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Chapter Twenty-one

Johnny woke up alone for the first time in a month, in The Mayflower. Somehow it seemed longer. He'd had one or two others in his bed with him since then. Maeve, Maeve and Kitty, Maeve and Gloria — it was cramped with two others. More than cramped, but worth it. He couldn't find words to describe being buried in a sea of flesh, softness and bone.

Johnny sat up and looked at his watch. Time for breakfast, he wanted to check in with Michael and Doris first.

While shaving, Johnny practiced his hard guy look in the mirror. The face that looked back at him didn't seem threatening. Johnny didn't see himself as others saw him, he realized. The firm jawline denoted strength to them, while his brown eyes hinted at something softer. Johnny instead saw the skinny teenager learning how to shave with a straight razor.

Johnny dressed, checked his pockets, and left his room. He went first to Doris' and Darlene's, gave a soft knock. He heard voices. He realized Darlene hoped he was Mack coming to rescue her. Doris cracked the door, opened it all the way when she saw him.

Johnny looked over Doris' shoulder, saw the stricken look on Darlene's face. He said to Doris, "I was going to have breakfast downstairs. Did you two want to join me?"

Doris nodded. "We'll be down."

"Do you need to check in?"

Doris shook her head. "I'm okay."

"Sure?" Johnny saw her nod. "How's Darlene?"

"She'll live." Doris grinned. "The first time is always the hardest." She winked. "Young love."

Johnny smiled. "Thank you, Doris. For everything."

"We'll be down in a few minutes." She closed the door; Johnny heard the click of the bolt.

Johnny sat a table in the hotel restaurant, coffee and toast was all he wanted. Darlene bent over her pancakes, eating them as fast as possible. Doris had coffee and danish. They looked up when Michael joined them.

"Howdy," Michael said.

"Doris, Darlene, this is my friend, Michael. He'll be with you when you go shopping. Michael, Doris you've heard me talk about. The ravenous eighteen-year-old is the long-lost Darlene."

Doris smiled at Michael, said to Johnny, "You didn't tell me he was handsome."

Darlene looked up at them, spent a moment studying Michael, and returned to her pancakes.

"Is he?" Johnny asked. The waiter filled Michael's cup, refilled Doris' and his.

"Not as handsome as you, but well above average."

Johnny shook his head.

"He is."

"I mean me."

Doris smiled at him. "You're cute, you know that?"

Michael put down his cup and sat back in his chair. "The thing that astonishes me is that he always attracts the most incredibly beautiful women. I mean, look at him. Hard to believe the Army even took him. Looks like something the cat drug in." He smiled at Doris. "I come downstairs, my second day in Jacksonville, and you two are the most beautiful women I've seen so far in this town. Sitting at his table, passing the time of day with him. I don't understand it." He sipped his coffee. "Maybe all the seats were filled and you were thrown together." He looked around. "No, it's not that." He paused. "So this is Darlene?"

Johnny passed his plate of toast to Michael. "I'm done." To Doris, "The beast is married, can you believe that?"

Michael grinned. "Happily."

"Yes, that's Darlene." Johnny set his cup down. "I'd better be off."

"Wait a minute." Michael looked at Darlene for a moment; she was done with her pancakes and was facing them. "Kid, did your friend Mack give you those bruises?"

Darlene didn't speak.

"Stupid question, sorry. Why did Mack or Marsh, whatever that piece of . . . Sorry Doris, why did he hit you?" Michael crunched on a piece of toast. "Well?"

Darlene was picking at something on the edge of the table.

"Mack hit her because he loves her," Doris said. "Isn't that right sweetie? Because he loves her and when she lets him down or says something he doesn't like, he's afraid she's forgetting how much he needs her. Isn't that right, Darlene?"

"It's not like that."

"He loves you, doesn't he?" Doris said. She passed her unfinished danish to Michael. "You eat it, my stomach is bothering me."

Darlene nodded.

"And we know you love him, isn't that right?"

"I do."

"Of course you do." Doris stood. "I need to powder my nose. Just take a minute."

"Take your time," Michael said. He chewed on the danish. He looked at Johnny. "What's bothering her?"

Johnny looked at Darlene who was watching a group of businessmen at a nearby table. He shook his head. "I'll tell you later."

Michael thought for a moment. "Okay. We're going shopping."

"Doris recommends Levy's, it's just a few blocks. You'll take a cab, shop, come back here, where I'll meet you." Johnny stood. "I have an appointment." He bent down, eye-to-eye level with Darlene. "I'll talk with Mack, I'll bring back a note from him for you." He stood. "Keep and eye on her, Michael."

Michael gave a nod. He gave a wave of his finger as he drank his coffee.

Johnny looked at the beer glass, pushed it aside. Mack sat opposite, telling a tall tale about something, Johnny hadn't figured out what yet. Words like love, kidnapping, broken down car and thief kept on appearing. It was a tedious monologue.

Johnny wondered if the glass was far enough away. He had an urge to throw it at Mack. Beer first or glass first. Probably both together. He smiled at Mack, reached into his pocket and pulled out his money roll. He peeled off two-fifty, put the roll back into his pocket. He lay the five fifties on the table so Mack could see them.

Mack slowed down a bit.

"You've had your say, now I'll say mine. I'm taking Darlene. You can accept that, give me a receipt, and everybody's happy. You and me and Darlene. You can go on talking, I'll get fed up, leave. You're not happy." Johnny waited.

"She's my girlfriend. We love each other; you can't just buy her. That's slavery. I'm going to call the cops."

Johnny stacked the fifties on top of each other, neatened the edges of the stack. "Call them."

Mark wrestled himself in his seat. "I need a drink."

Johnny waved to the bar. "On me."

A young waitress came to the table. "Get him whatever he wants." Johnny handed her a five.

"Gin."

She left the table. Johnny neatened the pile even more. He added another fifty. Waited.

The waitress bought Mack's gin.

"How much is the bottle?" Johnny asked.

"Ten."

"Eight," Johnny said. "He's in love so he gets a discount."

The waitress set the bottle on the table. Johnny handed her a five and five ones. "Thanks."

Mack put the glass down. "Five hundred."

Johnny shook his head, picked up the bills, took them off the table, and began to stand.

"Fuck," Mack said. "Fuck."

Johnny sat down, put the bills on the table. "Three hundred for the girl, fifty for the receipt."

Mack nodded, poured gin in his glass. "Shit, she and her sisters were nothing but trouble. Good riddance." He took a stiff drink. "You couldn't pay me to take them back."

Johnny nodded. "I know I'm in for a world of pain." He passed his memo book to Mack with a pen. "The receipt." The six fifties lay beside it.

Mack looked at Johnny, took the bills and stuffed them into a pocket. He took a drink, then stared at Johnny, pen in hand.

"Date it, October 29, 1958. You're giving up all ownership of Darlene for three hundred dollars. Sign it. If you put something like, glad to be rid of the bitch, on it, you'll get one hundred for the receipt."

Mark nodded writing slowly.

Johnny looked around the bar. There were two or three single men at tables, a woman at the end of the bar who looked worn down, a man on a stool talking to the bartender. The bar was just off Main, two blocks from where Darlene was streetwalking last night. Johnny wondered how much she made and what he did with the money.

"Here, is this all right?" Mack pushed the book to Johnny.

Johnny read it, closed the book and put it in his pocket. He took out a hundred and handed it to Mack. "Thanks. So Matthew is your real name?"

Mack nodded. His fingers danced on the table.

"There's a way you can help me and earn a little more."

Mack nodded. He drank more from his glass, set it down.

"I'm looking for Darlene's sister, Cherry."

"They only talked about Sylphie."

"That's her."

"Never saw her."

"The man you got them from."

"He's dead."

Johnny nodded. "He or they say anything?"

"Not much. They were a pain in the ass for him, too. They'd come down the coast, no, they were in Atlanta for a while. That's all."

"And Sylphie?"

"Just how things weren't right without Sylphie."

Johnny nodded. "Did you love Darlene?"

Mack shook his head. "Winifred."

"Too bad."

Mack shook his head. "You said more money."

Johnny gave him another fifty and his card. "You see or hear anything about Sylphie, give me a ring."

Mack nodded.

Johnny stood. "Darlene said you have other girls."

Mack nodded, he poured more gin into his glass.

"So you aren't destitute, are you?"

Mack shook his head, smiled. "Lots more where she came from."

"Good." Johnny left the bar without turning to look back. Each one of those fifties represented somewhere between three and twenty men that Maeve, Kitty or Gloria had fucked. Johnny didn't feel like a hero.

Johnny waited in his room for them to come back from shopping. His bag was packed. He had two envelopes prepared for Doris. He opened the door at their knock, stood aside for them to enter.

Darlene looked younger in her new clothes. Michael's arms were filled with boxes. Doris carried a small suitcase; she carried it as if it were empty.

Michael laid the boxes on the bed and rolled his eyes at Johnny.

"You look nice, Darlene," Johnny said. He handed her the receipt.

Darlene read it and looked to Doris. "It isn't true?"

Doris took the slip from Darlene's fingers and read it. "How much did you make a night, girl?"

"Fifty," she said between tears.

"That's about right, then." She handed the receipt to Johnny.

Johnny handed it back to Darlene. "It's yours."

She shook her head. "It isn't true."

Johnny put the paper into his pocket. "I'll keep it for you." He looked to Doris. "So, clothes and a bag." He said to Michael, "Doris and I need to talk for a moment. We'll be back."

Michael nodded, sat on the bed.

Doris followed Johnny out of the room. "Do you want to talk here or in your room?"

"My room," Doris said. She followed him down the hall.

Johnny waited as she opened the door; he followed her in. She sat on the bed; he shut the door and sat beside her. He took two envelopes from his pocket. "Today's one-twenty plus the five hundred I said I'd give to anyone who led me to Mack."

"Darlene did."

"You led me to Darlene."

Doris turned and looked at him, leaving the envelopes unopened on her lap. "What now?"

"I could pay you for another day, you could come down with us, see her sisters, see my girls, think about my offer."

Doris nodded. "Just phone work?"

"Maybe secretarial."

She gave a slow nod. "No sex?"

"If you want to work as one of my girls; if you don't, then no."

"What about us?" She played with the envelopes in her lap.

"Now and again, you mean?"

Doris nodded slowly; she shot him a grin, looked back at the envelopes.

"I'm not sure." Johnny touched her arm. "See my girls, talk with them about how we do things, then you decide."

Doris slowly smiled. "Okay. I never expected the Waldorf." She stood. "One more thing. My kid, he goes, too."

Johnny stood. "I thought so. The more the merrier. We try to work it out so the girls spend time with their kids." Johnny hugged her. "How old?"

"Twelve." She waited for the question.

Johnny asked instead, "How long do you need?"

"He's in school, four?"

"Darlene and I'll go back earlier, I want to get her away from here. You can come back with Michael."

"Is he really married?"

"Happily." Johnny smiled. "Though he has his ways."

Doris handed him the envelopes. "Here. You keep those for me. That much money scares me."

Johnny looked at her closely, took the envelopes and put them in his pocket. "You're trusting a pimp?"

Doris grinned. "Goddamn, I've fallen in love with another one of you fellows."

Johnny kissed her.

"Let's go back before they start wondering." Doris gave his hand a squeeze. "I bet you put the fear of god in that poor evil pimp. Three hundred for that girl." She laughed.

Kitty was still a little worse for wear when Gloria left for the motel. Gloria hoped maybe the girls would let Kitty nap. Gloria remembered Maeve telling about her first night with Charles and Alex.

Gloria parked her car in front of the room, got out and looked at the lounge across the parking lot. Last week all the men she'd fucked had been handed to her or were freebies. She hadn't had to work for them. She walked to the room door, used her key to open it and went inside.

She laid her bag on the dresser, in a moment her dress was beside it. She sat on the bed and undid the straps for her heels when the owner and Bob came. She smiled at them, resumed unfastening her shoes.

Bob was first; he fucked her as the owner watched. Gloria was on her hands and knees on the bed, Bob's big cock fucked her pussy from the back; each thrust caused the bed to knock against the wall. When Bob was done, he got off the bed, stood dressing while the owner climbed behind her. Bob stood tall, he was a large man. Gloria thought the owner was admiring her tattoo, his hands rubbed her ass, and then his cock was in her. She pushed back to him, felt his hands leave her hips, felt him leave her pussy and his cock press against her asshole.

"Not there; you can't fuck me there."

He shoved hard, Gloria tried to move away, his hands held her, kept her still as he pushed his way into her.

Gloria threw herself to her side, threw her whole body so she was half on, half off the bed, twisted. The owner knelt above her, his cock waving in the air. Gloria could see Bob sitting in the chair by the door watching.

Damn, she thought.

She tried to roll and kick but the owner was between her legs. She ended up getting his cock and balls with her foot.

The owner yelled, held himself as he tried to get off the bed and away from her kicking feet. Bob laughed; Gloria couldn't tell if it was at her, the owner, or because he had a sick sense of humor.

Gloria rolled onto the floor, sat up. The owner had backed against the dresser. He held himself and gave low sharp gasps. He looked like he wanted to kill her.

Gloria quickly grabbed her dress and purse from beside the owner; she moved too quickly for him to catch her. Bob was beside himself with laughter. Gloria went through the door, out to her car and started it. She stalled the car trying to back out. She restarted the Rambler and was more careful, quickly careful. She backed from her spot, turned and left the parking lot.

Gloria parked a few blocks away, put on her dress and thought. She drove to a drug store and bought herself an inexpensive pair of deck shoes. She was still shaking when she left the counter and went to sit in her car.

She thought about Maeve's and Kitty's stories. She tried to think about the way to do things. She wasn't going back to the motel, not today, not tomorrow, so she had to find someplace else. She started her car. She drove back to town, to the Yacht Club. She drove past it, not looking at the Club but rather the businesses opposite. Then she drove from the Club to the center of town, one street, then another.

She chose a small hotel, not too fancy, not rundown either. She walked in, studied the arrangement of the lobby and left. She tried four hotels before she found what she wanted. She needed a hotel where she could come and go without being studied carefully by the desk. She took a room for three days, went down the street to the department store. She found a straw hat, a straw bag, a knit top and pants. She bought those and as an afterthought a pair of sunglasses, towel and two piece swimsuit with jacket. She went back to her hotel room and put on the top and pants. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. The top with its blue and white stripes did nice things for her breasts. She put only a few necessary items in the straw bag, picked up her hat and sunglasses, took a deep breath and walked out the door.

She knew Johnny, Maeve and Kitty didn't expect two hundred dollars. She walked onto the street wishing she'd bought better shoes. These didn't sound right. She walked the block to the Club, checked her watch, and hoped they wouldn't call her bluff.

Kitty and the girls had lunch in the downtown department store. They had a table next to the window facing the busy street. Kitty felt strange shopping here; a few weeks ago it had been a big event to go to Webb's City a few blocks away. Mark loved the mermaids and the animals who did tricks when you dropped in a coin, especially the dancing chicken.

Winifred was excited, Mary and Fancy were excited, but not able to pretend they were refined ladies. Mark loved watching the cars and the pedestrians.

By the time they left the restaurant, Winifred had decided on gloves. She watched the other women — there were few men — and how they bore themselves. She tried to reach for the salt with refinement. She believed gloves would help.

Kitty gave everyone five dollars each and watched how they made their choices. Fancy went crazy trying on everything that would cost exactly five dollars, deciding upon, in the end, an utterly inappropriate dress. Wrong color, wrong size, wrong style. Kitty smiled.

Mary went to the cosmetics counter. She purchased several items, choosing quantity over quality. The perfume was particularly noxious. She was thrilled with her purchases, spilling half the perfume onto her hands and rubbing it onto her face. Maeve needs to work with them, Kitty thought.

Winifred went straight to the gloves counter, knew immediately the pair she wanted, knew she didn't have enough. She looked at Kitty. "Is it all right to save my money?"

Kitty smiled at her. "Of course, honey. How much are the ones you want?"

"Nine dollars, almost."

"That's within reach. Save your money and you can get them next time."

Winifred looked so sweet, the way she held out her arms and hands to touch items in the store, to open doors, or just to tap someone on the shoulder.

Mark went to the toy department, ended up not really finding what he wanted. They went upstairs where he bought everyone candy, and had a bit left over for comics at the Little General Store. He wanted to buy comics because he'd seen something on TV.

Kitty took them to an ice cream parlor then a drive along the bay looking at the big houses.

Johnny carried the suitcase to Kitty's front door, Darlene just a step behind. He'd been afraid there might be trouble on the train; there wasn't. She slept or sat silently watching businessmen.

Johnny remembered the slight naked body on the bed, bruises, her arms across her breasts, the look on her face. He wondered what she saw when she looked at men; opportunity, mystery, pleasure or rapine?

Johnny led her through the house to the girls' room. He'd have to get them another bed, one wasn't enough for four. He left the suitcase there, went, with Darlene following, into the kitchen. He saw the schedules on the fridge, smiled. Today's was shopping. He looked at his watch; they'd be a while. He turned, Darlene was looking out into the yard.

"Would you like something to eat?" Johnny asked. "Some things I can make or we can go out to eat."

Darlene turned. "Aren't you going to screw me?"

Johnny wondered if Maeve was home. Probably not. He motioned Darlene to the dining room table. "Dear, I wish your sisters were here." He paused. "Things are different now. No, I'm not going to screw you." He smiled. "Eat here, burgers, stuff like that I can make? Or eat out?"

Darlene looked at him, looked out to the yard. "You're a pimp, you bought me and don't want to try me out?"

Johnny stood. "Burgers. Do you want to help or do you just screw?"

"Fuck you." She kicked the table.

"Just screw." Johnny opened the fridge. "Do you like cheese on yours?"

She kicked the table harder.

Johnny said over his shoulder, "You make me mad, I won't beat you. People who work for me will. It won't be just a slap. You like relish?" He turned to her. "It's much easier if we work together."

Darlene stared out the window to the yard.

"We can eat out there, if you like."

Darlene didn't move.

"One or two?" Johnny hummed as he cooked the patties.

Gloria looked at her watch. She'd had three dates, had made her two hundred, not including her hotel room. She didn't think she should press it; she didn't want to be kicked out. She left her dress in the closet. She put on her swimsuit and jacket, folded the pants and top and put them in a bag to get later. She thought she'd stroll along the bay shore toward the Bayside Pier, come back, change and do a bit of shopping for tomorrow. One of the men was due to come by her room at one. She wanted to be ready for him.

She found that it wasn't as hard as she thought. She was young, relatively, not young like Maeve, but younger than the men who approached her, by twenty years or more. They found her beautiful, the top she wore and what it hinted at underneath was thrilling to them. That she could put two words together amazed them; her tattoo put them off a bit. She redeemed herself in their eyes with her all-absorbing lust.

Her stop at a small cafe on her return netted her another date for tomorrow; he was too busy today, he said. She wondered if he didn't have to work himself up to do it. That was okay with her. None of the men were like Alex and Charles, but none of them had difficulty performing. Not at all. She charged more; they got more.

Maeve sat in the restaurant on the beach and thought as she watched the water and sea gulls. A pelican perched picturesquely on a piling. She pushed her finished plate to the side, rested her elbows on the table, her chin in her hands and thought.

She took a sip of wine, thought some more. She came to the realization that she was never going to be fucked again. The florist didn't want to, the caterer was just too busy to be bothered with her that way. The people at the tent rental were obliviously friendly. She knew at this point, that if she took off her clothes, pushed the dishes aside, lay on the table and waited, she'd wait forever. She had a brief fantasy of doing things with food, smearing herself with tartar sauce, squishing vegetables in her hands and plastering her face, a giant raw cucumber stuffed in her pussy, another in her ass, something in her hands, maybe a beer bottle in one, a carrot in the other, though she wondered about celery and corn on the cob. She wondered about Gloria's hot dogs, covered in ketchup and mustard. She imagined herself covered with this mess, tongue sticking as far as possible out of her mouth, as the waiter came to light the candles, a white towel over his arm, held stiff, close to his stomach. The soft words spoken as a couple was seated, as they talked about inconsequential matters, dabbing their morsels of fish in the sauce on her breasts. The man covertly, from time to time, giving the cucumbers a shove.

Maeve was a goner. She knew that. She'd driven by the motel, was surprised not to see Kitty's car there, thought about Bob, even thought seriously about the owner. That was scary; she drove on, gasping aloud at every barely clothed man she saw.

Maeve finished her wine, tried not to think of the wine bottle it came from. Empty and useless except to her. She paid, not asking the waiter about the lost little man in the kitchen trash. She drove her Thunderbird to Kitty's. She remembered with fondness her days as the whore in Wilbur's service station men's room. She thought if she was at Kitty's, she could hold on a little better.

She remembered the rocker on the back porch. She imagined the rocker, her naked on it. She imagined Kitty's neighbors watching from their windows as she savaged herself with the handle of a croquet bat. She imagined herself screaming, her face in the grass as everyone from German shepherds to toy poodles had their way with her, stuck, one after the other for hours on end, in her. She imagined the neighbors sitting in the lawn chairs around her commenting on how, "Mrs. Barlett's Great Dane was showing fine form today." On how, "Debbie's darling little Pekinese was such a sport." On how they were glad they knew none of their men would want to touch the poisoned bitch.

Maeve blinked her eyes. If this was what marriage was like, she was sure she didn't want any part of it.

She parked behind Johnny's Buick and just about exploded. Her impulse was to floor her Thunderbird, knock Johnny's car into the bay two blocks away. She turned off the engine. She knew it. The bastard hadn't gone anywhere. He'd spent the night fucking Kitty and the girls. She slammed the door behind her. Fucking that slut Winifred. Making her cry out his name again and again all night long. Winifred and her sisters and Kitty. She knew it.

She stormed through the house until she found them in the dining room. He had the bitch on her back on the table and was fucking her and the bitch was screaming how much she loved him.

"You bastard," Maeve shouted. She threw her pocketbook at him.

Johnny turned in his seat. "Hello, dear." He said to the girl facing him on the other side of the table. "Darlene, this is my fiancee, Maeve." He stood and said to Maeve, "Dear, this is Darlene. Would you like a hamburger?"

Maeve collapsed into a chair. "Hello, dear. Just a glass of wine."

Johnny handed her the purse, the clasp had held, then went into the kitchen. "Hard day?" He set the glass before her. They kissed. "You're trembling."

Maeve nodded. "I'll be all right, I think."

"Did you want to take a nap? Kitty and the kids are out shopping. Gloria is at the motel."

Maeve took a sip of wine, studying Darlene. She nodded her head. "I think I will. I was by the motel a while ago and I didn't see Kitty's car there and thought it strange. I don't think Gloria's car was there." She turned to the girl. "So you're Darlene."

"The girls told some fibs as you can see."

Maeve gave a nod. She smiled at the girl.

Darlene gave the table a kick, turned away from them.

"I'm glad you're here," Johnny said. He stood and sat at his place. "Are you sure about the hamburger?"

"I had lunch on the beach."

Johnny nodded. "As you can see, the table has taken the brunt of any discussion we've had." He grinned at her. "I was wishing, just a few minutes ago, that you were here."

Maeve gave a weak smile, nodded. "I've been thinking of you, too."

Darlene kicked the table and turned back to look at the yard. "You screw that bitch?" She gave another kick. "Fuck."

Maeve tensed; Johnny motioned with his hand. "I've told her, but I'm making allowances for the moment." When the table jumped, he added, "For a very short moment."

Maeve finished her wine. "What's her problem?"

"I won't, as she put it, try her out. Plus she's broken hearted over Mack." Johnny picked up his burger. "You can see how much he loves her, count the bruises."

Maeve stood, kissed Johnny, watching Darlene. "Go ahead. Fuck her. I'll be in Kitty's room."

Johnny stood, walked with her to the end of the table. "I love you."

Maeve turned, tears were in her eyes. "I love you, Johnny."

They kissed; Johnny sat down with his hamburger.

"You need that bitch's approval before you can screw your girls?"

Johnny nodded, he chewed on his sandwich. "You've just been added to a very exclusive list. For some reason I don't want to." His plate clattered between his elbows. He finished chewing and said, "When I'm done, you'll take a nap in the girls' room." He held up his finger, stopping her. "If you wake up Maeve, I'll be angry." He lowered his finger. "Understand?"

Darlene twisted in her seat so she faced outside.

Johnny ordered a bed to be delivered. He tried to imagine what kind of reception the deliverymen would receive. He tried to smile at the idea; he decided they should leave the mattress, springs and frame in the living room. It was quiet for now, he didn't want that to change.

Johnny was sitting on the couch when Kitty and the kids arrived shortly after four. He tried to have everyone talk softly, but they were all too excited, even Kitty.

Maeve appeared in the living room a few minutes later. At Johnny's look she smiled. "I was already awake."

Johnny and Maeve led Kitty and the girls into the dining room. Mark went to his room for a moment to put his comics away.

They heard him say, "Who are you? Owww."

Maeve stood and turned to leave. Johnny said to Winifred. "Your sister's up. Won't you bring her in here?"

Maeve walked to Kitty; she bent and whispered into Kitty's ear.

Kitty looked at Johnny, "Girl stuff, we'll be back."

Fancy and Mary stared at Johnny. "Darlene is here," he said.

Winifred brought Darlene in, Mark followed looking partly angry, partly confused.

Johnny said, "Sit down, everyone." He smiled at Mark. "It's okay."

When everyone was seated, the girls talking a mile a minute, Johnny stood, walked to Winifred, placed his hand on her shoulder. "Explain to Darlene how things work now. Mark and I are going to set up the bed."

Winifred looked up at him, smiled and gave a nod.

Johnny left the room wondering who had drawn his name and a rose on the girls' arms. He remembered Mack's words, nothing but trouble. All he needed was a room full of sexed-up jailbait, hot for him.

Kitty held Maeve. She'd always thought of Maeve as an impossibly strong person, someone who was always in charge. Now Kitty held a woman who wept uncontrollably. Maeve had tried to talk; they made love instead.

Kitty held Maeve, smoothed her hair. She could hear Mark and Johnny across the hall setting up a second bed in the girls' room. It sounded like Johnny was dragging the mattress and springs across the floor with Mark's help. Kitty waited until the hall was quiet and it felt like Johnny was done. Kitty hugged Maeve, kissed her. "I'm getting Johnny for you."

Maeve nodded, her face buried in Kitty's shoulder. Kitty pulled away, touched Maeve's shoulder, sat up, then stood. She dressed, left the room closing the door behind her.

She looked in the girls' room. The bed was set up; it needed pad and sheets. The room was crowded with two beds and their clothes thrown about. She'd deal with that later.

Kitty walked into the dining room, saw the girls at one end of the table, Johnny, Mark, Michael, a strange pretty woman and a boy, all talking. She tried to catch Johnny's eye, couldn't. She walked to Johnny, touched his arm.

He looked at her. "Kitty," he looked at the woman, "Doris, this is Kitty whose house we are in. Kitty, this is Doris and her son."

The woman smiled at Kitty, said to him, "Johnny, my name is Gladys, my son's name is Walter."

Johnny gave her a nod. "Gladys helped me find Darlene. She and her son are visiting us for a few days." He said to Gladys, "It's not usually such a mad house."

"Hi, Kitty." Michael grinned.

Kitty gave him a distracted smile. "Johnny, I need to talk with you for a moment." She said to Gladys, "Sorry, I'll be back in a second." She took Johnny's hand.

Kitty had Johnny in tow, was alongside the girls who were giggling hysterically over something she was sure Mark shouldn't hear. She stopped, turned and said over her shoulder, "Mark, why don't you show Walter your room?" She turned back to face Maeve who stood in a robe of Kitty's staring at Gladys.

Kitty pulled Johnny's hand. "Come on Johnny." She took Maeve's hand and tugged them both into her room. "You two need to talk." She shut the door behind her, walked into the living room. Gloria was there.

"Where's Johnny?" Gloria said, "I need to see him."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Honey, all hell's broken loose here. I need your help." She hugged Gloria. "You are a sight for sore eyes. Truly." They kissed.

There was a loud ruckus. Gloria and Kitty abruptly pulled apart. "What's that noise?"

"Mom?" Mark said.

"You and Walter go back to your room. We're going to go out for pizza in a few minutes. We'll get you when you're ready." She tugged Gloria's hand. "Come on, honey."

Kitty and Gloria entered the dining room. Fancy, Mary and Winifred were at one end of the table. Darlene was at the other; Gladys and Michael stood over her.

Michael said. "Is it okay if I use your garage for a while?"

Kitty looked at Gladys, then Gloria. "Gloria meet Gladys. Gladys, this is Gloria, the babysitter."

Gloria held out her hand. "Amongst other things." She looked at Michael. "Let me talk to Winifred first."

Michael nodded; he asked Kitty. "Do you have an extension cord, hopefully a spare one?" He grinned at her.

Kitty nodded but didn't move.

Gloria went to Winifred and they talked for just a minute. She and Gloria walked over to Kitty. "So this is Darlene." She winked at Kitty. "Go ahead and help Michael. I want to talk to Darlene."

Kitty nodded; she gave a brave smile to Gladys and left the room. When she came back, Gloria and Darlene were in the back yard. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but, seeing Darlene's actions, was impressed at Gloria's patience.

She handed the cord to Michael. He laid them on the table and waited.

Gloria and Darlene came back into the house. Gloria smiled at Kitty, held Darlene's hand firmly.

"All right," Gloria said to Michael. "It's your show."

"Thought so," he said. He looked at Darlene. "Know what this is?"

"An electric cord."

Michael cut off the female end with his pocketknife. "No, it's a whip." He looked at Gladys. "This isn't bothering you is it?" He didn't wait for an answer. He split the cord into two rubber-covered wires about twelve inches long. "You can use these with the plugs on, but I'm going to do something special." He removed the rubber covering one inch from the end of each wire. He spread the copper wires into a fan shape, bent over the ends. He whacked them once, loudly, onto the table edge. "I'm ready." He stood.

Gloria held out her hand. "I take over from here."

Michael stared at her for a moment; he dropped the cord into Gloria's hand. Gloria kissed him.

"We'll need to use your garage, Kitty. Winifred, Darlene and I. You and Gladys, if she wishes, can watch." She turned to Fancy and Mary. "You'll need to stay here with Michael." She said to Kitty. "We'll need a coin."

The four women followed Gloria into the garage. It was unfinished, unpainted cement block walls, a dusty worktable by the metal door, empty boxes piled along the opposite wall. Kitty shut the door to the house behind her. The bare bulb light was harsh.

Gloria smiled at Darlene. "We're going to play a game, Darlene. You, Winifred and I will undress." She removed her dress, but kept her deck shoes on. She laid the dress on a cardboard box. When she turned, she and Winifred were naked; Darlene was still dressed.

Gloria smiled. "If you want to be a whore, Darlene, you have to do as people tell you. That's not the first rule, but it's close. Rule number nine hundred ninety-nine. You have to follow all the rules." She threw the cord onto the floor. "You and I are heads, Darlene. Winifred is tails." She smiled at Kitty. "Toss the coin."

Kitty flipped the coin into the air, let it fall onto the ground. "Heads."

Gloria smiled. "Good." She turned to Winifred. "You may dress. After you are dressed you can stay and watch or you can leave." She said to Darlene, "For the next toss, you need to remove your dress. I'm not asking, I'm telling you."

Darlene looked at Winifred who was getting dressed, said to Gloria, "Make me."

Gloria picked up the cord. She swung the plug end sharply into the stack of boxes. Several tumbled down. She jerked the cord; a box bounced to her, the plug embedded into its side. Gloria bent and freed the plug end. "You've chosen, dear, a profession where force is always the operative factor. Winifred, over there, has deferred that choice for the time being. I would never whip her. Never ever." Gloria turned to Darlene. "You have a choice. You can undress or you can choose to make me make you undress." Gloria said to Kitty, "Pizza afterwards sounds wonderful. We'll all fit in three cars. Darlene is going with me." Gloria smiled at Darlene. "Smart choice. Heads or tails?"

Darlene looked at the women. "Tails."

"Good. The way the game works is that Kitty will toss the coin. The winner of the toss can whip the loser ten strokes, wire end. The loser has to be whipped. If they try to not be whipped, Michael will come in and tie them, you or me." Gloria threw the whip on the floor. "The loser will hate the person who whips them. I'm not sure they will ever be able to do otherwise. You hate me or I hate you. The winner, for that reason, can decide not to whip the loser, or perhaps just whip them one stroke or five. Perhaps the loser in that case, after one stroke or five, will be able to forgive the winner." Gloria walked several steps closer to Darlene. "There are times, as whores, where the goodwill of your companion whore is important. Say you are doing a double and the man is violent. In that situation I would want my companion to help work at saving my life and hers." Gloria stood in front of Darlene. "There are times when a companion can undercut, sabotage, or malign another in a variety of means. A lie, a slander, a half truth, a thousand different ways." She paused. "Are you understanding what I'm saying? If we are to exist as whores we can decide to work together to make life easier or better for each other, or we can decide to destroy, utterly, our only ally. Our pimp sees the world differently from us. We can work with him, but he is the one who holds the threat of force over our heads. He can never be our ally. Too much talking, Darlene? Chose, if you are the winner to win me as a friend, or win me as an implacable enemy." Gloria paused. "May I hug you before the toss?"

Darlene turned away from her.

Gloria smiled at Kitty. "Toss."

Kitty stared at her, shook her head. She looked at Winifred who stood against the wall, holding her arms in front of her. She looked at Gladys who watched Gloria closely.

"Toss," Gloria said. "It's okay, Kitty. Toss."

Kitty tossed the coin.

Johnny listened to Maeve; words tumbled out of her. He tried to organize the words from the jumble in his mind. Maeve was frightened that the marriage would change her, had already started to change her. She felt she was losing him a bit more each day. Who was Gladys? Another one of the women he fucked?"

Maeve's jealousy surprised Johnny, especially since he experienced none because of the men she fucked. Johnny felt he was, now, a creation of Maeve's. That he was a stranger to his self of two months ago, just as that person was a stranger to his present self. That person two month's ago would have been insanely jealous; he wasn't now.

"Maeve, Gladys helped me find Darlene. I told her she could be a secretary, a person who operates a phone for us. I don't think she's happy being a hooker. She's here to look us over; we'll do the same. I think you'll like her."

"But you fucked her, didn't you?"

"Once." Johnny waited.

Maeve tried to pull away from his arms.

Johnny held her. "Do you want to put off the wedding or cancel it?" He kissed her hair.

Maeve held him. "I want you to fuck me, Johnny. That's what I want."

"That's what I want, too. I've missed you." Johnny hugged her, slid down to lick her breasts.

Maeve held his head. She shut her eyes. She tried to eradicate the image of the poison bitch mounted by all the neighborhood dogs. When it wouldn't go away, she embraced the image. She held Johnny away from her, turned onto her stomach and raised her ass. She felt him enter her pussy. All of her was filled as she hadn't been filled by the little men. She felt him begin to fuck her. She buried her head in the pillow, tried to raise her ass higher.

Gloria walked out of the garage with the other women. She smiled at Fancy and Mary; she looked at Winifred and Darlene talking quietly alongside her. She wanted to step back to Kitty and kiss her; she waited for later. She had a lot to tell Kitty. She walked up to Michael, ruffled his hair. "Ready for pizza?"

"Dying for pizza." He stood. "All straightened out?"

"It will take a while, but it's started." Gloria gave him a kiss. "It wasn't at all like you imagine." She touched his mouth.

Kitty went to Mark's room to get the boys. After they were on their way down the hall, she stopped at her bedroom door. "We're going for pizza."

"We're going out for dinner later," Johnny called. "Wait. Tell Michael and Gloria, Michael has the high card. Tell them to meet the boys at our house, she's to cook hot dogs for the boys and Alex is to remember to take photos. Michael has her after ten." Johnny laughed. "It's complicated. Tell Gladys and Walter they can stay here; they'll go to our house tomorrow. Gladys will help Maeve. If she decides to stay. Tell . . ."

"Johnny, I can't remember all that."

"Have a great pizza. Let us know what you think of Gladys."

"She's okay, Johnny."

Maeve yelled, "Kitty, he was fucking me just fine till you came."

Kitty smiled. "See you both later."

Gloria lay under Charles who screwed her his slow steady way. She'd done her hot dog thing for the boys. For some reason that drove them crazy, seeing her poke herself with a hot dog, stroke herself, tell them how much she wanted to suck them, telling them what they could do to her.

Alex had his camera this time. She remembered standing naked, leaning her back against the wall, and spreading her legs. She remembered fucking herself while they watched and she watched them.

She remembered squatting, pushing the hot dog in and out of her pussy, then eating it after she told them how she hoped they would carry her out to the car, after they fucked her. She told them she wanted them to drive her from bar to bar in Kitty's old Pontiac, park, send someone in, to bring a steady stream of men who would fuck her in the back seat. They would take her to one bar, then another, then another, all night long.

She wanted them to fuck her now; she couldn't wait. She begged them as she lay on the bed, on her back, knees bent, three hot dogs fucking her pussy at once; she cried as the hot dogs fucked her pussy and the men just stood there and watched.

After that, she dove into Alex's pants, plunged his cock into her mouth and sucked. That started it.

Maeve and Johnny ate at the Italian place on the edge of town. She remembered a month ago and how awkward he had been. How he'd reacted when she gave him his first money, made him her pimp. She smiled at him; he was so handsome, across from her. They watched each other while they ate.

Maeve had Johnny take her to the motel. All the way there she cuddled against him. When Johnny was in the liquor store, Maeve waved at him from the car, then took his arm and put her head on his shoulder when he got back in the Thunderbird.

In the motel Maeve undressed while he watched. They talked, she sitting on the bed, legs open, her glass of wine in her hand. Johnny sat in the chair next to the table, a beer in his hand, Michael's Black Label. A bamboo switch lay on the table, mud on one end where it had been stuck in the ground. It had rained briefly; Maeve had watched the lights on the puddles as Johnny drove.

Maeve stood up. "Done with that beer?"

"Almost."

"You can help me prepare the bed." Maeve pulled the covers down, halfway, walked to the other side of the bed, had that side pulled down when Johnny was ready to help. Maeve only wore her heels. She walked to the foot of the bed and they folded those covers over, covering the others. She walked around the foot of the bed and joined Johnny on his side. She enjoyed the way he looked at her, his eyes on her legs, on her breasts as she bent over, on her stomach and on her bare pussy.

They folded the covers over, walked around to the other side of the bed and folded them one last time. Maeve positioned the bolster in the center of the bed, climbed into the bed and lay on the bolster, holding it with her arms, her ass in the air.

"Spread your legs," Johnny said. He walked to the table, finished his beer, and opened another. He carried the beer, drank, then set the bottle down on the dresser behind him. He stood at the foot of the bed; Maeve could feel his eyes on her ass and pussy. Johnny went into the bathroom, came back with a wet washcloth. He stood by the side of the bed.

"Twenty," Maeve said, before he pushed the gag into her mouth. She felt his hands in her hair, then his hands left and she could hear him walk away. She shut her eyes, held onto the bolster and waited.

She heard water run in the bathroom; she heard the sound of a bottle being set on the dresser. She tried to prepare for the first one.

Five, one on top of the other. Maeve buried her face in the bolster, held it tighter as Johnny stroked her pussy with the switch. Her ass and legs burned; she couldn't feel individual welts. He whipped her. Number six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Slow, spaced apart, one after the other. She stopped jumping at fifteen; she lost count. She held her head up so she could breathe, snot poured out of her nose, snot and tears, her whole body was crying. Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen. He stopped. She felt his hand on her ass, she felt him through her fire. She lowered her head and waited, began to relax when he hit her the last time. Maeve felt the gag being pulled from her mouth. She lay gasping then felt his cock in her pussy. She fucked back at it trying to feel something other than fire.

Johnny's hand was over her mouth; she licked his palm as he fucked her.

Johnny sat in the chair by the bed watching Maeve as she used the beer bottle in her pussy. He was resting; Maeve was putting on a show for him. He knew the welts must sting like anything. In spite of that she'd brought herself off with the bottle several times already.

Johnny took a drink from his beer, placed it on the floor by his chair. Maeve's eyes were shut, her face was blotchy from her crying, and she glowed. Her breasts trembled, pushed up between her two arms. She kept her legs down because she knew he wanted to watch. Her legs were spread and knees were bent.

Johnny knew that her muscles in her legs were taut, he'd felt them stiffen when he was in her and he'd run his fingers along her inner thigh. Her lips were moving. He looked down at himself, still soft, dry now. He picked up his beer, finished it and set the bottle back on the floor. He looked at his watch, stood and looked around the room. He dressed quickly, didn't bother with his jacket or tie. He stood watching her. When she came, he sat on the bed by her. He used his finger to wipe the moisture from her cheek. Maeve opened her eyes and smiled at him shyly.

Johnny kissed her. "You have three choices for the rest of the evening. I can take you to Kitty's and you can stay with her. I can take you to my house and give you to Alex and Charles. I'd tie you, put you in my car. They'd take you out somewhere. Perhaps back here, perhaps to a bar they know. They'd bring you back to my place in the morning, where'd you get your dress back. Third choice is you come with me to my house. They'd use you there, but you'd stay and spend the night with me. I can't promise you much more for my part, at least for a while."

Maeve grinned. "I want to be fucked tonight. I'm tending toward choice number two but three has its appeals." She rolled onto her side. "Toss a coin."

Johnny kissed her, touched her shaved pussy, and slipped his finger into her slit. She was wet; she leaned back into the pillow and held his hand to her. She gave a shudder, then stilled.

"Heads I stay with you, dear."

Johnny removed his hand, reached into his pocket and found a quarter. He tossed it, let it bounce onto the bed. Maeve covered it with her hand, she picked up the coin, looked at it, closed her hand. "What did you want to do, dear?"

Johnny stood. "I want you to be happy."

"It's tails."

Johnny gathered their things. "Best use the bathroom before I tie your hands."

He carried the wine and leftover beer to the car along with her dress. He came back in; she stood in her heels, waiting, hands in front of her. He smiled. He picked up the switch, stroked her leg with it. "Hands in back, then turn."

Maeve turned.

Johnny could see the welts on her. He took her hands and used his tie to bind them. He left her, came back with the washcloth from the bathroom and used it again as a gag. Johnny picked up the bamboo rod and slipped it into her fingers. He took her arm and pulled her to the door. He left her, returned with an empty beer bottle. He held her arm while he whispered into her ear. "You'll not drop that switch, dear. It's for Alex or Charles. You'll ride in the back seat, on the floor, knees and face down. You'll ride with this bottle in your pussy. Drop the switch or the bottle and you will be punished. Understand?"

Maeve nodded; her eyes watched him without turning her face.

"Ready?"

Maeve gave a nod, let him pull her out onto the parking lot. The back door of the Buick was open. Johnny helped her crawl onto the floor. He put the bottle into her pussy and shut the door. He went back into the room and waited for ten minutes by his watch. The minute hand seemed to take forever to move. When the time was up he left the motel room, got in the car and started it. He drove to his house, parked on the street in front.

He left her in the car, went to his front door and entered.

Kitty and Gladys talked while the kids kept themselves busy. Mark and Walter got along fine, though Walter was almost twice Mark's age. The girls did things with the boys, but mostly Winifred watched TV while Fancy and Mary talked with Darlene. Kitty could hear Johnny's name mentioned often.

Kitty liked Gladys; they were able to talk together about things. Gladys had few pretensions, conformed easily to the household. They never talked about Johnny, Maeve or Gloria; instead Gladys had questions about rental costs, schools, something Kitty knew nothing about, and the beach.

When it was time for Mark to go to bed, Kitty let him stay up. When it became time for the others, Winifred naturally stayed up. Darlene wanted to stay up also, Kitty put her foot down. Gladys kept in the background, though Kitty knew her presence intimidated Darlene. Fancy finished her schedule, put it onto the refrigerator. It was a simple one. "Make pictures and have an art show."

When the kids were settled in bed, Kitty poured glasses of wine for herself, Gladys and Winifred. She carried one to Winifred. "Would you like to join us?" Winifred looked up and smiled. She stood, took the glass and followed Kitty into the living room.

"What's this stuff about a schedule?" Gladys asked.

Kitty left the room, came back with Maeve's schedule for the week and handed it to Gladys. She handed her schedule for the week earlier to Winifred. "You should know this, too."

Winifred studied the schedule, looked up at Kitty. Kitty waited until Gladys was done reading. "We each take turns making up the schedule, Johnny's turn will be Sunday. There are several parts. One of us works at the motel. Generally, I do it twice a week. There are events scheduled for the evening. We usually have a party Saturday night. Dress is often proscribed." Kitty sat back on the couch, her legs under her. "Stuff happens. Last week was crazy. Monday evening Gloria and I worked at the port, Thursday she worked at the port."

Kitty asked Winifred. "When did you get that tattoo?"

"Yesterday." Winifred held her arm out. "The man drew these for us."

"You like Johnny?" Gladys asked.

Winifred looked at Kitty, then nodded.

"It's okay, Winifred. The trick is learning to share Johnny."

"Is that hard?" Gladys asked. She studied her wineglass.

"No, because this way I have Maeve and Gloria, too." Kitty sipped her wine. "The kids do a schedule also, tonight Fancy put one up on the fridge for tomorrow. Tomorrow, Mark will put one up for Friday. If you're still here, Walter can do the Saturday schedule." She paused. "How'd you and Johnny meet?"

Gladys said to her, "Last night, in his room."

Kitty grinned. "Hit you right away or did it take a while?"

"Took a while." Gladys sipped her wine. "Maybe an hour, two."

"You had the look." Kitty held her glass up. "Join the club."

They drank.

"So you're Darlene's sister," Gladys said. She set the schedule on the coffee table.

Winifred gave a quick nod.

"Johnny said something about you telling him she was eighteen."

Winifred glanced at Kitty. "I need to talk to Johnny."

Gladys grinned. "He knows that. How old is she?"

"Sixteen."

Gladys finished her wine, set the glass on the table. "You think she's sixteen, Kitty?"

Kitty shook her head.

"How did she end up . . ."

Winifred stared at Kitty.

"All of the girls were," Kitty said. "Thirteen."

"Maybe fourteen." Gladys slipped off her shoes. "I need to learn how to relax. She had some story about how much Mack loved her." She stretched her toes. "She was lying, of course."

"I'd be interested in hearing your story," Kitty said. She patted Winifred's leg. "Then we need to work out sleeping arrangements."

"She . . . we . . ." Winifred stopped.

"Your parents?" Gladys turned to Kitty. "Mine disowned me when they found out. I was no child of theirs. I was fourteen."

"Winifred, Gloria thought it was interesting how you and your sisters, except perhaps Darlene, don't use improper language. I've never heard you say ain't. No double negatives," she glanced at Gladys. "Gloria had to explain what that meant. No triple negatives either."

Gladys shut her eyes. "Smart girl." She rested her head against the back of the chair.

"So I'd be interested, too." Kitty studied Winifred's face. "Then we need to work out sleeping arrangements." She turned to Gladys. "You or Winifred could join me, or both, unless you, Gladys, are like me and can go either way. In that case, Winifred would have to go back to her room. Couch is comfy if I scare you." She winked.

"Your room with this young woman, soon I hope." Gladys sat straight in her chair. "It's us or Johnny. We won't get mad, he might if you wait to tell him."

Kitty stood. "Be right back. Johnny doesn't get mad often."

Gladys smiled. "You're lucky."

"More wine?"

Gladys handed Kitty her glass. "Nice guy?"

"Best pimp in the whole wide world."

Maeve held onto the bottle with her pussy but she was slippery and it fell out. She did better with the bamboo rod. It felt like hours before she heard them come to the car and open the door.

She was pulled out of the car and stood upright. "You were warned, weren't you?" Johnny said.

She stared at them as she was led to Charles' car.

They put her into the trunk, laying the switch beside her. Johnny pulled the gag from her mouth and kissed her. "They'll drop you off a mile from here when they are done. You'll have to walk the rest of the way tomorrow morning." He touched her face. "Unless you redeem yourself." He kissed her again. "I love you, Maeve."

"I love you, Johnny." She smiled shyly at him.

"Have fun. Gladys will help you tomorrow to prepare for the wedding." He shut the trunk.

Johnny watched Gloria and Michael. Johnny was tired, decided he'd go to bed. He stood and watched for a minute more. Michael was on his back as he played with Gloria's ass. Gloria knelt over Michael, his cock in her mouth. Her skin was still wet from her shower a few minutes before, washing off the come from her face and ass. She wasn't a small woman, but next to Michael she looked slender and petite. Her red hair was dark since it was wet. Her pale skin glowed in the light.

Johnny left them and went to his bedroom and undressed. He walked back to the kitchen, poured a scotch and carried it to his bed. He read a magazine, one of Maeve's Vogue's, while he sipped his nightcap. Claire McCardell was dead. He'd never heard of her. He would have to ask Maeve. He finished his scotch, set his glass and magazine on the bedstand and turned out the light.

He had seen the coin before Maeve lifted it from the bed. He was glad she was getting to do what she wanted.

Maeve felt them carry her, four men, two on each side. She was carried tied and face down so what she saw was a tile floor the first time, wood floor the second, and cement the last. She was carried several times that night into darkened rooms. She was laid on a table, untied and turned over. She was laid on a bed, face down, hands tied this time. She was laid on a cold floor, one ankle and wrist tied to each other.

The first time Charles told her, before he had to leave, "They're fucking you, two bucks a pop, Maeve. Johnny said we couldn't bring you back until we had a hundred dollars." He held her chin hard as he kissed her as she lay on the table as someone pounded her pussy. "I have to go home, Alex will take care of you."

"Charles, thank you."

Later that night, when they were done with her, Alex let her sleep on the cement floor. He came back and woke her. "Time to take you home, Maeve." He untied her and helped her up. First to her knees, then to her feet. He helped her to the car, had her lie on the back seat. Maeve fell back asleep.

Johnny woke to a body sliding next to him in bed. "Maeve?"

"Sorry, Johnny. It's me, Gloria. Michael said he was leaving the dregs for you." She kissed him.

"What time is it?"

"Shortly after two."

Johnny sat up and turned on the light. He looked at her and grinned.

"Johnny, I need to talk first."

"Gloria, I need to pee first. Be right back."

"Need help?"

Johnny stood. "That's a nice offer, but I think I can manage."

Gloria winked.

Johnny climbed back in bed when he was done; he left the light on. "Okay."

"Johnny. I had a problem at the motel. I'm not going back there."

Johnny nodded slowly. "Okay."

"The owner tried to rape me. Bob just watched and laughed." She smiled. "I did something to the owner so I could get away."

"Sorry," Johnny said. "Maeve will be here in the morning. We'll figure out something."

Gloria gave a nod. "What I did was rent a room for three days downtown. I had to buy special clothes but I made two hundred ten before expenses."

"Want a scotch or something?"

"We weren't going to talk business were we?" She grinned. "I had hopes, you see."

Johnny looked at her, smiled. "We can talk in the morning, you're right." He turned off the light.

"Johnny, I've been charging seventy dollars each, and I already have two appointments for tomorrow."

"I thought we weren't supposed to talk about business." Johnny hugged her close to him.

"I just wanted you to say what a good girl I am."

"Gloria, you're a very good girl."

"Ohhhh, Johnny." She poked him. "You say the nicest things."

"Ohhhh, Gloria. I want to fuck you one last time tonight."

"Ohhhh, Johnny. Please fuck me." She poked him hard. "I deserve more than one fuck." She kissed him. "After all, I'm a dregs gutter whore who can't get enough."

The car came to a stop. Maeve woke at Alex's touch. Dawn was close, she could tell by the color of the sky.

"Maeve, I need gas. I was going to let them fuck you for it."

"Okay." She smiled. "What's a few more." She stretched. "Here or in the station?"

"In the station."

"Don't want to get your car mucked up, hunh?"

Alex smiled awkwardly. "I need only a few gallons."

"That's okay. Tell me where to park my ass."

"Be back in a minute." Alex shut the car door.

Go to the next chapter of Comes the Bride.
Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Nineteen | Chapter Twenty | Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two | Chapter Twenty-three | Chapter Twenty-four | Chapter Twenty-five
The Schedule

The first part of Switch: a novel is Switch.
The second part of Switch: a novel is The Babysitter.
The third part of Switch: a novel is Comes the Bride.
The fourth part of Switch: a novel is The Revolver.

Disclaimer: Some of the things the characters do in this story are seen as offensive or frightening (even terrifying) by some if not most people. Please don't surprise anyone. Always ask first. Have an agreed upon safe word even if you don't do BDSM.

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