by Louisa Neil
“What do you have, Alice?” Jeff dropped his hand to her shoulder.
“I have the texts that Naomi sent when she stomped off to her room before supper.”
“How in the world did you manage to do that?” Alice smiled to Mason.
“Don’t ask if you don’t want to know,” she teased. “Actually, I just traced back her phone usage.” She pushed her chair back to the desk and began keying in information. “The first text was to the car rental company. She texted them to pick up the BMW tomorrow.”
“Why not call them?” Mason asked.
“So she didn’t have to talk to them or listen to them complain about the pickup, I assume.” Alice continued, “The second text was to a local car service. She scheduled a pickup for tomorrow morning, prefacing she had a lot of luggage and needed a large vehicle.”
“That’s an understatement,” Jeff said and laughed. “Okay, that was kind of snarky.”
“Yeah, but well overdue from my perspective.” Mason shrugged his shoulders.
“She texted a Manhattan hotel, taking a suite through the middle of the week.”
“So she’s actually going to leave tomorrow morning?” Jeff still wasn’t sure Naomi would actually leave his home. “Does she have a flight home scheduled?”
“Not that I can find,” Alice said.
“Give her some more time.” Mason laughed. “Good work, Alice. Is this program something you plan on putting into the company?”
“Eventually, but I need to work out some of the kinks, and there are privacy laws to deal with. I’d say we’ll need a while to work this all out, and you have to remember there are other programs out there that complete the same functions. I wrote this up specifically for Hudson House use. But for now, I’m happy with this first test.”
“This is the kind of stuff the government can get to, but as an individual would it be considered hacking?” Mason tried to clarify.
“Yeah. But since I’m only working within our home, I’m not considering it hacking. She’s in our home…”
“Okay, so this is for future use,” Mason confirmed, and Alice smiled.
“Good work, Alice. I’m really proud of you,” Jeff added but was interrupted by a low beeping noise. “What’s that?”
“That’s a phone call from her cell. Do you want to listen or just read the text of it?” Alice asked Jeff.
“Let’s just read the text. I’ve had enough of her voice.”
Alice typed in a few commands, and the conversation was converted to text instead of voice. After a few seconds, Mason walked away shaking his head.
“Sorry, but I’m going to lose my supper reading this garbage.” He headed to his own computer. Alice and Jeff remained, reading the words as they came up on the screen
Speaker 1: Oh, David, I miss you so much. I wish you could have come with me. Isn’t there any way you can join me for a few days? New York is amazing this time of the year. It’s brisk, and a light snow fell today. It’s so beautiful.
Speaker 2: You knew I had to finish the plans for the new condo job.
Speaker 1: I know. I was bored. But I was wrong to leave without out. Do you think you can meet me? I didn’t realize how much I’d miss you.
Speaker 2: I’ll look up some flights and see what I can get.
Speaker 1: David, that would be wonderful. I’ll extend the hotel so we can spend a few days together.
Speaker 2: I’m glad you called, Naomi. I was beginning to wonder if you’d gone back to Jeff.
Speaker 1: Of course not. But I was wrong to leave you. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss you.
Speaker 2: I’ll call tomorrow and let you know what I can get, flightwise.
Speaker 1: Should I look for theatre tickets?
Speaker 2: If you want. I’m looking forward to seeing you, babe.
Speaker 1: Me, too. I love you, David.
Speaker 2: I love you, too.
“David hung up,” Alice said, but more text came up.
Speaker 1: Ah, I hate having to grovel. Damn Jeff and his friends.
“Naomi just hung up,” Alice said.
“Damn good job, Alice. Now all we have to do is wait for tomorrow and make sure she’s gone.” Jeff wandered back to his computer with a bounce in his step, she noted.
“Tomorrow I’ll make sure she actually checks in to the hotel.” Alice knew Jeff was long gone from the conversation, his nose already back at his computer screen. But she’d check anyway for her own peace of mind. She yawned and stretched. “For now, I’m going to put up the decorations for our Halloween party in the playroom.”
Alice started by stringing strands of pumpkin and skeleton head lights. With a vampire movie on the television in the background, she began to decorate.
* * * *
Mason dropped his hand on Jeff’s shoulder. “It’s after two, Jeff. I’m going to get some sleep.” Mason headed toward the back of the lab where their playroom was. When he got there, he laughed. “You’ve done it again, my girl.” He stood in the doorway and looked at the decorations Alice had used. She’d also strung rows of skulls and pumpkin lights all around the room. She’d even changed out their white lightbulbs to orange. Then he saw her, sound asleep on the floor before the television. She’d pulled a throw pillow from the sofa under her head. Mason walked to the sofa and pulled one of the cotton throws from the back, carefully covering her.
“Should we move her to the sofa?” Jeff asked from the doorway.
“Jeez, Jeff, you scared the hell out of me.”
“She did quite a job. I’m impressed.” He wandered into the room and began to look at all the little displays she’d set out on the tops of furniture. Jeff walked to Mason and stood looking down at her. “If we move her, she’ll wake up.”
“All right, I’m going to crash for a while.” Mason dropped onto the chase lounge section of the sofa.
“Me, too.” Jeff went to the far end of the sofa and stretched out on the other chaise lounge. “You do know we’re going to have to pack this all up after the holiday, and it will be the same routine for Christmas,” he mumbled to Mason.
“Yeah, but she’ll be happy, and I admit, I do feel more in the spirit.”
“We’ll worry about it after Halloween.” Jeff yawned and turned on his side.
Mason pulled a pillow under his head and smiled. He was exhausted, mentally and emotionally. The next thing he heard was an alarm going off. It wasn’t a sound he could ignore. By the time he sat up, Alice and Jeff were awake, too. Alice was sprinting to the lab.
* * * *
“It’s the main gate alarm,” she said, her voice still sleepy. They all gathered around the monitor and watched a black town car wind up the path to the front door. The driver got out, popped the trunk, and walked to the front door. It was only moments later that Naomi opened it to the stranger. Alice didn’t turn on the volume. “I got up in the early morning and turned off the front door alarms. I didn’t want Naomi being locked inside.” With a few hand movements and unknown words, she swayed to the stairs with the driver behind her. “That’s quite an outfit,” she mumbled, watching as Naomi’s scarlet-covered body showed the man upstairs. Alice knew it was a designer dress from the way the fabric swept along her curves and draped at the neck. Naomi had the long sleeves pushed back and several gold-and-diamond bracelets on her wrist. She was wearing the leather boots from yesterday, their heels giving her the illusion of being four inches taller. A few minutes later, they reappeared with her luggage. “I guess she has no qualms about PETA. Look at the mink she’s got draped over her shoulders. Full pelts.”
Jeff glanced down at her. “I didn’t know you knew furs.”
“We lived in California. No need for fur coats. But any woman would tell you that one was expensive.”
“Just another side of her politically incorrect personality.” Mason headed toward the door. “I need coffee. Is she gone yet?”
“Not yet. They’re just coming down the stairs.” He wande
red back beside Alice and watched the monitor.
“Man, he’s going to try to carry all that in one trip,” Mason noted.
“Well, she is carrying her purse and makeup case.” Jeff laughed.
They watched the driver put two of the cases down at the top of the stairs and make the trip down with just two. Then he ran back and grabbed the others. Alice changed the screen view, and they watched Naomi slide into the backseat while the driver loaded her luggage. After playing with a few dials, Alice was able to get a close-up of Naomi’s face. It was set in a scowl.
“She’s not happy,” Mason said.
“She was never happy,” Jeff said. They continued to watch as the driver turned the vehicle around and headed down the driveway. “Thank God, she’s gone.”
“I need coffee,” Alice said.
“Suddenly, I’m hungry,” Mason added.
“Come on. It should be safe to go back to the main house. Let’s get breakfast.”
As they waited for Alice to unlock the lab, Jeff added, “By the way, well done on the decorations in the playroom. It reminds me of trick-or-treating when I was a kid.”
“I’m glad you approve,” she said with a wide smile. The door unlocked, and they headed for food.
* * * *
The next day seemed like a dream to Jeff. They had all agreed it should be a down day, considering they spent the night in the lab, even if it was a weekday. After they ate pancakes with Cook and Marilyn, he and Mason stayed for a second cup of coffee. Alice stole away for a swim while they did the dishes.
“I’m glad Cook will leave us a heat-and-serve meal for tonight,” Mason said, stacking the last of the dishes in the washer. Jeff was wiping down the counters. Cook and Marilyn were still sitting at the table, coffee cups in front of them, enjoying watching the men clean the kitchen. It was a small payback for them having to deal with Naomi.
“I’m thinking today is for naps and not answering my phone. Marilyn, you and Cook can have the rest of the day off. Send the day help home, too.” Marilyn started to grumble, but he laughed at her. “Go, take the day and run away. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“My phone’s already turned off. Nobody will want to talk to me. You, my friend, will have to fend off all the outsiders that want to ruin our day.” Mason glanced around the kitchen, decided it was clean enough, and headed to the back door. “I’m going out for a walk. I need a shower, but I need fresh air first.”
“I’m going to tell Alice we’re taking a down day.”
“Alice, our little electronic miracle worker. I’ll be wandering the property,” Mason said, heading out the back door.
Jeff assured the staff everything should be back to normal, but if they had any problems, his cell phone would be on. He was heading to his bedroom when he met Alice on the stairs.
“Just to clarify the situation, you do know there’s nothing wrong with the way Marilyn oversees the house, don’t you?” Jeff turned to find Alice beside him. She was wrapped in a toweling robe from the pool area, using a small bath towel to blot the water from her hair.
“I know. I just sent all the staff home for an extra day off. I wanted us to relax in private. We’ve earned it. How was your swim?”
“Wonderful. I’m going to head upstairs and shower. I was wondering if you two made a decision about what we’re doing today. I like the idea of an extra day off.”
“A down day. We can all use some relaxing.”
Alice laughed. “Are you sure it’s safe?” She walked beside him to his room, waited while he unlocked the door, and scooted in front of him. He turned and relocked the door. She dropped on the floor before the fireplace and started building a fire. As soon as it caught, she lay back on the floor before it. As she did, her robe opened wider at the neck. Jeff walked to her, added a few more logs to the fire, and stretched out beside her. She reached her hand around Jeff’s neck and pulled him closer. “I’m really proud of you, Jeff. You didn’t let Naomi ride over you. You actually pulled out your balls and shook them for her to see she hadn’t castrated you during your relationship.”
“I’m glad you approve. I’m just glad that confrontation is over.”
“Never to be repeated again,” she teased. “But I can think of one thing I’d like to recreate.” She leaned forward and kissed his lips. What started out as a peck turned into something more. Something hot and heavy. “You taste like maple syrup,” she told him and used her tongue to lick his lips, sending a bolt of heat directly to his cock.
“Mason’s out for a walk,” he told her.
“Then he’ll miss this morning’s activities.” Alice used her other hand to pull open her robe. Under it she was naked. “Give you any ideas?”
Before he could answer, she was kissing him again, pulling him tight to her body. His hands automatically reached for her breasts, tugging and cupping, rolling her nipples between his thumb and index finger. He watched Alice’s eyes close as she let her head drop back. When he bent down to suck on one, she let out a sigh.
“I missed you,” she whispered, reaching for his crotch. His cock was already hard. The sweatpants he was wearing gave her easy access. With a simple shift, she used both hands to push them down his thighs. “Suck my tits, and I’ll jerk you off.”
“Don’t I get to eat your pussy?” he asked, smiling as he gently used his hand on the center of her chest to push her back. When she was lying down, he grabbed her thighs and pulled her closer to him as he settled between her legs. He had his tongue on her in the next breath. It had been a long time since they’d been together. Too long, he decided.
Jeff loved licking and fucking Alice. She was so responsive. He glanced up and saw she was pinching her own nipples. Pushing two fingers in her pussy while he licked her clit, she started to writhe on the carpet.
“Jeff, come fuck me. I don’t want to make love. I just want to fuck.”
“Never disappoint a lady,” he told her. He sat up and rested his weight on his heels, pulling her up onto his thighs. He leaned forward and pushed his cock in her pussy. “Damn, you’re so wet.”
Alice wrapped her hands around his neck to brace herself for his thrusts. “Wet and horny. Make me come, Jeff. Fuck me. Come on my tits and lick me clean.”
“The lady knows what she needs,” he told her, pushing her thighs wider so he could push his cock deeper in her. He didn’t know how long he stayed there, only that she was tight around his cock and he had to grit his teeth to keep from coming. When he was nearing his breaking point, she climaxed around him, her inner body grasping him as if it was milking his cum. He didn’t pull out. Instead he came in her. As soon as he finished and got his breath back, he lowered to lick her, cleaning the droplets of his cum easing from her pussy. He used two fingers to punctuate his movements.
“Push another finger in me and I’ll come again,” she whispered. She was tugging on her nipples when he glanced to her. He pushed a third finger inside her and felt her body grasp it. She shook with her orgasm and relaxed on the carpet. “Thank you and good morning,” she said, teasing him.
Jeff stood and pulled his pants back up his thighs. He reached a hand to her, helping her to sit forward. She kissed him, tasting the mixture of her release and his cum on his lips. “That just makes me crazy horny, you know.”
“I know, Alice.”
“I think we should spend the day fucking and sucking.”
“I think I need to shower, and then I’ll go with your plan.”
“Let’s jump in the pool. We can use the pool shower to wash off the saltwater out there and see what happens.” She let him help her up and pulled the robe somewhat back into place. “Why not leave a note for Mason that we’ll be swimming?”
“So that’s what we’re calling this now,” he teased, watching as she left the room. He grabbed a piece of paper and pen from the bedside table and wrote a quick note to Mason, which was short. Pool, Alice. He vaulted down the stairs and dropped the note on the kitchen table. He was laughing as h
e headed toward the pool enclosure when the buzzer from the main gate rang. He wandered to the front hall, cursing under his breath for the interruption.
“Yes?” He let go of the button and waited for a reply.
“We’re here to pick up the BMW.”
“Come on up,” Jeff said, as he pushed the gate release, and waited at the front door until he saw a Mercedes sedan rounding the driveway and heading up to the house. The BMW was still where Naomi had parked it. He cut the house alarm and walked out onto the front porch.
“Morning, sir. We’ll take the Roadster. I just need a signature here.” A youngish man bolted up the steps with a clipboard in hand.
Jeff reached for it and was about to just sign when he paused to read the page. “There’s been a mistake. I’m not responsible for the payment of this rental. The woman who rented it is responsible.”
“Not what my paperwork says.” The stranger turned to the other man waiting in the Mercedes and waved him up.
“What’s the problem?” This older man didn’t seem happy about the delay.
“Guy won’t sign. Says he’s not responsible.”
Jeff took a step back, hit an intercom button on the alarm pad, and yelled to Alice. “I need you at the front door.”
The second man approached. “Not sure what the problem is. Naomi Hunter signed here, saying Jeffrey Dallen would pay the rental charges.”
“Sorry to have to inform you about this, but I’ve nothing to do with Naomi Hunter or her debts. She came here uninvited and unwanted on the estate.”
Alice arrived pulling the belt on her robe snugger. “What’s going on?”
“These men came to pick up Naomi’s rental. According to them, I’m responsible for the rental and the pickup fees.”
“Oh no you’re not.” Alice took the clipboard from Jeff, scanned it, and handed it back to the younger man. “Mr. Dallen has nothing to do with Ms. Hunter and is not responsible for any of her charges or debts.”
