Adam's body brushed hers, and she felt the vibrations from his stirring energy while his fingers went tap tap tap on the subtle swell of her hips.
“Let’s fly, Charity,” he whispered in her ear before hoisting her with ease above his shoulders. Charity grabbed hold of the wobbly rope ladder, and a hush fell over the crowd as she began ascending with the grace of a ballerina.
Her anticipation grew with each step of the tedious climb. It was hard to focus her eyes straight ahead, ensuring her petite hands and feet didn't miss a rung when she only wanted to look up. Skyward was where her spirit would find freedom.
When she stepped onto the small wooden platform, her heart pitter-pattered with excitement. She struggled not to fidget while waiting for Adam to join her and Lucas to reach the platform across from them. The handsome men were the perfect picture of virility, with their white tights showcasing the definition of their well-muscled physiques, and she wore a sparkly blue leotard like a second skin.
The three aerialists struck their poses with their backs arched and one arm raised into the air, signaling they were about to begin.
It was time to fly!
Charity grasped the bar with one hand and inched toward the platform's edge.
Just breathe, she told herself.
She indulged in one last lingering look at the audience resembling multi-colored specs on the ground before looking across at Lucas. He needed to time the release of his swing with her jump so that she could catch the bar.
When he yelled, “Hup,” Charity jumped, and the audience disappeared. The encompassing tent disappeared. The ringmaster disappeared. It was just her, Adam, Lucas, the bars, and the air around them.
The first rush came when she grabbed the bar with her other hand and realized nothing was beneath her feet anymore. She likened it to when a bird took flight from a branch. She was swinging toward another bar and must decide when to let go of her bar and grab the other. The timing had to be exact.
Closer.
Closer.
Let go!
She performed the somersault, watching her world flip upside down before reaching for the other bar with stretched fingers. It was in those moments that her soul found complete freedom. Even the strongest hold of all — gravity — lost its grip on her. Her hands clasped the bar, and the audience erupted in applause as she swung toward Lucas, and he caught her on the platform. That was just the warm-up; now, they’d perform the partner stunts.
“Hup.” Adam and Charity hung by their knees and flew toward one another. She arched her back so she could see him coming. What a vision! This handsome man reached for her. Maybe their lovemaking gave her the courage needed to release the bar. Or perhaps it was this release and catch that gave her the courage to make love with him. Either way, their eyes connected, silently communicating. And again, she flew like a bird until he caught her.
Again and again, they played catch until it was time for the male-only stunts. They each wanted their turn to fly, for there was nothing like that moment when they defied gravity — their only opportunity for a winged existence. With each release, the audience below audibly gasped. Part fear. Part excitement. The combination of emotions electrified them all but fell short of the unequivocal exhilaration coursing through the aerialists’ bodies, minds, and spirits. The majority would never try the trapeze, but those few kindred spirits would leave with the unquenchable longing to fly. And one or two would see the bigger picture of what circus life truly represented.
One such audience member, Robert Owens, couldn't peel his eyes off Charity. Her beauty and fearlessness captivated him. She loved life, that much he knew. He subconsciously fiddled with his wedding ring as he watched her athletic body effortlessly fly forty feet above him.
When all three aerialists were swinging and Charity was being tossed back and forth between the men, Robert's thoughts took a dirty turn, picturing them taking turns with her in bed. Their apparent trust in one another and perfect timing undoubtedly resulted from a more intimate connection. A carousel of carnal pictures of him joining the three aerialists in the air and bed rotated in his mind.
Eventually, reality reappeared, and Robert glanced at his wife beside him. The spark was replaced by predictable monotony. He glanced around at others with their necks craned and wondered how many walked in his boring old shoes.
☆
After the show, the adrenaline rush from the evening needed a release, so Adam, Lucas, and Charity shed their leotards in the dressing room tent and headed outside to a spot of grass somewhat removed from the others. Privacy wasn't needed, though. If the clowns wanted to watch them have sex, so be it. People from all walks of life comprised their circus family, each bringing their own beliefs and cultures so no one judged. They formed an eclectic mix of free love and support.
The night wind whipped around the three naked bodies, highlighted by the full moon. Lucas, the youngest at twenty-two and newest to the team, performed a few vertical jumps in rapid succession, his euphoria irrepressible. "Whew! I'm still jazzed. Was that crowd tonight especially into us, or what?"
"Were they?" Charity busied herself, spreading the blanket on the ground. "I didn't notice."
"You never notice," said Adam. "Your head’s in the clouds as soon as your feet touch the platform."
She smiled at him, appreciating that he understood her better than her family. They’d joined the circus simultaneously, and twelve years her senior, she looked up to him.
Lucas had a playful quality that both Charity and Adam enjoyed. He was an unwavering professional during their shows but quite comical outside the big top. Smiling ear-to-ear, he brushed past them and claimed his spot on the blanket. He waved his stiff cock at them and teased, "One of you better start sucking, or I'll have to try sucking it myself."
