CHAPTER 7: Part 1: In the middle of the great dark soothingness of sleep…
In the middle of the great dark soothing nothingness of sleep came a thick tentacle around her naked middle, dragging her across the bed. Katherine woke with a start, feeling small and helpless as the creature scooped her up. She looked down at an arm around her, but its dark hairs and muscular sinews looked foreign and strange below her white breasts. As the arm gathered her up against a naked body, she shot a fearful glance over her shoulder. When she recognized Rick lying on his side, his eyes closed, she shook the nightmare from her head and relaxed.
To her astonishment, he was still fast asleep. He must have reached out for her in his sleep, pulling her to him instinctively. Desire suddenly fishtailed through her belly. She put her hand over his large one and closed her eyes.
Details from last night swam through her mind. Him looming over her in bed, holding himself up with his arms, bending down beneath the sloping ceiling to kiss her. The warm, slightly salty taste of his shoulder. The magical feeling of his hands running uncritically down her body. Leaning forward to fit her breasts into those waiting cupped hands.
She stretched with a tingle of pleasure and rubbed against him. He muttered incoherently and his hand tightened around her. She felt him grow warm behind her and cautiously shifted her buttocks. His mouth came against her neck and his arm lifted off her a moment. Then she felt him between her legs and she bent forward slightly. There was a slight pinch which she eased by snuggling against him, and his hand came back and covered her breast. When she guided his fingers to stroke her, his mouth lifted off her and he called out “What?”
She shushed him, and he felt along her hip. “You thief,” he whispered into her ear, and then kissed it and stuck in his tongue. Katherine moaned. “What day is it?” he asked. “Saturday,” she said, beginning to rock gently. “Saturday,” he said with a sigh, then exclaimed “Oh my god, what time is it?” as he pulled roughly away from her, causing her to cry out in discomfort.
He lunged off the bed toward the night table, his long arm stretching for her clock radio. “Jesus,” he breathed. “I’ve got to be going.” He jumped out of bed and looked around the room, then swooped up his clothes from the floor.
Katherine watched in amazement as he hurriedly turned away from her to step into his underwear, and then began hopping on one leg as he got into his jeans. He looked around again, one hand at his head rubbing his hair, murmuring “My shirt?” Before she could say anything, he snapped his fingers, grinned and said “I’ll bet it’s downstairs on the couch.” His face softened into a smile as he approached Katherine and kissed her cheek and then her neck. “That’s where all this got started, right?” He nipped her until she laughed and tried to squirm out of reach, but he climbed onto the bed and pinned her down. She looked at him in invitation, but he groaned and kissed her with chaste lips. “Sorry, but I’ve got to go. Don’t get up.”
Stunned, Katherine lay in bed listening to him clatter down the stairs. His footsteps went into the living room and a moment later, went to the kitchen door, where he said loudly “I’ll call you. Bye.” Soon she heard his truck start and drive away.
“Un-be-liev-able,” she enunciated. There were the clacking sounds of claws on a bare floor, and something wet touched her hand. “Noodle!” she cried. “Where were you all night, baby dog? I forgot all about you.” She patted the bed and he put his front paws on the mattress, but he was too small to jump up. She put her hands around his warm fuzzy belly and lifted him. She tucked the covers carefully up around her, and then snuggled the puppy on top of the covers. When he began sniffing and licking her hand with great interest she grew embarrassed and pulled it away. Her other hand stroked his fur idly. “Maybe Rick had to go home because of Goldie. Let her out.” She closed her eyes and dozed.
Something troublesome was squirming up into her consciousness. Disappointment at Rick’s sudden departure, yes. Well, all right, annoyance. Suspicion, even. Why would he panic about Saturday morning? Something else about Rick, though. Last night. This morning. Sex. Good sex, yes. Very good sex. The kind you want more of. Uninhibited, free sex. Her hand lifted off Noodle’s fur and froze. Without the bother of birth control.
Her hands came up to her face and clawed through her hair as she stared unseeing at the opposite wall. Dread sank in her as conflicting thoughts raced for notice. Surely don’t have to worry about birth control any more. Too old. Could still happen. Not from one night. It was several times. But how adolescent to have to stop for birth control. Not on the pill any more. Not for years. And would it be so terrible to be pregnant? Imagine having a baby, after all. Some single women have a hard time finding a father for their children. Anger suddenly flared, that he hadn’t been concerned about birth control either. Where was his condom? She seemed to hear a gong strike once and linger as she realized that she had another worry. Not just pregnancy, but AIDS.
She sat up in bed and hugged her knees, rocking. A little flow gushed from her body, causing part of her mind to note that she had to change the sheets, while another part seemed to hiss the terrifying words: pregnant, AIDS. How can it be. Haven’t been laid in years, and the one chance I get, totally lose my mind. Her cheeks burned with shame. What an idiot. Might have gotten myself pregnant. Have to wait a month, or more, with my meandering, casual periods. Thought I was all past this kind of worry. How college age, how teenage. So undignified to have to worry about this. Especially when chances for sex are practically non-existent. Her fists pounded the mattress, causing Noodle to stand up. It’s not fair.
She flung herself onto her back and then curled up on her side, clutching the duvet protectively. Maybe all right. Maybe not pregnant. Probably not, especially if you might be approaching menopause. In fact it’s downright difficult to conceive at age 40 even if you want to. And as for AIDS, he doesn’t seem the kind of person to have AIDS. But she knew from guests she had interviewed that anyone could have AIDS. Can’t tell by looking. Just have to discuss it with him. She rolled her eyes as she realized that she should have had that conversation before having sex.
She imagined calling him up and asking “I was wondering, is there any chance you might have AIDS?” She didn’t even know his phone number. How can you sleep with someone and not know that? I’m usually so thorough and careful. But last night everything just got out of control. First the fire, and then…more fire, she thought with a humourless smile. Sex makes you crazy, she decided. Enough! Can’t lie in bed worrying all the time. Put the thought of pregnancy out of my mind and wait. As for AIDS, discuss it with him the next time I see him. If I ever see him again.
She imagined his next visit, coming into the kitchen with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a box of condoms in the other, apologizing for forgetting. He bends to kiss her, and she smells the wind in his hair, the sun on his jacket, and she pulls it off him as he fumbles with her clothes again, just like last night…she shook her head and swung her legs out of bed, going off to have a bath. Get a grip.