“Since you’re in my bed…” She props herself up on an elbow. “Shall we have sex?”
Obviously, my answer is going to be,No, that’s a very bad idea.
“Gladly!” I lean on my elbow, mirroring her position. “But I won’t wear a blindfold. And you’ll remove your pajamas.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Of course, you can. I want to see you, Camille. All of you.”
She averts her gaze.
I blow up, “You’re driving me crazy, woman!”
She startles at my brusque remark.
Before I can get my emotions in check, words I know I’ll regret rush out of me, “You’ve turned me into a horny kid. I sit in my office and fantasize about trailing my tongue down your throat to your belly, and then to your pussy, all whilelookingat you.”
“The reality is never as good as our fantasies.”
“Is that what’s bothering you?” I stare at her. “Are you afraid you’ll fall short of my fantasies?”
“No.”
“Then what is it? Tell me! Whatever it is, no matter how embarrassing you think it is, you can tell me.”
“Why can’t we just make love like last time?” she gulps. “Didn’t you enjoy it?”
“I enjoyed it very much.”
“Then why do you need more?”
“Because…” I take a moment to find the right words. “I was left feeling punished unjustly, denied something I—”
“Louis—”
“Let me finish. You asked a legitimate question, and I’m trying to answer it.”
Wordlessly, she nods.
I start over, “I don’t want to do it like last time, because afterward I felt bitter that you’d withheld something I crave, for no good reason.”
“What do you know of my reasons?”
“Enlighten me.”
She says nothing.
I stroke her cheek. “If you had deformities or ugly scars or something like that, I’d understand. But you don’t.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve felt you all over, that’s how! You don’t even have love handles, for heaven’s sake. It’s all firm muscle and sensational curves.”
“You flatter me,” she scoffs.
I have an epiphany. “What you’re doing now is fickleness.”
“No, it isn’t!” That pushed her buttons.