Have Mercy

by Siobhán Béabhar

  "Relax," he ordered before he licked the opening of my vagina. A startled yelp escaped my mouth. I snorted back laughter, covering my face with my hand. "Relax," he said again.

  I tried to. I really did, but it had been so long since anyone had touched me there. I felt his fingers separate the lips of my vagina and his tongue dart deeper into me. I wasn't sure how long he was down there. My body responded to his gentle probing, but my mind wouldn't let go.

  "Just let it come," he said, sliding his hands up my thighs.

  I rose up on my elbows, staring down at his face. "Don't you think I'm trying?"

  "Try harder," he said, pulling away. "Lay back." I continued to look at him until his hand settled on my stomach. "Lay back," he repeated.

  My head fell back on the pillow and I stared up at the ceiling. I felt his thumb skim over my clitoris. "I guess we'll start over," he said, moving up my body.

  He kissed my chin. His tongue traced my bottom lip before he kissed me deeply. I could taste myself on his lips. I would never have thought it, but the taste sent pleasurable spirals down to my vagina. I felt his fingers separate me, opening me; then he slid one thin, long finger deep inside me.

  It surprised me how much my body tightened around his intrusion. My body quivered as I adjusted to the feeling. Our kiss deepened as he moved his finger in and out of me, increasing in speed.

  I pulled away from the kiss. Holding his head in my hands, I buried my face against his neck, letting the tension build. I even stopped breathing, letting my mind focus on his finger. I gulped in air, feeling the orgasm build. The spasms started deep inside me until I felt my muscles constrict around his finger. I gasped against his ear, whimpering as my body grew too sensitive to react to his movements.

  "Been a while, huh?" he asked as the tension faded from my body.

  I didn't need to answer him. He must have already known the answer from the tightness of my body and the hesitation in my movements.

  My breathing had returned to normal when he shifted on the bed. His body rose over mine, and he spread my legs. Our eyes locked as I felt him adjust his penis at my entrance. I knew that I had agreed to not think of any other man, but my mind conjured up my interaction with the General, recalling how he had failed to perform.

  Jack surged deep inside me. My mouth widened as I sucked in air. I tried to quell my response while my body stretched to accommodate his size. He pushed deep into me, stopping when he pressed against my womb. He lifted himself onto his hands, gazing down at our locked bodies. He pulled away, watching himself slide out of my body. His eyes returned to mine as he thrust back inside me.

  My breath caught in my throat. The force of his thrusts pushed me towards the headboard. My arms fell away from his body and my hands gripped the sheet. He raised my legs and I gripped his body, accepting the strength of his thrusts. His breath heaved as he grunted from his exertion.

  His thumb flicked against my clitoris. A wave of wetness flooded my entrance, making his thrusts smoother. Jesus, where did that come from?

  My mind reeled as I neared another orgasm. I gasped as the quivering sensation built, pulling at his organ. My arms locked around his body, crushing him in my embrace. It didn't hinder his movements as he continued to pound away inside of me.

  "That's it," he murmured as he kissed down my throat. His palm squeezed my breast and I felt myself fall apart. He surged inside me twice more before he called out my name and collapsed against my body.

  I bit down on my hand, quashing any words that might fall out of my mouth. He moved to kiss me but I turned my head away. He stared down at me, the bliss on his face evaporating.

  "I'm sorry. I was fighting back words," I explained, smiling at him. My fingers caressed his brow, trying to smooth away his frown.

  He rested on his side, his head in his hand. "Are you okay?" he asked, the concern clear in his voice.

  "Peachy," I said.

  He snorted, dropping a kiss on my shoulder. My thumb traced across his bottom lip. I felt another spasm deep inside of me and my body folded, as if savoring the feeling. "Wow," I said, closing my eyes.

  The warmth of the bed and the satisfaction of my body were lulling me to sleep. I settled into a comfortable position, intending to drift off to sleep. I felt Jack's fingers tap across my stomach. My eyes opened.

  He grinned at me. "No time for sleep, babe. I need to get my money's worth."

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

  Sometime around four in the morning, Jack allowed us to fall asleep. Taking pity on this old lady, he gave me little breaks to recover my senses before he started on more lovemaking. My body felt tender and raw after the hours spent in his arms.

  I woke up having slept on my stomach, Jack's head pillowed by my back. His fingers curved around my waist and every subtle movement of my body caused his fingers to tighten, as if fearing my escape. I didn't want to wake him, but I needed to use the potty.

  He moved his hand from my waist and settled it on my back. I could feel his fingers making circular designs across my back. The movements were too purposeful for a person deep in sleep. I lurched from my position and dashed into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

  I quickly used the toilet, and then made a mad dash into the shower, giving him time to leave. I washed my body, taking extra care around my re-awakened bits. Drying myself off, I combed my hair and rubbed lotion all over my body. Pulling on a robe, I gingerly walked out of the bathroom, expecting to be alone.

  Jack sat on the edge of the bed. He was rubbing at his eyes, the sheet tucked around his waist. Yawning, he ruffled his hair with his fingers. Inhaling loudly when he noticed me, he grinned.

  "Good morning," he said, standing. The sheet fell to the floor. I threw my hand up, blocking his nudity. He chuckled at my reaction. "Feeling a bit shy this morning?"

  "That's quite the sight to wake up to," I said, sliding around him. He grabbed the edge of my robe and jerked me into his arms.

  "Good morning," he repeated. He lowered his forehead to rest against the top of my head. His arms circled around me and he held me in his embrace.

  "Good morning," I murmured against his throat. It was morning and he was aroused. My body began to respond to his scent and the feel of his skin. I pulled away, pushing the hair from my face. "You better get going before the rest of the house stirs." I sent up a silent prayer that all the girls were still in their rooms. I didn't want them to see him creeping out of my room this early in the morning.

  He sunk his fingers in my hair, fisting it, and pulled me closer. He looked at my face, no doubt taking in all of the fine lines, the freckled age spots, and the other imperfections that came with middle age. He smiled, his lips sweeping across mine. He kissed me deeply as he parted my robe, sliding his hand in to cup my breast.

  For a moment, I forgot about my impatience. Nothing mattered but the feel of his lips across mine. My hands slid up his back as he walked me to the edge of the bed, our bodies falling against the mattress. I spread my legs, wrapping them around his body, but he didn't enter me. He focused entirely on our kiss. I curled my fingers into his hair, holding him close.

  Abruptly, he pulled away, hovering over me and staring down at my face. His fingers traced my jawline, his thumb lingering over my lips. He glanced up, eyes narrowed. He sat on the edge of the bed, again ruffling his black hair with his fingers. He stood, grabbing his underwear from the floor.

  As he dressed, he looked toward the window. I watched the movement of his muscles as he pulled on his shirt. I sat up, smothering a girlish giggle. He caught me peeking at him, a shy smile crossing his face. He moved away from the window, brushing a kiss on the top of my head before he walked down the stairs and out of my bedroom. I ran behind him, opening the door and stepping out into the parlor, watching as he descended the grand staircase. He disappeared from view. The sound of the door opening and shutting letting me know that he had left the house.

  Closing my door and climbing the steps, I collapsed onto
the bed and brought my fingers to my mouth. My lips were puffy, my skin felt chafed and tender. I could feel myself glowing with joy and satiation. It had been the first time that I slept with a man since my husband, the first time I had a paid client, and it had been one of the most exquisite experiences of my life.

  There was a knock at the door. "Come in!" The door opened and Red's head appeared at the bottom of the short staircase. I tied my robe closed and moved to sit up. She climbed the stairs and sat down next to me, smacking my thigh with her hand.

  "How are you, girly?" Her green eyes twinkled, eagerness in her demeanor.

  "Wonderful, Red."

  Her gaze roamed over my face and then she glanced back at the rumpled bed. She sniffed the air, causing me to burst into nervous laughter. She stood and walked to the dresser, picking up the money. She counted the bills and tossed them back onto the table.

  "Do I owe you a cut?" I asked, not truly knowing the protocol.

  She was taken aback by my question. Fidgeting, she said, "No, this is your operation. If anything, I could be paying you for the extra services."

  "Really?" I asked, curiosity in my voice.

  Realizing her mistake, she grinned. "No. Never mind. So he really paid it, huh? And it looks like you both were satisfied with the transaction?" she asked, looking at me carefully. "Good?"

  I grabbed my pillow and tossed it at her. She squeaked. "Ew. The juices on that thing," she said. She grinned, kicking the pillow away. "I can see you haven't fully recovered yet. We'll be waiting in the kitchen." With a jaunty wave, she left my room, humming with pleasure.

  I tossed on some clothes and pulled my hair back into a bun. Checking the mirror, I practiced a few expressions, opting for calm and control. I didn't want to walk into the kitchen grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  Leaving my room, I walked through the parlor and down the stairs at a leisurely pace. As I sat down at the kitchen table, a round of applause erupted, with Red leading the cheers.

  "I fucking hate you guys."

  Melia laid a plate of bacon and eggs in front of me. A bowl of fruit and fresh orange juice were on the table.

  "You'll need this to recover your strength. Lots of protein," Penelope grinned, her chin resting on her fist. Her blue eyes were merry.

  "I think Mercy has had plenty of protein." Red grinned, stealing a strawberry from my plate.

  I choked on the orange juice as my mind finally caught the meaning of her words. As I coughed, Albertine whacked my back. Red cackled, enjoying my near-death experience.

  "Did he pay you?" Melia asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

  "He did," I said, cutting into my eggs.

  "How much?" Penelope asked.

  "Two grand," I said.

  Her eyes widened. Turning to Red, she said, "That cheap, lying little shit!"

  "I told you. You'll know next time," Red answered.

  Penelope shook her head. "No. There won't be a next time," she said. "If I choose to have a gentleman friend, well, it will be because of mutual benefit."

  "You get money. He blows a load. Sounds like mutual benefit to me," Red said.

  "You know what I meant. There will be love involved," Penelope explained.

  "Will he be back?" Albertine asked.

  "I don't know," I said. "He didn't mention it and I certainly wasn't going to ask."

  "Why not?" Melia wondered.

  "Because he's the client. I don't want to come off seeming desperate for money or something," I said.

  "Pfft. You'd just look desperate for that dick," Melia snorted.

  I burst into another round of choking. Albertine smacked at my back again. I set my plate aside, deciding to finish my breakfast when no one else was around to cause another fit.

  "You two had a grand time," Penelope said, grinning.

  "Why do you say that?" I asked her.

  "Your room is right above mine. By the way, you owe me a new frame. One of my pictures came bouncing off of the wall."

  My mouth fell open. Heat developed on my cheeks, spreading across my face. Were we that loud? That animated? "I'm sorry."

  She chuckled. "I'm just teasing, Mercy."

  "You had me worried," I said, clearing the embarrassing image from my mind.

  Penelope grinned and sat back in her chair, her fingers twirling her string of pearls. "Don't get me wrong, I heard quite a bit, but there was no damage to the walls or anything."

  "What happened after we left the party?"

  Albertine brightened at this new topic. "We've decided to hold another soiree. Lin will play her cello and Penelope says she knows a few poets who might be interested in sharing their work."

  "Quite an artistic gathering," I said, catching onto Albertine's excitement. "We could hold them monthly, maybe the last Saturday of the month. It would be fun to bring in people to showcase their talents. This is a great idea."

  "We're glad that you approve," Melia said. "We can certainly move to holding them monthly, but you should know, we already took a vote and we'll be holding another one next week."

  I turned towards her, my eyebrows raised. "You voted without me?"

  "Majority rules, right? We all agreed so your vote was rather unnecessary. Besides, you were a bit busy," Melia said, a sly smile on her face.

  "You should invite your young man," Albertine chirped.

  "I'm sure that he'll love to come," Red added.

  I looked over at Red and then the rest of the girls. I was appalled at their behavior, especially since it was at my own expense. I was saved by the ringing of the phone. I pushed away from the table, glaring one last time at Red before I answered the telephone. "Hello?"

  "Who has house phones?" Red muttered loudly.

  I turned my back and repeated. "Hello."

  "Good morning," said the voice on the other end.

  "Who is this?" I asked into the phone.

  "It's Jack," said the voice.

  "Oh! Jack. I was just eating breakfast," I prattled. The sound of his name caused the chatter in the kitchen to end. The girls quieted, listening to my phone conversation. I decided that I needed to finally break down and get a cell phone. They could hear every word I said. "Can you do me a favor?"

  "Sure."

  "Call me back in five minutes," I said.

  He hung up the phone. I grabbed my glass and swallowed the rest of the orange juice. I thought I heard "she's a guzzler" from the table, but I couldn't be sure. I ran out of the room and up the stairs. I waited for him to call back, darting across the bed as the phone rang.

  "Hello?"

  "Hello, Mrs. Higgins, this is Nathan at—" Click. I hung up the phone.

  It began to ring again, and I was hesitant to pick up, fearing it was Nathan the creditor again. Tapping my lip, I picked the phone up and held it to my ear. I said nothing as I waited to hear the other voice.

  "Better time?" asked Jack.

  "Yeah. I was in the kitchen with the others. I didn't think they'd want to overhear our conversation," I said.

  "Bullshit. They would have liked nothing more than to listen. I think that you might be the last person I know who owns a house phone."

  "Really? I think my generation is a bit leery of not having a house phone."

  "Let's not start with the age thing again, Mercy," he said, sighing. "I was calling to ask if you were free this evening?"

  I paused, gathering my wits. "Let me check. I might already be booked." I shuffled the bible on my nightstand, pretending to check a calendar. Lord, forgive. "Ah. I'm free tonight. Aren't you lucky?"

  He chuckled. "I'll be there around nine. It's going to be a cool evening, so dress warmly," he said, hanging up the phone.

  I held the phone for a second, letting it slide from my ear. I wanted to leap from my bed and dance a little jig, but I was lazy and it would have required too much exertion. I hung up the phone and returned to the kitchen.

  The girls sat at the table, chatting with each other. I took my seat, deciding not
to share that night's plan. Pulling my plate towards me, I snatched up a piece of bacon and began to nibble.

  They talked around me as I ate. Finally, Red leaned back in her chair and looked at me. "Not going to tell us about the phone call?"

  "Nope."

  "Well," Penelope said, drinking her coffee.

  "Thank goodness we had the foresight to listen," Melia piped in.

  Albertine turned to look me in the face. The little wren laughed. "Mercy has another date."

  "You low-down bitches."

  Albertine ducked her head, hiding her glee. Melia smirked, not bothering to hide her pleasure. Penelope's face darkened, but her gaze rested on my face. I could tell that Red's mind was racing ahead. "He should have told you what tonight was about."

  "Probably just a dinner date."

  "You'll probably need a bag for dinner. Have to smuggle those leftovers out in something, right?" Melia returned. I wished that I hadn't finished my orange juice. It would have looked lovely on Melia's flawless brown skin.

  "You know, if Hector was as good-looking as Jack, I'd do it all over again," Penelope said.

  "Shit, Penelope, if it's looks that has you worried, I have plenty of contacts that would give ol' Jack a run for his money. Literally," Red said, nodding her head for emphasis.

  The expression on Penelope's face was pensive as she said, "Any of them interested in a regular relationship?"

  "Maybe," Red said. "But why would I encourage my clients to find unpaid companionship?"

  "Carol," Penelope sighed. "Must it always be about money?"

  "You'd be dumb not to consider the money," she said.

  "No, you're the dumb one, Carol. I heard you and the Admiral's conversation last night," Melia said.

  Red's teasing mood disappeared, replaced with a keen alertness. Red had been persistent in pulling information from me, but now the tide had turned, and she was the center of our attention.

  Melia noticed Red's tense withdrawal. "It's fine when we do it to Mercy? Ladies, Carol here was proposed to last night."