Night of the Tiger(15)

Retreating deeper into the tent, Aimee noticed a sandwich-board sign, which announced the fortuneteller’s area was next. The entrance was closed and she could hear the low murmur of voices coming from the other side of the canvas. Aimee assumed that must mean someone was in there having their fortune told.

Now that would appeal to Sandra. She was into all kinds of metaphysical stuff, constantly asking Aimee about her nightmares and offering suggestions as to what they all might mean. She’d never told her friend about her dreams of the white tiger, and she certainly wasn’t about to tell her about her sensual dream from last night. That was too personal to share even with her closest friend.

Aimee decided to hang around outside for a few minutes just in case Sandra was inside. If she wasn’t, Aimee was going to give the fairgrounds one more turn before heading back to the car to wait. She could always sit on the hood even if she couldn’t get inside the vehicle.

She glanced at her watch. It was just past nine. It was hard to believe that almost two hours had passed since they’d arrived. Aimee didn’t quite know where the time had gone. She must have watched some of the performers for longer than she’d thought. It was easy to get caught up in their acts. They were really quite incredible, and she’d enjoyed them more than she’d thought she would.

But no matter how enthralling the acts were, or how glitzy they seemed, the performers were just people who would be tired and cranky tomorrow morning just like everyone else. Beneath the glare of the lights and the pounding rhythm of the music lay a lonely existence. It couldn’t be easy to always be on the road, performing night after night in small towns across the country, and maybe even around the world. What was exciting and exotic tonight would reveal itself to be worn-out and tawdry in the morning’s light. It was the shadows that helped with the illusion.

The tent seemed to be much gloomier at this end, but there were several more openings. Intrigued, Aimee started toward them. She’d have a quick peek but keep an eye on the fortuneteller’s door. It wouldn’t do for her to miss Sandra after she’d searched for so long.

A dim light shone from an opening on the left. Aimee walked over and waited for her eyes to adjust. At first she couldn’t see anything. A movement off to her right caught her eye, and she turned her head.

A feeling of foreboding pressed down on her, weakening her knees. She grabbed a tent post, grateful for its strength and support. Suddenly she didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to see what was lurking just beyond. The shadows seemed menacing. But it was as if she had no control over her movements. Her head continued to turn until she was looking in the far corner.

Situated beneath a red spotlight was a large platform that seemed to have some kind of large padding or mattress on it. Several people were lying on it. All of them were naked.

Aimee swallowed hard. Sweat dotted her brow as she tried to back away but, as they had in her nightmares, her feet wouldn’t obey her command. Her fingers tightened around the tent post, her nails digging into the wood.

There was such a tangle of limbs that at first she couldn’t tell exactly how many people there were on the large platform bed, but there seemed to be several men and at least one woman. Of that she was certain.

The longer she looked, the more the erotic tableau came into focus. One man gripped a handful of the woman’s blonde hair, dragging her head back and holding her captive as he kissed her. The woman’s moan of pleasure seemed to echo off the thick canvas walls. Another man feasted on the woman’s ample breasts, licking and sucking at them until her nipples were red and her skin damp.

Aimee’s breathing was getting shallower with each passing moment. Sexual energy pulsed around her like a living, breathing thing. Her breasts began to tingle and her panties grew damp. She was getting aroused watching them.

She tried to look away, hating the fact that she was a voyeur to such a personal act. The fact that it was turning her on bothered her deeply. But she couldn’t turn away from the sight unfolding in front of her. It was as if her will was no longer her own.

A third man shoved the woman’s legs apart and buried his face against her core, sucking and licking. The woman shoved her hips toward him and he laughed, pulling away and sitting back on his heels. He grabbed the woman’s hips and dragged her down onto his enormous erection. The woman screamed and then moaned as the man pounded into her.

Aimee wanted to leave. Tried to leave. But she couldn’t seem to make her muscles work. She tried to shift her leg even one inch. Nothing. They wouldn’t respond no matter how hard she tried. She closed her eyes, but it did no good. In her mind’s eye, she could still see the group on the bed.