Chapter One
Miss Elizabeth’s Captive…
or the Application of the Stockholm Syndrome
“What is it you think you like about Jamie, Sam?”
Liz had that habit...turning any question asked right around. The trait manifested, I am sure, from her Ivy League college education in psychology with a smattering of philosophy courses.
We were having a sumptuous meal in Liz’s Manhattan penthouse. It was just the two of us dining with Jamie serving. I had mentioned that there was something about Jamie that I liked yet couldn’t vocalize. His youthful physical cuteness combined with the skill and devotion of a servant many times his years resulted in a curious juxtaposition of observations and queries. What was his age? How did he acquire the skills of both a master chef and attentive butler? Why did his colorful garb so contrast with the sedate nature of his duties? And of course the ultimate carping but unasked ponderosity... what was his true gender?
Thus I posed the question to Liz ‘What is it about Jamie that I like?’ And in her stylishly accented English she tossed it right back with the deftness of a slow ground ball limply hit to a celeritous shortstop. And she did so with such girlish glee, as a little girl would so childishly challenge, ‘I know something you don’t know’.
Jamie returned from the kitchen with a soufflé and I just smiled in polite taciturnity, though speaking about him while he was present would probably not bring a blink of an eye or the discernible pause of an adroit serving hand…which, by the way, offered no clues.
His effeminate hands were expertly manicured with nails honed to smooth perfection. But there was no colorful polish which would weight any conclusion toward the side of femininity.
Still there was the blond hair...long for a boy, short for a girl...it was more than just casually styled, it was coifed. And the tresses, playfully tossed about as he moved, occasionally revealed that beneath was the glint of diamond earrings. How could a servant afford such opulence? And if indeed a male, why jewelry?
The voice was high pitched when heard, which was rare. A humble, ‘Yes Miss Elizabeth’ came out slurred and I assumed there was verbal shyness due to a speech impediment.
There was something about the eyes. Blue, evidencing a Nordic heritage, but with some type of subtle cosmetic highlighting...again tending to confuse the gender identification.
And as mentioned there was the garb. Who proposed such strangely alluring attire? As suggested, it could not be described as drably genderless. Instead it teased the observer...a red silk blouse, the fineness of which any woman would be proud, but also of which one would often spy on males in the region of Southeast Asia and Japan. Then there were the trousers...shorts really...black and tight. Similar to ‘hot pants’, which for the male world so disappointingly came and went from style many years before, the glossy satin clung to Jamie’s buttocks and highlighted globes which would entice a pedophile. Yes, such were shapely, rounded and with the compactness of an adolescent girl more than that of an adult male.
The ‘hot pants’ left bare most of Jamie’s thighs and calves, of course. Oddly smooth, and as one pondered the lack of hair, the strange shoes begged the next question. Sandals really, but with notably high heels, forced Jamie to sashay more than walk, the height requiring careful balancing steps as if he was parading about on a runway at a fashion show. It was all so distracting. Here I was with one of the most fascinating and beautiful women in New York, a romantic candlelight dinner...some Handel...some Mozart...and yet I found myself staring...hopefully not ogling...every time Jamie popped from the kitchen with the next course.
“He’s very devoted to me, Sam. A lifelong companion. A gift, actually.”
At that point the expertly prepared soufflé captured our attention and my question faded as focus turned to dessert and an exquisite port.
With anyone else I would not have the mettle to broach a subject matter which could be deemed potentially reflective on the proclivities of the poser. I suppose, as Liz hinted when she returned it unanswered, some could interpret my question as being revealing of my own gender preference, which I assure the reader is devoutly one of a philogynist. But with Jamie’s presentment, and his most pleasant but servile demeanor, the mind wanders despite the radiant pulchritude of my gracious hostess. And besides, Liz and I were becoming good friends and I knew poor behavior on my part would be overlooked.
The more Jamie glided about the table...serving, pampering, clearing, and pouring...the more it was obvious that beneath the brief silk and satin there were no undergarments. When he leaned to top Liz’s wineglass, there was a clicking sound from under the shorts and the motion of his arm caused his blouse to press against a most inadequate chest. Silhouetted was something piercing his right nipple which caused the nub to sprightly abrade against the smoothness of the silk and provide obvious pleasure, in that the areola was most erect.
And after the soufflé was consumed and Liz nodded toward her snifter, it was evident that she noticed the same thing, playfully pinching the protrusion as Jamie leaned to refill her glass.
The basis for my question was reestablished when, upon sensing Liz’s clasping fingers, he smiled like a schoolgirl and seemed to beam with joy. Liz’s touch...‘Miss Elizabeth’ as Jamie was given to use...spurred the reaction of a lonely puppy starving for attention. Had he a tail, it would be wagging in response to his mistress’s brief caress.
She whispered something to him, very unusual for the normally ultra courteous Liz, and after several words Jamie nodded. I suppose it was the wine that brought forth such a faux pas. But it was Saturday evening and two weeks before Liz and I had kissed, hugged and cuddled in front of my fireplace. This was the return hospitality and she suggested it would be ‘intriguing’. I interpreted her statement as meaning getting laid. But so far, I was just intrigued.
Jamie returned to the kitchen, the whispered comment causing him to scamper more than sashay, and Liz most impolitely laughed when he stumbled in trying to move with haste in such awkward footwear.
“Jamie does not often wear shoes,” Liz explained, stifling her alcohol-induced reaction.
“And I told him you had an affinity for
him. Please excuse any presumption in so suggesting, but your eyes have been diverted all evening.”
I sheepishly sipped more port. It was not only my question that had given away my roving attention. My curiosity was apparently more obvious than I had thought.
“Coffee in the living room, Sam? I too have a fireplace.”
Such a provocative choice of words, suggesting that we return to the staging of our relaxing tryst two weeks prior.
I emptied my port and arose to help Liz with her chair. As she stood I chided myself for being so engrossed with Jamie. Liz looked marvelous and smelled of a most rare and tempting perfume. She had attributes that I had always found so appealing in a woman... raven hair, rich brown skin, breasts perfectly proportioned to her narrow waist and modest hips. Her legs were athletic...not the thinness found in fashion photography...but instead robust, sculpted with intent. Tonight our lovemaking would be complete.
What attracted me to Liz was the no-nonsense attitude. Liz carried herself with purpose and seemed to approach love like a tiger pursuing her prey. She had zest.
She seemed the type of women who, in bed, would know where she wanted to go... and got there. I imagined there would be no faked orgasms with Liz. She would grasp ecstasy by the throat and ring everything she could in assuring her own satisfaction.
I supposed the demeanor originated from her Royal upbringing.
Yes, in contrast to her Brown University education, Liz came from a Middle Eastern country with vast oil wealth. And after Daddy the Sheik died, some very arcane legal maneuvering assured that she became the beneficiary of a sizable flow of funds, despite her lacking marital status and her perceived second class stature as a member of the female gender.
But with the provincials, the financial machinations caused envy amongst the women and rage amongst the men, leaving for her a very limited welcome whenever she chose to return home. Thus her life of leisure in New York and my latest obsession...a woman with authority, panache and financial resources.
“By the fire, Sam. Jamie will serve us in a moment. I’m afraid in exciting him he’s been delayed.”
I did not understand the reference but let it pass. After all, an engrossing and wealthy woman had asked me to step into her living room. There had to be more than coffee on the menu. Liz pointed to a large stuffed leather couch. It seemed to swallow my body as I plunked myself down with disguised eagerness. There was no doubt as to her intentions. And despite my untoward behavior concerning Jamie, hopefully she had no doubt about mine.
“I have had much wine and prefer to dispense with pretension,” she blithely exclaimed.
And what red-blooded male could find contention with that? Particularly when she sat next to me...almost on top of me...and rested her right hand on my left thigh.
“I trust you’re not shy, Sam. Where I was raised servants were thought of more or less as part of the furniture.”
That said, her hand casually drifted to my crouch. In the absence of drink, such a move would be awkward, perhaps even crass. But as stated, Liz was a woman of purpose and with the enhancement of wine she left no doubt as to her intentions and I left no doubt as to mine. I parted my thighs for better access.
From our prior dalliance I knew she abstained from indulging orally. But her hands were warm and soft. And she had previously used such with aplomb, bringing ‘Little Sam’ to full stand before lifting her cocktail dress and straddling me as I sat in my easy chair. But that is as far as we had gotten.
“You know it’s late, Sam. I should be going,” she had suddenly blurted.
She knowingly brought Little Sam to full erection, felt him throbbing against the softness of her inner thighs and then decided to withdraw.