You’ve been acting so strange ever since last night.’
‘I’ve been
‘Are you still upset because I cut myself?’
‘In a way, I guess.’ He stood up. The chair made a loud squawk as it was scooted away by the backs of his knees. The noise made him cringe.
‘I haven’t been quite myself, either,’ Lynn said.
He turned to face her. ‘Really?’
‘Really.’ Gazing into his eyes, she took hold of his hands. ‘The way you acted last night… You were so sweet, getting me the bandage and everything, putting it on my finger even though you have that phobia about cuts. I just suddenly realized… how really special you are, Charles.’
‘Me?’
‘Yeah, you.’ She lifted her hands to his face. Gently caressing his cheeks, she eased against him. She tilted back her head. She pressed her mouth against his lips. After a slow, soft kiss, she looked up into his eyes. ‘We’re all alone,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve already locked up for the night.’
All he could say was, ‘Oh.’ He was trembling. His heart was punching, his breath ragged. His groin was tight and the way Lynn pressed against him, he knew she must be able to feel his erection.
She stepped back to make a space between their bodies. Her hands roamed over his chest. ‘I was awake all night,’ she said. ‘Thinking about you.’
‘I was awake thinking about you, too.’
‘You were?’ He heard a tremor in her voice.
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, man.’ She made a soft, nervous laugh. ‘I should’ve cut myself a long time ago.’
Her trembling fingers unbuttoned his shirt. She spread it open. She kissed his chest.
With one hand, Charles stroked her back. With the other, he dug into the pocket of his pants. He squeezed the plastic handle of his knife.
Staring into his eyes, Lynn plucked at the bottom of her polo shirt. She pulled it free of her shorts, drew it over her head and dropped it to the floor.
Charles felt as if his breath had been sucked from his lungs. He struggled for air.
Lynn fumbled at the waist of her shorts. The garment slipped down her legs. She stepped out of it, nudged it away with her sneaker.
The plastic knife handle felt greasy with sweat.
‘Do you like how I look?’ Lynn whispered.
Charles nodded. ‘You look… beautiful.’
So beautiful. Slender and smooth, naked except for her skimpy white bra and panties, her white socks and sneakers.
She had a calm, dreamy look on her face. A hint of a smile. Arching her back, she reached both arms up behind her.
‘Don’t,’ Charles murmured.
Her eyebrows lifted. ‘I was just going to unhook…’
‘I know. Let me?’
Her smile brightened. ‘Sure.’
Charles pulled out his knife. As he opened the blade, he watched Lynn - ready to grab her if she should try to flee.
Her smile went crooked. She stood motionless, eyes on the knife. ‘You’re kidding, right?’
‘I have to.’
She lifted her gaze to his face. She seemed to be studying him. Then she shrugged one shoulder. ‘Go ahead, Charles.’
‘Huh?’
‘If you have to, you have to. I’ll buy a new one.’
‘Oh.’
She put her hands on his hips. He felt them shaking slightly. They squeezed him when he cut through each of the shoulder straps. Then he slid his blade under the narrow band between the cups of her bra. She closed her eyes. Her mouth hung open. He heard her raspy breathing. He tugged, severing the band.
The bra fell away.
Lynn opened her eyes. A smile fluttered on her face. ‘This is pretty kinky,’ she said, her voice husky.
She shivered when he rubbed the blade’s blunt edge down the top of her left breast. In the glow of the nearest florescent light, he saw the smooth skin go pebbly with goosebumps. Her nipple grew. He pressed it down with the flat of the blade, and watched it spring up again. Lynn groaned.
She tugged open his belt. She unfastened the button at the waist of his jeans, jerked his zipper down, feverishly yanked his jeans and underwear down his thighs.
Can’t be happening this way, Charles thought. Never had anything like this happen. He wondered if he might be asleep, dreaming.
But he knew that he was very much awake.
Lynn’s fingers curled around him.
‘Do my panties,’ she whispered. ‘With the knife.’
He cut them at the sides. The flimsy fabric drooped, but the panties didn’t fall. They clung between her legs until she reached down. A small pull, and they drifted toward the floor.
‘This is so weird,’ she gasped. ‘I’ve never… nothing like this.’ Her soft, encircling fingers slid on him. Up, and down.
The knife shook as Charles moved it toward her chest. Just above her left breast, he pressed the point against her skin. Gendy. ‘Careful there,’ she whispered. ‘You don’t want to cut me.’
‘I do, actually.’
Her hand slipped away. She stood up very straight, searching his eyes. ‘You’re kidding, aren’t you?’
‘No.’
‘But you
‘I’m sorry. As a matter of fact, I love them. They… they do something to me.’
‘You mean like they turn you on?’
‘Yes.’
‘But that’s crazy!’
‘I guess so. I’m awfully sorry, Lynn.’
‘Hold on, now.’
‘I
‘Oh my God.’
He shook his head. ‘You’re so beautiful, and… I guess I love you.’
‘Charles. No.’
He stared at the knife point denting her skin. A slit all the way down to the tip of her breast…
Lynn grabbed his hand, twisted it. As Charles yelped, the elbow of her other arm crashed against his cheek. Stumbling backward, he heard his knife clatter to the floor. His pants tripped him. He slammed the side of the study carrel and fell.
Lynn scurried, crouched, and came up holding the knife.
Charles got to his knees. He gazed up at her. So beautiful. Scowling at him, naked except for her white socks and sneakers. The blade of the knife in her hand gleamed.
‘Oh, Charles,’ she murmured.
Tears stung his eyes. He hunched over, clasped his face with both hands, and wept.
‘Charles?’
‘I’m sorry,’ he blurted. ‘God, I’m so sorry! I don’t know why I… I’m sorry!’
‘Charles.’ Her voice held a note of command.
He rubbed tears from his eyes and lifted his head.
Lynn stared down at him. She nodded slightly. A corner of her mouth was trembling.
