with teeth like those of a panther eager for its prey, she pressed her lips to it.
This mode of caressing is generally a cause of triumph for a woman who seeks to defeat a male rival. She must, by dint of skill and agility, leave no cause for regret to the mistress with whom she plays a part which is not natural to her.
It seems that, when promising rapturous pleasures to Violette, the Countess had not made an empty boast. I felt rather jealous when I saw my dear little mistress roll about, writhe and pant, and almost faint under the greedy mouth which seemed to wish to inhale even her very soul.
It is true that, for a painter, the sight was most interesting and amply compensated me for the little fit of jealousy to which I humbly confess I gave way.
The Countess on her knees, and well settled on her heels, followed with her body, all the movements of Violette's body and her beauteous form writhed about so that I could have sworn she lost nothing in being the active instrument, and that perhaps she even gained something by it.
At last both performers exhausted by their efforts, were fain to lie side by side and take a rest.
'Ah!' murmured the Countess, 'you must repay part of your debt to me.' And with these words she drew Violette close to her, took her hand, and placed it on that tawny part of her person which formed such a contrast to her blonde hair and black eyebrows.
But Violette had her instructions and acted up to them marvellously. No doubt the Countess had occasion to find fault with her, for I heard her whisper: 'That is not the right spot, your finger is too high… There, there; now it is too low. Do you not feel something there?
Well that is where you must act. It is this tickling which brings pleasure. Ah! you are doing it on purpose, you naughty little thing!'
'I assure you I am not,' replied Violette. 'I am doing my best to please you.'
'When you have hit the right place why do you withdraw your finger? There you are at it again!'
'My finger slips.'
'Oh! You have set me all afire, and you do nothing to extinguish the flames!'
'Listen, my handsome lover,' said Violette, 'let us try something else.'
'What?'
'Lie down on the bed with your head towards the mirror, and I will caress you with my mouth.
'I will do all you wish.'
The Countess lay at full length, with eyes to the ceiling, her thighs well parted and her body curved by the rotundity of the bed.
This was the moment agreed upon, and I crawled out of the dressing room.
'Am I in a convenient posture?' inquired Odette, with a final motion of her back.
'Yes, I think you are,' replied Violette.
'There now; you can begin.'
I followed to the letter the instructions that were given to my little friend.
'Is that the right place?' asked Violette.
'Yes. And now… your mouth… And mind, if you do not give me pleasure, I shall strangle you.'
I applied my mouth to the spot and had no trouble in finding the thing which Violette pretended not to have found. It was all the easier, because I noticed that in the case of the Countess it was longer than usual. It seemed to be the nipple of a virgin's breast excited by a lover's lips. I seized it in my mouth, and rolled it gently between my lips.
The Countess heaved a voluptuous sigh.
'Oh!' said she, 'that is just the thing; and I think that if you keep on like that… I think… I think you will no longer be in my debt.'
I went on as she bid Violette, but drew the latter to me and pointed out to her the part she was to take in the trio.
But with me Violette was not clumsy as with Odette. Divining the thousand caprices of love's pleasures, she placed her mouth where I had put her hand, and I found that she was doing to me the very counterpart of what I did to the Countess, save that there was a difference in the shape of the objects performed upon.
The Countess seemed to experience the most voluptuous pleasures.
'Oh! really,' said she, 'it is just as I like it. Ah! you little story teller, you said I must teach you; but you are too clever… not so fast!… I wish it lasted forever… forever! Oh! your tongue…'
Had I been able to speak I would have paid just the same compliments to Violette. The passionate child had certainly the instinct of all the artifices of love.
I own I derived considerable pleasure from the caresses which I lavished upon the Countess. Never had I pressed my lips upon a sweeter peach. In this woman of twenty-eight all was firm and youthful as in a girl of sixteen. It was easy to perceive that the brutality of man had exercised itself there only to open a way for more delicate caresses.
The Countess gave expression to her wonder and admiration.
'Oh!' said she, 'how strange, I never had such pleasure before. Oh! I will not let you go on unless you promise to commence again. The impression of your lips and your tongue is so sweet; I cannot keep it back any longer! It is coming! I feel it! I feel it! No! It cannot be Violette who gives me so much pleasure; it is impossible!'
Violette did not at all feel inclined to reply.
'Violette, tell me, is it you! Oh, no! That is impossible. You are too clever for a woman. A woman could never do this!'
The Countess tried to raise herself up, but with my hands firmly pressed to her breasts I kept her down. Besides the supreme sensation was nigh; I was quite aware of that. So I redoubled my efforts, and my moustache began to play its part in the tickling. The Countess writhed and almost shrieked; then I felt the climax had come; my lips gave the finishing touch, and the amorous spasm shook the whole frame of the Countess.
My excitement had also reached the highest pitch, and I gave way to it at the very same moment.
Violette was lying half dead at my feet.
I had not sufficient strength left to prevent the Countess from rising from the bed.
At a single glance she realized how matters stood, and, springing up, she cried out with anger.
'Well, dear Violette,' said I, 'I have done my best to quarrel with the Countess. You must now be the peacemaker.'
Thereupon I retreated to the dressing room.
Then a stormy scene took place. I heard cries, reproaches, and finally sighs, and I looked out, and saw Violette who had taken my place near the Countess, doing her best to make my peace with her.
'Ah!' said the Countess, when Violette had concluded her speech. 'I must say that this is good; but just now it was exquisite!'
And she gave me her hand. So we were friends again.
CHAPTER 7
In the agreement drawn up between the belligerents it was enacted:
First, that Violette should remain my sole property.
Second, that I should lend her occasionally to the Countess, but always in my presence.
Thirdly, that I should play with the Countess the part of a woman just as much as I pleased, but never that of a man.
The agreement was drawn up in triple copies and duly signed by the contracting parties. A clause was added by which it was agreed that in case Violette and the Countess failed to fulfil any of the conditions of the said agreement, I should thereby be entitled for a space of time not exceeding the duration of their crim con., to rights on the Countess similar to those I enjoyed over Violette.
Violette feared at first that my love for her would be diminished in consequence of the kind of association agreed upon. I might have entertained a similar fear, but this new mode of life, far from having the expected result, only fanned the fire of our love into fiercer flames by enhancing its pleasures.
