Talisman Ch. 5: Victoria Grace Tilden

Victoria moved her other hand steadily up her side until, it too, reached the breast there, cupping its tender underside. Looking down, her eyes noticed the stiffness of her nipples against the soft texture of the breasts surrounding them. Her mouth opened, breathing deeply over her lips. "How beautiful. So soft, so warm…" Her hands lifted her breasts, pressing them to her chest and a thousand tingles of delight passed into her body. She closed her eyes, let her head loll back and quietly moved the hot palms of her hands over her nipples, continuing to press against them. Her breath forced her lips apart again as a steady stream of air pushed out of her lungs and a light moan escaped from the depths of her throat.

She stretched her legs out stiffly in front of her, raised her hips forward and arched her back, pressing the sensation to the four corners of her body. She relaxed back into the chair, letting her knees fall open. A cool sensation played between her legs like a spirit from the bath revisiting her once again. She opened her eyes and looked down at her body. Her breasts felt tight and full in her hands as thought they might burst, but every squeeze of her hands sent teasing shocks of adrenaline pushing her heart's song faster.

Past her tummy, the hips pressed forward, their furry mound now parted with pink wet flesh in the middle. A smile from her belly, grinning at her. Her hands reached up and pulled the top of the mirror forward, angling the glass down to see. She placed her left foot up on the edge of the chair to get a better look at herself. A more different view of who she was had never been presented to her. This state of womanhood, this body that held her soul - it was a new experience entirely. Not merely carrying her from place to place, she had become the destination - a temple to explore.

Her finger touched the delicate hair perched atop her mound. It felt light as a feather and wispier than a gentle breeze. The thumb trapped the hair between itself and the finger, twirling, twisting and pulling at the decoration. Why would we have hair where no one can ever see? Is it to keep the child warm who would live within or for some other reason? Her fingers twisted themselves into the hair, playing the tufts into little curls at the base of her belly. Then, one finger brushed along the ridge of pink fleshy labia, now blushed with curiosity. A shot of electricity jolted into Victoria's brain, pushing the air from her lungs and making her sit up so very quickly. A single "Oh!" echoed into the room's darkness.

In the quiet darkness of the room next door, sheets rustled as Sarah McAuley sat suddenly up awakened by what - she didn't know. "Who's there?" she whispered into the black night surrounding her bed. She rolled over onto her back and looked around the room. Light from the doorway shone across the carpeted floor from Miss Tilden's chamber. Was she sick again?

Sarah rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, pushing the covers away from her legs. She pressed her feet to the floor and stepped quietly towards the open door.

Still seated at her vanity, Victoria had opened her eyes at the sudden surge of energy between her legs and lifted her fingers to look them over. They glistened wetly in the light as she held them up. She brought her other hand to them, wiping the wetness across her palm, then stared at the sheen there. The pink flesh of her mound was now laid open as though two little doors had been thrust apart, inviting entry. She brought her fingers close to them slowly until they touched the slick shiny wetness on them. Her breath came in little gasps as her fingers massaged the pink doors gently. A growing knot of want increased its size deep inside her hips as she rolled them forward to receive her fingers.

Carefully, she placed two fingers below her vagina and slowly pressed them up, rubbing her labia as they went. Victoria felt her heart clutch once, then again as her hand sent a new vibrating chord of music to it in increasing tempo. The fingers descended along her lips, then raised again, back and forth playing this mouth like an instrument from God. There, faster, slow, gently, now push, push, yes! There shouted a little voice in the back of her mind, telling her how to play. Her fingers stroked rhythmically along her hot flesh until she thought the pounding of her heart might wake the house. Breath pressed out of her ribs like a bellows. She threw her head back and closed her eyes, concentrating on the feeling rising - the tension stretching.

White knuckles gripped the wooden framing at the doorway not twenty feet from Victoria's mirror. Sarah McAuley's eyes were stretched wide in shock bearing witness to the lewd act before her. Her mind, incapable of reconciling the image before her and the person involved, did also not tell her what to do. Frozen by the open door, she watched, rapt at the rising crescendo of emotion in front of her and shaking with the rhythm of feelings long suppressed. More experienced than her charge, she knew what her body was telling her. She knew what the dampness running down the inside of her thighs meant. She knew the fullness she felt in her chest, the shortness of breath, the tight tingling in her nipples. But why, her mind screamed at her. Why? Why now? How could she be attracted to her charge, the daughter of her employer? How could she be drawn into such depravity? Not again, not like before when she was younger. Her minister had told her all that was behind her. She wasn't like that any longer. She couldn't love women, couldn't love their softness, couldn't love their beauty, couldn't love their scent… She couldn't, she mustn't.

Victoria's ears caught the echoes of short breathing and her own softly smacking lips. Her left hand cupped at her breasts once again, pressing them against her and brushing her hard nipples. The other hand stroked mightily along her labia as her right elbow rocked against her side. Lost in a building whirlwind of sensation she didn't understand, two fingers suddenly sank themselves into her vagina, plunging against a tender and sensitive spot just inside again and again. With a loud moan, Victoria's body shot forward, her left hand shot out and grasped the mirror as her eyes flew open watching her face. Beads of moisture decorated her forehead and sweat ran in trickles down her sides and between her breasts. The two fingers pushed deep into her, thrusting fast and firm now along the tight nubbin of flesh at the top of her pink doorway. The knot of want grew tenfold. Victoria spread her thighs wider to let it out. Panting, she pushed down hard and closed her eyes, trying to hold the sensation in place. "Just a little…longer…a little more."

Sarah's mouth was open and her little body leaned against the doorframe as she pulled her nightdress up and over her head, throwing it to the floor beneath her. Trembling, she allowed her knees to relax and her bottom sank onto the nightdress while she continued to watch Victoria. In the furious state she had entered, Victoria looked amazingly attractive to Sarah and startlingly powerful. Sarah looked down at her diminutive frame, noticing the sudden changes there. Her nipples, swollen with need, rose in little blisters of flesh on the end of her full breasts. The lips of her vagina longed for a penis to plunge its length into them - open, wet and ready for the brutish rutting of her man back home. Not unfamiliar with her body, Sarah's hands molded themselves to her breasts, then her pussy, teasing, playing and pinching her with a desire that focused on the young woman masturbating before her.

Victoria sat forward with both hands between her legs, the right pressing two fingers slowly into her vagina while the other made little teasing circles around her rigid clitoris. Her left fingers played delicately along the tiny piece of hard flesh, caressing the skin, making it speak, making it sing. Her heart's drumbeat now played along at a quick two-step, dancing her mind around the room. Closing her eyes, she imagined Michael in his bedchamber naked and lying in his bed. His penis was erect and pointed at her, swollen with desire for her. His eyes opened, glaring lustfully at her body while his hands grasped his member and began stroking it fast and steady.

The image was too much and Victoria opened her eyes. There, before her, Sarah, little Sarah sat on the vanity, her fingers plunging into her pussy and caressing her clitoris. With the movement of Sarah's arms, her breasts shook side-to-side, keeping rhythm with Victoria. Sarah's eyes opened and stared with wild need at Victoria. The little woman began to moan, then suddenly, one of her hands reached behind Victoria's head and brought her face closer to hers. For a moment, the panting breath of the two women met, exchanging breath for breath, then their lips pressed together in an electric kiss of want, of need, of relief. Victoria loved the feel of Sarah's soft lips upon her own. She opened her mouth as though eating and chewed the soft flesh of the smaller woman. She felt Sarah's moan rising along with her own.

With an intense feeling of inevitability, the women screamed into each other's mouth. A rushing blackness came from beneath, shooting along their sides and up between their breasts until a white dawn blasts through their senses, blinding eyes to everything, but the intense sensation. Their hands continued massaging and playing their bodies until the light faded, leaving a stillness, a calmness. Then, almost as suddenly, they fell into one another, shaking, vibrating, weak and faint. In each other's arms, their bodies hit the floor as the room spun around them. Breast to breast, they lay panting, sweaty and content.

Out of the nearby window, the Moon had gone and the faint light of morning tickled the bottom of clouds on the far horizon.

"Oh, darling, you must have had an awful night. Are you feeling better this morning?" Michael looked across the breakfast table at Victoria, his eyes looking a little concerned.

Victoria, dressed in riding boots, skirt and blouse, yawned again as she drank the last of her tea. "Actually, I got sick only once as I returned upstairs. Good Sarah took care of me and I slept quite well after that, but it is true that I am so…tired…" She yawned again and took a kerchief from her bag.

"Are you sure you're up for our little excursion today then?"

"I'll be fine, I think, as long as I don't get too hot." She dropped a sugar lump into her teacup and stirred.

"Did you like my gift last night?" Michael leaned on one elbow and looked her in the eyes.

"Oh, the necklace. It's so beautiful, Michael - delicate, ancient. I can't wait to get it back to Professor Peltrie and see what he makes of it."

"You know, you shouldn't leave it in your room, a chambermaid might steal it."

Victoria touched her neck. "Funny that. I woke this morning and I had it on. I guess I forgot to take it off when I got sick last evening. I still have it on now."

"Really, darling, that's wonderful." Michael's eyes strayed down to Victoria's bosom briefly. When he looked back, Victoria was smiling at him.

"Oh, there is Sarah now. Sarah!" Victoria stood up from their table and waved at Sarah passing in the hallway outside the main dining room. However, Sarah didn't enter the room and passed on into the lobby.

"Sarah? That's odd, I was certain that she saw me." Victoria looked a little anxious. " I hope she is not angry with me for last night."

"Darling, don't worry. We will speak with her on the way out. Sit down and finish your breakfast. I can not allow you to be lacking for energy." Michael watched her sit down, then leaned back into the wicker chair and unfolded his Times again.

Victoria thought about her feverish dreams of the night before. Damn the feast that she had treated herself to before going to bed. It's a wonder, she hadn't died. Wanton sexual dreams of desire had haunted her all night; she felt that she'd barely slept from waking to waking with the fever the food had brought on. And worse, naked in the morning! What if the maid had come in? God, if I ever get such a lust for food again, I'll have to remember to dress lightly before bed.

Briefly, she wondered about her dreams involving Sarah. Certainly, they'd been friends for a long time, but the visions she had - frightening. Sarah, naked in her room and the two of them openly kissing and caressing like lovers in one of her Uncle's bawdy tales. Disgusting as it should have seemed, Victoria couldn't help but shiver with excitement, remembering the touch of her friend's lips upon hers. She shook her head and rubbed her temple. Only a dream, she thought to herself…only a dream.

"Victoria, my dear. Doing well this morning, I trust?" Victoria snapped out of her thoughts and saw Sir Ceril. He hugged and bussed Victoria gently. The foreman, Tony, was with him.

Victoria stared hard at Tony, who smiled gracefully back at her. "I'm fine now, Sir Winth…"

Winthrop raised his eyebrows.

Victoria looked to Winthrop. "I'm fine now, Sir Ceril. Sorry, I forgot about that. Just a little sleepy is all."

"Good, good, so glad to hear it. Do you remember Tony, our crew leader, who met you at the station yesterday?" Winthrop patted the swarthy man on the back.

Victoria reached a hand out in greeting. "Yes, of course. How could I forget?"

Tony bent at the waist and kissed Victoria's hand, all the while staring at her breasts. A look not lost on her. She smiled and dug the heel of her boot into the top of his foot. The foreman jumped back quickly, clenching his fist. She smiled even more.

Winthrop missed it all, of course. "Michael, are you still going on your little tour this morning?"

"With your permission, we are departing immediately after breakfast," Michael chimed in happily. "Would you care to join us?"

"Had mine hours ago, my good man. Early bird gets the worm, you know. I am afraid I will have to decline as I have a pressing engagement. I'm off to hear more from our friend, Mr. Carter. I sent a man down there to get a map of where he believes this little known pharaoh, Tutuan-what's-his-name might be located. If all goes well, we should be right on schedule for an early departure tomorrow morning."

Victoria straightened. "Will I be going with you then?"

Winthrop took her hand and patted it once. "Absolutely, my dear. If you are everything your young man boasts, you'll be essential to finding our ancient Egyptian."

Victoria looked very pleased and smiled broadly at Michael. "Wonderful." She looked up to Winthrop. "Sorry, that you're busy. Please feel welcome to join us at any time, Sir Ceril. We'd love to have you."

Winthrop looked down at the lovely young woman. "I'm sure you would, Miss Victoria, but dratted duty calls. Nevertheless, I'll hold you to that offer - and soon. You two have fun today!"

"See you later," Michael called as Winthrop and Tony left, but he had eyes only for Victoria. She looked different today, as though she had adapted Egypt as her home overnight somehow.

Victoria finished her breakfast and stood. "Shall we?"

Michael offered his arm and the two of them walked to the lobby. Sarah was questioning the Registrar at the front desk when they entered. Victoria crossed the vast room to her side as Michael spoke with the doorman. As Victoria arrived, Sarah stopped for a moment and quickly glanced at the smiling Victoria.

"And you are certain that no one has a key to my chamber? No one other than myself?"

The balding man at the front desk looked very calm. "No one, madam, I can assure you. The only other keys are with the hotel detective and they are not kept on the premises."

Victoria looked alarmed. "What is it, Sarah? What happened?"

Sarah's face blanched. "You - you don't know?"

"No, what is it?"

"Then it really must have been a dream then." Sarah looked as though she might cry.

Victoria took Sarah in her arms.

Sarah pushed her away. "No, please. Don't do that. I - I must go lie down. I'm sorry. I'm not myself today." Sarah hurried away quickly towards the main staircase.

Victoria watched her go.

"What was that all about? Is she alright?" Michael looked at Victoria's uneasy frown.

"I think so. I'm not certain, perhaps she had a bad dream of some kind." Victoria thought of her own dreams from last evening.

"Well, let's get going then. The horses are waiting outside." Michael took Victoria's arm and pulled her gently towards the entrance. Victoria couldn't help but notice the frightened look in Sarah's eyes as though she'd seen the Devil.

On horseback, Michael took Sarah on a tour of Cairo, seeing all the tourist sights of the ancient city - Opera Square, lunch at the Savoy Hotel, the fabulous Ezbekieh Gardens and finally shopping at the central city market. Tradesman from all over the Middle East sold goods there. Trinkets, relics, baskets, foods, silk, jewelry - the Nile delta had been a meeting place over four thousand years for different cultures trading East with West. You could find almost anything at the markets there. By midday, the temperature was too hot to be outside. Even the horses had to be housed in the shade. So, Michael and Victoria wandered deeply into the covered shops and tents of the narrow streets in central Cairo.

Fanning herself with a papyrus fan she'd purchased that morning, Victoria stopped at one small shop admiring brass hookahs standing two meters tall lining the walls. A man offered Michael a smoke, which he declined.

"No telling what kind of tobacco or wizardry might be at the end of that pipe."

Victoria laughed and caught sight of a young girl hiding in a doorway with two others wearing traditional garb, veils pulled across their faces. What held her attention, though, were those large brown, almond shaped eyes staring out from under the robes.

Quietly, Victoria whispered to Michael. " What are those girls doing in the doorway? Are they - are they hiding?"

Michael smiled, looked at the ground briefly and thought about what to say. "No, no, they are working."

"Working? What kind of work is it to stand in a doorway?"

"That is where they run their trade, dear. They are prostitutes."

Victoria startled at the sound of the word. She was used to seeing prostitutes in London, but they were so easy to spot - shoddy dress, usually unbathed, poor teeth. Although, as a gentlewoman, convention decreed that she should pretend she had not. However, these women were quite different, very clean and well dressed. She looked at the doorway. A pretty woman stepped from the shadows and stared over her veil back at them. Suddenly, Victoria caught her breath and her pulse raced when she met the woman's eyes. She felt the familiar warmth spreading through her body. Her nipples tingled and hardened at the brush that tickled from her insides.

She turned back to Michael and whispered, "They don't look like prostitutes. They look nice."

"They are. That's the tradition here. The prostitute better look better than what you can get at home or what is the point? How would they make a living?"

The girls in the doorway watched the men walk by, peeking out once in a while when someone looked their way.

Victoria smiled at Michael's comments. She walked over to him and stood by his side, then slipped her arm under his. She continued whispering. "Michael?"

"Yes, Victoria?" He looked at her eyes, but she looked at the young women across the market.

"Would you… Have you ever…?"

Michael's mouth dropped open at such a suggestion. "Of course not! My God, what kind of man do you think…?"

One of the girls had heard Michael's outburst and laughed at him. She had just slipped back into the shadows when Victoria covered her mouth and started to laugh along with her.