Chapter 9

The day Joe and Connie met with the publisher, all the worries and complicated logistics no longer became issues. When Joe contacted Stuart telling him the films had been funded, Stuart told him of a special class he would be attending under the auspices of UCLA which dealt with computer animation. “So I’ll be there for a few months, and I’ll have the suite shipped there. What address?”

Since Connie stood beside him, Joe asked her, putting his phone on speaker. “I think you could ship it here,” she said, “To the office building.”

“Or I could talk to the publisher to find out if they’re getting a headquarters for the network,” Joe countered.

“That might be best.”

“Let me text you what we decide, Stuart.”

“Okay. The class starts at the beginning of next month.”

“So a summer school class?”

“Yes exactly.”

“I can get you a place to stay,” Connie offered.

“That would be helpful.”

“And keep the receipts for the suite and the school. The contract calls for added expenses.”

“Sounds good.”

Joe asked the comic book publisher.

“We’re in process of purchasing a warehouse in Oakland.”

“Oakland?”

“For a couple reasons. We found the cost reasonable there. And underground comics mostly originated in the Bay Area. Zoetrope too for that matter. But it’ll be a distribution center first. This network will be a true network of second tier publishers banding together for better distribution. Which also brings us to your work and this fellow Doug’s. Our comics, and the comics of most of our colleagues, tend to be in shop, meaning we have our own artists, thus the problem with unsolicited work. However, with yours, and I think Doug’s as well, and I am interested in his more adult work (Doug had slid in a recent comic) because we do put out such things with a restricted stamp of course, that we’ll be starting a new imprint under the network banner putting out formerly self-published artists such as yourselves. In the future the printing will be done under the auspices of various publishers, probably those closest to the discovered artists, but for now, since my company is headquarted in LA, and with this whole hookup with the movie and everything, we’ll be printing yours and Doug’s work if he’s agreeable.”

“Your contract with me is most agreeable,” Joe chuckled.

“Ah, but you already have a tie in which we’re banking will get you sold. We couldn’t possibly offer Doug such a deal. I think it will be reasonable but ... did you mention your contract with Doug?”

“No.”

“Good. I think we’ll be fair, and will offer him considerably more than he’s getting self-publishing.”

“I suppose that makes sense, but I guess you’ll have to talk to him. So what about the animation suite?”

“We could have it at the company offices...”

“But?”

“Minimum space for maximum use.”

“Connie said we could use one of the offices here.”

“That might be best.”

“Okay.”

Back to the original possibility, Connie had the IT guy in the building call Stuart for information on wattage and disc storage, which ended up not being a problem, so a couple more calls and texts later and Stuart had his address for shipping. Connie showed Joe a smaller conference room for smaller meetings able to be locked securely, and not really needed, the room for their meetings would suffice.

“How do you want to celebrate, lover?” Connie asked, hugging against him.

“Lindy got her report back, all negative.”

“We can celebrate everything together!”

“With bells on?” Joe waggled his eyebrows.

Connie laughed.

Lindy awaited them at home, deciding not to join them. Instead she read over what Joe had done so far with his scripts. All day Monday and Tuesday and that morning he’d worked on them in Connie’s office, and since Connie was off with afternoons and evenings and one morning meeting with potential technical directors for the film he and Lindy had the place to themselves. She sat in the office, her bedroom, with him, reading a book borrowed from Connie, and occasionally she and Joe would read dialogue from the new script or she would recite a monologue for him.

“How did it go?” Lindy asked when the two arrived home.

“We won!” Joe pronounced making everyone laugh.

Connie conferred with her, both getting giggly and excited. Placing two chairs facing the curtain, the sun would have been too intense then, they quickly hopped to their rooms, Joe sitting on one of the chairs waiting patiently. Music came from the speakers, beginning with David Rose’s The Stripper, and continuing with songs with small group bands once used in Burlesque.

Lindy emerged first in her dance costume, sans underwear, and danced seductively. “She needs a pole,” she commented. When Connie emerged with bells on at least one leg, the other had the chains, also without panties or bra, and using the silver dildo again as a sword, Lindy’s dance became the lap type after her comment, “That’s so funny.” First presenting her ass to his face, she settled into his lap, teasing him with her nipples while grinding into his hard on. Then lifting up, swiping his face with her pussy, clearly wet and fragrant, she moved to sit atop him facing Connie, grinding into him again. Joe began kissing her neck, her lips when she bent back, and since no rules applied, brought fingers to her pussy and under the tie dye cloth to nipples.

Meanwhile Connie did her warrior bit with more lifting and shaking of legs, obviously strong supporting those impossible platforms. More and more she used the dildo suggestively, sucking the tip, rubbing it against and between her tits, stroking across her belly to play against her pussy, and finally bending over facing away from them, the dildo turned into a vibrator pressed against her slit.

Lindy moved off Joe’s lap, grabbing items from the neighboring chair and knelt behind Connie, licking the vibrator and tasting Connie on it before applying lube onto it and giving Connie’s pussy a sweep of her tongue.

Then turning to Joe, she undid his pants, pulling them and his underpants off, and began sucking his cock while he watched Connie penetrate herself and heard her moan.

Not able to sustain the position, Connie moved onto her back, legs high and spread, sometimes shaking her noise makers, while pushing the silver phallus in and out, deeper and deeper, her free hand moving the mesh out of the way of her breasts to work the nipples hard.

Lindy stopped sucking long enough to roll on a flavored condom, continuing the suck after until Joe urged her up, whereupon she turned and settled into his lap, his cock placed by him to penetrate her. “Oh fuck Joe,” she moaned. “I missed this.”

As they fucked they watched Connie fuck herself. Joe’s hands worked Lindy’s nipples and clit. Soon she was posting and Connie was speeding up her fuck and both seemed to cum at the same time. Joe somehow coaxed Lindy to hands and knees beside Connie, fucking hard and fast to get his. All three settled back and laughed, Connie having removed the vibrator and shut it off.

“How do I taste?” Connie asked Lindy.

Lindy, settling against a kneeling Joe, his dwindling cock still inside her, said, “I don’t know. I think I need more samples.”

“Good answer,” Connie grinned. “Bedroom?”

“Maybe refreshments first?” Joe suggested while he caught the edges of the condom when his penis slipped out.

“Good idea,” said Connie. “Henry gave me a couple joints. But I’m getting these ridiculous platforms off.”

“Me too,” Lindy agreed.

Joe stood, his dress shirt barely hiding his penis, and walked to the kitchen to dispose of the condom. “Wine and cheese?”

“Sounds good,” Connie said. “I’ll grab some towels to cover the seats in a second.”

Joe set up a board with Brie and cheddar and uncorked a bottle of white Zinfandel with a pinkish blush and grabbed some hanging wine glasses and poured. Lindy having the much easier shoes, joined, standing close, and he pulled her into a hug and kiss, lasting long enough for Connie to join them bearing towels. “I’ll get mine in a second.” The chairs covered, she hopped off to grab her purse, still jangling, and returned with a lit joint in her mouth. Sucking in smoke, she handed it off to a seated Lindy, and breathed the smoke into Joe’s mouth when he bent down to her for her kiss. Breaking to let the smoke out, they returned to it. Equal time.

All seated, Connie lifted her glass. “To success breeding success.”

As they tapped glasses, Lindy added, “And Joe breeding you.”

They shared a laugh before drinking, Joe taking the joint from Lindy.

“Is that still on?” Lindy asked, meaning the breeding.

“It depends on if Joe sticks around to be a father.”

“That might be more likely,” Lindy responded. “I talked to Mary, Stuart’s girlfriend, and she said her work would be transferable here.”

“What does she do?”

“Chemical research? She’s an intern now while getting her MS at the end of the semester.”

“She’s a scientist?”

“Yep. She thinks she can find a lab and work on a PhD at UCLA.”

“They accepted her?” Joe asked.

“Yep, but since she delayed she probably won’t get the scholarship. So she thought she’d work and work on it part time. That’s just what they talked about, a sort of if, than kind of thing, but since the deal’s come through...”

“What about Dave and Beth?” Joe asked.

“Beth doesn’t think Dave’s all that serious.”

“Is she?”

“I’m not sure. She’s definitely fond of him, but gets mixed signals.”

“Sounds like Dave with his wandering eye. Maybe having to leave her might make him take her more seriously. Her work’s transferrable.”

“A secretary, yeah. And she’s pretty frustrated at work, not letting her advance.”

“What’s she like?” Connie asked.

“Like you, a cute, petite blonde.”

“Yeah, men don’t take our type all that seriously.”

“How did you make it?”

“I just never took shit from anyone, and the assholes at the top respect that.”

“She can’t really do that.”

“Not as directly as I did. I think it’s more about taking charge, getting things done, proving you’re more capable than anyone.”

“Makes sense.”

Things quieted while they finished the joint and ate the cheese and crackers.

“So it sounds like Joe is sticking around,” Lindy finally said.

“Will you marry me Connie?”

“Yes,” Connie grinned, hopping into his lap and kissing him.

“No ring,” he told her after.

“It’s not about the ring, though a nice one carat solitaire might be nice.”

“When?” Lindy asked.

“Whenever the stick has a plus in it, we’re headed for the courthouse. I’m not putting the cart before the horse.”

Lindy laughed. “Not very romantic.”

“It’s more practical, but I think I do love Joe.”

“I think I love you too,” Joe returned.

“Well,” Lindy said sadly, “I’ve loved Joe since the morning after our first drunken night together, sitting in his car being comfortably silent. And then the amazing intimacy when we make love. You know what I’m talking about Connie.”

“I do,” Connie nodded.

“And I know Joe loves me too because of all of that. But the problem is the practical, which is perfect for both of you, and most definitely not me what with my binge drinking drunken wildness. Get me pie eyed and horny and I’ll fuck anything including Henry.”

“You haven’t seen him,” Connie commented.

“No, and Joe helped me get a Henry substitute who cares for me as much as Henry does when he fucks me. Will I fuck him again? Probably if I’m fucked up enough.”

“Maybe we can love each other too,” Connie said, standing from Joe’s lap and taking Lindy’s hand, coaxing her to stand and to follow her into the bedroom.

“Maybe Steely Dan will help,” said Lindy.

Connie laughed. “He told you.”

“He tells me everything.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll fetch the dildo,” said Joe.

By the time he arrived in the bedroom, dildo, lube and condoms in hand, the ladies had discarded their costumes and Connie had tackled Lindy onto the bed where thighs scissored, pussies pressed together, and a lengthy kiss with tongues ensued.

“Mmm, I can get used to your soft lips,” Lindy decided.

“Me too,” Connie grinned and recommenced their kiss, her hands caressing skin, eventually zooming in on breasts. “I just love your body,” she commented between kisses.

“Nothing wrong with yours either.”

Soon lips on lips kissing ended and Connie began exploring Lindy’s exquisite body, taking her time, especially at the breasts, but finding other responsive places. Lindy responded with appreciative moans. Eventually Connie moved down, occupying the space between Lindy’s long wide legs, tongue and fingers along her inner thighs met up at her vagina, which Connie sucked and lapped at, her hands reaching up to Lindy’s breasts again.

Panting her directions, Lindy guided Connie. “Right there. Right there! Suck my clit Connie! Pinch my fucking nipples. Fuck. Oh fuck! You’re making me fucking cum! Just ... Yes ... right ... Fuck!”

Licking up the juices, Connie showed Lindy her smile, and Lindy returned it with a loose grin. “Let me taste me,” Lindy beckoned, and Connie moved up her body to give her what she asked for.

Connie’s moan broke the kiss.

“What’s he doing?” Lindy asked.

“He’s making sure I’m wet enough ... with his tongue.”

“Are you?”

“Mmm-hmm.” They kissed some more. “Oh fuck,” broke it.

“He’s fucking you.”

“Yes.”

More kisses. “Oh shit, he’s fucking me too.”

“That’s my cock fucking you.”

“You know you’re cock buzzes.”

“Unh-hunh.”

They tried to continue kissing but they needed to breathe and moan and gasp too much. Connie’s mouth joined her hand at Lindy’s breasts, her other hand holding the handle of the dildo, the handle pressed just above her clit so that it buzzed it too and somewhat Joe’s cock sliding in and out of her. Everyone moved faster, including Lindy lifting into Connie’s thrusts, and everyone came, Joe last of all, pumping seed into Connie’s depths.

Joe lay back on the bed, Connie plopping atop him and Lindy on her side leaning onto both of them. All three exchanged kisses.

“Let’s try that again but switch places,” said Lindy.

“You going to taste me?”

“I told you I needed more samples.”

“With his cum in me?”

“I swallow, don’t you?”

“Yes. Let’s work on getting him hard again first.”

“Okay.”

Both women slid down to his penis, already starting to harden, taking turns at his glans, shaft and balls. Joe had to admit he found two mouths sucking him intense. He coaxed Lindy to straddle his face, not as effective sucking her with the distractions but nevertheless getting her excited.

Once they had him satisfactorily hard, Lindy demanded, “On your back, Connie.”

Connie complied and Lindy moved off Joe to lie beside her, beginning with French kisses before exploring like Connie had, finding erogenous zones, her ears and places on her neck, before moving to her breasts for a while.

Joe observed like he had before, his tugging at his cock keeping it hard, though the vision before him would have been enough. Eventually when Lindy reached Connie’s cunt, careful dabs of her tongue before going in fully, he lubed up the dildo and rolled on a condom and waited for Connie to cum.

She seemed close when Lindy like a surgeon asking for a scalpel asked Joe for Steely Dan, which he handed her, and she turned on the vibrations and pressed it against Connie’s clit while pushing a couple of fingers in and out of her and it put Connie over.

Easing off as Connie calmed, Lindy positioned the back end handle against her own clit, or close to it, actually high inside her cunt, and as she pushed the dildo into Connie’s depths, Joe moved behind her. Once Lindy stopped the slow intrusion, Joe set his glans against her slit and felt the buzz as a shock of pleasure. Luckily there was padding on the handle, a thin layer but enough not to scrape, and Joe pushed his cock by it into Lindy’s pussy, a narrower entranceway to a somewhat wider interior, the walls perhaps not pressing, but still there, warm, slippery and lively.

“You’re ... fucking me Lindy,” Connie moaned.

“My cock is fucking you,” Lindy confirmed.

“Your cock vibrates,” Connie reported.

“The better to fuck you with my dear.”

They couldn’t quite get out a full laugh at their brief amusing repartee, just a suggestion of it within their moans.

With his hands clutching Lindy’s hips as he began the long in and out strokes of fucking, it was up to the ladies to stimulate places other than the friction of flesh or plastic inside or just outside at their clits, meaning the taut nipples they both sported, and they did, Lindy sucking Connie’s, her free hand working the other one while Connie reached down with both hands to pull and twist Lindy’s.

Connie became the most reactive, finding herself overcome by multiple orgasms, wave upon wave of intense pleasure, while Lindy and Joe worked up to a singular one, Joe’s harder, faster strokes getting him there brought Lindy over with him, true climaxes for the threesome.

They relaxed for a while in a similar position as they had before, Steely Dad set aside and Joe’s condom left hanging off his penis. Joe finally said, “I’d like to go out on the lanai.”

The ladies agreed and they put on somewhat warm things for the cool evening breeze, Connie in her housecoat, Lindy borrowing a long robe from her that reached just past her knees and Joe put on his sweat pants and a black button up sweater of the same fabric. With two chairs on the deck, Joe brought out a third, the nearby kitchen chair while Connie had her hands full of glasses and bottle, the second joint in her mouth. Joe opened the door for her, Lindy already settled into her chair. Joe nobly chose the less comfortable kitchen chair moved between the two ladies facing each other with the table between them. Smoking and drinking, they enjoyed the company and the view.

Over the next couple weeks, they slept as a threesome except for the weekend which Joe and Lindy spent with Joe’s brother and family, Saturday spent at Universal Studios which everyone agreed they preferred over Disneyland. Saturday night Joe and Lindy made love as quietly as possible in the guest room. Sunday they spent on the sand at Huntington Beach, eating at a nice seafood restaurant there, Joe insisting on paying, before heading back to Steve’s house and gathering their stuff and heading to Connie’s for the night, and despite it only being a couple nights missing each other making it a loving reunion.

The mornings Joe continued working on his scripts, Lindy reading or helping out nearby.

The second week, firming up Henry’s choices, including Stella doing make-up, Henry spent a couple afternoons with Joe working on storyboards which ended up going into the evenings. The first day, after a flirtatious greeting of Henry with Lindy, he mostly behaved, though more and more his eyes would traverse her body, and when they ended the work he invited them, and mostly Lindy, to go out for drinks, and when Lindy declined his response was visceral. The next day Lindy and Connie decided to spend the day shopping and doing whatever would keep Lindy away from Henry. Whatever the reason, they enjoyed themselves essentially window shopping and people watching at Rodeo Drive before heading to a mall for more affordable things.

There, Lindy pulled Connie into a jewelry store. “A diamond solitaire?” she smirked. They ended up finding a sapphire that Lindy thought perfectly set off Connie’s blue eyes.

“I should put in on hold,” said Connie.

“Just buy it. Practical remember?”

“Then let’s get you a gem for your eyes!” Connie decided.

“Opals?” the clerk suggested.

They found heather green for Lindy, slightly chunky but Lindy loved it. “And that one for Joe,” she pointed at a blue/gray stone on an even more chunky ring. Lindy thought it wide enough to fit his finger, so they had their rings held to be sized and brought Joe’s with them. The sizing would be done the next day.

“No surprises if Joe has to make sure the ring fits,” Connie commented.

“Are you getting all romantic on me?” Lindy smirked and they both laughed. “Just give it to him and the receipt to pick up the others.”

“And if he wants to pay?”

“Let him be all manly,” Lindy suggested.

They both laughed again.

Driving back towards her place, Connie called Joe. “We’re just about to order pizza,” Joe told her. “We’re thinking a couple more hours, right Henry?”

“Something like that.”

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Connie told Joe.

“What do you want to do?” Lindy asked.

“I’m going to stop at a liquor store and replenish my wine stock. Feel like getting shit faced?”

Lindy laughed. “You know you don’t have to turn me into a horny slut to get into my panties.”

“I’ve been a good girl being around Henry and keeping him from being his worst enemy, at least while we’re working. Having a day away from him, I just want to let loose.”

“Has Joe ever talked to you about me and my Hyde personality?”

“When you drink? It came up when you went off with Henry.”

“Of course. But did he tell you how he feels about it?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like how we first met, you know how I was crazy and dancing on a table. I was like that. He was pretty drunk when he took me to a hotel. And no, he didn’t really take advantage of me. We played around but he didn’t fuck me. It’s like when I get really fucked up so, like, I don’t remember after, he’s always been like that with me, basically getting me off fingering me or whatever, because I’m kind of demanding of it. But when I get pretty wasted but not that wasted and I still get into my wild Lindy Hyde place, it’s this totally uninhibited place I get that he really enjoys, like having two girls in one or something, the one he can make love to, and it can be really intense as you know, and the other where it’s just having fun, just partying together before we get home and just have crazy hardcore sex.”

“You’re saying he enjoys that side of you.”

“Yeah, but it’s this really dangerous place I can get to. Like Mary, Stuart’s girlfriend used to always be the sober one, the designated driver, but she looked after me so I don’t get stupid and maybe get raped or something. Joe kind of stole me away that first night, and Mary was worried.”

“Luckily it was Joe.”

“Exactly. And Joe sort of took over that role, looking out for me, but like if we’re partying where we can walk home or get a ride, he’ll let loose too, although he never goes off the rails like me. But the problem is, though he likes my party girl persona, there’s always the possibility, the threat really, that I’ll end up slipping out with some other asshole. But it’s only really happened with Henry, which was the last person I should have been with for Joe and for me. Because the first time he nearly raped me.”

“Fuck.”

“It was the kind of situation where he’d gotten me pretty fucked up. He’d actually seen me like that at a party earlier and knew how I got. This was just with him. Joe wasn’t around. He auditioned me, did a film test that actually went really great, and after we drank and did some lines and he got me into that state where I was my usual horny slut self when he brought me to his condo, and we’re going at it, so like there wouldn’t be any way to prosecute him, you know, but Henry’s got this like beer can cock, really thick if not all that long, and he tries shoving it into me when I wasn’t anywhere ready for it and it freaks me out and maybe sobers me up and I get the fuck out of the bed and grab my phone and hide in his bathroom and call Joe, who rescues me, actually shoving Henry onto his back.”

“And you still ended up with him,” Connie shook her head.

“Twice. The first time I actually fucked him was like his first time trying to fuck me, as a sort of fucked up reward for helping me out. And I was at least prepared for his size, so I didn’t freak out, but he definitely got more out of it than I did even though it kind of made me realize that I’m a bit of a size queen. And then after my stripping, I came more prepared. I wanted to use him like he uses me, and though successful in at least getting me off, in the end it just made it crystal clear that no matter what I did, it was all about him.”

“So he’s the opposite of Joe as a lover.”

“Diametrically opposed.”

“So you don’t want to get drunk?”

“I’d love to get shit faced with you, Lover. And hopefully Joe joins us wherever we are, his two girls getting crazy with him.”

At the liquor store Connie asked, “What’s your poison?”

“Wild Turkey 101 proof.”

“Hmm. I’ll get some coke and some cups.”

“Sure.”

“Supposedly mixing it with a sugar soda gets you drunker quicker.”

“Sounds good.”

“Let’s drop off the car at my place and get an Uber to ... I should call him first.”

In the car, with a box full of various wines in the trunk and a paper bag for the bourbon and another for the cold coke and cups, Connie made her call. “Hey Jamie, mind if a friend and I use your backyard to get shitfaced? If we get too loud you can tell us to fuck off. Okay? Cool. See you in a bit.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Jamie and me used to party. He doesn’t drink anymore but likes his pot. And I hooked him up with his partner, his significant other, so he owes me.”

“Significant other as in...”

“Jamie’s gay but not out if you know what I mean.”

“I get it. Mums the word.”

“Good.”

“A lot of that in Hollywood.”

“In all entertainment, although rockers seem to be pouring out of the closet lately.”

“True. Didn’t Bowie claim he was bi when he wasn’t?”

“I don’t know if he was or not, but that was all about shock, along with his androgynous costumes, the whole glam thing back in the early seventies.”

“Joe showed me a cover about that time, the New York Dolls?” When Connie shook her head, Lindy continued, “They were like masculine tough guys from New York City, totally straight, but came up playing transvestite clubs and liked the costuming.”

“Like that early Alice Cooper album with the band on the front with their backs to the camera, all of them with really long hair, and on the back you can see they’re definitely guys.”

They conversed like that until Connie parked at the condo and called an Uber. While they waited, Lindy poured drinks. They downed them when the Uber arrived, bringing the bags with them.

They ended up getting dropped off in Laurel Canyon, Connie pointing out various homes of musicians and actors, mostly their former homes. The house had a rustic look, like a cabin in the woods, though a rather large cabin. The Jamie who opened the door ended up being someone Lindy knew as James, a famous actor a little older than Connie, who looked younger and taller and better in film, but very relaxed and at peace at home. His lover stood a head taller than him, a big guy as in muscular and tough like a veteran biker, but with a sweet and gentle smile.

After introductions, Jason, Jamie’s lover, invited them to share eggplant moussaka, which turned out great. They conversed mostly about Lindy’s starring role, about what the movie was, its origins, and Jamie gave Lindy some advice about being humble, about being yourself when people start thinking about you as if you were your character or as if you were something special, not just a working stiff doing a job, albeit fortunate enough to do something you love.

They capped off the dinner by retiring to a room with a sunken center where a hookah lay, Jason stuffing it with prime buds and they all sucked it in.

“Thanks guys,” said Connie. “We’re going to go out back. My fiancé, Joe, will probably be stopping by.”

“Fiancé?” Jamie exclaimed.

“Hopefully he’ll be fathering my baby, and I plan for him to stick around to help raise it.”

“Congratulations,” Jamie grinned and pulled her into a hug.

Bags in hand, Connie guided Lindy through the back door onto a broad wooden patio deck and down the stairs to a backyard with low growing vegetation, the occasional cactus of various types and some outcroppings of rocks, one large one they sat upon looking out at Antelope Valley. There they began their drinking and continued their amiable chatting. The more they drank, the more they ambled about, and the more their ambling became loose and playful with the occasional stumble.

Both had stumbled onto their backs and laughed when Joe arrived. He stood over them and grinned. “You should catch up, Joe,” Connie grinned back and gestured generally behind her.

“I won’t quite catch up,” Joe laughed. “I do need to get us home, but I’ll have some.”

“Good boy,” said Lindy.

“We can stay here, Joe,” Connie suggested. “There’s guest rooms in the basement. I know Jamie won’t mind.”