5: Friday
Sylvia had been right; somewhere in the world an emaciated child would've thrown Kim's attempt at bourbon chicken back at her and accused her of violating their human rights. Kim contemplated this as she shivered, curled up under the mound of blankets on her bed and questioning her life choices.
At one point, she'd been sure she had enough money to take the plunge and actually finish the 'Great American Novel' and then get it published. She'd even paid her rent up in anticipation of this monumental burst of creative expression. Now. . .?
Now she was huddled up under blankets in a freezing apartment she was probably going to get evicted from in a few days with no electricity and only catsup and mustard packets for nourishment. What a bunch of crap.
Oh, but then there was Elliot and Sylvia who'd been kind enough to give her a job, the perks of which had snuck up on her when she wasn't looking and enveloped her- it wasn't just the McKennas that were seducing her. It was a familiar stirring that whirled around her stomach when she thought of her maid's outfit.
In it she felt confident and comfortable; as though the world couldn't challenge her any more. It didn't look down on her, she wasn't broke and tired and cold; she was a symbol of someone who had their lives in order and who knew what it was to be dignified. Sure, Kim was rough around the edges, but the uniform smoothed those rough spots out until she was something more.
If not for the missing necklace, Kim would've been absolutely
happy
in that uniform. Happiness didn't have to be something reserved for people with money when she was that person. When she was their maid.
Kim chewed her lip as images of what could be filled her imagination. If she had some money, she could have bought some black stockings and contacts. Yes, contacts for her eyes, perhaps some body paint for her skin. . .
The McKennas wanted a catgirl maid. Kim could be that.
Kim
wanted
to be that. It had been so long since she'd been able to look at herself in the mirror, didn't she deserve that?
Couldn't she be happy again?
She could. She needed to. She
deserved
to.
Kim threw the covers off, prepared to face the day. Maid service didn't have to wait. . .
#
Tempting fate the entire drive out to the McKenna's household, Kim's old Pontiac sputtered up the drive just before six, coasting into her usual parking spot with just enough momentum to stop before it would've rolled into the grass. If she was lucky, she'd make it home and back out in the morning. If.
The cold air had done a lot to wake her up, clopping up the steps in her smartest low heels only re-enforced the notion that she'd made the right choice; she felt professional. Maybe even empowered. Clad in her black and white uniform and its frills brushing against her bare thighs, she was a woman of sophistication and poise. The cat ears spoke of playfulness and the tail. . .
Well, the tail kept tugging on her butt and fighting with her, teasing her with every swish of her finely swaying hips- a move she practiced as she trod up to the front door. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. But it
felt
good to feel the gentle caress of the furry tail across her back side. Knowing that her employers would appreciate it even more just sealed the deal.
Kim tapped the door bell twice in quick succession.
It was funny how a twenty minute drive could change the world and one's perception. It was welcome, needed in so many ways; here she didn't have to think about her problems. She just needed to clean and be dignified. . . She could even ignore the gnawing in her stomach for a while when she felt wanted.
Wanted she was, too. She could see it when Elliot opened the door, wearing a towel and a thin coat of sweat glistening over his tanned body. His muscles were firm, well defined and curved in all the right ways to make him look strong without being a meat head- he was beautiful in the most sensuous of ways, powerful and hard without the ridiculous air of pretense.
Kim blinked, dumbfounded. "uh-"
"Well. . ." He looked her up and down slowly, a little grin at his lips. "That's a sight to wake up to. Come on in,
kitten
."
It took Kim a moment to realize he'd spoken, but she shuffled inside suddenly feeling very self conscious about where she stood with him. As she passed by, she caught a familiar wiff of something- musty and deep and primal. It warmed her nostrils like an old friend and almost immediately made her weak in the knees. It-
he
- smelled so familiar. . . Something she hadn't had in a long, long time.
Kim opened her mouth with a ready lame excuse for her being there so early but her voice died when she turned and saw the scar along Elliot's back; right under his left shoulder all the way down ran a ragged trench in his otherwise flawless skin. The scar had healed long ago, but it still marred his body like a mountain ridge. Unconsciously, she gasped.
"Hm? Oh. . . Heh. Sorry." Elliot started to walk around her. She grabbed his arm with an appologetic look.
"Sorry, I- um. Sorry."
"It happens. How about some breakfast?"
"Uh- S- sure. If you still trust my cooking."
"Now
that's
something we'lll just have to see. Let's try something simple like scrambled eggs, bacon and toast with some coffee."
"Sure." Kim started to turn.
"Sure?"
"Hm?" She looked back.
Even covered in sweat and smelling of fresh sex, Elliot McKenna's voice and posture were as firm and refined. "Sure what?"
"Oh-" Kim swallowed, blushing at her lapse of decorum. She curtsied deeply, looking up at him through her bangs and in her most practiced high-born accent, she said: "I apologize master McKenna. I guess I wasn't being