Den of Iniquity Read online

  Josie says, “We’ll get to know you.” She hugs Viktorija. “You’ll get to know us. We’ll figure out what comes next together. Okay?” Rebecca is rubbing off on Josie.

  “Sounds good to me,” Viktorija says with a smile. “Come inside to meet my mistress. She’s amazing. And Audrey is here, too.”

  Josie slides into a side hug with Viktorija. “I didn’t know what to think about all this ‘women loving on each other’ business either. I was twenty-four years old when I learned that it was ‘a thing.’ I’m still reluctant to bury my face down there, but I love my sisters. I kiss them, caress them, and any number of things to show them that I love them. I have dived in a couple times, but I have to really be wound up to do it.”

  Viktorija nods thoughtfully. “It’s not even that for me. It feels like the clients have something to prove. It feels like they are trying to show they are better than me - especially the less-attractive ones. I know at least for a couple clients that it isn’t true, but that’s how it feels most of the time.” She looks up and surveys her audience. “I’m sorry for dragging you through a tour of my personal demons. Please leave the bags here, Will. Luis and Manuel will take them to your room.”

  I tell the gentlemen of the house, “Sorry for the heavier ones, guys. Rebecca and I are going from here to visit my sister for a week.”

  Luis says, “Not to worry, sir.”

  Manuel laughs. “Luis has his butler face on. Honestly, Will. These are nothing. You should see how Luis packs when we go on holiday.”

  Luis blushes with a reserved smile and picks up the smaller bags, leaving the heavier ones for Manuel. “I’m sure you won’t mind carrying them for me, Manuel.”

  Manuel chuckles as he easily hefts the two bags. “Not at all, mijo. Lead the way.”

  Viktorija addresses the rest of us graciously as the men walk out. “This way, please.” She knocks on the closed French doors of the parlor before opening them wide. She leads us inside.

  Inside we find Bernadette sitting in one of her favorite throne-like parlor chairs. Her long green velvet robe is lying open and Audrey is sitting on her lap. Audrey is wearing the short black silk robe with the large flower print that I gave to her. Her robe is also open, and Bernadette’s left hand is cupping Audrey’s right breast. The eye’s of both women are slightly glazed with lust.

  Viktorija announces, “Mistress, may I present the William James family.”

  Audrey kisses Bernadette quickly and races from her lap to kneel at my feet and rub her face on my leg.

  Bernadette stands, and her open dressing gown drops into the chair to reveal the singular glory that is Bernadette Pasquale. She always reminds me of a Boris Vallejo painting.

  Rebecca breathes, “Oh Venus, how the artists failed to capture your glory.”

  Bernadette glides toward us. “Oh, I don’t know. There were a couple done in New Orleans in the mid-nineteenth century that were quite good. As far as I know, they are both with a single east coast collector.”

  Then she is wrapping her arms around me and giving me her version of a chaste kiss - as in it might not get people to shout ‘get a room,’ but close. All the while Audrey rubs her face on my leg.

  Bernadette releases my mouth and caresses my face with her hand and my chest with her lush breasts as she disengages me. Then she descends upon my ladies to hug them into her divine body and kisses them like long lost lovers.

  I look down at Audrey. “Get up here, Kitten.”

  Audrey smiles brilliantly as she stands, drops her robe, and leaps to wrap her arms and legs around me.

  Bernadette moves from a stunned Josie to a welcoming Marissa as I devour Audrey’s mouth and squeeze her hard, muscled athlete’s tushy.

  As we break our kisses, Rebecca slides in for a quick kiss for Audrey - giving just a tease of tongue. “Hello, Audrey. It’s so good to finally see you in person. We’re going to have so much fun together.”

  I set Audrey on the ground as Bernadette draws Rebecca in for her hug and kiss. Josie and Marissa kiss and hug Audrey. I hear Rebecca moan into Bernadette’s mouth in a kiss that definitely crosses the line out of ‘chaste’ territory, even for a succubus.

  Bernadette releases a dazed Rebecca. She reaches for Viktorija and says, “Viktorija will show you to your suite, so you can freshen up for lunch.”

  She kisses Viktorija passionately and her hand dives inside the folds of her lover’s barely closed robe. Viktorija moans as Bernadette fondles her and kisses her ravenously. Both women gasp as Bernadette releases Viktorija. “We will have enough time for play later, Precious. Be a good girl and take our guests to their suite. Back downstairs in twenty minutes, darling.”

  Viktorija nods as Bernadette pops glistening fingers into her own mouth. Viktorija moans at the sight. “Yes, Mistress.”

  Audrey picks up her robe and Viktorija hooks her arm. “This way, please lord and ladies.” She leads us back to the entry rotunda and through the salon into a large foyer and up a staircase. We stop on the second floor. Audrey and I normally get a patron room on the third floor when we perform here. It’s nice to only climb one flight of stairs.

  I’ve never been on this floor before, so I take in all the details. There are two doors on the left side of the corridor and four on the right. Additionally, there is one at the end of the hall.

  Viktorija tells us, “There are five guest suites on this floor that Mistress keeps for VIPs. The last door on the right is a linen closet and the door at the end of the corridor is the lift. We only use it for the cleaning staff. It lets out into the laundry room in the basement.”

  She opens the second door on the left and leads us in. Once we are all inside, she pulls a key from the pocket of her robe and hands it to me. She says, “This suite used to be two suites. Mistress recently decided that she needed a suite suitable for a powerful man with a harem.” She gives a Vana-wave to let us take it all in.

  It’s a gorgeous suite. There are deep red walls with small gold fleur-de-Lis accents, simple white wainscoting, baseboards, and crown molding, walnut hard-wood floors and Persian-style carpets. There is a huge bed - at least half again as wide as a king-size mattress if not twice - with a tall carved wood headboard and footboard. The rest of the furniture looks antique - a Chippendale writing desk with matching chair sporting red, white and gold upholstery, a large fainting couch in solid red upholstery, and two sets of parlor chairs with a wine table between them - one set upholstered to match the couch, the other to match the desk chair. There is a pair of French doors near the far left corner leading out onto a balcony. There is a bench at the foot of the bed upholstered in deep red with a grip at either end. It is wide enough to cover the foot of a standard king bed. I smile as I think about how I could put that to use with Audrey. There are five bag stands against the wall across from the bed with our suitcases on them, but there is easily a four foot passage between the bags and the bench.

  Viktorija walks us past a large walk-in closet to the en-suite bathroom. It has a shower large enough to hold all five of us plus a couple of guests with jets pointing out of the wall and ceiling in a variety of places. There is also a four-seat soaking tub reminiscent of Japanese designs I’ve seen and a triple vanity with lots of counter space. There are a couple of seated hair and makeup stations with stools for the ladies to sit on while creating masterpieces. Additionally, there are two commodes with bidets, each set in a separate water closet.

  Marissa comments, “This is too nice. We may never leave.”

  Viktorija observes wryly, “I think that was the point.”

  I am too overwhelmed to comment. Audrey asks, “Did you design it?”

  Viktorija nods gently. “Yes. Mistress said to go with a ‘classic 19th-Century, New Orleans bordello’ theme. She gave me some insight on what that was really like, and then we avoided most of it and went for the fantasy.”

  I have to chuckle at that.

  I take a leak, wash up, and go wait for the ladies in one of the chai
rs. Viktorija tightens her robe before crawling into my lap. I wrap my arms around her and ask about her classes at Arizona State. She catches me up on what she’s doing in them. One is an interior design class, and she used the suite as her final project. She had it done before the third week of class, but had checked with her teacher to ensure it would count. Her other class is a painting class in ‘pointilism’ in the style of George Seurat.

  While we visit, the ladies take turns with the loo, strip, and dress in short robes similar in style to Viktorija’s. As they join us in the sitting area, I notice they all match the one Audrey is wearing. I murmur into Viktorija’s ear. “I remember buying Audrey’s robe from Bernadette. Did you make it?”

  She nods and murmurs her answer. “I did. It was one of my first designs. I went back and bought a whole bolt of the cloth after you bought it, thinking I might make Mistress and myself matching ones. My cloth supplier recently told me they quit making this pattern a year ago, and no one had bought any since then. I got quite a deal on his last two bolts of it. All of us in the house have ones in the same style in several colors. I was able to make them to match Audrey’s for all your girls over the last couple of weeks. Audrey helped me arrange to get the measurements shortly after you left - she arranged it with Marissa. I supervised over Facetime. They are lovely. I am going to love making clothes for them if you let me.”

  I kiss her cheek gently. “Of course, honey.”

  She turns to lightly brush my lips with hers before turning back to smile at my lady-wives. “Ready?” she asks.

  We all agree we are, so Viktorija jumps out of my lap and leads us out the door, down the stairs, and then to the left to the dining room. It’s a big room with a long dining table that has twelve seats on a side. Bernadette is standing in her properly closed dressing gown.

  Viktorija seats me to Bernadette’s left. She sits across the table from me and Audrey sits next to her. Rebecca sits next to me and Josie sits next to ‘Mom’ while Marissa sits next to Audrey. Clarice and Vanessa join us at the table, Bernadette introduces them to the ladies from Prescott.

  A cute, tiny Asian woman runs out of the kitchen to kiss my cheek before introducing herself. “Hello, ladies. I am Candice, and I will be the Maitresse d’Hotel for your luncheon.” The door of the kitchen opens and four more ladies stand along the wall. “Your servers today will be Rachel,” a dusky Jewish beauty waves. “Michelle,” a voluptuous brunette cheerleader waves. “Rosalie,” a light-skinned Hispanic beauty waves. “and Tanu,” a cheerful, sexy, slender, brown-skinned Indian woman smiles and waves.

  Candice addresses the servers. “Our guests are William, whom you know, and all his ladies - Rebecca, Josie, Marissa, and our friend Audrey. Please serve the soup.” The ladies disappear into the kitchen. Candice says, “We will join you after we serve the second course if it pleases you, Lord.”

  I murmur despite the embarrassment I feel at such a lofty title. My ladies either smirk or cock eyebrows at me as they watch to see if it goes to my head. Rebecca murmurs, “It’s appropriate, Lord Husband.”

  Bernadette smiles at me. “I agree.”

  I bow my head in acceptance before addressing Candice. “Please do join us, Candice. The whole house is welcome if I get to decide.”

  They serve a wonderful light meal in two courses. First comes a cup of butternut squash soup. The second is a small Salade Nicoise with a half-Croissant sandwich of brie, a mayo-Dijon-tuna salad, tomatoes, and lettuce dressed with a touch more mayonnaise.

  5

  Getting to know you

  During the soup course, we have a lot of light ‘getting-to-know-you’ conversation. Luis, Chantelle, Cindy, and Serena all join us at the table during the course. I wonder where Manuel is, but otherwise it looks as if all are present. More introductions follow as servers bring out more soup. Our servers join us for lunch after they serve the salad and sandwich course. Conversation stays light.

  Some of the ladies share what they are doing in school - Cindy, Michelle, Tanu, and Chantelle. Cindy is in a business marketing program and interns at a local call center’s marketing department. Michelle is in the nursing program - she claims it was a decision inspired by a ‘naughty nurse’ role-play she did for a patron. Tanu is studying computer science and with an emphasis on healthcare. Chantelle confesses to being in her third degree, this one in philosophy.

  She tells us, “I was in sports so long, that I can’t decide what I want to be when I grow up.”

  Serena is clerking for a state appellate court judge while she studies for her bar. Clarice has been homeschooled and is considering eventually going to Arizona State or Grand Canyon universities here in town. She doesn’t have an idea of what to study, so she is also considering going to Paradise Valley or Phoenix community colleges to try a few things on for size as she works through her standard compulsories.

  I’m finished and push my plate back and sip at the lovely iced tea that came with the meal. Candice pops up, and fills my glass.

  Bernadette asks about our plans as more folks finish their meals. I lay out our schedule and explain about my sister Allison’s condition. I pause for a moment.

  I ask Bernadette, “Should we do the cone of silence thing?” She cocks an eyebrow at Viktorija.

  Viktorija shakes her head gently before explaining. “All of the walls and ceiling have copper mesh in them to essentially create a Faraday cage effect. There is also an oscillating energy field in each doorway that disrupts electromagnetic waves. You may have heard it as white noise if you were paying attention. We have a lot of protection as well from not having any exterior walls in this room. Plus, Clarice and I did a sweep for listening devices this morning. We should be all clear.”

  Marissa says, “My dad has a security contracting business. I think he would love to see your setup here.”

  Viktorija says, “It’s not impossible to defeat, but it would require penetrating the perimeter of our house to plant devices and signal repeaters. That’s why I check regularly. I’ve been training Clarice, Chantelle, and Tanu on how to do it. They are likely to be here the longest when I leave at the end of the year. I expect I’ll be back to check periodically after that.” She looks at Bernadette with doe-eyes.

  Serena growls, “Get a room.”

  Viktorija blushes slightly but addresses the raven-haired beauty regardless. “Calm down, Serena.” She holds the other woman’s gaze until Serena drops her gaze.

  ‘Interesting,’ I think to myself.

  Viktorija adds, “I would have trained Serena, too. However, she has one foot out the door already, so I didn’t wish to impose.” She turns her attention to me. “Serena is a lovely person, don’t let her tone of voice throw you off, Will. I love her like a sister, but we unfortunately nag at each other like sisters, too.”

  I smile at Viktorija before looking down the table at Serena. “I’ve had limited interaction with Serena, but given the legal clerking, I’m going to go out on a limb and say she’s awesome.”

  Serena smiles bashfully. “Thank you, William. I think I speak for all the staff that you are our favorite - performer or patron.” She looks at Candice. “Although, I think you might be Candice’s second-favorite.”

  Candice gives me a shy look. “I’m afraid so, Lord. I have a master waiting for me to finish my obligations. I can hardly wait.”

  Bernadette clears her throat. “You were saying about your sister, William darling?”

  I nod, “Yes. Ostensibly, I’m going to visit her to say ‘goodbye’ as she is quitting chemo treatments. As I said, it’s stage four. Her husband, Roger, thinks that she will probably die within six months if the side effects of the chemo don’t kill her first. The truth is that I’m planning to try to heal her. I’ve had pretty good success using my craft to heal Marissa’s tumors. Josie’s going to observe her progress while I’m gone. I’m taking Rebecca with me to use her craft to strengthen her immune response while I attack the tumors.”

  Candice asks, “What tum
ors?” at about the same time Tanu asks, “What do you mean, Rebecca?”

  Rebecca waves to Marissa. She answers, “Breast cancer.” She looks at me adoringly. “I found out just before the first time I slept with William. I was supposed to go to the doctor the next day, but the lump shrank to the point it was undetectable. My girlfriend started calling him Mister Chemo. Seven repetitions later, I told William about it. My girlfriend was ignoring me, so I left her and devoted myself to William and Rebecca. Josie joined us shortly thereafter.” She waves to Rebecca. “Go ahead, beloved.”

  Rebecca answers Tanu’s question with our agreed response for this question. “I’m an herbalist.”

  Luis scoffs, “There’s no love for the Church in this house, Rebecca. They look down on us for how we pay our debts, they look down on us for our panamorous inclinations, and they would kill our benefactor. My great-great grandmother was a bruja serving to help the soldiers in the first World War. The Church had her whole unit massacred. Fortunately, my great-grandmother was already born. Her grandparents raised her, so she learned the craft from her abuela. My abuela learned the craft from her, and my mother from her. My sister apparently didn’t get the gift.”

  He takes a sip before continuing the longest speech I’ve heard him speak. “Unfortunately, my sister told her best friend that our mother was a bruja, and her friend told the local priest. My mother and sister disappeared shortly thereafter, and my father disappeared a couple weeks later. His body was found in an alley in Oaxaca. I thought my mother and sister were dead for years until my sister showed up at the university here in Tempe. I learned that Mother took her and ran to Guatemala. Papa knew, he just didn’t tell the Church anything. I had to fend for myself and my little brother. We snuck across the border working with ‘Coyotes’ and ran from them once we got to San Diego. We rode with a trucker to Phoenix. Bernadette found me, and offered to put my brother, Miguel, through college if I worked for her. It got me out of turning tricks on the street, and she took care of my brother. So, I’ll stand beside you if the Church comes for you.” It’s the most passion I’ve ever seen from Luis.