*I"d rather eat in a restaurant. It"s so much more fun."
*Look how we"re dressed."
*We don"t have to go any place fancy. Jack-in-the-Box or Burger King. Whatever."
Darren drove to Burger King. They ate at a table. While Barbara slowly consumed her meal, she tried to think of another way to delay their return home.
Give it up, she finally thought. I"ve stalled him as long as I can without making a fuss. We can"t stay away forever. Might as well get it over with.
So, when the meal was done, they climbed into the car and drove through the dusk, heading for home.
Where Joyce would be waiting.
Maybe we"ll be in luck, Barbara thought, and the house burnt down while we were out.
Fat chance.
They rounded a corner, and there it was. Still standing.
*Did you have a good time?" Darren asked as he swung into the driveway.
*Wonderful. I really hate for it to end."
*Nothing"s ended, darling." He stopped the car, leaned toward Barbara and stroked the back of her head. *Our life together has only begun. We"ll have so many fine times."
*I suppose so."
*No supposing about it."
She followed him into the house. Darren carried the sack of video tapes into the living room and set it down at Joyce"s feet.
*She won"t have to watch the movies with us, will she?" Barbara asked. *Couldn"t youa maybe put her in another room?"
*I could. But the sooner you get used to her the better. Don"t you think?"
*I don"t think I"ll ever get used to her."
*Oh, you will, you will. Give it time. Now, you go along and start your shower. I"ll be along in a minute." He winked. Then he crouched, slipped his arms under Joyce, and lifted her off the sofa.
Barbara"s heart slammed. *Where are you taking her?"
*The guest room." He grinned. *Time to get her out of the daytime attire."
She hurried ahead of them and shut herself into the bathroom. Trembling, she took off her clothes.
The daytime attire, she thought.
He"s stripping her. Then he"ll be waltzing in here and putting his hands on me.
That"s what he thinks.
She thumbed down the lock b.u.t.ton, then went to the tub and turned on the shower.
He"ll just have to choose, she thought as she adjusted the faucets. Joyce or me. He can"t have it both ways.
What if he chooses her?
I can"t lose him. Not over a d.a.m.ned stiff!
Sighing, Barbara stepped to the door and unlocked it.
She climbed into the tub and slid the gla.s.s door shut. The hot spray felt wonderful splashing against head and face, sliding down her body.
His hands will be clean, she told herself. They"ll be all soapy when he rubs me. They won"t have Joyce on them.
But she"ll be waiting when we come out.
Dressed in her little see-through nightie.
G.o.d!
Standing around in her nightie and shades while we watch the movies. Then standing by the bed while we make love.
I can"t take much more of this.
Maybe I shouldn"t let him have me again till she"s out of the house.
No, he"d end up resenting me. I can"t do anything to make him get rid of her. He"d hold it against me forever. It has to be his decision.
If only she hadn"t been preserved so well. If she was rotten or stinky, he sure wouldn"t have kept her around.
What if I go to the market tomorrow while he"s at work, pick up some really stinky cheese, poke some into her mouth? Poke some into her everywhere?
Yuck! I"d have to touch her.
There are always gloves for that.
Darren will think she"s going bad.
And get rid of her?
What if he probes around and finds the cheese?
Would it be worth the risk?
Barbara flinched, startled, as the shower door rumbled open. She turned. Joyce stared in at her, smiling. No silver shades, no nightie.
*No!" She staggered backward as Joyce rose, lifted high by Darren behind her. *Get her out of here!" She slipped. Her rump smacked the bottom of the tub. *Ow!"
*Darling! Are you all right?"
*No! Get her out of here! What"s the matter with you?"
*This"ll be a great way for you to get better acquainted. Really. Did you hurt yourself?"
*I"ll live." Barbara scooted backward and drew her legs up to her chest as Darren stepped into the tub with Joyce. Holding the body against him with one arm across her belly, he slid the shower door shut.
The spray splattered off Joyce"s shoulders. Water spread down her body in shiny streamers.
*Please!" Barbara begged. *I don"t want to get better acquainted. Take her away!"
*You"ll be fine once you"ve gotten to know her."
*The water"ll ruin her! You"d bettera"
*Oh, no, she"s quite durable. Stand up, now, darling."
*Darren!"
*Is it really asking so much? Just stand up. Please."
Trembling, breathless, Barbara struggled to her feet.
Darren smiled at her from behind Joyce"s shoulder. *Now, come a little closer. Be careful you don"t fall."
She took a few small steps forward, and stopped.
*Closer."
She moved closer.
*Closer."
*No. Come on." One more step, and she would meet Joyce. *Okay," Darren said. He blinked water out of his eyes. *You"re doing fine. Really. You"re making great progress. Now, I want you to touch her face."
*Don"t make me." Her voice came out whiny.
*I won"t make you do anything. Do it for me. Do it for us. Please. You must get over this phobia about Joyce."
*It"s not a phobia."
*Then we"ll be able to get on with our lives. I"m sure you"ll even come to like her. She"ll make a fine companion for you while I"m away at work every day. Now, please. Touch her face."
Barbara raised a wet hand toward Joyce"s cheek. And hesitated, fingers shaking.
Joyce gazed at her with merry, shining eyes.
Gla.s.s stuffed in pits.
*You"re so close now," Darren urged her. *Don"t stop now."
Holding her breath, Barbara placed her fingertips against Joyce"s cheek. She prodded it gently. She stroked it. The skin felt smooth and stiff. Like a fine leather shoe.
From behind Joyce"s shoulder, Darren beamed at her. *I"m so proud of you!"
Barbara lowered her arm. *I did what you asked. Now will you takea"
She gasped as the body lurched forward. Its hands brushed her sides. Before she could leap away, other hands clutched her. Darren"s hands. They grabbed her sides, jerked her forward. Tight against Joyce.
She turned her head, just in time to avoid a collision with Joyce"s face. Their cheeks rubbed.
Darren kissed her, pressed his lips against hers above Joyce"s shoulder. Pushed his tongue into her mouth.
He can"t be doing this!
Not with Joyce in the middle!
But he was doing this, Joyce in the middle, her hard b.r.e.a.s.t.s shoving into Barbara"s b.r.e.a.s.t.s, her belly and groin and thighs tight and stiff against Barbara. And moving. Rubbing against her as Darren writhed and moaned and thrust with his tongue.
Barbara chomped.
Darren cried out. His hands leaped off her.
She drove her hands against Joyce"s hips and rammed her away, slamming Darren against the tile wall beneath the shower nozzle. He grunted as his head thumped. Blood exploded from his mouth.
Barbara staggered backward to get away from the four feet sliding her way.
She spit out a chuck of Darren"s tongue.
She hadn"t meant to bite it off, buta Horrified, she watched the b.l.o.o.d.y slab flop onto Joyce"s belly b.u.t.ton.
I"ve ruined him!
*Look what you made me do!" she yelled.
Darren didn"t answer. Nor did he move. During the fall, he"d slipped lower so his head was under Joyce. His arms lay limp against the bottom of the tub. His legs were stretched out to either side of Joyce"s legs. His genitals showed through the crevice between her thighs.
The water cascading down on Joyce sent Darren"s tongue sledding down her belly.
Barbara took another step backward. Her foot landed with a splash.
The tub was filling!
He"s gonna drown!
Dropping to a crouch, she grabbed Joyce"s ankles. She pulled. The body slid toward her. She worked her hands up the legs, scooting Joyce along beneath her toward the rear of the tub.
Darren"s face came into view.