Chapter 15
Nona sat with a book in her lap, but she wasn't seeing the words at all.
She kept thinking about her upcoming date with Nick. If the weather permitted, they would go to the beach the next afternoon.
He had called her on the phone earlier that day and ever since then she had been fluttery, nervous as a school-girl. They had talked a long time, almost like lovers! His ankle was much better; he had sounded quite cheerful.
She hadn't been bold enough to go over and visit him. Ivy had teased her about it, but her shyness lingered. Monday she would have to go back to work!
She was proud that he had gone out to fight the fire. Obviously, Jud and Hugh hadn't done much out on the fire line.
Nona had recovered from her experience in the bedroom with Andy. She knew she would never go out with him again. He was a born bungler!
I can hardly wait till tomorrow, she thought, putting the book down. I'm going to do everything I can to please him!
Although Nick hadn't mentioned that he was still under suspicion in the Zelda, Nesbitt death, she had heard the talk up at the general store. The rumor was that the prosecutor for Craig County was about to issue a warrant for Nick's arrest.
Nona had told no one about her spying on Lucy and Nick. Fortunately, she could still clear him with her knowledge, but it would reveal her as a Peeping Tom, and her evidence would put Lucy in a very awkward position.
She hoped things would be cleared up before the week ended. She knew that Nick had told the deputy sheriff that he had been alone the night of the murder ...
If they take him to trial, I'll tell, anyway! she resolved. Lucy could clear him, too-if she wanted to! But she's thinking of her own safety.
Something else bothered Nona.
Ivy had left the cabin right after dark, saying she was going over to visit Lucy. That was understandable, considering their new relationship, but Ivy had spent a lot of time on her grooming and makeup. She had donned a very tight sweater and dark slacks to match. Was she really going to see Lucy-or Nick?
She wanted to get a lot of rest, so she would look her best the next day, but her uneasiness remained. Ivy had made no bones about the fact that she liked Nick and hoped to get him alone again.
Friendship and relationships between girls meant nothing where an eligible man was concerned. Nona hadn't bothered him because of his ailing leg, and she had been rewarded by his phone call. Ivy was bolder. She would take a direct course of action ...
Nona came out of her chair. It was nine o'clock, and full darkness had fallen. Should she venture out and see for herself just what Ivy was up to?
She remembered her encounter with the Ridge-runner, and she hesitated. However, she had learned at the store that a new search was being made for the wild man, and he was probably clear out of the immediate area.
She slipped into the bedroom and changed from her frock into a pair of slacks and a pullover jersey. She tied a dark kerchief around her blonde hair. A few moments later she was ready to go out.
Leaving the cabin, she walked quickly along the trail toward the Marker bungalow. Lucy had left the lights on. The illuminated windows gave her courage. If anyone came near her, she would screech her head off!
A cool breeze keened through the tall pine trees around her. Eastward she saw the glow of the village street lights. She zipped up her light jacket and approached the Marker front porch.
She stood a while, listening. Not a sound came from inside. She could see lights in Nick's cabin, now, and like a moth, she was drawn toward them. It was wrong to spy, to slip around in the dark and try to look inside someone else's cabin-but she couldn't resist.
A car horn tooted in the village. A familiar sound that made her realize she wasn't far from where quite a few people lived.
She glided along the familiar trail that led to Nick's place. Something going on there, all right. She heard music-not Nick's piano, but recorded stuff that sounded soothing and moody.
Drawing nearer, her ears alert, her senses sharpened, she caught the faint sound of a woman's laugh. Ivy!
Oh damn her! Nona thought. She's moved right in!
Saying she was going over to see Lucy had been a big, fat lie.
Nona experienced a jealousy so keen her hands clenched and she trembled all over.
If I had stayed home, I wouldn't know, she thought. Watching them on the beach, through the binoculars, hurt me. Now I'm suffering again. Go back to your cabin!
But somehow she couldn't. She moved forward, cautiously. Maybe Ivy was just paying him a friendly visit. . . That was ridiculous!
Nick was young, attractive, virile. She could hardly blame him for taking any good looking female who flung herself at him. He had made her no pledges. He was free to do what he chose.
Nona remembered that Nick's cabin had an east window and she circled around, coming in from that direction. The brush was rather thick here, off the trail. She moved cautiously, overcome with her urge to listen in, perhaps to peek, if the blinds weren't in place.
She dropped to her hands and knees, crawling toward the light. The bushes thinned right next to the cabin wall. She edged beneath the window. The music continued to play. Above that she heard voices ... The cabin wall, like most summer cottages, wasn't very thick.
She imagined Nick's hands on Ivy, and a sharp, biting envy cascaded through her being.
She rose up, slowly, searching the window draperies for a chink, a gap in the material, so she could see.
She found that the faded sections of cloth, cheap material furnished in the rental units, didn't meet all the way down. She caught the window sill with her fingers, bringing her eyes close to the window pane.
She saw Nick and Ivy seated on a sofa, right in front of her, so close they seemed almost near enough for her to reach out and touch them. Nick was in the act of drawing Ivy's dark sweater over her head.
When the sweater was off, Ivy fluffed her brown, wavy hair, arching her breasts forward. Her bra was black and lacy, barely covering her nipples, accenting the deep cleavage between her charms ...
Ivy caressed him, intimately.
I. don't think I can take this, Nona thought, shivering.
She looked down at Nick's bandaged foot and ankle, but she couldn't hold her attention there. She watched as Nick unfastened Ivy's bra.
Ivy's breasts billowed outward, the dark tips already perky and stiff.
Nona's own breasts tingled, ached. Her thighs seemed to flame with rampant desire.
The mutual fondlings made Nona realize she couldn't bear to watch any longer. Her heart was heavy enough, as it was. She had experienced enough of vicarious emotions. She would have to leave before she gave herself away ...
Dizzy, her throat tight, she lowered herself and returned to her hands-and-knees position.
"Ohhhhh!" came suddenly from Ivy, a cry of excited feminine joy.
Nona dug her hands into the leaves and retreated as swiftly as she dared.
At last she reached clear ground and stood up. She couldn't control the trembling that seized her. She realized that she was extremely stimulated--an ache of unrequited need lay deep within her.
But above everything was her realization that she was being pushed down and tricked-again. Tears filled her eyes, tears of defeat and anguish.
Ivy and Lucy were so bold and brassy-they went out for what they wanted. And, it appeared, they got it!
She found the trail and stumbled along it, her legs weak. How could she be at her best tomorrow when she knew what he had done the night before?
Well, she wasn't supposed to be aware of that! She would have to pretend that Ivy had simply taken a walk over to Lucy's.
When she reached the cabin, she closed the door and locked it. Ivy had her own key. But maybe she wouldn't be home until morning!
Nona sank into a chair, pressing her legs tightly together. Her bra seemed a size too small, and waves of erotic yearning still washed through her body.
I won't! she thought. I won't do it-not this time. I'll just have to cool down and wait till tomorrow ...
Nick took his time with Ivy. She was bare to the waist now, but she hadn't removed her slacks. Lucy's presence in the kitchen added a note of piquance. When would Ivy make her pitch? He couldn't imagine Lucy wanting to be just a spectator.
In his travels, working in night spots, being around musicians and showgirls, he had run into a lot of odd situations. This wasn't the first time two women had been in his quarters at the same time.
A lot of women nowadays wanted a little extra thrill. Lucy's preoccupation with semi-nude girlie photography pointed up her frustrations, and a possible lesbian streak. That wasn't new to him, either. Several strippers he had run into didn't like men at all. They simply used them.
His estimation of Ivy as a person dropped several notches. Perhaps, in her own way, she, too, was frustrated. Schoolmarms had to lead quiet lives. She evidently craved a final sexy fling before going back to her job.
While he admired the sloping beauty of her breasts, he loosened the band of her slacks. She wriggled her hips, giggling.
"Nick-let's have another drink and I'll take them off!"
"Sure."
She left the sofa, standing in front of him, shoulders thrown back. Her large breasts swayed. Her cheeks were flushed with her rising ardor.
"Darling," she breathed, leaning nearer. "Have you ever had a party with-two girls?"
He smiled. "A few times."
"Would you like to-tonight?"
"Not a bad idea," he said, innocently. "Who else-Nona?"
"Oh, no! She's too square! What about-Lucy?"
He grinned. "Sounds okay!"
"I hoped you wouldn't mind, Nick. A while ago I let Lucy in the back door!"
He pretended surprise. "The hell! Well, bring her on."
At that instant Lucy emerged from the shadows in the kitchen area. She, too, wore tight stretch slacks, but they were bright red, matching the color of her lipstick. A snug jersey limned her sharply-coned breasts. The way they jiggled told him she wore no bra.
She swayed up to pose beside Ivy. "I've been watching you two!" she giggled. "And I've been sipping the vodka. I'm ready for a real fling!"
"I'll mix some more drinks," Ivy said.
"And Nick, if you run out, I've got plenty of booze at the cabin," Lucy added.
"Great!" he said. "While Ivy's mixing, why don't you sit down and keep me company? I've got a bad foot. I need plenty of attention."
"Honey, you're going to get it!" Lucy exclaimed. She did a little dance step and floated down on the sofa, where Ivy had been a moment before.
She breathed in his ear, pressing herself close. "Honey, I still think you can bring me out!"
"Be fun trying, anyway."
He claimed her mouth, his hand sliding under her jersey. Her tongue was like a snake, slithering into his mouth. Her lips spread wide open. He palmed a pert, pointed breast-sans bra, as he had guessed. He inhaled the perfume of her dark wavy hair. A tremor passed through her slender figure.
"Cut!" Ivy said, laughing.
"Ohhh-hell!" Lucy breathed. "I have to catch up!"
Ivy passed the full glasses around. She moved down on Nick's right. She pressed her breasts against his arm, giggling.
"I think everybody's got too many clothes on," Nick said.
"Wait till we finish our drinks, honey!" Lucy cried. "I think this is going to be real cool! Can you think of any games we could play, big and handsome?"
"I'll think of something," he promised.
They laughed. "We had a good thing going just before that fire," Lucy said.
Nick remembered Nona's charms, her generous trembling responses. Tomorrow, if everything went well, he would have his hands on her again ...
Meanwhile, two eager broads wanted a party.