I stood, staring at this lovely girl. I tried to keep my hand from shaking more than was absolutely necessary as I fumbled with her dress. It was the kind with the zipper on the side.
The sound of the zipper matched the feeling that rushed through my frame. Now, the girl was out of the dress. She had nothing underneath except sheer hose, spikes-and herself. She posed, easily and naturally. The rich, ripe breasts with the proud points. The slim waist ... the round, full hips. And the legs. Ah ... those legs! Long, svelte and lushly contoured.
"-After you," she smiled, as she motioned for me to get into the nude of the thing. I took her hint and was out of my garb faster than a rookie fireman going down the pole when he heard his own house was burning.
As I started hungrily toward her, she suddenly stopped me cold in my tracks.
"What's the deal?" I didn't like being de-railed now with the destination points so tantalizingly near.
"Ummmmmm ... her gaze played lovingly over my naked torso. She let her eyes rest in careful detail on the masculine features that matter so much in a healthy girl's heart. She added tauntingly: "Just reading the menu!"
"Well!" I was raring to go.
"Don't rush," she advised. "A woman likes to look at a good body, too." She nodded approval. "You're really ail right. So many of you men lose so much when you strip down! You don't. You actually multiply!"
Now, she moved past me and stretched out on the bed. She eyed me sideways with a little smile. As she gracefully crossed her legs, her satiny skin made an in' triguing sound like a bolt of silk un-raveling.
I reached out for her. I pressed my form against hers. She lifted her lips for our first kiss. I squeezed my mouth down hard on those full, ripe lips. Her bieath was sweet and fresh ... it had the cleanliness of a breeze from a verdant, fragrant field.
I let my tongue slip into her mouth. She opened her lips wider to better savor the intimacies.
Now those gorgeous breasts were making their presence felt against me. I lowered my head and kissed the full curves. She let her fingers caress my hair as she drew me closer. , I wanted her young body completely now. I pressed over harder and her lovely torso filled my arms as it was meant to. The jungle began to close in on me ... the lush foliage entwined its tendrils tighter and tighter as my breath gasped out faster and faster....
The reds and purples and greens of the primitive jungle engulfed my vision as the beautiful young girl writhed and twisted in the rites of sex. Her warm, silky body moved in closer and closer to mine.
The throbbing of my heart and blood served the role of the tom-tom drums ... our lips clung tenaciously together and our breathing became one ... one ... one and our oneness expanded and merged into the absolute fullness of our passion.
The girl moaned and sighed and cried out passionately and her long nails clutched wildly on my naked back.
Slowly, the jungle began to recede ... the throbbing faded away ... we began to breathe more normally.
"My slave...." the girl breathed into my ear. "My wonderful, powerful, slave."
This girl could make a slave out of any man. Her body was created for one purpose. Gratification of man.
I buried my face in her soft breasts. I embraced her, my hands hungrily clutching her roundness. For the moment, I only wanted to rest in this quiet haven and to whisper sweet endearments into her ear.
Meeting her had been purely chance. She had appeared at the house in answer to Ace's ad in the trade papers. Ace had talked to her on the phone earlier and suggested she drop by the place.
As was usual, Ace had gotten another call from the studio for some re-takes or such, and he had quickly brushed the meeting off on me. This time, he missed the boat but good!
-I was waiting for the young lady and she had showed up right on the appointed hour. I was a little surprised when I answered the bell and found the lovely girl standing there.
"Please come in," I held the door open and she moved past me with natural grace. I got a whiff of her perfume and it was very distracting. Subtle, yet it begged for sex. I dismissed this basic thought quickly and followed her into the living room.
Her undulating hips beneath the tight dress threw me another curve ... or rather, I should say, a couple of curves. I couldn't help noticing that her legs were long and lovely.
I held a chair for her and she nodded her thanks. She crossed her legs and I had a flash of satiny, golden thigh. She took out a package of cigarettes and I moved swiftly to hold my lighter out for her.
Now, I had a clear glimpse of the deep cleavage that separated a beautifully rounded pair of breasts. I was pleased to note that she wore no bra. And the breasts stood up proud and free.
"I'll get right down to business, Mr. Harmon...."
"Just a moment," I interrupted. "I'm not Ace Harmon."
"You're not?" She seemed perplexed. "No. I'm Ace's right hand man ... I do his stunts for him and such."
"Oh...."
"Look" I couldn't quite understand this. "Don't you ever watch TV?"
"Quite often."
"And you haven't seen Ace Harmon?" I was curious.
"I watch TV but I never watch westerns," she explained. "But I was to talk to Mr. Harmon...."
"He couldn't be here so he asked me to interview you." I felt it needed more clarifying. "He had to do some re-takes today. But if you're the girl he needs, I'll tell him, and that'll be it!" I couldn't help showing her that I was fairly important to Ace.
"Let me give you my qualifications." She adapted swiftly to the new situation. "I am an expert typist. I can take shorthand. I have had two years of College." She added, "and I have the ability to handle people...."
I would buy that last statement any old time. This girl had fine poise. She had the knack of making you feel at ease very quickly. I liked her. I liked her very much.
"The job is not easy," I warned her. "Ace has a very tough schedule every week. He has to film three days ... rehearse one ... and then, the rest of the time is public appearances, benefits and tours. He's on the go every second!"
"I realize how arduous a show-business personality's career can be," she said easily. "But that's the very thing that intrigues me. I like excitement and change. I have the feeling that I would work out very well for Mr. Harmon."
Yeah ... I couldn't help thinking. You'd work out with him. You wouldn't have a chance! Ace was real tough on women. He was big, blonde and handsome. He had gone through a row of girls and once he had gone over them, they were never the same. He paid off to shut them up. If they didn't shut up, he took sterner measures.
I had seen him rough up a girl once and he was frightening. Only my pleas for him to take it easy saved the girl from real serious injury. Something happened to Ace when a woman began to bore him. And they were really frightened of him once he broke loose.
Suddenly, I knew I couldn't let this wonderful, young girl get caught in Ace's trap. She would have been the fifth "secretary" in the last three months!
"What were your last positions?" I changed the word, suddenly. "I mean, posts!" I'm sure she could show plenty of good positions! She had the frame for versatility.
"The last job I held lasted six months. It was with an advertising agency in Hollywood. I was head secretary to the Vice President."
"May I ask why you left?"
"He fell in love with me," she said candidly.
"Did he want you to marry him?"
"I think so," she said. Then she added, "but I doubt very much that his wife would have given him permission."
"How far did your ... romance go?" I knew I wasn't asking things that were directly concerned with a job of interview, but I wanted to know for my own satisfaction.
"Not far," she said. "I didn't want to break up a marriage. He had three children, all under twelve, so I asked to resign."
"I'm going to level with you." Suddenly, I had to tell her the truth. "I won't let you take this job with Ace Harmon."
"No? Why not?"
"Because no girl could give him what he wants. He isn't too worried about shorthand or typing or any thing like that. He wants a mistress. But he only wants her for about a month and then, that's it. He shoves her out."
"I have the feeling I might be able to handle my self a bit better than the others," she said with quiet confidence.
"You'd handle yourself okay," I admitted. "But you nor any other woman could handle Ace. He's a killer!"
She studied me thoughtfully for a few seconds. Then she asked gently:
"Is he a good friend of yours?"
"The best friend I ever had," I said.
"You don't paint a very pretty picture of him," she said evenly.
"Nobody's perfect," I defended. "Ace has a blind spot when it comes to women. But nobody has ever done as much for me as he has."
"I still think I'd like to talk to him myself," she said.
"It wouldn't be any good." I shook my head. "I can't let you do it. He'd hurt you. He'd hurt you just like he did the others."
"You're determined to have it this way?" She asked.
"Yes."
"I see...." She got up. "Anyway, it's gratifying to know you think I'm really that fatal to men."
"You are." I said it with sincerity. "And I'm only sorry it couldn't work-iOut. I enjoy you."
"You're very nice," she reached out and caressed my cheek. Then she moved toward the door. She turned and studied me closely. "What's wrong? You're staring so oddly at me!"
"Was I?" I caught myself. "I was just thinking...."
"Of what?"
"Thinking what a lovely girl you are." Then, it came out and I couldn't stop myself. "I was thinking how much. I'd like to make love to you!"
She gave a little, pleased chuckle. She asked softly:
"Why don't you?"
"Oh ... there are a couple of reasons why I can't...."
"I'd like to hear them."
"For one thing ... I'm ... well, you know...."
"Married?"
"No."
"Separated?"
"No."
"Afraid of girls?"
"No...." I decided I'd better clarify things. "I just don't think it's right for be to use Ace's house for things like this. Not after the way he's been so fair and square with me!"
"I wouldn't want to abuse the hospitality of your Ace, either," she said gently. She looked as if she were ready to go now. Hastily, I added:
"Uh ... However, I do happen to have my own bedroom. I feel as if that belongs more to me than to Ace!"
"Good," she moved toward me and took my hand. "Now ... take me to your Sleeper!"
And you know what happened after that!
CHAPTER TWO
Ace came in later that afternoon. He wasn't in the best mood. Retakes annoyed hell out of him. He was a quick study and he learned his lines fast. But once he did them, he wanted to forget them from that point on.
"Did you talk to the girl?" he asked, first thing.
"Yeah."
"Well?"
"She wasn't your type." I said.
"What do you mean, she wasn't my type!" He was edgy. "Any babe is my type right now ... even if she has buck teeth and wears a damn wig!' He glowered at me. "You know, sometimes, you're too damn choosy about women! Remember, I'm not going to marry them. I'm just going to bed with them!"
"This girl was hopeless." I knew better than to leave him an inch. He'd have my hide if he ever suspected. "If I had kept her you'd have thrown me out of the house!"
"Okay, Okay, Okay," he paced up and down a moment. Then, he spun sharply on me. "You get your little black book out fast and have a babe over here for me pronto. Hear?"
I got the message. Whenever he used the cowboy jargon like "pronto" he was in a mean mood. Ace had been born right in Manhattan. He had never been on a horse till two years ago. He had caught on fast, though, I'll say that. He mastered the Western stuff in a hurry. But it was really alien to him. And he rarely used the cowboy talk except on the set and when he was upset.
I quickly riffled through the book. I had some sure shots in there. But I had to be certain I got a good one for tonight. Ace wasn't in any lenient humor. I dialed a number.
"Hello?" A low voice on the other end answered.
"Sharon?" I was relieved to see that Ace was head'ing out to the kitchen for a beer. "Bob ... Bob Meyer."
"How are you, honey?" Her voice was guarded. I knew she was with someone. "I'm glad you called. Remem-her that dress you borrowed from me? I don't want to rush you, but I'd like it back soon." This was all the clue I needed. She had a man with her.
"I get the idea," I said. "I'll do most of the talking, and you ad lib to throw your pal off there."
"That's the dress!" She said brightly. "The taffeta job with the organdy sash!"
"Look ... you gotta help me out. Ace just got in. He needs a girl. He needs one real badly. Will you come over?"
"All right, all right!" She made her voice sound annoyed. "I'll come over myself and get it! What time will you be there?" She didn't let me answer. "Holy smokes, girl! That's only an hour from now!" Another pause. "Cant you do better than that?" More hesitation. "Gosh ... I do you a favor and you won't even lift your finger to return it. Okay, okay, okay ... I'll be there!"
She hung up hard. Sharon was okay. Bob had never gotten in deep with her. He wasn't too rough when it was casual. But look out if the girl made it anything but a quickie!
"Well?" Ace was taking a couple of slugs out of the beer can. "What about it?"
"Sharon'll be over."
"Sharon?" He scowled. "Couldn't you do better than that?'
"But you said you were ready for anything."
"Yeah ... I said it, but you didn't have to be so damn literal about it! Use your imagination a little, boy!"
"I'm sorry, Ace. But it's too late now. She's all set."
He shook his head and stretched out on the sofa. He gulped more beer. This was good. It would help mellow him. I wisely kept my mouth shut.
"Sharon's too old for me!" He wasn't sore now.
"She's only in her thirties," I said: "And she doesn't look more than twenty-six."
"She's going downhill, that babe." He philosophized. "When I first started laying her she was pretty cute. Now, she looks like seven miles of used highway."
"She's still got a great build," I pointed out.
"Maybe to you. You're a knocker-man. If a gal has a big pair of boobs, you're hooked." He added. "Me ... I like more class in a woman . .
Yeah, he liked class all right. Just trim the first two letters off the word and you had what he liked! I knew Ace Harmon. I guess I knew him better than anyone."
"If I had more time I could line up something better for you, Ace. But Sharon's okay for a rush job."
"Look, boy...." he gulped another mouthful of beer from the can. "You get me a secretary real quick. I need some steady stuff but it's got to be something I can be seen in public with." He added, "I been without a secretary for two weeks now. That's too long. Now, you just get on the ball and do something about it!"
I knew I had to start moving. I hadn't had the heart to let anybody take the job. But now, the time of stalling had past. Ace wasn't going to sit idly by and let me dawdle.
This was the part of my life that I didn't like. I knew how much I owed to Ace. Everything I had gotten so far wa? due directly to him. But I hated playing ... well, you know what the word is for guys who hustle dames!
Of course, I wasn't a hustler in the real sense. I was an actor. I had a few fair parts since Ace had taken me in hand. He had gotten me four shots on his own TV series. Then, he had conned two other TV producers in' to using me. I'll say this for myself. I had done a damn good job in every instance.
Funny thing about acting. Lots of people think it's a breeze. Just get out there and do whatever the director tells you. Well, I got news for you. That's not the way it works.
You have to learn to read lines. You have to learn what the lines actually mean. Just to repeat them in the proper tone isn't going to make the part come to life. You have to feel the part ... live it ... understand what the author is trying to say. It's an art. A true art ... when done right.
Ace didn't exactly share my reverence for the stage and drama. He felt it was a job. A job that brought you a fast buck. He did his part methodically and that's all that he was interested in.
And it sure paid off for him. He had gotten the lead in the series "TUMBLEWEED" and after a shaky start, the show caught on. At first, Ace had read his lines mechanically and went along in that manner for quite a stretch.
But the very mechanical reading left the viewer with the impression that Ace was taciturn and dour. They began to like his interpretation. And the next thing you know! WHAM! Ace Harmon was a household word.
He hadn't loafed on the job, though. He learned to do the quick draw ... he improved his horsemanship ... he even learned to twirl a rope. He would have done all his stunts, too, but the studio felt he was too valuable to risk that way.
And that's how I came into the picture. I had been picking up a dollar here and there, doing the stunt stuff. Ace had liked the way I had fallen from a two story frame building and he had put me on his steady staff at a fair salary.
He knew I wanted to be a legit actor, but he could not get too enthused over that. He kept telling me that it was a long, slow climb with no chance of it ever paying off ... ever.
But he was willing to let me act as his general all around right hand and I was free to pick up any acting jobs I could get ... within reason. I still had my first duty to Ace.
After we finished chawing about Sharon, Ace said he wanted to eat. He didn't feel like going out so I went to the kitchen to rustle up something.
If you let him, Ace would eat nothing but canned black bean soup. Now, there's nothing wrong with the stuff. It's just that the human frame needs something with better balance.
I had learned how to throw together a pretty fair meal since starting with Ace. And without much fuss. In no time I had a nice crisp salad, pepper steak, broccoli and cottage fried potatoes. For dessert, we had store-bought apricot pie. But the "store" I had bought it in was located in Beverly Hills, and the pie was as good as home-made.
We had just finished when a cab pulled up in front and Sharon got out. I met her at the door and she motioned for me to pay the driver. One thing about Sharon. She was a real business-woman!
"Hi, honey," she walked in and smiled at Ace. Under the soft light, Sharon didn't look too bad. She was wearing a dress of some shiny material. It hung onto her frame like there was no tomorrow!
She had on an uplift bra and those big breasts fairly barked at you. She had-great-upper-structure anyway, and the points almost came through the material.
Her hips were big but nice. Sharon had worked her way around Hollywood and environs for a long time. Some of that mileage was beginning to show ... but it certainly wasn't on her chassis!
I did notice that faint shadows were forming under her eyes. And just a suggestion of line around her lips. She was earning her way in a rough game, let's face it.
"How you been, kid?" Ace walked casually over to her and gave her a little embrace. He let his hand drop onto her hips and he gave a nice, friendly pat. He nodded approval: "Ummm, take two, they're small!" He chuckled at his own humor and Sharon dutifully joined in.
"Still shootin' 'em up, Ace?" Sharon felt constrained to make small talk.
"Yeah...." Ace nodded. "But just let this old series roll for three more years and I'll start usin' real bullets in my irons."
He was with the Western jargon again. Women, even when he liked them, began to bring out that mean streak. I couldn't figure it. He was pretty good in the sad' die with the girls. They all seemed to like him. But he would just turn plain mean when they stepped into his life.
"Say," Sharon looked around. "Mind if I use your powder room a second?"
Ace held his hand out elaborately toward the bathroom. As she moved into the open door, he called:
"Mention my name and you'll get a better seat!"
I had heard him use that same gag fifty times and I'm sure Sharon did, too, but we both laughed. After the door had closed behind her, Ace threw me a look.
"What you gonna do, boy, while I ride that babe all over the old homestead?"
"Well, I thought I'd run down to that little theatre group in the Valley. They're doing Ibsen tonight...." I really hadn't planned on taking it in on the first night. I liked to catch these plays after they had a chance to knock out some of the bugs. But I didn't want to be around while Ace was giving Sharon the works.
He sniffed, "You sure are a glutton for punishment! Now, why the hell would you waste time watching a bunch of lousy amateurs murder some over-age play?"
We had been over this ground a hundred times. I felt I could learn something about acting by watching as much of it as I could absorb. Whether it took place on the legitimate stage or on the big screen didn't mat' ter. You could learn ... even if it was learning what not to do.
Ace didn't share this opinion. He felt the stage was "hack" from the word "go." He felt, too, that movies were rapidly reaching the same stagnant stage. He didn't like TV but at least, he felt, it paid good money! In short, Ace wasn't too impressed with acting in any phase. Yet, he was the one who was making the big money! And I was just a stunt man who managed to get a bit part now and then ... when Ace helped.
"If the play turns out to be too bad, I'll walk out on it," I said smoothly. I didn't want to start a big to do with Ace right at this stage. Because I knew inwardly that if I got him sore, he'd really start taking his frustration out on Sharon. And I was more or less responsible for her well-being.
"Look...." Ace suddenly turned for his bedroom. "When Sharon gets out of the can, tell her I'm in my stall. I'll be layin' on the old work-bench waitin' for her!"
I didn't like the sound of his voice too much. Evidently, he had a hard day with the retakes and it was catching up with him. I watched him disappear into his room. I thought I'd better hang around till Sharon came out.
"Well, honey...." Sharon reappeared and stopped short as she looked for the absent Ace.
"He's in there...." I nodded toward the room. She nodded wisely and then moved up toward me. She had made up her face a bit and was in the mood. She pressed her generous breasts up against me. The pressure made them pop upward. Sharon really had a nice pair of knockers. Ace was right. I was a bosom-boy. Sharon knew how I felt about them, too!
"Too bad it's not you, honey," she whispered. "It's been a long time since you chewed on these...." She eased her breasts up a bit further. Now, I could look right down and see their rich, fullness. I'd have liked a dollar for every mouth that had been around Sharon's knockers.
"Better not," I advised softly. "He's a little touchy tonight. No use of asking for trouble...."
"One of those things again," she sighed. "Well, I'll tell you, Bob, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't come near this guy. He's murder. Real murder." She shook her head. "I'm not so sure it's worth the money!"
"Do it for me, Sharon," I said in a low tone. "And I'll slip you an extra ten-spot."
"Okay, okay...." she wasn't thrilled even at this prospect. She lifted her mouth and kissed me. She let her tongue slip in between my lips and she worked it around. At the same time she began the slow bumpitty bump-bump with her hips and wiggled her big breasts into my chest.
I was getting a little uneasy. Ace might come walking out on some strange hunch and catch us. And even though he knew I had gone the route with Sharon lots of times in the past, he didn't like it when he wanted her. He worked on a very basic and sound philosophy: What's his was his. What's mine was ... his!
I gently worked free of Sharon and steered her toward the bedroom. She wasn't keen on going in. She kept hanging back but I kept shoving. At the door, sho turned. She suddenly dropped one shoulder strap and her breast was there for me. It looked beautiful. And she lifted it with her hand so that it was pointed right at me. "Kiss!" She commanded.
Even though Ace was right on the other side of that door, this was too good to pass up. I bent down ... I didn't have to bend too far with the size of Sharon's bosom ... and planted a nice, warm kiss on the nipple. It grew strong and erect in my mouth. Then, I drew back, apologizing.
"I hate to eat and run like this!" I turned and headed away fast before I got into trouble.
CHAPTER THREE
The play in the valley wasn't too bad. Oh, sure, the cast muffed a lot of lines and missed cues left and right, but they all displayed a mature understanding of what Ibsen had in mind, that overcame the short-comings.
The small theatre was full. By full, that meant that all of eighty people were there. I knew most of the audience were friends, relatives and perhaps a small time agent or two.
Funny thing, but Hollywood, with all its actors and huge population, just couldn't support the very institution that was responsible for its being! Some play that was a smash in New York and would run for seven years, would come to the West Coast and be lucky if it could play to capacity houses for seven days.
I had a good seat. I always splurged and got the high price row so I could watch the actors ... and actresses ... as closely as possible. It's amazing how much you could learn by studying the various reactions to the little things that missed ... or caught on!
I found myself watching a young girl who had a minor role. She really poured everything she had into her part. Even when it was a simple walk-on, she refused to be daunted by the lack of opportunity. She made every gesture count.
I became so fascinated with her that I began to ig nore the other members of the cast. Even she noticed my concentration and I caught her throwing me a quick look as she took an exit.
When the final curtain came down and they were all taking their bows, I saw that her eyes were on me. She quickly averted them, but we were both aware of one another's interest.
After the audience had filed out, I hung around. Some strange instinct told me the young girl and I were destined to be more than passing faces.
I waited for some time. Evidently, she didn't have the same feeling that burned inside of me. I was patient. Besides, I didn't want to get back until Ace was all done with Sharon.
Finally, the girl came out. She was wearing a light any rain in three months and we wouldn't have hany for and rain in three months and we wouldn't have any for another six!
[Archive note: Yes, the above paragraph is EXACTLY as it appeared in the original paperback!!]
She hestitated as she noticed me waiting out in the parking lot next to the theatre building. She looked quickly away, but I was moving in.
"Excuse me," I said politely. "Please don't think I'm another stage door Johnnie, but I simply had to tell you what a fine job you did on the stage tonight!"
"Thank you." Her eyes lit up. No actor ever hated to hear how good they were!
"Ibsen is one of my favorites, and too often, per' formers misunderstand ... misunderstand his motives. They read only his words, without capturing the under' lying meaning."
I knew I sounded like the second year course in English Lit. but what could you say besides the usual cliches?
"He's one of my favorites too!" She wasn't conscious of my rather clumsy approach. I noticed when she became excited, her breasts moved up and down as if in passion. And they were nice breasts. Not too big, but straight and firm. With sharp nipples.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?" I asked, impulsively. "I'd like to talk to you further."
She studied my eyes for a moment. I stared frankly back into hers. She hesitated, then nodded.
"I think I'd like that."
It turned out she was driving an over-age compact which she had parked in the lot we were standing in. I told her we would come back after the coffee and pick up her crate. Now, I steered her to my car which wasn't exactly a Concourse d' Elegance, but at least it passed muster on a used car lot!
We drove along Ventura Boulevard until we came to Sherman Oaks. Here, I parked at a nice, small coffee house and I led my new friend inside.
Over the Espresso, she told me about herself. Her name was Kelly Moran. She wasn't Irish as you would suspect. She was one fourth Mexican, one fourth Swedish, one fourth Austrian and one fourth Scotch.
"I adopted the name Kelly Moran because I noticed that long names get left off the marquees unless you're really a top star," she explained. "And it may be a few years before I reach that category!"
She had been born in Brooklyn but her parents came to the West coast shortly after she passed her fourth birthday. Now, her family lived in Sacramento. They weren't too happy about her taking up show business but Kelly wouldn't let them stop this drive to hit the big time.
She had the usual training of "little-theatre." After high school, she had gone to the Pasadena Playhouse. She had graduated with high honors. Then; she had taken a job as file clerk with a big banking chain to pay for her room and board while she dedicated herself to the theatre.
I told her a bit about myself. My aspirations for show business. My teaming with Ace until I could get a, real start. I let her know how indebted I was to Ace for everything he had done thus far.
"He's lucky to have such a good friend as you," she said thoughtfully.
"You're kidding!" I had to laugh. "I've done abso-lutely nothing for Ace! It's all one-way-track! Without his help, I'd still be scrounging around trying to land one-shots in some second rate quickie!"
After we finished our third cup of Espresso, we headed back to where her car was parked. As we pulled up next to the parked vehicle, I was gratified to note that the lights were off all around us. It was dark. Real dark.
"Well," she made a move for the door handle. "Thank you so much for the wonderful chat."
I reached out and took her arm and pulled it back. She didn't move. I slipped my arm around her shoulders.
"Not so fast," I whispered. "I'd like to tell you a little more about yourself...."
"It's really getting quite late." She was uneasy. She waited. I pulled her closer.
"This won't take too long," I promised. "You don't know it, but you are a very beautiful girl. Not just plain old hot-house beauty, mind you, but that strange, exotic, off-beat loveliness that does things to a man!"
I worked my lips closer to her ear. I gently kissed the lobe and then let my tongue-tip just touch the soft skin. I could feel her body stiffening.
I zipped the front of her rain-coat free and slipped my arm around inside. I caressed her body lovingly and as her breathing began to pick up, I pressed my mouth down on her lips. She pulled away nervously.
Now, I had my hand on her breast. I could tell there was no bra. She didn't need one with those firm, straight young bosoms. She made a token struggle, but it didn't hold me back. I got my hand in over the neck line and now I had my palm resting lightly on the nipple.
I began a nice, easy, slow, rolling movement with the palm which began to take effect. Her nipple began to stand taut and erect under the soothing caress.
"Don't ... please ... don't...." she whispered But she made no move to take my hand off the lovely young breast. Her chest was moving up and down heavily.
I now had my lips directly on the nipple and I began nuzzling it. She pulled my head in harder against her body. I had my cue for sure. I ran my hand down over her thigh and hips.
She shivered as I slipped my fingers under her hem-line and began slowly, lovingly working the hand up against her bare legs. I reached the hips and was thrilled to discover she had absolutely nothing on underneath!
"Don't! Please don't!" She whispered huskily. But her arms were drawing me closer as she said it. Now, I had my hand on her bare body where it really mattered. This girl was ready!
I got after my own garments so I could move in and give her what we both wanted so badly. Just as I was about to reach my goal, she yanked back, tugged at the car door and leapt out of the car!
Now, she ran to her buggy. I was after her as quickly as I could adjust my clothes. I reached her car just as she started the motor. She had the window up and I couldn't grab the wheel. Before I could do anything further, she lurched the car backwards and quickly changed gears and was off into the night!
I wasn't going to let her get away when I had her this close. I ran back to my car, hopped in and was right after her. The tail light on her car was disappearing down Ventura Boulevard, but not fast enough. I knew I'd catch her before she reached her home. And this time I'd see to it that she got what she wanted!
I was gaining fast. By the time she reached Bar-ham Avenue, I was only six car lengths behind. She just barely made the green light and as I came roaring on from back, the light flicked onto yellow. I should have stopped, but I didn't.
I zoomed on through. And that's when it happened. A car came from the other side and before I could do much about it, the driver of the other car had whammed his front bumper smack into my rear fender.
The impact was solid. I could hear crunching metal, squealing tires and breaking glass. Both cars shuddered to a halt. The smell of burning rubber, hot metal and oil permeated the air.
I got out, slightly shaken. I moved to the other car. The driver was slumped forward on the wheel. It was an elderly man. He looked strangely still.
Then I heard the distant scream of a siren approaching.
CHAPTER FOUR
I got off easy. The old man was merely knocked un-conscious. True, he hurt his nose and cheekbone on the wheel, but that was light damage when you think what might have happened to him.
We exchanged insurance cards, showed our driver's licenses to the polite police officers and after getting a little talk on safety after dark, we were ready to go.
Both cars were still mobile and we headed home ward. But not before the old man made me promise to accept full blame for the crash. Under the circumstances, I was unable to do much about it. I had crossed when the light was against me. It was borderline, but I had been at fault. So, the old man took my address and I took his card and we both agreed to discuss it further the following day.
My car didn't look too bad. The old man's auto had the most damage on it. I parked the car so Ace wouldn't notice the banged up rear when he left in the morning.
It was wise that I did. He was in lousy humor as we sat at breakfast. Sharon had left shortly after mid' night, it developed.
"How was the old girl?" I wanted to cheer him up.
"Lousy!"
"Really?" I lifted my brow.
"Yeah...." Ace frowned at his fried eggs and! bacon. "She's burned out. She thinks because she's got at big pair of boobs that it's all that matters!"
"She dogged it?" I inquired. With the damage to the car, I had to be real sure Ace wasn't going to get! upset further.
"She sure did, buster." He seemed to feel it was my fault. "She just laid back flaunting them big knockers at me and waited for me to do all the work!"
"Hmmmm." I shook my head as if it really meant a lot to me. "I'll give her a little talking to about it!"
"Forget her," He eyed me narrowly. "You get me a secretary, see, and you get her pronto!"
"Okay, Ace," I nodded resolutely. "I'll do it. I'll get right on it!"
He left the house about an hour afterward. My luck held out and he was so burned up at the world that he didn't see how I dented my crate. Even though it was my car, he had made the down payments when I was down to pin money. So he had a real squawk coming if he wanted to get technical about my negligence.
I knew I had to take steps to put him on the right track. I quickly drove the car to my pet garage-men, Ray and Vic. They understood my problem. Ace had chewed them out a couple times in the past about minor repairs and they knew how rough he could be when things weren't falling in the pattern he liked. They promised to have the car looking decent by late afternoon. I headed back home to make a few pertinent inquiries about hiring a gal "Friday" for my unhappy companion.
Luck was really running for me now. I hadn't made more than one or two phone calls when the phone rang. I answered it to learn that a girl on the other end wanted to be interviewed.
I explained about being un-horsed as far as wheels went. She had her own transportation and we arranged for her to drive out right away.
While I waited for her to show up. the phone rang again. This call wasn't so good? It was from the old man I had smacked last night. He was unhappy because his nose wasn't feeling too good after hitting the steering wheel.
To keep him from taking any un-due action, I arranged to meet with him at his place that night after dinner to discuss what we should do about restitution for his physical damage. Even though the insurance companies would pay for all the car repairs, I was in a bit of a spot about personal liability. Like a damn fool I had taken out a policy and brushed off the "non-essentials" like personal liability. It didn't make too much financial difference, but I had been real strapped and I didn't want big insurance bills coming in to plague Ace. Now, it looked like it might cost me a hell of a lot more because of my stupidity.
I could have kicked myself. Penny-wise and pound-foolish! Luckily, for me, the new girl was due in a few minutes, and I had to make the place presentable before she showed.
I straightened up the living room. I wouldn't take her into the bedroom. That was a mess! I carefully closed all the doors leading out of the living room and waited.
She arrived on time. That was a good sign. I had learned that the secretaries who were late for appointments were usually late for more important things!
As I let her in the' front door, I was pleased to see that she had the factors that Ace would like. Her legs were strong and well-rounded. She had that fascinating bulge of calf muscle that looked so good when the leg was shapely and svelte.
Her smooth limbs were encased in smoky-colored sheer hose and set off with high heeled Italian dark blue and white pumps. Her skirt was nice and tight across the hips. It was a skirt of smooth, hard fabric and it was an off-blue color.
Her upper body was covered in a pale ivory toned silk blouse that didn't hide a nice pair of breasts.
The face wasn't beautiful. But it was interesting. She had dark hair and brows. Her eyes were a real dark brown in color and bold ... very bold. They held on you and bored into yours.
Her mouth was generous, with a strong jaw. She had nice skin and she wore a pleasant, sexy perfume. I knew she was just what Ace would order.
"Do you type?" I asked, as I watched her seat herself on the sofa. She crossed her legs and the powerful calf fairly popped out at me. The smooky hose lent entrancing shadows to the curves of her knees and lower thighs. I wondered how those legs would feel around my hips. Then I dismissed the thought resolutely. She was for Ace, not me!
"Yes, I type." She eyed me steadily. I had a struggle to keep from looking down at her crossed legs. I wanted this to be pure business.
"How many words per minute?" I asked crisply.
"About twenty."
I lifted my brow. This wasn't exactly what you would call a world record!
"That isn't so good," I pointed out. "Even a beginning typist can average forty words per minute."
"I know." She studied my face for a few seconds. Then, she added in a lower tone: "But I have other qualifications not every stenographer has."
"Yes?" I waited.
"I can also take shorthand...." Then, she stared straight into my eyes as she practically whispered:--and French...."
We both knew she wasn't talking of language at this stage. This girl was a doer. She knew what I wanted and she didn't beat around the bush.
"I have a feeling you'll work out...." I nodded. "When can you start?"
"Now?" Her eyes dropped momentarily to my more personal portion of male anatomy. Then, she lifted them up and stared at me.
"Make it tomorrow," I suggested. "Let's say you show up here around dinner time...."
"Ummmm...." she nodded. "I like the hours!"
"It won't be that way all the time," I set her straight. "Mr. Harmon will finish his shooting and retakes and then he'll demand more business-like hours from you!"
"Would you like to orient me a bit so I'll be all set for your Mr.' Harmon tomorrow?"
"There's very little I can do at this point," I said. "But I can clarify one or two other things. Your starting salary will be ninety dollars a week."
"Isn't that a bit low for a qualified secretary?" She was aware of the going rate for what she did.
"There are other benefits from this post," I argued. "Mr. Harmon works very hard when he shoots at the studio. He's so tired at these times, he just likes to drop off to bed right after dinner. You won't be working all the time."
"I might have extra-overtime," she stared boldly into my eyes. "You might have some things that need straightening out...." She added. "That all costs, you know!"
"Let's get one thing clear right now," I said. "I'm hiring you for Mr. Harmon. You are to be his personal secretary. You will be directly responsible to him. Forget me. Forget me entirely. I've got a good deal with him. I want to keep it that way. Savvy?"
She nodded. A faint smile played around her lips.
"You're a good little servant, aren't you?" She didn't say it with the respect I would have liked. "Mustn't touch Mr. Bossman's personal things. Papa might spank."
She uncrossed her legs. She uncrossed them, long and leisurely. She knew she had the appeal-there that every man yearned for. She revealed lots of smooth thigh as she moved. I tried to keep my eyes from her loveliness, but I failed. I failed very miserably. This pleased her.
She stood up. Now, her legs rippled in animal-like grace under the sheer smoke colored hosiery. Ace was going to go out of his ever-loving mind when she wrapped those legs around him!
I stood up and moved to show her out. I had to get rid of her before I did something I'd regret. Ace didn't like the idea of doing a follow-on. He was to have this girl first ... until such time as he tired of her and passed her on to me.
But it would be his decision when that great moment was on hand. I had learned from our association that he wouldn't be rushed in any way in these matters.
At the door, she stopped. She stared long and deep into my eyes. She had a disturbing habit of seeming able to read my mind. She stood close to me. Too close. I could feel her breasts against my chest. She shifted her weight and I could sense the burning contact of her thighs against mine.
"Well?" She looked at me. Her lips were slightly open. She waited. I wanted to grab her and press my mouth down hard on those big, lovely lips. I wanted to shoot my tongue so far down her throat that it would reach all the way down to where she really needed it. But common sense warned me. It just wasn't worth jeopardizing my whole future for. She realized I wasn't going to take advantage of her charms. She gave a little chuckle. As she moved out the door past me she asked gently: "Are you just a little queer?"
I didn't answer. But a hot, burning rage surged through me. I wanted to choke those words right back down her throat! And some lovely day ... or night, I would!
CHAPTER FIVE
That night I drove to meet the little old man who had been injured in my auto accident. I carefully planned how I would handle it.
I had been wrong. No doubt of it. In my eagerness to chase down Kelly Moran I had taken a dangerous chance. And it had backfired. Now, I was liable to dam-ages.
I got to his address. I could have told you what it would look like before I ever saw the place. It was a Second-rate apartment house just off Melrose on Sweetter.
His quarters were on the top floor of the building. I rang the doorbell and waited. The little opening in the door finally opened and an eye peered out.
"I'm Bob Meyer." I waited. The message evidently got through. The little lid closed and the door opened. A woman in her late forties stood there. She was nervous. She motioned for me to come in. I did as she wished. She closed the door and asked me to take a chair. I looked around for the little old man. He wasn't there. She guessed what I was seeking.
"My father had a sudden difficulty in breathing.' She was uneasy. "The blow ... from the accident ... it "did something to his nose. I called the doctor. The doctor came and decided it might be best for him to go to a hospital for a night."
Well, this was par for the course! With my luck the old man would come down with something really serious and I'd be paying hospital bills for the next twenty years!
Then, I felt ashamed of myself as I noticed the woman's hands twitching. She was in danger of losing a father, perhaps, and here I was counting the change and thinking of how I'd be hooked!
"Look...." I had these damn fool flashes of heroics every so often. "I'm terribly sorry. I don't think your father is really in serious danger from the blow. But whatever the hospital bill comes to, I'll pay for it. The whole thing was my fault!"
"That won't bring him back if ... if...." She then caught herself. She amended. "The only reason I'm concerned over him, is that he has a bad heart. A simple thing like this blow on the head just could cause him a great deal of trouble." She shook her head. "I'm sure you didn't mean to do it. But you're certainly honest about it being your fault."
"The reason I'm here tonight is that I wanted to tell him about footing any expense he might incur. I fee pretty miserable. But you keep me posted. The moment I can see him I'll explain everything in person. Will you do that?"
She nodded mutely. I noticed that tears were welling in her eyes. She really was super-sensitive. On an impulse I reached out and touched her hand.
"You're a very nice person." She had trouble getting the words out. Then, she abruptly slumped down on the divan and buried her face in her hands.
I felt so damn sorry for her I moved over and sat next to her. I patted her shoulder gently.
"Don't cry," I whispered. "Please ... don't cry. Your father is going to be allright. I know he will be."
She gave a heaving sigh. She leaned her head wearily against my shoulder. She whispered:
"I hope so ... I hope so." She paused. "He's all I have. Nobody else in this world...."
"Look...." I wanted to get her mind off her troubles if I could. "Why don't you come with me? There's no use your sitting here alone tonight. Let me buy you a good, stiff drink?"
She slowly sat up. She wiped her eyes.
"Oh ... I don't know about that. I ... I'm a school teacher at the high school here. It wouldn't do for me to be seen in some cocktail lounge!"
"You won't be seen," I promised. "We'll go to a place I know way out past Malibu. Believe me, nobody from your high school area even knows about the place!"
She was undecided. Then, she shook her head negatively. "No ... I wouldn't feel right. Not with father ill...."
The phone rang and she excused herself nervously. I didn't like the phone ringing right now. I hoped the old man hadn't taken a turn for the worse!
"Hello," she tried to hide the anxiety in her tone. There was a pause. Then her entire personality changed, for the better. "Father! How do you feel?"
He evidently felt better. She began chatting more rapidly. The talk went on and I was trying to think of some way to get out and go home. Then, she hung up and turned to me with shining eyes.
"It was Father!" She said with a pleased tremor. I knew it was, of course, but I could understand her confusion. "He's much better! Much, much better! They cleared up the breathing problem for him with hardly any work at all!" She added, "The doctor told him he could come home tomorrow afternoon."
"Good." I was relieved. "At least, you'll be able to rest tonight. Knowing he's okay and all...." I turned to leave. She put her hand out.
"Please...." she smiled. "If you don't mind ... I think I'd like to accept your invitation for that drink!"
Well, I had opened my big mouth too soon again. Now, I was stuck with an old maid schoolteacher and a long, boring evening listening to the woes of education!
"Fine!" I tried to make my voice cheery. Inwardly, I was curling up. "Don't bother to change ... just slip a coat on and you'll be fine the way you are!"
As she went to get her coat, my mind darted back to two other women I would have relished much more. Ace's new secretary and Kelly Moran. And especially, Kelly Moran!
CHAPTER SIX
We sped along the Pacific Coast Highway until we came to the small, secluded night club on the other side of Malibu. They had a good combo and the drinks were not overpriced.
I showed my schoolteacher companion to a table where we wouldn't be too conspicuous. She was old enough to be my mother and I didn't want to be the center of too much attention.
Also, she wasn't any more anxious to be spotted in a night club than I was, under the conditions. After we had our first drink, we both relaxed. I had a straight bourbon and she ordered just what you think she would: a Tom Collins.
As we relaxed under the benign influence of the alcohol, she told me more about herself. Her mother had died when she was only twelve and she had taken over the household duties since then.
Her father was a retired post office employee and with his pension and her school teacher salary they got along just fine. She taught art, music and physiology.
I didn't go into too much detail about my life. I explained my yen for acting but I eased up on my connection with Ace. This woman would have a difficult time reconciling my attitudes on the matter, I knew!
After a while, I felt the need for more stimulus. I was getting a little bored with all the talk about our prosaic existences. To my surprise she agreed to another Tom Collins!
However, I could understand her need to relieve her tension. She had been under a rather trying spell with her dad, I realized.
We listened to the combo for some time and watched the couples on the floor. There were a few dolls dancing that I wished I had with me instead of the teacher!
One young dish, with slanted eyes and a dress to match, kept throwing me looks all the time she wiggled around the floor with her somewhat loaded partner.
At one stage, the young dish backed her beautifully rounded fanny practically into my chest as she pirouetted to a finale. I had an over-powering urge to take a great big bite out of her hip but I controlled the impulse.
Finally, I decided I could suggest leaving without seeming to be too much in a hurry. I wished I could have stuck around to establish contact further with Miss Slant Eyes, but I was stuck with the school ma'am and there was no use kidding myself.
As we drove back to Hollywood, the teacher grew a bit drowsy which was a break, because now I didn't have to continue making small talk.
I pulled up in front of the apartment with inward relief. I opened the car door and showed her to the apartment. She took out a key from her handbag and opened the door. Then, she turned and I got ready to bid her good night.
"Thank you for a lovely evening," I said politely.
"No, no," she shook her head. "I'm the one to thank you. It was wonderful!"
She held out her hand to give me the parting hand shake. I took her fingers and gave them the proper squeeze.
Then, as she backed into her apartment, she tightened her grip on my hand and firmly pulled me inside the dark room! She quietly closed the door behind us. Now, we stood in the dark.
"I have a very big favor to ask of you," she spoke in low tone. "I am a virgin. I am nearly fifty. I am old enough to be your mother. I know I can't compete with girls like the one in the night club who practically threw her body in your face, but I promise you one thing. I will give you every ounce of love I can build up! Will you make love to me, please?"
Her tone was pleading. "I have never had a man. I must have a man ... at least once before I die. I give you my word, after tonight, I will never make love to anybody again. But I must have a man's love for one night at least! Please ... will you...." She said in a quiet, husky whisper. "I will make it a point never to see you again. You need have no fears. Even if you wanted to see me anymore, I wouldn't let you!"
I was stumped. This was the one thing I hadn't counted on. I wasn't to much of a hand for taking on elderly ladies, let me assure you. But what was a gentleman to say under the present circumstances?
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I was hoping she would change her mind.
"More than anything in the world," she said with gentle finality. "Please, grant me this one wish...."
I was on the hook and I knew it now!
"I'm flattered, naturally," I lied, "but you shouldn't rush into something as drastic as this." I paused. "There are many emotional dangers when you've waited as long as you have...."I tried to remember more of the cliches about illicit romances that I had read in the pocket size magazines. I couldn't think of any extra ones.
"I'm not rushing, believe me," she said with sincerity.
"I've thought this out for years!" She faltered. "Besides, what am I saving my virginity for? The grave?"
"Wait...." I recalled something else. "Physically ... a virgin, even when young has trouble with a man! It's much more painful when you're mature and set!"
"I've thought that part out, too." She moved to a small room and turned back to caution: "Please, don't go! I beg of you. Promise?"
I promised. I was a bit curious as to just what she had in the mystery room. She disappeared and I waited in the dark. Soon, she came out. She had a cardboard box of the size you get when you buy new shoes and they put your old ones in it for you to take home.
"Now...." she opened the box but it was dark and I couldn't see the contents. "As I told you I'm a physiology teacher. As a result I know the human body ... both male and female quite well. So ... I've been preparing myself for the day when I found the right man for my interlude."
"Preparing?" I didn't follow this double-talk.
"Yes...." She nodded. "I knew I was virginal. I knew I had to indoctrinate my body to be able to satisfactorily handle a man ... '
"Go on," I was really anxious to find out the score now.
"So ... I practiced the art of love...." She added. "Alone. I started off gradually...." Now, she reached in and picked out something She held it to the dim light coming in from the street lamps below.
She held in her hand what I can best describe as a Phallic symbol. It was an accurate reproduction of what's-down-low-that-counts! Evidently, it was carved of polished wood, or ivory or something else. But whatever it was made of, it was solid!
"I worked my way up," she said calmly. "I kept increasing the sizes...." She held up another and then another. They were slightly and progressively larger.
Now, she took out the last one. This was the King Size job. I was pleased to note it was a perfect twin for me!
"What about this ... style here?" I was at a loss for words, so I had to say something, even though asinine. "Are you-you know-able to...."I ran out of gas.
"Oh, yes." She said. "I've been taking this very nicely for the past few months." She added hastily. "But only to keep my muscles and body tone perfect! I wouldn't let it become habit-forming!"
"Well, now I've heard everything...." I shook my head.
"I hope you understand." She was anxious not to be thought eccentric. "It's part of a campaign. Nothing more. Just so I could be ready for ... you."
"Well, I'll be-" was the best I could muster. It's not easy to be witty at a moment of this sort!
"Now...." she put the box and its rather unusual array of contents to one side. "Will you grant me the one favor I want more than anything in the world?"
"I still don't think-" I started.
"Please?" She put her hand softly on my arm. "Just this once. It means so much to me...."
I knew I had to do it for her. So, I nodded silently. I signified for her to undress. Together, in the dark, we began removing our clothing. As I undressed, my mind kept racing. This was something I had never run into before. A woman pleading for my charms!
True, she wasn't what you would call a kid! As she had said earlier, she was old enough to be my mother. I couldn't help wishing it were Kelly Moran begging for it! Or, the dark, new secretary I had hired to handle Ace! But then, you can't have everything!
The teacher was stripped before I was, but she waited patiently for me. Then, I stood up and faced her in the dark. Her body was silhouetted against the window and it showed me plenty.
She had taken good care of her body, that was evident now that the clothing was off. She was not slender by a hell of a sight. But she was one of those women who looked much more svelte when the outer garb is removed!
Her measurments, to my fairly practiced eye, were a rough ... or I should say, smooth ... 46-30-32. Her breasts were massive, but they hung nicely. Her hips seemed frail by comparison, but they weren't!
Suddenly, I felt glad she had settled for me!
I moved to her. I took her in my arms. I could feel those huge breasts pressed against my naked chest. The nipples were the largest I had ever felt. They were big and erect. Her arms slid around my shoulders. Her stomach felt silky smooth against my lean middle.
Her thighs were powerful and yet, gave a feeling of softness. They pressed up hungrily against me. I shoved my mouth down hard on her lips. Her mouth was wide open. I thrust my tongue way down in her mouth and wiggled it slowly. She quivered under the sensation. Her grip tightened.
Now, I worked my hungry mouth down her throat and onto her bosom. There was plenty to work on there! I kissed and nuzzled her breasts until she was vibrant with excitement. Her breathing was coming in harsh gasps.
I eased our frames over to the couch. She stopped me.
"No, no, please...." she panted. "Not on the couch! It will make too much noise when we get going in full force." She pulled me down onto the floor instead. Luckily, it had a nice, clean shag rug. That would cushion us!
Now, I tightened my grip on her. I moved my nude body over onto her. She was caught in the emotion of the moment. Her arms tightened. She was powerful! Now, she wrapped her satiny thighs tightly around my hips.
I moved forward and then we started. She was right about keeping off the couch. The way we worked our bodies, the couch would have collapsed!
She certainly had done a masterful job of readying her body for love. I never had it so good! There was an ease and skill to her manipulations that only the most practiced young lady of the streets could attain. Yet, I knew that this was the very first time for the love starved teacher!
Our powerful contortions goaded our bodies into new and more stimulating postures of love. On and on and on we went. She moaned and groaned with the ecstasy of it all. And let me assure you, I did a bit of it, too!
Our bodies grew hotter under the passion. Our breathing turned into agonized gasps. I pressed down harder and harder. Her soft body yielded before my virility.
Then, in a sudden convulsion of emotion, we arrived! We undulated and threshed violently as we strove to en gulf one another. I thought the heavenly pain and joy of it all would never end. But finally, it did. We both subsided, limp and exhausted.
She let her head rest on my shoulder and we dozed off. We didn't sleep too long. It couldn't have been more than a half hour before I was kissing and caressing those lovely, huge breasts once more. And she was running her hands lovingly over my naked body.
The naked saddle, I thought, suddenly to myself. I've got to start riding in that naked saddle! And I was on the trail again!
Slender, young bodies look exciting, I know. But let me tell you, once passion has you in its grip, then the slender young body isn't enough. That's when the massive, silky soft breasts and lush, heavy thighs, alone can satisfy you!
By the time dawn arrived, we had done it again and again. We were both pretty well fatigued, you can guess!
We had breakfast together. She refused to let me put a stitch of clothing on. She wanted to drink in the manliness of my body, she said.
She was also an expert cook! She served toasted, hot English muffins-delicious fried eggs, fragrant coffee and for the topper, she let me sample the luscious flavor of her breasts.
I couldn't get over the appeal of that massive body. She had cared for it. Age hadn't been able to make much inroads on the vibrant feeling her breasts and hips exuded.
I suddenly realized I had a gold mine in this woman. From now on, I had my physical needs pretty well taken care of! I couldn't help gloating inwardly at the way she had fallen into my hands.
Finally, she suggested we both get dressed. It was time for the world to be moving once more. Reluctantly, I put on my clothing, as I watched her fitting each breast into the cups of her bra. It took a bit of doing. She had lots to put away there!
As I moved to the door, she held her lips up for the goodbye kiss. I kissed her and the mouth was wide open again. But sadly, there wasn't time for that now!
"When am I going to see you again?" I asked. I men-tally figured out I'd drop by and make love to her in the next day or so. There was so much of her that needed what I could give.
She smiled and stared deep into my eyes before she answered.
"Never." She said it without malice.
"Huh?" I stared at her in shock.
"That's right," she said. "I told you I only wanted to do it once in my life!' She added. "You were wonderful. Better than I had ever dreamed it would be."
"Then why not continue to enjoy it?"
"Because it would only end in trouble." She shook her head. "We could never marry. I'm not deluding myself on that score. And ultimately, you'd tire of me. I'm an old woman already. No ... it's best for both of us this way!" She kissed me tenderly on the lips. "Now, please go...."
"But none of this makes sense!" I was really confused. But not so confused that I wanted to lose this prize!
"You're wrong," she said quietly. "This is the only way it makes sense." She added softly. "Now, I can destroy the contents of my little secret shoebox! They've accomplished their purpose!"
She kissed me once more, opened the door and ever so gently pushed me out into the hall. Then, she whispered a soft goodbye and the door closed with a little click of finality.
CHAPTER SEVEN
There wasn't too much time to brood over losing my new friend. I had to set the stage for the big meeting between Ace Harmon and the new dark-haired secretary.
Ace got home in time for dinner and I played it cool about the girl. I explained that I had hired her on the strength of my knowledge of what he liked in a girl.
"We'll see...."he muttered.
I went on to explain that she wasn't exactly a ravishing beauty, but that she had as good a build as any man could ever ask for.
"Big knockers, eh?" He smiled faintly.
"Just the right size." I didn't build it up. "But she has very nice legs." I didn't add that she had a lovely pair of hips. Let him learn that for himself. I war. well aware of his weakness.
"She's got to have more than just a body, you know." Ace warmed up a bit. "Essentially, she's got to be a sec retary!" I knew this stale line by heart. "She's got to be someone I can be seen with in public when I'm making a deal! She just can't be a good lay!"
It all sounded fine, bur I knew better. What Ace wanted was a girl to have whenever he felt like it. She could type with one finger and it wouldn't matter. I'll grant that she had to be fairly attractive. He was fussy about being seen with girls who showed too clearly that they were inexpensive.
"She'll be here in a little while," I said. "Then, you can see for yourself."
She was on time again. This was good. I let her in and then Ace appeared to meet her.
"Miss Boyer, Mr. Harmon...." I waved politely. Ace greeted her and then sized her up quickly. He wasn't overly impressed with her face, but he forgot that when he saw her build. As she turned to take the chair I held out. Ace's eyes hungrily followed the lovely, round con-tours of her hips.
By the time she had crossed those beautiful, powerful legs, he was in the fold. She smoothed her tight skirt over her thighs and I thought Ace was going to fall out of his chair. I think the girl knew as well as I that she was passing his inspection with flying colors.
"Uhh ... Miss Boyer...." Ace stopped short and smiled, his famous brief flash of teeth. "What's your first name? Long as we're working together we may as well get to know each other!"
"Ruth," she said demurely. "Ruth is my name, Mr. Harmon."
"Cut the Mister!" He waved a hand airily. "I'm just plain 'Ace' to you when we're alone." He glanced at me and nodded. "And Bob here is just folks as far as we are concerned. He's part of the good old family.
"Very well, Ace," Ruth said it without strain. I had to admit, this girl handled herself beautifully. Just the same, I had the feeling that she was going to find Ace too much for her before the whole thing was over!
"Now, Ruthie, girl," Ace was moving. "What about your typing? How good are you at it?"
"Just passable," she said honestly. "Just passable." Then, she added softly: "Barely."
Ace liked the sound of the last word. He got to his feet without removing his eyes from her body.
"Look Ruth,' he said. "I got a typewriter here. Why don't you give me a little sample of how well you type. Hmmmm??"
"Certainly," she got up and smoothed her skirt around those hips. She acted as if she were unaware of Ace's hungry eyes. "Where is the typewriter?"
It was in Ace's bedroom, but I didn't think it was my business to reveal that. Besides, Ruth had a pretty good idea where it was anyway! This wasn't her first trip on the boat.
"If you folks will excuse me," I had the home-spun talk going as badly as Ace right now, "I'll run out and finish some errands I neglected to take care of earlier."
"Sure, sure, boy," Ace waved his hand in generous dismissal. I didn't like this part of him one bit. He could be a very nice guy when he just relaxed. But like I said, the dames really did strange things to him. I didn't like to be around when he started in with a woman.
I got out with a strong feeling of relief. I had a little unfinished business alright. I wanted to get myself straight with the lovely little actress, Kelly Moran!
I drove over toward the little theatre where she was appearing and parked next to her car. Then, I got out and headed for a cocktail lounge within walking distance of the place.
I killed a couple of hours in the lounge listening to a pretty good piano player. I nursed two drinks for the entire session because I didn't want to be drunk when I faced Kelly.
When the time came for the play to be pretty well over, I walked back to the theatre and seated myself in her car. I was reasonably sure she wouldn't get in my car again until I had gotten a few things straight.
Finally, she came out. She was so caught up in her performance that she was unaware I was in the car till she was halfway in.
"You!" I gave her a scare.
"Please, Kelly...." I said with my best little boy man-her. "I'm terribly sorry about the way I acted. I've got to explain...."
"There's nothing to explain." She was undecided about me. But she didn't run away. She sat behind the steering wheel and stared straight ahead. She had the cutest profile you ever saw!
"I acted like a ... a...." I purposely fumbled. "I don't know what I acted like! But I won't act like that again-never-unless you want me to, that is."
"Humph!" She sniffed. "There's little danger of that, I assure you!"
"I don't know how I can make it up to you. I'm terribly sorry I frightened you." I paused. "Do you think you can ever forgive me?"
"Well...." she was softening a little. "I will say I was terribly disappointed to have you act the way you did. I had hoped you were a gentleman. And all that talk about my acting!"
"Hold it, hold it," I said quietly. "There's one thing you must believe. Everything I told you about your performance was true. There was no ulterior motive there, believe me! You are a talented and artistic actress. You must not question my belief in that!"
There was a long silence. She was mulling over what I had said. I meant it, too. Evidently, she realized my sincerity ... at least, on that score.
"All right," she said in a low voice. "I'll try to forget what you did."
She acted like I had committed the crime of the century because I had tried to make a little time. But I sensed it wasn't the right moment to argue that point. And I could have also pointed out to her that she had really liked what I was trying to do. Up until the very last second when she remembered her "Do's" and "Don'ts."
"Kelly...." I started to ask her to go with me for a drink or a cup of coffee or something.
"Yes?" Her tone warned me.
"Uh...." I paused. "Never mind. I just wanted to be sure you were going to forgive me ... really, I mean!"
"I told you I did."
"Thanks." I started to get out of her car. I closed the door and nodded at her. "Good night."
I was in my own car and just turning the key to start it, when I realized she was out of her buggy and walking to me. I started the motor anyway.
"Well," she moved up to the side of my car. "Aren't you at least going to ask me to have a cup of coffee with you?" She paused. "I can pay for my own."
After we had our Espresso, I drove her for a little ride out toward Agoura and Thousand Oaks. I figured if I keep on the brightly lit freeway, there was less chance of me getting in hot water again.
As we rode along under the starry sky, we talked. I found it very easy to talk to this girl. And she seemed to find it equally easy for her to un-burden her thoughts to me, too.
She told me the play was finishing this week. After that, there was nothing much in sight. Of course, this was when the job at the bank came in real handy! She had been very wise to latch-onto a steady position to bridge these in-between gaps.
I told her a little bit more about my own personal life and my dependence on Ace's kindness. She listened quietly but didn't venture to much opinion on what I discussed. Kelly was a great listener ... as well as a talker!
It was nearly two in the morning when I got her back to her car. She had to work the next morning and we both realized we were up much too late.
"When will I see you again?" I asked, as she warmed up the engine of her crate.
"Soon," she nodded. "But please don't drop by after the show tomorrow night." She added, "I already have a date."
I felt as if I'd been slapped in the face! I burned as I realized some other guy was making time with Kelly! I drew back with all the dignity I could muster.
"I promise not to inflict my presence on you," I said stiffly.
"I like seeing you, Bob," she said. "I like seeing you very much."
"Yeah, sure...." I said. I was acting like a horse's neck, but I couldn't help it.
"May I call you sometime?" She was trying to act decent.
"My number's in the Valley book," I said. I felt I ought to explain. "Ace doesn't want to be listed so he put the. phone under my name. Nobody ever calls me." Now I sounded sorry for myself. I could have kicked my bottom for the childish way I was behaving.
"Good night, Bob," she whispered and she drove out of the lot. I watched her car disappear down the street and into the night. Don't call me, I'll call you, I thought bitterly.
Suddenly, I kicked a pebble that glistened under the reflected street lamp. The pebble bounced and skittered along the pavement. Bitterly, I got into my car and headed it homeward.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As I pulled my car into the driveway, I saw some-thing that made me even more unhappy. Ruth Boyer's car was still parked there. And the house was dark.
I knew one thing for sure. I didn't want to stay there as long as Ace was giving her the works. I turned the car right around and headed back for the Hollywood Strip. There was bound to be some activity there!
I drove up and down the strip a couple of times just to get the feel of it. Then, I decided to try a certain restaurant that has been there for years. The proprietor, Alfredo, was always nice to me and "light" with the pencil when he made out the check. Even though the bar was closed, I knew I could sit around and have something to eat.
It was dark as ever inside. Alfredo worked on the theory that everything tasted better in the dark. He may have had a point.
"Table for one," I said to him. He led me to a nice quiet spot, but he very kindly spotted me right across from a pretty blonde in her early twenties. She was with a guy twice her age and he was twice as loaded. It didn't take too much brain-work to figure out he was an out-of-town "exec" with the customary big, fat expense account.
The blonde kept throwing me little glances when the big-butter-and-egg man wasn't watching. I was careful to keep my eyes straight ahead. This brought out a certain eagerness in the blonde. No woman likes to think she isn't registering with a man!
I bided my time and waited for the inevitable move on the heavy spender's part. Sooner or later, he would have to leave her to go visit the little boy's room.
No sooner was his tail out of the room, than I was at her table. She was a little taken aback by my direct approach.
"I pretended not to know you," I smiled confidently. "I didn't want to spoil anything with your escort!"
"Uh...." she blinked a bit. "Have we met?"
"Of course!" I stared at her. "You're not very flattering! Here I thought I had made quite an imprint on you at Dinos!"
"Dino?" She was at a loss.
"You remember!" I shook my head. "The big brawl at Dino's house. Sinatra was there, Sammy Davis, Jr, all the clan! And you and I had that long talk at the bar!"
"I'm afraid you've got the wrong party," she said. "I don't know any of those people you mentioned!"
That made two of us who didn't know them, but I didn't let her suspect I was doing a fast "con" job on her. I hurried on trying to refresh her memory. Then, slowly, I let her see that I had mistaken her for someone else. Now, I did my abject apology act. I had worked this game a couple of times in the past so I wasn't too bad. And as I hinted to you a few times, I'm really a fair actor!
I left for my table because I knew the escort was due back. I was right. I barely had time to seat myself at my own spot, before he reappeared. He didn't suspect a thing.
I now studiously ignored the blonde. I could tell she was watching me every so often. I just played it cool. Soon, she made her little move. She went to the powder room. As she passed my table, she discreetly dropped a card.
When I had a chance I studied the card by the dim light of the candle on the table. It gave her name in fine, italic script writing. But what I liked was her address which was lettered in smaller type under the name.
On the back was scribbled in pencil this note:
"Drop by anytime after three. I'll be alone by then."
It was now after two. She had to move fast to keep her word. But she already had the wheels moving. Soon, she reappeared from the powder room and when she went back to her table, she didn't even sit down. I could see her holding her hand to her forehead in the classic woman's gesture denoting "headache."
I hung around about twenty minutes after she and butter-boy left. Then, I sauntered out to the car and took a nice, slow circuitous route to the apartment address she had given me.
It was a smart place. Whoever paid the rent for her at this flat had money! I knew the cheapest rent there for a furnished single started at three hundred bucks a month! Very few working gals could afford that.
It was a few minutes after three when I rang the buzzer in the foyer. She answered cautiously. I told her who I was and she summoned me right up! I went.
I knocked discreetly on her door. Her apartment was on the seventh floor. Did you ever notice that the kept ladies are always stashed on the seventh elevation? Must be some sort of union rule on it.
"You're nice and punctual," she smiled at me when she opened the door.
"And you're nice ... period," I said gallantly, as I moved inside.
Her flat was a lulu! It was furnished in the smartest Beverly Hills Moderne. It had the typical Japanese Scroll screen featured in the living room and the stylishly stark furnishings of a better grade Japanese War Baron's home.
"Have a drink?" She had moved gracefully to the small bar set in the corner opposite the big fireplace.
"Bourbon, please," I said. I noticed she had slipped out of the gown she had on in Alfredo's and was wearing a skin tight Japanese kimono. I say skin-tight because even though it billowed gracefully around her, the material seemed to have electricity in it. Every so often, it clung to some entrancing bit of her anatomy.
As we sipped our drinks, she studied me over the glass rim. She was having trouble figuring me out.
"I'd like to meet the girl you mistook me for," she said.
"She's a real beauty," I said sincerely. "But now that I see you better, I can see she's not nearly as lovely."
She liked this. She finished her drink and moved over to get my glass. I let her take it and watched the interesting way her hips rolled as she headed back to the bar.
"The gentleman who was with you...." I began. "He's no gentleman," she assured me. "What's he to you?"
"Money." She came back and this time she sat next to me on the starkly simple divan.
"Greater love hath no man ... or woman," I nodded solemnly.
"He pays for this place," she looked around.
"And in return?"
"I give him what his wife can't."
"Like what?" I was curious.
"Like love." She added. "Sexual love, of course ... raw, wild, passionate, uninhibited love!"
"Why can't his wife give him that?"
"Because she was taught properly at an early age that anything like that is disgusting, immoral and not lady-like."
"I see," I mused. "And you weren't taught any of that?"
"No," she nodded. "You see, my father was a minister and it was assumed I would automatically know those things."
Her thigh through the kimono was against my leg and the contact was pleasantly warm. She leaned back and crossed her legs and the kimono fell away revealing a long, silky expanse of bare limb.
I could tell by the graceful muscles she had been a dancer. Not ballet or anything like that. Just plain old Modern dance. But it had done wonderful things for her body.
"You're a nice combination," I said approvingly. "You have a beautiful face ... but an even more beautiful body."
"How can you say that?" She asked. "You haven't seen my body!"
"I see enough to know."
"You mustn't strain your eyes or your imagination." Now, she got up and began to do a little half-dance, half-wiggle. She loosened the kimono sash and it fell away. I realized I was going to be treated to a fine impromptu strip-tease.
She undulated over to the Hi-Fi set and snapped it on. She continued her little dance as she tuned it in. The music was just right for what she wanted to do.
Now, she began easing the kimono over her shoulder. She moved around and the kimono dropped to her waist. She had nothing on underneath. Her breasts were not big, but they were firm and pointed in the right direction.
Now, she picked up her tempo a little more. She turned some more and the kimono fell away, revealing her stark nude except for the slippers. She kicked these off and began to twirl around.
I was getting the message pretty well by now. I moved over to her and began to do a little dance with her. Her body was lovely and firm under my hands.
As we danced, she loosened my collar and tie. By the time the music had finished, we were both in the raw and slowly moving around the room, locked in a tight embrace.
I kissed her lips. They had a bourbon flavor but it seemed appropriate at the moment. I didn't have a chance to work my tongue into her mouth. Hers was al' ready darting in and out between my lips!
For revenge, I moved my mouth down onto her breasts and began to kiss the nipples. She loved it. She crushed my head against her bosom and gave little, ec static twitches with her hips to help punctuate my action.
I let my lips rove over her silky, smooth, naked body. She quivered under my embrace. I wanted to take her desperately now ,and I crushed her to me. She returned my passion. Our breathing was heavy and fast.
"Wait...." She broke clear of my hold.
"For what?" I wanted her. I wanted her right now!
"You'll see...." She took my hand and drew me with her. She led me to the bedroom. It was the usual bedroom. Furnished in much the same manner as the living room. Then I saw it. It was in the corner.
She moved gracefully to it and eased herself up on top and stretched her lovely, long dancer legs out. She slipped her arms up back of her head which made her breasts stand up like two lovely spires. She glanced at me ... sidewise.
"Care for a ride?" she invited.
I had never done it on one of these. I had heard stories about other guys who had taken the trip and they said it was really great. Her "cot" at the moment was one of those exercise-reducers that move up and down and undulate under you. They work by an electric motor and you lose weight by just lying there.
I was going to lose a little weight, I knew. And the lovely, naked girl was going to gain a little. I moved over. She made room for me next to her and once I was aboard she snapped the switch.
The reducing machine was the big, costly deluxe kind. It must have cost several hundred dollars. But I must go on record now as saying it was worth every cent!
As we gently rocked and swayed and rolled atop the gadget, our bodies rubbed and caressed in the most desirable manner. It was soothing ... yet, exciting.
Soon, I found my body crushing hers! And it was truly the lazy man's way of love. Neither of us had to move a limb and we were being tossed in the most passion-ate fashion you could have wanted!
I buried my face in the blonde's lovely breasts. Her hands caressed my naked body lovingly. I began kissing her lovely, smooth skin. I could feel her tightening her thighs around my hips.
Then, she reached out and pressed another button. The machine began picking up speed. Now, it was really exciting! Our naked forms rolled and writhed in the most wonderful contortions of love.
I wanted to crush her closer and closer to me. We were locked in the savage embrace of wild love. The machine began going even faster. But even with its speed, it was no match for the wild action of our passions!
On and on we rolled. Our breathing was loud and harsh as we strove to pull one another even closer. The pleasant, rapid murmur of the electric motor and the swaying, rolling action of the machine blended in a wild orgiastic cacophony of lust.
The room seemed to revolve and then the entire world spun before our eyes as we thrust our full passion on one another. Around, around and around we whirled in a dizzying whirlpool of sheer animal pleasure!
As we slumped back, limp and exhausted, the machine began to slowly reduce its speed to match our mood. She had turned the-knob' down to normal and now, we rested, while our bodies gently rolled and undulated under the tender manipulations of the rollers underneath us.
The machine got quite a workout that night. We had it going at all speeds. If you've never tried it that way, you owe it to yourself to rent one for a while just to see how the other half loves.
By the time I drove into our driveway in the Valley, I was the best-conditioned, most-pooped lover of the hour!
CHAPTER NINE
I woke up after noon the same morning. I wasn't exactly a ball of fire. I had too many drinks for one thing. For another, the blonde had given me a real going over, let me tell you! And there's just so much paste in the old tube, as you know.
I made myself a solitary breakfast. Ace had taken off for his agent's office according to the note he left on the dining room table for me.
I was pretty sure he wasn't anywhere near his agent. He probably had the new secretary seated next to him in his sport car and they were heading for Idyllwild and the "A" frame cabin where Ace got all the "A" he needed.
I found the customary fried eggs a bit rich-sounding, so I poached a pair, instead. I toasted some rye bread slices and wisely skipped the butter part. I spread some tart orange marmalade on the slices and by the time I had put this all away and had two cups of hot coffee, I began to think perhaps I just might live.
I meandered around the house after I did the dishes and pondered the advisability of looking up Kelly Moran to try to set things right there. I had really made a jerk of myself in her eyes the night before! But I had a certain reluctance to abase myself so soon. I decided I had better wait a couple of days and then move in.
"Well, well...."A voice behind me startled me half out of my wits.
I spun to discover the new secretary standing in the doorway leading from the bedroom.
"What're you doing here?" Was the best I could muster at the moment.
"I work here, remember?" She eyed me coolly. "Where's Ace?"
"He left for town. He said he had to see someone." She moved in and across the room. Her lovely, powerful legs carried her easily. She was dressed in another outfit. Evidently, she had come with a bag in her car. This skirt was even tighter across her .beautiful hips.
She wore a peach-colored silk-like blouse that proved her breasts were all her own. All of this helped to compensate for her face. She wasn't beautiful but the rest of her body made you think she was.
"According to this note, your boss is with his agent." Her eye had caught the note on the dining room table. I wished she hadn't seen the damn thing. She smiled a little, crooked smile at me.
"Either you don't read the notes he leaves you, or worse yet, you don't believe him."
I took the note and rolled it in a ball and flipped it into a wastebasket. I was suddenly angered at her. She was taking too damn much on herself too quickly. She was going to be trouble. But what she didn't know, was that Ace could be even more trouble to babes who crossed him.
She moved up to me and stared into my eyes for a moment. That same, damn, mocking little smile on her lips. She had rich, full lips. Her teeth were nice and white. She lifted a finger and ran it under my eye.
"You've got little dark circles under your eyes this morning," she said softly. "Have a hard night?"
"I got in late."
"That isn't what I asked." She stared mockingly into my face. "I asked if you had a hard night?"
"If you mean, did I get laid," I said to shock her. "Yeah ... I got laid ... I got laid three times to be exact! But then, who counts!"
"Ummmm."-She nodded. "You're a virile little boy, aren't you?"
She sighed. "I wasn't quite that lucky. I only got it twice!"
She eyed me thoughtfully. "Your boss disappointed me. With all his youth and apparent stamina, I had him on the ropes much too fast."
She moved closer to me. I could feel her thighs touching mine. Her breasts brushed my chest. They were nice and firm. Her generous lips were open and held up invitingly. Suddenly I wasn't pooped. I wanted to prove to this girl that I had. lots of oomph left!
She moved in and pressed her mouth against mine. Then, she shoved her tongue between my lips and wiggled it provocatively. Suddenly, cold hard reason hit me. I forced myself to shove her away from me. This babe was dangerous.
"What's wrong, lover?" She asked in mock concern. "Don't you think you could make the grade?"
I bitterly resented her innuendos about manhood. She had dropped one barb earlier about me bing queer. And now, she was suggesting I was depleted.
"I've made the grade with steeper climbs than you, honey," I said coldly. "No ... it isn't that. I don't want you because you belong to Ace. I work for Ace. I feel I owe him a certain amount of loyalty."
"My, my," she clucked her tongue. "Aren't we noble! He pays your keep and you want to maintain those lofty ideals!" She chuckled. It wasn't a nice chuckle.
"And you men are the first to yell when a girl sells her love for cash." She eyed me a moment. "You know what you are, lover! You're nothing but a male prostitute."
I wanted to slap her right across her smug face. But I didn't. Ace wouldn't have liked that. That was some thing he would take care of later. You could bank on that!
"Look," I fought to keep my voice steady. "You're going to be here a lot. I'll be here a lot. Let's just try to get along the best we can, huh? Let's not make needless waves!"
"Waving the white flag, huh?" She laughed. She knew she had me burned and it gave her pleasure. She moved across to the liquor cabinet. She poured a little drink for herself. Then, with mock concern, she turned to me. "Oh! Forgive me! Would you like a little drink?"
The last thing in the world I wanted at the moment was a drink. It turned my stomach a bit. She saw by the expression on my face that I really wasn't in the market for alcohol.
"Here ... doesn't that tempt you?" She waved her glass under my nose and it really hit me hard. I swallowed to maintain my poise. She sipped from the glass as her bold eyes studied me.
"Were both working for the same man now," I wanted to make things as peaceful as they could be. "How we feel about one another isn't important. The main thing is for you and I to get along."
"You really depend on him, don't you?" She shook her head in wonder.
"I owe him a lot," I said. "Ace is doing everything he can to promote my career."
"Your career?" She asked. "I didn't know you had a career ... other than acting as Major Domo for the Great man."
"I'm an actor," I said. "I think I'm a good actor. I'm going to try very hard to become a top star!"
"Commendable, most commendable," she nodded. "I approve of ambition in the young." She moved across the room and sat down opposite me. She crossed her beautiful legs. She knew where her strength lay! She had enhanced her magnificent limbs with another pair of costly, sheer hose. The color this time was black. Her skin gleamed through the filmy material and held my eye. She wore high heels. There may have been sexier legs somewhere in the world, but I doubt it.
"Not that it matters to me whether you know it or not," I wanted to set her straight. "But Ace has knocked himself out helping me get parts. He wants me to reach the top!"
"I'm not arguing with you," she said kindly. "You don't have to sell me!"
"I just thought you ought to know, that's all," I said.
"Tell me...." she mused a moment. "Is he a fag?"
"No!" I wanted to punch her right on the jaw. "No, he most certainly isn't one. He's a real man. Do you understand? He's all man!"
"Don't blow a gasket," she said. "I just asked, that's all." She paused. A faint smile formed around her lips. "Then, tell me one more thing ... Are you?" she said just enough, then stopped short. She shook her head. "No, I won't ask it!"
"You know," I said with effort, "some women are really weird. They think that if a man doesn't prostrate himself at their feet immediately, he has to be queer!"
"I'm happy to hear you say 'immediately'." She hesitated. "Does that mean you plan to ultimately prostrate yourself at my feet?" Boy, she really knew how to needle!
She uncrossed her lovely legs. She knew ,I was having trouble keeping my eyes off her beautiful curves. I couldn't help but think what a going over I would give those legs when Ace once was through with her. She'd find out just how much of a man I was!
This pleasant thought was cut short by the phone.
I started to jump to get it, then changed my mind. I jerked my head at Ruth for her to take the call. She smiled and slowly got up and over to the phone.
"Hello," she said into the receiver. I made a mental note to talk to her about the proper way to answer the phone in Ace's house. "Who? Oh ... yes, he's here." she held the phone out to me. I took it with the certain feeling that it was Kelly.
"Hello, Bob Meyer speaking," I tried to make it sound business-like. My guess about it being Kelly was wrong. But it was good news. Ace had recommended me for a job and they were checking to see if I was interested! They found but how interested I was in a hurry. I accepted the job from the casting director right over the phone for the minimum fee!
I hung up with a feeling of personal triumph. I turned to Ruth and let her know what it was all about:
"Ace just put in a word for me at the right place and now I've got an assignment with one of the best-rated TV shows out!"
"Cowboy stuff?" She was determined to down-grade, no matter what.
"No, not cowboy stuff," I said with a gloating smile. "It just happens to be the 'OTHER WORLD' show, that's all!"
"Oh, that creepy junk...." she dismissed it. "I watched it a couple of times. All about spirits and unexplained mysteries. I didn't like it at all."
"Despite your aversion to the program," I said with dignity, "I don't think they'll cancel it. It just happens to be up in the top ten every week, that's all!" I turned to go. "I can't stand around here all day! I have to go set the deal with them right now!"
I turned and started out. As I reached the door, she stopped me with a little reminder:
"There's one thing you mustn't forget...."
I looked back. She had those beautiful, powerful legs set apart. I had a good view of the inside of her thighs. They gleamed atop the black hosiery with an inviting glow. I couldn't see all the way, but I saw far enough.
"Yeah?" I waited.
"After you become a top star in this new role, you must promise me that you'll never forget the little people who made it possible." She added with malice: "All the un-sung, little people ... especially, the ones under you!"
Now, she brought her black, silken knees together in a final gesture of dismissal.
The part turned out to be just a little different from what I had expected. I had a couple of walk-on lines, but that wasn't my real role.
My real work was a stunt. What had been done in this case was to combine the acting and the stunt in one assignment. The stunt was a tough one and they had dangled the acting part before me, knowing I was eager to make good as a legit performer.
Beggers can't be choosers, and I was going to need money before long to pay off the damages I had done to the little old man when I banged up his car and nose. So, I didn't haggle about a thing.
Actually, the fee was good. I was to pick up seven hundred and fifty bucks for very little work. True, part of the work was dangerous. But this wasn't the first time that had arisen, either!
The story was about a Commando raid in World War Two. The hero was to be depicted making his way across a body of water in one of those small rubber life rafts. Halfway across, an explosion was to blow him and the raft up into the air.
These underwater explosions are dangerous. There's no real way to be perfectly accurate about the force of the detonation. No matter how carefully the charge was measured and set, some strange things happen when the blast went off. The hospitals are full of stunt men who could vouch for this!
I resolutely put what might happen out of my mind and concentrated instead on the pleasures of my walk-on parts. I got one break here, when they added still an-other walk-on which' the director felt would help the continuity.
The script-clerk on the picture was an old friend. I think she had something to do with the director making up his mind to pad my part a bit.
Dorothy was a girl in her near forties. She had been married a couple of times but it had never worked out. She was a sharp, kind woman. She liked me and I liked her. We had' never gotten past that stage even though she had a pair of the lushest, sweetest breasts you ever saw.
I was getting ready for the big scene where I got blown up in the life raft. Dorothy came to my dressing trailer as I was finishing putting on my protective gear. I was going to need everything the law allowed on this one!
"Can I come in?" she called from outside. I yelled for her to enter and she did. I was stripped to the waist and just about to slip on a strait-jacket-like contraption that helped cushion the shock to the ribs and chest when I would come down on the water. When you hit the water from any appreciable distance at an awkward angle, it's something like landing on solid ground. You can get real shook up.
"Be done in a minute, Dorothy," I said, as I tightened the laces around my middle.
"Hmmmm." She eyed my bare chest. "You got a pretty good upper development there, hon." She nodded approval.
"You got a pretty good upper development there, too, hon," I eyed her breasts which stood straight out under the tight sweater she was wearing.
"Talk, talk, talk," she rebuked me gently. "But you never do anything about it!"
"I will, one of these days, I honestly will," I said.
"It's just that I hate to steer a good kid like you down the road to ruin!"
"Ha!" she said. "I've been up and down that road so many times I'm getting calluses clear up to here! You better take pie down that road fast ... I'm running out of gas!"
By now, I was pretty well set in my harness. I slipped on the khaki jacket that would make me resemble the hero at a distance. The public would never know the difference. Just the hero and I would be most aware of the switch.
"Well, light the fuse," I said, straightening up.
"Everything's ready out there for you," she said. She seemed nervous. "You all fixed up good in your gear? Don't discover something's missing when you're out on that damn raft!"
"Honey," I tweaked her breast gently. "Don't you fret your little old head one bit about little old me." I wasn't too sure myself, so I was trying to cover my uneasiness with double-talk. "This won't be the first time I've been in orbit!"
They were all waiting when we stepped out. They were all tense, too. Being a stunt man isn't the best bet for a long, happy life. Accidents happen. All the time. That's why the pay is so high per hour.
The director gave me all the last minute instructions and I got into the tiny life raft and paddled out toward the spot. The lake was the one located in the Chatsworth hills and it was surprisingly cold when the drops splashed up onto my hands. Or, maybe it seemed colder because of what lay ahead!
It tok me about five minutes to maneuver over the spot where the detonation charge was submerged. It was marked with a small float so I'd be sure to be directly over it and get the full benefit.
I signalled I was ready. I moved my arms with the paddle as the cameras started rolling. I could hear the count on the shore. They did it just like the Space-men: "-Five-four-three-two-ONE!"
There was a tiny lull. Then, a terrific, muffled boom went off under the raft. I knew I was in trouble right away. The charge was much too close to the surface. I was going to get a real, long ride this time!
The bottom of the life raft bellied inward and upward. A giant hand seemed to seize me in its grasp. A tremendous force surged and exploded at the raft and my taut body.
Water sprayed in a heavy shower around me as I felt myself shooting upward. Up, up and up I went! The rubber life raft flapped and coiled around me as I felt myself twisting in the air.
Still I was thrust upward. Higher, higher! I was at least forty feet off the surface of the lake when I finally stopped my trajectory.
"No! No!' I could hear the distant scream of a woman's voice from shore. Then, the drop began. Down, down, "down! The wind whistled in my ears as I plummeted toward the water.
I was fighting to gain control so I could hit the water at an angle. I could break my back if I landed flat. The clumsy life raft was caught around my body and it hampered my efforts.
I was scant feet from the surface, falling, and still I wasn't in a safe position! I gave one last convulsive twist as I saw the water rushing up at me at race-horse speed.
I hit with a resounding thud and water surged and boiled in front of my eyes as everything revolved around and around and then, suddenly, it was dark. Dark, dark ... dark.
CHAPTER TEN
When I came to, I was in the trailer, with Dorothy and the director and some of the crew anxiously watching me. I felt lousy, but my aches were somewhat lessened when I learned there wasn't anything seriously wrong. No broken bones, slipped discs or hernias.
Shooting was suspended for the rest of the afternoon. Something like my near-miss upset schedules and the industry had learned it was wisest after an accident to skip further work.
After I had some hot coffee and a jolt of brandy, I felt a whole lot better. In fact, I felt so much better that when I was changing into my street clothes, I decided to make a little date with Dorothy.
"Look," she must have read my mind, "let me drive your car home. I don't think it's wise for you to try driving after what you just went through."
"I feel fine," I said. "You don't have to...." But I wanted her to change my mind. She did.
"Nonsense! This company can't stand a law suit! I've got to see to it that you arrive home safely. After that, we don't give a damn what happens to you!"
She arranged for another cast member to take her car home and return it to the studio where she would pick it up. Then, she and I got in my car and we headed back on the Ventura Freeway for my place. She was at the wheel. Every time she turned the steering wheel, her lavish bosom did interesting things. I had a tough time keeping my eyes off her.
"How come you never married ... again, I mean?" I asked.
"Two reasons," Dorothy said frankly. "First ... the guys I want, don't want me. Second, the guys who do want me, I don't want."
"Pretty good reasons," I granted. "But let's face it, you've got two other wonderful reasons for marrying." I let my eyes feast on her breasts. I really was a pigeon for a good, big pair of knockers.
"Is this a proposal?" she asked. "Because if it is, I'm going to disappoint you. I'll accept!"
"Be careful or I'll take you up on it," I warned.
"I'm not your dish of tea, Bob, and you know it. What you need is a nice, young girl ... about twenty ... one who hasn't been around too much. That's what you need!"
"The trouble is," I pointed out. "Nice, young girls of twenty don't have great big, beautiful breasts like you have."
"I worked for these," she said. "Or, rather, the boys worked for them. I don't know what it is with you men! I wish I had a nickle for every guy I've nursed! I can't figure it. What kick do you get out of chewing on a girl's nipples?"
"Damn if I know," I admitted, "but I'm not going to stop doing it just because I don't know why I enjoy it!"
We batted the breeze as we drove along. When we neared the turnoff to my place, I was gratified to note that Dorothy zoomed right along past and headed on into Hollywood. She had a small place off the Strip ... one of those eighty-five a month apartments. But it was home!
Dorothy was a great cook. While I was sipping a nice cool drink on her divan, she quickly rustled together a casserole of ham chunks, tomatos, elbow macaroni and sharp cheddar cheese. She popped it in the oven to give the top a nice, brown crust.
It was served with crisp salad, and lots of hot coffee. Let me tell you it was a most gratifying meal. While we ate, we talked. Dorothy was wondering why I persisted in getting my brains knocked out in the entertainment game.
"It's a step toward something better in the theatre," I explained. "I'm going to be a good actor one of these days. And I feel this is all part of getting there."
"How about Ace Harmon?" She asked bluntly. "What did he ever do to earn his rating?"
"He's a colorful guy," I defended. "He appeals to the public. They like that hang-dog look he's got."
"Let's face it," Dorothy was painfully honest at times, "that guy oughta be on the stage ... preferably the stage that leaves town right now and never comes back!"
"He's been awful good to me, Dorothy."
"Like this afternoon?" She eyed me sternly. "Letting you get your butt blown sky-high! You call that being good to you!"
"Wait a minute," I cut that off short. "Ace didn't know about the stunt. It wasn't represented all the way to him. He figured it was just another run-of-the-mill assignment that I could do with my eyes closed."
"Your eyes were almost closed permanently," she snapped.
"That sure as hell wasn't Ace's doing." I didn't like everybody running him down. That was the trouble. Once you hit the big time, they all took pot shots at you. Ace had been a real friend to me from the very first. I knew that even if nobody else did. "Your detonation men ... where the hell did they learn their trade? Okinawa?"
"Okay, okay, okay," Dorothy nodded. "So they make a mistake now and then!"
"Besides," I couldn't help gloating just a little, "I get seven hundred and fifty bucks for what I did out there! Think of that, honey! Seven hundred and fifty bucks!"
"Yeah ... that's right." Dorothy agreed. "You did." She studied me thoughtfully. "You know what the guy you stood in for on that stunt got for his effort? He got eight thousand bucks for his work on this half hour stinker. Put that in your pipe and smoke it for a little while!" She was a real spit fire. "And you know what? He didn't come out of his damn dressing room to see you get your tail sent into orbit! That's how important you were to him!"
I knew this was so. The hero was famed for doing most of his "shooting" in his dressing room. His target was utter oblivion by dusk and his weapon was the large, economy-size bottle of gin. Half the time he could not finish the day's work without staggering around the set and completely destroying the handiwork of the artisans who had poured their love into creating a make-believe replica of whatever the film called for. But, what the hell? He was the star and his face was what the public wanted to see. So, who's to say he's wrong and I'm right? That's just the way the TV cookie crumbled.
After we had eaten, Dorothy got out some good brandy and we sat around sipping the fiery liquid and talking. She was sharp as a tack and knew show business upside down.
Dorothy had acted as script clerk for the biggest directors in the industry. She had worked with every name star and knew all their foibles.
I found it easy to talk to her and began outlining my own plans for making the star route. She not only was a good talker, she was a good listener.
"Look, Bob," she finally stopped me. "Let me give you a few vital statistics on this grand trade you're following. It's not peaches and cream when you make the top, either. Do you know what the average success span is for a movie star?"
"Mmmmm...." I was thinking hard. I didn't like to be caught stupid on any phase of my chosen work. "I would say twenty years."
"No, no...." she shook her head. "Vital statistics prove that a star's earnings hold up for only three years on the average!"
"You're wrong, Dorothy," I argued. "How about Cary Grant? Bing Crosby? Bob Hope? John Wayne?"
"You're talking about a few who have held up." She was firm. "Just think of the huge army of names who glittered on the marquis a couple of years and then disappeared! Where are the Jack Hubbards, George Brents and John Lunds? All good actors. All top names at one time! All at the same time the men you named were stars. Where are these? And hundreds of others through the years! Why should only a small handful hold up?"
I could see she had a valid argument. I hadn't thought of it in that sense up to now.
"I don't care if I never hit the very top," I came back. "All I want is a reasonable amount of success as an actor!"
"Reasonable amount? What constitutes reasonable!"
"I'll tell you what I consider reasonable." I went on to tell her. "I want a nice home-maybe a pool-a nice car-good food-good clothing-no financial worries...." I paused. "That's what I would consider reasonable."
"You mention everything but a wife." She studied me. "Or, doesn't that play any part in this future of yours?"
I want a wife, to," I nodded. "I want a family. But I can't have that until I start to earn some decent money."
"Then you're in the wrong business," she said. "There's no decent money in acting."
"Dorothy," I said. "You've been in Hollywood too long. You're down on everything connected with the industry."
"I guess you're right," she said. "I've seen too much bootlicking, too much studio politicing, too much nepotism, too much seduction, too much everything to be fair about it."
"I haven't seen that side of it yet," I went on. "I find the whole thing challenging. And I want to take on Hollywood and come out the winner."
"Ahhh," she sighed. "The faith of youth!" She shook her head. "I don't have it anymore."
"I think you do." I let my eye hold on those beautiful breasts. "You've got more resilience than most eighteen year olds!"
My approving eye didn't go unnoticed. Dorothy studied me as she sipped her brandy. We didn't speak for a few moments.
"Did you know I still have my little feud with the manager of this apartment?" she asked.
"As long as I remember you've been going around with her," I recalled.
"Yeah...." Dorothy said. "She even went so far as to file a complaint with the apartment owner claiming I was highly immoral. She maintained that I kept men in my place all night."
"What's so wrong with that?"
"Strange part is that I rarely kept a man overnight," she said. "Anything I have to do with a man I can do before midnight!" She added. "With my work schedule and all, I can't be in bed all night with a man. I'd never reach the studio at six under those conditions."
"Why must you be there so early?"
"Part of a script clerk's life. When we're shooting, hours mean nothing. I have to be on the set with my notes all written and corrected before anyone else shows up. Then, at night, I don't usually get home till after seven." She amended, "unless some nice young stunt man obliges by getting his fanny blown sixty feet in the air so we can knock off for the day."
"It was my pleasure," I said gallantly.
"Tomorrow, I'll have to be on the set by no later than six," she said. "We've got lots of shooting to make up for now." She looked at her watch. "It's eight now. I'd like you out of here before too long."
"You mean you're throwing me out in the cold night air?" I asked plaintively.
"That's right," she said. "But not till I give you what you apparently want so badly."
She finished her brandy and got up and went to the windows. She pulled the drapes shut. I don't know why, because there was no chance of anyone peeking into the place unless they had stilts thirty feet high!
"Just in case some eager-beaver window washer comes around to catch up on his homework," she explained. She went to the pull-down bed and yanked it down. The bed was nicely made and looked inviting. "I'm an old fashioned girl. I still like it best in bed!"
Now, she began undressing. She got down to a pair of brief panties. Then, she turned and headed for the bathroom. She stopped at the door to throw a few words to me.
"I'm going to spray some nice-smelling stuff on me," she explained. "While I'm doing it, you get out of those things and get in the mood."
I did as she asked. She was in the bathroom for quite a while. I started getting impatient. Then she came out. She was stark naked now. She looked anything but her years at this point. She had done more than spray sweet-smelling stuff on. She had fixed her hair so it fell down around her shoulders and she had put on fresh makeup. She looked desireable. Very, very desireable! She posed a moment for me so I could drink in all her charms. And boy, she had charms!
A word about women like Dorothy at this point. As I said, she was at that old half-way mark. No matter how you spread it, she was past the flush of youth.
Strangely enough, most of the visible signs of age were where they didn't count. Her hands, for instance. They were thin and the blue veins showed through the skin.
Her face had faint lines around the lips and eyes. All the cold cream in the world would never be able to eradicate these traces of the years.
But the rest of her body came out much, much better. Her legs were thin, but shapely. Her hips were full and curved and the slender legs merely heightened the illusion of eternal woman. Her waist was slightly heavy but not too much so.
But Dorothy's chief charm lay in her bosom. She had the most magnificent pair of breasts you ever saw! They were large. Any other woman would have told you they were much too large. But no man would ever complain of this over-abundance!
Dorothy's bust measurements by her own admission were forty six. But don't think for one instant that this meant a long, tired pair of sagging breasts!
Each one stood out full, rich, straight and firm. The nipples were proportionately small, which only made the breasts seem that much larger. Dorothy knew her great weapon over men and she took constant care of her bust. She worked costly creams and lotions into them whenever she had a spare half hour. And she did certain exercises that kept the wonderful glowing tone at full peak.
And it all paid off. It paid off in making her a most desirable woman in a town full of desirable women. When it came to knockers at twenty paces, Dorothy would triumph over all comers.
Now, she stood before me. Naked and lovely. She studied my nude body for a few seconds. She liked it.
She nodded her approval.
"You know," she said, "If I were going to ever have a kept man, you'd be it!"
"Don't worry your little head about that," I said. "As far as you're concerned, my virginal torso is yours for free. I might sell my charms to others, but you'll get in or an Annie Oakley every time."
"I'm not a sex-pot as you know," she explained. "But I admit I get thoughts that wouldn't be approved by Good Housekeeping every time I see something as heroic as that frame of yours."
I moved to her. Her breasts were moving up and down in a most entrancing manner as she talked. And there was so very much to move! And it was all so very lovely. My mouth started to water just thinking of how they'd taste.
I pressed her to me. Her breasts stood out so far, I actually had to slant a bit to get full contact down lower! Her nipples were burning two holes deep into my chest as they moved up and down from her increased breathing action.
I worked my head down to kiss he nipples and cool them a bit. Then, Dorothy pulled back. "Uh-uh!" she cautioned.
"What's this?" I couldn't help blinking. "All I want to do is kiss them!" I added. "You, yourself told me you had plenty of mouths around them in your time."
"Right," she said. "And I'm going to let you nuzzle away as much as you want. Later." She moved toward the light. "At this interlude, I have a little thrill coming up for you."
It was coming up too fast for me already, but I was curious to see just what treat she planned. She faced me with her finger on the light switch.
"Get ready for a real blast-off," she had a little smile on her face. I was frankly stumped. Turning off the lights and doing it in the dark may have been novel to her, but it wasn't to me! I had worked my way around the clock on this matter too often to be concerned over light or dark.
"I'm ready...." I said.
"That's for sure," her eyes dropped lower and took in my all to apparent eagerness. She paused. "Remember when I worked on that creep film 'THE CAT MAN'?"
I nodded.
"Well, one of our biggest shockers in the story was the way the cat-man's face glowed in the dark when he was about to take his next victim." I was getting a bit bored with the build-up. I wanted Dorothy and I wanted her fast!
"Is this going to be a long story?" I couldn't help but ask. She smiled at my impatience and went on:
"Anyway, to make the cat-man's face glow, we had to find some phosphorescent substance. But it had to be something that was harmless to the skin. None of that radium jazz. Our make-up department finally came through with the right formula."
"This is all just peachy-dandy," I said. "But what it's got to do with me laying you"
"Quite a bit," she said. "I got some of the formula and I experimented on myself...." Now, she snapped off the light and the room was in total darkness.
To a point, that is. Or, rather, to two points! Dorothy had worked the luminous substance onto her magnificent breasts. And the room almost was aglow with the radiating beams that emanated from those lovely nipples!
It probably sounds pretty corny to you ... knockers that glow in the dark. Well, it wasn't corny to me! Now, I knew how some of those people who idolize statues that glow in the dark must feel.
Slowly, Dorothy moved toward me. The radiation from her breasts played across my naked body. I couldn't stand it. I rushed and crushed her to me. She gave a low, throaty chuckle as she felt how overcome I was from the sight.
I lifted her up and laid her across the bed. Now, the light of her shining breasts played upward. I pressed my body down upon her and the light filtered through from the side even then!
The glowing substance was even more accommodating than I had thought. As we worked our straining bodies against each other, the light began to slowly dim, dim, dim.
Before the last glow had died away, I began kissing her breasts. It was the most unusual experience I ever had. The fragrant, smooth breasts luring my passion on with their signal lights.
I couldn't help but think even as I passionately kissed and nuzzled the nipples, how wonderful it would be when she developed her beacons into the standard signal pattern:
Red, for stop. Yellow, for caution and green, for go! By now, I realized white was the go signal here. So, I went. I moved in closer and harder on her.
She liked what I was doing to her. Her arms tightened around my shoulders. Her slender legs curved in on my hips with an amazing amount of strength.
On and on and on we drove our naked bodies. Our breathing came in loud, agonized gasps. The glow had died away completely now. We were in utter darkness. But we utilized the Braille system to the fullest.
Then, when it seemed we couldn't go on one moment longer, our passion lifted us up and away into a dizzying, spiraling whirlwind of lust and desire. The force of our contortions almost threw us from the bed, but we managed to hold firm.
Then, we lay back ... depleted and exhausted. We were so spent, we didn't talk for a long time. We held the contact of our bodies for communion and that sufficed ... for the moment!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Getting all that money for the stunt turned out to be a lucky break. I barely had the check deposited when I got word from the little old man whose car I had smashed. He wanted to be paid for his medical expenses.
I never knew a dented nose could cost so much. The bill for the hospital and doctor amounted to nearly two hundred good American dollars! That really put a dent in my seven hundred and fifty. By the time the withholding tax, state tax, motion picture fund and all the other little bites were taken out, I had slightly more than three hundred left!
But I knew the accident had been my fault and I was lucky to get off that lightly. It could have been a whole lot deadlier and cost a hundred times more.
The first thing I did with the money was to call my auto insurance man and admit I needed liability coverage fast! He could have said I told you so, but he didn't. I appreciated this on his part and took out more protection at this stage than I really needed.
I wisely kept my debts from Ace. He didn't like to hear about money problems too much. He was deter-mined to stash as much cash away as he could while he was on the gravy train. While he was generous with me he still didn't like unexpected expenses coming in from any source.
Ruth Boyer, his secretary, found that out to her discomfiture. She quickly learned that Ace had a charge account with Vic and Ray at the garage. So, she pulled her car in there and had it greased and the oil changed. Filled the tank and the works.
When it came time to pay the bill she told the boys to charge it to Ace's account. The boys delayed her a bit while one of them called Ace on the phone to verify the deal.
When Ruth walked in later she was greeted by Ace. He was very polite to her, which should have been a warning. Politeness to women wasn't his strong point.
After a bit of small talk, Ace casually asked her if she had anything to report to him concerning bills and expense accounts. She shook her head negatively.
"Mighty funny," Ace shook his head in pretended puzzlement. "One of the boys from the station called up and said somebody was using my charge account there."
"Oh, that!" Ruth caught on. "Yes ... I did get some gas earlier."
"Gas?" Ace asked gently. "The boys said it was a full lube job, oil change and everything."
"Well, yes...." she admitted. "I thought as long as I was there, it might not hurt to have a minor check-up. After all, I'll be using the car mostly for your benefit."
"Horse crap!" he barked. "That car is yours! You use it for your own damn personal transportation! Don't go handing me that song-and-dance about what good I'm gonna get out of it!"
"I had no idea money meant so much to you," her face was red.
"Yeah ... it sure as shootin' does mean that much to me! It means just about everything in this whole cotton-pluckin' world to me, that's-what it means!"
"Alright, alright," she was losing her temper. She didn't like getting told off in front of me.
"Listen to me, Missy!" He was up and at her in full now. "I'm no pigeon, see? I pay you a good salary. A damn good salary! Now, you just learn to appreciate it, see? And don't go trying to work no petty larceny swindles on me!"
"Do you want the stinking money back?" She was no weak sister, I'll admit. "If you want your lousy penny ante change back, I'll give it to you! Here...." she fumbled with her handbag and pulled out some dollar bills. "Here, take it. Whatever is missing, I'll pay back!" She jammed it in his hand.
"No, no you don't." He was livid with rage. "Don't go trying to make me feel cheap this way. I'll pay for your little swindle this time. Just don't you ever try it again, hear? Never again!"
He turned on his heel and stormed into his room. He slammed the door so hard the wall shook. There was a long silence. I could hear Ruth breathing in tense rage. She looked a whole lot better when she was sore.
Her nostrils were distended and her jaw thrust forward. But it lent her an attractiveness she never had in composure. Her long powerful dancer legs were thrust apart and she rocked a little like a fighter. Ace had picked a real Tartar in ,this babe!
"Go ahead, say it!" she suddenly spun on me. "Say it, you snide bastard!"
"Say what?" I asked very calmly. She was red-hot and I was enjoying her discomfort.
"What you're thinking!" She had to get her rage out some way, and I was the nearest target.
"You really want me to say what I'm thinking?" I savored every second.
"Say it!" She glared her hatred at me.
"Oh!" I nodded brightly. "Of course! Say what I was thinking." I pretended to be lost in thought for a moment. "Very well ... I'll let you have it ... straight and forward...." She waited coldly for my blast.
"Here's what I'm thinking...." I picked the words very cautiously. "I'm thinking its a crying shame you're such a conniving chick." I could see her stiffen even more. "It's a shame, because I'm also thinking that you have the most lovely pair of legs I've ever seen any where!" I let my eyes rove up and down her limbs. I wasn't lying. As she stood, legs akimbo, the magnificent animal-like grace of those powerful calves and thighs exuded raw sex. These legs were designed for only one thing: To crush a man's hips against her body in the violence of un-tamed love.
"Humph...." she snorted. But her snort wasn't quite as defiant as she meant it to be. I studied her legs closer. As usual, she had on the sheer hosiery that brought out all the full, rippling curves underneath. This time, the hosiery was tan. Tan, high heeled pumps of suede, blended in nicely to further the illusion of length. But she needed no illusion. Those angles, calves, knees and thighs had all the magic needed to drive a man batty.
Unconsciously, she adopted a model's pose to better set off her strong points. She eyed me with more charity.
"Did you ever model hosiery?" I asked blandly.
"Yes," she said. "Then they decided on the newer slim look and they said my legs were too full for today's styles."
"They're wrong," I argued. "No man likes those skinny-legged skeletons they keep throwing at us in the fashion shots."
"Fight City Hall." She was simmering down. "They make me show my legs up to my navel, feast their eyes, then shake their heads and say, 'Sorry, Miss. A year ago your legs would have been perfect. Now, we just can't use them'." She added, "Then, they take me out for a drink and the next thing I know, they've got their paws running up and down my thigh!"
"I can't blame 'em for that."
She moved over and picked up a cigarette. She waited for me to light it. As she puffed, she eyed me narrowly. "Why are you buttering me up?"
"Because we need peace in the family."
"This peace you speak of. Is it 'piece' or 'peace' you really want?"
"Both." I said frankly. "But at this point, it's the real peace I refer to." I added. "The other piece will come when Ace gives me the high-sign."
"That cheap-" She cut the speech short as she felt my eyes fix upon her. She puffed violently a moment. "Why do you act as his protective angel? What's he doing for you?"
"He's my friend."
"Friend!" She scoffed. "Like that Hungarian writer said, when you got friends like that, you don't need enemies."
"I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for Ace."
"Where you are!" She gave a harsh laugh. "That's a kick in the face! Just where are you? You tell me!"
"I'm in a spot to get into acting," I defended. "And while I'm waiting for the big break, I'm eating three squares and living in a damn nice place!"
"You're a real idealist, you are!" She started striding up and down as she talked. The long, smooth leg muscles rippled like flowing water as she glided back and forth. "You rant on about being an artist in one breath and the next second you're chomping your lips about getting beans and bacon!"
This little discussion was interrupted by Ace. He had opened the door and stood, framed there. He was more controlled now. But he still had a cold, mean look.
"Come in here!" he commanded. Ruth threw me a look but didn't move. "I said, come in here!" His voice had a bite to it that cut like a knife.
She hesitated, then started moving toward the room. Ace threw me a look.
"You," he snapped. "You go somewhere and do the errands, you're supposed to be doing!"
I nodded and turned away. I didn't want to be around to hear what was going to take place from this point on. I didn't get away a second too soon.
As I was driving out of the driveway, I heard a scream. Then a series of curses. Another scream ... then silence. I drove away fast. As fast as I could pick up speed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I had nothing to do, really. Ace had just wanted me out of the house while he got even with Ruth. So, I drove into Hollywood and did a little window-shopping.
It was shortly after noon, when I stopped in a small counter place to have a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Suddenly, I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to find an attractive woman, silver-haired, smartly dressed, looking at the stool next to me.
"May I sit down?" she asked. This was pretty silly. It was a public place. I nodded permission and she took her place. She ordered an avocado, bacon and tomato sandwich on whole wheat toast. While she waited for her order, she asked, "You're in show business, aren't you?"
"A little," I allowed.
"I've seen you in a couple of things," she said. "You in the racket, too?"
"I'm afraid so," she said. "I'm one of the untouchables ... you know ... agent!"
"Very necessary evil," I said kindly.
"Not all actors think so." She studied me thoughtfully. "Who are you with?"
"No one, really. I'm supposed to be with Ace Harmon's agents, but they don't even know I'm alive."
"I see." She had her sandwich by now and was slowly and carefully eating. She wasn't to fat, but she was clearly fighting the threat of overweight.
"I get the few assignments I've had so far by stumbling across them myself or either by Ace putting in a word for me."
"It shouldn't be that way," she shook her head. "You've got a good frame, you're handsome, and from the little bit I saw of you, you can really act."
"Thanks...."I liked her better all the time.
"Tell me," she said, "are you signed with Harmon's outfit? I know who they are. They're pretty big."
"No, it's just a gentleman's agreement so far." I did not tell her the truth. They had stalled signing me. They only took me because Ace wanted them to. I would have put my old John Henry down so fast it would have made their heads swim if they had asked.
"I'm with C. P. Dickens," she said. "You've heard of him?"
"Yeah," I nodded. The name was vaguely familiar. And don't think I had it confused with the writer Dickens, either. No, I had heard the agency mentioned by other actors in the past.
"We're not big," she said. "Actually, I'm the only other agent in the office. CP. handles the bigger names and I hustle for our up-and-coming stars."
"Any names in your stable that I should know?"
She mentioned several. Two of them were pretty well-known. One made a fortune by doing voices for other actors. This man did everything from animated cartoons to narration on big Bible films. He was good for three grand a week!
"I believe in fate," she said. "I think it was fate that brought me here today to bump into you. Do you feel that way, too?"
"I think there's something to it," I agreed.
"I think C. P. Dickens could do you some good," she said. "I know I'd work my legs to the bone for you!"
"Is this a proposition?" I asked.
"Not the kind you might thing," she smiled. "But it is an offer. I'd like to be your rep!"
"I'd have to think about it a bit," I said.
"Of course," she nodded. "And you might want to talk it over with Ace."
"That's right." I knew I owed it to him to at least discuss any change.
She finished her sandwich, I picked up her tab and she tried to take it back. But I was the big sport and wouldn't let her pay her own check. Easy come, easy go!
"Do you happen to have a minute?" she suddenly asked.
"I'm free for the next couple of hours," I admitted.
"Would you like to come up to the office? We have some rushes of some of our people in recent things. I'd like to show them to you so you can get an idea of just how we build a young actor along."
This sounded great. It's always interesting to watch how the big build-up starts, and to what different extremes it finally goes.
Within minutes we were driving down Sunset Strip. She had a small foreign car and she led the way. Like all agents, she drove as if there were no tomorrow!
She pulled into a small parking area behind one of those pseudo-modern buildings that clutter the agent's rows in Hollywood. It was then that I realized I hadn't even learned her name!
She got out of her car and led me into the office. A nice-faced girl sat at the reception desk and greeted us politely.
"Any calls for me while I was out?" asked my new friend. The girl handed her several little notes. These were quickly scanned and then tucked away. Now, I was shown back into the main office portion of C. P. Dickens.
"You know what?" I asked, while the silver-haired woman took a seat behind the desk. "I don't even know your name!"
"I'm Sybil Golden," she introduced herself belatedly.
We chatted for quite a bit. She was bright, well-in-formed on entertainment business and its facets. She pumped me on my future aims and then did a quick flash-back review of my life.
"So you have ideals about this acting business that may be a stumbling block later," she said honestly. "Just to be a good performer, or even a top performer, isn't enough to insure your success. Sadly, our business today relies on gimmicks, tricks and publicity to make a r-tar."
"But what if an actor who wants to really act, comes up with a gimmick? Even then, what assurance has he of reaching any sort of minor acclaim?"
"None," Sybil admitted. "Absolutely none. With the terrific competition here, it all depends on sheer luck. You just happen to catch the eye of some top producer who is looking for a new star and that's it. But that's like falling into a sewer and coming up with a diamond."
"You make it sound pretty damn hopeless," I said.
"I mean to," Sybil said. "Don't get your hope.? up too high."
"Then why do you even bother with me?"
"What have I got to lose?" she asked bluntly. "I sign you. If you get a break, I benefit. If you don't go anywhere, I still haven't lost a thing!"
"Sounds great," I shook my head.
"On the brighter side of the ledger," she amended, "you do have possibilities if the break comes along. You can act ... but no one in the trade will hold that against you. You're young ... eager...." her eyes ran up and down my frame. "And you have a very sexy build!"
In return, I took a better look at her. She had a fairly good figure for an older girl. The silver in her hair only added to her charm. But I was careful to disguise this interest. I didn't want to louse up my chances with her by making a premature pass. When a woman is engrossed in her work, she sometimes takes a dim view of even a well-built young man trying to get her into the hay too fast.
"Look...." I said, "I have the impression that you would work for me. That's something I don't have about my so-called present representation. Let me talk it over with Ace. If he gives me the okay, I'll sign with you."
"Fair enough." She got up from behind the desk. "Now, before you leave, I'd like to show you a few short rushes of the type of parts we've gotten some of our newer clients."
"Swell," I was always willing to learn.
She led me through a door into a small projection room. A home-type projector was set up on a small stand. There was a big leather couch in front of it facing the portable screen.
"Hardly comparable to the big studio projection rooms," she apologized, "but it shows enough for you to get the idea." She went over to a shelf and started sorting out some reels. She paused. "Look ... here's something we just got this morning. I haven't had time to see it yet. Would you mind watching it with me? It only runs about fifteen minutes. Then, we'll get back to our own stuff."
I wasn't thrilled about sitting around screening outside work. But I really had no great rush project awaiting me. So, I managed to give her a fairly enthusiastic agreement.
She threaded the projector with the film skillfully. Then she switched off the lights and started the picture. After it started, she took a seat with me on the couch. The titles came on but they didn't make too much sense.
"I hate to take up your time like this but I really should look this reel over." She was afraid she was imposing on me. By now, however, we were well into the film. It started off with a nice, dull opening. A handsome young guy was shown moving up to a typical, small town house. He rang the bell. A nice, round maid answered. She was wearing the type of maid's costume you only saw in the stag movies. High heels, short dress, cut low and opera black mesh hose.
"This reel was sent by a client who claims the girl in it has real potential," Sybil whispered softly to me. "He admitted the film itself was strictly kerosene circuit."
The young hero was pushing his way past the maid and into the house. There was no sound, but you didn't miss it. The acting was so broad you could have showed the film in Pakistan and put over whatever they were talking about.
The maid was clearly explaining to the visitor that nobody was home. Evidently, they weren't expected for some time to come, because suddenly, the young man reached over and slipped his arm around the maid's waist. She slapped his face ... but not very hard.
"If I didn't know better I'd say this film was geared for an all-male smoker," I said to Sybil.
"If it doesn't pick up soon," she said, "we'll turn it off. We can't sit around watching corn like this."
Well, it began to pick up. It picked up so fast, it almost took my breath away. Suddenly, the young man on the screen unzipped the maid's dress and it dropped away. She stood there in a filmy pair of black panties and a bra of the same fabric.
This maid was built for action! She wasn't too pretty but no self-respecting wolf could ever complain about what was stacked under her face!
She had a pair of breasts that just wouldn't quit. Even after the bra was off, they stood forth like two giant, delicious ice cream cones with nice rosy cherries topping the luscious piles off for eye-appeal.
Now, her panties came off. And what lay underneath was just as lush as what jiggled above. She had a pair of hips that were smooth, curvaceous and mobile. She began undulating them under the man's caresses and his eyes began to pop. So did mine!
"I'm terribly sorry!" Sybil's voice cut in. "Somebody has played a very poor joke on me! I'll turn it off immediately!" She started to get up. But I wasn't quite ready to quit now. I pulled her back to the couch.
"Wait...." I said. "Let's see what this is about...." I added: "Just for laughs...."
"I don't think this is really worth watching...." she sounded embarrassed.
She was wrong. It was worth watching. The man was stripped now and he was going for the maid. He had her breast in his mouth and he was giving her nipple the full treatment. She liked it. Her eyes were closed and she pulled his head in tighter against her bosom.
Sybil tried to get up again, but I held her down firmly. I wanted to see this film! After the man had worked the maid's bust over fully, he started kissing other points of interest. And let me tell you there were plenty of points!
It soon became clear why the girl was wearing a French maid's dress at the beginning. Even if the girl had never gotten closer to Paris than the city in Illinois, she had evidently learned something about how the French make love! She had the busiest and longest tongue I think I've ever seen anywhere this side of the ocean.
The man she was working on wasn't in any mood to question her ability. He was in orbit under the licking she was giving him.
By now, Sybil was ready for the basket-man. She struggled fiercely to get up and shut off the projector. But I was equally fierce in my fight to hold her on the divan. And I was the stronger.
The film went on riotously to its grand finale. This found the two principals tied in knots like pretzels. They were biting, chewing, kissing, nuzzling and inhaling like there was no tomorrow. No holds were barred.
Then, the film ran out. Now, I let Sybil get up to shut it off. She hurried to the projector and snapped the switch with a vengeance.
"I ... I don't know how to explain this," her voice was flustered. "And I can't apologize enough...."
"It's okay," I said generously. "I found it interesting." I noticed something else. Despite her haste to snap off the projector, Sybil wasn't in a big hurry to turn on the lights. We were in darkness.
I got up from the couch and moved toward her. I could barely distinguish her outline in the dark. I was really in the mood for something like what I had just witnessed on the screen. I was up to her now and I was pleased to note that she wasn't pulling away. That silver hair had fooled me. I couldn't help but recall the old saying: "Just because there's snow on the roof, doesn't mean that the fire's out!"
I put my arms around her and she entwined hers around my shoulders and lifted her lips up for our first kiss. Her mouth was open nice and wide, all set for my tongue. I let it slip inside and roll around a bit to give her a preview of some coming attractions.
I let my hands explore a bit. I found the zipper that held her dress tight. Under the dress she wore a skin tight girdle that gave me a little trouble ... but not too much. I soon had that off.
Then, I found some real treasures. Sybil had a pair of breasts that were almost as good as the girl's in the film. In the dark, I found her nipples seemed every bit as good as the maid's.
I soon had my clothing off and now we went at it hot and heavy. Everything the couple had done on the screen was duplicated by us. Just for laughs, we performed it all in the same order. And I was thrilled to have Sybil not only match every shot, but even top it with some little extra fillip.
I've run into a few tongues in my time, needless to say. But Sybil took a back seat to none. She knew how to use it. By the time we were ready for the last, grand act, I was almost out of my head.
I worked her around on that big couch into some of the most unusual positions you could imagine. The feel of the smooth leather against our bare skins gave the entire performance a whole new slant that spurred us on to even greater efforts.
As we tightened our grips on each other, our breathing became harsher and faster. Our bodies worked convulsively as we strove to engulf our love.
The darkened room seemed to grow brighter. Lights began to flicker across our vision. The heat from our bodies penetrated into our very beings. The wonderful feeling of oneness grew and grew.
Then as our passion mounted higher and higher, our bodies seemed to become part of the raw, naked leather we were working away on.
The leather began to give off an exciting, musky aroma that exuded the spirit of the flaming love we were undergoing. The haunting smell, the fragrance of Sybil's naked body against mine, the darkness, all served to propel us into the great, last ecstatic moment when all our lust burst its bounds.
Then, we slowly, slowly began to descend back into the peace of satiated passion. We lay there, resting in each other's arms while we slowly recovered our strength.
"Do you still want me as your client, Sybil?" I whispered.
"Of course!" She seemed surprised. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, you know...." I fumbled for words. "I've just seduced you in a pretty positive fashion."
"Seduced?" She began to chuckle. Her body quiver'ed from her attempt to repress her laughter.
"I missed something?" I didn't see what was so humorous.
"The idea of me being seduced!" Sybil was in control of her emotions again. She gently nuzzled my ear. "Honey child...." she murmured, "that film I accidentally ran for you ... I only wish I had a dollar for every time I 'accidentally' ran it!"
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I talked it all over with Ace. I explained about meeting Sybil at the little counter place and how she had gotten into a conversation with me about acting. I didn't tell him how she and I had given the leather couch a workout. No use confusing the issue with Ace.
"So," Ace nodded, "this broad now says she's gonna put you right smack-dab up in the big time just like that, eh?"
"No," I shook my head. "She's pretty solid. She knows how tough it is to get anywhere in show business, gut she likes my style and she thinks she might be able to do more good for me than one of the bigger agencies like yours."
"She may be right." Ace had a certain sense of fairness that I liked. "Sometimes a smaller agent will get out and hustle for you where the big ones lay back and hope you'll dig up your own jobs." He put his hand on my shoulder. "Look, kid. It surely won't hurt to give it a try. God knows my bunch of ten-percenters aren't doing a damn thing for you!"
So, I signed the usual contract with C. P. Dickens. If they didn't get me work within any given four month stretch, I could void the contract. However, if they kept me busy enough to dodge this stretch of time, I was bound to them for three years.
Ace explained to me that this was a better contract than most actor's agents gave. A great many of them insisted on a minimum of seven years! This made me feel a whole lot better about putting my signature on the old dotted line.
Sybil didn't let any grass grow under her feet. She landed me a bit part less than a week after I inked our pact. It wasn't a great role, but it lasted three days and I picked up a nice check.
"Some broad called you while you were working," Ace greeted me when I came home the last day of shooting. "I asked her to leave a number but she refused." He eyed me. "She didn't sound like the usual kind of chick you run with ... Who is she?"
"How would I know?" I had a sudden hunch who the broad was. Kelly! Ace had a knack of knowing when I was trying to keep something to myself.
I pretended to be unconcerned, but I wasn't. Kelly Mo-ran had made a deep imprint on me. I fooled around the house after dinner, being careful to stay within range of the phone. I wanted to get the call instead of Ace.
It was around eight-thirty. I had finally gotten discouraged about Kelly calling and had gone into the bathroom. No sooner had I shut the door, than I heard the phone. Before I could get out to catch it, Ace was answering. He had a strange little smile on his face when he saw my rush to get out. He handed me the phone with a very elaborate bow.
"The same broad," he said gently.
"Hello," I tried to sound casual.
"Hello ... Bob?" It was Kelly all right. I could feel my pulse picking up a bit.
"Yeah...." I knew Ace was still within earshot. "Who is this?" I didn't want to sound too eager.
"This is Kelly." she said. I waited. "You know ... Kelly Moran! I waited just another couple of seconds.
"Oh, sure! Sure!" I put a false touch of joviality into my voice. No sense letting anybody know you were a patsy. "Of course ... of course! How are you?"
We chatted for a few awkward moments. Ace was still hanging around puttering with something on one of the shelves. I wished he would go somewhere till the call was over. But he didn't.
"Bob...." Kelly said, "I'd like to see you ... soon."
"Sure, sure," I said. "I meant to call you but I didn't have your phone number."
"My name is in the book." she said quietly.
"Now, that's the last place any actor would ever look! You know how it is. We all think we have unlisted numbers!"
"When will I see you, Bob?" Her voice was low.
"Before long," I suddenly took a savage delight in torturing her. I don't know why! Then I waited. There was a long pause. Finally, she broke it.
"Bob ... I know it's terribly late ... but could you ... I mean, would you mind meeting me in town for just a few minutes? We could talk over a cup of coffee. I need your advice ... I need it desperately!"
"Gosh...." I lied. "I'm in my pajamas right now. I've been working on a picture and I'm all in...." I was aware of Ace's amused glance at this white lie
"Oh ... I see...." her voice sounded like she was going to cry. That did it. I suddenly heard myself assuring her I'd meet her at a little Espresso place just off Ivar in Hollywood.
When I hung up, Ace was still listening. This wasn't like him. He usually kept his nose out of my love-life.
"Must be a pretty good lay to have you so ready to get out of your pajamas,' he cast an eye at my fully clothed body. I didn't like his usage of the word "lay" in conjunction with Kelly. After all, she was still virginal as far as I knew!
"Just a star struck kid," I said off-handedly. "She was in a little play in the Valley and I happened to bump into her there." I was a little peeved with myself for going into detail. It wasn't any of his business what I did in my spare time!
"Bring her around sometime,' Ace said. "I'd like to meet the doll that flusters you so quickly."
"Flusters me?" I asked. "What gives you that impression?'
"Oh ... a coupla things," Ace drawled. "For one thing, your neck is red ... every time your neck gets red, I know you're flustered!" He studied me "Another thing, I never saw you come running out of the old out' house as fast as you did when that phone rang!" He chuckled. "Yep ... I'd like to meet the babe that sends your old metabolism into the wild blue yonder on such short notice!"
I brushed off any further questioning by leaving to tidy myself up in the bathroom. I shut the door so Ace wouldn't acidentally blunder in and catch me putting on some of my favorite after-shave lotion. I had learned this particular scent had a very potent effect on the ladies.
As I left the house, I thought I could hear Ace's taunting chuckle behind me, but I wasn't sure. I couldn't help but think what a strange one he really was. He had an uncanny sixth sense on these matters. Something told him I was hooked pretty hard as far as Kelly went. And something told me I was very anxious that he never meet her!
She was seated at one of the tiny booths waiting when I got to the spot. I made an elaborate show of looking for her and passed my first glance right past her as if I weren't too sure just what she looked like. Then, I let my gaze rove slowly beak. Only at this juncture, and after she had flickered her brow a bit, did I give her the big glance of recognition.
"Sorry to be late," I apoloziged as I took the seat opposite. 'I didn't realize when I talked to you on the phone that I was just about out of gas. I had to stop at a station in the valley before I hit the old freeway!"
"I see...." she nodded at me.
We sipped our Espresso in silence for a while after the waitress brought our orders. Kelly seemed strangely subdued and I studied her whenever she wasn't looking at me. Subdued or not, she was lovely.
"You said something was bothering you," I finally brought the matter to a head in my usual tactful manner.
"I need help...." she said softly.
"Is it money?" I knew it wasn't that. I don't know why I acted like I did toward this girl.
"No," she shook her head. "It's advice. I have to turn to somebody like yourself who's in the same profession as I am." I waited. She seemed to be having trouble finding the right words. "As you know ... I'm working at a job that offers a certain minimum security."
"Banks are pretty solid," I agreed.
"But as you also know," she went on in the same quiet tone, "that isn't the work I want. I'm interested in theatre. It's my life's aim. I'll never be happy doing anything else but acting."
"I can understand that," I nodded.
"But I'm not getting anywhere." She was really upset. "I haven't done a thing since you saw me in that play in the Valley."
"That really hasn't been very long," I pointed out gently. "Look at me. I've had stretches where I've been without a job for months!"
"But you don't have the short career expectancy I have!" She protested. "We women have to get known when we're young! Once we pass the first phase of youth, we're either in the top echelon or we're not. And if we don't make it then, that's it!"
"Kelly," I said, "You have a long, long time to go before you turn gray. You're just a kid! You've got years to make the grade!"
"No, I haven't." She was on the verge of tears. "I have got to start making good! I have got to do it soon!"
"Okay," I said. "Let's waive the point. So, you're on a short haul. Just what can I do to help you to get going?"
"You have to answer me truthfully." She was more resolute. "Don't be kind to me. Tell me honestly. Will you?" I nodded and stretched a point by making the Boy Scout sign to cement the deal.
"Scout's Honor," I promised.
"Very well." She set her chin. It made her look even more beautiful ... and even younger. "First ... do I, or do I not, have talent?"
"You have talent."
"How much talent?" She persisted. "A teeney bit? Average? More than average?"
"You have more than average talent," I assured. "From what I saw of your work in the play, I could honestly say you had more talent than any other actor on the stage that night."
"Please!" She stopped me. "I want an honest answer!" But I saw that she was blushing in a pleased manner.
"Next query," I encouraged.
"All right," she went on. "Next question. Do you think it's worth while for me to keep beating my head against the wall to be an actress?"
"I think it's worth while."
"All right." She was hard to satisfy. "Granted I have the quality we just discussed...."
"Qualities," I corrected. "In my humble opinion you not only have acting talent, you have youth, beauty and freshness." I was in it but good so I decided to go right on. "If you stick to it, I know you'll hit the big time!"
"You honestly feel that?" She was wistful in her dc sire to be assured. "Do you really and truly think I can make the ... the ... well you know-upper circle sometime?"
"Yes."
"It might be my own stupidity," she mused. "I'm probably hurting my own cause...." She suddenly nodded her head. "Yes, I'm sure of it! I am to blame!"
"Wait, wait," I admonished. "Make deeper tracks. You're losing me fast!"
"Don't you see?" She grabbed my arm. I liked the contact. She self-consciously pulled her hand back. "I am lacking faith in my own ability! So, what do I do? I compromise by taking a steady job so that if I don't get any acting assignment, it won't matter!" She was getting up a full head of steam. "If I had real courage, I'd give up the bank work! Concentrate on acting alone! Then, I'd have to make good! There's be no easy out! If I didn't get a job acting, then I'd just starve! That's the only answer! Thank you, Bob! Thank you so much for setting me straight!"
"Hold it, hold it!" I cut in fast. "Boy, you're sure taking the bull by the horns in a hurry!" I took a deep breath. "I didn't say you should quit your job at the bank! I never said that at all!"
"Ah!" She nodded in a dour fashion. "Then, you really don't think I have talent at all! You just said that to make me feel good!"
"Honey," I took her arm this time. "You ought to be in the next Olympic games. The way you take running jumps at conclusions, there isn't a Russky anywhere who could come near you!" I studied her. "Security, such as a job, is the best thing an actor or actress can have. I, myself, find it working for Ace Harmon. Without that to back me up, I'd have given up acting long ago!"
"Or, without Ace Harmon," she said evenly, "you just might be a lot further ahead in acting than you are!"
"Maybe." I suddenly was sore. What right had she to knock Ace Harmon when she didn't even know the guy? It was amazing how quick everyone was to tell me what a no-good influence he was on my life!
"Okay." She sensed I was bumed. "Getting back to my problem. How can I honestly call myself an actress when I earn my living at another calling?"
"The same way writers call themselves writers even if they happen to be doctors or lawyers!" I pressed my point home. "Remember, some of the best novels we've got today were written by Generals, nurses, Police work' ers and yes, prostitutes!"
"But that's different!"
"No, it isn't" I wasn't going to be bluffed on this fact. "Writing is the next closest thing to acting! So, by that same token, you can work as a grocery clerk and still be one hell of a good actress!"
She still wasn't convinced. We argued around the subject for a good half hour. Finally, it was time to leave. She got up, still unsatisfied. I couldn't let it go like that. I asked if I could drop by her place to talk just a bit longer. She was hesitant, but I assured her I wouldn't make another pass at her.
Ten minutes later I found myself up in Kelly's place. It was one of those big Charles Addams style houses that had been converted into flats. Then only modern touch to the entire manor was one of those kidney shaped pools out in front. It fit in with the general decor about as well as a Rabbi at a Bund rally.
But Kelly had done a fair job of making a home out of the vast room that had been assigned to her. To cut down on the lofty ceiling space, she had hung fish nets from the rafters. This, with soft lighting gave a certain warmth that was sadly needed. She also had some good theatrical posters on the walls.
She bustled around in the small kitchennette making more coffee. With the coffee, I was glad to note, there were small brandy glasses. Then, she sat me at one end of the divan that acted as her bed, while she placed properly at the other end. She wasn't going to take any chances with me. Not after that stab I had made the night she escaped in her car!
We resumed the talk about her career. The coffee mellowed us a little more and the fiery brandy did a further job of reducing the animosity that had existed earlier.
We talked on and on. It was well past one when I realized I was wearing out my welcome. I quickly got to my feet and begged her forgiveness for keeping her up so late. After all, she was due bright and early at the good old bank the next day!
I gave me a certain amount of pleasure to note that she, too, hadn't been aware of the passage of time. As she showed me to the door, she thanked me for my advice and consolation.
"Thank you for letting me gab on like this," I said. I held out my hand to shake hands. I was pretty proud of the way I had acted the gentleman! Not one pass at her! She shook hands solemnly.
"Ummmmm," she was thinking hard. "Look ... if you want to, you can kiss me good night...." She lifted her lips up for me. I couldn't turn this down. But I was determined to keep my distance. I leaned forward and kissed her lips. They were fresh, sweet and desirable. But I turned to go anyway.
Suddenly, I felt her holding my jacket. I turned in mild wonder. She was holding her lips up again. I decided one more for the road wouldn't hurt. I was wrong. As I kissed her again, the contact became a little more heated. As we parted our lips, she looked at me intently.
"Three more minutes won't hurt," she explained. She slowly drew me back in the room and quietly closed the door. To make certain nothing unusual took place, she glanced at her wrist watch to time us!
Our lips met again. Her warm, young body pressed forward toward me. I could feel her firm, lovely breasts against my chest. It was a wonderful, exhilarating sensation.
Every time we broke our embrace, Kelly would glance at her watch. She announced the remaining time. I felt like an Astronaut before takeoff!
It seemed like I had just stepped inside a few moments earlier, but she suddenly called:
"Time's up!"
"That watch of yours must be on daylight saving time," I mumbled as I got ready to go.
Sadly, she smiled as I put my hand on the door knob to open the way once more. Before I could turn it, she suddenly reached out and pulled my arm away.
"Look," I said, "You're pulling this tease-act too much on me! I can't keep controlling myself forever, you know!"
Her eyes had a strange glow as she began pulling me back into the room. When we reached the daybed, she threw her arms around me and kissed me. This time, the kiss was all business. Her breath was coming quicker.
"Bob," she whispered after we broke free. "Would you ... would you think me a bad girl if I let you do it to me?"
I assured her I wouldn't. As a matter-of-fact, I told her, I had very little respect for girls who thought sex was a terrible crime. I had infinitely more respect for girls who answered their bodies' needs. And in this case, I wasn't lying. Most guys want a virgin for their bride, I couldn't care less! What's virginal about girls who let you do everything in the world but lay them? I've had girls who gratified my every instinct without letting me get into them. Is that being virginal? You tell me!
I started taking her dress off, but she stopped me. She motioned to the divan.
"You get the bed ready for us," she whispered. "I'll go into the bathroom and freshen up for you!"
While she was gone, I quickly slipped out of my clothes. Then, I turned off all the lights except a tiny night light I found in the kitchenette. It cast intriguing shadows on my naked body. I admired my reflection in the full length mirror on the closet door. I wasn't hard to take. Stunt work kept me in top physical shape and I had a good build to start with.
I lay on the bed anxiously awaiting her. I could ah most taste those lovely young breasts. And I knew what dessert was going to be. Peach melba ... a double portion. Those two lovely rounded young hips of hers were going to be a real taste sensation. These pleasant thoughts were interrupted by Kelly slipping out of the darkened bath' room toward me.
She paused by the bed. She could see by the dim light that I was ready. She stared in wonder at my obvious manhood. I couldn't help but be proud.
I stared back at her. Her lovely breasts looked straighter and more luscious than ever I had dreamed they would be. Her waist was so slender it seemed fragile. Her full, rounded hips dispelled any such fear. Then, I got a shock. I stared ... stared in sheer disbelief!
"What's wrong?" She smiled faintly at me.
"That!" I pointed. I couldn't keep my finger from trembling. She looked down to where my finger was leveled.
She was wearing the one item that every red-blooded man dreads to find on a girl when he's ready to express his physical desire. I remember when I was a teen-ager and we were stuck with a girl at this awkward interval in her woman hood, we referred to it as "-she's got the flag on!"
Well, Kelly had that flag on! And here we were, all ready for what comes naturally! I couldn't understand how she could be heartless enough to pull such a trick on me. And I guess even in the dim dark of the room, my keen disappointment must have been all too evident.
"Let me explain something, Bob," Kelly stood, proud and nude before me. "According to all our experts and doctors, we women are supposed to feel the least physical desire at this time in our usual routines. And I have no reason to think this may not be true. I know lots of my girl friends become violently ill at this state. I am the exact opposite. I don't really feel too much urge for a man during my so-called normal time. But the moment, this descends on me, I begin to realize my womanhood. And with this realization comes a great, physical hunger. I want love! I want it with a burning intensity."
"You mean that's the only time you ever make love to a man?"
"It's the only time I really crave a man," she amended. "So far, I haven't permitted myself to give in ... even though I've been awfully close a few times! No, Bob. You will be the first all-out experience for me!"
"But ... but what about the bed ... you know, the sheets and all!"
"Laundry is cheap," she smiled at me. Now, she began slipping off the protective article and she moved, stark naked onto the bed. She slipped next to me. And then, we were in each other's arms.
She wasn't joking about how passion rode her at this stage. Her mouth was open hungrily and waiting for my tongue. She darted her tongue in between my lips the moment I withdrew my own.
Her hands clawed at my naked back as she drew me closer and closer. Her satiny skin was burning with passion. Nature had really thrown her a curve on her emotional cycles!
But I wasn't complaining! If you've never had the great treat of making love to a woman who is in this period of time, you haven't lived! It was the most magnificent thrill I'd ever run into!
This is the time when a woman is so indisputably woman. All woman! My body strained as I tried to crush her soft, charming lushness completely under my will.
She was just as eager to accept the best I had. Coir lips were locked in a tight, searing kiss. Our tongues shot in and out like flashes of flame. Our limbs entwined about one another and clung with the great strength of raw passion.
We churned back and forth in ever-increasing convulsive movements as physical lust exuded from our feverish bodies. Our-breathing turned into a harsh, rapid, gasping for air.
On and on. and on we went. She began to groan and sob softly as if she just couldn't get enough of me. She tightened her grip and I bore down harder and harder. The raw animal scent of sheer sex began to permeate the entire room. This only inflamed us more!
The room began to swim before our eyes. The pounding of our hearts blurred our vision even further. Then, when it seemed as if we couldn't bear the exquisite pain of it any longer, the great moment arrived. In a huge, shuddering surge, we clutched one another in the final frenzy of love.
Our bodies shook under the impact. Then, we began the great descent into the valley of ecstasy. Down, down, down, we slipped. At long last, we reached the very bottom. Then, we lay in each other's arms, resting.
As my strength came back, I began to bestir myself. I had to remember that Kelly had to be at work in the morning. I tried to ease away from her lovely body, but she suddenly clutched me close.
"Look, honey," I whispered into her ear, "I can't keep you up all night. You've got to be at the bank in the morning...."
"You don't get away this easily from me," she whispered into my ear. Her tongue darted into my ear and she rolled it around. It felt just great. Now, her smooth legs slipped around my hips and she tightened them. "I'm not going to work till noon tomorrow. And we are not leaving this bed till then!"
And you know what? We didn't!"
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I began seeing quite a bit of Kelly. I knew now that she was the girl for me. I wasn't in any position at this time to propose marriage to her, but as soon as I started earning some decent sort of income, I knew we would take the great step.
I told Sybil about Kelly and she thought it was a wonderful idea. Sybil proved this by hustling a few jobs for me. None of them were world-beaters but at least they were steps in the right direction. Sybil was a real good woman.
She confessed she had only one reason for not wanting to see me get married. That reason was quite basic. She and I were giving the big leather couch a real workout right along.
"After you get married to this Kelly girl," Sybil told me, "I'll let you alone. But until that day, I'm going to make love to you every time I can!" She added "and because there's so little time left, I think I'll double my demands on you!"
And Sybil was blessed with one great weapon most girls lack. She had the most versatile collection of action movies you ever saw! And we used to pick up any little tip from them that helped make love more exciting.
I was very careful when I talked to Kelly to refrain from too much mention of Sybil. Women are quick to sense when a man is making time away from home-plate.
Between Sybil and Kelly, I was really in the sack quite a bit of the time. This became apparent to the powerful-legged Ruth who eyed me as she walked in one day to take up her daily occupation as "secretary" to Ace.
"Well, well," she said, standing before the breakfast table where I was slowly eating. "I see our wandering boy is home again!"
"I've been home plenty," I mumbled. I was a bit played out. I had spent the afternoon the day before "running" films with Sybil. Then, all night long, I had been with Kelly. I had covered lots of mileage with my two women.
"No, Rollo, no," Ruth smiled maliciously. "You haven't been home plenty at all!" She added, "I've been here a few evenings myself taking dictation from Buffalo Bill, Junior! And you just haven't been anywhere at all!"
"She was wearing sheer silk hose colored a pale flesh tone. Her lovely feet were set off with a burnt umber toned pair of spikes. The satiny skin underneath the flattering silk hosiery began" to look very, very interesting to even my slightly jaded eyes.
She went on with her needling. "As a matter-of-fact, Ace has begun to comment on your long absences. He says you've got some cute little doll lined up who's making your temperature zoom!"
"Ace is imagining things," I muttered evasively. I found it a whole lot easier to look at her beautifully rounded legs than I did to peer into her face.
"This doll who's got you in such a tizzy, has she got legs as lovely as mine?" She was fully aware of where I was concentrating. She slowly began working her tight skirt up so that it slipped over her beautiful knees and inched upward revealing a breath-taking pair of thighs. Her limbs shimmered temptingly.
"Look, sister," I said, forcing my eyes away from those entrancing legs. "Ace is due back here any second, and he won't be exactly over-joyed to find you with your skirt up around your ears!"
"Still playing second-fiddle to the master, eh?" she smiled evenly. But she slowly let the skirt slip back down over her knees. She wasn't too sure of Ace despite her big talk.
She moved over to the table and looked down at what I was eating. She nodded triumphantly.
"Now, what?" I didn't like all this snooping around.
"Eggs again!" She chuckled. "That only works to a certain point. Oysters and all that can't replace excess!" She made a clucking sound with her tongue to reprove me. She moved behind me and let her long fingers slide down onto my chest. The tips found my nipples and she gently stroked them. The feeling wasn't bad! Suddenly, I began to forget that I had just taken care of two good women. I knew I could satisfy this magnificently-limbed creature in every way. She pressed her breasts against my back. She saw she was getting to me. She gave a low, throaty chuckle. "I owe you an apology. Once, I thought you might be a queer. Now, I know better!"
Just then, a car pulled up outside. We both knew it was Ace from the way the brakes were yanked on. He always stopped a car like he was roping a steer. Ruth quickly drew back and headed for a writing desk where she pretended to be engrossed in some letters she had brought in with her. Good old Ace's influence was making itself manifest allright!
Ace came in feeling his oats. He was jovial and greeted us both like long-lost pals. It soon developed why he was so happy.
"Latest ratings just came out," he revealed. "Guess where dear old dad stands?"
"Ummmm ... let's see." I knew he had gained points. No actor was ever happy to hear he had dropped in the polls. "Last month, you were in the top twelve." I paused. I might as well let him savor his triumph. "I guess you are now number eleven!"
"Wrong!" He beamed at me. He turned to the girl. "Okay, doll, you guess."
"You're number ten?" She couldn't miss.
"Right!" Ace exulted. "The top ten! Now, who would have ever supposed a little old cow-waddie like the would ever get up there with the big-timers, eh?"
"Gosh, Ace, that's great." I meant it. I knew how tough it was for any show to fight the terrific competition the rival networks and sponsors were forever throwing at the upper rungs.
"You know why it's really great?" Ace was aglow. "Because now I can get those stupid bastards who have been doing 'nothing but beef about the programs we're putting on, to up their ante! I'm gonna get me more money for my part and I'm gonna get it fast!"
"Wouldn't it be better for you to wait till they suggest more money?" Ruth came out with exactly what I was thinking.
"Naw, naw, it wouldn't." Ace was riding high. "They know what the ratings are. They know I can call my shots now. Call 'em any old place I want 'em!"
"I guess you know best, Ace," I conceded.
"You know it, kid!" Ace clapped his hand on my shoulder. "And I'm gonna see to it that those stupid writers who keep turning out the slop I act in, write in some parts for you! I've been too lenient with the bums that handle the show. It's time I started letting them know who the real boss is!"
By now, he Was aware of Ruth's well-crossed legs. She knew exactly how to sit so that her beautiful limbs were always at their most appealing. He winked at me and then moved over to where she sat. He patted her elaborately on the shoulder, but meanwhile, taking care to look down into her low cut dress so he could see what was taking place under the blouse.
"Yes?" Ruth smiled up at him. She enjoyed Ace when he was in a good mood. Too often, he wasn't.
"Miss Boyer, girl secretary of mine," Ace said politely. "Will you be kind enough to put those stupid letters away?"
She blinked at this unusual request. Ace clarified. "It isn't every day that a man breaks into the top ten! I think it calls for a bit of a party to honor the occasion!" He spun on me. "And you, faithful old family retainer, what say you?"
"Why, sure, Ace ... it sounds like a good idea...."
"You invite that chick of yours, too, hear?" He chuckled. "The kid's got a piece of stuff hidden away that really must be tops! Boy, he guards her like the crown jewels!" He waved a finger at me. "You bring her here tonight if you have to drag her. Because if she don't show, then, I'm gonna be real, real unhappy!"
"Golly, Ace," I stalled. "I'm not so sure I can get her over on such short notice...."
"Nuts!" He was firm. "You get her! Call right now! I won't take no for an answer!"
I wasn't too keen about having Kelly over for one of Ace's parties. These parties usually turned out to be more than the book called for.
They ran the same pattern. The guests began droppinng in at dark. The big buffet table was set up outside near the swimming pool. The food was always great. Ace would order the best roasts and steaks available. Everything would be put in readiness by a catering service that always charged far too much for their function.
Then, Ace would shoo the caterers off when the food was pretty well put away. And the heavy drinking would start. There was every conceivable item necessary for reaching that blissful state of utter oblivion. Gin, rye, scotch, bourbon, wine, brandies, you name it and it was set out for the taking. Ace might beef about the high cost of lubricating a car but he never issued a word about the charges for booze.
Once the drinking was under way, it was every man for himself. There were always a few girls around who knew what to do when a man felt like doing it.
I don't know what some of those earlier Roman orgies were like, but I guarantee you one thing: Ace's parties weren't too far behind in the art of erotica. There was always one outstanding performance by some steamed up girl that set a new low.
Kelly showed up around ten. Most of the food was gone but the drinks were flowing fast and furious. I introduced her to Ace and he was more gracious than usual. This bothered me a bit but the feeling was soon dissipated when he cornered me shortly after and expressed his true feelings.
"Look, kid," he seemed puzzled. "Is this the same girl that makes you break out in hives every time you mention her name?"
"I think that's a pretty exaggerated picture of what really takes place," I said with dignity. "But this is the girl that I hope will be my wife someday." I knew I sounded a little like one of the heroes in those trashy novels of the twenties. But at the moment, I couldn't think of a smoother way to phrase it.
"Don't get me wrong," Ace hastily amended. "She's a real nice girl. It's just that she doesn't seem like the kind of girl you usually go for."
"In what way?" I was a little stiff.
"Well ... you know...." Ace had difficulty finding the proper terms to clarify his stand. "She seems more like a ... more like a school teacher or a librarian or something like that"
"What you're trying to say, Ace," I said evenly, "is that she doesn't have a pair of boobs that stand out like a pair of watermelons, isn't that it?"
"You've always been a great man for a nice, big set of knockers," Ace pointed out. "And this gal has a fairly-nice shapes, but she won't ever give Sophia Loren or Jayne Mansfield no competition!"
"Ace," I sounded fatherly at this stage, "I think you'll find there's more to romance than a great big pair of jugs!"
"That'd sound real convincing coming from somebody else but you, kid," Ace argued.
"Okay, okay," I cut in. "I don't want to stand around here all night arguing with you about whether or not she's the girl for me. I've pretty well made up my mind."
"A lot of gals with big boobs are sure gonna be unhappy the day you go into double harness." He was feeling his hootch by now and all ready for a loud and violent argument. I had to switch him to another tack.
"Well, I guess I ought to pay attention to you," I said. "It isn't every day that one of the top ten TV stars is willing to act as marriage counsellor to an unknown actor!"
This reference to his success in the TV polls did the trick. His eyes glowed warmly and he flung his arm around my shoulder. He led me back to where Kelly was just appearing from the powder room and bowed his respect to her.
"Miss Kelly, ma'am," he said, "I want you to know that you got yourself the nicest, doggone man here in old Bob than any lady could ever wish for!" He paused. "And along the same line, old Bob here has got hisself the doggonedest, nicest lady any man could want!"
He bowed even lower and then excused himself. As he strode away with infinite dignity, Kelly smiled after him.
"You know," she said gently. "I never thought I'd say this, but I like him. I like him quite a bit!"
"I didn't know you had met him before," I eyed her closely.
"I hadn't. I watched him on TV a few times and I had made up my mind that I disliked him intensely. His acting was that terrible "Aw shuckin's" school that drives me out of my mind. But now that I see him in person, I realize that he's nothing but a big over-grown boy who just wants to he liked!"
I didn't want to disillusion her at this time. No use making jealous type noises. But any time any gal thought good old Ace was just an over-grown boy, she had a rude shock coming to her. Ace had certain traits no boy that lived could acquire!
Ruth Boyer was on scene in a pretty big way, too. She started the evening in a long gown that revealed plenty of bosom but hid those lovely, powerful legs. I knew this couldn't last long. It didn't. Soon, she began agitating for a swim. The call went up quickly and people began disappearing for their swim suits. As usual, nobody had thought to bring any along ... that, and towels were something all the free-loaders always took for granted.
Ruth came out the way she preferred men to sec her. She wore a form-fitting silk suit of blue with thin, white stripes around it. The silk showed everything she had. But more important, her legs were out now for the world to admire.
Many women have good-looking legs when ;hey wear sheer hose, high heels and leg make-up. Ruth didn't need any of these. Her strong, smooth legs rippled like the muscles of a leopard slowly moving across the jungle.
She had lovely feet and she cared for the skin. The nails were tinted a nice, pink color. No man there could keep from staring at those exquisite limbs.
Some of the other girls there realized they had better do something to keep her from completely stealing the show. One girl got an idea. She disappeared into the bath-house to change. This seemed odd because she had just come out moments before in a tight black Bikini.
When she made her second entry, she scored big. She had discarded the Bikini and put on another swim suit. This was one Ace kept around for laughs. It was a huge, old fashioned polka dot flannel suit like they used to wear in those old Mack Sennett comedies.
The girl knew what she was doing when she put it on. It hung in great, voluminous folds around her body. Every time she moved, it slipped away. This girl didn't have legs as lovely as Ruth's. But she had a pair of breasts that needed no excusing.
The girl ran out on the diving board and posed in one of those ridiculous bathing girl postures. Then, after a bit of squealing to make sure all eyes were on her, she took a running leap into space and down toward the water.
As she plunged downward, the big suit flapped back, revealing her lovely, big nipples. She hit the water with a splash. Then, she paddled dog-fashion to the ladder and climbed out. Now, with the big suit flopping around her, she had no more secrets. Everybody there could tell what she had. And she had plenty!
The mood for the party began to pick up. Suddenly, somebody shut off all the pool lights. The place was in darkness now. Girls began chuckling huskily as their escorts began making time. The water of the pool began to move as the bodies in it began churning. And the churning wasn't caused by any swimming, either!
Soon, swim suits were piled along the sides of the pool. Everybody in the water was stark naked. Kelly took my hand and lead me over to the small bath house at the edge of the swim area.
"Mind making love to a girl who's afraid of the water?" she whispered as she lifted her lips for a kiss. As I pulled her to me, she let her hands caress my naked shoulders and back.
We were in comparative seclusion at this vantage spot. I gently eased her dress off her shoulders, She was not wearing a bra. I was glad. And even though Ace had criticized her small bosom, it wasn't so little that I was let down. As a matter-of-fact, after I had kissed them a few times, they seemed to increase in size and charm!
Tantalizingly, she did a little strip tease for me. She did it well. I could make out her lovely, white body as it undulated invitingly before my straining eyes.
Soon, the last vestiges of civilization were stripped from her form and she moved toward me. I was out of my trunks before she reached my side.
Our naked bodies met and we embraced hungrily. Our lips sought out one another and we were soon darting our tongues in and out. Our hands roved wildly over our bodies as our passion mounted.
We had plenty of excitement around us. The other lovers were making all the pleasant and thrilling noises of love. The water in the pool surged and rose as the couples strove to engulf one another.
The loud, fast breathing of the group only served to drive us all on further. Every so often, a low moan or a husky chuckle would filter through all the love making.
Suddenly, Ace's voice came through. He was good and loaded. He issued a command. He wanted everybody to get into the pool. Everybody! A mass job!
He had plenty of takers. I could discern nude bodies lurching into a writhing, twisting pile of humanity. Lusting humanity. It even caught me. I started to join the group, when I felt Kelly pull me back.
"No, no," she whispered. "I won't share you with anyone else. You're mine ... mine...." She turned on all her attraction to hold me from the carnal group in the water. Her breasts tickled my chest as she slowly and tantalizingly squirmed in my grasp.
Her thighs and legs entwined around my hips. She had me now and even more forcefully. She timed her movements to match the seething, motion of the orgy in the water. It was as if we were in the pool with the love-crazed crowd.
Our bodies caressed one another. Our lips nuzzled and kissed and nuzzled again. On and on and on. The warm night air lent even more passion to our cat.
Then, as the wild frenzy of our souls burst forth in a giant, explosive force, the timing seemed to catch the crowd in the pool at the same moment.
A powerful, agonized, sobbing and moaning emanated from the violently threshing mass of human flesh. We were all engulfed in the raw, mad lust of love.
The night seemed to spin before my eyes. The lovely, ecstatic feeling of the writhing girl in my arms drove me to greater efforts. I thought I would be overcome from my own emotion before the great release arrived.
Then, the shocking impact as we consummated our desire in a last, frantic attempt to hold it, hold it, forever!
After that, it was a gradual and peaceful decline into restful darkness. We lay, locked in one another's arms, oblivious to everything around us.
The pool lights were never turned on again that night. The same, savage, cannibalistic violent scene was repeated ... and repeated once more.
It was still dark when I carried Kelly to her car and gently placed her behind the wheel. She was stark naked. I brought out a blanket and offered it to her. She refused it. At first I thought she was joking. But she wasn't.
"I don't want anything to spoil the feel of your body on mine," she whispered tenderly as she kissed me. I was still blinking in wonder as she drove her car out of the driveway and toward Hollywood. Her naked shoulders gleamed in the dark as she disappeared down the road.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The savagery of that party only served to cement my love for Kelly. And she returned it with every fibre of her vibrant young body. I knew now that I had to make good in my chosen career so that I could ask her to be my wife.
Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I couldn't take the thought of marrying her and still having her work at the bank while I chased around after acting jobs.
Ace talked over my plans with me. He agreed that it might be wisest for me to get more stability in my work before taking steps to make Kelly my wife.
Of course, he had to throw in a few subtle hints that maybe I was too eager to get married. Perhaps, it might be wise to look the field over a little more carefully before committing myself to one girl.
He shrugged his shoulders at my obvious resentment of any advice along this line. And he promised he would turn heat on his backers to see that I got some decent parts on his show soon. Now that the ratings made Ace so valuable, he knew he could work something out for me that would permit the gradual climb upward.
Ace didn't waste too much time. Three days later, I was given the role of a small-time gunman on one of his series. The part was the kind that couldn't help but call me to the attention of the big casting directors. They all watched one another's shows to make sure no unsung talent was slipping past their eyes.
Ace coached me in the role. And he really underplayed his part so that I stood out even more. This, mind you, from the man that all my advisors warned me against!
Sybil was enthused when she read the script and saw how much I was given to do. Even though the segment I was in wouldn't be on the screens till months had passed, she knew she could use the assignment to wedge me into a few more spots.
I began to get more and more roles. And a few of them were other than Western. I played a young doctor in one series. In another, I was a Peace Corps member. At last, I felt that I was moving in the proper direction.
I was careful to keep Sybil and Kelly apart. Even though Kelly was the girl of my heart, I couldn't completely forget Sybil. That big leather couch got a steady going-over.
Naturally, something like this couldn't be kept a secret forever. I noticed that the nice-faced young girl who acted as a receptionist for Sybil was onto us. She found it a little difficult to keep the color from her face whenever Sybil and I would come out from one of our "private" showings.
One afternoon, I dropped into the C. P. Dickens office to chat with Sybil about an offer I had gotten from a small producer over in Burbank. The girl informed me Sybil was due back at five-thirty. It was then five so I offered to wait. The girl motioned me to a seat and I sat down to relax.
The minutes ticked by and still no Sybil. I began to grow impatient. Then, the phone rang. It was Sybil. I took it and we chatted a few moments. Sybil was out in Culver City and was stuck with a producer who insisted on taking her out to dinner. She felt it wise to play along with him.
The girl couldn't help but tell from the conversation that I was being put off. I was in the mood for some of that "showing" film that Sybil did so well for me.
I finally hung up in some minor irritation. This was a bit unfair on my part and I knew it. I always had Kelly to turn to, and yet, I burned because Sybil wasn't johnnie-on-the-spot for my not too honorable intentions.
I bid the nice-faced girl adieu and started out the door. Suddenly, she stopped me:
"Excuse me, Mr. Meyer," she called timidly.
"Yeah?" I turned back to see what she wanted.
"I ... I know you must be disappointed because Miss Golden can't be here to help you...." I waited and she hurried on. "I ... I know where she keeps all her reels and ... if you want ... I can put one on for you"
"Look, honey," I smiled. "The reels I look at, you don't know a thing about." I confirmed it with a solid: "Believe me!"
"That's what you think, I'm sure," she said. She was red and embarrassed. "I took the liberty once of running some things back in the projection room and I was surprised to see what some of the reels held!"
I took a longer look at her. She looked like she should be on a nice, modern farm. She had clear, wholesome skin. Her eyes were blue and fresh. Her hair was slicked back like a country schoolgirl's. But a closer look revealed there was nothing school-girlish about the body that was before me. I had been overlooking something here, that was for sure!
I walked over to her and she stood up. Her face was flaming red but it only enhanced her charm. She stared up into my face with a frank yearning.
"Honey," I said. "I'm flattered to think you want to undergo one of those showings with me. But you got to remember one thing. That's as far as one of these affairs can go. There's no future to linking up with me."
"I don't care," she said in a low tone. "I want to sample a little bit of life myself. I'm sick of hearing all about the glamours of Hollywood! No one's even made a pass at me since I came out here a year ago!"
She took a deep breath and it did wonderful things for her bosom. Suddenly, she didn't look quite as innocent as I had pictured. I noticed her nostrils were flaring. Nine times out of ten, girls with those sort of nostrils turned out to be real screamers. This just could be good!
I had certainly made my point clear about no entangling alliances. She was going to give herself to me with no strings attached. I was going to marry Kelly Moran and no one else.
I took her arm and gently led her into the projection room. Suddenly, she spun and ran out. I might have known, I mused to myself, she wasn't up to it when the showdown arrived!
Then, I saw something else that cheered me. She wasn't running out. She was bolting the office door so nobody could walk in on us! Then, she turned and came back in with me.
"Now, we don't have to worry," she whispered. She lifted her lips to mine and I kissed her. She tightened her arms around my shoulders and began breathing rapidly. It didn't take her long!
I began slipping her dress off her shoulders. She had lovely, round shoulders. She needed good shoulders to hold up what lay in her bra. Her breasts were full and rich. The bra she wore was the kind that suppressed, rather than accented the curves of the bosom. This kid had really been hiding her lights under a bushel!
I soon had her stripped to her pumps. She was the solid, round type. But believe me, there wasn't too much of anything as far as I was concerned. I stared in open admiration at this vista of loveliness. I noticed her nostrils flaring wider as she felt my hungry study of her charms.
"Aren't you going to take off your things?" she whispered. I didn't delay. I was down to the raw in nothing flat. By the time I had my last garment off, she was eager for me. We moved together and our nude bodies caressed one another.
I pressed my mouth down hard on her soft lips. Her mouth was open wide so I took the liberty of darting my tongue far down into her throat. She loved it! She tightened her arms around me even more. Her breathing was harsh and fast.
"Just a minute," she broke away for a moment. "I saw that film where the man and the girl made love to each other by doing nothing more than just kissing every part of their bodies ... would ... I mean, would you be willing to try that with me?" She added hastily, "and I'll do to you what the girl did to the man in the film."
I felt there was nothing to lose by such an action and moments later, we were both working away, nuzzling each other with our lips.
When I mentioned the fact that women with flaring nostrils had always proven to be screamers in my past experience, I wasn't just talking. And this girl, I'm happy to say, proved to be no exception.
By the time my lips and tongue had roved over her lovely body, she was in ecstasy. At first, she began with a low, sobbing moan, then as I worked her over more thoroughly, she began to emit sharp, little squeals. And by the time I had built her to the very supreme point, she was screaming.
She screamed so loud, I was afraid the next door tenants might come rushing in to see who was being murdered! And with the door bolted, there was no reason for them not to call the Police. Then, I relaxed.
I recalled that the room we were in was the projection portion and completely sound-proofed.
So, just for kicks, now, I decided to join in with her screaming act. Instead of screaming, I roared. It sounded like feeding time at the zoo with her high-pitched shrieks and my guttural roars and growls. But strangely enough, the vocal activity only served to intensify the wonderful animal feeling our love-making gave us.
Now, I had enough of the kissing and nuzzling. I wanted man-love. I pulled her down and pressed my body hard against hers. I could feel her smooth legs entwine around my hips as she became aware of my manhood.
The room spun dizzily before me as we rocked and tossed in our fierce passion. Lights blinked and exploded as we neared the ultimate peak. Then, in a brilliant, flashing finale, we both burst the fetters of civilization as our raw emotion carried us up to the glorious, convulsive joy of it all.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
At last my first really big break came along. And it came along only because of the great goodness of Ace Harmon. Ace, still cashing in on his strong rating in the TV world, had turned added heat onto his sponsors.
Ace had insisted that they write in a "side-kick" for him. You know, just like Matt Dillon had his "Chester" and the Cisco Kid had his "Pancho". And Ace insisted on having the script tailored to my own specifications.
I had just finished reading three of the scripts with the new character. "I can't thank you enough for this, Ace! Golly! The sidekick has as rich a part as you do!"
"I insisted on having it that way, kid," Ace smiled. "I figure when I get ready to step out of the role, it's bound to be your show from then on, no matter who takes the lead!"
He was right. And the funny part about these "sidekick" roles is that the so-called "second-lead" ends up making just about as much money as the star!
"But how do I know they'll pick me," I was still unable to realize my good luck. "What's to keep them from choosing another better-known star?"
"Just me," Ace said. "I told them it had to be you." He smiled: "I'd say that narrows it down pretty good, wouldn't you?"
To celebrate my new participation in the show, Ace insisted on us going out to dinner. He had Ruth Boyer for his guest and he made me call Kelly for my partner.
We went to that little Naples restaurant just off Gower and Sunset. Lots of radio and film people ate there and Ace liked to be in their midst at times like this.
The two girls looked great. Ruth wore a skin-tight sheath dress of old gold hue. Her hosiery was the same tone and she wore shoes that matched. The golden, sheer fabric brought out the rich, full animal power of her lovely legs. The skin rippled like a sinuous jaguar stalking its prey every time she moved.
Kelly, of course, couldn't compete with Ruth's powerful calves. But Kelly had that fresh, young beauty that made you remember that there were more important things than naked skin.
Kelly was wearing a much more demure dress. It was smoky gray and cut very modestly. Only the faintest hint of cleavage showed ... but that was plenty! You knew that Kelly Moran was all woman.
We had a very good dinner. Ace let Ralph, the owner, order for us. Ralph did himself proud. He served us a good red wine first. Then, a small dish of vermicelli with clam sauce. Then, lobster, served Neopolitan style. After that, Cannelloni for dessert with Espresso. Believe me, you couldn't have gotten better food anywhere this side of Naples!
Ace was in his most expansive mood. He cracked little jokes all night and was very considerate of every one in the group. He was especially nice to Kelly and watched the four-letter words a whole lot more than he would have normally.
"To the future success of my sidekick," Ace held a glass of brandy up for all to join in the toast. "Yessir ... little old Bob is gonna be one of the big men in the industry!"
I couldn't help feeling a slow flush coming up over my collar at this praise. Yet, I also knew that it was probably going to be just what Ace said. You didn't need too much exposure on one of the top shows to find yourself in the upper bracket.
After the dinner, Ace insisted on taking us to a couple of the Strip clubs. We caught a few good acts and before we knew it, it was nearly two in the morning.
We dropped Kelly off at her place and then we headed back to the Valley. Ruth and Ace were as tired as myself by the time we adjourned to our rooms. I couldn't help but notice that Ace was so exhausted, he didn't even take Ruth into his bedroom. As I watched her golden calves flow past, I couldn't help but wish I had his chance at her!
It was nearly noon when I got up. I found some unusual activity going on. Ace was angrily slamming things into a suitcase. Ruth wars helping him pack his gear.
"What cooks?" I wondered drowsily.
"That damn agent of mine!" Ace fumed. "The stupe goes ahead and signs me to a personal appearance in Salt Lake City and then forgets to tell me till this morning! If I didn't know what the cancellation would do to my popularity there I'd tell them to all go take a flying jump! I feel like hell and now I have to show up bright and smiling tonight to carry out the illusion of the all-American cowboy!"
"Maybe you can get some sleep on the plane," Ruth suggested.
"Sure! Sure!" Ace was sarcastic. "A whole solid hour and a half of slumber! That'll do the trick every time."
He ranted and raved, but I had to admit one thing. Every time something came along that furthered his career, boy, he was on! Maybe that's why he was where he was and I wasn't.
We rushed him to the airport and even with all the hurry, we barley got him on the plane. He waved a happier farewell at us as he got aboard and realized he was at last safely on the old trail.
"Thank God," Ruth shook her head. "If he had missed this flight, I think we'd both have gotten canned."
"We had nothing to do with the appearance," I protested.
"What's that got to do with it?" she asked. "When a fanatic like Ace gets in a corner, he'd stab his own mother!"
This was the facet of Ruth that I liked least. She could be so nice and friendly with Ace. But let him turn his back and she just couldn't get the barbs out fast enough.
"Look, if you don't like working for him, what's to keep you from quitting?" I couldn't resist the dig.
"It's a soft spot," she admitted. "He doesn't demand too much. So, I can put up with certain impositions from time to time." She stretched back in the car and rested her head on the seat as we drove along. I could hear the silken legs rustle as she crossed those lovely calves. I fought to keep my eye off her strong points.
I drove as fast as I could to get her back to the Valley. I didn't want her taking pot shots at Ace and I especially didn't like the idea of her trying to seduce me. I knew this is what she had in mind. I knew it as surely as the sun sinks in the West.
Don't think me to conceited when I say I divined what was in Ruth's thoughts. It isn't that I'm a grand dream-boat or anything like that. But Ruth was a goer. And she wanted to go today. Girls exude a certain aura when they're in the mood.
"Should I drop you off somewhere in town? I asked hopefully. "No use in you going clear out to the Valley."
"No, I've got some letters to take care of," she said. I knew this was for the birds. It was late afternoon and she didn't like to work too far into the day under even pressing circumstances.
I realized I had no chance arguing with her. We pulled up in front of the house and we went in. As I followed her through the door, I found my eyes hungrily staring at the way her calves flowed under the sheer hosiery.
I excused myself to avoid further temptation and went to my room. I was alone in there for some time. Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door and I had a vision of Ruth. Something told me she was on the other side, stripped nude. Maybe with only her expensive hosiery on to enhance those legs.
"Yeah?" I called gruffly.
"May I see you a moment?" Ruth asked in a low tone.
There wasn't any use beating around the bush. I went to the door and flung it open, ready to tell her to drop dead. Now, with Ace setting me up as his sidekick, I wasn't about to jeopardize my new career for the charms of this firebrand.
"I made some coffee...." She was standing, fully dressed, holding a tray with a steaming pot and two cups. "I thought you might want some."
I was so taken aback at her thoughtfullness, I could not do anything but stare. Finally, I nodded assent and took one of the cups. She set the tray down and poured for me.
Uhhuh, I thought. She softens me up like this. Now, we'll chat over the fragrant coffee and pretty soon we'll both be nice and mellow. She'll cross those magnificent legs and after she shows me a little more than I should see, she'll be after me, hammer and tongs. Well, I have a real surprise for her. It's no soap. No soap in any way!
She finished her coffee pouring act for me and then threw me a real curve. She smiled, turned and headed out with her tray and the other cup! She closed the door softly after her and I was alone!
I had built the big seduction scene pretty well in my mind and I was flabbergasted to say the least! I found it hard to believe that all she wanted to come in for was to give me some coffee! But nothing further happened and, somewhat ruefully, I gave in to the fact that I must have had an over-active imagination.
She knew I like the coffee strong. Man! It was doubly potent this time! But it went down just great. I was sort of hoping she'd come back to offer me another cup, but it didn't happen.
I resumed my puttering around. To keep clear of Ruth, I had decided I'd get all my clothes in order. I'd probably be doing a lot of traveling just like Ace once I got known as his TV sidekick!
As I worked, I hummed. I didn't have too many clothes, but the few I had were good. Later, when the dough was rolling in, I'd treat myself to expensive suits and accessories.
The work and my thoughts were soothing. Soon, I found myself growing comfortably drowsy. It wasn't a bad feeling. I shook my head to clear it, but the drowsiness persisted.
Suddenly, the bed looked awfully inviting. I found myself going over to it and plopping back lazily. I decided to stretch out for a few minutes and just relax.
My eyes got hazy ... my mind began to blur ... just before I blacked out, I realized what had happened. Ruth ... dear, kind Ruth, had slipped me a drug in my coffee!
Slowly, my eyes opened. I had no idea how long I had been out. I was still on the bed. I was flat on my back because I could see the ceiling overhead. By the faint light in the room, I knew it was just before sun-down ... and complete darkness.
I tried to sit up. I couldn't move. A horrible fear shot through me. Ruth might have given me too much of the drug! Maybe I was paralized.
Then, I saw what had happened. I was spread-eagled on the bed. Stout cord had been securely wrapped around each ankle and my wrists. Each limb was tightly affixed to a corner of the bed.
I couldn't move more than a tiny fraction. Whoever tied the rope had done it before. The knots were expertly tied so that I didn't have a chnace of getting free for hours ... if then.
I also noticed one other interesting thing. I was stripped nude! I remembered falling onto the bed fully clothed. It was un-likely I had gotten up thereafter to undress.
I wondered where Ruth was. I was alone in the room. If this was a joke, it was certainly a lousy one.
I raised my voice as I called for Ruth. There was no answer but the echo of my shout bouncing down from the beamed ceiling. I yelled a couple of more times with no result. In desperation, I tried to work my hands free from the cord.
L was still a little woozy from the drug Ruth had slipped me, but it wasn't too bad. Just enough to keep me from being able to work my body with the normal facility. And even if I had all my powers in possession, the damn knots were tied much too skillfully to get out of too quickly.
The bed bounced as I twisted and turned in frustration. This was a shameful position to be found in. And then, another thought struck me. What if a fire started? Ace was in Salt Lake. God knows where Ruth had gone. And what was the purpose of stripping me nude and lashing me spread-eagled on my bed? A new train of thinking flashed across my mind now. What had Ruth done to me while I was out cold? She had a good reason for all this.
The door slowly creaked open! Someone was entering! I waited, holding my breath. The door opened a little further. I could hear someone ... or something ... breathing. The breathing sounded like that of an animal!
The door inched open a little more. I was frozen to the bed. I knew I didn't have a chance this way. The breathing was louder. And now, the door was open wide!
There was no one at the door. At least from the position I was viewing it from! But the breathing ... it was still there! I could hear it as plainly as the thumping of my own heart!
Then, a set of long, curved claws materialized on the door jamb! I had seen claws of this length before ... but only at a circus or zoo! They had belonged to a leopard!
Another set of claws appeared. I waited ... holding my breath. The breathing was harsher ... I heard an unmistakeable growl! It was the same growl that I had heard emanating from a cage of jungle cats!
I was in trouble now and I knew it! But where had this savage leopard come from? The last vestiges of panthers had disappeared from our San Fernando Valley some twenty years ago! And no one had ever heard of a leopard being native to the California scene.
But here it was. And here I was ... helpless! I knew Ruth wasn't fond of me ... but why would she have me killed in this terrible fashion? None of it made sense.
I watched the two sets of claws ... and then, I noticed something else as the claws moved further around and inward. The claws were like rings and set onto human fingers! And the human fingers belonged to a girl!
Suddenly a low chuckle assailed my ears. And the wearer of the claws stepped into full view. There stood a sight that I had never seen in all my life!
Ruth was naked. Stark naked! Now, I noticed, she had claws on her toes. These were the same stlyed rings with the simulated leopard claws affixed in nearly the exact design of an actual jungle cat's paw.
The leopard similarity was much more evident on the lower part of Ruth's extremities. Her lovely, supple legs played the sinuous leopard role much more convincingly than her arms did. And the latent power of her calves and thighs bespoke the leopard's strength to its fullest.
The girl had carried her acting one step further. Across her beautiful nude body she had carefully applied the exact coloring and makeup of a leopard! Even the pattern of the spots was worked out in proper symmetry of the jungle killer.
Ruth had used facial makeup to accent the slant of her normally feline eyes so that now she really looked like the animal she was depicting. Her lips were even curled in the savage snarl that seems to forever set the leopard apart from other cats.
She moved stealthily across the room to me. All the time she moved, she growled and snarled. Her eyes were fixed on me in great intensity. Her breathing was hard and harsh. Her naked breasts moved up and down rapidly as she neared her prey.
Now, she stood over me. Her lips were drawn back and her strong, white teeth stood out like fangs. Slowly, she raised her arms upward. The claws began to curve ... ready for the kill.
Then, she leapt at me! Have you ever seen a cat pouncing on a bird or some other helpless victim? That is the exact picture Ruth created as her powerful legs propelled her into the air and onto me!
She came down directly on top of me with a savage snarl! I couldn't help shutting my eyes as I saw her white teeth snapping down on my exposed throat!
I felt the sharp cutting edge of the incisors closing down on my jugular vein. I couldn't help but wonder if she would drink my blood like the leopards usually did with their prey.
The claws also moved in at the same time. All four sets of talons, the ones on the hands and the ones on her toes, raked my defenseless body from four sides.
Then, the teeth stopped short on my neck. A low, throaty chuckle issued from Ruth's lips. The claws, I discovered, had slightly rounded tips so that they would not actually tear my flesh.
The raking motion of the talons on the skin was almost a pleasant feeling. The claws went in just far enough to hurt a little, but not so deep that the "victim" suffered.
Now, Ruth's tongue began playing with my throat. She worked it up, up and then, her lips were on my mouth. She darted her tongue in and out rapidly. But her powerful legs never stopped working the talons against me. And her arms were in action, too.
I began to get the message. The thrill of her hot, nude body pressing in on mine, the lush lips and the active tongue ... no man could have withstood it. And as she worked my naked body over, she growled and snarled like a cat over its kill.
I couldn't help but think what a wonderful way this was to go! Soon I was giving her all the cooperation she wanted. I forgot all about Ace Harmon ... I for-got all about Kelly Moran ... I forgot all about every thing that had ever happened to me. All I could think of was the beautiful, snarling, growling, clawing creature that was engulfing my defenseless body.
She went over every inch of my body with her talons and teeth. She was tireless and this savagery kept up for so long, I was becoming exhausted just from the contact.
She worked me up, up, up. I strained to get at her, but the ropes held me powerless. She was the master at this, point. She controlled my body as definitely as if she were the true jungle cat with its prey.
The room grew dimmer as we writhed and tossed in our primitive struggles. The sounds of our nude bodies locked together created wonderful, exciting love noises that only served to drive us to greater efforts.
Then, when it seemed as if my desire would cause my heart to burst, the great moment arrived. With great, convulsive thrusts, we locked our passion into powerful, quivering oneness.
Finally, our flaming emotion subsided ... our breathing became more normal. Then, and only then, did we rest. We fell into a restless, lustful sleep. Even then, my dreams were of naked claws, blood-drenched fangs and sharp breasts with claw-tipped nipples!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning, at breakfast, Ruth sat across from me. She was neatly dressed in a business suit. It was hard to picture her as the savage creature of the night before. Only, the long, powerful feline legs from under her skirt revealed the hidden savagery of the woman, I could almost see the claws fastened to those lovely toes! I remembered the exquisite agony of the talons raking-up and down my naked body.
"This leopard bit," J said to her over our coffee. "Where'd you learn it?"
"I was always fascinated by the leopard ... even as an infant," she said. "As a little girl, I always insisted on playing leopard while the other little playmates cud' died dolls. I would pretend to be a savage cat attacking the defenseless doll."
"You must have been the talk of the town," I nodded.
"Strangely enough, my little friends always kept my leopard tactics to themselves. Somehow, they must have sensed that their parents wouldn't have approved."
"Did you ever give Ace the treatment?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"No," she shook her head. "I reserve this for special victims."
"I'm special?". I blinked at her.
"Only in sex," she said. "Otherwise, you and I have absolutely nothing in common. As a matter-of-fact, I find your manners pretty obnoxious." She added, "and I know I affect you the same way!" She smiled. "But physically, we are one and the same! Insatiable and lustful as the worst jungle cat!"
I couldn't argue this point with her. The actions we had undergone last night would have completely sated any normal human being. Yet, even as we faced one another, we were lusting for the naked bodies once more!
"No, no," she glanced at her wristwatch. She had read my mind as clearly as I read hers. "We don't dare. Ace is flying back this morning and we just can't take the chance." She added, "you've got your damn career to think of now."
"And you?" I asked.
"Me?" She pondered a moment. "I've got a soft touch with Ace. Good money for very little work." Then, she added truthfully. "But even more important ... I'm afraid of him."
I could see what she meant by this latter remark. Ace had this quality with women. They all feared him. Justly so. Deep within his soul there lurked this savage resentment of the fair sex. It was evident even when he was being his most gracious self.
"Did you check his arrival time?" I asked.
"Yes." Ruth said. "The plane is arriving in ten minutes. And it only takes him forty minutes to taxi in from the airport."
"Shouldn't you have met him at the airport?"
"I asked him just before he took off for Salt Lake.
He said to not bother." She shrugged. "So, I took him at his word."
"Tell you what," a strange feeling came over me. "I think I'll just take off for town now. I don't think I'd like to be here when Ace walks in. He has a knack for smelling out things about people. I'll need a little time to recover from last night!"
"That just might be smart," she nodded. "As a matter-of-fact, let's stick together on this story. I'll tell him you took off for your girl's place last night and you haven't come back!"
We agreed on the little fabrication and I went out to my car and drove off so I'd be well out of the way when Ace got home.
I should have been completely satisfied physically at this stage, but I suddenly realized I wasn't. A strange but persistent doubt came into my mind. What was this terrible drive that urged me on and on in sex?
Other men were sex-hungry, too. I knew that. But once they had their women and finished with them, they relaxed. They were taken care of for a short time at least. But not me! No ... I could crawl out of bed after a night of debauchery and I was still as hungry as when I had started!
Then, a thought crept in. When Kelly and I made love, I Wasn't the victim of unfilled passion. Somehow, her love seemed to hold me. Maybe this was the difference between carnal and true love. The idea served to put my doubts to rest for the moment.
The vision of Kelly swam before my eyes. Suddenly, I knew I had to see her. See her right then! My watch told me she was already at work at the bank. But that didn't matter. I headed the car for the building where she was employed.
I walked into the bank and I glanced at the desk where she sat. Suddenly, a shocked feeling hit me. The figure at the desk wasn't Kelly! It was another girl!
I ignored the sign on the railing that warned out' siders to stay on their side of the enclosure. Despite the startled looks of the other workers, I hurried to the girl at Kelly's desk.
"Where is she?" A cold feeling of dread clutched my heart. "Where is Kelly?"
"Miss Moran is home today, sir." The girl eyed me uneasily. I guess my panic showed. I was aware of the gazes of the other girls around us, and I got a better grip on myself.
"Is she sick?"
"I don't think it's anything to worry about," the girl assured me. "She phoned in earlier and asked to be excused for the day."
A surge of relief crossed my body as I thanked the girl and turned to leave the building. I felt the curious stares of the other workers as I rushed out.
I drove to Kelly's place. I drove much too fast. An officer pulled me over. I was so outrite and honest about my violation that" he changed his mind about giving me a ticket. He let me off with a warning about endangering human lives. I thanked him and drove on to Kelly's ... but at a lower rate of speed.
I hurried to the door of her flat and buzzed. There was no answer. I buzzed more impatiently. Suddenly, I heard a voice from the door:
"Yes. Who is it?" It was Kelly!
"Bob!" I called. "Bob Meyer!" This was pretty silly, giving her my last name, but I was still shaken by my first impression at the bank that something terrible had happened to her when she wasn't at her desk. I waited She was taking her time getting to the door. I fidgeted back and forth.
She opened the door and there she stood. She was wearing a bathrobe that looked like her mother must have handed it down. Her nose was red. Her eyes were slightly drowsy. Her hair was a mess.
"Excuse the way I look, Bob." She sounded miser-able. "But I've got this darn cold and I've been taking aspirin and cold tablets till they're running out of my ears!" She shook her head in desperation.
I shoved in and took her hand. It felt hot. I stared at her in fear. Maybe she was coming down with some-thing really serious.
"You've got to go to a doctor right away!" I said. "No, we'll call one and he can come up here. You just better stay right in bed till he arrives!"
"Nonsense," she scoffed, "it's only a cold. But I always feel so horrible when I get one. I've had these before! All the doctor says is to take two aspirin and stay in bed!"
She looked like she was going to cry. Suddenly, I pulled her to me and caressed her hot little head on my shoulder. I gently patted her cheek. It was flaming. That did it. She began to sob as if her heart would break. I soothed her as well as I could. But she cried for a long time.
Then, it subsided and we stood there, locked in each other's arms. She sighed heavily. I felt very much at peace with Kelly there. I would have felt much better, of course, if she hadn't been ill. But her reassurance about the illness being nothing to worry about, helped. So, we maintained our physical contact for some time without talking.
This particular moment was undoubtedly the least likely time for a man to propose, wouldn't you say? Well, suddenly, I found myself insisting that she marry me right away!
"No, no," she whispered. "I can't let you marry me!"
"But why?"
"I'd hamper your career," she said, sniffing. "You're just getting your first real break with Ace. And to tie yourself down with a little Miss Nobody right now would be the wrong step!"
You figure this out! What possible difference did having a wife or not having a wife mean to a man's career in our business? Most stars had been married and divorced a couple of times and it only seemed to enhance their box office appeal.
I explained this to her, but she just didn't seem to get it. She didn't let go of me, either, though. So, I didn't give up. I outlined all my plans. Now that Ace was making me his sidekick, I'd be catapulted into the big time within months. I'd soon be in the coveted upper brackets of the TV earners. Then, I gave her my clincher:
"And when I make good, honey, then I'm going to see to it that you get the right recognition for your acting! We're going to put you right up with the top stars!" I added: "And it won't be in these damn Westerns, either!"
Before I left, she had given me her consent. We were going to be married within a reasonable length of time. I wanted to hitch up in the next week, but she was firm about not rushing. She pointed out that our love would hold if it were true. So we made a tentative agreement that the moment I got my contract signed for a long run with Ace, that would be our go-ahead on double harness.
I lifted Kelly up after that and gently carried her to her bed. I made sure she was comfortable and had all her medicants right on hand. Only then, did I leave.
Kelly, despite her cold, suddenly decided she had to show her love for me in more than just a passing way. She literally threw herself at me. But for once in my life, I exercized some restraint. I gently, but firmly, refused to take her young body. I knew she wasn't up to par physically and I didn't want to force her into undue activity.
She inwardly knew I was right. I think she was pretty proud of my self-control. I was beginning to feel some concern about my lack of moral stamina. After all, life had to mean more than a series of nude interludes with every attractive female that happened to cross one's line of sight.
After I left Kelly, I drove over to Sybil Golden's office. The nice-faced young girl greeted me politely. Her face suffused with color as she recalled our last hectic episode. She showed me in to see Sybil.
Sybil was really excited about Ace's new deal for me. As she explained, these sidekick roles were coveted by every character actor in town. They meant nothing but gilt-edged security and an entree into one's own show, if handled properly.
"Your friend Ace is a real friend, after all," Sybil said. "I mis-judged him. I used to think he was a real cold potato, but he's proving me all wrong. This is an awfully big favor he's doing for you. He's going to make you very, very rich." She added: "and as your agent, he won't harm me at the Bank, either!"
Sybil had read the parts created in the series for me and she was even more enthused about that. Actually, I was practically co-starred with Ace. Very few stars would go to such lengths!
Sybil was so moved by Ace's generosity that she decided to break precedent by toasting our future with a drink. She wasn't the type who over-indulged and when she took a drink before noon, I knew it had to be a great occasion.
The first drink from her cabinet was so mellow, we both decided on another. After the third one, we were suddenly eyeing one another.
"I've got a very unusual film that came in two days ago," she whispered. "I ran it and I think it might give you a few new ideas. It's a brand new technique. It's sex as practiced by the Samoans. They've really got a switch in it that I know you'd be enthralled with. Shall we?"
Normally, I would have leapt out of my skin at this sort of an invitation. But suddenly, I was beginning to get a better perspective on these matters. I was realizing that sex, when un-controlled, can only mount in intensity. It becomes all consuming. The more you get, the more you want.
Now, I don't want to sound like a Sunday School teacher, but I had to grow up. My lust had really gotten way out of hand in the past. And instead of becoming satisfied, I had gotten even more restless. I couldn't help but think back to my early school days when we read about the Roman Emperors. They used to eat so much that they couldn't stand any more. But the craving was still there, so they would get rid of the food by various tricks just so they could gorge some more. I had grown as stupid and covetous about the sex act.
I explained my new theory to Sybil. She seemed puzzled by the whole thing but as I went over my feelings, point by point, she began to understand. I think she was a little hurt at first, but I pointed out carefully, that it wasn't any one woman in particular.
"Okay, Bob," she smiled a little sadly. "As the great patriot once said, 'I might not agree with your idea, but I'll defend your right to practise it to the very end'!" Then, woman-like, she added. "But if you ever decide to fall off the haywagon, remember me!"
As I left her office, after smiling a tender goodbye at the nicofaced secretary, I couldn't help but feel that I was really going to fly right!
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I played my first role with Ace the following week. What a switch that was! The crew all had an inkling, I think, of what Ace had planned for me. For a change, I wasn't treated like one of the hired hands.
I suddenly found myself with my own trailer-dressing room. None of this crowding in with ten other extras to wait our turn with the make-up men.
I studied my part very carefully. I didn't want to let anything go wrong now that I was on the threshhold. Sybil came down every chance she had to watch me. She, too, knew that this was our big break.
Ace complimented me on the way I played the part. But it wasn't much credit to me. Boy, the lines were there! It was like shooting fish in the barrel. It seemed like every other page of the shooting script called for an extreme close-up of me spouting some homely philosophy. Even if they cut half my lines, I had to come out of it smelling like a rose.
We wrapped up the first segment in three days. According to our deal, I was to be paid twelve hundred and fifty bucks per week for the first thirteen half hours, After that, I was to be hiked to seventeen fifty. And the contract was left open to price negotiations thereafter.
"It's better for us," Sybil explained. "You'll be such a smash by then, we can really hold out for some big money. Just let us get started, that's all!"
Ace Went over every line with me before we shot. He knew where the power in my part lay, and he insisted I milk everything to the utmost. He even went so far as to make the director re-do a couple of my scenes that I felt were as good as I could make them. And he was right. The extra shooting brought forth a little bit more of my character.
The second week's shooting was just as successful. By this time, I had lost a little of the nervousness anyone would have felt at being shoved into the big time. And I think I did a much better acting job. Sybil seemed to think so, too. She beamed when I finished the segment.
Ace slapped me hard on the back as we left the fi' nal night. He nodded pleased approval.
"Man," he shook his head, "here, I've had me a real nugget right in my own diggin's and never knew it!"
He was so enthused about the way things were going that he set up a personal appearance for me in Seattle at a big rodeo. It was a two-day shot, but Ace felt I would make myself a lot of friends there. He really wanted me to make good. The money wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. A thousand dollars for the two days. But all I had to do was some of my usual stunt riding and put in a few plugs for Ace's show. Arid as Ace explained, it was a great chance to start getting used to making speeches before large groups. It seemed this would be a big part of my career later after the public began to learn who Ace's sidekick really was.
The two days wouldn't hurt my next TV stint because I would have ample time to make my appearance in Seattle and still fly back for the Monday morning shooting with Ace.
Ace and Ruth drove me to the airport and I couldn't help but feel a swelling of pride as I realized how much attention I was getting. Even Ruth was impressed with my sudden success. I caught her stealing long glances at me. She wasn't one to let the ground lay fallow too long!
I flew out and reached Seattle Friday night. I made my contacts there and everything was in readiness for my Saturday afternoon show. The cast was the usual. A broken-down Hollywood actress who had gone into Western TV roles. The old-time funnyman who had turned to rodeos for his bread and butter. The young, eager acrobatic dancers who came on in their usual costumes but with one exception. Now, they wore Stetsons and sham cowboy boots.
But it was fun. The crowd clapped impartially for all of us. They didn't know who I was but when the M.C. let them know I was being starred along with Ace on the TV show, I got an extra round of applause. And I did a good job of riding. They appreciated that for sure!
The rodeo played to a good crowd. The box office take was enough to more than compensate for all the effort. I couldn't help but think that if I ever left the TV game, I could always pick up a fair income this way.
Then, I got a little ashamed of myself. Suddenly, I recalled that I was losing sight of my original goal. I had started out to be a good actor. Not one who was limited to Western roles alone. I was starting to sell my birthright pretty fast! I made a mental resolve to get back with legitimate acting as soon as I had run my course as Ace's sidekick. But I was surely getting a solid financial start with the old boots and saddles routine!
Saturday night, just before dinner, a horrible thought struck me. I realized that in all the confusion and excitement of taking the trip, I had neglected one little thing. I hadn't even let Kelly know I was going out of town!
I grabbed the phone and asked the operator to get me Kelly's place fast. It didn't take the call too long to get through. I could hear the phone ringing at Kelly's place. It rang a long time. There wasn't any answer.
"Shall I keep trying?" The operator asked.
"Yeah," I said. "I'll go down for a quick sandwich, but I'll be back up here in half an hour!"
The "quick" sandwich took longer than I thought. I bumped into one of the rodeo clowns at the counter and we got gabbing and it was a full hour before I managed to break free.
It didn't matter. The operator hadn't had a bit of luck in getting Kelly. I realized it was dinner time back in Hollywood and she was probably out for a bite. I decided to hang around the room that night just to be sure I got her. I felt a little embarrassed at leaving town without a word to the woman I was gonig to marry!
I took a shower and read. The time passed. The phone rang and I grabbed it. It was the operator. She still hadn't made the connection. I told her to keep trying.
It was eight when the phone rang again. This time, I knew the time had been too short between the operator's last call for it to be the call to Kelly.
"Hello!" I grabbed the receiver.
"Bob?" I couldn't recognize the voice.
"Yeah, who is it?" I snapped. Suddenly, I had a strange premonition.
"Ruth," her voice was guarded.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Plenty," she said. "Ace just threw me out of the house!"
"That's too bad," I said. "But don't drag me into your troubles."
"It's your trouble, too," she said softly. "In what way?"
"Kelly." Ruth paused. "She's with Ace now!"
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The jet flight from Seattle to Los Angeles took two hours. But it took me another forty-five minutes to get from the airport to the Valley.
The house was dark when I pulled up. I paid the cabbie and moved swiftly to the door. I slipped my key in and unlocked it quietly. I found my hand shaking as I let myself in.
I moved through the dark with knowing tread. I knew where every article of furniture was placed and I made no noise. I pushed toward Ace's room. I expected to hear muffled groans and sounds. There was nothing but silence.
I pressed my head against Ace's door. I listened. All I could hear was the faint sounds of distant traffic from the Ventura Freeway a quarter mile away.
I grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Swiftly, I swung the door open and stepped in. There were two figures locked in an embrace on the bed. I snapped on the light. Ace sat up with a start. The girl was hidden under the covers.
"Bob!" he blinked in wonder. "What's going on?"
"You tell me." My face was tight. I found it hard to breathe. I stared at the figure cowering under the covers. "Kelly, I never dreamed it of you. Never...."
"Are you nuts?" Ace was more awake now.
"So, this is why you fixed the Seattle trip for me, eh?" I suddenly realized my lip was quivering. I tried to stop it but it wouldn't quit.
"Okay, Kelly, he's all yours...." I had to get out of there before I did something I'd be sorry for. I turned to go.
"Wait!" Ace's voice stopped me. I turned. He grab' bed the covers and flung them back. He was stark naked and so was his companion. But the girl in bed with him wasn't Kelly! "Okay ... now, you tell me what the hell this is all about!"
The naked girl grabbed the covers and hid again. I had never seen her before, but God knows I'd seen hundreds of her type hanging around bars.
Ace got out of bed. He put on a dressing robe and motioned me out of the room. Suddenly, I felt like a fool. Ace turned on a reading lamp in the living room and took a seat. I stood, tensely.
"Now, what's all this Kelly talk?"
I told him about the call from Ruth. And how I'd flown out to stop the affair before it progressed. Ace shook his head sadly at my account.
"So...." he sighed. "This is how much faith you put in me, eh, kid?" He stared at me. "Look ... I got into a fight with Ruth this morning. I kicked her out for good. This is how she tried to get even. She figured she could break you and me up by having you get jeal-ous. Maybe she figured it might be more than just a break-up. When she spotted me bringing this doll in ... and she must have spotted me somehow ... she figured you just might blow your stack and maybe shoot my head off!"
Knowing the savage nature of the girl, I could see her line of logic. And strangely enough, it had almost worked. One thing was for certain. She had hurt me in Ace's eyes. He was really let'down to see how little I trusted him.
" Ace and I talked a long time. By the time we fin-ished, I had made some partial amends for my attitude. He was very generous about the whole thing and admitted that any man would be upset to get a long distance call such as I had. And who was to know what reactions a person would get under such conditions?
But he was still the business-man. He was worried about me running out on the rodeo without a word to anyone. And he pointed out that I was going right back on the next jet flight to be sure I got there for my Sunday afternoon appearance!
Luckily for me there was a flight out at nine forty that morning. Ace raced me out in his car and once again, I was on the jet heading for Seattle.
I barely reached the rodeo arena in time for my appearance. Nobody was the wiser. Nobody except Ace and I. And it wasn't until I was safely back in the Valley late that night that I remembered one more thing. I still hadn't called Kelly!
I dialed her number. She answered.
"Kelly," I asked. "You okay?"
"Of course," she sounded puzzled. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know," I said. "I just thought something might have come up."
"Everything's the same as always," she said. She paused. "Except, one thing. How come you haven't called me once in the last three days!"
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ace was a little upset for a few days about the way I had burst in on him thinking he was making time with Kelly.-But he slowly lost his annoyance over the matter. In fact, he even began giving me a gentle rib about my avenging-lover role.
I preferred this attitude and even though I pretended to be mad about getting kidded, I really welcomed the attention. Ace did do one thing about it, that I didn't like. He accidentally let the episode slip to Kelly. He clammed up immediately, but she started pressing me for the details.
I finally had to tell her enough about what happened so that I got myself in the soup. She stared at me a long time before she spoke.
"So ... that's how much you respect my character! What you're saying right now is that you think I'd be a push-over for any man who wanted me!"
"Wait, honey, wait...." I tried to explain. "It isn't that at all. What I was afraid of was that you...."
I never got a chance to finish. She stormed out on me. I was miserable. In one sense, she was right. I had not even credited her with an iota of moral fibre. I had adopted the viewpoint that she was Ace's dish the moment he snapped his fingers! And I really had no right to think that. Kelly had never been Ace's big booster.
So ... we didn't see one another for a few days. I finally got tired of all the fooling around and called her but she hung up. Just like a woman!
Ace felt sorry that he had pushed me into this argument with her. He tried to make it up to me but I told him it certainly wasn't his fault. I had been the original village idiot to fall for Ruth's warning call.
"Look, kid," Ace tried to console me. "The woods are full of other women. Don't let her shove you around. You're a real catch from this point on!"
"Me? A catch?" I couldn't help but sniff.
"Yeah, you!" Ace was firm. "You're headed nowhere but up, now that you're featured on my show. In another year, you'll be one of this town's top Western earners."
"It takes more than money to impress Kelly," I said.
"And just who is she, anyhow?" Ace took another tack. "If she was the raving beauty she thinks she is, how come she hasn't gotten anywhere in acting?"
"Oh, she'll make it, Ace...." I didn't like him knocking her.
"Yeah ... sure, sure," he nodded wisely. "She'll make it. Let's face it, kid. The town's full of girls who are prettier and got better figures."
"I don't know." I wasn't giving in too readily on this point. "Kelly's got a certain charm that the average actress lacks."
"To you," Ace argued. "As far as I'm concerned, she'd be safe in a lumber camp!"
"She's just not your type," I growled. I hated hearing talk like this about the girl I loved. And as far as Ace went, I knew what he wanted from his women. Just let them have a big, round bottom and he was hooked. A trim gal like Kelly was something beyond his appreciation. I couldn't help but kick myself for not having reasoned all this out when Ruth had hoodwinked me into thinking Kelly and Ace were playing around!
To forget Kelly, I threw myself into my new acting part with a vengeance. I studied my role for every possible nuance. And it helped. The director gave me some encouragement. He was a rather quiet man off the set, but he found time to look me up at lunch one day to praise me. It helped a little.
We had just about wrapped up our fourth segment. Ace, lucky dog, had finished all his takes. I still had another full day of shooting. This was the subtle distinction in my game. The star was always given every consideration. His part was put on film first. All the shooting was geared to get him free first.
The shooting I was engaged in at this point was the really dull kind. Scenes where I was supposed to be listening to Ace. Camera on me alone. They would play back Ace's voice to me so I could register the varying emotions. Damn dull!
There was only one redeeming grace. I was on camera alone. This could only do me good in my build-up. So, I tried to forget the dull, boring, time-consuming routine and concentrate on the cheering fact that I was on my way to stardom.
Then, shortly after lunch, it happened. The director, in an effort to get a tricky shot of me, was setting cameras and lights when he walked right smack into a beam!
He knocked himself cold. When he was revived, he felt too shaky to shoot any more so he dismissed us all till morning. I wasn't happy about it. If the accident hadn't occurred we would have finished shooting and I'd have had the rest of the week off.
As it was, we had to come back the next morning and kill another half day at least. I drove dourly home ward. Suddenly, I hated the idea of spending the rest of the day arguing with Ace.
He had really gotten going on the subject of Kelly. Now, his argument about her had taken the mean streak that I never liked in him. He thought I would feel better if he tore her image down. And boy, he was good at that.
Halfway home, I realized it was close to three. Kelly finished up at the bank at three. I decided to settle the matter right then. I turned the car back toward Holly wood and headed for her bank.
There, I was told she had gone out to lunch and then phoned back to say she was taking the rest of the day off. A rather wild thought crossed my mind. She was upset because of me! Somehow, I felt this was the case!
I headed for her apartment in a big rush. I parked and hurried up. I buzzed eagerly and waited. No answer. I buzzed longer. Still no response. This dampened my ardor a little.
Reluctantly, I went down to the car and drove back out to the Valley. Normally, I wouldn't get home after the day's shooting till well past six ... and usually, closer to seven. Well, if my luck was with me, I'd find Ace had gone out and hadn't returned. That way, I'd be spared the digs about Kelly.
I pulled up in front of the house. Ace's car was parked there. Well, maybe he was taking a nap. All wishful thinking on my part, I knew!
I let myself in with the pass key. Ace wasn't in sight. Good! I'd make myself nice and quiet so he wouldn't awaken. if he was dozing in his room.
On an impulse, I tip-toed toward the door that hid him. I listened for his gentle snore. I didn't hear it. But I heard something else that almost caused my heart to stop beating!
I heard Ace whispering persuasively.
And I heard Kelly Moran whispering back to him!
It took a minute for it to penetrate fully. Then, I grabbed the knob and yanked the door open. What I saw inside didn't help my peace of mind.
Kelly and Ace were on the bed. He was trying to make time and she was fighting him off. But this was evidently only for the moment. All the evidence pointed conclusively to only one thing. Ace had made his point with Kelly earlier!
She was in her slip and he was naked! A bottle was on the bed stand and two glasses showed that there had been drinking.
Both leapt guiltily to their feet. Ace fumbled for a dressing gown. Kelly didn't know which way to turn. Ace was the first to recover some semblance of poise. He hurried to me and grabbed my arm.
"Kid! You're supposed to be on set!"
I shoved his hand away. I knew my face was drained of blood. A terrible haze was forming in front of me. I walked over to Kelly. She stood staring at me.
I slapped her across the face. Hard. She merely stared at me.
"Kid...." Ace choked on the words. "This is a hard way for you to learn, but maybe it's better. Now, do you see why I kept fighting you with this girl?"
I looked at him. I didn't know whether to choke him or shake his hand. He sensed my confusion and hurried on.
"I knew she was wrong for you," Ace whispered. "I knew it and that's why I tried to break it up."
"You did a pretty good job, I'd say." The words were so low from my bloodless lips that I could hardly hear them myself.
"Couldn't you have done this to me some other way?" I turned to Kelly.
"Don't you want to hear my side of it?" She whispered brokenly.
"Your side!" I burst out in a hard laugh. "I see your side. I see it all too damn well!"
"But what else was there for me?" she pleaded. "Ace told me you were through with me. You asked him to get rid of me once and for all!"
I turned back to Ace. He had a shocked look on his face. A look of disbelief. I couldn't tell if he was acting or not. It he was acting, he was donig a hell of a good job.
"What?" He blinked at her and then at me. "I told you Bob wanted me to get rid of you?" He slumped into a chair. "Man ... now I've heard everything!"
"You did!" She shouted at him. "You did!" Then she caught herself. "I believed him. I let him trick me. Then, when he tried to make love to me, I just didn't care. L didn't care what happened!"
"But to go this far!" I was stunned.
"I don't know why, I guess maybe I felt it was one way of getting even with you for throwing me away!" She shook her head as if she were in pain.
"Look, kid...." Ace got up from the chair he had been slumped into. He came to me. "It's all over now ... you see what I was trying to tell you about her ... It's just too damn bad it had to be done this way." He took my arm. "Now, we start clean. Just you and me. We see that you stay on the road to the big time ... no more derailments!" He squeezed my arm gently. "OK?"
I stared at Kelly. She was white-lipped. She waited.
"Kelly," I said slowly. "Do you love me?"
She nodded mutely.
"Ace mean anything to you?"
She shook her head negatively.
"Would you still be willing to marry me?"
She stared in shock. Ace spun on me.
"You damn fool!" He yelled. "I'm not gonna let you marry this cheap whore!"
I gently pushed Kelly toward her clothes.
"Get dressed," I said to her. She was still shocked by my change. She paused uncertainly, then started to dress quickly. I waited in silence without looking at either Ace or her.
"You got to be kidding!" Ace's voice was hissing at me. "You got to be kidding!"
I didn't recognize him. I could feel his fury building.
Kelly was nervously finishing buttoning the last few buttons on her dress. Her fingers were nerveless and she seemed to be having trouble controlling herself.
As Kelly finally made the last few adjustments, I took her arm and we started out of the room. Ace jumped forward and blocked the door.
"You damn fool! You damn fool!" He glared at me like a maniac. "Are you going to throw everything away for her?"
"I'm not throwing anything away," I said. My voice was even.
"The hell you're not, buster!" Ace yelled. "The hell you're not!" His mouth was quivering. Now, he bit out the words: "If you walk out that door with her, it's curtains for you! Do you hear? Curtains! I'm going to have your new part cut out of the shows we've done! Even if we have to re-do them all over! And you'll be right back where you started. A cheap extra!"
I stood waiting for him to move. He didn't.
"If you stay," he was panting. "If you stay, you will have your new part built up even faster. I promise! I'll have you the talk of the town in six months! Think of it! In six months, you'll be a star! The big time! All the damn money in the world! Cars, women, boats ... you name it, it's yours!" He paused. "How about it, kid?"
I gently started to push him to one side so we could leave. It was too much for him. He suddenly started swinging at me. The punches were hard. They rocked me, but I didn't hit back. I rolled with them as much as possible, but even then, the blood flowed from my lip and he cut my cheekbone. But I didn't hit back.
He kept swinging. I just took it. Kelly suddenly went into action. She clawed his face savagely with her nails. He spun on her and hit her a glancing blow on the jaw. She managed to miss the full impact, but even then it was hard enough to stagger her.
That did it as far as I was concerned. Without being fully aware of my act, I grabbed him by the throat. I tightened my grip quickly. He struggled and fought back but in a matter of seconds, I had him subdued. I felt his body go limp. I let him drop. He was breathing, but just barely. I had eased up in time to keep from killing him.
Panting, I stared at him on the floor. His mouth was open as he fought for precious air. He wasn't a pretty sight, I'll say. Suddenly, a strange urge came over me. I moved to his side and kicked him.
I kicked with force. Right along the side of his head. It made me feel better. Then, I turned and took Kelly's arm. I steered her out to the car and got in after her. Neither of us spoke. I started the motor and drove off with a spinning of tires.
As I raced the car along the Ventura Freeway, I heard Kelly's muffled sob. Then, she let go and began crying openly. I didn't do anything but drive for several seconds.
Then, I reached my free arm out and drew her closer to me. Her sobbing began to ease somewhat as we sped on away from the Valley.
