by King Key
And when he sensed that Gretel had found the perfect angle for getting off, Kurt thrust hard into her, careful not to change the direction of his penetration, even by one degree. Her gaze into his eyes suggested gratitude for Kurt’s attention to her needs and his desire to please her. She threw herself against him vigorously, grunting like a tennis star serving the ball, and finally screamed the triumph of her orgasm—victory over Jessica, permanent enslavement of Kurt, and the wild inauguration of her campaign to humble her friends and destroy her enemies.
They lay side-by-side, thoroughly spent and totally pleased. “You were good,” Gretel said, floating Kurt’s ego on a fluffy cloud
“You were great,” he admitted. “The best ever.”
They looked up in surprise to see Jessica in the doorway, calmly surveying them. “That isn’t what Lila said he wanted,” Jessica mused.
“When?” Gretel asked.
“After Kurt left yesterday. You were at the hotel with Rich and Mother. But hurry and get dressed. Judd Workman and Sidney Schisslinger are both in the hospital.”
“Anything serious?” Kurt asked.
“I think I know what happened to Sidney,” Gretel said. “How about Judd?”
Jessica glanced at Kurt and decided, “I’ll explain on the way.”
While she was undressing, a look of realization crossed Gretel’s face. “Lila didn’t want you to seduce Kurt. She knew you’d play for keeps, maybe even marry him. She wanted you to remain available.”
Jessica blushed. “No, she just wanted you to have Kurt.”
Gretel grinned wryly. “I thought we were battling over Kurt. I bagged him, but you stole some affection, too.”
“Yes,” Jessica smiled, “I plan to lure Casper Waverly into marriage.”
Gretel looked incredulous. “What on earth for?”
“So Lila can seduce him and I can sue him for divorce!” Jessica shook her head to make a point with her glossy, chestnut locks. “Casper’s Aunt Fanny had brown hair.”
Gretel made a face. “That’s so nasty!” She burst into a smile. “My compliments!”
Gretel and Jessica laughed until tears came into their eyes. Gretel hugged Jessica tightly and proclaimed, “You and I are sisters, after all!”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Consolidating Power
After Gretel and Kurt showered, Gretel borrowed a pair of purple slacks and a gold sweater from Jessica. Kurt, lacking a change of clothes, donned his previous outfit. Although Jessica got behind the wheel of her Saturn, Gretel took charge before they left.
“Thanks for driving, Jessica. Kurt should chauffeur us around, but his time will come.” She opened the back door. “Get in, Kurt. I’ll sit beside you.”
Kurt slid across the back seat. “I don’t mind if you sit with Jessica.”
“Trust me on this.” Gretel nestled against Kurt. “Jessica, what’s the news on Judd?”
“He has cancer. Sorry, Kurt.”
Gretel took Kurt’s head in her hands and rested it on her shoulder. She hugged him. “See why I wanted to sit with him, Sis?”
“You haven’t called me that in years. Brace yourselves. It gets worse. They found malignancies in Judd’s lungs, prostate, bowels, and lymph glands. It’s inoperable. He may not make it through the weekend. Hate to break it to you this way, Kurt, but there’s no way to sugarcoat it.”
He pressed his face harder into Gretel’s shoulder. “Sorry I’m such a wimp.”
Gretel stroked his head softly. “You’re a true friend, not a wimp. I’ve got to make peace with Judd.”
“I thought you did.” Kurt looked into her eyes. His were red.
“Not entirely.” Gretel seemed eager to change subjects. “What about Sidney?”
“Mother said the police questioned her,” Jessica said. “They think Sidney drugged Bruiser, had anal sex with him, and then drank himself into a stupor. When Bruiser woke up, he figured Sidney had buggered him. He beat Sidney up.”
“Assault and battery,” Gretel said. “Not good for a parolee.”
“Right,” Jessica said. “Bruiser’s in jail, waiting to be transferred to prison. Sidney’s in stable condition, but he can’t work for at least six months. Then he faces charges for possession of an illegal substance, something called rohypnol.”
“The slang term is roofies,” Gretel said.
Jessica pulled into the hospital parking deck and eased into the first available space. They sat silent for a moment.
“What will happen to Chimera?” Kurt asked.
“I’ll take over,” Gretel said.
Jessica glanced at her sister in the rearview mirror. “Just like you planned it?”
“How could I plan Bruiser’s rampage?” Gretel asked. “It was too freaky. Too spontaneous.”
Kurt mused, “You tried to tell me Bruiser’s violent. I wouldn’t listen.”
Gretel frowned but got out of the car instead of speaking. The three of them went to the visitor information desk and requested passes to see Judd. But the receptionist said hospital policy limited visitors to two at a time, and Judd had a guest named Honey Bates already. Gretel nodded for Kurt to go ahead.
After he left, Jessica turned to Gretel. “Now that Kurt’s gone, how did you magically appear in my bedroom this morning? As a professional courtesy, I’ll preserve your mystique as an enchantress.”
“Thanks. I let myself into your house with my key while it was still dark and waited outside your bedroom door. When you headed downstairs to make breakfast, I hid in your guest bedroom. Then, while Kurt showered, I went in your room.”
Abruptly, Jessica said, “Lila doesn’t love you anymore.”
“I saw that coming. Do you love her?”
“Yes, even though I was suspicious of her at first.”
“How did she gain your trust?”
Jessica grinned sheepishly. “She didn’t! I just don’t care anymore. She’s elegant. She had the chance to mess up Kurt’s mind during hypnosis, but she didn’t.”
Gretel watched the clouds through a waiting room window. A monotone voice paged a doctor through the PA system. “Lila thinks my love for her has cooled, and I’m unfair because I’m always the aggressor. I’ve been obsessed with seducing Kurt so thoroughly he’ll never look at another woman.”
Jessica nodded. “Lila thinks you’re in love with Kurt.”
“Nobody has ever loved me the way he does. He knows I’m playing Greta Hipps, but he craves me, anyway, as Greta and for myself. I honestly believe I’m the most desirable woman he’s ever met.”
“And so modest, too. How do you feel about Kurt?”
“Maybe opposites attract. Being cruel and nasty resonates to the core of my soul. But I care for Kurt because he’s so decent—and terrific in bed! Bad boys play sex games. Or try to act blasé. Kurt behaves so innocently and sincerely—with insane passion!”
“Speaking of insane, what do you know about Bruiser and Sidney?”
Gretel drew close to her sister. “If you repeat what I’m about to tell you, I’ll deny everything. Those bastards decided I was an uppity bitch. They planned to punk me and force fellatio on me. I think Sidney would have killed me if he could get away with it.”
“So, you drugged them,” Jessica concluded.
“Bruiser, yes. Sidney, technically. Alcohol is a drug. I got Sidney drunk.”
“After you drugged Bruiser, Sidney shafted him?”
“No comment,” Gretel winked.
“You almost got Sidney killed. You knew how violent Bruiser is. By the way, Bruiser had a tête-à-tête with his own stepmother, and his father beat him terribly. That’s why he hit Rich after Rich called him ‘Dad’ in your little game.”
“I didn’t think he’d go berserk. Besides, he fooled me about his criminal charges.”
“Quite a list: Assault and battery, sexual assault, attempted rape.”
“He told Sidney he had plenty of experience assaulting women—after duping me into thinking he was inn
ocent.”
“In that case, Sis, I’m glad you nailed him. Hope he stays in prison a long time.”
“Me, too,” Gretel sighed heavily. “For the sake of justice—and my personal safety!” She looked at her watch. “Want to visit Sidney while we wait for Mom and Kurt?”
“No thanks,” Jessica frowned. “My sleaze Geiger counter goes wild around Sidney!”
Gretel retraced her steps to the patient information desk, picked up an adhesive label that served as her pass to Sidney’s room, and went to see him. Although he was assigned to a semiprivate room, the other bed was temporarily vacant.
“What were you thinking?” Gretel asked.
“Gretel, I can’t remember what happened. One minute, I’m chugging Scotch. Next minute, Bruiser is beating the crap out of me.”
“Do you remember scheming with Bruiser to humiliate me—or worse?”
Gretel’s words sank home. Sidney’s pulse increased, and so did the pain from his throbbing body. “You instigated Bruiser’s outburst! Oh! My head aches.”
“Good luck proving that,” Gretel said softly, “since you were drunk out of your mind and Bruiser—a convicted felon who’s blown all of his credibility—was unconscious. Tomorrow my lawyer will present you with papers to sign Chimera over to me.”
“I’ll fight you for Chimera.”
“Now, Sidney, don’t be bitter. If you beat the drug rap after you get out of the hospital, I might offer you a job at Chimera. But if you try to resist me, I’ll ruin your career—not just in Baltimore, but wherever I track you down.”
“What kind of job?” he asked.
“Office boy.”
“Bitch.”
“OK, you can be my bitch, too, office boy.” She turned and walked out.
When Gretel returned to the waiting area, Kurt and Honey Bates were talking with Jessica. “Gretel,” Kurt called from a distance, “your mom is weird. She asked for my coat, pants, and shoe sizes.”
“I told her to size you up for me,” Gretel explained. “Ostensibly, for a new outfit.”
“What’s the occasion?” he asked. He removed the sticker with Judd’s room number from his lapel and gave it to Gretel.
“Thanks,” she said. She replaced the sticker for Sidney’s room with the pass to see Judd. “That’s Mom’s way of saying she approves of you.” Gretel smirked. “Don’t get excited. The suit means ownership, not acceptance—like branding cattle.”
Honey had already given her sticker to Jessica. “Gretel!” She admonished her younger daughter. “I have no intention of owning Kurt.”
“Never mind your intentions,” Gretel smiled. “He’s all mine—my eager slave.”
“I’ll save Gretel some time by ordering your suit,” Honey explained to Kurt. “She’s so busy trying to take control of BizMart and Chimera.”
Jessica gasped.
“What?” Gretel asked.
“Lila sold her twenty percent of BizMart. She doesn’t want to give it to you.”
Gretel flinched. “Who bought it?”
“She won’t say.”
Gretel smiled sublimely. “Another complication. I’ll overcome it.” Turning to Honey, she said, “Have you visited Sidney?”
“Kurt and I will go together,” Honey said.
“Woo-hoo! Kurt and Mom and going together! Does Rich know?” Gretel teased. Turning serious, she took Kurt aside and talked to him with a quiet, but animated, voice.
Weighing Gretel’s remarks, Kurt silently vowed to do what was best for him.
Gretel led the way toward Judd’s room while Jessica followed placidly. The sisters greeted Judd in their individual styles.
Jessica asked, “How are you doing, Mr. Workman?”
Gretel crowed, “Judd, you dog, you let Mom wear you out.”
His haggard face broke into an enthusiastic smile. “When I get out of this place, I’ll head for New York and look her up. Please have a seat. Both of you.”
“Just wanted to let you know we’re thinking about you,” Jessica said. “You need your rest. I’d send flowers, but you’d hardly notice them after Mother’s gift!”
“Thanks for coming by.” Judd coughed. “You can stay a minute, can’t you, Gretel?”
“Love to!” After Jessica left, Gretel pulled a chair close to Judd’s bed. “I’m writing off your debts to LAIR. Should have done it before now.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he shook his head. “That doesn’t give you any right to mess up Kurt’s life.”
“Your debts are erased. Period. Sorry I tried to bargain with you before. You and Kurt have more integrity than anybody else I know. If you believe I should leave Kurt alone, I’ll let you cling your opinion. Regardless of what you think about me, you don’t owe me anything.”
“Thank you for respecting my opinion.” Judd sighed and coughed again. “You’ll do as you please. I can’t stop you. May I make one humble request?”
Gretel looked at this tough guy who never gave quarter in business dealings, and never expected any—until now. To see him give up brought tears to her eyes. “Tell me what you want, Mr. Workman.”
“Once you get your death grip on Kurt—and he couldn’t resist you if he tried—promise me you’ll never let him go.”
Tears streamed down her face. Gretel leaned down and kissed Judd flush on his lips. “I promise,” she said. Judd closed his eyes, smiled, and went to sleep with that smile on his lips.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Grand Theft
Kurt and Honey popped into Sidney’s room, wished him a healthy recovery, and popped out. Then Kurt said to Honey, “I need to discuss something with Sidney.”
She eyed him suspiciously, but conceded, “I’ll wait in the lobby.”
Returning to Sidney’s bedside, Kurt noted, “You’re right about Gretel. She’s out of control.”
“See? I told you. What’s she up to now?”
“Trying to take over BizMart. Somehow she’s got Casper under her thumb.”
“That spineless bastard! She wants me to give her Chimera, too, but I’ll fight her. I’ve stopped her once, and I’ll stop her again.”
“How?”
“Her late husband forgot to change his will before he died. Left her a fortune. But I got the family to contest the will.”
“Oh, that’s personal. I didn’t mean to pry.” Kurt hoped that backing away from the subject would lure Sidney into elaborating on it.
Sidney patted Kurt on the hand. “Don’t worry! I like to brag about it. I met Greg, Gretel’s ex-husband, when I pursued the advertising accounts for some of his companies. He loved to butt-fuck, but Gretel never let him. So, I let Greg use me, for a price.”
Kurt nodded. “Did he throw any advertising your way?”
“No. He didn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. Greg sent me the sweetest love letters. And I kept them all. I told the Messick family I’d go public with the letters if they passed Greg’s estate on to Gretel. Greg loved me, not her.”
“So, you know how to handle Gretel.”
Sidney took a long drink of water from the Styrofoam cup on his bedside tray. “Yes and no. I carelessly left the letters in a file cabinet in my home office. I need to put them in a safer place.” He paused.
Kurt suspected Sidney was testing him. He remained silent.
“Could you take care of the letters?” Sidney asked.
“I have a safe in my home office.”
“Perfect. I’d ask you to put them in my safe, but I don’t want to give you the combination.” He took his set of keys from the drawer in the bedside table. “Here.”
“I’ll take care of your letters.”
“You’ll be handsomely rewarded.” Sidney lay back on his bed. “I need another pain pill. Before I buzz for the nurse, Kurt, I want you to consider another challenge. At some point, the Messick family will run out of legal resources to contest the will. I know I can’t get Greg’s estate, but how can I keep Gretel from getting her clutches on it?”<
br />
“Let me think about that. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Kurt. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to do something about this pain. Gretel suckered Bruiser into mauling me, damn her.”
In the lobby, Kurt yearned to see Gretel. But Jessica returned alone and explained, “Gretel asked me to drive you to BizMart. She’ll meet you there.”
Everything blurred together from that point, like fast-forwarding a video: the trip to the BizMart building, Kurt’s apology to Jessica for using her to defy Gretel, Jessica’s apology for treating Kurt as a trophy to steal from Gretel, and finally Kurt’s ordeal of waiting for Gretel.
Then—at last!—Kurt was waiting for Gretel in the BizMart Building. Time dragged again.
Dusk descended. By the time Gretel arrived, carrying her pocketbook and briefcase, the hallways in the BizMart building were dark. She wore a black cloth overcoat to conceal her visual feast for Kurt. The security guard approached them in the hall, visibly agitated by Kurt’s presence in the building. Gretel flashed Casper’s business card and glared at the guard, who realized Gretel would brook no objections, and she’d make sure he lost his job if he tried to interfere with them.
Once they were inside Casper’s office, Gretel turned on a few lamps to leave the lighting low. She placed her pocketbook and briefcase, slowly and methodically, in a chair beneath the wall portrait. To Kurt, removing her overcoat was the unveiling of a work of art—her body, shaped and accented in shiny black, with her motion adding intriguing, glistening ripples in her curves.
Taking her coat to a nearby coat tree, Gretel delighted Kurt with her predictable yet fulfilling pose: a confident smile over her left shoulder. Kurt openly stared at her gorgeous ass, flaring out so enticingly in bold relief from her slim waistline. His desire for Gretel glared through any attempts at subtlety and restraint. She knew where to find all of his—the phrase popped into his mind after so many years of suppression—dirty laundry.
Gretel waited for him at the coat tree, still turning her back to him. After a few broad strides, Kurt took her in his arms and treasured the softness of her skin, the firm, compacted feel of her posterior against his groin, and her proud, pert breasts in his trembling hands. Pressing his cheek against her neck, he inhaled the fragrance of her marshmallow and lavender perfume, letting the scent accelerate the intoxication that her proximity generated. She tantalized him by rotating her hips in an approximate oval, alternately touching him lightly with her rump and vigorously grinding of her ass cheeks into Kurt’s rigid cock.