Kathy's World, Shay Kassa [microsoft ebook reader txt] 📗

metal club in the bad part of town talking to a strange guy instead of trying to convince my friends that I'm not actually Hitler in disguise.”

“Hey, I'm not that strange,” he said jokingly. “I've worked with some guys that you'd swear come from Mars. All I have is the long hair and T-shirts.”

Kathy tried to smile while she wiped her eyes. “You don't even know me and you're being so nice to me.”

“I just don't like seeing beautiful women cry,” he said gently. “And you are very beautiful.”

On a sudden whim, Kathy reached out and hugged him tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

For a moment, he hesitated. Then Eddie put his arms around her, holding her firmly with his hands flat on the base of her back. It was just a friendly hug, from one stranger to another, her common sense said, but her libido and her sense of betrayal joined forces and threw her common sense out the window. Mark had sought out his own pleasure with other women and broken her trust. That meant she owed him nothing, especially not any kind of fidelity.

Eddie felt good, and comforting. He made it hurt less. His hands on her back were more than warm; they were hot, and she had an almost supernatural awareness of the pressure of each finger. It would be incredible if he moved his hands elsewhere... She was actually contemplating the unimaginable, the absurd, for a clean-cut business analyst with a nine to five job. Kathy took a deep breath, inhaling his scent of beer and sweat and feeling the slow heartbeat against her cheek.

The world was already turned upside down, and she was in parts unknown just by being here. Maybe it didn't matter. Maybe it was time to stop thinking.

“Eddie?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah?”

“Are you single?”

His head turned towards her; she could feel his breath on her shoulder. “Why do you want to know?”

She froze up, suddenly terrified at how she'd even explain the vague, slow-burning need for... something. Pleasure. Intimacy. A connection with another human being that hadn't been shattered with lies. Her heart started to race and her head started to spin as she imagined herself with him.

“Kathy -”

“I'm attracted to you,” she said quickly, “and – and I just got out of a bad relationship and I'd like to have some fun.” She felt giddy, repeating the same thing Mark had told Gina. It was true in her case.

Eddie pushed her away, and looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “Okay, not that I'm not flattered or anything,” he said evenly, “but I don't think you really want to do what I think you're telling me you want to do.”

“No, I do,” she replied, and the conviction was a bit stronger now. Still the world felt unreal, like she was on a set course that she couldn't deviate from. “Eddie, I thought I'd be spending my weekend with Mark. I thought I had a boyfriend I could trust, and it turns out that all I have is a lying asshole who's been using me for the last year.” She looked down at his arm, and reached out to touch it lightly with her fingertips. “I guess I'd like to have something that isn't a lie, even if it's just for a few hours.”

“Why me, though?”

“You said I was beautiful,” she whispered.

Eddie tilted her chin up. “I meant it,” he said emphatically. He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought, then sat back on the couch and held out his hands to her. “Just... sit here for a minute.”

Kathy stood, turned, and slid sideways into his lap. Her legs were tucked up against his, and she rested against his chest as he cuddled her close. It was deeply satisfying, being held and comforted like this. It was honest. Someone thought she was worth holding, who, as far as she knew, wasn't a colossal bastard.

She didn't move when Eddie put his hand on her hip and stroked her gently with his thumb. It made her want to fall asleep here.

“So you're single, then?” she murmured.

“Maybe I am.”

“Am I your type?”

He chuckled under his breath. “You answer that first.”

“I don't know anymore. I thought I knew my type, but then again, I thought I knew a lot of things.”

Kathy felt him shift and his hand traveled a little farther down her leg. “So I'm guessing you don't usually take any notice of heavy metal drummers then?”

“No, you're the first.” She lifted her head. His face was close to hers. “I guess you don't get many analysts asking you for sex?”

“I could get used to it if they look like you – and, you know, if they don't expect me to shave or anything.”

Kathy leaned up and kissed the edge of his jaw. It was different. Mark was clean-shaven, after all. Not unpleasant, not off-putting, just... different. “I don't expect you to shave,” she said, looking up at him and hoping that he wasn't going to push her away again. “So, am I your type?”

Eddie didn't answer. He cupped her face and pulled her closer, and in a heartbeat their lips met. It almost came as a shock, but the sensation of being kissed and wanted was a familiar one and she instantly gave in to it. It didn't have to be mind-blowing and it certainly wasn't all that romantic, but it was pure and honest. No illusions. No emotional messiness.

She twisted sideways, rearranging herself to straddle his lap and throw her arms around his neck. The heat and power of his body pressed against hers was incredible. Her hands tangled up in his hair, and his belt buckle started digging into her stomach, but his mouth – tongue and lips and the taste of beer – god, his mouth on hers was wonderful. He kissed her with the kind of unrestrained passion she'd never known before.

He was so different. Mark had been good in bed, and she'd always enjoyed herself, but her experience of