Trevor leaned back in his chair. Who did this old broad think she was talking to? He’d yet to receive a complaint from any of the women he’d been with. He prided himself on leaving them satisfied and wanting more. Still, Damian had sent him here, and he was curious to hear what she would say.
The butler returned and placed a tray with a small teapot, cup, and saucer on the table next to Claudette. He poured her a cup of tea and then came back with another small tray and set it on the table next to Trevor. The tray contained a chrome brandy warmer with a little votive candle in it. He poured a generous shot of Courvoisier Imperial in a Baccarat crystal snifter and lit the candle. Carefully he placed the snifter in the warmer. He looked questioningly at Claudette, who nodded her head, and then he departed the room. Trevor was making mental notes of all he was exposed to. The Courvoisier Imperial was something he’d never even heard of. The elegance of this whole atmosphere was astounding; he’d never witnessed this kind of sophistication firsthand before. It was certainly a lifestyle he could see himself getting used to.
“Now, dear. Let’s talk about love. You see, to be successful in pleasing women, you must remember that women, for the most part, believe that sex and love are intertwined. I know women are very bold these days and want to put forth the image that sex is all about pleasure. But to truly be pleasured, a woman must feel loved, if only for the brief time you are with her. She does not have to love you, and you certainly do not have to love her, but she must feel for that brief span of time that you are in love with her body. In most cases, she will be the only naked woman in the room, so this should not be so hard to accomplish.” She laughed delicately at her own wit.
Trevor picked up the warm cognac and took a sip. The first sip spun like liquid fire down his throat. His second sip was smooth, like liquid gold, and unlike any he’d ever tasted. A warm glow settled in the room as he listened to Claudette.
“Where do you kiss a woman to light the fire in her?” she asked and took a sip of tea. She watched him closely as his emotions flashed across his face. He did not like to be tested, but she could see that part of him wanted to be right when he responded.
“On her neck, behind her ear, her breasts, and her sweet spot,” he answered slowly.
“Do you have any idea how many erogenous areas you have omitted?” she asked.
“No,” he replied quietly. He had failed the first test, and it annoyed him.
“Lesson one, my dear. The inside of her wrist is a wonderful place for soft, feathery kisses. She need not be naked for you to do this. You begin to set the pace before the clothes are even removed. The next spot would be the inside of her upper arm. It will tingle and even tickle slightly, making her giggle, but she will enjoy it immensely. The key is to go slowly, build the fire one twig at a time. You need not pour starter fluid all over to develop a bonfire in the end. Stoke your fire slowly, and it will burn a very long time,” she explained.
Trevor leaned back in his chair, snifter in hand, and listened aptly. Claudette gave him a lesson in pleasure, which astounded him. He spent three hours with her the first afternoon, and she insisted on paying him for his time. They would spend several more afternoons together just talking, laughing, and learning about one another. Sex was not a pressing issue for Claudette, and she so enjoyed his company, she hesitated to disrupt the bond growing between them just to satisfy a carnal need.
Each time he visited her, she would present him with a special gift. She showered him with gifts in addition to the money she paid him. She’d given him his first case of Molton Brown products and explained how important it was for him to keep up his body, not only with workouts, but also with moisturizer and toners to keep his skin supple. She brought in a professional valet and tailor to teach him how to coordinate his clothing and accessories. They explained the best cut of suit for his frame to achieve the look of class and elegance befitting a man of means. There was more to looking good than just spending ungodly amounts on designer labels. He learned quickly and enjoyed applying himself to his lessons. Claudette taught him not only about making love, but she applied a polish and a hint of class he never realized was missing until he met her.
Several weeks after their first afternoon meeting, Claudette decided it was time to move their relationship toward a more physical level. She’d grown quite fond of Trevor, and her desire for him increased with each visit. He was a handsome man, but it was more than appearance that drew her to him. She detected sensitivity in him, which would make him an outstanding lover.
He arrived late in the evening and was directed to the master suite. He knocked softly on her bedroom door. He’d been in this room before, but only once when she explained the nuances inherent in setting the right atmosphere for lovemaking. She told him this would not play a role so much in his business as it would in his personal life and for the woman he would eventually choose to share it with.
She called out softly for him to enter. He opened the door, and it took only a moment for his eyes to adjust to the muted lighting in the room. Illumination was provided by a few randomly placed, scented oil lamps. From the doorway he could see the glow from the fireplace in the adjoining sitting room. Claudette was not in the bedroom, so he moved toward the sitting room. The sitting room was a small enclosed area she often used for reading or meditating. It was sparsely decorated, with only two pale rose, upholstered, antique, fauteuil French high-back chairs. A mahogany Pembrook table was placed between both chairs. On this night, a silver tray had been placed upon it, which held two fine crystal champagne flutes along with a silver bowl of freshly cut bite-size melon wedges cradled in ice. White linen napkins were folded and laid beside the tray. A short distance away, a fine linen cloth was wrapped around the mouth of a bottle of 1996 Dom Perignon as it chilled in an ice bucket.
Claudette was not in this room either. Puzzled, he turned back to the bedroom and saw her standing on the balcony across the room, watching him. She was wearing a long silver peignoir set. The peignoir and gown underneath were both sheer, and together they gave only the mildest illusion that the wearer was clothed. Sheer nylon sleeves were trimmed with lace. A lacework pattern of roses adorned the sheer bodice of the empire-wasted gown. High-heeled slippers exposed her perfectly manicured, small toes. Her dark, thick hair had been freed from its usual braided style and was left long and flowing across her shoulders. She was regally stunning.
Trevor’s breath caught in his throat. In that brief moment, he glimpsed the young woman she had been a long time ago. He imagined her young, stylish, and gorgeous, with men fawning at her feet just to be graced with her favor. He smiled. “Good evening, gorgeous.”
“You handsome devil, what am I to do with you?” she responded girlishly as she came toward him and into the bedroom.
As she moved from the balcony to the more lighted bedroom, Trevor was confronted by the sheerness of her gown. He could clearly see the outline of her feminine curves, her full breasts and dark nipples. The split at the high waist of the gown flowed open in A-line cut and exposed the neatly trimmed dark hair covering her sweet spot. He looked away, embarrassed. He had known this moment would come, but he never thought beyond the idea. He never anticipated the reality of being here with her like this. She was his mentor, his friend. He revered this woman and had so much respect and admiration for her. Now she stood naked before him and expected him to please her in all the ways she needed.
Claudette anticipated his response. She had not reached such an advanced age without understanding the psyche of men. If he were not embarrassed, she would have miscalculated, and that was a rarity. Tonight he would learn how to pleasure a woman to the fullest extent, and the next time he would need no instruction. She moved to his side and placed her hand on his cheek; slowly she turned his face back to hers. She studied his eyes for a moment before she smiled gently and then began to speak softly.
“Trevor, you came to me initially for a reason. We have
