Where does real-life end... and erotic fantasy begin...? Cynthia is about to find out
'WHAT A DAY FOR A DAYDREAM...'
It's always there. It's always been there. The background murmur of other minds. His gift. His curse. But now it comes in waves of total sensuality. She's out there, somewhere. She's approaching the 'Big Four-Oh'. And she has
such
dreams. So vivid that their intensity keeps him feverish and strung-out. Infecting him with their urgent need. She might be called 'Cynthia'. Or perhaps that's just her fantasy name. Her cipher. Icon. Or Avatar.
He sits quite still. Questing as best he can to isolate and pinpoint the source of the dreams. There's nothing other than a rather tousled down-at-heel quality to mark him out from anyone else on this city-street, the bohemian scuffed leather jacket and wranglers. For only he is aware he has a special talent. He's secretly lived with this background thought-mumble of other minds all his life. Alone. Until now. Until finding this answering voice. Cynthia. Never before has it reached him as strongly as it does now. Nothing verbal comes from her mind. Merely undisciplined images of powerful emotional eroticism.
And she's out there, somewhere...
----0----
She's thinking this...
Bird playing a slow Blues on the keyboard. Cigarette smoke rising in intricate spirals. She's watching his fingers move over the keys, mesmerised by his improvisational skill. Madame Clare, Maitre D of this 19
th
Century bordello, is sitting a little way away, engrossed in conversation with a tall dark man in a deep charcoal suit. A Police Department ID in his jacket pocket. They're both drinking heavily. Every now and then he laughs throatily with an obscene edge that jars harshly against the ripple of notes. At length he lurches unsteadily to his feet and steps towards where Cynthia is leaning up against the Steinway. 'Hey you, c'mon here. I need a little mouth action.'
Cynthia looks him up and down. 'I may be a slut Mister, but I ain't your slut.'
Madame Clare is on her feet instantly. She leaps across at Cynthia furiously and strikes her sharply across the face. More surprised than stunned, Cynthia falls backwards, hits the piano, and collapses to the floor in a dishevelled heap of silk and flounce. 'See here, you apologise to the Gentleman right now. Chief Fairbanks overlooks some minor by-laws in our favour, Cynthia, so we must demonstrate how much we appreciate his kindness. So you do whatever he wants, girl, and do it good, you understand?'
The blood roars in her ears. Her cheek colours. He's unbuttoning his fly, leering. Clare fusses around him saying 'I do so apologise Mr Fairbanks, such behaviour is just unforgivable.' His fat semi-erect penis flops from his trousers. 'Now apologise for your rudeness, girl.'
Cynthia squats to the floor in a dishevelled heap of exotic lingerie, and looks up at them. Bird keeps playing as if nothing has happened. Mr Fairbanks' penis sways an inch from her nose. Its faint aroma reaching her. She swallows. Her throat dry. 'I... I'm sorry, sir.' He runs the moist tip of his cock along the groove of the girl's pursed lips. She pouts sulkily.
'So show the Gentleman just how sorry you are,' urges Clare impatiently. 'What you waiting for, girl? suck him.' After the merest hesitation Cynthia's lips part compliantly to admit the sudden persistent pressure, and she draws the cock deep into her lipstick-red mouth. He grunts, belches, and laughs, thrusting his hips forward as she begins to suck.
'Is that to your liking, Chief Fairbanks? You like a moaner, I can tell. And she's a moaner. She does it real good, don't you think? She'll do anything you want tonight, on the house. It's the least the ill-mannered trollope can do. She's not normally this stubborn.'
He settles back onto a chair, drawing her with him, easing his pants wide as her head bobs in his groin. His thick-set hands move in her hair, applying slight pressure. The sound of her slurping clearly audible above the unbroken improvisations of the piano. She's crouching uncomfortably, the cock rigid now, hot and hard in her mouth amid little bubbles of saliva. 'She's not bad,' he concedes grudgingly. 'I've had better. Now she's getting the taste of it she's coming around to the idea, and getting to like it. You can tell. They always do. With practice she might improve.'
'She'll get plenty of practice. I'll make sure of that. You want to take her upstairs now, perhaps?' Clare pours him another drink ingratiatingly, and passes it across to him.