"Room service." He spoke softly into the intercom mike, carefully articulating each syllable, then paused, listening for the response which did not come. "Room service delivery, Ms. Montefino." The food-laden robocart hovering next to him stirred, impatient. Jared checked the order on the cart screen, comparing the listed room number with the elegant script numerals above the door. 12690. He had not made a mistake.
"Ms. Montefino, may I come in?" Still no answer. He tried his thumb on the access pad, not really expecting any reaction. TeePees were normally paranoid about security.
The polished wood door swung open. The cart bustled inside ahead of him. He hesitated before following, reluctant to disturb a guest's privacy. The door closed soundlessly behind him.
The spectacular view held him for a moment. Outside the window that was the opposite wall, the spires of the City sparkled, soaring hundreds of stories above the earth. The ribbons of the Skytrain wound sinuously among the towers, capsules gleaming in the night like mobile jewels. Digizeps drifted in the distance, advertising the latest luxuries. It was a wondrous, beautiful world, a world to ache for, even to die for.
"Your supper, Ms. Montefino...," he began, then choked on his words.
Her bedroom door was half ajar. A mirror faced the door, and in that mirror, he could see her as clearly as if she stood before him. He had a blazing, confused impression of bare skin and swelling curves, before he shut his eyes in panic. It wasn't seemly, for someone like him...
His heart slammed against his ribs. He waited for her to notice his intrusion, to scream. Instead, he heard her humming to herself, sweet and low.
Jared had to look. He couldn't stop himself, even though he knew the risk he was taking. There she was, undressing before her mirror, admiring her own loveliness. She wore black satin gloves that rose to her elbows. The contrast of her black fingers against her pale flesh kindled a hungry fire in his belly. He watched, fascinated, as those long fingers untied the shoulder ribbons that held up her translucent chemise. The light garment drifted to the floor, exposing the perfect breasts that had been only half-visible before. She cupped them in satin-clad palms and strummed the rosy tips with her jet-colored thumbs.
Each of her self-touches sent shivers through Jared's body. His cock swelled painfully inside his tight uniform trousers. He allowed his own white-gloved hand to stray to his crotch, trying to adjust the pressure. It remained there, grasping the aching mass of his erection, while his eyes continued to follow her wandering digits. She trailed her fingers down over her milky torso, teasing herself with brief brushes of satin against skin. Her two forefingers slipped under the waistband of her lower garment, which like her chemise hid little. Jared could see her fingers as streaks of black against the gauzy fabric; he held his breath as he watched them disappear into her cleft.