could be brought on by the soft, gentle, insidious, unstoppable power of another woman.
As time slowed, my vision and some of my dignity returned. Talia and I unfurled. We lay together, naked and satedâa thin sheen of syrup about our faces, and a thin sheen of perspiration about our bodies. We were at once languidly at ease, while at the same time too shy to hold each otherâs gaze for any length of time. But the secret joy of what had just happened between us won out, and any suspicion or doubt dissipated with the ebbing tide of orgasm.
I knew Talia felt the same when she leaned over, kissed my nose and said, âThis is all my boyfriendâs fault anyway! What was he thinking to phone me up and talk to me like that!?â
She knew she was only partly right. And her faux indignity made me laugh as I held her closer.
Chapter 3
â¦â¦â¦â¦
Out of the Rain
Iâd been having the strangest dream. I was enveloped in a thick mist, a hot and humid fog, but cool at the same time. The mist was ethereal in my grasp, but as it surrounded me it grew firm. It found its way easily into all my bodyâs creasesâunder my arms, between my buttocks, around my neck. But whenever I tried to touch it or push it away, it turned to vapour. It continued to probe and caress meâeverywhere at once. Kneading my thighs, stuffing my mouth, tickling my belly, probing my asshole, entering my pussy. Every touch was different. First rough, almost violent. Then suddenly just a whisper. I was helpless against it. The shape of its probes kept changing. In my mouth, in my ass, in my pussyâit could be thin and barely solid, exploring so gently that I hardly felt it at all. But without warning it could mutate into a thick, proud, undeniable wedge, stretching my flesh in a flash of pain, pleasure and surprise.
I awoke with a start, naked, uncovered, short of breath, perspiring slightly and more than a little disoriented. Talia slept soundly beside me, also naked, unaware of my quieting storm beside her. I ran a soothing hand over her thigh, more for my own reassurance, and she snuggled toward me in her sleep. Outside I heard a hard rain falling. It must have only just begun because the air was still heavy and wet.
As sleep and warmth began to reclaim me, I heard again what must have woken me the first time. A sharp knock at the door. Then silence. A roll of thunder. And another knockâmore insistent this time.
All I needed now was for Talia to wake up and that would be it. Weâd keep each other up all night in a sleepless panic. I crept out of bed and started for the door before I realised I was stark naked. I drew my t-shirt over my head and put on my underwear. Feeling not very much more protected, I approached the door.
âWho is it,â I hissed.
âThank god!â came from the other side, in equally furtive tones. âItâs me!â
Of all people! I opened the door to my damp, bedraggled, anxious, relieved, and absolutely adorable lover from this afternoon.
âIâm sorry, Stephanieâ¦.I was out andâ¦.it started to rain like crazyâ¦.everything was closedâ¦I just thoughtâ¦.â
âOh, just get in here!â I whispered at him as I threw my arms around him and dragged him into the living room.
He was drenched. When I pushed him onto the sofa, the water sprayed off of him like water shaken off a sodden sponge. I tried to snuggle against him but he was cold and wet and I was warm and dry. His wet shirt was nearly translucent and clung to his powerful chest and torso.
âYouâve got to get out of those clothes,â I told him as I lifted his shirt away from his body and over his head. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his jeans. He was prepared to stop there, but I slipped a hand under the waistband of his shorts and had them off him before he could even think about it.
Still partly in the sleepy, sexy, groggy haze of the newly