Night of Seduction: Heaven’s Gate (Chapter 1)

Life as Siri knew it changed in a matter of moments. A two-minute conversation began a string of lies that turned her world upside down. Today she was going to reclaim her life. The past was no longer going to control her. Glancing into the mirror, the questions and doubts still swirled through her mind.

“Don’t you dare!”

Siri turned to the one person that knew the turmoil of the last year. Gracefully placing her hands on her hips, she asked, “What?”

“Don’t what me. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Her baby sister TeKaya Kendrick scowled at her. “I can see your pathetic little mind over there working. You are not backing out of tonight. I have VIP tickets, a limo filled with champagne and a date with, Silk Davies, crooner extraordinaire. The man that can make your panties wet with one song. There is no way I’m going to miss this concert. Let’s go.”

Before she could mumble a word, Siri was snatched by the arm, dragged down the stairs, out the front door, and thrown into the waiting limo.

An hour later, as a crew cleared the opening act’s equipment from the stage TeKaya suggested they go to the bar. A drink was the last thing Siri needed or wanted. On the other hand, hanging out with her baby sister, TeKaya, whom everyone called TK, a drink might be exactly what she needed. Why she ever agreed to this outing, she would never know. Friday’s At Sunset was one of the best outdoor concert series Richmond, Virginia had to offer. The artists that appeared ranged from old school funk to jazz and all points in between. It was August and this was the last concert for the season. The evening was a delightful seventy degrees with a nice cool breeze trickling through the crowd of close to thirty-five hundred concertgoers.

As the official photographer, TK had VIP tickets to the event and immediately deemed it as her opportunity to entice “Mr. Romance” himself, Silk Davies. Siri smiled at the thought—she would probably get a handshake and picture, then be sent on her way.

“What are you smiling about?” TK asked turning to her sister.

For a brief second, Siri thought she should be honest and tell her that fairytales and dreams only end up as nightmares over time—but that would be cruel. Although life had thrown her a few curves, she certainly did not want to rain on TK’s fairytale. So instead, Siri replied, “Just enjoying some of the sights out here tonight.”

“I know what you mean. Did you see the sister with the blue-blonde hair? What could she have been thinking when she stepped out of the house?”

Leave it to TK to be blunt. “You should stop. Someone could be saying the same thing about you.” Siri knew before the thought was finished it was not true. TK was a fashion photographer that looked like she should be on the other side of the camera. Everything that touched her body was the latest fashion from a variety of up-and-coming designers. Tonight, she was wearing an original design by her friend, Chanin Rachel, out of Atlanta. The outfit was simple, but on TK, with that perfect size six body, any man would stop and stare.

TK turned and posed. “That may be, but I looked in the mirror before leaving the house. She struck another pose, “And I look fabulous.” She retrieved her drink from the bartender and began walking back to their seats. “Speaking of outfits, you are definitely wearing that two-piece skirt set, showing off your navel. I don’t understand why you always wear old maid clothes. If I had your flat stomach and big booty, you wouldn’t be able to handle my strut.”

Siri smiled brightly at her little sister, “I’m not sure I can handle your strut now. But thank you for the compliment and the outfit.”

Happy to see her sister smile, TK took her seat. “Are you having fun?” She did not know the reason for her sister’s failed marriage, but she did know it left a dispassionate view of life. When they were growing up Siri had a zest for life unmatched by anyone else she knew. Living each day to its fullest had been her motto and she had followed it vigorously. Then she married Carl Austin. Not only did he snuff the life out of her, it seemed he also took a part of her soul. Tonight it took TK three hours to coerce Siri into coming with her. After a year of seeing a shell of her sister, she wanted to see a genuine smile on her face.

That’s it. Something had to give. Siri did not like the look from her sister. It was one thing to hear strangers question her sadness, but quite another to hear your little sister pitying you. She was going to enjoy herself tonight, even if it killed her. Taking the glass of wine out of TK’s hand, she took a sip and sat back in the lounge chair. She returned the glass, removed the pins that held her hair up, allowing the breeze to blow through it as it fell down her back. She leaned over and returned the glass to TK, “I’m having a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting me.”

The look of relief on TK’s face was priceless. The sun was about to set and the main act was about to take the stage.

“I hope your camera is ready. I want a lot of pictures of this man.”

Picking up her camera TK adjusted the lens. “You realize sometime during the performance I will have to leave you. But it shouldn’t be for too long.”

“Do you girl, I can take care of myself.”

With that said, TK stood and began doing just what she loved, capturing moments of a lifetime.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer began as the lights on the stage dimmed. “The moment has arrived. If you came with a special someone, now is the time to pull them close. If you came alone, grab your neighbor. If you are still alone, I have the number to an escort service. No one is going to want to leave alone, tonight. The man referred to as, ‘the baby maker, the guaranteed panty dropper and Mr. Get Her Wet,’ The man with the voice so smooth, they had to change his name. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the incomparable, Silk… Davies.”

The crowd stood on their feet and enthusiastically greeted the Grammy award-winning artist to the stage. As if on cue, the band merged with the rhythm of the applause from the audience. Just as the sun set, magically, Silk Davies appeared center stage dressed in white pants and a long sleeve linen shirt that stopped at his thighs. The band stopped. The applause settled and the man’s voice was all that could be heard. There were no instruments playing, not a sound from the crowd, just a man with his eyes closed and a microphone at the moment soothing all the ills of the world. If anyone ever wondered if Silk Davies could sing, the answer was loud and clear. The sound of his voice was mesmerizing.

At the conclusion of the first song, he opened his eyes and smiled at the crowd. Then in the smoothest voice, Siri had ever heard he said. “Good evening. I am Silk Davies. Welcome to a night of seduction.” Now she understood exactly what the announcer meant about panties getting wet. Instinctively she crossed her legs and gripped the arms of the lounge chair as her eyes followed the man across the stage to the white baby grand piano. Meticulously he began exactly what he indicated, seducing every female in attendance.

Siri sat and listened. It was uncanny how the selection of songs seemed to follow a journey through a relationship. From the uncertainty and excitement in the first stages, to the hurt and sorrow at the end. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks as he sang through the hurt of a dream being shattered. After the first set of songs, the band continued to play as Silk left the stage. Upon his return, he sat center stage on a stool, dressed in a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt that hugged his body displaying his muscle-bound arms. He wasn’t a big man, Siri thought, but lord, what he had was well defined. He picked up his guitar and smiled. “I’m an incurable romantic who could never leave you hopeless. After every cold, harsh, winter, there comes a fresh, new, spring. Let’s continue the journey.”

An indescribable urge, to hear what this man was about to say, consumed her. Siri sat forward anticipating the next note. It seemed, for a moment, he searched for something or someone in the crowd. His eyes scanned over her, but then quickly returned. The intensity of his stare caused her to turn around in her seat to see who he was looking for. Turning back, she found his eyes directly on her. Certain it was her imagination, she settled back and listened. This time when he began to sing, it felt as if no one else was there but him and her. Every note, to each song, touched her heart. The tears dissipated and the doubts she felt about her life began to dissolve. By the time he reached the last note, Siri’s outlook on life had changed. The man on the stage had given her hope again. It was foolish of her to think he was singing only to her, but what the hell, that’s the way she felt. One day she had to find a way to thank him.

“Did he put on a show or what?” TK exclaimed as she rejoined Siri.

Standing and folding the lounge chair, Siri stopped, looked towards the stage nodding and agreed with her sister. “If I had the nerve, I would take off my wet panties and give them to him.”