by Dawning, Dee
He has a point. I glanced around. "There's no place to do it. How would we do it, on the dirty floor?"
He laughed. "We wouldn't have to get on the floor. See this rail?"
"Yes."
"You could grab onto the rail bend over, spread your legs and—"
"We could do it doggy style."
He smiled and nodded. "You're catching on."
"I know. Here's another way." I lifted my skirt, rested my foot on the rail. "You could snuggle up and stick it to me."
"You're not wearing panties."
"I know."
"Mmm, the better to feel you."
I shivered as his hand slid across my slit. "Yes, I really like—" Then the elevator slowed, stopped and the doors parted. I hurriedly lowered my leg, straightened my dress and took a deep breath. Taking my handsome date's arm, I asked, "Are you ready?"
"I am, we'd best hurry." He led me to Hal, the evening concierge. "Did you get it?"
He smiled and lifted up a clear plastic container with a lovely orchid corsage within.
My mouth dropped open. "Oh Brad." I kissed him on the cheek. "It's beautiful."
"It is, but not half as gorgeous as you." He took the corsage out of the container and pinned it near the top of my dress. "Perfect. Thanks Hal."
I whispered in his ear, "Thank you. It's beautiful, but we'd better get going.
"You're right." He took my hand and led me outside and headed straight to a long black limousine.
I was a bit astounded, but pleased. "You got a limo?"
"You didn't think we'd get all dressed up and go in a cab, did you?"
Chapter Eleven
We arrived ten minutes late, but the Maitre d' became downright obsequious when I handed him a hundred. "We would like nice romantic booth if you have one."
"Certainly, Mr. Fairchild. Right this way."
Ginger said, "Oh, isn't this beautiful!" when the Maitre d' seated us in a somewhat secluded booth with an antiqued column on one side and a replica of Michelangelo's David on the other side. Across from the booth was a large and colorful aquarium. After the waiter had taken our order for Mussels Marinara, Osso Buca for two and Penne Alfredo, I ordered a bottle of Tattingers to celebrate. It was the least I could do considering I wound up with his corner office and high paying job. Not to mention the thirty five hundred she/he'd paid for sex, five days ago before the bizarre switch.
The wine steward poured the bubbly wine into elongated flutes. After I sampled and nodded, he nodded and left. "Mmm, this is good."
Ginger took a sip and giggled.
"Is something wrong?"
She shook her head. "No, some bubbles just went up my nose. She held her glass up higher. This is good."
I raised my brow and nodded my agreement. "Suddenly, everything is good. I'm living with a stunningly beautiful woman, I have the job I always wanted and best of all, I can pee standing up."
Ginger laughed uproariously. "Honestly, that's the only thing I miss." She dabbed her eyes with her napkin. "Otherwise, I couldn't be happier. You know this is my first real date as a woman," She whispered the last word.
A few people seemed to be trying to get a look at us. Too bad. I lifted my flute. "Toast."
Sporting an expectant smile, Ginger raised her flute, too.
"To happiness, love and fantastic, mind numbing sex," I put the emphasis on mind numbing sex and we clinked glasses.
"To happiness, love and sex," Ginger paraphrased.
I glanced around. As my gaze met a couple watchers, they glanced away.
Ginger grabbed my hand. "Do you think we could?"
"What?"
"Fall in love."
As I was about to answer, our meal was delivered. "This smells absolutely delicious."
"It does."
When the waiter left, I answered Ginger's question, "I may already be in love."
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Me too."
Having both admitted we may be falling in love, we dug into our meal with gusto, but we never spoke as we ate. Instead, gazing at each other, we let our eyes, lips and tongues lovingly and seductively do our talking as we ate our meal and sipped our celebratory champagne. It was a scene fit for the Golden Days of Hollywood.
When I could eat no more, I sighed and took a deep breath. "That was a gastronomic masterpiece."
Ginger sighed, too. "Yes, that was divine."
"Are you ready for dessert?"
"Yes, but not the kind they have here."
I raised my eyebrows. "No?"
"No!" Ginger raised my hand to her beautiful lips and kissed it. "I wish this was your penis! Let's go home and make fantastic, incredible love to each other."
~ * * ~
On the cab ride home, Brad and I made out including all the fun things that go with it.
Coming to my senses, I glanced around. We were apparently stalled in traffic only half way home. I pushed Brad in the chest. He looked at me quizzically. "Lay back and enjoy." He reclined and grinned expectantly as I grasped his manhood and bent down. A glance at the rear view mirror told me the driver was quite interested at the unfolding scene. I raised my forefinger across my lips. "Sh-h-h-h!"
The driver's mouth formed a wicked wall-to-wall grin.
Suddenly, to my consternation, only minutes later the driver exclaimed, "We're here."
I sat up and looked around. We'd just pulled up to curb at our building. After I returned my breast to the confines of my strapless dress and Brad tucked himself back in his tuxedo trousers, we exited the cab as if nothing unusual had happened.
Waiting while Brad paid the driver, I heard joke him. "There isn't any of her juices on this bill, is there?"
"If there is, consider it a tip."
The driver laughed. "I might frame it. You and your sexy lady have a good night." He flashed a mock salute and drove off. Brad ran his hand across my ass and left it there to guide me inside.
Though I bristled with need, I behaved myself through the lobby and the short elevator ride. Stepping out of the elevator I grabbed his arm. "Yes, we absolutely have to make love in the elevator sometime."
"I'm game whenever you're ready."
I led him to 4314 and handed him my key. "Not right now. Now, I want my bed and you…and something kinky."
He leaned over and kissed me as he fiddled with the key. "Hurry, please, I can't wait."
Just inside the door of my condo, I was so worked-up, I turned and clawed at Brad's clothes. I'm afraid I got a little too exuberant as I scratched Brad's neck and sent a button flying. He grinned. "You want to play rough, do you?" Then he lifted my hundred and twenty pound frame, threw me over his shoulder, cave man style and headed for the bedroom.
"What're you going to do?"
"You'll see." Brad carried me into the bedroom and deposited me on my side of the bed. After taking off his coat and removing my silver Manolo, high-heeled sandals, he ordered, "Stand-up."
To my surprise, I liked following Brad's directions. It seemed like some kind of game—some kind of kinky sex game.
"Take your dress off." I pulled the side zipper down then lifted the dress over my head and handed it to him. He carefully laid the expensive garment across the backless settee at the foot of the bed. Since I purposely forewent bra and panties, I was now blissfully naked, except for nylons and garter belt, and I grew randier by the second.
Fronting me, I joined my hands behind Brad's head, resting my forearms on his broad shoulders. "What are you going to do to me, you big bad boy? Something incredibly wicked, I hope."
Brad laughed then stared at me. His intense gaze scanned my body down and back. His gaze paused at my eyes and he smiled. "You are not only incredibly gorgeous, you are exquisitely sexy." One of Brad's hands snapped my garter belt. "Not to mention this garter belt is a titillating touch."
"Oooh!" I murmured as he slid his fingers between my legs, curling my toes and sending an army of imaginary creatures scurrying up and do
wn my spine.
My poor legs grew wobbly and I began to loose my balance, but thankfully my arms resting on his shoulders stabilized me. "Whoa!" he said as he embraced and steadied me.
Even through his slacks, his pronounced hardness pushed against my abdomen. "Are you going to get undressed?" I wondered out loud.
"In a minute." He pushed me gently against the bed. "Lie on the bed." After doing what he asked, he went into our walk-in closet and came out seconds later holding several ties and a bag.
My eyes narrowed. "What's in the bag?"
He whispered. "It's a secret."
I tilted my head. "What about the ties?"
Instead of answering he used one to tie my left hand to the corresponding bedpost. After fastening my right hand to the other post, he undressed.
Chapter Twelve
Like the previous day I woke at sunrise, which seemed to occur a lot earlier on the 43rd floor of a Manhattan condo than in my Brooklyn townhouse. Careful not to wake Ginger, I eased out of bed. I heard Amber tinkering around in the kitchen. Then I remembered how she and Lew seemed to hit it off so well. Curious how things went after Ginger and I left, I slipped into a robe and headed to the kitchen. Once again, Amber sat at the breakfast table, with a cup of coffee and the New York Times in front of her, but she neither read nor drank her coffee. She was so deep thought, she didn't even notice me.
"Top o' the morning to you, sweetheart."
She looked up and forced a smile, "Hi Brad, how did you know I was Irish?" She hitched her head back and added, "That's right I told Ginger that in college. I just made coffee. It's French Roast, is that all right?"
"Yes, that's fine. Thanks."
I poured my coffee and took a seat across from her. She yawned.
"Tired?"
"A little. I got in late, then woke up at six and couldn't go back sleep."
"You seem down, this morning and buried in thought. Is it about Lew?"
She looked at me and opened her mouth as if she was about to speak, but closed it and placed her hand over mine. "Are you still my best friend?"
"Of course, you are and will always be my best friend."
"Even though you're a man?"
"Sweetheart, nothing has changed, I still love you."
"As a friend."
I nodded. "As I did when I was Ginger. Now tell your best friend what's bothering you."
She pulled her hand away. "Everything was going so well with Lew and then I him told about me."
"And?"
A tear formed in the well of her eye. "I shouldn't have done it. I told him it was up to him if he wanted to be my boyfriend and he said of course he wanted to be my boyfriend."
"Yes, go on."
Her hands clenched into fists. "Oh, Ginger, I should never have done it. I mean Brad, sorry."
I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. She collapsed on my chest and began to weep. When she'd calmed enough to talk, I said, "So you told him what you do and he couldn't accept it."
Between sniffles she mumbled, "Sort of. He said he would be in touch and left." Sniff, sniff. "I'm usually so in control." Sniff.
I handed her a napkin and she blew her nose in it. "I thought I was too mechanical—too dead inside to feel anything for a man." Sniff, sniff. "Ginger, I mean, Brad, I'm so disappointed in myself. I don't know what's come over me. I'm obsessing over a man I've known for a day—less than a day. And I know the money's great, but suddenly I can't picture myself…you know, being a plaything for men, anymore."
"And you don't have to be. We'll figure something out."
"What's going on?"
We looked up and there stood Ginger, arms akimbo.
"Amber is having a change of heart."
Immediately sympathetic, Ginger pulled up a chair, sat next to Amber and consoled her. "What's the matter, baby?"
"I don't know this has all just come upon me. I like Lew a lot and want to be his girlfriend, so I told him I entertain men for money. At first he didn't know what I meant. He said, 'You mean you're stripper'."
I added, "And she doesn't want to be a courtesan anymore."
Ginger turned back to Amber. "Is that true?"
Amber nodded. "Ah-huh. Maybe, I'm jealous of what you have with Brad. Besides, when Brad was you, we were a team. Going out and looking for dates was much easier when you were with me. Maybe I'll change my mind, but right now I don't want to be a whore anymore."
I ran my fingers through Amber's long auburn hair. "Then don't be. Think of it as an adventure. We had a great run, had lot of fun and made a ton of money. Now, it's time for life to move on. Love, maybe marriage. Who knows you might even want a baby."
"Brad's right. You should quit." Ginger sat up straight and gazed at me. "Oh shit, I forgot!"
"Forgot what?"
She placed my iPhone on the table. "Your phone woke me. I brought it to you in case it was important."
"Thanks." I picked up the phone and scanned for missed calls. "The call was from Lew."
Both girls grew excited. Ginger said, "Really, call him back."
Amber started to rise. "Yes, call him back, but not 'til I leave. I don't want to hear the conversation."
I grabbed her elbow and pulled her back down into her seat. "Don't be silly. He probably called about you."
"I know. That's why I want to leave."
Amber tried to stand again, but Ginger helped me keep her in place. "Baby, Brad's right. You're being silly. If Lew called about you, you need to hear it."
"It looks like I have no choice."
"You don't." I punched in Lew's number and he answered before I even heard a ring. "Brad? Thank God! I just called and left you a message."
Both girls, hearing only my side of the conversation, were obviously listening intently for clues of what Lew said. "I know. What do you need?"
"I need some advice."
I played dumb. "About what?"
"Amber."
I decided to confirm their suspicions. "Amber? Fabulous looking girl. Seems like you two hit it off pretty good."
"I know, she's my dream girl come to life. I felt like I'd hit the lottery when she said it was up to me if I wanted to be her boyfriend and then she tells me she's a paid escort. Oh, sure she's a part-time model and actress, but she made it clear to me her main income comes from entertaining men, translation, she's a beautiful, high priced whore."
"Sounds like you made up your mind."
"No, I don't know what to do. I can't sleep. I had maybe ten minutes sleep last night. I just know despite what she is, I want to be with her."
"Well, you have two choices then. You could get her to quit her job and become her boyfriend or…you could quit your job and become her pimp—though I don't know how good you'd look in a purple velvet suit with a raccoon collar and matching fedora."
"You're a lot of help."
Amber giggled, but Ginger broke out laughing.
"Is someone there?"
"Ginger, why?"
"She's Amber's friend. Let me talk to her."
"Just a minute." I put my hand over the phone's mic and whispered to Ginger. "He wants to talk to you."
~ * * ~
I took the phone from Brad. "Hello Lewis."
"Hi beautiful. You're Amber's best friend, right?"
"Ah-huh."
"So, I'm sure you know she's a courtesan."
"Yes, what about it?"
"Well, she said she'd like me to be her boyfriend if I could accept the fact that she's a courtesan. I really dig her. In fact, I can't get her out of my mind. I also can't get past the idea that she's probably had sex with scores of men."
"At least."
"What?"
"Nothing. So take Amber to bed and make love to her. Then you'll be even with the others. Fact is, you'll be ahead of them, because they were merely buying her time and you'll be romancing her."
"I never thought of that. Do you think she'd quit being a courtesan?"
"Don't know. You'
ll have to ask her. I quit."
"You? You were a courtesan?"
"Of course. She's my roommate. We were a team. We were even together that first night you saw us, Brad got me a job and I decided to move on."
"Wow. Is Brad still there?"
"Ah-huh. You want talk at him?"
"Please."
I handed the phone to Brad. "Your turn."
~ * * ~
"Yeah, Lew?"
"How'd you get past the fact Ginger's been with so many men?"
Even though I was the one who had sex with scores of men, vicariously, I put myself in Lew's position. "You can't dwell on it, Bud. It's a done deal. If you don't move past it, it'll flat eat you up. Personally, I think Ginger and Amber are great girls and worth a little leeway. They started escorting to get through college and even when they graduated the recession wouldn't let them get decent jobs, so I don't judge them and neither should you."
"I think you're right. Thanks."
"You’re welcome."
"I don't suppose Amber is around?"
"Actually, she walked in a couple seconds ago and is probably wondering what we're talking about. Do you want to talk to her?"
"If I could."
The frown on Amber's pretty face turned into a subtle smile as I handed my phone to her. "Lew?"
Her smile widened as Lew spoke. "I miss you too, baby."
"Are you sure?"
"Eleven will be fine."
"See you then. Bye." Amber jammed her fist in the air. "Yipee! I thought he'd never want to see me again and now we're going to meet at the Station."
Ginger and I jumped up and embraced Amber.
"That's wonderful," I said.
"Yes, I really like Lew," added Ginger
With Amber's arms wrapped loosely around us she started swaying. Then she started humming Some Enchanted Evening and soon we danced to Amber's improvised music.
~ * * ~
Wearing a smile, Suzi glanced up at Soriano. "What do you think, boss? It looks like Amber might give up the courtesan life, too, like Ginger. Net gain, two escorts going straight and two budding romances. I'd say switching Brad and Ginger's bodies has worked out quite well."
"I agree, things appear to be developing nicely and Amber and Lewis being involved together is like a bonus. Nevertheless, I just wish you hadn't resorted to this highly irregular procedure of switching bodies. I need to know what Brad and Ginger really think of their new situation. That's why I went ahead and set the wheels in motion to meet with them.