By midday, Kathy had managed to have a shower and some breakfast. Her shower was interrupted with another orgasm as she masturbated to thoughts of Tim. She was still wrapped in a towel when the phone rang. She grabbed the phone on the first ring and said "Hello" quite breathlessly.
"It's nice to know that you're still alive."
"What? Who is this? Oh, hi Diane, I'm sorry I was expecting someone else."
"Someone named Tim, I'll bet. I'll be right over for the details, OK?"
"Oh, yes please, I'll be at the door in a flash."
Almost as soon as she hung up the phone, Kathy heard Diane's knock on her door. Since Diane lived just above Kathy, the stairs were the quickest way to get between their separate apartments. Kathy opened the door and Diane just stared at her.
"Well, are you coming in or are you just going to stand in the hallway?"
"My God, Kathleen O'Riley, you are positively radiant. That must have been some fuck last night."
"It was fucking marvelous and he is marvelous at fucking. You'll just have to wait your turn."
Just then the phone rang and Kathy leapt to answer it on the first ring.
"Hello. Oh, yes, darling, I slept quite well. In fact, I've only been up for a short while. Thank you for the lovely note, it really made my morning. How was your golf game? Oh really, that's wonderful. How about dinner here. I'll fix us a good old American dinner, OK? Yes, 6 would be just fine. Bye, love, see you soon."
"Love? Darling? My, my, things are moving along really quickly, it sounds like. So tell me what happened last night."
Kathy walked towards her bedroom and Diane followed her.
"It'll have to be the short version because I still have to get to the store."
"OK, OK, so tell me. TELL ME!"
Kathy began dressing and talking at the same time. Several times she paused as the feelings Tim had generated in her caused tiny aftershocks to rock her body.
"We went to Southbank for drinks and a bite to eat. By the time we got there, I had this feeling that we were really going to hit it off. We talked for hours... until they kicked us out at 2 am. Just before he opened the car door, he kissed me AND I HAD AN ORGASM RIGHT THERE!"
"Oh, Diane, it was unbelievable!"
"Then he asked if we should go here or to his place. I said I would be more comfortable here. When we got to the door we kissed again and I came again. I was trembling so hard I couldn't let go of him to unlock my door she he just held me until I calmed down. Then I said something silly like "I think you had better come in". I swear, Diane, once we were inside the door it took no time at all to get each other undressed and race to the bedroom."
"I haven't got time to tell you all the details but he was absolutely marvelous. I came at least four more times before I fell asleep and I know he came at least twice. My God, I'm sore all over this morning and I love it. We woke up again later and made love more slowly and then I crashed. I don't remember a thing until I woke up about an hour ago. He left about 4:30 this morning and left me a wonderful note."
Kathy was dressing and talking so quickly that Diane didn't get even a chance to comment. She was listening intently to the story Kathy was telling her and getting excited at the same time. When Kathy finally ran out of steam, Diane began her inquisition.
"Are you sure about all of this? You two hardly know each other."
"It only seems that way, Diane, but believe me this is right. I can tell you right now there is nothing he wouldn't do for me or that I wouldn't do for him. I can feel it in my bones. I just know you will love him as much as I do when you get to know him a little better. Do you want to go to the shops with me?"
"Sure. Maybe I'll get the long version while we shop. I don't suppose you've told him about our arrangement yet, have you?"
"No, I haven't. Do you mind if I wait a few weeks to see if this really is as good as I think it is before we drop that on him? He's really open minded about most things but this hits pretty close to home, you know."
"I guess not. On the condition that you really tell me every last sexy detail of what goes on between you two so I'll have some idea of what I'm getting myself into."
Tim was a few blocks from Kathy's apartment building when he heard the sirens. He identified the sound as a fire engine coming towards him and, a few seconds later saw the approaching ladder truck. The fire truck turned into the side street where Kathy lived and Tim immediately snapped his right foot to the floor. The little car squealed in protest as he charged through the corner. He tapped the brake to set up for the next corner, still hearing the fire siren.
As he swerved around the corner, he spotted the fire engine stopping outside Kathy's building and a knot of people on the front lawn. Tim slid to a halt at the curb about 100 yards behind the fire engine. He bolted from the car, running towards the group and searching for Kathy with his eyes. As he approached, he saw someone waving from the right side and realized it was Diane, so he changed direction to head for her. Thirty feet away, Kathy broke through the crowd and ran to him, arms upraised, tears streaming down her face. Tim stopped and caught her in his arms, asking if she was all right as she flung herself into his embrace.
"Yes, yes, I'm OK but your dinner is ruined."
It took a few seconds for the fact of her statement to sink in, so he hugged her tight and then started to laugh.
"I don't care about the dinner, love, it's you I'm concerned about. What happened?"
She kissed him and he could feel her calming down so he waited patiently for his answer.
"I'm not really sure. I was on the phone with Diane and suddenly there was all this smoke in the kitchen. I yelled to Diane that my kitchen was on fire and hung up. She called the firemen. The smoke was so thick that all I could do was grab my purse and get out. It couldn't have been three minutes later when the fire truck pulled up and then you arrived. I don't understand. I was just cooking dinner."
She cried then, burying her face in his chest, her body racked with sobs as he held her close.
"We'll find out soon enough. Did everyone else get out of the building?"
"Yes, I think so. Mine was the only apartment actually on fire."
She backed up a little and looked him directly in the eyes, terror welling up in her own eyes.
"Oh, Tim, what if my whole apartment is burned up? What will I do? Where will I go?"
"With me, love, with me. Come on, let's see what's really happening before you scare yourself some more."
Tim began to steer her towards the spot where Diane stood watching the commotion. As they approached, Diane breathed a huge, audible sigh of relief.