CHARLOTTEMichael´s head swivels to me, but he doesn´t speak."So, you went back because they were paying you again?" says Klempner, still looking confused."No, they weren´t paying me. I went back because I wanted more of it. And later, I realised ... I wanted them.""You wanted them? Or you´d fallen in love with them?""Yes.""Both of them?""Yes, in different ways.""You didn´t choose between them? They didn´t try to make you choose?""Choose? Why would I choose? I love them both. They both love me. They get on together. Why should I choose?"Michael breaks in. "That´s what happened, isn´t it? With you and Conners. You both fell in love with Charlotte´s mother, and you made her choose between you. She chose Conners. And you murdered him for it, and took revenge on her."My heart pounding... Of course, that´s it... It´s so obvious when someone else sees it first.My Golden Lover. You see it every time, don´t you...Klempner´s face is a study in ... what? Reg
MICHAEL"I don´t know what the two of you said to Klempner, but he´s changed his plea.""Sorry?"Will Stanton scratches his head. "He´s changed his plea. He´s saying that he´ll give a full statement and plead guilty.""Does he say why?""Yes. The other thing he says is, that he doesn´t want Charlotte to testify in court. If she makes a written statement of anything considered relevant, he will comment and confirm whatever is there.""What does he get out of this? A shorter sentence? A plea-bargain?""Hardly. We have him for murder, attempted murder, trafficking, assault; the lawyers are still arguing over exactly what the charge is over the business of the attack on the Haswell Building, but since he´s confessed, in writing and on tape, to being responsible for it, that hardly matters. With what we´ve got on him now, regardless of Charlotte´s testimony, he´ll not be coming out of prison again for a very long time, if at all. He´ll probably be sentenced to life-long impris
CHARLOTTE"Yes. You do," snaps Michael. "You took a bullet. It cut your main artery and caused a lot of muscle damage besides... For God´s sake man, I don´t think you´ve taken on board yet, just how close you came to dying. And there´s no shame in taking time to recover from that. Now, if you would cut out the stiff-necked pride, and let us help you, we might all enjoy this a bit more."My Master whips around, momentarily set to snap back at Michael, then he pauses, shrugs and laughs. "You´re right of course, both of you. I´m sorry.""Master, the doctor said that it will take you a few months to properly heal. You´ll be yourself again, but you do need to take it easy for a while."He nods, sheepishly. "What do you suggest?""Just lie down, Master. Let me do the work. If you exercise every day, you´ll soon be stronger, and then you can slap my butt to glowing any time you want..."He bursts out laughing. Even Michael chuckles. "That´s about the size of it, isn´t it. Alright.
MICHAEL"Do you think he´ll be alright?" she asks."I think so. His wound is healing. It´ll just take time, that´s all.""I didn´t mean that. I meant...""What?""I mean... Do you think he´ll be... alright?""For sex, you mean?"What´s going through your head, Babe?"Yes.""Yes, I think he´ll be alright... Would it matter to you if he wasn´t? Make a difference to you, about how you feel about him?""No of course not, but, I wonder how important it is to him?""Charlotte, when James won that first contract with Haswell, it was worth millions to him. Most men at that point would have bought themselves a flashy car, a boat, even a house. He went out and bought himself a virgin. What does that tell you?CHARLOTTE"What´s the problem, Charlotte?" asks Richard. "You look upset.""Oh, the university isn´t very happy about the way my course is being moved around, or at least, the way I´m moving around it. It´s getting a bit uncomfortable trying to talk to my tutors.
CHARLOTTEThe barman produces a pen. A paper bag from my book purchases is commandeered. Michael jots down figures on it, ´Hmmm´s for a minute, stares into space, writes some more, then passes it over to Richard.Richard works his way through, staring at the notes and numbers thoughtfully. Then he gazes into space for a minute, fingers twitching.Counting on his fingers? Working a calculator in his head?Then he scribbles more notes and annotations.Finally, he writes a one-line sentence under the lot, glances at Michael for a second, then, against Michael´s raised eyebrow, and my Master´s barely suppressed amusement slides the bag across the table to me."Let´s see how your accountancy´s coming on, Charlotte. What does that lot mean?"I scan the hieroglyphs in front of me...I set out to study physics and learn the secrets of the universe. Then I changed to engineering, so I could learn how to build a city. Now, I´m being asked to... cost it?"Um... Michael´s put dow
CHARLOTTE"I thought we were supposed to just be preparing things..." I say.My Master raises his head. "Yes, quite. I´m preparing you. I wouldn´t like Michael to find you non-prepared for him." He returns his attentions to my inner thighs, where he is kissing and nibbling at the soft, delicate skin. Thus far, he has not strayed much further, but already my core is melting."Please, Master.""No, we´re waiting for Michael. Don´t be impatient. And besides, I enjoy watching you like this. I can see you arouse, watch your pussy open, unfurl. Let´s see if I can help it along a bit."He doesn´t, as I expect, open me with his fingers. Instead, he laves my outer lips with long, languorous strokes of his tongue.Aaahhhh..."Yes, there you go, see. Beautiful... Opening up all by yourself..." And as his tongue laps at my inner lips and beyond, I wail.Ohhhh... Godddddd...I´m trying to flex, to arch my spine, but since my hips are already pillowed up, my arms and legs outstretc
CHARLOTTE"You look... pensive..." comments Michael. "What´s up?""Beth took me shopping today, to look at wedding dresses."He grins a little-boy grin. "Sounds like fun.""Yes... but...""But what? Don´t worry about the budget. Get what you want.""It´s not that. It´s...""What? Do I have to prise it out of you?""All they showed me were white dresses."My Master smiles. Michael bursts out laughing. "And that´s worrying you? Charlotte, it´s a long time since anyone worried about whether brides are virgins on their wedding night.""It just feels a bit... two-faced."My Master wraps long arms around me. "Charlotte. I would like you to wear white.""Master?""You will always be my Virgin."-----Hand-writing weddings invitations is boring work, even for your own wedding, especially if you don´t have a clue who most of the people coming are...... A few of my college friends, some of my Master´s and Michael´s friends, of course, Richard and Beth, who are
CHARLOTTEMy Master kisses my fingers again, then passes my hand to Michael, who, his eyes alight, presses it to his lips. Moving closer, he wraps his arms around me, kissing me on the mouth. His lips brush mine, teasing them apart, then open-mouthed, his fingers winding into my hair, he deepens the embrace.He smells cleanly of pine and sex and masculinity, and his touch is electrifying. The sheer intensity of his touch sets me shuddering, He breaks away, holding me with his eyes, brilliantly blue against his tanned skin, as he cups my face."Nothing is going to change," he says. "I promise you. I would never do that. You, me, James; the three of us all know... I hope that we all know... that what happens tomorrow is only in the eyes of the law and the outside world. In here, between us, it´s the three of us. You understand me?"I nod."Good." He kisses me again, then taking me by the shoulders, turns me to face my silently watching Master.His head tilting as he strokes m