Charles - Body Art

GarryCharles

Copyright GarryCharles 2010

SmashwordsEdition

Published byGarry Charles at Smashwords

LicenseNotes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome toshare it with your friends. This book may not be reproduced, copiedwithout consent from the author. If you enjoyed this book, pleasereturn to Smashwords.com to discover other works by thisauthor.

Thank you for your support.

I would like to thank Jamie McFarlane for allowing me to use aphoto of his body for the cover and also Dan Rooke (RookstarTattoo) for adorning that body with some amazingartwork.

Rookstar Tattoo can be found at 225a Hamilton Drive, Acomb,York or call in for an appointment at 01904 331 372

Please note that this story first appeared in the onlinepublication LSD Magazine.

***

BODY ART

Jeff Reardonhad only ever seen beauty like it once before in his life. Thefirst time she'd been flesh and blood. A face on the street. Awhiff of perfume on a passing breeze. None of the others couldmatch what she'd had

Never!

Yes, she'd beenperfection for the briefest of times and Jeff had never thought hewould see her again. But now here she was, staring back at him fromthe brick fascia of the warehouse.

You allright, boss? Mark asked.

Yeah,fine. Jeff had to rip his gaze away from the spray-painted face ofthe goddess that towered from the floor to roof of thestructure.

Lookslike youve seen a fucking ghost, Mark joked.

Nahdont talk stupid, Jeff replied, already walking away.

You wantI give the guys the go ahead? Mark yelled after him.

Tell emto be here early in the morning, Jeff shouted without lookingback. I want this place levelled before the evening.

Jeff continuedwalking, wanting to put distance between himself, Mark and thegraffiti adorned wall. His breathing was coming hard and fast bythe time he reached his car, sweat soaking his shirt so that itclung to his torso uncomfortably.

Jeff fell intothe drivers seat and leaned back, pushing his head against theseat as he attempted to get his breathing under control.

It couldnt beher.

It had to be acoincidence.

Jeff lethimself slump forward, bracing his forehead against the steeringwheel, a wave of nausea rolling up from his gut to his throat.

Impossible.

No one elseknew.

Jeff had beenso careful, everything planned to ensure total secrecy. Not evenJeffs wife, Ruth, had suspected what he was doing. She was contentwith their life, happy in the ignorant belief that all waswell.

Pull yourselftogether.

Dont lose itnow.

Jeff slippedthe key into the ignition and turned it, the engine purring quietlyunder the hood. He took another three deep breathes, turned on theair conditioning and pushed the gear stick into first.

By tomorrowmorning it would be gone and hed never see her image again. Ofthat he was sure. The wrecking crew would make sure of that. AllJeff had to do was forget about her just like he had before. Shewas gone and she wasnt coming back.

**

Jeff wasntsure but it may have been guilt that made him suggest a meal outthat night. He rung Ruth on his way home and told her to get ready,her choice of restaurant. It had been months since they'd venturedout anywhere and her excitement had been more than evident in hervoice as shed told Jeff that she loved him.

The eveningstarted out well with them making love before leaving, a tendermoment that left Ruth with a satisfied smile and made Jeff almostbelieve that everything was fine between them.

Almost.

Ruth had chosenthe Italian restaurant they'd visited when theyd first met. It wasunder new management but the interior was just as Jeff rememberedit and, if possible, the food was better. They ate and they drank,talking about work and memories. The usual, pedestrianconversations of a long term married couple.

Theywalked back to the tube arm in arm, Ruths happiness radiating fromher face and threatening to infect Jeff. With everything going onin his life hed forgotten what it felt like to be relaxed, to letgo and just be himself. The last time hed opened up and shown histrue self had been with her...

T heother woman.

The tubeplatform was empty of other travellers and they waited in silencefor the next train to pull in, its arrival signalled by a wave ofwarm, stale air that made Jeff cringe. The tube always made himfeel trapped and unclean, as if the air was tainted by those whohad exhaled it before him, the aroma of their insides filling hisnose with each breath. It disgusted him.

As the trainpulled in alongside the platform, slowing to a gradual stop Jefffroze, his lungs seeming to contract as the hairs on the back ofhis neck were played with by invisible fingers of static.

Why here?

Why now?

Her paintedform was laid out before him, the full length of the carriage takenup by her image. The warehouse had teased him with only her facebut now she was visible in all her beauty. Jeff took it all in,every curve and peak just as he remembered. The artist had renderedher with loving care, using the paint sparingly to recreate her asno photo ever could.

What do youwant?

Jeff staggeredthrough the sliding doors, his eyes lingering on hers for as longas possible. As soon as he was on the train he slumped into thenearest seat and held his head in his hands.

Jeff,are you alright? Ruth asked, concerned. Is it the chest painsagain?

No,Jeff sighed. Just a migraine should have laid off the redwine.

Liar!

Jeff squeezedhis eyes closed, knowing the memories of that night wanted to berelived and doing his best to fight against them. He could feel theblood hammering at his temples, his heart beating with excitementat the thought of the special time he'd spent with her.

Sobeautiful.

A work ofliving art.

My best workyet.

**

Jeff had neverknown her name. Names didnt concern him. All he wanted was tobathe in the beauty of the female form and she'd been ideal.

It had beenraining and the offer of a lift from the guy with the friendlysmile had been too good to refuse, after all it was only a fiveminute drive. As shed climbed in the car Jeff had carefully takenin the sight of her lower thigh, just visible below the hem of thered skirt. In that one brief glance he'd absorbed everything shehad to offer.

Black heels,the kind that tie around the ankle. Sheer stockings though probablytights, but he could fantasise. Red skirt that hugged her slenderhips. Leather jacket open at the front to reveal the low cut blacktop that showcased the rise and fall of her well tannedcleavage.

And then hedcome to her face, a pretty young thing framed with flowing blondehair, full pink lips and the most stunning eyes Jeff had ever seen.They were a steel grey in colour with flecks of what he could onlydescribe as sunburst, a vibrant orange that danced with life.

Perfection!

Everythingafter that always played out in a blur, the memory distorted by theadrenaline that surged through Jeffs system. He could never quiteremember when hed seen the first signs of fear on her face. It wasdefinitely after hed driven straight passed the end of the streetshe lived on.

Then came thecrying the begging and pleading to stop the car. Jeff had justglanced at her and smiled and said, I want to know you insideout.

Eventuallyshe'd screamed, but not for long. Her initial fight had quicklydrained away to weakened kicking and that had then faded to nothingmore than a faint twitching. Before Jeff had really got to know hershe'd become still and silent.

And oh sobeautiful.

They alwayslooked at their best once Jeff had got to know them inside out. Thepureness left once the skin was peeled back was something that Jeffcouldnt deny. The way they felt under his caress, the slickness ofexposed muscle and tendon giving him a sexual thrill unequalled byanything he'd ever experienced.