Authors: Layne Macadam
Once outside, Liz declared, “Those college boys were keen.”
“Yeah, you got that right. They must have thought they were on to a sure thing with older more sophisticated women of the world like us.” Kathy chuckled, tongue in cheek as the two girls linked arms.
The night for Kathy had been fun despite the wandering hands, like old times, and she was grateful that Liz had come to visit. It had brightened her up no end, and they were giggling like a pair of light-hearted teenagers as they strolled the three blocks home.
“What was that?” Liz asked, stopping by the park and turning toward the bushes.
“What was what?”
“That.”
Kathy heard it then too, a kind of muffled whimpering. Liz parted the bushes revealing a lumpy moving hessian sack tied with a rope. “Be careful,” Kathy cautioned as Liz unknotted the cord, but her concern was unwarranted as out wiggled a tiny puppy.
“Poor baby.” Liz scooped the little ball of fluff into her arms.
“Who would do such a cruel thing?” Kathy gasped.
“There’s a lot of sick puppies out there, pardon the pun.” The puppy gave a little bark and licked Liz’s face. “I’ll bet you’re hungry aren’t you, Cindy? Let’s get you home and fix you something to eat.”
“Cindy? Home? We can’t take her home—my lease has a strict no animals clause.”
“Here then, heartless.” Liz shoved the puppy into her hands. “You put her back in the sack.”
Liz waited—her expression smug while Kathy fought an internal war. “Okay, all right, I give up.” She threw up her hands. “But just for the night, tomorrow we find her somewhere else to stay.”
“She’s not really a grouch Cindy.” Liz smirked tickling the puppy behind the ears. “She just has a problem with breaking the rules.”
*
Sonny followed the girls at a discreet distance inordinately pleased with the night’s events. On arrival at the club he’d hung back, obscured in the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings while the redheaded bitch made eyes at the doorman. He was proud of his girl though, she didn’t interact, just watched and waited patiently until they’d finished, not at all interested in engaging in idle flirtations.
When they’d gone inside he’d followed and taken up a discreet position on the opposite side of the room, content to watch and photograph her unobserved and marvel at her beauty.
When that clown started pawing her on the dance floor, he’d almost flown at him in a rage, but she’d acted true to form and sorted him out quick smart. She was pure, he just knew it. Pure as twenty-four carat gold and she had a kind heart, just look how she’d treated the stray. Yes, his woman was one fine lady, and he could hardly wait until she shared his bed.
* * * *
Ice’s head filled with fantasies of Doe Eyes as he walked home in the dark. He hadn’t had a woman in far too long, that had to be the explanation as to why he was so hot under the collar for this piece of tail.
Damn filthy luck he’d missed his chance, he chided himself as he scaled the stairs to his apartment and let himself in. Too dog-tired to be bothered with lights, he headed straight for the bedroom. The street lighting from the open window was more than ample to see by.
After toeing off his boots he stripped, discarded jeans, shirt, and socks in one untidy pile, crossed to the window and drew the curtains, instantly darkening the bedroom. The air was still warm from the heat of the day, too warm for a blanket he decided shoving it to the foot of the bed as he crawled naked between the sheets, but sleep eluded him.
The debriefing scheduled for tomorrow should have been what occupied his thoughts, but instead he kept mentally humping the hottie from Shenanigans, his imagination in overdrive as he envisaged what it would be like to have her snuggled up butt naked in his bed for a week.
She was a honey. No question about that.
Her chestnut hair curled in flippant wisps around her face. He liked the way the back was twisted up and held there by some sparkly contraption that twinkled under the lights showcasing her exquisite neck. She was a sexy wench. And her breasts were amazing as they rose and fell, threatening to burst right through that flimsy top she was wearing.
Teasing.
Taunting.
Tantalizing.
His mind was a swamp. The ribald images were so vivid it was like watching his own private porn flick.
When their eyes met and locked, the atmosphere had charged with desire unleashed. Sexual tension crackled through the airwaves, and her sultry glances confirmed she’d felt the connection as well.
Why had he waited so damn long to make his move? Of course a sex kitten like her would have guys lining up, those two young bucks had moved in like a shot.
He thickened with lust as he fantasized about her soft pliant body lying naked beneath his. She had bewitched him. It was an alien feeling, all the more strange because even as a young man with a raging libido he’d always held himself in check, rarely fantasized.
No way was he going to get any sleep in this condition. What he needed was a cold shower to take the edge off. Ice threw back the covers in disgust, stomped into the bathroom and turned on the jets.
Under the spray he thought about the past. He had gone to great lengths all his adult life to avoid close relationships. Except for the time he’d dated Janine. Twenty-three years old with stars in his eyes, he thought she’d been the real deal. That is until he’d hopped an early flight one winter’s night and lobbed in unexpected at two in the morning.
He’d had no idea, not even an inkling. It had come from left field and hit him like a freight train, and just like that two years of his life evaporated like the morning mist. What made it harder was that he knew the guy, called him friend. Ha, weasel was more like it. In hindsight though the jerk had done him a favor, as it turned out the weasel wasn’t the only dude banging Janine while he was away. It knocked him off kilter at the time, but now he struggled to even remember her face.
No more emotional entanglements or long-term commitments, experience had taught him they just weren’t worth the hassle. His sex life these days consisted of romps with women who knew the score and were only looking for a good time. Predators, much like himself and that suited him fine. He was happy to oblige.
Of course, they weren’t all one-night stands. There had been a couple of women he dated on and off on a semi-regular basis, but they never amounted to anything for either of them, and when he called it quits, no hearts were broken, no tears were shed.
He was a loner and that’s how he liked it. He’d resigned himself to that fact years ago, but when Janine came along he thought his luck had changed; it hadn’t. Now he was committed to the Navy, work was his life and marriage was not in his vocabulary. If he wanted family, he’d go to Frosty’s and borrow his.
Back in bed refreshed from the shower and his ardor temporarily cooled, Ice tried to push all thoughts of Doe Eyes aside. It was easier said than done. She kept slipping back into his mind uninvited, but thinking about her was pointless. He redoubled his effort to clear his head in order to sleep, but it was proving damn near impossible.
Hell, he thought he’d had her, would have taken bets on it, but in his arrogance had waited so had missed his chance. His eyes tracked her every movement though and under the ultraviolet lighting, her tight white pants left nothing to the imagination. He had no problem defining her curvy ass through the thin fabric and what a great ass it was too, she was either butt naked underneath or at the very most wearing a thong. Yeah, he’d sure been on a winner with that one but damn it, he’d fucked up and so junior no doubt was sampling her honey pot right now while he was alone in bed with his dick in his hand. Fuck life was cruel.
Rolling from side to side in his king sized bed, Ice tossed and turned restlessly. It was in the small hours that he finally dozed off, but it wasn’t for long. A little over an hour later he was rudely jolted awake.
He cocked his head and listened, trying to identify the noise. High pitched squealing came through the bedroom wall.
Ice dived out of bed and snatched up his jeans, wondering what the hell was going on in that apartment, but in his haste to dress, tripped and cracked his forehead on the nightstand. He swore a blue streak and hauling himself to his feet made for the door, and then skidded to a halt as realization hit him like a ton of bricks. It was a damn dog.
A damn dog that had no business being in an apartment block that strictly prohibited animals. What in the name of Zeus was that scatterbrained woman thinking?
Although Ice had never clapped eyes on his neighbor, he knew she was a woman, he’d seen her name on the mailbox.
Miss Bellamy
. He could just picture her too. A prissy-assed spinster with nothing better to do than break rules and annoy her neighbors.
Pissed off but satisfied no one was in danger; he stripped and with a don’t care attitude, tossed his jeans over a chair and crawled back into bed for a few more hours of shut-eye. That soon proved impossible.
Lying awake in the dark he glared at the digital clock display that registered 03:05, he needed to be sharp for tomorrow’s meeting and he’d had less than an hour’s sleep.
“Perfect,” he grumbled aloud, “Just bloody perfect.” He punched the pillow and tried to settle into a comfortable position.
Quietness reigned again and Ice relaxed, but just as he was teetering on the brink of sleep the infernal whimpering started again.
He rolled onto his stomach and grabbing the pillow wrapped it around his ears to muffle the noise, but there was no escape. The whimpering didn’t let up, just went on and on until he was ready to explode.
Once again gritty eyes settled on the clock. As he watched it click over to 03:45 his temper boiled and he blew his stack.
Ice flew out of bed like a man possessed, bashed on the wall and bellowed,
“Shut that fucking dog up!”
Goddamnit, what the hell was he thinking? Ice was immediately contrite. He’d let his temper get the better of him and would now have to pay the price by apologizing to the old broad in the morning.
*
Kathy was in paradise having the most wonderful, amazing time. The midday-sun streamed down warming her bikini-clad body while Adonis rubbed suntan lotion into her skin. Waves lapped at the shore, coconut palms swayed in the gentle sea breeze while Adonis whispered endearments into her ear, his words a sensual caress.
An idyllic setting, with a god fondling her in the most delicious way. Suddenly the sky darkened. Black clouds gathered overhead, the wind gusted and blew, froth capped breakers pounded the shore and the palm trees shook so violently that the coconuts fell.
Thud, thud, thud.
Kathy was rudely wrenched back into reality. She blinked open her brown eyes and stared into the darkness. Momentarily disorientated, she slipped out of bed and fine-tuned her hearing. Oh no, Cindy was making a heck of a racket.
Bare footed, Kathy rushed down the hallway to the laundry and slid open the door. She scooped the naughty puppy into her arms and crooned, “Shh, stop that yap…”
“Shut that fucking dog up!”
Kathy’s feet literally left the floor; so unexpected was the intrusion she almost dropped the puppy. “Gee thanks Cindy, see what you’ve done?” she muttered. “Now I’ll have to apologize to that creep in the morning.”
Kathy shivered, whether from standing barefoot on the cold tile or from the verbal assault, either way it was immaterial, she’d broken the rules and would have to pay the price. However indirectly involved in disturbing her neighbor’s sleep, the truth of the matter was, the buck stopped with her. She prayed he’d be reasonable, confrontation of any kind was abhorrent to her, and the aggressor was a formidable man with an intimidating presence. She’d glimpsed him entering his apartment only last week, admittedly it was brief and only from behind, but he was a giant of a man, and she sure as heck had no desire to cross swords with him.
Yes, an apology was called for, and she resigned herself to that fact as she tiptoed out of the apartment and down to the front lawn cradling Cindy in her arms.
The air was crisp and Kathy stood on the dewy grass waiting for the puppy to perform. She prayed no one would see her in her faded and worn nightwear. When Cindy did the expected, she scooped her up and hurried back to the apartment, glad to be leaving the cool night air. Once inside, she was reluctant to leave the dog alone in the laundry fearing another episode so took the puppy to her room and placed her on the bed.
“Now you behave,” she told the little dog. Cindy obliged, and stretching out, rested her head on her tiny paws. Kathy switched off the bedside lamp, snuggled down under the covers, and fell into a fitful sleep.
The early sunlight filtering through the sheer curtaining hours later caressed and warmed. It was going to be another scorcher.
Kathy tilted her chin toward the open window and reveled in the feeling of the sweet morning breeze on her skin.
Not one to waste the day, she arched her back like a cat and stretched, rolled onto her side and slowly opening her eyes blinked. Her lips formed an ‘O’ and a startled cry almost escaped. Curled in a contented ball on the pillow beside her was Cindy.
With the culprit blinking back at her, the whole frightful episode of the night before was brought sharply back. Kathy cringed; the task ahead was unpalatable. Salvage mode was on the agenda.
She gave the pup a quick scratch behind the ear, tossed back the covers and slipped out of bed. The apology would be made right after her run. No point delaying the inevitable, but it was still early, not quite seven, and the creep probably wouldn’t appreciate being woken at this hour, not even for an apology.
Kathy donned her gear ready for her morning run, a ritual she’d performed since arriving at this quaint seaside town. She pulled on her runners, fastened her hair into a high ponytail, and headed for the kitchen with Cindy trailing behind.
Liz was already dressed and seated at the table sipping coffee when Kathy wandered in.
“Good morning, I didn’t expect to see you up so early,” Kathy greeted her. “How did you sleep?”