Fanchon's Book(24)

"You're quite a bartender, Fanchon. This is great. But didn't you fix one for yourself?"

"No, ma'm. You didn't say I should."

"My, aren't we righteous! O' Come on, honey, don't be a hypocrite. I'll bet you had a couple of quick ones downstairs."

"I most certainly did 'not." Indignation frosted my tone. "I had a taste of yours, but that was all."

"Fanchon?" With a conspiratorial smirk, "you're sure you're not telling me a fib?"

"It's the truth. Do you want to smell my breath? Why should I lie to you? I really don't think it's fair to accuse-"

"Hey, I believe you, I believe you. Don't be so touchy; I take it all back. But I must admit-such integrity shouldn't go unrewarded. Now you deserve a drink. Wouldn't you like to go and make yourself one?"

I mulled it over. Put on a robe and putter around in the kitchen again? No, thanks. Not at the moment. The atmosphere of the boudoir had suddenly become quite promising: the little mistress was getting generous. And anyway, the intoxication I sought didn't come in a bottle; I licked my bps and glided to the foot of the bed where I could observe it clearly, the gold-fringed chalice that contained a delight more heady than any wine or whisky.

There-right in front of my eyes, the only prize I hoped to earn; would my thirst for it ever be slaked? And what a struggle to restrain myself, to refrain from bending and slithering up between the shapely thighs to let my tongue lick those juicy lips instead of my own dry ones; no, I couldn't see walking out on such delectation and traveling all that dreary distance Just for a drink. There was something I wanted more. And I thought I knew a way of getting it.

"Uh, thank you, Miss Kristi, but I'd rather not. I can do without liquor."

"Truly? You don't want a drink?"

How nice! She was urging me. Not exactly crestfallen but on the defensive nonetheless, because of her unwarranted accusation. Uh yes, she owed me a reward, all right, but I wasn't about to settle for anything so picayune as alcohol: my tastes were on a grander scale. (Hmm, wasn't there a song about that? Mere alcohol doesn't thrill me at all. Clever, those American lyricists.) So the little devil had a conscience, eh? Fine. Let me exploit it to the maximum profit.

"As a reward, Miss Kristi? Thanks all the same, but it's not necessary. Unless… uh… "

"Yes?"

"Well, I was thinking of something I'd like better. If you insist on rewarding your devoted servant."

"Don't be impertinent, Fanchon."

"Please, ma'm, I didn't mean to be. I'm not asking for much. But I've finished my work-so couldn't I just come and sit close until you're through reading?"

"Umm, that's a reasonable request, I suppose. And since you've been such a good girl… " Her voice trailed off; she lifted one bare foot and wriggled the toes in a come-hither gesture. Then, as if the matter had ended, she stuck her pretty nose behind the raised magazine again.

I sank down, eagerly compliant, sucking the precious toes into the steaming vacuum of my mouth. But I did it more in triumph than in submission: nothing had ended, this was only the beginning. As I had known it would be; ah yes, I remembered the flacon of perfume, the reward she had rejected in favor of another more to her liking. Now it was my turn-and with the success of my maneuver a fait accompli, the seeds of felicity were planted and I planned on reaping a lush harvest.

Odd about that. Not the result itself but the manner in which I had brought it about, so devious, so subtle, so shrewdly patterned upon her own cute precedent; in a way, it was almost as much fun as sex. Nor did I feel any concomitant guilt over my sly stratagem: It was all part of the game. Not like sneaking a drink without permission-oh no-that would have been a breach of confidence, an act of bad faith, a deception outside the rules of our relationship. While this, well, in all candor, didn't it just lend a bit of spice to the wooing? A game within a game, actually, and I had gained my victory without cheating. Hmm, and would there be a game within a game within a game some day? An intriguing prospect, surely.