Imogene Page 3

  “Hey, boy!” he shouted. “Come watch my horse.” He dug a hand in his pocket and a silver coin flashed through the air.

  Danny caught it with one hand. Did he just pluck up a shilling? He batted the back of Charlie’s head. “Get over there.”

  He ran across the narrow street and took the reins, blurting out an overly loud, “Thank you, sir.”

  “Money’s fallin’ out of the sky this week,” Frank said. By the look on his face, he’d resumed his private fantasy about getting shagged by Molly.

  Imo stared hard. From her perch, she could smell the money blowing off the nob.

  “I think you should ask him,” Imo said with a jerk of her head. He dressed like a right proper gent with the fancy togs and high topper, and Imo would bet he had plenty of shillings or crowns to spend having a pretty young girl, in dirty trousers, rub his cock.

  “Frank, take care of business as soon as he’s back out the door. Take your hat off, Imo.” Danny grabbed Frank by the collar and yanked him close. “Ask for two shillings.”

  “Two shillings!” Imo squeaked between clenched teeth. “Nobody’d pay that!” Nobody would pay that and not expect a whole lot more than what Imo had been giving.

  “We’ll see. Ask for three. Look interested when he comes out.” Danny pointed down the street. “If he agrees, take him in there so I can keep watch.” He planted his hand on Frank’s back and shoved, sending him stumbling across the street to where Charlie stood with the bloke’s horse.

  “Three shillings!” Imo blurted out again, still in shock over the ridiculous sum. “Do you think I have gold on my tits? Look around, Danny. There’s more feathers here than in a henhouse.”

  “He can only say no. Frank’ll offer you for two if the nob’s not too receptive-like. They may have big tits, but they don’t have your face. You’ll see, it’ll work.”

  They all had their own way of passing time. Charlie petted the horse until all its hair was gone. He eyed the shiny buckles along the saddle cinch too. Only a glance at Danny and his negative nod stopped him from nicking one or two. Frank sat with his back against the wall and his knees drawn up. He might have slept, only the slight smile playing about his face told the real story. Kissing girls and getting shagged were the only two things he thought about in his limited private time.

  Danny watched. He watched for opportunities. He watched for danger. His gaze searched up and down the street. He knew who had gone in what door and when they came out again. He knew who had a gun stuffed in his trouser band and who had a knife in his boot.

  Imo knew they were lucky he stayed around. He could have gone anywhere. Ship captains were always looking for strong backs and quick minds.

  “Why are you staying with us, Danny?” Imo picked at her fingernails, noticing how grubby they were no matter how many times she dipped her hands in a pail of water.

  “What do you mean?’

  “You know. You could take to the seas like Pappy. You could join the army.” She wrinkled her nose looking up at him. The sun slanted right in her eyes.

  “Drowning or bleeding to death. Hmm, no wonder I haven’t left yet. Why would I want to do that when I can sit on the dock all day and let the sun shine on my face? Seems to me we’ve always done just fine together.”

  “You’ll want yer own woman someday. Then we’ll be in the way.”

  “Maybe. We’ll see.”

  “Will she do what I’m doing to make money?”

  “My woman won’t be no whore. ’Sides, she’ll be underneath me and won’t have time to diddle other blokes.”

  “So you think I’m already a whore?”

  “I didn’t make you. You chose to do this, Imo.” His serious gaze stared her in the eye. Danny had that way about him. He had no fear to stare someone down when he had right on his side.

  “Well, where’s the difference? Just ’cause men like a pretty girl to touch their wanker doesn’t mean I’m gonna spread my legs for ’em.”

  “You’ll know when you’re a whore. Don’t need me tellin’ ya.”

  Waiting was the hardest part, especially after last night’s doings. Expectation had a way of making her stomach jerk and her palms sweat. The opening and closing of the door became a harbinger of things to come.

  She hadn’t ever sucked on cock before; though it was a near thing last night.

  But if there was a time to try, maybe she could try with this nob. Maybe for more money.

  Frank’s sudden movement across the street brought their conversation to a halt. He scrambled to his feet. The door had opened and their mark stepped out, squinting into the sun and then glancing down at his fancy timepiece.

  Two prostitutes were on his arm before he had a chance to take a step. He disengaged them both with a couple of words.

  “Look lively, Imo. And smile, if you please, for the filthy rich gent with too many coins in his pocket.” Danny yanked her up by her coat jacket, nearly tearing its weakened seams.

  The Farrells didn’t have opportunities to acquaint themselves with such fine upstanding gentlemen. All them fancy duds probably cost more then she’d make in a thousand years rubbing cocks.

  Frank gestured and pointed, all the while the man seemed to ignore him as he accepted the reins of the horse from Charlie. Imo smiled. The gent tilted his head and finally deigned to look at her. He glanced away with little interest and then glanced back.

  Fierce black eyes devoured her while his brows lowered in a severe scowl. He mouthed a few words at Frank, and then Frank waved her over. She slapped the hat on her head and took off in a slow trot until she reached them. His gaze raked her over, not that it hadn’t happened a hundred times by every deprived pervert on the docks.

  “See, she’s real pretty,” Frank said once Imo stood beside him. Frank grabbed her hat. “She’s clean too!”

  “Girl, are they forcing you to do this?”

  Imo couldn’t have been more surprised. Who cared about a street urchin? “No, sir, I’m old enough to decide for myself.”

  “Do you get the money or do they keep it all themselves?”

  “We share.”

  He nodded thoughtfully. Imo grew hot under his stare. His hungry gaze noticed everything about her. She pulled at her shirt, wishing she didn’t have the bindings wrapped so tightly. Sweat rolled down her back.

  The lazy smile that emerged made her think of the devil about to snatch another soul from the earth. “All right. Three shillings. You two, go away. I won’t hurt her.” Frank nodded, grabbed Charlie’s arm and they trotted toward Danny.

  “I know a place,” she said.

  “I’ll bet you do.” He wore an odd smile on his face. Guess he was happy with the bargain.

  Imo grabbed his hand and urged him along, the horse clomping along behind them. Once committed, she liked to have the deed done.

  “There’s no rush,” he said.

  She stopped tugging as if he were a little boy but didn’t let loose of his warm, strong hand.

  The man kept a wary eye, checking every dark corner and blind turn.

  “My brothers’ll watch out.”

  “It’s your brothers I’m worried about.”

  They came to the alley Danny had told her to use. The horse blocked half the entrance as they came to a stop.

  Imo let out a half laugh. “Them? They won’t do nothing unless you try to hurt me or fleece me. I’ll be taking those shillings now.” She rubbed her hand against her pant leg and held out her open palm.

  He reached to an inside pocket and pulled out several coins. Imo had never seen so much gold and silver. He plucked three shillings from his palm and handed them to her. She tucked them away.

  “So what exactly do I get for my money?”

  “Same as everyone else. I’ll rub yer prick until you come. Isn’t that what Frank told ya?”

  “More or less.”

  He glanced around the alley. He dropped the bridle reins but the animal stayed put, making it more difficult for anyone to
see down the alley or see what she was about to do with her hands.

  Her brothers had watched enough she nearly didn’t care anymore, but maybe the bloke preferred that not everyone on the docks saw a dirty dock rat working him dry in broad daylight. And there was the small problem of her being dressed like a boy. Gents like him did have to preserve their reputations and a boy sucking at his cock was an entirely different matter than a young girl.

  “Well, let’s get this business started.” He smiled indulgently while moving his back against his horse. The horse was probably the cleanest thing in the alley, aside from him. His hands reached for the fall of his trousers.

  With a few quick movements, he displayed his thickening cock. “Looks like you’ve got some work to do. Don’t kneel, I want to see your face.”

  She glanced into his eyes once and refused to look back. His smiling gaze both laughed at her and waited for the promise of sexual release. She could tell by the way they breathed that something changed with a man when he wanted a woman.

  Moving closer, she smelled fresh soap. At least she wouldn’t be sick from his body odor, but then he probably had a servant who was paid to wash his arse. Imo nearly burst out laughing. Instead she set her mind, and hands, to the task.

  She wrapped her hands around the thickening shaft and watched as it grew harder and longer. His breathing sounded just like Danny’s in the night. One of his hands gripped the saddle horn, the other kept the trousers from lowering any further.

  Her fingers traced along the perfect round sac. She’d never noticed the hair before, but she never did this in the light of day either. Thick and black and curly, but not as dark as the hair on his head.

  She cupped and squeezed. He hummed at the touch. A quick glance upward and she saw that his eyelids had lowered for a moment and that insolent smile had turned into a grimace of suppressed pleasure.

  He stood tense and unmoving, one leg cocked to keep his balance. Imo grew worried he didn’t like what she was doing, so she caressed with longer, firmer strokes.

  One of his large, strong hands gripped her wrist. “How much to use your mouth?”

  Imo’s chest heaved. She lowered her hands. “I don’t do that. And that wasn’t the agreement.” Again, their gazes caught.

  “We’ll make a new agreement.”

  His saddle hand reached for her and tipped up her chin. “You are a pretty girl. I’ll pay to have those lips wrapped around my cock. I’ll pay you extra to swallow what comes out. Can you do that?”

  She bit her lips and looked away. Not after last night. She just couldn’t.

  Once again, he reached inside his jacket then opened his palm in front of her. The gold coins looked shinier, the silver coins looked bigger. “I will pay whatever you think it’s worth.”

  Imo’s jaw worked. She wanted the words of denial to come out, but she couldn’t say them. And hell would freeze before she turned down the needful.

  Hadn’t she, standing just across the cobblestones, imagined doing this very thing with him? Even so, she couldn’t imagine her lips touching that long, scary length. Or what it would be like deep in her throat.

  “Do you know the real reason I want you to put your lips on my cock?”

  She stared at him, wide-eyed and a little afraid, but she shook her head.

  “I am dying to put my cock in the mouth of a girl dressed like a boy. I’m amazed I haven’t tried it before.”

  Imo couldn’t help but smile—one sided and short lived—but it was a little funny.

  He moved his hand closer, urging her to take. “Whatever you think it’s worth,” he said again.

  Her fingers itched. She should take the pretty gold Georges. Instead, she took the silver half crown and then another one. She glanced at his face for the second time. Expressions like that meant one thing—he wanted in her mouth very badly. “I have to swallow it?”

  He nodded, so she took another half crown. And then another one. She scratched at her face worrying she took too much.

  “Are you sure that’s enough?”

  She nodded in return, pressing her lips tightly together as if she wouldn’t ever open her mouth again. Was it enough? She’d know once his cock was inside her mouth.

  The rest of his coins disappeared inside his fancy green jacket. His hand braced against the saddle and he pulled back the material covering his crotch, exposing the now very firm and large piece of manhood.

  Imo gulped in a breath of air and went to her knees, using one of his legs to brace herself. Pinkish and long, his cock stood straight out, eager for her mouth. Licking her lips, she opened her mouth and slid along the soft contours until his flesh touched the back of her throat.

  Her lungs burned and she sucked in a lungful of air as he slid out. Her brow furrowed. The smell was not unpleasant at all. And he didn’t thrust into her like...

  It was just different. Used to gripping the ball sac, her other hand slid upward and began stroking. Her thumb circled the meaty flesh.

  “A little faster, hon, and as deep as you can go.”

  Imo heard the instructions and tightened her lips, suctioning her tongue against the lower side of his cock. Her jaw already ached from being kept so wide open, but she continued the in-and-out movements. When he groaned, Imo sensed he was near and felt the confirmation in the lift and tightening of his balls.

  He slid his hand into her hair. For the first time, he used force. Gentle-like, but force, and she knew what it meant. She hoped she didn’t gag. Puking on his shiny boots would be awfully rude after he’d paid her so well.

  “Honey, I’m coming. Swallow now.”

  He held her head so she couldn’t move, but his hips jerked a few times and the large cock plunged deep. The warm liquid at the back of her throat didn’t cause the reaction she expected. She swallowed once, then again and finally a third time as he finished.

  He moaned and went nearly limp before he used his fingers to dislodge himself. “Well worth the money,” he said as he jacked up his trousers. He moaned pleasurably again and his body shook once.

  Imo braced one hand against the stones and pushed to her feet.

  “Would you have paid more?” she asked. The task complete, she had a future to think about, and who better to ask than someone who’d probably paid for women hundreds of times.

  “More?” His dark eyes settled on her again, causing a queasy sensation that had nothing to do with puke. His gaze then slid around the alley. He expected to be robbed. She knew that nervous, secretive look.

  “You know, to poke me?”

  He turned to his saddle and fiddled with the cinch strap before answering, “A man always pays more for that.”

  “How much more?”

  “I’m not going to fuck you in a back alley if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “No, I want to know how much a man would pay. You know, if the girl was new to it and all. And clean. And pretty.”

  “A virgin?” He raised his brow. His mouth turned into a thoughtful grimace. “I’ve purchased women before, little chick. Never a virgin.”

  With one step, he lifted his leg and swung the other over the rump of the horse before settling into the stirrups.

  “What would you pay if’n you did have virgins?”

  “I don’t know.” He leaned one arm on his foreleg and stared into her eyes. “Don’t give it away to some fishmonger’s son. Don’t sell yourself cheaply. No, my advice to you would be to get every guinea you can. Take the money and run. Those brothers of yours can help, if that’s really what you want.”

  He clucked a finger under her chin. “A pretty girl like you shouldn’t have any trouble whatsoever getting a man between your legs. No, there will be plenty of unscrupulous men who will take what you’ve guarded, so guard it well.

  “Oh, and you’ll probably get more money if you aren’t wearing breeches or working in a back alley.”

  “But how much?” Why couldn’t someone just say an amount? What was it worth to a man to ha
ve someone like her for the first time?

  He shrugged, losing interest in the conversation now that he’d had his pleasure. “Whatever you think you’re worth.”

  Chapter Three

  The handsome nob clicked to his horse then set his heels to the beast’s flanks. She stared, for the first time in her life thinking about a man after the deed was done. What did it take to keep a man like him happy? Beautiful dresses? White skin? Bedding him at every opportunity?

  Danny rounded the corner with the boys in tow. “What took so long?”

  “Nothing. He couldn’t get his wanker up.”

  She’d always thought men like him were the ones he’d just warned her away from. If she had to have a man between her legs, she didn’t know if she’d seen one better than what just rode off.

  Imo decided not to tell Danny about the extra coins in her pocket, though she did hand over the three shillings Frank had negotiated. If she told Danny, she’d have to explain how she got them and she wasn’t ready to confess she’d slipped further down the slope to whoredom.

  She was a perfectly horrible liar. She hoped the money was long gone before Danny figured it out.

  After Frank ran a message down to the Wapping Docks, the family started its journey homeward.

  They went a different route, looking for different opportunities.

  “Why can’t we go in there?” Charlie pointed to St. George Church. Not the St. George’s at Hanover Square. The other one.

  “’Cause that’s were good people go, not heathens,” Imo suggested.

  “Who lives there?”

  “God, when He’s lonely from being up in heaven too long.”

  Charlie didn’t say anything else. Imo looked inside and saw an orange glow shining out. Yeah, maybe sometime they would sneak inside and look around.

  As the sun set, they arrived at Old Fish Street. All their friends and neighbors were finishing their work for the day. Most couldn’t afford the candles to stay awake later than the last shred of light over the skyline.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Imo said.

  “’Bout what?” Frank asked. Curiosity was Frank’s worst habit ’cause that was the habit that was annoying her at the moment.