Saturdays with Bob out of town always made Billie's restlessness worse, and lately it had been almost unbearable at any time. She couldn't understand it. Things really couldn't be better. Bob was a wonderful husband; they had many things in common. Oh sure, their sex life could be better, but who's couldn't? And besides, sex was only a minor part of marriage...so what if Bob could stand to be a little more imaginative, a little more...well...a little more forceful? She shook herself. She had to stop thinking this way. It just increased the restless feeling. It was sex, she knew that, but felt ashamed to admit it, even to herself. Somehow, she thought, she had to get up the nerve to talk to Bob about it. It was surely as much her fault as his, but he seemed perfectly happy. If he was unaware of the problem, there was no way she could solve it by herself.
Oh to hell with it! She got up from the breakfast table and hurried into the bedroom. She had to get out of this empty house, had to see people, someone...anyone. She dressed hurriedly, putting on a racer back, blue tank sweater with a white, stretch twill mini-skirt. She didn't wear a bra, choosing only a tiny pair of bikini panties for her underclothes; she even decided against any hose, feeling deliciously wicked as she backed the car out of the garage. With no real goal in mind, just driving, she headed toward the beach on Santa Monica Boulevard, and then turned north toward Malibu. When she got there she didn't stop, but turned back inland. At about one o'clock she was in the Hollywood Hills, driving aimlessly. She passed a sign announcing the opening of a new home development and on impulse she decided to tour the models.
She stopped in the sales office for directions and a map, and then drove into the development. The first model was a three bedroom home and a tall, well-built black man was just coming out as she reached the door. He smiled at her and stepped back, holding the door for her. She returned the smile and thanked him.
A young couple was standing in the living room talking, so Billie moved quickly into the kitchen. She glanced around for a few moments, and then wandered through a too-formal dining room and back into the living room. The young couple was gone, but the black man had returned. He was an older man, probably around fifty she decided. He was staring at her, not smiling now. She stared back, her body suddenly alive.
"A very nice house, don't you think?" he said.
"Yes, very beautiful."
She remained standing in the doorway leading to the dining room, her eyes following him as he moved around the room. She was surprised to find herself trembling.
"You must see the bedrooms," He said, "especially the master bedroom."