Noone Else on Earth Read online

  Julie opened her mouth in a jaw-breaking yawn that Connie caught.

  “That must be it. I’m keeping you up, hon. Let’s turn in.”

  “I’ll bring you an old nightie. It should fit.”

  “Thanks, Jules. Don’t worry about it. Who’ll see it?”

  Julie grinned. “You never know.”

  * * * * *

  Julie sighed with relief. It had been one hell of a night, starting with that moment in the parking lot and ending with Gary’s revelation about Suzanne.

  She tried letting the shower in her bathroom wash away her tension and fatigue and succeeded to an extent. Then she passed her mirror on the way to bed and came to a sudden halt.

  She let her robe slide down her arms. Her gaze traveled along the slopes and valleys, the curves and planes.

  She placed her hands on her breasts and cupped them. There was no way she could blot out her memory the feel of Dark and Dangerous’ fingers, palms, thumbs touching her.

  Her nipples tightened. Something dark and needy coiled inside.

  Her eyes closed and her head fell back. Her hair brushed her butt. Her hands fell to her side and she fisted them, trying not to give into the ache that was calling her to assuage it.

  Turning away, she stumbled to the bed and drew on her faded, flannel gown. The soft material seemed rough and scratchy against her sensitized skin. She wanted to strip it off and lay naked against the sheet, but she refused to surrender to the temptation. Damned if she would let two sexy strangers get to her.

  She slipped under the smooth, cool linen sheet and turned off the light.

  And dreamed.

  * * * * *

  “Well, Miss Julie, time for you to show your hand. My cousin and I need to know where we’re goin’ to sleep this night.”

  Julie glanced once again at her cards. As owner and operator of the Jewel of the Mississippi, she’d been in tight spots before, but none like this.

  The two men had boarded her ship at her homeport in Biloxi. Flashing a wad of cash, the Northern carpetbaggers had proceeded to win hand after hand against all comers.

  Customers were complaining, sure that the two gamblers were cheating and worst of all, that she was in on it.

  Earlier that day she’d cornered them in the sumptuous dining room and challenged them to a game of poker.

  Winner takes all.

  They agreed with alacrity.

  She’d prepared for the showdown with care, dragging out her ruby red satin dress with the plunging neckline, guaranteed to distract any red-blooded male with its display of her bountiful bosom.

  She wore her waist-length, straight, ebony hair piled on top of her head except for one long curved piece that lay curled within her deep cleavage. Her pierced ears sported ruby and jet drop earrings. And, just in case they hadn’t yet noticed, her lacy ruby and jet necklace graced her décolletage.

  Her opponents noticed.

  The bulge beneath their pants placket revealed their interest.

  The Sun God and Dark and Dangerous each took one of her hands and bowed, kissing her soft skin.

  One kissed her palm, his teeth nipping her flesh and making her sex clench. The other kissed her knuckles, his tongue darting between her fingers, making her cream.

  They had their own means of distraction.

  “The stakes are simple, gentlemen. You win, and you get the Jewel and me. I win ... you leave ... when I tell you and never come back. Agreed?”

  They nodded, their assuredness annoying.

  Julie heard bets being made as they sat down at the table. Near her elbow was her favorite sherry. Amber-colored whiskey filled the men’s glasses. None of them drank.

  Julie’s dream sped through the countless hands played with neither side showing a gain.

  Then things changed.

  As though they communicated with each other with their minds, the men began to win. Hand after hand, the chips were swept away by their long fingers.

  Julie was down to her necklace and earrings. She tossed them into the ante.

  “Keep them, Miss Julie. Neither my cousin or I believe a beautiful woman should be without her gaudies.”

  She shook her head. “If I don’t put up my jewelry, I have only the Jewel.”

  The Sun God spoke up. He’d been quiet all evening, letting his cousin speak for them.

  “Miss Julie, if you win it won’t matter and if you lose ...” He shrugged. “We’ll let you play this hand on your honor. The next hand ... is for the Jewel.”

  She lost.

  Now, she stared at her hand, the deed of ownership on the table.

  Slowly, she turned over her cards. One by one.

  Four of a kind. All queens.

  Without showing their hands, the men threw their cards down.

  The Sun God smiled. “You win, Miss Julie. When do you want us off the Jewel?”

  Julie wet her lips. “I’m not sure. But there’s nowhere you can go at least for tonight. Let’s go back to my cabin and we can make ... arrangements.”

  She rose. The men immediately jumped to their feet.

  “Give me half an hour, gentlemen and I’ll meet you there.” She smiled all sweet seduction. “I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

  She lifted her skirt hem over her arm and glided from the roomful of men. All eyes followed the sway of her generous hips. She watched the men turn their heads as she passed the mirror- lined wall. The Sun God and Dark and Dangerous gazed her way as though tied to her ass.

  She watched them as they looked at each other and grinned wolfishly.

  The dream shifted again and Julie was in a lavishly decorated cabin. A canopied double bed attached to one wall held center stage in the dimly lit room.

  Her trademark ruby red colors graced the satin draperies edged with black lace. Fringed oil lamps warmed the interior. A large oval standing mirror lacquered in black with red and gold Oriental designs posed in one corner.

  She lay in the bed, waiting for her men.

  Wearing nothing but her necklace, earrings, and a pair of high-heeled shoes.

  And a warm, welcoming smile.

  A brisk knock and Dark and Dangerous’s voice slipped under the door.

  “May we enter, Miss Julie? Are you ready for us?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  And the door swung open.

  Chapter Five

  “Close the door behind you and lock it.” She shifted to a kneeling position, facing them. “I don’t want us to be disturbed.”

  Uncoiling her body, she rose from the bed and moved toward them, her head high, her breasts proud. Her three-inch-heeled shoes, the latest style from Paris, gave a seductive sway to her hips.

  She smiled as the bulges in their pants thickened.

  Dark and Dangerous’s voice hoarsened with lust as he spoke. “If this is how you treat the men who lose to you, I don’t think I’d make it through winning.”

  She laughed, throwing back her head, hands on her hips.

  The Sun God took a step toward her.

  Julie put out a restraining hand. “Easy, boy. Just stand still while I tell you what you lost tonight.”

  She moved within reach of the pair and slowly circled them, letting her hands trail down their concealed arousals.

  “You’ve lost your right to control your behavior. You’ve been very naughty this past week, and now I’m going to punish you. You must do whatever I tell you to do, with no questions asked.” She paused and ran the tip of her tongue along her lips. “The only thing you can ask is, ‘How deep? How hard? How quick?’ Or --” She grabbed each crotch. And squeezed. “-- How fast?’ Got it? Good.”

  “Now, strip ... quickly and show me what I’ve won tonight.”

  Not taking their eyes off her, they whipped off their clothing and stood before her gloriously naked. The Sun God was long and thick, his erection pointing almost straight up.

  Dark and Dangerous was equally as big, his bush thick and curly at the base.
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  Julie’s mouth grew dry and her pussy wet. Hers, hers for the taking.

  “One of you, on your knees in front of me, the other behind me. I don’t care which. Do it. Now.”

  The Sun God knelt while Dark and Dangerous moved behind.

  She gripped the Sun God’s curly hair and thrust her ass against Dark and Dangerous’s prick.

  “You know what to do. Do it.”

  The Sun God’s tongue darted toward her dripping cunt. His fingers spread her plump lips and he thrust his tongue deep inside. His hands moved to her thighs, gripping them while he licked her snatch as though she were a bowlful of cream.

  Her knees grew weak, but Dark and Dangerous had her secured in his arms. His hands circled her body to cup her breasts. He squeezed the lush fruits then moved to her pointy nipples, hard and aching with need. His warm breath fanned her skin as he slowly sank his prick deep between her cheeks.

  His hairy bush brushed her sensitive skin and she moaned.

  Slowly he pulled back out, then impaled her again.

  “Harder.”

  Dark and Dangerous murmured in her ear. “Which of us?”

  “Both.”

  He withdrew, then drove into her. Hard.

  The Sun God nipped her flesh then laved the pain.

  “Faster.”

  Dark and Dangerous jack-hammered into her, grunting with the force and speed she demanded.

  The Sun God took his fist and plunged inside her, rotating his fingers, helping to drive her to climax.

  “Stop.”

  Obediently, their movements ceased.

  Julie took a deep shuddering breath.

  “Come to the bed. Stay at my back, you before me.”

  She lay on her side, sandwiched between the two men, her breasts pressed against the Sun God’s chest, her buttocks cradled by Dark and Dangerous.

  “Fuck me. Now.”

  Dark and Dangerous shoved his cock deep into her hot, wet body. The Sun God drove her with hard, short plunges straight into the grip of mindless passion.

  She whimpered as the men moved within her. Her thigh flung over the Sun God’s hip, she shivered as the sexual energy surged through her body, threatening to burn her.

  She recited her one simple command over and over, growing louder with each thrust and plunge.

  “Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me ...”

  * * * * *

  Julie awoke, drenched in sweat, her nightgown lying in a heap on the floor. The sheets were twisted as though they’d been witness to an orgy.

  And they had.

  She pressed her fingers to her dripping pussy and groaned.

  So much for a good night’s sleep. Still groggy, she fell back against the pillow and dozed.

  Minutes later, the strident buzz of her alarm startled her awake. She peered bleary-eyed at the time. Six o’clock. Way earlier than her usual seven-thirty, but necessary this morning.

  Gary would have opened for the contestants and then left around noon for some shuteye while she took over. She’d been unable to reach her dad; he must have spent the night at his girlfriend’s place. It was up to her then, to welcome the men.

  Moving as quietly as she could, she dressed, made a pot of coffee and gathered some clothes for Connie.

  She tiptoed to her guest room where Connie slept, and quietly opened the door. Her friend was dead to the world. Setting the travel alarm on the nightstand, she left the clothes on the wooden chest at the foot of the bed and left as silently as she’d come in.

  She’d barely locked the front door when Gary pulled up in his cherry red truck.

  “Glad I caught you. I forgot to get a key and I didn’t want to alarm Connie by pounding on the door.”

  Separating the car keys from her house keys, she tossed Gary the ring.

  “I left her still asleep. There’s a pot of coffee in the kitchen and some Danish in the fridge.”

  He nodded. “I’ll try to get to the place as soon as I can.” He paused. “I’ll bring Connie. I don’t think we should leave her alone until she can get some sort of restraining order against Bill.”

  “Good thinking.” Julie patted Gary’s arm. “You’re a good friend.” A sly, little smile crossed her face. “Now’s your chance to show Connie how good a friend.”

  Gary shook his head. “I doubt she’ll be in any mood to accept anything more than my friendship.”

  Julie walked to her car, throwing her last thought out for him to catch.

  “You’d be surprised, my friend. You might just be surprised.”

  * * * * *

  Julie pulled up to Real Bad Boys and parked in her reserved spot. Mario, the cook, had unlocked the side door to the dressing room upstairs and got the coffee perking and mounds of fluffy scrambled eggs piled in chafing dishes. Tying on an apron, she pitched right in, informing him that Gary would be late.

  Some of the performers straggled in, most wearing their costumes.

  They ranged from full Native American warrior regalia and the world’s smallest loincloth to a Black Watch plaid ... and nothing else.

  Seeing the food on the buffet table, they waved a greeting to Julie and lined up. The first stripper would be practicing in just a half hour and most of the men wanted to watch.

  Biscuits, bacon, creamed gravy and hash browns were wolfed down with relish. Coffee cups were refilled and soon enough Julie was wiping sweat from her brow.

  A few minutes to nine, she raised her voice to remind the guys that the kitchen would be closed until supper. The last cups of coffee were downed and gravy sopped up.

  Mario came out and together they cleared the breakfast remnants. The college student who would run the lights went backstage and Julie moved to the end of the bar where the audio equipment was located.

  She slipped the first CD into the machine and the sounds of a golden oldie, “Running Bear,” drummed out. Rafael Vasquez, a.k.a. Chief Mighty Stick, danced and whooped, strutted and swiveled, and finally whipped off his loincloth to display a G-string that just barely covered his “mighty stick.”

  Julie loved it. One of those sad songs from the fifties, sung in a major key and with a lively tempo, it would start the evening off on a fun note.

  Volume and lighting were adjusted, Rafael wanting a trifle more red to highlight his skin. The song was shorter than the time allowed so he worked out a little bit of business, coming onstage from the audience and promising Julie that he’d seek out a blonde woman and pretend to admire her hair and then jump onto the stage to go into his act.

  Even better.

  The rest of the morning passed quickly, the performers doing their routines with various degrees of expertise. Her two favorites and Beau were in the afternoon group.

  Julie sent Mario and the student off. Another student would be coming at one o’clock and the evening cook at four-thirty to start cooking the hamburgers and steak fries, the specialities of the place.

  Going into her office at the left side of the stage, she planted her weary butt in her rickety desk chair and kicked off her shoes. She pulled off her knee-high socks, wiggling her toes in the air-conditioned coolness. Heaving a deep sigh of relief, she leaned back, closing her eyes.

  Bad move. Visions of last night’s triple X-rated dream returned in living color. Her nipples tightened in remembrance and moisture gathered deep within her body.

  A perfunctory knock had her opening her eyes and putting her legs back down on the floor.

  “Miss Julie, I hope you don’t mind, but we’re having a problem with the sound.”

  One of her lovers from last night stood in front of her, unfortunately fully clothed.

  “No problem. I should’ve remembered that the volume control was quirky. I’ll take care of it.”

  She shoved her feet into her sneakers and stood.

  And nearly fell as a sharp cramp jabbed her in the calf muscle.

  Her dream lover jumped over to her, catching her as she crumpled and carrying her to the worn couch against
the wall.

  “Sorry, sorry, didn’t expect to fall into your arms.”

  “You all right?”

  “It’s nothing, just a cramp. I’ll be fine. Just give me a minute.”

  He knelt at her feet, his pose reminiscent of last night’s steamy dream. Instead of putting his mouth to her crotch, he put his hands on her feet. Her toes wiggled within his gentle grasp.

  “Let me help. My fingers are guaranteed to ease the pain.”

  He placed her feet onto his thighs, just below the bulging crotch that they both tried to ignore, and went to work.

  When did toes become erogenous zones? When did the arch of the foot lead directly to the womb?

  And, as his fingers moved higher to her calf muscles, why did it feel like he was caressing her breasts?

  Her hands fisted and she clutched at the faded afghan covering the couch. Her eyes fluttered shut and her head fell back. For a few more moments, his fingers eased the tight muscles in her legs even as they pulled at the muscles in her sheath.

  Suddenly he stopped, and carefully laid her feet on the floor.

  Her eyes opened to see him go to the door and flip the lock. He turned.

  She couldn’t believe the size of the erection straining against his zipper. He put his hands on his hips and stared at her.

  “Okay, we can do one of two things. You can tell me to leave and I’ll unlock the door and close it behind me. Or ...” He stepped closer to her until he stood at her feet. “Or you can take off those slacks and your panties and let me give you what we both know you need.”

  “And that is?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t be coy with me, Julie. You know what you need to make you happy.” He squatted on his heels, his hands circling her ankles. “You need me to fuck you until you scream.” His hands moved up her legs to her knees. “What’s it to be?”

  He gazed up at her, his eyes smoky with desire. His thumbs made those tiny erotic circles that made her dizzy. The music outside the office was incredibly loud.

  Would it be loud enough to cover a scream of ecstasy?

  “Fuck me.”

  His hands tightened. “Did you ...?”

  “I want what you can give me. I want you to make me happy. Make me scream.” She pulled off her t-shirt and opened the front clasp of her bra. Her mouth was as dry as a drought-hit creek. She licked her lips, twined her fingers and raised her hands above her head, thrusting out her breasts.