The smoke from the cigarette and the jostick rose from the ashtray. It twisted round itself and floated past the lamp. The pink shade wafted a soft, warm light around the room, and a low, slow saxophone oozed from the stereo. Caesar was curled at the bottom corner of the bed.
Near the heater.
He stretched out one of his paws as far as he could, inspected his claws and gently lowered the paw onto the bed, just touching Alice's foot through the sheet.
Alice watched him, not moving. She smiled lazily.
"He wouldn't."
At the sound of her voice Caesar's tail rose and he half opened one eye. They looked at each other.
I felt jealous.
Caesar purred and went back to sleep.
Alice took hold of some strands of her hair - long, heavy hair - and examined them. In the rosy light she could see flecks of red. Her hair wasn't that colour, but she liked the effect. She lay there for what felt like ages. Maybe a minute: maybe a year. That was the thing about Alice - she always overindulged. Her motto: nothing exceeds like excess. She had too much hair, too voluptuous a figure, her mouth was too fleshy. God was in a party mood when he made Alice. And Alice liked parties.
"Tell me" she said.
"I can't."
"You won't."
I didn't want to ruin this. I wanted to stay here, just as we were, forever. But not Alice. She was an explorer, a gypsy, a seeker. She scared the hell out of me.
"I'll tell you something," I said. "I need to pee."
And made my escape to the bathroom. Saved by the bladder. I washed and looked round the room. There were jars with different coloured oils, maybe ten different shampoos, real sponges, and a full length mirror. No scales - Alice wasn't a numbers person. If she looked okay, she was the right weight. The toilet seat was insulated. Typical Alice.
I inspected myself in the mirror.
Why wouldn't I tell her? Embarrassment? Nerves? This was new to me. I might be lousy at it. She might start to laugh: I might start to laugh.
"Come out of there and stop procrastinating."
Caesar had woken up. He was walking up and down the bed, meowing impatiently for attention.
Alice sat up with the sheet wrapped round her body and tucked under her arms.
Just like in the movies.
She tilted her head to one side as she stroked Caesar. Her hair tumbled over her shoulder, like fingers stroking her chest. Caesar kept on complaining, wanting more and more attention.
I was beginning to dislike him. But then, being Alice's cat, he would be a glutton. That was logical.
Each time she spoke to him he cried louder, rubbing his cheek against her hand, her arm, her breast. Frantic for more, he tried to bite her, had second thoughts, jumped off the bed and bit me instead. Right on the ankle. I tried a tolerant smile, a composed grin, but was unable to prevent one side of my upper lip curling in suppressed loathing.
Bloodlust satiated, he jumped back onto the bed and curled up in his corner.
"You're a monster, Caesar," laughed Alice. Her smile glittered like she had diamonds in her eyes, pearls in her teeth.
"Don't be annoyed at him, Peter. He's nervous so he shows off. Then again, you did kick him off the bed earlier."
"I was hoping you hadn't noticed that. Hoping you were so engulfed in the throes of passion that you had descended into sensual oblivion."
My voice leered, my face leered - I was getting into this.
Alice slunk down, rested her head on her hand and looked at me. I was stood at the bottom of the bed - at the opposite corner to Caesar.
She said nothing.
She just lay there and stared.
At me.
At Caesar.
At me.