TWN-3095  Naughty Newlyweds
(Jack Cannon)


The room was pitch black so she couldn't see the man, or was it a woman? The soft hand was joined by its mate and a soft moan whispered out of the blackness as lips followed the seeking fingers.

Other lips sought her mouth now and other hands were stroking her ruthlessly. "Oh, no!" she pleaded. "Not so many, please! I can't stand it!"... Bonelessly she fainted into complete unknowingness...


CHAPTER ONE

Laura Cannon snuggled into the wide, cool sheets of her bed and waited for her husband, Carl, to finish in the bathroom. She shivered with delightful anticipation. It had been too long, Carl hadn't looked at her for more than two weeks and her body was aching for attention. She giggled softly into the rumpled sheet as she thought of the naughty but nice things she would have him do, once the flame of their love-making had reached if s hottest peak.

"Darling, what ever are you doing?" she wailed finally, as he remained in the bathroom, probably drying, since the water had long, since stopped.

"Be right out, hon," he answered.

Carl walked from the humid bathroom into the air-conditioned coolness of their bedroom and shivered as he climbed into the huge king-size bed. He snuggled his icy body close to hers as she grasped him eagerly, rubbing his chilled flesh to bring heat once again to his shivering, twitching muscles.

Her head rolled back against her pillow as his lips suddenly found her nipples, pulling at them roughly, drawing them tenderly into his mouth, working them into a state of swollen tenderness.

"Oh darling, that's so good," she breathed blissfully, pulling his head even closer to her bursting breasts.

He murmured his pleasure against her delicious mounds and continued the pleasure-giving action. She strained toward him, and arched her back so that he could have all of them, her hands helping to force more of the swollen flesh into his mouth. Now there was no thought of the chill of the room, only of the heated pleasure-sweets that were being discovered.

"Oh Carl, please hurry I want you-" Carl shook his head and maddeningly delayed the natural progression of his assault on her body. She writhed and twisted, hoping desperately that he would take her madly, wantonly, without regard for convention. He had never loved her without reservation, she thought crazily, as she twisted and turned and ached for relief, but he might, if only she could get him to forget his inhibitions for once.

Now his hands were seeking her thighs, and she opened for him, making it easy, thrusting toward the blind, mole-like fingers.

"Aghhhh Ohh Carl-" she gusted involuntarily as his hands found the rich, verdant delta of her very core, "Oh honey please, I can't wait anymore."

He nodded, causing her soft flesh to bob and shake with the movement of his head as he continued the child-like pulling at the stiff peaks. Then, without warning, he was arching over her, and she arched herself as well, to meet his attack, welcoming it, needing it. Almost before she knew it, he was taking her, thrusting at her roughly as she rolled and parried in counterpoint to his movements.

Almost before she could begin to match the rhythm of his attack, Laura felt him stiffening, his breathing becoming suddenly ragged, and with her brain wailing in dismay as she sought to catch up with him, his body burst with great spasms of love. They lay quiescent for a moment, neither able to move. His body thrust tentatively, hesitantly at her several more times, then, his ardor spent, collapsed into limp uselessness leaving her screaming silently, tears of frustration squeezing from her tightly clamped eyelids.

Again Oh, Jesus, it happened again. He just ran Off and left me like I wasn't even in the race, she screamed to herself, clamping herself tightly around him as if somehow hoping to relieve the grating tension that gnawed at her nerves.

Carl raised his head and looked at her, still breathing heavily.

"Okay, honey? You all right?"

Laura nodded, not trusting her voice at that moment, and as he rolled from her she patted his shoulder almost in a reflex movement. God, how she hated it when it happened like this. And, to her great consternation it had been happening more and more often lately.

"You want to hit the shower before me, baby?" Carl looked down at her as he stood by the bed.

Laura looked at his body, wondering at the muscular, rigid stomach and chest that hid the unfeeling flesh, the uncaring sensibilities that left her in her present state of mind. He looked capable) he was capable if he wanted to be. Yet in the six months they had been married, there had been occasion for her to doubt the total manliness of Carl. His insensitive lack of regard for her own needs in moments such as these.

"No, go ahead, I want to rest for a moment," she sighed, again snuggling into the covers.

He slapped her on her rounded buttocks and again moved into the bathroom. Almost at once Laura heard the shower again. Her hands involuntarily sought her own body, massaging her still tender, erect nipples, then roving downward. Her heart heavy with remorse, she moved rhythmically, and once again the sweet pleasure-shocks waved through her body. In a few minutes it was over and she rolled to her side and pondered her predicament.

She had known Carl for only three months before their marriage, three months that had been a whirlwind of cars, nightclubs, flowers and dates, and finally the loving. When it was new, in those first courting days and in the first weeks of their marriage, they had discovered the summits of sensation together. Carl had been tender and demanding at once, and he had taken her with consummate care in those early days.

Laura smiled grimly, as she recalled how she had learned to work with him, learning the unfamiliar rhythm, learning the art of making her body respond to every nuance of love-play, reaching the high state of need when he did, and then racing with him to the lofty heights to plunge headlong into the clouds apace.

Now, a short six months later, for several weeks, it had been as if they had fallen out of step. No, it wasn't that, she mused, it was that Carl no longer waited for her, or tried to match his pace to hers, and more and more she felt alone when she was with him. God! That sounded so stupid!

Milly said that she was just going through a phase, that all married couples had to learn to be effective in bed. Laura was sure Milly was right in the case where there had never been coordination between the two people involved, but she was surely wrong about herself and Carl; they had been perfect together for five months.

Milly was Milly Arnold. She and Jack Arnold lived across the hall in the apartment building that was occupied by many working couples, and several bachelors who shared several of the luxurious apartments. The building was surrounded by huge trees on all but one side. There was a courtyard to the rear where their own private swimming pool was nestled under a completely screened and shrubbed enclosure, making a secure and secluded place to have their private parties when the weather was good.

Jack Arnold, like Carl, was an engineer, and, in fact, so were many of the other men who lived in the building. Most worked at the huge missile plant across town. They rode to work together, played golf together and sometimes night-clubbed together.

All in all, they had a good life. There were no children in either family, but, Laura thought, it was a little soon for that anyway. After all, in six months they were just learning what to do and when to do it!

She smiled at the thought of Milly and Jack. Milly had never been one to keep things from her friends, being on occasion embarrassingly frank about some things. She knew for instance that Jack liked to make love early in the morning, shunning his connubial duties in the later hours of the night.

"He thinks it's too late in the day," Milly had giggled to her one afternoon. "He thinks his stamina is greater in the morning, after a good night's rest."

"But is it?" Laura had questioned the older girl wonderingly, thinking that if she changed her schedule with Carl there might be an improvement in her own situation.

"Honey, he's like a bull any time. He could go any time of the day or night," Milly had laughed. "Honestly, I'm kinda glad he doesn't know his own capabilities," she sighed.

Laura had joined Milly's laughter at Jack's overactive libido, but somehow the laughter choked her a little. Carl had been that way during the early days of their marriage.

Impatiently, she threw off the sheet that covered her and rolled from the bed. She went to the full-length mirror on the closet door and stared at her reflection there.

Her breasts were good, she decided, her nipples were those of a lush woman; rich, pouting points of stiffened flesh that ached for a hungry mouth. Her eyes glanced at her face, and she smiled at the graceful, slightly turned up nose that was reflected there. Smooth, soft skin, a sensuous mouth framed by thin, sweetly curved lips, and great blue eyes completed the picture. She pulled the long strands of blonde hair away from her head, twisting it back into a ponytail, making her face look even younger. No, she certainly had no reason to complain about that part of her body. Even she could tell that she was an outstanding beauty.

She turned gracefully, posing her body so that her hip stood out and her thighs were stretched into their most pleasing curve, and let her eyes trace the lines of her flat tummy, critically. There was only the slightest sign of a tummy, and the delicate delta that shielded the mound below was almost a shadow. She had good legs, too, she thought defiantly, looking at her calves as she stretched to tiptoe. No, there was nothing wrong with her, the trouble was between Carl and herself.

Reluctantly, she returned to the bed and lay against her cold pillow. In a minute, Carl would be coming back to bed from the bathroom. Should she ask him about their trouble? Should she tell him how unsatisfactory their sex-life had become? Almost at once she rejected both ideas. She instinctively knew that should she indicate that she was unable to achieve completion with him, he might very well be inhibited further, complicating the situation even more.

No, she would have to work things out herself. If only Carl was like Albert, her boyfriend during high school. Now there was a-a hot pantsed kid if she ever knew one. She had been put to her utmost to protect her charms every date they ever had, until after Albert had broken her defenses down and achieved his greatest desire that first time, she thought Laura rolled to her side and settled down as if in sleep as Carl returned from the bathroom, and he slid in beside her without a sound. In moments his even breathing told her he was already asleep. She rose from the bed stealthily and attended to her own bathroom chores, bathing quickly and powdering her body with a huge puff. The job done, she returned to bed and lay there thinking. Thinking of Albert and when they were in high school.

* * *

She had been eighteen, and as the most beautiful girl in the school, she had been sought after by almost all the boys, and had her parents permitted it, she could have had dates every night. She only dated on the weekends, however, and one night in May, about three weeks before they were to graduate, Albert had broken through her defenses and taken her.

Her parents had gone away for the night, attending a football game in a nearby city. Her father had been a great fan of the local professional team, traveling to as many of the games as he could manage to afford. Her mother often accompanied him and this Friday night was typical of the fall weekends when the football season was in full sway.

Laura had wandered about the house, wondering if she should call one of her girlfriends to spend the night with her. She finally shrugged off the idea, preferring instead to spend a quiet evening by herself, curled up with a good book. She had finished no more than two chapters after dinner, when the telephone rang. It had been Albert. They had dated rather steadily all year, but it had been nothing earthshaking, they just liked to be together.

Albert had asked her to a movie but she had declined. He had sounded so disappointed that she had asked him to come to the house, thinking that they might watch television or perhaps dance a little. He arrived almost before she hung the phone up.

"Well, that was a fast trip, Al, where did you call from, next door?" she had smiled at his eager face as she let him in the front door.

He shook his head, and patted her on the rump familiarly as he walked by her into the living room. Laura's heart had given an unruly leap at his action. He had never done that before!

Laura smiled into her pillow as she recalled the newly aroused eyes she had turned toward him as he walked into the living room and sat on the couch.

She had followed the youth and sat beside him tensely fingering her class ring.

She looked into his eyes wonderingly and breathed, "Al why did you do that?"

He turned mildly surprised eyes into her own as he replied. "Do what, little doll, I don't understand?"

"Why did you why did you pat me on the behind, just then?" she finished in a rush, trying to hide her interest behind a mask of mild curiosity.

"Oh, that. Well it was just sticking out there, sort of handy, and it looked so soft and curvy that-"

"Albert! Really, I don't know what's gotten into you, you've never acted this way before," she interrupted hastily, her face flushing at the sound of his words. She squirmed mentally as her body began to misbehave terribly, her breasts itching and burning. Her panties suddenly felt as though they were two sizes too small, the elastic cutting into her soft thighs cruelly.

Albert suddenly turned to her and pulled her body tight against his own, his lips crushing hers in a heated kiss. Laura pushed futilely against him, her heart leaping with great pulses of passion. She was astounded! Her body had never been so aware of the boy and, as he continued the fierce kiss, her lips gradually slackened and her mouth was probed by his hard tongue. Almost at once, Laura knew what was going to happen. It was just too much; too good, and now his hands were on her breasts, massaging them, weighing the full mounds carefully.

She felt her nipples pop out to their fullest extension, seeming all at once to swell to the bursting point, chafing against her brassiere with little pulses of sensation.

"Ohhh Albert, please-" Laura was surprised at the sound of her own passion-filled voice, her head thrown back against the back of the couch. She had sounded so-so husky! And so wanting! Yet she didn't care, for the youth's hands and lips were rapidly taking her beyond her inhibitions, beyond the point of no return. Even as her head swam with the heady thrusts of his hot blood, she was aware of one little compartment of her mind standing off to the sidelines, observing quite calmly the phenomenon that was taking place.

How aware her body had suddenly become, her breasts passion weighted and swollen, her tummy twitching uncontrollably with twinges of desire, her thighs weak and trembling, and her very core suddenly bathed in the sweet dew of arousal. Never before had she felt so ready, so in need of-of something!

She followed Albert numbly as he pulled her from the couch and made for the stairway. He knew the way to her bedroom, taking her there almost with the instinct of a lemming, and she did not pull back even though she knew what he would do. Then, in moments, almost so quickly that she was stunned, she was nude, and Albert was removing his own clothes. Laura watched dreamily as the youth's body was revealed. She never before had seen a man wholly naked, and her eyes widened in surprise and pleasure at the sight of him.

"Ohhh Albert," she breathed in a tone that was almost reverent, her eyes filled with wonder.

He turned his gaze upon her own nudity. "Yeah, I know what you mean, honey. You're really something yourself," he said in a low voice as he lowered his body to the bed beside her.

Laura stayed his hand as it reached for her body once more, and looked into the boy's eyes curiously.

"Albert have you ever I mean-" she hesitated, not knowing how to ask what she wanted to know.

"No, not really," he said, "but I knew your folks were gone and I just decided that it was time. We're old enough," he finished lamely.

Laura looked at his straining body, knowing what she would say, what she would do.

"Yes," she breathed happily, "we are, aren't we?" She looked into his fine, strong face for a moment, fighting back a strong urge to cover his body with kisses, to take the initiative and seek the secrets she had wondered about so long.

"All right," she said in a firm, low voice, "we'll learn together."

Then she had no more time to consider the import of her words, for his lips attacked her body madly, capturing a stiff nipple almost at once, punishing that swollen crest in a storm of sensation so heady that she nearly fainted. Her head rolled helplessly against the pillow, and her body arched toward him, hips undulating uncontrollably, blindly seeking the gentle assuagement she instinctively knew must follow.

Then, almost before she realized what he was doing, he moved to capture her in the ultimate embrace, and her body started and jerked with the first pain of love. Next, as he continued his attack, ever more searching and plumbing, the pain receded with each sounding of the velvet cavern, and her body seemed to try to engulf his straining tumescence. They became one, straining, tightening, working together. Gradually the delirious sensations heightened and broadened, and as she screamed her astonishment to the world they plunged over the edge of the chasm and pulsed and shuddered their way to the feathery depths below. Exhausted, she lay in quiescent abandon, rent from time to time with a shuddering, convulsive ripple of her pelvic muscles that seemed to pull more passion from him. It had gone on and on, for seemingly an endless time, and she had savored the experience for days afterward.

* * *

Now, in another time and another bed, Laura shrugged off the remembrances of her experience with Albert, and considered the state of her relationship with her husband, Carl. Those minutes with Albert had been wonderful minutes, filled with delightful experiences not often repeated with Carl and not at all in the past six weeks.

I wonder why? she whispered to herself wonderingly, remembering the sweetness of Albert's attack as if it were yesterday.

Can I have that again? What can I do to recover it-I can't do without it, now that I know what it's like! God, I just can't!

With the final admission, Laura turned and buried her face in her pillow, sobbing with the despair that only the frustrated and unloved can know or understand.


CHAPTER TWO

Carl left early the next morning, hardly rousing Laura at all with his quiet shower and perfunctory kiss on her cheek as he made ready to leave. This had become his usual routine in the last few weeks, a routine that had palled quickly on the warm, ebullient personality of the young wife.

As she heard the front door slam shut, she wondered what she could do to lift herself from the rut of desultory love-making that had become an anathema to her. After all, I'm only twenty-three years old, I don't want to feel like an old married woman of fifty, all used up and not caring: whether or not my body is attractive to men. That time was too far off to even think about, she thought as she got up to go to the bathroom.

After a quick shower and another session with the huge powder puff, she felt a little better, returning to her room, nude and cool, ready to do battle with the day's problems. A sharp knock on the door startled her. Who-Oh, it must be Milly. She gets up with the birds, because Jack likes to run along the beach for several blocks before breakfast.

"That you, Milly?" she called through the thin panel of the apartment door.

Milly's muffled affirmative answer made her smile, and she opened the door just a crack and peered out.

"Just a minute honey, I'm like a jaybird. When I get away from the door, come on in-but shut it before someone sees me, will you?"

She watched through the crack to make sure Milly had understood her soft admonition, then moved away, letting the older woman come through the door. Milly was dressed in hip-hugger pants and a white sweater that fit her lush body loosely. Laura had never ceased to admire the stunning brunette's flair for clothes. Now, as Milly closed the door, she looked around and laughed aloud at the sight of Laura's nudity.

"Darling, what happened, did Carl decide to take all of your clothes and make sure you run around that way all day? Really, I think it's a delightful idea," she giggled as she pulled Laura reluctantly into the center of the living room.

"I do think though," she smiled at the younger girl, "you'd better make sure you stay away from the windows. If Eddie or Jim get a load of you that way, there'll be hell to pay. Those two will tear the place down trying to get to you."

Laura nodded, thinking of the two bachelors who shared the apartment next door. They were young, both of them junior technicians at the missile plant where Carl and Jack worked. Eddie Martin was blond, good-looking and quite an athlete. He still lifted weights and otherwise kept himself in good physical condition. Jim Davis was dark-skinned, partly Indian extraction, she had been told, moody and intense, but also a fine artist although he had never worked professionally at the craft.

Indeed, those two young men would have a fit if she let them see her in the nude. On more than one occasion they had raised the roof of the building far into the night with their partying, and on many occasions, Laura had noticed them both looking at her avidly as she lounged beside the pool. They had never become very friendly though, since the boys preferred to pursue the single girls in the neighborhood, rather than spend their time with the old married couples who resided in the building with them.

Milly waited while Laura sat in the chair by the television set and thought of the two youths who were their neighbors. Then she again voiced her question impatiently.

"Well, you didn't tell me why you're running around bare-assed in full daylight? Did Carl hide your clothes or not?" Again she giggled happily at the thought of such a bizarre event.

"Milly, don't laugh I wish he had done something like that. Honestly, Mil, I'm getting to the point where I wish almost anyone would do something with me," she finished ruefully, walking toward the couch. She sat down, the rough surface of the cushions biting into her tender buttocks roughly, making her squirm against them, almost as if she were seeking to irritate her body even more. Milly watched for a moment, noting the unconscious action of Laura's body, her eyes slowly widening as Laura's agitation became apparent.

"Darling, you do need attention, don't you?" she breathed in a hoarse voice. "Maybe oh well, perhaps I shouldn't meddle."

Laura looked at her as she dropped her gaze to the cushion next to Laura's leg. "What, Milly, were you going to suggest? At this point I'm ready to listen to almost anything. You know what I'm going through?"

Milly nodded. "Yes, I do, honey, you've told me about Carl's apparent lack of interest, and maybe I do have a suggestion, but I'm not sure you're ready for it-or for that matter, whether Carl's ready for it."

"Ready for what, Milly, don't be so mysterious. For goodness' sake, tell me."

Milly looked at her for a minute, then sighed and told her. "Honey, you may not realize it but some men just simply have to have more than one woman to keep them interested. What I mean is, maybe you should see if a little extra stuff might perk Carl up. I know it does wonders for Jack-"

"Do you mean Jack and you don't mind?" Laura shrieked in a squeaky, surprised voice, hardly able to believe her ears.

"Of course I don't mind," the dark-haired woman smiled, "I not only don't mind, I make some of the arrangements for him. Oh, he's a real man, sweetie, just made for satisfying the women on this earth."

Laura looked in amazement at the satisfied smile on Milly's face as she spoke. Why, she's actually proud of his accomplishments! If that's what you could call them she thought hastily. But what had she been ready to suggest? Could she mean-?

Milly read her mind. "Sure, that's what I was going to suggest, if you're as bad off as you say. And, I think you are, sweetie."

"But But how-Oh, Milly, I couldn't!"

"Why not, pray tell?"

"I Oh Milly, I've known you for the whole six months we've lived here, since right after Carl and I were married, and I don't think I've ever been more surprised. I simply don't know you at all, or Jack either. I didn't dream you-" she stopped in confusion, flushing to the roots of her hair.

Milly laughed shortly. "Yes?" she said, dragging it out and upward at the end, making a question of the single word.

Laura could hardly get the words out. "Do you too?" she gasped as the older woman grinned happily at her.

"Of course, darling; wouldn't be fair to let the old boy have all the fun, now would it?"

Laura laid her head against the back of the couch in amazement and laughed aloud. She was joined by the olive skinned beauty beside her, and together they giggled and clung together, until Laura pulled away and walked into her bedroom. Milly followed, and Laura could see on her dressing table mirror the soft brown eyes of the older woman looking avidly at the sway of her nude buttocks as she moved to the table and sat down. She reached for a cigarette, and lit it reflectively, thinking of the older woman's interested gaze. Could it be that Milly was more than just a little interested in her?

Why did my little fanny interest her so much? If it had been her husband, Jack, she wouldn't have been surprised, and now that she thought of it, Jack had, on more than one occasion, looked at her with the same look in his eyes that Milly had displayed moments earlier, but she had dismissed the notion as her imagination. Now she wasn't so sure.

Almost without her being conscious of it, her nipples suddenly stiffened, and her breasts seemed heavy, and very sensitive, and she would have given almost anything to have someone caress them at that moment. She smoked silently for a moment, her eyes straying again and again to her lush peaks that were reflected so clearly by the huge mirror behind the dressing table.

Suddenly, she was aware of the pregnant silence in the room, and lifted her eyes to those of Milly, who sat On the edge of her bed not far away. Milly's gaze also was on the stiffened peaks that were on display so clearly in the mirror, the pink nubs standing out like beacons in the night Involuntarily, Laura drew in a quick breath, seeming to agitate the swollen surfaces even more.

"My God! Look at them, will you," Milly breathed softly as she rose from the bed to stand directly behind Laura. "They're ready to burst honey, you really do need attention, don't you?"

Laura felt herself lean back weakly, into the soft tummy of the older woman behind her. Milly's hands were on her shoulders, and they both watched the unfolding drama in the mirror. The long, slender fingers moved slowly, ever so slowly downward, moving inexorably inward toward the lush peaks that waited and throbbed in expectation. Laura's eyes grew wider as she knew what Milly intended to do. I shouldn't I mustn't let her touch them. If she does, I just know I'll have to but the fingers were now almost to the coral tips, touching the fevered skin ever so lightly, sending waves of sensation radiating in all directions, heralding their advance with icy ringlets of gooseflesh.

Then the lusty peaks were captured and held for a moment by the soft fingers, while the palms worked under the full roundness of the globes. Laura's eyes glanced from the scene to Milly's as she, too, watched the action from behind the younger girl. The brown eyes were wide and eager, and the hands began to caress the wide and erect mounds. Slowly they pulled and massaged the fullness, working the flesh toward the peaks in short, kneading movements, changing subtly into a pulling, milking movement that trapped fresh torrents of blood in the pink nipples. Laura moaned her passion unconsciously.

Suddenly she could stand the sweet pleasure no longer and pushed Milly's hands away. She sat up, breathing heavily as she stared at the older woman's face in the mirror.

"That's enough, Milly I think-"

"Honey, it was just the beginning, didn't you know that?" Milly said with a laugh as she sat beside Laura on the small bench in front of the dressing table. She put her arm around Laura's waist and pulled the slender body to her own in a hug of tenderness.

"I think I know what would have come next Milly, but I've never-"

"Then don't be in such a hurry to stop it darling, if you've never tried it."

Laura laughed nervously and rose to walk to the closet where she selected a dressing gown. "Really, Milly, I don't know what's come over you today, you're so so sexy that ifs awful!"

Milly laughed and swung around on the bench to watch as Laura belted the gown around her nudity.

"You admit then that you weren't upset by our little scene? That what comes next might not be so bad after all?"- "Milly!"

The older woman reached for one of Laura's cigarettes and lit it as Laura watched, uncertain as to what she should do or say. Milly was being so so aggressive today, she had never done anything like this before. And they had been alone many times in the six months they had known each other. But, Laura mused silently, she was learning rapidly that she really didn't know Milly and Jack Arnold at all! They did things that she had never considered married people might engage in, except under the most bizarre circumstances.

Milly walked to where Laura stood, stopping directly in front of the apprehensive young blonde. Her hand moved to Laura's long golden tresses, brushing the shimmering cascade away from her head and backward, to reveal the delicate ear that had been hidden. She held the hair back against the younger girl's head while her other hand came up and did the same thing on the other side. Her eyes were full upon Laura's wide and unbelieving iris' as she slowly lowered her head to touch her full, sensual lips against the thinner, sensitive ones of Laura's.

My God! How sensuous Milly's lips were, Laura thought wildly as she submitted to the kiss, she's not like a man, hard and demanding, but so-so soft and gentle! Laura heard herself moan again, and almost without realizing what she was doing, grasped the older woman to her body in a tight embrace. She could feel the firm curves of Milly's breasts against her own, and a sudden urge to caress them thundered through her like a bolt of lightning.

Milly pulled away. "Come on honey, I don't think you can wait for an arrangement with Jack, and I know damn well I can't wait," she breathed in a husky voice as she pulled Laura toward the bed.

"Ohh Milly-what are you going-"

"Never mind, little doll, don't worry your head about a thing," the brunette beauty breathed.

Then Laura was sitting on the edge of the bed and Milly was pulling at the belt of the dressing gown. Almost at once Laura was again nude, and watching avidly as Milly pulled at her own clothes.

Then they were both naked and lying on the bed, and Milly's lips once again captured those of Laura in a fierce embrace. Laura gasped for air as Milly's hands ranged over her body, bringing deep gushes of sensation to her brain as the searching fingers traced trails of fire along her thighs.

Slowly, ever so lightly and slowly the knowing fingers moved, but then-! They stopped, Laura thought frantically as her outraged nerves told her in spite of her closed eyes, and her whole body seemed to revolt.

"Oh, Milly, please," she moaned between frantic gasps for breath, "Go on I can't stand it!"

"Yes, darling I'll go on, in just a minute," the soft voice came back, soothingly," But we mustn't hurry. The pleasure will be greater if we build toward the end slowly teasingly."

"Milly for God's sake do something!" Laura cried frantically.

Milly did, and Laura nearly fainted as her nipple was slowly drawn into the hungry mouth of her older partner. Great pulses of passion seemed to emerge from her bursting rondure with each pull of the voracious mouth, the pseudolacteal flow rippling along the swollen nerves of her breasts with electrical jolts which caused her to jerk and twist uncontrollably.

Then the hands those talented hands started their search again, and within seconds another wave of sensation beat frantically upward against that traveling downward from her breasts. The two met in the vicinity of Laura's navel, and the explosion that resulted seemed to blast her from the face of the earth, yet she seemed able somehow to stand at a distance and watch what was taking place. She not only felt, but could see Milly's head leave her breasts and move downward, tracing fantastic lines of sensation along her tummy. Her legs thrashed and jerked under the knowing assault, and once more Laura heard her voice plead for completion.

"Ahhh that's it Ohh! Milly Ohh yes! Hurry!"

Then at last the long awaited comfort began. Laura arched toward the sweetness, seeking, needing, reaching for the final peak. And, in seconds, almost before she thought it possible, the huge wave began to build, swelling to enormous size while she watched from her position high on the beach. Higher and higher it rose, until, with a crashing roar, it enveloped her entire being and swept her into the depths. The dark depths, where she lay gasping for breath, cushioned by the layers of foam that swirled around her, ebbing, flowing, then ebbing more, gradually leaving her once more awash on the sand, spent, and worn, but deliriously fulfilled.


CHAPTER THREE

Afterward, Laura lay exhausted on her bed, thinking of what had happened to her. How had she gotten to the point where she would be receptive to another woman's advances, something she had never done before in her life? Had Carl's uncaring love making deteriorated her sexuality during the last six weeks, frustrating her so much that she would do such a thing? She wondered. In any case, a whole new set of circumstances and problems had forced their way to the fore in her life, and she instinctively knew that they would not be simple to handle.

"Thinking it over, huh?" Milly asked quietly, bringing her back to reality.

Laura nodded. "I'm so horrified at the thought of what we've done that I don't quite know what to do," she answered slowly.

"Don't do anything, honey, just let nature take its course."

"Milly, I'm not sure that what we did was nature taking its course. Maybe it had a little push," she said slowly, looking into Milly's face accusingly.

Milly smiled and nodded. "Touched sweetie, it did. But I sure didn't hear you fighting very much."

"That's what's bothering me I didn't want you to stop."

Milly laughed and got up from the bed. She stood by the door for a moment "I've got to get back home, honey, but you think about what I said earlier. Let me arrange something for you and Jack. It'll do you good, believe me. More good than what you just had."

"Well I should hope so," Laura sniffed in mock disdain, then burst into laughter at Milly's frown. "Oh, Milly, what we did was terribly bad, but I won't deny that it was-well, good, but I don't want to repeat it" Milly grinned at her, then returned to the aide of the bed as if she suddenly remembered something.

"Say, I've got a great idea. Something that might even make Carl jealous. He'll look at you with different eyes, so to speak, if he gets the idea that another man might be interested in you."

Laura sat up straight. She was interested in anything that might lead Carl to be more interested in her. She stood beside the bed and looked at Milly intently, oblivious of her own nudity.

"Mil, what have you got working in that devious mind of yours, is it nasty? Does it have anything to do with Eddie or Jim?"

Milly laughed shortly, and patted Laura's shoulder affectionately.

"Not on your life sweetie, ifs Jack I have in mind."

Laura was stunned. "Jack? What I mean how?"

"Really, darling, it's very simple, all we have to do is get the boys together tonight for a little poker. We'll start out simple, with the idea of a few beers and a canasta game." She grasped Laura's arm and walked her toward the apartment door. "Then, after a few hands, one of us will suggest, in a kidding way of course, that we all play strip poker, just to liven up the party. I'm betting that nature will take it's course after that"

"You mean, really take our clothes off if we lose? All the way?"

Milly laughed at the amazed look on Laura's face. "Of course all the way, darling; how else can you play strip poker?" She looked again at the uncertain expression on Laura's countenance. "Look at it this way, sweetie, Carl certainly has seen you that way, and so have I," she said with a small catch in her voice.

Laura looked at the older woman quickly, noting the avid look that had returned to the soft brown eyes as they once more dropped to the lush curves of the younger girl's breasts. Laura wished desperately that she had at least donned her dressing gown before accompanying Milly to the door, but it couldn't be helped. She was nude and she would have to remain that way until her guest left Otherwise, it would seem too gauche to rush back to the bedroom to recover the garment "Jack will be the only one who hasn't had the pleasure, my dear," Milly finished quietly, turning once more toward the apartment door, "And I can guarantee you he will be just as excited as I was, only more so."

"Yes, Milly, but Carl's never been well you know, in front of you either."

Milly's hand stopped as she grasped the doorknob. "Yes, that's right too, honey, but I don't think you'll hear either of us complain. It should be interesting to say the least" Laura frowned as she thought of the four of them in various stages of undress. "I don't know, Milly, maybe we shouldn't-"

"Nonsense, dear, live a little! Let's see what happens. It'll be an adventure," she finished as she opened the door and peeked out.

With a final wave of her hand she went into the hall, but not before she turned and whispered to Laura, "Remember honey, let them get a few beers in their gullets before we make the big suggestion see you about seven tonight okay?"

Laura nodded absently, and closed the door after the departing beauty. She wasn't sure how Carl could react to their plans at all. She pondered the problem as she returned to her bedroom to dress. Carl had never mentioned another woman during the time she had known him He was seemingly oblivious to the charms he must have occasionally seen or noticed on the street or at the few parties they attended. But, she mused, that doesn't mean he isn't aware of them.

How would he react to Milly's abundant goodies, she thought idly, would he want her? Would he take her into the bedroom while she and Jack experimented in the living room? She was unable to shake the thoughts from her mind as the day wore on, and repeatedly, she found herself sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee, wondering.

That night, in their living room, the third round of beers was consumed before they had completed two hands of canasta, and Milly smiled a knowing grin at Laura as the young bride went to the kitchen for more. Milly followed with an empty dip dish. She refilled it as she watched Laura get the beers from the refrigerator.

"This time, huh, Laura we hit them with it this time, okay?"

Laura nodded, too excited and frightened to speak, but she was determined that she would go through with the plan, if for no other reason than to find out how Carl would react to the suggestion and, if they decided to play strip poker, to the sight of Milly's undraped charms. Her hands trembled as she placed the beer bottles on the coasters beside the two men. Carl's face was flushed from the beer he had already consumed, and Jack's crew-cut appearance seemed hardly to have changed since he had arrived in their apartment. His bulky frame filled the chair completely. He must be like a bear in bed, Laura thought as she resumed her seat. He's hairy! I can see the hair on his chest right through his shirt, she thought idly, I wonder how that will feel against my breasts. Oh. for heaven's sake, she chided herself in irritation, nothing's been said about going to bed, so why am I wondering how his hair will feel against me? Have I gotten so hungry for a man that I think of them all that way?

Laura had no time to ponder the question further as Milly laughingly began to tease the boys about their poor showing at canasta. She and Laura had beaten the men each time.

"So, you want some more punishment," she giggled. "Well, Laura and I can just take you to the cleaners once more, can't we honey," she said, looking at the younger girl with a knowing look.

"I oh, of course, anytime, Mil," she stammered, her eyes on the table, seeking some way to keep the conversation going, yet away from what she feared was coming. Her intuition was correct, for Milly broached the subject immediately.

"Of course, if you boys think there's a game that we can't beat you at, why just speak up," she breathed in a husky voice. Laura watched in amazement as Carl's eyes lit up and he glanced at the older woman with silent interest.

Jack ruffled his cards and dropped them on the table, turning to look at Carl at the same time. "Are we going to stand for this abuse, old man?"

Carl looked at him as he downed more of his beer. "What the hell can we do about it, friend, if that's the kind of players we're stuck with," he shrugged, "that's the way the cookie's made."

Milly laughed aloud, drinking from her glass as she dropped her own cards on the table.

"Tell you what, boys, Laura and I will be good sports about this whole thing. You decide what game you're best at, and we'll guarantee to take your hides-no matter what the game-no holds barred. We're game for anything, aren't we, sweetie?" She turned to Laura and patted her hand affectionately.

"I I guess so, although I'm not too good at some games."

Milly waved her hand imperiously, "Never mind, I'll make up for your lack of skill." She turned back to the men, "Well, what's your poison, boys, what would you like most?"

Laura gasped mentally as Milly uttered the bold words, her eyes on Carl's face as she waited for their decision.

"Poker?" Jack asked tentatively.

Carl hooted. "Laura's the worst poker player in the world, she couldn't-"

"That's what you think, husband of mine," Laura interrupted, suddenly emboldened by his words. What the hell! She'd as well find out about things now as later, she thought grimly.

Milly drank from her glass and laughed loudly. "Poker! Okay, poker it is, and just to make it more interesting, we'll make it strip poker!"

Jack hooted and swung his bottle in a huge arc about his head, while Carl sat in stunned silence.

"Hot damn, that's a winner if I've ever heard one," Jack chortled as he grabbed up the cards and started to shuffle them, "let's get with it, I can hardly wait to see those gals start to take it off!"

Laura waited, half expecting Carl to object, to somehow keep her from having to take her clothes off in front of Jack, but she waited vainly. Carl looked at her questioningly for a second, then shrugged his shoulders and drank more beer. Laura's spirit's plummeted. She would have to go through with it And, he had been right when he had said that she was the world's worst poker player: she had never won a pot in her life, mainly because poker wasn't her game, and she seldom played it.

The first three rounds went to the boys and Laura and Milly took off their blouses, shoes and stockings as the game progressed. Laura was disconcerted at the repeated glances Jack threw at her lush, bra covered breasts, knowing that he was seeing more of her than he had ever been permitted before. And Carl was eyeing Milly's generous breasts the same way, his eyes stealing glances over his cards repeatedly.

The critical fourth round went badly for the girls also, and before she realized it Laura found that she had lost another bit of clothing. She watched hesitantly as Milly stripped off her bra, her huge breasts leaping free of the garment almost as if they anticipated the pleasures that would follow. Laura watched Carl's face as Milly stripped off her bra, and was astounded to see a wide grin cross his features, as he hastily drank more of his beer. So that's how it is, eh? Well, we'll see how he likes it when Jack sees my breasts, and makes one of his usual wisecracks. Maybe that will bring him to his senses and we can call a halt to this silly stripping. Besides, she had nothing to fear where her breasts were concerned, she could back Milly off the map any time she wanted to. Her boobies were as good as many professional models, and Carl himself had told her that he had never seen a stripper with a better body than hers.

She reached behind her back and unfastened the catch of her bra, flushing slightly in the process as she realized the silence in the room was almost deafening. She hesitated only a moment, then pulled the bra off of her delicious mounds and down her arms. She threw the garment aside and sat up straight, giving them all a generous look at her lush peaks.

"At'sa girl, Laura, take it off," Jack breathed hoarsely as he shuffled the cards for the next round, "you've got a good set there, almost the best I've ever seen!"

"Jack! Dammit, I'm here, too, you know," Milly protested mildly.

"Yeah, baby, but yours are mine every night, they're different," he grinned disarmingly.

"They sure are," Carl interjected almost unconsciously, his hand tightening around his beer glass in a suggestive reflex action, "Damn, they're as good as Laura's from what I can see Jack, you're a lucky stiff."

"I'm lucky Judas, man, Laura's are standing out straight, like they've never been-"

"All right, can the cheap examination of our boobs and get on with the game, you guys," Milly directed, glancing at Laura, "Jesus, you'd think they were a couple of teenage kids getting their first look at a broad's chest, wouldn't you honey?" she asked the younger girl in mock exasperation.

Laura nodded, unable to speak for fear of what she would say, knowing her voice would tremble with emotion if she uttered a word. How could Carl be a party to such a thing! Why he was actually staring at Milly's breasts like he wanted to-to eat them up! But why? Why would he want Milly so badly when he had his own wife, his bride, to take care of his needs?

The next hand went just as badly as the first four, and before she realized it Laura and Milly were out of their skirts, leaving only their panties to cover them. Laura was petrified with nervousness, glad that the game would soon be over, but terrified of what would follow. She thanked her stars that the table hid most of her nudity from the men, but she knew the respite was only temporary.

Again she and Milly lost, and now there was no pretense on the part of Carl and Jack. They both were drinking heavily and were watching the girls with avid eyes; Jack's upon her own body, while Carl's studied Milly. Laura hesitated, waiting for Milly to take the lead.

"Come on, come on-you lost fair and square," Jack coaxed, a knowing grin on his face, "Now pay up. Take it off!"

"Take it easy, lover," the brunette beauty grinned as she slowly stood beside her chair, "you'll get to see everything in due time besides," she continued, her eyes on Carl, "you've seen me naked so much it shouldn't be anything new for you."

"Hell, you're right babe, if s Laura I can't wait to see. Get the hell out of your pants so we can get on with the more important part."

He was so impatient that the others laughed in spite of the situation. Laura felt herself join in the merriment in spite of her trepidation, but couldn't help noting the avidity with which Carl was eyeing Milly's body through the thin material of her panties. She herself, felt a rise of excitement as the lovely woman stood straight and tall, letting the others look at her for a minute. Then the slender fingers tantalizingly hooked into the elastic band of her briefs and slowly tugged them over the full rondures of her buttocks. She slid them down her legs and kicked them aside amid the involuntary intake of breath that whistled through Carl's teeth at the sight of her lush body.

Laura, in spite of the fact that she knew it was now her turn nevertheless marveled at the perfection of the older woman's body. It was simply flawless, tanned and curved, with every part lush and full, well-turned where a woman's body was supposed to be well-turned. Then she felt all eyes turn toward her, and Carl was just as eager as the others. Laura felt herself flush as she realized that he was probably more interested in her body now than at any time in recent weeks.

"Come on, Laura," he coaxed softly, "don't be a hold out now-look what a good sport Milly's been."

Laura nodded and flushed even more, her face hot and her breasts heavy with passion. She rose to her feet slowly and stood beside her chair as Milly had done moments before. She hesitated, then with a quick movement, thrust her panties down and kicked them away. She stood stock still for a second then slid into her chair again, her face averted.

Jack's explosive release of his breath was almost comical, and Milly and Carl laughed aloud. "Jesus-Carl, I don't see how you can waste time playing cards like this-if Laura was my old lady I'd-"

"But she isn't, you big stud," Milly interrupted bluntly, "so just get your mind back on the game. We're going to take you both to the cleaners yet. Let's get on with it."

Somehow, the fortunes of the game suddenly reversed, with the men beginning to lose steadily. Within a short time Laura found herself forgetting her nudity, and played the game with renewed interest. Almost before she could believe it, Carl and Jack were down to their shorts, and a heightened tension filled the room. More and more, Laura caught herself staring at the heavy mat of hair that covered Jack's massive chest.

She had never been with any men except Albert and Carl, and their chests were as devoid of hair as a newborn baby's backside. It was with a great deal of chagrin that she felt her nipples beginning to stiffen and erect during one of these moments of idle reflection and to cover her confusion she jumped up to get more beer, completely forgetting her own nudity until it was too late.

"If s time for more beer, don't you think?" she said hastily, moving rapidly toward the kitchen. She could feel the hot eyes of both men follow her as she undulated toward the rear of the apartment, a vicarious thrill running riotously through her. My God! They're both looking at me like I was something to devour, she thought wildly, her hands shaking as she opened several new bottles of beer. She was about to return to the living room when Milly entered. Laura gasped as she looked at the erect mounds that stood out from the older woman's chest, her eyes fastened to the stiff nipples in wonder. She had never seen Milly appear so aroused, so-so sexy.

Milly looked deeply into Laura's eyes. "Honey, the witching hour is here. Ifs soon going to be put up or shut up-I just thought I'd warn you."

Laura was unable to stifle the gasp of surprise that escaped from her lips at the pronouncement. "You-you mean we'll each-we'll all-?"

Milly's smile was gentle, she grasped Laura's arm in a gesture of comfort, as she finished Laura's hesitant question.

"We'll all have a little loving, honey. Carl's already been playing footsie with me under the table, and I know Jack is about ready to burst his overactive hormones. He won't be put off very easily, honey, so I suggest you be a good sport and go along with the game." She took two of the beers from Laura's hand and turned toward the door. "Actually, he's damn good, sweetie, you may learn a little something tonight!"

Laura followed the older woman and murmured an agonized reply. "I think I've already learned more than I bargained for," she said softly, thinking of the eagerness with which Carl had taken to the whole proceedings. And now, Milly had confirmed that he was ready to play more games. Well-two could play at that game-she would just damn well see what sort of a man Jack Arnold was-in bed!


CHAPTER FOUR

Laura watched the provocative roll of Milly's hips as she followed the brunette beauty into the living room The two men sat in wide-eyed anticipation as they gave them the drinks, and for a moment they all sat around the table, sipping the beer and dipping the potato chips into the bean dip. All the while, Laura noticed surreptitiously, Carl's eyes never left Milly's body, and she could literally feel Jack's appraisal of her own sensitive flesh. Somehow, the anticipation of the men communicated itself to her, and she could feel her own body tightening, her thighs clamping together tightly, then relaxing, only to tighten again.

My breasts feel as though they're going to burst, they've swollen terribly. And my nipples! The little nubs were positively rock-hard, standing out like little beacons in the night, beckoning any traveler who might be within sight.

Jack cleared his throat and looked at the others. "What say we play for different stakes this next round. Something a little more interesting."

Carl looked at him for a moment. "What the hell, you want to start playing for money at a time like this?"

Jack guffawed and took another drink. The others watched as he shuffled the cards, tension high in the room.

"Naw, nothing so crazy as money. Tell you what-just to make the evening complete, we'll play for the highest stakes possible. We'll switch partners. Milly and I will play against you and Laura. The stakes will be that if we win, we get to choose our partner for the night-if you win, you can either make the same choice or decide you don't want to choose at all-okay?"

Laura drew in her breath sharply at his words. Now it was all out in the open. If Carl decided they would play, she might well be spending the night with Jack Arnold, and he with Milly. She held her breath as Carl glanced at her, a questioning look in his eyes. He looked at Milly's nude body, then back at Laura's face. She could see the decision forming in his mind.

"You mean-switch partners for the night-all the way?" he asked in a low voice.

Jack laughed and Milly joined in. "What's the matter, Carl," she teased, "does the prospect that Laura might choose to bed down with Jack bother you, or are you frightened of me?"

He flushed and sat forward in his chair. "Not on your life, Mil-I've got something for you that maybe old Jack here has forgotten how to use. Let's play." He turned belatedly to Laura, looking quickly into her eyes for a sign of recrimination.

Laura looked at him for a second, then smiled. "It's all right darling, I think they're bluffing. But-the way you were challenged, you couldn't say no." She said the words but her heart wasn't in it She knew that what she had said was right, but somehow she wished that Carl had not accepted. Still-and she glanced at Jack's massive chest all covered with that black mat of hair-it might be interesting to feel that huge body against her own, to be crushed tightly to him in a wild, abandoned embrace. She shuddered, cursing herself for such thoughts. There was always a chance she and Carl would win, perhaps things would turn out all right after all.

It was not to be. She and Carl lost miserably in the shortest round of the evening, and as the cards were dropped from their hands in defeat, Carl looked at her apprehensively.

"Look, honey-maybe - " She waved her tiny hand at him in interruption. "Carl, it's all right. We made the agreement, now, let's stick to it. After all, we're all adults. One little experience won't hurt me-or you for that matter."

His eyes were grateful, but he turned them almost at once toward Milly, while Jack's happy face was full upon her own. He rose and came around to her chair and held it while she got up. She felt tiny beside his massive body, and she couldn't help looking apprehensively at his massive body. Good God! Whatever will I do with him, she thought wildly, suddenly afraid.

Jack gave her no opportunity to ponder that problem however, as he took her arm and with a last glance at the others, steered her toward the bedroom. Laura's last glance at Carl told her that he had already forgotten her, and was pulling the brunette beauty toward the couch, almost as if the whole thing had been done before.

As the door of the bedroom closed behind her, Laura's eyes misted, but she held her head up and walked straight to the bed. She would show Carl-she could handle the huge bear of a man who followed her-she just hoped that Carl could handle Milly, and that the whole thing would prove to her that it was Carl, not she who was the lagging partner in their marriage. She turned to face the huge, handsome man who followed her into the room, her face flushing with embarrassment as she saw that he was already shedding his shorts.' y "Jack-I-I'm not sure-"

"Don't worry, Laura, I'll take it easy. You just get up into that sack and I'll be right with you."

Laura gasped as his manhood was completely revealed to her astonished eyes. He was huge! Whatever had possessed her to agree to this, this experience? Before she could torture herself with that question and the question of how she would be able to accommodate his tremendous body, she found herself fending off his huge hands as he clambered in beside, her and without a single preliminary began to palm her nipples roughly.

"Ohh-Jack-please-I think-," she started to cry out, but was unable to finish as his mouth seemed to engulf her left breast in its entirety. "Ahhh-Ohh, my God! Jack, wait-" His murmur of denial was uttered through the soft flesh of her breast as he punished the pink flesh unmercifully, his voracious mouth ravening, his palms cupping and squeezing her other breast all the while. In spite of her fear of the great man, Laura felt the familiar tension grow and swell within her, his hands and mouth driving her frantic with sensation.

I-I wonder if Carl is doing this to-Milly, she thought wildly as Jack continued his assault. If he is, she must be enjoying it because I'm about to-Ohhh, my God! If he would only let me rest for a minute-but then it wouldn't be so good. No, I guess I don't-Ohhh no. I don't want anything to stop this. Her mind wandered crazily from what was happening to her body to what might be happening between Milly and Carl, but gradually, Laura was unable to think of anything save the sweet punishment she-was receiving from Jack.

"Jack-please-let me go for a minute," she pleaded in spite of the knowledge that she really didn't want him to stop, yet something made her mouth the words.

Jack pulled away from her for a moment and lay back on the bed breathing heavily. He stared at Laura's heaving body and grinned at her boyishly as she gently massaged her swollen peaks.

"Jesus, you've really got them, Laura, I didn't realize how much until tonight," he grinned, letting his great hand trail down her flank.

Laura squirmed as the fingers tantalized her, causing great surges of sensation to race from them down her side, fanning out to her tummy and into her thighs like wildfire. Ohh, I'm so sensitive to his touch! I'm so ready, Laura breathed to herself, her eyes silently following his hand as it foraged lower.

Then suddenly she could no longer think of his hands for he had simply reached over and with the ease of a giant, had lifted her bodily so that she was suspended over him. He stared into her eyes for a moment then they lowered to her breasts which now hung like pendulous fruit from her chest. What on earth is he going to do to me now, Laura thought frantically, he can't-yes he's lowering me-Oh, that hairy chest. He's going to rub my breasts against that hair-Ohh-No, I've never- "Eeeehhhhaaaa," she screamed wildly as her stiffened nipples made contact with the matted brush on his chest, "Ohhh, Jack, hold me tight. I can't stand it-" Jack's throaty laugh of conquest was unheard as Laura gave herself up entirely to the riot of sensations that shuddered through her like a crowning forest fire. Dimly she was aware that he had clasped her roughly to his chest, that she had collapsed like a rag doll upon him, limp and fully acquiescent. He could do with her as he would.

Then, within moments, their positions had been reversed and a great shuddering sigh escaped from her slack lips as he took her with abandon, massive thrusts driving her before him, up the steep mountain path. She ran wildly, wantonly before him, just a step ahead but he was rapidly catching her. Blind and unseeing, she reached the end of the path just as he grasped her tiny waist with his huge hands and leaped into the darkness at the top of the trail. They were falling, but Laura never reached bottom. She fell into the blackness and lost all sensation of living.

Eventually they stirred from their lethargy and came back to life, feeling slowly creeping back into their bodies as the blood slowly seeps into a limb long paralyzed by lack of circulation. Laura glanced at the great bear of a man who lay beside her, peering at him through the narrowest of slits in her eyelids.

Jack was beginning to stir a little, his great arm slung across her still cooling breasts like a massive hind-quarter of beef. She wished he would take it away, it was insufferably heavy, but she feared to move lest he once more take up the cudgel of passion and strike her another blow. One which she was sure she would not survive.

He had been-well, magnificent-it was the only word that fit, somehow. He was simply unbelievable, and Milly had been telling the truth when she had said that he was made for satisfying women. Good Lord, Laura thought in amazement, I wouldn't have believed that I could have handled that brute of a man-but I did! By God, I did, she giggled silently, her mind filling with glee at the thought of the depth of her passion during their wildest moments.

Carl had never-but it wasn't right to make comparisons, Carl was not nearly so-so big and-Oh hell! Carl simply wasn't Jack, that was all. Laura sighed and moved from under Jack's huge arm. He raised his head and looked at her for a moment, then let his fingers once more trail around her breast. Laura pushed his hand away.

"Aww-Laura, what the hell-we've just begun to get started, the evening's young yet," he complained, seeking her body once more.

Laura slid from the bed hastily and ran to the closet where she grabbed a dressing gown. Quickly, before he could climb from the bed, she donned the garment and turned to face her handsome neighbor. She pointed to his shorts where they lay on the floor.

"All right, Jack, slip into your clothes while I go out and get the rest for you. When I come back I'll hand them through the door to you and you can get dressed in here. I-I hope Milly and Carl-"

"Let 'em alone, Laura, they may not be through."

"Right now I don't care whether they are or not," she replied, his insistence somehow angering her, "I'll look the other way if necessary, but I'm going to get your clothes."

She walked determinedly to the door and after a moment's hesitation, carefully opened it and walked into the living room. Carl was on the couch, dressed in his trousers. Milly sat beside him, and Laura was relieved to see that she had partially dressed. She was wearing her panties and bra. Without saying a word, Laura picked up Jack's clothes and took them back to the bedroom and handed them in to him. She was relieved to feel his hand take the clothes from her own and with a little sigh, she closed the door.

Milly smiled at her as she walked to the coffee table and picked up a pack of cigarettes. She slid one out and lit it, then sat in the chair across from the silent couple on the couch.

"Welcome to wife-swapping, kiddies," Milly said in a husky voice, an enigmatic smile on her face.

Laura's head snapped around as the older woman spoke. "Was that-Milly! Honestly, if I thought-" Milly held up her hand in a mock gesture of self defense. "Darling, didn't you have a good time?" she interrupted, "didn't you both make it good?" She looked from Laura to Carl and back.

Laura glanced at Carl, but his eyes were on the floor, and he appeared to be definitely unhappy. I wonder-could he have failed with Milly, she thought, but no that's hardly possible, Milly's question almost proves that he was all right. Yet, why does he look so unhappy, and for that matter, why did she feel somehow out of sorts and irritated? Laura shook her head in exasperation. The evening, which had started out so-so differently had suddenly become tense, and weighted with impending disaster; with an almost tangible sense of foreboding.

Jack came into the room, fully dressed. He glanced around quickly and took in the scene. He bent to the floor and picked up the rest of Milly's clothing and pulled her erect. She began to dress silently.

"Second thoughts, eh?" Jack said quietly as he looked at Laura and Carl, "Well, the best thing to do is to have a drink and forget the whole thing for a while; then when the time is right, you can compare notes. I think you'll get a kick out of that. Anyway, we'll shove off," he concluded as they moved toward the door.

"Yes, listen kids, don't be upset about what happened, after all, we're all modern sophisticated people-take tonight's little adventure in stride, and do as Jack says. Take a drink and sleep on the whole thing. It'll look different tomorrow." Milly hugged Laura as she finished speaking and waited while Carl and the troubled young bride held the door of the apartment open.

Carl mumbled their goodnight and quickly closed the door after the older couple. He turned to Laura, his eyes anguished.

"How did we ever let this happen?" he groaned, "whatever made us get into that crazy situation anyhow?"

Laura dared not tell him that she had been a party to arranging the whole thing. That she had done so because she wanted him to be more completely her man in bed.

"Darling," she soothed, "I think we'd best do as Jack suggested, take a drink and sleep on it. Things probably will look different tomorrow."

He nodded, and prepared them both a martini. Somehow, Laura had trouble getting the liquid down, but she managed. And, as predicted, somehow the situation seemed more comical than serious, and they drifted off to bed. Almost at once they slept, deeply and without care.


CHAPTER FIVE

Laura looked across the room at Carl, watching him as he sat reflectively looking alternately at the television set and out of the window. Neither had said much in the ensuing hours since their exchange of partners the night before. They had arisen late, since it was a Sunday, and had moved automatically about their apartment, Carl reading the morning papers and she making breakfast and cleaning up after. Now, they both sat in the living room, thinking their own private thoughts of what had happened to them.

"Carl?" Laura began tentatively, "do you want to talk about-"

"No-I don't, Laura," he replied quickly, reaching for a cigarette. She noticed that his hand trembled slightly as he slapped the pack against his palm, extracted one, then flipped the lid of his Zippo lighter and held the flame to the tip. He sat back in his chair and exhaled a great cloud of blue smoke.

"Darling, it won't help to let this fester between us. I think we should say what we think. Then we'll both know where we stand." Laura said determinedly, "I'll be happy to admit that I never expected the evening to evolve as it did, but now that it's done, I think it was a valuable experience."

Carl looked at her a moment, then stubbed out the cigarette savagely. "That howl you let out in the bedroom last night wasn't just a valuable experience as far as I could tell. It sounded more like an earthshaking thing-something you had never done before!" He looked at her accusingly as he finished.

"But darling, didn't you and Milly-?"

"Of course we did, Laura, but you didn't hear her hollering and raising hell like a damned virgin being deflowered. What the hell did Jack have that made you do that? I never made you scream even once, in the six months we've been married."

Laura's heart leaped. He was jealous! He was thinking about how she had responded to Jack, and that cry she had let slip was a terrible thing, but she hadn't been able to prevent it She hadn't realized she had done it until it was all over, she giggled silently. But Carl was at last showing signs of interest. He wanted to know more, she could tell!

"Honey, it was just-well, just that he was new to me," Laura fibbed smoothly, "after all, darling, I was a virgin when you married me. I've never been with another man, and it just seemed so-so different Anyway, it just kind of slipped out before I knew it-it doesn't mean anything."

"That's what you think, baby, it means a hell of a lot. You couldn't just take what he had and let it go at that, the way Milly and I did, you had to make a production out of it" He rose from his chair and came to where she sat, looking at him in wide-eyed amazement "Tell me! What did he do that made you scream, and then pass out in a dead faint? Tell me!" Carl was shouting as he finished, his hand grasping Laura's arm as he stared into her face intently.

Laura pulled against his powerful grip, her face twisted in pain. "Carl-don't, you're hurting me-I've never seen you like this!"

He straightened suddenly and let her arm go, but he continued to stand over her looking down at her intently. She hesitated, unsure of what she should tell him, he was far too agitated to be objective about last night's happenings.

"It-it was just as I said, darling," she said in a soothing voice, "Jack was just-unfamiliar, and he was-well-big, too, and I-" Carl jerked as though he had been struck a blow in the face. "So that's it-I might have known. He was more man than you could stand, wasn't he-more than I am-well, wasn't he?" His face was livid and Laura cringed mentally as she realized that she had inadvertently said the worst possible thing she could have said under the circumstances.

"Well, that cuts it. I've known that something was eating you for a month or so, but I never dreamed it was my-my shortcomings, physical shortcomings," he amended. "You have the bank account in your name. You don't need me!"

Laura's heart sunk as he shouted the words. Her life was rapidly coming apart right before her eyes, and she was unable to stop the nightmare! What could she say-that she had helped Milly arrange the entire thing to help her relationship with him? He'd never believe her.

She watched in stunned confusion as Carl threw his clothes into a bag and stormed out of their apartment. This couldn't be happening! It wasn't real! He would come back, she told herself tearfully, as soon as he cooled off. They had never had a real fight in the whole time they had been married, and now this! Laura flung herself against her pillow and let the tears flow. So she had their money. So what? Her sobbing continued.

Milly came over several hours later, only to find the red-eyed younger girl in no mood to talk of their experience the night before. Laura told her in no uncertain terms that she held her to blame for Carl's leaving.

"Milly, what you led us into was wrong, you had no right to do it," she wailed, turning away from the older woman to sniff into her handkerchief and to wipe her tears. "What-what'll I do if he doesn't come back-Oh God! I wish we had never played that stupid game!"

"Darling-don't worry, he'll come back. They always do. He wasn't quite ready for-well a more sophisticated married life yet. Not as much as you, honey, which only goes to prove that you are more mature than he at this stage of your marriage," Milly said quietly, her hand on Laura's shoulder.

Laura shrugged the hand away from her body brusquely. "Let me alone, Milly, I don't feel like discussing the matter any further," she said in a harsh voice, deliberately trying to hurt the older woman who had started her on the way to a marriage breakup, "maybe in a few days I'll be able to discuss things a little more intelligently, but right now all I care about is getting Carl back. I don't want his money... I love him... I need him to live."

"Okay, honey, I understand how you feel when you want to talk, I'll be available. Just give me a call."

Laura didn't even turn to watch Milly leave, but the sound of the apartment door closing had such a final, lonely sound that she once more burst into tears and sobbed great shuddering gasps of anguish into her folded arms. Carl wasn't coming back-she could feel it in her heart. She knew she had no one to blame but herself. And she couldn't live without him.


CHAPTER SIX

Carl didn't return that night A week later he still had not returned after that eventful evening of the poker game. Laura was nearly beside herself with anger and frustration, refusing to speak to Milly at all, for she blamed the brunette beauty for what had happened Then instead, Laura gradually began to find fault with Carl. She made no attempt to locate him at work or elsewhere.

After all, she thought idly as she sat at the kitchen table in their apartment, he's had time to sulk, he should be coming home. If he doesn't we'll see if two can't play at that game. If he didn't care more about their marriage than to throw it over because of the single instance of a diversion, then she would be better off for knowing that fact now, instead of several years later. Besides, he was as much at fault as she was for what happened. He had wanted it as much as she had. She certainly wasn't going to beg him.

Carl had been gone seven days and Laura had heard nothing from him. She refused to speculate where he was, or how long he intended to remain away from her. Milly had tried to talk to her daily, but Laura had insisted that she be left alone for the time being, and the Older woman had respected her wishes. Now, however, the isolation and boredom was beginning to tell on the young beauty. She wished fervently that she had someone to talk to-to discuss her troubles with, yet she couldn't bring herself to talk to Milly except on the most perfunctory of terms.

And, to make matters worse her body was beginning to tense up more and more often, the familiar feeling of heightened sensuality washing over her at the oddest times. She had been to the supermarket, shopping for the week, when the sight of a particularly rugged young man sent her into wild gales of shivers and weakness. She had cursed her unruly body, hating the feeling of tightness where her panties cut her generous thighs, hating the chafing of her erect nipples against the soft material of her bra.

She finally broke the ice, one afternoon, when by the side of the swimming pool, she happened to meet Eddie Martin, the sharp-featured young man who lived in the apartment next door. She had watched him come from the building toward where she lay in a deck chair, taking the late afternoon sun, his cat-like walk causing some little furry animal to stir ever so slightly deep within her body.

He walked with all the feline grace of a powerful lion, she thought idly, looking at the rigid muscles of his flat stomach, and the bulging sinews of his tanned and sleek thighs. Unlike Jack Arnold, Eddie was almost completely without hair on his arms and legs, and there was just the slightest hint of a fine black growth across his wide chest. He had the natural grace of an athlete, and Laura felt herself shudder and tighten under the onslaught of a wave of desire.

"Hi, neighbor," he greeted her cheerfully, as he spread his towel on the ground nearby, "How's the water?"

She smiled at his tanned features, struggling desperately to mask the feeling that raced through her as she watched him lower his powerful body to the towel. "Tolerably cool, Eddie-what are you doing home this time of day-playing hookey from your job?"

"No, I had to go into town to take a physical for an insurance policy, and afterwards it was too late to go back, so I just came home."

She nodded, and let her head rest against the back of the chair as she watched him through slitted eyes. He was looking at her tawny thighs surreptitiously, stealing glances at them and at the rest of her bikini-clad body with darting eyes that never seemed to rest. Laura grew restive, and sat up to get a cigarette from her purse. He lit it for her and laid back against one elbow, watching her smoke. Neither spoke for a moment.

"Haven't seen old Carl at work much, lately," he said in a low voice, so casually that Laura wasn't sure he was aware that anything bad happened between them.

But then his eyes turned fully toward her own, telling her the truth, and of the frailty of her own instinct. He did know! She could feel it in her every fiber, and what was far worse, she felt an illicit thrill rush through her, driving her already sensitive nerves to a fevered pitch. Why, Laura questioned herself fiercely, why am I so damned aware of him? He's only just arrived, yet I feel as if I had been waiting for him. Had Carl's absence of only a week left her in such a state of need that she was this receptive to the first male who had come near?

Laura wondered, her mind confused as she managed to shake her head and reply, "No-he's-away for a few days, but he'll be back soon." She lied smoothly, pretending to examine her shoulders for signs of sunburn to hide her flustered state.

Eddie was not so easily dissuaded, however. He sat up straight on his towel, his arms clasped about his knees, sliding closer to her somehow in the process.

"Laura-listen-I," he hesitated as if unsure of his ground.

Laura's breath seemed to catch in her throat, but she could not resist looking at him curiously. Was he going to make a play for her?

He seemed to take heart, once he saw her interest in what he had been about to say. He took a deep breath and continued. "Laura I don't quite know how to say this, because we've never - well, been close. But I think something's happened between you and Carl-I can sense it" Laura's heart leaped in an unruly palpitation, and to cover her confusion, she crossed her long, tawny legs to distract him while she waited for a moment before replying. She wanted to make sure her voice was calm and steady.

"I'm not anxious to have everyone know that, Eddie, but it's true. Carl and I-we had an argument, and he left that's all." Laura was amazed how good it felt to be able to talk to someone about her problem, and almost immediately she felt better.

"He's gone now-you haven't heard from him?"

She knew he was guessing, but she decided to tell him the truth. "Yes-I don't know where he is, and I'm not sure he'll be back." She looked across the pool where another couple were laying together on a blanket in the shadows of the tall trees that surrounded the pool. She envied them, and she wished almost painfully that she, too, had someone to snuggle up to on a blanket like that.

"Listen-if you need anything-any help or-or anything, don't hesitate to mention it I'll be only too happy to lend a hand. Promise?"

She nodded gratefully, and thanked him, relieved to see that he was now standing, looking down at her. She felt her legs tremble slightly as she remained in her chair and submitted to his inspection for a moment. Then he turned and ran to the pool where he dove in and swam several laps around the pool, his powerful stroke making the water boil in his wake. Laura took the opportunity to gather up her purse and towel and retreat to her apartment She had no desire to carry the conversation further, her instinct telling her that he would make a pass at her as soon as he felt she would be receptive. He doesn't know it she giggled to herself as she walked into her living room, but little Laura was about as receptive just then as she's been for a long time.

Later that evening, the telephone rang, and Milly's voice came to her over the wire, wanting to know if she could see the younger girl for a moment. Laura shrugged mentally and gave the woman an affirmative answer. What the hell! She couldn't stay mad at Milly forever, besides, she decided, she was lonely and a little company would do her good.

The irrepressible woman's eyes lit up like headlights as soon as she came in the door and looked at Laura's face. "Darling, you're over it aren't you-I can tell!" Her voice was a delighted squeal.

Laura shrugged and walked to the couch and sat waving the brunette beauty to the other chair, "I guess I'm getting used to the idea of Carl being gone, if that's what you mean, Mil?"

"That's exactly what I mean, honey, you've got to show him that two can play at that game. If he's holding out, waiting for you to try to find him, to beg him to come home, you'll have to show him you aren't about to do it You can live a little, too, you know,"

"Milly, your advice got me into trouble the last time we talked about how to handle things, so I'm not sure I want to take it now," Laura said unhesitatingly, but then she smiled, "However, I think if it's safe to say that I'm forgetting my depression very rapidly." She suddenly had a strong urge to tell her about Eddie.

"I had a visitor today, down at the pool," she started out hesitantly, "It was Eddie-from next door. The blond, handsome one."

Milly chortled with glee. "Hot damn, honey, now you're talking. Jesus, he's always been the most intense, passionate guy to me, I sure envy you. I only wish he'd turn those big brown eyes my way, once, he'd get more than he bargained for."

Laura joined Milly's wild laughter, unable to find fault with the words the older woman had uttered, for Eddie Martin was an intensely attractive man.

"So you feel it, too, Mil?" she asked without surprise, "I guess I'm a lot more like you than I ever dreamed." She remained silent for a minute, thinking. "But you know, I can't figure out when I started being so receptive to other men. You know I never had much experience before Carl, and Jack was-" Milly smiled at Laura's hesitation. "He was something you never expected to experience, wasn't he, honey-come on now, tell me the truth-after all I'm married to that big stud, I know what he can do to a girl."

Laura smiled. "You're right, Mil, he was completely out of this world for me-I'd never dreamed a man could be so-so powerful, and so completely masterful and so big!" She giggled irrepressibly at the remembrance of what had happened that night. "Good God, I thought he was going to kill me, but I found that I not only survived, I loved every minute of it. I guess that's what Carl instinctively understood, and he just couldn't stand the thought of another man affecting me that way."

"Listen honey, Carl will get over it if he really loves you, but right now your main problem is to keep your spirits up, and to go on living a normal life. Carl will come back eventually, never fear." Milly got up and came to where Laura was sitting on the couch. She sat beside the younger girl and reached out and grasped her hand.

"What you've got to do is to get more experience. Let Eddie try to make you if he's so inclined, and I think he is if I know the look when I see it. Or, you might let Jack have another go around, just to keep your hormones in working order." She raised her hands in mock self defense as Laura looked at her quickly, an unsure expression on her face.

"Mil-please don't suggest Jack again-I'm not sure that would be a good idea. He's-well, too much. I might get to liking him too much, if you know what I mean."

Milly giggled happily. "I know exactly what you mean, honey, but you needn't worry, the big stud's stuck with me and he knows it. Besides, he wouldn't take on a permanent arrangement on the outside for anything. He likes his variety too much."

Laura shook her head in wonderment How could Milly be so casual about her husband's extracurricular bedtime activities? She knew she could never look at a similar situation with Carl in the offhanded manner exhibited by her older friend.

"Darling, Jack and I are having a little party tonight-why don't you come over? It'll do you good to meet some new friends, and maybe have a good time in the process. How about it?" she coaxed.

Laura wasn't in the mood for partying but she knew she needed to get out and have a social life of her own. Yet she was afraid to get too involved with Milly and Jack's partying without knowing more about the details of who would attend and what activities might take place.

"Mil-level with me," she said with a sigh, "is this another-another-" she was unable to say the feared words.

"Wife-swapping party? Is that what you're worried about, honey?" the older woman queried, smiling at her tenderly, "listen, even if it is, Jack and I'll watch out for you-you needn't worry about that, we'll make sure you don't have any trouble. After all, these people aren't ogres. They just have a liberal view of life, of sex, that's all."

"I-I don't know, Milly, I'm afraid, I guess. To be truthful about it, I just don't want to get involved in something like that."

"Darling, wasn't it good with Jack? Weren't you happy that night?"

"Yes-but afterward-"

"Honey, what happened afterward was Carl's fault. He didn't want to admit that he'd had a good time, and he didn't want to believe that you'd had the experience of your life. Now tell me the truth-isn't that about the size of it?"

Laura knew Milly was close to the truth. She had loved the incredible sensation of-of difference, with Jack-the feeling of strangeness that had accelerated the surges of passion that raged through her body that night God help her, there was something exciting, terribly exciting about being taken by a man who was a stranger to her, a man who had never seen her nude body before, a man who had never before fondled her breasts or searched out the sweetness of her secrets.

Milly was watching her closely, as if seeking to divine her thoughts, and Laura flushed as she looked into the stunning beauty's eyes. She saw triumph there, elation that was unmistakable, and a slow smile washed across her features, widening rapidly so that the gleaming, even teeth were flashing brilliantly in the bright sunlight that the late afternoon sun beamed through the lightly draped windows.

Laura ruefully matched the older woman's broad smile of triumph, letting her hand find Milly's on the couch beside her. "I'll be there. God help me, but I just can't stay away, the curiosity is killing me."

She mouthed the words slowly, almost reluctantly, but said them nevertheless. She was trapped and she knew it. Trapped by her own needs-committed now to another dangerous adventure. Somehow, she could find little in her decision to criticize, and a great deal in which to find excitement and anticipation of passions to come.


CHAPTER SEVEN

Ifs getting very damn drunk at this party, Laura decided as she watched a young redhead fall from the tabletop where she had been woozily dancing. Fortunately there was a small crowd of men, of varying ages, present to catch her, albeit with a small crescendo of triumph as they struggled to stand her on her feet once again.

For three hours the mad pace of the drinking had surged upward, until now it seemed as though everyone present was well on the way to being smashed. Laura looked around, her mind completely relaxed and her troubles forgotten. It was too easy. All you did was to put down several stiff ones and your cares began to fade and the faces around you became friendly and the hands that patted and caressed your fanny seemed to belong there. She smiled to no one in particular as she walked toward the kitchen of the Arnold's apartment.

She smiled at the young girl dressed in the black opera hose and terry white apron who was serving the drinks to the guests. It was Janice Stark, the twenty-year-old girl who worked as a maid and housekeeper for many of the tenants of the building. The youthful girl was exquisitely beautiful in the tight uniform and Laura nodded encouragingly at her as she helped herself to another drink. She walked toward a group of people near the fireplace, wondering who they were. Milly was talking to them with animated gestures. As she approached several of the group drifted away.

"Wheeee," Milly shrieked as Laura approached, "Have a drink, honey, and come meet an old friend." She turned toward the tall man who stood beside her. On her other side an extremely beautiful young woman smiled tolerantly. "Laura, this is Fred McLendon, a real doll."

"Milly, I'm here, too, you know," the red-haired woman breathed in a husky voice as her dark eyes challenged Laura's.

Laura smiled as she glanced at the watching females and held her hand out to the distinguished looking man. He fell graciously into her mood and swept her hand to his lips as though such an occurrence was commonplace among them. His eyes were as challenging as his wife's as he glanced upward along her arm. She drew in her breath in a long, suppressed gasp as the pure magnetism of the striking couple made itself felt upon her.

"You're right, darling," Milly giggled as she turned toward the beauty at her side. "Laura, this is Sarah McLendon, wife to this gorgeous man. Sarah-Laura Cannon," she finished with a flourish of her drink.

Laura liked the redheaded Sarah McLendon at once, and the girl's green eyes sparkled with pleasure as she returned Laura's unspoken message of friendship.

"Hi Laura," she breathed as they observed the necessary civilities.

"Sarah, I don't know whether I like you or not," Laura said in a severe voice. "You're entirely too beautiful."

Then all three girls shrieked with laughter at the futility of Laura's mock statement, for there were no beauties in the entire gathering more generously endowed than the trio convulsed at the side of Fred McLendon.

He placed a gentle hand on his wife's shoulder, and she turned adoring eyes upward toward his own. "Shell do, Sarah, an exquisite candidate," he said in deliberate fashion, obviously taking pleasure in making the statement.

Laura glanced quickly at the tall man. What had he meant by his casual statement? Was she being examined like a cow, or a filly at an auction? Yet the extremely casual and urbane manner of the man made her thoughts seem ridiculous. The sophisticated couple were probably teasing her.

Fred McLendon touched her arm gently, and Laura looked into his face expectantly. "My dear, you must come visit us at once," he smiled down at Laura's face genially. "I'm sure you'll be enchanted with Sarah and the many interests she has," he said, glancing at his gorgeous wife with an amused smile, "she's really very talented you know."

Sarah giggled and pulled Laura away. "Don't stray into the spider web carelessly, darling, he's really not as harmless as he looks. But I agree," she said, her manner turning serious for a moment, "you really must visit us. As soon as if s convenient."

Laura nodded her head in uncaring agreement, the martinis dulling her senses terribly for a moment. She agreed that she would see the attractive couple at the first opportunity, then turned to Milly. "Mil, I'm feeling these drinks, I've got to get some air."

"Not on your life, sweetie," Milly breathed as she led Laura away from the McLendons with an apologetic smile, "there are other people you should meet."

In quick succession, the hesitant Laura was introduced to a number of couples, each of whom seemed to take more than a casual interest in her. Finally, after scolding herself severely about her imagination, Laura determined to put such thoughts out of her mind. These people were no different than she was, or Milly either, for that matter.

Almost at once the incongruity of her thought struck her. Milly was different. It was she who had introduced Laura and Carl so cleverly, to the delights and the awful guilt of wife-swapping. Once more her heart ached with revulsion at the thought of what had happened to her marriage. Then the feeling vanished and she straightened her back with determination. Until Carl came to his senses and returned to her, she had every right to meet other people and to have a good time.

She went through the motions of handshaking and smiling as she was repeatedly introduced to attractive couples and equally attractive girls and men.

"So nice to meet you, Mr. Jordan," she said to the attractive bachelor who was presented to her by the ebullient Milly, "are you alone?" she teased, as a sudden desire to flirt struck her. This was a really fascinating man, she thought silently, he's terribly handsome what with his graying temples and dark, wavy hair and angular features.

"Temporarily, I'm afraid, Mrs. Cannon," he smiled down at her. "However, I would be most delighted if you would allow me to get you a drink. Perhaps we might find mutual interests that will permit me to end my lonely state."

"I'd be delighted, Mr. Jordan," Laura replied.

"Well, you're off to a good start," Milly giggled softly into her ear, "he's a wonderful fellow, but he does have a few faults. I'll tell you about them after you've had a chance to talk. Maybe you can discover them for yourself. Meantime, I've got to get back to my guests, darling. Have fun."

Laura pondered the significance of Milly's statement as she watched her wiggling fanny as she moved to another group of laughing people. Then, as her handsome escort returned, she put the thought from her mind.

Steve Jordan led her toward the balcony which jutted out from the apartment into the clean night air. He handed her a whiskey sour and the bite of the drink seemed to sharpen Laura's desire to flirt with the man.

"Tell me about yourself, Mr. Jordan," she began, "what deep dark secrets do you hide in that handsome head?" she laughed, deliberately thrusting her breasts at him as she leaned back against the railing of the little balcony.

For a moment his eyes roved across her outthrust chest eagerly, but then they returned to her face and she could see caution in his steely eyes. "Are you guessing, Mrs. Cannon, or are you able to sense that I do have secrets in my head? Some that you might find quite shocking, I judge."

"Oh, I'm psychic, by all means," she laughed, swallowing another gulp of her drink. Somehow it seemed not to affect her, and she continued her teasing. "Are you very devious-do you seek out beautiful women and do awful, just terrible things to them?" she asked in a low, yet gay voice.

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes studying her intently. Then he relaxed and seemed to join her feeling of gaiety. He laughed and nodded his head in agreement. "I do just that, my dear," he smiled. He touched his glass to hers and raised it to his lips. "Here's to the delights of the flesh-flesh unable to defend itself-beautiful, soft and clear flesh. Flesh like your own, Mrs. Cannon."

A stark shaft of fear thrust its hardness through Laura's heart as he spoke the words. She was suddenly afraid, yet she could not speak. She could find no words now of jest, of taunt. The conversation had suddenly become serious.

"For a moment, I was sure someone had told you about me-about my little games," he said in a husky voice, "then I knew you were quite innocent. Perhaps I can correct that little defect."

His hand dipped into his jacket and reappeared with a small envelope. He handed it to Laura. She took the packet and extracted several small pictures. With a startled gasp she stared at the sight before her. The pictures were of a beautiful girl, nude except for black panties and a garter belt, trussed securely to a chair. Laura stared in revulsion at the welts clearly visible on the girl's soft shoulders and white stomach.

Almost in a panic at the sinister implications of Jordon's pictures, Laura dropped her glass to the floor of the small balcony and fled, her face flaming with embarrassment as his taunting laugh echoed in her ears. She walked hastily toward the kitchen, hoping to find Milly. She would tell that uninhibited lady that some of her guests were too-too much! She shuddered at the recalled relishing which Jordan had spoken of soft female flesh. Flesh trapped and helpless!

As she crossed the room she noticed that the lights had been dimmed considerably and that there were soft murmurs of delight and pleasure emanating from the dark areas. Her glance fell upon two legs protruding from the small closet near the front door. Two other legs, obviously male, were intertwined with the whiter, obviously female legs in such a manner that one could hardly mistake what was happening within the small room.

Utterly disgusted, Laura walked into the kitchen. She stopped dead in her tracks. Milly wasn't here, but someone else was. She sighed with relief at the sight of the familiar face. It was Eddie!

"Hi, Laura," he said in a surprised voice, "where did you come from? I didn't know you were here."

Laura walked toward him where he sat at the kitchen table. He had helped himself to sandwiches and beer and was having a private feast. He waved her toward the chair beside him.

"Here, have a beer," he grinned, "you look as though you could use one, or something stronger." He looked at her curiously as she accepted the drink and poured the contents into a glass without saying anything. "Something wrong, little lady?" he asked softly.

Laura nodded. Should she tell him the whole story? Should she tell him about that-that horrid Jordan, and what he had implied on the balcony? She decided to keep it all to herself.

"Oh-it's just that I don't really care for these people, and I miss Carl," she confessed.

Eddie waited before answering, eating the food slowly. "You know what you need, don't you Laura? It's no sin to acknowledge your appetite," he said in a soft voice, between sips of his drink and the bites of the sandwich.

Laura ate with him, considering his words. He was right. She did have an appetite-a sexual appetite that she was unable to properly feed without Carl. God, how she wanted him back! "I know it isn't, Eddie, but I just can't-can't scratch my itch casually," she paraphrased easily, "I'm just not that sort of person."

He sighed and looked at her with pity. "Everyone is that sort of person, little one, even you. Me, Milly, Jack; and yes, even Carl is no different We all scratch that itch, and you will, too, eventually," he finished quietly, his manner sure and confident as he watched her drink the beer.

Laura's heart leaped at the youth's mention of her husband's name. Did he know something-something about Carl, perhaps where he was staying-what he was doing? She tried not to appear to be to curious. "I suppose you're right, Eddie, but if s hard to admit that you want something as personal she flushed and stopped as his eyes peered into her own intently, his right eyebrow slowly rising until it arched knowingly. A crooked grin twisted his lips. "As sex," Laura finished defiantly, her head held high.

"Well, you are turning into a real woman. You admitted it-right out in front of me and the world-just like that!"

Laura matched his smile ruefully. "Eddie, I never said I wasn't human, that I didn't want, didn't feel the need for sex," she said in a low voice, "I do-sometimes more than a girl should J" He drank his beer heartily and again smiled at her. He understood more than she had given him credit for when she first met him. He was particularly attuned to women, she thought with a twist of humor, and he's tuned in on me dead center. A sudden thought struck and she giggled inadvertently. Once more his eyebrow arched, this time in curiosity. Would he be as interested in her if he knew of the games that she and Milly had played? And she and Jack Arnold? A shiver of passion somehow mixed with fear rushed through her as she recalled the night she had spent in bed with her huge neighbor.

"What's going on in that mind of yours, Laura?" Jack asked quietly, rising and coming around to her side of the table. He gently took her hand and pulled her erect, and for a moment the intense magnetism of the youth pulled at her and she nearly swayed into his arms. The thought of Jack Arnold and what they had done-the intense satisfaction she had achieved that night-seemed for an instant to return, leaving her giddy-headed.

"N-nothing, Eddie," she said, breathing deeply, her heart racing. How he affects me! It's almost as though my body wants to make love to him in spite of my mind. She sought to shake the feeling from her. "Let's go into the front room with the others," she said, moving toward the kitchen door.

A hard hand stopped her, and for an instant she felt a rage of desire She nearly turned into his arms. She knew they were waiting.

"Wait" The single word, hardly audible, arrested her. "Let's don't go in there. That's not a real world'-those people aren't like us, and we're not really like them. They're sick, with a disease we both could catch." He hesitated, then pushed her slowly back into the chair. He pulled his chair next to hers. "And." he continued, "I don't want you to be like them."

A wave of genuine affection swept over her at his soft words. She held his hand for a moment and squeezed it affectionately, and a little mist clouded her vision as she looked into his handsome face. "You know," she said huskily, "I think you're one of the nicest neighbors a girl ever had."

He grinned at her for a moment. "Don't be too sure, Laura, I have an ulterior motive, too, you know." His eyes dropped to the deep V of her bodice, and instinctively, Laura breathed deeply to accentuate her cleavage. She knew he could see the beginning curve of her breasts, but she loved letting him see her tanned flesh.

"Eddie, you couldn't be thinking what I think you're thinking," she teased, her words barely a whisper.

He grinned engagingly. "You bet I am, Laura. Whether you know it or not, you're a damned beautiful woman. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want what you've got. But there's just one catch."

Laura looked at him curiously, unsure of his meaning. Was he like that-that suave creature on the balcony, slobbering over his obscene picture? She thrust the thought away angrily. Of course he wasn't like that. She sighed mentally, damning her overactive imagination. "What might that be, neighbor of mine?" she bantered, mentally unable to fully match the lilt of her words because of the lingering memory of the man on the balcony.

"Simple, my dear Mrs. Cannon," the youth smiled, "it would require that you would want to give me what you've got. Purely for the sake of giving-not because it's what I might want or demand."

Once more the unwanted mist clouded Laura's vision. Of all the people she had met since Carl's departure from her bed, Eddie alone was the only one who had cared for her feelings. And, he understood the fundamental truth she had also found to be necessary in an exchange of love between a man and a woman. It had to be just that, an exchange. Both had to want to give as well as receive, or the whole thing was shallow and meaningless. "Eddie-I-" she stopped, her voice choked, and for some reason she was unable to stop the tears that began to flow freely.

Instantly, the youth was at her side, his hands caressing her shoulders tenderly, his lips hovering near her ear. Gradually, as he whispered encouragement to her, she regained her composure.

Eddie straightened for a moment before he spoke "I didn't mean to make you cry, Laura, believe me. It's just that those are the things I believe."

Impulsively, she grasped his hand and pulled it to her lips. She kissed the hard flesh and held his palm to her cheek. Then, almost as if by mutual consent, its mate joined it, caressing the soft flesh of her shoulder. They both watched in fascination as the long, dark fingers strayed closer to the edge of her bodice.

I'm going to let him for a minute if he wants to, Laura thought with determination. If he wants to hold my breast in his hand, I want him to. He's clean and good, totally different from those-those wild people in the other room.

Deliberately, she let out all of her breath and held it, an unconscious signal for the sensitive fingers to enter the loosened dress. They needed no encouragement, and in a flash his hand had closed over her full rondure. She inhaled slowly, loving the feel of the tight, cupping hand under her bra. Her nipple popped out and chafed rebelliously against the hard palm, and a smile curved Laura's lips as Eddie whispered his pleasure.

"You're a real woman, Laura, full fleshed and warm, and if I weren't a guest in someone's home I'd make you a totally dishonest woman!" he breathed into her ear.

Laura laughed aloud. If only he knew! She closed her hand over his own as it caressed her hot flesh. "Eddie-that's enough, we shouldn't."

She looked over her shoulder into the youth's eyes. She saw passion and desire there, but also a twinkle of amusement at her words. Slowly, he withdrew his hand and her nipples seemed to drag across his palm as if reluctant to release its lover. Laura readjusted her dress and stood up. She faced the youth squarely.

"Eddie, you're a fine young man," she began as his hands held her waist, "and if the time ever comes that I need-someone very special-need him very much-I'll let you know."

The youth's dark eyes stared at her intently as she spoke, and a happy smile twisted his lips as she finished. He impulsively pressed his hard lips against Laura's for a moment, then he held her at arms length and grinned at her. "Is that a promise?"

"It's a promise," she said, nodding her head for emphasis.

"I'll hold you to it. And, I'll know when you need someone that badly, because I intend to stay nearby, just in case." His hands snaked upward toward her, breasts and for an instant Laura remained motionless, letting him have his way.

Then, after he had weighed and caressed her breasts while she stared at his eyes, and he returned her gaze steadily, she stepped out of his embrace.

"That's not fair, young man, you'll hasten the day of my need that way, as I'm sure you know," she giggled at him, her elated face belying the mild reproach.

He nodded and dropped his hands to his side. "I'll wait. I'll have you yet! I'm sure of it" Laura patted his cheek. "You may be right Eddie, but let's have it happen naturally, if it's going to happen at all."

She led him toward the living room, and she felt as though she had been cleansed from her soul outward to her skin. She still needed Carl, and she still had an appetite to appease, but at least she had a clean, understanding youth to help her with that problem if she needed him.

They glanced idly at the small circle of couples who were active in the living room. They were gathered about a small tub of water in which a number of small balloons floated. Each girl in the party was blindfolded, and in turn Was trying to capture one of the floating balloons in her mouth. As Laura and Eddie walked by, a luscious redhead screamed with delight as she successfully captured a half-inflated balloon in her white teeth and dropped it to the floor at her feet.

It was only then that Laura noted that the little rubber enclosure hit the floor with a distinctly metallic ring. She watched in amazement as the redhead threw off her blindfold and quickly ripped open the balloon. After a glance at the object in her hand, she squealed with obvious delight and with the key held aloft ran around the circle of laughing people and threw herself into the arms of a handsome man of about forty, who welcomed her with an embrace that could only mean one thing.

Laura looked at Eddie. They were sick, she thought, and without another glance at the group or a look around the room host, Milly, she walked out. Eddie follow silently.

As he left her at the door, he stopped and faced her for a moment. "Remember, Laura, I still want you. Whenever you're ready."

Laura smiled at his simple statement of fact. She could have no way of knowing just how soon he would bring truth to those words.


CHAPTER EIGHT

Two days later, Laura was again sunning herself at poolside, turning her body regularly to acquire the even tan that was so admired by most of the men she knew. The male apartment dwellers, married or not, stared at each of the women who managed to take the sun daily, and more than once she fended off several over-active adventurers with a knowing smile, and a gentle rebuff.

Not that she was averse to making their acquaintance, in fact it would be delightful at any other time, but she was concerned mainly with Carl's whereabouts, and how she would have to go about attracting him back to their apartment than to concern herself with the lotharios who lived in the building.

It was kind of fun, though, to have them peer at her in the bright sunlight, then suddenly lock away as she turned her eyes upon them defiantly. They were such boys, most of them. They wanted the candy, but only a few were bold enough to attempt to take it from the shelf, so to speak. Most of them feasted their eyes from a distance and wondered.

Well, let them wonder, she thought derisively. Carl is more important to me anyway. She rolled to her tummy and spread her legs slightly to let the warm rays of the sun penetrate the golden avenue so avidly sought by many-She knew that she looked extremely good in her canary-yellow bikini, for it was little more than the law allowed when it came to public nudity. She smiled as she thought of how she and Carl had played together, loving their handsome bodies passionately, remembering the long hours, the many nights they had satiated themselves with the nectar of the gods. Laura shuddered inadvertently.

If I don't find Carl soon, I'll-I'll do something desperate, she wailed to herself. It was getting harder and harder to fend off the repeated advances of Milly, and Eddie. Milly! Laura's head whirled as she considered the luscious woman who was her friend and neighbor. She's so-uninhibited! I don't want the kind of love she tries to show me-I'm not built that way. Besides, with her it's a game, and I don't think I could ever look at it that way. Laura's thoughts turned to Eddie, and she smiled as she recalled his soft words of appreciation and the practiced advances he had made in Milly's kitchen a few nights previous. He was an attractive fellow, she admitted, and maybe if she did have to-to resort to a lover, she would let the youth try.

Her loins seemed to burn and moisten with the thought, and she was decidedly uncomfortable. Once more she turned her lush body toward the sun, lying back with a towel over her eyes.

"You'll burn that delicious skin to a crisp if you're not careful," a masculine voice remarked casually.

Laura pulled the towel from her face and squinted at the man who stood beside her deck chair in the brilliant sun. It was Eddie.

"Well, hello, neighbor," she smiled, genuinely happy to have the intense youth to talk to, to divert her thoughts from her troubles for a little while. She moved her legs and he sat on the edge of the deck chair.

"You know you're a hazard to navigation around this pool, don't you?" he asked with a crooked grin as he glanced admiringly at the golden flesh displayed so fully in front of him.

Laura arched her eyebrow playfully. "Is that what you think, young man, or is that something you've heard some of those over-age wolves say?" she laughed, nodding toward the small group of men who had seated themselves at the pool's edge a short distance away.

"You can be assured it came straight from my heart, Laura."

Eddie's sincerity was obvious and Laura's heart thumped under her breast with a sudden surge of affection for the youth. She reached out and grasped his hand where it rested on the edge of the deck chair near her hip. "I know it did and I love it," she answered emphatically. "Since Carl's been gone I-I've grown to need affection more than I ever dreamed I could," she confessed without really knowing why she felt it necessary to do so.

Eddie nodded understanding, and gazed at her with unabashed adoration in his eyes. Laura looked deeply into them for a moment, then laughed aloud. Things were getting too serious. She didn't want the youth becoming too-attached to her. Not just yet, anyway.

Laura became aware of a sudden change in Eddie's attitude, and where he had looked at her passionately only moments before, he suddenly no longer stared at her face or let his eyes wander over her body as he usually did. And as Laura looked at him curiously, the youth glanced at her face then looked away. "Eddie-what's bothering you?" Laura asked in wonder. "All of a sudden you've become-troubled. Is there something wrong?"

He looked at her silently for a moment before replying. "It's just that I should tell you something," he said slowly, "but if I do I run the risk of-of losing you. I'll drive you away." His face was sober as he uttered the words.

What on earth could he mean, Laura pondered, as she waited. What could Eddie want to tell her that was so-so serious? She remained silent, her body aflame with curiosity. She squirmed around on the deck chair so the youth would have more room, finally drawing her knees up to her chest and facing him with her arms about her knees. She giggled momentarily, as in spite of Eddie's serious vein, his eyes dropped instinctively to the tight crevice revealed by the taut bikini. Then, amazingly, his gaze returned to her face, still troubled.

"Eddie," she said softly, "you can't lose something you never had. Why don't you tell me what's bothering you?"

"I might not have had you-yet," he agreed with a wry grin, "but I was sort of counting on achieving that little fact one day soon."

Laura laughed and blew him a kiss, hoping to snap him out of the somber mood he had slipped into. "You're welcome to try your best, young man-who knows, you might just succeed," she flirted shamelessly.

He nodded and remained silent for a moment Then he resumed speaking in deliberate tones. "You want to know where Carl is, don't you? Well, I know."

For a minute Laura was too stunned to speak. At last, she was within grasp of the information she had sought for days without success. Her heart raced as she asked the next question. "I do want to know, Eddie. I need him-I want him back. Tell me what you know. Tell me where Carl is."

Eddie sighed in resignation, as if he had known she would demand that he tell her. "He's staying at the Belmont House. If s a small motel near the plant From what I hear, he's really living it up."

Laura's heart sank at the words. "What-what do you mean, he's living it up? Is he-is he running around with another-other women?" she asked fearfully.

Eddie nodded. "I've seen him myself several times, always with a different woman. Most of them are quite good-looking. He's got excellent taste in women at least."

Laura sighed, and looked away from Eddie for a moment, unable to stop the tears that rushed to her eyes as Carl's life was exposed to her for the first time. Well, she thought without emotion, that's the end. He'll never come back to me now, not if he's finding what he wants in other women. She let her eyes wander over the shimmering, sunlit surface of the pool. Eddie's hand on her waist made her turn toward him but she let his hand stay where he had put it Nothing seemed to matter now.

"That's not all, Laura," the youth said in reluctant tones, "He's running around with a different crowd now. I've found out for certain that he's mixed up in a wife-swapping group. There have been rumors running around the plant that there's a number of couples involved."

Laura's heart leaped with fear. Carl would lose his job if someone went to the authorities about such a rumor and it was found out that there was substance to the story and he was involved. Then the incongruity of her fears became clearly apparent to her. Why should she not have worried about such a possibility when she and Carl had exchanged partners that first time. And, for that matter, if she were so worried about Carl's reputation, how about her own. She had just last night attended a party where partners were exchanged, and although she had not participated, she would have had her reputation ruined if there had been an intervention by the authorities. The whole thing was so ridiculous that Laura threw her head back against the deck chair and laughed aloud.

"Laura, what is it?" Eddie asked, puzzlement showing in his face.

"It's just that - Oh, Eddie, things are such a mess it's actually funny. Carl is off running around with a set of traders and so am I, only I'm not having any-a slight difference, but very slight"

"You mean you haven't ever-?" his question went unfinished.

Laura looked at the youth for an instant before replying. "Only once, Eddie, that's what started the trouble between us," she confessed.

Eddie's eyes once more speculated over her lush curves, and for the life of her, Laura did not wish for the youth to stop. In fact, she loved being admired by a man again. As if in response to his steady gaze, Laura's body began to misbehave, her nipples chafing against the tiny bra of her bikini, and her loins nagging with a desire to undulate and reel under the delightful caresses of a man's hands once more. Deliberately, Laura let her desire show in her eyes. What the hell, she thought, if Carl can play around, so can I.

Eddie seemed to understand her desire by his mysterious instinct, his hand wandered upward from her waist where he had placed it moments before. Hotly, Laura watched its progress with fascinated eyes, a smile beginning to twist the corners of her lush mouth upward.

"Laura!"

She arched her eyebrow as she tilted her head against the sun and looked at the youth. The heat of her desire made her mouth dry, she licked her lips nervously. Somehow, her back began to arch involuntarily, thrusting her breasts outward boldly. With a rush, Eddie's hand captured her left peak greedily, and his lips neared her own.

Laura took a deep breath and pushed him away. "Eddie-we can't," she muttered softly, her eyes searching the poolside for unwanted observers. The other tenants were occupied with their own conversations at the time, but she still wanted no loose talk about her among the apartment dwellers.

Eddie stood beside her, looking down at her, his hand slowly extending toward her. Laura glanced at his flat stomach and muscular frame. His skin was smooth and tanned and she knew that hard muscles lurked just beneath the translucent flesh. Inadvertently, her gaze dropped to his trunks and she could see the straining material holding his raging tumescence in rein, although it seemed that a disaster might occur at any time.

"Dear boy, what do you have in mind?" she teased, her eyes playing with his. But she extended her hand and placed it in his hard palm.

He closed his hand over hers powerfully and pulled her erect beside him. His voice was almost a growl.

"Don't treat me like a teenager, Laura. I'm not I want you, and you want me-I can feel it Your body is starving and I'm going to feed it the seeds it survives on. And I'm going to do it right now," he said with a smile at her startled face. He turned and pulled her along behind him.

His apartment was nearly a duplicate of her own, and she felt quite at home as he led her into the living room. He shut the door behind him and locked it. Laura turned and glanced questioningly at him, her eyebrow raised at the sound of the lock snapping home.

Without further ado, Eddie swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Laura's thoughts strayed inanely as she held on, her arms around the youth's neck. His apartment is as clean as mine I always thought men were sloppy housekeepers when they were bachelors.

"Here we go, little lady, the finest pad in town for what we have in mind," Eddie grinned at her as he deposited her on the bed, "I had it made up especially for loving."

Laura glanced at the king-sized bed, nodding her head in agreement It certainly was roomy enough, easily capable of accommodating several people at once, she thought amusedly. Almost at once she angrily turned her thoughts away from such things. She wasn't interested in multiple games, she told herself. She forced a smile and watched as Eddie loosened his trunks. "My, we are in a hurry aren't we," she teased, "but don't you think you should ask how I feel about this little game you have on your mind?"

Eddie dropped to the bed beside her, his eyes on fire. "You haven't a damned thing to say about it, Laura. I'm going to have you, here and now, and you know it." His voice was hard and flat, but his face was relaxed, full of confidence.

He knows me too well, somehow, Laura giggled to herself, he understands through that telepathic mind of his that I don't want to fight him, that I'd just as soon rip his trunks off and wrestle him to the floor as lay here and wait for what he's going to do to me.

Again triumph shone in his eyes as he sensed her acquiescence. With steady and sure hands he reached out and pulled at the tiny bandeau of her bikini top. With a little sigh of resignation, Laura leaned forward to allow him to accomplish his task more readily. In an instant he had deftly unfastened the small garment and pulled it from her body, letting her heavy breasts swing free, completely exposed to his fevered gaze.

"Laura-Judas-they're magnificent-just beautiful," he breathed without taking his eyes from the swelling mounds.

Laura watched silently as his powerful hands approached the twin delights, then, at the last moment, slid under her arms to grasp her by the sides of her chest. To her amazement, he lifted her slowly from the surface of the bed, raising her bodily to slowly bring her out-thrust breasts close to his lips.

"Eddie, wait-please-it's too fast," she breathed hoarsely, knowing that he would not stop the torturous approach to her double-coned peaks, and not really wanting him to anyway.

He didn't stop. Instead he raised her further, his huge biceps straining, but more than adequate for the task at hand. Without a word, he gently kissed her stiffened peaks, his lips caressing the coral tips lovingly. Laura's head dropped back against her neck in complete surrender as his mouth became voracious, drawing her mound deeply into the rapacious cavern.

"Aaahhhhh-that's-that's so good, Eddie," she whispered, eager for the gentle attack to continue, to prolong her slowly building desire.

Then, almost as if her words had inflamed him beyond endurance, he dropped her bodily to the surface of the bed once more and ripped away the bottom of her bikini. Dimly, Laura was aware of her now hasty efforts to assist him before she was completely nude, raising her hips to make the denuding easier. She rolled to her tummy and watched as the panting youth ripped away his own clothing, then joined her on the feather-soft bed.

"Eddie-I'm not sure-" she began a mild protest, but was interrupted by his mouth ravenously attacking her lips. His hard body pressed insinuatingly against her own and great surges of desire whipped through her. She could feel every inch of him, hard, demanding, throbbing with supercharged racing blood and somehow his passion flogged her own to an even higher pitch.

She welcomed him to her body willingly, rising to meet him with a small cry that matched his explosive grunt of triumph as he took her ruthlessly.

Almost before Laura realized it, it was over, and she was as unsatisfied as she had been with Carl before their disastrous final night together. She lay beside the satiated youth and pondered the course which she found her life to be taking. She had been to bed with two men now, other than her husband. One, Jack Arnold had been magnificent. The other, the spent youth who lay beside her at this very moment, paled in comparison to the huge neighbor who had thrilled her so shamelessly, and even Carl, who had been more than adequate until something-some indefinable thing had caused their sex life to diminish in intensity.

Laura glanced at Eddie. His eyes were closed and a satisfied smile curved his lips. She smiled as she imagined how he must be reliving his conquest of her. And, in spite of her own lack of satisfaction, she pulled the youth's arm across her chest and held it to her breasts tightly. She had given him complete release, and there was some satisfaction in that. She closed her eyes and rested, but her mind instantly created a picture of her other lover-the magnificent and terrifying Jack Arnold. Laura shuddered with an inadvertent quiver of anticipation, and realized in that instant that she had not seen the last of her amoral neighbor. Her body assured her of that.


CHAPTER NINE

Laura kicked off her shoes and slid into the overstuffed chair in her living room. She was exhausted after a morning of recrimination and soul searching and an entire day of futile waiting and watching Carl's apartment at the motel where Eddie had said her husband was living.

Carl had not departed or arrived, and she had grown weary of the long wait. She finally decided that she would have to return another time. Now, she sighed deeply, wishing only to have a hot bath and to rest in her short nightie, perhaps lounging in bed with a good book.

She almost finished with her soaking tub when the doorbell rang. She knew that it was Milly from the impatient, short rings that summoned her.

"Okay, Milly, the door's open, just come on in," she called loudly, "don't ring the bell off the wall."

The irrepressible brown eyes of the luscious brunette glistened at Laura as the older woman stuck her head in the door of the bathroom. She looked at Laura as she sat in the warm water for a moment, then with a conspiratorial grin, moved into the room and sat on the John. She was dressed in a pink pair of toreador pants and a wine colored sweater; her makeup was intended to compliment the attractive outfit. Her dark skin and brunette hair was contrasted by the light lipstick she had tastefully applied. Well, Laura thought as she continued her slow bath, Milly's made up to impress me, that's for sure. But I'm not having anymore of that girl-loves-girl routine just now. I want Carl back and I'm just about ready to do anything to get him to come home. Games with Milly can wait, unless Carl is gone for good.

She glanced again at the older woman who sat nearby with her long legs pulled up to her chin, her arms resting on her knees. In spite of the fact that she. was four years older than Laura, she looked quite young and appealing. Once more the teasing grin wreathed Milly's face as she noted Laura's inquiring glance.

"I have news, little one," she said lightly, her voice dripping mystery with every syllable.

"Milly, stop being a tease-if you have something to tell me, get on with it," Laura's patience was thin, her body bone tired from her tense day of watching and waiting for her husband to either leave or come to his motel room. She was instantly sorry that she had been short with Milly, and waved her hand in apology as she saw the light dim in Milly's eyes.

"I'm sorry, honey, I'm just awfully tired and out of sorts this evening. Please forgive me," she sighed contritely.

Milly came to the side of the tub and knelt to speak. "I know, Laura, you're going through hell right now, but look-don't let it get the best of you. Things will turn out all right." She hesitated for a moment, looking into Laura's eyes. "Want me to scrub your back, baby? It'll help you relax."

Laura shook her head. That was the last thing she wanted right now. "No, I'm done. But you can get me a towel out of the linen closet, Mil. I forgot to get one before I got in the tub."

Milly nodded and rummaged through the linens while Laura rose and stepped from the tub. She took the fluffy towel from Milly and quickly dried herself, then powdered her lush body with a huge powder puff. Afterwards, ignoring the predatory gleam that had begun to shine in Milly's eyes, she walked directly to her bedroom closet and selected a sheer peignoir. She deliberately decided to dispense with a nightie or bra and panties, but pulled the transparent gown around her and sat on the edge of her bed. She pulled a cigarette from a pack that lay on the bed table and lit it casually.

She looked at Milly, who had been standing nearby, watching silently. "Well, sit down, honey, and tell me what it is you're keeping from me."

Milly sat on the floor near her feet and looked up at the younger girl avidly. "I have some news about Carl. Something that should interest you very much."

"So, what's new with old Carl?" Laura sighed elaborately, making certain that her manner was one of studied indifference.

Without looking, Laura could sense the immediate reaction of her shapely neighbor. The tiny gasp of surprise was somehow satisfying to Laura's ears, and a slow smile twisted the corners of her mouth as she looked down into Milly's eyes defiantly.

"Darling," she breathed throatily, "you didn't think I was going to sit around forever, waiting for that-that idiot to make up his mind to come home, did you?" She rose from the bed and walked to the apartment window. Dusk was falling rapidly and she knew that in her sheer gown she would appear nearly nude to anyone who might be looking at her window. She stood deliberately in the bright orange light of the last rays of the setting sun and let her body be exposed to whoever might care to look at it.

Milly followed her and pulled her away from the window hurriedly. She pulled the drapes and the room was flushed with dimness. Milly lit a small lamp at the bed table near Laura's bed and turned to look into the younger girl's eyes. "You've changed, sweetie. You've come of age at last I think." Satisfaction tinged her every word, and a triumphant smile wreathed her face.

Laura nodded impatiently. "What was it you wanted to tell me about Carl? Is it important?"

Milly shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't know, now. You've changed."

"Try me. I'll let you know how important it is."

Milly giggled aloud. "I like you this way. You're more of a woman, somehow."

"Maybe. Just give me the information you have about Carl, and we'll both know. I'm prepared for the worst" Laura blew smoke deliberately at her elated neighbor and sat in the chair near her dressing table. She waited while Milly seated herself on the bench in front of the small table.

"Well, if s like this. Carl's really having himself a tune. He's living in an apartment in a motel and he's chasing everything that even smells female." The luscious brunette spoke with obvious relish, taking delight in relating the latest turn of events.

"Is that all?" Laura sighed with disappointment, "I already knew that. He's at the Belmont Motel." She snuffed her cigarette out in an ashtray and stood. "Eddie Martin told me the same thing days ago, Milly."

Milly waved Laura back to her seat and the young blonde complied. "It doesn't bother you? Not even a little?"

Laura shook her head negatively. "Not now. Oh, it did when I first learned about it, but since then I've decided that I can't change him. In fact, I've decided that what's good for him is good for me." She smiled with satisfaction. "Just ask Eddie," she giggled.

Again Laura was pleased by the small gasp of surprise that escaped from Milly's lips. "You-you really have changed, haven't you, sweetie?"

Again Laura rose from her chair. She pulled Milly erect and led her toward the apartment door. "Yes, I've changed, Mil-you'll be happy to know that, I'm sure. From now on, it's got to have something in it for me or no dice," she concluded firmly.

Milly pulled away from her momentarily and faced the younger girl squarely. "You mean that? For certain, sweetie?"

"Of course. For certain-finally and for always. From now on."

"Then how about another little get-together? Jack hasn't let me have a minute's peace since-well, you know. The night you two were together. He's been wild to try you again." Milly was excited, her eyes alive at the prospect of another session of illicit sex.

Laura hesitated, her heart racing. Jack! That huge, devastating brute of a man! She could still feel the ravishing attack he had launched upon her body, and almost at once she began to tingle with excitement Damp that man! Why does he affect me this way, Laura wondered silently. She thought again of the mountainous waves of sensation that had pounded her into senseless oblivion that wonderful night.

She looked again at Milly, who was watching her silently, her eyes questioning, her brows arched expectantly.

"Yes? You want another session with my big stud, honey? You know, you're really good for him," she continued quickly, "he damned near ruined me for a week after that night" she finished ruefully, as she smiled to belie the severity of her words. "I liked the hell out of it though," she confessed with a gamin-like expression that was so delightful that Laura broke into laughter.

"Of course I'd like another-session," she giggled breathlessly. What the hell, if Carl can do it why can't I?"

Milly hugged her happily. "Jack will just about tear the place apart when I tell him, darling." She pulled back and held Laura at arm's length. "When do you want to-?"

Laura shrugged her shoulders and pulled the peignoir around her. She led Milly toward the door once again. "It'll have to be tomorrow night, Mil, I'm dead this evening, I wouldn't be worth anything to anyone tonight. Let's make it tomorrow night. Tell Jack I'm game for anything. The sky's the limit" she finished carelessly as she opened the apartment door to let Milly out "Okay, I'll tell him. Wear a sheath, darling, he's wild about them. It really turns him on." Milly blew her a kiss and moved down the hall towards her own apartment Laura closed her door and leaned against it She was really going downhill fast She had just made a date to let Jack have her again! She moaned her helplessness against the wooden panel briefly, knowing that the path she and Carl were following was going to end in complete disaster for them both but she was helpless. She needed a man. She needed her husband!

Damn you Carl Cannon! You're doing this to me! If you were here I would never think of looking at Jack Arnold. If you had been a real husband to me-if-if! Damn such luck anyway, Laura moaned silently, tears running freely down her cheeks. She straightened suddenly and brushed her hair from her face. There was no point in crying about what had happened between herself and Carl. It was done. She locked the door and walked determinedly to her bedroom. She would have the same fun her husband was having! She was made for loving, and if Carl wouldn't do it she would find someone else to have her, to make her body tingle with the jagged slivers of delight Jack Arnold was superbly equipped to do just that Laura turned out her bedroom light and slid between the cool sheets of her bed. Tomorrow was another day. Maybe it would be the day Carl returned to her. If it wasn't she would let Jack have his way with her once more. She knew that would be monumental at least Sleep overtook her almost at once, and had Carl Cannon arrived at home that instant he would have been astonished to see the smile of complete sensuality that wreathed Laura's face as she slept.


CHAPTER TEN

Laura backed into her bedroom cautiously, her eyes on the face of Jack Arnold as he pursued her, his face flushed with passion. They had dined in Laura's apartment, she had foolishly prepared a candlelight dinner for them. All through the meal she had been put to her utmost skill to keep the huge man from getting out of hand. He had prepared for his evening with her by consuming a number of martinis, and had settled down for the meal only after Laura had promised to acquiesce to his demands afterward.

Now, the meal was over and they had finished an aperitif only moments earlier. Jack had stared at her greedily in the candlelight for a moment, then rose from his chair slowly, his great bulk towering over her. All through the meal, Laura had taunted him, playing with his passion, seeking to inflame him even more. Perversely, she had increased her teasing as she saw the devastating effect her low-cut sheath had on him, and the obvious state of desire he was in when he had arrived.

She quickly rose and moved away from the table as he stood, keeping him out of arms reach by adroit footwork. For several moments he pursued her around the room, his breathing ragged and passion-weighted. Laura delighted in the silent game, but a small warning bell clanged in her brain. Jack was huge, and with so much to drink, he could get out of hand. She moved quickly as he suddenly sought to capture her behind a chair. Too late, she realized that she had been maneuvered toward her bedroom. There was nowhere else to go.

Jack stood just inside her bedroom door and looked at her avidly, his eyes eagerly roving over the sleek lines of her body, searching out the delicacies that lay beneath the tight yellow sheath. "God, but you're a beautiful woman, Laura," he breathed in appreciation. His words were husky with passion.

Laura backed slowly into the bedroom, knowing that he was near his limit of endurance. She had played with him too much. He was near the bursting point Her heart raced and the blood pounded in her ears as she instinctively prepared herself mentally for what they both knew would happen.

He advanced toward her, and she retreated apace, realizing at once that he was again maneuvering her. Already he had moved to her side, forcing her to retreat away from the bathroom. Irresistibly he moved toward her and she in turn retreated until her legs met the bed, and she could go no further.

Laura trembled uncontrollably as Jack approached her and reached out with a ham-sized fist to pull her to him roughly. His lips crushed hers and his chest ground against her thrusting breasts. At last she broke the embrace, gasping for breath, her head swimming. "J-Jack, give me a moment to catch my breath," she pleaded in a whisper.

His only answer was a slow shake of his head. Then, before Laura could stop him, the great hand reached into the bodice of her sheath and pulled downward roughly. The material strained and ripped, and a small scream escaped from her startled lips. Her hands came up to protect her breasts in an instinctive gesture, but they were swept aside by the descending hand. In a single movement he ripped the yellow dress from her body and threw it over his shoulder.

"God, Jack-not like this-" she moaned, half in fear, half in enraptured anticipation of what would follow.

"Can that crap, Laura, we're not strangers," he uttered in low, almost guttural tones as his hands rose to her shoulders. "You're ready for what I've got baby, and you know it. Only this time it's going to be the way I like it, not that little school-girl deflowering we had the last time," he finished with a burst of effort as his hands swept the straps of her bra from her shoulders and down her arms.

Laura's heart leaped at the words. She had never been-raped! That's what this is, she thought wildly, her mouth open to scream but unable to make the sound come from her throat. Ohh-my God, he's ripping my bra off!

Jack's hands shredded the light material easily, the metal fasteners behind her rending and bending, tearing from the bandeau with a rush that left her nude from the waist up, Laura's hands covered her heavy, swaying mounds protectively.

"That won't do you a damn bit of good and you know it," he grinned evilly, eyeing the coral circles avidly. "I'm going to get them and chew them right off your chest, little lady, and I know you know it. I can see it in your face," he laughed.

Resolved to protect herself from the passion-enraged man to the last, Laura suddenly darted away, but his huge hands caught her almost at once. The room whirled as he picked her up bodily and threw her to the softness of the bed. Laura gasped as Jack's full weight came to rest on her lower back. He was sitting astride her, his hands running lightly Over the softness of her buttocks. His hands were hot, even through the sheen of her tiny briefs. With a laugh, he began working the tiny garment down over the wide rondures. Almost at once Laura felt coolness and she knew she was now completely nude except for her stockings.

He removed the remaining clothing quickly, pulling her legs backward toward him. When she was completely divested of all protection he rolled away from her and stood beside the bed.

"The last time you screamed when I took you, Laura," he smiled as she looked over her shoulder at him, "but this time you're going to scream for another reason. This time I'm going to have a little fun we didn't try then."

He was undressing as he talked, and once more Laura was fascinated by the tremendous proportions of the man. Once more the huge manhood strained toward her and once more she was entranced by its menacing appearance. Once more the hairy chest moved toward her and almost as if it were last night, she recalled how Jack had toyed with her, holding her limply over his chest, lowering her until she barely touched the tangled mat with her stiffened nipples. Involuntarily a little gasp escaped from her lips.

Jack grinned, then approached her, his hands grasping and holding her to the velvet surface of the bed. Laura went limp with fear, knowing that she could not escape whatever he had in mind. Once more she was whirled almost bodily in his grasp, and she found herself face down, almost smothering in the soft contours of the pillows. She turned her head and could see the great man kneeling beside her.

While Laura shuddered and quaked under Jack's new attack, a new and frightening element crept into her consciousness. Anticipation! She knew that Jack was quite capable of doing anything he wished with her; his strength was immeasurably greater than her own. She was completely at his mercy, and somehow that knowledge sent thrill after thrill racing through her.

Then, before she could utter a protest, her hands were pulled behind her roughly, and a quick gasp of pain escaped from her lips involuntarily. Her shoulders were pulled backward unmercifully, and she winced as the pressure increased. "Wh-what are you doing?" she managed to gasp between her clenched teeth.

"Never mind, Laura, you're going to take whatever I have in mind-and you're going to like it," Jack finished gruffly.

Laura's mind whirled as she felt her hands being held behind her. What on earth is he going to do? she asked herself again, I-I'm stretched terribly-my breasts are being crushed under me!

Then once more she was lifted bodily and whirled around so that she was facing the grinning giant of a man. He pulled her to a sitting position on the bed and Laura saw the passion gleam raging in his eyes. For a moment he looked at her avidly, his eyes roving over her body greedily, resting for a moment at the velvet shadow that was her only protection. Then his eyes lifted once more to the taut, coral crested peaks that stretched toward him.

While Laura watched with growing horror, Jack lowered his head and sought the full mounds avidly.

He's going to keep me like this! He's going to-to ohhh-God! He's-he's so rough! Laura's mind seemed to wander as the mountainous wave of sensation began to pulse through her in response to the ravening action of the huge man. She lost track of time, her mind moving dully from one moment to the next, her body afire with the uncaring roughness of her partner.

Then she was thrown again to the surface of the bed, and she was being ripped asunder, great surges of strength pounding at her, and she felt only pain. There was no pleasure, only a rending and tearing that made her wince and shrink from the great cudgel that hammered at her incessantly. And then, mercifully, the pounding receded dimly and she knew that she was fainting.

A dim light swam around her head as Laura tried to open her eyes. Then she remembered what had happened and a wave of nausea rushed through her. She made her eyes look at the undulating light and slowly it settled down. It was the lamp beside her bed. Dully, she turned her head and looked at the figure seated beside her. It was Milly.- "You're awake, now honey," the beautiful brunette breathed gratefully, "for a minute you had me frightened."

Laura moaned and tried to sit up, but Milly pushed her back against the pillow gently.

"Better take it easy, Laura, you're a little rocky yet."

Once more the recollection of what had happened was pictured clearly in Laura's mind. Jack had taken her passionately, with thoughts of only his own pleasure in mind. She looked at Milly and saw only concern in the older woman's face. "I know, honey, I know," she said quietly. "I gave the big bastard the devil for what he did, and honestly, he's really sorry about this. He wouldn't really hurt you for anything."

Laura struggled to a sitting position. She was feeling much better, and aside from a few bruises and an intimate tenderness, she was apparently none the worse for the experience. She looked again at her neighbor. "You can tell Jack for me that he just finished whatever-curiosity I ever had about him. He's not for me." She shuddered involuntarily as she remembered her predicament of only an hour ago. "He's not what I'm looking for."

Milly patted her hand gently. "Well, maybe I can make you forget about what happened anyway. I have something to show you." She reached for her purse where it rested on the floor beside her. She pulled a small folded piece of paper from the handbag and handed it to Laura.

Laura saw that it was not a single sheet of paper after all, but several sheets of paper stapled together. It was full of typewritten paragraphs, each preceded by a number. Laura looked at Milly questioningly. "What-what's this?" she asked, looking at the words curiously.

"It's a little newsletter that a friend of mine publishes every so often," the lush brunette answered with a flashing smile, "I don't usually show it to just anyone, but this one is of particular interest to you, so I made an exception."

"Look," she continued, "read this one." She pointed to a small paragraph that read: SWINGING FELLA NEEDS A CONGENIAL PARTNER FOR FUN AND GAMES. INTERESTED IN ALL UNUSUAL AND BIZARRE ACTIVITIES.

The short paragraph was followed by a number; there was no other identification of the person who might have placed the advertisement in the little newsletter. Again Laura looked at Milly in confusion. "What has this-this advertisement got to do with me, Milly? I don't know who put it there."

Milly shook her head and giggled happily. "I know you don't sweetheart-Carl put it in this little jewel of a paper." Her voice was triumphant as she spoke the words.

Laura's heart leaped at the news. Carl had-then she stopped. My God, she thought sadly, he's fallen even lower than I have. He's advertising for a partner-a girl! She turned the little paper over and looked at it. It was full of more such ads and some were, even to her unpracticed eye, thinly veiled suggestions of forbidden delights, available to those who might care to answer.

Milly watched her closely, then took the small paper from her hands. "Honey, you want him back don't you?" she asked softly, her hand on Laura's as it lay limply on her thigh.

"You know I do, Milly-I need him terribly. And he needs me, if that's what he's doing now. I've got to get to him before if s too late-for both of us!" She sobbed the last words and buried her face in her hands.

Milly held her to her chest and patted her nude back gently. "Of course you need him honey, and to make up for-for what happened tonight, I'm going to help you."

Laura raised her head and looked into Milly's brown eyes, blinking back her tears. "Oh, can you Mil-will you?"

"Of course darling. After all, I'm more than a little responsible for what's happened between you two-" Laura interrupted her companion with a wave of her hand. "I went along with what you wanted-I'm just as responsible. But now I want him back. I've got to have him back." She turned suddenly to the lush girl as a frightening thought occurred to her. "How do you know if s Carl's ad? You said it was, but how do you know for sure?"

Milly smiled confidently. "Because a friend of mine published that little gem, and he's been on the lookout for just this very thing-an ad by your husband. Actually, it's against the rules for anyone to know whose number is whose, but I have a way of finding out, darling. I assure you it's Carl's ad."

She rose to leave and as she walked toward the door, she turned to the newly elated Laura. "If you've an ounce of sense, you'll answer that ad, and agree to meet Carl some place. Study the way the ads are slanted and make your reply as responsive as possible. Don't tell him who you are, but just give me your letter. I'll see that it gets to him through my friend. Carl will have to do the rest" She waved a small hand at Laura and was gone.

As Laura sat at her dressing table writing a reply to Carl's advertisement that she thought would interest him without being too secretive or cautious, she hardly felt the twinges of pain that remained from the monumental struggle with Jack Arnold. No man on earth could have been more remote from her thoughts than the man she had once thought magnificent Her whole being was concentrated upon the task of writing the reply that would bring her own lover back to her bed.


CHAPTER ELEVEN

Laura rolled over and stretched her arms and legs to their fullest length. She felt wonderful The tenderness created by Jack Arnold's massive attack on her lush body had been gone for days, and she was once again beginning to feel the rising waves of tingling need that washed through her at odd times. She had seen Eddie and Jim several times, sunning their magnificent bodies near the pool, but she had stayed away from them, instinctively knowing that the conversation, should she join them, would eventually turn to either her single status or Carl's absence, and she wished to discuss neither with the two youths.

She had even, on one occasion, felt the sensuous tug of her loins when Janice the maid had moved about her room attending to her housecleaning chores silently, her smooth legs scissoring efficiently, her compact torso twisting and turning as she dusted and straightened the room. But Laura had stayed her impulse and thought only of Carl, and how soon they might once again be together, as they were when they first married.

It's been three weeks since I answered that darned ad of his, why can't their service be faster, she thought angrily as she once more peered down into the courtyard where the other couple cavorted in the sunlight, their golden bodies a delight to the eyes. Maybe he's had so many replies he hasn't gotten around to my letter yet, she considered with alarm. Suppose some little hussy has-but then rationality took over and she suppressed the urge to panic.

Carl would reply to her letter, she was sure of it. She had taken the trouble to read her reply to Milly before she handed it over to that mischievous young lady for transmittal to the friend who published the newsletter.

"It's great, honey, he'll never be able to resist all those baited words. Not if I know your man-any man for that matter," she had added hastily as Laura looked at her sternly.

It was true. She had deliberately loaded her reply with all the suggestive nuances that she could think of, hinting at hours of licentious and wanton activities without quite saying as much.

Laura sighed and once more stretched out on her bed. Life was good once again, and she felt she had matters under control. She had been able to resist the urgent waves of passion that occasionally had gripped her, and for three weeks she had remained busy, spending several hours daily, at different times, near Carl's motel, falling into the routine easily. The only thing that was missing was her lover, her husband. She needed him more and more with each passing day.

In a sudden impulse, Laura sat up and pulled her nightie over her head, tossing it carelessly to the floor. She laid back against her pillow and stretched again, letting her palms roll her nipples lustfully, finally capping the firm cones with a kneading motion that set her loins in motion. Instinctively her hand dropped to her V and at once towering waves of sensation radiated from her searching fingers.

This will never do, the tawny beauty scolded herself, rolling from the warm mattress. She ran to the bathroom, seeking to fill her mind with other thoughts; to drive away the stirring animal that sought to awaken in her loins. My goodness! I'm so-so eager, this morning, she wondered.

She ran water in the washbowl, testing it carefully with her fingers. When would Carl's letter come? How soon could she see her husband again? She shook her head resignedly and once more allowed the sensual feeling in her to take over. At once her pink crests popped erect.

Laura grinned at her image in the bathroom mirror, amused at the swollen nipples she could see reflected in the glass. Well, so sorry, little ones, but it's the shower for you. I can't have you acting up like this so early in the day-especially since there's no one around to take care of you, she concluded ruefully. She put the thought from her mind and ran the shower. The hot water felt wonderful, but seemed only to increase her passion-her need. Her hands lingered as she palmed the soap over her flanks and thighs, and as she watched almost as if from a distance, the seeking fingers once again traced a path to her very core. A voice calling to her from the front room abruptly interrupted the delicious waves of sensation, and Laura clutched the shower curtain fearfully. Had Eddie come in? No, he was at work. It was Janice. Of course, the black-haired beauty who cleaned the apartment every week. Laura expelled her breath in a gust of relief. "I'm in here, Jan," she called, her voice reverberating in the confines of the bathroom. "Just go ahead and start, I'll be done in a moment."

"You're in here, Mrs. Cannon?" Janice questioned as she stuck her head in the bathroom door. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were in the shower."

"It's all right, Janice, I'm almost done." Laura smiled as she stuck her head through the curtains and greeted the younger girl.

Janice nodded and hesitated, her eyes searching the fissure in the curtain nervously. "All right, Mrs. Cannon-I'll start cleaning, you go right ahead and finish your shower."

Laura nodded and ducked back under the cascading water. It was curious how Janice had looked at the shower curtain, almost as if she were trying to see more of my body, the stunning blonde mused as she rinsed the last vestiges of soap from her tanned skin. She turned the water off and stepped from the enclosure and started to rub down with a fluffy towel.

A draft of cool air caused her to glance up and her startled gaze fell upon the open door leading into her bedroom. Janice had left the door open and Laura could see the younger girl busily making the bed and putting away Laura's scattered clothing. Laura continued to massage her tanned skin with the towel as she watched the girl work, her eyes taking in the sweet rondures of the young beauty's backside as she knelt to retrieve a pair of discarded panties from the floor.

It's funny, Laura thought idly, but I've never thought of Janice as a person before, but she's actually very beautiful. Somehow the college girl looked different today, almost as if she had done something to her appearance; had blossomed somehow.

Laura's powder puff softly dried and scented her body, carefully attending to each delightful mound and valley, each delight treated to it's own shower of talcum, making the heady curves deliriously smooth and slippery. Laura walked into her bedroom casually, her loins beginning to tingle expectantly, much to her irritation. With a determined shrug she walked directly to her dressing table, determined to ignore the nagging desire that rose within her. Yet, her mind instantly recalled the shattering experience she had received from Milly the first time they had gone to bed together. I wonder, Laura thought, could I do that to Janice-could I give her the same unearthly thrill? Laura suddenly shook her head in frustration.

Good God! I'm so hard up that the sight of an attractive girl is getting to me. Nervously, she lit a cigarette and shrugged into a sheer peignoir. She turned to her dressing table, aware of the stark silence between them. In the mirror, Janice's eyes repeatedly darted toward Laura's body, only to penetrate the sheer cloth and dart away as she busied herself about the room.

Perversely, Laura decided to experiment with the young girl. "Jan?" she said softly, "do you have a boyfriend?" She watched as the lovely girl hesitated and straightened from the task of dusting the bed tables.

"Y-yes, Mrs. Cannon, I have a boy that I-" she hesitated, and Laura's eyebrows raised in questioning encouragement. "He's away at college right now. We-we haven't seen each other for about a month."

"I see." Laura smiled inwardly. This was perfect. Janice was obviously as lonely and frustrated as she was. "Well, that's bad for the love life, Jan, you should find someone else to take his place for a while-for your own well-being," she finished, turning to smile knowingly at the motionless girl.

"Oh, I couldn't, Johnny would be furious if he ever found out I had done something like that," the girl answered in anguished tones.

Laura let concern show in her face and rose to approach the girl. "Janice, I didn't mean to upset you," she said, taking the raven-haired beauty's hand in her own. "Here sit down on the bed with me; my goodness, you're nervous as can be." She pulled the younger girl's hand, but she remained erect.

Janice nodded. "I know, it's just that Johnny and I had been so close-and it's been so long since we-I mean-" she stopped in confusion, a red flush began to creep upward from her throat, and she dropped her eyes prettily.

Laura squeezed the hand she held, her heart racing as she sensed the intimacy that was growing between them. "Don't be ashamed of love, darling," she laughed, pulling the smaller girl toward her. When Janice was standing very close, Laura placed her hand under the girl's chin and raised the pretty face so she could look into her eyes. Laura looked into the depths of the dark beauty's blue eyes, seeing anguish and need hidden there. For a moment she stared into the younger girl's eyes, then rose and pulled her toward the bathroom.

"Now listen, I know just what you need," she said busily as they swept across the room, "you skin out of your clothes and hop into that shower like I did. There is nothing like a good hot bath and friendly powder puff to get the day off right It'll make you forget Johnny for awhile."

Janice pulled her hand from Laura's and stood stark still in the middle of the room. Laura swung around in surprise and looked at the younger girl. The huge, clear eyes seemed troubled, and an electric tension built between them. A pink tongue crept out of the rose colored crevice of Janice's mouth and ran around her sensuous lips uncertainly.

Laura raised her hand and beckoned to the girl silently. After what seemed to be an endless time, during which Laura's body began to ache with anticipation, Janice hesitantly took the outstretched fingers and allowed the older girl to lead her to the bathroom.

Wheew! that was close, Laura breathed silently as she ran the bath water, she nearly left me back there. I think she understands what I'm going to do, but she's not too sure, even now, whether she'll stay. She turned once again to face the younger girl. "There we are, that will soon fill up with nice warm water. You can lay in there and relax to your heart's content" she smiled to her guest "I'll go on out there and fix my makeup.

After all I've .got a busy day ahead of me," she fibbed.

"Mrs. Cannon, I don't think I can-"

"Nonsense, little one, of course you can," Laura interrupted, knowing that if Janice backed out now, there would be no opportunity later for her to continue the plans she had in mind for the girl.

She reached for the top button of the little girl's dress. "Here, I'll help you-" she began, but was stopped by the quick reflex of Janice's hand. For a moment the younger girl held the hand near her throat, then slowly pushed it away as their eyes locked.

"I-I can do it quite well, Mrs. Cannon," she said quietly, almost as if she knew that Laura understood that she had made up her mind to do as the older girl wished.

"Of course, my dear-but please, call me Laura. Mrs. Cannon seems so-stilted between us. After all, I'm not that much older than you," she laughed.

Some of the tension seemed to drain from the younger girl's face, and she smiled. Brilliant teeth, even and gleaming and incredibly clean, filled the lovely girl's mouth. Laura had an almost irresistible urge to press her own lips on Janice's at that very moment, regardless of the consequences But she held herself in check.

"All right-Laura it is," Janice said, her smile widening.

Laura grinned and swung out the bathroom, her head giddy with anticipation. She knows' She's aware of what's between us now, and she isn't running! Happily, Laura moved about the room, trying to keep her mind occupied until Janice finished in the bath. She paced the room for an endless time, long after the water had drained from the tub. Finally, she could stand the suspense no longer and called to the girl through the door. "Janice, are you finished?"

The muffled voice of the dark-haired girl answered almost at once. "Yes Mrs.-Laura, I'm just getting dressed."

Laura shrieked mentally. How on earth had she not remembered to have the girl wear something of her own-something revealing. Something that would give her the opportunity to get the girl into her bed. "Well, wait a minute, Janice, I want you to try something of mine on," she said hastily, "I've never worn it and I need to see how it looks on someone before I wear it."

The fabrication came to her lips almost instinctively, and she hoped that it didn't sound too false. She waited without breathing while Janice remained silent. "Well, all right, Laura, let me have it."

Laura scurried to her dressing table and rummaged through a drawer for something suitable. Then an inspiration struck her. A baby-doll outfit! She had a perfect one-one that suited her purposes admirably. It was black and sheer and quite transparent. She would have Janice wear if for her. Without the panties, of course.

She handed the garment through the partially opened door and waited for the girl to take it. Suddenly the material was pulled from her hand and an audible gasp came from the moist, warm bathroom For a moment there was no sound, then a tremulous voice spoke in soft and meaningful tones.

"Is this-is this what you wanted me to wear, Laura, there's no mistake?" the husky voice asked.

Laura pushed through the door and beheld the magnificent body of the younger girl as she held the transparent garment up to her chest. Wide, clear eyes looked at Laura as she approached the dark-haired beauty. "Of course that's what I wanted you to wear, darling, is there something wrong?"

The deep blue eyes looked into Laura's innocent face for a moment then, as she shook her head, dropped to the sheer garment. "No, if s just that I've never worn one of these and-ifs-oh, Laura," she gasped, "ifs so beautiful-and so sexy!"

Laura laughed loudly and grasped Janice's hand. She pulled the reluctant girl into her bedroom and toward her dressing table. The magnificent proportions of the girl's body were reflected for them both to see in the large mirror. Quickly, before Janice could change her mind about the tiny garment, Laura helped the younger girl shrug into the transparent nightie Then, standing side by side, they both stared into the mirror in fascination at their images so seductively portrayed in the glass.

Laura's eyes ran hotly over the half-revealed lushness of Janice's breasts, and the sweet curve of the narrow waist where it flared into the generous, softly rounded hips. In a rush of tenderness, Laura put her arm around the waist of the younger girl and pulled the hot body to her own for a moment. Their eyes locked, and slowly a flush suffused Janice's face. Laura's gaze dropped to the full rise of the thrusting breasts next to her own, the four delicious peaks clearly visible through the sheer material.

To her delight and amazement she noticed that Janice's pink nipples were starting to erect! She watched in fascination as the tiny nubs grew to full-fledged, stiffened and swollen peaks, and she ached to capture one in her mouth.

Now Janice's eyes were directed fully on her own as Laura looked into the flushed face, searching for the first sign of fear or rejection. She found only a suffused happiness in the youthful countenance.

"Isn't that something, though?" the young beauty murmured with a bashful smile, "they do that at the damndest times!"

Both girls were caught up in gales of laughter and Laura slid to the dressing table couch. She pulled Janice down beside her. It was astounding how the sight of another body-a female body-could arouse her! For long moments, neither she nor Janice spoke, yet their hands strayed together and clasped tightly as they sat staring at their reflections in the mirror. Then, when she dared, after her racing heart had subsided, Laura looked questioningly at the raven-haired beauty. An almost irresistible urge to take the girl in her arms ran through her.

As if she could sense the feeling, Janice rose from the bench slowly, standing finally to stare down into Laura's upraised eyes. Even though she was seated, Laura's face was nearly to the younger girl's chest, and once again her eyes dropped to the swollen, thrusting mounds. Then, as if both their minds suddenly became one, Janice slowly raised the sheer nightie over her head. She dropped the garment and stood proudly erect in front of Laura. Her hands caressed the delicious peaks tenderly, then gradually began to massage the swollen flesh. A little moan escaped from her sleek lips.

Laura looked into the deep blue eyes and saw the passion surging there, and with a gasp of pleasure captured the younger girl's hands with her own, aiding the rotating massaging action. Laura could hardly contain her delight at the feel of the full, delicious mounds. Soon it was not enough, and she pulled the small hands away. She sat upright, her face at the same level. Without haste, without hesitation, she put her hands around Janice's waist and pulled the hot body forward. Her lips tasted a bud-like nipple and drew nectar from the little peak. A sharp gasp escaped from Janice's lips as she arched toward Laura eagerly.

For long moments Laura worshiped at the soft altars of flesh then, with her passion rising rapidly, she threw off her peignoir and dropped to her knees in front of the shuddering, gasping girl. Her cheeks caressed fiery thighs in a shocking contact; her lips nagging, seeking the trail to the valley of Valhalla. With a moan, Laura found the verdant treasure. With a wild shriek, Janice collapsed on top of her, and they both fell to the floor in a welter of arms and legs.

Somehow, they found their way to Laura's bed, both of them nude, staring at each other in silence as their heavy breathing became the only sound in the room. Janice's great blue eyes stared at Laura heatedly as the older girl cupped one of the stiff peaks lovingly.. Once more unable to restrain herself, Laura lowered her lips to the rosy nipple and drew it slowly into her mouth.

"Ahhh-ohh-Laura-that's sooo good," Janice cried in a soft voice as her head rolled from side to side on the white pillow of Laura's bed. Soft moans fell repeatedly from the luscious girl's gasping lips.

Laura worshiped the other coral peak and as she muzzled the hot flesh she felt her self moisten in anticipation of the delights that would follow. Hesitantly, almost fearfully, Janice's hand sought her, and Laura spread herself to help the seeking fingers reach their goal. An electric shock raged through her body almost at once and Laura's moans began to match those of her partner. For long moments she worked at the thrusting mounds until Janice pushed her away, gasping for breath.

"Laura," she groaned, "you're setting me on fire-I-you're making them terribly tender," she finished as she caressed her body carefully.

Laura knew she must continue-she had to make it complete! She pushed the mildly protesting girl back against the pillow and let her lips wander down over the twitching plain of her soft belly, down until she could nip at the inner sides of the thrashing, incredibly warm and soft thighs. Then at last again she found the dewy delight, and she plunged uncaring into the velvet treasure.

"Eeeeeaaahh," Janice screamed, her voice resounding from the four walls of Laura's bedroom, "Ohh-Laur-Ohhh-God, Laura-please-ohhh-" Laura followed the thrashing girl to the heights that came almost at once.

Later as she lay in the quiet dimness of her room letting the younger girl pull at her swollen peaks, Laura watched through slitted eyes, seeing the working lips, the voracious mouth that feasted upon her nipples. Laura thought of Carl. Damn you Carl Cannon-if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be doing this. That would be you instead of another-her mind suddenly rebelled at the thought-another woman!

In an instant the little beginning sensations of pleasure that had begun to stir within her loins fled, and she squirmed mentally as she submitted to the tender ministrations of the younger girl. She could hardly wait to get rid of the wretched maid. Yet she waited, her mind telling her that she had led the girl into the velvet tray of Lesbos-she had given her pleasure-but now there was nothing, only a great emptiness when it became her own turn to receive, and she knew that another woman could never take the place of a man-her loving husband. The nodding head below was never aware of the tears of frustration that streamed down Laura's face at that moment.


CHAPTER TWELVE

An hour later, a nervous, completely unsatisfied Laura stood at the door to Eddie Martin and Jim Davis' apartment next door to her own apartment Eddie was home she knew, because she had seen him come in moments before as she paced her bedroom floor in agitation. The session with Janice had proved to be disastrous. She had pretended to be elated and completely surfeited with the amateurish attack the younger girl had made upon her body, but later, after she had let the girl out of her room, Laura had felt cheap and used, and she had longed for the tingling rise of passion that only a man could evoke within her. The more she tried to dismiss her need from her mind, the more insistent became the demands of her body.

Now, almost beside herself with need, she hesitated before tapping the door to Eddie's apartment He would think her to be shameless, cheap and an easy lay, probably, but she put the thought from her mind. She needed a man, and she needed one fast She had considered Jack Arnold, but she was terrified of the huge man, and knew that another session with him might actually result in physical harm to her.

Her mind made up, she tapped softly on Eddie's door. She could hear him moving around in the apartment, and then suddenly, he was standing in the doorway, mild surprise on his face as he recognized her.

"Hey! How about that, I was just thinking about you-" he stood aside for her to enter, and she moved into the living room. He closed the door behind him. "Laura, I'm delighted that you came. I've been wanting to see you again."

He hesitated as he faced her, his eyes rapidly taking in her nervous hands, wringing each other repeatedly, and the anguished expression on her face. Laura knew instantly that he understood her need, and she quickly turned away, unable to face the youth.

He was nude from the waist up, the lower part of his body clad in faded and tattered blue jeans, and the sheer maleness of him had nearly been more than she could stand for an instant. Laura drew a deep shuddering breath as Eddie moved around and put his hands on her shoulders. Still she could not face him, and his hand raised her chin slowly so that he could peer into her eyes. "It's that bad, huh?" he said softly, understanding showing in his eyes.

Laura nodded. Her voice was choked and she knew she could never really tell the youth the intenseness of her need. Thankfully, he made speech unnecessary. He turned without another word and pulled her toward his bedroom.

She let him set her on the edge of the bed and watched with wide eyes as his hard hands gently began to undress her, pulling off the housecoat that she had thrown on over her bra and panties. As she watched, her breath became ragged and heavy, and in moments she was gasping her passion to him in little whispers of words she hardly knew she was uttering.

Then he was nude and beside her on the bed, and they were locked in the madness of their desires. Laura moaned her delight and relief into his shoulder and reveled in the life and strength that he imparted to her in the wanton struggle. Without warning, she strutted and screamed her delight to the world as she reached a mountainous crest and slid on a toboggan of feathers into the valley of completion with her partner.

Laura sighed and stirred from the glorious lethargy that had enveloped her after their passionate journey. Eddie was getting better, she decided, or was-it just that her need was greater? She wondered. Eddie looked at her and grinned, his white teeth flashing in contrast to his tanned skin.

"You were great, Laura, stick around. It'll soon be time again," he breathed softly into her ear.

Laura moaned her objection, but was suddenly stopped by the sound of the bedroom door opening. She looked up and stared straight into the grinning face of Jim Davis as he stood in the doorway, looking down at them.

"Well now, isn't this cozy," he laughed as Laura grabbed a sheet and pulled it up in front of her for protection.

"Get-get out," Laura gasped in fright This was something she had not expected. What on earth would she do now? She looked at Eddie, hoping that he would tell Jim to leave. To her amazement, Eddie was laying back against his pillow, quite relaxed and quite nude.

"Hi, old buddy, where you been?" he asked as though nothing were unusual about the circumstances that found him in bed with Laura.

"Eddie," Laura wailed in dismay, "make him leave-we can't stay here like this! Please!"

"Relax baby, nothing's going to happen. Jim lives here, too," he answered.

Laura wailed her objections into the sheet she held in front of her, peering over the edge of the material fearfully. My God! Jim is starting to undress! What ever am I doing here? How will I ever get out of this?

"What-what are you doing?" she stammered at the newcomer fearfully.

He laughed and continued removing his clothes. "Hell, I'm just making myself at home, Laura, I live here, as Ed says. And, what he didn't say is that we share everything-expenses, booze, and broads, baby." He moved to the dresser and slipped his trousers off. Laura watched in complete panic as he neatly folded the cuffs and rolled them over the edge of a drawer and closed it, leaving his pants hanging neatly. His muscular frame was smooth and clear, and Laura knew that she would have welcomed him as well as Eddie, had he been present a few short minutes ago when she had arrived in the boy's apartment in such a dire state of need.

Now, however, she was satiated, and she certainly didn't intend to share her favors with Jim as well as Eddie. A sudden inspiration struck her, and before she gave the matter a second thought she reached out and grabbed the telephone from it's cradle beside the bed. Quickly she dialed the operator. Without waiting for an answer she began talking.

"Hello, operator-yes, I think I'm in danger," she said into the mouthpiece, her eyes on the suddenly stopped Jim. He had halted his advance as soon as she had spoken into the mouthpiece. Now, as Laura hesitated, he raised his hand in a silent gesture of surrender.

"Okay, okay, you win," he said in a hoarse whisper. "I'll get out. Just don't cause us any trouble."

"Just a moment operator-I can't be certain," Laura said into the mouthpiece. She watched again, as Jim picked up his clothes and quickly left the room.

With a sigh of relief, Laura replaced the telephone in its cradle and rolled from the bed. Eddie broke into gales of laughter, as he watched her dress rapidly.

"Honey, that's the best act I've seen in months. Old Jim will be furious when he finds out that you couldn't have had time to get anyone that fast" He laughed again, but he made no effort to stop Laura's hasty dressing.

Convinced that she was really going to leave, Eddie rose from the bed and dressed. He saw her to the door without speaking, escorting her before the disappointed Jim, who sat disconsolately on the sofa. Laura breathed her thanks to Eddie as she slid through the door of the boy's apartment, and scurried to her own door. She breathed easier when she was securely within her own apartment. She leaned against the inside of the door and placed a trembling hand over her heart, feeling the racing, pounding pulse. That had been a narrow escape, and she vowed to keep her passions under a closer rein in the future. She looked at the silent rooms and vowed that she would take her lovers here, where she could control things.

Impatiently, Laura bathed, scrubbing herself savagely, knowing that what she really needed was her husband, not a series of lovers. However, she decided, I'll talk to Milly. Maybe she'll know how to speed up Carl's letter. It would have to come soon, for without him she faced some kind of disaster.


CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"What makes people do the things they do?" Laura asked idly as she sat Indian-fashion on the floor of her living room. Milly was with her. They had just finished a late brunch, and Laura was still dressed in her housecoat as was her older companion. They had eaten leisurely and settled back to relax with a cigarette in the comfort of Laura's living room, both of them seated on the deep pile carpeting. Milly leaned against the couch and watched as Laura painted her toes.

"What do you mean-what things?" she asked.

"Oh, you know, the things we've done-to each other, and to ourselves."

"Like you and Carl fouling up your lives a little?" Milly asked with a little laugh.

"Milly, I'm serious-but I do mean just that. What makes people become dissatisfied and suddenly feel the need to search for something?" She'd completed painting the scarlet finish on the toes of the left foot and had switched to the other, curling her legs under her bottom expertly. "Something that seems to be missing in an otherwise serene and satisfactory marriage," she finished ruefully.

"Honey, I tried to tell you in the beginning. Some of us need more than others do. Some men need more than one woman, and some women need many men to keep them happy. We're different, that's all," she finished confidently, her manner assured.

"Milly, I don't believe that," Laura answered firmly, "I think that if a woman is a real woman, interested in everything her man wants and does, and is as eager for sex as her man is, he'll never need to turn to another woman." She concentrated intently on running the red fluid onto a tiny toenail, then resumed speaking. "I think every man would like to experiment, and perhaps sometimes does, but not on a continuing basis if his home life is like I described."

Milly shrugged her shoulders with expressive indifference. "The difference in people is as great as the difference in the fishes of the sea. Not only physically, but emotionally. You can't generalize about such complex things. What's good and natural to Jack and I is unnatural and terrible to others and the only way I can explain it is to admit that we're somehow different."

Laura nodded in agreement. "That's the way I feel about some of the things I've-we've all done recently-unnatural and terrible to think about." She sighed in frustration. "Damn that Carl, anyway. If I could only talk to him, maybe-" she left the rest of her words unspoken and for a moment they were both silent.

"Honey, have you tried calling him?"

Laura uttered a short, derisive laugh. "Sure, he's got an unlisted number. Have you ever tried to get a telephone operator to give you someone's unlisted number? They're the original hardhearted Hannahs when it comes to that."

"How about trying to see him? Go to his motel and insist on seeing him."

Laura sighed and leaned against the couch beside Milly. "I've camped there for so many hours I've gotten calluses on my behind," she replied. She straightened her legs out in front of her and observed the bright tips of her toes.

"Well, Laura, I know one way you might meet him, or get a line on him, if you don't want to wait for his letter-if he answers it at all. There is that possibility, you know," Milly added.

Laura stared at the older woman for a moment. Was this another trick? The beginning of another bid to involve her in more-games? Yet there was the possibility that Carl wouldn't answer her letter to his advertisement, although she hadn't let herself imagine such a turn of events. Hell, she chided herself angrily, I've got no choice. I'll do anything to find Carl and to get him back, and Milly knows it. I might just as well listen to what she has to say. Anything is better than just sitting and waiting for his letter.

"Tell me," she said firmly, "I'm ready to try anything at this point." She searched Milly's face intently, as if to divine what the lovely brunette hid behind her deep brown eyes.

"Do you remember Sarah and Fred McLendon? You met them at the party at my place last month."

Laura nodded her confirmation and waited for Milly to continue.

"They've tried repeatedly to get me to bring you to their place. They've even told me to ask you to come alone, any time. They'd love to have you visit them. They're quite taken with you for some reason," the older woman giggled. She reached for a cigarette from the coffee table and lit it, blowing a great cloud of blue smoke at Laura's interested face.

In spite of her apprehension about anyone she had met through Milly, Laura was pleased at her words, for the McLendons had been an extremely handsome couple. Among all those present at Milly's party that night, they had seemed to be the most pleasant and cultured. Laura recalled with pleasure the beautiful Sarah and the distinguished Fred McLendon.

"What good would it do to see them?" Laura asked, masking her nagging curiosity with an enigmatic smile "It just so happens that Fred and Sarah know people who know Carl and about some of the things he's been engaged in lately," Milly said, her eyes on the carpet in front of her. "You could probably even make an arrangement to meet him if you-cooperate," she finished, her eyes glancing into Laura's.

In spite of her mild surprise at the implications of what Milly had told her, Laura could not suppress the giggle that slipped from her lips. "You mean-they're that way, too? Like you and Jack?"

Milly shrugged her shoulders again in complete indifference. "It makes no matter, if you're really interested in getting to Carl, it seems to me. But for the record, I can only say that I've never been to one of their bashes, and they've been pretty circumspect at my affairs. They're friends of people Jack knows." She looked directly into Laura's eyes and continued: "But that doesn't mean they might not like a little game now and then, so if you go, you'll have to take whatever comes."

Laura nodded, thinking rapidly. She was determined to take every possible step to return Carl to her bed, and if she had to brave a session with the McLendons-well, she could think of less attractive people to dally with. "Can you arrange it?" she asked Milly in a soft voice.

Milly stood up and nodded at Laura's upturned face. "Ifs done. I'll call Sarah right now. Get yourself dolled up this evening, because I know they'll want you to come out tonight."

She moved toward the door and stopped as she reached for the doorknob. She turned and faced Laura for a moment "I don't think you'll regret going, honey, any way yon look at it" She flashed a smile at the luscious Laura and with a wave, left the girl alone.

Well, once more I've stuck my neck into the noose. I just hope if s worth it this time, Laura thought. She rose from the soft carpet and decided to take a nap before dinner.

* * *

Sarah McLendon met Laura at the door of their luxurious house, and welcomed the nervous girl with a flashing smile. "Laura, come in, it's so nice to see you again," she said enthusiastically, genuine pleasure apparent in every inflection of her words.

"My goodness," Laura answered breathlessly, "I wasn't prepared for anything like this!" She waved her hands around the broad expanse of the entry way, and the oak-beamed, high-ceilinged interior of the beautiful house. "If s practically a mansion."

Sarah shrugged and took Laura's hand, leading her into the interior of the luxuriously decorated house. No sound came from their feet as they moved, the deep, soft carpeting effectively soundproofing their steps. Beautiful, tastefully chosen drapes of various colors hung from the ceiling to the floor in several of the rooms that Laura managed to glance into as they walked.

"It's home to us, my dear, and of course, you're welcome here anytime," Sarah replied as she led the girl into a study that was easily as large as her whole apartment. Fred McLendon stood casually beside a massive stone fireplace at the opposite end of the room, waiting for them. Row after row of books filled shelves nearly to the ceiling on every wall of the room, and Laura noted with pleasure the soft comfort of the genuine leather chairs and the elegance of the polished mahogany desk that dominated the center of the huge room.

Fred smiled at her and held out his hand. "Laura, it's delightful of you to come. Sit here beside me," he added, waving to an overstuffed leather chair nearby.

Laura sat erect, trying to relax. She pulled her legs under her, close to the chair, and at an angle, as she had been taught in school. Somehow, in the imposing house, and in the presence of this sophisticated couple, she was decidedly uncomfortable.

Fred retrieved a small tray of drinks from the huge mantel behind him and offered her one. Laura took the tall, delicate glass from the tray and, after Sarah and Fred had taken theirs, sipped her drink experimentally. How delightful! A perfectly concocted martini. She had never been able to make one correctly. Although she had never really been a serious drinker, she did appreciate an occasional, well-made drink.

"Well, Laura, you've been taking good care of yourself, I can see," Fred said, his eyes wandering over her body casually, confidently.

Laura nodded, unable to express herself. His eyes were suddenly so bold! Almost as if he knows that I've been burning with need since Carl left.

"Darling, you'll frighten Laura with your lecherous ways," Sarah admonished lightly, "please, Laura, pay no attention to him, he's like that sometimes, and I have to make allowances. I hope you will, too."

Laura nodded, appreciating the protection Sarah offered. But what will he-what will they want? Laura remembered Milly's casual remark about her cooperating! Cooperating in what? As Fred's eyes again inspected her body closely, and as Sarah let her own eyes join in the inspection, Laura felt herself begin to tingle intimately, and her bra seemed to tighten against her breasts uncomfortably.

"Ah-my dear, you do understand that we may be able to help you with your-problem, I believe," Fred began, "Milly has indicated briefly what your predicament is, and I think there may be a way to solve matters in a manner satisfactory to all of us," he said smoothly.

Laura stared at the distinguished man, wondering what he was implying. "I-I'm not sure I understand, Mr. McLendon-"

"Please call me Fred, my dear, there is no need to be so formal."

Sarah moved from her seat opposite Laura and joined her, sitting on the arm of the great leather chair.

She cleared her throat and looked at her husband. "I think we might just as well dispense with the preliminaries, dear." She glanced into Laura's face as she continued speaking. "What he's trying to say, Laura, is that we would like to help you. We can help you, but we would like to. have a little party first. Do you understand what I mean?"

Laura's face flamed. I understand, all right! They want me to-to play games with them. I wonder which one wants me first? She carefully set the martini glass on a table near her chair and rose to her full height in front of the couple who watched her closely. "I'm sure I understand-completely," she said softly, looking first into Fred's eyes, then at Sarah's, and she could hardly keep the brittleness from her voice. "You want me-my body." She looked at them both to gauge the effect of her words. "Well, I'm in no position to refuse. I want my husband back, and if satisfying you, both of you, will help achieve that goal I'll do it Where do we go-and which of you is first?" she asked brusquely as she looked around the room as if seeking the way to their bedroom.

Fred McLendon threw back his head and laughed, his white teeth flashing. Sarah joined him, and to Laura's consternation they made no move to accept her agreement Sarah stood and took her hands in her own. "Laura, you sweet thing, you're really naive. We don't want you individually, we do everything together. Everything." Her voice was soft but emphatic. "Do you understand now?"

"Well, Milly said I'd have to take whatever came in stride, so I might just as well get it over with," Laura replied as she stood looking at the McLendons in the sudden silence that pervaded the beautiful room. She realized at once that the sophisticated couple was waiting for her decision. She shrugged her shoulders and walked to the fireplace beside Fred. She reached for another martini and swung around to face the urbane couple. She dipped the tart liquid and eyed them over the rim of her glass. "Why not?" she said after a moment. She watched the smiles light the faces of the McLendons with amusement "After all, it'll be different I can say that with assurance," she added.

Sarah stood and approached her. The beauty of the woman was amazing to Laura. I'm no slouch when it comes to skin and figure, she marveled under her breath, but this one's really got it She's built like a professional dancer; she's got magnificent legs and I'll bargain that she's every bit as good in the boobs, too! And how gorgeous she is! Laura watched as the beauty approached, her face animated and alive with anticipation.

"Laura, we're delighted as you can see!" she breathed happily, glancing at the beaming Fred who stood nearby, "but we want to make sure you-you've made up your mind. You see-we wouldn't care to start our little evening of fun and have it spoiled by a change of mind."

Laura shook her head emphatically. "You needn't worry about that-as I said, it will be different, and, I might learn something."

With a smile, Sarah took Laura's hand and led her toward the spiraling, broad staircase they had passed on the way to the study. Without a word, Fred strolled after them, his drink still in his hand. In the other hand he carried the tray of remaining martinis, and as Laura glanced around the curve of the staircase at the distinguished looking man, she knew there was more than enough liquor left to overcome the last of her inhibitions.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN

They entered what Laura was sure was Sarah's bedroom, for it was extremely feminine, with pink, lacy curtains at the wide windows and a matching coverlet on the largest bed Laura had ever seen. It was positively prodigious in size, easily twice that of a normal double bed. A soft turquoise carpeting muffled their footsteps and Laura knew it would be as soft to the bare skin as the bed would be.

Sarah closed the door behind Fred and moved to the windows, making sure the curtains were drawn. She turned then to Laura, who still sipped her drink. All I need, Laura thought, is another of these bombs and I'll be bombed, she giggled to herself.

"Laura, do you mind if I lead the way, darling-?" Sarah asked as she faced the younger girl, "You see, Fred and I have established a sort of routine, at least in the beginning, and we like to follow it"

"Not at all, Sarah, let me know what you want and I'll do it Anything!" Damn, that last slipped out all by itself, Laura chided herself after speaking.

Sarah ignored the statement and proceeded to pull Laura to the center of the room. Fred remained standing to one side, his eyes glistening as if he knew and anticipated what would come next "We have to put on a little entertainment for Fred, darling, you just do as I do," Sarah breathed as she began to undress.

The stunning redhead quickly pulled her dress over her head and waited for Laura to do likewise. Laura slipped the zipper of her tight-fitting dress down and unfastened the wide belt that cinched her tiny waist. She pulled the belt off and dropped it carelessly to the floor. She hesitated for a moment looking at the luscious contours of Sarah's body, partly revealed by the black foundation garment that she wore, the beauty of her legs accentuated by the frilly panties and the black supporters that pulled her stockings tightly over the soft surface of her thighs.

I'll look like that maybe even better, Laura thought then without another moment's hesitation pulled her own dress over her head. She stood proudly erect as the McLendons both drew in their breath sharply. Laura was clothed in a panty girdle that fitted her rounded bottom like a second skin, and she, too, looked extremely sexy in her black stockings, girdle and matching bra.

"I knew you'd be absolutely gorgeous," Sarah breathed appreciatively, as she let her eyes wander over Laura's body with a smile. "Now," she said with a toss of her long red hair, "let's take off these nasty old bras, they're in the way, don't you think?"

Caught up in the sensual tension of the moment, Laura could only nod her head, and watch as Sarah reached behind her back and unfastened her waist cincher. Her lush breasts popped out of the cups at once and the beautiful girl pulled the useless garment off her arms and let it slip to the floor. She turned to Laura and waited.

Laura glanced at Fred, but he stood silently to one side near the windows, watching the drama intently. A little smile played at the corners of his mouth. Well, at least he's not ready to join in yet, Laura thought thankfully. She removed her own bra and noted the instantaneous gleam of delight that lit Sarah's eyes.

"Ohh-let's hurry, darling, you're even more beautiful than I imagined," the agitated woman breathed, her eyes roving over Laura's lush mounds avidly. "Here, let me help with the rest."

Her hands aided Laura at once and in moments she stood before the McLendons nakedly, yet quite proudly. She arched her back to make her stiffened peaks stand out even more, posing gracefully for the couple. With a little cry, Sarah raced to join her and in a very few seconds Laura was able to see the luscious redhead in all her glory. Her body was truly lush and voluptuous, with double coned peaks that rivaled Laura's in size and tautness. Her waist flared into full hips that, in turn, narrowed into curving thighs that were long and delightfully well turned. Laura's were tanned and tawny but nearly the twin of those that faced her.

Laura's eyes dropped to the velvet shadow of Sarah's V, and lingered there a moment, her mind aflame with the forbidden delights she had found with Milly and Janice, and she felt herself moisten with anticipation. She glanced again at Fred who stood as though he was rooted to the floor. His hands shook as he slowly drank from his glass, but he made no move to join the two beauties who were nude before him.

When does he start, I wonder, Laura mused as she let Sarah lead her to the oversize bed, is he just going to Watch us?

Then she could consider the question no longer, as Sarah's lips found her own, and a sweet onslaught of sensation washed over her, leaving her weak with need.

"Ohhh-Sarah-I don't think we should-" she murmured, then stopped abruptly as heated lips captured one of her nipples fiercely, pulling great surges of sensation from the bursting little knob of flesh. Laura lay back weakly against the counterpane, letting the hot lips pull at her. She felt soft hands seeking other secrets and she opened to admit the predatory little moles. Her own hands sought and found the firm breasts of her partner and she kneaded the scented flesh gently, seeking to work the swelling flesh to the stiffening tips. She was rewarded almost instantly, the little nubs erecting almost to the bursting point. Sarah moaned around the thrusting nipple in her mouth and suddenly found Laura's very core.

"Ahhh-Sarah-please-ohhh-ohhh," Laura stuttered as the talented fingers wracked her from head to toe with great pulses of pleasure. Then abruptly, Sarah's mouth left her breasts and foraged lower. At the same time their positions were quickly reversed and Laura began her own search for the source of their delight. She was rewarded with a sharp outcry from Sarah as her attack was completed and with little cries of delight and pleasure, first from herself and then from Sarah, Laura gradually began to lose track of time and events.

When the explosion came, it was as if she had never experienced such a climactic event before, and she was sure she would pass out. Yet the feared did not happen and in a moment she rolled away from the panting and satiated Sarah. They both rested and in the silence that was broken only by their heavy breathing, Laura remembered Fred McLendon.

She looked over her shoulder and saw the mar standing beside the bed, his face beaded with perspiration. Laura could only look into his face and smile, completely unconcerned that he had observed her actions with Sarah moments before.

At last Sarah revived and sat up. She looked at Laura, and the tawny blonde was astounded to see once more the fires of desire running high in her eyes.

"What now-" Laura began, but stopped with a little shriek as Steve Logan walked into the bedroom. He was dressed in a robe and obviously was prepared to join Laura and Sarah on the bed.

Laura scrambled from the bed and snatched up her clothes, her mind repulsed by the recollection of what the strange man had said to her at Milly's party and by the pictures he had shown her then. "What-what on earth is he doing here?" Laura managed to ask, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Darling, he's going to join us-do you mind?" Sarah answered calmly. "I thought you knew. Fred is completely unable to - Ohh, I am sorry. I can see you didn't know about Fred."

Steve Logan watched impassively as the scene unfolded. Fred 'McLendon moved toward Laura, and she backed away instinctively.

"No, I didn't know about Fred-that he was-wasn't able to-well I didn't know and you should have told me," Laura accused Sarah.

"Really, Laura, since I'm quite unable, it surely doesn't matter that someone should take my place," Fred began, but stopped at Laura's upraised hand.

"He's not taking your place or anyone's place where I'm concerned," Laura flared, pulling on her clothes as fast as she could, "he's terrible. And you're terrible, both of you, for expecting me not to care!"

She finished dressing in haste and with trembling fingers zipped up her dress. This was too much! She would never get her husband back through these people and she knew it, but she cared even less. These people were completely depraved!

"Thank you for the lovely invitation," she said sweetly as she turned toward the door, "but no thanks. Your price is too high. I want Carl back, but not at the risk of losing my sanity, to say nothing of the little that remains of my dignity."

"Laura-please-" Sarah pleaded, "don't leave-not now!"

Laura ignored the gorgeous woman who followed her, and walked to the front door of the mansion with a firm stride. She closed the massive door behind her and drove down the long macadam driveway without looking back.

* * *

Laura nearly screamed with delight as she routinely, checked her mailbox as she arrived at her apartment. She had done the same thing daily for almost a month with no success, but tonight, after a disastrous evening at the McLendons house she found Carl's reply to her letter. The excited girl practically ran to her apartment, and rushed into the living room where she opened the letter with trembling fingers. She read the note avidly. The letter was simple and to the point:

DEAR MISS 411:

YOU SOUND LIKE A REAL SWINGER, ONE WHO'S BEEN AROUND. USUALLY, I ASK FOR A PICTURE OF MY POTENTIAL PARTNERS BUT YOUR LETTER BORE A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER RECOMMENDING YOU HIGHLY.

IF YOU AGREE THAT WE HAVE ACTIVITIES IN COMMON, AND OF AN UNUSUAL NATURE, MEET ME AT THE EL SOLEDAD COLONY RETREAT IN BEAR CANYON ON THE TWENTIETH. SIX IN THE EVENING. THE PLACE IS CALLED THE HARLON ESTATE.

SINCERELY 248

Laura shrieked with glee and happiness as the words appeared before her, and she tossed the envelope and letter toward the ceiling. She would be at that kooky estate-my God, he said the El Soledad Colony. Laura thought in shock as the import of the message sunk in. But she could not restrain her elation. She walked to the door of her apartment and closed it She had been in such a hurry to read Carl's letter that she had left it standing wide open.

"I don't give a damn if he wants to meet me stark-naked in the middle of the La Brea tar pits, or in the middle of the Sunset strip," she said aloud, "I'll be there."

For the first time in a month, Laura went to bed with a high and happy heart, the degradation of what happened that evening completely forgotten. The twentieth was tomorrow night. It couldn't come too fast to suit the elated girl, and in anticipation, her hands sought her lush peaks and her hot thighs.

You're going to bring him back to me, little darlings, with all the wicked things you've learned in the past month, she sighed, determined that her newfound talents would not fail her now that there was a chance to put them to use. She was so sure of herself that she fell asleep almost at once.


CHAPTER FIFTEEN

There was a small sign at the gate of the Harlon Estate, and from the appearance of the area, no one would have known that there was such a kooky colony for miles. The concrete wall and gate were identical to those found by the hundreds on mansion estates in this part of the country, Laura mused as she got out to open the gate. Maybe this isn't the right place, she wondered half aloud, but no, it bad to be-there was the small sign that proclaimed it to be an entrance to the El Soledad Colony, just as Carl's letter had said that it would.

But there was no way for her to open the gate at all, and she was perplexed until she saw the small telephone box on a post near the gate.

"Yes?" an impersonal voice answered as she put the receiver to her ear.

"I-I wonder if I have the right place," Laura said fearfully, unsure of what she would find inside the camp. When will I have to take my clothes off, she thought frantically, surely not right here!

"What place were you looking for ma'am?" the voice replied courteously.

"I-the Soledad Colony," she answered hesitantly.

"Your identification?" again the voice was impersonal.

"Laura Cannon-I don't know what other identification you want," she finished in a low voice, shame suddenly overtaking her.

"All I need is the name of someone who is a member, ma'am, or something that will tell me that you were invited. Perhaps a number," the voice suggested lightly.

Of course! The number of Carl's ad would be what he wanted, but would not ask for. She asked the man to wait a moment and rummaged frantically through her purse. She finally found the letter. She read the advertisement number over the telephone and was immediately rewarded by a buzzing of the lock on the gate. It swung free.

"Go to the end of the road. You'll find a parking area, and a footbridge over a deep arroyo. Go across the bridge. You'll be met there," the voice said in tones that told her the words had been repeated innumerable times in the past.

She found the footbridge with no trouble, her spirits momentarily raised by the sheer beauty of the location and the abundance of vegetation and greenery. Flowers bloomed cleanly in the bright sunlight, and at the bottom of the arroyo, which was indeed deep for its width, she could see a small stream of water flowing swift and clear.

The footbridge ended in a grove of trees that were heavily verdant overhead, but which had been trimmed to provide a quiet, shady cavern. Grass swished at her ankles as she walked slowly, taking in the sheer beauty of the place.

"Mrs. Cannon?" a husky masculine voice asked.

"Yes, I'm Mrs. Cannon," Laura answered as she swung around to face the man who had spoken.

He was tall and extremely handsome, and a dark tan covered all of his body. All that she could see, that is, for he was clad in an open Roman toga, Laura felt her head swim giddily at the magnificent manhood displayed so close to her. With an effort, she pulled herself together and faced him squarely.

"Welcome to Soledad retreat, Mrs. Cannon," he grinned warmly, "I'm Curt Damon, sort of majordomo to this little outing. Are you alone?" he asked, mild curiosity showing in his eyes.

Laura nodded. "Yes-my-" she hesitated in confusion, and she could feel a slow flush fill her face. She bluffed her way onward. "My partner should be here by now, though," she finished with a hopeful glance around the grounds.

She could see several tanned young people all attired in Roman togas a short distance away. Curt Damon's eyes followed her own, then he turned back to her.

"This is your first time here, isn't it?" he asked softly.

Laura nodded, the flush once again returning to her face, this time she could feel the heat of the surging blood.

"Then don't worry-no one's going to bother you," he said in a comforting tone. He took her hand and led her toward a row of small cottages that nestled along the trees. "Our members are very understanding."

Laura had to ask the question that came to her lips. "How-when-do I have to become a member?" she asked nervously. She could not look at Curt as he glanced at her. His hand tightened on hers slightly.

"Not for a while. You'll have time to acclimate first. Believe me-it's not as difficult as you think. Besides," he grinned, "I have someone I want you to meet until we can locate your partner. They're over there," he pointed toward a low grove of trees. They were walking toward the point slowly. Far off, in the background, she could see the huge Georgian styled mansion with its pillared facade.

Curt turned once again to her, glancing at her curiously. "Now-about your partner-what's his number?"

Laura stammered out the number of Carl's advertisement, her eyes staring straight ahead, her mind straining to retain her composure.

"Oh yes, I know who you mean-but he's not here." He turned toward her as Laura suppressed a small gasp of surprise. "I received a phone call from him a few minutes ago," he continued hastily as Laura stopped in her tracks and turned fearful eyes toward him, "he'll be late, but he'll be here."

Curt grinned at the flood of relief that rushed through her and made itself apparent in her face. She smiled, reflecting the happiness she felt in knowing that her elaborate plans were not to fail by default at last. She still had a fighting chance. "When-when will he come?" she managed to ask.

"He said about nine o'clock."

"That will be after dark," Laura mused half aloud as she glanced toward the afternoon sun, "How will he find me?"

Curt laughed aloud. "He'll find you, never fear -all the old-timers know the ropes."

He pulled her toward the young toga-attired couple who were strolling under a row of shady elm trees. He called out to them and the couple turned toward Laura and the tanned Curt. Laura's face felt hot, a deep flush suffused her skin as the couple drew near. "Hi, kids," Curt called as the young people reared them, "I have someone I want you to meet," he said, turning toward Laura. "Laura, this is Louise Ramirez and Pete Rowland-kids, this is Laura Cannon. She has a partner coming along about nine, just before the conclave up at the house. Can you look after her, Louise? She's sort of lost" Louise smiled as Curt introduced them and broke into a wide grin as he finished. "Of course I will, Curt I can tell it's her first time, and I remember how I felt when I first came here. It'll be my pleasure."

Laura's heart was filled with relief at the girl's words. She glanced unconsciously at the darkly tanned woman, and her hard tanned partner and marveled at their friendliness and natural manner. It made her forget that they were wearing togas and that she herself would soon be in that same state.

Louise turned to Pete. "Darling, why don't you and Curt run along and have a drink or something. Laura and I have girl talk to occupy us for a while. We'll get together after she's had time to get used to this place," she grinned at the two men. They acquiesced and were soon gone, leaving the two girls alone.

Louise took Laura's hand and led her to the shade of a towering tree. She dropped to the soft grassy surface and pulled Laura down beside her. Laura watched the sway and bounce of the pouting, tanned breasts of the other girl through the open toga in fascination for a moment, then pulled her gaze away, looking around the spacious grounds. Everywhere it was shrubbed and well cared-for, a smooth, lush coating of green grass covering every square foot of the camp as far as she could see. Couples, all in thin white togas, lazed about, and shrill cries echoed from the huge outdoor pool that nestled in a little valley near the cottages. Every person in the range of her vision was completely attired in togas both opened and closed, and now it seemed normal. There seemed nothing unusual about the display of their bodies. "Getting used to it?" Louise asked quietly as she seemed to read Laura's thoughts.

"You know," the startled girl replied, "I am! It's almost as though everyone else has been wearing the wrong clothes. Although strange, there's nothing bad about what I've seen here. I almost feel as though I'm the one who's out of place," she confessed.

Louise laughed delightedly, her brilliant smile flashing. "You're coming along fine, Laura. I think you're ready. Come on, we'll go to my cottage. You can change there."

The inside of the cottage was sparsely decorated and furnished, but yet an aura of homespun hospitality struck Laura as she walked around the small enclosure, her eyes noting the knotty pine paneling and the large Navajo rug that covered the wooden planks of the floor. A small fireplace nestled between the huge horizontal logs at the far end of the room. She looked into the small bathroom and kitchen and the bedroom. All the facilities were present and adequate for the purpose at hand. She turned to look at Louise, who had seated herself on the arm of the one large chair.

"It-it sort of feels good," she smiled at the young beauty, almost as if there had been good times here-lots of life, and love and, well, you know what I mean," she finished softly, her eyes dropping to the floor in embarrassment as she realized that she had practically been gushing.

Louise lit a cigarette and offered one to Laura. She accepted gratefully, drawing a deep lungful of smoke and exhaling it slowly, her eyes watching the smaller girl. Well! The time has come, I guess. If only I knew that Carl would definitely be here, even later, I wouldn't be so hesitant about all this, she thought.

She shrugged mentally. There was no help for the situation. She would simply have to play the string out, come what may.

Louise read her thoughts and smiled, her even, white teeth shining in the afternoon sunlight that streamed in the window. Her teeth seemed brilliant against the dark tan of her skin. Laura's eyes strayed down over the visible lush contours of Louise's body. Every thrusting contour, every sensual inch of her clear and smooth skin was baked an even light chocolate color. The small triangle seemed almost an afterthought of nature, almost as if exposure had rendered it semi-transparent. Laura flushed as she realized that Louise was watching her, an amused smile twisting her lovely lips.

"Wondering if you'll look this way eventually?"

"I-I guess I was, Louise-it just seems so-strange, to think about running around in a Roman toga." She looked at the lush body openly, and smiled as Louise, caught up in her mood, posed and postured willingly, turning her body to show off its more prominent features. "But it surely hasn't hurt you," Laura breathed softly, a sharp recollection of another, even lovelier body rushing into her thoughts. Janice!... and Sarah! My God! I've grown so-so hungry for attention that I'm ready for almost anything, she thought with irritation.

"Hey, what are you frowning about, honey?" Louise said, interrupting her mental wanderings suddenly, "you looked like you were about to explode there for an instant. You're feeling all right aren't you?"

"Of course, silly, I was just thinking about my partner," she smiled as the fib rolled from her lips easily, "he was supposed to be here now, and I'm just a little put out, that's all." She looked around the room. "Well, where does the changing take place? Should I use the bedroom or the bath? Do I have to wear one of those things?"

Louise waved her hand carelessly. "Only if you want to. If you want to stay and join with us. After all, you'll have to decide for yourself. We like the pleasures we have here-but suit yourself."

Laura remained silent for a moment. She was right of course. I might just as well change right here. If I have to join in their games, I will.

"Here-let me help," Louise said softly, her gentle hands turning Laura's back toward her.

Laura felt the zipper slide down and the looseness of the dress almost at once. She murmured her thanks and pulled the bodice down to her waist, then worked the material over her hips and stepped out of the garment. She threw it to the chair and bent to unfasten her garters from her stockings. Quickly, she rolled the sheer hose down and kicked off her shoes and pulled off the stockings. She straightened and reached behind her back once more for the catch of her brassiere. Once more Louise moved to help, this time without a word.

Laura let her unfasten her bra. In moments she was divested of the confinement of the bandeau and as she threw it after her dress she could feel eager fingers working at her garter belt. "Louise-I can-"

"Hush, sweetie, let me-I want to."

Laura stood proudly erect, letting Louise remove the rest of her clothes. At last she was nude. She stepped out of her panties and turned to face the young beauty. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed at Louise's face. She's like the others, Janice and Sarah! Her eyes are positively sparkling with-with want! A responsive rush of desire thundered through Laura's veins as Louise's passionate eyes roamed upward across her breasts and lingered there for a moment. Then, ever so slowly, they continued upward, finally coming to rest on Laura's own wide eyes.

"We understand each other, don't we, Laura? We know what we like here, what we like to do, what we want done to us, don't we?" The question was barely a whisper, yet the words seared Laura's brain.

Unable to answer the pregnant question, she could only nod. Then as hot lips captured her erect nipples, she could only gasp and shudder and reel at the sudden onslaught of passion. If took all of her strength to break away and stand in front of the eager Louise, her breasts swaying heavily with the sudden movement.

For long moments, an eternity, they stared at each other face to face, hands holding hands, fingers entwined, nipples bursting with passion. Slowly, Laura shook her head, not trusting her voice. Just as silently, Louise nodded, unwilling to give up the pursuit. Her hands pulled Laura toward her, ever so slowly, irresistibly, until their breasts met and an electric shock seemed to leap from twin crest to twin crest.

Once more they were immobile as the current pulsed between the burgeoning mounds. Then, desperately, Laura once more shook her head and stepped back, shaking her head determinedly. Inches separated the straining lushness.

"No-Louise-I-I don't want that. It would spoil things," she said. "I hope you understand," she finished in a whisper. She grabbed the toga and pulled it on.

The-spell was broken, and the smaller girl stepped away, once more lighting a cigarette. After a deep breath, she turned to Laura. "Of course, sweetie, I understand. But-you wanted me to-as much as I wanted to, just then-I know you did."

Laura nodded. "You're right It wouldn't have been the first time, and I probably would have enjoyed a little-game, but not now. I just can't" She hesitated only a moment at the door of the cottage, then plunged outside, keeping her mind blank If she didn't think about it, her fear would go away, she knew, but it was strange wearing a sheet or toga or whatever it was. Yet within moments it seemed a strange exhilaration came over her, and her skin seemed alive in the toga, tuned to the slightest sensation. She could feel the slightest movement of the fabric across her skin and for the first time in her life she really felt fearful and strange.

Louise walked her around the grounds and up to the house. Inside the foyer, a double door, opened, revealed a staircase leading to what seemed a basement "You know, of course, that all our meeting and affairs take place in the basement. Down those stairs. And you know that your date will have to find you in the basement at the Conclave," Louise said casually as they walked about.

"The Conclave, what's that?"

"You really don't know?" Louise asked in disbelief, "You haven't been told?"

"Not a thing:," Laura replied.

"Darling-, the Conclave is in the basement where we all get together," she explained patiently. "When ifs dark we all walk down into the basement which has no lights. There are guide ropes to keep you from getting hurt or lost."

"But-what do we do then?"

"Honey-that's when the games start," Louise giggled. "Ifs so damned dark down there you can't see your hand in front of your face. After the signal is given, you find a partner and let nature have ifs way. Ifs wild," the tanned girl laughed.

My God! I can imagine how wild it'll be, Laura shrieked mentally. Carl won't be here and I'll have no way of finding him. And if she wanted to find Carl, she would have to brave an untold number of encounters with strange, unknown men. Men she would only be able to feel in the inky blackness. Her mind spun! How much could she stand? How much should she take in order to win her husband back? She had no way of answering the knotty question, but was interrupted in her thoughts by Louise "Darling, you're all right now, and I've got to leave. Just follow the stairs and the guide ropes when you see the others start toward the house. You won't have any trouble, and maybe you'll have a ball! She began to walk away, but called a final phrase at the tawny blonde who watched her silently. "Hope your fella makes it in time."

Laura nodded, unable to speak what was in her heart, but she waved the raven-haired beauty on her way. God, she would simply die if Carl didn't come tonight! She had to find him-it was her final chance. Her heart told her the inescapable truth.

Laura sat under a towering oak tree near the house and watched the toga attired people around her cavort and play in the fading rays of the setting sun. She had very little time left, for it would be dark soon. How on earth would she be able to find Carl in the darkness of a basement. He had no distinguishing features that she could easily discover in the blackness of the night-no bumps, no deformities that would be easy to recognize. At least none that she could remember. His voice. But he could disguise it or stay silent.

Her spirits dipped as the inexorable dusk began to settle over the delightful, grove. How would she be able to recognize her own husband. If she could only call out to him-let him come to me and take me out of this place. She rejected the notion immediately, for she knew that it would not answer the basic question between them. She would have to find him on her own, and take him wildly, wantonly and show him that things were right between them after all. Show him that they could live together and love each other as married people should. If I can't do that, everything is lost. I must find him! I've got to give him more pleasure than he's ever had before, and if I'm good enough, he'll come home again. I know it.

Ironically, she remembered a night that she and Carl had made love long ago, and it had been wild and wonderful. It had been after they had been to a nightclub and seen a very exciting show, full of double entente, replete with voluptuous girls whose nakedness was all but complete.

Carl had not waited to take her to bed when they had gotten home that night, he had locked the door to their apartment and swept her into his arms at once. He had waited, barely long enough to brush the light switch and plunge the room into darkness, then had set about stripping her, tearing her sheer briefs from her body in a burst of passion. She had screamed softly, thrilled by his wild attack, and had grasped him to her thrusting breasts, meeting his attack happily. For a moment Laura relived that wondrous night. Her hands had brushed the short hairs at the back of his neck and had roamed downward across his wound toward his-the scar!

Laura nearly screamed her relief to the cavorting people around her. Of course! Carl's war wound. The scar was several inches long and half an inch deep. A Chinese bullet had left its mark on him as he lay on his stomach in a Korean foxhole Laura breathed a prayer of thanks. If Carl had to have a wound, she thanked her lucky stars that it was one easily recognized by familiar fingers ; fingers in the dark.

Relieved to have a solution to the terrible problem of recognizing her husband in the dark, Laura relaxed and leaned against the rough bark of the oak tree. She knew she had stumbled upon a colony devoted to sex and that she would be accosted by many men before she found Carl, but that was the price she would have to pay. Was it too much?

Laura thought of her wild escapades with Jack Arnold, and the passionate hours she had spent with Eddie, and Milly and Janice, and with a shudder she remembered the degrading experience she had nearly experienced at the McLendons'. Was the basement Conclave worse? She pondered the question soberly. She had come through as much before, she mused, her fingers plucking idly at the long grass at her side.

She glanced at the long shadows that were creeping across the grassy lawn. There was only about an hour of sunlight left. An hour to decide whether to enter the house, go to the basement and experience and expose herself to the perils of the Conclave. An hour to decide to try once more to get her husband back or to give him up forever to the strange sex cult of the Soledad retreat Laura knew without a second thought what her decision would be.


CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Laura stepped down the stairs into the basement with the others. She felt their presence more than she could see them in the extreme darkness of the musty place. Occasionally a burst of laughter would shatter the darkness, yet a trace of nervousness could be detected in the unconscious outburst. Curiously, it was female laughter more often than it was male. Once Laura was sure she heard Louise giggle and whisper something to another shadowy body nearby.

Almost before she knew it Laura felt the brush of a guide rope against the softness of her right thigh, causing her instinctively to veer to the left. She had taken only a few steps when another rope brushed her left thigh. The passageway was narrowing. And then a body brushed her; and her lightning fast senses told her at once the stranger had been male! Had it been Carl? Had she been as close as an outstretched hand to her husband? If not which one of the maybe thirty or forty-odd men had it been?

Panic suddenly washed over Laura, and she hesitated in mid stride. Almost at once another body bumped into her. This time the form was unmistakably female; twin peaks of straining: flesh crushing themselves flat against Laura's back. Embarrassed, she quickly apologized and moved on. She couldn't stop here, the hallway was too narrow.

Suddenly she felt space around her. She knew she was in a huge room-a slight echo and the sounds of many bodies moving around was apparent, and then a voice speaking in resonant, sepulchral tones, bade them to sit. Around her Laura was aware of movement. There was absolutely no light. Surprisingly, the floor was covered with a deep layer of straw and sawdust or some such combination, but it had been covered with a plastic sheet. It was quite comfortable.

"This is the Conclave of the Dark, and you are all welcome," the deep voice intoned, "and, because it occurs only on a single night of the year, it is, of special significance to those whose inhibitions are not concerned with members of the Opposite sex. Here, on this night, great joy is among us, for this is the night of taking and of giving, in the natural manner of those whose appetite cannot be slaked by one partner. I declare that the night of the Conclave is at hand!"

For a moment there was utter silence in the cavern, then a shriek of delight rent the air asunder as a female was captured by an unknown partner. Bedlam erupted as the shrill cry was repeated by several other feminine voices, and labored breathing also became audible. Then Laura could hear no more as she herself was grasped by strong hands and pulled toward a massive chest. She struggled against the overpowering arms silently, stifling a natural urge to cry out in fear. The other women's cries were not of fear, but of pleasure and delight, and hers would have been recognized at once as alien. She fought on, her breath whistling through her teeth as she sought to escape. Then a hard mouth crushed her lips and slowly she was forced backwards against the soft plastic Hands roamed over her body in the blackness, hands that she knew were male only because of their hardness. Her nipples popped out at once and were captured by the hard lips after a short but effective search.

"Ahhhhh," she murmured sharply, "don't be so rough."

The punishing lips became gender, now she began to relax. The inevitable was at hand. I'll let him go, maybe it won't take long. But how will I know if it's Carl or not. Her brain raced as her partner moved to claim his prize. She would have to depend completely on her senses, she thought wildly. She ran her hands through the man's hair. It was a stiff brush-crewcut! Carl never had worn his that way. She felt for the scar on his back and found only smooth skin. It couldn't be him. Her breathing was becoming ragged and labored in spite of her detachment and in spite of her wish to remain aloof, her body behaved independently. Her hips ground and worked with her unknown partner, and almost at once he raced ahead of her, reaching his summit before she could catch up. Then, incredibly, she was free, and alone.

Around her the sounds of caresses and lovemaking were everywhere, passion reeking in the atmosphere as the moans and muffled gasps continued endlessly. Laura crawled through the blackness, praying that Carl would be nearby. Her hand fell upon the softness of a hot thigh, and immediately her hand was captured by one as soft as her own. She pulled away gently, but the hand held hers tightly, and suddenly lips sought her left breast, and a dagger of sensation raced along her spine. Yet, as the hand held hers and the lips sought her bounteous treasures avidly, she was suddenly stricken with horror to realize that the lips were surrounded by the abrasive bristle of a beard. The soft hand was joined by ifs mate and sought other treasures, and a soft moan whispered out of the blackness as lips followed the seeking fingers. Other lips sought Laura's mouth, now, and frantically, she moaned a protest as other, hard hands stroked her ruthlessly.

"Ohh-no-no not so many, please-" Hands and lips were everywhere, moving all over her body, seeking the bursting, burgeoning breasts and the sleekness of her flanks. The straining maleness of an unknown explorer became a hot sword against Laura's arm, and in a rush of unexpected passion she explored the sleek weapon hotly, resisting an urge to let her lips follow her fingers as wild surges of desire rushed through her, lashed to higher and higher peaks by the numerous rapacious lips and hands that imprisoned and sought to conquer her.

Ohhh-God! Won't they ever stop? I can't stand much more of this horrible place, Laura shrieked silently as she was borne inexorably to the plastic covered floor. And then she felt herself give up completely, the last vestige of her resistance overcome by the massive assault upon her voluptuous treasures. Again, almost before she dared hope, the unknown hands and lips and hot bodies left her, and she lay still for a moment, repulsed at the coolness caused by the sheen of perspiration that drenched her skin.

If I want to keep my senses, I've got to find Carl and get us both out of here, she thought dully. This-this-carnival of flesh was more than she had bargained for. True, she had known what might happen when she embarked on her quest for her husband, but this-! It was too much!

But then her senses told her that she could hold out She could take whatever befell her to salvage both her own and Carl's life; to bring them both back to normalcy. Laura rolled to her stomach and felt the plastic move under her. Of course I She could tell when someone was close by the movement of the plastic sheeting. She crept to her knees and fearfully began a crab-like movement. She had moved fewer than a dozen feet when she felt movement m the material under her fingers. Slowly, she worked her way to the couple she could hear, their writhing and panting slowly becoming more clearly defined against the background noise of soft laughter, groans and heavy breathing.

When she felt she Was beside the unknown lovers, Laura raised her hand and lightly brushed it up the arched back of the man. He Was hairy! It couldn't be Carl. Laura hastened away from the spot being careful to fee) her way along the plastic sheeting.

Once more Laura moved stealthily across the rubbery sheet Once more she sensed the presence of another body nearby, but this time there was no heaving and thrusting-He-or she-is resting, Laura thought rapidly, probably with a partner on his other side. Dare she risk a quick examination? Hesitantly, she stretched out her hand. Was it a man or a woman? Would he-or she-be on his back or his stomach? She prayed for the latter. It was not to be. Her fingers brushed a hard chest and at once were captured by a large hand. Another hand reached out and grasped her shoulder.

"Oh, please don't," she murmured in a low voice, "I'm just looking for someone, I don't want to-" A low, menacing chuckle cut off her frantic appeal and she was inexorably pulled toward the waiting expanse of chest. There had been no hair on it, and Laura's immediate sensation upon touching it had been one of tremendous strength, of powerful muscles. She was crushed to the massive chest in a strong embrace and for long moments her mouth was searched by a predatory tongue.

"Ohh-please-no-I can't stand-it!" she gasped as the man released her and the powerful arms rotated her like a doll, rolling her strutting nipples against the massive chest.

Hard lips once more sought hers and crushed them fiercely once the contact had been made. Without losing the passionate embrace or his ravaging of her lips he rolled on top of her. A low moan escaped from Laura's throat, and she rolled her head from side to side in desperation.

It was going to happen again! She was going to be taken by this huge bear of a man, and there was nothing she could do about it. Almost as if he sensed her defeat, the massive man began his final assault. Laura's head swam with the fierceness of the thrusts that impaled her, yet with an involuntary movement of her hips, she found her body reacting to the tune he played. Moans escaped from her lips in gasps as she raced with him, staying with his prodigious cadence until she thought she could stand no more. Release suddenly flooded her and a brief cry escaped her partner's lips as she arched and strutted, quivering uncontrollably as their joy ebbed and slowly died.

Once more she was alone, sprawled on the plastic in exhaustion. Oh Jesus, she breathed silently, how much more of this can I stand? Where-oh where can Carl be? She curled up in a defensive position and decided to rest and gather her thoughts. Unfortunately, she had no way of knowing which of the men she had been with and which she had not. The thing I can do, she mused as she rubbed her tender breasts reflectively, is to keep moving toward the stairs. Sooner or later, everyone will have to come through there.

She moved carefully, feeling the plastic covering with fingers that were by now quite sensitive. Then once more she felt movement and crouched in unmoving silence, hardly daring to breathe. This person was standing; walking slowly, with measured steps toward the faint light coming from the top of the staircase. She could make out a faint outline, and her heart leaped. The man's height was about right, and the build about right! It could be Carl. Laura made a desperate decision, and with a prayer uttered silently, she rose up and flung herself at the shadowy figure.

A suppressed exclamation of surprise escaped from the man's throat as Laura wrapped her arms around him, but he stopped walking in mid stride, his arms enfolding her in a tight embrace. Hastily, Laura ran her fingers through his hair as his lips sought hers, then without seeming to hurry she let her hands drop lower and lower, and when her sensitive fingers found the familiar scar, she moaned her joy into Carl's startled mouth.

"What's the matter, miss-or is it Mrs.-," he amended, "is something wrong?" He pulled away for an instant, but Laura recaptured them almost immediately. Vaguely, there was something familiar about her, he decided.

Laura shook her head without taking her lips from his, and with a happy sob she pulled him toward the floor.

A happy murmur of pleasure escaped from Carl's lips as his passionate partner ground her lips into his, and thrust her hot body against him fully. Swiftly, he took command of the moment, and to Laura's delight, captured her in a shocking embrace that took her breath away. Carl's ardor was a fiery lance thrusting at her shuddering verdant sweetness boldly, and she squirmed and writhed, striving with little pants of delight to delay the inevitable. Her pleasure grew by leaps and bounds as she recognized once more the full onslaught of Carl's passion. The passion she knew he possessed-that she needed so desperately.

For a moment, panic rushed through her as she suddenly thought of the shattering possibility of failure. But then another electric blow was struck by Carl and again passion thrust all other thoughts from her mind, she whined happily into the hot lips that crushed her mouth ruthlessly.

Then the hot breath of her husband moved downward, and it seemed as though her flesh crawled and worked, seeking to hurry the predatory lips toward their goal, great shivers of delight arching her toward him, and the whole process serving to inflame his unknowing attack to even greater heights.

"Ohh-ohhh-please-that's so-so good," she gasped as her arching coral tips were attacked roughly. Little matter that they were already suffused with the blood of previous battles, they were fighting the ultimate battle this time, she thought idly, her mind skittering from present to past uncontrollably. But they were losing the battle-they would surely disappear forever in the ravenous mouth that drew them within its sweet cavity. There they were being devoured by a smooth, incredibly hungry little dragon that teased its swollen victims with an almost fiendish dance of delight. Laura sensed the nearness of the coup de grace, the lips withdrawing with powerful suction the first imaginary lacteal drop, the nectar of surrender that would shatter her will to resist.

But before the awful moment arrived, he left her burgeoning mounds, throbbing with the nearness of the moment, and once more the shivering, quivering flesh crawled with anticipation as the seeking lips moved downward.

Laura could hardly contain herself, for her passion was almost to the breaking point. It was time. She wanted him to take her. Take her wildly with complete abandon; to do with her as he would, to use her in the most wanton and depraved way he could imagine. And as the icy trail was blazed straight toward her very core, she knew instantly, erratically, for a moment, that she had never felt such passion, nor carefree want with any of the other partners she had been with in the weeks that Carl had been gone. She knew she had found her home at last, she prayed quickly that Carl's passion was rising as rapidly as her own.

But Laura was determined that Carl would not drive her to the heights alone. She would make him reach the velvet clouds with her, just at the right time, at the supreme moment. Then, when it was over and they relaxed together, she would disclose her identity. Then matters would be in the hands of fate. Carl would either want her or reject her, this time probably forever.

Now she could consider the hard facts no longer, for her body was writhing with desire and she knew she was ahead of him; she would have to help him catch up!

With a groan of heated regret she wrenched from his grasp and rolled away from him for a moment, and she could sense that he was following her. Quickly she reversed her position and threw herself at Carl's hard body. Instinctively, she found the straining manhood that was hers. She was rewarded with a gasp of pleasure from her husband's lips. She felt his hot lips ranging along her thighs, his beard chasing rivers of fire ahead of his movement.

Then she was too busy to think of what he was doing, she could only concentrate upon the feast she had found. Several times she knew that his time was near so she quickly halted her labor of love He, too, now was rocking her with surges of electric sensations that were becoming more and more insistent, more and more intense, and instinctively Laura wanted to draw herself up into a little ball, protecting her vulnerability, staying the final, inevitable explosion. Finally it was too much and once more they broke apart.

"Ohhh-God!" she whispered in a passion shaken voice that didn't sound like hers. "Please-let's rest a minute-it'll be better-" She was interrupted by a low growl of desire from Carl's lips and almost immediately she was again under attack. She wailed her mild protest into his hard mouth, but he answered only with a negative roll of his head.

Quickly she was impaled, the golden lance plumbing deep, an involuntary cry of heated delight rolled from her lips. Slowly, she found the rhythm and once more the prickly delight ebbed and surged and built higher and higher until, with a glad cry, she plunged into the depths of the velvet foam that suddenly welled up all around them. And as she gave herself up to the sweet unconsciousness, Laura gasped a final cry of triumph as she felt Carl's passion burst hotly within her. Bonelessly, she fainted into complete unknowingness...


CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Laura was roused from a mind-swirling pit by a hand that gently slapped her cheeks. She opened her eyes and instantly the memory of her climactic encounter with Carl returned, and she gasped suddenly in fear that he might have left her. "Who-who are you," she whispered hoarsely, fearfully; "are you the one who-V she stopped, unable to continue, hoping against hope that Carl had not left her.

"Yes-good God, woman, you scared the daylights out of me, passing out like that I've never had such a passionate woman in my life," Carl said in a rush, his voice low but recognizable.

His words brought a torrent of tears to Laura's eyes, and she pulled him to her nude body tightly. His arms cradled her, held her pressed against his chest.

Thank God! I've gotten him back, Laura sobbed to herself, he's going to be mine again-I know it! "Do-you know who I am?" she stammered, hesitantly. She looked around them, seeking to identify the various sounds of love-making that still echoed from the various portions of the basement It was pitch black, she could see little except in the direction of the entrance, where a little light could be seen.

She felt Carl shake his head before he replied. "No, I don't know who you are," answering her whispered question, "but what difference does it make? You're the best woman I've had since my wife-" he stopped speaking-for a moment, obviously seeking the right words to continue "Since your wife what?" Laura encouraged, her heart in her throat. What on earth had she done? What bad she done that Carl hadn't done, too?

"Since she first started getting interested in this-this damned type of thing," he answered in a low, bitter voice.

Laura nearly gasped aloud her instinctive denial, but managed to suppress it at the last instant. Carl thought she wanted this-this carnal existence! She drew a deep breath as her husband's hands once more sought her tender breasts. She held them to her tightly, her mind racing, trying to find the answer, the key to their problem. How could she change his mind? He didn't know who she was, here in the darkness, but he did know that they had plunged their heads into the same cloud of passion and reached heights together that she had never thought possible. She decided that the only thing she could do was to keep him talking about his wife, anything that might present an opening for her to leap into and disclose herself to him.

"What made her start thinking of-of this?" she asked tremulously, trying desperately to mask the normal tone of her voice.

"I'm damned if I know. One night it just happened-we shared another couple-neighbors in the same apartment building," he replied, his words indicating that he still had not recognized her.

"Wasn't there anything before that?" Laura asked, remembering her own anguished nights of frustration before Milly and Jack Arnold had entered their lives so disastrously.

"Not a thing. We were happily married-at least I was," Carl said with a tinge of regret in his voice, "I-I wish to hell-" Laura's heart leaped with happiness. What was he about to say? That he wanted her back? She could hardly keep her voice steady and indifferent as she asked him to continue. "Go on," she encouraged breathlessly.

"I was about to say I wish to hell we were somehow back in time before all that took place. Yet-" he hesitated for a moment then continued, "yet I somehow feel that there was something wrong between us even before-before our first swap."

His hands became restless under her own and began to massage her swollen mounds idly. Laura let him, her own desire beginning to revive. I mustn't let things get out of hand now, she thought silently as she let his hands weight her breasts experimentally, we're close-oh, so close now!

"What do you mean, you think there was something wrong? Was it something she said or did?" she queried hopefully.

"I'm not sure-it was almost as if we were drifting apart. Somehow we were different in bed. The fire just wasn't there-it was almost as if she-had lost interest in sex. She seemed remote and tense when we were together, almost as if she were waiting for something to happen. It used to bug the hell out of me-" Laura could restrain her emotions no longer. She threw her arms around Carl's neck and sobbed happily into his neck. "Oh-darling-darling-" Her voice broke and she could utter no more. Emotion choked her with waves of gladness and release. Carl had been worried by her own uncertainty in those terrible days before Milly had arranged their little card party. I should have known, she scolded herself. Carl would have discussed things with me, if I'd only have had sense enough to speak up.

Carl's hands pulled her arms from around his neck. He brushed her hair back from her face, and Laura could feel the tenseness in him.

"Who-who are you?" he asked in a hoarse whisper. "Why are you crying?"

A fresh torrent of tears welled up in Laura's eyes and she sobbed even more, until Carl sought her face with his hands, his palms on either side of her head. He pulled her to him and kissed her experimentally. When their lips separated, Laura's tears had subsided somewhat.

"Is-is that you, Laura? Was it you that gave me such a-a thrill a few minutes ago?" His voice was pregnant with anticipation.

"Ohh-yes, darling, it was me, and it was wonderful, wasn't it? I can make you want me-I am a full woman after all, aren't I?" Laura asked the questions confidently, knowing what his answer would be now, knowing that she had won him back.

His arms crushed her to his chest, and for a moment Carl was silent. Then he rose and pulled Laura to her feet beside him.

"Carl-what are you doing?"

Laura called to him softly as he pulled her toward the staircase leading to the house. He remained silent, and they stumbled through the sprawled bodies of those who were in their way. As they approached the stairs, Carl stopped. He pulled Laura to his side and lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered to her.

"We're getting the hell out of here. I don't want you here-you don't belong here, and I never want to come here again either. We're going home to our own bed and we're going to make love again like we did back there. You're going to be my wife again!"

Laura squealed her delight and caught him in a wild embrace, but he put his hand over her mouth and cautioned her to remain quiet.

"We'll have to sneak out of here. No one is supposed to leave until the word is given. There is a rope across the doorway here, and a guard is posted somewhere near the front door but I think if we're careful, we can make it Follow me and keep quiet" They climbed the stairs and were soon in the foyer.

Laura nodded toward the front door. No one was there. They went through the door and onto the lawn. In a very few moments they were away from the house. They went back to the little clearing where the cottages and their clothes were located.

Carl stopped suddenly. He was looking at the hill to their right Laura's gaze followed his, and she caught a glimpse of a light bobbing between the trees for a moment "What is it darling, what is that light?"

"I don't know, but I don't like the looks of this. It has all the earmarks of a raid."

Laura was astounded and suddenly afraid. "A raid? You mean robbers?"

Carl laughed shortly. "Not on your life, little wife, that's the police, unless I'm mistaken. We've got about fifteen minutes to get out of here if I'm right" He pulled her after him and ran the rest of the way to the cottages. Quickly, he gathered up his own clothes, not taking time to put them on, and then, after questioning Laura about where she had disrobed, just as quickly found the cottage she and Louise had occupied earlier. Again, they gathered up bits of clothing and fled, racing against time now.

"How did you get here?" Carl asked suddenly, as they stopped for an instant at the footbridge.

"I drove out in a rented car," Laura answered breathlessly, her chest heaving with the, exertion of running.

"Find it and lets get the hell out of here. I came with a friend, so I don't have a car. If we make the main road without being stopped-no-no, I know a place where we can drive off the road and no one will find us. Come on."

Laura led him directly to her car, and in an instant Carl had backed it out of the parking area and was driving silently down the dirt road away from the estate. He did not turn on the headlights, and Laura was terrified that they would hit something. Carl's vision was excellent, and they had no difficulties. Within a few minutes, they had left the Harlan Estate well behind them.

"Where are we going to hide, Carl-you said you knew of a place?"

"It's right along here!" he answered, concentrating on the road. He suddenly pulled off the road into what appeared to be a grove of trees.

Carl's arms tightened around her suddenly. "Don't move or say anything," he whispered. "They're going by right now." Laura raised her head slowly and peered out of the window. She caught a glimpse of several cars as they moved down the dirt road as silently as their own had moments before. There were three cars, and she knew they were full of uniformed men Then, silently, they were gone.

They waited silently, and Laura's heart pounded, her blood thundered in her ears, and she marveled that Carl could not hear. Then they were moving again, and the dirt road slid beneath them rapidly. The moon was coming over the eastern mountains and they could see fairly well. They met no traffic and soon came to the main highway. They were safe!

The fresh air of the near-dawn washed over them as they relaxed for the first time in what had seemed an eternity.

"Darling are you really glad to be going home again?" she asked.

Carl turned toward her in the dim light, and she could see the eagerness shining in his eyes. "You know I am. That-that place and all it represents is out of our life for good. You made me realize back there that whatever we had in the beginning is still there." He dropped his hand to her thigh, and she could feel the heat through her dress. She covered his fingers with her own, and massaged the hard hand into the softness of her leg.

"We're moving, just as soon as we can, darling," he continued. "We're going to move to a new city and start our life over. Just as though all these things had never happened. In my industry there are always jobs."

Laura's tears of happiness were smothered in the crushing embrace of his arm, and she felt a peace that she had not known in days. The half light of dawn illuminated her face, and the green lushness of the trees along the road began to dominate the grays of the night. "Hurry, darling, let's get home," Laura sighed happily, "there are a few things I want to-I want us to try," she amended, "before we forget how."

Carl's happy grin shone down into her face for a moment as he looked away from the road, and Laura knew that he understood.


The End
