The Layered World - Part 4 - Orange
After Kelly left to make the airport pickup of Jennifer and Scarafina, Jay studied her spreadsheets a while longer, memorizing key numbers and thinking about how to move money surreptitiously. He smiled to himself. Perhaps Orange operatives should have a money laundering sideline with the cartel.
That was a seriously heavy thought, which needed discussion with Hugh. He dialed Patricia.
"Hi, Jay here, just about headed your way and wondering if I can shop for anything?"
Her voice was low and sultry. He wondered if he had triggered her actress ambitions with the crack about Hollywood seduction lines. "Jay, you are thoughtful to call. I overlooked the need for lemons for one of the sauces. Could you bring two or three? Do you suppose your friends need milk? There is none here. Why don't you bring a half gallon, just in case?"
"I'm feeling guilty about that wine you blew on us last night. May I shop for bottles for tonight?"
"Jay, don't be rude. I am a winemaker, after all." Her voice was teasing and he thought there was a
hint of promise in it.
"That was a very pleasant evening. I've never slept better. There's something about a warm woman..."
"Don't try to chat me up, rascal. Is there going to be anything left in that big stick after the new arrivals get their treat?"
"Tricia, I promise..."
"Oof! Do your shopping and get up here. The sous chef duties are waiting."
The decrepit sedan started on the first try and sounded powerful under the hood. With a small bag from the market, he headed up the hill, wondering whether and how far Patricia might be used in their plans. In addition to himself, Tricia could be a backstop to Jennifer and Kelly, if he could discover a way to keep her satisfied with only a partial view of what they were doing. And, even more important, keep her safe.
The Joy of Cooking was open on the counter when he entered Patricia's kitchen. It looked as though a thousand dishes were in preparation at once. He rolled up his sleeves and started washing dirty utensils. She came from the back of the house and wrapped arms around. Her body felt good, pressed to his.
She was using her new husky voice on him, "I was thinking of asking for a little advance treat. Just to get me out of the way. But this dinner has gotten out of hand..."
"I have just the right solution. What do you have to do next?"
"Well, the recipe says these vegetables need to be julienned."
"Fine, go ahead, I'll be just a moment."
He ducked out for the tube of lotion from the bedroom. When he returned, she was hands deep in a pile of long strings of carrots. Before she knew what he was doing, he was sitting on the floor at her feet and reaching up under the brightly colored skirt.
She felt his hands on her thighs and jumped. "What are you up to, Jay?"
She really never had a chance. Her briefs disappeared in seconds and a squeeze of the lotion disappeared into her pussy seconds later. Followed by his mouth and tongue.
She batted at his head under the skirt, exclaiming, "You can't do that! Not right here in the kitchen. My god, oh..."
His fingers pressed deeply into the muscles of her buttocks, and the tongue never stopped finding places to excite. She moaned as her sex gushed on him and he redoubled his efforts. The tingles were creeping up again. The tingles she didn't even remember from years ago. She tottered on her feet and came, screaming there in her own kitchen, with the devil himself under her skirt.
He stood and kissed her, dripping with her juice and smelling of pussy. She whispered in his ear, "That was even ruder than asking about wine. Much ruder." Her look suggested he was welcome to try again.
He washed his face at the sink and dried his hands on her front, making sure to tweak the stiff nipples. She pushed him back against the counter, hugging tightly and saying, "This isn't fair you know. Preying on innocent girls..."
He muscled her around, making her feel loved by this strong man who knew so much about women and their bodies.
After a few minutes of silence, he said, "Do you like having a guy after you again, after such a long time?"
She kissed his cheek, saying, "Yes. You make me feel alive in a way I don't think I ever have before. My memories of the guys I knew when I was Kelly's age have all vanished, and they weren't much to begin with."
His phone chimed and he flicked it to speaker. "Hi. Everything is fine and we should be there in less than twenty minutes."
"Nice to hear that. Tricia and I are elbow deep in flour and other things but should be done by the time you arrive." He clicked off.
"Other things," she said.
He kissed her lightly and said, "Lover, there is more of anything you ask for, but right now we have to hurry."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
When three bodies came tumbling into the kitchen, they were just finishing a parade of dishes ready for the oven. Jennifer screamed, "Jay!" and jumped into his arms. Two twirls and he put her down to give the same treatment to Scarafina, who loved it. Kelly walked straight into him and whispered, "I'm still mad." She hesitated, and added, "But I love you anyway," and got a twirl herself.
After introductions of Patricia, Kelly hustled the other two with her to the back bedroom. He raised his eyes at Tricia, and she said, "We are pretending nothing will happen tonight," and stuck her tongue at him, the color in her cheeks making her look years younger.
Shortly, three fabulous women appeared in shocking bikinis. Tricia poked him from behind and he grinned. "Which of you do I attack first?"
Tricia said, "Be a good boy and do the drinks while I change. The rest of you go swim." Kelly smirked at him and waggled her ass, which was showing the tiniest thread of thong between her cheeks.
The girls were tired after the long flight. A swim and a glass of wine had them half asleep. Jennifer tried to stay alert and understand the vibrations among Jay, Kelly and Patricia. The food was outstanding and she was ashamed to be so out of it, mumbling her thanks. She and Scarafina excused themselves and barely made it to their bed.
Tricia smoothed Kelly's hair back and asked, "You seem tense. Is there a problem?"
Jay answered for her, "We have several difficult issues related to last week's plane crash. Kelly shouldn't be this conscientious."
Tricia said, "The girls are going to be wandering around in the night, aren't they? I'll leave some snacks out."
Kelly said she needed a bedtime swim and walked out to the patio. Tricia was snuggled into him with a sigh, "Do I get to do this without causing lots of trouble?"
"Yes. Snuggling is universally permitted." They laughed and kissed, gently. He said, "I lied about Kelly. She got a really dangerous assignment from me this afternoon. Neither of us can tell you anything about it. For your own safety. Be nice to her."
They went to swim too. Tricia was stiff with worry. She was beginning to realize the depths of Jay Manco.
The morning sun found them on the patio with steaming cups of coffee. Jennifer and Scarafina had decided swim suits, no matter how skimpy, weren't needed. Everyone was more alert. Kelly was serving, between bouts of cuffing Jay.
Jennifer looked up, "He has been bad again?"
"I can never decide, so just use violence as a cover up. He will beat me anyway."
Tricia had Kelly's hair, "Behave, he is our guest. Have you no manners, daughter?"
They absorbed the sun and waited for Jay to announce the day's events.
"Jennifer is here for a long talk with me. We will wander off in a bit. I had a thought that perhaps Scarafina ought to pay Michael a visit for some conversation about security. We do have her on the payroll, don't we, Jennifer?"
"Yes, of course. We can hardly afford her, but the bill will come later."
Kelly volunteered, "I will go along and provide the introductions. They will try to sign us up for that awful night game."
Jay smiled at Tricia, "Our wonderful hostess has a business to run and will be well rid of us. This evening, she is to relax and let all these other hands do chores."
Chapter 16 - Complicated Plans
Jay wondered where best to take Jennifer and decided a far corner of the vineyard would be fine. He carried a blanket and refreshments.
"I've missed you," she said. "You did promise this was not going to be just work, didn't you?" She had his hand and squeezed.
He thought about the overwhelming charms of this brilliant young woman and shrank mentally from the risks he was about to thrust her into.
He kissed the back of the hand that was squeezing him, and said, "I am here for four more days. One of them will be totally yours to program. Is that acceptable?"
She cuffed him, saying, "No wonder Kelly and the others have to beat you. No woman seems to be able to get your number."
Spreading the blanket, he said, "This conversation is about nasty things. When we get to the end, if you would rather turn your back and return to school, I won't be angry. There are others whom I can approach."
She sat with her legs folded, her eyes drawing him in. "Jay," she said, drawing out his name, "you remember what I said on the phone? I don't know enough to judge these things. If you think I am ready, that is the only answer I need." She leaned forward and kissed him lightly and quickly on the lips.
He realized that he had been laying a trip on her, and she had politely and deftly headed the arrow back in his direction. Maybe she would survive the next few weeks after all.
He had a thought and pulled out his phone. She answered on the first ring. "Where are you?"
He held the phone to Jennifer, mouthing "Say I am with you."
"He is with me, having disrupted my life again."
He took the phone back, hearing her finish, "...like that, I am afraid."
