Oil of Roses Behind the Wall of ThornsChapter 18
- 4 years ago
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Donna
“Shhh, he’s sleeping,” Otter said as Donna and the others returned from shopping at last.
“So I take it your interview went well?”
Otter smiled.
“Quite well, although it’s not finished. Goddamn, that boy has a tongue!”
“Glad you enjoyed,” Donna said, eying the naked Amazon. “How long has he been asleep?”
“About two hours, little less. He called the salon staff in to help. This is a right nice fuck-yacht y’all got.”
“So, Shelley finally got called to service...”
“And we missed it!” Abby moaned.
“You didn’t miss it all. She’s crashed out beside him. They’re so cute, laying there snoring.”
Abby said, “Come on, Lizzy, let’s go get cleaned up and join them. A little nap sounds divine.”
After the two women were gone, Yan went behind the bar.
“What’ll you have, Otter? Donna?”
“Hot cocoa with Bailey’s,” Donna replied.
“Scotch, neat,” Otter said. “So I gather we’re going to finish the interview then?”
“Might as well,” Donna said, while Yan said, “looks like...”
“So, Sister Yan,” Donna said, sitting on the couch beside Beebee’s granddaughter, “we have a major domo.”
“She’s going to make our lives a lot easier,” Yan replied. “More time for the less wearisome aspects of managing a household.”
“Yeah, more time for sex, drugs, and whatever music we feel like listening to...”
“Not a rock-and-roll fan?”
“Not particularly ... I was raised with a lot of country-and-western – not so much from my parents, they’re into classical, but from the people around me. Karghold Newton has a boatload of shitkickers...”
“Shitkickers?”
“Fans of country. Me ... I have a fondness for some new country, I can appreciate classical, but running from too much of of those, I found myself running straight into the arms of jazz ... cool jazz if I’m feeling mellow, Latin jazz if I want to dance. You?”
“Hip-hop ... although I don’t dance much.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Self-conscious about my size, mostly...”
“What, afraid you don’t have enough ass? Appears to me you’re a big-booty man’s wet dream...”
“You’re being intentionally obtuse, aren’t you?”
“Sure am, Sister Yan. I can understand, though ... I was a wallflower until I set my sights on Jason.”
“You, a wallflower ... not sure I can see that.”
“I was ... my mother ... well, she may have her issues, but she read me pretty well. She said I was a cannon, all primed to fire ... but I’d remain under wraps until I found my target.”
“And that’s our husband...”
“Yeah. He and I ... and Abby ... it’s almost enough to make me believe in fate.
“Tell you what, he and I aren’t going to really have time to hit the gym today ... okay, well, tonight, so to get in our exercise, let’s hold a dance, right here in the salon.”
“Okay ... but it needs to wait a while after dinner. Way Estrellita feeds us ... well, alcohol, food, and vigorous dancing ... bad combination.”
“True enough ... but hey, no bedtimes! We don’t get started til midnight, no one will give a shit.”
Carol
Since it was to be a ‘local court’ scene at Dominique’s, they arrived before opening, their party filling three full tables and overflowing onto two more.
“Okay, it’s official, some people are going to have to stand,” Sinfonia said, hugging Margo.
“If they meet with our approval they may find themselves serving us for the evening,” Margo replied. “Then they won’t need to worry about where to sit. There will be room at our feet.”
“Feeling Imperial tonight, isn’t she?” Carol said.
“Apparently so,” Sinfonia laughed. “That will go over well. Sandalwood showing up tonight?”
“No,” Carol replied. “They’re flying the flag at Absinthe & Opium.”
“So, no stage show from you,” Sinfonia said. “Pity. But Rose says Psychosexual Circus has some new stuff they’ll be performing for us tonight ... in honor of you and your court, Margo.”
“We are pleased,” Margo said. “We are sure we will find it delightful.”
“I may need to spank her Highness by the end of the night,” Harry said.
“Mayhap you will,” Margo agreed. “We shall see if you are up to the task.”
“Uh, Queen Margo,” Carol said, “you have Radhika. The King has the Concubine Legion.”
“Then we may indeed receive a spanking,” Margo replied, grinning. “The Concubine Legion ... we like that name.”
“She gonna keep up the ‘royal we’ all night?” Karen asked.
“Afraid so,” Harry replied. “Still, it could be worse. She could decide to do it somewhere we’re not so comfortable.”
“As if,” Carol said.
“No, not entirely out of the question,” Margo said. “We rather like referring to ourselves in this fashion. We, as royalty, are entitled to our eccentricities.”
“She keeps it up at home an’ I’m spankin’ her,” Karen growled.
“We will attempt to restrain ourselves when not in public Society.”
“Oh ... good...” Karen muttered.
“Your democratic sensibilities do you honor,” Margo said, “but do remember that Society is most decidedly not democratic.”
“You were elected by public acclaim.”
“Yes, and may be deposed in the same fashion, but we were elected to be a nigh-absolute monarch.”
“It’s gonna be a goddamn long night,” Karen sighed, motioning for a waitress.
“Take a walk with me,” Carol said to Dommi.
The two of them headed toward the new construction – really just a partition of part of the huge club from the whole.
“First time back since ... well, since your crisis.”
“Yeah,” Dommi said, with just a hint of sadness. “Trying very hard not to step back into ‘hostess’ mode. Sinfonia’s earned the position a thousand times over, and I don’t think it would be fair for me to step on her toes.”
“So ... regrets?”
“Little baby ones, maybe ... the place had been my life for so long ... but ... well, everything was telling me it was time to change.”
“I wish you’d let us know what was going on...”
“Silly as it seems, I was terrified to. I knew I wanted the intimacy of a real family, and even as I knew intellectually you wouldn’t turn me away, emotionally ... stark raving terror, no joke.
“Of course, I never in a million years expected your proposal. Trust me, love, I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long ... well, maybe ever.”
“I’m not doubting that,” Carol replied, “in all the years I’ve known you I’ve never felt you happier ... just thought coming back here might be hard.”
Dommi laughed, and turned to look back at her former office and apartment, high above the floor.
“No, not really. I might miss the view from up there, but I prefer a life down here.”
“So, the hold-up is permits...” Carol mused as they wandered through the clinic spaces.
“Yeah,” Dommi replied. “Margo used a lot of political capital on the Corral. Unless she wants to go back into plastic surgery for a while, she hasn’t got that many strings left to pull.”
“Hmmm ... our other source of influence is ... very busy. What about Dr. Lowry? I wonder if he’d be willing to help?”
“Can’t hurt to ask ... I think I saw his name on the reservation list. As for the spa ... well, it’s interesting. Turns out equipping a clinic is less involved than a spa. Who’d’a thunk?”
Carol laughed.
“Who indeed. Antoinette been helpful?”
“Yes, quite helpful, even while she was a bundle of raw nerves with her boys overseas. Still, a lot to do. Want to see the progress?”
“Sure, what kind of trouble could our spouses get into this early in the night?”
Margo
“What a pleasant surprise! Back for more, naughty girl?”
Bethany grinned.
“No, not tonight. Business, not pleasure.”
“What a shame,” Harry said. “You were so entertaining when last we met.”
“Although having seen the very discrete photos, you did her up right at Clanglang,” Sebastien said. “She was a very unhappy naughty girl for the next several days.”
“All right, what business would bring you down from Dallas, unannounced, on a Friday night?”
“Politics, what else.”
“Well, sit down, have a drink. It’s early enough in the evening that we may attend to affairs of state uninterrupted.”
“She’s doing a ‘royal we’ thing, isn’t she?” Sebastien said.
“Oh yes, she’s feeling very goddamn royal tonight,” Karen replied.
“Suits her,” Bethany said. “I know you have a very busy construction schedule presently, but have you considered sectioning off part of this place as an inner court? A place you could discuss important matters privately, without worrying about interruption?”
“No, but we feel the idea has merit, and shall bring it up with the appropriate parties,” Margo replied.
Karen slid down to sit on the floor.
“Tricia sweetie, ride my face before my mouth gets me in trouble...”
“Gladly, dear.”
“The issue is ... no one on our side of things in Dallas expected Vanson and Saenz to make the trip to San Francisco. And while I have a generally low opinion of them,” Sebastien continued, “I don’t believe that was a politically motivated move. Or at least, not entirely.”
“Carol said they were honestly outraged by what happened,” Harry said. “I trust her take on such things implicitly.”
“But there has been political fallout,” Bethany said. “A lot of undecideds are less so now. They won some brownie points with that. As did we, but it worked out better for them because it was so unexpected.”
“Now, we could spin it as a purely political gesture, an act of calculated artifice,” Bethany said, “but that would be...”
“Shitty ... really shitty,” Harry said. “Since it’s evident neither of you believes that to be the truth.”
“Exactly,” Bethany replied. “And before it happened, in theory, I would have supported us spinning it like that. But not now...”
“So, you’re feeling like taking the high political road,” Harry said. “So, what now?”
“We ... we’re traveling around Texas this week ... wondering if you’d support ... inviting them to Valentine’s Court.”
“We do not see a problem with it. What say you, our husband?”
“Yeah, it definitely suits her,” Sebastien said.
“I hope I’ll never turn down a chance to take the high road,” Harry replied. “Now, if they politely refuse, no harm no foul. If they’re rude pricks about it, or actually attend and act like rude pricks...”
“The gloves come off,” Sebastien said. “Still won’t spin the San Francisco appearance, but it’s win-as-win-can everywhere else.”
“So, we imagine you have rethought our so-called ‘invasion of Dallas’?” Margo said.
“Yeah ... or at least the ‘surprise’ part of it. I mean, the two ... four ... five ... the seven of you...”
“Soon to be eight,” Harry groaned.
“Eight of you showing up ... well ... wow, that still feels like an invasion. Uh, okay, you showing up without fanfare, that’s cool. You bring the court, make a grand and very obvious entrance, ignore the two of them ... no.”
“Could any appearance wait until after the honeymoon?” Harry asked. “My schedule’s feeling real crowded right now...”
“Yeah,” Bethany said. “What’s the opposite of a ‘snip-snip’? ‘Sew-sew’ doesn’t cut it.”
“Mentally I’ve been thinking of it as a ‘bang-bang’, since I’ll no longer be firing blanks.”
“That works. A ‘bang-bang’, wedding planning, Valentine’s Court...”
“Plus I’m pretty sure my partner would appreciate me actually getting some work done at the office,” Harry said.
Karen’s up-turned thumb shot into the air.
When the laughter died down, Bethany said, “So, we put off you coming to Dallas until after the honeymoon. Good. Now we can relax for the evening.”
“Where to next?” Harry said.
“San Antonio tomorrow night, Houston on Sunday, and we have an appointment with Ruiz and Pena in El Paso Monday.”
“What about Fort Worth?”
“We talked to them first, gave them veto power over the whole idea.”
“And they agreed?”
“Obviously ... I mean, there’s a lot of tension there, but Dunham and Snyder are content to leave the past in the past, now that the issue’s been resolved.”
“It does not surprise us,” Margo said. “They are good and kind people. We will be pleased to see them again in Houston.”
Jason
He heard women’s voices around him as he slowly woke up. Jason agreed with something Harry had said about ‘the beautiful music of female voices’.
His face was clean ... and he was quite sure it hadn’t been so when he fell asleep. Someone had done the same for his crotch.
Still, he didn’t have to sniff deeply to come to the conclusion he needed a shower.
“He’s awake,” Abby said.
“How can you tell?” asked Yan.
“Change in his breathing patterns.
“So, husband, you are cordially invited out tonight for dinner, drinks, and dancing with your wives, concubine, and submissives.”
“Where? Someplace in Los Angeles?”
“Oh no, we’re already well away from LA, cruising south. In the salon,” Donna said. “The dancing will make up for the time in the gym we missed.”
“You know how I feel about dancing ... I suck at it.”
“A few drinks will loosen you up, remember your step-father’s words, and you’ll have fun anyway.”
“True enough. I’ve got to shower before supper though.”
“Well,” Yan said, “let me get you up and then I’ll gleefully help with the shower. But I’ve got to know ... what words are you supposed to remember?”
Jason opened his eyes, and took her offered hand.
“When a man is dancing with beautiful women, absolutely no one is looking at him.”
“A wise man. Knew I liked him for a reason.”
In the shower, hot water sluicing over their bodies, Yan pushed Jason up against the wall and kissed him.
“You’re not the only one nervous about dancing,” she murmured into his ear.
“Why, darling? You get out there and I promise you, your tits and ass are going to hypnotize...”
“You say the sweetest things, husband. Just ... it’s been damn rare in my life to be appreciated for my size.”
“Well, it’s not all we appreciate about you...” he ran his hands over her very generous curves.
“No, and I’m coming to love all of you for that ... but...”
“You’re still not used to the new state of things.”
“No, no I’m not. But Jason, I want to be...”
“Well, I’m positive our opinions aren’t going to change, so breathe, take it easy, and learn to trust our acceptance. You don’t need to rush ... we’ll keep loving you ... however long it takes.”
“Whoa, heavy word.”
“Well, it’s appropriate.”
Abby
From the sounds from the shower, they weren’t showering so much as fucking in the rain room.
She smiled and looked to Donna.
Her wife was smiling as well.
“Any doubt that was going to happen?”
“Some,” Donna replied. “Depended on just how hungry Jason was.”
“So ... appropriate dress for the dance tonight?”
“Depends,” Fei Hung said. “Do you want to dance a little, then fuck, or dance a lot?”
“Since it’s serving as vertical exercise,” Donna replied, “I was planning on the latter.”
“Then what you’d wear to a laid-back dance club,” Fei Hung said. “Skimpy night-wear if you want the former.”
“You do a lot of clubbing?” Donna said.
“Oh yeah ... we decide to visit civilization once we get to Moloka’i, I know some places we can dance the night away...”
“Jason and I and our fake IDs?”
“Perhaps not, Milady ... but ... we could throw a dance party at the estate...”
“And invite who?” Abby said.
“Young people of Society, Milady,” Fei replied. “We do know quite a few ... given the estate’s size, we could accommodate visitors from the other islands. Enough advance notice, we could get a really great DJ or two to mix for us.”
“Worth thinking about,” Donna said. She listened to the sounds from the shower. “Otter, please inform the galley we’ll be dining in a half hour.”
Abby was a bit taken aback by dinner, a feast of Hindu dishes from the Goa region.
She had been trained as a passable cook of many cuisines, but primarily she was raised as a sex object, ready womb, and pseudo-mother, adept at childcare. She knew the dishes, had enjoyed them on a few rare occasions, but was far more American than Indian. Her mother had been born in Texas, her grandmother in Brighton ... she had to go back two more generations for an ancestor actually born in India ... in the Goa region.
“Estrellita ... did you know...”
“Yes, Milady. I inquired of Bella Notte as to your family’s origins.”
“This is ... oh my...”
Abby wiped tears from her eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
As she settled down to a dinner of lamb shak, fish udhi methi, kismur, and two kinds of bhaji – onion and chile, plus other assorted sides, Abby thought how very lucky she was.
“I told you they were spicy...”
Abby tried not to laugh at the expression on Jason’s face.
“Spicy ... does not mean ... napalm...”
“Are you sorry you tried it?” Donna asked, putting a second glass of honeyed milk in front of him.
“No...” he said before taking a big gulp of the milk, “love it ... was just unprepared.”
“Let me guess, you’ve had Indian food before at a restaurant?” Abby said.
“Yeah ... oh ... my...” he finished the glass of milk.
“They prepare it for American palates. Estrellita evidently believes in preparing it correctly.”
“Of course I do ... I hope you aren’t hurt, Master?”
“No, you did very good ... and now that I’m prepared, I’ll have some more.”
He looked around at others around the table, drinking their milk.
“At least I wasn’t the only one.”
“Oh, far from it,” Abby replied.
Sitting back after dinner with her coffee, Abby noticed Donna and Fei Hung talking over something by the entertainment system.
“They’re up to something,” Yan said.
“Yes, but I’m sure it’s going to be delightful, so I’m not worried,” Abby replied. “You and our husband have fun in the shower?”
“Oh yeah ... was a little cramped though. Sure hope your bathroom facilities back in Texas are more expansive.”
“At the moment, not really. Expansive bathing facilities are available, but our suite’s bathroom is pretty standard. Not even as roomy as these.”
“From what I hear from carefully not listening to rumors of Donna and Beebee’s plans for your home...”
“Carefully not listening to rumors?”
“While totally listening to them and confirming them as far as I can manage.”
“Oh, that kind of carefully not listening...”
“Yeah ... your new home is going to have some truly sybaritic excess in the bathroom area.”
“I’d say I’m eager to see it ... and I am ... but I’m also not in any hurry for this vacation-honeymoon to end.”
“You three have earned it a hundred times over.”
“Thanks...”
“No need to thank me, wife. Thank you, all of you, and your families and friends.”
“Seems odd for you to be thanking us for knocking your former House out of leadership.”
“No, my grandmother did that all on her own. The Court was a cesspool. It’s been drained. Now for some cleaning. Don’t worry, Abby ... my former House was on top for a long time, and I have no doubt whatsoever it will be again, and sooner than most would expect.
“And seriously, if you want to live on Plum Blossom’s dime ... well, you could do so for the rest of your lives ... even more so if you give my grandmother some babies to adore.”
“Jason’s mentioned just sailing off into the sunset and not going back for a very long time.”
“You could...”
“Babies are the issue ... can you imagine this yacht with infants ... toddlers...”
“Uh ... yeah. That would be ... inconvenient. Plus, I know you have an EMT as one of your subs ... but can you imagine having a baby with only their help?”
“Why not? Both of the babies I’ve birthed so far ... I could have just squatted and squirted them out into the towels, a quick snip of the cord and then...”
“You return to plowing the fields?”
“Well, no ... a day or two of rest. But my point is, I’m made for birthing children. Some of you might find that ‘only an EMT’ thing daunting ... and if there was any sign of potential difficulties during the pregnancy, I would as well, but otherwise? She can catch and snip.”
Yan reached over, lifting Abby’s shirt, and ran her hand over Abby’s belly.
“Hard to believe you’ve carried two children to term.”
“The stretch marks are there, honey.”
“Yes, dear, but on you they’re lovely.”
“Pregnancy marks are always lovely, Yan. Yours will be as well.”
“Doubt we’ll be able to tell the pregnancy stretch marks from the others.”
“We will ... you will. Trust me, when it’s a child, those you cherish.”
“Even if you aren’t allowed to keep the child? Not meaning to be cruel, but ... I was wondering.”
“Not cruel at all. I knew the way things would work out from the beginning. Narrowly missed carrying a child for a real son-of-a-bitch. The disposition of his children always relies on the flip of a coin. Heads, he takes them. Tails, he leaves them with the mother to raise. Tends to leave surrogate mothers fucked up, no matter the outcome.
“It’s easier ... somewhat ... to know beforehand you’ll never hold them in your arms, and never see them again, in most cases. Or if you do, you probably won’t know that they’re yours.”
“It sounds horrible...”
“That’s life at Bella Notte ... that’s life as a surrogate womb, no matter where you are. And it’s pretty damn close, from what I hear, to what a lot of women who give up their babies for adoption experience.
“It’s the life I was raised to live ... and I’m discovering just how blessed I am that I’ll never have to go through that again.”
The two of them sat in silence watching the other people in the salon.
Until Donna and Fei came over to them, almost bouncing in their excitement.
“What is up with you two?” Abby asked.
“Three words...” Fei said.
“Bollywood dance party!” Donna finished.
Kendry
“Gawddamn it, woman ... don’t ever do this kinda thing again,” Eddie growled.
Kendry shot him a look as she sipped her cocoa, bundled up in a huge, thick terrycloth robe of Eddie’s.
“My job, boss. As long as it is my job, I’ll do it as I see fit.”
“Don’t let him give you too hard a time,” Tamara said. “He would have done the same ... this is just Eddie-speak for “I was worried” and “I love you”.”
Kendry had to smile as Eddie hemmed and hawed.
“Did you learn anything interesting?” Tamara asked.
“Several things ... more cocoa please?” She handed the empty cup to Annie Beth. “That guy, ‘Kenny’, that Milady Carol was worried about? Yeah, he’s one of Roberta Fruehauf’s crew.
“More interesting still ... they meet in a concrete blockhouse that’s built as a Faraday cage. They can’t be spied on, no signals in or out. I’ve got pictures of the interior ... from what I figure, the walls are three feet thick, so the interior’s about fourteen by fourteen – very cramped if you put more than a couple of people in there. They don’t even bother to lock it. Why should they? You could put a recorder in there, but there’s nowhere to hide it. I’m talking no furniture, nothing. They go in, talk, come out again, and there’s no way anyone can hear what they’re saying.
“You don’t go to that kind of trouble to discuss recipes or hold a book club meeting. They’re up to shit they don’t want anyone - state, federal, or Society - to know about.”
“And that makes me real gawddamn nervous,” Eddie said.
“It should.”
She allowed herself to be pampered for another half hour or so before going downstairs to check on her people.
Kendry was happy to find they were being well-taken care of.
“Really, boss, if this is the payoff, feel free to drag us out in the cold monsoon anytime,” Amanda said, sitting in the hot tub with a big mug of coffee. “I got three sweet young things just waiting to dry me off and massage every single inch of me.”
Amanda looked over to the three young men waiting nearby.
“Inside and out...”
“Good to hear,” Kendry said. She nodded to Amanda and the two men from the team. “You’re out of the rotation until Monday, longer if you come down with something. I know shit like that is nothing to Special Forces, but that ain’t us.”
“Thank God you know that, boss,” Evan said. “You ask us to start carrying logs out into freezing surf, I’m gonna up and quit on you.”
“Wouldn’t blame you,” Kendry said. “Listen, I’m off to curl up someplace safe and warm and sleep twelve hours or so. Y’all take it easy.”
Harry
Well, for a ‘Farewell-To-Sex-For-A-Month’ party, it was off to a rollicking start. Having Angela in his arms was always a treat, and the sound of the Concubine Legion discussing who was next was amusing. Kelly had already laid claim to that slot, and had whispered in his ear she was willing to keep his lap warm how ever long it took him to recover.
His session with Helen for physical therapy had left his body complaining it had been too long since he’d exercised the way he was supposed to. And he was informed in no uncertain terms that while there would be some modification of his therapy in the immediate aftermath of the surgery, it would by no means pause while he recovered.
There were times he felt like the rest of his life was going to involve physical therapy ... and if it ever did look like it was coming to an end, he’d be run over by a bus.
A gentle pat on his cheek brought him back to the matter at hand.
“Playtime, not think time,” Angela murmured.
“Indeed ... my apologies.”
“So, taking a break?” Mike Lowry said.
Harry opened his eyes.
“You know, I was trying strenuously not to think of you not more than a half-hour ago.”
“Harry, I’m hurt. After all the good times we’ve had together.”
“Yeah ... I should get the fuck beaten out of me more often.”
“By all means ... I haven’t had your lovely wife hovering over my shoulder in quite some time. That’s always a joy...”
“Hey now,” Margo said, “we were not that bad!”
“Oh, yeah you were,” Kelly said.
“Definitely,” Carol said from across the table.
“I plead the fifth,” Harry said. “I don’t remember a lot of it.”
“Wise man,” Mike replied. “All the same, don’t go out of your way on my account ... unless you want to bring me something really interesting...”
“Snake shoved up my ass?”
“Nope, they had one of those in the ER ... very disturbed young python, very embarrassed would-be actress.”
“Actress?”
“Amateur porn shoot. Animal Control took an interest in the case, arrests all around. It was a lot of fun, from what I heard.”
“Next time, stick to anal beads,” Carol said. “Poor python...”
“I’ve often wondered since then if the effect of a live snake up your ass could be mechanically simulated,” Mike said. “Purely in the interest of science.”
“In the interest of you coming like a fire hose,” his wife Rochelle said, walking up.
After greetings were exchanged and the laughter died down, Harry said, “I know the buzzing of the motor would be stimulating ... but ... hydraulics or articulated mechanical gears?”
“So ... you’re asking whether in the event of an emergency, I’d prefer to have my ass leaking toxic hydraulic fluid or my insides punctured multiple times by a malfunctioning internal erector set?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Hmmm ... let me think,” Mike said. “If you were careful enough in the manufacture to ensure it would take something truly monumentally catastrophic to rupture the outer sheath – something so severe a malfunctioning sex toy up your ass would be the least of your concerns – I think the erector set approach. It seems to me you could have enough swivel and bend points that a pretty simple computer chip could keep things random and exciting.”
“Would you want to simulate the ‘pissed-off-snake-biting-your-insides’ effect?” Margo asked.
“No ... no, I’m thinking that would not be a selling point,” Mike replied. “But, on the upside, don’t sell it as a snake. Sell it as a tentacle, hit up the hentai-tentacle-sex market. Hell, I’d be surprised if Japan doesn’t already have something like it.”
“But if they don’t...”
“Do you know anyone who’s a mechanical genius?” Mike said.
“Not off the top of my head,” Harry replied, “but let’s put the word out.”
“I generously offer myself as a test subject,” Mike said, “after sufficient safety trials are performed and passed.”
“We cannot believe some of the conversations in our life,” Margo muttered.
Jason
Jason was having fun, even though the effect of a hoard of women dancing in step, plenty of hip and breast motion, hypnotized him.
Luckily, they didn’t do it all that often ... probably because of his tendency to stand in place and ... well, he was pretty sure he didn’t actually drool.
Even with the worries over the pain in Harry's lower back, the young women were feeling a sense of relief, an easing of the worry and fear they'd been living under since the attack. They were finally convinced that given time to heal, Harry was going to be okay. The men that had hurt him had been dealt with and no one had any doubt that Benjamin Sapperstein was living on borrowed time. Nicki'd gone to take a nap, so Carol and Kelly had wasted no time getting naked and falling into each...
Andrew Kiraly was faced with an unpleasant choice. The young woman who was nominally his submissive, the ridiculously named “Darque”, he had no idea as to her legal name, was a gorgeous Goth girl, and was seriously pressing him for a full-time, all-benefits, D/s relationship. Granted, she was a problem lots of men, lots of Doms, would kill to have ... until they got a grip on the full depth of her bug-fuck crazy. Before recent events, she hadn’t been interested in anything more than...
Jason “I can’t believe your family didn’t send security with us.” “Neither can I,” Donna replied. “It’s odd ... totally not what I expected.” “I wish we could have all sat together,” Jason said, finishing his Coke. “Holidays,” Donna said. “I’m surprised we’re all on the same flight ... well, except for Mistress Wolfling.” “She’s interesting,” Jason said, motioning at the flight attendant as she came down the aisle. “Interesting ... I’ve noticed your interest in her.” “Another Coke,...
Carol “I’m honored by the trust you put in me,” she said, hugging Jason. “Mama Carol, if one more person tells me they’re honored by anything I say or do, I may completely lose my shit.” She smiled. “I’ll try to restrain myself. So, what’s the problem?” Jason explained it to her. In detail... “All right, so let’s start the interview process, see if I can narrow down the field for you,” Carol said. “First though ... let’s get them out of here, and up to the suite. If Beebee’s going...
Shortly after midnight, December 29, 2006 Radhika All Margo’s calls were being handled by her assistant, and while Radhika didn’t recognize the caller’s phone, she knew only a select handful of people had that particular number, and wondered who would be calling at this time of night. Answering the call, she recognized Li Kuan’s voice before finishing saying ‘Hello, Margo Grimes phone’. And then, after Li Kuan hung up, Radhika was very busy indeed. She ran full tilt from Margo’s office...
January 5th, 2007 Donna She lay there with her eyes closed, listening. “So, you like eating ass...” “Lizzy, I don’t like it, I love it,” Jason said. “A clean ass, very slight sour tang, beautiful ass cheeks nestled against my face, warm and soft. Look, like I told you, I was a virgin – and a total spaz – until Abby, but like every guy ... like everyone ... I had fantasies, and that was one of my biggest.” Donna heard him moan softly. “And like every single one of my fantasies I’ve...
“You shouldn’t go, Mistress,” Chiron said. “You always come back so depressed, so defeated. We worry about you.” “Hush!” Tatiana Turov looked at her subs ... her friends and companions – Chiron and Bedisa – as well as Julie, her partner in raising and teaching her children, and shook her head. “He’s still my child.” “And if you could visit him and not let it depress you so terribly,” Julie said, “it wouldn’t be a problem. But you can’t.” “I will not abandon Yuri ... not in that...
Christmas Court, Fort Worth, Texas, December 15-18, 2006 For court, Master Dunham, and Mistress Snyder, had arranged to rent a property north of Westlake, a suburb of Fort Worth. High walls surrounding extensive grounds, pool and spa, plenty of bedrooms, a tennis court, and a staff recruited for the long weekend ... it was another high bar set for Court. When the Chorale contingent arrived mid-day Friday, the temperature was in the mid-70’s, and not a lot of the attendees were in the pool,...
CHRISTMAS Eddie “Merry Christmas, y’all.” “Merry Christmas, boss-man,” Janet said, as Perry and Bevy glared. “You got any idea where we are?” Eddie Janak looked to Ike Abromowitz. “Still in Pyanmar,” Ike said, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Once we get back under the trucks, probably another, what, seven, eight hours to til we head off-road?” he continued, looking at their driver. The wiry little driver nodded, grinning like a madman, and said something to Ike in his native...
She couldn't understand why Master Janak let the cockroach live, let alone found her employment and housing. And she was totally incapable of comprehending why those involved her Beloved's estate and home. And while Li Kuan was confused, Madam Grimes was livid. First had come the roaring anger, peppered with "if it was anyone but Eddie," then had come the cold, soft-spoken rage, liberally seasoned with "if she steps out of line I will take it out of Eddie's hide." The only thing...
Lori Mistress Abigail had sent a lovely, androgynous young creature, as well as a selection of colored thick silk rope, to help prepare them for the party. Lori Grimes was in bondage heaven ... well, almost heaven. She could still move, her arms and legs remaining free. She was wet, thinking of being cocooned in the rope, only her mouth, crotch, and ass left open for her spouses to use. Shiri, Mistress Abigail’s rope artist, noticed her excitement. “This one enjoys the rope,” they...
“Theresa, “they won’t give us back our phones, and I understand why, but they’ll let us write letters, short ones, and send them out in the diplomatic pouches. “I love you, and I miss you, and I wish more than anything I was home. “And don’t think I’m saying that just because I share a room the size of Rachel’s with the rest of the crew. “The embassy staff is bending over backwards for us, but there isn’t a lot of room for unexpected guests. “The people dealing with the government...
When she listened to her heart, she knew her marriage was solid, the family would be all right. Listening to her head, however, happened far more often, and she was sure all was tearing itself apart, never to be mended. It wasn't just she missed Harry, although his absence was a hole in her sense of self, and her sense of the family. There was so much tension, so much fear, so much anger ... no one was who they should be anymore. Except for Rachel. The arrival of Eddie's little sister...
"My Beloved Harry, My Precious Carol, It's 3 AM and I have to go. Please believe me when I say this is the hardest goodbye I've ever skipped out on. If I stayed to say it face-to-face, I'm not sure I could go. Know in your hearts I will see you again. Know in your hearts I will come home to you. My love is with you always, entwined with your souls, Margo" Carol awoke to the smell of coffee. Straightening her collar she walked into the kitchen to find Harry at the table. He stared...
Saturday 10/14/06 10:00 AM "Rise and shine, Master, Mistress, subbies galore!" rasped Dayna. "In two hours Dommi will be here to discuss scheduling." "She can fuckin' join us in bed," Carol said from under the covers. "So will Nancy Velacourt," Dayna continued. "She can definitely join us in bed," Harry said in a muffled voice. "Nope, she likes little oriental girls, you don't qualify," Dayna said. "Dammit." Harry's head came out from under the covers, and he grabbed a...
She felt Tamara before the knock at the door – a tornado of fear, anger, and despair. So it was Carol who shot out of the bed, and hurried toward the door, scared for her oldest friend. “Tammy?” she said as she opened the door. Her friend, always small, seemed even tinier, drawn in upon herself, struggling under some great weight. “Tammy, what’s wrong?” In reply, Tamara held out the phone, and played the voicemail over its speakers. When it was finished, Carol said, “Candy, wake ‘em up....
Thanksgiving dinner had been a triumph, and part of that success was due to Magda and Lori’s presentation on silver trays. It never ceased to surprise, and please, Margo that so many issues in the family, and House, were eased by laughter. Growing up, she hadn’t laughed much at home, and had viewed school far too seriously to get many chuckles from it. College had been different, and her flirtation with drugs had given her plenty of helpless laughter, but there had still been far too much...
Tamara Osowski was at war with herself, albeit a very tiny war. If only her Edward were there with her, she would be the happiest she'd ever been. She was in the bosom of her family, almost all of them, in the same place at the same time. Arrangements had been made for the comfort and care of Rachel with blinding speed, and while it was good to have Merry and Annie Beth to take care of her, did leave Tamara with a little too much time on her hands. So she'd volunteered to the fiancees for...
Kelly Culberson Grimes waited until all the hugging and crying and welcoming home was done before, in front of the family, friends, and servants, she slapped Harry so hard it knocked him back. Had Candy not been standing behind him, by Kelly's order, he would have hit the floor. Harry grimaced as he rubbed his cheek. "Love you too, honey." Kelly wasn't in the mood. She knew she was dangerously close to losing it and just starting in on him with a rage-fueled beatdown. "Harry, you...
Harry It had been difficult, but he’d avoided drinking too much the night before. That said, there was some question as to the specific amount which would qualify as ‘too much’. It was a slippery variable. So, Harry was hung-over, just nowhere near as hungover as he’d been other mornings. He lay in bed, surrounded by bodies, and dreaded moving. Bladder aside, he wasn’t sure there were any valid reasons for him to move any time soon. If they wanted him at the wedding, they could damn well...
"Cosmic timing fuckin' sucks," Eddie Janak growled as he drove Tamara and Merry back from Dominique's Friday night. "So do I, sir," Merry said, trying to lighten the mood. Tamara smiled as Eddie quick-glared Merry into silence. "Was fuckin' hard enough leavin' you with Rachel just moved in, but with the fire, Harry off putting his head back together, threats fuckin' everywhere ... and this..." Eddie grumbled. "What exactly is 'this', darling?" Tamara asked, snuggled up...
Dr. Margo Wohler-Sapperstein. What a joke, Margo thought to herself. All her life she had been driven by the will of her parents, driven to achieve, to excel, to succeed, to exceed. Even now, even after their deaths, she felt their cold hands on her life, steering her future from beyond the grave. They hadn't lived to see her move away from the family practice she loved into cosmetic surgery. But they'd planned it. They hadn't lived to see her marry Benjamin in what could only be...
"Harry - Captain Thrust ... whoever the hell you are, don't you dare get in my way!" Tattie, the Duchess Turov, spat as she hauled the struggling Third Mate Bum into the house. "Wouldn't think of it, Duchess me darlin'," Thrust chortled. "Just try to leave me crewman in one piece when ye're through." "Oh, no worries there, Captain," she replied. "I won't do anything permanent." Her eyes snapped back to where Bum was scrambling along on all fours behind Turov's long-legged...
The phone call had awoken Eddie and Tamara in the early morning hours. Carol had been up, going to the kitchen for a drink, and spotted what she took to be a woman, skulking around the house. She'd dropped to the floor silently and called Eddie immediately. "Stay down and out of sight," he replied, pulling on a pair of pants as he spoke. "I'll be right there." As he drew on a black concert t-shirt, he began to calm himself. If it was who he expected it to be, being agitated would only...
Although no one in the limo really needed one, a round of drinks from the mini-bar helped shorten the drive back into the city and into the older part of downtown, which had grown into the entertainment district. Slowly they made their way down a street clogged with cars and pedestrians who evidently felt the street was merely an extension of the sidewalk. "Goddamn this is busy for this early in the night," Eddie exclaimed. "Must be a convention in town or something, this many people...
"Withered roses, forget, what they wept for day after day." I was an author. Not someone special no, but I guess for whatever reason, God gave me a special task. It was in November I started writing this book. It was something I thought the girls at my book club would like. Chapter 1 His name was Aaron. He was young man. Thin, but strong, or should I say strong boned. He lived with his two parents. His father was going old and senile. His mother was young and very concerned...
The Wolf with the Red Roses, by Chloe Tzang© 2017 Chloe Tzang. All rights reserved. The author asserts a moral right to be identified as the author of this story. This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a review. [Boy:] On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?[Girl:] Yes.[Boy:] I bet you say that to all the...
January 23nd-24th, 2007, Monday-Tuesday Jason “My love, this is very nice,” Abby said as Jason massaged her feet. “Just the beginning,” Jason said, intently focused on the massage. “Provided I don’t fall asleep.” “Yes, your eyes are glowing a bit...” “Hmm?” “Red, Jason. No one with any familiarity with marijuana could have a doubt as to your condition.” “Oh ... well, I’m so glad nobody here gives a damn if I’m baked.” He gave a short laugh. “And in reality, I don’t think there will...
January 25th, 2007, Wednesday – January 26th, 2007, Thursday On a ranch in the Texas Hill Country west of Waterloo “I’m sorry we had to leave, move operations out of the city,” she said, gently massaging his shoulders. Pipe smoke puffed up into the air. “It was going to happen sooner or later. All the attention from law enforcement merely accelerated the schedule. I do wonder if the two attacks are linked...” “The explosion that killed the gang members and the assassination of Philouma?...
Today was My Wifes birthday, and I had to go out and pick Roses present up this morning. Rose was awake chatting on the Internet all night when I left. While I was out getting her present she stayed home and was online all day. Rose was sitting down naked at the computer and surfing the web. She then went to a search engine and typed in k9 for dogs, as she had been talking about getting another pet. She thought she could do some research. She clicked on a couple of links until she came upon a...
"Yeah, sure, it's Friday night, like with my seniority they work me Friday nights, well, except for special projects. Not a problem, Harry, I'll be there. Got some news for you about an old friend of ours, I'll tell you tonight, looking forward to it." Eddy put down the phone and stared at the clock. He had enough time to catch a few more hours of sleep before he needed to be up and moving on some errands. He rolled over on his bed, looked at the empty half of it and went back to...
First thing in the morning the entire household was awakened to knocking on the front door. Harry rolled out of bed, threw on a pair of pants and answered the door. It turned out that he and Eddy were parked in the driveway and had to move so machinery could get into the back yard. "Gawddamn motherfuckin' workmen couldn't wait till 10 o'clock like any normal slackin' off cocksuckers, no, their asses had to be here before 8 gawddamn AM in the fuckin' morning." "Eddy, I guess I better...
Harry opened his eyes slowly, at peace with himself and the world. He was home. He was back in the arms of his family. He was where he belonged. He looked to his left and saw the beautiful and naked forms of Kelly, Carol and Margo still asleep, all entwined together. It was a sight to make anyone's heart burst with joy. "Mornin' bro," Nicki whispered from his right side where she was curled up next to him. "Morning ... what are you doing awake?" "Oh, planning out my day's...
She started to cry, and I thought she was crying because she was happy. I tried to make a joke to get her to stop. ‘Gee, if I’d have known you were going to do that, I wouldn’t have asked you.’ ‘It’s not you. It’s me.’ ‘Well?’ ‘Well, what?’ ‘Will you marry me?’ Christa wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, then pulled a tissue from the box on the end table and blew her nose. She’d stopped sobbing, but her shoulders still shook and she wouldn’t look at me. ‘I told you I don’t know. I...
First up on the stage was House Risotti, and people could say what they wanted about Veronika, but she wasn't in the least afraid to put her subs' genitalia in danger for the sake of a show. It was obvious, watching One, Two, Three and Four up in the air, suspended by elastic straps, that it wasn't their first time. While they weren't as brilliant, gifted and well-trained as Cirque du Soleil, they had skills in the air that most of their audience wouldn't have even dreamed of. The four...
Indru tamil kama kathaiyil ilamaiyaana magalum pinbu vithavai ammavaiyum eppadi usar seithu matter poten endru ungaluku solugiren. Suvarasiyam athigam irukum kama kathaikul selalam vaarungal, en peyar karthik. En veethiiyil oru pen ilamaiyaaga sexiyaaga irupaal, avalai thinamum sight adithu kondu irupen. Thinamum aval kalluri sendru varum pozhuthu iru velaiyilum sight adika arambithu viduven. Aval peyar nandhini vayathu 21 irukum, avaluku veetil aan thunai kidaiyaathu. Veetil oru amma iru...
She looked down and smiled. Roses. She loved roses. But who would leave them at the door for her? She hadn’t heard from Billy since they broke up. Well she considered them broken up. She hadn’t heard from him from that stupid fight they had two weeks ago that had them both saying things she knew, or at least she thought she knew, they didn’t mean. They had both asked each other at the same time if the other one wanted to break up. No one really said a yes or no as a response. Just silence...
Usagi sat at the feet of one of her new Mistresses, Carol. Her Mistress stroked her hair, unabashedly staring down at her naked body with appreciation. Usagi was happy — happy to be out of the hideous clothes she'd found under another girl's bed, the only things she could find to wear in a hurry — happy to be through her training and finally out in the real world — happy with her new House as they seemed very welcoming, all of them, even the other subs, and very joyous, even with all that...
It has been several months since my wife and I had sex. Usually, our sex frequency was normal, two – three times a week, as the statistical average. We have been married for about nine years and had two young kids. But eight months ago, I was promoted as VP Sales, a job that is demanding long travels abroad. So, our intimacy and sex life took a dramatic decrease due my traveling. I spent most of the time outside the country, far away from her. During my trips away from home, as a normal man, I...
VoyeurThe Roses in November I watch him from the window of the north tower as he makes his way to me through the wilderness surrounding my keep. He is weary, this seeker with his rusted mail and sword smeared with the blood of the vines he has had to cut to keep from stumbling on the rocky path. He is no more than an ant struggling on the horizon at the moment, but I know that he is breathing heavily from the effort it takes to ascend this summit. I consider dispatching a bird to see where...
When they pulled into the parking lot Carol peered out the windows and soon had rolled down the partition and told the driver to pull up next to the Bentley. Carol was as nervous as she'd ever been in her life. It wasn't that there was some vastly important outcome hanging in the balance based on how things went that evening, it was just that Carol saw in her wife and husband, even though he was unsure of it as yet, a chance to change things for the better, things that had needed changing...
In the confusion of getting their drinks, and then passing Angela around the table for gropes and kisses, House Chorale's Master and Madam missed the short man, dressed in a suit, that stood close by, waiting for their attention. When Harry finally noticed him, he said, "Yes sir? Can we help you?" "Yes sir, I'm looking for Edward Janak?" Harry pointed to him and smiled. "Could I be rude and ask what for?" "Just a delivery, sir, thank you so much." A few moments later, after...
Painting the Roses RedBy Beagle9690September 2008Shakespeare wrote: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."When I first met her, she was Blanche, Blanche Rousseau. Until then, I assumed she was somewhat of a recluse and a spinster, living with and caring for her elderly father; at least that was the consensus of all of my neighbors. I was a confirmed bachelor of 40 and was quite content to mind my own business.I lived in the house next to her. The...
Lisa arrived at the ski lodge just past 5 p.m. on Friday evening. The snow was falling at the rate of an inch every hour, and if it had not been for the 4-wheel drive Tahoe she had borrowed from her neighbor, she wouldn't have made it. With all the fresh new snow, this weekend promised to be an exciting one on the slopes. She looked around the large sitting room of the lodge. No Michael to be found. Michael was her boyfriend of 3 months. They met in the community college where they were both...
The Captain woke up briefly as he was once again washed. Two pair of hands rinsed his body with warm washcloths and with love. He drifted back to sleep. He came to for a moment as either Twat or Mounds shifted position, curled up next to him on either side. Sleep reclaimed him. He woke up, carefully crawled out of his bunk, not disturbing his sleeping crewmates and went to the head, then caught a shower. As he dried himself, his stomach rumbled so ominously he could hear it over the...
"I'm afraid things aren't going to work out between her and me," Kelly said after Jessica went upstairs, sadness flooding across her face. "She's too scared or too distrustful or too something, I don't know what, to relax and be comfortable with you... to be... to be..." "A part of the family?" Margo asked. "Yeah, that's it, that's it exactly! And she resents that I am a part of it. If she can't come to terms with it, I don't see much future for us." "You know that...
"Tell me there's aspirin ... and coffee ... and more aspirin," Margo said as she stumbled into the kitchen. "Of course, there's coffee, my darling love," Harry said, putting down what passed for the city's daily paper and heading for the coffee pot. "And I'm off to get aspirin for you as we speak," added Carol, scurrying off towards the medicine cabinet. "Alright, thanks to one and all, I'm off to my place to shower and get clean clothes," Helen said. She walked over, kissed...
The supper was excellent, the company boisterous and it was all many of the attendees could do to curb their language because of Rachel. "So," Karen said, "Harry had gone off and gotten himself invited to one of the Psi Lambda Mu "Moo Call" parties, which were generally acknowledged to be drunken debaucheries almost on a par with what any fraternity would throw. They didn't invite frat boys or other sorority sisters, these were held off campus, generally at some rented place outside...
The phone rang at 9 AM and no one seemed all that inclined to answer it. As Harry rose up out of bed, he realized the reason could be that Nicki & Sheila had gone home before everyone crashed and burned, he vaguely remembered Jackie & Lisa getting up and heading off to work and everyone else was in bed with him, still asleep, or trying valiantly to stay that way. Crawling over Margo and Andrea, curled up together like children, he made it to the edge of the bed and proceeded to...
Donna It was done. Donna had wanted to believe it wouldn’t affect her, that righteous anger would carry her through, but by the end, the smell of burnt flesh and Shelley’s muffled screams were most of her reality. The other part of her reality was burning one letter at a time, not remembering the last letter, unsure of the next one. Donna would finish a letter, then pull back, and look at Shelley’s ruined face, realize what the next letter must be, and then begin again. Until at last...
January 22nd, 2007, Sunday Savannah Rowland She hung on a St. Andrew’s cross before her Mistress, Rosa Guzman, and Master Ernesto Salazar. The heads of San Antonio Society were not pleased, but they were calmer than they’d been when she returned to Texas after being sent away by Master Jason. “I hear your urinal service with House Fuentes was deemed ... adequate,” Master Salazar said. “Yes, Master. So it was described to me.” “But every other House you served had nothing good to say...
January 26th, 2007, Thursday Thad He hadn’t been expecting a dinner invitation from Madam Gao, much less one to dine at the Waterbar with its stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge. When he and Kjirsten arrived, he was surprised to see Dayna Spyderchylde seated beside Madam Gao. “No talk of business until after dinner,” Madam Gao proclaimed. That suited Thad perfectly and so their meal was uninterrupted by serious matters. With after-dinner coffee, Thad admired the view of the bridge...
Laurie flipped her cell phone closed and picked two orders off the kitchen delivery shelf. Ned, the short-order cook, peered at her from the other side of the shelf, clicked his lips, and gave her a leer and a wink. ‘Keep it in your pants,’ Laurie barked at him and turned toward the dining room. She knew she should have worn a bra today. It was hotter than a devil’s asshole back here, and her flimsy cotton blouse and skirt were plastered to her body. As she delivered the orders to a couple of...
After a somber end to the brunch, Karen and Patricia made their farewells, checked out of their room and headed home. Tamara cleared her and Eddy out of their room and transferred up to the suite. She and Margo settled in on a couch in the bedroom to talk. Harry got back from a trip to the toilet to find Margo on the room phone. When she hung up she said, "Harry, I'm taking Tamara to do a little clothes shopping and it looks like Kelly is coming with us. Do you need anything while we're...
After a time, Carol got up off the floor and very calmly removed another seventeen fifty-dollar bills, as well as five more sheaves of notes from albums. Then she returned the forceps to Eddy and knelt before Harry, eyes downcast. "May I take all of you to supper this evening?" she asked. "If you want to sweetie, of course you can. Any preference as to where?" Harry replied. "I was hoping the Bangkok Inn might be acceptable to everyone." Everyone chimed in with agreement so Carol...
In short order Nicki and Tatiana were in the hotel bar, sipping their drinks and watching the world go by outside. They were quiet, silent in each other's company, but it was a companionable silence. It was Nicki who first broke it in a significant way. "Called my office this evening ... told my editor I'd need more time off." "So, what'd he say to that?" "Said to take as much time as I needed ... isn't like I don't have the vacation built up." "So, what's the...
"I do not understand ... I am to present myself to you, but the Master is taking my children to shop for video games and movies?" The possible slight she had just dealt to her new mistress dawned on Kim and she prostrated herself on the floor. "I am sorry, Madam, I did not mean to imply that you were incapable or unworthy to receive me, it is just after living with the Karg-" "It's just that after living with the Karg for awhile, you instinctively expect women to be in an inferior...
7 AM, Saturday, 9/30/06 At the Grimes household, things were not going as smoothly as the family might have hoped. Margo had woken up at 6 AM and begun fretting about everything – the family's outfits for the evening, the caterers, transportation, and a thousand other things she didn't even bother putting into words. Candy was the second one up that morning, rolling off her air mattress on to the living room floor. She scratched herself and went stumbling toward the kitchen, only to hear...