Chapter 9
"This is ridiculous," I snapped. "We've been here for over an hour. How long are you going to wait for him?"
"As long as it takes, Rosalie." Linda's voice was cool, defiant.
My insides were in a turmoil. I had no idea what was going to happen when Gil got there. I had no idea what his reaction was going to be when he saw the two of us together like this.
"He probably went out with Bob, like I said."
"'Probably," isn't good enough. I want to know where he was."
"You're so damned suspicious, Linda!"
"I'm not suspicious at all. Just careful. I want to know the rules of the game that we're playing." What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that, 'cause I got news: what's good for the goose is good for the gander."
"Oh, really," I snapped. "Sometimes you get me so damned mad!"
"So leave!"
"Don't be so snippy!"
"No one's asking you to sit here with me!"
"What the hell's wrong with you, Linda. Ever since school let you free, you've been bitchy to everyone around you."
"I have my reasons."
I wondered about those reasons. I wondered why, now that I thought back to it, she had been. She'd been being nasty ... hard to get along with long before Gil and I had anything to do with each other. I wondered if Linda realized the end was near; wondered d she knew her relationship with Gil was about to end ... wondered if she had any inkling that mine was just about to begin.
'Well, speak of the devil! Look who's walking down the street," Linda said, coquettishly.
My heart was pounding against my rib cage. I was a nervous wreck. I wished there were some way I could warn him; some way to explain. But I was going to have to do it with my eyes-right in front of Linda.
He had no idea. He was sad ... it was all over his face. Casually, I glanced down at my watch. He had been waiting well over an hour. He was probably wondering why I didn't show. But he'd find out soon enough.
He was less than half a block away, and still he didn't see; had no idea of what was waiting for him.
I had to give him some kind of advance warning.
"Hi, Gil," I blurted.
Suddenly his face swung up from the ground. A smile crossed his features. And then his eyes caught Linda's.
I was smiling broadly, happily, so as to let him know Linda had no idea. He looked from Linda's severe features to my smiling happy one, quizzically, and I wondered what was going through his head.
"We couldn't sleep and decided to take a walk," I called out to him when he was abut twenty feet from us.
"Is it necessary to yell?" Linda said, sassily.
"Come off it, Linda," I snapped. My own anger was beginning to rise inside me, now.
"Come off what?" she asked.
"I'll talk to you later about that," I said, walking down the couple of steps to the sidewalk.
Gil had reached the stoop and smiled sheepishly at Linda.
"Where have you been?" Her tone was demanding; not at all like a question.
"Out walking," he said. "Walking and thinking," he continued." His tone was somber and the smile had left his face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, slowly, caution sounding in her voice.
"Just that," he answered.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Things, in general," he continued.
"Like what?" she asked, her tone softer now.
"I don't think I want to go into it, now."
"Why not? You're among friends."
"That's not the point, Linda. Now don't push me."
"Okay, have it your way," she said, laughing. It was a false unsincere laugh. "How about inviting us up for a drink?" she went on.
"I think you've had enough tonight," he countered.
"Why don't you let me decide that. I'm a big girl, now."
"Suit yourself," he said, casually, climbing the steps as he spoke. Linda and I followed.
All the way to his third floor apartment we were silent. None of us had very much to say. I was waiting to hear the explosion; wondering if it would come tonight ... now.
Bob unlocked the door and flicked the light on. I'd never seen his apartment before. It was nice. Large, clean rooms, bright and cheerful. He maintained it all year around and so it was quite livable and nice.
"You know where I keep the liquor," he said, hanging his lightweight jacket in the front closet.
Linda started walking toward the kitchen and then turned toward me. "Anyone joining me?"
I shook my head no.
"No, I don't think so," Gil said, sighing deeply and walking into the living room he sat in a large comfortable chair.
As soon as Linda was out of sight in the kitchen, Gil turned in my direction and looked at me, quizzically, examining my face. And then, with a gesture toward the kitchen, he asked what was wrong.
I shrugged my shoulders. And it was true. I really had no idea of what was bugging Linda. At first I thought she was hip to the scene between Gil and I. But as time went by, I realized she was troubled by other things and this was just a manifestation of it.
I moved into the living room and sat on the sofa across from Gil. "Got a cigarette for an old friend?" I asked wearily.
"Sure," he said, reaching into his pocket and lighting it for me, and handing it across the coffee table.
"Thanks," I answered, taking the smoking cigarette from his fingers.
Linda reappeared in the doorway, laughing. "I think this is great fun," she said. "We should have more days like this." No one answered her.
"I mean, swimming and fun and games during the afternoon Cocktails at our place and then night caps at yours. Too bad Bob isn't here. We could have a little party."
She moved directly to the chair that Gil was sitting in and leaned against the back of it, sipping on her drink quickly. Then, placing it on a table next to the chair, she moved around to the front of it
"You look tired," she said, letting her forefinger slip through the hair on his chest that was showing through the top button of his shirt.
"I am," he said.
"How tired?"
"Very tired," he continued, flatly.
Linda slid down until she was sitting on his lap. I wanted to scream, to jump up and run out of the apartment. But I knew I couldn't do that. I knew I had to stay and see this thing through.
Linda's head moved toward his, and I saw her kiss him on the lips. But he didn't respond. He didn't wrap his arms around her, hold her tight, and fill her mouth with his tongue. He sat there, passively.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I told you, I'm tired."
"You can't be that tired."
"Come on, Linda. Enough."
"Enough of what?" she asked, defensively.
"You know what I mean."
"No. Maybe you had better explain it."
"Forget it" he said.
"All right, let's do that Now then, where was I ... Oh, yes, I remember," she said, putting her arms around his neck and bringing her lips down on his, again.
Again he didn't respond; didn't move from his position. But Linda wasn't taking no for an answer. She reached down behind her and took his hands, putting them around her waist.
"That's better," she said, and again dove for his lips.
"I have a better idea," she said. "What do you say you and I take a little walk," she continued, getting to her feet and lifting his hands into her own.
"Come on, Linda. We have company."
"That never bothered you before."
"Well. We've got company and it bothers me now. Now let's act a little sane, huh?"
"I feel like I am. I'm acting perfectly sane ... perfectly human."
"Just try to calm down," he said. "Sit down and drink your drink, huh?"
"I don't want my drink. I want you!"
"Linda, we'll talk about it another time." His voice was threatening, but Linda completely overlooked it.
"Come on," she said, tugging at his hand:
Suddenly Gil leaped to his feet. His face was contorted with anger.
"All right, Linda. You wanna take a little walk? Let's go," he said through clenched teeth. Grabbing her arm he pushed her forcefully through the room and around the bend into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
I heard his voice raised in anger, but I couldn't make out the words. Only sounds. I heard Linda. Then I heard a loud slapping sound and I jumped in my seat; almost able to feel the sting on pay own flesh.
I wondered what to do now. Whether to run in and stop them or whether to let them handle their own problems.
"Bastard!" I head Linda's voice, loud and shrill. "Dirty bastard!"
Again I heard the sound of slapping ... and then again and again, until I thought I would scream, until I thought I would jump out of my skin.
Before I knew what was happening I was flying through the apartment and bursting into the bedroom.
Gil had Linda backed up against the wall, his fist clenched on the front of her blouse. His hand struck out at her lace, striking it back and forth.
"Stop it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Stop it!" I burst into tears as I ran and threw myself into the middle of the fighting pair.
"Get out of here, Rosalie!" Gil snapped. "This little bitch has been asking for it for a long time and now she's going to get what she deserves."
"Stop it, Gil, stop it!" I pleased, reaching up and catching his hand in mid-air before it had time to strike Linda's red and raw face again.
Linda took this opportunity to reach out and claw Gil's face, leaving red lines down the side of his cheek, drawing blood.
"You little bitch!" he snarled. "I'll kill you," he yelled, reaching up and touching his face, feeling the fluid.
He was like a wild man; striking out at her with closed fists, now, hitting her all over.
I was hysterical. I didn't know what to do. I tried holding on to his arm, but my strength was no match for his. Linda's and my total combined strength was nowhere near a match for Gill, especially in his present rage.
I had to stop them. I had to stop this thing before he killed her. So I took a deep breath and leaped in front of Linda.
Gill, in his rage, continued with the blow he had sent for Linda's face. But instead, it caught me right on the jaw with full force and sent me flying, knocking over a table and a lamp, coming to rest on the floor, half conscious.
Suddenly there was a dead silence in the room. Suddenly the two of them became frozen.
Linda stared down at me in terror. I reached for my jaw and saw the blood dripping down my arm. I had cut it on the lamp where it broke. There were deep gouged from my elbow to my wrist and the blood was pouring out of me.
"My God," Gil moaned, and fell to his knees next to me, taking my head and cradling it in his lap.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Rosalie," he moaned, over and over.
Linda raced over and took my arm. She took one look at it and dashed from the room, frantically.
"Stop her! Stop her, Gil," I whimpered. "No, Rosalie. Let her go."
But then I heard her in the bathroom running the water d realized she hadn't left the apartment at all. In a second she returned with a wet cloth and towel. Again she raced toward my form and began wiping the blood from my arm.
"Are you all right?" she asked, her voice full of real concern.
"Yes," I said. "Yes, I am."
"Thank God for that."
"These cuts are pretty nasty," she said, sympathetically, does it hurt?"
"No," I said. "A couple of band-aids and I'll be fine."
"I'll get them," Gil said, taking my arm and helping me my feet.
He led me over to the bed and sat me down. Linda was holding the wet cloth over my arm. And then Gil disappeared from the room for a moment and came back carrying a box of bandages.
"Here," Linda said, "Let me have them."
"You're not capable!" he snarled.
"You bastard!" she yelled.
"Please," I moaned. "Please. Not again. Not now."
"Okay. Okay. Keep calm, Rosalie. I swear. No more," I whispered. "What I have to say to Linda will wait till morrow," he continued, moving in and patting my head.
I looked up at both of them and smiled weakly, "Thanks," I answered.
"I'm sorry, Rosalie. I really am. I'm sorry you had to involved in this."
"I'm sorry it had to happen," I answered softly.
Gil had taken some band-aids out and was opening them and covering my cut arm. After a moment or two the bleeding seemed to subside.
"Look. Why don't we all get a good night's sleep," I said, "And we'll feel a lot better tomorrow. We have all been drinking plenty tonight and everyone knows people aren't really themselves when they've had as much as we've had," I said, nervously.
"All right," Linda said. "Let's go back to the apartment.'
"Do you want me to walk you back?" Gil said.
"No," I said. "Thank you. We can make it."
Without another word Linda and I walked out of the bedroom toward the front door. As she stepped forward to open it, I looked over my shoulder quickly, as Gil's face reflected a weak smile as he blew a kiss into the air at me. I returned my glance to the door and walked out. Linda followed and closed the door.
We were silent the walk home. We hardly said a word. It was all so mechanical as we entered our own apartment, walked into the bedroom and began undressing again, just as we had earlier that night.
And then, without a word, we got into bed and Linda reached for a cigarette.
"You want one?" she said.
"Thanks," I answered.
She lit two and handed one to me.
"You know, Rosalie ... I'm losing Gil."
I didn't answer.
"I'm not going to let that happen!" she said, her voice filled with anger.
I still said nothing, just lay there in bed, smoking.
"But we won't talk about that now," she said, and leaned back into the pillow.
I smoked the rest of my cigarette in silence. I didn't have very much to say to Linda. My heart ached for her ached for her because she was so miserable, so unhappy. But yet, at the same time, I realized that she brought on her own problems. She forced Gill to shy away from their relationship. She had forced him into my arms, and for that, I couldn't feel sorry for her. I knew that if it were me I would have been good to him-as I was going to be-would have done what was right. I would have given him things he needed. He didn't want a show girl. He wanted somebody to care about him, somebody who could make him a home. Give him children. Make him feel like somebody in this world. Something more than just a guy with a gorgeous body and a big prick. And that's just what I was going to do. I was going to give Gil everything he ever wanted because he was everything I ever wanted. Everything I ever needed. All wrapped up in one person.
I butted out my cigarette in the ashtray and reached for the light on my night table, flipping it off. Linda did the same and he room was in darkness.
"I'm sorry, Rosalie. I really am. I would have gotten you hurt like that for all the tea in China."
"Forget it," I said. "I'm all right."
"I know ... but you could have been hurt a lot worse."
"Don't worry, Linda. I know you have problems right now. I know it's not your fault."
"Do you? Do you really understand, Rosalie?" she asked, moving in closer, her hug tightening even more.
"Yes," I said nervously, "Yes, I do."
It was then, for the first time, I realized her body was nude. She was completely naked. I felt her breasts pressing against my side, felt her stomach, the hair around her cunt brushing my leg. And my body involuntarily stiffened, slightly.
"It's so important to me that somebody understand. That somebody care."
"I do," I said, wanting to comfort her. "I really do."
"I'm so glad. I'm so happy. It's so important to me. You're important to me. You know that, don't you?"
"You're important to me, too," I said, uncomfortably.
Then it happened. My head exploded. I saw stars as I felt Linda's hand on my breast.
I went to speak, but couldn't. The words froze in my throat. I couldn't believe this was happening. I couldn't believe that Linda was abut to make love to me.
I went to sit up, to leap out of bed, but she held me tightly.
"Don't ... don't go," she whimpered. "Linda ... Linda, don't!"
But it was as if she didn't hear me. Her fingers squeezed my breast possessively, held it, massaged it, like only a woman could. Firmly yet gently, knowing exactly what to do. Knowing exactly what a woman wanted ... what a woman needed.
I gasped as her hands moved down over my stomach and touched me in that part that made me a woman. Reflexively, against my own will, my legs spread and she, touched my cunt lips with her fingers ... probing, moving into me.
"Stop it!" I cried. "Please, Linda. Stop it. Stop it now ... before it's too late."
She didn't answer me. She didn't say a word; just continued. In and out, in and out Her fingers moved expertly, quickly. Long slender fingers. Her lips crashed down onto my breast and she nibbled, gently, on the tip of my nipple until it was hard erect All the while her fingers were working under my panties. In a matter of seconds, with her knowledge of female feeling, she had me moaning: a willing prisoner in bed.
"That's it," she said. Her tone coaxed me, even though it was cool and hard. At this point nothing mattered except finding release, relief from the terrible tension, the terrible heat I felt in my loins.
She pushed back the covers and knelt between my spread legs, pulling gently on the waistband of my panties. I lifted my hips off the mattress to assist her as she continued tugging them downward over my legs and then, finally, past my ankles. Without further hesitation, without any preliminaries, she bent down and began lapping at my cunt, licking the sensitive flesh there, spreading my cunt lips wide and sucking on my clit And then, a steady rhythm of her tongue moving in and out.
Into the secret places that only a woman knew would send another woman out of her mind, her tongue went.
My head thrashed back and forth on the pillow and I clutched at the sheets on the bed, squeezing with all of my might to keep from yelling out.
Even then, in the moment before I was overcome, I tried ... tried to stop her.
"Please, please," I moaned. "Please, stop it. Stop it, Linda. Stop it.."
Without warning my body stiffened and jerked, spasmatically. My cunt opened and released the flood ... the pool of pent up tension.
And suddenly I reached for her head; held it as I ground my cunt up into her face. Hard. Fast. And then it was over. Then I felt disgusted. Angered. Upset. But I was too tired to think. The day had been one hell of an ordeal. Now, the only thing I could think of was sleep ... and escape.