The gentle caress was just too lovely to risk losing. Judy kept her eyes shut, feigning sleep as slowly burgeoning desire encroached upon sweet serenity. But last night's contentment was no match for the fresh excitement skittering over her skin. Oh, if she could only keep them both! Yesterday she had felt a trifle queasy but hadn't really minded being handed over like a piece of merchandise; after all, a kid in her predicament was bound to run into some rough treatment. Now, though, awakening from a lovely dream to find an even lovelier reality, she was saving the queasi-ness for her return trip. There was nowhere she would rather be than right here in this strange house, here on the bed of her overnight owner, the beautiful golden-haired heiress who looked like a movie star and acted like an angel…
"Darling? Judy?"
"Hmm?"
"You awake?"
"Of course. I've been awake. Couldn't you tell?"
"Oh. Forgive me. I just had to do it, darling. The way you were lying there asleep, so sweet… "
"It's all right. What time is it?"
"Early. There's plenty of time. You don't have to go yet. I only wish you didn't have to go at all. Not ever."
"Me too. But we can pretend, can't we? Alison? Just for a little while?"
"It won't be easy."
"Do that some more. What you were doing. Cuddle me?"
"Mmm… such a cuddly baby… "
"Oooh!"
"You like?"
"As if you didn't know. How could I help it? When you're doing that to me, I have to bite my lips to keep from screaming. I never knew anything could feel so good."
"Silly. Go ahead and scream. My servants are old and hard of hearing. Aside from being half-decrepit. Anyway, they're downstairs in the other wing at this hour."
"No screaming, maybe I'll just moan a little. Are you serious about the servants? Old and deaf? If so, you really do need me and not just for this. I mean this, you know? I'd keep the place clean and take care of your clothes and "
"No! Not like a maid. You shouldn't have to work, Judy, not a pretty little girl like you. I'd just want you to stay young and beautiful and sexy and terrific in bed, of course just as you are now. That's all the work I'd expect of you. If you can call that working. No maid service, you're not built for it."
"Oh, please, I'd want to do it, everything, whatever needs to be done. I'd wait on you, take care of you, be your personal maid in every way possible. I wouldn't be happy otherwise."
"Well… " Alison giggled. "Are we still pretending? Arguing about something that's out of our reach? You belong to Vera, not to me. Isn't that the way you're supposed to feel about her?"
"I I guess so. But I don't, really, not like I feel about you. Only please don't tell her, she might get mad. And then I'd probably have that bossy old housekeeper of hers on my neck."
"Her maid, you mean? Solange?"
"Housekeeper or maid or whatever. The one with muscles like a linebacker. Big old bitch. She can make it real rough on me, you know?"
"She she beats you?"
"No, not exactly. Just a smack on the fanny once in a while, something like that. She pinches a lot, though, and I'm never sure if she's trying to get sexy or just showing me who's boss. With her it's all the same, pretty much."
"You two don't get along, I gather."
"Oh, we get along fine as long "as I jump whenever she snaps her fingers. I just hate her guts, that's all. And if she ever heard that, I'd have my head handed to me. I I don't know why I'm telling you all this… "
"I'm glad you are, darling. It means you trust me. And you should, too I'm no tattletale. I don't like Solange either, from what I've seen of her which isn't much, I'm glad to admit, since our paths seldom cross. For that matter, I'm not overly fond of Vera at this point, but that shouldn't be any concern of yours. I do think you've got more to tell me, though. If you're so unhappy over there, why don't you just pack up and move out? Stay here with me and we won't have to pretend any more."
"It sounds wonderful. Except for one small detail. I got into trouble once and it's something Vera knows about, something she's using as a hold over me. I'm just not free to come and go as "
"You got into trouble? Tell me about it."
"I I'd rather not."
"As you wish. I won't pry into your private affairs. But if there's even the slightest chance that I might be in a position to help, well… "
Gratitude swelled in Judy's heart, gratitude for this obviously sincere offer of assistance. For a moment she even had an urge to speak up, to confess, to tell her sweet friend about the whole ugly mess. But she didn't dare. Alison Laird lived in a different world, a nice clean world; she might not understand how a poor kid could get bogged down in the dirt of that other world. And anyway, it wouldn't be fair to make someone like that share her anguish. What could anybody do about it?
"Thanks. I do appreciate it, believe me. But I'd rather you didn't get involved, Alison, it's too great a risk. Especially if I tried to leave Vera just to be with you. She's so possessive. It's as if she owns me, you know?"
"Nobody owns you but me. You're mine, darling, but only because you want to be. I'm already involved, don't you understand? Last night was like a revelation for me, it was something brand-new and glorious and I don't want to lose it. If it comes to a showdown, I'll fight for you, I'll fight Vera tooth and nail."
"No. You mustn't fight, it would only get me in deeper. We'll have to find some other way."
"We'll find it. I promise. But you'll have to tell me what it's all about; how else will I know where to look? I've got to be sure of the facts, whatever it is that gives her such a powerful hold over you. And if you still won't tell me, I'll just snoop around and dig it all up myself somehow. I can't quit. I'm the most involved woman you ever saw in your life."
That did it. Taking shelter in all that strength and determination, Judy became a weak and helpless child again, a luxury she hadn't known for years. And she spilled her story the reformatory, the escape, the pickup, the threat of exposure a horror story if ever there was one. It seemed so easy to talk now, safe and secure in the scented warmth of this cozy embrace. She felt good just hearing her own voice utter the words aloud; somehow the dark secret seemed less formidable out in the open. Hardly less despicable though, as her outraged listener was quick to point out.
"Oh, that bitch, that dirty blackmailing bitch! She would do it, too, call the police if you crossed her up."
"I'm sure of it. Not that I couldn't lead them a merry chase, if and when the time came. I might even make it, run away and never get caught. But that would mean leaving you."
"No, you mustn't think of running away. We're going to work it out right, darling. All it takes is influence and good legal advice, of course. And I've got both, thank heaven. With enough money to buy the entire political administration if necessary. But let's not jump the gun. First things first. I'll call Vera now and get in touch with my lawyer later today. Hand me the phone, will you?"
"You're calling Vera? I don't understand. What for? I hope you're not going to tell her about "
"Hush. That comes later. After I've gotten the okay from my lawyer. Right now, though, I'm going to fix it so that you can stay here. It'll only be for a few days, a week maybe, as far as Vera is concerned. I'm sure she'll agree to that. It's what she wants, for some strange reason the two of us together. And then I'll ask her to bring your clothes over, just casually, something to wear while you're here. She might even suggest it herself, especially your new outfit, the sexy maid stuff that's one of her pet projects, too, showing you off like that. Or so it would appear. Again for some strange reason, something in that devious mind of hers. And she'll be getting her wish, the two of us together, me and my sexy little maid temporarily, of course. Only she won't know what we know, that it's not temporary at all. You see, sweetheart, our pet project is already under way. You're not going back there again. Never! The blackmailer has had her last crack at you. And so has her maid with the muscles, the one who likes to pinch. Now what do you think of that?"
"You you really mean it… "
"Every word. You'll see. That's how it'll work out."
"I could kiss you."
"Hold it. You'll get your chance. Now be still and don't distract me, I've got to put myself in the mood to make that darn phone call. Like an actress going onstage, you know? I have to sound nice to the bitch. Oh well… "
The call went through. Listening intently, Judy was amazed at the smooth performance of her new friend, truly the work of a con-artist. Only she couldn't hear it objectively, not with her own immediate future at stake. Her heart was swelling again, overflowing with gratitude as the conversation over the wire lived up to every expectation. And even before it ended, she slipped from the bed and knelt on the floor and kissed Alison's bare foot.
From above, she heard the noise of the phone hanging up, but that was all. Nothing to guide her. It was like a gentle permissiveness, quite different from the demanding domination she had grown accustomed to. Anyway, she could take her time now and pay homage to these beautiful bare feet. The soles especially, oh yes, she loved licking the soles, wondrously soft and smooth, tickling them with the tip of her tongue. And then lapping, lapping, kind of like a thirsty dog working on a pan of water. She was doing it well too, judging by all the twitching and quivering and carrying on up there, enough to make the bed shake.
"Judy?"
"Mmm. Let me, let me."
"Uh-huh. But-"
"It's my way of saying thank you. Like this. Just let me kiss you and kiss you and kiss you… "
"Down there at my feet? It's more like worshiping me, isn't it? But who am I to complain? I've never really been worshipped before. You know, I rather like it. Do you?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you like it? Worshiping me?"
"Nnngg… "
"How's that again?"
"I like it. I love it. I love you."
"Yes, darling. I know. It's happening. We're falling in love, really and truly in love."
"Really and truly. Ummm… "
"Oooh, that tickles. But you're not going to stay down there all day, are you? You're supposed to be thanking me, remember? Your own way of saying thank you. In that case, you ought to thank the rest of me, too."
"Yesss. I want to."
"All over? With that nice loving tongue of yours. Hey, don't rush, do my feet a little more first. The toes, lick my toes. Ah, that's divine, darling. I just love your wiggly tongue in between, you know? Between the toes. Like a tongue bath."
"Tongue bath… "
"Oh, all right. Wait, though, let me roll over. Never mind thanking all of me. I guess we both know what… "
"Hmm?"
"Last night. The first time. That must have been when it happened. When we fell in love. So do it some more and let's fall in love all over again. Darling?"
"Oh yes, I'm in love with your ass, your beautiful ass, and I'll suck and kiss and tongue… nnnggg… "
"Tongue. Fuck! Fuck my ass!"