I busied myself with cleaning the crockery and cutlery, stowing it away until needed.
The flight was just over half way and I turned around and scanned the passengers.
Some were snoozing, others were chatting or just looking out of the window.
It was then that I noticed that seat twenty-five was empty. No-one had passed me to use the wash-room, which was next to the galley and I had been there for some ten minutes.
I wondered if she was perhaps not well.
Air sickness was an ever present condition, perhaps not so much on the DC-3 as it was not as smooth as the modern jet airliners but, nonetheless, there was often someone who would succumb.
I tapped gently on the door and listened carefully. Nothing.
I tapped again, a little harder.
“Are you all right?” I said, not so loud that the other passengers could hear but so that she could, if she was in there.
I heard a faint click as the door lock was released from inside.
“No, I am not. Please come and help me,” her unmistakable voice replied.
Taking a quick look down the cabin to ensure no-one was looking and wouldn’t see through the door when I opened it, I turned the handle and opened the door, quietly slipping inside and closing it behind me.
Jemima Rana was sitting on the toilet with her arm out towards the tissue dispenser, her skirt was pulled up around her waist and her panties were around her ankles.
She was leaning forwards, her free hand across her lap.
“What is wrong?” I asked, a little awkwardly. I had dealt with toilet problems many times but due to Jemima’s previous behaviour, I was very concious of the fact that she was taking great efforts to conceal herself.
“I reached for some tissue,” she began, “and when I pulled, my bracelet snagged on the holder. I cannot free it.”
I crouched beside her and saw that the fine gold chain had caught on a piece of the metal holder and was not going to move easily.
“I will go and get the First Officer. He is also an engineer. He will be able to do something.”
“No!!” she hissed. “Look at me! Do you think I want a man to see me like this?” Her expression was a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
“Damn it… Karen!” she looked at my name badge. “It is bad enough you seeing me so vulnerable.”
I looked again at her and considered the predicament she was in then, something dawned on me. She was not used to being helpless! This was a beautiful, rich woman who was used to having everything her own way. She touched me because she knew I would not be able to do anything about it. This wasn’t a sexual thing at all, it was power, pure and simple. I could protest, certainly, but that was about it. If I said anything, she would deny it and, without evidence to the contrary, be believed!
I decided there and then that I would play her at her own game.
I stood up and looked down at her.
“Give me one minute then and I will go and get something with which to cut the bracelet.”
“You will do no such thing!” she hissed as loud as she dared, not wanting the other passengers to hear her. “This is a Cartier bracelet. Twenty-four carat gold! It cost five thousand pounds!”
I suppressed a gasp. That was almost three years wages for me!
I crouched down again and took a closer look. It was then that I noticed it was only hooked on a piece of the hinge which was protruding from the far side of the holder, hidden from her sight by the cuff of her blouse. All I had to do was slip the fine filigree chain carefully over the end and she would be free.
I took her hand and lifted it back a little, as though examining the problem.
“Hmm, it is hooked up quite badly,” I lied.
Her head dropped forwards onto her free hand and she groaned in despair.
“Can’t you free it?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I can only try,” was my answer.
I pretended to think and she returned her head to her hand.
I remained crouched beside her then gently placed my hand on her stocking encased knee. The mesh was expensive, so smooth and soft.
Her head snapped up and she glared at me as ever so slowly, my hand began to move along the soft flesh of her thigh, on towards the lace trim at the top of her stocking where I stopped and gently squeezed.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” she hissed, her face contorted with anger and surprise.
“Don’t you know?” I asked her, “Isn’t this what you do, take advantage of women who cannot defend themselves?”
My fingers toyed with the pretty nylon, straying briefly onto the naked flesh beside the red elasticated strap which was attached to her stocking. As I caressed her I noticed that her face had flushed somewhat and her firmly clamped together legs had begun to relax, parting ever so slightly.
I had meant to teach her a lesson but I soon realised that I was, myself, becoming more than a little aroused. Whilst I had not previously been attracted to women, it was frowned upon after all, I found that the soft, warm, smooth flesh beneath my fingers felt so nice that I was beginning to tingle inside and my heart was beginning to beat more strongly.
I lingered longer than I had intended, my fingers stretching around her naked flesh, slowly slipping around her inner thigh and, as the tips met the lightly touching flesh of her other thigh, I heard a tiny gasp escape her lips and and her legs relaxed a little more, parting and allowing my fingers to move between them.
I was mesmerized. My mind oblivious to everything beyond her scent and beauty and the smoothness of her dark skin. I could feel her firm muscles quivering under my soft touch and once again I gently squeezed her inner thigh above her stocking and she moaned.
At that moment I regained my senses and quickly withdrew my hand.
“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, jumping up.
She didn’t answer immediately, just sat there, looking at me, a puzzled expression on her face and breathing heavily.
We stared at each other in silence for a moment, me leaning against the door, heart pounding as though it were trying to burst out of me and her, sitting naked from the waist just staring, frowning until, finally, it was her who broke the silence.
“No Karen,” she said gently, “It is me who should apologise. You are right, I had no right to behave the way I did, you have shown me that.” As she spoke she brought her knees back together. “I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
“I forgive you,” I conceded, “But I got a little carried away…”
There was another awkward silence.
“Do you think you could try to release me now? I feel a little self concious here.”
I looked at her, noticing her legs were tightly clamped together again.
“Oh, oh yes, of course,” and stepped towards her.
Very carefully I took her hand and pulled it towards me, unhooking the fragile bracelet from its snare. I held her hand between mine perhaps a little longer than was expected, taking in the long slender fingers tipped with perfectly manicured nails.
“That’s it? That’s all it took?” she looked at me in disbelief as she gently tugged her hand from my grasp then examined the chain.
I nodded red faced but then, she chuckled and began to laugh as I pushed the offending hinge pin back into place.
“I like you, Karen Farmer. You played me at my own game and won hands down.” She paused, “And such soft and gentle hands they are too.”
I blushed even more deeply, remembering how they had been when I first started at training school.
“I will leave you to…” I didn’t finish the sentence as I turned to unlock the door. I didn’t know why but I was uneasy and unsure of myself. Not a feeling I was used to.
As my fingers gripped the bolt she spoke, “Wait! Please.”
I let my hand fall away and turned back to face her.
“I don’t normally have company in the bathroom so please forgive me but I would like to talk to you,” she paused before adding, “That is, if you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind but we cannot be long.”
She reached out once more to the tissue holder and being very cautious not to get hooked again, took out some paper.
I knew I should have turned away but somehow, I could not. Without looking up she opened her legs and wiped herself.
I was totally mesmerized, she was completely smooth! Like a baby. I had never seen anything like it before but it looked so pretty. Her lips protruded slightly like the petals of an exotic flower and then it disappeared behind her hand as she cleansed herself then dropped the paper into the bowl and leaned forward to pull up her red pants.
My heart was pounding and my face burning as she stood before me and pulled up her pants. One final glimpse of her pretty flower and it was gone, covered in the dark red fabric then the dark grey as she smoothed down her skirt and once again standing before me was the smart, beautiful business woman.
She turned to the sink and began to wash her hands.
“I have a confession,” she began without looking up. “I have never been aroused so much as I was was then.”
I didn’t speak but just let her continue.
“You probably think I am some kind of sex mad lesbian.”
“Well… I… erm, I…” I didn’t quite know what to answer.
“It’s ok,” she went on. “The fact is, I have never been with or even wanted to be with another woman before.”
“You haven’t?” I was stunned. “But what about earlier, when you touched my leg, ran your hand up my skirt?”
“I am afraid that was a power thing. I could, so I did. I am used to working with men and to beat them it appears I have become like them. I am so ashamed.” She leaned forwards, her hands in the sink.
I went to her and placed my hand on her shoulder.
“I am sorry,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands.
“I think we have both learned something today, Jemima,” I tried to soothe her.
“Are you married?” she asked. I gave a little snigger.
“Nooo, I never seemed to have found a man whom I want to spend the rest of my life with, besides, my job… you know? Not really compatible.” I paused, “You?”
“No. I am the same. My job keeps me away from home a lot and the men I meet, well… most are married but they are such arrogant sods, so full of their own importance and women are just playthings to them.”
I handed her a towel. As she took it she looked me directly in the eye.
“And I am no better now, it seems.” She spoke with sadness in her voice.
“You have one advantage, Jemima, a huge one as I see it.”
“I do?” she replied.
“You do. You know what you have become and are unhappy about it. You can change and that makes you stronger than them.”
“Damn it Karen, you are right!” Her face lit up, “I can change, I will be stronger!” Suddenly she threw the towel onto the shelf and hugged me so tightly I couldn’t breathe. “Thank you so much.”
I put my arms loosely around her until she released me.
For a moment, Jemima looked at me, her face inches from my own, her gorgeous brown eyes flicking from one side to the other as looked in each of my own.
I heard nothing. There was complete silence as I became oblivious to everything bar the pounding of my heart and the weakness in my knees. My stomach fluttered wildly as though filled with millions of tiny butterflies.
She slowly moved her head forwards and when our lips touched I jumped as a spark seemed to leap between them but I responded, slowly parting them and accepting without question.
Her breath was warm and sweet and her lips soft.
I closed my eyes.
Inside my heard, fireworks were exploding in a shower of sparks. I didn’t understand what I was feeling but I knew I liked it. It was a feeling I had never experienced with any man.
I returned her kiss eagerly, my tongue exploring along her teeth which gradually parted and her own tongue met mine. I was lost to the world, the excitement intense and I could feel myself beginning loose control.
I had kissed like this with men before. I was no virgin, but this was unbelievable. Jemima made me feel so hot. Her hands were upon my head now, her tongue exploring every inch of my mouth and my nipples were straining against the fabric of my bra, aching, tingling and then, I pushed her away!
“Stop, no, we mustn’t, not here!” I breathed. “We can’t.”
She just stood, like a statue, breathing heavily, staring into my eyes.
I was rooted to the spot, wanting to turn away and return to my duties but although my head was screaming at me to get back to work my heart was holding me and she moved forward ans once more kissed me. I was hopeless, putty in her hands and I succumbed again to her soft lips. I was so hot now I had to press my thighs together and I could feel the moisture building up and beginning to leak onto the gusset of my pants.
Once again I pushed her away.
“No!” I hissed, “No more. You will get me sacked!”
This time I took a step backwards to the door.
“We must go before the other passengers get some funny ideas,” I said, releasing the bolt and opening the door.
“I will report that when we land,” I said, perhaps a little too loudly for effect. “I am sorry for your distress.”
I went with her the few short paces to her seat.
“I will bring you a complimentary drink as an apology,” I said, “Gin and tonic was it.”
She smiled, understanding,
“No,” she replied. “I think just coffee would be better,” and gave a little wink.
Before I busied myself preparing her drink I went back into the wash-room and checked my appearance. Fortunately I was pretty much intact. Lipstick somewhat smudged but otherwise okay.
I touched up my lips and returned to the cabin.
Waiting outside the door was one of the business men who had been in seat twenty four.
He smiled as I passed him.
“Problem is there?”
“I’m sorry?” I queried.
“You were quite a while in there with my neighbour…” the smile became a grin and he winked as he spoke.
“Not that it is any of you business,” I replied testily, “But your ‘neighbour’ had a malfunction from which she was unable to escape! Now, if you wish to use the wash-room, please do, but be careful that you do not suffer the same fate!”
“Pardon me I’m sure,” he grumbled and pushed past me through the door, closing it heavily behind him.
“Hope you get stuck too,” I muttered under my breath and returned to the task of making coffee.
In a moment of madness I took out my notebook and wrote down the name, address and room number of my hotel along with a short sentence, “If you would like to talk?” and placed it on the saucer under the empty cup on the tray then took them to her.
“My apologies once again, Madam, for your inconvenience. I shall report the defect as soon as we land and hopefully it will not happen again.”
“I should damn well think so too!” she replied sharply. I was a little taken aback until she gave the tiniest of smiles and a little wink, “I shall be taking this up with the airline!”
“As you wish, Madam,” I replied, maintaining the charade for the benefit of those nearby.
As I spoke she saw the note and briefly looked at it.
“Yes, I do wish,” she answered and I realised she was indicating the note as she spoke.
I smiled in the most professional way I could and, as I straightened up to turn away, she continued, “Oh, and thank you for you assistance.”
“You are welcome, Madam.”
I turned towards the rear of the cabin taking the empty tray with me and,as I did so I began to be aware of a slight vibration under my feet. I knew the DC-3 well, having spent many hours flying in them and I knew that this was not part of the normal bumps and thumps of everyday flight.
At that same moment, one of the passengers on the right hand side called out, “Miss, Miss, Quickly, here!”
Placing the tray on the buffet I went quickly down the cabin. I didn’t need to speak as the passenger was gesticulating wildly to the window.
I leaned across and looked out. My heart leapt into my mouth and I gasped!
“Oh my lord!”
To be continued…
