People were beginning to notice her animation and overfriendliness, and in a moment Wilbur himself would be coming to claim her.
In desperation, Cord finally marched her out into the hall.
"My dear young lady," he told her, "I know this sounds strange, but it happens that I'm wearing an invention that sometimes causes arousal in females. I can't turn it off without practically removing my pants. You'll be safe once I get back to my party, and you to yours, with a wall between us."
"Forget inventions!" she cried. "You've got to help me. You think I want to spend my wedding night with that horrible man in there? I know – I just know – that you're the one to help me."
"What?" Even Cord's quick mind couldn't grasp the young bride's astonishing words.
"I had to marry him on account of my father and mother. I had to. My father's worked all his life for Wilbur. He's due of a terrific pension. Wilbur has the habit of firing people just before they get to their pensions."
"There are laws," interjected the now-sweating Cord.
"Not to save my father! He got sick a couple of months ago, and Wilbur is within his rights to let him go on the half-scale Social Security we have these days. About that time Mom asked me if I'd date Wilbur because he was interested in me. One thing led to another."
"My God!"
"He won't dare fire his father-in-law. My folks won't see any of his money, you can bet, even if he is rich, but at least Dad will get his pension in a couple of months. Right after that I figure a divorce is safe – Wilbur doesn't stay with one woman for long. But Dad will have his pension and even Wilbur can't take it away, once he gets it."
"Sheila, this is all very sad, but…"
"It's just that I'm a virgin. I'm not going to give my maidenhead to Wilbur, even if I have to seduce a bellboy." Her face was flushed, her voice shrill. "I can stand him after that. It's just this little private thing I have – not to give him my first treasure, that's all. The rest I'm glad to do for my folks."
"Sheila, this is insane."
"You walked into the room, Mr. Bannister – Cord. I knew. I knew at once you were exactly the man I needed."
"The suit," moaned Cord.
"You've got to help me."
Cord looked around desperately. Before he could answer the reception door opened and Wilbur came out, looking mean. He glared at his new wife and Cord. Then he marched up and seized her arm.
"Well, Bannister, I see you're playing the usual lecherous A-C executive. Whenever your company men come to town, I have to hire half the hookers in Portland. But sneaking out with a man's bride."
"Wilbur," said Sheila, "that's uncalled for!"
"Shut up!" Wilbur glared at his bride. "You think I don't know that half the men in that room aren't patting your round, sexy rump and making cracks? You like it, don't you?"
She colored and tears slid down her cheeks. "I… I have to be friendly. Nobody patted."
Cord's jaw hardened. "Listen, Watson, I brought your wife out here in privacy to discuss your favorite Skimmer. I thought A-C might make you a nice wedding present, since you're one of our big wholesalers and we didn't know about this wedding. But if you want to get huffy…"
Wilbur's face fell. Also his eyes gleamed at the thought of an expensive, free Skimmer.
"Just kidding, Cord. Sheila, I was just putting you on. Maybe I had one too many drinks, huh? You go right ahead. You plan it all out. Can't you two take a joke? I was only trying to have a little fun."
Cord edged to the door of his own party.
"I'll work it out with Andy, Wilbur. Nice to have met you, Sheila." He ducked into his own party before either could answer. Holy mud, what a mess that poor girl was in. But he really couldn't help her and there was no point in antagonizing a big A-C wholesaler.
Even as he sought Andy, he was annoyed with himself to find that his cock was half hard. The beautiful, distressed girl in the white, gleaming satin was a real turn-on. But adultery with a virgin bride before her wedding night? That was beyond insanity. Things were pretty crazy in this United States of the 90's, but there had to be some limits.
He found Andy who made a quick report. Two of the men wearing suits had not made any significant contact with females to this point. Two others seemed engrossed with female partners in head-to-head conversations. Then Andy pointed to a couple making a furtive exit.
"That looks like a hot hit, Cord. Business for one of the rooms in the motel, huh? We ought to get a rakeoff. Uh, I can't find the last guy. I think he made a sizzling contact early and has already left."
"Aha, no fist fights, no wild stuff. At least the suits don't drive people totally insane." Except desperate young brides, he thought.
"No wild stuff. Pretty good, though. Two hits, two possibles, two misses. That's good enough to sell whole jetloads of your suits."
Cord felt an urgent need to leave. He told Andy that there was some trouble in Chicago and he meant to go upstairs right away, pack, and catch the midnight jet for the east. Andy could finish off the party.
The Ellers matter had to be looked into. Also Cord felt jolted by the sad story of the young girl. He just wanted to get out of Portland. As a man who spent most of his time in the lab, he was a little bit too soft-hearted for this field work. Andy's only request was that Cord leave his SS for him, which Cord was glad to agree to.
Upstairs in his room, Cord quickly packed and then gave himself the privilege of a shower. The SS could clean him ultrasonically, better than soap and water, but a man raised on showers missed them. That was another point to remember in the marketing.
He forced his mind on the problem of Ellers in Chicago and was devising various strategies when he emerged naked from the shower – to find the gorgeous Sheila Watson lying right on the middle of his bed with a dreamy smile on her face. She still wore the white satin bridal gown but had taken it down from the shoulders to reveal soft, rounded shoulders and her cleavage, which was considerable, almost to her nipples.
"Sheila!" he gasped.
Her smile was one of delicious welcome.
"Not only am I here for myself, dear Cord," she said. "Wilbur SENT me! He insists that I sneak away from the reception and spend all the time I need with you to be sure he gets the kind of Skimmer from A-C he really wants. He found your room number and practically walked me here."
"Ohmigod."
Cord felt a thickening in his middle, in his loins. Staring at the luscious young girl, he could not help the rush of hot blood to his penis lifting him straight to a hard-on. It almost seemed like fate was determined he should have the young girl's maidenhead.
"Sheila, you may regret throwing yourself at me," he said.
"Never. There's absolutely no one else I can trust – or want so much. Maybe your invention had something to do with it – but I think I'd fall for you anyway – and I think you'd fall for me if we traveled in the same circle."
He walked over to the bed.
"You really want it from me, don't you."
Her eyes flicked on his stiff cock nervously and she blushed. But she nodded vigorously.
Well, he could always let her escape. He eased over on top of the girl, sinking into her softness. After all, she was a virgin and after she'd had a couple of kisses and caresses, the enormity of what she did might sink in. She closed her eyes. He kissed her.
That honey-soft, sweet mouth just seemed to fall open like a ripe peach for him. He felt a powerful sex surge rush up from his toes. Virgin! His big cock, locked between their bellies, exuded a big stain of preseminal fluid on the satin of her bridal gown. He moaned in pleasure as he moved his belly on her softness.
He felt her heart pound as she let him probe her mouth, tried to find an escape for her shy pink tongue which could not escape as he sucked and teased it. Her breath was so sweet! Her saliva was so pure! Hooooo!