Ghost Story

by J G Jerome

  “Okay. Well, if Marissa beats me home, tell her that Audrey has decided to pick me back up off the curb and keep me after all,” I tell the girls.

  Audrey says, “Not true at all, ladies. I was adrift. I was scared by what I learned of Will’s newest adventure.” She indicates the two ladies on the screen. “I thought I would break away, set defenses in place, and finish school so I could slip away clean and join him again later.”

  Tears run down her face, and I cup her face. Audrey pulls my hand to her mouth and kisses it before turning back to the screen. “I didn’t take into account that William is my anchor, that he keeps me grounded and makes me feel loved like no other can. My best friend has been trying to help me get my head on straight, but it wasn’t working. Then I saw him with his boss, and I thought he had replaced me already. Tori called me to tell me he was here. Bernadette jumped on the line and verbally beat me until I got in my car and drove over here. They were just finishing their business when Will saw me. I threw myself at him. He has claimed me again, and I claimed him again. I’m still scared about his newest adventure, but I can’t function without him. We’ll have to work through my fears together…,” she looks at the girls on the screen. “Will you help, too?”

  Rebecca says immediately, “Of course.”

  Josie looks at Rebecca, and then she looks at me before turning to Audrey. She says, “Audrey, I don’t know you, but I know William loves you. He has been going through hell since you left him. This is the first time since Sunday that he has smiled at any of us with his eyes. If you love him, I will help you. If you ever hurt him again, I will kill you.”

  Audrey doesn’t even flinch. “Josie, darling. If I ever hurt him again, I would prefer that you kill me rather than living through the hell of the last few days. Thank you.”

  Josie smiles at Audrey. “I like you.”

  Audrey chuckles, “I like you too, Josie. I hope we can spend some time together soon.”

  “As a family?” Rebecca asks.

  “I would like that,” Audrey answers.

  Josie smiles. “Me too. You make our man happy. I would like to get to know you. There’s so much I don’t know about...life. Despite knowing so little, I’ve had more joy in the last week with William and my loving sisters. I want you here. Please come join us.”

  Audrey covers her gaping mouth and weeps. Eventually says, “I will, Josie. I promise, I will be there soon. I’ve spent too much time away from our man. I want to get to know you all.”

  I kiss her cheek and turn to the screen. I cock an eyebrow. “So, is it my imagination, or did the two of you run into a rampant pair of scissors?” They look at each other and break out laughing.

  Rebecca explains, “Marissa made an appointment for us, and we both got modern haircuts. Since my hair was all broken off at different lengths, she gave me a razor cut.” She backs up and turns her head from side-to-side so I can see her feathered, short hair.

  “It looks great on you, baby. I guess I’ll have to wait a year before I can wrap your hair around my fist again,” I tease.

  She blushes prettily as she deflects attention to Josie. “Josie got a really cute haircut. I wanted one like it, but my hair isn’t healthy enough to hold the … perm?” I nod as she turns the camera to Josie. She is sporting a pixie cut.

  I tell her, “Josie, that looks sexy on you. You were pretty before, but this is very flattering.”

  She smiles brilliantly at me. “Will it get you to take me to bed tonight?” she asks.

  I agree immediately, “For certain, Josie. I planned to anyway, but now I must because you went to all the effort.”

  Rebecca says, “I’ll be staying with Marissa tonight. We’ll go to her place after dinner. We’ve put clean sheets on the bed.”

  Audrey raises her finger, “Make sure he takes a shower. I’ve been fucking him for the last hour.”

  I look at the clock. “All good plans. I need to get back on the road. I will stop to sign paperwork on the sale of the house. I should still get back before six p.m.”

  Rebecca asks, “Are you going to get dressed first?”

  Josie snorts a laugh. “I don’t mind if you show up naked, William. I don’t even care if you don’t shower.”

  We all crack up. We all wish each other goodbye, and I disconnect. Then the door to the office opens. Audrey kisses me before she slowly gets up and saunters to slide her sundress over her head. Luis and Manuel bring in a small antique dinette table and four chairs. Candice pushes a cart in with service for four with covered dishes, a carafe of water, and a carafe of iced tea.

  I put the iPad in the attaché before I get up to retrieve my clothes. I hear from the doorway, “That’s a nice look on you, Mr. James.”

  I step into my chinos as I look to see the enigmatic Clarice is standing in the doorway.

  Clarice, a pretty young blond girl with her hair held up with two chopsticks, is wearing a sea foam green halter-top jumpsuit similar to the one Viktorija had on.

  “Thank you, Clarice. Bernadette said you were making a special lunch. Thank you for sharing it with us.” I know she is underage, but there is something about her that seems much older. It must come from growing up in a brothel. She doesn’t say anything else, but curtsies and flashes a genuine smile before she backs out of the door.

  I pull my t-shirt over my head and address the two men dressed in ‘Miami Vice chic’ - loose trousers, espadrilles, tight t-shirts, and loose jackets with the sleeves rolled up. “Maurice. Luis. Thank you.”

  They nod and leave. Maurice smiles, “Enjoy, Will.”

  I turn to the young woman wearing a red, halter-top jumpsuit “Candice, you set a lovely table. Thank you for taking care of us.” It appears halter-top jumpsuits are the uniform of the day.

  The short, cute Asian curtsies. She smiles shyly. “Thank you, Sir. I hope you enjoy the meal. Please call me if you need anything. I’ll be right outside. The Mistress and Viktorija will be joining you shortly.” She backs out of the door in time for a gorgeous quadroon, or maybe mulatto is the correct term, glides in carrying a covered basket and a butter dish. She must be new. She is wearing a transparent white halter-top jumpsuit. Her dark nipples are clearly visible through the fabric and noticeably erect. The rest of her café-au-lait skin disappears under the fabric, but contrasts nicely with the gossamer white where exposed. Her hair is straightened and thrown up in a similar up-do as Clarice’s - complete with chopsticks. Candice leads her into the room and directs her on the placement of the items on the table, as I finish buttoning and tuck my shirt into my chinos. Audrey pulls Candice and the new girl into a hug as I sit in the office chair to don my socks and boots.

  Audrey drags both ladies over to say hello as I stand and pull on my blazer. “Master, Candice could use a hug. She’s had a rough couple of weeks, too.”

  I’m well enough acquainted with Candice to be comfortable with it. I open my arms to her and she steps hesitantly into my embrace. I hug her snug to me. “I’m sorry you are having a bad time, Candice. I can understand. My week has been tragic with intermittent high points.” I plant a chaste kiss on the hairline of her forehead. If she weren’t wearing ‘fuck me pumps,’ I wouldn’t have been able to reach that without squatting. She’s quite a diminutive Asian treasure. She’s beautiful, but I prefer taller women.

  She looks up at me as she steps back. She doesn’t say anything for a moment. When she does break her silence I’m not sure what to think about what she says. “Thank you, Sir. In many ways you’re like the one that hurt me, but in other ways you’re completely different. Thank you for your kindness.”

  I palm her upper arms and slide my hands down her arms to grasp her hands. I back up and hook the chair with my foot to turn it away from the desk. I sit down and look up into Candice’s eyes - trying to be as completely non-threatening, non-dominant as I am able.

  I tell her “Candice, I don’t know who you’re talking about. Also, I don’t know you well. However, you appear to be a genui
nely sweet person. You deserve to be happy. If this guy isn’t making you happy, wash your hands of him and find someone that does. I know you have obligations, but if you need a break, maybe your mistress will let you come visit our family. We are all split among different abodes at the moment, but we will find a place for you if you need a break. You can relax, hang with the ladies, and we will have fun without the sexual overtone that permeates Bernadette’s house.”

  Audrey chuckles, “Well the sexual overtones are probably still there, but it’s from Will’s girlfriends toward him and - I think each other. You will be safe unless you don’t want to be.”

  Candice crawls onto my lap and hugs me again. I give her a gentle squeeze, and then she slides back out. “Thank you, Lord William.” She bows to me, smiles shyly, and steps back before checking the table.

  I’m thinking, ‘Lord William? How odd.’

  I stand up as Audrey says, “Will, this is Vanessa. She arrived at the end of May, a couple of days after our last show here.” She addresses the beautiful quadroon. “Vanessa, this is the master of my heart, William James. He prefers to be called Will.”

  Vanessa steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist and presses her breasts into my chest. I finally lift my arms from their akimbo posture to encircle her tiny waist and give her a gentle squeeze. I manage to say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Vanessa.”

  She kisses me chastely on the mouth and steps back, all while giving me a hungry look. On a whim, I open my second sight and immediately see the red aura. It doesn’t tell me what type of traveler she is, but I’m guessing she is the same as Bernadette.

  Vanessa says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I think Candice might be correct that ‘Lord’ is appropriate in your case, but house rules are there is only one at the moment. Don’t think ill of Candice for breaking the rule, she is just very wroth with her lord.”

  “If he is treating her poorly, then perhaps he’s not so noble after all,” I opine.

  “That is the Mistress’ call to make. She bestowed the title. She can take it away,” Vanessa informs me.

  She looks to Audrey, “If your master is ever in need of comfort when you are not available, I would be happy to accommodate him.” I see a quick glimmer of red from her eyes even without second sight.

  “Control, Vanessa. I suspect your mistress would be quite…” I think for a moment to recall the term she used “...quite wroth with you if she knew.” I tap below my eye, and she bites her lower lip as she realizes her mistake.

  Audrey hugs her and murmurs, “I wouldn’t say that too loudly around Viktorija. She will be hurt and angry.”

  Vanessa’s eyes bug slightly. “Thank you for telling me, Audrey. I’ve made her angry before, and it was a thoroughly unpleasant experience.”

  She steps back and clasps her hands in front of her crotch and then bows to me. “Sir, it was a pleasure meeting you. Please enjoy the meal.” Candice grabs her arm as she stands and leads Vanessa firmly toward the door.

  Audrey sidles up and slides an arm around my waist as we watch the ladies walk away. She murmurs, “Vanessa is a hottie, isn’t she. Would you look at that motor work?”

  Vanessa smiles back over her shoulder from the doorway as I murmur in response, “Very hot indeed.”

  “Tori would kill her if she seduced you first,” Audrey says quietly again. Vanessa shivers slightly and walks out the door.

  Candice says from the doorway, “Please begin while it’s hot. The Mistress is going to be delayed only a couple of minutes.” She backs out of the door and closes it.

  I seat Audrey. I remove the covers from our plates and place them on the cart, which Candice left off to the side. Audrey is placing a slice of steaming crusty bread on my chaser as I sit to her left.

  I ask as I pick up my fork. “Jambalaya?” Audrey is moaning in pleasure over her first bite. I take a bite and understand immediately why.

  Audrey says, “It may have started out that way, but the spices are different. Cumin and harissa. Maybe a bit of curry, too, in addition to a standard Jambalaya.” She takes another bite.

  I enthuse, “Whatever it is, it’s delicious! It has red beans in it, too. Damn! I could eat this regularly!” I butter the bread. “This bread is promising too. I wish I could bake bread like this, but I seem to be stuck firmly in the ‘rustic bread’ category. When I try to bake brötchen or baguette, they turn out either hard or gummy.” I take a bite of the warm treat and release my own moan of pleasure.

  The door opens and Bernadette and Viktorija both walk in wearing identical jumpsuits. Bernadette says, “Oh! It’s the food. I heard William moan and thought maybe you had his cock in your mouth.” Both ladies look a little flushed, like they have been doing heavy labor outdoors.

  I seat them both - Viktorija next to Audrey and Bernadette to my left. Each gets a kiss on the cheek before I remove the covers on their dishes and stash them before returning to my meal.

  We demolish the meal. The normally refined Bernadette wolfs it down like she’s a farm hand. Viktoria, Audrey, and I rush to keep up. Moans of pleasure rise from the table with each bite.

  Bernadette sits back and looses a loud burp. She covers her mouth and blushes. “Excuse me! That was not very lady-like, was it.” We all laugh, which causes other burps, which causes more laughter...you get the picture.

  Audrey sighs and places a hand on my knee. She gives me a sultry look. “I could sure use a creamy dessert.”

  Bernadette sits up straight. “Oh! That does sound good!” She places a hand on my other knee.

  Viktorija bites her lip for a moment and a gorgeous flush runs up her neck and down her décollétage. Finally she grins, “Okay then. Crème brûlée coming up!” We get a good chuckle at that.

  “I really do need to get going. I need to stop along the route to tank up, and I don’t want to be late for my appointment in Prescott.”

  Bernadette stands and murmurs, “Candice, we are finished.” We all stand as the door opens. Candice and Vanessa come in.

  Clarice sticks her head in. “Mr. James. I will lead you to the loo if you like.”

  “Good idea,” I agree. I turn to the ladies standing around me. “Please excuse me.”

  I follow the enigmatic girl through the entryway to the corridor immediately to the right of the salon. There are upscale public-style male and female restrooms with mahogany doors. I walk through the appropriate door to stand in front of one of the three urinals. It seems a little over the top for a residence to have industrial strength toilet accommodations, but I know that at the end of the corridor we entered is an auditorium that will hold roughly seventy people. Audrey and I pack it whenever we put on a show.

  I pull out Willy and let him run wild. As I start to water the porcelain, I notice Clarice is leaning against the wall. I have a momentary pause in my flow, but I shrug knowing she’s seen me naked, and seen me in flagrante delicto with both Audrey, her guardian, or both on a couple occasions. Willy figures out there’s no imminent sex, so I’m able to finish draining my bladder. I tuck away, zip up, and walk past Clarice to wash my hands. She walks up behind me and wraps her arms around me as I wash - her hard nipples stab into my back and I feel her face laying between my shoulder blades.

  I shut off the water and shake off the excess before reaching for one of the stacked linen towels on the shelf behind the backsplash. The hand on my left side turns palm up, so I place the damp towel into it.

  I turn to see Clarice’s halter is arranged outside her generous breasts, which has the added benefit of creating a slight camel toe in her crotch. She is a beautiful girl. ‘A very YOUNG girl,’ I remind myself. She keeps her eyes locked on mine as she tucks her breasts back into the halter and adjusts them.

  She says, “There’s a very lightweight shelf built into the halter to reduce bouncing. It let’s the girls run free without hurting themselves.” Her eyes never leave mine.

  “I’m guessing you followed me in here for a reason…” I leav
e the comment hanging in the air.

  She nods slowly. “Candice and I were both hurt by the man we love. It was thoughtless of him. I suspect he will figure it out over time, but he hurt Candice badly. She had hoped to run away with him after her indenture is complete, but he found a pet back in June. She’s a beautiful young woman, easily young enough to be his daughter; although, the same can be said about Candice and I. Darcie, his pet, is perfectly submissive. He offered her a three month trial to be his pet, she waived it after a couple of days and did so repeatedly despite his insistence. He relented after two months. It’s the only thing she’s ever pushed back on. They visited a little while back. She told me she fully expects Candice, me, and the Mistress to move in with them at some point. However, he, the Lord, is completely smitten with her - Darcie. As a result, he barely acknowledged us when he was last here.”

  She clasps her hands behind her back to point her breasts toward the ceiling as she continues. I keep my eyes on her face. “He had some business with the Mistress. They talked for about forty-five minutes behind closed doors. His pet stayed with us, and she was sweet to all of us as always. When he came out he collected his pet, buried his tongue down her throat, and then dragged her out the door. He did call ‘goodbye ladies’ over his shoulder. The Mistress was visibly upset when she came out, and Candice was crushed by his callous disregard. Candice was his solace after his divorce. She thought he loved her. Now she isn’t sure.”

  She walks into my personal space, stands on her toes, and kisses my lips gently. Her breasts brush my chest as her lips brush my mouth, otherwise she doesn’t touch me. Then she steps back. “Thank you for comforting Candice. Candice, Bernadette, and myself have all been quite smitten with the Lord for years, but I think all us are starting to understand Viktorija’s perspective better. Thank you for your kindness, Lord William.” She curtsies again.

  I offer my arm. “Everyone deserves to be happy, Clarice. Candice has always been a sweet girl.” I open the door and wave her through. She takes my arm again as we walk back to the entry. “All of you have been perfectly lovely to Audrey and myself - both the ladies and the gentlemen. If any of you are in need, I will do what I can to help.”