through the streets until he got to the hotel. Walking through the lobby, he felt self-conscious in his work uniform.

  He glanced at the note one more time, in his lover's unmistakable handwriting as he waited for the elevator.

  Room 314. Cambridge Marriott. Now!

  The lipstick kiss at the bottom made him want to smile when he first got the note, but his supervisor was standing close by. It took effort to maintain his composure.

  “What is it?” his supervisor had asked suspiciously.

  “I’ve got to go,” he had simply said, and shoved it into his pocket. He couldn’t wait to get out of there. Obviously, Shayla couldn’t wait either, he thought, grinning. It was highly unusual to be called away from a job site in this way. Even for the Queen’s daughter, sending such a note felt too risky.

  As soon as he was out of there, he relaxed a little, and now he was nervous again. Nathaniel tried to appear nonchalant when boarding the elevator, but was unaccustomed to being inside such an elegant building. Even the elevators were stunning with green marble walls and hand-carved wood trim.

  He made his way to the room. As soon as Shayla let him in and closed the door, she opened the hotel’s insignia bathrobe to reveal her sheer black negligee. The matching black garters perfectly complemented her sexy body.

  “I’ve waited a long time to share a bed with you,” she said.

  With an unhindered smile, she led him to the bed before she began to peel away her lingerie. She stood still for a moment, teasing him toward her as he admired every inch of her body as she touched her own breasts invitingly. They were perfect, ample, and accentuated her petite waist. The dip of her flat belly invited him to what was below. As she began to tug at his buttons, he put his hands on hers to help her slowly undo the fly and then he removed his standard issue Public Works uniform of a blue polyester button-down shirt. All the while, his eyes stayed on hers as she began to touch the muscles that defined the lines of his taut body.

  He kissed her long and hard until she pushed him away to quickly pull her negligee over her head. He pulled her close again, cupped her breasts and leaned down to softly suck on her nipples until they tightened with pleasure.

  She backed away after a moment and sat on the bed. Clad only in a g-string, she spread her legs to reach in the panties where she touched herself, watching for his reaction. He wanted her so badly. Nothing would keep him from her. He went to her.

  Her eyes met Nathaniel’s for a moment before she began to kiss her way down his body, teasing him slowly until she reached his granite hard-on. She put her hands around him, before taunting him further, pretending she was going to take him in. Finally, she began with the tip in her mouth, tasting the pearl of saltiness on the end. He had to concentrate to control himself once her lips enveloped him completely. The smoothness of her mouth rapidly on him was too much and he felt his release too soon.

  When she was done, she brought her face to his. “This is so perfect in a place like this.” he said. He looked into her eyes deeply for all the nights they’d been apart, for the dinners they hadn’t shared, and the public strolls around town that would never be. “Thank you,” he added, holding her, caressing her soft skin with a relaxed pleasure that was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

  His hardness soon returned and he mounted her with unrestrained passion. They rocked together in perfect rhythm. She moaned with bliss as he wrapped her legs around him. She shuddered as Nathaniel felt his orgasm blast through her.

  He said, “I wish…”

  “Shhh…” she said, stopping him with her finger on his mouth. He felt relaxed as never before, but he wanted to say so many things as he gazed into her welcome eyes. Instead, he held her tightly, sadly wondering if he would ever have this opportunity again.

  ——–

  As Nathaniel stepped outside, he was greeted with the rush of people heading home for the evening. A surge of guilt and fear rose up in him and he decided to go by Eva’s Diner, since it was on the way, and surprise Janice. The wedding was still a month away and he needed to keep her happy. He hadn’t planned on cheating when he agreed to be her husband. He knew it wasn’t okay and he also felt bad about harboring this secret from Brigg, too. Since they were kids, they’d always trusted one another. But this was different. He had to keep it to himself, for everyone’s safety.

  As soon as he stepped inside Eva’s Diner, he saw the unbridled excitement on Janice’s face. She ran to the door and gave him a big kiss and hug.

  “What a great surprise!” she asked happily. “Oh, you smell so clean! Is that a new soap? I like!” she said, leaning close. He was very glad to have taken an extra shower after sex with Shayla. Better to smell of soap than anything else.

  “I showered at work,” he said, offering only a piece of the truth. While he didn’t love Janice, she didn’t deserve to be cheated on.

  “What brings you here?”

  “I was going home from work and thought I’d come visit my love,” he said. He had to lay it on thick as much to assuage his guilt as he did to try to undercut his growing mountain of feelings for Shayla.

  Janice lunged at her boss. “Eva, can I take my break now?”

  “You lovebirds take your time,” Eva said.

  “Let’s go outside so I can have a smoke,” Janice said, grabbing Nathaniel’s hand, as she stepped out the door and led him to a bench out front. The fresh air felt good, until she lit her menthol cigarette that traveled in slow waves toward him. Although she made no effort to shield the smoke, he didn’t complain.

  “Does my special man want me to take him out to dinner tonight?” she asked as she ran her index finger lightly over his hand in small spirals.

  “I don’t mind cooking, but I’m happy to go out too,” he said lightly, not responding to her touch. He knew he should, but his mind ran elsewhere the moment she lit that cigarette.

  “Great. Let’s go to Antonio’s and have a real nice meal. Can you wait for a late dinner?”

  “Perfect,” he said, trying to sound upbeat before leaning to give her a quick kiss on the lips.

  “Great. I’ll pick you up at 9:30 and we’ll go straight from there. I gotta get back to work, even though I’d love to knock off right now,” she said softly before giving him one more nicotine kiss, this one longer. He resisted his urge to pull away and grab a mint.

  ——–

  Antonio’s was crowded, but Janice had been going there forever, and they were seated quickly.

  “I had a fitting today for my dress,” she said with excitement when they sat down. “It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait! Did you get your botox appointment?”

  “Not yet, but soon,” he said.

  “Nathaniel, you must do that! It’s 29 days until the wedding! You need to get that done so there will be time for it to settle down a little!” she said. He placed his hand on hers, and she visibly softened. His stomach knotted as he realized they were each counting the days for entirely different reasons.

  “I’ll make the appointment tomorrow,” he said. “I promise.”

  As they walked home, she carried on about wedding details, making his stomach tighter and tighter, as he could only think of Shayla.

  Soon after they got home, Nathaniel settled onto the couch in the living room, hoping to read. Janice soon joined him, clad only in a red see-through negligee that had accompanying crotch-less panties. She softly said his name as she showed him the in
tentional hole in her outfit, which repulsed him. He looked where she pointed, but the ripples of cellulite that surrounded her belly button turned him off completely as he couldn’t help but compare it to the negligee and beautifully smooth body of his true love, from earlier in the day.

  “I’m a little tired, love,” he said. He didn’t know if he could manage another erection, especially if it wasn’t for Shayla.

  “I need you,” she said. “It’s been a while…”

  “You know I love you. It’s just that I’ve been working with the jackhammers in 100 degree weather. It’s so exhausting,” he said, pulling her close, the sour alcohol smell infusing his space.

  “Are you sure that’s all?” she said, and he felt a new twinge of guilt for Janice. He had never heard her insecurity so blatantly. Of course he should have forced himself to have sex with her on a regular basis. Even though it would be a challenge, he made a mental note to do so moving forward – at least twice a week.

  “Of course that’s all,” he said, trying to be reassuring as he held her close. He let the hug linger, and lovingly stroked her head, as if she were Shayla. He realized that he couldn’t put it off forever. “We’ll make some special time this weekend to be together,” he said.

  “Okay,” she said, pulling back and looking into his eyes with a tentative smile. He held her gaze, but his heart quickened, as he worried that she would see into his mind. He had to be careful or she might dump him. He had no backup plan. It wasn’t as if the Queen’s daughter was going to drop everything, give up her place in the Palace lineage and propose to a laborer like Nathaniel DeLuca.

  She pulled out a bottle of vodka from the cabinet and retreated to the bedroom. It was uncharacteristic of her not to have him fix her drinks. He was happy to be left alone. Shayla had given him a hardcover book as a gift and he pulled it out and opened to the page he had last read. As much as he tried, he couldn’t concentrate. He closed the book and set it on the coffee table in front of him, wondering whether he preferred to have Janice bossy or insecure. Bossy Janice, at least, helped him justify the love he had found elsewhere.