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She wondered if Joan was tugging her. But no, she couldn't feel anything like that, just the weakness. Nor could she keep her bewildered brain from playing tricks on her. This body down here was soft and sweet and exquisitely feminine, and she simply had to kiss it. As her own body was being kissed.

Vaguely she realized that something was wrong. It was a struggle, but she managed to concentrate long enough to recognize the error. She should have stood there tall and proud and accepted the slave's homage as her rightful due. She should have gone on testing her new-found authority. But it was too late and concentration too difficult and everything seemed a lot easier if she just went on sucking. Sucking cunt. Cunt, cunt, cunt. As her own cunt was being sucked.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

She hadn't figured on it happening like this – not quite so soon, anyway – but it was time to get the big hassle over with, Hildy decided. Her aunt already suspected the worst, no doubt, and now it was time to confirm those suspicions. More to the point, it was time for open rebellion – especially since she had plenty of ammunition stored up.

"All right, Aunt Inez, so you caught us in the act. What are you going to do about it?"

"In the act? Hmm. In what act? I know Kate is here and not with her friend Alice – where's she's supposed to be, I might add – but that's hardly a crime."

Hildy swung around. "Kate, go visit Alice – I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your boss. Besides, I think we're due for a family quarrel here."

"Yes, Kate, do run along," Inez said. "And there's no need to mention this to your mistress. We're not quarreling – it's just Hildegarde's childish imagination."

"Imagination. Oh sure…" Hildy waited until the front door closed behind the departing maid. "Okay, dear Aunt Inez, it's just you and me now. What's on your mind?"

"Well… uh… I'll admit I did speak rather sharply when I walked in and found Kate here at this hour. The two of you are spending entirely too much time together."

"She's teaching me to be a maid, right? And that takes a lot of time, doesn't it?"

"Umm, perhaps. Yes, you're quite right, I sup pose. I spoke in haste and I'm sorry."

"You'd better be. What did you think we were doing, fooling around? Yeah, I'll bet that's what…"

"Hildegarde, be still! I've already apologized and quite sincerely, too – now let that be the end of it. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Is that so? No idea at all? Well, maybe I'd better fill you in, huh? Cuntlapping, that's what. That's exactly what I'm talking about."

"You-you little monster! Where did you learn such filthy language? I've got a good mind to take you over my knee and spank you. Wallop the daylights out of you. And then wash your dirty little mouth out with soap!"

"Oh shit, you're putting me on. You know more about cuntlapping than I do. In fact, everybody in…"

"How dare you! Shut your mouth, you vicious child! I don't want to hear another word out of you!"

"Cool it, cool it, don't get your pee in a stew. Like I was saying, Aunt Inez, everybody in this whole Goddamn building knows more about cuntlapping than I do. They're all a bunch of lesbians – including you, right?"

"Oh! What a thing to say!"

The shell of indignation didn't fool Hildy one bit. She could see the truth, the shock in her aunt's eyes. The shock and the pain. And there was fear now, too – as if the poor old dame's insides had just been destroyed. It was awful to watch such destruction. Kind or depressing. And even in her moment of triumph Hildy felt a certain compassion.

"Aunt Inez? I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess it was just my way of getting back at you."

"Getting… back at me? On. I understand. Because you're my niece – or practically my niece, part of the family, anyway – and I've been treating you like a servant. Is that it? If so, I don't blame you for being upset."

"No, that's not the reason, not really. It's because you treat me like a dumb servant – that's what's bugging me. I'm just a dumb little kid to you."

"Oh."

"And I'm not, Aunt Inez, even though I didn't do well in school. I'm not as stupid as you think."

"Hmm. That's becoming quite obvious." Then, with a wry but sincere smile, "Painfully obvious, I must admit. You're a very clever child. Although I'd better not call you a child, either, considering how much you've developed lately. And how much you've managed to learn about the people in this building."

An outward semblance of composure had been regained, a shaky truce declared, but there wasn't much doubt about who held the whip-hand. A building full of lesbians? The threat of blackmail hung in the air…

Hildy was content to let it hang. The blackmail notion didn't mean a damn thing to her, of course, except in the way that it affected her aunt. Lesbians in the building were fine, just fine, and she wouldn't dream of squealing to the authorities about such a thing; oh shit, that might even cause trouble for her friend Kate. No, the best bet now was to drop the touchy subject and just go on as though it hadn't even been mentioned. Keep it friendly. But go on just the same, on into this new world opening up to her, on to explore all the possibilities of the situation. Especially this possibility. What fun!

"About your treating me like a servant… uh, I don't really mind that, Aunt Inez. I kind of like it, you know? I'm glad to help out around the house."

"That-that's very sweet of you."

"Only I wish you'd let me help out in other ways, too. Kate has been teaching me how to be a personal maid, not just a girl to do the housecleaning."

"Oh? No wonder you two are so close. Personal maid. Hmm. And you find that interesting?"

"Uh-huh. But I never get a chance to practice. If I try it with Kate, both of us bust out laughing all the time. So do you think maybe… uh…"

"You want to be my personal maid?"

"No… I couldn't, I'm not good enough. There's a lot to learn and I don't know all that much about it yet. Kate says it takes years. But-but would you let me try? I mean just for a little while, just for a little practice?"

"Hildegarde, you're a darling. How could I refuse such a charming request? Practice any time you care to."

"Right now?" Then, giggling, "Hey, you know something? That's the first time you ever called me darling. Feels nice."

"Yes, right now if you like. And I'm sure it's quite correct for a mistress to address her maid as darling. I've heard Margalo Fitch do it, and she should know. But let's get down to business, shall we? Speak up – just what would my darling little personal maid like to do for me, hmm?"

"Uh, give you a bath?"

"Well now…"

"Please, Aunt Inez? I know it's pretty late, but let me run a tub for you. I'll fix a bubble bath, nice and hot and loaded with perfume. It'll be just right, just perfect. And you can relax and be lazy while I do all the work, okay?"

"Hmm. That's the best offer I've had all day. You make it sound irresistible, my dear. Fine, then. I'm putting myself in your hands. Take good care of me."

"Oh, I will, I will. Now let me go do the tub and then I'll come back and help you. Uh… if you're embarrassed about getting undressed…"

"Who's embarrassed? Go to work, young lady. Scat!"

Hildy trotted off. In the bathroom, she adjusted the faucets deftly and soon the scented foam rose high to permeate the place with a crushed-flower fragrance.

"Mmm, that perfume," Inez called. "I can smell it all the way out here. And incidentally, just in case you're embarrassed, I'm already undressed. Ready or not, here I come."

"Oh? You should have let me help you. But come on – the tub is as ready as you are." Hildy cut off the taps, avoiding the sight of her aunt's naked body, aware that the situation was still a bit ticklish. Peace and harmony prevailed, but only because of that unspoken blackmail threat – and she had no desire to upset the apple cart. "In you go now. Not too hot, is it?"