Chapter 7
The blinding light of morning burned Toni's sleep-blurred eyes and forced her to glance away from the open window. Her head ached unbearably. The rest of her body wasn't in much better condition. She felt the bruised areas throbbing ... around her breasts ... along the insides of her thighs. They'd undoubtedly turned black and blue by now. This was the price she must pay for her actions. But those actions, Toni reminded herself, were going to pay off. And well.
The familiar irritation of Stan's snoring scraped against her eardrums. She turned around and threw a nasty look at his slumbering body. At least she wasn't naive enough to believe she'd done it all for him. Thank goodness the days of puppy-love were gone. And then she smiled, thinking how wide awake Stan would have been at that moment, if he had any idea what was in store for him, later in the day.
It had been a cinch. So pathetically easy, in fact, that had the situation not been in her own best interests, she would have found it absolutely revolting. She wasn't foolish enough to presume that it was her own allure that had made it all possible. Any woman could have succeeded as well. Any woman who was attractive, and coy.
And available to Elliot Barnes.
Toni leaned back against the pillow and decided that today, more than any other day, she deserved the luxury of a few more minutes in bed. Quickly, she reached over and switched off the alarm button, before the clock had a chance to blast the morning air with its nerve-shattering bell.
The softness of the mattress soothed her body and enticed her back down into a sweet state of semi-wake-fulness. Gently, she smoothed the sheer nightgown over her knees, being very careful not to press her fingertips into those throbbing areas of flesh that kept reminding her of what she had done. Yet, despite the constant, dull pain, her thoughts dwelled on the previous evening. The beginning of a smirk played around the edges of her lips. With perverse pride, she recalled the light that suddenly turned itself on in Elliot's whiskey-dulled eyes when he realized that Toni's flirtations were more than just a game....
The setting had been perfect. By the time Elliot got home, Toni had made sure that Irma was well on her way to being quite drunk. Then with her brain safely dulled, she proceeded to get to work on Irma's husband.
"What's a good-looking girl like you doing out alone?" Elliot asked when he first came in.
"Looking for a little excitement." Toni planted the initial idea in his head and watched the tired combination of liquor and boredom fade from Elliot's face.
His square chin relaxed. His mouth smiled. And his blue eyes said that the smile was sincere. "Where's Stan?"
"Working late in the office." Toni purposely waited until Elliot crossed the room before taking out a cigarette. She was pleased when he rushed to light it for her. "Tonight's, the wife's night off." She allowed their glance to linger over the flame. It was Elliot who looked away first.
"What's for dinner?" Elliot turned to Irma.
Toni caught the tightness in Elliot's voice. It encouraged her. Now all she had to do was get Irma irrevocably polluted and out of the way. Then she'd have Elliot all to herself to work on.
Dinner was uneventful, but promising. Toni watched Elliot react to her presence in his house with the usual display of off-color jokes and suggestive remarks. But this time, instead of ignoring them, Toni matched Elliot one for one. After a while, she caught him glancing uncomfortably at Irma to see if she'd noticed what was going on.
Fortunately for all concerned, Toni observed, Irma was in an alcoholic world all her own. And very shortly thereafter, Irma declined coffee, excused herself, and retired to her bedroom.
While the maid cleared the table, Elliot and Toni drifted into the living room. Elliot was more sober than Toni had counted on his being. Perhaps, she told herself, he'd found a reason to keep his faculties about him....
"Susan won't be long." Elliot broke the silence as he slipped off his striped tie and settled himself into a red wing-chair. "She'll bring our coffee in here. I thought that would be nicer."
"I'm in no particular hurry, are you?" Toni raised a challenging eyebrow and watched a slow grin spread across his face. It was a hesitant, hopeful, questioning expression, that seemed to ask just how far she intended to go. "What's to hurry about?" Elliot's casual tone sounded forced.
Toni recognized the uncertainty in his manner and decided to use that factor for all it was worth. The more Elliot wondered about her, the more attractive she'd become to him. And the longer she could keep him interested, the more chance she'd have to get what she wanted from him.
"You sure you don't want something a little stronger than coffee? Maybe something with a little kick in it?" Elliot sounded suddenly inspired.
Toni recognized the source of that inspiration and fought to keep the bitterness from her face. "If you want to mix something, I'm sure I'll love it," she answered sweetly. She'd suspected Elliot would begin shortly, but hoped it would be beneath him to try to get her loaded before making the pass.
"What do you drink? Gin? Same as Irma?"
"Whatever you're having will be fine with me." The reference to Irma made Toni answer quickly. The last thing she wanted, tonight, was to remind Elliot of his wife. That could spoil everything.
"I didn't know there was another dedicated scotch drinker in the neighborhood," he said, lifting a crystal decanter.
"You never asked." She let the words slide liquidly over her tongue. She could practically see the tremor rattle his spine. She was making headway. Tonight's idea had been a good one. She just knew it.
The liquor burned and stung in her throat. "This is good stuff. I just might show up at your bar more often."
"Whenever you like." Elliot seemed to grow almost lecherous at the prospect. "Just any old time."
They drank in sensual silence.
"How about another?" Elliot winked.
Toni took a deep breath and wished the maid would hurry up with that coffee. And suddenly, she couldn't remember hearing Elliot ask the girl to serve coffee at all. "Suits me." She handed over her glass, and hoped she could hold her liquor, just that one night.
The second shot went down a little easier. She felt her cheeks flush as a subtle warmth seemed to play with the flesh beneath her thin dress. It was suddenly uncomfortable in that room. And Toni knew just why. "How about some fresh air?" She seemed to be thinking out loud.
"So soon?" Elliot looked amused. He walked over, took her arm and guided her toward the front door. "I'll turn on the backyard lights...."
"Don't bother. We don't really need them." Toni knew her sudden freedom of speech had come from the liquor, but she didn't care. So what if she sounded like something of a slut. Who was Elliot to criticize anybody? Especially considering whom he had married. The only thing that mattered was the end result. And that meant securing the job of Assistant Manager for Stan. At any cost.
"It's nice up here." She slid her arm through Elliot's and breathed deeply of a loving breeze that floated by. The grass felt soft and spongy beneath her feet. She was glad she had Elliot to hang on to.
"You breathe the same air at your place." Elliot seemed somewhat embarrassed by Toni's unmasked envy. "There's really not much difference."
"That's what you think." Her voice was both wistful and angry. "You should try living at my house, sometime."
"I don't think Stan would go for that," Elliot chuckled.
Toni sighed and let the remark pass without comment. Elliot's mind was in the gutter tonight. As usual. Perhaps that would help the cause. "Speaking of Stan," she began, "he said there's been no appointment for Carl's job, yet."
"That's right." Elliot stiffened slightly.
Toni waited for him to continue speaking. When he didn't she labored to keep the subject alive between them. "What seems to be holding things up?" She could have laughed at herself for thinking the question could minutely resemble innocent curiosity. Elliot had ' to know what she was driving at.
"We just haven't decided on the right man. That's all." He didn't look at her.
Toni felt a hopeless, sinking sensation settling around her shoulders. For the first time since she knew him, Elliot sounded like a boss. She hated him, but fought not to give in and let the matter drop. "What about Stan?" It was the simplest approach Toni could think of. It would evoke a yes or no answer. Then she could proceed as necessary.
"I'm not sure he's ready." Elliot let Toni's arm drop from his and reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes. "I'm not even sure he wants the job."
"How can you say a thing like that? Have you spoken with him?"
"Not directly. No."
"So why did you make the statement?" She heard her voice growing a little louder, a little more shrill than normal. Silently, she vowed not to let her intensity show. That would expose Elliot's advantageous position to him-the one thing she didn't want.
"I just think that Stan's handling as much as he can right now, without the added responsibility of Carl's position."
They walked for a few moments without speaking.
"You could at least give him a chance," she said.
"I'd be the one who's taking the risk." Elliot shook his head. "How do I know that...."
"Take my word for it?" Toni moved quickly and placed herself in Elliot's path. "You know I wouldn't steer you wrong. You and I are good friends."
"Don't rub it in." Elliot's eyes dropped to the front of her blouse.
"Maybe...." Toni felt her knees begin to quake. The whiskey raced wildly through her veins, assuring her she could do no wrong ... encouraging her to say exactly what was on her mind without fear.
"Maybe, if you did something for me...." She stopped in the middle of her sentence and watched Elliot's smile grow and fill the night air with a hideous joy.
His hands moved quickly in the direction of her breasts. She stepped unsteadily backward and shook her head. "Oh, no you don't," she teased. "Not until I have a definite answer."
"You mean the appointment?" Elliot was still smiling, playing with her, dangling the bait in front of her eyes.
"You know damn well what I mean." Toni took a deep breath and felt her breasts press out against the front of her dress. She wasn't exactly without weapons, either. When Elliot's eyes dropped again, to roam her body, she knew she had won.
"Perhaps something can be done after all...."
"Don't give me that crap!" Toni's mouth twisted with annoyance. "I want a yes or a no. I don't go around doing this sort of thing every day, you know."
Elliot looked as if he wasn't quite ready to believe her last statement. But then he exhaled loudly and shook his head in assent.
"When?" Toni moved a little closer. She hoped her perfume would reach him from where she stood.
"Tomorrow morning soon enough for you?"
"Why Elliot...." Toni walked right up to him and kissed his cheek. "How sweet you are."
"Get over here, you little...." The rest of Elliot's sentence was lost in a kiss.
Toni winced at the pressure of his arms crushing against her ribs, but she didn't move or try to free herself from his embrace. The deal had been made and now she had to go through with her part of it. From a dark corner of her mind, it occurred to her that she was about to commit adultery. She quickly dismissed the voice of morality and waited for him to make the next move.
"Let's go inside." His voice had changed quickly.
"What about Irma?" Toni knew the question was irrelevant, but she didn't want to seem too willing.
"She wouldn't hear an atom bomb go off with what she's got inside her." He grabbed her hand and led her back to the house.
Inside, the lights were all out, except for one small lamp in the entrance hall. "What happened to the maid and the coffee?" Toni asked.
"She must have forgotten," Elliot chuckled, without breaking his stride.
They both knew he was lying.
Elliot walked swiftly down the hall. Toni knew he was leading her to the guest room. It was the wisest place, she realized-safely on the other side of the house from where Irma was sleeping.
The room was pitch black but he didn't move to turn on the light. Instead, he waited until she was inside and then closed the door behind her.
She felt him move up on her and encircle her with his trembling arms. Then she leaned forward into his hungry embrace.
"I've been waiting for this," he rasped, pressing his hand onto the softness of her breast and squeezing hard. "Ever since I first laid eyes on you."
Toni took a deep breath and forced herself not to cry out. There was something about his touch and tone of voice-something twisted ... something cruel.
His mouth ground down hard against hers. The tip of his tongue forced her lips apart.
She closed her eyes when she felt the scotch bubbling inside her stomach. She would have told Elliot, but she knew he wouldn't care. There was only one thing he wanted now. Only one thing that could interest him. His fingers slid down to her stomach....
She stood absolutely still while Elliot's hands roamed over the smooth curve of her hips ... down to the pliant flesh of her ungirdled behind.
Every place he touched felt dirty. Degraded. But Toni knew there was absolutely nothing she could do now. Except submit.
He was panting against the side of her neck. She tried to ignore the offensive moisture of his rapid breath. She'd never seen anyone get so excited so quickly. "If I didn't know you better, I'd think Irma never let you near her."
As if a spring had suddenly snapped, he released her and stepped away. In the semi-darkness, Toni could make out the features of his perspiring face, grotesquely misshapen by the shadows.
"Irma's a pig!" Elliot seemed to grind the words out of a parched throat. "A filthy squirming pig who can't lie still for a moment."
"I didn't mean to...." Toni backed off at the unexpected outburst.
"Everything gets her hot," Elliot continued as if Toni hadn't interrupted him. "All I have to do is walk into the house and she's all over me ... with her hands ... with her mouth." His voice cracked. "A guy has to do the chasing sometimes, you know."
"Yes ... I know," Toni whispered closing the distance between them. So that was it, she thought. No wonder Irma complained about a lack of loving. No wonder she tried to drink her problem away. Irma Barnes, a nympho....
"I like a woman who can wait for it." Elliot's voice was soft, almost tender. "A woman who can make a guy want her so bad...." His mouth moved toward Toni's again.
She returned his kiss with false ardor. What Elliot had told her might or might not be true. But she knew better than to feel sorry for him. Elliot was no angel ... as he was quickly proving.
She felt her heels leave the rug. The liquor and the horizontal position made her head spin. She was only vaguely aware of being carried across the room and lowered heavily on to the bed.
Eager fingers crawled up under her skirt.
"At least give me a minute to take the dress off...." Toni started to protest.
"Just shut up and he there," he commanded. His hand reached for the top band of her panties and tugged....
Toni raised her hips from the bed and let him remove her underwear. She didn't quite understand him, but the scotch inside of her removed the need to. What she did know was that Elliot had agreed to what she wanted. The job was Stan's. Now, she could relax and let him do the work.
She felt her stockings slide down and off. The hem of her dress was pushed up ... over her knees ... over her bare thighs....
She turned away from the sight of his pleasure and tried to hide her face in the pillows.
"No. Look at me." He dug his fingers into her cheeks and pulled her face around toward his.
Toni withstood the kiss without complaint. There was something frightening about the man ... something that warned her not to try and fight him.
"Open the front of your dress." The words were an order. Not to be refused.
Toni did as she was told. Her fingers were unsteady and she had to use both hands. But the buttons finally gave. Until her dress was open to the waist.
Elliot looked down and smiled drunkenly at the sight before him. She heard her own heart pounding and wondered if he could sense her revulsion. The entire situation seemed unreal. It couldn't be happening. That man ... the one whose teeth were scraping over the softness of her brassiere ... that was her husband's boss, Elliot Barnes. Irma's husband. The same man she'd known for years....
The sound of tearing material ripped through the room. Toni clutched instinctively for her chest. The feel of her own, naked breasts greeted her trembling fingers.
"Yeah ... play with them." Elliot glared down at her.
"Come on now, let's not get carried away." Toni had read about such guys but never had she expected to run into one. What the hell was wrong with Elliot? Why did he want her to....
The slap caught her savagely across the face. Toni gasped. Her eyes widened in terror.
"That's right," Elliot drawled. "Lie there. Just he there, nice and still ... till I tell you to move."
Tom felt his hands rubbing roughly over the length of her body. Then she saw his mouth approach ... she felt it kissing, teasing, toying with sensitive flesh ... and despite herself, a tickling finger of desire crept through her body.
"You like it, don't you baby?" Elliot grinned as he lifted his face from her breasts....
She nodded dully and felt his hands move lower
... to the dress, bunched around her waist and below....
An involuntary motion took control of her body and set it to rhythmic movement. Toni screwed her eyes closed and tried to picture herself someplace else. She didn't want to react the way she was reacting-not with Elliot.
He tugged the dress from her body. With strong, sure hands, he turned her onto her stomach....
Toni gasped for air and lay where he'd placed her. She heard Elliot undressing and the sound became a threat. Then suddenly, she realized what he was planning to do. She bolted around to a sitting position.
"No!"
The sound seemed to trigger Elliot's need. She saw him toss his trousers into the darkness and lunge for her. He pulled her back down onto the mattress. Toni felt his fingers bruise the flesh beneath her hips. She stared up at the ceiling, trying not to feel ... not to share....
Without warning, Elliot slid his hands down, reaching for the soft stocking-less flesh. She knew what was about to happen. It was too late....
The need grew stronger with each of Elliot's movements. "Elliot...." she wanted to tell him she needed time-to beg him, if necessary. "Please!"
"That's it, sugar. Tell me how much you want it."
Toni shook her head violently. He was misinterpreting and she must make him understand. But the words jammed in her throat.
She gasped as Elliot propelled himself toward fulfillment-and left her far behind him.
Frantically, she tried to catch up with him-but even as she used and abused her body, she knew the battle and the race were both lost.
Elliot moved away from her. Toni lay in the darkness, her body aflame with the need to be satisfied.
"Still wanna say no?" His voice was thick with contempt and self-assurance.
"What do you mean?" Toni could hardly speak. She wanted to grab him-to pull him to her again. And she hated herself for it.
Elliot moved swiftly. Before she knew what had happened she was on her stomach. And then, an expert hand crawled persuasively up the back of her thigh....
Again, she fought to turn it off-that strange, disgusting, delightful knowledge of herself that had just appeared. But she was too far gone. Her flesh screamed for relief-in any form that she could get it.
He seemed to know. In a moment, he was moving with her again.
She gritted her teeth against the pain ... felt her body being moved ... being readied for the final conquest. Something inside of her told her it was wrong-that she'd regret it forever....
She felt Elliot against her. Suddenly the pain was gone ... and only the pleasure remained. Remained, and grew, until it flooded her body and drove her to frantic heights of pleasure.
But her happiness was short lived.
"How are you doing, baby?" Elliot sounded breathless, but extremely" proud of himself ... of his conquest.
"I'm fine, you bastard," she muttered between clenched teeth as the impact of what had just happened revealed itself to her.
"Yeah, I know," he smiled. "You and me, honey. Two of a kind. Yes sir, two of a kind."
His words still echoed, now, as Toni pulled herself to a sitting position in her own bed. Elliot was everything she despised. Cruel. Perverted. Inconsiderate. A mean bastard who only wanted to use other people ...
But something told her that he had been right about one thing. They were two of a kind.
Forcing such thoughts from her mind, she reached over to wake Stan. At least he was going to have a good day.