Daddy’s girl!  So bright, beautiful, so much promise… 

So cunning…  calculating…

Clocking in…

A room of sharks, female pariah, emotion-killers…

Patriotic garb applied, one part, two part…

A disco-light washed theater, blinding reflections, hammering music, unsuspecting prey…

Predators unleashed, Hydes to Jekylls…

Target acquired…

Moving fast, stealthy…  panther through the trees…  almost upon it…

The face betraying surprise, shaky nerves…

Long strong fingers, sculptured nails, cradle the face…

Eyes wide, hungry, afire, her lust for it indisputable!  The promise of cozy dinners, of trips to the mall, of meeting the family, of sheet-soaking sex!

Tongue tracing perfect teeth… 

An explosion of movement!

Head snapping back, body contorting, smoky green orbs demanding adoration, slender soft hands exploring sun-kissed flesh, heavy acrylic scuffing polished wood, the indiscernible squeak of skin on tubular steel…

A flash of stars and stripes…  Soon, another…

The sole of a bulky, clear, six inch bottomed plastic boot on its shoulder, a shy upward look, blankness…

A sexy thumb traveling down a taunt leg, parting the lacy ring…

The payment, now clammy and wrinkled, unearthed from a fat pink damp paw…

The paw overstepping its allowance on the way up to the lace…  Heel pressure increased accordingly, a wince of pain, a look of apologetic embarrassment…  The payment meekly inserted…

The predator moves in, time for one last artificial interaction…  A short-circuit glimmer of pity?...  albeit, archaic and dusty?  Perhaps curiosity…

Face to face, lioness and lamb, child and man-eater…

Her lips part slowly, moistness glistens…  Moving closer…

Parroting her action, it leans forwards, its eyes latch, labored breath, she comes to it!  Its friend, its lover, its wife to be! 

The sweet summer smell of coconut…

She shifts right, sensual hot breath in its ear… 

Backing away, a smile, well practiced, convincingly warm and sincere…

Its return smile, resigned, disappointed, no need for practice…

She turns and struts, smile gone, apparel reapplied, Hyde returns…  But wait!  There, in the corner…  Head lowered, eyebrow arched, snaking through the crowd, slow motion, deliberate, calculated…  continuing to track…  the new feeding ground…  Welcome back Jekyll…

The pink paw jammed in a pocket.  Worn currency examined.  Looking around, hesitant, unsure…

Replaying the last five minutes…  disillusioned, dissatisfied, frustrated, duped, exploited…  The promise of here and now, empty…   

And twenty dollars lighter…