Strawberries For Dessert Ch. 10

"We're in booth 7900, over this way, Jack. Did you get checked in this early?"

"No, I just dropped my bag at the Rafael and came on over. How was the show yesterday."

"Busy. Our location could have been better, but we didn't apply early enough. Maybe next year."

People were still getting their booths opened up as they walked down the carpeted aisle.

"I still think Chicago is the best place for the show. McCormick is still a hell of a hall, isn't it? Hey, the booth looks pretty good. Looks like you spent some money on the displays."

"Yeah. Looks good."

The trade show is a busy place, so they didn't get much time to talk. Jack noticed that between clients, George stared off into space. He was of two minds about it, in a way he wanted some time alone to talk to George, but on the other hand, it might be uncomfortable. Jack could tell that George was troubled.

The day wore on and finally they jumped into a cab for the ride downtown. Neither spoke, being all talked out from customer conversations all day long.

"What do you say, want to walk over to Biggs for dinner?"

"Sure. Sounds good. I'll be down in, what, half an hour?"

"Okay." The brass elevator door shut behind him and Jack got in line to check in and get his bag.

Brushing his teeth, Jack looked wearily into the mirror and noticed the message light blinking on the phone behind him. Dutifully, he returned Jody's call and waited while it rang 4 times and then she answered.

"It's me. You called?"

"Just wondering if you have found out how George is feeling about things."

"Oh, I thought you'd be calling about the school thing." He said, slightly irritable.

"Oh, .. .. well, I went over there and things are going to be all right. I thought we could talk about it when you got home. That's all."

"Okay," he sighed. No, actually, we haven't had a moment alone. Going out to dinner now. Maybe he'll talk about it."

"Well, have a good trip. I'm off to dinner with Melissa and Monica. See you Friday," she said.

Jack listened to the click of the phone as she hung up. He shrugged into a jacket and sauntered moodily down the hall of the little old fashioned hotel hallway. Jack traced the floral pattern with his toe as he waited for the clunking elevator to reach him.

On the way down, a couple got on and stood in front of him. His eyes ran along the prominent panty line of the young woman. He still found the current styles sexy. He eyed the way the straps of her dress were too narrow to hide the coral straps of her bra. The couple whispered quietly and waited patiently for the doors to slide open on the lobby. George, as usual, was waiting patiently facing the elevator as he stepped out. He raised his eyebrows by way of greeting. They had traveled together so often that the pattern was humorously predictable. Jack smiled to himself as George turned and walked side by side with him into the fading sunshine.

A nice half-dozen block walk along city streets was also part of their habitual pattern. They talked sports, and idle thoughts as they walked along dodging other pedestrians of the familiar polyglot of business, restaurants and nightspots along the way.

"Some of these places have had twenty names since I first came to Chicago, you know?" George nodded toward something currently called the KitKat Club.

Biggs is an institution in Chicago. A luxurious restaurant in an old Victorian mansion on North Dearborn Street, it is a quietly elegant place for a meal. Starched white tablecloths and red wallpaper meld with the brass light fixtures and crystal chandeliers.

They were sipping brandy from oversize snifters before the subject came up.

Staring into the bowl in front of him George began. "I suppose a lot of people think I'm a 'wuus' for still being with her, eh?"

"What do you mean? I don't. Shit happens! Nobody else can know what, ... ..." he stopped in mid-sentence.

"I still don't know what I'm going to do. Not really."

"Yeah." Jack mumbled.

"What do you think? Easier to 'live the lie' or,.. you know ... kick things over, ..? I'm not too good at talking about these things. Obviously," he laughed hollowly and they exchanged the comfortable look of old friends. "Except, of course, with Jody. Jody somehow always gets me talking easily; even about personal things." He smiled and looked out over the beautiful Dickensian room.

They continued talking about the situation sporadically as they sauntered back along the busy nightlife streets and stopped into the tiny piano bar off the lobby of the hotel. They sipped a final nightcap while the piano played old Cole Porter standards.

"I don't think it's going to work, Jack," he said quietly.

"Sorry." Jack muttered.

They didn't stay long, before pushing the button on the old elevator and floating up to their rooms.

"Seven o'clock for breakfast?'

"Right. G'night."

He didn't feel like talking about it, but then, with a sigh, he called and told Jody that "Maybe you should call George. Maybe he can talk to you. No, he'll still be up, he's a night owl."

Half an hour later he rang the phone at home. Busy. An hour later, he rang the phone at home. Busy. An hour and a half later, he rang the phone at home. Busy.

He slipped under the covers and turned off the light still watching a rerun of Casablanca. The sign on of the station woke him in the morning.

As they left the restaurant after breakfast, the desk clerk called him. There was a message and he ripped it open as they got in the cab and lurched down the street.

Hi,

I tracked you down! Don't forget that our last night of being servants for the Callahan's is this Friday. They have a big party planned. Hope you'll be back in time? I need my partner! Signed, Monica

Jack only had half an hour to get changed into his waiter's tux for the party.

Jody stood holding his cuff links while he stood on one leg to tie his shoe. He snapped the red suspenders over the ruffled shirt and they headed for the door.

Arriving a few minutes late, he joined Monica, looking saucy in her French Maid costume and took a tray of drinks among the guests.

Callahan spotted them and made a big thing of introducing his 'maid and butler'. They cheered and clasped hands high in the air in salute while each held a tray of drinks in the other hand. A cheer from the dinner group was all in good spirits. After all Dwayne Callahan had contributed $10,000 to the hospital fund to get the honor of the pair of them for two nights of servitude.

Dinner was called at 8 o'clock and about twenty well-lubricated guests sat at table while Monica and Jack served dinner. The food was sumptuous and the wine flowed like water. Two whites and two reds were offered and there was plenty of each. The noise level of the conversation kept rising.

George sat between Melissa and Jody. Jack noticed several conversations between Monica and Melissa and noticed that as she talked into Monica's ear, Melissa's hand traced along Monica long nylon covered leg. They giggled and Monica moved on to pour coffee for George. George and Jody were in deep conversation and Monica nudged George to offer coffee. Jack was following with the brandy bottle and had trouble keeping his mind on his business. Monica's round bottom and long legs highlighted by a black seam from buttock to toe made his mouth water. He couldn't keep from thinking about the warm secret nook that line could be followed to.

George gave him the eye, catching him staring at Monica. "Like that, do you, sailor?" he grinned as he held out his brandy glass. "Make it a double, pal!"

"You've loosened up nicely, I see!" Jack nudged him as he passed. "Mind your own business – a good waiter has to keep his eye of all the ass-ets!" He had to nearly shout into George's ear to be heard above the babble of their voices.

Now that most of the serving duties were under control and the guests leaning back in their chairs, Monica slipped her arm around and leaned close. "Can I have a few minutes off, boss? I promised to show the 'dungeon' to Monica! How much did you tell her about it?"

He thought a minute. "I can't recall. Probably everything, though." He laughed and dodged the swing she aimed at him.

"Aarghhh! Big mouth!" she said. 'Want to come along?"

"No, I'll mind the store, you girls toddle along. Don't damage anything!" he laughed.

"More brandy! We want brandy!"

"They're calling!" she said, laughing over her shoulder and switching her hips towards the hidden door. Jack passed Melissa with a grin as she hurried to catch up with Monica.

The happy diners were steadily getting drunker and drunker. Noisier and noisier, happier and happier. Jack passed among them delivering the brown elixir and asking if anyone wanted him to bring the coffee.

Alice Jennings dress was a knockout. She was drunkenly smiling up to him, then leaned forward to give him an unobstructed view down the front. Jack could see nipples swaying under the brightly colored abstract design top. It looked expensive and so did the breasts. They were perfect, and her nipples looked large and hard. Jack took his time and let Alice chat him up while he kept his eyes on the dark tips and round inviting orbs.

"Jack, look me in the eye and say that!" she fell into gales of laughter and Jack moved on, rubbing the back of his hand against the side of her breast as she reached up to grasp his arm. They exchanged a friendly, lingering smile while she held his arm against the soft breast. Jack felt his cock harden and tent his trousers. Alice looked around her and then briefly patted his cock and let him go about his rounds.

Jody was making some serious point to George and her hand rested on his thigh for emphasis.

"Jack! Oh, Jack!" Callahan called from the head of the table. He waved frantically. "Open that panel for us!"

Jack looked behind him at what appeared to be a paneled wall. Callahan waved toward the side and he noticed a small black button. He looked at Callahan who nodded. Jack pushed the button and a panel slid down to reveal a huge flat panel video screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have some prowlers!"

The screen came to life. Jack backed away, the smile fading slightly as he recognized the dungeon room on the screen. He well remembered Monica showing that room to him on their last visit to this house. He was shocked to know there was a camera down there.

The room quieted slowly. Suddenly there was no talk at all, just a few 'oh's and ah's' from people who clearly were familiar with this feature of the room.

On the screen, Monica and Melissa soon were in center stage. Literally. The camera focused on the stocks where he had stood the last time. The same place where Monica had swatted him playfully, and then more firmly swatted his bare ass with a leather riding crop.

With somewhat more pleasure, he thought back on the fact that he had punished her with her hands and neck captured in the stock.

Jack recalled looking at black pantyhose and very long lovely legs. She wore pink panties that were more like a thong, so her ass cheeks were a sight to behold. It was lovely. She whimpered. That had almost turned him away. He thought he couldn't do it. But then he had changed his mind when Monica encouraged him:

"Please, master," she said, "please punish me!"

Jack stood slack-jawed watching Monica offer to show how it worked to Melissa. Poor Melissa was following along the script, bending over as Monica lowered the top of the stock. They were laughing and having a good time.

The sound wasn't terribly good but you could hear them.

"Oh, my god. Monica! What do they use this stuff for."

"I'm glad you asked that, Melissa. Are you ready for punishment?"

"Ohhh, my gawd, Okay, Okay, go ahead." She giggled.

Monica threw Melissa's full skirt up over her back, exposing her lovely bottom through sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose. Her lovely bottom looked like a perfect golden double globe. She wiggled her ass saucily.

Monica's swing was not hard, not meant to hurt her, of course. But it made a loud swack as she swatted the pretty bottom. Melissa shrieked, and then subsided into a rueful continued giggle.

"Ohmigod, Monica, you got to be kidding me. Let me loose. That's enough! I don't have any more questions.

Monica swung a different tool, one of the paddles that looked like leather made a broad red mark across both cheeks. Melissa shrieked again and pleaded again. Monica smacked her little tush once more leaving another red mark, then slowly began rubbing her hand across Melissa's crimson cheeks, rubbing away the sting. Surely, the caresses were stimulating Melissa, and she just moaned quietly and waited patiently while Monica said soothing things to her.

Finally Monica released her. Melissa rubbed her ass vigorously and they hugged like old friends, laughing at the indecent liberties she had taken.

Jack looked around the quiet room and noticed that most of the guests were surreptitiously fondling the person next to them. It was as if everyone held their breath while the punishment was going on and now their sexual stimulation from watching Melissa's ass spanked was expressed with someone close by.

There was another little gasp as all eyes were again drawn to the screen. Monica had agreed that turnabout was fair play and had taken her place in the stocks. The long legs and perfect straight seams of the tights pointed to her equally perfect bottom under the tiny skirt.

Melissa wasn't satisfied. She stood behind Monica, blocking our view. When she stood aside, Monica's panties were pulled down to the crotch between her legs and her bottom showed the tan lines of a tiny bikini. There was a noticeable gulp among the men staring at the white triangle pointing the way between her legs.

Monica stood aside and took aim, threatening first, and not doing it. They giggled together as Monica flinched in her position. Finally, Melissa pulled back the riding crop and delivered a brisk but not hard slap across her buttocks. The bright red slash striped her bottom right through the white bikini area.

It was Melissa's turn to shriek.

Melissa immediately pressed her hand across the split of Monica's ass and soothed the red blemish.

"Oh, god, I'm sorry!" she said.

"It's OK, just stung a little. Monica reassured her. Melissa continued trying to rub the streak away rubbing in circles and then slipping her hand up and down along the split of her bottom.

"You sure, Monica? Are you sure?"

Reassured, she delivered one last resounding slap with her hand.

'There, take that!" she laughed and leaned close as she rubbed the woman's bottom and pulled her panties and pantyhose up over her hips and smoothed them into place.

Monica was released and popped up with a smile and the two women hugged and walked arm in arm toward the stairs.

Callahan now pushed the button to hide the screen.

"Now, not a word, everyone! Mum's the word."

By the time Monica and Melissa returned, the party had turned up another level and everyone greeted them with unexpected fervor as cakes were served in the great room.

So now he knew he and Monica had been the featured players at the previous dinner. He shrugged and gave a crooked smile toward George, who raised his eyebrows in reply.

Callahan stood in the middle of the room and called for attention.

"Can we hear a little round of applause for our servants? What do you think? They were damned expensive, but where could you get better help?"

Monica took Jack's hand and curtsied into the middle of the group of appreciative guests.

Jack dropped Melissa and George off in front of their house at about 2AM and then slowly drove toward home.

"George is going to ask for a divorce." Jody said quietly. "Did he tell you?"

"Not exactly. Too bad."

"Could we stop in the park a minute?"

Jack wheeled into the park to the spot they had parked in the old days. Jody slipped over against him and pulled his hand around her neck and onto her breast.

"We have to talk, don't we, Jack?"

It was silent for awhile as Jack stared up at a bright moon.

He sighed a long sigh. "Yeah, yeah,.. .. guess so," he said.

"Yeah, I know. It's, I guess we knew .. .. for awhile, ... both of us ..?"

"Yeah, but, I feel sad. So sad for what we have had." He squeezed her breast softly.

"Me too. I feel hollow. And tired," she said quietly. "It's Monica, isn't it?"

Jack was silent again. He sighed long and deep. "Yeah. How did you know."

"It was the hand-holding tonight and the looks."

"And, George?"

She leaned her head against him and sighed quietly. "Yes, it's George. I can't help it. I'm in love with him. We want to be together. Maybe we will be."

Jack nodded silently.

He squeezed her breast tenderly, and then very slowly, let his hand slip away and started the car.