Magic: A Ladies in Love Romance Pt. 03

Magic

A Ladies in Love Romance

By Magda McKune

Part Three

CHAPTER 9

I opened the door to my friend's knock. Sandy's eyes grew wide at the sight of my near nudity in my saucy revealing stage costume. "Holy shit!" she exclaimed with her jaw agape. "You look so friggin' hot!"

I giggled and moved to take her into a warm embrace. "It's good to see you too!" I leaned back and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Thanks for being so adventurous and coming over on the spur of the moment."

Sandy lifted the paper sack in her hand. "I brought one bottle of red and one bottle of white, just in case."

"Sounds great!" I took the bag from her and led the way to the kitchen. "You want some Cabernet?"

She followed me into the kitchen. "Yes, please!" Sandy stopped by the island and rested her hand on the countertop as I put her bottles aside and fetched a glass for her. "I can't get over how breathtakingly gorgeous you look," she observed candidly. "The booze in my system must be kicking my horniness up to the maximum level."

I filled two glasses with Cabernet. "I feel sexy and beautiful when I wear outfits like this one. I also think it's because I'm so very happy with my life." I grinned and handed her a glass of wine. "I'm finally in show business, I get to stay in this great apartment, and I get to have satisfying sex with a beautiful blonde. Life doesn't get much better than this."

Sandy smiled seductively over the rim of her glass. "Speaking of sex, you got me so aroused, I practically drenched my panties in the cab on the way over here. My mind was creating lewd fantasies about us together."

I laughed. "Who is being the wanton woman now?"

"I blame it on you," she said, taking a sip of her drink. "All this talk of lesbian love has me curious to see what it's like."

"There's no rule that says only a man can satisfy a woman. I used to think that way myself until the first time I made love with Jennifer." I tasted my wine. "Have you ever masturbated?"

Sandy expelled her breath in a loud guffaw. "Well, duh! Ever since puberty."

I clinked my glass with hers and took a sip. "Congratulations. You were officially sexually satisfied by a woman."

"That isn't the same thing."

I grinned at her over the rim of my glass. "You bet your sweet ass it isn't! But the principal remains the same." I took another drink and gave her a demure smile. "So, do you want to talk all night about what it's like to make love to a woman, or do you want me to demonstrate?"

"All right," she nodded. "You got my attention." Sandy set her glass on the countertop and said, "So how does this work?"

"The same as any other date. You begin by kissing your partner and move on from there."

"So kiss me, already."

I moved closer to her and gave her a smooch on the lips.

Sandy scowled at me with annoyance. "That's it? No wonder you had trouble keeping a man."

I set my glass on the counter and moved close to her. I slipped one arm around her waist and the other around her neck. I pulled her into me, her body pressed to mine as I crushed my mouth to hers. Sandy sighed and wrapped her arms around my back and returned my kiss. Her lips were soft and delicate and warm. I dipped my tongue into her mouth. Sandy expelled her breath in a deep sigh and flicked her tongue against mine. Her hands roamed over my back and I felt myself getting aroused.

Her one hand slowly inched lower to grope my rear. I pulled her tighter to my chest and kissed her hungrily. I knew beyond a doubt that we were going to have sex, and the mere thought of it was getting me hot.

Sandy leaned back and smiled seductively. "That was much better!"

My hands roamed over her back. "I guarantee it gets even better." I kissed her again, long and soft on the lips. Sandy's hands moved lower. "Yes," I breathed into her mouth. "Feel my ass."

"Oh God, I can't believe how hot I am for you. I want to feel you and make love to you, Carla."

I leaned back and smiled at her. "Perhaps we should take this into the bedroom."

Sandy grinned seductively. "That sounds like a wonderful idea." I led her by the hand into the bedroom. "Let's leave the lights off," Sandy suggested. "I may be drunk, but I don't think I'm quite ready to see my best friend in the buff just yet."

I left her beside the bed and moved to the dresser. There was enough light from the hallway light to see by. "Let me light a couple candles for ambiance."

"Sounds good."

I found matches in the top drawer. "You can start to get undressed if you like," I said with my back to her.

"Okay."

I lit two candles and turned to face her. Sandy was standing completely naked beside the bed. She looked a whole lot sexier than I had imagined. "Wow!" I exhaled reverently. "I never realized you were so hot!"

Sandy smiled shyly. "You think so?"

"I know so." I crossed to her and slid my arms around her back. My mouth met hers in a long passionate kiss.

"Oh, yes," she sighed into my mouth. My hands caressed over her back and moved down to grope her butt. Sandy kissed me hungrily, her fingers massaging my back.

I moved my mouth to the side of hers and began kissing and licking along her jaw and neck. Sandy exhaled with lust and shivered in my arms. My lips moved down her chest to her petite breasts. I took one of her nipples into my mouth and sucked the sensitive tip. Sandy moaned and shuddered with arousal. My one hand groped her butt while the other came between us and slipped between her legs. Sandy let out a sharp gasp as my fingers made contact with her vagina. "Oh, god, yes," she moaned. "God, you got me so fucking hot."

I parted her pussy lips with my fingers and dipped the tip of one finger inside. The girl was dripping wet! I moved my mouth to her other breast and flicked my tongue over her nipple. Sandy quivered and trembled, her breath coming in short gasps. I probed my finger inside her, feeling for the sensitive nub of her clitoris. The girl shuddered when my finger made contact. "Oh, shit!" she gasped. "What you do to me!"

I gently eased her back to lie upon the bed. "Let me take care of you."

Sandy lay back and parted her legs wider. "By all means, do."

"I may not be an expert at this sort of thing," I said, "but I have learned a thing or two."

I squatted on my haunches between her legs and lowered my mouth down to lick her vagina. Sandy moaned with pleasure and dug her fingers through my hair as I lapped her cunt. "God, you're fantastic!" she panted.

I grinned up at her from between her legs. "You like that?"

"Honey, you can lick my pussy any day of the fucking week!"

"I can do more than that."

My friend giggled with glee. "Bring it on, baby!"

I rested one hand on her pubic mound as I probed her cunt with my tongue. My thumb rubbed the sensitive nub of her clitoris as I lapped her damp pussy. The woman moaned in ecstasy and raked her fingers through my hair. I slipped my other hand under my chin and inserted a finger into her pussy below my delving tongue. Sandy mewed with pleasure and lolled her head back and forth on the mattress. I smiled as I licked and fingered my friend, suspecting I was the first person to give her oral sex. Certainly, the first woman to ever do it. A man can try to perform cunnilingus on a gal, but it takes a woman to know where the sensitive spots were and what it took to send a lady into stimulation overload.

Sandy moaned with pleasure as I lapped away at her seeping slit. She began to tremble and I suspected she was nearing a release. I pressed my face tighter to her vagina and probed my tongue in as deep as I could reach. Sandy quivered and shuddered as a flow of sweet pussy nectar seeped from her cunt.

The woman began to giggle like a child. "Oh, God!" she tittered gleefully. "If I had known you could do that, I would have asked you to do it to me a long time ago!"

I rose up to stand and leaned over her to kiss her tenderly on the mouth. My lips were still salty from her pussy nectar. "You liked it?" I cooed.

"Hooooo, honey!" Sandy sighed with contentment. "Did I ever!" My friend smiled up at me. "Take off your clothes and come lay by me."

I stood and slowly shed my clothes like I was performing a strip tease act with no music. Sandy grinned lustfully at me. "You are the sexiest woman ever."

"I'm glad you think so."

I stripped naked beside the bed and crawled on my hands and knees upon the mattress. "I'm glad you came tonight," I murmured, moving above her like a sensuous jungle cat.

"Oh, I came, all right," Sandy giggled. "Thanks to you." She draped her arms around my bare back as I crawled over her. "You have such an incredible body."

"Thank you." I lowered my mouth to meet hers. My hanging breasts brushed over her chest. "You know, ladies can satisfy each other beyond licking and kissing."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"I bought a toy for Jennifer and me to use in the bedroom."

Sandy gave me a curious expression. "What kind of toy?"

"A man-shaped toy. A strap-on dick."

It took a couple of moments for the imagery to sink into my friend's mind. "You mean, you have a fake penis that you use on each other?"

"A rubber dildo. You strap it on and fuck with it."

"Oh lets!" she giggled with glee. "I'm still pretty drunk and feeling adventurous! Let's check out this toy of yours!"

I climbed off the bed and retrieved the rubber dick from the dresser drawer. Sandy's eyes grew wide as I slipped my legs through the straps and adjusted the rubber phallus over my crotch. "Now, I've seen everything!" she guffawed.

"Changed your mind?"

"No way! Get over here and give it to me, baby!"

I opened the tube of lubricant and squeezed a dollop onto my palm. "Let's get it nice and slick for you, honey." I greased the pole and crawled onto the bed on my knees. "How do you want it?"

"Lay on your back," Sandy said. "I want to ride that big bad boy."

I laughed and stretched out onto the mattress on my back. "You and I need to get you drunk more often, girlfriend!"

Sandy crawled on her knees to my side and swung her leg over my waist. "Let me take that big cock into my hot wet pussy!" she growled with lust. The girl held the shaft with one hand and guided it inside her as she gradually settled down onto my lap.

I giggled at how brazen the lady was. "Such a wild woman you are!"

"Booze and horniness are a wicked combination." Sandy settled gradually onto the rubber pole all the way down to the base. "God, that feels so weird." She planted her hands on my tummy and began a slow riding rhythm. "Holy shit! It's filling me up!"

I grinned and held Sandy's waist as she rode my lap like a horny naked cowgirl. "You have obviously done this sort of thing before."

"Yeah, but never with a partner with big tits as yours."

"Feel my titties."

Sandy moved her hands onto my breasts and groped my big mounds as she slowly increased her humping tempo. "You are so hot, Carla," she leered.

"And you are incredibly sexy."

My friend rode me harder and faster, her small breasts jiggling about her chest as she bucked and bounced on my lap. "Damn, this is great," she exhaled. Sandy grinned down at me with lust. "I want you to take over and fuck me hard and deep, Carla."

"Okay!"

Sandy slowed to a stop and leaned down, her mouth meeting mine in a hungry, passionate kiss. She slipped her arms under my back and rolled over, bringing me on top of her.

I rose up on my hands and smiled down at her, the rubber shaft still buried to the very base inside her. "Are you ready for me?" I grinned lecherously.

"Hell, yeah!" Sandy laughed. "Give it to me, baby!"

I eased out and pressed in again, the pole easily sliding in and out of her moist vent. I picked up the tempo and was soon drilling her hard and deep with every stroke.

"Oh, fuck, yes," Sandy sighed with contentment. "This is awesome."

I braced myself above her with my palms on the mattress under her arms. Sandy held my waist as I pumped in and out of her, my big tits wobbling below my chest in tempo to my humping rhythm. "God, you are so sexy, Carla."

"You are one fantastic lay, lover-girl."

Sandy giggled. "I like having sex with you. I never knew it would be this great!"

I hammered away, amazed at how beautiful and sexy the young woman was. It made me happy to know I could give my friend such pleasure. Sandy cupped my swaying breasts in her palms as I banged away at her cunt. I remembered when Jennifer had used the rubber tool on me, and how gorgeous she looked as she was making love to me. A few weeks ago, I would have never considered the possibility of lesbian love. But now, it seemed the most intimate and natural thing in the world. Especially with an incredibly sexy and satisfying partner as Jennifer Prescott.

I leered down at my partner. "Roll over so I can see that nice ass of yours while I fuck you doggy-style."

"Yeah baby!" Sandy giggled as I dismounted her and she rolled up onto all fours. "Fuck me in the ass!"

"What!"

Sandy shifted up onto her hands and knees and grinned over her shoulder at me. "As long as you got me in the experimenting mood, I say let's go all the way! Shove that big hard cock into my tight ass, baby! I want you to fuck me hard with that big cock!"

I laughed and moved behind her on my knees and between her legs. "You are one fucking wild woman!"

"You make me want to try bold and daring things. I never had it up the butt before. Give it to me, honey!"

"You asked for it!" I held her ass with one hand and guided the head of the rubber dick to the puckered opening of her butt hole with the other. The fake dick eased in easily with the lubricant and my partner's cunt juice on the shaft.

The girl expelled her lungs in a whoosh of air and dropped her head to the mattress. "God, it's so fucking big," she moaned.

I eased in a few inches and drew back out again. "You want me to stop?"

"Hell no! Shove that big tool all the way into my ass!"

I pressed in some more and pulled back out again, gradually establishing a slow steady stroke in and out of her rectum. "Damn, you are so fucking hot!"

I held both of her ass cheeks and eased the rubber dick inside her. Sandy moaned with pleasure and dropped to her elbows, her forehead resting on the bed. "Damn, that feels great!"

"God, Sandy, you have a mighty fine ass."

"Fuck that tight ass hole, honey," she whimpered as I steadily drilled in and out of her tight sphincter. "Fuck that ass."

Sandy whimpered with pleasure as I rammed harder and deeper into her ass. "God, you are incredible!" I leered.

The girl bucked her spine and whimpered. "Oh shit," she moaned. "I can't take much more of that."

"Let me finish you off by reaming your pretty little pussy."

"Okay."

I slowed to a stop and pulled the rubber tool out of her ass. I lowered the head a couple inches and inserted it into her cunt. Sandy exhaled with lust as I eased all the way inside her and resumed my reaming rhythm in and out of her tight vagina.

"Holy fuck," the woman gasped breathlessly. "You are going to make me cum."

"Damn straight!" I gripped her waist and slammed away, hard and fast and deep into her pussy. Sandy had a fantastic rear and I squeezed her butt cheeks as I pounded away. "God, you have a mighty fine ass," I panted. The physical exertion was beginning to take its toll on my poor muscles and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep up my coital assault.

"Oh God, I'm cumming," Sandy mewed, her face pressed to the mattress. "Make me cum, Carla."

I reached deep inside of me for more strength. I doubled my efforts, pounding her pussy with renewed fury. The woman quivered and trembled, little uh uh uh sounds escaping her lips. At last, she jerked and spasmed, a gush of cunt cream bursting from her sated snatch. It lubricated the rubber pole some more and dribbled down the inside of her thighs. I slammed home one last time, burying the fake dick all the way inside her. Sandy bucked and wrenched her body, then collapsed utterly spent onto the bed. She lay panting below me, her pussy running with cunt juice.

I leaned down and tenderly kissed her bare shoulder. "Are you all right, honey?" I murmured softly.

"Fuck, no," she exhaled weakly. "I think you just turned me into a lesbo."

I chuckled and eased the rubber cock from her seeping cunt. "Now you know how great it is when Jenny and I make love."

"Do you use that rubber toy a lot?"

"She uses it on me. Jenny's not adventurous enough to have me do it to her, yet."

"The gal doesn't know what she's missing."

I grinned at my friend. "Do you want some more?"

"No more meat substitute for this girl for a while, thank you very much."

I climbed off the bed and removed the rubber dildo. "Are you glad you came over tonight?"

"I am. It makes a nice break in the routine of a work week."

"It certainly does."

Sandy rolled onto her side and shifted up onto her elbow. "You were absolutely amazing," she smiled.

"You were pretty amazing yourself." I crawled onto the bed and leaned down to meet her lips with a soft kiss. "You are one very sexy woman."

My friend grinned and lightly caressed my bare breast with her fingertips. "You make me feel sexy."

"That isn't hard to do."

"So, tell me, magic lady," Sandy smiled coyly. "Do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?"

"I have something else that may interest you. It's called sixty-nine."

"Sixty-nine? What's that?"

"It would be better if I were to show you." I rose up onto all fours and crawled on my hands and knees above my partner. I swung my leg over her chest and positioned myself over her with my head between her legs. "You lick me and I lick you," I explained. "Simultaneous cunnilingus, as it were."

I dropped my head to her crotch and pressed my mouth to her vagina. Sandy squealed with delight and writhed from the stimulation. "Yeah, baby!" she giggled with glee. "This is crazy!"

"Lick my pussy."

Sandy put her hands on my ass and craned her mouth up to my pussy. She tentatively licked the soft delicate folds with her tongue. I lowered to my elbows and slipped my hands under her rear. I gripped her butt cheeks in my palms and pressed my mouth tighter to her cunt, my tongue probing deep inside her. Sandy became bolder and more excited. She lapped my cunt with increasing intensity, her hands caressing over my rear and bare back.

I sucked and licked the folds of her pussy, the girl squirming with arousal below me. My cunt tingled and my loins throbbed from her oral stimulation. For a novice, Sandy Fulton was a natural. She was lapping me into a lustful frenzy and edging me ever nearer a climax. I licked and probed her faster and deeper. I wanted her to cum at the same time as me. Sandy mewed into my snatch and writhed beneath me, signaling she was getting close. My cunt tingled and I strained to hold back as long as I could.

My partner gripped my ass cheeks in her palms and shoved her tongue deeper inside me. I could feel the juices welling up inside my vagina and I knew I was about to blow. I groped her butt in both hands and poked one finger into her ass hole. Sandy jerked and spasmed as her cunt suddenly exploded onto my tongue. That was all it took to push me over the edge and I instantly came into my partner's mouth. We remained locked with our mouths pressed to each other's cunt, shuddering and flowing with pussy cream.

At last, I raised my head from between her legs and turned myself around, plopping heavily onto the mattress beside her. "You are one quick study," I exhaled in a contented sigh. "You made this gal cum like a broken spigot."

"It was so weird," Sandy giggled. "It felt like I was eating my own cunt. I have to admit, at first, I was hesitant about having sex with you. I mean, now that I've seen you naked and know what lady love is all about, I don't know if I can look at you the same way again. I may look at you more as a hot sexy lady from now on."

"You are a sexy lady, too, Sands. And a wonderful lover. I will probably look at you differently from now on, too."

Sandy giggled with amusement. "You'll be undressing me with your eyes, I know it."

"Absolutely!" I laughed. "You are one hot honey, girlfriend!"

Sandy sighed dreamily and lightly caressed my bare breasts. "This has been a night of firsts for me," she mused. "I got it on with my best friend, tried anal sex for the first time, and found out what a woman's pussy tasted like."

"Did you like it?"

"I did. But I'm not sure I'm ready to abandon having sex with men for a lesbian lifestyle just yet. Although I can definitely see the appeal of girl-girl sex.""

"I can see the appeal of having sex with you, that's for sure. But for me, it isn't simply about the sex. It's about the intimacy. I like cuddling and snuggling with my lover. When you have sex with a guy, they don't want to cuddle afterward. They fuck you and leave. At least, that has been my experience. With Jennifer, I get to relish the softness and warmth of a naked body beside me. That is what I love about our relationship most of all."

"Please don't talk about warm naked bodies," Sandy warned playfully. "Or you'll get me going again."

I chuckled and smoothed my hand along her bare arm. "Like that would be a bad thing."

"Care to have some cabernet now?" Sandy asked.

"Sure. Do you want to have a drink here in bed?"

"Let's go sit on the couch and chat." She lightly stroked my hair with her fingers. "Maybe later we can make love again."

"I'd like that." I slid my hand up her abdomen and gently caressed her petite breast. "You are a terrific lover, Sands. I wish we would have done this sooner."

"You weren't into this kind of sex until you met Jennifer Prescott."

"That is true."

"You don't feel like you're cheating on her by having sex with me?"

"No. When I'm with her, we make love. With you it's just pure raw sex."

Sandy expelled her breath in a snort. "Thanks a lot!"

"It was meant as a compliment."

"You must really care for this Jennifer gal a lot."

"Yes, I do." I sighed dreamily and snuggled closer to my friend. "Perhaps a bit too much. I think I've fallen in love with her, Sandy. Is that crazy of me?"

"I don't think so. I mean, who's to say who we are supposed to love and who we aren't? If you two get along well and care about each other and have great sex, I say why the hell not?"

I rose up onto my elbow and smiled down at the woman. "I love you a whole lot too, you know. And sex with you is fantastic."

My friend laughed and smoothed her hand over my chest. "Don't tell me you're falling in love with me too!"

I gave her a sardonic smile. "Maybe I am." I leaned down and met her lips in a tender kiss. "Let's go have some wine."

"Maybe later you can model some of those skimpy costumes of yours for me."

"If I do, you'll most likely get all horny and want to fuck me again."

"That's the general idea."

I chuckled and caressed her cheek with my fingers. "I kind of get the impression that you love me a little bit too."

Sandy smiled warmly. "Perhaps I do."

Sandy Fulton left in the wee hours of the morning. She had to work the next day and we both knew that if she stayed much longer, neither of us would get any sleep that night.

Later that day, I was folding a load of laundry in my bedroom when I heard Jennifer let herself into the apartment with her key. "Carla! I'm home!"

I dropped what I was doing and hurried to greet her at the door. "I thought you would call me when you were on your flight back?"

"There was a cancelation on an earlier flight, so I took it."

I flung my arms around her neck and kissed her passionately on the mouth. "Welcome home, sweetheart."

My lover smiled happily when I finally let her up for air. "I take it you missed me."

"Of course I did, darling. Did you miss me?"

"Terribly." She picked up her suitcase and headed toward the hallway. "Anything happen while I was gone?"

I hesitated telling her about my wild sex romp with Sandy Fulton. "Not a whole lot," I hedged. "I loafed around and read a romance novel."

Jenny carried her bag into the bedroom. "Pretty quiet then, huh?"

"Yep, pretty quiet." I followed her and added, "A man who knew you from long ago was passing through town and stopped in to see you. Francois LeBeau."

My partner stopped in her tracks at the entrance to the hallway and turned to me. She regarded me with a stony expression, her eyes hard. "WHO did you say?"

"Francois LeBeau."

Jennifer dropped her suitcase and crossed to me; her face contorted with rage and her eyes like granite. "What did you tell him?" she snapped.

I recoiled in shock. The woman scared me. I had never seen her act so hostile toward me before. "Only that you were out of town. Why? What's wrong?"

"You didn't show him the warehouse?" she demanded angrily. "Or tell him about any of my illusions?"

"Of course not. What on earth has gotten into you?"

"Francois LeBeau is the enemy! You were consorting with the enemy!"

"Calm down! I didn't consort or do any such thing with the man. He simply came over uninvited. We chatted about nothing in particular for a few minutes, and he left. Nothing happened, I swear."

"What did you tell him about Las Vegas?"

"Nothing. The subject never came up. And if it did, I know how secretive you are about the trip, so I wouldn't have said anything. I promise."

My partner expelled her breath in a deep rueful sigh and dropped heavily into a chair by the dining room table. She lowered her eyes dejectedly to the floor. "I'm sorry, honey. I didn't mean to lash out at you like that. Francois LeBeau was the man who seduced my last assistant. He stole her away from me and got all my secrets out of her. It nearly ruined me."

I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands resting on her legs. "Oh baby, I didn't know."

Jennifer placed her hands on top of mine. "I was afraid he had seduced you too."

"Well, I would be lying if I said he didn't try. The man is very handsome and charming. Plus, he brought a bottle of very nice vino along. But I held firm. I told him I was madly in love with a terrific woman and no power on heaven or earth was going to sway me away from you."

My lover raised one hand to smooth my blonde hair over my scalp. "You told him that?"

"I'm paraphrasing a bit, but yes. I would never betray you for some slick-talking French stud and a bottle of Bordeaux, no matter how hard he tried."

"And you never mentioned the warehouse, or our illusions?"

"Of course not. A pinkie swear is the most bonding agreement in the entire universe."

Jennifer wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly to her bosom. "God, I don't deserve you," she wept. "I attack you and accuse you and still you remain loyal to me."

I caressed my hands over her back. "Maybe because I happen to love you a whole bunch. And I'll keep telling you that, over and over, until you believe it, even if it takes a hundred years." I leaned back and smiled warmly into her eyes. "Now you go take a nice hot shower and I'll make us some Irish coffee with loads of whipped cream piled on top."

Jennifer offered a slight smile. "Okay."

She rose to her feet and I stood beside her. "I'm so glad you're home," I said, kissing her on the cheek.

Jenny smiled warmly. "It's good to be back."

My roomie appeared from the bedroom in a long blue terry robe and her hair wrapped in a thick white towel. "I almost feel human again," she sighed happily.

I handed her a mug of Irish coffee with a mound of whipped cream piled on the top. "I had almost forgotten how stunningly beautiful you look," I smiled, sitting on the sofa.

"Oh please," she snorted, dropping onto the cushion beside me. "You must have been really lonely to miss me that much."

I rested my hand on her knee. "I did miss you terribly." I patted her leg. "I won't ask you about your trip because I know it's a private matter, so I'll tell you about how I spent my days without you." I sipped my drink and licked the whipped cream from my lips. "Basically, my days were long and boring and I spent the whole time lamenting about the tedium and wishing you were here with me."

"I missed you too, darling." She tasted her whiskey spiked coffee and regarded me thoughtfully. "What did Francois come to see me about?"

"I think he wanted to call a truce to this feud between you two. He even brought a bottle of wine as a peace offering, but we ended up drinking it without you. Sorry. He said you two had been in competition since you started in the business. He didn't tell me he was the one who stole your previous assistant, though I could imagine how he could. Francois is a very charming man. We had a very pleasant evening chatting together."

"He didn't try to seduce you?"

I gave the woman a wry smile and draped my arm across her back. "Oh, he tried all right, but I didn't bite. The man looked to me like the kind of guy who would chase a girl merely for sport. And from what you told me, my assessment of him was pretty much spot on. But the poor fellow never got to first base with me. Not even a kiss goodnight. I think that made him even more determined to win me over."

Jennifer gave me a sideways glance. "You like him, don't you? Even though you now know what an awful rat he is."

I shrugged a shoulder and sipped my drink. "He's not such a terrible guy. Manipulative and deceitful, yes. But any girl who has half a brain can see through that smarmy facade in a New York minute. Especially a girl who happens to be deeply in love with The Amazing Jennifer."

"You are so sweet." My partner set her mug aside. "I did a lot of thinking while I was away," she said. "I feel I have to tell you where I was and what I was doing."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do. I told you before that there would be no secrets between us. I said I would trust you, but I didn't. I didn't tell you where I was because I wasn't entirely sure I could trust you completely. But now I know I can."

I put my mug aside and took her hand in mine. "Keep your secrets, darling. It doesn't matter to me."

"But it matters to me. The truth is; while I was in Las Vegas, I went to the warehouse as I said, but I also visited an old friend of mine who invents and develops equipment for illusions. He came up with a new one for me and I wanted to keep it a secret. I didn't tell you about it because this trick is something completely different. I was afraid of having it get stolen, and I wasn't entirely sure I could trust you yet. That was why I didn't invite you to come along on this trip with me. I know it was wrong to doubt you and I hope you can forgive me. I guess I was burned too badly before to rely on anyone so completely again. I'm sorry for thinking that you would ever betray me."

I hugged her shoulder. "I would never betray you, my love. I know how much your career means to you. I care for you too much to ever hurt you the way you had been hurt in the past."

Jennifer turned in my arms and took me into a warm embrace. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you."

"I happen to think I'm the lucky one, lady. I get to share my bed with you. And girl, I know from personal experience why you call yourself The Amazing Jennifer!"

My partner laughed and shook her head. "You are such a nut!"

"Nuts for you, lady, that's for sure."

Jennifer leaned back and stared into my eyes. She raised her hand and caressed my cheek with her fingers. "I also had a lot of time to think about you. To think about us. Being away from you was like something tore a great big hole in the middle of my heart. It was awful. I missed you more than I can bear. I never realized how much a part of my life you were until you were not in it. It was a terrible feeling and I never wanted to feel that way again." She stared evenly into my eyes as she caressed my cheek. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that... I love you, Carla."

My face softened into a warm smile. "Yes darling. I know."

She leaned back with a puzzled expression. "Wait... you know?"

"Yes, my sweet sweet darling. I've known it ever since that first night you taught me how to make love to you. That was the night I fell madly in love with you. Something happened to me that I never felt before. I was certain you felt the same way too. But you had some bad experiences with relationships in the past and you were too afraid to come out and admit that you loved me. I didn't care. I knew that if I waited long enough, you would one day admit it to me and also to yourself."

My lover gave me a wry smile. "You could have been waiting an awfully long time."

"I would wait forever for you to tell me how you felt about me, my love."

Jennifer cupped my face in her hands. "I truly do love you, Carla Monroe."

"And I love you, Jennifer Prescott."

She kissed me passionately on the mouth, her hands sliding down my neck and over my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around her and caressed her back. "Make love to me," she panted breathlessly. "Make love to me Carla. Right here... right now."

I sighed happily and slipped my hands inside her robe to feel her naked body. "It would be my pleasure."

CHAPTER 10

We stowed our equipment and magic apparatus at the warehouse before heading home. It was late and had been a long and emotional day for both of us. I finished brushing my teeth and switched off the bathroom light. I entered my bedroom to find my partner sitting on the edge of the bed. Jennifer had a strange look on her face, as if she was wrestling with a difficult dilemma.

"Honey?" I frowned with concern. "Is there something wrong?"

Jenny patted the mattress at her side. "Come sit by me. I want to talk." I sat on the bed next to her and Jennifer took my hand in hers. "Carla, we've been together for some time now... we're partners, you and I."

I smiled warmly at my friend. "I'd like to think we're much more than that."

"We are. I do love you and I know you love me too. But there is something I have to tell you about myself."

I stared at her with a puzzled expression. "Darling, whatever it is, you know you can tell me."

Jennifer forced a smile and gave my hand a squeeze. "I've been doing magic my whole life. Since I was five years old. I won my first magic competition when I was seven. There was nothing else I ever wanted to do. Nothing else interested me. I was never interested in boys or sports or art or music. All I ever wanted to do was magic."

I smiled and raised my free hand and stroked my fingers through her long blonde hair. "There's nothing wrong with being passionate about something. You are the best illusionist in the world."

My lover chuckled softly. "You are prejudiced."

"That is a fact, but it doesn't make it any less true."

Jenny became somber again. "I love it when we make love. You are the most caring and exciting partner I ever had."

I smoothed my hand over her silky tresses. "I still don't see what the problem is."

"The only partners I ever had were my assistants. All girls. And you, of course. But I want to know more. I want you to make love to me with that rubber dick toy of yours."

I smiled and tenderly caressed her hair. My smile quickly faded. "Wait a minute. If all you've ever had was women lovers, then that means you're -- "

Jennifer stared sadly at my hand in her lap. "A virgin. Yes."

"But if I use that rubber dick on you, you'll lose your virginity."

She raised her eyes to mine. "I want to give myself to you, Carla. I realize now that I love you more than I've loved anyone in my life. I want to give you a gift I have never given to anyone before. I want to give myself to you, wholly and completely."

I mewed and lightly caressed her cheek with my fingers. "Oh, honey. You don't have to do that."

"I want to." She managed a small smile. "It isn't like I'm saving myself for my honeymoon or anything."

I laughed and rested my forehead against hers. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. I've thought about it a lot. I want you to take my virginity, Carla."

"Well then, we're going to have to do it right. Let me take you out to a fancy dinner, some dancing, some nice wine. Then I can take you home and we can make it a nice romantic evening before we do it."

Jenny cupped my cheek in her palm and kissed me tenderly on the lips. "Or you could simply turn off the light and we could go to bed and you could take me right now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Let's you and I have one fucking wild time tonight!"

I smiled and kissed her on the mouth. "I love you, Jennifer Prescott. Do you know that?"

Jenny met my lips in a tender embrace. "Tell me that again while you make love to me."

"I guarantee it."

I lit a candle on the dresser and switched off the lights. Jenny appeared from the bathroom wearing a sheer transparent pink negligee and matching panties. Very sexy.

I smiled warmly and took her into a loving embrace. "Such a beautiful woman you are," I cooed lovingly, kissing her tenderly on the mouth.

"You always make me feel beautiful."

"That isn't so hard to do."

Jennifer took my hand and led me to the bed. "Ready for bed?"

"The question is; are you ready?"

"I think so. If you go slow and take it easy with me."

"I'll do my best."

Jenny peeled her panties off and crawled onto the top of the covers. "How do you want me?"

I removed the rubber cock from my dresser drawer and turned to her. Jenny was laying on top of the bed in the sheer nightie on her back propped up on her elbows. "God, you are so fucking hot!"

My lover returned a wry smile. "Get your pretty ass over here and fuck this hot woman already."

I stripped naked and stepped into the harness, securing the belt around my waist. The rubber cock stuck straight out from my groin like a pink pole. I smeared some lubricant along the shaft, leaving a little on my fingers. I crawled onto the mattress on my knees and positioned myself between my lover's legs.

I leaned closer and met her lips in a long passionate kiss. "My God, you are one incredibly sexy woman," I breathed reverently.

"You always have a way of making me feel sexy."

I slipped my hand between her legs and smeared the lubricant along the delicate folds of her vagina. "We can stop anytime you want. There's nothing wrong if you chicken out and want to wait."

"I don't want to wait. I want you to be my first lover, Carla."

I moved closer on my knees. "Okay. Lie back. That's right. Bend your knees up and put your feet on the mattress. Just like that." I positioned myself over her on my hands and knees. "I love you, Jenny."

My partner craned her mouth up to kiss my lips. "I love you too." She cupped my hanging tits in her palms and groped my mounds as I moved one hand down to take the shaft of the rubber dick and guided it to the opening of her cunt. Jennifer expelled her breath into my mouth and giggled with excitement. "I can feel it."

I pressed the rubber tip inside and eased out, thoroughly greasing the delicate folds of her pussy. "You like that, baby?"

"It feels weird. Very erotic."

"Want more?"

Jenny giggled and fondled my tits. "Yeah, baby!"

I pressed in a little more and withdrew, slowly establishing a gentle stroke in and out of her vagina with only a few inches of the thick rubber shaft. "How's that?"

"I love it!" she panted breathlessly. "Now I see what the appeal of having a cock in your vagina is all about! It feels great!"

I rocked my hips to fuck her with only a short section of the shaft. "I can give you more, but it is going to hurt and there'll be no turning back."

Jenny gazed lovingly into my eyes. "I want you to do it, Carla. I'm not afraid. This is something I really want to do."

"All right." I pumped her cunt with a little more of the rubber dick. Soon I was reaming her with more than half the length of the tool. Her face winced as I bumped against her hymen. "You ready, honey?"

"Do it."

I bucked my hips hard and rammed the dildo deep into her. Jenny flinched in pain as the fake dick broke through her cherry. I paused with the shaft buried to the base inside her cunt. I lowered my head and kissed all around her face until the pain gradually ebbed away. "Are you okay?" I whispered.

"Yes."

I eased the cock out a bit and pressed in again, eventually establishing a slow steady rhythm. "Tell me if I'm hurting you."

Jenny wrapped her arms around my back and held me tight to her chest. "No, it feels good. Great, actually. Give me more."

I drew out and plunged deeper with each penetration. Soon I was driving the entire length of the tool into her cunt with every stroke.

"Oh God," Jenny panted lustfully. "That feels incredible! My pussy feels like it's on fire! Oh yes, Carla! Fuck me! Fuck me, you sexy sensuous lover, you!"

I rose up onto all fours and bucked my hips to pump the prick deep into her damp snatch. Her pussy was now flowing with pussy juice and the tool was making wet slurpy squishy sounds with each penetration. "Let me look at this gorgeous woman that I'm fucking."

Jenny giggled and hooked her hands around my neck. "You make my first time wonderful. I knew you would. You are the sweetest, most thoughtful lover ever."

"We're not done yet, honey. This opera isn't over until this blonde lady sings."

My partner giggled as I bucked my hips faster and savagely reamed her cunt. "What do you mean?"

"It means I'm going to fuck this hot honey until she cums like Niagara fucking Falls!"

Jenny squealed with delight as I pounded hard and deep into her snatch. "Bring it on!"

I fiercely banged into her, the shaft ramming to the deepest recesses with each thrust. My hips and back were starting to get sore from my relentless assault. Fucking a woman with a rubber dick was hard work. "I want you to ride me," I said.

"Ride you?"

"Sit on my lap and let me fuck you from below."

Jenny grinned with joy. "Okay!"

I leaned down and crushed my mouth to hers in a fiery kiss. Jenny squealed into my mouth as I shifted her over onto her side. I rolled onto my back, my lover moving on top of me with the rubber cock still buried in her seeping snatch. Jennifer straightened atop my lap with her hands on my tummy and began a gentle riding rhythm. "Oh, yes," she exhaled dreamily. "This is great."

I slid my hands up her sides and cupped her swaying titties in my palms as she humped the rubber tool. "God, lady, you are so beautiful."

Jennifer smiled down at me. "You're biased."

"Damn straight, I am."

Jenny hopped harder and faster on my lap. "I can see us using our new toy quite a bit from now on."

"I'm glad you like it."

She smiled down at me as I gently massaged her breasts. "I like making love to you, Carla. You are so adventurous."

"I'm glad you are adventurous, too. And I appreciate you giving yourself to me, more than you know."

Jenny smiled at me as she rode the rubber tool. "Enough of this lovey-dovey talk. Satisfy this lady already."

"Yes, ma'am!"

I slid my hands down her sides and gripped her waist. I bucked my hips up to ram the dildo harder into her from below. Jennifer matched my stroke, hopping furiously on my lap like a wild bull-riding rodeo girl. "Hoo, honey!" she squealed. "Give it to me, Carla!"

I stared up at her in rapt fascination. I had never had sex with a woman before I met Jennifer Prescott, and now, being her lover and satisfying her was all I could ever want. She was so sexy and beautiful. My heart swelled in my chest with such love and adoration that I thought it might explode. "You are so sexy," I breathed.

"Sexy and horny." Jenny shed her sheer negligee and rode my lap in all her pure naked glory. I had never seen a woman look so incredibly sexy and desirable as this lady at that very moment. Jennifer clamped her hands on my tits and held on as she hopped harder and faster on the latex shaft, edging herself ever nearer a climax. "Oh yes, baby!" she gasped breathlessly. "You're going to make me cum."

"Cum for me, honey," I cooed lovingly. "Cum all over my big hard cock."

"Oh, shit! I'm cumming!" Jenny trembled and shook as her cunt exploded with jizz onto the rubber dick. Her body jerked and spasmed with sensual release. "Oh, fuck!" she gasped.

"You like that, honey?" I giggled with glee. "You like cumming on my big hard cock?"

Jennifer jerked and shuddered once more, then collapsed spent upon my chest. She lay panting breathlessly, the latex tool buried to the base inside her. "Fu-u-u-ck," she moaned quietly.

I smoothed my hands over her bare back and shoulders. "You've had enough?"

"Hoo, yeah."

I shifted her to lay onto her side on the bed beside me and eased the rubber tool from her sated snatch. "Are you finished?"

"My pussy is satisfied, but I would like to cuddle, if that's okay."

"Sounds wonderful."

I climbed off the bed and unfastened the straps of the rubber dildo. "You are such a good sport for being so spontaneous and adventurous like this."

Jenny smiled dreamily at me. "I'm glad I was, too."

I removed the apparatus and set it on top of the dresser. Jennifer weakly crawled under the sheet and lifted the edge for me to join her. "My God, woman," I sighed reverently as I snuggled into her arms. "Have I told you lately how much I adore you?"

"I think so," Jenny cooed, wrapping her arms around my naked body and holding me close. "But a gal never gets tired of hearing it."

"Good," I mused quietly, savoring the warmth of my partner. "Because I will never get tired of saying it."

The following weekend, we put on a show at the Community Center as part of a fundraiser to help the local food bank. There must have been three thousand people who came to see us perform, though not all at once. Jennifer put on three performances on the stage throughout the day, and we mingled with the crowd in between.

It was a lot of fun performing on stage with Jennifer. She and I acted as a team, executing each trick flawlessly with plenty of flair and showmanship. She would be the focus of one illusion, and then I would. Sometimes I would perform the illusion on her, and then she would do the trick on me. I quickly realized how her act required two people, and that they had to be in perfect sync with each other. If you got distracted or forgot a step, somebody might get hurt. However, the show went without a single glitch and Jennifer was in her element as the star magician.

My costume felt pretty skimpy, but the men in the audience didn't mind. In fact, quite a few men wanted to pose for a picture with me after the performance. A lot of kids loved us as well. Jennifer and I invited some little boys and girls to pose for the camera with us.

I think the guys wanting to take selfies with me in my revealing, form-fitting costume was as much of an audience draw as our magic act. It was a total blast hugging kids and posing for photos. This was what I had dreamed of and why I wanted to get into show business in the first place.

After everyone had departed and the illusions were carefully stowed in their crates, Jennifer and I went back stage to change out of our costumes. We didn't want to leave our equipment unattended even for a moment for risk that something might get damaged while packing. Or worse, if someone would steal any of her props. There was always the chance that a sticky-fingered fan or envious magician might abscond with part of Jennifer's act. Replacing a missing trick could prove costly, not to mention the possibility that a competitor could use the trick in his own act.

Though it had been a long day, I didn't feel the least bit tired. It must have been from the excitement of being on stage under the spotlight.

Jennifer knocked twice, then entered the community dressing room before I had the chance to reply. "Everything is all packed," she announced.

"That's good." I turned to her, holding the glitzy costume to my bare chest. "You were fantastic tonight."

"So were you." Jennifer stepped closer and hooked her hand around my neck, pulling my mouth to hers in a deep passionate kiss. I returned the kiss with equal ardor, my tongue flicking into her mouth to touch hers. We kissed for a long while, my body quivering from arousal. There must have been a lot of residual adrenalin in my system from being on stage with her. Jennifer raised her other hand and slipped it under the costume I had clutched to my bosom. She touched my breast and I felt a surge of electricity pulse throughout my entire body. This was definitely not the effect of show business. This was all her.

I moaned into her mouth and melted to her touch. God, what this lady could do to me. One touch and a kiss and I fell completely to pieces.

"I'm still wired from putting on the show," I said. "Let's go home and make love."

Jennifer gave me a sardonic smile. "That was exactly what I was thinking as well, Miss Monroe."

She kissed me with mounting passion. "You are going to add 'Mind Reader' to the act now?"

"I am a bit of a mind reader when it comes to you," I breathed into her mouth.

"Oh?"

"I know what you like in bed." I leaned back and grinned at my partner seductively. "Let's go home and see if my impressions are correct."

A few days later, Jennifer and I were booked to do a show at The Abbey. It was an old stone church that had been converted into a performance hall showcasing illusionists, psychics, and other entertainers.

My partner was visibly stunned to see Francois LeBeau come back stage before our performance. "Francois!" she exclaimed with a puzzled expression. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard we will be competing against each other at the illusionist challenge in Las Vegas," he said. "You shall be rather amusing with your card tricks and sleight of hand, no doubt."

Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest and glared angrily at the man. "And you shall be making your magic balls disappear, no doubt."

LeBeau chuckled and nodded. "Touché."

"It will be a challenge," the woman stated coolly. "But not much of a competition, particularly from the likes of you."

"Indeed? You seem quite confident about that. Shall we place a small wager on who will emerge victorious? Say, one hundred dollars?"

"You don't sound very confident in your abilities," she scoffed acidly. "Let's make it interesting. Let's make the bet one thousand dollars."

I gasped in shock. Either Jennifer was secure in the belief that this man offered little challenge in the illusion competition, or her bravado had gotten the best of her.

LeBeau offered his hand to her. "I accept." Jennifer shook hands with the man, the sheer confidence on her face never wavering. Francois gave us both a casual salute and turned to leave. "Break a leg, my dear," he said over his shoulder. Francois paused and turned back with a wry smile. "Only figuratively, my darling. I wouldn't want to win our wager by default."

After the man departed, Jennifer growled and seethed with anger. "That man could always get under my skin!"

"Don't let him get to you," I cautioned. "He's just trying to throw you off your game. Focus on the show tonight and don't give the man a second thought."

Jennifer nodded in agreement. "You're right. Forget about him. Let's do this show!"

I could tell that Jennifer was visibly rattled by Francois' visit. She was distracted on stage and at times seemed to be completely lost. She covered as best she could, but I could see she was not focusing on the act. Jennifer dropped a prop and mixed up the order of the illusions. Of course, the audience never caught on that she was not functioning at her best. However, I could tell that the bet they had made before the show bothered Jenny more than she let on.

I confronted her in the dressing room after the show. "What happened to you out there?" I asked.

"My head wasn't in the game. I blew it." Jenny paced the floor in irritation with her fists balled at her sides. "Dammit!" she cursed angrily. "I behaved like a rank amateur."

"You let Francois get into your head and it threw you off."

Jennifer glared hotly at me. "What was he doing here tonight?" she snapped acidly.

I recoiled from her accusing stare. "I haven't the faintest idea."

"You didn't invite him here, did you?"

"Of course not."

The woman scowled at me. "I see it all now! You and LeBeau are in it together. He seduced you while I was away and got you to mess me up so that I would drop out of the competition."

"That's crazy talk! I did no such thing!"

"How can I trust you?" she barked heatedly. "How can I trust anyone? You are all in this together to make me look bad."

"You're talking like a lunatic. You need to calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" she snapped acidly. "You assistants are all alike. One glance from that horny Frenchman and you melt like butter. He seduced you and turned you against me."

"That's not true, and it's not fair. I would never do anything to hurt you, Jenny. You have to believe me."

"I don't know what to believe anymore."

"You can believe that I would never let a player like Francois come between us. The man is messing with you and you let him get under your skin. You need to forget about him."

Jennifer whirled on me and pointed an accusing finger at my chest. "That's exactly what a woman who was colluding with that man would say. You want me to forget about the bet. You want me to lose the competition. Well, I won't! I won't let you and your French lover ruin me!"

"Jennifer! This is crazy talk!"

"I don't need this bullshit!" Jennifer snatched her purse and stormed out the door.

I hurried after her. "Jenny!" I called to the dark parking lot. "Jenny!" I looked around. The woman was gone. Her car was still in the lot. Apparently, she wanted to walk it off and kept on going.

I packed up our equipment and stowed our gear in a secluded corner back stage. I took our costumes and made arrangements with the caretaker to fetch the rest of our stuff later. I stuffed what I could in Jennifer's car and pulled from the lot. I drove around town for an hour, hoping to spot her wandering the streets. No such luck. At last, I abandoned my efforts and returned home. Jennifer was not there. I waited up for her for hours, hoping she would call and ask for me to pick her up somewhere, but the call never came. It was getting very late and I was worried about her.

It was shortly after two in the morning when I heard a knock on the front door. I snatched up a robe to cover myself and ran to the door. I opened it to find a tall bald man standing on the landing wearing a light blue tee shirt and denim jeans. He held Jenny's small black clutch purse in his hands. "Does Jennifer Prescott live here?" he asked tentatively.

"Yes," I answered with trepidation, clutching the robe around me. "What happened to her?"

"She passed out in my cab. I had to look in her wallet to find her driver's license so I could bring her home."

"Oh, my goodness!" I gasped in shock. "Is she all right?"

"That gal's out cold. You want me to bring her inside?"

"Yes! Please!"

The man handed me her purse and disappeared, returning a few minutes later carrying my partner cradled in his arms. "Where do you want her?"

"In the bedroom." I led the way into Jenny's bedroom and turned down the bed sheets. "Lay her down here, please."

He did as I instructed. Jenny was dead drunk. The man straightened and turned to me. "The bar called me to take her home, but the moment they put her in the back of my cab she passed out."

"I appreciate you bringing her here, especially with her in this condition."

"No problem."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Twenty dollars."

I opened Jenny's purse and handed him two twenties. "Thank you so much for everything, Mister --?"

"Call me Jack."

"Thanks, Jack."

He glanced at the sleeping girl on the bed. "You need any help with her?"

"I think I can manage. Thanks anyway."

"You got it." Jack glanced at the sleeping woman with a thoughtful expression. "Your friend looks mighty familiar. Is she a celebrity or something?"

"Nope, sorry." I was grateful the man didn't make the connection of the woman's full name with her stage moniker Amazing Jennifer. The last thing Jennifer Prescott needed was bad publicity. "She's just a poor average office working girl like me."

"I guess so." The cabbie nodded to me and moved to the front door. "Have a nice night."

"Thanks, Jack."

I let the taxi driver out the door, then returned to the bedroom to check on my friend. Jennifer was out cold. I didn't want her to sleep in her clothes so I undressed her and tucked her into bed. I shut off all the lights and crawled naked under the sheets to join her.

The poor girl slept like a log. I felt bad that she would abuse herself in such a manner. I adored Jennifer Prescott and it made my heart ache for her to through this ordeal. Hopefully, in the morning things will seem rosier for the both of us.

Around nine a. m., Jennifer stumbled groggily into the kitchen. Her blonde hair was mussed and there were bags under her eyes. "I feel like crap," she groaned miserably.

"You look like crap too, darling." I handed her a glass of orange juice. "You want some coffee?"

"In a minute." She took a sip of her juice and hefted her rear onto the stool by the counter. "How did I get home?"

"A cab driver brought you here. You were pretty wasted."

"I guess so."

I moved around the counter to her side. "Listen, lady, I don't mean to chew your ass out first thing this morning, but you had me worried sick about you last night."

"Sorry about that."

I scowled at her with my hands clamped on my hips. "It takes two to make this act work, girl. Not just on stage, but in our relationship as well. We are partners in every sense of the word; business partners, good friends, and lovers. You have got to stop thinking of yourself as a solo act. I care about you more than you can possibly imagine, honey. The next time you pull a crazy stunt like this, I'm going to spank your pretty little bottom raw."

Jenny managed a small smile. "I'll try to remember that."

"Give me a hug." I took her into a fond embrace. "I love you, baby. It kills me when you do things like this to you."

"I won't do it again, I swear." She leaned back and smiled at me. "I'm glad I have you to look out for me."

"That's what friends are for, sweetie." I gave her a peck on the forehead. "You want some breakfast?"

"Not just yet. I think I'll take a couple aspirins and go back to bed for a while."

"Want some company to cuddle with?"

Jenny smiled. "I'd like that." She stood and slipped her arms around my waist. "I tend to forget that we're partners, Carla. It's good to have you remind me of that fact."

I caressed my hands over her back and smiled warmly into her eyes. "After you take a nap and get to feeling better, I can show you just how great it is to have a partner like me in your life."

She returned a playful grin. "I like the sound of that."

Jennifer took two aspirins and climbed back into bed. I undressed and slipped under the covers and snuggled up to her. The woman purred with contentment, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

I held her in my arms for a long while, listening to her breathing and feeling the warmth of her body against mine. I eventually eased away from her and slid out of bed, allowing my lover to sleep. She had a rough time of it last night and the best remedy was plenty of rest. She and I could have sex later.

It was after noon when I heard footsteps in the hall. I glanced up from the magazine I was reading on the couch as Jennifer walked into the room. She wore a blue terry robe and looked a little better after her long nap. "How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Almost human," she grunted. Jennifer plopped down onto the couch next to me and rested her head on my shoulder. "I guess I acted pretty ugly last night."

"You could never be ugly to me, darling." I set the magazine aside. "Everyone has to blow off a little steam now and then."

"This was much more than that," she sighed ruefully. "I hurt you, Carla, and for that, I am truly sorry. I didn't mean to say those horrible things I said. I guess I was scared of being hurt. I was afraid you'd leave me and give my secrets away like my last assistant did."

"I would never do that to you, honey." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and eased her over to rest her head on my lap. "There's one big difference between me and any other assistants you've ever had in the past."

"What's that?"

"None of them have ever been as deeply and madly in love with you as I am."

Jennifer rolled onto her back and gazed up at me from my lap. "Even still?"

"Even still," I stated matter-of-factly. "There I was; Carla Monroe. Coasting along, living a perfectly boring, uneventful life, when wham! Jennifer Prescott drops into my life and steals my heart away. I hope you realize you ruined me forever of ever having any meaningful relationship with anyone else. I'm absolutely nuts about you, Jennifer, and I want to be your partner and lover for the rest of my life."

Jennifer stared up at me with a bewildered look. "Even after all the terrible things I said to you last night?"

I casually shrugged and stroked my fingers through her long blonde tresses. "What can I say? Sometimes, love is a crazy thing. I don't think you could ever say or do anything to make me not love you. That's why I need to do a good job as your assistant. I can't risk blowing this gig and losing the woman who makes my heart sing."

Jennifer smiled playfully up at me and smoothed her fingers along the lapel of my robe. "I make your heart sing?"

"Yes, darling," I cooed, tenderly stroking her hair along her scalp. "You make my heart sing. You fill my soul with light and joy. You fill a void inside of me that I never knew existed." I softly caressed the backs of my fingers across her cheek. "This gal is head over heels in love with you, Jennifer Prescott, and I don't care who knows it."

Jennifer gazed at me with a curious, thoughtful expression. I imagined she was trying to take it all in and make sense of it all. I didn't realize myself how much I loved her until I spoke it out loud. Once I did, it sounded like the most rational, natural thing for a person to understand. It was as normal as saying I needed oxygen to survive. I needed Jennifer Prescott in my life in order to feel whole and complete.

Jennifer raised her hand and touched my face. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You hired me."

The woman laughed. "I meant, after that."

I smiled warmly. "You let me love you, Jennifer."

"And will you?" she pleaded. "Will you love me?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Always and forever."

She smiled up at me. "How about right now?"

I leaned down and met her lips in a tender kiss as my hand slipped inside her robe. "Absolutely, right now."

Jennifer hooked her hand behind my neck and pulled my mouth to hers in a fierce passionate kiss. "Let's get naked in bed and do this right."

"You don't want to make out on the couch?"

"No, darling. I want to touch every delicious inch of your sexy body and make love to you as you deserve to be loved. I want to be your partner, Carla, in every sense of the word."

"All right, then," I smiled warmly. "Let's go to your bedroom and get frisky!"

It was late. We lay together under the sheets on Jennifer's bed. I lay on my side with Jennifer on her back atop my arm. I stared at her profile in the dim light that filtered through the sheer curtains at the window. God, she was so beautiful. I couldn't believe how fortunate I was to be with her and that she was not in a relationship with anyone else. It was hard to wrap my mind around how utterly intricate and convoluted the universe was. How could two strangers only a short time ago become such fast friends and intimate lovers? Of all the souls on the planet, how was it that we had met and become partners? I could have missed that audition, or been cast in the play and Jennifer would not have approached me. It must be fate or destiny. Too many variables to consider for everything to fall into its proper place. How amazing and wonderous this world was.

Jennifer stirred in her sleep and rolled toward me. She cracked her eyes and smiled dreamily. "Are you watching me sleep?" she whispered.

"Yes."

"You need to get a hobby." Jennifer rolled onto her side and snuggled closer, pressing her back against my chest and her rear into my crotch. I draped my arm over her side and wedged my wrist between her breasts. Jennifer purred and took my hand in hers. "I like this," she cooed softly.

"Me too." I lightly kissed along her neck to her ear. "Good night, my love."

"Good night, baby."

CHAPTER 11

The week of our trip to Las Vegas had finally arrived and we were both aquiver as we each packed our suitcases. I was giddy with excitement in finally being able to realize my dream of being a star on the big stage. It wasn't Broadway, but in some ways, it was much better. I wouldn't be lost in a sea of pretty chorus line faces. I didn't mind that my partner Jennifer Prescott got to shine in the spotlight. She had rightfully earned her fame and prestige in the magic world. I was more than happy to be her assistant and make her look good.

I was thrilled to be going to Las Vegas with my partner. Not only would I be seeing the city of casinos for the first time, but we would be spending a week in the fabulous Luxor Hotel, the one shaped like an Egyptian pyramid. The idea of making love with my lady partner in a luxurious hotel room made my cunny tingle.

Jennifer was more filled with trepidation and concern than excitement about our impending adventure. She knew her reputation as a top illusionist was at stake. One slip or wrong move could not only cost her the competition, but have a lasting effect on her career.

She arranged the shipment of our illusion equipment to be shipped that week so it would arrive in Las Vegas when we did. That our gear should arrive intact and on time was also a concern on Jennifer's mind. I promised myself I would do my best to distract her from her worries this week by giving her extra attention and intimate distraction.

I was surprised at how much luggage we were taking for only a week's outing. Jennifer and I each had our costumes to pack, along with shoes and cosmetics. We also had to include casual wear for checking out the city by day, and fancy wear for the casinos and shows at night. And then there were the formal gowns we needed for the reception of the participating illusionists before the competition began, as well as another dress for the awards ceremony afterward. Jennifer and I each had one large suitcase of clothes and toiletries, a garment bag, and a carryon for the plane.

Of course, I didn't mention to Jennifer that I had purchased several titillating sleepwear items from Victoria's Secret for our nights in the hotel together. I wanted them to be a surprise.

Jennifer snapped her suitcase shut on her bed and turned to find me standing in the doorway of her bedroom. I held a glass of white wine in each hand. I was completely naked but for a nearly-transparent lace pink shawl that hung down to my crotch. "Looks like you're ready," I cooed seductively.

The woman's eyes grew wide in shock. "Looks like you are ready too."

I sauntered over to her and handed her a glass. "Ready for you, darling." I leaned closer and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips.

Jennifer smiled happily at me and asked, "What is all this about?"

"It's my attempt to distract you," I purred, batting my lashes coyly. "All the preparations are made. There is nothing for us to do except keep each other company." I moved closer; my breasts pressed against her chest. "I suggest we forget about the competition for a while and concentrate on each other."

Jennifer grinned. "What did you have in mind?"

"Seduce you and make mad passionate love to you."

"That's a good plan." She sipped her wine and set the glass aside. "What if I want to participate in the seducing?"

"Me first." I set my glass on the dresser and draped my arms around her neck. "You will have your turn later after I thoroughly ravish this incredibly sexy lady." I kissed her hungrily, my flesh searing hot with passion. Jennifer rested her hands on my waist and I felt a surge of electricity course throughout my entire body. I wanted to make love to this woman and satisfy her utterly and completely. I wanted her to know how much I adored her and to be a good partner for her, both on the stage and in the bedroom.

"Let me love you, my darling," I panted breathlessly into her mouth as I eased our bodies down onto the carpeted floor beside her bed. "Let me love you."

"You always do, honey," Jennifer murmured as I shifted my body to lie on top of her. "You always do."

Being the world traveler that she was, Jennifer had no difficulty getting our plane tickets and boarding passes by using her phone. I was mystified by all the arrangements she made without even talking to a travel agent or a hotel reservation attendant. We breezed through the airport and before I knew it, we were seated by our gate waiting for our plane to Las Vegas.

"I'm so glad I'm going with you," I smiled thankfully at my companion. "You have been everywhere and I have hardly gone anywhere. You make traveling look easy."

Jenny chuckled softly and patted my hand. "Stick with me, kid, and I'll show you the world."

"You already have," I replied sincerely. "You've shown me more of life than I ever dreamed possible. Being with you has been one amazing adventure after another."

Jennifer smiled warmly and gave my fingers a gentle squeeze. "The same goes for me, Carla. My greatest adventure is you."

After our plane arrived at the Las Vegas airport, we collected our bags and hopped on the shuttle to our hotel. The Las Vegas strip looked amazing. It was still daylight, and I imagined it would be even more marvelous at night with all the dazzling lights winking and flashing. If ever there was an appropriate city to host a magic convention, this was certainly it.

Jennifer and I entered the lobby of the Luxor Hotel. It was shaped like a pyramid on the outside, and looked like something out of ancient Egypt on the inside.

I gasped in awe as I looked up at the amazing architecture. The rooms overhead jutted out over the ones below them, drawing closer and closer to each other as they ascended upward toward the top of the pyramid. The building was truly a marvel.

"Are you sure we can afford this?" I whispered to my companion.

Jennifer gave me a knowing grin. "The hotel is paid for by the illusion competition coordinators. Everything is on the house."

I couldn't hide my astonishment. I had never been exposed to such luxury before. "Holy cats!" I breathed. "We're certainly in the big time now!" We entered our room to find one king size bed. I grinned at my friend. "One bed?"

"Naturally," she replied matter-of-factly. "I plan to take advantage of everything while we're here." She slipped her arms around my waist. "And I mean everything."

"That goes double for me." I draped my arms around her neck and kissed her passionately on the mouth. "We can check out the bed right now, if you like."

Jennifer smiled knowingly and tugged the zipper down the back of my skirt. "Oh, I definitely like."

After a quick sex romp on our king size bed, Jenny and I decided to take a stroll along the Las Vegas strip. It was early evening and we wanted to see the sights and find a place to have dinner. Jennifer and I both wore short clingy cocktail dresses covered with sparkling sequins. Her dress was dazzling white and mine was cherry red. I believe, when in Vegas, dress like Vegas.

"Rowr!" I growled lustily, resting my hands on her waist and gazing over her shoulder at her reflection in the bathroom mirror as she attached a sparkling earring to her lobe. "You look sensational!"

Jennifer smiled at our reflections in the glass. "We both look fantastic, sweetie. Two gals, ready to have a night on the town."

My hands caressed up her sides and groped her breasts in the tight dress from behind. "And then a night on the bed?"

"Naturally." Jennifer turned in my arms and hooked her hands behind my neck. "Kiss me before I put on my lipstick."

I kissed her, long and passionately. Jenny expelled her breath into my mouth in a deep sigh of contentment. "You always make me feel loved and desirable."

"An absolute guarantee on both counts." I smiled into her lovely face. "You are without a doubt, the sexiest and most desirable woman I have ever met."

Jennifer returned my smile and gave me a quick smooch on the lips. "The feeling is mutual, Miss Monroe." She lifted her wrist from behind my neck and checked her wristwatch. "I have to finish getting ready. Our ride will be here soon."

"Our ride?"

"I called and made a reservation for our transportation." She broke our embrace and turned to pick up her lipstick. "Two hot gals like us shouldn't walk the streets alone. Folks may get the wrong impression."

I laughed and patted her on the butt. "Afraid you'll receive a better offer than me?"

"Never." Jenny gave me a playful wink. "You are by far the best deal in town."

I followed my partner outside to find a long black limousine parked at the curb. "A limo?" I gaped in surprise. "Really?"

"Why not?" Jennifer laughed. "Sure beats taking a taxi."

The driver stepped out from behind the wheel. He was a tall and slender man wearing a steel gray uniform. He held the door open for us. I giggled with glee as I climbed into the back. "This is more class than I'm usually used to."

"Me too," Jennifer admitted as she slid onto the seat beside me. "But as they say; when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

I glanced at her has the driver shut the door. "Does everyone in Vegas ride in limos?" I asked.

She shrugged with indifference. "How should I know?"

I leaned forward and tapped the driver on the shoulder. "Excuse me. I'm Carla and this is Jenny. Do you escort folks around the city a lot?"

"All the time," the man replied. I caught his gaze in the rear-view mirror and he gave a wide smile. "But rarely do I have the pleasure of driving two gorgeous ladies like yourselves. It makes the job worthwhile."

I giggled happily and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm glad we made your night. You certainly made mine!" I settled in the seat next to my partner and stared out the window at the lights of the passing casinos and hotels. "This is incredible!"

Jennifer grinned and rested her hand on my bare knee. "The view is probably even better up top."

I looked up and saw the sun roof. "Cool!" I pressed the button to open the window above us. "This is awesome!" I stood and poked my head through the open roof. "Woo hoo!" I cheered as the wind whipped my blonde hair about my face. "Yeah baby!"

Jennifer chuckled. "Are you having fun?"

"Absolutely!"

I felt her hands sliding up my bare legs. "The view down here isn't bad either."

I rested my forearms on the top of the car as we drove along the Vegas strip, taking in the sights and sounds of the city at night. God, it was amazing! I mused that life doesn't get much better than this. I felt Jennifer's fingers slip under the hem of my dress and over my butt. I laughed to myself and thought; well, maybe it does get better after all.

Her fingers massaged and groped my rear for a while. Then she gripped my panties and tugged them down my legs. I giggled with glee as I stepped out of my briefs and slightly widened my stance. Jennifer smoothed her hands up and down my legs and up to my rear. She fondled my ass cheeks as the night air tossed and tangled my blonde tresses. It was so wicked and delicious!

Jennifer shifted on her seat and I felt her lips kissing along the inside of my thigh. I shuddered with arousal. I glanced down through the opening at my friend. "What are you doing?"

The girl grinned broadly. "Merely taking advantage of the situation."

"Oh. Okay." I raised my head and smiled at the passing lights. "Have a nice time."

Jennifer placed one hand on my pubic mound and rubbed her thumb over the nub of my clitoris. I sighed with contentment and spread my stance a bit wider. Her lips inched higher and I felt her hot breath on my vagina. I squatted slightly to allow her easier access. Her tongue poked in and around my slit as her thumb rubbed my clit. My body trembled from the stimulation. It was like some unreal sensual fantasy. I was riding in a stretch black limousine through the winking, flashing lights of Las Vegas while my lover licked me into a horny, wet frenzy.

Jenny slid her other hand up my leg to my rear and groped my butt cheek. I nearly jumped when her finger poked into my puckered ass hole. Damn! This girl was fingering me and licking me and probing my ass all at the same time! I could feel my loins tingling with arousal and knew it wouldn't be long before my juices would start flowing. Jennifer inched her hand from my pubic area lower and pressed her thumb into my seeping cunt. Her tongue crept further back and moved up to my anus. "Oh yes," I moaned as her tongue poked into my ass. Jenny licked my butt hole as her thumb stimulated my pussy. "Oh fuck," I rasped. I looked down at her through the roof of the limo. "You keep that up, girl, and you're going to make me cum."

Jennifer grinned at me and said, "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

"Nope!" I raised my head and smiled at the night lights. "Not a bad thing at all."

Jennifer kept up her licking and fingering of my tingling pussy until I couldn't stand it anymore. At last, I shuddered and jerked as a trickle of cunt juice dribbled from my sated slit. I quivered and shook and gradually relaxed with satisfaction.

I lowered my body down through the roof to sit on the seat beside my lover. "You are one naughty lady," I cooed, kissing her hungrily on the mouth.

Jenny groped my chest and returned my kiss with equal enthusiasm. "What exactly are you going to do about it?" she breathed lustfully.

"Tear your clothes off the moment we get back to our room." I leaned back and stared at her fiercely. "With my teeth!"

Jennifer leered at me and raised her hands to rake her fingers through my blonde tresses. "Such a wild woman you are!"

I kissed her savagely and groped her chest. My mouth inched around her cheek to her ear and I whispered, "Honey, you are about to find out just how wild this woman can be!"

Jennifer and I went to the Venetian Casino. We stood side by side and watched the gondolas being poled down the waterway. "We should take a boat ride," I suggested. "We can kiss and hold hands. Very romantic."

My partner gave me a skeptical glance. "Probably not a good idea to offer too much public displays of affection. With me being a celebrity, the tabloids would have a field day."

I shrugged with indifference. "You're not that famous."

Her eyebrows went up. "Say, what?"

"All I'm saying is," I clarified, "you are not the only gorgeous, sexy blonde in this town. Seeing two ladies kissing in Las Vegas isn't exactly a rare photo-worthy event."

Jennifer scowled playfully at me. "That was a pretty lame attempt at back-pedaling, but I see your point."

"Besides," I added, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

"That was before the internet. Thanks to social media, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, it will be viewed around the world in minutes."

I casually shrugged a shoulder. "Then, how about the old expression, 'There is no such thing as bad publicity?'"

My friend chuckled and slipped her arm around my waist. "How about the old expression, 'Kiss me, you fool!'"

I laughed and turned to her and met her lips in a tender kiss. "I like that expression."

We dined at a fabulous restaurant and caught the water show at the Bellagio before turning in for the night. It had been a long day, and we needed to get some shuteye. Plus, we both knew we would have some wild friskiness once we undressed in our hotel room. Jennifer and I had to burn off some of our excitement somehow.

I awoke in the middle of the night to find myself alone in bed. I rolled over onto my side to see Jennifer standing at the sliding glass door to the balcony. She was stark naked, holding the sheer drapes apart with her arms extended wide. She seemed to be staring at nothing in particular, as though lost in thought. I suspected her mind was swimming with scenarios of how things may go wrong at the competition tomorrow night.

I stared at her naked back; the woman's perfect physique silhouetted by the numerous lights within the pyramid hotel. My breath caught in my lungs and I felt that my heart had stopped beating. I was certain I was gazing upon a mythical goddess.

"My dear God in heaven," I murmured in reverent awe.

Jennifer turned her head a fraction toward her bare shoulder. "What is it?"

"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my entire life," I stated honestly. "You absolutely take my breath away."

Jenny allowed a small smile. "You're sweet." She turned in the window to face me. "I couldn't sleep. My mind won't settle down."

I lifted the bed sheet to her, exposing my full nudity. "Come to bed, darling. Perhaps I can distract you."

Jennifer chuckled softly and sauntered to the bed. "How come your every solution to every problem involves naked cuddling or hot sex?"

My partner slid next to me and I draped the sheet over her body. "It may not be the answer, but it helps to make you forget about the question."

The woman giggled quietly and kissed me, her hands smoothing along my bare side to my hip. "I'm forgetting about my troubles already."

"I'm glad."

Jennifer eased me onto my back and shifted her naked body on top of me. "As a matter of fact;" she growled lustily, "there is only one thought on my mind right now."

"Me too." I kissed her hungrily, my hands roaming over her warm smooth flesh. "Great minds think alike."

"No more thinking," Jennifer panted as she kissed my mouth with mounting passion. "Only feeling."

I stretched lazily and relished the feeling of soft sheets and a warm body in bed next to mine. I lolled my head to the side to check the alarm clock. The red digital display read 9:15. Our balcony overlooked the inside of the pyramid, so there would be no morning sunlight coming into the room.

Jennifer stirred and rolled to me, resting her head on my shoulder and draping her arm across my tummy. She yawned once, then instantly fell back asleep.

My heart swelled with so much love for my sweet partner, I thought it might explode from my chest. I never imagined I could ever love so strongly and so deeply for anyone. I was so very lucky to have Jennifer Prescott in my life.

I thought about how much my world had changed since I met Jennifer. I quit a boring, dead-end job, finally got to fulfill my dream of being in show business and performing on stage, and I fell in love with the sexiest, most beautiful and caring woman I had ever met. A man once told me long ago that a truly blessed person is one whose real life surpasses all their fantasies. I smiled and lightly kissed my lover on the top of her head. I was truly blessed indeed.

I knew that Jennifer was agonizing about the contest that night. I had tried my best to distract her last night and wear her out so that she could get some sleep. Jennifer had a lot riding on our performance. Winning the prize money was a consideration, but it was only part of the reward. There was also being crowned the title of World's Greatest Illusionist. Earning such a distinction would go a long way to booking magic shows for years to come.

There was also the pressure of being a woman competing in a primarily male-dominated profession. Jennifer longed to show those men that she had more than enough talent to make it in their world. Winning the title of World's Greatest Illusionist would show her male counterparts that Jennifer Prescott was a force to be reconned with.

I was sure the wager between Jenny and Francois LeBeau weighed on her mind as well. Francois had nearly ruined her years before, and was now sticking his nose up at her ability to make a comeback. Winning the competition would show that egotistical Frenchman that the Amazing Jennifer was not one to accept defeat.

Lastly, Jennifer was concerned about living up to the standard she had set for herself. The woman had set out to be the best in her craft, and competing in the contest was a testimony to her years of hard work and dedication. Losing the contest would be a blow to her ego and self-esteem. It was as if the Magic World was telling her she wasn't good enough.

I sighed ruefully and lightly traced my fingertips along her arm from her shoulder to her elbow. I was there for her, as I always would be, regardless of whether we won or not. I would do whatever I could to support my friend. I had to admit that, to me, this was merely a job, but to Jennifer, it was her life.

My partner stilled in her slumber and smoothed her hand up my tummy to my chest. She stroked her fingers over my breasts and continued to sleep peacefully. I knew in that moment that I could never leave Jennifer, no matter what the outcome of the contest that evening. We were a team and would stay a team through whatever challenges we had to face.

I managed to drift off to sleep once again, and was roused by Jennifer finally waking up. She stretched lazily and sprawled her body onto mine. "Hello, beautiful," she cooed lovingly.

I smiled and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "Hello, beautiful."

Jenny crossed her arms atop my chest and rested her chin on her arm. "I had the most luxurious dream," she sighed. "I dreamed we were on a soft, sandy beach. We were naked on a blanket, lying next to each other under the warm sun. You rolled over and kissed me and we made love on that long quiet stretch of beach."

I wrapped my arms around her back and smoothed my fingers along her spine. "Sounds like a wonderful dream. I'm glad I was in it."

"You are in all my dreams, Carla," Jenny stated honestly. "You are much more than a partner to me. I hope you know that."

"I do." I caressed her naked flesh and inched my fingers down to the small of her back. "You are everything to me, JP. My joy, my dreams, my world. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."

The woman lifted one eyebrow and gave a playful grin. "Anything?"

"Anything."

"I have something you can do for me. You can call room service and order us some breakfast while I go take a shower."

"Your wish is my command, master."

Jenny giggled and kissed my nose. "Unless room service can wait a half hour and we can share a shower together."

My hands moved lower to groped her buttocks. "I like that idea even better."

That afternoon before the competition in the evening, Jennifer and I turned more than a few as we strolled arm in arm into the reception hall. Miss Prescott looked absolutely dazzling in a cherry red floor-length off-the-shoulder number, slit up the front to the knee. With her glass slippers and diamond earrings, the woman looked like a genuine princess.

I, of course, looked quite elegant myself. I wore a sleeveless ankle-length cobalt blue dress with thin spaghetti straps from the sides of my bust, over bare shoulders and crisscrossing along my naked back to attach at the waist. A pearl teardrop pendant dangled enticingly a couple inches above my cleavage. I wore my hair pinned up, and pearl stud earrings completing the ensemble. All conversation hushed in reverent awe when we entered, leaving no doubt that Jennifer and I were the eye-candy of the evening.

Miss Prescott introduced me to numerous illusionists supposedly quite famous in the business, though I didn't recognize a single one of them. I would have wanted to meet David Copperfield, but I guess he wasn't participating in the competition.

Jennifer genuinely glowed with joy to be involved with the illusionist contest, hobnobbing with the Who's Who of the magic world. I hovered off her elbow, allowing her to bask in the admiration and praise that was rightfully earned by her. It wasn't easy for a lady to make it in that profession, and for a woman like Jennifer Prescott to gain such high acclaim was a testimony to her hard work and dedication to her craft. I beamed with joy to share the moment with my dear friend. And to be participating in the competition with her made the experience all the more delicious.

My date became engulfed in a cluster of admirers, so I took the opportunity to peruse the hors d'oeuvres table. I was investigating some crab canapes when I felt a strange man materialize at my elbow. "I haven't seen you here before," he stated formally.

I turned to him with a bright smile. He was an older gentleman with short dark hair graying at the temples, wearing a black tuxedo with long tails. The man appeared to be the stereotypical magician you imagine from the 1920's. "That's because I haven't been here before." I offered my hand. "Carla Monroe. Jennifer Prescott's assistant."

He tilted his head with a thoughtful expression as he accepted my shake. "Charmed."

I giggled at the play on words. "Cute." He gave me a quizzical look and I suspected his magical reference was not intentional. "And you are?"

The fellow stiffened slightly at my not recognizing him. "Reginald Duvane."

His name meant nothing to me, but I tried my best to hide my ignorance. "Charmed."

Reginald narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "You have no idea who I am, do you?"

I winced sheepishly. "Sorry. Not a clue. But don't feel bad. I don't know a single soul here besides Miss Prescott."

Mister Duvane relaxed slightly and allowed a small smile. "In truth, it's quite refreshing to see someone new here for a change. Seems like every year we host the same illusionists in this competition."

"This is my first time. I'm absolutely thrilled to be here."

"In the competition?"

"And in Las Vegas. This place is quite a town."

"It is indeed. Have you been working with Jennifer Prescott long?"

"A few months. As you might have guessed, I know very little about the world of magic. My previous show business experience was on the Broadway stage."

"Really? What were you in?"

"No productions, I'm afraid," I shrugged casually. "My experience is limited to auditions. I said I was on the stage, not in a show."

Reginald laughed with genuine humor. "You are a true delight, Miss Monroe."

"So are you, Reggie." I picked up a stuffed mushroom and took a bite. "Nice tuxedo, by the way."

"Thank you. May I say, that dress you have on is simply breathtaking."

"Yes, you may say!" I smiled. I patted my hand on my tummy. "I better be careful and not eat too much tonight. This dress is tight enough as it is. I wouldn't want to have a wardrobe malfunction."

The man's eyes twinkled with playfulness. "Perhaps we can burn off some of those extra calories on the dance floor later."

"Certainly! I would like that very much."

"As would I." He bowed graciously and kissed the back of my hand. "Until then, Miss Monroe."

"Until then, Mister Duvane."

The man disappeared and I went back to inspecting the variety of snacks. Jennifer sidled up to my side and slipped her arm around my back. "Was that Reginald Duvane I saw you talking to earlier?" she asked.

"Yes. Reggie's a real sweetheart. He asked me for a dance later."

"He let you call him Reggie?"

I shrugged a bare shoulder. "Sure. Why not?"

"The man is a master illusionist several times over. He practically invented half the illusions we magicians use in our acts. Reginald Duvane is a living legend in the magic world."

"You sound a little star struck there, girl," I smiled playfully. "I take it, you are a fan?"

"I grew up studying his tricks when I was a little girl. He's one of the reasons I am in the business today. I admire him a lot."

"Have you ever talked to him?"

"No," she flushed red. "I have always been too scared to. The man is my idol. I'd probably trip over my tongue if I had to say hello."

"Come with me." I slipped my arm around her waist and steered the woman from the snack table.

"Where are we going?"

"To meet an idol." I guided Jennifer through the crowd to a clutch of people on the far side of the room. Reginald Duvane was in the middle of the group chatting with several admirers. His eyes lit up with amusement when I elbowed my way into the throng. "Excuse me, Reggie," I smiled brightly. "I have someone here who is anxious to meet you."

Jennifer shrank slightly as she came face to face with the legend. She stared wide-eyed at the man, her mouth agape. Mister Duvane recognized her discomfort and gently accepted her hand. "Jennifer Prescott," Reginald said with genuine respect and sincerity in his voice. "This is truly a pleasure."

My friend was taken aback. "It is?"

"I have heard so much about you. I've been following your career for some time. You are quite the accomplished illusionist."

"I am?" she stammered. Jennifer struggled to regain her composure. "That is very high praise coming from you, sir."

The man held her hand and gazed evenly into Jennifer's eyes. "This business needs new blood and new energy from younger performers. I have been in world of illusion for decades, and rarely have I seen such a promising magician as you, my dear. Your performance at the Grand this spring was simply spectacular."

Jennifer turned pale and she looked like she was going to faint. "You... you came to see my show?"

"Front row center," he grinned. "Truly remarkable!"

"I'm... I'm floored," she stammered. "I don't know what to say."

"I'm getting a little long in the tooth to be in this business for much longer. Perhaps after the competition, we can meet and discuss plans for you to take over my legacy. I have numerous illusions that a talented lady as yourself could execute much better than an old man ever could."

A gasp of shock passed through the otherwise silent crowd surrounding us. Jennifer looked like she received the pony she always wanted for Christmas. "Yes! Yes!" she blurted eagerly. "Of course! I would be delighted to! Whatever you say, Mister Duvane!"

Reginald lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles. "The best of luck to you in the competition, Miss Prescott." He turned to me with a smile. "And to you, Miss Monroe."

"Likewise, Reggie." I gave him a smooch on the cheek and smeared my lipstick on his face. "Don't forget we have a date on the dance floor later."

"I look forward to it."

I took Jennifer's elbow and steered her from the group. I needed to plant the girl in a chair before she collapsed from shock. "My God! That was Reginald Duvane," Jenny exhaled in reverent awe.

"Yes, and it seems he's a big fan of your work." Jennifer sat at a table and I alit in the chair next to her. "Sorry for forcing you into meeting him. I didn't want you to miss the opportunity to meet one of your heroes."

Jennifer stared at me in wonder. "You are an incredible woman, Carla. You never cease to amaze me."

"You are the amazing one," I smiled warmly, taking both her hands in mine. "Reginald Duvane isn't the only one who is a huge fan of the Amazing Jennifer."

The woman laughed and leaned forward to press her cheek to mine. "Allow me to thank you properly later," she whispered into my ear. "In our room tonight."

I giggled happily. "I can hardly wait!"

I spotted out the corner of my eye Francois LeBeau enter the room. He wore a white dinner jacket, pale blue shirt open at the collar, and black slacks. Mighty nice looking, for the devious scheming rat that he was.

I nudged Jennifer with my elbow. "Don't look now," I murmured under my breath. "But You Know Who just came in."

Jennifer turned her head and caught sight of her nemesis. "Flying solo, I see," she observed, noticing that Francois was alone. "He has no assistant on his arm."

"Perhaps he's here to pick up a new one." Jennifer narrowed her eyes at me in a scowl and I raised my palms defensively. "Definitely not me, I promise you."

My partner stood and hooked her arm through my elbow and led me toward the man. "Let's go say hello, shall we?"

Francois' face lit up with a broad smile when he saw us approaching. "My my," he grinned appreciatively. "You ladies look spectacular."

I casually shrugged a bare shoulder. "You clean up mighty nicely yourself."

"Speaking of ladies," Jennifer injected. "Where is your assistant hiding?"

"She decided to bypass the preliminaries," he explained. "The girl is more interested in the casino's slot machines than rubbing elbows with my contemporaries."

"That's a shame," Jennifer sighed with an ingenuous pout. "I was so looking forward to the latest in a long line of conquests."

LeBeau laughed off the barb. "You'll meet her soon enough. Perhaps at the awards ceremony when they congratulate me on winning the competition."

I chuckled with genuine humor at the man. "Francois, your reputation as a philandering louse is rivaled by your unconcealed humility."

"I am French," he replied evenly. "It is no secret I love the ladies." He took my hand in his and bent over to kiss my fingers. "And the ladies love me."

"Nice try," I sniffed, removing my hand. "As for winning the competition, don't forget the small wager you made with Jennifer," I said. "That extra thousand dollars will make for a nice shopping spree for us ladies here in Vegas."

"You have to beat me first."

Jennifer gave the man a hard steely stare. "In my mind, Carla and I have already won this competition," she said evenly. "Performing our illusion is merely a formality."

Francois returned a playful smile. "We shall see who is the better illusionist." LeBeau gave us a sweeping bow and said, "May the best man win."

I grinned and patted him on the cheek. "Speaking of illusions," I said. "You keep a hold of that one."

CHAPTER 12

The energy backstage of the World's Greatest Illusionist Contest was almost tangible. Everyone was charged to a heightened maximum. There was excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and worry. All the illusionists were facing their peers, their equals in the industry. Each feared the other would steal their illusions, or beat them out in the competition. The tension was incredible.

Jennifer was the third to the last to perform. She would be followed by Francois LeBeau, and Reginald Duvane would close out the competition.

Jenny paced nervously backstage while the Chinese illusionist on stage put his arm through a pane glass window.

I spotted a slender woman dressed in a red and black chenille costume entering the back stage. The girl had long raven tresses hanging down to the middle of her back and looked more like an erotic flamenco dancer than a magician's assistant.

I noticed she began hanging onto Francois. Very possessive. Hmmm. I turned to Jennifer and said, "Look at that woman with Francois. Is that your former assistant?"

Jennifer paused and followed my gaze to the girl fawning over LeBeau. "No. My assistant was Amanda Barnes. I checked out the program and it listed this woman as Isabella Montoya."

"She looks like a feisty Brazilian to me."

"Francois picked her up in Barcelona, Spain. I guess she's his girlfriend now as well. She's a spicy little thing and obviously jealous of the man."

"Fiery, is more like it," I huffed. A plan began to formulate in my mind. I created a scheme as payback for the man ruining Jennifer's act the way he did.

I walked over and pretended to accidentally bump into the Spanish woman. "Oh, I'm so sorry," I apologized with feigned sincerity. "Wow! I absolutely adore your cute little outfit!"

The woman returned a forced smile at the compliment. "Thank you."

I glanced at Francois who was talking with a stage hand a short distance away. "I couldn't help notice that you were paying a lot of attention to Francois. Don't bother. You're not his type."

That got her attention. Isabella narrowed her eyes at me. "What do you mean?"

"Every once in a while, Francois becomes infatuated with dark-haired ladies like you. But it's only to satisfy his lustful desires and it never lasts for very long."

Isabella's eyes became enflamed. "What are you saying?"

"Only that the man typically prefers blondes like me. That's why he always keeps coming back to me to be his lover, time and time again." I expelled a doleful sigh as my eyes panned up and down her sleek figure. "Though I can't fault him for wanting a little variety now and again. You are very pretty -- for the amusing little play toy that you are."

The woman scowled at me with her fists balled on her hips. "Francois is my fiancé. He does not fool around with other women."

I laughed right in her face. "That is so funny! I can't believe Francois still uses that old enticement trick to seduce women! Fiancé indeed! I can't tell you how many times stupid girls like you have fallen for that silly line."

Isabella angrily grabbed my elbow. "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Carla. Francois' lover."

"That is a lie!"

I gave the girl a condescending smile. "Where do you think he goes whenever he leaves town? He comes to visit me." I smiled cattily and rested my hand on my slender hip. "That man may say he's going to marry you, honey, but he'll never give up this sexy body. Not for you or for anyone else."

"You are lying!" Isabella cursed hotly.

"Am I?" I glanced over my shoulder at Francois. "You stay here and watch. If he thinks you're not around, he'll be all over me like cheap French perfume. Stay here, honey, and witness your darling fiancé in action." I gave her a wink and sauntered over to the man.

I tapped LeBeau on the shoulder. He turned to me, his face lighting up with recognition. "Miss Monroe!"

"Hello Francois," I cooed seductively. "My, how handsome you look in that tuxedo."

His eyes panned down and up my body in my sexy tight magician's assistant costume. "You look quite beautiful as well."

"You like it?" I beamed brightly. "I especially love the material. It's smooth as satin. Feel it."

Francois put his hands on my waist. "It is very nice," he smiled.

I gazed into his dark eyes. "Feel how well it clings to the contours of my body," I breathed seductively, placing my hands on his wrist and moving his hands higher.

The man slid his hands up to my ribs and cupped under my large breasts. "It fits you very well."

"See how it clings to my chest? It forms around my big boobs perfectly."

Francois caressed his hands over my breasts. "Very nice indeed."

I grinned at him, knowing that his girlfriend was watching our every move. I hooked my hands around his neck. "Remember that kiss you wanted to give me for good luck?" I cooed lovingly. "Is it too late to collect? Jennifer and I may need all the luck we can get tonight."

Francois gave a wide grin. "It is never too late to wish someone good luck."

I leaned my face closer to his. "Then wish me luck," I murmured seductively, pressing my mouth to his. Francois returned my kiss, my breath escaping into his mouth. "Oh yes," I panted lustfully, crushing my body to his. "You make me so hot!"

The man smoothed his hands around to my back as he hungrily kissed me, one palm sliding lower to grope my ass in the tight costume.

"You bastard!"

We instantly broke our embrace and snapped our attention to the fuming Spanish senorita storming toward us. "You filthy rotten bastard!"

Francois broke away and raised his palms defensively. "Isabella, please... calm down."

"You filthy pig!" she spat, raising her fist to his face. "Making love to this slut!"

"Now Isabella -- "

I raised my palms to interrupt her tirade. "Whoa, whoa! Let me leave you two lovebirds alone to work this out." I turned and patted Francois on the cheek. "Call me when you grow tired of this pretty little plaything, lover-boy." I gave a sweet smile to the sputtering lady as I sauntered sexily past her.

Jennifer hurried over to my side. "What's all the commotion about?"

"Isabella and Francois are having a little tiff," I smirked. "Serves him right. She was throwing dirt on you, so I showed her what a womanizing rat he was."

The argument between the two was getting heated and Jennifer was afraid their spat might escalate into an all-out brawl. Isabel was beating and slapping the man's chest and Francois forcibly shoved her back. Jennifer stepped in to break up the fight. She took Isabel by the arm and tried to pull her away. Isabel angrily turned on Jennifer and shoved her back. Jennifer staggered backward and stumbled over some stacked boxes. She fell with a crash onto a pile of stage equipment.

I rushed over to help her. "Are you hurt?" I mewed with worry.

Jennifer winced and held her left arm. "I fell on my elbow. I think I dislocated my shoulder."

"Stay right here. I'll go get some help."

By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of the stage crew. Several others came to break up the fight. A medic squatted over Jennifer to examine her arm. I glanced at the arguing couple just as Isabel punched Francois in the nose and shoved him into a pile of stage props before storming angrily away. I suspected that his act was washed up for the contest. I looked at Jennifer and hoped the same was not true for us as well.

Jennifer held her arm and winced in pain. "Oh, my God!" I whimpered apologetically. "Are you all right?"

"I don't think my arm is broken," she groaned. "But I think my shoulder is dislocated and my wrist is sprained."

"This is all my fault!" I cried pitifully. "I tried to get back at Francois for coming on to me and stealing your assistant away from you. But it backfired on me and you got hurt. I am so very sorry."

"It's all right," Jennifer said, forcing a smile. "Your heart was in the right place."

"But my head wasn't. Not only did I hurt the woman I love, but I ruined our chances for winning the competition."

Jennifer placed a hand on my arm to calm me down. "All is not lost. We can still compete."

"How? You can't do the trick with only one arm."

"No, but you can."

"What!"

"You can do the Firebird stunt. You've seen me do it a dozen times. You can do it. I know you can."

The medical staff came to address Jennifer's injuries before I had a chance to protest. However, she was right; the only way we could win this competition was if I performed Firebird.

I recalled the advice Jennifer offered me when I first came to work for her.

Things are not always going to go the way you expect. Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way, through trial by fire.

I hoped the woman meant that expression figuratively and not literally.

The medic adjusted Jenny's shoulder and put a bandage around her sprained wrist. "I don't want to steal your thunder from you," I whimpered pitifully. "You've come too far and worked too hard to give it up now."

"You're right. I have worked too hard to give up. We both have. If you don't do the illusion, all of our work will have been for nothing. We cannot have come all this way and not try."

I paused and considered what she said. Jennifer was right, of course. With her injured arm, I was the only option we had. If The Amazing Jennifer didn't appear on stage tonight, all of our practicing and honing our skills would be wasted. I owed it to Jennifer to at least try.

"All right," I nodded in acceptance. "I'll do it."

"Great! Quick! Come with me to the dressing room and change."

"Change?"

"You have to fit into my costume," she explained leading the way.

"That might prove to be a challenge," I stated dryly. "No offense, honey, but I have a little more going for me in the chest department than you do."

"Not a problem." Jennifer closed the door behind me with her good hand and handed me a roll of stretch bandage from the first aid kit. "Wrap this around your chest to flatten your boobs."

"Flatten my boobs?"

"Yes. They did that to Annette Funicello so she wouldn't appear so endowed on the Micky Mouse Club."

I frowned and began to undress. "Really? I didn't know that."

I began to wrap the bandage around my chest. "Too bad about this necessary chest reduction," I scowled. "My big tits are my most conspicuous assets."

"Not this time, darling. You're going to have to restrain those babies for a while if you intend to fit into my costume."

I winced as I bound my bust as flat as it could go. "My poor boobies are going to be mighty sore after this."

"Don't worry, honey," Jennifer smiled. "When this is over, I promise to kiss them and make them feel all better."

I scowled playfully at my partner as I struggled into Jenny's snug Firebird costume as she dressed in her short tuxedo outfit. "I'll hold you to it."

The emcee announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our next illusionist, The Amazing Jennifer!"

Jenny walked onto the stage to light applause carrying her black cane and resting her sore arm across her tummy. "Good evening!" she smiled graciously to the crowd as she moved to the center of the stage. "The illusion I had planned for you tonight is called Firebird." She frowned sadly and gestured to her injured arm. "However, this bird suffered a slight injury a short while ago, so to take my place is my lovely and capable assistant, Miss Carla Monroe!"

I came out onto the stage wearing a dazzling white costume that looked like a one-piece bathing suit with long sleeves down to my wrists and long white feathers hanging from the sleeves. Very sexy, if my big bust wasn't crushed to fit into it.

I waved happily to thunderous cheers, whistles and applause. I believe the men in the crowd were more interested in my appearance than in my abilities.

Jenny smiled at me. "Carla, please step up onto the platform."

I turned and walked to the device. "This ring is solid steel," Jennifer announced as I climbed to the platform. She took her cane and banged on the ring twice. Clang, clang. "Solid metal."

I reached the platform and stood facing the audience. Jennifer continued to address the audience. "Miss Monroe will attempt to fly from one platform to the other through the large metal hoop in the center." She gave the folks a disparaging grimace. "Not very exciting, is it? Passing through this solid metal ring without any means of support would not be amazing enough. We need to add a touch of danger to the illusion."

Her face lit up with a bright smile as she pointed her magic wand at the audience. "Let's add a little challenge to the stunt, shall we?" The tip of her cane burst into flame and became a torch in her hand.

"This illusion is called Firebird," Jennifer explained, walking to the iron ring in the center of the device. "Let's light this baby up!" She touched her torch to the hoop and the ring instantly burst into a ball of orange and yellow flame behind me in a magnificent whoosh! The audience oohed and aaahed. There were also a few gasps of shock and some shrieks of terror too. It was a good thing I wasn't looking at the flames or I would have screamed in fright as well.

I stood facing the crowd with a wide bright smile, trying desperately to conceal my terror and apprehension. I had wanted to be a star in the spot light for so long. Well, I got my wish.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jennifer announced proudly. "I give you... Firebird!"

I could feel the intense heat on my back and rear as I faced the crowd with my arms extended out, long white feathers dangling from my sleeves like wings of a great white bird.

Jennifer rotated the base of the structure ninety degrees so the audience could see a side view as I turned on the small platform to face the fiery ring. The heat was intense. Jennifer called this gag an illusion, but there was nothing fake about the very real flames in front of me. I was glad I hadn't put on any hairspray before the performance. One flick of flame comes near a sprayed 'do and my blonde coif would vanish in a puff of smoke like a flash bulb. We would have to rename the trick Fire Burned.

The suspenseful music started to play and I began to move forward. I reached the edge of the platform and stepped beyond. The audience gasped and screamed in shock as I tread on thin air into the pyro of death. It was like watching a live human sacrifice on stage.

I kept my eyes focused on the opposite platform as the deadly flames leapt about me. I dared not glance at the flames mere inches from my fingertips. I probably should have practiced the trick once or twice with the ring on fire so I wouldn't be so terrified. This illusion gave me a whole new respect for Jennifer Prescott. She makes these magic tricks look so simple and easy, but in reality, they are extremely dangerous. One little slip could have disastrous consequences. I made a mental note to compliment her on her bravery if I survived this ordeal.

As I walked, I could feel Jennifer waving the torch beneath my feet to show that I was walking without any support. I dared not look down. It took all of my concentration to keep my feet moving, one step in front of the other.

I slowly continued on, one step at a time. I forced myself to move slowly even though my brain was begging me to run. The gasps and screams of the crowd turned to cheers and shouts. I was doing it! I was actually performing magic! But more than that, I was the star of the show, and the attention of the audience was fixed on nobody but me. This was my childhood dream come true. I was in the spotlight, and nobody could claim that I didn't deserve the ovation and accolades for my performance.

I only wished I didn't have to be involved in such a perilous stunt in order to achieve my lifelong goal.

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally reached the other platform. Jennifer rotated the base of the structure ninety degrees and once again I was facing the audience. I gave them a big smile and raised my arms high above my head with the ring of flames raging behind me.

The crowd leaped to their feet in a thunder of cheers and applause. No person on Earth had ever seen such a spectacle performed on stage before. It was professional illusion at its best.

I climbed down from the platform to the stage. The audience was still in a mad frenzy. Jennifer joined me and we linked hands. As we turned to face our cheering admirers, I was glad I held my partner's sore right hand. I raised my free arm and Jennifer raised hers and we took a bow in unison. The announcer shouted over the roar of the audience, "The Amazing Jennifer and Carla Monroe!"

We took another bow together and exited the stage. We stopped in the wings and Jennifer turned to me. "You were magnificent!" she gushed. "Absolutely fantastic!"

I hugged her and pressed my cheek to the side of her face. "I never realized how brave you were. I could never have done the trick if I hadn't seen you do it first."

"You're the brave one." She leaned back and gazed lovingly into my eyes. "You performed the illusion and saved the act, even though I know how scared you were." She glanced at the stage as the audience continued to shout and cheer. "Are you ready to take another bow?"

I laughed and held her hand. "With you by my side, I believe I can do anything!"

After the obligatory receiving of congratulations, I hurried backstage for the dressing room. I needed to unwind -- literally. I had to remove the bandage from around my chest before I suffered any permanent damage to my big pretty boobs.

I peeled off the white Firebird costume. It was a little singed in places, but none the worse for wear. I gingerly unwound the bandage from my chest. It was like removing the wrapping from an Egyptian mummy. At last, my poor squished boobs were free and I tenderly massaged them with my fingertips. I felt like I had been subjected to some form of medieval torture. From now on, Jennifer and I would have matching costumes for just such emergencies.

Jennifer burst into the dressing room as I was hanging the firebird costume on a hook. "You were a hit!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Everyone loved it! I've never seen such a standing ovation in my life!"

"I'm so glad," I smiled happily as I wriggled into my sparkly blue assistant's costume. I needed something a little more comfortable to wear for the finale on stage. "I'm sorry for stealing the limelight away from you. This was your show, your moment to shine, and your assistant upstaged you."

"Are you kidding?" Jennifer gasped breathlessly. "You were magnificent! The audience loved you!" She moved closer and took both my hands in hers. "You are more than an assistant to me, Carla. You are my partner. In fact, I was thinking of changing the name of the act."

I gave her a wry smile. "Oh?"

"How does The Amazing Jennifer and Magnificent Carla sound?"

I laughed and shook my head. "That's a mouthful. Let's just keep it The Amazing Jennifer."

"On the way back here, I was besieged by a group of agents and dignitaries. You better have your passport ready, because you and I are taking our act on the road -- literally."

"Oh? Where to?"

"Everywhere! London and Paris, for starters. That is, right after we perform in Times Square."

"Times Square!" I laughed, adjusting the costume over my chest. "Really?"

"Yes! A rep for Good Morning America is here and he said he was blown away by our act. He said that even if we don't win the Greatest Illusionist competition, he wants us to do the trick in Times Square for their show as soon as we can ship the apparatus to New York."

"That's fabulous!" I beamed happily. "I am so very proud of you!"

"I would have preferred to showcase the Firebird costume," she said. "We have a lot of hugging and hand-shaking to do tonight."

I glanced down at my chest and back at her. "I'll leave the hugs to you, if you don't mind. My tits are still a bit tender."

"Poor baby," Jennifer cooed lovingly. She took me into a gentle embrace and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Perhaps later, I can kiss them and make them all better."

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "They would like that very much!"

There was only one illusionist left to perform. "For our final act of the evening," the emcee announced. "Please give a warm welcome to three-time winner of the Master Illusionist contest, Mister Reginald Duvane!"

Jennifer and I silently watched Reginald's act from the wings. I swear, the girl never exhaled the entire time the man was on stage.

"I call this illusion The Dining Table," he announced to the audience as two stage hands dressed in black carried a rectangular wooden table to the center of the stage. Reginald rapped his fist onto the top of the table to demonstrate it was solid wood. "A typical table," he said. "But don't take my word for it. Please, may I have two people come join me on stage with me to verify that this is an ordinary table?"

A young man in his twenties and a teenage girl stepped up onto the stage to join the magician. They gave him their names as Ted and Geena and pounded on the table to show it was solid wood. "Don't leave just yet," Reginald said. The two stage hands returned, each carrying a foot stool. "This wouldn't be a real party until somebody is dancing on the tables."

The audience laughed as Duvane assisted the girl up onto the stool on one end of the table as Ted climbed up onto the other side. The pair stood on the table and Reginald enticed them to do an impromptu tap dance. The audience laughed and applauded their performance.

"Not a very big dance floor," Reginald stated ruefully. "Let's make it a bit bigger, shall we?"

The stage hands returned and moved to each side of the table. Reginald stepped behind the table and waved his hands with a flourish over the surface. His assistants gripped the ends of the table and pulled, separating the halves with the young audience members standing on top.

Jennifer gasped beside me as Reginald walked through the gap between the two halves of the table to the front of the stage. "How does he do that?" she murmured under her breath.

One of the stage hands stepped to the wings and returned with a leaf for the table. He handed it to Reginald who inserted it between the two freestanding ends. "Much better," he announced. "Now there is plenty of room for three." He raised his arms and offered his hands to the couple standing on the table. "May I join you?"

Ted and Geena tried to lift him up to join them. "It seems I've gained a few pounds from the hotel buffet," Duvane quipped. "Perhaps it would be better if you came down to my level."

Reginald circled the table to Geena's end and removed the two table legs. The girl stared in shock as table under her seemed to hover without support. Duvane walked around to the other end and pulled the remaining legs out from under Ted. The pair stood atop a table that appeared to be suspended without any support. The audience cheered with delight. Reginald stepped behind the table and waved his hands, the top of the table slowly lowering down to the stage.

"My God!" Jennifer exhaled in awe. "That man is incredible!"

The table settled onto the stage and Reginald stepped up onto the middle to join his stunned assistants. He took Ted and Geena's hands in his and the trio took a bow to the cheers and applause of the astonished crowd.

"He is really good!" I laughed, clapping my hands at the man's performance.

"He's the best," Jennifer grinned broadly.

I slipped my arm around her waist to give my partner a sideways hug. "You have always been the best in my book, sweetheart."

The judges took a short break to compare their notes. A musical presentation in true Las Vegas style filled the stage with a dozen pretty girls in glittery costumes. I smiled in thinking that could have been me out there.

All the illusionists greeted each other back stage and shook hands and wished each other well.

I spotted Francois LeBeau out the corner of my eye. His left eye was swollen and he was leaning on a cane. The man appeared to have a great pain in his left leg. I poked Jennifer with my elbow in her ribs to get her attention. She looked at me and I inclined my head to her French competitor. "Looks like Isabelle gave him a once over."

Jennifer walked over to him and said, "I'm sorry you were unable to compete in the contest this evening," she said, and meant it.

He nodded to her sore arm in a makeshift sling. "It seems you managed to compete, despite infirmity."

"Carla took my place. To be honest, I wasn't sure she could do it. The girl came through with flying colors. She is incredible."

Francois nodded in agreement. "You are luckier than you realize to have an assistant like Carla Monroe. I truly envy you in that respect."

"I am lucky to have her. She is more than my assistant. She is my partner."

"Then you are even more blessed to have her." Francois dug a hand in his pocket and removed a wad of bills. "Payment of a debt," he said. "We made a thousand-dollar wager and you won. Congratulations."

Jennifer accepted the money without a smile. "It's a hollow victory, I assure you. It would have been better if I had won fair and square."

Francois grinned and inclined his head to the cash in Jennifer's hand. "Then hold onto it for next year. I bet you one thousand dollars that I will emerge victorious in the next competition."

Jennifer laughed and extended her good hand to shake on the wager. "It's a bet." They shook hands and Jennifer said sincerely, "Take care of yourself, Francois."

"And you, my dear."

I moved to Jenny's side as LeBeau hobbled away. "Payment of a debt?" I asked.

"Closure."

I draped my arm across her back. "I'm glad."

The music and dance interlude concluded and the emcee returned to the stage. "The judges have reached a decision," he announced. "And I am here to reveal the winner."

I stood close to Jenny's side and held the hand of her good arm.

"The winner of the Master Illusionist Competition, and the recipient of the fifty-thousand-dollar prize goes to..." He paused for dramatic effect to a drum roll. I gave Jennifer's fingers a squeeze.

"The Amazing Jennifer!"

We faced each other and squealed with delight, holding one another in a tight hug. I released her and smiled happily into her face. "Congratulations, sweetheart!"

Jenny beamed more brightly than I had ever seen her before. "I can't believe it!"

I gave her a smooch on the cheek and patted her on the butt. "Go out there, honey! Your fans await!"

Jennifer walked onto the stage and met the emcee to accept her trophy. I was so proud of her and so happy to be her assistant. This was more than a dream come true for me. Not only had I realized my lifelong ambition of being a star on stage, but I helped a dear friend become a success as well.

Jenny returned to my side, giddy as a child on Christmas morning. "We did it!" she exclaimed excitedly. "We won!"

"I'm so happy for you," I smiled, taking her in a hug, careful not to hurt her arm. "You deserve it."

"I can't breathe!" she panted. "This is almost too much for me. I mean, I've toured Europe and performed for royalty, but this is more exhilarating than I imagined!"

"Speaking of not being able to breathe," I winced. "I think I'll go up to our room and take a hot bath to restore my poor boobies."

Her face took on a pained expression. "You're not going to share the praise and accolades with me?"

"No, darling." I gave her a kiss on the cheek and smiled warmly. "This is your moment to shine. Enjoy it." I turned to see a mob of well-wishers descend upon us. "Congratulations once again. I'll see you later."

I entered our suite and tossed the room key onto the table. A long hot bath was what this gal needed. I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the water to fill the tub. I tossed in a couple of lavender bath bombs and stripped off my costume. I expelled a deep sigh of relief. It felt good to have my breasts unbound. I massaged my sore tits, thinking that we needed to make some alterations to the Firebird costume if I was ever to perform that stunt again.

I shut off the spigot and slipped into the tub. It felt wonderful. I settled down to my chin and closed my eyes, relishing the quiet and the warm water upon my bare skin.

It was strange that I had dreamed of being in show business my entire life, and the moment I had been given my time in the spotlight, all I could think about was how I wanted my dear friend to enjoy it. I suppose my dream of celebrity had been replaced by another dream. All my heart wanted at that moment was to see my companion happy. I smiled as I recalled the look on Jennifer's face when they announced she had won the competition. Shock, amazement, joy, thrill, and excitement, all at the same time.

And beauty. I don't believe I had ever seen Jennifer look so beautiful. That was what my new dream had become; to make my partner happy and proud as often as I could for the rest of my life.

For the rest of my life, I pondered. That was it. I wanted to be with Jennifer Prescott for the rest of my life. In that one single moment of clarity, I realized that I could be content to be Jennifer's assistant forever, just so long as I could be her lover and companion as well.

My mind began swirling with delightful imagery and fabulous fantasies. I was too excited with all the possibilities of life to remain soaking idly in the tub. I wanted to call down to room service and have them send up a chilled bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice for us to celebrate Jenny's success. I climbed from the bath and dried off with a large white terry towel, smiling brightly to myself as I recalled a passage from a book I had to read for a report in high school. It was Voltaire's Candide, and the wise old sage Pangloss remarked to his young protégé, "This is the best of all possible worlds." For me, that statement was certainly true. I couldn't imagine a better life than one with Jennifer Prescott in it.

I opened the door of the bathroom to find that Jennifer had returned. She seemed to be agitated about something and nervously pacing the floor. "Jenny?" I asked in surprise. "Is everything all right?"

She stopped pacing and turned to face me. "I came up to the room and heard you in the bathroom. I didn't want to disturb you."

"I was taking a bath. What are you doing here? I thought you would be basking in the glow of success and being interviewed by all those reporters."

Jennifer moved to me and took my hand in hers. "Come, sit with me on the bed."

"All right." I furrowed my brow with concern as she led me to sit beside her on the mattress. "Is there something wrong?"

"You might say that." Jennifer drew in and expelled a long deep breath. "I was in the middle of giving an interview to NBC when I realized with absolute perfect clarity that our act would not be the same without you in it. In fact, my life would not be the same without you, Carla. I want us to be partners forever. Partners in every way. I want you to marry me."

I shrugged a shoulder with indifference and said, "Okay."

Jennifer gave me a puzzled scowl. "What? No squeal of delight? No cheer for joy? No happy dance?"

I laughed. "As I was taking a bath, I was thinking about how well we fit together, not just professionally, but in our private life as well. I wanted us to be together forever too. I was about to order up some champagne and ask you to marry me tonight, but it seems you beat me to it."

"You were?"

"Yes. I even had visions of our wedding. You and I both wearing dazzling white wedding dresses with long trains trailing behind."

Jennifer laughed and shook her head in disbelief. "You nut!"

I moved closer to her and took both her hands in mine. "Regardless of whether we get married in Paris, or Rome, or even have a quiet little ceremony down at the local courthouse, I'm sure our wedding will be absolutely magical."

She grinned. "Being with you always is for me."

I smiled at her and asked, "Miss Jennifer Prescott, will you marry me?"

Jennifer giggled and said, "I asked you first!"

"My answer is yes."

"So is mine."

I moved closer until our chests touched. "I believe we should seal this agreement with a kiss."

"Absolutely."

Our lips met and I felt a spark of energy surge throughout my entire body. It was as if this woman completed me. I was only half a person until Jennifer Prescott came into my life. Now we would complete each other; as professional partners and as lifelong companions.

Jennifer leaned back and smiled warmly into my eyes. I knew then without a doubt that she and I would be friends and lovers forever.

"There is one more thing I have to tell you," Jenny said softly. "I love you, Carla Monroe. But more than that, I'm in love with you, wholly and completely. I realize now how you felt when you said you had fallen in love with me. I had never known what that was like until tonight. I now know with total clarity what being madly in love with someone is like. I am utterly and completely in love with you, Carla Monroe."

I laughed with joy and squeezed her hands in mine. "Save that speech for when we exchange our vows, darling. I want to hear you say it again on our wedding day."

"You'll definitely hear it, sweetheart. On our wedding day and every day after that."

I smiled happily. "You may now practice kissing the bride if you like."

Jenny giggled and nodded. "Oh, I definitely like!"

We kissed and I knew in that moment that my heart and hers would be joined inseparably forever. "Mmmm, baby," I purred with contentment, leaning closer to kiss her lips once more. "Now that's what I call real magic."