Chapter 7
Elbe's naked body recoiled, as she felt Hugh Cameron lurch himself half-drunk into bed beside her. She quickly decided it would be wisest to let him fuck her and perhaps he would fall asleep. Reluctantly, she let him nuzzle and slobber over her breasts as he sucked her nipples.
She wanted to get things over with and began to caress his back and thighs, going to his prick. He roughly cupped her breasts together and tried to mouth both her nipples at the same time. She squeezed close to him and moved rounded belly and full thighs excitingly against his heavy body. This made Hugh reach for her shoulders as he rolled and screwed her, and they were belly to belly, thigh on thigh.
He was panting noisily in lusting desire as his aroused cock throbbed against the smooth skin of her inner thighs. He parted her thighs further with his hand and then Ellie gasped as she felt the full sudden thrust of his prick. She began a rapid rhythmic grind which made him cup her ass to bring her hot cunt even closer.
In spite of herself, Elbe felt a rising tide of passion. She began to writhe as spasms of joyous release swept through her, digging her heels into the small of his back. As he felt her churning beneath him, Hugh groaned and his heavy frame shuddered as he joined her culminating frenzy.
When Hugh's weight rolled off her, he didn't drop off to sleep as she had hoped. He kept growling and nagging at her. It was more than that, however. There was a touch of bitterness in the way he turned on her. He charged that she was no good, either as a wife or a mistress. She was wasteful, expensive, lazy, unfaithful whore. He called her by every ugly name he could find.
Now, he was half sleeping on the bed. But he wasn't really asleep. She had tried to slip away but he caught her, and slapped her until her cheeks were burning. Now she was lying rigid, afraid to move, afraid to try to get away. She heartily wished she had left, fled to Ty's apartment. Now-she might never make it.
The minutes passed. Half an hour-ten minutes more-and something woke Hugh up. He groaned, sat up, looked around, and noticed Ellie. A growling sound came from his throat, then he spit at her and got up. "Damned tramp," he muttered. "Ought to kick you out. Should of kicked you out months ago."
He leaned over, used one of his fists on her, swung it at her head. Ellie screamed-and right through the scream the fist hit her and she lost consciousness.
It was dawn when she awoke-and she was still alive. Amazingly she was still alive. And she seemed to be alone. At least Hugh wasn't in the bedroom. She listened, but couldn't hear him anywhere. She got up, searched the apartment. Apparently he was gone.
He was gone-but she didn't know how long he would be gone. She was afraid of what he might do if she was still here when he got back. As quickly then as she could, she packed a bag. There wasn't time to make good selections. She put in what clothes she could, took her jewel box-and fled. In front of the apartment house she took a taxi.
It was still early, not yet six-and at this hour she knew she couldn't go to Ty's. At least, it wouldn't be wise to go this early. As a temporary stopover, she decided on the Ritz Carlton. The desk clerk hesitated about a room, but then assigned one, and within fifteen minutes she was soaking in a hot tubful of water.
Later, she slept.
It was amazing how good she felt when she woke up. Her breasts were a little sore and there was a few dark bruises on her body. Her face was lightly marked but she could hide those signs under her makeup. She knew she could have been in much worse shape.
She got to Ty's apartment at about five, and he seemed delighted to see her. His kisses were properly ardent, and if he didn't put her to bed promptly, the delay seemed out of consideration for the time they had. They would fuck later, before they left for the party.
They had a drink in the parlor. Ty told her he was waiting for a telephone call. After that they would go out to dinner. A good dinner was important. The party looming ahead might be rather rugged. A good dinner ahead of it would add to their endurance. "I may lose you at the party, for a time," Ty said. "But I don't mean to lose you all evening."
"Ummm you're rather nice," Ellie said. And she kissed him.
That almost took them to bed-but Ty remembered the promised telephone call.
As they were waiting, Ellie talked about Hugh-and what she should do in view of the trouble she faced. She had telephoned home several times. Hugh hadn't answered. He probably hadn't returned and she wasn't sure where he might be. He had several part-time mistresses. One lived somewhere in the Village. This made her a little uneasy about going out for dinner. If she and Ty should run into Hugh and some other woman in one of the Village restaurants, she didn't know what would happen.
"It's a big town," Ty said, and he grinned. "There are hundreds of first class restaurants in New York and there are even dozens in the Village. There isn't much chance of running into Hugh and his girl friend."
She frowned. "Ty, what should I do about him?"
"At least, you can't go home."
"I could get a divorce, but...."
"But what-you could ask for alimony."
"He's worth close to three million-and his heart isn't very good. I don't want you to misunderstand me, but ... "
"You'd like the three million."
"Yes, I'd like it. I think I earned that-last night."
"But what-you could ask for alimony."
Ty walked to the window looked out. It was rather exciting to think of Ellie inheriting three million dollars. That would be a very comfortable sum. Maybe he could move right in-and collect. Of course she didn't have it-just a husband with a bad heart. But how bad a heart? This was something to think about.
"Wasn't there a murder down here the other day?" Ellie asked.
"The one that's been in the nespapers." Ty nodded. "A restaurant owner on the next corner, opposite my office. His name was Ernie Snyder, his head was cut open with a meat cleaver. His Negro cook did the job-a man named Christy Higgins. But he's disappeared. By now he's miles from here. They may never get him."
"Wasn't there something about a blonde waitress?"
"There was a waitress who saw the murder. She's disappeared too."
"Some people get by with murder, don't they!"
He looked around at Ellie, took a slow, thoughtful breath. He could almost see the workings of her mind. She had come to hate Hugh Cameron but she didn't want to walk out, walk away from three million dollars. What about it? How possible was it? A shiver ran down his back.
"On account of his heart, Hugh isn't supposed to go to excess, in any way-food, drink, excitement." Ellie said. "But he pays little attention to his doctor. He over-drinks, eats too much, fucks too much, and he goes to parties like the party we're going to."
"Then all you have to do is wait?" Ty suggested.
"No. He seems to do those things and get by. I'm tired of waiting."
"Don't think about him," Ty said. And he walked toward her and pulled her into his arms. He was in the process of making two decisions. He wanted to keep this woman. He wanted to move into her three million dollars, when she got it. But definitely-very definitely-he didn't want anything to do with murder. He wasn't about to be a chump.
Finally, the telephone rang. It was Ed Carstairs on the other end of the line. Carstairs was a reporter for one of the tabloid sheets. Ty had made a suggestion to him; Carstairs had said he had to check with the editor. This was supposed to be his answer. It wasn't. Someone was stalling.
"The editor said nothing doing," Carstairs stated. "Where is she?"
"I can't tell you," Ty answered. "I want a payoff, first."
"Got to get the story, first. Maybe it's not worth a dime."
"She saw the murder."
"How do you know?"
"She told me so."
"If I could see her."
"Nope, I want a payoff," Ty said flatly. "Think about it. Call me in the morning."
He hung up the telephone-and he wasn't happy at what Carstairs had said. In fact, from the very beginning, this case had gone all wrong. Lorene had come to him, but then had escaped and had vanished. He finally located her-but with her came the Japanese girl, Nikko, who had insisted on a fifty-fifty cut. Now, it would seem that Carstairs was trying to bypass him. This was a sensational case. Lorene Tucker's story should have been of real value to any one of the tabloid nespapers. Carstairs was just a crook. He couldn't figure anything else.
Ellie touched his shoulder. "What's the matter, Ty?"
"A rough spot in the road." He managed to grin. "How about eating?"
"And then ... "
"Fuck."
"And then...."
"The party."
She moved into his arms. "I think you are very nice. Why don't we skip the food?"
That was a wonderful idea. And it was almost a race, to see who could get their clothes off first. After they got to bed, however, it didn't make any difference who was quickest under the sheets. And the idea of hurrying any more was foolish.
Ty took a long time, building up her passions. He had a reason for this. They were going to a party tonight. Who would screw her during the party, or how many, he couldn't guess. She would probably have a hell of a time-a real ball-and if that was true, he wanted her to remember this session in his apartment. For a time, tonight, he would lose her. But he wanted her back. He didn't want anyone else to move into her life.
He kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her-just as if this was an adolescent necking session. His hands caressed her breasts. He wasn't rough with them. She had been hurt by her husband. His treatment of her would be entirely different. He kissed the bruised nipples very tenderly. His hand was gentle, a slow moving hand, a careful hand gently massaging the large, cherry nipples. Ellie was ready for him, long before he moved to her. By that time, she was running like a machine, ready to go instantly. Her cunt was hot and wet and begging for his prick. She had really become a wild hot number.
It turned out to be a damned good fuck session.
A real screw, that went on, and on, and on....
He thought they'd never get through, but they did, and afterward she lay in his arms, and almost dozed.
Possibly she did. He almost did himself. She was a good fucker-one of the best. She had a rough time but that didn't seem to have hurt her. She was the kind of person he could fuck again, and again, and again, and enjoy-even if there wasn't a three million dollar stake in the picture.
The door buzzer started sounding. It went on and on. Ty couldn't guess who was outside and who wanted to see him-but to hell with any visitors. In time, whoever was at the door would give up and go away.
Ellie stirred in his arms. "Who do you think it is-one of your girl friends?"
"Never," Ty growled.
"Are you going to answer?"
"Why should I? Whoever is at the door will eventually give up, move away."
But it seemed he was wrong. The buzzer kept on droning. Then someone started knocking-then started hammering on the door. Whoever wanted to see him was damned insistant.
He got up, finally, and pulled on his pants.
"What about me?" Ellie asked.
"Just stay there." Ty answered. "It'll take me about ten seconds to handle whoever is at the door."
It took him longer than that. When he answered the door it was Tom Riley in the corridor. The detective was wearing his usual scowl. He looked tired and perspiring, and he moved ahead without waiting to be invited inside.
"What the hell do you want with me?" Ty asked crisply.
"Not much," Riley answered. "Just some straight answers about that blonde waitress. Where is she?"
"How should I know?"
"We picked up Margie King about noon. She talked a little-about a girl who left from here the night Ernie was killed. A blonde wearing your topcoat."
Ty took a deep breath. "I could name fifty blondes...."
"I don't want fifty. Just one. The waitress."
"But I told you...."
"No! Wait a minute," Riley said. "Sometimes I play dirty. You won't like it, but I've learned a few things about you. There's a man down at City Hall. He and you have been working a neat little racket, setting up phony complaints about building code violations. Must have cleaned up ten grand. If I start talking about it ... "
Ty took another breath. He felt suddenly shaky. How did Riley find out about this? What could he do now? If this story hit the street, he was finished in this district. He might even be on his way to court-or on to jail. His skin was clammy, it was hard to think.
"Now, tell me about this blonde waitress." Riley said, and his voice was abruptly harsh. "Where is she?"
"I ... I don't know ... exactly." Ty tried to swallow the thickness in his throat.
"The hell you don't. Spit it out, Grinnell."
"She did come here."
"Why?"
"She wanted help. She wanted me to hide her."
"Why. Is she the one who killed Ernie Snyder?"
"No-but I think she saw the murder. I know she saw it."
"Good, then I want her." Riley said. "Where is she?"
Ty's mind was starting to work again. He was in a jam, and he knew it. It would ruin him if Riley told about the building code gimmick. If he could just make a deal....
He looked at Riley. "If I tell you about the blonde waitress...."
"No deal." The detective shook his head. "Want to go to jail right now? I could take you with me."
"No."
"Then start talking about the waitress. That might get me busy. You're going to be in trouble over this building code graft, anyhow-but that'll take a little time."
"If you would...." There was no escape from him. But there was.
He had a prize package in the bedroom-Ellie Cameron. She was close enough to three million dollars to almost touch it-and he could have her, if he was careful. If he had money, he could fight this graft charge. He could whip it. He wasn't licked yet. Not by three million miles. Of course he would have to spill the dope about Lorene Tucker-but what of it?
He spoke slowly. "The name of the waitress is Lorene Tucker. When she left here she was picked up by Nikko, the Japanese girl who works for Rudy Estrada. For a time she was hidden at Rudy's. I don't think she's there any more, but Nikko knows where she is."
Riley smoothed his hand over his head. "Well, I'll be damned. Rudy's, huh."
"That's where she was-at first."
"Huh. Maybe we ought to take a look at Rudy's?"
Now that he had gone this far, Ty was bitter, vindictive. To hell with Rudy-and the Japanese girl. He made a growling comment. "If you go to Rudy's, take a look in his back rooms. All of his back rooms. Some are pretty well hidden."
"That so?"
"Take a look at some of the so-called herbs which Rudy sells. Pot ... LSD ... I bet you could even get a few papers of H. He's careful about that, but he puts it out."
"Then-maybe we'll take a look. I don't suppose you'll be telephoning Rudy."
"God, no."
"No, I don't believe you will. Want a tip? Move uptown."
"Why uptown?"
"It might be safer."
Ty nodded slowly. It might be a good idea to move uptown. Ellie would appreciate that. She wouldn't like the East Village-and he wasn't about to lose her. Not a pi with a possible three million dollar inheritance.
Ellie had a bath, then dressed, and she would have been willing to have him fuck her again, but Ty wanted to get away. He didn't know how quickly the detective would move. There was a chance he might come back. As it was, he considered himself lucky he hadn't been arrested. That could have happened very easily.
He could breathe better when he and Ellie went to dinner. And he was glad to get to Connie's, in the Village, with no trouble. He was still shaky over his experience with Riley. He was still unsure of the future. His present way of living seemed endangered. The only bright thing in his future, beside his native cunning, was Ellie Cameron. Right now, he didn't have to worry about her. She seemed thoroughly dependent on him-which was perfect.
Connie had a walk-up, top floor apartment. It was a hard climb to get there-four long flights of stairs. But in a way the climb was worth it. For the Village, she had a large place, a veritable barn. It was fixed up as a studio, had a slanting skylight, and was cut up into alcoves by panels and by the way the furniture was set up. Toward the rear were several small rooms, a kitchen and a bath. There was a back porch fire escape and on either side were adjoining roofs. If you had to get away from here in a hurry it might be possible, over the roof to another building.
When they got there you could smell the pot. Marijuana has a distinctive smell. It is hard to disguise. But there were other smells in the huge, dimly lighted room. The smell of bodies, of perfume and powder, and incense. A dozen people must already have arrived. In a quick glance Ty noticed several groups, and several couples. Over to one side a man and woman were already wrestling, impatient to get started. The woman had lost most of her clothes, but she didn't seem to mind. Nor did the man.
Con joined them, drifted in from nowhere. She was wearing a diaphanous robe which couldn't have weighed more than six ounces. It didn't hide her tits. It didn't hide her furry cunt.
"Hello, Con," Ty said. "This is Ellie, if you're interested. She's top drawer stuff."
"Others will be interested," Con said with an apprasing look. "If you're after a quick lift-try the kitchen-but go easy on the pills. They cost money."
"My money," Ty said.
"No, I bought a special act for the night. A good act. Wait until you see it."
"Any rules for the evening?"
"One. You lose your woman right away. I'm trying to gather them up now." Then what?"
"It's up to you-grab what you want and protect yourself in the clinches. You'd better be careful of your clothes too."
Con took Elbe's arm and they walked on. Some man pulled up beside him and said, "Wish I had a camera." Ty grunted, "Why?"
"This becomes quite a brawl. No holds barred, either for men or for woman. If one of the women chooses your cock, then shell either get it, or you'll have to fight her off. How long do you think your clothes will last?"
"Not long. Maybe I better get rid of them."
"Down to your shorts, anyhow."
A brawl is a brawl is a brawl. They are all the same and they are all different. Different people and different stunts but after all the same thing in the end. The theme never varies. A blast-off party! a smasheroo! Leave your inhibitions behind. Take out all the stops. Cut loose completely. If you feel like an animal, act like an animal, the woman you're with is probably as much like an animal as you. If you feel like a gentleman, then be a gentleman, a loose gentleman. If you feel mean, act mean, the woman you claw will undoubtedly claw back. Hit the level you want. If it is to be low, then dig low. You won't be alone when you get to the bottom-if there is a bottom. If you want to reach high, then try some pot, or peyote, or whatever there is. Reach for excitement, you'll find it. Reach for something new, it's not far away. Variety is infinite. No two women were ever the same. No two men are duplicates.
The couple he had noticed were now naked and were screwing, but it was the woman who was doing most of the work, squealing like a pig. Her legs were wrapped around his back and she was heaving her cunt and ass like a piston at his massive prick. The man who was fucking her was grunting. They were putting on quite a show. A circle of people had gathered around watching the fuck act.
Ty took another look around the room. Connie, with a little help, was gathering most of the women into the middle of the room, but some would never make it. Some were already screwing with some man and didn't want to be interrupted. Ellie was with those in the middle of the room. He couldn't see the way her eyes were glowing, there wasn't enough light for that, but he could imagine her excitement. She could hardly wait for things to get started. He was going to have a problem holding her. But he ought to be able to manage for a time-if he -lined up more parties-if he wasn't too strict.
More women were gathered in the middle of the room, and now, in an irregular circle, were a dozen men. A good many like Ty, were down to their shorts. Two were as bare as when they had been born. One was an old duffer, bald but with a fringe of iron gray hair below the bald spot. He was shouting to Veronica that here he was and she'd better be careful. He couldn't guess who Veronica was. Staring at the clustered women he noticed that quite a few were down to their slips. A few were naked, their tits and cunts exposed for all to see.
Maybe there was a signal to move in, but Ty didn't hear it. More likely, someone got impatient and started for the women, and the other men followed. He stayed right with the others, plunged into the brawling crowd. He heard a chorus of cries, women squealing, or laughing, giggling. Men laughing and shouting. It might have been that a few men grabbed the women they wanted, and dragged them away, but most didn't. At least, not at first. To begin with the whole mob seemed to be on the floor in a tangle of bodies. He heard the sound of tearing cloth. Part of that he contributed to. He fell against a woman, tall, slender and strikingly beautiful. Her tits were covered by a slip, but one jerk and the slip went. He grabbed her and they went to the floor and he started kissing her. He didn't have any idea who she was, she probably didn't know him, but that wasn't important. Her mouth was like a furnace. Her tits were as big and as firm as he could have wanted, but even as he started sucking her nipples someone in the crowd pulled down his shorts, and clutching hands grabbed at his prick. That wasn't the woman he was kissing. Some other woman was cutting in.
He pulled away, looked around. It was a blonde. Veronica, maybe, for it was the old duffer who was fucking her cunt. He was cackling like a rooster. Beyond him two men were brawling over another woman's cunt, dividing her. All around him, this was the scene, a mixture of bodies, most of them nude, and tangled up in every possible way. He saw one man who had his head on the huge nipple of one woman. But each of his hands was busy with two other women's cunts. He was really going to town.
The old duffer saved him, pulled Veronica away, pulled her head down onto his lap. He was still cackling. But Ty forgot about her, and for a time, forgot about everyone else around him except this woman he had blundered against. She was young, her body was warm. Her legs were hard muscled. She was ready for him, quickly, and she really loved his prick. He had been a part of the crowd, in a mess of bodies, but suddenly, now, this had become and individual matter, an experience he was sharing with only one person. The sensations of his body were his own, drawn and shaped by the woman who fucked with him, and she clung to him fucking him and screwing him just as he was fucking her.
Work this up high, and then let go.
Higher and higher and higher-don't let go yet.
Build to the top-the top of the top-and stay there then shoot your load.
That was one of the best fucks he had ever had. They were on the hard floor and there were people all around them, but that made no difference. There was noise all around them but who cared. Ty sprawled beside her, and after a moment he spoke. "Wha's your name?"
She had a low voice. "Who cares?"
"Just curious. I want to remember you."
"There'll be others."
"Not as good as you."
She seemed amused. "You must be very young. A hundred times you will say, this is the best. For the moment this is-the very best. But tomorrow and with someone else, fucking might be better."
"I doubt that. What should I call you?"
"Louisa."
"Is there another name?"
"No."
"Where could I find you again?"
"Who knows? Follow the wind-I do." He lay beside her, thinking of what she had said. A man stood above them. A tall, thin man, dark-skinned. He had black curly hair, and he was young. He reached down toward Louisa. "My turn."
"We're busy," Ty said quickly. "Come back next year."
But Louisa surprised him. She reached up to take the man's hand and she said, "Share and share alike. This is a democracy, remember?"
The man pulled her to her feet, then led her away toward the deeper shadows of the alcoves along the wall.
Ty watched them leave. He thought half angrily, that the man who was now fucking her could probably keep screwing her for a long time-back in the darkness. He should have thought of that himself. Of course, at a party like this, you were supposed to spread yourself around, but if you found someone like Louisa-then to hell with the rules.
A woman crawled toward him-the blonde-Veronica. She was a little chunky and he had a notion she was no longer young, but that was just an impression. She spoke suddenly. "Hello, there. You look interesting."
She was taking no chances. She practically lunged at him, carried him down to the floor. Her breasts were soft, flabby, but they were big enough.
"What's happened to Grandpa's cock?" Ty asked.
"A little worn out."
"So is mine," Ty grinned.
"No, not you." The blonde said. "At least, I'll find out."
Her breasts were in his face, and one of her hands was prowling his body. Ty could guess just what was going to happen. In a little while Veronica was going to get back to where she had been, earlier in the evening. The duffer had pulled her away but she had had come back. A leech-that's what she was, and it wouldn't be easy to get away from her.
He said, "Hey, Veronica-give me a minute or two. Don't rush me."
She was holding him possessively. Her laugh had an eerie sound. "Don't worry about me. I won't hurry you. Well take all kinds of time."
She was moving around, changing positions. Ty thought of pushing her away-but he didn't. Hell-this was a part of the evening, wasn't it? Why fight anything.
Ty got away finally. He headed for the kitchen. On a table, there was some whiskey, but it didn't look as though it had been used. Also on the table were a dish of reefers and a bowl of pills. He picked out three orange colored pills, and gulped them. They would be strong enough to give him an edge. He would need them before the evening was over. He didn't touch the pot, or the whiskey. Either one slowed you down. Someone else could have the whiskey or the pot.
He found two other rooms-bedrooms, probably, but they were locked. Through one of the doors he could hear voices and the sound of bouncing springs, and it hit him that Connie was in there getting fucked. Damn it, she had escaped him thus far-but she wouldn't escape for the rest of the evening. She wouldn't stay in the bedroom forever. He would keep an eye on those bedroom doors.
Someone blundered against him, but then walked on-a man. He looked vaguely familiar. As he turned to the kitchen the light hit his face-and Ty caught his breath. Hugh Cameron! He shook his head numbly. This was an impossibility-but of course it wasn't. He should have guessed that Hugh might be here. He had a mistress in the Village. He went for excitement. What would happen if Hugh and Ellie ran into each other?
That was a hell of a nice question.
If Hugh and Ellie met each other, they might do nothing.
Or there might be an explosion.
Ty looked around. He didn't have any idea what had happened to Ellie. By this time she might have been fucked by a fourth of the male population of the room, and might be working toward the halfway mark. He doubted that she would want to leave. He ought to warn her, at least, to keep in the shadows where Hugh wouldn't find her. To warn her, however, he first had to find her, and that might not be easy.
Someone clicked on a soft spotlight. It brightened one of the back corners of the rooms where a platform had been set up. On the platform was a rug, and dancing on it was a thin, slender girl of about eighteen. She had long black hair, but no other covering. She was doing a senuous dance, her body twisting, turning, dipping. Her dance got faster and faster and faster. How many were watching Ty didn't know, but this girl was good-and God what a body-perfectly shaped. A golden girl-colored gold by the spotlight. She whirled to a stop, seemed to droop-and out of the shadows came two young men. They swept toward her, lifted her into the air, carried her around the platform, then lowered her to the carpet. They worked on her body as though they were trying to revive her-and they succeeded. Her body started turning, twisting, jerking, rolling from side to side-and in the space of an instant the dance had switched into the area of the flesh. There were two heads down on her breasts, sucking her nipples, four hands reaching for her. All three rolled into a mixture of legs, arms and hands.
Ty could hear people breathing heavily. He heard some man swearing softly. But there wasn't much sound. Most people were watching-watching-watching. Without much question, an exhibition like this would stir up the prick of the average jaded libido. This would add more spice to what each was doing. Ty wondered if this was the top drawer show which Connie had mentioned. If so, he was a little disappointed. He had seen this type of show before. It wasn't unique.
Hugh Cameron had returned from the kitchen, had probably seen most of the show on the platform. A big man, tall, wide shouldered, but he was fat, too. His stomach was bloated. His legs were thick. He might have weighed two-fifty-a hundred of it blubber.
Two woman walked past Ty, but neither was Ellie. He squinted into the darkness wondering where Ellie was. One of the bedroom doors opened. He noticed who came out, and was vaguely amazed. It wasn't Connie Hall. It was Nikko! The Japanese girl. Thin, girlish in figure. It ran through his mind to ask what she was doing here-but after all, this was quite a mixed group. Why shouldn't she be here.
The scene on the stage was over-the spotlight had been turned off. Hugh Cameron had stopped a woman. She started to walk on but Hugh grabbed her, pulled her to the floor. The woman started to struggle but she stopped. It was easier not to fight. At this kind of party you never counted the number of times you got fucked.
Lorene didn't want to wake up. Nikko was shaking her, trying to arouse her. It had become part of her pattern to do whatever Nikko wished, but her dreams had been beautiful, a riot of colors. She didn't want to leave her world of color.
But Nikko was insistent, and finally Lorene gave up, and opened her eyes to a vague state of reality. Of course, it was hard to realize, any more, what was real and what wasn't. Most of the time, it seemed, she was in a foggy land which had little substance. It had occurred to her that maybe she was ill-maybe she had been ill for a long time. She was fed occasionally, and she had tea....
Tea-why was it she didn't like tea any more? She was drinking some now. She was holding it in her hand, sitting on the edge of the bed. Nikko had just given it to her.
"That will make you stronger," Nikko said. "We are going outside for a time. We are going to make a short automobile trip."
"Where?" Lorene asked.
"To see some friends. Then we will go to my house."
"Your house?"
"My apartment. You will love it. It is very quiet and peaceful-and I will be home with you nearly every night."
Lorene wasn't sure she was thinking. She sipped the tea. It was warming. It woke her up a little. It made her feel better. She remembered abruptly that she hadn't meant to drink any more tea, but it seemed she was always forgetting.
Nikko helped her dress ... It was a new dress. Nikko probably bought it. Then a young man came in to help her through the door, up a long corridor, through more doors, and into the early gray of the evening. An automobile was at the curb. Another moment and they were driving along the street, going somewhere.
Nikko was with her, of course, and now she asked, "How do you feel, darling?"
"Strange," Lorene said. "As though I was half in a fog."
"But you know me?"
"Nikko! Of course I know you"
"Can I ask you something, darling? Something painful?"
"Anything."
"You remember the two who hurt you? You remember Jud ... and Wayne...."
"They are dead."
"But there are men just like them. Darling, what would you do if you saw Jud hurting me?"
"What would I do?"
"Do not worry. We will probably not meet him." The car stopped, and started, and stopped and started, crawling through the evening traffic. Lorene didn't notice where it was going. She didn't know these streets, anyhow. The car stopped again and Nikko and the man who had helped her, helped her again when she got out. They entered a building, started climbing stairs. They climbed and climbed and climbed. It seemed they would never stop-but they did. They entered a large room, then went to a small room. There was a bed in it. Lorene threw herself across it-and fell asleep.
After a time she awoke again, Nikko was with her. She was holding out the inevitable cup of tea. Lorene didn't even think about it as she drank from the cup. The tea was warm, bracing-and a little bitter. It helped her too. Cleared out some of the shadowy areas of her mind. It made her feel steady.
"Darling. Darling, are you awake?" Nikko was asking. "Of course I'm awake."
"I am going to dance. You have never seen me dance."
"Yes, I will like that," Lorene said.
There was no argument about that. Certainly she would like Nikko's dancing. She had never met anyone like her-so kind-so flower-like.
"Come." Nikko said. "I want you near me."
She got up and they walked to the door, and she was surprised at how much taller she was. It didn't occur to her that she was undressed. She was almost getting accustomed to being nude.
They went into the next room. It was a rather large room-very much like a room in her dreams. A shadowy room, nothing in it very well defined. Vague figures moved through it, but they didn't seem to have any substance. She could see some of them, but not clearly. They could have been real, they could have oeen imaginary. She had been living in a world which was real, but unreal. She had not escaped from it-the world of fantasy.
On a platform just ahead and to the side, Nikko was dancing. A spotlight showered around her, outlining her movements. Nikko was swaying from side to side, turning, twisting. She circled the platform, then suddenly some man appeared behind her. He followed her, caught her, hurled her to the floor. He leaped at her, and started fucking her. Nikko struggled against him, but could not escape. The man was too powerful Nikko gave a pitiful cry-a cry for help.
Someone handed Lorene the whip. It was the man who had driven them here in the car-one of Rudy's men. He whispered harshly in her ears. "Go help her. Quickly. Before it is too late."
He even gave her a shove toward the lighted platform. That hadn't been necessary. Lorene blinked her eyes, blinked them again, peered at the man stooping above Nikko. He was a big man, heavy ... He was a man she knew-and hated. He was a man who was dead-but had taken on shape and appearance of Jud Stebbins. Usually she was the one who was being tortured, but this time it was Nikko who was in danger. Nikko! That was wrong, and she was in love with Nikko. She had to do what she could to help her.
She was suddenly strong, steady, self-confident. Half a dozen quick steps and she was on the platform. The man she hated was crouching near Nikko. His body was protecting her but there was no one to protect him. Lorene swept the whip into the air, and then she brought it down.
The man screamed hoarsely.
Lorene raised the whip into the air again-and she brought it down, hard and cuttingly. She raised it again, brought it down. She used it again-and again-Suddenly the big man whirled and snatched the whip away from her. He threw it in a corner and pushed the naked Lorene on the floor. As she tried to rise, his powerful arms pushed her shoulders down until her back was on the floor. The man kneeled next to her and grabbed her up-thrust breasts in his big hands. He began to squeeze and knead them with brutal power, unheeding of Lorene's cries.
His small eyes shone as his mouth reached for her ripe-chewy nipples. He let his tongue play with their delicious perfection, then he laughed and bit down on them hard. As she felt his teeth, Lorene cried out again, and this seemed to rouse his lust to a throbbing, demanding pitch. His knees parted her thighs and she felt her breasts flatten against his chest. The next moment his huge, hot prick was thrusting into her wet cunt. Instinctively, her thighs and ass rolled in rhythm with his pounding cock.