TWENTY TWO
Sophia had received an invitation from Kimmy. And what an invitation! It was to her very first orgy. The party - for such it basically was, Kimmy assured her; the sex would just happen if the mood took folks - was going to start that evening at ten o'clock at Kimmy's place. As the result of a highly favourable divorce settlement, brokered by one of the town's best attorneys, Kimmy had got to keep the family home in Beverly Hills. It occupied part of the site where a famous director of the Hollywood Golden Age had built a house which had seen quite a bit of action of its own in the 1930s and 1940s.
All sorts of people would be there, but only invitees. Very few worked in the adult film industry (just two women, Kimmy said). The rest were realtors, lawyers, advertising people. There was even one accountant, Kimmy said, laughing. And he was the life and soul of the party! There were a couple of men whom Kimmy described as 'artisans', one an electrician and the other a builder. She personally knew 90 percent of all those who came to her parties, which were held approximately twice a year. She expected around 25 to 30 people in all, roughly split between men and women. There'd be plenty to drink, of course, and she had ordered food from a local caterer, who was a personal friend and an occasional participant.
Naturally, Sophia was excited. So excited that she thought of telling Peter. But, no, she'd see how it went first and give him an account on her return, if it lived up to the hype. Once she got back tot the hotel, she swam for half an hour in the pool - which she had to herself - and then ordered room service. Something light was what she asked for and the kitchen recommended the creamy basil pesto and pork fusilli. She ordered a Chardonnay to go with that and decided the amount of exercise she had taken that day entitled her to a dessert, choosing the apple strudel - always a favourite of hers.
She wanted to watch a fun movie that made few demands on the little grey cells, and, having scrolled through various lists, decided on
Ratatouille
, which she'd first seen with her then four-year-old Ollie a couple of years before. It would, she thought, be nice to watch it on her own, which meant she could concentrate on the flick without having to explain things to the inquisitive child every few minutes. Recalling that time made her aware of how much she missed her children. Yes, she found time to Facetime them each day, but it wasn't the same as having them around. She must remember to find something to bring back for them. Anything animal- or natural world- related would send Ollie into raptures, while her four-year-old budding artist Chloe would love a sketchbook. She would see to this on the following day - her final full day in LA.
Despite her best efforts, Sophia nodded off during the film and when she checked the clock, she saw that it was already five past ten. While she was brushing her teeth, Sophia turned her attention to what she was going to wear. She was very much in two minds: she could either go for the sexpot look, short skirt, stockings, heels - the works - or she could play up her Englishness and try a more prim and proper look, hair tied back and all that. With a twinkle in her eye, she decided on the latter. She had brought the outfit along as something she might possibly wear for work, but it hadn't come out of the cupboard. It consisted of a classic black blazer over a black slip-tank top, which was tucked into khaki green skinny jeans. Lace embroidery at the base of the generous dΓ©colletΓ© added a certain something, Sophia thought. Ivory and black colour-block heeled pumps completed the ensemble. Underneath, she wore khaki lace floral pattern panties but decided to dispense with the matching bra.
She took a cab from reception and made the short journey into the foothills. It was getting on for eleven o'clock when she arrived and the party was already in full swing.
'Full swing!' Sophia thought. 'Possibly a very apt descriptor, if everything goes as Kimmy says these evenings invariably do.'
Certainly, at this early stage, there was very little sign of any hanky-panky. Sophia reckoned there were getting on for 40 people present: a group of perhaps ten around the swimming pool, a dozen or so in the main reception area, and (of course) at least as many as that in the kitchen - the centre of all the best parties. Even swinging ones, apparently. That was where Sophia met Kimmy, handing out what looked like freshly made cocktails in her, appropriately enough, cocktail waitress outfit. However, this was no ordinary cocktail dress - it was straight out of 1980s Atlantic City. How Kimmy had got into the thing Sophia had no idea. How she'd get out of it without tearing it was another matter. Strapless and effectively bottomless, it was essentially a black velvet corset made out of non-stretch fabric topped off with silver sequins.
When Kimmy spotted Sophia, she whooped with delight and started to introduce her to everyone in her orbit. They were quite a mixed bunch, both in terms of age (mid-20s to early 50s) and looks. Most of them held no appeal to Sophia - apart from one. She was one of those in her mid-20s. Her name was Alina and she was as pretty as her name. She didn't appear to have paired off with anyone as yet and so Sophia was keen to get her one-to-one as soon as possible. But, first, she knew, she must chat awhile with her host.
She accepted a drink from her (something with tequila was all she caught) and they began chatting like old friends. Sophia got herself into a position from which she could see Alina, and just occasionally she would cast a glance in that direction. Clearly, she wasn't being as subtle as she thought she was being, as Kimmy suddenly asked her if she was listening to a word she was saying. Then, in a softer tone, she told Sophia to go over and talk to Alina. She had been dying to meet Sophia ever since, first Tom, and then Kimmy herself had told her about this sensational Englishwoman. Sophia kissed Kimmy on the cheek and made her way over to the petite beauty.
Brimming with confidence after what Kimmy had just told her, she introduced herself and asked her if she knew somewhere a little more private where they could continue their conversation. She was even more gorgeous than Sophia had given her credit for and, looking at her hands, both of which she now had in hers, perhaps younger too. It made her feel like a cradle-snatcher and this turned her on no end. Alina was not exactly putty in Sophia's hands, since she clearly had set her stall out to ensnare the Englishwoman, but she was, shall we say, pliant. Sophia thought that she must have worked with Kimmy, and this had a powerfully erotic effect on her too. If a woman whose job it is to have sex wants to have sex outside of working hours, then it stands to reason that that woman must have a real thing for her object of desire. Be that as it may, thought Sophia, as they headed upstairs, she knew that
she
was extremely desirous of this olive-skinned beauty.
Alina led Sophia into a bedroom with a small shower cubicle in the corner. The bed was generously proportioned and covered in a deep red satin counterpane. Alina sat on the edge of the bed and patted on it for Sophia to join her. Still holding her glass, Sophia complied. She noticed that Alina had shut the door but not locked it. Maybe that was a house rule, Sophia thought, so the place didn't feel like a 'love hotel'. Or maybe, sharing was encouraged. You could pop your head round the corner, size up the action and join in if everyone was cool with that.
'Are you nervous?' Alina asked, interrupting Sophia's reflections.
'Not nervous, but it feels a bit like the first day of term at a new school. Need to get to know all the jargon and that sort of thing.'
'You're super hot,' Alina said, placing one hand on Sophia's knee.
'You're not so bad yourself,' said Sophia, taking in all of the young woman.