Part 9 (1/2)

”I-” He was afraid he was losing touch with reality entirely.

”Your room or mine?” she inquired.

”I have to go out.”

Her brow furrowed. ”Now?”

”To-” He knew it was wrong to say it to a woman.

But she caught on. ”The bathroom?”

He nodded, embarra.s.sed.

”You don't use what's inside?”

Somehow it always got like this when he was with another person, all awkward and stumbling. ”It's just water, and the plants, they need it.”

”Oh, Geode, now I understand! You fertilize the plants! How thoughtful.”

Had he somehow managed not to offend her, again? ”You aren't mad?”

”You like plants,” she said. ”Why waste a lot of water flus.h.i.+ng a toilet, when the plants can really use the nitrogen? It shows how sensible you are. By all means, go out. I don't think you want my company at the moment.”

She really did seem to understand, the first one ever to do so. He went out the side door into the closing darkness, found a familiar azalea bush, and urinated at its base. Then he returned, and washed his hands in the half-bathroom just inside that entry.

none was there, just beyond. ”Your room or mine?” she repeated.

She didn't let go-nor did he want her to. She was pus.h.i.+ng him the way everyone did, thinking him dull-witted, but she was pus.h.i.+ng him in a wonderful new way. ”Here.” He opened the door to the wing where he stayed. He normally left the main house alone, only checking it to be sure everything was in order. Whenever Mid came here, the house and trees would be ready.

”Oh, the forbidden door,” she murmured.

”No, that one's upstairs.”

She put her fist to her mouth as if startled. ”It is?”

”The security closet. It's always on unless I turn it off with a key, so nothing can be stolen. There isn't anything in there, but Mid has it set up so if there ever is anything he can use it.”

”Oh. Of course.”

He reached for the light switch near the door, but she demurred. ”Let's be in the darkness, for now,” she said. ”I was afraid of the dark, alone, but I'm not afraid with you.”

Geode had no concern about the dark; in fact he rather liked it. He liked it even better now. ”Can you see?”

”You can guide me.” She took hold of his elbow. He guided her in a few steps, where the wing divided into two rooms, and then to the left, where his bed and belongings were. ”Here.”

”Lie down, and I will join you.”

He stretched out on the bed, on the left side, facing right. She lay on the right side, facing left. She moved into him, her body touching his at thigh and chest. Her left hand came up and found his head; then her face was there, and she was kissing him. He felt as if he were floating through warm fog, yet also lying on the bed with her.

”You see, we can't fall over,” she murmured.

He had to laugh, and she laughed with him. It was the first time he could remember laughing with a woman.

”Let me see if I can make you potent,” she said. ”Take off your clothes.”

He did not protest. He was beyond that, in this unreal darkness. He rolled off the bed, unbuckled his belt, dropped his jeans, stripped off his s.h.i.+rt, and removed his underpants and socks. He lay down, naked.

Her hand touched his chest, locating him. Then she lay against him again, her body warm against his. She was naked too; she had removed her negligee and slippers. ”All that a woman can be to a man, I will be to you,” she murmured, and kissed him.

Then, after a moment: ”Am I boring you?”

”No.” Far from it; he had never before had such an experience.

She moved against him, pressing him back, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s sliding across his chest. Her hair fell down, tickling his neck. She kissed him once more, lying on top of him, her legs falling outside his.

”You really are impotent,” she said.

”Yes.”

”But when you handled the-what the monster left-what then?”

”It-I-it got hard,” he said, remembering, surprised.

”And when you sleep, alone?”

”Sometimes it does,” he said.

”So it is psychological, not physical.”

”Yes.”

”But I am not finished.” She drew up her legs and lifted her body, straddling him on the bed. She moved down, exposing his crotch. Then her hands found his member. It was soft.

”There are ways,” she said. She moved down farther, then began kneading his p.e.n.i.s and stroking his t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es. Then she put her mouth down. She licked him, and stroked him, and finally sucked on him, but there was no hardness.

She paused. ”I must ask; forgive me if I offend you. Are you h.o.m.os.e.xual?”

”No. I like women. But they don't like me.”

”Ah, so you don't really believe I want you. That nulls your circuits. Let's try it the other way around.” She lay down beside him. ”Get up on me, sitting as I was, and run your hands over my body.”

Geode obeyed. ”My b.r.e.a.s.t.s,” she said. ”Don't avoid them. They may not be world cla.s.s, but neither are they nonexistent; they merely flatten out as I lie on my back. Take handfuls, knead them, gently.”

He did so, and thrilled to the experience. ”Now my thighs,” she said. ”Run your hands down, outside, now inside. No, don't shy away! Go up where they join. I am spreading my legs wide. Here, you must let me do it; put your knees together inside mine. Yes. Now move your hand up. Do you feel where it is wet?”

”Yes. Am I hurting you?”

”No, Geode. You are making me want you. My body is ready for yours. Is yours ready yet?”

”No.”