French Quarter (13 page)

She nodded. “He might not even be home. Sometimes he plays racquetball on Saturday morning.”

“All right,” Jack replied. “But since your day doesn’t sound like much fun, why don’t you come back tonight and I’ll make dinner for you. We’ll try somethin’ different and stay in.”

She grinned. “You’re just afraid that if we hit the streets, you’ll get all hot and ready to fuck me and I’ll stretch it out again, make you wait.”

He answered with a smile. “I thought I proved to you last night that you don’t always get to be the one in charge,
chere
.”

She acted playfully smug. “We’ll see about that.”

He kissed her again, then whispered low and sexy in her ear. “
Au revoir
‘til tonight.”

* * * * *

An hour later, Liz sat in a claw-footed chair in Lynda’s parlor—an old-fashioned name for a fittingly old-fashioned room. The front room of her friend’s historic home was done in burgundy and goldenrod, and filled with elegant antique furniture.

“Pardon me for saying,” Lynda began with a tentative grin, “but you look like a woman who’s seen a lot of action lately.”

It wasn’t hard to discern why. Glancing down at herself, Liz saw yesterday’s suit, marked with more than a few wrinkles, and one of her stockings now sported a long run. She raised her eyebrows. “Caught me in clothes I’ve been wearing for a while. And…which have also been off of me at several points in between,” she added with a naughty grin.

“You were in such a hurry on the phone yesterday,” Lynda said, sitting down on the settee across from her, “that I didn’t get to ask you how things are with your sexy new man, but I take it this means you’ve gotten up close and personal.”

Liz couldn’t help letting out a bark of laughter. Talk about an understatement. “You could say that.”

“And
you
could give me some details. Come on, girl, spill.”

Liz barely knew where to begin. The last few days had been a whirlwind and felt more like a few weeks. She looked into her friend’s eyes. “Lynda, we’ve done
everything
.” Then she shook her head. “Wait, no, that’s not true—there’s still plenty we haven’t done yet—like have sex in a
bed
, for instance. But we’ve done so many things that are so wild, it feels like we’ve been around the world and back together.”

Lynda looked positively riveted, leaning forward in her seat. “Go on.” She made a rolling motion with her hand.

Again, Liz hardly knew how to describe what she and Jack had been sharing. “It’s been so…
dirty
,” she said, “but so incredibly
good
.”

Lynda grinned. “I’m liking the sound of this.”

“He turns me into an absolute animal. He’s made me want to do things that had never even crossed my mind before.”

“Like…?”

Liz let out a sigh; she felt overcome just trying to sort through it all. “Like…be with another woman.”

This made her friend smile. “Ah, so you’ve discovered the joys of feminine flesh.”

It still embarrassed Liz a little, even though Lynda, of all people, could understand. “I suppose,” she began uncertainly. “Although it’s not as if it happened in any sort of…natural way. It was in Club Venus. Let’s just say I’ve had a couple of very intimate lap dances since I last saw you.”

Lynda’s eyes widened. “Damn, honey—that’s impressive. But, uh, just how intimate?”

Liz swallowed. “One of them was with two girls. In a private room. Clothes came off. There was…touching…and rubbing…and coming.” Liz felt a familiar heat rise to her cheeks.

Lynda gave an incredulous blink. “My, my, it does sound like you’ve been a naughty girl indeed.”

“But you know what I’ve discovered?”

“I can’t wait to hear.”

“That it’s mostly about him. Wanting to share these new experiences with Jack. Wanting him to be a part of it, even if that’s just watching. The thing that got me hottest with those strippers was knowing he was watching every second of it and that it was exciting him as much as it was me.”

Lynda gave her head a thoughtful tilt. “Call me crazy, but something about that almost sounds…romantic.”

Liz nodded. “I know. I’m not sure when my lust for Jack turned romantic, but that’s how I feel. Attached to him. This fast.” Although she preferred not to think about that, since it was scary.

“Then the question is—is he attached to you?”

“Oh, he’s very attentive to my needs,” she began, laughing, realizing that she meant both in bed and out.

“I’ll just bet he is,” Lynda said with a chuckle.

“And in his way, he’s quite a gentleman. As far as I can tell, he’s interested in letting things continue as they are for now…but a guy like Jack wanting something long-term with someone like me, someone who started playing very racy little sex games with him the moment we met…I just don’t see it. I think he’s a decent man who’s happy to have a good time with me, but…I can’t imagine him seeing me as anymore than just a wild fling.” And it was good she understood that from the start. In past, pre-Todd relationships, it had seemed that every time she fell for someone really hard, it was a death knell. She just had a habit of ending up with men who didn’t want to commit, and Todd was another prime example, even if his feelings had come out in a different way.

“Maybe so, maybe not,” Lynda said. “Either way, I think you should play it for all it’s worth, honey. Clearly, you’ve got some sexual needs that haven’t been getting met, so I say you let Jack Wade meet them for as long as he’s willing.”

Liz smiled. “I don’t think I could resist him if I tried. And by the way,” she said, “I have you to thank for most of this.”

“Me?” Lynda lifted one hand to her chest.

Liz nodded. “You told me to just let go, to follow my urges, and I took that to heart. Every time I questioned something I wanted to do, I did what you told me, just let go. And because of that, I’ve had some experiences I never would have if I’d been acting like my normal, conservative self.”

Lynda cast a sincere smile. “Glad I could help, honey. Now, tell me about Jack’s cock.”

Liz let out a cackle. “What?”

“Ever since I met him I’ve had the notion that that man would have a big, beautiful cock and know exactly how to use it. Was I right?”

“Do fish swim?”

* * * * *

A little while later, Lynda showed Liz to the bedroom that would be hers while she was there. Fortunately, the room had a phone. She took the opportunity to tell her friend she was going to finally break down and call her parents.

Lynda shut the door on her way out to give Liz some privacy.

And although she was dreading the discussion, she discovered as she dialed her parents’ number in Maryland that she no longer felt like the namby pamby pushover she’d always been with them.

Her mother picked up on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Hi, mom, it’s me.”

“Liz, your father and I were just talking about the wedding. Now that you and Todd have had a chance to get settled in your new jobs, it’s really time you two lovebirds pick a date and start making plans.”

Great. “Look, Mom, I have something important to tell you about Todd.”

Her mother dropped into worry mode. “Is he all right? Nothing’s happened, has it?”

Both questions were debatable, but Liz decided to stick to the script she’d created in her mind. “Mom, a few nights ago I discovered Todd has been lying to me for nearly two months. Instead of working late all those nights like he claimed, he was really going to a strip club and…paying to go into private rooms with the strippers.”

Saying something like that to her ultra-conservative mom had been challenging, and now her mother stayed silent, not responding.

Liz took it as her cue to go on. “I originally thought he was cheating on me, but I think this is just as bad, maybe even worse. When I confronted him, he told me he’s still attracted to other women, and apparently, can’t resist acting on it. So…I’ve broken up with him. The engagement is off.”

Finally, after another long pause, her mother found words. “My God, Liz, are you sure this is true?”

She took a deep breath before answering. “Yes, because I saw it with my own eyes.”

“Well…perhaps you two can work through this somehow. Maybe counseling? I hear many couples find counseling helpful.”

Although one part of Liz had been certain her parents would be horrified by Todd’s deception, another part of her had almost expected this. Her mother was in denial, just as Todd had been when she’d broken up with him, so she kept things simple and to the point. “No, Mom, it can’t be worked out. Things are completely over between us. I know this will make for an awkward situation with his parents, but you and Dad will just have to deal with that as best you can. I can’t be expected to marry a man I don’t love, a man who lies to me, just to keep the families happy.”

On the other end of the line, her mother let out a long sigh. “Well, this is a lot to swallow, Liz.”

“Believe me, I know.”
And I can’t imagine your reaction if you knew what
I’d
been doing over the last few days.

When her mother still seemed stuck for words, Liz took the initiative to end the conversation. “Listen, I’ll give you some time to fill Dad in, and then we can talk again. Fortunately, we don’t yet really have any specific wedding plans to cancel, so that’s a blessing. Basically, we can all just go on with our lives. Hopefully, Todd’s parents will see the sense in that and it won’t cause any business troubles.”

“Liz, does this mean you’ll be moving back home?”

The question took Liz’s breath away. It was a natural one under the circumstances, yet it hadn’t once occurred to her to return to Maryland. In fact, she’d enjoyed being in New Orleans more the last few days than she had the prior six months since her arrival. Summoning her voice, she said, “Um, I’m not sure yet, but…I might stay here. I’m starting to like it here.”

* * * * *

“Want me to go with you?” Lynda asked when Liz announced she was going next door to pack her things. “He’s home, you know. His car’s in the driveway. I just checked.”

Liz appreciated the offer, but turned it down. “I can do it myself. And I wouldn’t want him to think I was the least bit intimidated by him, because I’m not. Besides, maybe he’ll be calmer about this now that a little time has passed.”

“If you’re sure,” Lynda said. “But remember, I’m here if you need me for anything.”

Liz thanked her, then steeled herself and walked boldly out the door toward the house she’d recently just begun thinking of as home. It was bigger than they needed, and more ostentatious, but Todd had wanted it and Liz couldn’t deny its appeal. It was a lovely place. Strange, she thought, approaching the front door, for awhile she’d actually envisioned herself raising children in this house. At the moment, children were as far off the radar screen as Todd himself. It was as if her entire world had somersaulted, but she wasn’t sorry. She didn’t miss her plans for the future; in fact, she was rather enjoying the unexpected, the thrill each new day suddenly held. Her experiences with Jack were molding her into an almost entirely new person—a person she liked much better than the old, go-along-with-what-everyone-else-wants Liz.

That thought strengthened her resolve as she let herself in.

No sign of Todd yet, but the scents of coffee brewing and bread toasting told her he was likely in the kitchen—that he’d slept late and was just now starting the day even though it was after noon. It occurred to her that if she were quiet enough, she might actually manage to go upstairs and pack what she needed without even running into him. Even if he
was
calmer now, it wasn’t as if she really had anything else to say to him. With that thought, she slipped off her heels for quieter travel, heading for the steps.

Once upstairs, she changed into fresh undies, a short, casual skirt and a stretchy pullover top. Then she found a large duffle bag and filled it with clothes—work clothes, casual clothes, shoes, underwear. She made a point of taking every ounce of lacy lingerie she owned, and the few sexy nighties she possessed, as well—thinking they’d come in handy with Jack. Just the thought of him fueled her, made her realize how anxious she was to get out of this house, how anxious she was—already—to see him again tonight.

Moving into the bathroom off the master bedroom, she packed cosmetics and toiletries, everything she’d need to get by until a more official move could be arranged. Returning to the bedroom, she knelt to put the items in her bag, zipping it shut. Turning, she found Todd standing in the bedroom doorway.

His eyes were bloodshot—a hangover, she guessed. He wore old gym shorts and a T-shirt that told her she was right about him just now getting out of bed.

“I wondered when you’d come back,” he said, sounding smug and cold.

“Well, as you can see, I’m leaving again already. I just came to get some things. I’ll arrange for movers to get my furniture and other belongings soon.”

Todd simply shook his head, as if she were a child who just wouldn’t behave. “Dear, sweet Elizabeth. I can’t believe you’re persisting in this charade about leaving. We both know you’re not going anywhere.” He took a step toward her. “We both know you’re going to forgive me and we’re going to move on like this never happened.”