United Service (5 page)

Alex and Jackie were already touching Sterling’s face when they heard the slam of the back door and Sulie’s fast footsteps racing towards the living room. As she ran towards him, she pulled her long blond hair up in a scrunchy and then rolled up her shirtsleeves. By the time she made her way to the couch, Raymond had ripped Sterling’s stained shirt and protective long–john–like covering from his body. The three women stroked and caressed Sterling’s body as his father removed his jeans. Sulie allowed the other women to move on his back and arms as she tore at the bottom of his remaining skin covers and touched his legs.

Sterling’s body eased from its tightness and he began to relax on the couch, letting out a sigh of relief. His eyes remained shut as he moaned and reached out to his caregiver only to find too many hands on his body. To his horror he watched as Jackie stroked his chest and Alex his arms. The two were kind–hearted to help him, but he had learned his lesson long ago about not getting too close to the team members’ women.

“Just Sulie,” he choked out.

The two women glanced towards Sulie for directions. Then they both backed off as Sulie shook her head and said she could handle the healing on her own. Her swift hands caressed his aching body, and she used every inch of her exposed flesh, her hands and forearms, to touch his skin.

As Sterling’s condition became more in control, Raymond asked, “What was the case you were working on today?”

“Serial killer. Women raped, dead.” Sterling took a deep breath. “Last victim was a vampire.”

The team members looked from one to another. “Are you sure?” Raymond asked.

Sterling rolled over so his Aunt could work his lower back. “Positive. She should have been able to protect herself, but she didn’t.”

“Female vamps may be stronger, but they can be caught off guard. Maybe he surprised her.” Raymond suggested as he helped his son to sit up.

“I’m much better. Thanks. Why don’t you go back to what you were doing,” he said, trying to stand up.

“Sit down,” his Aunt scolded. “You’re still too sick.” She removed his shoes and socks and began caressing his feet.

The migraine still pounded in his head, but the antidote did not reside with Sulie. He needed to leave and meet with the guys at the bar for that. Although, he had to admit, the foot massage felt amazing.

“It’s movie night, man. Want to join us?” William asked Sterling.

Sterling watched as his father fiddled with the remote control and then handed it over to Alex to work. “Dad? You’re watching TV?”

“Yes. Alex enjoys movies and I’ve started watching them with her. Yesterday we watched a chick flick, which I didn’t care for, so tonight Alex picked out something called an action drama. The title of the movie is ‘Die Hard.’”

Sterling cocked an eyebrow. “Weird title. Is the movie about a man who dies with an erection?”

“Don’t be silly.” Alex laughed. “It’s about a group of terrorists who destroy a building during a Christmas party. Most men love it.”

“The title sounds like porn to me.” Sterling checked his watch and realized it was still too early to meet his friends. “I’m fine if you want to start the movie.” Yawning, he added, “I’ll watch a little of it.”

Sterling had no interest in the movie, but had to admit it had good action, and therefore rated high on his shortlist of enjoyable movies. He sprawled out on the couch, his head in Sulie’s lap as she massaged his temple. He watched the others in the room and realized, once again, how lonely he was. Christ, the only women that ever mattered to him were in this room, and they were either taken or related to him.

He still had a headache. Having another empty sexual encounter was the last thing Sterling ever wanted again in his life. Swearing off women was not an option, although appealing, considering the women he usually bedded. How did men find quality women in the first place?

The next thing Sterling knew was the sound of the dogs barking and Sulie saying, “He just went to sleep, too.”

The alarm system sounded announcing someone else was home. Sterling’s head pounded too much to get up and turn around to see who it was, but he recognized the voice as the man said, “Good evening, all.” Dixon, the soon to be ex–Colony Director, had arrived. “Sorry I’m late for the movie, but I’ve seen this action film dozens of times.” He scanned the room and his eyes rested on Sterling. “Sterling, you okay?”

Even though Dixon and Sulie were not dating, they seemed always to be paired up. Now there were three couples in the room and Sterling. Not wanting to be a seventh wheel, he got off the couch. “I’m fine, Dixon. Have a seat. I was just leaving.”

“You’re still in pain Sterling, sit back down.” Sulie protested.

“Once again, thank you for the healing. I need to go out and find the rest of the cure though.” He removed himself from the couch and gathered his clothes without looking at his father. To Raymond’s credit, the man hardly ever criticized Sterling’s cavalier love life when Sterling’s pain level was high. But now, with the pain a bit subsided, the man took his opportunity as he followed Sterling to his car.

“A wife could ease your pain,” he began. “You need someone by your side – to help you. It’s what I’ve been telling you your whole life, son.”

Sterling took a deep breath and looked at his father. “You don’t understand me. It’s not that I want …”

Raymond’s face hardened as he interrupted. “I understand that going after prostitutes and easy women won’t find you happiness.”

Sterling looked away from his father and shook his head. “Whatever.”

When he opened the car door, and got inside, his father quickly added, “Paying for the cure … it isn’t right.”

After compelling a man out of a choice parking spot, Sterling entered McGreggers Bar. To Sterling, the hole–in–the wall dive always seemed modest, homey, and with a charm all its own. Thankfully the dim lighting didn’t hurt Sterling’s eyes too much. His Colony buddies had already arrived, and they would help him find the remedy he needed. Daniel sat in a booth talking to a redhead, and Ben hovered over at the bar. Of course, the token human of the group spotted him first and ran over to say hello. Slapping Sterling on the back¸ Brandon yelled over the music, “Hey, Sterling.”

The human was to be the new director of the Colony, transitioning in preparation for the current director, Dixon, to retire. He stood only 5’ 10” in height. Scrawny and lean. Someone Sterling classified as a nerd. Sure, Brandon seemed a pleasant enough human, but too quirky for Sterling’s taste. Everything from Brandon’s cowboy boots which added inches to his height to his crazy t–shirts made him appear too pathetic. Tonight’s shirt read, “Let me be your Dungeon Master.” The shirt screamed of despair to Sterling – just like Brandon, constantly trying to be his friend. Sterling didn’t need another friend. He had Ben. That’s all he needed.

“Where’s Ben?” Sterling growled.

“He’s over by the jukebox.” Sterling glanced in the direction Brandon pointed to and saw his friend seated at the bar. The two walked up to Ben, and Sterling compelled the man on the next stool to leave so he would have a place to sit down.

The bar scene was common to the vamps, with Ben usually the only competition Sterling had when picking up women. Ben was good–looking in a cologne advertisement way. He had dark skin, and judging by the way women flocked to him, he was quite the handsome catch. He had broad shoulders and cleaned up well, wearing a button down green shirt and black jeans. The two made quite a pair when trolling for women. They looked like Tubbs and Crocket from Miami Vice, if Crocket had a hangover and could barely stand up.

“Man, you don’t look good.” Ben said. Using his ability to detect moods, Ben added, “Your aura is a deep blue. You must be in agony. I’ll find you someone real quick.” Ben glanced around. “Daniel is here too. He can help.” The other women around the bar looked like they were with boyfriends or husbands, and of course the hookers working the back area wouldn’t do. “I’ll be back,” he said as he left Sterling at the bar.

Brandon was aware of Sterling’s condition, not that Sterling had shared his condition with the man. A woman’s touch always relieved Sterling’s pain, but not the touch of a hooker – or the touch of a compelled woman tricked into his bed. The touch had to be freely given.

“What about the blond trying to get the bartender’s attention, Sterling?” Brandon pointed to the gorgeous model sitting at the end of the bar.

Sterling’s eyes mostly closed as he breathed through the pain and examined the woman. “She’s wearing a wedding ring. I’ll pass.” His headache worsened and he got a mental image of the young Alicia in his mind. He told Brandon, “No one young. Someone mature – in their thirties or forties.”

“Why so old?” Brandon asked. “You want fatties too?”

Sterling managed to lift his itchy hand and touched Brandon’s arm to get his attention. “All women are beautiful.”

“But you’re capable of compelling the most gorgeous woman in here to treat your body like an amusement park if you wanted.” He then gestured with his hands and said, “Use the force, Sterling.”

Sterling shook his head. “If you want to be in total control, go home and fuck a doll.”

Brandon frowned slightly before he walked away to find someone for the cure.

Sterling’s head pounded and he ordered a beer. Sitting proved to be a bad idea. The added pressure only made his crotch and butt ache more. He felt like a grown man with a diaper rash, but the rash extended to his entire body. He needed to find a woman, and quick. Thankfully his apartment was not too far away.

While his friends canvassed the area, a dark haired woman sat next to Sterling. “Your friend Daniel said you might enjoy some company,” she said gesturing to the back corner where Daniel was.

“Yup.” As Sterling’s beer arrived, he studied the olive skinned woman next to him. She wore a see–through blouse with a black bra under the sheer fabric, and a short miniskirt, which showed off her curvy plus sized body. The late–thirties woman looked nothing like Alicia.
“She’ll do,”
he thought as he asked her if she wanted a drink.

The woman’s vodka tonic arrived and Sterling guessed the drink wasn’t her first of the evening. She wasn’t drunk, so as a consenting adult, her touch could help him. He noticed Ben walk by with a thumbs up sign, signaling her aura checked out and she would do for the night. Her hands slid across his thigh and quickly approached his crotch. The fast process had him ask, “You a pro?”

Her smile turned into a scowl, and her face reddened. “Bastard,” she exclaimed as she started to leave.

Sterling needed her to stay. Reaching out to her arm he quickly stopped her. “My bad, sweetheart. It’s just I don’t have much luck finding women.” It wasn’t a lie. He really did have a hard time finding suitable women to ease his pains. The gang usually had to screen several candidates to find a good one that was ready to go. He had discovered what’s–her–name on the campus earlier by sheer luck.

She sat back down on a bar stool. “A man like you? I doubt you have problems finding the ladies.”

He bit his lip to fight back the scream he wanted to let out from the throbbing headache. “You wouldn’t know the half of it,” he admitted.

Smiling at him, she placed her hand against his cheek. He sucked in a quick breath at the sudden relief he felt. She began to pull her hand away, but stopped when he moved his hand to the outside of hers and held her touch in place. His entire cheek felt good; it felt really good. “Please stay. I’m sorry I offended you.”

She allowed him to hold her hand, and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I know what it’s like to need some company. What’s your name?”

Sterling didn’t want to talk. He needed relief and he needed the remedy now. He held her hand like she was a lifeline. “Does it matter?”

Looking deep into his eyes, she must have sensed his pain. “Nope.”

“Good. Let’s go to my place.” Overall, Sterling wasn’t even attracted to the woman. The nameless female could fix his problems, end of story. She seemed kind, and that was his saving grace. For that alone, he was grateful.

“The bathroom is free,” she offered. She grabbed his crotch and kissed him before leading him to the woman’s restroom.

*******

The evening grew late, and this time Sterling managed to park his Ferrari into the garage back at Fang Manor without tearing down any flowers or plowing through a garden. He had driven home with the windows rolled down, but he couldn’t remove the bathroom smell from his hands and clothing. Well, tonight wasn’t his first bathroom romp. He supposed tonight’s encounter wouldn’t be his last restroom booty call. Of course, if he enjoyed the act of sex he may have found his frequent encounters more palatable, but usually he didn’t care for the experience at all.

Taking the key out of the ignition, he sat in the car and thought back to the evening. He didn’t know her name; he didn’t care to. Only an empty, hollow feeling inside of him remained. At the very least, he was no longer in pain, which was a good thing considering he had to be at work early the next day. There was always more evidence to touch, more headaches to have, and … well, not much of anything else.

He took a deep breath and walked to the back door of the mansion. He hit the security codes and entered. The lack of activity suggested everyone was asleep, so he tiptoed up the two flights of stairs to his room.