It was that time between dark and dawn, when dreams become reality and walk the earth. I was dreaming about love. Waiting for the touch, and the kiss, of my soul mate. I knew he existed. I knew he would be mine.

The sound of the revelers still out hooting and hollering in the chilly dawn air, made a perfect backdrop to my dream . Mardi Gras makes it possible for both good and bad magic to enter the world. Turns out that my dream focused those forces, and made me part of the time and the place and the possibilities. I just didn’t know it yet. That is the beginning of my story.

My apartment, if you choose to call one small battered room an apartment, is full of ancient furniture and covered over with the realities of today’s world .No one ever accused me of being neat. I woke with a start, something in my apartment wasn’t right.

The air felt charged, like just before a summer thunderstorm and it seemed to be back lit with pale amber light. Standing at the foot of my bed, was the most incredibly beautiful man I had ever seen. He was tall with raven black hair, dressed in white and he was smiling at me.

“No fair cheating, Miss Nadine, I saw those gorgeous gray eyes open up. I got coffee and croissants waiting on the veranda get a move on now.” He pulled my covers off, and laughed to find me naked as the day God made me underneath. ‘Now that is a sight that would please me any day.”

Sputtering and swearing, I finally managed to ask “Who the hell, he thought he was.” He smiled, and reaching pulled me out of bed, and onto my feet.

“I am pretty lady, the new owner of the business known as “Maisson Belles”. You are the star attraction. I desire to talk to you about what your future will bring.”

I grabbed a wrap and scurried into the bath. “You’re not due for three more days. Your early, your name is Aden right?”

I turned still busy at my absolutions, to see he had followed me, and was standing in my doorway.

He answered with a wicked grin plastered over his handsome face. “Yes I am Aden,” then he reached out and gently ran his hand down my body from breast to ass. “I see why you are the star attraction.” He leaned over and planted one kiss on the end of my upright nipple.

I smiled and blew him a kiss, and pushed the door closed. Laughing he said “ I’ll be here when you come out. You do know sooner or later you will have to come out?”

“The Belles,” was a nightclub. At least it had been till Papa Doug died, and left it to this unknown stranger named Aden. We offered tourists hot jazz and hotter dreams. Steamy scenes that they could only wish for in their wildest moments.

We offered women with women, two women with one man, two men with one woman, spankings, light bondage and orgies of all sorts. The sexual practices all had heard of, and everyone desired to watch. I believe we kept a lot of marriages together from what occurred after they left our establishment.

I threw on a short, sheer wraparound dress of white, patterned with violets and some very high heels. I knew I looked good. Lightly spraying myself with perfume, I hurried out into the room.

Aden and I had a lot to talk about, one thing that would not be discussed was my immediate reaction to him as a male. All thoughts of business fled my head at the thought of those long muscle bound arms wrapped around me, that beautiful full mouth pressed against mine, his sweat mingling with mine as we danced to Eros's favorite tune.

It was as if he had stepped out of my dreams and into my arms. While maybe not arms just yet, but I would work on that part of it, now that I knew my dream existed. I wanted, no I needed to belong to this man, it felt as if fate had decreed it.

Aden drew me close, and I asked him “Why I should let an unknown man take such liberties with me?” He smiled and said “ because we have known each other through multiple lives and you know it.” He kissed me, and for a time I remembered, then the kiss was done.

He laughed and dragged me off for coffee and our chat.

We were it seems going to remove our little night club to a grand old abandoned plantation just outside New Orleans. Once renovated, Aden saw many possibilities for all of us. We could host conventions, and meetings, and offer revelers a total package experience with costumes and plays that they could join in, or watch as desired. I was giddy with the possibilities and told him I was excited to begin.

The talking about the future of the club seemed to be finished. I asked him if Mardi Gras and it’s magic didn’t make him nervous. Smiling he leaned in to kiss me and replied, “You make me nervous, ghosts I can handle,”

He held out his hand, whispering in my ear that he would see me safely back to my room. Arriving there he entered with me closing the door behind himself. Turning me toward him he smiled and unwrapped my dress.

It fell pooling around my feet. I felt something cold and heavy fall over my head and settle on my naked breasts. “This my darling Nadine was yours in times past and now is yours again.” I walked to my mirror It was beautiful and scary at the same time. This was the family crest of an ancient family one well known in the French quarter. It had huge ruby eyes glaring from a lions head. Setting with her arms entwined around the fierce beast was a figure of a woman.

“Just one of our many times together,” he murmured and took me into his arms and gently placed me on the bed. In the distance you could hear the noise of the revelers following the floats and celebrating in their fashion. We gave honor to the old gods in a much more ancient fashion.

He took me savagely and I was ready. He was hard and pulsing with desire, and I met his every move. Together we were as one. Often you dream of the perfect soul mate, the one who matches your desires understands your needs without words, and who travels the stars with you .

Aden was that and more, finally exhausted we lay sweat pooled under us in the sultry heat of the day languidly speaking of our future.

Desiring still more of him, I teasingly whispered “Will my future contain more of this my lover?” He said not a word but positioned me as he desired and took possession of my female passion flowers. I bloomed for him and felt him come alive again as he drank from the flowing fountain of my desire. Feeling his long slim fingers enter into my deepest darkest parts I gave him all I had to offer, as he demanded. He praised me for my heat and my surrender.

Soon his maleness pushed deep into forbidden areas that welcomed his intrusion. Fingers busily teasing and demanding my juices, his body was taking his due.

I had always said I hated that particular act, but apparently it requires only the right players to make it extraordinary. Aden taught me that brilliant summer day what true passion could be for a woman.

When the cool breezes of the evening reached us, I was his body and soul. Together again. I remembered other times and places he was new, and yet he was the lover of all my lives. We made plans to move our business.

Outside of New Orleans, we bought and renovated a run down mansion, renaming it the Mansion of the Lion. We imported tropical pets for our zoo, and human pets for our business. Something to offer anyone no matter what their taste.

Our people were well paid, and treated well, we were an instant success. When you know that you will receive a percentage of the profits you work with a passion that nothing else can purchase.

We offered weekends, and convention packages.

They say that dreams can’t come true, that dreamers are weak and silly people. Maybe it was Mardi Gras, and the magic that flows at that time. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just our time as the world and its people circle again and again.

I only know that Aden and I married, and ran our place together for 60 years till he died. I will follow him soon, and I can smile and patiently wait. I know now that once again we will meet and love in this ever circling world.

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