Szot, JC - The South Window (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (7 page)

She lay in her bed in the dark, restless over what she’d just seen. Maybe she was envious. Allie fought for sleep. Her mind was filled with convoluted thoughts, thoughts that didn’t belong in her head.

* * * *

Allie slept late the next morning, having been up half the night. Images of Marty and Tess fucking in his workshop were burned in her brain. She contemplated whether Marty would ever tell her the extent of his relationship with Tess.

While Allie waited for the coffee to brew, she saw Marty come outside and go to his garage. The sound of an idling engine came from across the yard. Allie watched him lower the blade on the tractor and start cutting the grass. She found herself thinking about how she would feel the next time she saw him, flashbacks of his nude body fresh in her mind.

Allie fixed her gaze on him as he careened around his yard on his John Deere, shirtless, with a blue bandanna wrapped around his head. She would go back over to his house today and make a second attempt to deliver the jam. Allie’s eyes darted over to Tess’s house. Her car was in the driveway, her blinds buttoned up tight.

* * * *

Allie got dressed and booted up the computer. Vicky had requested some graphics work. Allie tended to do things the old-fashioned way, but the company needed to participate in the technological game so they didn’t lose to their competitors. Allie worked on some ideas for Valentine’s Day until 3:00 p.m. She went downstairs and stood at the sliding glass door, looking next door. Marty’s grass was done. Thinking he may be inside, she grabbed the jam and strolled across the yard.

Allie went to the back door this time, wanting to be less formal. He saw her before she had the chance to knock. He was standing in the kitchen, leaning over the counter eating a sandwich. He waved her in through a mouthful of lettuce. He noticed she was juggling two jars of the jam and came to the screen door to let her in.

“Hey, Allie, how’s it going?” He wiped his mouth with his forearm and rescued one of the jars from her, turning it around in his hand. “Hey, thanks. I’ll have this tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.” Allie rested her arm on the back of the chair. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch,” she said.

“No worries.” He waved a hand at her. “What’re you up to?” He turned and brought his plate to the sink.

He had unpacked his boxes. The kitchen looked more spacious. Bright sunlight poured through his bay window. He had put a few cactus plants on the windowsill since her last visit.

“I was wondering if you’d given your mural any more thought.” He was still shirtless. A light perspiration glistened on his sunned skin, settling between the sparse dark hairs that decorated his chest.

“Well, let me show you the wall area.” Marty turned and led her into the living room. The walls were a soft terra-cotta color, his sofa and recliner, soft suede upholstery in light beige.

“This is a nice room.” Allie didn’t see any pictures on the walls. One wall was dominated by all of his electronics, a large flat-screen TV, and a three-component stereo system. The wall he pointed to was a great spot for the mural.

“I was thinking that this wall would be good for, say, a mountain scene with a valley and a river running through it.”

Allie went into visualization mode. That’s how all of her artwork was born. The picture that formed in her mind and the space she’d have to work with would be perfect.

“So?” Marty moved closer, slipping his hands into his pockets. “What d’ you say? Can it be done?”

Allie eyes were seduced again, drawn to the dark trail of fine hair that ran down Marty’s chest and over his navel, disappearing below into forbidden territory. One she’d already visually explored.

“I like your idea. It could take me awhile.” She stepped closer to him. “I have to allow myself time to keep up with my stuff for the company.”

“Hey, you work when you can. No pressure.” He smiled.

His sunburned skin had deepened to a coppery tan, reflecting the sunlight like the facets of a diamond. Allie’s curiosity prompted her with her next question.

“I take it you slept well. You look better today.” An unfamiliar rush circulated through her, flooding her veins with something she couldn’t label.

“Yeah, last night was fairly civilized.” He tilted his head, his dark eyes roving over her. His eyes returned to hers, his brow arched in question.

This is it!
Allie’s mind tilted with anticipation. He was toying with the idea of asking her something. She could see it in his body language. Marty shifted his weight, his hands fumbling in his pockets. He continued to sift through her. Allie could almost see the question forming in his mind. His lips parted, contemplating on speaking. Allie froze, not wanting to break his train of thought, giving him all the time he needed to make his decision whether to confide in her or not.

“Allie, you have time for a cup of coffee?” His eyes darted to the window. Allie knew he was checking to see whether Tess was up and about yet.

“Sure, coffee sounds nice.” Her voice was calm and easy. Allie wanted him to feel that she had all the time in the world. She followed him back to the kitchen, not waiting for an invitation to sit. Allie settled in, eagerly waiting, contemplating how many cups of coffee it would take to get through a conversation about Tess.

Chapter 9

Marty handed Allie her mug and then sat down at the table. She saw his mocha-colored eyes dart toward the window one more time. Allie cautiously sipped her coffee, giving him her most serene demeanor.

“You mentioned that you’ve only known Tess for a few years, right?” He stared at her over the surface of his coffee.

“That’s right.” Allie cradled the hot mug.

“Was she married when you moved in?” His forehead was creased, his face twisted in curiosity, as if the questions were causing him pain.

“Yes, but shortly after we got here, Kyle moved out.” Allie watched him closely, praying that he would keep talking.

“Um, I don’t know quite how to ask this, but I must say it’s really been working on me.” Marty rested his forearms on the table. His head leaned forward, meeting hers.

“What is it, Marty? Listen, don’t worry about Tess. If there’s something I can help you clear up, it will stay between us. I don’t tell her everything.” Allie had him, she could see it, how his entire body loosened. He rested his head in his hand, and his face smoothed, his brown eyes heavy lidded, carrying a burden he couldn’t wait to get rid of.

“Did you know that your friend swings?” He took a deep breath and quickly sipped his coffee, the horse galloping out of the barn.

Allie wasn’t sure what he meant, her mind racing.

“Swings? I don’t know if I’m sure what you mean.”

“Allie, do you know what a swing club is?” Marty smiled at her, trying to cover up his chuckle with a cough, then quickly cleared his throat, shaking his head.

Allie’s eyes sprung open. A foolish burn coated her cheeks.

“I know what a swing club is.” Her mouth dropped. “I saw a report on one of those establishments on some talk show once.” Allie twirled her fingers through her hair, an old nervous habit. She knew the look of surprise was still on her face, her eyes burning because she hadn’t blinked. Marty started laughing at her facial expressions.

“Tess goes to a swing club?” Her words were an airy gasp.

“You didn’t know this?” Marty was apparently surprised at her being in the dark.

“No. I mean…I know Tess likes her men and loves sex, but a swing club.” Allie still couldn’t believe it. But then she remembered her talking about Readington.

“Is this place in Readington?” she asked.

“That’s where it is. You sure you haven’t been there?” Marty jokingly snickered at her.

“No, are you kidding? Not me.” Her face heated up like a flare. “She’s mentioned to me that she goes to Readington, but I didn’t know that was where she was going.” Allie felt both stupid and betrayed, either that, or she just didn’t know Tess the way she thought she did.

“Have you been there?” She raised her brows.

Marty was quiet, looking down at the blue place mat on the table. God, she hoped he wasn’t shutting down!

“You went, didn’t you?” She stifled her laughter, catching herself. She wanted to know more. Allie couldn’t have him clamming up on her.

“She took me there several times.” He looked up at her, his eyes weary.

“Whoa. What’s it like?”

“Listen, Allie.” Marty held up his hand. “I know we don’t know each other that well. I am a man who does enjoy sex. Most of us do.” He let out a reserved laugh. “I’ll admit that I was curious about it in the beginning.” Marty looked away.

Allie admired his honesty.

“Well, what goes on in a place like that?” she asked.

“Well, people are basically having open sex with one or more partners.” Marty sighed, his eyes returning to hers.

“Did you and Tess…Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be nosy.” Allie waved off her last question.

“It’s all right. To answer your question, no, I didn’t have sex with anyone but…Tess.” Marty hesitated.

His eyes darted around the kitchen. Allie could feel his awkwardness in telling her that their relationship had become physical, even though she was way ahead of him.

“I wonder how people can do that in front of others, with just anybody.” She waited for Marty’s response, feeling him out, wondering what his sexual preferences were.

Marty raised his hand again. “I don’t know. It’s a wild scene, man.” He rubbed his temple, the stress of it all wearing him down.

“Some of the people who go are married too, right?”

“Oh yeah, married couples go there and recruit another man or a woman and just…” Marty shook his head again. “I’m telling you, Allie.” His voice faded. It was quiet for a minute.

Allie wanted to learn more. She’d been watching them for weeks. She gently moved the conversation forward. “Does Tess go there a lot?”

“She goes several times a week,” he said, a wounded look in his eyes.

“Well, does Tess sleep with other men there?”

“Yeah, last week she wanted me to be with her and another guy.” Marty sank his head into his hands then looked up at her. “I couldn’t do it, I just wound up watching.” His words were hurried. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Maybe if I knew the person, but these folks are strangers, to me anyway.”

“I don’t know if I could either.” Allie reached across the table and patted his hand. The conversation seemed to be exhausting him.

“She got so angry at me last night because she wanted to go there again. She thought if we looked for another girl, I’d be more amenable.”

“Oh boy.” Allie took a breath. She wasn’t sure what to say. Allie drained the last of her coffee, setting the cup aside.

“You know what it is, Allie?” Marty stared at her, his eyes wide. “That girl loves an audience, she thrives off of it.”

“She certainly does. I guess it didn’t take you long to figure that out. And living here, as you can see”—she waved her hand, laughing—“doesn’t give her much of one.”

“Like I said before, I’m a man, and I enjoy sex, but if I were to get involved in something like that, I’d have to know my partners, and I would like them to be consistent. These people seem to float from group to group.” Marty got up and brought more coffee to the table. Allie’s mind was flooded with thoughts of what a place like that might be like.

“Are you all right, Allie?” Marty topped off their mugs.