Niq - New Adult

Chapter 4

“Girl, I have to say this one last time: are you sure you want to do this?”  Sheb looks across at me, as I adjust the brown shaggy wig. 

“Yes, I am.”  I haven’t felt this sure about anything in a long time.  Looking in the little mirror on the sun visor, I plonk a baseball cap on my head and the disguise is complete.

We’re sitting in Yames’ car at the main entrance to the Parliament Palace park.  It’s twilight, and the park is quiet, with only a few dog walkers and joggers moving around.  Sheb’s dark eyes scan the area.  “I don’t like this, but I’ll do it for you.”

“Thank you, Sheb.  You’re the best.”  I know what I’m asking of him, what I’ve already asked of him, and I wouldn’t do it without weighing up the risks.

After I got home from Vix’s, I dismissed my staff and called Sheb.  I asked him to come in Yames’ little white car, a nondescript hatchback.

Meanwhile, I plundered my wardrobe for the most masculine clothes I could find.  Eventually, I settled on a dark green pair of cargo pants, teamed with a long sleeved shirt, layered with another t-shirt.  The two sports bras I wore underneath squashed my breasts almost flat and the wig made my signature freckles look boyish rather than sexy.  Chunky sneakers completed the look.  I was pretty pleased.

Sheb just about fell over when he saw me, and protested vigorously when I proposed my plan.  In the end, he agreed, sneaking me into the trunk of the small hatch.  I lay curled in a ball nervously as Sheb bantered with the guards at the gate.  “Man, she calls me, then sends me home!  Queens – what do you do?  You watch, I bet she’ll want me back before this night is through.” 

Muffled laughter, then we zoomed off.  Sheb called me out when we were safely on our way and I pushed down the fold down seats and crawled out to join him.

Now we’re sitting at the park, my plan playing out perfectly.  Why am I so nervous?

“Okay,” partly to my reflection, partly to Sheb.  “I’m ready.”

Sheb hands me a wrist com.  “If there’s any trouble, if you want out at any stage, tap the screen three times and I’ll come running.  I’ll give you as much privacy as I can, but I’m here if you need me.”

I hug him awkwardly across the centre console.  “It’ll be fine.”  We exit the car together but as soon as we enter the park, Sheb fades off like a shadow and I am alone.

It’s an odd feeling to be standing alone, in public.  Normally, I’m surrounded by crowds or chaperoned by guards.  I wonder if anyone will see through my disguise, when an older couple stroll past with a chihuahua on a lead. 

“Good evening, young man.”  One of them greets me congenially.

“Same to you, gentlemen.”  I doff my cap and they both smile.

Feeling more confident, I set out for the fountain, trying to slouch and swagger the way I’ve watched men move around me my whole life.

A series of sharp clunks makes me flinch, but it’s just the flood lights switching on.  The calming blue lights illuminate the path, all the way to the fountain.  Beyond that, I can see the pale green Cyprus trees and I walk a little faster.

The roaring of the fountain renders my ears almost useless, but I spot a figure leaning on a tree.  “Onrhi?” I call, trying to pitch my voice as low as possible.

The silhouette shifts from the tree and approaches.  The first thing I see is his smile.  It’s wide and bright and genuine.  I tear my eyes away from his perfect mouth and take in the rest of his face.  Clear green eyes and a nose that Vix would identify immediately as a Natural feature.  It’s large but straight, and it suits his face.  His head is almost shaven, the blonde hair trimmed very short, different to most of the men I’m used to looking at, who spend more time sculpting their long locks than I do.

Trying not to ogle, I raise my hand in greeting.  “Onrhi?  Right?”

“Wred!  You came!”  He reaches out to shake my hand, and his strong fingers close over mine.  Frowning, he looks at my hand, then with keen eyes, he studies my face.  “Wow.  Okay.  I didn’t realise…”

“What?” I say, heartbeat loud in my ears.

“You’re a ladi-boy,” he replies.  There’s no judgement in his voice, but his tone is flat and I sense pity.

Since the scarcity of Queens makes feminine contact a highly sought after commodity, there has been a drastic rise in elective surgery.  Men go under the knife for breast implants, Adam’s apple removal, hand sculpting, and more.  Artificial vaginas were in vogue for a while, but they received a bad rap as being dry and scratchy during intercourse, and they’re less common now. 

Guys who have made the drastic physical changes to their bodies call themselves, “ladi-boys.”  Most of them are sex professionals, held in high regard by the community.

Although they command much respect, that’s not the impression I want to give Onrhi.  “No, I’m not,” I speak rapidly.  “I know I look a little fem, but it’s just because my dads starved me during puberty.  They wanted me to be as delicate as possible, you know dads, but I’m all natural.  I promise.”

He still hasn’t released my hand and there is a growing heat where our fingers are touching.  Onrhi finally smiles and lets go, fist bumping me gently on the shoulder.  “Yeah, I know dads.  Mine forced me to attend ballet classes for six years.  Tights are not a good look for me.”  He laughs and I join him.

“Really?  I think you’d look cute in a tutu,” I sass him.  His stance relaxes and I glance briefly at the rest of him.  Long arms with roping muscles, wide shoulders, medium height.  He wears cargos like me, but a black fitted t-shirt rather than my loose ones.  I can feel a blush crawling up my neck and look quickly away across the park.  “It’s nice here.  I know it’s not the Wild, but I can see why you like it.”

“Yeah, it’s a good spot,” he agrees.  Pointing towards a cluster of lights, Onrhi suggests our next move.  “There’s a pretty good café near the lake.  My shout for burgers?”

“Sounds good.  Here I thought we’d be catching our dinner and foraging for dessert.”

He smiles at me, those brilliant white teeth flashing in the dim light, and I am lost.  This is what it feels like to want somebody.  This is the beginning of love.