Born in Black and White

Chapter 11

The room was dimly lit and whatever light existed seemed to undulate with the music that was thumping through her limbs. Kairi felt light as air at the moment, willowy in fact, as she walked across the crowded room filled to the brim with gyrating, faceless bodies. It was that way in a dance club.

As she glided her way through the crowd, she would brush up against other couples, moving in perfect sync, their bodies almost melded together. They carried her through the darkness, as if they knew where she was heading, knew where she needed to be, more so than she did. It was obvious of course. Her loneliness, her need, it was practically oozing out her pores. It felt good to be surrounded by such heat, such passion. She hadn't felt it in a long time – if ever – that true zen of humanity, being lost in pleasure.

She felt herself swallow heavily as she escaped the throng of dancers and came out on the other side of the room. She glanced around, more faceless people she did not recognize, almost all of them had that sleepy look on their faces, full of desire. She felt her abdomen tremble with such desperation. It was pathetic, but so was loneliness.

She turned and turned, the music spinning her faster and faster until suddenly she was frozen. For a moment, she didn't know why, until she felt the lightest of touches grace her hips. The dress she was wearing was dark and thin, falling across her body effortlessly, and feeling like pure sin against her skin. The fingertips now digging into her sides felt cool and dangerously strange as they fanned out, splaying across the outside of her upper thigh and dared so close to the short hem of her dress. She felt herself spin slowly, into the arms, into the heat of the hands dancing across her waist, and their bodies seemed to meld together like the ones on the dance floor. Their movement was minute, but pregnant with feeling and she closed her eyes to lose herself in the sensation. These feelings, this heat, this is what she imagined taking ecstasy would be like.

She was chest to chest with the man touching her. Judging by the build, the arms pulling her close and the smell - an all too familiar smell. She felt his hand snake up her side, his fingertips brushing areas untouched for years, scooping up her neck and jaw and forcing her lips into his.

His mouth was hot, sweet, tasting of cigarettes, the finest of whiskey, and the faintest hint of peppermint. His lips were soft against hers, familiar in a way, comfortable. She couldn't help but moan, ever so gently, leaning her body into his and feeling his desire build to match hers. It must be what heaven is like.

They pulled back from each other, gasping for air, her face held firmly in his long slender hands, his fingertips pressing against her temples and his thumb running across her bottom lip. Her lips were inflamed, pulsating from the ferocity of such a kiss. She felt burned and soothed all at the same time. She opened her eyes, sleepily, slowly and met his, bright, full of icy flames. He was breathing heavily, staring into her eyes, at her mouth. One hand cradled her face, the other snaked down her side, his touch leaving flames in its wake, fluttering down to the hem of her skirt, lifting it slowly to let his skin touch hers.

Kairi gasped, waking from her almost wet dream and gripping at the covers enveloping her body bathed in a cool sweat. She was breathing quickly, her heart was racing and she gulped heavily, glancing to her side and she immediately calmed.

Sherlock was still fast asleep, his pale lips, almost too familiar to her now, open and relaxed. His entire face was relaxed, which was a surprise. Kairi had assumed that Sherlock would sleep rigidly, almost rigor-like and most likely in a coffin. Instead, she was lying, encompassed in the warm, soft comforts of his bed. Yet after this dream that had left her quaking, she couldn't help but smile at the sight. Sherlock fast asleep, relaxed, pleased, with Appa's giant head comfortably situated on the center of Sherlock's chest. She bit her lip to keep from laughing, but it was no use, she let out the lightest of titters and Appa opened his eyes, keeping his head where it was comfortable and opened his mouth into that general doggy smile.