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.'Hello, Mr Gander?'Such problems,' I said.'Call in the ethicists.' Gently, I removed herfingers and placed them on the seat.'Take some time to figure it out, thencall me.'She stared at me, outraged, grabbed her glass, nearly threw herself halfwaydown the booth, and showed me her back.I saw her neck muscles tighten and loosen.I was dealing with something fragile, easily bruised, maybe more dangerousbecause of it.Page 235ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html'Take me back, asshole.''Zena-''Fuck off?'Suit yourself.' I stood, hot-faced, teeth clenched, not having to fake it.She started to slide out of the booth but I blocked her exit, leaning over thetable, glaring down at her.'Get the hell out of my-''Ms Third-of-a-percent,' I whisper-growled.'Because I don't feel likecreaming my slacks right here, We failed you? Shouldn't the elite be a littlemore secure?'My tone made her flinch.She was trying to outstare mebut little things gave her away - nostrils flexing, spots of color sproutingon her face.Pink spots, like a mild case of eczema.Her mouth trembled.Her nipples werebigger than ever, poking at the pink fabric.I threw cash on the table.'It's been an experience.Let's go.''I'll leave when I'm ready.''Suit yourself.' I began walking out.'Where the fuck do you think you're going?''Somewhere without pressure, Z.''Can't handle pressure?''Can but prefer not to.' I kept going.Suddenly, she was at my side, grabbingmy bicep with both hands, clawing through tweed.'Hold on, dammit, or I'll rip your shirt off right here!'I stopped.She moved around and faced me, reached up and cupped my chin in one hand.WhenRobin stands on tiptoe she barely brings herself to eye level with me.Zenamissed by several inches and her breasts were up against my abdomen, our facesnearly touching.Someone watching might have thought it affectionate but shewas squeezing my face too hard for affection and as I felt her nails graze myjawline, I prepared to bleed.'Such a tough boy,' she said.'Such a tough, tough boy -when's the last timeyou were laid?''I don't keep records.'She laughed.'Exactly as I thought.Okay, I'll attribute your lack of mannersto drive level.You deserve release.My place.I'll show you how to getPage 236ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthere.'I drove back to Apollo with her sitting as close as thegearshift would allow, one hand around my neck, caressing idly as she hummedalong with the Bartok she'd found on the radio.Her singing voice was coarse,off-key.I wanted to tell her to shut up.'Tough boy,' she said.'Obviously, I need to be tender with you.'I smiled.Thinking, what the hell am I going to do?For all Milo's and Daniel's cautiousness, nothing had prepared me for this.I thought of Robin's good-bye, two hours ago.How far was I willing to go?I tried to put it in perspective by picturing Irit's body among the trees,Latvinia hanging in the schoolyard, Raymond's bloody shoes, the pain MelvinMyers had felt.But what if this creature hadn't been part of that - nutty butnot dangerous-'Lyric's the next corner,' she said.'Make a left.'As I turned, I allowed myself another look-around for Milo.Once again,moderate traffic, but no one followed me up the steep, shady road.Lyric offered barely enough room for one car and I drove slowly, trying tosort out my thoughts.Zena began to drum her fingers on my thigh.'Keep going to the top.'I checked out the neighborhood.Houses to the right, dry embankment to theleft.Draped with cactus, of all things.Between the homes was an eastern viewthat would have been stunning but for a saucer-shaped suspension of airbornefilth hovering over the skyline.'All the way up,' she repeated, sounding impatient.'Right here - okay, nowturn left over there - that's Rondo Vista.I'm a block up - pull in righthere.'The Karmann Ghia came to rest on a cracked cement pad.It could have been any L.A.hilltop neighborhood, silent, hot, precarious,houses of all sizes and designs, unevenly tended.Facing the pad was a closeddouble garage, next to that, a flat-roofed white box with blue wood trim inneed of touch-up.Leading to the blue door was a short walkway topped withcorrugated fiberglass panels and lined with hanging spider plants, most ofthem dead.Pink geraniums in a window box set on the ground weren't doingwell, either.A rusting hibachi sat near the front steps, leaking orange ontothe cement.'Ma maison,' she said.'French is the language of physicality.'She kissed my cheek, waited for me to open the passenger door, then jumped outand marched ahead, as she had in the restaurant, bare arms swinging, narrowhips swaying, pink heels clacking.She got to the door when I was ten feet behind and opened it.Then shePage 237ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlstopped, stared inside, gave a small wave - greeting someone - and closed it.'Merde, Andrew.We are stymied.' 'What's going on?'She touched my face gently.'Tsk-tsk, the poor lad is suffused with lust andnowhere to spend.Guests, Andrew.Friends staying over.They were supposedto be gone all day, they've changed their plans.Le grand dragomma, but suchisour reality.'I frowned.'So much for spontaneity.''So soddy, my dear.'I kept the frown going.She put a finger to her lip andlooked at her watch.'I suppose,' she said, glancing at the garage, 'I could take you in there andgive you a nice quick suck.but, such a shame to reduce our first collisionto that - where's your place?''The Fairfax district.' She studied me.'A taste for bagels?' 'A taste forcheap.''Do you live alone - of course you do - but, no, it would take too long to getall the way to Semite-town and back, and I really must return to the shop.'The shop.As if she were selling dainty things.I said, 'Great.'She stood higher and pulled me down at the same time.Kissed my nose.'Oh, Andrew, I've done you wrong.Obviously, it just wasn't meant to be.Thanks for lunch.' 'My pleasure.' 'Was it?'Another kiss, softer, on my chin.'Yes,' I said.'Very much so.''That's nice, Andrew.You're being so gallant about this - look at us,standing here being so civil.Aren't we both being wonderfully decent? Ilaughed and she joined in.'I tell you, dear,' she said, placing a hand on my chest.'If the eroticmoment hadn't passed, I would have dragged you into the garage, laid youacross my friends' car, and sucked you to the root.Alas.'I drove her back to the store and this time she opened the door herself andjumped out.'Bye, Andrew,' she said, through the open window.'Shall we meet again?''Shall we, shan't we.that depends upon whether or not you'll settle forless than all of me.''Meaning?''Meaning, in the very immediate future all I can offer youis social contact, dear.Meaning, the closest you'll get to my precious partsPage 238ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlmight be a surreptitious grab punctuating the chitchat.''Chitchat with your houseguests?''And others.' She gave a happy-kid grin.'I've scheduled a soiree, Andrew.Tomorrow night.Cocktails at nine o'clock, casual dress.And you are nowinvited.''What's the occasion?''No occasion, Andrew.A carpe-diem kind of thing -good fellowship and socialintercourse.Fun
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