Chapter 7

Kay was terrified! She and Jane were greeted at the door by two males wearing masks, and to her horror one of the men was naked to the waist, and clad in red tights from the waist down. His rather large and ungainly feet were encased in a pair of outsized high heels that probably dated from 1942, judging from their style. It was so bizarre that she would have bolted then and there had not her sister-in-law kept a tight grip upon the soft, naked flesh of her arm.

Jane seemed to know the one in tights very well, and he seemed overjoyed to fetch special masks for them, not just the plain black eye masks, but two very feminine over-all face masks that left only the mouth and chin visible. The one that Kay chose was the face of a cat, and it had silver sparkles all over it giving her the appearance of a large Persian when she looked at herself in the hall mirror.

Jane's was a fox mask, and Kay couldn't help thinking how much the features of the pointy nosed animal resembled those of her sister-in-law. As nervous as she was, Kay felt considerably better once she had the mask on. It looked rather nice, she thought, and it didn't make her feel so self conscious about having worn such a revealing dress. One compensated for the other, she told herself.

"It's like a fiesta, girls!" one of the men was saying. "Come on in now... anyone ever been in Rio during Carnival... madness... absolute madness! That's what tonight feels like... Come on in... there's plenty to drink!"

Timidly Kay followed her buxom sister-in-law as she entered the spacious living room behind the two men. She wanted to ask which of the men was the host, but Jane didn't seem predisposed to talking. The young wife stood just inside the living room and looked around at the shadowy figures who were scattered about the fire-lit room. It was still early and there weren't many people there, but Kay was quaking with fear that her husband Jim might already be there... that he and that girl might be watching her now! She hoped that the dress, one that she had never worn before and which was unlike anything that she had in her extensive wardrobe, would help protect her identity until such time as she wanted to make it known. Still, though, she cringed at the thought that every single person there... most of them faceless shapes and disembodied cocktail party voices... was commenting on the fact that Mrs. James Carroll had just walked in the door.

Within seconds drinks had been placed these thoughts, Jane had requested a rye and soda from the elderly man who asked her, and even though Kay didn't really like the taste, she ordered a scotch because she had been led to believe that tasteful people drank it.

"Well, let's just sit over here, honey, until someone familiar comes in!" Jane pointed out a low sofa that was on the side of the room. There was a man hovering near them, trying to catch their eye, but Kay ignored him and quickly sat down beside Jane. She was thankful, however, that no one else at the gathering was wearing anything more bizarre than a business suit. The scotch was beginning to calm her nervousness, and for a few seconds she was almost able to convince herself that she wasn't really Mrs. Kay Carroll... that she was someone else... just a young woman who would be interested in attending such a party!

"Jane" she asked curiously, "Do you actually KNOW some of these people? I mean... have you... ?"

"Been to parties like this before... sure... oh, long before your brother and I were married, of course... but some of the old people are still around!"

"I... I certainly want to thank you for trying to help me out like this... But... it does feel strange." Kay looked around her. Some of the couples had begun to dance at the other end of the room. "You're definitely right... I have to meet Jim on his own grounds!" She spoke the last with a slight quiver of her lower lip. It was still horrible to think that her husband was being so grossly unfaithful to her. That there was not a shadow of doubt about it, or of the fact that he chose to flaunt his new lover shamelessly at public gatherings like this! Her eyes burned a little, and she was thankful that her mask hid her expression. Her fingers twisted painfully around each other, and she sat with her legs tightly crossed, so much so that the circulation of her lower leg was being cut off. She changed position to keep it from falling asleep and noted that her inner thighs beneath her nylons were moist and clammy from nervousness.

"Oh, God," she thought, "I've got to have another drink... Suppose Jim were to walk in now, what would I do?" The way she had visualized it was totally different from the actuality of the party. It really didn't seem so very different from any party that she had been to except that everyone was wearing a mask... and, of course, there'd been that man in the tights and high heels. Earlier, she had imagined herself deep in conversation with some handsome, very attentive man. She had brought along a package of cigarettes in case she needed to do something with her hands. The handsome man would be lighting her cigarette, and she would be contemplating going out for some air with him... he would beg her to leave the party with him, and just then Jim would come in with that little snip. He would be tiring of her already, for he would have found out that there was no substance to her... no real substance. And she, Kay, would laugh up into the stranger's face, blowing out the smoke of her cigarette, and Jim would rush over to her and angrily take her away from the party. She would know that he still loved her, and that night... oh, she knew full well, that that night in bed she would respond to him, whatever his mood. She would be ready for him!

She felt a sudden undeniable twitch between her legs at the thought of it. If only she could get a second chance!

Kay was snapped out of her reverie by the realization that Jane was getting up. The man she had noticed earlier had approached them and had asked Jane to dance. To the blonde young wife's dismay her buxom sister-in-law jumped up eagerly, and was being danced away to a lively Latin beat before any objections could be made. She could see the outline of Jane's full, rounded buttocks swaying in time to the music, the two loaves of her soft, girdleless behind trapped in the tightness of her skirt, struggling against the material... and then Kay could no longer see her at all.

A feeling of utter loneliness came over her as her dark- haired sister-in-law disappeared in what had become a sea of people, and to keep from spinning off into a panic, Kay stood up and headed toward the bar, where a congenial bartender administered drinks and snacks. Kay was shocked by her surroundings in that the house was more elegant than any she and Jim had ever been invited to in their usual social activities, and the caliber of the food and liquor that was served was obviously of a top cut. She had expected something a shade seedier somehow. The second scotch tasted good and, uncertainly, Kay looked around her. She was afraid of being approached by anyone, and yet she was more afraid of being alone... an unwanted wallflower...

Several unattached men seemed to be looking at her, and self- conscious, despite her cat mask, Kay began to walk away from the bar. Perhaps she could find the bathroom, or some place where she could relax for a few minutes and freshen her lipstick, the only part of her make-up visible beneath her mask. She wandered down a dimly lighted hallway and discovered a small room to the left that appeared to be the study. After looking inside and seeing that the room was empty, Kay entered and closed the door behind her, then collapsed on a leather sofa that faced a wall of books. She felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her.

The strain was really tremendous, and she was thankful for the opportunity to be away from the party. She began to wonder what on earth she was doing there at all! In the calm and quiet of the library room Kay finished her drink, and decided that the thing to do now was to leave. She would go outside in a few minutes and find Jane, and together they would depart... before Jim came and found her there... before anything real could happen. It would be as though she had never come at all, and she would find some other way to solve her problems... some way that did not involve such masquerading.

"WHAT'S NEW PUSSY CAT?" Kay nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of a man's voice behind her. She whirled around on her seat, and almost dropped her glass when she saw a tall, black man directly behind the sofa. His friendly smile only frightened her, and all she could think of was screaming... screaming at the top of her lungs. She began to search for her purse on the sofa, and started to scramble to her feet.

"I... I was just leaving. Going home... Excuse me, I didn't know there was anyone in this room..."

The large man pulled himself up to his full height, and Kay found herself craning her neck in order to see him clearly. He was well over 6 feet, and in fact, Kay didn't think she had ever seen a man as tall as he was.

"I was doing some meditation exercises behind the sofa there..." he said. "Nothing like it for clearing the head. Especially when it's so noisy out there with all those prowling cats looking for a bird in someone else's tree."

"I... I see... well, I really must be going..." Kay stood and started toward the door.

"What's your hurry... You're not still frightened are you?" There was something menacing in the dark man's tone that sent a shiver of fear tracing down Kay's spine. She was thankful that he could not see her face... or her eyes... surely they would give away the utter terror she felt.

"No... no, of course not..." she stammered, lying. "No... I just... have to go, that's all." There were two feet of space between her and the door, and Kay realized that this black man could easily step in front of her with one giant step and block her way. She remembered that old saying about animals being able to scent your fear, and how it was important not to let them know it, otherwise they would attack. But why was she thinking of animals. She couldn't help it... this big, black man reminded her of a primitive creature, the way he stood defiantly watching her, his own eyes hidden by a thin, black mask, through which two glinting dark points looked out. She had not known many black people, other than her cleaning maids, and a couple of girls in high school. Granger was a predominantly white town, although Kay learned through the papers that there was a greater percentage of "non-whites" in the area than ever before. Certainly, she had never expected to meet a Negro at any party she attended, even this one. But now she realized that her thinking was probably hopelessly old-fashioned. If she had seen a man wearing high heels and tights at the door, why hadn't she expected that there might be someone of a different color there.

"Why don't you stay... talk a while... nothing's happening out there... a bunch of meat heads... You're much better off in here with me..." He moved and did just what the blonde wife had been afraid of... standing between her and the door. He moved with the grace of a panther, so easily that she didn't even see him do it. He was just there standing tall and confident in front of her, looking down at her with what she took to be a curious expression on his face. She felt suddenly ridiculous in her cat mask, and she remembered that her dress was very revealing... revealing the full, smooth whiteness of her breasts to this man, and that he probably thought...

"Oh, God!" she said, "You mustn't think... I'm one of those out there. I'm only here because my husband..."

"Yeah... that's why most of the chicks are here... because of their husbands... usually Daddy wants to swing, and his old lady thinks she might just as well know what he's doing, rather than have him do it behind her back. After the first time the little lady is raring to go... never knew a little strange cock could go down so good!"

"OH NO... I... NO, IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" Kay stepped back, her hands automatically covering the bared part of her breasts. The black man kept on talking as though she had not said anything.

"Or else the little lady's out alone for some fun, cause she's not getting any at home!!... Whatever it is, not many chicks will admit it! Not many chicks will admit they're here for sport... it's always because of someone else that they're doing it!"

"But... I... I... I." Kay was backing steadily away. She glanced behind her, hoping against hope that there might be some other way out of the room.

"YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT YOU ARE NOT LIKE ANY OF THE SWEET LADIES I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?" he started walking slowly towards her, his arms outstretched dramatically to emphasize his ironic tone.

"THAT'S RIGHT... OH, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU UNDERSTAND... I'M NOT... REALLY I'M NOT!"

The big man laughed, and the sound of the sinister bell-like tones dimmed the wonderful hope that Kay had had that she was being understood... that in just a few minutes she would be out in the fresh, night air on her way back to her own home.

"RIGHT!" he almost shouted, "YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PARTY THIS WAS!!!" It was obvious that he could hardly control his mirth now, and Kay felt her face flushing as she almost broke into a run to put herself behind the sofa, away from the black man.

"HEY!" he cried, "DON'T RUN AWAY... YOU DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ME NOW, DO YOU?"

"No... no, it's not that... you've got to listen to me." Kay made a last ditch attempt to reason with the man, trying to remember that she was a grown woman with intelligence who could certainly explain her situation to him. It just didn't seem possible that she could be placed in a position where all her upbringing and her recently attained status in the town couldn't help her. But her voice came out a thin quaver, that was not at all what she had intended.

"I... came in here... this room... because I wasn't feeling well, and now I've got to get some fresh air... my husband should be arriving at any time now... to take me home..." It didn't make any sense, but she tried to say something that would make some kind of impression on the big black man who stood watching her, his hands now on his narrow hips as he listened to her pathetic story. Absurdly, she noted that he was very well dressed. Perhaps he was someone very well known, she thought... like that movie star she had seen in a movie once... certainly he was no product of a slum, this man... he could be reasoned with.

"Fine..." he said, "We'll just wait for that lucky gentleman..." He sat down on the sofa, deceptively off guard. Kay thought she could make the door if she ran quickly enough.

"I assume... he's lucky, that is... judging from those fine knockers of yours... and that nice, high-class ass. For a honky chick you're not bad at all. And I bet you like to get your pussy tickled."

Kay stiffened at his vulgarity, sensing her confidence of a few moments before commencing to falter. She blinked her eyes tightly shut, and in spite of herself she could feel tiny unwanted sensations flitting through her stomach again, like when she'd thought of Jim earlier and imagined them making love.

"HOW... HOW DARE YOU!!!" she cried, tears beginning to rise in her eyes. "How dare you talk to me like that!"

"Oh, come off it..." He put his head back on the sofa and peered up and back at her insolently. "You're not gonna tell me that you're not the least bit curious to know what a good, stiff, black prick would feel like up in your little blonde pussy!"

Kay made a sudden dash for the door, and she was pulling desperately at the handles when she felt him overtake her. His long arms wound around her waist, and pulled her away from the door. In what appeared to be an afterthought, he turned the lock sideways and it clicked decisively.

"Oh... OOOO... please..." she screamed, "Don't force me to do anything... I couldn't possibly... I'll do anything... money... I'll give you money!"

He was holding her tightly now... holding her around the waist from behind, and she could feel him pulling her closer and closer until she could feel the bony hardness of his legs and the hardness of his pelvis pressing against her buttocks and the backs of her legs. She heard him chuckle, and she was overcome with dreadful apprehension as she felt a stiff bulkiness moving ominously against her soft buttocks. She struggled and twisted to free herself, but he held on fast.

"I don't believe it... you're gonna offer me money, too??? I'm gonna get to fuck the shit out of that little pussy between your legs... and get some bread, too??" His hands moved down from her waist, folding over her stomach, the fingers wriggling almost gleefully, until he reached the soft mound of her pubic "vee" where it lay hidden beneath the skirt of her cocktail dress.

"No... PLEASE... that is not what I mean... no, don't touch me... you can't make me do anything... I'm a married woman... no one but my husband has ever touched me!"

"Well, in that case, I'll bet he'll be thankful that someone else showed you a few new tricks... Nothin's worse than an old lady who don't know how to fuck and suck!"

Kay noticed that the black man's speech was becoming more and more slurred, his accent getting thicker and now theatrical, with each passing second... whereas at the start he had spoken without the slightest trace of an accent. Wild thoughts of kneeing him in the groin... of using a judo hold she had once seen demonstrated but didn't really know how to do, entered her mind. She regretted not having taken that karate class that all the women were going to at the adult education courses at the high school. She regretted never having tried to get to know any of the few black people she had come in contact with in her life... thinking that somehow this might help her reason with this man. It even occurred to her that she was being punished somehow for her secret feeling that black people really were asking for too much. Truth was, she didn't have the vaguest idea what they wanted at all, and now the odd thought that she was paying for that lack of interest, filled her with despair.

And then, he was drawing her to him, turning her about, disregarding her hands against his chest, his powerful arms crushing her to him as his hot mouth came down in search of hers, finding it, and pressing his lips wetly to hers in a tight grinding manner. She groaned and struggled feebly for a panicky moment, feeling his black hand pressed hard to the soft whiteness of her breast. She realized the futility of the situation, and let herself go limp, thinking that he might stop and let her go. But then she was surprised at how soft his lips became against hers, and once more the tiny, little butterflies went flitting through her stomach.

"That wasn't so bad now, was it..." he said, grinning down at her, as his hand began to stroke the softly warm flesh of her breast down inside her low cut dress. "Just relax," he whispered, "and let yourself go... in a few moments you will be wiggling and groaning, pulling your legs way back and shoving your cunt in my face, so's I can lick your little hot clit!"

"WHAT????" Kay groaned in desperation, the terrible memory of her wedding night coming back to torture her with full force. Had she only known then that something more awful could happen than having your husband want to make oral love to you... something like what was happening to her now! Even her husband's brutal rape on their wedding night seemed like a lark, a mere nothing compared to the prospect of having this black stranger touch her intimately. But horrible as it was she couldn't fight him. He was too strong for her, and even her own love-starved body was beginning to betray her.