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The second house is quite secluded.
Parking the car a good distance away, we set out on foot.
I'm walking behind her.
Cool and calm, keeping pace.
Like part of a funeral procession.
The house has an iron gate.
It opens with a slight scrape.
Then swings in with disarmingly little resistance.
She enters first.
At the front door she fishes the keys from her bag.
Studiously examines them.
Then puts one in the keyhole.
But the lock doesn't budge, so she cocks her head, re-examines the keys and tries another.
Still no go.
An irritated expression crosses her face.
Like she might just abandon the whole idea.
It wouldn't surprise me.
But once more she re-examines the keys and selects yet another.
No longer so careful now, she's pulling at straws.
The key won't go in the lock.
Exasperated, she clicks her tongue.
Then she turns around towards me, serves up a patently sweet smile.
Collects herself, examines each key one by one from the beginning.
Her hands are trembling.
She chooses one key out of the lot.
Then puts it in the slot.
It turns.
The door creaks open.
She beckons to me from the entranceway.
I go in.
The door shuts.
She wraps her arms around my neck from behind.
Spins me around.
Presses her lips to mine.
As our tongues entwine, I look around.
She leans heavily against me.
Little by little I'm losing my balance.
I stagger a step and a half back and brace myself against a wall.
I touch a breast and the slightest instant later she brushes my hand away and moves off.
Inwardly I'm relieved, yet mustn't let it show so I stay put.
She takes off her shoes,steps up into the house.
Then peers down at me.
She watches as I take off my shoes.
Withhout a word she pushes open the door on the left.
I eye her from behind, wiping my lips on my shirtsleeve.
"Charming living-room, don't you think?"
One spot on the wall hasn't faded like the rest.
Probably a picture hung there.
She rattles open a window onto the garden.
Two pruned trees like an old man's brushstrokes.
And beyond, a June sky peeled clean of its label.
I stand behind her.
She gives a shake of her keys like a signal of some sort.
Unsure of myself, I turn around.
The kitchen.
"You cook?"
"No."
"Okay, I'll cook for you."
"Complete aftercare, eh?"
"Yessiree."
She wraps her fingers around mine.
"I'm a full-service realtor."
She starts walking.
I follow like a puppet on a string.
We climb the stairs.
Kiss on the landing.
I press her against the wall.
Work my right leg between hers.
Pinning her there, I place both hands on her breasts.
She frees her lips to speak.
"Really now, Sir!"
I stay my hands.
Without a word she presses her lips to mine once more.
"Shouldn't play games,"
She snickers.
I pull away from her.
She straightens her skirt and blouse, continues on up the stairs.
She wants to show off her behind.
Upstairs are two rooms, both quite large.
"But you must be thinking, there's no bed. Too bad, no hanky- panky."
As she speaks, she pulls a handle on the wall.
A bed tumbles out into place.
She sits on the bed, starts unbuttoning her blouse.
I sit down beside her and lend a hand.
She sternly unfastens her bra, then stands to undo the zipper of her skirt.
I watch her take it off with arms folded.
She briskly strips off her panties, tosses them away.
As if somehow privileged by her nakedness she plants herself before me.
I reach out to touch her pubic hair, but just within range of my fingertips she dodges.
I rise to embrace her.
She, however--
Lets out a silent cry, escapes to the next room.
Leisurely I follow and corner her there.
Her back is pressed flat against the wall.
I spread my arms.
But she ducks and flees down the stairs.
What can I do -- I drop my arms and descend after her.
I check the living-room.
No sign of her there.
Nor in the kitchen.
Explore the closets.
Not there either.
Open the washroom door.
Not there.
Go into the bath.
A vinyl mat covers the tub.
Draw it back.
Inside the tub is a naked woman.
Grasping her knees like an orphan, she stares up at me.
Startled, I freeze.
She flies out of the tub yelling, dashes past me and runs back upstairs.
I gaze at the empty bathtub.