“Exactly,” Jimmy smiled. He must think she was flirting. As far as she knew, Aggie didn’t flirt, but Jimmy didn’t seem surprised. Then he changed the subject. “Are you hungry?”
Angela hadn’t had time to eat in her rush to get ready.
“I’m starved.”
“Good. I had dinner delivered from one of my favorite restaurants.”
They walked through a small door in the side wall of the library and ended up in a shiny modern kitchen. No circles here, except for the pots and pans hanging from the ceiling rack.
“Shall we eat in here?” Jimmy asked.
“Please,” Angela smiled. The room was much cozier than the more formal dining room. “Shall I set the table?”
Jimmy motioned toward a tall hutch. Inside Angela found everything she needed, earthenware plates, tall crystal glasses for water and wine, gleaming silver cutlery and soft linen napkins. She set two places on the small round oak table tucked into a bay window. Meanwhile, Jimmy pulled dishes from the oven. The smells wafted from beneath the covers and Angela’s stomach rumbled.
“I hope you like Hungarian,” Jimmy commented as he lifted the lid from a ceramic casserole.
Aggie was the more adventurous eater of the two twins, but Angela agree readily that Hungarian was fine. The food smelled delicious. Moments later, she found it tasted as good as it smelled. Angela relaxed as they ate. The hot food and Jimmy’s calm demeanor combined to ease her anxiety back into a forgotten corner of her mind. They talked of many things, travel, art, books. At first Angela tried to be Aggie, but soon she was caught up in their conversation and answering as herself. She noticed that Jimmy’s eyes grew sharper as they talked, but decided that his alertness wasn’t suspicion. He was as involved in the discussion as she was. Aggie was right; he was nice. Too nice to fuck the wrong twin.
Eventually Angela was too full to eat another bite. Always on tricks before, she had been careful not to eat even if offered a meal. A full stomach didn’t help with the sex later. She wondered why she hadn’t remembered her rule tonight. Because the evening had none of the earmarks of prostitution. But the final expectation would be the same. Hungarian spices rose back up her throat. How could she avoid the inevitable?
She and Jimmy rose in silence and placed the dishes in the sink. Then he turned to her and took her hand.
“Shall I show you the bedroom?” His voice was husky.
“Yes,” Angela breathed.
They walked back through the lobby and toward a closed door.
“Can I go to the bathroom first?” Angela asked.
“Of course,” Jimmy smiled. He pointed toward a smaller door to the right of the bedroom entrance.
Angela smiled through her desperation as she entered the room. A perfect circle, the bathroom held a circular tub beneath a circular skylight. The urge to throw up receded as she calmed. She would just tell him, she decided. She would tell him it was too soon. She would say that they’d make love tomorrow night and then she’d convince Aggie to come. By the time Angela had relieved herself and splashed some cold water on her face, she felt better. The man liked Aggie; the plan would work. In half an hour, she’d be back at the hotel with her sister.
Angela didn’t see Jimmy when she exited the bathroom. She found him in the library, looking at the Modigliani book she had selected.
“I never really appreciated him before,” he commented. “Now I feel I see him through your eyes.”
Angela’s smile wavered. He really was a nice man, just as Aggie had said. She had to get herself out of this apartment and get Aggie back in her place.
“Shall we go into the bedroom?” Jimmy asked.
“I don’t,” Angela began then didn’t know what to say. If she refused outright, he might call off the contract and then Aggie wouldn’t be able to come tomorrow night. Angela felt the floorboards narrow to a tightrope beneath her feet. She turned and walked ahead of Jimmy out of the room. He held open the door to the bedroom and waited for her to enter. Angela stepped across the threshold.
“It’s nice.” The words sounded strangled, but the setting really was beautiful. The room was a huge bay, with glass on 270 degrees of wall. The ceiling was a round skylight with a retracting dome half pulled back. Muted rain made a natural background music. A round bed sat directly beneath the skylight. Angela listened to the click of her heels as she walked across the pale hardwood floor. “It’s like a nest.”
Jimmy smiled. “I always wanted a tree house.”
“I like it, Jimmy,” Angela began. “I really like it, but I’m not ready. This is all new to me.”
The lie lodged in Angela’s throat. She looked at Jimmy pleadingly. The situation might not be new, but her reluctance was solid gold genuine.
“Let me see your body, Aggie,” Jimmy asked. “I’ve waited all day.”
“I can’t…”
“Just let me look. I won’t do anything you don’t want.”
Angela found she trusted him. She stared at the floor to hide the next lie.
“I’ve never stripped in front of someone before.”
“You’re beautiful, Aggie. Let me look at you.”
Angela couldn’t resist Jimmy’s soft words. After all, he could see her in a bikini. This wasn’t much more. Her eyes still on the floor, she began to remove her clothing. She moved without artifice, made no effort to be alluring. When she reached her underwear, she turned away from Jimmy toward the bed. Warm hands touched her back and unhooked her bra. She slid the black lace from her shoulders. Her fingers trembled as she slid the flimsy silk of her panties down her thighs and to the floor. She straightened with her back still to Jimmy.
“Turn around,” he commanded.
Slowly she turned, keeping her eyes downcast. His finger touched her chin and raised her head. She looked up into his eyes. She saw appreciation there, but not the glow of warmth that had lit them before. Jimmy ran his hand down her shoulder and goosebumps followed in his wake. He touched the side of her breast and the nipple rose autonomously.
“Please, Jimmy,” Angela begged. “I’m not ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Ready to make love.”
“Your body is ready,” Jimmy commented. His hand was on her hip now.
“My mind isn’t ready. My heart isn’t ready,” Angela pleaded. “Can we just lie down together, but not do anything? Just for one night.”
“You’re asking for the moon, Aggie.” Jimmy’s hand stroked up and down her side and his eyes never left hers.
“I know,” she whispered.
“What if I cancel the contract?”
Tears pooled in Angela’s eyes. She needed the money desperately. The money was her ticket to a life. But she couldn’t make love with this man. She lowered her gaze from his.
“All right,” she agreed into the floor.
Jimmy’s hand returned to her chin and lifted her face to his. He planted a swift hard closed-mouth kiss on Angela’s lips.
“You drive a hard bargain,” he commented. “All right. For one night, we’ll lie together naked, no more.”
Angela was trembling too hard to continue standing. She sank onto the bed as Jimmy removed his clothes. His body was all right but not spectacular. She noted without arousal that his semi-erect cock was a nice size, though again not spectacular. What caught her attention were his balls. Now, they were spectacular. They hung full and loose against his upper thighs. Those balls could produce an army of children. And Aggie loved children, Angela thought with satisfaction. She smiled.
“You like it?” Jimmy asked. He strutted his nude male body back and forth in front of the bed.