sat back from the road, but it wasn't alone in the strip of
stores. A smal Handi-Mart with a liquor license sold
snacks, beer and wine coolers, probably to the patrons of
Sensations' dance parlor.
I yanked open the door and heard the bel jangle, my
attention focused on the row of refrigerators at the end of
the shop. I stepped aside, though, for the woman pushing
her way out of the door as I went in. Then I stopped as
the door swung in to close in my face, and I pushed it
open to cal after her.
'Miriam?'
She turned and gave me a broad, white-toothed smile.
She turned and gave me a broad, white-toothed smile.
'Helo, dear. So nice to see you.'
I knew she had a life outside of her shop, that she lived in
a house. Drove a car. Shopped for wine coolers, too,
apparently, and bought gum and cigarettes. Even so,
seeing her outside what I thought of as her natural
environment stumped me.
'What…hi. Wow, I didn't think I'd run into you.'
She smiled again and patted my arm. 'Of course not, dear,
why would you?'
I laughed. 'I don't know.'
'Wil you be in to the store soon?' She tilted her head to
assess me. At her throat she wore a tiger-print scarf
tucked into the lapels of her sleek red coat. Damn, I
wished I had her style. 'I have some lovely new things.
And that box is waiting for you.'
I thought of the box I'd just purchased and what I was
meant to do with it, and my voice went a little faint when I
answered her. 'Maybe I'l make it in this week.'
'Good.' She nodded and moved off. She walked slowly
'Good.' She nodded and moved off. She walked slowly
but without limping or using a cane, belying her age.
I watched her go for a little, then turned and went inside
the store, where I added a six-pack of wine coolers to my
bottle of water. I had a date with my hand and a bottle of
Cum-Ezee.
Chapter 16
Why had I been embarrassed?
Naked and wet from my shower, I stood in front of my
bed and opened the box lid. I puled out the bottle, peeled
off the plastic meant to protect me from God knew what.
A glass bottle, it was heavy, and the stopper made of
rubber reminded me of a nipple when I squeezed it
between my thumb and forefinger.
I squeezed my own nipple with fingers slick from my own
saliva. It stood up under my touch. Already my heart had
begun beating a little faster, not so much from what I was
