firm to relocate to a northerly branch for a fast track promotion.
But I have saved and invested my earnings wisely and next year on my fiftieth birthday, I shall retire and return to my home town. Cassandra, of course, will not be there, her shop long-since demolished and her memory merely a legend, but there are bars in the dark streets of that city where women such as I may find love. So, when the cherry blossom hangs heavy like snow on the groaning boughs, I will return to the boulevards of my youth, and lay Cassandra’s ghost to rest, walking out joyfully to meet my destiny and, maybe, just maybe, I will even wear the dress…
Behind Closed Doors
Kelly Lawrence
Pip paused as she approached Bianca’s door, hearing the unmistakable whimpers and sighs that signified she had company. Her mistress’ moans were high and girlish and, Pip would wager on it, faked. Even so, she couldn’t help feeling aroused as she imagined Bianca inside, her chestnut curls—brushed and preened by Pip herself—falling over her large creamy breasts and soft peach nipples. When it came to pouring her mistress’ bath and attending to her, Pip found it almost impossible not to stare at Bianca’s breasts, not to imagine fondling and sucking at them until she moaned with a pleasure that was definitely real.
A few times she was sure Bianca had caught her looking; once they had shared a secret smile that gave Pip hope that her mistress might share her fancies, but she had made no move on her maid and it was not Pip’s place to dare. She had to be content with looking, and thinking about her in the quiet of night, her own hand between her legs, fantasising it was Bianca’s hand or better yet, her mouth.
A guttural groan broke Pip’s reverie and quickly dampened her arousal. Pip grimaced with distaste as she heard Lord Rafferty’s animal-like noises. She would bet he rutted like an animal too. A sweaty, hairy little man, Pip didn’t know how Bianca could let him touch her, and not just because men weren’t to her taste. Even a woman who loved men of all shapes and sizes would surely struggle to find anything desirable about Lord Rafferty. Still, he was Bianca’s wealthiest and most prestigious patron, and so Pip knew she must keep those thoughts to herself. She hurried away, stifling a giggle as she heard him let out a noise that sounded exactly like a braying donkey.
Twenty minutes later, Pip was showing him out, trying not to laugh as she saw Bianca rolling her eyes comically behind his back. As soon as he was gone, Bianca followed Pip into the room she kept solely for bathing, where Pip, anticipating her lady’s needs, had already filled the tub with hot water and sweet smelling oils.
She helped Bianca unpin her hair and remove her shift, then padded back as she watched her step into the tub, admiring her mistress’ sumptuously round buttocks and strong, fleshy thighs.
Voluptuous and fair, with huge amber eyes and pouting lips, Bianca’s beauty was the toast of the town, and her company highly sought after—by the men anyway. She had few female friends or visitors, but then Pip supposed that must be normal for a successful courtesan. Still, it seemed to her a lonely way to live, and gave her mistress little opportunity to discover the delights of a woman’s body, assuming she wanted to, of course. Pip blushed as the image of Bianca naked and spread-eagled before her bloomed in her mind, and turned to folding towels, trying to hide her flushed cheeks.
Bianca was lying back in the bath tub, closing her eyes in obvious bliss as the warm water enfolded her body. She looked beautiful, like the paintings of lush women that hung in her drawing room. So different to Pip’s own lean, almost elfin looks. Pip wondered how they would look together, her long limbs entwined with Bianca’s curvier flesh. The thought made her shudder just as Bianca opened her eyes and stared at her, and Pip dropped her gaze, hoping her mistress