And then, she expelled her breath in one long, deep sigh, slowly collapsing beneath him, her body shaking and quivering in the aftermath of her climax, and he eased his finger from her back passage as he lowered his lips to hers.
He rolled off of her and they lay silent for a long moment. Finally, she said: "It was good, Cheri… so good, eh?"
"Christ, yes… it was beautiful. I-I'm exhausted, ma chere." He, too, sighed. "Aaaahhhh… let's sleep awhile now, eh?"
"Oui, Cheri," she whispered, laying her hand on his arm. "Now, sleep…"
He did, almost immediately.
Madeleine smiled to herself. She was getting much better at it… losing the little revulsions she had harbored for so long against the perversions that delighted men… even growing to enjoy them more each time herself. So… practice made perfection; was not that the rule of thumb? It wouldn't be long now… and life was bearable at worst. He was good to her… helped her… had taught her much in the art… And on Sundays now, after mass, she was able to see Igat and take her to the zoo or park for a few hours; but of course she couldn't go to the house to visit, or telephone there, nor make herself a nuisance in any respect to Madame Girarde… but she was certain it wouldn't be much longer now.
With what she made as a cocktail waitress, plus her growing exclusive clientele since she had begun to prostitute herself, she felt confident that it would not be long before she had enough saved to steal her little Igat and run away to some city in the States where no one would ever find them.
The Blessed Mother wouldn't desert her; she felt sure of that. One had to have faith, such as she had. Mon Dieu, hadn't she made an offering a week at mass ever since Antoine was sent to prison? What further assurance could she have…? But… still… still there was Uncle Gaston… if he ever found her… God, if he ever found her… She shuddered silently and rolled to her side to try and sleep as best she could… knowing all the while that it was just a question of time until he did… just a question of time…