* * * *
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.
“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.”
“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.
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.
“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 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.
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.
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.