Chapter 4
"...A real happily married couple...." Her husband's sneering words as he made his toast last night echoed around in June's head as she sat staring at the glass of champagne she had poured for herself. "Ten glorious years of marriage!" That's what he said he'd been celebrating when he came home drunk close to midnight last night. She could recall clearly the bitterness and sarcasm with which Don had spitted out the words and realized that at the moment she felt the same.
She took a sip of the sparkling liquid, recalling how she had bought it to go with the special dinner she'd cooked yesterday. A real celebration for their anniversary. A day which had culminated in her being raped anally by her savagely drunk husband. The perfect ending to ten "glorious" years of marital bliss. But they've been good years ... a small voice insisted and she had to agree. They had their ups and downs, but then, who didn't?
She felt her rather serious outlook on life complemented Don's boyish exuberance and that they were a pretty well balanced pair. Of course, she would like Don to grow up a little ... not enough to tarnish his contagious enthusiams for life, but just enough to shoulder some of the responsibility.
As she sipped her solitary glass of champagne, the unhappy young wife tried to look at the bright side of their marriage, but her thoughts kept returning to the horror filled minutes of last night when Don had brutally assaulted her. If she lived to be a hundred, she'd never forget that night. Her body still ached from his unnatural ravagement and her brain still cringed at the memory of the mortification she had suffered.
As she poured a second glass of the bubbly, her face burned as she remembered how he hadn't said a word about his shameful behavior this morning before he left for work. She had expected some kind of apology; anything at all would have sufficed, even the briefest word. Then she might have been able to accept her part in the shameful episode and they would both have forgiven and forgotten.
Instead, he had acted as if nothing had happened and had gone blithely off to work. Well, she'd had just about enough. She wasn't going to be a doormat any longer. He'd have to learn that she was a force to be reckoned with and that she was going to extract her pound of flesh from him for what he'd done. She had abandoned all thoughts of separation or divorce in the cold light of morning, but she was determined not to forget the degradation he had heaped on her. Yes, she'd make him pay for what he'd done to her ... he'd live to regret his brutish action....
She began to feel lightheaded as soon as she finished the second glass, but knew that she wanted another. The sparkling drink chased away her misery and gave her fighting spirit which was exactly what she needed!
She poured herself a third glass, telling herself that this was definitely the last. She noticed that her hand trembled slightly, but she convinced herself it was due to nerves. Besides, what am I saving the bottle for? she asked herself, as she clumsily raised the fine crystal glass.
"Here's to me...." she slurred, "and to my darling husband of ten years ... whose anniversary present was ... to bugger me!"
She sipped the champagne and then giggled. I'm drunk ... but who gives a damn....
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
June was startled out of her dizziness and stared in mounting surprise towards the front door. Who the hell can that be? She was still in her robe, which she had tossed over her nightdress, and her feet were pushed into fluffy pink mules.
It rang again, this time more insistently. Oh for heavens' sake, she thought irritably, as she moved towards the door. She felt fuzzy and uncoordinated and hoped that it was someone who had got the wrong house.
A handsome, well dressed man stood there on the doorstep when she flung the door open.
"Good morning, Mrs. Ryder," he said cheerfully, smiling amiably at her.
"W-who are you?" she asked in amazement, not recognizing him at all.
"I'm Harry Cameron ... may I come in and talk to you for a few minutes. In fact, I have something for you...."
June watched as he produced an attractively marked box from behind his back, and while she was still hesitating, he stepped into the vestibule.
"I guess you might as well come into the living room," she said vaguely as she lead the way. I wish I hadn't drunk so much of that goddamn champagne, she thought ruefully. Maybe some coffee will help....
Cameron declined coffee and when she brought hers back into the living room, he had unwrapped the "something" he had for her. It was a beautiful casserole, in oven-to-table pottery. It was a beige color with an attractive olive green flower motif.
"It's beautiful ... but what do I have to do to get it?" Now that some of the champagne induced fogginess had cleared, she realized that Cameron was a salesman and that she hadn't heard all his story.
"Actually, it's free, absolutely free!"
"If I buy what?" she said shrewdly.
Cameron sighed heavily.
"And I thought I'd sell the very last one. But it looks as if I was mistaken!"
"Sell what, for heavens' sake?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Sure I do. Now that you're here and wasting my time, I might as well hear all your spiel before I tell you to get going!"
"What a way to make a living," Harry groaned. "Nothing but abuse wherever I go-"
He stopped when he saw June's lovely face hardening and knew instinctively that she was in no mood for his sales patter.
"Hold on for a second till I get it from the car," he said as he hurried to the front door.
While he was gone, she examined the "free" gift. It really was just to her taste ... she knew she'd love to have it.
Cameron was back very quickly carrying a large box.
"Actually, it's a complete set in this same pattern. Everything from ramekins to a salmon poacher."
"How much is it?"
"Really for nothing. You won't get value like this anywhere. This is really quality stuff...."
"I said how much?"
Cameron sighed again as he looked at the dark-haired wife. She seemed strangely sullen and yet she was looking at the pottery with obvious interest.
"A hundred and twenty-five ... with five per cent off for cash...."
Cameron glanced slyly out of the corner of his eye at her to see how she'd take the price. But it didn't seem to worry her.
"This is your last set?"
"Yep, the very last. If I sell this one before I go back to Chicago, and I'm due back tonight, I merit a free weekend in La Crosse-for skiing. I'd sure like to get that trip...."
"I'll take it!"
Cameron stared at her in surprise. He had felt with each passing second that this was one sale he'd never make ... but the ill-tempered brunette surprised him.
"You mean you'll buy it ... the whole set?"
"Yes, but I won't by paying cash. I'll have to get installments!"
"Oh that's fine," Cameron assured her hastily. "I've got my book here and we'll just...."
June felt oddly pleased. She really liked the set and she looked on it as a kind of anniversary present to herself. It helped to make up for the shambles of the celebration and was also a way to get back at Don. He'd be furious with her for spending all that money, telling her they didn't really need the pottery.
She signed a check for the deposit and then began to fill out the installment agreement.
"Is it for yourself or for a present?" Cameron inquired politely, still hardly able to believe his luck.
"Both, you might say," June replied as she signed her name with a flourish. "Yesterday was our wedding anniversary and this is a present for me. But now that that's done, how about a little celebration drink? We can toast your trip to La Crosse!"
No wonder she's acting so crazy ... she's been guzzling that bubbly all morning, Cameron thought when he saw the young brunette pour out two glasses from the half-empty bottle. She must be a real lush....
"Here's to a swinging weekend for the carefree salesman," June cried bitterly, "and a shitty weekend for the ten-years-married housewife!"
"Hey, it can't be as bad as all that," Cameron said in a frinedly way. Now that the business of selling was out of the way, he could concentrate on his latest buyer. He saw that she was really quite attractive, although she didn't look too hot right now. As if she'd been crying or something.
That's what you think, brother, she thought, staring at him over the rim of her glass. You 're looking at a gal who not too long ago got fucked in the ass! A handsome guy like you wouldn't know anything about that....
"What'll you do on your free weekend in Wisconsin?" she said out loud.
"Oh, I'll get in some good skiing ... there ought to be some great powder. And maybe I'll meet a gorgeous chick or two...."
"Oh, you're not married?"
"Hell no! Do I look like a poor married slob?"
"No, I guess you don't," June said reflectively as she refilled their glasses. He's very attractive ... he'll probably have a fabulous time at the ski resort ... all those glamorous blondes with their suntans will be after him....
"Hey, take it easy on this stuff," Harry cautioned her. "I've gotta drive all the way back to Chi tonight!"
"Ah yes, from Michigan Avenue to Michigan Avenue! Good old Route 112-the longest street in the world!"
"Yes," Cameron laughed, "but I'll take the expressway. It's a hell of a lot faster!"
"Aaahhh, a dynamic young man, I see...." June said, staring fixedly at him. She hardly knew what she was saying, only that she was acting recklessly. After all, she didn't know this guy at all ... he could be any kind of a creep. He mightn't even be a salesman at all ... maybe he just stole the stuff....
"Do you really think I'm dynamic?" he asked, moving closer to her. He had put down his drink and was watching her every move. He could see that she was intoxicated by all the champagne and that she was in a careless mood. Besides, she was very attractive ... all the more so since she was beginning to let go....
"I ... I was just beginning to think that maybe you were a phony. Not a salesman at all. Maybe a thief, or a murderer...."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, or maybe even a rapist! A sex maniac, who forced his way in here to try and take advantage of me!"
"Would you like that?" Cameron's heart was beating fast as he reached out and circled his arm around the dark-haired young wife. Her eyes were bright and sparkling and her face was flushed in a way that made her look aroused.
"Like what? For you to take advantage of me?" June scrutinized him carefully. "Well, I don't know. You're very handsome, I admit, but ... don't forget I'm a married woman!"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Plenty, unfortunately," June exclaimed, pulling away from him. "We might as well finish this bottle, though!"
She poured the remaining champagne into the two glasses and immediately began to sip hers.
She was feeling completely lightheaded but she didn't care. The feeling was such a relief from how she'd been feeling ever since last night. And it felt good to talk easily and freely with someone for a change. She and Don had got out of that habit, and besides he really wasn't too interested in what she had to say anymore.
"How come you and your husband didn't drink this stuff last night?" Harry asked presently.
June found herself flushing. Should she tell him the truth? Or make up some lie? Hell, it wasn't any of his business....
"My husband spent the whole night boozing it up and didn't come home till midnight," she heard herself say with some surprise. She hadn't meant to tell him that ... it just slipped out!
"So you had a row and now you're getting tight to make up for it," Harry said, eyeing her speculatively. Something else must have happened, he guessed shrewdly ... she looks like a gal bent on revenge. I wonder what her old man did to her?
"Well, why not? Especially now that I have such attractive and charming company? It's not often that happens :. . "
Oh God, another bored housewife, Cameron sighed cynically, but suggested aloud, "Why don't you get out more? Maybe get a part-time job or something...."
"A job! That's always the cure suggested for women who are miserable, isn't it?"
Cameron didn't know what to answer. He was beginning to be sorry he had stayed to have the champagne. He just wasn't in the mood for arguments or listening to heart-rending stories of how boorish someone's husband was. He just didn't have time for that sort of bull....
June was beginning to feel pretty disgruntled herself. The salesman's attitude was beginning to irritate her, but at the same time, she enjoyed his presence and the fact that he seemed to take even a little interest in her.
"Well, if you don't dig that "cure" as you call it, maybe you should have an affair! That would straighten you out!"
June was aware of a little tingling of illicit pleasure at his words. An affair ... Of course, she would never dream of stooping to anything like that. But still, he had suggested it ... did that mean he was interested in her?
She stole a glance at him from under half-closed eyelids, but he was toying with his glass.
"An affair? But I couldn't ... it would be wrong...." she said coyly, unable to resist it.
"For Chrissakes, this is 1972, not the Middle Ages! And besides, you're a very attractive woman ... why waste yourself on a guy who obviously isn't too considerate...."
His words of praise thrilled her at the same time as his condemnation of Don wounded her. But she edged the latter out of her brain and turned to face the handsome young salesman.
"So ... you think I'm attractive?"
Cameron stared at her for a long moment. The goddamn prick-tease! What is she getting at? He was more irritated than ever at her bantering game, but at the same time, she was flirting with him, whether she knew it or not. And he wasn't one to let an opportunity like that pass....
"Yes, by God I do, and I'm going to prove it...." and he crossed the space between them in two bounds, and dropped down on the sofa next to her.
Taking June by surprise, he pulled her to him, and crashed his mouth down on hers. He began to kiss her hard in open-mouthed tongue-taunting passion, his arms caressingly tight around her. She was too surprised to struggle even when she felt her breasts crushed up against his heaving chest. Besides ... his mouth felt good on hers, warm and pleasantly aggressive and she found herself responding completely. Her tongue began to react to his probing organ and she parted her shapely lips in complete acquiescence. She felt the hardening of her nipples as they strained against his strong masculine chest, and shivers of erotic sensation rippled through her palpitating breasts.
Her brain was reeling with tumultuous thoughts but she ignored them. Something was stirring in her body that she hadn't felt in a long time and she was concentrating on this fabulous new feeling.
God, she's a hot little number all right, Cameron thought lustfully, as he forced his hand up between their tightly pressed bodies and began to massage the heaving mounds of her breasts. He trapped the rigid buds of her nipples between his fingers, one after the other, and heard her mewl with awakening arousal.
He sensed the gradual almost imperceptible churning of her shapely hips as she ground her rounded buttocks down into the sofa cushion, at the same time as he became aware of the stiffening of his own cock.
"Christ, baby, feel how hard my prick is! I'm dying to put it into you ... and I can tell you're ready!"
The lewdly uttered words branded themselves like a tattoo on June's champagne-aroused brain. What was he saying? Surely he didn't think she ... that she would....
Realization of what she was doing burst on her like a rainstorm. There was a parting in the clouds of liquor haze that befogged her and she realized that she was actually returning this strange man's passionate kiss, that his hands were roaming at will over her near-naked body, that his fingers were tweaking her nipples. She was acting like a loose woman ... no wonder he got the wrong idea!
With mounting trepidation, she pulled her mouth away from his clinging lips and tried to wriggle out of his embrace.
"Let me go!" she gasped heatedly, drumming her fists against his chest, "you don't understand ... it's all a mistake!"
Cameron's hands fell down and he stared at her in open-mouthed surprise.
"What the hell do you mean?"
"Nothing ... just go away and leave me alone! You've got the wrong idea!"
"I'm not too sure about that! You were pretty explicit," he said coldly, aware of a rising flood anger.
"GET OUT!" she shouted, her eyes blazing, her body heaving with fear and suppressed desire. "Get out and leave me alone, or I'll call the police!"
"All right, lady, if that's the game you want to play," Cameron spat. Hurriedly, he picked up his installment papers and his accounts book and moved quickly towards the front door.
As he reached it, he looked back at her loathingly, "So long baby! But my advice to you is, if you don't want to get laid, don't be such a goddamn prick-teaser!"
June's face blanched as she stared at the slammed door, his taunting words ringing in her disbelieving ears.