Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: SerenaJ
Title: Rachael and JD
Part: Chapter 8
Universe: Reedville and The Davidson Fishery
Summary: How Rachael fairs without him
Keywords: nosex

   Chapter 9: Hope Springs

   The card read `Congratulations on your achievement.  Best wishes for
your future endeavors.  Davidson Fishery and the McElroy Family.' It was
the only word she'd had from him in more than a month.

   Rachael felt her lip trembling, "Oh.  Damn." She ran to the bathroom for
a tissue as much to keep her sister from seeing her cry again as to save
her perfectly applied makeup.  She pulled herself together.  She smoothed
her hair again and took a deep breath.  Smile, she thought, it's graduation
day.

   JD had wanted her to walk and had convinced her to invite her family. 
Now he was gone and she was stuck sitting in the middle of the public
spectacle when she'd much rather be at her apartment watching TV.  Still,
her sisters, mother and great aunt had all come down from New York for the
graduation so it was not all bad.  Mom and Tanta Nilda still spoke more
Spanish than English and Rachael was hard-pressed to keep up with some of
the conversation.  But last night, after they went to bed, the conversation
with Gabriella and Lucille had been long and stressful.  Where was JD, why
did they break up?  You should find a nice boy your age - he was too old
for you anyway.  It had all grown tedious in very short order.

   Mid-way through the graduation ceremony, Rachael caught herself looking
at her watch and wishing the whole event was over.  Eventually the scrolls
were distributed, hands were shook and caps were tossed.  Rachael found
herself greeting friends and looking over their shoulders for someone she
knew was not there.  Helen shook her out of it.

   "You should get laid."

   "Helen!"

   "You should." She shrugged, "It'll remind you that there are other men
out there.  Or you could just come home with me." She leered.

   "Thanks but I'm not ready for that yet."

   Helen exaggerated a sigh, "Fine.  Just remember, I offered." She snapped
her fingers, "Speaking of offers, here, call this guy.  He's looking for a
paralegal." She handed Rachael a business card.

   "Really?"

   "Yeah.  I meet him at the club and we got started talking about work."

   "Thank you so much!" she gave her friend a big hug.

   Helen pulled back and looked at her, "Have you heard from him yet?"

   "No.  I was really hoping he'd come today." She sighed heavily, "I just
really thought..."

   "See?  That look right there is why I never let love interfere with a
good relationship."

   "I wish I could do that." Rachael could feel the tears welling up in her
eyes.

   "Oh, no!  No crying - this is a happy day.  Asshole or no asshole, you
just graduated!  Smile!" Helen manually lifted the corners of her lips and
when that did not work just hugged her.

   Rachael managed to keep from making her mascara run and pulled away from
Helen with a warm squeeze, "Thanks.  I'm ok.  New piece of paper, new
career.  Right?"

   "Right."

   So, Rachael tried to make the best of the rest of the day and went
graduation party hopping with her sisters and Helen.  Eventually, they
dropped Gabriella and Lucille at their hotel and Helen offered to drive
Rachael home.  They rode mostly in silence, Rachael lost in thought.  She
had been planning a wedding, a family, a life in the country.  Now all that
was gone.

   `I'll meet someone else.' she thought at the same time thinking `I miss
him so much.' Her eyes welled up with tears again but she knew Helen would
cut her a break if she cried again.

   Helen parked and Rachael looked up to find herself in completely
unfamiliar surroundings.

   "Ok, where are we?" It looked like the dock in the warehouse district of
some Bogart movie.

   "Home?" Helen offered, failing utterly to sound innocent.

   "No.  We're not."

   "Well, I practically live here."

   "Oh my god!" Rachael gasped with equal parts excitement and dread, "This
is The Crack?"

   "Well, they are having a graduation party tonight.  I promise we'll stay
in the front room."

   "You are such a liar."

   "No, really.  Front room only.  If I take you into the back room, you
can tie me to a wall and spank me." She paused and smiled, "Maybe I should
change that; that's a really good idea."

   "We will stay in the front room, we will have one drink at the bar, then
you will take me to my home.  Well, then at least, I'll go home; you can
stay and play all night if you want to."

   "Ok, front room, one drink, home.  I swear."

   As she got out of the car, Rachael knew she won that too easily but she
let herself be lead to the club anyway.  At the door, as Rachael's ID was
checked, Helen french kissed all three of the door attendants.

   "Gentlemen," she said when she finally came up for air, "this is my
friend..." she paused then smiled, "Marie.  Marie just got her heart broken
by a jackass who didn't appreciate what he had."

   "Now that's a shame," one of them said kissing the palm of Rachael's
hand and sending shivers up her arm, "because I would treat you like a
queen."

   "I imagine you would." It was a tempting offer.  He was tall and wide
with black hair and black eyes.

   She had left her cap-and-gown in the car but was wearing her tassels
around her neck.  His fingers gently followed the braid around her neck and
down her chest.  He lifted the tassel just before stroking her cleavage and
Rachael caught her breath.  "Congratulations." His voice was soft and deep,
a true bass.  He took her hand and slipped a wristband on her - drawing it
tight while staring into her eyes.  He let her go with a nod that was
almost a bow.

   Rachael quivered, shocked at how quickly her body responded to him. 
"Oh, you're good." She breathed.

   Helen put her hands on Rachael's shoulders and steered her inside, "Come
find us when you get a break, puppy dog.  We are staying in the front room
only, at the bar and having only one drink."

   All three men laughed at that.

   Inside it looked like any other dance club.  The music was too loud,
there was too much smoke and the lights were so low they may as well have
been off.  They squeezed through the crowd of dancers and made their way to
a bar at the back of the room.  The bartender smiled at Helen and paused
long enough from the drink he was mixing to kiss her lightly.  After
serving a few others, he returned to them and kissed her again, much more
deeply.

   "What can I get you, Hot Lips?"

   "Two rum and cokes."

   "No." Rachael laughed, "One rum and coke, one merlot."

   Helen shrugged, "Ok, two rum and cokes and one merlot."

   He leered at Helen, "You paying tonight or is this on your account?"

   She leered back, "I think I'll pay tonight." Helen leaned over the bar
and Rachael could see her stroking the man through his pants, "How's the
till tonight?"

   "Why don't you come around and count it?"

   "Helen!" Rachael was shocked.  She knew from her own relationship with
Helen that the woman was not shy.  But she was completely off guard
watching Helen climb over the bar and slid down the bartender, oblivious to
the loud cat calls of the crowd around the bar watching her drop to her
knees and unzip his pants.  The bartender for his part continued to mix
drinks - albeit it more slowly.  Rachael was too embarrassed to watch the
details but even over the loud music, their groans of pleasure could not be
missed.

   "She's not supposed to do that."

   That soft deep bass sent a shiver down Rachael's spine and she swallowed
hard before turning to see the speaker.

   It was the man from the door.  He sat down next to her without peering
over the bar for a closer look.  He looked like the kind of man who's other
suit had a cape and tights - wide shoulders, chiseled abs, tapered waist.
The tight black jeans and security t-shirt left nothing to her imagination
and much to be admired.  "All sex should be in the back room.  But they
always seem to make an exception for Helen."

   "I - uh - I guess so." Rachael gathered herself enough to stutter back.
It was that voice.  If there was such a thing as a den of iniquity, she was
sitting at its bar and that voice just fanned the flames.

   "Can I get you anything, My Lady?"

   "Um.  Marie." `I would treat you like a queen' he said.  She wondered
just how serious he was.  "And no, I have my one glass of wine.  I'm fine."

   "May I ask what you graduated today?"

   "Oh, my associates.  Nothing big."

   "Education is big.  It makes the smallest man tower and the largest
fall."

   She was being seduced despite herself, "Philosopher and security,
impressive."

   "I'm a man of many talents, My Lady." He gestured to her leg, "May I?"

   She glanced down, "What?" he waited and she relented, "Ok, sure."

   "You've no doubt been on your feet all day." He said as he stood then
stooped before her, allowing his fingers to stroke down her leg gently,
"Those shoes look tight." He held her ankle firmly and slowly slipped her
shoe off.  He massaged her foot and calf, "And what did My Lady receive an
Associates degree in?"

   "Law.  Legal Aide.  Paralegal; I'm a paralegal now." JD never made it to
her feet.  Already this man was taking liberties and she didn't even know
his name.  "I'm sorry," she tried to pull her foot away but his grip was
too strong.  Not that she tried hard.  "I don't even know your name." His
fingers felt wonderful.

   "I am your dog, My Lady.  Call me as you will."

   "Dog?  Your name is Dog?"

   "If that's what you want to call me."

   "What's your name, though?"

   "Marie," he loosened his grip on her foot, "while I am here tonight, I
would like to be your slave and treat you like a queen.  Meet your every
whim, satisfy your every desire.  You can beat me, fuck me, make me find
lovers for you, buy you drinks.  When I get home, I drive a very expensive
car to a very high stress job.  When I'm here, I'm just my lady's dog. 
Ok?"

   JD was usually the Dominant when they did this sort of thing - and even
so, neither of them was as submissive as this.  But clearly this was what
he liked.

   And she wanted to.  His hands felt good on her foot - they'd feel good
anywhere.  "Can you make me forget him?  Just for tonight."

   "Let me have you, My Lady, and I'll make you forget yourself."

   She swallowed hard.  Just one night.  Just one night not wishing he were
there, not looking for him to call, not crying over him like some Lifetime
movie of the week.  "I think I'm going to need something stronger than red
wine, Rover."

   He stood up slowly and offered his arm, "There's a bar with more
attentive service in the back, My Lady."

   "My shoe?"

   He picked up her shoe then swept her up into his arms and carried her to
an area away from the dance floor, with comfortable couches and even dimmer
lighting.

   "What may I serve you?"

   She shrugged, "Surprise me." He returned with a tray of drinks.  "You
didn't have to do that.  Anything would have been fine."

   "What would he have brought you?"

   "Red wine." She sipped something sweet and red, "Or bourbon and water."

   "Did I surprise you?"

   "Yes." She laughed, "Yes, you did.  Well done."

   "May I be rewarded?"

   "With what?" It was too easy to be pulled in.  He was gorgeous and his
eyes never left her.  He seemed utterly intent on making her smile.  It was
as intoxicating as the alcohol.

   "A kiss.  From your lips.  A small one."

   She beckoned him forward and kissed his cheek.  Then, on impulse, ran
her hand over his crotch.  He felt massive.  And hard.  Her heartbeat
quickened and she picked up her drink again to cover her embarrassed grin.

   "Would My Lady care to see me?"

   "Ah," Yes, the back of her mind screamed.  "No.  Not yet."

   He smiled coyly as he knelt on the floor and removed her other shoe.  He
began massaging her feet and calves again, "So, tell me about yourself."

   She laughed, "Ok, well, let's see.  I'm 28, I was born in New York but
raised mostly in DC.  I..."

   He laughed warmly.  It was as deep as his speaking voice and vibrated
through her, "I didn't mean your life story." He paused, "Forgive me.  If
My Lady wishes to tell me every detail of it, I would love to listen.  But,
what I meant to ask was, what do you like sexually.  Tell me what you like
so I can please you."

   "Oh." She felt her face flush, "Of course.  How stupid of me..."

   "You could never be stupid, My Lady." He kissed the top of her foot
softly.  The touch sent fire crawling up her leg, "Where in DC were you
raised?"

   "Wha?" She put the drink down and tried not to melt into his fingers,
"Oh, uh, Columbia Heights mostly.  With the rest of the Puerto Ricans.  My
mother's from there originally."

   "That explains much of your beauty."

   "Right." It was a fantasy.  Like being on a movie set.  A dream written
just for her.  "This is silly." She pulled her feet from him.  "I should
go."

   He picked up her shoes, "You should stay and let me give you everything
you've ever wanted but..." he shrugged.

   She looked at him, "I'm sorry.  We were engaged.  It's only been a
month. And today," tears spilled before she knew they were coming, "today
he was supposed to meet Tanta Nilda."

   He moved beside her, wrapped his arms around her and let her cry on his
shoulder.  After a few minutes she pulled away from him with a loud sniff.
He handed her a napkin and she wiped her eyes then blew her nose.

   "Well that was attractive." she quipped.

   "Everything My Lady does is attractive.  Would you like some water?"

   "Oh, yes.  Please."

   He walked slowly to the bar and she took the time to pull herself
together.  By the time he returned, she was calm again.

   "Listen, I really appreciate you fawning all over me and letting me cry
on you like that but, um-" his t-shirt caught her eye and her momentary
attention, "Shouldn't you be working?"

   "I'm off shift." He knelt down again, "I have nothing better to do than
to cater to your whims."

   She sighed heavily, "I don't even know what I want anymore.  I lied to
him; he doesn't even want to hear my name much less talk to me."

   "If it were me, I'd be waiting by the phone for your call."

   She stroked his cheek gently, "You wouldn't have thrown me out for
sleeping with another man."

   He looked surprised, "That's all?"

   "It was his son." When he looked confused she added, "The son is
twenty-nine.  JD's in his sixties."

   "Ah.  That explains a lot." He looked a bit wistful.

   Rachael took her shoes and caressed his face again, "I aught to have my
head examined.  One day I'm going to regret not sleeping with you."

   "Life's too short for regrets.  Let me do one more thing for you."

   She smiled, "Sure.  What?"

   "Let me take you home.  I'll give you a full body rub and you can tell
me all about this man."

   "I've ruined your whole night, haven't I?"

   "I wouldn't say that.  Tonight, I learned that there are still women who
believe in love.  One last kiss?"

   She kissed his lips this time.  Warm and soft but not deeply.  They
pulled apart with sad smiles.  He slipped her shoes on and swept her into
his arms again.
   "My Lady still should not have to walk."