As Landon sped home, his fear that Selene had somehow spotted him outside her apartment building did little to dampen his arousal. In his own apartment, he turned on the living room light and then freed his cock from his pants with trembling hands. 

Sinking onto the couch, he let his head fall back while stroking. When his eyelids drifted closed, he vividly recalled the fucking he'd witnessed earlier. His mind lingered on the memory of Selene's face as she took Roger's cock. 

The fantasy made his touch grow uncomfortably fervent. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes and looked at the end table next to the couch. Landon had kept all of Alice's belongings exactly as they were on the day she left. The place had the air of a shrine, and as his stare now fell upon a tube of her favorite hand lotion, he felt a ridiculous twinge of guilt at the thought of using it. 

But that guilt wasn't strong enough to prevent him from doing so. Squeezing the lotion into his palm, he was instantly greeted by the familiar scent of peonies. Without warning, fresh tears sprang into his eyes, for that fragrance was intimately woven into his memories of Alice. 

Forcing his thoughts back to Selene, Landon resumed masturbating. The lotion provided a silky, frictionless layer between his hand and dick, increasing his physical pleasure until he could focus on little else. 

Remembering the way Roger had used his mouth to drive Selene wild caused Landon's erection to pulse in his grasp. He longed to smell and taste the young woman, just as her older lover had. Would she ever consider allowing Landon to do such a thing? 

His hand pumped away even faster while he fantasized about Selene bent over the table where they'd sat together earlier that evening. Would she welcome his tongue between her thighs, and his hard cock inside her pussy? Would she remain calm and in control while he strove to make her climax?

Landon cried out, his hips giving a fierce thrust. His muscles tensed and remained rigid as he succumbed to the orgasm. Cum spurted forth to rain down on his skin and pants; some even dotted his shirt and the couch. Through the entirety of that powerful climax, his hand kept working, focusing on the sensitive tip of his cock. 

A groan emerged from Landon's throat when he coaxed forth more semen. The thought of Selene gathering up his seed with her tongue sent a shudder through him. 

Only after his trembling subsided and his breathing slowed did he realize he hadn't once thought of Alice in the frenzied moments leading up to climax. That respite, however brief, was like a fever breaking; it allowed him to sleep soundly for the first time in months. 

The following morning wouldn't be nearly as kind.

*****

Two days later, Landon returned to the shop across town. The early evening was warm even for spring, and he'd shed his suit coat, leaving it behind in the car. His wallet was filled with cash, for he was prepared to pay whatever price Selene commanded.

Without warning, he thought of her standing naked before him at her apartment window. The memory made his pulse quicken and his stomach clench from anxiety. He had no idea how he would respond if she rightfully accused him of following her home.

Stepping into the shop, Landon was again accosted by the odor of incense. Mara looked up from a clothbound book she had open on the front desk, and when their eyes met, her face broke into a smile. "Good evening, sir!"

He closed the distance between them and offered his hand. "Enough with sir. Please, call me Landon. It's wonderful to see you again, Mara." Leaning toward the young woman, he added, "And I apologize if I came across as an asshole before."

Mara clasped his extended hand in both of hers. "I understand," she told him, her smile widening to a conspiratorial grin. "Roger can try one's patience." As she spoke, her fingers caressed his skin. "Now, I assume you're here to see Selene?"

"I am." 

"And do you have an appointment?" 

Landon frowned at the question. "Shit, I didn't think—I mean, she told me she'd have an answer for me in a couple of days, so..."

Mara feigned a look of shocked disapproval. "What a bad boy you are." Her voice was a low purr. "Disobeying Roger's wishes yet again! Lucky for you, he's not here tonight, and Selene happens to be available. Have a seat while I let her know you're here."

Landon was quick to obey Mara's instructions. As she turned and strolled toward Selene's doorway, his gaze traveled over her body. The slacks she wore accentuated her curves, but it was her sheer white blouse, with a black bra beneath, that most drew his attention. Her feet were bare, and he wondered if she'd left her shoes under the desk.

His stare remained fixed on her until she disappeared into the room where Selene saw clients. Moments later, she reemerged, approaching him at a maddeningly languid pace. He regarded her, his face hopeful. Finally, she finally stood before him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's your lucky night, Landon; she'll see you without an appointment." After giving him a playful wink, the blonde returned to her desk. 

"Thank you, Mara," he called, then rushed to meet Selene.

He found her leaning against the table, her arms folded over her chest. Briefly, he registered her outfit: a black babydoll dress, along with matching ballet flats. The outfit revealed plenty of milky thigh, but of course, Landon had already seen everything beneath it.

"Have a seat," she told him, nodding toward the wingback chair he'd occupied before. Anxiously, he waited for her to close the door. 

When she turned to face him again, her demeanor was unmistakably chilly. Swallowing hard, he watched as she positioned herself directly in front of him. She stood so close that he was forced to stare at her dress with its revealing hemline. 

"Did you enjoy watching me and Roger?" she asked. 

Though Selene's tone was deceptively pleasant, Landon recoiled from the question. Already, he sensed that lying would prompt the woman to order him out of the shop. "I'm sorry." Sweat broke out on his skin as he floundered under her scrutiny. "I shouldn't have followed you, but I just wanted to make sure..."

"Make sure of what?" she demanded. When he didn't answer, she leaned forward and grabbed his chin. "What were you trying to determine, Landon?"

"I wanted to learn more about who you are." Though her fingers dug into his skin, he didn't flinch. "I'm willing to pay you a hell of a lot of money, and I wanted to be sure you're not some scammer."

"Oh, and you could know that by watching me fuck?" Her eyes narrowed. "You have violated my personal space and my privacy. I should throw you out right now."

"Please don't." Landon was willing to grovel, to do anything in order to be forgiven. 

She moved even closer until her lips were just inches from his. "Did you touch yourself while watching us?" 

Landon still couldn't figure out how the hell she'd spotted him outside her window. "Yes," he said quietly. 

"We made you good and hard, is that it?" Once again, she flashed that mocking smile.

"You did," Landon confessed. 

Selene regarded him in silence for an uncomfortably long moment, and he resisted the urge to squirm. When she finally released him, he rubbed his chin to soothe the ache her rough grip had caused. 

"You jerked off as soon as you got home." She wasn't asking him a question, but he nevertheless nodded while avoiding her eyes. "I'm not surprised. Mara can read your aura, and she told me that your sacral chakra is blocked."

Despite himself, he lifted his head, utterly confused. "My sacral... what?"

Selene's hand slid down his body, feather-light over his chest and belly, before it stopped dangerously close to his groin. "Your sacral chakra," she repeated, emphasizing each syllable. Then she brought her mouth to his ear and whispered, "It means you're sexually frustrated and need to get laid."

Closing his eyes, he took a calming breath. "What I need is to know more about Alice."

"Uh-uh." Selene's refusal was absolute. "A mere apology isn't enough, Landon. You've given me no reason to trust you."

His jaw set into a painfully firm line as he met her stare. "What is it that you want from me?" He hated how weak he sounded, but the woman had him by the balls. He'd do whatever she demanded.

He feared Selene really did have the ability to read his mind, for she eased onto the table and slowly parted her legs. "I want you to show me just how sorry you are." She lifted the skirt of her dress, exposing even more of her bare skin.

Though his mouth dropped open in disbelief, his stare was riveted between her thighs. A moan escaped his lips when he discovered she wasn't wearing panties. Already, his dick had begun throbbing, well on its way to full hardness. Lust made him slow to form coherent thoughts, and it took several excruciating seconds for him to sputter, "You... you really want me to..." He didn't dare finish the sentence.

"I want you to go down on me, yes." At least Selene was smiling now, clearly amused by his flustered state.

"What about Roger?" he blurted out. "You two seem, uh, deeply involved."

She snickered at that. "How considerate of you to finally show some respect for my personal relationships."

"I'm sorry—"

"Then eat my pussy. Now."

Landon had never been ordered about like this, not when it came to performing such an intimate act. He was usually the one to initiate oral, and he took as much time as his partner allowed. Now, he realized he was shaking as he pulled his chair closer to the table. 

Selene spread her legs even wider. For a moment, he could only stare at her sex. The dark curls covering her outer labia were already damp, and while drawing in another deep breath, he caught the scent of her arousal. It made him ache with his own need; his mouth puckered in anticipation of that first taste.

Tentatively, Landon slid his palms over Selene's skin. Leaning forward in the chair, he pressed his lips to her inner thigh. He kissed and licked his way higher until her full bush grazed his face. 

Selene parted her outer lips with slender fingers. It was obscene, how she opened herself to him in every possible way. He imagined Mara lingering outside the door, sensing what Landon was being ordered to do. Instead of feeling embarrassed by that thought, he found it excited him more. As he gazed upon Selene's glistening inner folds, his cock strained against his pants. 

Closing his eyes, he pressed his face against her pussy. His eagerness was undeniable while he nuzzled her slick flesh. Her scent made him wild to fuck, and he had to grip the chair arm in order to keep from freeing his erection. 

Her inner labia were large, inviting his mouth to suckle them. As he readily did so, Selene massaged her clit with a fingertip. He noticed her breaths coming faster. Reveling in the taste of her cunt, he released another moan. 

Now bolder, Landon grasped Selene's wrist and drew her finger between his lips. She made a whimpering sound, leading him to wonder if he'd surprised her. Had she expected him to be reluctant? He told himself she must understand the workings of his mind better than that.  

He sucked her fingertip, rolling his tongue around it the way he planned to tease her clit. Finally, she lost all patience and grabbed his hair. Though he would have enjoyed keeping her on edge, he let her guide him to that swollen bud. 

Selene pulled back her mound, making her clitoris even more accessible to Landon's tongue. He circled around her nub, limiting contact to an occasional graze, until she swore in frustration. Her obvious need fed his own, prompting him to lash her clit. 

She managed to muffle a squeal of simultaneous pleasure and surprise, and Landon abandoned himself to devouring her needy pussy. His mouth sounded obscene as he fervently licked and sucked. 

"Oh, you are sorry, aren't you?" he heard her murmur. "What a heartfelt apology!" 

He lifted his head to gaze up at Selene. All the while, his fingers massaged her clit. Something unguarded and vulnerable in her face led him to believe her control was slipping, if only a little. Still, it was enough to make him consider a quartz crystal which rested on the table, just a few inches from her splayed fingers. 

The crystal, a delicate pink, might have served as some kind of wand, but he had other ideas for it. At around six inches long, it had a flat base and gradually narrowed to a rounded tip. Its appearance was undeniably phallic. 

When he moved to retrieve it, Selene yelped in protest. "That crystal's energy has been cleansed by the light of the full moon!"

Landon looked from her to the crystal, trying to gauge how much he could get away with. "There will be another full moon soon enough," he pointed out with a sly grin. "You can cleanse it again then, because I'm going to get it plenty dirty now."

He slid the crystal's rounded tip along Selene's folds, making her shiver. Inching downward, he reached her entrance. Locking eyes with her, he offered a silent challenge. Would she let him? Did she dare?

A few seconds passed before she responded with an emphatic nod. As Landon eased the crystal into her pussy, she let out a guttural groan. Her flesh was tight around the wand, yet he effortlessly worked it deeper inside. She planted her palms on the table behind her, bracing herself for what was to come. 

Landon was careful at first, his movements gentle while he pleasured her with the makeshift dildo. Each time he withdrew it almost entirely, he found its smooth surface coated in her fluids. 

Her moans and sighs soon had him thrusting the wand in and out at a more fervent pace. Selene let her head fall back, her hair tumbling in a dark curtain past her shoulders. Her lips were parted, and her chest rose and fell with uneven, shallow breaths. 

Licking his lips, he resumed massaging her clit while fucking her even faster. She released a wail that almost certainly carried to Mara on the other side of the closed door. Again, the thought of the blonde overhearing them caused Landon's dick to pulse. 

Selene's first orgasm was anything but subdued; the strength of her contractions made her practically levitate off the table. Leaving the wand half-buried inside her cunt, Landon moved to place a steadying hand on her hip. 

His fingers summoned forth another climax right on the heels of the first. Staring down at the wand, he grew wide-eyed at the sight of it moving while in the grip of Selene's flesh. What he would have given to feel that tightening all around his cock!

She abruptly grabbed his wrist. "I can't." Her words sounded like a sob. "I'm so sensitive now!"

Landon lifted his fingers from her clit, but before withdrawing the crystal, he leaned forward to give her pearl one last sensual lick. The stimulation provoked a series of orgasmic aftershocks that left her quivering. 

Once the wand was cradled in his palm, he placed it on the table with an air of exaggerated reverence. Still breathing hard, Selene shook her head in mock displeasure. "You've shown disrespect to one of my tools."

"I'm sorry." Landon made a show of adjusting the bulge in his pants. "If it makes you feel any better, my tool feels really disrespected right now."

She actually laughed at that. "Oh, is that right? Is your tool feeling neglected and overlooked?"

"Very much so." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Along with the odor of incense, the scent of Selene's pussy now clung to him. Through the haze of his arousal, he had the presence of mind to lower her dress. 

"Such a gentleman," she said. "At least, right now. I'm sure you'll be giving your tool plenty of attention when you get home."

"You don't need to be a mind reader to know that." Still uncomfortably hard, he watched Selene slip from the table. In the span of a few seconds, her playful mood vanished, only to be replaced by the cool formality he was far more accustomed to.

"Are you ready for my decision?" She didn't need to explain her meaning, for Landon understood it immediately.

"Yes," he quickly replied. 

Her smile was pleasant in a distant, almost superficial way. Holding out her hand, she said, "I believe we agreed on three hundred dollars."

Landon took out his wallet and extracted the cash. Selene accepted the payment without fanfare, setting it on the table. "For two hundred dollars, I'll tell you why she left, and for whom." Noticing Landon's expression, she added, "Not a specific name, of course. But I can provide you with a clue if you decide to continue on this path." Her gaze softened as she studied his face. "I hope you choose not to, Landon."

His hand visibly shook as he offered her more money. Hell, he was ready to give her the entire wallet. "Tell me why," he said in a voice just above a whisper.

Selene pursed her lips, appearing regretful on his behalf. "She left you because she'd fallen in love with someone else." Smoothing her palms over her dress, she averted her stare. "And the reason she didn't say goodbye? She feared you'd talk her into staying."

Landon actually staggered backward before managing to steady himself. The agony he felt upon hearing Selene's words... he thought it might force him to his knees. But the agony was far from done, for he asked, "Who convinced Alice to leave? Who did she fall in love with?"

Selene turned away, as if she couldn't bear to witness Landon's grief. "A former colleague of yours."

Though he grew completely still, his mind raced. He had plenty of colleagues, past and present. How many had met Alice? How many would have had the opportunity to seduce her, to wrench her away from him? 

In a sudden burst of lucidity, an instant of perfect mental clarity, Landon knew. And with that knowledge, a steely calm descended upon him. "Where are they now?" His voice was even, betraying no emotion.

Yet Selene must have seen through him, for she drew back her shoulders. "I won't say."

Landon stepped closer. "You know, but you won't tell me. Why?"

"To save you from yourself," she replied with an infuriating matter-of-factness. "Now, it's late, and—"

"We're not finished, Selene!" Clawing back his anger, he took all the cash from his wallet and tossed it on the table. "Is that enough for me to get another appointment with you?"

She placed one palm over her throat, and the other over her belly, as though warding off his anguish. "My schedule is full for the remainder of this week."

"Next week, then," Landon insisted. When she didn't immediately respond, he held out his hand in supplication. "You'll see me again, won't you?"

He sensed her wavering; for the first time, she appeared uncertain. As she opened the door, he feared he was being dismissed for good. 

"Next Monday," she finally, mercifully, told him. "Seven o'clock."