“We were looking for you… You will come and have a glass of champagne with us?”
“No, thank you. It’s not possible, the train is about to leave.”
“But until Morzine we have all the time in the world.”
“I’m not taking the train, I’m only seeing the children off.”
“Oh, no…”
The harmony of how they expressed their disappointment and the sad look on their faces touched Leone so much she couldn’t stop herself from chuckling gently.
“Don’t pull such faces, you both look as if you’ve just lost your best friend.”
“Yeah, I suppose it’s a bit like that,” whispered the darker-haired one.
“Come with us,” said the other. “It’s stupid to stay in Paris at Christmas.”
“Yes, yes, why don’t you come along?”
“But I can’t, my job…”
“You can phone in tomorrow and say you’re sick.”
All the while, Sophie had been quietly listening to the conversation and watching her mother and the two young men in turn. She took her mother by the hand.
“They’re right, it would be nice if you came along with us.”
“You know it’s not possible, my darling. Go and see your grandmother.”
“Come, we’d so much like to know you better. Even if you can’t stay for the whole holiday, come for two or three days.”
“No, I tell you, it’s not possible. Anyway, I’d have nothing to wear. I can’t go to the mountains and the snow dressed like this.”
She pointed at herself, showing them how her black shoes couldn’t adequately replace decent apres-ski and her thin grey stockings substitute for warm leggings; and her delicate kid gloves, they would fall apart in the snow.
“It doesn’t matter, everything you need we can buy there.”
She did not answer. All three of them kept on watching each other, twisted up in their desire to huddle together, to caress one another, to love. Leone felt a pang of anger: “They’re right, what’s so important in Paris? I was only staying behind because I didn’t feel like going with mother and the children… But… Can one go like this, with people you don’t even know?… The only thing I know of them, is that they want to screw me… It’s getting on my nerves, after all… and then, what would mother think, if I stayed here, like that… she’s not stupid… and the children?… oh, to hell with the kids… if I did go?… It’s not possible, I haven’t got my toothbrush… or any make-up… I’d be such a sorry sight tomorrow morning… but they are so handsome… why not give in to their lust… and mine… so?”
“Madam, time to get off, the train is about to depart.”
The ticket controller stole her away from her thoughts. She waved farewell to the two men and walked into the compartment to kiss her mother and the children. Like on the occasion of every departure, Sophie cried, her tears soon dried by Leone’s kisses. Jacques wanted to open the window onto the platform; his mother convinced him not to, because of the cold. She kissed her mob one last time and got off the train. The controller closed the door behind her.
Like most people, she hated farewells on station platforms, it made her cry. Without even waiting for the train’s departure, the final kisses blown from her lips, she began moving towards the exit. She passed the wagon where the two men were standing on the running board.
“Come, you can go back tomorrow if you want.”
She stopped, her whole body braced towards them, torn between the desire to jump aboard and conventional morality.
“I’d really like to, but…”
The train gave a jump and slowly set itself in motion. She moved as if to climb on. She mechanically walked alongside, like someone trying to postpone the moment of separation from a loved one embarking on a long journey.
“Come…”
She felt herself lifted up, torn off the ground by two strong sets of hands and found herself in the now accelerating train, between the two men now looking at her with both satisfaction and worry.
“But it’s a kidnapping… you’re mad!”
But the sound of her voice, her bright, cheerful eyes, her moist, half-open mouth, contradicted her words.
If looks could eat, they were already devouring each other, truly amazed by the formidable aura of desire now surrounding them.
The spell wasn’t broken by the appearance of the ticket controller who did not appear surprised to have an extra passenger. There was a spare seat. Leone wanted to pay for her fare, they would not allow her. They ordered another bottle of champagne.
“To celebrate our journey.”
They introduced themselves: Gérard, Dominique. She only remembered their first names.
“I’m Leone.”
“Let us drink to Leone’s health.”
They raised their three glasses. The champagne was lukewarm, but it wasn’t important; it was only a symbol of their understanding.
Leaning on their elbows in front of the corridor window, they silently watched the procession outside of dark buildings, broken here and there by some light from a window, as they travelled through the sad Paris suburbs. Gérard put his arm around Leone’s waist, while Dominique took hold of her shoulder. Without shame or false modesty, Leone gave in to the reassuring sense of well-being running through her as well as the heat of the two men. They stayed that way for some time, savouring the certainty of pleasures to come. Soon, the lights outside were few and far between and there was only the black hole of the countryside.
They moved into one of the compartments and helped Leone take her coat off. She remained standing, arms on her side, confident, calm. Only her breath quickened. Dominique pulled her towards him, gently kissing her face, her neck. She felt her body harden against his, thrust her lips forward and this first kiss was so voluptuous she almost fainted out of joy. Gérard turned her round and also kissed her with voracious brutality. She moaned. While Gérard prolonged his kiss, she felt Dominique pulling the zip of her dress. Without interrupting their kiss, he helped the young woman’s arms out of the garment and let it fall softly to the ground. She stepped out of it and now only wore a short grey silk slip, lined with ochre lace. The hands of the two men moved across the smooth surface of the slip. They rubbed each other against her and she felt their hard cocks against her stomach and buttocks. She moved slightly, to feel them better. She thought they were getting even harder. Gérard abandoned her mouth and, sitting on the bunk, pulled down the shoulder straps of Leone’s slip and brassiere. Her breasts burst out, heavy and voluptuous. Gérard buried his face in them, his mouth squashed against her musky mounds. He took a step back to admire them better. The train’s movements echoed through them, bringing the breasts alive, their raised nipples begging for kisses and bites.
“How beautiful you are!”
She pulled Gérard’s head against her chest. He greedily nibbled one tip. Leone let out a small cry.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“No, no, go on.”
Gérard resumed his caress while Leone abandoned herself, a glutton for more.
Dominique was watching the spectacle of Gérard’s mouth moving from one breast to another while his hands roamed freely over her splendid chest. He slipped off the already crumpled slip and the already wet knickers. He brought them up to his nose. Leone was naked between the two still-clothed men, she now only wore her suspender belt, her stockings and her shoes. Dominique could no longer hold back. He pulled his penis out and, arching Leone back towards him, holding her by the hips, drove into her. She struggled a bit, but the young man strengthened his hold on her and thrust himself in even deeper. His sex must be quite large, for she had never felt herself as mightily invaded as this. He moved slowly inside her, whispering: