A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett Page A

and ripped. Beside him a drunk man was on his knees, singing to a whore, while two of his friends laughed uproariously. On the next couch a couple were kissing with their mouths open. Hugh had heard that people did this but he had never seen it. He watched, mesmerized, as the man unbuttoned the front of the woman’s dress and started to caress her breasts. They were white and flabby, with big dark-red nipples. The whole scene aroused and revolted Hugh at the same time. Despite his distaste, his prick grew hard. The man on the couch bent his head to the woman’s bosom and began to kiss her breasts. Hugh could not believe what he was seeing. The woman looked over the top of the man’s head, caught Hugh’s eye, and winked.
    A voice in Hugh’s ear said: “You could do that to me, if you like.”
    He spun round, feeling as guilty as if he had been caught doing something shameful. Beside him was a dark-haired girl of about his own age, heavily rouged. He could not help glancing down at her bosom. He looked away again quickly, feeling embarrassed.
    “Don’t be shy,” she said. “Look as long as you want. They’re for you to enjoy.” To his horror he felt her hand on his groin. She found his stiff prick and squeezed it. “My goodness, you are excited,” she said. Hugh was suffering exquisite anguish. He felt about to explode. Thegirl tilted her head up and kissed his lips, rubbing his prick at the same time.
    It was too much. Unable to control himself, Hugh ejaculated into his underwear.
    The girl felt it. For a moment she just looked surprised, then she burst out laughing. “My God, you are a green one!” she said loudly. Hugh felt humiliated. The girl looked around and said to the nearest whore: “I only touched him, and he creamed himself!” Several people laughed.
    Hugh turned away and headed for the exit. The laughter seemed to follow him the length of the room. He had to restrain himself from running. At last he reached the door. A moment later he was out in the street.
    The night had cooled a little, and he took a deep breath and paused to calm himself. If this was dissipation, he did not like it. The dollymop Maisie had been rude about his father; the ratting had been revolting; the whores had laughed at him. The whole lot of them could go to the devil.
    A commissionaire gave him a sympathetic look. “Decided to have an early night, sir?”
    “What a good idea,” said Hugh, and he walked away.
    Micky was losing money. He could cheat at baccarat if he had the bank, but tonight the bank would not come to him. He was secretly relieved when Edward said: “Let’s get a couple of girls.”
    “You go,” he said, feigning indifference. “I’ll play on.”
    A gleam of panic showed in Edward’s eyes. “It’s getting late.”
    “I’m trying to win back my losses,” Micky said stubbornly.
    Edward lowered his voice. “I’ll pay for your chips.”
    Micky pretended to hesitate, then give in. “Oh, all right.”
    Edward smiled.
    He settled up and they went into the main room. Almost immediately, a blond girl with large breasts came up to Edward. He put his arm around her bare shoulders, and she pressed her bosom against his chest.
    Micky scanned the girls. A slightly older woman with a nicely debauched look caught his eye. He smiled at her and she came over. She put her hand on his shirtfront, dug her nails into his chest, stood on tiptoe and gently bit his lower lip.
    He saw Edward watching him, flushed with excitement. Micky began to feel eager. He looked at his own woman. “What’s your name?” he said.
    “Alice.”
    “Let’s go upstairs, Alice,” he said.
    They all went up the stairs together. On the landing was a marble statue of a centaur with a huge erect penis, which Alice rubbed as they went by. Next to it a couple were performing the sexual act standing up, oblivious of a drunk man sitting on the floor watching them.
    The women headed for separate rooms, but Edward steered them into the