JamesCharlotte's here. Michael messaged me to say she'd arrived, so, despite dismal weather and a hairy drive up the mountain on icy roads, I'm smiling. I keep finding myself laughing for no reason........ No reason at all....As I pull in, she's there, waiting....Outside? In this weather?.... and I steer the car to one side so as not to splash her with the liquid mud that is taking over the site.As I step out, she's here and close to me. I embrace her, kissing her lightly, but am conscious of many pairs of eyes watching us: builders, plumbers, men operating the earth-movers and mini-diggers.... or trying to....And my nose tells me a lot of what I want to know....Michael's already had her........ He's a fast worker...."Welcome home," I say quietly to her. "Um, not too private here, are we?" She glances around with an expression that clearly says they can all go jump....I take her hand, noticing her icy fingers....How long was she waiting outside?
James.... and now she does move. As I penetrate her, she rises on the soles of her feet, her spine curving up and over against her restrained wrists. And the sound she makes.... somewhere between a gasp and a wail….... It's a good sound....Michael's voice, "That's a nice smile," he says. "We must be doing something right, eh?"I look up from my pleasant spot by her pussy. She's reaching to kiss him, and he drops down to her, open-mouthed, fingering at her tautly crinkled nipples. She moans again through their joined lips and I help things along by turning my attention to her clit. Small, red and nubbed, it slides under my tongue. So small a thing, so tiny a part of a woman's body, but she reacts, wailing out, her thighs spreading as she offers herself to me.She's quaking. A palm against each of her thighs, her muscle tension transmits through........ She's close........ but she's not coming yet....I meet eyes with Michael and we both break away, to leave her l
It's late. In the road, there is the raucous sound of drunks leaving or being thrown from the bars.One by one, lights wink out from the windows of takeaways and restaurants, and bit by bit, late-night diners and revellers vanish from the street.To the rear of the restaurants and cafes, there is clanging and clattering from the kitchens, which gradually dies down. Eventually, this turns to the rattle of closing shutters and the snap of bolts being drawn into place.As all falls dark and silent, a figure emerges. Standing silently, looking right and left before moving far from the shadows, she makes her way to the rear of one of the restaurants.Showing every sign of knowing where she is, familiar with the route and the lack of gates or bars, she lifts the lid from one trash can after another, glancing over the contents with a practised eye, before reaching in to pull out a waxed carton. She opens it, briefly inspects the contents, sniffs, then closes the lid and vanishes once
JamesCharlotte smiles, but the smile is a bit wan, made more so by her nose which is bright red in the cold, close to matching her hair.How do I explain to my emerald-eyed wild-child that Beth, for all her beauty, her polished manners and her elegant ways, holds not a fraction of the attraction for me that she does?Beth's a true sub....You're a sub when it suits you to be........ and only for me....My flame-haired mermaid has already proved she is a survivor. Could Beth have done the same?I wrap an arm around her shoulder. "If I wanted someone like Beth, I would be with someone like Beth.""But she's so beautiful," she protests. She looks close to tears.Can it really bother her so much?"You're beautiful too. And not just on the outside. The things I want from you, Charlotte, all come from the inside. And no amount of expensive clothes or nail polish can replace that."She looks doubtful but sucks her lower lip and nods."And don't suck your lips. They'l
JamesMichael, who was turning to the house, swivels back, frowning a little.Charlotte, her throat working, says, "Um.… Beth was working as a maid in the hotel, cleaning the rooms...."Beth was a hotel cleaner?".... I think it was the one where you had the apartment. It was hot one day, and she used the shower in the Penthouse, where Richard was staying. He'd gone out, but he came back early and caught her in his shower, um, naked...."Oh, God.... I can see where this is going....Michael's face is beginning to crack....Charlotte continues, "Then.... er.... he tied her to the shower and um…"I'm gaping. Michael has his forehead in one hand, his shoulders shaking.He didn't....I double up. "I get it. No wonder he was so relaxed about you and me."You did the right thing, Jade.... Keeping that quiet for him........ But it's still fuckin' hilarious....She nods, but continues, "There's a bit more to it than that."More?"Really?"She pauses, I think ch
A fine day, bright sunshine, the buzz of the City:A gangly ginger-haired teenager skulks in the background, wandering from one place to another. Always on the move, never stopping anywhere long, she travels the City. Passing through the crowds, the buzz and the confusion, never part of it, she keeps walking, always walking.Arms folded, head and face down, her long red hair swishes with her movement. She's tall for her age, built like a beanstalk with no traces of a developing woman's figure. And thin, with no flesh to her arms and legs, her face is pale and has only a promise of beauty to come.In the backstreets, the lost and the lonely lie stretched out in sleeping bags or on cardboard. As she sees them she crosses the street to pass by on the other side of the road.She keeps walking.At last, streets and houses give way to green spaces. Fields stretch as far as the eye can see, cut off only by the mountains rearing up on the horizon.She halts, looking intimidated. Sh
JamesMichael stamps into the room, shaking sleet off himself like a dog.He makes for the larder, rummaging around before he fishes out a can, waving it at me, brows raised."Mmm… yes. Thanks."He reaches for another, plonks it on the table beside me then flops down onto the chair at the other side. Flipping open the ring-pull, he sucks out half the can in one go, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "Ah, that's good. One thing about living in primitive conditions. Old stone larders are a good way to keep beer."I open my own can and take a gulp. "Hard day?"He swipes a hand back through sweaty, grit-filled hair. "Mmm, yes. Long day too. And the short winter daylight isn't helping either. We're having to do a lot of the work on lights and cables." He nods down at the stack of files and papers next to me. You working late too?""I'm reading reports.""Reports? About what?""Blessingmoors. And wishing I could get my hands on the bastards that did this."His face clo
JamesMaking our way to the meeting room for her interview, I follow behind as Michael holds a pale-faced Charlotte's hand.Beth and Richard are already waiting. I knew Beth was going to be present to support Charlotte, but Richard also, billionaire owner of a large part of the City, has cleared his diary to be here too. I'm not sure what he thinks he can contribute, but his presence speaks volumes.How many student trainees receive that kind of accolade from their CEO…?.... and friend…Beth gives her a hug. Francis brings a tray of coffee and her favourite chocolate-chip biscuits, which Charlotte doesn't touch.When Charlotte doesn't take offered food, you know she's not feeling good....Her smile is small and forced. She's doing her best to be polite, but I think it takes every ounce of Michael's support to keep her going. Still, she said she wanted to do this and overall, I believe she has made the right choice.We don't have to wait long. It's just as well. No-one
JamesMichael takes a moment before speaking, then, ".... All through your life, you've had everything thrust upon you. Even meeting James and me, you chose to enter the auction, but you did that out of necessity. I'd like to know what you want. Now that you are free to choose for yourself, what is it that you want?"And he falls silent, watching her, and waiting as she looks around at everything about us....And I wonder what she sees. With everything that life has thrown at her, the horrors of her childhood, the terrors of her adulthood, and now to be here, in this lovely place, with the home she always yearned for.And is that enough for her?She gestures around, hands trying to encompass it all. "What more could I want? We're all here, at last, together. I have you both. I have what I want."Yes!Result!Michael's eyes shift to mine....Definitely....She sees us, knows what is going on, and leans in to Michael as he kisses her. "I think I'm going to ask you to
Charlotte sits in the office facing Mr Chambers. He's middle-aged and pleasant enough, and clearly doing his best to make her feel at ease. Nonetheless, her embarrassment is excruciating and she can't look him in the face."Can I get you a cup of tea, Miss Conners? Or coffee perhaps?"Her throat tight. "No, thank you."If she tried to drink right now, she would bring it right back up again."Very well. I understand you would like to enter our auction for the sale of...." He picks up a sheet and reads.... 'The services of 'Charlotte' for the period of one week, those services to include anything required of her by her purchaser and also to include the sale of her virginity.' Is that correct?"She squeezes the word out. "Yes."He places the document on the table. "I should explain Miss Conners, that whilst you might find it easier to have a female representative to work with right now, here at the auction house we feel that a girl who cannot go through this interview with a m
RichardAt one of these interminable 'drinks dos' I am expected to attend, I do my best to put on a polite face. But I'm having trouble.I have the mayor on one side, "Since the plans were made public for the new City-Scape layout the share value has soared, Richard...."And my head of corporate law on the other. "There are still some legal obstacles to overcome...." argues Lazenby.I am unsympathetic. "That's what I pay you for."What I pay you a lot for........ So, stop whining and do your job.Listening to the mayor droning on, I nod politely, trying to appear interested but, in fact, my attention is half on the gathering at the other side of the room.As Charlotte and Elizabeth are chatting by the bar. Michael arrives, strolling across the lounge with that easy half-smile that is his habitual expression. Charlotte spots him and moves aside to make room for him."Hi, Michael." Elizabeth's eyes are bright as she looks up at him.He returns the smile. "Hi, Beth. L
Richard"But you've been running 'Life and Fitness' in the City for years.… and turning a healthy profit, surely?""Yes, but you know how it is since two thousand and seven. All the banks have tightened up the rules."Bloody bastards at the banks....Pretty perfect for me though....How to approach this…??James said he has a problem accepting help........ Carefully...."Ummm.…Take this the right way, but I'd be happy to help."Glass in hand, Michael freezes, knuckles. His voice is barely polite. "Thanks, Richard, but I'm not a charity."James' meets my eyes again with a 'Told you' look. He laughs softly. "Now, who's suffering from stiff-necked pride?" Michael gives him a look that should have dissolved him on the spot, but James simply gives him a mild look, sucking at his teeth as he tries to extract a bit of peanut.I follow Michael's lead, keeping my own tone cool. "It wasn't a charitable offer, Michael. I'm a businessman. It was a proposal."He flush
JamesAs we leave, Richard murmurs, "Keep your face straight.""You might have warned me....""What? That you were my ace-in-a-hole?" Despite his advice, Richard's mouth is twitching. "Not a chance. It worked out so much better that you were surprised when he finally realised who you are."I glance over my shoulder to see that we are safely out of range, then stop and turn to face him. "Richard, who am I? I'm an architect. A good architect granted, but...."He lays a hand on my shoulder. "You, my friend, are the architect who will have changed the face of the City. Not many can make that claim. Your immortality is going to be standing as evidence around us for generations to come."It's an interesting thought."I never expected to be famous."He rocks a hand back and forth. "Perhaps not with the Common Man, but I looked through those Get-Well cards at the hospital. Did you?""Er, no.""You should. I asked Michael to keep them for when you left the hospital; for when
JamesMy mobile rings: Richard."James, I was having a word with Charlotte earlier. She's a little upset that the university is kicking up a fuss over the way her course options are moving around. The training periods, academic time and so on. It was all supposed to be arranged, but apparently, they're giving her a hard time over it.""Yes, I thought something like this might crop up. Did you have something in mind?""Absolutely. I know where this is coming from. The Chancellor, Wilmore, is fine, but the Bursar is an interfering busybody with an inflated sense of self-worth, who pokes his nose into every aspect of university life, whether it belongs there or not. If he didn't have tenure he'd have been out years ago.""So…?""First, I like you to have a word with Charlotte...."*****The crook of my thumb and forefinger under her chin, I force her face to mine, "Charlotte, is it that you want to attend the university? Or that, in a couple of years' time, you simply want
James"So how did it go?"Michael prises the cap off a beer bottle on the edge of the table then gulps down from the neck before wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "It was.... surreal."I'm up and about and able to walk now, at the level of using the bathroom without the intervention of a nurse. Nonetheless, Michael's return is an excuse for me to climb back into bed, take the weight from my aching leg and draw a surreptitious sigh, which he pretends not to notice.And I'm happy enough to be here. Back in the beach house, the environment is soothing and convinces me to sleep more than I could have done in the renovation/building site which is our mountain home, even were we able to return there.I prop myself up against the pillows and Michael reaches around, rearranging them for me. When I'm settled comfortably, "Go on. I'm listening.""Cutting a long story short, Klempner admitted to murdering Charlotte's father, seemed to have some kind of crisis over her looking
KlempnerJennifer's face....The loathing there when he says that....The idea that she might be anything to do with me........You're Conners' daughter........ Not mine…Blondie's still speaking… "And your final revenge on her was to steal the child, to force her to grow up into slavery herself.... To fit your idea of...."I claimed you........ Mine........ My due........ My redress....Blondie is still talking.... "And when you found she'd grown up to look like her mother, you became obsessed with it again, determined to have the daughter forced into a life that the mother had already told you repelled her...."And I remember the disgust in her eyes....My beautiful Mitch........ Looking at me like shit on a shoe...."Is she alive? Charlotte's mother?" Blondie asks.I can't stomach looking at him. "I've no idea. The police gave her a new identity, hid her from me. I couldn't find her, and I've not seen her for over twenty years. But if she's not s
KlempnerHer face twists...."You still don't want to believe me? She was very good at her job. Good enough that, at first, we didn't realise she was a professional. We thought she was just being.... friendly. And I'll admit, when I set eyes on her, I thought she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen...."..... Mitch's daughter....Blondie's knuckles on her shoulder whiten. ".... So did Frank. We took a room for the night and.... well, you know the script from there. You've had two guys together often enough I'm sure...."Her face sets. "So, what then?""She was fun to be with. Not just a good fuck, but actually good company. We both liked her. And she seemed to like us.... Really like us I mean, rather than just pretend to because that's part of the job description. In the morning, we took her number, and later, we called her back. It went from there. We'd meet up with her a couple of nights a week. It became regular. And then.…"Blondie breaks in, his voice low. "A