Chapter 7
The girl pointed an accusing finger at him, "You were at the club tonight."
Conway exhaled his relief. "Yeah," he grunted. "I was there."
Teddy looked puzzled. "But why are you here?"
"I followed you," he admitted.
The young girl seemed to shrink from him and fear sprang to her eyes. "Talk?" Her voice was but a whisper.
Conway could see that the girl was frightened. "That's all," he soothed. "Just talk."
Teddy didn't seem convinced. "I ... I suppose I should be glad you're here."
"You're damned right you should," Conway growled.
"Otherwise you'd be playing a harp." He added, "Or is that what you still want?"
The young girl shook her head and tears filled her eyes. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure about anything any more."
Conway stood up. He felt water dripping down his legs from his wet clothing. "We'd better get you someplace to dry off."
"Please don't take me home," the girl said quickly. "How about a friend's house?"
Teddy bit her lower lip. "I don't have any friends."
Conway began to think that the situation had interesting possibilities. What if he took her to Margo's place? He smiled to himself, considering the thought. It would sure show Margo that she wasn't the only dame in his life. And of course, there was always the chance she wouldn't be home. He liked that thought much better. There was no telling what might happen if he could get this girl alone. "I have a place I could take you," he said out loud. "It belongs to a friend of mine."
Teddy guessed what he meant. Her confusion was spelled out in her expression. "I ... I don't think so," she said.
"You have to go someplace," Conway said, getting angry at her delay. "You can't sleep in the park all night." He wondered if her obvious fear of him had been generated by her experience of the night before. A gal who's been raped wouldn't take too readily to strangers ... especially if they were men. He added, "Anyhow, we won't be alone. This friend is a girl."
Those were the magic words. What might have passed for a smile crossed the young girl's face. "All right," she agreed finally.
The next problem was a cab. Conway looked around to study the problem. Just at that moment he saw a set of lights heading their way. Damned if it wasn't a cab.
The driver stopped and stuck his head out of the open window. It was the same man who had brought Conway into the park.
"I figured you might be needing transportation," he grinned. He noticed Conway's wet clothes. "Ain't it a little early for a swim?"
Conway ignored the sarcastic comment and guided Teddy into the rear seat, giving the driver Margo's address.
Twenty minutes later the couple was at the front door of the apartment.
"Are you sure this friend won't mind?" Teddy asked uncertainly as Conway fumbled for his key.
"She won't."
Inside the apartment there was no sign of Margo. Conway greeted this discovery with mixed emotions.
Hanging behind him, still standing close to the front door, Teddy seemed understandably suspicious as she looked around the empty room. "I thought you said your friend would be here," she said nervously.
"I guess she isn't," Conway said. He stripped off his soaked coat. "We might as well make ourselves at home."
Teddy hesitated, obviously still afraid of him. "Maybe ... maybe I'd better go," she suggested slowly.
"Suit yourself," Conway said. "I thought you needed a place to stay."
The young girl seemed close to tears as she tried to make up her mind, forcing herself to come to a decision.
"How about a drink?" Conway said. "That may make you feel better."
"I ... I don't drink," she said slowly. "I think I could use a cup of coffee." She seemed to relax just a bit, stepping deeper into the room, looking down at her soaked clothing. "Do you think it would be all right if I took off my wet things? I could wrap up in a sheet or something."
At that point Conway knew that he'd won the battle.
He went into the bedroom and looked around. "In here," he called out to her. He found a terry cloth robe that looked his size and other stuff he figured she could wear in the closet.
When he turned around he saw that Teddy had followed him. She stood there, waiting, her fingers on the buttons of her dress. "Are you sure this girl won't mind?" she repeated.
"Hell no," Conway assured her.
"I'll close the door after you leave," the young girl said pointedly.
"I've seen you before," Conway reminded her gruffly.
A flush of red came to Teddy's face. "That was different," she said quickly. "We're alone together now."
Conway shrugged and did as she asked. No sense in hurrying things up. She was skitterish enough as it was.
He returned to the front room and stripped off his own clothing, putting on the robe. Then he went into the kitchen and made coffee. He could hear the sound of a shower running in the distance and guessed that Teddy was finally making herself at home.
He poured himself a cup of the hot brew and returned to the front room, drinking it and thinking over the evening so far. A great deal had happened. He wondered how much more was ahead. One thing was sure, die girl in the bedroom was frightened of him. Maybe she had a damned good reason, he reflected. While he'd never been raped, he knew that the experience must leave some kind of a scar.
Another question. Would he have the guts to make this girl with the threat of Margo's return hanging over his head?
More than that, did he want to make her? Supposing in the middle of the act she suddenly remembered him? He'd heard somewhere that the way a man makes love is as sure an identification as his fingerprints.
On top of everything else he felt mighty odd toward Teddy. It was a sensation he'd never experienced before, like a small kid wanting to jump off a roof in order to impress his girl friend.
Conway shook his head in confusion. He was really mixed up.
At that point the bedroom door opened and Teddy came into the living room. Her hair was no longer straggly but combed neatly in place, the golden color a glow beneath the light. She had Margo's satin robe wrapped tightly about her, and her big bosom pressed out hard against the cloth. When she moved toward him it quickly became apparent there was nothing holding the flowing breasts in place.
Teddy guessed what he was thinking. "None of her bras would fit me," she explained.
"You look lovely," Conway said truthfully.
Teddy picked up his cup. "May I get you another?" she asked. "I could certainly use one." Without waiting for an answer she went into the kitchen and quickly returned with his refill and a fresh one for herself. She sat across from him, carefully adjusting the robe about her legs. "This is good," she smiled, taking her first sip of coffee.
"It's instant. I always was a lousy coffee maker."
"It's hot. That's all that matters."
"Tell me," Conway said slowly. "Why did you try to kill yourself?"
Teddy's smile faded. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask."
"Being as I'm the guy that fished you out, I figure I have a right to know."
The young girl sighed. "It's a long, sad story," she said slowly. "I wouldn't want to bore you with it."
"Go ahead," Conway prompted. "Maybe it would do you good to get it out of your system."
"You're sure you don't mind?"
Conway was genuinely interested. He just couldn't figure why a doll like this would want to kill herself. On the surface she looked as if she had everything to live for. "I don't mind," he said.
"Let me get another cup of coffee." When she returned and sat down her robe gapped briefly. She tugged it together but not before Conway was able to get a good look at Margo's black, skin-tight panties. They looked better on Teddy.
"I'm twenty-one," the young girl began. "And I've never been in a man's apartment before."
"That's not much reason for trying to kill yourself."
"I know," Teddy agreed. "It's just that men always look at me with only one thing on their minds. I hate it. My father was like that. Only he got caught in the wrong bed a few years ago and was shot to death. My mother started drinking and now she likes men a little too much."
Conway remembered the scene at her Mother's place and knew the girl was telling the truth so far.
"I only have a high school education," Teddy continued. "I wanted to go to college, but my mother said she couldn't afford it. I thought maybe I could earn my way through."
"By working in a strip joint?" Conway cut in.
Teddy shrugged. Peter's isn't really like that. My mother knows the owner and talked him into letting me do the act. She thought it would be good practice for me to go on the stage and become a big star. Then she could quit work and stop supporting me." She shivered. "I'd give anything to get out of that shabby neighborhood where we live."
Conway thought of his childhood and couldn't find any sympathy for the girl. She had too many stars in her eyes.
"I don't really want to be an actress," Teddy went on. "It was really my mother's idea."
"Just what the hell do you want to be?" Conway asked.
Teddy shook her head. Her golden hair rippled in the light. "I don't know," she admitted. "I'm all confused. I even took some night courses at the University of Chicago, but I was too dumb to pass diem."
"There is such a thing as marriage," Conway suggested. "With most women that's their first choice."
"I know," Teddy said somberly. "Maybe if I met the right man...." The sentence drifted off, endless.
Conway sipped his coffee, staring at the intent girl. "You can't really blame men for what they think," he smiled. "You are very beautiful. You're the kind that brings out the animal in men."
"You too?"
"Me too."
"That's hard to believe," Teddy said. "I don't think I've ever sat with a man this long before without his trying to get his hands on me."
"So because you're confused, you tried to kill yourself?"
"That's about it," Teddy agreed. "I suppose it does sound a little silly."
Conway was relieved that what he'd done to her that night in the dark had had no part in her decision. Out loud he said, "It is silly."
Teddy got to her feet and walked to the window. She stared out a long time then turned back to face him. "You were right," she said finally. "It did help me to talk about it. I feel better."
"Good."
She came closer. Her robe kept parting enough for Conway to see the length of her legs. "It's funny," she said. "I don't even know your name."
"Steve. Steve Conway. Yours is Teddy."
"Teddy Grinson. Actually it's Grinsonvich, but mother changed it for my career." She extended her hand, and Conway took it. The fingers were firm and warm. This gal really excited him.
Conway rose to his feet and used his hand still holding her to draw her still closer to him. For a long moment they stared into each other's eyes. Hers were deep and green, like the sea. The complexion was smooth and flawless. His heart had suddenly begun working hard.
Her mouth was slightly open, the lips moist and tempting. Conway moved his face closer.
Teddy saw what was coming. "No," she said softly. But Conway could already feel her hand on the back of his neck. She was ready.
The kiss made him a little breathless. He'd never been kissed quite like that. There was no heavy emotion involved in the embrace, just the solid meeting of two people. But her lips seemed to quiver beneath his, and the sensation was heady.
After a few seconds, her mouth opened slightly and her breath came through his throat, hot and sweet. At the same time her arms went fully around him, and he could feel the weight of her body against him.
It ended as slowly as it had begun with her pulling back and staying only inches away. "I owed you that," she said softly.
"Was the debt so hard to pay?" Her nearness had really shaken Conway up. This type of gentle love was out of his line.
Teddy sat down abruptly and tugged him to a place beside her. "You're angry," she accused.
Conway shook his head and smiled. "Not at all," he disagreed. "It's just that I've never met another woman quite like you."
"Is that good or bad?"
Conway hadn't figured that one out himself. He placed an arm about her shoulder, and she came to him willingly, leaning her head against his chest. He wanted her and yet he was afraid of beginning the standard maneuvers of conquest. Her being this close both tantalized and drove him crazy. She was soft and warm and smelled of all women. And yet she wasn't the kind to be thrown on the floor and taken.
Conway caressed her cheek and turned her face to his. Her eyes flicked from his mouth to his forehead before they closed when he kissed her again. This time her lips seemed 'further apart, far enough to admit the tip of his tongue. She felt it on her teeth and stiffened, only to relax when it drove a little further into her mouth. She seemed to learn quickly and soon her tongue met his.
;This kiss was endless, a transfusion from man to woman and woman to man.
When the time was ripe Conway slid a hand from her shoulder to the rise of her breast, enjoying the warmth through the robe. He let his fingers lie lightly on the fullness.
When their embrace ended he was still in that position. She opened her eyes and looked up to him. "I've never been kissed like that," she whispered.
Conway ran his free hand through her hair. It was like silk. "I've never wanted to kiss anyone like that."
Teddy twisted in his arms, bringing more of the weight of her. breast to his hand. He closed his fingers on the fullness and felt the hardness of the tip.
"You shouldn't," Teddy scolded.
"Mind?"
She shook her head. "Not really. It's so peaceful here."
Now Conway kissed her and kneaded her breast until the effect was apparent in the expression on her face. She was coming around to what he wanted. And it was his victory.
He touched the belt of the robe and she opened her eyes. "I don't think we should," she said softly, watching him unfasten the satin.
Conway kissed her again, and she moaned a little from the pressure of his lips. Her hand behind his neck pulled his mouth more lightly against hers.
Conway didn't have to look to know her robe was open. His hand was on the softness of bare flesh. Their mouths still together, he ran down the slope of her breast, pushing all covering aside. He took the nipple in his grasp and rubbed it gently between his fingers. It was tiny, small, totally out of proportion to her large bosom.
When Teddy looked at herself again she was bare from the waist up, the robe pulled back on her shoulders. "Oh, Steve," she sighed. "We shouldn't."
Conway didn't listen. He knew the young girl was under his spell. She couldn't resist him now.
And Teddy didn't protest as he touched her freely, tenderly, playing her body as if it were a fine piano.
There were panties left. A black patch of nylon covering the golden profusion. He ran his hand beneath the elastic, ignoring the command of his body to hurry and take her. She stiffened and whimpered as his fingers crept slowly across her stomach. He'd work her until she begged to be taken. Conway's breathing was suddenly ragged.
And then the phone rang, a harsh, insistent jangle that broke the spell he'd woven into a thousand pieces.
Conway cursed the intrusion, ignoring the noise as he continued touching the girl.
The instrument sounded again.
Teddy opened her eyes. She looked at herself, as if seeing what he'd been doing to her for the first time. "No," she said. This time the words carried authority. "You'd better answer your phone."
Conway hesitated a few seconds longer. It was obvious he couldn't do anything more to her now. Regretfully he got to his feet and picked up the telephone.
Margo was at the other end of the wire. "Hello, darling," she said cheerfully. "I'd begun to think you hadn't come home again."
At that moment Conway could gladly have killed the woman. "I am," he snapped. "What the hell do you want?"
"My, aren't we edgy tonight. Did I interrupt something?"
Afraid that she might be suspicious, Conway changed his tone to sweetness. "I was just catching some sleep," he lied.
"That's fine. I want you well rested up."
"When you coming home?"
"That's what I called about. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon."
"Good. I'll be waiting." He hung up the instrument without further conversation. Looking up he saw Teddy standing by the window, the robe again pulled protectively about her body. "Where were we?" he asked, grinning, trying to recover lost ground.
"You were about to take my panties off," Teddy said somberly.
Conway nodded and moved closer to her. "Then let's get at it.
"Is that what you want?"
He has a raging fire in his guts for the girl, and she asks a stupid question like that. "I figured you had it in mind when you asked to be brought here," Conway said.
"I needed help. I thought I could trust you. Besides, I didn't ask."
"Well you don't go around asking to be taken to a man's apartment without paying off the debt." He ignored her correction.
Teddy's eyes were hard on him. Tears had begun to trickle down her cheeks. "All right," she said, her voice only a whisper. "You can have what you want." She flipped the robe open and let it slide to the floor. Her fingers went beneath the elastic of the remaining panties. "Should I take these off, or do you want to?"
Conway stepped in quickly, before she changed her mind, holding her against him, feeling the warmth of her bare body.
But he felt something else. The young girl was trembling as she fought back her tears. He knew at this point that if he gave her a jolt she might snap out of it. What then? Conway wanted this girl more than once, much more. She was young and strong and had a lot of good loving in her. She was Margo all over. He could have one glorious fling right now or be patient and have all he wanted. Teddy was the kind who would appreciate his being kind to her.
Conway made his decision. With the heat of her flesh against him it wasn't easy. He pushed her gently to arm's length and looked into the tear-streaked eyes. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "You're a lot of woman for a man to resist. I think you'd better go to bed now."
"Alone?"
"Alone. I'll sleep out here on die couch."
Teddy flashed him a radiant smile of gratitude. "Thank you," she said sincerely.
"Now git," Conway snapped. "I might change my mind."
Teddy needed no second urging. She picked up her robe and vanished into the bedroom.
Conway had himself a drink and wondered if he was getting soft in the head. Still, he knew one thing. If you wanted to catch a big fish you had to wiggle the bait a little. His investment of keeping his hands off the girl might pay off handsomely.
With that final thought he called it quits for the day and went to bed, dreaming of naked women jumping over a fence. He slept well.
It was the smell of fresh coffee that awakened Conway. He lay on the couch wondering if his nose was deceiving him. Finally he couldn't stand it any longer and he opened his eyes. Teddy was standing above him, holding a tray, looking down, an amused smile on her face.
"I thought you'd never wake up," she said.
Conway wondered if he were still asleep. If so, this was a wonderful dream. The young girl looked like some sort of angel with the morning sun shining on her blonde hair. Of course angels didn't dress quite that way. Teddy had borrowed some more of Margo's clothing. The white blouse was straining at the buttons, some of the breasts showing through the V neck of the material. On the other hand the skirt was loose on her hips. "You look as if you feel better."
"I feel wonderful," Teddy confessed. "That was a silly thing I did last night."
"Which one?"
She flushed as she set the tray down on the table and poured 'him a cup of coffee. "Trying to kill myself."
"It was pretty dumb." Conway started to throw back the covers, but remembered in time he'd slept naked. He discreetly tucked a blanket around him, not wanting to frighten the girl off.
"I was scared," Teddy said slowly. She sat across from him, crossing her legs, careful he didn't get too good a view. She wasn't too successful. She was still wearing the black panties. "I didn't know which way to turn."
Conway sipped his coffee, amazed at her change of mood. "Do you know now?"
"I do. I'm quitting the club. I'm going to get an apartment by myself. Then I'll find a job as a model. Several people have told me I'd make a good one."
"You have changed," Conway grinned. "All this since last night?"
"I think we all need a real shock to wake us up. I've been trying to live out my mother's ambitions. That doesn't work."
Conway found a cigarette and lighted it, noting that his clothes had been pressed and were neatly laid out on the back of a chair. He could see by the look in the girl's eye that she really meant what she was saying. He wondered if he couldn't add a few things to her plans, like paying for the apartment so that he might use it at his convenience. On second thought why not let her pay for it and he'd still use the place? Models made plenty of money. "Now you're talking," he said.
Teddy looked around the room and back at him. "Is this your apartment?"
"No. It belongs to a friend of mine. I told you that last night."
"She must be an awfully good friend."
"She is."
"A sleeping friend?"
"Now you're getting personal."
Teddy smiled and put her cup down, folding her hands across her lap. "I used to think everybody was decent and honest. Then I found out otherwise. But after last night I think there's still hope."
"What about last night?"
"I was really asking for trouble by having you take me in. And I don't know of another man that would have let me sleep by myself. I just want you to know I appreciate it."
Conway sipped his coffee, admiring her beauty, wondering where all this talk was leading. "Think nothing of it," he grunted.
Teddy got up and came over to sit beside him. "I want to think about it," she said slowly. "After I went to bed I lay there awake for over an hour, expecting you to come in. She blushed slightly. "When you didn't come to me I came out here to you. I wanted to tell you that I was sorry that I'd been so nasty."
Conway began to get the drift. "That all?" he asked.
"No," Teddy said somberly. "Before I came in here I took all of my clothes off. I was hoping you'd give me a second chance to show my appreciation. But you were asleep. That was a shame, because you were the only man in my whole life I'd ever wanted to sleep with."
Conway knew he had it made. He'd wiggled the bait and she'd taken the hook. Now all he had to do was reel her in carefully. He didn't want this one to get away. "Why the past tense?" he asked.
Teddy leaned closer to him. "Because you scare me, Steve," she admitted. "There's something about you that makes me want to forget everything I've ever learned about modesty. I like you to see me without clothes. I'm afraid I'd like even more than that."
Conway pulled her to him and kissed her hard. The embrace broke the back of any resistance she might have had left. Her lips pressing at his, her tongue darting toward his throat told him of her building desire.
"Is it so wrong?" Teddy asked breathlessly when she pulled away. "Tell me it isn't wrong."
"Is it important?" Conway asked. He'd become a little short-winded himself.
Teddy nodded somberly. Close up her lips looked moist and smelled of fresh lipstick. "It is to me," she said softly. "I'm afraid I've fallen in love with you."
Her statement caught Conway by surprise. "You can't mean that," he said.
Teddy rose to her feet and walked a short distance away, turning toward him. "I do. I always thought it would happen this way. Fast, I mean. I'm all soft inside and looking at your turns my heart upside down. Please don't ask me to explain love. I can't. I only know how I feel." She moved closer to him. "You can do anything to me you'd like."
"You're sure?"
"I want you, Steve," she said softly. "All my life I've had a place reserved for you."
Still seated, Conway put his hands on her hips, letting his fingers dig into die softness of her buttocks. She'd worked him up good with her talk, and it was only with the greatest restraint that he kept from jumping her. "Get undressed," he said slowly.
Her eyes didn't leave his for an instant as she opened the blouse. The tight material fairly exploded from the pressures within it. After tossing the cloth aside Teddy looked down at her bra. A wisp of a smile crossed her face. "I don't know why I ever bothered putting it on," she said. "Maybe it was because I wanted you to take it off." She slid the straps off her shoulders and turned for him to finish the job.
Conway's fingers trembled as he unsnapped the hooks. She threw the material impatiently aside and leaned her bare back against him, her hair flowing over his shoulders. When his hands clenched her breasts she covered them with her own fingers, pulling them even tighter.
"I'm on fire," she whispered into his ear. "I feel wicked and sinful."
Conway kissed her cheek. Her mouth widened and closed in response to his fingers toying with the nipples. "They're big," he grunted.
"I used to hate them," Teddy admitted. She ran her lips over his as she talked, flicking her tongue deep into his mouth, drawing it out slowly against the pressure of his teeth. "I don't any more. For years I've been saving myself for someone. Now I'm yours."
Conway kissed her shoulder, then ran down the steep slope of the fullness until he had a tip within his mouth. It was bigger than ever, growing in response to what they were doing.
The couple on the couch forgot time as they explored each other's bodies. Teddy soon tired of having her breasts teased and wanted something more exciting. She watched Conway tug her skirt above her legs, held it at her waist for him while he ran his hands up and down the incredibly smooth flesh of her thighs, spread herself for him so that he might caress her further.
Still not enough. Teddy moaned within his arms. She held his hand and took it to where she wanted to be touched, working herself against it, damning her protection.
Her eyes were glazed as she loosened her skirt, stood for a second, swept it and her panties to the floor, sat again on his knee, naked, writhing with passion, watching his hands seek her.
But even this didn't satisfy the young girl. She touched him with her own hand, whimpering slightly as her fingers curled around him, squeezing with strength that surprised Conway.
He'd never been so worked up. For an amateur the girl had amazing experience. He knew that they'd better get together quickly or this whole build-up would have been a waste.
Teddy twisted until she was against him, her breasts heavy and wet on his chest, her mouth a cavern of heated desire. "Do it to me now," she panted. "Before I explode."
Conway carried her to the bedroom, her lips on his, maintaining the peak of heated passion between them. He placed her gently on the unmade bed and for a moment enjoyed the sight of a woman in unbridled want. Her hair streamed down her body. The breasts were large pools of trembling beauty. She was ready, her legs outstretched.
He placed one knee on the bed and she took hold of him, her eyes opening momentarily at the wonder of the man, gently bringing him toward her, the hips reaching out to him.
Conway hesitated. Despite his passion he felt the coldness of a chill. His moment of truth was at hand. Would she recognize him as her attacker?