Szot, JC - The South Window (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (20 page)

Allie drank until she couldn’t think anymore, her mental turmoil numb. She woke up at 3:00 a.m., fully clothed and on the sofa. She trudged up the stairs, climbing into bed. Her head spun, her thoughts a blur, a revolution of confusion.

* * * *

The next morning, while Allie waited for the coffee to brew, her scalp was splitting. Lightning strikes of pain shot across her forehead. Adding to Allie’s hangover was the sight of Tess’s car. She was back. Dread filled her, mixing with guilt and deception, a perfect cocktail, the drink of death.

Allie would play the waiting game, seeing how long it would take for Tess to come and collect her keys. After three cups of coffee, an aspirin, and a shower, Allie tried to call Dan. She got his voicemail and left a message telling him she was eager for him to come home, her genuine honesty soothing. She needed a routine, the structure Dan would provide.

After lunch Allie decided to go see Tess. Hiding only made her look guilt ridden. Allie crossed the street and circled around back. She knocked on the door. Allie glanced back at the cabana she and Marty had been in together.

Allie heard the door open. Aligning her eyes, it was time for her curtain call. Allie felt surprisingly calm on Tess’s stage.

“Well, howdy there, neighbor.” Tess yawned, scratching the side of her head, her hair rumpled from sleep. She wasn’t dressed yet, her body exposed in a sheer teddy. Her dark nipples budded beneath the lace. “How’ve you been?” Tess stepped out onto the back stoop, not inviting Allie in. She wondered if Tess had someone inside. Allie tried to see past her, but Tess closed the door, afraid she’d see the remnants of Tess’s movie set.

“I’m fine. How was your trip?” Allie tried to read Tess’s thoughts. The image of her panties hanging from Tess’s mirror clawed at Allie’s mind.

“It was all right. Not as productive as I had hoped, but that’s life, I suppose.” Tess swept her hair back, out of her eyes. “How’s your neighbor?” Her lips curved into a catty grin.

“Okay, I guess. I’m done with the mural now so I don’t see him as much.” Allie stared at her hard, not wanting to look cowardly. Allie chose to use her wild card, needing it desperately. She brought up the black Mercedes.

“I just want to let you know that there was a black Mercedes here yesterday,” Allie said flatly.

“What time?” Tess’s cool demeanor switched gears from casual to somewhat anxious.

“I guess it was around dinner time. They did walk around the back here.” Allie pointed. “I didn’t know if you’d given them a set of keys as well, so I didn’t come over and ask questions.” Allie noticed Tess’s eyes change, her brows now knitted.

“Okay, thanks.” She placed her hand on the doorknob.

Allie could see Tess’s mind reeling ahead. Allie was no longer standing in front of her. Tess’s thoughts had taken off. Tess was plotting her next move in whatever dangerous game she was playing. Allie dangled the keys in the air.

“Thanks, Allie.” Tess turned and quickly stepped inside.

“No problem.” Allie waited, watching Tess shut the door in her face then walk back through the kitchen.

While Allie walked home, she wondered what Tess’s reaction would have been if she’d demanded her panties back. Allie suddenly didn’t feel afraid of her anymore. She knew Tess had a plan. Allie knew that she was woven into it somewhere. Where that was, she wasn’t sure.

Chapter 25

“I’ll be home in six days, Al, isn’t that great?” Dan’s voice was loud with excitement. “We’ve really hustled here to finish up.”

“I can’t wait,” Allie sighed. “I miss you. I just want to get the hell out of here.” She did want to Dan to come home. He equaled normalcy, and she needed some. Allie needed to work on what she’d had, and could still have with him. It was worth saving. They had built a life here together.

“Where’re we going, honey?”

“I wanna go to Antigua,” Allie said, her tone soft.

“That sounds fantastic.” Dan’s excited breaths reverberated through the line. “Make the reservations, Allie. Book it now.”

They said their good-byes. Allie went online to book their flights and look for a hotel. She booked the trip for three weeks.

* * * *

Once it was dark, Allie sat outside. She reclined in the lounge chair, hypnotized by all the white, shiny particles that glistened in a dark, onyx sky. She was pulled from her stargazing when she heard the crunching of heels on the gravel. Allie sat up and saw Tess walking toward Marty’s workshop. She’d seen his light on but stayed put, firmly rooted where she belonged.

Allie was working on repositioning herself, eager for Dan to come home. She chose to nurture their relationship. Her affair with Marty forced her to dig deep and look at herself. She would learn to communicate instead of turning away to get her needs met. She still loved Dan and she knew that he loved her. They’d both been misguided. Allie allowed herself to be tainted with jealousy. Did she really need to compete with anyone? She’d always been comfortable with herself. Dan’s problem was his preoccupation with money, thinking that that was his primary role as a man, a role his father had failed at. This trip would get them back to where they needed to be, where
she
needed to be.

Allie saw Tess open the workshop door. As soon as it closed, she went inside to get the binoculars. Allie wanted to know if Marty would receive Tess. He needed to divert his attention away from her; whether he wanted Tess or not, Allie couldn’t be sure. Tess would always be the face and body of temptation.

Allie sat in the chair, bringing the binoculars into focus. Marty’s bare chest filled the lens. He was sanding a small table with safety glasses strapped around his head. Tess moved into the lens, wearing a silky, sea-green blouse that glowed against her coppery skin. A black miniskirt rested above her knees. A deep slit exposed a strip of flesh on her left thigh.

Allie observed Marty’s reaction to her, his face tight, his eyes narrowed. Tess was leaning against the workbench, tossing her hair, working her X-rated program. Marty placed the small electric sander on the table, removed his glasses, and walked toward her.

Allie saw this as his test. Could he refuse her? Tess began running her hands over his chest. Marty stood still, his hands hanging at his sides. He reached out to her, then ran his finger down the side of her neck, falling into temptation. Tess’s seduction squeezed him like a vise.

Allie gritted her teeth, her anger starting to simmer. She quickly realized that she’d have to turn her back if she wanted her reunion with Dan to stick. Then it all clicked. Allie understood what Marty was trying to do. If he refused her, Tess could then secure her case against her, Allie’s affair with Marty being the root of his decline to Tess’s advances. Allie now knew Marty was doing this in an attempt to protect her.

Tess began unbuttoning her blouse. She eased the sheer fabric off her shoulders, her dark nipples peaked with desire. She placed Marty’s hand over her breast, leaning into him, pressing her body against him. Marty’s body stiffened, responding in aggressiveness. He reached behind her and buried his hand in her hair, yanking her head back. Tess’s eyes popped open, taken aback by his forcefulness. The skin of her throat worked, swallowing hard.

Marty mashed his lips into hers. Tess’s eyes were fluttering open intermittently. It looked as if Marty’s frustration with her had turned into rage. Allie worked the focus knob, raising the binoculars, their images clear and sharp. Tess fumbled with the zipper of her skirt. Marty spun her around, tearing her skirt, yanking it down. He wrapped the black strap of her thong around his finger, ripping it from her backside.

Tess’s eyes were closed, her mouth open, soaking up the thrill of their inferno of ecstasy. Marty pushed Tess’s body over the workbench, her arms spread to support her. He worked his jeans down with one hand, pushing them over his thighs. His cock bobbed, fully engorged. Marty’s hand gripped her hip, his other holding his cock. He thrust himself into her, his jaw clenched, his lips pressed in a thin line. His discontent for her rose from his body like a cloud of smog, full of polluted stench.

His hands clenched around her ass, her flesh protruding between his thick fingers. He grabbed a mass of her hair again, pulling her head to the side, biting her neck. Tess repositioned her body, bending over lower, giving Marty access to devour her.

It looked as if Marty was seeing how far he could go, wondering where Tess’s line of eroticism ended and violence began. He withdrew, spun her around to face him once again. He placed his hands on her torso, digging his thumbs into her rib cage, bent over and took her breast into his mouth, gorging on her bronzed skin. He dove into her again, his exhaustion mounting. Sweat glistened on his skin. He ground his body into hers, pressing her back into the edge of the workbench. Tess’s eyes widened in disbelief, Marty’s sealed tight, giving his all in this dramatic farce of a performance.

His hips worked like a relentless jackhammer. Strong magnification enabled Allie to watch Tess’s inner thoughts cross over the line. Right in front of her, Allie could see Tess’s worried expression. Tess punched Marty’s shoulder. Her eyes sprang open, her brows raised. A hysteria Allie had never seen before came across Tess’s face.

Allie didn’t think Tess had it in her. She shoved Marty hard, pushing his shoulder in an attempt to get his attention. Marty’s body pulled back, his breath heaving. Tess drew her hand back and slapped him across the face. Marty’s eyes squinted into two slits, lit with fury.

Marty said something to her, and Tess slapped him a second time. Allie couldn’t contain her laughter. He’d done it. Marty had brought Tess to the breaking point. A destination which neither of them thought existed.

Tess grabbed her blouse, feeding her arms through, her face irate, her eyes sparked with rage. She stepped into her torn skirt and stomped toward the door. Allie jumped off the lounge chair, slipped inside and slinked into the kitchen to watch her walk home, the heat of her temper fueling her quickened pace. Allie continued to watch her circle around the back of the house. Tess pulled off her disheveled clothes, draped them over the fence, and dove into the pool. This would be the last time Allie would look through the binoculars.

* * * *

Two days later Tess came over, calling her from the bottom of the stairwell. Allie was in her studio, trying to finish her painting of Lake Erie. Allie heard her climb the stairs, the sound of her steps masked with a different tone. When Allie turned, she saw that Tess was wearing white jogging shorts, a black sports bra, and sneakers. She was puzzled by her unusual appearance and choice of dress.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Allie swiveled around in her chair. Her gaze followed Tess as she walked over to the south window, standing, gazing through the screen. “Tess?” Allie set her brush down. Tess turned around, her face set, stone cold and expressionless.

“How was he, Allie?” Tess stepped closer, pinning Allie with her cold, hard stare. “Was he a good fuck? Did you enjoy it?” Tess sarcastically winked at her. “He’s great at eating pussy, isn’t he?” Her tongue wiggled between her teeth.

Allie’s mouth ran dry. Nausea mounted in her stomach. Allie looked down at her hands. Her first instinct was to hide her shame, her first reaction appearing weak. In her eyes’ edge, Allie saw the rapid movement, but she was too late. Tess backhanded her across the face. The sting radiated up to Allie’s temples.

“You cheating, self-centered bitch.” Her voice was low, slithering out between her gritted teeth like a snake.

Allie tried to stand up, not wanting to be at a disadvantage. Tess’s hand shoved her back into the chair. Allie’s adrenaline rose to the occasion. She leaped from her chair, glancing back, looking at the door, scrambling for a plan of escape. Another blow came from Tess’s hidden, recoiled arm, belting into the side of her cheek. Searing pain penetrated Allie’s jaw, the nerves of her teeth rebelling. Crumbling pieces of a tooth scattered across her tongue. Allie stumbled but caught herself, throwing her weight into the wall. Silver dots danced in her vision like balls of mercury.

The tortured thoughts Allie had had for weeks over Tess knowing about her and Marty disappeared. Allie reached deep into herself, pulling out all her defenses. She would stand up to Tess, her past intimidations wiped away.