Peter Jensen - The blackmailed mother book I

The quartet wended their way through the crowded room, talking and joking with the others. Somebody pressed a drink into Jennifer's hands and almost unconsciously she found herself sipping it as she talked. The cool liquid felt good, dispelling some of the heavy, dense air of the room, but adding to the warmth inside her. And it helped her seem more at ease, for she was still very nervous and afraid, intent on making a good impression on Stan and Vic, and yes, on everybody else. She knew that Tamera had gone out on a limb for her, and she didn't want anything to hurt either her girlfriend's popularity, much less her own entrance into the social whirl that up to now she'd only heard about.

Eventually they found some space on one of the long, low, overstuffed couches. The room was rustic in decor, with hanging "kerosene" lanterns and a large brick fireplace and exposed beam ceilings. The walls were of knotty pine and Currier amp; Ives prints, and the furniture was the heavy masculine version of Early American. She rubbed the craved maple arm of the couch to wipe some of the sweat from her palm. The boys left them for a moment, and disappeared.

Tamera leaned over and whispered, "You're doing fine, Jennie. I'm really proud of you. Just keep it up."

Jennifer's heart was like a trip hammer inside her chest. "I am?" She sipped her drink, her throat suddenly parched. "Oh, I hope so."

"Vic and Stan will be right back; relax and enjoy the evening." Tamera was interrupted by Ken King, who jovially spiked their drinks from a bottle of brandy. It changed the taste – not unpleasantly so – and the effects. Jennifer found the glow was still there, but a strange giddiness began to pervade her. She should have had more for dinner than she had had, but she'd lost her appetite with all the excitement of going out with Stan Lubin, and had barely been able to choke down a half can of spaghetti and meat-balls. Now, she had to squint her eyes to see any distance, and to focus on Ken as he made conversation. It struck her then: Ken King was talking to her! Why, up till now, he'd not even nodded to her in the halls! She glanced around at the others when Ken moved on; seeing with reasonable clarity the groups of threes and fours scattered around the sofas, chairs, and on the floor. Rogers and the Butram girl were at the fireplace now, putting together a fire. He was laying the logs across the andirons while Butram stood beside him and handed the kindling and paper as he needed it.

"Want another stick of wood, Gene?" she asked.

"Naw, just gimme the matches now." He lit the fire, and soon it was sending a cheery blaze into the room. They doused the lights, and everybody became shadows and figurines in the flickering radiance.

Jennifer became aware then that Vic and Stan had returned, and she settled back, warm and snug and heavy with sedation from the powerful drinks. Stan curled his arm around her and made her lean back against the cushions with him. "More like a bed, isn't it?" he said.

"Yes… yes, I guess it is," Jennifer said, a slight stutter in her voice.

"Here," Stan said, and pressed a cigarette into her hand. She looked at it; it was like no other cigarette she'd ever seen! It was hand-rolled in a brownish paper. He grinned at her. "Light-up," he urged.

Jennifer had the sinking suspicion what the brownish cigarette was made of. Marijuana! She quivered with indecision, for she was afraid of what the drug might do to her – she'd heard too many stories and lectures from adults – but she was just as afraid of screwing up this good fortune she'd been having. She looked over at Tamera for guidance, for help. Tamera was already lighting up her cigarette, her eyes shut, oblivious to her girlfriend's plight.

"What's the matter," Stan growled, "aren't you hep?"

"I-I never smoked one before," Jennifer blurted, and then felt like biting her tongue. How uncool could she be? She wished she hadn't drunk so much out of the Coke bottle and then the glass in her other hand; she wasn't thinking clearly and was awfully warm, and there was a weight preying down on her forehead and eyes.

"A little grass never hurt anybody," Tamera said, exhaling. "Don't worry so much, Jennie."

"Ah, I knew we shouldn't have brought a kid here," Vic taunted with a sneer. Jennifer blanched with the direct punch of his contempt. Rebellion and resentment made her place the cigarette between her lips with defiance. A child, was she!

"Go on," Stan urged. "Let me light it for you. Once you're a little high, you'll feel things you never felt before." He drew out his lighter and trembling slightly, Jennifer allowed him to light it for her. She drew in heavily, and then coughed.

"Oh, for Christ's sake," Vic said disgustedly. "What a waste of good grass."

"Let her alone," Tamera said. "She'll learn. Try again, Jennie. Hold the smoke in your lungs."

The second puff was easier, and the naive young girl held the sour-sweet smoke down until she thought she'd burst. She exhaled, looked around with a smile of triumph, only to see she was behind the others, who were all busily inhaling their joints. She continued to follow suit, and by the end of the marijuana cigarette, she began to float.

Jennifer had never felt better in all her born days. She was happy and carefree, without a worry in the world. She felt a comradeship with everyone in the room, and she laughed and talked and laughed some more. Everything seemed so funny all of a sudden.

Stan gave her another smoke, and then reminded her that her drink was going stale. "How's it going, baby?" he asked.

"Like I'm on the moon!" Jennifer said breathlessly.

"Christ, there's so much smoke in here that I could get stoned without a cigarette," Tamera said. She cuddled in the protective arms of Vic. "Kiss me," she demanded of her boyfriend. "Kiss me hard…"

There was a long pause and then Jennifer heard the unmistakable rustling of clothes as Tamera and Vic settled back against the couch in a passionate embrace. There were the soft, wet sounds of their kissings and moanings, and the teen aged girl tried hard to avert her eyes from the petting so close at hand. But as she turned away, she found that instead of being horrified by the sensual display so openly being performed beside her, she was becoming aroused, and her breasts ached slightly with excitement. Jennifer was too close in her friendship with Tamera Oliss not to be drawn by the building, writhing apassionata, and the knew instinctively that she was approaching her own danger point from which there was no return if passed.

She looked around the cabin, and her eyes bulged as she saw the others in wild tableaus of sex. She'd been to spin-the-bottle and post-office type parties before – but nothing quite as blatant as this! Why… why in the firelight she couldn't be sure, but wasn't Slade moving underneath Gloria's blouse, molding his hand to her breasts? And… and Anita! She had her legs splayed wide and Greg Mothra was rubbing her clothed genitals, causing her to moan lasciviously in his ear. My God!

How far would they go? All the way? Jennifer felt a sudden chill hit the pit of her belly. No… no that was impossible, not with everybody here. Maybe alone the couples might, but even that was one of those things she found embarrassing to think about. The picture of any of them – of Jennifer herself – being naked and displayed unabashed in front of everybody was shattering.

It was entirely out of the question, and she lulled her mind to security again with a long drink from the glass in her one hand, and a long drag on the marijuana cigarette in her other. She leaned against Stan, the delicious warmth of the liquor and drugs seeping through her veins. She'd never felt as deeply involved before in her life. But as she curled up with Stan and his hand once more closed over her breast, the touch of her panties and the cushions pressuring up between her thighs exciting her more and more each moment. Material bunched against her thighs and grazed the sensitive, virginal pink lips of her vagina. Tiny throbs of secret pleasure pulsed in the bud of her clitoris and she tried to hold them back.