Mrs. James could hardly believe her eyes.
Giving them another moment to recover, she finally entered.
"Cool wine on a day like this," she began, "is sure to hit the spot." She smiled as she sat the tray down on a small coffee table, then moved this table closer to the couch. As she bent over to pour the wine, motioning Jeffrey's hand away with a bright smile, she was well aware that her lavender robe was gaping wide open and that both twins had a perfect view of her swollen ripe breasts, her erect nipples and the lovely valley between them.
Chapter 4
Small talk consumed the better part of the first hour the three of them were together, when the first bottle of white wine was emptied, to the astonishment of all, and when Mrs. James suggested another, Beth and her brother were floating ethereally on white clouds as responsive as water beds. Although neither of them was near being tipsy this side of dizzy-drunk, both hadn't felt so great in such a long time they could hardly believe it.
Across from them, sitting in her swivel chair, Mrs. James felt that now was the proper time to introduce the main topic. She was completely satisfied that both kids were telling the truth and nothing but the truth; and in such a charming, sincere and honest way, she was almost hypnotized by their simple frankness.
She also adored the way they relaxed. The boy was leaning back across the arm of the convertible couch, his legs crossed. He'd kicked off his shoes. He wore no socks and Gloria James wasn't at all surprised to se how clean his feet were.
Beth sat with one leg under her buttocks. She, too, had taken off her sandals. She was playing with her bare toes as the conversation continued. Each time she'd uncross her legs, or change her position on the couch, Gloria James would catch a marvelously exciting view of either her naked thighs or her furry nest.
Beth was so child-like in many ways. Innocent was a better word, Mrs. James said to herself. She loved innocence in people, but not innocence that bordered on gross naivetй. Rather she admired the inborn naturalness of people, their basic simplicity without artificial adornments most people, even kids the age of Beth and Jeffrey affect in order to impress.
At the same time, Mrs. James noted at different intervals or during long pauses of reflection in the conversation, that neither one of these kids was dumb. Pulling the wool over their eyes would be difficult. This was why she was now determined to speak from her heart rather than from her brain, a brain that was now teeming with all kinds of ideas.
After she had invited questions from them concerning her background and she'd answered them all honestly, even to the point of admitting different embarrassing failures, she told them how she felt she could help them get on their feet again.
Beth couldn't believe it.
"You mean," she exclaimed, sitting up on the edge of the couch, her skirt now high up on her naked thighs, "you mean, Mrs. James that… "
Gloria James interrupted: "From now on, Beth and you, too, Jeffrey, you call me Gloria, okay?" she smiled.
The twins looked at each other. Almost in unison, they said her name, Gloria. "Yes, Gloria." And the sound of her name from the lips of the kids was sweet music to her ears.
"Go on, Beth, dear," Gloria smiled.
"We can't believe it," Jeff said, shaking his head.
"Honest? You really mean it. We can be happy together. I'm sure of that," she added, hoping for the right reaction. And this is precisely what she received.
Young Beth leaped off the couch and crossing to the swivel chair, fell to her knees. Her arms went around Gloria James's waist and Beth was suddenly sobbing, even crying as she kept kissing Gloria's neck and then her chin, finally full on the lips. Gloria hugged her close, holding Beth by the shoulders.
"We're so grateful," Beth cried. She turned then to look at her brother. "See, I told you the sun would shine," she said, her face wreathed in bright smiles.
"So," said Gloria, standing, "this does call for a kind of celebration, does it not?"
Jeff stood also. "It certainly does," he smiled. "It certainly does," he repeated. And with this he crossed over to Mrs. James.
Jeffrey was just about her height. He put his arms around her. She looked up into his handsome face. She put her arms around his shoulders and let him press his strong masculine body into hers. She could feel his manly chest, the strength in his arms, in his fingers as he held her tight.
"May I have a kiss, too?" he asked, almost timidly, almost afraid that she wouldn't consent.
"Oh my darling," said Gloria. "You may have as many kisses as you wish," she added, offering her parted lips to his, her eyes moistening. She couldn't remember when she's felt this kind of loving tenderness.
Down on her knees, Beth looked up at them. She was smiling softly. She crawled closer to them. She stood and now all three were embracing as Jeffrey and Gloria James brushed their warm lips together.
Beth had her arms around both their necks, her face lose as she kissed both on the cheeks in turn, feeling the passionate vibrations flying back and ^ forth between her brother and their new friend.
Gloria turned her lips to Beth's and they kissed. This time Gloria allowed just the tip of her tongue to tease Beth's lower lip. Beth was quick to respond. Her tongue touched Gloria's and both backed away smiling at each other.
"I'd better go get that wine, don't you think?" Gloria laughed. "I'm getting a lot warmer," she continued, "and I think it might be a good idea to cool off a bit, what do you two think?"
They laughed. They agreed.
"It's just that we're so happy," said Beth.
"And so thankful," echoed her brother.
"I know," said Mrs. James. "I know just how you feel, and I want you to know that I feel the same. We're helping one another to feel better, to feel good. That's what life should be about-not the other way."
With this she went into the kitchen, again, her lavender robe swirling high, exposing her naked legs as she swept on her high-heeled sandals through the curtains.
Deciding that none of them was hungry after eating all the salty peanuts and the cashews, then a pile of cheese and crackers Mrs. James prepared during the early part of the conversation, Gloria phoned down to the kitchen to cancel lunch. She also spoke to Dianne, the maid. She gave her instructions for the afternoon.
Again sitting in the swivel chair, but this time her robe deliciously high, exposing three-quarters of her long slender and very naked legs, almost to mid thigh, she outlined all the details of her plan.
"Beth," she said, "darling, it will take us no time at all to teach you how to serve the tables. There's no need to learn how to carry a heavy tray, balancing it and all that."
"I agree," said her brother.
"And you, Jeffrey, you'll also help. So," she smiled over at them, her eyes openly caressing Beth's pointed breasts and now and then lazily searching in her brother's crotch, Jeffrey sitting with his legs apart and very conscious of her affectionate and very suggestive glances, "so, what this will mean is that both of you will be legitimately occupied for the minimum time limit authorized by the college for part-time help that need not be reported to social security or the tax people.
"In other words, every penny you make is your own. And besides," she smiled, "the boys tip heavily, usually for no reason at all." She laughed. "Some of the boys are nice. Some are stinkers. I'll point them out to you."
"… and we live up here with you, right?" Beth asked, her eyes bright whether they were looking into Gloria's eyes or peeping up inside her lavender robe to stare almost absently at her lush growth of dark pubic hair which Gloria didn't hesitate to expose discreetly from time to time.