Chapter 5
Becky gazed admiringly around the Walters' living room. Tina and Gene had just bought new furniture-ordered through Rudy's store some time earlier, she was a bit surprised to learn. The styling was French Provincial, in very good taste.
A new portable bar bad been set up in an archway, and their new stereo oozed seductive music. Obviously, Gene was doing quite well with his contracting business.
Becky stood near the bar, letting Gene mix her a highball. Tina had called Tuesday to tell her that since the weather had cooled they would have their party indoors, and to wear something dressy. Becky had bought a new gown, a little cocktail dress that plunged lower than any she had ever worn. It also had a very high hemline....
Seeing her in it for the first time before they left home Rudy had raved about her "good thinking." The frock was quite in keeping with her "new" outlook because, after trying several of her bras with scanty decolletage and finding them unsuitable, she had decided to go without.
As Rudy had hinted a number of times she didn't really need one ... she was sufficiently firm-breasted to give the bodice the proper lines and she supposed the outline of her nipples against the clinging gold-colored fabric would increase her appeal.
At least Gene had been ogling her ever since she and Rudy arrived and even Tina and Janet had given her compliments.
Becky was a little surprised to find an extra girl at the party, a lushly constructed redhead who had the mannerisms of a chorus girl or entertainer. She wasn't really startled to hear later that Irene was a professional stripper whom Hal had invited to "liven things up." In fact, the party was being held in the middle of the week so Irene could be present. Her gown was of shimmery green material, cut to emphasize the thrust of her large breasts and longish legs. Close up, she had a rather hard, polished look and her laugh seemed stilted.
Hal and Janet had met her in Portland. She was staying at their home, on vacation between assignments.
"You act like a different girl," Gene said, breaking in on her thoughts. "And that dress is terrific!"
She thanked him and smiled and accepted the drink he handed her. She noticed their dining room, with its hardwood floor, had been cleared for dancing-and hardly any light penetrated there. Very convenient for a little fondling and smooching.
What bothered her most was what Rudy had told her just before arriving at the Walters' home. A big deal, meaning a lot of profit for the store, depended on their continuing friendship with Gene and Tina.
She had said, during their argument, that she and Rudy owed none of them anything but small-town business didn't operate that way. A manager of a large department store, in order to succeed, had to go along or go under. At least Rudy had explained it that way.
She hadn't asked him just how far their "friendship" had to go but she had a fair idea. Gene had been coming on strong ever since she and Rudy arrived. As before, Janet had been staying close to Rudy. Becky had a notion that Rudy would just as soon be with Tina-but the pairing off wouldn't work out so well. That would throw Hal with Janet, and at a party who wanted to be stuck with a husband?
II things continue I suppose the next step will be a date with Hal, she thought.
Could she really be unfaithful? The word didn't seem quite so offensive as it had a few days before. In modern society there was a certain amount of infidelity-Kinsey had uncovered what everyone had known or suspected all along. Nor was playing around confined to the men alone. Up-to-date contraceptives had freed young women from fear of unwanted pregnancy. Girls like Tina and Janet considered it smart to trade around a little. And Becky suspected their extra-marital activities weren't altogether confined to the male species....
"Don't be so serious, Becky," Gene murmured, leaning close, glancing down her cleavage.
"Sorry."
The highball was strong. She decided she needed something to still the little voices that ran through her mind, saying, don't lose your faith in yourself, Becky. Don't let these people change you too much....
Janet and Rudy were already dancing. The large girl wore a high-necked red frock but the bodice was a peek-a-boo arrangement with a slit down the middle, offering flashes of her scantily-covered bulging breasts. Her nylons were dark and webbed, her skirt extremely brief. The fullness of her legs made Becky a little envious.
Tina stood near the stereo, flirting with Hal. The upper half of her cocktail dress was almost like a negligee. Two tiny shoulder bands kept the split bodice from falling and the jiggle of her breasts indicated she, too, had spurned a bra. Becky had to admit the young blonde looked ravishing, seductive ... petite. Her tiny waist made her breasts seem even larger than they really were.
I'm not so well endowed there, Becky thought. But I do have longer legs-and Rudy loves them....
As an afterthought, she added, Apparently Gene does, too ... or am I just something new?
Remembering her resolve to be more bold, as she had with Rudy on Monday night, she took a deep breath and gave Gene a real good look at her bosom.
"Am I really different, Gene?" she murmured.
"You sure as hell are! Come on, let's dance a little."
She had never been flirty by nature but already she had learned that it wasn't hard to please men. They were still little boys with lecherous egotistical minds. They all imagined themselves perfect Casanovas ... and their pride was so fragile. They kept wanting to prove over and over again how manly they were, how hairy-chested. Yet the new trend toward female aggressiveness seemed to take something away from them.
Even her image of Rudy was becoming blurred. By top-riding she had, she imagined, made him less of a man. A bit of her respect for him had died ... and when that happened, where was love?
Am I growing up, finally? Am I seeing things as they really are? Even the movies nowadays are sexier ... Am I a part of a sick society or are my eyes just opening?
She gave it up. Why moralize? Why not be her new self? What could she expect at a party where she wore no bra? Surely she hadn't thought that Rudy would be the only man to want to slide his hand in there on her jutting breasts!
"I'd love it, Gene," she said, giving him a high-voltage glance.
He grinned. He finished his drink and took her hand. His strength was immediately communicated. His hands were a little rough from outdoor work. He was, as far as she could tell, thoroughly masculine. Playing up to him wouldn't be difficult at all. In fact she began to enjoy his nearness. Let Rudy fondle big-breasted Janet. She, Becky, could have a few thrills herself.
As soon as she began to dance with Gene she realized he had big plans for her. His lips were below her ear, his arm very tightly about her waist. Perhaps she could get him so drunk she wouldn't have to go all the way with him ... or maybe she could steer him toward the redheaded showgirl. Meanwhile it might be fun to tantalize him.
She responded by squirming her hips against his loins, quite aware already of his arousal. If Rudy wanted her to be a part-time party girl, she might as well enjoy it.
He muttered his appreciation, aiming his mouth for hers. She turned her head away teasingly. His hand wandered over her bottom and she widened the spread of her thighs, pressing herself nearer. Quirty little tremors raced through her body.
Maybe a change would do me good, she thought. Mix business with pleasure. Gene certainly wasn't repulsive. She would try not to become too emotional. All she had to do was separate thrills from love....
They were barely moving with the music. His right hand now slipped upward as she had known it would. She lightly caressed the nape of his neck. He reached into the deep slash of her bodice, onto her already firming breasts.
She felt his tremor of interest as provocative tingles chased from one nipple to the other.
"Great!" he breathed. "No bra...."
"I wanted to make things easy for you, honey," she managed.
"You've really got 'em, baby!"
She laughed softly, hoping Rudy, over in a dark corner with Janet, was listening. The stirrings of her desire grew keener. She felt her nipples spire forward, turn achy. She was a little surprised at her swift reaction to him.
Her eyes, grown accustomed to the darkness, let her see what Rudy and Janet were doing. Their mouths were locked together and his hand was in the crevice of her bodice, shaping her generous charms....
Things were moving very swiftly indeed.
"Show time!" Tina called, from the living room.
Becky finally let Gene kiss her. He did it smoothly, easing her lips apart, shooting his tongue inward. Zestful thrills accompanied his searchings. She flattened her hips against him for just a moment, increasing her excitement.
Then she backed away, drawing his hand from her tender young breasts. He didn't fight it. Tina had evidently trained him to quit when she gave the signal. It seemed to her another indication of male weakness....
She found she wasn't as jealous of Janet as she could have been. What was good for the gander was good for the goose ... It wasn't as though he were hiding his extracurricular activities, sneaking out behind her back. At least, not tonight. She wasn't at all sure that he hadn't since he began wearing his hair piece.
Becky's participation in the festivities somehow made Rudy's behavior acceptable.
But I think I do need another drink or two!
She straightened her dress and walked with Gene out into the living room. She was aware that the nipples against the thin fabric of her bodice were more prominent than ever.
Might be an interesting party, after all. She had never seen a strip show. She had always thought them a little vulgar and for men only-but of course girls did enjoy them. Many strippers worked in front of mixed audiences.
She wondered why entertainers who undressed for a living were always girls. Could there be a little lesbian streak in women who watched another woman disrobe? She had never heard of a male stripper. Or did girls have different motives in watching such a performance? Were they simply curious?
Drink in hand, she went with Gene to a small sofa that faced the center of the living room. Rudy and Janet sat directly across from them while Hal and Tina were on Becky's right. The lights had already been dimmed. Redheaded Irene put a special record on the stereo turntable. A small spotlight resting on the floor was now aimed at the place where she would perform.
Wisecracks from Hal seemed to signal the start of the performance.
"Are those for real, Red?"
Irene smiled and weaved her shoulders. Her full breasts jiggled. The men applauded. She moved into the spotlight and Becky experienced a subtle excitement. She was sure the men had witnessed strip shows but she hadn't. Would she learn anything?
The first part of the recorded background had no special rhythm-it came softly from the stereo as Irene lifted her arms and rippled her hands across the abundance of her bosom, daintily cupping her still-covered charms.
"I think every girl should learn a few routines," she said, wetting her lips with her tongue. "Men like a show. Give 'em a little variety once in a while."
"Great!" Gene exclaimed.
"And don't feel jealous girls!" Irene continued. "You're all good lookers. Bring out your best points!" Her eyes swung to Becky. "Now this chick is nice and leggy-men love the long-stemmed girlies...."
The men shouted approval.
"... not that she hasn't got it up here!" Irene went on, her hands still moving near her breasts, focussing attention to the low cut of her bodice, the white slopes of her bulging mounds.
Becky blushed, she hadn't realized Irene had observed her so closely.
The redhead went to Janet next, extolling her virtues, and so on to Tina.
"When I get through maybe one of you girls would like to try it," Irene said, loosening her tiny belt. Becky could see now that the entertainer's frock was really a uniform designed to be taken off.
"I might if I had enough to drink!" Tina exclaimed.
"Hooray!" Hal burst out.
Becky shivered. She didn't think she could do it, even two-thirds drunk. She watched closely, though, as Irene commenced to draw her skirt up slowly while her wide hips began a delicate undulation.