The South Window

 

The South Window While Dan is called away to manage a corporate takeover, Allie is left alone. When Marty Crawford moves in next door, her friend Tess begins planning her hot pursuit. What starts as a congenial friendship between the three drifts into uncharted waters when Marty confides in Allie, sharing that Tess belongs to a swing club and has taken Marty there as her guest. Marty struggles with the lifestyle. Seeing Allie as a woman with depth and substance—and available for the taking—his attraction to Allie grows. With Dan gone and Tess’s impulsive plans to take a trip with her swinger friends, Marty and Allie travel down a road where there is no turning back. A careless mistake one summer afternoon provokes a lifethreatening confrontation. Upon Dan's arrival home, he realizes that his answer to mending his broken, neglected relationship with Allie is right next door, and Marty is more than willing to help. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre Length: 50,181 words 

 

THE SOUTH WINDOW

JC Szot

MENAGE AND MORE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

 

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage and More

THE SOUTH WINDOW Copyright © 2012 by JC Szot E-book ISBN: 1-61926-101-4 First E-book Publication: January 2012 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of The South Window by JC Szot from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is JC Szot’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Szot’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

 

DEDICATION The South Window belongs to my dear friend, Jack Ginkel, my first and only male reader. Thank you for looking through The South Window with a male’s eye. I miss you.

 

THE SOUTH WINDOW JC SZOT Copyright © 2012

Chapter 1 “Tess, don’t do that.” Allie yanked the curtain down. “You can see through, the material’s sheer enough.” “Come on, we want to get a good look at him. Besides, you could use a little stimulation.” Tess turned, flashing her dark, sultry brown eyes. “Thanks,” Allie sighed, feeling beaten down again by Tess’s brutal honesty. “Listen, I have work to do. Federal Express will be here by noontime tomorrow.” Allie crawled off the love seat and watched Tess perched on the windowsill with the binoculars as close to the screen as she could get them, the seam of her short-shorts riding up her behind. Allie wondered how she could cope with that thick denim seam searing through her crotch all day. Tess rested the binoculars on the cushion then scooted off. “Oh well, we’ll just have to investigate him now, won’t we?” She walked over to Allie’s drawing table. “So, what do we have here? A wedding, baptism, or are those sympathy cards?” Tess eyed all the pastel drawings that lay on her table. “They decide when they get them.” Allie started to organize her tools, eager for Tess to leave.

 

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“Okay, I’ll stop back tomorrow after I see your truck leave.” Allie listened to Tess’s blackened bare feet slide across the hardwood floor and descend down the stairs. Allie sat down and attempted to finish the meadow scene with a rustic, red barn in the background. Being in the greeting card business required a lot of thought, and the study of nature. Whenever she felt starved for new ideas, she’d just get in the car with her camera and drive. Nature never failed her. A loud clanking noise drifted through the open window, coming from next door. Distracted again, Allie got up and went to the window. A rather interesting man had just moved in. The house adjacent to her and Dan’s lot had been empty for years, a foreclosure that just didn’t sell, but now they finally got their new neighbor. Now Allie felt like a hypocrite as she reached for the binoculars and focused in on him. He looked to be in his midthirties, tall and lanky, with dark hair that rested on the nape of his neck, wavy and thick. He was walking in and out of his shed carrying planks of wood. His jeans hung low, clinging to his hips. With every swaggering step, it looked as if the red bandanna in his back pocket would fall out. There was a peculiar limp in his step. When he turned, Allie saw his face so close she had to take the lenses away from her eyes for a minute. Raising them back up, she zoomed in for a closer look. His eyes were a light-cedar brown. His chest was bare, displaying a crimson-red tattoo of a bleeding heart on his tanned upper arm. The inked droplets leaked from the bottom like red rain. He turned his head, as if his eyes felt hers, his gaze reaching her window. Allie immediately leaned back, placed the binoculars on the end table, and returned to her work. She finished her drawings but chose to keep working. Dan would stay in the city tonight. Allie had a long night ahead of her. After a pathetic frozen dinner and a glass of wine, Allie returned to her studio. A knock on the door resounded through the quiet house. She

 

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bolted down the stairs, knowing that Tess would just enter on her own accord. Allie opened the door just in time to see her new neighbor’s figure step off the porch into summer’s early-evening dusk. “Hello,” she called, trying to get his attention. “I’m sorry, I was upstairs. Can I help you?” He turned around. Allie watched that same saunter she’d witnessed under close-range magnification earlier this afternoon. He retraced his steps back up onto the porch. “Yeah, um, I’m sorry, Miss. I’m Marty Crawford, just moved in across the way here.” He extended his hand. Allie’s fingers wove through his, his palm gritty and calloused. “Yes, hi, I’m Allie Kramer. It’s nice to meet you.” His eyes skirted around her, almost probing their way in the door, as if looking for someone else. Allie noticed how dirty her hands were. She hastily picked at her cuticles that were marred with paint and smudges of charcoal. “Is that your property line there?” He pointed across the yard to the edge of the hedgerow, near the split-rail fence. “I don’t think so.” She felt foolish, never paying attention to those types of details. “My boyfriend would know, but he travels a lot and stays in the city during the week. Is there a problem?” Allie hoped she didn’t sound snobby as soon as the words left her mouth, noting her tone. “Not at all. I just needed to stack some lumber there for a—I don’t know—maybe a few days or so.” He raked his fingers through a mass of unruly hair. “That’s not a problem, Marty.” Saying his name made her feel more polite. “You’re all right with that?” He squinted at her, his eyes straining through the last minutes of muted light. “It’s fine, really.”

 

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He turned around, looking across the yard. The pectorals in his chest rose with his every breath. “You’ve been working all day. Can I get you a drink?” Allie’s eyes lowered, taking him in. His jeans were dusty, his work boots caked with dried mud. “You know, I appreciate that.” He turned, facing her. “I’m a bit bushed, but tomorrow I just might take you up on that. I’ll be out here again all day, this place is a mess.” He laughed, digging at his scruffy cheek. “Well, I’ll let you go then. You put your wood wherever you need to.” Allie smiled back, wanting to be helpful. “Thank you, um, Allie, right?” His brows lifted. “That’s right.” She nodded. They stood there for a few awkward moments. “Okay, you have a good night then.” Marty turned and stepped off the porch. **** Allie sat on the sofa staring out the window at Marty’s house. She assumed he was single. There didn’t seem to be anyone else coming and going, a wife or children. He had one light lit upstairs. When eleven o’clock rolled around and she realized that Dan wasn’t going to call, she went to bed. Allie never understood why Dan insisted on buying a king-size bed. He was never home. With just her sleeping in it, it made her loneliness hard to ignore. Every time she rolled over to a cold spot on the mattress, it was like a slap in the face. Dan earned a lusciously fat salary, but their so-called relationship suffered for it. Their daily way of life was worlds apart, his filled with rigid, money-driven professionals, sexy secretaries and interns, and the expense accounts to go with it.

 

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Allie spent her days in quiet solitude, drawing and painting her dreamy land- and seascapes, lush flowers, and soothing sunrises. Tess’s remark about some needed stimulation was a cold, hard truth, but Allie couldn’t hang around with her too much, afraid her brash and flirtatious ways would rub off on her. With Tess being bold and Allie being more reserved, they were an odd match for a friendship, but there weren’t many people to choose from in a rural neighborhood. When she and Dan had first moved in, Tess had welcomed them into the neighborhood. As their friendship progressed, Allie became aware of the vast differences in their personalities, but she’d been a bit starved for companionship with Dan being away a lot. They got along well, but there was always that line of division that emphasized the differences. Tess usually got her way due to her brash nature. She had actually demanded, in the middle of her divorce court hearing, that she should be allowed to stay in the marital home as long as she needed to due to emotional trauma and distress. Tess had seduced the judge with her hypnotic curves and suggestive eyes. He had ordered that she be able to stay, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Kyle, footing the bill, along with a fat alimony check each month. Tess really knew how to work it. Allie was eager to see how Tess would welcome Marty to the neighborhood. The next morning, while sitting in the kitchen with her coffee, Allie chuckled out loud when she saw Tess slinking across the front lawn carrying a foil-wrapped package. Allie knew Tess wouldn’t make her wait too long.

 

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Chapter 2 Allie felt her lips pull into a grin as she leaned on the table, watching Tess out the window. The morning was as sultry as she looked. Allie reached into the pocket of her robe for a hair tie, gathering the lengthy strands of her strawberry-blonde hair away from her damp neck. It wasn’t even 11:00 a.m. and Tess was moving in for the kill. Allie watched her waiting on Marty’s porch. After knocking, she leaned into the window, cupping her eyes to see inside. It was then that Allie saw Marty walk around the side of the house. Allie sat at the table sipping her coffee, watching her silent movie. Tess, in a short denim skirt and a mint-green tank top, gave Marty that famous smile, then handed him whatever it was that she had made for him. Tess did have culinary talent. Growing up in a family with a restaurant business, she had learned hands-on. Allie saw her hands move through the air theatrically. Marty nodded, wiping his forehead with the cuff of his work shirt. Allie could guess what she was saying to him. It was probably an invitation over to her house. Tess’s claws were sharp and ready to dig right in. It looked as if Marty was eager to get back to work, his feet stepping backward, distancing himself away from their conversational loop. Allie then saw Tess glance over in her direction. Allie was hoping she would think it was too early. Besides, Tess did say she’d wait for her cue, Allie’s Federal Express pickup. The truck came twice a week to pick up her work.

 

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Allie worked until the truck came. She was just finishing cleaning up, putting her templates away, when she heard Tess’s slingbacks clanking across the floorboards. “Allie, I have seafood salad,” Tess called, her voice reverberating through the house. “I’ll be right down,” she yelled. Tess was bustling around the marble island when Allie got down to the kitchen. She had two rolls, the salad, and a bunch of red grapes. Allie pulled open the refrigerator and grabbed the mineral water. Tess reached up and removed a large copper-bottom pasta pot from the overhead rack, then set it on the counter. Whenever they ate at the island, she always wound up hitting her head on it. “I met our new neighbor.” Tess raised a shapely brow. “I figured you’d go welcome him into our exciting community.” Allie shook her head, piling her plate, not having eaten real food in a day and a half. “If I wore glasses, he would’ve steamed up the lenses,” Tess said casually as she sat down and crossed her tanned legs. “That good, huh?” Allie chose not to mention meeting Marty last night. “He’s from West Virginia. He used to work in a quarry but was injured.” Tess crushed a grape in between her front teeth. “Really?” Allie let her do the talking, she learned more that way. “Yeah, he got a sweet settlement and is on disability. He told me he moved here to avoid any aftermath hassles, you know, disgruntled coworkers and such.” Tess ran her fingers through the sleek, dark strands of her hair, tossing it over her shoulder. “There’s nothing like new blood.” Tess leaned on the counter, one eye squinting at her. Allie knew she was plotting. Tess loved men. She loved to romp and fuck. She was a good-time girl who enjoyed the physical benefits without the need for emotional commitment.

 

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Allie, on the other hand, couldn’t keep sleeping with a man without becoming emotionally attached. She just wasn’t wired for it. She tried it once in college and wound up heartbroken. “Are you going to take him for a spin?” Allie laughed, already knowing what her answer would be. “I might as well, since you seem to be tied down.” Tess tossed her head back, snickering. Tess didn’t care for Dan. She thought he was flat, drab, and a waste of her time. They’d been together for five years. Over that period of time, Dan had proposed three times, but something was holding Allie back. The demands of Dan’s high-paying profession in finance seemed to cloud any possible chance of marital bliss. His job seemed to be the top priority. Allie had already given up another life back in Connecticut when Dan was transferred. A marriage certificate would hold her here, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay. She loved Dan, but some days she felt so empty. “Are you going to introduce yourself? It’s only polite.” Tess wiggled her nose at her. “Yes, I plan to go over there. I just wanted to give him time to settle in.” “When’s Dan coming home again?” Tess stared at her over the rim of her glass. “I haven’t heard yet. This weekend, maybe.” “Are you done working for the day?” Tess began cleaning up their lunch. She always had an agenda. She made Allie aware of some of them. However, there were others that remained hidden. **** “Come on!” Tess banged her fist on the dash of her black BMW, demanding the air conditioner pump out cold air upon her command. “Where are we going?” Allie buckled in.

 

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“I need to go to the farmer’s market.” She swung the car around then barreled down the driveway, leaving a trail of dust behind them. Landisville, Indiana wasn’t what Allie would call a hopping community. Its primary resources were farming and limestone mining. It was a rural, blue-collar town. If you didn’t go to church or play bingo, then there weren’t many other social functions to choose from. Tess downshifted then stomped on the accelerator. Allie felt her body plunge forward then pull back in her seat, the engine winding out at its maximum speed. Tess’s hair whirled around in the convertible breeze, Allie’s ponytail taking flight behind her. They careened down County Route 5. Open fields outlined with split rail fences passed in Allie’s periphery before Tess downshifted again to turn into Hillcrest Farm. Strategically dodging the potholes in the dirt lane, she pulled up adjacent to the produce stand and killed the engine. “What are you going to get?” Allie opened the door, eyeing the produce stand filled with three-dimensional colors of red, purple, and green. “Oh, some luscious fresh fruit, maybe some eggplant. I’ll find something.” Allie noticed her flat expression reflecting back at her in Tess’s huge white-rimmed sunglasses. “I’m having our neighbor over for dinner.” Tess winked. “You gotta get in the game, Allie.” Tess hopped out of the car, readjusting her skirt. Not surprised in the least, Allie followed her up to the stand, eyeing the strawberries, wondering if Dan was coming home and if she should make strawberry shortcake. ****

 

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On the way home Allie asked Tess to stop at the Main Street Market so she could pick up two steaks. It was a gamble, but if she had a no-show she could just chuck them in the freezer. It wouldn’t be the first meal she’d put on ice. When Allie stepped off the curb, she saw Tess through the overhanging trees that lined Main Street in Landisville. She was loading a box into the trunk from the liquor store. Allie passed a group of men congregating in front of the general store, sipping their beverages of choice, sharing the local gossip. She walked toward the car, watching Tess shift her bags of seduction around to make room for the wine and beer. “So when are you going to ask Marty over?” Allie asked, already painting an intimate picture of the two of them. Tess was so predictable. “I think I’ll pay him another visit tomorrow. Tonight I’m going out to Readington.” Tess glanced over at her. Allie’s envious reflection stared back at her once again. **** “Okay, I’ll catch you later.” Tess waited for her to gather her bags. “What’s in Readington? You’ve been going there a lot lately.” Allie checked her expression. This was Tess’s fourth or fifth trip. It was a lengthy ride for one evening. “A night life. Sure beats staying here, taking a cold shower. But hey, I live rent-free, so everything has its price, right?” She pulled her dark, rich hair up, catching the breeze on the back of her neck. “You of all people should understand that.” “No one knows better than me,” Allie muttered. “See you, girl.” Tess accelerated, popped the clutch, and was gone. Allie watched her disappear into a tunnel of dust. Whatever was in Readington must be good if Tess was willing to travel that far.

 

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**** “I’ll be home, Al, but only for one night. They need me to go to Chicago.” Dan’s tone sounded regretful, but Allie couldn’t be sure if it was authentic. “Well, I’ll fix dinner, okay?” She reclined on the bed, gazing out the window at Marty’s house. “Sure, that’ll be fine. See you tomorrow.” Allie waited for Dan to hang up first. She always did. Why this was, she didn’t know. Maybe she thought she’d be able to hear some kind of incriminating background noise. She often questioned if he was having more fun than she was.

 

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Chapter 3 “Al, where’s my dark-gray suit?” Dan was rummaging through the closet, getting ready to leave after what felt like a two-hour stay. She slid out of bed, reached in front of him, and slid the hangers across the bar, producing the suit. “Hey, thanks.” He kissed her, his freshly shaven skin sliding against hers. “Are you all right?” He reached over, caressing her shoulder, his gray-blue eyes searching through her. “It feels like you just got here,” she sighed. “I know, babe, I’m sorry, but Jim’s wife is still on chemo, so I’ve got to step in.” He tilted her chin. When Allie wasn’t face-to-face with Dan, she had more nerve, but as he stood here in front of her, she withered like a dying flower. Allie tried to rejuvenate herself, soaking him up. His body smelled like fresh linen right off the line, his hair gelled back, falling into sandycolored waves. “Don’t you ever miss me?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Dan shook his head. “How can you say that?” His eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, really I am.” Allie raised a hand, attempting to soften the blow. “Listen, Al, I’m always busy, constantly under the gun. I’m not sitting around ruminating. Maybe you’re bored.” He took his suit over to the bed, slipping it into the garment bag. “It’s not like I don’t work.” Allie dropped into the chair in front of her dressing table. Dan tossed his shaving kit into his bag.

 

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“I know, Al, I mean something else…a hobby, maybe.” He came toward her. Allie stood up, slipping her arms around him. “When all this simmers down, we’ll take a trip, how’s that?” He peered down into her, softening her insides. Allie nodded, holding him close, breathing in his scent. “We’ll go wherever you want—Aruba, Mexico—hey, we’ll go to Italy if you want to, okay?” He cupped her face, his kiss soft. Over Dan’s shoulder, Allie saw Marty out the window, resting two pieces of lumber over a pair of workhorses. The loud shrill of an electric saw soared through the air. Dan released her, turning toward the window. “He seems like a decent guy. He sure knows how to maneuver that saw.” After dinner last night, while Dan was outside cleaning his car, which was a ritual before leaving for every business trip, Allie had seen him mosey across the lawn, extending his hand to Marty. The two of them spoke for awhile. While Allie was doing the dishes, she kept looking outside to see if Dan was still talking to Marty, her curiosity pulling her. “Well, I better get a move on so I’m not waiting to get my bags checked all day.” Dan turned and grabbed his jacket, slipped it on, then zipped up all his bags. Allie followed him downstairs and out to his car, the saw still chewing through the lumber. Sawdust spewed from the blade. Marty glanced over, giving them a friendly wave. Dan tossed his bags into the trunk of the Audi then leaned over and kissed her. Allie didn’t watch him pull out this time. She climbed the porch steps and entered the house without looking back, alone again after their brief visit. She began rifling through the cabinets, seeing if she could make Marty something to welcome him to their sedate neighborhood. She knew she couldn’t compete with whatever Tess had made, but she would be polite, as Tess had suggested. Allie decided on a cinnamon

 

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swirl coffee cake. She had some gourmet coffee she could bring over to go with it to help break the ice. The sun was streaming through the kitchen window; lemony light danced across the dark-brown marble counter. Allie placed two sticks of butter inside the microwave to soften, then went upstairs to get dressed. Allie made the cake for Marty and spent the day doing designs for a new friendship line of cards the company was trying to launch for the upcoming fall season. She had plenty of time to get ahead with her work, especially if Dan was considering planning a trip. Allie was unsure whether that would become a reality or not. One way or the other, she’d be ready. **** Around 7:00 p.m. Allie heard Tess’s tires screech out of her driveway. Her house was diagonally across from her bedroom window, giving Allie an informative view of her activities. The sprawling acres of land that their houses were built on had, at one time, been a large dairy farm. The lots had been subdivided gradually over a span of fifteen years. Marty’s house was the oldest in style, a simple Cape Cod. Her and Dan’s house was more contemporary, with large vaulted ceilings, glossy hardwood floors, along with ivorymarble tiling in their bathrooms. Allie’s kitchen was the star of the show, contemporary and spacious, done in brown and beige. All of her appliances were the newest stainless steel. Tess’s house was the newest of the modern monsters, a massive, two-story brick home with overhead arches and French doors off the master suite, along with an inground pool in the back. Allie cringed at the acceleration of Tess’s car engine. She still had the top down, a white scarf over her head, her lips painted a bright fuchsia. Allie took this as a good opportunity to go see Marty. She walked across the yard, the evening dew dampening her toes. There was a

 

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dim light lit in the kitchen and another in the front room, which Allie knew was the living room. She and Tess had peeked in the windows of Marty’s house many times prior to his arrival. Allie recalled the day when Tess was tempted to break in and have a look around, but Allie had put her foot down, demanding that they didn’t. Allie knocked lightly on the door. She wondered if he’d seen her coming, the front porch was immediately flooded with light. “Allie, hello. Good to see you. Come in.” Marty ushered her inside, swinging the door closed behind them. His appearance was considerably cleaned up, compared to their last meeting. “I just wanted to give you a little something to welcome you to the neighborhood.” She felt a slight heat warm her face. “I appreciate that. Between you two ladies I won’t need to go shopping.” He smiled. He had a soft shadow on his face, the results of being too pressed for time to shave. “This smells outrageous.” Marty jammed the bag of mocha javaflavored coffee under his nose. “Let’s brew a pot.” Allie followed him into the kitchen. The country-blue walls looked granite gray in the dim light. He still had boxes lined up against the wall and on the counter. He filled the carafe and spooned the grinds into the basket. “So what’s in here?” He lifted the foil off the cake. “Nice, I love this sort of stuff.” He reached into the cabinet for two plates and a pair of mugs. “You can eat this anytime—breakfast, dessert.” He turned to Allie. “Right? Who cares?” He shrugged. Marty brought everything to the rectangular oak table. The back of his hair was still damp, a water spot visible on the back of his white muscle tee. His eyes looked darker than they had through the binoculars, now a rich, cocoa brown. “Sit, Allie, please.” He waved her to the table.

 

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Allie sat while he poured their coffee. He returned the pot to the warmer then turned on a small overhead light above his stove. Marty sliced two thick slabs of the cake, handing Allie hers. “So, um, I guess your guy’s off again on business, huh?” He stirred his coffee, glancing up at her intermittently. “Yeah, he had to go to Chicago.” Allie stared out the bay window, noticing his workshop out back. “So what are you planning on doing with all that wood?” Allie pointed out back, attempting to keep the conversation moving, not wanting to elaborate on Dan’s highpowered schedule. “Well, I’m hoping to finish my chest of drawers. I’ve been working on it for almost a year. It’s just about done. I only need a few more pieces.” He looked at her over the rim of his mug, sipping his coffee. “So… you build your own furniture?” Allie’s eyes returned to his. “Yeah, it’s a hobby of sorts.” Marty leaned on the table. Allie chuckled, hearing that word again, and twice in one day. “I’ve sold a few pieces, but I can’t build on demand, you know.” He laughed. “Whenever someone asks for something in particular, I clam up, sort of like a writer’s block, I guess.” His smile revealed two front teeth that had a slight gap in them. His face was seasonally creased due to years of hard work, but strikingly handsome. “Dan mentioned that you’re an artist. What’s your specialty?” Marty cut himself another piece of cake. “I do greeting cards for a company in Missouri.” “Wow, interesting.” The room grew quiet for a moment. Allie glanced into the living room, a ceiling fan was spinning. Two brass sconces glowed on either side of Tess’s front door, her house amply seen through Marty’s living room window. “So your friend asked me over to her place for dinner tomorrow. Will you be there?” His brows lifted in question.

 

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“Oh, no.” Allie laughed, thinking of how Tess would love the idea of her tagging along to dinner. “Any heads-up you can give me on that front?” Marty laughed, shaking his head. Allie knew he was fishing. She wondered if Marty was laughing directly at Tess or just laughing, a restless nervousness maybe. Tess could be intimidating. “Oh, not really.” Allie didn’t want to say anything wrong, so she chose to play it safe. “She’s divorced, I think. I don’t know.” She waved her hand dismissingly. “It’s been pending for so long.” “Allie, you ever work with furniture, like stenciling or antiquing?” Marty pushed his mug away. “I’ve stenciled, but only on Sheetrock, not wood. Why?” “I have a bench that I wanted to paint vines on for the front porch. Would you look at it for me?” Marty raked his hands through his hair. “I can’t see myself doing that kind of painting, even with an instructional kit. You mind?” “No, not at all.” Allie now felt that she had something to contribute to the life of her new neighbor. Marty pushed his chair back. “Let’s get more coffee and go out to the workshop so you can take a look.” “Great.” Allie stood, waiting for Marty to top off their mugs. She followed him out the back door. They stepped over the large, flat stones that lined a path out back to his workshop. Marty had a frayed tear in the back of his jeans. With every stride Allie could see his white boxer briefs. He stepped gingerly over the stones in his bare feet then slipped on a pair of old sneakers that were outside near the door. He pulled a chain that hung from the ceiling. A blinding, white light flooded the room. “Oh, sorry about that.” He glanced back at Allie shielding her eyes.

 

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Once the short-lived ache left, Allie began scanning the room, looking at what Marty had in his workshop.

 

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Chapter 4 “You like that?” Marty rested his hand on the back of the chair. Marty had several pieces of plain, unfinished pine that lined the walls. There was a small bookcase and a unique-looking coffee table. It was the rocking chair that caught Allie’s eye. She walked over to it, running her fingers over the smooth-sanded wood. “It’s lovely. Way too nice to be out here.” Allie met his soft brown eyes. Marty laughed, the lines around his mouth and eyes deepening. He had an appealing ruggedness to him, a far cry from Dan’s suit-and-tie cronies. “Let me stain it, and it’s yours,” he offered. “Oh no, if you have plans for it…” “I don’t, it’s yours. Tomorrow I’ll stain it. You do the vines on my bench, and it’s a done deal.” “Great.” Allie sat down in the chair and rocked back and forth. It cradled her back perfectly. Marty showed her the bench. It was small with a curved back. Three hearts were cut out of the top, an Amish type of design. Allie told him she’d bring over all her green paints, and then he could decide. There was plenty of space for both of them to work. The shop was a long and narrow building, reminding her of a covered bridge. There was a narrow workbench that ran down the entire length of the back wall, with shelves above. ****

 

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When Allie got home there was a message from her supervisor, Vicky. She wanted her to start thinking about some holiday themes and submit a few ideas over the next few weeks. Here it was eightysix degrees with high humidity, and Vicky wanted snow scenes, wreaths, and cardinals. Allie and Marty arranged to do their painting and staining on Monday. Allie knew tomorrow evening was his field trip over to Tess’s house. **** The next day Allie worked all day. She designed four new drawings for the Christmas season that she thought were worthy of considering. That evening Allie had just sat down to a plate of bowtie pasta and a glass of wine when she saw Marty making his way over to Tess’s. Allie couldn’t help but wonder if Tess would try to sack him on their first date. Allie wouldn’t put anything past her. Tess had made the mistake of leaving her binoculars in Allie’s studio. That could wind up working against her. Tess’s nosiness had rubbed off on her, which Allie wasn’t proud of. Perched at the windowsill before bed, all Allie could see were the flickering flames of the outdoor fireplace casting a glow in the nighttime sky. Allie knew they were out back near the pool. No man could resist Tess. By the time Allie fell asleep, she knew Marty was already a branded man. **** Allie woke to a pelting rain, a rushing river of water flowing through the gutters. She’d just gotten dressed when there was a tapping on the sliding glass door at the back of the house. Allie padded through the living room. Marty was standing outside, his wet clothes hanging off of him.

 

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“What are you doing out there? Get in here,” she scolded him. “I thought I could make it over here, but I guess not.” He stepped inside, the water pooling at his feet. “Sit tight, let me get a towel.” Allie ran into the utility room and grabbed a large blue towel off the shelf. “Here you go.” Their hands brushed together, rain water dripping from his fingers. “Man, this rain’s really something.” Marty ran the towel over his face then across the top of his head. “I’m sorry about your nice floor here.” He looked down, afraid to move from his puddle. “Not a big deal, really.” Allie tossed the towel on the floor and sopped up the water with her foot. She picked up the weighted towel and tossed it into the slop sink in the laundry room. Marty waited near the door. Allie went back, waving him into the kitchen. “Would you like coffee?” She turned to him. He looked tired, his eyes rimmed with fatigue. It must have been a late night for him. Allie was dying to ask but restrained herself. “Ah, no, that’s okay.” He stood at the island, his eyes skirting around the room. “You have a nice place here.” “Thank you.” Allie gave herself a refill. “Nice job on the decorating.” Marty examined the stenciled grapevines that traveled across the wall of the kitchen. He then turned and took a glimpse into the dining room. “Where do you get your furniture?” he asked, eyeing her large oak table and chairs. “North Carolina mostly. Would you like to see the rest?” Allie found herself looking at him more closely today. The draw of her eyes unnerved her. “Sure, if it’s no trouble.” Marty buried his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Allie took Marty on a tour of the house, showing him the living room, the cozy sitting area in front of the fieldstone fireplace, and the deck off the back. During their tour Marty mentioned that he had a thing for window seats, of which there were two upstairs in both bedrooms.

 

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“This must be a great place to work.” He stood in front of the bay window in her studio. “Well, you’ll have to come up on a nicer day so you can get the full effect of the view.” Allie didn’t realize what she’d said until after she had said it. The backyard was vast, a thick green carpet with three cherry trees. Dan insisted that the land was a good investment. It really didn’t matter to Allie. The house was in Dan’s name. That was another commitment she wasn’t ready to make either. She did reinforce that he’d have to hire someone to cut the grass since he was never home. “So, how about some shades of green?” Marty smiled. Now she knew what really prompted his visit. “Right over here.” Allie pointed to the supply closet, which consisted of every color of paint, pencils, and metallic shades he could want. “Great, wow, look at this.” He lifted a few bottles, reading the shade titles on the caps. “What d’you think about Forest Green? Or do you think the Moss would be better?” He gave her a sideward glance. “Either is fine, I think.” Allie couldn’t divert her eyes as Marty shook the bottles, trying to decide. Curved biceps flexed beneath the material of his shirt. Small drops of water leaked from the ends of his hair, bleeding into the collar of his shirt. “I’ll go with the forest.” He looked at her, tilting his head. Allie felt a self-conscious heat, but only for a minute. Marty was staring as if he wanted to say something. “What, what is it?” Allie felt the warmth move over her skin. It spread up the back of her neck, a heat she hadn’t felt in a long time. She’d never had another man in the house. She quickly dismissed her uneasiness. Dan had met Marty. He wasn’t a complete stranger. “How long have you known her?” Marty tilted his head, gesturing in the direction of Tess’s house.

 

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“I’ve known Tess for two years. That’s how long I’ve been here. Dan and I are originally from Connecticut. His company transferred him here.” Allie released a breath. She knew where this was going. Tess’s hooks were in. “Oh.” Marty’s eyes left hers. “And you’re friends, right?” Allie wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “Yeah, we are,” she found herself admitting, almost regretfully. “You wouldn’t think, I mean…it’s just that you’re very different.” He sort of smirked at the thought. In a way Allie couldn’t blame him. “I know, but when you live out here it’s slim pickings.” She laughed. The heat had bled into her cheeks. Does one really need to defend a friendship? “Yeah, I suppose it is.” He kept shaking the small paint bottle. “What made you choose Landisville?” Allie asked. Even though Tess had already filled her in on Marty, she wanted to see how much he would tell her. “I was injured at work, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. My leg is screwed up. I had to sue to get my medical bills paid. I sort of wanted to disappear. You think anyone will find me out here?” “I doubt it,” Allie laughed. “You picked the right place.” “How long have you and Dan been together?” Marty rubbed his chin, his eyes probing hers. “Five years.” “Not the marrying type, huh?” Marty’s lips eased into a snide smile. “Yeah, well.” Allie glanced away, needing a break from his inquisitive eyes. “That’s another story for another day. How about you? Have you ever been married?” “Nah.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Never did it. Can’t tell you why, just never did.” Allie put all of her paints into a bag before they moved downstairs. She grabbed her rain jacket before they headed over to Marty’s workshop.

 

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Chapter 5 “Is this color good for you?” Marty had taken the lid off of a can of stain, showing her the shade. “That’ll be perfect. I’m going to put it in my studio near the window.” Allie was brushing the vines on his bench. “That’s some house Tess has.” Marty started rubbing the stain, going with the grain of the wood in long strokes. The rain continued to pound on the roof, a loud clattering that had her and Marty raising their voices to converse. “Tess definitely got a good break, thanks to her lawyer.” Allie shook her head. “She told me her ex-husband is an attorney.” “He is, that’s how she retained such a good one.” Allie laughed. “They all know each other.” “Did she ever work?” He paused, waiting for Allie’s answer. She met his stare from across the workshop. His face hung, his eyes rounded, like a puppy dog. Heaviness came over him that she hadn’t seen when they began this little chat about Tess. Allie could tell that he’d become intrigued with Tess already. Wasn’t that how it always started? “I recall her saying that she worked in real estate at one time, but once she got married, I think she just stopped working. She’s never really been clear about it,” Allie explained. “Yeah, she wasn’t too clear with me either.” Marty was rubbing a rag in between the spindles of her new chair. It was quiet with the exception of the rain, which had slowed to a steady shower. Allie started working on the outlines of the leaves

 

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when she heard Marty’s boots shuffle across the floor, his limp more pronounced on the wooden floor. He reached up and turned on an old, dusty portable radio. Patsy Cline was singing about “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Marty stood near her, watching her paint. “Hey, that’s great work.” He stepped in closer to check her detail. “I’ve always admired people who can draw, paint, or play an instrument. It’s an inborn gift, you know?” Allie could see his eyes in her periphery. She felt the weight of his stare, and it wasn’t the first time today. She avoided his gaze and continued to focus on the leaves. “I suppose. I know that’s a compliment, thanks. Maybe I take it for granted.” She turned to him, his face too close. He smelled like fresh-cut grass. “That’s talent, too.” Allie leaned back, waving her hand over all his pieces. “Eh, yeah, but just like you said, after seeing yourself do the same skill over and over, it doesn’t impress you anymore.” He laughed. Marty caught her off guard when he reached over to wipe a drop of paint off her wrist, his fingers thick and rough from outdoor labor. They worked until the late afternoon. The rain had stopped, leaving the air heavy and stagnant. Steam rose from the asphalt of their rural county road. Allie was thankful that it had rained for as long as it had. She knew Tess wouldn’t come out. Allie tried not to think of what Tess’s reaction would be if she found her and Marty in his workshop together. That would definitely cause Tess’s afterglow from the previous evening to dry up. Allie certainly didn’t want to be the cause of that. **** It was after ten. Allie had just gotten off the phone with Dan, listening to all his traveling woes—long security lines, a delayed flight, and a downgraded hotel room. When Allie had gone downstairs for a glass of water, that’s when she saw Marty walking

 

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across his yard up to the street. She watched him cross and walk down Tess’s driveway. Her motion detector light lit up, giving visibility of her side yard and garage. Tess was waiting for Marty by her car. They were both dressed up, she more than he. She had on a gray, silk pantsuit with stiletto heels. Marty was in jeans, a white button-down, and sandals. Allie watched Tess lean into him, giving him a lengthy kiss. From reading the body language, Allie could see that Marty was a bit rattled by Tess, hesitant, only wrapping one arm loosely around her waist, then pulling back from the embrace first. They got into Tess’s car and drove out of the driveway. Tess was much more conservative behind the wheel this evening. Allie figured Tess didn’t want her witnessing their departure. Allie was up at 3:00 a.m. for her usual bathroom visit. Tess’s car was still gone. At 5:00 a.m. she was woken up to hysterical laughing echoing across the yard. She sat up and peered out the window. They were standing out in Tess’s driveway. Tess was pawing at Marty’s shirt, pulling it off of his muscular frame. Allie’s curiosity was gnawing through her like a rodent. She opened up her nightstand and grabbed the binoculars. She knelt in front of the window and spied on them. Tess’s blouse was open, her turquoise lace bra glinting in the early-morning light. She was steering Marty toward the pool. Poor Marty looked wiped out, traumatized. Tess was pouting. It looked to Allie as if Marty had had enough. Marty lightly kissed Tess’s cheek then turned to walk toward his house. **** Allie didn’t see either of them the next morning. It was gorgeous out. Drier air had moved in with a soothing, summer sun. The landscapers had just finished with the yard when Federal Express barreled down the driveway for Allie’s pickup. She then called Vicky

 

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who seemed pleased with what she was sending. Allie decided to take the day and spend it in her greenhouse repotting some geraniums and ferns. After the gardening was done, Allie took a shower. While reclining on her bed with a magazine, she fell asleep. Allie woke up to Tess’s voice reverberating up the stairwell. “Allie, where are you? Are you decent? I’m coming up.” Allie could hear the slap of her bare feet on the stairs. She shoved the magazine, along with the binoculars Tess had forgotten she’d left behind, into the nightstand. “Hey, what are you up to?” Tess glided across the floor in a pair of white shorts and a gingham halter. She plopped down in Allie’s wicker bucket chair, draping a shapely leg over the arm. “Not a whole lot. I’m ahead on my sketches so I did some gardening and reading. What’s new?” “Has Marty been out?” Her chocolate eyes rested on Allie’s. “I haven’t seen him today. Why?” Allie searched her face, wondering if she would tell her about their date. Allie decided to throw her a curve. “How was your dinner date?” “Why? Did he say anything to you about it?” Tess’s eyes widened. Allie noted the expression of alarm on her face. Tess was never anxious about anything. “He mentioned that he was going, but…” “When?” She ran her hand up and down her brown, shiny leg. “He asked me to do some stenciling on one of his pieces, so he just happened to mention it.” Allie shrugged. “Really. Now isn’t that nice.” Her voice was a bit condescending. “It’s not a big deal, Tess.” What sounded like sarcasm came out with a hint of cattiness. “Your next male expedition is safe with me.” Allie gave her a snide look. “I guess I get no scoop on the dinner, huh?”

 

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Tess looked out the window. A slight frown twisted her curved and pouty lips. “He’s too reserved. I have to work on him some more. I’ll get him.” Tess turned to her and smiled, her pearly teeth catching her lower lip. “What do you mean? You couldn’t make the sack on the first night?” Allie felt bold today. Maybe part of her was sticking up for Marty. “Be careful, Allie.” Tess’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, come on, cut the guy some slack. Reserved or not, I call it respect.” “Respect’s no fun.” Tess jumped off the chair. “Let’s go to my place, grab a snack, and take a swim.” She stood in the threshold, her fingers threading through her hair. “Let me get my suit.” **** “How about a strawberry daiquiri?” Tess grinded some ice in the blender, which was on the counter of the outdoor bar. Visions of Marty’s slack face tugged at Allie’s thoughts. Her eyes moved to the kidney-shaped pool. She stared at its glimmering surface, wondering if their bodies had been baptized in the pristine water. “No, thank you, too early for me.” Allie slung her towel over a white lounge chair. She reclined back, settling in to feel the sun’s heat. She popped one eye open and watched Tess fix her drink. “Ah, come on Allie, it’s four thirty,” Tess whined, strutting over to her lounger in her gold bikini. At least she had her suit on. The last time Allie was here, Tess had indulged in some nude sunbathing. Tess had a bold nature to her. It was even arrogant at times. The comfort of others while they were around her wasn’t usually a concern. “You go ahead. I’ll take a seltzer if you have it.” Allie soaked up the sun until five o’clock then went home.

 

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Dan had called. He left a message that he would be home for three days, which Allie couldn’t believe. Her elation quickly plummeted when he then said he would have to go to Switzerland for six weeks. A merger had turned into a takeover. Allie’s summer alone now stretched before her like a desolate road with no end.

 

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Chapter 6 “He’s really getting that place into shape.” Dan slid back into bed. They had woken up to Marty’s electric saw. “He starts working early, doesn’t he?” Dan nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. His morning whiskers scraped over her skin like wire. His lips nibbled, her senses waking up after weeks of being dormant. Heat circulated through her, pooling in her center. Some nights Allie craved him so much, but he was never there. This morning Allie was almost afraid to let herself go, because then he would be gone. That meant she’d have to wean herself all over again. This cycle of him being home and then not was a struggle. He scaled her body with his soft, white-collar hands gliding over her skin, easing her nightgown away as he looked down at her. He reached into her with his icy-blue eyes. Slept-on waves of hair hung over his brow. Their bodies entangled around one another’s in the warm beam of light that poured through the skylight, spilling onto the patchwork quilt. His lips grazed over her lightly. Dan’s cell phone buzzed from the nightstand. He released an aggravated sigh and leaned over, flipping the cover open. Allie listened to the one-sided conversation, watching Dan’s face fall. He disconnected the call, burying his face into the pillow, groaning. “What’s wrong?” Her finger danced down the warm, silky skin of his back.

 

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“My flight’s been moved up,” he mumbled into the pillow. “I have to be at the airport by noon.” He faced her, his brows knitted. “I’m sorry, Al.” “It’s okay, we’ll make the most of it.” She saw this as a diversion. Now she wouldn’t have to be tempted by the dangling carrot. She redirected him. “Let’s get up. I’ll cook you a send-off breakfast.” **** “Hey, Danny boy, I heard you were home. I just had to come over and say hi.” Tess strutted around the kitchen island, pinching Dan’s ass, which had Allie annoyed five minutes after she’d arrived. “Hey.” Dan’s eyes flashed at her, his brow furrowed. “So are you kids getting reacquainted?” Tess sat down at the island, giving both of them her provocative look. “Would you like coffee?” Allie asked, trying to get the conversation back on more civilized ground. “Sure, then I’ll skedaddle. Let you two do what you should before Danny boy here has to leave again.” Tess waggled her brows, laughing. **** “I swear she gets more overdone every time I’m home.” Dan shook his head. “I can’t wait until she has to get a job,” he seethed. “Then she’ll be over here whining. I’m not sure which will be worse.” “Well, she’s sunk her claws into Marty already.” Allie looked across the table at him. “I’m not surprised. Did you warn him, Al?” Dan opened up the paper, eyeing her over a folded page. “I’m staying out of it.” Allie waved her hand dismissively. ****

 

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By late morning Dan was gone again. They had enjoyed two meals off the grill, a nice walk, and a surprisingly civilized swim at Tess’s while he was home. Tess had invited Marty, but he had to go pick up a load of lumber, so he’d politely declined. Later that night Tess and Marty were off again. Where they were going at this hour of the night, Allie couldn’t figure out. Allie had had trouble sleeping since Dan had left. This time Tess was dressed a bit more formally. Marty appeared to be more of a conservative dresser, his attire similar to their previous date. Allie leaned on the windowsill. Their mysterious outings were turning her into a snoop. Tess walked around the car, her skin shimmering underneath a short, black dress with a plunging neckline. The straps of her shiny, silver heels glittered in the dark. Tonight Allie noticed that Tess didn’t turn her headlights on until she pulled out of the driveway. To Allie this was a telltale sign that whatever was going on, Tess did not want her knowing about it. While fixing her coffee, Allie noticed Tess and Marty pull into her driveway. Allie glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was 7 a.m. Tess’s hair was unruly and rumpled, along with her black dress. Marty looked about the same with the exception of his shirt sleeves, which were pushed up to his elbows. Allie watched him trudge across his yard, his face haggard from lack of sleep. Tess looked back in Allie’s direction twice before slamming her front door. Allie didn’t see or hear any activity until late in the afternoon. She was out watering her garden, admiring her red geraniums that had grown thick and full, when she saw Marty carrying her rocker across the yard. “Oh, I get my gift today,” Allie squealed. She shut off the hose and met him halfway. “It’s yours, lady.” He set it down, wiping his forehead. He looked better, but his eyes drooped like an old dog’s. Tess would have this

 

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guy beaten down by the autumn harvest. Allie felt bad for him. Maybe he just didn’t know how to say no. Tess was hard to refuse. “It looks great. I love it.” Allie ran her hand across the smooth, glossy back. “Where you want it?” Marty asked, shielding his eyes from a blazing sun. “Would you mind taking it up to my studio for me?” Allie didn’t want to ask too much from an already maxed-out man. “Sure, you lead the way.” Marty waved her on. “It’s the room where we looked at the paint, remember?” Marty climbed the stairs carefully, not wanting to scuff the walls. He made the turn on the landing then crossed the hallway into Allie’s studio. She asked him to place the chair next to the bay window. He set it down at an angle. “Thank you so much. I love it.” Allie went and sat down, rocking back and forth, looking out into the vast backyard. “Hey, I like this,” Marty said. Allie turned and saw Marty standing in front of her easel, looking at her painting of Lake Erie in the winter. “Oh.” Allie stood and joined him in front of the painting. “Is this for work?” He faced to her. His eyes roamed around her face. He’d gotten some sun. His cheeks were a flushed pink. “No, I just felt like doing something for fun. I need to work on the ice hanging off the rock here.” Allie pointed to the upper corner of the canvas. “Will you sell it to me when you’re done?” He seemed skittish today, his eyes darting around her. Allie couldn’t achieve steady eye contact. She smelled coffee on his breath, along with a mild sweetness of something slightly burnt. He was making her nervous. Allie pulled strands of hair off her sweaty neck then thrust her hands into the pockets of her shorts. “I didn’t pay for the chair, so I can’t sell it to you. I can give it to you.” She snuck a quick glance at him. This time he was staring into

 

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her, his gaze unwavering. She swallowed past the anxious lump that had sprouted in her throat. “Ah, come on, you painted the bench for me, so now we’re even.” He laughed. “Hey, come see the bench. I have it out front on the porch. Do you have a minute?” He dug his fingers into his cheek, his heavy whiskers starting to look like a beard. “Sure, I’ll come see it. We’ll fight about the painting when I’m done with it, okay?” She laughed, feeling her lips curve into a grin. “I suppose.” He shook his head. “Hey, get your shoes on and come over.” Marty turned and barreled down the stairs. By the time Allie heard the front door slam, she had her sandals on. She walked across the yard. The door to Marty’s workshop was open, and his radio was on. The sound of a bluesy saxophone drifted through the air. She stepped across the patio stones and tapped on the door. “Yeah, Allie, come on in. I want to show you something in here first.” He motioned for her to come to the back of the workshop. While she walked down the length of the workbench, Allie noticed the ashtray and a pack of cigars up on the shelf. “What do you think of this?” Marty was moving his workhorses so she could get to the back corner. “Wow, that’s beautiful.” In the back he had an antique washstand that was a deep, rich cherry. Allie ran her hand across the cool, glossy wood. “I could sell this, but I don’t know where to go to sell anything like this around here.” He patted the surface with his hand. “Landisville has an annual county fair after the autumn harvest. They have all sorts of stuff there, from antique cars to homemade jams.” “Mm, should I try to sell it there then?” “I would,” she told him. Allie helped him pull the plastic cover back over it. They walked outside around the side of the house, up to the front porch.

 

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“Well, what d’you think?” He pointed. He had the bench cattycorner on his front porch, near the vertical window that lined the front door. “I like it.” Allie touched the leaves with her fingers, feeling the raised areas of paint which she’d done on purpose, wanting to add texture and character. Marty was just getting ready to say something, his head slightly turned, when the acceleration of an engine halted their conversation. They both simultaneously turned as Tess pulled out of her driveway. Her hand shot out of the window as if to wave, but the look which Allie knew was hidden behind those dark sunglasses was surely no friendly expression. “She’s wild, your friend. You know that, right?” Marty shook his head. “She’s one of a kind.” Allie laughed off his comment. “That’s for sure,” he muttered. Allie battled the temptation to ask him where they’d been going, roaming around at all hours of the night, but she wanted Marty to be comfortable around her. She thought if she brought it up, their newly formed relationship would regress. Allie also wasn’t sure if he would tell Tess that she had asked.

 

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Chapter 7 “This is nice.” Tess was rocking back and forth in the new rocker Marty had given her. Tess looked to be in an agitated state, not one of relaxation, which was the main characteristic of the chair. “What else has he given you?” She craned her neck around to look at her, her dark eyes simmering. “Nothing. Why?” Allie heard the defensiveness in her voice, keeping her eyes locked on her work. “Oh, nothing.” Tess pouted, turning her head back toward the window, hopefully using the ample, endless flatlands that lay on the other side of the glass to soothe her. “What’s wrong?” Allie asked, putting her pencil down. This friendship was becoming high maintenance, especially since Marty had arrived. Allie walked over and sat down on the small tweed love seat adjacent to the window. Tess was rocking, staring out the window. Her hair was pulled back in a high, loose ponytail. She reminded Allie of a jilted high school cheerleader. “Should I have not accepted the chair?” Allie stared at her. Anger rose within her, her patience waning, which surprised her. Tess had never gotten under her skin before. Allie wanted to know the root of her anger. Or was Tess jealous? If she was, Allie wanted her to admit it. “Are you jealous?” Allie asked, tossing her question out into the arena like a bad pass. “No, no.” She waved her off, her jaw tight. Tess turned to her. A gradual smile spread across her lips. She tossed her head back and laughed, slapping her smooth, bare thighs.

 

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Allie sat there dumbfounded, not really knowing where all this was going. “What? What is going on?” Allie demanded. “Nothing, nothing.” Tess brushed her off. She sat and rocked, staring out into the yard. The creaking of the chair filled the silence. “Are you forgetting about Dan? Tess, I’m not in competition with you.” Allie checked her expression, wanting to see if it changed with her words. “I know, I know,” she said, her tone a bratty whine. It seemed Tess was working hard to avoid any type of confrontation. Allie could see that she surprised Tess with her assertiveness in regards to today’s debate. It seemed that all of their recent issues had something to do with Marty. **** As if to get back at her or boost her own ego, Tess and Marty were on the prowl again that night. Tonight Tess had toned it down with the clothes. She and Marty looked to be more on an even keel with their wardrobe. Tonight Tess was wearing black jeans and a pale-pink, practically see-through blouse. Allie was sleeping better, so she didn’t notice what time they came back. **** The next morning Allie drove to Hillcrest Farm to buy berries. She decided to make jam. She had extra time, and the word was out that the berry crop was perfect. Once she had all of the jars done, filled, and upside-down so they would seal, Marty knocked on the door. “Hey, how’ve you been?” Allie waved him inside. Every time she saw him, he looked more rundown, the all-nighters taking their toll. “How about some fresh coffee?” Allie gestured to the full pot.

 

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“Yeah, do you have an IV hookup?” He smiled faintly then sat down. He rested his head in his hands, leaning over the island while she filled his mug. “Marty, are you all right?” Allie set the mug down in front of him. “Oh yeah, just too many late nights, you know.” He glanced up at her through vented fingers. “You need a good night’s sleep.” Allie occupied the stool across from him at the kitchen island. “What have you been doing? Hey, if there’s some kind of fantastic new nightlife in town, please share.” Allie laughed, sipping her coffee, studying him. She was joking with him, but trying to probe at the same time. “Tess is wired, man. I mean, I don’t know where she gets the stamina.” He laughed, shaking his head. “I guess I’m getting old,” he said, his laugher mocking. Allie’s heart felt a bit heavy. He could say no. He still wasn’t telling her anything. She didn’t want to force the issue. Eventually he would have to confide in her, there was no one else. Marty stood up and took his mug to the sink. He was eyeing the jars of jam. “Do I get one?” He smiled, the whites of his eyes pink with fatigue. “Sure, as soon as they’re sealed.” “Hey, Allie, are you done here?” He pointed to the aftermath of her culinary project. “Yup, all done.” She got up to wash the two mugs. “Come for a ride with me.” He leaned up against the door. “I have to get some stuff for the house at the hardware store. Wanna tag along?” “Okay, I’ll get my purse.” She went into the dining room and grabbed her purse off the table. “Where’s Tess?” she asked, attempting another delicate probe into their late evening. Marty chuckled. Allie noted a bit of sarcasm.

 

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“She’s probably still in bed. I won’t hear from her till at least four o’clock.” Allie hoped he was right. Yesterday’s episode with the rocking chair was enough. They stepped off the porch and walked over to his black F-150. She hopped in and buckled up. The distinctive sound of a diesel engine came to life. They headed toward town, the heated breeze blowing through the cab. Allie stared out the window at the cows grazing in the fields. Marty’s quick sideward glances pushed through her periphery. At one point Allie turned, and her eyes caught his. “So would you call those eyes forest green or moss?” He smiled, linking her eye color to the shades of paint they had used. Allie looked away, feeling the heat that seemed to accompany Marty whenever he was near. “I’m sorry.” He reached for her, patting her shoulder. “I guess we’ll call them hazel.” She laughed nervously, brushing off the comment. “You think? They seem pretty green to me.” He looked at her again, the hair on his neck lifting in the breeze. His slow and easy smile had her turning away again. The air in the cab grew heavy. Marty’s earthy smell filled her nose. “They look blue sometimes if I’m wearing blue,” Allie admitted. “Mm, I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned down Main Street and pulled up against the curb. He told her he was running into Landisville Hardware. “I might go into Leah’s Boutique. I’ll just be a minute,” she said, stepping down from the truck. “Hey, take your time.” They got out of the truck and went their separate ways. Allie wandered down the sidewalk, the redwood benches vacant. The afternoon heat was oppressive, keeping people inside. She watched Marty saunter into the hardware store. Allie stood under a small maroon awning in front of the post office, deciding not to go into the

 

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boutique. She studied Marty through the storefront window talking to the salesman behind the counter. Allie assessed him, his style and demeanor. Marty was the rugged, outdoorsy type. A blue-collar, denim-jeans-and-work-boots kind of guy. Dan’s complete opposite. He just didn’t seem refined enough for Tess, but Allie drew the conclusion that a man was a man in Tess’s book, worthy enough to be pursued. **** During the ride home, Marty asked her if she would paint a mural on his living room wall and maybe a border in his bathroom. “What would you like done?” Allie asked, curious about the project. She could use something extra to work on. She was way ahead on her work, having met all of Vicky’s requests. “I want a mountain scene in the living room and maybe a lagoon motif of some sort in the bathroom.” He looked over at her. “Think you can do it?” His brows lifted. “Sure, as long as you’re specific about what you want. I know I can do it.” Allie wasn’t sure how Tess would take all of this, but she needed something to do while Dan was gone. “Great, I’ll jot some ideas down and we’ll talk.” Marty nodded, pleased with their arrangement. Allie found herself questioning whether Marty would turn Tess down tonight if she came prowling around. A decent night’s sleep seemed to be in order.

 

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Chapter 8 Allie got her answer later that night when she heard angry voices resounding from across the street. She went into the bedroom, grabbed the binoculars, and sat at the window. A brief pang of guilt swept through her, but she wanted to know what was going on. This was the only way. They were in Tess’s driveway. The motion detector light lit up their battle arena. They had lowered their voices, but Allie could see that Marty was angry, his face creased and his jaw tight. Allie assumed that Tess’s good looks weren’t working on him tonight. Marty was waving his hands through the air in frustration. Tess tossed her handbag on the hood of the car. She walked over to him, draping her hands over his shoulders, then moving them over Marty’s body, kneading him like a ball of dough. Her hand reached down and cupped Marty’s balls. Marty was not giving in. Allie privately cheered him on. He gave Tess one final wave and started heading back into his own yard. Allie set the binoculars down on the bed biting her lip in frustration. She hadn’t learned anything more from tonight’s observation. A half hour later she went into the kitchen for a glass of wine and noticed a shimmering light coming from Marty’s workshop. Concern wormed through her. It looked like a small flame from her window. Allie grabbed two jars of jam, in need of an excuse. She wanted to check and see if anything was wrong. She quickly crossed the yard, her bare feet slipping on the dewy grass. As Allie walked closer to the workshop window, a bashful heat warmed her cheeks. Evidently Tess gave in, realizing she couldn’t have Marty unless she stayed home.

 

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A large propane lantern burned on the workbench. Orange flames pulsated on the walls. Through the flickering light Allie saw Tess’s naked body sprawled across Marty’s workbench. Splinters of sawdust stuck to her sweaty skin. Her dress lay in a heap on the dusty floor. Tess really was beautiful, her skin a rich, olive brown. Her breasts were well rounded, high, and firm. Marty was standing over her, their silhouettes clear through the glass panes. Tess’s hand was resting on his shoulder, her fingers smoothing over his bare chest. Her hand traveled down his corded body, tugging at his jeans, easing them down his hips. Allie didn’t want to watch them, but couldn’t turn away. Something surged through her, an ache laced with resentment. Was it jealousy, what she’d accused Tess of? Marty removed his jeans. He wasn’t wearing briefs or boxers. His cock sprouted from his tanned body, leaning, reaching for Tess. Allie felt her lips part. Her lungs sucked in a rush of air. Marty’s body glowed like a jewel in the low light, his chest a series of long, lean lines. The dips and slopes of skin that wrapped around his groin and thighs were tight and muscular. He stood over her. When Tess’s fingers glided over his cock, Allie’s legs melted. She grabbed onto the windowsill, the aged wood digging into her fingers. Tess raised a shapely leg. Her skin glittered. Marty began to slowly run his lips down her leg, his head craning around to her inner thigh. Tess’s head tilted back, her eyes closed, her lips parted. When Marty’s mouth met Tess’s pussy, Allie felt her eyes widen. Allie watched their naked bodies entwine in erotic pleasure. Tess’s body stretched before Marty like a buffet. He pulled Tess to the edge of the bench, lifting her legs over his shoulders. He feasted on her pussy, his strong hands kneading her ass. Allie could hear their muted moans through the glass, filling the quiet night air. Tess abruptly sat up and eased her body off the workbench. Tess fondled her own breasts, pinching her nipples, taunting Marty. His head lowered, devouring her browned nipple. Allie felt her nails digging into the skin of her arms, wanting to ensure this wasn’t a

 

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dream. Allie needed to feel. She had to feel something. What she felt was the searing burn that moved across her skin. Marty tugged at Tess’s hair, spinning her around, their movements rushed and heated. He pressed her into the edge of the bench. Tess raised her ass for him, spreading her legs, giving him access. When Marty’s cock disappeared between Tess’s ass cheeks, Allie turned away from the window. She ran across the yard, toward the deck. Her heart pounded in panic, not wanting to get caught. Her body vibrated, feeling the heat and intensity that had consumed Marty and Tess, and so quickly. She lay in her bed in the dark, restless over what she’d just seen. Maybe she was envious. Allie fought for sleep. Her mind was filled with convoluted thoughts, thoughts that didn’t belong in her head. **** Allie slept late the next morning, having been up half the night. Images of Marty and Tess fucking in his workshop were burned in her brain. She contemplated whether Marty would ever tell her the extent of his relationship with Tess. While Allie waited for the coffee to brew, she saw Marty come outside and go to his garage. The sound of an idling engine came from across the yard. Allie watched him lower the blade on the tractor and start cutting the grass. She found herself thinking about how she would feel the next time she saw him, flashbacks of his nude body fresh in her mind. Allie fixed her gaze on him as he careened around his yard on his John Deere, shirtless, with a blue bandanna wrapped around his head. She would go back over to his house today and make a second attempt to deliver the jam. Allie’s eyes darted over to Tess’s house. Her car was in the driveway, her blinds buttoned up tight. ****

 

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Allie got dressed and booted up the computer. Vicky had requested some graphics work. Allie tended to do things the oldfashioned way, but the company needed to participate in the technological game so they didn’t lose to their competitors. Allie worked on some ideas for Valentine’s Day until 3:00 p.m. She went downstairs and stood at the sliding glass door, looking next door. Marty’s grass was done. Thinking he may be inside, she grabbed the jam and strolled across the yard. Allie went to the back door this time, wanting to be less formal. He saw her before she had the chance to knock. He was standing in the kitchen, leaning over the counter eating a sandwich. He waved her in through a mouthful of lettuce. He noticed she was juggling two jars of the jam and came to the screen door to let her in. “Hey, Allie, how’s it going?” He wiped his mouth with his forearm and rescued one of the jars from her, turning it around in his hand. “Hey, thanks. I’ll have this tomorrow morning.” “Oh, you’re welcome.” Allie rested her arm on the back of the chair. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch,” she said. “No worries.” He waved a hand at her. “What’re you up to?” He turned and brought his plate to the sink. He had unpacked his boxes. The kitchen looked more spacious. Bright sunlight poured through his bay window. He had put a few cactus plants on the windowsill since her last visit. “I was wondering if you’d given your mural any more thought.” He was still shirtless. A light perspiration glistened on his sunned skin, settling between the sparse dark hairs that decorated his chest. “Well, let me show you the wall area.” Marty turned and led her into the living room. The walls were a soft terra-cotta color, his sofa and recliner, soft suede upholstery in light beige. “This is a nice room.” Allie didn’t see any pictures on the walls. One wall was dominated by all of his electronics, a large flat-screen

 

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TV, and a three-component stereo system. The wall he pointed to was a great spot for the mural. “I was thinking that this wall would be good for, say, a mountain scene with a valley and a river running through it.” Allie went into visualization mode. That’s how all of her artwork was born. The picture that formed in her mind and the space she’d have to work with would be perfect. “So?” Marty moved closer, slipping his hands into his pockets. “What d’ you say? Can it be done?” Allie eyes were seduced again, drawn to the dark trail of fine hair that ran down Marty’s chest and over his navel, disappearing below into forbidden territory. One she’d already visually explored. “I like your idea. It could take me awhile.” She stepped closer to him. “I have to allow myself time to keep up with my stuff for the company.” “Hey, you work when you can. No pressure.” He smiled. His sunburned skin had deepened to a coppery tan, reflecting the sunlight like the facets of a diamond. Allie’s curiosity prompted her with her next question. “I take it you slept well. You look better today.” An unfamiliar rush circulated through her, flooding her veins with something she couldn’t label. “Yeah, last night was fairly civilized.” He tilted his head, his dark eyes roving over her. His eyes returned to hers, his brow arched in question. This is it! Allie’s mind tilted with anticipation. He was toying with the idea of asking her something. She could see it in his body language. Marty shifted his weight, his hands fumbling in his pockets. He continued to sift through her. Allie could almost see the question forming in his mind. His lips parted, contemplating on speaking. Allie froze, not wanting to break his train of thought, giving him all the time he needed to make his decision whether to confide in her or not.

 

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“Allie, you have time for a cup of coffee?” His eyes darted to the window. Allie knew he was checking to see whether Tess was up and about yet. “Sure, coffee sounds nice.” Her voice was calm and easy. Allie wanted him to feel that she had all the time in the world. She followed him back to the kitchen, not waiting for an invitation to sit. Allie settled in, eagerly waiting, contemplating how many cups of coffee it would take to get through a conversation about Tess.

 

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Chapter 9 Marty handed Allie her mug and then sat down at the table. She saw his mocha-colored eyes dart toward the window one more time. Allie cautiously sipped her coffee, giving him her most serene demeanor. “You mentioned that you’ve only known Tess for a few years, right?” He stared at her over the surface of his coffee. “That’s right.” Allie cradled the hot mug. “Was she married when you moved in?” His forehead was creased, his face twisted in curiosity, as if the questions were causing him pain. “Yes, but shortly after we got here, Kyle moved out.” Allie watched him closely, praying that he would keep talking. “Um, I don’t know quite how to ask this, but I must say it’s really been working on me.” Marty rested his forearms on the table. His head leaned forward, meeting hers. “What is it, Marty? Listen, don’t worry about Tess. If there’s something I can help you clear up, it will stay between us. I don’t tell her everything.” Allie had him, she could see it, how his entire body loosened. He rested his head in his hand, and his face smoothed, his brown eyes heavy lidded, carrying a burden he couldn’t wait to get rid of. “Did you know that your friend swings?” He took a deep breath and quickly sipped his coffee, the horse galloping out of the barn. Allie wasn’t sure what he meant, her mind racing. “Swings? I don’t know if I’m sure what you mean.”

 

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“Allie, do you know what a swing club is?” Marty smiled at her, trying to cover up his chuckle with a cough, then quickly cleared his throat, shaking his head. Allie’s eyes sprung open. A foolish burn coated her cheeks. “I know what a swing club is.” Her mouth dropped. “I saw a report on one of those establishments on some talk show once.” Allie twirled her fingers through her hair, an old nervous habit. She knew the look of surprise was still on her face, her eyes burning because she hadn’t blinked. Marty started laughing at her facial expressions. “Tess goes to a swing club?” Her words were an airy gasp. “You didn’t know this?” Marty was apparently surprised at her being in the dark. “No. I mean…I know Tess likes her men and loves sex, but a swing club.” Allie still couldn’t believe it. But then she remembered her talking about Readington. “Is this place in Readington?” she asked. “That’s where it is. You sure you haven’t been there?” Marty jokingly snickered at her. “No, are you kidding? Not me.” Her face heated up like a flare. “She’s mentioned to me that she goes to Readington, but I didn’t know that was where she was going.” Allie felt both stupid and betrayed, either that, or she just didn’t know Tess the way she thought she did. “Have you been there?” She raised her brows. Marty was quiet, looking down at the blue place mat on the table. God, she hoped he wasn’t shutting down! “You went, didn’t you?” She stifled her laughter, catching herself. She wanted to know more. Allie couldn’t have him clamming up on her. “She took me there several times.” He looked up at her, his eyes weary. “Whoa. What’s it like?”

 

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“Listen, Allie.” Marty held up his hand. “I know we don’t know each other that well. I am a man who does enjoy sex. Most of us do.” He let out a reserved laugh. “I’ll admit that I was curious about it in the beginning.” Marty looked away. Allie admired his honesty. “Well, what goes on in a place like that?” she asked. “Well, people are basically having open sex with one or more partners.” Marty sighed, his eyes returning to hers. “Did you and Tess…Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be nosy.” Allie waved off her last question. “It’s all right. To answer your question, no, I didn’t have sex with anyone but…Tess.” Marty hesitated. His eyes darted around the kitchen. Allie could feel his awkwardness in telling her that their relationship had become physical, even though she was way ahead of him. “I wonder how people can do that in front of others, with just anybody.” She waited for Marty’s response, feeling him out, wondering what his sexual preferences were. Marty raised his hand again. “I don’t know. It’s a wild scene, man.” He rubbed his temple, the stress of it all wearing him down. “Some of the people who go are married too, right?” “Oh yeah, married couples go there and recruit another man or a woman and just…” Marty shook his head again. “I’m telling you, Allie.” His voice faded. It was quiet for a minute. Allie wanted to learn more. She’d been watching them for weeks. She gently moved the conversation forward. “Does Tess go there a lot?” “She goes several times a week,” he said, a wounded look in his eyes. “Well, does Tess sleep with other men there?” “Yeah, last week she wanted me to be with her and another guy.” Marty sank his head into his hands then looked up at her. “I couldn’t do it, I just wound up watching.” His words were hurried. “I don’t

 

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know.” He shook his head. “Maybe if I knew the person, but these folks are strangers, to me anyway.” “I don’t know if I could either.” Allie reached across the table and patted his hand. The conversation seemed to be exhausting him. “She got so angry at me last night because she wanted to go there again. She thought if we looked for another girl, I’d be more amenable.” “Oh boy.” Allie took a breath. She wasn’t sure what to say. Allie drained the last of her coffee, setting the cup aside. “You know what it is, Allie?” Marty stared at her, his eyes wide. “That girl loves an audience, she thrives off of it.” “She certainly does. I guess it didn’t take you long to figure that out. And living here, as you can see”—she waved her hand, laughing—“doesn’t give her much of one.” “Like I said before, I’m a man, and I enjoy sex, but if I were to get involved in something like that, I’d have to know my partners, and I would like them to be consistent. These people seem to float from group to group.” Marty got up and brought more coffee to the table. Allie’s mind was flooded with thoughts of what a place like that might be like. “Are you all right, Allie?” Marty topped off their mugs. “Yeah, I just wonder what it’s like. I mean, not the sex part.” She laughed. “I’ve just never seen a place like that. What’s it look like? Like a bar? Or just any other building?” “It’s in the middle of nowhere, but I guess it has to be. Wanna go see it?” He laughed, playfully nudging her arm, grinning. Allie stared at him, stunned. “I’ll take you there if you’re curious about it. I mean, I was. I know what you’re thinking because I was thinking the same thing.” Marty returned the coffee pot to the burner and joined her back at the table.

 

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“How could we go?” she asked cautiously. “If Tess saw me there with you she’d kill us. She’s become a bit possessive of you. Did you know that?” Marty had a pained look on his face. “I wouldn’t know. One night last week she was trying to pawn me off on another woman. She wanted to watch, but she didn’t care who I was fucking around with.” They sat at the table, the conversation losing steam. “If you want to see this place, I’ll take you.” Marty’s eyes locked with hers. “Now, I don’t think we could go inside, because then we could have an issue.” Marty pointed toward the window, gesturing to Tess’s house across the street. “God no!” Allie left his hard gaze. “That I couldn’t do.” Allie was undecided. Part of her wanted to go, but then part of her didn’t. Allie wasn’t sure she wanted to see that part of Tess’s secret world.

 

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Chapter 10 “So, what have you been up to?” Tess was reclined on the love seat in Allie’s studio, watching her format her computer screen. “Working—trying to do more graphics for my boss. How about you?” Allie turned to face her. Tess dangled her legs over the edge of the love seat, her blue sundress riding up her thighs. Allie tried to imagine her having sex with two men or another couple. Since her talk with Marty, she’d been preoccupied with Tess’s lifestyle. “Not much,” she pouted. “How are things going with you and Marty?” Allie watched her reaction carefully. “It’s okay, but I just wish he was more outgoing.” She pulled her dark, silky hair out from under her neck, letting it hang off the arm of the love seat. “He seems to be outgoing enough.” Allie pressed slightly, wanting to see how far Tess would let this conversation go. Tess shrugged her shoulders, looking mildly annoyed. That was all she was going to get. Allie turned around and went back to her wedding designs. “When’s Dan coming home?” Tess asked, getting up and slinking toward the door. “Not for awhile. Weeks,” Allie told her. “I take it you’re leaving?” She looked at Tess resting her backside against the door. “Yeah, I’ll see you later, maybe tomorrow.” Her tone sounded bored.

 

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“All right, have a good night.” Allie smiled, knowing the sexual stage that awaited Tess. Marty got lucky two nights in a row. Allie was out back on the deck, reclining in the lounge chair, when she saw Tess walk across Marty’s lawn in the dark. Allie got up and moved her chair slightly so Tess wouldn’t see her. It was a sultry summer night. Hot, moist air hung heavy, everything stuck to your skin. Marty must have been expecting Tess. Before she reached his back porch, the screen door opened. Allie saw her pull him out the door and into her arms. He buried his hands in her hair, clutching her head. Allie couldn’t figure out just how emotionally attached Marty was. Once the novelty of great sex wore off for Tess, Allie wondered where that would leave him. Tess was in a skimpy sundress, her feet bare. Their kiss was long, demanding, and deep. If Tess wasn’t on the same plane as Marty, Allie was looking at a soon-to-be-wounded man. Tess wasn’t deep. Allie’s conversation with Marty proved to her that he was a man capable and willing to express his emotions, fully able to devote himself to one woman. Tess, on the other hand, was into fun, seduction, and being on stage. A man like Marty could get deeply hurt by a woman like Tess. Allie felt sorry for him, almost wanting to protect Marty from her, and the wounds Allie knew Tess could inflict. The problem was Tess’s packaging was just too delicious to resist. Allie listened to their soft murmurs drift across the yard. Tess’s giggling irritated her ears like nails on a chalkboard. Allie saw their darkened shadows walk toward the workshop, the door clicking closed behind them. A tiny light lit up the dark window. Before Allie knew what she was doing, she skirted around the edge of the yard, approaching the workshop from the side. Why was she so preoccupied with them? What did she want with them? Or was it Marty? Something inside of her was being erected, something forbidden. Allie felt like she didn’t

 

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know who she was anymore, these thoughts invading her mind. She had tried to push them down, knowing they were wrong. Allie wanted something. She knew what it was. It was easier and safer to keep denying it, but ignoring the elephant in the room was becoming impossible. The more she watched them, the more she wanted it, or Marty, for herself. When Allie thought of Dan, guilt seared through her, a brief, short punishment, but her urges and wants would rise again, only to overpower and smother her remorse like dirt on a fire. She stalked them through the panes of the same window. Marty had Tess’s dress unzipped, his large, strong hands splayed across the brown skin of her back. Tess’s head was hanging back, her hair swaying over Marty’s hands like a showroom curtain. He was biting her neck. Tess’s fingers dug into the skin of his shoulder. Her dress fell to the ground, another garment covered in cedar shavings. He reached down and grabbed her leg, raising it up to his hip. Allie found her own body responding to Marty’s touch, aching for him. Marty’s fingers slipped into the seam of Tess’s ass. Tess’s hands were fumbling, fighting with Marty’s pants. She dropped to her knees, stroking over the arc of Marty’s cock. Her tongue laved at the head then licked down the underside, lapping at his balls. Marty’s head fell back, his mouth open, his face slack with pleasure. He was speaking to Tess. Allie couldn’t make out the words. Marty’s thick fingers wove though Tess’s hair, holding her head as his cock fucked her mouth, his hips thrusting like a well-oiled machine. Marty lifted Tess up, her legs wrapped around his body like tentacles. He turned and rested her ass on top of his workbench. He spread her wide, guiding his cock between the folds of her pussy. Tess’s head flung back, she called to him, her cries a high shrill through the window. Tess’s legs tightened around Marty’s torso, ecstasy wrapping around them, sealing them within their own sheath of heat. Allie’s pulse pounded in her throat, her palms sweaty. She

 

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had to finally look away. Envy gnawed at her, digging deep and taking root. Allie walked home. She didn’t want any part of Tess’s swing club life. She knew Marty didn’t either. Allie wanted something else. Something she didn’t think Tess was worthy of having. It wasn’t fair. Tess couldn’t have it both ways. **** The next morning Allie sat at her table drafting a rough sketch for Marty’s wall. She had a mountain scene with a raging river running below it. She decided to add a small meadow of purple and orange wildflowers. She still needed to firm up a few details with Marty. The swing club discussion had dominated the rest of the afternoon. After three nights of pacifying Marty, Tess was back to her reckless, selfish ways, only thinking of her own wants and desires. Her car roared out of her driveway at nine thirty, which was earlier than usual, her addictive need for attention overpowering her. Allie saw Marty standing outside on his back porch, his hands shoved into his pockets, staring into the night sky. Allie ran upstairs and changed her clothes, choosing to ignore what she was doing. She slipped on a yellow sundress, tucked her sketches for Marty’s wall under her arm, and ran down the stairs. She walked across the deck, making her way over to Marty’s house through the backyard. Her hair blew off her shoulders in the soft night breeze. The air licked her skin through the thin material of her dress. Marty didn’t hear her until she stepped on a loose patio stone, causing a knocking sound. “Hey, Allie, I didn’t see you there.” Marty walked over to the edge of the porch. “Hi, I, um, have your rough sketches.” Allie removed them from under her arm.

 

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“Nice. Let’s go in and take a look.” He slid the door open, gesturing for her to step in ahead of him. A small light above the stove was on. The kitchen had a glow of an eclipse. Allie followed Marty’s eyes as they vertically scanned her body. She could look as good as Tess, in her own individual way. In her mind the battle was already raging. Allie wanted her uniqueness to be appealing to Marty. Her thoughts were jarring, the voice in her head unrecognizable. The things she’d said to Tess about not being in competition with her, or accusing her of being jealous—she had been wrong. Her inner being had become an angry mass, simmering with volcanic proportions. She could be what Marty wants or needs. A woman didn’t have to look like Tess, or behave like her, to achieve and maintain her catch. That way of thinking would be Tess’s mistake. She just didn’t realize it yet. “Would you like coffee? It’s fresh.” Marty had a mug in his hand. “Sure.” She walked over to the counter, leaning against it, watching Marty fill two mugs. “Couldn’t keep the wild animal caged, could you?” Allie’s snide remark had her lips twisting into a smirk. “What did you just say?” Marty laughed, attempting to shake off her comment. He faced her. “You heard me.” Allie folded her arms across her chest. He handed the mug to her. “Ah, no. I suppose Tess’s swinging will come first.” He sipped his coffee. “It doesn’t look like she would put that to rest for any type of relationship.” “That’s too bad for her,” Allie said smugly, staring at him over the rim of her steaming mug, her personality showing a new side of itself. Her premeditated thoughts began to run wild. “Is it, Allie? Because I think it may be the other way around.” Marty squinted at her, his tone flat. “Why don’t you take me to Readington, Marty? Then we can see what Tess won’t give up for you. Being a woman, I can certainly tell you whose loss it is.” Allie walked over to the sink and dumped her

 

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coffee. When she turned around Marty was frozen, obviously taken aback by her behavior. “Well, are you going to feel degraded, or face your competition and realize how pathetic it really is and move on?” Allie moved across the kitchen, standing closer to him. Marty’s full lips were inches away from hers. His eyes were fixed on her face while he ruminated over how he should respond. Marty looked lost, unable to come up with an answer. “Should I wait for you in the truck?” she asked, her sharp tone slicing through the quiet kitchen.

 

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Chapter 11 Marty pulled onto Route 28. The cool evening breeze blew through the cab of the truck, lifting Allie’s hair off her shoulders. She felt a surge of premature gratification. She was sure she could get Marty to realize that no woman was worth having to settle, let alone share with an entire community of sexually self-absorbed people. He was quiet for most of the ride. When he turned off onto a desolate, rural road, he turned and broke through the silence. “We’re not going in, right?” His eyes widened at his own question. Allie sensed that Marty was a bit off balance with her boldness tonight. “No, I just want to see this place, and prove a point to you. Don’t worry.” Allie slid her hand across the seat, running her fingers over his, her actions brash. “Does she park in a certain spot?” Allie asked, knowing he knew Tess’s routine. “Yeah, I know where we can park so we can look.” “Who owns this place?” “Some guy named Dean Lipkin.” Marty turned to her, his face lined in dark shadows. “Is he there a lot?” “Oh yeah, every night. You have to be a member. Tess was bringing me here as her guest, but after this guy saw me a few times he tried to entice me to join.” Marty pulled the truck off into a dirt lane. “We’ll be able to hang here for awhile, but not too long.” Marty swung the truck around and pulled it under a large willow tree. Allie kicked herself, not thinking to bring the binoculars.

 

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“What do you have to do to become a member?” Allie shifted in her seat to face him, her heated skin sticking to the leather. “There’s fees. I mean, they have a lot of amenities in there.” Marty cleared his throat. “What kind of amenities?” Allie stared at the clubhouse. It was a large, three-story house. It looked like an old mansion, the type you would see on a Southern plantation. It was white with black shutters with a large wraparound porch. The ground floor was brightly lit, but the higher her eyes went, the darker it became. “Well, on the ground floor they have a bar, music, and dancing. They have a buffet between six and eight. On the second floor, clothing is optional.” He avoided her gaze, fidgeting in his seat. “On the third floor, clothing is not permitted.” Allie tried to see into the building but couldn’t. Heavy draperies were hung over the windows. Shadows of people mingled in the foyer. Soft jazz music hung in the air. People were gathered on the front porch. They were sharply dressed, appearing affluent. “Have you been up to the third floor?” Allie asked cautiously, wanting to see how much Marty would share. Marty massaged his forehead then looked up at her. “I was up there once,” he mumbled. “It’s all right, Marty. I’m not going to hold anything against you.” Allie felt the pain in his eyes, his lids heavy with remorse. “Yeah, I was up there, trying to make love to Tess with an audience. Like you said, just how she likes it.” He shook his head at the memory. “What’s it like? I don’t know if I could have sex in front of other people,” she confessed. “Well, the first time I had had quite a bit to drink. I had to, so I could do it.” He chuckled nervously. “Well, what does Tess expect you to do? Get drunk on a daily basis so you can carry on your intimate relationship with her in front of all her club peers?” Allie looked back at Marty, wondering if she

 

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was getting through to him. She was determined to sway him, wanting to win, him being the prize. “I guess,” he said reluctantly. Silence filled the cab, a chorus of crickets permeated through the brush. “Does that work for you, Marty?” Allie raised her brows at him, taking all of him in, the darkness aiding her in her bold assessment. “No, Allie. It doesn’t.” He leaned over the steering wheel and sighed. Allie squinted through the darkness, looking over at the clubhouse. Right then Tess stepped out on the front porch in a cardinal-red dress, sipping her drink, swinging her sleek, dark hair, laughing at all her potential partners. “There she is.” Allie’s voice rose as she pointed. “Where?” Marty leaned into the windshield. “Right there on the porch. See, with the older couple.” Allie tried to direct his eyes through the darkness. “Yup, there she is, working the crowd.” Marty’s voice was hoarse. “I wonder if she’ll sleep with them tonight.” Tess was socializing with another couple, her hand resting on the shoulder of a welldressed man, most likely the other woman’s husband. “I know, she’s beautiful,” Allie admitted humbly. “Yeah, but you know what?” Marty faced her, his voice edgy. “She has no depth. I need some depth, Allie. We better get out of here.” Marty started the truck. He didn’t turn on the headlights until they were back out on the road. The drive back through the rural darkness was hushed. Allie let the images of their surveillance and the contents of their conversation sink in. When they pulled into Marty’s driveway, he turned off the engine, staring out the windshield with a blank look on his face. “Well, Allie, now you know where your friend is investing most of her time.” Marty opened his door, then stepped down from the truck, defeat in his gait. Allie met him halfway around the hood, the heat from the engine wafting on her skin.

 

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“What did you tell Tess?” Allie was interested if he’d cut the string completely. “I told her swinging just wasn’t my thing. If she wanted to go there for a few drinks and to socialize, keep in touch with her friends, then that was fine, but the third floor has seen the last of me.” Marty laughed at his choice of words, his hand raking through his hair. “What d’you think she’ll do?” “You know what, Allie?” His eyes narrowed, his tone bitter. “I sort of don’t care. Like you said, she is gorgeous, but I need a little depth.” “Well,” Allie walked up to him, resting her hands on his tense shoulders, “now I know what she’s given you up for. Even before we left, I knew sacrificing you wouldn’t be worth it.” She turned and walked away from him, leaving him with the impact of her words. **** Allie was sitting in the dark kitchen, sipping a glass of wine, when she saw Marty come out of his house and go into his workshop. She wondered how he would drown his sorrows over his loss. Allie was determined to distract him from that loss. She would show him that losing a woman like Tess was not as tragic as he thought. She’d lost Dan to money and survived. It was Dan’s love for money that was driving them apart. Allie gave Marty credit, though, putting his wants and desires before Tess’s sensual body and her endless appetite for play. Allie wondered if Dan would ever put her before his lavish salary. Her bitter thoughts bubbled in the back of her throat. It was beneath her to ask him. Why should she have too? Allie would go see Marty tomorrow and discuss the sketch, which they never got to. He needed to come over and choose his colors for the mural. Dan had called while she was out. Allie laughed at the thought of telling him she’d gone to a swing club. Tess’s club membership

 

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wouldn’t be a surprise to Dan in the least. She called him back, leaving a message, telling him she’d try back again later, uncertain of the time difference. Allie lay in bed, the dark smothering. She soaked up her loneliness like a sponge. She would be watching Tess very carefully, seeing if Marty’s refusal affected her. Would Tess tell her anything? Would she be honest? Losing Marty was admitting defeat. Tess didn’t like to be defeated. Tess probably just figured Allie wouldn’t condone her swinging. Not that she was a prude. What people did was their own business, but if you’re forcing your lifestyle on others? That, to her, was wrong. **** Allie was outside in the greenhouse the next day when Tess strolled in. She had on her short-shorts and her gold bikini top, the scent of coconuts hovering over her like a cloud. “Hey there, Ms. Kramer, whatcha doin’?” Tess strutted over, running her fingers over the leaves of Allie’s ferns. “A little gardening. What’s your game been lately?” Allie laughed. She tried to see through Tess’s dark sunglasses. With those eyes of hers hidden, one could never be sure. “I’m taking a trip.” She grinned, sitting down on the narrow wooden bench that lined the wall. “Really?” She had gotten Allie’s attention quickly. “Where are you going?” Allie turned off the hose and looked at her. The humidity glistened on her skin like glitter. “I’m going to St. Thomas for a week or so.” “Wow, that’s nice. Who you going with?” Allie asked, trying to detect if she was going with her swinger friends, and if Tess would tell her. “Just some friends from the Readington area,” she said.

 

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“Who do you know from Readington?” Allie continued to fish, tired of looking like a fool in her eyes. This trip seemed spur-of-themoment. Maybe she was going with the couple Allie and Marty had seen her with during their surveillance. “Oh, you don’t know them.” Tess waved her off. “Well, obviously. I just wondered who they were. You never talk about them.” Allie noted her forceful tone. “They’re just some people I know, Allie, that’s all.” Tess’s words bit back, scoring through her. Allie’s spine stiffened with shock. “Hey, why don’t you just back off, Tess.” Allie rolled up the hose and left her in the greenhouse. She heard Tess’s bare feet slapping against the stairs of the deck as she trailed after her. “Hey, Al, I’m sorry.” Tess squeezed through the sliding glass door before Allie could slam it in her face. Allie wasn’t in the mood for her today. Tess was acting like a spoiled brat. Allie was sure it was because Marty wouldn’t give in to her whims. She was running away from the issue, escaping the reality of his decision. Allie pulled a pitcher of iced tea out of the fridge. “Al, I’m sorry.” Tess reached over, gliding her hand down her arm. Allie shuddered, thinking how many other people Tess had touched over the last twelve hours, her skin shriveling at the thought. “No problem.” Allie poured her tea, offering Tess a glass. “Could you watch the house?” Tess asked. Allie watched her suck on the ice, running her tongue over a cube. “Sure I can.” “You can swim, cook out, do whatever you want. I just want you to keep an eye on things.” She removed her glasses, setting them on her head. “I appreciate it.” She leaned on the island, sipping her tea. “How long will you be gone?” Allie was already plotting her time alone with Marty. The images she was conjuring up in her head sent a thrilling rush through her. Her adrenaline pumped through, feeling like a drug, her own personal speedball.

 

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“I think I’ll be gone for about two weeks, definitely a week and a half. I can’t wait. I need a change.” Tess waggled her brows, winking at her. “Well, you enjoy yourself.” Allie stared at her rippled face through the glass tumbler, her mind assembling her own web of change that she couldn’t wait to entangle herself in. Allie found herself elated with the fact that Tess was leaving. The voice speaking inside of her head was one that Allie still didn’t recognize.

 

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Chapter 12 “Here are my keys. Remember, if you want to swim or just hang out, you’re welcome to.” It was early Monday morning. Tess must have had to set her alarm clock. She hadn’t been up and out this early since her divorce hearing. “So what’re you gonna do while I’m gone?” she asked. “Oh, the usual,” Allie assured her nonchalantly. “Well, I’m off. Tell Sir Marty I said goodbye.” Tess blew her a kiss and flounced out the door, her short, mossy-green skirt moving with the sway of her hips. Allie cringed. She watched Tess’s car disappear down the driveway, hearing her tires screech on the asphalt was music to her ears. Immense relief flooded through Allie’s body. Now she could do what she wanted. They were alone. Allie couldn’t wait to tell Marty that Tess was gone for ten lovely days. Allie finished some graphics for work and went over to Marty’s, leaving her box on the porch for pickup. Marty was outside painting the trim on his workshop. Allie sauntered across the yard, feeling light on her feet. She planned to ask him to come over and look at the paints tonight for his mural. For the next ten days, no one would have to keep looking across the street for Tess’s car. “Hey, neighbor.” Marty looked down at her from the top rung of the ladder. “Good morning.” Allie raised her hand to the sun. She must’ve had a wicked grin on her face. “Should I come down for this?” His lips curved into a sly smile.

 

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Allie nodded slowly. He stepped down the ladder, balancing a small can of primer and a brush. “What the hell’s going on? Looks like you just hit it big with the winning numbers.” He laughed. “She’s gone.” Allie waited for Marty’s reaction, wanting to eat it up like a sweet dessert. Marty had been lying low for awhile, avoiding Tess. Allie had seen Tess walk over to his place a few times before she left, but the heavy episodes in his workshop had stopped. Allie thought a small part of her ego was still trying to reel him back in. “You mean Tess?” He tilted his head toward her house. “That’s right.” Allie tried not to look too happy. She just needed a break. “What? Did she move to Readington to save on gas?” Marty laughed. “No, she’s off to St. Thomas with her ‘friends’ from Readington, as she put it.” “Mm, that sounds adventurous enough for her. So what brings you over?” He scratched a dried smear of paint on his cheek. “I think you should stop over tonight so we can pick the colors for your mural,” she told him. “Sounds good. How about seven?” “Great, see you then.” Allie watched him climb back up the ladder before walking back across the yard. **** “I think these are all great. You’re the artist.” Marty stood in front of her supply closet. “I’m going to start tomorrow,” Allie informed him. She snuck a glance at his face, flushed and clean shaven. “You’ve looked at the sketch, right?”

 

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“Sure. I love it.” Marty faced her. “You do brilliant work,” he said softly. His eyes gleamed, staring into her. “When’s Dan coming home?” His question hit her like a swarm of stinging bees. “Not until next month.” Allie closed the closet door. “That must be hard.” Allie turned back to him. His look was seeping into her. She felt a rising sensation in her belly, a thrilling ride that was gaining momentum, its destination unknown. “I’m used to it.” Allie waved off his comment. Marty’s stare moved with her. Allie could feel his heat, his woodsy scent filling the air between them. “Marty, Dan made his choice. It obviously wasn’t me. It was his job.” Allie turned away from him and started packing the paints into a basket. The only sound in the room was Marty’s boots moving across the floor toward the window. Allie had never spoken about Dan with such resentment. She’d kept things buried for so long. Now her resentment was rearing its ugly head. She’d given up a lot to move here with him, a successful art studio, her friends, and business contacts. There was only so much a person could hold in and keep contained. Her tolerance tank was full, unwilling to hold any more. Something inside of her had shifted. What had caused this shift was standing right here with her, in this room. While she packed the paints, Marty gazed out the window. Allie tried to read him, speculating what he was thinking. Was it the same thing she was? “Would you like anything, Marty? A glass of wine, maybe?” He turned away from the window, his hands in his pockets. “Sure. Actually, you don’t happen to have any beer, do you?” He walked toward her work table. “Actually I do. How about a Foster’s Lager?” “Perfect.” He took the basket from her, following her downstairs.

 

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They sat in the kitchen and drank. Allie was on her third glass of wine, Marty on his second beer. She told him Tess had given her permission to use her facilities while she was gone. “Oh, yeah.” Marty’s eyes brightened. “She does have a nice pool back there.” He wiped the condensation from the large can. Allie changed the subject. “I’ll be over in the morning to start the wall. I’m gonna sketch it out first, and then you can check it before I paint.” The wine was oozing through her veins like a tranquilizer. “Great. I look forward to seeing it.” Marty was preoccupied. Allie wasn’t sure what he was thinking about. There were words that maybe should be said, to help ease the tension. Allie had felt it building, gradually, like bricks being laid. Every time they were alone together more unspoken words accumulated between them, like books on a shelf that were never read. “I should go. I have some things to do in the workshop.” Marty stood up and took his empty can to the counter. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Allie’s insides sank. She didn’t want to waste too much time trying to gain momentum with him. They only had ten days. She wanted to rush to the peak and consume herself with him. **** Allie sat outside on the deck and stalked him. The small glow of Marty’s lantern glinted in the window. Allie wanted him, but didn’t want to look desperate. She had just rolled over on the lounge chair, contemplating sleeping outside to avoid her vast, empty bed, when she heard his workshop door open, the hinges squeaking through the black, night air. Allie rolled back and saw Marty standing outside, facing her yard. Could he see her? Allie stood and walked to the edge of the deck,

 

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resting her hands on the railing, making herself visible to him. She had gotten his attention. He was smoking. A hot ash glowed against his face, like a fog light in the middle of uncharted waters. Their stares connected through the dark. If he wasn’t going to move, then she had to. Allie took two steps toward the narrow staircase leading down into the yard. She stopped and looked at him, her heart pushing through her chest. She ached for a gesture of acknowledgment. Her insides were tingling, her inner voice starting to tell her that she would be rejected. Allie saw him step aside, opening the door of the workshop. Marty raised his hand, his palm turned upward. She stepped down the stairs, the wood moist from the evening air. Allie walked across the yard, her eyes locked on his. The steps she was taking would take her somewhere she’d never been, somewhere she could never return from, something that couldn’t be undone. Allie stepped over the cool patio stones, the granite digging into the balls of her feet. She walked up to Marty, their faces inches apart. Allie inhaled his light perspiration, the sweet-scented cigar on his lips. She then walked into his workshop, the smell of cedar enveloped her. The door clicked shut behind her. He set his cigar in the ashtray and dimmed the lantern. Allie’s legs quivered. She ached for his slightest touch, the urge overpowering yet unfamiliar. She avoided his eyes for a moment, afraid of his expression, questioning if he was having second thoughts. She heard his footsteps shuffling across the dusty floor. Allie let him approach her from behind. His hands seared into her skin. His large fingers glided down her shoulders, his calloused blisters scratching her. The teeth on the zipper of her dress clicked open slowly, now giving her the chance of a polite refusal. White noise roared in her ears. The sound of the material slipping off her skin was deafening. Marty sucked in his breath behind her. His warm hands slid over her breasts, cupping them in his palms. A paralysis shot through her, her

 

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skin deprived of one’s desired touch for too long. His teeth bit into her neck, a piercing pain that had Allie thirsting for more. Allie reached behind her, stroking his thigh. His hands glided down her body, resting on her hips, steering her around to face him. His tender expression welcomed her, unopposed by what was happening. Allie leaned into him, running her tongue over his parted lips, his sweet taste an antecedent of her uncontrollable appetite for him. “Christ, the things I’ve wanted to do to you.” His words were gruff through his parted lips. His hands eased her dress down, sliding it from her body. Marty draped it over the workbench. Allie’s skin became saturated with the balmy night air. She yanked Marty’s shirt over his head, her actions desperate, needing to feel his body against hers. What’d been a figment of her imagination was about to become a reality. Her hands slid over his chest. Allie buried her face in the tight crevices, breathing him in, her teeth nipping at his nipple. The salty muskiness of his skin flooded her tongue. His hands moved to her head, steering her lips to his. Their tongues met, sliding together lazily. Her body responded immediately. Her pussy was raining for him, her clit throbbing. Allie pressed her thighs together, her pleasure right under the surface, waiting to be released. Marty’s hands roamed, learning her body. The stroke of his fingers ignited on her skin like live wires. Allie reached into his jeans, feeling his warmth, his intimate scent escaping into the air. His cock throbbed in her hand, his skin smooth and taut. “Oh fuck,” Marty moaned. “That’s real nice, Allie.” His words were a heated wind. His hips moved, thrusting his cock into her hand. Allie rubbed herself against him, making her wants known. She fought with the rest of his clothing, her hands soaking up the flesh that pulled over his corded muscles. Allie leaned against the workbench, her desire mounting. Marty sank to his knees. Her body trembled, the anticipation of having his mouth on her. He nuzzled her,

 

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breathing her in. His tongue edged through her folds, sliding from her clit down into her wet center. Allie gasped, gripping his head. “Marty! Oh God.” He tasted her leisurely. His tongue eased through her pussy gently and slowly, as if savoring his sample. His hands nudged her thighs, spreading her. He was a talented lover, his mouth sucking, his tongue flicking at her clit. Allie’s bones were crumbling into a helpless heap. Allie arched into him, giving him what they both wanted. Her body shook. Marty stood, gripping her hips. He lifted her. Allie wrapped her legs around him, pulling his body into hers. Her damp skin slid against his flesh. Marty’s hot breaths tunneled into her ear. “Christ, I want you,” he said, his voice tight with desire. He spun their bodies around, slamming them against the wall. He reached between them, grabbing for his cock. The fingers of his other hand dug into her hip. She felt him at her entrance, nudging his way through. Marty took her lips as he glided inside, filling her with his thick length. His hips ground into hers, stretching her all the way. “Mm.” Allie felt her eyes roll back, welcoming him, the way his body felt and moved inside of hers. “Let me look at you.” His breaths heaved. His eyes blazed, his teeth chewing at his lower lip. He thrust into her, splintering her apart. He had created a fault line within her the last few weeks. He now broke her open, their bodies grinding, rubbing, and pressing. Allie raked her nails down the knotted bones of his spine, hanging on. She tilted her hips, needing him deeper. She closed her eyes, relishing him, the absolute pleasure that he was giving her. “God, you’re so hot.” His mouth bruised hers, his tongue unleashing a custom-made fire that raged between them. “Fuck me,” Allie whimpered, giving her hidden thoughts life. Her body longed for more, wanting to feel his take root inside of her. “Harder,” she gasped, wanting to ensure it wasn’t all a dream. “Let me feel you.” The words gritted through her teeth.

 

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Their breaths accelerated. Marty’s body stiffened. Purring groans slipped from his lips, their bodies jolting in pleasure. White lightning flashed behind her lids. Decadent pleasure mixed with a pleasing torture that filled all of her lonely spaces.

 

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Chapter 13 “I’ve been calling. Where’ve you been?” Dan asked firmly. “I’ve been painting at Marty’s. You told me to find something to do.” Allie stretched across the bed, the heat of the rising sun beating on her bare body. She felt extravagant, her afterglow of the previous night still vibrating in her limbs. “I suppose I did.” Dan’s tone now sounded defeated. “What’re you painting?” Today’s technology made it sound as if he were right next door, which spooked her. “He asked me to do a scenic mural in his living room.” Allie stifled a yawn. “Good. That’s good that you’re occupied.” They talked for a few more minutes. Allie listened to all Dan’s complaints regarding the takeover and trying to soothe disgruntled employees. Before ending their conversation, he turned it back over to her project at Marty’s. Allie planned to start the mural today, but her lies to him continued to roll off her tongue like water. She showered and got dressed. There wasn’t much guilt. Her resentment justified her actions. They weren’t married. She had needs and was human like everyone else. How could any man think a woman could repeatedly be left alone and it have no effect on their relationship? And one Dan wanted to take to the next level with marriage. She walked over to Marty’s with her coffee. He was sitting at the kitchen table. Allie tapped on the door. His face had the look of how she felt.

 

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“Good morning.” She sat down next to him. He was wearing his work jeans and a white, sleeveless shirt, his muscular chest pushing through the ribbed cotton. He leaned over and ran his finger up her thigh. Allie had on her denim cut-offs and an old lavender tank top with spots of dried paint on it. “How are you?” He turned his chair to face her. He reached over and ran his thumb and forefinger down several strands of her hair, igniting the heat within her. “I feel fantastic,” Allie whispered, her eyes diving into his, two sedate pools of espresso brown. “Good, cause you deserve it.” His finger inched inside the frayed hem of her shorts, her awareness of wanting him again unraveling. “Let’s swim tonight.” His kiss was smoldering, stoking the coals of their desire. “That sounds wonderful.” Allie pulled away, taking his hand. She started to lick his fingers. “Better yet, your idea sounds thrilling.” She sucked harder. “God, Allie. I’m not going to get any work done.” He moaned. Marty stood up, pulling her to her feet. Allie bathed his lips, swirling her tongue around his teeth, needing to taste him. She stepped back, his face still. “We’ll continue this later,” he whispered, gripping her backside, her skin prickling under his touch. “I take it I won’t need my suit.” Allie ran her hands over his chest, feeling his nipples bead through the cotton. “Oh no, you can leave the suit home.” Marty brought his mug up to the sink then walked out into the yard to get started. Allie started sketching the mural on the wall in pencil first. She had just finished the sky and the mountain peaks when Marty came in and asked her what she wanted for lunch. “You see?” He turned and stroked her cheek. “That’s depth in a person, talent like that.” His palm smoothed over her breast. “It just adds to the package.”

 

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“I take it you like it?” She reached for him, wanting to experience him again, the withdrawals mounting. Allie ran her fingers through the thick strands of his hair. “What’s not to like?” His eyes flashed. “That includes you and the wall.” His stare slithered over her. His hand slid down her body, cupping her mound. Marty stepped back. “I need to stay focused,” he groaned. “I wanna finish today, so I can give you my undivided attention later.” Marty fixed them ham sandwiches and iced tea. After lunch they worked until four o’clock. Allie went outside to tell him she was going home to shower and pack some things up for tonight. “What time are we going over?” Marty glanced across the street. “How’s seven sound?” “Great. Hey, listen, you’re sure it’s safe?” Marty’s face creased with apprehension. “She’s gone, Marty. I have the house key.” “We’re not going in the house, are we?” he asked, sounding unsure of their plans. “No, there’s no need for that,” Allie assured him. “Good, I agree. I’ll see you later then.” He grazed the inside of her wrist with his lips. **** Once home Allie packed up some cheese, grapes, and bread. She chose a bottle of wine for her and a few bottles of dark ale for Marty. Allie slipped on a black sleeveless dress, her body bare underneath. She walked over first to unlock the gate and waited for Marty. She sensed his concern over Tess still lingered. She would work hard to dissolve any thought he had of her. ****

 

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Allie had just placed their things on the outdoor bar when she heard the gate open. Marty had on a pair of tan cargo shorts and a yellow T-shirt. He dropped a roll of towels on the lounge chair, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into the cabana at the foot of the pool. It was dark and musty smelling inside. He took her head in his hands. Allie tried not to think of how he had handled Tess, some of his actions similar. She would not allow Tess to spoil this for her. His mouth pressed to hers, his tongue lashing at her insides. He then eased off, kissing her slowly, his lips full, wet, and warm. The thought of Marty’s mouth bathing her body again had her pussy swelling with need. His hand ran up the side of her thigh, easing her dress over her hip. His fingers slipped inside her folds, lightly stroking her clit. “How’s that, baby?” His finger sank inside her. Her belly exploded, her hips thrusting for more. “Jesus,” she breathed. Allie’s head spun, sweeping her up into a cyclone, the sensations once a visiting stranger like Dan. It was amazing how one could turn their body off, and for so long. Marty was unearthing the wildness, desires she’d been deprived of. Allie felt him against her. His cock was already solid, snaking against his zipper, anxious to fill her again. Allie removed her dress. Marty’s mouth lowered to her breast. His teeth scraped over her nipple, sending bolts of pleasure through her. “Marty, wait!” Her chest heaved. Allie wanted him naked, and now. Allie pawed at his clothes, running her hands down his rippled stomach, her fingers trailing through the soft line of hair that led to his center. The sound of his clothes slipping off his body reverberated in the cabana. Allie looked outside. Twilight grayed the sky. She took his hand and escorted him out to the pool. The dewy night air felt decadent on her bare body.

 

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The tepid water felt like wet silk on her skin. Allie reclined Marty’s immaculate body on the steps in the shallow end of the pool. Her hands studied every inch of him, the water swirling around them. Allie gazed into his eyes, seeing the mirror of her own desire. **** Every time he closed his eyes and felt the smooth, warm curves of her body, he reacted with an intense passion. Her wet mouth took and tasted, slithering down his body. His cock bobbed in the water, on the verge of detonating. She kissed and nibbled, nestling on the sensitive area of skin near his balls. She was taunting him. He was crazed with lust waiting for her mouth to take him inside. His groin flooded with heat. Her fingers fluttered against his balls as the water sloshed over him. “So nice, baby.” His breaths came faster. He held her hair away from her shadowed face. Her tongue felt like paradise, licking the underside of his cock. Her palm held his balls, gently kneading. His groan rose into the tranquil night air as she pulled his cock between her lips, into a deep tunnel of wet heat. “Ah, God, that’s it, baby, take it all.” He thrust his hips, feeding his cock deeper into her mouth. He stroked her cheek, her strawberryblond hair now looking like fire in the subdued light. The moon’s glow spread across the water with a pearly sheen that rippled on the surface. “You’re so beautiful.” His chest tightened. His heart swelled, pushing against his chest. His emotions raged. Why is it always the one who is taken? He pushed the thought from his mind, watching Allie’s mouth work his cock. “I want to be inside you,” he panted, unable to hold back. Cool air washed over his dick. She slid up his body. He grabbed her ass. His fingers slid down the seam, needing to feel all of her forbidden places. “I want to watch you fuck me.” Marty steered her hips.

 

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Allie straddled his cock, guiding it into her pussy. Her wet heat bled through his cock, shooting straight to his core. Her head fell back, her lids fluttering closed. The water glistened on her skin. Her back bowed, her breasts rising with each rushing breath. Marty held them in his hands, his thumbs and fingers pinching her nipples. Allie’s hips rolled over him, pressing then easing off. “Come with me.” Her raw cry called to him. He slid his hand down the curves of her hip, dipping between her folds. He fingered her clit, watching her body react to his touch. “Yes,” she cried. “Right there.” “Christ almighty, you’re so hot, such a sweet thing, fuck me, baby, you do it so good.” He groaned, grinding his body into hers. He looked up at her, her mouth slack with pleasure, her body moving and shuddering, absorbing all the lust. Marty liked what he saw. Allie was relaxed and open, relishing in their pleasure. The fact that she was able to take whatever he could dish out only tempted him more. The wave swelled between them. He stared at her in awe, hearing her breath catch, then release in a long, hissing sigh. Every pore on his body opened, filling with her. He thrust into her, wanting to mark her deeply, leaving a piece of him inside of her. “You’re so amazing.” His voice was thick. His heart started to sink. He would have to seize every moment with her, knowing it would soon all come to an end. Her body lay over his. Marty shifted his weight off the concrete steps, sitting up to face her. Allie settled in his lap, toying with the scant hairs on his chest. Her mossy-green eyes met his. Her lips curved into a seductive smile. “That was so good.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “You felt perfect.” Marty held her face in his hands, his lips molding to hers. The demands of their kiss reached in deep, rearranging things inside of him. “I want you to know I was attracted to you first, not her.”

 

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“Okay, but I’m not concerning myself with what happened between you and Tess.” Allie stood up and took his hand. Her words bit back. He regretted his, but he wanted her to know. His urge for her had been smoldering since the very beginning. She was something he didn’t think he’d ever be able to have. Their skin glistened in the moonlight as the water fell from their bodies, dripping onto the concrete. Allie walked him over to a small grassy area near the back corner of the fence. She spread down two towels, and sat down in the grass. She reclined back, her naked body sprawled out before him. His cock grazed his belly, stiff as a stalk, ready to take her again. “I don’t care about anyone else right now, as selfish as that sounds.” Allie stared up at him. “Our world for the next nine days is you and me.” He was taken aback by her words, but they didn’t disappoint. Marty’s body greeted hers. Water dripped from the ends of her hair, dotting on her skin. Their moist bodies slid against the aching flesh of the other. He wanted her again, wanted to fill himself with her. He fell into her eyes. He knew they were peeling the layers away, touching a part inside the other that no one else ever had. He could feel it. It was a certainty that couldn’t be mistaken. His eyes held hers the entire time he was inside of her, reflecting his desire. He moved with her, taking all that he could. He reeled the words back, knowing he couldn’t give them life. Her eyes locked with his, her gaze agreeing that they shouldn’t be said.

 

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Chapter 14 Allie and Marty were halfway through their delicious respite. His wall was almost halfway done. Allie was starting to stall on the project, wanting to drag it out so she would have an excuse to go over to his house once Tess returned. It was pouring rain. Marty had been unable to work outdoors. He was in her studio watching her do some graphics for work, keeping her company. “How come you and Dan never got married?” He turned back to look at her. He was sitting in the rocker he’d given her, drinking a beer. “He must’ve asked you.” “He did, several times. I was the one who said no.” Allie turned away from her computer. “Why?” “Because I would’ve married his job, not him. He refused to change jobs. I wanted him to do something that required less traveling.” Allie checked her tone, realizing it sounded hard. Marty frowned. “I don’t know Dan well, but it seems that he’s a bit obsessed with money.” “He is.” Allie left her desk. She stood over Marty, fingering his hair. “Why is that? It looks like you have everything you could ever want or need. This place is spectacular.” He tilted his head, looking up at her. “It’s mostly his. Remember us artists are starving.” Allie laughed. “Dan grew up in poverty.” Her tone was now serious. “His father never worked. His mother had to earn all the money. She took care of

 

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Dan and his brother, but his father was a worthless drunk.” She rubbed his shoulders. “His father treated his mother like a piece of garbage.” “That’s a shame,” Marty mumbled. “He told me once that he had the same pair of sneakers for four years. His mother kept repairing them with rubber cement.” “Man.” Marty shook his head in disbelief. “That’s horrible.” “I think Dan was petrified that he would wind up like him.” Allie sighed, sitting down on the edge of the love seat. “His childhood has made him afraid of certain things.” “Such as?” Marty asked. “He watches how much he drinks, and he never raises his voice.” Allie paused. “It’s just his way. He’s conservative, and very cautious.” **** Two days before Tess came home, Marty took her on a picnic. They drove out to Yardley, which was two hours away. The chances of them seeing someone they knew were next to nil. Marty pulled his truck down into a farmer’s field lane, parking alongside a stone wall underneath a massive oak tree. “Is this private property?” Allie gazed over the lush slopes of fields that surrounded them. Stalks of corn dominated one side. Tall orange wildflowers swayed in the gentle breeze on the other. “It’s okay, don’t worry.” Marty spread a blanket down while Allie unpacked the cooler from the tailgate. The humidity had dropped. The clouds passed over the sun, casting a moving shadow across the field, the breeze sweet and earthy. “What’re we gonna do on our last night?” Allie handed Marty an iced tea and rolled into him on the blanket, resting her head in his lap.

 

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Marty took a long pull on the bottle, looking down at her, his expression weighted. “I’m going to make love to you until I can’t anymore.” His eyes lowered. A weak smile spread across his melancholy face. Allie reached up and stroked his unshaven cheek, the stubble rough on her palm. “What’s the protocol once our swinger neighbor gets home?” Marty’s hard tone sliced through her, icing over the heat that had burned steady between them. “It’s back to business as usual, I guess.” Allie couldn’t even look at the food they had packed. The idea of Tess coming home had her stomach in knots. “Well, she’ll be returning to her club.” Marty reached for her hand. “We can sneak a visit in then, can’t we?” His face was hopeful. A seductive grin crept across his lips. “Yeah, we can, but we have to be careful.” Allie stared up at him. “I don’t want her to find out.” Her tone was clipped. “She won’t,” he said, his rebuttal strained. “If we’re careful and don’t get careless, she won’t. Tess isn’t stupid.” Someone who’d been a friend was now becoming a source of stress and resentment. **** On their last night together, Allie insisted that she and Marty go over to Tess’s house and check the pool area. They’d both had quite a bit to drink the night they were there. Allie wanted to make sure they’d left nothing behind. They made the decision that Allie would tell Tess she had gone swimming once while she was gone, alone. They returned to Allie’s and grilled a few steaks and vegetables, then ate out back on the deck. Once it was dark they undressed each other under the moon. Marty wired her senses. His mouth and hands worked over her body.

 

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At first Marty was slow, even methodical. Allie could feel the frustrated tension as Marty unbuttoned the front of her dress. The material fell to her feet. She hadn’t worn underwear since that first night in his workshop. Allie savored the feel of his calloused hands on her skin. They were both fully aware that this would be the last time they would feel the complete freedom of expressing their affections. This reality exploded into flames of urgency, needing and wanting to do all. Allie wanted to weave herself into him. “So what time do you think we should expect her?” Marty caressed her breast. “Anytime after we see the sunrise,” Allie said regretfully. “But let’s not think about it,” she breathed. “Let me enjoy you.” “God.” He pulled her into his arms. “I loved every minute of it, babe.” Allie unzipped his shorts, the teeth of the zipper filling the heated air. She wrapped her hand around his cock, wanting him inside her until there were no sands of time left. “Show me again,” she whispered. Marty fell to his knees. The tip of his nose slid through the folds of her pussy. He fingered her gently, spreading her open. Chilled air hit her clit, then his warm mouth. The flat of his tongue moved over her pussy, filling his palate with her taste. His slick fingers slid back, grazing over her puckered hole. “Oh God, that’s good,” she gasped. “You’re gonna kill me.” He leaned back on his heels, his finger still teasing. “Mmm… Oh, no, baby.” His voice dark. “I’m gonna fuck you, and it’s gonna feel so good.” His warm tongue touched her tender tissues again. Allie held his head, her orgasm a caged animal dying to get out. Marty had her on the brink. He stood, stepping away. His eyes flashed, filled with a dark, raw desire.

 

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“I’m on the edge, Allie. I’m warning you, I don’t think I can hold back.” His breaths heaved. Allie gripped his shoulders, pulling him into her. Her nails dug at his skin, the eroticism taking her over the edge. “Then don’t.” She feathered her tongue across his lips, taunting him. A deep moan sounded from his throat. Marty spun her around, grinding her hips into the railing of the deck. He jammed his knee between hers, spreading her. The head of his cock eased inside. Allie pulled him into her. She lifted her ass, pressing back against him, giving him access to her slick, wet passage, wanting him to fill the deep recesses of her. Allie’s fingers gripped the railing, her eyes staring into the black. Stars exploded. Her heart pounded into overdrive. Her thighs burned in rebellion, accommodating his quick, upward thrusts. “Don’t stop.” Her voice cracked. The sensations were overwhelming. They reached inside of her, tugging at the root of her emotions. Her body and mind battled. She leaned over the railing, needing more, her senses overloaded. She pushed away any thoughts, needing to only feel. It was safer not to think, and to only feel. The feelings were like a fantasy, consequences were a hard-core reality. Their sweetened scents of arousal escaped into the air. Sweat beaded from their skin like morning dew. Allie breathed them in, addicted. Marty filled her every cell, their swan song unforgettable. “Easy, baby, I’m not going anywhere.” His hand smoothed over the small of her back. He settled into a slow, deep rhythm. “Fuck,” he growled. “You feel so good.” He cupped her ass in his hands. His hips rolled with hers, their bodies adhered, connected. Their desire peaked in unison. Their choral cries of pleasure filled the sultry night air. **** Tess must have taken a red-eye flight with her nocturnal swinger friends. When Allie got up at 8:00 a.m., her car was carelessly parked

 

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in front of her garage. Allie’s internal being that had felt more alive than it had in months died right in front of her kitchen window as she looked out across the street. The weather reflected her mood. Massive gray clouds blocked the sun, holding captive a living light needed by all. Marty was out early, weed whacking the trim around his house. Allie stood and watched him from the sliding glass door of the kitchen, trying to soak him up from seventy feet away. She worked until noon then called Dan. They needed him to stay on longer. Allie was disappointed. She needed him as a diversion. It served her right for being such an opportunist. The company offered to send Dan home for three days, but he didn’t want to deal with the hassles of overseas travel just to come home for a few days. Tess finally revealed herself, blowing into Allie’s house at five thirty, forceful as a hurricane wind.

 

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Chapter 15 “Well, hello there, stranger.” Allie was as upbeat and pleasant as she could be without sounding phony. “Hey, Al, how are you?” Tess walked up to her and kissed her cheek. Her trip must have been quite therapeutic. She looked amazing, her skin a deep, rich brown, golden highlights streaking through her dark locks as if she’d been struck by the sun. “I’m good, but not as good as you look. Your trip must have been incredible.” Allie poured them both a cup of coffee. “Oh, it was. You and Dan should go. I’m telling you, it’s a paradise.” Allie started reflecting on her own paradise that had ended right when Tess’s had. Allie forced those thoughts from her mind and slid Tess’s coffee across the counter. They settled on the stools around the island. Allie caught her look across the yard. Marty was still outside doing his lawn. “So, how’s our neighbor?” Her dark button eyes were back on Allie like a hungry detective, yearning for a good bust. “He’s okay.” Allie paused, stirring her coffee, debating how she should play her cards. “He asked me to do a mural for him, so I’ve been busy with that.” “A mural?” Tess leaned on the counter, her hair fanned over her darkened shoulder. “Yeah.” Allie waved her hand, downplaying the task as if it was almost an inconvenience. “He wanted a mountain scene on his living room wall, so I told him I’d do it.”

 

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“Mm, so how’s it looking?” Tess kept staring across the yard at Marty through the window as she spoke to her. “He seems pleased with it,” Allie said. Allie could feel her fingers clench in her lap. Tess was making her nervous, scoping Marty out. Allie noted the uncertainty in her face, second-guessing her decision to ditch him for her swing club crowd. God, she hoped Tess wasn’t rethinking her strategy now that she was back home. “Well, I’ve got to run.” Tess got up and brought her mug up to the sink. She circled the island like a black crow looking for roadkill. “I’ve got a ton of laundry to do, not to mention some catching up. I’ll catch you later.” Tess patted her arm and strutted out of the kitchen. Allie’s coffee was swirling around in her stomach like motor oil, eating through her raw internal tissue. Tess was planning her return visit. Allie could feel it like a pending illness. She dumped the rest of her coffee in the sink and went up to her studio to try and bury her thoughts in her art. It usually worked, but somehow today she didn’t think so. Allie couldn’t eat, so she drank. She was on her third glass of wine when the phone rang. Thinking it was probably Dan, she was elated when she heard Marty’s deep, raspy voice. “Hey, you gorgeous, hot thing.” He laughed, sounding groggy from either a nap or fatigue. “Hey, I’m surprised it’s you.” “I know. It seems silly to call, but we must take precautions because our neighborhood vamp is home.” Allie laughed. Marty’s reference was fitting. “Has she been over to see you?” Allie dreaded his answer. “Oh yeah, she bought me a T-shirt. I told her I was exhausted, so she didn’t stay long. She must be too tired to romp. She’s still home. I didn’t think she got tired.” Marty laughed. “I’m scared,” Allie whispered over the line. “Why, baby?”

 

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“I think she’s having regrets about you. She was over for coffee earlier and watched you work outside the entire time she was here.” Allie sighed, her stomach tipping. “Oh, well, that’s too bad,” Marty said defensively. “Did she ask you anything, you know, about me or you?” “She wanted to see the wall. She did ask me if I’d told you about the swing club.” “She did?” Allie sat up, clutching the phone. “You see.” Allie felt the color drain from her face. “Yeah, I think while she was gone she may have gotten a bit paranoid, thinking that we were gossiping about her.” “Well, see, now that you’re not into it, she feels threatened that you’ll expose her secret. What did you tell her?” Allie stared at her reflection across the room, her mirror reflecting that Tess had the ability to crease her face with lines of worry. “I told her no. I had to, Allie. It’s safer for you,” Marty stressed. “I don’t want you getting in the middle of her secretive lifestyle.” Allie took a breath. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ve got you covered.” “What are you going to do if she decides to pursue you again?” Allie asked, dreading the thought, her body recoiling at the idea. “I don’t want to think about that.” Marty’s tone darkened. “I’m thinking about you and when I can have you again, kiss you, taste you…” “Marty, please. What will you do? You have to think about it!” “What are you saying?” His tone seethed through the line. “She may become suspicious if you all of a sudden start turning her down. You were only turning down the idea of the club, not her.” Allie’s throat burned. An ache spread through her, her mouth unable to form any words. “Am I supposed to keep carrying on with her? Is that what you’re telling me?” Marty’s voice carried over the line, louder, agitated.

 

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“I don’t know.” Her body folded into itself, her emotions and flesh withering, dying from thirst, a thirst that only Marty could quench. “I don’t know if I can do that, Allie.” Allie didn’t think they had a choice, but she didn’t tell him that. **** Allie woke up the next morning sick, having drunk too much, and hung over. She stayed in bed, praying that Tess would leave her alone. The thought of Tess and Marty together made her ill. Allie knew Tess wouldn’t take it kindly if Marty started turning down her advances. No man could turn Tess down. She wasn’t used to that. Allie got no work done. She moped around the house in her nightgown until after two o’clock then finally took a shower. She knew Marty was trying to keep busy. He was in and out of his workshop, sanding furniture and staining. By six Allie was able to eat. When she sat down at the table, she noticed a car in Tess’s driveway, a black Mercedes. She’d never seen this car before. Allie ran upstairs to her studio window to see if she could see anything. Tess’s binoculars hadn’t been used in awhile. She couldn’t see around into the back because of the way the car was parked catty-corner to Tess’s. Allie went back downstairs and tried the window in the living room. Tess had two men over. One was a blonde. He screamed homosexuality. The other was more conservative, dark haired, well built, and sharply dressed. Once it got dark, Tess’s party seemed to get into full swing. Allie heard high-pitched laughter and screaming coming from across the street. Tess had her outdoor fireplace roaring. Tall flames reached into the inky night sky. By nine o’clock Allie decided to go over to Marty’s. Why should she sit home and mope when Tess had two men at her house?

 

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Marty was in his workshop, his lantern lit. Allie crept up to the window, not wanting Tess to see her, though she appeared occupied. Allie couldn’t take any chances. She hadn’t stood near this window since she’d spied on Marty and Tess. It seemed so long ago, with all that had changed, and how the tables had turned. The tall, damp grass brushed her legs. She tapped lightly on the glass. Marty drew back on his cigar. His eyes flashed open for a second, but then softened. He blew the lantern out and waved her around to the front, taking his own precautions. Marty grabbed her wrist, pulling her into their sanctuary, locking the door. He ran his burly hands through her hair. They moved over her body, priming her for him. Marty’s breath was warm and sweet smelling, like the summer night air. Marty pressed her against him, then steered her face to his, his kiss intense. His tongue snaked over hers, their teeth tapping. He gripped the back of her neck, holding her in the kiss. He released her, his warm breath wafting on her lips. “I’m so glad you’re here.” He licked the edges of her mouth. Allie sank her teeth into the salty skin of his shoulder. He drew back a breath. His forceful hand pressed on her ass, his actions telling her he’d been battling the same void. “We have to be careful,” Allie whispered, unzipping his jeans, scouring his body with her hands in the darkness. She lifted her dress, her body tormented until it touched his. His fingers spread her open, his touch intoxicating. He hoisted her up. Allie twined her legs around him, crossing her ankles behind his back. Marty slipped inside her. Her insides tingled at the feel of his internal presence. Her eyes blurred. Marty’s burly hands cradled her ass. Their bodies fitted, moving with a familiarity. It was a synchronized frenzy of sweat, the pleasure of a light abrasion. “Yeah, baby, that’s good, isn’t it?” “Yes.” She pressed him close. Marty shuffled across the floor, his pants still pooling at his ankles. He rested her on the edge of the workbench, fitting her hips to his.

 

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“Tell me how you want it, baby. Hard or soft?” he murmured in her ear. His cock slid deep into her pussy, hitting her internal button. “Oh, God.” Her lungs fought for air. “Hard.” Her answer was barely audible. “Gotta feel you, I’ve missed you.” Moonlight spilled through the window, washing across his features. He smiled, taking her mouth in an aggressive kiss. His tongue curled inside her mouth. His hand clutched her breast, squeezing her flesh. Pain and pleasure braided together, an eroticism that she wasn’t sure she could let go of. She’d had her taste. It was always easier to go without if you didn’t know what you were missing, but now Allie felt possessed by Marty’s lust and desire.

 

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Chapter 16 “You want some?” Marty held up a bottle of wine. “I’ll take a few sips.” Allie tipped the bottle back. The red wine hit her tongue, its taste tart and dry. They stood in the corner of the workshop, near the open window. His hands stroked over her skin. Allie soaked up his touch, never having enough. She reached down, searching the dusty floor for her dress. “Don’t get dressed,” he grumbled. “I have to, just in case, even though our neighbor is occupied.” Allie peered out the window, relieved the Mercedes was still there. “So I see.” Marty stood behind her, pulling her dress up as she was trying to pull it down. It suddenly dawned on Allie how Tess’s little pool party could work to her advantage. Marty could tell Tess that he saw the two men and flat-out refuse to get entangled with any type of group mixer, unsure whether Tess had taken any precautions. “Have you caught a glimpse of her guests?” Allie faced him. “No, have you?” Marty leaned into her, rubbing his scruffy cheek against hers. “I think we may have found your excuse.” Allie pulled away, smiling, running her hand through his wild hair. “Oh, yeah?” Marty was pawing at her, not listening. “Marty, stop. Listen to me.” Allie held his hands. “Okay, I’m sorry.” He hopped up on his workbench and sat, watching her and the window intently. “She has two men over there,” Allie told him.

 

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“I’m surprised there’s only two.” Marty laughed, the wine making him goofy. “One of them is gay, I’m sure of it. He just has that look, you know?” “I know what you’re thinking.” Marty grinned. “I can tell her I took one look at him and now I refuse to touch her.” He pulled her in between his knees. Allie inhaled his earthy scent, resting her head against his chest. “Well, that works, doesn’t it?” She looked up at him, the whites of his eyes glowing in the dark. “Sure, it works for me.” He kissed the top of her head. “Did you ever see her with any gay men at the swing club?” she asked. “Not that I was aware of. Maybe she met these people on her trip.” “Now you have a solid case, right?” Allie smiled. Allie found this to be the best solution to ensure that Marty was hers, and hers alone. She had finally beat Tess at her own game, and won, which Allie found thrilling. “I like it. Boy, is she gonna be pissed, that is if she comes sniffing around.” Marty slid off the workbench. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, sucking and biting her skin, pinching it in between his teeth. “I have to go,” Allie said breathlessly. “Just a minute longer, please.” Allie glanced out the window to check and see if their adversary was still occupied. “Are you coming to work on the mural tomorrow?” Marty asked as his fingers combed through her hair. A shivering tingle encased her scalp, her body on the brink of caving again. “Sure, I’ll be over after I pack up my stuff for work. I have a pickup scheduled.” Allie leaned into him, filling her nose with the scent of him before she had to leave. They heard a car door slam

 

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across the street. Allie spun around, pressing her face into the window. “Looks like they’re packing it in.” Marty leaned over her shoulder, both of them straining to see through the darkness. Tess was leaning over into the black Mercedes while her company buckled up. “Is she nude?” Marty shook his head in disbelief. “I really shouldn’t be surprised, but…is she?” “She’s topless,” Allie said, turning around. “I have to get out of here.” They watched Tess see her guests out, then turn around and glance over at Marty’s, her brown body radiant in the wide berth of the outdoor light. “Jesus, please just go back inside,” she heard Marty murmur over her shoulder. “Hasn’t she had enough?” He sighed. “I’ve never met anyone like her in all my life.” Allie silently prayed that Tess would go back inside. A venomous anger began to escalate inside of her. Hadn’t Tess had enough? Now she wanted to come over here and sink her teeth into Marty. Tess’s hunger was endless. “She’s an animal.” Marty took another swig of wine. Allie couldn’t help but laugh. Marty was finally realizing what Tess really was. “Was she neglected as a child?” Marty asked. “I know nothing about her past. I have to go. I wish she’d just go inside.” Allie’s eyes were glued on Tess. The breath eased from her lungs. Thank God Tess was walking back around to the pool area. Marty grabbed her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nibbled on her lips, making it harder for her to leave. “Come inside, let’s go to my bed.” He moved his hands down to her hips, tightening his grip. “Let’s fuck again, baby.” His hips thrust into hers. “I wanna lick your pussy. I’ll make it so good, baby.” Allie stroked over his scruffy jaw and corded neck. She swallowed hard. His desire ripped through her, his need raw.

 

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“Jesus, Marty,” Allie whispered. Her body trembled. His candidness made her body burn for him. “I can’t.” She shook her head. “It’s too dangerous. I’m sorry. You know I’d love to.” Allie kissed him then darted out the back door of the workshop before she changed her mind. She crept to the edge of the building, peering around the corner, squinting to see across the street into Tess’s driveway. There was a faint light coming from around the back. Allie figured she was cleaning up after her orgy. She fixed her eyes on Tess’s driveway and bolted across the wet grass, slithering up the back deck stairs like the snake she’d become. Dan had called. Allie decided to wait until tomorrow to call him back, unsure of what her excuse would be. She’d been missing his calls lately and wondered if it was raising any suspicion. **** Allie packed her work then called Dan. He was in a meeting all day so she left him a message, going through all the mundane tasks of her routine. She went over to Marty’s around eleven and began painting. She was down at the base of the mountain now, adding in a grassy area of purple wildflowers before she started to work on the river. Moving bodies of water always took her longer. She and Marty were having coffee when Tess knocked on the glass door. Marty was at the counter filling their mugs and hadn’t seen her. Allie cleared her throat loudly several times, trying to get his attention. His mocha eyes rolled as she got up to let Tess in. “Well, well, well, isn’t this a nice and cozy coffee club gathering. Can I join?” Tess brushed by her, moving right into Marty’s path. “Hey, Tess, how’s it going?” Marty’s voice struggled to achieve an enthusiastic tone. “Hi there, Sir Marty.” Tess stepped around him with her hands folded behind her back. “What’s up, Al? Doing your mural, are you?” she asked, giving her a brief sideward glance.

 

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“Yeah, it’s really coming together.” Allie reached to take her cup from Marty. “Tess, would you like coffee?” Marty kept busy at the counter. He was almost ignoring Tess, which concerned her. Marty’s distaste for Tess was very obvious. “Oh, no, thanks. Hey, Marty, I need some help with something.” Tess pulled out a chair and sat down. Allie sipped her coffee, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat. Tess was working hard this morning. Her black miniskirt inched up her lustrous thigh when she crossed her legs. Her burgundy-colored tank top stretched across her braless chest, her nipples pressing through the thin fabric. Allie recalled at one time she would have felt inferior, sitting next to Tess in her mundane, average clothing, but not today. Allie felt powerful and stunning next to her. Her strawberry-blonde hair looked radiant against the yellow, sleeveless blouse and black shorts that she was wearing. Although her confidence didn’t come from her clothing. It came from Marty’s desire for her. Allie knew she was the one he wanted. Allie continued to watch Tess’s efforts move into overdrive. Allie almost felt sorry for her. Allie questioned whether Tess felt like she was losing. Marty was barely giving her the time of day. Contentment flowed through her. Allie knew she had won. If Tess only knew she’d had Marty inside of her more than Tess had. What a fool. “What d’you need, Tess?” Marty played it safe, staying at the counter, drinking his coffee. “I need some cracks repaired in the concrete around my pool area.” She leaned one elbow on the table. “I figured you could help me.” “I can’t pour concrete anymore, Tess, because of my leg.” Marty was polite with his refusal. “No, no, silly.” She shook her head. “I want you to be there when they come to do the estimate, so I don’t get ripped off.”

 

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“Okay, I suppose I can do that.” Allie watched Marty’s eyes dart over to hers quickly then return to Tess. “Great, they’re coming around three.” Tess got up and walked over to Marty and tapped his shoulder. “Thanks, I knew I could count on you. Bye, Al.” Tess turned, glancing back at her. Tess shut the door and stepped off the porch. Allie tried to contain her laughter. Marty walked over to the table and dropped into the chair, resting his head in his hands. “Good God.” He looked over at her, his face weary. Allie diverted her gaze. She didn’t want Tess wedging her way between them. She chose to rise above and keep her comments to herself. “It’s not funny, Allie. Now I have to go over there and worry about being raped.” “Just say no.” Allie shrugged. “Hey, you could come with me.” His eyes brightened. Allie was already shaking her head. “No way. It won’t look right. I’m sorry.” “Can I see you later on tonight?” His hand inched across the table. There was a clattering outside. Allie jerked her hand back so fast that her coffee spilled. Tess was banging on the door. Allie ran for paper towels as the puddle of coffee moved across the table. Marty answered the door. “Hey, Marty, could you please bring a tape measure? They’re going to measure. I want you to double-check it.” Allie hid her face, wiping up the coffee. Her face flamed with heat, her chest tight, wanting to close within itself. “Sure, Tess. I’ll bring the tape measure,” Marty said, his tone exhausted. “Gee, Al. Can’t take you anywhere, can we?” Tess gestured to the spilled coffee.

 

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Chapter 17 “You gotta relax.” Marty’s hand ran down her arm. Her face and neck were on fire, dampness on her brow. “I’m telling you, we have to watch,” Allie bit back through gritted teeth. “It’s fine, really,” Marty reassured her, following her to the trash can. Allie spun to face him. “I can’t take the same chances you can. Let’s not forget that.” Allie glared at him. “I’m fully aware,” he snapped. “Don’t remind me.” He grabbed the wet paper towels out of her hand. “Marty, please…” Allie’s regret over bringing up her relationship with Dan came over her like a wave of sudden sickness. Her stomach twisted into a burning ache. “Don’t talk about that so-called boyfriend of yours, leaving you alone all the time. That’s no partner. I have filled your void. I’ve met your needs.” Marty’s hostile tone sliced through her, his face set. He stepped closer to her, his lips an inch away from hers. The scent of stale coffee hit her lips. His dark stare pinned her, her body unable to move. “I know.” Allie reached for him, glancing back toward the door. “I am filled with you,” she said, her words rushing. “I need you, please.” Her words choked. “Show me, show me just how much.” His eyes wide and unblinking, Marty grabbed her arm, tugging her down the hall to a place in his house she’d never been.

 

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“Marty, we can’t.” The world around them stopped, yet something was spinning out of control. “Why the hell not?” he demanded. Marty’s anger was lashing out at someone—Dan, Tess, or maybe her. “I just don’t want to get caught.” Allie tried to reinforce her reasoning. She could smell and feel his temper. Aggravation spewed out of him, no longer containable. His hands shook. His face gleamed with sweat, his fingers digging into her skin. “Haven’t you been intimidated by people long enough?” his hard voice growled in her ear. “Your boyfriend, Tess, God knows who else,” he sneered. Allie pulled away from him, shock freezing her face, unfamiliar with his tone and words. “Live, for God’s sake, Allie! Let yourself go!” He pushed her into the wall at the end of the hallway, pressing his body into hers. His heat penetrated through her clothing. “God, your neck is gorgeous.” Marty bit into her skin. Searing pain shot through her. His hand moved over her body, clutching her breast, squeezing and twisting, kneading her in his palm. Allie’s eyes widened, her mind scrambling to decipher if this was anger, passion, or dominance. Marty pawed at her. The button on her shorts popped. Marty yanked the material down, the zipper scraping her skin. Allie was immobile, scrambling to work through her thoughts before anything went any further. “Damn it, Allie. Don’t you know what the word ‘yearn’ means? When you want and crave something.” Marty’s hand pushed her blouse up. More buttons popped, threads were unraveling. Marty’s lungs heaved. His breaths were hot and fast, blowing onto her skin, tunneling into her ear. Allie’s body melted, her limbs limp. She knew his frustration. She already owned it but hadn’t allowed it to surface. This was Marty’s inability to deal with their situation, her situation. Allie had been able to bury it fairly well, but Marty had to let loose. She handed herself

 

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over to him, knowing they were better off if she allowed him a release. Marty’s determination and passion cut through her, splintering her apart. In their moment of being consumed by their desires, none of their circumstances mattered, but once the drug of passion wore off, the same issues always remained and were still the same. Marty’s hand was entwined in her hair, strands pulling, pain and pleasure mixing, becoming unrecognizable. His pants were open. He had his cock in his hand. It throbbed in his palm, pulsating with life. “I’m sorry.” He panted in her ear. Sweat ran down his face. His body crumbled into her. His muscles loosened. Marty moved away. “I won’t take you like this.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “It’s not right.” He frowned. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how hard this was for you. I’m being selfish.” Allie reached for him. He leaned into her arms, his heart thundering into her chest. **** Allie watched Marty walk across the street to Tess’s house, measuring tape in hand. She couldn’t reach Dan. After dinner Allie saw Marty walk back from Tess’s, his face hard, lips contorted. He walked into his workshop and slammed the door. Allie was tempted to go over and inquire, but she was exhausted from their emotional episode earlier this afternoon. After three glasses of wine, she went to bed. **** She woke up and rolled over at 1:00 a.m., the glow of the digital clock her faithful companion. A floor board creaked, the whine of a hinge needing oil, the clicking of a door.

 

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Allie lay nude under the sheet. A light breeze blew, the curtain billowing out into the room. Her body lightened. A flutter rippled through her body, radiating outward. Was Marty here? Allie slipped out of bed, her feet sliding across the floorboards. When she walked out into the hall, her eyes pressed through the darkness. At the bottom of the stairs, Dan’s briefcase was resting against the third leg of the coat rack, its regular place of occupancy that had been vacant for so long. Everything that had been revolving around her at an intense, heated speed slowed. How long would he be here? Her bones stiffened. Everything that flowed outward now retracted, pulling inward. Her feet were stuck, sinking, the wood warping beneath her feet. Before she could move his shadow turned the corner, his hand resting on the corner spindle of the banister. “Well, isn’t this a nice way to welcome me home.” Dan’s soft voice rose to meet her as he climbed the stairs. The black, shiny soles of his dress shoes brushed over the wood as he made his ascent. “I didn’t know you were coming.” Allie forced air into her lungs. She was naked and ready for him, but it wasn’t him she wanted, the reality of this exploding in her head. Allie feared his touch, dreading the guilt that would glide over her body with every stroke of his hand. Thoughts of Marty chipped away at her like a chisel against a rock. What would Marty think when he saw Dan’s car? Would he believe her when she told him that she didn’t know he was coming home? “Allie.” Dan’s arms slipped around her. “I’ve missed you. Wow, you look decadent.” Dan lowered his face to her, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. “I didn’t think you were coming.” Her anxious words repeated themselves. She strained to see his face in the shadows. “That was the whole idea.” He chuckled softly. “Let me shower. Go wait for me, and stay the way you are.” He brushed past her, the bathroom door closing.

 

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Allie climbed into bed. She listened to the water running in the bathroom. She tried to relax. Her body needed to be open to receive him. His damp body slid across the sheets next to hers. “Come here.” Dan pulled her on top of him. His hands danced down her skin, resting on the slope of her ass. “How long will you be here?” she asked. His smooth face nuzzled against her. “Only two days.” His answer muffled by her body. “I didn’t think you wanted to deal with the travel.” Dan pulled away from her, his wounded voice pushing through her protective darkness, her curtain of shame. “Aren’t you glad?” His eyes lurked in the shadows, the outline of his face and hair below her. “Of course.” Allie straddled him. She closed her eyes and went through the marital routine of giving and receiving. She reached for a method, a way to get through. In the back of her mind, she found one. Allie could pretend she was Tess, on stage performing for all her club peers, but was that the person she wanted to be? There was better inside of her. She turned off the voices in her head. She put everything into her performance. When Dan’s smooth and slender cock eased into her, reclaiming its place deep inside of her, a battle began to rage. Love and lust collided in her head and in her heart, one determined to fight for the finish. With Dan being gone for so long, Allie knew she could captivate him with her performance. The emotions that once knitted them together were now fading for Allie. She didn’t think he’d miss them during this short visit. Dan’s sensitivity and touch seeped into her pores, tugging at her core, making her fight all the more difficult. Allie caught herself watching their shadows on the wall, acquaintances reunited for a brief moment in time. ****

 

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The next morning Dan slept in. Allie went down and started the coffee. Marty’s workshop door was open. He’d surely seen Dan’s car. Allie ached to talk to him. She would have to stuff herself with the old people-pleasing Allie, never confronting, swallowing whatever was in front of her. Marty walked out of the workshop. She stood in front of the sliding glass door begging for his acknowledgment, a slight gesture, a crumb of reinforcement. His stare met hers across the yard. It was heavy and direct. Her breath caught. She refused to take more air until he did something. Something that told her all was not lost due to this misunderstanding. Marty smiled weakly, licking his lips. He looked over at Dan’s car, his brows pulling together. Allie smiled back, shrugging, still uncertain what he was thinking. Her body unwound. They were still bound by their secrecy, a future unknown, a presence raging within itself. While she choked down breakfast, Dan suggested that they invite Marty and Tess over for dinner. Eating had now become out of the question. Allie hadn’t seen Tess since the day before, her vacant driveway a relief. Allie couldn’t bear the two of them at once, especially now that things between Tess and Marty were strained. Allie eagerly volunteered to walk over and invite Marty. She dressed carefully, selecting a pair of pale-pink shorts, a therapeutic color she would use on a baby shower card, along with a white, sleeveless blouse. Tiny buttons ran in a line down to the rise of her breasts. The workshop door was now closed. Allie stepped across the paving stones ascending onto the porch. She tapped on the glass. She heard water running in the kitchen. Marty came to the door, his dark, moody eyes drinking her in through the glass. He slid the door open. Allie walked past him, turning to meet his stare. “I didn’t know.” She dissected his expression, anticipating his response, wanting him to say he believed her. His face was disgruntled, a complex mess. “He came home last night at 1:00 a.m. I

 

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actually thought it was you sneaking over. I wished it was,” Allie sighed. She looked down at her feet, fresh grass clippings stuck to her manicured, pink toes. “He didn’t call?” Marty’s eyes narrowed, not fully convinced. “No. He said earlier this week that he had to stay. I mean, he’s going back,” she stammered. “It’s just that this was meant to be a surprise.” Allie pulled him away from the door, around the corner into his small, dark laundry room. “How long will he be here?” Marty’s finger ran down the row of buttons on her blouse, the tip of his finger tracing the outline of her nipple. Despite the heat that he ignited, she shivered. “Two days.” Her nipples peaked, pushing against the soft cotton, her body responding to his touch. “I can do two days,” he whispered, grazing her lips with his, a teasing dance. “Dan wants you to come for dinner,” Allie added between breaths, her palm sliding over his housed cock. It bowed beneath the zipper of his jeans. “Jesus Christ, Allie.” His head snapped back, his eyes flashing. “He invited you. What’d you want me to tell him? ‘No, I’m sorry. It’s too awkward ’cause, see, Marty and I are’—” “Enough, Allie. What time?” He pressed her body up against the washing machine, the feel of cool metal against the backs of her thighs. “He said five thirty.” She ground her hips against him, pressing her body into his. “You’re all right with this?” He cocked his head at her. “We’ll be okay. It’s only two days,” Allie reminded him, trying to sound casual. She held her breath, hoping he didn’t ask if she and Dan had had sex. Allie couldn’t deal with dodging the jealous bullet right now.

 

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“No offense, he’s been nice to me, but I’ll be glad to see him go.” Marty’s hand traveled up her blouse. He pawed at her bra, squeezing her breast. A low growl oozed from his mouth.

 

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Chapter 18 Dan had gone out to get beer. Allie worked in the kitchen, sliding on the beef cubes for shish kebabs. She’d made a blueberry pie for dessert. Her nerves had settled. Her being able to be in the same room with Dan and the man she was having an affair with had the feeling of a split personality. She was empowered, and at moments repulsed. She was relieved when Dan pulled in the driveway before Marty came over. As she rinsed out the wine glasses, Dan set the brown bag on the counter then reached for her, squeezing her tight. “It sure is nice to be home.” He leaned over her from behind, licking the edge of her ear, an old behavior of his she’d forgotten. “It’s nice to have you,” she said softly as he rubbed his freshly shaved cheek against hers. “I can’t wait till tonight, when I have you alone. I know exactly how I’m gonna take you.” His hands caressed her back. “I have to admit that last night I was tired, but I’m well rested for tonight.” The stiff ends of his gelled hair tickled the side of her face. Last night’s struggle resurrected itself, gnawing through her, taking hold like a parasite. Allie reached up and took his hand. She swallowed past the sharpedged pain. Part of her was waking up to him, his familiar smell, his light touch. Could a woman want two men? Was she crazy? Allie suddenly felt hopeless. She was so sure that the feelings she had for Dan had receded, that their relationship had gone flat. The anger and pent-up resentment had made it so easy. Having him here, exhibiting all of his warm, soft ways, had her heart turned inside out.

 

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Allie reviewed her thoughts and opinions about Tess. Allie’s previous judgments made her feel like a fraud, but she genuinely cared about people. Her heart was battling a dual attraction, not to mention the affections that she had for them both. This is a mess! Could her heart hold both Dan and Marty? Allie silently argued the angles in her mind. Should she just tell Dan? “Marty won’t overstay his welcome, don’t worry.” She turned around, meeting Dan’s heavy, intimate gaze. His pewter-gray eyes were glazed over, his expression dreamy, full of need. **** Dan carried a tray of hors d’oeuvres over to the wrought iron table. Marty leaned against the railing of the deck. He needed to slow down on the drinking, already having downed two beers in under a half hour. His fingers gripped the empty bottle when Allie emerged from behind the sliding glass door. The pale-mossy-green sundress she had on made everything about her radiate. Her wheat-colored skin glowed. Her eyes popped out at him. Thin straps rested on her curved shoulders. The strands of her hair glowed like a blazing sunset. Marty set the bottle down and grabbed a glass of wine nearby, tossing back half of the burgundy liquid. His tongue rebelled, swelling at the tartness, the taste in his mouth somehow relating to the shaky ground he was fighting to stand on. Dan waved Marty toward the platter of raw vegetables and dip. “Hey, Marty.” Allie closed the door behind them. “Hi, hey, I was telling Dan earlier about the mural.” His eyes immediately reverted back to Dan. “She’s done a great job.” “She’s a fantastic artist.” Dan rested his hand on her shoulder. The tip of his finger caressed her skin. Marty felt the burn in his throat. It spread through his body like a disease he couldn’t cure. “I’d like to see it.” Dan tipped his bottle of beer back.

 

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“Let me take you over. Do you mind, Allie?” Marty avoided her eyes. He couldn’t hold her gaze, afraid of where it might lead, not wanting to look as if he knew her intimately, like a lover. Marty felt her at his back, knowing that Allie was watching them walk across the yard. He wondered how she was holding up. She seemed to be okay, her casualness almost professional. They had dinner out back, the three of them. Marty asked Dan a lot of questions about his profession. It was easier to keep the focus on him. He kept the evening flowing, not allowing for any uncomfortable silences or a shift in conversation. A safe place, not having to choose between lies and the truth. The darker it became, the more of a visual thief Marty became, the dim glow of the citronella candles aiding him. He peeled the layers of her away, looking below the ones for show. Dan excused himself, going into the house. Marty’s lungs pulled in a rush of air, welcoming the breather. He waited for Dan to shut the glass door, having put on the central air earlier. “How dare you torment me with that dress,” he mumbled, grinding his teeth. Just talking about it had his cock rearing its ugly head. “I didn’t mean to,” Allie whispered. Marty gave her a savage look. “Wait until he’s gone. You’re in big trouble.” The door slid open and Dan emerged through the darkness, carrying another tray with pie and coffee. “So where’s our friend Tess these days?” Dan set the tray down, his glance moving between them. Marty shook his head. Tess was the last thing he wanted to talk about. The mere mention of her had the food curdling in his gut. “I guess it didn’t take long for you to get acquainted with our crazy neighbor, huh, Marty?” Dan laughed.

 

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“She has a lot of friends in Readington now,” Allie added. Her eyes flickered at his over the rim of her mug. Marty sipped his coffee, not trusting his words due to the level of liquor in his blood. “No kidding, mm.” Dan started hacking away at his pie. Marty waited, unsure if Allie would inform Dan of Tess’s swing club activities. Dan let the topic die like settling dust. Marty left right after dessert. He’d had all he could take of their charade. He, of course, had to firm up when Allie was going to come over and work on the mural. **** “You’ve done a phenomenal job on his mural.” Dan dried while she washed. “It does look nice, doesn’t it?” Allie turned and put the last pot in the drying rack. “Something else looks quite nice also.” Dan tossed the dish towel on the island and slid his arms around her. Dan’s kiss was slow and unassuming. It sent Allie into a backward spiral, taking her back into their past, the way things were before everything became complicated, before distance grew into a bottomless pit, a pit in which Allie was tired of hearing the echo of her voice in. **** Dan led her upstairs to their bed. Their bodies spun in an emotional revolution of neglected affections. Allie switched her internal gears, yet she wanted to satisfy him. She let him go just deep enough so she wouldn’t miss him once he was gone, no weaning required. Her inner layers would be saved for Marty, he being able to meet her demand for daily nourishment.

 

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“Have you thought about where you’d like to go?” Dan ran his lips up the inside of her thigh, staring up her body. “I’m not sure. Somewhere warm.” She played with his hair. “Mm, that sounds wonderful. Let’s go before Christmas.” His mouth ran across her hip, his lips slow and precise. Allie succumbed to the battle, unable to bury things for too long. Dan’s touch, his gentle nature, it broke through her. He pulled her wide open, her guilt oozing out of her like an infected wound full of pus. Allie turned her head. The heat of her tears fell onto the sheet, a silent confession masked by the darkness in which she could hide. The sooner Dan left, the longer she could run, not facing anything, prolonging the pain for later. As Dan’s body connected to hers, Allie knew that later on would eventually come.

 

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Chapter 19 Allie reclined in bed and watched Dan pack, a familiar routine of filling garment bags and repacking his shaving kit. He sat down on the edge of the bed, partially dressed, shirttails untucked, his tie slung over his shoulder. “I want you to contact your boss.” He stroked her cheek. “Make arrangements to take some time off for our trip. By the end of September, I’ll be done with this mess…” His voice trailed off. “What’s wrong?” Allie noted the discouragement in his voice. “We need to spend more time together.” He kissed her fingers. “Let Vicky know now so we can make plans.” His eyes rested on hers. Allie tried to swallow past the burn in her throat. “Okay, I’ll email her.” Allie sat up and kissed him. Dan pulled her into his arms, his hand smoothing down her back. His arms tightened around her. Allie felt the heavy sigh escape, his chest sinking against hers. “I’ll call you.” He pulled back, gripping her arms. His eyes were a mirror of pain. Was it her pain his eyes were holding? Or did he have a pain of his own? There was something unsettled in them, something she’d never seen before. The panic rose. Maybe he knew. Allie’s insides cramped. Dan stood and zipped up all his bags. She followed him downstairs. They stood in the driveway saying goodbye. Marty was up on a ladder cleaning his gutters. He waved to them, but his stare was pressing, a hawk stalking its prey, observing the behavior between them.

 

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Tess seemed to be missing. Allie found herself concerned about her. The last she’d seen of her was when she came to ask Marty to talk with the concrete contractor. With Dan now gone again, the house had turned back into a quiet structure, housing her, her pain, and her guilt. She was tormented. A part of her wanted Dan to stay, to reel her back into their relationship, where deep down Allie thought she belonged, but Marty? He tugged at her heart, her thirst for him relentless. Was it lust or love, and with which one? She spent the day in her studio. She sent an email to Vicky, making a request to use her vacation time in the fall. Later that evening raised voices lured her to the window. Allie saw that Tess had returned. The racket was coming from Marty’s yard. She snuck out back onto the deck. Tess was in Marty’s workshop. She couldn’t hear his voice, but Tess’s was shrilling across the yard, cracking through the night air like a thrashing whip. Allie could see Tess’s hands through the window, waving through the air in anger right in front of Marty’s face. The door flung open. The force behind it sent it slamming back against the outside of the building. The crunch of Tess’s heels digging into the graveled driveway receded. Allie watched her dark figure stomp across the street, get in her car, and careen out of her driveway, the engine winding out in rebellion. Allie had known this night would come. Marty had said no to Tess, and just as she’d predicted, Tess didn’t take it well. Allie waited about twenty minutes, grabbed a bottle of wine and a beer, and crept across the yard. Marty had the lantern lit on the workbench. A small flame danced on the wall. Allie knocked lightly. She stepped back in case he thought Tess had returned for a second round. The door opened, Marty almost ducking to avoid a physical blow. “Hey,” Allie said, her voice a hushed whisper. “Hey, Allie.” He started laughing. “Get the hell in here, before we both get beat up.”

 

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She slipped through the door, which Marty closed, then quickly locked. “She wanted you to go out, didn’t she?” Allie handed him the cold beer, condensation dripping from her hand. “She wanted me to go out with her and those two guys we’d seen over at her place last week.” He popped the cap off the beer, taking a long pull from the bottle. “Where did she want you to go?” Allie sipped her wine right from the bottle. “Some party.” Marty raked his hand through his hair, his face tense. “One of them is a movie producer.” His eyes darkened, his tone seething. “What sort of movies?” Allie gulped the wine. “I don’t know,” he barked at her. “I want nothing to do with her. She’s a pig.” He drew off his cigar. The ash glowed, a heated red to match his tempered state. He faced her. His eyes melted her, his pupils large and dark. “She called me an old fart.” Marty laughed, his mood lifting with the help of humor. “I don’t like the sound of this movie guy.” Allie leaned into him, eager to feel him, his heat and hands. She’d missed his kiss, his touch, among other things. “Tess is a big girl, Allie. Come here.” He steered her closer. Allie buried her face in his hair, breathing in his woodsy sweetness. “You looked absolutely beautiful last night.” He twisted a few strands of her hair around his finger. “That dress you wore made me want to strip you and fuck you senseless.” He cradled the back of her head. His thick fingers slid down, clenching her ass. His hands roamed, reacquainting himself with all the parts of her he’d missed. Allie woke up to his touch. Desperation surged. She pulled the Tshirt over his head, feeling his lightly furred chest. She licked the tangy, gritty sweat off his skin. Her teeth scored over the skin of his shoulder. She plucked each nipple, delighting in the way his breath

 

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caught. His chest rose, his heart thundering under her tongue. The thirst they both craved, and had gone without, had them both dehydrated. The last few days had been hard for Marty, his needs more vocal than they’d ever been. “I gotta have your mouth on me, sugar, please, I’m begging,” he said, his breaths a thermal wind in her hair. Allie lowered to her knees. Marty’s thick cock leapt out at her, the head crying with need. She leaned forward on her hands, taking him into her mouth. She drew him in. His cock was hot, damp, smelling of forbidden places. Her lips worked over him, her tongue lashing under the shaft. Marty’s hips bucked, the reflexes of his hard body firing. He took her head in his hands, his words a panted rush. “Christ almighty, Allie.” His thighs flexed against her face. She felt his cock harden more. Marty released a choking gasp. Allie glanced up at him, his face contorted. He moaned through clenched teeth. “Oh God.” His body shuddered. “So good, baby.” Allie felt her lips curve around him, pleased that she’d provided him such intense pleasure. Her mouth flooded with him, his taste becoming her. **** As Allie got dressed, shaking the fine wood shavings from her clothes, they noticed a car pulling into Tess’s driveway. Moving beams of the headlights soared across the wall of the workshop. Marty bolted to the window, his pants unzipped, clinging to his hips. “Is she home?” Allie struggled back into her clothes, panic crushing her chest. “Oh yeah, she’s home. Come check this out.” Marty waved at her frantically to come to the window. It was the two men with the black Mercedes. They were unloading the trunk as Tess pulled in behind them. She parked her car alongside the Mercedes then got out. Marty and Allie stood at the window,

 

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peering out into the darkness, trying to see them under the glowing circle of Tess’s outdoor floodlight. The two men were pulling black cases out of the trunk, along with large lights and rods with tripods on the bottom. “I don’t like this.” Allie’s anxiety mounting, she faced Marty, his profile a stunned silhouette in the dark. “They’re gonna make a film over there. That’s what they’re doing.” His brows rose. “Marty, I really don’t like this.” Allie felt antsy. Her skin crawled, a mixture of uncertainty and fear. “Our girl Tess is doing porno, I bet,” Marty said grimly. “Marty, we have to do something.” Allie gripped his shoulder. “Do what?” His face stiffened. “Just like I said, she’s a big girl. They probably needed another guy. That’s why she came over here, trying to recruit me into her dirty operation.” Marty shook his head and stepped away from the window, disgust coating his face. “Oh, my God.” Allie kneaded her eyes. “I don’t believe this is happening.” “Man, this is some neighborhood I moved into.” He chuckled. “No wonder this house was empty for so long.” He grabbed the wine, draining the bottle of its warm, sour liquid. Allie’s face was glued to the window, her eyes fixed on the two men. Tess had gone inside, leaving them to their equipment. The last item to come out of the trunk was the most incriminating. A camera. A very large camera.

 

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Chapter 20 Allie spent the next few days watching Tess’s house. From the way things looked through the binoculars, the blond man was definitely gay, she just knew it. The dark-haired man appeared to be your average business type wearing an expensive suit. The blond was spending a lot of time sunning himself by the pool in his skimpy, red Speedo. The dark-haired man was coming and going much of the time. Allie assumed he had a primary job that he worked during the day. After three days of spying on them, Allie toyed with the idea of paying Tess a visit. Allie drew the conclusion that Tess thought she was just plain stupid. Didn’t she think that Allie would notice this activity going on? **** “She doesn’t think you’ll go over there, that’s what it is.” Marty sipped his coffee, checking her expression, his tone cranky. Allie had his mural just about done. She was rinsing her brushes in the sink. “She doesn’t think you’re stupid,” Marty debated. “She just thinks you’re too timid, that’s all.” Marty closed the space between them, pressing his pelvis into her from behind, grinding her body into the counter. “Hey, it works for us, let it be.” He spun her around, gripping her chin. His lips mashed into hers, his kiss hard and hot. It shattered her into a million pieces, pieces she wasn’t sure she’d be able to put back together.

 

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Marty eased off from the kiss. Allie spoke through his parted lips. “You don’t think I should go check on her?” Marty shook his head. “You need to come and check on me.” He moaned, rubbing his cheek against hers. A warm breeze blew through the kitchen. The wind chimes out on the porch brushed together, releasing a deep baritone clamor. He pulled her closer. Allie gazed through the window over at Tess’s house. Part of her was scared for Tess. Allie had a nagging feeling that this time she was in way over her head. “Well, I should go.” Allie turned and laid the brushes in the drainboard. “I need to do some work at home.” Marty’s eyes widened suggestively. “I’ll see you later.” “What does that mean?” Allie wiped her hands on the dish towel. Marty had a seductive look, one that told her that he was in the mood to break the rules. “Nothing.” He shrugged. The corners of his mouth curved into a subtle grin, brushing off their exchange. **** Allie walked back home carrying her paints, her mission looking legitimate. After lunch she went up to the studio. She looked out the window at Tess’s one more time. The reality of what was going on moved through her body like a virus. All Tess’s blinds were pulled down, the pool area barren. The black Mercedes had returned. Allie collapsed on the love seat, easing into a restful sleep. Her body jolted, awakening to the cushions sagging beneath her. She opened her eyes, glancing around quickly, her eyes trying to focus at a moment’s notice. Marty was sitting on the edge of the love seat, smiling. “What are you doing here!” Her eyes flew open as she struggled to sit up. “Shhh.” He placed his fingers over her lips.

 

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Allie looked toward the door and noticed he had removed his boots, leaving them near the threshold. “This is not good. It’s too risky.” Allie fought to get up. “Oh no, you’re gonna stay right there.” He began to work the buttons on her blouse. “I’m going to undress you in this beautiful ray of sunlight.” He gestured to the window. “And admire your immaculate body in the glow of the afternoon sun.” The idea of her sneaking behind Dan’s back in her own home had Allie’s guilt swelling, but the look on Marty’s face had her entranced. His round eyes pleaded, his voice slurred with seduction. She felt herself falling, drowning in the spell. She ached for the weight of him. He eased the fabric of her blouse away. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Her breasts were revealed to his hungry gaze. Her body reached for him, wanting to absorb him. “You’re magnificent,” he spoke softly. “Fuck,” he growled. “I have to have you. You’ve got me all hot and crazy.” He tugged at her shorts. “Stretch out for me, doll. Let me do wicked things to you.” Material slipped from their bodies. Allie waited for him, her legs splayed apart like a tired worker who’s been on her feet all day. The sun poured through the skylight, warming her body. Marty gently tugged her hand, motioning her to the rocking chair. “Sit here, baby, and I’ll make it worth your while.” Allie sat in the chair. Marty gently spread her legs, draping them over each arm. Allie allowed him to move her limbs, her body drugged with desire. The cool slats of the chair adhered to her heated skin. She was open and vulnerable to him. She reached for him, stroking along his jaw to his strong neck. Marty dropped to his knees and leaned into her, his kiss firm. His mouth slipped over her neck, lowering to her breast. His mouth latched onto her nipple, pulling and tugging. He possessed her with affectionate pain, his hands gripping her hips, his thumbs digging into her flesh. She felt the air move around them. Her pussy burned, needing his tongue and touch. Marty lifted

 

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her arms, wrapping her fingers around the top of the chair. His wiry cheeks scraped over her skin, his mouth hovering over her pussy. The knitted bones of Allie’s spine ground into the slats of the chair. Marty’s body pressed into hers, a chaos of desire. Marty lifted his gaze. Lust lit his features. His dark eyes glowed like a ravenous animal. “This is all I’ve been thinking about,” he said, his voice raspy. He kissed her pussy. His tongue feathered through her. “Jesus,” Allie gasped. Her hips thrust forward, meeting his eager mouth. Her body ascended. She was floating, drifting into another place. Her legs twitched with every rhythmic stroke of his tongue. “Allie.” A voice rang out, soaring through the air. Her ears rang with familiarity. The front door slammed, yanking Allie out the quicksand that was pulling her under, an erotic escape that had blacked out the rest of the world. “Allie, you up there?” Tess’s intrusion reverberated up the stairwell. Allie catapulted off the chair, pushing Marty away. His jaw hung in shock, his naked body paralyzed. Allie frantically waved him into the bathroom, scooping up his clothes, pushing him through the door. She heard Tess’s slingbacks clank against the stairs. Thank God she was wearing shoes so Allie could pace her steps. Allie fought with her blouse, feeding her feet through her shorts in a panicked frenzy. Right when Allie thought she’d pulled it off, she saw Marty’s work boots near the doorway. She darted to the door, kicking the boots into the corner under her drafting table. She could see the top of Tess’s head as she ascended the stairs. Allie tried to slow her breathing, sounding like a marathon runner who’d just made it to the finish line. “Hey, I didn’t hear you come in.” Allie ambled out into the hallway to intercept her. “What’s up?” Allie reached back, feeling that her hair was a tangled mess. “Are you all right?” Tess’s dark eyes roamed over her in question.

 

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“Yeah, I was just snoozing. That time of the month, you know. Feeling a bit tired is all.” Allie folded her arms across her chest, digging her nails into her own skin. Tess had on a dark-green minidress. She was more dressed than usual for just hanging out at home. “Well, I’m sorry you’re not on the up and up. I don’t want to keep you, but do you think I could borrow some paint?” Tess set her hand on her hip, her full lips formed in a desirable pout. “Sure, what kind and color do you need?” Allie turned to walk back into the studio. Her eyes lunged toward the bathroom door, knowing Marty was in there. Her head throbbed. A light, dewy sweat formed over her brow. “I know it should be oil based and I was interested in red and white, if that’s possible,” Tess said, following Allie to her work table. Rattled nerves short-circuited all through her body, making her limbs twitch. Allie’s fingers were wired and shaking as she sifted through her paint rack, handing Tess two bottles of each, wanting to ensure she had an ample supply to avoid any possible return visit. “Thanks, Al.” Tess grabbed the paints and headed toward the door. “How’ve you been?” Allie was unsure if she should inquire about Mr. Mercedes. “Great, things are great.” Tess smiled. Her white teeth sparkled against her deeply tanned face. Allie noticed her eyes were heavily made up. It looked like things were cooking with the camera. Questions raged in Allie’s head, but she figured the less she knew, the better. “Hope you feel better, Al.” Tess bolted down the stairs, her hair swinging across her back. Allie stood at the landing until she heard the door close behind her. She ran down the hall into her bedroom and watched Tess cross the street. As she headed back into the studio, her carelessness stopped her dead in her tracks. Marty’s work boots under her work

 

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table jumped out at her like an assailant would from a dark alley. The bathroom door opened slowly, Marty’s neck craning around into the room. His pants were back on, his shirt draped over his shoulder. “So what d’you think they’re going to do with that paint? Smear it all over her body?” “Who the fuck cares.” Allie dropped down into the love seat. Her head sank into her hands. Her stomach was churning, its acid inching its way up her throat. Its burn would be brutal, her palate numb to flavors. “We’re okay. You did a great job.” Marty crept across the floor like a cautious cat. “I think she may have seen your boots.” Allie looked up at him. Her eyes welled, his face blurry. This whole thing was becoming too stressful. She wasn’t sure if she could cope with it anymore. “Nah, I doubt it. She was on a mission. Her sex-crazed porno friends were waiting for their paint.” Marty sat down. He stroked her leg, trying to reassure her. Allie stared into his sleepy eyes. She couldn’t say the words. She was too traumatized, but she’d hit the end of the line. “I hope so.” She flung her hands into the air. “All we can do is hope.” “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here, it was a bad move.” Marty’s hand smoothed down her back.

 

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Chapter 21 The weight of her affair with Marty began to take its toll. Allie’s guilt became a terminal disease, constantly growing, eating away at her. Everything looked different because she was different. She had changed. In the beginning this change had empowered her. Now all she felt was defeated, run over, and washed up. Marty had a strong intuition, unlike most men. He kept his distance, sensing that something was wrong, but not knowing what to do to help. The fact that their indiscretions had almost gotten them caught seemed to have Marty running scared. Tess had come over for lunch a few days later, prowling around like a ravenous tigress, sniffing Allie out. The sight of Marty’s boots continued to haunt her. Allie felt uneasy around her now. Much to Allie’s surprise, Tess did bring up her new friends, saying she was now involved in a production company. Allie had sat in front of her food, feeling sickened by her. Allie was disgusted with herself and their small, perverse neighborhood. Dan was calling more. Allie tried to sound upbeat, but she knew he wasn’t convinced. Every time he called he would tell her how many more days were left until he could come home. Counting down the days of his business away was uncharacteristic for him, sounding bells of alarm. **** One night after almost two weeks of having no contact with Marty, Allie went slinking over to his workshop. The light was on

 

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inside and once again her temptation had overruled any logical reasoning. He was sanding a small end table, filling his empty time with his creative talents. “How’ve you been?” He tossed the sandpaper on the workbench, his eyes narrowed. His bitter tone scratched over her like the sandpaper he used. “Not that great.” She played with the fine wood shavings on the bench. “Well, at least both of us are suffering. Wouldn’t be fair if it was only me,” he huffed. His words were sharp and cruel. They cut through her, her layered emotions tearing open. Her eyes filled. She wiped the tears from her face before they fell. “I feel like shit all the time. This hasn’t been easy for me.” Allie stared at him, wanting to know his side. How did he feel? Was it different for him? Did he expect more? Or didn’t he care? His eyes lit into her with a glazed-over anger. The silence was turning them into strangers, stealing their intimacy and replacing it with awkwardness. “I don’t know if I can end things with Dan, Marty.” Allie choked on her words, her throat raw. “Who asked you to?” he said coldly. He moved closer, his agitated breath on her face. His attitude reeked of anger. Resentment smoldered off of him, the air between them thick and rippling. Was she just his fuck partner, the loose chick next door? Allie’s hands shook. She turned, trying to leave. “No.” Marty grabbed her wrist. Allie’s skin twisted in his grasp, a searing burn. “Listen, Allie, I’m sorry.” Marty kneaded his eyes, trying to erase the painful ache that Allie could see. He took her hand and led her away from the window. He dimmed the lantern, his gaze warm and needful. “I can’t let myself love you. Don’t you understand?” His words pained her. What Allie thought was only a mutual attraction appeared

 

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to have evolved into something else entirely, and for both of them. She’d struggled with it, but had buried her thoughts. Marty’s confession changed everything. His eyes explored hers, darting back and forth. “It’s not safe for me because I don’t know where you stand with Dan.” He reached out to her, touching her hair. “I can’t allow myself to become rejected by you. I just can’t.” He released a breath. “All I wanted was togetherness on a daily basis, a normal routine. I couldn’t seem to have that with Dan.” Allie’s chest tightened. “I just want to function in the same space, content with the other’s presence. I need more.” She looked away, afraid of the pain her honesty would cause. Marty slipped his arms around her. “I understand you, but you need to tell this to him. Dan isn’t a bad guy, Allie.” He kissed her temple. “I just think he’s a little misguided, that’s all.” “I know. Maybe I never stressed my point enough.” She rested her head on his shoulder. She was torn, wishing she could instill parts of Marty into Dan. Her body froze over, realizing she sounded like Tess, wanting it all. “It would be so easy for me to love you. Don’t you understand?” He tipped her chin, demanding she acknowledge his feelings. “I had to step back because I was getting too close.” “Don’t you think that I have any feelings for you?” Allie wavered, wanting to know, but realizing it was probably better if she didn’t. It only added to the confusion. “You think I’m just like her now,” she bit back, pointing across the street. “Never!” His tone rose, echoing off the walls. “Don’t you ever say that again because that makes me sick!” His grip tightened. “You are way above her.” He glared at her. “I’m sorry.” Allie pinched back her tears. “I do have feelings for you.” Allie lowered her head, her hot tears falling on the dirty floor. “Let’s express those feelings one more time.” Marty’s hand slipped under her blouse. The tips of his fingers danced over her breast. “Once more,” he begged. His husky voice pulled her in. A

 

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low, throaty moan laced with a deep, dark need. “Then I promise I’ll never touch you again.” His eyes were shiny, filled with misery. Marty slowly removed her clothes, her skin bathed with warmth. His hands glided over her, her body demanding his touch, a rhythm they’d both grown accustomed to. Marty slowly took his clothes off, his eyes scorching hers. Allie wanted to burn his naked image into her mind. Marty picked her up and carried her to the rear of the workshop, kicking the back door open. He eased her down. Damp blades of grass tickled her back. Marty stared down into her, his eyes haunted with pain. Behind his workshop they scrambled to get their fill, the sky a black dome. Stars glittered like scattered pieces of quartz. He positioned her body, wanting her his way. Allie allowed it, knowing it was their swan song. His fingers feathered over her cheek. Air escaped from between his lips in a harsh wheeze. His cock stood at full attention, pleading for her touch, her mouth. Allie tried to sit up, wanting to taste him one last time. Marty eased her back. He licked her neck, tracing over her collarbone. His lips drew in on her nipple. He pressed his face into her mound of flesh. Her eyes fluttered closed, savoring him. Marty’s soft moans purred against her breast. Cool night air rushed over her body as he leaned back on his heels. His muscular thigh parted hers. Marty lifted one of her feet. His tongue grazed over the arch of her foot. Allie shuddered. Her pussy hummed, needing him inside of her, wanting him to own the empty space inside her one last time. Allie hooked her arms underneath her knees. She spread herself open for him, her words a breathy whine. “Marty, please…” His cock dove inside her. Marty forced his body into hers, as far as he could go, their heat mounting. The tension stretched between them. Heavy breaths filled the night air. Allie seized the moment, pushing the fear of the aftermath away. He held her face while his lips took hers. His tongue darted at hers, soaking the insides of her mouth

 

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with his taste. He pulled back, taking his cock and sliding it over her pussy, teasing, pushing her to the limit. “This’ll be the best baby.” His voice was rough, edged with angst. It scraped over her as his cock dove into her again, his pace erratic. “Ah, God.” Allie arched into him, exhaling as Marty pushed in deeper and deeper. Their hips joined, pressing. Their bodies worked together, sliding and sticking as sweet sweat oozed from their pores and rose into the air. Her body burned. Allie soaked him up, feasting on his delicious body one final time. The feel of his hands and mouth had her soaring. They were gliding now. The way his body internally connected with hers would soon become a lustful memory she hoped she could escape from. His strained and whispered words echoed in her ear. “Talk to Dan, Allie. If I can’t have you, at least he can.” **** The next morning Allie sat in the kitchen having coffee, feeling at ease with herself, a feeling she hadn’t had in awhile. Marty explained his reasons for having to step back, and he knew hers for having to end their physical involvement. While doing the dishes, a horrifying image filled the kitchen window over the sink. Tess was walking down the driveway to get her mail. Her body swayed. Her steps were uncoordinated. Her white, silk bathrobe flapped open carelessly. Allie wondered if she was drunk, but at this hour of the morning? Allie ran for the binoculars. Her hands shook, the view through the lens a jiggling blur. Her jaw dropped. Tess’s hair looked like burnt straw, and her skin was pasty. Allie tried to see into her eyes, her lids sagging over a sea of red. All the calm she’d recently welcomed turned into knotted tension. Her blood turned cold as it ran through her. These men were at the bottom of this. They were trouble. They had Tess on some kind of

 

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drug, Allie was convinced of it. Allie watched Tess grab the mailbox as she lost her footing to turn around and walk back toward the house. Someone opened the door. An arm reached around, pulling Tess inside. Allie couldn’t see which creep it was. She didn’t know what to do. Should she call the police? Should she go tell Marty? After last night’s grand finale she didn’t want to go running over there, but Tess’s life may be at stake. Suddenly Allie had a feeling she’d never felt in her tiny, rural neighborhood. She was petrified.

 

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Chapter 22 Allie’s stomach had returned to its churning, wretched self, her serene demeanor short-lived. She became obsessed with watching Tess’s house. The black Mercedes had left and Blondie was out back baking in the sun. There was no sign of Tess. Later that afternoon, Allie was out in the greenhouse. Marty had come out and began hosing off his truck. At first he initially thought she’d just given him a friendly wave, a peace offering of sorts, but Allie kept waving at him, her hand moving through the air impatiently. He cocked his head, staring at her. Marty turned off the hose, walked across the yard, and stepped into the greenhouse. “Wow, how come we never hung out in here?” He pouted. “All this moist heat would’ve turned me into wild man.” He laughed, trying to remain light with their recent arrangement. “Listen.” Allie dismissed his comment. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really concerned about what’s going on over at Tess’s.” “Allie, I’ve told you before—” She cut him off. “Marty, I saw her, and something’s really wrong.” Allie gave Marty all the details about the way Tess looked when she’d seen her outside trying to get her mail. “She looks like she’s been beaten up. She was barely able to function. I think she’s using drugs, or they’re drugging her.” Allie’s voice rang with anxiousness. Marty walked toward the back of the greenhouse and looked across the street, his face tight with concern.

 

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“Do you want me to go over there? Even though she’s angry at me now because I turned her down?” He turned and looked at her, his brow raised. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to provoke them—they may target you.” Allie set the watering can down. “We don’t know who these people are or what they’re capable of.” Allie stood alongside of him. Marty faced her. Allie could feel the pull. His cocoa-brown eyes pulled her in. Marty’s heated gaze had her insides crying. Allie felt his struggle, just as she was feeling her own. “The only way I think we could call the police while still keeping ourselves anonymous is if I were to go into town and call from there. Then they couldn’t trace the call back to us.” He turned and glanced over at Tess’s house again. “You want me to do that?” His brows arched. Allie didn’t want to become a nuisance, but something was nagging at her. “How many times did you see her all disheveled?” Marty moved closer to her, but then shoved his hands in his pockets, as if to refrain from touching her. “Only once,” Allie told him. “Maybe I should wait and see if it happens again.” Allie diverted his eyes. Sweat beads formed on his browned skin, the heat in the greenhouse smothering them. “Yeah, why don’t we do that?” Marty said, looking relieved. “Okay, thanks. I’m sorry. I know I’m annoying you with this.” Allie had to get out of the greenhouse, she needed air. Marty followed her outside. “You’re a kind person who cares about others. Don’t ever apologize for that.” He shook his head, scowling at her. “She doesn’t deserve to have a friend like you.” He walked back over into his yard. ****

 

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In the days that followed, Allie worked. Vicky had approved her leave, saying that she didn’t care if Allie disappeared for several weeks as long as her holiday line was complete. Several nights later Allie awoke to screaming across the street. She rolled over, fumbling for the binoculars. The glass of wine she’d left on the nightstand fell, shattering. Tiny fragments of glass glowed on the floor like jewels. Perched at the windowsill, Allie could see her neighborhood clan across the street out in Tess’s driveway. The light illuminated her view, a battle of three. Tess was screaming at the two men, demanding money that they owed her. Allie sucked in her breath when she saw the dark-haired man grab Tess around the throat. Her eyes glowed like an owl, rounded and wide with fear, a feeling Allie had never seen exhibited in Tess. Tess got quiet. The man released her, pushing her backward. Tess struggled for stable footing then ran toward the car, pounding her fist on the windshield. Blondie slammed the trunk and motioned for the other man to get in the car. They backed out aggressively. With a screech of the tires they were gone. It’s a wrap, Allie thought. She stifled her laughter, because deep down she was relieved they were gone. Maybe things could get back to normal. That’s what Allie wanted, a sense of normalcy. **** By the end of the week, Tess was knocking on her door. She was sharply dressed. An ivory linen pantsuit fitted to her body perfectly, her dark-olive skin rich and alluring. Tess handed Allie her house keys. Allie fingered them in her hand while she waited for instructions.

 

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“I have to leave again for awhile, would you mind?” Tess’s eyes rested on hers, probing, as an arched brow rose. A dark aura of suspicion hung over her. “No, I’ll keep an eye on things.” Allie pocketed the keys. “Is everything all right?” she asked cautiously. Tess’s eyes were clawing into her, her stare hard, incriminating. A slight gnawing sensation began working its way from the inside out. Allie swallowed, jingling the keys in her hand. “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll know very soon, thanks.” Tess stepped off the porch then turned to face her. “When’s Dan coming home?” Tess raised her hand against the sun, her eyes slinking over her. “Soon,” Allie said, her mouth suddenly parched. Tess sauntered down the steps and got into her car, ending the last cordial conversation they would have. **** Allie wanted to be a big girl and not call on Marty, but something wasn’t right. Tess was off-kilter. The meek voice in Allie’s head became very loud. Tess knew, she knew about them. Tess’s behavior scared her. Someone whom Allie once considered to be a friend suddenly felt like a threat. Marty wasn’t in his workshop. Allie waited until she couldn’t wait anymore and ran over to his house. He must’ve been in another part of the house. It took him so long to answer the door. “Allie, are you all right?” He ushered her in, noting the apprehension that coated her face like a rash. “Tess was over.” Her voice breaking. “Sit, sit down, I’ll make coffee.” Marty pulled out a chair. “What happened?” He glanced at her worriedly while scooping the grounds into the basket. “Something’s not right with her.” Allie rubbed her neck. “I think she knows, you know, about us,” her voice trailed off. “I’m afraid.

 

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Being rejected by you isn’t working for her. I think she’s dangerous.” Allie’s eyes burned. She fought with her emotions, trying to keep them from spilling over, needing more control. It was when people got careless that they made mistakes. She needed to keep it together.

 

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Chapter 23 “She gave you her house keys?” Marty eyed her over the rim of his cup. “I have them right here.” Allie removed them from her pocket and set them down in the middle of the table. They both stared at them as if they were a toxic substance. “Tomorrow we’re going over there to take a look around,” Marty informed her, his tone hard. “Do you think that’s a wise idea?” Allie sat on her hands, the coffee not sitting well in her stomach. “Allie, it’s the only way we’re going to get any answers. We both know she’s a bit unstable, but look at you, you’re a wreck. We’re going over there. I won’t touch anything. I just want to take a look.” He reached across the table and patted her hand. She told Marty she had to go. Allie was trying to ignore the energy that was swarming around, buzzing in her head like locusts. **** The next day Allie packaged all her drawings and graphics for pickup. She went on the computer to research some vacation spots for her and Dan. At 4:00 p.m. Marty called and told her to walk across first and wait for him in the back near the pool. Allie slipped on her sandals and made her way over to Tess’s. She circled around back and opened the gate, sitting down on a lounge chair to wait for Marty. She heard him pull the latch on the gate. Allie walked toward the back door, sifting through the keys on the ring. The third key she tried

 

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slipped in the lock. Allie pushed the door open with Marty behind her. They walked inside to the back entrance of the kitchen. The brightwhite tiled floor and milky cabinets gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. A small table and two wrought iron chairs were jutted up against the wall. To the left Tess had a beautiful contemporary dining room. High-back chairs in a dark cherrywood stood at attention around a massive, heavy table. The cream-colored draperies were closed. A dark, gloomy hue hung over the room. “You have to take those boots off.” Allie pointed to Marty’s feet, his soles caked with dry chunks of mud. Marty went back outside. When Allie turned the corner into the living room, she was bombarded with the reality of their theory. The dark-brown leather sectional was torn apart and stacked up against the wall. There was a king-sized bed sitting in the middle of the room. Black sheets hung over all the windows. Tiny cracks of late-day sunlight seeped through. Yellow bars of heat lay on the ivory carpeting. In the corner of the room, was a garment rack full of various styles of costumes. Allie’s eyes grazed over a white body stocking, a sequined teddy, and garter belts and hosiery in every color imaginable. “Allie?” Marty’s voice cut through her silent, stunned state. “I’m in here,” she called out to him. Allie almost touched the clothing but quickly caught herself, her hand pulling back. “Holy shit!” Marty’s eyes sprang open. “I knew it. I knew it,” he chuckled. “They were making skin films in here.” He shook his head, padding around the room. Allie turned to head up the stairs, Marty at her heels. Allie decided at this point she was only going to go into the master bedroom. Her bare feet sank into the thick-pile carpet as she ascended. She turned the corner on the landing, seeing into Tess’s bedroom. “How many times have you been in here?” Marty asked, his voice slightly above a whisper. “Dan and I were here once, but we never made it past the kitchen.”

 

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Tess’s room was dark. Heavy plum draperies cast a purplish glow on the walls. There was another massive, unmade bed, the covers a twisted mess. Allie’s eyes landed on the nightstand. There were three prescription bottles sitting near the clock. She bent over, trying to read them, not wanting to touch anything. One bottle was full of sleeping pills, another, a painkiller. The third was a drug she wasn’t familiar with. Marty was over near her dressing table. “Hey,” he called softly, waving her over. “Look at this.” He pointed to an open cosmetic mirror. Allie squinted through the limited light. Marty took a piece of paper out of his pocket, licked the corner, and lightly dipped it into a small pile of white powder and ran it over his tongue. “I think this is cocaine.” He turned to her, his face lifted in surprise. Allie shook her head. How had Tess’s life come to this? The films, and the drugs. Why? It seemed her appetite for self-satisfaction had grown into a massive, uncontrollable hunger. She just couldn’t get to the point of being content, fulfilled. Allie had seen enough. Allie started to make her way downstairs when something caught her eye hanging from the upper corner of Tess’s dressing table mirror. All the life and energy drained out of her body. Allie’s horrified expression reflected back at her, a sick mockery. “Oh my God!” she screamed. “What’s wrong?” Marty pushed past her. Both of them stood and stared at a pair of Allie’s panties, light blue, trimmed in lace. They were hanging from Tess’s mirror. Allie grabbed Marty’s shoulder, her nails digging. “I told you she knew.” Saliva flew from her mouth. Her body shuddered. Allie screamed. Her cries of frustration bounced off the walls. The cold reality of it all plowed through her veins, poking her like icy needles. Her cries reverberated through the empty house. “I’m done.” Allie turned to flee toward the stairs.

 

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Marty grabbed her arm, his fingers squeezing into her flesh, twisting it. “Stop it, Allie.” Marty’s angered words overpowered her, stopping Allie dead in her tracks. Allie faced him, her face a hysterical mess. “Are you sure these are yours?” His words were hushed. Marty stroked her arm. “We gotta stay calm.” Allie nodded slowly. “Dan brought them back from Paris. They’re one of a kind.” Allie wiped her face, a salty, sweaty mask. “How did she get them?” “I must’ve left them in your workshop.” Allie chewed the inside of her cheek. Salted blood coated her tongue. “Jesus Christ, she’s a sick bitch.” Marty dug the heels of his hands into his eyes. “I have to get out of here.” Allie turned on her heels to leave, her head spinning. In her periphery she saw Marty reaching up to take the panties down. “No,” Allie yelled, clawing his arm. “She’ll know I know. Leave them.” Allie careened down the stairs, the walls closing in. Everything she stood for was being swallowed by Tess’s jealous rage. The thought of Marty choosing Allie over her had provoked Tess to want to destroy her, revenge being as stimulating as a drug for her. Allie turned the corner into the kitchen when she spotted two men outside the window over the kitchen sink, the dark-haired man and the blond. Allie spun around, slamming into Marty’s chest. “They’re here.” Allie shoved Marty. The force of her hands on his chest had him stumbling back. “What, who’s here?” His eyes widened in alarm, his brow furrowed in confusion. Allie yanked his hand, pulling him back toward the stairwell. She bolted up the stairs two at a time, her thigh muscles burning in

 

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rebellion. She darted into Tess’s bedroom and ran for the closet, pulling Marty in behind her, closing the door quietly. “Allie?” Marty pawed at her arm. Allie placed her fingers over her lips. She pulled Tess’s garments apart, weaving her way to the back corner of the walk-in closet. She and Marty crouched down in the corner, their breathing labored, filling the darkened silence. They listened to gruff voices as they grew closer, rounding the corner of the landing and ascending up to Tess’s bedroom. Marty’s eyes stared at her, two dark reflectors of fear. He reached for her hand, squeezing her fingers. Allie looked at his face mixing in with the shadows of Tess’s clothing, then sank her head in her hands. It was then that she saw his stockinged feet. Her heart fell. The confined air of the closet covered them like a thick, weighted blanket. His damn boots again. Allie didn’t bring this to his attention. The men were in Tess’s room now. They were rummaging through her things. Drawers opened and closed. Cosmetic bottles clinked together as they were tipped over. Allie heard one of the men murmur something about an address book. She said a prayer in silence that they wouldn’t open the closet. Another man’s voice broke through, saying they were wasting their time. Allie listened to hear their feet brush across the carpeting, the sound of their steps receding back toward the stairwell. Marty went to get up. Allie placed her arm across his chest. When the room was quiet, she opened the door a crack. The kitchen door slammed downstairs. Marty released a weighted breath, sagging back against the wall. They emerged from the closet. Marty leaned into the window, pulling the drapery back. He waved her over then pointed to the black Mercedes tearing out of the driveway. “She’s fucking screwed.” Marty shook his head. “She did something to piss them off, that’s for sure. Maybe this could work in my favor.” Marty examined her face, looking puzzled. “This

 

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dilemma of hers just may take her focus off of us,” Allie explained. “We’ve drawn too much of her attention. Don’t think this is over,” Allie warned him.

 

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Chapter 24 They sat at Marty’s kitchen table, nursing their wounds of terror with huge steaming cups of coffee and warmed cinnamon buns slathered with butter. “I still say we should’ve taken the panties back.” Marty bit into his bun. “Nope, not a good idea.” Allie eyed him over her cup. “I don’t want to provoke her.” “Will she tell Dan?” Marty’s face was still. “I don’t know. She may.” Allie voice caught. “Man, I feel like shit.” “It’s my fault more than yours. I knew the risk before I did it. Maybe I deserve what’s coming.” “When can we expect Dan?” Marty asked. “In about three weeks, then he’s done traveling for awhile.” Allie picked at her food, her stomach rolling over at the thought. “Maybe you better just tell him, beat her to the punch. I’ll help you.” Marty said quietly. “I can’t think right now. Everything’s so fucked up.” Allie pinched her eyes closed, trying to shut everything out. “When is Tess coming back?” Marty’s hand was inching across the table, resting on the smooth wood, inches away from hers. “She didn’t say, which doesn’t help us much,” Allie told him. “I feel so fucking useless.” Marty dug his fingers into his hair. “Marty, it’s not your problem.” Allie stood up and brought their dishes to the sink.

 

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Marty stood. The legs of his chair scraped across the linoleum floor. When Allie turned around, he was right in front of her, his face inches away. His breath was warm, laced with coffee and sugar. It wafted under her nose, over her lips. “It’s hard for me to be sorry,” Marty whispered. He ran his finger over the skin of her shoulder. She quivered under his touch, knowing where it could lead. “Please,” Allie choked, her self-control waning. “You promised,” she reminded him. “I know.” He released a breath. “God, I want you.” He ate her with his eyes. “My skin aches to feel your luscious body against mine. My tongue so wants to taste you.” “Marty, please don’t.” Allie tried to pass him. She needed to get home. She didn’t trust him. She didn’t trust herself. “Don’t you want me?” He leaned into her, his shadowed jaw grazing her cheek. “You’re not being fair.” Allie stiffened. She pushed the thrilling thought of touching him out of her mind. “Allie.” Marty cupped her face in his hands. He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “I can’t.” Her eyes filled. “Do you still love him?” Marty gripped her shoulders, stepping back, searching her with his eyes. “I’m so confused, please.” Allie pushed past him and ran out of the kitchen. She bolted across the patio stones, running across the yard, her body wired. Allie gasped for air, her heart racing in her chest. Darting behind the house, she took the deck stairs two at a time. She pulled the sliding glass door open, then slammed it shut, locking it behind her. She went into the kitchen and poured a glass of wine, sucking down the thick, burgundy liquid. Its sourness burned her throat. She

 

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downed a second glass, then a third, attempting to anesthetize her pain and fears. Why was Marty doing this? They made a pact, to which he agreed. Why was he backpedaling? Allie came to the hard realization that she may have to confess her betrayal to Dan. There weren’t any other options. The sooner she came clean, the better. Even if Tess wasn’t a threat, could she live with this? Allie drank until she couldn’t think anymore, her mental turmoil numb. She woke up at 3:00 a.m., fully clothed and on the sofa. She trudged up the stairs, climbing into bed. Her head spun, her thoughts a blur, a revolution of confusion. **** The next morning, while Allie waited for the coffee to brew, her scalp was splitting. Lightning strikes of pain shot across her forehead. Adding to Allie’s hangover was the sight of Tess’s car. She was back. Dread filled her, mixing with guilt and deception, a perfect cocktail, the drink of death. Allie would play the waiting game, seeing how long it would take for Tess to come and collect her keys. After three cups of coffee, an aspirin, and a shower, Allie tried to call Dan. She got his voicemail and left a message telling him she was eager for him to come home, her genuine honesty soothing. She needed a routine, the structure Dan would provide. After lunch Allie decided to go see Tess. Hiding only made her look guilt ridden. Allie crossed the street and circled around back. She knocked on the door. Allie glanced back at the cabana she and Marty had been in together. Allie heard the door open. Aligning her eyes, it was time for her curtain call. Allie felt surprisingly calm on Tess’s stage. “Well, howdy there, neighbor.” Tess yawned, scratching the side of her head, her hair rumpled from sleep. She wasn’t dressed yet, her

 

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body exposed in a sheer teddy. Her dark nipples budded beneath the lace. “How’ve you been?” Tess stepped out onto the back stoop, not inviting Allie in. She wondered if Tess had someone inside. Allie tried to see past her, but Tess closed the door, afraid she’d see the remnants of Tess’s movie set. “I’m fine. How was your trip?” Allie tried to read Tess’s thoughts. The image of her panties hanging from Tess’s mirror clawed at Allie’s mind. “It was all right. Not as productive as I had hoped, but that’s life, I suppose.” Tess swept her hair back, out of her eyes. “How’s your neighbor?” Her lips curved into a catty grin. “Okay, I guess. I’m done with the mural now so I don’t see him as much.” Allie stared at her hard, not wanting to look cowardly. Allie chose to use her wild card, needing it desperately. She brought up the black Mercedes. “I just want to let you know that there was a black Mercedes here yesterday,” Allie said flatly. “What time?” Tess’s cool demeanor switched gears from casual to somewhat anxious. “I guess it was around dinner time. They did walk around the back here.” Allie pointed. “I didn’t know if you’d given them a set of keys as well, so I didn’t come over and ask questions.” Allie noticed Tess’s eyes change, her brows now knitted. “Okay, thanks.” She placed her hand on the doorknob. Allie could see Tess’s mind reeling ahead. Allie was no longer standing in front of her. Tess’s thoughts had taken off. Tess was plotting her next move in whatever dangerous game she was playing. Allie dangled the keys in the air. “Thanks, Allie.” Tess turned and quickly stepped inside. “No problem.” Allie waited, watching Tess shut the door in her face then walk back through the kitchen. While Allie walked home, she wondered what Tess’s reaction would have been if she’d demanded her panties back. Allie suddenly

 

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didn’t feel afraid of her anymore. She knew Tess had a plan. Allie knew that she was woven into it somewhere. Where that was, she wasn’t sure.

 

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Chapter 25 “I’ll be home in six days, Al, isn’t that great?” Dan’s voice was loud with excitement. “We’ve really hustled here to finish up.” “I can’t wait,” Allie sighed. “I miss you. I just want to get the hell out of here.” She did want to Dan to come home. He equaled normalcy, and she needed some. Allie needed to work on what she’d had, and could still have with him. It was worth saving. They had built a life here together. “Where’re we going, honey?” “I wanna go to Antigua,” Allie said, her tone soft. “That sounds fantastic.” Dan’s excited breaths reverberated through the line. “Make the reservations, Allie. Book it now.” They said their good-byes. Allie went online to book their flights and look for a hotel. She booked the trip for three weeks. **** Once it was dark, Allie sat outside. She reclined in the lounge chair, hypnotized by all the white, shiny particles that glistened in a dark, onyx sky. She was pulled from her stargazing when she heard the crunching of heels on the gravel. Allie sat up and saw Tess walking toward Marty’s workshop. She’d seen his light on but stayed put, firmly rooted where she belonged. Allie was working on repositioning herself, eager for Dan to come home. She chose to nurture their relationship. Her affair with Marty forced her to dig deep and look at herself. She would learn to communicate instead of turning away to get her needs met. She still

 

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loved Dan and she knew that he loved her. They’d both been misguided. Allie allowed herself to be tainted with jealousy. Did she really need to compete with anyone? She’d always been comfortable with herself. Dan’s problem was his preoccupation with money, thinking that that was his primary role as a man, a role his father had failed at. This trip would get them back to where they needed to be, where she needed to be. Allie saw Tess open the workshop door. As soon as it closed, she went inside to get the binoculars. Allie wanted to know if Marty would receive Tess. He needed to divert his attention away from her; whether he wanted Tess or not, Allie couldn’t be sure. Tess would always be the face and body of temptation. Allie sat in the chair, bringing the binoculars into focus. Marty’s bare chest filled the lens. He was sanding a small table with safety glasses strapped around his head. Tess moved into the lens, wearing a silky, sea-green blouse that glowed against her coppery skin. A black miniskirt rested above her knees. A deep slit exposed a strip of flesh on her left thigh. Allie observed Marty’s reaction to her, his face tight, his eyes narrowed. Tess was leaning against the workbench, tossing her hair, working her X-rated program. Marty placed the small electric sander on the table, removed his glasses, and walked toward her. Allie saw this as his test. Could he refuse her? Tess began running her hands over his chest. Marty stood still, his hands hanging at his sides. He reached out to her, then ran his finger down the side of her neck, falling into temptation. Tess’s seduction squeezed him like a vise. Allie gritted her teeth, her anger starting to simmer. She quickly realized that she’d have to turn her back if she wanted her reunion with Dan to stick. Then it all clicked. Allie understood what Marty was trying to do. If he refused her, Tess could then secure her case against her, Allie’s affair with Marty being the root of his decline to

 

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Tess’s advances. Allie now knew Marty was doing this in an attempt to protect her. Tess began unbuttoning her blouse. She eased the sheer fabric off her shoulders, her dark nipples peaked with desire. She placed Marty’s hand over her breast, leaning into him, pressing her body against him. Marty’s body stiffened, responding in aggressiveness. He reached behind her and buried his hand in her hair, yanking her head back. Tess’s eyes popped open, taken aback by his forcefulness. The skin of her throat worked, swallowing hard. Marty mashed his lips into hers. Tess’s eyes were fluttering open intermittently. It looked as if Marty’s frustration with her had turned into rage. Allie worked the focus knob, raising the binoculars, their images clear and sharp. Tess fumbled with the zipper of her skirt. Marty spun her around, tearing her skirt, yanking it down. He wrapped the black strap of her thong around his finger, ripping it from her backside. Tess’s eyes were closed, her mouth open, soaking up the thrill of their inferno of ecstasy. Marty pushed Tess’s body over the workbench, her arms spread to support her. He worked his jeans down with one hand, pushing them over his thighs. His cock bobbed, fully engorged. Marty’s hand gripped her hip, his other holding his cock. He thrust himself into her, his jaw clenched, his lips pressed in a thin line. His discontent for her rose from his body like a cloud of smog, full of polluted stench. His hands clenched around her ass, her flesh protruding between his thick fingers. He grabbed a mass of her hair again, pulling her head to the side, biting her neck. Tess repositioned her body, bending over lower, giving Marty access to devour her. It looked as if Marty was seeing how far he could go, wondering where Tess’s line of eroticism ended and violence began. He withdrew, spun her around to face him once again. He placed his hands on her torso, digging his thumbs into her rib cage, bent over and took her breast into his mouth, gorging on her bronzed skin. He

 

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dove into her again, his exhaustion mounting. Sweat glistened on his skin. He ground his body into hers, pressing her back into the edge of the workbench. Tess’s eyes widened in disbelief, Marty’s sealed tight, giving his all in this dramatic farce of a performance. His hips worked like a relentless jackhammer. Strong magnification enabled Allie to watch Tess’s inner thoughts cross over the line. Right in front of her, Allie could see Tess’s worried expression. Tess punched Marty’s shoulder. Her eyes sprang open, her brows raised. A hysteria Allie had never seen before came across Tess’s face. Allie didn’t think Tess had it in her. She shoved Marty hard, pushing his shoulder in an attempt to get his attention. Marty’s body pulled back, his breath heaving. Tess drew her hand back and slapped him across the face. Marty’s eyes squinted into two slits, lit with fury. Marty said something to her, and Tess slapped him a second time. Allie couldn’t contain her laughter. He’d done it. Marty had brought Tess to the breaking point. A destination which neither of them thought existed. Tess grabbed her blouse, feeding her arms through, her face irate, her eyes sparked with rage. She stepped into her torn skirt and stomped toward the door. Allie jumped off the lounge chair, slipped inside and slinked into the kitchen to watch her walk home, the heat of her temper fueling her quickened pace. Allie continued to watch her circle around the back of the house. Tess pulled off her disheveled clothes, draped them over the fence, and dove into the pool. This would be the last time Allie would look through the binoculars. **** Two days later Tess came over, calling her from the bottom of the stairwell. Allie was in her studio, trying to finish her painting of Lake Erie. Allie heard her climb the stairs, the sound of her steps masked with a different tone. When Allie turned, she saw that Tess was

 

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wearing white jogging shorts, a black sports bra, and sneakers. She was puzzled by her unusual appearance and choice of dress. “Hey, how’s it going?” Allie swiveled around in her chair. Her gaze followed Tess as she walked over to the south window, standing, gazing through the screen. “Tess?” Allie set her brush down. Tess turned around, her face set, stone cold and expressionless. “How was he, Allie?” Tess stepped closer, pinning Allie with her cold, hard stare. “Was he a good fuck? Did you enjoy it?” Tess sarcastically winked at her. “He’s great at eating pussy, isn’t he?” Her tongue wiggled between her teeth. Allie’s mouth ran dry. Nausea mounted in her stomach. Allie looked down at her hands. Her first instinct was to hide her shame, her first reaction appearing weak. In her eyes’ edge, Allie saw the rapid movement, but she was too late. Tess backhanded her across the face. The sting radiated up to Allie’s temples. “You cheating, self-centered bitch.” Her voice was low, slithering out between her gritted teeth like a snake. Allie tried to stand up, not wanting to be at a disadvantage. Tess’s hand shoved her back into the chair. Allie’s adrenaline rose to the occasion. She leaped from her chair, glancing back, looking at the door, scrambling for a plan of escape. Another blow came from Tess’s hidden, recoiled arm, belting into the side of her cheek. Searing pain penetrated Allie’s jaw, the nerves of her teeth rebelling. Crumbling pieces of a tooth scattered across her tongue. Allie stumbled but caught herself, throwing her weight into the wall. Silver dots danced in her vision like balls of mercury. The tortured thoughts Allie had had for weeks over Tess knowing about her and Marty disappeared. Allie reached deep into herself, pulling out all her defenses. She would stand up to Tess, her past intimidations wiped away. “You could’ve had him all to yourself.” Allie sucked the briny blood from her cheek and spit at her. Rust-colored saliva landed on Tess’s white shorts, bleeding into the fabric.

 

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“You’re nothing but a whore.” Tess’s teeth gritted around her words. Allie made the mistake of taking her eyes off of her, glancing down to remove pieces of a molar from her mouth. The pressure of cold steel jabbed at Allie’s temple, the butt of a small pistol pressing into her head. “Don’t tempt me, Allie.” Tess nudged the gun into her head with every syllable of her speech. “You want to shoot me over a man?” Allie laughed nervously, trying to look up at her. “That would be just like you, wouldn’t it, Tess?” “You couldn’t stand the fact that he wanted me, could you?” Tess’s breath tunneled into her ear, a hot thermal wind. “I think it’s the other way around,” Allie stated dryly. She was trying to face her, not wanting to appear weak over her armed position. “You could’ve had him, but you always need an audience, don’t you? You’re an attention-seeking slut.” Allie would use Tess’s swing club secret as her ammunition. “You can’t be satisfied with a man making love to just you. You need more—an audience, more partners, applause, perhaps.” Allie smirked at her. “You push things on people.” Tess’s face hardened. Allie saw lines she’d never seen before, looking like paths of dried, cracked dirt. “What do you know about satisfying people, you snobby bitch.” Tess’s fist came around again. Allie blocked it, gripping her wrist, twisting her flesh. The gun came at her again, pressing into her nostril. Allie’s bowels shifted, her insides cramping together. Her bodily fluids wanted to seep out of her. Allie glared at her over the enlarged look of the pistol pressed into her face. “I had what Marty wanted. I didn’t put any contingencies on him. I didn’t need the swing club to entice him.” Allie stared back into Tess’s eyes, two simmering pools of brown shit. “I didn’t need to slither around on his workbench like a fish out of water. You cheapen

 

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everything. You’re a fucking, low-life pig,” Allie screamed, her voice raw and hoarse. Tess wound her fingers into her hair, yanking Allie’s head back. She moved the gun around the side of Allie’s face. The click in the chamber punctured her temple like an ice pick. Every statement Allie made brought death closer. Tess had a provoking finger on the trigger, but Tess would know all before she decided to end this. “Wait till I tell Dan,” she sneered. Allie called her bluff. “He already knows,” Allie yelled. The sharpness of her voice tumbled through the empty house. Tess’s face fell. Allie now had her off balance, right where she needed her to be.

 

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Chapter 26 “Dan’s coming home in a week and we’re taking a trip. We’ll be working it all out,” Allie said smugly. She became fearless, unfazed in provoking Tess any further. “He wanted me first,” Tess whined, like a jilted schoolgirl. “Who the fuck cares,” Allie snapped in her face, spittle flying from her lips. “You’re a pervert. Hey, when does your first porn flick come out?” Allie reached, grabbing at Tess’s breast, twisting her raised nipple. The gun jammed into Allie’s face again, its steel clanking against her front teeth, the taste making her mouth twinge. A pool of saliva formed on Allie’s tongue. “You know nothing. You’re a liar,” Tess screamed, her face flushed, rage spewing from her pores. “Yeah, that’s what you think,” Allie scoffed. Tess was beaten down, looking haggard. Her beautiful looks had suddenly slipped away. “Who are the guys with the fancy car? I saw all the equipment they unloaded from their trunk. I’m not stupid.” Allie laughed. Gun or no gun, Allie would continue to egg her on, relishing her newly acquired upper hand, her antagonism pushing Tess to the edge. “Do we get to see the movie or not, you slimy, good-for-nothing animal!” Allie yelled, laughing at her. “You’re pathetic.” Her voice rose, needing all to hear. “You know what, Allie? Now you’ve left me no choice.” Tess reached into her pocket and pulled out a prescription bottle, trying to juggle the gun while dumping a fistful of pills into her palm. Allie knew that this drug was one of the three she’d seen on Tess’s nightstand.

 

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“Why don’t you come right over here and sit down at your little table?” She yanked Allie’s arm, pulling her over to her drawing table. While turning to sit down, Allie saw Marty at the foot of the stairs, a rifle resting over his shoulder. Marty raised his fingers to his lips, silencing her. All the adrenaline that was surging through her slowed. A wave of serenity took over. Allie’s pulse slowed, her muscles turning into loose dough. He must have heard us. He’s here to help me. I’ll be okay. The darkness at the end of this deadly tunnel now shined brightly for her. “We’re going to write Danny boy a little note explaining your fling with Marty.” Tess grabbed a pen out of her drawer, thrusting it into Allie’s hand. “I told you, he already knows,” Allie barked at her. “You’re a liar, bitch. Shut the fuck up.” Tess grabbed her ear and twisted it, Allie’s earring digging into the lobe. Allie knew Marty was right downstairs. She would comply with whatever short-lived, cheap thrill Tess was craving. “What would you like me to write?” Allie glanced up at Tess, her eyes glaring with a hatred she’d never seen. “I want you to describe what it was like to have him, taste him, him being inside of you. After all, we want Dan to have the full effect, don’t we?” Tess snickered in a sick, deranged tone. She started walking backwards into the bathroom, the gun aimed at Allie’s face. “You can describe how you sucked his cock first, how’s that?” Allie heard the water running. Tess filled the cup from the vanity then walked over to her, shoving the glass at Allie’s lips. A pile of pills stuck to Tess’s sweaty palm. “I figure these will help you loosen up a bit, that way you won’t leave out any of the good parts. We could even turn this into a suicide note,” Tess sneered. “We’ll just write and tell Danny boy that the guilt was just too much for you to take, how’s that? Hold out your hand for mommy,” Tess instructed in a snide tone.

 

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Tess placed four pills in her hand, white gel capsules. Allie kicked herself for not looking more carefully at the bottles while she and Marty were in her room, unsure now of what she was about to consume. “What are these?” Allie asked, her voice losing its courageous tone. “Swallow the damn pills, you fucking bitch.” Tess’s raised voice rang in her ears. “Drop the gun, Tess. Drop it now.” Tess’s head whirled around, her eyes wide in shock, her hair stuck to her sweaty cheek. Marty swung his rifle like a bayonet. Tess struggled to keep the gun in her grasp. Allie sat frozen in the chair, her mind reeling ahead, thinking that her house was about to turn into a murder scene with police, yellow crime scene tape, and screaming news headlines. “Fuck you, Marty!” Tess lunged toward him. Marty whacked Tess in the side of the face. Losing her footing, she fell to the floor, her gun sliding across the glossy floorboards. Allie dove for the gun, scooping it up, entwining her fingers around the warmed trigger. She held the gun with both hands, her body shaking. Marty turned quickly to ensure she’d gotten the gun. Tess attempted to get up. A thin stream of blood dripped down the side of her face. Marty placed his boot on her chest, shoving her back down to the floor. “Don’t you fucking move, you wretched piece of trash,” he huffed, sweat dripping from his brow. “You raped me!” Tess screamed, sounding like a spoiled brat. “That’s a crock of shit. You loved every minute of it,” Marty bellowed. “You’d allow yourself to be fucked by a farm animal if the opportunity presented itself.” Marty stood over her, the butt of his rifle right at the tip of Tess’s nose, as if to return the favor.

 

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“This is the deal, Tess. If you don’t take the bait, I call the cops, so listen up.” Marty glanced back at Allie again. She gripped her fingers around the gun. If Dan could see this now. “We both know that you’re into some pretty racy shit—” “Fuck you, farm boy!” Tess yelled. “Shut the hell up. I know you’re downloading pornography in your house, not to mention filming it. But the star of the show would be that white, powdery stuff.” Marty glared at her, sprawled out on the floor below him, his sweaty hair hanging over his eyes. “You have no proof,” Tess bit back, laughing. “That’s where you’re mistaken,” Marty laughed. “For a lady, you sure are a pig. One call and you could be looking at some time, you fool.” The room grew quiet. Tess lay motionless, her pills scattered across the floor like confetti. Allie’s body was bathed in sweat, the gun slipping in her grasp. “You get your cheap, whorish ass up, go home, and don’t ever come near this property again, because if you do, I’m calling the police.” Marty raised the gun slightly. Tess sat up, her face empty and defeated. She looked at Marty, her jaw clenched in defiance. “I’m telling you, Tess, one fucking move and you’re done. Think about all those lesbians in jail who would just love to eat you for lunch. Would you like that?” Marty threw his head back, howling in laughter. “Let me up!” Her eyes were blazing. “My pleasure. Now get out of this house before we have to fumigate.” Marty stepped back, motioning with the rifle. Tess rose to her feet. Marty waved the rifle in her face. “We want the panties back, too, you crazy bitch. Hand them over. We know you have them,” he demanded. “Who said you could go snooping through my house?” Tess shouted.

 

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“You gave me the keys, asshole,” Allie mumbled from across the room. “The panties, where are they?” Marty held his hand out. Tess reached into her pocket and pulled out Allie’s panties. “Who should I give these to, you or her?” She glared at Allie over Marty’s shoulder. “Don’t even look at her.” Marty raised the rifle, pointing it right between her eyes. Tess wavered then handed the crumpled ball of blue, incriminating fabric over to Marty. “What’re you, her keeper now? A sugar daddy?” Tess’s voice irritated her like hives spreading over her skin. “Get out, Tess. Don’t forget about all those lapping tongues over at the women’s correctional facility.” Marty pointed the rifle at the door. “You’re a freak.” Tess moved cautiously toward the threshold. “No one is as sick as you, honey.” Marty laughed. Marty followed Tess down the stairs. Allie trailed behind them, her body stiff and sore. She watched Marty walk Tess to the edge of the property, waiting for her to cross the street. Marty made sure Tess rounded the corner and walked behind her house and stayed there.

 

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Chapter 27 The side of Allie’s face throbbed. She ran her tongue over her fractured tooth, the jagged edge sharp. She couldn’t wait for Dan to come home so they could just disappear. Allie watched Marty walk back down the driveway, rifle still in hand. He had saved her life. His boots clambered up the stairs. He let himself in, locking the door behind him. He put the safety on before setting the rifle down on the island. He began making coffee, functioning as if he were in his own environment. Marty set a glass of water in front of Allie with two aspirins, reading her exhaustion like a cheap gossip column. He pulled the mugs from the cabinet. The coffee pot gurgled, its brewing process almost complete. Allie swallowed the aspirins. The cool water penetrated into her tooth. Laser shots of pain stabbed into her jaw. Marty placed a steaming cup in front of her, the aroma therapeutic. Fear of her tooth coming into contact with the hot liquid spoiled its appeal. “How we doing?” He reached for her hand. Allie let him close his thick fingers over hers. “She broke my tooth.” Allie massaged her cheek. “You need to see a dentist then. Where’s your phone book?” “There’s a list of numbers tacked up near the phone,” Allie mumbled, not wanting to move her jaw. Allie listened to Marty make the arrangements in a muffled tone, booking her appointment. Allie let the tears come, falling onto the finished wood of the table, her nerves unraveling. Rivers of tension

 

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flowed out of her body. Marty hung up the phone, circled around the table, and sat down next to her. “Hey, it’s over now. Done.” He placed his arm around her, his palm smoothing down her back. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t come.” Allie looked up at him. Paths of tears dried on her cheeks. “Well, I did come, so try not to think about that.” His voice low and comforting, almost sedating her. “You have an appointment tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., okay? I’ll take you.” She nodded, taking a deep breath. “How did you know?” Allie shifted in her chair. “I knew she was going to do something, I just didn’t know when.” He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t see her walk over, but I heard you yelling. I was outside. Thank God I was outside.” He pushed his sweaty hair back from his forehead. “Did she really have porn in her house?” Allie pressed her tongue on her tooth, blocking the cool air from connecting with the nerve. “Remember when you made me go take my boots off? That’s when I saw it, but who knows what was going on with the drugs. It’s the drugs that’ll get her put away.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Allie asked, slightly annoyed. “I figured the less you knew, the better, especially where those two guys were concerned. I did it for your safety.” Marty raised his hand at her, his point insisting. “Thank you.” Allie swallowed, her throat dry. “You’re all right. That’s all that matters—and by the way, I’m staying here until Dan comes home.” His words were clipped. Allie glanced at him. Marty’s hardened expression told her that she couldn’t argue with him. “I’m staying right in there on the couch.” He pointed. “End of story.”

 

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**** A week later, Dan came home. Allie waited up for him, his flight a red-eye. That night in bed she held him tight, sealing their bodies together. She couldn’t sleep, wanting to watch him, afraid if she drifted off he’d be gone when she woke up. It was a bright, sunny Monday morning. A mild chill was in the air, the autumn season closing in. Allie was upstairs in the bedroom. Their suitcases lay open on the bed. She neatly folded their clothes, her anticipation soaring as their departure drew near. Allie heard voices outside. She glanced out the window and saw a patrol car in the driveway. She tossed her toiletry bag into the suitcase and darted down the stairs. Marty and Dan were speaking to two officers, one of them pointing across the street to Tess’s house. Her body grew stiff, weight pressing on her bones. The four men seemed to be having a congenial conversation, but anything that involved Tess meant one thing for Allie—trouble. The meeting broke up with the shaking of hands all around the circle. Allie watched Marty and Dan walk toward the workshop, the door closing behind them. Allie stood at the glass door. Her nerves began to wrap around themselves, cutting off life’s circulation. The familiar sickness she’d suffered with all summer now returned like an unwelcomed visitor. Allie kept turning to glance at the clock, its hands inching around the face. She shoved her finger into her mouth, chewing on her nail with the pain-free side of her mouth, sick over what they might be discussing. She would lose Dan over this. Their lives would become an angry, resentful mess. Allie had no one to blame but herself. This mess was her fault. She made the decision to throw away her relationship with Dan the night she slept with Marty. ****

 

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Marty could see Allie watching them across the yard from the other side of the glass door. He closed the workshop door, sealing off her questioning eyes. Dan walked toward the window, staring out aimlessly. Marty reached up on the shelf and took out a bottle of whisky. Dan turned away from the window. His eyes were glazed over, the color of a storm cloud. Marty lifted the bottle to his lips, welcoming the burn as the liquor hit the back of his throat. He walked closer to Dan, holding the small, brown bottle. “Take your best shot,” he said, his words choked. “It can be my face, or the bottle.” The whisky seeped into his insides, curling around his belly like a warm cat. “I’d rather have a shot of that.” Dan ran his hand through his sandy-brown hair. Loose strands fell back over his brow. Marty handed him the bottle. Dan tipped the bottle back, his throat pulling in the liquid fire. He handed the bottle back to Marty, his lips curling over his teeth from the burn. Dan thrust his hands into the pockets of his shorts, facing the window again. “I’m not going to verbally assault Allie, or lay you out.” Dan’s words were strained, forcing their way out. He raised a hand, taking a breath. “You know, Marty…” Dan pressed his fingers into the bridge of his nose, his gaze falling to the floor. “I spent most of my childhood cowering under a bed, hugging my younger brother while we listened to my old man rant and rave and beat up on my mother. I made a promise to myself that I would never be like him.” Dan’s lips pressed into a thin line, his words sharpening. Marty leaned against the workbench, sipping the whisky. “Man to man.” Marty paused, selecting his words carefully. “What I did was wrong.” Marty’s interview with the police had brought his and Allie’s indiscretions out into the open, needing to explain the antecedent to Tess’s violent confrontation. “You were both wrong, but you were there for her. You gave Allie what she needed, what I should’ve been giving her. I tried to do

 

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the right thing, but…” Dan’s voice fell quiet. “Things just got so out of hand at work, the demands.” Marty cleared his throat, desperately wanting to say what he felt about Dan’s job. “Yeah, what you both did behind my back was wrong,” Dan continued, “but I can’t overlook the fact that you may have saved Allie’s life. Tess.” Dan shook his head again, his eyes narrowed. “How fucked up can a person get?” His laughter was laced with ridicule. Marty handed the bottle back to him, Dan took another swig. “No amount of money can replace you being there,” Marty said cautiously. “Yeah.” Dan released a breath. “Money, money, money.” He waved his hand through the air. “Look where that got me. As a kid, my family never had any. Now I have plenty, but everything has its fucking price. Isn’t that right, Marty?” Dan’s face was lined with anger, anger that seemed to be directed more at himself. “You just gotta balance things out, that’s all.” Marty rested his hand on Dan’s shoulder. “I could’ve easily fallen in love with Allie. It was me who stepped back first, not to float my own raft.” Marty met his eyes. Dan’s body had tired, his shoulders rounded, the look of defeat coating his face. “Tess was a shitty friend. I was here. There wasn’t anyone else.” Marty tried to downplay the attraction, making it look more like a convenience, though a piece of him was dying inside. He’d been so damn close, teetering on the edge, thinking he’d walked away before it happened, but the pain he felt now was love, there was no denying it. “I better get over there.” Dan released a hissing breath. “Allie’s probably petrified that we’re locked up in here.” Marty opened the door for him. Dan stepped out of the workshop, and started walking across the yard, but then stopped, and turned around, retracing his steps. “I’m not sorry it was you.” Dan raked the hair out of his eyes, his brows knitted. “I can’t even explain it, this feeling I have, I’m almost thankful it was you.” With that, Dan turned away.

 

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Marty watched Dan amble across the yard, unable to comprehend what’d just happened. The world he was from would’ve beaten him to a pulp. There seemed to be a mutual agreement that they’d both fucked up, but if he were anywhere else with someone else’s woman, he would’ve been screwed. **** As Dan crossed the yard, Allie tried to read his expression, but his head was lowered to the ground. As his strides brought him closer, misery began to move through her. Allie stood by the door, running her tongue over the new cap covering her tooth, dazzling white, shiny and smooth. Dan walked into the kitchen, his brows furrowed, scratching his head, his expression one of confusion. “What’s wrong?” Allie’s heart was beating wildly. “I think we should sit down.” Dan gestured to a chair. Allie’s imagination was running recklessly. Images of her distorted summer flashed through her mind. Did Dan know about her and Marty? Had Tess somehow gotten to Dan? Or did she get back at her and Marty by reporting to the police that Marty had drawn his rifle on her? Did Marty confess to their involvement? Allie sat down across from Dan. He reached for her hand, his fingers long and smooth, so different from Marty’s calloused touch. “Tess is in the hospital in critical condition. They plan to transfer her to a rehab facility in a week or so.” Dan sank back in his chair. Allie’s sore jaw dropped in disbelief. A brief wave of relief washed over her, only to be squelched by guilt for reacting this way, relieved that Tess was incarcerated. “What happened?” Her brain swelled with all the possibilities. Snippets ran through her mind again like a low-budget movie on fast forward. The two men, the production company, the argument she’d witnessed over money, the drugs in her bedroom.

 

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“This is terrible. I mean…I never really cared for her, but…they found her in her car out on a rural road near Readington. She was beat up pretty bad.” Dan squeezed her hand, his fingers stroking over hers. “Oh, my God.” Allie covered her mouth. “According to the police, they think she may have been involved with some bad people, Allie. Did you know anything about that? Marty seemed to know a few things, but what the hell was she doing?” Dan shook his head. “Tess was a member of the Readington swing club,” Allie told him. “Marty actually found this out after they’d started dating. She tried to recruit him in, you know?” Allie turned and looked out the window across the street, the patrol car now parked in Tess’s driveway. “Yeah, Marty told the police everything,” Dan said, his voice gentle. “She got involved with drugs and pornography soon after you left for Switzerland,” Allie whispered, feeling embarrassed for her. “I just can’t get over this. I mean, what the hell was she thinking?” Dan crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head in disbelief. “Things got very bizarre after you left.” Allie tried to hold his gaze. She desperately needed to come clean. She would never get a fresh start with Dan unless she told him everything.

 

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Chapter 28 Women are often accused of manipulating men with their tears, but Allie’s remorse poured out of her, a poison she could no longer keep ingesting. “Allie…” Dan slid his chair closer to hers, grasping both her hands, holding on tight. The briny taste of her tears stung her cheeks. Dan’s eyes held hers, like a soft caress, open and full of tenderness, his forehead creased with worry. “I’ve done something, something I’m not proud of.” Allie hid her face, wanting to shrink, wishing the floor would open and swallow her. “I don’t know how or why I got caught up in it.” “Allie, I’ve spoken to Marty.” Dan’s fingers glided over her cheek, a soothing, therapeutic stroke. Allie stared at him, unsure of what to say, not knowing exactly what Marty had told him. “But Dan…I need to…” “Allie, you’ve always had so much love to give. If I were here, I would’ve been able to receive it. I left you here alone for weeks at a time, with a loose and mentally deranged friend and your artwork.” Dan frowned, his eyes weighted. Dan’s lips curved into a weak smile. His soft expression radiated a kindness that was uncommon in a partner who’d discovered his mate had strayed. Dan stood up, tugging on her hands. Allie stood and moved into his arms, his body warm and forgiving. His hands ran over her back, his touch sedating. He tipped her chin, aligning their lips.

 

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“Do you still love me?” He gently stroked her cheek. “I do.” Her voice breaking. “I know your love for me comes first, but I wasn’t here.” “That doesn’t make it right.” Allie’s voice rose over his. Dan slowly shook his head. “We’re not talking about right or wrong. The heart is a complex thing. How do you feel about Marty?” Dan stepped back, his eyes lowering to hers. Allie looked away, uncertain, afraid to release what she’d tried to bury for so long. “Allie, I want you to be honest with me. I’m not going anywhere, but I need to know how you feel about Marty before this discussion goes any further.” His thumb grazed over her lips. “I do care for him deeply.” She wiped her face, gazing up at him, afraid of the expression her confession would bring. He pulled her into his arms, cradling the back of her head gently. “I’m so sorry.” Allie buried her face into his chest, breathing him in, his spicy scent, a familiarity she’d missed. “I just…I tried so hard to not let my feelings get out of control. Jesus, can a woman want two men? I must sicken you.” Dan gazed into her eyes. “Don’t apologize. An empty heart needs affection. It’s human nature.” His words a hushed whisper. Something burned in Dan’s eyes, something Allie couldn’t identify. “Maybe we need more in our lives, someone to share our love with.” His fingers slid through her hair, his gaze smoldering. “Maybe something’s missing.” Dan smiled. Allie took in a rushing breath. What was he saying? A shivering tingle moved over her skin, making her shutter. Allie swallowed, trying to open her throat so the words would come. “We’re not married. I don’t think… having a child, I…” Dan gripped her shoulders, his words pushing through hers. “I’m not talking about marriage or a baby, Allie. I’m talking about Marty.” Dan cupped her face, steering her eyes back to his. “I know he loves you.”

 

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“Did he tell you that?” Allie froze. Not knowing what had transpired between Dan and Marty had her at a disadvantage. Had he put his feelings into words, giving them life? “No, not straight out, but I know when a man has it bad for a lady.” Dan’s lips crushed into hers. His tongue pushed through the seam of her lips, artfully stroking the inside of her mouth, reintroducing his passion for her. Dan tightened his grip. His palm covered her breast, squeezing and kneading, his actions desperate. Allie felt smothered by his lust. Dormant desire was being awakened, wrapping around them, the heat building. Her body welcomed him. Dan released her, his chest heaving. “I love you. I know Marty loves you.” His eyes lowered, heavy with longing. “He saved your life, and he may have saved us.” His lips dipped down, nibbling on her neck. “Because of my neglect, I’ve not only hurt you, but now I’ve hurt him.” Allie felt her eyes widen, her lips parted. Was Dan giving her free rein? Was he opening their relationship? Her mind reeled with the thought of Marty in their bed. “Dan…just what are you trying to say?” Allie’s hand settled on his chest. His heart thumped wildly under her palm. “I want what you do. Don’t be afraid to tell me what you want.” His hands slid underneath her shirt, spreading a trail of warmth over her skin. “My heart is big enough, and so is yours. I know you love me, and I love you. We’ve got love to share. It’s been buried, or brushed aside for too damn long. What a fool I’ve been. Life’s too short. Screw all the money.” Dan took her lips again, his kiss searing through her. Dan tugged at the waistband of her jeans, pulling them and her panties down. Allie’s head spun. Seeing Dan’s lust for her was like taking a drug she’d never ingested. This effect she was having on him was something Allie hadn’t seen in a very long time. Had real life gotten in the way of their love? “I already told Brent I needed to be home, that they have to get the younger guys out there to do the traveling.” His words were muffled as he wrestled with her clothes, his mouth buried between her breasts.

 

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Allie reached for his belt. His hand caught hers, his fingers holding hers. “No.” His eyes burned into her. “This is your ride.” Dan lifted her, setting her on top of the island. He eased her down, the marble cool on her back. She was naked, sprawled across her kitchen island. This was all so crazy. They hadn’t done something like this in, like, forever. Dan yanked off his shirt, turning to grab one of the stools. He sat down, taking her feet in his hands. “And what a ride it will be.” His words were a guttural groan. Allie stared up at the ceiling. Her heart pounded. A fevered rush barreled through her veins. Dan set the heels of her feet on the edge of the counter. His soft hands slid down her inner thighs, gently spreading her. Allie let her legs fall open under his guiding hands. He bent her knees further, pushing on her shins. Her pussy pulsated. The thought of Dan’s soft mouth and tongue had her itching with expectancy. She wiggled her hips, her body on the brink. “I’m right here, honey.” Dan’s light breaths blew over her heated folds. Allie gasped at the feel of his anointed fingers as they slipped inside her. Her body short-circuited. She let the fever sweep over her. Her scent rose into the air, her body liquidating. A whine leaked out of her mouth when the tip of his tongue swept through the creases of her pussy. “Oh Dan.” Her lungs burned for air. Dan always had such a skilled softness, something she didn’t realize she’d missed. His mouth pressed into her, his tongue flicking her clit, probing her slit delicately. “I love you Allie.” His words were a pressured whisper. His lips suckled her clit. Dan’s hands slid under her ass as his tongue lapped and teased. Her legs twitched. An exquisite pressure began to build. Her hands gripped the edges of the counter, her body unable to hang on. Allie tilted her head back, her back bowing. The counter dug into her shoulders, making the experience all the more delicious. Allie yelped, her voice a ringing shrill through the kitchen.

 

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“Oh God…I’m coming!” Her hips bucked. Dan tightened his grip on her legs, his tongue a relentless, thrashing machine. Her body went rigid as her orgasm plowed through her. **** Dan moved the stool to the other edge of the island and sat down, stroking her hair. Allie was still sprawled across the island, her body limp like a rag doll. They stared into each other’s eyes. Dan’s hoarsened words filled the quiet afterglow air. “You know what would be really hot?” Dan’s eyes still blazed with a hunger that Allie thought had been lost forever. “What?” She reached for him, pulling him down for a kiss. His lips brushed over hers, moving to her ear. His words ignited the flames all over again. “I’d love to do that again, and while I’m doing it, I’d like to see Marty’s cock between those beautiful lips of yours.” “Dan!” Allie’s mouth dropped open, her body frozen in shock. It was a different side of him. Had Dan buried his own wants and desires? Had he also battled an empty, aching void? Though she acted on hers, had Dan always wanted an open arrangement, or had Marty’s presence changed everything between them. “You just think about it, sweetheart.” Dan’s mouth latched onto her breast, his tongue laving across her nipple. Her eyes roamed across the ceiling, her body humming, her thoughts reeling.

 

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Epilogue One week later “Allie, you have to come see this! These fish are amazing!” Dan yelled, standing up in the pristine turquoise water. He pushed the goggles above his eyes, squinting at her. They’d arrived in Antigua a week ago. The police had come over one more time to talk to her and Marty. Their investigation had revealed that the men who were filming and producing the pornography were selling it to several upper-level politicians, and then blackmailing them. They were also involved in a drug ring that had led to several arrests. Tess had started using drugs while making the films, becoming addicted. The men who owned the production company had also extorted money from her. All the information she’d collected to use to her advantage had put her in danger, leading to her assault. This opened up a huge scandal. Tess certainly had been good at making an entrance, now her exit was just as memorable. Allie tried to talk to Marty before they left, but Marty wouldn’t budge. He told her not to worry and to enjoy her vacation. Dan had molted into another man, a free spirit. An uninhibited candidness was oozing out of him. He had broken free from the reins of his job, embracing her and their life together. During their first few days together, Allie would catch him staring at her, his mouth breaking into a mischievous grin, as if he knew a secret. Allie knew that she’d allowed her anger and jealousy over Tess’s behavior to interfere with her relationship with Dan. The root of

 

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Allie’s anger had been over Tess’s mission to remold Marty to suit her own needs. Marty had been a great guy from the start. Tess was never interested in him for what he was. What had happened over the summer seemed to strengthen her relationship with Dan. All was not lost. Allie did miss Marty. He’d helped her and Dan to recognize certain things, things that were really important in one’s life. Money, objects, and prestige do not meet your needs. Often by the time people figure this out, it’s too late, and their lives are filled with regrets. Tess had fallen into that trap, endlessly searching for something to complete her. Her mission had failed miserably. Thank God they found out in time. Marty moving in next door had certainly changed the dynamics of their small neighborhood. His presence had uncovered many truths. Allie also learned that she needed to be an effective communicator. Instead of burying things, she would now go straight to Dan. Since he’d come home they’d done nothing but talk. “Allie, are you coming in?” Dan was waving her toward the serene, blue water, his smile wide like an excited young boy. Allie got up off the lounge chair, her feet sinking into the hot, soft sand. “I’m coming,” she called. The yellow sun glared off the water, penetrating the skin on her shoulders with a rejuvenating heat. Frothy coils of water rolled over her feet. Dan swam toward her, his arms slipping around her waist. “God, it’s so beautiful here.” His wet skin slid against hers. “It is paradise.” “It looks like paradise just got a bit better.” Dan’s eyes flashed. “Look over there.” He pointed to the shore. Allie turned, squinting against the rays of the sun. There was a man walking along the beach, carrying a pair of sandals, a navy blue bandanna wrapped around his head. Allie felt the sand sink beneath her feet. She cupped her eyes to get a better look,

 

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the breath catching in her chest. Marty waved to them both. Her head spun around, meeting Dan’s smile. “What’re you up to?” She laughed nervously. Her skin pimpled as a shiver moved through her body. “I’m up to no good,” Dan laughed. “But don’t you worry. Everything’s gonna be fine, great in fact.” His finger glided along the wet skin of her arm. You’ll see.” He held her face, kissing her slowly, his tongue lingering in her mouth. He released her, his eyes dark. “I know you love him, too.” His hand lowered into the water. Dan’s fingers wandered between her legs, his thumb pressing into her pussy. His touch bled through the crotch of her suit, awakening her. “Please just tell me. I know you’re afraid, but it’s gonna be okay. I’ll make it all good, I promise.” “I love you both.” Allie’s voice hushed. The words that she’d feared most had Dan’s hand grabbing hers and placing it on his cock. “We do, too, more than I think you know, especially that guy who’s standing on the shore.” Dan’s eyes darted to Marty. “But…” Allie’s stomach rolled over. Thoughts of her and Marty together over the summer gnawed at her mind. Could she be with both Dan and Marty? Could this work? “He’s perfect for us.” Dan’s lips ran over her shoulder, his teeth biting her skin. The eroticism of it all had her pussy swelling despite the cool sea water. “No more secrets.” Allie sighed, her body unwinding, at ease with the idea. “No more secrets”—Dan grinned—“but so much love.” **** Twilight tinted the sky with strokes of purples, oranges, and grays. A thin finger of heat slipped below the horizon, ending another day. A cool breeze blew across the beach, rustling the palms above, the churning sea a soothing, therapeutic music to the ears. Lines of a low-

 

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tide sea crept up the sand. The water’s surface gleamed like polished silver as the moon bled through a darkening sky. Allie was reclined between them on the blanket, their beverages of choice nestled in the sand. Dan had ordered a picnic supper from the resort’s kitchen. They’d just finished their meal. If he wanted this to happen, he’d have to make the first move. He’d planned Marty’s surprise arrival. Marty’s stunned expression was still fresh in his mind when he’d approached him late one night in his workshop. Allie had been sleeping as he crept out of the house. Marty seemed rattled at first, but the more Dan talked to him about it, the more comfortable he became. Dan rolled over on his side, meeting Marty’s dark eyes. He was leaning up on his elbow, his other hand already in Allie’s hair. Marty knew Dan trusted him, those words had already been said. Dan reached for Marty’s hand, placing it on Allie’s breast. Allie’s head turned, her eyes glazed over. Dan stroked the soft skin of her neck. “We all trust each other, that’s what it’s all about.” Dan’s voice barely audible. “We also love you.” Marty’s calloused thumb grazed over her lips. Allie’s hands reached for them. She felt the smooth skin of Dan’s face, the other stroking the abrasive cheek of Marty. “Show me,” Allie panted. Dan fingered the thin straps of her suit, easing them over her curved shoulders. Her chest rose, her breaths rushing as he exposed her breasts. Marty’s gaze locked on Allie. Dan nodded as he dipped his head to kiss Allie. He felt the wavy strands of Marty’s hair graze his arm as Marty’s mouth took Allie’s nipple between his lips. “Oh, God.” Allie’s lips parted against his. Dan moved away, allowing her to relish in the sensation. He leaned back on his heels, moving her suit down her legs. Marty buried his face into Allie’s soft flesh, and Dan was fully aware of how decadent it felt. Allie’s nipples beaded as Marty’s mouth and hands worked over her body, preparing her for both of them.

 

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Dan parted Allie’s legs, smoothing his palms down to her center. Her lovely pussy opened before him, the auburn hairs neatly trimmed. He stroked his thumbs along the sides of her pussy, separating her folds, finding her magical button. His tongue lightly touched her clit. Allie’s muffled moans drifted through the night air. Her honeyed taste had him clawing at her hips. She was ready for them. Allie’s hands clung to his head as he licked her. Her hips rose from the blanket, meeting his hungry mouth. “Jesus, Dan,” she said, her words a rushing breath. Dan felt his cock harden into stone, pushing against his swim trunks. He had hit the wall, his body on sensory overload. His balls filled with fire. Dan stood up and freed his body, tossing his suit into the sand. The balmy, tropical breeze coated his skin, the freedom exhilarating. He knelt down on the blanket, observing the heated kiss between Allie and Marty. As if he’d given a cue, Marty rose from the blanket and began to undress. Dan pulled Allie into his arms. His hands slid down her body. He whispered his intentions, falling into her lush, green eyes. “We’re going to make love to you now.” Dan stroked her lips, his eyes feasting on her breasts. Her smoky-pink nipples were puckered, begging for one of their mouths to feed on it. Glittering rays of pearly moonlight illuminated her beautiful body. “Come on, baby.” Dan reclined on the blanket. Marty stood over them, stroking himself. His cock sprang forth from a dark thatch of hair. Dan took in the entire scene. His pulse jumped at the sight of their bodies, a series of dark, lean lines, perfectly balanced by the curves of Allie’s silhouette. Allie crawled over to Dan, straddling him. Dan held his cock, eager to feel her internal heat. “Take it inside, honey. Ride me good, just like old times.” Her eyes widened. The soft brush of her thighs had him crying out, the anticipation too much. Marty lowered himself to his knees behind her. Allie guided his cock inside. Her pussy pulled him into a warm, passage of heat. Marty’s hands reached around her, cupping

 

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her breasts. Marty’s teeth nipped at her neck. Hissing breaths and guttural groans wove through the air around them. Allie’s hips began to move with a light ebb and flow. Dan covered Marty’s hands with his, four hands and two mouths tending to her. Marty’s hands glided down Allie’s back, slipping down into the seam of her ass. Dan focused on Allie above him, her eyes fluttering, her lips parted. He needed her confirmation. “You feel good?” Her head lowered, her eyes gleaming. “I’m floating,” She moaned, grinding her hips into his harder. Dan thrust up into her. The feel of her slick heat had him entranced. How had he taken things for granted? How great she felt? Was watching Marty savor Allie with him adding to the eroticism of it all? Dan couldn’t see what Marty was doing, but Allie’s body began to twitch and shudder. Marty’s hoarsened words reinforced Dan’s thoughts. “Relax baby, we’re gonna fill you up, flood you with our love.” Marty’s breaths were heaving. “Oh.” Allie’s eyes popped open. “It’s all good,” Dan whispered, holding her face. He could feel Marty’s fingers moving through her pussy, spreading her slickness back, over her hole. Dan could feel Marty’s finger slip inside, moving through her opening cautiously. “Oh my.” Allie lifted her hips, rocking back into Marty. “You like that, baby?” Marty’s hand gripped her hip, his finger stretching her. “You trust me?” “Yes,” Allie breathed. “Oh God.” Her hips moved over Dan’s faster and faster. Dan held her, feeling the bones of her ribcage move under her skin. He gazed up at her, her breasts rising with each breath. He buried himself between them, her heart beating wildly. He felt Marty’s cock make the pass inside her ass. His gruff voice rumbled through the air. “For the love of God!”

 

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It was a harmonized rhythm that seemed to come naturally to the three. Allie rode him, just as he’d asked. Dan’s body coiled into a tight knot. He was on the edge, knowing Allie was close, feeling her body over his go rigid. Her face was slack, her breaths hot and fast. Her head fell back. Satiny strands of her hair brushed over his hands as his fingers traced over the knitted bones of her spine. Marty tunneled into her from behind, his thighs pushing her closer. He fucked her in slow, sweet strokes. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby.” Marty’s words were straining through the darkness. “I want to feel. Want it all.” Her tone hard, voicing her needs. Her pussy pressed down on his cock, clenching around him, milking his stalk. Dan fought for air, crying out to them. “I’m there, so good, sweetheart, Fuck!” His cock pulsated, his orgasm siphoned out of him, showering Allie’s pussy. Marty moaned. His thick fingers cupped Allie’s ass. Flesh slapped into flesh, their cries of pleasure a choral symphony. “Ah, God, give it to me, baby,” Marty whimpered like a lost, little boy. His mouth fell open, his eyes rolling in agonized pleasure. “Love me,” Allie called to them, her body convulsing, her head thrashing. Dan reached for her, caressing her face. The current was strong. Dan could feel it between them, carrying them away into foreign territory, a world he knew they could function in, a lifetime of love. He had no regrets. “We do love you, Allie.” Dan steered her eyes to his. Strands of hair stuck to her heated cheeks. She flinched as they slipped out of her. Allie slumped onto Dan’s belly. A lazy smile turned her lips, her eyes sleepy and contented. Marty wrapped his hands around her waist, his tone dark with need. “I’m not done with you yet.” He rolled Allie over, hovering over her. Marty crawled to the foot of the blanket. His skilled hands slid up her legs, spreading them as his touch moved over Allie’s skin. “I need your taste. I’m starved.” His teeth gritted in hunger, an appetite he

 

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could now cure. Allie’s legs spread wider as his head lowered between them. “Take her, Marty. Lick her beautiful pussy, make her fly again.” Dan reached down to curl his hand around her knee, spreading her, giving Marty all the access he needed. A rushing thrill shot through Dan’s veins like an injected stimulant, a high he couldn’t get enough of. It was a frenzy of passion. He knew Marty could no longer contain his longing, and now he wouldn’t have to. Dan had given Marty free rein, enabling him to unleash a fire he’d struggled to keep contained. Marty slowly worked his tongue deep into Allie’s wetness. “You’re so sweet, baby. Who the hell needs sugar.” Marty’s eyes blazed as Dan watched his tongue feather through her pussy. Allie writhed below them, her eyes heavy. She gave a voice to her delight in faint moans and whimpers. Dan held her, kissing her softly as her body trembled in ecstasy. **** The briny sea air coated her skin as the men slept. Their breaths cycled in and out of her ears like the oscillating sea. Allie stared into an endless sky. Dan and Marty’s bodies surrounded her in their warmth. Salted tears spilled down her sticky cheeks. Thoughts of Tess plagued her mind. Was she a hypocrite? As if sensing the torment, Marty rolled into her, his eyes sifting through her. His forehead lined with worry. “What is it, babe? We didn’t hurt you, did we?” His finger caught her tears, tasting them with his tongue. Allie nodded, wiping her face, her voice scratchy. “I said and thought things about Tess, degraded her because of her behavior and the swing club.” Dan was now awake, his eyes wide with concern. “What does this make me?” Allie waved her hand over

 

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the three of them. Dan’s face stiffened, shaking his head. Marty sat up, his brown eyes glaring down at her. “What Tess wanted was recreational sex with strangers, and hey…it works for some.” Marty gripped her arm. “But you cannot compare that to this.” Marty took her chin in his hand, forcing her eyes to his when Allie tried to escape his pinning stare. “Remember what I told you about depth, Allie?” “I do.” Her words a burning sob. She guided Marty’s lips to hers. Dan’s smooth face grazed against her cheek, his airy words reassuring. “This is about the love, our love.” His fingers threaded through her hair. “Our love for you is so deep, and so strong, that there’s no room for anything else. No games. You hear me.” His tone was unwavering. “What happens when we get home?” Her eyes moved between their shadowed faces. “We begin our life.” Dan smiled. Marty’s deep voice eased through the sloshing sounds of the sea. “Dan wants me to start a furniture business. He’s gonna help me get a website up and running.” He stroked her lips, bending to kiss her. Marty pulled away to see her eyes. Dan rolled into her, grabbing her hand. “I think Marty should doze his house, and build a new workshop and warehouse. People want a good product from a skilled craftsman.” “I guess you’ve both thought about this already?” Allie compared their expressions. “Are you alright with it?” Dan’s eyes held hers, his fingers gripping around hers. “It’s perfect,” she whispered, leaning over to kiss him. Marty’s hand caressed her back as he observed their kiss. She turned her cheek. Dan’s lips trailed down her neck.

 

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Allie’s lips took Marty’s again. His taste, once a part of her past, could now latch onto her present, and take her into the future. She turned, wanting Dan’s mouth again. Her lips parted, welcoming the soft strokes of his tongue. Marty and Dan’s arms wrapped around her, sealing them together, ensuring none of those haunting thoughts from the outside could ever touch her again. Dan’s heated words filled her ear. “No more secrets, sweetheart. Just think about the love, so much to share, and it’s all ours.”

THE END WWW.JC-HOTREADS.COM

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR JC Szot was born in Morristown, NJ. She grew up in the quiet town of Long Valley, NJ. She now lives in Upper Mount Bethel, PA, with her husband Mike. JC has tried to escape her imagination for years. Giving in was the best move she ever made.

Also by JC Szot Siren Classic: Open Spaces

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

 

 

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com