The Laws Of Lust

Chapter Two- Poppy

“I didn’t know where else to go…” Her voice began the explanation as she sniffled before him, her hands stained with the same mascara that was running down her cheeks. “I probably shouldn’t even be here...but you are the only person I can trust…” His heart ached to this confession as he wasn’t even sure of her government name and yet, he was ‘the only one she could trust’. But it had been these words as well as her current state that made him push to learn more-to discover what placed her on edge. “Is there somewhere we can talk? In private?” His member convulsed at this request as his mind immediately drew sordid thoughts from deep within his mind that he would never even dare ask to commit alongside his wife. And yet, he had to fight every fiber of his being to effectuate them with this woman. 

“Yes…” He answered quickly while pulling his keys from the table beside the door directly behind him and moved towards his car. For a moment, he paused in front of her before deciding to open the door that held the left side of the car from being occupied. “Whenever you wish to tell me…” James attempted to speak kindly, although his curiosity was getting the best of him. 

The woman paused for just a second, seemingly collecting herself, before turning her body to James. “After bringing you home that night after your stag party, I saw my friend...and fellow dancer…” She hung her head in shame when reminding him of her profession while continuing to speak. “Speaking to one of her popular clients...a man I never knew well-but knew he was married.” She then shrugged off this detail. “But many of our patrons are...anyway...they had argued and she was on edge for the rest of that day. Then the day after, she didn’t show up for her shift dancing and...I went to visit her home...she was terrified of someone-I realized it was the man as she explained how she loved someone she shouldn’t have…” The blood stained beauty now twisted her fingers together in anxiety while remembering the more morbid details. 

“I convinced her to return to work this morning and…” Her head dipped out of view as tears formed once more as guilt became the reason behind her sadness. “He requested time alone with her...I thought they would make up...and then I heard her yelling outside…” The woman stopped as she thought of the moment once again-as if she was reliving the moment while remaining still in her recollection. “When I saw them together, he was against her-as if they were dancing…” James’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he was unsure where the details of this were venturing to-sensing perhaps she was mad instead of a victim of fate herself. 

“She had this sound that echoed in the alleyway...like she had been drowning…” She held her hand over her face to try and hide the makeup running down her cheeks-unaware that he did not care how she looked in front of him. “I called out to her and the man pulled away...he had a knife and it lit up by the lamps…” She paused to sniffle until reclaiming her ability to speak and take control over her emotions. “She fell to the ground covered in blood...I tried to call for help-but nobody was there...nobody that cared, anyway…”

“Well I do…” He spoke suddenly, this comment surprising her, as well as his hand reaching across the console of the car and resting upon her own. “Where is she now? Your friend?”

“I had to leave her there...the man turned to me...I swear he was going to kill me!” Her voice now raised in the realization of how close her life had been to being ceased. 

“Then we must call the police-”

“They will not bat an eye at us! You know what we do...James…They may be our best customers but their morals are just as wicked as their interests…" the truth behind these words had scared his perception of those around him. His closest confidants were those who worked on places such as those she spoke of; police, other lawyers, even judges. But he also knew corruption lies beneath million dollar smiles and famous surnames. 

“Then...why did you come to me? Not that I...mind...I just...am confused what it is that you want….” Her eyes leveled to his as she now withdrew her hand from his when feeling the cold metal band of his wedding ring touch press into her hand. It seemed as though the existence of this circlet had reminded them both of the forbidden nature of this inappropriate association. And yet, upon the retraction of her hand, she looked to him with regret in having to keep her hands to herself. 

“I don’t know...I guess just someone I could trust…” She played with the tips of her nails, picking at the long edges of her fingers while waiting for his response. 

“Why do you trust me? You don’t know me...I don’t even know your name…”

She nodded while understanding his stance. “The night I was meant to dance for you...I expected anything but what you were to me.”

“What WAS I to you?” He asked nervously, almost appearing to her like a timid young boy sitting beside his first crush. 

“A gentleman...kind...selfless.” He knew that his affections may have been revealed in such a way-but in all truth, he desired her in the same way the other men present at the stag party had-he just cared for her more than he lusted for her. “And my name is Poppy…” He smiled upon finally gaining the knowledge of her name. Even if it was just a fantasy within his mind, he was now able to have a name to her face. 

“I also wanted to thank you for that night...you could have let me hobble home-”

“And risk my favorite customer being left to the menaces of the night?” She gave a quirky smile before watching his hand raise to her cheek in kindness to wipe away a tear. Just before making contact to her skin, he paused and recalled the status of his current situation; married. Closing his eyes tightly, he apologized quickly to her before attempting to change the subject. 

“Is there somewhere I can take you? It is the least I can do after you assisted in bringing me home.” He expected to hear an address, but instead, watched her hang her head in sorrow. “Poppy?” He called her by the name she had given him, watching as her eyes slowly rise to him. Those emerald eyes melted him on the spot-leaving him wanting to take the pain she felt immediately from her and place it within his own body. Even though James was a well branded man who seemed unbreakable-he had his fair share of pain; but it pales in comparison to the things Poppy had seen in a single day’s work. 

“No...I don’t have anywhere to go…” As she spoke these words, James knew he had to help her. He feared what would become of her if she was left on the streets with her appearance. She was far too beautiful, too young, and too naive to be left to the mercy of those who only wished her harm. Because of this, he had come up with a plan that he hoped would help her; even if it was only for one night. 

“I think I might…” Light formed behind her eyes as she gave a wide smile before watching him insert the keys into the ignition and pull from his driveway-unaware that Alice had awoken by now and witnessed her husband abandon her in the middle of the night with a woman she detested. 

The car traveled for a short while before coming to a stop outside of a completely stone building with an iron sign hanging directly beside a set of thick doors. Removing a key from the keyring, James entered the edifice with Poppy directly behind him. Using the tip of his finger to channel light into the building, he presented her to the law office that belonged to his father. 

“I can’t guarantee you anything more than a leather couch and a scratchy blanket...but...it is warm and you will be alone.”

“I don’t want to be alone.” She spoke quickly, her eyes lingering onto him as if asking him to stay without using verbiage itself. “Would you...stay with me? Just until the morning! I will go back to where I work then...I just...can’t imagine being there now.”

He nodded, without the thought of Alice or anyone coming in after hours as he had. Instead, he wanted to be with her-and this had been the perfect excuse. But as he watched her examine the place she would be sleeping for the night, he realized that she was like a drug to him; the more he had of her-the more he wanted.