Part 3 (1/2)

I could feel her body against mine. Her soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s were pressed tight against me. At every step I could feel the length of her long thighs against mine.

Other people were dancing now. They kept feeding the jukebox and Allison and I kept dancing. A rock-and-roll number with a heavy beat came on. I tried the fish. In case you don't know, that's doing upright what rightly should be done horizontally.

Allison went into the fish like a pro. That was as good as giving me references.

”Let's get out of here,” I said.

”Oh, do you have to leave so soon? I was hoping we could be together for a few more hours,” Allison said.

”Fine with me. What about going back to your place?”

”No.”

”Why not?” I asked.

”Because I'm after a run-of-the-play contract and that's not the way to get it with you.”

”Don't be silly. How do you know it'll make any difference to me whether you sleep with me on our first date or not?”

”Just a feeling I have about you,” Allison answered.

”Nonsense. You're a prude and you're trying to put the blame on me.”

”Think that if you want but it's not true. I'd love to go to bed with you tonight, Sloane, but I'm going to want to go to bed with you in the future too. I just think it'd be better for both of us if we don't rush it.”

”Why did you give me the free sample on the dance floor then? You knew what you were doing and what effect it was having on me.”

Allison smiled so sweetly I wanted to push her face in and said, ”Call it an audition. I said I was after a run-of-the-play contract.”

”This show just closed out of town.” I said and pushed her ahead of me to the checkroom.

We got our coats and left the bar. I should have just dropped her there but that was no neighborhood to let a girl walk around in alone. I walked her home.

In front of her building I gave her her last chance. ”Changed your mind?” I asked.

She hadn't. I left without saying another word.

I wasn't going to get hung up over any two-bit broad. The nerve of her to work me up that way for a big letdown! I took a cab to Lorraine's.

Lorraine answered the door in her pajamas.. She had been sleeping. ”What have you got against telephones?” she asked.

”They would have slowed me up,” I said. I walked straight into the bedroom and started divesting myself of enc.u.mbering clothing.

”Don't you want a drink or some coffee first?” Lorraine asked.

”No. Waste of time.” I grabbed Lorraine and slipped my hand under her pajama top. I cupped her breast in my hand, teasing the nipple with my thumb.

”Hey, aren't you taking a lot for granted?” Lorraine asked.

”Yes and you don't mind a bit. You go for the caveman approach and you know it.”

”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” Lorraine said.

”So I'm a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I'm a lot of other things too. You can tell me all about it afterward. We've got more important things to take care of now.” I guided her toward the bed. When we were almost there she stumbled and fell and I was on top of her in a second.

”For Christ's sake, let's at least get into the bed,” Lorraine said.

”O.K.” I can be obliging.

We got into the bed. I kissed her hard.

Lorraine had an educated pelvis. She pushed it against me rhythmically until I thought I'd flip. I wanted her to wait for it. She'd appreciate it more that way.

I took her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in my hands like they were two oranges to be squeezed. I trailed my tongue leisurely from the tip of one to the tip of the other. Lorraine was going out of her head.

She was bruising the h.e.l.l out of me with that overactive pelvis of hers. I got back at her with my hip bone. Placed properly it was punis.h.i.+ng and I had it right where it would hurt. Healthy girl that Lorraine, she pushed herself up against me like she was going for it. If that was what she dug I was more than willing to give it to her.

”Give it to me, baby. Give it to me,” Lorraine breathed.

We went crazy. She was holding me so tightly I thought I'd come out on her other side. We were making it together in perfect rhythm.

I could feel Lorraine's body stiffening against mine just as I felt myself beginning to reach a peak. But then I went dead inside. Lorraine was groaning ecstactically but I wasn't with her.

”That night between her lips and mine thy shadow fell, Cynara.” Cynara alias Allison Millay. That's what went wrong. I was in bed with the wrong woman and I couldn't go through with it.

Lorraine was so gone she didn't know the difference. Afterward, I just pretended I was played out and went to sleep.

The next day was a Sat.u.r.day. I didn't have to go to work so I stayed in bed late.

I could hear Lorraine puttering around the apartment. She was singing softly under her breath. She sounded happy. I had brought a little suns.h.i.+ne into her life. You can twist anything around to your own advantage if you try hard enough.

I lay in bed thinking about Allison. I wanted her. Bad. She had succeeded better than she thought.

I was just about to call her on the bedside phone when Lorraine came in. Ordinarily I liked to talk to Lorraine.

She's a bright kid and easy to get along with. But that day she irritated me.

I made up a story about a dentist's appointment and left.

I could hear the telephone ringing as I unlocked the door to my apartment. It was Allison.

”I was so worried,” she said. ”I called you last night to see if you got home safely.”

”I stayed with a friend,” I said.

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Then Allison said, ”Well, I just wanted to make sure you were all right. Call me some time.”

”Allison, don't hang up. Are you free today? We could go to a movie or something.”