Many thanks to my editor, adetaildiva. Without her this would be a poorer story; after her any errors are mine.
*
Three weeks later I was at dinner with Nan on Friday night. She had rented some DVD's and we were going back to her apartment to watch them. "Jack, are you dating someone else?"
"Why do you ask?" I wasn't sure I was prepared for the 'Let's Be Exclusive' talk. I hadn't expected it this soon.
"Well, we get along pretty well?"
"Yes."
"I mean in all ways. We talk. We like the same movies. We like concerts, outdoor things?"
"Okay."
Her voice dropped to a throaty whisper. "We certainly get along in bed!"
"Definitely."
"But one weekend you'll take me out on Friday and the next on Saturday. Never both days and never two Saturdays in a row or two Fridays. You're dating someone else, too."
"You're right."
"Jack, I haven't asked for an exclusive commitment, and I'm not going to ask for one now. I just want to know where I stand." There was at that moment what the novels refer to as a pregnant pause. I could see she was waiting for some kind of response.
The first reaction was from the little head. 'I'm not going to get anymore pussy!'
In these situations the immediate reaction is to say anything that will maintain access to pussy. Well, almost anything. I will not use the 'L' word indiscriminately. I do have certain standards even if they are low.
"Nan, I told you early on that you are the first person I've dated since Kathy died. I do feel that we've connected, but I have to be sure that I'm not grabbing the first woman who comes down the pike. I don't think of you that way," I hastened to add, "but I need to be able to compare my emotions."
"I am not with you just for sex. Although," I smiled, "with you that's certainly an excellent reason. I like being with you. I just need to be more certain of my feelings. I also have to think about Bobby. I haven't got all these criteria sorted out."
"Okay. I can accept that, but you'll tell me if things change?"
"Of course. It's not my plan to just string you along while I'm looking for someone else."
We started talking about the movies she'd rented as we finished our coffee. "I was in the mood for old whodunits tonight so crime and gore."
"Alfred Hitchcock?"
"No,
Body Double
with Melanie Griffith,
Black Widow
with Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, and
Basic Instinct
with Sharon Stone." I guess for a twenty-four-year-old those were old movies.
"Wow, some twisted plots or is it twisted people."
Nan was hanging on my arm as we walked to the car. Her boob was mashed against my arm, reassuring my smaller head that things were going to be all right.
I was nibbling on Nan's neck as she opened her apartment door. We were greeted to the sight of Cass sprawled on the couch taking a shot of tequila.
"Aren't you supposed to have a partner for this game," I joked.
"Goddam prick stood me up for a Wizards game," she retorted. "'s OK. I shtarted one of the movies Nan rented to keep me company."
"Which one?" We had screwed while Cass was in her bedroom before, so I didn't see this as a major obstacle before several hours of fun.
"
Black Widow.
"
Nan put out some snacks and we all settled on the couch to watch the movie. We restarted it so I got to see the alluring shots of Ms. Russell swimming in her birthday suit. In the movie, Russell sets up Winger to take the fall for a murder. However, the women have become close friends and shortly before the murder, Russell kisses Winger full on the mouth.
Just after that scene, I noticed that the salty snacks had made my mouth dry. "Pause the movie and let me get something to drink."
"Shotsh aren't good 'nuff for you," slurred Cass.
"Shots are fine, but how about a beer chaser? I'm really dry."
"Your boyfriend got all hot 'n bothered by that kish."
"Every guy's wet dream, two beautiful women kissing. Right, Jack? I bet you'd like to see me kiss Cass? Wouldn't you?"
"Two hot, beautiful women like you? You know it, baby," I said with my best leer.
"Okay." Nan smiled at me then turned to Cass. "Pucker up, girl. I'm going to lay one on you." She put her arm on the couch behind Cass's head. They both shifted nervously for a few seconds. Nan tilted her head slightly and leaned toward her roommate. Cass tilted her head. Nan moved slowly, her lips less than an inch from Cass. Suddenly, she shifted and kissed her cheek. Then she blew a raspberry there.
Nan looked at me and grinned. "Gotcha!"
"Now I'll get you a beer," Nan stated. She returned with two beers, two shot glasses, a salt shaker and some lime wedges.
"Aw right," exclaimed Cass. "Now fer some ser'us drinkin'."
Nan lined up all three shot glasses and filled them while I took a long pull on my beer bottle. She presented me with the salt shaker. "You first."
I pulled Nan's camisole strap off her shoulder, licked her collarbone and sprinkled out some salt. I picked up my shot glass, licked the salt off her and downed the tequila. "The hell with the lime," I kissed her and our tongues wrestled for about thirty seconds.
"Hey, you guys. Get a room." As we broke, Nan turned to Cass and handed her the salt shaker.
"Wass good fer the goose," Cass pulled Nan's other strap off her shoulder. The camisole was suspended on Nan's ripe melons only by friction and size. Cass licked the base of Nan's neck and sprinkled the salt out.
The world narrowed to Cass's lips and Nan's neck. The bright red tongue extended to lick the salt, delicately, not with the puppy-dog lick I had used. It seemed to be tracing patterns on the smooth skin, not washing it. Then it retracted and the shot glass poured its liquid down a graceful throat. Finally, the lips moved to Nan's lips.
Slowly, softly, the pairs of lips merged. At first they merely brushed, but then they pressed together flatly, and finally they opened. From the movements of the cheeks I could tell that the tongues were playing. The lips parted after an indeterminate period .
I looked at Nan. Her breathing was ragged and her eyes were dilated in lust.