Part 16 (1/2)
”Listen, you idiot woman! How do you know you're not being taken? Maybe I got it all from him. Why should you take my word about anything?”
”You did good. I didn't even know you got a thing. You keep half like we said.”
I reached and grabbed her purse. I crammed the money into it and managed to fasten the catch.
”I got all I want!”
”There's no call to yell. You want me to have it, I'll take it. And I thank you kindly. Travis.”
I kicked the table out of the way and slumped onto the couch beside her. The d.a.m.ned humble, docile, forgiving woman. I wanted to beat her. I wanted to do some ugly thing that would destroy that mute earnestness, that anxiety to please me. I hooked a hand around her neck and pulled her over to me, stroked her body and kissed her roughly. I released her and she sagged back and moistened her lips and stared at me with a little frown between her brows.
”Well?” I said.
”If'n you're telling me you want me, and waiting that I should say yes or no, I guess it would be yes, if it would comfort you some, if you think it's what you want off me. I made bad trouble for you... and there isn't much I can do one way or another.”
I got up and caught her wrist and pulled her along. She came willingly. I pushed her into the stateroom ahead of me. She looked around the room. I stumbled and sat on the bed. She undid a side zipper on that blue dress and gave me a quick and earnest look as she did so, teeth biting into her underlip, a boyish tousle of blonde hair falling across her forehead, her worried little frown still in place. She pulled the dress off over her head and hung it over the back of a chair. She balanced herself and slipped her shoes off. She wore very plain white nylon underthings, trim panties and a functional-looking bra.
”My G.o.d, Cathy,” I said, ”you're not under any compulsion.” She looked blank. ”You're not obligated.”
”You're hurting, ain't you?” she said, and reached her arms behind her and unhooked the bra.
”Get dressed!”
”What?”
”It was a lousy idea. Get dressed and go.”