Chapter 7: Novel

Just then, her expression changed in a flash, as if she'd sobered up instantly. She clamped her legs tight, refusing to let my hand slip in. Her eyes flew wide. She stared at her husband in sheer terror. Something felt wrong. I immediately let go of her lower lip and turned my head. I saw Ezra smack his lips, roll over, turn his back to us, and keep snoring. I jumped too. My hand snapped back on instinct. My face went pale, and I went stiff as a board, hardly daring to breathe. Only after a long moment, when I was sure her husband wasn't awake, did I let out a slow breath. My nerve came back. One hand darted down between her legs. But Marlee had been jolted fully awake by the scare. She bit her lower lip and held firm, legs locked. Tears glazed her eyes, pleading silently. With the alcohol still firing through my veins, I felt none of the restraint a decent man should have. I only wanted her to yield beneath me. I put both hands on her, roaming over her, trying to wear down her resistance. A muffled "Mm" slipped from her, and her body twisted despite herself. Even the thighs pinning my hand eased, just a little. I took my chance and reached farther. My fingers brushed her lace panties at last. The sleek fabric, with mesh and crisscross lacing, hugged her curves. The feel hit me hard. I was about to hook a finger under the lace, ready to take it further, when her husband suddenly pushed himself up off the floor. The second shock left me stunned. My mind went blank. I went stiff as a board, a cold, hollow dread choking me, a stomach-dropping panic at being caught in an affair. Marlee blanched, shoved me away at once, and clapped both hands over her mouth, shaking. We both looked over at Ezra. I braced for him to explode. Instead, he dropped his head and let out a rasping retch. He suddenly doubled over and puked. Chunks of food and booze splattered across the floor. If I hadn't scrambled up in time, it would have splashed all over me. We both exhaled at once. Marlee fumbled to straighten her clothes as she blurted, "Honey, are you okay?" "Water… water…" Ezra mumbled, dazed, after he finished retching. Marlee snapped out of it and scrambled up as well. Her face flushed bright red. She shot me a furious glare and hissed, "You… you need to leave, or I'm calling the police!" That jolt from her husband sobered me more than any cold shower. Hearing Marlee say that, I felt a stubborn heat in my chest, but I didn't have the guts to risk getting arrested. I clenched my jaw, took one last look at Marlee's ripe, tempting figure, then turned and left. I even toyed with the idea of using her secret to force her hand, to make her give in and sleep with me. But first, it would have been vile, and it would only deepen her disgust. Second, I didn't want just her body. I wanted her body and mind. I wanted her to be obsessed with me. That was the real game. Back home, I showered. My head cleared. Lying in bed, I couldn't stop replaying what I had tried to do to Marlee in her own home. Her tender, arresting face; skin like porcelain; the pale, uplifted fullness of her breasts; her full, rounded ass; the smooth, shapely thighs. Every image tugged at some raw nerve in me. I brought my hands to my nose. They seemed to carry a hint of her scent, faint and dizzying. I had thought that if I pushed hard enough, she would give in to me tonight. I hadn't expected Ezra's sudden stirring to wreck my impulsive plan. Frustration gnawed at me. I told myself I had to have Marlee. Even after all that alcohol, sleep wouldn't come. At last, I couldn't help myself. I broke into Marlee's computer again. To my surprise, there was a new diary entry. July 4. Yesterday. I hesitated. She hadn't written last night. Had she written it at the hospital today? That had to be it. I opened the new entry at once. "The demon came back. He called and asked me out, then used the photos from when he raped me to threaten me. I was terrified and had no idea what to do, so I went to the park like he said. Ever since that night he forced himself on me, I've had nightmares almost every day. Without my husband beside me, I can't sleep at all. The torment and the pain never let up. I thought it was over. Who knew he would return." "I'm a timid, cowardly woman. For my family and my reputation, I didn't dare call the police. I went in the end. In a public place like a park, he held me at knifepoint and made me obey. He tore at my clothes, rough and cruel, and groped me all over. The same feeling as before washed over me. I almost fell into despair. Am I just born shameless and depraved?" "Just when I thought it would happen again, my new neighbor, a young man named Ted Halenkamp, showed up in time. He scared the demon off. I was so grateful. But when that man turned away, a strange pang of loss ran through me. I don't know why. I'm sure it was just my imagination. How could I feel a sense of loss when a fat, bald, ugly, vile man walked away? On the contrary, Ted felt like a ray of light in my life. I'm truly grateful to him. Thank you, Ted." Reading Marlee's diary warmed my heart. Regret hit me out of nowhere. She had thanked me so sincerely, and I had tried to force myself on her. In her eyes, how was I any different from that fat, bald "demon"? Then it occurred to me she might tell her husband, or even call the police. Guilt and fear tangled in my chest. I couldn't help texting her: "Ms. Casson, I am truly sorry. I drank too much and did something terrible in a moment of madness. I hope you can forgive me. I swear I will never do anything like that again." We'd exchanged numbers when we got back yesterday. She would know it was me. I waited a long time. She didn't reply.