The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual relationships. If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*
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*Cynthia Martin*
*Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1991, 2001*
Please note the original copyright date. This was basically written ten years ago. As a result, you will likely find obsolete references. I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it; it's too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.
This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and is a sequel to -- and much longer than -- _Call Girls._ If you haven't read it, I urge you to do so. Without having read it, the actions in the first few pages will not make any sense.
Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_. The reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my intent. Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold face. If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.
More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr.org/~Morgan> If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at <morg105829@aol.com.> My books are now also being posted on <www.storiesonline.net> although at this writing there are fewer of them than on my site.
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*Chapter 26*
The first thing Cindy noticed when she drove on to the property of Chicago Steel Company were the other two Mazdas. She had talked with Dan Burke and he agreed to meet her at the plant. Checking her watch, she found she was fifteen minutes early. After parking her car, she walked over to watch a workman signaling a crane operator who was moving scrap. She stood aside and watched in fascination as very small hand movements from the flagman were translated instantly into very small motions of the giant track-mounted gantry crane.
The flagman gave a shutdown signal to the crane operator and started walking toward Cindy. While still about ten yards away, the hard hat was lifted off and beautiful auburn hair came spilling out. _My God!_ she thought. _It's Kelly._ The grinned as she walked over and wiped her face with her sleeve, spreading a big black smudge on her cheek. Cindy just stood there shaking her head with a wry grin on her face. "Don't you think this is taking customer service a bit far?" she asked.
Kelly grinned and said, "I just wanted to see what's under the top layer of junk. Want to join me?" She flipped Cindy a hard hat and put hers on again.
They made their way through a narrow path the gantry had cleared and reached the center of the pile. Kelly whistled softly as she saw what had been uncovered. The pointed out what were obviously parts for steam locomotives commenting they had to have been put there no later than the 1940's and likely much earlier than that. As they made their way out of the scrap pile and headed towards the office shed, Kelly told her that the electric mill was operating on the north end of the property and the company was currently only handling scrap sales. Arrangements had been concluded to put in a small electric furnace and test the suitability of the reworked steel for further processing.
The diversified corporation that owned Chicago Steel was favorably disposed towards a management buy-out of the facility. Although nominally quite valuable because of its lakefront location, as a practical matter the facility had been written down to a value of zero on the balance sheet. Moreover, there were grave hazardous-waste concerns affecting the salability of the property. As a result, the facility was considered a millstone around the corporation's neck and its executives were delighted at the prospect of getting out from under it.
Walking into the shed, Cindy was glad she was wearing a sweater. It was cold. There were only a couple of electric space heaters trying to warm the building that was so flimsy it was almost porous to the cold wind blasting in off the lake. As she entered, Cindy saw April sitting in the corner going over financial information with a she assumed to be the chief financial officer.
A tall brown-haired came forward with his hand outstretched. "Hi! I'm Ted Collins and you must be Cindy Martin. I've heard so much about you." Turning to Kelly he said, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure."
Kelly introduced herself and turned as a cold blast of air came rushing in when the door was opened again. Cindy saw Kelly's eyes widen as a huge man came through the door. He was over six four and pushing 250 pounds. He had black hair, piercing blue eyes and a very friendly smile.
Ted Collins grinned and said, "Kevin, I'm really glad you could make the meeting. I wanted these folks to meet you." Turning back to Cindy he said, "I'm very happy to introduce you to Kevin Cavanaugh. I understand from April you're quite a Bears fan. If you are, I'm sure you recognize the name." Cavanaugh was the Bear's starting tight end, and was known as a fearsome blocker. Cavanaugh grinned and shook hands quickly, but it was apparent his attention was drawn to Kelly.
He walked over to her and Cindy was fascinated by the girl's reaction. She appeared to be shy and almost fearful. Ignoring the others, he took both of her hands in his. Then he released a hand and gently moved a stray lock of her beautiful auburn hair away from her face. "Hi, Irish! I've been waiting for years to meet you," he said. Then he tipped up her chin and kissed her softly and gently.
The girl's arms appeared to reach out automatically and link behind his neck. Electricity just flowed between them. Both Cindy and April were smiling warmly as they watched.
They both winced a moment later when Kelly stepped back and then slapped Kevin's face with all her might. "You have one hell of a nerve, you big ape!" she exclaimed with green fire flashing from her eyes.
Kevin Cavanaugh just shook his head and smiled. "Well, the name is certainly accurate," he said. "Only an Irish would greet her true love with a roundhouse right." Kelly started to sputter, Kevin began to laugh, while both April and Cindy were trying to stifle their giggles.
Cindy had never seen the tall redhead look so beautiful. "I'm not sure it's safe to ask, but where did you two first meet?" she asked.
"I have never met this ape before in my life!" Kelly exclaimed, "but I did see him drop a bunch of passes in South Bend before Notre Dame gave up on him and sent him to the Bears."
Cindy found she liked Kevin Cavanaugh very much because he reminded her of a bigger Dan Burke. Kevin grinned and shook his head sadly. "Is that the way to speak of the future of your children, Irish?" he asked innocently. "The fact is there are a number of the Bears who will testify that I announced I was going to marry you months ago. I go down to Calumet City all the time just to see you dance. You're great! And you have a magnificent body, too."
Suddenly Kelly blushed as a beet. "Do you mean to say you have seen me... _strip?"_ she demanded.
"Well, I thought it would help you keep your job if there were customers in the joint. I thought you were doing it for customers. I mean, you don't need such a public place to strip just for me. Isn't that the way you keep your job? Pack the place with customers?" He grinned at her and asked, "And is this all the thanks I get?"
The others just laughed and Ted Collins told them that, aside from being a professional football player, Kevin was a metallurgical engineer from Notre Dame, had his master's degree and was well along in his course work for his Ph.D. He was considered to be the foremost authority on electric steelmaking and electric-furnace quality control. Furthermore, he had been elected to Tau Beta Pi, the engineering equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa.
Kelly murmured, "Oh great! A guy who can only communicate in equations."
Kevin looked at the three women together and quietly whistled. "You have to be the three most beautiful women in the world!" He grinned at Cindy and said, "Miss Martin, as beautiful as you are, and in spite of how much I love blue-eyed blondes, I'll have to take a pass. You aren't quite tall enough for me." Turning to April, he shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, you share Miss Martin's height problem, and I happen to know Ron Jackson is a very jealous man." Kevin looked sad as he continued: "He's won too many games for us this year. I can't afford to destroy his morale by taking you away from him." He looked at her with his eyes wide and said, "I hope you're an understanding person, April? Everyone on the team says you are. You do know, it's just in the interest of team unity, don't you?"
April's eyes were dancing as she very solemnly said that she appreciated the great sacrifice he was making. He smiled a beaming smile and said, "I'm so glad you two are so understanding! I guess that leaves me stuck with Irish, here. At about five feet ten, she's more my size, anyway. You do have a name, don't you? Something more than Irish?"
Kelly just glared daggers at him. Cindy said, "I'm terribly sorry, Kevin. I would like to introduce you to Kelly Kathleen McBride. Like you, she's a graduate of Notre Dame. She majored in English and philosophy and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa." She grinned and added, "Isn't it wonderful the way God works? Here she is, particularly strong in the area in which she believes you're weak. She can even explain the meanings of some of the big words to you. I think it's neat. By the way, Kevin, have you named your first six children?"
Kevin looked at Cindy very solemnly and said, "Only the first four. After all, the should have some input, don't you think? I thought I would let her name the next four and then we'll collaborate on names for the rest."
Kelly just glared at him and sputtered with rage. Finally, she said, "Kevin Patrick Cavanaugh, I wouldn't marry you if you were the last on Earth! My God! You don't want a wife, you want a brood mare."
The byplay between Kelly and Kevin stopped suddenly when Dan Burke entered the tiny office. Dan looked around and again noticed how beautiful all the were. He noted there was a new addition to their costume. All three were wearing identical heavy gold link chains around their necks like slave collars. He had heard the from Janice. She had had one made in 18-carat gold for Cindy, claiming all slaves should wear collars. The chain was a wide chain-link necklace that was very heavy because of the weight of all its gold. Then Kathy Cartwright insisted all the junior slaves must have slave collars, too. The result was April and Kathy formed a small club. The catch on their necklaces was engraved with the ornate letters C and S. Kathy explained with a grin it stood for Cindy's Slaves. It was presented to every who served naked as a slave at the Stewart's. Dan found out that Kathy, April and Janice the cost and they were presented to all of the who qualified. He knew they were worn proudly as a part of the uniform.
April took the lead in presenting the investment proposal to Dan. When she finished the numbers, he was astonished to hear Kelly giving a detailed operational explanation of the way the steelmaking operations would work. In response to a question from Cindy, she said she had worked a couple of summers in a steel mill during because it paid so well. That was when she became skilled in controlling a crane with hand signals. She grinned and said, "I was always so damned hot, maybe it got me into stripping. Coupled with the fact that the on the crew would work stripped to the waist and razzed me because I wouldn't."
Kevin said, "Why not, Kelly? You have a beautiful chest. What were you ashamed of? Or didn't you have your full bust development then?"
She glared at him and continued with the explanation. Ted Collins then introduced the management team, explaining that Kevin was a critical ingredient because of his knowledge of electric steelmaking. Cindy watched with pride as her people made the entire presentation. Dan then proceeded to comb it out, asking every kind of question he could think of. Finally, he turned to Collins and asked, "Ted, is this something you and your people really want to do? Do you or your people have any questions?"
"I don't, Dan. We do have one, though. People: we have enough people to get started, but I'm a little concerned about staffing up. Do you have any ideas?"
Cindy smiled and said, "That's not a problem. One of my other officers, Kathy Cartwright, can line up three full staffs if you ever need that many. She has a line on top steel from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There are some Poles she has spoken to who can't wait to have the opportunity to make the best damned steel in the world in the best country in the world!" She smiled and added, "They are really good steelmen and good workers. Are you interested?"
"Sam Smith can get you up to 500 blacks he'll personally vouch for. They will work!" April added.
Cindy explained Kathy's language fluency and guaranteed the would be ready as soon as they were needed. Then Collins said, "I guess that takes care of the staff, then. Now all we need is the money."
Cindy said, "The deal we're offering is $500 million. $100 million will be for 80 percent of the equity; there will be two investors. The remainder will be bank term debt. Chicago Trust will put up $400 million, but there's another Chicago bank that may participate with us. You'll have 20 percent for your management team and we will want to know how you're going to divide it. You'll have the opportunity to increase the management holding to a total of 40 percent within ten years. How does that sound to you?"
"It sounds like I'm dreaming," Collins replied. "How long will it take you to line up the money. And where, in Heaven's name, are you going to find two people to put up $100 million?"
"That's the easy part," Cindy said with a smile. "I mentioned Kathy Cartwright, who is also in my division. Half of the money is hers. The other half is coming from April's mother." The bankers smiled as they watched Ted and Kevin's jaws drop.
Kevin recovered first. He looked at April speculatively with his eyes dancing and said, "April, maybe I was a little hasty. The more I think about it, the more I realize you're really not _that_ short. I realize now I wasn't being fair. A guy should make allowances for the less fortunate. And hell, a guy can carry this team loyalty stuff too far."
April just frowned and shook her head, but her eyes were dancing with glee. "You're too eager, Kev... and too late. Now I see you only love me for my money. I'm sorry. You had your chance and you blew it."
Kevin pretended to be crushed. Ted had recovered by now and was looking down at the table top, slowly shaking his head. He looked at Cindy and said, "I don't know what to say. You're telling us that two investors and a bank are willing to put up half a billion dollars! And the investors are close personal friends, to say the very least. Wow! What a responsibility!" He shook his head again and asked, "What's the next step?"
Cindy looked at Dan. "Dan Burke is the best financial analyst in the business, Ted," she said. "Dan, I want to make the loan. What do you think the reaction will be in the bank?"
"Instant approval. This is a win-win-win sort of deal. We do something for the community, for the region and for the people. How can we lose?"
The discussion became more general with Kevin discussing the economics of electric steelmaking. It appeared they would be able to sell at a profit with a price just slightly more than half the delivered price of competition. Then they took a tour and watched through dark goggles as the electric furnace turned out a small batch of steel. Cindy was impressed with Kevin's knowledge and, surprisingly, Kelly's.
As they were preparing to leave, Kevin took Kelly in his arms and kissed her again, soundly. Cindy shook her head in amusement as she saw the unmistakable signs of the girl's knees giving way. Again, they all winced at the sharp sound as she slapped his face and stalked away. She saw Kevin slowly rub his cheek as he watched Kelly move and noted the love in his eyes as he watched her go.
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It was now mid-December and the Bears were playing their last regular-season game against the Dolphins in Miami. Surprisingly, Jan and Peter Stewart decided to go down to see it. Because Miami was out of play-off contention and its stadium was so large, getting tickets was not a problem. They had chartered a plane and planned to take Dan and Cindy, along with Susan and April, down with them.
In spite of her size, Cindy thought Kelly looked very cute and woebegone when she came into the Stewart kitchen early one morning the week of the game. They were meeting to review the loan proposal in its final form before sending it forward, but Kelly had arrived over an hour ahead of the meeting. As usual, Cindy was wearing no clothes and Kelly quickly shed hers. They sat at the kitchen table with coffee and Cindy waited for Kelly to say something. It was obvious something was bothering the girl.
Finally, still looking into her cup and idly stirring the coffee, Kelly said, "Cindy, I have a great favor to ask: Could I come down to Miami with you? I would be happy to pay my own way."
"Of course you can, honey!" Cindy replied, "but that's not what's on your mind, is it?"
"It's Kevin," she said softly. "What should I do?" Cindy noticed that tears were rolling down her cheeks. In spite of it, she looked lovely. Then she started to cry in earnest. "Cindy, I'm a filthy stripper! Everyone and his brother-in-law has seen me, has seen my cunt, and I've tempted them. I don't deserve a guy like Kevin! But, God, I love him so!"
"How long have you been in love with him?" Cindy asked quietly.
"Since the first time I laid eyes on him," she replied with a bitter laugh. "In spite of the way I acted and what I said, I always saw him when he came into the club. He's pretty hard to miss," she said with a tiny smile. "I think those were my very best nights. Whenever he came in I danced for him alone. I would think about going to bed with him and having him make love to me." She looked at Cindy for the first time and said, "I think our lovemaking will be exactly the same as yours. You and Dan are so beautiful together! When are you going to get married?"
Suddenly Cindy's face crumpled and she started to cry. The younger took her in her arms and Cindy buried her face in Kelly's shoulder and just bawled. Kelly just held the and could feel her shoulders shake with her sobs. Their were in contact and Kelly realized what a strange sensation it was. Both were in perfect physical condition and had very full, firm tits.
Slowly Cindy regained control and said, "I don't know when we can get married, Kelly. Years from now, I'm afraid. I'm going to be a slave forever!" Then she brightened and said, "But I apologize. I have him in my bed every week and the experience is exquisite. I guess I'm better off than you are." She eased away and looked into Kelly's green eyes and said, "You're still a virgin, aren't you?"
Kelly's eyes widened for an instant and then she nodded her head. "I'm a complete virgin, Cindy. I have never had a anywhere." Then she looked at her boss and said, "Cindy, I've been thinking. When I come out here as a slave, I should be paying you. You and Dan give a course in lovemaking. What amazed me is the way you take him in your mouth and in your ass. Both appear so easy for you, yet he's so huge! I didn't think it was possible. You really like it, too, don't you?"
Cindy nodded and smiled. "I sure do! It's funny, Kelly. The first time I took Dan, it was in my mouth. I think it was almost like doing penance or something. We used to fight like cats and dogs, and I thought he was the dumbest banker in the world. Then I found out he's really the smartest, and I wanted to make it up to him somehow. Then I used to see Peter Stewart taking Jan in her ass. She actually seemed to love it, so I insisted Dan take me that way, too." She looked at Kelly and smiled saying, "Now I want him any way he'll take me. All I know is he can play my body like an organ. I guess it keeps me in shape. The other thing I can't live without is sleeping with my head on his shoulder. I just adore it."
Kelly just smiled softly, shook her head and said, "I just can't wait!"
Then the others started to arrive and soon after they began their review of the lending agreement. While April was concluding the presentation, Cindy's mind wandered. When the finished, Cindy just shook her head and smiled, although her eyes were gleaming with tears. "You three are too much," she said finally. "There's not a lending unit in the industry as good as you are. I just sit around, practice my cooking, and nod wisely once in a while. I just thought it was about time to acknowledge what you all are doing."
She turned to Kelly and said, "As for you, McBride, you're receiving a raise to $85,000 a year. You also get a bonus of $60,000 and a promotion to vice president." She shook her head and added, "It's a good thing you're an English and philosophy major and don't know a damn thing about banking, or I'd be out of a job."
April looked at the beside her and then reached across the table to take Cindy's hand. "Cindy, you're too much. You really are! 'Nod wisely once in a while' I think you said? Speaking for myself, I didn't know what a loan was when I started work with you and that was less than six months ago. Kathy has less time than I do, and Kelly even less than that. Kathy is the only one with any training." She turned to her friend and asked, "Kath, how much of your graduate education have you used?"
_"Used?_ You two had a big advantage: You started off knowing nothing. I had to start by unlearning most of what I thought I knew! All I know about lending you taught me, Cindy.
"But there's so much more! You know Jane Keller was transferred to the Trust Division. Did you know she set a requirement for accepting a transfer? She did. In spite of skipping her from assistant treasurer to vice president, she would only take the job if she could wear a modified Special Lending Division uniform. She wears a jean skirt and a jean jacket along with her slave collar. At the first opportunity she tells anyone who is interested what it is and what it means. It means she's one of Cindy's girls! That's the highest distinction in the bank.
"Incidentally, she stood the Trust Division on its ear. She has at least half of its customers clamoring to be assigned to her, including all of our very largest. Why? Because she learned from you what customer service means." Kathy looked into Cindy's eyes and said, "Are you starting to get the picture? You're the finest senior officer in the whole bank. How do you measure performance? Loan production? We're tops by a mile. Loan quality? The next dime we lose will be the first. People? You have the best people in the bank and they all love you. Promotability? Our only problem is retention because Cindy's are in such demand around the bank. On the other hand, it takes dynamite and double promotions, usually coupled with a few threats, to get them to move. Leadership? Cindy, you're one of a kind. Your people, top to bottom, love you and worship the ground you walk on. They would follow you anywhere."
April picked up and said, "Cin, I don't think I ever told you this: Emily Amelia called you a little twit the first day I met her. But before she died, she told me how much you had changed and what a wonderful person you are now. She couldn't believe the torture you so obviously suffered with no bitterness at all! I came to love and deeply respect that woman, Cindy. I can only agree that you changed between the time she first formed her opinion and the time I met you. I guess you know I love you like a sister, except as I told someone, if you and I were sisters we would fight one hell of a lot more." There were tears streaming from April's eyes as she concluded, "I love you, Cin."
By this time Cindy was crying. She looked at April and said, "Do you remember a promise you made me make to you when you started? You made me promise to throw your black ass out of the division and out of the bank when you couldn't cut it?" She straightened up in her chair and said, "Well damn it, Jefferson, it isn't going to happen. You know why? Because you're the best damned lending officer in the bank and, while technically you're deputy division head, we both know you run the whole damned division in your spare time. April, thank you. The bonus I promised you is in the works. It will be one of the biggest bonuses the bank will give this year. I promised, remember? There's still a problem, though. I want yours to be the biggest bonus in the bank, but Dad and the directors will only agree to one of the biggest."
Then, with an effort of will, she grinned, dried her eyes, and said, "Thanks, guys. You're too kind to me. You really are. But what the hell... It's supposed to be fun, isn't it?"
Kathy smiled and said, "Speaking for all of us, Cin, I don't know if it's supposed to be, but it certainly is fun working for you." She grinned and added, "Bill is starting to worry. He says I'm much too eager to leave his bed in the morning. He thinks I have something going on the side. I guess he's right, too. I have a golden-haired, blue eyed dream that I love to be around. Cindy, you're a lot of fun!"
After the review, Cindy signed the loan recommendation along with April and sent it along to S. Stratton White, the senior vice president in charge of the heavy-industries lending group. It was going to him for information since the present corporate owners of Chicago Steel were his customers. From there it would go to the Board for final approval. There was no decision yet with respect to a participation for Northern National. Cindy had decided not to make a recommendation, but to leave it up to the Board for a top-level funding decision.
* * *
The weekend in Miami was bright and clear. By now the Saturday afternoon touch football games with April and Susan playing Mike and Ron had become well known to the team and around the league. A Bears assistant coach had made inquiries and the Dolphins had found them a small park with a field suitable for their game. Because it was sunny with the temperature in the 80's, the decided to buy white bikinis to wear for the game. Kelly was with them at the store and bought one, too.
When they met at the park, Kevin Cavanaugh was waiting with the guys. Mike said to Susan, "I'm tired of trying to throw to a guy who's trained to bat passes away. I want a guy who's paid to catch them for a change."
Sue introduced Kelly who asked, "If that's the case, Mike, what did you bring this ape for? Notre Dame finally fired him when he couldn't catch one. But since he's so damned big and takes up half the field, I can see how he might be useful as a blocker once in a while, though."
When asked, Kelly immediately agreed to play. Susan knew that all of Cindy's were in fantastic physical condition and she had heard about Kelly and Kevin Cavanaugh. The game shaped up to be fun. The whispered together, and Sue grinned. On the first play, Sue rolled right after an apparent fake to Kelly who loped out to the left flat. Sue appeared to get in trouble. Her feet slipped and Mike and Kevin pounced, but she didn't have the ball. Just then Kelly lofted a left-handed pass that reached April running in full stride. She had appeared to slow down when Sue was in trouble, but then blew by Ron to catch the pass and take it in for a touchdown. When she scored, there was a great cheer from the sidelines. Almost the entire Bears defensive unit was there to cheer for April. The cheers were mixed with whistles because of the beauty of the girls revealed by their tiny white bikinis. The gaily waved to the sidelines provoking even more cheers.
The afternoon was a long one for the guys. Susan was in Mike's face all afternoon, disrupting his timing. When he did get the ball away, too often it had far more loft than he wanted but he had to throw high to clear her up-stretched hands. On one of his lofted passes, Kevin had to stop to wait for the ball. As he prepared to catch it, Kelly leaped high, batted the ball with her finger tips and then caught the deflection. She easily outran Kevin down the field. As Ron was about to tag her, she lateraled off to April who ran it in the rest of the way for a touchdown. It turned out Kelly was as adept as April at catching the ball and ran just as fast. The result was disastrous for the men. Sue had a great time with two targets to throw to instead of only one. The result was the men's worst loss of the season: when they stopped the game, they were down by five touchdowns.
As they were relaxing with their beer after the game, Mike looked at Susan with real respect. He asked, "Sue, I'm serious now. How in hell did you set up those pass plays? When we were back, you threw in front of us. When we played tight, you threw the bomb. How in hell did you know what we were going to do?"
"I didn't," she answered with a grin. "We just set it up the way you described. If a guy was playing tight, I threw by him and if he was playing back, I threw short. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?" she asked innocently.
That night the hosted the at the girls' victory dinner. Mike grinned at Kevin and said, "Cavanaugh, welcome to the team. You joined us just in time to pick up your share of the check. In fact, Ron and I decided your share is half. We're poor. We have these two vultures for agents. How would you like to try to live on two dollars a week?"
The laughed and Sue said with a sniff, "It's good for you. It keeps you out of the bars and out of trouble." Then she took Mike's hand and said, "Because this is a special night, Mike, I'm even making a special rule. I won't even smack your face tonight. Aren't you lucky?"
Mike grinned and winked. Kevin said, "Thanks a hell of a lot, Sue. That gives my Irish terror a license to really work me over. As it is, she has nearly broken my nose and loosened two teeth!" He leaned over and kissed Kelly gently. He heard her make warm, happy sounds deep in her throat and then very lightly tapped his cheek with her hand. "What happened," he asked. "I know damned well you can hit harder than that."
She smiled and looked at him with love in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kevin," she said softly. "That's the best I can do tonight."
The three couples were later joined by Cindy Martin and Dan Burke and the four couples spent the rest of the evening dancing. Because the game was not scheduled to start until four o'clock the next afternoon, the didn't even have to be back at their hotels early.
The first time Kevin held Kelly in his arms on the dance-floor, it was like Heaven. She was very light on her feet and just rested her cheek against his shoulder. Finally he asked, "Are you happy, Kelly?" She just murmured softly and snuggled against his chest. "I love you very much, darling," he whispered. "I always have. Do you think you could ever come to like me? At least a little?"
She looked up at him and her eyes were glowing. "Kevin Cavanaugh, I have always loved you. When you came to see me dance, I was dancing only for you. I wanted you to know how badly I wanted you -- how badly my body needs you. Like you? Cavanaugh, I love you desperately." Then she buried her head in his shoulder and started to cry.
Kevin eased her towards a dark corner, stopped dancing and just held her close while he felt her shoulders shaking. Finally, she looked up at him and he gently wiped her tears away and asked, "What's wrong, darling? Why the tears?"
"Because I'm being too easy. You know I'm a stripper and that's at least two strikes against me. Honey, I really want to sleep with you tonight. I can't tell you how badly." She tried to smile, but her tears had started to flow again. "But honey, I'm a virgin. I really honest-to-God am. I want to save it for our wedding. Do you mind? I've dreamed of you taking me on our wedding night for years." Then she managed a small smile and added, "What are the names you picked out for our first four kids? I already had my four picked out. I wonder if there are any duplicates?"
He grinned and just shook his head. "I thought you accused me of wanting a brood mare?" he asked with his eyes dancing.
"I did," she replied softly. "I guess it's because that's what I want to be. Honey, I so desperately want to carry your children in my belly. She looked at him and just shook her head. "Can you imagine a basketball team of our very own? With our genes, the kids will all be giants." Then she winced and rubbed her abdomen. He asked what was wrong and she replied, "I can see them now weighing twelve pounds at birth. Oh, my aching birth canal! But what the hell, this way I can buy maternity clothes in wholesale quantities."
"Maternity clothes?" he asked in mock astonishment. "What maternity clothes? What's wrong with flour sacks?" He leaned down and kissed her softly and then harder. Her arms locked behind his head as she crushed her lips against his.
When he released her she whispered, "I'm sorry! I lost my head. Naked, barefoot, pregnant, and with at least one child nursing at my breast. Kevin, I'll love it!" She looked up at him and whispered, "Isn't that a terrible thing to say?"
He just grinned and slowly shook his head. "I think it's wonderful, Kelly. I really do." Then he shook his head sadly and it was her turn to ask what was wrong. "What chance do the poor kids have? They'll be born with the map of Ireland on their face! By the way, I love the name, Kelly, for a girl." He pulled her tight and kissed her again. He could feel the electricity and the love flow between them. _God, I love this girl!_
The next day the Bears demolished the Dolphins. Mike connected with Kevin for five passes, three of which he took in for touchdowns. It was his best game as a Bear, and established him as yet another offensive weapon. The defense held the Dolphins to just one field goal and were very annoyed when they got that late in the game with a near-record 58-yard attempt. A very happy group of Bears and their fans headed back to Chicago.*Chapter 27*
On the Friday night before the Dolphins game John Smith was in the pantry studying. He had come to love the Jeffersons deeply in the months he had been working for them. Knowing how bright and well-informed Mary and April were, he had vowed to complete his degree. Tonight was a very different night at the apartment: For the first time he was alone with Mary. April had gone to Miami and even Ronnie was away for the weekend. The little had been invited to spend the weekend with Kathy and Bill Cartwright. Instead of going to the zoo, a or the circus, they planned to spend the weekend walking around the ethnic neighborhoods where Kathy was so much at home. Quite by accident, they discovered Ronnie had a facility for languages and loved the strange sounds and smells of the ethnic neighborhoods. He alternately walked or was carried in Bill's strong arms. Smith smiled at the thought.
Then he heard a strange sound coming from the library. It sounded like a woman crying. He thought about putting his butler's uniform back on but decided against it. Wearing slacks and a sweat shirt, he padded through the apartment to find out what was wrong. As he moved toward the library he heard the sounds more clearly. His first thought had been right: It was Mary Jefferson crying. He found the door almost closed, but pushed it open quietly with a feeling that he was prying into her personal affairs. Looking around the door, he saw her huddled in a leather chair. She was wearing a bathrobe that had opened wide at the bottom fully revealing her beautiful slender body below her waist. As he watched her long slim fingers running up her slit, the tortured sound of her weeping caused his heart to turn over. She was so lonely and so wanting.
Almost without conscious volition, he went into the library. It was significant that in spite of his giant size, Mary seemed to be unaware of his presence as he came towards her. Hearing her tortured sobs was tearing him up inside. This woman, more than anyone else, had saved his life. He would do anything for her, including sacrificing his own life if necessary.
John went to his knees in front of the chair and spread her bathrobe wider. Gently he stroked her skin. As he knew it would be, it was like chocolate-colored satin, vibrant and warm to his touch. Gently he stroked the sensitive flesh of her inner thighs and watched her legs spread wide for him. He had no clear idea of what to do, so he just continued to stroke her thighs. In no time he could see her breathing speed up. In moments, her pelvis started to jerk as his mere touch on her sensitive flesh was enough to bring the poor woman to orgasm.
Watching, he saw moisture appear between her lips. He thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was clean limbed and almost hairless except for a very small dense patch of silken pubic hair. He touched it with his fingers and found it did feel like silk. Letting his fingers roam, he gently ran them down her slit, evoking a gasp from the woman.
By now Mary knew what was going on, but was powerless in the face of her wanting. Without thought she reached down with her slender fingers and parted her nether lips for him. Revealed now was her beautiful pink slit and her clitoris, now rigid and waiting. With a soft wordless cry he lowered his mouth to her crotch and started to lick her slit and tongue her clit. Whenever he made contact with her clit, she cried out with wanting.
John Smith had never gone down on a woman before. He had grown up in a macho ghetto culture which held women to be subservient to men. It was up to the woman to prove her fertility and her womanhood by becoming pregnant. With welfare, marriage was never even considered. Now with Mary, his world was turning upside down. He wanted to worship her. Dimly he recalled reading about tribes in Africa headed by women. In the tribe, the served the queen and Mary seemed like such a queen.
He continued to lick her and found it was exquisite. It was so clean and sweet-smelling, and her juices tasted so good. She came again and again and again. Finally, as she approached an even higher peak of sexual excitement, he bit her clit lightly. As her exploded in a flood of juices, Mary screamed and fainted. Very carefully, he licked out the juice and chased down every drop. Then picking her up like a baby, he carried her to the sofa. Then he sat down and rested her across his lap. After carefully closing her robe, he just held her close and gently stroked her hair.
After a few minutes, he saw her blink and look up at him with a weak smile. What came next amazed him. She pulled his head down and kissed him softly on the lips. It was like no kiss John had ever imagined! It was soft and gentle, yet filled with unleashed passion at the same time. He could feel electricity flow between them. Gently she disengaged, got off his lap, and knelt on the floor between his legs. Then she loosened his belt and waistband, unzipped his fly and worked his pants off him. John was shocked when she carefully removed his underpants and released his giant cock, now in a raging erection. It had been years since he had been with a woman and the previous events hadn't helped.
She just looked at it and whispered, "John, you're beautiful." Then she lowered her head and began to worship his sex with her mouth. He couldn't control himself. Try as he would to control himself, he still had an involuntary release of semen. Although it embarrassed him, Mary seemed to relish it, licking it all off the head of his penis.
Then she started to use her mouth as a vagina. She started to move her mouth up and down on the giant black rod. It was so big around, she could scarcely get her mouth around it. Nevertheless, she worked with a will. To his astonishment, she finally had taken him in to his full length, and began to run her mouth up and down its length. To him it felt like a vagina except he could feel the suction as she worked on him. He could feel himself nearing release and didn't know what to do. He would choke her, he feared.
Meanwhile, Mary was gently kneading his testicles and relishing the feeling of all of his semen trapped in the sac. When she thought he was about to explode, she squeezed his balls and started to knead his testicles hard. He exploded! In spite of swallowing as fast as she could, some of his still forced its way out of her mouth and began to run down her chin.
After what seemed like hours, his pulsations slowed and then stopped. She rocked back on her heels and looked up at him with a woeful look and said, "I'm sorry, John. I thought I could it all, but I couldn't. I hope you don't mind too much?"
He lifted her up like she was a baby and put her back on his lap. Then he began to lick the off the side of her face that her tongue couldn't reach. "Mrs. Jefferson," he asked softly, "why did you do that? It's not right for a queen like you to do a thing like that."
She just nuzzled his shoulder and said very softly, "John, thank you. I apologize to you. I'm sorry you heard me weeping, but I couldn't help myself. It's been so long -- over twenty years -- since I've been with a man. Tom was a real and you are, too." She looked up at him and said softly, "Will you take me to bed now? I had almost forgotten what it feels like to be a woman. And John, please call me Mary."
John was nonplused. He didn't know what to do. He rose from the sofa and easily carried her into her bedroom. She shrugged off her robe and she lay on her bed waiting for him. For his part, he just looked. She was utterly spectacular as she lay there looking at him. He realized she had the body of a twenty years younger. She lay back on the pillow with her legs spread and reached out to him saying softly, "Please, John? Please take me."
He got into bed with her and she took him in her arms. Moving between her thighs, she put his rod between her legs at the entry to her vagina. Lifting her hips, she moved her body downward in the bed and partially impaled herself. He could take it no longer and began to move inside her very tight cunt. The feeling was like nothing he had ever experienced in his life before.
Mary was feeling sensations she had forgotten even existed. She started to move her pelvis in tempo with John as he drove into her and finally buried his shaft to the hilt. Slowly he started to move in and out of the woman. In almost no time at all she was reached her first orgasm, then a second, and a third and a fourth. Soon, Mary realized her body was drenched in sweat as her muscles moved out of control. Finally, she went over the crest and could feel a flood of hot semen flood her vaginal cavity.
When they recovered, she kissed him slowly and lingeringly. Then she asked him, "John, could I try something April told me about? It's the way the Stewarts always go to sleep. Mrs. Stewart puts her head on Mr. Stewart's shoulder. He cups her tit with his hand, and she just snuggles close. Could we try it?"
It sounded like fun to the big man, but beyond that, he was incapable of saying no to Mary Jefferson about anything. They turned out the lights and she rested her head on his broad shoulder. When his hand cupped her perfect breast, she just made warm sounds of pleasure. In moments, they were both asleep.
* * *
With the late start of the Dolphin's game, it was long after midnight when April returned to the apartment. Ronnie was going to be brought home by Kathy Monday morning on her way in to the bank. The apartment was dark as she opened the door, but she heard sounds from her mother's room. Making her way quietly, she found the bedroom door ajar. She saw her mother on her knees taking John Smith's cock in her ass. The noises she was hearing were sounds of intense pleasure. Smiling, she carefully closed the door. Her was happy again at long last.*Chapter 28*
When the Stewarts and Cindy returned home to Deerfield, there was a package waiting for Jan from the bank. She opened it and flipped through the material. Most was routine, but there was a sealed envelope for Cindy which Jan passed over to her. Cindy opened it and scanned it quickly. It was from S. Stratton White, saying that the loan to Chicago Steel had been turned down. He indicated he would be available to talk about it at two o'clock Monday afternoon. Cindy was furious as she got ready for bed.
The next morning she confirmed her meeting with White for two o'clock and then called April and Kathy. She asked them both to be ready for the meeting. Cindy was starting on her chores around the house -- she could now do everything in about an hour -- when Jan asked her what she was going to wear for the meeting. Cindy was taken aback. She hadn't given it any thought at all. "Are you suggesting our uniform might not be appropriate?" she asked. Then she just shook her head and said, "It doesn't really matter much; I don't have anything else to wear, anyway."
Jan grinned and disappeared, returning a few minutes later with a lovely blue dress. "Try this on, Cin," Jan said. "I think the color will look good on you."
As usual, and despite the fact that it was almost the first day of winter, Cindy was naked. She slipped the dress over her head and Jan zipped it up for her. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw the color exactly matched the blue of her eyes. She smiled at her image in delight, but then frowned. "Where did this come from, Jan?" she asked. "I can't recall ever seeing you wear it."
"It's something I picked up for my sister, Cin," Jan replied softly. "Since it's early in the day and your brain isn't functioning too well yet, she is you." Smiling warmly she added, "Pete and I don't know what we're going to do when you leave. You've spoiled us, you know. Cindy, you're the most giving person we have ever seen or heard of." Tears came to her eyes. "Honey, I wake up sometimes crying. I think of what I did to your glorious body. You'll carry those scars forever, and it's all my fault. Can you ever forgive me?" Now Jan began to cry in earnest.
Cindy took the woman in her arms and held her close, whispering, "Jan, Dan and I talk about it, too. He touches the scars and I tell him how happy I am that they're there. Without them I would still be in the running for the title of the world's most obnoxious bitch. Except I probably would have retired the trophy by now. Darling Jan, you changed me for the better. I'm still skeptical, but a lot of people are saying they think I'm pretty nice now. I just hope they aren't all wrong."
Then she eased Jan away from her and grinned. "But if you don't turn off the damned waterworks, you're going to get tears on my beautiful new dress. Then I'll really kill you," she said. "You know something? There's something to be said for being naked all the time. I never have to worry about tear stains."
Jan worked on Cindy's hair and fixed it the way Henry Hall had done it months earlier. When she was finished she grinned at Cindy and said, "Slave, you cheat!"
"What did I do now?"
"You're using makeup. At least, you're using two bobby-pins which are practically the same thing," she replied with a grin. "Cindy, Henry Hall said it all. Your hair is truly exquisite and all you do is wash it, brush it, and hold it in position with just two dumb pins."
Cindy frowned and then shook her head sadly. Running her fingers lightly over Jan's golden hair she said, "Oh, the poor girl! Jan, you're right. If your hair were not the color of new-minted yellow gold, if it didn't have its glorious body and wave, and if it didn't straighten itself when you just look at it, it would be dull, mousy and uninteresting. You poor thing!" She rose and hugged Jan saying, "Janice Stewart, I love you very much!"
Cindy then called the other and told them she was wearing a dress that day for the meeting. When she was ready to leave, she was a vision. She was delighted that the neckline complimented the only jewelry she was wearing, her gold slave collar. When Jan asked her about it she smiled warmly and said, "It reminds me of whom I belong to."
Driving into Chicago, Cindy focused on the upcoming meeting. She hadn't seen Stratton White since the fateful day in what was then Horace Paterson's office. White was one of the division heads Paterson had brought into the bank. She remembered that she had considered him to be the corporate lending officer at the time. Then she reflected on the way her opinions were now 180 degrees away from what they had been in the spring and wondered what the meeting would be like.
April and Kathy were waiting for her in her office. She looked at the two and began to laugh. "You two should see yourselves," she giggled. "You look like two 8th-graders going to their first dance with boys. Two who are far more at home in jeans, finally putting on dresses for the first time!"
The looked sheepish and then grinned back. Both looked like they could pose for a bank advertisement showing female lending officers at work. Kathy was wearing an expensively-simple gray wool dress, while April was wearing a tan cashmere suit.
Cindy thought of the image and started to laugh. When April asked what was so funny, Cindy said, "Just look at us. We could pose for a bank ad for affirmative action or some such bullshit. Three women: one black, one Oriental, and one white." She laughed and said, "I ask you?"
The looked at one another and then joined in her laughter. April smiled softly and said, "Cindy, you do know that's what we love so much about you, don't you? I really haven't thought about being black or even female since I started to work for you. I'm convinced that you don't know or care. You care very deeply about the kind of job I do. I have learned more in six months or so with you than I could have in ten years anywhere else." Even though there were tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, "Cindy Martin, you're just plain great!"
Kathy said, "I don't know about that! I admit you're senior to me, April Jefferson, but what have I received from this deal? I mean, after all, I _do_ have an MBA. All I have to show for my four months is a vice-presidency, a husband who I adore and who adores me, a few hundred million dollars, and an incredible family. Where are all the benefits we were supposed to get? I'll never be a success at this rate!"
Then her expression changed and she said, "Cindy Martin, it's all your fault, too. I have one question, though. Bill asked me about it. We want to name our first child after you but Bill and I agree that Cynthia would sound a little strange as the name for a boy, even if the poor kid is going to be Eurasian-American to start with." Then she appeared to brighten and said, "On the other hand, odds slightly favor it being female and Cynthia Cartwright would be a lovely name for a girl, don't you think?"
The went up to the Heavy-Industries conference room. Cindy was in the lead and was the first to see Stratton White. When she did, her stomach turned over. He now appeared to be overweight, obsequious, and a man who hid behind committees -- in short, all of the things she had come to detest.
She shook hands and was introduced to the group of people he had assembled. In addition to all of his senior executives that she expected to be present, there were representatives from Public Relations and Community Relations. White was seated at the head of the table with all of his people sitting down the table to his left. They reminded her of a group of penguins arrayed in their pecking order. She sat between April and Kathy to his right, and across the table from his staff.
He began the meeting by sliding the loan recommendation down to Cindy. He smiled a hearty smile and said, "Cynthia, I'm sure it's obvious to you why this proposal cannot be approved. It's ridiculous. It makes no sense at all."
"It is not obvious to me, Stratton," she replied coldly. "Suppose you tell me why you feel it makes no sense."
"Well... I mean... What will the other banks think? What will the mayor think?" Then looking at her meaningfully, he added, "What will SHOVE do?"
April Jefferson replied, "Why do we care what other banks think? They're competitors. What does the mayor know about anything besides ward politics? And who gives a damn about SHOVE? Mr. White, perhaps you should know that my threw him out. Civil-rights leader? Hah! He's great at enriching himself at the taxpayers expense." Cindy glanced at the girl and saw that her eyes were steely as she continued, "Suppose you tell me what the bank should do?"
"Well," he said with an expansive smile, "That's easy, and it's what the bank is going to do! We're joining the SHOVE consortium that's going to reopen the entire steelmaking facility. It's going to provide jobs for welfare people, maintain our city's steelmaking capacity..."
"That's bullshit, Mr. White," Kathy Cartwright interjected. "What you mean to say is you hope to line up government guarantees and at least get an origination fee out of it. We both know there's no chance of operating the steelmaking side of that facility again, ever!"
White had recoiled at Kathy's statement. "Who in hell are you, lady? I expect an apology, immediately!"
Cindy began to laugh and shook her head. "I wouldn't do that, if I were you, Strat. Who is she, you asked? Her name is Katherine Chang Cartwright. She may be the largest depositor the bank has. If it's not her, it's her sister, Jennifer Chapman, or her other sister, Janice Stewart, or possibly her mother, Allison Clifford. Let's just say she's directly related to the ownership of about 96 percent of the bank. Now what was that about an apology?"
The turned gray, verging on white. He just sputtered. Just then, Homer Biggs from Community Affairs said, "But we have to back SHOVE! If we don't, they'll picket the bank. They're standing by and their pickets will appear at three o'clock unless I call Horace and tell him we'll go along. I have to call within the next ten minutes." The was so nervous, he was visibly sweating.
As he was speaking, the door opened and Dan Burke came in. His first words were, "Then I guess we'll have some people picketing outside, won't we?"
Turning to White he said, "Sam, we're making Cindy's loan. The board of directors unanimously approved it this morning." As he was speaking, he stood behind Cindy's chair and started gently to massage her neck, although his fingers were by her long hair. She was stunned. She knew from his first words that the speaker was Dan, but with his strong hands holding her she was unable to turn around to look at him.
Dan continued, "Sam... I should apologize, Sam. I know you like S. Stratton these days, but to me you'll always be Sammy. Anyway, your actions over the last couple of days have cost you all your jobs. Don Martin and I were wondering what you folks... all of you folks... have been doing for a living lately. Now that we find out, we don't like it at all.
"Sam, do you realize the profit from Cindy's division substantially exceeds your gross divisional revenue? It does. Don and I are fashioned. We believe in backing winners, so let's look at the track records, shall we? First, loan production: Starting from zero, her loans for the last six months exceed your total for the last three years. Loan quality? The next dime we lose on one of hers will be the first. I don't want to embarrass you by talking about yours. People? Cindy has the finest staff in the bank. Every person was handpicked and personally trained by her or her senior deputies who are here with her today. They tell me she trained them personally.
"When one division head attempts to overrule the decision of another in the other's field, he's sticking his neck out. He had better be right! Sam, you couldn't be more wrong, so you're finished as of today. You may clean out your desk now. As for public relations and community relations, Cindy handles those in her spare time with no additional effort. She just performs. Therefore, gentlemen, you're also expendable." Turning to Biggs he said, "Homer, maybe Horace Washington will give you a job. I hope so. Good-bye."
The heavy-industries people and the others filed out of the room in a state of shock. April winked at Dan and left with Kathy, leaving Cindy and Dan alone. He pulled up a chair beside her and held her hands.
She looked at him and tears were streaming from her eyes. "Who the hell are you, Daniel Burke? What just happened here?" She reached for him and he lifted her onto his lap. She nuzzled his shoulder and softly sobbed while he stroked her hair.
Finally she looked up at him and he said, "Cindy, will you forgive me? I guess I have been terribly mean. The fact is I'm executive vice president and chief lending officer. You have been working for me for quite awhile now. I just didn't want you to know it. Do you mind terribly?"
Her eyes glinted as she said, "Do you mean to say that all my work trying to find an inexpensive apartment has been wasted? You're really making enough to support a wife? You have been all along? Even when I bought dinner, and felt sorry for you when you walked all the way out to the house because you spent all your money on my flowers?"
"Honey, I have never lied to you," he protested. "I really did walk out because I didn't have any money." He grinned and said, "I didn't tell you there was none in my bank account, though. I really did spend all the money I brought."
He kissed her lovingly and added, "As for the rest, you've been doing such an incredible job all by yourself. I thought it would be a boost to your self-confidence for you not to ask me for advice. Do you really mind?"
"Not really, Daniel Patrick Burke," she replied with an impish grin. "Just remember, though, I _will_ get even. I don't know how or when, but I will. Bet on it!"
Just then the conference room phone rang. She answered it and found it was a call for Dan. He picked it up and in a moment his face turned serious. He said, "Just watch the doors. I'll be right down."
Turning to Cindy he said, "Biggs didn't lose any time. Washington and his pickets are starting to gather across from the bank right now. The first television news crew just arrived."
When they reached the lobby, through the glass doors they could see numbers of people gathering across the street with professionally-prepared picket signs. Then they saw something else: People of all types were starting to gather in front of the bank. They just stood and faced the pickets across the street. As Dan and Cindy watched, the crowd continued to grow.
* * *
Across the street from the bank's main entrance, Conrad Jensen, the evening anchor for Channel 7's Eyewitness News program, was at his microphone. He was describing the unfolding events. They were taping, but an engineer was standing by in the newsroom at the studio prepared to interrupt regular programming with a live report. He had just finished describing Horace Washington and his SHOVE people, and said they were about to move into position to surround the bank.
Then he noticed a change. Speaking into his microphone, he said, "Something very strange is going on here in front of the headquarters of Chicago Trust. People -- hundreds of people -- are gathering in front of the bank. More are arriving as I speak to you. I have never seen anything like it. They are people from all walks of life standing shoulder to shoulder and surrounding the bank. They look like... like they're protecting it!
"Wait! I see a group of very big all wearing Chicago Bears warmup jackets. I recognize Mike Cassidy, the quarterback, but he has a lot of company. I see steelworkers, mechanics, grocers... Folks, I don't know what's going on! These can't be customers of this bank. Jane Edwards is here with me and is moving in the crowd. Jane, can you hear me? What's going on?"
The cut to Jane Edwards, a Channel 7 reporter, standing with Henry Kwan, the Korean grocer. She said, "Conrad, I'm here with a named Henry Kwan. He's a Korean immigrant who claims to be a depositor at Chicago Trust. He's here to protect his bank. Mr. Kwan, why do you call it your bank?"
Henry Kwan was very dignified as he replied, "Miss Martin and Miss Jefferson trusted me. They loaned me the money I needed to expand my business. They are friends of small business. Miss Martin is a division head and Miss Jefferson is my lending officer." He beamed with pride and added, "She was recently promoted to vice president. My is very pleased."
"But Mr. Kwan, Chicago Trust doesn't lend to small business people. It only lends money if you don't need it... if you're rich. Horace Washington says..."
She was interrupted by Sam Smith who towered over her. He said, "Horace Washington doesn't know (bleep)! That's wrong: He sure knows how to take care of Horace Washington." He looked at the reporter and said, "You're Jane Edwards, aren't you?" She nodded and he continued, "My name is Sam Smith. I served time for armed robbery. I'm sure not proud of that fact, but I sure am proud of April Jefferson, Cindy Martin, and the whole damned Chicago Trust Company. Would you lend money to an ex-con? They did." Tears came to his eyes as he said, "Do you know what just happened? I'm now a trust customer of the bank. They're managing my retirement plan. Can you believe it? An ex-con with a bank like this helping me set up my retirement? And they really are!"
Edwards was visibly shaken. She moved to where she had seen Bears' warmup jackets. She found Charley Hodgins, the giant 290-pound defensive tackle of the Bears, and introduced herself. She asked why he was at the bank. With the whirring he said, "Because it's my bank. My bank officer is April Jefferson." He beamed and said, "She's my agent, too. She's really taking care of me and so is the bank. I heard they needed help, so I came down."
Just then the SHOVE group started to cross the street to where microphones had been set up for the "spontaneous" demonstration. The group around the bank building gave way only enough to allow Horace Washington to reach the mikes. He didn't know that his supporters, many of whom were being paid to come out, failed to follow, so when he began his speech he realized he was completely surrounded by unfriendly faces. His eyes widened as he realized his people were still across the street. As he watched, some put their signs in nearby trash bins and started to steal away from the scene.
But Horace Washington hadn't worked himself into his present position by walking away from a fight. Whatever else he was, he was not a coward. He began his speech: "Today we're here to protest the racist, elitist lending practices of Chicago Trust Company. This bank deals only with the rich. The people of Chicago made this bank. What has it done for the city lately? All it does is hold the money made by generations long dead for the benefit of people who are the parasites on our economy. They just take -- they never give!
"We wanted them to help with the reopening of Chicago Steel's great mill on the lake. Would they help? No! Would they talk with us? No!"
Washington was standing with his back to the building, facing the cameras on news trucks parked across the street. As a result he didn't see the crowd part behind him, forming a corridor from the main entrance of the bank to where he was standing. Cindy had returned to her office when she saw the crowd gathering. Finding April and Kathy waiting for her, she quickly told them what was happening and they changed into their uniforms. Because of the cold weather, they were all wearing parkas. When they came out of the door of the bank, there was an immediate murmur of recognition from the people nearby. Guessing what Cindy intended, they moved back to create an aisle for them.
Cindy was standing on the steps of the bank as Washington started to speak. She heard the first words of his speech and guessed what he intended to say. The hood of her parka was down and her golden hair was flowing free as she walked up behind the speaker. As they walked, Ron Jackson and Bill Cartwright emerged from the crowd and followed them.
When Washington stopped for an applause line in his speech -- because his supporters had left, there was none -- Cindy spoke up. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Washington. Did I hear you say our bank has made no loans to the people of Chicago? My name is Cynthia Martin. I'm a senior vice president and head of our Special Lending Division. I think I see a number of our customers all around us."
Speaking into the microphone she shouted, "Would anyone who borrowed money from Chicago Trust in the last year please raise his hand?"
Suddenly, almost every hand in the crowd was raised. There was a tremendous cheer from the people as they did. Washington was visibly shaken. She continued, "Did we give Mr. Washington money ostensibly to reopen that museum of steelmaking on the lake? Hell, no! What we just did, though, was to make available $500 million to install an electric furnace and start making steel from scrap. I want you all to know that Chicago Trust arranged the entire financing package with no government money or guarantees. Not a penny! I want you to hear from my deputy, April Jefferson. April is a vice president and my deputy division head. She led a group that did all of the work to create a _modern_ steelmaking facility here in Chicago. April?"
April went up to the microphone and looked around at the crowd. She asked, "How many of you have received financial help from SHOVE?" There was no response. She persisted, "Surely someone here in Chicago has received money from the organization. I know the Federal government alone gave them almost $20 million. The other banks provided millions more. Didn't anyone here get any?"
A middle-aged pushed his way through the crowd to the microphone. April glanced at Washington and saw he was looking scared. The said, "I borrowed money from SHOVE. They were charging me 30 percent interest paid weekly. They had bone-breakers who would come around and collect. I have a little furniture store in the community. We sell inexpensive things the people can afford. Miss Jefferson, you came in one day. You lent me the money to pay off SHOVE. I'm paying the bank a floating rate three points over prime."
Looking around the crowd he asked, "How many of you know what three over prime is?" There was no response. He continued, "I didn't either. It started with Miss Jefferson who bailed me out of a jam. I couldn't afford the interest I was paying. Then her people came around. They worked with me on my business. They explained what a floating-rate loan is. They helped me! You all know who they are. They all dress like these women here. They all drive those Mazdas."
He paused and then stood between Cindy and April and put his arms around them both. He shouted, "Who are these women!?"
There was an immediate response from hundreds of voices. The media didn't know what was going on, but they heard an immediate roar, "The Twins!"
The continued, saying, "I'm Henry Jones. You all recognize these women. They are 'the twins who aren't'! Have you ever seen two more beautiful women together? One is white and the other is black. Have you ever seen a hint of racism? Have you ever seen a hint of charity? All I've ever seen is a sincere desire to help. Do they make money? I hope so."
He held his head up and said, "Do you know what makes me feel so good? The money is not charity! It's not because I'm black or in spite of being black. It's because they think it's good business. I can't tell you how proud this makes me, and looking around I can see a lot of others who are just as proud!" He turned around and said, "Horace Washington, you are a disgrace! What do you have to say for yourself?"
To the astonishment of the crowd, Washington, his eyes burning with rage, started to swing at April Jefferson. Before his arm could come more than halfway around, Ron Jackson had interposed himself. He blocked the swing and leveled Washington with a right cross to the chin.
As Washington was falling, Ron took April in his arms and held her tight. Turning to the mike he said, "No one hits the Twins! _No one!"_ There was a thunderous roar of approval from the crowd.
April turned and said, "Thank you all for coming down here this afternoon. We appreciate your support very much." Then with a grin she added, "Now why don't you get back to work? How are you going to make the money for next month's payment? We need the money!" The temper of the crowd changed instantly. With a great cheer, they started to break up and move away.
April took Ron in her arms and kissed him tenderly. "Thank you, Ron, darling," she whispered. "You saved my life. He could have taken my head off."
Just then Conrad Jensen and Jane Edwards pushed their way to the impromptu podium with their microphones. Jensen asked, "What's this news about Chicago Trust and its lending? Why didn't you tell us you were lending to the minority community? Why weren't we informed?" As he spoke, numbers of people started to gather around, drawn back by the news people.
"I beg your pardon?" Cindy queried. "We don't customarily call a news conference to announce that we made a loan. I believe in your business, that's called a 'dog bites man' story. It isn't news. Mr. Jensen; lending money is our business. To whom we lend is private between ourselves and our clients."
"But it's news when you lend to minorities," Jensen insisted.
"Why is it news?" April asked. "We lend to qualified borrowers who we believe will benefit from the money in an economic way. We seek out businesses which need money to grow. When we make these loans, we both benefit. They make more money from their business and we make more money for our depositors."
"But... But you're black! And I heard you introduced as a vice president..."
"I noticed that fact several years ago, Mr. Jensen," April interjected dryly. Miss Martin is white and Mrs. Cartwright is Oriental. So what?"
"But, you're in community relations..."
"I'm a vice president in a Chicago Trust lending division. I lend money. That's all I do. What passes for community relations is just a device to create jobs rather than create value. I like to think I help the bank to grow and prosper. When I do that, I can grow with it."
Jensen and Edwards were in shock. People pressed close trying to tell their individual stories. The news shows that night on all three network stations opened with a feature on Chicago Trust and the destruction of SHOVE. Late in the afternoon, the Federal attorney for Chicago had announced a grand-jury investigation of SHOVE to try to find millions in lost Federal money. It also turned out that Chicago Trust was the biggest money source to both minority groups and small business of all kinds in the area.
Cindy and Dan were watching the show from the leather sofa in Dan's office. They had just made love on it and she was resting with her head on his shoulder, after teasing him about having a leather sofa to sleep on every day. As they watched the newscast, Dan pretended to be sad and said, "Well, you really did it this time! Now how are you going to work twenty-four-hour days here and still take care of Jan in Deerfield?"
Cindy just snuggled closer and said, "I have a friend who's a big wheel in the bank now." She lifted her head and looked at him asking, "You are my friend, aren't you?"
He smiled and caressed her breast. She snuggled closer and smiled happily. Dan frowned and shook his head. "I don't know... I guess so," he said sounding reluctant. "But what have you done for me lately? After all, Cin, you're getting kind of worn..." He brightened and asked, "By the way, does your provide a warranty for parts and labor? False teeth, orthodonture, cosmetic surgery... that sort of thing?"
She poked her elbow into his ribs and then looked up at the wall over the sofa. There was an portrait of a senior officer of the bank from many years earlier. She smiled and said, "Dan, I have something for you for Christmas. I want you to promise you'll hang it right up there." She pointed to where the portrait was hanging.
Dan looked skeptical and asked, "And what, may I ask, am I supposed to hang there?"
"A portrait of your mistress, silly! And it's an original Vance, too." She looked up and said, "Promise?" Dan just smiled and hugged her. Before long, they were making love again.
They both received smiles from the guards on duty when they finally signed out of the building late that night.*Chapter 29*
It was only a week before Christmas when Cindy called April and asked what the Division was going to do for a party. Hanging up the phone, April immediately called the dining room and asked about scheduling a Christmas party for the division. By now the unit numbered sixty people and it was still growing rapidly. The initial response was laughter. She was told in no uncertain terms that the facilities had been booked for over six months. Hearing the news, April was ashamed. It was the first thing she had overlooked in the nearly six months she had been working with Cindy and she knew her friend would be crushed. Thinking she would try some local restaurants, she idly mentioned to the hostess that she would like to leave her name in case there was a cancellation or something.
The woman laughed and said it was most unlikely but then she asked, "To whom am I speaking? What unit do you represent?"
"I'm April Jefferson, vice president and deputy head of the Special Lending Division," April replied, giving her extension number.
Suddenly, there was a pregnant pause at the other end of the line. The woman said, "Oh, dear! I'm terribly sorry, Miss Jefferson. I didn't recognize your voice. When would you like to have your party? I'm sure we can accommodate you."
April was amazed, but asked the date of the senior officer's party. Told it was at noon on December 23, April asked for five o'clock that day. The woman said, "Oh, that will be fine! May I send up a menu recommendation? We're so looking forward to having you."
Being the she was, April called Cindy right back. "Cin, something very strange is going on," she said. Then she reported the strange conversation with the manager of the officers' dining rooms. "First, she as much as laughed me off the phone. Then when I told her who I was, suddenly she could handle us anytime we want -- or at least that's the impression she gave. What's going on?"
Cindy chuckled and said she would check. Hanging up, she called Dan's number. Now that the truth was out, she delighted in teasing him about being a credit analyst. Nevertheless, he always picked up if he was in his office. Today he was and he did. Picking up the phone he said, "Hi, doll!"
"I beg your pardon, sir!" Cindy said imperiously. "To whom do you think you're speaking?"
"A blue-eyed, golden-haired cunt," he replied in a bored tone of voice. "They're the only ones with this phone number. On the other hand, which one are you? There are a significant number these days."
"I'm the one with the scarred ass and circumcised clit. Does that sound like someone familiar?" she asked acidly.
"Oh, sure! I remember," Dan exclaimed. "Let's see... I'm pretty sure your name begins with a C.... Charlotte?... No. Candy?... No! Cindy! You must be Cindy!"
"Right," Cindy replied, out the word. "Daniel Patrick Burke, you _do_ know I'm going to get even, don't you? I still owe you for pretending you were still an analyst...
"Incidentally, I went to a NOW meeting. It was a waste of time," she finished.
"Why was it a waste?"
"Because you hear so much chatter about women as a receptacle for a man's fluids? Well, I went to find out how a does it. I'm tired of being made to destroy myself with my orgasms. When I told them that you keep me in orgasm for over fifteen minutes at a time and then finally persuaded them it was true, the meeting broke up. The women bailed out to try to find you, I think. And they never answered my question, either," she pretended to grump.
Dan laughed at her and said, "I'm sorry, hon. Seriously, though, why the call? What's on your mind?"
Cindy quickly told him about April's report and he laughed again. "Well, what do you know!?" he exclaimed. "I think we must finally be getting through. Your and I have been on a two-man campaign to try to get you and your unit some recognition. I guess someone must have been paying attention. Anyway, are you all set?"
"Yes we are. The reason I called was there are two questions: First, can we get a combo in to play if we pay for it ourselves? Second, we scheduled it for five o'clock on the twenty-third and I want to invite you to come, assuming we get some music. You know, Burke, I can't remember you ever dancing with me. You do dance, don't you?"
Dan chuckled and replied, "I sure do. With all the grace and charm of a trained bear dancing on its hind legs. It's what I remind people of, too. Incidentally, knock off the shit about paying for the band. It's a bank charge. As far as dancing is concerned, are you sure you want to take your life in your hands?"
"I'll take the chance, darling," she replied and hung up.
* * *
The evening before the parties, Cindy received a call from Mary Martin. She said, "Cin, would you do your a big favor tomorrow? Please wear your division uniform to the senior officers' party. I guess you'll be there with April, Kathy, and Kelly, won't you?" Cindy said she would and was asked to tell the to wear their uniforms, too. Finally, she was puzzled when she was told that there would be assigned seating at the luncheon. The hostess would have the seating chart.
The next day the four looked at each other and started to laugh. They were identically dressed complete with their matching slave collars. When they arrived at the executive dining room, expanded to its largest capacity for the occasion, Cindy was a little embarrassed to see everyone else dressed up while her group was wearing their customary Levi's and work shirts. They found themselves seated at a table immediately in front of the head table. As the luncheon was being served, Cindy was surprised to see Jan Stewart and Jennifer Chapman come in and take seats at the head table. Her was sitting between them. When she was seated, Jan looked over at Cindy and winked at her.
When the meal was finished, Don tapped his water glass for attention and then stood up behind the rostrum. When the room quieted, he said, "Welcome and Merry Christmas! Today we're doing a number of things that are different from what we have done in the past. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is that the bank is now a very different institution than it was as recently as last year. First, I want to announce that this year is shaping up to be the most profitable year in the bank's history. Second, on your tables under the centerpiece you'll find envelopes with each of your names on them. Please pass them out and open them now. They represent year-end bonus payments."
Cindy reached under the flowers and found envelopes and passed them out. Opening her own she grinned wryly as she saw that she had qualified for a bonus of 200 percent of base salary. Since the base salary was zero, so was her bonus. From the looks on the faces of the they were receiving comparable bonuses but with real money. She studied the bonus stub more closely and found that the bonus formula was divided into two pieces: divisional bonus and bank-wide bonus. Each could be as large as 100 percent of salary. When she caught Jan's eye, she daintily stuck out her tongue and Jan laughed.
Meanwhile Don Martin remained standing at the rostrum waiting. When the sounds died down he continued: "I hope you all looked at your bonus stubs carefully. The information is highly relevant to what's coming. You see, today we're doing something else that's new: We're announcing a new bank-wide award, the Clifford Prize. This is a prize donated by the owners of the bank: Mr. and Mrs. William H. Clifford, Mr. and Mrs. David Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Cartwright, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Cartwright, and Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Stewart. Since the Cliffords are the largest shareholders, the award is named after them. The Clifford prize is to be given each year to that division with the greatest achievement against plan.
"Before I turn over the rostrum, I want you to look at your stubs carefully. For some of you, virtually the entire bonus is a result of bank-wide results. Well, when you're considering the degree to which you should applaud the winner, I thought you should know that _90 percent_ of the bank-wide profit was generated by the winning division. Expressed another way, this division has contributed nine out of every ten dollars to the bank-wide portion of your bonus.
"It is now my great pleasure to introduce the chairman of the board of directors, Jennifer Clifford Chapman, to make the presentation."
Jen was wearing a very simple but elegant wool dress in Christmas red. She stood at the rostrum and acknowledged the applause after winking at Cindy. When the room quieted she said, "It is my great pleasure to present the first Clifford Prize to Cynthia K. Martin and the Special Lending Division. Cindy?"
As Cindy rose to her feet, all the officers in the room also rose and began to applaud and cheer wildly. She went behind the speakers table and stood at the rostrum with Jennifer while they waited for the applause to die down. While they were waiting, an easel was set up behind them and a veiled painting was put on it. When the applause diminished, Jennifer went to the and lifted the cloth covering it. It was a portrait of Cindy, April and Kathy wearing their uniforms. Cindy was seated while the other were standing behind her. Again there was loud applause for the portrait that Jim Vance had done. Jennifer announced, "This portrait of Cynthia Martin, April Jefferson, and Katherine Cartwright will hang in the lobby of the bank. It's a tribute to them and to the people in their division, as well as to what they have achieved.
"Obviously, the unit has been very profitable. But there's more. There was some concern about the reaction of our old-line customers. There should not have been. They have been tremendously supportive of our efforts. We -- and they -- are both very pleased and very proud." Jennifer then took Cindy in her arms and pulled her close. "I would like to add a personal note. There's no person alive for whom I have greater love, admiration, and respect than Cindy Martin. It's fair to say we didn't start off as the best of friends. Now I like to consider her one of my very dearest friends. I would like to close by saying this award could not possibly go to a finer person than Cynthia Martin."
Don Martin returned to the rostrum and Cindy returned to her seat. He said, "There are a couple of additional remarks I would like to make about her division's results. First, loan losses: There are none. However, there is something all of you should know. When the special lending program was very new and before we had any experience with it, the owners were concerned about what the bank examiners might say about the loan quality. Do you know what they did? They personally guaranteed all of the loans. They were ready to buy the entire special loan portfolio from the bank at its face value and pay us a servicing fee. In other words, any risk in this portfolio ran directly to the owners of this bank _personally!_ Have you ever heard of such an endorsement? Incidentally, the backing was to their entire personal net worth, a sum of money that totals nearly _$10 billion!_ The bank, the other depositors, and the FDIC couldn't possibly lose.
"On the other hand, we did have problems with the examiners regarding this portfolio. It's not quite the problem we anticipated, however. You see, the examiners questioned why we have _any_ loan loss reserves, pointing out -- correctly -- that we have not yet lost a dime! However, I don't want you to think my has no problems. She certainly does. Her problem is keeping her loans on the books. The first loan she made was about six months ago. It was a five-year term loan to fix up a restaurant in Deerfield."
Turning to his daughter, Don said, "Cindy, I have bad news for you. The Legrands are here today." Turning back to the group he said, "Please welcome the very first customers of the Special Lending Division, Marcel and Marie Legrand." The two came in arm-in-arm. Cindy noticed that Marie's abdomen was starting to bulge -- obviously she was now expecting a baby. Don Martin greeted them both warmly and then said, "Cindy, this concerns you. Come back up here, please."
Again she made her way up to the rostrum and was greeted warmly by the Legrands. She whispered congratulations to Marie who kissed her warmly. Marcel went to the microphone and said, _"Joyeaux Noel_ -- Merry Christmas! It was about six months ago when a very handsome couple came into our restaurant. The woman had obviously been trained as a _cordon bleu_ chef because she critiqued my menu. A few days later they returned and noticed the improvements we had made as a result of her suggestions. Then I was shocked. She prepared the finest croissants I have ever eaten followed by an omelette that was truly a masterpiece. We listened to her advice and then she offered to lend us the money we needed to make our plans a reality. We didn't believe it. Who ever heard of a banker who could cook? But then two days later, dressed as you see her now, she returned with a check."
Turning to Cindy he said, "Today I have something for you." With that he presented her with a check paying off the loan in full.
Cindy accepted the check and gave it to her father. "What are you going to do now, Cin?" he asked with his eyes gleaming. "What if all your customers repay us way in advance? How can we make any money?"
"Dad, I guess I'll just have to prospect harder for new customers," she replied. She kissed the two Legrands and congratulated them both on the success of their restaurant and the forthcoming birth of their child.
At this point Marie Legrand went to the microphone and addressed the group: "As some of you can see, Marcel and I are expecting our first child. We're overcome with excitement. Our child will be a native-born American! He or she might become president of the United States. I want you to know how proud we both are to be in this country. Marcel and I have talked about it often because nothing like this could ever happen in France. A banker _coming to our restaurant_ to lend us money? Impossible! It would never happen. But in America it does... and it did." Turning to her friend she said, "Cindy, thank you! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you."
Don Martin returned to the podium and Cindy returned to her seat. He said, "There's more to this group, though. Cindy has the outstanding group of lending officers in the bank. As a matter of fact, I guess we're rethinking the qualifications to be a lending officer in this bank. You see, her deputy division head started work at the bank less than nine months ago... as a receptionist! I have a few bones to pick with April Jefferson, though. Not only is she the finest lending officer the bank has ever had, she even develops a little business on the side. You all have heard about banks supporting civic activities? Well, April got a little carried away.
"What really builds civic pride? A winning major-league sports franchise, right? What's the biggest sports event of the year? The Super Bowl. And who's going to the Super Bowl? The Chicago Bears... courtesy of April Jefferson. She was doing it in her spare time, of course. Here with me today is Jim Clancy, the general manager of the Chicago Bears to tell you about it. Jim?"
As he finished speaking, Jim Clancy entered the room and strode over to the podium. He greeted Don and Dan Burke warmly, as well as Jan and Jennifer who he had come to know as guests of the McCaskeys. He addressed the group: "A few months ago I received a call from a woman who introduced herself as April Jefferson. She told me she was Ron Jackson's new agent and asked if she could come over and meet me. I soon found out that, in addition to being Ron's agent, she was one of 'the twins who aren't.'
"Who are they? Well, I guess the group is much larger now. A few months ago, it was just two women. They were utterly beautiful and drove around Chicago in a Mazda. The word was on the street that if you were a small business who needed some money to grow, the Twins would find you. They would provide the you with money, advice... anything. April Jefferson is one of the twins, of course, and Cindy Martin is the other. One white, the other black.
"At any rate, when I met April, we got along pretty well and I asked her if she would be interested in representing some of the other players. She was and did." Turning towards the door he said, "Hey guys! Come on in."
Virtually the entire Bears defense came in wearing their warmup jackets. Trailing in behind the group were Mike Cassidy with Susan Bradford and Kevin Cavanaugh. They formed a semicircle behind the speakers rostrum as Clancy continued.
"April Jefferson turned around our defense. For the first time in memory they had no off-the-field problems so they could -- and did -- concentrate on their work. Did she stop there? Oh, no! Not her. For the first half of the season, our offense was a no-show. April didn't think that was fair so she takes care of our quarterback. How? She introduces Mike Cassidy to her sister. Her sister, Susan Bradford, is now Mike's agent, quarterback coach, and fiancee. She's here with me now. Susan, will you say a few words?"
Susan went to the microphone and said, "Thanks, Jim. And thank you for the introduction." Looking out at the crowd, she said, "Jim introduced me as April's sister. As you can see, she has a deeper suntan than I do." There was laughter from the group. "However, I think it says something about the bank and its people. I studied the painting behind me as Jim was speaking. It sort of looks like 'affirmative action comes to Chicago,' doesn't it? There are three women: one white, one black, and one Oriental. It's anything but. I happen to know that this institution and its people are truly color-blind. I live with April, her mother, and her son. I'm now an adopted member of the and love it... and love them.
"Now I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm trying to teach him how to throw a football and he's starting to get the hang of it. I would like to introduce my friend, Mike Cassidy."
Cassidy, after acknowledging the applause, told of the weekend football games. He said, "I don't really understand it. It looks like we're going to the Super Bowl, but I don't know how we can. You see, we do all right against the NFL teams, but there is another team we have a big problem with. It's composed of several ladies with my friend here as the quarterback. Her other team members are vice presidents of this bank. Not only can't we seem to beat them, we keep getting worse! The last time out I think we lost by about five touchdowns!
"We've given some thought to enlarging our squad but have been advised against it. You see, we're up against some real squad depth. I have been told that there are a few other -- Cindy, Kathy, Jan, Jen -- who may be even better than the ones playing. All I know is they kill us. But the funny thing is the worse we do against them, the better we do against the NFL teams.
"There's a little more, though. Susan is my agent. As a condition of her accepting the assignment, I have to get an education. You see, she's a Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College. In addition, she's the most beautiful girl I have ever met. With a lot of luck, she'll marry me someday and be the of my children. Maybe the kids can get some coordination from their mother, as well as some brains." He grinned and added, "The problem is I can't really think of what I bring to the party. Oh, well. It's said 'love is blind.' Maybe Susan won't notice." With that he waved, then took Susan in his arms and kissed her soundly. When he released her, she started to slap his face but then just kissed him back to cheering from the crowd.
When Don went back to the rostrum, he held up his hands for quiet, then continued: "There's more. I would like to introduce another district head in the Special Lending Division. Before I do, though, I should tell you we haven't been able to figure out how Cindy organizes her division. We can't figure out what a district really is. It may have something to do with language capability, but that doesn't seem to work, either. You see, another district head is Kathy Cartwright. Kathy comes to us by way of Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Shanghai. If there's a braver person alive than Kathy, I've never heard of her. She made her way here after having been enslaved and tortured for three years beginning when she was only ten years old. Kathy, it seems, now speaks so many languages I don't think even she knows how many there are. The number is somewhere upwards of twenty, though. More about her in a minute.
"But back to the Division. Kelly McBride, will you please come to the rostrum?" Kelly was surprised but rose gracefully and joined Don. He looked at her and just quietly whistled. Then he said, "I told you how April Jefferson was a receptionist? Kelly applied for that job to earn more money but was turned down. She was a personnel officer at the time. Anyway, my took her into the division a short time ago and she's also now a district head. What has she done? Not much. Her first loan was for $500 million for the new steel facility on the lake. Don't argue with her, by the way. She really can make steel.
"Dedication? It seems there's one person absolutely critical to the process: the metallurgical engineer. So what is she doing? It's my understanding she's going to marry him."
He turned around and motioned Kevin Cavanaugh to join them. Kevin stood behind Kelly and put his arms around her waist. She made soft sounds and leaned back against him. Don said, "Have you ever seen anything like this? Kelly is five feet ten, by the way. You can see how big Kevin Cavanaugh is. In his spare time he's the Bear's tight end. I have it on good authority that my told Kelly she didn't have to marry Kevin just to keep an eye on the loan, but she said it was too important to take a chance." He shook hands with the two and they both returned to the table with Kevin pulling up an extra chair for himself.
"Finally, I want to introduce Kathy Cartwright and her husband, Bill. Poor Bill is one of the few in the division. However, he, too, has an extraordinary language capability. Bill was in Special Forces in Vietnam. He was imprisoned for fourteen years! He was returned to the States only this year and was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest award our nation can bestow for gallantry in action. Incidentally, the action saved the lives of Dan Burke and his men. I can't tell you how proud we are of these two people. It seems they met when he was imprisoned and Kathy was only ten years old. They fell in love and were a few months ago. All I can say is if their children have only a small fraction of the courage of their parents, as a nation we're in pretty good shape."
He looked up from his notes and concluded by saying, "That's the Special Lending Division. I'll make only one final remark. It's headed by my daughter, Cynthia. Speaking for her brand-new and myself, all I can say is we could not be more pleased nor more proud of her. She has done it by herself under conditions which are not to be believed. Thank you all, and Merry Christmas!"
* * *
A little before five, April had changed into her dress for the party and gone up to the executive dining floor where the division's party was scheduled to be held. She wanted to check with the hostess to ensure that arrangements were all set. The woman was standing with a number of her staff and a heated argument seemed to be in progress. Seeing April, the woman came rushing over with her hand outstretched. "Miss Jefferson, I'm Patricia Barnes. I'm so happy to meet you and we're so happy you're having your division's party here with us this evening." April just looked at the group of staff people still standing around and waiting for Barnes to return.
The woman blushed and shook her head saying, "I'm sorry you saw that, but I think you may be getting the wrong idea. You see, it's close to Christmas, so we don't like to order our staff to stay late for a function. We usually ask for volunteers, but that created the problem. You see, I made the mistake of telling them that it was the Special Lending Division's party."
April's brow knitted in puzzlement. She didn't know what the woman was talking about. Barnes blushed even deeper and said, "Good grief, I'm really making a mess out of this. You see, the entire staff volunteered. To discourage them, I said there was no set time for the party to end, and from what we hear about the people in your division, I expect it to run until all hours in the morning. The result is that the people who are working are not accepting any pay. The people over there who were protesting are the people who weren't chosen."
April was stunned. She said, "Do you mean to tell me that those people are complaining because you won't allow them to work for nothing!?" The woman just nodded her head. "I don't understand. How could that be?"
Now the woman smiled easily and April saw she was a very attractive woman. She replied, "Miss Jefferson, surely you know where we get our restaurant staff? Many are immigrants or children of immigrants. It seems that we don't have a person on the staff who doesn't have at least a good friend that your division has helped. Most have a member. The feeling is that it's the least they can do after all you have done for them. Then, of course, there's the Christmas bonus. In the envelope, there was a note from Mr. Martin saying that 90 percent of the money to pay the bonus was generated by you people, so they feel they have already been very well paid."
Again the woman reddened slightly and showed April the menu. She said, "I know you and I went over the menu, but our chef didn't think it was nearly good enough. He has made some substitutions. Incidentally, there's no charge. It seems that you have also helped almost all of our food suppliers over the last six months and they insisted on making it a Christmas gift." She looked into April's eyes and said, "I hope you and Miss Martin will take this the right way. It's not a bribe or anything. They just want to say thank-you! I hope you don't mind?"
April just shook her head. A few minutes later the people from the Division -- almost entirely female -- began to arrive with husbands and boyfriends. What followed was conceded to be the finest party ever held at the bank in its history. Drinks were served with a seemingly endless supply of hors d'oeuvres. A trio was playing softly during the cocktail period. Then they sat down to a banquet. At Cindy's insistence, April was acting as mistress of ceremonies while Cindy and Dan sat at the very end of the head table. Cindy was trying to be as unobtrusive as possible.
When the dinner was served, April tapped on her glass for attention and rose to her feet. She raised her wine glass and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast. We're gathered this evening for a Christmas celebration and also to celebrate our very successful year. As you know, our division is really not even six months old. At noon today we heard that we have had a very successful year. Because of your performance, I believe it has been a personally successful year for each of you as well. Now I want to offer a toast to the person who did it all... who made us the success we are. I want to tell you something else tonight that almost no one else knows. This person, who is responsible for our success has been doing it for _no money!_ None! Not a dime! I happen to know she even uses money she makes babysitting to pay for the gas in her car, as well as parking, tolls, and the rest of it.
"I want to offer a toast to the finest division head the banking industry has ever seen: Cynthia Katherine Martin!" Turning towards the end of the table she raised her glass and added, "Cindy, we love you!"
Instantly there was pandemonium in the room as everyone jumped to their feet and began to applaud and then cheer. Meanwhile at the end of the table, Cindy first looked down at her plate and then tried to hide in Dan's broad shoulder.
He whispered in her ear, "Honey, you have to go up there and say something. This is a tribute to you and, damn it, you deserve it!"
She rose from her chair and went to the center of the table where April was waiting for her. As she came closer, April took her in her arms and gave her a warm kiss, whispering, "Cindy, I love you... We all do!"
Cindy stood at the microphone and waited for the applause to die down. When it did, she said, "Thank you, April. I don't deserve this. I really don't. The people who deserve the applause are April herself, Kathy Cartwright, and Kelly McBride. They're the ones who really make the division go. But most of all, the one who deserves it is my lover, Dan Burke. All I know about banking and making loans -- what little that is -- I owe to him. A little of what he tried to teach me about banking finally sank in." She turned and looked back towards where Dan was sitting and raised her glass saying, "Darling, thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
Again there was applause and cheering as she returned to her seat. Dan was on his feet waiting for her to return. When she did, he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. As her knees started to turn to water, Cindy was dimly aware of redoubled cheering.
Later they danced together. In spite of what Dan had said, she found he was an excellent dancer and she just loved being held in his arms. It was the best party she had ever attended.*Chapter 30*
The next day, Christmas Eve, April inadvertently almost started a riot in the Division. She casually mentioned that there was going to be a big Christmas party the next day at the Stewart's and it would be nice if a couple of the would be willing to work. She said she realized it was Christmas, but... Everyone in earshot immediately volunteered. In moments the word had spread and virtually the entire division -- who were almost all present in the bank because it was Christmas Eve -- volunteered.
April managed to avoid a mutiny by using one of the division's computer experts to set up a system using a random-number generator to pick out five numbers. Those whose numbers matched were the ones who would work. However, it turned out that only four volunteers would be able to work -- the last of the five selected was left out because Kelly McBride pulled rank and insisted that she would work on Christmas herself. April grinned wryly, shook her head, and put her in charge of the detail for the next day.
Meanwhile, Cindy hadn't gone in to work at the bank. Rather, she was in Deerfield preparing for the feast on the following day. The whole Clifford family was gathering at the Stewart's for Christmas. While she was working in the kitchen, Janice Stewart came in and lightly ran her fingers over the scars on Cindy's buttocks. When Cindy looked over her shoulder, Jan kissed her softly and lovingly. Cindy was surprised to see there were tears in the girl's eyes as she said, "Darling Cin, I have a favor to ask. The favor is for Pete and me both."
"Of course, Jan. Anything. What is it?" she replied.
"May we have a plastic surgeon remove these terrible scars I inflicted on your body? Of course Pete and I will pay for it. We have a surgeon in Los Angeles all lined up through Mom. He's reputed to be the very finest in the world at this sort of thing."
There was love in her eyes, but Cindy just shook her head stubbornly and said, "Jan, anything else. But that's something I just can't do, even if it means extending my indenture to you some more, or even accepting more lashes for disobedience."
Tears appeared in her eyes but she tried to grin as she added, "Dan says the scars on my ass provide a non-slip surface. If they were removed he wouldn't have anything to hold on to anymore. He says I always get slippery with my sweat when he's making love to me." She looked into Jan's eyes and said, "Darling Jan, I need the scars. I really do. They're a constant reminder of what an unmitigated little shit I used to be and they also serve as a warning that if I'm not careful I could become again. If that happened, I would lose Dan, first of all, and you know I couldn't go on living if that happened. Then I would lose all my friends: you, April, Kathy... I could go on and on but you get the idea. Jan, please don't ask me!"
Jan held Cindy close and started to cry. She whispered in the girl's ear, "You don't know what seeing those scars does to me, though! Cindy Martin, you're the most beautiful in the whole world. What I did to you was utterly beyond belief." Tears were streaming down her face as she continued, "I still remember that terrible night here in the kitchen. You stood right over there with your back to me while I uncoiled the whip between your legs. Then I cracked it and you let out the most ungodly scream. I almost cut you in half in the most tender, most sensitive part of your body. You collapsed to the floor but then just got back on your feet again. Darling, blood was pouring from your but you just stood there. I would have been curled up in a ball on the floor, if I could have taken even one stroke! To this day, Pete and I don't know how you were able to do it."
Cindy stroked Jan's hair and whispered, "Darling Jan, it may have been the making of me. I also remember you caring for me in bed for the next weeks. Every time you removed the covers I thought you would become violently ill from having to look at the pus and ooze on the horror-show that was my body. Instead you just put on more ointment and kept putting cool cloths on my forehead. No one else could possibly have been so gentle!"
"No one else could possibly have been so cruel in the first place," Jan responded. "You forgot something: You never mentioned the fact that all you would take was aspirin. You were in the most excruciating pain but you wouldn't let me give you anything for it. I did take advantage of you a couple of times by substituting codeine for the aspirin." Cindy pulled back, looking startled. Jan continued, "Honey, I had to. You were in such agony. You even screamed in your sleep. There has never been a braver person than you!"
Cindy just shook her head. The then continued working together preparing for the Christmas celebration they had planned. While they were working, Cindy asked with feigned casualness, "Jan, have you ever met the people who are building the house next door? Do you even know who they are? Dan has been trying to find out but hasn't been able to."
"They are a very nice couple," Jan replied. "I met the and she's really very sweet. They don't have any children yet, but they want a large family. You'll really like them, I'm sure."
"Jan," Cindy asked, her casual pose forgotten, "do you think they would be willing to sell us the house? Dan and I absolutely adore it, and now he got a very big bonus so we even have some money. The bum is making a very good salary, too, so we could carry a pretty good mortgage. Do you think they would? We love the house... and the chance to live next door to you and Pete is an opportunity that's almost beyond belief. By the way, when are you and Pete going to start a family?"
"We already have," Jan replied with a grin. "You mean you can't tell? I'm already starting to swell. The doctor confirmed it a couple of days ago. It looks like I'll be a sometime in the summer!"
Cindy squealed and spun around to look at Jan as soon as she heard the words. As usual, Jan was utterly exquisite in her nudity and there was not the least sign of any swelling.
She was standing with the warmest smile on her face that Cindy had ever seen. Tears came to the girl's eyes as she took Jan in her arms and hugged her, saying, "Oh, Jan! I'm so happy. I always knew you would be a world-class and now it's going to happen. What does Pete think?"
"Shh!" Jan replied, "I haven't told him yet. It's going to be a part of my Christmas present to him." Tears of joy started to come to her eyes as she continued, "It takes care of my last fear, Cin. Since I was a prostitute and allowed anyone to do anything if the money was right, deep down I was scared that something might have happened to my reproductive system so I couldn't have kids. I guess it didn't. The doctor just whistled when I undressed -- how unprofessional! -- and said he had never seen a woman as well equipped for motherhood. I don't know if that's a comment on me or a comment on his lack of experience. Anyway, I'm thrilled." She looked at Cindy and asked, "Please don't tell Pete? I want it to be my surprise."
Cindy immediately agreed, but then said, "You never answered my question about the house, though. Do you think the owners might be willing to sell?"
Jan's face fell as she just shook her head and said, "I'm afraid not, honey. Besides, that place is a junior-grade palace. I'm sure it's costing well over a million. Even with Dan's salary, it would be a very big number." Then she brightened and said, "But I'm sure you and Dan will find a neat place of your own."
"I have another favor to ask, Jan," Cindy said. Jan looked at her quizzically. "Would you and Pete allow me to become pregnant now, too? That way I could take care of your baby and nurse it at my breast. Jan, nothing would make me prouder than to be a wet nurse for your baby. May I?"
Jan looked lovingly at the she had come to think of as a sister. Although her heart turned over at Cindy's offer, she said, "Let me think about it, okay? I'll talk to Pete and see what he thinks, too." Then she grinned at Cindy and asked, "Speaking of houses, how is your apartment redecorating coming? I haven't heard you speak of it in weeks."
"I think it's going very well," Cindy replied. Then she looked at Jan with a hopeful expression on her face and asked, "By the way, the owner wants to christen it with a New Year's Eve party. I got a message from him inquiring about caterers and stuff. Would you mind if I worked for him that afternoon? I have gotten to be pretty good with hors d'oeuvres and that sort of thing. Jan, I need the money, and he's been very nice. He even advanced a part of my fee so that I could buy some Christmas presents.
Jan's heart turned over as she heard the words. She had recently learned from April that Cindy was using her babysitting and decorating money to pay for gas, tolls, and other expenses incurred working on bank business. She also knew that, in spite of having no money, she had wonderful presents for Pete and herself as well as Dan, April, and her parents. She replied, "Cin, of course you can."
She looked at the and tears came into her eyes as she said, "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cindy Martin, you are a dream! You're a beloved sister. I just don't know what I'm going to do when you move out. One thing's for sure: The quality of the food served in this place will go downhill." She appeared very serious as she looked at Cindy and said, "I'm not kidding at all, now, Cin. We both know you couldn't even boil water when you came here six months ago. Now you're truly a far better cook than I am. Pete and I were talking about it a couple of days ago. He's noticed it too, and he's the guy who loves me. We concluded that I learned to cook to try to hide from being a prostitute. You learned to cook with love and thoughtfulness. There's a lot of 'you' in everything you serve. You're giving yourself to us, aren't you?"
Cindy looked embarrassed and dropped her eyes, but nodded her head and said softly, "I really try, Jan. Let's face it: about the only people who regularly eat my cooking are you, Pete, and Dan, the three people I love most in the whole world."
Jan smiled, kissed Cindy and hugged her tight. Then she pretended to frown and said, "That's as it may be, but in the meantime you're my house slave so get with it! Do I have to do all the work myself?"
Cindy just grinned and returned to her preparations.
* * *
On Christmas morning, Kelly McBride very carefully opened the door to Cindy's room. The was carrying a large Thermos jug of coffee on a tray along with three coffee mugs. As usual, she was completely naked except for a large Christmas-red bow in her hair and a smaller one pinned on her pubic hair. In addition, of course, she was wearing her gold slave collar.
Even the slight noise of the latch turning was enough to waken Cindy. When the door opened, Kelly found herself looking into the girl's brilliant blue eyes. Dan was beside her in bed with his hand, as usual, cupped over her breast. Cindy smiled warmly and her lips formed the words, "Merry Christmas, Kelly!" Then she squeezed Dan's hand awakening him instantly. Aloud, she said, "Good morning, darling! Merry Christmas!"
Dan's eyes opened, he groaned and said, "Do you mean it's morning already? It seems like I just got to sleep. Woman, you wear me out!"
As he was speaking, though, he rolled over between her widespread thighs. In moments his now-erect cock was entering her vagina.
Kelly just watched in amazement as his immense cock just slid smoothly into Cindy's body. As often as she had seen it, she was still astonished at how attuned to each other Cindy and Dan were. She continued to watch as Dan moved in long, slow strokes in and out of the while she made wonderful noises and then began to toss on the bed. Soon she reached her first orgasm and Kelly saw the girl's pelvis moving in a frenzy of motion. All Dan did was to slow his movement to give her time to recover and then pick up the pace. When he did, Cindy smiled lovingly and reached up to pull his head down to hers to give him a loving kiss. Still he moved steadily inside her while he gently ran his fingers over her now-sweating body. Then, when he lightly touched her nipples, she screamed in ecstasy.
Soon it was over. Dan took her to her vibrating crest and just held her there while her lower body moved in a frenzy. She collapsed as Dan discharged inside her and then lay on top of her while he tried to regain his breath and before easing his body off hers.
Meanwhile, Kelly had placed the tray on the dresser. When Dan rolled off, she got on the bed, gently spread Cindy's legs and began to run her tongue up the girl's cunt. It was the first time Kelly had ever gone down on a girl, but she had heard from both April and Kathy that Cindy's vulva was as sweet as honey. Spreading Cindy's nether lips apart with her fingers she saw for the first time the scar that ran up its length right across her clit. She cringed, thinking how incredibly painful the whip cut must have been. Then she carefully began to tongue the girl's circumcised clitoris. As she moved her tongue to lap up the succulent juices, she felt Cindy's hand stroke her hair and heard her moan with pleasure. Finally she finished by swinging her head so that her lovely auburn hair was over the girl's slit. Kelly used it to dry the last drops and then straightened up, rocking back on her heels.
"Kelly, that was beyond belief! Thank you so much, but why did you do it?" Cindy asked. Kelly smiled and just shook her head; she really didn't know why she had done it. As Cindy was speaking she pulled herself up to a sitting position next to Dan at the head of the bed. He put his arm around her and hugged her tight, again causing her to moan with pleasure.
"Honey," he asked, "I have a question for you: What do you do with your girls? Looking at Kelly kneeling on the bed reminds me again that you must hire the most beautiful women in Chicago."
"Is that against EEOC rules or something?" Cindy asked with a grin. "Actually, though, it's all the girls. They insist on working out. Just look at Kelly. Last week Kathy was teasing her because her have become so firm she can't swing tassels with them anymore. And I know she's gotten bigger across the shoulders: She was complaining about the fit of her clothes."
Cindy looked at Dan and said, "You were a Marine. I hear that the who go through the Officers' Basic School in Quantico complain about the same thing. After going through the school their uniforms don't fit anymore, either. I gather it's become an occupational hazard with my girls, too, because of the workouts." Turning to Kelly she asked, "Kel, would you mind sliding up here so Dan could know what you feel like? For that matter, I want to feel you, too."
Kelly moved up between the two and Cindy weighed one of her in her hand, rolling the nipple between her fingers causing it almost instantly to become erect. Kelly moaned deep in her throat and had her eyes closed enjoying the sensation as Cindy stroked her and Dan ran his fingers over her satin-smooth skin. Then she opened her eyes, looked at the two people and asked, "Cindy, could you do something for me for Christmas? Or, really, ask Dan to?"
Whatever the question was, it was obviously embarrassing to the because she started to blush with the blood moving up her body, flooding her breasts, and moving on up to her neck and face.
Cindy grinned at the spectacle and said, "Dan, isn't it wonderful to see a nude blush? You see it all, don't you? Kelly McBride, you're exquisite and the answer is yes. Now what's the question?"
Kelly took a deep breath and blurted, "Could Dan bring me to orgasm?" She looked fearful as she asked the question and then hurriedly explained, "Cindy, you know I'm a virgin. You may not know that I have never even been touched by a until just now. I'm desperately in love with Kevin and we're going to get soon... probably right after the Super Bowl. Anyway, I was talking with Kathy and she told me how Dan brought her to orgasm on Labor Day. She says it's the reason she's so happy with Bill now: She didn't think she could ever have an orgasm. She did, though. So when she met Bill she just recreated what she remembered you doing to her, Dan, and was in Heaven! She says she owes much of her happiness to you."
Then she added with a grin, "That's the part that she doesn't owe to Cindy, of course. She says that without Cindy she wouldn't have ever joined the bank in the first place. Then she would never have come to the attention of Jen, who never would have called her to come out to California, and so she would never have met Bill again. What it comes down to is she claims she owes everything she has to you, Cindy, as well as everything she'll ever have in the future!
"Anyway, this is a long way of asking if you'll allow Dan to do to me what he did to Kathy? Could it be my Christmas present? I so want to be good for Kevin and good to him. This way, I can be sure. Please Cindy? Will you let him?"
Instead of answering, Cindy turned to Dan and said, "Darling, I have a part of your Christmas present for you: a virgin of your very own to play with." Turning to Kelly she said, "Slave Kelly, please present yourself to your new master."
Kelly smiled warmly and moved up the bed a little more so she was between Dan and Cindy. She was still kneeling with her back up straight and her weight back on her heels as she cradled her beautiful full and pinched her nipples so they were fully erect. Then she said, "Master, I am Slave Kelly, and I'm a part of Cindy's Christmas gift to you. As you can see, I have auburn hair and green eyes. My facial features are regular. My are full and firm with small pink nipples. Would you like to feel one?" She leaned forward and allowed her to hang down.
Dan reached out an cupped one with his hand and then gently caressed it with his finger tips. He noticed that her small nipples became even harder as he did. She moaned softly as he gently squeezed her firm tit. "Your tits are very nice, Slave Kelly. Continue your presentation," he said softly.
Kelly sat up straight again and spread her knees wide. Using her long, slender fingers, she spread her nether lips and said, "This is my cunt, Master. I took extra care to make sure it was clean and sweet-smelling for you this morning. As Slave Cindy told you, it has never been used or even touched by a before." Then she leaned forward again, this time raising her buttocks high in the air. "This is my ass, Master. My asscheeks are tight and very firm. My hips are slender, but I have a large pelvic opening in spite of that. My doctor says I was made to carry babies. I so hope I will. Does my Master approve of his new Christmas present?"
Dan smiled and pretended to be bored. "Cindy, she's... very nice... I guess. But couldn't you come up with a more original gift? Of course, I haven't ever received an _auburn-haired_ virgin before, so... Well, I guess I'll try her out."
Turning to Kelly he asked softly, "What do you want me to do, Kelly? Are you asking me to do to you what I did to Kathy?"
"Please, Dan, will you? Do exactly the same things. Please?"
"Kel, did she tell you she was in tears, crying like her heart would break before she came? Did she tell you exactly what I did?" Kelly looked fearful and just shook her head, no. "Hon, it was a contest with April. The two bet that Pete and I couldn't get them to beg for release. They both lost. In fact, that's how my love got her most painful stripes: She bet Pete couldn't make her beg for release, either. She _really_ lost. Are you sure that's what you want me to do?"
Still kneeling, Kelly replied, "I guess Kathy has forgotten that part of it. I don't know what you did, but her memory is one of the most delicious pleasure. If there was pain before, it must have been drowned out by the pleasure that came later. I guess that's what I would like to do if you're willing." She grinned and said, "Master, I bet you that you can't get me to beg you to release me, no matter what you do to me."
Dan just smiled, shook his head, and got her into position where he could reach her easily. He began to talk quietly with Cindy. She told him about her conversation with Jan regarding the house next door. "Honey, it's a couple that are building it," she said. "They want a lot of children and the house is very big as we both know. They love it and it's very expensive so I'm afraid we'll have to find something else." Meanwhile Dan was lightly running his fingertips over Kelly's body. He looked at her and could see her start to writhe involuntarily as his fingers moved on her body.
Although her knees were spread wide to expose her cunt, he seemed to ignore it, concentrating instead on her and inner thighs. Kelly found his touch was heavenly! He was so slow and gentle; it was almost as if she was imagining rather than feeling. The was surprised to feel her respiration speed up and to find she had begun to perspire. Dan seemed to be completely unaware of what he was doing to her or the effect he was having on her. He seemed to be concentrating on his conversation with Cindy rather than on what his hand was doing. To her surprise, she could feel her passion rise higher and higher. After focusing his attentions on her thighs, he returned to her breasts. When he touched her nipples this time, she screamed in pain and ecstasy. They were so sensitive now that they hurt! This was something she never dreamed could ever happen.
Higher and higher she went to the point of achieving the release she had only heard of. Then she went over the edge. _But I didn't!_ she thought. She was amazed to see that she was gasping for breath and sweat was pouring off her body. Dan asked very quietly, "Do you want to take a couple of deep breaths, Kel, before we start again?"
Kelly ran her hands through her hair and found it was soaking wet. Then she ran her fingers over her body to wipe off some of the sweat and then knelt up straight, smiling. She said, "Dan, I think I'm starting to get the idea. You're absolutely unreal! Are you sure you're Irish? No Irishman can possibly have either your sensitivity towards a woman or your extraordinary touch. But you sure do!" Then she looked at Cindy and grinned, saying, "Now I guess I know why you always look so well loved! It's just because you are." Cindy just grinned back, nodded her head vigorously and then snuggled closer to Dan.
His stroking began again. This time, he took her up faster -- Kelly realized she was still sensitized. Again he took her to her crest... And stopped. Remarkably, he still had not even touched her cunt. Now he did. His finger entered her slit and she spread her legs even wider for him. She could feel him find her little love bud and stroke it gently. Kelly realized she was making noises but had no control over it. In fact, she had no control over anything. All sensation was concentrating in her cunt. Again he took her right to the point of release, and again he stopped. This repeated through more cycles than she could count. She was shocked to realize she was crying! Tears were streaming from her eyes. Vaguely she realized she must look like a complete mess but didn't care about it at all.
Finally, she could take it no longer. She screamed, "Please, Dan! Please release me. I'm begging you!"
He asked softly, "Are you sure, Kel? You'll lose the bet, you know. You really don't want to do that, do you?"
She completely lost control. She began to cry uncontrollably and screamed, "Please, Dan! I'm begging you. I'll do anything for you... absolutely anything! Please!"
Dan's hand began to move on her again. This time he took her up to her release point and then over. Suddenly, Kelly could feel a release of fluids in her that gushed out as if she were urinating, flooding his hand. Now he pinched her clit and instantly she had another orgasm. He had not altered his tempo, but now had her where he usually had Cindy: in a continuous orgasm.
Kelly couldn't take it. She was crying and screaming while her pelvis was shaking uncontrollably. Then she pitched forward on the bed with her knees under her body but still spread wide to provide Dan with easy access to her cunt. All sensation was in her loins. She had never dreamed there could ever be such an experience. In spite of her total absence of control, she didn't want it ever to end. Gasping for breath, she could scarcely even breathe. After fifteen minutes of ecstasy, Dan pinched her clit hard. It was the last straw. Kelly felt an explosion in her loins as her body seemed to be trying to empty out her love juices. She couldn't take the additional sensory stimulation and fainted.
Cindy said softly, "She's such a beautiful girl! What did you think, Dan?"
He grinned and said, "When are you going to let me do that to you?"
"I get the whole cock, darling, but the result is the same. She is exquisite, isn't she?"
"Honey, Kevin Cavanaugh is going to be a very lucky... and very tired... man! She's utterly spectacular!"
With a grin, Cindy scrambled down to the end of the bed. With help from Dan she rolled Kelly on her back and knelt between her legs. Lowering her head, she began to lick the love juices that now flooded the girl's vagina. Then she raised her head, licked her lips and said, "Yum! Dan you have to try this. I'll bet you've never had the chance to eat a virgin before. Merry Christmas, honey! I hope you like it."
Dan grinned back and took Cindy's place. He quickly agreed that Cindy was right. Kelly's juices were a wonderfully sweet nectar. He raised his head and motioned to Cindy who grinned and agreed to change places.s Then Dan lay on his back between Kelly's widespread legs while Cindy knelt over him and lowered her to his mouth. Now, while she was eating Kelly's cunt, Dan was eating hers. Cindy ran her tongue carefully up and down the girl's slit and then into her vagina. Meanwhile she was feeling the most exquisite sensations from Dan's work on her. She began to tease Kelly's now-erect clit with her tongue and heard the moan with pleasure.
Kelly had regained consciousness and loved the exquisite sensation. Looking down, she saw Cindy kneeling between her legs while further down on the bed Dan was on his back licking at Cindy's cunt. Cindy bit down gently on her clit and Kelly suddenly came again in a flood. Again Cindy licked up all of the delicious fluid and then flipped her head to use her long golden hair to dry Kelly's crotch. Kelly grinned as she saw a look of surprise on Cindy's face followed instantly by her scream of ecstasy; obviously, Dan had taken her to orgasm, as well.
Cindy straightened up. She was straddling Dan's body so she spun around and then moved further down to be able to kiss him. After she did, again feeling the normal electricity flowing between them, she said, "Thank you, future husband. That was marvelous." Looking up at Kelly she said, "Kel, you're absolutely delicious!" Looking thoughtful she added, "I'm giving serious thought to becoming a lesbian. Do you suppose Kevin would mind if you had a live-in friend? You taste so sweet and you don't destroy me the way this big lug does." Then she daintily stuck out her tongue at Dan who just grinned.
Kelly went to pull up her legs and winced in pain. She looked down at Dan and asked, "What did you do to me? I thought I was in great shape, Dan, and all you did was run your fingers over me. What happened?" Then she grinned and said, "I lost the bet, though. What was it? Am I now your slave?" She ran her hands through her hair which was now tousled and wet with perspiration, then ran them down her still-sweaty body. She looked woebegone as she said, "I guess I'm a real mess, aren't I? Dan, I'm not even sure you would have me as your slave."
Dan sat up in the bed, smiled at the and asked, "Kel, how was it? I guess you found out you can have an orgasm. And I think you look lovely. You're like a redheaded Cindy: a true natural beauty. All I can say is, Kevin Cavanaugh is a very lucky guy."
The just rolled her eyes and said, "Thank you, Dan. And I really mean it, too. I never knew anything could possibly be this good. _Ever!_ And this was without you even getting near my vagina. Can it possibly ever be any better?"
"Much!" Cindy replied emphatically. "Kelly, I think you're going to be a simply gorgeous bride! When you're in bed with the you love, it is simply joyous. Just think, you're trying to make a baby. Kelly, I agree with your doctor: You're going to be one hell of a mother!" Then she frowned and said, "Slave Kelly, did you come in here this morning for some worthwhile purpose? Coffee, perhaps?"
The let out a little yelp and jumped out of the bed, finding her legs almost collapsing on her. She recovered and poured coffee for Dan and Cindy who had both returned to the head of the bed. Kneeling by the bedside, she served them both. Cindy said, "Slave Kelly, bring your cup and join us. And Merry Christmas!"
They drank the coffee with Kelly sitting on the bed. Then she looked down and found the little bow she had worn on her pubic hair was missing. Cindy and Dan both laughed as the lovely redhead crawled around the bed on her hands and knees searching for it while her lovely little ass was sticking up high in the air. She let out a little yelp when she found it and pinned it back in her pubic hair.
Then she smiled warmly at Cindy and Dan and asked, "Cindy, are you sure it's better with a man? With a cock in your cunt?" Cindy just eagerly nodded her head. With a wry smile she said, "I guess I had better be a little more careful slugging Kevin, then. He might get discouraged, and if its better than what I experienced this morning, I can't wait!" With a broad grin she jumped off the bed and raced into the bathroom to take a quick shower and wash her hair before going downstairs to see about breakfast. Her hair was still wet when she ran from the room.
Cindy and Dan shared a shower, then dressed and went downstairs. As they were dressing, they had noticed it had started to snow and the ground was already white. They found Kelly had supervised the preparation of a sumptuous breakfast which they ate together with Jan and Pete. The four were all hugely amused by the sight of four beautiful all on their knees serving while Kelly cooked and supervised.*Chapter 31*
Cindy reveled in driving Jan, Pete and Dan to church in her Mazda GTX. With its four-wheel drive and snow tires, it was remarkably surefooted on the snow-slickened roads. She teased the Stewarts about being so dumb as to buy BMWs which couldn't handle snow or ice under any conditions. Jan just stuck out her tongue and said it was fortunate they had a house slave to handle details like that for them.
When they returned home they found the snow had accumulated and was falling even harder. Cindy ran in to change into her blue jeans and chambray shirt. Today, though, she also put on a heavy white sweater. Putting on a parka, she went out to the shed and started up the lawn tractor, now fitted with a snow blower. In minutes she was clearing the driveway. Dan came outside also wearing a parka. She grinned and told him to get his own toys to play with. He grinned back, took out a snow shovel and shoveled the walk while she finished plowing the drive.
Christmas at the Stewarts was shaping up to be a very big party. Allison Clifford had organized a reunion with the whole gathering there. Cindy knew most of the people but was introduced to Dave and Judy Chapman, Steve's parents, as well as Brian and Karen Clifford, Bill's son and new daughter-in-law. She learned that Karen was Swiss and that the two were still in college. Finally, Ali arrived with Bill Clifford. Cindy was wearing a lovely Christmas-red wool dress with her slave collar. Dan had brushed her hair after they shared another shower, telling her he loved to feel it. She thought she looked very good as she made her way downstairs.
When everyone was sitting in the living room, Ali looked meaningfully at Jan who nodded and then asked Cindy to join them in the library. She followed Ali and Jan into the room and Jan closed the door. As they sat down Cindy had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach remembering the first time she had met Ali Clifford: the fateful day at the bank. She had also encountered her at Kathy's wedding on Maui, but because of the circumstances, Cindy didn't think that counted. Ali was looking at her closely and then said, "Slave Cindy, undress, please. I wish to examine your body."
Jan nodded and Cindy rose from the chair, unzipped her dress and slipped it over her head. Then she slipped off her bikini and stepped out of her pumps. Ali asked her to approach closer which Cindy did. She was scared. Ali's face was expressionless as she studied Cindy's body and then lightly ran her fingers over the scars. Then she commanded, "Show me your cunt, Slave Cindy."
Spreading her legs, Cindy rocked her pelvis forward and used her slim fingers to separate her nether lips. She could feel that she was blushing with embarrassment at the inspection.
Then Ali said softly, "Daughter Janice, you really did a job, didn't you? Billy told me about it. He had never seen a person so badly beaten in his life and from what I can see, he wasn't kidding." She looked up at Cindy's face and for the first time smiled warmly saying, "Cindy, you better get your clothes back on or you'll catch your death." The quickly got dressed and was then startled when Ali proceeded carefully to brush her hair and then comb it out. When she finished she said with a grin, "Jan, I see what you mean. Slave Cindy does cheat. She uses two bobby-pins in her hair. That's almost the same as wearing tons of makeup, isn't it."
Cindy returned to her seat while Jan used the telephone intercom. A few moments later one of the slave appeared with a tray and three cups of egg nog. As she entered the room, she squared her shoulders and straightened her back causing her to thrust upward. The was one of the newest hires in the bank and didn't yet have her slave collar. Like Kelly, she was just wearing a big bow in her hair and a small one pinned to her small neat patch of dense and curly pubic hair. Her name was Cathy Collins. She was five feet eight with brown hair, gray eyes, and lovely features. The was about to leave the room when Ali said, "Slave, present yourself to me."
Startled, the stopped and returned to a position in front of Ali. She said, "Good afternoon, Mrs. Clifford. I'm Slave Cathy. I'm the newest person in Slave Cindy's group at the bank." She had put her tray down and now cupped her with her hands, saying, "These are my tits. They are not yet full enough and they are much too flabby but I've only just started to work on them. My is not well developed, but I don't have a boyfriend yet, either. My ass and hips need work but I think I'll make it." The stood up straight and finished by saying, "I'm so proud to have been selected for the Special Lending Division and to have the opportunity to work with Slave Cindy."
Ali asked, "Do you like Slave Cindy? Can she manage a division?"
The looked genuinely shocked and replied, "Like? Love is more like it. She's the most wonderful person I've ever met." The girl's smile was beautiful as she continued, "Who ever heard of hiring an English major as a banker? Cindy did. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Clifford and Mrs. Stewart, you could save yourselves a great deal of money. Not only are we overpaid, most of us would work for nothing and some of us would even pay you for the privilege. 'Can she manage?' I think you asked?" The was standing up straight and Cindy was so proud of her as she said, "I can't answer that. All I know is everyone in and out of the bank worships the ground she walks on. Just look at her! She's the most exquisitely beautiful human being I have ever met, yet she's always kind and helpful.
"When I joined the division, I was assigned to Kelly McBride's district. Do you know what she does? She constantly teases me about numbers. She says English majors don't know from numbers. Of course, she majored in English and philosophy and is one of the sharpest bankers alive."
The grinned and added, "Mrs. Clifford, I know you own the bank so I really shouldn't be saying this. But ma'am, this isn't a bank, it's a club! You can't believe how proud I am today, because now I'll be one of Cindy's slaves! I've only been in the job a few weeks, but Kelly said I'll be getting one of the beautiful collars like the one Cindy is wearing now. You can't believe what a badge of honor that gold collar has become!
"I was with one of the more senior last week who had qualified. (I should add that if you qualify, you _always_ wear it.) We were going down the street just shopping. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen... and the most moving. We would go into a little shop and the storekeeper would see Janet's collar. Instantly, nothing was too good for us or too much trouble. They couldn't be nicer. I guess I've heard about the Twins in at least twenty different languages.
"Mrs. Clifford, I know you're from Los Angeles, so maybe you don't know about 'the twins who aren't.' It was a term created on the streets for Cindy and April when the division first started. Now we all wear the division uniform: Levi's and chambray shirts, and if you're really good, the slave collar. We drive Mazdas like Cindy's out front. All I can say is we have an responsibility. Cindy started something and built it until it's the biggest thing in Chicago. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say Cindy and April are worshiped in this city!
"Can she manage? Cindy Martin is the greatest asset Chicago Trust has!"
Then the started to blush as she thought she had been carried away. Ali Clifford reached out her hands and the took them, then looked at Ali's face. What she saw surprised her. She saw warmth and love.
Ali said softly, "I can relate to that, Slave Cathy. I'm senior partner in a law firm in Los Angeles that's the same way. Of course, we're much smaller. But one of the new referred to it as more of a than a firm. We have a lot of fun there, too!" She smiled warmly and said, "Slave Cathy, welcome to Chicago Trust! I'm personally delighted to have you with us." She grinned and added, "Cathy, I want a photograph of you taken three months from now. You'll be a knockout!" The retrieved her tray and left the women alone.
Now Ali turned her attention to Cindy and glared at her -- or pretended to. She said, "Slave Cindy, I thought I had seen everything, but you take the cake. First, you know we bought Chicago Trust just to fix your wagon, but boy, did you ever get revenge! Cindy, do you know what my biggest problem is?" The just shook her head, obviously puzzled. Ali answered her own question: "It's trying to spend all the damned money we accumulate. I know you've heard Jennifer complain about it, and I'll bet Jan has, too. So what do you do? You personally make sure that the biggest moneymaking investment I've ever made in my life was to buy Chicago Trust! Girl, you really know how to get even, don't you. Now what are we going to do with you?"
While Ali was speaking, Jennifer Chapman had slipped into the room joining her and her sister. Ali continued, "I guess the only thing we can do is to try to cut our losses." She looked at Jennifer.
Jen reached into her purse and took out some papers which she passed to Cindy saying, "Cin, these are your notes marked 'paid in full.' Darling Cindy, I almost get sick every time I see those terrible scars on your body. You certainly did pay in full." Then she grinned and added, "The real reason we're giving the notes back is that the last thing we want is any more money. By the way, this fully discharges your indenture to Janice, too. I guess you'll want to be leaving tonight, won't you?"
Cindy was in a state of shock. She didn't know what to do. Suddenly, her little world had been turned upside down. Tears started to stream from her eyes but she got up and stumbled over to the sofa where Jan was sitting and went into her arms. Suddenly, she started to sob like her heart was broken. Jan held the tightly and said, "Sis, it's going to be fine. You don't have to go now if you don't want to. It's just that you're free to go whenever you wish. Cindy, you do know I love you, don't you?" Cindy just snuggled in Jan's arms.
Tears came to Ali's eyes as she watched the beautiful girl. _Jan's right,_ she thought. _This is really something very special._ Then she said softly, "Cindy, there's more. I know Jan talked to you about those scars. Cindy, please! I'm personally begging you. Let us pay for an operation to have them removed. You're the most beautiful it has ever been my good fortune to see. I can't stand to be reminded of what we did to you. Please?"
The Clifford women were startled by what followed. Cindy disengaged from Jan's arms and ran out of the room. Moments later she returned with the whip coiled in her hands. It's tip was still stiff from all her blood that had soaked into the leather during her brutal beating in May. Giving it to Ali, she quickly stripped off her clothes again and knelt on the floor with her scarred ass up high. With her head cradled in her arms she said softly, "Mrs. Clifford, the last time I was disobedient I received ten lashes. Does twenty sound right?" Ali could see tears flowing from the girl's eyes as she added, "Unless you would rather I go outside to the whipping post, of course?"
Ali dropped the whip, jumped from her chair and dropped to her kees next to the kneeling girl. She took Cindy in her arms and held her tightly. As she did, Cindy could feel a wetness on her cheeks that was not from her own tears. She moved away and found the woman was crying like her heart was broken. "Please, Mrs. Clifford," she whispered. "Please don't cry. What did I do? I really can't have the scars removed for reasons I explained to Jan, but I _am_ being very disobedient." She smiled wryly and said, "Actually, that was the beginning of my change for the better. Maybe I would be much better off if you did whip me. It certainly helped me the first time."
The woman replied softly, "Cindy Martin, damn it, the name is Ali. Whenever you say, Mrs. Clifford, I look for Bill's mother, but she's dead!" She grinned at Cindy and added, "Back at the office in LA we have a whip for slow learners. A slow learner is defined as anyone who calls me, Mrs. Clifford, or my partner, Ginger, Mrs. Conrad! And, damn it, I'm not above using your whip for that purpose!"
Cindy looked at the woman on her knees next to her. She knew from Janice that Ali Clifford was thirty-seven, but she looked to be in her early twenties. She remembered seeing her at long range on the nude beach at Maui and knew her figure was perfect. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and smiled, then stuck out her hand saying, "I'll make a deal with you. I'll call you Ali if you knock off the shit about the scars. Okay?"
Ali grinned and took her hand in a firm grip saying, "Okay, damn it, it's a deal." Then she shook her head and said, "However, we're not finished with you yet, lady. Somehow, I am going to get even." Ali was tremendously impressed with the and decided she loved her like another daughter. They rejoined the others in the living room.
When the group gathered to open their Christmas presents, there were some surprises. Cindy gave Dan the nude portrait of herself that Jim Vance had painted. She pointed out that she would be keeping an eye on him in his office. She had entered Dan's office with Jim one night and he had taken careful measurements of the wall and the location of Dan's desk. The result was that her eyes in the portrait were focused precisely on the point behind his desk where his eyes would be when he was seated behind it. She liked the portrait because Jim had caught and depicted her love for him and the wanting for him that she always felt.
Judy Chapman presented a large box to her husband, Dave. Opening it he found it was a Vance portrait of herself. Similar in pose to others, she was semi-reclining and nude. Steve Chapman looked over his father's shoulder and whistled saying, "My God, Dad! looks delicious. I hope you're enjoying her charms."
Dave looked up and grinned. He said, "Son, it's mostly your wife's fault. She's been working out with Judy at the health club and this is the result." Looking across the room at Jennifer he said, "Daughter, you're the best thing to happen to the Chapman in years. My son gets the most beautiful in the world as his bride, and I enjoy the greatest sex life since I first met Judy." He looked at his and said, "Darling, thank you... for everything! What do you think?"
Judy sat on David's lap and put her arms around his neck. Then she kissed him with ever-increasing passion. Pulling slightly away, she had her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Darling, the best will come tonight. Do you like the picture? I do. I think it shows my love for you... at least, I hope it does." Dave just held his tightly and heard her make wonderful happy noises.
Janice gave Cindy and Dan two packages, a tiny one and another somewhat larger attached together with a small ribbon. The larger was for Dan while the smaller was for her. He opened his and found one hundred hundred-dollar bills -- $10,000 in cash. Along with it was a note indicating she was paying her wager from months before when he had bet her that Cindy would be able to make character loans. Jan agreed that she certainly could. When Cindy opened her tiny package, she laughed. In it was a lump of coal along with a note from Jan saying, "When my house slave costs me $10,000, what the hell can she expect?"
Peter opened his gift from Janice. It was also in a small box. Opening it, he found a tiny pair of baby booties she had knitted. He looked at Jan and she nodded her head while there was a beautiful smile on her face. Pete's jaw dropped as he instantly understood the significance of the gift. He hugged her and kissed her warmly. She whispered, "Darling, I'm really your now. I guess the past is finally dead and buried. We're going to have a baby in the summer!"
Pete lifted her effortlessly in his arms and sat down with her seated across his lap, then kissed her with increasing passion. "Darling, I couldn't possibly be happier!"
The others came crowding around to congratulate them. Connie Cartwright, now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, was only beginning to bulge. She kissed them warmly and whispered to Jan, "Sis, you're a copycat."
Jan gently ran her fingers over the girl's swelling abdomen and said, "Connie, I only hope I can carry as well as you. How do you feel?"
"Simply marvelous!" she replied. "So far it hasn't interfered with our love life." She grinned and added, "It does feel odd, though, to have Chip inside me and to feel the little guy kick at the same time! I'm getting it from two directions at once, but it is kind of nice." Connie Cartwright was a silver with brilliant green eyes. She had paid for much of her education by working as a stripper on Sunset Strip. Because she spent so much time lying naked in the sun, she had a perfect golden tan, while her hair had been sun-bleached almost white.
She looked at Jan and smiled warmly saying, "I can't tell you how glorious it feels, Jan. I really can't. In spite of... or maybe because of... the swelling, Chip now likes to rest his head on my abdomen and listen to the baby. While he does it, of course, his fingers are playing with my cunt." She looked at Jan and added, "You know, this is what it's all about. For months he has been putting his magnificent weapon into my vagina, and now in just a few months the product of his sex and mine will come out and greet the world.
"When all the career bullshit is stripped away and we _really_ go back to nature the way the tree-huggers advocate, isn't this really what we're made for? Do you know, Jan, I have never felt so good in my life and Chip claims I have never looked so beautiful. I can't wait, and neither can he."*Chapter 32*
The last-minute preparations were all set for the feast Cindy had planned and prepared. Although Jan had cooperated with her on the hors d'oeuvres, the dinner was entirely Cindy's. She had planned it, purchased the food with her own money, and prepared it. In spite of her teasing, it turned out that Kelly was a very good cook and, working with Cindy, had become much better. Kelly was going to personally handle the final preparations so Cindy could remain seated.
The who were going to serve lined up in front of Cindy for inspection. She noticed that Cathy Collins put her shoulders back and thrust her out. When she looked at the with a raised eyebrow Cathy said, "Cindy, I'm not yet used to being naked in front of other people. My body isn't yet in the shape it ought to be and I guess I'm not proud enough of it. I'll just have to try harder."
Then she grinned and added, "Looking at my friends provides a lot of inspiration. My coloring is sort of ordinary, though. My God! I look at Kelly and just shake my head in amazement. She's absolutely glorious! If I had a body like hers, I don't think I would ever put on a stitch of clothing, even when it's snowing the way it is now. No wonder she looks so proud!" She looked at Cindy and asked, "Do you think there's any hope?"
Cindy just grinned and said, "I think I'm going to make an addition to the Division's uniform. Collins, I think you should wear your Phi Bete key pinned to your left nipple. I found out the other day that about two-thirds of our people were elected to Phi Beta Kappa so it will generally apply. What do you think?"
Cathy just shook her head sorrowfully, cupped Cindy's through her dress and said, "I thought it was a fine idea at first, Cin, but you have the most beautiful in the world with the most lovely little nipples. It would be a shame to put a pin through the left one. And of course, if we had to wear our keys, you would, too, wouldn't you?"
Cindy just shook her head, grinned wryly, and then inspected the other girls. Finally, after confirming all of the arrangements with Kelly, she went into the dining room where she found that the seating plan had been rearranged. She was seated to Peter Stewart's right in the place of honor. When she protested, Jan insisted. Looking around the table she realized that it was the entire Clifford family, along with her and Steve Chapman's.
The first course was glaceed of pheasant stuffed with foie gr…s served with a lovely Chardonnay. The entree was filet of beef Wellington with a beautiful 1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. After everyone was served, Ali Clifford, who was seated in the middle of the table, raised her glass. She said, "I would like to offer a toast. To Cynthia Katherine Martin: Cindy, never have I seen or heard of a person like you. I owe you a little explanation, though. I know, for example, that you were fighting to ensure that April Jefferson received the highest bonus awarded in the bank this year. I know why you wanted it. The fact is she has received _one of the highest_ bonuses paid. We couldn't give the highest bonus to her, Cindy, because we had to give it to you.
"Without you, Cynthia Martin, there would be no Special Lending Division. April is the first person to say so, too. Yesterday she told me what I know she has said in public many times before: 'Cindy Martin is the best there is!' She went on to say that you have taught her everything she knows. I don't for a minute want to take anything away from April, or, for that matter, from my daughter, Kathy, or Kelly McBride. But they all say it: You train, coach, encourage, but most of all, you set an example. I hear it over and over. 'We try to be like Cindy. We can't, of course, but in the process of trying, we become far better than we ever dreamed we could be.'
"There's more: I happen to know that all of the money you've spent on gas, tolls, parking, and everything else, has come out of your babysitting money."
Now tears were flowing from Ali's eyes. She was standing at her place looking down the table at Cindy. She grinned wryly and said, "Martin, this is absolutely ridiculous! As a result, I have a few things for you. First, there's a small check for back pay. You're now earning $350,000 a year, as of December first. With the calculation of your bonus on your actual salary, there's another $700,000 representing your year-end bonus. Since you were making $110,000 in May when the fun began, we charged you with one week's vacation, then a raise on July 15 to $150,000, on September 15 to $200,000 and then to $350,000 on December 1." She glanced down at the checks in her hand and exclaimed, "Whoops! I almost forgot. In November there was a 100 percent bonus paid, so here is a check for another $200,000.
"That's not all, Cindy. I desperately wanted to adopt you as a daughter, too. Unfortunately, you not only have a father, but you have a brand-new mother, as well. (Their love for each other makes Bill's and mine look like puppy love.) So that isn't going to work. It was a puzzle, but Bill and I solved it. If you can't be our daughter, we'll settle for your being our daughter-in-law."
Now Ali grinned and with an expression of glee said, "What's wrong with you bankers, anyway? Don't you _ever_ read anything before you sign?" She looked at Dan who had been looking increasingly puzzled and said, "Burke, you signed a few things for Jennifer at the last board meeting. One of them was this." She reached under her napkin and took a single sheet of paper and passed it down the table to him. "You signed it, and now it's official. Dan, welcome! You're now the adopted son of William H. Clifford and Allison M. Clifford."
She hurried around the table to stand next to him as he rose from his seat with an expression of utter amazement on his face. Ali said softly, "Dan, will you please give your new a kiss?"
Dan took her in his arms and kissed her sweetly. When he released her, her eyes were glazed and she was unsteady on her feet. She shook her head and exclaimed, "Wow!" Then she grinned and said, "I'm beginning to think I've been wasting my time adopting daughters. If I knew mothering was so much fun, we would have done this more often." While she was speaking she returned to her seat. Then she looked at Cindy and said, "Young lady, we're not through with you yet. You see, we need to avoid nepotism, and I told you earlier I would find some way to get even. Well, our idea isn't great, but it's the best we could come up with, so I guess it will have to do. Cindy, I have something else for you."
She passed a paper down towards the and said, "This is a stock certificate for 15 percent of the stock of Chicago Trust Company. It's yours. We have now acquired all of the previously outstanding shares so about four percentage points are the newly-acquired shares and the remaining eleven were Bill's and mine. You're now the third largest shareholder and the largest individual owner, since ours and the Chapman's are in joint names.
"One final point: I seem to have heard something about a promised bonus. The I heard was that there was a loan transaction last spring involving some small company in the area. I gather it was a $20 million loan sold for a premium of 20 percent, or $4 million. You were supposed to get a bonus and it was never paid."
While Ali was speaking, Cindy's face fell and her tears started to flow. Then Ali slid a check down to Cindy in the amount of one million dollars, one-quarter of the purchase premium. Cindy looked at the bonus check, but then broke into uncontrolled sobbing when she saw the amount. She tried to focus on Ali but, with her tears blinding her, could see nothing. Nevertheless she said, "Ali, this is typical of the morals and ethics of Cynthia Martin. Thank you for reminding me."
She tried to smile but couldn't even manage a weak imitation as she continued, "Ali, I understand now what you meant about getting even. You just did. I would far rather have you whip me to a bloody rag than to torture me with this. What did I do? Not much. I just arranged for the nicest person in the world to be sold into slavery to a she detested, giving up her husband who she loves more than anything in this world." In spite of her anguish, Cindy's head was held up straight. The others at the table could feel the pain the beautiful was suffering.
Cindy jumped up from the table and ran into the kitchen, returning moments later with a pen. The others looked at her with facial expressions ranging from sympathy to amazement. She looked down the table at Janice and asked quietly, "Jan, what's your favorite charity?"
Jan's eyes widened as she realized what Cindy intended to do. She exclaimed, "Cindy, you can't possibly! That check is for $1 million! Honey, this is a joke. We didn't want to you. thought it would be a small way of repaying you for all of the wonderful things you've done for the bank and for us over the last six months. Please?"
By now Cindy's tears had stopped flowing. She had just looked at Jan impassively while she was speaking and then quietly repeated, "Your favorite charity?"
"Catholic Charities, I guess, honey. But please don't!"
Cindy carefully endorsed the check to Catholic Charities of Chicago and put it under her napkin saying, "I'll mail it tomorrow, Jan, with a note that it is a gift in the name of Janice Carson Stewart. Jan, I'm so sorry! Can you find it in your heart ever to forgive me?"
Jan rose from her seat and hurried to the end of the table. When she went to her knees, her head was level with Cindy's and she held the tightly to her, whispering, "Darling Cindy, forgive? What's to forgive? I got a new and a husband who I now know loves me. I'm going to be a mother. Darling, most of that's your fault, too. Cindy, we love you so very much!"
Cindy smiled at Jan weakly and said, "Jan, there are no words to express my love for you and my gratitude for all that you and Pete have done for me. I really don't want the money. I'm going to do it anyway. Maybe it will help some people who need help."
Still standing at her place, Ali had watched the scene without saying anything. Now she said, "Cindy, Jan and Pete are absolutely right. You're a great person. For myself, I want to apologize to you. It's well known in LA that while our hearts are usually in the right place, we often have the sensitivity of clams."
She smiled warmly and continued, "Now a personal word. When Billy came back to Los Angeles after treating you he was almost physically ill. He had never seen a person whose body had been as abused as yours with the possible exception of Bill Cartwright. But he pointed out Bill had been getting it for fourteen years. You got yours in just two days. Nevertheless, while you were lying in the bed in utter agony, you insisted it was all your own fault. The look you gave to Janice was one of incredible love." She looked across and asked, "Billy, do you want to say anything?"
The doctor looked down the table at Cindy and said, "Yes, I do. Cindy, I'm focusing now on trauma as a result of treating you. I _know_ how agonizing your pain was. Yet you wouldn't let me give you morphine. In fact you wouldn't take anything stronger than aspirin. Cindy, to this day I don't know how you did it. Your bravery and courage has been a constant inspiration. I just want you to know that."
Ali continued: "Then you organized the Special Lending Division. Dan said you could do something that has never been done effectively in banking before, and you did it. We _know_ we have the most effective group of banking professionals in the industry. We know you recruited them, trained them, and inspired them. Finally, a word about this dinner: I fell in love with Janice in Los Angeles, in part because of her cooking." She looked at Jan with an apology and then said, "Jan prepared a dinner like this for Bill, Pete, and me out there. Cindy, this is better. I don't know how it could be, but it is. What did you do?"
Janice spoke up from the head of the table before Cindy could respond. "Mom, it's simple. This is a work of love for Cindy. I don't know why, but she loves me and loves us. Because we give her nothing except scars, she has limited ways for expressing her love. This is the way Pete and I have been eating for months." She looked at Ali and tears were flowing from her eyes as she added, "That's right, Mom! Months! And during those months she was organizing and managing the Special Lending Division. She refused any help. Not only did she do everything she had previously done, there were always little surprises for Pete and me. Mom, this dinner is an expression of her love and that's why it's so much better than I could do. Finally, I guess you all know now that Cindy has been receiving no money at all for any of the work she has been doing, either here or at the bank. Nevertheless, she not only prepared this dinner, refusing any help at all, but she paid for it all from her babysitting money."
Ali said, "I guess that's about it. Except there's one other small thing... I guess it's a sort of a present. Dan?"
Dan got up from his seat and went to Cindy. He went down on one knee and said, "Darling, I know this is a little public, but these are all people who love you. Honey, I think I love you most of all. I adore you, Cin, and want you to be my and the of my children. Cindy, will you marry me?"
Cindy had been in a daze. She couldn't fully absorb the change in her fortune. Now Dan was down on one knee beside her. She reached out and took him into her arms and hugged him tightly saying, "Oh, God, Dan! Of course I will. But honey, are you sure? I'm beat up, and I used to be a gold-plated bitch. I'll marry you on one condition: We'll keep the whip and you must promise me you'll use it if I ever need a reminder of what I was. Will you promise?"
"I promise, darling," he whispered as he held her tight. Then he released her and reached into his pocket. He took out a magnificent diamond solitaire ring and slipped it on her finger. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her. The kiss achieved a new dimension as their love for each other flowed between them. Dan brought his chair down so he could sit at the end of the table beside Cindy.
She said, "Dan, thank you." Then she pretended to glare at Ali, saying, "It's all very well for you to talk about my dinner, Allison Clifford, but in the meantime it's getting cold! Can we eat now?"
When the magnificent dinner was over, Kelly looked out the window and then turned on the radio to an all-news station. As she had feared, the snowstorm had developed into a major blizzard and the highway department was urging all motorists to stay off the roads. Accordingly, it was agreed that everyone would sleep at the Stewart's. Fortunately, Jan had a number of new double sleeping-bags so there were enough for everyone. Because of the storm, the evening was shaping up to be fun.
Over their protests, Ali and Bill Clifford were given one of the spare bedrooms with Jan insisting that now that they were about to become grandparents, they needed their rest. Cindy picked up on the comment and whispered in Jan's ear. The grinned gleefully and then spoke quietly to her sisters. The result was that at eleven o'clock, after everyone had retired, the carefully opened the door to Bill and Ali's room. As they expected, they found the two making love.
Cindy's eyes widened as she realized how exquisite Ali's body was: she looked like a in her early twenties rather than a woman of thirty-seven. Bill took Ali to her peak and, as usual she fainted. At that point the made their presence known. Jan jumped on the bed, spread her mother's legs, and then began to lick out the juices from her cunt. While she did, Kathy Cartwright went down on her to clean him off.
Initially, Bill was surprised when he realized the room was full of beautiful naked women. Then he just leaned back and enjoyed his daughters' attentions. As Ali began to recover consciousness, she sensed something out of the ordinary. Although Bill usually lapped up her cunt, this felt different. Looking down, she saw Jan's golden hair while the head moved on her loins. Ali reached down and stroked Jan's head as she came suddenly to another orgasm.
After licking up the new cuntal flow, Jan sat back on her heels and grinned, saying, "Mom and Dad, we have something for you, in view of your advancing years. In the interests of our children, we need to protect their grandparents."
As she said it, Joan Clifford, who had worked her way through Cal Tech as a topless cocktail waitress, came forward with a small silver tray. On it were two glasses of warm milk and a little plate of Christmas cookies. She said, "Mom, I understand that it gets harder to fall asleep as you get older and the libido fades, so we want to take care of you. We understand elderly people fall asleep easier after a glass of warm milk."
Ali had pulled herself up to the head of the bed and was resting against Bill's shoulder. She just shook her head in mock sorrow and said, "Darling, I'm afraid it's all over for us. We have now been formally certified by our daughters as being over the hill!" She looked at him warmly and asked, "Bill, promise you'll push my wheelchair next week?"
Then her expression changed dramatically as she looked at Bill and, to the amazement of the girls, tears came into her eyes. She said softly, "Darling, there's one more gift I have for you, but it won't be delivered until next summer. Do you mind?" Her face fell and she looked apprehensive as she added, "Darling, I didn't have the nerve even to mention it to you before."
Bill looked at her, puzzled. He had never seen this new look in Ali's eyes before, yet it appeared to be a look of incredible love. He replied, "Of course I don't mind, darling. Can you tell me what it is, though?"
Her flow of tears had, surprisingly, increased. She said, "Darling, I don't know how you're going to take this, but I'm going to be a mother. The delayed gift, Bill, is a baby." Now the tears were really flowing as she asked very softly, "Do you mind very much?"
When he heard the words, Bill Clifford lit up like a Christmas tree. He said, "Darling, you're not kidding, are you?" She shook her head. "It's really true?" This time she nodded vigorously. He took her in his arms, hugged her tightly, and kissed her with incredible love and passion saying, "My darling, I don't know what to say! I'm overjoyed. But why didn't you tell me? What happened?"
Ali eased away from him just enough to be able to focus on his face. Then she said, "Bill, when I saw Connie start to blossom I made up my mind I had to try to become a so I stopped taking my birth-control pills. I saw the doctor just before we left and he confirmed it."
Then she brightened and laughed, "Guess what? He started to change the date of birth on my chart. He thought the year was a typo: he had my age as twenty-seven, and said he didn't believe I was even that old. Can you imagine? He said I look like I'm in my mid-twenties." Then her face became serious as she said, "You know what it means, though, don't you? We will have a grandchild than our own son or daughter. Incidentally, the doctor asked me about running a test to determine the sex of the baby. Honey, I said no. I want it to be a surprise. Do you mind?"
Meanwhile the had been looking on in utter amazement at the revelation. Then they started to crowd around and kiss and hug their parents. Finally, Ali looked up at Connie who, being nude, showed the expanded abdomen of her pregnancy. Ali asked her to get up on the bed and she did, kneeling between her parents. Gently, Ali ran her slender fingers over the bulge and asked Bill to do the same. She said, "Darling, this will be me in a few months... I hope! Isn't she beautiful?" Bill agreed she was.
Ali continued: "Connie, I heard you say earlier something that was utterly beautiful and so true! You said this is really what it's all about. Bill puts his magnificent weapon inside me and cums in a flood. Then after nine months, the product of his sperm and my egg, now a baby, comes out the same way his cock went in." Looking at Bill she said, "Darling, I'm so glad you're not angry."
_"Angry?"_ he exclaimed. "How, in the name of God, could I possibly be angry. Ali, you have just made me the happiest on earth! Honey, I love Jen and Billy and Brian very much. On the other hand I love you to a degree that surpasses understanding. Occasionally, late at night, I'll wake up and wish you could have a baby. With your brains and beauty, I thought a baby from your loins would be very special. Now we're going to see. Darling, thank you."
The left the room even happier than when they went in.
On the way back to her room Cindy peered out the window at the snow still falling heavily outside. It was now being driven by a rising wind and was drifting heavily. Now that the forecast blizzard had arrived, no one would be going anywhere the next day.*Chapter 33*
The Stewart home was quite large with five bedrooms, of which only two were normally in use, the master bedroom and Cindy's. Because of the large number of guests, Bill and Ali Clifford had been given one of the spares, Don and Mary Martin had another, while Dave and Judy Chapman -- Steve's parents -- had the last. The rest of the younger guests and the who were working at the house unrolled sleeping-bags on the first floor. The girls from the bank were sleeping in the kitchen with Kelly and Cathy Collins sharing a sleeping-bag. When the zipped up the bag, Kelly who was lying on her back, stretched luxuriantly.
Cathy asked, "Why do you look like the that swallowed the canary?"
Kelly smiled warmly and replied, "Because this morning I reached the first orgasm of my life! It was heavenly!" Turning on her side to look at the new she said, "Can you believe a woman can _for fifteen minutes?_ It's true. I've seen Cindy but I thought it was just her. This morning Dan Burke worked on me and I did it, too." The tall redhead stretched again.
"But Kelly," Cathy protested, "I thought you were a virgin and were saving it for Kevin?"
"I am and I am!" she replied. "That's one of the things that's so amazing. I don't think Dan even touched my vagina. He just stroked my breasts, my inner thighs and my slit. Of course, he certainly did work over my clit!"
The new looked at her in amazement saying, "Do you mean... But... I thought you had to... with a man...?"
Now Kelly began to giggle and hugged Cathy closely. She found that the girl smelled sweet and fresh with her only perfume being that of her body. She kissed the lightly and whispered, "Do you feel like trying an experiment?"
Cathy looked puzzled but nodded shyly. Although there were no lights on in the kitchen, there was enough light reflecting in from the snow-covered ground that she could see a grin on Kelly's face as she said, "Great! We'll do it first thing in the morning. From the looks of the snow and what they're saying on television, we'll be staying here for a while."
The next morning Kelly stretched in the sleeping-bag and found that she felt great. Looking over at the beside her she smiled warmly seeing the very innocent look on the girl's face. After savoring the warmth of the sleeping-bag for a few more moments, she gently stroked the body of the girl beside her.
Cathy's eyes instantly opened. She blinked and smiled, then stretched. Cathy said, "Kelly, that was really great! I can't recall sleeping so well in years." With a small grin she added, "Can I give you a letter of recommendation as a sleeping-bag companion for a cold winter's night? But should I address it to Kevin or 'To whom it may concern'?"
Kelly returned the grin and poked the in the ribs. "Collins, the world really doesn't need another smart-ass! Come on, let's get to work. There's a lot to do today."
She unzipped the bag and quickly started to make coffee. When a tray was prepared, she and Cathy went up to Cindy's room. Again, just the slightest sound of the door latch moving was enough to awaken her.
Cindy opened her eyes and saw Kelly and Cathy entering the room. As usual, Dan's hand was cupping her tit. When she gently squeezed it, he opened his eyes. Cindy was still wearing her engagement ring and held her left hand out straight to admire it. Then she rolled over to lie face down on Dan's chest. She lowered her mouth to his and kissed him warmly and then with increasing passion. "Good morning, my husband," she whispered. Then she grinned and added, "Of course, now that I have my diamond, I don't really need you anymore. I already have all I really want out of the deal shining on my third finger."
Dan's eyes were dancing as he gently ran his fingers over her scarred buttocks. As he did, Cindy made happy noises deep in her throat. He asked, "Can a ring do that for you?"
Picking up on his game, she replied, "Of course not. But I'm just making myself available to you. It was part of the price I had to pay to get the ring. After all, I'm just accommodating your male sex drive." Adopting a haughty look she said, "And, Daniel Patrick Burke, it's a well-known fact that women don't need sex. We just accommodate men."
Dan just shook his head sadly, saying, "Cindy Martin, here I thought you were a smart girl, but I guess you're a slow learner, though. lady, kneel on the bed facing me."
Kelly whispered to Cathy, "My God! You're going to see what happened to me yesterday, but it's going to be much, much worse for Cindy! Just watch!"
Cindy knew what Dan had in mind and what was in store for her, but she did exactly what Dan had asked. She knelt on the bed holding her back up straight, but with a very bored look on her face. Placing her left hand on her thigh, she appeared to be concentrating on the diamond on her finger, moving her hand slightly to cause the diamond to catch and refract the light.
While she did that, Dan gently began to stroke her body. As he caressed her he said, "Do you realize I've never done this to you? As a matter of fact, it's fun. Darling, you have an utterly magnificent body!"
Cindy continued her playacting. While Dan continued gently to stroke her body, she shook her head and then combed out her long golden hair with her fingers, pretending to be bored by the whole thing. She was trying to avoid giving any sign of her increasing passion. As she knelt beside him, she realized what fun this was. She and Dan had become incredibly attuned to each other over the previous six months. Each knew every inch of the other's body and what the other liked and responded to. Cindy could feel herself being taken up and up while she fought to maintain the bored expression on her face. _It's so much fun trying to trick Dan,_ she thought. She could feel herself about to reach her crest yet he had not even touched her cunt. All of his attentions had been on her inner thighs and tits. Now he was stroking her thighs and it was like Heaven. But just as she was about to achieve her release, he stopped.
Trying to avoid swallowing hard, she concentrated on still trying to look bored. Dan was amused because, try as she might to conceal it, he could still see her rising passion in her eyes. He took her through a second cycle and then a third. The fourth time he lightly stroked her nipples and she screamed. They had become so sensitive that now his touch was almost painful. Now he began to work on her in earnest as his fingers entered her slit and began to work on her circumcised clitoris and the mouth of her vagina.
Cindy gave up the pretense of boredom and tried to grin. Shaking her head she said aloud but seemingly to herself, "Martin, when will you learn? Even a small child knows that a hot stove burns!"
As he worked on her body, all of her sensations were now concentrated in her loins while her body was writhing in anguish from its unsatisfied longing. The girls, now standing across the room, heard her moan incoherently and periodically scream whenever Dan touched her nipples or her clit. Cathy looked on in amazement when she realized that Cindy's body was nothing but evenly tanned skin over smooth rippling muscles. There was not an apparent ounce of fat on her body. Noticing the scars, she whispered to Kelly who replied that she would tell her about them later.
After trying to maintain her upright kneeling position, Cindy no longer could and allowed her body to sag forward. Now tears were streaming from her eyes and it was obvious that she was in an agony of wanting. Finally she screamed, "Stop, Dan! Please stop. You're killing me. Please release me, darling..." Her voice just faded away into her tears. Dan ignored her and kept working on her body. Then he stopped and waited for her to regain some control.
Cindy slowly became aware of her position: she was folded forward at the waist and, although still on her knees, was collapsed almost into a ball. Painfully, she raised her head revealing the tears still streaming down her cheeks. There was a desperate wanting in her eyes as, trying as hard as she could to control her voice, she said, "I give up, Dan. I'll do absolutely anything. I can't stand it, darling. I need you so much... Please, Dan?" Then she reached down and pulled the ring off her finger and gave it to him saying, "Dan, I don't want your ring. I just want you. I need you. I can't live without you. Please?"
Dan wasn't finished with her yet. He said, "Cindy, that's a very valuable ring. And women don't need sex, right? We both know that. Let's see... You said you would do anything... Slave, I need you to fuck my cock with your mouth."
Still crying, Cindy scrambled between his legs and began to work on his cock, now massive in its full erection. While her mouth began to move up and down on it, he went back to caressing her body, again bringing her up towards the crest of her orgasm. Because of all of his stimulation he quickly spent in her mouth. Meanwhile, she was again going crazy. When she had swallowed his and licked off the last drops, she dried his cock and balls with her hair, looked up at him and whispered, "Oh God, please... Dan, I really can't take this anymore. I'm destroyed."
He motioned to her to kneel beside him again. This time he quickly took her to her peak. Kelly knew that this time he was going to take her over so she moved quickly. She jumped on the bad, rolled over on her back and positioned her mouth below Cindy's now-gaping cunt. Dan worked on Cindy and took her over to her orgasm, then just maintained her there.
Like the terrible night with Pete, Cindy just slumped forward with her knees still under her body but with her head and shoulders now resting on the bed as her vaginal juices just ran from her in a steady stream. Kelly was positioned to catch the juices in her mouth as it just continued. As much as she caught with her mouth and tongue and swallowed, even more sprayed her eyes, nose and hair. Kelly was soaked with the succulent fluid. Finally, Dan pinched Cindy's clitoris. The overwhelming sensation overpowered her brain and she lost consciousness. Kelly lifted her head slightly and proceeded to lick out the girl's with her tongue. When she finished, she used her long auburn hair to dry the and then slid out from beneath her. Finally, she gently straightened out Cindy's legs and then smiled at Dan.
Dan took Cindy under her arms and pulled her up to the head of the bed with him and then rested her head on his shoulder. With the bedcovers now up around them he looked at Kelly, grinned, and said, "On behalf of my bride-to-be, thank you, Kelly. That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen." Then he raised an eyebrow and said, "But did you come in just to watch, or...?"
Kelly grinned back, winked, and poured a mug of coffee for Dan. He took it in his left hand while his right was again cupped over Cindy's breast. He looked down at her and smiled. Her cheeks were still tear streaked, her hair was matted with sweat, but he thought she was still the most beautiful girl alive. Finally she blinked, opened her eyes, and looked into his.
He whispered, "That was fun, wasn't it?"
She snuggled against his shoulder and then kissed his chest. Then she looked at him and asked, "Darling, next time please just whip me? It's really much less painful." Then she shook her head, grinned wryly and added, "I guess I'm _really_ a slow learner." She looked down at her now-bare finger and then back at Dan. She said, "Darling, will you promise me something?"
He said, "Of course! What?"
"Honey, will you please get me just a plain gold wedding band? I would settle for brass, even. Darling, I'm just your hot cunt. In fact, I guess there's no need even to marry me. I'll proudly carry your children and you could adopt them if you really like them." Tears started to flow again as she said, "I'm really dumb, Dan. Jan was forced to marry Pete because he wouldn't sleep with her unless she did. Since you have all the milk you could ever want, there's no need for you ever to buy the cow, is there?"
She was amazed to see tears come to Dan's eyes. He said, "Darling, I have to marry you. I have the world's most beautiful woman in my arms right now. She's intelligent, funny, warm, exciting... Of course, some day she's going to wake up. Cindy, that's what I can't afford to allow to happen. Some day you're going to take a good look at me and you know what? You said it a few months ago: 'Burke, you're old, beat up, and generally shot to hell.' You were right, of course."
Now tears were streaming from her eyes as she said, "Beat up? I guess you are, Dan. You got beat up defending our country. You're handsome, strong, incredibly gentle, smart, funny... Darling, I can't wait until I can carry your children in my belly. I just hope they get their brains and judgment from their father, though, and not from their mother." Then she just rubbed her cheek against his hairy chest.
Dan motioned to Kelly who poured coffee for Cindy and then cups for Cathy and herself. The two sat on the edge of the bed while Dan pulled Cindy around so she was again next to him at the head of the bed. First, he gently slid the ring back on Cindy's finger, then he looked at Cathy Collins who had been watching events wide-eyed and asked, "Cathy, what do you think?"
She just shook her head and said, "Mr. Burke, I don't know what to say."
Dan began to laugh and said, "Cathy, I ask you? When a guy and three girls are all bare-ass naked on one bed, do you suppose it's asking too much for you to call me Dan?"
The laughed merrily and said, "I'm sorry, Dan. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I may be prejudiced, but I think you're a pretty lucky guy to get Cindy, too."
The were about to leave the room when Kelly glanced down and saw her small bow was missing from her pubic hair. Again the tall scrambled around the bed and the bedcovers with her tail in the air until she found it again.
When she found it, Cindy, trying to control her giggles, said sarcastically, "If you didn't insist on wearing so damn many clothes, you wouldn't be losing bits of them all the time. Now, Miss McBride, if you're finished, I would appreciate having my bedcovers back. Burke is getting old so he doesn't keep me as warm as he used to. I'm cold!"
Dan pretended to glare at her and said threateningly, _"Young lady?"_
A look of fear came into her eyes as she hugged him and whispered, "Dan, I'm sorry! Really I am. Will you forgive me?"
Dan looked at her with an eyebrow raised. Then he looked at Kelly and said, "Slave Kelly, before you leave would you please get me the whip from the closet."
Cindy snuggled even closer to him and sighed, "Darling, you're so good to me! As long as it's just the whip."
As the were going out the door, they saw Cindy and Dan wrapped in another passionate embrace.
* * *
After breakfast, Cindy started up the tractor-mounted snowblower and attempted to clear the driveway. During the night the snow had turned into a full-bore Midwestern blizzard, leaving drifts up to four feet high. With all the cars parked in the driveway, though, it was difficult to maneuver the tractor around them all. Dan and the other came out and used shovels to dig around the cars, while Cindy used the powerful blower to dispose of the shoveled snow. Although the blizzard had died down, snow was still falling lightly.
Cindy reached the snow still piled high on the road. Since town plows hadn't yet reached their neighborhood, there was no place to go even with the driveway cleared. As she headed back up the drive she found that a snowball fight had started, pitting Dan against Kelly, Cathy, and the other girls from the bank. Cindy grinned and joined Dan to even up the odds. In no time, they were completely snow covered and rolling in the new-fallen snow like little children. Laughing, they went back into the house and stamped off the snow.
Jan greeted them with a pretend frown saying, "Children, now hang up your coats and come out to the kitchen." To their surprise, Jan had made a huge pot of cocoa which was wonderful after the severe cold outside: the temperature was still down in single digits.
When they finished, Cindy took a shovel and began to clear a path out to the swimming pool. Although it was an outdoor pool, it was heated and Pete and Jan had had a bubble put over it. The others helped, and in a short time they had cleared off the pathway. Then, to the astonishment of Cathy and the other girls, Cindy returned to the kitchen, calmly stripped off her clothes and, in spite of the sub-freezing temperature, ran outside naked, up the path and into the bubble. Kelly knew what she intended to do and was right behind her. In no time the two were powering up and down the pool.
The other were right behind. Soon they were all swimming laps. Cindy would periodically stop and give pointers on technique to the girls. When they finished, they ran back to the house. This time Cindy led them to the gym and the exercise equipment in it. Cathy watched in amazement as Cindy moved very heavy weights with no apparent effort. On the other hand, she could see the girl's muscles bulge as they worked. Cindy set up Cathy on a machine to build up her shoulders, her pectoral muscles, and to develop her breasts.
In almost no time, the was sweating and close to exhaustion but kept going following Cindy and Kelly's example. Cindy called a halt when she thought the had had enough. The were puzzled when they were told to wrap themselves in blankets. They had no idea what was next. Kelly and Cindy took the two at a time and began to massage their bodies.
Cindy was working on Cathy Collins' body and the just made happy noises as her boss worked on her now-aching muscles. Looking over her shoulder she said softly, "Cindy, I don't know how you do it. You're the most perfectly conditioned female I have ever seen. What do you do?"
"Do you really want to know?" Cindy asked. The nodded and Cindy said, "It's three things. First, I guess I work out my legs and arms in the pool. My shoulders and chest develop on the machines, but the best part is my lower body. That's Dan. When I'm cuming, I'm shaking my lower body to pieces. Maybe that's why the muscles there are so firm."
Cathy rested her head on the massage table and shook it sadly. When Cindy asked her what was wrong she replied, "I guess it means I'll have to lose my virginity if I ever want to have a body like yours." Then she turned and grinned, asking, "Are there any more like Dan? If there was one, he could manipulate me to orgasm while I'm still a virgin. That's what happened to Kelly, isn't it?"
"Sure is," Cindy responded with a grin. "What did she think of it? Did she say anything to you, Cath?"
"She said it was like Heaven. She also said that if doing it with a is any better, she'll have to quit clobbering Kevin. He might get discouraged and that's the last thing she can afford to allow to happen. She still doesn't know exactly what Dan did, though, but she never felt so good in her life before." When Cindy finished the massage Cathy felt better than she could recall ever feeling in her life. To Cindy's surprise the girl motioned for her to get up on the table. Looking puzzled, Cindy did.
Cathy took some massage lotion and began to work on Cindy's back and shoulders. Although Cindy knew the normally had a very light touch, now her fingers felt like steel rods as she very expertly worked on the muscles. Cindy groaned with pleasure and murmured, "Catherine Collins, you've been holding out on us. Where on earth did you ever learn to give massages like this?"
The smiled and said, "I was an assistant trainer at Carleton College. Maybe that's why I'm not as embarrassed being nude around as I ought to be. I guess I've seen a lot of naked and worked on many of them. Carleton is a pretty small school so we don't always have the right number of and women to go around. Anyway, I was the assistant men's trainer. Does it feel all right? If you were a man, I would be more confident. For example, do you know if I should massage your breasts?"
Cindy just murmured sleepily, "You're doing great! You figure it out." When she rolled Cindy -- now sleeping -- on her back she just gently caressed her full firm with the massage fluid. Cindy just smiled in her sleep and sensuously wriggled her body.
Later that night the were back in their sleeping-bags. Cathy asked Kelly again what had happened the previous morning. Kelly looked at her new friend speculatively and asked, "Cath, Cindy says a virgin tastes delicious. This morning you saw me under Cindy while she was cuming in a flood. What did you think? Were you shocked?"
The just smiled warmly and said, "Kelly, it was like nothing I could even imagine. As much as you were lapping up, even more was splashing all over your face: your eyes, your nose, your hair. What was it like? You seemed to enjoy it."
Rolling on her side Kelly looked at Cathy and said, "It was delicious! Does that sound crazy to you? Cath, everything about Cindy is exquisite, even her love juices." Then she looked at the and asked, "Would you like to try? Cindy and Dan both say I taste like nectar -- whatever that tastes like. I guess you represent my only chance to taste a virgin cunt, too." She just looked impassively at the beside her. Again, the only illumination came from the moonlight coming into the kitchen reflected off the piled snow outside.
Cathy swallowed hard and said, "Could we do it fast? Before I lose my nerve? Please?"
Kelly quickly unzipped the sleeping-bag and then put her arms around the girl beside her. She really didn't know what she was doing, but she pulled the smaller close and kissed her softly. To her surprise, Cathy pulled her close and mashed her own soft against Kelly's firmer ones, then kissed her lips hungrily. The then reversed positions on the sleeping-bag so they were now head-to-foot. Kelly gently spread Cathy's legs to gain access to her nether lips. Meanwhile she could feel Cathy doing the same thing to her. The next thing she knew, she could feel the girl's tongue lick up and down her slit. The sensation was exquisite.
Meanwhile, the other in the kitchen were watching the two with great interest. Finally, Kelly rolled over on her back with Cathy now kneeling astride her. She lifted her hips to provide easier access and at the same time pulled Cathy's groin down over her face. She nibbled at the girl's clit and then heard her scream as she came in a small flood. Her loins were in spasm now and luscious liquid was beginning to run from her vagina in a small flood. Moments later Kelly lost interest in the girl's sex as she was also taken over in a flood.
Suddenly Cathy jumped off her and reversed her position. Now she was between Kelly's legs and put them over her shoulders. From this position the could concentrate on licking and her sex. Kelly came again and again and again. Finally Cathy reached exactly the right level of sexual stimulation and maintained Kelly in orgasm exactly as Dan had done. The was now sweating and her arms were thrashing as her loins just continued to jerk spasmodically. For her part, Cathy continued to lick up and the luscious juices that were pouring from Kelly in a flood. Finally, Cathy bit down on the girl's erect clit. This was more than Kelly could take. She screamed, exploded in another flood, and lost consciousness.
When she regained consciousness, Kelly found her head on Cathy's bare shoulder while the had her hand cupped around her in exactly the way Dan always slept with Cindy. Kelly ran a hand through her wet hair and whispered, "Wow! Cathy, that was utterly spectacular. Thank you so much."
Then she lifted herself up and did to Cathy what had just been done to her. She had found out that Cathy's juices were very sweet. Now concentrating her full attention on the she was able to reciprocate. Cathy came in a flood and soon reached the point of continuous orgasm herself. For an instant Kelly was fearful that the could herself with her thrashing but then remembered that it was exactly what she had been doing earlier. In addition to eating the girl's cunt, she used a hand to caress her and tweak the girl's nipples. With her heightened sensitivity, soon every time she touched them Cathy screamed with pain and ecstasy. Finally, she bit the girl's clitoris causing her to lose consciousness, too.
It was a mirror image of the earlier situation with one difference. When Cathy regained consciousness her head was on Kelly's shoulder and Kelly's hand was cupping her breast. The difference was that the other three were now kneeling around them. One of the other girls, Gail Swanson, asked softly, "How was it, Cath? Did that feel as good as it looked?"
Cathy just stretched languorously and looked up at Kelly. Then she pulled the girl's head down to kiss her softly on the lips. "I guess I'm going to be a lesbian," she replied with a grin. "McBride, you should be illegal, too. I thought the Irish had no feelings? I saw what Dan Burke did to Cindy and I felt what you did to me. Are you sure it's better with a man? It almost can't be."
Kelly replied, "Do you realize what's happening to us? We're around a group of people that have to be the greatest sets of lovers in the world. Have you ever seen Kathy with Bill Cartwright? They absolutely worship each other. It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen... and that ignores the way they met. Then there's Cindy and Dan, Jen and Steve, Ali and Bill... Good heavens! There's also Don Martin and Mary and even Dave and Judy Chapman! Do you realize that the last three couples are all middle-aged? My God! I hope my love life with Kevin is ever as good as theirs is all the time. What an education!"
The returned to their sleeping-bags leaving Kelly and Cathy alone. With her head still on Kelly's shoulder, Cathy rolled onto her side facing the taller girl. She proceeded to stroke her skin with a petal-light touch. Then she moved to her but maintained the same touch. After a while she could see Kelly start to writhe in the bag and make wonderful happy sounds deep in her throat. Cathy had an idea and finally made it happen. Again Kelly's pelvis started to spasm as she came in another flood. Cathy jumped down and began to lick up the wonderful flow.
When it stopped, she flipped her head and used her still-damp hair to dry Kelly's and then returned to her shoulder. When she did, she was grinning and said, "I did it! Kelly McBride, I made you without ever touching you below the waist. McBride, you're too much! You're sinfully sensitive. If this were the Bay Colony 300 years ago, you would be in the stocks or on the ducking stool." The appeared to frown as she added, "Kelly, if I didn't know better I would almost think you _like_ sex!"
"Who? Me? Surely you must be confusing me with someone else," Kelly protested with a grin. Then she did to Cathy what had been done to her. That, coupled with the sounds of the sexual experimentation going on around them, caused the to be very tired when the sun rose the next morning.
It was two more days before the roads were plowed enough for anyone to leave. When it was finally time to go, Cathy was wearing her Levi's and work along with a parka. She hugged and kissed Jan and then Cindy. As she kissed Cindy she whispered, "Cindy, this has been the very best Christmas of my life! Thank you so much for having me."
As she went out to her car, now cleared of snow, she felt around her neck the heavy weight of the solid gold slave collar that Kathy had just presented to her.
To be continued...
* * *
Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome. Let me hear from you. morg105829@aol.com
*Cynthia Martin* Copyright (c) 1991, 2001 by Morgan. <morg105829@aol.com>
All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying, or by any information and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author.
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