Shadows of Lure

I was found here, swimming giddily amongst the blue-grey panels that surrounded me, my feet sinking into the grey as though succumbed by rough sea waters. I was drowning, amongst the loud silence, reaching for the Shiraz wine bottle to scull and numb my hectic mind.

In peaks of time, against the saturation of outside nightclub chaos, I blocked my mind from the noise, sitting cross legged with my hollow guitar and tapping deeply into its soul. Its reverberations assured me that I wasn't the only one seeking a rhythm beyond the predictable paved streets and noise of the city. I craved a warmth that pricked me at times in my aching heart, sparking its urgency deeply within my soul.

This studio was initially a favoured space, a seclusion from the craze of city pathways and a chance to be able to play my music. As the windows from the high rises stared inquisitively at me, flickering their deep dark shadows, I would face the black like a night owl, unable to sleep, yet hunting in loneliness for company.

The mascara from my evenings out to the nightclubs I hated, yet visited for company, would itch my eyes as my stark drops of tears fell. Even when out, I felt alone, my soul filling with a deep sense restlessness within the swirl of hyped music and nameless faces.

I wondered, my heart shattering in its curiosity, sending the dark windows across from me aglow with stark light. Is any other soul lost out there, like me?

Moments ticked by in crazed pulse, the music irritating me. After some time, I felt a presence and looked up, staring once more through the lit, dark windows.

Like a buoy, across that continuous choppy river of clouds and air, in that lit dark window, he stood. He wore a deep, sullen gaze, staring wistfully across the unspoken sea between us. He too was dressed up, in a casual blue shirt and tight brown cord pants with a can of beer in his hand.

Meeting his gaze, I smiled in defeat, shrugging. A small, intense smile crept across his face and he raised his beer can at me. Glancing around wildly, I grabbed my bottle of Shiraz and held it up high. Cheers! My mind hummed giddily through the rapidly changing depths of the moment.

The night was hot and sweat was dripping from my brow. Swiping my forehead, I stroked my skin and then startled when I realised that I was wearing my black laced lingerie. One of the straps had fallen off my shoulders in my distress, exposing a little too much of my skin. My hand rushed to grab the strap, pulling it back up.

Staring up, flushed with embarrassment, I met the man's gaze again, watching him lower his eyes respectfully.

As the lights faded once more on those dark windows, I searched for that handsome, mysterious man but he was already swallowed by the dark.

Where did he hide? Alone or with company? His mysterious presence fuelled within me like a warm fire, refusing to burn out.

He had awoken my desire, my will to discover ... the beats of him.

Alone once more, I stepped backwards, feeling the firmness of my studio carpet, yet my soul desiring to swim its sea of larger currents across the air to him. My gaze lingering a little longer, I could swear I felt a presence across that stark night, as those stars gleamed in reassurance.

Sighing in defeat, I shut the balcony doors and turned to face the empty studio. My gaze rested upon a recycled glass jar, filled with a bunch of white geraniums that I picked slyly from the front of an elite hotel one evening.

It was hot, I was standing in the relief of shadowed shelter, whose perspective focused my gaze on those flowers, a hero on the horizon. They looked pure and robust, pressed firmly against the hot black hotel walls, meeting me with a warm welcome. Under the guise of shadows, I picked a bunch, meeting the gaze of a scowling security guard, who sent me running in wild adrenaline.

That sheer exhilaration of taking a risk ...

In my studio alone later, I tied my hair back. Lying back on the large cushion, images of the mysterious man circled my thoughts, arousing me.

Gently stroking my receptive, lonely skin, feeling it ripple in delight ...

If only I could see ...

He arrived a few nights later, tall, broad shouldered and hot, standing outside my front door. He was lured across those unspoken waters, making a pit stop at my studio on his own curious journey.

"Hi, I'm Raleigh," a warm smile spread across my face.

"Hi Raleigh, I'm Seb," retrieving his hand from behind his back, he offered me a bunch of orange gerberas.

"Thankyou," I was touched. "They look happy."

Seb smiled with relief.

Kicking the door open with my heal, I grabbed Seb's hand and pulled him inside my studio. There was something sexy about having him enter my private space. I watched as he took in the surroundings.

"A nice space," his brighter gaze made my heart smile reassuringly.

We stared deeply into each other's eyes for a long, lingering moment, our mutual attraction beating a wild pulse across the silent air.

I felt a strong pull inside me, to allow my protective sea to expand and flow around Seb, so pulled him deeply into my own current.

As he reached me, I drew him closer, stroking his wild beard and pressing it against my cheek. It sent a tingle through my wired soul.

"You're really something," Seb's voice was hoarse and I felt his hand gently stroke my shoulder. I felt his lips graze my forehead and it sent a spark of electricity through me.

Looking up, I tried to detect Seb's gaze. Did he feel as aroused as I did? His unruly curls fell across his soft, mellow amber eyes. It was a hide and seek of his deeper feelings that I wanted to lure closer.

My heart racing, I reached for his hand and drew him closer to me. My musicality felt his unique rhythm through his touch and the deep pulse of his bare soul as he wrapped his arms around my waist and swayed with me.

His voice was buried in the chaos of talk, he preferred little words, absorbing his focus in the heat of our rhythm.

I was shaking with turbulence, needing to ...

In the unsaid, raw feelings can be.

"What a gorgeous view," Seb's voice was a seductive whisper. His eyes had appeared from behind his unruly hair and they were glistening sensuously.

A moment passed where we just stared at each other, feeling the deep, hot breaths of attraction between us.

Bravely, I reached for Seb's face and pressed my lips firmly against his, I felt him kiss me back hungrily, his raw, spiky beard setting my skin alight with fire.

As Seb lowered the straps of my singlet with his teeth, the pink lace dropped, baring my soul.

For a moment, he stared at me, the wind from the balcony setting his hair waving across the night air.

Continuing to stare into his eyes, I removed my singlet confidently, baring myself to him. I watched Seb's eyes burn with deep desire as he breathed me in. Pressing my lips firmly against his, I felt him reply with a hunger that burned deeply.

Seb taught me how to feel again ...

The dark windows across the sea of air lit like candles as I surrendered myself to our wild rhythm. I felt the sea beneath me crest highly in waves of arousal.

Afterwards, I lay wrapped in his warm body on my single cushion, listening to the assuring rhythm of his heartbeat.

Seb's voice was husky, drawing me deeply into his intensity. That night, my sea settled to a calmer rhythm of satisfaction. He was filled with a mystery that I wanted to solve and my sea's channels lured him closer to embrace his deep, warm soul.