Chapter 13
There was something strange about the hotel as they approached it. The patio, normally buzzing with activity, was deserted, and the dining room, usually lit until late in the evening as people relaxed and lingered after dinner, was dark, except for a grey flickering light. All was silent, but suddenly there was a gruff voice followed by a burst of laughter. It came from the dining room. Then another remark, which they couldn't make out, and another outburst.
"What do you suppose that is?" Clayboro asked. There was a tone of genuine friendliness and respect for Vic in his voice as if the battle was over, Clayboro the vanquished, and their forces united.
"I don't ... of course I do. Those are the films. They're showing them in the dining room."
"Films?"
"Yes, you know, art movies."
Clayboro laughed. "I take it the art is love in this case."
"I'm not sure you could call it love, but the actors and actresses go through the same motions. Let's go watch, shall we?"
Clayboro held up his hand. "I'm afraid not. Those things never interested me."
"Possibly not," Vic replied as they entered the empty lobby, "but I think you ought to put in an appearance and at least look as if you're enjoying yourself."
Clayboro looked half amused and half annoyed. "In other words, our pact goes into effect as of now."
"Yes, but I'm sure you'll find this one of the pleasanter aspects of it."
"I doubt it. But as long as they're not showing movies of me in bed I suppose it won't be as bad as all that." He stopped in his tracks and added, only partly as a joke. "They're not of me, are they?"
"What do you think I am, unethical?" Vic said ironically.
"Something like that," his companion answered.
They headed towards the dining room, and the scene they found there was rather interesting. The tables and chairs had all been moved to the walls and a number of couches and chaise lounges brought in from the lobby and patio. Couples were sitting and lying on them, and several more were on the floor. Most of them were facing the screen, but a few had already lost interest and were squirming around in each other's arms. Standing near the entrance, working the camera, was Antoine Theodore. His white brows rippled ominously when he spied Vic.
Sparling was propped up against the rear wall, his dark playmate stretched out on her back across his legs. She was wearing a loose skirt pulled high up over her thighs and a filmy top completely open to the waist, exposing her magnificent breasts almost completely. Sparling had a hand on her stomach but pulled it away modestly when he caught Vic smiling at him. He looked at the combination of Vic and Sparling, and Vic gave him the high sign. Sparling's lips pursed, as though he was assured that something good had happened between Vic and Clayboro, but was curious to know what. Vic's expression indicated he'd tell him as soon as they were alone, and his boss nodded.
Dana was seated on a long couch with Felice. When she noticed Vic with Clayboro she looked distressed. She must have been wondering why Clayboro was still on the island. Vic didn't want to go over there, knowing the unpleasant task he had to perform later tonight, telling her that it was all a lie, that it was all over between them. But there wasn't too much choice, especially since Clayboro's Felice was beckoning to her partner and Clayboro was returning the signal. Again Vic gave an indication, this time to Dana, that explanations would be made later on, but nothing was wrong. Dana shrugged her shoulders in an if-you-say-so way.
The two men made their way over several couples who were in various stages of undress, and sat down beside their respective women, Vic between Dana and Felice. "Have we missed much?" he asked in a whisper.
"No, they began just a minute ago," Dana said, snuggling up against him. "There was a little hankypanky in the swimming pool, and she invited him to follow it up in her motel room."
They looked up at the screen. A stunning girl, who couldn't have been much older than twenty, was mixing a drink for a handsome blond youth sitting on the bed. They were both in wet bathing suits. Hers was a one-piece job with a thin string around the neck holding the top up. The wool suit clung to her figure as if it were a second skin, showing beautifully molded buttocks and large, high, breasts. Her blonde hair was wet, hung down in strings over her shoulders.
She handed him his drink and went to her dresser. She picked up a towel, covered her head with it and began drying her hair. He put his drink on the night table and went up behind her.
"Sneak attack!" yelled somebody in the audience, and there were a few snickers. Next to Vic, Felice was lying down in Clayboro's arms and stretching her legs out. They pressed against his knees and he obligingly put his hands under her calves and put her legs up on his lap. They were smooth and well muscled. He put his hand on her knee. She looked at him and smiled. On his other side Dana was rubbing her hand over his chest.
In the film the young man was putting his fingers to the string around the girl's neck. The title was 'If I dood it, I get a lickin!' More guffaws. The title following was T dood it,' and he pulled the string. He pulled the top of her suit down and her spongy breasts were freed. They were larger even than the suit had hinted. The camera panned in for a closeup of them, coming in on her large nipples.
Dana pressed her breasts against him and began to unbutton her blouse. When it was completely open she pulled it out of her skirt. Turning her back to Vic, she raised the blouse above the band of her brassierre. With his left hand he fumbled with the clasp. He couldn't use his other hand because it was occupied. It was sliding up between Felice's thighs. He finally got the bra unhooked and pushed the straps over Dana's shoulders. She sat back and he put his arm around her and covered her breast with his hand. He caressed the flexible mounds and Dana began to purr.
Back to the movie: the man was pulling the suit down and when it was at her feet she stepped out of it. Her hair was dry and she removed the towel. When she saw she was naked she gave a look of surprise. Everybody laughed at the title: 'She didn't know what's coming off.' She looked at her partner's body, began kissing him hard on the mouth and tugged at the suit. Her title was 'It's hard to get this off.' His was 'You're making it hard."
Finally she got it down and he kicked it away. She caressed him admiringly and they got on the bed. She let her legs hang over the side. His body covered hers. They began to move rhythmically. She stretched her arms out and he pinned them down with his hands. Closeups of their faces showed mounting ecstasy.
"That gives me ideas," murmured Dana, unbuttoning her skirt and pulling down the zipper at the side. She removed his hand from her breast and placed it under the elastic of her panties. It found moist, warm flesh. So did his other hand, as Felice let one leg slide off his lap. Vic looked over at Clayboro. He was asleep. Felice nodded languidly.
In the film the couple's rhythm was increasing, faster and faster. The camera panned in on her face. It was tense, her teeth grinding, her eyes rolling. Closeups of their bodies revealed their intimacy to its fullest extent. Then they stopped for a moment, he moved away and rested on his back. 'You're not through, are you?' was the caption.
She kneeled over him and let her huge, firm breasts rest on his face. He began placing deep kisses over each nipple until they were once again extended. Then she began to caress his body with the tips of those lush mounds, first his chest, then, his stomach....
Then the couple went back to the bed, he dumped her on it unceremoniously. She looked up at him with surprise. She shied away, shook her head vigorously. He looked at her with anger and frustration. 'Prude!' was the caption.
The three of them ... Clayboro, Felice, and Vic, continued caressing their partners until their exertions left them limp and exhausted, panting and sweating profusely, just as the words 'The End' flashed on the screen, superimposed over two blissful people sleeping in one big happy bed.
Antoine Theodore announced that the movie was over.
It came as a surprise to practically everybody.
He was considerate enough to leave the lights off for ten minutes while everybody reluctantly, rearranged his (or her) clothes. At least two dozen matches were struck within a minute, and soon the pungency of the lust-filled air was replaced by the acrid smoke of cigarettes.
Buttoning his shirt, Vic found himself standing near Clayboro. "I guess you kind of missed out on the fireworks, being last man on the totem pole."
Clayboro smiled sheepishly. "Ah, but I wasn't. 'Some girl on the floor reached up over the arm of the couch, and the next thing I knew ... ' He shrugged his shoulders. "I wish I knew who it was, but I don't suppose it matters. Well, I think I'll go upstairs before the lights go on. I must preserve my dignity, you know." He turned around and walked out of the room.
A pair of arms from behind went around Vic. "That was a nice appetizer, darling. Now let's go upstairs for the main course." Dana pressed close to him.
"You have a tapeworm," Vic said, growing apprehensive. The moment of confrontation was soon to be upon them. He was in no rush to face her alone and break the news to her. It would be a painful scene, especially after he had committed himself to her with such seeming sincerity earlier in the evening. He felt like a jailer about to shut the sunlight out of a prisoner's life forever.
"I'm afraid this meal may give you severe indigestion," he said.
"I doubt that very much."
"Okay, let's get it over with.' He walked into the lobby with her and headed towards the stairs.
"If you put it that way, maybe we shouldnt after all," she said in a hurt tone. "I'll bet it was that redheaded bitch of Clayboro's. She had all the fun and left me to pick up the bones."
"Well, she certainly does know how to make love," he said, picking up the cue and hoping to use his sexual exhaustion as a way of postponing the inevitable.
"Well! I like that! Listen, when it comes to making love she's like a Model T to my Thunderbird. Come on upstairs and I'll show you some modern, streamlined lovemaking." She took his hand and started to lead him up the steps.
Suddenly Sparling emerged from the dining room buttoning his pants. He spied them and hustled over.
"Would you people like to join me for a drink?"
"I could sure use one," Vic said happily, stepping back down to the landing.
Dana still held his hand and jerked him to a halt. "It can wait, Harold. Vic and I have something very important to discuss."
"So do I," Sparling answered, mopping his red face with a corner of his shirt. "For instance, who was that man I saw you with, Vic?"
"That was no man, that was Lucas Clayboro."
"An intriguing combination. I'd be interested to know just what it meant."
"Suppose I meet you down at the bar in an hour or so."
"Make it two hours, and then I want him back after half an hour," Dana said, tugging impatiently on Vic's arm.
"No, an hour," Vic said firmly.
"Chicken," remarked Dana coolly.
"Very well, an hour. But one thing I want to know now."
"Where's the girl Clayboro wanted, is that what you want to know?"
"Yes. Remember what I told you yesterday," Sparling said pointedly. "You still haven't produced her."
"I'm well aware of that, and I'll go into it with you in an hour when I come down. I'll go into a lot of things with you, Harold. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear some of them and not so happy to hear some others. But as for the girl, I can tell you that Clayboro lost interest in her. He told me so himself. He doesn't want her any more, so I want you to call off your hounds, including that slob Antoine Theodore."
There was a resolute sharpness to his tone that indicated he meant business.
"Well, if you have a satisfactory explanation...."
"I don't know if you'll be satisfied with it or not, but you'll know everything as soon as I come down. Now if you'll excuse us."
They turned their backs on him and proceeded up the stairs. Vic felt like Ulysses between Scylla and Charybdis. There was messy business to be done upstairs, messy business when he came down.
But he was big enough to get through.