Arlo & Cole Ch. 07: Noise

PRESENT DAY

***

Cole

***

The Mark Twain Riverboat floated past, its passengers waving in true Disneyland spirit. I smiled, waving back until a jolt rocked through my cock. Gemma’s smile flashed towards me from the bench, quickly fading into feigned innocence as she adjusted the Mickey ears on her head. The tingle from the shock lingered, a dangerous distraction in such an innocent environment. I always assumed there would be moments when I would regret my choices, but as I watched the people wandering through Frontierland, I realized even after two years of torment, there had not been one second in any of those days where I wished I had chosen a different path.

I moved away from the railing, another jolt teasing my cock, another wicked smile taunting from her lips. An older couple on mobility scooters dodged around me as I made my way back to her. The woman’s scooter stopped as she twisted around, yelling something unintelligible at the man. He threw his hands in the air, rolling his eyes.

“Do you think that will be us one day?” Gemma asked when I sat down next to her.

“I hope so, but I’ll be rear-ending your scooter every chance I get.”

She laughed, moving closer to rest her head on my shoulder, her fingers curling into mine. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mistress.”

“One day when that’s us, where do you think Arlo will be?”

“I’m sure he’ll have… disappeared again long before then.”

Her silence lingered, the world still moving around us as if it couldn’t feel the weight. “Disappeared or died?”

“I think the next time he disappears, those will be one and the same.”

“So no matter what happens, in the end she will take him from me?”

I tightened my hand around hers, the harsh truth rolling around my mouth but I wouldn’t speak a lie. “He’s not her hostage, Mistress.”

**********

3 YEARS PRIOR

***

Arlo

***

She knew. My car bounced over the rocks, the smile beaming from my face. She knew. I stepped on the gas, rolling through the desolate land, letting the bumps and dips rock me as they pleased. The weight was gone. The crushing demon pressing into my chest was gone. Gemma knew what I was, and yet she would still open her door when I came home to her tomorrow.

Dust clouded in my rearview mirror as my car climbed over a hill. I took my foot off the gas when I reached the top, rolling down the other side. The ground leveled out, the bush and two rocks coming into view. I stopped between them, putting my car in park as I picked up my phone. My finger lingered over the screen, reality twisting in my stomach. They knew that Gemma knew, a betrayal I had to confess the moment the words had slipped from my mouth. I jumped when the phone began ringing in my hand, Unknown flashing across the screen.

“You just gonna sit there and tease?” Carlisle taunted.

A smile pulled at my lips. “Let me in, let me in, let me in, let me in…” I ran my mouth into the speaker.

“You’re not hittin’ the right spot. I need a few more inches…”

I took my foot off the brake, rolling forward.

“Ya baby, that’s it, you got another inch for me? That’s right, keep going… right there… that’s the spot… just like that…”

“Let me in, let me in, let me in…” The ground vibrated then shifted, throwing off my equilibrium before it slowly dropped beneath me. The world disappeared as I sank into the underground, the concrete tunnels coming into view.

I pulled off the ramp once I was level with the ground, my headlights reflecting off the concrete walls surrounding me. It was time to be where I belonged, hoping I would be able to rise to the surface before the sun set again. I wanted to spend my night wrapped inside Gemma’s warmth, and watch the sun rise in the morning before heading back below the surface.

I tore through the Maze, winding around the paths and twists. The concrete wall to the right disappeared, replaced by a pipe railing. I glanced out the passenger window at the tops of the planes, curving left until they disappeared behind me. The last turn whipped around, dropping me lower until the parking lot came into view. I pulled into my designated spot then wandered towards the doors.

Bright lights and warm white walls welcomed me home. Carlisle shook his head, glancing up from behind the computer screens, his fingers tapping against the gun on his desk. “Definitely the grin of a man who recently got some pussy.”

I flipped him off, widening my smile as I turned down the hallway. The Maze was never empty, my comrades wandering the halls, returning my greeting as I made my way to the Bistro. I slid into an empty booth, scrolling through my phone while I waited.

“Welcome back,” Dante said with a smile, handing me a loaded plate. “You better not be out there eating junk or I’ll be the next person you fight.”

I laughed, digging into the concoction he had created for the day. The taste was always phenomenal, his secrets well guarded among his crew.

“I hear you spilled a secret,” Zane said, sliding into the seat opposite me.

“Think she’ll be mad?”

He tapped his finger against his lips, scrunching his face. “You think she gets mad?”

“I have no idea.”

He shrugged, eyeing his food. “I’ve never known her to consider it a problem until it becomes a problem, and if it becomes a problem, she’ll handle the problem.”

I tensed, stabbing a carrot before shoving it into my mouth. “It won’t become a problem.”

“Won’t matter to you if it does. May matter to the community that’ll be short a domme.”

I shoved my plate aside and slid out of the booth, ignoring the feel of his gaze burning into my back. There had to be a way to survive both worlds, some way I could sway between pleasing and protecting Gemma while still answering Siren’s call. I followed the main corridor past the gyms and medical center, past the crossroads- the left heading towards the weaponry, the right heading towards the Eyes and Ears- past the path that would lead me to the conference hall, my steps moving more quickly the closer I came to the residential hall. When I reached the end of the long corridor I glanced to the right before heading left, an odd habit we all formed. Siren’s apartment door was closed, though I doubted she was inside.

I pulled out my key, shoving it into the lock on my door. Laundry was scattered over the floor, reminding me Gemma was a beautiful distraction. I reached down, picking up the pieces and throwing them in the closet, less than half making it into the hamper. Gemma’s house was always clean, a habit I would have to learn. I flopped down on my unmade bed, reaching for the remote, waiting patiently while the TV rose from the stand. Guns and knives decorated the wall behind it, each matte black and priceless.

Lois’ voice drifted from my speakers, her image moving across my screen. I imagined Gemma laughing at me, asking how I could find a show like Malcolm in the Middle comforting. Then I would have to explain it wasn’t the show, it was Lois- the strange tingle in my stomach each time she bossed around Hal suddenly making sense.

The howl was low, muffled by the walls surrounding me. I turned off my TV, listening as the others answered the call, my pulse throbbing in response. It began to spider out, vibrating through the Maze as it grew. The dark was calling. The goddess beckoning. I peeled off my clothes, tossing the pretend aside and pulled on my matte black armor. It was time to run with the gods of death, saving those drowning in their wake. My hands encircled my mouth as I threw my head back, the war cry howling from my lips.

***

Gemma

***

He wasn’t the same person anymore. I stared out the limousine window at the dark sky, the idea of star-filled nights no longer romantic. I didn’t know where he was. I didn’t know what was safe to ask him, the holes I hadn’t filled more dangerous than I imagined. Would she come for me now that I knew? Jealousy rippled in my stomach, not a sensation I was used to feeling, but the unknown was a cruel mistress.

“You’re so quiet,” Brianna’s voice came from the opposite side of the limo. She crossed her legs, the light reflecting off her silver studded leather boots.

“Long day.” I adjusted my corset, the boning digging into my side.

“Beautiful but uncomfortable like all the sexiest clothes usually are.” She glanced out the window as the limo pulled into a gated community. “Thank you for helping me with this. It’s only for the next two weeks. Monday and Wednesday evenings from six to nine.”

I watched the mansions appearing in the distance before disappearing behind us, their porch lights glowing the same pale yellow as the moon. “What do I need to do?”

Amusement flashed across her stoic face, disappearing within seconds. “Some things are better shown than explained.”

The limo looped around a circle driveway, the mansion decorated in stone and ivy. Brianna walked up the steps as if she owned it before pulling open the unlocked front door, her stoic demeanor diminishing to a smile as she clapped her hands together and whistled. “PK! Come here, boy! PK! Come here!”

A massive man appeared on the stairs, his height reducing as he got to his hands and knees, thundering towards us.

“Come on! Come on, PK! Come here, boy!”

Muscles rippled under his naked skin, wiggling and squirming the closer he came. A slave collar was locked around his neck, his owner’s initials engraved in the silver, a bone-shaped dog tag dangling with PK stamped in the middle, a puppy tail butt plug seated in its proper place.

“Good boy, PK! Good boy!” Brianna reached down, petting his head and down his back. “Sit. Siiiiit.”

He continued to dance at her feet, his tail swaying as he shoved against her legs.

“Sit, PK!” Her tone was firm, her face returning to stone. “Sit!”

He sat back on his heels, still wiggling as he stared up at her.

“Good boy, PK… Good boy…” she praised as she scratched under his chin. She turned towards me, smiling. “You have to be firm with him when he gets overexcited.”

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from his hopeful squirming. I bent down, cautiously reaching towards him. “Hi PK, I’m Mistress Gemini. Are you going to be a good boy for me?”