He was too startled to move for a moment; it had all happened so swiftly. Then, his senses responded to the wonderful reality of her, and he moaned and…
She lay supine, docile, under his hungrily groping hands. They roamed over her body unhindered, nothing forbidden nor withheld. And her mouth received his in long, breathtaking kisses. It was almost too much, more ecstasy than he could bear. To have her at last, after all these years of hunger and hopelessness, to have this – the impossible dream come true – his for the taking.
He moaned again. He turned, pulling her body under his and then he opened his eyes. Looked into hers.
'What – what's the matter?' he said.
'You mean,' she said, 'you're not enjoying yourself?'
'Look. If you didn't want to, why -?'
'I thought I explained. To see how important this was to you – how much value or little value you placed on it.'
'But that – that's crazy! What does it prove? For God's sake, Marcia, you can't-'
'To me, it proves a great deal. To you – well, I'm waiting to find out.'
'B-but-' But it was impossible, unbearable! He couldn't stop now. Jesus, he couldn't! He couldn't! But if he didn't…
He bit his lip. Suddenly, he thrust himself up, dropped down panting at her side. And he lay there, eyes clenched, trembling from the terrible effort. It was all right now. He was exhausted, now, drained dry of strength – weak as he was disappointed.
Her arm went around his neck, pulling his head against her breast. She held it there, gently, stroking his hair.
'You'll be glad, darling,' she whispered. 'You'll see. You'll be so glad you waited.'
'All right,' he said. 'I… all right.'
'You don't hate me, do you, darling? Please don't. No matter what I – how I act. Because I won't be doing it to hurt you. I love you and I want you to love me, to keep on loving me, and if we don't get started off right…'
'All right,' he repeated. 'I said it was all right, didn't I?' 'And I said you'd be glad,' she whispered. 'And you will…'
SIXTEEN
Although there was still Some, soreness in his shoulder, he went back to work two days later. He wanted to get the pay-off made and over with. He wanted to – had to – get away from his father. For, that first day excepted, the old man had hardly left the house. And when he did leave on some errand, he was back within minutes.
He was always hovering around Marcia, offering to do things for her, inquiring about her comfort. He was always underfoot, butting»into their conversations, making a thoroughgoing pest of himself. He stayed up at night until they retired. If they went to the kitchen to fix coffee, or out the' porch for a breath of air, he tagged along. They couldn't get rid of him. Marcia, for her part, showed no desire to.
Once Dusty did manage to get her alone for a few minutes, and he made some sarcastic remark about the old man. She looked at him sharply?''
'Why Dusty,' she laughed, half-frowning. 'What a thing to say about your own father! He's just been very lonely, that's all. Surely, you don't begrudge-'
'Oh', hell,' he snapped. 'I've been here right along, haven't I? Why would he be lonely?'
'Yes,' she said. 'Why would he be?'
He smoothed over the incident, told her laughingly that he guessed he was just jealous. And after that he went out of his way to be pleasant to Mr. Rhodes. But the effort told on his nerves. If he had to keep it up one more day, he felt – just one more day – he'd crack up.
She came out to his car with him the night he returned to work. It was dark, moonless. There was a threat of storm in the heavy, overheated air. She kissed him, remained within the circle of his arms for a moment.
'A little after twelve, then, darling?'
'Or later. Whenever Dad goes to sleep.'
'I come to the side entrance in a taxi,' she recited. 'I have the taxi wait and come inside. If you're not there, I speak to the clerk and he'll have me wait until you return. I – He will, won't he, Dusty? He wouldn't offer to open the checkroom himself? '
'Not a chance. It would be beneath him, see, bellboy's work, and it would make me sore. He'd be cheating me out of a tip.'
She nodded, still clinging to him. He bent his head a little and touched his lips to the sweet-smelling hair.
'About Tug, Marcia. I haven't asked before, and I don't want you to tell me if you'd-'
'It's a dangerous secret, darling; it could be one. There's nothing to be gained by your knowing, and everything to lose.'
'Well' – he hesitated. 'But is it safe for you? You know where Tug is. Once you give him the money, he might figure that-'
'I won't give it to him. I'm going to leave it in a certain place where he can get it. Don't worry, Dusty.' She patted his cheek, lovingly. 'Everything's going to be all right.'
They kissed again, stood whispering together a moment longer. At last she stepped back, and he reached for the door of the car. A streak of heat lightning raced across the sky. He paused on the point of sliding into the seat.
'Your clothes,' he said. 'Want me to drive you in tomorrow, and pick them up?'
'Clothes? Oh, yes. Maybe that would be a good idea.'
'Well. Anything else? Sure you can get all the dough in that bag of yours?'
He knew that she could. It was an outsize shoulder bag, and she would remove the contents before coming to the hotel. She nodded absently to the question but she continued to stand there at the curb, a small frown on her heart-shaped face.
He glanced at the radiant that of the dashboard clock. Nine-fifteen, and he was supposed to be in uniform by ten tonight. They were taking his picture for the morning papers.
'I've got to run, Marcia. Is there something else – anything bothering you?'
'We-el… Oh, I guess not,' she laughed ruefully. 'I don't think I should mention it, anyway.'
'Why not?'
'Because. It just isn't my place to suggest it. After all, it must have already occurred to you, and as long as you haven't said anything…'
'About what? What are you – Oh,' he said slowly. 'Well…' And his voice trailed off into an uncomfortable pause.
Actually, he had thought very little about it, how he was going to get his •share of the money out of the hotel. A problem so simple required little thought. Unlike Tug, he had unlimited time. He could take months at the task, carrying it out in his wallet a few hundreds at a shift. It was the easiest way and the safest way. The Manton's bellboys made good money. No suspicion would attach to one with a mere few hundred in his possession.
He explained this to her, and she nodded her understanding.
There was no sign of resentment or hurt in the upturned face. Still, however, his discomfort grew: he felt awkward, constrained to go on explaining. And the more he said – logical as it was – the worse it sounded.
It might be difficult to open the money satchel, take out Tug's share and transfer it- to her bag. It could certainly be done, all right, but there might Be difficulties. The safest and simplest thing to do would be to give her the satchel itself, with all the money. And why not do it? Let her hold Tug's share and his.
Why not, unless…
She touched his arm gently. 'I understand, darling. Now, run along and don't think anything more about it.'
'It's nor- he hesitated-'I wouldn't want you to think I didn't trust you. It's just that I'd planned it the other way, and-'
'Of course' She urged him into the car, closed the door after him. 'Why wouldn't you trust me? After all, you're practically trusting me with your life.'
