“I know that to you, this seems like hell, but to me…. I just spent the last three years living in a hut with a thatch roof. My bathroom was a hole in the ground.”
“No way. How did you manage?”
She tilted her head, remembering. “It was hard to get used to at first. I mean really hard. The first month or two, I thought seriously about quitting because of it. I never felt really clean, and of course with no electricity, your normal entertainment is pretty much gone. But once I got used to it, it just seemed normal.”
“That’s…. I don’t think I could do it. And I used to love camping and stuff.”
“I know. I mean, yeah, I understand. With camping, you go home in a few days and take a hot shower.” She sipped her wine. “Just having a refrigerator to put food in, just being able to turn on the light…it’s wonderful.” She laughed. “Even indoor plumbing seems like a miracle.”
“Still…. And I’m sorry to beat a dead horse, here. But I’m concerned for your safety. You said you grew up in this area. Can’t you live with your family for a while?”
“Uh.” She took a gulp of her wine, finishing it. “I guess, but….”
“You don’t get along?”
“I wouldn’t say that, just we’re not close anymore. I’ve changed and my mom still thinks I’m about sixteen.” She forced a laugh, sounding truly uneasy for the first time. “The usual story, pretty boring.”
“I didn’t mean to pry.”
“No, don’t worry about it.” She touched a drop of wine clinging to the rim of her empty glass. Her forefinger circled the rim, around and around.
Maybe she was uncomfortable having me here. Just because I felt like I’d known her forever didn’t mean she felt the same way. She’d already been pretty daring by just asking me to come in. So I made myself say, “Casey, I hate to do this, but it’s getting late and I really should get home.”
“Aw. I hate it too, but you’re right.”
“Can I see you again?”
A smile started in one corner of her mouth and grew to light up her whole face. She nodded.
We both stood. I took her hand, feeling the need to touch her. Her eyes jumped to meet mine, almost like my touch was a jolt of electricity to her. Hers sure was to me. We were standing close together, and her face was tipped up to mine, and I wanted to kiss her so bad. It was ridiculous, but somehow I felt like she knew me right down to my bones and so I thought, what the hell. I kissed her.
Her lips were soft. I could smell her hair or her perfume or some light flowery smell. I raised my free hand, just meaning to touch her hair lightly, but once it was there, my fingers plunged into her thick glossy hair like they had a mind of their own. It was like my body took over by instinct or something. My mouth was hungry for hers. My lips pulled at hers, and she opened to me. Her tongue was velvet on mine. My hand in her hair pulled her head closer and her body followed. We dropped our held hands and her arms went around me. Our bodies pressed together and I could feel the blood slam into my cock. For a second I wished it hadn’t, but then Casey pushed and lifted her hips, creating a delicious friction. I knew she could feel me against her belly.
I thought, I do not ever want to let go of this girl. Almost as soon as I had the thought, though, she broke the kiss. We were both breathing fast, and I could feel my heart going a mile a minute. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were sparkling, and she looked like she’d just woken from a dream.
“You’d better go,” she whispered.
I nodded, touched her cheek for a second, and walked out the door.
At the first red light I got out my phone. A law-school friend of mine was a real estate attorney, Julio. He was hungry, and that’s what I needed. I knew he’d still be working—it wasn’t even midnight yet.
“Julio! Mick Branson. How are you doing, man?”
“Mick! Long time, no see! I’m working my ass off, how are you? How does the other half live?” He laughed.
“I don’t know, I’m working my ass off too. Listen, I have some work for you if you want it.”
“Of course I want it, what is it?”
“I want you to buy a building for me. 2512 Jackson, in the city.”
“That’s Addison Hill, what do you want with a building in the battle zone?”
“Don’t worry about it, just buy it.”
“Is it for sale?”