by Ed Bemand
“She gets a kickback from the bookshop for those copies.”
“That’s handy for her.”
“Melanie doesn’t like it when people get their own copies.” Carol’s words came as a surprise. She had been sat with them throughout, but it had been so long since she had spoken that Maria had forgotten she was there.
“She also takes the books back when people are done with them, and sells them back to the guy.”
Melanie took a copy out of the bag and looked at it. The dark, dirty face of a man in a mining helmet filled the cover.
“Next week’s book is Coalface, by Lewie Jones. Though very different in setting from Banged Up, it shares four different themes with it. See how many of them you can spot and I’ll tell you if you got it right next week. Watch out, there’s two themes that you’ll think are in there but they aren’t.”
Maria felt obliged to take a copy, even though she doubted she would read it and fervently hoped that Camilla wouldn’t make her attend the next meeting. She dug in her purse to find the money. Melanie took it from her but didn’t look that pleased. Camilla didn’t bother. Knowing her she had probably read it already.
Maria was glad when the meeting proper was over and she could talk to Camilla a bit more freely. She hung around after everyone else had drifted off.
“Staying for another coffee?”
“Why don’t you want to go somewhere and have fun?”
“Haven’t I already said no to you about that?”
“Yes, but...”
“Just be patient, dear. You looked like you were having a splendid moment before so you’ve nothing to complain about.”
“I want more.”
“That’s just greedy. You can’t always get what you want.”
“I thought what we did was about giving it to me.”
“Maybe last week it was. This week it isn’t.”
“What about next week?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see. How have things been with your husband?”
“Pretty much the same. We’re not fighting or anything.”
“But you aren’t fucking either.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Is there supposed to be a simple answer? We’re just not. Anyway, I’m sure he’s too busy wanking to want to.”
“What’s he getting from porn that he can’t get from you?”
“I think it’s mostly bondage stuff he watches, dominatrixes, that kind of stuff.”
“Dominatrices. So why don’t you, ah, help him out with that?”
“Me? I couldn’t, I’ve never. I don’t really do that sort of thing.”
“Really? You’re missing out.”
“If that’s what he’s after he picked the wrong girl.”
“You’ve never done that sort of thing?”
“A few times, I suppose, but...”
“You’ve always been the one on the bottom?”
“Yes. Have you done it?”
“Of course. It can be fun, plus it’s an easy way to keep a man in line. Anyway, I spent a lot of years telling off naughty children so I’ve had practice.”
“Was your husband into it?”
“I think he preferred younger girls. After I’d had his children he didn’t seem very interested in me. When he got bored of shagging his secretary he’d bother me occasionally. I got used to sorting him out without having to put in too much effort. It’s a lot easier than you think.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t think I could do it anyway. I’m not like that.”
“Only if you don’t want to be.”
“I don’t.”
“Then you can’t be surprised that he has to take care of himself. Would you rather he did what you’re doing and sneak out to get what he needs?”
“At least I don’t sit there fumbling with myself all the time.”
Camilla raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Not all the time.”
“Things would probably be much simpler if you two could just talk to each other.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“What would you do if he did fuck someone?”
“Divorce him, I suppose. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do if someone has an affair?”
“So he’s not allowed to have affairs but you are?”
“I don’t have affairs.”
Camilla gave her a look.
“We’re not having an affair. It’s different.”
The look continued.
“Shut up. It is.”
“You’re trying to have it both ways and that’s not fair. You can’t just stop him from having sex completely. It’s cruel.”
“What do you want me to do, set him up with someone?”
“Why not leave it to me?”
“You want to fuck him?”
“Certainly not.”
“Then what are you planning?”
“Trust me, Maria. Camilla knows best.”
“Camilla knows best.” Maria repeated, unconvinced.
Camilla kissed her delicately on the cheek and left the café.
Next week couldn’t come soon enough for Maria.
Chapter 9 - Camilla knows best
The days dragged by as Maria longed for her next chance to see Camilla. Late at night and unable to sleep she pressed her thighs together wanting to kindle at least a hint of what she knew Camilla could do there. She touched herself as she lay next to her softly snoring husband, desperate enough that she was even tempted to wake him up and beg him to fuck her. She didn’t.
She was early for the next meeting. She didn’t even bother to wait until Alex got home from work. She didn’t want to have to wait alone, but she was eager to see Camilla. She desperately hoped that their next encounter would give her the fulfilment she craved rather than just more teasing. Camilla was already in the café when she got there and Maria regretted not leaving just that little bit earlier so that she could have had a few extra moments with her.
Camilla greeted her and kissed her affectionately.
“Please tell me you’re not going to make me actually go to the meeting.”
“Aren’t you excited for the chance to talk about Ivor?”
“Who?”
“The book.”
“I didn’t read it.”
“I’m disappointed.”
“Because I didn’t want to read more dismal crap about a guy in prison?”
“No, that part’s different at least. This one is about a man named Ivor. He works in a coal mine for thirty years, then the mine is closed down.”
“I bet he’s relieved.”
“You’d have thought, but instead he becomes the figurehead for a campaign to preserve the traditional way of life and ends up being stuck down the mine for another twenty years, but this time people are paying to visit and be showed what a real mine used to be like.”
“How ghastly. I can’t face it.
“Then what do you want?”
“You.”
Camilla laughed softly.
“That’s sweet of you. Let’s get a drink first and catch-up.”
“Please say you mean a real drink.”
“Come on. Let’s go before Melanie gets here and disapproves of us.”
They headed to the bar across the street, ordered a bottle of wine and sat at a table near the window. It wasn’t what Maria really wanted, but it was a more tempting prospect than having to pretend that she’d read the book again.
“Any change at home?”
“Not really. He’s out at work all day and he’d probably be happier if he could spend every other waking moment with his hand down his trousers.”
“Don’t take it personally, dear. Boys can’t help themselves.”
“That makes it even more depressing.”
Maria was drinking faster than she meant to. Was it just nerves? When she was younger a bottle of wine could disappear and
leave her feeling none the worse, but even a glass was enough for her to feel it lately.
“I’ve come up with an idea to try and ah... sort things out a bit for you.”
“What?”
“Just trust me. Do you trust me?”
“I think so. Should I?”
“Just let me try something. I think I know a way to help you both out.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Not much, but you’d be a dear if you’d help me on with the corset.”
“Corset? What are you up to?”
“No questions. Camilla knows best. Come on. Finish your wine. We can take the rest of the bottle with us.”
“Where are we going?”
“Just a quick stop off at my place to get everything in order.”
Maria drove them to Camilla’s house. She was hoping that it meant they would be able to spend another pleasant evening in bed together, but Camilla clearly had other plans.
“What do you think?”
Camilla held up her new acquisition. It was a corset, an elaborate construction of black and red leather, its soft surface covered with detailed carving. Inside it was lined with silk.
“Where did you get it?”
“Do you like it? It was rather expensive, but quality has a price. It’s properly fitted, which was an interesting experience, I’ll tell you. I’m pretty sure that the girl spent twice as long measuring as she had to, but I wasn’t complaining.”
“You bought it specially?”
“Not exactly. I bought it because I wanted it, and I want it because I have a plan. Would you rather I’d bought it solely for your benefit?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never really been into leather...”
“I simply can’t believe that.” She held it up in front of her. “Are you saying that seeing me in this wouldn’t turn you on?”
“You’d turn me on in a bin bag.”
“You say the sweetest things. Now, stop wasting time. We’ve got things to do and I need you to help me get ready.”
Camilla undressed with brisk efficiency, then pulled on stockings, a short leather skirt and the corset. She needed Maria’s help tightening the laces. It looked very uncomfortable.
“Can you still breathe?”
“Just about.” Camilla smiled awkwardly. “The sacrifices one must make for art...”
She spent a few minutes at the mirror applying considerably more vampish make-up. When she was finished, she turned to Maria for approval.
“How do I look?”
“So gorgeous it’s not fair it’s not for me.”
“Be a good girl and you’ll get your turn.”
She added tall leather boots with spike heels and long gloves to complete her ensemble. The riding crop she held lightly in her hand was the finishing touch. Her appearance fetishised, Camilla put her coat back on and encouraged Maria back to her car.
“Where now?”
“Your place.”
“What?”
“I’m sure you know the way.”
“Are you going to let him fuck you?”
“Didn’t I already tell you I wasn’t? Do you want me to?”
“It’s your plan.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No. I don’t want you to.”
“I won’t. Stop worrying. Let’s head over to your place. I’ll go in and have a word with him. Remember, Camilla knows best.”
Maria was unconvinced but didn’t want to argue with Camilla, especially not when she was dressed like that.
Maria parked across the road from the house.
“It’s that one.”
“Fine. Now let me have your key, and just wait here. I’ll take care of everything. It shouldn’t take long.”
Camilla slipped off her coat and walked briskly across the road to Maria’s front door. It wasn’t a warm evening and her outfit wasn’t really covering her that well.
Maria passed the time fiddling with the radio and feeling awkward. It was dark but it still felt weird to be sat in a parked car so close to the house. She wondered what Camilla was getting up to with her husband. She knew it was naughty, but she found herself taking elicit sips on the bottle of wine, just to give herself something else to think about.
A little while later, Maria’s day-dreaming was interrupted by Camilla opening the car door.
“You weren’t in there very long.”
“It doesn’t take long.”
“Did he go along with it?”
“Of course he did. What man wouldn’t? It was easy.”
“Did he cum?”
“Of course?”
“What did you do to him?”
“I didn’t even touch him. He just needed a little encouragement.”
“You made him cum without even touching him?”
“Men like to think that they’re mysterious, but they’re really not. Cocks are all alike when you get to know them.”
“Lucky them.”
“I could do it to you as well...”
“You promise? You can keep the corset on.”
“Just for you, but it’s bloody uncomfortable.”
“What now?”
“Well, I’ve told him to stop wanking so we’ll have to just see how long that lasts.”
“Give it a day.”
“More than likely, but it doesn’t matter really. It’s given him something to think about.”
“I bet it has. What do you think of him?”
“He’s a horny boy. Like most of them he can’t stop playing with his cock. It’s nothing unusual.”
“Really. You think all men are like that?”
“Most of them. They just don’t like to talk about it. Part of them realises how hard it is for anyone to take them seriously when they’re doing it so they just pretend it doesn’t happen.”
“And they really don’t like it if you laugh at them.”
“Do you want to see him in the act?”
Camilla showed Maria the photos she had taken of Alex, naked from the waist down with his hand wrapped around his cock.
“It’s a good picture, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. You’re not married to it.”
“Mine wasn’t any better.”
“So what was the point of all this getting dressed up and sneaking around?”
“Would you rather he pay some whore to boss him around?”
“No, but it’s a bit weird.”
“Sex usually is. Come on. Let’s go back to mine for a bit. You should probably leave him to it for a while.”
“Still think you can make me cum without touching me?”
“I know I can. I could tell you how to do it to him, if you wanted.”
“I think I’d rather you just show me.”
And she could, as Maria could happily testify later that evening when she was driving home. Of course it had been a bit of a cheat, really. Maria had been the one doing all the touching. Not that she was complaining about that.
It was almost midnight when she got home. Alex looked worried.
“Where have you been?”
“Sorry... I lost track of time.”
“Good book group?”
She tried to stay calm but was still feeling tingly after Camilla’s attention.
“Very.”
She felt embarrassed, by what she knew he’d done earlier, and by everything that she had done since. Of course, she couldn’t judge him too harshly for going along with Camilla’s plan. And how could she criticise him for his indulgences when she was enjoying her own?
Chapter 10 - How they both cheated
Another week dragged by. Maria did stuff around the house in a desultory manner. She cleaned up a bit, did the washing, watched too much TV.
She had made a rule for herself that she should never drink alcohol during the day but increasingly she found herself looking longingly at the bottles in the cupboard. At least that would have made the time pass a bit faster.
If only there was something else for her to look forward to. It wasn’t like she could try and meet up with Camilla before the next meeting, she didn’t even have her phone number. Maria wished that she could just talk to Camilla. Maybe she could call Melanie, she might have it, but no... she didn’t want to risk annoying Camilla by trying to contact her without being invited to. She would just have to wait.
Tuesday evening couldn’t come soon enough. She spent most of the afternoon getting herself ready. She had a long bath, shaved herself smooth, and then lounged around preening and pampering for hours.
She was dressed and ready to leave when Alex made it home.
“Will you be staying out afterwards tonight?” he asked nervously.
“Probably, you don’t mind, do you?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just be sad and alone I suppose.”
“There’s a brave boy.” She kissed him on the cheek and headed out.
Camilla wasn’t there when Maria got to the café, but fortunately Melanie wasn’t either.
She found herself chatting with the awkward mousey individual that she had previously seen loitering in the back of the meetings.
“Hi... Carol, isn’t it?”
“Hi. Yes. Hello.” She spoke in small, querulous staccato bursts.
“Looking forward to the meeting?”
She nodded.
“Did you like the book?”
Carol nodded.
“Did you?”
“I haven’t even read it.”
Carol looked shocked.
“I won’t tell Melanie.”
“Thank you. She’s a bit of a bitch, isn’t she?”
Carol looked momentarily appalled by the description, then laughed nervously.
Camilla entered the café. Her coat was done up to the neck. Maria wondered what she might be hiding beneath it. Were those the same boots she’d been wearing for her little session last week?
“Hello Carol, Maria.”
Carol did a weird little wave-thing and retreated into the background. Maria went in for a kiss. Camilla reciprocated, but only momentarily.
“Are we staying for the meeting this week?”
“Do you want to?”
“Not really. I’d rather go somewhere with you...”
“Anywhere in particular?”
“I don’t mind. You choose.”
“Okay. Come on, let’s go.”
“See you next time, Carol.”
