Carnal Machines

by D. L. King

  “Harold, the clothing she wears…”

  “Is stunning!”

  “But the way she flaunts her body. Why, it’s as if she, and please forgive my saying it, were—naked! She wears no corset. In fact, I’d imagine she wears no foundation garments at all. How could she, in clothing so shockingly skin tight? Why it’s simply shameful. My god, man, you can see every curve of her form—every curve.”

  A few heads turned toward them.

  “It seems you’ve given the matter a great deal of thought, Rufus, old man.”

  Generally, members of the club took great pains to give at least the impression of privacy. Though it seemed, when it came to the female form, no man’s utter discretion could be counted upon. There was some general harrumphing before the butler brought fresh whiskey and whispered, “Gentlemen, please!” As the two men’s voices lowered, heads turned back to perusing copies of the Times or feigning interest in more polite conversation again.

  “Oh, really Rufus,” Harold whispered, “she is a Chinese, after all. She merely wears the clothing of her custom. Don’t be such a prig.”

  “It is not, I tell you. I’ve checked and other Orientals wear a loose-fitting affair, certainly just as shameful, but not nearly so revealing. It’s her, I tell you; she’s planning something nefarious, mark my words.”

  “I’m joining her for tea this afternoon. Why don’t you come along and let me formally introduce you. I’m sure once you’ve met her you’ll feel differently.”

  The young man shed his clothing and handed each item he removed to the maid standing before him. Once completely naked, he followed her into the cavernous room and waited while she fastened the leather belt and wrist and ankle cuffs. He climbed into what he’d come to think of as his own special pod and allowed the maid to place smoked goggles over his eyes and a bit, made of rubber, into his mouth. He felt his cock rising even as he was being tied down. All this was for his own good, he reminded himself. It was a sacrifice he made for his health and vigor, otherwise he’d never let himself be subjected to Miss Li’s treatment.

  Li Mei sat writing at her secretary:

  It is as I assumed. The young Englishman has an extraordinary amount of untapped energy, waiting to be harvested. Due to societal propriety and his acceptance that the female of the species is to be cosseted and revered, most of the young men of the upper and upper middle classes have very little experience of the flesh, other than as practiced alone, furtively, under their bedclothes, in the dark of night. It must be noted, however, that males between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two provide the best possibilities, as much older and their social conditioning begins to tarnish as does their overabundance of energy. I must, however, note that the above premise does not hold true for young men of the ruling class, as they have been taught that all pleasure is their birthright, as long as privacy is maintained. They are, therefore, not nearly the abundant source of energy as are their brothers of a slightly lower status.

  The light on the desk flickered.

  “Gentlemen to see you, Miss Li.” Mei’s maid proffered two calling cards on a silver tray.

  “Ah, Harold. And he’s brought a little friend with him, how perfectly lovely. Show them out to the garden. After they’ve been settled, go upstairs and help Gabrielle with the machine.” She looked toward the lamp on her desk. “We seem to be experiencing a power drain.”

  Mei adjusted the red and gold lacquer chopsticks holding her black hair in a tight chignon. She applied just a bit more rouge to her lips, but nothing else. Her porcelain skin and dark eyes needed no embellishment other than the pinch of a cheek to add the hint of rose.

  Her black and red dress had dragons woven into the silk in golden thread. She had adapted the design of the dress from some of the newer styles she’d seen in China, but she had gone much further than was even the least bit proper. The style really was quite shocking. It had a high collar, split in the middle, and long fitted sleeves. The dress hugged her breasts and cinched in naturally at her waist. The hemline came only to midcalf, showing the loose, black silk trousers she wore underneath. Both sides of the formfitting skirt were slit from hem to knee, making it easier to move. Her current experiment called for the charming and seduction of young men, and the style of her dress helped immensely.

  “Harold, so good of you to come. And who is this charming young fellow with you?”

  Both men rose when Mei approached the table. Rufus’s eyes went wide as she sat and he turned to Harold. “You see, there are dragons on her attire,” he whispered.

  “Ah, you’re commenting on the design of the silk? I was born in the year of the dragon and so I have a natural affinity to their form. Are you a fan of dragons Mr.…?”

  “I’m terribly sorry, my dear Miss Li; this is my friend, Rufus Hamilton. I hope you don’t mind I’ve brought him?”

  “Ma’am,” Rufus said, with a slight tilt of his head.

  “Not at all. I’m very happy to make your acquaintance. Please, Mr. Hamilton, take your seat. The dragon, it is said, is the mightiest of the birth signs. Dragon people are quite an independent lot, but we enjoy the spectacle of a good party. Are you a believer in astrology, Mr. Hamilton? I’m more a believer in science, but I am attracted to the artistic representation of my birth sign.

  “Ah, here’s the tea. I do hope you enjoy it. It’s my own special blend of jasmine and black teas and the cakes are a special Chinese pastry. I make them myself.” The maid set the tray down and Li Mei poured.

  “What an interesting flavor. I don’t believe I’ve tasted anything quite like it. And Rufus, these sweets are simply astonishing. You must try one. I’ve no idea what’s in them but they’re delicious,” Harold said.

  The maid cleared her throat and whispered something, in Chinese, to Mei, who stood, followed immediately by the young men. “Please, sirs, sit. There is some small household emergency to which I must attend. I’ll shan’t be gone long, I promise. Until then, please enjoy your tea.”

  The machine occupied most of the third floor of the house. When Mei arrived there was quite a bit of commotion. A naked young man thrashed about in a web of black rubber hoses and silk cords while two maids stood by helplessly. Mei shut and bolted the heavy door behind her.

  “For heaven’s sake, Freddie, what on earth is the problem?” The man made little grunting noises behind a rubber bit in his mouth. Mei kissed his forehead and he calmed slightly. She removed his goggles and his eyes pleaded with her.

  She scanned the metal monstrosity and saw steam escaping from one of the pipes about fifty feet from where she stood, and she recognized the problem immediately. The leak was causing the machine to malfunction. It had slowed the action of the pump, which had most likely created some uncomfortable friction with Freddie’s anal insert, as well as a disturbing change in the pressure on his nipples and testicles. Oh, poor Freddie.

  “Freddie, darling, I think it’s time you thought about going home, don’t you? I’ll just bring you some tea to refresh you. Then you may get dressed and be on your way. She unfastened a rubber strap around his head and removed the black rubber bit in his mouth.

  Stretching his jaw, he said, “Yes, Miss Li. It’s just I feel so tired now, I have hardly any strength left… But I know the treatments are still working.”

  “Well, it’s no wonder, the way you were thrashing about; of course you’re tired.”

  “I woke and you were gone and things were starting to pinch and all. I’m sorry about the trouble—but with the pinching and the rubbing… You will let me return, though, won’t you?”

  “Of course, dear Freddie. And I’m so sorry about the discomfort you experienced; completely my fault. It shall be fixed at once.”

  “Well, then, perhaps I should stay a bit longer…”

  “No, Freddie. You’ve been here most of the day. It’s time for you to go home and rest; recover your strength. You may return next Saturday for another treatment. As always, I must caution you against the dangers o
f self-abuse between now and then. After all, that is why you’ve come for treatment, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You’re such a good boy, Freddie. Gabrielle will help you out of the machine and get you dressed and on your way.”

  Mei pulled Gabrielle aside. “Quickly, as soon as he’s gone, bind and seal that leak, then stoke the furnace and get the pressure back up to capacity. I’ve two new boys in the garden right now! I want the machine back up and running within the hour. Drat, what a waste of a day. Now the electrical current in the house is almost depleted and we were unable to harvest any new electricity from the machine’s manipulation of Freddie.”

  Rufus and Harold were much more relaxed by the time Mei returned to the garden. The opiates in the tea and cakes had served to loosen up their normally ridged sense of decorum. They’d taken off their jackets and undone their collars and were enjoying the unusually sunny afternoon.

  Stepping between them, Mei put a hand on each man’s shoulder, letting it slide down his chest until she found his nipple underneath the shirt. Lightly caressing them both, she said, “Since arriving in England, I’ve been pondering something. I hope you two might shed some light on the subject. Please, give me your honest opinion. Do you think this style of dress is too immodest?”

  They turned toward her to look as she ran her hands down the sides of her breasts, over her waist and ended in a resting position, index fingers and thumbs touching, framing the area where her mound of Venus lay beneath the layers of silk. Harold giggled uncontrollably, but Rufus just stared at her hands.

  “Why, Mr. Hamilton, you must have eaten quite a lot of cake. Look how tight your trousers have become. Are they terribly uncomfortable?”

  Eyes remaining on the prize, Rufus nodded his head in the affirmative.

  “And dear Mr. Martin,” she went on, as Harold made an effort to stop giggling, “it looks as though your pants could do with some alteration, as well.” She moved her hands up, over her flat stomach, to frame her breasts, and noticed the motion was not lost on either young man. Mouths dropped open as they followed her every movement. “Gentlemen, won’t you join me in the library?”

  Once Rufus and Harold were made comfortable in matching wing chairs, the maid served more tea. “Rufus, dear, do you think you might like to unbutton your trousers? They seem so uncomfortably tight. I’m sure it would put you much more at your ease.” Rufus’s hands automatically went to open his pants as Mei urged him on. “There, that’s better, isn’t it?” She noted his spectacular erection and thanked her good fortune that Harold had decided to bring his friend along. “You, too, Harold. You wouldn’t want your friend to be on his own, would you?” Mei watched as Harold opened his pants. Though his tumescence was still building, Mei doubted it would be quite as grand as his friend’s, but it would be perfectly adequate.

  “Young men today seem to have a dangerous buildup of excess energy. It isn’t good for your chi to have such an overabundance of energy. It makes you think unclean thoughts. Sometimes it even makes you—abuse yourself. Have either of you experienced such unwanted thoughts or perhaps even been driven to touch and fondle yourself impurely?”

  Both men’s hands went directly to their genitals. Harold slid his foreskin over and back, over and back, seemingly unconsciously, while Rufus buried his fist between his legs and kneaded his testicles. They gazed upon Mei with rapt attention.

  “I can help you with this problem. Help rid you of this unwanted energy so that your chi is your own once again.”

  Rufus took another drink from his teacup. “Miss Li?”

  “Yes, Rufus?”

  “What is ‘chi,’ please?”

  “Why, it is nothing less than your life force, Rufus. You see how very important this is? It is your very life force of which I speak.”

  “Oh, I see, well, yes. That is important, then.”

  “Now, wouldn’t you like me to help you with your problem? I can promise you a very pleasurable treatment, after which you will return home feeling much more confident about your personal deportment.” Mei stepped between the two men and gently wrapped her hands around their fully engorged penises and squeezed. They looked at her with such grateful eyes, while her own thoughts turned to the amount of palpable electromagnetic potential in the room. “Now, come with me and I shall introduce you to some most inscrutable Oriental wisdom. I promise you’ll leave my home new men.”

  Mei led Harold and Rufus upstairs to the third floor and a small anteroom before the machine room. “You must remove all your clothing before entering the treatment area.”

  “But surely you must be joking, Miss Lee,” Rufus exclaimed. Harold had already begun to unbutton his shirt. “You can’t expect us to be—naked—in front of you. It would be unseemly.”

  The effects of the tea seemed to be wearing off. Mei thought quickly. “If you were ill and visiting a physician who asked you to remove your clothing, I’m sure you wouldn’t hesitate, would you?”

  “No, but…”

  “In this instance, and for this purpose, you must think of me as your own personal physician. I am, after all, trained to treat your particular chi problem and have done so with many other young men. You mustn’t think of me as a beautiful woman but as a practitioner of the physical arts. If you would feel more comfortable, I’ll wait for you inside the treatment room and Ting and Gabrielle can help you both undress. Gabrielle, please fetch more tea for our young friends.”

  “Yes, well, I think that would be best,” Rufus said. Harold had finished unbuttoning his shirt but was having a difficult time removing it, as he hadn’t unfastened the cuff links. Ting helped him off with the shirt and hung it in a closet as Gabrielle came back with two cups of tea.

  “Drink your tea, Mr. Hamilton,” Mei prompted. “It will help to settle your nerves. You, as well, Harold. Now I’ll just await you inside.”

  Once the maids had helped them off with their clothing, Rufus and Harold were escorted into the machine room. The entire room was a warren of pipes and strange equipment, all hooked together and terminating in two separate nests, or pods, facing each other, which occupied the very center of the cavernous space. The room seemed to take up the entire top floor of the house, minus the anteroom where their clothes had been removed. Ting helped Rufus to one of the pods while Gabrielle helped Harold to the other.

  “Ting and Gabrielle have been trained to prepare and attend young men undergoing treatment so you must allow them to do their job. I’m sure some of what they do will seem strange to you. Just know it is all quite necessary for the harmonious and effective release of the excess energy blocking your chi.” The maids slipped rubber bits into each man’s mouth and tightened the straps behind their heads. “The mouth pieces are for your safety and comfort.”

  At this point, both men were relaxed enough from the sedatives in the tea so as to be unconcerned by the preparations. Mei knew once the “treatment” was underway, they would not want to stop, even after the sedative properties of the tea had worn off. When they came back for later appointments, and come back they would, they would need less and less of the drug before entering the machine room. It was only necessary to break down societal conditioning on the first few visits.

  The maids were attaching the belts and cuffs, which would help to keep them moored in place and restrained. In this way, there would be no accidental removal of the equipment necessary to extract their energy and convert it into electricity.

  Early on in her experiments, Mei had been concerned that she was actually extracting chi from her young subjects. The thought produced many sleepless nights, as the extraction of a person’s chi would be very wrong, indeed. She soon came to realize, however, that up to a certain age, a young man’s sexual energy was renewable. In fact, the more he spent, the more he acquired in its place.

  Therefore, one could argue, she’d written, the mechanical extraction of energy from the postadolescent male body is beneficial to his overall sexual health a
nd well-being. Further experimentation is needed to determine the age at which the process becomes a hamper, rather than a benefit, to the subjects’ powers of sexual rejuvenation.

  Plus, of course, it had the added benefit of powering her home. No more gaslights for her. She was even working on a time-saving invention for laundering linens and clothing, not to mention her new idea of a kind of electric music box. After all, there would always be an unending supply of sexually charged young men; they were a renewable resource.

  Harold and Rufus had been settled into their respective pods and smoked goggles had been placed over their eyes. Their attendants were just fastening them into the optimal position. Their wrists were restrained at their waist belts so they would not be able to touch themselves or disconnect any of the rods, wires or tubing soon to be attached. Rufus seemed to be complaining again.

  “Honestly, Rufus, dear, the way you carry on one would believe you had not a care in the world for your own life force.” Mei soothed his brow. “Shall I personally take charge of your preparation? Would that ease your mind?” She could feel the tension in his arms lessen. “That will be all, Ting. You may see to the machine’s readiness. There, there now, Rufus,” she cooed as she positioned his legs, knees spread and supported above the level of his heart. She stroked his inner thighs as she fastened them with the soft silk cords.

  His building erection did not go unnoticed. The more securely she fastened him to the pod, the harder and longer his cock became. Rubber chest bands were secured and finally his waist belt was tied down to eyelets in the pod, as well. Mei glanced toward Harold’s pod to find that Gabrielle had reached the same point in his preparations,

  “Now, this part may be a tad uncomfortable,” she said to Rufus, “but just know that it is all in your best interest and any slight discomfort you experience now will be converted soon enough to pleasure.”