Butterfly Read Online Free Page A

their
    hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. Because of what men do, God
    has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their
    sex into unnatural practices. ”
    “Brothers and sisters!” he boomed as he marched across the studio set with an enor-
    mous stride. “It pains my heart to have to admit this, but there exist in our beautiful
    country today, houses of sin and corruption. Evil nests where Satan spawns his minions.
    Where women sell their bodies and men go in lust and sin. It is such places that under-
    mine the strength of our magnificent country. How can America continue to be the
    world’s number one power, the leader to which all the nations of the earth eventually
    turn, if we tolerate such evil practices in our midst? If men go to houses of prostitution,
    then what becomes of the blessed married state? If women sell their bodies, then how can
    our children grow up pure and knowing God’s Word?”
    The Reverend shook a finger heavenward and hastily mopped his sweating brow with
    a white handkerchief. “I say we must bring down these houses of sin and corruption! We
    must seek them out wherever they are and cause them to topple! We’ll carry the torches of
    righteousness and put them to their corrupt walls and watch them burn, like Satan’s own
    hellfires!”
    “Amen,” Beverly Highland said.
    “Amen,” said Maggie.
    When the show was over, they sat for a few moments in silence. Then Beverly sighed
    and said, “We’d better get to work. The convention is only six months away. There’s so
    much to be done.”
    While her secretary went to the desk and picked up the day’s agenda Beverly Highland
    went again to the window and looked out.
    She was just in time to see the pool-maintenance truck departing down the long drive.

    3
    Having sex with a stranger was nothing new to Trudie Stein. It was how she usually
    spent her Saturday nights. However, having sex with a stranger under these peculiar cir-
    cumstances, she decided as she gazed up at the butterfly logo over the door, was definitely
    new.
    And it excited her beyond belief.
    As she accepted the claim check from the parking valet and heard him pull away from
    the curb in her electric-blue Corvette, Trudie felt a sudden, unexpected jolt of fear.
    But what was there to be afraid of? After all, her cousin Alexis had been coming here
    for weeks now, Alexis who had gone on and on to Trudie about the fantastic wonders of
    this place. “ Where you can act out any fantasy you want,” Alexis had said. And then there
    was Dr. Linda Markus, for whom Trudie had designed and built a sun deck and spa at her
    beach house—Dr. Markus had been a member of Butterfly, according to Alexis, for even
    longer. In fact, it was Linda Markus who had recommended Trudie’s cousin for member-
    ship, the two being very close friends since medical school. And so now here was Trudie,
    thirty years old and searching for something, standing on the sidewalk of Rodeo Drive,
    on the threshold of having her most desired fantasy come true. Thanks, really, to Dr.
    Markus.
    That was how Butterfly operated, Alexis had explained. Since it was a small, private
    “club,” each member was allowed to bring in one other person. Dr. Markus had chosen
    her best friend, Alexis, and Alexis had decided to recommend her cousin Trudie. Two
    weeks ago, just after Christmas, Trudie had come here for an interview and orientation
    with the director. Three days ago she had received her special bracelet, and now she, too,
    was a full-fledged member with all the rights and privileges that Butterfly offered.
    Trudie turned up the collar of her coat and squinted at the building in the cold
    January glare.
    What Butterfly offered…
    “I tell you, Trude,” her cousin had said, “Butterfly has done wonders for me already.
    It’s helping me to find myself, to sort myself out. Perhaps it can rescue you, too.”
    Rescue. Trudie certainly hoped so.