Chapter 10
Joe slammed the manuscript to the desk-top and swiveled his chair around. It was no use. He couldn't concentrate. It had been that way all day. If he thought there'd be a strained situation if Annie had stayed on the job, he knew now it was worse without her. Today he'd been able to see the office, his little empire, for what it was without her-a shabby, empty, barren room.
He looked at his watch. Six o'clock. Quitting time. Not that he'd accomplished much. He fished the bourbon and a glass from the desk drawer, and poured three ringers. He thought of his scheduled date with Carla for tomorrow. It'd be the third time this week they would be together. When he was with her, it was pure heaven, a state of exhilarating ecstasy, but these long, lonely hours between were rough The guilties always came back. He took a deep blast from his glass.
There was a timid knock at the door. "Come on in. It's open." ... Carla? Annie?...."Karen", he intoned with some surprise. "Come in. What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Mr. Barnes ... Joe" The pretty teenager entered. She wore a raincoat buttoned to the neck, although it was a clear, warm day.
"What brings you here, Karen?", he asked uneasily, remembering the hints in some of her looks and words during their two previous encounters. She approached his desk shyly, her cheeks flushed, and took a chair uninvited.
In a wavering, girlish imitation of sophistication, she said: "What are you drinking, Joe? Aren't you going to offer me one too?"
Oh christ, he thought, haven't I got enough problems? He sighed wearily, making no particular effort to conceal his annoyance at her visit. However, she was, after all, one of his girls, a Guzzler's Gal. So he took out another glass and poured half an ounce of bourbon into it.
"You sure you're old enough for this, kid?", he needled. "If you want water with it, it's in the bathroom"
"Thanks, Joe", she said. Then, lowering her eyes: "Joe, do you think I'm ... attractive?"
He shot a quizzical glance at her apparent discomfort. "Sure, you're attractive, Karen. Look, is that all you came to ask? Honey, I'm kind of busy, you see, and...."
"Joe" She raised her eyes to his, and her fearful agitation was obvious. Although, as she paused, an aspect of determination seemed to come into her features. She sat up straight, squaring her shoulders. "Joe ... I want you to make love to me."
The statement caught him in mid-swallow and he choked on the burning liquid. Wheeling around, he faced her with stunned disbelief. Could she have said it? Actually come right out with it, just like that? Yep, she sure had. Suddenly a wave of mirth swept over him and he laughed. He threw his head back and laughed, and laughed, uncontrollably. It wasn't this funny, he knew, but something like hysteria had grabbed him. He couldn't seem to shut it off. When his raucous peals had subsided into more moderate giggles, Karen rejoined: "I don't think that's very nice, Joe. You said I was attractive."
Getting hold of himself at last, he leaned forward. "Kid, what are you, some kind of a teenage nut? You walk into a man's office and make a crack like that, you're going to get in trouble", he grinned. Then, more seriously: "Karen, I admit, I've seen this coming, but I never thought it'd come to an out-and-out proposition. It's your life, honey, do what you want, but get another boy. Not me. OK?"
Taken aback, her courage obviously wavering, Karen pleaded: "Is it so ridiculous, Joe? I may be young, but I know I've got a woman's body, and a woman's needs. Joe, I'm ... I'm a virgin. A girl's first time is important. It can be an awful mess if the boy doesn't know about women. I think you do ... know about women."
He contemplated her. Her lips, her young face, were surprisingly sensuous now that he noticed. She was ripe for love all right, and some impetuous fellow would take her, probably very soon. But not Joe Barnes.
"Look, Karen", he began, trying to think how to let her down gently.
"Joe, I'd be no problem to you", she begged winsomely. "I mean there'd be no strings attached. I know you've got another girl. It's just that I know my time has come. I've known it ever since the beginning of summer. I won't be a virgin any more.
Ever since I met you at the Goslin's party, well, I knew you were the one ... I hope I'm not being too awfully awful."
"Karen, honey, I can't help you. I...."
"It's hot in here, Joe. May I take off my coat?", she asked.
"Be my guest", he replied offhandedly, wearily examining the bottom of his glass. Karen rose to remove the coat. When he raised his eyes to her again, she stood before him stark naked!
"Karen, my god, you're naked!" Instantly, he realized the foolishness of his statement. She knew perfectly well she was naked. This was preposterous! Still, as he gazed at her fresh, young nudity he felt his masculinity responding, despite himself. Karen stood posing, hands on her deliciously curving hips, resilient pink breasts thrust forward at him at a saucy angle.
"Do you like me, Joe?", she asked challengingly, her confidence clearly rising. She must be reading his face, he knew. "Do I still seem like a silly child to you now?"
Damn me. Damn me to hell, he cursed himself. I guess when you get a little practice at being a louse it comes easier and easier. How on earth could he even be thinking what he was thinking right now. How could he relish her glistening pink nudity, the perky round breasts with their tender nipples already beginning to leap up, puppy-like, under his gaze? How indeed. He wasn't thinking at all, he decided. That was just the matter. Suddenly, vehemently, he didn't want to think. Ever again. What he wanted, what he knew he would grab and take in another moment, was this ripe teenage virgin standing before him-He gulped down the rest of his liquor and stood up.
"Karen, you walked in that door at just the wrong time for the sake of your virtue. Get ready, kid. You're about to catch hell", he threatened arrogantly, coming around the desk.
Karen offered her soft lips up to him as he towered above her. He saw and felt her shiver of delight as he placed his fingers low on her tummy. Her flesh crawled in shimmering waves outward from his touch.
He swept her roughly into his arms and strode to dump her on the sofa where he joined her heavily after shucking off his clothes. His demanding fingers roamed her softness as his lips found a rubbery pink nipple and trapped it in a sucking hold. Biting too hard on the throbbing tip, he heard her squeal of pleasure and pain. He cupped the other swelling blob in his hand, squeezing it and rolling the hard little point between his fingers, rasping his palm mercilessly back and forth across it trembling.
"How does it feel to grow up, kid?", he demanded hoarsely of the besieged breast. "How do you like it so far, huh?"
"Oh, Joe it's so wonderful", she gasped as he bit in again. "I didn't know how thrilling it would be. I feel all creamy and warm inside. You just don't know how it makes me feel. Take me, Joe, take me all the way. Teach me."
He did so then. Poising for an instant to view the mingling of fright and ecstasy in her passion-glazed eyes, he took her with one rough thrust, heedless of her cry of pain. Her succeeding cries were moans of stunned surrender as he redoubled his ruthless attack.
"Oh, Joe. I'm so glad ifs you", she breathed raggedly. "It hurts, Joe, it hurts but it's so good. I knew you were the one ... Is it good for you, Joe? Do you like me? ... Joe, oh, Joe, something's happening inside me! Joe, Joe, Joe...!" Her tremulous words broke off in a strangled scream as he delivered one last bursting plunge.
Later, when it was over and they had dressed, he broke off her gushing praise to say: "Remember the terms, Karen. No strings, OK? And ... , you're a nice kid, Karen. I wouldn't want it on my conscience that I did anything to send you off the deep end, if you know what I mean?"
"Don't worry, Joe. I'll watch myself and, like I said, no strings ... But, just one thing ... Did you like me?"
He smiled tenderly at her. "Yes, Karen, I liked you." And he had. Somehow, crazily, a cloud seemed to be lifting.
He walked her around the corner to the Purple Pussycat where she was due for rehearsal.
Dean greeted them with his customary enthusiasm. "Joe baby! Nice to see you. Better run on back and get costumed, Karen honey. The other girls are already here."
Joe observed that Jules Brinker's combo was on the stand playing with some tentative chords and riffs. Four or five shapely young leotard-clad go-go dancers stood around waiting.
"Well, Joey, have a beer?", Dean offered, already pouring. "The big night's almost here, Joe. Our grand opening is Saturday night, day after tomorrow."
"You've got the best rock band in town there, Dean", Joe complimented. "Jules and the boys are sure to pull a crowd."
"Not only that, Joe", said Dean conspiratorially, coming close-"I got some special door prizes lined up for my special friends, like you."
"Such as what?", Joe asked congenially.
"Like, I'm gonna have pot downstairs and pros-ties upstairs! Is that gonna be a gas, huh?" He giggled, sounding like Richard Widmark again.
Joe had to grin too, although not with approval of the door prizes. Dean would forever put him in mind of a mischievous dead-end kid. Good hearted but unreformingly naughty.
"Dean, you're incorrigible", he said, laughingly.
"Incorrigible? Hey, that's a big word. What does it mean? Don't be coming around the Pussycat with them big words, Mr. Publisher."
The two friends shared another laugh and the rest of their beers, and Joe left feeling much better indeed.