Counterpoint

by John Day

  Other types of ammunition from the range were included as samples. The Duke thought the weapon was so beautiful and feminine he planned to pass it on to Carla.

  Talking freely with the guests, Max soon discovered some of the reasons why the Duke was so popular with everyone.

  In the village, at a personal level, a widow had asked for the Duke’s help when she discovered her husband had forgotten to pay his life insurance premium and had inconveniently died.

  The Duke made enquiries on her behalf to this leading Insurance Company and claimed the husband had posted the cheque, and it must have become lost in the post. The cheque mysteriously turned up in due course, and the Company paid out.

  The case was subject to considerable coast-to-coast publicity in favour of the Company. They did well out of the increased business, as did certain press and television companies who had exclusive rights to report the story. The Duke also did well from many small revenues, from each of these.

  The Duke was approached by one of the shopkeepers fronting Carla’s hideaway about his idle, bully of a son who had admitted stealing from the Duke’s shop. He asked the Duke to give him a little extra time to make good the theft by delaying rent payment. The Duke agreed, but said should the wayward son decide of his own free will to make restitution, the shopkeeper should go along with it and support the boy as necessary.

  After bumping into the Duke’s Chief Steward in a dark alley the following night, the boy begged his father to forgive him and let him work in the shop for just his food and lodging for the next year. Also, the evenings were spent doing chores for certain elderly people in the village. The boy was at the reception this weekend, working under the scrutiny of the Chief Steward.

  And so, the stories went on. No wonder the Duke was so loved and revered by all.

  Well, not everybody!

  There was a spate of drug abuse and linked crime, but that stopped when a newcomer, thought to be at the root of it, mysteriously died.

  Max also discovered how The Organisation worked. It appeared the Duke’s wealth was the result of his fingers in many pies. Specialist Firms and Companies linked together in a symbiotic relationship.

  For example, special paper manufactures for currency, printing equipment for currency, engraving equipment, for currency, and many other industries. None were directly linked, and none had any obvious criminal connections, but viewed collectively, there was a pattern there.

  Max concluded that worldwide, the senior Directors of the various concerns linked to The Organisation paid a small, but regular commission to the Duke for their appointments. This totalled up to significant revenue.

  Other businesses involved with Real Estate and Construction worked in a similar way.

  Large areas of harbour side property, overrun with crime and dereliction were bought up and transformed into luxury homes and marinas for the seriously wealthy.

  Why crime suddenly rose to epidemic proportions in these areas and died away over night, when bought up, was never clear to the Authorities, they were just glad it did.

  Nobody seemed to lose out. The original landowners were delighted to be rid of it for a fair price, the Police got credit for tackling the crime, and peace reigned. Politicians were praised for their foresight and re-elected. The shopkeepers and traders became wealthy from the money earned from the rich and did not care too much that their rates were increased because household rates actually went down!

  After a sumptuous meal and some dancing, Carla suggested they leave, so they said their goodbyes to the guests and the Duke.

  The Duke told Carla he wanted a quick word with Max first, so she walked away towards the entrance doors and waited.

  The Duke came straight to the point. “I see a deeper relationship between you and Carla than just friendship.”

  Max was taken aback and wondered how he had come to that conclusion; after all neither he or Carla had even discussed such a thing.

  “I think you are mistaken, Sir,” Max replied.

  “Not at all, it is written all over your faces, you can’t take your eyes off each other and everything you say gives you away. The point is; Carla is a free spirit, highly intelligent, exceptionally beautiful and half your age.

  No one can dominate her, a normal life will soon lead to boredom, there would be an insufficient stimulus to keep her interested, and many young and handsome men will challenge you for her affections.

  You are special to her now for some reason, but you should face the facts and protect yourself from a broken heart!”

  Max’s face showed his rising anger, but the Duke continued; “I tell you this, not because I fear losing her love, it is not like that between us, but the intensity of love is greater with age and so is the pain when it is lost.

  Please just think about what I have said, I like you and respect you and hope we can treat each other as friends.”

  Max said nothing as the Duke smiled and said, “You had better go now, she grows impatient!”

  Carla’s face beamed, and she grabbed Max’s arm and linked hers in his, pulling him close to her. “What did he say?” She whispered conspiratorially.

  “Oh, nothing really, just that you’re a right little handful, you can’t cook, and if I want to stick around, I’d better get off my fat arse and get a decent job!” She chuckled, pushed into him, and said, “I knew he would like you and I hope you will want to stick around.”

  Chapter - Max & Carla’s night of passion.

  Max felt better about the relationship with Carla, from the way she was behaving. They arrived home in no time, laughing and giggling they staggered into the lounge. Max held her bare shoulders gently in his hands; her cool skin was soft and smooth to the touch. He turned her to face him, and she looked up. As he leaned in to kiss her, she reached up with her arm round his neck and pulled him to her. They kissed with an intense passion that neither wanted to end.

  Still kissing, Max carried her up to her bedroom.

  In anticipation of what might follow, his penis rose up like the drawbridge of a castle, under surprise attack.

  He let her down, standing by the side of her bed. As she slid down, she felt the lump of his penis, pressing into her.

  She said softly, in a Mae West voice “is that your torch or are you just pleased to see me?” Then she chuckled and started to undo his trousers. He unzipped her dress; she wriggled out of it, letting it fall to the floor around her feet. Kicking off her shoes, she attacked his remaining clothing feverishly.

  They kissed with even more passion, their naked bodies writhing together, hands exploring each other with sensual caresses…

  Still standing, Carla reached behind her and pulled the white silk bed cover off, onto the floor, and sat down on the corner of the bed. She lay back, wrapped her legs around Max’s waist and pulled him into her.

  She was so wet and ready that he entered her with a long, slow, deep thrust. They both gasped as the sensitive parts slid deeper and hotter till they could go no further.

  He bent over her, kissing her firm breasts and licking her hard nipples, he moved up kissing her throat and the side of her neck.

  She gasped again, eyes closed and in a trance of ecstasy.

  She writhed under him, pressing her neck to his lips, her soft body against his. She loved the soft roughness of his body hair against her belly and breasts; he loved the silky softness of her flawless skin.

  Slowly and firmly he withdrew and thrust into her, again and again, the angle was perfect for her G spot; she felt the initial waves of an orgasm starting to build.

  Max was close to orgasm and tried to focus his mind on her, to delay the inevitable. He opened his eyes and saw her laid before him. She was oblivious of everything except the pleasure deep inside her, the building waves, his rhythmic thrusting, gradually getting faster and more intense, and a warm glow starting to seep through her body.

  Then the first orgasm overwhelmed her, her whole body arched and shuddered, she groaned at the
climax. Max could hold back no longer, his thrusting became faster, deeper and wilder. He came!

  The first impulse of his orgasm and jet of semen washed into her, the feeling of the hot fluid, triggered the next violent convulsion of exquisite pleasure, throughout her whole body. She moaned, and cried out loud, as he forced into her, harder and deeper.

  Four more times he pulsed into her, the throbbing of his orgasm fading as hers continued to build.

  He was desperately seeking new angles of thrust and faster speed to hang onto the exquisite sensations that were falling away, but she was going wilder and wilder with louder cries, her body shuddering and hands clenching and clawing his skin.

  Slowly, her waves ebbed, and consciousness returned as he reduced the thrusting to a gentle probing. She looked up at him and smiled weakly, sweat had broken out over her body, swept with a warm tingling glow that reached every fibre of her being. She wanted to drift away into a deep sleep.

  Max was bathed in sweat, and totally spent. She pulled him close to her, nuzzling her cheek against the wet on his. It was like glue bonding them together for all time, she just wanted to stay like this forever, and then sleep overcame them both.

  When he woke up, she had slipped under the covers of her bed, so he went to his own room to finish out the night. As he drifted off to sleep, he wondered if he or she were going to hate themselves or each other, in the morning.

  Max awoke early and went down to the kitchen to make coffee. Whilst it was heating, he went to the gym to shower and swim.

  Carla was already there, working out, naked. She smiled at his embarrassment. He too was naked, and she called him over.

  “Stand just there,” she said, pointing to the floor ahead of him. She did a graceful cartwheel towards him. Her lithe body so pure and trim sent an erotic thrill through him.

  His rising penis added to his embarrassment. She stood close to him, her belly gently rubbing the exposed tip of his penis; the pheromones rising from her hot body were driving him crazy with desire.

  She sank to her knees, grasped the shaft of his penis with her cool fingers, and placed her hot wet lips over the tip and down the shaft, in a slow nodding motion.

  He gasped, closed his eyes and with his fingers running through her hair, pressed her head gently, deeper onto it. After a few minutes, she stopped and guided the throbbing member into her.

  “I need you again,” she whispered as she clung to his neck, raising her legs and wrapping them around his waist.

  For a minute or two, he stood there with her clinging on tight, just probing his penis tip gently into her hot, wet, pussy.

  With her still clinging on like a monkey, he sank to the floor on a plastic fall mat, with her under him.

  “I’ll go on top,” she said, “if you don’t mind, just lay back and enjoy!”

  Max was grateful to let her do the work, after last night, things might take some time.

  He was right, she took all the time he needed, and she was enjoying every moment, as well.

  She teased him by going down on him slowly in extremely erotic positions.

  When he wanted to move with her, she held him back until he stopped. She kept him on the brink for half an hour until he could take no more and in a furious climax, like animals, they both came together.

  They were still embracing when a buzzer sounded.

  “That will be Maria to get breakfast and to clean up,” said Carla. “We must get some clothes on and look decent.”

  They got up, covered up with towels, and went to their rooms. After showering, they dressed and came down to the dining room for breakfast.

  “We will be out most of today Maria,” said Carla, “so we will eat out.”

  Thank you Miss Carla,” she said and scurried off to clean.

  “So what have you got planned today, Carla?” Asked Max, pleased at how the day had started.

  “Well, I must do a small chore for the Duke, and we will go by helicopter to Milan. We can do some shopping there and then fly back.

  This evening we can eat out on the town if you like, there is a nice place I know of, a bit touristy, but generally a good atmosphere. Sometimes there is a cabaret or possibly a singer, and a band playing, we can take pot luck.”

  “That sounds great,” said Max. “I am looking forward to it.”

  Chapter - The fight.

  Carla drove up to the Duke’s home in the Honda and parked in the underground garage.

  “I can’t see the Duke’s Rolls,” said Max.

  “See the bays with the steel mesh around them; those cars also belong to the Duke. He has a red Ferrari, a silver Porsche as well as the Rolls. He seldom drives himself, he prefers it if I drive him. I prefer the Porsche,” she said. “I think it is a sensual looking car, in silver.”

  “I must agree there,” said Max. “I had a Porsche once, I loved it.”

  “We must go up to the offices first; I won’t be long, so make yourself at home, try the view over the back garden and beyond the mountains.”

  Max was amazed at the back garden. It was set out in a formal way to lawns and shrubs just like in a stately home.

  The end of the garden was the edge of the plateau, and so the view went on into the distance, to more mountains.

  It was 9.00am; the sun was already hot through the glass. The automatic ventilation system opened the glazing further to admit the cool, fresh mountain air into the room.

  A few minutes later Carla appeared holding a small leather case, chained to her wrist. She saw Max’s question, in his face; smiled and said, “Don’t ask,” so he didn’t.

  They walked purposefully out to the waiting helicopter, its rotor blades just starting to turn. They climbed in, and the pilot checked they had strapped in properly.

  He warned Max that the air turbulence was always a problem here and not to be alarmed, it was routine for him.

  Max was excited at the prospect of the flight and with such a fine day, it should be amazing views, all the way.

  The machine started to rise and drifted away from the building towards the roadway. Suddenly the updraft of air rising up the mountain and curling over the plateau, hit the craft.

  Max watched every move the pilot made with interest. The pilot adjusted the controls and after a few seconds of lurching and bucking, rose smoothly into the crystal clear, blue sky.

  The flight lasted an hour. It was hot in the cabin due to the sun, but Max hardly noticed, with the world stretched out below him.

  They landed in a small clearing, and a car came to meet them. It took them to the city and set them down outside a large Bank.

  The driver asked Carla to let her office know at least one hour before she wanted to be picked up. She nodded, being familiar with the routine.

  “Wait here, just outside the Bank and I will just be a few minutes,” she said. Max did so without comment, though he was dying to know what it was all about.

  The rest of the day was devoted to shopping and exploring. Carla loved the clothes and the more expensive they were, the better she looked in them, though she did not actually buy much. Max was happy to take in the sights; some of the old buildings were fascinating.

  After a late snack, lunch, they planned to return and prepare for the evening. They set off for the town at about 7.00pm, the air was still warm even without the sun, another romantic evening thought Max looking up at the stars.

  The Restaurant was quite busy; the smell of burning pine-wood tinged the air, from the open fire and grill. They sat at their table while complimentary drinks, and freshly toasted garlic bread, was served, with the menu.

  There was a lot going on in the restaurant. A singer and his musicians set up their equipment on the stage and started playing.

  “I know him,” said Carla. “He has a great voice and does Frank Sinatra very well.”

  “How come?” Said Max.

  “Just a ship that passed in the night” said she said, wishing she had not mentioned it.

  The
food arrived, so the subject was dropped.

  “Don’t you want your drink?” Max asked.

  “I don’t drink much anymore,” she replied rather subdued.

  Then she looked at him and said firmly. “I am an alcoholic!”

  Max was a bit shocked, not at the fact she had a drink problem, but at the way she said it. It was as if she wanted him to use it as an excuse, to walk out on her. He shrugged and said, “Well, I’m not bothered about drink either, so I’ll order water.”

  The food was superb; they chatted about many things, but kept away from personal subjects.

  During the singer’s break, he came over to their table and greeted Carla like an old friend. She responded warmly and introduced Max as a close friend. Peter, the singer was a tall and confident fellow, probably hugely popular with the women, thought Max.

  Peter asked if Carla would join him on stage as a special favour to him, for old time's sake.

  She agreed and said. “The usual?” He nodded.

  She said. “I want a favour too.”

  “OK!”

  She whispered in his ear. He nodded again and said, “a bit different for this place, but just for you!”

  Peter started singing again, and after the song, he announced he would perform a little duet with a friend of his, Miss Carla Day.

  She calmly rose to the applause and walked confidently onto the stage. She sang as Nancy, and he sang as Frank Sinatra in “Saying something stupid, like I love you.” The two of them were perfect in pitch, timing, and actions, the audience loved it!

  Max was amazed at her voice, the slight huskiness and wide vocal range made her a natural, and she could easily become a professional singer.

  Carla announced that she would like to dedicate the next song to a special friend with her tonight. The audience looked around and settled on Max. Oh heck he thought, what’s coming next!

  She sang, “I turn to you.” By Mel C of the Spice Girls, looking and sometimes pointing to Max to emphasise her meaning. Max was overcome with emotion, no one had done this for him before, and no one could have done it better. That’s Mel C out of a job he thought.