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pubic hair like lice。 By the time he got to the ice cream he was too weary to eat； so he downed the bourbon…which instantly took its toll…and retired to bed； leaving the television on in the next room； its sound turned down to a soporific burble。
His body and his mind went about their different businesses。 The former； freed from conscious instruction； breathed； rolled； sweated； and digested。 The latter went dreaming。 First； of Manhattan served on a plate； sculpted in perfect detail。 Then of a waiter； speaking in a whisper； asking if sir wanted night； and of night ing in the form of a blueberry syrup； poured from high above the plate and falling in viscous folds upon the streets and towers。 Then； Gentle walking in those streets； between those towers； hand in hand with a shadow； the pany of which he was happy to keep； and which turned when they reached an intersection and laid its feather finger upon the middle of his brow； as though Ash Wednesday were dawning。
He liked the touch and opened his mouth to lightly lick the ball of the shadow's hand。 It stroked the place again。 He shuddered with pleasure； wishing he could see into the darkness of this other and know Its face。 In straining to see； he opened his eyes； body and mind converging once again。 He was back in his hotel room； the only light the flicker of the television； reflected in the gloss of a half…open door。 Though he was awake the sensation continued； and to it was added sound： a milky sigh that excited him。 There was a woman in the room。
〃Jude？〃 he said。
She pressed her cool palm against his open mouth； hushing his inquiry even as she answered it。 He couldn't distinguish her from the darkness； but any lingering doubt that she might belong to the dream from which he'd risen was dispatched as her hand went from his mouth to his bare chest。 He reached up in the darkness to take hold of her face and bring it down to his mouth； glad that the murk concealed the satisfaction he wore。 She'd e to him。 After all the signals of rejection she'd sent out at the apartment…despite Marlin； despite the dangerous streets； despite the hour； despite their bitter history…she'd e； bearing the gift of her body to his bed。
Though he couldn't see her； the darkness was a black canvas； and he painted her there to perfection； her beauty gazing down on him。 His hands found her flawless cheeks。 They were cooler than her hands； which were on his belly now； pressing harder as she hoisted herself over him。 There was everywhere in their exchange an exquisite syn…chronicity。 He thought of her tongue and tasted it； he imagined her breasts； and she took his hands to them； he wished she would speak； and she spoke （oh； how she spoke）； words he hadn't dared admit he'd wanted to hear。
〃I had to do this 。 。 。〃 she said。
〃I know。 I know。〃
〃Forgive me。〃
〃What's to forgive？〃
〃I can't be without you； Gentle。 We belong to each other； like man and wife。〃
With her here； so close after such an absence； the idea of marriage didn't seem so preposterous。 Why not claim her now and forever？
〃You want to marry me？〃 he murmured。
〃Ask me again another night；〃 she replied。
〃I'm asking you now。〃
She put her hand back upon that anointing place in the middle of his brow。 〃Hush；〃 she said。 〃What you want now you might not want tomorrow。 。 。。〃
He opened his mouth to disagree； but the thought lost its way between his brain and his tongue； distracted by the small circular motions she was making on his forehead。 A calm emanated from the place； moving down through his torso and out to his fingertips。 With it； the pain of his bruising faded。 He raised his hands above his head； stretching to let bliss run through him freely。 Released from aches he'd bee accustomed to； his body felt new minted： gleaming invisibly。
〃I want to be inside you；〃 he said。
〃How far？〃
〃All the way。〃
He tried to divide the darkness and catch some glimpse of her response； but his sight was a poor explorer and returned from the unknown without news。 Only a flicker from the television； reflected in the ^loss of his eye and thrown up against the blank darkness； lent him the illusion of a luster passing through her body； opaline。 He started to sit up； seeking her face； but she was already moving down the bed； and moments later he felt her lips on his stomach； and then upon the head of his cock； which she took into her mouth by degrees； her tongue playing on it as she went； until he thought he would lose control。 He warned her with a murmur； was released and； a breath later； swallowed again。
The absence of sight lent potency to her touch。 He felt every motion of tongue and tooth in play upon him； his prick； particularized by her appetite； being vast in his mind's eye until it was his body's size： a veiny torso and a blind head lying on the bed of his belly wet from end to end； straining and shuddering； while she； the darkness； swallowed him utterly。 He was only sensation now； and she its supplier； his body enslaved by bliss；； unable to remember its making or conceive of its undoing。 God； but she knew how he liked to be pleasured； taking care not to stale his nerves with repetition； but cajoling his juice into cells already brimming； until he was ready to e in blood and be murdered by her work； willingly。
Another skitter of light behind his eye broke the hold of sensation； and he was once again entire…his prick its modest length…and she not darkness but a body through which waves of iridescence seemed to pass。 Only seemed； he knew。 This was his sight…starved eyes' invention。 Yet it came again； a sinuous light； sleeking her； then going out。 Invention or not it made him want her more pletely； and he put his arms beneath her shoulders； lifting her up and off him。 She rolled over to his side； and he reached across to undress her。 Now that she was lying against white sheets her form was visible； albeit vaguely。 She moved beneath his hand； raising her body to his touch。
〃Inside you 。 。 。〃 he said； rummaging through the damp folds of her clothes。
Her presence beside him had stilled； her breathing lost its irregularity。 He bared her breasts； put his tongue to them as his hands went down to the belt of her skirt； to find that she'd changed for the trip and was wearing jeans。 Her hands were on the belt； almost as if to deny him。 But he wouldn't be delayed or denied。 He pulled the jeans down around her hips； feeling skin so smooth beneath his hands it was almost fluid； her whole body a slow curve； like a wave about to break over him。
For the first time since she'd appeared she said his name； tentatively； as though in this darkness she'd suddenly doubted he was real。
〃I'm here；〃 he replied。 〃Always。〃
〃This is what you want？〃 she said。
〃Of course it is。 Of course；〃 he replied； and put his hand on her sex。
This time the iridescence； when it came； was almost bright； and fixed in his head the image of her crotch； his fingers sliding over and between her labia。 As the light went； leaving its afterglow on his blind eyes； he was vaguely distracted by a ringing sound； far off at first but closer with every repetition。 The telephone； damn it！ He did his best to ignore it； failed； and reached out to the bedside