by Robin Roseau
"You went away."
"Did you think about other women?"
"Sometimes. Not as often as I used to think about you." Then she began laughing.
"What?"
"I can't tell you. I'm sorry."
"Oh, I'm not taking that answer."
"I'll let you caress my face some more if you drop it."
"All right," I said gently. Let me caress her face? Inside, I laughed. And then I began to lightly caress, soft touches, soothing. Her face wrinkled then slowly relaxed.
"I bet this isn't what you daydreamed about."
"I wouldn't say I daydreamed. I wondered."
"What did you wonder?"
"I wanted to invite you for a slumber party."
"But you were afraid I'd try to seduce you."
"I'm not sure. I think I was afraid you wouldn't. And I'd be left wondering what was wrong with me."
"You know, there are lesbians that try to seduce any attractive woman they find. I'm not that type. I don't seduce straight girls. I wouldn't have touched you, Claudine."
"I think I would have felt rejected. I know that's stupid."
"Yeah, a little."
She turned her head towards me and opened her eyes. "Do you like me?"
"You're in my bed. Isn't that a hint?"
"I suppose it is."
I caressed her cheek again. "You want me seduce you, don't you?"
"Not this morning!"
"No. Sometime."
She closed her eyes, but then she nodded, and the whispered, "Yes" was barely audible. But then she turned away. "That's stupid, isn't it?"
"Why is it stupid?"
"I'm pathetic."
At that I sat up onto an elbow and let my leg finish sliding across her, then I moved until I was on top of her. I gripped her chin and turned her back to face me. She blinked up into my eyes.
"You're not pathetic," I said firmly. "You're sweet. You're also troubled and unsure. To go with that, you're deeply endearing and damned sexy."
"Guys say that, but guys think every woman is sexy if they can have a chance with her."
"Some guys," I agreed. "Most guys are pretty decent."
"What would you know about it?"
"If your experience is different, you've been dating the wrong guys." I paused. "Listen. In a few weeks, I'm going to ask you out. I'm not going to seduce you, but I am going to kiss you goodnight. It's going to be a long, slow, intoxicating kiss, and you won't be able to think for an hour afterwards."
"Oh god," she whispered.
"But I won't seduce you that night. That won't come for months, and when it does come, you won't see it until you're in my bed in your birthday suit, and I'm doing things to you that you can't even believe."
She surprised me with her response. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me tight to her. I melted against her and let her hold me.
"That night will just be sex," I said quietly. "Fun. It's not love. You have too much to figure out, and you're not going to do it on one woman. All right?"
"All right," she whispered.
Business
I received official notice that this month there would be no vote on my status. It was received with relief, because I still had a great deal of debt remaining.
I worked on the project for Mary Ellen. I didn't have any other current clients with outstanding work, and I suspended my own marketing, choosing to focus on the client at hand.
I worked off another half dozen hours.
I didn't hear from Mrs. Franklin.
* * * *
My second meeting of the Order of Circe was somewhat different from the first. This time, Mrs. Shaffer was our host. There weren't quite as many of us; I counted 14. That was still a significant dinner party.
Liah was not there, but the other four junior members were. And I was introduced to two of the full members I hadn't met before, Ms. Cheyenne Roman and Ms. Opal Pearce. Ms. Roman was perhaps 45 and was the controller for a food distribution company. Ms. Pearce was older than that, perhaps low- or mid-50s and was "in finance". Her gaze was intense as she stared down into my eyes, not releasing my hand for some time. I returned her gaze with a smile.
I decided she was trying to intimidate me. It didn't work.
But then she released me, and Claudine and Sylvia collected me, bringing me to the corner where Kiki and Hope were waiting. "You survived," Hope said.
"So I did. I have a question."
"Shoot," said Sylvia.
"I want to invite a hazing, but I don't want it for a few more days, maybe next weekend at the earliest. Should I wait, or if I ask her, but ask her to wait, is that okay?"
"Sure," Sylvia said. "Who are you going to ask?"
"Everyone agrees?" I said.
"Of course," Kiki said. "It gives the woman more time to plan something truly special."
"I shudder to think." Then I smiled. "Kiki would you like to haze me, but not before next Friday after business hours?"
She smiled broadly. "I'll spend the week planning."
"Why are you making her wait?" Sylvia asked.
"I wanted to ask in person, but I don't want to spend the entire week worrying about it," I said. "I have a major project for work, and I need to focus on it."
"You should ask one of the older members," Claudine said. "Kiki can wait."
"But-" Kiki said.
"We just had our fun," Claudine said. "Kiki can wait two weeks."
"But-" The woman deflated. "She's right. I can wait two weeks."
"I tell you what. I'll take your advice and invite someone else. She might have a slightly different restriction than I offered you. And so I'll ask you instead to wait until at least next Friday or until I've had time to recover from whatever she does to me, whichever comes second. If she gets me Tuesday, you can still have Friday or later."
Kiki smiled. "Deal." She looked around. "You know, this is a lot more fun from this side of the hazing."
"I imagine it is. So, what was in that canister you guys used?" I had reviewed the videos from my hazing, and I saw them doing something to freeze my boots in place, but I wasn't sure.
"We used water and liquid nitrogen," Sylvia said with a snort. "But the nitrogen kept boiling. The water would freeze, but it wasn't freezing into a solid block the way we wanted. Your boots were frozen to the ground right away, but we didn't think it would stick. We needed them encased."
"Your idea?"
"Yeah. Are you mad?"
"No. It's unfortunate I don't get to return the favor."
She laughed. "It doesn't work that way."
Then I felt a hand on my back, and when I turned, I saw Ms. Pearce. "May I borrow her for a moment?"
"Of course," the women said together. And so I let Ms. Pearce draw me away.
"What can I do for you?" I asked when she turned me to face her. She was standing very close to me, well into my personal space, but I simply smiled up at her.
"I wish to speak with you after the business meeting. But I wish you to leave next Friday evening free."
I nodded. "I just invited a hazing."
"From one of the women you were just talking to?"
"Yes."
"You need to ask the more senior members."
"I asked Mrs. Franklin, but so far, nothing."
"Then you need to ask another."
"If I'm doing something for you Friday evening, I don't want to have been freshly hazed, hazed during the event, or come home exhausted and find a surprise waiting for me."
"I'll take care of it. Do you know who you're going to ask?"
"Who do you recommend?"
She smiled. "No one ever asks any of the lawyers. I see two here tonight."
"I only know Ms. Hunt."
She nodded towards a cluster of women across the room. "The woman with her back to us is Raquel Boone."
"Are you suggesting I should ask her instead of Ms. Hunt?"
"She is older."
"That means something, doesn't it?"
"Yes." And so I nodded. "Let us offer an introduction," Ms. Pearce added.
"We've met," I said.
"Well, I'll help you break into the conversation."
She took my arm and led me across the room. Ms. Boone was deep in conversation with Ms. Hunt and the two Hart sisters. They broke off as we approached, making a space for us in their small circle.
"I was just telling Ms. Todd she shouldn't let the junior members entirely monopolize her time."
"Oh, no," said Ms. Hart. "That wouldn't do at all." She brushed cheeks with me. "I am Donna Hart. This is my sister, Doctor Alice Hart."
"We've met," I said. "But I appreciate help remembering." I brushed lips against her cheek.
"You know Sabrina Hunt." Cheek kiss. "And you briefly met Raquel Boone." Cheek kiss.
"I shall leave you in these capable hands," said Ms. Pearce. "But do not leave tonight before we talk again."
"I shan't," I agreed. She stepped away, and when I looked later, she was talking to the junior members. I trusted her to handle things how she wanted.
Ms. Hart chuckled. "Has she asked you out?"
"Excuse me?"
"Opal. Has she asked you out?"
"No. Is that what she wants later?"
"Probably." Ms. Hart grinned. "You should tell her 'yes'."
"Oh?"
"Trust me."
"Of course."
"How are your feet?" Dr. Hart asked. "I was quite startled when I saw what they did."
"I was worried about frostbite."
"As was I. Are you absolutely sure your feet are fine?"
"They seem to be. There are no dead spots, and Claudine told me she checked them very carefully. I was too busy shivering to notice what they did to me."
"You were still shivering when they got you inside?"
"Yes."
And so she nodded and let it drop.
And then the women resumed their conversation from earlier. I paid attention and tried to catch up, but having missed the first half, I was completely lost. But this wasn't the first time I'd plastered on a smile and tried to look like I knew what was going on. I'd been coming to Grandmother Cadence's events for a very long time.
But it was Ms. Boone, the older lawyer, who finally turned to me. "You are awfully quiet, Ms. Todd."
"Oh, you know me. Seen but not heard."
"That is not your more recent reputation," she said with a glance at Ms. Hunt.
"Well, no one has tried to insult my integrity," I replied, offering a brief smile.
Ms. Boone looked into my face for a minute, then glanced over my shoulder, possibly looking at Ms. Pearce's back, then back to me. "Opal cut you loose from the pack, talked only briefly to you, then dropped you off here."
"That is all accurate, counselor," I said. "And have you come to conclusions as to why?"
"Several possibilities occur to me. I wonder which of us you intend to ask."
I laughed. "You, but I wish to discuss it first."
"That's not how this works."
"And yet, I have not invited any special attention from you. I have stood here quietly, absorbing the conversation. But perhaps I could have a moment of your time alone."
"Oh, no," said Ms. Hart immediately. "I want to hear this." That was quickly followed by agreement from everyone else.
"It seems, Ms. Todd, you are not to have privacy," said Ms. Boone. "What can I do for you?"
"I have a busy week coming. I cannot allow certain activities to interfere with my ability to begin delivery to an important client. I am willing to invite certain attention, but I am somewhat at a loss how I can manage competing priorities. What do you recommend?"
Dr. Hart offered a bark of laughter. "She's got you there, Raquel. She asked your advice."
"I prefer to speak somewhat more directly. Are you inviting me to haze you?"
"If we can resolve my difficulties. I cannot afford to be looking over my shoulder when I should be working. That would be distracting, and my work would suffer. Nor can I be in recovery from whatever happens when I should be working."
"The initiates only rarely invite my involvement in this ritual."
"Were you invited as an initiate?"
"I was, many years ago."
"Well, I wouldn't want you to feel cheated by my invitation. And so we both perhaps are at a loss. But you understand that while I cannot have the current project affected by events, I also do not necessarily care to wait overlong. Perhaps you prefer I invite someone else and see you at another date."
"Are you withdrawing your invitation, Ms. Todd?"
"Not at all." I smiled. "I am offering options."
"Well, I happily accept your invitation. Some of the women prefer to surprise the initiates, which means they are, indeed, left looking over their shoulders."
"I am still waiting for Mrs. Franklin. I am convinced she is waiting until I have forgotten about her."
"Perhaps she is. I believe I will call you when I have decided what I will do, and when I will do it. So the only question is, do you want more than 24 hours warning, or will that cause you to fret?"
"An hour would be sufficient."
"Very good, Ms. Todd." She smiled and then asked Dr. Hart about some piece of research she'd read about.
* * * *
The business meeting was held in a room similar to that in Mrs. Franklin's home. Mrs. Shaffer conducted the meeting, and the bulk was devoted to discussion of upcoming events and the status thereof.
It was at the end when she called on Melanie Grafton to discuss "the current initiate". Mrs. Grafton stood up and gave a dry report of the time I had served so far. But then she said, "The initiate has always been a willing pair of hands for many of our activities, but she was slow to adopt one or two that proved to be new to her. That led to some amount of disgruntlement, but I believe more recent events are serving to ameliorate the uneasiness."
Then she turned to face me directly. "Do you care to comment?"
"It was a lot to absorb," I said quietly. "I struggled with the concept that I was expected to encourage you to pick on me. And you people are scary creative!"
There was laughter at that.
"I will point out the initiate has been exceedingly gracious after her ordeals, far more gracious than some in this room have been in the past." She turned back to me. "Have you continued to send thank you notes?"
There was more laughter. "Yes. I would like to point out prior to today, I have invited three of you to have your fun, although only two women chose to do so. I am not sure it is my fault if one of you chooses to take her time."
"I understand tonight you have invited additional attention," Mrs. Grafton stated.
"Yes, although with some reluctance, given priorities over the next few weeks."
"I believe your concerns were addressed."
I nodded. "They were."
"At this time, do you wish to withdraw your acceptance of our offer to join our society?"
"I do not." I lifted my head. "Grandmother Cadence spent my entire life training me to sit in this room with you. I have every intention of making her proud."
"I am sure you will," Mrs. Grafton replied. "Are there questions?"
She looked around the room. Hearing none, she resumed her seat, passing the meeting back to Mrs. Shaffer. She had little more to say. "We're in the winter lull, but we have a busy season planned. All of you should expect to hear from various committee chairwomen."
* * * *
Twenty minutes later found me following Ms. Pearce through the house. We came to a door, and we stepped inside. The room was a library, and quite comfortable-appearing besides. She closed the sliding door and turned to me.
"You don't seem to be intimidated by me."
"Should I be?"
"Yes."
"Ah. I hope you aren't disappointed."
She laughed, then sobered. Then, with a clear glint in her eye, she stalked closer. I held my ground until I was looking up into her eyes.<
br />
"I like you," she said in a seductive voice.
"Thank you. I haven't yet had sufficient chance to form an opinion in return."
She stepped a little closer, and when she cupped my cheek, I didn't pull away. Then she stared into my eyes, holding my face in place.
"I am twice your age."
"I don't think so."
"Old enough to be your mother."
My heart was pounding as I wondered what she was going to do. But I raised an eyebrow. "So?"
She dropped her hand and stepped away, moving to stare out the window. I studied her back for a moment then stepped to her side.
"You tried to frighten me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It has worked on every initiate before you."
"My heart is still pounding," I said. "I couldn't decide if you were going to kiss me -- or a lot more than kiss me. And I couldn't decide if I was going to let you. And by the way, I noticed you didn't actually answer my question."
"I require an escort Friday evening. Semi-formal. I expect to see cleavage."
"You're inviting me on a date?"
She turned to face me. "I am stating how you will serve your time to me, or at least a portion of it. I will collect you at your home at 6:30. You will be ready."
"As I understand it, I am free to decline any request for any reason I choose. Is that correct."
She lifted an eyebrow. "It is. Are you declining my request?"
"I wouldn't dream of it," I said. I gestured to her. "You can continue this act of yours if you wish. You won't intimidate me. But you will not touch me in an intimate fashion without my permission. If you have a problem with that, you can ask yourself how you would respond if it were a man treating me the way you're pretending to."
Then I smiled. "I will be ready by 6:30. Do you wish to guide my attire any further than you have or perhaps tell me what we'll be doing?"
She paused. "You're everything I would have expected, given who your grandmother was."
"Thank you."
"There's an event. A colleague. He's an utter ass, but I have to go."
"You're out at work? At a financial institution?"
"Most of my clients come from the gay and lesbian community," she explained. "Or their families."
"All right. So he's an ass. I think you have more to say."
"He's always bringing some bimbo, and then he says crass things to me about her besides. He's an utter ass."
