Grushenka. Three Times a Woman Page 12
Instead of hurting, it gave her the same feeling of longing which she had felt when Prince Leo had made love to her there. Gargarina began to wiggle around and to raise her bottom in the motions of lovemaking and Grushenka, becoming more excited, did likewise. The thin scribe stood naked with his long shaft in the air. With growing pleasure he watched the nicely moving buttocks, his disappearing and re-appearing fingers, the slightly opened rear entrances, and the wide open lips of the caverns underneath. Gargarina heaved and groaned, raised herself straight up of a sudden and fell down motionless as if she had reached a climax. Grushenka repeated this fake, although she felt she really would have reached her climax if she had waited a bit longer. The customer let his fingers slide out and the girls sat up on the edge of the table, glad to get up from the hard boards. He stood before them and grinned, his dirty fingers outstretched before him. “Now,” he said, “after having massaged your little nests through both entrances, suck my fingers clean with your sweet lips and I'll give each of you one ruble.” “Nothing doing!” countered Gargarina. “Five rubles each and pay in advance. You forget afterwards.” A long squabble began between the two, he protesting that a ruble was enough money to live on for a week (which was true) and Gargarina declaring that finger cleaning was not their business. They finally settled it for three rubles each, but he was allowed to play with their back entrances again. While he got the money from his trousers, Gargarina got hold of some towels and whispered to her friend to be quick with them later on. The bargain paid for, they sat down on the edge of the table, raised their knees high up, put their feet on the table, and spread their legs. From underneath, he again stuck both his index fingers into their rear doors and began the lovemaking anew, much to the satisfaction of his long, thin shaft, which had shown an inclination to droop during the money quarrel, but which now raised its head proudly. Grushenka again felt her love nest getting wet and, glancing at the play of flesh of Gargarina's strong thighs, she saw that her teacher apparently was also becoming heated up. Meanwhile the scribe's mouth watered and he babbled on to the effect that their pretty lips would soon cleanse the fingers which were now playing in the dirty back alley. Finally he got through with his play, took his fingers out and pointed them at the girls' mouths. Quick as lightning, Gargarina grabbed his hand and cleaned off his fingers with her towel, despite his protest Of course, Grushenka quickly followed her example.
Although he swore wickedly, they then took his fingers in their mouth and sucked them. Grushenka at first had a sickening feeling and never would have done it had not Gargarina set the example. But, strangely enough, when the finger was moving back and forth in her mouth it aroused the same feeling of longing and desire as it had before in her rear entrance. The scribe's face turned crimson and Grushenka's eyes, sliding down to his shaft, saw how Gargarina had skillfully grasped his long tail between her feet. She was rubbing it gently in this manner. After a little of this play, he reached a climax suddenly, shooting out a flood of white in great gushes. He immediately took his fingers out of their mouths, took his machine in both hands and finished himself off, emptying his storehouses to the last drop. No sooner was this done than he began again to talk about the money, which he demanded back, threatening to report them to Mr. Brenna for stealing. But the money had disappeared and Gargarina laughed at him. (She had hidden it in her hair and took it out of there, to Grushenka's amazement, when she later gave her her share.) After that, they laid him on the table and gave him a rough massage. He struggled and screamed under their hands-it was a little revenge on their part. When they had finally seated him in his tub, he read a big manuscript of legal matters and behaved very importantly.
Then both girls went back to sit on the bench near the stove to await a new customer. Gargarina advised her new girl friend that the scribe was as bad a customer as they were likely to get. He was hard to handle, but had they not gotten ten times more money out of him than any other man would pay and wasn't that the main thing? Seeing that Grushenka rubbed herself between the legs with her palm, she laughed and remarked that they probably would still get plenty of good pokes before the day was over, because that was what most of the men did who came there.. She was right. The next man they had was a young stonemason and Grushenka soon felt the hard boards of the massage table under back and shoulders while a young shaft pumped away inside her. Gargarina looked playfully on, teasing her breasts and buttocks with her expert fingers. After the mason, they had an elderly innkeeper who wanted a ride, half of which was provided by Gargarina, while he sucked Grushenka's nipples, the other half by Grushenka's love nest, which did the job excellently, remembering its exercises over the fat Sokolov's love shaft. He proved a good tipper, but had a distasteful habit; he smacked their buttocks lustily with his fat hands and, when Grushenka tried to avoid this, he gave her what he termed “a little love spanking.” They had other men-all of them curious about Grushenka because she was a “new girl.” But after a few weeks Grushenka became just one more of Mr. Brenna's attendants, and, while she was pretty and a good love partner, she had days when she attended the men without any love making, other days, of course, when she had to be of service several times. She did not mind it. One poke, however, she received daily, and there was something curious about that. Each day since she had started to work for Mr. Brenna, as soon as the customers had gone, he walked up to her room and made love to her exactly as he had done the first time. In fact, he became enamoured of her. He watched her constantly when she worked in the bath hall until she sometimes felt uneasy of his lurid eyes always focused on her spot. Brenna never before had a favorite among his girls, and it became the gossip of the whole establishment that he had fallen for her. He did not interfere with her in any way: he seldom spoke with her; he let her take care of the customers; he let her go out in the evenings; but always before dinner he followed her upstairs and poked her with his tremendous machine.
She gave him her best She took care of the customers in a more or less routine-way, but she clung to his wonderful bird with all the vitality and sacrifice of her love nest. During this time she also had many amusing evenings. The girls took her out to some parties, usually with young boy friends-sailors, students and the like. They would sit around in the dark public parks or on house stoops and occasionally in the rooms of boys, where they drank heavily of vodka, delivered enthusiastic orations about the rosy future or were just busy love-making. A young student, the son of poor parents, fell in love with Grushenka and she felt very flattered because he was so educated. He told her all about his studies and how they would marry when he made money and they could settle down. It was not a romance on her part, because she still dreamt only of her Mikhail. Yet it was pleasant to be adored by such a clean boy.
That was about all the feeling she got out of it, because he had big, red hands, was awkward and shy and did not even dare to kiss her.
When she embraced him once, he got so terrified that he avoided her for days and then lectured her to the effect that only man and wife, being duly married, could kiss each other. Had he only known what her occupation was and what her life had been so far! Grushenka felt curiously happy. She had forgotten her fear of being detected by Madame Sophia. She had saved up a little money, tied in a kerchief.
She bought fine material and made herself dresses and coats and skirts. She was on good footing with the other girls-nothing was lacking. But one evening, the following occurred: As usual she lay across her bed and Mr. Brenna had his good love instrument in the right place and both were working away at their best when the door opened and Madame Brenna entered. She watched the scene for a moment without their having heard or seen her. Then she rushed forward, yelling and screaming and began to beat her unfaithful husband's huge back with her bare fists. Of course Brenna let Grushenka go and turned around, his big rod sticking out accusingly. But the thin little Madame Brenna had not done with him yet. Yellow with rage, she showered him with blows, biting his hands, which he held out against her to sh
ield himself, scratching his face and tearing his clothes.
He could have knocked her down with a single stroke of his powerful arms, but he was so scared and in awe before his rightful wife that he took it all without protest. Finally she pushed him out of the door, lacking him down the stairs, all the while letting him know that she would not stand for his giving another woman what was coming to her. After she had gone, Grushenka remained in a daze on her bed. What would be her fate now? Would that woman kill her?
Would she beat her mercilessly? Would Grushenka again be set adrift?
She wondered and did not dare to dress to go down to dinner.
Finally she heard steps at her door and, when she sat up in bed, Madame Brenna came in. She was very calm now and almost friendly.
“It was not your fault,” began Madame Brenna. “What could you do?
You had to poke him. I understand that. When his father gave me a job here some twenty years ago and the son started to poke me, I couldn't object either. Then he married me. That big brute! But never let it happen again. Will you promise me that? Swear it to me!”-and Grushenka swore it. “All right then, and if he tries again, you run away and come right downstairs. I'll fix him up. Understand? You'll not work for him again downstairs. You start tomorrow in the woman's department-and keep away from him or next time I'll break every bone in your body!” And making a gesture showing that she would tear her to pieces, Madame left the room with resolute steps. She had more energy, thin and small as she was, then Grushenka had expected.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Grushenka was somewhat downcast with this verdict. It would have been better if she had received a good beating and had stayed in the men's department. First of all, she liked men and not women; secondly, Madame Brenna was quite severe with her girls. She had mostly serf girls working for her and their backs, buttocks and thighs often showed signs of harsh treatment. What should Grushenka do-quit? Then what? She gave in and reported at the women's department the next noon. The equipment of this bathing hall was almost the same as that downstairs, except that on the floor and in the cabinets were some runners and rugs. Madame Brenna sat behind an elevated desk where she sold tea and cakes instead of beer and vodka. But she did not stay behind her bar as her husband always did. No, she ran about all the time, seeing to it that cabinets were cleaned after a customer left, chatting and gossiping with the women in the tubs and ceaselessly admonishing the girls to keep busy. With her commanding words usually went a pinch on the arm or on the buttocks. The girls lined up at the door when a customer came in. Each tried to get as many as possible because of the tips. The customers were the same kind as the men, middle class women of all ages. Many came only for a hot bath because there were no bathing accommodations in the houses of the middle class of that time.
Some wanted a massage and a rest, and many of them, not having any serfs at home, wanted something more. But all of them used the attendant bath girls as their private property, as serfs, rented for a time and on whom they could let their fancy go as it would.
Grushenka realized this with her first customer. This patroness was a young girl whose father had recently made some money with a pottery business. While this father refused to allow his family an elegant household with servants and the luxury of the upper class, there was enough cash available for his daughter to behave like a thorough snob when she was outside her four walls. She was decked out in a cloak with golden threads woven into it, her shoes had big silver buckles and she looked like a real lady. When she came in she eyed the ten girls who stood there naked and smiling. She took her lorgnette and slowly and carefully looked them over. Grushenka felt a chill when the eyes of this young girl wandered from her breasts down to her belly and then down her legs. She was not so happy when she was selected. She did not know why, because this young girl had a harmless and friendly face, though around her mouth were lines of haughtiness and disgust. Grushenka led her customer to a cabinet, closed the door and began devotedly to undress her. The girl stood perfectly still and did not make a move, not even opening a ribbon or slipping out of a single garment. Grushenka found it best to admire loudly all of her wearing apparel although the only answer with which she was met was that it was very costly and that Grushenka should lay each piece out or hang it up with great care. The girl demanded her hair undone and braided, so that it should not get wet. Meanwhile, she sat before the mirror studying her face and her decidedly good figure. After her hair was done, Grushenka asked whether she desired a massage and which way she wanted it. Instead of an answer, the girl turned around and began to study Grushenka's form and features. She became jealous of Grushenka's full and even breasts, her subtle waist, her straight belly and her good legs. Of a sudden, she put a finger into Grushenka's love-nest, shoved it all the way in and, drawing her nearer, asked: “All the men are crazy about you-aren't they?”
“Oh, no!” answered Grushenka instinctively. “Oh, no. Men usually don't like me.” “Not much, you liar,” sneered the fair patroness, and, letting her finger slip out of its lodging place, she gave her a resounding slap in the thigh. Grushenka drew back, holding her smarting thigh with her hands and groaning: “Oh, oh, please don't do that!” “Why not? Why shouldn't I give you a sound spanking if I like to?” retorted the girl with a sneer. “Didn't I hire you for my pleasure? Since when can I not do with Madame Brenna's girls what I like? Shall I call her in and ask her?” “Please don't call Madame Brenna,” answered Grushenka timidly. “I'll do everything you want me to- but please don't hurt me. You don't need to pay me if you don't want to,” she added. “We'll see about that, you little serf-girl,” replied the customer. “Now come here and turn around and bend over-yes, so-that's right. And don't dare move away or I'll teach you!” With that remark, she began to pinch Grushenka's bottom.
First she took the flesh of the right cheek between her thumb and index finger, squeezed the soft flesh firmly and turned her hand around. Grushenka put her own hand to her mouth so as not to cry out aloud, for it hurt her terribly. She leaned forward, trembling in her legs. The girl watched with pleasure. The pinched spot first turned snow white and then deep red. “Now you look all uneven,” she remarked. “We can't stand for that-“ and she pinched the left cheek in the same way. Not content with that, she attacked different points above and beneath the bruised area and admired her handiwork with laughter. Grushenka suffered under each pinch as if fire burned her buttocks. Between pinches, the girl reached through Grushenka's legs and pulled the hair of her Venus' Hill, not very hard, but hard enough to make her groan aloud. Meanwhile Grushenka had the feeling that she had to pass water. But she was afraid to do so over the customer's hand-Madame Brenna's whip would have been the consequence. Now the girl got bored with her doings. “Sorry,” she said, “that we haven't a whip or a switch here. Otherwise I would erase the nice design which I made on your bottom.” Grushenka straightened up and turned around. The girls' eyes were fastened on her full breasts. “How I'd love to whip your breasts,” she went on, “with a small leather strap, the one I have at home for my lap dog. It would be a pleasure to see your breasts, of which you're so proud, prettily striped with the lash. You see, I don't like to hit you with my hands because that hurts me and wouldn't go through your thick skin anyway, you slut.” Nevertheless, she made Grushenka hold her breasts with both hands while she struck her a couple of times with her bare hands. Grushenka was able to catch these slaps with her hands, but it stung her anyway not a little. This over, the girl demanded her satchel, out of which she took a large artificial male organ. She laid herself on the massage table, opened her legs, had Grushenka stand close to her and gave her the pseudo-phallus. Grushenka opened the lips of the love nest with her left hand and with the right she carefully sunk the dildo into the waiting orifice. The girl now became very passionate. She put her right hand between Grushenka's thighs, near the cleft, and clamped her hand into the flesh, sinking the nails into Grushenka's soft skin. At the same time, she held her left hand tig
htly on her own well-formed bosom and worked her buttocks against the false shaft in a quick rhythm. Grushenka duplicated this rhythm by easing the artifice into the love nest up and down. The girl heaved heavily, whispered the name of her imaginary lover and moved her buttocks up higher and higher until, when she reached her climax, she rested only on her shoulders and on the soles of her feet. She then fell back on the table and lay motionless while Grushenka removed the intruding shaft and cleaned the girl with a wet towel. Grushenka was glad that it was over, but that proved a mistake. As soon as the girl came to, she had another scheme. “Give me the dildo!” she commanded. “And you go down and give my sweet little nest a good licking and don't stop before I tell you. Understand? No, that's not the right spot. Stick out your tongue, you stupid fool! Deeper. Yes, that's it”